Discovering the Truth

That night Ryoko could not fall asleep, she thought it was the pain that was keeping her awake but it was actually something else. Wincing from the pain in her arm, she crawled out of her bed and was about to open her room's door when she heard voices outside. There were only two voices, a deep sullen one which Ryoko recognized as Puck's voice and another which she could not tell who it was. It's not Ayeka and that doesn't really sound like Eriko's voice...who is he talking to?

Silently she cracked her door opened, poking her head out to see Puck talking to someone at the front of the ship on the main screen. "Your sister owes a lot of money Puck..." growled someone on the screen.

"I know...I'm working on it right now...We almost have all of your money," Puck whispered as he made one of the gold bars shine in the light. "I promise you'll have it all in your hands in a few weeks."

"My patience is running thin...You will only have two more weeks to get me the money..." the man did not seem to be pleased with Puck.

Puck placed the gold bar in his back pocket, "We are going to hold the Princess of Jurai as a hostage until her father gives us more gold..."

"That's still not enough money though Puck..."

The silver-haired pirate let a long sigh out, "It's the best we can do right now-"

"I thought your sister said that you were going to turn Ryoko in to the Galaxy Police for some ransom money...that would be better than the ransom, Puck."

RANSOM?! Ryoko narrowed her eyes angrily at Puck as she continued to listen to their conversation, Well at least I'm worth more that Ayeka.

"Well-we changed our minds about it..." Puck snarled towards the man on the screen. "My sister has other plans for her," he took a seat in his comfy chair and stretched his legs out.

"Just have the money in time Puck-or you and your sister are going to be working for me for a very long time," the screen shutoff leaving Puck in the dark.

Puck threw the gold bar across the ship, it echoed loudly as it slammed into the wall and flopped to the floor. "Damn it all..." he muttered as he fell back into his chair.

The screen turned back on, "Stop pouting Puck..." hissed a voice on the main screen. Puck turned his chair around to see his sister glaring at him, "Did everything go as planned?" she sounded very eager to hear about something.

He shook his head, "Both traps did not work, Eriko..."

Eriko's face scrunched up as she asked him what had gone wrong with their plans, "What did you do wrong brother?!"

"Well..." he started out in a small voice, "Those Drogues didn't finish her off, and she didn't try to get the treasure, Eriko. The Galaxy Police could not catch her either..." Puck rubbed his shoulder, "Why do you want revenge on her so much, Eriko? Hasn't she suffered enough now?"

Growing red in the face, Eriko gave Puck a dark look, "Why must I keep telling you...? Huh? She ruined my life, destroyed my ship, landed me up in prison-"

"So it has nothing to do with Yakata being murdered by Ryoko's hand-does it?" Puck cocked his eyebrow at his sister. "Because I think it does...and you are planning to kill Tenchi anyways-aren't you?"

Yakata? Who was that? I don't remember- It suddenly dawned on Ryoko who Puck was talking about, Yakata was a sniveling pirate who had an equally crazy robot who tried to kill Tenchi and steal Ryoko's treasure. I didn't kill him though...Ryoko could have sworn that she didn't kill him, he was left on that miserable planet and that was the last she had heard from him.

"Why would you care if it's all about Yakata's death or not, huh?" Eriko studied her brother's expression very carefully, "If she doesn't get the last of the treasure in three more days, kill her yourself...got me brother?" She glanced over her shoulder to see if Tenchi was still asleep, "Or I'll do it myself..."

The screen flickered off once more; Puck kicked his chair as hard as he could with his right foot, "Why me?" he muttered as he plopped back into his chair. She saved my life...I can't kill her...Tugging at his hair for a few moments, Puck finally jumped out of his chair in frustration and stomped into his room slamming the door behind him.

Ayeka was right...Eriko is going to kill Tenchi if we don't get back to Earth soon enough...But the princess was right about one other thing that Ryoko did not want to admit, the cyan-haired ex pirate would have to kill Puck to get back home...before he kills her.

-------------

Tenchi was very worried once a month had almost passed since Ryoko's disappearance back into space. He could not sleep soundly anymore with guilt eating away at him, nagging him and taunting him for what he had done to Ryoko before she had left. So am I really in love with Ryoko? This question had been the main reason for his lack of sleep; Tenchi couldn't stop thinking about her and feeling like a part of him was suddenly missing.

He remembered how Ryoko had always been there for him, before he had released her from the cave even. Before he stopped believing in "ghosts," he remembered how she comforted him with his grandmother had died. Ryoko was the one to save Tenchi from one of Yosho's old wives; she kept trying to save him until Tenchi snapped back into reality. No matter what Ryoko had done in her past life before he had met her, he knew that Ryoko was a good person.

Now Ayeka was missing, for three days-she disappeared just before Kioyne had arrived to the Masaki house. Tenchi couldn't believe that both of them were gone...permanently maybe. It did not feel right to Tenchi, something was wrong with their sudden disappearances but he nor could Washu figure out the source of the problem.

There was a knock on his door; Tenchi opened his eyes to see Lily peeking into his room with a sweet smile. "Still can't sleep Tenchi?" she asked in a soft whisper.

Sitting up, Tenchi could tell that something was different about Lily, her gentle appearance and look of innocence was gone. Maybe Ryoko was right...he wondered if Lily really was lying to him about her true identity. "Yes," Tenchi could not think of anything else to say to her.

Lily opened Tenchi's bedroom door all the way, tip-toed inside and sat next to him on his bed. "Do you want a teddy bear?" she asked with large eyes.

Before Tenchi could say anything, Lily wrapped her arms around his chest and snuggled up next to him; sighing happily once she was in a comfortable position next to him. "I love you Tenchi..." Lily whispered as she slowly fell asleep on his chest. Even though Eriko had not planned this, "Lily" was becoming more and more attached to her Tenchi.

Tenchi wondered if he would ever find Ryoko or Ayeka again, did they just really leave him because he did not pick them-or were they really kidnapped? Either way, Tenchi felt responsible for their sudden disappearance...he will have to find them soon.

--------------

The next morning Ryoko remained completely silent, keeping her eyes on Puck every second she could. Ryoko told Ayeka that she would kill Puck tonight; while he was sleeping-so she could have an advantage over him. She rehearsed in her mind what she would do that night: sneak into his room, carefully make her way over to his bed, aim at his heart, and make the final blow. It was that simple.

Puck did not like how silent it was on the ship that morning; even Ayeka was pretending to act like a little angel from above; he gave Ryoko an odd look while she ate her breakfast quietly. "Are you alright?" he asked in a low voice, making sure that Ayeka could not hear him talking to Ryoko.

With a silent nod, she gulped down her hot tea in a matter of seconds, stuffed a roll into her mouth, and walked back into her room to confuse Puck even more. I'll get you back for all the pain you've caused me this past month...she swore to herself mentally.

"What is wrong with her?" Puck asked Ayeka with both of his eyebrows raised towards the princess.

Mimicking Ryoko's silence treatment, she shrugged her shoulders and went back into her cell with a big hidden grin on her face. You'll find out soon enough...she hummed to herself as shut her cell door.

"I see how it is..." Puck mumbled, "Give ol' Puck the silence treatment until I send you guys back to Earth...lovely..." For a while Puck hesitated knocking at Ryoko's door, he spent all morning wondering if he had done something wrong to her. By late afternoon, Puck acquired enough courage to lightly tap his knuckles on her door.

In a flash the door creaked open with an angry-looking Ryoko poking her head out from her room. "What do you want?" she snarled in a halfway decent tone. Remember to play nice Ryoko...he can not know what is wrong-he doesn't know that you know.

Before Puck could reply, Ryoko swung the door all the way open to revel her badly broken arm; she was just wearing a small robe. "I-er-was..." he began to blush slightly as he tried to look away.

"Well if you're not going to tell me..." she turned away to shut the door behind her but Puck caught it just before it shut all the way.

Regaining his composure, Puck tugged out a tangled mess of bandages, "I thought you might need these..." He caught her giving him a faint smile, "So will you tell me what is wrong now?"

Ryoko's smile disappeared quickly as she slammed the door in front of Puck's face and locked it loudly, muttering some swear words under her breath in the process. "Later then?" Puck called out as he rubbed his nose tenderly.

Later that night, Ryoko snuck out of her room with her red eyes glowing in the darkness; tonight was the night. Just remember the plan, and then you can go save Tenchi...With some difficulty, Ryoko had managed to gain some feeling back into her wounded arm-she would need it tonight. Tiptoeing silently across the shiny ship's floor, the ex space pirate carefully slipped into Puck's room.

From afar, Ryoko could see Puck sleeping peacefully in his comfortable bed; he had not heard her come in. He moved in his sleep, frightening Ryoko so much that she jumped through his bedroom wall just incase he would awaken. When she thought it was safe, she went through the wall head first.

An energy sword appeared in Ryoko's usable arm, she took a few steps closer to Puck to make sure that he really was asleep. Two thoughts ran through her mind: one was to drive her sword through his heart and the other was to leave him sleeping soundly. Don't stop now, not when you are so close to success Ryoko!

Puck whispered something in his sleep which made Ryoko back away from him with a pale look on her face. He just didn't-did he? Even though Ryoko was questioning what he had said, deep down she knew that he had just whispered her name in his sleep. Something in the back of Ryoko's mind triggered a memory that happened only a few weeks ago. "You can always tell how much a person likes someone when they say their name whilst sleeping..." Puck was the one who had told her that, when he had accidentally heard her call out Tenchi's name.

So was it true? Was Puck really in love with Ryoko-or was he playing games with her mind? But he was trying to kill me...she protested to her heart silently. Then why aren't you already dead Ryoko? He could have killed you from day one...you know that. The pieces in the scrambled puzzle were finally coming together, Puck had feelings for Ryoko and she had feelings for him. NO! I love Tenchi! Ryoko would not allow herself to be deceived again; she had fallen for the same trick before.

Ryoko stood above Puck with a sullen look; he looked so much like Tenchi when he was there asleep in his bed. Shaking her head, Ryoko convinced herself that Puck was not Tenchi-he was her enemy. Quickly, the ex space pirate raised her energy sword above Puck's rising and falling chest, Just close your eyes...drive it through and go home Ryoko...go home...There was a pause before she drove her sword through, she opened her eyes to see her energy sword an inch away from Puck's back. Ryoko had purposely missed, for the second time-she could not kill him.

I am home...she told herself as she tried to hold back the oncoming tears. Puck had gotten closer to her than she had planned or hoped for; she was in love with him now. I can't do it...A tear rolled down her pallid cheeks and dripped onto Puck's shoulder, nearly waking him up. The energy sword disappeared from Ryoko's hands in a flash. With a broken hearted look, Ryoko retreated to the end of Puck's bed and sobbed silently on the edge. I'm sorry Tenchi-please forgive me...

More tears fell from her eyes as she lowered her head, wishing to have never been released from that cave on Earth so many years ago. Ryoko had suffered so much for the man she loved, and for what? Tenchi had never returned her affections for him, he had broken her heart dozens of times, and now he wasn't going to come rescue her. Now she was in love with someone else, her enemy...He's not my enemy-he's my...

A warm hand touched her shoulder; Ryoko glanced up to see Puck watching her with a concerned look. Friend...She remembered how good it felt to have someone she could talk to in the middle of the night; someone who would watch her back. I won't go back...

"I didn't think I'd see the day where you'd be crying at the foot of my bed," Puck whispered softly as he moved to sit to the left of her. "Look...I didn't mean to offend you in any way...I don't know what I did wrong-but I'm sorry..."

Ryoko gave him a broken smile as another tear fell onto her lap; he would never be her enemy. Just tell him...don't let this one get away from you! You love him... Without thinking twice, Ryoko wrapped her arms around Puck's chest and began sobbing on his right shoulder. "I'm-i-n...lo-ve...wit-h-you," she finally admitted to him loudly.

Puck's lips curled into a weak grin, "Did you get into the booze? Because I specifically remember you calling me a son-" he was pushed back onto his bed by Ryoko's strong arms.

Their faces were just inches apart as Ryoko laid on top of him with tears still streaming down her cheeks, "Kiss me..." she whispered to him desperately. "Please tell me that you love me back," Ryoko was almost begging him to love her when he just stared at her with an odd look. "Please Puck..." she pleaded for the last time. Please...I love you so much...

He wiped a tear away from her cheek with his rough hand, "I thought you'd never ask..." Puck slipped his hands behind her head and gently pulled her into a kiss. After they had kissed, he wrapped his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest; she finally had won the game. "I'm in love with you Ryoko..." Puck whispered into her ear sweetly.

Ryoko fell asleep in Puck's arms; he played with her blue hair lovingly while she slept soundly on his chest. My only one...

Note to everyone: I have just joined Let's see, I have about 5 or 6 drawings of Ryoko and a drawing of Puck if you want to see what he looks like. My deviantart website addy is:  I just wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed and read this story. I was also hoping if someone could help me out with the ending of this story, I need someone to help me choose which ending to go with. I have two so far and I can't decide which one I like more...so if anyone would care to help me...please contact me at: Thank you so much!

xoxox Hunter