====================
Flowering Potential.
====================
C&C can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net Flames can be taken to the
nearest charity so they can be distributed to children in Third World
Countries to keep them warm.
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 8
#########
Something was wrong. It shouldn't be this dark. The voices... Why are they so
broken...upset...unclear? What...?
Tenchi bolted to a sitting position in her bed as she remembered. Almost instantly many
pairs of hands were there, forcing her down. The effort it took was considerable.
"Funaho! Is she...?"
"I'm fine Tenchi." Came the Queen's voice.
Tenchi relaxed a bit. The concerned hands of her friends gently pushed the young woman
back to a laid down position. The adrenaline rush died down.
"Now just relax." Washu told her in a quiet voice, handing her a drink.
Tenchi knew better than to drink it.
"I'm fine thanks." She told the assembled crowd.
"Tenchi," Washu said in the same quiet voice, "You got crushed by 500 tonnes of
equipment. You are not fine."
Tenchi sighed and matched the little redhead's tone.
"Washu, I can create Lighthawk wings, transform objects, cut spaceships in half and climb
out of black holes." She switched to a nonchalant tone. "Do you think that 500 tonnes
landing on me would be any trouble?"
"No." Washu replied. "But you are giving off huge amounts of energy now."
"We can all feel it Tenchi." Kiyone told her.
Tenchi concentrated. Now that they had mentioned it, she could feel the power rolling
around inside of her. And she recognised it. She was wondering why it hadn't faded to its
usual level when she noticed the slight tingling of the ear studs Tsunami had attached.
~ So that's what they're for. ~ She realised. A thought came to her. ~ Well, why not? ~
Tenchi extended her arms, closed her eyes and focused. The united gasp of astonishment
made her open them. The Lighthawk wings were glowing above her.
"Are we seeing what I think we're seeing?" Funaho asked.
That brought a smile to Tenchi's lips and she relaxed. The wings faded out.
"I think that proves that I'm fine." Tenchi said as she sat up again.
"Oh no you don't." Washu said and pushed her back down. "You are going to rest for at
least two hours. We'll sit here and make you if we have to."
"You weren't like this after I climbed out of that black hole." Tenchi grumbled.
"Sasami's right. You are stubborn." Ryoko said.
"I see no reason why I should be confined to bed."
Washu sighed. "We found you in a you-shaped depression. Unconscious. I'm not going to
take any chances with you. You're in a delicate state."
Tenchi humphed in derision. "Delicate as a sledgehammer."
"I will stay and keep an eye on her." Funaho told the room. "After all, Tenchi did save my
life."
"Perfect idea." Washu agreed.
A few minutes later only Funaho and Tenchi remained.
"I don't think I'll ever figure Washu out." Tenchi complained.
"Now you will rest Tenchi." Funaho told the young lady who had saved her life. "I can
order you to you know."
Tenchi looked at her great-grandmother slyly.
"And what's the punishment for disobeying?" She asked.
"For you, probably a severe reprimand."
"Ah, for the love of Politics." Tenchi remarked sarcastically.
"Why don't you drink the drink Washu gave you?"
"Washu quite probably spiked it."
"Don't you trust her?"
"When it comes to her getting her hands on me, about as far as I can throw the sun."
Funaho sighed. "You can probably do that you know."
"I'm not that powerful Funaho."
Funaho noted something. "You mentioned climbing out of a black hole."
"Did I? Oh, that."
"When did that happen?"
Tenchi related the story about Dr. Clay's attempt to capture Washu.
"And Washu said the wings were spaceship sized?"
"Yeah. I didn't notice, I just concentrated on getting out."
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in Sister." Funaho called.
Misaki came in carrying a tray of food.
"So how are you doing?" She asked.
"Fine Sister. Tenchi is complaining still."
Misaki set the tray down beside Funaho, then walked to Tenchi's side.
"Tenchi, I'd like to thank you for saving my Sister's life."
"It's ok. I'd have done the same for any of you. Even the King, although I get the feeling
he really doesn't like me very much."
"He doesn't. We can't think why though." Misaki walked back to her sister. "Never the
less, I thank you."
"It was nothing." Tenchi complained.
Misaki kissed her Sister in a way that caused Tenchi to shut her eyes tightly. When they
broke Funaho asked lightly "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Tenchi muttered, eyes still closed.
"I think she's embarrassed." Misaki giggled.
Funaho gave her Sister a little squeeze. "What ever for?" She replied with a faint smile on
her lips. "You don't think she feels left out do you?"
"No I don't. Really." Tenchi said quickly. She still had her eyes closed.
The two Queens exchanged a knowing look.
"We don't mind." Misaki said.
"I'm fine. Really I am. Honest." Tenchi sounded a bit desperate.
"Well if you are sure..."
"Oh I am. I am."
Misaki shook her head in despair. No wonder none of the ladies had got anywhere, Tenchi
was too shy.
"I'll see you later Sister." The blue-hared Queen told Funaho as she left.
Tenchi waited until the door had shut before she risked opening her eyes again.
"It is accepted that wives become close when married." Funaho explained.
"I don't think I want to know." Tenchi replied.
The smile remained on the black-hared beauty's face.
"Come now Tenchi. Aren't you the slightest bit curious?"
"Not really, no." Tenchi shuddered.
"I'm sure any of the girls would be happy to explain things to you."
"No Thanks."
Funaho sighed. Tenchi was a lost cause.
***
Washu had quickly found out what had happened and put the sample in stasis. Locked
away behind the most deadly security system she could think of. Just in case the entire thing
was in a separate subspace pocket, only accessible by her. She wasn't going to make the
same mistake twice.
She quickly fixed the machine that had fallen and filled the Tenchi-shaped dent in the floor.
Repairing the lab had become child's play these days. The auto-repair systems she had
developed could survive a level four shock wave and correct anything from broken atomic
bonds to halved mountains. The last was something she'd thought she would need as
Tenchi's powers developed. She had already integrated them into the regular ships.
"Now, how to deal with Tenchi?" She pondered.
It was a nice challenge to her. In fact she found it helped her relax, unlike the mystery of
Mihoshi.
***
"I bet I could make a real woman of Tenchi." Ryoko challenged.
"How could you think such a thing!" Ayeka shot back.
The two of them had found a nice out of the way spot to yell at each other. The fact they
enjoyed it was something they would never admit to.
"Come now princess. Don't tell me you haven't been thinking about it?"
"You are a lewd, disgusting demon!"
"You have, haven't you?" Ryoko leered.
"The very idea!" Ayeka was indignant.
"The full lips, the lithe curves, the ample bosom. You can't not of been thinking about her."
The two of them were trying to ignore and suppress the warm glow they were feeling.
"You amoral monster. You pervert." Ayeka was running out of comebacks.
"The smooth skin, the tender flesh..." Ryoko continued.
Ayeka gasped in horror. "You've been thinking about me as well you disgusting creature."
"Hey? What? No!" Ryoko was in full retreat.
"You've been thinking about my beauty. How wonderful I look."
"Oh come on! You're not even developed!"
Ayeka's expression became even wore horrified. "You fiend! I won't let you touch my
sister!"
Ryoko began backing up as Ayeka crackled with power. "What do you take me for?" She
yelled. "There's no way I'd... I can't even think it, let alone bring myself to say... You..."
Words failed the former space pirate. She gaped for a few seconds before bursting into a
berserker rage.
The powers of the two quickly reached their peaks but their rage made them charge at each
other, determined to rip the other apart bare handed.
The two energy fields began to interact as the neared each other. They both swung and hit
at the same time.
The world exploded, knocking them senseless.
***
In the house, everybody but the sleeping Mihoshi felt the concussion.
"They're fighting again." Sasami sighed.
"What about?" Misaki asked.
"I'd guess Tenchi." Minagi said.
"As usual." Kiyone added.
"Kiyone." Ryo-Ohki agreed sadly.
Misaki hugged the little creature. "Don't cry Ryo-Ohki."
"Misaki." The cabbit replied in a pained tone.
***
The smoke was still clearing as the two rivals woke up groggily.
"Wha...?" Ryoko managed to get out.
"Oooo..." Ayeka groaned.
The ladies realised something was wrong. The two of them were wrapped around each
other, looking into each other's eyes. Ryoko tried to pull away but couldn't. Some force was
holding her tightly to the purple-hared princess. Ayeka realised her position and tried to yank
herself free.
"Let go of me!" She yelled, setting off their headaches.
"You let go of me!" Ryoko yelled back.
"I'm not holding you!"
"Neither am I!"
The yelling just made the headaches worse.
"Let's try this again." Ayeka said a lot more quietly. "I am not holding you. You are not
holding me. Can we move?"
"Yes." Ryoko told her, demonstrating by moving her arm across Ayeka's back. Ayeka
tried the same.
"Ok. We can move. Can we let go of each other?"
The two ladies moved their arms down towards their sides. They quickly found out they
couldn't let go. After a bit of experimentation they found that some part of both their arms
HAD to be in contact with the other's body.
"Great." Ryoko scowled. "We can't let go. It's like we're magnetised to each other."
Ayeka was as displeased by this as Ryoko.
"Right. Let's get as far apart as possible."
Which wasn't far. Their chests were also affected and it was extremely painful to try and
separate.
"Look at what you've got us into!" Ayeka complained.
"ME?!?" Ryoko shouted indignantly.
The two of them found themselves pulled together so hard they almost kissed. They were
squeezing each other as tightly as Misaki would.
"Oh no. You have got to be joking!" Ayeka despaired.
"This is your fault!" Ryoko accused.
They both realised what was about to happen and their eyes widened. What ever it was
affecting them kicked in and the two found themselves sharing a very passionate kiss they
couldn't break. They were starting to fade out of consciousness when they found the effect
lessen and they could brake.
"Let's...not...argue." Ayeka panted.
"Good...idea...I...agree..." Ryoko got out.
It took them several minutes to get their breath back. They used the time to calm down.
"Let's try this again." Ryoko said. They found that they could separate as far as before.
"You get the feeling this has long day written all over it?" Ayeka sighed.
***
~ Oh no. Not this again. ~ Tenchi thought. "Sasami is bad enough."
"Well you ought to remember that you are beautiful." Funaho said.
"How am I supposed to forget when people keep reminding me." Tenchi said, pained.
"I think you should try to look the part."
"No." Tenchi sounded adamant. "I'll wear what I want to wear."
Funaho tried coercion. "You will look so good like that."
"Sasami has tried all the tricks on me and they haven't worked."
The Queen sighed and gave up.
"You have a problem Tenchi." She told her great-granddaughter. "You are too shy."
"Survival instinct I suppose." Tenchi replied. "I'm quite sure I'd be dead by now if I
wasn't."
"The girls can't be that bad. They adore you."
"That's probably what makes it worse. I never really understood what any of you see in me.
I was not particularly special."
Tenchi looked at the clock.
"It looks like the two hours are up." She said hopefully.
"Washu said at least two hours."
"How many times do I have to say it. I'm fine."
"We'll be the judge of that."
Tenchi was exasperated. "How would you like it if no one believed you were perfectly
fine?"
Funaho thought about it. "Not very much." She conceded.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were overprotective. All of you." Tenchi sat up, and
received a sour look from the Queen. "Even Tsunami. She knows more about what I am
now than Washu."
Funaho's gaze never wavered. "If you must get up, put on something more appropriate."
Tenchi looked down at the sweatshirt and trousers she was still wearing.
"There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing."
"You're a prince Tenchi. You must always give a good impression."
"Thanks." Tenchi told her sincerely.
"What ever for?" Funaho asked.
"For calling me a prince. I hate the title but at least it means you still consider me male."
Funaho realised what she had done.
"That still applies when you're female. More so in fact. I am not letting you leave this
room unless you either smarten up or..."
"Or?"
A slow smile spread across Funaho's face.
"Or you dress similarly to yesterday evening."
Tenchi shot her a dark look.
"Now I know where grandfather's sense of humour came from." She muttered.
Funaho stood up and walked to the pile of clothes Tenchi had stacked to one side.
"Now let's see..."
***
Ryoko found she was beginning to appreciate Ayeka's body. It was a concept that made her
head spin.
"We should do this more often Ayeka." She teased light-heartedly.
Ayeka fought to control her anger. It was beginning to drag her closer.
"Please don't." She said more calmly than she felt.
For the last half-hour they had tried to separate repeatedly, but found they couldn't. As long
as they were holding, Ryoko could phase and teleport and Ayeka would be affected as well.
The same went for Ayeka's forcefields and battle armour. That last had been a shock to both,
especially Ryoko. Finding herself dressed in Juraian battle armour was a big enough shock,
but finding it was perfectly adapted for her was worse. Ryoko had tried HER battle armour,
and Ayeka had found herself in a skin-tight suit that was perfectly adapted for her as well.
Ayeka had regained control.
"Ryoko," She said in a worried tone, "I think our auras have connected somehow."
"That would explain the armour." Ryoko admitted. She shrugged.
~ Focus! ~ Ayeka raged at herself. The movement at her chest was distracting.
"Now I know you are not going to like this." Ayeka told her. "But I don't see any other
choice. We have to see Washu."
"You're right, I don't like it. But I don't fancy staying like this."
"Even if you are comfortable to hold." Ayeka teased the pirate back.
***
There was a knock at Tenchi's door.
"Who is it?" Funaho called.
"Auntie Funaho, it's Sasami."
"Come in." Funaho said quickly before Tenchi could intervene.
The little princess opened the door, quickly took in the scene and closed the door solidly
behind her.
"The blue one! Try the blue one!" Sasami exclaimed.
"Not the blue one! Not the blue one! Tenchi shot back quickly.
Funaho smiled and the aunt and niece converged on their target.
Tenchi reacted and brought up the wings by reflex.
Sasami giggled. "We aren't going to hurt you."
"It's what you want to do that scares me." Tenchi replied. She shuddered.
"Ho hum." Funaho sighed. "Got any other ideas Sasami?"
Sasami pondered that as she turned to the clothes. "Anything in particular?" She asked her
aunt.
"Something smart or quite attractive."
Sasami bowed. "Yes, your majesty."
Tenchi's pained groan was clearly audible.
Sasami's first choice was a pure white gown. It was a sleeveless, strapless affair with long
gloves.
"Hey! I don't remember that!" Tenchi called out.
Sasami giggled again. "Washu's been busy again." She had a delighted smile plastered
across her face.
Funaho considered it. "No. That's for formal parties."
Sasami's next choice was a green silk thing slit revealingly down the front and cut up both
sides to nearly above the hips. Tenchi tried to stop herself blushing at the thought of wearing
it.
"Good choice, but probably best when she wants to seduce someone."
Tenchi did blush at this.
For a laugh, Sasami got out the red and silver outfit. The red leather-like clothing was
barely decent, and was only held in place by what seemed to be silver chains. Below the
waist was a tiny slip of red front and back center before a confusing weave of red and silver
wrapped the legs. It showed a lot of skin.
Funaho looked wide eyed at it before smiling.
"I'll think about it."
Tenchi looked at the two of them in horror.
The next one was a bright scarlet leotard over full-length leggings, which were pale blue.
The ensemble was skin-tight and covered the whole body, except the arms from the shoulders
down.
"Nice, but too basic."
Sasami thought hard, and got out black stockings, a tight red miniskirt, a white short-sleeved
blouse and a figure hugging, deep purple waistcoat. As an afterthought, she got out the red
high-heeled shoes as well.
"Just about perfect." There was still something missing though.
Funaho walked over to the stack and rummaged around until she found the last piece.
She turned around and showed it to the frightened young woman and her niece.
"Absolutely perfect!" Sasami enthused.
It was black, lacy and exotic. It was underwear.
"Oh no. I'd rather face Kagato again." Tenchi said fearfully.
Funaho looked her in the eyes. "It's this or the red and silver one."
Tenchi walked over to the bed and got in, all the while the wings were still blocking the two
royalties from getting to her.
"I think I'll skip dinner Sasami. I need some sleep." She said absently.
The Azure-hared princess gave her aunt a look, which said 'We've pushed her too far.'
Funaho was having none of it. "Grow up Tenchi. You are a woman now. Act like one."
"Or what?" Tenchi asked tiredly. "You'll reprimand me? Take away the privileges of my
rank for a period? Banish me from Jurai for a century or two? Do it, I don't care."
Sasami sighed heavily.
"How about something similar to what you have already worn?" She suggested.
Funaho got the hint. "Nice idea. I agree with that."
Tenchi turned a sad look on them.
"That was only to cheer up Sasami." She told them.
"If you want to cheer me up you can stop acting like a baby." Sasami said severely.
"I promise to be gentle." Funaho added.
The wings faded.
"I'll hold you to that." The young woman got out of bed and walked over, showing a lot of
trust.
"Take the sweatshirt and trousers off please." Funaho told her. "I need to see what I'm
working with."
***
Washu felt Ryoko and Ayeka appear behind her. But it was the unbelievable readings on
the screen in front of her that caught he attention.
"How in Hell's name did your aura's merge like that?!?" She exclaimed.
"It's a long story." The two rivals chorused tiredly.
Washu turned around to see the pair still joined. She gaped, then turned to her keyboard to
work on the problem.
***
"Could you hurry up? I'm getting cold."
Tenchi had been standing in her underwear as the two 'stylists' worked for a good quarter of
an hour.
Sasami took pity on her and walked up. Then she embraced the larger woman.
"Here, how's this?"
Tenchi didn't dare speak, but Sasami had an ulterior motive. She undid Tenchi's bra;
grabbed hold of it and the briefs then pulled hard. Tenchi's instinctive counterbalance caused
her to fall backwards and allowed the scheming princess to easily remove the underwear.
"What was that for?" She demanded, covering herself.
Sasami tossed the stolen clothes into the dirty washing pile. "So you can put new ones on."
She said. "And because I can hug you better."
Tenchi found herself wrapped in princess.
"Isn't this better?" Sasami giggled.
***
Washu found some intriguing correlation's in the pair. She sat back and said, "Hum..."
"What?" Ayeka asked.
"Well... The aura merge is not perfect and they will gradually separate. But it will take a
couple of weeks. If I try to cut you apart, the effects could be very bad. You could die."
"So how do we separate them?" Ryoko asked.
"I've got something that will speed it up." Washu said. "But it will take massive doses."
"How big is massive?" Ayeka was suspicious.
Two two-litre bottles appeared by their feet.
"I wouldn't normally use this stuff." Washu told them. "It's extremely potent, the usual
dose is 10 milligrams. And even that will work for 2 days."
"Er..." The two backed away, straight into the waiting tentacles of Washu's capture
equipment. Unable to move, a second machine appeared.
"This will hurt." The redhead said sadly. "I need to infuse your bodies with the drug."
The second machine put an injector to their necks. There was a slight hiss and the two
passed out.
~ I'm not that cruel. ~ Washu thought to herself.
***
Tenchi found herself in the 'outfit' her 'stylists' had put together.
"Are you sure you haven't been thinking I'm Ryoko?" She asked.
"Stop complaining." Funaho told her. "And stand up straight."
"If I do that I'm afraid I'll burst out of the seams. It's too tight."
"It's supposed to be Tenchi." Sasami said.
With a resigned sigh Tenchi did so, finding various parts of her anatomy straining against
material. To her surprise it was a comfortable feeling.
"See, it is not that bad." Funaho smiled. "Come have a look in the mirror."
Sasami didn't let Tenchi stand there; she took her hand and led the girl to the mirror.
Tenchi stared then averted her gaze.
"What's wrong?" The little girl holding her hand asked.
"I look like I belong in a place honest women wouldn't frequent." She muttered,
embarrassed.
She was wearing the tight red miniskirt and black stockings, but what really troubled her
was the top half. It was a black, satin-like corset that was tied up with a red silk ribbon and it
manipulated her breasts into a very revealing position. Had she still been a he, she'd be
having a nosebleed about now.
"How about footwear?" Funaho asked.
"There is no way I'm leaving the house like this." Tenchi was resolute.
***
Ryoko woke up feeling very strangely. There were pinpricks of pain all over her body, even
in rather intimate places and she felt a rolling fire in her veins. But the good news was she
was no longer attached to the princess.
"Ah. You've woken up." Washu's voice came from nowhere.
The pirate sat up and swung her legs off the medical table. The sudden dizziness that came
on told her to wait a while.
"Damnit Washu." Ryoko growled. "Where are you?"
The scientist didn't reply. In the next bay over Ayeka awoke feeling exactly the same as
Ryoko had.
"Why do I feel so strange?" She asked the world in general.
"That's the after-effects of the drug I used." Washu's voice came again.
Ryoko flew towards the sound but had barely travelled a few metres when she felt gut
wrenching dizzy and a sharp pain in her chest. She fell to the ground. Turning to look
behind her she saw Ayeka doubled over. She crawled back towards the tables and the
dizziness lessened. She finally got to the tables and pulled herself up.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I only said that I could speed up the separation process." Washu's voice rang out. "Your
aura's are still merged a bit. I'd say you can't get further than 4 metres apart."
"Thanks for telling us so soon." Ayeka remarked sarcastically. "Anything else?"
"Well... The effects of the drug I used will last about a month." There was an undercurrent
of amusement in the voice.
"Washu..." Ryoko still didn't feel too good.
"Don't worry. They're nothing serious."
"You said that about the rogue guardian robot you built." Ayeka pointed out. "We had to
destroy an entire field to stop that."
"Or the time Sasami was made seriously ill by that 'harmless' creature." Ryoko added.
"Tell us the effects."
"An increase of physical sensitivity, decreased resistance to procreational biological urges,
hormonal effectiveness boosts and the severe weakening of inhibitions."
Ayeka spent a few seconds working this out.
"You can't mean that."
"Oh yes." Washu would have to have been smirking at the thought.
"What?" Ryoko asked.
Ayeka began to blush.
"It's simple Ryoko." Washu said. "Your sex drive has gone up, and your self control over
it has gone well down."
***
~ I'm gonna die. ~ Tenchi kept thinking as she was 'escorted' downstairs.
Fortunately there was only one person downstairs. Unfortunately it was Misaki.
"Oh! How beautiful!" She said, clasping her hands together in delight.
Tenchi didn't bother shooting a dark look at her great-great-aunt, she was being firmly
prodded down the steps.
Finally on the ground floor Tenchi found herself examined by the blue-hared Queen. Her
ever-widening grin did nothing to relieve Tenchi's anxiety.
"You look wonderful Tenchi." She told her. "How did you do it?" She asked the other
two.
Sasami and Funaho both had smug grins on their faces.
"We bullied her a bit. This was the compromise." Funaho told her Sister.
Tenchi shuddered.
"I still think we should have tried the blue dress." Sasami said cheerfully.
"I'll tell you later." Funaho had a mysterious smile on her lips.
Misaki smirked at Tenchi's discomfort.
"So where is everybody mom?" Sasami asked.
"Kiyone, Mihoshi and Minagi should be back any time now. They went shopping." Misaki
walked up to Tenchi and hugged her. "That means you get to show off."
Tenchi's head dropped in despair.
"What have we here?" Washu said as she walked out of her lab. Misaki stepped back from
Tenchi so the scientist could get a good look. The redhead's eyes lit up. "You want to go out
tonight?" She teased. She received a look of pure hatred in response. "Just asking."
Tenchi walked to a chair and slumped into it. Sasami playfully leapt into her lap.
"It's not all bad. You get to tease Ayeka and Ryoko back."
"Speaking of whom, where are they?" Funaho asked.
They got a little singed in their latest spat." Washu said. "They're in my lab, recovering."
Misaki sighed. "My Ayeka is really unfocused. She really ought to have realised it's
useless to fight all the time."
"Like it's useless to try and sneak up on me Washu." Tenchi said calmly. Washu stopped
dead.
Tenchi turned to see the redhead holding an injector.
"What is in that?" She asked pointedly.
"Um... Anti-depressants." The now nervous scientist said. She really didn't like the stare
she was getting from Tenchi.
"And what else?"
"W-why should there be anything else?"
"Because you are predictable. You have to add a twist. How about the coffee machine you
made for Mihoshi? You added so many features; it needed enough computing power to run a
small city. Just because a simple coffee machine was too boring for you."
"How did you know about that?"
"Kiyone told me. It's plugged into Yukinojo as the autonomous back up."
Washu laughed nervously.
"Now, what else?" Tenchi repeated.
"Memory engrams."
"Uh-huh." Tenchi said blandly. "And what exactly are they supposed to do?"
The whole room now had inquiring stares on Washu.
"WellyouneededsomehelpbeingfemalesoIthought..."
"So you thought you would give her some behaviour characteristics." Funaho said.
"As if my mind wasn't a mess already." Tenchi sighed.
Misaki took the injector from the redhead.
"I wonder what it would do to you?" She noted. At the worried look, the Queen summoned
some power and atomised the thing.
"I'd never thought I'd say this," Tenchi said, "But grow up Washu."
Washu did instantly.
"Well?" She asked. Her voice was fuller and richer. And, although they had grown with
her, she was straining against her clothes.
"Maybe you should get changed." Tenchi noted. "I believe the green dress you made for
me would suit you."
"Right, right." Washu admitted. "I get the point." And instantly she was her usual self.
Tenchi looked at the puzzled Queens.
"Long story."
"Oh Sasami?" Washu asked. "I'll take Ayeka and Ryoko their dinner. I have them
separated because they are still a bit annoyed at each other."
Misaki shook her head in despair.
***
The pirate and the princess were trying to keep as much distance between each other as
possible. This meant keeping the medical tables between them.
"I'll kill her!" Ryoko raged.
"You'll let me get a few kicks in first?" Ayeka said.
"What were you planning?"
"Oh not much." Ayeka told her companion depreciatingly. "I was thinking along the lines
of various hot and pointy objects, electrodes and whips."
Ryoko considered it. "Sounds nice. How about a high speed re-entry, with her as a
heatshield?"
"Tempting." Ayeka admitted.
Ryoko's stomach growled. "It's almost dinner time."
"It is, isn't it?" Washu's voice reappeared. "I've brought you some food."
"We'd rather eat at the table." Ayeka told the voice.
"In your current condition that wouldn't be wise." The voice paused. "Especially with
what Funaho and Sasami got Tenchi into."
"Tell me 'mom'." Ryoko sneered. "What would happen if I was to teleport to you?"
"You and Ayeka would suffer aura hyper attenuation. The stress on you both could cause
you to dissipate. Good job I turned it off eh?"
"Ryoko," Ayeka sounded calm, "You head one way and I will head the other way."
"On three?"
Ayeka nodded.
"One..." She started.
"Two..." Ryoko put in.
"THREE!" The two yelled and shot off as fast as they could.
Up in the monitor room, Washu watched in horror as they strained themselves to the
breaking point. They got thirty metres before being rendered comatose. She sighed and
teleported them to her position.
The surge in their aura's revived them enough to wake up groggily. Washu waited patiently
until they were reasonably awake before yelling at them. She also used the opportunity to let
off the stress from earlier.
"You two brain dead, suicidal, psychotic fools!" The scientist flushed as red as her hair in
anger. "You're worse than Mihoshi! You could have killed yourselves! I locked you two
away to stop you from embarrassing yourselves in front of everybody. I have an antidote, but
I can't give it to you until your aura's separate. Maybe I just won't now, and you two can hit
on every being you have a passing attraction to for the next month." She stopped, breathing
heavily.
"Why didn't you just say that?" The two stunned women asked.
"Would you have believed me?" It was a rhetorical question.
***
"Mihoshi, you numbskull. We're late because of you." Kiyone was annoyed.
"I'm sorry Kiyone." The blond whined. "But that shop..."
"...Was closed." Minagi pointed out. "The sign was right there."
Mihoshi hung her head.
They walked in the front door.
"Hi guys, sorry we're late..." Kiyone said, then stopped in the doorway to the front room.
Minagi walked into her. "Hey! What's up?" She asked before seeing what had stopped the
detective.
Mihoshi waked in as if nothing was wrong.
"Wow Sasami. That smells good." She said as she sat down.
The other two ladies were staring wide-eyed at Tenchi.
"Uh. Wow." Kiyone was impressed.
Minagi decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut.
"Stand up and give them a twirl." Misaki prompted.
"Please. I'm eating." Tenchi replied, pained.
Kiyone and Minagi sat down.
"Where's Washu?"
"Getting annoyed by two little girls who don't know what's best for them." The redhead
replied, coming out the door to her lab. "At least they agreed to stay in the lab for another
hour."
***
"I really hate her sometimes." Ayeka sighed.
"You're telling me." Agreed Ryoko.
"I mean, she didn't have to do this." Ayeka held up her arm, which was chained to the
chair.
Ryoko rolled her eyes. SHE had a couple of high yield freeze cannons aimed at her, as well
as energy restraints.
"At least we can still eat."
They were intently looking at the meal, and avoiding looking at each other.
***
"You are kidding Sister." Misaki laughed.
"Oh no." Funaho replied, smile on her face.
Dinner had finished and the two Sister Queens were in the room Tenchi had put aside for
them.
"Maybe we should ask Washu to make us copies. I would love to see Azusa's face as he
saw us."
Funaho actually giggled at the thought.
"Although I would really like to see Tenchi in them. Especially the red and silver one."
Misaki continued. "I can't believe Washu actually made something like that."
"Neither can I Sister. But I saw it. And we have to remember there is more to Washu than
meets the eye." Funaho sighed. It was a rather sad and resigned sigh.
"What's wrong dear Sister?" Misaki asked.
"I had hoped we could take Tenchi and the girls back with us this time. I was going to try
and convince *him*. But then we..."
"...Found *her*. I understand Sister."
"And what makes it worse is that the event we've been waiting for, Tenchi's powers
emerging under conscious control, is happening right now. It would have been the perfect
time. I could easily have convinced everyone that Tenchi needed experienced tuition, which
happens to be true."
"It is not the only problem." Came a voice.
The two Queens span to face the source. The air shimmered and sparkled, and Tsunami's
image appeared.
"Lady Funaho, Lady Misaki. Tenchi is more than she lets on. She has not told you
everything about her new power."
"Tsunami..." Misaki breathed. It was only the second time she had met the being.
"What other problems?" Funaho asked.
"The most important one is that Tenchi does not want to go to Jurai. She does not believe
that she will fit in, or be accepted. Next is the fact Tenchi does not think she would be a good
ruler."
"I've noted the lack of self confidence." Funaho admitted.
"Tenchi seems to be hiding something." Misaki told them.
"She is. I can not tell you all, as I have promised not to. But I will tell you this, Tenchi is
very special."
The two Queens smiled.
"We know." Misaki told the image.
"Anything else?" Funaho asked.
"Well..." Tsunami paused, and then an impish smile crossed her lips. "I think Tenchi
would look quite pretty in the black and gold dress."
Misaki and Funaho looked at Tsunami in surprise for a few seconds before laughing.
Smiling herself, Tsunami's image dissipated.
***
"OK you two." Washu told her two disgruntled guests. "It's time to let you back into the
house."
"Finally." Ryoko said. Ayeka merely looked relieved.
"I still think it's a very bad idea, so I'll be keeping a very close eye on you." She glared at
her daughter, then at the princess. "I want you two to keep a very strong grip on yourselves.
If I suspect you can't control yourselves, I'll dose you with the antidote and leave your aura's
entangled." The redhead grinned nastily. "The antidote works instantly, and there may be
some aura recoil."
The two girls got the message.
Washu summoned her keyboard and typed some commands. The bonds released and
weapons disarmed. Ayeka and Ryoko cautiously rose from their seats and glared at each
other. They couldn't keep it up more than a few seconds before they had to look away.
"This is going to be hard." Ayeka realised.
"You finally worked that out?" Washu was in her adult form.
Ryoko was trembling with her effort not to head towards her mother. Ayeka actually
managed to step back.
"What's the matter Ryoko?" Washu asked innocently.
Ryoko closed her eyes and thought calm thoughts.
"It's OK now." Washu reverted to her more normal form. Ryoko opened one eye to look
then relaxed.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" The redhead wanted to know. "Just say
the word, and I'll knock you out until tomorrow. By that time your aura's will have
separated and the antidote will not affect them."
The offer was very tempting to the girls.
***
"Why me?" Tenchi moaned.
"Stop complaining Tenchi." Kiyone told her. "Or..."
"Or?" Tenchi said tiredly.
Kiyone thought about it then smiled. "Or I'll kiss you."
"Everybody's picking on me." Tenchi groaned. Sasami shifted her weight on Tenchi's lap
so Kiyone could carry out the sentence.
Kiyone was a very good kisser, having had lots of practice with her numerous boyfriends.
Tenchi was very close to running away.
"Want to try Minagi?" Kiyone asked.
"I would," The young pirate giggled, "but I'm expecting Ryoko and Ayeka to come out the
door any second."
Sasami pinched Tenchi's cheek. "Don't you dare faint on us." She warned.
"It's either that or run away in terror." Tenchi said gloomily.
"Where's Tenchi?" Misaki asked as she came downstairs.
"Trying to hide." Tenchi answered. "I'm not doing a very good job."
"You shouldn't be hiding yourself. I'm sure the others will want a very good look."
Tenchi sank back into the chair.
The door to Washu's lab opened and the troublesome twosome were escorted out.
"Oh there you are!" Misaki said, appearing in front of them. It was amazing how fast she
could move.
Ryoko, but more particularly Ayeka had panicked looks as the Queen hugged them.
"Now I don't want you two fighting again." Misaki told them.
She didn't receive an answer. They were about to pass out from a combination of pressure,
stress and raging adrenaline. Oh, and they were holding their breath.
Misaki let go and the pair let out the breath loudly.
"Where's Tenchi?" Ryoko asked breathlessly. Sasami waved her friend over and got off.
The former pirate appeared in front of Tenchi and stared in absolute adoration. She could
feel her heart wanting to bash its way from her chest.
"Now Ryoko," Ayeka said as she dashed to a position beside her rival, "you stay
away...from..." She trailed off as SHE caught sight of Tenchi's appearance. She was lost,
and she knew it.
"Would you please stop staring?" Tenchi pleaded, shifting uncomfortably. The two
dumbstruck ladies noted how wonderfully her body moved.
Tenchi tried another tack. "It's not polite."
That got through to Ayeka. She blinked and reluctantly tore her gaze from Tenchi's (in her
mind) perfection.
"Ryoko..." She growled.
The tone triggered Ryoko's memory about Washu's threat.
"What's the matter princess?" She sneered. "To much for you?"
~ Washu: Nice tactic. ~ The redhead noted sarcastically.
"Why you disgusting demon." Ayeka shot back.
Misaki looked at her Sister, who was coming down the stairs, with a pained and resigned
look. The closer ladies backed away.
"See?" Tenchi pointed out to Sasami. "If you were not so driven to make me into a model,
these two wouldn't be fighting at the moment."
Washu's latest house upgrade shimmered into existence around the quarrelling pair,
protecting the slumbering Mihoshi.
"But your looks would be wasted." The Azure-hared imp complained.
"Oh well if that's the case," Tenchi began as the combatants started crackling with power, "I
want to see you with your hair down from now on. We wouldn't YOUR looks going to
waste."
Funaho heard this and realised Tenchi was making a point.
"But I like my hair the way it is."
"Precisely my point. You want to exploit my looks, whilst underplaying yours. That's
inconsistent."
Ryoko readied a power blast. Ayeka readied a shield.
Tenchi sighed.
"Will someone please put those two outside to cool off?" She asked.
The pair vanished from the containment field, followed by a splash from outside.
"I didn't do anything." Tenchi protested at the looks she got.
Washu was grinning her head off. Tenchi had unconsciously activated the house systems,
even though Washu hadn't told anybody about it. A forcefield to stop the whole house
getting damaged was perfectly ordinary now, but a voice activated teleport and intelligent
control system caught them out. Washu wondered if Tenchi had been right about her adding
twists to everything.
A drenched and downcast pair appeared at the door.
"Ah! That was a good nap." Mihoshi said, waking up. "Oh hi everybody. Wow Tenchi,
you look good. Why are Ayeka and Ryoko so wet? Is it raining?"
"Mihoshi?" Funaho asked. "Why don't you escort our two wet companions to the Baths to
warm up?"
"Yes Ma'am!" Mihoshi saluted, got out her control cube and successfully teleported the
three of them to the baths. She forgot their clothes though.
"She's getting better." Kiyone noted.
***
Ayeka and Ryoko were NOT in a good mood. Finding themselves naked with an oblivious
Mihoshi did not help them one bit.
"Now, where did I put those towels?" The bubblehead blond muttered, playing with her
cube.
Ryoko, for everybody's convenience, teleported behind the detective and knocked her out.
She crumpled to the floor, bringing the towels she was looking for into existence.
Ayeka picked one up and wrapped it around herself.
"I suggest you do the same Ryoko." She said.
Ryoko thought about it for a few seconds then shrugged and did so, before turning to the
naked and unconscious GP officer.
"Could you give me a hand here?" The former pirate asked.
"Then what?"
"We bathe I suppose."
Flowering Potential.
====================
C&C can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net Flames can be taken to the
nearest charity so they can be distributed to children in Third World
Countries to keep them warm.
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 8
#########
Something was wrong. It shouldn't be this dark. The voices... Why are they so
broken...upset...unclear? What...?
Tenchi bolted to a sitting position in her bed as she remembered. Almost instantly many
pairs of hands were there, forcing her down. The effort it took was considerable.
"Funaho! Is she...?"
"I'm fine Tenchi." Came the Queen's voice.
Tenchi relaxed a bit. The concerned hands of her friends gently pushed the young woman
back to a laid down position. The adrenaline rush died down.
"Now just relax." Washu told her in a quiet voice, handing her a drink.
Tenchi knew better than to drink it.
"I'm fine thanks." She told the assembled crowd.
"Tenchi," Washu said in the same quiet voice, "You got crushed by 500 tonnes of
equipment. You are not fine."
Tenchi sighed and matched the little redhead's tone.
"Washu, I can create Lighthawk wings, transform objects, cut spaceships in half and climb
out of black holes." She switched to a nonchalant tone. "Do you think that 500 tonnes
landing on me would be any trouble?"
"No." Washu replied. "But you are giving off huge amounts of energy now."
"We can all feel it Tenchi." Kiyone told her.
Tenchi concentrated. Now that they had mentioned it, she could feel the power rolling
around inside of her. And she recognised it. She was wondering why it hadn't faded to its
usual level when she noticed the slight tingling of the ear studs Tsunami had attached.
~ So that's what they're for. ~ She realised. A thought came to her. ~ Well, why not? ~
Tenchi extended her arms, closed her eyes and focused. The united gasp of astonishment
made her open them. The Lighthawk wings were glowing above her.
"Are we seeing what I think we're seeing?" Funaho asked.
That brought a smile to Tenchi's lips and she relaxed. The wings faded out.
"I think that proves that I'm fine." Tenchi said as she sat up again.
"Oh no you don't." Washu said and pushed her back down. "You are going to rest for at
least two hours. We'll sit here and make you if we have to."
"You weren't like this after I climbed out of that black hole." Tenchi grumbled.
"Sasami's right. You are stubborn." Ryoko said.
"I see no reason why I should be confined to bed."
Washu sighed. "We found you in a you-shaped depression. Unconscious. I'm not going to
take any chances with you. You're in a delicate state."
Tenchi humphed in derision. "Delicate as a sledgehammer."
"I will stay and keep an eye on her." Funaho told the room. "After all, Tenchi did save my
life."
"Perfect idea." Washu agreed.
A few minutes later only Funaho and Tenchi remained.
"I don't think I'll ever figure Washu out." Tenchi complained.
"Now you will rest Tenchi." Funaho told the young lady who had saved her life. "I can
order you to you know."
Tenchi looked at her great-grandmother slyly.
"And what's the punishment for disobeying?" She asked.
"For you, probably a severe reprimand."
"Ah, for the love of Politics." Tenchi remarked sarcastically.
"Why don't you drink the drink Washu gave you?"
"Washu quite probably spiked it."
"Don't you trust her?"
"When it comes to her getting her hands on me, about as far as I can throw the sun."
Funaho sighed. "You can probably do that you know."
"I'm not that powerful Funaho."
Funaho noted something. "You mentioned climbing out of a black hole."
"Did I? Oh, that."
"When did that happen?"
Tenchi related the story about Dr. Clay's attempt to capture Washu.
"And Washu said the wings were spaceship sized?"
"Yeah. I didn't notice, I just concentrated on getting out."
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in Sister." Funaho called.
Misaki came in carrying a tray of food.
"So how are you doing?" She asked.
"Fine Sister. Tenchi is complaining still."
Misaki set the tray down beside Funaho, then walked to Tenchi's side.
"Tenchi, I'd like to thank you for saving my Sister's life."
"It's ok. I'd have done the same for any of you. Even the King, although I get the feeling
he really doesn't like me very much."
"He doesn't. We can't think why though." Misaki walked back to her sister. "Never the
less, I thank you."
"It was nothing." Tenchi complained.
Misaki kissed her Sister in a way that caused Tenchi to shut her eyes tightly. When they
broke Funaho asked lightly "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Tenchi muttered, eyes still closed.
"I think she's embarrassed." Misaki giggled.
Funaho gave her Sister a little squeeze. "What ever for?" She replied with a faint smile on
her lips. "You don't think she feels left out do you?"
"No I don't. Really." Tenchi said quickly. She still had her eyes closed.
The two Queens exchanged a knowing look.
"We don't mind." Misaki said.
"I'm fine. Really I am. Honest." Tenchi sounded a bit desperate.
"Well if you are sure..."
"Oh I am. I am."
Misaki shook her head in despair. No wonder none of the ladies had got anywhere, Tenchi
was too shy.
"I'll see you later Sister." The blue-hared Queen told Funaho as she left.
Tenchi waited until the door had shut before she risked opening her eyes again.
"It is accepted that wives become close when married." Funaho explained.
"I don't think I want to know." Tenchi replied.
The smile remained on the black-hared beauty's face.
"Come now Tenchi. Aren't you the slightest bit curious?"
"Not really, no." Tenchi shuddered.
"I'm sure any of the girls would be happy to explain things to you."
"No Thanks."
Funaho sighed. Tenchi was a lost cause.
***
Washu had quickly found out what had happened and put the sample in stasis. Locked
away behind the most deadly security system she could think of. Just in case the entire thing
was in a separate subspace pocket, only accessible by her. She wasn't going to make the
same mistake twice.
She quickly fixed the machine that had fallen and filled the Tenchi-shaped dent in the floor.
Repairing the lab had become child's play these days. The auto-repair systems she had
developed could survive a level four shock wave and correct anything from broken atomic
bonds to halved mountains. The last was something she'd thought she would need as
Tenchi's powers developed. She had already integrated them into the regular ships.
"Now, how to deal with Tenchi?" She pondered.
It was a nice challenge to her. In fact she found it helped her relax, unlike the mystery of
Mihoshi.
***
"I bet I could make a real woman of Tenchi." Ryoko challenged.
"How could you think such a thing!" Ayeka shot back.
The two of them had found a nice out of the way spot to yell at each other. The fact they
enjoyed it was something they would never admit to.
"Come now princess. Don't tell me you haven't been thinking about it?"
"You are a lewd, disgusting demon!"
"You have, haven't you?" Ryoko leered.
"The very idea!" Ayeka was indignant.
"The full lips, the lithe curves, the ample bosom. You can't not of been thinking about her."
The two of them were trying to ignore and suppress the warm glow they were feeling.
"You amoral monster. You pervert." Ayeka was running out of comebacks.
"The smooth skin, the tender flesh..." Ryoko continued.
Ayeka gasped in horror. "You've been thinking about me as well you disgusting creature."
"Hey? What? No!" Ryoko was in full retreat.
"You've been thinking about my beauty. How wonderful I look."
"Oh come on! You're not even developed!"
Ayeka's expression became even wore horrified. "You fiend! I won't let you touch my
sister!"
Ryoko began backing up as Ayeka crackled with power. "What do you take me for?" She
yelled. "There's no way I'd... I can't even think it, let alone bring myself to say... You..."
Words failed the former space pirate. She gaped for a few seconds before bursting into a
berserker rage.
The powers of the two quickly reached their peaks but their rage made them charge at each
other, determined to rip the other apart bare handed.
The two energy fields began to interact as the neared each other. They both swung and hit
at the same time.
The world exploded, knocking them senseless.
***
In the house, everybody but the sleeping Mihoshi felt the concussion.
"They're fighting again." Sasami sighed.
"What about?" Misaki asked.
"I'd guess Tenchi." Minagi said.
"As usual." Kiyone added.
"Kiyone." Ryo-Ohki agreed sadly.
Misaki hugged the little creature. "Don't cry Ryo-Ohki."
"Misaki." The cabbit replied in a pained tone.
***
The smoke was still clearing as the two rivals woke up groggily.
"Wha...?" Ryoko managed to get out.
"Oooo..." Ayeka groaned.
The ladies realised something was wrong. The two of them were wrapped around each
other, looking into each other's eyes. Ryoko tried to pull away but couldn't. Some force was
holding her tightly to the purple-hared princess. Ayeka realised her position and tried to yank
herself free.
"Let go of me!" She yelled, setting off their headaches.
"You let go of me!" Ryoko yelled back.
"I'm not holding you!"
"Neither am I!"
The yelling just made the headaches worse.
"Let's try this again." Ayeka said a lot more quietly. "I am not holding you. You are not
holding me. Can we move?"
"Yes." Ryoko told her, demonstrating by moving her arm across Ayeka's back. Ayeka
tried the same.
"Ok. We can move. Can we let go of each other?"
The two ladies moved their arms down towards their sides. They quickly found out they
couldn't let go. After a bit of experimentation they found that some part of both their arms
HAD to be in contact with the other's body.
"Great." Ryoko scowled. "We can't let go. It's like we're magnetised to each other."
Ayeka was as displeased by this as Ryoko.
"Right. Let's get as far apart as possible."
Which wasn't far. Their chests were also affected and it was extremely painful to try and
separate.
"Look at what you've got us into!" Ayeka complained.
"ME?!?" Ryoko shouted indignantly.
The two of them found themselves pulled together so hard they almost kissed. They were
squeezing each other as tightly as Misaki would.
"Oh no. You have got to be joking!" Ayeka despaired.
"This is your fault!" Ryoko accused.
They both realised what was about to happen and their eyes widened. What ever it was
affecting them kicked in and the two found themselves sharing a very passionate kiss they
couldn't break. They were starting to fade out of consciousness when they found the effect
lessen and they could brake.
"Let's...not...argue." Ayeka panted.
"Good...idea...I...agree..." Ryoko got out.
It took them several minutes to get their breath back. They used the time to calm down.
"Let's try this again." Ryoko said. They found that they could separate as far as before.
"You get the feeling this has long day written all over it?" Ayeka sighed.
***
~ Oh no. Not this again. ~ Tenchi thought. "Sasami is bad enough."
"Well you ought to remember that you are beautiful." Funaho said.
"How am I supposed to forget when people keep reminding me." Tenchi said, pained.
"I think you should try to look the part."
"No." Tenchi sounded adamant. "I'll wear what I want to wear."
Funaho tried coercion. "You will look so good like that."
"Sasami has tried all the tricks on me and they haven't worked."
The Queen sighed and gave up.
"You have a problem Tenchi." She told her great-granddaughter. "You are too shy."
"Survival instinct I suppose." Tenchi replied. "I'm quite sure I'd be dead by now if I
wasn't."
"The girls can't be that bad. They adore you."
"That's probably what makes it worse. I never really understood what any of you see in me.
I was not particularly special."
Tenchi looked at the clock.
"It looks like the two hours are up." She said hopefully.
"Washu said at least two hours."
"How many times do I have to say it. I'm fine."
"We'll be the judge of that."
Tenchi was exasperated. "How would you like it if no one believed you were perfectly
fine?"
Funaho thought about it. "Not very much." She conceded.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were overprotective. All of you." Tenchi sat up, and
received a sour look from the Queen. "Even Tsunami. She knows more about what I am
now than Washu."
Funaho's gaze never wavered. "If you must get up, put on something more appropriate."
Tenchi looked down at the sweatshirt and trousers she was still wearing.
"There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing."
"You're a prince Tenchi. You must always give a good impression."
"Thanks." Tenchi told her sincerely.
"What ever for?" Funaho asked.
"For calling me a prince. I hate the title but at least it means you still consider me male."
Funaho realised what she had done.
"That still applies when you're female. More so in fact. I am not letting you leave this
room unless you either smarten up or..."
"Or?"
A slow smile spread across Funaho's face.
"Or you dress similarly to yesterday evening."
Tenchi shot her a dark look.
"Now I know where grandfather's sense of humour came from." She muttered.
Funaho stood up and walked to the pile of clothes Tenchi had stacked to one side.
"Now let's see..."
***
Ryoko found she was beginning to appreciate Ayeka's body. It was a concept that made her
head spin.
"We should do this more often Ayeka." She teased light-heartedly.
Ayeka fought to control her anger. It was beginning to drag her closer.
"Please don't." She said more calmly than she felt.
For the last half-hour they had tried to separate repeatedly, but found they couldn't. As long
as they were holding, Ryoko could phase and teleport and Ayeka would be affected as well.
The same went for Ayeka's forcefields and battle armour. That last had been a shock to both,
especially Ryoko. Finding herself dressed in Juraian battle armour was a big enough shock,
but finding it was perfectly adapted for her was worse. Ryoko had tried HER battle armour,
and Ayeka had found herself in a skin-tight suit that was perfectly adapted for her as well.
Ayeka had regained control.
"Ryoko," She said in a worried tone, "I think our auras have connected somehow."
"That would explain the armour." Ryoko admitted. She shrugged.
~ Focus! ~ Ayeka raged at herself. The movement at her chest was distracting.
"Now I know you are not going to like this." Ayeka told her. "But I don't see any other
choice. We have to see Washu."
"You're right, I don't like it. But I don't fancy staying like this."
"Even if you are comfortable to hold." Ayeka teased the pirate back.
***
There was a knock at Tenchi's door.
"Who is it?" Funaho called.
"Auntie Funaho, it's Sasami."
"Come in." Funaho said quickly before Tenchi could intervene.
The little princess opened the door, quickly took in the scene and closed the door solidly
behind her.
"The blue one! Try the blue one!" Sasami exclaimed.
"Not the blue one! Not the blue one! Tenchi shot back quickly.
Funaho smiled and the aunt and niece converged on their target.
Tenchi reacted and brought up the wings by reflex.
Sasami giggled. "We aren't going to hurt you."
"It's what you want to do that scares me." Tenchi replied. She shuddered.
"Ho hum." Funaho sighed. "Got any other ideas Sasami?"
Sasami pondered that as she turned to the clothes. "Anything in particular?" She asked her
aunt.
"Something smart or quite attractive."
Sasami bowed. "Yes, your majesty."
Tenchi's pained groan was clearly audible.
Sasami's first choice was a pure white gown. It was a sleeveless, strapless affair with long
gloves.
"Hey! I don't remember that!" Tenchi called out.
Sasami giggled again. "Washu's been busy again." She had a delighted smile plastered
across her face.
Funaho considered it. "No. That's for formal parties."
Sasami's next choice was a green silk thing slit revealingly down the front and cut up both
sides to nearly above the hips. Tenchi tried to stop herself blushing at the thought of wearing
it.
"Good choice, but probably best when she wants to seduce someone."
Tenchi did blush at this.
For a laugh, Sasami got out the red and silver outfit. The red leather-like clothing was
barely decent, and was only held in place by what seemed to be silver chains. Below the
waist was a tiny slip of red front and back center before a confusing weave of red and silver
wrapped the legs. It showed a lot of skin.
Funaho looked wide eyed at it before smiling.
"I'll think about it."
Tenchi looked at the two of them in horror.
The next one was a bright scarlet leotard over full-length leggings, which were pale blue.
The ensemble was skin-tight and covered the whole body, except the arms from the shoulders
down.
"Nice, but too basic."
Sasami thought hard, and got out black stockings, a tight red miniskirt, a white short-sleeved
blouse and a figure hugging, deep purple waistcoat. As an afterthought, she got out the red
high-heeled shoes as well.
"Just about perfect." There was still something missing though.
Funaho walked over to the stack and rummaged around until she found the last piece.
She turned around and showed it to the frightened young woman and her niece.
"Absolutely perfect!" Sasami enthused.
It was black, lacy and exotic. It was underwear.
"Oh no. I'd rather face Kagato again." Tenchi said fearfully.
Funaho looked her in the eyes. "It's this or the red and silver one."
Tenchi walked over to the bed and got in, all the while the wings were still blocking the two
royalties from getting to her.
"I think I'll skip dinner Sasami. I need some sleep." She said absently.
The Azure-hared princess gave her aunt a look, which said 'We've pushed her too far.'
Funaho was having none of it. "Grow up Tenchi. You are a woman now. Act like one."
"Or what?" Tenchi asked tiredly. "You'll reprimand me? Take away the privileges of my
rank for a period? Banish me from Jurai for a century or two? Do it, I don't care."
Sasami sighed heavily.
"How about something similar to what you have already worn?" She suggested.
Funaho got the hint. "Nice idea. I agree with that."
Tenchi turned a sad look on them.
"That was only to cheer up Sasami." She told them.
"If you want to cheer me up you can stop acting like a baby." Sasami said severely.
"I promise to be gentle." Funaho added.
The wings faded.
"I'll hold you to that." The young woman got out of bed and walked over, showing a lot of
trust.
"Take the sweatshirt and trousers off please." Funaho told her. "I need to see what I'm
working with."
***
Washu felt Ryoko and Ayeka appear behind her. But it was the unbelievable readings on
the screen in front of her that caught he attention.
"How in Hell's name did your aura's merge like that?!?" She exclaimed.
"It's a long story." The two rivals chorused tiredly.
Washu turned around to see the pair still joined. She gaped, then turned to her keyboard to
work on the problem.
***
"Could you hurry up? I'm getting cold."
Tenchi had been standing in her underwear as the two 'stylists' worked for a good quarter of
an hour.
Sasami took pity on her and walked up. Then she embraced the larger woman.
"Here, how's this?"
Tenchi didn't dare speak, but Sasami had an ulterior motive. She undid Tenchi's bra;
grabbed hold of it and the briefs then pulled hard. Tenchi's instinctive counterbalance caused
her to fall backwards and allowed the scheming princess to easily remove the underwear.
"What was that for?" She demanded, covering herself.
Sasami tossed the stolen clothes into the dirty washing pile. "So you can put new ones on."
She said. "And because I can hug you better."
Tenchi found herself wrapped in princess.
"Isn't this better?" Sasami giggled.
***
Washu found some intriguing correlation's in the pair. She sat back and said, "Hum..."
"What?" Ayeka asked.
"Well... The aura merge is not perfect and they will gradually separate. But it will take a
couple of weeks. If I try to cut you apart, the effects could be very bad. You could die."
"So how do we separate them?" Ryoko asked.
"I've got something that will speed it up." Washu said. "But it will take massive doses."
"How big is massive?" Ayeka was suspicious.
Two two-litre bottles appeared by their feet.
"I wouldn't normally use this stuff." Washu told them. "It's extremely potent, the usual
dose is 10 milligrams. And even that will work for 2 days."
"Er..." The two backed away, straight into the waiting tentacles of Washu's capture
equipment. Unable to move, a second machine appeared.
"This will hurt." The redhead said sadly. "I need to infuse your bodies with the drug."
The second machine put an injector to their necks. There was a slight hiss and the two
passed out.
~ I'm not that cruel. ~ Washu thought to herself.
***
Tenchi found herself in the 'outfit' her 'stylists' had put together.
"Are you sure you haven't been thinking I'm Ryoko?" She asked.
"Stop complaining." Funaho told her. "And stand up straight."
"If I do that I'm afraid I'll burst out of the seams. It's too tight."
"It's supposed to be Tenchi." Sasami said.
With a resigned sigh Tenchi did so, finding various parts of her anatomy straining against
material. To her surprise it was a comfortable feeling.
"See, it is not that bad." Funaho smiled. "Come have a look in the mirror."
Sasami didn't let Tenchi stand there; she took her hand and led the girl to the mirror.
Tenchi stared then averted her gaze.
"What's wrong?" The little girl holding her hand asked.
"I look like I belong in a place honest women wouldn't frequent." She muttered,
embarrassed.
She was wearing the tight red miniskirt and black stockings, but what really troubled her
was the top half. It was a black, satin-like corset that was tied up with a red silk ribbon and it
manipulated her breasts into a very revealing position. Had she still been a he, she'd be
having a nosebleed about now.
"How about footwear?" Funaho asked.
"There is no way I'm leaving the house like this." Tenchi was resolute.
***
Ryoko woke up feeling very strangely. There were pinpricks of pain all over her body, even
in rather intimate places and she felt a rolling fire in her veins. But the good news was she
was no longer attached to the princess.
"Ah. You've woken up." Washu's voice came from nowhere.
The pirate sat up and swung her legs off the medical table. The sudden dizziness that came
on told her to wait a while.
"Damnit Washu." Ryoko growled. "Where are you?"
The scientist didn't reply. In the next bay over Ayeka awoke feeling exactly the same as
Ryoko had.
"Why do I feel so strange?" She asked the world in general.
"That's the after-effects of the drug I used." Washu's voice came again.
Ryoko flew towards the sound but had barely travelled a few metres when she felt gut
wrenching dizzy and a sharp pain in her chest. She fell to the ground. Turning to look
behind her she saw Ayeka doubled over. She crawled back towards the tables and the
dizziness lessened. She finally got to the tables and pulled herself up.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I only said that I could speed up the separation process." Washu's voice rang out. "Your
aura's are still merged a bit. I'd say you can't get further than 4 metres apart."
"Thanks for telling us so soon." Ayeka remarked sarcastically. "Anything else?"
"Well... The effects of the drug I used will last about a month." There was an undercurrent
of amusement in the voice.
"Washu..." Ryoko still didn't feel too good.
"Don't worry. They're nothing serious."
"You said that about the rogue guardian robot you built." Ayeka pointed out. "We had to
destroy an entire field to stop that."
"Or the time Sasami was made seriously ill by that 'harmless' creature." Ryoko added.
"Tell us the effects."
"An increase of physical sensitivity, decreased resistance to procreational biological urges,
hormonal effectiveness boosts and the severe weakening of inhibitions."
Ayeka spent a few seconds working this out.
"You can't mean that."
"Oh yes." Washu would have to have been smirking at the thought.
"What?" Ryoko asked.
Ayeka began to blush.
"It's simple Ryoko." Washu said. "Your sex drive has gone up, and your self control over
it has gone well down."
***
~ I'm gonna die. ~ Tenchi kept thinking as she was 'escorted' downstairs.
Fortunately there was only one person downstairs. Unfortunately it was Misaki.
"Oh! How beautiful!" She said, clasping her hands together in delight.
Tenchi didn't bother shooting a dark look at her great-great-aunt, she was being firmly
prodded down the steps.
Finally on the ground floor Tenchi found herself examined by the blue-hared Queen. Her
ever-widening grin did nothing to relieve Tenchi's anxiety.
"You look wonderful Tenchi." She told her. "How did you do it?" She asked the other
two.
Sasami and Funaho both had smug grins on their faces.
"We bullied her a bit. This was the compromise." Funaho told her Sister.
Tenchi shuddered.
"I still think we should have tried the blue dress." Sasami said cheerfully.
"I'll tell you later." Funaho had a mysterious smile on her lips.
Misaki smirked at Tenchi's discomfort.
"So where is everybody mom?" Sasami asked.
"Kiyone, Mihoshi and Minagi should be back any time now. They went shopping." Misaki
walked up to Tenchi and hugged her. "That means you get to show off."
Tenchi's head dropped in despair.
"What have we here?" Washu said as she walked out of her lab. Misaki stepped back from
Tenchi so the scientist could get a good look. The redhead's eyes lit up. "You want to go out
tonight?" She teased. She received a look of pure hatred in response. "Just asking."
Tenchi walked to a chair and slumped into it. Sasami playfully leapt into her lap.
"It's not all bad. You get to tease Ayeka and Ryoko back."
"Speaking of whom, where are they?" Funaho asked.
They got a little singed in their latest spat." Washu said. "They're in my lab, recovering."
Misaki sighed. "My Ayeka is really unfocused. She really ought to have realised it's
useless to fight all the time."
"Like it's useless to try and sneak up on me Washu." Tenchi said calmly. Washu stopped
dead.
Tenchi turned to see the redhead holding an injector.
"What is in that?" She asked pointedly.
"Um... Anti-depressants." The now nervous scientist said. She really didn't like the stare
she was getting from Tenchi.
"And what else?"
"W-why should there be anything else?"
"Because you are predictable. You have to add a twist. How about the coffee machine you
made for Mihoshi? You added so many features; it needed enough computing power to run a
small city. Just because a simple coffee machine was too boring for you."
"How did you know about that?"
"Kiyone told me. It's plugged into Yukinojo as the autonomous back up."
Washu laughed nervously.
"Now, what else?" Tenchi repeated.
"Memory engrams."
"Uh-huh." Tenchi said blandly. "And what exactly are they supposed to do?"
The whole room now had inquiring stares on Washu.
"WellyouneededsomehelpbeingfemalesoIthought..."
"So you thought you would give her some behaviour characteristics." Funaho said.
"As if my mind wasn't a mess already." Tenchi sighed.
Misaki took the injector from the redhead.
"I wonder what it would do to you?" She noted. At the worried look, the Queen summoned
some power and atomised the thing.
"I'd never thought I'd say this," Tenchi said, "But grow up Washu."
Washu did instantly.
"Well?" She asked. Her voice was fuller and richer. And, although they had grown with
her, she was straining against her clothes.
"Maybe you should get changed." Tenchi noted. "I believe the green dress you made for
me would suit you."
"Right, right." Washu admitted. "I get the point." And instantly she was her usual self.
Tenchi looked at the puzzled Queens.
"Long story."
"Oh Sasami?" Washu asked. "I'll take Ayeka and Ryoko their dinner. I have them
separated because they are still a bit annoyed at each other."
Misaki shook her head in despair.
***
The pirate and the princess were trying to keep as much distance between each other as
possible. This meant keeping the medical tables between them.
"I'll kill her!" Ryoko raged.
"You'll let me get a few kicks in first?" Ayeka said.
"What were you planning?"
"Oh not much." Ayeka told her companion depreciatingly. "I was thinking along the lines
of various hot and pointy objects, electrodes and whips."
Ryoko considered it. "Sounds nice. How about a high speed re-entry, with her as a
heatshield?"
"Tempting." Ayeka admitted.
Ryoko's stomach growled. "It's almost dinner time."
"It is, isn't it?" Washu's voice reappeared. "I've brought you some food."
"We'd rather eat at the table." Ayeka told the voice.
"In your current condition that wouldn't be wise." The voice paused. "Especially with
what Funaho and Sasami got Tenchi into."
"Tell me 'mom'." Ryoko sneered. "What would happen if I was to teleport to you?"
"You and Ayeka would suffer aura hyper attenuation. The stress on you both could cause
you to dissipate. Good job I turned it off eh?"
"Ryoko," Ayeka sounded calm, "You head one way and I will head the other way."
"On three?"
Ayeka nodded.
"One..." She started.
"Two..." Ryoko put in.
"THREE!" The two yelled and shot off as fast as they could.
Up in the monitor room, Washu watched in horror as they strained themselves to the
breaking point. They got thirty metres before being rendered comatose. She sighed and
teleported them to her position.
The surge in their aura's revived them enough to wake up groggily. Washu waited patiently
until they were reasonably awake before yelling at them. She also used the opportunity to let
off the stress from earlier.
"You two brain dead, suicidal, psychotic fools!" The scientist flushed as red as her hair in
anger. "You're worse than Mihoshi! You could have killed yourselves! I locked you two
away to stop you from embarrassing yourselves in front of everybody. I have an antidote, but
I can't give it to you until your aura's separate. Maybe I just won't now, and you two can hit
on every being you have a passing attraction to for the next month." She stopped, breathing
heavily.
"Why didn't you just say that?" The two stunned women asked.
"Would you have believed me?" It was a rhetorical question.
***
"Mihoshi, you numbskull. We're late because of you." Kiyone was annoyed.
"I'm sorry Kiyone." The blond whined. "But that shop..."
"...Was closed." Minagi pointed out. "The sign was right there."
Mihoshi hung her head.
They walked in the front door.
"Hi guys, sorry we're late..." Kiyone said, then stopped in the doorway to the front room.
Minagi walked into her. "Hey! What's up?" She asked before seeing what had stopped the
detective.
Mihoshi waked in as if nothing was wrong.
"Wow Sasami. That smells good." She said as she sat down.
The other two ladies were staring wide-eyed at Tenchi.
"Uh. Wow." Kiyone was impressed.
Minagi decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut.
"Stand up and give them a twirl." Misaki prompted.
"Please. I'm eating." Tenchi replied, pained.
Kiyone and Minagi sat down.
"Where's Washu?"
"Getting annoyed by two little girls who don't know what's best for them." The redhead
replied, coming out the door to her lab. "At least they agreed to stay in the lab for another
hour."
***
"I really hate her sometimes." Ayeka sighed.
"You're telling me." Agreed Ryoko.
"I mean, she didn't have to do this." Ayeka held up her arm, which was chained to the
chair.
Ryoko rolled her eyes. SHE had a couple of high yield freeze cannons aimed at her, as well
as energy restraints.
"At least we can still eat."
They were intently looking at the meal, and avoiding looking at each other.
***
"You are kidding Sister." Misaki laughed.
"Oh no." Funaho replied, smile on her face.
Dinner had finished and the two Sister Queens were in the room Tenchi had put aside for
them.
"Maybe we should ask Washu to make us copies. I would love to see Azusa's face as he
saw us."
Funaho actually giggled at the thought.
"Although I would really like to see Tenchi in them. Especially the red and silver one."
Misaki continued. "I can't believe Washu actually made something like that."
"Neither can I Sister. But I saw it. And we have to remember there is more to Washu than
meets the eye." Funaho sighed. It was a rather sad and resigned sigh.
"What's wrong dear Sister?" Misaki asked.
"I had hoped we could take Tenchi and the girls back with us this time. I was going to try
and convince *him*. But then we..."
"...Found *her*. I understand Sister."
"And what makes it worse is that the event we've been waiting for, Tenchi's powers
emerging under conscious control, is happening right now. It would have been the perfect
time. I could easily have convinced everyone that Tenchi needed experienced tuition, which
happens to be true."
"It is not the only problem." Came a voice.
The two Queens span to face the source. The air shimmered and sparkled, and Tsunami's
image appeared.
"Lady Funaho, Lady Misaki. Tenchi is more than she lets on. She has not told you
everything about her new power."
"Tsunami..." Misaki breathed. It was only the second time she had met the being.
"What other problems?" Funaho asked.
"The most important one is that Tenchi does not want to go to Jurai. She does not believe
that she will fit in, or be accepted. Next is the fact Tenchi does not think she would be a good
ruler."
"I've noted the lack of self confidence." Funaho admitted.
"Tenchi seems to be hiding something." Misaki told them.
"She is. I can not tell you all, as I have promised not to. But I will tell you this, Tenchi is
very special."
The two Queens smiled.
"We know." Misaki told the image.
"Anything else?" Funaho asked.
"Well..." Tsunami paused, and then an impish smile crossed her lips. "I think Tenchi
would look quite pretty in the black and gold dress."
Misaki and Funaho looked at Tsunami in surprise for a few seconds before laughing.
Smiling herself, Tsunami's image dissipated.
***
"OK you two." Washu told her two disgruntled guests. "It's time to let you back into the
house."
"Finally." Ryoko said. Ayeka merely looked relieved.
"I still think it's a very bad idea, so I'll be keeping a very close eye on you." She glared at
her daughter, then at the princess. "I want you two to keep a very strong grip on yourselves.
If I suspect you can't control yourselves, I'll dose you with the antidote and leave your aura's
entangled." The redhead grinned nastily. "The antidote works instantly, and there may be
some aura recoil."
The two girls got the message.
Washu summoned her keyboard and typed some commands. The bonds released and
weapons disarmed. Ayeka and Ryoko cautiously rose from their seats and glared at each
other. They couldn't keep it up more than a few seconds before they had to look away.
"This is going to be hard." Ayeka realised.
"You finally worked that out?" Washu was in her adult form.
Ryoko was trembling with her effort not to head towards her mother. Ayeka actually
managed to step back.
"What's the matter Ryoko?" Washu asked innocently.
Ryoko closed her eyes and thought calm thoughts.
"It's OK now." Washu reverted to her more normal form. Ryoko opened one eye to look
then relaxed.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" The redhead wanted to know. "Just say
the word, and I'll knock you out until tomorrow. By that time your aura's will have
separated and the antidote will not affect them."
The offer was very tempting to the girls.
***
"Why me?" Tenchi moaned.
"Stop complaining Tenchi." Kiyone told her. "Or..."
"Or?" Tenchi said tiredly.
Kiyone thought about it then smiled. "Or I'll kiss you."
"Everybody's picking on me." Tenchi groaned. Sasami shifted her weight on Tenchi's lap
so Kiyone could carry out the sentence.
Kiyone was a very good kisser, having had lots of practice with her numerous boyfriends.
Tenchi was very close to running away.
"Want to try Minagi?" Kiyone asked.
"I would," The young pirate giggled, "but I'm expecting Ryoko and Ayeka to come out the
door any second."
Sasami pinched Tenchi's cheek. "Don't you dare faint on us." She warned.
"It's either that or run away in terror." Tenchi said gloomily.
"Where's Tenchi?" Misaki asked as she came downstairs.
"Trying to hide." Tenchi answered. "I'm not doing a very good job."
"You shouldn't be hiding yourself. I'm sure the others will want a very good look."
Tenchi sank back into the chair.
The door to Washu's lab opened and the troublesome twosome were escorted out.
"Oh there you are!" Misaki said, appearing in front of them. It was amazing how fast she
could move.
Ryoko, but more particularly Ayeka had panicked looks as the Queen hugged them.
"Now I don't want you two fighting again." Misaki told them.
She didn't receive an answer. They were about to pass out from a combination of pressure,
stress and raging adrenaline. Oh, and they were holding their breath.
Misaki let go and the pair let out the breath loudly.
"Where's Tenchi?" Ryoko asked breathlessly. Sasami waved her friend over and got off.
The former pirate appeared in front of Tenchi and stared in absolute adoration. She could
feel her heart wanting to bash its way from her chest.
"Now Ryoko," Ayeka said as she dashed to a position beside her rival, "you stay
away...from..." She trailed off as SHE caught sight of Tenchi's appearance. She was lost,
and she knew it.
"Would you please stop staring?" Tenchi pleaded, shifting uncomfortably. The two
dumbstruck ladies noted how wonderfully her body moved.
Tenchi tried another tack. "It's not polite."
That got through to Ayeka. She blinked and reluctantly tore her gaze from Tenchi's (in her
mind) perfection.
"Ryoko..." She growled.
The tone triggered Ryoko's memory about Washu's threat.
"What's the matter princess?" She sneered. "To much for you?"
~ Washu: Nice tactic. ~ The redhead noted sarcastically.
"Why you disgusting demon." Ayeka shot back.
Misaki looked at her Sister, who was coming down the stairs, with a pained and resigned
look. The closer ladies backed away.
"See?" Tenchi pointed out to Sasami. "If you were not so driven to make me into a model,
these two wouldn't be fighting at the moment."
Washu's latest house upgrade shimmered into existence around the quarrelling pair,
protecting the slumbering Mihoshi.
"But your looks would be wasted." The Azure-hared imp complained.
"Oh well if that's the case," Tenchi began as the combatants started crackling with power, "I
want to see you with your hair down from now on. We wouldn't YOUR looks going to
waste."
Funaho heard this and realised Tenchi was making a point.
"But I like my hair the way it is."
"Precisely my point. You want to exploit my looks, whilst underplaying yours. That's
inconsistent."
Ryoko readied a power blast. Ayeka readied a shield.
Tenchi sighed.
"Will someone please put those two outside to cool off?" She asked.
The pair vanished from the containment field, followed by a splash from outside.
"I didn't do anything." Tenchi protested at the looks she got.
Washu was grinning her head off. Tenchi had unconsciously activated the house systems,
even though Washu hadn't told anybody about it. A forcefield to stop the whole house
getting damaged was perfectly ordinary now, but a voice activated teleport and intelligent
control system caught them out. Washu wondered if Tenchi had been right about her adding
twists to everything.
A drenched and downcast pair appeared at the door.
"Ah! That was a good nap." Mihoshi said, waking up. "Oh hi everybody. Wow Tenchi,
you look good. Why are Ayeka and Ryoko so wet? Is it raining?"
"Mihoshi?" Funaho asked. "Why don't you escort our two wet companions to the Baths to
warm up?"
"Yes Ma'am!" Mihoshi saluted, got out her control cube and successfully teleported the
three of them to the baths. She forgot their clothes though.
"She's getting better." Kiyone noted.
***
Ayeka and Ryoko were NOT in a good mood. Finding themselves naked with an oblivious
Mihoshi did not help them one bit.
"Now, where did I put those towels?" The bubblehead blond muttered, playing with her
cube.
Ryoko, for everybody's convenience, teleported behind the detective and knocked her out.
She crumpled to the floor, bringing the towels she was looking for into existence.
Ayeka picked one up and wrapped it around herself.
"I suggest you do the same Ryoko." She said.
Ryoko thought about it for a few seconds then shrugged and did so, before turning to the
naked and unconscious GP officer.
"Could you give me a hand here?" The former pirate asked.
"Then what?"
"We bathe I suppose."