This is a fairly dark and tragic story written by me. Tenchi Muyo belongs to AIC and Pioneer, probably others as well, blah, blah, blah... Anyway, on with the story. Don't get me wrong, I am a GREAT Ryoko fan. I think I'm even obsessed in seeing Tenchi confess his love to her. But, this just happen to be a story for GenSao's Ayeka Challenge. WHISPERS IN THE WIND by Asa Negaverse (Yaoli Pu) Rain... soothing and angry, crying and laughing. Ryoko sat by the cave, hands on her lap. Wind... quiet and soft, loud and impulsive. We see Zero Ryoko in the arms of Tenchi. "That's all I want to be... Ryoko" She said, feeling his warmth, snuggling closer to him, sharing the rich gentle brightness of his soul, and of his quiet strength. We see little Tenchi crying by the cave, crystal clear tears drizzled down his soft cheeks. He couldn't see Ryoko, couldn't see her face, filled with love. She placed a ghosty hand on top of his head, trying to comfort him. We see Tenchi, now a man, walking by the cave, his wooden sword in hand. He smiled a wistful and misty smile, recalling his old "headquarters". However, he missed the sad frown on Ryoko's astral form. We see Ryoko clutching Tenchi's bloodied scarf close to her breast, crying hysterically. We see the determined face of Tenchi as he battled Kagato, attacking in rage at the man who hurted Ryoko, someone he cares about deeply. 'Oh, Tenchi... Why must you choose Ayeka?' She thought, sighing inwardly, lowering her head. The wind blew, gentle this time, ruffling her hair. It whispered, softly at first, then louder. We see Ryoko sobbing, seeing Ayeka and Tenchi, tears streaming down her face. She ran, despite the rain. Tenchi followed her, struggling to catch up. She sobbed until she hiccuped, until her vision blurred to one dark blob. She ran, until her legs were numb. She tripped over a rock, landing with a sick dull thud, her ankle twisted and starting to swell. But she didn't care. Ryoko couldn't feel her pain anymore. All she could do is run. The wind continues to whisper, the words slurred and unfamiliar, but yet the message is so simple, so clear. It held comfort to her. The demon warrior let out a deep breath. She thought about her long life, a life longer that any human or Juraian. She remembered her birth, in a dark and cloudy lab, no sign of life forms. She remembered peering into the face of Kagato, her master. She remembered the beatings she took each time she failed to obey. She had no mother, unless you count on that brat Washu (this is Ryoko's opinion, not mine. I actually think Washu's cool). She had no childhood, no friends. Only Ryo-ohki, her faithful cabbit could understand her, and her pain in life. Everyone considers her a murderer, even Tenchi at first. 'Tenchi...' She thought, a dreamy smile dawning upon her dirt streaked face. She remember clearly the day, when he was only five, when he could still have the ability to see her, came and asked if they could get married. It was a childish question, and she was flattered as he went on about how pretty she is. He promised her! He promised her they would get married someday, but now he is with Ayeka... He was so handsome, the way his brown eyes light up with inner amusement and slight irkiness whenever she would glomp onto him. Maybe that was wrong... she was so inexperience, never loving anyone before, that she just assumed that the way to a man's heart is by glomping. She was wrong. Ayeka had won, hasn't she? 'Tenchi...' The wind seems to whisper, voice low and moarnful, mirroring Ryoko's broken heart. She placed her hands on her face and cried some more. 'A never-ending carnival... what a joke.' She thought sadly, tears streaming down her face, like a soft waterfall. But the carnival had ended, with Tenchi and Ayeka living happily. There was no space for a demon. Demons don't get the hero, the princess does. No, dreaded pirates die. They always have, and always will. She laughed bitterly. She was so naive, so foolish, to think that Tenchi would love a dreaded space pirate like her... How couldn't she had seen this coming? Surely Ayeka will win. She was of noble family, rich, polite, a wife who obeys. She was perfect. She has a calm disposition, and can sucessfully raise a children. It is apparent that she is best for Tenchi, not Ryoko. Who would want to marry the most wanted space pirate anyway? Certainly not Tenchi. He deserves better. He deserves more. Things that Ryoko could not give to him. She wasn't even sure if her body is compatible with his for children, something he would have wished to have. How could she had not seen this coming? She asked to herself once more. Because she was blinded by love and hope... Ryoko stared at her dark surroundings. When she was still imprisoned, people had called it a 'tomb'. Well, how right they are! This is a tomb, or rather, will be a tomb. Squinting back more tears, Ryoko spat in fury. She wished she had never met Tenchi, or Ayeka, or anyone on this damn planet. She'd then be freed from the pain. Her heart ached as she held out a blade. It was made of silver, with a graceful handle of pure jade. Ryoko shivered. She teased herself about her fear of death. Hadn't Washu programmed her to be unafraid of it? Yup, that was all she is, a creation, a monster programed by a mad scientist. She mustn't be afraid. She must do this... But she still shivered, her heart filled with stupid hope. Maybe it was all a dream? Maybe she would wake up any second now to see Tenchi smiling down at her, holding her close. But it wasn't. The truth sank in. She stared at the blade, reflecting the warm pale glow of the moon. She mustn't be afraid. She must be the brave fearless space pirate she was created to be. She lived a long life of 5,000 years. So why was she afraid? Because of her hope, blinding her once again. No, she must crush that hope. There was no hope, only despair. Ryoko had honor. She's not going back there, like a dog with it's tail between it's legs. She's going to stick to her goal. If only... Ryoko's stomach churned at the thought of going back. How can she face everybody? Yosho will probably give her some calm advice, and Sasami, sweet little Sasami will cry and hug her. Mihoshi will be worried, only to forget everything in a matter of seconds. Washu will... do tests probably, Ryoko thought with sarcasm. Tenchi will stare at her with his kind eyes and apologize, trying to make everything better and have her be friends with Ayeka... And Ayeka, well, she will probably put on a concern face, looking at her with pity. She doesn't need pity. She needs love. More accuratly, Tenchi's love. Sadly, she turned to her knife. She breathed deeply, reasuring herself that maybe she'll actually make it to heaven. Maybe... then, she'll wake up. Maybe by killing herself, she ended one life, and was in another. Maybe in that life, she'll have Tenchi... She held out the blade in trembling hands. She must act quickly, for she's starting to hear the soft crunching of sneakers. She used to adore that sound, but now she resented it. It will make her crack, and abandon her goal. She must be hard. She must be strong. In a fluid motion, she impaled it inside her breast. Ryoko didn't feel pain, only numbness. She felt as she was floating. Her eyelids fell. So tired... Her brain felt dazed as the last thing she could see is redness, her own dark crimson fluid. **** Tenchi Masaki cradled Ryoko against his body, feeling her cold skin. With one shaky hand, he place his hand against her cold cheek, his hot tears splashed down her pale face, no longer in their warm golden hue. 'It was all my fault. I could have done more. Maybe even show her love. Maybe I could even love her. It wasn't impossible', he thought sadly. Gentally, he bended down and kissed her softly on the lips, letting the moment linger. Her lips were so soft, so comfortable. Closing his eyes briefly in pain, he carried her outside, back home, with the soft wind whispering 'Ryoko', quiet and demure, mirroring his sorrow. End? _______________________________________________________________________ Well, what do you think, everyone? Like it? Hate it? Send all comments to sailoryaoli@hotmail.com or weizhouus@yahoo.com This is my first dark fiction, so please, be merciful. I hope you enjoyed it. The reason I did this fanfiction was that I wanted the reader to understand that Ryoko was a proud and gental person, not like the tough, cruel person many people think she is. Also, to tell the readers why many of us writers want Tenchi to be with Ryoko. Isn't it obvious that this is excatly what she'll probably do? But in Ayeka's case, she'll probably go back to Jurai and be the Emperess. In both cases, either woman will go through pain, and I personally think Ayeka can take it better. So... until next time... please send me some feedback!