Chapter Two

Professor Habuki?

Ryoko pushed glasses further up her nose, now that she was a professor along side her mother at the Science Academy she felt a greater sense of purpose in her life. And yet those memories haunted her. That life… those crazy times seemed so distant.

Ryoko had to laugh. Here she was, years beyond that idealistic and hopeful girl she had been when she lived with Tenchi, with a life of her own and new memories and hopes. And yet the simple thought of the man that Tenchi had become was enough to remove the veil of years and bring her heart to a lurching restless beat.

She had been walking to class for her first class of the morning, she enjoyed teaching along side her mother. Who would have thought teaching would have been her calling as well? Of course she had changed a few things about her outward appearance and with the years some of her more extreme characteristics had mellowed, but still the flame of independent determination glittered in her eyes.

She hadn't thought of Tenchi or Ayeka since the weeks after she had left. As Ryoko settled in for class and prepared herself for what she liked to call "Baby Physics and other courses to get the jocks through college" her mind wandered back to that time when her hair had still been its signature cyan and her eyes golden. Yes, back to a time she didn't often think about. A time when she had not been enough for the man she loved.

Sighing slightly, Ryoko turned her attention back fully to preparing for her class. And as slowly her not exactly bright eyed and definitely not bushy tailed students filtered into her class, she had to snicker. There must have been a huge party somewhere near the campus, because from the looks of it, three-quarters of her class was still suffering from the after effects of the night before. The sea of sunglasses was rather impressive this morning and again Ryoko had to chuckle. Kids will be kids. Shaking her head Ryoko decided to take things easy on them, having pity for the more dedicated students that had just needed a break from the stress of midterms.

And at last when the classroom clock's minute hand was dead vertical and point towards the ceiling Ryoko took a breath to begin explaining her intent for the first 12 minutes of class. And as the words were about to cross her lips two students stumbled in looking like they had been used as the tires for the transporter they caught in. Waiting for the two new arrivals to find seats Ryoko returned to her class. And just as she was about to speak again late students stumbling in interrupted her. Finally Ryoko decided to write out on the board what she was trying to say.

Turning to her holo-laptop, Ryoko began typing and as more students filtered into the room distracting the rest of the class from reading, Ryoko simply continued typing. After finishing her statement Ryoko looked up to notice a few studious people diligently scribbling down what she had written, and Ryoko shook her head. Apparently they hadn't read the first line of the paragraph displayed before them on the projection board.

Do not write this down, I am only posting this because of the continuous disruptions latecomers are causing. If you are late please quietly take your seat and open your textbook to page 2884. I would like you to read pages 2884, 2885, 2886, and 2887 in silence. When you are done with this you may leave and go get a liter of water, some toast or crackers and a bottle of any LEGAL NON-PERSCRIPTION pain medication, preferably the non-drowsy type, from the cafeteria. You are dehydrated and need to re-hydrate if you are to survive the rest of this morning.

I will expect you all to return diligently and quietly to your seats. Once you have seated yourselves I expect you to drink the bottle of water, eat your toast or crackers and then take your pain medication. When you have all accomplished those tasks I want you to re-read the four pages I asked of you previously. This time, I hope, you should be able to understand what is written on those pages. When you have completed reading the pages from your textbook I want you to sit as still as possible and try and balance your textbook on your head. You must stay that way until everyone else is done. If you do not place the book on your head and attempt to stall I will lower your midterm exam grade by one full point.

Hangovers suck don't they?

Professor Ryoko Hakubi

And Ryoko watched in silence as one by one, students filtered in then out of the classroom. And after more than an hour had passed and the last student had placed her textbook on her head and tried to balance it, Ryoko's rich laughter rung out through the classroom. Finally settling down enough to speak, Ryoko instructed her class to remove the books from their heads.

"I just added that last part in there to see if you'd all buy it. Geez, you all must be pretty hung over if you fell for it. Anyways, back to class. Since you all are pretty out of it, I'm going to be lenient today. No class work, and no homework for today, but be prepared for tomorrow, you will have almost twice the reading and even more lab work." At the dissatisfied groans Ryoko looked up from her laptop and stared down her class over her glasses. "You want to have some thing today? I could fix that. Those of you that don't want an assignment today may leave class now and go get some rest, the rest of you brave souls will have to deal with a full class session."

A full 7/8 of her class left. Ryoko noticed that some weren't drunk just lazy. Making a mental note of all the sober students that left Ryoko waited for them to file out of the classroom then turned to her remaining 60 students. And of those 60 it looked like only 4 were actually awake. Shaking her head Ryoko handed out a slip of paper. The only things written on it were instructions to sign the roster and leave. Then one by one the remaining 60 filed out of her class as well.

Ryoko decided to allow the people that signed their name on the rooster to choose any assignment and raise it by a whole grade point. She knew she was being generous but she couldn't help it. Those poor kids had struggled to stick it out. Staying with the class this long, despite the fact that they were so hung over two actually fell out of their seats when they turned to leave, she had to give them credit for trying. They were good students; Ryoko was really going to miss this class of kids. They were bright, intelligent quick to learn and question. They reminded her of Sasami in so many ways.

Shaking her head as the last student walked out the door Ryoko instructed him to close the door quietly as he left. And so now alone in her class, Ryoko felt the oddly familiar sensation of dizziness that had become a daily reminder of her distance from the gems. But somehow this feeling was different. More intense, more… just more. Ryoko brushed the odd sensation aside and began preparing for her next class.

Smiling as she prepared for another class full of bespectacled students Ryoko felt proud. Proud that she had moved on and found a way to survive beyond her past. Still typing away and gathering notes on which students needed more help than others and what different methods of teaching could she use to help them understand Ryoko failed to notice the faint footfall quietly clicking down the hallway. And then for some odd reason thoughts of Tenchi randomly popped into her head.

Ryoko shook her head to snap the thought of him out of her head. It had been an unusual thought for her now that she was settled into this new life as a teacher and coach for the Academy's women's fencing team. Ryoko pushed the thoughts behind her and continued amending her course layout.

Distracted again from her intended task Ryoko removed her fingers from the keyboard and allowed it to disappear into nothingness. Then giving in, Ryoko allowed her mind to wander. It had been such a long time ago since she had allowed herself to think about Tenchi… about Ayeka… and about what might have been.

That hideously, beautifully magical night, the night she had confessed her love for him. Which also happened to be the same night that the family had begun to break apart. Resting her chin on her crossed arms Ryoko could still remember how her heart had pounded in her ears when the words she had longed for almost slipped from his glorious lips. No, as always Ayeka appeared and cut that enchanting moment desperately short.

Ryoko had wanted to cry. It all sounded so callous coming from Ayeka's mouth. It all sounded so cruel and heartless. But above all else it all sounded selfish. How could Tenchi be so selfish? How could he want them both? How could he want that when he knew both women wanted to be the only one?

Ryoko could see the mirror of her own pain in Ayeka's eyes. Yes, she had been raised with the idea. And yes, she was perfectly okay with the idea. But that still did not mean that she liked the idea. No, it was one thing to share your husband with another person, one that you could think of as a sister, and possibly with time another lover. It was one thing to know that there was a special part of your husband's heart that no other woman could ever take.

But to share the only man you have ever loved with a woman you knew wanted his entire heart? Knowing that she would not stop until one day she had his entire heart in her hand? Ayeka feared Ryoko. If anyone could take Tenchi's love away it was Ryoko. The two had been rivals for far too long to not know the potential of the other.

No, Ryoko would not settle for a portion of Tenchi's love and would not try and destroy what friendship that did exist by joining Tenchi and Ayeka. No, it had been the best decision she could have made with the situation. But giving Tenchi up had been the hardest thing she had ever done. Ever!

Lifting her head and wiping the tears she hadn't known she had shed, Ryoko smiled at what might have been. But that was so long ago and there was no going back. She was changed and she suspected they were as well. There was not turning back the hands of time and mending the damage done.

For a moment Ryoko's eyes glazed over as she imagined what it would have been like living in that triumvirate marriage. Maybe in the beginning it would be like it had always been, Ayeka and herself fighting over Tenchi's attention and affections. But in the end it would have probably gotten ugly. Sighing and then shrugging her shoulders, Ryoko knew there would be no true way of ever knowing what would life had been like had she chosen that other road. It would forever remain her only true regret. What might have been… if only she had, had the will to try?

With one last tear for her lost hopes, Ryoko turned back to her lesson plan. And as she was deeply engrossed in her preparations, the door to the classroom creaked open. Figuring it was a student early for class and hoping to get some questions answered Ryoko didn't lift her head, but instead simply waited for the student to approach her. When at last a pair of brown leather shoes stopped at her left Ryoko stopped typing and lifted her head.

And promptly fainted.

The youthful appearing Yosho Masaki dove for the fainting woman. Catching her before she could topple off of her stool. It had been a shock for him to see her again. She had changed so much. Her hair was now a darker shade of crimson, nearly burgundy, and her distinctive ears were now of normal proportions. But the greatest shock of all had been her eyes. Those once startling glorious bullion eyes were now an intense splintered blend of Washu's emerald green and Ryoko's previous gold. The effect was amazing. Ryoko looked like Washu's child. The similarities in facial structure now stood out. What once had only seemed like a passing similarity now became desperately obvious.

And now with the temporarily comatose Ryoko in his arms Yosho nearly cried his mourning over the golden eyes that had haunted both his grandson and himself for the past eleven years. And yet despite his ache over the loss of the old Ryoko's looks, these new looks suited her. Maybe even better now that she was a teacher. Hitching Ryoko's body better into his arms, Yosho crossed to one of the lab tables before him. Laying her down flat on the table Yosho lovingly caressed her cheek as she momentarily slumbered in shock-induced sleep.

So much had changed; so much had happened could he do this? Could he even hope that she would come back home? Would she return to that house by the lake after all this time? Eleven years and still she was an elusive enigma to him. Giving a quick exhalation that held all his doubts, Yosho waited for Ryoko to awaken.

Shaking his head and ignoring his concerns Yosho smiled gently down at Ryoko, unable to resist the urge. He had missed her liveliness. Ryoko still exuded of life and joy. And when she had left it was as if the joy and life had left with her. The family was not the same. Nothing had been the same after that day, all for the love of his grandson.

Yosho shook his head; he had not expected such an instantaneous reaction from Ryoko.