Disclaimer ok, short and sweet, I don't own Tenchi Muyo!!!!


Ryoko awoke suddenly. She sat there a minute, eyes darting around her room, trying to figure out just what exactly had spurred her suddenly awake. Eventually, her keen hearing picked up a sort of clacking noise outside. Curious, she got up and looked out her window, her breath caught in her throat a minute as she watched the figure, moving swiftly in the clearing, brandishing some type of weapon, hitting a target at the other side. For just a minute, Ryoko thought he was actually fighting someone, but when the target didn't move, she was reassured that no new enemy had come to threaten their lives. Curiosity getting the better of her, Ryoko phased down in front the figure who was now panting, staring across the clearing at the unmoving target. She looked at him then at the target. "A worthy opponent, but I don't imagine his offense is very good," she said sarcastically

He shook his head and relaxed, "You're right, he gets boring and predictable at times, but then what do you suggest?" Tenchi was only mildly surprised she hadn't jumped on him and smothered him yet, but he didn't want to jinx it so he stayed quiet.

"Why are you here, and not sleeping, thought you had school tomorrow." Her golden eyes shimmered with sheer curiosity, which only made it all the more difficult for Tenchi to resist her. He laughed coldly at himself, catching her off guard.

"Nope, no school tomorrow, something wrong with a water pipe or something. Seems that place has had bad luck as of late." He shrugged, "I'm just here blowing off some steam from earlier I suppose."

Ryoko was caught by the comment, she looked at the ground, earlier today was one of her and the princess' worst fights yet. She rapidly winced at the memory of the gaping whole in the roof that was in fact, her fault. Just once, Ryoko wished she could resolve her problems without resorting to that, but every single time, that princess just pushed the wrong button with her, be it ridiculous or not.

Her head snapped up at an idea. She grinned at Tenchi who looked shocked in response, 'Oh no, here we go again,' he thought, but instead, she merely sauntered over to him, looked him in the eye and activated her energy foil. He jumped back in response, completely taken off guard.

"Come on, I'm a little more exciting than that doll over there! Let's go for it, just you and me." She winked at him as he tried to figure out what she meant. "I'm gonna help you get all this off your chest." 'Hope the works,' she thought.

Finally, he caught on to what she meant, "B-but Ryoko, I couldn't, it's not?"

"Come on Tenchi, I'm not exactly the picturesque lady, I couldn't honestly care less whether you hit me or not, now come on before dawn! You woke me up, the least you could do is grant this to me." She lunged at him, energy foil out, giving little time for Tenchi to draw his sword.

"Ryoko," he grunted, making an effort to block her blows, "I don't know what brought this on, but?" He was interrupted as she pressed him back, "Imagine this for me, Ayeka, me, fighting over you again, use your emotions to fuel your fighting spirit!"

Tenchi said nothing, but obliged her, he imagined the two fighting once again, a slight rage started to build up in him, frustration, he fought back against her.

Ryoko was now grunting with exertion as the fight began to heat up, still however, she continued her tirade, "Mihoshi has just broken that vase your mother bought your father for their anniversary and now, she's crying and she doesn't even know why." Tenchi fought harder and she fought harder to stay with him. "Washu and her experiments, need I go into more, and Sasami! You're coming in from a hard days work and she's just standing there smiling as if everything's right with the world when you want everyone to feel as if the world has ended. Ryo-ohki's been eating all your carrots again, meaning you have to work even more, and you still have to put up with your father and grandfather!" Ryoko was now on the defensive as a rage driven Tenchi fought against her. Imagining each situation carefully, not leaving out any of the details, he fought out his frustrations. Now, she herself fueled her fight off emotions, hey, if he could do it, so could she.

The fight went on for over an hour, with each sporting nasty cuts and bruises. Ryoko was now floating in the air, she let off a few energy blasts then dove for Tenchi through the smoke. Unfortunately, he caught on and was ready for her, blocking expertly her downward thrust and countering. Unable to block in time, she leapt backwards and charged at him as soon as her feet touched the ground. Tenchi brought up his own Tenchi-ken in time and the two locked swords. Each stared each other right in the eyes, the dawning sun, their surroundings, their very relationship temporarily forgotten as the two warriors stood, locked in combat, completely focused on the battle at hand, or sword rather.

Each, at the same time, used their momentum to push on one-another, and leap backward. The two stood, on opposite ends of the battlefield, looking the other right in the eye. As if rehearsed many times, they each let off a powerful blast of energy. The two balls collided in the center, letting off a mighty explosion, sending each opponent reeling farther backward. Tenchi landed none to gently in the dirt about thirty feet away. Ryoko was thrown into a couple trees and now lay unconscious against one.

Tenchi ambled his way over to her and held her until she came to, he didn't have long to wait. She groaned as she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was his bloody face smiling down on her. She smiled up at him, "You look pitiful."

Tenchi couldn't help but smile, I could say that same for you."

She grinned and shrugged, then stood up, "Hope you're feeling better though, looks like we missed dawn. I need a bath."

Tenchi couldn't help but smile and shake his head, "Sasami should be just about done with breakfast by now, I guess we should get cleaned up." No sooner had he said it then he was in the men's side of the onsen and he guessed Ryoko was on the woman's. He relaxed, breakfast would certainly be an adventure today.