Disclaimer: I do not own anything Tenchi in any sense or form.

Author's note: To my dear readers, I am truly sorry about my absence…finals week is by far the most inhumane week of the year. I am trying to fit in more story writing as I'm finishing up my essays for my finals, so fear not I am making progress. This is on the short side, but it's better than nothing. SPT will be on hold for a while…sorry about that ;p.

Chapter 4

Hakubi Women

Ryoko phased into Washu's lab and kept her guard up, just in case Washu had other plans for her. Washu waved for her to walk towards her super computer, trying her best not to seem suspicious or threatening. Ryoko looked curiously at the images that were depicted on the screen—it was her as a child, and Aeon.

"You ready?" Washu asked with a smile.

"Yeah…" Her voice was uneasy as she took in Washu's words: what was she supposed to be 'ready' for? It's not like these videos were going to cause her heart to sway in any certain direction.

"Alright let's get this show started then." Washu typed in the commencement code: these videos had been kept in high security; for fear that they'd be erased by some malicious attacker or the even greater evilness of Mihoshi's clumsiness.

Ryoko watched as an older form of Washu appeared on the screen.

"Look here Little Ryoko; I made this camera so it can follow you and Aeon…" The screen Washu sighed "maybe you two won't get into too much trouble if I'm able to keep an eye on you in some form."

"Like a movie!" The girl exclaimed ecstatically and began to tamper with the device; all that could be seen was Ryoko's tiny hands on the screen.

"Hey!" Washu released the camera from her daughter's curious grip. "You can take apart something else." Washu grinned. "You're just like your mama." Her hand gently ruffled Ryoko's wild cyan-hair.

Ryoko watched incredulously at the interaction her younger self was having with Washu and vice versa. Could there have been a time when she really was her mother's daughter? She glanced at Washu but quickly glanced away as she realized Washu was watching her.

The scene continued until a knock at the door was heard. Little Ryoko jumped in glee and ran towards the door while her mother went to go greet her guests. The camera focused on the door and as it opened a man and boy stood at the entrance. Ryoko focused on the man, noting his dark black hair tied back into a long ponytail, his well-chiseled jaw and his silver eyes…he had given many of his traits to his son.

"Well if it isn't the babysitter who completely fails at his job." Washu jokingly muttered "I'm surprised you're actually in time to pick up Ryoko."

"Hey now I'm not so incompetent! I'm just fashionably late at times, but don't worry Washu I'll make up for it."

Before the camera had a chance to zoom away towards the children, it caught Washu being pulled into an embrace by the grinning father and a blush across Washu's face.

"Vincent!" was the late thing that could be heard before the camera went to the children who had run back to Ryoko's room.

Ryoko smirked as she looked at Washu who had still blushed as the seen played out. So she had something with Dr. Hawke after all. Her mind wandered a bit too far and leaked through her link to Washu, which elicited a furrowing of brows from the mad scientist and another set of blushes. Washu paused the video.

"We can go on imagining the things between me and Dr. Hawke or we can watch the video."

"Someone's a little touchy on this subject, don't ya think?" Ryoko chuckled but returned her attention to the screen.

Washu resumed the video and sighed as her own thoughts went back to the years in which she had been happiest.

Ryoko watched as she practically dragged Aeon to her room; he didn't seem to mind, almost as if he were used to it.

"What's that?" Aeon pointed to the camera, watching it with his shimmering, silver eyes.

"My mama made it, it's so we can make movies!" Ryoko turned her warm, golden eyes to it and smiled wide. She suddenly smirked and looked maliciously at her play partner. "Let's make one now Awon."

He was not watching her warily, unsure of what she had in mind, but he knew it was most likely not to his preference.

"Ok, what kind?" He agreed, knowing to deny her would be futile.

"Let's be space pirates, I'm the beautiful space pirate and you're my sidekick; together we're going to go on adventures." She jumped up on her bed and grabbed a play laser sword: similar to the one she would soon simulate with her own energy. "Catch!" She threw one at Aeon.

He took the play sword and turned it on. "Now what?" He was unenthused.

"Awon! Help me!" Ryoko suddenly exclaimed as she grabbed Kurin and made it seem like it was chasing her. "The Galaxy police are catching up." She had jumped into the scene.

Aeon looked at the lion with a cold face and pointed his sword at it while Ryoko stood by him. "Surrender now and I won't hurt you." He spoke calmly.

"What? That's not how you do." She shoved him out of the way and took his position. "You'll never catch us you simple-minded fool." She chuckled in her little voice and swung her sword at the lion.

Ryoko laughed out loud as she witnessed her past come to life in vibrant colors. She was just as assertive as she was now, and just as violent. She looked to Washu who was also chuckling at her daughter's manner. Ryoko looked to see that Aeon was looking at Ryoko with admiration, and suddenly her heart began to feel funny again—her laughter subsided with the realization that this was what she was supposed to be ready for.

"I think that's enough for today." Ryoko said quickly as she placed a hand over her heart, making sure it wouldn't suddenly jump out. "Washu?"

"What is it Ryoko?" She looked at her earnestly.

"How long was our life like that?"

Washu's eyes softened as she replied, "We weren't forced to leave until you turned 6; before that the Hakubi family and the Hawke family were practically one…almost."

"You loved ?" Ryoko was truly curious on this subject—she had never known Washu to have had any relationships of serious matter.

"I did…once upon a century, but that was a long time ago." She held herself, feeling as if she was suddenly going to disappear. "He was a single parent like me, and he loved you just as much as I do."

Ryoko felt foreign warmth spread throughout her body.

"He helped me raise you…in fact I think you got most of your craziness from him. I'm pretty sure he told you stories about space pirates and talking trees…he had quite an imagination." Washu chuckled in reminiscence—Ryoko noted the glimmer of sorrow in her eyes.

"Why did you never contact him again?" Ryoko raised an eyebrow.

"I…I wanted to fix things with you first." Washu wasn't sure she should tread these waters, afraid that she would make Ryoko feel like it was her fault. "I want you to know you have a place in my heart before anyone else."

Ryoko took a step back as Washu tried to close the distance between them. A part of Ryoko felt that same warmth—a feeling she had realized was that of being loved, but she also felt an electrifying sensation she had dubbed fear and sorrow, mixed in a scary combination.

"Washu…I…" Ryoko was at a loss of words—by now they were trivial to the way she was feeling.

What could she do when she felt the want to jump into her mother's arms and run away from her gaze forever? She stood still as Washu continued to move forward.

"Ryoko, I know you can't remember those years, but I want you to know that I will always love you— I always have, and I also know that I have failed in making you feel this way." She reverted to her elder form and wrapped her arms around a stiff Ryoko. She pulled her closer to her bosom and held her lovingly, feeling Ryoko's beating heart against her own. Ryoko didn't wrap her arms around Washu, but she hadn't ran away either. She felt Ryoko relax and give in to the embrace, emitting a sigh full of potent emotion—acceptance, relief, and love were all breathed out in one, long awaited puff of air.

"This isn't easy…" Ryoko spoke as she remained nestled close to her mother's pink hair.

"No, it isn't, but we're Hakubi women—anything's possible for us." She drew back from the embrace and placed her hand on Ryoko's cheek. "You are my daughter" Her face slacked with sadness, "yet I know you may never forgive me for all that I've put you through; all that I've taken from you. You are in the right to hate me forever…just let me give you back what I know is yours."

"Mom…" Ryoko played with the word as she looked Washu straight in the eye, surprised that one word could spark life in them. "I might never forgive you, you're right…" Ryoko smirked as she witnessed her mother's downcast features, "but we're Hakubi women—anything's possible for us."