Tenchi Universe

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Disclaimer: This episode of Tenchi Universe is of my own creation as well as the character Hayato. 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 Universe, Tenchi Muyo in Love and Tenchi Forever.

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The More Things Change...

Episode 12:

No Need for a Party!

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Fade in: Masaki Residence mid Friday afternoon, over one week later. Tenchi's graduation is in a couple of hours and everyone is walking excitedly around the house. Washu is outside pitting the finishing touches on the decorations for the graduation party. Tenchi invited a couple of his friends to come, and hearing the stories about all of the beautiful women that he lives with, they were happy to oblige.

Washu is currently outside where the party will be hosted, adding some extra room for the extra people that would be attending. She smiles contentedly to herself as she puts final streamers and banners up. "Ah, this is going to be a great party!"

She takes a quick look at the empty tables around the open field. "Hmm, once we get all the snacks and drinks out later everything will be perfect. I am such a genius!"

Suddenly the mini Washus pop up on her shoulders. "You did it Washu!" shouts Mini Washu A.

"Everything you do is perfect!" Mini Washu B adds in.

"Yay Washu!" they chorus together before they disappear.

Washu looks around the clearing, frowning. "Those two are more effective if there's somebody else around besides me to brag to."

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Meanwhile back in the house, Tenchi is sitting down on the living room couch, looking both nervous and excited. The television is on, but his thoughts are currently elsewhere. Ryoko teleports next to him and places a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump slightly in surprise. "Oh Ryoko!" he gasps. "Sorry about that, I'm just feeling really nervous."

The pirate smiles warmly at him. "Oh it's all right Tenchi. So, in just a couple of hours it will all be done and over with."

The prince begins to scratch the back of his head. "Yeah, I can't wait."

Ryoko smiles at him again and leans in close to whisper into his ear. "And after the party, I've got a big surprise for you...my Tenchi."

Tenchi begins to blush as Ryoko chuckles lightly at him. Ayeka then comes in and sits down next to Tenchi. She takes a quick look at the two of them and frowns. "Ryoko have you been embarrassing Lord Tenchi again?"

"Hey can you blame me?" she shrugs, "he makes it so easy, and he just looks so darn cute when he gets flustered!"

Both women begin to giggle as Tenchi goes redder. Hayato then comes downstairs wearing only a pair of black swimming trunks. The girls both stop giggling and look at him. "Hey stud," Ryoko starts, "where are you off to?"

"I'm gonna take a swim in the lake."

Ayeka raises an eyebrow. "The lake?"

Tenchi's cousin cricks his neck. "Yeah, I haven't exercised much lately and I figured a good swim is just what I need."

Ryoko suddenly gives him a devious smile. "What? Kiyone isn't giving you a good enough workout?"

Hayato goes even redder than Tenchi as the three people on the couch begin to laugh at him. Kiyone suddenly comes down wearing a two-piece green bikini. She frowns as she looks from Hayato next to her to Tenchi, Ryoko and Ayeka on the couch. "What did you guys say to him?" she asks in an exasperated tone.

The pirate's eyes go wide as she looks at Kiyone in her bikini. "Ah, you're going to go for a swim with him! Now you two better not do something I probably would, like go skinny-dipping!"

Kiyone's face goes just as red as Hayato's as the three people on the couch burst out laughing. Nobuyuki and Achika had just walked in from the kitchen and heard what Ryoko said. They too joined in on the playful laughter.

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Sasami, who was in the kitchen fixing up lunch, looks up as she hears laughter coming from the living room. "Hey, what's so funny?"

Achika looks in, still slightly laughing. "Oh nothing Sasami. Ryoko is just embarrassing Hayato and Kiyone again."

The little princess shakes her head and sighs lightly. "She never cuts them any slack does she?"

Tenchi's mother shrugs her shoulders. "Well you know Ryoko..."

"Yeah I do."

Achika goes back into the living room while Sasami stops cooking for a minute to watch the two cabbits behind her. Ryo-Ohki and Ken-Ohki were sitting next to each other sharing a carrot. The little princess leans down to them. "So, are you two enjoying your carrot?"

Ryo-Ohki looks up and smiles. "Mya mya meow!"

"Chow!" Ken-Ohki adds in. He leans in and licks Ryo-Ohki on the cheek. The little cabbit blushes furiously and tries desperately to try to cover face. Ken-Ohki moves in closer and nuzzles her slightly. Ryo-Ohki keeps her head lowered but nuzzles him back.

Sasami smiles brightly at the two of them as she scratches them both under their chins.

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Tenchi's graduation will be starting in just a little over an hour. Almost everybody is ready to leave. Tenchi is the only one who is not quite ready yet. Nagi and Kamidake are dressed in normal earth clothes so they wouldn't arouse any suspicion. Sasami is giggling as she carries both Ryo-Ohki and Ken-Ohki in her arms. Nobuyuki is carrying his video camera and recording everything around him, as usual.

Tenchi then finally comes down, wearing some nice dress clothes with a tie. His Dad is quick to run up to him to take a couple of shots.

Ryoko teleports next to him. "Looking good Tenchi."

Ayeka gracefully walks to his other side. "Yes, you look very nice."

Hayato pats him on the back lightly. "So cousin, are you ready to graduate?"

Tenchi grins excitedly. "Yep. Let's go!"

Up to a couple of days ago, Tenchi was worried as to how everybody could make it to his school in his Dad's van. That was until Washu and Hayato came up with a solution. Hayato owns a big black truck, but it was currently in America. Washu was able to create a couple of portals and bring his truck to their home so now they could all go comfortably.

So now they are on their way in the two vehicles. Hayato, Kiyone, Misoshi, Nagi and Kamidake are traveling in the truck, and Nobuyuki, Achika, Katsuhito, Washu, Sasami, the two cabbits, Ryoko, Ayeka and Tenchi are in the van.

The trip is short, with everyone talking excitedly to each other. Soon they are at the school. Tenchi is now in his cap and gown. With a quick hug from his mother and a rub on the shoulder from his dad, Tenchi parts from the group and makes his way to his school friends.

The entire ceremony is set along nicely. It was held outside and the weather was perfect. The principal makes a long, but very nice speech about the future and moving on. Then the Valedictorian says another nice speech. Soon, they are calling out names of each of the graduates one at a time and give them their diplomas. When Tenchi's name is called, Ryoko can't take it anymore and jumps up and shouts, "Yeah Tenchi!"

"Shut up Ryoko!" Ayeka hisses.

"Wooooh! Yeah!" she shouts again.

A ripple of light laughter goes across the area. All four of the Masaki men slap their foreheads at the exact same moment. Ryoko looks unfazed, but Ayeka is looking murderous. "Would you cut it out Ryoko? You are embarrassing him!"

"I can't help it" the pirate practically cries, "I'm so happy for him! And he looks so damn good right now!"

The crowd erupts with laughter. Tenchi goes rigid and turns a violent shade of red. Tenchi's friend Genzo, who is in front of him, grabs Tenchi and begins to pull him off the stage. The principal hands Tenchi his diploma while still chuckling. Genzo leads Tenchi back to his seat while the rest of the graduates are being called. "Boy Tenchi, she sure is a feisty one!"

"You have no idea," Tenchi sighs into his hands.

Another of Tenchi's friends Khoroku, who is in the row of chairs in front of them, leans back to talk to them. "So, will we be expecting her to be like that at the party?"

The prince sighed deeply again. "She is basically always like that, so yes you should expect that behavior from her later."

Genzo and Khoroku look at each other and smile mischievously. 'Oh yeah,' Genzo thinks to himself, 'this is gonna be one hell of a party!'

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Soon everyone is back home and outside for the graduation party. Genzo, Khoroku and a handful of Tenchi's school friends and their parents are in attendance. Everybody is visibly having a great time. Every time Achika gets near her son, she embraces him tightly and tells him how proud of him she is and how much she loves him.

Most of the parents are in the same corner and speaking to one another. The other corner has a small dance floor and is playing music. This is where most of the younger people are. Several people are dancing to the beats while the others are having snacks and having light conversations.

The karaoke machine is also there, but no one is currently using it. There is a good amount of Sake all around so it will probably be used very shortly. Genzo runs up to Tenchi and pats him on the back, a light smell of saké escaping his lips. "Tenchi, this is a great party!"

"Thanks, but my family put it together, not me. You should be thanking them."

Genzo smiles mischievously. "I think I will! You know, that green-haired girl is hot! What is her name?"

The prince chuckles lightly. "Her name is Kiyone, but I wouldn't get any ideas. She and my cousin are an item."

Genzo snaps his fingers, looking upset. "Damn!" He scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Well there's still that blonde girl."

"Mihoshi? She's free. Good luck."

The man's eyes brighten at his friend's comment. "Really? Great! Later Masaki!"

Tenchi tries as hard as he can to not laugh hysterically at his friend as he makes his way over to Mihoshi. Khoroku takes Genzo's place next to Tenchi. He looks over at his friend confused. "Hey Tenchi, what's so funny?"

It takes Tenchi a few minutes to finally calm down and respond. "Oh its just Genzo. He's going to get himself in something that he really won't want."

Khoroku scratches the top of his head. "Huh?"

"Let's just say that Mihoshi, the blonde he's talking to, is very...accident-prone."

A dawning look appears on Khoroku's face as he starts to laugh along with Tenchi. Ryoko suddenly appears on Tenchi's other side. "Hey Tenchi, let's dance!"

Before Tenchi can respond, Ryoko grabs his arms and begins to drag him off to the dance floor.

Khoroku sighs deeply. "Damn I was hoping I would get to dance with her. Masaki's a lucky guy."

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Ryoko pulls Tenchi into the middle of the dance floor and begins to dance to the hip beat of the music. Tenchi doesn't know what to do for a couple of seconds, but soon stops caring as he looks at the beautiful woman in front of him and begins to dance with her. He never was much of a dancer, but he is trying very hard and having a great time doing so. The pirate beams at him. "That's it Tenchi! Live a little!"

She suddenly looks over Tenchi's shoulder and smiles mischievously. "So, you're joining us princess?"

Tenchi turns around to see Ayeka standing next to him. She is frowning, but in an amused sort of way. "Well, I cannot have you hogging him all to yourself now can I?"

The two of them smile at each other as they start to dance in between the man they both care deeply for. Soon the trio is deep into the dance and enjoying each other's company.

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Nobuyuki and Achika are watching their son with nothing but joy and love in their eyes. Achika leans her head into her husband's shoulder. "Oh Nobuyuki, look at our son."

"Yes. He's a grown man now and I couldn't be prouder of him."

A thought suddenly comes back into Achika's head, something she has been thinking about for a while now. "Hey Nobuyuki, have you ever thought about having another child?" The daughter of Yosho smiles mischievously at the look of shock now adorning her husband's face. 'He is such a big sweetie,' she thinks happily to herself. 'And I couldn't be prouder to be married to him.'

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Hayato, Kiyone, Nagi and Kamidake are also part of the group on the dance floor. Nagi and Kamidake aren't much of dancers, but Hayato had given them several pointers earlier and is mentally giving them some tips while they dance.

Hayato leans in towards the Jurian Knight and bounty hunter. "So, are you guys having fun?"

"Yeah!" they both chorus in enthusiastically.

Kiyone and Hayato both get in some laughter between dance steps. "You know," Kiyone starts, "there are several dance clubs in town, Hayato and I went to a couple of them. Maybe the four of us can go to them together, like a double date!"

Both Nagi and Kamidake blush slightly, but nod their heads in agreement. Kiyone smiles and the four of them continue with their dancing, neither currently having a care in the world.

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Katsuhito, Washu and Sasami are sitting around a table and talking happily to each other. Ryo-Ohki and Ken-Ohki are playfully chasing each other around the table. Sasami looks over at the dance floor and spots Tenchi dancing with Ayeka and Ryoko. "Hey look!" she shouts, "there's Tenchi!"

"Where?" Washu asks while scanning the crowds of people.

Sasami points over to the dance floor. "He's over there dancing with sister and Ryoko!"

"Its about time!" Katsuhito and Washu yell happily at the same time.

The three look at each other and begin to laugh as the party goes on through the night.

Fade out.

To be continued...

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Author's notes: I wanted to make the party a little bigger, but I want all of my episodes to be a certain length. The party is short, but fun.

Questions or comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon@yahoo.com

Next episode: No Need for Bedtime Stories!