Chapter 2

Tenchi thoughts were a jumble as he carried the tray downstairs. After dropping it off in the kitchen he sat down at his usual place at the table. Aeka was already in her normal spot next to him.

Tenchi's mind wasn't on his dinner. He silently replayed what happened-or more accurately what nearly happened-in his room over and over. If Sasami hadn't interrupted, then... What? What would have happened? he asked himself.

He thought about that question, mulled it over in his mind, and finally admitted to himself that there was only one answer: You would have kissed her. You wanted to kiss her and you know it. And then you know what would have happened, idiot? You would have told her how you really felt about her. That would have made her happy. You would have been happy too; happy to be with her, that wonderful woman who loves you. Or is it that you like leading her on, leading both of them on, torturing them, making them wait, making them put their lives on hold because you won't say what needs to be said? Are you too scared, too afraid of the consequences, good and bad? Are you really that much of a coward? Are you going to let your life be ruled by fear?

He was thinking so hard he nearly screamed when Aeka asked him if he was okay.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine," he said with some effort. He had hardly touched his food.

"Where's Ryoko?" Sasami asked, looking at the empty space next to Tenchi where she normally sat.

"She's got the flu, Sasami. She's upstairs resting in my room," he said, a lot calmer than he felt.

"Oh..." She rose from the table and exited into the kitchen.

He saw Aeka stiffen to the news of Ryoko's present location, but she uttered no comment… at least not yet.

Upon her return, Sasami asked, "Tenchi could you take her dinner up to her please?" She hadn't noticed how her request made Aeka wince. Before he could answer, she politely shoved a tray of food into his stomach. "Tell her I hope she gets well soon," she stated firmly. And that was that.

Tenchi sighed with a slight smile, rose from the table, and started up the stairs. Aeka watched him leave with an uneasy feeling; something was different about him. Something had happened, or was about to happen. Aeka had a frightening thought; Did he…? Then she dismissed it, That's just silly. How could he possibly choose that devil woman over me?

Now if she could only convince herself…

As Tenchi walked up stairs, he thought about what he should say to Ryoko, what he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure if he had the courage even now that he knew the truth. He slid his bedroom door open and saw that she wasn't there. "Oh no," he said out loud. He set the tray down on his desk and headed to the place he knew where she always went to think; the roof.

Ryoko sat there in the snow, sniffling, and letting out the occasional sneeze, thinking how stupid she was for thinking Tenchi would ever show any other emotions for her besides fear and annoyance. Sometimes he seems to care, but then he runs away from me, she thought. A lone tear ran down her face. She felt it change from hot to cold as it moved downward. Just like Tenchi's feelings toward me...

She was so busy beating herself up, she didn't hear the attic door open and someone climb onto the roof. "Ryoko," she heard Tenchi say, startling her. She knew what she had to do.

She slowly stood up and turned toward him, keeping her head down pointed toward the roof. "Tenchi, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that. I didn't mean to try and force myself on you. Please forgive me," she said as another tear ran down her cheek.

Tenchi was surprised by her apology; he hadn't expected that. Tenchi swallowed hard, trying to figure out how to respond. Be brave, he ordered himself. Be brave for her.

"No, Ryoko," he replied and saw her look up at him, her amber eyes barely holding back the tears. "I don't need to forgive you. If anything, I should thank you."

She stared at him in confusion. He slowly started walking toward her. "You made me realize something that I should have a long time ago," he told her. "Ever since I was a baby, you were there for me. Even though I never saw you, I knew you were there; when I played, when I laughed, even when I cried."

He stopped just in front of her, his eyes never wavering from hers, a gentle smile on his face. "You were always there for me." He paused and took in a shaky breath. "I want to always be there for you too."

She looked at him and in his eyes saw an emotion she had forever wanted to see but never before dared to hope that she would… until now.

"I don't know why I didn't understand it sooner. I guess it took this time alone with you for me to realize… that.. I-I love you, Ryoko. I have for a very long time, and I know I always will."

He said it! she told herself. He really said it!

She smiled weakly at him, her eyes watering over, and slowly wrapped her arms around him. He put his arms about her as well.

"I love you too, Tenchi," she said.

They both closed their eyes and brought their lips together in a first kiss. They stood there in the deep kiss, time seeming to stand still, neither caring about the outside world, the cold, the wind, her fever, or the weakness in their knees.

Ryoko felt the tears run down her cheek, but these didn't turn cold; they remained warm.

Tenchi slowly pulled back, wiping away the tears from her face, blinking to hold back his own. He beheld her face, rubbing her cheek, permitting himself to finally see her. "Beautiful," he whispered to himself.

"What was that, my Tenchi?" She purred in her bliss.

"I'm just wondering why I never told you how beautiful you were before. And you are. So very beautiful."

She pulled him toward her and she kissed him again. Tenchi closed his eyes, kissing her back even more passionately, running one hand through her surprisingly soft hair, and his other hand caressing her back. Suddenly her eyes shot open and she broke away from his embrace, caught up in a fit of sneezes.

"That's right, I almost forgot you're sick," he said walking over to her. "You need to get back in bed and stay warm." He walked to her side and draped an arm around her shoulders, "Let's go before-" he was stopped in mid-sentence as he sneezed. "Oh no," he said hanging his head and let out a sigh, "I was going to say 'before I get sick too.' Oh well, looks like neither of us is going to be active for a while."

Realizing what he just said and how she would interpret it, he saw Ryoko give a sly grin. "So we'll both have to stay in bed for a while, won't we?" she said, nuzzling her head against his shoulder.

All he could do was blush and gulp; "Ye... yeah, I guess so," he said nervously.

"Well then, let's get out of the cold before we get sicker. We wouldn't want to have to stay in bed even longer than we have to now would we?" She gave him a wry smile.

He blushed again; he knew what she was thinking, "Yeah, sure let's go inside." he agreed.

She looked at him with her golden eyes full of mischief, and kissed him deeply. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and she hugged his neck. He felt like he was melting. Suddenly he realized that he WAS melting! Well sort of. Ryoko had started to sink into the roof, bringing him along with her. It felt very strange; he could feel the ceiling against his skin, almost like a ghost touching him.

He closed his eyes, experiencing the feelings on his skin and his lips. After he felt himself become solid again and his feet touched the floor, he slowly broke the kiss, still holding her.

"Wow, that was incredible Ryoko!" he said grinning, looking at her mischievous eyes.

"What? Phasing through the roof... or kissing me?" she asked seductively.

"Both," he pulled her into a light hug, "but I liked the kissing better," he whispered in her ear.

She stepped away from him and had to turn around to hide a massive blush. "Tenchi, I never knew you were such a perv. Naughty boy," she said in a childish voice, quietly giggling in a very un-Ryoko like way.

"Fine then. Goodnight Ryoko," he stated with seeming sincerity, and started to walk towards the attic steps.

Ryoko instantly stopped giggling and teleported behind him. He stopped. "Please Tenchi, you know I was only kidding, right?" She said nervously. Facing away from her she couldn't see his big grin.

When he didn't immediately answer, she became frightened, "Please, don't go! I- I like you being perverted!" she practically cried out.

He turned to face her, sporting his big grin, which quickly faded when he saw her expression. "Hey, I was just playing too. You really think something like that is going to make me leave?" he said, his smile returning.

Her face brightened, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Stupid Zero," she muttered.

"Now don't go blaming Zero," he chided slightly, then he chuckled. "You should thank her. Before you two merged, I couldn't tell how you felt most of the time; you always hid your feelings, acting tough like nothing ever bothered you. But when Zero impersonated you, I got to see the real you. I finally saw all the feelings you never showed anyone."

She looked at him curiously, wondering where he was going with this. "I saw how much you cared about me, and that made me start to really think." He paused and waited for her reaction. "I'm glad she's a part of you."

Ryoko's eyes started to water over. "So... you love Zero?" she asked in a shaky voice.

He had half expected this question, but he reassured her, "No, I love you, Ryoko. Zero just helped me realize it, that's all." He let out a small laugh. "She's kind of like Cupid... a really unusual Cupid."

Her smile returned. Then, after a slight pause, she leaned down, used his shoulder to wipe away her tears, looked up, and grinned. He chuckled lightly and put his arms around her, bringing her close.

"You know... I've dreamed of this moment ever since I first saw you outside the cave," Ryoko told him. "I imagined we'd be together after you freed me from my prison." He felt her shudder a little.

"Shhhhh…" he said quietly. "Don't think about that now." He started running his fingers through her hair.

Her smile grew and she hugged him tightly. "You're right. You're mine and I'm yours... and that's all that matters."

As he stood there holding her, he thought about what she must have gone through being in that cave for so long; over 700 years of silent, lonely boredom. He remembered that fateful day about a year and a half ago, the day he released the space pirate who would steal his heart:

He had taken the keys from his grandfather and sneaked into the cave… mainly because he had always been forbidden to go there. He removed a sword with an intricate handle from the small shrine inside the cave and unsheathed it, finding a rusted useless blade. Slightly angered by this discovery, he hit it against a rock, shattering the blade. A moment later the rock split in two, triggering the far wall to open up revealing a passage. He walked into the downward hall, tripped, and fell most of the way to the bottom. After he picked himself up, he walked to the center of the room and saw (at that time) a hideous mummy in the water. He was so shocked, he dropped the sword handle. As he bent down to pick it up, the mummy grabbed his wrist pulling him down to it. He was petrified as it caressed his face, even more so when it leaned-in to kiss him! Suddenly the sword handle flashed a bright light and it let go...

That gave him an idea, something he could do for her to try to partially make up for making her wait. He pulled out of the hug…much to their mutual disappointment. "Come to my room in two minutes," he said purposefully. Then he quickly kissed her forehead and ran down the stairs toward his room.

Ryoko stood there with a blank look on her face for a second. Then she smiled broadly. He's more perverted than I thought! she surmised, jumping into the air and floating. He wants to do it, and I didn't even suggest it! She let her mind wander with the possibilities.

Meanwhile Tenchi was searching frantically though his belongings. "I can't believe I can't find it! Where did I put that stupid thing?" he fretted aloud and then vowed… to no one in particular, "That's it, from now on I'm never leaving it out of my sight."

He finally found the object of his search near his bed, just as the two minutes elapsed. He quickly stuffed it up his sleeve and turned to face the middle of his room, hearing Ryoko materialize in front of him.

"Tenchi!" she said quietly but happily, with her eyes closed. She slowly opened them and saw him standing there... fully clothed. Her smile faltered a little. Oh well, I guess he's not that perverted after all, she thought with a small laugh.

He heard her laugh and he cocked an eyebrow at her, wondering what part of the joke he was missing. He shrugged it off. "I have something for you Ryoko" he informed her with a fair amount of mystery in his voice.

She was excited. Could it be!? Is he going to...? I can't believe it, I'm so happy! she assumed, while absently rubbing her ring finger.

He saw her reaction and smiled warmly at her. "Now close your eyes and I'll give it to you." She eagerly complied, squeezing her eyes shut, arms at her sides, and waiting for the gift. Once he made sure she wasn't looking, he pulled the item out of his sleeve, and recalled what to do.

As Ryoko stood there her mind was racing about all the possibilities of Tenchi's actions: He could be undressing, she thought with a blush, or maybe getting a ring out. As she wondered, her right wrist and neck started to tingle. At first she didn't notice, being too caught up in her thoughts, but she slowly became aware of the strange feeling. She wracked her brain trying to figure out what was happening without opening her eyes. Suddenly the sensation was gone... and so was her fever. As a matter of fact she hadn't felt this good for a very long time. Wait, she thought. Did he just..?

"Okay, open your eyes," he said softly, putting the item back into his shirt.

Her eyes flew open, looking like a child about to open a present on Christmas morning. She quickly brought her right wrist up to her face, and she saw an amazing sight... one of her two missing gems.

She felt her neck and found the other there. She was awestruck, realizing that he trusted and loved her enough to return what his grandfather had taken from her over seven-hundred years ago. She looked up at him with a stunned look on her face; he smiled happily at her reaction.

Unable to hold back, she squealed, "Tenchi!" and flung herself at him with her arms outstretched. He was caught off guard as she flew into him, propelling them both onto his bed, him beneath her. Without realizing she had pinned his hands down with her knees, she started kissing him passionately, her hands caressing his face. Tenchi was a little overwhelmed at her fierceness, but quickly succumbed, returning the kiss. Then he felt her tongue dancing over his teeth. His initial shock was brief, giving way to compliance as he slowly parted his lips, letting her tongue gain entry, tentatively replying in kind. Ryoko finally settled down to giving Tenchi a long, slow, sensual and loving kiss. His tongue moved along the rim of her teeth, feeling the small fangs, and finally her own searching tongue.

Elsewhere in the house... Aeka was down stairs watching one of their evening soaps with everyone save Washu, and of course Ryoko and Tenchi, when she heard Ryoko squeal Tenchi's name, "That hussy's at it again," she grumbled to herself. She's trying to seduce poor Lord Tenchi… Again! she thought, voicing a growl. She then heard a thump of someone tripping... or being knocked over! In a flash she was on her feet and halfway up the stairs, leaving the others looking very puzzled.

Meanwhile... Tenchi finally realized when he tried to move his arms to embrace Ryoko that they were immobilized by her legs. He opened his eyes and tried to gently free his arms. She didn't notice and continued to kiss him. As he struggled in vain, he heard someone running toward his room, his brain only taking a moment to comprehend what was about to unfold... Oh crap, his mind screamed. His efforts to escape increased ten-fold, Ryoko, mistaking the frantic movement as playing, kissed him harder. He struggled to warn her, but all that came out were panicked mumbles.

As Aeka neared his room, she heard the sound of Tenchi's smothered cries. Heaven only knows what he's being smothered with! she thought fearfully. She flung open his door... and saw the foulest scene ever! That 'harlot' had a wide-eyed, and struggling Tenchi pinned down on his bed, restraining his hands to his sides with her legs. Worse yet, she was kissing him passionately... Did I just see her tongue!? In a flash she was behind Ryoko, and in one swift motion, pulled her off Tenchi, flinging her across the room.

Tenchi slowly sat up and saw his worst fear realized: Aeka in his room... and Ryoko plastered against the far wall.

"Oh Lord Tenchi! Are you okay? Did that demon woman hurt you?" she asked in her sweet coddling voice, which he knew would inevitably lead to her bitch-fighting voice... as it always had.

Before he could think of an answer, "This is a new low, even for you Ryoko!" she screamed at the woman implanted in the wall, "Pretending to be sick, playing on Lord Tenchi's kindness, then attacking him while he thought he was taking care of you!"

Ryoko extricated herself from the wall quickly and stood before the princess. "I didn't fake being sick, I really WAS sick!" she angrily shouted back.

"Really? Then how come you're perfectly healthy now?"

"I'll tell you how! Te-" she stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Tenchi sadly shake his head and mouth 'not yet'. At that point she let out a breath, losing most of her anger. "My immune system is very efficient, and I recover from any illness quickly," she informed the princess.

Aeka knew this to be true, but after seeing what she had seen, she was on a virtual rampage and there was little that could stop her. "So? You still used Lord Tenchi's kindness for your own selfish purposes!"

Suddenly Tenchi let out a huge sneeze that he had been holding since Ayeka entered.

Aeka blinked and looked at him for a second, then turned back to Ryoko. "You even got Lord Tenchi sick! In fact you make ME sick as well!" she roared. Then the all-too-familiar Juraian logs began appearing all over Tenchi's room.

For once, Tenchi wasn't sure if a battle was actually going to happen; after all, Ryoko no longer had any reason to fight Aeka. Of course Aeka didn't know this and was still preparing to release her venom towards her rival.

Ryoko, looking almost indifferent about the approaching attack, teleported behind Aeka, grabbed her shoulders and stated, "No fighting around the sick. Now please leave so I can take care of Tenchi." With that she teleported herself and a suddenly speechless Aeka out of the room, the mini guardians winking out of existence, leaving a grateful Tenchi who released a sigh of relief and calmly began to wait for his girlfriend to return.

In the living room, everyone was still sitting around the TV, but they had lost interest in it when they heard the screaming and Aeka powering up... but they didn't hear Ryoko's usual responses in kind. Suddenly their thoughts were interrupted when Ryoko teleported behind the couch, and effortlessly but gently planted Aeka in the spot she had been sitting in previously. This surprised everyone, but not nearly as much as when Ryoko fluffed a pillow and put it behind a still shell-shocked Aeka's head and said, "Comfy? Good." With that she turned and started flying up the stairs back to Tenchi's room. When she reached the top she turned around and called out to all below, "And by the way, until he's better, Tenchi's room is now under quarantine to everyone but me, since I can't re-catch that cold," she stated sweetly. "And nobody worry, I'll have him good as new in no time." Then she gave a thumbs-up and faded away, leaving behind a totally befuddled audience.