No Need For Zero-Part 3 No Need For Another Lover "Sasami, you've really outdone yourself again!! How do you manage to cook such wonderful food?!?!" "Hehe, thank you grandfather!" "He's right Sasami! How do you manage this?" "Well Tenchi, I pick food everyone likes and throw it in a pot!! Hehehe" "Well, you heard her, lets eat!!!" With that the spring celebration started. There was food on every table in every form! Music was playing and laughter was heard. Games were being played and everyone was happy....except one person. (Look at him, laughing with her! She doesn't deserve him! I've survived their little coziness with each other for a year now, and I can't help but want Tenchi even more!! I can't believe this!) Ayeka, hiding in the shadows of the stairs, was crying at the scene before her. (I have no part in this celebration!) She left for the lake outside in a rush, but careful enough that no one saw her. (One day he'll wake up and realize what he missed with her instead of me! I should be happy for him, but...*sob* she's not worth it!!) She began crying uncontrolably on the edge of the lake. (I should just throw myself in the lake...no one would care...! But,... I wouldnt be able to kill myself with Tenchi still around...I live just to see him...but not with her!!!) She stood up and walked to knee deep in the lake, hesitating whether or not to jump in. (I got it! If I pretend to be drowning, he will come and rescue me, that would distract him from Ryoko!) With that she mentally prepared herself for the cold water. Ayeka jumped in the lake and began screaming for help. "HELP!! SOME ONE!!!! I CAN'T SWIM!!! HELP!!!" From inside the Masaki house... "What is that screaming?" "Tenchi! Tenchi! Ayeka is drowning! She can't swim! Help her!!!!" Cried Sasami. Tenchi, and the gang rushed outside to see Ayeka splashing for help in the lake, periodically disappearing under the water. "Ayeka! Hold on!" "Tenchi, I'll get her!" "No, Ryoko stay here!" Tenchi threw off his shirt and dove into the black, icy water of the lake. (Ayeka...where are you?) He rose to the surface to catch his breath when all he saw was wispy strands of purple hair sinking to bottom of the lake. (AYEKA!!) Ryoko, on the shore, could sense his distress, and was hesitating to jump in after him. Tenchi panically searched for Ayeka's body, when his foot hit something in the water. He turned quickly and found Ayeka suspended in the water next to him. He grabbed her waist and tried to swim as fast as his wobbly legs could carry him. He soon felt the air running low in his lungs, and began to panic. Up ahead he could see the light of the moon shining bright. He burst threw the top of the water, gasping for breath, and still holding Ayeka. He brought her head out of the water, as he heard her coughing and also gasping for breath. "Ayeka!!" Sasami cried. Tenchi slowly swam to the edge of the lake and placed Ayeka on the ground. He prayed that she was conscious and could breath. Ayeka coughed up water and slowly opened her eyes. "Te..Tenchi?" "Oh Ayeka!!! Tenchi, you saved her!" Sasami then glomped her older sister with happiness. "Hey, Sasami, I'm okay...*cough* *cough*" "Tenchi, could you carry Ayeka to her room, she needs sleep" "Sure Sasami." Tenchi carefully picked up Ayeka in his arms and started up the path to the house. Ayeka hid a smile and wrapped her arms around Tenchi and placed her head on his chest. "Oh, Tenchi, you saved me. Thank..." She then "passed out" (Poor Ayeka, she must be really scared and tired, I should stay with her tonight incase she wakes up scared) He walked in the house, and carried her upstairs to her room. He carefully placed her on her bed and sat on the floor next to her. He then brushed the hair of her face, and got comfortable on the floor. (It's going to be a long day...) Ayeka coughed and sighed and got up, "looking confused" "Where am I? Tenchi why are you here? Why are my clothes wet?" "Ayeka...don't you remember? You fell in the lake?" "Oh...yes...Tenchi, I'm so cold...." "You have wet cloths on...here" He handed her his shirt, and turned around. Ayeka quickly changed and got under the sheets. "Thank you Tenchi." "Your welcome Ayeka, you should get some sleep." Of course with the excitement of what happened Ayeka wasn't near tired. She was a little wiped out from swallowing water...that wasn't planned. She pretended to go to sleep for a bit and then got up crying. "Ayeka...what's wrong?" "I'm so scared!!! I thought I was going to die! If you didn't come, Tenchi, I would have died." She cried. "Ayeka, don't worry, I'm here" With that, he climbed next to her and held her tight as if to keep her worries out. Ayeka after crying a little still ended up falling asleep in his arms and so did Tenchi. (My Tenchi, this is what is real! You and me as one! If only I could make this last....) The Next Morning (Another day of surviving Tenchi's love for Ryoko...wait, wasn't he here with me?) She noticed that Tenchi was gone and she was alone in her room. She sighed and got changed. Then she stepped out of room and smelled Sasami's cooking downstairs. "Oh Good Morning Ayeka! We missed you at breakfast!" "I missed breakfast?" "Yes, Kiyone, and Mihoshi went on patrol, Mr. Masaki is at work, Grandfather is in the shrine, and Ryoko and Tenchi went into town for some groceries. (*sigh* Ryoko is still with Tenchi...) "Well, I'm going to the shrine to think some things out." "Ayeka..." "Yes?" "I'm glad you're ok.." Ayeka then walked out very slowly to the steps of the shrine. (I have to think of something.....) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Tenchi?" "Ya, Ryoko?" "What did Sasami want us to get?" "Um, here's the list." "Thanx....so...what happened last night?" "Well Ayeka kept waking up and crying so stayed by her bed and I guess I fell asleep," "Oh..., Tenchi? Do you think Ayeka fell into the lake?" "What?!?!" "Well, I thought she could swim, and all..and" "Ryoko, I don't think she would do that on purpose." "Your right Tenchi. Hey I'm hungry, lets get something to eat!" "K," So they walked into a small restaurant. "You get a menu, and I'll find a table." Ryoko searched around for a perfect place for lunch. (There!) "Ryoko, where did...oh! Here you are." Ryoko leaned on the table seductively and grabbed his shirt to pull him closer. "I missed you last night...." she said "Uh..I missed you too." "You owe me something..." "An apology??" "No! This!" She pulled him closer and kissed him with a longing passion. Tenchi finally broke away when people started to stare at them. "Uh...here's the menus." "Thanx! Wow, they have good food here, I wonder if it's as good as Sasami's cooking?" "Probably not!" They laughed. "Tenchi...do you think...Ayeka still wishes she was with you and not me...?" "Ryoko, I don't know what she thinks, but what ever it is, it doesn't matter to me. Nothing she could do would change my feelings!" "Ok," she blushes and reaches in for a quick kiss. "Wow! I'm starving! Let's order!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (I must think of a way to bring Tenchi and me closer...I felt him care for me last night when he thought I was scared...what could I do? No matter what the costs I must change Tenchi's mind... Even...if it means.... stooping to Ryoko's level....) She sat on the steps near Tenchi's training grounds. She remembered when she first came here, and watched Tenchi. She cut her leg and Tenchi carried her to a shed when it started to rain. (He carried me, like then...) She began to cry again. (Woh, I'm starving...Sasami is probably finished with lunch by now!) So she headed off toward the Masaki house. "Oh Ayeka! Lunch is ready!" "Great Sasami, I was just coming to see if it was." So Ayeka and Sasami sat down to eat lunch, when Kiyone came in yelling at Mihoshi who was crying her eyes out. "Gee, Kiyone I didn't mean to knock over those dishes!" "Mihoshi! Ugh! You're always so clumsy!!" "Hey Kiyone and Mihoshi, you guys want some lunch?" "No, that's ok, Mihoshi just knocked over the dishes from the restaurant we were at, and we had to pay for them...so.." "Hey Thanx, Sasami. I'm starving!" "ERRRR!" "You can have some too Kiyone!" "MIHOSHI!!!" "Hey what's all this yelling about? I thought all of that was over, now that I was with Tenchi! Hehehe" "Hi Ryoko, hey Tenchi!" "Ya, hi..." Ayeka scorned. (Does she have to push out that!)? "Tenchi, what time were our reservations for?" "Uh...5:30 I believe." "Ok...so that gives me 3 hours of free time!!! YAY!!! hehe..I'm going to take a walk outside...want to come?" "I'll be out in a bit." "So how was shopping Lord Tenchi?" "Uh..fine I guess....not very exciting.." "Yes..." "Um...Ayeka, are you ok today?' "Yes...I should think so,...I had a little trouble earlier...but nothing big....just (think of something)...fell down the stairs of the shrine.." "WHAT?!?!?!" "Well...I don't even hurt much...and..." "Ayeka! What happened?" "Well..I was walking up the stairs, when I paused to look out, and I saw the lake, and froze from fright. So when I started to go up the stairs again, still looking at the lake, I slipped on a puddle and fell down some stairs." "Ayeka...you should stay indoors for a while..in fact...I'm going to stay here with you, tonight to make sure you're ok." "Oh but wouldn't that interfere with Ryoko?" "She'll understand..." "Thanx, Tenchi!" (....HA HA I did it!! I can't believe this!! He's spending time with me over a date with Ryoko! I wonder what will happen tonight...) "I'm going to find Ryoko, and explain...you get comfortable and get out a game or something." He then left to go find Ryoko and tell her the news. "Ryoko! Ryoko!" He then spotted her under the cherry blossom trees, her favorite. (Wow, she's so beautiful, I feel bad breaking this to her...we haven't had a peaceful date since...well...i don't know!!) "Hey Tenchi...decided to join me?' "Well...I thought maybe we could postpone the date tonight, to another date?" He suddenly saw a mixture of thoughts in her eyes...fear, shock, pain, anger, and confusion all mixed in one... "Wh...why?" "Well, Ayeka fell down the stairs to the shrine today, and she is still a bit unstable, and I wanted to stay here with her tonight to make sure she's ok." "Oh...ok...well I guess I could stay here with you...or go out myself." "But, you're ok with this?" "Yes, Tenchi, If you feel you should stay with Ayeka, then so be it..." She then turned her face to hide her tears of pain and fear of loosing Tenchi. She walked to her favorite tree and sat down. "Well, I should get back to the house, Ayeka is waiting for me." Then he left. (So this is what dismiss feels like....Why now!?! Why is spending more time with Ayeka than me? *sob* I just wanted a peaceful date with him! Ayeka is so up to something!!! She's been hanging around him more often and getting his attention more! Maybe I'll join them....) Then she flew off to the Masaki house to see what Ayeka was up to. When she approached the house, she looked in and saw Ayeka laughing with Tenchi and laying on him. (How...could he!?!?) She walked in the house and looked directly at Ayeka, who straightened up but kept "flirting" with Tenchi. "Lord Tenchi, you're so funny! Heheh" she giggled. "Hey Tenchi, I felt like joining you guys and having some fun too!" "Wow Ryoko that's great! Come here, we were going to play "SORRY"" Ryoko went over, kissed him quickly, right in Ayeka's face, and sat next to him. "Hey Ayeka!" "Hello...Miss Ryoko....." (No! This wasn't supposed to happen!! Everything was fine until Ryoko showed up! She may know something...and does she have to soil Tenchi's lips RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!) "So how do you play "SORRY"?" "Well..." he began to explain, and when he was done, they started. Everything was going fine until Ayeka was starting to win, and Ryoko got jealous, when Tenchi congratulated her on her success so far. But when Ryoko got a "SORRY" card she totally bumped Ayeka out of the ring. "HA! Take that!" "What is your problem, devil woman! Can't handle losing!?!" "You should watch what your saying, Miss Prissy Pants!" "Is that a challenge!?!?!" "I'll say! Let's settle your little jealously problem, right now!" "Hey! hey! what's going on!?! I went to get a drink and world war 3 starts!?!?!?" "Oh Tenchi, that crazy woman, started yelling at me and threatening me, because I was winning! *sob*" "Ryoko?!?! What are you doing?!?!" "Tenchi! You can't believe what she is saying!?!?! She's totally lying to you!! She's manipulating you!!" "Listen to her Tenchi! She's going insane!" "Ryoko, I think you need to cool off, maybe playing a game wasn't the right thing now.." "Oh..my!!!" She stormed off and started screaming in her head. ( AHHHHHHHHH! I CAN'T STAND THAT GIRL!!! SHE IS COMPLETELY RUINING EVERYTHING!!!! WHY!?!?!?!!?!) She screamed so hard, that Tenchi could feel everything. (What the ????) "Ayeka.. I'll be right back.." "Tenchi, please don't leave me alone!!!" "I'll be right back!" He ran off to find Ryoko. He spotted her starting to fly off in the distance, yelling and beating herself. "Ryoko! What is going on!" "SHE IS WHAT IS GOING ON!!! Can't you see?!?! Ever since me and you got together, she's been trying even harder to get your attention, yes I may be jealous, yes I may be mad at you, but I am not lying about her!!! She is totally manipulating you, and you don't even notice it!!!! She made you stay home so you wouldn't spend time with me! Check her arms! I bet she doesn't have one bruise on her body! How could she fall down stairs and not be damaged one bit!!! I am not going to stay here if she is fawning over you like...like...some hopeless ....thing!!!" "Ryoko...I don't know what to think...but I do know that you should stay outside for a bit..." He left her confused and tormented. (Ayeka couldn't manipulate me...that's just not her...) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INSIDE~~ (this is the perfect moment! Now that Ryoko is out of the picture, i can make my move...Here goes nothing.....) "Ayeka..I am so sorry about that!! I don't know what happened and...." "Don't worry about her Tenchi...you have me..." She said in a seductive voice, as she moved in on him. "Uh...ya Ayeka.....are you ok...?" "Oh, Tenchi. I am doing fine, but I am a little afraid..." she continued to corner him to the wall. "Oh...ya...? about what?" he replied a little nervously. "That she will interrupt our....love..." She closed in on him and grabbed him, kissing him ferociously and passionately. He tried to pull away, but she held on to him, not letting him go. She pushed him onto the table and climbed on top of him. "Ayeka....what's....hmph!!" She shut him up by kissing him again, forcing the air out his body. "Tenchi, you need me, and I need you!" She continued to kiss him, over and over. He got his hands loose and grabbed her shoulders. "Ayeka, you must hit your head...you're not yourself right now...maybe you should lie down and go to sleep." "What are you talking about Tenchi? I feel fine...*sob* Maybe you're right...*sob* I'm not a pretty girl!!!" "Huh!?!" She threw herself into his arms, clutching his chest, and cried in his arms. "I don't deserve you! I'm a horrible person. You were right!" "What are you talking about Ayeka?" She continued to cry in his shirt "Tenchi, I don't think I can stand....any..." she slumped to the ground. "Ayeka!! *sigh*" He picked her up and carried her to her bed, set her down and walked out of the room. ( What am I going to do?!?! This is now like a huge soap opera!?!?!) He looked out of the window and saw Ryoko hovering above the lake skipping stones. He suddenly remembered the time when he slapped Ryoko and told her he hated her. (What am I doing?!?!) He looked back out of the window and she disappeared. He didn't see her the rest of night. He looked outside, at the shrine, the cave, the roof and the cherry blossom trees, she was no where. (She should show up in the morning.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Good morning Tenchi, I'm glad to see you got some sleep?" "Uh ya, Sasami." He looked at the table and saw Ayeka, cheery and happy, and then Ryoko, looking down at her plate, which was still full as if it wasn't touched, she had circles under her eyes, and no expression on her face. She then pushed the plate away and murmured some excuse to leave. "Oh, ok, some one will probably eat your food Ryoko." Tenchi watched Ryoko as she walked upstairs and went to her room. "Hey Sasami, could you give me her plate?" "Sure Tenchi!" Sasami gave Tenchi Ryoko's plate and Tenchi went upstairs to Ryoko's door. He could hear loud, rock music coming from inside her room and tried knocking loudly on the door. "RYOKO?!?!" He got no answer so he opened the door. When he stepped inside he didn't see anyone, so he stepped through and set her food down. "Ryoko?" He noticed her sitting on the floor and the other side of the bed, looking at photographs of her and Tenchi, which had huge drops of water on them. He turned down her music. "Tenchi...You were right..I was being stupid and judged Ayeka before I talked to her...I'm...sorry" "Ryoko, don't worry about it..We haven't had a peaceful day together in a while, you were just stressing it." "Well, when I saw her laying on you..and looking so happy with you...I...i got jealous." "You...saw her on me..." "She was laughing and having a good time.. I just wanted to be her..." (Oh good she didn't see Ayeka kiss me after she left...) "Hey, I know how about we do something today.." "Like what?" "Well, I don't know..you pick." "Hurray! Let's go...to the movies!" "Ok! Let me get a shower and get changed, and we'll go to the movies!" Tenchi left her room to get ready and Ryoko leapt for joy. (Ayeka...you may have got Tenchi's attention last night, but he's with me and he's staying with me!) Ryoko shut her door, and tried to think of the best outfit to wear with Tenchi. (I want it to be sexy...but not to revealing...hmmmm...) While Tenchi was getting ready... (What should we see....something not romantic...or not too scary....) He got his clothes and went off to the shower. Little did he know that Ayeka was watching him from the shadows when he from when he left Ryoko's room. She crept toward Ryoko's room and smiled when she heard the music get louder again. Then she put her ear to the door of the shower and listen for water. When the shower came on, she mentally prepared herself. She put her hand on the knob and slowly turned it, to make sure know one could hear it. When the door was unlocked she slowly opened the door, she stopped when she could see the shower. The curtain was closed, and she could see Tenchi's silhouette behind it. Right before she opened the rest of the door, she heard Ryoko's door creak. She shut the door and ran off to her room. Ryoko opened the door in time to see Ayeka shut her door. (hm...o well....) She knocked on the door and told Tenchi to hurry up. The shower stopped and Tenchi came out. When he saw her he just smiled. She was wearing jeans fraying at the ends, and a red tank top. Her hair was the usual spike. "You ready?!?!" "Ya let's go." So they told Sasami they were going to the movies and left. "So what movie should we see?" "Hmm....I was thinking...a comedy. Do you what's out?" "Not really, we should check..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at the house.... (Ugh!!! I almost did it! He left too soon!!..I have to think of something else! Now that Ryoko made up with Tenchi...he's not mad at her....what should I do!!! Oh curse the day I ever met him...no....the day he met her! I must get Tenchi to get rid of Ryoko...then he would be with me!!! A LETTER!?!?! Of course!) She then left to start her next plan.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that night.... "Then the man jumped on the trampoline and started to chase the burgler....Hahaha!!" "Hehehe...wow Ryoko you guys saw a funny movie! I wish I could go to the movies..." "Hey Sasami, just ask me any day and I'll take ya to see a good one!" "Wow! Really? Thanks!" "No problem..hey where's Ayeka??" "Oh, she said she had to run some errands earlier and said she would be home for dinner." "O..ok.." Ryoko whispered in his ear (Now you can spend some time with me!) She winked at him and walked outside to the porch and curled her fingers for him to follow. "Uh..I'll..I'll talk to you later..uh sasami..." he leaves with a look of happiness and nervousness at the same time. "Now we can have that walk you promised me before that game..." Tenchi noticed how her voice cracked at the mention of the game "Sorry" they played when he yelled at her. "Ryoko..I didn't mean anything by telling you to calm down..I..was..well..I was just thinking that I didn't want to see any one hurt so I thought you should have calmed down. UH..um..If..if Ayeka was in the same mood I would have said the same thing." "Tenchi..I know you didn't mean anything..but..but I can't stand to see her get in betweeen us..I just....mphh.." Her sentence was cut off by the force of Tenchi's kiss that he planted on her mouth. Instead of struggling away she fell into the kiss and weakly gave in. "Shh..no more talk of Ayeka..I still owe you that walk." So they went off into the woods to relax. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Sasami! Sasami!" "Oh hello there sister..did you find everything you were looking for?" "Why yes Sasami...where is Tenchi at?" "Oh he went on a walk with Ryoko a few minutes ago..I'm getting dinner ready now..would you like to help me?" "Not right now Sasami..I have something to do..but please call me when dinners ready..." "Of course sister.." "..oh and..if Tenchi comes back before dinner..tell him I would like to talk to him when he gets back.." (Hopefully he would have read the letter I put in his jacket by now...) "*sigh* alright Ayeka." Ayeka then skipped up the stairs with mischieve and a slight pinch of happiness, while humming to herself. (La la la la..oh what a day what a day...my my Tenchi you have no idea what is in store for you tonight...hahahaha!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *sigh* "Tenchi?" "hmm?" "Do you ever think we'll be able to travel space?" "Of course Ryoko..why do you ask?" "Well I mean with Ayeka and Sasami around, I would feel wierd by just leaving them behind." "Yes, I do see your point..but do not worry..one day Ryoko, you and me will travel the stars." "*sigh*" "Ryoko?" "ya?" "Is something bothering you?" "Well I can't help but worry that something is coming between us.." "What do you mean?" "Well..we're seeing each other less..You're with Ayeka most of time now..I can't help but feel like you are drifting away..." "Ryoko..I would never drift away from you..don't even think of that..and I am only with Ayeka because of her accident..and besides I think she is over with it.." "The accident..right.." "Hey, you still have some time to spend with me today..remember I said today was your day!?!?" "Oh yes!!" "Well..what would you like to do?!?" "You still owe me dinner!!" "Alright dinner it is! Mihoshi and Kiyone are visiting today..so Ayeka and Sasami should have company for dinner..I just hope she wasn't planning anyhting big tonight...you know what..you get ready and I am going to make reservaitons for someplace "special"..it's a surprise!" "A surprise!?!?! Oooo Tenchi you know I don't like surprises when I am expecting them..I get so paranoid!!" "Hahaha..be patient and go ready..*sigh* you're too cute Ryoko" "Yes I know..hehe..don't be long with the reservations now!! I can't wait!" (Now..where to go...) He looked and Ryoko one last time before she phased out to her room. (Oh yes! I must tell Sasami about my dinner plans!) "Sasami! Sasami! There you are." "OH hi Tenchi! Dinner is almost ready!" "Yes..about dinner.." "Uh oh..you can't make dinner can you..." "Well it's not that..see Ryoko and I havn't gotten to see each other in quite some time now ....with everything thats going on..and I told her today was her day to spend with me..so I'm taking to her to dinner..it's alright with you that we miss dinner..?" "Of course Tenchi..it makes me happy to see you bring joy in Ryoko's life..I just wish my sister saw it that way.." "Yes...well..I have to make reservations now..thank you so much Sasami for understanding..I'll make it up to you big time!!!" Sasami smiled at the thought and went back to preparing dinner. (Oh no! I forgot to tell Tenchi about Ayeka...oh well..i'll tell her I didn't see him until to late..I wonder what it is about..?) With curiosity in mind she crept off to Ayeka's room where she saw her sister looking through her window and saying something to herself. She peered in to get a look and listen better... "Oh Tenchi, once you read that letter...and you will have to believe it of course..I'll get rid of her and Tenchi I'll tell you she left for the stars like she always talked about..she could not stand being around when she knew I was meant for Tenchi..oh yes this is good!!! Oh my..I have to get Ryoko fast!!!" (Oh my!! What is Ayeka doing!?!?!) "Tenchi will be all mine..and once Tenchi falls for me and forgets about Ryoko..I'll dispose of her!" (No!!! I must..wait! Ryoko and Tenchi are going to dinner! Thank goodness! But I must watch my sister close to protect Ryoko. Oh my..she is getting wierd..) As Sasami was thinking by Ayekas door, she could her Ayeka's footsteps getting closer to the door. Sasami quickly fled the scene and ran down the stairs to work on dinner and hide from Ayeka. "Oh Sasami!" "Yes..Ayeka?" "When will dinner be ready?" "Uh..um..In ten minutes." "Alright..thanx!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Hm....Now what to wear..we are going to the nicest resteraunt in Tokyo..so I'll wear my tux from that dance I went to a while back.." He looked in his closet for his tuxedo when he knocked over jacket and a piece of folded paper fell out of the pocket. "Huh? What's this...?" He began to read the letter... Tenchi, I am writing to you to let you know, that I have left...I can not stand living in this place when I understand that you and me were not meant to be together..Ayeka is who you belong with...I have seen it in your eyes..and in hers..i am a foolish thing to believe it was me...please understand... Always....Ryoko "What!?!?!?! No this can't be right..she was right with me just seconds ago...Ryoko! RYOKO!!!!" He ran out of the room desperatly..and down the stairs screaming her name. "Ryoko, where are you!?!?!" Ayeka heard his cries and smiled. She ran to him with a look of worry on her face. "Tenchi! What is it!?!?!" "Ayeka! Did you see Ryoko?" "Oh my! Yes! She was frantic..she just screamed and left on Ryo- Ohki. I tried to stop her but she was crazy...oh Tenchi!" She fell onto him and started to cry. "No....no...it's all a lie...she couldn't of left...not....Ryoko...." He fell to the ground on his knees and stared at the ground. Ayeka fell off of him when he hit the ground. Then Sasami came running out of the house. "Tenchi!?!?! What happened?!?!" He didn't move his eyes off the ground when he answered quietly. "She's...gone..she left..." "What!?! No! Oh my.." She started to cry also. After minutes of crying Ssasami managed to get up and solemnly walk into the house. Ayeka looked at Tenchi and "sighed" then left for the house also. Tenchi just sat, staring at the ground. Inside the house the dinner was starting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ "Sasami?" "Yes, Mr. Masaki?" She sniffled. "Where are Tenchi and Ryoko?" She looked at him with tears in her eyes, and then ran up stairs crying. "What happened?" "Mr. Masaki..Ryoko..ryoko has...she has left.." Shock, fear, and pain hit everyone at the table. Washu looked up in shock then ran off crying to her lab. "oh..oh my..why?" "I don't know..she decided that she was not meant to live here..she did not belong" "Ryoko..left?" "Yes..." "Mihoshi...please don't start cry...." She was cut off by Mihoshi's wailing. "This is a very...emotional meal. Um..Where is Tenchi?" "*sniff* Out side..." Katsuhitsu got up from the table and left with some food outside. Out there he saw Tenchi, sitting...staring at the ground. Katsuhitsu sat next to him, looking at the stars. "They are beautiful, arn't they" Tenchi did not reply nor did he look up. "A butterfly may be able to beat it's wings every second to live..but will never be happy enough ." Tenchi looked at his grandfather. "Grandfather?" "Tenchi, life has it's twists and turns in every way..Ryoko is like the butterfly. She was able to be here on earth..peaceful and safe...but it's not what she wanted. She can't live in the passive form..her life depends on excitement." "But..granfather..I..i love her..and she's gone..." Tenchi and his grandfather sat in silence for the rest of the night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ Inside the house, Kiyone, Ayeka and Nobiyuki were silently eating. Sasami was in her room crying to herself. "Why Ayeka!?!?! *sniff* Ryoko never did anything bad to you! I know Ryoko didn't leave..but I don't know where she IS! *sniff* I have to find her and tell Tenchi..but not until I DO find her.." She began to think of possible places. A knock came at her door then. "Sasami? Sasami?" Sasami dried her eyes and opened her door. "O..oh..Ayeka..*sniff* hello.." "Oh Sasami are you ok!?! I am so sorry Ryoko left. I miss her so much already! If only we could find her. Poor Tenchi is so heartbroken..how dare she leave Tenchi like this..I should go cheer him up." Then she suddenly left. Sasami thought to herself, (That was kinda odd..) "Tenchi must still be outside..Ah..there he is!" She quietly sat down next to Tenchi. "Why Ayeka..." "HUH!?!?!" "Why would Ryoko leave...?" "Oh..(phew)..Tenchi..please do not worry about Ryoko..she believed that she did not belong here..." "She left me this letter..in my pocket.." He gave Ayeka the letter. "Oh..my..." "I still don't understand.." Ayeka looked at him then got closer and hugged him. "Thanx.." "Tenchi..you must listen..what ever her reasons were..it won't bring her back.." "*sigh* I know..." "Come with me inside..please Tenchi?" He sat for a couple of minutes thinking it over. "In a few minutes, I will be inside.." "Ok!" She smiled and happily skipped to the house. Tenchi was too busy thinking to notice her happy skipping. (Tenchi is mine...tenchi is mine...oh happy day! Yes I know I made everyone else sad..but...Tenchi is mine!! Now to think of how to dispose of Ryoko...) While Ayeka was thinking about Ryoko's doom, Tenchi got up and solemnly walked into the house. He didn't speak a word a word to anyone, just walked up the stairs to his room. Then, while checking if anyone was around, Sasami quietly crept outside to begin her search. (Where would Ayeka hide Ryoko?) She grabbed a flashlight and started heading off to various places. She starting in the shed, there were tools and carrots..but no Ryoko. She looked near the shrine, far into the woods, and near the lake..but no Ryoko. It started to get REALLY dark..so she went inside almost hopeless. (I'll never be able to find her! But I must before Ayeka gets rid of her!) She quickly ran inside to make sure Ayeka didn't leave. Thankfully Ayeka was still on the couch thinking and didn't even notice Sasami's presence or that she was ever gone. She said a quick goodnight to everyone and prepared herself for an early start in the morning. As she walked by Tenchi's door she could hear Tenchi talking...but to whom?!?! She opened his door and saw he was asleep..and talking. He was murmering Ryoko's name and crying out to her. She sighed and continued to her room. (Don't worry Tenchi..I'll find her!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ *YAWN* "Oh my..I have to start searching!!" Sasami quickly got dressed, and went downstairs to start a very early breakfast..just incase she was gone too long. She ran upstairs to get her shoes when she heard Tenchi talking again. Again, she opened his door and crept in. He was turning in his sleep and sweating a lot. She got closer to hear him, when he jolted up in his bed with wide eyes. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" "Sasami! Sasami..she's here! She's here! I..I can feel her presence!" His face lit up, and a smile appeared on his face. New hope arose within Sasami, when she heard him speak. "Well get up and get dressed...we have to find her quick!" He jumped out of bed and got dressed. "I know where she is!!" They ran out of the house and straight for her cave. "There!" They ran inside only to find Ayeka dragging Ryoko, bound and gagged, over to a corner in the cave. In the corner there were knives from the kitchen and a fire. "Stop struggling, you demon!" "Ayeka!" Ayeka jumped in fright, turned around, and saw Tenchi ferious. "Ayeka..what are you doing!?!?!" "Tenchi...I..I..found her...here..." "Stop lying Ayeka! I heard you talking..you kidnapped Ryoko to force Tenchi into loving you...you were..going to ...kill her..." "No!! No, thats not true..." "Then was the whole "accident" a lie to!?!?! Ryoko was telling me all along..but i ignored it...YOU TRICKED ME!!! JUST SO I WOULD HATE HER!!!" He became so angry that he ran towards her with all his strength, screaming. "Tenchi no!!!!!!!" He stopped just in time so see Sasami crying in fright. "Tenchi...no...please don't hurt Ayeka...please..she's still my sister..." He looked at Ayeka with disgust and walked past her, to Ryoko, then untied her. Ryoko fell to the ground panting. "Ha! Ayeka..I told you, you could win Tenchi over...because you would only force him..." She looked at Ayeka with rage, then at Tenchi lovingly and with thanks. Ayeka just stood looking at the ground in shock. Sasami looked at Ryoko hugging Tenchi with a smile, then at Ayeka with sadness. She left the cave and slowly walked to house. "Sasami! Sasami wait up!" "Huh!?" "Sasami..thank you for helping me..you will never know how much this means to me!" "It was nothing Ryoko...but you do know what it DOES mean... You owe me dinner!" "HAHAHAHA! Ok!" They walked toward the house together; Ryoko, Tenchi, and Sasami. When they got inside everyone was still asleep..so Sasami continued with breakfast, and Ryoko and Tenchi went upstairs to Tenchi's room. When Ryoko stepped inside the room, Tenchi glomped her. "Ryoko, I am so sorry for not believing you! If I just listened this wouildn't have happened! I can't believe..." He was cut off by Ryoko's lips. She kissed him lovingly, and with passion. "Tenchi...do not worry..it's ok.." They continued to kiss as if they would never be together again. But no matter what would happen..no matter who came into the house..nothing kept them apart.....