I don't own any of these characters. Please don't sue me. I'm poor.

Why don't you love me?

By, Clayton Overstreet

Prologue

Tenchi woke up early Saturday morning to find Ryoko floating above his bed. At first he was scared, but then noticed that she was fast asleep. He slowly slipped out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. He was almost out the door when he heard one of the boards under his feet creak. Ryoko woke up and looked down at the bed. "Tenchi?" With a panicked expression on her face she quickly scanned the room. When she finally saw Tenchi her eyes lit up and she flew at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Good morning Tenchi. Trying to leave without me?"

Tenchi's face turned red as he felt Ryoko rub against him. Without any thought he suddenly dropped between her arms and took off running for the bathroom. Ryoko watched him go and sighed sadly. Why did he always run from her? A tear trickled down her cheek. At that moment she came to a discussion. Turning back to Tenchi's room she picked up a pen and paper.

Part 1

"What do you mean 'She's gone'?" Washu asked.

Tenchi waved the note, "I mean she's gone. See for yourself.

Washu took the paper from his hand and began reading it, "Tenchi, I now realize that no matter what you do I will not win your heart. These new feelings I have from Zero make that too painful to bear so I will now leave you. Be happy with Ayeka or whomever else you feel you can love. I will not see you again. Always, Ryoko." Washu turned to Tenchi; "This is serious. I can't even establish a link with her." Tenchi held up the red gem he had found with the note.

Washu nodded in understanding, "So what exactly did you do that would make her run away?"

Tenchi looked down in shame, "I ran away from her like I always do."

Washu shook her head sadly; "Can you blame her. I know you think she says she loves you just to mess with Ayeka, but she really does Tenchi."

Tenchi smirked, "Well there you are wrong Washu. I know she loves me. That's why I get so scared. Because I..." He stopped and bit his lip.

Washu frowned and hit him on the head, "Just say it!" She said and hit him again.

Tenchi rubbed his head and looked at her angrily. "Fine! I love her all right! I love Ryoko. Now stop hitting me."

Washu smiled and turned to her computer. "Now I suppose you want me to help you find her?" Tenchi nodded sheepishly.

Washu pressed some buttons on her computer. "It seems she took Ryo-Oki and entered hyperspace just past the moon. It could take me a while to find her Tenchi. Why don't you go back to your room or something and wait."

Tenchi looked at her with hurt eyes. "You mean all I can do is wait?"

Washu nodded and smiled, "Unless you can get me some help." Tenchi shook his head. He had now idea how to help Washu.

Tears in his eyes Tenchi turned to leave the lab. He passed the other girls who were sitting on the couch watching soap opera's. Ayeka turned and saw him walk up the stairs, dropping the letter as he went. He looked down at her briefly with tears in his eyes. Then turned and ran up the stairs. Ayeka started after him but stopped when she heard paper crinkle under her foot. She picked up the letter and read it slowly. Biting her lip Ayeka turned back to the couch and sat down.

"Ayeka, why are you crying?" Sasami and Mihoshi asked. Ayeka handed the note to Sasami. Sasami read it and nodded. "What now Ayeka?" Ayeka turned to her sister curiously.

'What now?' She hadn't planned for this. All Ayeka's plans had centered on her getting married to Tenchi and ruling the universe. "I don't know Sasami. What do you two suggest?"

She said looking at Sasami and Mihoshi, who had just finished the letter. Mihoshi looked up, "I think we should help him." Sasami nodded in agreement.

Tenchi walked to the cave. He hadn't been here since he had released Ryoko. He walked down the long tunnel, the sword gripped in his hand. He stopped in front of the place where he had taken the sword. There was the rock that opened Ryoko's prison; the dried vine still wrapped around it. He kicked it and it fell apart. The stones before him opened up. Walking forward he sat down and slid into Ryoko's prison.

He walked over to the edge of the pool and looked down. He remembered when he had found her hear, a mummy. She had tried to kiss him and he had run away. He never stopped running. Tenchi bent over the pool, his tears dripping into it.

Suddenly there was a crash and moan behind him. He turned around and saw Ayeka lying there. Wiping his tears away he leaned forward and helped her up. "Are you alright Ayeka?"

She looked up at him and tried to smile, but couldn't do it. "I wanted to talk to you Tenchi."

He sat down and looked at her, "What about Ayeka?"

Ayeka rubbed his cheek, "I know you chose Ryoko Tenchi."

Tenchi bit his lip. "I'm sorry Ayeka."

She nodded. "I didn't come for an apology Tenchi. I came to tell you that we are all behind you. If you want the entire Jurai military under my command will help you search for her. Mihoshi had promised to put out an APB for Ryoko, and Sasami said she would see what Tsunami can do."

Tenchi smiled and hugged her, "Thank you Ayeka." She nodded and hugged back.

Part 2

Washu called Tenchi into the lab. "Did you find her?" Washu shook her head. "No, but I may know a way to find her." It had been a month since Ryoko had left and Tenchi was getting desperate.

"Anything Washu. Please, just tell me what to do."

Washu smiled and pointed at the sword in his hand. "Give Ryoko her gems back and I'll be able to trace her energy signature. She may resist at first and send them back, but even momentary contact should be enough to trace her."

Tenchi nodded and stared at the gems in the sword. One by one they vanished. Suddenly Washu screamed and grabbed her head. "Washu, what's wrong. What happened?"

Washu shook her head and shivered. "She's dying Tenchi. She hasn't eaten because it kept reminding her of Sasami and then you. She hasn't slept because she kept dreaming of you. She hasn't even had anything to drink. Without water she can't heal. We have to get to her NOW!"

Tenchi nodded, "Where is she Washu?"

Washu typed up her scanning program. "She's hiding behind Pluto." They ran out of the lab and into the living room.

"Mihoshi, we need your ship." Tenchi said.

Mihoshi smiled pleasantly and nodded, "Ok Tenchi." Picking up the cube in her hand she twisted it slightly to the left and they found themselves on the Yukanojo. "Where to Tenchi?" Washu gave Mihoshi the coordinates.

They arrived an hour later. Ryo-Oki was floating right there and Mihoshi teleported them aboard. When they arrived they saw Ryoko laying on the deck unconscious. She was dehydrated, and looked like the mummy Tenchi had first seen her as. He ran to her side and lifted her head up. "Ryoko? Ryoko are you awake?" Ryoko simply lay there in his arms.

"Tenchi, I can't hear her any more." Washu whispered.

Tenchi leaned over Ryoko and tears fell onto her. One landed in her mouth. Ryoko stirred in his arms and opened her eyes. Tenchi smiled down at her and held her close.

"Tenchi? Is… is it really you."

Tenchi nodded, "Yes Ryoko. It's me." Ryoko let her dried and cracked hand run along his cheek.

"Why did you come after me?"

Tenchi looked into her eyes, still crying, "Because I love you Ryoko. I'm sorry I never told you. Please forgive me."

Ryoko weakly shook her head, "I never blamed you Tenchi." She leaned forward to give him a kiss and for once he did not back away. Tenchi leaned into her and kissed her dry lips. He closed his eyes and felt something change in Ryoko.

Ryoko's lips softened under him, her skin returning to normal underneath his touch. When they finally broke apart Tenchi saw that Ryoko was back to normal. He smiled and hugged her to him feeling her arms holding him close.

The End

Author's note