Disclaimer: I do not claim to own anything related to Tenchi Muyo be it characters, plots or cool organic spiky spaceships. This story is written entirely for my own entertainment and (hopefully) the entertainment of readers

Tenchi Muyo! characters and related plots belong to AIC and PIONEER.

I'd like to thank all of my reviewers, feedback is excellent, it keeps Procrastinatron under my bed where he belongs, and me in front of the computer ( not necessarily writing mind you )

All comments and reviews are welcome, if you don't like it tell me why, so that I can file it away for future consideration.

"" for dialogue '' for thoughts ** for emphasis

Here is Chapter 3 of Intervention, the conclusion, I never meant for it to drag on If I had been less lazy, it probably would have been written as a one shot.

I hope you like it

/**********************************************************************\

Washu threw away the tape in disgust. After Tenchi had gone to get Ryoko, she had started to watch it, perhaps in the futile hope that somehow, she would be able to find some measure of calm in the recorded love of her daughter.

She should have known better.

At the time, she had been happy merely to have her daughter, her little Ryoko, calling out her name for help, content in the knowledge that of all the people in the household, she had called on her *mother* to save her from the horrible blackness. Washu had felt a twinge of guilt at the time as she always had, but buried it under the satisfaction, 'Ryoko wanted her, Washu, to save her' and that had been enough.

Now, after her dispute with Tenchi, she could barely sit through the recording without retching in self-disgust. When Ryoko called for her mother, it brought no comfort to Washu's heart. Her daughter had been doing as any other normal being would have. Calling out for the one who should have been most likely, in all of creation, to protect her child from harm. But instead, had been the cause of it.

Washu shook her head, how she could have possibly believed that this, had been a mother/daughter bonding moment, escaped her still. It had hurt Washu deeply that day on the Souja, when Ryoko had dismissed her. It had become worse after she had come to live on Earth in the Masaki household. Ryoko had eyes only for Tenchi, she had no time for a twenty thousand year old midget of a mother.

And so, she had resorted to viewing Ryoko as nothing more than another of her creations, It had been a ruinous error, for in doing so she had severed from the thread of her future every opportunity for reconciliation.

Washu sincerely believed that there was no hope of any resolution, she had pushed her daughter too far and, unintentionally, further into Tenchi's arms, now Ryoko had no room for anyone else in her life.

Washu's eyes looked lifelessly outwards into her Laboratory, she remembered well the day when she had begun the project. It was to be her greatest work of genius, a feat which no-one among her colleagues at the Galactic Academy could match. Its secondary purpose had been to help her survive emotionally after her husband and child were taken from her. Ryoko was to be her second chance, her redemption, after she had proved herself an inferior mother and wife to Mikamo's family.

All had gone wrong with Kagato, 'Damn him' she thought, He had ruined it all, taken her daughter from her, incased her in crystal so that she could watch, but never touch. The most vicious crime of all, He had removed all traces of her from her daughter's memory.

Kagato had destroyed her second and last chance at happiness, now there was nothing more for her to do but pick up the pieces. It was his fault.

'No,' Her mind would not let her believe that, all that had occurred since her release had been under her control. There had been no reason why she could not have gained eventual acceptance from Ryoko, but that chance had been ruined, her hurt had blinded her, and she had retreated into a Scientific persona.

Washu leant back in her chair and stared upwards into the darkness, thoughts ricocheting around inside her skull. Washu's vast intellect, once a source of endless pride to her, now seemed a loathsome curse. For it allowed her no respite, binding her with a chain of inescapable logic.

'It's all my fault'

She would never have realized it if not for Tenchi. Now, after their discussion, she was a little surprised that he had come down into her laboratory and confronted her. He had never before argued with her, nor even expressed displeasure at anything she had done.

'And I treated him in much the same way as Ryoko' He had only sighed, resigned whenever she had strapped him down for tests, 'I can understand the rest of us perhaps, compared to you we must seem hopelessly primitive' Washu now knew that it was no excuse, she had treated them all as nothing more than animals in cages, existing solely for the purpose of providing her with data.

It had taken outrage at Ryoko's treatment to get him down here, to face her. 'It's always other people, Tenchi cares little for himself' she thought, and he had listened to her reasons calmly, letting her cry them out while he had watched on serenely.

Now he was trying to help bring her and Ryoko together again, Washu shivered, she did not know how she could convince Ryoko to accept her into her life again. All of her plans and ideas failed before two Truths; That it was all her fault and she had no way of appealing against that, secondly, It was, most likely already too late to try anything beyond begging.

Washu's heart filled with apprehension at the thought of the forthcoming meeting. Tenchi's heart was in the right place, but she wondered if she would be able to face her furiously righteous daughter.

/**********************************************************************\

Ryoko stood beside Tenchi as he knocked on the door to Washu's lab. She wondered why she had let him bring her here. A short while ago, Ryoko had been set on escaping Earth, and that horrible woman, but she had been lured back by the promise of a mother. Tenchi had promised her, promised that Washu would never hurt her again, being reminded of it sent a warm glow shooting down her spine, she should have known that she would not have been able to escape her feelings for Tenchi so easily.

The door opened noiselessly, silently inviting Ryoko to enter. Tenchi turned to her, "Ryoko, I'll wait out here, this is for you and Washu to work out".

Ryoko looked at him, eyes wide, wondering if perhaps that promise had been made merely to get her down here.

Tenchi saw it in her eyes, "Ryoko, I spoke to her earlier, she's not going to try anything, she wants this resolved as much as you do" he was looking into her face earnestly, as usual, she found it impossible to resist.

Ryoko nodded doubtfully, then turned to the door. It now seemed a daunting prospect, to re-enter her prison from which she had just recently escaped. But the lure of a potential mother's love pulled at her.

Ryoko stood straight and squared her shoulders, took one last look at her beloved, then strode purposefully into the Lab, burying her apprehension beneath a mask of determination.

/**********************************************************************\

Washu was slow to remove her finger from the key the allowed Ryoko entry, she wondered as she had many times since that morning, whether she was doing the right thing, "I have to, I can't go on like this for much longer" was her thought as she spun around on her cushion, and stood, awaiting Ryoko's entry.

She did not have to wait for long. The Door Crab rattled jarringly into the silence, then the door connecting her lab to the Masaki home opened.

Ryoko entered the room, she stood straight as though steeling herself for an unpleasant task. 'I suppose it is at that' Washu sighed.

Ryoko's eyes focused on Washu, completely ignoring the rest of the world, She stopped, a fair distance from the diminutive scientist who was claiming to be her mother.

They stood like that for a short while, studying each other, wondering who would be the first to speak.

'Tenchi made me come here, that's all, I don't have to say anything, let the little witch explain herself' Ryoko's thoughts seethed with resentment. Recalling the hours spent chained to the wall in darkness.

Washu, noticing that Ryoko's countenance had grown black with resentment, decided to make the first move. 'It is all my fault after all, I've got nothing to lose'.

"Ryoko..." she begun uncertainly, having second thoughts about it all, It had been Tenchi's idea and she had gone along with it because she could see no other way that an outcome could be reached.

Ryoko looked at her darkly, waiting for the excuses.

"Ryoko, I'm sorry" the words came out in a rush, she wasn't sure how they would be taken, but they had to be said, a first step. Towards what she didn't know.

Ryoko's eyes widened slightly, she had not expected this from the usually proud scientist, she raised an eyebrow.

Washu was thrown off by this cavalier reaction to her apology, she tried again, "I am, for all of it" earnestly looking towards her daughter, her large eyes pleading for acceptance, that she knew most likely, she did not deserve.

Ryoko felt the warmth of anger rising within her, and it showed on her face, "Do you think that makes it ok Washu ?" her golden eyes were flaring, her colour rising.

Washu leant forward, she had expected this, "Of course I don't Ryoko" she looked up at Ryoko, tempted for a moment to assume her Adult form, but decided against it, she didn't know how Ryoko would react. She went on, "I've been over this again and again in my own mind, It *was* wrong for me to tie you up there". Her voice was firm, showing that she mean it.

Ryoko had not been expecting such a definitive answer, she was a little mollified by it. ""Then why do you do it ?" she asked quietly, looking down at the twenty thousand year old child. Wondering what her response would be.

Washu faltered, this was where all of her reasoning fell flat on its face. She had no real acceptable answer to that question, and she had been hoping, that it would not be asked, a futile hope. ".I...I don't know Ryoko" The words came out haltingly, reluctantly. They were likely to inflame Ryoko further.

She was right.

"What do you mean you don't know ? you mean I was tied up there, all night, on a whim !?" Her voice rose indignantly. The thought that she might have endured all of that for nothing more than caprice was unbearable.

The target for her ire looked down at the floor, unable to face her, looking like nothing more than a lost, lonely child. But Ryoko was not fooled.

".All I know is...that I thought..maybe, maybe that..seeing as it was the only way we could be together...." Washu trailed off, still looking at the floor, not knowing how to voice the way that she had felt at the time.

Ryoko stared at her in disbelief, her mouth open, Washu's head came up to watch her. Ryoko's jaw worked as she tried to voice her skepticism.

Washu jumped in quickly, "I know, I know" she shook her head "I don't know what I was thinking but..It was all you left me with..." she looked at Ryoko pleadingly, hoping that she would understand.

"What the hell kind of an excuse is that ? 'All I left you with' Are you saying it's my fault ?!" Ryoko's colour was high and her voice was loud, she was swiftly filling with an indignant rage that would render this meeting a waste of time.

Washu held both hands out in front of herself, trying to stave off the verbal barrage. "No, I'm not justifying what I did" she spoke quickly, "It's just that I felt you had left me with no alternative". She watched Ryoko carefully.

Ryoko slowed a little, "Why didn't you just leave me alone ? That's an alternative" Ryoko was confused, this was something she could not understand. She didn't want Washu enacting her parody of motherhood in her life, so why couldn't she just accept that and walk away ?.

Washu stood straight, and looked straight into Ryoko's eyes, determined. "That is not a choice I could make, Ryoko, I'm your mother, I want to be near you" Each word was clipped and shot out of her mouth, Clearly, it was not an option for her.

Ryoko looked straight back at her " How can you say that ? You're not my mother" she spoke disdainfully

Washu reeled back, her eyes wide, mouth open.

"My mother wouldn't string me up and poke me with instruments, my mother wouldn't try so steal the man I love" At last she spoke the words, She thought of all of the times she had been with her Tenchi, all of the times when they had been together, alone. All of the times when Washu had interrupted them with some trivial errand, an experiment, anything. Her Adult form, how she used it to fluster him, attempting to seduce him, never acknowledging the pain it brought her daughter, Washu was selfishly willing to be a woman for the purposes of seduction, but never for motherhood.

Ryoko looked down at the deceptively childlike form Washu wore, her ears laid back, eyes boring into Washu.

Washu stepped back under her gaze, thinking in shock, 'I was never serious with Tenchi, doesn't she realize that ?'

She spoke through her daze, "What do you want from me Ryoko ?"

"I want you out of my life, damn it ! "

Washu was crushed, She had suspected that it was too late, but to have the sentence pronounced so flatly, injured her almost mortally inside. Never again would she be able to dream, to hope for a family again. Truly had she destroyed her own last chance at happiness, with help from Kagato.

She had nothing left, to devote her entire future life to Science *again* now seemed a horrifying prospect.

She fell to her knees, almost crying.

"What about me ?! You're all that I have left, please Ryoko, what can I do ? " Washu was practically begging for forgiveness now, she couldn't stand to see this person, her only link to her past rejecting her so completely.

Ryoko stood there in shock, She was aghast at seeing the once proud "Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe" laid so low.

Ryoko relented a little in her own mind, Washu seemed to be suffering more than she knew. Ryoko loathed the method by which Washu tried to be her mother, her fury with the woman grew from that source. 'If the cause could be changed..' Ryoko would have done anything for a mother, a True mother 'Like Achika' she thought, including giving this woman a second chance.

Washu was looking at her pleadingly as she thought, and came to her decision.

Ryoko remembered what she had told Tenchi, "My mother would support me in what I want to do, would leave me alone when I want to be left alone, and wouldn't touch me without permission !" Ryoko's eyes had been looking past Washu, caught in her own world then she looked down sharply at the Scientist, awaiting her response.

Washu looked down at her hands, she had not realized that she had been clutching them tightly, perhaps in despair at the thought of so total a rejection. She considered then, what Ryoko had said, she had no choices left to make and was grateful that she had been given a path at all. She knelt there before Ryoko for a time, her eyes large and lost.

Ryoko had been watching Washu carefully, there would be only once chance she decided, she had put Ryoko through too much. Her anger began to rise, as Washu continued to think it over, 'How dare she ?, doesn't she realize how hard this is for me ? ' Washu looked up and opened her mouth, just in time to see Ryoko's face transform into a visage of anger.

Washu was filled with horror '.No...'

"Ryoko..." she began urgently, hoping to stave off what was coming.

Ryoko's eyes were hard, showing a steely determination, and she said in voice as harsh and cold as the deepest depths of space, 'And she wouldn't hide from me in the body of a twelve year old child'. She turned and stalked away, inwardly saddened that once again she had been disappointed.

'Tenchi was, and is, all that I have, I should never have forgotten that' The thought dripped coldly over her swiftly diminishing anger as she left the Laboratory.

Washu watched in mute appeal, hand outstretched. The hope that had been so astonishingly offered to her, drifted away, a deceptively bright mote on a wintry, frigid breeze.

/**********************************************************************\

Tenchi had been sitting on the couch when Ryoko had exited Washu's Laboratory. He stood to ask her what had happened when she phased upwards, 'most likely up onto the roof', he surmised. He had managed to get a look at her face however. Her steely eyes and hard face pointed to a conclusion that was not the one that he had hoped for.

Tenchi sighed, while she had been in there, he had been mulling things over in his mind, things that Washu had said, today and in the past. It was obvious to him that she was in a great deal of pain and anguish over what had occurred. And now, he thought he knew why.

He stood, and walked over to the door, the door through which he had already walked more times today, than he ever had before. 'Consentingly anyway' he thought wryly, "Well, I guess I'd better go and see what I can do now" he smiled to himself, wondering what the girls would do without him.

Washu was sitting on the floor again when Tenchi entered, her legs crossed beneath her awkwardly, she did not acknowledge his existence.

Tenchi stood there in the doorway for a little while, then, realizing what state she was in, walked over to her, and picked her. She was light in his arms and smelt oddly of cinnamon. He walked over to the floating cushion, and sat down, holding her for the second time that day until she was prepared to talk.

"What happened Washu ?" he finally asked her, looking down into her hair.

".I thought..." she began, quietly, almost murmuring, "I thought she had given me a chance..." she paused, then let out a long sigh, "but I was too slow".

"Oh, Washu..." Tenchi sighed the words, his mouth tightening and waited for her to continue.

".I almost had it.." another pause, "but she said, she said I was hiding from her" her voice broke, "in this, body".

Tenchi looked blindly out over her head. His suspicions had been correct then, It was time to see if he could make her realize what he had, while waiting for her and Ryoko to finish.

"I don't think she's all that you're hiding from Washu" Once again he, Tenchi was the one to help them understand themselves, It was almost enough to give a man an ego.

Washu's head slowly swiveled around, until she was looking up at him, she gave him a blank look.

'Here goes' he thought, "Why do you stay down here Washu, all alone ?" She shook her head in incomprehension, not knowing what he was getting at.

"Why do you stay down here by yourself ? we only ever see you at meals or when there's an emergency" He was asking her questions, to make her think.

"I.. it's my work..." she said quietly, He shook his head gently, she did not understand yet.

Tenchi decided to use a much more powerful example, "Washu, How did you survive all this time after your husband and child were taken from you ?" He felt guilty bringing it up, but it had to help.

Memories overtook Washu, A tanned, blonde man holding a child, walking away from her, "I..I immersed myself in my work" she shook her head, wondering what relevance this had, "I guess I ran" she finished lamely.

Tenchi confused her again, by switching topics. "Why did you treat Ryoko like you did ?"

"I longed for a daughter , a child again, to take the pain away" Washu swallowed, remembering her reasons for creating Ryoko, she wondered if she was destined to always be abandoned by her offspring. "but I was too scared, at the prospect of rejection..I.." her voice cut off, she realized where that fear had come from.

"I guess I couldn't stand the responsibility, I didn't want it to all happen again" Washu looked up at Tenchi, through a haze of pinkish-red hair.

"Washu how did you feel about your husbands family ?" Tenchi asked, very aware that he was approaching a topic at the heart of her troubles.

"Mikamo's family" she corrected him softly.

"Mikamo's family" he repeated in agreement.

"I was so angry, they made me feel as though I wasn't good enough, for their son, that I had failed somehow" Washu looked up at him as if to plead for him to take her side, to tell her that she was right in being angry. A reassurance she desperately needed.

Tenchi spoke quietly, "had you ?".

"No, but they took them both from me, I, I, didn't want to feel that pain again and...they made me feel as though I didn't deserve their son, didn't deserve his love." Washu looked down a her hands, clasped in her lap, she refused to give into the painful memories, she had lived for this long without surrendering, she would continue.

Tenchi took her face in one of his hands and brought her head around to look him directly in the eyes. His face wore a gentle smile when he said, "Washu, It's not too late you know, we're still here, we think you're worth it" Washu's eyes filled with tears at those words, she wondered at this seemingly ordinary human being, who had done so much for her in the past day.

".But..Ryoko.." she managed to get out, that situation once again rearing it's ugly head.

Tenchi interrupted her before she could continue, "She wants a Mother as much, if not more than you want a daughter, If you showed her that you were willing, I strongly believe that she'd welcome you".

"Tenchi I.. " she sighed, "I can't.."

"Washu" Tenchi began firmly, "Some time after my mother died, Grandfather told me this; As children, we can only feel and experience our pain, we cannot understand it. Growing into adults allows us to do just that, to grow, to learn from and understand our pain".

Tenchi took a deep breath.

"I'm still young but....but I would prefer to use my pain rather than let it injure me" He smiled sadly, staring off into the distance "there isn't a day that goes by where I do not think of my mother" His eyes returned to Washu's face suddenly, and his voice became earnest, "but instead of feeling that loss anew, I can cherish and be grateful for the time i *did* have with her", he looked into her eyes intently, "Do you understand Washu ?"

She looked up at him and slowly nodded, lost in thought.

The absurdity of the situation suddenly hit Tenchi, here he was a young man barely seventeen years old, from a backwater planet in the far corner of the Galaxy. And he was lecturing a person who was probably the oldest woman alive, who had seen things his imagination could not possibly fathom. He was lecturing *her* on life.

Hiding his small smile he hugged Washu, trying to impart some small amount of comfort before he left her to make her decision. Her eyes widened as he started to untangle himself, she clutched at him desperately.

"But Tenchi, it's been... so long"

He smiled down at her gently, "Remember Washu, just show her that you want to be with her, she'll let you try again"

Tenchi turned and walked over to the door, He had put his hand on door knob when he paused, and turned around.

"Washu ?" he said looking at her, She looked up from her lap, with an enquiring look on her face.

"Whatever you decide, don't let them win" he told her.

He stood there until she nodded in agreement, then turned and left the Laboratory.

/**********************************************************************\

Sasami had prepared a late dinner, she didn't know exactly what had happened with Washu, Ryoko and Tenchi today, so she thought it best that they all ate together, to show a united front. Nobuyuki was ecstatic at the thought of being able to devour Sasami's marvellous cooking, rather than the late night cup ramen he had become accustomed to. And Yosho had bowed and thanked her for the invitation, saying that he would be there.

She had Ayeka and Mihoshi move the table out onto the deck where they could eat in the cool. Summer was well and truly upon the Masaki Household, and any and all options to reduce the heat were taken. 'plus it would be nice to sit out under the stars' the little blue haired girl thought.

She had seen Ryoko leave Washu's lab and phase upwards through the ceiling, she hadn't looked happy and Tenchi had entered after her. She hoped that he would be able to sort it all out, Tenchi was the best at that sort of thing.

When he had come out again and sat down heavily on the couch next to a snoozing Mihoshi. Sasami had offered him an cool drink, which he accepted gratefully with a cheerful "Thank's Sasami" his words and tone belied his face however. He looked tired, yet hopeful.

Sasami began to gather up the family for the meal, Yosho and Nobuyuki were first at the table, Yosho looking as calm and as unruffled as ever, Nobuyuki, as though he was planning to corner Tenchi about his choice. Mihoshi stumbled out as soon as the smell penetrated her dreams and Ayeka calmly walked down from upstairs, dressed well for a meal with her precious Lord Tenchi.

Sasami headed up to the roof to get Ryoko, who she found staring up at the stars. "Ryoko, dinner is ready" Ryoko started at Sasami's voice and looked around, "I'll be there soon". She looked depressed again, Sasami hoped that she hadn't been drinking, Ayeka did take it so personally when Ryoko came to meals drunk.

She collected Tenchi and Ryo-Ohki on the way down and Ryoko joined them then. With a cheerful ( in most cases ) Itadakimasu ! they began to eat. Sasami was somewhat put out at Washu's absence, though she had known it was unlikely the diminutive scientist would deign to show herself.

"Ryoko" Ayeka was using that sickeningly sweet voice that Sasami had dubbed 'The Princess' " Don't you think it unwise to drink so much before a meal ? surely it would affect your taste, not to mention enjoyment" It was a comparatively nice thing to say, coming from Ayeka, Sasami was surprised, she loved her sister very much, but sometimes found her a a little....hard to bear.

Ryoko grunted in reply.

"Ryoko" Ayeka tried again, "I suppose this morning when you were sleeping in my Lord Tenchi's bed, you were merely experiencing something you could never hope to have? " Ayeka chortled at her own wit, Tenchi and Sasami rolled their eyes, while Nobuyuki and Yosho studiously ignored her and Ryo-Ohki ate her carrots cheerfully.

Ryoko grunted.

"Ryoko" Ayeka began. "Oh Ayeka, leave poor Ryoko alone, she's had a very rough day, flying into space and all" Mihoshi babbled at Ayeka, distracting her from her current target. "What do you mean Mihoshi ?"

"Well you see, Ryoko decided to run away so Tenchi and I went to rescue her in Yukinojo, but Yukinojo didn't want to so...." Everyone else at the table tuned out the two of them and continued to eat.

Ryoko's head came up at the same time that Tenchi's eyes moved to the door. Sasami absently wondered what it was, content in the knowledge that her family could handle anything bad.

Washu stepped out onto the deck in her Adult form. She was wearing a light blue summer dress, embroidered with tiny red crabs, her hair was pulled back from her face, she seemed uncertain of her welcome.

Sasami took a quick glance around the table noting everyone's reactions. Ayeka and Mihoshi had yet to notice her entrance, Yosho was handling the situation with his usual aplomb while Nobuyuki, who had never seen Washu like this before could only gape. The two more interesting reactions were from Tenchi and Ryoko, He had an expectant look on his face, whereas Ryoko's held a flat, unfriendly stare.

"Washu-chan, I'll go and get you some bowls, we've only just started" Sasami's every word and action radiated a warm welcome and Washu smiled uncertainly, "It's alright Sasami, I'll get them " and disappeared before Sasami could stand.

They all waited silently for Washu to return and when she entered Nobuyuki could barely contain himself. "What happened to little Washu-chan ? you're all grown up" his eyes moved up and down her lithe form, he was obviously enjoying what he could see.

Washu glanced at Ryoko and seemed almost to cringe at the unfriendly stare she saw there, then looked at Tenchi. Slowly, carefully, never taking her eyes off him, she spoke. "I think, I've outgrown the need for her". she spoke the words as though they had some hidden meaning, one that Sasami had no reference for.

Sasami glanced around the table again. Ryoko's flat stare had been replaced with an expression of astonishment, which slowly became a small smile.

Tenchi was smiling beatifically.

He nodded slowly, without taking his eyes off her.

"Congratulations, Washu-chan"

Sasami wondered once gain what had happened to those three, but decided to let it lie, she would weasel it out of Tenchi or Ryoko sooner or later, she had a devastatingly cute face and knew how to use it.

Washu's smile grew at Tenchi's words, she seemed at a loss. She then realized she was standing in the doorway dumbly with bowls and chopsticks in her hands. Haltingly, she sat down in the only available seat, next to Ryoko, who smiled awkwardly.

They all ate in silence for a time, Tenchi was staring down at his plate when a voice made him look up.

"Oh Teeenchi"

'uh-oh' he thought.

"Have some of this sake with me, say you will pleaaase" Ryoko had produced a bottle of sake out of nowhere and was leaning across the table filling up his cup, fluttering her eyelashes at him coquettishly.

Unfortunately for Ayeka, who sat on her left. Ryoko had not taken a great deal of care when leaning over the table.

"AIIIIEEEE DEMON HOW DARE YOU ?!" Ayeka was screeching, Tenchi would have covered his ears, but decided instead to maintain an outward mask of masculine infallibility.

"What's the matter ? I think you look great in that shade of soy sauce, Princess Prissy Pants" was the response.

And so the argument began, winding down as they all did, towards the inevitable violence and property damage, Tenchi was surprised to find that he did not mind it so much anymore.

He looked over at Sasami who was fighting to hold back a grin, He began to chuckle, soon he was joined by her giggling, finally they both erupted into full-blown screams of laughter amid shocked looks from the rest.

Sasami was glad, her family was back to normal.

**********************************************************************

Story Notes: Well, I didn't treat our Washu-chan too well now did I ? but I found her story interesting enough to explore, and I hoped you enjoyed reading it.

My initial Idea for this was to focus far more on Washu's past, and have her come to terms with it, but gradually Ryoko forced her way in, I found it very difficult to write any resolution that did not involve her in some integral way.

The Ending: Some might see it as a bit of a cop out, but this was how I planned it, I never really had any intention of completing this story with Washu and Ryoko living happily as Mother and Daughter, for one, I doubt whether I could complete it satisfactorily in my own mind. Plus, who am I to complete the Tenchi reality ? I am but a lowly fanfiction writer :)

Characterizations: I know some people will have some problems with the way I had Tenchi act in this, the final Chapter. Tenchi has always been interesting for me, In almost all of the shows, he acts flabbergasted, embarrassed, or just plain dopey, though we see occasional flashes of determination and insight throughout the OVA. I don't think we can ever get a complete picture of who Tenchi is, with the girls at his house 24 hrs a day he is constantly being exposed to extra-ordinary events, *bang**bang**bang* one after the other, he has little time for contemplation, which probably drives him somewhat mad :)

My reading of him is of an Intelligent young man, thrown completely out of his depth with the arrival of the girls, but he struggles along, trying to treat them the best way that he can.

My version of Washu is somewhat self explanatory, I welcome your thoughts on her, as I admit in this story she may seem overly weepy but justifiably so I hope.

I'd like to read you comments and critiques of this as a complete story, it would give me a good idea of when and where I went wrong for future pieces :)