Tenchi Muyo!

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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 story line is a sequel to 'The Darkness Within.' I recommend reading the stories since it is an incredible series and is very well done.

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The Return to Darkness
Chapter 5:
A Sigh of Relief

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Shock.

That is all that Tenchi Masaki is feeling right now, shock. His beautiful wife Tokimi, the Goddess of Justice, has just informed him of her pregnancy. "P...pregnant?" he stutters out.

"Yes," the woman in his arms meekly replies. "I have been so for about two months now. I have known about it from the moment this tiny life came to inside of me" She moves his hands around her belly, where he finally notices the small protrusion that is their developing child.

The prince is speechless for a few moments, unsure of what he should say or do. After what feels like an eternity for Tokimi, Tenchi finally speaks up. "If you have known for so long, then why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I...I was afraid," she admits, now trembling slightly.

Tenchi pulls her in closer, trying to comfort her. "What were you afraid of?" he asks while pushing a few stray hairs behind her ear.

"I was...unsure as to how you would react." She turns her head to look at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "My fears were justified. Judging by your reaction, you do not want this child with me." The goddess starts to stand up to run away, but her husband pulls her into a tight embrace.

"How could you say that?" he asks, his eyes beginning to fill up with tears as well. "How could you think such a thing? You just surprised me with the news, that's all." He pushes her back so he can look at her eye to eye. "You are truly the woman of my dreams. It has been the greatest experience of my lifetime to know you and to be with you. Now we have the chance to bring a new life into this world together, and nothing would make me happier than to do it with you."

Hearing those words from the man she loves makes Tokimi feel as if a tremendous weight has been lifted off of her. She never needed to feel worried or frightened at what Tenchi would do or say. 'He...he wants to have the child with me!' her mind screams in happiness. The tears begin to spill from her amazing eyes, only now they are tears of happiness. "Oh Tenchi," she cries as she leans her head into his chest and cries out all of the pent up emotions she has been harboring for quite some time.

Tenchi gently rubs her back while saying, "It's okay, just let it all out," soothingly into her ear. While he appears to be calm on the outside, on the inside his mind is going off at a mile a minute. One thought stays more prominent above all others though. 'I...I'm going to be a father!'

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Nearby, the demi god D3 watches on. An odd glitter is in his eyes as he witnesses his Lady reveal her pregnancy to his Lord and her emotional breakdown after he said that he would be proud to father the child with her. "I am glad that Lady Tokimi's fears were all for naught. I do believe that she knew of his positive response, but felt it necessary for him to say so for her comfort. My lady did indeed choose wisely in my Lord. Now to reconvene to the task at hand..." and with that, he disappears.

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Katsuhito just enters the Masaki residence holding his usual cup of green tea. Upon hearing the front door open and close, Ryoko gets up from her nap on her rafter and floats down, expecting it to be Tenchi. When she sees that it is Katsuhito, the pirate sighs and mumbles, "Great, I got up and down here for nothing!"

"Well," the Shinto priest responds, surprising the young woman in front of him, "it is quite nice to see you as well Ryoko."

The pirate narrows her eyes at the shrine master in front of her. "I forgot how good your hearing is old man." She begins to float back up to her rafter. "I'm going back down for a nap. Someone tell me when Tenchi gets home."

"Do you mean that he has not come home yet?" he asks.

Ryoko stretches and yawns loudly, her tail twitching behind her. "Nope. He said earlier that he was gonna hang out with some friends after school. He mentioned something about a guy's night out sort of thing or something like that. Oh well," she sighs as she floats back up to her favorite rafter to take another nap.

Just then, the phone rings. Katsuhito is about to walk over by the stairs to get it, when Sasami comes running by him shouting, "I got it!" The young princess picks up the phone and says, "Hello, Masaki Residence!" She pauses for a moment and her face cracks into a large smile. "Oh, hello Tenchi! Where are you?" She pauses again and nods a couple of times. "Okay, so when are you coming home?" Her smile fades as the princess begins to looks sad. "You're not? But I was going to make a really nice dinner!" she finishes while putting on her classic 'pouty face.'

Katsuhito chuckles at his youngest sister. He knows from past experience that even on the telephone, Sasami's pouty face can still make just about anybody crumble.

He directs his attention back to the young princess, who is now smiling in a satisfactory way. "Alright, but remember that you promised Tenchi!" She pauses for a moment and then giggles at his response. "Okay, bye Tenchi!" And then she hangs up. Sasami turns around and is startled slightly by her older brother Yosho, in his Katsuhito disguise, who is standing right behind her. "Oh, hello grandfather," she says politely.

The shrine priest smiles and pats her head lightly, causing her to giggle. "So, what is going on with my grandson?"

"Oh, Tenchi just called to say that he's going to stay the night over at one of his friends. I was upset that he was going to miss dinner, but he promised to eat a really big breakfast and lunch that I'm going to make for him tomorrow."

Katsuhito chuckles once more at the young princess. He pats her on the head once more before going to the living room to watch the television. Normally he doesn't do such a thing, but since their television now carries all intergalactic channels, he likes to watch the Galactic News and catch up on what he has been missing for the last seven hundred years.

He is just beginning to watch it when he senses the presence of another person in the room. The shrine priest turns his head to the side and sees his other sister Ayeka standing just behind him with an amused expression on her face. "Why brother Yosho," she begins, her voice sounding so full of life, "I never knew you were one for watching the television."

"Normally I am not, but I have to admit that a lot has changed in the galaxy since I first arrived here. I think that it is wise to catch up on a little that has occurred in my absence."

The crown princess covers her hand with her mouth and giggles slightly. "Yes, that is true. Do you mind if I sit and watch with you?"

"Not at all," he smiles at her. He scoots over to allow her to sit down.

Ayeka does so. "I really enjoyed our little chat with one another earlier."

"Yes," Katsuhito agrees, "it has been a while since we have truly talked to one another."

The princess looks around, suddenly noticing something. "Oh by the way brother Yosho, where is Tenchi? I did not hear him come in just yet. Ryoko told me that he was going to spend some time with some friends after school but it is starting to become late. Where could he be?"

"Sasami told me that he will be staying the night over at one of his friend's," he answers, frowning slightly in thought.

"Staying the night?" Ayeka repeats. "That is quite odd. He has never done so before, in fact, I do not remember him ever mentioning much about any friends of his before yesterday."

The old priest nods in agreement. "Yes, I have been having similar thought to that matter as well Ayeka. I should probably question Tenchi about..." he is cut off as the door to Washu's lab flies out and the little genius emerges, looking very agitated. "Well hello Little Washu," he kindly greets. "May I ask as to why you look so upset?"

She is about to respond when a very dazed and confused looking Mihoshi stumbles out of the lab. "H.hey," she mutters. "Why is everybody moving around so much?" Slowly and awkwardly, the blonde GP makes her way out of the living room and through the front door, probably to take a nap out on the dock under the warm sun like she enjoys doing.

"I tried to run a few tests on her to find out exactly why she always manages to enter the most restricted areas of my lab without even trying," Washu mutters, shaking her head in confusion.

Ayeka speaks up. "And what did you find out Miss..." she pauses under the genius' scrutinizing gaze, "...I mean Little Washu?"

"Nothing!" she shouts while throwing her arms up in the air in frustration. "Every time I ran a test on her, my computers would either crash or blow up! How can that happen? I personally built every single piece of equipment in that lab to undergo most strenuous and difficult of tasks imaginable and that...that...Mihoshi can take them all down by simply touching them while she doesn't even know what she's doing!?"

Katsuhito finishes up his green tea while suppressing a chuckle that is yearning to come up. "I just suppose that it is just the eternal mystery that is Galaxy Police Officer Mihoshi Kuramitsu."

Ayeka covers her mouth and giggles again despite the death glare both she and the Shinto priest are now receiving from a very angry Washu.

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"Okay sir, here are your keys to your room. I hope you and your lovely lady enjoy your stay at our fine establishment."

Tenchi takes the keys from the man at the front desk of the hotel he and Tokimi are staying in for the night. "Thank you," he kindly replies. He and his beautiful wife make their way to the elevator. The prince pushes the button for the top floor with all of the big expensive luxurious suites.

Tokimi leans into her husband, enjoying the warmth of his body. "You did not have to do this Tenchi," the goddess begins. "I could have simply taken us to my dimension and we could have stayed the night there."

"I know, but you've done so much for me. I just want to do something for you for a change." He gives her a warm, kind smile, the kind of smile that can melt a woman's heart.

The goddess sighs happily and leans in further into Tenchi, now feeling on cloud nine. Now she can be around him and feel worry free. She is married to a man whom stole her heart and who loves her back just as dearly and now she is carrying his child, which he gladly welcomes to bring into this world with her. 'Everything is...perfect,' she thinks to herself.

The elevator stops on the top floor and Tenchi and Tokimi walk out into a well-furnished hallway. They walk down it and soon reach their room. The prince uses the key and opens the door and they both gasp slightly at the sight before them. The room they are now entering is a living room of sorts. It is quite large and is furnished with old antique furniture and rugs. The balcony straight ahead gives a spectacular view of the lands surrounding the hotel and of Okayama in the distance.

As they gaze out from the balcony, Tenchi mentally congratulates himself on finding such a nice place and paying the cab fair to get here from the city. He can tell by the dreamy look on his wife's face that she could most likely die happy at this very moment.

Tokimi goes back inside, anxious to explore the rest of the room. She walks into the bedroom with Tenchi just behind her. She eyes the very large and comfortable looking bed with great interest. Her eyes linger up and she is surprised to see mirrors on the ceiling above the bed. She turns around to look at her husband, a very, very seductive smile on her face. "I will make sure to put those to great use with you later!"

She giggles at the deep blush that slams into his face and the guilty smile that appears just afterwards. The goddess makes her way into the next room, the bathroom. In the left side stands a lavish looking porcelain bathtub. The sound of gurgling water to her right causes her to turn to look and see the Jacuzzi tub that is filled with warm, bubbly water. She walks over to it and leans down to place a hand in the water. Tokimi frowns lightly. "This water is too hot. It might cause some problems to my child," she adds while lovingly placing a hand on her stomach. The goddess locates the controls and turns down the water temperature a bit. "That is better," she smiles.

"So," comes Tenchi's voice from the entrance to the bathroom, "what do you think?"

Tokimi stands up and turns around to face him, not saying a word. Suddenly, she smiles like a young child receiving a new toy and rushes towards him, leaping into his arms and smothering his face with kisses. "This...is...just...perfect!" she breathes between kisses.

The prince wraps his arms around her happily and spins around a few times. "I'm glad...that you...enjoy it...dear," he replies. He walks backwards and lies down on the bed with Tokimi now sitting on his lap.

The goddess pulls back slightly so she can look deep into Tenchi's deep chocolate brown eyes that are shining with pure love and adoration. She smiles, her radiant blue and purple eyes giving off the same emotions as her husband's. "Just...perfect," she mutters before leaning and kissing him deeply on the lips.

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Sasami and Ryo-Ohki in her toddler form are taking a walk with Mr. Masaki, who just got home for the weekend, through the seemingly endless expanse of forest that is surrounding the Masaki Residence. The young princess skips ahead, enjoying the warm summer weather. She kneels down and picks up two lovely little daisies just in front of her. "Here, let me help you," Nobuyuki kindly offers. He takes one flower and places it on Sasami's right ear. He takes the other and does the same for the cabbit girl, who happily 'myahs' at him.

The young girl giggles slightly. "Thank you Mr. Masaki." She spins around on her toes, breathing in the crisp clean air. "Oh, I just love taking walks! They are so peaceful and it's so beautiful here!"

"Yes, I used to take walks all the time out here with Tenchi's mother when we were younger," Mr. Masaki says, looking up at the sky in remembrance.

That catches the princess' and the cabbit girl's attention. "What was she like?" Sasami asks. "I've seen old pictures or her and she was very beautiful."

"Oh she was," he replies, a small smile coming to on his face. "I still can't believe that she fell for me. I actually used to act a lot like Tenchi does now, all shy like and nervous."

"Really?"

Nobuyuki chuckles at the astounded young girl. "Yeah I was. Hard to believe isn't it? Any way, she was the most amazing woman I had ever seen. She was perfect in every way. Very graceful, not as much as your sister, but still...just incredible. She had a very kind and loving heart, always being kind to all others around her."

Sasami looks up to the sky, thinking about Tenchi's mother. "I would have really liked to have met her."

"Oh she would have loved you," Mr. Masaki smiles. Suddenly, his smile becomes downcast and he sighs deeply. "I miss her so much at times. When all of you girls just dropped in, I started to cheer up at the thought of the house being filled up with women. That was the one thing that our house really needed: a woman's touch. I'm really glad that all of you girls are living with us."

The young princess smiles warmly at Tenchi's father. "I'm glad that I live here too." She looks back up to the bright blue sky. Ryo-Ohki reverts back into her cabbit form and leaps up on top of Sasami's head, who giggles again in response. "I wish things could stay this perfect all the time."

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Ryoko is now lying on the roof drinking some pre evening saké while watching the sun as it nears the horizon. Mihoshi has joined her up on the roof and is drinking and watching as well, though the pirate is being very watchful of the GP incase she slips and starts to fall off. "Ah," the blonde happily sighs after taking a particularly long drink, her face flushing slightly due to the alcohol's effects, "today was so nice and relaxing."

"Yeah," the pirate agrees, taking a long drink herself, "but today would've been better if Tenchi were home the whole day."

Mihoshi nods in agreement, blushing slightly thinking about the man who she considers to be her destiny. Luckily for her, Ryoko doesn't notice since it only looks like the saké that is making her turn red. She remembers the conversation she had with Tenchi the other day. 'That was the first time he ever talked to me like that,' she thinks with a giggle. 'Maybe Tenchi's starting to like me like I like him!' The thought of her and the prince together gets her to blush even more.

Next to her, Ryoko's thoughts also linger on the man who stole her heart. 'I can't wait until he gets home tomorrow,' the pirate thinks to herself with a sly smile. 'The sooner her gets home, the sooner he can take me out like he promised!'

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Some time later, Tenchi and Tokimi are lying very close to each other in the bed in their room of the hotel that they are staying the night in, both exhausted from their most recent bout of lovemaking, this one happening to be one of their most passionate times. The goddess' back is facing her husband's and his arms are wrapped around her stomach. The prince leans in slightly and kisses her on the back of her neck and whispers, "I love you," before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

Tokimi takes in a deep breath and scoots back into her husband, relishing the comforting warmth of his body against hers. She looks over into the living room area at the entrance to the balcony, which is still open. The curtains are blowing gently in the soft breeze. Outside, the sun has set some time ago, revealing a beautiful starry sky.

"Perfect," the goddess mutters again, lamenting on how this day has been for her. She pulls the covers up a bit on her and closes her eyes to follow her husband in a blissful sleep, letting out one final sigh of relief.



To be continued...

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Author's notes: Ah, another Chapter in the wraps. This one is a little bit shorter than normal, but I was mainly working on the heartwarming parts of it, adding the rest with the other family members in afterwards.

So now Tenchi and Tokimi are going to have a baby. Something this big can't be kept a secret from the rest of his family for too long. Soon, the others will suspect something is up with Tenchi and the truth will be revealed.but what else will come of that? -- lighthawkdemon

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