The owner of Tenchi Muyo is actually Pioneer and AIC and some author, whom I give many thanks for creating such a wonderful universe and characters and a truly unique situation. Cheers.

however the ideas in this story are mine, if you wish to use them contact me FIRST at either ring_princess@hotmail.com or ring_princess2001@yahoo.com or cite me somewhere, Please!

Ryoko's Sacrifice

Part Nine: The Most Romantic Thing

By N. RingPrincess

Last time:

"So, when is the baby going to be born?" Funaho winked at the dumbfounded shock of all those in the room.

". . . ."

"Oh come on Ryoko, I can tell your pregnant. I HAVE been through the process." Funaho sighed. "You are nesting, I swear, yesterday it was the living room, today the kitchen. What will it be tomorrow?"

Ryoko began to flush red. "I didn't see that it was so obvious."

"I wish you had just told us, Ryoko." She glared over at Tenchi. "I know it must be yours, shame on you for not telling us."

Tenchi began to rub the back of his neck. "Well, it is a long story and I wasn't sure how to begin. Emperor Azusa doesn't really seem to like me."

"Let Misaski and I deal with Azusa." Funaho waved her hand. "I have plenty of time to hear this long story."

"So you figured it out, sister-wife." Misaski giggled from the doorway. "Isn't it wonderful. We'll be great-great grandparents."

Funaho sighed. "You knew and didn't tell me."

"I told Ryoko I wouldn't. Besides, it was only a matter of time until you figured it out."

Tenchi sighed and moved behind Ryoko, putting his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them unconsciously. "Perhaps you should sit down, Lady Funaho."

"Tenchi, you could call me Grandmother." Funaho put forth delicately.

Tenchi shook his head. "Pardon me, but you don't look old enough to be my great-grandmother."

Funaho laughed.

Tenchi grinned. "It all began when a young woman named Mayuka showed up on my doorstep one day. . ."

Ryoko leaned back, her head resting on Tenchi's chest, feeling the vibrations as he talked. Underneath that was the soothing beat of his heart, her eyes gradually closed and the voices around the table became a backdrop hum as she focused on the deep thu-thump of his heart.

She vaguely heard the names Yuzuha and Yosho and the occasional Mayuka. Ryoko drifted off to sleep.

Funaho rested her chin on her hands and stared across at the oblivious Ryoko, taking in the woman's calm and trust in Tenchi as he stood behind her. Funaho used her eyes to look up at Tenchi and noticed how much more mature he was than when they had visited the first time.

Tenchi wound down and waited for Funaho's reaction with baited breath. Funaho smiled.

"I think that Ryoko's sacrifice is the most romantic and sweetest thing I have ever seen a woman do for a man. You chose well, Tenchi."

Tenchi blinked and stared down at Ryoko's head. He could tell by her even breathing she was asleep.

"Thank You, Lady Funaho. Ryoko means a lot to me."

Both had forgotten that Ayeka was in the room. "WHAT are you talking about, Aunt Funaho?"

Funaho covered her mouth and Tenchi gulped.

Misaski looked between Ryoko and Ayeka and then at how tenderly Tenchi was holding Ryoko, supporting her and grinned. "You are right, sister-wife."

Tenchi looked between them and sighed. "Ms. Ayeka, please don't go. . ."

It was too late.

"What do you mean, you actually LOVE her? That is utterly ridiculous Tenchi. You know we are destined for each other." Ayeka blustered. "I don't see how you could LOVE that creature. I knew Mayuka was a ploy just to get at you."

Tenchi sighed. "We'll discuss this later. I am going to put Ryoko to bed, she has been rather active today."

"Lord Tenchi! I demand you listen to me!" Ayeka yelled. Misaski's eyes widened at her daughter's commands. Funaho sighed and covered her face with her hands.

Tenchi quickly scooped Ryoko up and turned towards Ayeka, Ryoko's head resting on his shoulder. "You almost always have demanded, Ayeka. Perhaps, it is time you asked." His voice was of anger under control. "In fact, if Washu hadn't blocked your powers, Mayuka would no longer be living would she? I am glad Washu blocked them before I was forced to." His voice was low and intense.

Ayeka's jaw went slack and Tenchi glared at her.

"Now, please keep your voice down, Ryoko is asleep." He said tersely and walked out of the room past a shocked Azusa and up the stairs.

He gently placed her down on her futon, smiling as he saw the new table with the fountain already in place, water trickling merrily. Washu was a wonder. He shook his head and sat next to her, holding her hand. "Oh, Ryoko," He sighed, rubbing his thumb along her wrist.

He frowned, looking down at it. He stared at the other wrist, seeing the gem gleam brightly at him from the delicate hollow. He leaned down and kissed her. "I'll be right back." He whispered.

Ryoko murmured an almost intelligible, "All right, I love you Tenchi."

Tenchi smiled. "I love you too, Ryoko. I know how to prove it as well."

He exited the room and immediately seemed to re-enter. However it was his own room and he picked up the Tenchi-ken off the dresser. "It is only right." He murmured, staring at the other two gems in the hilt.

Ayeka began to pound on his door. "Lord Tenchi, come out here and talk to me this instant."

Tenchi frowned and walked flicking the lock on the door. He went to the door recently installed in his room and entered the new nursery, before turning around and flicking a small switch. He opened the door and walked into Ryoko's room.

He walked over to her door as well and locked it. He did not want to be disturbed while he did this.

It was past time he returned Ryoko her gems.

---------------------------

Misaski grabbed her daughter's shoulder. Spinning Ayeka around to face her, she deliberately slapped her daughter.

"Ayeka Jurai, never in my life have I seen such disgraceful behavior from a princess." She said, voice quivering. "If I knew of an appropriate way to punish you, I would. However, it seems that Tenchi's rejection should be punishment in itself." Misaski glared. "Perhaps, it is also time for you to re-examine your ideas on marriage and love. Shared blood doesn't give a damn about destiny and neither it seems does Tenchi." She snorted, "you are bit presumptuous is proclaiming destiny, little Ayeka."

Ayeka stared at her mother, hand going to cheek Misaski had slapped. "Mommy. . ."

"I don't want to hear an explanation. There is no explanation you could give me that would satisfy me on such behavior. I suggest you leave Tenchi alone until you can talk to him calmly about your feelings and his. But the first question you have to answer for yourself is if you even have feelings for him or whether or not your jealousy of Ryoko has gotten out of control."

"I am not. . ."

"I don't want to hear it. Get out of here, Ayeka." Misaski pushed her daughter down the hall towards the stairs.

Ayeka stumbled slightly, before gathering her kimono and running from the house.

----------------------------

Azusa stared as his eldest daughter ran past him, tears in her eyes. He was about to go after her.

"Let her be, Azusa. She has some things to work out." Funaho said from the doorway of the kitchen.

"Has Tenchi done this? If he has hurt. . ."

"It wasn't Tenchi, Azusa. It was Misaski and I." Funaho sighed. "I am generally better at discerning situations, and I just learned I am not really that good at all. I opened my mouth too much and you can see the consequences."

"Ayeka?"

"Has just either had her heart broken, again or is being forced to grow up." Misaski said grimly from the stairs.

Azusa looked between his wives.

"Azusa, do not blame Tenchi." Misaski sighed. "Tenchi is one that only follows his heart."

"His heart," Azusa sneered.

"Don't be a hypocrite, husband." Funaho said sharply. "Did you also not follow your heart when you married me? Do not blame your son and grandson for following your grand example." She finished soothingly.

Azusa's eyes widened and then his shoulder's slumped. "I made you give up everything to become my wife, Funaho."

"It is now the second most romantic thing that a woman has done for the man she loves." Misaski grinned.

"Oh, what is the first?" Azusa raised an eyebrow.

"Ryoko is carrying a child for Tenchi." Funaho smiled. "A child that isn't even hers, but she loves him and the child so much she was willing to do so."

"It is so beautiful." Misaski sighed in happiness, eyes shining.

Azusa sighed in vexation "Why don't the two of you start from the beginning. You are not making any sense."

Funaho sat down next to her husband and patted his leg. "I know dear, but so much has happened it is hard to make sense."

"Ryoko's pregnant." Azusa said.

Both wives nodded.

"With Tenchi's child."

They nodded again.

"But the child isn't hers."

"Technically, no," Washu said as she entered from the kitchen, Sasami trailing behind her, peering around Washu's legs.

"It is safe, Sasami. I am just upset at your sister. That is all." Misaski smiled.

"I don't understand, Tenchi loves Ryoko, most of us have known this for a very long time. Even before Kagato we knew that Tenchi loved Ryoko." Sasami shook her head.

Washu grinned. "The boy just can't hide his emotions." She shrugged. "I guess we can go through this story for the second time today."

"You could just make it a media presentation to save time." Funaho teased. "Professor Hakubi."

"I could, but I won't." Washu snorted. "Save time, right. That is a good one. A media presentation takes more time that it's worth."

"Would you just start?" Azusa growled.

"All right . . . yeesh. . ."

---------------------------------

Tenchi leaned back over the bed and brushed Ryoko's hair away from her face.

"You are so beautiful, Ryoko." He whispered.

Ryoko wiggled slightly, eyes blinking slowly as she awoke. "Tenchi, how did I get to my room?" Her voice was hazy with sleep.

"I carried you up here, silly." He grinned. "You don't sleep walk."

"Oh, I should have known." Her eyes snapped open and she sat up. "I missed the story. How did Funaho take it?"

"She said it was the most romantic thing she had ever heard." Tenchi grinned and Ryoko blushed hotly, "She also said I chose well."

Ryoko's hand came upward and covered her mouth. "Ayeka was right there in the room Tenchi. We didn't tell her."

Tenchi's face turned grave and he nodded. "She didn't take it very well. Last I knew she was pounding on the door."

"I heard some thumping, but I thought I was still hearing your heart."

"So, you like the sound of my heart?" Tenchi teased brown eyes wide.

"Tenchi," Ryoko giggled.

"Well, I should have done this a long while ago." Tenchi held up the Tenchi-Ken. "I don't want anything that keeps you here other than your own free will. And I have been selfish in not returning them."

"You don't. . ."

"Yes I do, Ryoko." He grasped her hand, running his thumb over the gem embedding in that wrist.

Ryoko's eyes closed and she purred in pleasure. Tenchi smiled and leaned foward, kissing her.

Ryoko's blood pounded in her ears and she didn't even notice the slight burning/itching sensation at the hollow of her wrist and throat or when Tenchi set the sword aside and wrapped his arms around her slightly distended waist.

When they broke the kiss, Ryoko leaned her head on Tenchi's shoulder, flush with the power he had returned to her, she brought her lips close to his ear. "Oh Tenchi, that was the most romantic thing you've ever done."

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RingPrincess

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