Chapter 2

AN: I want to say I appreciate all the reviews of the story, both the positive and negative ones. I normally would never touch a subject such as rape, but this idea has been buzzing in my head for a long time. I would like to say to the people, who have offered constructive criticism, it was observed and considered. I have been a fan of Tenchi Muyo for quite a long time and I believe (as with all characters) that nothing is impossible when it comes to the stories. Isn't that what anime is all about? As for the ones concerned that I am not keeping true to Ryoko, read this chapter then offer some more constructive feedback if you feel it is necessary, but I think this story does have some plausibility. I also want to apologize for any grammar mistakes. I was in a rush to get that chapter finished and up. Enough of my babbling ;) On with the story.

His mind was willing him awake, trying to make him open his eyes and face reality. The last thing he wanted to do was to wake up and find out that it all was real. As long as he stayed asleep, he could try to block out seeing her like that. Hearing her in so much pain...

"Tenchi?" Washu called down to him as she sat next to him on the bed. He gave no response, even though part of him was dying to know if she was okay. "I am going to go upstairs and get some food for you, and me," She continued. "So you know, I have Ryoko's condition as stable as it can get for the moment. After we eat something I plan to run some tests," With that, he felt the woman climb off the bed and leave the room.

He opened his eyes with a sigh. It wasn't a dream. It was real. Some men had taken one of the most precious girls in his life and had violated and humiliated her. And he could have stopped it... "If only I had reached her sooner," He said softly, guilt in his voice. He climbed out of Washu's bed, running a hand through his rumpled hair as he did so. What little rest he had managed to get had been plagued with visions of what the men must have done to her. His blood boiled as he thought about it, echoing a desire drilling in the back of his skull to find the men that had hurt her and kill them. He knew right now that focusing on thoughts like that would only make the situation worse. He let go of his anger with a deep breath, feeling sadness take its place as he exhaled. He decided to go check on her while he waited for Washu to return.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ryoko stood under the assault of the hot water, her mind in a fog. What had happened? Why did she hurt so much? There was a throbbing pain behind her left eye, as if someone had hit her. She looked down to see bite marks surrounded by bruises of purple, green, and yellow covering her torso, looking like odd flower blossoms. Her breasts ached to touch and she saw dried blood splashed on her inner thighs along with more bruises. A sob tore loose from her throat as she fell to the floor of the shower. Something was terribly wrong, but what? She couldn't remember.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When he stepped into the lab, he was caught off guard to not see Ryoko lying on the examination table. The linens on the table were bloody and covered with dirt. He could hear a shower running at the far end of the lab and made his way over to it to find her crying as the hot water poured down on her. "Ryoko," He called out to her. She looked up at him and he was relieved this time she at least looked like she could see him.

"Tenchi?" She called out uncertainly as she curled up tighter on the floor. "What happened to me?"

He stepped into the shower, his clothes instantly becoming drenched with water. Bending down, he scooped her up gently into his arms, despite her lame protests. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest in embarrassment as he carried her back to the examination table. He wrapped a blanket around her as she let go of him and sat on the table. He could already tell she felt ashamed for having been seen like this. He was sure her pride would have been wounded if anyone had seen her like she was, but he knew that she was even more upset that it had been him. As if to reassure her, he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Whoa," She said as she pushed him off with shaky hands. "I have no clue what is going on and all of a sudden you are going mushy on me. This is all a little too much."

"Ryoko?" Washu said as she walked into the scene, carrying a tray of food. "You should still be asleep."

"I found her in the shower," Tenchi replied as he walked up and took the tray from Washu.

She sighed as she walked over to check on her patient. "I should have known that tranquilizer wouldn't have worked for long. Are you hungry Ryoko?"

She shook her head. "I feel too sick to eat."

"That's natural," She replied to the younger woman. "Your body has taken a lot of damage."

"Washu," Ryoko started. "Tell me what happened? What is wrong?"

Tenchi looked up at the scientist and she could see the guilt in his eyes once more. "I'm going to head upstairs and get changed. Maybe sleep a little," He said to her.

"That's probably best."

He glanced down at Ryoko, part of him wishing she would ask him to stay. He was disappointed when she simply stared down at her feet. "Let Washu take care of you," He said softly, fighting back the urge to reach out and touch her again to confirm she was safe. With one more look towards Washu, he left the lab.

After he had left, the two women stared at each other for a moment. "What do you remember?" Washu asked her.

"Not much. Drinking tequila at a bar and some creeps hitting on me. I told them to get lost and it all goes fuzzy after that."

Washu sat down next to her on the bed. The woman she was talking to was her daughter, even if neither of them really didn't admit it that much. She may not have acted like the mother Ryoko needed at times, but nonetheless, she cared about her. "Ryoko," She began slowly. "From what tests I have run so far it seems you were slipped what is called a "date rape" drug. It is basically used to make woman become passive to a man's advances on her by either disorienting her or just making her unconscious. Because of your DNA being similar to a human's and the fact that you had been drinking, I think it worked, but it had a few side affects. I have never tested that kind of drug on your genetics and it is possible that you can't be immune to everything thrown at you. Your body seemed to keep fighting it off, but you were temporarily stripped of your powers, making it difficult to protect yourself. Ironically enough... they brought you to the woods outside the shrine. Tenchi had been out late and he heard you screaming. He found you, but unfortunately, the men that assaulted you escaped."

She stared at Washu for a moment as she let it all sink in. Those men had raped her. They had beat her and made her submit to their will. She wrapped the blanket around her tighter as she began to feel filthy all over.

"But the bright side is you are okay. I think you will make a full recovery in time," Washu tried to encourage her. "There are a few tests left to run, but they can wait a while."

"Okay," Ryoko whispered.

"I know," Washu said, standing up and pulling her off the table. "Why don't we get you cleaned up? You will feel a little better after that."

She simply nodded and allowed herself to be led to Washu's bathtub. Once there, Washu ran some water into the tub and gently pried the blanket away from her. Ryoko lowered into the water and despite the haze of emotions she was in, was surprised to find Washu working diligently to clean her up, being careful of her wounds. She talked to her in soothing tones, almost seeming to be her mother for once, despite the fact that she looked like she was twelve.

After she was clean, Ryoko slipped into the robe Washu gave her, listening to her advice for once when she told her to go easy on using her powers until she was stronger. "Do you feel like talking about it?" Washu asked her daughter as she brushed her hair out.

"No," She replied automatically. "I would rather not. And I would like it if you didn't mention it to the others. It is bad enough that Tenchi has to know."

"Well, what are you going to tell them? You have a pretty nice shiner going there. It's kinda hard to hide a black eye."

Ryoko reached up and touched the tender area around her left eye. She knew without looking that it was a deep purple bruise from previous experiences of giving and receiving black eyes. "I'll think of something. I'm going to go upstairs and see if I can borrow something to wear from Mihoshi and then maybe go for a walk to think."

"Be careful."

"I am not a little girl!" Ryoko suddenly flared, turning towards the scientist with a growl. "It's light outside for Christ's sake! I will be fine!"

Washu stared at her, stunned at her outburst. Ryoko simply stormed out of the lab in response.

As she stomped through the living room she passed Sasami and Ayeka sitting on the couch. "What happened to you Ryoko?" Sasami gasped as she saw the space pirate's black eye.

"Nothing," She replied lamely.

"She probably got in a fight while she was out drinking herself into a stupor last night," Ayeka bit out in Ryoko's direction.

A bitter smirk came across her face. "You know what princess? For once you are right. I drank myself stupid and tore the bar apart in the best damn fight this town has seen in years!" She yelled at her.

"At least you admit the truth," The princess said coolly, as if trying to provoke her more. Ryoko stared at her for a second, not saying anything. As she spun on her foot to go upstairs she heard Ayeka mutter under her breath: "Animal."

"Prude," She insulted loudly as she walked off to find Mihoshi.