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.

*****

The Great Cabbit Search

Chapter 2

Get Set…

*****

Tenchi watched as the great silver form of Yagami settled over the lake.  He thought it would be nice to see Mihoshi's ex-partner again, everyone in the family, including Ryoko had liked her when she was here a few months ago.  At least she doesn't crash into the water when she lands, he thought.  Ever since Ryo-ohki had emerged from the lake after 700 years of slumber it had been a magnet for out-of-control craft.  First Ryo-ohki again and Ryu-oh, then Yukinojo's shuttle.  Several times.  In fact, he was considering having it renamed "Lake Mihoshi" for it's most frequent occupant.

The docking ramp descended and the dark-haired GP made her way down to the group below.  If Tenchi hadn't known that she was a cyborg, her movements never would have given her away; she was as graceful as a dancer.  She's a beautiful woman, he thought, only to be poked in the ribs by Ryoko and smacked in the back of the head by Ayeka.  He realized that he must have vocalized his thoughts.  "Ow!  Hey, I'd never give you two up.  I was just thinking how good her body is…  Er, that didn't come out quite right either.  How about 'how well her mechanical body is working'?"

After another poke Ryoko put her arm around him.  "We knew what you meant dearest.  We just don't want your thoughts wandering too far.  Right Mrs. Masaki?" the ex-pirate looked at Ayeka.

Ayeka grinned back at her.  "You are absolutely correct Mrs. Masaki."  Smack.  "You need to pay attention to what your wife tells you darling."

*****

Kiyone reached the bottom of the ramp and stepped off.  It retracted slowly behind her.  She pressed a button on her remote and the ship faded from view.  Raising her head she looked at the group in front of her.  Mihoshi was dancing from foot to foot, a big grin splitting her face; Ryoko was glomped onto Prince Tenchi while Princess Ayeka stood next to them; Washu and Princess Sasami were both looking at her with smiles on their faces; Washu's young student and Lord Yosho stood impassively watching her.  She shook herself and strode forward.

"Captain Kiyone," Washu said, "good to see you again.  How's everything working?"

"Everything is working as promised Doctor Washu.  And it's Colonel now."  Kiyone replied with a wink.

"Ah!  Congratulations.  And just call me Little Washu please.  We don't use titles or rank around here.  Let's go into the house and get comfortable."

"In a moment Little Washu.  I have one final duty to perform as a GP official before I'm officially on vacation."  She turned to Mihoshi.  "Detective First-Class Kuramitsu Mihoshi, front and center."  Kiyone pulled an official-looking paper out of her breast pocket.

Mihoshi stepped forward and saluted.  "Yes sir!"

Kiyone chuckled, "Mihoshi, you're out of uniform."

"But Kiyone, I thought we were on holiday.  Sir."

"Don't worry about it, I'm teasing you."

"Yes sir, er, Ma'am!"

"Ahem.  Well.  Anyway.  Attention to Orders.  Let it be known that Detective First-Class Kuramitsu Mihoshi is hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and given her choice of assignments after a period of vacation not to exceed one solar year.  Signed and dated blah, blah, blah.  Congratulations Lieutenant."  She saluted her ex-partner and held out her hand.

Mihoshi returned the salute and took the offered hand.  "Thank you very much sir, I mean Ma'am."  She did a perfect about face and stepped back into the group who immediately mobbed her with their own congratulations.

Kiyone turned back to Washu.  "Now I'm on vacation.  Let's go relax in that onsen of yours before we move on to the important stuff.

*****

All of the girls except Skuld, who had left for the day, gathered in the onsen while Tenchi went off to train with his grandfather.  Kiyone sank into the warm water with a happy sigh.  She saw Mihoshi staring at her with wide eyes.

"What now Mihoshi?" she asked.

"Um, won't you, you know, rust or something?" the blonde asked innocently.

Kiyone chuckled and the others broke into laughter.  "No Mihoshi.  No more than you will."

Ayeka turned to the teal-haired GP.  "Miss Kiyone, you sound like you enjoy the feel of the bath.  Your cybernetic body can't really get tired and sore, can it?"

Kiyone looked down and made a little splash in the water.  "No princess, but my mind thinks that it should and thanks to Washu, I can feel the warmth and pressure of the water.  And that feels good."

"Oh.  I apologize if I offended you with my question."

"No offense taken.  It was a perfectly valid question.  I just thank the goddess that most people can't tell my body's a mecha.  Unlike the previous model, which actually squeaked occasionally."

"So, Kiyone," Ryoko spoke up.  "How did you get to be a Colonel?  I thought Major came after Captain."

"It usually does.  But both Mihoshi and I were due a promotion after the liner incident and the higher-ups were so impressed with my new body's abilities that they skipped me up two ranks.  It pissed a lot of people off let me tell you.  I'm still very unpopular in the O club."

"Just glad I could help," said Washu with a grin.

The GP officer turned to her ex-partner.  "So Mihoshi, where are you going to go for your next assignment?  My department needs some fresh blood if you're interested."

"Well, I think I'll just stay here."

"Here?  This isn't an assignment for a Lieutenant.  It's patrol duty."

Tears rimmed the blonde's eyes, "But these're my friends, my family.  I can't leave them."

"What about your grandfather?  And your mother?  You still have friends at Headquarters too.  They're always asking about you."

"Really?  Well they know where I am and they can come and visit me if they want."

Sasami started to giggle.

"What's so funny Sasami?" Washu asked.

"Well, Mihoshi has a boyfriend in town now too," the little princess said.

"Mihoshi!  Is this true?" Ayeka exclaimed

The blonde blushed.  "Well, sort of.  We met when we knocked each other down at the market.  He's taken me out a few times since then too.  I really like him."

"Does he know about you?" Kiyone asked.

"What?  That I'm an alien?  Don't be silly, I'm not that dumb Kiyone." Mihoshi stated.

"Phew!  I was worried for a second.  Well, good luck then."

Mihoshi looked at the other GP.  "You know, you could stay here too Kiyone.  I'm sure Tenchi wouldn't mind."

Kiyone shook her head.  "No Mihoshi.  You're not the only one with a boyfriend now.  I'll be staying at Headquarters for a while.  You can visit me there sometime.  I'll introduce you to him."

Mihoshi's eyes lit up.  "Oh Kiyone!  I'm sooo happy for you.  Are you going to have any children?"

Kiyone fell face down in the water, bubbles coming out of her mouth.

*****

At dinner that evening Kiyone asked Washu what her plans were.

"Well," the scientist replied, "tomorrow we'll prep Yagami for the trip, then leave day after tomorrow.  I want to warn you all though," she looked around the room, pausing at each person.  "We will be encountering other versions of ourselves, and they probably won't act like we do.  Be ready for anything."

*****

 To be continued

*****

Author's Notes.

Jeez.  I posted two of these in a single day.  I was bored at work this afternoon; programmer's burnout I guess.  Looking at Visual FoxPro code all day hurts my eyes and I've been doing it all week, along with preparing for my two classes.

I know, I know.  Yagami is red, not silver.  But Yagami was never actually in the OAV so I can make it whatever color I want.  Besides, I have my reasons.  It will all become clear in a future chapter. 

Hey!  I just realized; I haven't had much for Skuld to do yet.  Don't flame me for it, I hope to fix that oversight in the near future.

BobR

12/7/2001