Disclaimer: I wish these characters were mine! Makes me wanna cry since they aren't. Waaaah! I also did not write the lyrics to the song in the story, it is in fact called Unchained Melody, I forgot who wrote it but it wasn't me.

"She's barely talked to me...I'm not mad or anything. If anything I found it kinda funny." Tenchi sat in Washu's lab, his head down as he spoke. He was really worried about Ryoko. Since she saw him watching the tape, she had barely spoken to him, only when she ran into him on accident. Even then she didn't hug him like usual.

"You know she will bounce back. She might be upset for a few days, but she'll be okay." Washu casually ate some of her noodles, pushing a button on her computer every few moments. Her mind link told her Ryoko was very, very upset, but she didn't doubt her daughter. She would be fine. "Cheer up and eat Washu!"

Tenchi shook his heads. He wasn't anywhere near hungry to begin with. He scratched the back of his neck. "So what do we do until then?"

"We wait. And we give Ayeka more chores." That was the punishment. Ayeka already felt pretty bad which no one had expected, but she was also given all of Ryoko's chores, plus Washu's...mostly because Washu just wanted an excuse not to do them. "The Halloween party is tomorrow night. I'm sure she'll be there."

"I hope so." Tenchi rose to go. "I guess I'll talk to you later Washu if I have anymore concerns...I just don't feel like sitting right now." She nodded and waved him off as he left. Once outside her lab, Tenchi sighed and looked out the window. It was getting pretty dark. He had some homework and stuff to do, so he went upstairs, still feeling very crappy.

Ryoko swiped angrily at the fake spider webbing on an end tree. She was so mad, and embarrassed, and betrayed feeling that she just could not get a hold of herself no matter how hard she tried. All she could do was tear apart a section of the fragile Halloween decorations she had helped her Tenchi put up. Doubtful he was her Tenchi anymore.

"Why are you doing that?"

She whirled upon hearing a familiar voice, only to have her heart drop again as she saw the man in the black trench coat again. "What the hell do you want?"

"Why are you so sad and angry Ryoko?" The figure questioned and stepped closer, though he did stop as Ryoko held out her hand quite angrily.

"Because Tenchi learned something rather embarrassing about me. Got it? Happy? And now I am sure he hates me." She sputtered and turned to continue wrecking the webs.

"Why would I be happy? If he hates you for that, he would not be worthy of you now would he?" He crept closer again, standing right behind Ryoko. "I am offering to take you with me...if you truly believe he hates you, why stay here? You could come with me; I love you and want you to be happy. I only want the best for you." He put his hand out.

Ryoko stopped tearing at the webs and stood still, her eyes closed and her chest heaving as she panted and searched her mind frantically. Did she really want to go? Was it worth it? What if he was playing her for a fool? And most important... "What about Tenchi?"

"Have you heard the things you have said about him? You believe he hates you."

"Even so...I won't leave. I won't give up on him." She smiled arrogantly, her fire seeming to come back. "Tenchi is worth every pain in the gut and heart that I get, and until he has had children with some other woman for God's sake, I will not give up."

The figure's head drooped a little and he dropped his hand. "Are you really sure about that?"

"More sure than ever." Ryoko put her hand on her hips. She was going to get back into it! Why give up anyway? Why give into Ayeka's jealousy?

The figure bowed and stepped away. "Then...goodbye Ryoko." He retreated silently and slowly into the darkness.

Washu grinned as she listened in on it over the mind link. "Good answer my little Ryoko."

Tenchi carefully combed his hair back as he heard some music beginning downstairs. This was the night, Halloween night, with their costume party, and hopefully the night he would confess to Ryoko. Would she be there? He paused and stared at his comb, lost in thought. What if she wasn't there? He didn't know what in the world he would do. "Still gotta try I guess." He finished his hair up, and slipped into his costume.

"Tenchi, are you coming? Hey, neat costume!" Sasami edged his door open a little and peeked in at him. "That's really cool!"

"You think so?" His voice muffled as he situated the head part in place. "I thought it was a little boring." He grinned before it quickly faded, and he approached the little girl. "Hey Sasami...did you see Ryoko down there?"

"Yup! She's dressed as a dinosaur or something, I'm not really sure. It's pretty cool looking though!" Sasami held her hand up over her head. "It goes this hi above her head, well, it has to balance on her hair which is really weird-hey Tenchi are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh! I'm perfectly fine!" He realized he had been staring off. She was down there! He was almost too nervous to go. "Oh uh, I'll come down in a second Sasami. Don't start the music without me!"

Ryoko yawned and looked at her watch. She was sitting off in a corner by now, and she was sure many of Tenchi's invited school friends had arrived by now. There was a small group of people there, and she couldn't really make anything out. Washu sat herself down next to her. "Looking for Tenchi?"

"Huh? Oh...yea...ahh!" She jumped aside as she realized that a giant Washu duck was sitting next to her. "Uh...that's a different costume."

"Indeed. I thought it should look cute and little just like me!" Washu laughed and stuck her tongue out at Ryoko. "Plus I can breathe."

"Good point." Ryoko lifted the serpent head off and inhaled deeply, glad to have nice fresh air.

At that point, the music began to play. Dancers divided into couples, and Ryoko could see a little clearly. She groaned. Coming towards her was a figure in a black trench coat and an all too familiar mask. He extended his hand out to her. "Care to dance?"

She tilted her head as this voice sounded more familiar than before. She started to say no and tell him to piss off, but Washu nudged her and mouthed 'go'. "Er...I guess so..." She took his hand hesitantly and stood up. He bowed slightly and led her to the dance floor.

"We shall wait..." He held up his hand and snapped it, a sound that seemed to travel across the dance floor. All at once a slow melodic tune started, one Ryoko had heard before but she couldn't quite remember the name.

"Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch, a long

Lonely time

Time goes by so slowly

And time can do so much

Are you still mine..."

Her attention snapped forward when she realized the man was singing the words slowly with the song, and to her. She was sure his eyes were on her. "Who are you?"

"I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me"

"Take off the mask Ryoko. I want you too. You've earned it. Though you still resist me, at least see the man behind the mask."

"Lonely rivers flow, to the sea, to the sea

To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me

I'll be coming home, wait for me"

She reached a shaky hand up towards the mask, hesitant, but placed her hand around it. She felt a strap there and unclicked it. As she took down the mask she drew a sharp breath and stared into two brown familiar eyes that could only belong to one person. Tenchi.

"Oh my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch a long

Lonely time

Time goes by so slowly

And time can do so much

Are you still mine?"

He asked the last words instead of sang them, and then answered his own question. "I suppose you are...you resisted me yesterday when you knew not who I was..." He smiled and pulled Ryoko in closer to dance.

"I need your love

I need you love

God speed your love to me..."

"I was always yours Tenchi."

The two danced long past when the actual song was done. In fact, they looked around sheepishly when they realized a lot of people were watching them with dopey grins, because they were all alone on the dance floor. Tenchi took Ryoko by the hand and they teleported outside, under the cobwebs.

"So...you don't mind...that I wear your underwear?" She hadn't known quite what to say to him and before Ryoko could stop it, that had slipped out.

Tenchi only laughed and put his arm around her. "It's just one of those quirks that makes me find you more interesting..."

Ryoko blushed and slipped her arms inside his large trench coat and around him. "I never thought it would be you under the mask."

"I waited so long that...I wanted to give you something worth waiting for. But I was nervous and so I hid under the mask until I felt confident enough...I guess that sounds silly!" He rubbed the back of his neck with a hand before putting that arm around Ryoko. "But...I'm glad I didn't wait anymore."

"I'm glad you didn't either..." Her voice dropped low and soft and she brought her face gradually closer to his.

He brushed her bangs aside and stared at her for a moment before finally committing to the moment.

And then they shared their first kiss.

OMG That has to be the mushiest glob of whatever that I've ever written O.o All inspired by a freaking song I heard on the radio. This is the end of this story! But I shall write many more in a while. First I need a break. I have many ideas though...Tenchi has chosen...but the fun is just beginning. Watch for more stories from me!