There was fear. And confusion. Confusion unlike anyone had ever known. It spread from student to student as the new girl ran out of the room; embarrassed at the havoc she had just caused. Students who had been hit by flying glass had forgotten about their wounds, and those who had managed to avoid it had forgotten it hit anyone. But all were questioning what had happened.
It began that Ryoko, Aeka, and Tenchi had begun their daily fight, and the whole class had begun their usual routine to avoid the damages. They had the daily poll going on who would win today, and their teacher, Karamorita Mariko, was voted most likely to win. Then, the entire room was thrown into a filtering darkness and glass from the windows and lights exploded. And the newest member of the school, Okuda Rei, caused all this. What was going on? After the whole ordeal, Rei acted like she didn't know what happened! Something was totally wrong!
Ryoko stood, watching the door of the room, even though the one who had run out was beyond her range of vision.
Tenchi, noticing his girlfriend staring, waved his hand vigorously in front of her face. She jerked her attention to him, and he gave her a confused look.
"Are you all right?" He asked, referring to the effect Rei had on her.
"I'm fine," she replied flatly, then she turned her eyes back to the doorway, a deep wrinkle of thought in her forehead. She stood for sometime, watching something that wasn't there. Suddenly, she dashed out of the room in hot pursuit of the new girl.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi yelled, and he followed her.
"Tenchi-kun!" Aeka screamed. She ran after the prince, but stopped suddenly as she reached the doorway and bowed to her teacher, muttering her apologies. Then, she continued on her way.
Ryoko reached the outside and shielded her head from the rain that had started to pour. After a quick glance, she picked up her right foot and prepared to run blindly ahead, but stopped when she felt Tenchi's firm grip on her wrist.
Tenchi spun the demon around to face him and brushed her sopping hair out of her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, genuinely worried for her.
"Tenchi, let me go!" she screamed above the loud rumble of thunder that echoed across the sky.
"Ryoko, what's wrong? What was that about?" Aeka asked, coming up behind Tenchi and gasping for breath.
"I want answers!" Ryoko said. With that, she wrenched her hand out of Tenchi's grasp and teleported into the sky, in search of the raven hared female.
The oni squinted her eyes through the downpour. Up ahead, she saw a flicker of green and black, and knew it was Okuda. Quickly, she flew in the direction of the flicker and landed in front of Rei.
"Rei, what just happened?" Ryoko screamed, her voice colder than she really wanted it to be.
Kyoko looked up into her friend's face, and even more fear spread to her mind. She tried to go around the cyan-hared beauty, but Ryoko stepped in front of her again, blocking her way out.
"What do you want, Ryoko?" she choked out, tears blending with the rain on her face.
"Don't give me that bull, you know what I want!" she replied. "What happened back in the classroom?"
"I don't know, all right! Let me go!" The scared pirate didn't want to be anywhere near anyone, especially Ryoko, in fear she'd cause something else to happen.
Lightning flashed across the sky, and Kyoko covered her eyes, which had begun to turn back to their original violet color.
Ryoko took advantage of the girl's temporary blindness and struck out, knocking her to the ground and rendering her unconscious. Crouching down, she picked up her old friend, cradling in her arms. She knew that as long as Rei was in a panic, she would never get anything out of her. She needed rest, and Ryoko gave it to her. It was violent, but Ryoko hoped it would help.
Slowly, she stood up as Tenchi and Aeka came into view.
"Ryoko, what did you do to her?" Tenchi asked disapprovingly.
"Here, hold her," Ryoko ordered, relieved that he had come along. She carefully passed Kyoko's limp form to him. "We need to get her back to the apartment! Please trust me!"
"What..." Aeka gasped, praying her legs didn't give out from underneath her. She hadn't run this much since she was a child. She shook her now matted hair from her face, but it just fell right back. "What did you do to her, Ryoko?"
"I had no choice! Have you ever tried to talk to a person who was in a panic?" The summoner reached out and placed one hand on the princess's shoulder (Aeka shivered, startled at Ryoko's sudden movement) and the other hand on Tenchi's. In a split second, all four were standing in a tiny kitchen in their apartment.
Sasami, who was working fluently on that nights supper, jumped when she turned to face four, sopping wet teenagers who had appeared out of nowhere in her workspace (one of which was unconscious).
"What are you guys doing home?" she asked, trying to slow down her speeding heart. "You scared me to…what happened?"
Tenchi shifted the girl in his arms, who had begun to feel like a ton of bricks a bag. "Ryoko, that's what happened."
Sasami glared disapprovingly at her friend. "Ryoko-san..."
"Traitor," Ryoko mumbled, narrowing her eyes playfully at the successor. Tenchi poked out his tongue tauntingly.
"Kids," Aeka growled, shaking her head. Her sister giggled at her comment then marched Tenchi to the nearest bedroom so he could lay Kyoko down.
~*~
Kyoko slowly opened her eyes to the world around her, and found herself in a strange room, in a strange bed, with the worst headache she had ever had. It was even worse than her last hangover, and that's really saying something!
"Ah, great!" Sasami said enthusiastically. "You're awake!" She placed the damp, off white washcloth back into the glass bowl beside her and got up, stretching her stiff and sore muscles and allowing her right knee to pop loudly.
"Whuhappened?" Kyoko tried to speak, but all her words slurred together, and try as hard as she might, she couldn't get out of bed. The skirt she had worn to school that day was uncomfortably wet, therefore soaking the brilliant blue cotton sheets she lay beneath. Her vest and thin white shirt were also wet, and they stuck to her body like glue.
"Don't try to get up," the little princess ordered, laying her hand on the girl's rising shoulder. "You are in no shape."
"Whathappened?" the pirate asked again, enunciating as best as she could. Her headache didn't make anything any better, so her words still ran together.
"Ryoko hit you upside the head and knocked you out," Sasami replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
Rei didn't say anything, just reached her quivering hand to her forehead, groaning in distress.
Sasami giggled quietly. "I agree, Kyoko-san! Ryoko can hit very well!"
"Try being on the..." Kyoko trailed off, then looked at her little caretaker. No, looked is an understatement. She was glaring at her, sending chills down the girl's spine. "What did you just say?"
"I-I-I s-said that Ry-Ryoko coul-d h-h-it-t very well," Sasami stuttered in fear. The look she was receiving was causing her to shake and cower where she stood. It was like hell on ice, death resurrected…Ryoko resurrected (and we know how well that went over…he he he he)…
"I know, before that," Kyoko hissed, not letting her look of fury settle down. She knew what had been said, and it angered her.
Sasami gulped in terror. She had never seen such a look before from anyone. Not even during Ryoko and Aeka's fights. "I s-said-d I ag-g-gree..." Then, her eyes shot open, and she was no longer scared. She understood what she had let slip. "Kyoko-san," she whispered.
The raven hared woman's face shifted into a flat look as she nodded. "How do you know, Sasami-chan?"
"Washuu told me everything!" the Jurain princess blurted out. "She said we'd have a better chance at solving this problem if there were two people working together on it!"
"Is that so, Washuu?" Okuda asked into thin air. In her mind, she heard a snort as the genius woke up. "Washuu, why didn't you tell me you told Sasami about this?"
"Huh? What?" Washuu stammered over her link with Kyoko.
"I asked you why you didn't tell me you got Sasami involved in this?!" the pirate asked coldly, hating to have to repeat herself again.
"Oh...you weren't supposed to know that. Hang on a sec."
Rei sat in silence, waiting for Washuu to return. Suddenly, Sasami began to speak into the silence. Apparently, she also had a microchip link with the scientist.
After holding her own personal conversation with the goddess-gone-human, the pigtailed girl raised her puppy dog-like eyes nervously to her friend.
"You're...you're not mad at me, are you Kyoko-san?"
Kyoko couldn't help but chuckle at the little one's innocence. "No, Sasami-chan, what gave you that idea?"
A deep crease found it's way to Sasami's forehead. "You looked at me like you wanted to slaughter me!"
The pirate's chuckles became full-fledged laughs. "I was never mad at you! I thought I messed up already, and had broken the block from the pill!"
"Nani?"
"I was mad at myself," Kyoko clarified.
Sasami's head rose in understanding.
"So, ya hungry?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Famished!"
"Good!" she squeaked. Then turning to the door, the little Jurain chirped, "I'll get you when dinner's ready! You need rest!" Then, she silently bounced out of her room.
Kyoko rose to her elbows, staring out the glass of the window to the storm outside. But she wasn't really paying any attention. Though her head throbbed, she began to think again about something that had been one her mind for a couple of days.
Her fighting skills were as good as they had ever been, and she was in top shape almost six months ago. So why...?
"Washuu?" she called uncertainly, almost certain she would be ignored. But when she heard a grunt telling her the genius was listening, she was rather surprised. She sighed a little in relief and continued. "Do you remember a couple weeks after I came along, who paid us a visit?"
"Sure, Nagi. Why?"
"Well, did she act a bit odd to you?" Kyoko waited patiently for an answer, but when none came, she spoke again. "I mean, I know it's not like her to take advantage of those who aren't in top shape (especially the wounded), but both Ryoko and I were in top shape, yet she was quick to leave as soon as she found out I was alive…"
"You've been thinking about this an awful lot, haven't you?" Washuu interrupted.
"Sadly, yes," the woman joked. "Well, I guess this sounds weird, but maybe...do you think she could have somehow known that something was wrong, and left because she didn't want to get herself mixed up in it?"
"I hate to admit this, but your guess is as good as mine, Kyoko-san."
"Yeah..." Rei whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "Damn her."
~*~
It was November ninth; four days after Operation "Send the Entire Family into Future Tokyo with no Freaking Clue as to Why" had been launched, and sadly, had backfired. Kyoko was once again living in the same place as the rest, which was NOT supposed to happen. But, it had, none the less, and the pirate was forced to deal with it. Besides, she still got the chance to enjoy Sasami's cooking, and that was always a positive. And that's exactly what she, and the rest of the family at that, was doing.
"Mmm-mmm!" Mihoshi said, smacking her lips. "This is so scrummy, Sasami-chan!"
Sasami giggled like the little girl she was, thanking the GP officer.
"I have to agree with the blonde one, Sasami!" Ryoko said, wiping her mouth against the blue and green of her sleeve. Then, she bent over and grabbed one of her chopsticks, the smaller end to her plate and pulling back the larger end behind a small piece of fish that she had been saving. Then, she straightened her back and gave a quick glance at her boyfriend, who was chatting happily with Kiyone and Rei. Seeing he was busy, the pirate let go of the larger end of her utensil, sending the chunk of food flying across the table and into Aeka's hair.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" she screamed, sounding more like her rival than herself and causing everyone to stare at her. Something had just hit her in the head and stuck, pulling her out of thought. She began clawing at her head frantically, failing to notice Ryoko's face puff up as she tried to control her laughter.
When the first crown princess found the fish and pulled it from her violet strands, Ryoko could no longer stop herself. She burst out in savage laughter and fell back onto the floor.
"RYOKO!!!!" Aeka screamed, squishing the meat against her palm as her hand balled up into a fist. "How…dare…you!"
Ryoko didn't say anything, she just continued to laugh hysterically.
"Ryoko," Tenchi said, bringing her joke to an end with his angry tone. "Why did you do that?"
The cyan summoner rose off her back and looked down at the ground between her crossed legs, ashamed. She hated it when he was angry with her. "I'm sorry, Tenchi," she said, ashamed.
"Aeka, please sit down!" the prince gently ordered.
Aeka looked from her only love to the prankster and back. She wanted to start a fight, but knew the lord wouldn't be too happy with her. So, instead, she did as she was told. And soon, the babble slowly rose again.
"Ryoko-san!"
Ryoko looked to the side and saw Okuda peeking her head around Tenchi's back. She raised her eyebrow to acknowledge that she was listening.
"That was beautiful!" the girl mouthed, receiving a smirk in response.
"It was, wasn't it?" Ryoko whispered, causing Rei to giggle silently.
Tenchi took notice of this and followed her gaze to the demon, who had quickly turned her gaze to the first thing that caught her eye (Ryo-ohki). Not knowing what was going on, he shook his head and turned back to his food, but wound up doing a double take as his vision detected something he had never noticed before.
He reached up and brushed her sideburn out of the way so he could get a better look at it. She jumped and gasped in surprise, looking at him curiously.
"No, no," he cooed softly, catching Aeka's attention.
She looked up, and a jolt of pain stabbed her heart at the gentleness of his touch. How she longed for him to touch her like that. But all she could remember was his comforting arms around her waist when he hugged her for the very last time, six months ago.
"Turn back."
Visibly reluctant, Ryoko followed his words and allowed him to inspect what had caught his attention.
The skin on a small portion of her face was paler than the rest, and it was slightly wrinkled. He had never noticed it before because her hair had covered it perfectly.
"Is that a scar?" Tenchi asked.
Ryoko wasn't caught off guard, she knew exactly what he had been examining, but she really didn't feel like talking about it.
"It's nothing," she said, waving his hand away.
"Ryoko-san, how'd you get it?" he insisted.
"Tenchi, do you remember what happened last time you tried to persuade me to talk about my past?" the pirate questioned, raising her right hand, showing off the scar in her palm.
Catching on to her unwillingness to talk, Tenchi dropped into silence...
...And Kyoko turned back to the conversation she had left to listen.
~*~
November cold. Bittersweet wind. It nipped at Ryoko's bare legs as green and blue dress floated smoothly with the soft updrafts, like a bird glides on its wings. But the cold didn't really bother her. It never did. She seemed to have a strange immunity to it. Even still, she shivered as it kissed her skin.
The pirate stood on the balcony of the new Masaki apartment, looking to the moon. Sounds of the streets below drifted to her ears, but she paid them no attention. She didn't even care how far into the future her mother had sent them (but she found it strange that Tokyo had street names). At the time, all she cared about was that moon.
In the city, the satellite wasn't pearly white and silvery blue. Here, it was nothing more than a yellow orb, reflecting the lights of the many buildings and streets below it. And Ryoko hated it, though, she never was much of a city girl. She found it to be too cramped, and there was too much life. No stars, no freedom, no escape. She missed space.
The sound of a sliding glass door opening behind her drew her attention away from the heavens, but the demon didn't look back. Whoever came out would identify themselves in sweet time.
"Hey, Ryoko-san," Rei said, coming up behind her friend and leaning forward on the railing.
"Hey, Okuda," Ryoko replied.
"It's cold out, don't you think?" Okuda shivered and pulled her denim jacket tighter around her shoulders.
"I'm used to it."
The two shared a momentary glance before they both looked to the sky.
"What brings you out here?" Ryoko asked.
"Same thing that brought you," Kyoko answered.
Though she didn't turn her gaze, the summoner raised her eyebrow. "And what do you think brought me out here?" she challenged.
"You have a lot on your mind."
"Ain't that the truth."
Both pirates sighed heavily.
"So what's on your mind?" Ryoko asked, trying to shift the attention from herself.
Kyoko snorted. "Shall I start from the top?"
The golden eyed woman laughed half-heartedly.
"Ryoko-san, I have a question for you," the raven pirate stated.
"Fire away."
"Your scar...did Kagato give it to you?"
Ryoko jumped and grabbed the girl by the collar. "How do you know about Kagato?" she growled dangerously, venom dripping from every syllable and sounding more like her old controller than herself.
Calmly, Rei replied, "I know more than you think."
The oni tightened her grip, glaring at her old partner. She wanted to hurt the girl for barging into her past. She even raised her fist in a threatening manner, but for some reason, she was unable to go through with it. It was almost like it would hurt her to hurt the girl. Strange…
Ryoko let Okuda go, and Kyoko backed off, not even bothering to massage her neck, which had bright red knuckle prints on it. This girl had strength, all right.
"How do you know about Kagato?" Ryoko asked again, this time with desperation.
"If I could tell you, I would," the green-eyed female responded.
The cyan summoner was at a loss for words. Finally, shaking her head, she whispered, "Who are you?"
"You want to know something pathetic?" Kyoko asked, not giving her friend a chance to respond. "I don't really know anymore."
The women looked at each other, Rei calmly, Ryoko not knowing what to do next.
"Yes," Ryoko finally said.
"Yes what?"
"Kagato gave me the scar."
Kyoko smiled. "That's what I figured."
"Why do you want to know?" Ryoko inquired.
Kyoko's smile broadened as she shook her head. "Goodnight, Ryoko," she said. Then, she walked swiftly to the door. But before she went back inside, she gave her friend a profile of her face.
"Have you told Tenchi?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Ryoko snorted and rolled her eyes. "Of course I haven't! He wouldn't understand!" she sneered.
"Of course he wouldn't understand!" Kyoko told her. "Humans don't understand themselves, let alone others!"
The demon was taken by surprise. She didn't see that coming. She cocked her head to the side curiously.
"Do you love him?" Kyoko continued.
Ryoko looked even more confused.
"With all my heart and soul," she answered. "It's no big secret."
"Then he deserves to know." With that, the one known as Rei walked back into the apartment.
The space pirate stared after her new classmate for a few moments, completely perplexed. Then, she turned back to the golden moon.
She had no idea what had just happened. How did Rei know so well? It's like she wasn't who she pretended to be. Was she trustworthy?
Absentmindedly, Ryoko raised her hand and gingerly ran the tops of her nails and fingers along the scar. Then, she dropped her hand to her side and slid it between her waistband and dress, right where her fatal wound had been.
The oni's dreams flickered in her mind's eye. Such deep sorrow, unlike anything she had ever felt before. Kagato had taught her to never feel emotion. But it had never worked. Especially considering here she was, silent pain coursing through her veins.
But Rei may have just told her a way to relieve at least a little of her burden.
Silently, Ryoko withdrew her hand from her waist and teleported to Tenchi's room.
Ryoko watched as Tenchi's hand zoomed across a sheet of notebook paper, writing in words too small to see from where she was standing. Homework. She wanted to know why he even bothered, but remembered that he felt he had to be a good student, no matter what. So, instead, she glided silently up to his chair.
"Tenchi-kun?" she cooed, laying her tiny hand on his large and strong one, stopping his pen.
"Jesus, Ryoko-san!" he yelled in surprise, making a large, black mark through his last kanji sign. "Don't do that to me again! You scared the crap out of me!"
Ryoko backed up and looked at the floor, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be, it's my fault. I'm just...a little stressed." The prince raked his hand nervously through his short, black hair and sighed. He was actually thankful Ryoko came along; he needed a serious break.
"Why are you stressed?" the pirate asked, a bit worried. "And why were you working so hard if you're stressed?"
"I thought it'd keep my mind busy," Tenchi said, gesturing to his writing and shrugging his shoulders. "But it didn't. I've been too worried about you."
"Me?" Ryoko's head jerked up in surprise.
"Yeah. You haven't been yourself lately. At any given point in time you can swing from your normal…hyper…self to…I don't know. It's almost like you're so depressed and distant. I want to help you. Everyone wants to help you, but you just…push us away."
A look of pain drifted across the summoner's face as her love's words sank in. Then, she gave a slight smile as Tenchi walked over to his futon and sat down.
"I was just talking to Rei," she said flatly.
"Okuda-san?" Ryoko nodded. "What'd she have to say?"
"A lot of stuff she shouldn't know."
Tenchi's eyebrow twitched.
"She seemed to know a lot about me; about my past. Hell, she even knew about Kagato."
"How does she know about Kagato?" the boy asked, shocked.
"That's what I said."
Ryoko walked over to the cluttered desk and began shuffling papers for no apparent reason.
"And her reply?" Tenchi asked, intrigued.
"'If I could tell you, I would.' I just don't understand her."
A sudden thought crossed the successor's mind. "Can we trust her? I'm not sure."
"Neither is a part of me. But the other part...just can't help but to trust her."
"Ryoko..." Tenchi whispered, half soothingly, half wanting to catch her attention.
"Maybe it's because she reminds me so much of Kyoko..." Ryoko's voice trailed off.
"Ryoko?" he said again, louder this time.
The girl raised her head to look at him, her vision a bit blurry.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm crying?" She raised her hand to her eye and felt warm tears trickle down her middle finger. Trying to smile again, she replied, "I have a lot on my mind."
Tenchi worriedly patted the mattress beside him. Ryoko walked over and sat down, bringing her legs to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees.
"I don't want to hurt you," he began, winging what he was saying, "but please, can we talk about what's on your mind? It does no good to keep everything bottled up inside."
"That's why I came here," the cyan beauty said softly. "Rei said that I should tell you what happened the day I got my scar, and I've decided to."
Tenchi was disappointed that it was their classmate that had convinced her to fess up instead of him. But, even still, she was going to speak. Maybe now he could help her.
"I guess it all started under Kagato's control, many years ago…
A young Ryoko, physically around the age of fourteen, truly in her late fourteen hundreds, finished the last few beats of her organ solo with little confidence. Though it had taken her almost four months for her to learn and perfect "Autumn of Life", she knew it'd be for nothing.
Her master and controller, Kagato, with his long white hair, pasty skin, and trademark cloak, sat beside her on the piano bench. When Ryoko wasn't out looting or killing (usually both), he had taught her to play the organ. She had real talent, but he refused to let her see it.
But this time it was different. She had worked so hard with empty hopes of pleasing him, and for once it had worked.
When she finished, she looked to him, expecting abuse. It was what usually happened. He'd say she was useless, then he'd hit her. Instead, he smiled, amazed at her skill.
"Master, you are pleased?" Ryoko asked, careful not to let any emotion filter into her voice. He hated all emotions. He believed they showed weakness.
"Quite," he replied before he could stop himself.
He waited for her to smile, to giggle, anything. But her face remained set in stone emotionless.
Like I taught her to be, he thought. Dammit! I can't recall what I said! Now she knows she's excellent! He wanted her to show some signs of emotion. He wanted to gain control again, but no prevail. He had basically handed her his weakness on a silver platter. It was true, he loved hearing her play, and now she knew.
But Kagato wasn't a bastard for nothing. He'd take a whole new route.
Ryoko trembled when her teacher's hand reached up and caressed her cheek. He had never done anything like that before, and she liked it. He was being so gentle to her, and this fact alone was strange.
The summoner reached up with her own hand and held his palm to her cheek, momentarily closing her eyes. Then, she looked back up at him and saw…a faint hint of…sorrow?
No! Emotion shows weakness, Master! You said so yourself!
"Sometimes I wish I had never taught you about emotions," Kagato told his student. "Then you could know happiness when you're playing.
Master, stop! Ryoko mentally screamed. You're messing with my mind! I can't reply! I mustn't reply! I won't…
"I'm sorry," she whispered sincerely.
There it was. Kagato's smile widened. Those two words gave him the chance to cover what he had earlier said. Slowly, he got up and turned to leave.
Ryoko inwardly sighed. He wasn't going to punish her! She had shown some signs of emotion, and he was leaving.
What she didn't expect was what happened next.
Kagato whipped around and struck the young girl as hard as he could across the face.
Ryoko was sent crashing into the organ. She hit her head on the very corner of the wood, and it was almost as though everything was in slow motion. She could feel her flesh and tissue tearing apart, and she heard the blood bubble up and drip out. But with the blood came something else. Something she hadn't felt for so long. A deep and underlying sadness arose, and she had to use all the self-control she had not to cry.
When his student hit the ground, Kagato noticed she didn't get up, like she usually did. She remained in a twisted heap with her head buried in her arms, letting her own blood drip from the organ into her hair.
"Ryoko, what have I told you about being sorry?" he spat. "When will you learn that emotion is the equivalent of a weakness, you God damn useless marionette?!"
The acid of his words ate at Ryoko's heart. He had been using her emotions to regain power over her!
Kagato kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to spit up more of her vital body fluids. But still, she stayed curled up on the ground, staring at the Soja's crystal-like floors. A single tear dropped from her eyes, and the summoner was thankful her master never saw it.
The older pirate spun on his heel, a large smile plastered on his face. He loved being an ass hole, especially to her. Stalking away, he basked in his own glory and power, and the fact that now, she once again had nothing over him.
Ryoko made sure Kagato was out of sight before she rose, shaking, to her knees, clutching her stomach and coughing violently. She didn't feel stable enough to stand, so instead, she leaned against the bench, praying it would hold her weight and not slide.
Her master was gone, and she was finally alone. Alone to deal with the sorrow she felt. He had hurt her terribly, and he knew it. She didn't care anymore. Her teachings, the consequences, they meant nothing to her. All she knew was it was emotion taking over her senses now, and she began to cry.
"From that day on, I swore I'd never play the organ again," Ryoko said, finishing her story. It seemed almost like she was reliving that day. The tears she had shed then came back to grace her cheeks with their sparkling pain. "I knew *hic* that he enjoyed hearing me play, and that bastard knew I *hic* did! And he *sniff* used my emotions against me, just so he could cov-*hic*-er for himself! I hate him so much!"
The oni broke down into heart wrenching sobs, and Tenchi once again understood why she never talked about her past.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, pulling her in and wishing there were something he could do to comfort her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his shoulder.
"Don't be," she choked out.
"Ryoko-san, don't ever think that you can't tell me something!" the successor told her, running his fingers through her quivering mane in a soothing manner. "And don't ever think I won't listen to you, because I will!"
Ryoko raised her head and looked at him. He could tell by the tone of his voice that he was serious, and his face only backed it up. She was grateful to him.
"God, I never thought it'd feel so good to cry," she whispered, laying her head against his chest and attempting to calm her sorrows.
~*~
*Beep!* *Beep!* *Buzz buzz clinkity beep!* *BEEP!!*
Washuu snorted and jolted awake at the sound of her transparent computer booting up. She raised her head sleepily off the keyboard and stretched her sore back and arm muscles. This being on twenty four-hour alert thing was really exhausting, and she had constantly caught herself dozing off at the worst possible points in time. But in this case, last she knew was she was waiting for either Sasami or Kyoko to speak up over the link. She hadn't set her computer to do anything before she fell asleep, yet, here it was, fully activated.
The tiny goddess rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and stared at her monitor as her vision focused. It seemed to be analyzing something, but she didn't know what. She had been inputting data into it all day, but nothing that needed to be analyzed.
Strange, she thought, trying as hard as she could to think about what her computer could be working on.
As her vision focused further, she noticed that it was scanning for possible causes for something. Taking a quick look at all the data, the little girl realized what her computer was doing.
"Damn computer!" she hissed, hitting the keyboard with her fist in attempt to stop it. "I already know the first cause of Ryoko's dreams is human, Kyoko, and the second one was a mistake, so stop!"
But all the banging in the world did nothing to cease the laptop's work. It continued beeping and flashing as it went through all the inputted data on her daughter's nightmares. Finally, with one last *BEEEEEP!* and flash, it stopped, the results of it's search showing on the screen.
"No..." Washuu whispered. Then, as everything pieced itself together in her head under this second solution, she screamed, "NO GOD DAMMIT! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!"
The genius put her foot straight through the holo screen in anger and distress, causing it to shatter and disappear.
"Link! Kyoko!" she screamed into thin air in attempt to contact the pirate to tell her.
"Link deactivated," a monotonous electronic voice said in reply. This caused Washuu to puff up in anger.
"Shit! Then link Sasami!"
"Link deactivated! Didn't you get it the first time, Washuu-chan?"
"Why did I give you a personality?! This is serious! If I don't get a hold of them, they're ALL going to die!"
"Fine, fine," the computer said in defeat, "I'll get to it."
Why didn't I see this before?! Age: 1112! Eleven twelve! NOVEMBER 12th!! The genius thought in complete panic, suddenly realizing what everything meant. It's going to happen in two freaking days!.
~*~
Ryoko stood in the same place that had haunted her in her dreams for so long. The dark, desolate, and cold realm welcomed the pirate with an evil beckoning.
Yet, Ryoko had no idea what was going on. There was no blood, there was no pain, and there was no death. This was not the same. Was it all over?
Suddenly, Sasami appeared in front of her, lying spread eagle on the ground. She didn't seem to be breathing; there was no rising and falling of her chest.
Without thinking, the woman ran over to the little girl and knelt beside her. But when she reached out, she hesitated, remembering what happened the last time.
I'm not the one dying this time, she is! She thought to herself, reaching out and picking up the princess's limp wrist and checking for a pulse. Finding none, Ryoko picked up her body and held it close to her, shaking her shoulders.
"Sasami-chan, wake up!" she called into the darkness, unsure of what else to do. She might have done CPR…if she knew what that was.
"She's not going to wake up, Ryoko," a cold and malicious voice said.
Ryoko's voice whipped up in surprise, and she saw the same shadowy figure that had taken her life many times before. Except, the outline was more clearly defined, and she saw that it was a girl. She drew from the air a blazing blue blade and made her way to the demon summoner.
"You're such a fool," the voice continued, not at all matching the female that it came from. It was deep and powerful, and it sent chills down Ryoko's spine. "I've been practically telling you since the beginning, and you still don't know who I am! It's really pissing me off!"
Ryoko couldn't speak. There was just no way! The girl's fingers had wrapped around her neck, and they were practically crushing her windpipe. She tried to defend herself against her captor, but the figure just sliced her sword through her stomach.
"There's no use fighting," the shadow spat.
Then, Ryoko felt herself falling to the ground as it let go of her, doubling over and clutching its head. "No! Please! Help!" it pleaded silently. "I can't…kill her!" This voice matched the shadow. It was a girl's, and she was desperate. Something clicked in her brain, and finally Ryoko knew. She knew who had been killing her. She knew whom both voices belonged to, and who the shadow was.
"Ryoko! Ryoko!" A faint and far off voice called her name, and she felt herself being shaken violently. But she resisted giving in. She wanted to help the girl, but found it to be no use. The distant voice just wouldn't give up, and finally, Ryoko let herself be pulled away…
"Ryoko! Wake up!" Tenchi said, giving his girlfriend another good shake. He watched relieved as her eyes shot open.
"What?!" she screamed coldly, shoving him away. She had just figured out her dreams and he woke her up, causing her to forget her killer's identity. "What is it?!"
"There's blood in the bed!" he told her, frantically pointing to a large red puddle in the center of the mattress. Ryoko whipped onto her stomach and stared, bewildered, at the stain.
"Where the hell did that come from?" she asked him, sticking her finger in the center of it. It was fresh.
"I don't know! I woke up with my hand in it!"
The pirate stared intently at the crimson mark. She had a feeling where it came from, but she was too scared to look. Yet, the answer was bound to show its ugly face soon, so why not speed it up?
Slowly, she rose to her knees and looked down. A deep, sword-given gash ran across her stomach, dripping blood onto her torn shirt. Raising her hand to her wound, she drew Tenchi's attention from the stain to her.
"I know where it came from," she said, waving her free hand in a gesture for him to look down.
When the boy saw the tattered, bloody shirt and the incision in the girl's skin, he gasped.
"Ryoko-san, what happened?"
Ryoko shook her head, not really knowing, but stopped almost as soon as she started. She knew what had happened.
"My dream," she whispered, knowing she had his full attention, "I received a wound just like this one in my dream tonight!"
"Meaning...?" Tenchi asked, not realizing what she was getting at.
"Meaning they aren't just nightmares...they're premonitions..."
~*Notes from Minagi*~
Ha! Finally! The end is near! This story is drawing to a climatic point! And the end is in sight! Yay! But the next chapter may take me quite a while because, not only is summer drawing to an end and I have to go back to school soon (Waaaaahhhh!), I'm debating whether to combine chapters ten and eleven into one. Besides, I seriously need to work out my thoughts on the ending.
This chapter may be a little confusing, I'm sorry, but I hope you liked it, none the less. Please review! I love hearing from you guys!! Arigatou, and until next time!!
It began that Ryoko, Aeka, and Tenchi had begun their daily fight, and the whole class had begun their usual routine to avoid the damages. They had the daily poll going on who would win today, and their teacher, Karamorita Mariko, was voted most likely to win. Then, the entire room was thrown into a filtering darkness and glass from the windows and lights exploded. And the newest member of the school, Okuda Rei, caused all this. What was going on? After the whole ordeal, Rei acted like she didn't know what happened! Something was totally wrong!
Ryoko stood, watching the door of the room, even though the one who had run out was beyond her range of vision.
Tenchi, noticing his girlfriend staring, waved his hand vigorously in front of her face. She jerked her attention to him, and he gave her a confused look.
"Are you all right?" He asked, referring to the effect Rei had on her.
"I'm fine," she replied flatly, then she turned her eyes back to the doorway, a deep wrinkle of thought in her forehead. She stood for sometime, watching something that wasn't there. Suddenly, she dashed out of the room in hot pursuit of the new girl.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi yelled, and he followed her.
"Tenchi-kun!" Aeka screamed. She ran after the prince, but stopped suddenly as she reached the doorway and bowed to her teacher, muttering her apologies. Then, she continued on her way.
Ryoko reached the outside and shielded her head from the rain that had started to pour. After a quick glance, she picked up her right foot and prepared to run blindly ahead, but stopped when she felt Tenchi's firm grip on her wrist.
Tenchi spun the demon around to face him and brushed her sopping hair out of her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, genuinely worried for her.
"Tenchi, let me go!" she screamed above the loud rumble of thunder that echoed across the sky.
"Ryoko, what's wrong? What was that about?" Aeka asked, coming up behind Tenchi and gasping for breath.
"I want answers!" Ryoko said. With that, she wrenched her hand out of Tenchi's grasp and teleported into the sky, in search of the raven hared female.
The oni squinted her eyes through the downpour. Up ahead, she saw a flicker of green and black, and knew it was Okuda. Quickly, she flew in the direction of the flicker and landed in front of Rei.
"Rei, what just happened?" Ryoko screamed, her voice colder than she really wanted it to be.
Kyoko looked up into her friend's face, and even more fear spread to her mind. She tried to go around the cyan-hared beauty, but Ryoko stepped in front of her again, blocking her way out.
"What do you want, Ryoko?" she choked out, tears blending with the rain on her face.
"Don't give me that bull, you know what I want!" she replied. "What happened back in the classroom?"
"I don't know, all right! Let me go!" The scared pirate didn't want to be anywhere near anyone, especially Ryoko, in fear she'd cause something else to happen.
Lightning flashed across the sky, and Kyoko covered her eyes, which had begun to turn back to their original violet color.
Ryoko took advantage of the girl's temporary blindness and struck out, knocking her to the ground and rendering her unconscious. Crouching down, she picked up her old friend, cradling in her arms. She knew that as long as Rei was in a panic, she would never get anything out of her. She needed rest, and Ryoko gave it to her. It was violent, but Ryoko hoped it would help.
Slowly, she stood up as Tenchi and Aeka came into view.
"Ryoko, what did you do to her?" Tenchi asked disapprovingly.
"Here, hold her," Ryoko ordered, relieved that he had come along. She carefully passed Kyoko's limp form to him. "We need to get her back to the apartment! Please trust me!"
"What..." Aeka gasped, praying her legs didn't give out from underneath her. She hadn't run this much since she was a child. She shook her now matted hair from her face, but it just fell right back. "What did you do to her, Ryoko?"
"I had no choice! Have you ever tried to talk to a person who was in a panic?" The summoner reached out and placed one hand on the princess's shoulder (Aeka shivered, startled at Ryoko's sudden movement) and the other hand on Tenchi's. In a split second, all four were standing in a tiny kitchen in their apartment.
Sasami, who was working fluently on that nights supper, jumped when she turned to face four, sopping wet teenagers who had appeared out of nowhere in her workspace (one of which was unconscious).
"What are you guys doing home?" she asked, trying to slow down her speeding heart. "You scared me to…what happened?"
Tenchi shifted the girl in his arms, who had begun to feel like a ton of bricks a bag. "Ryoko, that's what happened."
Sasami glared disapprovingly at her friend. "Ryoko-san..."
"Traitor," Ryoko mumbled, narrowing her eyes playfully at the successor. Tenchi poked out his tongue tauntingly.
"Kids," Aeka growled, shaking her head. Her sister giggled at her comment then marched Tenchi to the nearest bedroom so he could lay Kyoko down.
~*~
Kyoko slowly opened her eyes to the world around her, and found herself in a strange room, in a strange bed, with the worst headache she had ever had. It was even worse than her last hangover, and that's really saying something!
"Ah, great!" Sasami said enthusiastically. "You're awake!" She placed the damp, off white washcloth back into the glass bowl beside her and got up, stretching her stiff and sore muscles and allowing her right knee to pop loudly.
"Whuhappened?" Kyoko tried to speak, but all her words slurred together, and try as hard as she might, she couldn't get out of bed. The skirt she had worn to school that day was uncomfortably wet, therefore soaking the brilliant blue cotton sheets she lay beneath. Her vest and thin white shirt were also wet, and they stuck to her body like glue.
"Don't try to get up," the little princess ordered, laying her hand on the girl's rising shoulder. "You are in no shape."
"Whathappened?" the pirate asked again, enunciating as best as she could. Her headache didn't make anything any better, so her words still ran together.
"Ryoko hit you upside the head and knocked you out," Sasami replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
Rei didn't say anything, just reached her quivering hand to her forehead, groaning in distress.
Sasami giggled quietly. "I agree, Kyoko-san! Ryoko can hit very well!"
"Try being on the..." Kyoko trailed off, then looked at her little caretaker. No, looked is an understatement. She was glaring at her, sending chills down the girl's spine. "What did you just say?"
"I-I-I s-said that Ry-Ryoko coul-d h-h-it-t very well," Sasami stuttered in fear. The look she was receiving was causing her to shake and cower where she stood. It was like hell on ice, death resurrected…Ryoko resurrected (and we know how well that went over…he he he he)…
"I know, before that," Kyoko hissed, not letting her look of fury settle down. She knew what had been said, and it angered her.
Sasami gulped in terror. She had never seen such a look before from anyone. Not even during Ryoko and Aeka's fights. "I s-said-d I ag-g-gree..." Then, her eyes shot open, and she was no longer scared. She understood what she had let slip. "Kyoko-san," she whispered.
The raven hared woman's face shifted into a flat look as she nodded. "How do you know, Sasami-chan?"
"Washuu told me everything!" the Jurain princess blurted out. "She said we'd have a better chance at solving this problem if there were two people working together on it!"
"Is that so, Washuu?" Okuda asked into thin air. In her mind, she heard a snort as the genius woke up. "Washuu, why didn't you tell me you told Sasami about this?"
"Huh? What?" Washuu stammered over her link with Kyoko.
"I asked you why you didn't tell me you got Sasami involved in this?!" the pirate asked coldly, hating to have to repeat herself again.
"Oh...you weren't supposed to know that. Hang on a sec."
Rei sat in silence, waiting for Washuu to return. Suddenly, Sasami began to speak into the silence. Apparently, she also had a microchip link with the scientist.
After holding her own personal conversation with the goddess-gone-human, the pigtailed girl raised her puppy dog-like eyes nervously to her friend.
"You're...you're not mad at me, are you Kyoko-san?"
Kyoko couldn't help but chuckle at the little one's innocence. "No, Sasami-chan, what gave you that idea?"
A deep crease found it's way to Sasami's forehead. "You looked at me like you wanted to slaughter me!"
The pirate's chuckles became full-fledged laughs. "I was never mad at you! I thought I messed up already, and had broken the block from the pill!"
"Nani?"
"I was mad at myself," Kyoko clarified.
Sasami's head rose in understanding.
"So, ya hungry?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Famished!"
"Good!" she squeaked. Then turning to the door, the little Jurain chirped, "I'll get you when dinner's ready! You need rest!" Then, she silently bounced out of her room.
Kyoko rose to her elbows, staring out the glass of the window to the storm outside. But she wasn't really paying any attention. Though her head throbbed, she began to think again about something that had been one her mind for a couple of days.
Her fighting skills were as good as they had ever been, and she was in top shape almost six months ago. So why...?
"Washuu?" she called uncertainly, almost certain she would be ignored. But when she heard a grunt telling her the genius was listening, she was rather surprised. She sighed a little in relief and continued. "Do you remember a couple weeks after I came along, who paid us a visit?"
"Sure, Nagi. Why?"
"Well, did she act a bit odd to you?" Kyoko waited patiently for an answer, but when none came, she spoke again. "I mean, I know it's not like her to take advantage of those who aren't in top shape (especially the wounded), but both Ryoko and I were in top shape, yet she was quick to leave as soon as she found out I was alive…"
"You've been thinking about this an awful lot, haven't you?" Washuu interrupted.
"Sadly, yes," the woman joked. "Well, I guess this sounds weird, but maybe...do you think she could have somehow known that something was wrong, and left because she didn't want to get herself mixed up in it?"
"I hate to admit this, but your guess is as good as mine, Kyoko-san."
"Yeah..." Rei whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "Damn her."
~*~
It was November ninth; four days after Operation "Send the Entire Family into Future Tokyo with no Freaking Clue as to Why" had been launched, and sadly, had backfired. Kyoko was once again living in the same place as the rest, which was NOT supposed to happen. But, it had, none the less, and the pirate was forced to deal with it. Besides, she still got the chance to enjoy Sasami's cooking, and that was always a positive. And that's exactly what she, and the rest of the family at that, was doing.
"Mmm-mmm!" Mihoshi said, smacking her lips. "This is so scrummy, Sasami-chan!"
Sasami giggled like the little girl she was, thanking the GP officer.
"I have to agree with the blonde one, Sasami!" Ryoko said, wiping her mouth against the blue and green of her sleeve. Then, she bent over and grabbed one of her chopsticks, the smaller end to her plate and pulling back the larger end behind a small piece of fish that she had been saving. Then, she straightened her back and gave a quick glance at her boyfriend, who was chatting happily with Kiyone and Rei. Seeing he was busy, the pirate let go of the larger end of her utensil, sending the chunk of food flying across the table and into Aeka's hair.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" she screamed, sounding more like her rival than herself and causing everyone to stare at her. Something had just hit her in the head and stuck, pulling her out of thought. She began clawing at her head frantically, failing to notice Ryoko's face puff up as she tried to control her laughter.
When the first crown princess found the fish and pulled it from her violet strands, Ryoko could no longer stop herself. She burst out in savage laughter and fell back onto the floor.
"RYOKO!!!!" Aeka screamed, squishing the meat against her palm as her hand balled up into a fist. "How…dare…you!"
Ryoko didn't say anything, she just continued to laugh hysterically.
"Ryoko," Tenchi said, bringing her joke to an end with his angry tone. "Why did you do that?"
The cyan summoner rose off her back and looked down at the ground between her crossed legs, ashamed. She hated it when he was angry with her. "I'm sorry, Tenchi," she said, ashamed.
"Aeka, please sit down!" the prince gently ordered.
Aeka looked from her only love to the prankster and back. She wanted to start a fight, but knew the lord wouldn't be too happy with her. So, instead, she did as she was told. And soon, the babble slowly rose again.
"Ryoko-san!"
Ryoko looked to the side and saw Okuda peeking her head around Tenchi's back. She raised her eyebrow to acknowledge that she was listening.
"That was beautiful!" the girl mouthed, receiving a smirk in response.
"It was, wasn't it?" Ryoko whispered, causing Rei to giggle silently.
Tenchi took notice of this and followed her gaze to the demon, who had quickly turned her gaze to the first thing that caught her eye (Ryo-ohki). Not knowing what was going on, he shook his head and turned back to his food, but wound up doing a double take as his vision detected something he had never noticed before.
He reached up and brushed her sideburn out of the way so he could get a better look at it. She jumped and gasped in surprise, looking at him curiously.
"No, no," he cooed softly, catching Aeka's attention.
She looked up, and a jolt of pain stabbed her heart at the gentleness of his touch. How she longed for him to touch her like that. But all she could remember was his comforting arms around her waist when he hugged her for the very last time, six months ago.
"Turn back."
Visibly reluctant, Ryoko followed his words and allowed him to inspect what had caught his attention.
The skin on a small portion of her face was paler than the rest, and it was slightly wrinkled. He had never noticed it before because her hair had covered it perfectly.
"Is that a scar?" Tenchi asked.
Ryoko wasn't caught off guard, she knew exactly what he had been examining, but she really didn't feel like talking about it.
"It's nothing," she said, waving his hand away.
"Ryoko-san, how'd you get it?" he insisted.
"Tenchi, do you remember what happened last time you tried to persuade me to talk about my past?" the pirate questioned, raising her right hand, showing off the scar in her palm.
Catching on to her unwillingness to talk, Tenchi dropped into silence...
...And Kyoko turned back to the conversation she had left to listen.
~*~
November cold. Bittersweet wind. It nipped at Ryoko's bare legs as green and blue dress floated smoothly with the soft updrafts, like a bird glides on its wings. But the cold didn't really bother her. It never did. She seemed to have a strange immunity to it. Even still, she shivered as it kissed her skin.
The pirate stood on the balcony of the new Masaki apartment, looking to the moon. Sounds of the streets below drifted to her ears, but she paid them no attention. She didn't even care how far into the future her mother had sent them (but she found it strange that Tokyo had street names). At the time, all she cared about was that moon.
In the city, the satellite wasn't pearly white and silvery blue. Here, it was nothing more than a yellow orb, reflecting the lights of the many buildings and streets below it. And Ryoko hated it, though, she never was much of a city girl. She found it to be too cramped, and there was too much life. No stars, no freedom, no escape. She missed space.
The sound of a sliding glass door opening behind her drew her attention away from the heavens, but the demon didn't look back. Whoever came out would identify themselves in sweet time.
"Hey, Ryoko-san," Rei said, coming up behind her friend and leaning forward on the railing.
"Hey, Okuda," Ryoko replied.
"It's cold out, don't you think?" Okuda shivered and pulled her denim jacket tighter around her shoulders.
"I'm used to it."
The two shared a momentary glance before they both looked to the sky.
"What brings you out here?" Ryoko asked.
"Same thing that brought you," Kyoko answered.
Though she didn't turn her gaze, the summoner raised her eyebrow. "And what do you think brought me out here?" she challenged.
"You have a lot on your mind."
"Ain't that the truth."
Both pirates sighed heavily.
"So what's on your mind?" Ryoko asked, trying to shift the attention from herself.
Kyoko snorted. "Shall I start from the top?"
The golden eyed woman laughed half-heartedly.
"Ryoko-san, I have a question for you," the raven pirate stated.
"Fire away."
"Your scar...did Kagato give it to you?"
Ryoko jumped and grabbed the girl by the collar. "How do you know about Kagato?" she growled dangerously, venom dripping from every syllable and sounding more like her old controller than herself.
Calmly, Rei replied, "I know more than you think."
The oni tightened her grip, glaring at her old partner. She wanted to hurt the girl for barging into her past. She even raised her fist in a threatening manner, but for some reason, she was unable to go through with it. It was almost like it would hurt her to hurt the girl. Strange…
Ryoko let Okuda go, and Kyoko backed off, not even bothering to massage her neck, which had bright red knuckle prints on it. This girl had strength, all right.
"How do you know about Kagato?" Ryoko asked again, this time with desperation.
"If I could tell you, I would," the green-eyed female responded.
The cyan summoner was at a loss for words. Finally, shaking her head, she whispered, "Who are you?"
"You want to know something pathetic?" Kyoko asked, not giving her friend a chance to respond. "I don't really know anymore."
The women looked at each other, Rei calmly, Ryoko not knowing what to do next.
"Yes," Ryoko finally said.
"Yes what?"
"Kagato gave me the scar."
Kyoko smiled. "That's what I figured."
"Why do you want to know?" Ryoko inquired.
Kyoko's smile broadened as she shook her head. "Goodnight, Ryoko," she said. Then, she walked swiftly to the door. But before she went back inside, she gave her friend a profile of her face.
"Have you told Tenchi?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Ryoko snorted and rolled her eyes. "Of course I haven't! He wouldn't understand!" she sneered.
"Of course he wouldn't understand!" Kyoko told her. "Humans don't understand themselves, let alone others!"
The demon was taken by surprise. She didn't see that coming. She cocked her head to the side curiously.
"Do you love him?" Kyoko continued.
Ryoko looked even more confused.
"With all my heart and soul," she answered. "It's no big secret."
"Then he deserves to know." With that, the one known as Rei walked back into the apartment.
The space pirate stared after her new classmate for a few moments, completely perplexed. Then, she turned back to the golden moon.
She had no idea what had just happened. How did Rei know so well? It's like she wasn't who she pretended to be. Was she trustworthy?
Absentmindedly, Ryoko raised her hand and gingerly ran the tops of her nails and fingers along the scar. Then, she dropped her hand to her side and slid it between her waistband and dress, right where her fatal wound had been.
The oni's dreams flickered in her mind's eye. Such deep sorrow, unlike anything she had ever felt before. Kagato had taught her to never feel emotion. But it had never worked. Especially considering here she was, silent pain coursing through her veins.
But Rei may have just told her a way to relieve at least a little of her burden.
Silently, Ryoko withdrew her hand from her waist and teleported to Tenchi's room.
Ryoko watched as Tenchi's hand zoomed across a sheet of notebook paper, writing in words too small to see from where she was standing. Homework. She wanted to know why he even bothered, but remembered that he felt he had to be a good student, no matter what. So, instead, she glided silently up to his chair.
"Tenchi-kun?" she cooed, laying her tiny hand on his large and strong one, stopping his pen.
"Jesus, Ryoko-san!" he yelled in surprise, making a large, black mark through his last kanji sign. "Don't do that to me again! You scared the crap out of me!"
Ryoko backed up and looked at the floor, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be, it's my fault. I'm just...a little stressed." The prince raked his hand nervously through his short, black hair and sighed. He was actually thankful Ryoko came along; he needed a serious break.
"Why are you stressed?" the pirate asked, a bit worried. "And why were you working so hard if you're stressed?"
"I thought it'd keep my mind busy," Tenchi said, gesturing to his writing and shrugging his shoulders. "But it didn't. I've been too worried about you."
"Me?" Ryoko's head jerked up in surprise.
"Yeah. You haven't been yourself lately. At any given point in time you can swing from your normal…hyper…self to…I don't know. It's almost like you're so depressed and distant. I want to help you. Everyone wants to help you, but you just…push us away."
A look of pain drifted across the summoner's face as her love's words sank in. Then, she gave a slight smile as Tenchi walked over to his futon and sat down.
"I was just talking to Rei," she said flatly.
"Okuda-san?" Ryoko nodded. "What'd she have to say?"
"A lot of stuff she shouldn't know."
Tenchi's eyebrow twitched.
"She seemed to know a lot about me; about my past. Hell, she even knew about Kagato."
"How does she know about Kagato?" the boy asked, shocked.
"That's what I said."
Ryoko walked over to the cluttered desk and began shuffling papers for no apparent reason.
"And her reply?" Tenchi asked, intrigued.
"'If I could tell you, I would.' I just don't understand her."
A sudden thought crossed the successor's mind. "Can we trust her? I'm not sure."
"Neither is a part of me. But the other part...just can't help but to trust her."
"Ryoko..." Tenchi whispered, half soothingly, half wanting to catch her attention.
"Maybe it's because she reminds me so much of Kyoko..." Ryoko's voice trailed off.
"Ryoko?" he said again, louder this time.
The girl raised her head to look at him, her vision a bit blurry.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm crying?" She raised her hand to her eye and felt warm tears trickle down her middle finger. Trying to smile again, she replied, "I have a lot on my mind."
Tenchi worriedly patted the mattress beside him. Ryoko walked over and sat down, bringing her legs to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees.
"I don't want to hurt you," he began, winging what he was saying, "but please, can we talk about what's on your mind? It does no good to keep everything bottled up inside."
"That's why I came here," the cyan beauty said softly. "Rei said that I should tell you what happened the day I got my scar, and I've decided to."
Tenchi was disappointed that it was their classmate that had convinced her to fess up instead of him. But, even still, she was going to speak. Maybe now he could help her.
"I guess it all started under Kagato's control, many years ago…
A young Ryoko, physically around the age of fourteen, truly in her late fourteen hundreds, finished the last few beats of her organ solo with little confidence. Though it had taken her almost four months for her to learn and perfect "Autumn of Life", she knew it'd be for nothing.
Her master and controller, Kagato, with his long white hair, pasty skin, and trademark cloak, sat beside her on the piano bench. When Ryoko wasn't out looting or killing (usually both), he had taught her to play the organ. She had real talent, but he refused to let her see it.
But this time it was different. She had worked so hard with empty hopes of pleasing him, and for once it had worked.
When she finished, she looked to him, expecting abuse. It was what usually happened. He'd say she was useless, then he'd hit her. Instead, he smiled, amazed at her skill.
"Master, you are pleased?" Ryoko asked, careful not to let any emotion filter into her voice. He hated all emotions. He believed they showed weakness.
"Quite," he replied before he could stop himself.
He waited for her to smile, to giggle, anything. But her face remained set in stone emotionless.
Like I taught her to be, he thought. Dammit! I can't recall what I said! Now she knows she's excellent! He wanted her to show some signs of emotion. He wanted to gain control again, but no prevail. He had basically handed her his weakness on a silver platter. It was true, he loved hearing her play, and now she knew.
But Kagato wasn't a bastard for nothing. He'd take a whole new route.
Ryoko trembled when her teacher's hand reached up and caressed her cheek. He had never done anything like that before, and she liked it. He was being so gentle to her, and this fact alone was strange.
The summoner reached up with her own hand and held his palm to her cheek, momentarily closing her eyes. Then, she looked back up at him and saw…a faint hint of…sorrow?
No! Emotion shows weakness, Master! You said so yourself!
"Sometimes I wish I had never taught you about emotions," Kagato told his student. "Then you could know happiness when you're playing.
Master, stop! Ryoko mentally screamed. You're messing with my mind! I can't reply! I mustn't reply! I won't…
"I'm sorry," she whispered sincerely.
There it was. Kagato's smile widened. Those two words gave him the chance to cover what he had earlier said. Slowly, he got up and turned to leave.
Ryoko inwardly sighed. He wasn't going to punish her! She had shown some signs of emotion, and he was leaving.
What she didn't expect was what happened next.
Kagato whipped around and struck the young girl as hard as he could across the face.
Ryoko was sent crashing into the organ. She hit her head on the very corner of the wood, and it was almost as though everything was in slow motion. She could feel her flesh and tissue tearing apart, and she heard the blood bubble up and drip out. But with the blood came something else. Something she hadn't felt for so long. A deep and underlying sadness arose, and she had to use all the self-control she had not to cry.
When his student hit the ground, Kagato noticed she didn't get up, like she usually did. She remained in a twisted heap with her head buried in her arms, letting her own blood drip from the organ into her hair.
"Ryoko, what have I told you about being sorry?" he spat. "When will you learn that emotion is the equivalent of a weakness, you God damn useless marionette?!"
The acid of his words ate at Ryoko's heart. He had been using her emotions to regain power over her!
Kagato kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to spit up more of her vital body fluids. But still, she stayed curled up on the ground, staring at the Soja's crystal-like floors. A single tear dropped from her eyes, and the summoner was thankful her master never saw it.
The older pirate spun on his heel, a large smile plastered on his face. He loved being an ass hole, especially to her. Stalking away, he basked in his own glory and power, and the fact that now, she once again had nothing over him.
Ryoko made sure Kagato was out of sight before she rose, shaking, to her knees, clutching her stomach and coughing violently. She didn't feel stable enough to stand, so instead, she leaned against the bench, praying it would hold her weight and not slide.
Her master was gone, and she was finally alone. Alone to deal with the sorrow she felt. He had hurt her terribly, and he knew it. She didn't care anymore. Her teachings, the consequences, they meant nothing to her. All she knew was it was emotion taking over her senses now, and she began to cry.
"From that day on, I swore I'd never play the organ again," Ryoko said, finishing her story. It seemed almost like she was reliving that day. The tears she had shed then came back to grace her cheeks with their sparkling pain. "I knew *hic* that he enjoyed hearing me play, and that bastard knew I *hic* did! And he *sniff* used my emotions against me, just so he could cov-*hic*-er for himself! I hate him so much!"
The oni broke down into heart wrenching sobs, and Tenchi once again understood why she never talked about her past.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, pulling her in and wishing there were something he could do to comfort her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his shoulder.
"Don't be," she choked out.
"Ryoko-san, don't ever think that you can't tell me something!" the successor told her, running his fingers through her quivering mane in a soothing manner. "And don't ever think I won't listen to you, because I will!"
Ryoko raised her head and looked at him. He could tell by the tone of his voice that he was serious, and his face only backed it up. She was grateful to him.
"God, I never thought it'd feel so good to cry," she whispered, laying her head against his chest and attempting to calm her sorrows.
~*~
*Beep!* *Beep!* *Buzz buzz clinkity beep!* *BEEP!!*
Washuu snorted and jolted awake at the sound of her transparent computer booting up. She raised her head sleepily off the keyboard and stretched her sore back and arm muscles. This being on twenty four-hour alert thing was really exhausting, and she had constantly caught herself dozing off at the worst possible points in time. But in this case, last she knew was she was waiting for either Sasami or Kyoko to speak up over the link. She hadn't set her computer to do anything before she fell asleep, yet, here it was, fully activated.
The tiny goddess rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and stared at her monitor as her vision focused. It seemed to be analyzing something, but she didn't know what. She had been inputting data into it all day, but nothing that needed to be analyzed.
Strange, she thought, trying as hard as she could to think about what her computer could be working on.
As her vision focused further, she noticed that it was scanning for possible causes for something. Taking a quick look at all the data, the little girl realized what her computer was doing.
"Damn computer!" she hissed, hitting the keyboard with her fist in attempt to stop it. "I already know the first cause of Ryoko's dreams is human, Kyoko, and the second one was a mistake, so stop!"
But all the banging in the world did nothing to cease the laptop's work. It continued beeping and flashing as it went through all the inputted data on her daughter's nightmares. Finally, with one last *BEEEEEP!* and flash, it stopped, the results of it's search showing on the screen.
"No..." Washuu whispered. Then, as everything pieced itself together in her head under this second solution, she screamed, "NO GOD DAMMIT! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!"
The genius put her foot straight through the holo screen in anger and distress, causing it to shatter and disappear.
"Link! Kyoko!" she screamed into thin air in attempt to contact the pirate to tell her.
"Link deactivated," a monotonous electronic voice said in reply. This caused Washuu to puff up in anger.
"Shit! Then link Sasami!"
"Link deactivated! Didn't you get it the first time, Washuu-chan?"
"Why did I give you a personality?! This is serious! If I don't get a hold of them, they're ALL going to die!"
"Fine, fine," the computer said in defeat, "I'll get to it."
Why didn't I see this before?! Age: 1112! Eleven twelve! NOVEMBER 12th!! The genius thought in complete panic, suddenly realizing what everything meant. It's going to happen in two freaking days!.
~*~
Ryoko stood in the same place that had haunted her in her dreams for so long. The dark, desolate, and cold realm welcomed the pirate with an evil beckoning.
Yet, Ryoko had no idea what was going on. There was no blood, there was no pain, and there was no death. This was not the same. Was it all over?
Suddenly, Sasami appeared in front of her, lying spread eagle on the ground. She didn't seem to be breathing; there was no rising and falling of her chest.
Without thinking, the woman ran over to the little girl and knelt beside her. But when she reached out, she hesitated, remembering what happened the last time.
I'm not the one dying this time, she is! She thought to herself, reaching out and picking up the princess's limp wrist and checking for a pulse. Finding none, Ryoko picked up her body and held it close to her, shaking her shoulders.
"Sasami-chan, wake up!" she called into the darkness, unsure of what else to do. She might have done CPR…if she knew what that was.
"She's not going to wake up, Ryoko," a cold and malicious voice said.
Ryoko's voice whipped up in surprise, and she saw the same shadowy figure that had taken her life many times before. Except, the outline was more clearly defined, and she saw that it was a girl. She drew from the air a blazing blue blade and made her way to the demon summoner.
"You're such a fool," the voice continued, not at all matching the female that it came from. It was deep and powerful, and it sent chills down Ryoko's spine. "I've been practically telling you since the beginning, and you still don't know who I am! It's really pissing me off!"
Ryoko couldn't speak. There was just no way! The girl's fingers had wrapped around her neck, and they were practically crushing her windpipe. She tried to defend herself against her captor, but the figure just sliced her sword through her stomach.
"There's no use fighting," the shadow spat.
Then, Ryoko felt herself falling to the ground as it let go of her, doubling over and clutching its head. "No! Please! Help!" it pleaded silently. "I can't…kill her!" This voice matched the shadow. It was a girl's, and she was desperate. Something clicked in her brain, and finally Ryoko knew. She knew who had been killing her. She knew whom both voices belonged to, and who the shadow was.
"Ryoko! Ryoko!" A faint and far off voice called her name, and she felt herself being shaken violently. But she resisted giving in. She wanted to help the girl, but found it to be no use. The distant voice just wouldn't give up, and finally, Ryoko let herself be pulled away…
"Ryoko! Wake up!" Tenchi said, giving his girlfriend another good shake. He watched relieved as her eyes shot open.
"What?!" she screamed coldly, shoving him away. She had just figured out her dreams and he woke her up, causing her to forget her killer's identity. "What is it?!"
"There's blood in the bed!" he told her, frantically pointing to a large red puddle in the center of the mattress. Ryoko whipped onto her stomach and stared, bewildered, at the stain.
"Where the hell did that come from?" she asked him, sticking her finger in the center of it. It was fresh.
"I don't know! I woke up with my hand in it!"
The pirate stared intently at the crimson mark. She had a feeling where it came from, but she was too scared to look. Yet, the answer was bound to show its ugly face soon, so why not speed it up?
Slowly, she rose to her knees and looked down. A deep, sword-given gash ran across her stomach, dripping blood onto her torn shirt. Raising her hand to her wound, she drew Tenchi's attention from the stain to her.
"I know where it came from," she said, waving her free hand in a gesture for him to look down.
When the boy saw the tattered, bloody shirt and the incision in the girl's skin, he gasped.
"Ryoko-san, what happened?"
Ryoko shook her head, not really knowing, but stopped almost as soon as she started. She knew what had happened.
"My dream," she whispered, knowing she had his full attention, "I received a wound just like this one in my dream tonight!"
"Meaning...?" Tenchi asked, not realizing what she was getting at.
"Meaning they aren't just nightmares...they're premonitions..."
~*Notes from Minagi*~
Ha! Finally! The end is near! This story is drawing to a climatic point! And the end is in sight! Yay! But the next chapter may take me quite a while because, not only is summer drawing to an end and I have to go back to school soon (Waaaaahhhh!), I'm debating whether to combine chapters ten and eleven into one. Besides, I seriously need to work out my thoughts on the ending.
This chapter may be a little confusing, I'm sorry, but I hope you liked it, none the less. Please review! I love hearing from you guys!! Arigatou, and until next time!!