Grocery Shopping
by Mitch
wells17@gte.net
Summary: An alternate version of the Tenchi Universe episode "No Need
for Hunger" in which Kiyone gtes the groceries instead of Ryoko.
"Knock knock!" said Ryoko as she phased through the door.
"What is it, Ryoko?" asked Kiyone.
"I'm off the redeem my sins by grocery shopping."
"'Redeem...'? You're the one who's been stealing the snacks?!"
"Please. I already got a ribbing from Ayeka. I get hungry too,
y'know."
"Look," said Kiyone, "why don't you let me do the shopping? I'm
getting sick of being stuck in this cockpit half the time."
"Well," said Ryoko, "I see your point. I'm sick too, but at least
I have the freedom the ship twice the time you do. Besides, I'm used
to being on the run."
Kiyone groaned. She hated being reminded that they all had been
framed by someone claiming to be Yosho, the missing prince of the
planet Jurai. Ryoko was more comfortable with it. After all, she
was used to being on the run by being a space pirate. Kiyone and the
others were not quite as comfortable with the concept.
"Well," said Kiyone to the others in the living room, "I'm off!"
"Be careful, Kiyone!" whined Mihoshi.
"Look," explained Kiyone, "I'm just borrowing Ryo-Ohki to a nearby
planet to get groceries. I should be back soon enough."
"Just be careful with her," said Ryoko, "be glad I gave you a basic
teaching of the controls."
"We'll be alright. You guys just hold the fort and try to get
your minds off food."
It was an uneventful trip, but they got to the planet okay. Kiyone
found a store and no one seemed to recognize her, despite her outlaw
status.
All the better, she thought as she looked at her long list. She
should have brought one of the others along to help. As long as it
wasn't Mihoshi...or the perverse Noboyuki.
It took a while, but got everything she needed and took her cart
outside for Ryo-Ohki to beam the grociers aboard. Suddenly, three
punks in masks jumped her and started grabbing her items out of her
cart. Fortunatly, Kiyone gripped the one that was pinning her down and
flipped him over her shoulder.
"Woah! This chick has police training or somethin'"
The two other theaves advanced on her. Kiyone took a minute to
pity them as she crouched and floored them both with a spinning kick
that Tenchi's grandfather once taught her during one of Mihoshi's
piloting shifts.
The crooks finally ran off. Kiyone was relieved until she noticed
something was missing. Her wallet was gone! Well. she didn't have that
much money except for what Ayeka loaned her for grociers. Then, she
remembered her pilot licence...and her outlaw status.
"Ryo-Ohki!"
Later, Kiyone found herself chased by a fleet of Galaxy Police
ships. Fortunatly, she had the most manuverable ship there was. She
managed to lose them eventually. They were just doing their job, she
thought. She wondered why Ryoko always enjoyed this.
She finally made it back to Yagami.
"Someone give me a hand here?"
Tenchi, Sasami, and Mihoshi helped her. Ryoko and Ayeka eventually
lent a hand. They removed the bags with carrots first before RYo-Ohki
got any ideas. She apoligized for being late and explained the
incident.
"At least you weren't comitting a crime", said Ayeka, "now if we
sent Ryoko..."
"Hey! What makes you think I would commit a crime? I would just
get the grociers and come back here like she did!"
"You sure?"
"Well, unless there was a nice hotel around..."
END