In the Morning BobR Bob Reese 2 847 2001-11-09T20:20:00Z 2001-11-09T20:20:00Z 9 2523 14383 119 28 17663 9.2720

Disclaimer

Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. I don't own any rights to them at all nor do I want to, I just want to borrow them for a while. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders.

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Conversations II

Chapter 1

In the Morning

*****

Ayeka awoke slowly.  Disoriented at first, she soon remembered that she had spent the night with Tenchi and Ryoko.  Usually when she slept in Tenchi's room, she and Ryoko shared the bed while Tenchi slept on a futon next to them.  But last night had been different.  Tenchi had crawled into bed with them and they had all fallen asleep together.  As she lay on her right side, she felt Tenchi snuggled up with his back against her and Ryoko's chest against her back.  A princess sandwich, she thought with a quiet giggle.  Ryoko's arm protectively encircled both of them and she made soft 'snorking' sounds close to Ayeka's ear as she slept.

Ayeka sighed with contentment.  I know how much I love Lord Tenchi, and I think it's possible to come to love Ryoko as much as well.  I know she also loves him and she has feelings toward me.  For all that she reminded me that she wasn't human, she certainly hasn't turned out to be inhuman either.  I think… I really think that I could love her in a way… She felt Ryoko stir against her and the princess snuggled closer to her just to see how she would react.

As usual, Ryoko went straight from deep sleep to wide awake.  She felt Ayeka press harder against her and she gave a little smile.  "Mornin' princess," she murmured in Ayeka's ear.

"Good morning, pirate," Ayeka whispered back.  "Be quiet though, Lord Tenchi is still asleep."

"Don't worry, I won't wake him.  But I gotta go, if ya know what I mean.  I'll be right back."

Ayeka heard a soft hiss and felt Ryoko teleport away.  She decided that it was probably time for her to get up as well so she carefully rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed.  Shortly afterwards Ryoko phased back into the room.  Ayeka gestured toward the door and Ryoko nodded and teleported away again.  The princess sighed and stood up.  She quietly opened the door and stepped out into the hall.  Ryoko was already standing there as Ayeka slid the door shut.

"Did you sleep well princess?"

"Yes I did, thank you.  And yourself?"

"Great.  I've been sleeping better lately than I ever have."

What happened next shocked both of them.  Ryoko took two quick steps toward the princess and kissed her on the cheek.  Ayeka stepped back just as quickly.

"Wha…  What was that about?" she asked Ryoko in surprise.

"I don't know.  It just seemed to be the right thing to do."  Ryoko replied with a blush, just as surprised as Ayeka by her actions.  "I don't know what came over me.  I'm sorry if I offended you."

"No, I'm not offended Ryoko.  I was just a little, um, unprepared for that."

"Well, it won't happen again.  I'll keep my emotions under control from now on."

"That will be a first then, won't it?" Ayeka giggled.  "But seriously Ryoko, under Juraian law, when we both marry Lord Tenchi, we will also be marrying each other.  It would not be improper for some affection to be shown between us."

"You're not turning on me, are you Ayeka?"

"No, demon.  But lately, and probably due to our future situation, I have given it some thought.  You are a very attractive woman.  Or so you keep telling everyone."

"I think you're good looking too, princess.  In a cute, stuck-up kinda way.  And I have to admit, I've thought about it too.  But somehow it just doesn't feel right.  Not yet at least."

Ayeka smiled.  "I believe that's your fear of intimacy speaking again.  Well, let us worry about that situation if it ever arises.  For right now however, I hear Sasami in the kitchen making breakfast.  Why don't you go wake up Lord Tenchi while I take care of my morning needs?"

"Sounds like a plan.  We'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes."  Ryoko phased through the wall into Tenchi's room.

Ayeka sighed and muttered to herself.  "I wish she would learn to use the door like a normal person.  But then, she's not a normal person and that's why we love her."  She quickly looked around to make sure that no one had heard her say that, especially Ryoko.  Ayeka herself was surprised to hear it.  Well, I guess I really do love Ryoko on some level, but I don't think I'm 'in' love with her, like I am with Lord Tenchi.  Hmmm.  This is a morning for shocks, she thought.  I wonder what's going to happen next?   She began walking toward the bathroom, with a smile on her face.

*****

As Ryoko approached Tenchi's sleeping form, an evil grin formed on her face.  She knew just how she wanted to wake him up, but at the last minute something stopped her.  She though about Ayeka, and the trust that had grown between them.  She didn't want to do anything to betray that trust.  Ok then, she could wait.  Once she was married to them, then she could wake either of them up anyway she pleased. And she had some wonderful ideas brewing.  It might be worth the wait after all.

"Tenchi, time to get up.  Sasami will have breakfast ready in a few minutes."  She gently shook him.

Tenchi felt someone touching his shoulder.  He slowly opened his eyes and saw Ryoko looking down at him, smiling.

"Wha…?  Oh.  Good morning Ryoko."  He reached up and gently stroked her cheek.  Then he sat up and looked around the room.  "Where's Ayeka?" he asked.

Ryoko gave a little shiver as he touched her.  "She's already up and probably in her bedroom getting dressed. She said she'd meet us downstairs."

"Ok.  Let me get dressed too and we'll go eat."  He stood up.  Ryoko watched him.

"Um, Ryoko…"

"Yes, Tenchi?"

"I'd like to get dressed please."

"Oh, do you want me to help you?"

"No, I can manage by myself.  But could you wait outside?"

"Why?  Oh.  Ok, I'll be right outside.  Just call if you need anything."

"All right, but I won't.  I've been able to dress myself for years."

Ryoko chuckled. "That wasn't quite what I meant Tenchi."

"Ryoko!"

She grinned at him and faded out.

Tenchi sighed and began to gather the clothes he would wear that day.  "She never changes," he said to himself, then he grinned.  "And I hope she never does!"

*****

Mihoshi woke up and stumbled downstairs to the smell of breakfast cooking.  She wondered if she would have time for a nap before it was done, but immediately dismissed the thought as her stomach made a loud growling noise.  She would wait; otherwise she might miss the meal.  It had been known to happen before…

*****

Washu had spent all night researching a way to get items out of shipping boxes without getting the little foam packing peanuts all over the place.  After spending eight hours on the problem, she gave up in disgust; there were always one or two that managed to escape.  She had more important things to do anyway, like figuring out why the cable TV kept flickering out even when the cable company insisted there's no problem.  Or maybe even why some of her favorite Internet fanfic sites couldn't be accessed consistently, even though she could PING them and get a valid response.  For this she'd need absolute privacy, so she sealed her lab.

*****

After breakfast Tenchi headed out to weed one of the fields and as usual Ryoko flew to the roof for a nap, while Ayeka went to the shrine to sweep the courtyard.  For some reason Ryoko had been avoiding Katsuhito recently, but she had promised to sweep the shrine steps later, and that was fine with Ayeka as there was less climbing up and down with courtyard duty.  It was also Ryoko's turn to clean the living room and she'd been very good about doing things around the house lately.  Ayeka knew that she'd get everything done eventually, still, if Ryoko would only learn that the quicker you got done, the more time you had to goof off later.  Ayeka sighed.  Someday.  Someday she'd understand.

*****

It had been a pleasant morning so far, Mihoshi reflected as she sat in front of the TV with a cup of tea.  A good breakfast with no arguments between Ryoko and Ayeka, and no emergency calls from the GP.  Something was definitely going on between Ryoko and Ayeka though, they hadn't had a real fight in weeks.  She'd have to think about that, but right now it was almost time for her favorite cartoon.  She reached for the tea.

"HOT!  HOT!  HOT!  OUCHIE!  HOT!"  The teacup fell over and a young woman appeared above the resulting puddle.  Mihoshi fainted.

"How can you drink it that ho..t…  Oh.  Hello?  Wake up please.  I'm really, really sorry.  Please wake up now."  The girl shook the blonde's shoulder, eliciting a moan from the zonked detective.

"Hello, I'm Sasami.  Who are you?"  The girl looked up and into two of the biggest, pinkest eyes she'd ever seen.

"I'm Skuld, and I've come to meet Washu.  Look, I'm very sorry about all this.  I'll help you clean it up."

"Oh, don't worry about it, this is just a minor Mihoshi thing.  Help me get her up onto the couch though.  And really, don't worry; she faints all the time, we're used to it."

The two girls lifted the detective onto the couch and made her comfortable.

"Washu's locked herself in her lab again, she's even blocked off Ryo-ohki's pet door.  Mihoshi here is the only one who can get by her security system, so you'll have to wait for her to wake up to get in."  Sasami explained.

"Is Ryo-ohki your cat?" Skuld asked.

"No silly," Sasami giggled, taking the cabbit off her head, "this is Ryo-ohki.  She's one of Washu's inventions."

"OOH!   She's so cyuuute!  Is she a mech?"  Skuld took the cabbit and hugged it.

"Nope.  She's a space battleship.  She really belongs to Ryoko, but she's my friend too."

Yeah, right.  This cute little thing's a giant spaceship?  Looks more like some kind of plushie. Skuld thought, then she noticed the markings on Sasami's forehead for the first time.  "Are you a goddess too?" she asked.

"No, not yet.  But someday I'll be completely assimilated with Tsunami and then I will be."  Sasami looked at the cabbit.  "Ryo-ohki, why don't you run and get us some towels, then I'll get you a carrot when I get back in the kitchen."

"Miya!  Miiyyyaa!"  A small pop and the cabbit switched to her young humanoid form and scampered off.

Skuld's mouth fell open.  I don't believe it.  Maybe she really is a spaceship too.

*****

Mihoshi groaned and slowly regained consciousness.  The last thing she remembered was reaching for her tea, then a loud voice, then…  well, then she didn't remember.  But something must have happened, she was stretched out on the couch and she could hear voices, one was Sasami's but she didn't know the other one.  I wonder how long I was out…  "Eek!  My show!  I'm missing my show!"  She jumped up and immediately fell across the table, bumping the TV's ON button with her head.  "Ow!"  Her hand came up and accidentally hit the channel select and the cartoon came on.  She had only missed the opening credits.  "Oh goody."  She clapped her hands and sat back down on the couch.

"Boy, is she lucky," commented Skuld.

"Yeah, tell me about it," answered Sasami.

*****

Knowing that Mihoshi would be useless until her show was over, Sasami led Skuld outside onto the deck.  She pointed out the shrine at the top of the mountain, Ryoko snoozing on the roof and the carrot fields off in the distance.  When Sasami thought enough time had gone by, the two girls went back into the house to find Mihoshi snoring on the couch.   Ryo-ohki, back in cabbit form, was watching the end of the TV show from her lap.  Sasami walked over to Mihoshi and gently shook her.

"Mihoshi.  Mihoshi, wake up."

Yawn.  "Oh, hi Sasami.  Is my show over?"

"Yep, you missed it again," the princess replied.

"Darn.  Oh well, I'll watch it tomorrow and try to catch up."

"Mihoshi, this is Skuld.   She's here to see Washu, but we can't get into the lab.  Can you help us?"

"Gee, I don't know.  You know how mad Washu gets when I go in there."

"Pleeeze Mihoshi," Sasami pleaded.

"Well, ok." Mihoshi got up and walked towards the closet.  "But if Washu's locked the door I don't know what I can…  Ooops."  She tripped over Ryo-ohki and threw out both hands to break her fall.  Her hands hit the door first, then her head.  The door flew open.

"Mihoshi!  Are you ok?" cried Sasami as she rushed to help her up.

"Ouch." Mihoshi replied.

"See Mihoshi.  I knew you could do it!"

The three trooped into the lab followed by Ryo-ohki.  The door shut ominously behind them.

*****

Washu sat on a floating cushion, idly watching her crab screen saver.  She'd given up on the Internet problem for now, hoping that it was just high traffic, and was thinking about how Ryoko's personality had changed over the past few weeks.  She had always felt that if Ayeka and Ryoko could put aside their differences they could be good friends.  She was pleased to find out that she had been right.  It also appeared that some of Ayeka was beginning to rub off on Ryoko, or maybe it was Zero; she was much more polite and she always finished her chores (although not always in a timely manner).  The only thing that bothered her was that Ryoko was still somewhat of a child emotionally, she tended to form a strong attachment to anyone who showed her kindness.  It was entirely possible that she could fall in love with Ayeka at some point or at least have a crush on her, although she would ever give up Tenchi.  She didn't know how Ayeka would handle Ryoko's attention, not that those types of relationships didn't exist, especially in Juraian multiple marriages; but the princess didn't seem to be the type that would go for that sort of thing.  And Ryoko didn't handle rejection well.  There was also the problem of the two of them sharing Tenchi.  Poor boy.

Washu sighed.

"Wow!  This is sooo cool!"

"Wha…?"  Washu whipped around to find Sasami, Mihoshi and a strange girl approaching her.  "How did you all get in here?  I know I sealed the portal!"

"Oh!  There you are Little Washu!  Skuld came all the way here to meet you, and Mihoshi let us into the lab," chirped Sasami.

"Skuld, eh?  You wouldn't by any chance be Urd's little sister now, would you?"

"Urd's sister?" asked Sasami.  "You didn't say anything about that.  Ryoko's told me all about Urd and Mara and Belldandy.  Wow!  So you're her other sister!"  Sasami turned to Skuld with big eyes.

"Yep, that's me.  Skuld, goddess second class, limited, and this place is so cool.  Urd told me that Ryoko's mom was a scientist, but I never expected this!" She looked around in awe at all the equipment.

Washu cleared her throat.  "Not just a scientist!  I am Washu, The Greatest Scientific Genius In The Universe!  And I'm exceptionally cute too."

"That's our Washu," sighed Sasami.  She could almost hear Washu pronouncing the capital letters.

Washu glanced around, trying to keep an eye on the blonde detective.

"Hey, this is new.  What's this button do Washu?"

"Wait bubblehead!  Don't…"

A small explosion was heard from deep in the lab.

"Sorry.  I'll just sit over here."

"No, stop!  Remember what happened last time you touched th…  Oh damn.  Too late."

As Mihoshi sat on a console, a small bundle of little Ryo-ohki's popped out and fell to the floor.

"Just… just sit right there and don't move, ok?"

Mihoshi's signal bracelet chose that moment to start beeping for attention.  She jumped up and snatched her control cube from her hair.  A quick twist and she was in uniform.  "I have to go.  I've got an emergency call to respond to."  Another twist of the cube and she disappeared.

"Well," said Washu to no one in particular, "you sure can't tell by watching her around the house, but she really is a competent police officer.  One of these days I'll have to scan her and find out what makes her so klutzy when she's not on duty."  The diminutive scientist grinned at Sasami and held up a small device with a big green button.  "My Blonde Ditz Eliminator (v.1), patent pending.  I just press this button and it sends a signal to her wristcomp."

"Oh, Washu!  You're terrible!" Sasami chuckled.

Skuld was oblivious to everything that had just happened.  She just stood and looked at Washu with starry eyes and her hands folded up under her chin.  "Professor Washu, can you teach me everything you know?"

Washu and Sasami looked at each other and said in unison, "Oh boy."

*****

To be continued

*****

Author's Notes

The response I've received to Part1 and the Side Story has been pretty positive.  Here's the first two chapters of Part 2.  The rest will follow, as long as I keep getting some feedback.  I have to expand and clean up the next three chapters, which are almost done, then write the end of this part.  I have a big programming project at work coming up before the end of the year, so I don't know how long this will take, as a do quite a bit of follow up editing during breaks and lunch.  Hopefully it won't take too long.

Note 2

This is the second upload of this story.  The first time, in .txt format, I noticed that some things didn't make it through.  This one's HTML.  And yes, the last scene with Mihoshi is taken directly from two scenes in the OAV series (Night Before the Carnival and Zero Ryoko).  I figured that Mihoshi was perfectly capable of repeating a mistake and that Washu would remember what it took to get rid of her and make a device that would do it.

BobR