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.
(The following takes place while Ryuka and Washu are bathing.)
Ryoko sat at the tree, just looking into the lake. Washu said not to take it too hard, but she had no idea why he looked at her that way. She was used to being feared, but… he just looked so afraid, and she saved his life when she threw the blast. She couldn't understand how his young mind functioned.
"You're down here a lot recently, aren't you, Ryoko?" came the voice of the elderly shrine keeper.
"Yosho!" Ryoko tried to look less pathetic.
"Don't get excited, Ryoko. I know all about the boy. Washu keeps me quite informed." he coaxed.
Ryoko just looked at the lake, not looking at him.
"She told me that the blast I threw at the animal frightened him…" she explained. "But I saved him again. Why did he look at me like that?" she said, not really talking to anyone, just thinking out loud.
"Human minds work differently, Ryoko. They are easily coaxed into trauma and it can take over their thought processes. I'm sure Washu is right, and that Ryuka was just a little frightened, but his mind's eye didn't see it that way. Oh no. Though he sees much in you, that blast told his mind that you were to be feared. It is an action of which he cannot help." he explained.
"But what should I do?" asked Ryoko, not knowing how to handle the situation.
"I'll tell you what, Ryoko. If you can beat me with a sword, I'll let you continue sitting here sulking, but if you lose, then I should hope that you would see fit to go and talk to the young boy, hmm?." said Yosho. Without really letting her answer, he tossed a wooden sword to her. She caught easily. "You are to use this, and none of your powers. It will be a match of skill. Alright?"
Ryoko nodded.
He instantly came charging at her, throwing blow after blow with a quickness she had never seen. She had to block each one, and she wasn't getting the same opportunities to attack like he was. He was too quick, as soon as she deflected one strike from the left, another one came center, and as soon as she blocked that, the sword would come swinging down on her. She kept backing up, trying to get some distance to charge, but his footwork was excellent. Nothing she did worked. All she was able to do was block.
She began to wonder. What good was blocking anyway, if your life wasn't on the line, and there was no way to make an attack? She didn't want to sit by the tree sulking all day. It was obvious he wasn't going to let her anyway. She became lost in her thoughts.
Before she knew it, her sword was facing the completely wrong direction, and Yosho's was pointed right towards her neck. He had won.
Ryoko smiled.
"You win." she said with a somewhat happy tone. She tossed Yosho the sword and turned around. She wasn't even going to bring up that he cheated by getting a head start.
"I suspect Washu has talked to the boy by now." he stated.
Ryoko started to walk towards the house, thinking about what to say to Ryuka.