No Need for Rest
Sunlight poured into the windows of the Masaki residence, drowning
Tenchi in its glow. His eyes opened slightly and Tenchi growled. He flopped on
his side in an attempt to escape the sunlight's grasp. What he saw, however, would
be wake Tenchi more than Sol could ever. He leaped backwards out of the bed and
exclaimed, "Ryoko?!"
Ryoko's eyes fluttered open. She smiled and greeted in a seductive voice,
"Good morning, Tenchi." She slowly slipped out of the covers.
Tenchi's eye grew to the size of saucers, his nose on the verge of bleeding.
Ryoko was dressed in only a bra and a pair panties.
Ryoko traced Tenchi's stare and asked, "You like what you see?"
Tenchi tried to cover his eyes, but his hand wouldn't cooperate. "Ryoko,
what are you doing in my bed?! And why are you wearing that?!"
"Well, Tenchi," Ryoko started innocently. She disappeared and reappeared
behind Tenchi, her right arm wrapped around Tenchi and her left hand making
small circles on Tenchi's chest. "I thought that you might get lonely up in your
room, so I paid you a visit."
"Lonely, huh? That's a new one. And what about your choice of attire?"
Tenchi wondered.
"Well, my school uniform wasn't comfortable to sleep in. My house was
destroyed, so I didn't have anything else to sleep in," Ryoko answered.
"I see," Tenchi replied. He squirmed out of Ryoko's grip and walked to his
closet. He removed a plain white T-shirt and pair of jeans and tossed them at
Ryoko. He then put his hand in the small of Ryoko's back and gently pushed her
out his door. "Now, I'd appreciate if you stayed out of my bed if I'm in it.
Thanks," Tenchi commented and he shut the door.
Ryoko shrugged and slipped on the clothes Tenchi gave her. Ryoko noticed
something in the air. She sniffed and licked her lips, "What is that delicious
smell?" She floated towards the kitchen and saw Sasami and Ayeka cooking
something.
Sasami turned around and saw Ryoko. "Good morning, Ryoko. We're
making Tenchi some breakfast."
"I see that. What are you guys making?" Ryoko asked.
"Tenchi's favorite... miso soup!" Sasami answered.
"Washu said that Tenchi should rest today, so we're going to give him
breakfast in bed," Ayeka informed.
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Ryoko thought aloud.
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
Ryoko jumped in the air and turned around. "Don't do that!"
Washu chuckled. "I'm going to give Tenchi this cream for his arm," Washu
stated as she turned around and headed down the hall. She rapped tightly on the
door. When no answer came, she slowly slid the door open and stepped in.
Tenchi opened his right eye to see who had come in. "Good morning, Little
Washu."
"Good morning, Tenchi. Good to see you're awake," Washu replied. "I've
got some medicine for that arm."
Tenchi smiled, "Thanks. I'll put it on later. I'm _really_ tired." He closed
his eyes.
Washu shook her head and reached into the container, scooped up a handful
of the salve, and began rubbing it on the burnt arm.
Tenchi flinched and instinctively pulled his arm from Washu's hold. "It's
OK, Washu. I got the hint. I'll put it on now."
"It's OK, Tenchi. I'll do it for you," Washu assured.
"Washu, I'm not helpless. I can do it myself," Tenchi insisted.
"I know you can Tenchi, but this is thanks for saving our lives," Washu
replied. "And it's _Little_ Washu."
Tenchi sighed. "I'm not going to win this, am I?"
Washu chuckled. "Not a chance." A few minutes later, Washu was finished
applying the ointment and said, "Now, I want you to get some rest. Don't get out
of this bed for any reason, except if you _need_ to, got it?"
"Yes, Little Washu," Tenchi affirmed. He yawned loudly. "You don't have
to tell me twice," he said as he closed his eyes.
Not five seconds later Sasami, Ayeka, and Ryoko stormed into Tenchi's
room carrying a large tray. "Good morning, Tenchi!" they exclaimed in unison.
Tenchi nearly jumped out of his skin while Washu laughed. Tenchi noticed
the tray and smiled. "Breakfast in bed? You guys are too much."
Sasami set the tray over Tenchi's lap and sat down next to him. "Ayeka and
I made it for you, because Washu said you needed to rest. There's miso soup,
grilled salmon, and rice. I even got you some shouyu."
Tenchi smiled, "My favorite." He began to lift his arm to use his chopsticks,
then realized a crippling effect of one of his injuries. Tenchi was right-handed and
to move that arm would send tremendous pain up the injured limb.
Sasami was the first person to recognize this and grabbed the chopsticks
from Tenchi's tray. She picked up a piece of salmon with it and said, "Open wide,
Tenchi."
Tenchi shrugged and complied. Sasami fed the salmon to Tenchi. "Mmm...
delicious, Sasami."
"My turn!" Ryoko exclaimed.
"What makes you think it's your turn, Ryoko?" Ayeka asked.
Ryoko smiled and faced Ayeka, "Because Tenchi likes me more that's
why."
"You know very well that Tenchi likes me more!"
Tenchi sweatdropped, "Not again."
As the fight raged on, Sasami fed Tenchi the rest of his meal. He sighed
contentedly. "That was great!" he exclaimed. Sasami smiled sincerely, picked up
the tray, and jumped off the bed. "Here let me help you with that, Sasami," Tenchi
offered. He attempted to get up, but found he could not move. "Uh, guys?"
Ayeka and Ryoko both turned their heads. Ayeka asked, "What's the matter,
Tenchi?"
"I can't move!" Tenchi replied.
Ryoko grabbed Tenchi's bed sheet and threw it off, revealing four metal
bonds placed around Tenchi's ankles and wrists. "What the hell?" she wondered
aloud.
By the wide grin on Washu's face, Ayeka knew who had fettered Tenchi.
She turned to the scientist and asked, "Little Washu, why did you restrain Tenchi
like this?"
"Because I knew Tenchi would try to get up," Washu answered.
"Who cares why? What I want to know is _how_," Ryoko stated.
"I am Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the Universe! Doing such a
simple task was a breeze for me," Washu declared.
"Yeah, whatever. That still doesn't answer my question," Ryoko responded.
"It's my little secret. Now go, Tenchi needs some rest so go!" Washu
quickly shooed the three girls out of Tenchi's room, and took a seat at the foot of
Tenchi's bed.
"Washu, could you please release these bonds? I promise I won't get up,"
Tenchi pleaded.
Washu's reply was science.
"Please, Washu? Just the left arm shackle?"
Washu leveled a glare at the teen.
If Tenchi had a free hand, he would have slapped his forehead as he
comprehended his mistake. "I mean, _Little_ Washu," Tenchi corrected. "The
greatest scientific genius in the Universe," he added for good measure.
Washu grinned and snapped her fingers and the bond around Tenchi's left
wrist disappeared.
"Thank you, _Miss_ Washu," Tenchi praised.
"Keep it up, Tenchi," Washu playfully threatened.
He chuckled and sighed. "Little Washu, if you don't think of it as prying,
could you tell me more about yourself? I mean before you came to Earth."
Washu's face became expressionless, and she turned away from Tenchi.
"Never mind, Little Washu. It was stupid of me to ask," Tenchi withdrew.
Washu turned back to Tenchi and said, "If I tell you about my life before I
came here, you have to answer a question I have."
"Yeah. I'm an open book," Tenchi answered.
"What happened to your parents?" Washu asked.
Tenchi looked averted his gaze from Washu and took a deep breath.
"They're dead. Both of them." Tenchi choked back tears before continuing. "Mom
and Dad died in a car wreck when going to a basketball game... _my_ basketball
game."
"How long ago?" Washu asked.
"Just over 2 years ago. I've only recently been able to play the game again,"
replied, his voice cracking. "I had gone to the game with Ayeka and her parents,
because my parents were working late. My dad was an architect, and my mom was
his assistant. Anyway, I called the office and begged them to come. I acted like
such a baby! It wasn't even an important game, just another intramural game. But I
had to have it my way. I ended up guilt-tripping them into coming. On the drive
there... the car in front of them stalled and..." Tenchi struggled to keep himself
audible, tears already streaming down his face. "Dad swerved off the side of the
road... and they hit a street light. They didn't die immediately. I think they knew
they were going to die, because they found them close together... in one final
embrace..." Tenchi lost his self-control and broke down into a sobbing fit.
Washu cupped her hand under his chin and pulled his head up to make eye
contact. "Tenchi, it wasn't your fault," she assured.
"I know, I know, I tell myself that every damn day, but..."
"No buts. You didn't know they would die. No one did."
"My friends are all I've got now. Which is why I don't want to lose any of
them, because without them... I'm nothing." Tenchi angrily wiped the tears from
his face. "I don't want to weigh you down with these sob stories. So I believe it's
my turn."
A concerned expression crossed her face, but she quickly erased it. Tenchi
told me about the death of his parents, whatever question Tenchi asks me can't be
any worse.
Tenchi racked his brain for a question to ask Washu. "What is your lab
like?"
Washu nearly face-faulted but maintained her posture. He could ask me
any question he wanted to and this is what he asked? I'll never understand this
boy... "But Tenchi, you already know what my lab looks like."
Tenchi smiled, "Yeah, I know what some of your lab looks like, but do you
expect me to believe that the Universe's greatest scientist's lab is a couple
computer monitors?"
Washu chuckled, "No, I suppose not. How about I take you on a tour?"
"What happened to resting?"
Washu grinned, "Come on Tenchi you know me better than that. Don't you
think I can figure out a way for you to rest and see the lab at the same time?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"You _guess_?" Washu's astral laptop suddenly appeared and Washu typed
in a sequence of keys. A hole appeared in space, and a red vehicle similar to size
and shape of a golf cart emerged. "Tenchi, in order to get into my lab, I need to
stabilize a portal to the entrance."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I need to borrow your closet."
"'Borrow my closet'? How am I going to get to my clothes then?"
"Not to worry, you see I can set the door to open to my lab if I open it, and
if you open it it'll open to your closet. Just need to set the DNA sensors," Washu
informed.
"Wow. Go right ahead then," Tenchi said.
"Thank you." A few keystrokes later, Washu opened the door, revealing a
dark void. "All set," Washu informed. She released the final bonds. Tenchi sat in
the passenger seat of the vehicle, and Washu drove it into the lab.
::Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space::
The Galaxy Police headquarters buzzed with the busy daily activities. A red
cruiser zoomed towards the floating station. The pilot, a 16 year-old female with
long teal hair and deep blue eyes, switched on the controls to the communication
systems of _Yagami_, the ship.
"This is Detective First Class Kiyone Makibi, reporting for duty," the girl
spoke into the microphone.
A male voice answered, "You are clear for docking in Bay 327. You are to
report to the Major's office ASAP. He has a special assignment for you."
Kiyone was caught off-guard by this information. The Major has a special
assignment for _us_? This could be the chance of a lifetime! "Roger that, HQ.
We're on our way."
Kiyone set the _Yagami_ on auto-pilot and exited the cockpit to awaken her
partner. She entered the room of her associate and turned on the light. A blonde
girl Kiyone's age was sprawled on a pink fluffy bed.
"Mihoshi, we're at headquarters. Wake up," she said. When no response
came Kiyone tried a different approach. "Mihoshi, it's lunch time."
In a flash, Mihoshi opened her eyes, revealing them to be a light blue color.
"Great, I'm starving!"
"Get your uniform on first. Then we have a meeting with the Major,"
Kiyone informed.
"He's important, right?" Mihoshi asked innocently.
Kiyone groaned, "Yes, Mihoshi he's _very_ important. Now let's get going
we don't have all day."
"OK, Kiyone!" Mihoshi exclaimed jumping to her feet. "We're going to get
a real bad guy this time, aren't we?"
"I hope so, Mihoshi," Kiyone stated as she stepped out of Mihoshi's room.
Sunlight poured into the windows of the Masaki residence, drowning
Tenchi in its glow. His eyes opened slightly and Tenchi growled. He flopped on
his side in an attempt to escape the sunlight's grasp. What he saw, however, would
be wake Tenchi more than Sol could ever. He leaped backwards out of the bed and
exclaimed, "Ryoko?!"
Ryoko's eyes fluttered open. She smiled and greeted in a seductive voice,
"Good morning, Tenchi." She slowly slipped out of the covers.
Tenchi's eye grew to the size of saucers, his nose on the verge of bleeding.
Ryoko was dressed in only a bra and a pair panties.
Ryoko traced Tenchi's stare and asked, "You like what you see?"
Tenchi tried to cover his eyes, but his hand wouldn't cooperate. "Ryoko,
what are you doing in my bed?! And why are you wearing that?!"
"Well, Tenchi," Ryoko started innocently. She disappeared and reappeared
behind Tenchi, her right arm wrapped around Tenchi and her left hand making
small circles on Tenchi's chest. "I thought that you might get lonely up in your
room, so I paid you a visit."
"Lonely, huh? That's a new one. And what about your choice of attire?"
Tenchi wondered.
"Well, my school uniform wasn't comfortable to sleep in. My house was
destroyed, so I didn't have anything else to sleep in," Ryoko answered.
"I see," Tenchi replied. He squirmed out of Ryoko's grip and walked to his
closet. He removed a plain white T-shirt and pair of jeans and tossed them at
Ryoko. He then put his hand in the small of Ryoko's back and gently pushed her
out his door. "Now, I'd appreciate if you stayed out of my bed if I'm in it.
Thanks," Tenchi commented and he shut the door.
Ryoko shrugged and slipped on the clothes Tenchi gave her. Ryoko noticed
something in the air. She sniffed and licked her lips, "What is that delicious
smell?" She floated towards the kitchen and saw Sasami and Ayeka cooking
something.
Sasami turned around and saw Ryoko. "Good morning, Ryoko. We're
making Tenchi some breakfast."
"I see that. What are you guys making?" Ryoko asked.
"Tenchi's favorite... miso soup!" Sasami answered.
"Washu said that Tenchi should rest today, so we're going to give him
breakfast in bed," Ayeka informed.
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Ryoko thought aloud.
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
Ryoko jumped in the air and turned around. "Don't do that!"
Washu chuckled. "I'm going to give Tenchi this cream for his arm," Washu
stated as she turned around and headed down the hall. She rapped tightly on the
door. When no answer came, she slowly slid the door open and stepped in.
Tenchi opened his right eye to see who had come in. "Good morning, Little
Washu."
"Good morning, Tenchi. Good to see you're awake," Washu replied. "I've
got some medicine for that arm."
Tenchi smiled, "Thanks. I'll put it on later. I'm _really_ tired." He closed
his eyes.
Washu shook her head and reached into the container, scooped up a handful
of the salve, and began rubbing it on the burnt arm.
Tenchi flinched and instinctively pulled his arm from Washu's hold. "It's
OK, Washu. I got the hint. I'll put it on now."
"It's OK, Tenchi. I'll do it for you," Washu assured.
"Washu, I'm not helpless. I can do it myself," Tenchi insisted.
"I know you can Tenchi, but this is thanks for saving our lives," Washu
replied. "And it's _Little_ Washu."
Tenchi sighed. "I'm not going to win this, am I?"
Washu chuckled. "Not a chance." A few minutes later, Washu was finished
applying the ointment and said, "Now, I want you to get some rest. Don't get out
of this bed for any reason, except if you _need_ to, got it?"
"Yes, Little Washu," Tenchi affirmed. He yawned loudly. "You don't have
to tell me twice," he said as he closed his eyes.
Not five seconds later Sasami, Ayeka, and Ryoko stormed into Tenchi's
room carrying a large tray. "Good morning, Tenchi!" they exclaimed in unison.
Tenchi nearly jumped out of his skin while Washu laughed. Tenchi noticed
the tray and smiled. "Breakfast in bed? You guys are too much."
Sasami set the tray over Tenchi's lap and sat down next to him. "Ayeka and
I made it for you, because Washu said you needed to rest. There's miso soup,
grilled salmon, and rice. I even got you some shouyu."
Tenchi smiled, "My favorite." He began to lift his arm to use his chopsticks,
then realized a crippling effect of one of his injuries. Tenchi was right-handed and
to move that arm would send tremendous pain up the injured limb.
Sasami was the first person to recognize this and grabbed the chopsticks
from Tenchi's tray. She picked up a piece of salmon with it and said, "Open wide,
Tenchi."
Tenchi shrugged and complied. Sasami fed the salmon to Tenchi. "Mmm...
delicious, Sasami."
"My turn!" Ryoko exclaimed.
"What makes you think it's your turn, Ryoko?" Ayeka asked.
Ryoko smiled and faced Ayeka, "Because Tenchi likes me more that's
why."
"You know very well that Tenchi likes me more!"
Tenchi sweatdropped, "Not again."
As the fight raged on, Sasami fed Tenchi the rest of his meal. He sighed
contentedly. "That was great!" he exclaimed. Sasami smiled sincerely, picked up
the tray, and jumped off the bed. "Here let me help you with that, Sasami," Tenchi
offered. He attempted to get up, but found he could not move. "Uh, guys?"
Ayeka and Ryoko both turned their heads. Ayeka asked, "What's the matter,
Tenchi?"
"I can't move!" Tenchi replied.
Ryoko grabbed Tenchi's bed sheet and threw it off, revealing four metal
bonds placed around Tenchi's ankles and wrists. "What the hell?" she wondered
aloud.
By the wide grin on Washu's face, Ayeka knew who had fettered Tenchi.
She turned to the scientist and asked, "Little Washu, why did you restrain Tenchi
like this?"
"Because I knew Tenchi would try to get up," Washu answered.
"Who cares why? What I want to know is _how_," Ryoko stated.
"I am Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the Universe! Doing such a
simple task was a breeze for me," Washu declared.
"Yeah, whatever. That still doesn't answer my question," Ryoko responded.
"It's my little secret. Now go, Tenchi needs some rest so go!" Washu
quickly shooed the three girls out of Tenchi's room, and took a seat at the foot of
Tenchi's bed.
"Washu, could you please release these bonds? I promise I won't get up,"
Tenchi pleaded.
Washu's reply was science.
"Please, Washu? Just the left arm shackle?"
Washu leveled a glare at the teen.
If Tenchi had a free hand, he would have slapped his forehead as he
comprehended his mistake. "I mean, _Little_ Washu," Tenchi corrected. "The
greatest scientific genius in the Universe," he added for good measure.
Washu grinned and snapped her fingers and the bond around Tenchi's left
wrist disappeared.
"Thank you, _Miss_ Washu," Tenchi praised.
"Keep it up, Tenchi," Washu playfully threatened.
He chuckled and sighed. "Little Washu, if you don't think of it as prying,
could you tell me more about yourself? I mean before you came to Earth."
Washu's face became expressionless, and she turned away from Tenchi.
"Never mind, Little Washu. It was stupid of me to ask," Tenchi withdrew.
Washu turned back to Tenchi and said, "If I tell you about my life before I
came here, you have to answer a question I have."
"Yeah. I'm an open book," Tenchi answered.
"What happened to your parents?" Washu asked.
Tenchi looked averted his gaze from Washu and took a deep breath.
"They're dead. Both of them." Tenchi choked back tears before continuing. "Mom
and Dad died in a car wreck when going to a basketball game... _my_ basketball
game."
"How long ago?" Washu asked.
"Just over 2 years ago. I've only recently been able to play the game again,"
replied, his voice cracking. "I had gone to the game with Ayeka and her parents,
because my parents were working late. My dad was an architect, and my mom was
his assistant. Anyway, I called the office and begged them to come. I acted like
such a baby! It wasn't even an important game, just another intramural game. But I
had to have it my way. I ended up guilt-tripping them into coming. On the drive
there... the car in front of them stalled and..." Tenchi struggled to keep himself
audible, tears already streaming down his face. "Dad swerved off the side of the
road... and they hit a street light. They didn't die immediately. I think they knew
they were going to die, because they found them close together... in one final
embrace..." Tenchi lost his self-control and broke down into a sobbing fit.
Washu cupped her hand under his chin and pulled his head up to make eye
contact. "Tenchi, it wasn't your fault," she assured.
"I know, I know, I tell myself that every damn day, but..."
"No buts. You didn't know they would die. No one did."
"My friends are all I've got now. Which is why I don't want to lose any of
them, because without them... I'm nothing." Tenchi angrily wiped the tears from
his face. "I don't want to weigh you down with these sob stories. So I believe it's
my turn."
A concerned expression crossed her face, but she quickly erased it. Tenchi
told me about the death of his parents, whatever question Tenchi asks me can't be
any worse.
Tenchi racked his brain for a question to ask Washu. "What is your lab
like?"
Washu nearly face-faulted but maintained her posture. He could ask me
any question he wanted to and this is what he asked? I'll never understand this
boy... "But Tenchi, you already know what my lab looks like."
Tenchi smiled, "Yeah, I know what some of your lab looks like, but do you
expect me to believe that the Universe's greatest scientist's lab is a couple
computer monitors?"
Washu chuckled, "No, I suppose not. How about I take you on a tour?"
"What happened to resting?"
Washu grinned, "Come on Tenchi you know me better than that. Don't you
think I can figure out a way for you to rest and see the lab at the same time?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"You _guess_?" Washu's astral laptop suddenly appeared and Washu typed
in a sequence of keys. A hole appeared in space, and a red vehicle similar to size
and shape of a golf cart emerged. "Tenchi, in order to get into my lab, I need to
stabilize a portal to the entrance."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I need to borrow your closet."
"'Borrow my closet'? How am I going to get to my clothes then?"
"Not to worry, you see I can set the door to open to my lab if I open it, and
if you open it it'll open to your closet. Just need to set the DNA sensors," Washu
informed.
"Wow. Go right ahead then," Tenchi said.
"Thank you." A few keystrokes later, Washu opened the door, revealing a
dark void. "All set," Washu informed. She released the final bonds. Tenchi sat in
the passenger seat of the vehicle, and Washu drove it into the lab.
::Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space::
The Galaxy Police headquarters buzzed with the busy daily activities. A red
cruiser zoomed towards the floating station. The pilot, a 16 year-old female with
long teal hair and deep blue eyes, switched on the controls to the communication
systems of _Yagami_, the ship.
"This is Detective First Class Kiyone Makibi, reporting for duty," the girl
spoke into the microphone.
A male voice answered, "You are clear for docking in Bay 327. You are to
report to the Major's office ASAP. He has a special assignment for you."
Kiyone was caught off-guard by this information. The Major has a special
assignment for _us_? This could be the chance of a lifetime! "Roger that, HQ.
We're on our way."
Kiyone set the _Yagami_ on auto-pilot and exited the cockpit to awaken her
partner. She entered the room of her associate and turned on the light. A blonde
girl Kiyone's age was sprawled on a pink fluffy bed.
"Mihoshi, we're at headquarters. Wake up," she said. When no response
came Kiyone tried a different approach. "Mihoshi, it's lunch time."
In a flash, Mihoshi opened her eyes, revealing them to be a light blue color.
"Great, I'm starving!"
"Get your uniform on first. Then we have a meeting with the Major,"
Kiyone informed.
"He's important, right?" Mihoshi asked innocently.
Kiyone groaned, "Yes, Mihoshi he's _very_ important. Now let's get going
we don't have all day."
"OK, Kiyone!" Mihoshi exclaimed jumping to her feet. "We're going to get
a real bad guy this time, aren't we?"
"I hope so, Mihoshi," Kiyone stated as she stepped out of Mihoshi's room.