Ataru was suddenly regretful that he hadn't spent his time in P.E. class more productively. After all that running earlier he was exhausted, and it seemed like they had been walking this endless road forever. Well, he was actually the only one walking, he thought, glancing at the two floating beside him. For not the first time he felt a bit of jealousy towards Lum's ability to fly.
"You sure it was only 7 or 8 km to that house?" he asked again. The road seemed to stretch on to infinity before them.
"We should be getting close," Ten replied quietly. "Do you want me to go on another scouting mission?"
"Nah, save your strength, soldier." Ataru responded. Lum was already carrying the tired toddler; on his own Ten would have fallen behind a long time ago.
"Darling, are you sure you don't want me to try to carry you?" Lum asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Ataru replied, waving his hand. "It'd be way too much of a strain for you to do that for long."
She quietly sighed. This weekend wasn't turning out at all how she'd hoped. Her ship was gone, her head was still killing her, and poor Darling still hadn't gotten much any sleep. She was amazed that he was in a relatively good mood after all this, let alone keeping Ten in good spirits as well.
Still, there had been some undeniably nice moments as a result. He had finally told her that he loved her. That was something she'd waited so many months to hear. Once she had wondered if she would be able to believe him if he did say those words, but when the time came there had been no doubt in her mind.
"I hope Dad and Mom aren't too worried," she said, trying to make conversation. "We were supposed to arrive a couple of hours ago."
"Too bad no one's come looking for us," Ataru observed.
"Sorry, Darling. Oniboshi doesn't have a radar grid or anything, so no one would have noticed our position."
"This planet seems pretty undeveloped for such an advanced race," Ataru muttered, looking around at the barren landscape.
"Well, Darling, this is a frontier planet, after all," Lum explained patiently. "Planet Uru is our original home planet. We only started settling here less than a hundred years ago."
"Is that right," he said casually. "You were born here though, right?"
"Yup," she answered. "Ran-chan and I were both born here, and so was Dad."
"So is your mother from that Uru place then?" Ataru inquired.
"That's right, she confirmed. "And Ten-chan's mother and father still live there."
"That's right," Ten piped up sleepily. "I stayed here with Uncle and Auntie a lot though."
Lum seemed happy that he was taking an interest in her history, so Ataru continued. "So, how come the Oni started settling here?"
"Uru's pretty crowded, so there's not much room for growth," she replied. "We should visit sometime though, they've got some great shops there."
"Someday," Ataru said noncommittally. He was thinking about other things now. "Was this planet originally inhabited?" he asked next.
"Ran's people started settling here a little bit earlier than we did, but other than that, there was only wildlife living here originally," Lum answered.
"Ah," he replied thoughtfully. "How'd they end up sharing this planet though?"
"A tag game was held," she replied. "Our champion won that time."
"That explains why the planet is called Oniboshi," Ataru guessed.
"Yes," Lum said hesitantly. "The Oni people aren't the majority here, but Oniboshi is considered a colony of Uru."
"So if I had lost the match, Earth would be a colony of Uru too, right," he asked suspiciously.
"I suppose so," Lum answered quietly. "It would have been our fifth colony."
"What if Earth had resisted, regardless of the outcome?" Ataru pressed on. It was something he had never before considered, but he had trouble thinking that many of the countries on Earth would have surrendered peacefully.
Lum looked down. "That's what our space forces are for," she admitted.
"What'd they want Earth for?"
"You'd have to ask Dad about that," Lum answered, looking away. "I wasn't really told myself." She sighed. "Since Dad was put in charge of that invasion force, the rules said that someone of his family had to be the champion. I was just the quickest."
"They never even told you what it was for?" Ataru asked disbelievingly.
"I swear, Darling, I wouldn't lie to you," she answered earnestly, looking him in the eyes. "All I was told was that Uru would take control of Earth if I won the game." She sighed. "I'm not sure the higher ups even told Dad exactly why they were sending him out there."
Ataru mulled over this a few minutes. "Well, I can't really agree with that kind of policy," he finally replied. "But I can't say I'm unhappy with the results." He smiled at her. "Otherwise we wouldn't have met."
Lum smiled back. "That's true, Darling. And you wouldn't have proposed to me."
"I tell you, I didn't," he explained for the millionth time. "Though it's lucky you thought I did."
She laughed. "Yeah, I think so too. You're too shy to propose for real."
"Hey," Ataru said, offended. "I just enjoy my freedom too much to get tied down."
"Who needs freedom when you've got me," Lum responded innocently. "You admitted yourself that you love me."
"What of it?" Ataru asked pointedly. "I can love you and still want to stay free, can't I?"
"Depends on what you mean by free, Darling," Lum said, her tone slightly less friendly. "I won't accept you saying you love me then chasing girls around hoping for a date."
"How often have I done that lately?" he demanded.
"Not very often since we were in the hospital," Lum conceded. "You've certainly calmed down a lot."
"So have you," Ataru noted thoughtfully. "Your temper has actually improved."
"You understand that's a cause and effect relationship, right, Darling?" Lum asked him. "You hurt my feelings, and it makes me frustrated."
"I don't try to hurt your feelings," Ataru protested. "We just don't think the same way about this kind of stuff."
"I suppose not," Lum agreed reluctantly. "But still, you've been pretty good lately. Is that because you don't want to make me mad, or because you don't want to hurt my feelings?"
Ataru thought for a long moment, then answered honestly. "A little of both, I guess. I don't know. I just don't feel like doing it as much anymore." He shrugged. "Things have been changing between us," he observed.
"Is that a good thing?" Lum asked him curiously.
"I like where things have been headed," Ataru admitted. "Could we just kind of see where this goes, and maybe not try to force things too fast?"
"I see," she replied dubiously. "Well, Darling, I'm really happy with the way things are going." She smiled at him. "I'm still hoping we can get married someday, but I won't force you into it." She paused then hesitantly asked, "You do think there's at least a possibility of that happening someday?"
"Idiot, don't ask questions you already know the answers to," Ataru said, looking away.
She smiled, content for now with his answer.
Eventually the house Ten had spotted came into sight. They crossed the remaining distance quickly, all three tired from their hot trip. To their disappointment the closer they approached, the more obvious it became that the building was long abandoned. The walls were weather worn, no vehicles sat nearby, and a sense of loneliness permeated the whole area.
Ataru looked up at the strange misshapen dwelling curiously. "Where's the stairs?" he asked, being reminded vaguely of Ran's saucer home back on Earth.
"This is an Oni home," Lum responded. "We don't need stairs, and we can carry up any guests."
"I should have guessed," he said, noting the mostly faded tiger stripe motif still covering parts of the house.
Releasing Ten, Lum flew up to the front door. She knocked, waited a few moments, then knocked once more. There was no answer. After trying the lock, she finally decided just to blast it. Aiming carefully, she neatly hit the door with a strong charge, sending the door swinging open crookedly on its hinges.
"You think that's ok?" Ataru asked, looking around nervously. "Even if no one's living here, someone has to own this place."
"This is an emergency, Darling," Lum called, already entering. "Oh, it's nice and cool in here!" She peeked her head back out. "The power must be still working at least," she said before ducking back in.
"Must be nice," Ataru noted, wiping some of the sweat from his brow. Even in the shade from the building it was still pretty hot.
Lum soon returned. "Come on, Ten, you should get inside," she called out, snatching up Ataru and carrying him up towards the open hatch.
Ataru found it just as refreshing inside as promised. Leaning up against the wall, he slid down to the floor, glad to finally rest. He looked around curiously at the strange devices scattered around. Everything in here was so pristine that it was hard to believe the outside was so worn.
He looked closely around, wondering why anyone would just up and leave everything behind. Curiosity winning out over exhaustion, he lumbered back up and stumbled into what looked to be the kitchen. Opening what he assumed was the fridge, he peered in, amazed to see what looked to be food still inside. Knowing Oni food though, he couldn't tell how old it was, and he certainly wasn't about to try any.
Lum meanwhile had skittered off to another room, seeking out any form of communications devices. It wasn't long before she found the house's media console. Flicking on the viewscreen, she happily noted that the house was still connected to the communication satellite network in orbit. After a few minutes of playing with the settings, she dialed up her parents' house quickly, hoping they were still home.
To her joy her father's concerned face quickly appeared on the screen. "Lum!" he greeted her happily. "Where have you been? Your mother's been worried sick." He looked past her. "Where are you at?" he asked curiously, noting the strange surroundings.
"Hi, Dad," Lum greeted him wearily. "We're on planet, but my UFO kind of crashed."
"Crashed?" Invader demanded worriedly. "How bad is it?"
"We're all fine, but the UFO is toast," she replied sadly. "We found this abandoned house, that's where I'm calling from."
"How toast are we talking?" he asked more calmly, relieved they were ok.
"Engines apparently blew," she said casually.
Invader's eyes bugged out. "Do you know how much that ship cost?"
"It wasn't my fault," she protested. "The stupid thing wouldn't decelerate right."
"Have you been keeping up the maintenance," her father asked suspiciously.
Lum blushed. "I was going to have it looked at while we were visiting," she promised. "Anyhow, can we discuss this later? We're kind of stranded out in the middle of nowhere, so could you come pick us up?" She asked, flashing her most charming smile.
Her father nodded enthusiastically. "I'll be out as soon as I home in on the signal," he promised. "Just wait there."
"Thanks, Dad!" she said, leaving the console.
She wandered back through the house, looking for the others. Ten was easy to locate, as he had fallen asleep in the front room's floor. She soon found Ataru exploring the cabinets in the kitchen.
"What are you doing, Darling?"
"I don't know about you Oni," Ataru replied, still rummaging. "but people on earth don't just leave everything behind when they leave a house." He looked up. "Are we sure someone isn't still living here?" he asked.
"Pretty sure," Lum replied confidently. "The main consoles don't show any activity for about fifteen years."
"Fifteen years?" Ataru asked incredulously. "How can this place be so spotless after that long? There's not even any dust."
"Well, the air is being cleaned and circulated constantly by the computers," Lum replied. "And since home power cores last decades, it's really not surprising." She paused. "It is odd that it's just abandoned like this though," she noted.
"Guess we'll never know," he replied finally. "Hey Lum, do you think there's still any running water? I'm really thirsty."
"There should be," she noted, looking for the drink dispenser. "There it is," she said, pointing to an odd looking device next to the fridge. She pressed a switch on the side, causing a odd little plastic bottle to pop out. She passed one to Ataru, and then grabbed a couple more for herself and Ten.
Ataru looked at the bottle dubiously. There was a narrow end that he figured must be the top, but he saw no opening or lid. He watched Lum, hoping she could clue him in. To his dismay she simply bit the top clean off with her sharp fangs, then started drinking eagerly. He decided to try it, placing the top in his mouth and biting as hard as he could, without success.
Lum noticed his predicament. "Sorry, Darling," she apologized, grabbing the bottle back from him. She gave it a quick bite, then returned it to him sans the top.
"Thanks," he said with a touch of embarrassment. Taking a drink, his eyes widened as the foul tasting liquid filled his mouth. He sprayed it out hurriedly, narrowly missing a surprised Lum. "That's not water," he pointed out angrily.
Lum covered her mouth. "Sorry, Darling," she apologized again. "It actually is water, at least the base ingredient is. The drinking water here just has certain things added for taste."
"Things?" Ataru asked suspiciously. "Are you trying to poison me?" He demanded.
"Nothing harmful," Lum replied while playing with the dispenser again. "Just various minerals."
"Nothing harmful to you Oni, at least," Ataru noted, trying to spit out the remaining vestiges of the taste.
She handed him another bottle after removing the top. "Here, Darling, I promise this one is pure H2O," she assured him.
He looked at it warily for a moment, then poured a tiny amount into his hand. Tasting it carefully, he was relieved that it tasted fine. He quickly drank the rest.
"Ah, that was good," he told her gratefully, his thirst finally assuaged. "Did you manage to contact anyone," he asked hopefully.
"Yeah, Dad's on his way here to pick us up," Lum replied happily. "Why don't we go rest for a while with Ten until he gets here?"
Ataru, still worn out from both his lack of sleep the night before and the exertion after the crash, happily complied.
They were awakened after only a short time by Invader's loud voice heralding his arrival. Lum woke up quickly, grabbing her still half asleep Darling and nudging Ten awake. They exited the house to find not only Invader but also her mother departing their low hovering shuttle.
"Mom, Dad!" Lum happily greeted them as she approached them, still dragging Ataru. "Thanks for coming to get us."
"Lum!" Her father greeted her warmly. The huge Oni wrapped both of them in a great hug, nearly squishing them both, while Ten was cradled and cooed over by her mother. After a moment he released the relieved couple.
"Son-in-Law, you look well," Invader greeted him. "Are you treating my daughter the way a good husband should?"
"Yes, Dad, things are fine," Lum interjected. "We're perfectly happy," she assured him.
Ataru grinned and put his hand behind his head, nodding furiously. "Yes, sir, things are great."
"They'd better be," Invader growled at him, cracking a huge toothy smile. "Come on you, three, let's get you back home."
Even before they arrived, Ataru had started getting worried. The few previous times he had visited the planet, he'd never actually had to visit with them at their home. Remembering both the water incident and Lum's past attempts at cooking, he shuddered to think of the inevitable dinner ahead.
Once they had actually gotten to their home, however, he started to relax a tad bit more. Lum's mother had escorted him graciously to one of the couches surrounding the table, and he'd had a cup of some unknown orange liquid shoved in his hand. Invader heavily settled down nearby, while the two girls had retreated giggling to the kitchen. Ten, still exhausted, had wondered off somewhere quiet to sleep.
Staring nervously at the cup in his hand, Ataru cautiously tasted it with the tip of his tongue. Surprisingly it tasted cool and refreshing, not the least bit spicy or bitter. Still he took a cautious sip first.
"What's wrong, Son-in-Law?" Invader demanded. "Do you not like it?"
"No, no, it's good," Ataru hastily responded. He took a much bigger drink, gulping it down nervously.
"Good, good, that's how a man should drink!" Lum's father yelled happily, slapping Ataru on the back and nearly knocking him out of his seat.
Ataru smiled weakly. "It's very good," he agreed.
"Dad," Lum's voice warned from the other room, "Don't be too rough on Darling."
"We're just having a drink," Invader roared back. "When's dinner."
" Settle down, Husband ," Lum's mother called out. " It will be ready soon. "
Ataru stared blankly, wondering what she had just said. She always seemed to understand Japanese fine when spoken to, but he had yet to hear her speak a word outside her native language.
Seeing his confused look, Invader translated. "Dinner will be ready soon." He refilled Ataru's drink. "Come, drink some more with me!" He eagerly topped off Ataru's cup with a large jug.
Ataru complied meekly. He counted another 3 cups downed before the call of nature beckoned urgently. Looking around desperately, he finally spoke up. "Excuse me, sir, but which way to the restroom?"
Invader pointed irritably towards a plain door down the hall. "Hurry back, Son-in-Law, Dinner should be ready any time now."
Ataru stumbled into the small room and shut the door. Glancing around nervously, he sighed as nothing resembling a toilet presented itself. There was a bank of buttons on the wall, but he simply stared helplessly at them, worrying what might happen if he pressed the wrong one.
"Son-in-Law, dinner's ready!" he heard rumble from outside. "Hurry up!"
A light rap soon sounded on the door. "Darling, is everything ok in there?" Lum asked curiously.
"Um…." Ataru answered, embarrassed to say he didn't know how to use their bathroom.
"It's the third switch on the right," Lum told him, guessing his predicament. "Then the switch right below that when you're done."
He tried it, pleased to see a bulkhead slide away to reveal his goal. Quickly he relieved himself and hit the other switch. The toilet retracted smoothly back into the wall. "How do I wash my hands," he called out quietly.
"First switch on the bottom row," she responded promptly. He pressed it and a small sink revealed itself. He quickly washed up, then exited the room.
Lum smiled at him patiently. "Come on, Darling, dinner's ready."
They returned to the now occupied table, Lum settling close to Ataru's side. After the trouble he'd just had, he was relieved to see they used normal chopsticks.
Lum's mother laid their meals before them on elegant looking trays. " Please enjoy ," she told Ataru kindly, patting him on the head. She settled down on the other side of the table next to Ten. " I know it is not much, but I do hope you like it ," she said, adding to his confusion.
Ataru nodded humbly, figuring the gist of her words. "Thank you," he said, slightly sweating. He looked down at the meal before him. It seemed innocent enough, looking much like a rice and steak dinner from home. His chopsticks hovered nervously over the meal. He stared at the food, wondering hopelessly whether it would be worse to anger them or to just eat it and deal with the pain.
He glanced up, noticing everyone's eyes on him expectantly. Lum's mother smiled and urged him on, pantomimed using her chopsticks to eat. He blushed and decided to bear the pain, not wanting to insult her cooking.
Ataru picked up a bite of what looked like steak and nervously placed it in his mouth. After a moment he started to chew vigorously, amazed that it tasted delicious. He swallowed, then took a drink.
"Ah, it's very good," he announced.
Lum's mother beamed at his compliment for a moment and started eating as well. The rest of the table quickly followed suit. He sighed in relief as he continued eating.
Lum's father finished first, wolfing down his meal. "Is that it?" he demanded loudly.
" That is all you are getting! " Lum's mother told her husband sternly.
Invader stared at her for a moment, then looked down. "Yes, dear," he finally acquiesced.
Lum giggled. "Dad is getting better, isn't he?"
Her mother nodded in reply. " Some day I might have him trained. "
Ataru kept his eyes down, not wanting the glare Invader was giving indiscriminately to fall upon him.
The rest of the meal went by without incident. As Lum's mother cleared up their trays, Invader pulled out another jug. "Come on, Son-in-Law," he urged Ataru, "lets have a real drink now!"
Lum gave him a stern look. "Dad, we're still minors." She hugged Ataru protectively. "
"Who asked you," Invader roared. "And who is going to know anyways?"
"I will," Lum growled back. "Now stop being so rowdy, we've had a hard day." She glanced at Ataru. "Darling, you'd like to get some rest, wouldn't you?"
Ataru laughed nervously, suddenly put on the spot. "I'd love to have a drink with you, but really I am quite tired," he stuttered.
"Nonsense!" her father insisted.
" Dear, stop hounding the poor boy! " Lum's mother commanded from the other room. " Let them get some rest. "
Looking suitably chagrined, Invader surrendered. "Ok, Son-in-Law, another time then." He narrowed his gaze at Ataru. "Will you be needing a separate guest room?" he asked pointedly, remembering their sleeping arrangements last time he had visited the Moroboshi household.
"Ah…" Ataru started to reply, not sure what was the safest answer.
Lum blushed and shyly answered for him. "No, Darling will be staying in my room with me."
Her father laughed and slapped Ataru heartily on the back. "I see! That's my Son-in-Law."
Ataru, his face red, looked up weakly. "Ah…"
"Come on, Darling, let's go," Lum said, dragging him limply away.
Invader continued chuckling. "Have fun, you two!" he called after them.
" Dear, stop embarrassing them! " rang out from the other room.
Invader smiled, then turned to Ten. "Ten, it's just us two men now. I guess I'll have that drink, and you can keep me company."
Ten nodded happily, then floated over to sit on the large Oni's shoulder.
"So," Invader quietly asked, "Spill the beans, what's been going on with Lum and her husband?"
"Well…" Ten began.
