A/N Tenchi Muyo! is owned by AIC and Pioneer and not by me. (ending dry and dull disclaimer)

The ideas in this story are mine though and if you'd like to use or borrow them, contact me first at ring_princess@hotmail.com or ring_princess2001@yahoo.com

Note: What Should Have Been has no cooresponding timeline in the Tenchi Verse. This story was started long before I cared for such things, so please keep that in mind as you read.

What Should Have Been

Chapter Eight

Hazardous Relations

By RingPrincess

The royal family descended the stairs. A mix of Athena and Funaho walked between Azusa and Misaski, darker complexion and eyes, but Athena's hair and build.

Yosho jumped from the table. "Mother," He gasped. "Is there something wrong?"

Funaho smiled at her son. "Nothing is wrong in fact everything is the most right it has been in a long time."

"What happened?"

"Oh, Yosho," Funaho came and hugged her son. "I am just a bit different, but I am still your mother." She smiled. "I told your father who I also am."

Yosho for the first time in many years was stunned by what his mother was saying. "I don't get it."

"Obviously," Washu droned, her eyes sparkling. "Perhaps you should be an apprentice, Lady Funaho, or is it Athena." Washu winked.

Funaho laughed slightly, pulling away from Yosho and holding him at arms length. "You have the blood of a goddess in your veins, my son. I am also Athena, a Goddess to the Greeks."

"You weren't born, but arose from the head of Zeus in full battle armor." Ryoko murmured from her corner of the table next to Tenchi.

Funaho laughed again. "Correct, Ryoko."

Funaho forced her son to sit back down and sat down next to him. She picked up the tea pot and poured into the cup in front of him. "Yosho, it is really quite simple. On a journey long, long ago, I met your father here in Japan, where I was known as Funaho. I fell in love and left with him for Jurai, leaving my other family behind." She grinned. "It was a conscious choice and they were very put out, but learned to deal."

"Shall we meet them, Aunt Funaho?" Sasami asked, accepting the news with the bliss of the young.

"We might." Funaho winked at her niece.

"Perhaps sooner than you think," Tokimi added.

"You seem to know more than you are willing to tell, Lady Tokimi." Yoru raised his eyebrows.

"I know what I know, Mr. Yoru." Tokimi shrugged, "All in due time."

Ayeka was carefully swallowing the tea she had been sipping, when her mouth was clear she gasped, "A Goddess!"

Funaho nodded.

"It is quite the relations you have, Tenchi." Yoru chuckled.

Mihoshi nodded. "Yes, even Tokimi is. . ."

"In due time, Mihoshi," Tokimi placed her hand on Mihoshi's arm. Mihoshi looked at her and Tokimi suddenly delved into her mind.

::You were right, sister. Head trauma, easily corrected.::

::NOT at the breakfast table, Tokimi!:: Tsunami chided.

::I agree.:: Washu snorted. ::You also know it is rude to delve into someone's mind without permission, drop her.::

::Oh, fine.:: Tokimi let go of Mihoshi's mind.

Thankfully nobody had noticed, most being focused on Funaho.

"What is it like to be a Goddess?"

"Boring," Funaho grinned. "Except if your people have wars, then you can meddle." She shrugged. "Like the Trojan war for instance."

"Wasn't it all over a woman?"

"Supposedly, but the Greeks had more reasons to go to Troy than just Helen." Funaho rolled her eyes.

"Helen was supposedly very beautiful." Yoru took a sip of tea. "But to go after Troy for her would have been foolish."

"Many foolish things have been done over a woman." Washu raised her eyebrows, green eyes twinkling. "Mr. Yoru, I am sure you have done foolish things for your late wife, to make her happy."

Yoru spit out his tea into his cup. "Ms. Washu, how did you know?"

Washu laughed and Tokimi chuckled. "All men have done foolish things for their wives." Tokimi waved her hand.

"Be aware of making too general of a statement." Funaho grinned.

Sasami wrinkled her nose. "That would be unfair to the men it wasn't foolish, especially if it made the woman happy. Was Helen happy after she left the Greeks?"

"You ask if she was happy with Paris." Athena sighed. "Yes, she was and that is why the story is so sad. Menelaus had no right to try to take her back, beyond the right that marriage gave him. He wasn't prepared to be the husband of Helen of Sparta." Funaho suddenly laughed. "This is of course after over a thousand years of reflection, at the time I was still mad at Paris for rejecting my offer." Funaho's hand unconsciously reached down and squeezed Azusa's, who was sitting next to her, "The follies of youth."

"There is much more that happened than what you are saying, Funaho." Washu said gravely.

"That is why I left, Olympus." Funaho sighed. "I left because we were too involved, to close and too much like the mortals themselves, all the squabbles, all the infighting, backstabbing and intrigues."

"You were well prepared for the life at Jurain Court." Ayeka said smoothly.

Funaho laughed. "You are right." She shook her head. "However, the life of an Olympian is twice if not three times as bad as the life of a Jurain Queen, I think I made the correct choice."

Tokimi grinned. "Only in hindsight will anyone ever know that."

Tenchi cleared his throat. "Now that is wisdom." He raised his tea glass in a toast to Tokimi.

Washu and Funaho laughed.

Tokimi looked at Tenchi. "You owe me an explanation, Sir Knight." She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head back.

"Oh, that." Tenchi grinned sheepishly.

"Yes, that." Ryoko poked him sharply in the ribs. "Go on, tell her."

Tenchi shook his head. "You see Tokimi, it is a bit of an inside joke. You are not the first person to show up unexpectedly at my home. The first was Ryoko, sort of."

Ryoko snickered. "You set me free and then are surprised that I show up in your house."

::Did it have to be the bedroom, Ryoko?::

::Yes.::

Tenchi rolled his eyes. "Anyways, Ayeka shows up, then Sasami and Mihoshi and Washu and

Kiyone and then Azusa, Funaho and Misaski, now you and who knows who is coming next. I have given up thinking about it."

Tokimi smiled. "I get it. I really do, your life has been upset so many times you just make a joke of it than get mad or angry."

"Yep, that is about it."

"And to make it worse, everyone is related to each other in some way or the other." Tokimi grinned.

"Exactly. Washu is Ryoko's mother, Kiyone is Mihoshi's partner, Ayeka and Sasami are sisters and those three," he gestured at Azusa, Funaho and Misaski, "are their parents. You are Washu's sister and Yoru, you should feel privileged you are the only EXPECTED guest that was invited in a very long time."

Yoru narrowed his eyes. "I don't know whether to feel honored or not."

"You don't have much company then?"

"I have company, just no one from earth and many things around here would be rather difficult to explain to a native. Hell, I have a hard time with them myself at times."

"But he is getting better." Ryoko broke in to his rambling.

"Besides, who would actually understand and not mention it to others." Tenchi shrugged and shook his head.

Ryoko ruffled his hair. "He is so cute."

"Ryoko," Tenchi grabbed her hand. "That isn't what you said the other day."

Ryoko flushed and smirked. "I have the right to change my mind."

Tenchi smirked. "Then change it."

::Wipe that sexy smirk off your face, Tenchi, before I do something I won't regret.:: Ryoko giggled mentally.

::Lovebirds, you are at the table.:: Washu broke in. "Speak out loud."

Both of them turned their heads to look at her. "You were speaking to someone mentally earlier." Ryoko pointed at her. "So, don't be a hypocrite."

"That was different."

"In no way was it any different." Ryoko snorted.

"So many women, my son, you should share." Noboyuki said as he sat down at the table.

Food began to be passed around, for they were only waiting for him.

Tenchi flushed. "Dad, it is nothing of the sort."

Ryoko grinned. "I don't think Ayeka would actually be content in dating an earthling."

Ayeka snickered at Ryoko. "Only you would demean yourself in that manner."

"Hey, my Tenchi is the first crown prince of Jurai."

"That is beside the point." Ayeka said calmly.

"How is his title beside the point?" Ryoko growled.

"He doesn't want to use it."

Tenchi looked between them and sighed. "Says who?"

"You, Tenchi," Ayeka raised her eyebrows.

"I don't want to use it because it means NOTHING here on earth. On Jurai, yes, but we are not on Jurai, we are on earth." Tenchi said reasonably.

"Point Tenchi," Ryoko crowed.

"You make it sound like you'll go to Jurai." Yosho observed.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't." Tenchi stared at his grandfather. "It will be our decision."

"Thank you for remembering to include me." Ryoko sniffed.

"I could never forget you, Ryoko." Tenchi grinned.

"You better not."

"Considering she is the only woman who will put up with you," Ayeka added.

Tenchi laughed. "Good, cause I am the only man who will put up with her."

"Hey, unfair!" Ryoko shouted.

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

Washu paced back and forth, unwittingly using the very same path through the lab Tokimi had used earlier.



There came a knock on the door. Washu looked up and swallowed, wiping her hands on her trousers.

"Come in, Ryoko."

The crab jangled as Ryoko entered the lab, her amber eyes on her mother, they were narrowed in worry.

"Mother, you seem upset."

"I am upset." Washu sighed. "Too much is happening and Tokimi refuses to tell me something that I KNOW is important." Washu stopped suddenly and turned on her heel. "But that isn't why I wanted to talk to you."

Ryoko sat down on a cushion near her mother. "Mother, just tell me."

"Well, it has to do with all this talk of relations." Washu was also sitting on a cushion. Her gaze was far away. "Funaho started an avalanche and. . ." Washu shrugged. She turned to look at her daughter, "Unwittingly of course."

"Of course," Ryoko agreed.

Washu sighed. "I didn't want to tell you. We have come so far in OUR relationship that I am afraid this would hurt it."

Ryoko was getting uneasy. "Mother, please just spit it out."

Washu bit her lip. "You know that Tokimi is my older sister, correct."

"You've made that quite clear."

"Well, Tokimi is a Goddess, one of the supposedly 'original' three Goddesses." Washu glanced over at her daughter. "Tokimi is the Goddess of evil, darkness, time, and all sorts of other things. Clay was her minion."

"Clay!" Ryoko gasped, "But Clay kidnapped me and tried to kidnap you and kill Tenchi."

"Please be calm, Ryoko. Clay did all of that on his own. Tokimi had no knowledge of it." Washu's head dropped. "In a way, we both should thank Clay. He created the copy of you that allows you to recognize emotion and he provided a crack on something that was important to me.

Clay mentioned Tokimi. I had no idea of who he was talking about, but instinctively I was afraid of something. I didn't know what at the time. I do now."

"It isn't like you to be afraid, mother."

"No, I wasn't this afraid even when Kagato kidnapped you. You see, Kagato had no concept of Goddesses, including Tsunami. Tsunami to him was an object, just a power, not a Goddess. Clay knew." Washu shuddered. "If Clay had found out what he was seeking, I would've feared for both of our lives. Thankfully he didn't, but I did." Washu took a deep shuddering breath.

"Why, mother, why were you so afraid?"

"Ryoko, I am also a Goddess." Washu stared at her daughter.

"A Goddess, mother. . ." Ryoko stared at her. "Please tell me you aren't serious."

"I am very serious, Ryoko." Washu sighed. "If Clay had found out, we would both be dead, he wouldn't have allowed us to live. He would have told Tokimi it was an accident and she would be none the wiser."

"And the universe would have been even more greatly out of balance." Tokimi added, striding into the lab, seemingly out of nowhere.

Ryoko glanced between Tokimi and Washu. "Why? Why tell me?"

"Because of the gems, Ryoko," Washu blinked. "And the DNA, it is my DNA, you are also a Goddess."

"Of what?" Ryoko said scornfully. "Mother, indeed I am powerful, but a Goddess?"

"At the moment you aren't a Goddess of anything Ryoko. You aren't born with the power of this and that. You assume the power. Perhaps you may have chosen something unconsciously, which is extremely likely. Tenchi has, Tenchi has set himself up as a minor deity of fate. All because he doesn't believe in it, he changes people's fates and destinies when he comes in contact with them." Tokimi smiled. "That is why many more powerful Gods will most likely hate him for ruining their carefully laid plans. You two will have to be careful.

"And our children."

"Oh, most definitely they well be Gods and Goddesses." Tokimi waved her hand airily.

"What do the gems have to do with this?"

"Well, the gems proclaim you to be like Tenchi, a Knight of a certain Goddess. Tenchi is the knight of Tsunami and you are the Knight of Washu." Tokimi frowned. "You are actually pulling a double duty. Knights are special creatures unto themselves, the fact that you and Tenchi are also Deity makes your lives that much more complicated."

"And royalty." Ryoko moaned.

"And royalty." Tokimi agreed.

"Why do I have the feeling that all the relations that I have around me are hazardous to my health?"

"Even telling you this is hazardous to your health." Washu sighed. "I am surprised you are taking it so well."

"I am not taking this well." Ryoko gritted out between clenched teeth, fighting waves of nausea.

"Stop denying it, Ryoko." Tokimi sighed. "You'll feel better."

"It is so hard to believe." Ryoko moaned. "Tenchi I can understand, Athena is his great- grandmother and Tsunami's power runs through him. But, my mother a Goddess!"

"Ryoko, Tsunami and I placed a memory block on your mother long ago. Your mother is chaos. Surely you can see that." Tokimi chuckled.

Ryoko smiled weakly. "Why did you place a memory block on her?"

"She was getting out of control."

"Hey." Washu pouted. "Can't I defend myself?"

"No." Tokimi winked at Ryoko.

"I can believe that." Ryoko laughed weakly, feeling slightly better.

"The rest is just a matter of genetics." Washu said matter of factly. "I can show you the records if you'd like."

"No thanks, they'd most likely confuse me even more." Ryoko passed off.

"They didn't used to confuse you." Washu said sadly.

"That was before Kagato." Ryoko defended. "Please mother, I am happy."

"I just worry about you and miss some of the original you."

"Please mother, leave well enough alone."

"I am because you wish it." Washu sighed. "I love you, Ryoko."

"I love you too mom."

Tokimi smiled. "Ryoko, please go explain to Tenchi. I am sure he is worried about you. I need to talk to your mother."

"Something between older goddesses I suppose." Ryoko wrinkled her nose. "Fine, keep us out of the situation, but we'll find out sooner or later."

Tokimi stopped Ryoko by touching her shoulder. "It will be sooner, I promise. You and Tenchi are key players. I don't like this."

"For the Goddess of Evil, Aunt Tokimi, you aren't so bad."

"Tsunami is also our sister." Washu tacked on.

Ryoko groaned. "I knew it. I just knew it. Now I really am related to that prissy princess."

"Ryoko!" Washu laughed. "Go on, go tell Tenchi, in person." She wagged a finger at Ryoko.

"Yes MOTHER." Ryoko smirked and phased out of sight.

"All right Tokimi, she knows and soon Tenchi will too. What the hell is going on?" Washu glared at her sister.

Tsunami appeared over the lake. "I wish to know as well, you have been extremely cagey Tokimi."

Tokimi took a deep breathe. "Well, we know we aren't the original beings of the universe."

"Yes," Washu nodded.

"We know." Tsunami agreed.

"The other day I was contacted by a person claiming to be the original deity in the universe. . ."

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



Ryoko phased in behind Tenchi, glomping him.

"Oooph."

"Hey lover." Ryoko purred in his ear.

"Ryoko, air, please."

"Why? You don't really need it."

Tenchi took to breathing heavily and Ryoko sighed. "You are no fun." She grimaced, easing up her grip.

Tenchi turned his head and grinned at her. Ryoko couldn't resist and gave him a quick kiss.

"Guess what," She said brightly.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Tenchi said, matter of factly.

"Washu is a Goddess." Ryoko grinned.

Tenchi paled.

"And so am I!"

Tenchi fainted.

"You really are no fun, lover." Ryoko said, holding onto Tenchi's limp body.

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

END CHAPTER!

A/N Well, that last scene... I couldn't resist it... it was way to much fun to write.

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RingPrincess

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