Disclaimer: I'm not making any money off this, I don't own Tenchi in any way, and besides, it'd be pointless to sue me, I already owe thousands for tuition and other college expenses.
A/N: Get ready for the results of both tests, it might come as a surprise. Oh yeah, can't forget, credit goes to Erisu. Also, I would like to remind everyone that the first three chapters, though revised grammatically by me, were written by Erisu. I agree about the little bit of out of character-ness but felt it was wrong to change his chapters that much and will try to keep everyone in-character in my chapters (4 and up).
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Although Tenchi was grateful that Washu was willing to help him out, he really wished she wouldn't always have her machines strip and restrain him just to run some tests. Currently, he was suspended in the air with metallic tentacles similar to the ones she first used to test him so long ago. He just hoped that these tests would solve his problem with the dreams and answer some of his questions; after all, how could his dream be so vivid without him having been there? Tenchi decided to just sit back and relax as the tests ran.
As the tests were running, Washu was trying to figure out how to break the news to the family; especially Tenchi and Ayeka, they in particular wouldn't take this very well. Although the tests she was running were mostly just so she could stall for time, she needed to run them to find out who the perpetrator was as she really didn't know who had done this. When all the tests she could possibly run were done she hadn't learned very much new information. All she knew for sure was that her suspicions were correct. She decided she might as well tell Tenchi first, apart from the family, and the same for Ayeka. Bringing up her computer, she released Tenchi from his restraints and let him get dressed.
"Tenchi, I'm afraid I wasn't able to help you with your dream, but I do know who the person that attacked Ayeka was now."
"Thank you for trying anyway Washu, why don't we wait for the whole family for the other news though, O.K.?"
"I don't think that's a very good idea Tenchi, you'll want to hear this in private."
Tenchi was quite puzzled by this. "Why would I want to hear this in private Washu?"
"Because my news is very bad. You see… the person who attacked Ayeka was you Tenchi."
"WHAT!!! THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!! I DON'T BELIVE IT, STOP KIDDING AROUND WASHU!!"
"I know it's hard to believe Tenchi, but think for a moment, do you remember what you were doing just before the attack?"
"Of cour…, oh my god, no I don't, but how is that possible?"
"No offense was intended Tenchi, but I had to run some tests to be sure. You were mind controlled by a genetically engineered virus specifically targeted to your DNA. There were still some traces of it left in your body, but I removed them and created an anti-virus for it that your body will make from now on; you can't be controlled like that again."
"But how… how did a virus do that to me… and how did I get it?" As what he had involuntarily done began to sink in Tenchi was staring to break down.
"I think the virus modified your brain to generate a telepathic link that could control you for a short time. It was probably in the water or air, I'll have to scan the rest of the family to make sure something like this doesn't happen to anyone else." Washu noticed that Tenchi was starting to break down and tried to comfort him. "Tenchi… this wasn't your fault, don't blame yourself."
Tenchi was sobbing now, he understood how his dream could be so vivid, he didn't share any kind of telepathic link with Ayeka, he had been there, he was the one that had done all that to her. "You don't understand Washu, this was my fault, and I should have been able to control myself. Now, no one can ever trust me again, I… I'm a monster!"
"No Tenchi! This isn't your fault, it's more mine than it is yours, I may not know exactly who did this, but I'm sure whoever it is had to be one of my colleagues or pupils, there are very few people that could engineer a virus like this. My security should have been better too, I'm responsible for protecting this home and I failed."
"You are not the person responsible for protecting this family Washu. I am, and I not only failed, I even attacked one of my guests… one of my friends. I realize I was controlled, but I don't think I can forgive myself."
"Dammit Tenchi. This isn't your fault."
"Washu, I need some time alone to think, please don't tell the others about this yet, I need to be the one to tell Ayeka, and I don't want the rest of the family to know until after she does O.K.? Just try to figure out who created the virus until then."
"O.K. Tenchi, I'll respect your wishes."
Tenchi left Washu's lab and headed strait to his room. On his way up Ryoko came up behind him and grabbed him in her usual good morning hug. Although he didn't exactly hate her hugs, he didn't appreciate the way she always came out of nowhere without any warning. This time she'd also chosen the worst possible time to surprise him, he'd already had a bad enough surprise earlier.
"RYOKO! GET OFF ME, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Ryoko was more than a little surprised. Although Tenchi usually resisted her hugs a little, he had never yelled at her like that. She responded in a meek voice. "I… I'm sorry Tenchi, I didn't mean to make you mad."
Realizing he'd let his problems get the best of him, Tenchi calmed down a little. "I'm sorry Ryoko, I guess I'm just not in a very good mood right now and, quite frankly, I don't really like it when you surprise me like that."
"I didn't realize that Tenchi, I'm sorry. I'll try to stop surprising you like that if you want."
"I would appreciate that very much Ryoko. Right now I need to go think though, so I'll see you later, O.K.?"
"O.K. Tenchi, I'll see you later."
Tenchi just continued up the stairs and went into his room. After he closed the door, he sat on his bed to think. For a long time he just thought about how he was going to explain this to Ayeka. He couldn't just come right out and say that he was the father of her child; he needed to find a way to explain this to her so that she wouldn't kill him before he could explain. Unfortunately, Tenchi knew that there was really no beating around the bush with this; he'd just have to explain how he was mind controlled first. He also knew that Ayeka would probably never trust him again, and he felt that was the worst part of this, except that she was hurt and violated, of course. Just thinking that brought tears to Tenchi's eyes, he couldn't bear that he was the one that had hurt Ayeka so much. Tenchi also realized that he needed to find a place he could talk to Ayeka without her becoming too scared because they'd be alone; that left out the woods, any bedrooms or other enclosed spaces and pretty much anywhere he could think of. He ended up deciding that taking a walk around the lake would be his best bet, after all, she wouldn't be enclosed in the forest and would at least still be in clear view of the house. Tenchi reigned in his emotions and prepared himself for his talk with Ayeka. As soon as he was sure all traces of his tears were gone he got up and went in search of her. After searching the entire house he found her at her favorite spot, her garden.
"Ayeka, can I talk to you?"
"Of course Tenchi. Is it about the test results?"
"Yes, but can we take a walk around the lake while we talk?"
Ayeka was delighted Tenchi had asked her on a walk, even with the impending news she was expecting, but then she realized how difficult it would be with her crutches; although she could limp around well enough to water her garden, she was sure she couldn't make it on a long walk without aid.
"I'd love to Tenchi, but I don't think I can do it with my crutches."
Even with the horrible news he had weighing him down, Tenchi still blushed a little as he thought of a solution.
"Well, I could support you if you like. I'd really like to talk in private."
Ayeka also blushed at his idea and was surprised as well. Although Tenchi was nice to all the girls, he usually tried to avoid prolonged physical contact.
"O.K. Tenchi, I think that would work."
Tenchi cracked a small smile as he put his arm around Ayeka's shoulder to support her. He was happy to help of course, but he usually wasn't really able to be close to Ayeka as often as he was with Ryoko (because of her hugs/death grips) and oddly, he missed the few times he had. Tenchi was also treasuring this time with her because he was sure that after he told her the news he would probably never see her again, let alone be close to her. As they started off on their walk they created a comfortable rhythm to easily glide along. After they were a fair ways from the house and he felt that not even Ryoko would be able to hear them Tenchi finally built up the courage to start this dreaded conversation.
"Ayeka, before I tell you the results of the test, would it be alright if we talk about something else?"
Although she was a little surprised that Tenchi didn't want to get strait to the point Ayeka relished each moment she could spend with Tenchi and didn't mind.
"Um… sure Tenchi."
Tenchi took a deep breath and began his explanation. "O.K., well, I talked to Washu today before we got the results of your test. You see, I've been having a very vivid nightmare about your attack since that day and it's been driving me crazy, I saw everything that happened to you before we found you. After I told Washu about the dream she agreed to do some tests on me. She found and removed traces of a virus specifically targeted to me, she also modified my body so it automatically creates antibodies to target that virus."
"Do you know what that virus was made to do? Is that why you've been having nightmares?"
"Unfortunately, that virus is responsible for the dreams only indirectly. You see, the purpose of that virus was to create a telepathic link in my brain that could control me for a short while."
"I don't understand what you mean, did the telepathic link feed you those dreams somehow?"
Tenchi was holding back tears as he could no longer hold the truth from Ayeka. "No Ayeka… my dream was so vivid because… because I was there. The telepathic link was able to control my body for several minutes… and in that time… it made me attack you." Tenchi had stopped and was kneeling on the ground sobbing now. "I… I'm… I am the one who attacked you Ayeka, I can never forgive myself, and I don't expect you to either. I wouldn't blame you if you kill me where I stand."
Ayeka, to say the very least, was in turmoil. She now knew that the baby she carried was from no stranger, but from the man she loved; however, the conception of this baby was by no means by mutual agreement, and he had been mind controlled to boot. After Tenchi had revealed that he was the attacker physically, she had some short flashbacks from when she regained consciousness for a few seconds after he'd tied her up. Although she knew it wasn't really Tenchi that had attacked her, she was a little bit scared of him now. But then what Tenchi had just said sunk in as she saw him sobbing at her feet. As much as her mind told her to be afraid of Tenchi, her heart just wouldn't allow it, especially with him sobbing there. She knelt down and took him in her arms, guiding him to her shoulder.
"Tenchi, I know that wasn't you, I don't blame you."
"How can you not blame me, I'm supposed to protect you, and look what I've done."
"That wasn't you Tenchi, I know that, I forgive you, please forgive yourself. In the past few weeks you've shown me what kind of person you are; caring, nurturing, kind, you're all those things, not the monster that controlled you for those few minutes."
Tenchi slowly stopped sobbing and backed away enough to look into Ayeka's eyes. He could hardly believe how easily she forgave him; or how much she must care for him to be trying to ease his pain right now rather than vent her own. Looking into her eyes he saw pain, yes, but it wasn't only for herself, she was actually feeling pain from him blaming himself. At that moment he decided he would do all he could to spare her from any pain, especially pain caused by him.
"Thank you Ayeka, I guess I needed to hear that. O.K., I'll forgive myself… for you. But please, I don't want the rest of the family to know about this yet, I don't think I'm ready to tell them."
"Alright Tenchi, we can keep it between ourselves and Washu for now, but eventually we will have to tell them."
"I know Ayeka, I just am not ready yet, especially for my dad's reaction, I just hope he's mature enough not to pull the same thing he did when Ryo-ohki hatched. Would you like to go back now? It is getting late and Sasami would be mad if we missed dinner."
"O.K. Tenchi, lets go back and have dinner, we can talk more in the morning."
Tenchi again supported Ayeka, although he was in too contemplative a mood to blush this time, and they started back to the house. Perhaps not tonight, but soon, the whole family would know what had happened and hopefully they would also find out who was responsible.
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A/N: Well, that's the end of this chapter, I hope you were surprised and pleased with the way I handled it. In the next chapter, Tenchi will work up the resolve to reveal his secret to the rest of his family and the real villain will be introducd. I'm open to suggestions for this villain, but if you want a crossover, I'm afraid the only other anime I've watched enough of is DBZ, and even then I've not seen a ton of episodes. Don't forget to review or email me please. (: