I do not own nor did I create any of the characters associated with Tenchi Muyo, they are the sole and exclusive licensed property of Pioneer/AIC. I make no attempts to claim the creative genius it took to create theses characters. All I ask is that I am allowed the greatest honor of sharing my vision of their world with the real world. Please don't sue me I am so broke I live off the kindness of strangers for my survival. Since I cannot and shall not attempt to live off my writing skills. I have nothing of real importance except for my ratty teddy bear and my boyfriend, both of which very few people consider have any re-sell value, but to me they are priceless, so unless you want me to have to sell my teddy bear to Value Village and put my boyfriend up for white-slavery please don't sue me!

A Family Full of Issues

Ryoko's Silent Vigil

Ryoko watched that night as the cherry blossom petals fell around her heart's joy. She silently looked on as Tenchi quietly climbed the stairs and made his way to his mother's grave. Ryoko knew the pain and longing that had to be coursing through Tenchi's heart and soul, as he moved towards the headstone. She felt the same overwhelming longing to see the graceful, delicate soul of Achika again. Ryoko wanted to go to him. To soothe the pain she knew was there. To heal the wounds of his heart, and to be the balm to his soul that he had become to hers. But, just as she knew that someday, maybe not soon, Tenchi would make his choice. She knew too, at this moment Tenchi needed to make this last long trip to his mother's grave alone. Ryoko knew that Tenchi needed to make his goodbyes alone. So, just this once Ryoko afforded him the comfort that isolation provided.

Tenchi would be leaving soon for college and Ryoko was desperately afraid of who, what, where and how he would meet other students. For the past month the fear of imagined future situations of Tenchi bringing home another girl had plague Ryoko. The haunting ghostly images of some random beautiful girl stealing Tenchi's heart while at college had driven Ryoko near mad with grief. Some nights the dreams were so real, so vivid, so crystal clear that Ryoko would wake to her own sobs of despair. As the day for Tenchi to move away, neared Ryoko's resolve to not pester and hound him disproportionately deteriorated into nothingness. Ryoko knew that he didn't have to choose either Ayeka or herself. There was a vast, infinite universe that Tenchi had been exposed to, and he could easily find true love at any place along his journeys. Ryoko also knew that this might be her last chance to make a decisive grasp for his heart and she had tried so hard to be calm and sedate. But, the constant nightly images of Tenchi's joy in another woman's arms propelled her everyday into more outrageous behavior. And the more outrageous Ryoko's behavior, the more heated and intense the inevitable argument with Ayeka became.

Ayeka! Ryoko could sum up in that one name all of her pent up love, anger, frustration, and fears. Through the years Ryoko believed that Ayeka and she had formed a sort of friendship from their mutual love for Tenchi. While the rivalry was and would always be there, when Tenchi was not around an almost loving companionship arose between them. Maybe someday, when Tenchi moved on with his life, maybe then Ryoko would receive the affection of friendship from Ayeka, which she herself hid deep in her soul. But, that was years away yet, and to antagonize Ayeka was as good a reason as any to continue to live.

Smirking Ryoko pondered her future life at the Masaki household without Tenchi in it. Maybe she'd take-up helping Yosho with the shrine, picking up where Tenchi would leave off, maybe even try and convince Yosho to give her lessons in fencing. Despite the years of imprisonment in that dark, lonely cave, Ryoko had long since resolved her anger and resentment of Yosho. If not for Yosho, there would have been no rest from Kagato. If not for Yosho, there would have been no understanding of the value of life and the sacredness of love. For if not for Yosho, then there would have been no Achika to brave the darkness of the cave and pass down her fascination with the cave to her son. If not for Yosho, there would be no Tenchi.

Thinking of Yosho now, Ryoko could sense the old man's growing approval. Ryoko knew that Yosho wanted nothing more than everyone's happiness. Regardless of the fact that Ryoko held no relation to Yosho, over the years she had come to think of herself as being a sort of adopted stepchild to Yosho. Rebellious, destructive and often annoying, but loved and prayed for nonetheless. Now as Tenchi's college days neared Ryoko felt the bonds of friendship and family grow between Yosho and herself. Despite, this new found father figure Ryoko would, probably for the rest eternity call Yosho "Old Man" for the simple annoyance of the action.

Father figure, funny how to think of the word father always inspired thoughts of the word "Mother". Washu! Was Washu Ryoko's mother? Some days Ryoko doubted her own existence if it depended on her being the genetic offspring of the universe's craziest scientific genius. But, on calm nights and cool mornings Ryoko could silently feel the calming warmth of Washu's deeply suppressed love for her last known child. Love, Ryoko knew that Washu loved her. Yet, Ryoko wanted more, more affection, more tenderness, more moments of simply having Washu there. Ryoko wanted desperately to tell Washu how she felt, but despite it all, every attempt ended in confrontation. Just once Ryoko longed to feel like the daughter that Washu constantly told her she was.

"I do love you, Mom." Quietly Ryoko whispered her feelings to the moon.

The soft rustling of cherry blossom petals alerted Ryoko that Tenchi was returning home. From her darken perch Ryoko hid from him. He's so much older, now. Ryoko thought to herself. Gone were the teen-boy's limbs, face and mind. But in its place was the body and mind of a young man, handsome and wise beyond his 19 years. His talk to his mother had changed him, helped him grow past his seemingly endless confusion. He's changed, Ryoko thought, now nothing in this family will be the same. Looking down on Tenchi, Ryoko thought back of how she had seen him grow and evolve into the man he had become, wishing for only one heartbeat's moment to return back to that time when he was a boy and she was a demon. Ryoko felt the sharp pangs in her heart of unrequited love.

'Oh Tenchi…I love you…so very much….'Ryoko's heart and mind cried out silently to her love.

"Huh!" Tenchi whirled around to look straight at Ryoko in her hiding place, his eyes unable to penetrate the darkness. His eyes searched the darkness for the familiar pair of golden feline eyes to appear from the pitch-blackness of the perch.

Had she said that out loud? Ryoko hadn't felt her lips move and she was certain she had only thought the words and yet there he stood searching for her, as if he had heard her speak. Ryoko stayed as still as a statue, hoping for Tenchi to move on. Holding her breath and remaining as rigid as possible, Ryoko waited for what felt like forever to pass. Finally and blessedly, Tenchi continued his descent home. Once Tenchi was clearly out of sight Ryoko exhaled with the force of a drowning man breaking free of the water, to safety. Giant gulps of air simply couldn't satisfy Ryoko's frantic lungs. Unhurriedly, Ryoko's heart and breathing slowed to their usual stealth silence. That had been close; Ryoko felt so painfully close to tears. She could have told him just then, she pondered in anguish. She had told him; in her own way so many different times! So why hadn't she taken advantage of the truth? Why, because it was unfair to send Tenchi out into the next stage of his life with the constant dread of the repercussions of his decisions hanging over him. If Tenchi was to love her, he needed to decide and feel it on his own. Without the constant influences and bickering and fear of resentment.

Ryoko wanted his love desperately, but not at the cost of his emotional well-being. If Tenchi didn't come back for her well, then… Well then, Ryoko didn't know what she would do. Ryoko didn't want to know what she would do. But, she did know what she wouldn't do. Ryoko refused to cause Tenchi more pain than what he would already be feeling. Ryoko knew that any decision that Tenchi made, that knowingly would hurt her; would cause months of agonizing grief for Tenchi. That she couldn't bear. Tenchi deserved to be happy and if he didn't do it with her, then she wouldn't give him grief over whom he did choose to be happy with.

Silently in her heart of hearts Ryoko spoke her precious secreted truth to her love. "I love you, my Tenchi. And no matter who you choose and what may happen to me, whatever makes you happy is what will bring me joy." The truth and the anguish of the statement brought a new more intense agony to her heart. So intense was the pain that Ryoko's breath was stolen from her for what felt like a lifetime.

So intense was the pain that tears that had been constantly, just barely kept in check, rained down Ryoko's face with the momentum of a monsoon. Ryoko's heartrending wretchedness rode on waves of despair and sorrowed agony to all in the Masaki household. Through her raucous snoring Mihoshi whimpered and plead for Kiyone to return to her. In her fitful sleep Sasami felt the pain of Ryoko's desolation and whispered for Tsunami to watch and care for her friend Ryoko. Ayeka deep in her sleep felt the same frantic longing as Sasami and for one short hare's breath of a moment, doubted the comparative depth of her love for Tenchi. Yosho awoke from his slumber and for a split second thought of his darling wife and daughter and shed a tear for both. Through his dreams Tenchi winced, shed a tear and sighed at the overwhelming sadness that rode in waves over him. Ryo-ohki felt the wave of pain, as well as, felt the deeper emotions through her link and pitifully 'miyaed' for attention from someone, anyone. And without considering the consequences left her resting place to search for Washu. Washu was last to feel the wave of despair, at that moment Washu's link with her daughter was at its strongest and the seeping feelings and turmoil of emotions stopped the scientist from clicking away at her computer as she placed her hand over her heart.

"Ryoko, this won't end the way you seem to think it will." Washu whispered to the image of her crying, cyan-haired daughter. Reverently, Washu touched the screen where Ryoko's tears stained her cheek. "My little Ryoko, don't give up on hope. You were created from hope; don't deny your birthright and destiny. Just be patient, I know he truly loves you." Washu said as she began to return to her computer. More information had to be gathered before Tenchi left for college. More data had to be collected before he was no longer there to influence Ryoko. More experiments had to be conducted before he chose.

Author's Notes: I'm so very sorry that this story is taking off so slowly. I'm also sorry for the fact that the characters are so far out of character. I do honestly believe that how I am writing the characters is how they act when nobody is around to observe them. Please be kind as this is my first fan fic and I would gladly appreciate any suggestions.