Aikan Muyo
Chapter 5 - No Need To Be Second


     "Breakthru, these barriers of pain,
      Breakthru, to the sunshine from the rain,
      Make my feelings known towards you,
      Turn my heart inside and out for you now,
      Somehow, I have to make this final breakthru.

      Your smile,
      Speaks books to me.
      I break up,
      With each and every one of your looks at me.
      Honey you're starting something deep inside of me.
      Honey you're sparking something, this fire in me.
      I'm outta control, I wanna rush headlong into this ecstasy. If I
      could only reach you, If I could make you smile, If I could only
      reach you, That would really be a breakthru."
        -- "Breakthru", Queen


Once again, the crown princess of planet Jurai sat in the bath,
silently thinking.

And once again, the galaxy's most-wanted space pirate walked in, as if
summoned by the princess' thoughts.

Ryoko shut the door behind her and glared down at Aeka, who didn't
seem to notice her.

*Alright, you arrogant little bitch, this time, it's going to be
different.*

Ryoko flexed her fingers like claws, walking slowly towards the bath,
her eyes burning. After what she'd been through, she wasn't going to
accept anything less than Tenchi's arms around her of his own free
will. She wouldn't let Aeka prevent that.

Hopefully, for all three of their sakes, the princess would see
reason. Ryoko was well aware of her own fighting prowess. And she knew
how to use it, or threaten to use it, in terrifying ways. If Aeka's
instinct for self-preservation overcame her pride, she'd be frightened
long enough to allow Ryoko to properly seduce Tenchi.

If not, well, she couldn't interfere if she wasn't alive. Ryoko would
give her a quick, merciful death, much quicker and much more merciful
than Ryoko felt she deserved, and then have one long night of joy with
Tenchi before someone discovered Aeka's dismembered corpse.

After which, she knew, Tenchi would send her away and never speak to
her again. When that happened, she'd kill herself. There was no way
she could possibly endure the pain.

She really hoped it wouldn't come to that. Tenchi might be a little
hurt when they found the head of the first girl he'd slept with
floating in the women's bath. And she had a twinge of guilt about what
it would do to Sasami. As to everyone else, they could go to Hell for
all Ryoko cared.

She wasn't sure which way it would go.

One thing she *was* sure of. She wasn't going to try kissing Aeka's
feet, ever again. There was nothing to be gained by letting herself be
kicked in the face.

She steeled herself and slid down into the hot water, her eyes never
leaving her enemy. She paused, getting ready, assessing the situation.
*Time to grind this annoying high-born twit into...*

"Gomen nasai, Ryoko," said Aeka softly, hanging her head.

*WHAT?!?!?!?!?!*

"I spoke some words to you yesterday that I shouldn't have. There were
things you did which disturbed me, but that is no excuse for a
princess of Jurai's royal family to comport herself in such a way. To
scorn a sincerely-given apology is a very shameful thing." She bowed
her head, extremely slightly and extremely briefly.

"Gomen nasai," she repeated.

Ryoko was completely stunned. This had to be the first time Aeka had
apologized to her. No matter how mildly. About Tenchi. Or about
*anything*. Ever.

Time to call off the bold frontal assault. Her enemy had just
presented an unexpected opening. Like a fencer, Ryoko circled, darted
in, and stabbed.

"So, how was it?" she asked.

Aeka turned her face away and twiddled her fingers. "How was... what?"
she asked innocently.

"You know. *It*."

Aeka remained silent.

"*Tenchi*, you baka!"

"Hmph! I am *not* the kind of woman to kiss and tell!" Aeka replied,
her usual haughty self again.

Ryoko rolled her eyes in pretended exasperation. "Don't tell me that
after all the trouble I went to, you only got to *kissing*?"

Aeka said nothing.

"Nobody here but us girls," Ryoko reminded her.

Still Aeka didn't say a word.

Ryoko sighed. "What am I *thinking*? With *your* level of creativity,
you probably did it missionary, with the lights out!" she said,
laughing. "And there's *one* thing I can see you're not *equipped* to
do, anyway, little princess" she added, taking her fist and thrusting
it between her breasts. Then she stared closely at Aeka's chest, as if
trying to see something that was very small. "Or did you decide to try
the Lily of the Plateau?" She collapsed in the bath with a splash,
laughing uproariously at her joke.

"But there *weren't* any lights in the closet," protested Aeka through
gritted teeth, pointedly ignoring the insult to her endowment. "And
what's *wrong* with that position, anyway?"

"Oh, nothing," assured Ryoko. "It's just not the one *I'm* going to
use."

"WHAT?!" Aeka's face was livid as she raised her trembling arm out of
the water and pointed a shaking finger. "Ryoko... don't you DARE!"

"Do I *have* to use the missionary position?" pouted Ryoko.

"You may NOT make love to Tenchi! I will not permit it!" Aeka
shrilled.

"Don't worry. I'm NOT going to make love to Tenchi," assured Ryoko
calmly.

Aeka breathed a sigh of intense relief. "I see. Good. I'm glad that's
settled, then."

Ryoko smiled. "I'm going to fuck his brains out."

Aeka face-faulted into the water and came up a moment later, quaking
with rage and gathering herself up to attack.

"RRRYYYOOOKKKOOO!!!!"

"Ah. The members of Jurai's royal family certainly do know how to
return favors, don't they?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," responded Aeka angrily, but
her aggressive posture wilted.

"You'd never have had the guts to even kiss him on the lips, if I
hadn't pushed him into that closet on top of you."

"I would have waited until *he* was ready. I don't try to force myself
on him, like *you* do."

"And he would have been ready, when...?"

Aeka hung her head. "When... he was ready..."

Ryoko shook her head, then clasped her hands and looked upwards, her
eyes sparkling. "`Oh, my mind and body are pure!'" she cooed, in a
high-pitched voice innocent yet dripping with sarcasm. "`So pure!
Don't touch me! Watch me from afar! Sit alone in your room and jack
off!'" She resumed her normal tone. "That's the message you were
sending. And that's all he would have done, little girl, if I hadn't
moved things along."

"I'm not a little girl anymore, Ryoko," replied Aeka. She smiled. "Not
after last night."

"Oh? You were a *virgin*?" gasped Ryoko in mock surprise. "How could I
*ever* have guessed *that*? My, oh my, what a total *shock* this is to
me!"

Aeka glared at her, angry and silent.

"So, was it good?"

Aeka's gaze softened and she blushed, but she didn't say a word.

"You can at *least* tell me *that*, can't you?"

Aeka closed her eyes and, letting out a blissful sigh, sank into the
water up to her neck, smiling.

"I *see*. And how did it taste?"

The water splashed as Aeka cringed and backed up against the side of
the bath, glaring at Ryoko. She calmed down and looked down her nose
at her.

"As I *said*, I'm not like *you*!"

Ryoko stifled a grin. *Well, that answers THAT. So there's ONE thing I
can be sure I'm giving him the first of.*

Aeka looked at her, serious and just slightly apologetic. "Ryoko, I
cannot let you. Gomen nasai. But I cannot."

"I'm going to be sleeping with *him*, not with *you*. But if that's
your price..." 

Ryoko smiled and started to advance, licking her lips. Aeka's eyes
went wide and she backed away again, cringing and looking like she was
going to try to push through the side of the bath. Then Ryoko leaned
back, convulsed with laughter.

"I cannot allow you to sleep with Tenchi," continued the princess,
serious once more. "I realize that you want him, Ryoko, but he's mine
now. Gomen nasai. I will not permit you to have him."

*Four `gomen nasai's in one day. I'm on a roll.*

"Isn't that *Tenchi's* decision?" asked Ryoko pointedly.

Aeka looked away, refusing to answer.

Now it was Ryoko's voice that became serious. "If I were you, I
wouldn't get in my way this time, princess. You won't like what will
happen."

Aeka turned back and glared at her through eyes narrowed in anger.
"I'm not afraid of you, Ryoko."

"When it comes to Tenchi, you should be."

And from the look on Aeka's face, Ryoko could tell she was, just a
little. *Good.* Now time to thrust for the heart.

"Or maybe you're afraid that he'll enjoy it more with me than with
you," taunted Ryoko, the playfulness back in her voice.

Aeka turned her face away, refusing to look her adversary in the eyes.
For several long moments she was silent and still, resolving some
internal struggle.

"Do your worst," she spat finally.

"Count on it, princess," replied Ryoko, holding in her glee with great
effort. *Just you wait, Tenchi. Tonight we're going to have ourselves
some FUN.*

As Ryoko got out of the bath and walked out, Aeka worried if she
wasn't taking too much of a risk. There was always the chance Ryoko
could sway Tenchi to make the wrong decision. Well, if he did, she
knew how to correct it. 

Tonight she would go out to Ryu-oh and test the tree's branches. And
there were some things she needed to leave there. 

Just in case.

Tenchi kneels in the closet. Aeka lies on the floor in front of him,
tied spread-eagle, her eyes wide in either fear or anticipation, he
can't tell which. Out of the shadows Ryoko moves up against him,
putting an arm around his shoulders and whispering seductively.

"I brought you a present, Tenchi," she says, and her hot breath washes
over his skin. She presses closer, licking his ear. "Don't you like
it? Do you know what it cost me to get this? Virgin Juraian princess
whores don't come cheap." She kisses him. "Aren't you going to fuck
her, Tenchi? After the price I paid, all the pain I endured?" Ryoko
reaches down, grabs his penis, and guides it to the entrance of Aeka's
sex. "Go ahead. Fuck her. I don't mind at all."

Tenchi thrusts. Soon he is plowing into Aeka hard and fast, and she
calls his name, urging him onward. Each time she does so, Ryoko
repeats it mockingly. Suddenly Aeka tenses, about to climax. As she
does a bloodcurdling scream escapes Ryoko, and the closet floods with
red-orange light.

"*She's* not supposed to be enjoying this!!!" Tenchi looks over his
shoulder just in time to see Ryoko's energy sword before she drives it
down through him and Aeka, impaling each through the heart. Burning
agony shoots outward from the blazing shaft and courses through his
body like rivers of hellfire. He rolls over on his back, twitching.
Blood pours from his gaping wound. The closet door opens...

"Has anyone seen my sister?" asks Sasami. 

With a casual flick of the wrist Ryoko swings her sword and sends the
girl's head flying while the body crumples, gushing crimson at the
neck. Sasami's head sails through the air and lands facing Aeka. "Oh,
there you are, Aeka. I've been looking for you. Breakfast is ready." 

Ryoko whirls her sword downward and splits the head in half, silencing
it. Then she begins to frenziedly hack Aeka's body to smoking, bloody
shreds, laughing maniacally as she does so. Once finished, she
extinguishes her energy sword. She looks down at Tenchi, smiling,
naked, drenched in blood, not a trace of sanity to be found in her
wild amber eyes.

"Time to pay for services rendered, Tenchi," she says. Her mouth
expands impossibly wide, and closes on him with a sickening crunch.

Tenchi jolted upright, gasping and sweating in the dark. He was dizzy,
and he felt like he was going to be violently sick. It was dark,
almost as dark as his dream, except for the moonlight gleaming down
through the window.

"What's wrong, Tenchi?"

He swallowed and wiped his brow, glad to be awake. "I was having a
really horrible nightmare, Ryoko," he answered. "Thank you for waking
me up. I..." Tenchi paused and blinked. Sweat trickled down his temple
as, slowly and fearfully, he turned his head and looked down.

Ryoko was lying next to him, under the covers.

She wasn't wearing any clothes.

Next to him. *Right* next to him. Very, very close.

But not touching.

And she wasn't trying to grab him, either. She was just lying there,
not moving, her amber eyes looking at him with concern instead of
their usual feral hunger.

But she didn't *stay* still, and he started to sweat.

She moved up against him, put an arm around his shoulders, and
whispered seductively. "Please stay, Tenchi. There's something I want
to give you," she said, her hot breath washing over his skin. She
pressed closer and licked his ear. 

Tenchi shivered in terror. *Don't be stupid! It was only a nightmare!
It's not Ryoko's fault what she does in your silly dreams!* He calmed
himself and summoned the will not to pull away from her. *Quit being
such a coward! She's not going to hurt you. If she wanted to, she
could have done anything, even killed you if she liked. But she
hasn't. She's scared you, maybe on purpose, but she's NEVER tried to
hurt you. So stop running away and trust her a little!* 

Ryoko blinked, pleasantly stunned by the absence of any attempt to
flee or push her off of him. Hopefully, if she didn't chase him, he
wouldn't run away. She smiled and Tenchi maintained his stillness as
he felt her cheek press warmly against his. 

"What was it... you wanted to give... Ryoko?" he asked hesitantly.

"Me."

Ryoko's face loomed in his vision for a moment, then cyan hair
surrounded him as her lips descended towards his. Fear argued with
arousal. Fear had always won before, but this time it was losing
ground. Slowly Tenchi began to force his arms to move to embrace her. 

*This isn't so bad. Not bad? Who am I kidding? I just hope Aeka
doesn't get too jealous because of this... Uh-oh. Aeka! She'll
probably come crashing in here any second!!* 

Over Ryoko's shoulder his eyes locked on the door fearfully, not
wanting to get caught in the crossfire when the inevitable fight
started.

"She's not going to come rescue you *this* time, Tenchi. I've arranged
it so we'll have absolutely no interruptions," Ryoko assured him.

The dark and bloody horror of his nightmare reached out and wrenched
his insides. "What have you done with her?! If you've hurt her,
Ryoko..."

"Nothing like that. I'm up here with her blessing." Ryoko paused.
"Well, sort of, anyway."

"I find that hard to believe, Ry..." Tenchi began to protest, but
Ryoko's lips silenced him.

"Enough talk about Aeka," she pleaded. She tried to kiss him again,
but he turned his face away, and she didn't force him.

"I *mean* it, Ryoko. You better not have tied her up again or
something so she won't get in your way. If you've hurt Ae- chan..."

He stopped, staring at her face.

Ryoko looked like she'd just been stabbed through the heart with an
icicle. Or as if she'd been a ghost who'd thought she was alive, but
had suddenly realized just how long she'd been dead and that
everything she'd ever cared about was gone. Her eyes stared blankly
into space, devoid of all life.

"I haven't done anything to her, Tenchi. I know you won't believe me,
but it's true," she said quietly, her voice toneless and defeated.
"I'm sorry to have worried you. And to have bothered you, all this
time." She hung her head, and he felt her body begin to shake. A tear
ran down her face and splashed hot against his cheek, stirring his
memory.

"Ryoko, were you in my room last night, after... after I was with..."
Tenchi started to ask. He stopped again as Ryoko's tears fell against
his face. She slowly lowered her head to his shoulder, weeping
silently, then quietly sobbing, treasuring each last moment before he
pushed her away, knowing this time it would be forever.

The sound of it brought sudden realization crashing into his head.

*FOOL!! Did you think that just because she's tough, she doesn't have
any feelings? She's wanted you all along, and you KNEW it, and all you
did was push her away and run! Do you have any IDEA how much that must
have hurt her? And then all you talk to her about is Aeka! Are you
like those assholes, those sempai of yours? Do you think like THEM?
Think that she's some kind of disposable slut without a heart to
wound, since she climbs into your bed on her own instead of you
getting her drunk and dragging her there?*

Tenchi curled his arm around her and held her tight. It felt very,
very strange to be doing that instead of trying to escape. Ryoko
stopped crying for a moment, and looked up at him, her eyes wide in
surprise and a faint flicker of hope dancing in her face.

"You're... not going to make me leave, Tenchi?" she asked with a
trembling voice.

Tenchi smiled, trying to cheer her up. "What kind of idiot would kick
a such a beautiful girl out of his bed?" he chuckled. "Do I look like
a eunuch or something?" Then he bent and kissed her.

Ryoko clutched him, and the tears streamed anew.

"Don't cry, Ryoko," he begged her.

She shook her head. "It's joy, Tenchi," she replied simply. She dried
her eyes, and gently returned his kiss. For several minutes she just
lay there, holding on to him in silence. Then she began to kiss him
tenderly all over his face and neck, reveling in his acceptance of
each and every touch.

"This is a side of you I've never seen before," said Tenchi after a
while.

"I wish you'd seen it sooner. But that's not your fault. Don't worry,
the Ryoko you always knew will be back any time now." And the fire in
her eyes was starting to burn again. Her kisses grew steadily more
forceful.

"I didn't mean it like *that*," Tenchi assured her, mostly unafraid of
the lustful hunger starting to fill her eyes.

"I know. But the Ryoko from day-before-yesterday wants to pick up
where she left off, before she was so rudely interrupted." She grinned
and licked her lips.

He thought back to the conversation he'd overheard at school the
previous day. "You don't have to do that, Ryoko. With your mouth, I
mean."

"Didn't you enjoy it?" she asked, sounding disappointed.

"Well, yes. I mean, it felt really, really good. But I don't want to
make you do something like that for me."

"Thank you, Tenchi. That's very sweet of you. But why are you uptight
about it?"

"I remember the guys at school saying that most girls don't like to do
that. Especially... err, swallowing."

Ryoko smiled. "*I* want to, Tenchi. Because it's yours. Because it's
*you*."

"You're sure?"

She kissed him tenderly. She looked down at him, and now love, not
lust, shone in her face. "Did I ever tell you I'd die for you, Tenchi?
I would. Because without you, I'd die anyway."

He cringed. "Please, Ryoko! Don't talk like that. It's morbid."

"What I *mean*, Tenchi, is that I'd do anything for you. Anything. And
I want you to know and feel a little of what `anything' means." She
kissed him some more. "You didn't say something about it the other
day, Tenchi. Why?"

"Ryoko, after you started, I wasn't exactly able to talk. Or think,
either."

She grinned from ear to ear and crushed him in her arms. "Oh, thank
you, Tenchi!" She ran her fingers through his hair. "You don't know
what it means to me to hear that. I wasn't sure, and I never got a
chance to ask you."

"Believe me, Ryoko. It was one of the best things I've ever felt in my
life. Honest. Though you did scare the hell out of me, sneaking up and
grabbing me like that."

"Better than...?"

"I thought you didn't want to talk about her."

"You're right. I don't." She kissed him so hard it felt like she was
trying to suck out his soul. *So Aeka got to go all the way with him
first. His first pleasure with a woman was with me. With me!* 

After a few minutes, Ryoko crawled on top of him and kissed him, her
fiery yellow eyes once more filled with ravenous passion. 

"I won't have to hold you down this time, will I?" she asked.

"Actually, the holding down part was a little fun. Just a *little*,"
admitted Tenchi sheepishly. 

"Well, I'm not sharing you with anyone right now, Tenchi. Not even
with myself. So just lie back and enjoy it. If you try to get away,"
Ryoko warned with a smile, clenching her fist in front of Tenchi's
face, "I'll have to hurt you." 

"I suppose that's what I should expect from a space pirate," he said,
grinning.

"Well, prisoner of the most-wanted space pirate Ryoko..." 

She kissed his cheek.

"Prepare to be pillaged..." 

She kissed him on the lips.

"And plundered..."

Then she kissed his chin.

"And ravished..."

And then his neck.

"No one can help you..."

She raised her face above his, and gazed down at him.

"No one will save you..."

Her feline eyes gleamed hungrily.

"No quarter will be given..."

The fire that burned in them promised him that he was about to be
pounced on, taken, and consumed.

"No mercy shown..." 

She pulled back her lips, and her teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

"Scream all you like..." 

She ran her tongue along the points of her fangs.

"Beg if you want..." 

Her hair brushed down his chest.

"It'll do you no good..." 

It passed over his stomach, tickling.

"You're *mine*..." 

Her fingers curled around the base of his shaft.

"To do with as I please."

Ryoko's lips hovered an inch away from the tip of his penis.

"Tenchi..." she said, her hot breath washing over it as she spoke his
name.

"Yes?" he asked, looking down at her.

"Itadakimasu!" Ryoko giggled. Then she slid it into her mouth.

He shut his eyes tightly. It felt *good*. Even when it brushed against
her fangs, he felt a weird thrill, not fear. He trusted her not to
bite.

She made it last a long time. A *very* long time. It seemed to go on
forever. Minutes? Hours? Days? He really wasn't sure.

He *definitely* wasn't watching the clock while it happened.

"Ohhh... Ryoko... yes..." he moaned, as her lips made their way up and
down the shaft. Her heart fluttered for a moment. He'd spoken her
name, with pleasure in his voice. And he'd said "yes" instead of
"stop" or "go away" or "leave me alone." It was so much better than
the first time she'd seriously tried to seduce him, when he hadn't
even wanted to look at her. Briefly she wondered what he'd do if she
*did* stop. So she decided to find out. She backed off and looked up
at him.

"Want me to keep going, Tenchi?" she asked. He nodded rapidly, and she
smiled. "Well, you've gotta tell me to, then."

Tenchi lay back, breathing heavily. "Only if *you* want to, Ryoko..."

"I want to hear you say you want me to," she replied. "Tell me, if you
do."

"Please, do it some more," he sighed.

"Do *what*, Tenchi?" she asked innocently.

"What you were doing," he answered, resting his hands on her head.

She began running her tongue along his penis. "Say it, Tenchi. Say
`Ryoko, suck my cock.' And I will."

"Er..."

"Why are you being so shy about it?" she chuckled. "I was *doing* it.
Can't you *say* it?"

"Well..."

"Say it, Tenchi," she cooed, kissing the head once.

"Ryoko..." he began hesitantly.

She started rubbing his penis all over her face. "Hmmmm?"

"Suck my cock, Ryoko," he begged. "Please!"

She grasped it gently and moved her head until her lips almost touched
the tip. "Say it *again*, Tenchi," she whispered. Then she opened her
mouth, and waited.

"Suck my cock..."

Her lips closed around it and descended to the root.

"...*RYOKO*!!!" he gasped, feeling it slide into her mouth, between
her fangs, over her tongue, and bump against the back of her throat.

Patiently she moved her head back up and released his penis. "Like
*that*, Tenchi?"

"Yes... just like that... only don't stop this time... don't stop,
Ryoko... *please*!"

"You want me to do it until you cum?" she asked, lapping at the tip.
"Do you want me to swallow, Tenchi?"

"If you want to," he replied, his voice sound a bit desperate.

She rested her lips against the shaft as she spoke. "What do *you*
want, Tenchi? I told you, I'll do anything for you. Anything at all.
Do you want me to swallow your cum? Tell me..."

"Yes!"

"Yes, what?" she asked, briefly licking his balls.

"Swallow it!"

She traced around the ridge of the head with her tongue. "Swallow
what, Tenchi?"

"My cum!"

"You want me to suck your cock, and swallow your cum?" she asked,
taking just the glans between her lips for a moment before releasing
it again.

"Yes!" he gasped. "How many times do I have to say it? Stop *teasing*
me, Ryoko. Please!"

"You teased *me*, Tenchi," she answered, breathing hot air all over
his groin. "You made me wait, three whole months."

"I'm sorry, Ryoko. Please..."

"You *really* want me to? Really?" She began planting kisses along the
shaft, starting at the base and moving up. "You never did before."

"But I want you to, now!"

Her lips and teeth and tongue made there way slowly all over his
penis, inflicting unbearably-pleasurable torment, and his fists
clenched, grabbing the sheets. "Want me to *what*, Tenchi? Tell me
what you want me to do. All of it."

"Suck my cock, Ryoko," he pleaded, looking down at her, urgency in his
voice and face. "Suck it, until I cum... then swallow... please...
just do it *now*! I can't stand it anymore!"

Ryoko gazed back up at him, her expression warm and gentle, her lips
smiling sweetly.

"All you ever had to do was ask, Tenchi," she said softly, before
taking his penis back into her mouth and starting to work it over
again.

After another minute she let it slide mostly out. She held the head
with her fangs and slowly licked all around it for a while, then
resumed sucking on it, her ears full of the sound of gasps that grew
louder and more rapid with each passing moment.

Finally, at the point of climax, she grabbed his waist and hugged him
tight as he shuddered in her embrace and gave out a loud, long, deep
groan. She kept her lips pressed firmly around his penis and waited
until his body relaxed again. Then she swallowed. So he would hear and
feel her do it, and be fully aware when she did. Her mouth slowly
glided up and off. She sighed and looked up at him happily.

"Gochisou sama deshita, Tenchi" she said, giggling again, as she
slowly licked her lips.

He blinked. *OK, if she says so.* He smiled back at her.

Ryoko's gold kittenish eyes sparkled as she began to patiently,
methodically clean Tenchi's penis with her tongue. It was an utterly
feline gesture, but it far from terrified him. She moved back up his
body and, still like a kitten, cuddled against him, warm and soft. He
half-expected her to start purring. Then she let out a long
"Mmmmmmmmmm......", and it almost seemed like she *was*. Then she
spoke, breaking the illusion a bit.

"Well, I don't think I need to ask if you liked *that*," she said, her
voice affectionate and proud.

"It was *wonderful*, Ryoko," he sighed. "Thank you."

She smiled and shook her head. "No, Tenchi. Thank you for letting me.
It didn't have to be that exactly, but I've needed to do *something*
with you, anything, for a long time." Then she grinned again. "But I'm
very glad you enjoyed it. Would you like me to do it again, sometime?"

"Whenever you feel like it, Ryoko," he replied, smiling.

Her face beamed. "When's your first class, exactly?"

Tenchi face-faulted.

*Uh-oh. Knowing how Ryoko is, she's probably going to float up under
my desk during history or something. And she won't CARE who's
watching, at ALL.*

Ryoko looked at him, puzzled. "What's wrong? Isn't it boring sitting
in those classrooms all day long?"

Tenchi began to sweat. "Umm, Ryoko, I don't think that would be a
really good idea. Everyone would SEE!"

"So?"

"But they'd SEE!" he repeated, unable to articulate his objection any
better than that.

"Don't you want them to know how much I love you, Tenchi?" she asked,
confused.

"Of course I do, Ryoko. Kissing and hugging, fine. But nothing more
than that, in public."

"But Tenchiiiii..."

He tried a different tack. "Ryoko, if you showed up at school, all the
guys would be making passes at you."

Now she looked hurt. "But I wouldn't let them *do* anything, Tenchi.
Really. I'm not how Aeka says I am."

"That *isn't* what I meant. A lot of them wouldn't *care*. They'd try
to do something anyway."

His eyes bulged in shock as Ryoko's energy sword flashed into
existence, filling the room with red-orange glare. She held it above
the bed, waving it casually. She looked over at him. Her face was
deadly serious.

"Tenchi, remember when I said I gave myself to you? I meant it.
Forever. If someone else tries to take me away, the only decision I'll
need to make is which of his heads to cut off *first*."

Now he *had* to keep her away from school. Otherwise, there were a few
students he knew who were going to wind up castrated, decapitated, or
both. Maybe a couple of teachers, too.

"Uh, Ryoko, that's sweet of you, and I'm glad you can protect
yourself, but couldn't you just slap them or something?"

"Why?" she asked, extinguishing the sword.

For a moment he was about to remind her that she'd be breaking the
law. Then he realized who he was talking to, and how ridiculous such
an argument would be. It might even encourage her. 

"Just *because*. Don't use the sword unless you have to, OK?"

"Oh, alright," she sighed. Then a new idea entered her head. "I could
fly you up on top of one of the buildings, and do it there. No one
would see us *that* way."