Chapter 73: Cats And Dogs

To her credit Ryo-ohki didn't jump or lose grip on the tray, though her eyes did widen slightly. The ambient light catching the crimson jewel at her brow. Looking her over, Tenchi was in a mild state of shock. Ryo-chan looked nice. Really nice! It was plainly obvious there was feminine skullduggery a foot. Noting instantly not only was there only one glass on the tray but two straws.

"I know Ayeka and Ryoko had a hand in the clothes and make up but the juice and straws," He paused considering. "What are you up to Sasami?" He smiled, "As if I didn't know!"

"Huh." He mused aloud, startling Hero out of his fugue. He had been staring at Ryo-chan mouth slightly ajar.

"D-did you say something my prince?" Hero stammered. Forgetting in his panic they were now supposedly on a first name basis.

"You know?" Tenchi said turning. "I just remembered something I gotta go do?" Hero watched, feeling his knees knock as Tenchi made way past Ryo-ohki.

"Me luv you." She whispered as he drew near. Tenchi glanced down into her shinning eyes.

"Good luck." He told her quietly then made his way past. "You two carry on!" He offered over his shoulder unable to resist being possessed by a bit of 'Kiyone-ish' mischievousness, for a second or two.

Hero made a sound of astonishment. Not certain if he had misinterpreted the remark. When his eyes again met Ryo-chan's though, he felt it all just drain away. He again felt that odd almost electric sensation.

Tenchi continued back into the house, having mixed emotions about the whole affair. Ryo-ohki was more than just some pet! Like Sasami, she'd become like a little sister and ... He stopped, finding himself worried. The surge of anxiety was so strong he almost was on the verge of turning around, walking back out there ... irrationally suddenly wanting to drive Hero like a thumbtack!

"She's a big girl Tenchi." He sighed to no one. And the attraction between them was mutual and obvious. In fact, the last time Tenchi could recall seeing sparks like that fly between two people, his high school had burned to the ground! Still, It took all the courage he had to just slowly walk away.

"Ah tawt yah mate bay hirsty?" Ryo-chan offered slowly, holding out the tray.

"That's very kind of you." Hero responded with equal care. "Uh, Miss?" He added almost as an afterthought.

"Re-hyo-hoki." She smiled, pronouncing her name slow and phonetically. Wishing for the thousandth time she could talk normally!

"That's different." He mused perplexed. "And vaguely familiar..." he added mentally. Certain he had had heard the name somewhere? "Pretty though!" He quickly added when noting a flicker of displeasure about her features. "IDIOT!" He fumed privately, wanting to just kick himself! as Ryo-chan continued to stand there as well.

"What am I suppose to do?" She wondered. It was odd, she had only laid eyes on Hero a few hours ago. Standing in his presence, she could feel something? Perhaps she was just imagining things? But She could swear, it reminded her of a gravity field. Her mind attempting to quantify using the familiar. Invisible, explainable ... and as she gazed at him, undeniable.

"He's so awesome! And I..." She paused Mentally, seeing her reflection in the pitcher on the tray. "and I got all the class of ... a duck!" Meanwhile over in 'camp Hero' however things were equally uncertain.

"Man! I wish I'd gotten out more!" He grimaced privately. "The last five years have been Study! Study! Study! Then Work! Work! Work!" He then took a moment to glance back her way. She responded, favoring him with the most agonizingly sweet little smile.

"Argh!" He moaned mentally. "Oh my god! I haven't had a date since I was fifteen! Could someone please tell me how I could be more lame!?"

As Hero reestablished eye contact, rather than look away Ryo-chan steeled herself, trying a smile and felt a chill sweep up her back when it seemed his eyes widened ever so slightly.

"Is there something caught in my teeth!?" She privately panicked. "Why didn't I brush?" Covertly as she could manage, Ryo-ohki tried to carefully angle her face. Hopefully to minimize his exposure to what she now believed to be a filth ridden hole! "Way to go carrot breath!" She secretly groaned. Hero however seeing that slight 'turning away' totally misinterpreted.

"She's gonna leave?" His mind raced, lurching forward hoping, reflexively wanting to do something, anything! to keep Ryo-chan from leaving.

"Is something wrong?" Hero offered.

Ryo-ohki saw him step towards her, and in a moment of supreme nervousness, almost dropped the tray. Reaction and counter reaction swung into play with precision that would have brought tears to Isaac Newton's eyes. Seeing her plight Hero reflexively tried to grab tray and missed just as Ryo-chan was recovering her own balance. In the microseconds between the two events, enough juice spilled that when his foot caught the puddle, inertia was more than enough to send Hero sprawling at her feet with a grunt.