I'm very very very very *gets smacked on the head* very sorry for the delay. Last time I wrote the first chapter in three days, this time I had the tightest schedule ever and it took me months to write it. I hope it won't happen again. But I am writing it. Don't know if it's good but I'm writing it. Anyways.. All of you brave souls.. Dig in ^^

Memories

Chapter 2

'So what's going to happen now?'

The question arises in her head for the millionth time that minute. But again there was no answer, only silence and the ticks of a far away clock.

'What am I going to do?'

Again a question without an answer. The frustration of not having any answer started getting to her.

Ryoko rubbed her forehead with her fingertips hoping the sensation will wake her numb brain. It has been numb since she left Tenchi alone with Washu in the lab some two hours ago. Now she sat in a hallway she knew all too well.

Her eyes closed gently and she tilted her head towards the ceiling. Yes, she knew the door in front of her and this hallway like no one else. She couldn't bring herself to wait in front of Washu's lab door, in the kitchen or any place other than this hallway. She discovered that after wandering the house thoroughly the first twenty minutes of waiting.

Since then she sat there in front of Tenchi's old room. It seemed fitting that now that he remembered that room as his, she would wait for news of him and what happened in front of it, it was the only room in the house that remained the same over the years.

When her and Tenchi moved they left that room as it was, taking nothing. It was a reminder of the old days, of Tenchi's past and childhood. Together they decided to leave it alone, to let the room be a silent reminder of years long past. In a way, Ryoko knew, this was also Tenchi's gesture to his mother's memory.

'What would he think about the rest of the house, about the changes in it? What… What should I do??'

Ryoko opened her eyes and fixed her once more piercing gaze on the door in front of her. Her brain felt more awake now, her thoughts raced trying to find the answers once and for all.

'Fact one, Tenchi doesn't remember the last 8 years, our life together, our daughter, what he ate for breakfast yesterday, nothing. Fact two, this whole situation is shocking for him, he doesn't know what to believe, whom to trust, and he can't even trust his memories. Fact three, I need.. I want him to be comfortable. But right now I can't do anything for him."

That thought made her heart cringe and her expression became solemn. She hated feeling powerless like this. She smirked at the concept, but regained seriousness very quickly.

'There has got to be a way to make this more comfortable for him, a way other than pretending.'

She looked up towards the ceiling, searching for a sign, but finding non.

'There has to be an other way, but I can't find it.'

The minutes passed as she sat there and listened to her feelings. The love that drove her to keep him safe and sound, the love that drove her to her life's hardest occurrences. She looked back to the fight with Kagato, to just how afraid she was for him and everyone else, how she wished she could help. Then.. the ship blew up. It drove her past the edge and she broke her cage. She went looking for Tenchi Kagato and his future torture be damned. She smiled as she remembered Tenchi coming back just in time to save her.. the same Tenchi that proposed to her a year after they first kissed. The look he had in his eyes that night is one she would never forget. Such love… such dedication..

That was it. She couldn't let him go through this. There were other times she helped but right now all the times when she wasn't able to help rose in her, screaming for repentance. Now she was whole with her decision. She had to do it, it would make things much easier for him and that's all that mattered. Whatever trouble this decision would bring she will face. And she will explain this to Rika, no lying, no pretend with her. She is too much like her grandmother for that.

Smiling fondly Ryoko leaned herself more comfortably in the giant carrot cushion. She breathed deep and felt her eyelids getting heavy. Now that her mind was made up some of the tension she felt decreased leaving room for the weariness of the past few days. And along with the interrupted night's sleep…

Her breathing became steadier and deeper..

Ryoko fazed in next to Tenchi, Ryo-Ohki on her right shoulder. Her battle suit was burned in some placed but otherwise mostly intact. Only the blood of healed wounds remained at some places. Tenchi's suit was smoking lightly and darkened at some places. But both had no serious injuries.

All around them the fires and steam roared. The colors of the fire reflected on the water on the walls making the room seem bright and dangerous in its red aura. More than a room it seemed like a giant cave. And a dangerous one at that. If there ever was a place to drip with danger and tension this was it. Tenchi seemed to relax visibly as Ryoko appeared.

"It's time to end this"

Ryoko's voice had an eerie seriousness to it. A promise of what's to come. Tenchi nodded, feeling the same. They both looked forward. In perfect synch they walked forward.

Up ahead the figure stood, its red hair a mess, looking dismissively at them sure of it's victory. The contempt she felt towards them written in her posture, on her face, in her vary being. She had beaten them once today and she could do so again.

To Tenchi and Ryoko's left Ayeka stirred and reached her hand to the wall and started rising using the wall as her support. By her look it was the figure's luck she wasn't at her mercy at the moment. Her breathing was hard and unsteady but seeing Ryoko reappear had given her new strength. In the old days, who ever thought she would be glad to see that pirate?

Back with Katsuhito Sasami looked up to the sky and wiped her tears. In her features you could hardly recognize the little enthusiastic child. Her pain over her friend's injuries, her guilt for not acting in order to stop it all, her wish to be there with them and the knowledge she would help in one way or an other made her seem older for her teen years.

"Hang on grandfather. It's all going to end soon"

Lying with his head in her lap Katsuhito opened his eyes and looked up at her, seeing her gazing into the sky. He smiled. That was his sister over there. His little sister, and now so grown up. By her expression things would turn out well or else. He tried to chuckle and winced in pain. Sasami looked back to him now obviously worried over his condition.

"Are you ok?" she asked 'I wish Washu were here..'

"I'm well Sasami-chan. Just have to remember not to laugh for a while."

Sasami nodded and looked him over trying to find a way to help him or ease his pain a little. To her the wound at his side looked too eager to put out blood.

She tore yet another piece of her kimono and gently replaced the makeshift bandage already at his side. She sighed.

"I guess it's time I did more than sit here and wait for their return. I'm sorry for not doing this sooner grandfather." She smiled fondly. "Brother"

She looked up at Funaho, closed her eyes and recited those ancient words. The words she had inside her these past seven hundred years. The air shifted around her as she spoke and her symbols shone.

'From heaven to the ocean,

Ocean to the earth,

And earth back to heaven,

Show me the path engraved by the light.'

Once done, when her and Yosho appeared inside of Tsunami, she gently put down his head and got up.

"Tsunami", She said her voice almost chocked with emotions.

"I'm here" came the melodious voice of her future self.

Sasami turned to see Tsunami looking off into the distance through a window. Possibly at the same star Sasami was examining only moments earlier.

"Tsunami, I need your help." She said.

"I know"

Tsunami remained motionless. Watching whatever event unfold in her mind's eye important enough to not help Yosho. Catching glimpses of the occurrence Sasami's eyes grew soft.

"It'll be over soon", she repeated more to herself than to anyone else.

"Soon" Tsunami agreed.

Sasami's eyes darted back to Yosho. He was now sleeping peacefully. Already healing.

"Thank you" she said.

"He is my brother too. Or at least he will be" was Tsunami's reply. Sasami had to smile at that.

A moment passed, enough time for a shooting star to pass outside the window and for a thought to shoot through Sasami's mind. "Can I help them now?"

Tsunami hesitated before answering. "You already know the answer to that. Nothing has changed.."

"Yet" Sasami shot back a bit forcefully.

"Yet" reluctantly Tsunami agreed. "Still. We cannot have direct influence."

Sasami closed her eyes for the briefest of moments making herself look like a lost child. Her eyes opened once again revealing her strength and she marched toward Tsunami. She stood by her and looked at the same star. Both winced at the same time. Slowly Tsunami reached with her hand and took Sasami's in hers, two almost identical hands.

"Have faith" it was the only encouragement Tsunami could give her little self at the moment.

"I believe in them" was the reply.

She was running. Running ever so fast. Running through countless passes of stone. Trying to find her way to her friends. She was cold and hot at the same time. Cold beyond words resident in her heart as she thought about what might happen to her friends and the heat of the tears on her cheeks when she thought about her life without them, that was Mihoshi's condition.

She kept repeating to herself, "got to find them it time!!"

Running beside her Kiyone kept glancing at her worriedly. She never saw Mihoshi in such a state. And she felt the same. They had to make it in time.

Ryoko's head shot up as she woke up with a start. She groaned and grabbed her head, it was a long time since she had this confusing dream.. The last time she had that dream.. She shivered. All the times before… Tenchi was there.. Tenchi.. 'Where are you? why aren't you here with me?'

Then she remembered. In her sleep Tenchi was with her, but now, in reality, he was not hers anymore. She groaned.

All the times before Tenchi was there with her. He eased her fears and soothed her mind and soul as she did for him when he had nightmares. Now he was in Washu's lab remembering nothing of their life together while she sat in the hallway in front of his old room, scared and confused as that dream always left her.

For a moment at the staircase she thought he remembered. He looked as if he remembered her. But then he blinked and her Tenchi was gone as if… as if he never existed.. Leaving a confused Tenchi in he's wake.

A Tenchi that does not remember them. A Tenchi that is afraid of her. A Tenchi that doesn't know her.. She closed her eyes feeling weary and tired.

The sound of footsteps entered her thoughts and she looked to her right. From around the corner she heard the hiss of fabric being dragged on the floor in time to the steps.. 'So she's here already.'

She waited patiently. She knew she'd be found sooner or later and moving wasn't at the top of her priority list, not at all. She moved her hands from her head and leaned back as comfortably as she could, trying to hide the tension in her body.

A few moments later Ayeka came around the corner. They looked at each other for what seemed like forever.

Suddenly Ayeka smiled and cocked an eyebrow. "So he finally saw through your disguise demon?"

Ryoko's body tensed even more and her back straightened as if it was made of steel. Her eyes shot fire. Ayeka was not impressed.

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Next chapter coming up (I promise!! ^^;;)