XVII: No Need for a Family!
Tenchi woke up to the dawn of yet another crystal-clear day, part of his body being gently held by the princess he so wonderfully adored, the other being snuggled by the gentle and warm-hearted woman who was both noble and wild. Penned as quite possibly the luckiest man in all the universe, Tenchi's eyes opened to the bright morning sun and the two beauties sleeping near him, Princess Ayeka and Noblewoman Ryoko--or, as only a few people really called her, the Lady Christina.
The young man smiled at them, and tried not to disturb their rest as he stretched out his limbs. Knuckles and joints were cracked, and several quiet yawns came out of his mouth, but only a shower would really jolt his senses. The violent lovemaking sessions he had underwent the previous night had taken a lot out of him--out of all of them--so not only was the rest necessary, but the shower as well.
The young man nimbly snuck out of bed and performed morning rituals without so much as disturbing his wives. Since the time he had been married to them, Tenchi had gotten quite skilled at stealth maneuvers. It wasn't like he had anything to hide; he just didn't want to disturb his sweet angels. Besides, having two wives meant that he needed all the more time to himself, every so often.
Ayeka and Ryoko (as everyone was calling her again) woke up not to the sounds of their beloved sneaking around, but to the delicious smells of breakfast that he had insisted on making. Their servants had already been up for three hours, and were already shuffling around the large estate, but the morning meal was Tenchi's to dominate. Both girls caught scent of the meal, and rose almost simultaneously with hunger rumbling in their bellies. Two yawns and they greeted each other.
"…Morning, Ryoko," managed Ayeka. "Hm, looks like our dear Tenchi's gone and done something rather nice for us, eh?"
"Yeah…" smiled Ryoko dreamily. The loveable woman yawned and pulled Ayeka back down on the mattress, and snuggled up to her friend without a care in the world. Ayeka giggled lightly at her friend's weary state, and had it not been for breakfast, she would not have wanted to move from that spot for anything.
"Ryoko, dear, we should really get up," she said gently. Ryoko mumbled something and clung onto Ayeka all the tighter; the princess began rubbing her friend's shoulders. "Come come, now," she said. "Tenchi made that breakfast all for us, and--"
"Oh, you're already up!" exclaimed a voice from the doorway. Ayeka noticed that it belonged to Tenchi, who was carrying a large tray full of food. Ayeka smiled and greeted her lord and lover, and received a gentle pinch from Ryoko.
"Breakfast in bed, dummy," muttered the one-time pirate. "What'dya think he was gonna do? Make us ladies walk all the way to the kitchen?" A pause.
"Well…"
"You're so cute," said Ryoko with a half-awake smile. Ayeka managed to crack a smile and rubbed her knuckles on the scalp of her closest friend. Tenchi then proceeded to serve breakfast in bed to the two women closest to his heart.
Two years had passed since Tenchi's wedding, and the passage of time had served everyone excellently. The home world of Ryoko and Nagi had been recovering excellently, and it could even be said that the golden capitol would shine once again. Indeed, the whole planet had a brand-new look to it, with the skies a merry blue again and the streets filled with happy and prosperous people. Nature had also made a comeback, either littering the world with fresh flora, or populating it with exotic species of fauna. Everything was becoming better and better by the day: reconstruction was almost finished, the economy was almost back on track, and every living soul either had a new job, a better job, or just a better way of life.
For their honeymoon, the trio of Tenchi and his two wives had been invited to several dozen places, none of which seemed resistible. Delilah Spadehart, Nagi's first partner in the bounty hunter business, had recommended the three visit her home planet, where the great Festival of Lights would soon take place. Never was a decision regretted less, as the three of them had the time of their lives and still managed to squeeze in a bit of romance.
The honeymoon lasted two weeks, and then it was back to business. Once Tenchi finished his duties on Earth, he bade his home world a sad farewell and journeyed towards Tg, where it was decided that he would spend the rest of his life. The world was already improving in condition thanks to the combined efforts of Jurai, Megalopolis, and the twelve Prima Worlds, and with Ryoko and Nagi on the seat of power (as they rightfully should have been), the world would be resuscitated in a decade.
Yet a fifth of that time had barely passed, and the place was already beginning to assume its old glory, and then some. It was now "a suitable place to live", according to galactic homeowner polls, and within eight years, it might have even rivaled Jurai as a lifetime location. Cities sprang up like weeds, shining in the glorious morning sun; the populace increased and slowly began to forget about their previous errors; Ryoko and Nagi began to assume more and more power on their home, even as their marital lives began to blossom.
In the two years that he had been a husband, Tenchi had truly grown to love, honor, cherish, etc. his wives, and vice-versa. His relationship with Ryoko's head servant, Holtz, was something akin to a grandfather-grandson affair, while his standings with Ayeka's father, Emperor Asuza, were strengthening slowly. Ayeka and Ryoko gave him and each other as much of their love as they had (which was a whole lot with those girls), and though there would always be friction between the three, a resolution almost always came the very next day.
As for everybody else, they had been anything but idle. Sure enough, Nagi was finally married not too long ago, though she insisted upon taking most of the two years that had passed to really get to know young Joshua. The decision was never regretted and the wedding was spectacular--and no, no cakes blew up, but only because Washu swore that she would behave herself. Joshua moved to Tg with his new bride, with his sister in tow as well, who claimed that "anyplace was better than where I had been before".
Nagi's partner was married, little surprise, and ghostly rumors of children came to her ears from time to time. Kiyone and Mihoshi were put on permanent posts on the blossoming planet, both of them being placed where their superiors thought they would best perform. Kiyone became one of the heads of security, but Mihoshi was booted out of the force. No worries; her superiors happily directed her to a job she would enjoy more, and to this day, the loveable young blonde is matron of an orphanage for victims of the past war.
Washu's inventions became an integral piece in restoring the planet's structure. Rubble, dust, and debris were cleaned away easier thanks to her devices, and sanitation robots cleaned the streets and roads to make them shine once again. Robot gardeners attended to the dead forests and arboretums, and hovering machines cleaned the polluted air to make it sparkle once again. Sasami went to and from Jurai every year or so, but always managed to hang around long enough to chip in; Ryo-ohki and Ken-ohki had a "wedding" all of their own, and were now "helping" their individual masters out with affairs.
So yes, there was never a better time to live on Tg than now.
Nanette Gizra Stohk, or "Nagi" to those too stubborn to address her any other way, slouched slightly on the throne that had once occupied the bottom of her father Armand. Her boredom was escalating like a stack of neglected papers, and a powerful yawn came out of her mouth for all the world to see. All the refining schools in the world couldn't change her once-uncouth ways, and the same went for Ryoko as well. The two sisters did indeed have a lineage of nobility, but due to living in lawlessness for so long, something had rubbed off.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't get much sleep. Joshua wakes up at the crack of dawn every day, and he makes so much noise that I get up too, and I'm the kind who can't go to sleep once I'm awake."
"It was all for the best," said Holtz. "We're still scrambling every which way to revive this tired old world, and despite the efforts we've put in these past few years, I don't think we'll ever have a day's rest! Ohhh, where can Lady Christina be?"
"Prob'ly out screwin' around with those others," muttered Nagi blandly. Holtz frowned and adjusted his glasses for the ninth time that morning.
"Oh, my! She can play with them later! We have so many affairs of state to get through that we'll never be finished! Ohhh!! …Lady Nanette, would you mind signing a few papers in the stead of your sister?"
"Yeah, why not?" shrugged the one-time bounty hunter. "I'm such a sucker for that girl. Here, what's this one for?"
"The workers from Prima Billignia, the ninth Prima world, have noticed an extremely large crater on the far eastern side of the continent of Grei. They think it would be an excellent place to dumb their excess garbage, since the crater is miles away from any hint of civilization, but they need your authority before they do anything."
"And that land can't be restored?"
"No, milady," replied Holtz. "The entire area is drenched with radiation. Luckily, the team from Megalopolis has been able to seal it off, but the Prima Billignians want to use all that extra space. Comments, milady?" Nagi took a few seconds to think about it. She just wasn't used to diplomacy, or politics, or the economy, or anything "official-sounding".
"…Sure, I'll sign," she murmured. "Why not? If the whole place is radioactive… But how big is the crater?"
"They state that it's large enough to be seen from Tg's neighboring planet, Farswith. It's a shame that there should be such a blight on our beautiful planet…!"
"Oh well, eh?" shrugged Nagi as she signed the paper. "Even the best fruit must have a blemish, eh?"
"…Quite right, milady!" agreed Holtz as he took the signed paper. "…Quite right indeed! Ah, you have inherited your father's wisdom…"
"Don't get all misty on me, old man," chuckled Nagi. "I got that garbage from a fortune cookie. I don't know jack about any of this stupid 'official' business!"
"But look at how marvelously you have been faring up to this point!" exclaimed the old man. "Miss Nanette, the blood of wisdom and nobility flows through your veins, as it does your sister's! Just give it some time to start pumping again, and everything will come naturally!"
"………If you say so, Holtz…"
"Delicious meal, Tenchi!" sang Ayeka as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. The young man smiled with pleasure.
"I'm glad you like it! Sasami taught me how to make that one!" Suddenly, Ryoko let out a terrifying belch. She blushed fiercely, batted her eyelids, and managed an innocent "excuse me!".
"Good Lord Almighty, woman!" exclaimed Ayeka. "Do you still have no manners, even after all this time?!"
"Manners?" parroted Ryoko with even more innocence. "What are these 'manners' you speak of?" Ayeka's eye twitched, and a tiny vein appeared on her forehead.
"…Very funny, you dolt. I'm serious."
"So'm I!" exclaimed Ryoko. "What the heck is a manners?! Tenchi, do you know?"
"I'm not saying anything," he mumbled as he took the tray away. Ryoko smiled at him and blew him a kiss as he left; poor Ayeka felt like braining her dearest chum.
"You are such a pain, and in places much more diverse than simply the neck!"
"I love you too." Ryoko's warm smile was not too affective on the princess, nor was her sudden hug. Ryoko rubbed her nose against Ayeka's cheek, poked her buddy in the ribs several times, and gurgled out some nonsense that best suited the loveable lady.
"Aww, is Ayeka in a bad mood?"
"I really wish you wouldn't do that," snorted the princess as she shoved her friend. Ryoko glared back at the violet-haired woman and produced a mighty raspberry for the princess to enjoy. Ayeka suddenly pinched the outstretched tongue with her fingers and yanked on it until Ryoko groaned for her to stop.
"Is this what they mean by 'hold your tongue'?" sneered the princess triumphantly. Ryoko's glare grew acidic, and a gentle but quick chop to Ayeka's arm released her tongue. Her golden eyes burned with vengeance, and the two "sophisticated" ladies got into yet another one of their morning wrestling matches.
At least this time, Tenchi had a camera with his so he could capture the moment.
"You two stop that!" he shouted as he came back in. "I don't know whether you're doing this out of fun or what!"
"It's all in good fun, babe," insisted Ryoko innocently. Tenchi rolled his eyes in extreme doubt.
"…Yeah, right…" Suddenly, for no reason at all, Ayeka bolted out of the bed and ran straight down the hallway, nearly bowling over several servants in the process. Tenchi could hear the bathroom door being hastily slammed, and gave his wife a confused look.
"…Hm? What was that about?"
"Dunno. I hope she's not mad about what was goin' on earlier. I didn't mean to hurt her or anything." A smile, more scolding than happy, came across Tenchi's lips.
"You're just too uncontrollable for your own good, Christina."
"That's Ryoko to you, my lover," pointed the ex-pirate firmly. Tenchi's serious smile grew less so, but his concern for his other wife grew with it. Ayeka was not one to just suddenly dash off like that without an excuse. Even if she and Ryoko had been fighting for real, she would have screamed or cried or something, but she didn't even utter a sound. Puzzled, Tenchi and Ryoko decided to check up on their loved one, and walked out of the bedroom and to the nearest bathroom, where two eavesdropping ears were placed on the wooden portal.
"Ayeka? You okay, precious?" asked Tenchi. Silence.
"Hey, Ayeka, I'm sorry I was so rough with you earlier!" said Ryoko. "I'm really sorry, I really am!" Silence. A few seconds passed, and the door opened up to reveal a very ill-looking woman. Ayeka's face was pale, and sweat was coming down her brow. Her hair was a mess, even at this hour, and her eyes were a little bloodshot. She wobbled a little as she stood, like if she had been drunk, and a slight smell of nastiness came from her.
"Hey, you don't look so good!" observed a genuinely-concerned Ryoko.
"…Ughnnn… I feel sick," moaned the princess. Tenchi reached forth and held the ill woman in his arms, and looked into her face with more love than ever.
In sickness and in health.
"What's the problem, my princess?" he asked of her. Ayeka dizzily wobbled around a little more and groaned.
"Don't… feel too well… Must've been… something I ate earlier… No offense… Tenchi…"
"No, it's okay," he said. "…Uh, uhhh, sh-should we get you to a doctor or something?" Ayeka wearily groaned and swallowed down a bit of her sickness.
"…Uggghh… perhaps… though I feel this may pass once the day gets going…"
"Well, you're definitely not going to do anything strenuous today!" stated Ryoko. "C'mon, princess, you're gonna rest for awhile!"
"But… it's already 9:45... didn't we sleep in enough?"
"Who cares? Don't want the public seeing their beloved princess all messed up like this, now do we?" Ryoko carefully hoisted Ayeka's arm over her shoulder, and Tenchi put her other arm over his, and together the three of them made their way back to the bedroom. Sighing, Ayeka glanced at the two most important to her and managed a smile.
"You… you two are far too good to me…"
"Hey, you deserve it!" insisted Tenchi. "You're a princess, right? …Our princess!" Ayeka smiled as she was being laid to rest.
"Thank you… dear ones… Really…"
A day passed, and Ayeka did indeed feel better come the evening. In fact, the princess attested her earlier sickness to a mere fluke in her system, or perhaps, it truly was something she ate that had irritated her stomach so. That night, Ayeka made sure to eat healthily and to not overwork herself, but come the next morning, she rushed to the bathroom yet again…
And so, a doctor was called to examine her…
Ryoko and Tenchi were forced to wait outside the room as the doctor performed an examination of Ayeka. The waiting room was unnaturally quiet, and so drenched in the color white that it was a little disturbing. There was almost nothing to do in the room, save for reading a few grossly-outdated magazines, and the conversation was at a lull as well, so time went by slowly.
Personally, Tenchi was amazed at the way Ryoko was acting. He had learned long ago that the two girls had wiped their slates clean and were now friends. He knew that they got along well and were unstoppable once they put their resources together. He knew that they had grown especially close in these past few years, mostly during the period where Ryoko had been searching for her roots. He knew they were more than friends now, but still…
The concerned look on Ryoko's face made him feel warm on the inside.
Tenchi scooted in closer to his wife of two years, and took her hand gently. She looked over at him and gave him a quiet and gentle smile, the kind she knew he liked.
"You think she's gonna be okay?" she asked. Tenchi nodded his head.
"Ayeka's the strongest woman I know of. I don't think anything could stop her. I wouldn't worry about it."
"Yeah…" Ryoko's smile and gaze lasted, and the grip she had on Tenchi's hand tightened slightly. He decided to express his love for her and leaned forward to kiss her cheek, whispering his everlasting devotion in her ear. Ryoko shuddered happily and the smile grew even more.
"Tenchi…! I didn't know you liked flirting in public…!" A small blush.
"…Well, I…" Before he could finish his sentence, however, the door to the doctor's room opened and out strolled Ayeka. Not only did she look better than she had that morning, but her face was glowing so brilliantly that one would've needed shades to glance at her. The smile was a mile wide and her crimson eyes brimmed with happiness and ecstasy. Neither Ryoko nor Tenchi knew what to make of it.
"…Well, the doctor must've given you some good news!" exclaimed Ryoko. "Either that, or she gave you way too many drugs!"
"Silly!" giggled Ayeka. "Ryoko, I just want you to know that this happiness is natural, and that not even your childish insults will deter it. But, I am glad that you were concerned about me." The princess' smile was overwhelming; Tenchi was the first to approach her, and with both his hands on her shoulders, he asked her what the doctor had said.
"…Well," said Ayeka with a noticeable blush, "it is definitely good news--not just for me, but for everybody. You, ah, could say that things will, eh, become more lively in the future…" For awhile, nobody knew what the devil she was talking about. But Tenchi, whose chocolate eyes were staring straight into those of the woman he loved, slowly pieced together the puzzle and came up with a surprising deduction.
"…AAAH!!! Ayeka!!! You're pregnant!!!!!"
"AAH!! How did you know?!?!" squealed the princess. Tenchi gave her one of his loveably weak smiles.
"I'm… a pretty good guesser…" Both he and Ayeka shared a giggle, then Tenchi enveloped his lover in his arms and gave her a kiss mixed with love and congratulation. Ryoko, who was slowly realizing what was going on, also let out a squeal as she tackled the princess.
"AAH!! Ayeka, you're really gonna have a baby?!"
"Mm-hm!" Ryoko came extremely close to kissing the joyful woman.
"Oh, WOW!!! That's incredible! …Hey, Tenchi! You're finally a MAN!!!!"
KER-PLOP!!!
Poor Tenchi fell over. Ryoko looked down at her husband in amazement and scratched her head.
"…Uh, huh… Well, jeez Ayeka! Pregnant?! Wow, that's awesome!!" Ryoko grinned merrily and leaned over slightly, poking Ayeka's stomach gently. "Heh, heh, heh, heh…"
"Ow, that tickles!" spat the princess, but Ryoko didn't stop. "Ahem! So, ah, dearest of all chums, are you jealous of me?"
"Noooooooo way!" sang Ryoko, who was now slapping Ayeka's belly instead of poking it. "You're gonna have to carry that weight a long time, if you know what I mean!"
"Why you little…!!!!"
Next chapter: I know that was cliché, people, so don't tell me that. If a man and a woman share the same bed for two years, wouldn't you think she'd have a visit from the stork? This is nature, people. …Erm, anyway, I'm so sorry for the long wait, but I've been too busy for words to describe! Hopefully, the next chapter will come shortly, and maybe the baby with it! Next chapter, "No Need for Junior!" It's unquestionably rushed!