Chapter 5--Mystery Man revealed
As the first rays of light filtered through the guest room window, the kenshin stirred, slowly
opening his eyes to the sunlight that illuminated his handsome features. A small smile spread
across the kenshin's face as he lay still , listeningto to nature's choir of birds singing joyously
upon the branches of trees that stood outside the window. His smile turned to a frown when
he realized where he was. He bolted upright, raising his left hand to rub his eyes. When his arm met
resistance, the kenshin looked down to find his arm and chest bandaged. He closed
his eyes as the memories of last night came flooding back to him. Watching princess Ayeka
flee to the woods, fighting with a strange creature bent on attacking Ayeka, the injury, the
destruction of the demon and finally being saved from further injury by the space pirate
Ryoko. The kenshin let out a sigh. He hadn't wanted to reveal himself so soon, but the demon
left him no choice. He wasn't sure who was behind the attack but he would find out. He had
to. All of Jurai and the universe were counting on him. The young man opened his eyes and
stood up. He gently removed the gauze wrapped around him, revealing perfectly healed skin. The
man folded the gauze neatly and set it aside. The sound of laughter outside his window roused the
kenshin's attention. He walked slowly to the window and looked down to find Sasami running
around the yard, being chased by what appeared to be a rabbit. Princess Sasami and, the kenshin
paused , Ryo-oki the cabbit he reminded himself .
The kenshin smiled as he watched the young princess at play. Memories of his childhood
entered his thoughts but he quickly pushed them aside. He had no time to reminisce about the
past. The problem was in the present and what he could do to stop it from harming princess
Ayeka and lord Tenchi. He cocked his head slightly a few seconds later when he heard a
knock on the door.
"Come in." He replied still staring out the window.
"Ahem." A female voice coughed from behind him. "Good morning miss Ryoko" The man
greeted, knowing exactly who was behind him.
Ryoko almost asked how he knew that, then remembering what Azaka had said, returned his
greeting. "Good morning kenshin. I've brought you a new shirt."
The kenshin turned around.
Ryoko drew in a quick intake of breath. The resemblance between her beloved Tenchi and
the man standing before he was incredible. But it wasn't the man's features that struck Ryoko
the most. It was his eyes. A shade of blue she had never seen before. So intense and vibrant they
seemed to glow with an energy all their own. Ryoko stared at the young man, fascinated by such
an otherworldy yet strangely attractive feature. The kenshin
cocked his head as he watched her reaction, a look of puzzlement on his face.
Ryoko looked away quickly, realizing she had been staring at him. Strengthening her resolve
she returned her gaze upon the kenshin and held out a white dress shirt. "Here." She said.
"Your larger than Tenchi so I borrowed one of Kamedaki's shirts for you."
"Thank you." The kenshin replied softly, walking up to her. He gently removed the shirt from
Ryoko's outstretched hand, their fingertips brushing against each other during the exchange.
A surge of electricity shot through Ryoko. Slowly, she gazed upward to find the kenshin
staring down at her, his features a mixture of surprise and amusement.
Why am I feeling this way? Ryoko thought. Tenchi is the only man for me. I...
Ryoko inclined her head slightly when she heard a loud rat a tat tat behind her, her eyes still
riveted on the kenshin. The young man smiled softly at Ryoko. "Come in." He called lightly,
tearing his gaze away from Ryoko towards the door. The door slid open revealing the older
knight, Azaka.
Azaka entered the room, studying the two before him. "Good morning young kenshin, miss
Ryoko." He said with a pause. "I didn't realize you were here."
The kenshin answered for her. "Miss Ryoko was kind enough to bring me a shirt to replace
the one I lost last night." He said, holding up the article of clothing before putting it on.
Azaka nodded in understanding. "Princess Ayeka is waiting for you. If you're well enough, I'll escort you."
The younger man nodded. "Yes, I'm able." He replied, buttoning up his shirt before tucking it
into his jeans.
Azaka turned back towards the door. "Follow me please." He requested moving forward
and out into the hall.
The kenshin started forward then stopped. He turned back around. Ryoko hadn't moved.
"Miss Ryoko?" He called out to her.
Ryoko jerked her head upward. Her eyes and features dazed.
"Are you all right Miss Ryoko?" He asked, his eyes full of concern.
Ryoko snapped out of her muse. "Yes I'm fine." She replied, regaining her composure.
The kenshin smiled. "After you." He said with a wide arc of his left hand.
Ryoko exited the room followed by the young man. Azaka led them downstairs to the living
room where the entire Masaki household had gathered. Ryoko found a spot to the left of
Ayeka who sat at the front of the large rectangular table.
Azaka took his place between Yosho and Kamedaki, leaving the kenshin the only one,
standing.
Tenchi's father Koboyuki, upon seeing the young man, jumped up in amazement.
"Wow! You look just like my son." He exclaimed, circling the youth several times.
"So I keep hearing." The kenshin said, a bemused expression on his face.
"He's not one of your creations is he Washu?" Koboyuki addressed the short scientist.
Washu smiled and closed her eyes. "I'm flattered you think so, but no. The man standing
before us was sent I suspect, by the Juraian council."
Koboyuki's eyebrows shot up. "Really?" He said in surprise.
Yosho removed his glasses and began to wipe them. "Koboyuki perhaps you should sit
down so the kenshin can explain why he was sent here."
Koboyuki did so.
"Would you like to sit down kenshin?" Ayeka asked softly.
Ryoko looked from Ayeka to the kenshin then back again. A wicked smile grew on the
space pirate's face. "Yeah kenshin, have a seat right here." She said, slapping the empty spot beside her.
Ayeka narrowed her eyes and stared hard at the space pirate. Ryoko stuck out her tongue at
the princess before smiling sweetly at the kenshin as he sat down beside her.
Ayeka composed herself. "What is your name kenshin?" She asked calmly.
The kenshin turned toward her. "My name is Ryan, princess Ayeka."
"Tell me Ryan," Yosho began. "Why are you here?"
The kenshin drew in his breath then slowly began. "I was sent by the Juraian council to tell
you of a crisis of universal proportions."
Ayeka frowned. "What is the crisis?" She asked.
"Thousands of people have disappeared in the past year. No one has been able to explain
what has happened. There have been no witnesses to these abductions. People are here one
day and gone the next. Some of our leaders on our territorial planets have disappeared as
well. The only thing that the abductees have in common is special power in one form or
another. No one understands why Jurai itself has been left alone since its people have the
most power. Because of this, the council fears that you and Lord Tenchi, being so far away
Everyone looked at each other in concern. This was bad news indeed.
"What have you been able to sense about this dark force?" Ayeka asked first.
Ryan took a moment to collect his thoughts. "It is massive and full of negative energy." He
began. "When I focus no clear images are present. It's as if someone or something is blocking
me. I can't tell you who is behind this, only that it exists and is coming this way." He finished.
"This is serious indeed." Yosho said after an intense moment of silence.
With the news so grim, Ayeka decided to change the subject. "Kenshin," she said.
Ryan looked at her.
"Here is your weapon back." She handed Ryan his saber.
Ryan clasped it tenderly. "Thank you princess" He replied tucking it on
his belt then stood up. "If you will excuse me your highness ."
Ayeka looked up at him. "Yes of course, if you must. But there are some questions I wish to
ask you." Ayeka replied.
"I will answer whatever you ask but there is something I must do first."
"Is something wrong?" Yosho asked.
Ryan turned to him. "No lord Yosho. But it is important that I do it just the same."
Yosho nodded in understanding.
The kenshin bowed quickly before dematerializing in front of them.
"I wonder what he had to do?" Sasami thought out loud.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Ryoko answered dematerializing as well.
Chapter 6--Ryoko's Pain
Ryoko materialized high above the Masaki house. Her eyes searched the surrounding area,
but there was no sign of the kenshin. "I wonder where he went?" She murmured.
"I'm right behind you." A masculine voice said behind her.
Ryoko jumped and whirled around.
"Well you certainly know how to sneak up on a girl don't you." She stated dryly.
Ryan smiled. "Did I startle you?"
Ryoko ran a hand through her hair. "No." She replied. "Tenchi why would I be startled."
Ryan smirked. "You just called me Tenchi." He said, crossing his arms.
"I did not." Ryoko protested. "I...I did didn't I" She conceded, laughing lightly.
The kenshin's smirk faded. "You're thinking about him aren't you?"
Ryoko turned away. "Is it true you can see into the hearts of others?" She asked trying unsuccessfully to keep her voice neutral.
"Yes. If I concentrate long enough I can feel what others are feeling or I can do it by touching
an individual. I can see what they see. Know what they know, yada, yada, yada." He added
with a small wave of his hand.
Ryoko smiled then laughed, turning back toward him.
Ryan uncrossed his arms. "Would you like a demonstration?" He asked softly, his features
serious.
Ryoko's smile faded. "I don't think you want to know that much about me."
Ryan floated up to her. He cocked his head slightly, his eyes questioning, but he said nothing.
Ryoko stared into his vibrant eyes, her heart and her mind warring with each other. Finally
curiosity won out and she nodded her consent.
Ryan raised his hands slowly upward to Ryoko's face. "Are you sure?" He asked.
"Knock yourself out." She replied.
The kenshin placed a hand on each side of her face and closed his eyes.
Instantly, Ryan was inside Ryoko's mind, a witness to the memories of her past. A few seconds
later he began to speak. " Your full name is Ryoko Kasbushi. Twenty one years ago your mother
Tatsuna and your father Senji brought you into existance on the small planet Keite within
Juraian territory." Ryan paused a small smile forming on his lips. "You were a beautiful child and the only
one your parents ever had. You were raised in a family of artisans who traveled various planets
to sell your wares." Suddenly, the kenshin gasped, clenching his teeth. His brow creased, and his
face grew pale.
"What is it?" Ryoko whispered in alarm. "What do you see?" She said clasping his arms gently.
Dreadful images flew through Ryan's mind, People screaming, running in all directions. Explosions
rocking the ground, tossing people to and fro. He saw Ryoko running as fast as her legs could carry
her.
"Mama, Papa, don't leave me!" She cried stretching her right arm out, But Tatsuna and Senji were
caught in the mass of people fleeing and couldn't reach her.
"Ryoko, run! Hide!" Tatsuna cried before she was swallowed up by the mass.
Ryoko ran into the surrounding forest, finding shelter in a small crevice just wide enough for her to
squeeze in.
The kenshin saw Ryoko cover her ears as the explosions continued to go off around her,
rocking back and forth as tears flew down her face.
"Mama, Papa." She whimpered.
Sometime later the noise subsided. Ryoko withdrew her hands and opened her eyes. Several men
dressed in black ran past, carrying large canvas bags filled with items that were for sale earlier in the
day.
Ryoko managed to remain hidden and didn't come out until dusk. Ryan saw her crawl out of
her hole, shivering from fear and cold. The little girl ran towards the path where the shops
had once stood, only to find everything destroyed.
The ground was littered with bodies. Men, women, and children slaughtered like animals.
Ryoko stumbled through the rubble, calling out for her parents.
Searching the ground ahead of her, she spotted her mother and father clutched
together in a final embrace. Their clothes smudged with dirt and blood.
Ryoko fell to her knees beside them, clasping their hands, pulling with all her might.
"Mama, papa. Get up! Get up!" She pleaded until exhaustion set in and a dark sleep claimed her.
All this took but a few seconds for the Kenshin to witness. In a slow, painful voice
he began to speak once again . "When you were ten years old,
some marauders raided the artisan shops. Your parents were killed in the attack,
" He paused, opening his eyes to gaze upon her.
Ryoko looked at him in awe. Never had anyone known her origins or what had happened to her as a child.
She had kept her horrible experience locked away from the world, never to be shared with because the pain was too much to bear.
And yet, she felt uplifted by his revelation. It felt as if he had healed the
wound. What once was was pain and despair, was no only a sad memory of her childhood.
Ryan stared sadly at the space pirate as he continued. "They left you all alone with no one to care for you. This
experience hardened your heart. You became a space pirate, a wandering soul who stole to survive,
always craving for adventure but craving something more still: A place to belong. Yet you never found it. Until one day you crashed on earth and met Tenchi. You fell in love with him. For the first
time in a long time you felt like you belonged especially when the others arrived. Although you don't
want to admit it, you care for all of them. Even princess Ayeka."
Ryan moved his hands. "You suffered a near fatal injury at the hand of
the wicked Kagato here." He said touching her lower left side. "Sometimes you still feel the pain."
Ryan said softly before floating backwards, his face etched in sorrow.
"I'm sorry." He said apologetically. "I'll leave you now." He began to turn away.
Ryoko grabbed his arm. "No wait." she said quickly.
Ryan turned back toward her.
Ryoko slowly let go. "Where are you going to?" She asked softly.
Ryan looked at her intensely. "I'm going to check up on Tenchi"
Ryoko looked downward. "You know how I feel about Tenchi..? She began softly.
Ryan cocked his head briefly before giving a nod. "Your heart told me." He replied, gently patting his chest.
"When you get back," Ryoko continued. "Would you let me know how he's doing. I don't get to see him much anymore and I .. Well, I miss him alot. " She added nervously, turning away from the young man.
Ryan studied her, unsure of how to respond.
A few seconds later, Ryoko turned back to find the kenshin staring at her.
Ryoko frowned. "What?" She asked.
The kenshin smiled.
Ryoko smiled back.
"Don't worry miss Ryoko. True love will find a way." He said reassuringly and bid her goodbye with a quick wave of his hand before vanishing into thin air.
"Wait! What does that mean?" Ryoko called out but too late. The kenshin was gone.
What a cryptic guy. Ryoko thought. But I like him. I like him a lot. She admitted to herself
before heading back inside.
Chapter 7--Washu's Energy Device
For most of the day Ryoko paced, occasionally looking outside the window in the hope of
spotting Ryan. There were many things she wished to talk to him about, particularly what
had happened earlier in the day. For some reason she felt the need to talk to him,
as if he were the only one who could understand her.
"Where is he?" She said in concern. "He's been gone all day. I hope he and
Tenchi are all right."
"What!" Ayeka cried, rushing into the living room after hearing the space pirate's comments. "He
went to see Lord Tenchi and you didn't tell me!"
Ryoko smiled mischievously. "Is that a problem princess?" Ryoko asked, her back turned toward
Ayeka.
Ayeka fumed silently.
Ryoko chuckled then suddenly straightened her frame. "He's here." She announced, sensing his
presence.
Ayeka relaxed. "You're right." She said also sensing the kenshin's presence.
There was a knock on the door. The two women rushed to open it. Before Ryan could say
hello he was dragged into the house and led to the kitchen. They set him down in one of the
four chairs that surrounded the small antique table before sitting on either side of the young
man. Almost instantly, Ryoko and Ayeka threw a barrage of questions at him.
Ryan raised his hand. "One at a time please." He said calmly.
Ayeka went first. "How is Lord Tenchi?" She asked, her pretty features full of concern.
"Lord Tenchi is fine. I watched over him for most of the day. No harm came to him."
Ryoko and Ayeka breathed a sigh of relief. "So is he still hopping around with that Lia
character?" Ryoko asked in disgust, referring to one of Tenchi's fellow students and most
current girlfriend.
Ryan looked at her. "I saw her with him today so it would appear that he is."
Ryoko and Ayeka pouted.
Ryan suppressed a laugh. These girls have it bad all right. He thought as he sensed the powerful emotions of love and passion for the crown prince emulating from the core of their being. In a way he was both envious and disheartened. Here were two beautiful women fawning over the same man and yet lord Tenchi couldn't decide who he liked more. A waste really. Ryan gave an inward sigh as his eyes fell upon Ryoko. A true beauty. He thought before quickly turning away. Mustn't think such things He scolded as his heart thudded against his chest. He cleared his mind and focused once more on the two ladies. "Don't worry all will turn out well." He said.
"What do you mean kenshin?" Ayeka asked.
Ryan looked back and forth between Ayeka and Ryoko and sighed. What the hell. He thought.
Might as well give them what they want. The kenshin closed his eyes and concentrated.
"Lord Tenchi is worried about this household. He will make a call to his grandfather tonight.
Lord Yosho will tell him about the situation here and Tenchi will arrive tomorrow
to check on all of you and talk to me about his feelings. He's worried
about all of you especially..:"
"Yes." Ryoko and Ayeka said, hanging on the edge of their seats.
"Excuse me" Washu interjected standing behind them.
The girls slumped back in their chairs. Ryan slowly opened his eyes, coming out of
his trance to look at the short scientist.
"Kenshin, you might want to take a look at this." Washu said with a crook of her finger before turning around.
Ryan stood up and followed Washu back to her lab. Ayeka and Ryoko looked
at each other for a second then took off after Washu and Ryan.
Inside Washu's immense lab, Ryan was hunched over one of the computer genius's machines.
"My God," Ryan murmured. "The dark force's energy is enormous. You sure this just developed?"
Washu nodded. "It appeared on my screen ten minutes ago."
Ryan's face hardened. He clenched his jaw and said "We're in trouble. Whatever has been
snatching people has gathered in mass and is coming this way."
"What's going on." Ayeka and Ryoko asked in unison, emerging from the shadows.
Washu and Ryan turned around. "A large energy force has gathered in this quadrant. It is
only a matter of time before it reaches earth." Washu said in her most scientific voice.
Ryan turned away from the women, his features fixed in a scowl. He paced back and forth
for several minutes. The women watched him intently, wondering what he was doing.
Suddenly, he stopped pacing and exclaimed "That's it!"
"What is it?" Ryoko asked.
Ryan looked at all of them. "The force is a collection of people's energy. Whoever or
whatever is behind this is building energy by taking power away from the people they've
abducted. They're trying to take over the universe." He said incredulously.
"My God, how can we defend ourselves from such massive energy." Ayeka exclaimed, her
voice full of fear.
Ryan turned to her. "Don't worry princess. I won't let them take any of you. Not without
a fight." He said reassuringly.
"When will it arrive?" Ryoko asked staring quizzically at Washu.
"Now here's the strange part." Washu began. "Even with all the power the ship has collected,
it's not enough to enter subspace speed. At its current rate of travel it will take the ship
approximately one year to reach earth. That gives us plenty of time to prepare, right kenshin."
The short scientist concluded looking up at Ryan.
Ryan nodded slowly before smiling softly. Having sensed Washu's need for praise he said.
"Yes. Washu your advice and technical expertise will be invaluable. You are after all the,br>
greatest genius in the universe." He said, feeding her pride.
"I am the greatest genius aren't I!" Washu exclaimed loudly.
Ryoko and Ayeka rolled their eyes.
The kenshin's smile faded. "If you ladies will excuse me, I need to speak to Lord Yosho."
Ryan said bowing to Ayeka and staring a second too long at Ryoko before dematerializing.
Washu noticed this and said with a smile, "Well, well Ryoko. Looks like the kenshin has a crush on you."
"Can I help it if I'm drop dead gorgeous." She replied nonchalantly, but inside she was
shocked. The kenshin's gaze was not lost on her. He had looked at her in a way that she
wished Tenchi would but never did. Well, I'll be. She thought with a grin. He likes me.
Chapter 8--Jurai Royal Bloodline
Outside, some distance away, Ryan reappeared in front of Yosho's door. Lord Yosho lived
in a one story house about a mile away from the Masaki home. His house situated beside the
,br> Masaki shrine the elder man was intrusted to care for.
The kenshin knocked softly on the door.
"Come in." A gruff voice called from behind the door.
Ryan entered. He saw Yosho sitting
down at his small table sipping tea and reading a newspaper. "Lord Yosho." Ryan said
bowing slightly.
"Please sit down kenshin." The elder man requested, his head still stuck in the newspaper.
Ryan sat down directly across from Tenchi's grandfather who quickly folded the paper
and dropped it to the side.
"Now, what does a direct descendant of Jurai wish to discuss with me?" Yosho asked, his
brown eyes focused on the young man before him.
A look of surprise spread across the kenshin's handsome face. Yosho sat patiently and waited.
After a few seconds of silence, Ryan sighed. "How did you know?" He asked staring at the older man.
Yosho sipped some tea before setting the cup down. "Last night when you displayed your
power. As powerful as kenshin knights are, they cannot discharge energy from their bodies.
And the type of energy I sensed emitting from you that night was unmistakably the Juraian
Royal Power. You are in fact the direct descendent of Nagashi and therefore related to me
as well."
Ryan turned away from the older man but said nothing.
A small smile tugged at Yosho's lips as he poured a cup of tea for his guest. He slid the cup forward. The kenshin turned his attention to the small blue cup and accepted the offering.
"So kenshin how long have you known about your heritage?" Yosho asked.
"Since I was a little boy." Ryan said softly, taking a small sip of his tea.
Yosho studied the man before him. "You seem ashamed of your ancestry. Why kenshin?"
Ryan stared down at his cup." It's not that Lord Yosho,.." He started then stopped with a
shake of his head.
"It's just that my father told me never to reveal who I really was. That by doing so I would
bring chaos and disorder to Jurai." He admitted at last.
Yosho frowned. "I would think that the people of Jurai would be overwhelmed with joy at
the return of a direct descendant, especially one thought long dead." He replied in a thoughtful
tone.
Ryan nodded slightly, conceding to Yosho's point. "I realize that now, but my father
was adamant about it. " He replied, still staring down at the cup he held in his left hand.
"I take it your father is a direct descendent of Jurai?"
"Was." Ryan replied softly. "He and my mother died when I was nine years old."
Yosho's features saddened. "I'm sorry." He said sincerely.
Ryan nodded. "It was a long time ago and I try not to dwell too much on it."
Yosho closed his eyes. "Ah, but the pain remains." He said knowingly.
"Yes it does." Ryan admitted sadly, gripping tightly to his cup. "More so when I came into
power three years ago." He began. "I knew I had to travel to Jurai. That Jurai needed me
to protect it. And to do that I had to go against my father's wishes that I never go to our home
world. But I had to go, lord Yosho. I had no choice in the matter." He concluded with finality.
"So does anyone outside of us know who you really are?" Yosho asked, turning the subject towards more present matters.
"Until a few weeks ago, I had little contact with the Juraian council. I reported directly to Councilor Meiko. He suspects, perhaps even knows who I really am. After all," Ryan paused, waving a hand around his face. "I do look like Tenchi." He said with a smirk.
Yosho smiled. "Indeed you do." He admitted. "Well, let's not dwell on the past shall we." He said quickly. "Now, noble warrior, what do you wish to talk about?"
Ryan told him of the danger they were all in. Lord Yosho listened attentively as they drank tea. "Yes this is serious indeed. Whoever is behind this will be difficult to defeat. We will need all the help we can get." He said.
"Then Tenchi will be arriving tomorrow?" Ryan asked.
Lord Yosho nodded. "He called earlier today and said he would be paying us a visit tomorrow."
"Well, that should make the ladies happy." Ryan said dryly.
Yosho smiled, thinking of what Ryoko and Ayeka's reaction would be to Tenchi's return. "Yes. When it comes to love, women are irrational creatures. Remember that when you think about Ryoko."
Ryan almost choked on his tea but quickly regained his composure.. "I don't know what you mean." He replied, feigning innocence.
Yosho gave a wave of his hand. "Come now. I saw how you looked at her today. I may be old but I know the look of love when I see it."
Ryan turned away, a sigh escaping from his lips. "Today, I saw everything Ryoko went through as a child growning up without parents. She had no one lord Yosho. Just a I had no.." He said stopping suddenly.
Yosho frowned. "Just as you had no what kenshin?" He asked softly. "No one to care for you? No family? What happened to you as a child, kenshin?"
Ryan shook his head. "I can't talk about it lord Yosho. Those wounds have never fully healed and I don't wish to open them wider." He answered. "Suffice it to say miss Ryoko and I have suffered similar tragedies." He concluded with a small, sad smile.
Yosho studied him for a moment. "Been around many women?" He asked, changing the subject.
"No." Ryan replied, earnestly.
"You poor soul." Yosho said laughing. Ryan frowned then began to laugh too.
A few seconds later, Ryoko and Ayeka reached Yosho's residence. They snuck up to a side window and peered inside.
Ryan stopped laughing. We have visitors. He thought telepathically to Yosho. Yosho stopped laughing and nodded.
What do you expect? You look just like Tenchi. They can't help themselves. Yosho thought back. The two men busted out in laughter again.
"Men." Ayeka said in disgust. "Irrational creatures. I can't understand anything about them."
Ryoko crossed her arms. "Speak for yourself." She said.
"What could they possibly be laughing about." Ayeka said in exasperation.
"From the laughing, I'd say it was about you." Ryoko replied.
Surprisingly Ayeka ignored her so Ryoko switched tactics. "Maybe we should leave them alone." She said.
That got Ayeka's attention. "Don't tell me you're developing a conscious miss Ryoko. You're not sweet on my kenshin knight are you?" Ayeka replied coyly.
"Your kenshin knight?" Ryoko asked incredulously. "Listen princess, even if I was sweet on that guy, which I'm not." She added, the dark night concealing her blush. "Doesn't mean he's yours."
"You forget yourself Ryoko." Ayeka replied. "I am a Juraian princess, he is a knight under service of my kingdom. So technically he is mine."
"So you're sweet on him. Not that I blame you. He is rather attractive." Ryoko commented.
Ayeka fumed. "Of course not! Tenchi is the only man for me!"
"Take a good look inside there princess." Ryoko replied, pointing to the window. "That man is Tenchi."
Ayeka stared through the window at the handsome young man laughing before her. "Yes, so he is." Ayeka murmured. The two young women quietly backed away and headed home.
Chapter 9--Do You Miss It?
A few minutes later Ryan also headed home. The night sky was starlit and a light breeze blew through the trees that grew on the surrounding hills. He closed his eyes and listened. He felt the wind blow around him. How peaceful he thought. I see why Tenchi and Ayeka chose to stay here as well as...Ryan opened his eyes. Standing before him was Ryoko.
"Miss Ryoko." Ryan said softly. "What brings you out here at this time of night?" He asked, besides trying to spy on me. He thought gamely.
Ryoko shrugged. "The same reason as you. To enjoy the peace and quiet." She replied floating upward and sitting on a large tree limb. Ryan watched her movement then followed. "Are you always like this?" She asked, trying hard not to get lost in the traveler's compelling gaze.
Ryan furrowed his eyebrows. "Like what?" He asked, staring at her.
I wish he wouldn't do that. Ryoko thought as her heart began to race. "Considerate and helpful?" She asked after an intense moment of silence.
"Well, it's part of who I am." The kenshin replied with a shrug.
"But why are you so nice to me?" She asked.
"I like you." Ryan said looking away.
Ryoko blushed and turned away. "Is it true that Tenchi's coming home tomorrow?" She asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Yes."
"It's been awhile since I've seen him. I'm not sure how to act around him anymore."
"Just be yourself." Ryan answered staring up at the sky.
"Yeah, I guess." Ryoko replied also staring up at the sky.
"Do you miss it?" Ryan asked looking from the sky to her.
"Space?" She asked.
Ryan nodded.
"Sometimes." She answered. "How about you?"
"It's a funny thing. I've seen many planets and many people but none as beautiful as the earth. I understand why you chose to stay here."
"But you grew up on Jurai didn't you?"
"No. I was born on Calbon, a planet in Jurai territory." He answered.
"I know that planet. I robbed err, visited there many times." She said.
Ryan looked at her sorrowfully. "It was a lonely life for you. You must have been so unhappy." He said softly, studying the space pirate's pretty features.
"Well, I had Ryo-oki so I wasn't totally alone. But you're right, I was unhappy. Then I met Tenchi and my life changed. For the first time in a long time I wasn't alone."
"I know how it feels to be alone. To lose everything you hold dear. To be within a breath of death and have no one to rely on but yourself. Its scary to be alone." Ryan said sadly.
"Amen brother." She whispered as they continued to watch the stars sparkle in the night sky.