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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The Great Cabbit Search

Chapter 15

Interlude

*****

Washu sat in her lab looking at the results of her latest try to access the reality that Kagato's data said the cabbits originated from.  Since it was so far from her home reality she was having problems establishing a connection to it with the Reality Hopper.

She was startled out of her reverie by a young voice, "Watcha doin' Professor Washu?  Anything I can help with?"

"Er, no Skuld. I think this is a bit beyond your current abilities," she answered.  Even a bit beyond mine I'm beginning to think…

"Well, it won't hurt to take a look."  The little goddess crawled under the control panel.  "Ew.  It's dirty under here."

"Dirty?  Not in MY lab.  Let me see…"  Washu joined her student under the panel.  "That's not dirt, it's carbon.  Something's been arcing under here."  Washu dug around in the wiring for a minute.  "Ah ha!  Look here Skuld; see where these two wires cross?  The insulation's melted off.  I've been drawing too much current and didn't even know it, no wonder the last transition was so rough.  It's a wonder we didn't get stranded in that last Reality too."

"What're we going to do about it Professor?" the young Norn asked.

"What you're going to do about it is find some larger gauge wire.  Then we're going to rewire this baby to give it more power!"  For some reason the words "I don't think so, Tim!" along with the image of a bearded man in a flannel shirt echoed through her mind.  She shook it off and patted the little goddess on her head.  "You know Skuld, I'm glad you chose to be my student.  Sometimes I can't see past the end of my nose."

*****

Tenchi and Ryoko were relaxing in the Onsen.  Tenchi was leaning back against the wooden decking, dozing on and off while his wife was splashing around in deeper water.

"Tenchi!" Ryoko called.  "When will Ayeka be done with her training session?"

His wife's question woke him up from a half-sleep.  "Wha…?  Oh, about another hour I guess.  Grandpa's just showing her some of the basic forms today.  Nothing too difficult.  Why?  Are you lonely?"

She paddled over to him and threw her arms around his neck.  "No, never with you around dear; I just thought it'd be fun to go watch her.  Doesn't that sound like a good idea?"

Tenchi shook his head, "No, it'll distract and embarrass her.  I know it does me sometimes when you two are watching.  And Grandpa always takes advantage of it too."

Ryoko considered for a moment, "We can hide in the bushes like Ayeka and I do with you someti… Oops, I wasn't supposed to say anything."

"You two hide and watch me?  How long has this been going on?"

"About a year, maybe a little longer.  Sometimes it's just me though, Ayeka has other things to do occasionally."

"About… a… year…?  Ryoko, that's before…"

"Yep.  We didn't fight every time we were together you know.  So wadda ya say?  Can we?" She smiled at him playfully and fluttered her eyelids.

Tenchi sighed with resignation, "All right.  I guess if we're caught, Grandpa'll turn it into some kind of lesson for all of us."

*****

Ayeka was sweating profusely.  All she could think about was how good a soak in the Onsen would feel when she was done.  Even though this was only her third lesson with her brother, she had gained a new respect for both Tenchi and Ryoko and their ability to handle a sword.  The smoothness of the moves she had seen them make compared to her own awkward attempts was like the grace of a hunting tiger to the stumbling of a kitten.

"No, Ayeka.  For this move you hold the weapon with both hands and lead with your right foot.  Watch now."  Katsuhito demonstrated again.  "See?  Now you try."

This time she completed the move correctly, if a bit stiffly.

Her brother nodded his head, "Very good.  Now I want you to sit and watch."  He pointed to a log under a tree.

"Watch what brother?" she asked, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.

The old priest smiled at her.  "Tenchi!  Ryoko!  Come out here please."

There was a rustling in the bushes as the heads of her two spouses popped up.

"Told you so," Tenchi whispered.

"Shut up!" Ryoko whispered back as the two got to their feet.

Katsuhito handed each of them a wooden practice sword.  "Since you two are so keen to watch your wife's progress, you might as well join in the lesson.  I want you both to show her how you perform the moves I've just demonstrated, and the counter-moves."

They both bowed to him and started the practice routine.

"Wait!" the old man stopped them.  "I want you to practice on each other, not the air.  I want you to spar; show Ayeka what you can do.  And Ryoko, no special powers."

The ex-pirate growled at him good-naturedly and turned to face her husband.  "Don't take this personally dear, but I'm gonna kick your butt."

Tenchi smiled at her, "You and what army?"

Ryoko charged him and he dodged out of the way.  Soon the sound of wood-on-wood combat echoed through the forest.

*****

Mihoshi and Kiyone had gone into town to see a movie.  Kiyone had invited her boyfriend, Osyri, to visit from GP Headquarters and Mihoshi's Grandfather had cleared it.  They were to meet Mihoshi's boyfriend 'Crash' at a fast-food restaurant and go to the movie from there.

"So Mihoshi, Crash is an odd name.  Does it mean something?" Kiyone's beau asked.

"Well, sorta," the blonde replied.  "It's not his real name of course, it's a nickname.  He's the owner of a charter air service; you know, the kind that takes tourists around to show them the sights.  He flies a helicopter now but he used to be a race driver though, that's where he got the name."

Kiyone shook her head in disbelief.  "And you say he ran into you in the market; that's how you met?"

"Yep.  He's always running into things and dropping things.  Just like me."  Mihoshi started giggling.

"What movie are we going to see?" Osyri asked.

Mihoshi tapped her cheek a few times, trying to remember.  "Oh, some American film, 'Toy Story 2' I think it's called."

I wonder what that's about, Kiyone thought.

*****

Sasami was sitting in the living room watching television.  One of her favorite shows was on and she hadn't seen it in several weeks.  The two cabbits were cuddled on the couch with her, snoozing peacefully.  The goddess Tokimi came wandering out of the kitchen and took a seat on the couch, narrowly missing the cabbits.

"I don't understand how mortals can abide all this inactivity," she said to the little princess.

Sasami leaned back on the couch, her eyes still locked on the television, "Well, we have periods of frantic activity separated by relaxation.  It's just the way we are."

"Mortal lives are so short though, shouldn't you try to experience everything you can?"

The princess' voice deepened slightly and she turned to look at the goddess.  "Remember who you're talking to 'sister'.  And yes, mortals try to do as much as they can, but where's the fun in being so worn out all the time that you can't enjoy the experience?  We 'mortals' don't have the boundless energy of higher beings."

Tokimi was taken aback at the tone of the response, "I wasn't speaking of you personally Sasami.  I was speaking of mortals in general."

"I know," said the little girl, turning once again to the TV.  "And some of that was Tsunami putting words in my head.  I hate it when she does that."

Tokimi chuckled.  "See, even my sister can't help sticking her nose into things.  It must run in the family.  So Sasami, what are you watching?  Do you mind if I join you?"

The girl nodded happily.  "Wow Tokimi!  You've really learned how to fit in since we've been gone.  And your speech has gotten less stilted too."

"I have been spending quite a bit of time in Washu's library, learning customs and such.  I think I'm about ready to try to go out on my own."

Sasami scooted over on the couch, put her arm around the goddess and gave her a hug, "I think so too.  And I think you'll do just fine no matter what you do."

Tokimi returned the gesture.  "I hope so, I'm not ready to go home yet.  Now I understand what's attracted my sisters to this dimension."

*****

A beautiful, dark-skinned face framed by platinum hair poked itself out of one of the screens in Washu's lab.  Urd saw her sister's stocking feet sticking out from under a machine.  She grinned as an idea popped into her head.

"Tickle, tickle, tickle!" she said quietly as she moved her finger across the unguarded tootsies.

Wham!  Skuld's head hit something as she tried to sit up suddenly.  "Ouch!  What?  Urd!  What do you think you're doing here?"

"What?  Can't I come visit my favorite sister?" Urd said with a hurt tone in her voice.

"Yeah, right.  Like that's the truth," Skuld muttered snidely, dusting herself off.

Urd smiled at her little sister.  "Well, actually I came to see how the happy trio was doing.  It's been a quite a while since I've been here."

Just then Washu came walking through a door from the outer lab.  "Urd!  Good to see ya."  The little scientist's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea.  "Say, maybe you can help me with a small problem I have."

The tall goddess held up her hands and began to back away.  "Uh, I don't think so Lady Washu.  I'm not very good with machines.  Now if you want a love potion or something…"

Washu chuckled, "Oh, it's nothing like that.  You see, there's a certain Mazoku I owe a 'favor' to and I'd appreciate your input on the subject.  Let me explain…"  She grabbed the other goddess by the arm and dragged her out of earshot of Skuld.

Skuld sighed, "They never let me have any fun.  Hmmph."  She scooted back under the console.  Soon a happy whistling was heard from under the equipment.

*****

Kiyone walked out of the movie theater shaking her head in disbelief.  Perfect, just perfect.  I can't believe we just watched a movie about clumsy, ditzy cartoon characters.  It's just the type of thing Mihoshi and 'Crash' would enjoy.

Osyri whispered in her ear, "You know dear, I kind of liked that show.  Earth can produce some amazing things for such a backwater place."  He squeezed her hand.

She looked down at his hand in her artificial one.  "Yes, it can.  It certainly can…"

*****

Tenchi lowered his bruised body into the warm water for the second time today.  He grimaced in pain as his backside hit the bottom of the pool.  "Jeez, she could've taken it a little easier on me," he moaned as sore muscles started to unkink in the heat.

"Hey!  Look who's talkin'," came Ryoko's voice from behind him.  A pair of slender arms snaked around his neck.  "You roughed me up pretty good too, you know."

He tilted his head back to kiss his wife, "Yeah, I think we both got the short end of it, but you heal faster than I do.  I hurt all over."

"Mmmm.  We'll have to do something about that now, won't we?" she purred in his ear as her fingers began to wander down his chest.

Tenchi scrambled to get out of her clutches.  "Ryoko!  It's the middle of the afternoon, what if someone walks in on us?"

The ex-pirate assumed an innocent look, "Don't worry dear, Ayeka's locking the doors as we speak.  It's just the three of us for the next hour or so."  Her eyes got a predatory gleam and she laughed evilly as she lunged for him.

Tenchi had a huge grin on his face as he dove under the water, his aches all but forgotten.

Walking back from the entrance, Ayeka heard Ryoko's giggles from the far side of the pool.  That woman!  She couldn't wait for me to get there to start.  Well, I'll just have to think of some way to get back at her.   She smiled in anticipation.

*****

"Kiyone, can you and Osyri get back to Tenchi's on your own?  Crash wants me to stay in town with him tonight," the blonde GP asked her partner.

"I guess so Mihoshi.  Will you be all right?  You'll be home tomorrow, won't you?"

Mihoshi giggled and looked at her boyfriend, "Maybe.  Maybe not.  Don't worry Kiyone, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself."  She patted her jacket pocket where her control cube was stashed.

Kiyone nodded agreement.  "Ok Mihoshi.  We'll see you whenever you get back.  Have a good time you two."

*****

Later that evening everyone settled down for dinner.  Tenchi, Ayeka and Ryoko looked exhausted, but happy.  Kiyone was snuggled up against Osyri with a content look on her face; even Washu was in a good mood.

"Listen up everyone, Skuld found the source of the problem I was having with the Reality Hopper and we fixed it.  As soon as we're done with our mini-vacation we can go on with our search," the diminutive scientist announced.

You mean your search, don't you? came her daughter's voice in her head.

Washu looked over at Ryoko, who was busy shoving food into her mouth.  Oh come on now, you're having fun on these trips too.  It gives you time alone with Tenchi and the princess doesn't it?  And you don't even have to lock the doors to keep us out.

Ryoko didn't respond, but her face turned slightly red.

Washu smiled at her daughter's discomfiture and continued, "I think another week and we'll be ready.  How do you all feel about that?"

There were several moans from various people, but everyone nodded in agreement.

"It's settled then.  One more week and we're off."

*****

To be continued

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Author's Notes

Sorry it took so long to get this next chapter out.  I'd like to say it's because of writer's block or something, but I'd be lying.  The real reason is because I've gotten no new reviews lately (except from my stalwarts Priest, DennisuD and Agent_86, thanks guys.)  That certainly doesn't keep me from writing, but it does slow me down a bit.  Maybe it's just the time of year and everyone's too busy.  I don't know, I guess it really doesn't matter. 

But anyway, instead of jumping straight into the next (and last) reality our heroes are going to visit, I decided to let them spend a little time at home (and maybe set the stage for my next series.)  I picture Kiyone's boyfriend as a civilian GP employee, perhaps an analyst of some sort.  I have a hard time thinking up new names that's why I don't introduce too many new characters.  And before anyone asks, yes he knows she's a cyborg.  She's not the type to hide information like that from someone she cares about; and no, he won't be going with them.

What did you think of the last reality?  Did it work with a female Tenchi?

Review Responses

Priest – I'd like to revisit that reality in the future.  It holds some interesting possibilities I think.  And you're right, it was Tommy Chong.  I originally had that, but changed it at the last minute because it didn't look right.  I have certain rules I live by that I'm continuously breaking:

1.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it

     (that's the one I broke when I put Cheech's name to that quote.)

2.  If it doesn't fit, get a bigger hammer.

3.  If a 5 pound sledge doesn't make it fit, don't try to force it. 

     (ask my wife about a sledgehammer, a bike rack and the hitch receiver on her van.  We almost had to cut the rack off with a welding torch, but a little heat from the torch, some die lube and a bigger hammer…)

Agent_86 – Well, there's only one reality left to visit in this fic.  The next one is starting to shape up though, at least in my head…

Tetsurouga – I'm glad you like them.  Hell, I'm glad anyone likes them, let alone reads them.  Thanks.

DennisuD – My wife got me the Photon DVD for Christmas.  All I can say is… how odd.  I liked most of the characters except Photon himself.  They could have done a better job with him.  Maybe it was just the dub though.  Oh, I just saw 'Ruin Explorers', a Slayers-ish Anime; it may even have been the same creative team; it certainly looks like it.  It's very good; I highly recommend it.  (Not as much fan-service as Photon though.)

Vsdefender – I know, I thought about all that before I wrote the apology, but my conscience wouldn't let me sleep until I at least acknowledged that you came up with the idea before me.  Feel free to use whatever you wish; I'm a great believer in 'open source' stuff.  As far as the Tenchi and Ryoko thing, I agree with you.  I just didn't want to push that type of relationship so soon after I established a relationship with my trio.  I think it may happen though, Washu and Yosho can see things that others can't…

BobR

01/02/2002