Author's Note: Enjoy! And review!

Do not own anything Tenchi…only Aeon Hawke.

Forgotten Memories of an Age Past

Chapter 3: Kurin

Ryoko shifted as she tried to close her eyes and sleep. She knew Aeon had feelings for her—they emanated with a pulse that she could feel. She had never felt anything so sure and real. Sometimes she got the same pulse from Tenchi, but it was fading and non-existent at times; never constant. She groaned as she felt her heart do flips and lurches: why was love so confusing?

The next morning had passed by uneventfully for a change. Aeon had not joined them for breakfast; he had been in the lab with Washu discussing his father's findings. Ryoko ate quietly and Ayeka noticed. She threw out a few jabs here and there, but Ryoko wasn't picking them up. She would just sigh or altogether ignore her assaults. Ayeka frowned, half the fun of the day consisted of her interactions with Ryoko.

"Ryoko are you ok?" Tenchi spoke up as he watched her unusual behavior.

"Never been better." She smiled back at the boy and continued with her meal. She didn't want to alarm Tenchi: that was the last thing she needed.

"You're awfully quiet." Tenchi tried to continue the conversation.

"I guess I'm still a bit sleepy. I think I'll go out for some fresh air." She phased out before he could offer her his company.

Tenchi tried reaching out to stop her, but she was already gone before he could grasp her. Ayeka felt a sorrow inside as she watched his disappointment. Ayeka knew he cared to some level for Ryoko, but she couldn't say he loved her; she couldn't even say he loved herself. Tenchi had shown an equal amount of emotion towards every girl in the household. It would be his own fault if they all disappeared one day because of his lack of commitment.

Ryoko exhaled in relief as she fled to the cherry blossom trees. Their pink petals were always so soft and expelled the most comforting scent to her nose. She picked a branch and rested easily against it—any other day she would have loved Tenchi to be near her. Why change now? She muttered under her breath as she thought of Aeon. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be so damned confused about anything.

"Hey…" She nearly fell out of her branch as she twisted to see Aeon walking right by her. When had he come?

"What are you doing here?" She immediately got defensive, but regretted it as he stood silent. "I mean, I didn't know anyone knew where I was."

"I just came to admire these trees; they looked beautiful last night." He held a petal in his hand.

"Is that so…" she did her best to regain her composure.

"However now that I found you, I thought you might want this back." He took out a raggedy stuffed lion from sub-space. "It's Kurin." He gave him to Ryoko.

She looked at it with curious eyes, but nevertheless she kept her guard up. What was this to her? Just a raggedy old doll that she couldn't even remember. Yet, as she touched it's worn out paws she felt a warmth tingle in her fingers. She blushed slightly as a smile played out.

"It's such an ugly lion." She said hoping not to sound too attached to it.

"He was your favorite. You always said you had hair like him." Aeon chuckled as he remembered how Ryoko would pounce on him and roar when they played. "I suppose you were quite like a lion."

"The roaring and the whole bit?" She jested with him.

"Yup even that." He smiled up at her. "So do you come out here often?" He took the surroundings in; relaxed by the picturesque scenery.

"It gives me time to think." She felt herself opening up again. "Hey, can I ask you something?" She looked at him square in the eye. "Did I…did I really sleep with this?"

"You doubt you did?"

"I don't see why someone as tough as me would need something like this." She put up her tough space pirate front.

"Even the strongest need their comfort." Aeon spoke calmly as he took another petal between his fingers.

"You make a point, I like these trees too." Ryoko decided to open up. "I used to see them change during my time in this cave." She looked towards the dark abyss she had called home for so long.

"You were in a cave?" Aeon looked at her strangely. The Ryoko he had known wasn't fond of dark places, unless she was dared to go in there.

"Not by choice, I was imprisoned."

Aeon's eyes widened with rage and shock. He scanned Ryoko's face, searching for the emotion that would give him answer. He saw how her eyes danced with fear and loss—she had spent a great deal of time alone.

"Who dared to imprison you?" He let the words seethe out through his clenched teeth.

"Don't get so angry…" She looked at him with mild surprise. "It's not like you were in there." She smirked at him but saw that he was just as serious as ever. "You are quite the serious one, aren't you?" She came down from her branch and stood by him.

"I'm actually kind of grateful for being locked up; I wasn't always under my control. Kagato had a way to make me into a ruthless killer." Ryoko looked mournful as she remembered how powerless she was rendered. "Yosho, Tenchi's grandfather, kept me her so I wouldn't be under his control anymore."

"Or he could've killed Kagato…it doesn't seem right that he locked you in there. How long were you in there?" Aeon fumed but kept a calm face.

"A couple of centuries."

"Were you scared?" He asked earnestly

Ryoko laughed at his question. "No…but I was lonely. Until Tenchi came along there was really no one to talk to." She smiled warmly at the memories.

"I see…" She always had a way of bringing him into the conversation. "I'm happy he kept you company."

Ryoko snapped her attention to the boy; he sounded sincere in that comment. She found herself confused by his gratitude towards Tenchi. Wasn't he a bit jealous that someone had saved her from loneliness other than himself. She gave him a long, hard look, soaking up everything that he portrayed. He stood aloof and almost detached from what she was expecting. He had become part of the tranquility that she had always sought for in these patches of wilderness, and was free of the chaos that always seemed to follow her around. His metallic, silver eyes soon linked with her golden ones and she refused to let go of his gaze. She had trapped him within and something urged her to keep him there.

"I missed you…you know, when Kagato took off with you and your mother—my father was devastated, as was I." Aeon spoke gently, hoping not to bring up to much of the pain from the past.

Ryoko's brow raised as she registered his comment. She really wished she could stop doubting his ever intention, but she felt the need to keep at bay.

"Maybe it's not a bad thing that I don't have memories." She said as she grew uneasy at the sorrow in his eyes.

"I wouldn't trade these memories for anything; for a while they were all I had left of you. If you had them now…you'd understand." A fire roared within him as he recalled his childhood.

Ryoko continued to pick at his wound, consciously or not, she was salting it. If only she could recall everything he had been to her and everything she had been to him. His eyes scanned her face for any sense of remembrance, but it stood devoid of any such thing—all that stood clear was curiosity. He chuckled lightly which drew an annoyed glance from her

'What's he laughing at?' She thought and couldn't help but think it was at her.

"I'm sorry Ryoko, it's just…I wish I could've saved you back then." He looked up to the sky. "Then you would have never forgotten me." He smiled up at her and turned away to walk. "Just keep Kurin, I'm sure he'll do you some good." He raised his hand in farewell and began to walk away.

Ryoko watched as he slipped into the forest, seemingly fading from the existence she knew and felt her heart try and follow—but she knew she'd stay where she was, heart or not. She was too afraid to remember; what if it changed everything she was? Or would it be like the time she integrated with Zero? Her head hurt and so she decided to forget about it and simply enjoy her surroundings—unfortunately all she could think about was Aeon.

Aeon treaded over the scattered branches littered about the earth, listening intently on the crunch that emitted as his foot lifted from the ground. What had he been thinking? He clenched his fist and winced as the cracks became louder as his feet fell harder. He had gotten his hopes up too high, knowing full well that giving her Kurin was a longshot. He had discussed with Washu the specifics of his father's newfound technology and seemed to impress her at some point. His father had found a way to mimic the Jurians' energy and in turn their materialization of matter at any given moment. He hadn't intentionally been aiming for that—in truth he was merely searching for a way for plants energy to become a more vital part of life and modern science. His dad always was a tree-hugger. Washu had promised him that she'd help with the freeing of his father, but first he would have to do her a favor: help Ryoko remember her days before Kagato.

He laughed aloud as he continued his way in no particular direction; there was little chance would ever want to go back now that she had Tenchi. His face turned into a grimace as soon as he realized how painfully those thoughts stung. Unwillingly, his thoughts trailed over to Ryoko.

Back at the cave entrance, Ryoko was having an inner monologue of her own. She groaned as she felt more and more compelled to go and talk to Washu. She tried, in vain, to keep her thoughts from leaking through the link.

'So what's got you all riled up?' Washu's voice resonated in her head.

'Why does he care so much?' She shot out at her mother: half in anger, half in confusion, and completely full of curiosity.

'Why don't you ask him?' Washu shot back.

'What's real for him is not real for me. I don't know that little girl he used to play with; I NEVER knew her.'

'Ah my Little Ryoko and that's where you are wrong… you're still very much like her; you just won't let yourself admit it.'

Ryoko shifted uncomfortably on her perch but kept her eyes to the blue sky.

'Do your feelings for Tenchi confuse you?'

'What's that have to do with anything?' She grumpily responded.

'Everything.'

'I just…I've never felt like this—wanted.'

Washu's eyes moistened as a strange pang passed through her. She had long known she had failed as a mother to her daughter; she had also known the pain that her daughter lived through night after night. She could feel Ryoko's tumultuous heart aches as Tenchi carelessly trampled all over her emotions, seeing them as childish or absurd. Ryoko was playful, but in that she was also sincere.

'I have some videos of you and Aeon if you want to come have a look.' She spoke and waited eagerly for her daughter's response.

'You won't try anything weird on me?' Ryoko had learned to be cautious of walking into Washu's lab.

'I promise.'

'If you do Washu…I'll blow up your lab, that's a promise.' Ryoko smirked and phased her way to Washu's lab.

She began to feel a change in her heart; a change in her desire. For the longest time, only Tenchi had occupied her mind, but now there was another option: Aeon. She had to admit, staying cooped up on Earth was beginning to tire her out; she longed for the adventures she used to have in outer space. The thrill of passing by stars and out-flying the galaxy police had eluded her here on Earth. She had never noticed but she had diminished herself to a stagnant object—someone to be watched and touched. She had become an object at rest, unable to move forward unless acted upon another force—was that who Aeon was: the force?

Author's Note: Well I'm glad I got a chapter done for at least one of my fanfics. Sorry about not updating The Space Pirate Tales ;p I promise I'm working on the 9th chapter! However I seem fascinated by this possibility of Ryoko having another lover ^_^. Alright well I have to go study for a Chem Exam…ugh.