I don't own these characters, Pioneer and AIC do. Please don't sue me, I just spent all my money on Christmas gifts (aren't I nice) you wouldn't sue someone as nice as me would you? Never? Good, enjoy the fanfic Note: = thoughts Tenchi starts to wake up. He looks over at the clock with much effort to keep his eyes open. 5:00am, time to get up. He rolls over into something warm and soft. "Huh?" says a groggy and rather cranky Tenchi. "Good morning Tenchi, last night was wonderful." Says Ryoko in a seductive voice. "You were great." "eep." Tenchi utters as blood spills out of his nose and he falls out of bed. Ryoko turns bright red with held back laughter until she can't take it any more. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! Don't worry Tenchi, I'm just playing with you. If we had done it trust me, you'd remember." Chuckles sinisterly. "RYOKO!" Tenchi screams. He then realizes that she's naked "AAAAAAAAAAH" "All right I'll leave you to think about me in private" Ryoko begins to dematerialize when Tenchi stops her. "Uh, Ryoko, what were you doing here anyway?" He questions. "Just watching you sleep, it kind of calms me" said Ryoko, but soon realizing her weakness changed her statement "I mean I'm calm even though I have to guard you at night" "I wouldn't want that villain of a princess to harm you while you couldn't defend yourself" "I don't mind if you watch me just don't scare me like that" said Tenchi completely ignoring the second two statements (hey, maybe he's smarter than he looks/acts/sound, well... at least for this fanfic) Ryoko is completely caught off-guard by this one "Umm, thanks Tenchi." "It's all right, just know that I'm here for you. I know you're not weak, but everyone needs someone to talk to." He reaches over and puts his arm around her shoulder. Just then he realizes that she's STILL naked "Uh Ryoko..." But before he can finish she surprises him by phasing into some clothes. Tenchi smiles and leaves his arm there thought Ryoko. after a few more seconds Tenchi removes his arm and smiles at Ryoko saying "We'd better go down and have some breakfast." "But Tenchi, we were just beginning to have some fun" Ryoko says teasingly. screams his brain. "gotta go." Tenchi speed-walked to breakfast (the only thing that kept him from running was the thought of Aeka starting a fight with Ryoko, but his efforts were in vain as Ryoko followed him at a slower, more confident pace. "What have you done to him this time you monster?" Aeka screamed. "Nothing, Tenchi just proclaimed his undying love for me" said Ryoko coolly. "How dare you call Tenchi a liar!" Aeka screamed summoning her mini-logs around Ryoko. Ryoko gritted her teeth as the princess attacked but she broke free and fired some energy balls at Aeka. The princess' shield absorbed them, but only with great effort. Ryoko started to charge up another one but Azaka and Kamidake were quickly at Aeka's side. "Now you shall pay Ryoko, for keeping me from Tenchi, the only reason he isn't by my side now is that he pities you, pities your weakness and love for him. Azaka, Kamidake, it's time we put an end to this game, kill her!!!" That hurt more than Ryoko showed it, was Aeka right? HELL NO, but it still Hurt more than the usual comments. But Ryoko turned the pain into anguish, into an unstoppable fiery rage. "GIRLS, PLEASE STOP!" cried a desperate but ignored Tenchi. While dogging most of the guardians' attacks Ryoko phased behind them and kicked them out the window and through the forest. Aeka gasped, she knew that she was weak without them. Ryoko started forming a huge energy ball, one that Aeka knew she couldn't deflect. Ryoko's intention was not to kill Aeka, only put her in a coma until she and Tenchi could get together, but unbeknownst to her the energy she had gathered was enough to kill. She flung it with all her might at the screaming princess. Just then, Yosho dashed in front of his sister and deflected the ball with much effort out of the house (or at least what was left of the house). He was in his younger form to maximize energy but he was still heavily damaged. Ryoko, drained by the attack and still hurt from the attacks of Aeka, Azaka, and Kamidake, fell to the ground, bleeding profusely from a wound on her waist, and her shoulder and ankle hurt like hell. "I'm sorry Tenchi." Was all she could utter as she slipped into unconsciousness. Aeka had a few bruises and blood trickled out of her mouth but was otherwise okay. "Serves her right," she said staring at the fainted Ryoko. She then rushed to her brother's side and started to tend to his wounds. Tenchi looked uneasily at Aeka at Yosho's side and walked over to Ryoko. Tenchi put his hand on the fallen Ryoko's head, just before she was whisked off by a little genius and a few computers. * * * * * * * * * * * Washuu worked quickly at her computer to aid in Ryoko's already sped-up healing process. Of coarse this was no problem at all for the world's greatest genius, but her maternal instinct was getting the best of her as she looked over at her injured daughter. Washuu reassured herself but she still worried, Ryoko was the only family she had left even if she didn't want to admit it. Tenchi sat beside her. Yosho was back to his usual self but was told to get some rest and Aeka was comforting him so they were taken care of, but Tenchi wanted to make sure that Ryoko would be okay too. He knew that she was in pain. Not only physical pain but pain from Aeka's words as well. When she had made that comment on how he only pitied Ryoko. It wasn't true, his feelings for her were pure and Ryoko probably knew that but deep down the comment had worried her. He could see it in her eye for that split second and she had shed a single tear that only he seemed to have seen. Poor Ryoko. The battle played over in his head: "Azaka, Kamidake, it's time we put an end to this game, kill her!!!" Sometimes Aeka and Ryoko didn't understand him, but that was just wrong. They couldn't chose for him, he had to do it himself. Aeka sat by Yosho's bed. He had a huge bruise across his chest but she Had cleaned the blood from his mouth. Aeka walked out of her room where Yosho was being kept, and found Sasami Cleaning up after the great battle. "Dear sister, do you know where Lord Tenchi is?" questioned the princess. "Yeah, he went to see Ryoko, she's hurt pretty bad you know." "WHAT?! How could he even bring himself to look at that demon after what she did to my Yosho?!" "You know, you hurt HER more than she hurt HIM and its very impolite to speak of them that way." Said Sasami in a scolding tone. "Well she deserves t... Oh, you're right. I wouldn't want Tenchi to see me like that." She chuckles to herself, Aeka walked over to old closet Washuu called home and walked in. Tenchi was sitting beside Ryoko with a worried look on his face. Washuu was in her "Quick Rest" chamber that would lessen normal sleep necessary so that she only needed half an hour instead of 8. Aeka walked over to where Tenchi was sitting and spoke. "I'm sorry for my earlier behavior lord Tenchi." She said "Has Miss Ryoko's condition gotten any better?" "Why yes it has Miss Aeka, that was very nice of you to ask." "I didn't mean for Azaka and Kamidake to do this much damage to her, I just wanted her to pay for what she'd done. She was trying to kill ME though don't you think?" "Umm, I think Ryoko wasn't thinking at the moment, you may have hurt her feelings you know." "Feelings? What feelings, that monster just sits around wasting space she doesn't feel like you and me Tenchi she just wants to hurt, to hurt innocent people like us, Tenchi." "I don't know Tenchi, I think I need time to think... Won't you come on a walk with me by the lake?" "I'm sorry Aeka, but Ryoko does feel, she may only want to hurt you" "but she loves others. And I cannot go for a walk with you by the lake because Ryoko is hurt, even if you can't see it, I do care for her and I'm going to stay with her... I would do the same for you Aeka." Said Tenchi. "You can go on your walk, it would probably do your some good, but I don't feel like coming right now." "Tenchi I... I'm sorry Tenchi... Please forgive me, you're right Ryoko does feel and you have every right to pity her, just..." Aeka never got to finish her sentence as Ryoko's eyes started to open, she had only heard the last part of Aeka's speech but before the tears came she phased away. "RYOKO!!!" Tenchi cried as he ran out to look for her. * * * * * * * * * * * Aeka was left behind in the lab with her face drenched in her tears. She thought of her stupidity in letting her temper get out of hand and, and losing Tenchi. She knew that it was quite possible that in those few minutes she had lost Tenchi, lost him to Ryoko. She started to cry again, her sobs echoing throughout the lab as loneliness sank in. What hope did she have now of ever finding love? What did that word mean to her now, other than arranged marriages with rich nobles looking for higher positions? "WHY TENCHI? WHY!!!" she asked the buzzing machines. "Why do you not seem to want me? I love you." Yosho looked on with pain in his eyes, to see his sister this way hurt him so deeply. It was a pain he hadn't felt since his wife died. Every one of her tears made a stab at his heart, and when she cried out he could bear it no longer. "Aeka." "Yosho I... I didn't know you were here." "I'm sorry if I scared you Aeka. Whatever Tenchi said I'm sure he didn't mean it. Don't worry, I'm sure he will calm down and apologize for his behavior, he's just been on edge since that fight you had." "Thank you brother. First you save my life and then you save my love, how can I ever repay you?" said Aeka through the remaining tears, she began to smile even at the hope her brother had brought. "Tenchi should take some lessons from you in the subject of love as well." "Why thank you dear sister, but I don't think I can teach him that... It would take more time than either of us have for that." Yosho chuckled quietly to himself while Aeka fell over with laughter. * * * * * * * * * * * Tenchi ran out of the house and franticly around, no sign of her. Tenchi ran through the forest to the tree that Ryoko could often be found in. Not there. Tenchi scurried over to his childhood hideout that he had rescued Ryoko from. When he didn't find her outside he ventured inside. There was still no sign. Where the hell could she be? Having searched the usual places he knew that any further searching would probably be useless, she could be anywhere. Something inside of him screamed. He could have lost her, and it was tearing him up inside. Tenchi decided to go home and ask for Washuu's help, if anyone could find her it was Washuu. Tenchi approached his house with a defeated look on his face when he heard crying, faint but present crying. It came from the roof. Ryoko. Tenchi Climbed up onto the roof where Ryoko was curled up into a ball crying as silently as she could. "It's true, the only reason he lets me stay is that he pities me. I am worthless, I only cause the one I truly love pain." Ryoko whipped around to face the cause of her pain. She could see the sorrow in his eyes. She was about to phase away forever when he grabbed her arm. "Please don't go Ryoko." He pleaded "Aeka was wrong. I want you to stay, you're one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I feel like you've always been there for me. I've always loved you, it's just that I love Aeka as well." "How could you love me Tenchi? I'm so weak! I almost lost to Aeka, and just look at me now!" Although Ryoko had tried to hold them back tears fell from her golden eyes and she was shaking uncontrollably. "Please just let me go so you can be happy." She said shakily "I don't love people based on strength Ryoko. I love them based on who they are, what kind of person. That's why I love you." Said Tenchi, and he really meant it, "But I still want to know more about you, half the time I spend with you you're trying to seduce me, but I known that there's more to you that." "If you don't know me than how do you know that you love me?" "I can see it when you don't think I'm looking. You're a really nice, funny, sensitive, and determined person, Ryoko. Not to mention the fact that you're beautiful." Ryoko starts to blush a bit, as a smile threatens her bad mood. "Hey I know" shouts Tenchi enthusiastically "do you want to go out someplace tomorrow?" "Well not like a date, I just want to get to know you better, and to do that you have to promise to not try to seduce me." "Tenchi..." "Oh yeah, and don't tell Aeka or anyone else, you know how they all gossip, I don't want anyone ruining our day" "Really Tenchi! You want to go out with me!" Tenchi sweat dropped she glomped Tenchi "Thank you my Tenchi, wow I never thought that you actually cared about me, thank you thank you thank you. And don't worry about Aeka, I'll make sure she doesn't spoil our 'fun' heh heh" Ryoko now overjoyed and grinning ear to ear gives Tenchi a bone crushing hug. "Ryoko... can't... breath" Tenchi said as he started to turn different shades of purple. "Oh, sorry Tenchi. I'm just so happy you like me." "Yeah sure, but you just have to agree to the no seducing thing Ryoko, I don't want you to get the wrong idea about this..." Tenchi searched frantically for the right word "outing" "mmmmmm" "Ryoko!" "Okay Tenchi, ya got yourself a deal!" Ryoko suddenly felt tired. The after affects of the medicine Washuu had given her were taking affect. "Tenchi *yawn* I'm gonna take a little nap now, see you in da morning" and with that Ryoko fell over onto Tenchi's lap and fell into a peaceful sleep... no Kagoto, no Aeka, just Tenchi in her dreams. Tenchi sighed as he looked at her peaceful sleeping face With some difficulty he gently picked her up and carried her down from the roof. * * * * * * * * * * * Back at Washuu's lab: The little genius stared into her console as Tenchi picked up her daughter "Awwwwwwwwwwww, Isn't that cute! My little Ryoko fell asleep and he's carrying her. Of coarse my medicine wouldn't normally do that but I being the greatest scientific genius in the world predicted this situation and decided to well... meddle, and of coarse things worked out perfectly *sigh*" Little Washuu dolls appear at shoulders "Yeah Washuu, everything is perfect thanx to you!" "Yeah Washuu, you're the greatest Washuu!" They cheer in harmony to the slightly evil sounding laughter of their creator. Washuu continued to stare into the screen unaware of the fact that someone, something had entered her lab and was now approaching her. Until it was too late. "You shouldn't be doing that you know, it's very rude in fact... HEY WHAT'S THIS?!" "Huh? MIHOSHI NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Washuu dived as Mihoshi's finger descended towards a big shiny red button labeled DO NOT TOUCH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD MIHOSHI DO NOT TOUCH! Too late. *BANG* "Spy System #1 deleted" informed the computer "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH MMIIIHHHHHHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHIIIIII!!! OUT! OUT! OUT!" screamed Washuu on the verge of tears "Oops, sorry Washuu" "LITTLE WASHUU!" "Sorry little Washuu" Mihoshi may not be the brightest person but she knows when to run and in .034 seconds was no where to be found. "My baby, my masterpiece, my entertainment gone, GONE! Maybe there's something left. Gotta check!" Washuu typed a few commands into the keyboard. "5 angles, emotion readings, and vital signs for Tenchi, Ryoko, Aeka, Sasami, Kyoni, Tenchi's grandfather, and Ryo-oh-oki gone... remaining back-up spy systems on Mihoshi, and Tenchi's father." Read out the computer. "That's more drool than I can handle, what am I going to do? The computer will take a day to fix itself and I need to find out what happens to Tenchi and Ryoko. Get off my butt and go see? HAH, luckily I have a floating cushion." Washuu emerged from her lab just in time to see Tenchi come in with a smile on his face and Ryoko in his arms. "Hello Tenchi, what do you have there?" questioned Washuu "Oh hi Washuu Ryoko fell asleep, I think it was the medicine you gave her, so I took her back here." "Okay, now what are you going to do with her?" "Put her to bed I guess. Umm, Washuu, I know I should probably know this but Ryoko goes to bed a lot later than me and whenever I wake up she's uh there, so I don't know where she sleeps do you?" Washuu jerked her head upwards. Tenchi followed her motion and saw what he had feared, up on the beams of the house about 15 feet over his head was a couple blankets and a pillow. Major sweat drop and a great effort not to face vault while still holding Ryoko. "How am I supposed to get up there?!" Tenchi started to panic, the only other person who could fly was Washuu, but she said that no one else could set foot on the cushion without getting electrocuted (something about DNA certification). "You could wake her up or just leave her on the couch." "No, that would be mean. I mean, after the day she's had." "Okay suit yourself, but no offence or anything, you can't get her up there, I checked." Washuu held up a mini computer with some random number and graph on it. Tenchi looked at the sleeping Ryoko "Hey, Washuu, I think I'll let her sleep in my bed tonight." "I'll sleep on the floor of coarse because I would never do, um, that! That's not what I said." Tenchi's face was turning a deep shade of red as he ran as fast as possible with the sleeping Ryoko towards his room as the little scientist yelled after him, "Right Tenchi, riiiiiiiight, Snicker snicker." Tenchi's heart was pounding as he scurried into his room and closed the door behind him. He set Ryoko down on his bed and gently slid the blankets over her. She looked a lot more comfortable now as she settled into the bed. He knelt over and kissed her forehead, then he went down for dinner. "Mmmmmmm, Tenchi." A smile spread across Ryoko's face. * * * * * * * * * * * thought Tenchi, a pile of food awaited him and he almost couldn't stand the wait for the rest of the house but they arrived shortly. Aeka and Yosho arrived first, she seemed to have cheered up since he last saw her, although she still looked somewhat hurt "I'm sorry Aeka, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that I was just scared for Ryoko." "It's all right Tenchi, I understand, and I apologize for my actions as well, they were quite improper especially at the moment. Where is Ryoko anyway?" Aeka had nothing but true concern for her rival now, unlike a couple hours ago. "Is she okay, did you find her?" "Yes, I found her and I think she's okay now, she just needs some rest so she won't be joining us for dinner today." Tenchi answered. Aeka sat down next to Tenchi and Yosho sat across from him. Noboyuki came down with Washuu, having been sent to fetch her by Sasami. "Took her to your room huh Tenchi, smooooth. That's my boy." Noboyuki grinned at Tenchi. "huh? WASHUU!" "Hey the man deserves to know what's going on with his son." Washuu chuckled. Aeka was turning a terrifying shade of red with her arms straight and fists clenched at her sides. "YOU DID WHAT?! HOW COULD YOU?! I TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU, YOU..." "I didn't do anything she's just sleeping there, I'm going to sleep on the floor, don't worry I won't do that I care too much about her... and you to do... THAT!" Tenchi tried desperately to defend himself. "WELL I..." Aeka caught herself, she had to show Tenchi she could be a caring and kind person. "Ummmmmmmm... Let's eat." Tried Sasami, desperate to break the tension. "Okay Tenchi... I trust you." Aeka said "Thank you Aeka." Just then Mihoshi and Kiyone entered. "We ran out of food so we decided to come over here and eat dinner with you." Said Mihoshi cheerfully "ARGH, MIHOSHI!" Kiyone pulled out a mallet conveniently located in her back pocket and hit Mihoshi on the head with it. "OUCH!" A few seconds of silence followed by everyone bursting out in laughter. "It's okay, you guys are always welcome." Said Tenchi once he had stopped laughing "Come sit down and have some food with us." So they all ate dinner together, a strangely peaceful dinner since Ryoko and Aeka were separated. (AN: sorry no details, it's late and I'm tired) After dinner Tenchi headed up to his room exhausted from his tiring day. He set up a mat and blanket on the floor and when he was sure Ryoko wasn't awake he quickly changed into his nightclothes and crawled onto his mat, wondering what his day with Ryoko would be like. * * * * * * * * * * * Saturday 7:00 "Wake up Tenchi!" "Huh?" his eyes slowly start to focus, it's still dark, there's a figure, the figure is a person, the person has caused him to wake up. Tenchi grumbled and rolled over attempted to go back to sleep. "Come on Tenchi wake up, remember? You said you'd take me out." "???" He turned over again to look at the person, "What time is it Ryoko?" "7:02" "Why are we leaving so early?" "Everyone's asleep, remember you didn't want them to know" "Oh yeah, but aren't they going to figure it out, I mean if we're both gone, and they have Washuu you know she'll probably figure it out." "Oh I left a note saying I had gone to the mall to do some shopping. They'll probably think you followed me to make sure I didn't buy A years supply of sake (believe me Tenchi that's a lot of sake)." "Uh okay then, lets go!... Where are we going?" "I donno Tenchi where do you want to go?" "You should decide, I mean this trip is for you Ryoko." "Really okay, ummm... you wanna go to the beach?" "Okay, get your swimsuit and I'll get my trunks (AN: *sigh* Trunks what a man ^_~) and some beach stuff. See you right out the door in a 15 min okay?" "Okay." Ryoko was about to go looking for the perfect bikini when something occurred to her So she just found a towel and sun lotion and phased into some shorts and a tank-top. Tenchi put on some swim trunks and a tee-shirk and found a couple rackets and a paddle-ball. He grabbed $30 off his desk and went to meet Ryoko. Outside: "Ready to go Tenchi?" Ryoko asked excitement almost conquering her voice. "Yeah, this is going to be fun I haven't been to the beach in a while," replied the spiky hair boy. So with that Ryoko picked him up and started flying over to the beach, she estimated that the ride would take about 10 minutes. "Wow, this is a great view, flying must be fun, huh?" "Yeah, its great sometimes to just fly out over the world and forget all your problems." Tenchi could she what she meant, he had forgotten about Aeka, his training, even his dreaded school work while flying about all with Ryoko, it was great. Soon they reached the beach, and since it was so early they wasn't anyone else there, it was perfect. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AN: Well, what did you think? I plan on writing another chapter but if I don't get enough e-mails... well you know what will happen. And please, no flames, ok I accept constructive criticism but that's it! Any ideas for the beach? Quite frankly I have writers block, oh well e-mail me at gumgirlus@yahoo.com and allll your questions will be answered, or just go to a psychic hotline (but they aren't the real thing I am MWAHAHAHAHAHA) Well see you later. Oh yeah and do you want more of a romantic fic or actions mail me.