Stuck - Emotions

                          By: Erreway

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Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki trademarks and related indicia are property of AIC and Pionner Entertainment. This work is not done for profit, and I do not own the series.

Author Notes: This fic is based on the OVA continuity.  This is the first chapter of Stuck, so stay tuned for more! I'm planning this to have 3-4 chapters total.

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Tenchi awoke to the sound of fighting downstairs. He sighed. *Those two never stop, do they?* Tenchi thought as he got up *I mean even when I'm not there they still find a reason to fight, maybe if I chose…*

Tenchi dressed, while his mind debated on what to do. Finally after 30 minutes of struggling he came to a decision. *I'll tell her today, that will make me and her happy and it'll stop the fighting* Tenchi thought with a grin. *Maybe I should have done this earlier…*

Tenchi went down to breakfast. He found everyone sitting there already. Except Ryoko. His heart sunk. Ryoko. Was he strong enough to do this? And was she strong enough to take it? *That was the reason I never picked before… I was scared to hurt the rest of the girls…* Tenchi shook his head to clear his thoughts away "Hi everyone, ummm… where's Ryoko?"

"Hi Tenchi" Sasami squeaked " Ryoko is outside on the roof, thinking. She said that she isn't hungry that she didn't want to be bothered."

 "Oh… Okay" Tenchi said as he took his place on the table. "Miss Ayeka?"

"Yes, Lord Tenchi?"

"I need to talk to you could we take a walk before dinner?"

"Why, yes of course" Ayeka said happily. *Ha! Take that Ryoko, me and Tenchi taking a walk alone, I wonder will he…*

***

             After Tenchi and Ayeka had gone through the day and the chores had been done, Ayeka and Tenchi went out on the walk, as planned. It was a beautiful spring day, and all the vegetation was on full bloom. It seemed even prettier as the sun disappeared under the horizon. As Tenchi and Ayeka walked past a Sakura tree, Tenchi couldn't help but smile *Ryoko loves the blossoms of a sakura tree when they are on full bloom. They always reminded me of her; delicate, beautiful…*  Tenchi was snapped back to earth as Ayeka spoke.

             "What was it you wanted to talk to me about, Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka said followed by a small polite smile. They had finally reached the lake, the place where Tenchi said they would talk.

             "Well, Lady Ayeka, I… I've… I've chosen." Tenchi said finally.

            Ayeka smiled. *Oh, Tenchi you are finally going to tell me that you love me!, because why would you tell me first if you loved someone else?*

        Tenchi continued " A-Aye-ka I have… c-chosenyou"

        Tenchi said the last part quickly, but Ayeka understood. She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Oh Tenchi!" Ayeka started crying, the first time she had cried tears of joy "You don't know how long I've waited for you to say that!" Ayeka pulled back and looked into his chocolate eyes. "Tenchi… I love you"

        "I love you too Aye…" The last part of his sentence was lost as Ayeka pulled him into a kiss. Tenchi's stomach turned. He had chosen, he had gotten Ayeka, and he was now kissing her. So why was he feeling like this? *I might just be nervous* Tenchi thought as he kissed Ayeka back.

***

        "Congratulations!" Everyone cheered

        Tenchi and Ayeka had gone back to the house after spending some more time together.  They went into the house to find the hole Masaki household waiting for them in the kitchen. Everyone except Ryoko. Ayeka had been so happy she had told them right then and there. Everyone was happy for them. Everyone, except Washu.

        //Ryoko…\\ Washu said through the mental link she shared with her daughter.

        //What?!\\ She shot back //I said that I didn't want to be bothered!\\

        //Ryoko…\\ Washu said holding back tears, tears because she knew how Ryoko would react *She loves him so much…* //I think you should come back to the house… Tenchi has chosen\\

        //Really?\\ Ryoko gave a squeak of delight //Wait I'm coming\\

         True to her words, that second Ryoko materialized in the kitchen. "Hey! I'm back! What'd I miss?"

        When Tenchi saw Ryoko his stomach tied into a knot. What would she do when she found out? "You didn't miss much…"

        "Wow Ryoko you're back!" Mihoshi said in her usual bubbly tone, as she cut Tenchi off "You don't know what just happened, Tenchi choose Ayeka!" Mihoshi said happily, seeming to forget that Ryoko loved Tenchi "Isn't it just great?"

        Ryoko hung her head, silent tears streaming down her face "Yeah that's great Mihoshi, I'm just static" Ryoko said sarcastically. Tenchi tried to say something but she cut him off  "I'm going to sleep early…" She teleported before anyone could say anything.

        Washu shot a glance at Tenchi before running out the kitchen. "Ryoko wait!" Washu was answered by the noise of a door closing. Washu sighed.

        "Little Washu…" Tenchi said as the little scientist started to walk away. Ayeka put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.

        "I-I" Washu said sobbing "I-I'm going back to my lab"

        "But Little Washu, dinner's ready" Sasami said quietly.

         Washu turned around and smiled "I'm sorry Sasami… But I'm not hungry, and Even if I was, Ryoko's pain is so great," Washu shot Tenchi a glance that could freeze fire "I probably wouldn't be able to eat." She tuned around and walked off.

***

I can't get out of bed today

Or get you off my mind

        Ryoko opened her eyes. Her eyes hurt and the pillow under her head was a little wet. She tried to remember the reason why she felt like this. Oh, right. Tenchi.

         What would she do now that he had chosen? *I guess I'll…*

        //You'll live your life just like you did before\\

        //But there's no point he doesn't love me…\\ Ryoko said mentally to Washu, she was too tired, and hurt to fight with her right now.

        //Ryoko, I want you to come to my lab after breakfast, would you do that?\\ Washu asked delicately.

        Ryoko nodded.

        // Good, because there's something important we have to talk about\\

***

        Ryoko got dressed and walked downstairs. As she went into the kitchen she found Tenchi and Ayeka in an embrace. Ryoko felt worse pain than she ever thought she could.

I just can't seem to find a way

To leave this love behind

        Ryoko tried to forget about it but couldn't. How could she forget about him? She loved him so much. To her, she was his life, the fire that kept her going. She remembered all the times she'd tried to hug him, the times he saved her, the time she went into battle in order to save him, risking her own life. Why couldn't he love her like she loved him? *Well it doesn't matter now, I lost the battle and the prize, Tenchi's love… *

        When Tenchi saw Ryoko walk through the door,  his heart sunk, yet again. He had finally told Ayeka that he loved her. So why wasn't he overflowing with happiness, like Ayeka was?. *Maybe because you made the wrong choice?* His mind snapped at him. *Of course I didn't make the wrong choice! I love Ayeka!* He snapped back *Do you love her, love her; or do you love her as a sister?*

I ain't trippin

I'm just missing

        //Ryoko, try to act as if everything's normal\\

        Ryoko turned around and saw that Washu was walking into the room. //Its hard though…\\ Ryoko answered mentally while she bit her lip, trying to suppress the tears that were threatening to come out. She couldn't cry now, not in front of them!

        Washu nodded //Not all might be lost yet though, Little Ryoko\\

***

        Breakfast had been uneventful, except for the times when Tenchi had tried to talk to Ryoko and cheer her up, trying to tell her the world wasn't over, but it wasn't very convincing. And the glances Ayeka was giving him weren't very helpful either.

        *Why the hell do I feel like this?* Tenchi thought while he chopped at the soil with the hoe he was holding. He was supposed to be doing his chores but his mind was somewhere else. Thinking about his choice. About Ayeka. About Ryoko. He was happy Ayeka was happy but he wasn't entirely happy himself. It was as if he was missing something. But what was it?.

***

You know what I'm saying

You know what I need

        "What was it you wanted to talk about Washu?" Ryoko said crossing her arms over her chest protectively while she tapped her foot on the cold metallic floor. * I hate coming in here… the last time I came here .:MOM:. hanged me here all night…*

        "I'm sorry about what happened little Ryoko" Washu said with a hint of true concern for her daughter

        "Well… I…" Ryoko choked. She couldn't go on like this. *I can't fake it anymore.* Tears threatened to spill out and Ryoko did her best to hold them back.

        Washu went to her daughter's side and put her arm around her. Ryoko collapsed to the floor and started sobbing violently. Her head hung, her tears spilling against the floor created a song. A song of despair.

        "Do you want to talk about it?" Washu said kneeling next to her daughter.

        Ryoko looked up at Washu, her vision clouded because of her tears. "I…I guess I always knew… I just didn't want to admit it" Washu started stroking Ryoko's hair "I-It was obvio-ous…" Ryoko said sobbing "The way he flirted with A-Ayeka…" Ryoko hung her head again and pulled away from Washu "Plus, nobody can love a demon, or a creation…"

        Washu but a finger under Ryoko's chin and forced her to look up into her eyes "I don't want you to ever .:EVER:. talk like that, you're just like everyone else in this house, you have a soul and you have feelings, that's all that matters"

        Ryoko nodded.

        "Good," Washu said wiping the remains of the last tears Ryoko shed "Now that we got that straightened out, we have to talk about the real reason why I call you here."

        Ryoko felt as if her vocal cords were momentarily numb, so she just listened.

        "Ryoko, I think that you should take a break, maybe go into space for a little while now that has chosen…"

        "No!" Ryoko said shooting up from her place in the floor

        "Ryoko-" Washu said following her daughter

        "No, I said no Washu!" Ryoko said tears flowing down her face

        "But…"

        "Why should I go away?" Ryoko shouted. She seemed to be screaming at Washu but she was really screaming at herself. She knew what Washu said was true. Some time away .:would:. do her some good, but… *I can't leave Tenchi… He might not love me, but I still can't bear to leave him…*

        "Because it will give you some time to get your feelings straight! It will also give Tenchi some time to get his feelings straight."

        "What do you mean?" Ryoko asked the minute scientist *She can't be…*

        "Well, my little Ryoko, I'm not guaranteeing anything but I am not sure Tenchi really does love Ayeka…"

        Ryoko's hopes reached a height never before imagined. Could it be?. But as soon as her hopes had come, they'd gone, a heartbeat later. She was just kidding herself and she knew it. But maybe some time away would help her forget  "Forgive and forget…" She mumbled

        "What was that little Ryoko?" Washu asked. She hoped her daughter would reason and take some time off. It might be for the best. For all of them.

        "How long would I have to be away?" Ryoko asked. She could go away for a little while… but not .:too:. Long. She wouldn't be able to take it. She knew it. Her family and her friends were here. Even if Tenchi didn't want her, they were all she had.

        "As long as you think necessary, Ryoko"  Washu said grasping Ryoko's hands with her own "We will always be ready to welcome you back."

        Ryoko nodded. She understood.

***

You can't be hanging on a string

While you make me cry

        Ryoko and Washu emerged from the lab after all the preparations for Ryoko's little 'vacation' were finished. The only ones who knew about it right now were Ryoko, Washu and the little cabbit Ryo-Ohki, who was to take Ryoko into space.  Washu told Ryoko the best thing to do was to tell the family after dinner.

        When Washu and Ryoko entered the living room a very distraught-looking Tenchi greeted them. "Ryoko! Washu! Are you ok, did something happen?"

        Ryoko bit her lip and said nothing. "We're fine Tenchi," Washu said in a pretend enthusiastic tone "Ryoko will just make an announcement after dinner"

        Tenchi looked at Ryoko and smiled *She's in so much pain… I wish it didn't have to be like this… It hurts me so much to see her suffering, I just hope that what she has to say is good…* "Really? What is it Ryoko?"

I try to give you everything

But you just gave me lies

        That second Ayeka burst into the room "Oh, Tenchi the flowers you gave me were so pretty!" she said going over to him and grabbing his arm and placing a quick kiss on his lips.

        Ryoko bit her lip and looked away. She choked back tears and wondered if she would ever get used to this.

        "What flow-" Tenchi asked

        "Thank you, Tenchi!" Ayeka said with too much enthusiasm *why does he have to be talking with this space pirate? He loves me!*

        "Ayeka please!" Tenchi said clearing his throat and glancing at Ryoko "I didn't send you any flowers, so please don't make that up."

        Ayeka looked down. A hurt expression clear on his face. *Ok, so he didn't send me any flowers, but why cant I make the demon at least a .:little:. jealous?*

***

I ain't trippin

I'm just missing

        //Washu?\\

        Washu nodded.

        Ryoko stood up. "I have something to tell you" Ryoko looked around the table. These were the people she cared about the most.

        Washu. Even though she didn't like to admit it, she was her mom and therefore her only family. Though she could be a pain at times, she was ok sometimes.

        Mihoshi. So she was a ditz and a klutz but her cheerfulness just managed to make the worst day somehow bearable.

        Sasami. There were no words to describe how big the heart of the little princess was. She cooked for them, did chores and still managed to always be cheerful *I don't know how you manage to do it, Sasami…*

        Ayeka. *Well princess, I guess the battle was fought and you won. I just wish it would have turned out differently…* Even though they fought sometimes she was one of her best friends in the house.

        Tenchi. *I love you so much* Is there anything else to say?. Well he was the most precious thing to her, she would die, kill, and die again in order to protect him. Why couldn't he see that *I guess it just wasn't meant to be*

        As Ryoko finished her round around the table, everyone felt it. She had something important to say that would change something. What was it?

        "Is there something wrong, demon?" Ayeka asked

        "Of course not, princess" Ryoko said with sarcasm "I just wanted to tell you that…" Ryoko looked down "that I'll be leaving for a while"

        Tenchi and Sasami jumped up from the table.

        "Ryoko, why?" Sasami asked the usual cheerfulness in her voice replaced by a mixture of fear and sorrow.

        Tenchi instead felt like his soul had been sucked out of him. *No… she can't leave!* instead he just said "why?"

You know what I'm saying

You know what I need

        Ryoko just bit her lip. Couldn't he tell? Each day that passed a piece of her died a little more because she saw Tenchi and Ayeka together.

        "Did I do this? Please Ryoko don't leave! Tell me how to fix this! But don't you dare leave me!" Tenchi screamed

        "Of course you did Tenchi" she screamed back. Her tears not hidden anymore, the grief that was bottled up inside her let loose "But you can't fix it now, you know that as well as I do!"

        "Wait Ryoko, maybe we can! What if I was wrong?" Tenchi asked her *I truly think I was wrong… I think I know what I was missing now! Please don't let it be too late. I can make this right!*

Every now and then

When I'm all alone

        She looked up at him. Could she?… .:no:.

I'll be wishing you will call me on the telephone

Say you want me back

        "I'm not an object you can pick up and leave whenever you feel like it, Tenchi" Ryoko said as she smiled at him. The most pitiful smile he'd ever seen. "We both know you don't mean what you say."

But you never do

I feel like such a fool

        With that said, Ryoko was gone, followed by the trademark chime of her teleportation.

There's nothing I can do..

I'm such a fool

For you