====================
Flowering Potential.
====================
Comments, Constructive criticisum and Praise welcome & can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net.
Flames will be sent to the electronic ether.
P.S. The continuity used is basically OAV based with the addition of Kiyone from the TV
series and Minagi from the manga.
Disclaimer: I do not own the series depicted within, but go buy it anyway.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communication.
The series is archived at http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
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Chapter 2
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"Tenchi! Come back here, we're not finished!"
Ryoko, Sasami and Ryo-Ohki looked up in time to see a shape flip over the banister from
the floor above and land with Olympic poise and grace.
Tenchi had a harried look on her face, but she was properly dressed.
"See you guys at dinner!" She called out before dashing out the door.
Washu appeared at the top of the stairs with a faintly annoyed look on her childish face.
"Where'd she go?" She asked.
"Out." Ryoko told her. "What were you doing to Tenchi?" She demanded.
"I thought she might look good with some makeup on." Washu replied innocently.
"MISS WASHU." Sasami growled, an extremely bad sign. "You KNOW Tenchi is under a
lot of stress." She calmed down. "No makeup." She told the 20,000-year-old scientist.
Washu sighed. "Yes Your Highness." She bowed. Being the Greatest Genius Scientist in
the Universe meant you knew when to quit. Especially around an angry Sasami.
***
Tenchi was halfway up the mountain when she ran out of breath.
"And I thought Kagato was scary." She panted breathlessly.
Thankfully she had been able to use her own clothes. Well, most of them. Only the
underwear she had on was borrowed. She carefully adjusted herself in the 'uplifting' bra she
was borrowing from Ryoko. That and the briefs she was borrowing from Ayeka were a bit
tight, but Washu had assured her they were the best fit.
~ Yeah, the best fit for their owners. ~ She thought sourly. She needed somewhere
peaceful to get her thoughts in order.
The young lady turned and made her way down a side path towards a large tree. She
reached the pool and walked across the stones to lean against Funaho.
"Why does my life have to be so complicated?"
Tenchi thought she heard a slight giggle and quickly looked around. There was no one
there.
She let out a sigh, then felt the presence. "Hello Tsunami."
She turned to see the image of Tsunami standing on the water. She was unchanged from the
other times Tenchi had seen her. S/he had briefly wondered if that look would be the one
Sasami (S/he couldn't think of her as Tsunami, at least not just yet) would prefer when she
grew up. Then s/he had decided not to worry about it.
"You are getting better." Tsunami congratulated her. "I hadn't realised that you could
sense me."
"I could feel you more and more every time we met. 'Though I'm paying more attention
today." Tenchi sighed. "Come to see for yourself? I thought you would have known all
about it through your other half."
Tsunami's image walked across the still water, stopping a few feet away from the new
princess of Jurai. She suddenly smiled.
"You are quite beautiful aren't you?"
Tenchi groaned and shot the image a dark look. "You two are a bad influence on each
other." She declared.
"I have been meaning to have a talk with you." Tsunami told the young lady, smile still on
her lips.
"Oh? About what?" Tenchi asked cautiously.
The smile faded. "About your power."
Tenchi turned away. "You had to chose one of the things I don't want to talk about." She
said.
"You can't avoid it forever." Tsunami told her sadly.
Tenchi turned back and poked Tsunami in the chest.
"I don't care about how powerful you think I am. I don't care about my rank on Jurai. If
you hadn't noticed, I have another problem to deal with." She poked Tsunami in the chest
again. "And another thing..." Her voice trailed off as she realised what she had done. She
reached out and put her hand on Tsunami's shoulder. "Hey, how come I can touch you? I
thought you were just a projected image outside of your ship body."
Tsunami was grateful that Tenchi had calmed down a bit.
"Your power is emergent." She told the confused young woman. "When you first created
the Lighthawk Wings, you ceased being human. You became something else, a transcendent
being."
She saw the shock and horror on Tenchi's face. Gently she took her arm and guided her to
sit under Funaho. Her image sat down beside her.
"You see," She explained gently, "ever since then your power has been growing. Some of
the abilities you have are emerging slowly, gradually. Your sensing me is one of those, as is
the ability to touch me. Others respond to stimuli, such as danger."
"The Wings..." Tenchi said faintly.
Tsunami nodded. "And others emerge spontaneously, for some reason or another. That
trick with Ryo-Ohki for example. What you did was, for the briefest fraction of a second,
touch her mind and connect names, faces and sounds."
"I... I gave her new memories?" Tenchi was horrified.
"No." Tsunami reassured her. "You simply copied the connections she had established in
her mind for carrots, then applied them to everybody else." She smiled faintly. "It is rather
simple when you know how."
Tenchi asked the question hanging on her lips. "Do you know how to change me back to
normal?"
"Sorry, no. And it would not be wise for me to attempt such action with you at this stage of
your development."
"Why not?" Tenchi wanted to know.
"Because something terrible might happen." She replied, avoiding the real reason.
~ You really should listen to her. ~ A third voice said, startling Tenchi bolt upright.
The Master Key sprang into life in her hands. "Who said that?" Tenchi demanded.
Tsunami looked puzzled for a few seconds. It was an odd look on her face.
~ I did. ~ Came the voice again. Tenchi thought it sounded familiar. Tsunami's face lit up
in understanding.
"So you can hear her." She beamed.
"Who?"
~ Mistress. ~ The voice sounded pained. ~ Why is this one so limited in understanding?
~
Tsunami giggled, sounding remarkably like Sasami. "Don't be rude. It is the first time she
has heard a voice in her mind other than her own."
The blade of the sword dissipated, and Tenchi put away the Key away.
"Would someone explain to me what is going on?" She asked, exasperated.
"It's simple really," Tsunami said in a commonplace sort of tone, managing to sound a lot
like Washu, "you are talking to Funaho."
It was Tenchi's turn to look puzzled. Tsunami thought she looked adorable like that.
There was a sigh in Tenchi's mind, and suddenly there were beams of light emerging from
the tree above them.
"Me." The voice said. It *was* Funaho's voice.
Tenchi blinked. She had understood the beams perfectly.
~ Funaho: Or did you think Yosho named me thus for another reason? ~
Tsunami shook her head in silent amusement as she stood.
"Being of the Royal family," She explained, "means that you are able to talk to the trees.
Ease of understanding is proportional to your power. Being transcendent also means you can
talk mind to mind."
~ Funaho: You should feel honoured. Only the Mistress can do that. ~
Tenchi threw her hands up in resignation.
"Can my day get any more complicated? I hate to think what grandfather makes of all this."
A questioning thought came from Funaho. Tenchi felt, rather than heard the reply.
~ Funaho: She's Yosho's grandson? ~
"I would have thought you would be used to strange things happening around here."
Tsunami sighed. "Washu is working on a way to change her back."
Tenchi started. "I'm late for practice! Sorry, gotta go!" And she dashed off.
~ Maybe we should leave her like that Mistress. ~ Funaho said.
Tsunami was thoughtful. "No, I have plans for *him*." She paused. "Although I'll keep an
eye on *her*. It could prove useful."
Tsunami's image dissipated, the ripples quickly fading.
***
"I see." Yosho said, sipping his tea.
Ayeka had always admired Yosho's calm, even if it was annoying at times. Like now.
"I really don't see how you can be so calm at a time like this."
Yosho finished his tea. "Tenchi is adaptable. He...She will survive until Washu finds a
cure."
In the silence that followed both heard the sound of running footsteps coming closer. They
stopped outside and were followed by heavy breathing. The two inhabitants of the room got
up and walked to the door.
Outside was Tenchi, catching her breath. "Sorry I'm late Grandpa." She puffed.
Yosho looked at his new granddaughter non-plused.
"I was under the impression that practice had been cancelled." He said dryly.
"I need something normal, this day has been nothing but strange."
Ayeka had been studying the young woman in front of them. Everything about her had
those distinct qualities, that pure Tenchi-ness that had made up the young man she fought
Ryoko over.
"I would have thought you would be in Washu's lab Tenchi." Ayeka noted.
Tenchi grimaced. "I think I've had enough Washu for one day. And I really don't want to
go into her lab more than I have to."
"Of course. But I don't think this is a good idea." Ayeka told the beautiful (Washu had
been right of course) woman.
"I on the other hand think it is." Yosho told them. "It shows Tenchi is thinking clearly
about the new circumstances."
A pair of puzzled looks was his response.
"Tenchi has to get used to her new body." He explained.
"I don't plan on staying like this Grandpa." Tenchi told him.
"Nether the less, it is a good idea to be prepared. Your technique will need to change a
little." He told his granddaughter, seeming to pull two practice weapons from nowhere.
"Come."
***
Out past Jupiter a sleek Juraian ship travels the void.
Kiyone stared out at the stars. She was feeling peaceful, a state so rare these days that she
relished the sensation.
"Thanks for bringing me out Minagi."
"Oh it's no problem Kiyone. Trying to stay friendly with the Galaxy Police." She teased.
While she seemed to frown, Kiyone inwardly smiled. Only she and two other people knew
of the secret about the young space pirate. Even Washu didn't know, and Minagi herself
certainly didn't know.
"Vigilantes are still offenders. I've turned a blind eye so far, but don't push it. This is a
friendly warning." Kiyone was lying through her teeth. She wouldn't arrest her and they
both knew it.
"Yes Ma'am." Minagi sounded meek, something even her 'older sister' couldn't pull off. It
was an act; She had made her choice and would stick to it. "How's the sensor sweep coming
Hinase?" She asked the ship.
A small crystal sphere floated up to her. "Fine Minagi. Although we could have done this
from Earth orbit."
Kiyone sighed. "Galaxy Police regulations state that patrolling officers do physical sweeps
of the patrol zone. Just in case anything is shielded from our sensors." She paused. "Which
reminds me, you did shield US from Earth's sensor net when we left didn't you?"
Tenchi had gone on about how, collectively, Earth was generally xenophobic and to appease
the young man, Washu had installed cloaking programs to the ships' shield systems. She had
thought it silly until Tenchi had showed them the local planetary network and the information
contained therein. It was all fanciful, but it served to remind them what a primitive planet
Earth was. Washu still accessed the network when she wanted a laugh, but found one of their
scientific concepts intriguing. This probability-based 'Quantum Mechanics' went against the
fact-based science she knew.
Thinking of Tenchi brought home the changes that had been wrought on the young man.
"It would just about make Tenchi's day to know we added to the UFO statistics." Minagi
agreed.
"Washu added the procedure to my automatic systems. We were shielded." The ship told
them.
"And we used to think Washu was bad until we had Tenchi lecture us." Kiyone admitted
ruefully.
***
Practice was going well, or at least Yosho thought so. Tenchi's change had not affected her
skills in the slightest, despite the new impediments. She was probably concentrating more to
keep from thinking about that however. The focus helped Yosho reshape some of the moves
to her new physique.
Ayeka was watching to one side, contemplating the fact that the woman facing her brother
was the man she and the rest of the ladies cared for. She kept from giggling when Tenchi got
clonged on the head again.
Yosho stopped and rested on his sword as Tenchi recovered from the blow.
"You are getting better." He told the young woman.
"Not fast enough it seems." She replied, wincing as she gingerly touched the bump.
Suddenly Yosho vanished, Tenchi responding to some instinct to block the blow from
behind before dropping to sweep the legs out from under her assailant. Yosho however had
been ready for this and lazily backfliped to a point three metres distant.
"It will do." He replied as if nothing had happened. "Now, begin again."
Unbeknownst to them, a fourth being watched them practice. Tsunami still had her
thoughtful expression. She knew what instinct had alerted Tenchi to the strike, and it seemed
to confirm a theory she had. She had to take advantage of the opportunity it presented.
***
Washu was busy. Really busy. She was working on Tenchi's data, trying to make sense of
it.
~ Are the anomalies in the readings strange, or the normal readings? ~ She thought.
Pausing to rub her eyes she spoke.
"Really Tsunami. We must have a talk about doors sometime." She turned.
Tsunami's image stood about a metre away.
"Washu, I'm here to ask you to...delay...finding a cure for Tenchi."
Washu blinked, but not to clear her eyes. She hadn't expected that. It took her a few
seconds to speak.
"You've got me fascinated. Why?"
"Tenchi's current form presents possibilities I wish to try and exploit. Her power will be in
a state of flux because of the change as well."
Washu didn't like to be reminded that she couldn't actually detect Tenchi's power, only it's
effects. She sighed.
"How long?" She asked.
"Three months." And Tsunami disappeared.
There was silence in the subspace pocket Washu called home. It lasted a long while.
"Twice as long as I predicted." She muttered sadly. "I really hopes she knows what she is
doing."
***
Tenchi was a little stiff walking back into the kitchen with Ayeka. It had been a looong
workout.
"Are you sure you're ok?" The purple-hared princess asked.
"Yes." Tenchi sighed. "I'm fine. Really."
Ryoko appeared out of thin air. "Tenchi!" She cried, enveloping the woman in a tight hug.
Tenchi winced from the bruises. "Ryoko!"
"What do you think you are doing?" Came the expected response from Ayeka.
"Greeting Tenchi. Why?"
"It's unseemly for women to greet each other in such a way."
Ryoko released Tenchi. "Oh really? Well Miss Smarty-pants, Tenchi is just a woman
temporarily."
"That doesn't mean you can go about fondling her." Ayeka snapped.
Tenchi sighed. She could see where this conversation was going. She didn't want to deal
with this right now, so slipped away.
"At least she can be fondled. Unlike you. You're not even developed."
They continued until the sound of steps climbing stairs faded away.
"Well, that was easy." Ryoko said dropping the act.
"Yes. I would never have thought Sasami could be so devious."
"Must have caught it from us."
Up in her room Tenchi found several packages. They all had labels saying 'From Washu'
on them.
~ Great. What has she cooked up now? ~ She thought.
There was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me Tenchi." Came Sasami's voice.
"Come in." Tenchi said tiredly.
The Azure-hared princess did so, closing the door behind her.
"Oh. I see Washu has been busy." She said, noting the packages. She had already known
they had been delivered.
"What am I supposed to do with them all?"
Sasami beamed. Tenchi absently noted that the expression suited Tsunami a bit better.
"Why open them of course." Sasami bubbled.
Tenchi sat down on her bed. "They'll probably explode."
Sasami caught the dejected undertones, but didn't let it show. "Come on, pick one."
Without much interest, Tenchi picked one at random. Sasami pounced on it like Ryo-Ohki
on a carrot and brought it to the bed.
"Open it."
Tenchi did so, finding out she had made a bad choice. Of course Sasami didn't think so.
"They're beautiful..." She breathed.
It was lingerie, sexy lingerie. Tenchi carefully put the package to one side as if she was
holding a live snake, or maybe a live bomb.
"Try one on." The little girl beside her urged.
Tenchi sighed. "I think I'll go take a bath." She said blankly, picking up a towel and
wandering out.
~ You're not getting away that easily. ~ Sasami thought and followed.
***
Washu was still working. She was not one to put something to one side without reason and
besides, Tsunami hadn't asked her to stop. At the moment she was running models based on
the data she had collected.
"Hum... My, my, my. I wonder if Tenchi should know about this?"
The model Washu was currently looking at was Tenchi's Visual-Psychological Tactical
effectiveness profile. On a whim, Washu reran the model with a different setting. What she
saw nearly caused her eyes to pop out in disbelief. The scientist let out a low whistle.
"Now THAT is truly impressive." She said in an awed whisper.
Her curiosity piqued, she set up a quick experimental program and executed it. She turned
to the other models and continued as the program ran.
"Physical potential is slightly higher. Intellectual effectiveness is unstable, could be a
problem there. Ah, no wonder. Psychological profile is all over the map. I'll have to
stabilise that in a hurry. Intellectual potential has skyrocketed. I'll have to run a complete
effectiveness study. That will take a week."
There was a ping behind her as the VPT effectiveness study finished. Washu read through
the results carefully before putting her hands behind her head and leaning back. It looked
like Tsunami would get her wish.
~ It will take me two weeks to go through a full analysis. I just CAN'T leave this un-
investigated. ~
A small, mysterious smile formed on Washu's lips. It might be fun as well.
***
Tenchi was trying to relax. The process wasn't helped by the fact Sasami had insisted she
join her. It had taken just about all Tenchi's eloquence to make sure the young princess wore
a towel.
"But you're a girl now!" She had exclaimed in disbelief.
"But not where it matters." Tenchi had replied, tapping the side of her head.
That had been a while ago and Sasami had been too quiet. She had stationed herself at the
exit to the bath they were in, while Tenchi had gone off to soak in a deeper section. Finally
Sasami came up and placed herself beside the troubled young woman. Tenchi noted that she
was still at the exit side.
"You will have to get used to the fact you are a different person now Tenchi." Sasami said.
"Sasami," Tenchi began, "I've changed so much since I released Ryoko. One by one all the
certainties of my life have crumbled. Today, possibly THE major certainty of my life was
pulled out from under me. I don't think the Tenchi you know exists anymore."
"I don't believe that for a second. You've just grown."
Tenchi shot her companion a sour look. "Do you and your other half have long talks about
how to torment me?" At Sasami's tearful look she kicked herself. "I'm sorry Sasami."
Tenchi apologised guiltily.
"No," Sasami sniffed, "you are right. I'm just a thing."
Tenchi sighed. "No. You are not. As I understand it, and you know what I'm like with
these sorts of things, Tsunami couldn't heal you. So she saved you the only way she had left.
You became a part of her, and she became a part of you. You are still Sasami. She did not
create you. If anything, Your mother and father created you."
Sasami looked at Tenchi in disbelief. "I...I don't believe you!" She cried.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Tenchi asked. "Do I have any reason at all to make this up? I
think Tsunami is upset at this mistaken belief about yourself."
"B...but she's always there. I can feel her."
"I think that's because you are the same person. She just gained more from the event at that
time. You just have to grow into what you gained. That image she projects is YOU. That is
how you will look when you grow up."
"I'll look like Tsunami?" The threat of tears had receded from Sasami's face. She was still
upset.
"Ayeka and Ryoko were upset about that." Tenchi said, trying to cheer the little girl up.
"They didn't like the fact that you would be so beautiful."
"They wouldn't." Sasami said, some of her cheerful personality reasserting itself. "It
means I get a better chance of getting you."
Tenchi started, bringing a smile back to Sasami's face. She leaned her head against
Tenchi's shoulder.
"Thanks Tenchi."
"For what?" Tenchi asked, puzzled.
"For trying to explain things to me. I think I know now what has happened to me."
"Well can you explain it to me now?"
Sasami giggled and waded a few feet in front of the young woman. Tenchi was
concentrating on the cheerful face and didn't notice the wave until it hit her in the face.
Tenchi spluttered for a few seconds under Sasami laughter.
"Why you little imp..." She growled and counterattacked.
Sasami shielded herself, still laughing. "You should have seen your face!" She gasped.
"I would have thought you would be used to the look." Tenchi grumbled.
"You always look so funny like that." Sasami giggled.
"I think that person is gone." Tenchi whispered under her breath.
"Oh really?" Sasami teased, and with one quick movement whipped off her own towel.
After half a second of looking at a nude Sasami, Tenchi's reflexes kicked in and her eyes
slammed shut. She was sure a nosebleed was coming on.
"I'd say the old Tenchi was still there." The young princess noted, laughter still evident.
"But I think the new Tenchi should come to the front now." She gathered herself up. "Look
at me." She ordered, putting as much authority into the command as she could.
"Uh uh." Tenchi shook her head, eyes still closed.
Sasami sighed and walked a step forward to pinch one of Tenchi's breasts.
"OW!" Tenchi's eyes snapped open. She caught another look of the nude front of Sasami
before her eyes snapped shut. "What was that for?" She demanded.
Sasami didn't reply. She pinched the other breast. Harder.
"OW!" Her eyes opened again but she recovered more quickly.
"I'm going to keep doing this until you keep your eyes open and look at me." Sasami told
her. She pinched the still sore first breast even harder. Tenchi nearly cried out in pain.
"I can do worse." Sasami threatened.
"OK, ok." Tenchi submitted. "You win." She opened her eyes and locked them on
Sasami's own.
"That's better," Sasami said, "but I want you really look at me."
Tenchi had had enough. "Sasami," Tenchi growled, "I don't care what you are trying to do,
but I don't want to be a part of it." And she made for the exit to the bath.
"Oh no you don't." Sasami told her angrily. "You are going to stay here until we sort this
out." The symbol on her forehead glowing, she tripped Tenchi, grabbed her and thrust her
face on to her pubescent breasts. The princess wrapped her arms around the elder girl's head
and squeezed as hard as she could.
"Mumph!" Came the muffled cry as Tenchi struggled. It took thirty seconds for her to calm
down enough for Sasami to even think about letting go. At a minute Sasami believed Tenchi
had calmed down enough and let go.
Tenchi shot back, gasping for air. "What was that for?" She angrily asked, before noticing
the still glowing symbol on Sasami's forehead. Her expression hardened.
"You need to get used to seeing naked women Tenchi." Sasami told her severely. "When
you look in a mirror for the next few weeks, that's what you will see." The glow faded from
the symbol and Sasami's expression softened. "I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be for a
while."
"And you expect me to change the habits of a lifetime overnight? To throw off what I've
always been?" Tenchi was still angry.
"No." Sasami admitted. "But I'm going to make sure you are MORE than comfortable
with your new body right now. It is too dangerous for you to be filled with uncertainty.
Your attention wanders." Sasami's eyes grew moist. "And it's almost killed you several
times. I can't lose you. WE can't lose you. You mean too much to us."
In the silence that followed Sasami blinked away her unshed tears.
"I know I'm younger than you..."
"You're not." Tenchi interrupted.
Sasami continued to blink, this time in confusion.
"You don't get it." Tenchi sighed; all anger was gone to be replaced with sadness. "You
really don't get it. None of you do." She gazed over the naked Sasami before continuing.
"How old do you think I am?"
"Um... I'd say seventeen."
"Is this Juraian years or Earth years?"
"What's that got to do with it?"
"I've done my research. The rest of the galaxy measures time differently to Earth." Tenchi
moved to the side and beckoned Sasami to sit beside her. The princess vaguely remembered
what she was supposed to be doing. She took one of Tenchi's arms and put it around herself.
Tenchi looked worried at this but continued.
"I want you to promise me that you, or your other half, will never tell anybody what I'm
about to tell you."
"I promise." Sasami swore.
"And you Tsunami?" Tenchi asked the empty air.
Sasami's reflection shimmered, and was replaced with Tsunami's image. Sasami herself
studied it intently.
"I promise Tenchi." The image said before smiling at Sasami. The princess smiled back
and her real reflection returned.
Tenchi relaxed a bit. "What none of you realise..." The young lady said quietly. "... Is
that compared to me, and perhaps Ryo-Ohki, the rest of you are much older. You just don't
age as fast. That changes how you measure time. You are quite happy with time scales in
the order of hundreds, if not thousands of years. That's because you are quite likely to live
that long."
Tenchi paused, as if she was contemplating something.
"Now, here on Earth things are different. Would you like to know what the average life
span is of a person who is born and dies on this 'backwater' planet as I've heard it called?
80-85 years. Earth years. You have no idea of the number of times I've thought about saying
'Come back in a hundred years. I'll have made up my mind.' and let nature solve all my
problems."
Sasami was shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"But Yosho has been here for 700 years..."
"I came across something called the water of life. All who are born on Jurai drink it. That
is why you live so long. It seems to saturate your bodies, and slows down ageing. It does
fade though, so a constant intake is required to keep from ageing faster. I don't think
Grandfather would have aged so much if he had stayed there instead of coming here after
Ryoko."
A terrible thought hit Sasami. "You don't want to leave Earth, do you? You don't want to
go to Jurai, as it means you will live much longer than you are used to. You want to live such
a brief life..." She sniffed. "And... And..."
"Yes." Tenchi said quietly.
Sasami felt some of Tsunami's calm settle upon her.
"We can talk about this another time." She said more calmly. "We have other things to
do." And she moved Tenchi's hand to her breast.
Tenchi gasped in surprise and yanked the hand away. Sasami sighed and turned towards the
young woman.
"Now," She told the young woman, "We are going to do this. There is no getting round it.
Take your towel off Tenchi. Fair's fair."
Tenchi hesitated.
"The sooner you do so, the sooner we can finish."
Nothing happened.
Sasami sighed. She reached behind Tenchi and pulled hard, taking the whole thing away.
She wrapped the towel into a ball and tossed it aside.
"That's better. Now look yourself over. Get used to it."
Tenchi did so reluctantly.
"Don't be afraid to touch, it's your body after all." Sasami was acting the woman she was.
Tenchi hesitantly explored her new body. Sasami had to coax her all the way. After a while
Sasami got fed up with the slow progress.
"Ok." She sighed. "You can stop."
A look of immense relief passed over Tenchi's face as she stopped.
"Come on." The princess said. "We're going to get you dressed. Then I can start dinner.
But don't relax too much. Lessons resume afterwards. This is much too important. You
know it and I know it."
***
Ryoko was daydreaming. She was lying in her usual place on the support beams, thinking
about finally getting Tenchi.
All perfectly normal for her.
Smiling faintly to herself, she closed her eyes and imagined it.
... There was Tenchi lying naked on the bed, waiting. Ryoko imagined gazing over the
slim curves, the pert breasts...
Her eyes snapped open in shock.
~ Whoa there girl. Slim curves? Pert breasts? What the hell am I thinking? ~ She
panicked.
She tried again, this time with Tenchi leaning over her. The way her...
~ Stop it right there. Since when has Tenchi been a girl in MY dreams? ~
~ Washu: So it's finally started has it? ~ The voice sounded smug. Sad but smug.
~ Ryoko: What the hell does that mean? ~ She demanded.
There came a sort of mental sigh. ~ Washu: Don't you remember what I told you this
morning? Tenchi is still as attractive to us as she was. ~ There was a pause. ~ Maybe a bit
more. After all, we can appreciate her looks better because we have more experience with
them. Have you also forgotten that you can cope with sudden changes quickly? It's because
you're my daughter. ~
~ Ryoko: But I... ~ She didn't want to say it, even mind-to-mind with Washu. ~ Ryoko:
...like... Tenchi. The old Tenchi. ~
~ Washu: Well the old Tenchi isn't going to be about for a bit. Get used to it. ~
Ryoko cursed up an impressive storm in her mind and tossed it all at the redhead's. But she
was gone.
***
Everybody had got back by the time Sasami dragged a resigned Tenchi downstairs.
~ Even Ayeka wasn't this difficult. ~ She grumbled silently.
No matter how hard the Azure-hared girl had tried, Tenchi had gone for her old clothes,
although she had agreed to wear some of her new underwear but only because it was more
comfortable. Otherwise it was a simple T-shirt and Jeans ensemble.
"Very nice." Kiyone noted. Tenchi just looked pained.
Ryoko appeared beside the glum former male and hugged her from the side.
"Miss me?"
Whether or not Tenchi would have replied was debatable as Ayeka started up.
"What did I say earlier?" She growled.
"Why do you two always have to argue?" Mihoshi complained.
"Shut up Mihoshi!" The two women yelled.
Sasami used the continuing fight to head into the kitchen. Unfortunately Washu was there
to see her pained face.
"What's wrong?" The scientist asked.
"It's nothing." Sasami sighed.
"Don't try that routine with me Sasami." Washu told her. "I can see right through it."
"Tenchi's being difficult, that's all." Sasami replied, getting out the ingredients.
"Uh huh. And what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Make sure Tenchi is not distracted by her new form. You know what will happen if she's
distracted at a critical point."
Washu nodded solemnly. "I do. Just be careful you don't push her too far." She suddenly
went all bright and cheery. "Now, what's for dinner?"
"Just a light stir fry with brown rice and beef."
"How about I make the sweet? I was thinking strawberry and chocolate ice cream with
peaches."
Sasami smiled. "Sounds nice. But we don't have any of those things."
Washu grinned. "I've been shopping. Been meaning to for ages. I'd only just put them
away when you came in."
"Ok." Sasami said, returning to her natural enthusiastic state. "Could you fetch the peppers
please?"
Flowering Potential.
====================
Comments, Constructive criticisum and Praise welcome & can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net.
Flames will be sent to the electronic ether.
P.S. The continuity used is basically OAV based with the addition of Kiyone from the TV
series and Minagi from the manga.
Disclaimer: I do not own the series depicted within, but go buy it anyway.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communication.
The series is archived at http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
#########
Chapter 2
#########
"Tenchi! Come back here, we're not finished!"
Ryoko, Sasami and Ryo-Ohki looked up in time to see a shape flip over the banister from
the floor above and land with Olympic poise and grace.
Tenchi had a harried look on her face, but she was properly dressed.
"See you guys at dinner!" She called out before dashing out the door.
Washu appeared at the top of the stairs with a faintly annoyed look on her childish face.
"Where'd she go?" She asked.
"Out." Ryoko told her. "What were you doing to Tenchi?" She demanded.
"I thought she might look good with some makeup on." Washu replied innocently.
"MISS WASHU." Sasami growled, an extremely bad sign. "You KNOW Tenchi is under a
lot of stress." She calmed down. "No makeup." She told the 20,000-year-old scientist.
Washu sighed. "Yes Your Highness." She bowed. Being the Greatest Genius Scientist in
the Universe meant you knew when to quit. Especially around an angry Sasami.
***
Tenchi was halfway up the mountain when she ran out of breath.
"And I thought Kagato was scary." She panted breathlessly.
Thankfully she had been able to use her own clothes. Well, most of them. Only the
underwear she had on was borrowed. She carefully adjusted herself in the 'uplifting' bra she
was borrowing from Ryoko. That and the briefs she was borrowing from Ayeka were a bit
tight, but Washu had assured her they were the best fit.
~ Yeah, the best fit for their owners. ~ She thought sourly. She needed somewhere
peaceful to get her thoughts in order.
The young lady turned and made her way down a side path towards a large tree. She
reached the pool and walked across the stones to lean against Funaho.
"Why does my life have to be so complicated?"
Tenchi thought she heard a slight giggle and quickly looked around. There was no one
there.
She let out a sigh, then felt the presence. "Hello Tsunami."
She turned to see the image of Tsunami standing on the water. She was unchanged from the
other times Tenchi had seen her. S/he had briefly wondered if that look would be the one
Sasami (S/he couldn't think of her as Tsunami, at least not just yet) would prefer when she
grew up. Then s/he had decided not to worry about it.
"You are getting better." Tsunami congratulated her. "I hadn't realised that you could
sense me."
"I could feel you more and more every time we met. 'Though I'm paying more attention
today." Tenchi sighed. "Come to see for yourself? I thought you would have known all
about it through your other half."
Tsunami's image walked across the still water, stopping a few feet away from the new
princess of Jurai. She suddenly smiled.
"You are quite beautiful aren't you?"
Tenchi groaned and shot the image a dark look. "You two are a bad influence on each
other." She declared.
"I have been meaning to have a talk with you." Tsunami told the young lady, smile still on
her lips.
"Oh? About what?" Tenchi asked cautiously.
The smile faded. "About your power."
Tenchi turned away. "You had to chose one of the things I don't want to talk about." She
said.
"You can't avoid it forever." Tsunami told her sadly.
Tenchi turned back and poked Tsunami in the chest.
"I don't care about how powerful you think I am. I don't care about my rank on Jurai. If
you hadn't noticed, I have another problem to deal with." She poked Tsunami in the chest
again. "And another thing..." Her voice trailed off as she realised what she had done. She
reached out and put her hand on Tsunami's shoulder. "Hey, how come I can touch you? I
thought you were just a projected image outside of your ship body."
Tsunami was grateful that Tenchi had calmed down a bit.
"Your power is emergent." She told the confused young woman. "When you first created
the Lighthawk Wings, you ceased being human. You became something else, a transcendent
being."
She saw the shock and horror on Tenchi's face. Gently she took her arm and guided her to
sit under Funaho. Her image sat down beside her.
"You see," She explained gently, "ever since then your power has been growing. Some of
the abilities you have are emerging slowly, gradually. Your sensing me is one of those, as is
the ability to touch me. Others respond to stimuli, such as danger."
"The Wings..." Tenchi said faintly.
Tsunami nodded. "And others emerge spontaneously, for some reason or another. That
trick with Ryo-Ohki for example. What you did was, for the briefest fraction of a second,
touch her mind and connect names, faces and sounds."
"I... I gave her new memories?" Tenchi was horrified.
"No." Tsunami reassured her. "You simply copied the connections she had established in
her mind for carrots, then applied them to everybody else." She smiled faintly. "It is rather
simple when you know how."
Tenchi asked the question hanging on her lips. "Do you know how to change me back to
normal?"
"Sorry, no. And it would not be wise for me to attempt such action with you at this stage of
your development."
"Why not?" Tenchi wanted to know.
"Because something terrible might happen." She replied, avoiding the real reason.
~ You really should listen to her. ~ A third voice said, startling Tenchi bolt upright.
The Master Key sprang into life in her hands. "Who said that?" Tenchi demanded.
Tsunami looked puzzled for a few seconds. It was an odd look on her face.
~ I did. ~ Came the voice again. Tenchi thought it sounded familiar. Tsunami's face lit up
in understanding.
"So you can hear her." She beamed.
"Who?"
~ Mistress. ~ The voice sounded pained. ~ Why is this one so limited in understanding?
~
Tsunami giggled, sounding remarkably like Sasami. "Don't be rude. It is the first time she
has heard a voice in her mind other than her own."
The blade of the sword dissipated, and Tenchi put away the Key away.
"Would someone explain to me what is going on?" She asked, exasperated.
"It's simple really," Tsunami said in a commonplace sort of tone, managing to sound a lot
like Washu, "you are talking to Funaho."
It was Tenchi's turn to look puzzled. Tsunami thought she looked adorable like that.
There was a sigh in Tenchi's mind, and suddenly there were beams of light emerging from
the tree above them.
"Me." The voice said. It *was* Funaho's voice.
Tenchi blinked. She had understood the beams perfectly.
~ Funaho: Or did you think Yosho named me thus for another reason? ~
Tsunami shook her head in silent amusement as she stood.
"Being of the Royal family," She explained, "means that you are able to talk to the trees.
Ease of understanding is proportional to your power. Being transcendent also means you can
talk mind to mind."
~ Funaho: You should feel honoured. Only the Mistress can do that. ~
Tenchi threw her hands up in resignation.
"Can my day get any more complicated? I hate to think what grandfather makes of all this."
A questioning thought came from Funaho. Tenchi felt, rather than heard the reply.
~ Funaho: She's Yosho's grandson? ~
"I would have thought you would be used to strange things happening around here."
Tsunami sighed. "Washu is working on a way to change her back."
Tenchi started. "I'm late for practice! Sorry, gotta go!" And she dashed off.
~ Maybe we should leave her like that Mistress. ~ Funaho said.
Tsunami was thoughtful. "No, I have plans for *him*." She paused. "Although I'll keep an
eye on *her*. It could prove useful."
Tsunami's image dissipated, the ripples quickly fading.
***
"I see." Yosho said, sipping his tea.
Ayeka had always admired Yosho's calm, even if it was annoying at times. Like now.
"I really don't see how you can be so calm at a time like this."
Yosho finished his tea. "Tenchi is adaptable. He...She will survive until Washu finds a
cure."
In the silence that followed both heard the sound of running footsteps coming closer. They
stopped outside and were followed by heavy breathing. The two inhabitants of the room got
up and walked to the door.
Outside was Tenchi, catching her breath. "Sorry I'm late Grandpa." She puffed.
Yosho looked at his new granddaughter non-plused.
"I was under the impression that practice had been cancelled." He said dryly.
"I need something normal, this day has been nothing but strange."
Ayeka had been studying the young woman in front of them. Everything about her had
those distinct qualities, that pure Tenchi-ness that had made up the young man she fought
Ryoko over.
"I would have thought you would be in Washu's lab Tenchi." Ayeka noted.
Tenchi grimaced. "I think I've had enough Washu for one day. And I really don't want to
go into her lab more than I have to."
"Of course. But I don't think this is a good idea." Ayeka told the beautiful (Washu had
been right of course) woman.
"I on the other hand think it is." Yosho told them. "It shows Tenchi is thinking clearly
about the new circumstances."
A pair of puzzled looks was his response.
"Tenchi has to get used to her new body." He explained.
"I don't plan on staying like this Grandpa." Tenchi told him.
"Nether the less, it is a good idea to be prepared. Your technique will need to change a
little." He told his granddaughter, seeming to pull two practice weapons from nowhere.
"Come."
***
Out past Jupiter a sleek Juraian ship travels the void.
Kiyone stared out at the stars. She was feeling peaceful, a state so rare these days that she
relished the sensation.
"Thanks for bringing me out Minagi."
"Oh it's no problem Kiyone. Trying to stay friendly with the Galaxy Police." She teased.
While she seemed to frown, Kiyone inwardly smiled. Only she and two other people knew
of the secret about the young space pirate. Even Washu didn't know, and Minagi herself
certainly didn't know.
"Vigilantes are still offenders. I've turned a blind eye so far, but don't push it. This is a
friendly warning." Kiyone was lying through her teeth. She wouldn't arrest her and they
both knew it.
"Yes Ma'am." Minagi sounded meek, something even her 'older sister' couldn't pull off. It
was an act; She had made her choice and would stick to it. "How's the sensor sweep coming
Hinase?" She asked the ship.
A small crystal sphere floated up to her. "Fine Minagi. Although we could have done this
from Earth orbit."
Kiyone sighed. "Galaxy Police regulations state that patrolling officers do physical sweeps
of the patrol zone. Just in case anything is shielded from our sensors." She paused. "Which
reminds me, you did shield US from Earth's sensor net when we left didn't you?"
Tenchi had gone on about how, collectively, Earth was generally xenophobic and to appease
the young man, Washu had installed cloaking programs to the ships' shield systems. She had
thought it silly until Tenchi had showed them the local planetary network and the information
contained therein. It was all fanciful, but it served to remind them what a primitive planet
Earth was. Washu still accessed the network when she wanted a laugh, but found one of their
scientific concepts intriguing. This probability-based 'Quantum Mechanics' went against the
fact-based science she knew.
Thinking of Tenchi brought home the changes that had been wrought on the young man.
"It would just about make Tenchi's day to know we added to the UFO statistics." Minagi
agreed.
"Washu added the procedure to my automatic systems. We were shielded." The ship told
them.
"And we used to think Washu was bad until we had Tenchi lecture us." Kiyone admitted
ruefully.
***
Practice was going well, or at least Yosho thought so. Tenchi's change had not affected her
skills in the slightest, despite the new impediments. She was probably concentrating more to
keep from thinking about that however. The focus helped Yosho reshape some of the moves
to her new physique.
Ayeka was watching to one side, contemplating the fact that the woman facing her brother
was the man she and the rest of the ladies cared for. She kept from giggling when Tenchi got
clonged on the head again.
Yosho stopped and rested on his sword as Tenchi recovered from the blow.
"You are getting better." He told the young woman.
"Not fast enough it seems." She replied, wincing as she gingerly touched the bump.
Suddenly Yosho vanished, Tenchi responding to some instinct to block the blow from
behind before dropping to sweep the legs out from under her assailant. Yosho however had
been ready for this and lazily backfliped to a point three metres distant.
"It will do." He replied as if nothing had happened. "Now, begin again."
Unbeknownst to them, a fourth being watched them practice. Tsunami still had her
thoughtful expression. She knew what instinct had alerted Tenchi to the strike, and it seemed
to confirm a theory she had. She had to take advantage of the opportunity it presented.
***
Washu was busy. Really busy. She was working on Tenchi's data, trying to make sense of
it.
~ Are the anomalies in the readings strange, or the normal readings? ~ She thought.
Pausing to rub her eyes she spoke.
"Really Tsunami. We must have a talk about doors sometime." She turned.
Tsunami's image stood about a metre away.
"Washu, I'm here to ask you to...delay...finding a cure for Tenchi."
Washu blinked, but not to clear her eyes. She hadn't expected that. It took her a few
seconds to speak.
"You've got me fascinated. Why?"
"Tenchi's current form presents possibilities I wish to try and exploit. Her power will be in
a state of flux because of the change as well."
Washu didn't like to be reminded that she couldn't actually detect Tenchi's power, only it's
effects. She sighed.
"How long?" She asked.
"Three months." And Tsunami disappeared.
There was silence in the subspace pocket Washu called home. It lasted a long while.
"Twice as long as I predicted." She muttered sadly. "I really hopes she knows what she is
doing."
***
Tenchi was a little stiff walking back into the kitchen with Ayeka. It had been a looong
workout.
"Are you sure you're ok?" The purple-hared princess asked.
"Yes." Tenchi sighed. "I'm fine. Really."
Ryoko appeared out of thin air. "Tenchi!" She cried, enveloping the woman in a tight hug.
Tenchi winced from the bruises. "Ryoko!"
"What do you think you are doing?" Came the expected response from Ayeka.
"Greeting Tenchi. Why?"
"It's unseemly for women to greet each other in such a way."
Ryoko released Tenchi. "Oh really? Well Miss Smarty-pants, Tenchi is just a woman
temporarily."
"That doesn't mean you can go about fondling her." Ayeka snapped.
Tenchi sighed. She could see where this conversation was going. She didn't want to deal
with this right now, so slipped away.
"At least she can be fondled. Unlike you. You're not even developed."
They continued until the sound of steps climbing stairs faded away.
"Well, that was easy." Ryoko said dropping the act.
"Yes. I would never have thought Sasami could be so devious."
"Must have caught it from us."
Up in her room Tenchi found several packages. They all had labels saying 'From Washu'
on them.
~ Great. What has she cooked up now? ~ She thought.
There was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me Tenchi." Came Sasami's voice.
"Come in." Tenchi said tiredly.
The Azure-hared princess did so, closing the door behind her.
"Oh. I see Washu has been busy." She said, noting the packages. She had already known
they had been delivered.
"What am I supposed to do with them all?"
Sasami beamed. Tenchi absently noted that the expression suited Tsunami a bit better.
"Why open them of course." Sasami bubbled.
Tenchi sat down on her bed. "They'll probably explode."
Sasami caught the dejected undertones, but didn't let it show. "Come on, pick one."
Without much interest, Tenchi picked one at random. Sasami pounced on it like Ryo-Ohki
on a carrot and brought it to the bed.
"Open it."
Tenchi did so, finding out she had made a bad choice. Of course Sasami didn't think so.
"They're beautiful..." She breathed.
It was lingerie, sexy lingerie. Tenchi carefully put the package to one side as if she was
holding a live snake, or maybe a live bomb.
"Try one on." The little girl beside her urged.
Tenchi sighed. "I think I'll go take a bath." She said blankly, picking up a towel and
wandering out.
~ You're not getting away that easily. ~ Sasami thought and followed.
***
Washu was still working. She was not one to put something to one side without reason and
besides, Tsunami hadn't asked her to stop. At the moment she was running models based on
the data she had collected.
"Hum... My, my, my. I wonder if Tenchi should know about this?"
The model Washu was currently looking at was Tenchi's Visual-Psychological Tactical
effectiveness profile. On a whim, Washu reran the model with a different setting. What she
saw nearly caused her eyes to pop out in disbelief. The scientist let out a low whistle.
"Now THAT is truly impressive." She said in an awed whisper.
Her curiosity piqued, she set up a quick experimental program and executed it. She turned
to the other models and continued as the program ran.
"Physical potential is slightly higher. Intellectual effectiveness is unstable, could be a
problem there. Ah, no wonder. Psychological profile is all over the map. I'll have to
stabilise that in a hurry. Intellectual potential has skyrocketed. I'll have to run a complete
effectiveness study. That will take a week."
There was a ping behind her as the VPT effectiveness study finished. Washu read through
the results carefully before putting her hands behind her head and leaning back. It looked
like Tsunami would get her wish.
~ It will take me two weeks to go through a full analysis. I just CAN'T leave this un-
investigated. ~
A small, mysterious smile formed on Washu's lips. It might be fun as well.
***
Tenchi was trying to relax. The process wasn't helped by the fact Sasami had insisted she
join her. It had taken just about all Tenchi's eloquence to make sure the young princess wore
a towel.
"But you're a girl now!" She had exclaimed in disbelief.
"But not where it matters." Tenchi had replied, tapping the side of her head.
That had been a while ago and Sasami had been too quiet. She had stationed herself at the
exit to the bath they were in, while Tenchi had gone off to soak in a deeper section. Finally
Sasami came up and placed herself beside the troubled young woman. Tenchi noted that she
was still at the exit side.
"You will have to get used to the fact you are a different person now Tenchi." Sasami said.
"Sasami," Tenchi began, "I've changed so much since I released Ryoko. One by one all the
certainties of my life have crumbled. Today, possibly THE major certainty of my life was
pulled out from under me. I don't think the Tenchi you know exists anymore."
"I don't believe that for a second. You've just grown."
Tenchi shot her companion a sour look. "Do you and your other half have long talks about
how to torment me?" At Sasami's tearful look she kicked herself. "I'm sorry Sasami."
Tenchi apologised guiltily.
"No," Sasami sniffed, "you are right. I'm just a thing."
Tenchi sighed. "No. You are not. As I understand it, and you know what I'm like with
these sorts of things, Tsunami couldn't heal you. So she saved you the only way she had left.
You became a part of her, and she became a part of you. You are still Sasami. She did not
create you. If anything, Your mother and father created you."
Sasami looked at Tenchi in disbelief. "I...I don't believe you!" She cried.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Tenchi asked. "Do I have any reason at all to make this up? I
think Tsunami is upset at this mistaken belief about yourself."
"B...but she's always there. I can feel her."
"I think that's because you are the same person. She just gained more from the event at that
time. You just have to grow into what you gained. That image she projects is YOU. That is
how you will look when you grow up."
"I'll look like Tsunami?" The threat of tears had receded from Sasami's face. She was still
upset.
"Ayeka and Ryoko were upset about that." Tenchi said, trying to cheer the little girl up.
"They didn't like the fact that you would be so beautiful."
"They wouldn't." Sasami said, some of her cheerful personality reasserting itself. "It
means I get a better chance of getting you."
Tenchi started, bringing a smile back to Sasami's face. She leaned her head against
Tenchi's shoulder.
"Thanks Tenchi."
"For what?" Tenchi asked, puzzled.
"For trying to explain things to me. I think I know now what has happened to me."
"Well can you explain it to me now?"
Sasami giggled and waded a few feet in front of the young woman. Tenchi was
concentrating on the cheerful face and didn't notice the wave until it hit her in the face.
Tenchi spluttered for a few seconds under Sasami laughter.
"Why you little imp..." She growled and counterattacked.
Sasami shielded herself, still laughing. "You should have seen your face!" She gasped.
"I would have thought you would be used to the look." Tenchi grumbled.
"You always look so funny like that." Sasami giggled.
"I think that person is gone." Tenchi whispered under her breath.
"Oh really?" Sasami teased, and with one quick movement whipped off her own towel.
After half a second of looking at a nude Sasami, Tenchi's reflexes kicked in and her eyes
slammed shut. She was sure a nosebleed was coming on.
"I'd say the old Tenchi was still there." The young princess noted, laughter still evident.
"But I think the new Tenchi should come to the front now." She gathered herself up. "Look
at me." She ordered, putting as much authority into the command as she could.
"Uh uh." Tenchi shook her head, eyes still closed.
Sasami sighed and walked a step forward to pinch one of Tenchi's breasts.
"OW!" Tenchi's eyes snapped open. She caught another look of the nude front of Sasami
before her eyes snapped shut. "What was that for?" She demanded.
Sasami didn't reply. She pinched the other breast. Harder.
"OW!" Her eyes opened again but she recovered more quickly.
"I'm going to keep doing this until you keep your eyes open and look at me." Sasami told
her. She pinched the still sore first breast even harder. Tenchi nearly cried out in pain.
"I can do worse." Sasami threatened.
"OK, ok." Tenchi submitted. "You win." She opened her eyes and locked them on
Sasami's own.
"That's better," Sasami said, "but I want you really look at me."
Tenchi had had enough. "Sasami," Tenchi growled, "I don't care what you are trying to do,
but I don't want to be a part of it." And she made for the exit to the bath.
"Oh no you don't." Sasami told her angrily. "You are going to stay here until we sort this
out." The symbol on her forehead glowing, she tripped Tenchi, grabbed her and thrust her
face on to her pubescent breasts. The princess wrapped her arms around the elder girl's head
and squeezed as hard as she could.
"Mumph!" Came the muffled cry as Tenchi struggled. It took thirty seconds for her to calm
down enough for Sasami to even think about letting go. At a minute Sasami believed Tenchi
had calmed down enough and let go.
Tenchi shot back, gasping for air. "What was that for?" She angrily asked, before noticing
the still glowing symbol on Sasami's forehead. Her expression hardened.
"You need to get used to seeing naked women Tenchi." Sasami told her severely. "When
you look in a mirror for the next few weeks, that's what you will see." The glow faded from
the symbol and Sasami's expression softened. "I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be for a
while."
"And you expect me to change the habits of a lifetime overnight? To throw off what I've
always been?" Tenchi was still angry.
"No." Sasami admitted. "But I'm going to make sure you are MORE than comfortable
with your new body right now. It is too dangerous for you to be filled with uncertainty.
Your attention wanders." Sasami's eyes grew moist. "And it's almost killed you several
times. I can't lose you. WE can't lose you. You mean too much to us."
In the silence that followed Sasami blinked away her unshed tears.
"I know I'm younger than you..."
"You're not." Tenchi interrupted.
Sasami continued to blink, this time in confusion.
"You don't get it." Tenchi sighed; all anger was gone to be replaced with sadness. "You
really don't get it. None of you do." She gazed over the naked Sasami before continuing.
"How old do you think I am?"
"Um... I'd say seventeen."
"Is this Juraian years or Earth years?"
"What's that got to do with it?"
"I've done my research. The rest of the galaxy measures time differently to Earth." Tenchi
moved to the side and beckoned Sasami to sit beside her. The princess vaguely remembered
what she was supposed to be doing. She took one of Tenchi's arms and put it around herself.
Tenchi looked worried at this but continued.
"I want you to promise me that you, or your other half, will never tell anybody what I'm
about to tell you."
"I promise." Sasami swore.
"And you Tsunami?" Tenchi asked the empty air.
Sasami's reflection shimmered, and was replaced with Tsunami's image. Sasami herself
studied it intently.
"I promise Tenchi." The image said before smiling at Sasami. The princess smiled back
and her real reflection returned.
Tenchi relaxed a bit. "What none of you realise..." The young lady said quietly. "... Is
that compared to me, and perhaps Ryo-Ohki, the rest of you are much older. You just don't
age as fast. That changes how you measure time. You are quite happy with time scales in
the order of hundreds, if not thousands of years. That's because you are quite likely to live
that long."
Tenchi paused, as if she was contemplating something.
"Now, here on Earth things are different. Would you like to know what the average life
span is of a person who is born and dies on this 'backwater' planet as I've heard it called?
80-85 years. Earth years. You have no idea of the number of times I've thought about saying
'Come back in a hundred years. I'll have made up my mind.' and let nature solve all my
problems."
Sasami was shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"But Yosho has been here for 700 years..."
"I came across something called the water of life. All who are born on Jurai drink it. That
is why you live so long. It seems to saturate your bodies, and slows down ageing. It does
fade though, so a constant intake is required to keep from ageing faster. I don't think
Grandfather would have aged so much if he had stayed there instead of coming here after
Ryoko."
A terrible thought hit Sasami. "You don't want to leave Earth, do you? You don't want to
go to Jurai, as it means you will live much longer than you are used to. You want to live such
a brief life..." She sniffed. "And... And..."
"Yes." Tenchi said quietly.
Sasami felt some of Tsunami's calm settle upon her.
"We can talk about this another time." She said more calmly. "We have other things to
do." And she moved Tenchi's hand to her breast.
Tenchi gasped in surprise and yanked the hand away. Sasami sighed and turned towards the
young woman.
"Now," She told the young woman, "We are going to do this. There is no getting round it.
Take your towel off Tenchi. Fair's fair."
Tenchi hesitated.
"The sooner you do so, the sooner we can finish."
Nothing happened.
Sasami sighed. She reached behind Tenchi and pulled hard, taking the whole thing away.
She wrapped the towel into a ball and tossed it aside.
"That's better. Now look yourself over. Get used to it."
Tenchi did so reluctantly.
"Don't be afraid to touch, it's your body after all." Sasami was acting the woman she was.
Tenchi hesitantly explored her new body. Sasami had to coax her all the way. After a while
Sasami got fed up with the slow progress.
"Ok." She sighed. "You can stop."
A look of immense relief passed over Tenchi's face as she stopped.
"Come on." The princess said. "We're going to get you dressed. Then I can start dinner.
But don't relax too much. Lessons resume afterwards. This is much too important. You
know it and I know it."
***
Ryoko was daydreaming. She was lying in her usual place on the support beams, thinking
about finally getting Tenchi.
All perfectly normal for her.
Smiling faintly to herself, she closed her eyes and imagined it.
... There was Tenchi lying naked on the bed, waiting. Ryoko imagined gazing over the
slim curves, the pert breasts...
Her eyes snapped open in shock.
~ Whoa there girl. Slim curves? Pert breasts? What the hell am I thinking? ~ She
panicked.
She tried again, this time with Tenchi leaning over her. The way her...
~ Stop it right there. Since when has Tenchi been a girl in MY dreams? ~
~ Washu: So it's finally started has it? ~ The voice sounded smug. Sad but smug.
~ Ryoko: What the hell does that mean? ~ She demanded.
There came a sort of mental sigh. ~ Washu: Don't you remember what I told you this
morning? Tenchi is still as attractive to us as she was. ~ There was a pause. ~ Maybe a bit
more. After all, we can appreciate her looks better because we have more experience with
them. Have you also forgotten that you can cope with sudden changes quickly? It's because
you're my daughter. ~
~ Ryoko: But I... ~ She didn't want to say it, even mind-to-mind with Washu. ~ Ryoko:
...like... Tenchi. The old Tenchi. ~
~ Washu: Well the old Tenchi isn't going to be about for a bit. Get used to it. ~
Ryoko cursed up an impressive storm in her mind and tossed it all at the redhead's. But she
was gone.
***
Everybody had got back by the time Sasami dragged a resigned Tenchi downstairs.
~ Even Ayeka wasn't this difficult. ~ She grumbled silently.
No matter how hard the Azure-hared girl had tried, Tenchi had gone for her old clothes,
although she had agreed to wear some of her new underwear but only because it was more
comfortable. Otherwise it was a simple T-shirt and Jeans ensemble.
"Very nice." Kiyone noted. Tenchi just looked pained.
Ryoko appeared beside the glum former male and hugged her from the side.
"Miss me?"
Whether or not Tenchi would have replied was debatable as Ayeka started up.
"What did I say earlier?" She growled.
"Why do you two always have to argue?" Mihoshi complained.
"Shut up Mihoshi!" The two women yelled.
Sasami used the continuing fight to head into the kitchen. Unfortunately Washu was there
to see her pained face.
"What's wrong?" The scientist asked.
"It's nothing." Sasami sighed.
"Don't try that routine with me Sasami." Washu told her. "I can see right through it."
"Tenchi's being difficult, that's all." Sasami replied, getting out the ingredients.
"Uh huh. And what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Make sure Tenchi is not distracted by her new form. You know what will happen if she's
distracted at a critical point."
Washu nodded solemnly. "I do. Just be careful you don't push her too far." She suddenly
went all bright and cheery. "Now, what's for dinner?"
"Just a light stir fry with brown rice and beef."
"How about I make the sweet? I was thinking strawberry and chocolate ice cream with
peaches."
Sasami smiled. "Sounds nice. But we don't have any of those things."
Washu grinned. "I've been shopping. Been meaning to for ages. I'd only just put them
away when you came in."
"Ok." Sasami said, returning to her natural enthusiastic state. "Could you fetch the peppers
please?"