Lately it had been rather peaceful around the house, Ayeka reflected

Conversations

Chapter 6

In a Pool

*****

Lately it had been rather peaceful around the house, Ayeka reflected. She rather missed the knock-down, drag-out fights she used to have with Ryoko. What she didn't miss was Tenchi's anger and the clean up and repair that always occurred afterwards. It really was different seeing Tenchi smile when he saw her and Ryoko together, instead of ducking for cover. And she found that she enjoyed just talking to Ryoko. Ryoko could be a really pleasant person to be around. She had discovered that they had several common interests, besides Tenchi of course.

Ayeka sighed, and sank a little deeper into the warm waters of the ladies pool until just her eyes and nose were above the water. I wish Ryoko would hurry up and get here," she thought, "I'm really beginning to enjoy our moments together in the onsen. We talk about our day and tell each other dirty jokes. It's become an almost daily ritual for us. Oh, where is that monster woman? I wonder what's keeping her? She closed her eyes and began to blow bubbles in the water.

The door to the onsen opened and Ayeka heard the slap of Ryoko's bare feet approach the pool. She listened as Ryoko set down the basket with the snacks and sake that she always brought with her and then she heard the swish as Ryoko's robe fell to the floor. A gentle motion of the water told her that Ryoko had entered the pool and she heard the ex-pirate sigh with pleasure as she eased herself down into the warm water.

*****

"Hey princess, you awake?" Ryoko asked.

Ayeka brought her head up and opened her eyes, "Yes, I am. But if you had been much longer you probably would have found me floating facedown in the pool. Then what would you have done?"

"Given you mouth-to-mouth." Ryoko grinned at her.

"Ryoko! I am certainly not that kind of woman!" Ayeka said, blushing.

"Neither am I princess. Jeez, I was just kidding."

"I know, I just wanted to see your reaction. So, may I inquire what took you so long this evening? You're usually here before me."

"I had to talk to Washu about something… personal. And she was late getting back to her lab because she'd been up at the shrine and missed dinner."

"And did you get the answers you sought?"

"We'll discuss that later. Ayeka, I wanna talk about something serious."

"Oh? What brought this on pirate?" Ayeka teased.

"Something came up today that got me thinking and I think that it concerns both of us."

"Thinking? You? And did it give you a headache? I thought I smelled smoke earlier."

"I suppose I should've seen that one coming. One point to the princess."

"What's on your mind?" Ayeka prompted, more seriously.

"Ayeka, I don't want to upset you with this, but do you think Tenchi will ever be able to choose between us?"

This was a subject that both had studiously avoided in all of their previous girl-talk sessions. Ayeka was taken aback that Ryoko would bring it up now. She knew though, that if Ryoko was asking her about this, whatever was on her mind concerned Tenchi and must be important to her.

Ayeka thought for a few moments before responding. "No, I don't believe he ever will," she sighed.

"And why do you think that is princess? Please, the truth, as you see it."

"Well, although it hurts to say this, I believe it's because he loves us both and can't bear to hurt either of us."

"Yeah, that's what I think too. We need to do something about it `cause it's making all three of us miserable."

"Oh? And I suppose he should choose you?" Ayeka asked.

"No, I didn't say that. We both know that's not going to happen."

"Then he should choose me?" Ayeka smiled at the thought.

"It's probably not going to work that way either, is it?"

Ayeka sighed again. "Probably not. I can hope though."

It was Ryoko's turn to sink deeper into the water. "I had a visitor today. A messenger from Tsunami. She reminded me of some things."

Why would Tsunami send Ryoko a messenger? Why not just appear herself? She's done it before. Ayeka wondered. "And what did she remind you of?" she asked.

"Several things actually," Ryoko said, "but she made realize that Tenchi'll never be able to choose one of us."

"Well, who should he choose? Mihoshi? Washu? Sasami?"

"Nope. None of them."

"Ryo-ohki then." Ayeka stated.

Ryoko laughed at that. "No, definitely not Ryo-ohki, she's not even fully organic. Although she is cute in humanoid form."

"Well if not one of us, then who?" Ayeka was curious now.

Ryoko looked at her. "Both of us. Me and you."

Ayeka was stunned. "Surely you can't be serious!"

"I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. Heh, heh. Sorry princess, I couldn't pass that one up. Score one for Ryoko." She went on, "If it hurts him too much to choose one of us, why can't he choose both? I think deep down inside that's what he really wants. He wants to be able to love both of us openly. He knows this can't go on forever and the thought of losing one or both of us must be tearing him apart inside."

"Go on," Ayeka said quietly.

"Tenchi is the crown prince of Jurai. He's in line to be the next emperor unless Yosho changes his mind or your dad has another son."

"Yes, all of that is true, but what does that have to do with both of us?"

"Think Ayeka. It hadda jump up and slap me in the face too. Tenchi is a male member of the Juraian royal family. And that means…"

"And that means wha… Oh! Oh my! I never thought of that! He can… He can…"

"Have more than one spouse under Juraian custom? Yes. Exactly." Ryoko finished.

"And you would be willing to share him with me?"

"I already am, aren't I? I don't think taking that next step'll be such a big deal."

"You realize that his first-born child will be his successor don't you?" the princess commented.

"And that child would be yours," Ryoko sighed.

"What do you mean? Don't you want children with Tenchi?"

"Of course I do. But you'd be first. It's almost guaranteed."

"Why? We both have the same chance, don't we?"

Ryoko sighed again. "No, not really. That's what I went to talk to Washu about. Ayeka, regardless of how I look, I'm not really human like you and Tenchi are. Oh sure, I have all the correct parts to conceive and give birth, but genetically I'm not compatible with any other life form. But Washu said that she could take one of Tenchi's `samples' and one of my ova, splice the genes and implant the embryo in my womb. It should work. And she could make the child genetically compatible with humans at the same time, so this wouldn't happen to it later. But that's the only way Tenchi and I can have children."

Ayeka looked at Ryoko and saw the pain in her friend's eyes. She felt sorry for her, but at the same time joy for herself. "Do you really think that we can get Lord Tenchi to agree to this?"

"He's a normal young man isn't he? We'll just play on his fantasies while reminding him of his privileges as a member of the royal family."

"His fantasies? You mean sleeping with both of us at the same time? I've already told you that I'm not that kind of woman Ryoko!"

"Well, maybe not right now," Ryoko teased. "But all three of us have already slept together. Several times. Remember?"

"Yes, but not in the same bed, and most certainly not in that way!"

Ryoko grinned at her. "Gotcha princess! Score another for me. Now, I've got an idea about how to get Tenchi to buy into this. Here's what we need to do…"

*****

Later that night, Sasami heard Ayeka come stumbling into their room humming a happy tune. She knew that her sister and Ryoko had been in the onsen drinking sake and talking in hushed tones all evening. She was pretty sure she knew what all the secrecy was about too. Welcome to the royal family Ryoko, my new sister… she thought. My niece… she heard Tsunami's faint echo in her head. And she smiled as she rolled over and drifted off to sleep.

*****

To be continued

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