Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi...I'm just a teenage girl writing crappie fanfic. that includes him and his buddies.

The Look In Her Beautiful Eyes

By: Spookukitty

A/N: We're at the third chapter! Woo-hoo! Unfortunately, this is NOT the final chapter... sorry! This chapter took a lot longer for me to write, so I figured I'd post what I had so far and add the rest in a fourth chapter. I've been soun-godly sick for the past week, I thought I would never get passed the review mail (though I love reading review mail), let alone get to write this chapter. Thank you again to all that reviewed my story! I wouldn't have bothered writing this far if you hadn't have sent me such positive reviews. I've noticed that the people who R& reviewed my Tenchi Muyo story seem nicer and more open-minded than the ones who R& reviewed my Rurouni Kenshin fanfic. ( I don't mean to offend anyone, there are those who were very nice to me, it's just something I've noticed. If RK fans don't like the way you portray Kenshin and Kaoru...they'll throw your story back in your face faster than an angry, underpaid book critic). Anyway...back to my Tenchi reviewers. Many reviewers even thanked me for sending them thank-you e-mails. That made me extremely happy. I recently had a question from a reviewer that asked me what "waffy" meant. I learned it from a Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction site (Gypsy-chan's Kenshin and Kaoru Fanfiction). From what I've seen, the word "waffy" is used when explaining a story that is very sweet, sentimental, or innocent, can be very emotional, and concentrates on the loving relationship between the (two) main characters. I've also been told by a reviewer that Kiyone never appeared in the Tenchi Muyo OVA series (minus the Mihoshi Special). I'm use to the more resent Tenchi In Tokyo series, so not including Kiyone in a Tenchi story (even if she never existed in the series the story kind of takes place in) didn't feel right to me. I like Kiyone. She is a well balanced (and most normal) character and makes writing stuff about Mihoshi a lot easier. I've learned a lot about Ryoko's real past from many nice people, so I'm going to mix Ryoko's/ Washu's pasts within the OVA and the Tenchi Universe series'. I've decided to add some of Ryoko's real past into my story, but Tenchi will not know anything about Kagato (I always thought he was the Dr. Clay guy...now I know he's not), Ryoko's slave life (etc.), and I'm going to add a lot of stuff I made up. I don't know if this chapter will be as great as the others, but we'll see.

Chapter 3: I Hate The Rain, Tenchi

About a week later

The friendship between Ryoko and Ayeka had continued to grow. The two girls were like long-lost sisters reunited after years of being apart. Even though Ayeka and Ryoko were no longer jealous of each other, they had a serious talk about Tenchi. They would let Tenchi pick whichever girl he truly loved, and they wouldn't interrupt in that decision in any way.

The "new Ryoko" also spent a lot of time helping around the house. Everyday, she would wake up early, put on a silky kimono, and start dusting everything in sight. After that, she'd attempt to help Sasami in the kitchen. Sasami was thankful for her help and even though she could manage on her own, decided it wouldn't hurt to give Ryoko a couple small jobs. After breakfast, she would stick to anyone she made eye-contact with and help them in any way that she possibly could. No one found her annoying since there was almost always something they could use her help with. When she wasn't needed, she would sit in the living room on a floor pillow by the sliding-glass door. (A/N: I think there's one in the living room...if not, there is now!)

She could sit for hours just staring out the window. Sometimes, Tenchi would watch her from afar and wonder what she was thinking about.

"She seems so content. It's like she's completely forgotten about whatever happened to her." Tenchi thought one day as he watched her from the top of the stairs. "I have to admit, I like way she has changed, but I liked the old Ryoko as well..."

His mind faded into the memories of the "old Ryoko". He remembered the time he accidentally released her from the cave. The way she chased him around his school...before she tried to blow it up. All the times he felt her eyes on him while he laid in bed.

"Those were the days." He couldn't stop a smile from crossing his face. He wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not. A sweat drop formed on his forehead. He chuckled.

"What's so funny, Tenchi?"

Tenchi's mind snapped back to reality after hearing Ryoko's voice. She was now sitting at the top of the stairs next to him. "Oh, uhh...I was just thinking. It's nothing."

"Your thoughts are not 'nothing' to me, Tenchi. What were you thinking about?" she smiled at him. He looked into her lustrous, yellow eyes.

Tenchi didn't quit know what to say. Would Ryoko cry or get mad if he told her he was thinking about her former space pirate lifestyle? He'd already stalled his answer too long, so she would know if he wasn't being truthful. He quickly formulated his answer in a way that wouldn't upset her.

"I was thinking of the time we first met." he looked away from her for a while, expecting to hear crying. When nothing happened, he looked back and saw that she was still smiling.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"I was afraid I might have upset you...since it was kind of...your past."

There was a long silence. Ryoko stood up and took his hand. "Will you take a walk with me? Please?"

"Yes, of course Ryoko." He stood up and followed her down the stairs and out the sliding-glass door. They walked arm-in-arm around the lawn and soon ended up outside the old cave. After pausing at the entrance, they walked inside and down into the inner chamber. Tenchi looked at Ryoko, who was still smiling. She spoke to end the unbearable silence.

"I'm not upset Tenchi. Even though it is in my space pirate past, the first day we met is one of my most precious memories. It was right here in this disgusting cave that I first laid eyes on you." she paused, her smile faded. "I'm glad I didn't have to kill you after all."

"So am I." chuckled Tenchi, trying to lighten the mood. She looked at him, her eyes began to tear up.

"I'm sorry for everything bad I did to you back then, Tenchi." She took a tissue out of the sleeve of her purple kimono and wiped her falling tears away. Tenchi got closer to her and put an arm around her.

"You don't have to apologize. All of that is behind us now." Their eyes locked and they smiled at each other.

They stood still and silent for a long time.

Ryoko put her head on his left shoulder and she started to quietly cry. Tenchi put his other arm around her and held her close.

"I made you cry again..." He put a hand on the back of her head, slowly stroking her hair. She shook her head.

"No. It's just me." She focused her eyes on his. "I'm really happy right now. I feel so at ease with you, Tenchi." she smiled.

Tenchi wiped away her tears. "She's so sweet." he thought to himself. "I'm glad. I feel the same way right now." he said with a warm smile.

A look of passion appeared in Ryoko's eyes. Tenchi's gazed at her, she looked so radiant. Ryoko moved her face closer to his, as if she was about to kiss him.

Without warning, the quiet cave was flooded with Mihoshi's and Kiyone's screaming. There was a loud thud at the entrance of the chamber, where the two galaxy police slammed to the ground. In their attempt to watch Ryoko and Tenchi gaze at each other from the top of the ramp, they slipped.

"How long were you two there!" asked Tenchi very surprised (and slightly embarrassed). He walk over and helped them up. Mihoshi spoke up, rubbing the sore spot on her butt, which she landed on.

"Oh, not long." She blushed.

Kiyone brushed her hair out of her face. "Sasami sent us to find you two. It's almost dinner time and you guys had been missing for a while. We eventually came in here and we...didn't want to disturb you."

"I guess we failed at that part...hehe." laughed Mihoshi as she waved Ryoko towards the exit.

"Don't worry Tenchi, we were only here a few seconds before we crashed in." said Kiyone, reassuring Tenchi that she didn't hear any of their private conversation.

They all left the cave to go to dinner. Sasami was jumping on the back porch and ushered them to the table.

"Sorry we took so long getting here Sasami." said Ryoko, slightly bummed.

"Aw, that's all right. I just wanted you two to get here so you wouldn't lose your shares of the food. So, where did you two go on your walk anyway?"

Ryoko and Tenchi both answered with small smiles. "The cave".

Washu smirked and cupped a hand on Ryoko's left cheek. She didn't say anything, she just smiled at her daughter. Ryoko blushed wildly. Washu removed her hand and started eating again.

The rest of dinnertime was uneventful.

Early the next morning, Ryoko's room

Ryoko's dream was interrupted by something unknown to her. She had been dreaming that she was once again in the cave with Tenchi. She was gazing into his eyes and spoke to him: "Tenchi...will you stay with me forever?"

He drew her closer, gazing deeper into her golden eyes. He began to speak to her, but no words could be heard. Tenchi's warm voice was drowned out by what Ryoko thought was a fizzing noise. The cave disappeared from around her and in an instant, awoke in her bedroom.

She looked around her room as her heart-rate slowed and returned to normal. She could still hear the fizzing noise from her dream. It didn't take her long to figure out what it was. It was raining. She pulled the covers over her head.

"Pull yourself together Ryoko. It's just a little rainstorm." she muttered to herself. She put her hand over her heart in an attempt to muffle the loud pounding of her heart.

A gigantic crack of thunder sent Ryoko flying (literally) out of bed. She yelled and flew out of her bedroom. She quickly made her way to Tenchi's room and flung herself into his bed.

"Ahhhhh! What the hell!" He looked under the covers to see Ryoko clinging to him. "Ryoko? What's the matter? Are you okay?" He peeled her off of him long enough for them to sit up. "What's wrong Ryoko?"

She looked at him, her eyes looked shadowed. She put her head on his arm. "I hate the rain, Tenchi."

Tenchi listened for a moment and finally noticed that it was indeed, raining. He understood that she was scared. He laid her down next to him and pulled her close.

"It's okay, Ryoko. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. I'm here for you." He smiled and she relaxed. She snuggled up to him and closed her eyes. Tenchi waited until she was completely asleep before going back to sleep himself.

Later that day

Even though it was raining, almost everybody had left the house. Tenchi's dad had an architect convention and Tenchi's grandfather had went too. Ayeka and Sasami went shopping in town, Mihoshi and Kiyone were called to Head Quarters, and Washu was tucked away in her lab (which is technically not in the house).

Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ryo-ohki were in the living room. Tenchi sat on the sofa, watching Ryoko. Ryoko sat in her spot by the sliding-glass door, Ryo-ohki was asleep in her lap. She was looking out into the yard with a faraway stare. She suddenly felt his eyes on her. She turned to him.

"Is there anything you need, Tenchi?"

"Oh...no, I don't need anything. Thanks for asking though." He smiled at her. He randomly picked up a magazine and pretending to read it.

Ryoko looked back to the yard and gently rubbed Ryo-ohki's ears. Tenchi looked over the top of the magazine. He eyed the lovely kimono she was wearing. It was white at the top and slowly changed to yellow at the bottom and the ends of the long sleeves. The matching obi was yellow and changed to white at the ends. Tenchi remembered how his mother would always wear it in the summer. She looked stunning in it, but Tenchi thought it looked slightly more fitting on Ryoko, since the yellow parts of the cloth matched her eyes.

After several minutes, Ryoko shifted on her pillow and started to get up. Ryo-ohki woke up and let out a meow of protest. She quickly hopped into Tenchi's lap to continued her cabbit-nap.

Ryoko walked towards the kitchen. She made a detour at Washu's lab and went inside. Tenchi heard a small "poof" noise and Ryoko soon reappeared in the doorway. A huge wall of smoke billowed into the room from behind her and she brushed away spots of soot from her kimono. Without skipping a beat, she proceeded into the kitchen and returned with two glasses orange juice. Tenchi watched over his magazine as she reentered and exited the lab, minus one glass of juice. She walked up to Tenchi and offered him the remaining glass. He put down the magazine and took the juice from her.

"Thank you Ryoko." Even though he wasn't thirsty, he sipped from the glass. "Oh Ryoko, you have some soot on your face." He hesitated for a moment, but then proceeded to wiped it off for her.

She smiled and thanked him. She ruffled her hair to get rid of the remaining soot.

"Washu was doing an experiment when I asked her if she wanted anything to drink. Apparently, accidentally adding too much of a green liquid to a pink liquid causes an explosion." she chuckled.

They shared a laugh.

Ryo-ohki shifted in Tenchi's lap. "Meya miyow...riyow..." she said in her sleep. Tenchi rubbed her fuzzy chin with his finger. She grabbed at his finger and started to nibble on it.

"Silly little girl. She even dreams about eating carrots." Tenchi said as he pulled his finger away.

Ryoko petted Ryo-ohki's back.

"Mriy...ow yaow..." said the groggy cabbit as she turned over and stretched in Tenchi's lap. Tenchi gently rubbed her belly.

"Speaking of dreams...did you have a bad dream or something this morning, Ryoko?"

Ryoko smiled. "No. I was having a wonderful dream. The rain is what woke me up."

Tenchi looked into Ryoko eyes. After a long pause, he continued. "Why are you afraid of the rain?"

Ryoko didn't answer. She grasped at the part of the kimono above her knees and looked down at Ryo-ohki.

Tenchi felt bad. He didn't mean to keep pushing the same question at her, he just really wanted to know why an ex-space pirate would fear something as innocent as the rain. He placed a hand on hers.

"I'm sorry if I upset you. I just want you to know that you can tell me anything, Ryoko. I don't want you to bottle up your problems or bad memories. I care about you too much to see you suffer like this."

Ryoko looked up at Tenchi. His eyes were filled with compassion.

"He cares about me. He truly cares about me. Oh Tenchi..." She felt like crying tears of joy, but held them back. She would remain strong and tell her story. "The rain reminds me of every horrible thing in my past. A long time ago, I was a slave." she cupped her hands around Tenchi's.

"A slave? To who?" screeched Tenchi.

"I don't want to say his name..." her eyes filled with pain.

"I understand, Ryoko." Tenchi let her continue.

"It seems like every time I was on a planet during my 'slave days', it was raining. A looming, spiritless, and depressing rain that was constantly trying to make my pathetic life worse."

"So rain reminds you of when you were a slave." Tenchi said quietly.

"Yes." Ryoko looked out at the rain that was still falling outside.

"How did you become a slave in the first place?"

"You know I was created by Washu, right?"

"Yeah, she's sort of your mother. You told me you were made in a test tube." he nodded.

(A/N: Sorry! Just a reminder that I am mixing together bits of the two versions of Washu's and Ryoko's pasts from the OVA and the Tenchi Universe series' as well as adding some of my own things. I don't want to confuse anyone, so I'm saying it again. Ask if you still have questions later.)

"Well, at the time I was created, Washu was working with him or...somthing, I don't remember...at one point, Washu was even his teacher. Washu never really trusted him, but she still left me behind." She paused and Tenchi offered her his orange juice.

"She left you behind?" eh asked as she finish drinking.

"She was offered a job at some science academy, I wasn't fully developed yet, so she had no choice but to leave me. After she left, that bastard turned evil. As soon as I was able to stay stable in open air, he turned his evil on me... After years of being his precious, little slave girl, I finally had enough! I took my chance at freedom when I saw it and ran like hell!" She quickly collected herself after she realized she had been yelling. She then wipped away the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Tenchi gave her more juice so she could clear her throat.

"If this is too hard for you...we can stop here. You don't need to tell me anymore about that part of your past." Tenchi said tenderly. He put a hand to her cheek. "Come to me whenever you feel like telling about what happened after you left us."

"Okay. Thank you for listening to me, Tenchi. I feel better already." She managed a small smile.

"I'm glad. Just come to me whenever you are ready, or if you need me for anything." He smiled warmly.

"I will. I'm going to go take a nap." She gathered Ryo-ohki from Tenchi's lap and stood up. Tenchi stood up next to her.

He could see the pain looming inside Ryoko's eyes. It wasn't as bad as it was before, but it was still there. He moved closer to her and gently kissed her forehead.

"Tenchi..." she said in a loving voice. He move closer still and they shared a passionate hug.

Ryo-ohki meowed happily as she woke up in the center of a hug. Tenchi and Ryoko giggled at the cute Ryo-ohki. Tenchi released Ryoko and she bowed to him before going upstairs. He watched her disappear and walked to the base of the stairs. He thought hard about what Ryoko told him.

As he stood there, Washu exited the lab and saw him.

"Hey Tenchi. How's it goin'?" said the little soot-covered scientist. She was obviously too busy redoing her experiment to bother brushing it off.

"Uh..." He stared at the stair railing.

"Hmm. She told you something, didn't she."

"How do you always know?" he grinned.

"I'm a genius, I can't help it." she said in her child-like voice.

The mode of the conversation went serious.

"You knew all about the horrible place Ryoko came from. You knew about Ryoko's life with...that guy and what he did to her, and you didn't tell me?" Tenchi started to slowly pace in front of her.

"Yes. I knew." She sat down on the stairs. "And the "guy" you are referring to is named, Kagato. I regret ever leaving Ryoko with that heartless bastard. He was a difficult guy to get along with, but he wasn't always evil."

"Ryoko told me about that...but Washu, she could have been killed! Why didn't you tell me? We could have helped her."

"Relax Tenchi. We don't know for sure that she went back to Kagato. Ryoko could have gone anywhere after her fight with Ayeka, besides, we would never be able to defeat that maniac no matter how hard we tried."

Tenchi sat on the step next to Washu. "Yeah, you're right. I still wish I could have protected her." Tenchi covered his face with his hands. Washu put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't beat yourself up over it, Tenchi. All you need to do now is be there for Ryoko when she needs you."

Tenchi looked at Washu. She was right. Just like Ryoko, he had to stop dwelling on what couldn't be prevented in the past.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you Washu."

"That's all right." She stood up and looked down at herself. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower."

End of chapter three

A/N: Sorry I wasn't able to finish the story in this chapter. I know I said at the end of chapter two I was going to focus on the weeks Ryoko was away...but I didn't get that far. This chapter isn't much longer than the others, but it took way longer to write. Summer colds suck! My favorite part of this chapter is Ryo-ohki's tiny part. Ryo-ohki is so cute! She makes me smile and she reminds me of my cat.

I was surprised to see that my Hit Counter for this story is almost to 200! I know it's probably not that big of a deal and that not everyone who clicked on my story may have liked it and/or actually read it, but nearly 200 people willingly or accidentally clicking on it is enough to impress me. Tell me what you think! I already sort of have an idea of what I'm going to write, but is there anything you think I should add to my last chapter (I think/hope it's the last)? I'm open to ideas (just no lemon scenes!). If I like your idea(s), I'll think of a way to put them in. Thanx everyone!