Invasion

by Dreamr

An epic length continuation of the OAV manga storyline, after part 2.

10. Ambition

INVASION Volume 2, Part 3: Ambition.

DISCLAIMER: Tenchi Muyo! is copyright AIC/Pioneer, LDC. I claim no rights to the characters or story. I'm only doing this because I love the whole series and enjoy writing stories about the characters. I only ask that no changes be made to this story, as it took me a great deal of time to write it.

FOREWORD: Originally, this chapter was going to take place on Valentine's Day, which also happens to be Sasami's birthday. However, the timing wasn't right with Interlude 2. Also, I wanted some outdoor scenes, later.

Fair warning! There is a fairly lemony scene towards the end. However, it doesn't violate the standards of the 'R' rating. Go to the website http://www.mpaa.org/movieratings/about/index/htm for more information.

Also, I have a feeling I'm going to get some hate mail from Ryoko fans out there. Sorry. I promise I'll make up for it later. This whole volume is about "what would it take", after all.

BEGIN CHAPTER 3.

When the doorbell rang late in the afternoon of the Friday Zak was due to return from a week-long seminar in Tokyo, Tenchi began to worry. He was beginning to think of the doorbell as the "Gong of Doom". Every time it rang, something weird would happen. Dreading the unasked-for visitor, he excused himself to answer the door.

"Hello?"

A young man in the uniform of a local delivery service held a large bouquet of red roses and a heart-shaped box of candies out to Tenchi.

"Good afternoon, sir. I have a delivery for Miss Ryoko."

Somewhat beside himself, Tenchi took the delivery.

"Uh, sure."

"Sorry, about this, but could you sign for them? We just need verification that the delivery was made to the proper address."

Tenchi accepted the clipboard and pen. He signed his name in the proper location, then handed it back. In return, he received for Ryoko one dozen red roses and a box of chocolates.

"Thank you, sir, and have a pleasant day." The delivery boy bowed politely, then left.

Tenchi turned from the door. He was trying to decide just how he was going to explain this to everyone when Sasami came around the corner.

"Come on, Tenchi. You're --" She stopped in mid-sentence. "Wow! Are those for me?"

Things got worse when Aeka joined her sister.

"Lord Tenchi, ah--" Aeka did the same double-take as Sasami had. "My, how lovely." She quickly joined Tenchi to get a closer look. "Who are they for, Lord Tenchi?"

"Ryoko." Tenchi answered.

"Ryoko?!" Aeka asked, astounded.

Things went from bad to worse when Ryoko heard her name.

"What?" The flippant girl asked as she entered the hall via the dividing wall. "What's for me?" She caught sight of Tenchi holding a large bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates.

"Tenchi-i-i!" Delighted and completely mistaken as to their source, Ryoko caught Tenchi in a huge embrace, crushing the flowers between the two of them.

"Ouch!" Tenchi complained. "Sharp thorns!"

Ryoko released him and snatched the gifts from Tenchi's grasp with a delighted giggle.

"This is preposterous!" Aeka loudly complained. "Lord Tenchi, tell her! Tell her they're not from you!"

"Aeka's right. They're not from me."

Ryoko looked at him. Aeka looked at him. Sasami looked at him.

"They're not?" The three of them said together.

"No. Someone just had them delivered."

Sasami scratched her head.

"Then who are they from?"

"Read the card." Tenchi suggested. The girls quickly found the card which was hidden among the flowers. Ryoko tried to open it, but her hands were full. Aeka quickly grew tired of her fumbling and snatched the card away.

"Give me that." She pulled the card out and quickly read it. She began to giggle. The giggle soon turned into an hysterical laugh.

"Hee-hee-hee! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ah-hah-hah-hah! Oh, that's rich!"

"Come on, show me!" Ryoko leaned over to read the card herself. Her face betrayed no emotion. She turned and presented the gifts to Sasami.

"Happy birthday."

"But, my birthday was four months ago." Sasami pointed out.

"So? They're mine and I can do whatever I want with 'em. So, now I'm giving them to you."

Aeka ignored the gift giving and stuffed the card into the bouquet before going back into the main room, laughing all the way. Tenchi was completely confused. Aeka seemed entirely too entertained, and Ryoko was actually giving away candy!

"Ryoko, what's going on?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I, uh, forgot a present on Sasami's birthday. So, now I'm making up for it. Aren't I nice?"

Now Tenchi was getting suspicious. Why would Ryoko not tell him what it meant? Or more importantly, who it was from?

"So, who's it from?"

"Nobody important." Ryoko directed her attention to Sasami. "Here. I'll open them for you." She pulled the top from the box. Sasami reached into the box and pulled out a chocolate. She quickly popped it into her mouth.

"Good?" Ryoko asked. Sasami answered once she was finished chewing.

"Very."

"Can I have one?"

"Sure. Would you like one, Tenchi?"

Tenchi started to decline, but then changed his mind. As he leaned over the inspect the chocolate, he took a surreptitious look at the card which Aeka had set back in amongst the flowers. He could just make out the kana within, which, when pronounced, would sound out the name "Zakaraia".

Tenchi took one of the chocolates, then quickly went back into the main room. He ignored Aeka's retelling of the brief adventure to examine the chocolate he held in his hand. It was round and bulbous, the way a chocolate should be. There was nothing suspicious about it. He just could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"Damn." Tenchi popped the candy into his mouth.

Ryoko arrived at Zak's apartment. She had had no intention of ever coming here, but her curiosity about the flowers and candy demanded satisfaction. He had given her his address and phone number last week, along with an open invitation to come see him whenever she wanted. The poster with the information had gotten stuck to her "Junk-Wall", along with all the other junk. Now she was glad she had not thrown it out. She could interrogate Zak concerning the gifts. Without concern for what may be going on inside, Ryoko phased through the door. She floated in to find Zak sitting on the floor, busily at work on someone's stereo. A mischievous grin appeared on her face.

"Hey!" She shouted.

Zak dropped his test probe into the stereo, resulting in a loud snap and a visible spark. He sighed, looking woefully at the equipment.

"Ryoko, your timing is... amazing."

"Is that so?"

"Man, they're gonna be pissed."

"Yeah, well. Tough luck. I've got a question."

Zak leaned back and rotated around on his posterior so he could face Ryoko.

"Why, hello, Ryoko! I'm so pleased to see you. Won't you come in?"

"Smart-ass. What's up with the flowers and chocolate?"

"I just got back from Tokyo and I wanted to let you know I was home." He looked at Ryoko as if he were completely innocent of any wrong-doing.

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Ryoko asked.

"Mmm, no. I was just trying to get your attention. To tell you the truth," he continued, "I had picked out something a little more, ah... interesting. But as I was wrapping it, I decided it might be a little embarrassing if you opened it in front of everyone."

"Oh, please. Nothing embarrasses me."

"Oh, really?" Zak gave her a sly grin. "Then why don't you open that box", he pointed to a flat box on the kitchenette counter, "over there."

Ryoko looked to the left, where he was pointing. The box was plainly evident. She had no intention of accepting any gifts from Zak, but her curiosity was killing her.

"I wish he would quit doing this stuff. Well, it can't hurt to look."

She pulled the top off and reached into the box. Within the traditional gauzy paper (why do they always wrap clothing in this stuff?), was a very skimpy outfit. It was exactly the sort of thing she would wear if she were trying to seduce Tenchi. She held it out at Zak like a rag.

"What the hell is this?"

"A very sexy outfit."

"Duh. Why did you get it for me?"

"Maybe I'd like to see you in it."

"Yeah, right. More like you'd like to see me out of it."

"Only if I get to take it off."

Ryoko looked at Zak in surprise. This was different. He had never come right out and said he wanted her. However, his statement gave Ryoko a much better idea. She let her mouth widen into a knowing smile.

"How about if I put this on and show myself to Tenchi, instead?"

Zak had an answer ready for her.

"Go ahead. But, I don't think it'll work."

"Bull. Tenchi won't be able to resist me."

"He's resisted you for quite some time, as I understand it."

"That's because I haven't been trying very hard."

"Well, if that's the case, then you're right. He won't be able to resist. I'm having a hard enough time as it is."

Ryoko took a long, thoughtful look at the article of lingerie.

"Where's the mirror?" She asked, eyeing the outfit in her hand.

"In there." Zak pointed to the other room.

Ryoko zipped inside to try it on. Zak noticed she had left the garment's accessories behind in her hasty excitement. He got up to bring the remaining items to her. Ryoko's voice came from the other room.

"It's all right, but there's something missing."

Zak made his way to the doorway and, politely looking towards the other end of the room, he held one of the accessories, a slip of an undergarment, out to his side. Ryoko saw the piece of clothing and took a short flight to retrieve it, heedless of her lack of modesty. He snatched it out of her reach and dropped it in the box.

"The rest is inside."

Ryoko pulled the box from Zak's grasp with equal zest. She promptly dumped the contents on the couch. Gauze paper went everywhere as she found what she was looking for. The panties went on first, followed by the stockings. Although, leggings might be a more appropriate word to describe them. The whole thing was red leather with grey clips that held the leggings up in the front. The body portion started at mid-hip and went up just high enough to cover her breasts. The front was completely open with only a single clip holding it together just above the panty-line. There was only one problem.

"It shows too much up top. Tenchi won't like it."

"The article I read says if you pull the top part over your, ah... well, there's a suction cup at the end and if you put it right, um... in the middle, you know..."

"On my nipples." Ryoko bluntly clarified.

"Right." Zak smiled broadly. Ryoko's open honesty about all things female never failed to turn him on.

"It's supposed to stay."

Ryoko looked down at the material. There was indeed a suction-cup looking place at the top-inside corner of each side. She licked her thumb and wet the cups. After applying some pressure to them, Ryoko found they did indeed stay put.

She turned back to the mirror to inspect herself. It showed everything that needed to be shown without revealing too much. As an added bonus, she liked wearing it. The lay of the material was right where she liked it: on the sides, hips, and breasts. The open front would let her press herself against Tenchi without anything getting between them. She found herself getting turned on just thinking about showing herself to Tenchi like this. Arcing her back, she turned sideways and put her arms behind her head.

"The back's pretty plain. Hmm..." A smile starting working it's way onto her face again.

To Zak's surprise, he watched a tail sprout from Ryoko's back-side. It started out skin-colored and quickly grew to extend almost to the ceiling. Ryoko watched the tail as it rapidly shifted colors. She finally settled on the same grey as the clips on the outfit.

"Hmm..." The tail shifted again. This time it became segmented and mechanical looking. The end terminated in a double-sized segment with a large red disc inset.

"Now that's what I'm talking about." Ryoko admired herself in the mirror.

"I like your tail." Zak informed her. Absent-mindedly, Ryoko answered his complement.

"Uh-huh."

"Both of them."

Ryoko looked over her shoulder at him.

"You're stupid to get me something like this. It'll only help me with Tenchi."

"If that's what you want."

"You're weird."

"You should talk." He shot back. Ryoko disappeared, leaving only her trademark growl. Zak smiled to himself when he noticed she had left her clothes behind in her haste to seduce Tenchi.

"I knew she'd like it."

Tenchi closed his bedroom door, shutting out the noise from downstairs. He did not bother to turn on the light. There was still enough daylight for him to find his way around his room.

He and Aeka were getting along much better than before. Her suggestion to apply to the Galaxy Academy had really taken with him. He greatly appreciated what she had done for his state of mind by giving him the idea. Final exams were starting next week, and he was greatly looking forward to a change in his living arrangements once he graduated.

Ryoko, on the other hand, was as much of an enigma as ever. She still claimed not to be interested in Zak, even though she greeted him with more civility every time he came by to see her. It was painfully obvious Zak had fallen for her. Tenchi regretted telling Ryoko he did not mind her going out with him. At the time, he had wanted to return the favor she had given him by saying she did not mind if he went out with Aeka. But, it was too late now. Besides, she seemed pretty happy with Zak. At least she would have someone to take care of her if he left for the Academy.

It was odd, though, how everything had just suddenly fallen together with so little effort. He had applied to the academy knowing full-well it was the only place he could get into with so little financial help available to him. In all likelihood, he would attend. Wasting away at his grandfather's shrine was not his idea of a fulfilling life.

"I guess I've pretty much made up my mind. Still, it'll feel weird not having the girls around."

Tenchi sat on the edge of his bed. His socks fell to the floor. Soon they were followed by his shirt and pants. A huge yawn overtook him, verifying his need for rest. He fell back onto the bed. For some reason, the bed seemed very lumpy.

"Not again." Tenchi knew what the lump was. It was just like the first time Ryoko had lain in his bed.

Tenchi stood and turned around. He grasped the corner of his quilt and threw it off the bed, intending to remind Ryoko, once again, that she was forbidden from sleeping in his bed. The admonishment Tenchi had been considering quickly fled his mind when he saw what Ryoko was wearing. He turned away.

"I've been waiting for you, Tenchi." Ryoko purred, seductively.

"Uhh..."

"I wore this just for you. Do you like it?"

"Ryoko, you... uhh, shouldn't... I mean... you aren't, um... supposed to do that."

"Do what, Tenchi?"

"Make..." He changed his mind at the last minute. "You can't sleep there."

"I wasn't planning on sleeping."

Gulp.

"Ryoko, I want you to go back to your own room."

Ryoko did not answer. Instead, she rose from her place of repose and stood behind Tenchi. She tried to wrap her arms around his waist, but he caught her hands before they could get all the way around him.

"Don't."

Ryoko snaked her tail around him. The tip waved slowly in front of his face.

"Do you like my tail?"

"Is that what that is?" Tenchi watched it move back and forth. He did not seem particularly interested in her tail, so she tried to get her arms around him again.

"Ryoko, stop it."

Her lips found Tenchi's neck.

"Cut it out!" Tenchi pulled her arms apart and stepped further away. "Please, Ryoko. I'm asking nicely. Go sleep in your own room."

"Tenchi..." Ryoko uttered his name in a low and seductive tone that left no doubt as to her purpose tonight. She was not feeling particularly patient or indulgent after waiting all evening for Tenchi to come to bed. She had been thinking about what she would do to get Tenchi interested and how she would react to his responses. In addition, the outfit she was wearing made her feel very sexual. She was eager for his touch. Waiting was not in the plan tonight. Unfortunately, Tenchi was playing hard-to-get. When she teleported in front of him, he turned away again.

"Ryoko, I've told you before. This is my room. If you want to come in, knock first. No coming in unannounced and no sleeping in my bed."

"Don't you like my outfit? I wore it just for you."

"It's very nice." He told her.

"You didn't even look."

"I saw it."

"Tenchi, I want you to look at me."

Something in Ryoko's voice told Tenchi he should comply. But her outfit was so scanty, he was embarrassed to do so. He was not used to seeing things like that.

"I can't."

Ryoko's question was barely a whisper.

"Why?"

"I don't like it when you dress like that."

A small fissure opened in Ryoko's heart. Through that fissure, she felt as if all her feelings, her desires, her love, her hope, were running out into the abyss of despair. Zak had said Tenchi was not interested in her in this manner, but she had refused to believe it, thinking he was just jealous. Now, she was being forced to face the possibility that Zak was right.

"Look at me." She asked again.

Tenchi stood stock still for a moment, then glanced briefly over his shoulder.

"Is that enough?"

"NO!" The fissure widened into a crack. Ryoko tried to keep her hopes alive by teleporting in front of Tenchi again. As he had before, Tenchi turned away once more.

"Look at me!" Ryoko demanded.

"Not until you're decent." Tenchi insisted.

Ryoko tried desperately to understand Tenchi's reluctance to look at her. Everything she knew insisted men liked looking at beautiful women. She had always considered herself very attractive. If Tenchi would not look at her, then, by her reasoning, either he did not like women, which she knew was not true, or she was ugly.

"Don't you like me?"

"I... don't like it when you act this way."

When Ryoko heard Tenchi tell her he did not like her when she was trying her hardest to show him how she felt about him, she decided she had had enough. She took one more deep breath to stave off the tears that were threatening to smash her already battered and bruised emotional control. With that breath, she told Tenchi what she thought of his reluctance to be near her. Her final words were chilling, and only made her hurt more.

"I hate you."

Tenchi finally did turn around when he heard what Ryoko said. He had not wanted to hurt her. But he felt justified in taking a stand for what he believed in. He was only asking for his privacy and a little respect. But when he turned, Ryoko was gone.

"Oh, God. What have I done?"

Ryoko went to the only place she was certain she was liked. She went to the only person who had ever told her she was welcome anytime she wanted. She teleported to Zak's apartment.

Zak was in the middle of rearranging his furniture, what little there was. Bent over at the end of his couch, he looked up to greet his visitor.

"Hey, Ryoko, what's..." Zak noticed Ryoko's state of distress. "...wrong?"

Ryoko could not hold her anguish for much longer. She did not want to cry. Most of all, she wanted the pain in her heart to go away. Letting it out in the only way she knew was permissible, she yelled at Zak.

"You lied! You said he couldn't resist!" The tears began to fall. Ryoko redirected some of the anger she felt at herself for looking so weak in front of someone she had come to think of as strong.

"You mean Tenchi?" Zak's expression changed from confused to surprised. "He turned you down?"

Ryoko could feel her control slipping. A small sob broke free. As soon as the first escaped, she felt the others rushing to join it. The last vestiges of Ryoko's control shattered. She started wailing like a small child who had lost it's parents. The sound of her pain was so profound, it struck Zakaraia through to the center of his soul. He rushed to Ryoko and put his arms around her, holding her close. She cried against his chest for a long time. Nothing seemed to ease her pain. Not even the release granted by a serious and heartfelt cry.

The whole while, Zak told Ryoko how she would be safe there, and how she would make it through. He held her close, gently rubbing her back as he tried to ease her pain. After a long while, Ryoko's tears finally subsided. Still unable to face life, she kept her face buried in Zak's shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

Ryoko turned her face away. Zak tried to get a little bit of space between them to see if she were ready to stand on her own. She refused to budge.

"It's all right. I'm not going anywhere." He sighed into her hair.

They stayed that way for some time until Ryoko felt she could tell Zak what had happened.

"He wouldn't even look at me."

"Shh. It's all right. You don't have to talk about it."

"Dammit, he wouldn't even look! He said... he said... he doesn't like me..."

She buried her face against his chest as a second wave of sobs wracked her body. Her hands found his shirt and promptly crunched it up in her fists.

"Oh, Ryoko. I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this. You can stay here, if you like. You don't have to go back if you don't want to."

Ryoko's crying quieted a little when he offered her a place to stay.

"Stay as long as you like. I'll even make you breakfast in the morning. I'm not as good a cook as Sasami, but, I've got some skills. And if you feel like going home then, you can."

He felt Ryoko shake her head against his chest.

"All right. You're an adult, you can come and go as you please. Look on the bright side, you're finally getting out of that stuffy old house. It's not right to keep you locked up in there all the time. You're not an animal that has to be kept under lock and key. You're a person; and a very pretty one, at that. You should be free to do what you want."

Ryoko felt a little less vulnerable as Zak's words began to sink in. She finally managed to lift her head from his shoulder for a few moments.

"Don't cry." Zak implored her. "Pretty girls shouldn't cry."

"You're just saying that."

"No, Ryoko. I really mean it. You're a beautiful and attractive young woman. You deserve better." He reached up and wiped the tears from her face. "Please, don't cry."

Ryoko let Zak hold her for a while as she tried to understand what was happening this evening. She felt completely rejected. It was impossible for her to think about what had happened without wanting to cry again. The idea of Zak being her friend had never really occurred to her. She could see now she had been wrong about him. Zak was no Tenchi. But it was good to know somebody liked her.

"Do I have to sleep on the floor?"

"No, of course not. You can have the fold-out."

Ryoko separated herself from Zak's embrace to throw herself on the fold-out couch. Zak looked at her and smiled.

"Nice tail." The object of his attention switched back-and-forth once.

"Which one?" Ryoko asked.

"Both."

When Ryoko awoke the next morning she found herself covered with a light blanket of baby-blue. The smells and sounds of frying food emanated from the kitchenette. As she shook off the last vestiges of her slumber, Ryoko remembered she had slept in the exotic outfit from the night before. She conjured her oldest outfit, the blue and pink dress, then stood so she could change.

This dress was the first she had ever obtained, and was an old friend. Ryoko held it in front of her so she could look at it. This particular dress was actually a copy of the original, just like all the other outfits she had. So, technically, it was not stolen. Still, she had stolen the original. Now that she thought about it, she had stolen all the originals of her clothes. Besides her black dress and the swimsuit Sasami had bought for her on Jurai, the skimpy outfit lying on the couch was the only one she had not obtained illicitly. Tenchi would disapprove.

"Tenchi..." Ryoko's eyes began filling with tears and her chest started hurting again. The hurting was not as sharp as it was last night, but the pain in her heart were still strong.

Zak emerged from the kitchenette with breakfast in hand.

"Okay! Breakfast is..." His voice trailed off when he saw Ryoko standing next to the couch, naked.

"...beautiful."

Out of the corner of her tear-obscured eye, Ryoko noticed Zak staring at her.

"What're you looking at?"

As usual, Zak's answer was simple and direct.

"You."

"Why?"

"You're beautiful."

Zak's compliments only made matters worse. Ryoko's only wish was to hear such praise from Tenchi. The same Tenchi who had told her only last night that he did not like her.

"Shut up, dammit." Ryoko looked again at the dress she held in her hands. After a moment of consideration, she decided she no longer wanted to wear it. In fact, she did not feel like wearing any of them, so she tossed it aside and sat on the couch. Zak, however, had other ideas.

"Look, I don't really mind if you don't want to wear any clothes. But, it would be really, uh, distracting for me while I'm working."

"So what?" Ryoko hissed, ignoring Zak's discomfort.

Zak was unsure how to answer that until he remembered he was holding breakfast for two. He walked around the couch and set the breakfast tray on the floor. He had no table to set it on.

"I made you breakfast."

"Why?"

Zak was surprised again by the question. Ryoko's level of distrust seemed to have grown tremendously overnight. Again, his answer was simple and obvious.

"It's morning. People eat breakfast in the morning. I know it's not gourmet, but it should meet with your approval."

Ryoko glumly looked down at the simple eggs and ham Zak had prepared for her. She had no real need for food, and what was on the tray would not even come close to filling her appetite. Still, it was better than nothing. Kneeling on the floor, she picked up a plate and began shoveling in the food. Satisfied that Ryoko was making some attempt at normalcy, Zak went into his bedroom.

"I'll be right back." He promised. Seeing that Zak had left the room and his breakfast, Ryoko set her empty plate down and started on the other. When Zak emerged from his bedroom with a sweatshirt in hand and saw his breakfast had become another victim of the infamous Devil-Caller, his initial reaction was indignant, followed by amusement. When Ryoko shot an icy glance across the top of the plate, Zak laughed lightly.

"All right, I deserved that. My fault for leaving breakfast unattended."

"Damn right." Ryoko scolded him as she set down the second plate. "Is there any more?"

"Not yet. But I'll make some, if you want."

"Well, hop to, Hop Sing."

"Oh, just for that, I'm attaching a condition."

"Figures."

"You have to put this on. It should cover everything." Zak tossed the sweatshirt to Ryoko, who reached up and caught it. She grinned evilly.

"I thought you like looking at my body."

"Don't get me wrong!" Zak assured her, holding his hands up in front of him. "I love looking at you. But if you want me to make enough money to buy enough food for you to eat, then I need to work without being constantly distracted."

Accepting his explanation, Ryoko examined the article of clothing. It was a sweatshirt, pure and simple. There were no buttons or catches or snaps. It was big for her, which meant it probable fit Zak well.

"Whatever." Ryoko pulled it over her head. She felt like she were swimming in it. "Shit, man! If your chest is bigger than mine, then something's wrong."

Zak laughed.

"Hey, I can't help it if I'm well-built." Zak examined Ryoko for a moment, apparently satisfied with her compliance. "Much better. Now, I'll make more food. More of the same?"

"Fine. Just hurry it up. I'm starving over here."

Zak stooped to retrieve the tray of empty dishes, then reentered the kitchenette. When he returned only five minutes later with two large helpings of eggs and ham, Ryoko was pleasantly surprised.

"That was quick. Sasami's meals are better, but yours are faster." Ryoko hungrily dug in to her third plate.

"Aw, ham and eggs are easy. Just throw 'em in the pan for a minute and they're done."

"That's it?" She asked between mouthfuls.

"That's it."

"Huh."

"Want me to show you how?"

"Umm, no."

"Do you have something else to do?"

Finishing the plate, Ryoko set it down on the tray. She drained the glass of orange juice, then belched.

"That's better."

"So, do you?"

Ryoko looked at Zak as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"Do I what?"

"Ha. Nice try. But you're not getting off that easy. Come on." Zak nodded towards the kitchenette. "I'll show you how to cook."

Ryoko picked up the last plate of food.

"Not interested." She said before starting in on it. Zak contemplated how he could get her to make an attempt at the finer arts.

"Don't you want to learn to do something that Aeka can't?"

Ryoko froze. A gleam began to shine in her eyes. She continued her fourth plate a little bit slower. After finishing, she gave Zak her final answer.

"Let's go."

"All right!" Zak grabbed Ryoko's by the hand and dragged her into the kitchenette.

"Hey! What's the rush?" She complained.

"Sorry. I guess I got a little excited."

Ryoko glared at him. Turning to the stove, Zak quickly explained the basics.

"Okay, here's the stove. We'll just work on the eggs to start. They're easiest." He picked up a cast-iron frying pan and spun it in his hand once.

"This is the frying pan."

"Are you sure?" Ryoko interrupted.

"Heh, right. Anyway, just put it on the same size burner and turn that burner up to medium high." Zak demonstrated the first action. "I'm gonna do the first egg so you can see how, then you do the second. Okay?"

"Fine."

Taking a step to the refrigerator, Zak opened the door.

"Eggs are right here." He opened a drawer and pulled out a nearly empty carton of eggs. "Remind me to go get more tonight."

"Go get more eggs tonight." Ryoko immediately reminded Zak.

"Oh, you're just full of good humor this morning."

"Not my fault if you keep leaving the door open."

"I'll keep that in mind." Smiling, Zak held up on of the two remaining eggs in one hand and shut the refrigerator door with the other. He then set the eggs down on the counter.

"Next add some butter so the eggs don't stick to the bottom of the pan."

The butter was located on a small plate next to the stove. Also, on the edge of the plate was a butter knife. He grasped the knife and with a quick downward motion, separated a slice from the stick. Zak balanced the pat of butter on the knife on it's way to the frying pan. When the butter hit the pan it sizzled and spat on the already hot metal surface.

"Next, crack the egg and dump the contents into the pan."

Zak started to crack the egg against the edge of the frying pan, but decided that might be asking too much for a beginner.

"Umm, you can crack it against the edge of the pan, but I'd recommend just using your fingers to start." He grasped the egg in both hands directly over the pan and crushed the fragile shell. The yellow and clear contents plopped into the sizzling butter. Zak tossed the shell aside.

"Now, there's different ways to make eggs, but the easiest is scrambled. All you do is mix it up until all about the same color and then let it cook until it's not runny."

They stood in front of the stove watching eggs cook. Zak cracked a grin.

"Isn't this exciting?"

Ryoko's face twisted in response to his sarcastic mirth.

"That's it?"

"That's it." Zak confirmed. He used the butter knife to mix the yolk and white together, forming a whirl of rapidly solidifying egg.

"Keep the eggs moving in the pan or they might stick, even with the butter."

"Why use butter, then?"

"Because it definitely will stick if you don't."

"Oh."

They waiting another minute until Zak pronounced the egg cooked.

"That should do it." He lightly touched the pan handle to check it's temperature.

"With a pan like this, it's usually okay to use your bare hand unless you've been cooking for a while. Otherwise, it'll probably be too hot to touch." He grasped the handle, then positioned the pan directly over one of the used plates on his left. The scrambled egg slid out onto the plate when he turned the pan onto it's side. With a flourish, Zak placed the pan back on the burner. He shut the burner off, resetting it for the next user.

"Your turn."

"Me? No way! I thought you were kidding!"

"Nope."

"I can't do that!"

"Yes, you can." Zak reassured her.

His strong presence and confidence convinced Ryoko to give it a try. She had tried cooking in the past, but because of her weak sense of taste, she had always botched it. Cleaning up afterwards was a real pain, as well.

Ryoko looked into the frying pan and sighed.

"All right. I'll do it right for once."

Picking up the butter knife, Ryoko sliced a sliver of butter from the stick. She carefully balanced it on the knife as Zak had. When it began to wilt over the edge of the warm knife, she quickly moved it over the pan and turned it over. The butter stuck to the knife for a moment, then fell into the pan. It began melting, but much slower than before and it did not hiss and spit.

"What's different?" She asked Zak.

"What's the first thing you do when you cook?"

"Oh. Doy! Turn on the heat!" She reached forward and turned the burner on about three-quarters of the way.

"There you go."

Ryoko knew there was no way she could screw-up with someone coaching her. But what she really wanted to do was cook without any help. She wanted to do it on her own. Then it would mean something.

"Easy, girl. One step at a time." She reminded herself.

"So, just let it melt or should I spread it around?"

"Heck, yeah. Spread it around. As soon as it's melted, throw in the egg."

"Oh, so should I actually throw it in or should I do what you did?"

"Ah, do what I did."

"Mmm-hmm." Ryoko's sarcastic tone spoke volumes.

When the pat of butter in the pan was completely liquefied, Ryoko picked up the sole remaining egg. She held it directly over the pan just as Zak had and pushed her fingertips through the shell. Thick clear liquid began running from the inside and down her fingers. Ignoring the weird feeling, Ryoko let the yolk and most of the white fall into the pan. The clear liquid immediately turned white. Finding Zak's discarded shell, she tossed hers to the same location.

Not wanting to fall behind the rapidly cooking egg's pace, Ryoko grasped the butter knife. It slipped from her hand and landed in the frying pan.

"Shit!" Ryoko cursed vehemently. She tried to reach into the pan and nearly burned her fingertips.

"I knew it!" She slammed her fist against the stove top in frustration, denting the white, nonstick surface.

"Hey, don't worry. Your hand was slippery from the egg. Just wash your hands then get the knife out with something else."

Ryoko went straight to the sink and turned on the water. As she scrubbed her hands, Zak opened a drawer and removed the proper tool for cooking in a frying pan; a spatula. When Ryoko returned to her nearly solid egg, Zak presented her with the new utensil.

"Try this."

"Well, Hell! Why didn't you give me this to begin with?"

"Sorry." Zak apologized for his lack of forethought.

"'Sorry' he says. I'll 'sorry' him." Ryoko grumbled under her breath as she looked forlornly at her failed attempt.

"Don't worry about the egg. You'll just have it sunny-side-up."

"Sunny-side-up?" She asked.

"Sure. It's perfectly fine that way."

"AHH! Why doesn't anybody tell me these things?!" She smacked her hand against the stove again, this time with slightly less force.

Zak looked at Ryoko in surprise. She was getting excessively worked up over something really insignificant. Zak began wondering if she was just stressed-out or if what had happened with Tenchi had affected her more than he thought. He only wanted to get Ryoko's mind off her problems. But it seemed to have only made things worse. He put his hand on her shoulder to show his support.

"I'm just trying to help."

She pushed his hand off as she sniffled back her frustration.

"I don't need your help. Or your sympathy."

Zak stood silently behind Ryoko as the egg continued to sizzle, wishing there was something he could do for her to ease her pain.

"Ryoko..."

"What?"

"I think your egg's done."

Ryoko grabbed the pan and dumped it's contents onto the same plate Zak had. The knife clanked loudly against the plate. Using her bare fingers, she reached in and pulled it out of the egg. Exercising a little more self-control, she set the knife down on the counter. Picking up the egg laden plate, she presented it to Zak.

"Your eggs are ready."

Zak smiled at her. He picked up the fork that was still on the plate and cut a portion of Ryoko's sunny-side-up egg and put it in his mouth. As he expected, it was an egg. Nothing crazy or exotic, just an egg; sunny-side-up, that is.

"It's good."

Ryoko did not look convinced.

"Really?"

"Yes. You did a good job."

She looked him square in the eye.

"You're not just saying that?"

"No. I really mean it. You should have seen the mess I made the first time I tried to cook."

Ryoko did not bother to tell Zak this was not her first attempt at cooking. She was starting to feel better and did not want to ruin it for herself. Zak took another bite and smiled in mid-chew.

"It's good."

Ryoko looked at the egg with a knife impression in it. She had really cooked something. Aeka would have a fit if she knew about it. The barest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Ryoko's lips as a sense of accomplishment bolstered her crushed self-esteem. She began to feel a little bit better about having come to see Zak.

Around noon, the telephone rang. Zak knew full-well that Ryoko would not answer the phone, so he went from the back room to the kitchenette, where the phone was located.

"Zak's. What can I do for you?"

"Hi, Zak, it's Tenchi."

"Hmm. It's funny you should call."

"Is Ryoko there? She took off last night and hasn't come back yet. I thought you might have seen her."

"As a matter of fact, I have. She lying on the couch, right now."

Ryoko looked over the back of the couch.

"Could I talk to her?" Tenchi asked.

"Only if you intend to apologize for what you said to her last night."

"She told you about that?"

"Yes, she did."

There was a short pause.

"That's exactly what I intend to do."

"All right." Zak looked at Ryoko and pointed to the phone. "Hold on."

Ryoko slowly sank back down out of view. Only a bit of her hair remained visible.

"Um... It looks like she doesn't want to talk right now."

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Hello?" Zak prompted.

"All right. Thanks." Tenchi hung up.

Zak looked at the phone for a moment before hanging up. Instead of going back to his work area, he stopped in front of the couch and sat down. A trail of tears ran across Ryoko's face. Of course, Zak had to wipe them.

"He wanted to apologize."

"I know." She managed.

"Don't cry." Zak pleaded with her.

"Sorry, if it bothers you too much." Ryoko snapped, turning over to hide herself.

Zak stared at the back of Ryoko's head for several seconds, at a loss for what to do to help ease her pain. Eventually, his rumbling stomach provided an avenue of approach.

"Ryoko, I'm going to make lunch. Would you like to learn how to make a tuna-fish sandwich?"

He saw her wipe at her face.

"Lunch sounds good."

Later, that evening, Zak set a bottle of liquor on the floor in front the couch. He sat almost directly in Ryoko's line of sight, so that there was no way she could not see what he had. Maybe this would get her to interact a little more. Ryoko eyed the bottle for a moment, then returned her attention to the television. Zak watched her carefully while pouring himself a shot. It was not until after he slammed it back that Ryoko finally spoke.

"What is that?"

"Sake doesn't have enough of a bite for me. So, I buy American alcohol."

"Pretty rude no to offer a lady any."

"You seemed so interested in this game show that I didn't want to interrupt you."

Ryoko looked at the bottle as Zak poured a second shot. When she noticed he had a second shot glass with him, she knew he was teasing her. That was no problem for her. She could tease as well as anybody. She reached out and snatched the bottle from him, causing a small amount of the liquid to spill from his glass.

"Hey! Don't spill it! This stuff's expensive here."

Ryoko turned over onto her back. She opened her mouth and began pouring the contents of the bottle down her throat. Two and a half swallows later, she found out just how much bite was in the bottle. She sat up, trying not to choke on the much stronger alcoholic content. It was not that she could not tolerate strong drink, she just was not used to was how much stronger this was than what she normally drank. Ryoko finally managed to gulp down the last of what she had in her mouth.

"Aaaaahhhh!" She breathed out. "Now that's booze!" Ryoko planted the top of the bottle against her mouth and began rapidly draining it's contents.

"Um, excuse me. Can I have some?"

The corners of Ryoko's mouth turned up. She continued to drink.

"Oh, I see. Well then." Zak reached beside the couch and revealed another bottle to her. When Ryoko saw the new beverage, her eyes widened. She pulled the nearly empty bottle away.

"You didn't say you had another one."

"You didn't ask." Zak grinned at her as he opened the new bottle. "Anyway, I figured you'd probably drain one by yourself just to start, so I bought two. If you promise to behave, I'll share it with you."

"Behave? In your dreams! I am now officially drunk. So don't expect me to behave."

"In that case, you are now officially cut-off."

"What?!"

"Sucks to be you."

"The Hell it does!" Ryoko launched herself at the bottle. She was met by Zak's foot planted firmly against her chest.

"Relax!" He laughed. "I'm just kidding! Let me have some, first." He held the bottle up and began draining it in the same manner as Ryoko had the first. After a moment, she began to get impressed. After a couple more moments, she began to get annoyed.

"Hurry up, you sloth. I wanna get drunk sometime tonight."

Good booze sprayed across the room from Zak's mouth. He began laughing like a hyena. Ryoko took the opportunity to snatch the second bottle from his grasp. She watched Zak laugh while she finished the bottle he had started. Once Zak regained some self-control, he explained what was so funny.

"A sloth! That's great! No one's ever called me that before."

Ryoko tossed the second empty bottle to him.

"Stick around. You'll hear a lot of things you haven't before." She threw herself back down onto the couch. The alcohol quickly worked into her system. It's fiery continence rolled around in her stomach, warming Ryoko from the inside out. She waited impatiently for it to affect her mental processes. Everything would be better then. While she waited, the television occupied her attention. Zak watched Ryoko's choice in television programming for fifteen seconds before giving his opinion on the show.

"How can you watch that crap?"

"So what if I do?"

"I'm changing it. Where's the remote?"

Ryoko reached behind her head and pulled the remote from it's hiding place between the arm of the couch and the cushion.

"It's mine and you can't have it."

"Wanna bet?"

A daring smile appeared on Ryoko's face. She flipped onto her stomach with the remote held to her chest.

"Yup."

"You think I won't try to get it just because you're on top of it?"

"That's right." Ryoko dared him.

Zak smiled back.

"You asked for it." He rose to his knees and stuffed one hand under her chest to fish around for the remote. When he received a slight electrical shock, Zak quickly snatched his hand back.

"What the Hell was that for?"

"It must be my magnetic personality."

"Magnetic, my ass! You zapped me!"

"Yup."

"So that's how it's going to be. Okay, girl. Two can play at that game."

Zak stuffed his hand back between Ryoko and the couch, making sure to place his other hand in the middle of her back. When he felt the electrical charge building again, he countered it with another of opposite polarity, canceling the two voltages. Ryoko watched Zak's reactions as she upped the voltage. He grimaced for a moment then relaxed as he compensated for the change. The tips of his fingers brushed the remote.

"There it is."

"I don't think you can hold out." Ryoko smugly cautioned him.

"I can hold out long enough."

Ryoko could feel Zak's hand beginning to enfold the remote. She leaned to her left, pinning his arm to the couch.

"Not so easy now, is it?"

Instead of answering, Zak moved his free hand from her back to her upraised hip and pulled, rolling her over and off the couch.

"WAAH!" Ryoko landed just in front of Zak, belly up. He leapt over her, taking her place on the couch.

"You may have the remote, but I've got the couch!"

"No fair! You cheated!" Ryoko accused him.

"I did not. I simply changed the rules."

"Bull! Gimme my place back!"

"Come and get it." Zak invited her.

Ryoko gawked at him for a moment before launching herself at the occupied couch. Her flying-body-tackle crushed Zak against the back cushions, making the couch rock back, dangerously.

"Move it! You're in my space." As Ryoko tried to push Zak out of her way with the leverage in her hips, she felt one of his hands come to rest on her waist. She froze.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Watching TV."

Ryoko hesitated. Normally she would have made a huge scene and probably beat the crap out of anyone except Tenchi for trying something like that. However, things were not normal. She tried to think of what to do, but her mind was well muddled by the alcohol, and she had no intention of getting sober so soon.

Ever so slowly, she began to relax. Ryoko could not hold it against Zak for wanting to get close to a beautiful girl he had a crush on. Through the fabric of the sweatshirt, she could feel Zak's thumb moving slowly back and forth. Somehow, it felt reassuring to her to know he liked her so much. He certainly seemed to like her more than Tenchi. And Ryoko was sick of crying for someone who did not want her.

"That'd better be all you're doing." She told Zak, maintaining her tough attitude.

Zak did not move his hand. Ryoko did not expect him to. She had not asked.

Ryoko surfed the cable channels for twenty minutes before deciding there was nothing interesting on. Disgusted with the lack of decent programming, she mashed the power button on the remote control. The TV went off, plunging the room into near darkness. The only illumination came from the city lights shining through the windows.

"I'm going to sleep now." Ryoko announced.

"Is that so?"

"Don't even think about it." She warned Zak.

"About what?"

"Oh, please. I'm not dumb. We had some fun wrestling around. But that's as far as it's going. If you try anything, you'll regret it."

"I'll keep that in mind while I'm asleep." Zak sarcastically complied.

"Fine."

Ryoko closed her eyes. She knew if she told Zak to sleep in his own room, he would. The reason she did not ask was because of how he was treating her. He talked to her the way she wanted. He played the way she liked. He held her in a warm and comforting manner. Basically, he treated her the way she wanted to be treated.

It was not that Ryoko was interested in Zak. She was aware of the way her body reacted to attractive men and Zak was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. But her deep love for Tenchi always overrode any mere physical attraction she may have felt. Her feelings for him ran so deep, she felt his existence were an integral part of hers. Without Tenchi, Ryoko would not be who she was.

That love had been shaken to it's core. Ryoko's soul absolutely required Tenchi's presence to remain whole. It hurt her terribly to hear Tenchi say he did not like her. Normally she could have dealt with it, since he was usually only angry over some small transgression, and quickly forgave her. This time there was nothing to forgive.

Ryoko had left the Masaki home feeling unwanted, unliked, and ugly. She had come here only as a last resort. Zakaraia was the only remaining person she knew of who might show her some kindness. With the last shred of her failing trust, she had come to him as a friend needing emotional support. She hated knowing her own feelings could betray her at any time by turning her into a shuddering pile of tears.

Right now she needed some time. How much was unknown to her. The most important aspect of this time for Ryoko was to rebuild her destroyed self-confidence. Zak was helping her do that. So she let him touch her. She let him wrestle around with her. She accepted his compliments at face-value. The capacity to doubt his words was almost nil for the time being. He had bought her that flaming-hot outfit. Wearing it made her feel incredibly desirable. It was a feeling she highly valued.

The problem now was that she had not really meant it when she said she hated Tenchi, only that she hated how he had made her feel. She had run to the only source of good feelings left to her and was now afraid to leave. Zak's feelings would protect her while she reclaimed her own true feelings from the rubble of disaster. Until then, she would borrow his feelings and use them as her own. With Zak's warmth buffering her from the coldness of an uncaring world, Ryoko fell asleep.

Ryoko was disturbed by something warm and wet on her neck. She blinked away her sleepiness, trying to discern what was touching her neck. A moment later, it moved, and she realized Zak was kissing her. Her heart began to thump in her chest.

"I... guess I can do it. If I want." Ryoko thought to herself. "It's not like there's any reason for me to wait anymore. Tenchi doesn't want me. And I'm pretty sure Zak would do it if I offered him."

But Ryoko's rationalizations did not have the soothing effect she had intended. An entire squadron of butterflies were flapping around in her stomach. Despite that, she did like how it felt to be touched in such an intimate way.

In the past, she had made sure everyone knew she wanted Tenchi. What everyone did not know, was the darker side to that desire. It was the reason she always reacted so violently when any other man besides Tenchi approached her. She was afraid of the temptation they represented. She knew she could have just about any man she wanted if she set her mind to it. Then, she could have the soft words and caresses she desired. The only problem was that it would not be Tenchi. She could close her eyes and pretend, but it still would not be Tenchi. And in the morning, when her lust was sated, she would hate herself for betraying him.

Now it made little difference. Tenchi had made it plain he did not desire her in any way. There was no longer any reason for her not to indulge in the sole aspect of her feelings she had yet to explore. Although she was free from that restraint, something within her would not allow her to let go enough so that she could engage in an intimate relationship with someone else. Every time she tried to think of a sexual act, she saw herself with Tenchi. The more she thought of sex, the more she thought of Tenchi. Soon, she thinking more of Tenchi than of sex.

She thought of watching him grow up.

"He was so cute back then."

She thought of when he had moved to the city with his father.

"I missed you, so much."

She thought of the first time she had physically touched him.

"I was afraid you were a dream."

She thought of the times he had saved her life.

"You're so brave and strong."

She thought of the time she had conspired with Aeka to get the other girls out of the house so she could have Tenchi to herself for a night. Freed of the last vestiges of Kagato's control, she had felt her blossoming feelings reach their full-strength. She was nearly overwhelmed by the incredible sensations and heady desire that had filled her that night.

"I wanted you so much that night."

She thought of how warm she had felt in Tenchi's arms on the roof of the Jurai Royal Palace.

"I was so afraid of losing you."

She thought of how proud she had felt, despite her outward embarrassment, when Tenchi had led the applause after she had been pardoned.

"I need you."

She thought of how beautiful she had felt when Tenchi had first seen her in her black dress, his eyes wide and mouth gaping like a goldfish.

"I want you."

She thought of how tenderly Tenchi had kissed her when she was lying in his hotel room in San Francisco, half passed-out from exhaustion.

"I love you."

Ryoko closed her eyes.

"I can't do this."

The warm and wet tongue slid up the side of her neck.

"Well, maybe just for a little while."

Zak's free hand moved to her stomach where it gently traced the curves of her abdominal muscles through the material of the sweatshirt she was wearing.

"Mmm. That's perfect. Just like that. Keep things like this and I won't say a word."

As she expected, the hand did eventually move away. It moved up her side to her shoulder, where Zak's deft fingers hooked the neck of the shirt and pulled it away from her neck, exposing her left shoulder. A moment later, she felt that warm tongue slide down her neck from her jawbone to the tip of her collarbone. She held her breath, trying not to let on to how excited she was beginning to feel.

"Damn, that felt good. Maybe I should stop."

As the initial wave of feelings passed, Ryoko found herself in complete control, once more.

"Never mind. False alarm."

Zak kissed her shoulder for a while, before retreating back to her neck. He released the neck hem of the sweatshirt and followed her arm to her hand, which was partially folded in front of her. She opened her eyes and watched as Zak's fingers carefully insinuated themselves between hers. He squeezed her hand a bit, then released.

"Does he know I'm awake? Or is he just showing his feelings? Hell, I guess it doesn't really matter."

Zak moved his hand down to Ryoko's hip. His fingers danced across her skin for a few moments before moving under the sweatshirt to her waist. He found her stomach again, and began tracing circles on her belly. She almost smiled at the pleasurable feelings that brought on. After he drew a few circles with his fingertips, she began to notice that each circle was going lower than the preceding one. She was not adverse to Zak touching her low on her stomach, so long as he stayed on her stomach. If he went too far, there would be major trouble.

Zak seemed to understand the limits. The hand he was using stayed within the acceptable area. The circles came to a stop, and Zak flattened his entire hand against her lower abdomen. Ryoko's bodily reactions to Zak touching her began to get stronger. She continued to lay still, as his tongue worked its way to her ear. He kissed and licked at the long aural object.

"That feels good."

The hand was on the move again. It slid back to the side of her hip and stayed there for a few seconds before moving down the outside of her thigh. She felt another surge of desire, stronger this time. As expected, the hand came back up her leg along the same line as it went down. She inadvertently sighed.

"That feels really good."

As the hand curled around her hip towards her stomach, Ryoko's primal urges began to assert themselves. Her temperature began to rise and her body began to ache. It became more difficult for her to control her breathing. Instead of moving back to her stomach, the hand went down the front of her leg this time, only much slower than before. When Zak's touch made her shudder, she decided it was time to put an end to the evening's activities, before things got out of hand.

"Stop."

"Why?" Zak whispered into her ear as his hand reached the limits of its reach.

"Because I don't like it."

"If you didn't like what I was doing, why didn't you say something earlier?" He asked, slowly dragging his fingers along the length of her thigh.

"I..." Ryoko realized Zak had ensnared her with her own words.

"Because you like what I'm doing." He answered for her. As the hand continued moving, Ryoko tried again to dissuade him.

"Look, I know you don't wanna stop, but I'm trying to be nice about it."

Zak's response was not quite what she was expecting.

"I want you."

Ryoko's body began to send some very clear signals as to what she should and should not allow Zak to do. She started quivering as the hand reached the halfway point.

"Well, I don't want you, so stop it."

At the three-quarters point, Zak curled his hand over her thigh and gave her a firm squeeze. Ryoko bit her lip to counter her rapidly growing arousal.

"I... I'm not kidding. Stop it."

Zak continued on, heedless of Ryoko's more than generous warnings. He added to his attempt at seduction by kissing her neck again. The renewed sensation nearly floored her. She tried desperately to regain control. Growing restless, she shifted the leg he was caressing further away. Unfortunately, Zak was far enough up that it did not make much difference. His hand slipped to the inside of her thigh and gently massaged the firm muscles beneath the skin. This sent more waves of pleasure through her body, hopelessly clouding her mind. He reinforced the feelings with words.

"I want you so much."

Then he further reinforced the words with more action. He pressed his hips firmly against her bare rear. The desire Ryoko felt became almost unbearable. A gust of air burst from her lungs, verifying to Zak what she was feeling. The hand resumed its inexorable march up the inside of her leg. Realizing Zak was only a moment away from his objective, she clamped her legs together tightly, pinning his hand just short of its destination.

"Don't." She breathlessly told him, resolving not to let him go any further.

Zak's response was to squeeze her groin and push against her rear again. Her grip on his hand slackened.

"Please?" She practically begged of him.

Zak's hand broke free of the restraint. When she felt his hand trespass onto what she considered private property, Ryoko finally grew angry. She had demanded several times, politely even, for Zak to stop, and he had not. No matter how good it felt physically, what he was doing did not feel right in her heart. Therefore, she made good on her word.

Ryoko lit Zak up like a Christmas tree. The room flashed and jumped as the light from her electrical discharge illuminated the space like an irregular strobe. It lasted only a second, but for her, it was a long time, especially considering how strongly she had zapped him.

Finally free of Zak's roving interest, she sat up and straightened her hair. The lust she had felt a few moments was quickly disappearing. Her breathing soon resumed its normal pace and her head felt much clearer.

"Damn. What the Hell was I thinking?"

She looked over her shoulder to make sure Zak had been well and truly dissuaded from further attempts of seductive action. His hair was sticking straight out and tendrils of smoke issued from his clothes. He lay absolutely still.

"Warned you, didn't I?"

There was no answer. Ryoko turned around and shook him.

"All right, Romeo. Get up. You're sleeping in your room, tonight, and every night... from... now..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed how absolutely still Zak was.

"Um..." It took her a second to figure out he was playing a joke on her.

"Ah. Okay, I get it. You're pissed I made you stop when you were just getting warmed up."

She shook him again.

"Come on. Get up."

Still there was no movement. She started to get a little worried.

"Come on, Zak. This isn't funny anymore." She shook him harder. "Would you wake up?"

He continued to lay still.

"I didn't hit you that hard! Did I?"

Ryoko watched him for several seconds, with no change. Growing more concerned by the second, she leaned over and held her ear against his chest. When no sound issued from his chest, she lurched back. Grabbing his shoulders with both hands, she shook him, hard.

"Come on! Wake up you jerk! I didn't mean to! I didn't hit you that hard! You can take that measly little shock! Wake up, damn it!"

When her efforts proved useless, she sat back. A tear fell from her eye.

"I'm... sorry."

Zak's chest suddenly rose, and he took a huge shuddering breath. A huge wave of relief flooded Ryoko's heart. Knowing Zak had not died let her express herself in a manner she was more accustomed to. She ground her teeth and began yelling at the unconscious person.

"You jerk! You scared the shit out of me!"

She reached forward and grabbed Zak by the back of his shirt and pants. She stood, then walked to his room, hauling him along like so much baggage.

"Just for that, you get air-delivered!"

As promised, Ryoko tossed Zak into the middle of his room. He sailed through the air and landed in the middle of a pile of consumer electronics. CD players and tape decks went everywhere, as Zak came to rest amongst his work. The door slammed shut, and Ryoko went back to the fold-out couch. She laid down on the couch and brooded about the evening's events.

Her feelings were pulling her in all different directions, demanding she do things she was not accustomed to doing. Zak's attempt at seducing her had nearly been successful. It was an occurrence that would have been unthinkable only a day ago. She could not get out of her mind how good it had felt to be touched that way.

Then there was her reaction to nearly killing him with her electrical shock. She had been ready to cry just as he had started breathing again. The thought of losing the only person who really cared about her was very upsetting. She wiped a stray tear that rolled out of her eye.

"Stupid jerk."

The blanket Ryoko had used last night had been put away. So she had no covers tonight, not that she would get cold. But still, if she could get cold, she imagined it might feel this way. Zak had been keeping her warm. Without the heat source against her back, she began to understand the difference between warm and cold. She felt cold without someone next to her.

"Alone." Ryoko buried her face in the pillow Zak had so graciously given her to use. Her silent tears were quickly absorbed by the fluffy material.

"I don't want to be alone anymore."

END CHAPTER 3.

AFTERWORD: What's up with Ryoko? She's acting strangely, no? Even she can only take so much rejection. Especially when someone else is ready to show her the love and affection she so greatly desires.

See the outfit Zak gave to Ryoko at this site:

http://www.animaxis.com/images/products/110863.jpg

I think it's about time Ryoko learned a little more about cooking. I always thought there was no real reason why she couldn't, except for a lack of motivation due to her inability to taste well. What's the joy in cooking if you can't taste what you make? Anyway, at least Zak's giving her something to keep her mind off her troubles. Heh-heh-heh.

On the subject of cooking, I didn't feel the need to go into an in-depth explanation of how to make a tuna-fish sandwich. You get the idea.