Disclaimers: Tenchi Muyo is owned by . . . well all I can tell you is that Tenchi Muyo is not owned by me.

Chapter Eight: Tears of Untold Feelings

"Sasami, what's wrong?" Ayeka asked with worry as she immediately assumed a motherly role and pushed passed Tenchi and into the premises of the room.

"Ay-aye . . . Ayeka?" Sasami barely managed to say through her tears. More tears started to stream down her face with Ayeka's nod. "Oh big sister!" She cried out before throwing her small arms around Ayeka's neck. Ayeka was a little taken aback by the act and didn't act accordingly, until Sasami's tears bled through her uniform.

"Shh . . . shh . . . it's all right. Big sister Ayeka is here," Ayeka cooed softly into her ear, rubbing her back gently. "Everything is going to be all right."

"Th-thank you!" She hiccuped.

"Would you like to go into my room?" Ayeka asked softly. Sasami just nodded her head in response. Suddenly, showing unknown strength, Ayeka placed her hands under Sasami's knees and stood up on her own shaky knees. Slowly, she crossed the small living room to the door in the far corner. Swiftly, she was in and pushing the door closed with her foot.

"Guess I'll just wait to find out what that was about," Tenchi commented to the air, while finally closing the door to the apartment.

x.x

"How is she?" Tenchi asked, looking up from the T.V. as Ayeka emerged from her room a couple hours later.

"She's going to be just fine," Ayeka whispered, before nodding her head a little towards the balcony door. Tenchi caught her meaning and nodded his agreement before turning off the game show that he had been watching.

Both quickly made their way out to the small iron confinement, taking respective seats on the smooth white chairs. Tenchi expectantly looked at Ayeka, just waiting for her to explain what had transpired in the room between the two. Ayeka herself just let her violet eyes drift upwards toward the darkening sky.

"Ayeka . . ." Tenchi started, finally getting fed up with waiting, and wanting answers. "What happened?"

"Tenchi . . . how much do you know about the last four years? About how everyone is doing? How Sasami's life is changing? About Sasami herself . . .or about me," Ayeka questioned seriously, sparing him just the briefest of glances.

"Of course I know what's happened in the past years," Tenchi bristled indignantly, giving her a look like she grew another head. "The real question is, what do you know traitor?" Tenchi snapped, saying the word traitor like it was something vile in his mouth he wanted to spit out. His words were echoing off the buildings, causing everyone to listen, which weren't many, for people got use to random shouts at any given moment.

'What have I done?' Tenchi asked himself, immediately regretting his words. He watched as Ayeka slowly turned her head his way, each centimeter was like an eternity to Tenchi, who prayed for her to yell at him, rather then leave him alone. Her eyes seemed to grow darker, turning a deep violet from the usual pinkish lavender. Her face was contorted between anger and Tenchi wasn't quite sure, but he thought it was betrayal.

"Traitor," she hissed in a deadly tone. "Is that what you think of me?"

"No, Ayeka, it cam-"

"No, I think it came out perfectly fine," Ayeka's cool tone snapped, cutting Tenchi's words short. "You've obviously been feeling this way for a while. Well, I'll tell you something Tenchi Masaki! Who was there listening about Kiyone and Mihoshi's problems, then helping Sasami find a way to fix it? Who was there when Washu burned the kitchen then helped pay for half the expenses? Who was there when Sasami had a boyfriend then had her heart broken watching him kiss another girl not under five hours ago? Who was there when I found the man I 'loved' was secretly going out with my rival for his affections?!" Ayeka screeched, tears had started to flow long ago in her tirade, her frail body looking like it was about to break down.

Tenchi swiftly moved out of his seat, and crossed the small confined area. His honey brown eyes softened upon looking at her. He gently raised a callused hand and placed it against her rosy cheek, putting his thumb out to stop the trail of a small teardrop. Gently, he brushed it away; but his hand didn't leave her cheek.

Ayeka leaned into the warmth, ignoring the fact that the hand was hardened after years of manual labor. For the hand itself belonged to a caring man, and also worked to help and protect people. But as her numb mind became more aware of the situation, her eyes snapped open and took on the angered look again.

"I'll tell you who wasn't there! You, you traitor!" Ayeka proclaimed, backing out of his hold.

"Ayeka . . ." Tenchi held a look of confusion, wondering what brought on the sudden mood swing.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled, pushing away his out-stretched hands.

"What's wrong Ayeka?" Tenchi asked, moving forward again.

"I said don't touch me!" She shouted one last time, before moving her arm back and letting it go to make a resounding flesh against flesh sound echo off the buildings.

Tenchi staggered backwards from shock. His spine meeting the cool metal of the balcony railing. With questions and incredulous thoughts sailing through his mind at a fast rate.

"What is going on here? She hit me! She's never hit me before!' Were a few of the things he was thinking.

Ayeka acted quickly as soon as the action registered. She fled into the house, and then rushed to her room. Her door slamming made Tenchi wince with the sound of impact. He stood stunned for a few moments before reacting. He followed Ayeka's course and made his way to her door. He gently rapped on it with his knuckles, while pressing his ear to the door.

"Aye . . ." He started, but stopped as a faint sound met his ears. He pressed his ear firmer against the thin wood to identify the sound. His eyes widened in surprise as he could make out the soft sound of crying.

"Just let her be." A soft voice spoke out from behind him.

Tenchi turned the 180 and stared at a tired looking Sasami, with cold pink eyes boring into him. She was sitting with her back pushed deeply into the couch, one leg crossed over the other, and her arms were crossed over her chest.

"But she's upset," Tenchi commented, gesturing to the door like Sasami could hear Ayeka's tears.

"And who made her that way?!" Sasami snapped at him coldly.

"Sasami . . .everything . . .everything we said was out of anger. We weren't thinking clearly . . ." Tenchi fruitlessly tried to explain to the angry young princess.

"Obviously," Sasami snorted in a very un-princess like way. Tenchi stared at the little girl before him in shock. The shy, well-mannered girl he met had changed into this cold looking, un-caring, snappish . . .teenager. "Oh, why the shocked look Tenchi? Is it because I'm not acting all sweet and childish?" Sasami taunted, tilting her head to the side. In any other case, it would have looked cute, but at the moment . . .it was sending shivers down Tenchi's spine.

"No need to be that way Sasami . . ." Tenchi's voice trailed off as her eyes grew colder.

"Don't act what way Tenchi?" Sasami hissed.

"Don't act . . ." Tenchi started out timidly, but grew more confident as he thought more about the situation. "Why am I scared of you?"

"Because you're always scared Tenchi! You never stick around when the going gets tough, and when you're unfortunate to be there, you're still too scared to think! It's only a miracle that you get through things alive!" Sasami screamed.

"There you go acting like that again! Blaming me for every stupid little thing!" Tenchi shouted, throwing his arms into the air in frustration; just barely connecting the fact that he was yelling at sweet little Sasami.

"Only because you deserve it! You selfish earthling you! Always selfish, always wanting everything! You drove Ayeka away the first time, and you're lucky that you found her! But from what I've been hearing, you're about to drive her away AGAIN!" Sasami declared, jumping up from her position on the couch.

"One little fight isn't going to make Ayeka go away!"

"You're right. But I think that you've failed to realize that you're on thin ice with her! You've already broken her heart and hurt her feelings before coming to Tokyo! What did you think, that you find Ayeka, she would still love you, and everything will be all right, even if you fight!? Well think again earthling!"

Tenchi was rooted to the spot, Sasami's words going through his mind. First she had called him earthling twice, and after meeting Ayeka's father, he knew that being an Earth born on Jurai was an insult. Second, he did believe that everything was fine between himself and Ayeka. Lastly, even knowing that she was seeing someone, there was still a small sliver of hope within him that Ayeka still loved him, and that above all else is what scared him.

"Good, it looks like you've finally decided to start thinking," Sasami sneered.

"Just leave me alone," Tenchi snapped, turning on his heels and stalking towards his door. He stomped into the room and slammed the door behind him. He gave a shuddering sigh as he placed a hand upon his face. The words of the two Jurian Princesses resonating throughout his head.

" . . .Who was there listening about Kiyone and Mihoshi's problems, then helping Sasami find a way to fix it? . . ."

'I definitely wasn't there . . .' Tenchi thought bitterly, just barely being able to recall up that event.

" . . .Who was there when Washu burned the kitchen then helped pay for half the expenses? . . ."

'Another no for Tenchi!' He made a mental mark of his loss in his mind. 'In fact, I don't even remember a time when Washu burned the kitchen!'

" . . .Who was there when Sasami had a boyfriend then had her heart broken watching him kiss another girl not under five hours ago? . . ."

'Um . . . Sasami had a boyfriend . . . heart broken under five hours ago . . . Saw him swapping spit with another girl. Wait . . .under five hours ago! That's today!' He concluded in his mind after breaking the situation down some. 'That cheating bastard! That's probably why she was crying!'

He made a mental mark of his loss in his mind. He concluded in his mind after breaking the situation down some.

But before he could draw up methods of torture, the door to his room opened and in entered the young blue-haired princess. Tentatively, she crossed the room and stood before Tenchi. When Tenchi looked up, he saw her face held remorse, though some of her anger directed at him was still in her eyes.

"I was talking to sister Ayeka and she told me that the words I said to you were . . .harsh. So, I'm sorry," she spoke softly. But then her voice hardened with her next words. "But don't think for a minute I didn't mean them!" She contradicted, and before Tenchi could think, Sasami pushed past him and threw the covers aside. Tenchi watched with mild fascination as she jumped through the golden star embedded in his bed. A bright light filling the room at the same moment his room door swung open and an anxious Ayeka stood within the doorway.

"Ah I get it . . ." Tenchi whispered as the light began to fade. "You told her to apologize," he surmised with faint amusement.

"Of course, her behavior was inexcusable . . .but that's a teenager for you. Turning an apology into a lovely rude remark," Ayeka spoke wryly, giving him a lop-sided smile.

"Doesn't matter . . .what she spoke was true," Tenchi whispered so softly that Ayeka almost didn't hear him. A small smile grew on her face, and Tenchi warmly returned it. A pleasant silence falling on them, more comforting than the angry tension outside.

"Tenchi . . ."

"Ayeka . . ."

Both began together, after a few moments passed.

"Yes . . ."

"Yes . . ."

Both paused, waiting for the other to continue.

"You first . . ."

"You first . . ."

This time a bright, joyful smile did actually grace Ayeka's lips, and they broke into light laughter before trying to take another chance at it.

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm sorry!"

The two exclaimed together, their voices bouncing off the walls and blending into each other.

"Well . . .that was interesting," Tenchi laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck out of habit.

"Yes, you're right . . .but I truly am sorry," Ayeka said softly, looking everywhere but at him.

"But you shouldn't be . . .I was the one saying inexcusable . . .horrible . . .I shouldn't have," Tenchi was finding it hard to find the words to explain his behavior.

"No need to explain to me . . .I guess that those words . . .these feelings were going to come out eventually. I mean, face it Tenchi, we've been living in this fantasy world. Where everything that has happened in Yokohama was just put into the past, or a small box in which we have hidden away. What's happened . . .since I left . . .It was just bound . . .to . . . come out."

"I guess you're right. We've never really talked about what's happened since I arrived. Even with the beach incidence with Ryoko, we haven't talked about . . ." Tenchi's voice trailed off as his ears caught the faint sound of a muffled cry. He looked up to see Ayeka's eyes holding un-shed tears and a hand pressed firmly against her mouth.

"Ayeka . . ." Tenchi spoke in an unsure tone, moving off the bed and towards her. His hand hovered nervously next to her arm, his eyes holding a slightly frightful look. Ayeka saw his fear and she let the tears flow freely.

"Wh-why are you a-a-afraid of me?" Ayeka sobbed, her shoulders shaking. Her tears broke Tenchi's last resolve against pain, and he pulled her to him; embracing her in a comforting hug.

"Sorry," he whispered softly into her ear. "Just didn't feel like getting slapped again. I think I've taken enough abuse from the female species today." His ticklish voice and soft words elicited a small giggle from Ayeka. "See, your face is more suited for a smile than tears." Ayeka just snuggled closer to Tenchi, enjoying the comfort he was giving.

Tenchi just hugged her tighter, glad that her tears were lessening. He rested his head on top of hers, his arms were wrapped around her shoulder and waist. Both of Ayeka's arms went around his back and came up to his shoulders, with her head burying into his chest. The ringing of the phone broke the tender moment.

"I'll get it," Ayeka mumbled, rushing off to the living room.

Tenchi waited patiently in his room until he heard the familiar click of the phone being re-placed. He immediately knew something was wrong when Ayeka entered back into the room with fresh tears and a face holding fear and worry.

"That was the . . . Sakura . . . hospital . . . she's . . . been mugged." Ayeka managed before fainting.

A/N: That's all. I know it's been a long time since I've updated, but you would wait too if you had the writer's block I did. I just couldn't figure out what to do with the chapter. But hopefully I'll be able to update my stories faster. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!