Spaces in Time

L.R.T.

"Tenchi! Breakfast!"

Tenchi rolled over in bed, opening one eye as he looked at the clock. This woke him up better than a cold shower could. He sprang up out of bed, quickly getting dressed and running downstairs. "Mihoshi! It's eight-thirty! I should've been at work half an hour ago!"

Mihoshi blinked. "No dear, you go to work at nine, remember?"

"Mihoshi! I think I know when I go to work!" He grabbed a quick piece of toast and rushed out the door.

Mihoshi pouted slightly, sitting down at the table and scarfing down the rest of the breakfast for two all by herself. She spent her days cleaning and watching her soap operas, of course. She was the poster woman for "Wife Weekly". The typical stereotype of a wife - staying at home and taking care of the house, making meals, and watching her stories while the husband went off and made the money. Mihoshi, of course, didn't realize this. About an hour later, Tenchi came back in, agitated to say the least.

"Tenchi!" Mihoshi said, running from the kitchen to greet her husband. "You're home early!"

"I got fired thanks to you, Mihoshi." He glared, walking up the stairs.

Mihoshi pouted. "I'm sorry, Tenchi!"

"Call me for lunch, Mihoshi, I'm going to look for a new job." And with that, he slammed the door to his den.

Mihoshi sighed and walked out to their porch. "I hope Tenchi isn't too angry with me," she frowned. "Oh! Come here little birdie!" she smiled, reaching out to pet the swallow that usually roosted outside their porch but she lost her balance and fell to her death.

And with that the hologram ended.

Tenchi's jaw dropped. "She falls off a balcony and dies?!"

Washu blinked, looking where the hologram once was. "I guess so. Good thing she isn't a big option, ne, Tenchi?" She grinned.

"Eh...I guess so..."

"So, who's next?"

"Well, I guess we could do Kiyone."

Washu typed her name into the holotop. "Okay! All set! Here's your and Kiyone's future!"

The scene was this: a huge mansion with tennis courts and fountains and servants all over. Kiyone was sitting in the gigantic living room, drinking a can of pop. Obviously being the new leader of the Galaxy Police hadn't changed her tastes any. She usually wore jeans and t-shirt, nothing too fancy. Tenchi worked as her assistant, so they both brought in fairly good money and received a lot of perks. Tenchi sat in the recliner across from Kiyone and smiled as she looked up at him and blew her a kiss. Kiyone grinned, caught it, and blew him one back, which he caught as well. Kiyone frowned, cocking her head and looking at the figures for this month. "Something doesn't seem to fit, Tenchi. Look at this and tell me if I added right," she said, handing him her pad and paper.

Tenchi nodded and looked over the figures as well. "Kiyone, can you get me a calcu--" Before he could finish, it was in his hands. He smiled at Kiyone and kissed her. "You read my mind."

She grinned and went back to the couch, waiting for the verdict.

Tenchi sighed worriedly. "You're right, we seem to come up short of funds this month. What're we gonna do?"

" I don't know. How could this've happened? We were so careful!"

Tenchi sighed once more, walking over to Kiyone and hugging her. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

The scene was now this: a trashy, low-rent apartment complex with burnt-out grass and a rusty playground. Kiyone was sitting in her kitchen/dining room/living room area, watching the crappy black and white TV with bad reception. Getting fired from her well-respected job wasn't the best for someone's lifestyle. She'd tried not to change but she'd really grown fond of the high life. She felt awful for dragging Tenchi down with her. She sighed as she looked to the sleeping Tenchi on the floor next to the couch. Kiyone, sighing once again, stood up, leaning down and softly kissing Tenchi one last time, before going into the bedroom and packing a few things. She then made her way out of the door, never to be seen or heard from again.

And with that the hologram ended.

Tenchi sighed and put his head onto the table. "Let me get this straight - I marry you, you become a prostitute; I marry Mihoshi, she dies; I marry Kiyone, she runs away. This isn't looking good, Washu."

Washu bit her lip. "Well, let's try Princess Aeka! I'm sure that'll be a great future! How could it not be? You're royalty!"

Tenchi groaned. "Fine, let's get this over with."

"Here's your future with Aeka, Tench!"