INVASION, Volume 3, Part 9: The Dance of Life.

DISCLAIMER: Tenchi Muyou! is copyright AIC/Pinoeer, LDC. I claim no rights to it. However, the events depicted in this story are entirely of my own imagination. Please do not copy or alter it in any way. Feel free to distribute this story as widely as desired.

FOREWORD: Volume 3 has definitely been the longest and hardest part of Invasion. I frequently found that the parts I originally envisioned, though interesting, were often insufficient to keep the story full and flowing. I probably wrote more support material than main parts! As a result, I got somewhat burnt-out and had to take longer than usual breaks between chapters. However, as there are only a couple of segments left, I have put them together in this chapter. For this reason, the story continuity may seem a little disjointed. I have made every effort to indicate where breaks in continuity occur so that there is as little confusion as possible.

Two of the segments are Sasami/Shuzan oriented, while only one centers on the rest of the group. I couldn't very well ignore the birth of Tenchi's first child!

Just a note of importance to those who might be wondering about or objecting to a Sasami and Shuzan romance: By this time Sasami has now reached the physical age of 13. She is in the eighth grade (middle school in the US). I have gone out of my way to make this abundantly clear. So, I don't expect to receive any hate-mail regarding "little" Sasami getting molested by a much older male figure. Shuzan is only a couple of years older (physically) than Sasami.

AUTHOR: Dreamr

LAST REVISION: 16 October 2005

BEGIN.

Sasami ran into the house like her pants were on fire. Actually, she was not really wearing pants. She was wearing her sailor-style school uniform, which included a rather short skirt. With the arrival of Spring, the weather was finally getting warmer. Even though the local weather control never allowed it to stay below freezing for very long, she was glad to be able to wear the cute little pleated skirt again, rather than the very long full-length skirt and blazer that was the winter uniform.

The reason for her haste was due to what had just happened outside the front door. As he frequently did, Shuzan had walked her home. But, before saying goodbye, he had shyly asked her to be his date for the Spring Prom at his high school. It had taken her a couple of seconds of stuttering to blurt out her acceptance. But accept she had. Sasami's heart beat wildly in her chest. There was so much to do!

As Sasami passed the sitting room on her way to the front stairs, she caught a glimpse of Ryoko out of the corner of her eye. Ever curious, Sasami paused to see what was up. Peeking silently around the corner from the hallway, she watched as Ryoko quietly crept towards Aeka, who was sleeping sitting up on the couch. Her head hung to her chest making a matching lump to her enormous belly. Although she tried to wear normal kimonos, her stomach made it look rather silly. Ryoko of course had no such difficulties. She was wearing her blue and gold striped dress complete with cat's-tail.

Ryoko was very carefully pulling Aeka's kimono open, exposing the princess' bulging gut. Sasami gently tapped a finger on the side of the wall, wondering what Ryoko had in mind. Then she noticed the big thick black magic marker stuck behind Ryoko's right ear. A sly grin arose on Sasami's lips. Aeka would be furious when she awoke and saw that someone had written all over her exposed stomach.

Suddenly, Aeka stirred. She smacked her lips and sighed in an unconscious effort to stop the thin line of drool that was slowing trailing from her open mouth. Ryoko froze. She waited for Aeka to settle again, then she looked quickly around the room. Her eyes alighted on Sasami and locked on to her. Sasami smiled and waggled her finger at Ryoko as if scolding her. Then without a word, she left to go upstairs to her room as she had originally intended.

It was easy for Sasami to lose track of time when she had a lot on her mind. Right now definitely qualified. She needed to find something to wear. Going right for her very nice walk-in closet, she started rifling through her selection of dresses and kimonos. A kimono seemed a little too traditional for what she wanted. But as she pulled out dress after dress from her already large closet, she just couldn't find anything that she felt would be sufficiently impressive for her prom date. She was grumbling over her lack of appropriate clothing when her elder sister's screech of indignation rattled the windows.

"RYYOOOKOOO!"

Ryoko suddenly popped into Sasami's room right before her eyes.

"Holy crap, she's pissed!" Ryoko smiled as if nothing was amiss. "Sasami!"

"Well, that's what you get for misbehaving." Sasami chided her friend for her mischief.

"Ryoko, prepare to die!" Aeka's voice echoed through the house.

"Can I hide in here?" Ryoko begged of her friend.

"But you wrote all over sister's belly."

"Please!" Ryoko gave Sasami her best puppy-dog-eyed look.

Being a mischievous girl at heart, Sasami couldn't help wanting to have in on the fun. However, she knew when she held an advantage. This called for some creative negotiations. She smiled winningly.

"I'll help you if you help me find a new dress."

"Done!" Ryoko spat in her hand and extended it to seal the deal.

Sasami looked at the extended hand and carefully took only Ryoko's fingers making sure to avoid the small spot of spittle on Ryoko's palm. As they sealed the transaction, footsteps began to thud up the stairwell in Aeka's very familiar waddling pace.

"You can hide in here." Sasami pointed at the large pile of discarded clothes that she had just thrown on the floor.

"Yeah, it's such a mess she'll never find me in here."

"Shh!" Sasami pushed Ryoko well into the back and then began throwing clothes at her.

"Now lie down and be quiet!"

Ryoko collpased to the floor and remained silent as Sasami tossed all sorts of dresses and other clothes on top of her.

Suddenly, Sasami's bedroom door burst open.

"Sasami!" Aeka called for her sister.

"Yes, Sister!" Sasami came out of her closet like there was nothing at all going on. "Is something wrong?"

"Have you seen that woman?"

"Who?"

"Who do you think?" Aeka spouted furiously with her hands on her hips. "The other woman who happened to win Lord Tenchi's hand in marriage. Ryoko!"

"Um... No, Aeka. I can't say that I have."

Technically, it was not a lie. According to her bargain with Ryoko, she really couldn't say if she had seen that particular person.

"When I find that woman, I swear! Are you certain she's not hiding somewhere?" Aeka looked around suspiciously until her eyes alighted on the open closet door. "Ah!"

Sasami began to get nervous when she saw her sister's interest in the closet.

"Uh, Aeka, maybe you shouldn't go in there. It's a mess. I wouldn't want you to trip and fall."

"I'm pregnant, not an invalid, Sasami. I think I can manage." Aeka waddled over to Sasami's closet and peered inside. It wasn't as bad as Sasami made it out to be. Although the large pile of cloths at the far end did beg for attention.

"My goodness. It's not like you to neglect your laundrey. Where's the laundrey basket?"

Sasami immediately interposed herself between Aeka and the large pile of clothes.

"No, you can't carry all that! Washu said you have to avoid heavy lifting!"

Aeka folded her arms across her chest in a gesture very similar to what their father often did.

"I am not an invalid!"

"I didn't say you were." Sasami reassured her sister, walking over to join her. "Look, I'm sure Ryoko didn't mean anything by whatever she did. Can't you just forget about it?"

"Absolutely not! She wrote all over my stomach with a black permanent marker! Look!" Aeka whipped open her kimono to reveal not a strange picture or other inappropriate drawing, but a traffic advisory that read: "Makes Wide Turns".

Sasami immediately cracked a laugh at her sister's expense. She tried very hard to hide it, but it was just too funny.

"I'm sorry!"

"Oh, I see. You think this is funny. Very well." Aeka turned to leave. "On top of carrying Lord Tenchi's child for nine LONG months, I have to put of with all this tom-foolery not only from the resident troublemaker, Ryoko, but from my own little sister as well. What did I do to deserve such punishment?"

Sasami was still laughing when Aeka felt a sharp poke in the kidney.

"Oh!"

Alarmed at Aeka's sharp exclamation, Sasami came up behind to offer support.

"Are you all right?"

Aeka breathed a deep breath to steady herself. Flying elbows and knee-drops seemed to be the order of the day for her.

"Yes. Though I would like to sit."

Sasami went right to her desk pulled out her chair.

"Here you go."

"Thank you." Aeka gratefully accepted the chair just as another sharp joint struck her from within.

"Ouch..."

"Is he kicking?"

"Oh, yes." Aeka assured her sister. "And running and tumbling and all manner of other acrobatics to be certain."

"What's it like, Aeka?"

"Well..." Aeka looked up in absent-minded thoughtfulness.

"AAAHHH!" Ryoko's voice suddenly cried out from right in the closet where Aeka had just been looking. "I can't take it anymore!" She came flying out and dropped down right at Aeka's feet where she could look, listen, and feel her sister-in-law's baby kicking. "Lemme see!"

With a shaking fist, Aeka growled at Ryoko as the woman planted a long ear to the side of her over-sized stomach. Sasami shook her head in exasperation. So much for hiding Ryoko. The girl just couldn't resist listening to Aeka's belly.

Ryoko suddenly pulled her head away with a big goofy grin.

"He kicked me!"

"Well at least he knows who to target." Aeka growled down at Ryoko. But it was hard to stay mad at Ryoko when she seemed so fascinated with the child growing inside of her. "Silly woman."

It may only be an Eighth-grade graduation prom, but, for a first engagement, Tenchi was very impressed. It was not the prom that Tenchi was impressed with, but the band. He was supposed to be chaperoning the students, especially his young sister-in-law Sasami. But he just couldn't keep his eyes off of the band's rhythm guitarist, his beautiful wife, Ryoko. She looked so very content as she played. Her slender fingers danced across the strings of her instrument, causing an incredible variety of sounds to echo across the the gymnasium, which was currently serving as a dancehall. The band was playing an assortment of popular music songs, most of which were fairly neutral in overall composition. Although, he thought he recognized one or two songs from back home on Earth. Now he knew why Ryoko had asked for those songs in the first place.

Tenchi's purpose in being here was not to keep an eye on Ryoko, but Sasami. His sister-in-law was on a date with Shuzan. The only way Sasami had been able to get Aeka to allow it was to have someone on-hand in order to protect her virtue. Not that she really needed someone to protect her virtue. The one time she had lost her temper and driven Ryoko through the floor was still fresh in Tenchi's mind. Either way, his duty tonight was to walk around and generally keep an eye on things. When someone tugged on his shirt-sleeve, Tenchi braced himself for a wold-shattering cataclysm. He was rather surprised to see Washu grinning up at him.

"Washu."

"Hiya."

"What are you doing here?"

"Guess." She asked, grinning even wider.

"Mmm... checking on Ryoko?"

"No!" Washu jumped up and smacked him on top of the head with a folding fan. "Boy, you are thick sometimes. Your very pregnant wife says and I quote: 'Get yourself home, this instant!'"

Tenchi rubbed the eggonhishead for several seconds before realizing what the deal was. As this was the Spring following last year's hectic and very passionate Summer vacation on Ryuten, Tenchi knew that Aeka was due anytime soon.

"It's... time?"

"Bingo!" Washu praised him with a wink.

Tenchi nervously ran a hand through his hair.

"Oh, man. I'm not ready for this."

Washu reached out and took Tenchi's hand, smiling broadly.

"Sure you are. Come along, now."

Tenchi blindly followed Washu for a few steps before remembering his assigned duties.

"Wait. What about Sasami and Ryoko?"

Washu cast a contemplative glance out towards the stage. Sending out a few gentle mental feelers, she found Ryoko's state of mind to be quiet and calm, rather than boiling and rowdy as she had been expecting. Her mental quietude remind Washu of the lake in front of Tenchi's home in Okayama.

"She's fine. Besides, it'll be a while still. She should make it home in time."

"But I still feel wrong just leaving her here."

"Well, why don't you take a look up at the stage, Tenchi, and tell me what you think you should do."

Tenchi gazed at his wife for a few seconds.

"She looks content."

"Exactly. Why ruin that?"

"All right." Tenchi agreed with a sigh. "But we should at least leave her a message."

"It's already taken care of."

Tenchi allowed Washu to lead him through the throng of teenagers to the school's main entrance. Just as they were exiting, Washu stopped dead in her tracks, nearly causing Tenchi to run her over.

"Hey," Before her could say more, Washu spun around and slapped a hand over his mouth while pointing to the side of the entryway that was hidden by the open door. Peeking around the door, they saw Sasami and Shuzan engaged in a kiss. Is was not like they were making out, but it was enough to remove all doubt in anyone's mind about how they felt for each other. Quietly withdrawing back around the door, Tenchi put a closed hand to his mouth and, mimicing a distinct family mannerism, he coughed loudly. There was a quick flurry of movement from behind the door, then silence.

"Well, Little Washu." Tenchi said loudly as he walked into plain view. "How much longer does Aeka have?"

"Oh, it'll be a little while yet." Washu answered, following his lead. "Now where did Sasami get to? Oh, there you are. Sorry to interrupt your date, Shuzan. But Sasami promised to give me a hand. Isn't that right, Sasami?"

"Yes, I did." Sasami verified while nodding. She then looked shyly at Shuzan. "Sorry."

"No, don't be." Shuzan assured Sasami with a smile. He then turned to Tenchi and bowed. "Please let me offer my congratulations."

"Thanks." Tenchi said, scratching at the back of his head. "Um, I don't mean to be rude, but, can we go now?"

Washu cackled at Tenchi's growing nervousness.

"Sure." Sasami agreed. "Let's go."

With a sigh of relief, Tenchi began walking quickly to the parking lot, despite the fact that Washu had already conjured another of her dimensional portals for them to use.

"Tenchi!" Sasami called after him.

"Huh?" Tenchi looked over his shoulder.

"This way!" Sasami demonstrated the proper route by jumping through the portal.

"Oh. Heh-heh. Yeah." Tenchi quickly followed.

"Well, have fun, kid." Washu offered. "Oh! Would you do me a teensie favor and tell Ryoko in about two hours that we went home to see Tenchi's baby being born? Thanks!"

The diminuitive scientist disappeared through the portal before Shuzan could answer yea or nea.

"Ah, sure. I guess."

Much later that evening at the Masaki house, someone began pounding incessantly on the door to Washu's lab.

"Come on, Washu! Open up! I wanna see!" Ryoko continued to pound on the door, demanding entrance. "Please! Please let me in! I promise to behave! I'll even help!"

Finally, after much pounding, begging, and pacing, the door slid open. Washu's cheeky face peeked out. She was wearing a white nurse's outfit.

"You promise?" She asked looking rather skeptical.

"I swear! Cross my heart and hope to die." Ryoko even crossed her heart with her fingers, giving more creedance to her pledge of cooperation.

"And you won't flip out, no matter what you see?"

"I can take it." Ryoko assured Washu, slapping a fist to her chest.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Washu cautioned as she opened the door enough for Ryoko to follow her into the lab. Ryoko stayed right behind her, a gigantic smile on her face.

"What are you so excited about? You'd think it was your kid getting born."

"Aren't I allowed to be happy?"

Washu smiled at Ryoko's rather uncharacteristic display of emotion.

"Absolutely. In fact, be as happy as you like. Just don't let that happiness get in the way!"

Washu and Ryoko emerged from the darkness of the lab into a room that looked like it was right out of ancient Japanese history. Wood furnishings and rice-paper doors abounded. Bright sunlight streamed in from several open windows, illuminating the room with totally natural light. Aeka was laying on her back on a large wooden table in the middle of the room with her legs held up and supported by some weird mechanical contraption. At one side, Sasami was holding her hand, and at her head Tenchi was worriedly dabbing a cool cloth across her brow. Washu asked about Aeka's status as soon as she was within earshot.

"How's she doing?"

"About the same." Sasami answered. She had on a cute little nurse's outfit that matched Washu's.

"Hey, Fatso." Ryoko greeted as she reached Aeka's side.

"Just you wait." The expectant mother growled up at her. "It'll be your turn, some day."

Ryoko actually blushed. The thought of having Tenchi's babies always gave her a wierd mixture of feelings.

"No rush." Tenchi assured her.

Washu walked around to the business end of the affair to check on Aeka's progress.

"It shouldn't be much longer. I don't think you'll dilate out much more than that."

"Oh, gods." Aeka groaned.

"Hold on for another few minutes." Washu ordered as Aeka began breathing rapidly to avoid pushing with the contraction. She was all right for the first ten seconds, but after that, her breathing pattern faultered and she groaned loudly.

Ryoko watched Aeka's labor with intense scrutiny. She had been expecting this beautiful, blissful experience. Frankly, it looked like Aeka was in pain. Curious, she leaned past the vertically-hung sheet that segregated the area of consideration from casual observation to see what was going on. When Ryoko realized that she was seeing the top of the baby's head peeking out, she quickly withdrew.

"Ho! My deary... Wow! I... think I'll stay over here from now on."

"Yeah, that's what I said." Tenchi agreed as the contraction passed.

Aeka suddenly reached up and grabbed Tenchi's collar, hauling him right down over her face.

"You did this to me! You're going to watch, even if I have to tie you down and prop open your eyelids with toothpicks!"

Everyone's eyes went wide with shock. Aeka quickly realized what she had said, and released Tenchi.

"I'm sorry! I..." She let her head flop back on the headrest. "Oh, Washu-sama! How much longer must I endure?"

"Not much longer. You don't want to lose your steam in the middle of things, do you?"

"Hey, Washu." Ryoko meekly inquired, still wondering why Aeka looked like she was not enjoying herself. "You've done this before, right?"

"I... have." A blank look passed across Washu's face as if she were trying to remember some event far in the past. Her gaze quickly returned to its normal laser-like intensity. "Although I didn't insist on doing it the old-fashioned way, like Mrs Masaki, here. Aeka, are you sure you don't want some pain-killers?"

Aeka hesitated to answer. Initially, she had refused. Nature intended things to be done in a certain way. Using drugs and other various scientific implements were not a part of that method. But now she was having second thoughts. She was just about to accept the offer of some pain-killers when Tenchi leaned over her again and whispered to her.

"You can do it."

Aeka's resolve hardened.

"Absolutely not! If you so much as touch me wrong, I'll have your head on a silver platter! Speaking of which, don't get any funny ideas, either! I am the First Princess of the Jurai Royal Family! Only a select few ever have the privilege of such a viewing!"

"Exactly!" Washu agreed. "Why do you think I'm recording it? I'll make millions selling tapes of this on the black market!"

"WHAT?" Aeka's head snapped up.

"Just kidding!" Washu assured her. "But, if you really want a recording of the birth, we can do that."

Aeka's head thumped back onto the headrest.

"Why me?"

While everyone was absorbed with Aeka's tirade, Ryoko slipped her hand into the princess's as a show of silent support. Aeka squeezed tightly. Then she clamped down with incredible strength. Ryoko's eyes widened at the power in Aeka's grip as she groaned loudly.

"Hey, hey!" Washu quickly objected. "I didn't say push!"

Aeka completely ignored Washu in order to accomplish the task that her body had set out for her. For her, the waiting was over. After a few seconds, she relaxed, collapsing flat on her back.

"No... more... waiting!" Aeka growled in between massive gulps of air.

"Okay." Washu reluctantly agreed as she scrambled for the neccesary implements. "But don't blame me if you tear."

"Tear?" Ryoko looked over at Washu in shock. "Are you kidding?"

"Nope. If the birth canal isn't dilated enough when Aeka pushes the baby out, she could tear down there."

Shivering visibly at the thought, Ryoko offered Aeka her sympathy.

"Hey, Aeka. You sure you don't want an aspirin or something?"

"No!" Both Aeka and Washu yelled at her.

"Well, why the Hell not?" Ryoko yelled right back.

"Aspirin dilates the blood vessels." Washu explained as she looked around one last time to make sure she had everything she might need right at hand. "Makes you bleed more."

"Oh." Ryoko sheepishly replied. She felt totally stupid just standing here while Aeka was laboring so hard. Looking down on the princess, she could see the sweat popping out on Aeka's brow as she caught her breath. Tenchi wiped the sweat from her forehead. But it was quickly replaced by more when Aeka suddenly grimaced.

"Washu!"

"Ready whenever you are!" Washu slapped her hands together with an expectant smile.

Aeka took a deep breath and proceeded to push as hard as she could.

Ryoko took one look at how hard Aeka was working to do this and instantly grew curious as to what the difficulty was. She tentatively took another peek over the sheet. Her eyes grew wide as saucers as she watched the head slowly emerging. Suddenly, Aeka collapsed again, her chest heaving.

"Don't stop you lazy bum!" Washu promptly taunted her.

Aeka's eyes flashed and she growled out loud. Inhaling deeply, she resumed pushing, this time with a visible snarl.

Ryoko resolved to watch the process through. If she were to someday do this, then she wanted to know what she was in for. Her eyes grew even wider as she witnessed the child's head emerge from within Aeka's body. Ryoko had never given any real thought to the actual process of birthing a child. As a result, she had never realized that the woman would be pushing an object the size of a grapefruit out a hole the size of an orange. She was quickly growing seriously impressed.

"All right. Head's out." Washu encouraged Aeka as the child's head fully emerged.

Momentarily drained, Aeka fell back again with a moan of fatigue.

"No resting now, lazy-bones!" Washu taunted her charge again. "If you keep slacking-off Tenchi's gonna think you're lazier than Ryoko!"

Aeka nearly started to cry. She was trying her hardest to see this through, not that she had much of a choice. But it was damned difficult and hurt like Hell. Everytime she pushed it felt like her head was going to explode from the sudden spike in blood pressure. She had no tolerance for listening to Washu's taunts.

Seeing that Aeka was growing upset that all of her hard work seemed to be unappreciated, Tenchi leaned over her and whispered to her.

"You're doing fine, Aeka. I don't for a second believe you're lazy. But you have to keep going. Okay?"

Encouraged by her husband's kind words, Aeka nodded. Luckily for her, she had used up enough time for another contraction to strike. Taking another quick breath, Aeka went back to work.

"That's the spirit!" Washu encouraged Aeka again as progress resumed. "Push!"

Just as her child's shoulders came out, Aeka suddenly cried out and fell back.

"What?" Tenchi looked down at the business end. "What happened?"

"Nothing major." Washu assured him. "Just a little tear. You'll never notice the difference, trust me."

Tenchi's face turned red. He really hadn't been thinking like that. He was just concerned for his wife.

"All right, Aeka. No use crying about it. Let's keep going. You can rest once you're done."

Aeka merely moaned with fatigue.

"It's all down hill from here." Washu continued to coax the princess into continuing.

Although she wanted nothing more than to just lay back and rest, Aeka knew Washu's words to be true. She had to finish, and the sooner the better. She took a couple deep breaths, then pushed again. It certainly didn't feel down hill to her.

"Great! Almost there." Washu held the baby's head as the rest of him began to slide out. "That's good."

Tired beyond measure, Aeka had to pause just to take another breath.

"Come on, push! I promise you're almost done. One more!"

Aeka complied, and the child finally came out into Washu's waiting hands.

"All right! That's the way!"

Aeka crashed. Flopping onto her back, she sobbed with relief. Tenchi leaned close, comforting her as best he could.

Ryoko, having witnessed an actual birthing, looked back to Aeka to see how she was doing. She couldn't blame her for crying a bit. It had looked like a really difficult process, not at all like she had imagined.

"Hey, Tenchi!" Washu called. "You want to cut the umbilical cord?"

"You're the doctor, Washu." Tenchi stayed right with Aeka for the moment.

"Suit yourself."

Seeing a sudden opportunity to actually help, rather than being a bystander, Ryoko quickly volunteered.

"I'll do it."

Washu looked up at her in surprise. She was just about to offer the laser scalpel to Sasami, although her young assistant did seem a little green around the gills. Now that she thought about it, Sasami had been awfully quiet. Maybe the sight off all the blood and other bodily fluids was making her feel a bit nauseous. Unsurprisingly, Ryoko didn't seem to be bothered by it in the least.

"Well, I don't see why not. Come around here."

Ryoko quickly joined Washu, ready to do whatever she was told.

"Sasami, would you give Ryoko the laser scalpel, please?"

"I got it." Ryoko volunteered, summoning as small of an energy sword as she could manage. "Cuts and cauterizes at the same time."

"Oh." Washu saw the utility in that. "That'll work fine. Well, just lop it off, then. No sense waiting on ceremony."

With a smile, Ryoko flipped her wrist and the task was done. She instantly felt much better having contributed to the overall process.

"Now scram!" Washu insisted. "You're in my way!"

"Yeah, yeah." Ryoko took a floating step backwards and out of Washu's way. "So how much weight did Aeka lose?"

"Just a sec!" Washu complained. "Lemme clean him up first. You're always so impatient."

Then the crying started. Freshly born, the small child found itself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable environment. The wailing paused for a moment as Washu dunked him in warm water to wash away the birth fluids. When he emerged, he promptly resumed making his presence known. Washu toweled him off and then held him in the air with two hands.

"Okay, Sasami. Press that yellow button there on the table."

"This one?" Sasami tentatively placed her finger on the proper switch.

"That's it."

With a press of a finger, a golden field of light surrounded the child, holding him in mid-air.

"It'll just be a few seconds while I get the pertinent birth data."

The levitation field also served to assess the baby's mass, weight, size, genetic code, and overall fitness. Such an extensive array of tests took much longer in a conventional hospital. But with Washu's fantastic analysis device, the measurements were completed in only seconds. The field also had the function of scanning for and eliminating and eliminating any germs that might be on or even in his body. The ding of an egg-timer announced the data sampling and germ sterilization were complete. Holding her hands under the squirming child's neck and hips, Washu told Sasami to deactivate the field.

"Press the button again, please."

Sasami did as she was instructed. The field faded, releasing the baby to Washu's care.

"Blanket and cap."

Sasami took a soft blanket and cap from nearby and helped her to bundle the cold boy for warmth.

"Washu!" Aeka suddenly groaned again.

Washu promptly handed the child to Sasami, who gazed at his little pink face with wonder.

"Okay, Mom. We're just going to get rid of the left-overs."

Aeka could not have resisted even if she had wanted to. Her stomach contracted again, expelling the after-birth from her body. The normally unwanted portion landed in a special sample container Washu had prepared specifically for this event. She quickly put the top on and dropped the container into a dimensional holding cell. She had some very specific experiments planned for that stuff.

"There. That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

"I'd like to see you try it." Aeka breathlessly taunted.

"Even ten thousand years doesn't erase that kind of experience."

Tenchi was impatiently watching Sasami stand around with his new-born son. Washu caught a glimpse of his anxious stare and smiled.

"All right, Sasami. Let's not make them wait too long."

Sasami nodded. With a smile, she walked to Aeka and presented her with her first child.

"Congratulations!"

"Wow..." Tenchi stared at his son with a goofy smile.

"Help me up." Aeka demanded despite her fatigue.

"Hold on for a second." Washu insisted. "I still have to clean you up, down here. There's an adjust switch on the side of the table."

Tenchi peered around the edge of the table and found the switch. He pressed on one side of the rocker switch, and the table began to silently bend at Aeka's back, raising her to a semi-reclining position. She promptly held out her arms, reaching for her child. Sasami carefully transfered the small bundle to Aeka, who cooed and whispered to him.

"So, how much does he weigh?" Ryoko demanded again.

Washu glanced at the small display located on the adjacent table beneath the emmiter for her invention.

"Seven pounds, fifteen ounces. Twenty four inches long. According to the prediction, he should grow to be one hundred eighty centimeters tall, and almost a hundred kilos. Very healthy! I don't see any genetic predispositions towards any known diseases. No recognizable birth defects. Natural life expectancy without bio-enhancement and strengthening is ninety two years, with a reliability factor of ninety seven percent. Basicly, he's going to be a big, strong, healthy man with a long life. You two make good babies!"

"Can I hold him?"

Everyone looked at Ryoko. There were no sounds other than the soft breathings of people. Tenchi looked back to his son, and felt doubt. What if she did something wrong? Tenchi ruthlessly crushed the feeling. He quickly reminded himself that he trusted Ryoko. The feeling had only been a moment of unwarranted concern, he told himself.

"I'm all right with it."

Aeka looked up at him for a second, then sighed. It couldn't be helped.

"Just for a minute."

Ryoko gleefully reached for the baby.

"Remember what you were told. Support his head."

"I got it." Ryoko assured Aeka as she carefully took the warm squirrelly bundle from her. She put him right in the crook of her arm and looked into the face of Tenchi and Aeka's baby. Then she smiled.

Everyone relaxed when they saw that smile. It was not full of mischief or fun, but love and adoration. It was a smile she rarely used, for there was hardly ever an occasion to smile this way. Tenchi had seen this smile before. Sometimes, after he and Ryoko made love, she would look into his eyes and smile this way. Seeing her this way, Tenchi knew she would someday bear a child of her own, despite how she always said she wasn't really interested in it.

"He's so cute!" Ryoko chuckled as the child blindly swatted at the annoyance of her finger tickling his nose.

"Tenchi?" Aeka tiredly asked.

"Yes?"

"Have you decided on a name?"

"Hmm..." Tenchi had given a great deal of thought on the subject, and none of the names he and the others had thought of seemed quite right. But as he watched Ryoko giggling and smiling, a name popped into his mind.

"Hiroshi."

Washu smiled at that. Apparently she knew how Tenchi had come up with the name. But Sasami was not privvy to the details of the words.

"What does it mean, Tenchi?"

"Well, we don't usually pick names because they mean anything in particular. But, I think I'll make an exception. It means 'spreading laughter'."

Ryoko looked at him, suddenly aware that everyone was looking at her and smiling.

"Geez, Tenchi. You're embarrassing me! Cut it out!" Of course, this only brought bigger smiles and giggles from those watching, which caused Ryoko's face to turn a faint shade of pink. She did not know what to do. With Hiroshi in her arms, she could not very well just fly away or make obscene gestures to dissuade them from teasing her. There was no way she wanted to mess this up. Her only choice was to stand there and take it.

"Ryoko?" Tenchi asked.

"What?"

"You don't have to be embarrassed."

"Yeah, well..."

"Besides, you're pretty when you smile."

Ryoko's face promptly went from pink to bright red.

"Say cheese!"

Ryoko looked in the direction of Washu's call just in time to catch a flash bulb right in the eyes.

"Damn you, Washu..."

Her family laughed, and Ryoko laughed with them.

Three months later...

The sound of Sasami and Shuzan running down the stairs was clearly audible to Aeka. She already knew of Sasami's plans to go out bicycling with her young male friend today. So she was not overly concerned about it. However, the young lady had taken to dressing almost scandalously of late. Therefore, in order to maintain her sister's virtue, Aeka insisted on seeing what Sasami was wearing before she went out. When Sasami and Shuzan rushed past the opening into the hallway with only a rushed farewell, she instantly became suspicious.

"Sasami! Where are you going?"

"Out." Came the reply from the other side of the wall.

"Are you dressed appropriately?"

"Yes, Sister."

Sasami still had not come into view.

"Then why are you hiding behind that wall?"

There was a moment of silence, then Sasami revealed herself. She had on skin-tight spandex that only covered her hips and chest and a large pack strapped to her back. Aeka's eyes bulged when she saw her sister baring so much skin.

"Absolutely not!"

"But, Sister, this is appropriate for biking!"

"Not for the Second Princess of Jurai, it isn't! Go upstairs and change immediately!"

Sasami grumbled, but she obeyed, sending dark looks Aeka's way as she ascended the stairs. Shuzan quietly stood in the hallway waiting until Sasami returned a couple of minutes later. This time she was wearing a loose button-down t-shirt of naturally colored cotton and matching khaki shorts that came half-way down her thighs.

"Better?" She sarcastically asked.

"Much." Aeka nodded. "Will you be gone for lunch?"

"Yes. I already made everything. Your lunch is in the fridge. I brought ours." Sasami hefted the pack that she was once more carrying on her back.

Aeka grew suspicious again when she thought of the size of the pack and how much food must be inside to make it bulge so much.

"What do you have in your pack, Sasami?"

"I told you, lunch."

"Then you won't mind if I take a look, hmm?"

"Be my guest." Sasami unslung the pack and held it out in front of her.

Aeka walked to see if Sasami had hidden any other scanty outfits within. Unzipping the pack, Aeka peered in. When she saw only resealable containers of the type normally used for food storage, Aeka instantly felt guilty for doubting her sister.

"A picnic does sound wonderful. It's been a while since the last time we all went out together. Perhaps I should mention it to Tenchi."

Sasami smiled in agreement.

"That's a great idea. Why don't we go tomorrow?"

"I think that would work. Hiroshi is old enough now. We should be able to manage it. Have fun on your date, Sasami." Aeka turned to Shuzan, briefly acknowledging his presence. "Shuzan."

Sasami closed up the pack and reslung it over her back before literally pushing Shuzan out the front door before he could even wave goodbye to Aeka. Once they were safely hidden from Aeka's view on the other side of the closed front door, Sasami let her look of perturbed annoyance show.

"My sister is driving me crazy! Ever since Hiroshi was born, she's been treating me like a baby!"

Shuzan grinned knowingly. It was always a pleasure for him to be invited into the Masaki home. But having known Sasami's sister both before and after her baby was born, he also could see the changes that had come over her. It seemed to him that Aeka was just taking her duties as matron of the house a little more seriously now.

"Well, I think you're lucky to have a sister that cares so much about you."

Sasami's scowl quickly disappeared. Despite her annoyance with Aeka, Sasami still loved her sister very much.

"I guess you're right." She raised her eyes to meet Shuzan's gaze. "Shall we?"

Sasami and Shuzan lounged on a green hillside, away from the worries and concerns of school and family. Their bicycles lay on the grass a short distance away, awaiting the return trip home. Alone, they could talk about whatever suited them, or not talk, if that was what they wanted. With each passing day, they grew closer. What had started as a shy dance had become much more. Sasami wanted this day to be perfect, and that was what it was turning out to be.

Summer was always a time of excitement. Everything was so alive and green underneath the bright summer sun. The down-side was sun-burn and heat exhaustion if one didn't exercise proper precautions. But the opportunity to go out without worry of needing cumbersome winter clothing made the risk worth-while. Besides, lounging in the shade of a big maple tree with Shuzan was so relaxing.

Now that they were done with lunch, she had something to show Shuzan. Sitting upright on the picnic blanket, she casually undid the top two buttons of the button-down shirt she was wearing. With a sly smile Sasami began to pull her shirt out from her shorts. Shuzan took one look at what she was doing and blushed.

"Uh..."

Sasami watched Shuzan trying unsuccessfully not to stare while she pulled the bottom of her shirt from her shorts. Sasami rolled it up to chest level and then tied it in a knot in the front, effectively framing her chest area. She didn't have a whole lot to show, but displayed in this fashion, it was enough to get Shuzan's attention.

"There. How does that look?"

Shuzan just nodded. Sasami's smile grew wider. She loved it when Shuzan grew so enamored of her appearance that he forgot to speak. It probably wouldn't take much more to entice him into making a move on her. In public Shuzan was normally very shy and reserved around her. But when they were alone with no one else around, he would let her know how he felt. Although, it sometimes took a little convincing. That was okay, too. Sasami rather enjoyed teasing him a little bit. Speaking of which...

Sasami crawled across the blanket and sat next to Shuzan. Leaning up against him, she looked into his eyes. Shuzan looked down at her for a moment, then he leaned down to kiss her.

Sasami felt a little disappointed that Shuzan had succumbed so easily. She let him kiss her because she liked to do things like that with him. But it was more fun and rewarding when she had to work for it. On the other hand, she had once made the mistake of teasing him too much. He had grown so frustrated with her that he refused to touch her at all for the rest of the week. That certainly wasn't desireable. It was a steep learning curve, for sure.

As Shuzan slipped an arm around her shoulders, Sasami knew that he would try to lower her to the ground. That was fine, except that she was feeling playful. It was too soon for that. Sticking an arm out, Sasami braced herself against the ground. When Shuzan tried to implement his plan, she was able to resist. Shuzan broke off the kiss.

"Sasami..."

"Yes?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No." Sasami kept smiling, hoping that Shuzan would understand she was just playing. But Shuzan sighed and pursed his lips.

It seemed to Sasami that Shuzan got frustrated with her rather easily these days. Whenever they found the time and a quiet place where they could show affection without fear of interruption, Shuzan seemed to want to do a lot more than just kiss and be close. He was growing very interested in her body. Sasami was starting to feel a similar interest, and that was why she often teased him with what she knew he was interested in. But if she showed him things like that without allowing him to explore a bit, he sometimes got snippy.

"Oh, don't pout." Sasami gave Shuzan a quick peck on the lips before crawling out of his reach. She sat up on her haunches and, smiling at Shuzan for effect, she reached up and undid a third button on her shirt, just because she knew he liked to see a little bit of her growing cleavage. She had one more button available after that. but if she undid that one, things would really be hanging out.

Shuzan took a brief look at what Sasami was showing him. He then looked at how she was smiling. It really excited him when she smiled at him that way. He started to crawl closer. But Sasami jumped to her feet and ran a couple of steps away.

"Hey." Shuzan looked darkly at Sasami, thinking that she was going to tease him yet again.

Sasami stopped and turned around, grinning devilishly.

"Can't catch me!"

The taunt worked. Shuzan jumped up and came running. Squealing with impish delight, Sasami sprinted for the nearest copse of trees. Shuzan was bigger, stronger, and faster than her. She had no chance of escaping out in the open. Her only chance was to use the foliage and nearby stream to their fullest advantage.

Making a quick turn around the trunk of a large cherry tree, Sasami tried to double back. Shuzan saw what she was doing and made a grab for her. But he was going too fast. Sasami screeched with mock fright as Shuzan's fingers grazed the collar of her shirt.

"Missed!"

Sprinting hard, she made for the red covered bridge that spanned a nearby small stream. If she could make it to the other side, she could hide out of sight while Shuzan ran by. Unfortunately, the bridge was longer than it looked. She heard his feet pounding on the wooden planks behind her. Then, about half-way across his arms went around her waist. She screeched as he used his strength to pick her up and hold her off the ground.

"Put me down!" Sasami squealed with all the false indignation that she could muster.

"Will you run away again?"

"Yes!"

"Then no, I won't put you down. Not until you promise not to run away anymore."

Sasami folded her arms across her chest and pouted.

"Fine."

"Do you promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

As agreed Shuzan set her down. But he did not release her. It was a good thing, too. Sasami promptly tried to twist and squirm out of his grip. She tried sitting down out of his arms, and when that didn't work, she popped her hips forward, nearly breaking Shuzan's grip. But he somehow managed to hold on. Sasami slowly came to the realization that he really wasn't going to let her go. Sighing, she stopped squirming.

"Okay. You got me."

"Finally." Shuzan breathed in relief.

"Now that you have me, what are you going to do with me?"

"How about this?" Shuzan placed his mouth and nose right next to Sasami's neck.

"Naughty boy." Sasami teased. But that was all right. It was part of the game. She let him nuzzle up to her as a reward for capturing her. Before long she was thinking that perhaps she should let him catch her more frequently.

When Shuzan began to relax his grip around her waist, Sasami reached up and set her hand on the back of Shuzan's head pulling his mouth directly against her neck. With her other hand, she followed Shuzan's arm until she found his hand and slipped her fingers between his. Squeezing tightly, she sighed contentedly as Shuzan's soft lips gently stroked her neck.

"Shuzan, I really like what you're doing. But, maybe we should stop."

Shuzan stopped only long enough to express his dislike for her suggestion.

"I'd rather not."

"We... have to stop some time."

"Do we?"

Sasami paused for a moment. Shuzan sounded very serious. But it was too difficult to think when he was doing things that made her feel so good.

"Shuzan, you're getting me all worked-up."

"That's the idea."

"Really?"

"Nn." Shuzan kissed her firmly on the neck again.

"But..." Sasami sighed with pleasure. "I'm not... I'm still just a girl."

"Not to me."

Sasami's face went beet red. She hadn't realized that he was so serious about her.

"Really?"

Shuzan ran his tongue up the side of Sasami's neck, sending a shiver up her spine.

"Yes."

Sasami stood absolutely still. She wasn't at all sure how to deal with this. It was fun and felt good to be close to Shuzan. She liked kissing and cuddling with him. But it sounded to her like Shuzan wanted a more adult relationship. This was a bit more than what she felt she was ready for. As all this was going through her head, she felt Shuzan slowly run the fingers of his free right hand along the waist band of her shorts. She let him continue until he tried to slip his fingertips between her and her shorts. She reached down quickly and grabbed his hand.

"Don't."

"All right." Shuzan complied withdrawing his hand a bit. "I won't do anything you don't want me to."

Sasami felt a little reassured to hear that.

"That's good."

"But that doesn't change how I feel about you." Shuzan placed another kiss on Sasami's neck to reassure her he meant what he said.

Sasami closed her eyes as she tried to understand how Shuzan was making her feel. She really like what he was doing, and she really like him. She liked being close to him this way. But the last thing she wanted was for their already beautiful relationship to fall apart. She needed to do something to address this situation, but nothing came to mind. Of course, it wasn't exactly easy to think normally when her boyfriend was sucking on her neck.

For a short time she just let it go on. As long as he kept to approved activities like this, there wasn't a problem. Shuzan wriggled his fingers loose from hers and proceeded to gently stroke her exposed belly. Her stomach jumped when he touched a sensitive spot. They both giggled at the involuntary movement. Touching this way was sweet and plenty exciting enough for Sasami. In fact, it excited her quite a bit. She tilted her head back, exposing her neck for more.

But before long, as things began to heat up again, Shuzan placed his hands flat on her flanks and slowly ran them up her front. It was fine and felt wonderful until she realized that he wasn't going to stop at her ribs. He went right up the sides of her chest under her arms and tried to wriggle his fingers under her shirt. Sasami quickly grabbed both of his hands.

"Shuzan, don't!" Frustrated, she turned around to address him in a serious manner. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?" Shuzan stared at her in surprise.

Sasami started feeling mad that Shuzan didn't understand how it made her feel when he tried something that she wasn't ready for.

"You know what!"

Shuzan stood silently for a little while as he contemplated what Sasami was saying.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was making you uncomfortable. Please don't be mad."

Sasami's frustration cooled considerably at Shuzan's kind words.

"I... guess. It's just that... I don't want to mess things up! We're such good friends right now, and I really like being close to you." Sasami moved back into Shuzan's arms and slung arms over his shoulders. "I really like you."

Shuzan put his arms around Sasami, smiling.

"And I really like you, Sasami."

"Really?"

"Yes. Very much."

Sasami stood still, simply enjoying the feel of Shuzan's tender embrace. But she still felt that there was pressure from him to move on to a serious relationship. Somehow, she doubted that things would stay the way they were. It was only natural, after all.

"Shuzan, I don't think I'm ready for, um... a serious relationship."

"Oh? Then what do you call this?"

"Um..." Sasami was trying hard to find a way to describe exactly the nature of her relationship with Shuzan. "I don't know."

"For me, this is very serious." Shuzan admitted tightening his hold around Sasami for a moment before relaxing. "I got something for you."

"For me?" Sasami asked pulled back far enough so that she could see Shuzan's face.

"Yes." Letting go of Sasami, Shuzan dug into one pocket of his shorts and pulled something out. He held his hand up and opened it, revealing a diamond-encrusted pendant in the shape of a heart, suspended from a thin gold chain.

"Oh, Shuzan..." Tears began to blur Sasami's vision as her heart fluttered joyfully in her chest, her earlier concerns forgotten.

"May I?" Now that Shuzan was looking right into Sasami's eyes, she felt no doubt that although he was serious about her, he meant it in an honorable way.

"Of course, you may." Sasami turned around so that Shuzan could place the pendant around her neck. He reached around to the front of her throat and pulled the two ends of the piece of jewelry around her neck until they met in the back. He fiddled with the clasp for a minute, mating the ends together. Sasami turned around again and looked into his eyes.

"It's beautiful."

Shuzan shook his head.

"Not as beautiful as you."

For several seconds Sasami and Shuzan simply stared into each others' eyes, glorying in the attention and feelings that they shared. When Sasami felt Shuzan slipping his arms around her waist again, she suddenly leaned forward and kissed him.

This was no mere peck of affection. This time, Sasami felt the full-force of desire flowing through her body. She kissed Shuzan long and hard, and he responded affirmatively by wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly to his chest. Sasami gasped as Shuzan's arms coiled around her, squeezing her so tightly that she could barely breathe. But that pressure just made it all the more passionate.

Sasami redoubled her efforts, adding her own meager strength to the power of their embrace. She ran her fingers through Shuzan's hair, holding his face planted firmly to hers while she pressed her body to his as with as much pressure as she could. One of Shuzan's hands slid down her backside and grabbed a handful of her rear. Sasami squeeked in surprise as shiver ran through her body. After a moment, she decided that she rather like it, and made no attempt to dissuade him.

Now that she and Shuzan had taken this step, she could no longer deny that they were a couple. This meant that there was another issue that had to be addressed; her hair. If not for Shuzan, Sasami would probably would have let her hair down months ago, then sat back and watched the spectacle. However, she cared a great deal for Shuzan, and did not want to subject him to the resulting courtship duels. Unfortunately, people were beginning to talk. It was viewed as inappropriate for a girl (as she appeared with her hair up) to be involved with a young man. So, she had no choice but to make the change if she wanted to be as close to Shuzan physically as she felt emotionally. Carefully, and with some regret, Sasami tried to put a little bit of space between herself and Shuzan.

"Shuzan, wait."

"For what?" He briefly asked before trying to kiss her again.

"Hey, hold on. I have to do something."

Although Shuzan seemed reluctant to stop, he did. While he waited with his hands on her waist, Sasami reached up and began to take the bands that held her pony-tails together out of her hair.

"Shuzan, you're a prince of the Royal Family. You do know how to use a sword, right?"

"I started training when I was little. But my brother always beat me, so I gave it up."

As the left side of Sasami's long hair fell free, her hands faltered.

"Please, don't say that."

"But, you know what? After I met you at Lord Gohgei and Lady Asahi's wedding, I decided to take it up again. I've been practicing every day since then, and now my brother can't beat me so easily."

"That's good." Sasami said, relieved. "But you'd better keep practicing. I'm a princess, and if you want me to stay your girlfriend, you're going to have to win every time." The right side of her hair fell free.

"I know. I just wish there was someone else to train with. Brother is always at the college giving classes, or grading assignments, or something. Finding a Jurai swordmaster here isn't exactly easy."

"I'll ask Tenchi to train with you."

Shuzan seemed surprised at the suggestion.

"Lord Tenchi is a swordmaster?"

"Well, I don't know if he's a master. But he trained under Brother Yosho for his entire life."

That seemed to impress Shuzan a great deal.

"Oh! Then he must be an exceptional swordsman. But, would he really do that for me?"

"Yes. He's very honorable. I know that if I ask him to train you, he will."

Shuzan's arms tightened around Sasami's waist.

"Thank you, Sasami."

The object of his affection smiled.

"It's my pleasure." Sasami answered as Shuzan slid his fingers along the band of bare skin just above Sasami's shorts. The girl quivered with delight as a shiver of pleasure ran up her spine.

"We... um, left the food out."
With a small grin, Shuzan slowly shook his head.

"Don't worry about the food."

Sasami blushed furiously as Shuzan kissed her again. This time, she didn't feel quite so reluctant.

Sasami took her shoes off before setting foot on the recently installed wooden floors of her new home at the Galaxy Academy. The natural colors were a pleasant change from all the grays and whites of the stone flooring that had preceded it. For the moment, her hair was still down. She had very literally never had it cut in the rear, which meant it would actually drag on the ground if she did not have the two hair bands holding it in a fold that kept it at half its normal length. The next order of business was a trim.

"Sasami?" Aeka called to her sister from the next room.

"Yes, Sister?"

"Will you be making dinner this evening?"

Sasami smiled. She wanted to cook an entire feast. But it was getting close to dinner time, and she did not have enough time for that. Something simple, yet elegant, was in order.

"Yes."

Aeka entered the hallway, intending to relate the reasons for her line of questioning.

"That's good. The head chef has taken ill and..." Then she noticed Sasami had finally taken her hair down. The two sisters stood face-to-face, just looking at each other for almost a minute until Aeka showed a small smile.

"Very well. You have mail, Sister."

Sasami showed a great deal of surprise.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Sasami's intuition began to tingle.

"Oh, no. Already?"

Aeka adopted a very formal posture as she informed her younger sibling of her recent mail receipts.

"Since my sister's thirteenth birthday, she has received eight marriage proposals."

"TENCHI!"

END.

AFTERWORD: A little disjointed, wasn't it? Sorry. Like I said, it's one main story with several short parts joined together.