Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updates in ages! Thanks for the reviews, it helps me get back to writing and overcome my writer's block. Just for the record, I am never abandoning this story, as long as there are people here to read it ^_^. Even so I love this too much to just abandon it.

Forgotten Memories of an Age Past

Chapter 7: Acceptance

Tenchi moaned in his sleep; the nightmares wouldn't subsist. Ryoko…did she really have feelings for Aeon? For so long he had been used to Ryoko's attention being solely focused on him. He frowned as his insides turned—he had ignored her; taken her for granted. Now Aeon had entered into their life and disrupted their peace. Tenchi groaned again; his heart wasn't sure what it wanted and he feared it would decide too late. His mind burned with the possibility of Ryoko leaving with Aeon but fatigue overtook him and his dreams would continue to plague him.

Early next morning Tenchi rose and winced as the muscles in his body tensed uncomfortably. His sleep had been less than satisfying and it was no surprise that his body ached with all the tossing and turning he had done. On his way down the stair he stopped short of being seen as he caught sight of Ryoko speaking with Aeon.

"So you turn it like this?" She clumsily held the whisk in her hand as she spun the pancake batter.

"Yeah, just like that." He stood behind her and gently directed her hand in the circular motion. "Alright now let's go ahead and pour them here."

Tenchi snuck into a better hiding place; trying his best to blend in with the plant he had chosen for his act of espionage. Ryoko was cooking? Tenchi would have been pleasantly surprised if it hadn't been for the fact that Aeon was within close proximity of her. His anger boiled within as it had never done before, until he caught sight of Ryoko's face. The anger that had been boiling within subsided as he noted her smile and her eyes full of light. He had never seen her look so genuinely happy, and at that he sighed. He looked again and heard the bells of her laughter ring as Aeon flipped the pancake on his head by accident—was this really such a bad thing. Inside it felt as if his heart had been released from the tight strings that had been holding it captive and he could breathe again; better yet he could smile again. Perhaps he needed to take after Aeon and follow his heart.

He drew away, meaning to leave quietly, but accidently knocked over the plant he was hiding behind.

"Ah, oh no!" He muttered as it came crashing down.

"Tenchi?" Ryoko peered out from the kitchen.

"Uh, hi Ryoko, I was just coming down…" He lied poorly as he scratched his head.

"Want some pancakes?" Aeon helped him up and offered him a plate. "It's Ryoko's first batch; she said she wanted to impress you." He smiled and set him at the table.

"I did not say that!" Ryoko lightly punched Aeon who chuckled all the while. "There as much your pancakes as they are mine."

"They're good." Tenchi said cheerily as he tasted a bite.

"Thanks…" Ryoko couldn't help but lightly blush. "I'll just leave these here for the rest." She motioned for Aeon to follow her as she waved goodbye to Tenchi.

Tenchi couldn't deny the sharp pain he felt as he realized he was being left behind, but he'd have his chance later. If he truly loved Ryoko he would allow her to pick the path that would make her happiest. Aeon observed Tenchi on his way out and noticed his kind smile—a gesture he hadn't had the pleasure of seeing.

He phased to the roof where he met up with Ryoko and admired the arch of her neck as she looked up at the cloudy sky. He remembered as children he would deny to himself that she was beautiful; he had been afraid that they couldn't be friends anymore if he started to be attracted to her in that sense. In fact he had ignored her for 3 days straight in order to overcome his attraction, but it was in vain.

"You know you're beautiful…" Aeon whispered in her ear.

"You betcha!" Ryoko winked and lightly pushed him away.

"I used to try and not see you as beautiful." Aeon spoke nonchalantly, knowing that his comment would intrigue her.

"Oh yeah, when?" She now leaned towards him, full of the curiosity Aeon had intended her to receive.

"Take a look at this, I found it in Washu's lab yesterday." He pulled out a wisp of a memory and waved it in front of her.

"Did you steal it?" Ryoko laughed and looked at the boy incredulously.

"I'd like to think of it as borrowing." He smirked and played the recording.

The scene played out and a young Ryoko could be spotted walking around her room restlessly. Her face seemed flustered and bordered sadness.

"Why won't he play with me?" She asked an adult Washu who had taken to sitting on her bed. "He ALWAYS plays with me." She looked at her mother with pleading eyes, practically begging for an explanation.

"Have you talked to him Little Ryoko?" Washu asked as she pulled Ryoko in for a hug.

"I've tried, but every time I do, he runs!" Ryoko's brows furrowed in hurt and anger; she had tried on various occasions to stop him but he was always better at hiding than she was at seeking.

"Did you do something to him?" Washu asked warily, knowing how Ryoko could be with Aeon at times—she recalled the many times Ryoko dragged Aeon into situations he would have rather avoided.

"I don't think so…" Ryoko entered into a thoughtful mode; wondering if she did indeed do something bad to Aeon. "All I did was smile at him." She remembered the last time they had played together.

Washu smiled and had an idea of what was going on, but thought it better if her daughter found out on her own. She had noticed how Aeon had matured around her daughter, and knew it was only a matter of time before he saw her as a girl, instead of just as a playmate. Ryoko on the other hand could not fathom this realization of Aeon's.

"He'll come around believe me, it's about noon time…" Washu heard a knock at the door. "See what did I tell ya?" She beamed as she witnessed how excited Ryoko got as she sped towards the door.

Ryoko opened it eagerly and was ecstatic to find and Aeon on her porch. The older man picked her up and spun with her in his arms. She laughed as did he and he gently put her down.

"Aeon here came to apologize to you." grinned and nudged his boy forward. "Alright I'll leave you two to it, now where's Washu." He trailed off happily as could be.

Aeon looked at Ryoko and then quickly looked away as red began to tinge his cheeks. He had been avoiding her for days now, hoping that this strange, tingly feeling would dissipate. It never did and he figured it never would; all he knew was that it hurt more to stay away from her anyhow.

"Ryoko…I…" Aeon began but felt two arms crush the air out of him.

Ryoko had pulled him in for a hug and squeezed tight—she had missed him a lot more than she would ever admit. Her days weren't as fun or bright without him, and adventures weren't the same without her partner in crime. She held him close, making sure he wouldn't run off and hide again; making sure he was with her again.

"I'm sorry…" Ryoko whimpered out as she refused to release the boy from her grip.

"I…I…I can't breathe!" Aeon gasped as she finally loosened her arms.

"I promise I won't do anything bad to you…for a while." She added towards the end—it was inevitable that she would soon draw them into a troublesome predicament.

"It's not your fault Ryoko," Aeon tried to stop her from taking the blame, and winced with shame as he saw her eyes begin to water. "It's just…I want to stay your friend forever; even if you are really pretty." Aeon muttered at last.

Young Ryoko stood still, unsure of what he meant; completely baffled by his honesty. He had avoided her because she was pretty? Wait, she was pretty? Ryoko began to blush and then broke out in laughter as she registered Aeon's mortified face. He was a pretty serious guy thought Ryoko, and wondered why he couldn't just tell her in the first place instead of ignoring her. She grabbed his hand and flew towards the brilliantly blue sky.

"I promise you we'll always be friends; just promise me you'll never leave me again."

Aeon smiled—now that was something he could do.

The memory ended and it left Ryoko with a slightly warm and fuzzy feeling; she turned her gaze towards the sky and cherished the resemblance it had to the brilliantly blue sky of the video.

"You were always beautiful Ryoko; I just didn't accept it, at first." He chuckled as he lay on the Masaki Shrine roof. "It had finally dawned on me that you were a girl, and I was a boy."

"I can't believe you actually ignored me…not many men could." She grinned as she turned to face him. "You and Tenchi have that much in common."

"I was afraid you wouldn't like me if I told you how I felt. You were so different from me…I wasn't sure if I was your type."

"Did you ever tell me how you felt?" Ryoko dug deeper, hoping he could shed some light into her heart's past.

Aeon stared at her with a steady gaze—his silver eyes met her golden ones at a stand-still. Should he tell her now? He had wanted her to remember the promise they had made to each other, but here she was asking him about the truth. The truth was he had been hers and she had been his…once upon a time they had promised to never part. Aeon had loved her then and he continued to love her now. He finally closed his eyes, grinned and sighed.

"You'll know soon; I'll tell you once you accept what your heart desires."

"That easy huh…" She sadly smirked as she realized she'd have to choose a path soon. "It's been so long…" she breathed in the fresh air, "since I've felt like I had a choice; like my voice matters."

"It's about time you accept your freedom." Aeon phased from the roof and ended up in the sky. "I'm not here to ignore you, I'm not here to control you, Ryoko…I'm here to be your partner in crime—that includes love." He phased away with his boyish grin and Ryoko felt a certain tug inside that made her quiver.

Ryoko nodded—perhaps it was time to be her brave, rash self that she always portrayed. It was time to confront her Tenchi…

End Note: It took me so long to finish this, and for that I'm so sorry! Anyways I'm glad you all like Aeon ^_^ Keep up the reviews; they're all really awesome and remind me to get back to writing.