Kiyone rushed with a basin of warm water and rags draped over her right arm up the stairs in the living room. "Kiyone!" Washu's voice trailed down the hallway, "Where's that water and those towels?" She called. Kiyone skid into Ryoko's room, where Washu sat with a bucket which was used for her morning sickness bouts. Setting down the basin, she dipped one of the rags into the steamy warm water, letting it soak into the cloth before quickly ringing it out, folding it into a rectangle, and placing it gently on Ryoko's forehead, brushing back her bangs to do so. "Sorry, this thing took forever to fill up Washu."
Washu nodded, "Mmhm, next time use the onsen to fill it up." Kiyone nodded at the instructions she was given by the red-headed goddess.
"So how's she doing?" Kiyone inquired, gazing at the morning sickness ridden woman in front of them. "She's taking it pretty hard, but she's a trooper. She'll be up and about after she gets a little rest." Washu said, running her fingers through the cyan silk that was Ryoko's hair.
"So shall we leave her?" Kiyone asked, standing up. Washu nodded, joining her. "Yes, she needs uninterrupted rest," She pointed at a peeking Mihoshi, who edged along the crack in the door. "That means keep her outta here, you got that?" She growled quietly. Startled, Mihoshi backed up and tripped over her own two feet, causing a loud crash. Kiyone slapped her palm against her forehead and shook her head, "Right… Sorry Washu."
Washu exited the room and jumped down the stairs, levitating herself to the floor. "Kiyone, I'm going out to the shrine to speak with Lord Katsuhito," She called out. "I'll be back in a few; please keep an eye on Ryoko, won't you?" After hearing Kiyone's agreement from up the stairs, Washu made her way outside.
/This has been a crazy turn of events; I can't imagine how Ryoko and Tenchi will fare as parents at this age; or how Aeka will deal with this. I'm wondering what Lord Katsuhito thinks about all of this. Could he possibly approve of Tenchi's mating of sorts with my daughter, Ryoko?/
Washu sighed, shoving her small hands into her pockets as she passed the lake. It sparkled with such brilliance, and Washu was proud of the world for once—the world that her and her sisters had created for whatever reason they did. She smiled, stopping for a moment to enjoy the view she never got to enjoy. "This place is so beautiful." A breeze caressed her and her hair shuttered beneath its kiss. "A wonderful place it shall be to raise a child, indeed."
Aeka and Sasami stood on a platform above a group of sinister looking reporters and politicians. It was currently a bit hard to hear what any of them were saying as they were all talking at once. So many questions in the air, so many camera flashes popping in the princess' faces as they stood there feeling as if they were on trial by their own people.
"That's enough!" Aeka's voice rang out clear and strong over the crowd, causing a wave of silence to ensue. Her magenta eyes narrowed at the crowd, studying each and every one of them individually. "I'll take one question at a time!" She informed them, "Anyone who interrupts someone else will be arrested and promptly taken to a holding cell until this conference is over. Is that understood?"
"Now, first question," She demanded. One reporter raised his hand and she nodded at him, granting him the permission to speak.
The man took a look at a note card in his hands, "Have you heard from your father and mothers on the subject of the royalty galaxy conference they are currently attending?" He asked, trying to speak to her and show her as much respect as possible. Aeka shook her head, "I'm afraid we have not yet heard from them. They are very, very busy and will contact me as soon as they have the time to."
"Next Question," she called out. Another man raised his hand and Aeka gave him permission as well.
"What's your view on your Mother Funaho?" He asked bravely, the crowd astounded at the arrogant way in which he spoke to the princess Aeka. Aeka glared at him, "She's one of my Mothers. She's strong, beautiful, elegant, and a true lady who cares for her people." She defended Funaho's reputation valiantly. "Why do you ask?"
The man cackled, "Well, because she has failed as a mother in letting her son run away. She was irresponsible with him and did not teach him how to be a good leader—that's the reason you're here right now, isn't it? Because Lord Yosho ran off to go on a whimsical journey of young love."
"I beg your pardon!" Aeka snapped hastily. "Why I'm here is none of your business; and I'll have you know, Mother Funaho is a very intelligent woman with a very big heart. She was a wonderful mother to my older brother Yosho, and I bear witness to that. I think it is about time you people stop bickering over my Mother Funaho's morals and ethics, and take a look in the mirror for once. What does it matter who is the first Queen, politically? Both of our mothers are first in our father's heart. He loves them both equally, holds them both in high regards as the number one person in his heart. If you can't see that is all that matters, then you are blind fools!"
The crowd was stunned, taken aback by the princess stepping up so strongly. "I won't be taking any more questions! You are all dismissed!" She growled in an irritated manner, turning her back on the crowd and making her way inside.
Sasami followed closely, her bright pink eyes shimmering proudly at her big sister. "Oh Aeka, that was wonderful!" She exclaimed, looping her arm around her sister's waist as they walked into their bedroom. Azaka and Kamidake closing the doors behind them, Aeka collapsed to her knees in tears.
/Why can't Tenchi love us both equally? Why can't Tenchi choose both Ryoko and myself? That is what I want over anything, if there must be a choice made, I'd rather him choose both of us. I fear if he just chooses one, it will not be me at this point!/
Aeka cupped her soft face in her hands, wiping the tears away from her magenta orbs as she got back up with the help of Sasami. Sasami looked worried, more than anything, but also looked angry as Aeka would not share what struggle she was going through by herself, and she wished she would let someone in, even if it wasn't herself. So that way, she would not have to struggle all by herself like this.
Tenchi sighed as the newly spring breeze hit him directly in the face. It was peaceful, calming in its own way. He was nervous about the coming summer when he would go home and see a pregnant Ryoko. He would stay there for the entire summer and he was not sure how it was going to work out. Walking down the side walk, he felt like he was the only person out at this hour, but he had to get out of the dorm for a bit, as classes had been long and hard and he had needed to get away from the dorm, from Keniji who had his family over at the moment.
Tenchi had friends and the like, but he misses his own family at the Masaki residence. Sure, it was a bit of an unconventional family, but it was his family none the less and he loved each and every one of them. His problem:
The air of intimacy that had suddenly arisen with Ryoko after the incident with Haruna; ever since then, they had maintained a certain calmness in the house, minus the bickering from Aeka and Ryoko they had not had any recent problems. No bad guys, no issues—not until the issue of Aeka and Sasami going to Jurai for a year, anyway. But it was something they would get through, in his mind.
Tenchi pictured Ryoko in his mind's eye; he wondered if she had developed a stomach by now, if she had grown any, or if she would at all. Maybe she would carry in her belly only, be one of those girls that just didn't show due to the circumstances of the pregnancy.
He desperately wanted to see his family; his heart was aching so badly. Maybe he could go home for a weekend? Deciding against it, he finally collected himself and made his way back to the dormitory.
Washu sat in the shrine with Lord Katsuhito, the two of them enjoying hot tea together. "So Ryoko is carrying Tenchi's child, no?" He asked calmly, sipping his tea without slurping. "Yes, Lord Katsuhito that is the case." She responded. Katsuhito fell into silence for a minute, his glasses shining over, reflecting the light of the sun peeking through the window. "This is good news, is it not?" He asked her, letting a smile spread across his old face. Washu sighed with relief, "Indeed it is, but I thought you were trying to get him and Lady Aeka together?" She looked at him, puzzled yet relieved all at once.
Katsuhito laughed merry laughter, throwing his head back when he did so; Washu could see the young soul still in him, and she laughed as well despite not truly understanding what he was laughing about. Finally, he fell silent. "I do not prefer any one of these girls over the other, Miss Washu." He took a sip of his tea. "I simply want Tenchi to be happy, and I believe this news will make him happy once he figures out how to adjust to the news and let it sink in."
Washu smiled, nodding, "Indeed. But I wonder, how do you think they will handle the parenting world at such a young age, with all of these years ahead of them?" She asked him, taking the conversation in a more serious direction. Yosho shrugged, "I do not know, Miss Washu. But they better figure it out, no?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
Washu cackled, rubbing the back of her head. "Well, Mayuka will be joining us in nine months, that's for sure! So whether they like it or not, they better get it together!" She chuckled and stood, leaving his company for the time being.
Ryoko lay in bed, peering out the window. Groggily, she sat up and rubbed her eyes, looking at the door of her bedroom she got up and left the room. Teleporting down stairs, she joined Kiyone and Mihoshi on the couch. "Good morning, you two…" She yawned, waving at them.
Kiyone smiled, "Ryoko, good to see you up and about. I was starting to get worried there for a minute." She stated nonchalantly, flipping the hair on her shoulder to her back. "Would you like to join us for a bath in the onsen?" She asked.
After agreeing to do so, the three of them made their way to the onsen and soaked in the warm water, steam rising around them as they let their muscles relax under the steam and heat. Ryoko sighed, "I'm pretty sure this morning was what it must be like to go to hell." She grumbled, splashing water over her face to wash the sweat away.
Kiyone chuckled, "You'll get used to it. Anyway, it will only be for a month or so before it passes completely." She reassured Ryoko. Mihoshi peered curiously at Ryoko, "You went to hell, Miss Ryoko?" Her eyes watered, "I'm pretty sure that's not going to be good for the baby!" She cried, waterfall flake tears spewing from her huge, bubbly blue eyes.
Kiyone and Ryoko both let an exasperated look cross their faces, before Ryoko whacked Mihoshi upside the head. "I didn't mean literally, you air head!" She growled, before sitting back down and using a hand towel to lay on her face as she rested the back of her head against the surface behind her.
Mihoshi rubbed her head and mumbled beneath her breath cries of woe, but was ignored by Kiyone and Ryoko, who went on to talk about the first trimester of pregnancy. "It will pass by just like that, so you really need to be prepared for being a parent, Ryoko. And anyway, summer will be here before you know it and you'll get to see Tenchi!" She exclaimed, winking at Ryoko.