Legal Info- I do not own any of the characters represented in my story. They are the sole property of AIC/Pioneer. The only characters in the story that belong to me are the ones I made up, other than that I don't own the rest of the characters. A/N- This is a Tenchi Universe based fic. This story occurs right after Tenchi Forever. To Rule Or To Love Chapter Four Intergalactic Bounty Hunter Nagi was roaming the galaxy in her cabbit ship Ken-Ohki. She turned on the little television like screen on her ship to check out if there was anyone for her take up a bounty on. The Galaxy News was on, so she decided to watch that for information, but what she heard shocked her beyond belief. "I hear news from planet Velsa. The First Crowned Princess Ryoko is to ascend to the throne within a week and two weeks later she is to be married to a young nobleman named Lord Tenchi Masaki. Now back to the International Money Line," said a green haired newscaster. Nagi's narrow, red eyes were about ready to pop out of her head. She was confused and shocked at the same time. She needed to make a visit to her older sister. She wanted to know what was possessing her to marry a Juraian. "Ken-Ohki! Set your coordinates on 41-0. We're heading out to planet Velsa!" commanded Nagi. "Choooooowwww!" cried Ken-Ohki. 'Damnit, Ryoko. Why can't you keep out of trouble?' thought Nagi as she headed towards Velsa. Back on Velsa, preparations for the ascension to the throne and Ryoko's marriage to Tenchi were being made. Tenchi and Ryoko were made to sleep in separate rooms ever since her two guardians found out about what happened that one night between them. It had been about four days since she had arrived there and in about four more days, she would be Empress of planet Velsa. She was nervous, but now she was also disturbed. She was having nightmares about the wedding. In these nightmares, she and Tenchi were being married and after the kiss that shared, a man dressed in all in red with a black Velsan cloak attacked them, but didn't kill them. He said to her to choose between the man she loved dearly or the crown that her parents left behind for her. This is where her nightmares would usually end. She was worried that this was a premonition. She also didn't understand how one her own people could find out that Tenchi was Juraian and Terran when that was well concealed from the public's grasp. She didn't know who want to do this to her, but she was pretty sure that it was one of the assassins that killed her parents, but until she knew with absolution, she would be worried and scared until that day came. Ryoko was sitting on her bed with all of these thoughts flowing through her mind. She had an anguished look upon her face. She heard a knock at the door and decided that she would try and let the matter rest. "Who is it?" she asked. "It's Tenchi," replied the voice. "Oh, come in," she answered. Tenchi walked into her room to see her quite disturbed. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. He took her hand in his and tried speaking to her. "What's wrong, Ryoko?" he asked worriedly. "Nothing really, I've just been having some nightmares. That's all," she replied. "Nightmares huh? What were they about?" he inquired. "I really don't wanna talk about it," she said quietly. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yeah, I'm very sure," she replied. Downstairs in the main hall, there was a knock on the door and Marcos went to answer it. When he saw who it was, his jaw dropped to the floor. "Is Ryoko here?" asked the guest. "Yes, my Lady," said Marcos, who was still in shock. "Could you take me to her?" she asked. "Why don't I just bring her down here to see you?" he asked. "Very well," she said. "I'll go and get her. Come on in and stay right in this room. I'll be back in a few minutes," said Marcos as he went to get Ryoko. The guest was left standing in the main hall as she waited patiently for Ryoko. Back in Ryoko's room, she and Tenchi were cuddled up against each other on her bed. Right at that moment, there was a knock at her door. She walked over to the door and opened it. Standing there was the younger guardian Marcos. "Yes, Marcos, what is it?" she asked. "Guess who is here to see you?" he asked her, mischievously. "Who?" she asked, now puzzled. "Why don't we go downstairs and I'll let you see for yourself," he said, slyly. Ryoko raised her left eyebrow questionably, but then lowered it, seeing that she wasn't going to get an answer out of him. Ryoko turned to face Tenchi who was still in her room and gave him an apologetic smile. He smiled back at her warmly as she went downstairs with Marcos to see what he was talking about. When they reached the downstairs hall to meet Ryoko's guest, Ryoko's mouth went agape. Standing before her was her little sister Nagi. Nagi walked up to Ryoko and just stood in front of her with a blank expression and Ryoko did the same. Marcos looked at the two of them trying to figure out what was going on. Ryoko couldn't hold it in anymore. Her lips cracked into a smile, which then formed into a grin. Nagi just shook her head. "You were never any good at that game. Were you Ryoko?" asked Nagi, slyly. "You should know! It's the only game that you've been able to beat me at!" exclaimed Ryoko. "Enough of this though. Why are you here, sister?" Nagi's lips were smiling at her. "I heard on the news that you are to marry Tenchi." Ryoko's eyes lit up, knowing that her sister was here because of that. "So, are you here to congratulate me and tell me that you'll be the wedding and my coronation?" Nagi's smile disappeared. "No, Ryoko, I'm not here for that cause, but I am here for a cause pertaining to that matter." Ryoko's brow creased as a frown appeared upon her face. "What would that be?" Nagi looked at her seriously. "Don't marry Tenchi, if you want to live!" "What are you talking about?! I am perfectly safe in this marriage and the public will never know about his origins. What makes you say this?" asked a frustrated Ryoko. "How do you know that nobody will find out about his origins?! How can you be so sure?!" asked Nagi, who was equally frustrated. "Because Prime Minister Milos assured me!" Ryoko shot back. Nagi's angry expression softened a bit. "I see. You are in good hands then. I shall be leaving now and know that I will be at your wedding and your coronation. Until then, sister." Ryoko watched Nagi leave. She was happy that her sister would be attending both events. She ran back up the stairs and to her room. She opened the door to find Tenchi still there and waiting for her. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She sat down on the bed next to him and put her head on his left shoulder while he wrapped his left arm around her. "So, who was this guest that was waiting for you downstairs?" asked Tenchi. "My sister," replied Ryoko. Tenchi looked at her curiously. "What did she want?" "Well, she told me that she would be attending my coronation and my wedding," said Ryoko, who in turn decided to exclude the rest of the details. "That sounds nice," replied Tenchi. "Mmhmm," agreed Ryoko. Tenchi looked at Ryoko again, but now questionably. "What do you want to do now?" Ryoko gave him a sly grin. Tenchi's eyes widened at what she was implying to do. She pushed him down on the bed and gave him a loving, yet libidinous look. She carefully pulled off his shirt and started kissing him. Tenchi responded in kind. Ryoko was moving down Tenchi's chest and once she reached his belt, she stopped. Tenchi then pulled her back up and rolled on top of her. He then proceeded to undo the buttons on her blouse. Once her own shirt was off, Ryoko pulled off Tenchi's pants and boxers. Tenchi pulled off the long skirt that Ryoko was wearing as well. He noticed that this time she was not wearing any undergarments. Ryoko kissed him passionately before they made love a second time. Tenchi was showering kisses all over Ryoko's body. She mirrored his motions. Ryoko moaned slightly when Tenchi began to nibble on her flesh. She in turn began to nibble at his left ear and kiss his neck. Tenchi desperately wanted to be inside of her, so he pushed her down on the bed and slid himself into her. She cried out his name as her arms clung to his back with her head resting upon his right shoulder. Her legs were wrapped tightly around his waist. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the pleasure that was being given to her. Once they were done, perspiration was gleaming upon their nude bodies and they were both panting heavily. They collapsed on the bed, side by side, pressed up against each other. They were extremely tired, but they knew that they shouldn't fall asleep because they might be found out again. They both got up slowly and got dressed as quickly as possible. When they were done getting dressed, Ryoko walked over to Tenchi and gave him a quick, gentle kiss before he left the room. Ryoko stood in the middle of her room hugging herself. She was very happy with how well things were going between her and Tenchi. She was also happy to know that her sister would be there for the two most important events in her life. She opened her door and walked downstairs to the large family room. She noticed that Marcos and Adrian were in there and as soon as she walked in they both looked at her, red faced. "What are you two staring at?" she asked, curiously. "Well, Princess, did you know that you are very loud?" asked an embarrassed Marcos. "Yes, very loud," agreed an equally embarrassed Adrian. It took Ryoko a few seconds for her mind to register what they were saying. Her own face turned beet red. "I'm sorry. You could hear me?" Her guardians both nodded. She gave them an embarrassed grin. "Well, I'll muffle myself next time, ok?" Adrian gave her a disapproving look. "Princess Ryoko, you know that you shouldn't be doing this. We let it slide the first time, but if this continues, I'll have to follow you everywhere to make sure that it never happens again until you are married. Am I understood?" Ryoko sighed unhappily. "Yes, Adrian, I get the point." "You may kiss him, but you are not allowed to do any of the other stuff, alright?" he said a little more gently. Ryoko nodded her head. Adrian smiled at her and she smiled back. She knew that she would have to try very hard not to make love to Tenchi again before they were married, but for the sake of her people she would attempt to remain celibate. She bowed slightly to her guardians and walked out of the family room. She was now thinking about the nightmares she had been having. She wasn't sure if she should tell Tenchi about them just yet if they were premonitions, so if everything went well at their wedding, then she would tell him. For right now, it was best to keep things under wraps until then. Ryoko walked back up to her room. It was still three hours until dinner, so she had time to take her nap. She was wearing a long and form fitting midnight blue gown, which she had bought during her pirate days. The sleeves were similar to Juraian ones and she was also wearing her favorite long sleeved, light violet cropped vest. She carefully took off her vest and placed it on the chair that belonged to her vanity set. Her bed was already undone due to previous circumstances, so she crawled under the covers and fell asleep. She was hoping that nightmare wouldn't occur during her nap, but it did. Start Nightmare Sequence Everyone was beautifully dressed for the ceremony. Ryoko was in a beautiful, white Velsan style gown. She walked down the aisle to meet Tenchi there. Her whole family was there to see her and Tenchi get married, including Ayeka who was in fact the Maid of Honor. She walked up to Tenchi and stood next to him. Their faces were glowing with the essence of love. Right after the Church Minister pronounced them husband and wife, along with their kiss, the double doors to the Velsan cathedral flung open to reveal a man dressed all in red with a black cloak flowing over him. In one hand he had a sword and in the other he had some sort of documents. He walked up to Tenchi and Ryoko and pointed his sword directly under Ryoko's chin. "I am disappointed in you, Empress," said the man. "Who are you?!" she snarled. "Who I am is not of your concern. I am here to finish a job which I started eight years ago," he said viciously. Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "You're one of the assassins who killed my parents!!!" she growled, furiously. "Well, yes, I am an assassin, but there was only one assassin who killed your parents and that was me," he said, plainly. "But there were more men there when my parents were killed. I don't understand," said a confused Ryoko. "I am the main assassin of your parents deaths, yes, but I wasn't at the actual killing," he said. "Explain," she said. "I hired men to do the killing for me, that's all. Besides, I hate to get blood on my hands," he said, calmly. "You bastard! Then why are you trying to kill me if you don't like to get you hands bloody?" she asked. "I just wanted to end the Velsan line of aristocracy by myself. I want to be remembered for this, that is why I'm doing it with my own hand," he said. "Go to Hell!" she shouted. "But, before I do anything, I have come to make you an offer, so that maybe I'll spare your life and his," said the man. "What is this offer you speak of?" she asked. "You annul the marriage with this boy and rule your country with me," he said, evilly. "Are you mad!" she cried. "Maybe, but you choose, this boy or the throne, life or death?" he asked her, coldly. "I will never marry you and rule with you! I love Tenchi!" she shouted. "Besides, what could you possibly hold against him?" "The fact the he has Juraian and Terran blood in him," he announced, smugly. Ryoko gasped at that the fact that he knew this. How had he found out? She concluded that he had to be a spy and nothing else. One of the people sitting in the crowd who was attending the wedding stood up. "You lied to us, Empress Ryoko! Now you must choose! Life or death?!" shouted the person. More people stood up, accusing her of defiance while chanting for her to choose between life and death. She was scared and screamed loudly. She looked at her people in fear and then turned her head to the man in red with disgust in her eyes. She walked up to him and said, "I've decided." He looked at her behind his masked eyes. "That was fast. Are you sure that you've decided on it wisely, Empress?" "Yes, I'm positive," she replied. "And your answer is?" he asked. "My answer is." she started. She looked at her people once more. "Death." The man's sword quickly slashed at her neck. His sword was bloody as he then took Tenchi's life as well along with the rest of her family and friends. They were all dead at his feet. "You will all now bow to your new leader who has ended the line of aristocracy on Velsa!" he bellowed. The people stood before him and bowed deeply as he let out a sinister laugh. His laugh echoed throughout the entire cathedral as he walked up to Ryoko and Tenchi's dead bodies and spit on both of them. The assassin then walked to the throne room and sat on the throne grinning evilly. "I've finally gotten rid of the royal family and now nothing will stop me from taking over Jurai as well!!!!" He cackled louder and louder at the very thought of this. The Velsan Royal family was dead and nothing would stop him now. End Nightmare Sequence Ryoko woke up with sweat running down her forehead rapidly. Her heart was beating extremely fast and she had tears streaming down her cheeks. She was praying that this was not a premonition. She was scared out of her mind and couldn't fall asleep. She looked at the clock on her nightstand. Dinner was in thirty minutes, so she had a little time to catch her breath. She was thankful that she didn't scream and disturb half of the household, besides, she really didn't feel like explaining this nightmare of hers. Ryoko wondered that if the person in her nightmare and the person that had attacked her the night that she had arrived were the same person or somewhat connected with each other. She hoped not and that everything would be well at her wedding. She knew that she was disturbing herself by thinking too much about this. She decided to put it aside until she went to bed that night because she knew that she would have the nightmare again. Ryoko walked out of her room and downstairs. She needed to get out of that room for a little while, so she could relax for the time being. Being in that room at night made Ryoko nervous. On the way to the dining room, she ran into Tenchi. Tenchi could see signs of distress written on her face. She looked at him oddly, wondering what he was staring at. "Ryoko, are you ok?" he asked, concerned. "Of course I am, Tenchi. I've never felt better," she said, lying through her teeth. Tenchi wasn't buying it. "Come on Ryoko, what's bothering you?" "Nothing is bothering me, Tenchi! Jeez! Would you stop interrogating me like I'm some wanted criminal again?!" she asked, exasperated. Tenchi looked at her stunned. He knew that something was bothering her by the tone her voice, but that he shouldn't pry any further unless he wanted his head bitten off. He walked up to the upset Ryoko and soothed her. "I'm sorry for not believing you. If you do have something bothering you though, you know you can always talk to me about it. I won't push you away anymore," he said, gently. Ryoko looked up at him and smiled warmly. "I know Tenchi. I just don't feel like talking about it, ok?" Tenchi gave her an understanding look. "When you are ready to talk about it though, my door's always open." "Thank you, my Tenchi," she said quietly as she embraced him. "No problem, my Ryoko," he replied. Ryoko grinned slightly at the term of affection. She knew that she was going to love be called that. She snuggled closer to him as he held her tighter. She loved being close to him. She broke away from the embrace and looked up at him again. "They're waiting for us in the dining room," she said. "You're right. Let's go," he said as he offered his arm to Ryoko. Ryoko took his arm gratefully as they went off to dinner. Ryoko knew that she was going to have to cherish each and every moment she had with Tenchi just before her wedding because they might be the last times she would ever be with him in this life if that nightmare was a premonition. She hung her slightly as Tenchi accompanied to dinner, hoping to God that she was wrong. Back at the Masaki residence, Washu could feel her niece's pain. She went through Ryoko's nightmare in her head over and over again, trying to depict the assassin, but it wasn't working. 'Ryoko, wherever you are, I'll always be here for you. I just wish that I had the courage to tell you that we are related, that way I could teach you how not to let your dreams and thoughts stray through our link. I just want you to be careful and to know that I'll always love you, my little niece, Ryoko,' thought Washu with tears streaming down her cheeks. Washu cried for a long time, until she fell asleep in her lab. She dreamed of the happiness that she longed for in her life, which was to have a family of her own. In her dream, Ryoko was her daughter and the dream depicted them as the perfect loving family. All Washu had to do was to try and attempt to realize her dream before it was too late. A/N: Okay, no comments on this chapter. I hope you are enjoying this series so far. Ja ne!