Hi, I appreciate all the C&C I have gotten so far and
revised some of the previous chapters, but the plot is
still basically the same.  If you have given or will
give C&C and want credit, I'll gladly list your name
or your email in the credits of the specific chapter
upon request.

All the revised previous chapters and this specific
chapter is available in the original HTML format at:

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/rolfwind

I still appreciate C&C on older chapters, but the more
I get into it, well, the less I can change it.

Onto the Chapter 4:

STANDARD DISCLAIMER:  
I don't own the characters. Pioneer and AIC do.  I own
this story though.

KEY:
<> - indicates thoughts
[]- mental communication




*********************************************************************




THE UNMASKING PART IV




CHAPTER 4 : CONFUSION REIGNS SUPREME WHEN TREATED LIKE
A QUEEN



Ryoko walked up to the house, knowing that it was
around one in the afternoon.  <Time for lunch.>  As
she phased through the windowed double doors facing
the dock, her nose was assaulted by the intermingled
aroma of Jurain and Japanese dishes that permeated the
household.  As she turned toward the dining area, she
found Ayeka, Mihoshi, Nobuyuki, Washu, and Sasami
sitting at the table already eating.

Smiling weakly at them before sitting down,  she asked
puzzled, "Tenchi's not down yet?"  

The younger princess's eyes, filled with worry and
concern, met hers.  "I checked on him and he was still
tired, but that was half an hour ago."  

The former pirate nodded as she started chowing down
her food, which was a mixture of rice, fish, and other
delicacies she couldn't begin to name.  Ayeka was
watching her strangely, discreetly peeking over every
so often by the corner of her eyes, but Ryoko figured
it was due to their previous conversation.  Ayeka's
sister was picking languidly at her food, Mihoshi was
stuffing her face, while Nobuyuki and Washu were
making most of the conversation.

She looked disgustedly upon her 'mother' and wondered
how the little sadistic twit had the nerve to show her
face since last week.  For all her anger though, Ryoko
kept quiet.  <I hope she doesn't try to have a mental
conversation with me.  Ever again.>  Fortunately, her
'mother' managed to keep herself occupied by yacking
with Nobuyuki about earth's architecture;  no doubt
newly interested in the subject because she had to
rebuild the house several times over already.  A
certain blonde palaxy police officer could be thanked
for that, as the two rivals for the prince's
affections cause only interior damage.

It took only ten minutes, but Ryoko already finished
her meal, which included second and third helpings. 
Since bits and pieces were strewn all over her face,
she wiped her chin partially clean dislodging a large
majority of the leftovers.  While she contemplated
staying a while, there was nothing interesting
happening to keep her attention.  Thinking back on all
the recent bizarre events, it was frustrating not to
be able to make any sense of the matter.  It didn't
ease her mind that Ayeka's answers did not lead to any
understanding.  <How do they know so much about Jurain
traditions?  One of them knew me growing up, how is
that possible?>.  Not totally accepting the reality of
this new situation, the space demon unconsciously
shrugged her shoulders, an inner anxiety bidding her
to action.  Or at least do something.  

<Better wake up Tenchi, wonder why he's so tired
today? Or they, oh I give up.... BUT I DO WANT
ANSWERS!>  Ryoko teleported out of the room and into
the second floor hallway.  She snuck up to Tenchi's
door, listened, satisfied that she would have the
pleasure of waking him up again, and opened the door
to gaze at his still form.

Not one to normally hold back, the previous events
were more than persuasive enough for one specific
boisterous woman to actually make her wake him up
normally.  The room was dark and quiet as she slid
shut the door behind her.  Nearly silent footfalls
were further muted by the carpet, and she slowly sat
down upon the bed, taking heed not to disturb him.  A
tender smile curved her lips watching the prince snore
softly, still out like a light.  Not wanting to get
yelled at, she just tapped him on the shoulders
gently.  "Tenchi, wake up.  It's past one in the
afternoon."  To her surprise, the carrot farmer didn't
need more coaxing, he began yawning deeply and
stretching his arms up towards the ceiling.

Obviously still out of it, his unseeing eyes focused
slowly on her.  The awakened prince bore a neutral
expression, "Ryoko, why did you wake me up again?"  

She did her best to pout, "But Tenchi!  It's so late,
even I get up earlier than this most days."  

He yawned again, and stood up, apparently unaware of
the fact he was that he was dressed only in his black
boxer shorts and white T-shirt, otherwise his normal
modesty would have kicked in.  "Ryoko, can you stay
put for a moment," came the request with a neutral
tone.  

She nodded in suspense, <Hmm.... never asked me to
stay!>  Tenchi gave her a small reassuring smile,
before he turned about and trodded silently toward the
door.  Cracking it open cautiously, he poked his head
out, turning it left and right before gliding it shut
it again.  Sluggishly coming back to the bed,
momententarily his face formed a mask of
concentration, as if trying to decipher something.  

He slumped down next to her, the bed settling down a
few more inches because of the added weight, causing
Ryoko to inadvertantly lean against him.  

"What is it, Tenchi," Ryoko questioned, confused at
how comfortable he was now in such close proximity to
her.  

No answers were given.  Instead, he sprang up and went
to his desk, slowly pulling out the Tenchi-ken from a
drawer.  Catching her eye, the young man saw the
hesitation etched in her face and the small shivers
shaking her body, "Don't worry Ryoko," Tenchi said
quietly to her unvoiced fear.

Plodding quietly back to her side, the young Masaki
stayed standing.  The cyan haired woman tried to
remain still in fainthearted anticipation, wondering
what he had in store.  Her eyes travelled downward,
alerted by a comforting pat on the arm, clearly meant
to be a reassuring gesture.  Suddenly, his other arm
extended, holding out the sword hilt, "Area protect,
cut off all links."  

An urge to pull back welled up in her stomach, knowing
what was likely coming until a voice flowed into her
mind, [Do not be afraid Child.  Stay still.]  It
sounded like a woman's voice, almost like adult
Washu's, the one time she heard it, but richer, deeper
and more melodic.  It wasn't sultry or seductive like
adult Washu's was, when she trying to kiss Tenchi
after Taro left.  Ryoko forced all her body to stay
frozen with all her will-power, while noticing room
got a little darker, and that under the window shade,
the window glazed over in white.

Tenchi glanced at her, eyebrows constricted,
"Something wrong, Ryoko?"  

She shook her head and asked nervously, "What was that
for?"  

Scratching his chin he dismissively answered, "Nothing
really..... but there was something I wanted to show
you."  Before even a protest could be voiced, the
jurain crown prince moved his arm so the hilt started
descending toward her head, but even with his swift
speed, she was faster and caught his forearm.

"Wha-," he sputtered out in surprise.

She scowled at him. <What was with that voice?!  And I
know exactly what he's planning, but why put me in a
trance?  I don't exactly want to let him know what I
saw this morning, so what do I say?  I want some
answers, that's for sure!>  He was looking at her
questioningly while she pondered on her situation. 
She thought of a convenient fear she had, "Tenchi, I
don't want that sword touching me!  Are you trying to
hurt me or what?!"

Befuddled at Ryoko's unchararistic sharp tone and
answer, Tenchi scratched the back of his head with his
free hand.  He smiled in realization of something, and
replied softly, "Oh, the Tenchi-ken?  This sword won't
hurt you, I swear."

She was startled, and breathed out, "It can't?  But it
electrocuted me before!  On Ayeka's ship, and in the
cave."  As she was explaining, her hand unconsciously
slipped a little lower on his arm, giving him more
leverage.

He began a sentence, but never quite finished it. 
"Yeah, that's because...."  While he spoke, he leveled
his eyes right with hers and she found that she was
losing herself in their mystical chestnut colored
depths, with her heart beating ever faster.  The next
thing she knew was that a tan hilt embedded with two
gems were resting on her forehead, and she heard the
words "Trance."

Ryoko didn't know what happened, her eyelids slid
slowly shut.  She couldn't move her body, not one
muscle could be twitched, it was as if her brain
wasn't connected to it anymore as far as mental
commands were concerned.  For some inexplicable reason
she could still feel and hear everything going around
her.  <Damn him, he did it to me too!  Why?!>

Meanwhile Tenchi dragged something across the room to
a few feet in front of her.  A sound of him plopping
down in that exact spot came, but her attention
snapped to her own body when an abrupt, sharp,
excruciating pain flooded her senses, invading her
very being, all pervasive, lasting for a split second
and an eternity, centering especially on her left
wrist.  All she wanted was to scream out in agony, to
give voice to that horrible feeling, similiar to when
Yosho extracted the gems before throwing her in the
cave.  Thankfully the torment fully subsided, leaving
not a trace of her previous anguish.  Now, her
thoughts were but like scattered leaves, inconnected,
disseperate things, full of rage.  <Why..... did
he..... it hurt....  hate that feeling....he
supposed....my savior....>

Tenchi's murmured voice filled the room, close yet
distant, directed precisely towards her but she had
the distinct impression that they were not truly to
her, "I'm sorry Ryoko."  Right when he uttered the
last syllable, an indescribable extasy deluged her,
her left wrist was submerged in power, followed by her
right wrist, and then her neck, respectively.  The
energy centered on those exact points, like tentacles
it began latching onto the rest of her soul, and
saturated outward, the sheer power was nothing she
ever felt before, even while adorned with the trio of
gems before being in the cave.  

All her anger went away, pushed aside and overwhelmed
by the amazing, caressing touch of intense power. 
<He's giving me back the gems, all of them!> 
Eventually the excitement and rush of power waned to a
more managable level, letting her think straight once
more.  Hardly believing the feeling, the demoness
rationalized, <Must be all those centuries without
them.  I can't believe he gave them back!>

Time passed slowly before Ryoko could start
concentrating clearly, focusing outside of herself,
she overheard Tenchi's steady breathing a few feet
away.  She wanted to spring out to him to thank him,
hug him, kiss him, anything for this most wonderful
and unexpected of presents.  

Breaking her daydreams on how to thank him, some more
hentai than others but all loving, was the voice, it
insistedly pounded into her skull again, [Open your
eyes, Child.]  Confusion reigned supreme, it sounded
awfully close to adult Washu in some ways except for
the mere majesty and melody of the voice.  A mood
swing hit the former pirate, how *dare* anyone intrude
on her moment here, [Damn you Washu, that better not
be you.]  The voice, however, did not bother to
acknowledge her short rant, [Open your eyes, Child,]
irritating Ryoko further. [How the hell am I supposed
do that, I can't even move a muscle.]  The disembodied
voice mentally pushed her again, [Open your eyes,
Child.]

She mentally sighed and concentrated, barely managing
to pull her eyelids open, slowly making merely narrow
slits, while the rest of her body still hadn't
responded.  Her vision was blurry, but ultimately
cleared itself up.  Looking down, her hands were
resting in her lap, having naturally fallen down
there.  She was supremely surprised at what she saw,
her gems weren't there, or rather the gems she was
used to having.  

Attached on both her wrists were, instead, three
dimensional shadows of the gems, dark gray and
translucent.  She was sure if she could move her hands
to touch them, they would pass right through.  From
the center of each replica emanated a pattern of
flowers, red that encircled the shadow gems and her
wrists, the patterns went up each wrist, getting
thinner and stopping several inches short of her
elbows.  <What are these tatoos?>

Done inspecting herself, she lifted her gaze higher
and the first sight her eyes were fixed on were
Tenchi's feet.  Slowly her focus travelled upward, he
was seated in a chair several feet across from her,
seemingly at rest with his eyes closed.  Her eyeballs
continued their trek upwards only to stop again.  They
fixated upon his wrists and neck.  He was bearing the
three real gems on those locations, along with the
flowers.  But the flowers were not the same, they were
at the center utterly black, at the edges slowly
transitioning to red like hers.  

The darkness was covering most of the flowers, with
the red fighting at each of the edges, for that was
what it looked like.  The colors weren't statically
sitting there either, rather they seemed constantly
flowing against each other, almost merging, as if it
were two armies in war with one another, while the red
seemed to be on the losing end.  Each side was
emanating with power, seemingly alive, two raging
rivers colliding.  She looked up at his neck and saw
the same thing, with the flowers wrapped slightly
around his neck.  <What is going on here?>

She sighed and closed her eyes again, going into a
meditative trance.  For what seemed at least ten
minutes there was pure silence, the room was eerily
still, though she hadn't heard Tenchi leave.  

Shaking out of her reverie, Ryoko roused herself,
<Voices, Tenchis' voices!> she realized.  Startled her
out of her silent contemplations, she listened 
"Brother, can I have some time alone with her?"  

A heaved sigh and an angry retort, ".....Alrighttttt."
 The quiet opening of a door came, followed by the
expected whisper of it closing.  <How can he leave
just like that..... I couldn't leave this morning!>

The sound of the chair, being dragged back to the desk
heightened her anxiety and anticipation..  Nervousness
caused her breathing to accelerate when the sound of
soft footfalls falling onto the carpeting approached
her.  A soft chuckle in front of her, Tenchi's soft
laugh she identified, and it teased her, "Ryoko, still
wearing those socks with holes in them I see."

She felt Tenchi's hands roam down her legs near to her
ankle.  <He's actually touching me!>, she mentally
screamed out in excitement. Slowly the prince rolled
her tattered socks off her foot.  His hands were
taking their time, roving around a bit, rubbing
various places and tickling the underside.  <What is
he doing?>  

The demoness heard Tenchi typing on something before a
small jolt hit her, something wet.  Her feet were
submersed in a luke warm liquid, probably water as she
didn't smell anything unusual.  The air carried the
fragrance of soap, with a tinge of jasmine and
rosehips, her favorite type.  Her left foot was being
carefully lifted up out of the water and was put to
its rest on a flat surface somewhat higher than her
other foot.  

A soft tingling soothed her cares away, as what must
have been damp cloth scrub over her foot, from front
and back.  It slightly tickled when he applied the
cloth to the underside of her sole, and finally in
between her toes.  Her heart was pounding, resonating
in her ears.  <He's being so gentle.>  Finally her
left foot was released back into the water, and her
right foot lifted out.  The same treatment was applied
before that foot, too, was resubmerged.  A small
splash resounded and he began gently massaging her
feet under the water.

After a few seconds, she heard more typing.  The water
around her feet disappeared, and they landed on
something soft.  She felt Tenchi use a soft material,
a towel she identified, to dry her with, in soothing
circles, cleaning every part just like with the water,
ending with in between her toes.  

Shortly after he stopped, more soft click-clacks
followed.  Both her legs were being lifted now, onto a
firmer, warmer surface.  <Those must be his legs, he's
probably kneeling down for this!>  A sensation of soft
velvety cloth was felt at the tips of her toes on her
right foot.  She laughed inwardly as she heard him
struggle quietly to pull them, cursing under his
breath, "My Angel, she has such big feet."  <His
angel? I'm his angel...... but my feet are not that
big, are they? .... Not that it matters....>  After
much fumbling around, the prince managed to get the
socks on both her feet.

"Look at your face Ryoko, you must have eaten your
lunch too fast again,"  Tenchi's voice softly
admonished.  At first she thought she was being
scolded, but his tone held more humor and amusement
than was common, it sounded almost wistful.

He cupped her chin, and a soft wash rag was being
applied to her face.  Mentally relaxing at his amiable
touch, the former space pirate waited with bated
breath as he softly washed her face.  The wash cloth
gently being taken along the path of her cheek, down
along her jawline, and over her lips.  She wanted to
grimace slightly as a rougher, dry cloth commenced
wiping her face in much the same fashion, but she knew
full well she wouldn't have complained even if she
could.  "Good, all clean now.  It'd probably surprise
everybody that you used to be a such a slow eater,
very careful with your food."  Tenchi gave out a deep
sigh, full of regret he noted, "But that was before,
when you could actually taste food."  <How does he
know that I can't taste anything?!>.

Right after the cloth was pulled away, typing was
initiated again.  She felt him stepping on the bed,
she supposed, rattling her.  Because of the lack of
control of her body, she felt her balance askew, and
she was starting to fall to the side.  At the very
last moment she felt his capable arms catch her
though, and set her straight.  Tenchi, meanwhile
settled himself behind her, and with his knees
pressing against her back.

Something began running through her hair, a very
soothing sensation.  <Must be a brush>.  

"I don't think I'll ever get over how soft your hair
is," he commented.  

Ryoko was mentally confused, <I think this is the
first time you ever touched it Tenchi, isn't it?>  He
kept brushing her hair back for what seemed an
eternity, <This is.... really very nice.>  The Jurain
prince slowed down the brushing of her hair and
subsequently seemed to quit entirely.

Abruptly, she felt the sensation of his arms encircle
her from behind and wrap around her waist.  <Wow!  He
sure is acting different today..... I like this....> 
Ryoko tried to regain control of her body, she wanted
so desperately to hug him back, but simply couldn't do
it.  The experience was one that was mildly comparable
to being under control again, under Kagato, but was
far outweighed by feeling Tenchi's touch, everything
that he did for her just recently.  It made her feel,
she knew, special.

Reluctantly Tenchi released his tight grip and moved
around on the bed, rattling her a bit.  She felt his
arm go underneath her knees and one arm behind her
back.  While being picked up, her mind glossed over on
how strong he was, as she was moved effortlessy in the
air, repositioned over his bed,  and laid down very
carefully.  A weight settled down next to her, and her
right arm was hoisted up as he gathered her closer,
practically squeezing her to get ever neare. 
Afterwards, he lay still for several minutes as she
revelled being directly beside him, even his hot
breath was blowing on her cheek.

Sligtly panicked as a quiet "whoosh!" came, that of a
door opening, Ryoko relaxed as the other Tenchi's
voice bawled out sounding annoyed, "Brother, it's been
forty-five minutes, isn't it time to get going?"  

Tenchi groand and then growled out, with his mouth
near her ear, "Go away! Stop pestering me with your
infernal presence!"  

The space demon mentally laughed, <Yeah, what he said,
go away!>

Chiten nagging continued unperturbed, "I'm feeling
tired.  Besides, I checked the lab records.  Sasami
came into the room again, Ayeka and Nobuyuki too."  

The paralyzed daughter of Washu almost coughed, <He
knows about that?!  But if they came into a room that
was Tenchi's room, where are we?  Sasami told me about
this, just this morning.>

The body lying next to hers tensed a bit, "Did they
check the body again, like Sasami did this morning?"  

The double sounded relieved, "No, they just tried to
shake it awake.  They went in at seperate times."  

He let out a long breath warming her cheek, "I would
have checked everybodies links before anyway.  Thanks
for reminding me about Sasami."  

Ryoko wondered, <Their links?>

"Can we reassimilate now," Chiten half-pleaded.  

His doppelganger spat out, "No!  Just go away for
another half-hour.  Leave me alone for once!"  

The intruder relented, "Ok, Ok.  But what if Sasami
tells Ayeka what she saw this morning?  What if Ayeka
gets worried and comes in........."  

Tenchi cut him off, "You'll know what'll I do.  I'm
sick of her, I'll stick the Jurain bitch and her
brother in the cave for eternity."  

Chiten retorted sharply, anger rising, "But I
thought......"  

Tenchi started laughing softly, with a touch of
mockery interjected, "The first mistake, you thought. 
No!  You don't think except what I tell you to
think...... Yeah, I'll stick 'em in the cave and
maybe, after a few hundred years, Yosho will even
start screwing her.  That I'd like to see, wouldn't
you my dear, dear brother!"

His twin hissed out, "Shut up!  Fine, do what you
want!"  With that a door slammed shut.  

Tenchi called out after him cheerfully, "I will, don't
you worry your empty head about that."  His hand
resumed running through her hair, "You know, I really
would like to stick them in the cave, to show them how
it feels."  His ire rose as he continued, "Imprisoned
for nearly seven hundred years, it wasn't easy, was
it?"  

He was talking to her in a way, though it seemed as if
he was talking to himself as well.  Tenchi became
softspoken, with utmost sincerity and sadness in his
voice, "Do what I want?  As if the fool doesn't know I
can't.  All I'd want is to be with you.  You'll always
be my beautiful angel, do you know that?  Instead, I
have him to contend with, that idiot.  And these
stupid goddesses.  And wise 'old' Yoshit, my Sensei
indeed.  And stupid Funa-whore.  And the purpled
haired bitch princess from that hellhole called
Jurai."  

Filled with malice, anger, and resentment, he spat
out, "I swear, there will be one time that little
bitch makes one snide remark too many about you, I
won't care how much he loves her.  I'll just throttle
her throat until she croaks like a Jurain toad."  In
totally mockery he laughed out loud in a high pitched
voice, "hohoho.... you monster woman.... maybe you've
been soaking too long."  

<He really doesn't like her.  Didn't she say something
like that before Kagato attacked us.  But how would he
know?>

Tenchi breathed in deeply, a with a softer, loving
voice said, "I don't know how she could say such
things, look at you.  You're so.... so.... perfect. 
If you only knew how far I've gone to protect you. 
But it's worth it, seeing you safe."  

Ryoko, having at least some control of her lungs,
breathed in deeply,  <You... you think I'm perfect?>

Tenchi kept on stroking her hair for minutes on end
until Ryoko heard him start to snore lightly, his
breathing almost lulling her to sleep as well, but for
the fact of his sudden attitude changes, which kept
her mind awake, somewhat uneased.  

The door slid open softly again and someone stealthily
approach her.  A hand cupped her ear and someone
started whispering, "Ryoko, I know you hear me, please
blink to confirm."  The former space pirate forced her
eyes open for a split second, and briefly saw the
doppelganger beside her.  

Chiten sustain the hushed communicade, "Ryoko, it must
come as a shock to you that there are two of us, most
of the time we are in one body but we can't even
seperate too long without it draining our energy." 
She tried to think through of what this other Tenchi
was saying, but the sincere urgency in his voice
insisted that all she should do at the moment was to
listen.

He paused for a moment, chuckling, "I will leave the
explanations for later.  Did you know my brother
thought that he was talking only to himself, that your
not even supposed to be conscious of what is happening
during a trance."

Getting serious again, he instructed, "Ryoko, we don't
have much time.  You have to go to Washu about what
you saw today, starting in the closet.  You don't have
to be scared of the lab, we got her to promise she
won't ever do what she did last week to you ever
again.  Tell her that my counterpart barely succeeded
on the first test, failed the second test, and as she
saw failed the third test.  She won't consciously know
what we're talking about, but that's ok."

Holding back a few sobs, his voice began cracking
badly, "For many many years my brother has been very,
very mentally ill, there are things from his past he
just can't deal with emotionally.  However, he finds
ways to hide it well from everyone in one way or
another.  He's been trying to to protect everybody,
even my lovely Ayeka, but the way he has been going
about it, it's been taking a toll on him."

He paused, regaining some of his previous stoic
composure, "Tell Washu that she has to let you, Ayeka,
Nobuyuki, and herself see his past memories and
theirs.  We have been putting up memory blocks and
manipulating memories on those around us for a long,
long time, everybody but Sasami has them.  Please
don't be mad, he thought it was the best way to
protect you guys.  But his actions are getting out of
hand, more and more."

Both Chiten and Ryoko froze as Tenchi mumbled
something in his sleep, and pressed closer to her.  He
mumbled again, "Angel!" while pressing against her,
and started fondling with one her breasts.  Eventually
he settled down and started breathing slow, steady
breaths directly into her other ear.

The complement resumed his plea, "Washu also has to
know that the key to finding and unlocking our
memories is by scanning Ayeka's, yours, and our brain.
 If she scans our mind while we are under stress, like
this morning, two seperate patterns wll emerge.  You
saw the photos, have her make duplicate polaroids and
lie to us saying that they found another batch.  There
is one problem though, she can't trust her own lab
equipment.  Have her get several other brain scanners
and computers elsewhere."

The copy confided cautiously, "Washu has to make this
look like she is doing this as a result of finding the
extra photos, no other reason.  It may take several
tries, but I think it will succeed.  He can stop us in
most cases, so have her use the confinement models
with anti-phasing, anti-teleportation capabilities on
all of us in any case.  The only way to really get him
to show the memories though is by making him do a
binding agreement, it's a promise of sorts.  I don't
know how we'll do that, Washu should figure something
out.  Out of the four of you, his greatest weakness
will be Nobuyuki and yourself, perhaps she can figure
something out by that."

Sighing tiredly, he warned, "Even after he promises,
he'll try anything psychological to prevent this, but
he's also really unstable.  He's very good at playing
mind games, just refuse him if he tries to tempt you
with something.  Remember, our window of opportunity
is closing Ryoko.  Washu changed the nature of the
gems slightly, and with that I can control what he
sees with our links with the others, but I already
feel him aware of it slightly and trying to figure it
out since this morning.  Your the only one who can't
get memory blocks right now, but that can change soon.
 He knows I'm hiding something, and  I can only feed
him false information and keep my memories hidden for
so long."

Chiten settled down for a moment before his voice
cracked with grief, "And Ryoko.... please tell Washu
that I accept her terms and conditions,
unconditionally.  Please trust me on this, this is for
the best for everybody.  Rememeber, don't let anybody
else in on this other than you, Ayeka, Nobuyuki, and
Washu, otherwise it will get very dangerous for
everyone.  If.... if he attacks Washu while she's
trying to unlock his memories, don't get involved, she
can take of defending herself."

After finishing his plea for help, the twin got up and
walked across the room, and inputted something into a
holo-top.  A span of a few seconds passed before a
door slammed open and the lookalike yelled, "Brother,
don't tell me your still sleeping! Get up, I'm tired!"
 

She felt a stirring next to her, Tenchi's arm lifted
off her waist, and he asked hazily, "Has it already
been half an hour?"  

His twin replied sarcastically, "Yeah, you'd think I
should give you more time with what you said about
Lady Ayeka?!"  

Tenchi laughingly retorted, "I think you should leave
me alone an entire lifetime for putting up with the
bitch princess this long."

"Shut up!  She's not a b-b...."  At this the copy
growled frustrated but managed to move on.  "Lady
Ayeka is *much* nicer than you are!"

"Female dog I say, a witch, and a bitch, no one can
deny, if I hear one more word from her silly mouth,
she's gonna fly.  Not just out of the house or into
the sky, but all the way back to planet Jurai!"

"Shut your trap!  Really cute, but I had enough of you
today.  Besides, do you want Tsunami to get
suspicious?"

"The big blue wave?  She can go to hell, oh well, I
guess you're right."

Minutes later, she felt Tenchi shift to sit beside
her.  Ryoko felt herself being gently lifted up and
set down on the bed in an upright position, placing
her beside him.  He was very quiet, for what seemed
like an eternity, though her internal clock told her
it was more like ten minutes.  Instantly, she felt the
enormous power from the gems waning back to almost
nothing but no pain accompanied it this time, <He must
be removing the gems.>
  
There was some more typing, and something pressed
against her forehead, "Ryoko, Institute memory
block-memory change.  You came into my room to awaken
me.  You tried and were unsuccessful.  You decided to
phase back and forth to the roof and my room several
times, waiting to see if I would wake up on my own. 
Now you just came into my room again and found me
still sleeping."

A hand cupped her chin, and his soft and loving tone
said, "Ryoko, I love you and I will protect you until
the end."  Totally unprepared for what happened next,
for some reason she was expecting a kiss on the cheek,
like with Washu, but Tenchi's lips pressed against
hers, while two hands caressed and held her face.  The
kiss went on for at least five minutes.  <Oh my god,
my first kiss, and I can't even kiss him back.>, Ryoko
mentally berated herself, but in the end it was
unimportant to her anyway, <He's kissing me!  Who
cares, next time I can kiss him back.>

One Tenchi asked, "Finally ready to get back
together?"  Another one returned a regretful, "Sure." 


The bearer of three Light Hawk Wings climbed in under
the covers, "Tenchi, Re-institute all previous
memories blocks and changes.  Institute memory
block-memory change.  You were sleeping.  Release
protection area, open all links. Return first gem to
Ryoko.  Return to drawer.  Ryoko awaken.  Done."

The last syllable spoken, "Done." and Washu's daughter
saw in her mind's eye a blinding white flash, not
unlike the coming of an avalanche, coming towards her.
 It kept coming closer and closer and closer, until
she thought it would envelope her.  As soon as it
reached it's peak though, it was as if an invisible
wall suddenly stopped it, the white flash stood still.
 The tide ebbed and started sinking.  In the
background of her mind seemed to be playing a movie in
fast forward, with what Tenchi wanted her to see; her
trying to wake him up unsucessfully and phasing back
and forth from the roof to his room.  She found she
could open her eyes and looked around the room.  

What was the scene around her?  Tenchi snoring lightly
on the bed.  The thought of waking him up was her
first fleeting idea, but then she thought the better
of it.  Looking down she found the single gem on her
left wrist and the socks worn on her feet were the
type she always had, but these were obviously brand
new.  

While she studied his room, pondering what to do, her
fingers unconsciously traced her lips and now clean
chin.  The recent wonderful memories were still
burning fresh in her mind, but dampened at everything
that doppleganger said.  <How do they know so much
about the things going on?  What do I do now?>  Her
face contorted into a frown, <AND WHY CAN'T I HAVE IT
LIKE THIS EVERYDAY?!......minus all the other junk of
course....>



*********************************************************************




Authors Note:  
PLEASE REVIEW, THANK YOU!

Email:  
rolfwind@yahoo.com 



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