'Here Comes the Sun' v.1.2
Sunlight shone through the window of the Jurai sisters' room. It slowly crept through the room in a golden haze, making its way towards its sole occupant. The line of sunshine climbed over the mound of sleep-tousled sheets. Slowly, the heat of the rising sun also spread through the room, dispelling the chill of night. The mound shifted in response to the changes incurred. A pair of stray purple bangs poked through, its owner grumbling in turn.
Aeka moaned, this time in reluctance in waking up. She turned her head, trying to re-orient herself to the conscious world in her room. As she sat up and wiped away the crust in her eyes, she noticed something missing.
"Sasami, are you here?" Aeka asked, trying to see if her sister was still around. Hmm, she must be downstairs then, Aeka concluded, hearing no response.
Aeka began to feel strange, trying to think back to what she dreamed of, remembering little snippets from her sleeping world. Oh my, I've been having more of those lately, she sighed, Tenchi... why..?
Having had a very 'very' good night of sleep and feeling invigorated, Aeka decided to go along with her morning routine.
Quickly, Aeka tugged off her plain sleeping yukata of virginal white, slipping her locks free from their protective sleeves, lest her immaculate coiffure be ruined in the throes of slumber. Quickly, she dressed herself up in her azure kimono, taking a moment to smile down at her switch in wardrobe from traditional Juraian attire to traditional Japanese attire. Her expression turned cheerless as she matched a lock of her hair to the fabric, sighing to herself. She alternated her gaze from kimono to hair, and back again.
Trudging back a bit, she placed the priced kimono given to her by a blushing Tenchi. mindlessly stroking the spider silk. "This isn't who I am. yet," she whispered, wiping away a couple of tears.
Aeka turned to examine her nude form in a small mirror resting on one of their cylindrical wooden wardrobes. "It's just getting worse." she muttered as she noticed she had absentmindedly began to caress herself, running her hands over her arms, twisting about, a name about to roll of her tongue, not in arousal, but in sadness, needing the person in another way.
Quickly, albeit with reluctance, Aeka donned her one of her everyday robes, practically a Juraian equivalent of the Japanese kimono, and made her way to the bathroom. Unlike what others thought, the princess wasn't the vainest of characters, only rinsing her face after first washing her hands, ensuring the varying lengths of her hair were not in disarray, she exited, making a beeline for Tenchi's room.
She knocked politely; about to wake him up in a fashion she savored. "Tenchi-sama, its time to get up," Aeka chirped, the emotions in such a simple sentence not faked. "Sasami must have prepared breakfast already."
Usually Tenchi would've responded in a sleepy voice, trashing about in panic a bit before falling out of his bed. Aeka would in turn have giggled, hiding it behind a hand, not the maniacal fox laugh most expected of her.
This time, she was answered by silence, and when Aeka placed her ears against the door, she was greeted by the sounds of the outside; several birds were singing to each other.
Curious, and knowing that Tenchi didn't mind her entering, Aeka opened the door, unsubtly to announce her presence politely. She saw that the bed was empty, while not made; it was obvious that no one had slept in it that night.
Aeka paused to look around Tenchi's room. She walked over to his desk, picking up Tenchi-ken. Aeka chuckled lightly at the fact that the boy didn't carry it with him everywhere he went as anyone else entrusted to/by the sword would have. She thought back to some of the shows she watched, chuckling some more. "You never did strike me as the type to sleep with a sword."
After saying 'sleep,' Aeka blushed. As she turned her head about in habit, she found a pair of bokken. She examined the weapons she had seen Tenchi and Yosho spar with for the first time. She hefted one with the grace and ease of an experienced fencer. In a manner unlike how most perceived her, Aeka placed it on both her forearms, bringing it up to her face to examine the grains. "You're from Funaho, aren't you?"
Her question was answered when a small beam of light emerged from the bokken, directed at her own master key. Aeka patted the weapon fondly, jokingly thinking about how a Juraian resource had been turned into a Terran product, placing the weapon back next to its companion. She padded out into the balcony, noticing that the door was left open. "Just like him. like Tenchi." Aeka stretched as she basked in the sunlight on Tenchi's balcony.
Having spent an undeterminable amount of time there, doing nothing, reveling in the bliss of tedium, Aeka walked back into the hallway, closing the doors behind her, but not after making Tenchi's bed, blushing madly as she rearranged his sheets, resisting the urge to sleep in them. "No, not another fetish." Aeka moaned.
She walked down the hallway, noticing for the first time not only the absence of the signs of life usually rampant in the house, but also the smells, particularly the aroma caused when Sasami worked her magic in the kitchen. Aeka smiled fondly at that, her envy of her sister surpassed by pride, and to an extent, her appetite.
Reaching the living room, Aeka saw that it, along with the kitchen, was deserted. She looked up at her rival's roost, expecting to see Ryoko there, knowing that the pirate, no matter how much persuasion, would not wake up early short of something drastic, or Tenchi calling her. Aeka looked closely, noting something was off asides from the missing spot. She saw the gash where an oak rafter had been cut through by an energy sword.
Aeka grew slightly worried, pairing what she had just discovered along with the absence of everywhere in the house. Quickly, Aeka for the patio along the lakefront, eager to seek out her guardians to ascertain what happened. Aeka all but threw open the door panels, nearly taking them off their runners. She bolted forward, eyes scanning around for any threat that may be hovering about, energy tapped, waiting to be called upon. Aeka only noticed something was on the deck when she stumbled onto one of the masses lying in rest. Aeka shrill shriek pierced the morning calm as she toppled over. Her arms flailed in a futile manner, waving about frantically as if they would help her. On the way down, she saw the two she had been looking for: Tenchi and Sasami, lying there, peacefully asleep. She saw the dumbstruck expression on her face as she arced downwards, reflected first off of the calm lake's glassy surface, then the polished deck's maroon surface just before she became physically acquainted with her shocked visage.
Aeka lied there where she lay, trying to comprehend what had happened. She whined slightly, refusing the urge to kick out with her legs as she would have in a tantrum. "How embarrassing," she muttered, looking back at what she had tripped on, seeing a figure who was half-emerged from her beddings, bronzed skin and of course the trademark mass of 'fluffy' not 'frizzy' blond hair. "Years of training to be a delicate, graceful flower. and I trip over the ditz."
A low laugh and light clapping captured Aeka's attention, turning around, she moved up to a semi-kneeling position, legs tucked under her, off to the side.
"Nice landing Aeka," Ryoko mocked her, eyeing the princess from where she was still tucked into her beddings. "I give it a 6.5, bad fall, but the form was good." She laughed at her own joke. "Thanks for waking me up like how you did; I think I owe you one." Ryoko extracted herself like some mermaid shucking her fish tail. She stretched as she sat up, a big grin on her face as she enjoyed the morning scenery. "Heh, you guys have a point," Ryoko remarked as she looked about, "it 'is' pretty nice here in the morning."
"You're... welcome, Ryoko," Aeka muttered, this time in annoyance. She turned her glare towards the still sleeping Mihoshi, who had stayed asleep even through the collision with H.M.S. Aeka. "What are all of you doing out here Ryoko?" Her fears transformed into something else. Aeka stifled a sigh. Great, I had a 'vivid' dream, meanwhile, they get the real thing. Aeka mentally fretted as to why she was left out.
"Don't worry Aeka, we didn't leave you out on purpose if that's what you think." Ryoko's tone wasn't malicious, instead, it was consolatory. "I didn't know he would have brought everyone with him."
"Oh. what happened?" Aeka herself was still curious.
Ryoko grew somber, as if reluctant to talk about it. "First Aeka, you have to promise not to laugh?"
"What?"
Ryoko hissed at her to be quiet, pointing at the others still asleep. "Do you promise or not?" It wasn't a question so much as an ultimatum.
Aeka nodded guiltily.
Ryoko grumbled a bit, still debating within herself to tell Aeka, the one most likely to use it against her. "I. I had a nightmare last night."
"Nightmare?" Aeka looked at Sasami, and Ryoko followed her gaze.
"Yeah, Sasami's not the only one with bad dreams." Ryoko missed the guilty expression that flashed all-too-briefly across Aeka's face. "I. I needed Tenchi then. The dream, it was really bad."
Aeka didn't know what to say. Some small part of her wanted to jump on the opportunity. But Aeka felt that was too petty. A larger part of her felt sorry for Ryoko, knowing how hard nightmares were on her own sister; Sasami, Aeka couldn't feel anything else but sympathy. "I understand Ryoko." Aeka noticed that Ryoko herself had trouble acknowledging her support. "What about the others? Sasami must have had a nightmare too. but Mihoshi and Washu too?"
Aeka felt guilty again that Sasami had chosen to go to Tenchi for comfort instead of her, but she put that away, scolding herself for being jealous.
"I don't know, all I remember was going to Tenchi's room at night." Ryoko held up a hand to forestall any of Aeka's outbursts. "I. it had something to do with Tenchi. It. it wasn't pretty Aeka. Kagato was involved."
That was all that needed to be said. Aeka too, felt a trill of fear surge through her as Ryoko mentioned the bastard's name. "Continue on Ryoko." Aeka used the same tone as she did on Sasami. The recurring nightmares didn't begin on Earth. It had happened. ever since Ryoko had attacked Jurai. Aeka suppressed the flash of anger that peaked, telling herself that it wasn't her fault.
"I found his room empty." Ryoko stared her right in the eyes. "Aeka. he was gone," Ryoko croaked, and Aeka could all but feel the terror in Ryoko at that point, seeing the infallible pirate shiver in what could only be fear.
"Its okay Ryoko. he would have done it for any of us." Aeka felt odd at what had been happening. So Ryoko had a bad dream. still, Sasami too?
"But. he, he came to me." Ryoko wiped her invisible tears away. "Tenchi. he took me in his arms, and I. I fell asleep in them."
Aeka prevented a sob from escaping her, living Ryoko's explanation through herself. She smiled at Ryoko. "That's Tenchi."
"Yeah. you're right Aeka," Ryoko concurred.
Both turned to look at the boy that was more or less, in the middle of all the things that happened in the household. The boy was their salvation, and he turned into their protector, transformed again into the focal point of the arguments in the house. Odd, both girls had hated each other. and when they met Tenchi, they naturally fought against each other. But, Tenchi wasn't some trophy to them, he was their savior and hope for the future. It was simply ironic that he was now the focus of their affections, and consequently, the fighting involved around him. It was as if Aeka and Ryoko's hatred was transformed, and their conflict moved onto a different battlefield.
The loving expressions that were on their faces shattered as they saw something that ruined the sight they beheld. Rather. two things. Tenchi was there, lying without beddings on the deck. In his sleep, he wore a light content smile, a look that he frequently had. Aeka and Ryoko appreciated the fact that Tenchi, even in his sleep, when he is most vulnerable, was still the same person. That he wore no mask. that they could see. Normally, as one, both would have moved in to drape a blanket over him, not wanting to ruin his sleep. After both of them snuck a caress and kiss to Tenchi of course. With Tenchi there asleep, Aeka and Ryoko didn't fear anything amiss. However, something was already there.
On either side of Tenchi, attached to his arms, using his arms as pillows, were two of the other sleepers. Clamped on to his right side, Washu was pressed against Tenchi, facing him, with her right arm over them both, hand resting on Tenchi's chest. To his left was Sasami, seeming to mold right into his body, both arms on Tenchi, as if he was a stuffed animal-turned-bedmate. She clung on tighter to Tenchi than Washu. Tenchi returned their embrace, clasping them tighter to himself as the trio slept.
Adding to Aeka's and Ryoko's ire was Washu in her adult form. Her mature body, graceful and feminine even in sleep, perhaps more so, was clad in a pair of sea green 'jammies' that matched the shades of her irises. She filled it out at all the right spots, with slack and tension at the perfect places, as if it was created specifically for her. The material, judging from the sheen, and how it brushed up against Tenchi, could only be satin. or some other high quality silk. As with Sasami's own pajamas, Washu's pair was also decorated, in her case with the red crabs that were synonymous with the usually miniature 'Washu-chan.'
Then there was the expression on the mad scientist's face. Gone was the twisted smirk of superiority, madness, and triumph that would have formed on her face. Instead, there was a look of pure satisfaction, as if all she had desired was in her arms. It brought up the saying that one's true nature reveals itself in their sleep.
As if to antagonize them, Washu cooed at that precise point, eliciting a responding rumble from Tenchi, soothing her.
Aeka and Ryoko watched it unfold, their jaws seeming to unhinge and hit the deck. Both sported stricken expressions, before transforming in a mask of contorted rage that one would find laughable, unless it was directed at them. Both girls looked ready to either spout fire, or have a coronary.
What the hell. mom! Ryoko mentally swore, bristling at the sight of her mother embracing the object of her desires. The obvious object of her desire to be precise, and Ryoko couldn't help but feel inadequate, for once someone else had the superior. assets. If Aeka wasn't so dumbstruck and tongue-tied, she would have made a snide comment about how things must 'run' in the family. However, it was a fact that Ryoko had never beaten about the bush about her feelings for the sleeping boy. Seeing her mother so close to him, especially in something so seemingly intimate as sleep, Ryoko's feelings were torn. On one side, she was happy for her mother. on the other, she felt both lonely and betrayed.
'Et tu, Sasami?' I was right, you are the real threat. Ryoko is nothing compared to you. To me. Before Aeka could continue on to where she would start patting herself on the back in order to lick her wounds, she also recognized Washu. Her blood ran as thick and as cold as antifreeze.
"Ryoko, couldn't you keep a better," Aeka paused for effect, "hold on your mother?" Aeka's tone was dry, arching an eyebrow at Ryoko, as if blaming her for the incident.
"Like you hold yours 'My Little Aeka'?!" Ryoko hurled back, "you can't even keep control of 'your' little sister." At that Ryoko fell silent. The double threat both Washu and Sasami represented becoming apparent to her. I know Aeka's no match for me. but those two. She ached for the contact Tenchi shared with her on that night, where he held her trembling with the memories of the event.
Both girls glanced at each other and nodded solemnly, silently admitting defeat to themselves. One could easily see the threats these two represented. Washu's adult body was there for them to see. draped over Tenchi, a leg now slid over his, her ankle exposed. Then they directed their attentions to Sasami. If Tenchi was a pedophile, he had fooled them all.
However, they knew it was only a matter of time. They knew what Tsunami looked like, the vision of beauty, grace, wisdom, and power that She represented. Any man, if not intimidated would want Her. For a moment, Sasami seemed to transform in their minds' eye to how she would appear upon maturation, when she became Her.
It would have a made a beautiful picture: a Hakubi and a Jurai seeming to mold perfectly onto Tenchi. However. it wasn't either one of them. Aeka and Ryoko felt like orphans staring from their communal room windows at a loving family walking past.
Both slipped into a slight depression. Discomfort and other negative emotions flowed into them. They searched for a way to remedy their situation, but found none short of acting as petty as others would consider them: each other. Neither would give the other the satisfaction of seeing herself brought down low. It was decided.
"What's wrong, Ryoko? Are you feeling a little insecure?" Aeka got in the first shot, taking the initiative in the verbal skirmish, which might escalate into the physical arena.
"Insecure?" Ryoko placed her hand on her breastbone. "You should be the one that's worried Little-Princess-Aeka." Ryoko stretched again, flaunting herself. Like Aeka, Ryoko was going for the throat. I don't care how tender her skin is. she's flat as a board!
The predatory mask that training and protocol had given Aeka when sniping at an opponent cracked. That was low! Knowing that her dignity, along with her composure was already spread through the wind like chaff before the scythe, she rose into an aggressive pose, leaning forward at Ryoko. Ryoko in turn chose to indulge the infuriated princess, knowing she had pinched a nerve, and the initial sparks were set. Neither gave way as they leaned against each other.
Instead of degenerating into a brawl, they went into a shoving match, both of them having trouble, wearing socks on a smooth wooden deck.
"Eee." Aeka grunted in a high pitch, trying to force Ryoko to back off. "Hee." Ryoko countered, growling low.
"Eee!" Stomping down the balls of her feet, Aeka leaned forward, feet pumping, trying to push back, or knock aside her adversary.
"Hee!" Ryoko matched her drive by drive, never losing a centimeter of territory.
Both held their ground, neither side gaining an advantage over other. From a distance, it was comical. The roles of the gender were reversed. Whereas I nature two males would fight over a female, now Aeka and Ryoko bickered for Tenchi. Be it butting heads, or in this case, shoving. Both knew it was pointless as much as an observer would, yet while engaged in their petty wrangling, they didn't have to deal with thoughts about things they could not defend against. Here, in themselves, they found an adversary they could confront.
Aeka resisted the instinct to bite her cheek as she muffled her cry when Ryoko loosened up her assault, only to use the slack to drive home her counterstrike. Aeka barely maintained her balance, she crouched low, seeking to either flip, or bowl back Ryoko.
Ryoko countered, allowing herself to absorb the princess' thrust, sliding backwards instead of being knocked off her feet.
A low moan interrupted their duel, causing both to slide past each other and fall face first onto the floor.
"That should teach you to tempt fate." Aeka muttered.
"Shut up," Ryoko bit back.
They stared at the source of the interruption, seeing Tenchi's face contort in discomfort. As if he was aware of the girls' fighting, his face saddened, still in his sleep.
The urge to fight each other was drained away as they stared guiltily at Tenchi. As frustrated as they were with the current situation, they knew it gave them no right to ruin it for the others. As jealous as they were, Ryoko and Aeka sympathized with Washu and Sasami, knowing had they been able to, they would have been the ones curled up against Tenchi at that moment. Hypocrisy be damned! Both minds declared as one.
"Well Aeka, I can't say I blame them." Ryoko said with a bemused smile on her face, staring at the slumbering trio.
"No, not at all Ryoko, if anything, if I was in Sasami's position I would tell anyone who disapproved to. how do those uncouth gaijin Americans say it." Aeka paused to think, "to 'stick it where the sun don't shine.'" Aeka remarked, feeling giddy at her boldness.
"Well now, our little princess has a mouth on her." Ryoko joked good- naturedly, it was amazing how the two could have such mood swings. Of course telling that to their collective faces was another matter entirely.
"You better remember that, demon-woman!" Aeka countered, her beaming face disarming the statement's stinging aspect, letting Ryoko know that she did not take nor intend offense.
As if to mock the truce the two seemed to have forged, Sasami and Washu cuddled up to Tenchi even more, limbs invading more of his 'personal space,' which now seemed to be only memory.
Both of the 'spurned' girls let out a sigh. Silently, they cursed the sadistic creatures Fate and Fortune must be.
Sighing Aeka went first, "Ryoko, I am going to the onsen to relax. Do you want to join me? Misery loves company after all."
"Yeah, I really need to get shit-faced right now, how 'bout you," Ryoko replied, shaking her head at the sight of the three sleepers. "This is so damn sweet that I'm gonna be needing insulin if I have to look at. at this, any longer."
"Of course," Aeka agreed, feeling herself grow queasy as different parts within her fought amongst themselves. "I think Nobuyuki brought in some of that Russian liqour." Aeka said, trying to change the subject, to anything but those three.
"You mean vodka?" Ryoko stroked her chin, crossing legs in mid-air, assuming a thinker's pose. "I forgot you were an alcoholic too." Ryoko teased, knowing that the truth was much funnier than fiction.
"I am not," Aeka weakly denied. "I just. like a drink every now and then, in moderation of course. Plus Ryoko, it's the Starka brand," she stammered, trying not to let Ryoko's prodding annoy her.
"My." Ryoko slapped a hand over mouth in feigned surprise. "Little- Princess-Aeka seems to have forgotten how she out-drank 'me' after Valentine's Day." Ryoko quipped, eager for a change in topic. "You would've made a sailor blush that night. I knew royalty were supposed to be well-educated, but swearing in nineteen dialects?" She snickered, shaking her head disbelievingly.
"Twenty-three," Aeka corrected her. "Don't remind me. remember who was behind that," Aeka drawled, shaking her head at the memory of that fiasco. Strange, when I fell I thought Tenchi wasn't. rrr.
At that mention of the instigator of the 'Valentine's Day Fiasco', both girls decided to drop the subject sparing yet another somber look at Tenchi.
Ryoko pinched her nose with one hand, point at Aeka with the other. "Aeka, you're breath stinks!"
Aeka looked indignant at such an accusation, drawing breath, only to notice that she could taste it in her mouth. "I-uhh." She paused, trapped, cursing herself for forgetting to do such a small thing.
"Don't worry about it." Ryoko surprised Aeka by waving it off. "It won't matter after what we're going to do." Ryoko didn't bother to say any more, making an unmistakable mime with one hand, her throat oscillating along.
"Excuse me, Ryoko?" Aeka pounded after her, as the other woman floated past her into the house. But padding gently back, to steal one more glance, and to slide the door shut quietly behind her.
***
An eye fluttered open, revealing a vibrant viridian stare, comparable to a bird of prey's. It scoured its surroundings. The other eye opened, blinking to adjust to the line of sunlight touching them. She did bother to move more, save to roam her left hand over Tenchi's chest, savoring her current situation. She lay there, staring up at the white and blue striped awning above them.
Inwardly she let loose a maniacal laugh. I'm having too much fun with this! Messing with those two never gets old. It's not like I'm not enjoying this either, she sighed. I just love bonuses, Washu thought, tightening her hold on the human pillow/body heater Tenchi was now. My Guinea Pig! Washu basked in the afterglow of her exultation, regretting she could not declare it out loud, lest she relinquish this perfect moment of hers. For a princess, Aeka's not too subtle.
On the flip side of the boy, Sasami was thinking as well, feeling as if she was floating in a warm comforting space. Yes, scratch another one for Sasami! She stifled a giggle, shaking with mirth. That reminds me, I have to set up my White Day plans. You get to dream about him. I get the real thing. I say it's a fair deal, neh Aeka-ne-chan?.
"My Ten-chan, mine." Sasami whispered out, nuzzling her cheek where it rested on his chest, falling asleep to the metronome pulse of his heartbeat like one would to falling rain.
Washu thought she heard something, but when no more sounds came, she put it off as ambience and went back to sleep, unable to resist the urge to let herself fall. I need to find out more about you, my little guinea pig. You are such an enigma to me. Ah. let me count the ways.
She didn't bother going back to her adolescent form, even though her fun was over. I. I think I like being like this. Tenchi. With an out-of- character giggle, Washu cast herself adrift, letting herself fall into the sea of security and warmth the boy provided.
As if he could hear the thoughts of the two Goddesses that he held in his arms, Tenchi shivered in his sleep. Even if they wanted to, the others could no longer curl themselves closer up to him, short of lying on the boy. Sasami's emblem flashed to that of Tsunami's, and shifted back just as suddenly.
Mihoshi blinked where she reclined. Halfway through their infantile squabbling, Aeka and Ryoko woke Mihoshi. With one elbow, Mihoshi had supported her propped up-head, while with her free hand, she lightly stroked where something had nudged her. She felt as if something else had just happened. She shrugged, at a loss for an answer.
With a great yawn, Mihoshi rose. As she stood up to stretch, she saw a better look at the three still there sleeping on the ground. Her jealousy did not span more than a second, the rest of her absolutely touched by what she saw, smiling joyfully down at them, unaware of any ulterior motives Washu and Sasami may have.
Mihoshi 'aww'ed, giggling to herself. "That's just so sweet!" Seeing something so nice to start off her day, Mihoshi bounded off. She was still clad in her GP uniform, which was possessed its perfect creases, her white 'utility puff' resembling a bunny's tail as she hop-skipped into the house
End 'Here Comes the Sun'
Sunlight shone through the window of the Jurai sisters' room. It slowly crept through the room in a golden haze, making its way towards its sole occupant. The line of sunshine climbed over the mound of sleep-tousled sheets. Slowly, the heat of the rising sun also spread through the room, dispelling the chill of night. The mound shifted in response to the changes incurred. A pair of stray purple bangs poked through, its owner grumbling in turn.
Aeka moaned, this time in reluctance in waking up. She turned her head, trying to re-orient herself to the conscious world in her room. As she sat up and wiped away the crust in her eyes, she noticed something missing.
"Sasami, are you here?" Aeka asked, trying to see if her sister was still around. Hmm, she must be downstairs then, Aeka concluded, hearing no response.
Aeka began to feel strange, trying to think back to what she dreamed of, remembering little snippets from her sleeping world. Oh my, I've been having more of those lately, she sighed, Tenchi... why..?
Having had a very 'very' good night of sleep and feeling invigorated, Aeka decided to go along with her morning routine.
Quickly, Aeka tugged off her plain sleeping yukata of virginal white, slipping her locks free from their protective sleeves, lest her immaculate coiffure be ruined in the throes of slumber. Quickly, she dressed herself up in her azure kimono, taking a moment to smile down at her switch in wardrobe from traditional Juraian attire to traditional Japanese attire. Her expression turned cheerless as she matched a lock of her hair to the fabric, sighing to herself. She alternated her gaze from kimono to hair, and back again.
Trudging back a bit, she placed the priced kimono given to her by a blushing Tenchi. mindlessly stroking the spider silk. "This isn't who I am. yet," she whispered, wiping away a couple of tears.
Aeka turned to examine her nude form in a small mirror resting on one of their cylindrical wooden wardrobes. "It's just getting worse." she muttered as she noticed she had absentmindedly began to caress herself, running her hands over her arms, twisting about, a name about to roll of her tongue, not in arousal, but in sadness, needing the person in another way.
Quickly, albeit with reluctance, Aeka donned her one of her everyday robes, practically a Juraian equivalent of the Japanese kimono, and made her way to the bathroom. Unlike what others thought, the princess wasn't the vainest of characters, only rinsing her face after first washing her hands, ensuring the varying lengths of her hair were not in disarray, she exited, making a beeline for Tenchi's room.
She knocked politely; about to wake him up in a fashion she savored. "Tenchi-sama, its time to get up," Aeka chirped, the emotions in such a simple sentence not faked. "Sasami must have prepared breakfast already."
Usually Tenchi would've responded in a sleepy voice, trashing about in panic a bit before falling out of his bed. Aeka would in turn have giggled, hiding it behind a hand, not the maniacal fox laugh most expected of her.
This time, she was answered by silence, and when Aeka placed her ears against the door, she was greeted by the sounds of the outside; several birds were singing to each other.
Curious, and knowing that Tenchi didn't mind her entering, Aeka opened the door, unsubtly to announce her presence politely. She saw that the bed was empty, while not made; it was obvious that no one had slept in it that night.
Aeka paused to look around Tenchi's room. She walked over to his desk, picking up Tenchi-ken. Aeka chuckled lightly at the fact that the boy didn't carry it with him everywhere he went as anyone else entrusted to/by the sword would have. She thought back to some of the shows she watched, chuckling some more. "You never did strike me as the type to sleep with a sword."
After saying 'sleep,' Aeka blushed. As she turned her head about in habit, she found a pair of bokken. She examined the weapons she had seen Tenchi and Yosho spar with for the first time. She hefted one with the grace and ease of an experienced fencer. In a manner unlike how most perceived her, Aeka placed it on both her forearms, bringing it up to her face to examine the grains. "You're from Funaho, aren't you?"
Her question was answered when a small beam of light emerged from the bokken, directed at her own master key. Aeka patted the weapon fondly, jokingly thinking about how a Juraian resource had been turned into a Terran product, placing the weapon back next to its companion. She padded out into the balcony, noticing that the door was left open. "Just like him. like Tenchi." Aeka stretched as she basked in the sunlight on Tenchi's balcony.
Having spent an undeterminable amount of time there, doing nothing, reveling in the bliss of tedium, Aeka walked back into the hallway, closing the doors behind her, but not after making Tenchi's bed, blushing madly as she rearranged his sheets, resisting the urge to sleep in them. "No, not another fetish." Aeka moaned.
She walked down the hallway, noticing for the first time not only the absence of the signs of life usually rampant in the house, but also the smells, particularly the aroma caused when Sasami worked her magic in the kitchen. Aeka smiled fondly at that, her envy of her sister surpassed by pride, and to an extent, her appetite.
Reaching the living room, Aeka saw that it, along with the kitchen, was deserted. She looked up at her rival's roost, expecting to see Ryoko there, knowing that the pirate, no matter how much persuasion, would not wake up early short of something drastic, or Tenchi calling her. Aeka looked closely, noting something was off asides from the missing spot. She saw the gash where an oak rafter had been cut through by an energy sword.
Aeka grew slightly worried, pairing what she had just discovered along with the absence of everywhere in the house. Quickly, Aeka for the patio along the lakefront, eager to seek out her guardians to ascertain what happened. Aeka all but threw open the door panels, nearly taking them off their runners. She bolted forward, eyes scanning around for any threat that may be hovering about, energy tapped, waiting to be called upon. Aeka only noticed something was on the deck when she stumbled onto one of the masses lying in rest. Aeka shrill shriek pierced the morning calm as she toppled over. Her arms flailed in a futile manner, waving about frantically as if they would help her. On the way down, she saw the two she had been looking for: Tenchi and Sasami, lying there, peacefully asleep. She saw the dumbstruck expression on her face as she arced downwards, reflected first off of the calm lake's glassy surface, then the polished deck's maroon surface just before she became physically acquainted with her shocked visage.
Aeka lied there where she lay, trying to comprehend what had happened. She whined slightly, refusing the urge to kick out with her legs as she would have in a tantrum. "How embarrassing," she muttered, looking back at what she had tripped on, seeing a figure who was half-emerged from her beddings, bronzed skin and of course the trademark mass of 'fluffy' not 'frizzy' blond hair. "Years of training to be a delicate, graceful flower. and I trip over the ditz."
A low laugh and light clapping captured Aeka's attention, turning around, she moved up to a semi-kneeling position, legs tucked under her, off to the side.
"Nice landing Aeka," Ryoko mocked her, eyeing the princess from where she was still tucked into her beddings. "I give it a 6.5, bad fall, but the form was good." She laughed at her own joke. "Thanks for waking me up like how you did; I think I owe you one." Ryoko extracted herself like some mermaid shucking her fish tail. She stretched as she sat up, a big grin on her face as she enjoyed the morning scenery. "Heh, you guys have a point," Ryoko remarked as she looked about, "it 'is' pretty nice here in the morning."
"You're... welcome, Ryoko," Aeka muttered, this time in annoyance. She turned her glare towards the still sleeping Mihoshi, who had stayed asleep even through the collision with H.M.S. Aeka. "What are all of you doing out here Ryoko?" Her fears transformed into something else. Aeka stifled a sigh. Great, I had a 'vivid' dream, meanwhile, they get the real thing. Aeka mentally fretted as to why she was left out.
"Don't worry Aeka, we didn't leave you out on purpose if that's what you think." Ryoko's tone wasn't malicious, instead, it was consolatory. "I didn't know he would have brought everyone with him."
"Oh. what happened?" Aeka herself was still curious.
Ryoko grew somber, as if reluctant to talk about it. "First Aeka, you have to promise not to laugh?"
"What?"
Ryoko hissed at her to be quiet, pointing at the others still asleep. "Do you promise or not?" It wasn't a question so much as an ultimatum.
Aeka nodded guiltily.
Ryoko grumbled a bit, still debating within herself to tell Aeka, the one most likely to use it against her. "I. I had a nightmare last night."
"Nightmare?" Aeka looked at Sasami, and Ryoko followed her gaze.
"Yeah, Sasami's not the only one with bad dreams." Ryoko missed the guilty expression that flashed all-too-briefly across Aeka's face. "I. I needed Tenchi then. The dream, it was really bad."
Aeka didn't know what to say. Some small part of her wanted to jump on the opportunity. But Aeka felt that was too petty. A larger part of her felt sorry for Ryoko, knowing how hard nightmares were on her own sister; Sasami, Aeka couldn't feel anything else but sympathy. "I understand Ryoko." Aeka noticed that Ryoko herself had trouble acknowledging her support. "What about the others? Sasami must have had a nightmare too. but Mihoshi and Washu too?"
Aeka felt guilty again that Sasami had chosen to go to Tenchi for comfort instead of her, but she put that away, scolding herself for being jealous.
"I don't know, all I remember was going to Tenchi's room at night." Ryoko held up a hand to forestall any of Aeka's outbursts. "I. it had something to do with Tenchi. It. it wasn't pretty Aeka. Kagato was involved."
That was all that needed to be said. Aeka too, felt a trill of fear surge through her as Ryoko mentioned the bastard's name. "Continue on Ryoko." Aeka used the same tone as she did on Sasami. The recurring nightmares didn't begin on Earth. It had happened. ever since Ryoko had attacked Jurai. Aeka suppressed the flash of anger that peaked, telling herself that it wasn't her fault.
"I found his room empty." Ryoko stared her right in the eyes. "Aeka. he was gone," Ryoko croaked, and Aeka could all but feel the terror in Ryoko at that point, seeing the infallible pirate shiver in what could only be fear.
"Its okay Ryoko. he would have done it for any of us." Aeka felt odd at what had been happening. So Ryoko had a bad dream. still, Sasami too?
"But. he, he came to me." Ryoko wiped her invisible tears away. "Tenchi. he took me in his arms, and I. I fell asleep in them."
Aeka prevented a sob from escaping her, living Ryoko's explanation through herself. She smiled at Ryoko. "That's Tenchi."
"Yeah. you're right Aeka," Ryoko concurred.
Both turned to look at the boy that was more or less, in the middle of all the things that happened in the household. The boy was their salvation, and he turned into their protector, transformed again into the focal point of the arguments in the house. Odd, both girls had hated each other. and when they met Tenchi, they naturally fought against each other. But, Tenchi wasn't some trophy to them, he was their savior and hope for the future. It was simply ironic that he was now the focus of their affections, and consequently, the fighting involved around him. It was as if Aeka and Ryoko's hatred was transformed, and their conflict moved onto a different battlefield.
The loving expressions that were on their faces shattered as they saw something that ruined the sight they beheld. Rather. two things. Tenchi was there, lying without beddings on the deck. In his sleep, he wore a light content smile, a look that he frequently had. Aeka and Ryoko appreciated the fact that Tenchi, even in his sleep, when he is most vulnerable, was still the same person. That he wore no mask. that they could see. Normally, as one, both would have moved in to drape a blanket over him, not wanting to ruin his sleep. After both of them snuck a caress and kiss to Tenchi of course. With Tenchi there asleep, Aeka and Ryoko didn't fear anything amiss. However, something was already there.
On either side of Tenchi, attached to his arms, using his arms as pillows, were two of the other sleepers. Clamped on to his right side, Washu was pressed against Tenchi, facing him, with her right arm over them both, hand resting on Tenchi's chest. To his left was Sasami, seeming to mold right into his body, both arms on Tenchi, as if he was a stuffed animal-turned-bedmate. She clung on tighter to Tenchi than Washu. Tenchi returned their embrace, clasping them tighter to himself as the trio slept.
Adding to Aeka's and Ryoko's ire was Washu in her adult form. Her mature body, graceful and feminine even in sleep, perhaps more so, was clad in a pair of sea green 'jammies' that matched the shades of her irises. She filled it out at all the right spots, with slack and tension at the perfect places, as if it was created specifically for her. The material, judging from the sheen, and how it brushed up against Tenchi, could only be satin. or some other high quality silk. As with Sasami's own pajamas, Washu's pair was also decorated, in her case with the red crabs that were synonymous with the usually miniature 'Washu-chan.'
Then there was the expression on the mad scientist's face. Gone was the twisted smirk of superiority, madness, and triumph that would have formed on her face. Instead, there was a look of pure satisfaction, as if all she had desired was in her arms. It brought up the saying that one's true nature reveals itself in their sleep.
As if to antagonize them, Washu cooed at that precise point, eliciting a responding rumble from Tenchi, soothing her.
Aeka and Ryoko watched it unfold, their jaws seeming to unhinge and hit the deck. Both sported stricken expressions, before transforming in a mask of contorted rage that one would find laughable, unless it was directed at them. Both girls looked ready to either spout fire, or have a coronary.
What the hell. mom! Ryoko mentally swore, bristling at the sight of her mother embracing the object of her desires. The obvious object of her desire to be precise, and Ryoko couldn't help but feel inadequate, for once someone else had the superior. assets. If Aeka wasn't so dumbstruck and tongue-tied, she would have made a snide comment about how things must 'run' in the family. However, it was a fact that Ryoko had never beaten about the bush about her feelings for the sleeping boy. Seeing her mother so close to him, especially in something so seemingly intimate as sleep, Ryoko's feelings were torn. On one side, she was happy for her mother. on the other, she felt both lonely and betrayed.
'Et tu, Sasami?' I was right, you are the real threat. Ryoko is nothing compared to you. To me. Before Aeka could continue on to where she would start patting herself on the back in order to lick her wounds, she also recognized Washu. Her blood ran as thick and as cold as antifreeze.
"Ryoko, couldn't you keep a better," Aeka paused for effect, "hold on your mother?" Aeka's tone was dry, arching an eyebrow at Ryoko, as if blaming her for the incident.
"Like you hold yours 'My Little Aeka'?!" Ryoko hurled back, "you can't even keep control of 'your' little sister." At that Ryoko fell silent. The double threat both Washu and Sasami represented becoming apparent to her. I know Aeka's no match for me. but those two. She ached for the contact Tenchi shared with her on that night, where he held her trembling with the memories of the event.
Both girls glanced at each other and nodded solemnly, silently admitting defeat to themselves. One could easily see the threats these two represented. Washu's adult body was there for them to see. draped over Tenchi, a leg now slid over his, her ankle exposed. Then they directed their attentions to Sasami. If Tenchi was a pedophile, he had fooled them all.
However, they knew it was only a matter of time. They knew what Tsunami looked like, the vision of beauty, grace, wisdom, and power that She represented. Any man, if not intimidated would want Her. For a moment, Sasami seemed to transform in their minds' eye to how she would appear upon maturation, when she became Her.
It would have a made a beautiful picture: a Hakubi and a Jurai seeming to mold perfectly onto Tenchi. However. it wasn't either one of them. Aeka and Ryoko felt like orphans staring from their communal room windows at a loving family walking past.
Both slipped into a slight depression. Discomfort and other negative emotions flowed into them. They searched for a way to remedy their situation, but found none short of acting as petty as others would consider them: each other. Neither would give the other the satisfaction of seeing herself brought down low. It was decided.
"What's wrong, Ryoko? Are you feeling a little insecure?" Aeka got in the first shot, taking the initiative in the verbal skirmish, which might escalate into the physical arena.
"Insecure?" Ryoko placed her hand on her breastbone. "You should be the one that's worried Little-Princess-Aeka." Ryoko stretched again, flaunting herself. Like Aeka, Ryoko was going for the throat. I don't care how tender her skin is. she's flat as a board!
The predatory mask that training and protocol had given Aeka when sniping at an opponent cracked. That was low! Knowing that her dignity, along with her composure was already spread through the wind like chaff before the scythe, she rose into an aggressive pose, leaning forward at Ryoko. Ryoko in turn chose to indulge the infuriated princess, knowing she had pinched a nerve, and the initial sparks were set. Neither gave way as they leaned against each other.
Instead of degenerating into a brawl, they went into a shoving match, both of them having trouble, wearing socks on a smooth wooden deck.
"Eee." Aeka grunted in a high pitch, trying to force Ryoko to back off. "Hee." Ryoko countered, growling low.
"Eee!" Stomping down the balls of her feet, Aeka leaned forward, feet pumping, trying to push back, or knock aside her adversary.
"Hee!" Ryoko matched her drive by drive, never losing a centimeter of territory.
Both held their ground, neither side gaining an advantage over other. From a distance, it was comical. The roles of the gender were reversed. Whereas I nature two males would fight over a female, now Aeka and Ryoko bickered for Tenchi. Be it butting heads, or in this case, shoving. Both knew it was pointless as much as an observer would, yet while engaged in their petty wrangling, they didn't have to deal with thoughts about things they could not defend against. Here, in themselves, they found an adversary they could confront.
Aeka resisted the instinct to bite her cheek as she muffled her cry when Ryoko loosened up her assault, only to use the slack to drive home her counterstrike. Aeka barely maintained her balance, she crouched low, seeking to either flip, or bowl back Ryoko.
Ryoko countered, allowing herself to absorb the princess' thrust, sliding backwards instead of being knocked off her feet.
A low moan interrupted their duel, causing both to slide past each other and fall face first onto the floor.
"That should teach you to tempt fate." Aeka muttered.
"Shut up," Ryoko bit back.
They stared at the source of the interruption, seeing Tenchi's face contort in discomfort. As if he was aware of the girls' fighting, his face saddened, still in his sleep.
The urge to fight each other was drained away as they stared guiltily at Tenchi. As frustrated as they were with the current situation, they knew it gave them no right to ruin it for the others. As jealous as they were, Ryoko and Aeka sympathized with Washu and Sasami, knowing had they been able to, they would have been the ones curled up against Tenchi at that moment. Hypocrisy be damned! Both minds declared as one.
"Well Aeka, I can't say I blame them." Ryoko said with a bemused smile on her face, staring at the slumbering trio.
"No, not at all Ryoko, if anything, if I was in Sasami's position I would tell anyone who disapproved to. how do those uncouth gaijin Americans say it." Aeka paused to think, "to 'stick it where the sun don't shine.'" Aeka remarked, feeling giddy at her boldness.
"Well now, our little princess has a mouth on her." Ryoko joked good- naturedly, it was amazing how the two could have such mood swings. Of course telling that to their collective faces was another matter entirely.
"You better remember that, demon-woman!" Aeka countered, her beaming face disarming the statement's stinging aspect, letting Ryoko know that she did not take nor intend offense.
As if to mock the truce the two seemed to have forged, Sasami and Washu cuddled up to Tenchi even more, limbs invading more of his 'personal space,' which now seemed to be only memory.
Both of the 'spurned' girls let out a sigh. Silently, they cursed the sadistic creatures Fate and Fortune must be.
Sighing Aeka went first, "Ryoko, I am going to the onsen to relax. Do you want to join me? Misery loves company after all."
"Yeah, I really need to get shit-faced right now, how 'bout you," Ryoko replied, shaking her head at the sight of the three sleepers. "This is so damn sweet that I'm gonna be needing insulin if I have to look at. at this, any longer."
"Of course," Aeka agreed, feeling herself grow queasy as different parts within her fought amongst themselves. "I think Nobuyuki brought in some of that Russian liqour." Aeka said, trying to change the subject, to anything but those three.
"You mean vodka?" Ryoko stroked her chin, crossing legs in mid-air, assuming a thinker's pose. "I forgot you were an alcoholic too." Ryoko teased, knowing that the truth was much funnier than fiction.
"I am not," Aeka weakly denied. "I just. like a drink every now and then, in moderation of course. Plus Ryoko, it's the Starka brand," she stammered, trying not to let Ryoko's prodding annoy her.
"My." Ryoko slapped a hand over mouth in feigned surprise. "Little- Princess-Aeka seems to have forgotten how she out-drank 'me' after Valentine's Day." Ryoko quipped, eager for a change in topic. "You would've made a sailor blush that night. I knew royalty were supposed to be well-educated, but swearing in nineteen dialects?" She snickered, shaking her head disbelievingly.
"Twenty-three," Aeka corrected her. "Don't remind me. remember who was behind that," Aeka drawled, shaking her head at the memory of that fiasco. Strange, when I fell I thought Tenchi wasn't. rrr.
At that mention of the instigator of the 'Valentine's Day Fiasco', both girls decided to drop the subject sparing yet another somber look at Tenchi.
Ryoko pinched her nose with one hand, point at Aeka with the other. "Aeka, you're breath stinks!"
Aeka looked indignant at such an accusation, drawing breath, only to notice that she could taste it in her mouth. "I-uhh." She paused, trapped, cursing herself for forgetting to do such a small thing.
"Don't worry about it." Ryoko surprised Aeka by waving it off. "It won't matter after what we're going to do." Ryoko didn't bother to say any more, making an unmistakable mime with one hand, her throat oscillating along.
"Excuse me, Ryoko?" Aeka pounded after her, as the other woman floated past her into the house. But padding gently back, to steal one more glance, and to slide the door shut quietly behind her.
***
An eye fluttered open, revealing a vibrant viridian stare, comparable to a bird of prey's. It scoured its surroundings. The other eye opened, blinking to adjust to the line of sunlight touching them. She did bother to move more, save to roam her left hand over Tenchi's chest, savoring her current situation. She lay there, staring up at the white and blue striped awning above them.
Inwardly she let loose a maniacal laugh. I'm having too much fun with this! Messing with those two never gets old. It's not like I'm not enjoying this either, she sighed. I just love bonuses, Washu thought, tightening her hold on the human pillow/body heater Tenchi was now. My Guinea Pig! Washu basked in the afterglow of her exultation, regretting she could not declare it out loud, lest she relinquish this perfect moment of hers. For a princess, Aeka's not too subtle.
On the flip side of the boy, Sasami was thinking as well, feeling as if she was floating in a warm comforting space. Yes, scratch another one for Sasami! She stifled a giggle, shaking with mirth. That reminds me, I have to set up my White Day plans. You get to dream about him. I get the real thing. I say it's a fair deal, neh Aeka-ne-chan?.
"My Ten-chan, mine." Sasami whispered out, nuzzling her cheek where it rested on his chest, falling asleep to the metronome pulse of his heartbeat like one would to falling rain.
Washu thought she heard something, but when no more sounds came, she put it off as ambience and went back to sleep, unable to resist the urge to let herself fall. I need to find out more about you, my little guinea pig. You are such an enigma to me. Ah. let me count the ways.
She didn't bother going back to her adolescent form, even though her fun was over. I. I think I like being like this. Tenchi. With an out-of- character giggle, Washu cast herself adrift, letting herself fall into the sea of security and warmth the boy provided.
As if he could hear the thoughts of the two Goddesses that he held in his arms, Tenchi shivered in his sleep. Even if they wanted to, the others could no longer curl themselves closer up to him, short of lying on the boy. Sasami's emblem flashed to that of Tsunami's, and shifted back just as suddenly.
Mihoshi blinked where she reclined. Halfway through their infantile squabbling, Aeka and Ryoko woke Mihoshi. With one elbow, Mihoshi had supported her propped up-head, while with her free hand, she lightly stroked where something had nudged her. She felt as if something else had just happened. She shrugged, at a loss for an answer.
With a great yawn, Mihoshi rose. As she stood up to stretch, she saw a better look at the three still there sleeping on the ground. Her jealousy did not span more than a second, the rest of her absolutely touched by what she saw, smiling joyfully down at them, unaware of any ulterior motives Washu and Sasami may have.
Mihoshi 'aww'ed, giggling to herself. "That's just so sweet!" Seeing something so nice to start off her day, Mihoshi bounded off. She was still clad in her GP uniform, which was possessed its perfect creases, her white 'utility puff' resembling a bunny's tail as she hop-skipped into the house
End 'Here Comes the Sun'
