It was late by the time dinner arrived, and it wasn't nearly as pleasing to the senses as Sasami's cooking was, but to the hungry girls of the Masaki household who had just spent the last few hours scrubbing until they had dishpan hands, it was delicious.
Ryoko shoveled food into her mouth in her normal manner, lines had appeared under her eyes from the stress of the day. She received a sharp jab in the rib cage that no one else seemed to notice.
"What was that for!?" Ryoko hissed. Washu didn't answer, only gave her an encouraging look and went back to eating. After a few moments of quiet confusion, Ryoko understood what her mother had been hinting at.
She swallowed the food in her throat, this being difficult because of the knot that had formed. Quietly Ryoko tried to get the chatting table's attention.
"Excuse me…" she said meekly. A very un-Ryoko-like thing to do. She repeated this, each time getting louder until she screamed. Everyone stopped and stared fixedly at her.
"I-I have an announcement to make…" Washu grabbed her hand under the table, gave it a comforting squeeze and released it.
"Go on, Ryoko," Washu urged.
Ryoko stared at Tenchi as though she was talking to only him. For a moment he fretted that she might reveal the two, and then began thinking that she knew what was best, and if it was time to tell them it was time to tell them.
"I just wanted to tell you all… while we're together… that… I'm going… to have a baby…"
"What?" Ayeka asked, truly confused. It was nearly impossible to make out Ryoko's voice, which was now barely a squeak.
"I said I'm going to have a baby."
"Speak up, Ryoko!" Yosho yelled.
"I said I'm going to have a baby, you idiots!" Ryoko yelled, turning pink and then several shades of purple and crimson. This was a whole new kind of blush.
An unsettling silence followed this announcement, the only sound in the room was Ayeka soft "Eh… ee… wha?" and Tenchi's mouth that opened and closed in a guffaw.
"R-Ryoko…" Sasami began. "this… is… wonderful!" she surprised everyone with the sudden change of mood.
"You mean… we can help raise it and everything! It'll be so much fun," Mihoshi jumped up and down, nodding excitedly with Sasami.
" I agree," Mikayu said after a while, "Ryoko I'm so happy for you!"
Ryoko, meanwhile, was still staring at the ground. She had been looking for Tenchi's reaction the most, and hoping… no, praying that he wouldn't do what he was doing just now. He gave her a look of sheer horror that reflected that of the one she received when he first opened the cave.
Nobuyuki slapped Tenchi heartily on the shoulder. "Ha! It's about time you got it on with one of these ladies! I'm so proud!" he said dramatically.
Tenchi glared at his Father for a moment and then turned back to Ryoko. "W-who's is it, Ryoko?"
Ayeka slammed her glass down on the table. "Yes, tell us, Ryoko, just who's is this bastard's father!"
"Hey now! What the hell are you getting at!?"
"I'm 'getting at' that you are a… a… slut!"
"Sister, why are you so angry? Be happy for Ryoko," Sasami pleaded.
"I'll be happy once I've learned who's the father!" Ayeka screeched, standing up and leaning towards Ryoko on the table. Ryoko took this challenge and did the same.
She wanted to… so badly. To just tell Ayeka that she had won Tenchi. But Ryoko bit her lip. She glanced at Tenchi for a moment and made up her mind.
"It was artificial insemination," she declared. "I wanted to have a baby. Washu supplied me with the… tools necessary."
Ayeka backed down, looking somewhat dismay. "O-oh. I-I apologize, Ryoko" she said, for the first time in her life, "it was… wrong of me… to accuse you…"
Tenchi, on the other hand looked worse than before. His skin tone had turned a greater shade of pail, and he twisted his napkin nervously.
"Have you thought of any names, Ryoko?" Mihoshi asked curiously.
"N-no I haven't" Ryoko sat back down and began picking with her food, every now and again looking up at Tenchi. He never made eye contact.
"What about… for a girl… Mayuka?" Sasami suggested, she and Mihoshi having a private discussion about the child's future.
"And for a boy… Tenchi!" Mihoshi chimed in.
"Absolutely not! That is a family name, and this child is not family," Ayeka said sternly. Feeling slightly like the party-pooper, she added her two-cents. "What about Taro? For a boy, that is."
"No, that would be a family name too, wouldn't it, Ayeka?" Yosho silently scolded his sister for her hypocrisy. "I say 'Yosho.' It's a good, sturdy name. And I don't have a problem with lending it to the little tike. Eh, Ryoko? How's that sound?"
"I'll think of something," Ryoko said after a few moments of contemplation. She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings but the thought of her child's namesake being the man that trapped her in a cave for thousands of years was slightly unsettling.
*
"Which movie do you want to watch first?" Mihoshi scanned through the selection. "We have two horror, two romance, two… tapes that somehow made their way from Nobuyuki's private selection-"
"-Which we will not be watching-" Mikayu said quickly.
"… right. One sci-fi [it's a love story too!] and a couple 'Space Police Policeman' tapes!"
"Let's not watch videos just yet. We've got all night for that. Let's go… searching…" Sasami said mischievously.
"Searching? For what?" Mihoshi asked.
"C'mon, Tenchi's attic is filled with old boxes that have some neat stuff in 'em. I've never really gotten a good look, though. Wanna bring them down here?"
"Isn't that invasion of privacy or something?"
"Silly! We invaded Tenchi's privacy years ago!" Mihoshi said nonchalantly. "Let's go!"
*
Ryoko stirred restlessly in her bed, the image of the disgruntled Tenchi avoiding her gaze haunted her mind. Deciding the only cure for this was a midnight bath, she flopped out of bed and faded from sight.
The warm comforting steam of the Onsen enveloped her, easing her tightened nerves. Ryoko slipped into the warm water and sank in up to her head. She let herself float from the side and drift around one of the waterfalls.
It was quite some time before Ryoko realized she was not alone. Hearing voices, she searched her surroundings frantically for the intruders.
In the next bath, blocking her from them by some shrubbery, was Ayeka and Tenchi. Ryoko glared at the princess and listened hard, a mischievous hatred filling her. She had had the chance to get rid of the princess, and she hadn't. Ryoko knew she would regret it for life.
"… And I was thinking Tenchi… about us…" Ayeka spoke, nearing Tenchi. Ryoko made sure he was wearing a towel by leaning further over the bushes.
"Us?" he asked, trying to remain calm.
"It's obvious that Ryoko is out of our way. She now has a son and won't be able to pursue your affection the way she normally does. I was wondering if you and I could… go out on a date, or something of the like…" Ryoko could tell this speech had been rehearsed many times.
"Hussy" she whispered under her breath.
"Um… Ayeka I'll think about it, ok?" Tenchi said at last. Ayeka seemed satisfied with this answer. She leaned forward and planted a peck of a kiss on his lips before climbing out of the bath, her body radiating with joy. She smiled at him sultrily, as though she had opened a whole new door in simply asking him to go out with her.
After she left, Tenchi leaned back against the edge and stared up at the stars. There was a long silence where only the waterfalls could be heard. Ryoko discovered that she found bliss in just watching him like this.
"You can come out now, Ryoko. She's gone," Tenchi said, still staring at the stars. Ryoko tried not to act surprised as she appeared above Tenchi and slid into the water next to him.
"So," she said after a while, "what are you going to tell her?"
"You tell me, Ryoko."
Ryoko turned, shocked. "What's got you all pissed off?"
"I don't understand, is this my… child or isn't it? Did you just tell them that?"
"N-no. It's not yours" she lied through her teeth, "I spoke the truth."
"Was I not good enough for you? Why didn't you tell me you wanted a baby, Ryoko! I would have been happy to try again!"
"It's not a matter of 'again!' You've always been great, Tenchi," Ryoko couldn't help but smirk at the thought, "each and every time," she licked her lips and then shook her head, trying to keep her mind on the problem at hand. "It would have fucked things up! You know that! And besides, I didn't want to worry you with that kind of thing. You're still young."
Tenchi advanced and wrapped his arms around Ryoko, kissing her neck. "The only thing I'm mad about is that it's not mine. I would give anything to be the father of your first child." Ryoko shut her eyes shut in pain and let a few tears fall on Tenchi's shoulder.
If you only knew…
She sniffed and stamped out her sorrows before saying, "So, what are you going to do about Ayeka?"
"Ayeka? I'll do the gentlemanly thing. I'll go out with her and tell her that I just don't want love right now."
"Liar," Ryoko pulled herself from Tenchi and smiled.
"What else can I do," he shrugged, and at seeing her smile began to do the same. Suddenly Tenchi's expression changed till he was very somber. "Ryoko, I want to thank you for not telling Ayeka about us. I could see that you were struggling with it… but in the end you chose not to hurt her. I can't tell you how much more respect I have for you…" he trailed off.
"Yea, well, I just didn't wanna see Sasami leave. That's all," Ryoko said, defending her bitchy attitude.
Tenchi beamed before kissing her lovingly and exiting the bathroom. "Goodnight, Ryo-chan," he whispered so she could just barely hear.
*
When the three girls finally got four of the old musty boxes down from the attic, it was well into the night. Sasami decided to lighten the mood by putting on some music, to which all three couldn't help but dance. Even if it meant just tapping their foot as they rummaged through the boxes.
"Where'd you get this music, Sasami-neechan?" Mikayu asked, pulling out an old Kimono. It was white with light blue designs.
"Wow, that looks amazing with your hair!" Mihoshi said excitedly.
"I got it from a store in town. The girl on the cover looked like the one I have on a kareoke CD somewhere around here… by the way, we'll do kareoke later. First let's get dressed up!"
Mikayu, being the most mature there, decided to play along, still having fun with the two innocent girls. Sasami pulled out a makeup kit she had found in some of Achika's old things mixed with a few of Ayeka's.
By the time the girls finished they had all been primped, plucked, tweezed and squeezed into makeup and kimono's. Their hair was having a vacation from their original styles and was now decorated elaborately with Jurain styles Sasami remembered her Nanny doing to her hair whenever there was a special occasion.
"We… look… amazing!" Mihoshi guffawed as the three stood in front of a mirror. Mikayu stared. She had to hand it to Sasami, the girl knew her stuff. Perhaps that came with royalty…
"I look so much older," Sasami said in quiet amazement as she traced the contours of her newly formed body that had been molded delicately by one of Achika's old kimono's. "I wish Tenchi could see me…"
"You do like him! I knew it," Mikayu said suddenly, causing Sasami to blush.
"Well… sorta…" she said, almost smiling.
"Oh! He'd love to see you in this!" Mihoshi exclaimed. "We should get you two on a date!" she yelled before Mikayu could stop her.
"You really think Tenchi would go out with me?" Sasami asked hopefully.
"Er… sure… Sasami…" Mikayu said, a sweat drop forming on the back of her head.
"Oh! Great! Tomorrow we can ask him for you," Mihoshi didn't notice Mikayu's faces. Sasami turned back to the mirror and admired herself some more.
"Anyone wanna hear a scary story?" Mikayu tried to change the subject.
"Just a minute," Sasami said, getting an idea, "we can take off these outfits just as soon as we get some pictures!" She ran from the room, almost waddling in the restricting outfits.
When Sasami came back, she carried a camera. "It's Nobuyuki's," she explained. "Now then, Mihoshi, start posing. We'll get three of each…"
*
They had lasted long into the night, and having watched both of their horror movies, all three of the girls needed some kind of thrill. They sat in futons with blankets pulled up to their heads, huddled into a circle like conspirators. Sasami held a flashlight just below her chin, casting an eerie glow over her face.
"In these very mountains," she began, "there once lived a young woman. But there was something very strange about this woman, for she was a wielder of the black arts-"
"She liked to paint with the color black?" Mihoshi interrupted, somewhat breaking the mood.
"No, Mihoshi," Mikayu stepped in, "it means she was a witch."
"Oh."
"Anyhow, she was a witch. And she was mean, too. But the worst part was she was beautiful, so all the boys in the village would visit her often. But they never returned. One day a simple farm boy decided to go and find out what happened to his betrothed, who had disappeared a few weeks beforehand. He made his way up to the cottage to find a pretty young maiden, who beckoned him inside.
"She treated him to a meal as he explained what had happened to his fiancée. Putting the subject aside, the witch began to seduce the boy. Seconds before he was going to give into her, her face changed. She turned into a screeching, howling flesh-hungry beast and chased him around the house.
"Her jaws wrapped around his legs and she whispered in an evil voice, 'Your girlfriend was with us at dinner.' The boy, realizing he had eaten his betrothed without knowing it, attacked the witch, who turned back to her woman form. Right before he killed her, she placed a curse on him. In this curse, she made sure that he would stalk through the mountains for all eternity, ripping young couples apart and eating the girl. Then he would take the boy and rip ou his innards and string them around a tree for the rest of the village people to see. He was known as the Beast of the Broken Heart."
When Sasami finished, very shadow in the room seemed alive.
"Y-you don't think the beast would come after us, do you?"
"Of course not. Tenchi hasn't chosen one of you guys, so there's no real couple or anything… that would lure… it… here…" Mikayu gulped. Since she had joined the Masaki family her sense of what was real and fake had vanished.
As if on cue, there was a scratching noise from the kitchen.
"I-it's the beast of the brok-ken hearts…" Mihoshi sobbed. A thud from behind them silenced her abruptly.
They watched as a shadow scuttled behind the sofa quickly in horror. It moved from shadow to shadow, disappearing in the darkness.
Seeing that she was about to scream, Mikayu closed her hand around Sasami's mouth. She pulled the child and Mihoshi up onto one of the sofas and grabbed a glass bowl containing sticky nachos.
Mikayu stood, the bowl raised above her head as the dark shadow crawled closer. When it was finally in range, she threw the bowl with a scream.
All three of the girls jumped up and ran for their lives, Mihoshi tripping over one of the four boxes and spilling it's contents.
Sasami dodged for the light switch and flipped it on, searching for the bowl and it's victim.
A small, cheese-covered cabbit mewed miserably as it licked it's sticky fur.
"Ryo-oki!" Mikayu yelled. "You scared the living daylights out of me!"
Sasami was far too happy to speak and scooped up the cabbit hugging it tightly.
"Meowr?"
Mikayu shook her head and helped Mihoshi off the ground. "Look at this mess we've made…" she said under her breath.
"We'll clean it tomorrow," Mihoshi smiled. She looked curiously at the things that had once been in the box and were now sprawled across the room.
"Wow, what's this?" she asked, picking up a book. Mihoshi handed it to Sasami, who flipped through it.
"It's a journal…" she said to herself, "but who's?" Sasami's question was answered as she read one of the first journal entries. It read:
I have decided to keep a record of my life with my newly born son, Tenchi, for I feel that my time grows shorter and I must preserve these memories…
*
Hart watched Sasami through her necklace. She needed only to place the cat's eye (it was an actual blind black cat's eye that had been crystallized and strung around a chain) up to hers to see anything she desired.
This time she watched with a faint smile on her face. "They are making this far too easy, Jyl. Why didn't you see it before? The little one wants the boy, the princess wants the boy and the pirate is the one who has him! And they don't even know," she laughed loudly.
"Shut up, foul witch. My temper runs short with you and the rest of this bloody universe, for that matter. To make matters worse my power has left me behind, a home without a person! And I can't help but wonder who it has chosen. Energy is never destroyed, a common law of 'physics.'"
"I cannot help wondering what host they have chosen myself. A babe, I trust. Ancient magic has a thing for choosing newborns. But it concerns us not," she took another look into her necklace.
"Get rid of that thing, it's only for show and you know it," Jyl said hotly and smacked Hart's hand.
She ignored this and smiled once again, "Now then, let the heart-break begin…"
*
Author's Note: I'd really like to know what everyone thinks of the way this story is going, because I'm not too sure myself! Please let me know if I should start again with a clean slate or continue…
-Jyl