This is a public announcement: I never deleted "Nothing" from fanfic. Some anonymous idiot at fanfic did that for me. Anyway, I want to public apologize for flaming Space_Pirate_Minagi. My behavior was uncalled for and I should have found a better way to deal with your criticism. Also, since my story was deleted, I'm over a 100 miles away from home at school, and unable to find all of my original copies of this story, this story will be slightly different from the original. (Author dodges tomatoes.) I'm sorry just work with me people. Besides, I didn't know how to fix the other version of this story. Sorry!

Now on with the show!

"Nothing"

Chapter One

~ = lyrics

= mental conversation "" = regular conversation

Disclaimer" I own neither the characters to Tenchi Muyo nor the words to Brandy's "Nothing."

~Nobody knows but it's for real
I can feel it, I do
Nobody knows that I miss you
Nobody knows but it's the truth.
I can feel it, I do. ~

It was a beautiful summer night. The stars were beautiful, the air was cool and Ryoko was relaxing in her favorite spot, under the cherry blossom tree by the lake. The stars reflected like fireflies on the blue silk water.

Rarely did she get to do this anymore. Lately, she has been trying to stay out of Tenchi's way. It seems that Tenchi has picked up where Ayeka has ended. Now, Tenchi is the one constantly scolding Ryoko, while Ayeka would flat out ignore her. Ayeka would constantly grin at her. Not really a grin, but more of a smirk. The kind of smirk one wears when you know that you have the won the battle against your enemy, but they are still in the dark.

thought Ryoko

"Could it be?" she said out loud. "No, Tenchi would have at least been man enough to tell me if he did choose her."

~You cannot pretend that I don't even matter
You and I know better
You've been away from me for too long
It's time for you to come on home
No one can say what is right for me
I need for you to come on over
I'll be waiting. ~

Just then, Ryoko heard a sigh and two people talking somewhere nearby.

"That's strange, I thought everyone was back at the house."

She followed the two voices and was shocked to where it had led her. She was now standing in front of the same cave that she was trapped in so long ago. She had vowed never to step in that hell hole again, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. She walked inside and her heart instantly broke into two.

Sure enough, there was Tenchi and Ayeka were having a picnic. The only light inside the cave came from either the moon or from the dozens of candles from all around. Ryoko quickly hid inside a corner.

" Can you believe it, Tenchi? It's our 5 month anniversary!" beamed Ayeka.
"I know, I can't believe it either!" he answered. " I remember when I first fell in love with you."
" Oh, please, Tenchi, tell me when that happened," Ayeka pleaded while cuddling into his arms.
"I was rescuing you from Kagato. I knew that you didn't have a chance and so did you, but you kept at it anyway. You were willing to die for me that day." (Typical male, they always want a damsel in distress to make them feel superior.)

"But Ryoko was much more powerful," Ayeka reasoned.
"That may be true, but she'll never be you. You're soft, gentle, elegant and sophisticated. She'll never be those things. Give her some sake and a good fight, and she'll be happy," Tenchi joked.

Ayeka laughed. "You're right, but she has amazing strength and loyalty."
Tenchi paused for a minute. "I know. She has survived through so many things. That's why I know that she'll get over with her infatuation with me," he reasoned.
"You're hard to get over, Tenchi," Ayeka whispered.
"I know, " he answered while taking her mouth into a kiss.

Ryoko gasped. It just couldn't be. The only man that she has ever loved and her arch nemesis are now together. Not only that, but he had just talked about her as if she were some high school girl with a crush. What she felt was love, no matter what anyone else had thought. She teleported out of the cave and returned to the lake. She just couldn't believe it. She was defeated once again by the Royal Jurian family. They have managed to screw her over yet again, but this would be the very last time.

~I am nothing without you baby Nothing it's driving me crazy Nothing, no one , I'm so alone Nothing without you baby. ~

With her head hung down in defeat, Ryoko teleported back to the house. She sat in the living room in the dark, with tears trickling down her face. She sat there staring into space, not even paying attention to the small figure walking towards the couch.

"Ryoko. Ryoko, please don't cry. He's not worth it," Washu soothed.

She looked up at Washu, who was now in adult form.

"What do you mean he's not worth it? He's everything to me!" she shouted. "Dammit!" Ryoko screamed as she threw a vase at the wall.

"Ryoko!" Washu commanded.

"Save it!" Ryoko cut off, then teleported away.

"Don't run away from me, Ryoko!" shouted to the air.

~No one can see inside of me
No one can see how much I care
I need you, I do
Nobody sees the tears I cry
No one is there to dry my eyes
I need you, I do

she reasoned.

"Nothing else left to do, but sit here and feel sorry for myself."

Ryoko pondered for a minute, "Nah, that's not my style," she mumbled.

"I'm Ryoko, the Space Pirate and demi-goddess," she added.

"I don't crap off of anyone. I always get what I want," she encouraged herself. "Why should now be any different."

"I'll just change my approach. If he wants quiet and docile, I'll give him quiet and docile," Ryoko reasoned. "I can be everything that Ayeka is and more!"

~ I don't care what they say about you
They don't know how I feel for you
I don't care what they say about me
They don't know and they can't see. ~

Suddenly there was a new fire in Ryoko's eyes and a devilish grin began to creep upon her face."

"Tenchi is mine!" she hissed then drifted off to sleep.

~I am nothing without you baby
Nothing it's driving me crazy
Nothing, no one. I'm so alone
Nothing without you baby. ~

Shout outs to everyone who loves this fic and especially to my girl Angelamasaki.