Tenchi Muyo and all related characters are © AIC/Pioneer. The views expressed herein do not necessarily express the opinions of AIC/Pioneer, the author, or this website.

Ryoko laid down in her rebuilt room that night, thinking. The more she thought about the venom flowing through Ryuka's veins, the more hate and anger flowed through her own. That boy signified every loving and happy moment that had happened between her and Tenchi in the past few days. She knew, for a fact, that her night out with Tenchi, was made better because of proud of her he was, of how happy he was about what she had done. He signified the tenderness in Tenchi's eyes when he told her how proud he was of her. The looks, the conversations, the shared moments together, they were made more intense, greater, by Ryuka's presence.

She felt that if Ryuka died, all of her precious moments with Tenchi would be voided out. That her bringing him in did nothing, because he still didn't make it. The happiness would be meaningless, the moments shared, worthless. She grew angrier and angrier. Washu had, unintentionally, given her the gift of a lifetime in that boy and now, still without knowing, maybe not even wanting to, trying to pull it all back, trying to steal away the things that were important to her.

She even grew fond of the young boy. He was an adorable little tyke. Shy, always acting much less than six-teen. She could see that whenever he looked at her, or vice-versa, he grew calm, relaxed, and happy. He didn't deserve this either. To have happiness given to him and then violently stripped away.

Washu explained to them Ryuka's story after she told them of the venom. She knew how it felt to quarrel with her parent. Different matters, but a dislike all the same. She felt sorry for him. Washu seemed to be playing with everyone's emotions, no matter how unintentional it may be. It wasn't fair for anyone involved.

[Meanwhile]

Washu sat in her bed, growing saddened after listening to Ryoko through the mental link. She felt so disheartened, hearing of how her daughter hated her. She didn't try to do any of this, she was just doing her work. She hadn't purposely sent a dangerous killing beast on the loose to attack any innocent by-stander.

But it had happened, and it was her fault. She knew it all too well. She was doing what she could to fix it, she hoped that that would be enough.

"Hi, Ryoko!" Washu heard Ryuka enter the through the mental link and closed it.

[In Ryoko's Room]

"Hey, kiddo." answered Ryoko. "How you feeling? I bet you're tired."

"Yeah, helping out is the least I could do help pay back for you guys letting me stay here. But, does it happen often?" he questioned.

Ryoko, grew angry at his statement, but smiled at his question.

"Every other week." she answered humorously. "Don't let the whole Space Police thing fool you, Mihoshi's the biggest ditz you'll ever meet." she explained.

"Wow." said

"It's getting late, we should hit the sack." Ryoko said while yawning loudly.

"Alright." he answered. He walked behind a tall screen and changed into some pajamas that Washu had given him. It was odd. At first, she just seemed like a nice person, but she seemed to dead set on him being happy. He had no idea why.

He saw Ryoko just get undressed without caring that he saw her. But he didn't look at her in the way most would think a teenaged boy would look at such a beautiful woman naked. He kept his eyes on hers. It was love he looked at her with, not lust. He couldn't even think of seeing her in such a way. He made no attempt to look at her body, only to admire how brightly her eyes shined, and how beautiful her hair was when it was down –she had recently gotten out of the onsen, her hair still drying, and let down-. He laid down and covered up.

"Good night, Ryoko." he said tenderly.

Ryoko paused for a moment, remembering that his life was in her hands tomorrow when she went to capture the beast.

"Good night, Ryuka." she answered warmly. And with that, the lights were turned off, and they slept.