In a message dated 12/1/99 3:28:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
nguy0505@tc.umn.edu writes:

<< Just a quick question that popped up and itching to ask. 
 
 At the beginning of the OAV, Tenchi wouldn't give the gems back to Ryoko 
 because he thinks/knows she's a demon and can cause a lot of havoc if he 
 gave them all to her. So, being the smart guy that he is, he only gave back 
 one. Of course she was pissed, but got over it. 
 
 I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I was paying any 
 attention. I wonder why he hasn't given them all back to her by now. Is he 
 still afraid of her destructive nature or just wants her to stay around? 
 She doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Wonder why she hasn't made anymore 
 attempts to get them back. With the battle against Kagato, she really 
 needed them, but would have been null and voided since Kagato knows how to 
 control the gems. Wonder how he can control them..... what a nuisance he 
 is. A no good two shoe baddy. 
 But what about afterwards, During the second OAV. Ryoko didn't make any 
 effort to get them back or showed any interest. Perhaps she is afraid that 
 someone might get control of her again? Could Tenchi be afraid of the 
 destruction she might cause if she had them, especially against Aeka. Poor 
 poor Aeka. I suppose since they aren't in any real danger, she has no use 
 for them. >>


Well, Ryoko really doesn't have much perception of consequences and doesn't 
care too much when she destroys something(ex. When she punched down the wall 
of the Yosho's house, just because she was testing her strength).  So, if 
Ryoko did have back all of her gems the amount of damage that she'd cause 
would be pretty large.  Tenchi has most likely taken this fact into account.  
 Also, like you said since they aren't at war or something against some 
powerful opponent they really don't need her to have the gems.  

My personal opinion is that the gems belong to her so they should give them 
back if she wants them.^_^  Of course they would just have to then set up a 
couple ground rules.^_^