Tenchi Muyo: Chances: Chances are a villain appears…

Tenchi and Katsuhito were hesitant about Nobuyuki marrying again, as the memory of Achika still burned brightly in their hearts. However they could see the genuine affection and love that he had for Mihoshi and that she had for him. This was just one of the reasons that Tenchi had congratulated him, even if his mothers memory was still burning brightly in his heart, he knew his dad deserved to be happy. He had not realized it until a moment later that Ryoko had left his side. But before he could even ask someone about her whereabouts, she returned with a tray load of sake.

"I thought we could use some sake to celebrate!"

"That's my girl!" crowed Washu as she grabbed some and served it to Yosho and herself. Nobuyuki and Mihoshi had some as well. Tenchi thought a moment about it, and then he too joined them. It was not long until their impromptu party was in full swing. Since Sasami and Ryo-Ohki did not want to drink, they instead opted to make some snacks and other thing that would keep everyone in a party mood while replacing the sake with other drinks.

Tenchi, who was not used to sake, was feelings its effects long before anyone else was. Ryoko of course noticed this and though she thought several times about getting him good and drunk, so he might actually let her get into his pants for real. She decided not to though, not only would he be upset about it later, but he had been talking to her about how he wanted his first time to be special. She couldn't rob him of that, no matter how much she wanted him right now. After a few more drinks, and she made sure that he didn't get any more sake, she took him upstairs, with Ayeka's help to put him to bed.

"I still don't see why we have to leave the party so soon?" Ayeka asked her.

"Tenchi's getting drunk," she told the princess though she didn't seem to be catching on. Growling in frustration, she finally told her, "Fine, if he gets too drunk he may do something that he'll regret later, ok?"

"But what would he regret?"

"Ryoko…" he slurred out. "I'm ready… if you…"

"Not tonight," she said hastily as Ayeka looked at her.

"But I thought you wanted…"

"Not tonight Tenchi," she repeated though she hated having to turn him down.

"Miss… I mean, Ryoko, why are you telling him no? I thought you wanted…. To you know…"

Ryoko just laughed, "I still do, but not when he's like this."

Many things crossed Ayeka's mind, everything from saying 'this would be her only chance,' or 'I will then' to what she finally did say, "What do you mean?"

After laying him down she looked at the princess, then back at him. Tenchi had fallen asleep as soon as his body was laid down. "Do you remember how he said he wanted his first time to be special?" Ayeka nodded, but still did not understand. "If we, either one of us, were to do that with him, then he'd be upset when he wakes up and finds out we took advantage of him."

"But he just said…"

"No, he's drunk, he doesn't know better. He will wakeup with a headache and will feel like we used him."

"Why are you saying we?" Ayeka asked as she was getting annoyed at being included in this even if she did think it earlier.

"Oh don't tell me you didn't think about it?" Ayeka's shammed expression told all that needed to be said. "You may not believe me, but I do love him." She smoothed out his hair with her hand. "I never understood it, and for the first month of being in here with him I tried several things… if he would have asked me back then I wouldn't have thought twice."

"I see," Ayeka looked at him, then at Ryoko and she could see the love the pirate held for him. She never would have believed it before, and even now, it seemed strange. But over the time that the three of them had been staying in the same room, she had seen Ryoko in a different light. She didn't want to forgive the pirate, which was the root cause of their fights, even up to today. However, no matter how hard she had tried to convince herself that Ryoko was evil incarnate, she could not even begin to think that now. Slowly she let her inner guard down. "I'm sorry."

Ryoko looked at her and she could tell something had changed, "For what?"

"I… I never wanted to see what he saw in you. I just thought you were after him for one reason." Ayeka looked up to see a tear in Ryoko's eye, and a hurt look on her face. 'Oh no…' Reaching up she wiped the tear away causing Ryoko to look at her in shock. "I'm sorry, the only reason I still fought you all those times was to prove to myself of what you were… I was wrong."

Ryoko swallowed heavily as Ayeka said this, she was at first fearful of what she would say, but it all looked to be changed, well the princess was changing. "Ayeka…"

"I don't know if he can forgive me, but can you? If not, I will leave… You love him, and he… loves, you."

"He loves you too," Ryoko choked out.

"No, not the same way… He didn't ask me that question…"

"Yea but you never asked him that as many times as I did." Both girls laughed slightly at that. "He loves you too. He won't be happy if you leave."

The princess smiled at her old rival, "Am I hearing things or are you tying to get me to stay?"

"Oh, um…" Ryoko stopped and smirked, "I guess I am." She hen looked at Ayeka, "As funny as it sounds, yes."

Ayeka smiled brightly, "Let me guess, if I had asked that a few months ago…"

"I would have packed your bags for you," Ryoko said with a smirk, which caused Ayeka to smile as well.

Downstairs as the celebration commenced without Tenchi, Ryoko and Ayeka. And had it not been for one thing, it would have lasted for much longer, Mihoshi's bracelet started beeping. She looked very despondent but smiled and told the rest of her family that she'd find out what was happening and would be back as soon as possible! Then, surprising all there, she passionately kissed her husband to be almost snapping his back in the classic kissing bent backwards scene like in the movies.

Releasing him he fell to the floor with a smile as Yosho and Washu laughed. Mihoshi pulled out her cube and on the first twist her uniform appeared on her. On the second she phased out of sight and was transported to her GP shuttle. Washu just laughed that much more, "You know… I think she's getting used to that thing." After Mihoshi had left Nobuyuki went upstairs while Washu and Yosho disappeared through one of her portals.

When he got upstairs though he paused at Tenchi's door that was still open. From inside he could hear Ayeka and Ryoko talking, and of all things about Tenchi. Leaning in to hear better he listened to the two girls talk about his son and he discovered soon that they were talking about having sex with him. Trying to contain himself he listened, but what he heard surprised him. Ryoko turned down having sex with Tenchi, so that it would be special later. As he listened, he sat on the floor thinking, 'They really love him, a lot.' He perked an ear up as the girls began to talk about Ryoko's feelings and he was very surprised to hear Ryoko asking Ayeka to stay when she offered to go. For a while he didn't know what to say, or think.

'Everything I've ever thought about them has been wrong. They really do love him… My son, treat them right.' He looked up at the ceiling and wondered about Mihoshi. 'I don't know if she's been with a man before, but that doesn't matter to me. I still love her." Wiping a tear from his eye he stood up and proceeded to his room. Once there, he moved to the center of the room and looked around at the various pictures he's collected over the years. Most were of him and Tenchi, but some of his favorite ones still hung in places. Those, his favorites were of him and Tenchi when he was much younger, and Achika was still with him.

"My love, you would be proud of him… he's grown into quite a young man…" He looked at one that sat on his dresser, it was of the day they were married. "I know you want us together, Tsunami said so… but I still miss you." He looked at a picture he took of Tenchi with the girls; most importantly, he looked at Mihoshi. "I don't love her as a replacement for you… I-I really do care for her." Chuckling as he held the picture, he told her; "We've talked a lot, about her dreams… and mine. I am somewhat scared, she's much younger than me, but should that matter?"

He sat the picture down and then sat on the edge of the bed. "I do love her, the way she smiles, the innocent way she does things." In his mind he began to say more and more things about her that he liked, and it was hard to believe that she liked, no, loved him as well. Lying across the bed, he went to sleep thinking about her.

It was some time later, though what time he was not sure that he heard something. Looking up he saw Mihoshi standing in the doorway. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he called out to her, "Mihoshi?"

"N-Nob..Nobuyuki…" She started and wobbled closer to him. He sat up quickly and saw the tears in her eyes.

"What happened?" He held out his hands as she literally fell into his arms crying.

"I-I'm being ...reassigned to headquarters," she sobbed. "Someone in the Jurai council requested that only Juraian knights should be here protecting them!" She wiped a tear away as he held her; "They said that no GP officers are to be in this system!" Finally unable to control it she began crying harder as he stroked her back trying to calm her down.

'Juraian Knights? Protecting them? Who….' As he tried to understand what she had told him it slowly began to sink in that someone on Jurai wanted only their people here to protect, he guessed the princesses.

"I'm sorry…"

"Why should you be sorry?" He asked her softly.

"I can't marry you now… I'm not even supposed to be here…"

"What?"

"They said I couldn't come back… but I had to."

"I'm glad you did."

"What am I going to do?"

"I don't know, but we'll find out. Don't worry." He released her gently as her tears finally stopped. "Lets get you ready for bed, ok? We'll talk to Washu and the others about this in the morning. I'm sure that they can find out what's going on."

She just nodded as he moved away from her, "Wait!" He turned to look at her; "Will you… stay… with me tonight."

"Are you sure?" Mihoshi bit her lip slightly and nodded. "Ok, I'll stay."

"Thank you!" The blonde then got up and grabbing her cube, she gave it a slight twist. In a flash, her uniform was replaced with a long sleep shirt.

He gulped as he stared at her, as even now he thought she was beautiful. "I can't change that fast…" he mumbled as he realized he still had his dress shirt and slacks on. "I'll be right back." He grabbed some clothes and rushed to the bathroom to change. After changing, he returned to his room wondering what should he do now, he loved her, but should he really sleep with her… 'No that sounds bad… but we are going to sleep together... just not like that…' Opening his door he looked to she that she was already in bed, and was waiting for him. Swallowing hard one last time he moved into the room and sat beside her.

As soon as he sat down she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. With a smile, he returned the gesture. It didn't seem like all that long ago he had hugged her for the first time, and now they were engaged. Leaning over he kissed her on the forehead, "Goodnight, my love." Shifting his weight a little, he slid under the covers as she still rested against him. He wasn't sure how he'd get some sleep like this, but at this point, he didn't care. As long as she was going to be ok.

It did not take long for her to go to sleep, though it was considerably longer for him. Nobuyuki stayed awake for what seemed like hours thinking, but it all came down to one question, 'Why? Why would they want her to leave and why do they want knights here?' He looked at the woman in his arms as she slept, "I promise, I won't let them take you away from me." Kissing her on the forehead he leaned back to get some sleep himself, though his mind kept him from it for most of the night.

When he awoke the next morning, Nobuyuki stretched and after sitting up, he started to get out of bed when he noticed something. 'Something's missing…' he thought the looked around and that was when he noticed that Mihoshi was not in the room. "Mihoshi…" he called out but didn't receive a response. 'Is she gone? Did they call her back already?' Tossing the covers back he jumped out of bed and headed for his door. "They can't take her away from me! I won't let them!"

Throwing open the door he marched out into the hall and down to the living room. 'If they took her away I'll get Washu to…' He stopped in mid thought as he stormed into the room to see to his relief, Mihoshi. "Mihoshi! You're still here!" He all but screamed, happy to know she had not been called away. However, he also gained the attention of the rest of the room. Tenchi, Ayeka and Ryoko were sitting on the couch, and on the floor beside them was Sasami and Ryo-Ohki. But it wasn't just them, Washu was standing beside Mihoshi while his father in law was sitting in one of the chairs.

A silent moment passed before the girls began to snicker slightly. Mihoshi blushed and looked down while Sasami covered her and Ryo-Ohki's eyes. "Um, dad…" Tenchi began.

"Yes, son… you need to…."

"What?" Nobuyuki looked around confused before Mihoshi walked over to him.

"Um, Nobuyuki… please don't be mad…."

"Mad, why? I've got you back, I'm not going to let them separate us."

"No, it's not that… You see I…."

"You what?" He heard Katsuhito cough and he looked up at his father in law. The quiet priest just motioned him to look down as the girls continued to snicker and blush. Looking down he realized the problem; he was standing in the room wearing only his underwear. "Oh my!" He yelped and covered himself as he stepped back into the hall.

Mihoshi followed him, "I'm sorry… You looked uncomfortable still dressed… and during the night, you kept having nightmares… I just wanted to make you comfortable…." She seemed very worried that he would be upset but as he listened to her, he realized that she was only trying to help.

He stopped backing up when he reached the wall. Though she was still babbling, he smiled. Lifting her face to look at him, she paused as she searched his face. The smile he bore answered her questions about him being mad and before she could say another word he leaned in and kissed her gently.

From down the hall he suddenly heard several whistles and hollering from various people, mainly Washu and Ryoko though. "Hay why don't you get a room!" he heard one of them say, but he was focused on Mihoshi. This morning she seemed especially beautiful to him. Maybe it was the fact that he had thought he lost her or the fact that he was looking at his fiancée. But whatever the reason, he ignored the others and kissed her again as he stepped into his room, followed by her.

As soon as the door was closed, she tried to apologize again, "I'm sorry I embarrassed you."

"You didn't embarrass me."

"But you were blushing and covering…."

"…Ah, well maybe I was, but that's not important."

"It's not?"

"No," he smiled at her, and he wondered how he was so lucky. "I was worried about you, you told me last night that you were being reassigned, and when I woke up you weren't here. "

"I was just outside talking to them? And telling them what I knew."

"I know, but since you weren't here I was worried."

"Oh," she then smiled brightly. She could not remember anyone other than her family that was ever worried about her like this. She watched as he began to get dressed and though she was a little embarrassed by watching him dress something about it felt nice as well. Once he was fully dressed, he gave her a hug before the two of the stepped back outside to meet with the family.

As the two of them stepped around the corner into the living room, there were a few stifled giggles, which caused both of them to blush faintly. "Well now that we are all here…" Washu began as she tried to contain her laughter.

Nobuyuki looked at them and just shook his head; he remembered this type of teasing from when he first started dating Achika. Looking around he realized that they had saved a spot for him and her… on the loveseat. It was just a couch my design, though was made to seat only two. Instead of saying anything, as he didn't think there was much need in it, he took his place, with Mihoshi at his side. As they sat down there were a few snickers, but Washu stopped them so she could talk.

"Well it seems that we have a small problem here, it seems that Mihoshi has been called off the planet by the Jurai Counsel, and her position is to be replaced by a few of the Juraian Knights."

"Great, that's all we need!" Huffed Ryoko.

Ayeka shot her a dangerous glare, and then she sighed, "As much as I hate to say it… I agree."

Tenchi though was confused, "Why would it be bad to have some knights here?"

Yousho was the one to answer him, "With the Jurai Knights here, you won't be able to sleep with the girls."

Tenchi, Ryoko and Ayeka all turned scarlet at his phrasing and none of them could answer him for a few moments. Nobuyuki had other ideas though. "Dad, why do they want them here? I mean there's only been two problems and Tenchi took care of both of them?"

Tenchi felt a little pride seep in as he listened to his dad say it, though he didn't really remember how he took care of clay. "I think Washu, has found that out, while you were, busy,' the priest told him which this time caused Nobuyuki to redden.

"Oh really!" Mihoshi squealed in delight. "What'd you find out?"

"Only that a certain Jurai Counsel Member is using you as his pawn to make himself look better in the Emperor's eyes, while allowing his men to get control of the boy with the light hawk wings and eventually rid the universe of the dreaded space pirate and marry Ayeka." Washu stood back and waited for the praise from what she had discovered. However, the praise wasn't happening. In fact, everyone was looking at her surprised. She began to get angry with them for not telling her what a good job she did and in fact, she was thinking of turning them all into little piles of goo when Mihoshi spoke up.

"Wow… How'd you know that?"

She grumbled a moment, then told them, "I hacked into the Jurai Counsel and found a few interesting messages that were deleted."

"MISS WASHU!" Ayeka screeched, then a smile crept onto her face.

"Way to go MOM!" Ryoko laughed as Yousho just shook his head.

"But Miss Washu," added Nobuyuki, "if the messages were deleted then how…"

"Son, cracking into their system was the tough part, right?" Yousho arched an eyebrow at Washu who only grinned.

"Oh I see! You just went into the system, then found the places where messages had been deleted and then just used the recover option." Everyone stared at Mihoshi as she prattled off the procedure; even Washu was staring at her.

After a moment, Washu was able to shake of her surprise, "Um, yea. It wasn't hard for a genius like me!"

"But why?" Everyone turned to Nobuyuki, "Why would they want to do that?"

Washu just shrugged, "Who knows when it comes to those uptight…"

"Washu," Ayeka added quickly.

"What?" Ayeka nodded to Sasami and hoped the scientist would understand.

"Better yet, who?" Added Tenchi after a moment of thought.

"Who?" Asked Washu.

"Who is behind this? You said it was someone in the counsel, who is it?" All eyes turned to Washu and she felt a bead of sweat form.

"Well you see…"

"You don't know?" Ryoko almost screamed.

"Not exactly," she offered hoping to calm them down. "I had to just copy the database to my system, and I haven't gone through all the messages yet. They never mentioned his name."

"That's just great!"

"Ryoko calm down," added Tenchi as he grasped her gently by the shoulders. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled softly.

"Miss Washu, is there anything we can do?" Ayeka asked, hoping it was not too late to act.

"Yes there is, you can call your father and have him give his ok for her to stay, since it will take his command to overturn the Counsel."

"Washu," Yousho started, "Nobuyuki has not only married into the royal family, but he is also a descendant of mine." To say the least everyone was shocked Ayeka and Nobuyuki the most. "In the 700 years I have spent on earth I did not only have one wife, and some of them had sons and daughters as well, to which Nobuyuki is a descendant of. If he marries Mihoshi before they can enforce their orders then she will be able to stay…"

"…And no order of the counsel or the Galaxy Police could make her leave!" Gushed Nobuyuki as he hugged Mihoshi tightly.

"That is true…" Ayeka said then smiled. "But I will still talk to my father, I'm sure he can at least delay things long enough for a proper wedding."

"Oh you are so devious!" Cooed Ryoko, which caused them both to giggle in remembrance of an old pact.

Both Princess and Pirate laughed as everyone else looked at them strangely. Washu just shrugged it off, "Well Nobuyuki, you and Mihoshi had better start working on that wedding, we should be able to have it right after ours."

"Really? You don't mind?" Asked Nobuyuki.

"Not at all my son," Yousho smiled, "You two can help me with ours while she works one this problem.

"But I wanted to help too," whined Washu.

Yousho stepped up beside her; "If I can get Mihoshi working on it then she won't be in your lab."

"Oh!" She thought about it a moment, "Ok, but I get to have my hand in it as well."

"Of course you will, It's your wedding too."

Washu smiled then directed Ryoko and Ayeka to go with her to the lab, while Yousho took Nobuyuki and Mihoshi to the shrine to plan for the wedding. Tenchi just looked at Ryo-Ohki, "Well are you ready to work in the fields again? I think we have some carrots that need to be pulled." He had not even finished speaking before the cabbit had bounced out the door happily towards the field. "Hay Ryo-Ohki! Wait!"

Stepping into the lab was still not one thing that Ryoko enjoyed; however Ayeka was with her, and she hoped that her friend would stay with her. It still felt strange as well to consider the princess a friend, but considering she had been sleeping in the same room with her, it made calling her a friend easier. That and the two of them had spent some time together in the onsen, actually talking helped as well. Since the two of them no longer had him to fight over, it made things much easier, though the two of them still enjoyed a fight or two.

Smiling, Ryoko followed Ayeka and Washu to an area beside a stream. This was very different than what Ryoko had ever seen in here, but yet a feeling of remembrance came over her. The scientist walked to the center and bringing up her fingers, she typed in a keyboard that just happened to appear there, then she turned to Ayeka.

"Ok, I've sent a call to the Royal Palace, and we should hear from them soon… if they want to talk."