Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi! I don't own Halloween!! And I don't...well, okay; I DO own a pair of boxers.

Night had settled, and the whole household had already had dinner about an hour ago. Tenchi had decided it was a little too late to start decorating, so he thought he'd leave it for a few days later, you know after school and such. Plus he wanted an opportunity to get Ryoko to decorate with him alone...beads of sweat were already pooling on his forehead. He had to tell her sometime before the season was over.

Without realizing it he had been staring at her. Ryoko grinned to herself and leaned back as she noticed. She wasn't going to say anything to let Ayeka or any of the others. However, it seemed Tenchi caught himself and turned his attention back to his food.

It wasn't like Ayeka had missed it; she just didn't care at the moment. She knew she'd have Ryoko embarrassed soon enough and maybe she would have a chance with Tenchi. She would just have to hold her temper until then and it was awfully hard. The dinner went by quickly and quietly for once, and then it seemed everyone flew off to bed, each with their own secret and private thoughts. Ryoko curled up on the couch instead of the rafter as she did sometimes, and tried to go to sleep.

Her sleep didn't last long. She woke up thirsty. It seemed to happen a lot. But as she stretched and yawned she made out a figure watching her from the kitchen. Immediately her sword was in her hand. "Show yourself."

The figure hesitated, as if it was unsure that it had been seen and caught. But it stepped forward. Whoever it was wore a black trench coat and a mask, a huge white mask that was almost looking like one from a masquerade ball. The figure bowed to her and spoke in a slightly garble though almost familiar voice. "Good evening my beauty."

All that did was piss Ryoko off. She might have been flattered were she not defensive and alarmed by whomever this man seemed to be. She thought it was a man anyhow. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm sorry I cannot answer one of your questions." The mask moved in such a way that she could tell the person underneath was smiling. "Who I am you will not find out now. I am here because I have a great fondness for you Ryoko."

"How do you know my name? And have you been here before when I have been asleep?" That made her even angrier. How dare he spy on her like that! "I don't like being watched by someone I do now know. It freaks me out. Got it?"

"I know you well Ryoko...I know you better than you might think. And I have ways yet to surprise you. I just want you to know that I love you and think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. That sounds corny, doesn't it?" He laughed.

She almost shook with anger. "Why you overconfident cad! Why are you laughing?" She jumped forward, sword out. "I'll cut that mask off."

The figure seemed spooked by that, and he put up his hands and backed away. "Okay I'll go. And you won't see me until Halloween, okay? You would be sorry if you were to hurt me."

Ryoko snorted, almost laughing. "Why the hell would I be sorry?"

"Because you would be losing someone very important to you." He walked through the kitchen, and outside the door. Ryoko made sure she watched. She even checked through the window and saw him disappear into the woods. Good. But she would not sleep easy. She stayed up, the rest of that night, on the couch. Only when she heard Nobuyuki stir did she lay down to take at least somewhat of a nap.

It was a full 4 days later. Ayeka, Mihoshi, and Washu gathered in the lab, watching over and over again what they had dubbed "The Underpants Tape". Ayeka couldn't even watch the whole of the 3 minute recording because she was always laughing too hard before it even began. Mihoshi couldn't tell the difference, and Washu almost considered finding some way to sell it.

The scientist turned to the other two. "Now we aren't going to show this off unless we have to...agreed?"

Mihoshi nodded, that at least she could understand. "Umm, okay Miss Washu! I don't even want to show it, I don't quite get it...

Ayeka put a mask over her face, and nodded. "Oh, it's only for personal enjoyment anyway Miss Washu. If we show the tape Ryoko would destroy it and we'd have nothing to laugh at anymore."

Washu cast a long glance over Ayeka, almost positive she wasn't telling the truth, but she honestly could not tell. She pushed the button to let the tape out, and set in on a selected shelf. "I only wish my first tape of my daughter was not featuring her in men's underwear...you know...I wonder what Tenchi's boxers do feel like though."

Ayeka's jaw dropped as she was about to leave. "You can't be serious!"

Washu snickered and shook her head. "You're right I'm not. Anyway...out out!" She ushed them both out. "I do have research after all."

"I'm ready to put up some decorations now." Tenchi wasn't sure where everyone was, but he had willingly approached Ryoko to help. It was the perfect time now. "You can help me put spider webs on some of the trees along the pathway.

"Really? I'm so happy!" Ryoko jumped up and hugged Tenchi immediately, surprised when it took him a very long hesitant minute to shove her off. "Maybe we can er...use the spider web for something else." She winked and ran out the door.

What in the world they could use it for that way Tenchi didn't even want to guess at. It was safer not to know he decided. He followed her out slowly, grabbing the loads of bags of spider webs he had bought. They would be busy for a while. "Hey...wait up! You don't know which trees I'm thinking of!" He laughed. And then he ran. In fact, he started to race her. "I'm beating you!"

"...Wha?" That was totally unexpected. Tenchi was running with her? Almost playful? "Hey no fair, where am I racing you too?" She laughed with him and flew behind him until they got there.

Upon reaching the said destination, Tenchi bent down and panted, while Ryoko stood beside him. He looked at her half smiling. "If...you...had known where we were...going you'd have beaten me for sure."

"I suppose so." She took one of the bags from him and tore into it, looking at the webbing. "Sticky...well, should I just begin on any of the trees I so desire?" She waggled her now webbed fingers at him, which made him laugh.

"Yea! Go ahead Ryoko! I'll start on this end, you start on that end, and we'll meet in the middle." He had meant to decorate with her, and man did he feel like a dope. But well...he just didn't know what to do.

Ryoko just sort of nodded and once her back was turned she frowned. She had been hoping to get closer. Oh well. She was silent as she worked, her glance shifting every so often to Tenchi. She had no idea the same was happening with him.

It took a long and painful hour before they were at the middle with the last bag. Both their hands dove into it at the same time before they began to talk again. Ryoko sighed sadly. "So this is the last decoration for the night."

"Yea...yea it is." Tenchi tried to keep upbeat. "Let's...hang it together, all right?"

"What do you mean? Just do what we were doing and talk? Or hang it off our bodies..." She hinted with a gleam in her smile. "I'm up for that."

"Uh, well not exactly." He walked with her to the middle tree. "Like this...it's fun." He hesitated and then grabbed her hand with his own webbed and sticky hand. He guided her hand up to a branch and wound what she had been clutching around the branch. "Now you do that to me. We'll take turns."

She was speechless. This was voluntary!? Not that she was complaining of course. "Okay...Tenchi." She took his hand softly, then a firmer grip as if to tell him not to let go, and guided his hand up into the tree. "There."

Tenchi nodded and kept from turning red as they took turns guiding one another. It took almost as long as decorating the other trees, and it was getting quite dark by the time they finished the bag. Tenchi sighed. "I guess...I guess we're done for the day."

"Tenchi...I think we're just beginning..." She grinned devilishly. 'That wasn't like you and I wonder what else I can get out of you..." Her face came dangerously close.

"Ryoko..." He said her name softly and let his face drift in. Why not just let go? Almost...almost..."

"Supper is ready and oh my!" They both jumped and turned to see Mihoshi and Ayeka standing there. "Wow, that's really scary!" It took them both a moment to realize Mihoshi was indicating the spider webs and not them. Behind her though, it was obvious Ayeka was fuming.

After a few moments, she stuck her nose in the air as if to give in. "Well. What. Ever. Let's go, I am starving!"

"See you at home Tenchi." Ryoko waved and flew up, teleporting away. It was just as well for both of them. After being that close, maybe it was better to be apart so they would not have to fight off the urge the whole way home.

Ayeka glared and fumed. She would have to do something. Even if it involved a particular tape...

Whoo!! Another chapter! I don't know how many more chapters it will take but the highlights and end are drawing relatively near.