Tenchi sat waiting impatiently at the door to Washu's lab. At any moment Ryoko could come walking through that door and back into his life. What would he say to her? How did he feel about her? What was he going to do? How was he going to convince her to stay?
The questions stormed Tenchi. Whirlwinds of conflicting emotions twisted his emotions into a jumble. His heart was racing; soon, maybe even sooner than he thought, she would be standing before him. Tenchi's imagination began racing. How beautiful she must be now. Eyes glazed over with wonder and hope, he never noticed the door in front of him opening, at least not until he came face to panel with it.
"Still standing around uselessly, are you boy?" Yosho's voice held a definite note of consternation. Of all the times for the boy to go slack-jawed and drooling, why did he have to pick the moment just before Ryoko reappeared? Shaking his head Yosho resigned himself to having to play mediator and cool Ryoko down, once Tenchi stepped in it. The boy simply never learned. But if the moron ruined this last chance at everything, Yosho thought to himself, then I don't know if I am capable of the understanding and tolerance necessary to forgive him.
Tenchi rubbed his head and looked sheepishly at the floor. What would Ryoko say if she had seen you? What would she think about what you've become? What would she think about the man that you are? Do you think she could love you now? Do you think she still loves you? Do you think she can try?
Allowing his thoughts to wander Tenchi never noticed the second body emerge from behind the door. Washu pushed her way out from behind the door and looked around. The house was so different, and yet so unchanged. It looks so… Washu floundered for an appropriate description.
Ryoko was right behind Washu and looked at the place her heart still called home. "Its so empty…" Ryoko's voice whispered. She hadn't realized she had said it aloud until Washu's regret-filled eyes turned to hers. This was not the home they remembered. The happiness and life as much a memory as the times they had shared. It was like looking at a plundered tomb.
The structure was obviously still capable of fulfilling its purpose. And yet, it felt hollow, with an empty desolation. The memories reverberated in a heart-rending echo. The laughter, the tears, the calamity and the joy… all clattered around the corners of the house leaving the building feeling like an empty caricature of a home. It took Ryoko a moment to compose herself. The shock of seeing the house look so abandoned and yet, it was obviously well maintained. Ryoko shook her head… not abandoned, discarded.
Was that how Tenchi felt? Discarded? Unwanted? Unloved? His home… for so long I wanted it to be my home… how could I have just turned my back on it all? The tears were starting to form. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to feel the pain. She didn't want the memories that this house brought. Ryoko would have made for the portal if Washu hadn't grabbed her arm. She had to leave, anything was better than reliving all the pain. Even her half numb existence was better than the desperate pain of all the failed hopes and dreams.
Tenchi saw Washu first and had to take a moment to adjust to her new image. Washu had changed much over the years. Now the woman… not child… woman… Tenchi randomly wondered if he would still have to call her "Little Washu". That would be odd, considering the woman was easily taller than his father. Tenchi chuckled lightly, but still shorter than himself. It took a moment to realize part or what was so different about Washu was her hair actually contained a few grays.
Washu with gray hair? Seemed slightly implausible, but there it was right in front of his eyes, the proof. Washu was in fact graying. And Washu's eyes seemed different somehow. Tenchi could not place it but somehow they seemed different. Shrugging off the idea Tenchi straightened himself to receive his guest. Smile on his face Tenchi wondered what would be the most appropriate greeting. Deciding that formality was always best in such questionable and awkward situations Tenchi bowed. "It is nice to see you again, Miss Washu."
Washu returned Tenchi's bow and replied, "Actually Tenchi its Professor Hakubi. But I'll let you off the hook and you can call me Washu. I'm thinking that "little Washu" would be a tad inappropriate all things considered." Chuckling lightly at her own wit, Washu paused momentarily. "I see you've grown quite nicely young man, feel mature enough to give me that sample finally?" Washu shimmied her hips at Tenchi and coyly batted her lashes at him.
Tenchi blinked.
Washu licked her lips at him; "So Tenchi's how's about it? You wanna?" Wink, wink, hint, hint, nudge, nudge.
Tenchi blinked again. Looking down at Washu Tenchi barely contained his laughter. He sputtered momentarily then finally gave up and exploded with a boisterous cackle. Washu for her part joined in after a moment of injured pride. "Professor Hakubi, I am most flattered by your rather blatant attention, but I am not at leisure to partake in such delicate indiscretions as the ones in which you are describing." Tenchi heard his grandfather chuckling quietly behind him. "But I am most certain my grandfather would be more than content to oblige you." Tenchi's smile quickly turned to a smirk at the sound of his grandfather's plausibly fearful gulp. Was it possible for a gulp to sound fearful? Tenchi's thoughts wandered, then returned when he heard the sound again. "That aside. Please come further into the house, rather than just simply standing in the doorway."
Tenchi was facing the door; Washu was beside the door one hand on the knob coming from the lab, the other hand holding onto something behind her. Whatever it was, Tenchi couldn't see it as the door completely obfuscated his view. Washu pulled Ryoko back into the house with enough force to yank her completely passed the protection of the door.
Ryoko momentarily stumbled then righted herself. Glared back at her mother and then turned slowly to take in the entire room. So much had changed, she idly thought. So much has changed without us here. Ryoko continued looking around her, taking in the change in the feel of the house. Then her eyes settled on Tenchi…
WHUMP
Heh, who knew Ryoko would sound just like a bag of moldy potatoes when she hit the floor? Washu thought.
Beam me up Scottie there's no intelligent life on this planet.
Tenchi looked down at the comatose Ryoko. HUH? She faints now? When'd she learn that trick? I thought she was indestructo-girl? Tenchi looked down at Ryoko curiously. She had changed. Why? Tenchi lifted questioning eyes to Washu.
Washu knew exactly what his eyes were asking. I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that. Washu shook her head; she really needed to stop Ryo-ohki from watching all those archaic movies late at night. It was really wreaking havoc on here subconscious. "Ryoko will explain once she's awake. The best I can tell you is that she's changed inside as well as out."
Tenchi nodded, his face reflecting his lack of comprehension. Washu sighed. Houston, I think we have a problem. Washu momentarily rolled her eyes, why couldn't Ryo-ohki at least remember the damn quotes correctly? God damnit Ryo-ohki! I'm gonna fricassee your little fuzzy butt when I get home! All this useless knowledge clouding her mind at the most inopportune moments. Thank the lords that it wasn't illegal to torture cabbits…. Yet.
Yosho watched Washu and Tenchi just stand there. After a moment of waiting for someone to do something, Yosho shook his head and picked Ryoko up from the floor. Giving a large exasperated sigh, Yosho carried her to the couch. Gently depositing the professor on the soft cushions, Yosho had to smile; this was the second time she had fainted in one day. Now why couldn't she have fainted more than 700 years ago? Getting her into the cave would have been much simpler.
Tenchi felt a momentary spike of jealousy as he watched his grandfather… his now younger, unattached, available grandfather, tenderly sweep Ryoko off the floor and whisk her away to the couch. Shrugging off his minor concern Tenchi followed his grandfather, then suffered the elder Masaki's fierce glare. Yes, he knew he had acted stupidly by simply standing there watching Ryoko, but her hair and ears had been a desperate shock. Hoping to salvage the situation, Tenchi rounded the couch and crouched beside Ryoko.
Looking up at Washu and his grandfather, Tenchi hoped that they'd understand his desire to be left alone with Ryoko without him having to say anything. They did. Yosho quietly offered Washu tea, to which she cordially agreed and the pair ambled to the kitchen, their muted conversation disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.
Tenchi waited patiently for Ryoko to come to, he had waited eleven years for the chance to explain to her, to see her, to tell her what he had needed to all those years ago. He wasn't that stupid, silly boy anymore. Time and loss molding a man out of the shy boy. It would be the man that he had become that would win back the family he wanted. Confidence bolstered Tenchi watched patiently as Ryoko's eyes began to flutter open.
Ryoko slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Well this is a different view than what I remember… what happened?
THUMP
HUH? Tenchi!?! Heh, who knew Tenchi would make the same sound as an 80 lb. Sack of flour? Ryoko thought idly.
If a Tenchi falls in a field full of carrots and no one is around to hear, would anyone care? Ryoko shook her head; together she and her mother were going to have to restrict Ryo-ohki's exposure to the outside world. The cabbit's sense of humor was getting morbidly rye. Ryoko gently lifted Tenchi to sit next to her on the couch. He seemed so different now. Holding his hand Ryoko compared hers to his. The last time she had seen him, their hands had been about the same size, but now?
Now his hands dwarfed hers, for the first time in her life Ryoko felt… delicate. It was an awkward feeling. She liked it and yet also hated it. She had never felt delicate before. Shattered yes, invincible definitely, strong always. But sitting beside him with her hand in his and her body pressed against his, she felt delicate… and precious. Somehow just being next to him made her feel all that and more. So much more… it frightened her how much more she felt.
It was as if the time apart had compounded her love for him. The distance and maturity adding a new depth and wealth to her feelings, eleven years ago her love had been the all consuming love of a girl and her knight in shining armor. But now, with age and maturity her love was by comparison a firestorm. The all-consuming fire was still there from before, but now it burned hotter and deeper within her heart and soul. And along side the fire was the longing, the desperate longing to care for him, to love him, to hold him, to adore him, to simply be with him. It was so much more than what she had felt all those years ago. He was different now, she was different now, and yet her heart remained as faithful and devoted as ever.
Sitting there Ryoko couldn't believe she had dropped her life as a teacher quiet so readily for his sake. All for the love of this simple and yet ever so perplexing man, even now, years later she still felt the silent pull. He drew her in, the hidden promise of love vanquishing all her demons of doubt, if for only a moment. In his presence right now, sitting beside him she still felt like that awkward girl that had hidden behind a mask of brash arrogance. Had he ever seen beyond the lies? Had he ever bothered to discover the person that hid deep within?
Ryoko's emotions swiftly swung away from her previous tender thoughts. The pain and the anguish of all the years and distance quickly fortifying her resolve, she would have her closure and then be done with Tenchi. How could she have let herself fall right back into the pit of need that had been the center of her existence eleven years ago? Hadn't she found the strength to survive without him? How could she have simply turned her back on eleven years of pain and loss and tears so swiftly?
Yes, in the grand scheme of her life eleven years was simply an infinitesimal drop in the bucket. But not to her new life, the life she had once she was freed from the cave. The person she was now, which she'd like to believe was person she would have become had previous events in her life not transpired, only had the years since her release to truly define herself. By those terms eleven years was a phenomenal span of time to have lapsed without Tenchi by her side.
But the years had past and now she sat next to him, wanting him, still loving him, but refusing to be hurt ever again. Refusing to accept less than what she knew she deserved. And she deserved it all… a husband, children, a happy family, her mother by her side… the whole ball of wax. She deserved it and she wanted it, but on her terms, on her conditions and with or without the approval of Jurai. Jurai… Ryoko wondered how Ayeka was. It seemed strange to simply idly wonder about a person that still meant so much to her.
In her deepest heart of hearts, Ryoko regarded Ayeka as her sister. But never could she share Tenchi with the princess. Ryoko shook her head, No it wasn't simply a matter of sharing Tenchi, I could share him if I were nothing more than his friend. If he had chosen her I could life with it. Learn to accept it. But I could never share the man that I love. Too much has been taken from me, for me to want to share the love of my life.
Ryoko closed her eyes and allowed her concentration to turn inward. I don't care if its selfish, I don't care if its infantile, I don't care how it seems, I have every right to be happy however I want to be, and that is how I choose it.
But is it fair to Tenchi? To dictate the course of his life because of your own selfish whims?
Does it really matter? Is it fair for Tenchi to want us both when he knew what such a relationship would do to me in the end?
Again is it fair to Tenchi? Can you keep blaming him for his faults when he has forgiven you for yours?
Why should I compromise for less than his whole heart? Why should I settle for less than all that I want?
And why should he suffer for your selfishness? Why should he have to forsake one love for another?
Why can't he just be happy with me? Why can't he love me and be happy with the life we could have shared?
Why can't you be happy with sharing Tenchi with his family? Why can't you love him for the man he is, instead of the man you want him to be?
That's not true! I love him for who he is! I've loved him since the day he was born! Those dreams from within the cave, and even from before… I loved him his entire life!
If that's true then why can't you accept him the way he is? Why can't you be happy with his life the way it is? If you truly love him, you would give him the freedom of choice.
Why must I be the one to sacrifice?
Love is sacrifice.
Why must I be the one to forsake my dreams?
Love is sacrifice.
Why must I be the one to always lose?
Love is sacrifice.
Why can't he love me?
Love is sacrifice.
Why can't you say anything else besides "love is sacrifice"?
Because love is sacrifice. If you are willing to sacrifice of yourself, of your dreams, wants, wishes and desires… Then he will sacrifice for you. You can only receive what you are willing to give. And he can only give what you are willing to accept.
How does that make sense? He was willing to stick me in that trio with him and Ayeka for eternity! I wouldn't accept that and he still offered!
Yes he offered, but did you bother to understand why? If he had no understanding of what to give then how could he know what you would accept?
He said he loved me! If he loves me then he should have known what I wanted!
How is he to know what you want if you will not tell him?
He said he loved me! He's supposed to know!
How is he to know what you want if you will not tell him?
Didn't you get it the first time? He said he loves me, therefore he should have known me well enough to know what I wanted!
So, because he loves you he is suppose to know your every want and desire, even the ones you hide from him and yourself?
Yes!
How is he to know what you want if you will not tell him?
He's just suppose to know! Don't you understand? He's suppose to know everything about me… all my funny little quirks, all my dreams, all my ambitions, all my darkest secrets! He's supposed to be my saviour!
How is he to know what you want if you will not tell him?
WHAT IS IT WITH THE CONSTANTLY REPEATING YOURSELF? Fine, he can't know what I want if I don't tell him! You happy now? I brake! He can't know if I don't tell him! There's no possible way for him to know me that well, if I don't show him, don't let him, don't give him the chance! Fine… I never gave him the chance!
Will you give him the chance now?
WHAT!?! Why should I? He broke MY heart! He wanted everything! He wanted us both! Not just me, not just my love, but everything!
He wanted his family to stay together. He tried to keep it together the only way he knew how. Will you give him the chance now?
I don't know…
Do you love him enough to sacrifice?
I don't know…
Can you love him enough to sacrifice?
I don't know…
Can you stand to lose him again?
No…
Then you do love him enough to sacrifice.
I don't know…
I do…
Then what is the answer?
We must learn to love him enough to sacrifice… that is all…
Sacrifice what?
Love is sacrifice… when we understand that together, then you will know the answer…
I'm scared…
I know… Sacrifice can be scary… but he is worth it… in the end he was always worth it.
I love him…
I know… I love him as well…
Why can't you tell me the answer now?
Because you are still you and I am still I… until we are no longer two, the answers I know must remain with me.
I'm scared… what if he doesn't love me?
I know you're scared… I am as well, but I have faith. He loves us… he loves you.
He loves me?
He loves me…
He loves me…
Ryoko's eyes fluttered open after Tenchi's seventh attempt to gently nudge her awake. It had taken him a moment to rouse himself from his shock-induced slumber, but when he awoke he found himself seated next to Ryoko. Closely next to Ryoko, which had been almost as shocking as her eyes and appearance. He had so many questions to ask, so many things to say, so many confessions to make.
"Tenchi you're not dying are you?" Ryoko's words blurted from her mouth before she could halt them.
"Not as far as I know…" Tenchi scratched the back of his neck in a gesture so desperately familiar, Ryoko's heart clenched.
"Then why would he tell me that you were dying?" Realization dawned on her.
Tenchi tried to back track his grandfather out of trouble. "Ryoko … I think what grandfather meant when he said that I'm dying is that… well…life just wasn't the same after you left. I know that after that day things had to change. Things were going to change whether I did something or not. But I never expected them to change so dramatically. I don't know… I guess I hoped that if I married you both, things would just continue on just as they had without an end. But I guess dreams like that only come true outside of reality. Huh?" Tenchi looked morosely down at his hands. Suddenly he didn't feel quite so confident.
Ryoko felt the old anger well up inside her as the long held words of bitter regret and sorrow rose to her lips she lifted her eyes to his. And then swallowed the words forever. Tenchi looked so hollow. Like the life had been slowly drained out of him. "Tenchi I don't know what to tell you. I loved you then. In a lot of ways I still love you now. But I can't go back to that time. I can't go back to being that girl. I can't go back to that place."
Tenchi nodded his head indicating he understood. He understood all too well. Who could have guessed that those hectic days of madness and smiles would have been the greatest moments of his life? How was he to have known that his simple decision would destroy the delicate house of cards forever?
Ryoko smiled at Tenchi and squeezed his hand. "I will always treasure those moments and memories that I shared with you and that crazy family we had back then. But I can't help you if you are asking for me to help you try and have that life all over again. I would love nothing more than to see what might have been, but I can't. I've changed too much. I'm sorry Tenchi." With eyes that reflected the depth of her regret Ryoko honestly mourned the loss of those times, that friendship and the closeness of family.
"I know I should be able to talk about something besides the past, but somehow I just can't get over it. At least not right here, right now as I sit so close to you. It's hard, you know? It's so terribly hard to not allow the memories of what we were to each other to wash away the years of separation. To not let your voice take me back to that time and erase concerns of the here and now." Tenchi looked down at the his hands again.
Ryoko's eyes flashed with anger at his words. "How dare you?" Ryoko questioned as Tenchi lifted his head and looked at her with confusion and something else shimmering in his eyes.
"How dare you sit here and talk about the past like somehow you were the one that lost so much? What's wrong Tenchi? Did the collapse of your precious house of card hurt? Did the loss of one adoring fan wound your ego? You wanted it all, no matter the cost to others. You wanted Ayeka and myself. You wanted the family and the madness. You wanted it all and you left us with nothing."
Tenchi stared at Ryoko as she seethed, almost hissing in her ire. Tenchi squared his shoulders and locked his jaw. So that didn't work, next tactic. "Look Ryoko, I know we can never go back to that time. And yes, I admit it. I was selfish. I wanted it all. I wanted everything to stay the same. I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I wanted my best friend and the woman I love to both be a part of my life."
And once the floodgates of frustration were opened, eleven years worth of suppressed emotions deluged forward. "I know that was a lot to ask, but I had to try. Can you blame me? After so long? Do you still blame me? Damn it, I was still a kid myself! I didn't know anything about anything! I barely knew how I felt about you, about all of them. And yet, I had to make a choice? A permanent choice that would decide everything for the rest of my life? Sweet heavenly mercies!! Who in their right minds has the ability to make such a monumental decision at such an age? I was 17 for crying out loud! How the hell did I know any better?"
And again the bitter taste of her own pain came to her rescue. Ryoko's blustered, "So you were 17! So you had to make a decision! A tough decision! But it was still your decision to make! Did it occur to you that if you loved either one of us enough we would have gladly accepted being nothing but your friend for the rest of our lives? I would have lived with you forever if you had simply made a decision between us. I was never, you know this and so did the rest of the family, quiet about the fact that I couldn't handle living in a polygamous marriage. It would have torn me apart. And in time my pain, anger and bitter resentment would have torn the marriage apart. In the end you would have still had to choose between us… but by then the decision would have been made for you. You don't like the way that life's little path has taken you?"
"That's your own damn fault. Grow up Tenchi and learn to live with the consequences of your actions. What's the matter? Is your precious princess no putting out?" Ryoko internally winced, she hadn't meant to sound so vindictive or say something so snide.Tenchi's eyes flared, that was going too far. She could take out her anger on him, but not on Ayeka. Ayeka had little to do with his own insecurities and wasn't to blame of the situation.
"Don't you dare talk like that about Ayeka…" Tenchi never got a chance to finish his sentence.
Ryoko was livid, simply and positively livid. How dare he expect her to calm down! How dare he expect her to not blame Ayeka! He wasn't the selfless martyr he wanted to paint himself as, and Ayeka wasn't the innocent little angel that he imagined. Did anyone know anyone back then? Ryoko wondered momentarily to herself. "Talk like that about Ayeka? And why the hell not Tenchi? Give me one good damn reason not to? She's not the perfect little angel you always thought she was. She had faults, just like you, just like me. Damn it, did you ever see us equally?
Tenchi was shocked, how could she think that? How could she miss how he felt? How could he have been so blind to her pain all that time?
Ryoko's tirade continued, "You selfish bastard, not only did you want it all. Ayeka, myself, the family… ALL OF IT! Not only did you want it all, but you also wanted your little angel and your little devil. That's not what we are!!! Damn it, I'm more that just some stupid demon you dragged into redemption, and I can tell you for damn sure, that Ayeka is no heaven sent angel.
Did you ever see past the masks we hid behind? Did you ever bother to see who we were? How can you say you loved us when you didn't even know who we really were?"
Her eyes, he missed her eyes. Her luscious, expressive, golden boundless eyes, with their radiant beauty and vitality, the eyes crying before him weren't right. Ryoko's eyes were always supposed to hold the whole of eternity within their bullion depths. Tenchi's focus narrowed down to the sole fraction of a universe that fell within her eyes. So many nights had been spent lying awake seeing those eyes looking at him with longing love. So many nights spent longing to see that same startling shade echoed in his children's eyes. So many nights wasted wanting more than the emptiness and now all he had left were his memories. Had he known her? Had he really known either of them?
Tenchi shook his head; he had known Ayeka. Well, as best as one could, considering she always withdrew just a fraction of herself. Always remaining aloof, distant no matter how close he had tried to become. But that night that hideously fateful night, the night he had offered her the compromise of marriage to both, cause he could not live life without Ryoko, he had thought he had felt her emerge from her shell. If only Ayeka had left the explanations up to him, maybe he could have found a way to tell Ryoko what he had planned without it having gotten so far out of hand so quickly.
Tenchi's mind balked at the glimmer of reality that came through, Ayeka had meant for Ryoko to be driven away. But then he couldn't blame Ayeka. After so long of battling everyone had known that Ryoko wouldn't settle for a portion of his life. It was all or nothing, the rules selfishly and yet understandably dictated by a girl that had never had a love of her own. It had never been a secret that Ryoko wanted Tenchi all to herself, therefore making a multiple marriage virtually impossible. Ayeka could have handled being a part of his life, along side anyone else but Ryoko. The rivalry simply ran too deep. The anguish and pain too much a burden to simply relinquish in order to grasp their combined dreams.
Ayeka had, had the bravery and the foresight to see that brutal honesty was the only manner to address the situation. Sugar coated words of love and adoration would only cloud the truth of the decision. Ryoko had to understand the truth of the relationship. There would be no more, fighting over Tenchi's affections, since they would both have a rightful claim to it. No bickering over whom he loved more, since by law they would both be of the same stature, there would be no preference of one over the other. Although the trio would always know that the triangle was permanently skewed there was no hiding the fact that there would be no room for jealousy, petty or otherwise. Once the trio was wed there would be no place for Tenchi's personal preferences as it would be his royal obligation to bear an heir by both wives.
That tore Tenchi from his thoughts, he would have had to sleep with both women at some point. What would that have done to Ryoko? How would a woman that had known so little love in her life, handle the love of her life sleeping with another woman? It was one thing to joke and cajole while they were all still unattached, quite another to have to share the only person you were willing to make such a commitment for.
To watch Tenchi go off to Ayeka's bed would have destroyed Ryoko, and there simply was not circumventing that reality. In the end Tenchi could not believe how shortsighted and selfish he had really been. To want both Ayeka and Ryoko to sacrifice so much, simply for his own happiness? And if he had slept with both women could he have honestly kept his heart faithful to only his Ryoko? OR would it eventually lean towards Ayeka? So much he had missed with his shortsightedness and now in the face of Ryoko's blistering fury he was forced to see the onsequences of what might have been.
Ryoko's ranting continued unabated, she knew he had stopped listening by the glazed look he was giving her, but she needed this rant. It had remained bottled up for too long and now she was venting her ire and rage. All eleven years worth. "And another thing!! How could you get Ryo-ohki hooked on that stupid Star Trek show and those damn movies! You know she quotes them at random now!?! Now I've got random quotes, quotes that aren't even in the show mind you, floating through my friggin' head because of that fluffy menace. And what is with the damn dry humor?"
"She got it from you! I wasn't even aware that Masaki Men had a sense of humor! At least not until Ryo-ohki informed me that you were to blame for her taste in comedy. THANKS A WHOLE FRIGGIN' CABBIT PELLETS LOT!! DO you have any idea how hard it is to grade exams when you have the damn lumberjack song floating through your head? Or better yet! The stupid SPAM song? You haven't known annoying until you have about 12 cabbits sitting around you trying to sing in 5 part harmony with stupid Viking helmets on! You do the math, it doesn't come out evenly, which means there's always one friggin' odd cabbit out! Which is always the loudest, and Always, and I do mean ALWAYS the one that can't hit a single note to save its little confused genus life!"
"And another thing…" Ryoko was silenced by Tenchi's kiss. Enough was enough, if she continued ranting she was going to explode.
Washu mentally cackled, Well, it looks like the boy just might have grown up some. Well, I hope they get things settled soon, because Ayeka will be on her way, and if when she gets here its not going to be pretty. Washu looked on silently as she felt Ryoko's shock subside into tenderness, and tenderness give way to an unexpected explosion of passion. From the looks of it, soon the family would be reunited and once again the madness would begin. But the real question was, would the couple making out on the couch remain simply a couple or would there be another member? Washu didn't know… and for once in her life she didn't want to know.
Their fate was in Tenchi's hands. It all depended upon him. Washu shook her head… Poor Tenchi, in the end its always his choice to decided their fates. Don't blow it this time. Washu smiled gently at the pair before her mind relayed fully what he eyes saw. Okay I think its time for me to make my exit; things are getting a little too explicit here. Tiptoeing silently away, Washu tried to not blush as random snippets of Ryoko's thoughts ran unchecked across the link. My oh my, what that daughter of mine has planned for poor little Tenchi…
Mini-rant: Okay so I'm sorta retrying to get back into the groove of writing again. It's hard and I'm simply not feeling it. That and I've found other means of creative expression so its difficult getting back into the groove of writing. Having said that, I haven't sent this to my betas for a reason. They do a wonderful job and I intend to send everything else to them, but this one story I want it to go where it will, and I'm not sure where that is just yet. Try not to hate me because I had Ryoko jump at Tenchi's name. I tried to address it a little in this chapter and will hopefully address it better later on. I hope you liked this addition, and I'm sorry everything has come to a grinding halt.