Disclaimer:

I do not own this anime (Tenchi Muyo) or its characters.

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Chapter 7:

Betrayal?

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Flashback

Ayeka, on the other hand, was deep in thought. 'What did he meant by that?' She did not notice, all of a sudden, her finger reached the steamy rice pot. "Ouch!" She gently pressed it with her lips. She waited for it to cool down but Yosho suddenly pulled it.

"Let me see that." He gently touched it with both hands. As he closed his eyes, he gently sucked the pain out.

Ayeka was surprised to see this. She looked down with a slight blush. She could feel Tenchi's glare, this made her pull her finger and her back to reality. "Why did you do that?" She questioned her brother also known as her ex-fiancé.

"I was just trying to ease the pain, Ayeka, nothing personal." With his last phrase he glanced at his grandson who was giving him the look --- What are YOU doing? --- Kind of look.

"Tenchi, we need to talk. Meet me at my office after lunch." Ayeka glanced at Yosho then to Tenchi.

'What is he up to?' Ayeka thought as she ate with the others.

End of Flashback

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After lunch, Yosho headed straight to the temple's office. Ayeka got the feeling something was about to happen. But what could it be?

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier." Ayeka looked down.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize." Tenchi looked at her sincerely. "I better go, he's waiting for me."

'Good luck.' Ayeka thought as she watched him walk to the door. She wasn't quite sure if it was okay to obey brother's command, now that he's young again.

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As Tenchi walk to the white path made by the snow, he couldn't help himself but to think what could his Grandpa want to talk about. Once he reached his destination, he knocked on the door but surprisingly, a voice from the other side rang.

"Come in." Tenchi was now sure Yosho was waiting for him.

"Grandpa?"

"Sit"

Tenchi simply complied and waited for him to start the conversation. He looked at his complexion – He looked young. He really looked like a prince. –

"Tenchi"

"Yes Grandpa?"

"I know you're well aware of Ayeka's condition, am I right?"

"True"

"May I ask do you love her?"

Tenchi blinked twice where was this conversation heading to? "Of course I love her, she meant everything to me."

Yosho's cold features wore down. He was now smiling. "Tenchi, don't think about the future, live in the present."

The Shinto priest reached for his old compartment. Inside, many old scrolls were placed in. There were even small sculptures of animals. But only one item caught his attention on to. It a small black bow. He handed it to Tenchi who was oblivious of the matter. "Take this." He said.

Tenchi looked at the box and held it.

"Do I have to tell you everything Tenchi, open the box."

Tenchi simply complied and opened the box. Inside were two shiny silver rings with a ruby as its center of attraction. "Grandpa?"

"The other ring was supposed to be Ayeka's but the ring was a little big for her but I bet it will fit her now."

"And the other ring was yours?"

Yosho just looked at him with a grin. Tenchi now knew what was he up to.

"Tenchi, tell her that she meant everything to you, and please tell her everything when you still have a chance."

"I will, Grandpa, thank you."

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Tenchi ran as fast as he could. He never felt this happy except when he met the girl of his dreams at Funaho. He stopped at the holy tree. He smiled as he held the box tightly. 'I'll do it infront of Funaho, tonight!' Tenchi smiled at the future outcome. He continued to run back to the house. There, he saw Ayeka and the others watching at their favorite soap operas. Tenchi carefully reached for a piece of paper and crumpled it. He managed to throw it at Kiyone's head.

Kiyone looked at the back. She saw Tenchi, giving a hand signal to come over. "I'll just go to the kitchen, I'm kinda thirsty." She excused herself.

"Kiyone wait, I'll go with you." Mihoshi said.

"Yeah, sure." Kiyone grinned at the thought that Tenchi might be up to something.

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In the kitchen

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Tenchi told everything to Kiyone and amazingly Mihoshi understood that this matter had to be kept secret. Sooner, Sasami and Washu walked in. They saw Tenchi holding a small black box. "Tenchi what's that?" Sasami pointed at the small compartment.

"Wait, before you show what's inside that that box, I'll just call my daughter, will that be okay?" Washu asked.

"That would be perfect, Little Washu."

"Then, I'll call my sister." Sasami said. She started to walk to the door but Tenchi, Kiyone, and Mihoshi grabbed and stooped her for doing so.

"No don't." Tenchi said.

"Why not?" Sasami was now confused.

"It's a little complicated, I'm sorry."

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At the living room

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Ayeka sat on the sofa, watching the soap operas, alone. She could not help but to a little silent. 'Now…where could they have gone to?' She waited for a couple of minutes for them until she decided to go the kitchen. By the time she opened the kitchen's door, she saw everybody and Tenchi with Ryoko who was smiling in awe. Ayeka saw Tenchi holding a small black box. Inside were two silver rings with a ruby on it.

Now, everybody saw Ayeka with a confused and teary look. She closed the door real hard. She ran and ran. She did not care of the strong hail coming from the sky. She wanted to ran away from the heartache and the betrayal or maybe she just took it in a wrong way. The frozen rain covered her body. She could feel her tears evaporating slowly. Everything was a blur due to the strong hail. She had no where to go best to seek cover from the cave.

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Back at the house

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Everybody saw Ayeka leave, crying, and confused.

"I think Ayeka thought that Tenchi's giving Ryoko the ring." Washu faced Tenchi who had a blank look. Washu didn't hear him react. He hurriedly went outside. He did not care of the weather. He just wanted to find Ayeka. He held the box tightly as he ran and searched for her. "Ayeka, where are you!" He shouted with a hint of panic in his voice. He thought of the best place she could be. He ran to the cabin but she wasn't there. He thought of the cave and the holy tree, Funaho. He decided to take his chance on Ryoko's cave. As he entered, he saw her under the darkness, hiding from reality, and cold. She wasn't crying or anything. She couldn't even feel her body anymore until she felt warm arms around her. For once she felt warm, comfortable, and safe. She looked up but only to meet with oblivion.

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For my reviewer/s:

Callista Miralni - Thank you for the heart felt review and thanks for adding my story to your C2 . Thanks again!

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Author's Notes:

Thank for reading and please do review…

cs-ayeka