Stuck - Cherry Blossoms

                                                                                                                      By: Erreway

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

Author Notes: *Sniff* All good things must come to an end… Oopps! Wait! This is my opening Author Notes! My bad! *Scratches the back of her neck Tenchi-Style* Anyway last chapter of Stuck is here, for your enjoyment (this is the moment you've all been waiting for!). Please I know its over, but I would like you to review nonetheless. I want to know what I did right, wrong, and mediocre in so I can apply that to my other works. Or just plain tell me if you liked the story! I want to be able to feel good knowing that people enjoy reading my stories. So just tell me please.

I have to thank all of the people who did review, Thank you! *Hugs all of them* . Frost I know you asked a question *grins* so here's your answer. Tenchi is as dense as he is because… well I don't really know exactly why, I just know he is. Take the OVA for example. When they went to the hot springs. Tenchi was unloading the luggage from the van. Ryoko came over and started talking to him about what happened in the cabin with Ayeka.

Then She's like "Tenchi, I want you to flirt with me too!!"

Tenchi: "Oh get serious"

Ryoko: "Fine you can flirt with Ayeka but not me" After that she throws Tenchi and all the luggage back into the van.

Tenchi: "What does she want from me?"

Duh! Didn't she just tell you? That goes to show how dense Tenchi can be. If he wasn't he would have chosen Ryoko already and this whole thing would have been over with.  ^__^ Hope that answered your question!

Whew! That was long, I doubt anyone is till with me! Ok OVA continuum, last chapter ok? K. So just go on if your still here. Shoo! And tell me what you think! 

*...* Thought

"..." Talk

//...\\ Mind Link

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Every now and then
When I'm all alone

                Ryoko looked up at the sky, closed her eyes and smiled. She opened her eyes abruptly thought as she heard a miyah next to her. She chuckled. "Sorry Ryo-Ohki, I kinda forgot you were there for a second"

            Ryo-Ohki responded with an indignant miyah, which showed her displeasure at being forgotten about, and started to hop away.

            Ryoko just shook her head and chuckled as she raised her head towards the sky once again. The last 2 days had been hectic, to say the least. With her sudden arrival, the fact that she almost surrendered to the cave once again and finding out Tenchi and her had a link had not left any extra time for anything else.

            Ryoko yawned and stretched and started floating towards the blanket of blue stretched above her. It was about time she had some time to herself. Now, she didn't only have to worry about a cabbit and her 'Mom' entering her mind, but of Tenchi as well. He hadn't had much practice on blocking his link yet, so some random thoughts that came from the object of her affection had been popping into her head randomly as of late.

            Ryoko frowned and stopped about 5 feet from the ground, lost in thought. Everything with Tenchi had been different lately. It was as if it was back to normal, as if he had never chosen Ayeka, as if nothing from 2 weeks ago had ever taken place. A small smile made its way to her lips as she thought about the way Tenchi had been acting around her after she had come back, especially after the last 2 days. Every time he saw her now he would blush and stammer something incoherent that included the words 'time', 'walk' and 'talk'. He never really got to finish though as he always found some kind of excuse to flee from the scene.

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

            Ryoko grinned, her eyes tinted with mischief as a plan formed inside her. She resumed her flight towards the sky, only this time she headed for the shrine. *I'll just drop in on Tenchi and see how he's doing* Ryoko sighed *No matter how he acts around me now he still hasn't said anything about how he feels about me* Again a smile made its way to the surface *Its only a matter of time*

            She forgot all other thoughts as she increased her speed and flew to the shrine, a smile still plastered on her face.

***

                Tenchi stopped his work on the shrine's floor to gaze up at the sky for a second. He smiled. It was a beautiful day, and he was hoping to have some times after his chores were done and steal Ryoko away and finally tell her how he felt about her. He blushed as he thought about the time he had tried to do that already in these past two days.

ut you never do
I feel like such a fool

However, he never got to tell her. All he achieved was make a fool of himself in front of her. But all of that was going to change soon. He owed it to her. He would tell her today it was final. And with such a pretty day and the Sakura blossoms in full bloom it was perfect. He smiled thinking about the best way to tell her. Different ways flashed through his mind but he brushed them all off. They weren't good enough for her. 

            He shook his head and tried to concentrate on his work once again. However he was filled with thoughts of Ryoko, her eyes that could always capture him, every single aspect of her personality amazed him, her hair spiky yet amazingly soft, the way she smelled… a blend of cherries and the perfumes of a thousand flowers (A/N: corny I know…) her body… oh God that body of hers. He felt himself blushing as he thought about Ryoko. He was so lost in thought he didn't realize as Ryoko floated down from the sky and landed close to him or as the block on the end of his link vanished.

            Ryoko smiled as she saw Tenchi kneeling on the wooden floor of the shrine apparently waxing it. She allowed a small chuckle as she saw him spacing out, lost in thought. The suddenly she felt herself blushing harder than she ever thought possible as a glimpse of what Tenchi was thinking about entered her mind. However, as soon as it came it went.

            Ryoko grinned and floated forward until she was almost atop Tenchi, floating silently behind him. She smiled silently before she put on her best smile and her sweetest voice to whisper in Tenchi's ear "Tenchiiiii"

            Tenchi was shocked for a second, but as soon as he recognized the voice he blushed and was pleased that Ryoko had shown up. His suspicions on who it was were confirmed when Ryoko wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his back "Miss me, Tenchi?"

            Tenchi opened his mouth to respond but was cut short as the voice of his grandfather snapped at him.

            "Tenchi!" Katsuhito scolded his grandson with a stern expression on his face. Inside however, he was smiling *It seems the boy is not that dense after all…*

            "S-Sensei, I was just…" Tenchi stammered as Ryoko removed her arms from around him and the expressions on her face turned to shameful ones.

            Katsuhito suppressed a laugh. "It is okay Tenchi. It is a beautiful day and it seems wrong to make you spend it doing chores"

            Tenchi just stood there, open mouthed looking at his grandfather. *Is he saying he is going to let me skip chores?* Tenchi though with disbelief.

            This time Yosho gave a small chuckle. "Yes. I am going to let you skip your chores. Go enjoy your day"

            Ryoko beamed at Yosho and grabbed Tenchi's arm, who was still shocked, and started to pull him away "Let's go Tenchi!" Ryoko said followed by a giggle as she pulled on his arm.

            Tenchi's brain finally processed the information. He gave Katsuhito a small bow and let Ryoko lead him away. "Thank you, Sensei"

            "But remember Tenchi," Yosho said as he turned to go back to his office "You will have to make up your chores tomorrow"

            Tenchi should have been sad, but this time, it didn't matter. He would do anything to spend today with Ryoko.

            Yosho smiled as the couple disappeared from view as they went down the steps. He shook his head and smiled "Young love" He muttered before sliding the rice-paper door shut.

***

I can't take it
What am I waiting for?

Tenchi and Ryoko slowly made their way down the white steps quietly each one waiting for the other to speak.

            Finally, they both started talking at the same time and stopped abruptly as they laughed.

            "You first" Ryoko said to Tenchi followed with a smile that sent his heart aflutter.

            "Okay" Tenchi said followed by a smile of his own "Would you—" Tenchi hesitated and looked at Ryoko, who was waiting eagerly for him to go on "like to take a walk with…"

            "I'd love to!" Ryoko squealed as she jumped onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck, which Tenchi was more than happy to respond to, by wrapping his own arms around her.

            He laughed and looked at her. "Let's go then"

***

            Ayeka sighed as she hung the clothes to dry. She looked towards the steps and saw Ryoko and Tenchi walking together. After a while Tenchi seemed to say something, and Ryoko jumped into his arms in an embrace. Her heart twisted as they veered from the stairs into the forest.

My heart's still breaking
I miss you even more

            She hung another piece of clothing and then let her arms hung limply by her sides, he eyes showed the traces of tears that she refused to let fall. She knew Tenchi wasn't hers but it was still hard to let go. She had encountered feelings. She wanted to be happy for them, but she was sad for herself. She loved Tenchi but hated him for causing her this much pain.

            Deciding that mourning over Tenchi's lost love wouldn't give her any comfort or satisfaction she did her best to continue working and leave her love for Tenchi behind, even though a piece of heart would stay with it. He wasn't hers and she couldn't do anything about it. She sighed and hung another shirt to dry and leaned down to grab a new one.

***

            "Where are we going again?" Ryoko asked suspiciously as she followed Tenchi.

            "Be patient we're almost there" Tenchi chuckled as he held her hand and let the way through the forest.

They did a few more twists through the forest and then they emerged into a clearing surrounded by Sakura trees, there was also one in the middle, the biggest most beautiful one. All the trees were in full bloom, and the light hit the soft pink petals just right. Also, a gentle breeze ran through the trees and the Sakura blossoms danced in the wind lightly, happily. These details gave the place the sense of a magical scene taken out of a fairy tale.

Ryoko just gaped at the scene before her, she had never seen something so…

"What do you think? You like it?" Tenchi asked smiling at the expression on her face.

"It's beautiful" Ryoko said turning to him "How did you know about this place?"

"I don't remember how I found it, but I love to come here." Tenchi said as he led her to the tree.

"No wonder, it's beautiful" Ryoko said as she sat down next to Tenchi.

"You know what it reminds me of?" Tenchi asked as he examined a petal the danced with the light breeze.

Ryoko shook her head and Tenchi looked at her straight in the eyes. "Of a girl."

Ryoko cocked her head to the side, her ear touching her shoulder and smiled. "Really? Who?"

"Well…" Tenchi said as he reached forward with his hand to capture yet another dancing petal and examining it closely "Let's see if you can guess who it is" He teased his eye glinting in the sunlight that hit his eyes randomly as the in leaves in the tree swayed wit the wind.

And I can't fake it
The way I could before

"Fine. Start with your description then" Ryoko answered grinning.

Tenchi smiled. He was going to stump her with this one. "Her eyes remind me of the sun. Her hair reminds me of the sky. And all of her…" He looked down at the small pink petal in his hand "Reminds me of a cherry blossom" He finished as he raised his eyes to hers.

Ryoko was shocked. *Who is he talking about? I have golden eyes… but Sasami has light blue hair just like the sky. And the only one in the house who is delicate enough to be compared to a cherry blossom is Ayeka…* Ryoko gave him a smile "I have no idea. Spill"

"Your giving up all ready? I'll give you one more clue" Tenchi said as he started scooting slowly towards her. As she nodded, Ryoko didn't notice their proximity.

"Ok. Sure, go ahead"

"She's an angel"

Ryoko felt her eyes fill up with tears she looked away "I have no idea"

"You don't?" He said moving towards her even more.

"No" She whispered.

"Then I guess you can't tell when somebody is talking about you" He whispered in her ear, wishing he could nibble on her ear love *Hold on just a bit…*

Ryoko's head snapped up and she leaned back a little to look at Tenchi in the eyes. "Stop playing Tenchi"

"I'm not playing" Tenchi said seriously as he started leaning towards her again.

Ryoko snorted "Yeah sure, if comparing a demon to a cherry blossom is not a joke I don't know who is"

Right then, something inside Tenchi snapped and Ryoko flinched as she saw anger flash through Tenchi's eyes, Tenchi however stayed as calm as usual "Ryoko, you are not a demon. Whatever you did it wasn't you so stop calling yourself a demon"

Ryoko just sat there stunned before she regained her composure "Tenchi, admit it, I am a demon. I am not worthy of love. Nobody ever loved me, nobody ever will. I don't want you to take pity on me Tenchi, I don't need it."

"Ryoko people do love you"

"They do? Really?" Ryoko spat, her voice full of venom and sarcasm.

Tenchi nodded.

"Then name them. I hardly know Mihoshi, she for sure doesn't love me. Ayeka would rather see me dead than near her. Washu left me and gave me away to the man that destroyed my life. Sasami is the closes friend I have in the family. Ryo-Ohki has been with me most of my life so she is the closest of all of you to loving me."

"What about me?"

I hate you but I love you
I can't stop thinking of you

"You?" Ryoko spat out the word as if it was venom "Your scared of me."

"I'm not"

"Well you may not be scared anymore but you don't love me."

"I don't?"

"Ryoko don't do this. Ryoko don't do that. Ryoko stay out of my room. Ryoko I need privacy. Ryoko I wasn't doing anything with Ayeka. Not now. I can't. Ryoko I—" She gulped and continued her mocking of Tenchi's words "I hate you"

Tenchi's stomach twisted as he heard all the words he had said to her be returned to him all in one cruel angry rage. "I don't really feel that way Ryoko. I was mad"

"I know you don't." Ryoko said turning to him her eyes full of tears. "But you still can't love me. After all… you did say you loved Ayeka"

"Ryoko… about that…"

"I don't need to hear it Tenchi. I know you are bound to go to Jurai with her sometime soon"

"No Ryoko." Tenchi said sighing and shaking his head "I'm not going anywhere"

"She's giving up her rights as a Queen in order to stay here with you?" She gave a laugh "I never thought that would happen"

"No that's not it"

"Ok then, what is it?"

"I—" Tenchi choked "I don't love Ayeka."

"You don't?" Ryoko said as her head snapped to look at him her eyes hopeful.

            "No. When I made my choice I was confused… I wasn't really sure who I loved"

            "Ok, then we'll go back to what it was before? Fight and flirt until one of us grows on you?"

            "One of you already has"

Ryoko just sat there, looking at Tenchi her eyes shimmering. He started leaning forward and was about to kiss her before he whispered "I love you" Just before their lips touched tough Ryoko turned her head and he got her cheek instead. "Wha—" Tenchi stopped as he saw a tear run down Ryoko's cheek.

I hate you but I love you
I can't stop thinking of you

            "I'm scared Tenchi" She whispered closing her eyes and another tear escaped.

            "You shouldn't be." Tenchi said moving forward and wrapping his arms around her.

            Ryoko's voice came out muffled as she spoke against her chest "But what if the same happens to me? I mean you choose me and then you leave me for Sasami or something… Hell it could even be Ayeka again!" She gave a sob.

            "You know there are few things I've ever been sure of in my life." He pulling back to look at her in the eyes. "But I'm positive I love you with all my heart and soul, nothing will ever change that."

            Another tear escaped Ryoko's right eye, ran down her cheek and ended its course on her lips. Tenchi started to move forward again. Ryoko was stunned as her one wish had finally come true… Tenchi cared about her. No he didn't just cared about her. Suddenly her eyes closed and her mind became blank as she lost herself to Tenchi's kiss.

            Ryoko pulled back too soon for Tenchi's liking. He opened her eyes and looked at her she had a hand against her lips, which were fashioned into a smile. Finally she pulled her hand back and grinned. "I love you too Tenchi"

            Tenchi smiled and scooped her into her arms. They sat there like that neither wanting the other to speak but still wanting to say something. Then Ryoko felt a tingle at the end of her link. She smiled.

            //Can't even get a moment of peace in my own mind?\\

            Tenchi laughed and it echoed through her head //I guess not. Your stuck with me wherever you go, where ever you are, whether you want to or not\\

            Ryoko chuckled out loud and snuggled into him //No I'm not! I'm not stuck with you; I'm stuck on you\\ She laughed again before they went in for another kiss, and they continued like this kissing under the Sakura tree as the small petals fell upon them until the moon was high in the sky.

Don't know what to do

I'm stuck on you…

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Short chapter, I know but that was it for Stuck. All good things must come to an end… as this one did. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought how you liked it/ hated it or it just simply was another one of those fics out there.  I enjoyed writing it, and now I will dive into my other project, When It All Fades To Black, an Action/Adventure/Romance fic. Look for it in my profile for more info. As I said before, I hope you liked Stuck. I loved writing it, it really was a challenge. So just tell me what you thought overall. Ja ne!

~* Erreway – Mia *~