Disclaimer
Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. I don't own any rights to them. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.
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In A Family Way
Chapter 3
A Visit From the Royals. And the Stork.
*****
There was a polite knock on the Masaki residence's door late one morning. Ryoko, who'd been snoozing on the couch as usual, yawned and floated up to answer it. Coming to rest near the door, she smiled, making sure she was showing the maximum amount of fang, then she yanked it open, hoping to scare away whomever it was. "Yeah, wadda ya want?" she bellowed. She was quickly caught up in a hug that threatened to squeeze her innards out.
"Ryoko! Daughter. It's so good to see you again," Misaki said loudly in her ear. The Juraian queen squeezed until Ryoko's face started to turn red.
"I missed you too Misaki," the cyan haired girl managed to gasp out. "Now, could you please let me go so I can breathe?" She heard Funaho giggle from behind Misaki, but the queen's grip loosened.
Funaho giggled again. "Since when do you need to breathe Ryoko?" the other Juraian queen asked with a smile.
Ryoko sucked in a deep breath. "Figure of speech. But I do need air to talk. I assume you're here to see Ayeka and Sasami?" The two queens entered at a gesture from Ryoko and the trio made their way to the living area of the house.
"Actually," Misaki said, guiding Ryoko back to the couch, "we're here to see all of you, but yes, it will be good to see our daughters again." The queen sat down in a comfy chair and eyed Ryoko speculatively, as if waiting for her to magically produce Ayeka and Sasami.
"That's nice," Ryoko grumbled, taking a seat. "I thought you were coming because Ayeka's due any day now."
Funaho sat down next to her daughter-in-law and put her arm around Ryoko's shoulder. "There is that too of course," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "But we're happy to see all of you of course."
"Of course," Ryoko muttered. "Well for now you're stuck with just me. Sasami's in town grocery shopping with Mihoshi, Ayeka's with Washu having her weekly checkup, Yosho's up at the shrine and Tenchi's out in the fields with Ryo-ohki and Ay-ohki." The pirate giggled, "But with those two helping, I don't think he's getting much work done.
"Speaking of cabbits, where are…?"
Misaki snickered and even Funaho grinned slightly. "They saw yours out with Tenchi and decided to join them," Misaki explained. "I don't suppose the poor boy's getting any work done now."
Ryoko leaned back with a huge grin as she reached out for her husband with her mind. "Oh, he's working all right. But he's not making any progress. Oops. He's just given up for the day and he's headed back, he says he'll join us after he cleans up a bit." She made a slight mental adjustment. Washu? Are you about done with the princess? she inquired. She heard her mother mentally sigh.
How many times do I have to tell you, the scientist shot back. Good daughters don't go around calling their mothers by their given name. I didn't raise you to be rude.
Ryoko sneered mentally but it was a good-natured sneer, she and her mother had had this discussion many times before. You didn't raise me at all. Not that I remember anyway.
I suppose that's true, Washu sent back in a mock-hurt tone. Remind me to tell you the whole story sometime though. But to answer your question, yes. She'll be up in a few moments, tell her mother to keep her pants on.
How did you know…? Never mind. Ryoko looked over at Misaki in her semi-formal outfit. The queen was sitting patiently, looking out the window at the lake. She doesn't have any pants on, Ryoko replied to her mother.
Now there's a vision I didn't need, Washu chuckled back. But you know what I meant. See you in a few.
At that moment they heard a car door slam outside the house then the outside door in the kitchen opened. "Ryoko! We're home," called Sasami. "Come help us carry the groceries in!"
Misaki was up like a flash and disappeared into the other room. "Mommy!" they heard Sasami yelp. Ryoko and Funaho both winced at the sound of two soft bodies impacting. "Sa-Sa-Mi! My Sasami!" cried Misaki's voice.
"She never changes, does she?" Ryoko asked rhetorically as she got to her feet. Funaho shook her head in agreement and smiled weakly. The two went into the kitchen.
Moments later the greeting was repeated, although a bit more physically subdued, when Ayeka final put in an appearance. Misaki was very careful not to put too much pressure on her eldest daughter's protruding belly. "I don't think I was ever that big when I was carrying Sasami," the queen commented to Ayeka. "It's probably a boy, what do you think sister?" she asked Funaho.
"I think that Washu is the only one that knows for sure, why don't you ask her?" was the reply.
Washu chose that time to put in her own appearance. "Of course I do but I won't tell you so don't bother." The little red head poured herself a cup of tea from the pot Sasami had just finished brewing. She set the pot down on a tray Sasami had placed on the counter and the small group, sans Mihoshi who had to get Crash's car back to him, went back into the living room. Sasami carried a small plate of pastries and Washu carried the tea tray. "Ayeka's asked me not to tell anyone, she wants it to be a total surprise," she explained. "I've tried to tell her that even Earth technology is advanced enough to determine gender, but she insists." The scientist shrugged noncommittally, setting the tray down on the table.
"Be that as it may," the pregnant princess said. "Tenchi and I agreed to wait until the baby is born. Even Ryoko agreed."
"Under protest," Ryoko said. "If it were me, I'd want to know. Just so I could know what kind of clothes to get and how to decorate the nursery." She saw Ayeka glare at her. She shrugged. "Hey, we have the technology so why not use it?"
The princess turned her nose up at her co-wife. "So, you would allow your child to be grown in a tube as well? We have the technology you know," Ayeka said, throwing Ryoko's words back at her.
"Wait a minute!" Ryoko slammed her teacup down; if it hadn't been plastic it would have shattered. For safety's sake Sasami had put all the good cups up months ago after learning this lesson the hard way. "I never said that," Ryoko stated. "That's a choice I've already made; if and when my time comes I'll carry my child just like you."
"Ah, so it's a choice then," sneered Ayeka. "Well it's my choice, our choice, to wait until this baby is born to find out what sex it is."
Ryoko growled, showing a fang. Ayeka growled back showing both of hers. Misaki made to intervene before the argument could get physical but Washu stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Don't worry," the scientist said in a low tone. "They do this all the time, neither one will let it get too far. They call it 'keeping in practice'."
*****
To say that Tenchi was surprised when two strange cabbits suddenly appeared to "help" him in the field was an understatement. A quick question of Ryo-ohki supplied him with the answer. Mis-ohki and Fun-ohki were here with their partners to visit the family and yes, as royal cabbits they certainly did know how to behave. Tenchi sighed and started to gather his tools up. With the two queens in town (and their cabbits) he wasn't going to get much work done. Not for a few days at least. Thus he was mentally prepared when Ryoko contacted him with the news that they had visitors. Ryo-ohki and Ay-ohki assumed their humanoid forms and helped him carry the baskets back to the shed. The other two cabbits hopped along behind, they weren't mature enough to change shape yet.
Tenchi unloaded himself and after thanking them for their help, sent the cabbits off to find their partners. He could hear the sounds of Ryoko and Ayeka's squabble in the house and thought that it might be a good idea to sneak off to the onsen alone to get cleaned up and give things in the house time to return to what passed for normal lately. He headed off toward the floating bath, snagging a couple of clean towels off the clothesline as he passed.
*****
Ryoko watched the four cabbits scramble into the room and with a last, good-natured snarl at the princess, teleported herself to the onsen (and out of her clothes at the same time). Ayeka called after her, demanding that she come back and finish the argument, but to no avail.
Ayeka turned to her mother and started to cry on her shoulder. "Mommy, Ryoko's gone off to be with Tenchi, and I'm too fat to follow her."
Misaki gently stroked her daughter's long hair. "There, there dear. Soon you'll be able to keep up with her again. Just be patient and one day your roles will be reversed. You'll be able to run off to Tenchi and Ryoko'll be left waddling in your dust."
Ayeka sniffed and wiped her eyes on her mother's robe. "Do you really think so?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Washu chuckled from her place across the room. "Princess, I can practically guarantee it." The little scientist winked at Misaki, who smiled back and gave Ayeka's hair another stroke.
*****
Several days passed and the two queens were fitting nicely into the Masaki family routine. When Misaki wasn't helping Sasami in the kitchen, she was fussing over Ayeka like a mother hen and getting on Ryoko's case for not helping around the house. Even though it was a good-natured teasing, at one point Ayeka felt obliged to step in and point out to her mother that Ryoko was doing her share and would she kindly shut up about it. Misaki broke into tears and hugged both girls. She made a comment about her little girl finally growing up. To which Ayeka replied that as far as she knew, she'd been all grown up for the last 700 years.
Funaho spent some time in the kitchen too, but most often she was up at the shrine with her son and Washu. Not that Funaho was one to interfere with her son's life, but at times she gave Washu second thoughts about her relationship with Yosho. But maybe having Funaho as a mother-in-law wouldn't be so bad (not that she and Yosho had ever talked about marriage), after all, it could've been Misaki. There were times she felt real pity for Tenchi and Ryoko.
About a week after the arrival of the royal pair, Tenchi was out in the fields as usual and today Ryoko had joined him. Not that the pirate had any intention of doing anything physical, at least not of the working variety. But she felt the need to get away from the Juraians for a while, so she was lounging around in mid-air, watching her husband sweat. And that was where the summons found them.
Tenchi, Ryoko. I think it's time, came Ayeka's mind voice over their link.
Tenchi immediately stopped what he was doing and took off running for the house. Ryoko floated along behind, a bit confused. Time for what? she sent back. It's not lunch yet.
Time for the baby to come you idiot! Ayeka replied. My water just broke and I'm having contractions.
Oh! Sorry! Where are you? In Washu's 'office'? Ryoko sent as she scooped a very surprised Tenchi up in her arms.
Yes, Ayeka responded. And Washu says that there's no need to rush, you have time to get Tenchi cleaned up first.
Great, we'll be there in a few minutes. With that, Ryoko teleported both of them to the house and she informed Tenchi that he wouldn't be allowed in the delivery room until he washed up. He charged upstairs to clean up and change as Ryoko waited impatiently by the door to Washu's lab. When he returned after about three minutes, they entered the lab. But instead of finding Washu's normal hideout they found what appeared to be an Earth-style hospital waiting room. Both queens were already there as was Sasami. The little princess informed them that Katsuhito was on his way down from the shrine and that Mihoshi and Crash would be there in about a half an hour. Tenchi's father had been called as well and he was going to leave work as soon as possible.
A door at the far end of the room opened and there stood Washu, dressed in hospital scrubs with the mask dangling around her neck. "Are you two gonna just stand there gabbing all day or are ya gonna come in?" She ushered both of the other expectant parents into the delivery room.
Ayeka was laying on what seemed to be a regular hospital birthing bed, hooked up to several machines that monitored both her and the baby. "Ok, here's what's gonna happen," said Washu. "She's well dilated and the contractions are very close together, This is gonna be a pretty quick delivery I think, no long labor for our girl. I'm gonna give her something for pain in a minute and then we'll get busy having a baby." Washu looked at Ryoko. "I don't have any assistants here so…" she snapped her fingers and Ryoko was suddenly dressed in a nurse's outfit. "So you're it, Ryoko."
Ryoko looked down at the short skirt and tight blouse. "Hey, I kinda like it, but I don't think this is the place for this." She adjusted the little hat on her head. Ayeka looked over at her friend and closed her eyes in disbelief. She grimaced as she felt a contraction starting.
Washu considered Ryoko a moment. "You're right." She snapped again and both Ryoko and Tenchi were now wearing scrubs similar to hers. "That's better."
"WOULD YOU TWO STOP IT! I'M HAVING A BABY HERE!" screeched Ayeka from the bed. She moaned as another contraction hit and her cheeks and forehead started to glow slightly.
"Right, right," said Washu, hurrying over to one of the machines. "Ryoko, I'll need you to assist me."
"What do you want me to do Washu?" asked Tenchi.
"You. Just hold her hand and stay out of the way like a good expectant father." To Ayeka she said, "Now I'm going to give you something to kill the pain."
Ayeka grimaced. "Drugs? I don't want drugs, they're barbaric." Another contraction. "Aaah! Ok, whatever; drugs are fine; drugs are good. JUST HURRY UP!"
"Nope, no drugs," Washu explained as she quickly turned a dial on the machine. "Direct electrical blockage of the nervous system. No side effects that way. You'll still feel everything; the pressure, the contractions. Just no pain." As she eased the dial up they watched the tension and stress drain from the princess' face. The glow faded as well, but remained just visible under the skin. "Good, good. Now tell me when almost all the pain is gone, I don't want to give you too much current. It won't hurt you or the baby, but it might dull some of the sensations and muscle responses."
"May I join you?" came a voice from near the door. Everyone in the room turned to look at the familiar figure standing there.
"Ah, Tokimi," exclaimed Washu. "What brings you here?"
The goddess took a step forward. "I sensed that it was time and I've never witnessed a birth before. I've created life but I've never seen life create itself."
Washu chuckled and turned back to her machines. "You're about nine months too late for that. What we have here is only the result."
"May I observe?" Tokimi asked again.
Washu looked at Ayeka who looked at Tenchi who just shrugged. "Sure, why not," he said. "You're a goddess so it can't hurt to have you here."
Washu chuckled again. "You don't know her very well, do you? Just stay out of the way sister."
Tokimi nodded in agreement and suddenly she was wearing scrubs like the others. She walked to Ayeka's side opposite Tenchi and took the princess's other hand. "If you need me, I am here," she told the mother-to-be. Ayeka squeezed her hand.
Washu moved to the base of the bed and motioned Ryoko over. "Ok daughter, it's gonna be your job to tie off the cord and cut it, then put the baby in that warming unit over there while we clean him or her up." She pointed to a plastic-sided, open-top box on a table against the wall.
Ryoko swallowed hard and agreed. Washu pushed back the covering over the princess' lower body and examined her. "Ah, it won't be long now. Princess, I want you to start pushing. Push the pause. Push then pause. That's good. Don't forget to breath too."
Half-an-hour later Tenchi rushed out into the waiting room. Everyone was now there, including Noboyuki, with Mai in tow. Tenchi was too excited to notice the tag-a-long though and how utterly calm and unconcerned she seemed in an extra-dimensional waiting room, amongst alien royalty.
"It's a boy!" the new father said breathlessly. "I – we have a son!" They could all hear the baby crying in the delivery room and everyone rushed to the door; to find Ayeka grinning widely as she held her son to her breast while Tokimi and Washu stood near her head, also smiling benignly. Ryoko was stretched out on the floor where she had passed out after cutting the umbilical cord with a small energy blade she'd formed, Tokimi had been immediately drafted to take over for her and gotten the baby cleaned up.
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed," said the goddess later as they all sat in the house sipping tea. "And you went through that too sister?" she asked Washu.
"Yep. Creating life by snapping your fingers or whatever is no substitute for giving birth." Washu looked over at Katsuhito. "It's an experience I'd be willing to go through again someday." The old priest blushed bright red.
"Hmm," wondered Tokimi. "I wonder if I could…"
Washu and the queens turned to the third goddess with stunned looks on their faces. Tsunami chose that moment to appear before them, she tittered behind her hand at the looks that everyone else was giving Tokimi "Yes sister, it is possible for us to give birth. If we choose to," she said in answer to her sister's unspoken question.
"Yeah," continued Washu. "We at least have the right plumbing for it anyway. And all the parts fit properly, I can personally vouch for that…" She calmly took a sip of her tea as Katsuhito blushed again. Mai looked inquisitively at Noboyuki who pretended not to hear or see anything.
There was a moan from the couch and Ryoko sat up holding her head, still wearing her scrubs. "What happened?" she asked. "Is Ayeka ok? The baby?" She looked around and realized where she was. She stood up suddenly and started for the door to the lab.
"Everything's fine," Washu assured her. "Tenchi, Sasami and the cabbits are with them right now. You can join them when you feel up to it."
Ryoko stopped and concentrated a moment, mentally finding their location. "Right," she said to no one in particular, then she faded away to join the others.
"She's next, right Washu?" asked Misaki calmly. "How soon?"
"Just keep your shirt on," the little red head replied with a sly smile. "I'm working on it, I still have a trick or two up my sleeve."
"Well you better hurry up," the queen said. "Funaho and I can't stay here forever, just a few months at most, and we want to see her reaction when she finds out."
"Shouldn't be a problem," Washu said taking a sip of her tea. "But it's gonna be a couple of months, I want at least a year between the kids. Two screaming babies at the same time could be a bit much. Besides, Ryoko'll need the time to get used to being around a baby; I can't help remembering what she's like when Taro visits." She snickered. "Yep. I wanna space 'em out just a bit. There's such a thing as too much chaos, especially in this family."
The rest of the group could only nod their agreement.
*****
To be concluded
*****
Author's Notes
Whew! I hope I didn't screw up anywhere, I've never actually witnessed a birth before; both of my daughters were born C-section. Anyways, let me know what you think, good or bad.
I didn't proof this one too well, it's late and I want to get it up fast. Let me know if you find any MAJOR errors please.
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Review Responses
Dennisud – Yeah, Noboyuki's kind of a background character that doesn't get used a lot, especially by me. The same with the guardians. Mai (full name Mai Hasegawa) is a character from a game I bought a while back, Oni. If I do use her in later stories I'm going to pattern her character after that one.
Agami Starwind - Thank you.
Wharpt – According to what I can gather from GPX the Juraians have always known where Yosho was and the GP's been keeping an eye on him and the princesses for quite a while. But I could be wrong since the episodes I've seen are raw and I don't speak Japanese. (And if you notice I don't use many Japanese words in my stories because even though I know a few, I don't want to make a bigger fool of myself than I already have by using them wrong.)
Thundergod – Poor Tenchi? I can only wish I had an opportunity like that. (Just kidding, I think…) Ryoko's pregnancy will be different than Ayeka's I promise.
Smack54 – Actually, her pregnancy was fairly easy; no morning sickness, mild symptoms. Ryoko won't be so lucky.
Dragonbard – I've got the very last part of "Ladies Night Out" written and there is a slight twist at the end. I'm just waiting for something else before I post it. Patience is one of my few virtues.
Akemi Akibi – Mai may or may not become a part of a story. I've got a few ideas for stories that have her and the cyborg Kiyone in them. And before anyone starts drooling, no, not that kind of story. Kiyone has a boyfriend, remember?
Solitareone – I don't think I've written anything that hasn't been at least touched on by someone else, I just try to put a different twist on things.
Alighthawk – Thank you! Thank you! At last someone sees Tenchi the way I do. It's not that I don't enjoy fics with lots of fighting and adventure, I most certainly do and there are a number of most excellent ones (Thundergod's Odyssey leaps to mind); but I'm writing these stories based upon what I've read into the series.
Priest – Thank you. The next chapter of that story should ready soon.
Ayesa – If you must say it then go right ahead. Oh. You did. Thank you.
*****
BobR
8/6/02
Updated 8/8/02