2.14
'Tenchi the magnificent', glanced under at the first hold down's release mechanism, then again at the rectangular shape muted under the bright green tarp on top. Realizing he'd barley noticed it on the stage/bed behind Yuba.
"Well, She had nice legs." He admitted privately, among other distractions at the time.
"You go round." He started, pausing when noting Todd staring into the distance with a look of undisguised wonder, just as on the ground in front a shadow intersected his own. Years of training coming instantly into play, he spun barely in time to brace for impact.
"FLYING HUG ATTACK!" Sasami shouted happily as she dove. Wrapping arms about his neck, Tenchi caught her full weight easily spinning them both around, amid her delighted squeals as Tenchi gathered her up.
"Hello!" She sighed, looking deep into his eyes.
"Good morning to you as well sunshine!" Tenchi laughed.
Across the clearing, Ayeka turned away angrily. Feeling incredibly petty but unable to keep the eruption of emotions from showing. Especially after what she had seen last night.
"I got kind'a curious what was going on up here!" Sasami told him, enjoying the feeling of 'being held'. "There was a lot of racket! Sounded like a party!"
"Well..." He attempted.
"And you didn't think to come and get me?" She half pouted.
"It wasn't really a party Sasami," Tenchi stammered suddenly feeling very, exposed for some reason. "There was this girl and."
"And what are you doing with my shirt young lady?" Kiyone asked suddenly, riding to his rescue.
Tenchi's eyes fell reflexively to where the words 'TAKE AIM!' were emblazoned, indeed recognizing one of Kiyone's half shirts.
"Sorry Ki-chan!" Sasami smiled. "Everything I could have worn is ether in the wash, on the line or dirty!"
"I see." Kiyone nodded at an obvious fib, seeing no harm however in letting Sasami 'flaunt it' a little. She wasn't exactly a little girl any more!
"Ahem." A noise came from behind, prompting Tenchi to 'swing round' bringing an expectant Todd almost nose to belly with the young girl in his arms.
"Sorry Todd." Tenchi told him, smiling.
"Hi!" Sasami waved brightly.
"Uh..." Todd stammered, suddenly staring at a smooth expanse of curvaceous stomach accented by the most delightful little 'inny' , he felt a lump rise... in his throat.
"Sasami?" Tenchi grinned proudly. "This is Todd Runion, He's a professional Cameraman here to film an important documentary on the shrine!"
"Cool!" Sasami breathed, seeming suitably impressed.
"Todd?" Tenchi continued, holding the beaming girl without a hint of effort. "This here is Sasami!"
"GOD DAMN IT!" Todd swore privately. "HOW MANY BEAUTIFULL GIRLS DOES ONE LUCKY BASTARD HAVE THE RIGHT TO…"
"My little sister!" Tenchi finished firmly, using the 'cover story' they had all agreed on long ago. Watching as Todd's mild frown melted away replaced by a very, very sly little smile.
"Oh ho?" He said blushing slightly, suddenly feeling like the worst kind of letch. Who could blame him? This not so little girl was dynamite!
"Adopted..." Sasami added quickly, as Kiyone allowed herself a sad little smile, shaking her head covertly. It had been impossible not to notice Sasami's expression fall if ever so slightly, at the mention of her as 'little sister'.
"Poor kid." Kiyone thought. "If three was a crowd in a love triangle then four has to be right out."
"By the way?' Tenchi asked, finally sitting Sasami back on her feet. "Where's Ryo-chan?"
"Well." She told him, dusting her blue jeans. "We were just around the bend heading up here when she suddenly bolted off towards the woods yelling Bunny! Bunny! Bunny!" Sasami shook her head in a very Kiyone like manner.
"Guess she saw one of her friends and decided to 'commune'."
Tenchi grew noticeably serious, considering for a long moment.
"You don't suppose?" He began darkly.
"No Tenchi." Sasami said firmly. "I don't think it was THAT one."
Tenchi had to say he was mildly relieved. Not that he should have been overly concerned in any case, it was just a rabbit after all.
Well, it was more than that really. In the time she had been around him Ryo-chan had become progressively more humanlike. She walked on two feet, wore clothes, fell in love with another of her kind and managed to find an arch-nemesis!
It had started innocently two years ago. The larger of the two fields had been planted with the one thing Ryo-oki had a true passion for, CARROTS!
It had taken a lot just keeping Ryo-chan, never notable for patience when it came to such things, out of the field before harvest! Finally however, the day had come and with it, two surprises.
The first, being the largest single carrot Tenchi or more importantly Grandpa had ever seen! At first, there been talk of showing it at the fair that is until Ryo-chan laid eyes and claim on it. They'd settled instead, for photos and detailed measurements to document it's soon to be brief existence, after all none of them had the heart to say no.
Thus, awhile-later Ryo-chan, 'then in her little girl form' had been sitting in a state of bliss, contemplating the mammoth carrot that was now hers alone, when the second surprise reared its ebony head.
The rest of the household was busy, harvesting or doing their respective routines when in that brief unguarded moment, a black rabbit almost as big as she was, appeared out of nowhere. Due to difficulties in Ryo-oki's basic abilities to communicate, most of the 'details' were sketchy at best. However, according to her the huge rabbit had appeared, laid a claim then 'skadooed' with the booty! Leaving poor Ryo-chan scratched, dirty and with a respectable shiner as a memento.
"I don't believe you!" Ryoko had scolded. "We went toe to toe with the Jurian Space navy and the galaxy polices battle fleets! Now you let the 'Cadbury bunny' take your carrot? You ought to be ashamed!"
It was on that day Ryo-oki had sworn, vengeance!
"That sounds about right." Tenchi said to Sasami, thankful the usual round of explanations could wait. He was never ashamed of Ryo-chan! He just got tired of all the rude questions.
"Hey Sasami?" Kiyone called brightly. "Could I talk to you a sec?"
She then looked over at Tenchi and Todd.
"That is if you gentlemen don't mind parting with her for a moment?"
The response was a glance and a mutual shrug, as the two men then turned and resumed work on the flatbed as Key stooped over slightly whispering the general direction of Sasami's ear.
"Mind telling me what are you doing up here in that shirt and no bra?"
"Chill out!" Sasami rasped, bringing an instant smile to Key's face at her use of terms.
"And keep your voice down!" Sasami added tersely. "You're starting to sound like my sister!"
"Don't play that with me!" Kiyone snapped irritably. "We're supposed to be friends!"
The second princess shrugged feeling mildly ashamed, blushing. "I just thought I'd try a different approach."
"Ok." Kiyone smiled and sighed. "But when it backfires, don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Ok!" Todd called, unconsciously echoing Key. "Release the tie down on your side Tenchi!"
"Roger!" Came the quick response. From around the area all eyes trained expectantly as the last strap came away.
"What is that anyway?" Mihoshi wondered aloud, leaning forward on both hands using a small bench just to the side, her short skirt catching the breeze.
Only a few feet away Tony snapped a picture. It did not show much of the rest stop because of the angle and it was more for him any way.
"Perfect." He sighed, a man truly in love with his model and the moment.
Mihoshi's question was answered swiftly as the bright green cover over the mysterious lump was drawn down. Everyone in the clearing not on the TV crew stared at the bright crimson machine siting proudly revealed.
"A Yandura Bullet!" Tenchi whispered, astonished.
"Huh?" Both Kiyone and Ayeka asked in unison.
"Wow!" Sasami yelled excited. "The world's fastest mini!"
"Whoa." Todd called, doing a double take. "I'm impressed! What does your pretty self know about this car little lady?"
Sasami giggled, scratching her head wondering if she shouldn't just play it dumb?
Ayeka after all, had drilled it into her head, a girl shouldn't let on having too may brains in her noggin. Explaining it tended to make some men nervous and others down right angry! Especially when you knew something they did not!
"Well, it's got a 'Kitpatsu' Super v4 in it." She replied. Deciding, 'to hell with Ayeka!' there was only one man around here she cared to impress!
"I think, that's a four-liter displacement." Sasami continued. "Over three hundred horses and limited slip rear wheel drive."
As she concentrated and recited, Tenchi's smile got wider and wider. It appeared those nights up late reading magazines with him were definitely paying off. Kiyone looked on impressed and Ayeka did her usual.
"I hear it comes in a three speed automatic!" The princess suddenly blurted. Everyone turned and stared.
"So does every car on the planet!" Key drawled.
"Actually Kiyone," Sasami corrected. "There were only one hundred and fifty 'Bullets' made with three speeds. People complained they bogged down the car."
"Little smart ass!" Kiyone whispered fiercely, setting off a round of cackling from Ayeka.
"I suppose if it had armaments!" Ayeka sneered indelicately "You'd be inclined to know more!"
"And if it came equipped with a makeup kit?" Kiyone snapped. "You'd be an expert?"
"That's pretty amazing!" Todd told Sasami.
"Well, I read a lot while I'm doing house work." She smiled. "Tenchi likes cars so he has lots of magazines about them."
"I see." Todd nodded. "Well you were correct about all that stuff. Trouble is this ones a shownogo model."
"Shownogo?" Kiyone asked drawing a blank. Mentally keying her translator, it certainly sounded Japanese.
"All Show and no go!" Todd laughed. "It just looks like a race car!"
"Oh." Kiyone replied with forced laughter. "Of course!"
"God Kiyone!" Mihoshi sniped rolling her eyes. "Even I knew that one!"
Tenchi burst out laughing, unable to 'hold it in'. His explosion of mirth cut short when a running shoe connected firmly with his posterior.
"OW!" He griped rubbing the offended zone and glaring at Kiyone.
"So it has the smaller standard three liter engine then?" Sasami asked trying to ignore the ruckus.
"Yeah." Todd replied. "And a three speed automatic!" He shrugged slightly embarrassed towards Ayeka. "But still, it's a hot car and one fun ride!"
"Wow!" Sasami breathed excitedly. "Can we go for a spin?"
"Uh..." Todd muttered, glancing Sasami's direction. More specifically at her flowing hair those beautiful eyes and creamy skin.
"Oboy!" He privately speculated, unable to keep the more lecherous side of his mind at bay. "A little country drive! The tried and true, 'Oh look! We're out of gas!' And hee hee!"
"Certainly!" He exclaimed.
"She's fourteen Todd." Tenchi mono-toned, face set in a total dead pan.
You could almost hear the sound of glass breaking when a pure, if somewhat lecherous dream shattered and Todd's expression fell.
"Curses! Foiled again!" Mikito snickered close by netting her a hostile glare.
"Alright, alright!" Ben gruffed from atop the flatbed. "Let's get this pretty little thing down the ramp."
Grateful for the reprieve Todd levered himself up. A little, mad at himself then at being somewhat pleased seeing Tenchi having trouble scrambling up. Being so massive it was simply difficult for him to maneuver under the hold down cables.
Todd busied himself un-tensioning the right side while stealing tantalizing glances at Sasami. Again, who could blame him? He had just about loosened the cable when he realized he was staring straight into those magnificent candy-rose eyes. Caught red handed as it were Todd flashed her an uncertain smile, nearly having a cardiac arrest when she returned it! Hastily he averted his eyes.
"You dick!" He finally scolded himself. "Fantasies aside, SHE'S FOURTEEN!!" Ok, maybe he was a letch and a perv but that did not mean he didn't know where the line should be drawn! He swiveled his head around, snatching a peek at where Tenchi was loosening the left cable hold down.
"Not to mention her older brother could run Godzilla out of Tokyo!" He added mentally, suddenly realizing Tenchi was not using a wrench!
"I take it back!" Todd muttered softly aloud. "He could run Godzilla off Monster Island!"
Watching as at that precise moment Tenchi yanked the stubborn retaining bolt loose, looking then sheepishly around at Kiyone when realizing he had bent it.
"WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT!!" Todd moaned softly.
"So." Ben said to no one in particular, surveying the situation. He stood a moment more chewing his lip until the pause became noticeable.
"Problem?" Tenchi asked while as nonchalantly as he was able slid the bolt back into its receptacle.
"I can't shake the feeling we're forgetting something here!" Ben stood shaking his head glancing over at Todd. "Do you see anything different here my boy?"
"Yuba's not hung over in the passenger seat?" Todd asked, grateful for the diversion. "Like when we loaded it?"
.
"You got a big mouth kid!" The team engineer winced, glancing around. "You really want 'Queen Kong' stomping up here as upset as she is right now?"
"Shit no!" Todd agreed adamantly.
"Ok people!" Ben then called to the assembly beside the flatbed.
"The more hands we can get on this thing the Better!" He looked down at Mikito with a meaningful look. "And it would be nice if someone light could steer the car."
She was about to raise an objection when a shout cut her off.
"Me! Me! ME!" Sasami was doing the Mihoshi bounce while squealing delightedly. "Please let me drive! Com'on!"
Not willing to risk being deflected, Sasami went straight for the throat of the matter and played her trump card.
"Please Tenchi?" She begged him directly.
"When will I ever get the chance to drive such a hot car?" Everyone watched as Tenchi's spine liquefied and he glanced over at Ben.
"Would that be ok?' He ventured a slight pleading tone to his voice. Ben stood there a moment with a look reminiscent of a parent before Christmas morning.
"Being a country gal, I'm certain the young lady can handle it." Ben said, reaching out something bright and shinny dangled from his hand.
"Just remember little miss, this is not a farm truck!" Ben told her.
Sparkling like twinkling stars the keys descended, The bright chrome plating dazzling in the light of the noon time sun. Producing a characteristic jingling like fairy bells as they softly landed into Sasami's outstretched hands.
Oh! Thank you!" She cried, cradling the bright jingling metal, happy tears shining in her eyes.
"Oh! For crying out load!" Sara small swore suddenly, tiredly reverting to her native English.
"What's with all the bleeding narrative? She just gonna back it down a friggen ramp with the freaken engine off!"
Whoops, sorry...