Forgotten Memories of an Age Past

Chapter 6: Capturing a Space Pirate's Heart

Aeon reeled that night countless times through his star enchanted mind—he hadn't thought she would let him embrace her as he had done. Nothing else had happened of course, but that hug was more to him than anyone could fathom. He let out a big gasp of air and smiled stupidly up at the sky. It was morning already, and he couldn't wait to see Ryoko. Unfortunately she wasn't the first one that had graced Aeon's gaze: Tenchi seemed to be approaching him from the nearby distance.

"Hey Tenchi, need a hand?" Aeon got up, not knowing why else he would approach him, unless he wanted to discuss Ryoko again.

"Where did you take her?" Tenchi asked half annoyed, half angry.

"Out on a date, she's allowed to go out, right?" Aeon let the sarcasm drip from his lips. "Don't worry I did get Washu's permission, as well as Ryoko's before I took her out."

"I…Sasame cooked her favorite dish." Tenchi was at a loss for words, unsure of why he felt threatened by Aeon's presence.

"I'm sorry I hadn't known—I thought it'd be nice to take her out since she wanted to talk some more."

"You can't keep using the knowledge about her past to keep her hooked on you; it's not right." Tenchi clenched his fist in a self-righteous manner.

Aeon sighed and shrugged. "Look Tenchi, I'm not using that in my favor; it's her right to know the life she once had. Did it ever occur to you that maybe she likes being with me because I acknowledge her? You know…she honestly believes that it wouldn't make a difference if she disappeared or not because no one takes the time to actually be with her."

"That's not true…I"

"You what? You give her a sideways glance and say hello?" Aeon bit back his tongue before he would become even more vehement.

Tenchi stood still in a state of stupor—part of what Aeon said was true. He had never fully acknowledged Ryoko because he had grown so used to her just being there. No matter how many times she had gone missing for a couple of days, she had always returned. Tenchi never questioned this behavior; he just thought she needed some time on her own.

"Good morning you two!" Ryoko had suddenly flown in and startled them from their conversation.

"Nice dress; stripes always were your favorite." Aeon smiled as he recognized the blue and yellow striped pattern—she had a shirt like that when she was younger that she refused to change out of for days.

"Umm thanks" she refrained from blushing and looked at Tenchi who looked far more flustered than usual. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I was just talking with Aeon. I missed you at dinner yesterday."

"Sorry about that, I went out with Aeon for a drink." She said so nonchalantly not quite aware of what it meant to Tenchi.

"Something Tenchi doesn't quite approve of." Aeon muttered and turned away to walk. "I think he has something to say to you, and I think you need to hear it." He looked Ryoko in the eye, he feared he might be losing her. "I'll see you later, Ryoko." His words clung to her heart and caused her to yearn for his voice, but she stood and watched as he walked away, opting to stay and hear Tenchi out.

"So what's Aeon talking about?" She threw Tenchi a curious glance.

"I'm not going to let him take you, Ryoko" Tenchi said with a tone of defiance. "You belong here with me and everyone else in the Masaki Shrine."

Ryoko looked over the place she had learned to call home over the past few years: did she truly belong here?

"I don't know about that Tenchi…I don't always feel like a part of you or anyone else."

"Do you feel like a part of Aeon?" He began to jump to conclusions.

"Yes…" Her lips had spoken before she had time to register her answer. "I mean he has a lot in common with me, so of course I feel accepted by him."

"I'm here for you too; I just want you to know that. You're special to me Ryoko." He refrained from using the word love and Ryoko noticed it.

"I got it Tenchi, I'll keep that in mind." She grinned and gave him a pat on the back. "I'm going to go out for a bit; I need to think." He nodded and with that she disappeared.

Ryoko stood by the cave and as soon as she got there she let out a cry full of confusion and pain. Why did her heart feel so split? She held her hands close to her chest and let the tears she had been holding back fall freely. For so long she had been accustomed to Tenchi taking center stage in the play she had dubbed as life, yet now he was losing prominence and the structure of her world had begun to collapse. This world she had made revolve around a boy was coming to an end, yet something far more intimidating was here to replace him—freedom. Never, in Ryoko's life, had she been able to live in a world of freedom. Tenchi had taken Kagato's place as her master…would Aeon take Tenchi's? Ryoko pondered on the thought, now suddenly disgusted by her attraction to either.

"I am free…" the words tickled her lips, unaccustomed to the phrase. "But what does that mean?"

Her eyes took in the vast blue sky, watching as the white clouds inched by. She nodded and decided that this time it would be her choice. She would choose who to be with and what kind of life to lead. This freedom would not be defined by a man, but rather by her desires. No longer would she pine after one man—striving to be there for him every single moment.

"I want to know who I was," Ryoko spoke softly to no one but herself. "I want to know the 'me' that was, and then maybe I can figure out who I am now and who I will be."

She smiled and flew up into the sky, letting the wind brush her face. To be free was to live for a cause she believed in; Ryoko understood this and knew, in her heart, that she would have to fight her way through the many challenges inherited as a woman in love.