Disclaimer

Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC.  I don't own any rights to them.  Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.

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Newlyweds

Chapter 1

Leave-taking

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Tenchi made his way slowly downstairs as his two new brides slept.  After all the excitement of the day before, he wasn't surprised that they were still in bed.   And after yesterday and last night, he was amazed at the energy he felt himself.  He glanced around the living room at the mess left from the party yesterday and saw the ruler of the greatest Empire in the galaxy still sleeping on the couch, the two Guardians watching over him.  He smiled and nodded to the wooden robots, thinking that after the events of the past year it didn't seem odd at all.  He heard Sasami in the kitchen making breakfast for the household and wandered in that direction.

*****

"Morning Sasami," he said as he entered the little princess' domain.

She looked up from the pot she was stirring, Ryo-ohki perched in her usual position on the princess' head.  "Good morning Tenchi," she replied, then giggled.  "Did you have a good time yesterday?"

Tenchi dipped a finger into the mixture and tasted it.  He smiled, "Yeah, but there sure were a lot of surprises.  Especially about Washu."

She smiled back, "Yeah, but I think Tsunami already knew.  She didn't act surprised at all, you know."  Sasami turned back to her cooking.  "Are Ayeka and Ryoko coming down for breakfast?  I'm making it special, just for you three; everyone else is still asleep."

Tenchi grinned, thinking about his two brides and remembering the night before.  "Yep,  I'll go wake them up in a few minutes and they'll be down in a little bit."

Sasami giggled again, "I guess they're too worn out from the wedding night."

Tenchi looked at her in shock, blushing.  She glanced back at him, grinning at his expression she said, "Oh Tenchi.  Don't look so surprised.  Juraians start their marriage education early.  Besides, I've been reading some of your father's comic books, but don't tell my sister, ok?"

He shook his head, stifling a laugh, knowing that the really dirty books were well hidden from young eyes.  "I should've known.  Ok, your secret's safe."

A timer dinged.  "You might want to go wake them up now though, breakfast'll be ready in about twenty minutes."

*****

Washu peeked out of her lab's portal and saw Tenchi approaching.  She grabbed his arm as he passed by and dragged him into the lab.  The door quickly shut, muffling his scream.

*****

Washu grinned from ear to ear as she "helped" a struggling Tenchi though the lab.

"Washu!  Let me go!  I have to tell Ayeka and your daughter that breakfast is ready." Tenchi pleaded as he bounced along behind Washu.

"In a minute son-in-law, in a minute," the small redhead replied, dragging him deeper into her domain.

"Listen, we're supposed to start out honeymoon today, I don't have time for this now."

"Oh, we have plenty of time, don't worry.  Besides, I think you'll find this interesting."  She dropped him like sack of bricks.  "Now, we need to talk."

He sat up, rubbing the back of his head.  "About what, Little Washu?"

She turned away from him and did something to a control panel.  "About my daughter, and you, and the princess.  And what's going to happen in the future."

"Is this a goddess thing?" he asked.

"No, this is a mother thing.  I need to know what Ryoko's told you and Ayeka about herself," she said, turning back to face him.

Tenchi gave her a strange look.  "I think it's a little late for this talk.  We were married yesterday, remember?"

"Yes, I remember, believe me I remember.  Anyway that's not it, or at least I assume that things worked normally last night?"

Tenchi turned bright red, "Uh, I guess so."

"Wadda ya mean 'I guess so'?  Either they did, or my daughter's still a virgin the day after her wedding."  Washu teased.

"You… You knew that Ryoko…?"

The scientist laughed.  "Of course I did.  I'm her mom after all.  Anyway, that's part of why I wanted to see you.  There're some other things about Ryoko you should know and I don't know if she had the heart to tell you."

"Like what Washu?"

"Well, did she tell you that she can't have children the normal way?"

"Yes, she also told me that you could help when the time comes."

"Yeah, well that's true."  Washu paused for a moment and seated herself on a convenient floating cushion.  "Ryoko has some emotional problems as well.  She's still something of a child, as I'm sure you've noticed.  She might not know how to behave properly in some of the places the princess will want to go.  I don't want her to embarrass you."

Tenchi shot up from the floor.  "Don't you think Ayeka and I already know that.  Do you think we can't deal with Ryoko's social skills?  Do you believe Ryoko herself doesn't know her shortcomings?  I think you don't give her enough credit Washu.  She's already asked us to help her learn how to act correctly around others."

Washu looked down, hiding her expression.

Seeing that he'd hurt Washu's feelings, he went on more quietly. "Little Washu, I know you missed her all those years and I know that she was hurt badly by not having a mother figure to learn from.  But she's an adult.  She needs to make her own decisions; she's 5000 years old and even if she hasn't had a lot of experience in social situations, she hasn't been living in a cave either."  He paused, thinking about what he'd just said.  "Er, perhaps I should rephrase that… well anyway, you know what I mean."

"Yes, believe me, I do.  I'm sorry you got angry.  I just want what's best for Ryoko and you guys.  I don't want her to feel alienated."

Tenchi put his arms around her and squeezed.  "Apology accepted.  Neither Ayeka or me will allow that to happen."  He let her go and turned toward where he remembered the entrance to be.  "If there's nothing else…"

"Well, there is one more thing," Washu said, looking up with an evil grin.

Tenchi scratched his head, "Ha.  I knew there was something else.  What is it?"

Washu produced a syringe from subspace.  "Just this Tenchi."

Tenchi held up his hands and began to back away.  "No samples today Washu.  I, um, still need to recharge from last night if you know what I mean."

The scientist laughed, "Oh, this isn't for that last sample.  I'll get that when you and Ryoko decide to have kids.  No, this is something else, let's just say it's a wedding gift from me, just for you."

"If it's a stimulant, I don't need it.  I'm still young; maybe in a few years."

She laughed again.  "If what I suspect is true, you'd better make that a few centuries or maybe even millennia.  But it's not that either.  I got the idea for this stuff from a TV show.  In addition to a vaccination for off-world viruses, these're translator microbes, they live in your central nervous system and make certain synaptic connections that allow you to understand any spoken language, anywhere."

"I'll be able to speak any language?" Tenchi asked in wonder.

"No, you'll be able to understand any language.  Speaking a language requires learning it first.  And there are some languages your vocal apparatus just can't handle."

"What about Ryoko?  And Ayeka?"  Tenchi asked.

Washu thought for a minute before answering.  "Well, Ryoko's brain processes languages differently from most others.  It's like she has a built-in translator function.  And she'll be able to speak most audible languages as well, since her vocal cords are different than yours.  Ayeka, on the other hand, now that's different.  Jurai has an embassy or consulate on most inhabited worlds and she'll know how to contact them, Japanese and Juraian languages aren't all that different so that shouldn't be a problem for you either.  She also has language training that you don't have.  Between your two wives, you won't have a problem communicating anywhere you go."

"Then why do I need the translator?  If I always have Ryoko with me, I don't need them."

"True, but wouldn't you like to know what's going on?  And what happens if you get separated from the others?  If you don't want the injection, I got another idea from a book; it's a fish you stick in your ear…"

"Uh, I'll take the shot please Little Washu."

"Heh, I thought you might.  Bare your arm please."

*****

"Are there any side effects?" Tenchi asked as he rubbed the sore spot on his arm.

Washu smiled at him, "Not that I'm aware of, except you might get a slight headache each time you hear a new language.  Does your head hurt right now?"

"Yeah, a little.  Why?"

"Because I've been talking to you in my native language.  It's nothing like Japanese or Juraian and you didn't even notice!  The microbes really work.  I am a genius!  Hahahahaha!"  Washu cackled.

Tenchi looked at her, stunned.  "You mean you never even tested this?"

"Well, you are my guinea pig, aren't you?  Besides, I ran hundreds of simulations; you don't really think I'd put you in any danger do you?  Ryoko would never forgive me. Oh, and this is our little secret, ok Tenchi?"

Washu hopped down from the cushion and the two walked towards the exit. 

"Little Washu, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Tenchi, we're related now after all.  Wadda ya want to know?"

"It's about Lady Tokimi.  What's she going to do now?  I mean, she can stay as long as she wants, but won't she be bored living here?"

"Yeah, but she probably won't be staying long.  She'll find something that interests her and follow it.  You know, Tsunami has her trees, I have my science, Tokimi'll just have to find a hobby too.  It may not even be here on Earth, although it probably will be, at least for a while."

"Where is she now?" Tenchi asked.

"Oh, around the lab somewhere, all this is new to her you know.  She'll be spending time in my library too, she has a lot to learn before she's ready to directly interact with mortals; Skuld and Urd have promised to help her as well.  Living in a city, they've had more recent experience than myself or Tsunami, although Urd may be a bad influence."

Tenchi chuckled at the thought of the young goddess actually having the patience to help someone.  The few times he had talked to Skuld, she hadn't impressed him with her tolerance for mistakes.  Perhaps having Washu for a teacher would change that.  And he agreed with her about Urd too.

*****

Ryoko's eyes popped open and she stretched her arms over her head as she yawned, then sighed with contentment.  Last night had been just as wonderful as she'd imagined.  She stretched again.  Her hands bumped into a soft body behind her.

"'Morning my darling," she heard a soft voice say sleepily.  Grinning mischievously, she rolled over.  "Good morning honey.  Did you enjoy last night?"

"Mmmm.  Yes, I…  Oh.  Ryoko!  What…?  Where's Tenchi?"  Princess Ayeka sat up suddenly.

Ryoko gave Ayeka's uncovered body an appreciative look.  The Juraian seemed to be positively glowing this morning.  "Oh, knowing him, he's probably been up for a while."  She sniffed the air.  "Smells like breakfast's about ready.  Time to get up I guess."  Ryoko yawned again, phasing into her daily clothing.  "Come on princess, I'm hungry."  She grabbed Ayeka's hand and lifted her to her feet.

"Wait!  Ryoko, I'm nake…  Oh."  She saw that the ex-pirate had teleported them to the room she'd shared with Sasami up until yesterday.  She walked over to the closet.  "I guess I'll get dressed then."

*****

Washu joined the trio for breakfast.  "Ryoko, Ayeka, I'd like to see you both in my lab after you're done eating.  I have a few things to go over with you and I want to give you a quick checkup before you leave.  Yes, you need one too princess, I've already done Tenchi's."

Ryoko gave her mother a wary look.  "What's the medical checkup for mom?  I think we're all pretty healthy."

"You're going off-planet Ryoko, I wanna make sure none of you are carrying any contagious diseases in your body.  Even something mild like the common cold could become an epidemic on a planet where there's no immunity.  And I'll give you a broad-spectrum antibiotic to prevent any alien viruses from infecting you as well.  I'm not as concerned about you or Ayeka contracting something as I was about Tenchi, but any of you could be carriers."  Washu explained.

*****

"Ok, now what's the reason you wanted to see us alone?"  Ryoko asked as she and Ayeka entered the lab.

"Pretty much exactly as I said," replied Washu, producing two large pills.  "Each of you take one of these and it'll serve to kill any Earth viruses in your bodies.  It's also a booster for your natural immunity to other diseases.  Be grateful, Tenchi got an injection."

I know you better than that mom.  What's the real reason you wanted us down here? Ryoko asked mentally.

You're right, there is another reason Ryoko, Washu beamed back.  Aloud she said, "And I want to ask a special favor of both of you, but especially you Ayeka.  Keep an eye on Tenchi.  As powerful as he is, he's still from this backwater little world and doesn't understand how to deal with alien societies yet.  Don't let him wander off alone if you can help it.  And as for you Ryoko, there are plenty of long-lived species that'll still remember you from before.  Even though the Juraians've forgiven you, not everyone else has; you need to be on your best behavior.  Don't draw any unnecessary attention to yourselves and remember, no one except for a few of us here even know you're married; someone'll probably think you kidnapped the princess for ransom.  As embarrassing as it seems, it wouldn't hurt for the two of you and Tenchi to be seen holding hands and showing affection in public occasionally."

Ryoko and Ayeka looked at each other, not having considered this before.  "Yes ma'am," they both said at the same time.

*****

It was a little after midday and Ryo-ohki hovered overhead, thrumming quietly as the three newlyweds said their goodbyes.  Azusa was still a little unsteady as Ayeka kissed her parents and hugged Sasami; Ryoko got a hug from Sasami too, as well as Washu and a weeping Mihoshi.  Tenchi shook everyone's hand and ended up being almost mauled by Misaki. 

Ok Ryo-ohki, we're ready, Ryoko beamed to her partner.  A shaft of light of light shot down enveloping the three and they faded upwards toward the cabbit-ship and their future.

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To be continued

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Author's Notes

Ok, I decided to go back and fill in some details from the honeymoon (get yer minds out of the gutter, there'll be none of that sort of stuff in here) since I left a teaser at the beginning of Chapter 5 of the Conversations II story (yes, that's the chapter I said you could ignore, but no one ever listens to me anyway…). 

Each chapter in this story will deal with one episode from that time and will concentrate on Tenchi, Ryoko and Ayeka.  None of them except this one will take place on Earth; some will be space adventures and others will take place on various planets.  They will be in a loose chronological order and may not directly follow each other time wise, much as in my other stories. 

Except for a brief mention of Skuld and Urd, I left the other goddesses out of this so as not to confuse anyone who hasn't read my other stories and I promise the other Tenchi characters (and maybe the goddesses too) will have more to do in the next story, which I think, as of today anyway, will focus on Washu's search for the origin of the other cabbits.

BobR

11/26/2001