I do not claim any of the Tenchi Muyo characters as my own and in no way am I profiting off of writing this story. I write this for the fun and enjoyment of it. So please resist the urge to file a lawsuit against me. Thank you.

Shogun Muyo -Chapter 9- The Sorrow of Doubt

The sun shone brightly around noon at the Masaki house. It had the appearance of another peaceful day in that part of the country. However one room in the house was turned upside down. Clothing and suitcases littered the room. Two individuals that occupied that room of the house were checking over everything to make sure they weren't missing something that they would need.

"Ayeka."

"Hmm?" She replied to her sister's call from her place in the doorway of the closet.

"We're not going to be gone for too long are we?" She asked her older sister, trying to keep the sound of sadness out of her voice.

Ayeka, hearing the low tone of her sister could tell that she didn't want to leave earth, looked at her sister with caring eyes. "Sasami, you don't have to go with me. You can stay if you like."

Sasami shook her head. "No, I think we should visit mother and father, but. . ."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just. . .afraid that father won't let us return when we go. I really like it here, I'd stay here forever if I could."

"Well we'll return, I won't let father stop us from coming back Sasami." She said with a hint of a commanding tone in her voice.

Sasami's smile became as full as life with her sisters reassuring words. She grabbed onto her sister, standing there feeling her older sisters love for her in their embrace. Sasami pulls her face away from her sister's side and looks up with her sparkly pink eyes.

"I love you Ayeka."

Ayeka giggled slightly at her sister's affection. "And I love you too Sasami."

"So have you considered what I asked you earlier Ayeka?"

Ayeka winces at remembering what Sasami had asked earlier. She didn't expect her morning announcement to turn out the way it did.

***************************

Earlier that day. . .

"I don't understand Ayeka, you just returned back to us. I thought you liked it here." Sasami said with water building in her eyes.

"I do like it here Sasami. There's just something I have to do myself back home. I'll be returning soon afterwards. I should be gone for only a week. Your welcome to stay here if you wish Sasami."

Sasami shakes her head. "No, I should go with you, I should see mother and father again. I'm sure they miss both of us a lot."

"So you're taking off again huh?" Ryoko asked with a mischievous tone in her voice. "Well good riddance."

Ayeka glared at Ryoko's rude comment. "I'm sorry, but my nose isn't used to smelling the air of a filthy, foul mouthed, unbathed, slutty whore since I've been gone for a week. The smell around here is absolutely dreadful. Come on Sasami, we need to get our things packed."

Everyone was in a state of amazement at Ayeka's use of a vocabulary of words she never used. Ryoko came up with a reply when Ayeka walked out of sight.

"Well for your information I bathed earlier today!"

* Man, Ayeka is being a real pain today! What got shoved up her. . . . *

Ryoko's train of thought was caught off when she noticed the far away look on Tenchi's face. She hadn't seen that face on him since that one night she tried to talk to him when he was looking at the stars and he said. . .her name instead. The pain of the hurt came back to her from remembering that night. The hurt from the memory was returning to her, she felt her face sadden, she didn't want it to, but it seemed she couldn't stop it from coming.
The hurt of the thoughts coming to her mind was becoming like a rock becoming a boulder in the back of her throat. It felt like she had slipped and fell hard on her tailbone that was about the only thing she could compare the pain too. She decided to phase out of the room when she felt the first tear coming down her face. Fortunately for her pride Tenchi didn't notice the despair on her face. But someone else in the room did.

"Tenchi?" The blonde haired detective asked from sipping her Miso soup.

Hearing his name being beckoned turned his attention back to the room. "Yes Mihoshi?"

"What's wrong with Ryoko?"

"Ryoko?" Tenchi asked, just noticing that she was no longer in the room. "What makes you think there's something wrong with Ryoko?"

"Well she was crying just now." She informed him, taking another sip of her soup.

Hearing that Ryoko was crying wanted to make him jump out of his skin. "She was crying?" He said aloud for his brain to receive the message completely.

With her mouth full Mihoshi replied with a simple nod.

"I don't know what's wrong Mihoshi, but I think I should start keeping the promises I make to myself." With that Tenchi got up from the table and went to look for Ryoko.

******************

In Sasami and Ayeka's room, Ayeka was rummaging in the closet to get some of their luggage out to begin packing for their journey. Sasami was placing a couple of her dresses into a case when her mind began to think about the others. What they would do during their absence, how out of place everything would be, like when her sister was gone. Now she would be gone again.

* But at least they will know that she is safe. So they won't be so lonely. * The thought had eased her a little. She did care about everyone else's feelings, she wanted everyone to be happy all the time.

Just then, another thought entered her mind, perhaps she could make someone new in the house more happy. She was sure that her sister would agree with her in helping her cheer him up.

"Hey Ayeka. I just had an idea. Why don't we take Daimyo with us? We could show him how beautiful Jurai is and that could cheer him up a lot."

Ayeka merely froze in place in the doorway to the closet where she was rummaging through.

"No. I won't travel with that filthy disgusting animal!" She said with her back still turned to Sasami.

Sasami didn't understand why she didn't like Daimyo, she had hardly acknowledged his existence since she came back. Deciding it was best not to ask her why she didn't like him.

"Well could you at least think it over for a little bit." Ayeka turned to look at her sister with a look about her face that seemed to show disgust. "Please Ayeka." Sasami pleaded with her sparkling pink eyes shinning.

Ayeka turned back to the closet and let a sigh out. "I'll think about it Sasami."

**************

Now she found herself back to the point a couple of hours earlier she hoped wouldn't come. She knew that she would have to give Sasami a reason why she didn't want Daimyo near her. But that would mean having to let the others know what happened. She would rather die than let Tenchi and the others discover what happened. She herself didn't want to know what happened to her. She looked at Sasami, her standing there wanting the horrible creature from the god-awful planet she was on to tag along with them. She let out another sigh and closed her eyes to accept defeat.

"Alright Sasami, he can come with us if he wants too."

Sasami's face lit up with cheer, she would be able to spend more time with Daimyo. Also maybe Ayeka would grow to like him, for whatever reason she didn't like him unknown to her.

"Oh thank you Ayeka, you're the best!" Sasami said hugging her sister.

* Yeah. . .the best. * She thought to herself.

**********************

It was a warm day, the sky was clear and everything seemed to be in bloom, it seemed to be like a beautiful dream. But for one teenage boy, this day was beginning to be a nightmare becoming reality.
Tenchi was walking the garbage down to the road for the local garbage disposal company to take their trash away. Although his body was performing manual labor, his mind was on a troubling feeling.

* It feels so wonderful to have Ayeka back safely to us. But know that she has returned she's leaving to go back to Jurai. All of the girls have been here long enough for me to not be able to imagine life without either one of them. Life before the girls was. . .normal, sure it was peaceful and quiet, but it was also boring and lonely. With them here, it's anything but that now. I just can't loose them, not one. * After placing the trash were it was supposed to be, he headed back to the house, trying to convince himself that he wasn't loosing them.

***********************

While Tenchi was tending to his daily chores, Washu was in her laboratory coming to a hard conclusion on a hypothesis she had been trying to solve. She had noticed from the first few minutes of her return that Ayeka was acting different. She was walking different, attitude had changed, and most noticeable of all was that she didn't seem to like it when Tenchi touched her. It was the most noticeable difference that brought Washu to two conclusions of her character. Something had happened to Ayeka on Daimyo's world, either she befriended someone and something horrible happened to them, or. . .something horrible happened to the princess herself. As much as Washu didn't want to wish harm onto anyone else, she hoped for Ayeka's sake that it was the first choice and not the latter.

"Oh, Ayeka. . ." She said to herself after letting out a sigh.

Deciding to do something, she arose from her futon and went outside her lab. Upon leaving her lab she noticed that everyone seemed to be in the living room area. Apparently Ayeka wanted to leave sooner than Washu had expected her too. She spotted Ayeka near her bags, checking through them to see if she had everything she wanted.

"Excuse me Ayeka, but I must insist that you come into my lab and I check your vitals before you leave. You were after all traveling between dimensions on your journey back."

"I'm fine miss Washu, I don't need a check up." She replied with a semi stern look.

"I'm afraid I can't take no as an answer Ayeka, it will only take a couple of minutes."

Seeing that she wouldn't get away from Washu without going along with her, she finally complied with Washu's wishes and followed the small scientist into her laboratory. Once inside her lab, Washu closed the door and switched an override onto the entrance, preventing anyone from coming in.
Ayeka removed her robe to let Washu patch on some sensors onto parts of her body. When she was placing the sensors onto Ayeka, she noticed that Ayeka seemed to be more relaxed than normal when she was this close to being in the nude. Perhaps Washu's theory was right, she hoped that it was somewhat wrong though. Washu began asking her questions concerning her health.

"Have you been coughing? Any dizzy spells? Nausea? Nose bleeds?" All of which Ayeka shook her head no to. "Ok, I have the sensors connected, just relax and breathe normally. The machines will monitor your Jurain power, heart-rate, and so forth."

Washu had turned to one of the computers and was typing on some keys to adjust the setting correctly. A thought was in the back of Ayeka's mind, would she find out? Washu took notice of her slightly increased heart rate.

*She's worried about something. Oh please don't let it be true. * She thought to herself.

Washu turned to Ayeka. "Ayeka, I need to know, did anything happen on Daimyo's homeworld?"

Ayeka nearly wanted to jump out of her skin. "W..What do you mean? N.nothing happened."

"Ayeka, I'm highly aware of people's actions and you haven't been acting nearly like yourself since you came back. You don't carry yourself when you walk as highly as you use too, you've hardly spoken more than two words to Daimyo since you've meet him. Your more withdrawn when we're all together talking, plus your more relaxed being topless here in front of me than you would have. You haven't tried to cover yourself like you normally would." Realizing she was right Ayeka lifted an arm to cover her self more. "And. . .most frightening of all, you don't seem to welcome Tenchi's touch like you would have."

Ayeka lowered her head, getting her face from Washu's vision, she felt like she was going to cry. * Oh no. . . . .She's found out! What am I going to do?! *

"Ayeka?" Washu's voice sounded soft with concern, but deeper.

Ayeka looked up and saw Washu was in her adult form. Washu knelt down onto the floor in front of the table Ayeka had been sitting on, to get a better view of Ayeka's face.

"Ayeka. . .we've known each other for a couple of years now. I know that we haven't been the closest of friends. . but we are still friends. If anything happened to you, you could tell me. As a friend and as a scientist I promise you, whatever is said here in the lab, stays here. Now would you like to talk about it?" Washu's tone of voice was ever so soft, nearly to a whisper, but loud enough for Ayeka to hear her clearly.

"No. . .I don't want to talk about it."

"But Ayeka. . ."

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" She said glaring at Washu. "Am I finished now?!"

Washu tuned her head down and away. "Yes. You can go."

Ayeka pulled the sensors off of her and put her kimono back on. Washu was still, she stayed on her knees as Ayeka got dressed and turned to leave.

"Where you raped Ayeka?" Washu asked, having to know for sure.

Ayeka spun around and back fisted Washu in the face. The force of her blow knocked Washu to the floor. Ayeka was breathing heavy enough for Washu to hear.

"How dare you ask such a horrible question?!! How could you think that I, a first born princess of Jurai be tainted in such a horrible act?!" Two tears run down Ayeka's face. "I am saving myself for lord Tenchi, I love him. . . .and I wouldn't. . . . .allow someone too. . . . . . . . .take that. . .away from me!" She couldn't finish her denial without crying at the end. Ayeka turned placing her hands on the table for support and allowed herself to cry.

Washu picked herself up from the floor, she was slow getting up from the shock of Ayeka's reaction to her question. Washu reached into the top of her science academy outfit and pulled out a handkerchief and applied it to her bleeding nose. Ayeka's back hand hit her on the cheek and connected with her nose. Her cheek would most likely develop a nasty looking bruise, but at the moment she didn't care.

* Oh, whatever gods in the universe, why would you allow this to happen to Ayeka. She should be the last person in the universe for this to happen too. *

She walked quietly over to Ayeka and placed a hand on her shoulder, Ayeka moved her shoulder to tell her that she didn't want her to touch her.

"Ayeka? I don't know what happened, but I can tell you that I know how you feel. I myself wasn't physically raped, when my family was taken from me that was my rape. I know that the psychological damage will be more painful than what you went through. You need counseling Ayeka, to help cope with this. If you don't soon, then you may never recover from what happened."

"I'm fine." Ayeka said pulling herself back together.

"No your not. I have to ask you to stay Ayeka, I can't allow you to cause yourself further damage."

"I will not take orders from you! You are nothing more than a peasant! Just leave me alone!" She finished walking toward the door. At the door she stopped and turned around. "If you ever tell anyone about what was discussed here, I swear, I WILL kill you!" With that she walked out the doorway.

Washu stood there in shock at Ayeka's threat. She sounded very sincere about it. She had changed more than Washu expected. She had failed to help her friend. Washu slams her closed fist down onto the table where Ayeka sat and cried. "Damnit! . . .I was too late to help her.. . . .I'm sorry I couldn't help you Ayeka."

******************************

Ayeka walked out of the door leading to Washu's lab and stopped to wipe at her eyes to make sure that the tears weren't there. She didn't want anyone asking why she was crying.

"My love?"

Ayeka was slightly startled at hearing someone's voice without her noticing that someone was that close by. Looking to her left she noticed Mireya leaning against the wall. She relaxed when she realized who was there. Mireya walked over to Ayeka and adjusted her kimono, they both looked at each other and smiled. Mireya brushed Ayeka's bangs to adjust her hair to show more of her face.

"My love, when I was. ." She stopped to look around to see if there was anyone around to listen. "When I was in the cell block, I was miserable. I thought that that was it, there wasn't going to be any escape. But when I saw you. . . .everything horrible about that place, seemed to disappear. I had regained hope to life, I had a reason to survive. To get both of us out of there." She gently rubbed the back of her left hand across Ayeka's face. Ayeka replied by tilting her head against her hand.

"I vow that when I return to Draka. I shall confront Voog and I swear on my life, that I will have him beg for death for what he did to you. I still wish that there was something I could have done to help protect you my love." She closes her eyes and looks away. "I blame myself for that."

Ayeka lifted Mireya's head to face her again. "There wasn't anything you could have done Mireya, I wasn't able to do anything against him. But, when you return, I shall accompany you and we shall have vengeance on him."

"My love?" Mireya asked with both hope and disbelief.

"I shall explain later Mireya, I must be leaving."

"Shall I accompany you, my love?"

"No, you have journeyed enough, besides I have that. . .Daimyo to accompany us."

"Very well then, I shall look forward to seeing you light up the day when you return my love."

"Hey what's going on in here?" Ryoko asked floating into the room.

"Oohh, is there a goodbye kiss about to take place in here?" Ryoko whispered to Ayeka, with one of her devious grins.

"Ryoko." Ayeka said calmly, but stared at her as though wanting to burn a hole through her.

"Hey relax Ayeka. I'm just playing, you don't have to go bending yourself out of shape all the time."

"I shall see you in a week Mireya, enjoy yourself while you're here. It's a nice planet and I'm sure you'll like it." Ayeka said walking past Ryoko who was still grinning at the two.

Ryoko floats over to Mireya and nudges her with her elbow. "So you and Ayeka getting close eh?"

Mireya gets a defensive look on her face. "The relationship with me and Ae doesn't concern you."

"Oh, so you have a pet name for Ayeka. I guess that means that the two of you got close."

Mireya grabs Ryoko's left ear and twists it to get Ryoko's head to go in the direction she pulled. "Listen, because I will only say this once. Don't pry into other people's business; anything that happens to Ayeka isn't your concern. Am I understood?" She finished the last sentence in a growl.

"Ow ow ow ow. Yeah, I got it already. Let go of my ear!"

Mireya releases her ear and walks to the rest of the group. "Good, I expect you to behave yourself while I'm here."

Ryoko only glares her a dirty look.

***********************

"You'll like Jurai, it's a beautiful planet. Earth is similar to it, but the trees are much bigger and they can talk to you." Sasami told Daimyo trying to do what she could to cheer him up.

Since early that morning he was in shock. He had never been beaten in a fight, he still couldn't figure out how a woman like Ryoko could have gotten the best of him. She wasn't nearly battle trained to come close to him, at least that he could tell, with how peaceful it is around here she shouldn't be that skilled. Perhaps he let his guard down to much, he didn't take the fight that seriously enough. Either way he tried to turn it, he couldn't get past the reality that he in fact lost the fight.

"Daimyo is there anything I can do to get a smile on your face again?" Sasami asked seeing him with a far off look on his face.

He looked at Sasami and noticed how hard she was trying to cheer him up, so he would give her attempts a little success. "No Sasami, I'm fine you don't have to do anything." He said faking a big smile on his face.

"Hey your coming to Jurai with us, so you have to be happy, that's an order." She said in a mock commanding tone.

Daimyo salutes her. "Yes ma'am." He replied.

This causes both to laugh at how funny each of them sound.

"I'm glad I met you Daimyo. I feel safe knowing your coming with us."

"Hey that gives me an idea Sasami. I'll be your bodyguard, I'll make up for myself by protecting you and your sister."

Sasami's eyes brighten up. "Oh, would you be my guardian Daimyo?" She asked dreamily.

Daimyo nods his head.

Ayeka comes into the room and walks over to Mihoshi. "Mihoshi is your ship ready to leave?"

Mihoshi stands at attention and salutes. "Yes Ma'am. Ukonojo is standing by."

"Good we'll get our bags and we'll be on our way."

"Ayeka?" Tenchi asked walking closer to her.

"Are you sure you want to leave so soon? Shouldn't you rest for a couple of days?"

"No Tenchi, I'm alright, I just have to do something on Jurai. I will return in a week."

"I guess I can't change your mind, but you promise you'll be back? In a week?"

"Yes, I'll return. Come along Sasami." Ayeka called to her sister, noticing she was sitting near. . .him.

"Ok, come on Daimyo, let's go." Sasami grabbed Daimyo's hand and lead him to the door.

Ayeka's eyes narrowed when Daimyo came closer. "You. Get the bags." Ayeka spoke in near a growl with no emotion in her voice.

Daimyo merely sighed and gathered the luggage that Ayeka had left sitting by the door. Mihoshi pulled her control cube out and twisted a couple of corners on it to open a big subspace pocket, allowing her ship to come out. With the ship settled on the ground and the ramp open, Daimyo took the bags inside the ship while Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi were saying their goodbyes to the others.
Tenchi finished hugging the youngest princess goodbye and notice Ryoko seemed to be distant. Remembering how she had acted yesterday was worrying him, so he walked to Ryoko's side. He tapped Ryoko's shoulder to get her to notice he was there. She smiled at him, but it wasn't the daydream type of smile she usually gave him, it was more of a halfhearted grin. "Is everything alright Ryoko?"

"Now isn't the best time Tenchi, maybe we can talk later. Ok?"

He had never heard her say maybe later, if he had ever shown the slightest interest in her she usually jumps up and down laughing or clings herself onto him. Now he knew there was something troubling her, but he would have to wait a little longer to find out.

"Yes, it's alright. We'll talk later."

"Goodbye Ryoko." Sasami said hugging the pirate.

"Goodbye Sasami." She replied kneeling down to her level. "I'm really going to miss you Sasami."

"Don't worry Ryoko. We won't be gone to long, I promise."

"You take care of yourself Sasami and I guess you'll have to look out for Ayeka too."

"I will. Goodbye Tenchi."

"Goodbye Sasami, we'll be here when you come back." He said patting her on the head.

Daimyo comes out of the ship and walks over to Tenchi. "Don't think that because I'm going away your getting off easy. I want you practicing from the crack of dawn to sunset. When I get back you better be ready, I'll give you such a beating if I don't see more improvement."

It looked like Ryoko was about to tell him where he could shove his beating, when Sasami stepped in. "Common Daimyo, I think we should be going. Ayeka and Mihoshi are ready." She said, grabbing his hand and tugging to get him to come along.

"Alright Sasami, I'm comin'."

Sasami drags Daimyo to the ship, while Mihoshi and Ayeka wave goodbye to everyone. Although Ayeka looks distant and non-caring about the moment of leaving the place she had come to call home.
After saying their goodbyes, the four board Mihoshi's shuttle craft. Everyone else outside backs up continuing to wave or say goodbye. Everyone except Ryoko, who silently watches the ship leave the ground and quickly becomes a spec in the sky as it begins to leave the Earth's orbit.
Mireya watched the groups departure from the side of the house. Quietly wishing to be with the one she was in love with. She knew well that Ayeka loved Tenchi, making it impossible for the two of them to be together. However, that knowledge didn't make the denial for her heart any easier.

"Goodbye my love." Mireya whispered to herself.

************************

On board the small ship currently headed toward the planet of Jurai, the group gets settled down into compartments where they would relax in during the lengthy trip. Ukonojo, the ships computer, plotted the course to Jurai and gave the estimated time of arrival to Mihoshi and the crew.

"Mihoshi, I have informed headquarters about our current mission and they will send someone to take your place in patrolling this sector until your return."

"Thank you Ukonojo." Mihoshi replied.

Ukonojo turned slightly to face Ayeka. "Princess Ayeka, the galaxy police headquarters has asked me to inform you that you are our top priority and that you will have a safe and secure journey back home."

"Yes, yes. Thank you." She said uninterested in listening to him.

She knew they would say something like that, if anything did happen to her or her sister under their care, their father would make heads roll. Literally. She had heard assurances like this a hundred times before. She didn't want to get assurances she wanted what she desperately needed now, more power. If she goes to the tree of Tsunami and prays to her, she will grant her request to be granted more powers.

* Then I will be able to have my vengeance. . . .I mean justice. Yes, justice will be served. * She thought, smiling to herself from the thoughts of Voog's demise by her hands.

"Miss Ayeka?"

Ayeka realized that she was indeed smiling at the thoughts and Mihoshi seemed to notice. "Yes Mihoshi?"

"What are you so happy about?"

"Oh, I was just thinking how nice it will be to see my family again." She replied with quick thinking.

In other parts of the ship Daimyo was sitting alone, he still couldn't accept defeat. His pride was one thing he held high, it was because he was never beaten he had survived. He was forged from battle, victory was all he knew, those who lose die. How could he have succumbed to Ryoko in battle, even though he didn't know she could spilt into two, he should have been able to hear her approach. Maybe it was this place, this peaceful existence that he now found himself in that was destroying the warrior within. "Hey Daimyo. I was wondering where you took off too, I was wanting to talk with you." Sasami said entering the room.

Daimyo sat there not paying much attention to her entrance.

"Daimyo what's wrong?" Sasami asked unsure of what to do.

"I just want to be alone right now Sasami. Please leave."

Sasami felt heartache at his request. "Alright. . . .maybe I can come talk with you later."

Daimyo gave no response to her last sentence and just sat in quiet solitude while Sasami left the room. He wanted to stay in the storage room for a while basking in the doubt of his skills that have kept him alive all this time. With his defeat from Ryoko, came the death of his glory and pride.

****************

Having to never look up that much before began to make Washu realize that she may have needed to get more lighting in her lab. She could barely make out the ceiling in her lab. She pulled a white handkerchief from her nose and saw that the bleeding had finally stopped.

"At last, beginning to think the bleeding wasn't going to stop."

She was alone in the lab, not wanting anyone to see her trying to stop a nosebleed and someone would probably notice the bruise that was forming on her face. She had applied a cream onto the bruise that would help it heal faster, by the end of the day it should be gone. All she had to do was stay in the lab for the rest of the day, nothing new to her; she barely left the lab anyway. She silently tortured herself for letting herself just out and ask her directly like that. She knew that she would blow up on her, but she just couldn't seem to stop herself from wanting to know.

She chuckled. * Looks like I got my answer. * She thought to herself.

* I hope that Ayeka is strong enough for her to cope with whatever happened to her. Otherwise she will never fully recover from this. Perhaps I can talk to that woman to find out what happened, Mireya I think her name was. *

"I guess I'll have to keep myself busy until I can go talk to her."

Washu began working on another project she had put off when the whole Ayeka disappearing incident began.

**********************

A few hours after Ayeka's departure had come and gone. Tenchi was once again hard at work with his chores he performed around the house and shrine. He still couldn't shake the feeling that his fears were coming to light with the girls. Was he losing them? He had become so used to the girls being around that he could imagine things going back the way they were before they came. These thoughts kept haunting his mind during his sweeping of the shrine stairs. Although he hardly showed it, he deeply enjoyed having met them and getting to know all of them. He just wasn't able to really be able to show it, due to the constant explosions and fights going off around him. And he didn't enjoy the fact that most of the fights were over who gets him, like a prize to be awarded to them after beating their rival. Turning his thought to them fighting over him the way they do, caused him to sweep with a little more force. He hated it when they both fought, he knew they could be great friends, but they had to fight over him. Couldn't they tell he enjoyed having both girls in his life. He was so caught up in his thoughts of losing his current way of life that he failed to notice another presence nearby. He was making his way up the stairs backwards to sweep the stairs that he stood on before. He stepped up a stair and his back bumped into something. Turning around he saw that Ryoko was standing on the stair behind him, she had a calm look on her face, it seemed to slightly hold a sad expression.

"Hi Ryoko, I didn't notice you there. Have you been here long?"

Ryoko fumbled with her hands in front of her and she looked down at them. "No, I haven't been here very long."

"Are you alright Ryoko? I've noticed you've been acting weird lately."

"Yes, I'm alright Tenchi. There was just something I was wanting to tell you."

"What did you want to tell me?"

"Before I say it, I just want to let you know that I thought about it for a week and I've made my decision. I've decided it's for the best."

"What?" Tenchi asked, feeling a cold fear suddenly entering his chest.

"Tenchi." Her eye's softened at the mention of his name. "I've decided. . . .I'm leaving. . . .and I'm not coming back."

I do hope you enjoyed this chapter and I have started working on the next chapter. I'll post it as soon as I finish it. The next chapter is: Uplifting Spirits