Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! Is copyright AIC/Pioneer Ltd.

All characters are property of their respected owners.

Wake Up Dreaming: A Tenchi Muyo! Story. Warning – even though this fic is rated M. Adult situations present in this chapter.

Chapter 5

"Dad! What happened to your hand?" Miyuki said rushing over to her father's side.

"Nothing, nothing, just an accident with some new equipment," Haraj said quickly brushing off his daughter's concerned prodding.

Tenchi stared at the big man's hand. Just looking at it made him absently rub his own arm as if it suffered. As his daughter inspected him making offhanded medical comments, Haraj looked straight ahead at Tenchi. His ice blue eyes seared into him, seemingly possessed. Tenchi zoned out for a moment before noticing that the large muscular man was staring at him.

He realized he hadn't spoken yet and quickly put his feet together and formally bowed for his alien host.

"My name is Tenchi Masaki. Thank you for letting me stay for dinner."

"Yes, my name is Haraj Leiko. Welcome to my estate. How did you say you met my daughter again?" Haraj responded absently, averting his gaze back towards his daughter.

He seemed to be speaking out of formality rather than a real interest. Tenchi was about to respond but Haraj spoke again, this time with more focus.

"Miyuki, I'm sorry I won't be able to join you and your friend – Tenchi, was it? I have important things I need to take care of at the laboratory. Perhaps another time?" Haraj said quickly.

He gently pulled his arm from his daughter's grasp and walked slowly past Miyuki brushing off her concerned questioning, stopping momentarily to look down at Tenchi. He gave him one more odd stare before quickly exiting the house. It was quiet until the heavy door shut, signally that he was gone.

"That was weird," Miyuki mumbled, "He never does any work unloading equipment anymore." She stared at the doorway for a moment before looking back at Tenchi. He just shrugged not knowing how to respond to her.

"Well, I guess its just you and me," Miyuki said.

Her words left Tenchi with a tingling sensation running down his back. How many times had he heard that one in a house full of women who all wanted him all for themselves?

"C'mon Tenchi, let's eat! You must be even hungrier then I am – with not eating all day and all." Miyuki said pulling Tenchi from his thoughts.

"Sure," Tenchi answered, beginning to follow Miyuki's lead.

He gave one last glance at the front door as if the big man in the uniform still lingered there. He had a strange feeling about Haraj Leiko but it was quickly forgotten as his stomach let out a loud embarrassing grumble.

***

For a while there was no sound other then the polite munching of food and the soft clattering of chopsticks against plates and bowls. Miyuki and Tenchi sat across from each other at a small table.

"So, tell me," Miyuki started "What is she really like?"

Tenchi looked up.

"Ryoko," Miyuki said. "What's she like if she isn't the Demon of Jurai."

Tenchi frowned at her use of that name but silently looked back down and picked at his food.

"She's…" Tenchi looked upwards past Miyuki thinking about how to describe what he saw in Ryoko. "Well, she's just… I don't know," Tenchi paused for a moment.

Miyuki stopped eating and rested her chin in her hands waiting.

"I was always taught to be serious. Disciplined and stable. Calm and level headed. But I didn't really like it – I mean – I do – I'm used to it and I think it's helped me a lot, but sometimes I just wanted to do whatever I wanted and not worry about the consequences, you know?" Tenchi said coming to another temporary halt. "One day I did – and because of it, Ryoko was set free," Tenchi said fondly remembering the day that he mischievously stole the keys to the cave gate from his grandfather.

Miyuki arched a thin purple eyebrow her interest peaked. Tenchi gently shook his head.

"That's a long story for another time, though." He cleared his throat and started again. "She's just… the free spirit that I always wanted to be. She's impetuous and wild and aggressive and funny… and beautiful. Absolutely beautiful… even when she cries. Especially when she cries." Tenchi lingered on those words. "I can see so deeply into her when she looks at me that special way. She's spiritually the strongest person I've ever met. I don't know everything she went through but the things I do know are… well I don't know how she survived it. And yet, at the same time, she has one of the most gentle and fragile hearts I've ever seen in anyone," Tenchi breathed thinking about her. He chuckled softly. "It's hard to make her show that though. I guess I had the advantage there since she had a soft spot for me before I even met her."

Miyuki seemed captivated as Tenchi described Ryoko. Tenchi stopped his whimsical portrayal for a moment and started laughing to himself.

"One time she – she got a hold of some old sappy romance graphic novels for girls and she – tried to 'act out' the stories to try and get me to fall in love with her, storybook style and all!" Tenchi finished and could barely contain himself remembering the peculiar episode.

Miyuki covered her mouth but also began laughing. After they calmed down Tenchi grew quiet. He meant to keep talking but Miyuki's simple question made him yearn for Ryoko even more. Miyuki took his silence to mean that he was done telling her about the reformed pirate for now.

Tenchi sighed remembering two of his most precious memories from that first year that she came into his life. The first was when he appeared on the Souja with the help of Tsunami just in time to catch Ryoko as she fell backward reeling from Kagato's attack. He would never forget the look on her face as she spoke. The color drained from her face as if she was looking into the eyes of a ghost.

"Are you real?" she muttered like she was in a dream state.

Ryoko's stunned face melted into a soft expression of relief as Tenchi's second memory smeared the end of the first. He held Zero securely in his arms on board Dr. Clay's ship. She rested her head tenderly against his chest. He knew that the android wasn't the real Ryoko but, it did display the emotions that Ryoko felt and wasn't quite able to control or understand fully.

He turned to the glass chamber and watched with understanding as the real Ryoko pounded angrily on it from the other side staring daggers at Zero. Washu told him then that Zero was really a part of Ryoko and that she was going to make her whole by combining the two together. That was good enough for him at the time but Ryoko filled him in on what really happened months later.

Tenchi just smiled thinking about her and looked back down towards the table. He wasn't sure how much time had passed during his daydream but it must've been short because he noticed Miyuki still staring back at him from across the table, blushing. She realized that even though Tenchi wasn't going to say anymore, she still watched as if her gaze would make him continue.

"Well, she certainly sounds like… something else," Miyuki said.

"Yeah," Tenchi responded looking down at his plate thinking about what he had said.

Ryoko. She was beautiful. She was headstrong. She was passionate. She was possessive. She was wild and truly free. She was quick to anger. She was a sexual being. She was the jealous type. She wore her heart on her sleeve. She was madly in love with a simple Earthling. Most importantly Tenchi was that Earthling and he loved everything about her.

Miyuki and Tenchi sat in silence a little bit longer, each picking at their food.

"Well, its getting late," Miyuki said. "Do you wanna get some sleep? We can start out again early tomorrow. I think we'll be able to search most of the crash site if we get out of here by seven thirty," Miyuki said gathering up her plate.

Tenchi looked up as if snapped out of deep thought.

"Yeah – yeah that sounds great. Thanks for dinner by the way. It was good," Tenchi said standing up and collecting his own dish. Miyuki smiled.

"I'm glad you liked it," she said blushing. "Oh let, me take care of that," she said snatching Tenchi's plate and quickly making her way to the sink. Tenchi stared blankly at the strange girl and nervously scratched the back of his head.

***

A soft white moonlight crept into the windows of the large Masaki household bathing the wooden Japanese interior with strange contrasting shapes of light. A perfectly serene night, everyone sleeping peacefully awaiting the emergence of a new day. Suddenly a muffled thump disturbed the tranquil home. Then some more shuffling followed by another thump. And it came from the second floor. The hallways were empty. Yet something stirred behind one of the sliding doors. Another bump. The sound was coming from Tenchi's room.

Tenchi grunted and powerfully forced a surprised Ryoko against the wall. Tenchi smiled feeling her sigh into his mouth as he covered her lips with his. He held one of her arms firmly over her head against the bedroom wall and confidently gripped the underside of her bare thigh eliciting more erotic moans. Ryoko hungrily returned his passionate kisses and clawed at his back with her free hand but remained submissive. Tenchi's breathing was heavy and he let go of Ryoko's arm deciding to run his hand through her spiky hair gripping the back of her head tightly. He looked into her golden eyes, craving more of her.

Now Ryoko decided to play rough and pushed herself away from the wall against Tenchi kissing him and tugging at his shirt. The couple stumbled awkwardly across the room until Tenchi tripped and fell backward onto his bed making sure to pull Ryoko down with him. Ryoko recovered quickly and climbed over him pulling and yanking his shirt until it came over his head.

She tossed it aside and hunched over him continuously pressing her lips against his. Tenchi ran both his hands through her hair encouraging her. She moaned in pleasure and ran her nails down his chest urging him on as well. After attempting to undo some part of her clothing without looking and failing, Tenchi placed both hands on Ryoko's cheeks and was finally able to pry her face from his.

He stared into her glowing eyes burning with an intense desire. She didn't speak. She just stared back deeply into his eyes panting heavily. Both her hands finally came up and gripped his wrists. Tenchi lovingly caressed the side of her face and pushed one hand up into her hair again. Ryoko turned and gingerly dragged her lips across his arm kissing any exposed flesh she could reach in his embrace. Tenchi just watched her in fascination as he slowly pulled his hand down just letting his fingertips lightly touch her face. Ryoko moaned with the soft sensual contact and left cool kisses along her lover's arm as it moved until she reached the base of his hand. Then her own slender fingers gently worked their way up his arm and hand until she could intertwine them with his. She made soft cooing sounds and affectionately nuzzled the palm of his hand.

She barely opened her eyes but Tenchi could see the soft glowing light they emitted in the pitch black of his room. She looked seductively down into his eyes and erotically licked her lips before slowly wrapping them around his middle and index fingers. Tenchi felt his own desire for her heat up to almost uncontrollable levels as Ryoko's warm saliva coated his fingers and he suddenly twisted until she was the one under him.

"Ryoko," he moaned softly before pressing his lips against hers again and again.

She tried to turn the tables on him several times and each time, he made sure she stayed under him. He pulled unceremoniously at her clothes and she helped him by phasing out of them, leaving herself completely naked before him. Tenchi quickly worked his own remaining sleepwear off while keeping up his lips fastened to hers. She moaned and breathed heavily wrapping her legs invitingly around Tenchi's waist. Tenchi encircled his arms protectively around her and kept her body pressed against his, successfully merging with her.

He groaned in pleasure and looked down at his lover. Her glowing eyes illuminated the gleaming sheen of sweat on her face just slightly as she contorted in primal satisfaction. Tenchi pushed insistently against her svelte form and the cyan haired space pirate arched her back in response, letting him move deeper. She clung to him as their passions vehemently reached new heights. And just before their impending climax, it happened.

There was a small sound at the door. Neither of them should have been able to hear it in their throes of lovemaking but Tenchi did. He turned his head very slowly towards the doorway of his bedroom and saw it. His heart hammered away in his chest, now in a panic. The door was open just barely but he could she her porcelain face as clear as day through the crack. Her pink eyes glistening with tears of pain and both of her proper hands were covering her mouth to stifle any sounds she might make. "Aeka…" Tenchi whispered.

***

Tenchi bolted upright, gasping for air. Both his hands were balled into tight fists and he held the bed sheets tightly. After a moment of staggering breaths he leaned backward letting himself fall back onto the big soft bed. And either someone was still sitting up in bed with him or a certain body part was still at full mast. Tenchi groaned and rolled to his side, noticing that his nightmare as usual, hadn't quite let him finish with his dream girl. He wiped his sweat-covered forehead on the pillow in the room that he was allowed to stay in and let out a frustrated moan. He had enough trouble falling asleep as thoughts of Ryoko's whereabouts danced in his head torturing him. Why did he have to have that dream tonight, just as the sandman finally decided to let him rest?

He sighed looking towards the window of the room as his body relaxed. He hated that dream. It was the farthest he ever got with Ryoko in his unconscious fantasy world but it ended the same way every time. Dreams of getting caught plagued him ever since he started feeling a little closer to Ryoko and now, even after he knew he loved her and was away from the others, they still haunted him.

He took a deep breath and let out a strained grunt as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up again. He sat there for a moment on the edge of the bed before rubbing his face with both hands attempting to wipe the sleep from it.

Yawning sleepily, Tenchi stumbled out of his room, groping around the dark in search of the restroom.

"No where did Miyuki say it was again?" Tenchi said to no one as he searched the hall. "Ah, there," he whispered finding it.

He fumbled around for a second finally locating the light switch. He flipped it on and stared himself down in the mirror.

"Idiot," he said to his reflection.

No, maybe idiot wasn't quite right. Naïve. Yes, that was the word. The statute of limitations may have made Ryoko's crimes disappear on paper but people don't forget that easily. He managed to convince Miyuki, and his housemates seemed to forgive Ryoko's past crimes for the most part but it was a big universe. Why couldn't life be less complicated?

"I guess your life can't be simple if you're a prince of an alien planet," Tenchi answered his mind. "Ryoko," he sighed. "Why can't I find you!" he growled slamming his fist on the sink top. Pain shot up through his fist and he grunted, therapeutically rubbing his injured knuckles. Tenchi furrowed his brow as low mumbles made their way to his ears.

At first he thought he was hearing things but stealthily creeping out of the bathroom, he strained his ears and listened to the voices grow louder. Edging ever closer to the steps, Tenchi could make out two voices. Miyuki's father, Haraj and someone else he didn't recognize.

"Well?" Haraj said impatiently. "What do you have?"

"Well sir, the machine we constructed from the recovered plans you gave us is working perfectly. The absorption system and recharging mechanics are working beautifully, in perfect harmony to subdue the gem's power," the unknown voice explained.

"Then how is it possible that this happened?" Haraj responded angrily.

Tenchi had refrained from looking around the corner but he quietly pressed himself against the wall and slowly as he could, managed a peek. Haraj was standing over a small pale man in a long laboratory coat shaking his injured fist over him. The small man was visibly afraid and hid behind his clipboard of documents.

"Well sir, we uh – we suspect that some of her powers may not be given to her through the gems and she instead was… born with them?" The small man's voice grew in pitch as he neared the end of his sentence.

Haraj growled in anger and the scientist was quick to add more.

"B-b-but this – is only a theory of course. We've – been – uh, working around the clock like you told us too but some of this… Well its far beyond our comprehension, sir," he finished shakily. "We did manage to get some great data on brainwave activity though," the man said, some of his confidence returning as he consulted his papers. "Immense amount of brain activity, sir. Far more then the average humanoid. High levels of mental thought transference," he paused awaiting Haraj's approval. When he nodded for the man to continue, there was a shuffling of papers. "Now, some of the other scientists in the base think that it is simply emanating, if you will, a natural happening of her genetic makeup."

"And? What do you think, Hayashima?" Haraj inquired, his anger seemingly quelled by the knowledge being bestowed upon him.

"Well," Hayashima said in a matter of fact tone. "I personally think that she isn't here alone."

"What?" Haraj said in a hushed whisper. "But who? We didn't find anything else at the crash site."

"I'm not sure," Hayashima answered. "But, I think that while some of that mental energy is indeed natural, the massive readings we are actually able to detect are deliberately being broadcast outward. A uh – distress beacon, if you will – a call for help."

It was quiet for a moment. Tenchi swallowed hard now, wide-awake. As the two men spoke, the puzzle pieces mentally fit together as each fragment of information revealed itself. Ryoko. They had to be talking about Ryoko. It was just too much of a coincidence, and too much of the information revealed by Hayashima's studies wasn't new to Tenchi.

"Just get as much more as you can. You have a blood sample, correct?" Haraj grumbled jarring Tenchi from his thoughts.

No response. Tenchi assumed Hayashima shook his head.

"Some of the officials on Jurai are already on their way here and they want her for their own purposes. And no one is going to take her life away from me, do you understand? It belongs to me and I am going to be the one that has the pleasure of removing her from this plane." Haraj sneered.

"Y-yes sir," came Hayashima's clipped response.

"Good, now get out of here," Haraj said waving a hand dismissively at the thin man. "I'll be down bright and early to see your progress," he added as Hayashima reached for the door.

Tenchi had heard enough. He sprinted down the hallway back toward his room, skillfully not making a sound. He slid the door closed being careful not to let the clasp make a clicking sound when it reached the wall. Tenchi angrily searched under his pillow until he pulled the long wooden hilt of the Tenchi-ken from its hiding space.

"Ryoko," he said with determination, and turned back towards the door.

***

A/N: I usually won't be leaving these but I thought I should acknowledge some of my readers. First of all thank you for all criticisms. I truly did take them to heart and tried my best to resolve some of the issues mentioned.

Previous chapters will be revisited and edited to incorporate some of these changes – so a heads up to readers following this fic – that you may want to re-read the earlier chapters after they are 'fixed.'

Don't worry; I'll let you know when those changes happen. Thanks for everything so far – hopefully you like the story and keep on reading it!

Please – feel free to PM me any additional comments!

~ undead-hokusai