Disclaimer: Tenchi and all affiliated characters belong to AIC and Pioneer, such is their boon. I ask them to not crush me under foot for this. Note: Welcome to the OAV continuity. This is my first Tenchi fic, so I’m especially curious to see how I’m doing. Enjoy. - How One Kills For Love By Very Metal (verymetal22@hotmail.com) One : Very Much Her Mother's Daughter It was dark outside when the television in the lounge turned itself off and left Ryoko lying motionless on the sofa. For a moment she rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Only after she had breathed heavily several times did she get up and walk over to the television. She propped her elbow on top of it, sank her chin into her hand and stared through the wall, mechanically clicking the power switch several times. Finally she looked down. Frowning, she walked over to the door and tried the light switch. The room remained dark. Ryoko's breath caught in her throat. She ran through to the kitchen and tried the light there, again without success, before starting up the stairs. The landing loomed up before her. She stopped midway up the steps, scanning the darkness that swarmed around her. Below her the moon had cut a pale swathe across the living room, carving a lurid white spire on the far wall. Everything else was shades of black. Ryoko turned and looked behind her, there was barely a shadow. She sank back to the wall, pressing her arms against it, searching her surroundings as quickly as she dared. To her left the landing yawned. Beneath, the cold blade of light threatened to betray her to the night. She summoned her arms from the wall and to her sides, turning and walking down the wooden steps again. Each time easing her foot against the stair, listening to each one tick and creak under her. Turning away from the windows she pushed on the door to Washu's lab; slowly, easing the thing open before her. With a final glance behind her she leant forward, peering around the door. "Washu?" she murmured. She could only make out a multitude of colourful and alien lights quietly brooding in distance. She leaned in a little, her hand tight against the doorframe. "Washu, are you there?" she asked, hopefully. Nothing answered her. She shivered, the air in the laboratory was cold. It crept down her spine like frost. "Are you asleep?" Ryoko swallowed and looked behind the door. "Little Washu? Mom? M-o-m?" she wailed the last word as loud as she dared, waited, and drew the door shut again. Outside the massed trees were barely moving. The highest branches stirred, hinting at the swell of dark and tangled limbs that was alive beneath them. There was no sound. Ryoko moved silently across the floor, drawn irresistibly to the windows. The sky was clear, and entirely the moon's. At the corner of the light Ryoko paused, afraid to enter it. Everything about her loomed, waiting to draw her out of the shadows and into that bright quarter. Her hands balled into fists. Ryoko shuffled forward, staring intensely through the window, desperate not to feel so vulnerable. Her gaze roamed up, through the dark trees, across their tops, over and over until her fingertips met the cold glass. Ryoko craned her neck, trying to stop herself from seeing, until she alighted upon the menacing black outline of the shrine. With a quiet gasp she stepped back, her cold hands clasped together at her bosom. Her eyes squeezed shut she tried to force the familiar image from her mind, clamping her jaw shut, her lips worked wordlessly. Ryoko opened her eyes. The windows were vast, vacant staring eye sockets. She cried out again, lifted off the floor and vanished. Inside Tenchi's room she reappeared, breathing heavily, fighting to control herself. There were blinds across his windows, leaving his room dark, warm, safe... soundless except for the familiar rise and fall of Tenchi's breathing. Trembling, Ryoko stood next to his bed, watching him for a moment before closing her eyes and shaking her head quickly. She sat down on the floor, leaning back against the wall and stretching her legs out. In her lap her hands continued to shake. She brought one up towards Tenchi's exposed arm before drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them. The digital alarm clock on Tenchi's bedside table was blank. Ryoko knew it must have been past midnight. With a weak smile she rested her head against the side of Tenchi's mattress, still watching the room intently. In a moment her breathing was less ragged, her pulse had slowed; she let out a long, quiet sigh and pressed up closer against the side of Tenchi's bed. Quickly, her eyes began to close. Almost smiling she shook herself awake and stood up again before deliberately pacing around the room. Every few minutes she stopped and watched Tenchi in his bed, pricking her ears up before she continued. Tenchi gave a quiet moan and turned in the sheets, rolling over onto his front, one of his legs barely hanging off the bed. Ryoko stopped again, her heart in her throat, waiting before she made her way over to the bed and lay down beside it. As her fingers made a cradle for her head she stared up at the ceiling. A grin crossed her features as she looked back on what had just happened as if it were part of a dissolving nightmare. It vanished when she looked over to the faintly glowing blinds in front of the windows. The same quiet terror began to well up again. Beneath her was a whole house worth of silence and darkness, alone in an empty, shadowy, windswept landscape. Hellishly, she felt her mind drag her back up the steps to the shrine, under the shadows of the sentinel trees. Forcing herself to go treading across the low and level flagstones and up to the gaping broken jaw of the cave. Ryoko bit her hand to save from crying out. Her mind reached out to Washu, again without success. "Mom," she whispered, screwing her eyes shut and pressing herself against the cold, impersonal bulk of Tenchi's bed. As the room gradually lightened Ryoko uncurled herself and sat up, spending the next few hours watching the slow approach of dawn. She rubbed her bloodshot eyes, already sore from crying, and in the faint glow tried to tidy herself up using one of Tenchi's CDs as a mirror. Sitting down on the chair beside his desk she waited for the first sign of morning before she woke Tenchi up. "Tenchi," she cooed, placing her hand on his arm and gently squeezing it. "Tenchi," she shook him, watching as he mumbled something and started to roll over onto his back. "Come on," she continued, smiling at him as he opened his eyes, "time to get up, my Tenchi." He blinked, propping himself up on his elbows and looking around before rubbing his eyes. "Wha-, what is it, Ryoko?" he murmured, looking up at her. "Why are you- Why didn't my alarm-" "The power's out, and somebody had to wake you up," she smiled, still holding his arm. He sat up and studied the alarm clock for a second before leaning out of the bed and running his fingers down its cable to the plug socket. "What, don't you believe me?" "I wasn't sure," he replied, leaning over to the window and peeling the blind away in one corner. "What time did it go out?" "Around midnight, I think." "Wait a second," Tenchi squinted out of the window, "what time is it now? The sun's barely up!" "Awww, Tenchi, I was lonely. I couldn't sleep," she pleaded. He fell back into the sheets with a thud. "Ryoko," he sighed, closing his eyes, "it's too early. Go back to bed." "But Tenchi," her fingers curled around his wrist. He turned over, tugging himself from her grasp. She mouthed his name a final time and phased through the wall into the corridor beyond. Everything was still as it had been those hours ago, only now swathes of watery yellow light were pouring in through the windows. From downstairs she saw the bright circle of the nearest star rising climbing through the ranged mountains and into a cold grey sky. The wind kicked across the garden in front of the house, rattling the glass in its panes. Ryoko shivered at the chill, miserable sight. She made her way to the sofa, curled up on her side amongst the cushions and let her eyes drift shut. - "Don't bother." Mihoshi turned in the kitchen doorway, staring back into the room. "Ryoko?" Ryoko sat up from her place on the sofa, blinking as she ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. "The power's out." "Oh, I didn't notice you... it is?" Mihoshi pulled the neck of her robe closer about her and walked over to the sofa, sitting down at Ryoko's feet. "It seemed cold down here." "Yeah well, I'm sure Washu can sort something out, whenever she drags herself out of that precious lab of hers." Mihoshi smacked her lips. "I could do with some coffee," she said quietly before yawning. "I could do with some sake," Ryoko answered, standing up. "Care to join me?" "Hmm?" "I'm going to the onsen, take a bath," she plucked at the neck of her dress. "Oh, sure. I'll come with you." - "Say, you seem to be up early this morning. Either that or you were really sleeping light when I came down..." "Mmm? Oh," Ryoko finished off her dish and dropped it onto the wooden floor, "that." "Yeah, it didn't seem like you, if you don't mind me saying." "Well, let's just say it wasn't the best of nights for me, okay?" Ryoko answered, slipping down into the water until it came up to her chin. "Really? Did you have a nightmare?" Mihoshi asked, placing her own dish to one side and leaning forward in the water. Ryoko tilted her head, arching her eyebrows. "Something like that," she replied and sank her mouth below the warm water, peering intently into it. "Want to talk about it?" Ryoko shook her head slowly, her distant gaze fixed on the bath's floor. "That's okay, as long as you're feeling better now," Mihoshi continued. Ryoko shrugged and slipped down the edge of the bath, disappearing under the water. A crowd of bubbles popped on the surface and she re-emerged, blinking water out of her eyes. "Say, Mihoshi," she looked over at the girl with a grin, "did you have any plans for the next few days?" "Not outside of an emergency, no. Why? What are you thinking?" "Well, with the power down this seems like a good chance to get everyone out of the house for a while, doesn't it?" "Out of the house?" "You know, go camping or something. Be nice for a change," she studied the girl again, "don't you think?" "Who, everyone?" "No, I doubt we could persuade Washu to come anyway. Same goes for Tenchi's folks, so that'd leave us, Tenchi, Sasami and Her Royal Highness." "I guess I just hadn't thought of anything like it." "Sound good, though?" "Oh yes, I mean, it'd be nice to do something like that. Now that we've got the excuse, too," Mihoshi replied, smiling. With a grin and a slow nod Ryoko sank into the water again. "It's not like there's much to do in the house, anyway," Mihoshi continued, picking her dish up and draining it in one motion. "I just hope the weather's not too bad." The door to the onsen rattled open. Both the bath's occupants looked up as Ayeka walked in, closing the door behind her. "Here you are," she said, faintly out of breath. "I was wondering where... Do either of you happen to know what-" "Power cut," Ryoko interrupted, pouring herself another dish of sake and sitting up in the bath. "Before you get that far," she flashed the princess a grin and downed the alcohol, letting out a long, happy sigh. "Oh, I see," Ayeka replied. "Well, thankyou-" "Wait, is Tenchi not up yet?" Ryoko asked. "Why?" "Well, when I woke him up earlier I told him what had happened. What time is it anyway?" "Woke him up? What do you mean-" Ayeka began, starting forward. "Oh, don't worry," Ryoko shook her head and waved one hand at the girl. "It's not what you think. I only wanted to check he didn't need to get up." Ayeka looked blankly back at her. "His alarm clock's mains powered-" "Oh, I see," she clasped one hand to her chest and exhaled. "Entirely honourable, I can assure you... ooh, speaking of which," Ryoko indicated for her to come over, "we'd like to have a word with you, princess." "What? What about?" she said curtly, stepping to the edge of the bath. Ryoko leaned out of the water and poured a fresh dish of sake before holding it up. "Here." "What's this for?" Ayeka studied the dish, looking down at Ryoko. "Oh, be sociable!" Ryoko laughed, "besides, you'll need it once you hear what we've got in store." "Oh God," she whispered, finished the drink in a single draught and knelt down beside them. "What is it?" "Well, since there's nothing to lose Mihoshi and I were proposing a little outing... nothing big, just a couple of days in the countryside. Something to get us out of the house." Ayeka began to stand up. "No, I don't think so." "Oh well," Ryoko settled back into the water and closed her eyes, "your loss." "Hardly," she turned and made straight for the door. "Whatever will Tenchi make of this?" Ayeka stopped, looking back. "Tenchi? Don't tell me-" "Oh yes, we've already spoken to him about the idea," Ryoko explained, unmoving. "And he agreed?" Ayeka cried, approaching Ryoko. She opened her eyes and grinned at the princess again. With a scowl Ayeka turned and left. The door rattled shut behind her. In the bath Mihoshi was sitting bolt upright, wide-eyed, watching Ryoko jump out of the water and scramble to pick a towel up. "But Ryoko, you haven't-" "Never mind that, quickly, just put this on," she threw the towel across the room as Mihoshi began climbing out of the bath. "Why, where are we-" Mihoshi started as Ryoko phased behind her and lifted her into the air. "Hey, Ryoko!" The two vanished, reappearing in the corridor outside Tenchi's room. Ryoko stepped back, already dressed, as Mihoshi drew the towel closer around her body. "Quickly," Ryoko began, knocking on Tenchi's door. "Go in there and explain the plan to him." There was a murmur from the other side of the door. "Plan? What? The camping-" "Yes! Yes the camping," Ryoko nodded furiously, sliding the door open and propelling Mihoshi through with her other hand. "And for God's sake make out it was your idea!" she shouted through, slamming the door and leaning back against the wall. In his bed Tenchi clawed the covers across his body. "Mi- Mihoshi," he cried out before lowering his voice. "What is it? Is everything okay?" "Oh, yes, yes," she nodded, looking around for a moment before approaching his bed. "I'm sorry for just barging in here, it's just that..." There were three heavy booms against the wall, followed by Ryoko's voice: "get on with it!" Mihoshi turned, shouting back. "All right, all right!" Tenchi shifted on the bed. As Mihoshi turned back to him he spoke up, tentatively pointing to the door. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?" "Oh, it's nothing," Mihoshi promised, "I'm just a little eager to ask you something." Looking at the join of the towel she was holding together at her front Tenchi flinched back against the window. "What? What is it?" he mumbled, dragging a pillow between his hands and working his fingers frantically around the edge. "Well, seeing as the electricity's down, and since we didn't have anything else to do I were wondering if you'd like to go on a little trip," she smiled as he slumped a fraction in the bed and sighed. "Oh, is that all," he said after a moment, looking up. "Sorry, I was just... this just seemed to have Ryoko's fingerprints all over it - what you were saying-" he looked down again, noticing his steadily restless hands and shaking the pillow out of his grasp. He began to chew on his thumbnail, giving Mihoshi a concerned look. "Really? Well, I wouldn't know anything about that," Mihoshi admitted. She pointed at the end of his bed. "Do you-" "No no, go right ahead, please," Tenchi said, encouragingly shaking one hand at her as she sat down. "You were... er-" "I just wanted us to get out of the house for a change, just to spend a few days in the country. I spoke to the other girls about it but they don't want anything to do with it unless you come along too..." she looked across at him. "That's what Ryoko was shouting about just now, she didn't even want me bothering you with this. I don't know, she's probably right," she said, standing up, "I'm sorry, I just got caught up in the idea, I guess." Outside, Ryoko opened her eyes and found herself smiling viciously. "Clever girl," she said to herself. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Ayeka asked, breathlessly coming to a halt on the stairs. "Not you," Ryoko shot her a look. "So, have you decided about our little offer yet?" "I'm not here to talk to you, I want to see Lord Tenchi." Ryoko held up her hand. "One at a time." Mihoshi's laugh burst through the wall from Tenchi's room. Ayeka's eyes widened for a second. On seeing Ryoko's unbroken smile she frowned, her jaw clamped shut. "You're a devious one, Ryoko," she said at last, looking her rival in the eye. "I'll give you that much." "Oh, I can't take all the credit. Mihoshi's got more sides to her than we might have thought. Fortunately for some," she added with a brief laugh. "Really," Ayeka said under her breath. "What do you hope to accomplish with all this?" The door to Tenchi's bedroom slid open. Ryoko grinned. "You'll see." "Oh, were you both waiting for me?" Tenchi asked, stepping out into the corridor after Mihoshi and pulling the door closed behind him. "Something like that," Ryoko said, staring back at Ayeka. "So," she phased out and appeared behind Tenchi, draping one arm around his neck and looking past him at Mihoshi, "don't tell me, he's quite content to stay at home for the next few days, electricity or no? Aren't you, my Tenchi?" "Actually," Mihoshi began. "Actually," Tenchi chimed in, "I like the idea. So can I count on either of you two joining us? And willingly," he snapped at Ryoko, "I don't want you moping around once we get there. If you're going to be miserable then you can just stay here." Ryoko's hand crept up and ruffled his hair. She laughed. "You're so cranky when you've just woken up, and believe me, I should know," she swept past Ayeka and down the stairs. "That..." Ayeka half-turned, clenching her fists before her head snapped back to Tenchi. Her gaze darted across the corridor before meeting his briefly. "I'm sorry about that, I would be delighted to join you on your trip, Lord Tenchi." In a breath she had turned and was stalking down the stairs. "What's this?" Ryoko paused for a second on hearing the voice, "I sense the cogs of someone's mind turning this morning, hmm?" Washu peered up at her daughter with a childishly joyful smile on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about," Ryoko replied, unamused. She stepped around Washu. "Oh my! The most devious scheme yet!" Washu gasped, turning, all the while beaming. "Whatever's my little Ryoko up to?" "You wouldn't be interested." "Maybe not, but I bet Tenchi would be," she began running to the base of the stairs, calling out "oh TEN-" Ryoko swept her mother up in her arms and clapped a hand across her mouth. "Shh! What is it with you?" "Little Washu? Did you say something?" Tenchi appeared on the landing. Ryoko's hand slid down from Washu's face. "Oh, it's nothing, I've found her now," she replied, wriggling free. "Now come along, your mother wants a word with you," she told Ryoko, skipping off to her lab. Ryoko grimaced and strode after her. "I don't like it in here," Ryoko declared, rubbing one shoulder with her hand, her eyes working over every stainless surface, "it's cold. Besides, I was going to get something to eat." "This laboratory is kept at a bracing two hundred and eighty five degrees Kelvin, for your information," Washu replied, "anything more and you get sluggish. Like it or not it keeps you alert, Ryoko. It keeps your mind sharp. Not that you need much help with that, apparently." "What are you talking about?" Ryoko continued to absently study a row of distant, apparently empty tanks which sank into a bed of metallic pipes. All the while trying to fit the waking image to the field of cold, distant stars she had witnessed before. "Oh, I'm so proud!" Washu clasped her hands together. "Finally my daughter is living up to her potential." Ryoko looked back at her. "So come on, tell your mom what you've been plotting," she settled back into her chair and crossed her legs. "Whyever do you want to get everybody out of the house?" Ryoko shrugged. Washu nestled her chin into her palm, digits framing the underside of her face. "Hmmm, either you've become very good at hiding things from our link, or..." "Or what?" Ryoko snapped, letting her arms fall down to her sides. "I'm sick of your games, Washu." "This is intreaguing," the scientist said at last, turning slightly in her chair. "I think I shall have to come along with your little trip to satisfy my scientific curiosi-" "What? No, Washu, you can't! I don't want you there," Ryoko started, taking a step forward. Washu turned her head, staring resolutely back at the girl for a time before Ryoko turned and opened the door. "Yeah, God forbid you should ever be there when I _do_ need you, mom," she shouted, slamming the door after her. The hollow chime above the door rattled for a time and fell silent. In her chair Washu sagged forward, her outstretched hands cradling her face. The tireless hum of the machines paved neatly over her sobbing. - It was already evening by the time Ryoko sat up from the warm rut she had carved into the sofa. Outside the sky was advancing in relentless tones of lead, made bearable only by the last hour of the sun shrinking behind the mountains. She rubbed her eyes. On the table two candles had been set, guttering in the advancing gloom. Beside them Mihoshi was craning out of her seat, twisting the book she held into the jumping yellow light. She looked up at Ryoko. "Oh, you're up at last." "Mmm," Ryoko mumbled, making a titanic effort to yaw herself upright. "What time is it?" Mihoshi looked down at her watch, placing the book face-down on the table. "Just gone seven. You know you've been asleep since... wow, it must have been noon. Are you sure you're feeling okay?" "No," Ryoko laughed and stretched, giving a long pained sigh and collapsing back against the sofa. "You're just catching up for last night, I'll bet." "Yeah, and I'll be doing the same tomorrow morning if I'm not careful," she said, staring at one of the candles through half-open eyes. "Hmm?" Mihoshi intoned, inquisitive. Ryoko turned her head, glancing out of the windows for a moment before turning back. "Say, do you know if Washu's out of her lab?" "No, I haven't seen her all day. Not since this morning, anyway. Was she talking to you?" "Damn," Ryoko said under her breath before looking up. "Oh, yeah," she added casually, shaking her head. "I meant since then." Mihoshi looked up over Ryoko, staring through the mound of equipment that had become massed in the living room. "Um... no, I'm sure I haven't seen her." "Oh, well," Ryoko sighed and stood up, stretching her legs as she walked around the sofa. "She might be buried under all this, for all we know," Ryoko suggested, leaning over and tugging at the canvas of the nearest tent. "How many of tents do we have, anyway?" "Three. They're all reasonable, though, no holes or anything like that." "Three? That means someone's going to have to share with Tenchi," Ryoko grinned. "What? Is-" "Yes. Washu's coming too." Ryoko admitted. "S-o," she laboured the word, walking back over to Mihoshi and sitting down, "are we going to draw lots or what?" Mihoshi looked back at her. "For who gets to sleep with Tenchi." "Oh!" Mihoshi exclaimed, shuffling back in her seat and clutching her book to her body. She laughed for a moment before looking up and seeing Ryoko's expression. Her laughter faded out. "Um, can we really do that? Shouldn't Tenchi be in on this?" "Perhaps," Ryoko tilted her head, glancing up at the ceiling. "But I don't see what difference it would make; he'd ignore us whatever we arranged." Mihoshi said nothing, leaning back forward in her seat and returning to her book as Ryoko's eyes drifted half-closed again. She propped her elbows on her knees, dropping her chin into her cupped hands. Her eyes drifted shut until she heard Mihoshi replace her book on the table. The chair creaked as the detective stood up and stretched, picking up the candle. "You want anything from the kitchen?" she asked. Ryoko shook her head. "Are you sure? Have you eaten anything today?" "I'm fine," Ryoko said, closing her eyes again and sighing as Mihoshi walked off. She came back a moment later, chewing at one corner of a slice of bread and staring impassively out of the window. The candle clattered back onto the table. Mihoshi took her seat again, sinking into it, arranging the pillows close around her as she watched the low scudding clouds. "Looks like rain," she observed, tearing another piece of bread off. "Hmmm?" Ryoko turned and glanced through the window. The evening had swallowed everything except the open ground before the house, and this was creeping in as a long shadow crawled out from under the trees. "We'll see." "I hope not," Mihoshi added, finishing off her snack. "Seven, you said?" Ryoko asked, straightening up. "What?" "The time. You said it was seven," she looked up at Mihoshi. The girl nodded. "So where is everyone?" "I think Sasami's asleep, since we're leaving so early tomorrow morning. I don't know about Ayeka and Tenchi, though. Probably in their rooms, too." "Great," Ryoko murmured and punched the cushion under her. "Just great. Why couldn't we have left tonight?" Mihoshi glanced up before retreating back into her book. Soon she had curled her legs up under her, leaning against one arm of her chair and precariously mounting one of the squat candles on top of it. Settled, she ploughed though a consecutive lifetime of pages as Ryoko continued to not watch her, entirely absorbed. It came as a quiet shock when Mihoshi gave a loud yawn and unfolded her legs back to the floor. Outside the evening had set. There was no sun. "Ooh, it's cold," Mihoshi rubbed her hands together, hunching forward. Ryoko started gently in her place, watching the girl as she drew her knees up to her chin and began rubbing her shins. "Say, Mihoshi," she began, smiling. "Mmm?" "What you said this morning, to Tenchi... about the trip..." she saw Mihoshi's expression flicker for a second before she smiled back knowingly and gave a small nod. "Well, you said to pretend it was my idea," Mihoshi replied, quickly glancing down at the table. "Why? Did it surprise you?" "You're quite the natural at it," Ryoko observed, grinning and leaning back, spreading her arms across the back of the sofa. "Well, I want to go on this trip," she confessed, looking up, "it's not like I make a habit of acting this way. I felt bad enough doing it at the time. And you shouting at me didn't help." Ryoko laughed. "I'm sorry. I'll have more faith in you in future." Mihoshi looked away, resting her chin between her knees. "In everything, in everything!" Ryoko quickly added, reaching out with one arm. "Don't worry, I don't just mean like that. Hell, you saw me with Ayeka." Her arm fell back to her side. Mihoshi looked up again. "All this fighting with her, you just learn to think two steps ahead. I didn't think it had affected you like that." "It hasn't. Being in the police has." "Well..." Ryoko made as if to say something else before she smiled and shook her head. "Anyway, you want something to drink?" Mihoshi shook her head. "That's all right, thanks, I was thinking of turning in." "Are you sure?" Ryoko asked quickly. "Just one drink, hmm, it'll help you sleep anyway," she smiled as best she could, sighing from a tight chest when Mihoshi nodded. "Well, okay, but just one. I don't want a hangover tomorrow. We have to be up at five." "Yeah, yeah," Ryoko grinned, reappearing and pouring two glasses worth of alcohol. "The sooner the better," she raised hers, "meanwhile this helps smooth things over. Cheers." One of the candles had burned out by the time Ryoko reappeared in the lounge. She had returned from Mihoshi's room, carrying a blanket with her which she duly wrapped around the sleeping form. Mihoshi turned over in the chair, pulling the cover tight around her before lying still again. Ryoko studied her for a moment before phasing out and into the corridor outside Tenchi's room. It was darker here and warmer. She fancied she could just hear the stirring of silent bodies beyond the walls. Blood marched in her head as she pressed her ear to Tenchi's door. The same stillness threatened from inside his bedroom; she didn't know if she imagined or heard him breathing. Someone coughed in the room opposite. Ryoko appeared through the door, peering at the familiar shape curled up in Tenchi's bed. She stayed watching him for a few moments before reappearing back in the lounge. Mihoshi was still passed out, her stretched leg dangerously close to the bottle on the tabletop. Ryoko reached down, flung herself onto the couch, drained what was left of the bottle's contents and promptly joined her co-conspirator in sleep. - "What's this?" Washu squeezed through her doorway, hemmed in by the pile of equipment stacked next to it. The portal quit behind her, leaving her peering around the room, frowning. "Well this won't do," she declared, clapping her hands and nodding as a faint glow spread throughout the lounge. "There we are." Peering over the back of the sofa she saw her daughter's eye flick open. The pupil drew in, darkening, already trained upon Washu. Ryoko's mouth twisted into a luxurious grin. "Is it time?" she asked. "It's morning, if that's what you mean," Washu replied, still looking down at her. "Anyway, what's got you so spry? Usually you can't-" "What time is it?" Washu frowned. "Just gone four-thirty. Why?" Ryoko's hand snapped on the back of the sofa and she vaulted over it, landing softly and making for the stairs. "You wake Mihoshi up," she told Washu, pausing midway and fighting to keep from smiling. "Leave Tenchi and the others to me." "Wait a minute, Ryoko!" Washu protested, moving to the base of the steps. Ryoko had already vanished, the flight beyond the first floor creaking with every measured step she took. Sighing, Washu sat down on the sofa, looking over at Mihoshi. "She got you too, huh?" - It was beside Tenchi's door that she paused, half-crouched, flexing her fingers before barely weighing their tips against the wooden panel. She clamped the tip of her tongue between her teeth, quietly wracked with sobs of laughter as one hand slid through the door. It remained there for a moment, twisting blindly before she drew it back and began to ease the door to one side, determined not to cheat this time. The runners were mute, the entrance half open as she made one final glance around her and side-stepped into the room. With a click the door shut behind her. She turned, an ally of the darkness, and stalked towards Tenchi's bed. He was lying with his back to her, knees drawn partway to his chest, only his head showing from under the sheets. She reached down with one hand, slipping it under the sheets and beside Tenchi's back before testing the mattress with it. Her hand was delightfully snug next to him. Ryoko became aware of how cool the room now felt to her, and of how warm and safe and close the inside of his bed promised to be. She knelt down, reaching her other arm under the blanket after the first, immersing it. Her head lolled onto his mattress. She shut her eyes, daring to inch her hand towards his back, barely breathing as her fingertips pressed against him. There was no change in the fetch and miss of his breathing. With a sigh Ryoko opened her eyes, grinning once more. After a moment she reached out, flattening her hand against him, pausing again, waiting for him to bolt. He was still as she worked her hand to his side, holding him. Ryoko glanced over her shoulder at the dark, occupied square of the door. Turning back she began to ease herself up off her knees, leaning into the bed, one leg sliding under the sheets. She rolled onto the edge of the bed, barely daring to breathe. Tenchi gave a deep breath and uncurled a fraction, pressing his legs back against Ryoko's. She bit her lip and brought both her legs under the blanket next to Tenchi's, leaving only her torso peeled away from him. She leaned forward. Her face brushed the back of his neck. With a shiver she realised where she was; sunk deep into Tenchi's warm, forgiving bed, pressed entirely against him. Ryoko shut her eyes, wondering when she had last known comfort like this. At his side her hand began to creep forward, up, moving across his chest until it could feel the slow working of his heart. Instinctively she pressed Tenchi to her, burying her face against his neck, recklessly hungry. She kissed his shoulder once and he murmured wordlessly, drawing himself tighter against her, curling her body around his. She kissed him softly again, only wishing there was not the last formality of her dress between them. Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Ryoko's ears pricked up. "Ryoko?" Washu called out tentatively. The steps resumed outside. "Ryoko?" louder this time. Ryoko propped herself up on one elbow, looking around the room. One hand barely closed over Tenchi's ear. "Washu!" she hissed. The footsteps stopped. "Lil Ryoko?" Washu called back knowingly. Ryoko's double appeared in the corridor, glowering. "Oh, I think I know where the rest of you is!" she declared gleefully and hopped past the form to between the two doors. "Now who should I wake up first?" Washu asked, turning smartly on her heels to face Ryoko's double. "Washu!" "Pretty awkward no matter who gets up first, isn't it?" "Washu... don't," the double sagged as if its strings went slack. "Just stop it." "Well someone's surly this morning, aren't they?" The door to Ayeka's room drew open. Ryoko's double snapped upright, eyes wide before she melted back into the wall. Ayeka stepped into the hallway, blinking. In the middle of yawning she froze on seeing Washu peering up at Tenchi's door, one arm raised to the handle as if conducting. "Miss Washu!" "Well he's adamant enough," Washu declared, facing Ayeka. "What do you mean?" "'Just five more minutes' he says. What have you girls been doing to that poor boy?" "Doing to him? What do you-" "Come on, come on," Washu insisted, ushering Ayeka down the landing and to the lip of the stairs. "Someone's got to make sure you girls don't wind up killing him." "Miss Washu!" Ayeka declared, struggling a step ahead and pausing. She looked back at Washu and began down the stairs herself. "I'm quite capable of moving myself, and I'm quite sure I don't know what you're talking about. It's no secret as to who's the cause of Tenchi's unres-" "You're just like Ryoko when you wake up, you know that? I'd hate to think how Tenchi'd feel waking up next to either one of you." Washu said, jumping the last two steps. Sitting up in her chair Mihoshi started at the sound before shaking her head and yawning. Washu turned to face Ayeka. "I, on the other hand, am quite the diplomat. Tenchi wouldn't have all these problems if he'd just wake up next to me every morning." "Washu, please!" Ayeka snapped. She looked across the room. "Where is Ryoko anyway?" Ryoko strained to hear the voices recede, almost daring to creep up in the bed a fraction before she lay back down and took her hand from Tenchi's ear. Her grin broke out again, her throat seizing around a laugh. She was content to be silent. Taking the covers in her hand she pulled them up over her head, burying her face back against Tenchi's neck. She stayed there until the air became too hot, sitting up and peering out into the darkness around her. Two thin blades of moonlight were shining through the window blinds. Slowly Ryoko reached up, peeling away a corner of the blind and looking through the window. The ragged shape of the moon was set alone against the sky. Ryoko shivered and retreated back against Tenchi, slipping her arm around him again. Outside there was the sound of a vehicle pulling up in front of the house. Her arms tightened around him momentarily. She leaned down, kissed the side of his face once, murmuring "I don't have to be scared here, Tenchi" and disappeared from the bed into the hallway outside. There she absently tugged at her sleeves until they covered her knuckles, her breath coming quickly. She swallowed, realising her mouth was dry. Looking up she noticed Sasami in the doorway to Ayeka's room. "Ah, Ryoko, good morning," Sasami said, stretching. "Looking forward to this little excursion?" Ryoko asked, folding her arms behind her head and reclining in mid air. "Not as much as you are, I think," Sasami laughed. Ryoko flipped over backwards onto her feet and spread her arms for a moment. "Does it show that much?" "Yeah, I don't think I've seen you this happy in a while," Sasami continued. "Well, I..." Ryoko burst out laughing. "It's already turning out to be a lot of fun. Anyway, could you do me a favour?" "Sure, what is it?" "Could you wake Tenchi up? I'd do it, but you know how he is about me going into his room," she laughed again and thanked Sasami before gliding off down the stairs. Sasami walked up to Tenchi's door. It opened in front of her and Tenchi stepped out. - Noboyuki had pulled the van up as near to the front door as he could. A light rain was falling. Aside from the soft glow inside the house and the lights on the van it was dark, the moon smothered by clouds. Immediately he began shuttling the camping gear from the living room to the back of the vehicle. By the time he was finished his passengers were congregating in the lounge. "Well, is everyone here?" he asked, clapping his hands together. "I think so," Tenchi replied, flanked by Ryoko and Ayeka. He cast a quick glance at each as they filed out of the house with him, finding himself sandwiched between them on the back seat. The van pulled away. Tenchi felt Ryoko lean against him, one hand moving across her body and slowly closing around his arm. He looked at her. She was staring out of her window. "Err, Ryoko," he ventured, closing his hand over hers and beginning to prise it away. Ryoko suddenly turned to face him, looking down at her hand. "Oh," she slipped it from between his fingers in surprise. "What are you doing?" Ayeka asked, leaning around Tenchi, her own hands latching onto Tenchi's other arm. "It's okay, Ayeka," Tenchi said at last. Ryoko grinned and pressed herself up against him. One hand grabbed his arm, the other quickly wrapped itself across his waist. "Mmm, Tenchi," she murmured, burying her face against his neck. "Ryoko!" Ayeka shouted, pulling Ryoko's arm from around Tenchi. "Hey!" Ryoko said, sitting up. "I was only trying to catch up on some sleep on Tenchi's shoulder." She turned to Tenchi. "You wouldn't mind that, would you?" "Well," he looked back at Ayeka. She was staring at Ryoko. "Only if Ayeka can, too." "Of course," Ryoko declared, resting her head on his shoulder and shutting her eyes. She tugged Tenchi's arm to her side, feeling him shift slightly as Ayeka did the same thing. Ryoko stayed this way for another ten minutes before opening her eyes. Across from her Washu was sitting back, regarding her daughter with a look of gentle amusement. Next to her Mihoshi and Sasami had already fallen back to sleep. Ryoko leaned forward a fraction, trying to see around Tenchi to Ayeka. Washu caught her eye, nodding once with a conspiratorial grin. "Thanks," she said earnestly across their link before letting her head slip down off Tenchi's shoulder and sink slowly into his lap. Tenchi's whole body froze underneath her. She turned, winking up at him before busying herself settling herself against him. Bringing her hands up she rested her head on them, fingers already gently squeezing Tenchi's thigh. He began to squirm underneath her, prompting Ryoko to turn over, resting her face between his legs. His body stopped moving, one arm held rigid over Ryoko's prone form. His breath came back slowly as he realised Ryoko had stopped. Still it took him a moment to dare to lower his hand, doing so on Ryoko's side. He let it stay there for a moment before squeezing it gently. Ryoko turned slowly and looked up at him. She was smiling. Before Tenchi could do anything she had sat up next to him, holding his arm tightly around her body, kissed him once on his cheek and settled back onto his shoulder. Tenchi looked down for a second. As he looked up Washu caught his eye. She looked decidedly pleased. He dropped his chin onto his chest and closed his eyes. It was light when he came to, uncomfortably warm between the two bodies. Outside it was still overcast. The rain was hardly coming down. The van lurched into a pothole, shaking him awake and upright. He negotiated his arm from Ayeka as delicately as he could, rubbing the side of his neck and moving the coat that had been draped across his body. Ryoko shifted slightly at his side, tugging at his arm and murmuring "Tenchi, you'll get cold." She put the coat back across his lap, lapsing back against him as she did. "Come on, Ryoko," he said, picking her hand from around him and raising his voice slightly. "We're almost there now." Nobody answered him. "Careful," Ryoko said back to him, closing her arms around his body and running the tip of her tongue up his neck. Tenchi shivered. He made to look at Ryoko, stopping and glancing throughout the vehicle first. He turned to her, his eyes wide. "Ryoko!" he barely breathed. She peered up at him, playfully innocent. "What?" punctuating her question by gently licking his neck again. "Don't you like it?" Tenchi looked around again before bringing his face next to hers. "Ryoko," he whispered, "don't put me in this situation, please." "What situation?" she whispered back. "Nobody has to know, Tenchi. So what if I want to hug you? Or kiss you when you get up? Or anything else," Ryoko leaned forward; their noses touched. She grinned, one hand moving under the coat on Tenchi's lap. "Ryoko." Tenchi said again. "Okay, okay," her hand stopped. "But so what if I do? If you don't like it then just say so, Tenchi," she looked him in his eyes. After a moment he began to speak. His breath caught in his throat. Tenchi looked down, barely shaking his head. "Tenchi?" Ryoko asked. He looked up. Her hand stirred across his lap, prompting a look of wild panic on Tenchi's face. As he opened his mouth to speak she pressed her lips against his. He struggled blindly, pulling his head away, still staring back at her. Ryoko laughed under her breath. The sound ended in a sigh as she leaned towards him again. Again he didn't move, only once darting a glance out of the corner of his eyes towards the sleeping forms opposite him. As Ryoko's nose brushed against his attention snapped back. He found himself staring into her eyes, unable to move. One of Ryoko's hands had traced its way up his body, her fingers feathering the hair on the back of Tenchi's head. "It's fun being awake with you, Tenchi," she said. "Especially when nobody else is." "Ryoko," he smiled and turned away. Ryoko craned towards him until she caught his eyes again. He swallowed and looked up at her. "Don't you think?" she persisted. "I don't mind sharing the darkness with you." Tenchi looked up at her. Ryoko's eyes shut, she inclined her head. The hesitation of joy flickered out of Tenchi's expression for a moment. His eyes searched before him, blinking. His free arm even reached out towards her, his eyes seeking to engage hers again. She laughed at his puzzled expression, ruffling his hair before straightening herself up. "Ryoko?" Tenchi asked, his voice hushed. "Are you okay?" The van drew to a halt. Tenchi glanced past Ryoko, looking through the window behind her. "What, are we there?" "Sure are," Noboyuki replied. The handbrake creaked once and the vehicle's low trembling died beneath them. Noboyuki stepped out, the door banging shut behind him. The sleeping bodies in the van began to stir. Ryoko peered up at the overcast sky and shivered. "You know there's only three tents," she turned to face Tenchi, "don't you, my Tenchi?" "Three tents?" he asked as if trying the words for the first time. "That's right," Washu declared. Ryoko and Tenchi started. "You!" Ryoko said. "How long have you been listening?" Washu laughed and sprang to her feet, her voice rising. "Three tents and six of us... oh my!" She clapped her hands to her face. "Who's going to have to share with Tenchi?" "Share?" he replied, finding himself sinking back into his seat, his chest tightening. "Share?" Ayeka did her best to pretend she had never been asleep. "Washu, what are you-" "My little guinea pig and I have some unfinished business, don't we?" Washu said with a grin, throwing herself onto Tenchi. Tenchi felt his throat seize. The seat creaked behind him as he pushed himself harder against it. Moving as one Ryoko and Ayeka reached out and flung Washu from him. She landed heavily against Mihoshi, still chuckling. Mihoshi gave a quiet cry and opened her eyes. "You girls," Washu continued. "Washu? What is it?" Mihoshi asked, trying to extricate the scientist from across her. "Poor Tenchi, look at him. You girls have got him so worked up over this," Washu let Mihoshi guide her back to her feet. "Now if you'd just let me take your mind off this," she began towards Tenchi again. Ryoko threw herself across him, her tone fierce. "Oh no you don't, Washu. None of your experiments; Tenchi doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to," she pressed her face to his neck, shutting her eyes. Her voice fell almost to a whisper, every word alive with a sensuous tremor. "Within reason, of course." "Be quiet!" Ayeka shouted, clutching Tenchi next to her. "Tenchi won't be doing anything of that sort, will you, Tenchi?" "Please!" Mihoshi said, raising her voice. The van went silent. "Can't we just stop this for a few days? We've been fighting all the rest of the time, and that's never got us anywhere, so I don't see what spoiling this trip with arguing's going to achieve!" She noticed every pair of eyes rooted on her, shook her head vaguely and looked down. "I..." "Mihoshi's right," Tenchi said at last, prising the two girls off him and sitting forward. "Can we please just spend a pleasant few days here without having to worry about everybody falling out? If sharing a tent with me really means so much to you then we'll work something out while we're here. With-out fighting," he shared the last two words between Ryoko and Ayeka. "Now... now you two shake hands over this," it sounded more like a suggestion than an order. The two girls continued to regard each other. Finally Tenchi swallowed, barely took hold of each of their hands, clapped them together in front of him and instructed "now shake." Ryoko and Ayeka traded glances between each other and Tenchi. The curious smile Ryoko wore found itself mirrored on Ayeka's face. Their hands shook, lingered, and parted. "Hey, come on, I loaded all this stuff," Noboyuki shouted. "Coming, dad," Tenchi called back, squeezing to the door and getting out. Sasami was laughing quietly to herself, watching the bemused faces of the girls around her. Ryo-Ohki hopped down from her lap with a loud "Miya!" and scurried out of the door after Tenchi. "Ryo-Ohki! Come back!" Sasami laughed, following the cabbit. Ryoko stood up, tapping Mihoshi on the shoulder. She looked up. "Good work there," she said before stepping out the door and calling back over her shoulder "come on, I'm sure you don't want just me getting into Tenchi's good books." "Are you sure you know the way back here, dad?" Tenchi asked as Noboyuki passed him another armful of gear. "Of course! The road's only about a half mile back that way," he sat on the lip of the van's boot, pointing down the overgrown track to where it was swept up into the forest. Putting his armful down Tenchi peered along the trail before turning and sizing up the rest of their surroundings. The clearing they were in lasted for about a quarter of a mile of gently rolling grassland. One side grew into the wooded slope of a dark green mountain, the other simply dissolved into trees for as far as he could see. In the distance the nearest of a chain of brooding peaks was visible, half buried in cloud. At the end of the clearing the land dipped, giving a view of a narrow, meandering valley. This too was marked definitively by strings of foothills. He guessed there were more mountains beyond them. "Sure doesn't look like it," Tenchi replied finally. "Well, even if I couldn't find you I don't think you'd have any regrets," Noboyuki laughed, slapping Tenchi on the back. "D-a-d!" he complained. "Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't," Ryoko said, walking up to him. "In fact, how much would it cost for you to forget we were out here for a few extra days?" "Ryoko, please!" Tenchi said again. Noboyuki laughed. "You'll be fine, son. Go and have a good time." "He will," Ryoko promised, throwing her arm around Tenchi's shoulder and leading him away from the van. Ayeka looked up from where she was picking the first of the three tents apart with Mihoshi and Washu. "Ryoko!" she shouted. "Hey, calm down," she laughed and squeezed Tenchi next to her a fraction before letting her arm slip from around him. Ayeka turned back to her work. "Say, Tenchi, do you want to go for a walk later today? Once everything's set up?" "A walk?" he asked. Ryoko thought she saw him take half a step back from her. "Just a walk," she smiled. "No tricks, I promise you." He deliberated silently for a second. "Well, sure. I'd enjoy that," he replied. "You would?" Ryoko asked, leaping forward and squeezing him in her arms again as he nodded. "Ohh, Tenchi!" she exclaimed in joy, letting him go. She reached out and held his hand, walking with him towards the others. "Only if you're good, though," Tenchi added, a quiet laugh in his voice. Ryoko sidled up next to him, lowering her voice. "Oh, I'll be good all right," she said, laughing with him. "Ryoko!" he exclaimed, his face set in a rictus of smiling. "Well I will!" she replied innocently. Tenchi said nothing. He turned away from her, his hand squeezing hers once and dropping back to his side. Washu and Ayeka had already got the best part of the first tent into the air. As Ryoko watched Tenchi went over to them and began helping Ayeka hammer the pegs into the ground. Some distance away she could see Mihoshi just visible above the grass. A moment later the back of the second tent slowly worked its way upright. Ryoko went over to her, finding Mihoshi bent over a peg she was nailing into the earth. "I'd offer you a hand but you seem to be doing all right as you are." "Hmm," Mihoshi looked up, "oh, thanks," she replied, disappearing the end of the metal hook into the mud with a loud thud. She got up off her knees and propped the other end of the tent up with another pole. "You hold that, I'll hammer these ones in," Ryoko offered, holding her hand out. "Oh, if you're sure," Mihoshi replied, handing over the mallet and sitting down at the edge of the tent. "Thanks." "No problem," Ryoko said, driving another peg down. "Say, Mihoshi, do you mind if Tenchi has this tent?" "No, why?" "Well," Ryoko cast a glance back at the other tent before looking at Mihoshi and grinning. "This one's nicely out of the way, isn't it?" Mihoshi smiled and looked over at the other tent. Only the top was visible above the grass. "Plus it's in a hollow," Ryoko added, striking the last pin into place and looking up. "It is? Well, um, whatever could that mean?" Mihoshi asked knowingly, pressing a finger to her forehead and staring up into space. She broke into laughter at Ryoko's expression. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist." Ryoko sat down next to her, unable to stop herself smiling. "We've really had you wrong, haven't we?" "I just don't think you've had a chance to see me at my best yet," Mihoshi admitted. She gave a small shrug and stretched her legs out into the grass, propping her arms behind her. "So you were hoping to get Tenchi out here by himself, too?" "Maybe," Mihoshi cocked her head to one side. "Wow, I really didn't know the competition was so strong." They sat in silence for a moment. Sasami went running between the two groups, chasing Ryo-Ohki through the grass. "So are you serious about Tenchi?" Ryoko asked at last. Mihoshi looked at her. "As serious as Ayeka and I, that is," Ryoko added. "I don't know," Mihoshi replied, looking back at her feet. She stretched one foot towards the top of the grass, critically admiring the mud that clung to her ankle. "Well, how far would you go for him?" "Go for him?" Mihoshi let her leg drift back to the ground. "What do you-" "Would you die for him?" The question seemed almost a throwaway comment as she asked it. "Hey, you two!" Washu was calling them. "Are you going to help us at all?" Mihoshi glanced at Ryoko. "Go ahead if you want," Ryoko said, folding her arms behind her head and lying back. The wind caught in the tent, flapping one side of it like the livid wall of a heart before it died down. "I'm going to stay here for a while." Without a word Mihoshi stood up and walked off. Ryoko watched her go. Once she had vanished Ryoko guessed that it couldn't have been later than ten in the morning. The wind changed again, carrying snatches of conversation to her. She heard Tenchi saying something, the van door slamming shut and then the gradual grind of it moving off. In a minute it had gone. In another minute, she reasoned, it would have vanished into the trees and be lost to them. She smiled and stretched out more, letting her eyes drift shut. It almost seemed that now their group would have to remain there. "Enjoying yourself?" Ryoko opened one eye. Washu was standing at her feet, one hand propped on a hip, her expression unreadable. "Not as much as I could be," Ryoko mused, letting her eye close again. She rolled her head back. There was a quiet tap on the side of the tent. "Hmmm?" Washu sat next to her. There was another tap on the tent. Something wet pecked once at Ryoko's shin. "And just what have you and that Mihoshi been plotting? I dread to think what the pair of you might be dreaming up." "Quite the scheme, yes," Ryoko said with a grin. "Oh?" Washu leaned across her, peering down at her daughter's face. "You're going to team up with her to get Ten-chi?" Ryoko's eyes opened. She sat up, her face advancing on Washu's. "What? No!" she stopped herself, lying back down with her legs still in the rain. "Not like _that_. At least, I don't think that's what Mihoshi's after." "But what about you, hmm? Come on, you can tell your mom." "I thought you already knew," Ryoko grumbled, turning and facing the side of the tent. Unfazed, Washu continued, the same child-like joy audible in her voice. "Well, it's not like it's ever been a secret, my dear. And with what you've been doing to Tenchi as of late..." she laughed. "So, now that you've got him where you want him what are you going to do next? What's the continuation of my brilliant daughter's plan?" Ryoko rolled over, finding Washu sitting staring eagerly at her. She propped herself up on one elbow, levelling a stare back at the scientist. "Should I even trust you with this, Washu?" she laughed quietly and shook her head. "After all I've done for you today?" Washu asked, taken aback. "I know that," Ryoko explained, before quickly adding "do you think I'd be telling you this if I didn't?" "So, come on," Washu set her hands on her knees and leaned forward intently. "Well," Ryoko ran one hand through her hair, yawning, "he's already agreed to go on a walk with me later." "Alone?" "If I have anything to do with it. And hopefully then I'll be able to convince him it's only fair to let me spend at least one night with him." "And once you do?" "Hey!" Ryoko leaned back. "That's between me and Tenchi," she smiled until her teeth showed, letting out a low, contented purr. "And what if everyone else is planning the same thing?" Washu paused. "Even me?" "Washu!" Ryoko cried, grabbing the front of Washu's collar. "You listen, there's only one person Tenchi's going to end up with when this is over, and that's _me_." "You're not going to get him acting like that," Washu said. Ryoko let her go and slumped back to the floor of the tent. "Hey, Ryo-Ohki!" Washu looked up. The cabbit came running into the tent, miaowing furiously and jumping onto Washu. She cradled Ryo-Ohki to her bosom as the cabbit tried to shake itself, its fur wet. "There you are!" Sasami declared, stepping into the tent. "She was looking for wild carrots, I think. Then it started raining." "Miaow! Miaow!" Ryo-Ohki protested. Washu hugged the cabbit to her bosom more firmly. "Come on, you can look for carrots later. You'll just get wet if you try now," she explained, stroking Ryo-Ohki's head. "Miyaa," she keened reluctantly before resigning herself to Washu's attentions. Sasami sat down, holding the tent's flap open with one hand and peering out across the clearing. She looked down. "Ryoko, your legs are getting wet." "I'll live," she replied, mindfully driving one of her heels back and forth until it formed a dark rut in the grass. "Do you think it'll let up soon?" Sasami asked, looking at Washu. Washu crawled next to her, still placating Ryo-Ohki, and looked up at the sky. The clouds went on to the indistinct horizon in every direction; a symphony of grey. "Hope so," Washu said at last. She glanced over in the direction of the other tents. Turning back she saw Ryoko staring past her. Washu shuffled back from the opening. Ryoko did nothing. One leg drew itself against her chest, her head resting on its knee, her mouth describing only a tight line, her attention still fixed on the same distant point. She narrowed her eyes, her expression that of someone not wanting to watch what they do next. - The End of Part One