Tenchi Muyo!
Disclaimer: This episode of Tenchi Muyo! is of my own creation. I do not own any portion of Tenchi Muyo. "Tenchi Muyo!" and all related characters, names, etc. are ©1992-2003 AIC Inc. and Pioneer LDC. All rights reserved.
Note: This episode takes place shortly after the events of Tenchi Muyo! Special Episode: Here Comes Jurai, Part Two.
Of Happiness and Sorrow
Episode 5:
Meditations and Baths
Nearly one week later, Tenchi is sitting in the middle of his room meditating. His actions over the last week with Ryoko and Ayeka weigh heavily on his mind. He is glad that his grandfather taught him how to meditate, as it is helping him to focus and think.
The only light in his room is the soft glow of a candle. A sweet smelling cinnamon incense was lit earlier and its scent is traveling around the room, helping Tenchi to focus even deeper.
Earlier that day he told everyone that he was going to be in his room meditating and that he did not want anyone to disturb him. 'Thankfully they all listened to me for once,' he thought to himself.
______
"I hope that Tenchi is okay," Sasami said to Ryo-Ohki, "He's been acting a little differently lately."
"Is Tenchi hurt?" asked Ryo-Ohki.
Over the last week, Ryo-Ohki's vocabulary increased dramatically, as was her balance. So lately Ryo-Ohki has been using her teenager form, much to Nobuyuki's happiness.
"I don't know," replied the little princess.
"Of course Tenchi isn't hurt," came a voice behind them that made the two of them jump. They both turned around to see Yosho walking in. He is in his young form. Since he revealed himself to everybody, Yosho has been comfortable with going around without his disguise on. He only puts it back on when company comes over or when he has to go out.
"Hello Yosho,"
"Hi Yosho! How are you?" piped in Ryo-Ohki.
He smiled at them. "And hello two both of you too!" He then looks to the human/cabbit. "And I am fine thank you! I see that you getting better and better with your vocabulary!"
Ryo-Ohki looked down to the floor with her hands behind her back. She replies with a quiet, "Thanks."
"Brother Yosho, what is going on with Tenchi?" asked Sasami.
Yosho looked at her thoughtfully. "Tenchi is going through some changes right now. Not physically, but emotionally. He has had a lot of pent up emotions for some time now, and just recently he has begun to explore them. Needless to say, it is a whole new experience for him. Right now he is meditating to...get himself straightened out. To help him try to focus on what he is going to do."
Sasami sat down, thinking hard. "Oh wow."
"Yes," commented Yosho, "it is a lot to think about, that is why Tenchi is doing what he is right now."
______
Tenchi's mind wanders as he is in a state of sub-consciousness. His thoughts linger on the conversation he had had with his Father about a week ago. Usually his Dad just gave him useless advice on how to get with the girls or new ways to peep on them. This time though, his Dad had given him some actual Fatherly advice, and it was some very good advice. So good in fact, that it was that that encouraged him to express his feeling for Ryoko and Ayeka more. It started like any other day:
Tenchi was getting ready to go out to the vegetable fields when his Father caught his attention. "Tenchi," he started looking very seriously, "Please come with me, there is something that I need to tell you."
Tenchi had rarely seen his Father look or act so serious before, so he was compelled to follow him. His Father led him into Tenchi's room.
"Please sit down Tenchi."
Tenchi did as he was told.
"Tenchi, I realize that I haven't been the best Father to you."
"What?" Tenchi said as he interrupted his father, "No, you've been a great dad!"
Nobuyuki chuckled lightly. "No Tenchi, I haven't. I've constantly tried to force you to do things that you'd never do, like peep on the girls, or get with one of them and give me a grandchild." He stopped for a moment to shake his head in shame. "I have acted very foolishly, but ever since your Mother passed, I guess I did what I did as a shield to keep women away. I bought all those comics and magazines to try to hide from the pain. I never wanted to fall in love with another woman only to loose her again like your Mother. I barely kept it together after she left us forever, and I couldn't bear to have a chance of that happening again."
He stopped to wipe his eyes, Tenchi had to also.
"But you, you have a chance to have what your Mother and I once had: love, pure unconditional love. There are several women in this household who care deeply for you, two above the others, who truly love you and would do anything to please you and be with you. I can't idly sit by any longer and watch those two women pour their hearts out to you for you to just push them aside or run away from them. I watch them when you do and I can see the pain in their eyes. They try so hard and you do nothing to acknowledge their efforts." He pauses again to take a deep breath. "Tenchi, I'm not asking you to just go and choose one of the girls, I'm asking you to listen to your heart and follow it. I want to see my son, my only child, to grow up and be happy and have a family to watch over and love. Please, do this for me, I want you to live."
Tenchi was speechless; he had never heard his Father talk to him like this. His Dad finally seemed to be acting...well like a Dad.
Inwardly, Tenchi was smiling. Since he is supposed to be deep in meditation, he is not supposed to move. He just breathed in deeply, taking in the sweet cinnamon scent of the incense. After that conversation, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of him. He suddenly felt comfortable around the girls. He didn't want to run in fear when they flirted with him or tried to be with him.
He nearly laughed out loud when he thought about Ryoko. A couple of days ago in the middle of the night, he was trying to go to sleep when he heard the usual sounds of Ryoko teleporting in his room to watch him as he slept. 'What a shock she got,' thought Tenchi, 'when I reached out and grabbed her and pulled her down onto my bed! I then told her that if she wanted to be with me at night, all she had to do ask instead of come in while I'm sleeping!' He began to smile inwardly again. 'Her hair very soft and it smelled great, like that cherry blossom tree she likes to nap in so much. She felt so warm and comfortable as she slept lying on me. Her I hadn't slept that well in a long time.'
He lost it slightly and shook a couple of times as he thought about Ayeka. A day after the incident with Ryoko, Tenchi was sitting on the couch watching television. Ayeka was walking downstairs when she tripped on Ryo- Ohki, who was napping on one of the steps in her cabbit form, and fell down the stairs. He was quick to get to her side and help her up. She was sobbing lightly, a small bump was visibly forming on her forehead. He thought he'd be kind and gentle to her and kissed her on her forehead and held her in his arms tightly, all the while saying, "I'm so glad that you are all right. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt or I lost you." The look on her face was, needless to say, priceless.
But he didn't do all of that to shock or embarrass them, he was just acting on pent up emotions that he has held in for so long, like his Father said. The girls just weren't used to him acting so open and were mainly shocked, though overall pleased, with his new actions.
Now he is trying to focus on the reason he decided to meditate in the first place, to find out which girl he cared about and loved more. He does love all the girls, but as a family.
It all comes down to Ryoko and Ayeka. His Dad was right, those two seemed to love him more than anything, and he is just realizing that he feels the same for them.
Ryoko is powerful, proud and strikingly gorgeous. She is exciting, fun loving and adventurous. But she also has a softer, gentler side that she rarely shows. He noticed it a couple of times when she was alone with Sasami. 'Sasami seems to always bring out the best in everyone,' Tenchi thought with an inward smile.
Ayeka, on the other hand, is strong, confident and very beautiful. She is regal, proper and kind hearted. After Washu had a small talk with Tenchi, he found out that Ayeka has a darker more adventurous side that she stubbornly keeps hidden.
Each girl had something that made her special to him but he couldn't pick one over the other. His old fears of losing them were coming back into place. There was no way he could just pick one and watch the other become heartbroken and possibly leave. There was just no way, but he had to choose one, or he could risk losing them both forever.
Tenchi opened his eyes and stood up. The meditation helped him sort through his thoughts, but he was getting nowhere fast concerning the decision. Meditation is a concentration and relaxation of the mind and body, but not the heart. What he needed was to listen to his heart to help guide him towards his decision.
______
"So Ayeka, do you think that Tenchi is done yet?"
"Truthfully Ryoko, I have no idea. I was surprised that he decided to meditate. His actions have been so un-Tenchi lately that I barely know what he is going to do or say anymore."
"Yeah, but you got to admit, it has been more fun around here with him acting like this."
"Oh yes, you and I barely even fight anymore."
Ryoko and Ayeka were enjoying a mid-afternoon soak in the floating onsen while drinking some Sake. Their thoughts, as usual, were on Tenchi. Though his actions as of late have become unexpected, they have enjoyed them all the same. They were getting tired of him just running away or trying to push them away. Indeed, now he seems to be pulling them in!
Both Ryoko and Ayeka were soaking nude. Ryoko finally persuaded Ayeka to take her towel off; she promised her she wouldn't say anything mean to her.
'I must admit,' Ayeka thought to herself, 'this is quite invigorating! Now I see why she likes to do this all the time.'
Ryoko stretched her arms out, and looked over to her new best friend. "Well, do you have any idea what Tenchi could be thinking about in his room?"
Ayeka took a very large drink and looked back to her former rival, now good drinking buddy. "To that, I can only guess, but I suspect that the only thing that could be occupying his mind so much is us."
Ryoko snapped her head up. "Do you think he is coming to a decision about us?"
The princess took another long drink. "I think he might be. Truthfully, with the way he is now, I would rather he not make a decision."
The pirate looked like she was about to ask her a question, but stopped and commented, "Yeah, for once, both of us are happy with the way things are, and so is Tenchi."
Ayeks giggled lightly. "And it seems that we are quickly becoming friends instead of fighting over who he loves or pays more attention to."
Ryoko sighed, "Yeah, we are sort of sharing him, and it doesn't bother me at all."
"Nor does it for I. Now I see what Mother meant when she told me about sharing Father with Funaho."
Ryoko looked up to Ayeka thoughtfully. "Yeah, how did those two agree to share your Father without tearing each other apart?"
Ayeka giggled again. "At first they did. But they soon realized that they both loved my Father very much and reached a compromise that they were comfortable with. They could share him and not feel superior to or jealous of each other."
Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Sort of like we are now with Tenchi."
Ayeka looked up, the same thought dawning on her. "Yes, indeed we are."
They both sported identical evil grins.
______
Mihoshi just woke up from her eighth nap that day on the living room couch. The ditz sat up and stretched lazily. Suddenly her Galaxy Police bracelet started to beep. She looks at it and jumps up. "Oh my! I need to send in my weekly report!"
And with that, she jumped out of the couch and made her way to Washu's lab. She reached out to grab the door handle, when the door burst open, tossing the GP officer back several feet.
Standing at the entrance to the lab was none other than the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe, Washu. She got straight to the point, "You want Yukinojo right? Follow me." She turned around began to walk back into her lab.
Mihoshi sat up, rubbing her head. "Were you expecting me Little Washu?"
Washu stopped walking and turned around, smiling. "No, but I've got all my computers on 'Mihoshi Monitor,' that all go off whenever you get too near to the entrance to my lab."
"Oh wow, that sounds like fun!"
Washu slapped her forehead. "Mihoshi, just...just follow me."
The two of them walked around the lab, small explosions following in Mihoshi's wake, until they entered what appeared to be a large hanger for aircraft. Towering in the middle of it was..."Yukinojo!" screamed Mihoshi.
"I've decided to keep your ship in this hangar when you're not using it. I've also installed a homing beacon on Yukinojo to always come to these coordinates."
Mihoshi looked at Washu confused. "Um, what does that mean?"
Washu was about to hit Mihoshi over the head, but controlled herself. "What it means Mihoshi is that every time you come back here from patrol or turning in reports, Yukinojo will come right here and be teleported into this hangar, which means that you won't crash into the lake or house every time you come back. Do you understand?"
Mihoshi put her index finger on her chin and thought really hard. "Um...no."
Washu fell onto the floor with a loud thud. She gets back up, rubbing her head thoroughly. "Just get into Yukinojo and leave."
"Okay!" said Mihoshi cheerily.
______
Sasami and Nobuyuki were in the living room having a nice little chat when they felt the house shake slightly and the usual sounds of an engine blasting off.
"Looks like Miss Mihoshi is going out again," started Nobuyuki.
"Yeah, I hope that she'll come home soon," finished Sasami.
Ryo-Ohki walked in from the kitchen and looked at the two of them and cleared her throat, "What's going on?"
Sasami looked up. "Oh nothing Ryo-Ohki, Mihoshi just left."
Ryo-Ohki frowned, "Oh, where's Ryoko and Ayeka?"
This time Nobuyuki spoke up, "They are in the onsen taking a mid-afternoon dip."
"Oh, okay." She walked to the stairs and started to go up when Tenchi came bolting down.
"Tenchi!" squealed Ryo-Ohki and Sasami.
Nobuyuki smiled at his son. "Ah Tenchi, how's the meditation going?"
"Great," Tenchi said distractedly, "Where are Ryoko and Ayeka."
"The onsen," Ryo-Ohki answered cheerily.
"Thanks," Tenchi yelled as he ran to the front door. His hand had just touched the door handle when a sharp voice caused him to jump back. "Tenchi, wait!"
Tenchi turned around to see his grandfather walking towards him from the kitchen. He was holding a small cup in his hand.
"Grandpa," Tenchi started impatiently, "I have to go and do something. I'll be right back."
Tenchi turned back towards the door, when his grandfather put his free hand on Tenchi's shoulder, stopping him. "Tenchi, I have allowed you to fall back on your shrine duties and training, but now you need to catch up. Come with me to the shrine."
"But grandpa!"
"No buts Tenchi! You are slacking off and becom..." His voice trails off as the door to Washu's lab opens. They can hear Washu as she starts to come out, "I'll just take a quick break to get a snack."
Yosho suddenly grabbed Tenchi by the collar of his shirt and started to pull him out of the house. "Hurry Tenchi, let's go!" And with that, Yosho bolted out the door with Tenchi being dragged behind.
The front door slammed shut just as Washu came out of her lab in her child form. She looked over at the front door and said, "Who just left?"
"Tenchi and Yosho!" piped in Ryo-Ohki.
Washu looked at the door thoughtfully as everyone else in the room exchanged confused looks.
"Little Washu," started Nobuyuki, "I've noticed that Father has been avoiding you lately. Why is that?" The other two girls in the room looked over at Washu, waiting for an answer.
The little genius looked back to the expectant faces and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Yosho always has been a mysterious one, even to his own family."
"Yeah you're right, he can be unpredictable at times," replied Nobuyuki. He, Sasami and Ryo-Ohki sat back down on the couch. Nobuyuki turned on the television and they all watched a program while Washu walked into the kitchen. When she entered, she frowned slightly.
'He has been avoiding me a lot lately. I guess that I sort of embarrassed him the last time we were together,' she thought with a sly grin. 'I think that I should have a little chat with him.'
______
"So, should we tell him when we get out?" Ryoko started.
"Yes, well, if he is done meditating," finished Ayeka.
Ryoko yawned very loudly. "Well princess, I think that we've been in here for a while now. Do you think we should get out now?"
Ayeka sighed deeply. "Just a few more minutes, I feel so comfortable and relaxed."
Ryoko looked over at Ayeka and giggled lightly. "So, you are really enjoying your first skinny dip, aren't you Ayeka?"
The princess blushed lightly at the space pirate's comment. "Well, um.you see." She was interrupted by Ryoko, who was now laughing. "Ah you don't need to explain," she started, "you should try it more often.
Ayeka gave her a sly smile. "I think I will."
The two burst out laughing.
To be continued...
Author's notes: You were thinking that he was going to go and tell them his decision, weren't you? Shame on you, we are still fairly early into the series! Find out why Yosho suddenly wants to train Tenchi soon.
Questions or Comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon@yahoo.com
Next episode: Partners of Mystery
Disclaimer: This episode of Tenchi Muyo! is of my own creation. I do not own any portion of Tenchi Muyo. "Tenchi Muyo!" and all related characters, names, etc. are ©1992-2003 AIC Inc. and Pioneer LDC. All rights reserved.
Note: This episode takes place shortly after the events of Tenchi Muyo! Special Episode: Here Comes Jurai, Part Two.
Of Happiness and Sorrow
Episode 5:
Meditations and Baths
Nearly one week later, Tenchi is sitting in the middle of his room meditating. His actions over the last week with Ryoko and Ayeka weigh heavily on his mind. He is glad that his grandfather taught him how to meditate, as it is helping him to focus and think.
The only light in his room is the soft glow of a candle. A sweet smelling cinnamon incense was lit earlier and its scent is traveling around the room, helping Tenchi to focus even deeper.
Earlier that day he told everyone that he was going to be in his room meditating and that he did not want anyone to disturb him. 'Thankfully they all listened to me for once,' he thought to himself.
______
"I hope that Tenchi is okay," Sasami said to Ryo-Ohki, "He's been acting a little differently lately."
"Is Tenchi hurt?" asked Ryo-Ohki.
Over the last week, Ryo-Ohki's vocabulary increased dramatically, as was her balance. So lately Ryo-Ohki has been using her teenager form, much to Nobuyuki's happiness.
"I don't know," replied the little princess.
"Of course Tenchi isn't hurt," came a voice behind them that made the two of them jump. They both turned around to see Yosho walking in. He is in his young form. Since he revealed himself to everybody, Yosho has been comfortable with going around without his disguise on. He only puts it back on when company comes over or when he has to go out.
"Hello Yosho,"
"Hi Yosho! How are you?" piped in Ryo-Ohki.
He smiled at them. "And hello two both of you too!" He then looks to the human/cabbit. "And I am fine thank you! I see that you getting better and better with your vocabulary!"
Ryo-Ohki looked down to the floor with her hands behind her back. She replies with a quiet, "Thanks."
"Brother Yosho, what is going on with Tenchi?" asked Sasami.
Yosho looked at her thoughtfully. "Tenchi is going through some changes right now. Not physically, but emotionally. He has had a lot of pent up emotions for some time now, and just recently he has begun to explore them. Needless to say, it is a whole new experience for him. Right now he is meditating to...get himself straightened out. To help him try to focus on what he is going to do."
Sasami sat down, thinking hard. "Oh wow."
"Yes," commented Yosho, "it is a lot to think about, that is why Tenchi is doing what he is right now."
______
Tenchi's mind wanders as he is in a state of sub-consciousness. His thoughts linger on the conversation he had had with his Father about a week ago. Usually his Dad just gave him useless advice on how to get with the girls or new ways to peep on them. This time though, his Dad had given him some actual Fatherly advice, and it was some very good advice. So good in fact, that it was that that encouraged him to express his feeling for Ryoko and Ayeka more. It started like any other day:
Tenchi was getting ready to go out to the vegetable fields when his Father caught his attention. "Tenchi," he started looking very seriously, "Please come with me, there is something that I need to tell you."
Tenchi had rarely seen his Father look or act so serious before, so he was compelled to follow him. His Father led him into Tenchi's room.
"Please sit down Tenchi."
Tenchi did as he was told.
"Tenchi, I realize that I haven't been the best Father to you."
"What?" Tenchi said as he interrupted his father, "No, you've been a great dad!"
Nobuyuki chuckled lightly. "No Tenchi, I haven't. I've constantly tried to force you to do things that you'd never do, like peep on the girls, or get with one of them and give me a grandchild." He stopped for a moment to shake his head in shame. "I have acted very foolishly, but ever since your Mother passed, I guess I did what I did as a shield to keep women away. I bought all those comics and magazines to try to hide from the pain. I never wanted to fall in love with another woman only to loose her again like your Mother. I barely kept it together after she left us forever, and I couldn't bear to have a chance of that happening again."
He stopped to wipe his eyes, Tenchi had to also.
"But you, you have a chance to have what your Mother and I once had: love, pure unconditional love. There are several women in this household who care deeply for you, two above the others, who truly love you and would do anything to please you and be with you. I can't idly sit by any longer and watch those two women pour their hearts out to you for you to just push them aside or run away from them. I watch them when you do and I can see the pain in their eyes. They try so hard and you do nothing to acknowledge their efforts." He pauses again to take a deep breath. "Tenchi, I'm not asking you to just go and choose one of the girls, I'm asking you to listen to your heart and follow it. I want to see my son, my only child, to grow up and be happy and have a family to watch over and love. Please, do this for me, I want you to live."
Tenchi was speechless; he had never heard his Father talk to him like this. His Dad finally seemed to be acting...well like a Dad.
Inwardly, Tenchi was smiling. Since he is supposed to be deep in meditation, he is not supposed to move. He just breathed in deeply, taking in the sweet cinnamon scent of the incense. After that conversation, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of him. He suddenly felt comfortable around the girls. He didn't want to run in fear when they flirted with him or tried to be with him.
He nearly laughed out loud when he thought about Ryoko. A couple of days ago in the middle of the night, he was trying to go to sleep when he heard the usual sounds of Ryoko teleporting in his room to watch him as he slept. 'What a shock she got,' thought Tenchi, 'when I reached out and grabbed her and pulled her down onto my bed! I then told her that if she wanted to be with me at night, all she had to do ask instead of come in while I'm sleeping!' He began to smile inwardly again. 'Her hair very soft and it smelled great, like that cherry blossom tree she likes to nap in so much. She felt so warm and comfortable as she slept lying on me. Her I hadn't slept that well in a long time.'
He lost it slightly and shook a couple of times as he thought about Ayeka. A day after the incident with Ryoko, Tenchi was sitting on the couch watching television. Ayeka was walking downstairs when she tripped on Ryo- Ohki, who was napping on one of the steps in her cabbit form, and fell down the stairs. He was quick to get to her side and help her up. She was sobbing lightly, a small bump was visibly forming on her forehead. He thought he'd be kind and gentle to her and kissed her on her forehead and held her in his arms tightly, all the while saying, "I'm so glad that you are all right. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt or I lost you." The look on her face was, needless to say, priceless.
But he didn't do all of that to shock or embarrass them, he was just acting on pent up emotions that he has held in for so long, like his Father said. The girls just weren't used to him acting so open and were mainly shocked, though overall pleased, with his new actions.
Now he is trying to focus on the reason he decided to meditate in the first place, to find out which girl he cared about and loved more. He does love all the girls, but as a family.
It all comes down to Ryoko and Ayeka. His Dad was right, those two seemed to love him more than anything, and he is just realizing that he feels the same for them.
Ryoko is powerful, proud and strikingly gorgeous. She is exciting, fun loving and adventurous. But she also has a softer, gentler side that she rarely shows. He noticed it a couple of times when she was alone with Sasami. 'Sasami seems to always bring out the best in everyone,' Tenchi thought with an inward smile.
Ayeka, on the other hand, is strong, confident and very beautiful. She is regal, proper and kind hearted. After Washu had a small talk with Tenchi, he found out that Ayeka has a darker more adventurous side that she stubbornly keeps hidden.
Each girl had something that made her special to him but he couldn't pick one over the other. His old fears of losing them were coming back into place. There was no way he could just pick one and watch the other become heartbroken and possibly leave. There was just no way, but he had to choose one, or he could risk losing them both forever.
Tenchi opened his eyes and stood up. The meditation helped him sort through his thoughts, but he was getting nowhere fast concerning the decision. Meditation is a concentration and relaxation of the mind and body, but not the heart. What he needed was to listen to his heart to help guide him towards his decision.
______
"So Ayeka, do you think that Tenchi is done yet?"
"Truthfully Ryoko, I have no idea. I was surprised that he decided to meditate. His actions have been so un-Tenchi lately that I barely know what he is going to do or say anymore."
"Yeah, but you got to admit, it has been more fun around here with him acting like this."
"Oh yes, you and I barely even fight anymore."
Ryoko and Ayeka were enjoying a mid-afternoon soak in the floating onsen while drinking some Sake. Their thoughts, as usual, were on Tenchi. Though his actions as of late have become unexpected, they have enjoyed them all the same. They were getting tired of him just running away or trying to push them away. Indeed, now he seems to be pulling them in!
Both Ryoko and Ayeka were soaking nude. Ryoko finally persuaded Ayeka to take her towel off; she promised her she wouldn't say anything mean to her.
'I must admit,' Ayeka thought to herself, 'this is quite invigorating! Now I see why she likes to do this all the time.'
Ryoko stretched her arms out, and looked over to her new best friend. "Well, do you have any idea what Tenchi could be thinking about in his room?"
Ayeka took a very large drink and looked back to her former rival, now good drinking buddy. "To that, I can only guess, but I suspect that the only thing that could be occupying his mind so much is us."
Ryoko snapped her head up. "Do you think he is coming to a decision about us?"
The princess took another long drink. "I think he might be. Truthfully, with the way he is now, I would rather he not make a decision."
The pirate looked like she was about to ask her a question, but stopped and commented, "Yeah, for once, both of us are happy with the way things are, and so is Tenchi."
Ayeks giggled lightly. "And it seems that we are quickly becoming friends instead of fighting over who he loves or pays more attention to."
Ryoko sighed, "Yeah, we are sort of sharing him, and it doesn't bother me at all."
"Nor does it for I. Now I see what Mother meant when she told me about sharing Father with Funaho."
Ryoko looked up to Ayeka thoughtfully. "Yeah, how did those two agree to share your Father without tearing each other apart?"
Ayeka giggled again. "At first they did. But they soon realized that they both loved my Father very much and reached a compromise that they were comfortable with. They could share him and not feel superior to or jealous of each other."
Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Sort of like we are now with Tenchi."
Ayeka looked up, the same thought dawning on her. "Yes, indeed we are."
They both sported identical evil grins.
______
Mihoshi just woke up from her eighth nap that day on the living room couch. The ditz sat up and stretched lazily. Suddenly her Galaxy Police bracelet started to beep. She looks at it and jumps up. "Oh my! I need to send in my weekly report!"
And with that, she jumped out of the couch and made her way to Washu's lab. She reached out to grab the door handle, when the door burst open, tossing the GP officer back several feet.
Standing at the entrance to the lab was none other than the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe, Washu. She got straight to the point, "You want Yukinojo right? Follow me." She turned around began to walk back into her lab.
Mihoshi sat up, rubbing her head. "Were you expecting me Little Washu?"
Washu stopped walking and turned around, smiling. "No, but I've got all my computers on 'Mihoshi Monitor,' that all go off whenever you get too near to the entrance to my lab."
"Oh wow, that sounds like fun!"
Washu slapped her forehead. "Mihoshi, just...just follow me."
The two of them walked around the lab, small explosions following in Mihoshi's wake, until they entered what appeared to be a large hanger for aircraft. Towering in the middle of it was..."Yukinojo!" screamed Mihoshi.
"I've decided to keep your ship in this hangar when you're not using it. I've also installed a homing beacon on Yukinojo to always come to these coordinates."
Mihoshi looked at Washu confused. "Um, what does that mean?"
Washu was about to hit Mihoshi over the head, but controlled herself. "What it means Mihoshi is that every time you come back here from patrol or turning in reports, Yukinojo will come right here and be teleported into this hangar, which means that you won't crash into the lake or house every time you come back. Do you understand?"
Mihoshi put her index finger on her chin and thought really hard. "Um...no."
Washu fell onto the floor with a loud thud. She gets back up, rubbing her head thoroughly. "Just get into Yukinojo and leave."
"Okay!" said Mihoshi cheerily.
______
Sasami and Nobuyuki were in the living room having a nice little chat when they felt the house shake slightly and the usual sounds of an engine blasting off.
"Looks like Miss Mihoshi is going out again," started Nobuyuki.
"Yeah, I hope that she'll come home soon," finished Sasami.
Ryo-Ohki walked in from the kitchen and looked at the two of them and cleared her throat, "What's going on?"
Sasami looked up. "Oh nothing Ryo-Ohki, Mihoshi just left."
Ryo-Ohki frowned, "Oh, where's Ryoko and Ayeka?"
This time Nobuyuki spoke up, "They are in the onsen taking a mid-afternoon dip."
"Oh, okay." She walked to the stairs and started to go up when Tenchi came bolting down.
"Tenchi!" squealed Ryo-Ohki and Sasami.
Nobuyuki smiled at his son. "Ah Tenchi, how's the meditation going?"
"Great," Tenchi said distractedly, "Where are Ryoko and Ayeka."
"The onsen," Ryo-Ohki answered cheerily.
"Thanks," Tenchi yelled as he ran to the front door. His hand had just touched the door handle when a sharp voice caused him to jump back. "Tenchi, wait!"
Tenchi turned around to see his grandfather walking towards him from the kitchen. He was holding a small cup in his hand.
"Grandpa," Tenchi started impatiently, "I have to go and do something. I'll be right back."
Tenchi turned back towards the door, when his grandfather put his free hand on Tenchi's shoulder, stopping him. "Tenchi, I have allowed you to fall back on your shrine duties and training, but now you need to catch up. Come with me to the shrine."
"But grandpa!"
"No buts Tenchi! You are slacking off and becom..." His voice trails off as the door to Washu's lab opens. They can hear Washu as she starts to come out, "I'll just take a quick break to get a snack."
Yosho suddenly grabbed Tenchi by the collar of his shirt and started to pull him out of the house. "Hurry Tenchi, let's go!" And with that, Yosho bolted out the door with Tenchi being dragged behind.
The front door slammed shut just as Washu came out of her lab in her child form. She looked over at the front door and said, "Who just left?"
"Tenchi and Yosho!" piped in Ryo-Ohki.
Washu looked at the door thoughtfully as everyone else in the room exchanged confused looks.
"Little Washu," started Nobuyuki, "I've noticed that Father has been avoiding you lately. Why is that?" The other two girls in the room looked over at Washu, waiting for an answer.
The little genius looked back to the expectant faces and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Yosho always has been a mysterious one, even to his own family."
"Yeah you're right, he can be unpredictable at times," replied Nobuyuki. He, Sasami and Ryo-Ohki sat back down on the couch. Nobuyuki turned on the television and they all watched a program while Washu walked into the kitchen. When she entered, she frowned slightly.
'He has been avoiding me a lot lately. I guess that I sort of embarrassed him the last time we were together,' she thought with a sly grin. 'I think that I should have a little chat with him.'
______
"So, should we tell him when we get out?" Ryoko started.
"Yes, well, if he is done meditating," finished Ayeka.
Ryoko yawned very loudly. "Well princess, I think that we've been in here for a while now. Do you think we should get out now?"
Ayeka sighed deeply. "Just a few more minutes, I feel so comfortable and relaxed."
Ryoko looked over at Ayeka and giggled lightly. "So, you are really enjoying your first skinny dip, aren't you Ayeka?"
The princess blushed lightly at the space pirate's comment. "Well, um.you see." She was interrupted by Ryoko, who was now laughing. "Ah you don't need to explain," she started, "you should try it more often.
Ayeka gave her a sly smile. "I think I will."
The two burst out laughing.
To be continued...
Author's notes: You were thinking that he was going to go and tell them his decision, weren't you? Shame on you, we are still fairly early into the series! Find out why Yosho suddenly wants to train Tenchi soon.
Questions or Comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon@yahoo.com
Next episode: Partners of Mystery