XVIII: No Need for Junior!
Sure enough, Tenchi's theory was correct. In just a few short weeks, Ayeka began to show her pregnant state, and in a way where Ryoko could easily insult her girth. But surprisingly, the one-time pirate became a source of comfort and joy to Ayeka, and poured compliments and good words on the princess like never before. The bond between these two very different yet very similar girls grew even tighter, if that were even possible; Tenchi was going through a turbulent time, however.
After breaking the news to everybody, and getting an earful from his overjoyed father, Tenchi settled into the stage where he would play the supportive father-to-be. The nine months of an average woman's pregnancy gave him a hellish and heavenly period of time, one that he both loved and dreaded. It was a wonderful time to live because Ayeka never looked lovelier or smiled sweeter during that time, and friends and family all celebrated the fact that a new life was coming. It was hellish because (as anybody can tell) Ayeka's hormones and mood swings shifted like a razor-tipped pendulum, with poor Tenchi very close to receiving such cuts.
Her eating habits grew…… interesting.
The nine months drawled on like some stubborn sloth, forcing everyone in such an intimate life to suffer and smile through endless days and weeks. The morning sicknesses came quite often; Ayeka's wardrobe expanded slightly to accommodate her new size (then again, the lady underwent a very strict exercise program during her time of expectancy so she could be prepared for her post-birth body); the food that came into her mouth ranged from the common to the bizarre (think things that would make Sasami, a master chef, turn as green as her hair), and of course, there were those random labor pains.
But darnit, Tenchi was in love with this woman! He and Ryoko became pillars for her, who was once a pillar herself. They treated her with extra-special care, took her out on dinners and dates, and serenaded and partied (respectively) with the purple-haired princess until the sun came up again. But, no matter how slow or fast things went, the pregnancy developed full circle, and on one rather sunny day, Ayeka made the sudden announcement that she, and the baby, were "ready".
Having been prepared for this day for some time (oh, were Tenchi and Ryoko ever prepared!!), the Masaki family rushed to the nearest hospital, which was looking very classy and professional now thanks to the reconstruction efforts. The team of doctors and nurses, who had been expecting Ayeka for some time now, took over and guided the laboring woman straight into the maternity ward. The rest of the gang was there, even Nagi and Holtz, with expectant looks on their faces. Washu, who had "volunteered" to be part of the medical team, snapped on some plastic gloves and waved her fingers in the air.
"Okay, it's that time, people!" she sang. "I want everyone to stay here in this waiting room except for Tenchi and Ryoko. Sorry, Nagi, but you're not immediate family."
"I understand," replied the noblewoman, who looked to be showing a bit herself. Washu carted Ayeka inside the operating room with Tenchi and Ryoko holding her hands, and the three went about the arduous and long task of assisting the mother-to-be with the baby. To the surprise of everyone present, Washu included, the gentlemanly gambler known as Ace Spadehart was there, dressed in full doctor scrubs.
"Hey, no laymen!" shouted Washu. "Doctors only, pal! You'll get your chance when that wife of yours gives birth!" Ace looked at Washu like she had hurt more than his pride, and adjusted his glasses before speaking.
"My dear, dear lady, I am probably more of a doctor than you may ever be."
"…Eh?"
"That is correct," he said firmly. "I have been a licensed practitioner of physiology and medicine for some time now. Gambling will only pay so many bills, mind you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do." Washu bit her lip as the mild-mannered man began his symphony of physiological work, but her doubts were cleared in a moment.
"…All right. I guess I'm gonna need some help here, anyway. Tenchi, Ryoko, just do what I say and you'll be fine. Uhh, you might need to sterilize yourselves and put on some scrubs first……"
----------
Outside in the waiting room, Joshua Horace Fionn blankly stared ahead towards the whitewashed brick wall. One of his hands was gently caressing the fingers and palm of his wife and lover Nagi; the other was clasped coolly by his younger twin sister. A calm and quiet classical tune was playing on the overhead, giving the scene an oxymoronic feel. It had not been five minutes ago when Washu came screaming through that very room like an ambulance, with a very pregnant Ayeka strapped to a bed and Tenchi and Ryoko sprinting after her. Now, though, only silence, and the beautiful and quiet melody.
Nagi, who really was expecting a child sometime in the next eight months or so, rubbed her stomach out of habit and looked at her husband and sister-in-law. It had not been too long ago when she was a bounty hunter herself, but like so many of the people in that "family", she had changed her ways and was now living a more prosperous and respectable life. True to Holtz's words, she had indeed grown to be a fine noble woman over those past nine months, and not just in the sense of hierarchy and class.
"…So," she began, "what do you think they'll name it?"
"I dunno," shrugged Joshua. "If it's a boy, I--"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
"What the heck was that?!" exclaimed his sister Mabel. Nagi shrugged.
"Jeez… poor Ayeka… she must really be in labor…"
"No kidding…" The dark-haired former bounty hunter rubbed her abdomen, thankfully devoid of children, and shuddered at the thought of going through all that pain herself. "Man… sounds like she's going through torture…"
"Just think how Tenchi and Ryoko feel!" exclaimed Joshua. "They're almost helpless in all this! The only thing they can really do now is be there for her…" Mabel smiled faintly, and scooted closer to her brother. Her head rested on his shoulder, and his arm went around her muscular body in supportive comfort.
"You'll do the same for me when it's my turn, right?"
"Hey, you know it!" he grinned. "I'm gonna be the first one who sees that little kid come out! …Well, maybe not, but I'll definitely be there. Say, what were we--"
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"
"Oh yeah! We were talking about what they were gonna name the baby! Nagi, what do you--"
"AAAHHH!!!"
"…what do you think?"
"Well, I--"
"AAAAHHHH!!!!" A pause.
"…I think that--"
"AAHH!!"
"………think that--"
"AAHH!!" A longer pause.
"…I think if it's a boy--"
"AAAAH!! ……AAAHHHHHH!!!!! …AAH!! …AAHH!!!"
"I think if it's a boy--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
"They'll name him--"
"AAHH!!" A pause. That blasted classical music was still playing.
"I think they'll name him--"
"AAHH!!!"
"…Name him--"
"AH!" A pause. Nagi was silenced for a very long time, just to make sure that no more screams would interrupt her.
"…They'll name him--"
"AH!!" A pause.
"……Ahh, forget it!!"
----------
After an exhausting seventeen hours of labor and tireless work, Ayeka finally gave birth to her baby. It was an adorable little boy, cute and just slightly pudgy. It had a blend of violet and brown in its eyes, and though there was almost no hair on the child, what little strands were there made up of a very dark violet color, a result of the breed between Tenchi and Ayeka. The baby was literally a blessing from heaven, and everyone cooed and gurgled at the new life, none more so than the proud parents and aunt.
"Awww!! He's so cute!!" squealed Ryoko. She instantly grabbed Tenchi, declaring, "Aww, now I wanna have a baby!"
"But--! Ryoko--!" The intense blush on Tenchi's face made even Washu's hair seem pale, but it faded fast as Ryoko giggled and slapped his shoulders.
"Just kidding, babe! Hahaha!! After what Ayeka went through, I don't think I'll ever have kids!"
"…You… may change your mind, Ryoko," said Ayeka softly as she cradled the baby boy. Washu and Ace smiled proudly, and removed their rubber gloves as they shook hands.
"A brilliant operation, Lady Washu. I could not have accomplished this without your assistance!"
"Yeah… and you were really great, too! We'd make a good pair, Ace!" The gambler/doctor coughed politely and fixed his glasses to hide his flushed face. Meanwhile, the other doctors filed out of the room to alert everyone else of the new baby, leaving the closely-knit Masaki family to hog junior all to themselves.
"So," said Ryoko as she leaned in to get a better view of her nephew, "what'cha gonna name him?"
"I'm not sure…" murmured Ayeka. The ex-pirate grinned that same old reliable "I'm planning for something nasty" grin of hers, and made a suggestion.
"How about Ryoka? That's the male version of Ryoko." A pause. Ayeka actually considered it.
"That's not bad!" noted Tenchi. "Ryoka Masaki…… ehh, no, I dunno…"
"How about… Yosho?" suggested Ayeka. Tenchi smiled and thought about it for awhile.
"Yosho Masaki…… hey, yeah! That's perfect! Yosho Masaki…!" The new father smiled happily, and took his son into his own arms. "Hello there," he said. "My name's Tenchi. I'm your father; did you know that? Your name's Yosho, Yosho Masaki. A lot of people are gonna start calling you that now, Yosho. I hope it's a good name."
"Yosho Ryoka Masaki…" Ryoko mused over the name, and mentally asked Ayeka if it was okay to include her own suggestion in there. Ayeka replied with a quiet smile and nod, and the baby was officially christened.
But deep down inside, unbeknownst to the people in that room, Ryoko had not been kidding when she said that she wanted a baby. No, she had not been kidding at all…
Next chapter: Short and sweet, with just a trace of a cliffhanger. In the next chapter, Ryoko goes into a bit of depression because of her inability to have children. It's true that she has her hands full with running a newly-constructed planet and a new nephew, but maternal longings are going to build up inside the heart of this wild woman. How do you think the others will cope? Can Ryoko get by with a little help from her friends in a game of… baseball? HUH? Am I crazy? Next chapter, "No Need for Depression!" It's unquestionably insane, and so am I!