Tenchi awoke the next morning feeling somewhat better, considering the hectic day he had yesterday. He had just finished buttoning his pants, and was about to pull his t-shirt on, when Sasami's head poked around the corner of the door. She blushed a little, then said, "Um, breakfast is ready, Tenchi. See you downstairs!" She quickly disappeared.

He was shocked when he arrived in the kitchen to see Sasami placing the food on the table. Mihoshi sat at the table in her pajamas, looking half-asleep, but Princess Ayeka was already looking lively, bustling about as she set the table. "Sasami," Tenchi asked, "did you cook all this? It looks terrific!"

"Yeah," Sasami said with a cheerful grin. "I cook alot back home, but I've never made Earth food before, so I'm still getting used to it."

"And I must say," Katsuhito's voice came from the door as he entered the kitchen, "she's a very good student."

Tenchi shook his head as he sat down at the table. Grandpa sure was an amazing guy, going out of his way to invite total strangers into his home. "You picked up all this skill just last night?" Tenchi asked Sasami. "You're a fast learner," he said, mumbling the complement around a mouthfull of rice. "Wow, this is delicious!"

Kiyone and Washu were the last to appear. The latter strolled in as if she had never been injured at all, though Tenchi could tell by her movements that the binding around her torso was still in place. He thought she looked rather comical, just walking about cheerfully, but with the bandage around her head making her look as if she had been hit by a car.

Washu paused, giving Mihoshi a concerned glance. "Sheesh. Honey, you look wiped," she observed.

"Couldn't sleep," Mihoshi muttered. "My stomach feels awfull, I think I have the flu, bleeeah." She stuck her tongue out, then laid her head on the table.

"It's probably food poisoning," Kiyone commented callously, taking a seat. "I told you that food from the ship was spoiled, but you insisted on eating it. If you had listened, I might have some sympathy."

"Miss Kiyone, how awful of you!" Ayeka interjected sternly. "No one is perfect, and you should have some mercy on people less fortunate than you!"

Kiyone stood and glared at the Princess. "Mind your own business," she snapped.

"How dare you!" Ayeka shot back. "You have no right to speak to the Royal Family that way!!"

"You are a royal pain in the..." Kiyone began, but was cut off by Washu: "I'm still waiting for somebody to arrest me, you know. But in the mean time, give Mihoshi a shot of this." She produced a small silver flask from inside her burgundy vest. _Alcolhol?_, Tenchi wondered as Ayeka passed the container to Mihoshi. Washu winced when Mihoshi turned up the flask and took a huge gulp. The drink promptly reversed course, and Tenchi rolled his eyes as he got up to fetch a paper towel. Mihoshi coughed and spluttered, trying to recover from the shock of the foul-tasting liquid. "What is that stuff?!" she wheezed. "It's horrible!"

"It's a de-tox," Washu stated matter-of-factly. "Made it myself. Safe enough to drink, and kills germs on contact. Unfortunately, taking it is no hayride. That's why you have to sip it gently. Anyway, take a sip and you should feel fine in about ten minutes.

A knock sounded at the door, and Tenchi got up and retrieved his bookbag from the corner, slinging it over his shoulder. "See you later, everyone," he said. "Have a good day, mind Grandpa, and uhh, I'll see you this afternoon." With that, he opened the door and stepped outside, to find Shiro Takagi waiting for him.

"Better get a move-on, man," Shiro warned. "It wouldn't do to have my newest patient show up late for school."

"Patient?" Tenchi asked as they headed down the road, scratching his head. "What do you mean, patient?"

"Yeah, I heard about your date this afternoon. So, how does it feel to be the latest success story of the love doctor?" He put on a smug look, tugging at his shirt collar.

"Gimme a break, will you?" Tenchi sighed. "Masaka and I are just meeting for coffee. That's not a date."

"Theoretically true," Shiro said, holding up an index finger. "Meeting for coffee is not necessarily a date. For example, if you and I met at the coffee shop to discuss, oh say, you getting me the answers to next week's algebra test, I be would be very reluctant to call that a date, especially with you being a guy and all. But in this case, the two parties are of opposite gender, carrying out a previously arranged meeting, presumably with a romantic agenda. In technical terms..."

"It's close enough?"

"Yeah, basically," Shiro replied nonchalantly. "Now, concerning more academic affairs..."

"I'm not going to peek at the test answers for you, Shiro."

"Rats." Shiro snapped his fingers. "I was counting on you, man."

"So, how did you know about me and Masaka, anyway?"

"Tenchi, Tenchi," Shiro laughed, slapping his friend on the shoulder. "You know a magician doesn't reveal his secrets."

"You snuck back into the cafeteria while we were talking?"

"Yeah."

"I figured as much," Tenchi said as they approached the school yard. "See you around."



Tenchi headed to Starbucks after school to wait for Masaka. Fifteen minutes went by, then twenty. After half an hour, he was certain she had stood him up, and got up to leave. Then he saw a female form with long black hair gently push her way through a crowd of departing people, and he looked closer. Yes, it was her. Finally!

He returned to his seat. "Hi!" she said when she reached him. "Sorry I'm late. I had detention."

"What did you do?"

"Ask him." She pointed to a young man in the corner with spikey blond hair and several earrings. The boy had a black eye.

"Let's just say he evidently let his hormones get away from him," Masaka explained. "Of course, he didn't get in any trouble, except what I could dish out." She sighed. "What kind of coffee do you want?"

"House blend, decaf. Masaka?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"How come you don't have a boyfriend? I mean, it's not like you couldn't get one if you wanted to."

"I'll take that as a compliment," she giggled. "I know what Shiro told you. It's partly true; Harume is pretty protective of me, but he wouldn't get in the way if I dated anyone. The truth is," she gave him a slightly pained look, and lowered her voice, "guys tend to shy away from me for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm tall or something."

She was looking at him rather indirectly. If Tenchi didn't know better, he'd have thought she was hiding something.

"Hey," a gruff voice said, and Tenchi looked up. The voice belonged to the punkish blond kid Masaka had evidently assaulted.

"What do you want?" Masaka sighed irritably.

"Well, for starters," the boy shot back, "I want to show you why you can't get a man." He pointed to the shiner on his face as he spoke. "What the hell did you hit me for, anyway? I didn't touch you!"

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "There's such a thing as lust you know, and believe me, I can spot it a mile away."

What in the world? Tenchi wondered. Had she lied to him?

"Stay out of it, Tenchi!" She barked at him. He nearly jumped ten feet. This was getting weirder by the minute.

"But I didn't say anything!" Tenchi protested. "Masaka, what's the matter with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me!" she shouted. It's just...I...I have to go." She got up and practically ran from the building. "Masaka, wait," Tenchi called, and got up to follow her. But she was already gone.

"I'm telling you, man," the punk said, "she's some kind of psycho."

"Go away," Tenchi growled, "before I punch you myself." With that he left to look for Masaka.




He found her sitting on the edge of the fountain in the town square, chin in her hands. He walked over and gently put his hand on her shoulder. She started, then returned her gaze to the ground. "Not now, Tenchi."

"Masaka, tell me what just happened back there," he asked plaintively. "Please."

"I'm...different, Tenchi," she said, looking him in the eyes. He noticed that she had been crying. "I can't really explain it. Just please go away." Tenchi decided he had little alternative but to listen, and turned for home.