Saturday Afternoon - Ryoko's Clinic - With Rito, Lala, Ryoko, Yui, and Tearju
"-And that's 130 cm." Noted Ryoko as she finished measuring Tearju's hips. "That puts your current three sizes at 153-56-130. I must say Tearju, at the rate you're growing, you may not be able to stand before long." She joked as she put the measuring tape away.
"Don't say that like it's a good thing," Panted Tearju as she used a towel to wipe the sweat from her brow, tired from all the back exercises she'd done that mornings. Since her back was beginning to suffer from heavy strain due to her abnormally large breasts, Ryoko had recommended that she undergo a similar workout routine on Lala's exercise machine that she went through herself, though much less extreme and centered around strengthening her back. "I may be able to stay upright now because of the Berserker pill and that weird machine, but this is just getting way too out of hand."
"What I still don't get is why this keeps happening." Wondered Rito as he began rubbing Tearju's shoulders to alleviate some of her back pains. "As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any pattern for this aside from these flowers that keep blooming." He said as he shook the chain.
"Well why don't we see if we can't find that pattern?" Ryoko said as she pulled the Game Boy Horror out of her cleavage. Noticing the bitter glares she was getting from Tearju, Rito, and Yui, she shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, I say if you've got it, flaunt it. Not my fault if my breasts make for a good extra pocket." She excused her actions as she began scanning the handcuffs again. "While this thing's scanning for new data, do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Rito?"
"That all depends on what kind of questions you plan on asking." Rito rebuked. "If it has to do with my sex life, I'm not going to answer it."
"Then I'll just save that question for when you're in a better mood." Ryoko smirked playfully. "Your virginity can wait for another time, but right now I was wondering when you'd let me move in with you."
Rito's eyebrow twitched. "I'm sorry. What did you say?" He asked her calmly.
"When can I move in with you?" She repeated. "And for that matter, when can Yui move in on a permanent basis as well?"
"Why am I getting dragged into this?" Protested Yui, who had only been silently observing until now.
"Well, Sallem told me that he built an extra-dimensional space in Rito's house just for his harem, so I assumed that we'd be getting invitations to move in soon." Ryoko explained.
"That's right!" Lala remembered happily. "He said that he used my old room linked to Rito's closet as a base for the new room. I forgot to check it out, but he said that it had enough space and resources for a small village to live in there comfortably."
"That kind of expansion has to violate at least a few zoning laws." Yui lampshaded.
"I don't think it would." Tearju explained as she adjusted her very large sports bra. "Extra-dimensional space can be used to store a city sized area in even the smallest areas. Since Earth isn't advanced enough to know about such technology, let alone have laws about it, I don't think the same situations apply here."
"I still don't like the idea of people putting weird stuff into my closet." Rito deadpanned before an eerie noise sent a sudden chill up his spine. "Ryoko, I think the machine's done scanning the cuffs again." He shuddered
"So it is." Noticed Ryoko as she studied the new data. "Now let's see... There doesn't seem to be too much of a difference in the pattern from the last time it changed. Bust and hips get bigger, another week worth of energy is drained from the ghost, another flower blooms. The data seems to be more or less the same as the last time." As she continued to scroll through the text however, something interesting caught her eye. "Well now here's something interesting."
"What is it this time?" Asked Tearju curiously.
"By the looks of things, the handcuffs are linked to more than just you two." Ryoko explained. "Each of the five flowers on the vines is linked to someone else by a tiny thread of ectoplasm, each one thinner than even a single strand of hair and capable of stretching for several kilometers. The reason the Game Boy Horror wasn't able to pick up on them earlier was because so little energy was flowing through them that they just blended in with their surroundings."
"Alright, I'm with you so far," Nodded Yui as she read over Ryoko's shoulder, trying to figure some things out for herself. "So why is that thing able to pick up on the threads now?"
"Simple, there's more energy flowing through them now." Ryoko explained. "It seems that as each flower blooms, the link to the person it represents gets stronger. In other words, not only are Rito and Tearju linked now, but it would also be fair to say that neither you nor I would feel right if we went too far from them now." She said to Yui.
"So each of those flowers represent one of us." Yui realized, the gears in her mind turning at this new found revelation. "Wait a second... The black one bloomed when I first slept together with Rito, while the red one bloomed when you first slept together with Rito. Then that would have to mean..." She trailed off as she realized the exact implications of this.
"That's right," Nodded Ryoko. "Based on the data available, the flowers most likely bloom when the person they represent sleeps together with Rito and Tearju."
"Do you have any idea who these remaining three are for?" Asked Rito, thoroughly intrigued now.
"Just for safety reasons though," Tearju interjected. "I don't want these to get any bigger than they already are." She explained as she adjusted her bike shorts with one hand and rubbed her breasts with the other. "Things are beginning to get too weird for words here."
"The Game Boy Horror can't tell which flower links to whom for certain, since the signals on those are still too weak," Ryoko said regretfully. "However, it has provided a list of likely candidates."
"How can it tell that?" Lala asked curiously. "If it can't pick up the signals, how can it say who they might be linked to?"
"Apparently the Game Boy Horror can tell that Rito's in a relationship with me and Yui," Chuckled Ryoko. "Based on that pattern, it's pretty much made a list of everyone who he has feelings for or vice versa." As she said this, she handed over the device to Rito so he could see for himself.
"Other candidates for links to the flowers are as follows," Rito began reciting from the list in vaguely annoyed monotone. "Lala, Nana, Momo, Haruna, Risa, Mio, Run, Yami, Oshizu, Mikan, Peke." Though the only thing odd about his body language was that his left eyebrow was twitching, it was blatantly clear that Rito was highly irritated now. "Ryoko... why does it seem like this is just a list of almost every girl over ten years old that I know besides you, Yui, and Tearju?" He strained to say calmly.
"Not every girl," Ryoko joked. "Zastin's harem isn't on there."
"Zastin's harem not being included went unsaid there, for obvious reasons." Rito pointed out.
"Not my fault you failed to be specific," Ryoko shrugged as she got up. "All that aside though, since Yui and I can't stray too far from you for the time being," She paused as she pulled Rito into her strong arms bridal style. "I think it's for the best if we both stay at your place for the time being."
"What about Haruna, though?" Asked Lala before Rito could protest. "She's still here, isn't she? So someone has to look after her, right?"
"She has a very good point there." Yui agreed solemnly. "Haruna's still in a coma, so she needs to stay where there are medical facilities and a doctor of some kind to take care of her."
"Hmm, good point," Ryoko scratched her chin in contemplation. "Then I guess you'll just have to move in with me for the time being." She decided cheerfully.
"That brings up an entirely different set of issues." Yui scolded. "It's bad enough that the school knows that Rito's in a relationship with all of us, but if word gets out that we're living together then the situation could get much more complicated."
"But haven't you been living with us for the past few days, Yui?" Lala pointed out.
"That's different!" Yui insisted sternly as she turned away in embarrassment. "I was only doing it to make certain that nothing happens while Rito and Tearju are handcuffed by that ghost! As the most morally sound and down to earth member of Rito's harem, I have to make certain that certain things remain off limits until we're of legal age!"
"Kids grow up so fast these days, though." Smiled Ryoko as she put Rito down and began to strip. "Besides, Rito needs to learn things like this and that eventually if we're ever going to start a family, and personally I think the sooner the better." By this time, she was completely down to her black lace underwear. "So tell me Rito, when do you want to start propagating the next generation?"
"Put your clothes back on, Ryoko!" Rito protested in a panic.
"At least wait until he's out of high school." Pouted an embittered Yui.
"Excuse me," Interrupted Tearju. "I know that this may not be the best time, but who's this Haruna girl you keep talking about?"
"Oh yeah," Realized Rito. "I forgot with all that going on that I haven't explained that to you yet. Ryoko, could you show us where Haruna is? It's been a while since I've seen her anyway, and I've been meaning to visit her."
"Not a problem, Rito." Nodded Ryoko sadly as she put her lab coat back on to make herself slightly more decent. "You're not the only one who's been worried about her. Her sister and Yui's brother come by almost everyday too."
"Why would Yui's brother come come along too?" Lala questioned as they were lead out of the room.
"Apparently they've been dating for a while now," Yui explained. "Though based on what I've heard she doesn't seem to be taking the relationship as seriously as my brother does."
"If that's the case then I feel pretty bad for him," Rito said. "Your brother's a pretty cool guy, after all."
"I just see it as karma coming back to him." Debated Yui. "He's such a flirt that the one time he actually likes a girl she's just leading him on. He may be an alright brother, even considering all his many faults, but he needs to learn a lesson about women."
"Maybe yes, maybe no." Ryoko added as she stopped at a door. "Their relationship seems to be making some headway based on what I've seen during their visits. As sad as Haruna's coma may be, Yuu's moral support for Akiho seems to be breaking through some walls."
"Is this where Haruna is?" Peke asked curiously from her perch on Lala's head.
"Yep," Replied Ryoko as she opened the door and everyone walked in. "With the technology at my disposal, all of her physical injuries have healed up without any problems. However, I've given her a few scans with the Game Boy Horror, and I'll be honest, it doesn't look too good."
"Why would you need to scan her with a spirit detection device?" Tearju asked, already knowing and dreading the answer for the sake of the poor girl before her.
"The ghost that's been haunting me placed a curse on her," Rito explained sadly. "It put her into this coma, and I have no idea how to fix things."
Tearju's eyes softened when she noticed how hurt Rito looked by this turn of events. "By the looks of things, I'm guessing she's more than just a friend to you?" It felt kind of weird for her to be comforting him about this. A few short weeks ago, if someone had told her that a man was so sad over having a woman he loved in a coma while he also had an entire harem, she'd be too embarrassed to say anything on it, as well as a bit offended at his indecisiveness. However, after being chained to Rito for just a week she was beginning to feel that numbers didn't matter in love as much as she once thought they did.
'He's such a sweet and caring kid,' Tearju thought fondly as she looked at him. 'He'd do anything for someone he loves, just like I tried so hard to do for my little girl.' Suddenly, her own eyes became downcast. 'I wish I could have been there for her, but I couldn't manage it, but Rito... She nearly killed him, many times from what I've heard, but he still managed to connect with her and pull her out of the darkness that had claimed her so long ago. What I wouldn't give for someone like that. Maybe I could...' She pushed such thoughts from her head with a blush, scolding herself for thinking like that. 'I couldn't do something like that while Yami still doesn't want to be around me. Maybe if she could forgive me I might consider it, but I can't do it with things as they are.'
"I look at her as more than a friend," Rito said solemnly in response to her question. "I don't know what she sees me as, but even if she woke up and said no, I'd just be happy if she woke up. Right now though, I'm more worried about what the scans have turned up." He said as he looked at Ryoko hopefully.
"The data isn't perfect by any means," Ryoko began as she brought up some saved files on the Game Boy Horror. "However there has been a fluctuating pattern in the ectoplasm repeating every day since she came here. While it's not exactly harmful to her immediate health, prolonged bombardment by the ghost's energy is slowly causing random mutations in her DNA."
"Mutations in her DNA?" Rito asked sarcastically as he glanced from Ryoko to Yui to Tearju, taking notice of how radically they've each changed in appearance in recent times. "Do you mean it's going to be something like...?" He trailed off, letting the blanks fill in themselves.
"We'd be lucky if that were the case." Ryoko shook her head. "Remember, these are random mutations we're dealing with here. If the worst thing that happens to her is just something like growing an extra head, turning into a boy, or becoming incredibly obese it would be nothing short of a miracle. To be honest, what the curse is doing to her now is pretty close to cancer, and could possibly turn lethal." The room seemed to suddenly get several degrees colder. "You asked me what's happening to her, and as her doctor I'm giving you my honest opinion."
"So this is what it's come to?" Asked Yui rhetorically.
"I've been working on a machine that could remove the curse," Suggested Lala hopefully. "But since I have so little data to work with, it's been slow going."
"Not to mention your machines have a bad habit of backfiring horribly." An unknown baritone voice cut through the room.
"Who's there?" Demanded Rito in alarm as he quickly scanned the room. As he did so, he caught sight of Lala who had gone stiff as a board, her tail as straight as a metal fencepost as all color seemed to drain from her face. "Lala, what's wrong?" He asked as he shook her by the shoulder.
"That voice." Shuddered Lala fearfully. "It's him. He's here. We're all doomed. Protect me, Rito!" She panicked as she jumped into his arms bridal style and hid her face in the crook of his neck.
"Who are you talking about, Lala?" Asked Rito worriedly as he held her trembling body tightly, trying to give her the reassurance she clearly needed as the lights suddenly shattered, the only source of illumination now coming from the single window. "Do you know that voice?"
"Yohohohoho, of course she knows me." Chuckled the voice. "How could she, or anyone for that matter, forget the stuff of their worst nightmares?"
"Yohoho?" Noticed Yui suspiciously as she glanced at Lala and Rito.
"I know what you're thinking," Rito nodded in agreement to Yui's unspoken question. "But did she ever react like this to Sallem? They're old friends after all. But with a laugh like that, it might be one of his clones." He pointed out, remembering their earlier encounter with Victor.
"Smart boy," Noted the voice as the window suddenly opened and someone came in. Whoever it was looked about 5 feet tall and wore a zoot suit that looked and smelled like blood. The wide brimmed hat was tilted to obscure his face from view, but straight black hair reaching down to his feet was clearly visible, as was what appeared to be a sharply styled, gravity defying mustache extending slightly past his shoulders. "No wonder my brother seems to think so highly of you. You catch onto things faster than most would." The man's voice was deep, soothing, yet at the same time highly unnerving. "So much so that I can't help but wonder if you've caught onto his little game yet." A bushy black furred tail twitched behind him as he said 'game'.
"Keep him away~!" Whined a frightened Lala as she tried to make herself appear smaller.
"I'm not sure what he's really aiming for," Admitted Rito as he tried to stand brave with Lala in his arms. "I know that it has more to it than just the ghost haunting me and Lala, and that whatever he's after will likely involve severe emotional pain and stress for someone he doesn't like, but anything other than that I'm still working on."
"Don't sell yourself short," Came another, much more feminine though still lethal sounding voice. "Not many people could figure that much out about my brother-in-law's plans before they come to fruition, let alone with how little information you have." As she said this, a large snake that looked to be made of several dots slithered around the room, scaring several people as it went around their feet.
"Such uncouth behavior, little sister," Said a second, more elegant female voice as spiders suddenly started crawling along the walls around the room and a large web barred the door. "It's no wonder your own child killed you."
"Don't be too judgmental, elder sister," Said a third, younger sounding female voice as tiny scorpions skittered across the floor, scaring everyone on top of the hospital bed in fear of venom. "In her defense, it was all part of her plan. While it did get her killed, she did get further along with her schemes than we did."
"I take it those are your wives, Maverick?" Rito guessed.
"You even managed to figure out who I was and what these three are to me," Remarked the man in the red zoot suit, now confirmed to be Maverick Cortez. "Have you ever considered a career in investigation? I think you'd do pretty well for yourself in that field. Maybe draw a nice big paycheck to fend for that harem of yours and any kids that will come of it?"
"Speaking of kids, I want at least two." Ryoko announced to Rito. "I don't care what genders our kids are, I just want to become a mother someday, and go though the experience at least a few times as a doctor."
"Is now the time to be thinking of things like that?" Retorted Yui with a blush on her face, but then as Ryoko smirked at her she admitted shyly. "...But while we're on the subject anyway, I want at least ten kittens." Then Rito suddenly looked at her nervously and her mouth continued. "It's my cat hormones. Cats have litters."
"Okay..." Said Rito nervously before turning slowly to Maverick. "I'm just making obvious guesses," He explained sheepishly to him. "I'm sure that anyone with the same information I have could figure it out."
"That's where you're wrong, little boy," Said the voice of the first woman as an arrow suddenly appeared on the ground and quickly pushed her in front of Maverick, where she proceeded to leer at Rito in an expression much like a snake. She had blond hair with her bangs braided underneath her face, and wore a black full body suit with no sleeves or shoes. "The Cortez siblings are notorious for being completely unpredictable, no matter how well someone knows them. They've even managed to keep their motivations and true natures hidden from even the most powerful telepaths and the gods themselves. Even us 3 Gorgon Sisters would be hard pressed to match their skills in deception and planning."
"Especially now since you just told him who we are," Mocked the elegant voice as its owner casually walked walked up and stood to Maverick's left. She was a tall woman with the figure of a top model, and wore an overly long black dress with equally over-sized detached sleeves, a spider themed choker, and wore her hair up in a bun. "Honestly Medusa, how you ever managed to fool anyone at Shibusen is beyond me."
"She's got you there," Taunted the younger voice as its owner, a high school aged girl in a black sailor suit with braided floral patterned hair, walked up and stood to Maverick's right. "Arachne fooled people about her death for 800 years. I'll bet you couldn't maintain a ruse that long to save your life."
"I'd be dead by then anyway, Shaula," Seethed Medusa as she glared at her younger sister. "In case you've already forgotten, Maverick took our longevity away when he dragged each of us back from the grave. Time is no longer such a great commodity to us as it once was." Suddenly there was a clacking noise, and the Gorgon Sisters went dead silent.
"Now, now you three," Tutted Maverick in disappointment. "Do you not recall the agreement we all came to upon my resurrection of you three from beyond the grave?"
"Get along, or it's back to hell." Recited Medusa from memory.
"Your marriage doesn't exactly sound all that pleasant." Noted Yui scathingly. "Not that it's too surprising from a criminal."
"Yui," Whispered Tearju to her. "Aggravating him may not be the best idea."
"Hey Tearju, how many kids do you want with Rito?" Asked Ryoko calmly.
"Can we discuss this some other time?" Pleaded Rito as Tearju's face turned red. "Maybe when there isn't an evil skeleton looming over us?"
"You really do never cease to amaze, Rito Yuuki." Proclaimed Maverick as he adjusted his hat to show his face, his head and hand devoid of flesh and blood. "I must ask you, what gave my condition away?"
"The sound of your clapping." Rito explained, trying to keep things calm as he huddled Lala and Tearju close to him with one arm, and Ryoko and Yui with the other. "Bones make a very distinct sound, and I've seen enough weird aliens to know that living skeletons are not impossible."
"Yohohohoho. I suppose all of that is true." Said Maverick slyly, noting how closely he was holding his harem before turning to his own. "As for you, I've already given the three of you enough allowances to conduct almost any research you desire." The way he said almost lead Rito to believe that these three women were willing to cross lines even Maverick wouldn't, and that he was able to back up any threats he made against them. "At any rate, as you will recall we've come here to conduct a few studies that will satisfy even your insatiable thirst for knowledge into that which was never meant to be known."
"Our dear husband has a point there." Smiled Arachne as spider threads began to bind Rito, Tearju, Ryoko, Yui, Lala, and even Haruna who couldn't resist anyway. "Our studies into The Madness of Fear may be reaching its end, and Maverick's studies into The Madness of Knowledge are his own research, but The Madness of Rage that is so strong in this ghost and these curses will doubtlessly provide much for us."
"And now that our efforts are focused together," Began Shaula cheerfully as scorpions stung the struggling group. "Things will go that much faster in our studies."
"A necessary evil now that our lifespans are painfully limited." Medusa noted as the world began to cloud in the eyes of Rito and his harem.
"Glad you're seeing things so reasonably." Said a pleased Maverick as he approached the bed the group had taken refuge on. "Now don't any of you worry. The venom is designed not to kill, but only to put the victims in a joined dream for a few hours. By then we'll be done here, and you can go about your own lives. We won't even do anything but analyze you. You're quite lucky that I'm in a good mood." The group wasn't sure whether that was reassuring or terrifying. "Now sleep. You have nothing to worry about."
Those were the last words Rito and his harem heard before they fell into troubled unconsciousness.
Shared Dream - Rito - Time Indeterminable
"What hit me?" Asked Rito groggily as he rubbed his aching head. "Where am I anyway?" He asked as he got up and looked around, nothing but clear blue skies and a field of tall grass as far as his eyes could see. "Whatever this place is, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of people. Still, I guess there's no point in just standing around waiting for something to happen." With this decision, he set out walking straight ahead.
He had no idea how far or for how long he walked before he heard it, but he suddenly heard the sound of someone crying. His instincts as a gentleman taking over, he quickly rushed towards the source of the sound. Almost instantly, the scenery changed from tall grass to an empty playground.
"What is this supposed to be?" Rito wondered as he began searching for the source of the crying. "Hello! Is there somebody in trouble here?" He shouted.
"Go away!" Came the voice of a little girl from the jungle gym. "Just leave me alone!" She demanded before she began crying again.
"I'm not just going to leave someone alone when there's something wrong." Rito argued as he walked over to the jungle gym and peered inside, finding a young blond girl trembling in the corner. "If there's something that's bothering you, I'll do what I can to help." He said as he squeezed inside.
"I don't need any help!" Denied the little girl, sobbing as she did so. "All the other kids pick on me for wearing glasses! It's not my fault I can barely see without them! Why can't they just leave me alone?"
"Is that what's bothering you?" Asked Rito as he pat the girl on her shoulder, startling her as he did so. "Look, just because some people pick on you for being different, doesn't mean they all will." She didn't seem to be responsive, even tucking herself deeper into the corner. "If it makes you feel any better, I have some friends who wear glasses."
"You do?" Asked the girl suddenly as she turned around, revealing puffy eyes behind her glasses, indicating that she had been crying for a while. "What are they like?"
"They're really nice people." Rito began, glad to be getting somewhere. "One of them I'll admit I don't really know all that well, but she's got two really close friends who support her, and she supports them back. They even saved her from bullies when they were kids." He explained cheerfully.
"I wish I had friends like that." Sighed the little girl as she pulled her knees closer to her body.
"So why don't you find some?" Asked a cheerful young voice from above them. As Rito and the girl turned up to see who it was, they both got an eyeful of panties.
"WAAHHH!" Panicked Rito as he dropped to the floor and covered his head.
"What's the matter mister?" Asked the chipper girl from above, who'd snuck down to the bottom while Rito was panicking. "Didn't you like the view?" She teased him.
"That's not the point here!" Denied Rito as he stood bolt upright and hit his head on the low ceiling. "OOWWW!" He groaned as he rubbed his head.
"Hahahahahahaha!" Laughed the cheerful girl as Rito got a better look at her, seeing nothing too odd aside from her vivid red hair. "You're really funny, mister!"
"I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself." Grunted Rito as his head began to stop aching. "Anyway, what were you saying?"
"I was just saying that I think she should find some friends." The red head explained as she pointed at the blond girl. "So what if she's got glasses? I don't care about things like that."
"You don't?" Asked the blond girl hopefully.
"Not at all!" Announced the red head proudly. "I'd even be your friend if you wanted me to." She said as she held her hand out.
"Would you really?" The blond girl asked, her attitude much better now.
"Of course!" Said the red head happily as she helped the blond up. "My name's Ryoko Mikado, what's yours?"
"I'm Tearju Lunatique," Replied the young Tearju happily. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
While the two girls quickly started talking happily, Rito was stunned at what he was seeing. The names, the appearances, these two had to be the Ryoko and Tearju he knew at a younger age. But the question was how this could be? 'C'mon Rito, think!' He thought. 'What could be the reason this is happening? What's the last thing you remember happening before waking up in a field today?' As he strained his mind to remember, the two girls started talking to him. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" He asked, breaking out of his concentration.
"I was asking you who you were." Ryoko repeated. "You seem kinda old to be here to play." Suddenly her expression and voice became mischievous. "Don't tell me you're one of those creepers who likes to prey on little girls?"
"EEEHHHH!" Panicked Rito and Tearju. "Where does a little girl like you hear about these things?!" They demanded as they backed away nervously.
"Hahahaha! I'm just kidding!" Laughed Ryoko. "I really doubt that creepers would actually show up in broad daylight in a populated place."
"Very funny." Said Rito gruffly. "Speaking of which, where exactly are we?"
"Oh we're just at-" Ryoko stopped suddenly. "We're at... Where are we exactly?" She asked as she looked around outside, seeing nothing but a playground surrounded by tall grass everywhere.
"You don't know where we are?" Asked Rito fearfully as he and Tearju got outside too.
"I'm sure that we're somewhere." Insisted Ryoko nervously. "I'm just not sure where that is exactly."
"So we're all lost." Tearju concluded sadly.
"Don't feel so bad!" Rito reassured them, feeling a duty to do so as the oldest one there. "I'm sure that if we just look around we'll find someone eventually. That's how I found you two after all."
"That's right!" Smiled Ryoko as she began marching off. "We can just keep walking around in this tall grass until we find someone who knows where we are."
"Wait for us at least!" Insisted Rito as he gently ushered Tearju along.
Shared Dream - Rito, Tearju, and Ryoko - Time Indeterminable
"Well this is getting us nowhere fast," A suddenly Teenage Ryoko gripped as the group continued walking along. "I thought you said that if we kept searching we'd find somebody." She asked Rito.
"Well that's the thing," Replied Rito, who didn't seem to notice Ryoko's sudden age up. "I don't know how long I was walking before I found you two."
"I'm scared," Whispered a now Teenage Tearju as she clutched Rito's arm tightly, her breasts pressing into him. "What if we don't find anybody?"
"Well then I guess that we'll just have to start our own civilization." Ryoko teased. "Since we have only one man and two women though, we'll have to make do with what we can. If you catch my meaning, Cutie." She winked at Rito.
"You never change, do you?" Asked Rito as Tearju blushed and hid her face from Ryoko. "Even at this age you're still - huh?" Rito stopped as he realized they'd come to another clearing, only this time it looked like a large garden. "When did we end up here?" He asked curiously.
"Who knows?" Shrugged Ryoko. "It still doesn't look like there's anybody around, but at least it's not all the same thing anymore." Suddenly, there was the sound of crying.
"Crying again?" Asked Rito as he began looking around the garden. "Do you two think you could help me look for whoever it is?"
"No need," Answered Ryoko as she pointed to a large tree. "My hearing is really good, so I can already tell that she's behind that tree."
"Alright then," Nodded Rito as he walked over to it. "Let's see what the problem is." He said as he peered around the tree, and saw a young pink haired girl with a tail behind it. "Lala?" He gasped.
"Who are you?" The young Lala demanded, her eyes wet with tears. "How do you know my name? What do you want?"
"I'm just here to help you." Explained Rito as he, Ryoko, and Tearju crouched down. "Why are you so sad?" He asked as he brushed her hair.
Sniffling, Lala replied, "My momma's dead!" She sobbed as she clutched her knees and cried some more.
"That's horrible," Gasped Tearju. "Do you know how it happened?"
"No," Lala pouted. "Nobody's telling me anything about it. They say I'm just too young to know."
"That's a terrible thing to do to a little girl." Ryoko said sadly. "When someone close to you dies, it's always best to get some kind of explanation, even if it's hard to hear."
"I know," Lala stifled her tears. "The doctors act like it's none of my business, but she's my mommy, and I need to know."
"You're damn right you need to know!" Came a determined voice as a young black haired girl jumped down from one of the smaller trees and walked over. "Good reason or not, there are some things that need to be done in order to grow, and this is one of them!" Pulling Lala up without a second though, she spoke strongly to her. "Now listen to me, do you love your mother?" She asked.
"Yes!" Replied Lala immediately. "Of course I love her!"
"And are you determined to know what happened to her, no matter how bad it is?" The black haired girl asked.
"Yes!" Answered Lala. "Even if it's something really, really bad like a giant space monster, I still want to know!"
"Good!" Declared the black haired girl with an air of finality. "Then take me to where she is, and I'll talk them into telling you no matter how long it takes!"
"Ummm..." Hummed Lala awkwardly. "Actually, I'm kinda lost right now, so I don't know where my house is." She explained sheepishly, causing everyone else to fall down.
"Just when I thought I'd finally found a way out of this place." The black haired girl groaned.
"Don't tell me," Asked Rito. "You're lost too?"
"That's right." She nodded. "I don't suppose any of you know the way out?"
"Sadly no." Denied Rito as he got a better look at the girl. "Your name wouldn't happen to be Yui Kotegawa, would it?" He asked hesitantly.
"How do you know who I am?!" Panicked Yui as she grabbed Rito by the collar. "Who are you anyway? What are you and your friends doing in these fields anyway?"
"Easy there, easy." Calmed Rito as he picked her up. "I don't think that there's anything to be gained by violence here."
"I suppose you're right." Sighed a suddenly Teenage Yui, who was still in Rito's arms, but much heavier now, causing Rito to fall over because of the sudden shift in weight. "Owww," She groaned from the ground as she righted herself. "What was that all about?" She asked as she looked for Rito, only to find him face first in her panties. "What do you think you're doing in there?!" She demanded as she kicked him away.
"Yep, same old Yui." Grunted Rito as he rubbed his head and looked around, finding that Ryoko and Tearju were now adults again, and Lala was also back to her normal age. "Glad to see things are back to some kind of normal." He sighed gratefully.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Lala curiously, not noticing her own growth.
"Never mind," Smiled Rito. "Why don't we just focus on finding a way out of here?"
"We've been trying that for a while now." Pointed out Ryoko. "Maybe we should try working out some kind of plan?"
"She's got a point," Agreed Tearju. "If we want to find a way out of here, it'd be best to have a plan going forward."
"Excuse me," Came another voice as Haruna walked out of the grass. "But are you looking for the way out?"
"Haruna-chan!" Cheered Rito as he quickly grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're awake!"
"No," Denied Haruna as she shook her head. "I'm not really awake. All of you are just asleep with me."
"We're... what?" Yui asked as cat parts began sprouting from her body. "Haruna, what are you talking about?"
"We've all been put into a dream together." Haruna explained. "I know it's a dream because I've been here longer, but all of you aren't very conscious of the world around you." She said as they were suddenly on a beach.
"That would explain why we've been so confused lately." Reasoned a now muscular Ryoko as she adjusted her skimpy swimsuit.
"Wait a second," Began Tearju, now in her super hourglass figure and a blue two-piece. "I think I remember what happened! Maverick Cortez showed up, and he put us all to sleep for some reason."
"That's right!" Remembered Lala. "He said he'd scan us all while we were asleep, and then just leave!" Her expression suddenly got somber. "But I'm not really sure if he wouldn't do anything else."
"Wait a second," Hummed Rito as he looked at everyone present. "If we're all asleep together, then wouldn't that mean...?" He trailed off as he glanced at Tearju, who quickly got his meaning as her face paled.
"I really hope not." Tearju said fearfully as she and everyone but Haruna began to vanish.
"What's happening?!" Panicked Yui.
"You're all waking up." Haruna explained.
"But what about you, Haruna?" Asked Rito.
"I'm still unconscious, Rito." Haruna reminded him. "But that doesn't mean I haven't been paying attention."
"What's that mean?" Rito asked as his vision started to cloud.
"It means I accidentally read some of your memories," Haruna admitted sheepishly. "And I may have seen a few things about your relationships."
"That's a violation of privacy." Ryoko pointed out gleefully. "I'm so proud of you."
"You've seen..." Rito struggled to say as his grip on the dream was weakening. "Then you know?"
"I know," Admitted Haruna. "And that's why, before you go I wanted to say-" But she didn't get the chance to finish, as the group suddenly woke up.
Ryoko's Clinic - Awake - 6:32
"What hit me?" Asked Rito as he rubbed his head, struggling to get up.
"Quiet down," Complained Yui as she started doing stretches on another bed. "I had the weirdest dream and I can't think straight."
"So did I," Ryoko said as she thrashed around on her bed. "My dreams lately usually involve Rito and my sister wives, but not the way this one was."
"I can't remember my dream," Admitted Lala as she got off the bed. "But I suddenly feel like hanging out with Yui."
"You feel like that too?" Asked Yui as she got up. "It's weird. Usually you're kind of annoying, but now it feels like you're family or something."
"What's this note on Haruna?" Asked Lala as she picked up and read aloud the note in question. "To whom it may concern, I have taken notice of the unstable mutation process afflicting this girl. As thanks for access to the data in the ghost and the curse, I have injected her with a formula that will stabilize the mutation. She'll still mutate, but it'll be into something livable. Signed Maverick."
"I'm not sure if we should feel good or bad about that." Peke deadpanned as Lala shuddered.
"What did he do to you anyway?" Asked Rito.
"Things best left buried." Peke explained with finality.
"How long was I asleep?" Tearju asked groggily from the same bed as Rito as she rubbed her eyes. Almost immediately though, she realized what she was asking and what had happened. "OH NO!" She panicked as she sat bolt upright, the combination of her forward momentum and huge breasts making her fall forward. "They got bigger again, didn't they?" She asked, her voice muffled by her own boobs.
"Afraid so." Confirmed Rito as he found a pink flower in bloom on the handcuffs and noticed Tearju's clothes were torn. "It must have been Lala this time. Do you need any help?"
"Why does this keep happening to me, Rito?" Tearju asked as Rito helped her up, their blanket being used to cover her titanic chest. "These are making just functioning from day to day so hard."
"It's not that bad." Rito reassured her as he rubbed her shoulders. "You look beautiful either way."
Rito's words made a fierce blush come to Tearju's face as she quickly turned away. 'Why are these feelings so strong? I've barely known him a few weeks, but just being complimented by him makes my heart race.'
"I see what you're doing there, Rito." Ryoko whispered into his ear. "And here I thought you weren't interested in actively building your harem."
"I'm making an exception here," Rito whispered to Ryoko, making certain Tearju didn't hear. "This is the best way I could think of to help Yami and Tearju reconcile."
"And what about everyone's feelings?" Hissed Yui quietly. "I hope you're not just taking advantage of her. In the short time I've known her, I've actually come to like Tearju."
"So have I," Whispered Rito confidently. "That's why I have no hesitation in doing this. I'm going to love her with everything I am."
"I'm glad," Smiled Ryoko. "Tearju may be a shy and fragile woman sometimes, but I know you can make her happy. After all," She paused to kiss Rito. "I know you make me happy."
"I try my best." Rito chuckled.
Monday 11:56 - School - With Rito, Yui, Lala, and Tearju
"Where do people keep getting all these cameras?" Asked Rito irritatedly as he pulled the film out of a hidden camera Yui had heard going off nearby. "I knew that you'd be drawing attention, but I never imagined it would get this bad." He remarked as he threw the now useless film into a bucket full of likewise ruined film. "Even on the roof, even with Yui here to confiscate all the cameras, and even after Lala activated a machine that makes all cameras in a set area useless, they just keep coming." He remarked as he munched on a sandwich and glanced thoughtfully at an antenna with a very familiar design theme to it.
"Most men at this age are just useless perverts," Scoffed Yui as she took the camera and placed it in a bag full of confiscated cameras. "Just wait until they grow up. Then they'll have to clean up their acts and become respectable members of society if they want to make it out there in the real world."
"Don't you think that's a little harsh, Yui?" Asked Lala curiously. "They're still young now, after all."
"There's no time like the present to get ready for the future." Insisted Yui before taking an angry bite out of her lettuce and anchovy sandwich.
"I hate to say it, but Yui's right." Tearju remarked before biting into her BLT. "Those kids need to learn more self-control before it's too late. Not all boys at that age are as nice as Rito." As she realized the words that just came out of her mouth, Tearju blushed and tried to hide her face behind her thermos.
"Sometimes the older ones are even worse," Deadpanned Rito. "Worse yet, they can even manage to get jobs that make them even more dangerous. Case and point," He paused as he and Tearju casually walked over to the railings and unhooked a grappling hook, sending The Principal falling to the ground in a panic. "How he keeps his job is beyond me."
"Has The Principal ever done that before?" Peke asked worriedly.
"I don't think so," Muttered Yui irritably before turning to Tearju. "How big have you gotten, anyway? If you're driving even The Principal to new extremes you must be beyond belief."
"184-56-165," Recited Ryoko from memory as she arrived at the rooftop, a pouting Yami in her arms. "I've gotta say Tearju, you keep growing and you might break a few world records soon."
"Hello, Yami." Greeted Tearju shyly, ignoring Ryoko's remark in favor of her daughter.
"Hello, Tear." Returned Yami as she averted her eyes. "Will you let me go now, Ryoko?"
"Of course," Smiled Ryoko as she tossed Yami at Rito, who barely managed to catch her before a heavy and ecchi collision. "Nice catch, Rito! Definitely an improvement from your normal fare."
"Thanks for bringing her here, Ryoko." Rito said gratefully as she sat down next to him and began her own lunch. "It's good to see you again, Yami. I've missed you these past few days."
"I've missed you too," Yami replied as she tried to break Rito's hold on her, but he managed to hold tight. "You can let go of me now."
"Sorry Yami, but that's not going to happen." Rito apologized as he turned her around so she was seated comfortably in his lap, though still restrained by his arms. "Now you can just sit there and eat your lunch."
"You're being a lot more forward than usual, Rito." Noted Yui curiously. "Not that it's a bad thing, of course! I just might like something like that too." She insisted.
By this point, Yami was blushing madly at the close physical contact with her boyfriend. "Rito, please let me go." She demanded steadily, trying to hold back her every impulse from her old life screaming at her to use extreme violence.
"Yami, you're a smart girl. You already know what I want." Rito shook his head before glancing at Tearju then back to Yami, who was now distracting herself by eating. "This can go one of two ways, but the outcome is going to be the same no matter what. As your fiance, I'll make sure of that."
"Fiance?" Asked Yui, Yami, and Tearju in astonishment, while Lala and Ryoko just smiled.
"Of course," Rito nodded as he brushed Yami's arms, though he was silently thinking that there may have been better ways to go about broaching this subject. "Regardless of how it all happened, I'm taking all my relationships very seriously. I tried to fight it for a long time, but the fact of the matter is that I can't stand the idea of things going back to how they were. I have a harem. I'm fine with that, I like it, and I want to be with all of you for the rest of my life."
"Rito," Said Yui breathlessly. "What are you saying?"
"Do you really intend to go so far, so soon?" Asked Tearju nervously.
"Not now, not yet." Rito amended sheepishly as he brushed Yami's hair. "Someday, when I'm older, I'll ask for real. Until then though, I want these days to last."
"Rito, you make my heart pound," Ryoko smiled as she pulled a surprised Rito onto her own lap. "If you're already thinking so much about the future, I know of a few things that could help you become an adult even faster." She whispered in his ear, causing Rito, Yami, and Tearju to blush.
"Not at school." Insisted Yui. "Save it for another time."
Yami was trembling now. Whether in fear or anticipation was only known to her.
"You're already thinking about such steps," Yami whispered softly. "But why then? What does she have to do with that?"
"Because I want you to be happy, Yami." Rito explained. "I know that you've missed Tearju, even if you won't admit it, so I'm just going to make you admit it."
Ordinarily Yami would protest heavily to such demands. However, for reasons she barely understood herself, she wanted his words to be true. 'Maybe this is part of being in love?' She thought. 'Most philosophers agree that there isn't anyone who can be right all the time. I suppose it only stands to reason that maybe this is part of why people fall in love, so that they can try to be right where the other is wrong.' Deciding to give the words of her lover a try, she said to Tearju, "Would you mind trading a sandwich for one of mine?" She offered quietly as she held out a PB&J.
Tearju stared at her daughter in astonishment for several seconds before coming to her senses. "I'd love to." She said tenderly as they each swapped a triangle shaped cut of sandwich.
Over the next several days, Rito would continue to make efforts to bring Yami and Tearju closer together. Trying to help bridge the gap between mother and daughter that had been torn asunder so long ago. However, it was an uphill battle, and interactions were short and far between at best.
Tuesday After School - School Library - With Rito, Tearju, and Yami
"If you're not here for books, you should leave." Said Yami coldly as she glared at Rito and Tearju over the edge of a book titled 'The Hunger Games'. "I know what you're doing, but the library is my space. If you're not here for its purpose, then leave." She neglected to mention that since it was after school, only the faculty should technically still be here. However, if push came to shove she dared anybody to try and remover her from the library by force.
"I suppose your books are very important to you," Consented Rito awkwardly. "I guess we should get going then." He said as he helped Tearju get up.
"Are you sure about this, Rito?" Asked Tearju quietly as he led them away. "I thought you said we wanted to talk to her while she was in here because she'd be in a good mood?"
"And she will be," Rito whispered as soon as they rounded a corner. "Just follow my lead."
Yami had been reading peacefully for about half an hour before they returned. This time, holding their own copies of 'The Hunger Games'. "What are you two doing?" She quirked her eyebrow as they sat at the table she had.
"Reading, the same as you." Rito explained as he and Tearju paid most of their attention to their books. "Since we're using the library for its purpose, there shouldn't be any problems." Turning a page he added, "If you'd like to discuss what we've read so far, feel free to."
Yami silently glared at Rito and Tearju, her eyes a steely cold gaze of frustration. While she knew what they were up to and wanted them gone, she didn't want to use force in her favorite place for fear of damaging books. So she just sat there and continued reading. The silence pressed on for about an hour, Yami occasionally catching Tearju or Rito sneaking peeks over the edge of their books. Eventually, she decided she wasn't going to get more reading done, and left to return her book the the shelve and leave, an actions Rito and Tearju soon mimicked.
Wednesday Evening - Ryoko's House - Rito, His Harem, and Tearju
"I'm glad you could join us for dinner, Yami." Tearju said as her daughter took her seat at a long dining table Ryoko didn't often get to use until recently. "With the way things have been we've had to spend the last few days here. Since we can't really get too far apart because of these cuffs, and Haruna needs a lot of attention."
"I thought that only you and Rito were handcuffed." Yami deadpanned. "How is it supposed to affect Ryoko, Yui, and Lala?"
"It's a long story," Sighed Yui as she set out the dishes she and Ryoko had prepared. "But the bottom line is that unless Ryoko, Lala, and I stay within 100 meters of Rito and Tearju, we experience extreme sadness."
"I like the way things have gotten!" Said Lala energetically. "I see it as practicing for when we're all one big family."
"Emphasis on big." Ryoko said as she set out a large roasted salmon. "I want this harem to be as big as possible."
"Isn't that supposed to be my decision?" Asked Rito rhetorically as he got some salmon for himself and Tearju. "Right now I've got my hands full with just the women in this room."
Tearju blushed at this declaration. "Except for me of course." She corrected him.
"I know what I said." Rito declared neutrally before he began eating, causing Tearju to fidget in her seat as she focused on her food.
Yami, who didn't like what she was hearing glared at Rito. She had already seen through what Rito was trying to do, and she didn't like it one bit. Regardless of any other circumstances beyond the control of anyone here, she considered herself estranged from Tearju, and the thought of being in a harem with her was killing her appetite.
"Yami, are you feeling alright?" Asked Tearju, cutting off her brooding. "You haven't gotten anything to eat yet."
Yami looked at her bare plate, then to the various dishes set out in front of her, then she gazed at the loaded plates of everyone else before looking back to her own. "I'm not hungry." She answered honestly. Being in the same room as Tearju, however much she knew Rito was trying to help them reconcile, was still unsettling.
Tearju looked distraught at her daughter's response, until her face lit up as if remembering something important. "Rito, could you come with me for a second?" She asked as she quickly hoisted herself up in spite of her weighty breasts and guided him into the kitchen, Yami looking on curiously.
After listening to them shuffle about in the kitchen for a minute, Tearju and Rito came back into the dining room, Tearju with a gentle smile, while Rito looked slightly nervous. Instantly Yami's guard was up. She didn't know what they were up to, but she didn't like how their expressions contrasted each other so much.
"Here you go, Yami." Tearju said as she handed her a paper bag. "I heard that you really like these, so when you said that you'd come over tonight I decided to bake you some as a treat."
Yami didn't need to be told what was in the bag. The moment she had handed it to her she already knew what it was and opened the bag with a twinge of excitement. However, upon reaching inside the bag, she pulled out what appeared to be some badly burnt mess. "Is this supposed to be taiyaki?" She asked, severely disappointed.
From her seat, Yui shook her head. "This is why I told you not to give it to her." She groaned.
"I see your cooking skills haven't changed at all." Chuckled Ryoko nervously.
"I'm really sorry about this Yami," Rito apologized to her quietly. "She told me she was a good cook, so I thought it would be alright. I never guessed that it would turn out like this."
"What are you talking about?" Tearju asked worriedly. "Is there something wrong with my cooking? I followed the recipe while adding my own touches, just like I always do. Did I get something wrong?"
Suddenly, Yami realized why all the food she'd eaten back at the lab where she was born had been prepared by professionals, instead of eating meals prepared by her mother like in some of the stories Tearju had read to her. She didn't really want to hurt Tearju's feelings, but at the same time she also didn't necessarily want to get food poisoning or give her false hope of reconciling. In the end, she decided it was best to just take a small bite, then politely say it wasn't to her liking while trying to keep her lunch down. Throwing caution to the wind, she took a small bite out of the burnt mess.
"What do you think of it?" Tearju asked hopefully as Rito, Yui, and Ryoko prayed for Yami's safety.
After quickly swallowing the piece of charcoal taiyaki she'd bitten off, her eyes suddenly opened wide, and her whole body began to shiver.
"Yami, are you alright?!" Panicked Rito as he grabbed her by the shoulders.
"It's... it's... it's..." Yami strained as she curled up and everyone gathered around her in concern.
"DELICIOUS!" Yami cried in a joyous tone of excitement one would never expect to hear from her, prompting everyone except an elated Tearju to fall over. "THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER TASTED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!" She exclaimed as she quickly took another, much bigger bite from the charcoal in her hands.
"You really like it?" Asked Tearju excitedly, her huge breasts bouncing after she jumped for joy. "I didn't have any ingredients that I was used to on hand, so I had to improvise a lot of the recipe. I was worried you might not like it."
"I love it!" Yami reassured her happily. "I've never had anything like it in my-" She stopped herself abruptly, quickly reigning in her uncharacteristic excitement and covering it with her usual stoicism, though she couldn't do anything about the embarrassed blush covering her face. "It's very nice." She said calmly, trying to cover up her outburst of joy, though even a blind man could see through her after that vote of approval.
"She actually likes it?" Yui whispered to Ryoko in disbelief.
"Well she is Tear's clone after all," Ryoko whispered back. "They're bound to have a lot of biological similarities because of that."
"I don't think that their personalities could be more different though." Yui noted.
"I'm just glad that they're starting to get along again," Smiled Rito as he hung back with the others, though the handcuffs limited how far he could go. "This alone will go a long way toward fixing their relationship."
Compared to Yami's excitement over the taiyaki Tearju prepared, the rest of the night was largely uneventful. However, as Rito spoke animatedly with his harem, he noticed with a soft grin that Tearju and Yami seemed to be just a bit closer now. He had hopes for them. Hopes that they might reconcile their problems and start acting as family again. However, after dinner was done, Yami had left for her ship, and everyone was ready for bed, Rito noticed with no small degree of joy, and some embarrassment, that Tearju was huddled up closely to him. Her head in the crook of his neck, and her mammoth mammaries resting on his torso.
Thursday Morning - Ryoko's House - With Rito, Lala, Ryoko, Yui, and Tearju
"It's official," Noted Yui as she listened to the weather report, her cat ears twitching in annoyance. "Because of the heavy downpour and flood risks, schools everywhere are closed for the day." Suddenly, lightning struck and Yui rushed under the coffee table as fast as she could.
"Are you alright, Yui?" Asked Rito as he and Tearju walked into the room with a tray of hot chocolate. "This storm's got you pretty jumpy." He noted as he set the tray down on the table she was taking refuge under.
"I can't help it, Rito," Yui explained as she crawled out from under the table and got back on the sofa, her ears flat against her head. "Animals like cats have much more keen senses, which means we can feel the storm much more acutely than you do."
"It's the same way with my tail," Lala moaned in empathy. "All this electricity in the air is tickling it."
"I know what you're talking about," Tearju agreed as she rubbed her giant breasts tenderly, much to Rito and Yui's embarrassment. "Not to sound offensive or anything, but this weather is making my breasts tingle all over."
"You have my condolences," Grunted Ryoko as she bench pressed about 700 pounds. "Even though my breasts are smaller than yours now, uhrg, I know all too well what it's like to feel that tingle, uhrg. Considering your current size, urgh, it must be a nightmare to suffer that, uhrg! If you want, I'm sure that Rito, uuhrg, wouldn't mind rubbing them better, uhrg!" She grunted as she set the barbell down.
"Ehhh!" Panicked Tearju, and to a lesser extent Rito and Yui.
"I'm glad I came over when I did," Interrupted Mikan, who'd just arrived with Yami, both of them soaked from the rain in spite of the umbrella Mikan had.
"Mikan! Yami!" Panicked Rito as he tried to decipher the cold expression Yami had. "This really isn't what it seems like! The rain was just making Tearju uncomfortable, and you both know how Ryoko gets, right?"
"We do know what she's like," Consented Yami evenly, not showing any hint of emotion. Rito had yet to decide if that was a good thing or bad thing. "However, you seem to be changing lately. You've been getting a lot bolder the past few weeks." Rito now decided that Yami's current tone was a bad thing for him. "What guarantee do I have that things wouldn't have gone further if we hadn't arrived just now?"
"I promise that things wouldn't have gone further," Yui vowed sternly. "Even though I'm fine with a certain degree of intimacy between lovers, there are some steps that must be saved for later in a relationship."
The room was silent until, "Um, Yui?" Began Tearju awkwardly. "Not that I'm not grateful that you're trying to keep everyone calm, but Rito and I aren't lovers."
Yui suddenly went stiff as a board and red as a tomato before correcting herself. "Of course you're not! I'd just gotten so used to you being around Rito and the rest of us that I forgot you weren't in his harem!"
"Is it really so easy to make a mistake like that?" Wondered Lala curiously, unaware that she was only stoking the fire.
"Of course it isn't," Mikan shook her head teasingly. "Because they're handcuffed together, they've been sleeping together, bathing together, even going to the bathroom together. Exactly what kind of girl is being added to the harem this time, I wonder?" She said mischievously.
"One he really should be further along with by now, all things considered." Ryoko joked as she pat a heavily blushing Tearju on the shoulder. "How about it, Tear? Are you gonna be the one who takes Rito's virginity?"
"No, no, no!" Panicked Tearju, both her and Rito equally flustered. "It's not that I don't get along with Rito, but before I do anything else I want to try and make amends to Yami." As she said this, she turned to the girl in question and saw her wearing the same impartial expression as when she first came in.
"If you really feel that way, then why don't you prove it?" Suggested Ryoko, a little twinkle in her eye. "Go into the bath with both Rito and Yami, and we'll see exactly how much you really mean that."
"With me and Yami?" Repeated Rito cautiously as he glanced at Yami, who was still maintaining her neutral expression. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Asked Yami, breaking her stoic silence with a shred of emotion. "Rito has been bathing with Tearju for a few weeks now, why would bathing with both of us be any different?" Taking her many belts off of her legs as she walked over to Rito, she added, "Or is it that you just find me unattractive?"
"That's not it at all," Denied Rito, "You're very attractive, it's just that-"
"Then there should be no problem," Concluded Yami as she grabbed Rito's hand and lead him and Tearju off. "If I'm not unattractive to you, then we can do this without shame."
"Yami, what's gotten into you?" Worried Yui as she advanced on them, but Ryoko halted her with one powerful arm.
"Let them go," Ryoko whispered in her ear as she pulled her back. "It's about time that Yami got over herself and closed the gap between her and Tear, and if a little bit of envy can manage that, then more power to them. As for Tear..." She trailed off as they watched Rito and Tearju struggle in futility against Yami's surprising strength. "She needs to close the gap between herself and Rito."
The Bathroom - With Rito, Tearju, and Yami
"Yami, are you certain about this?" Asked Tearju nervously as Yami began removing her clothes and Rito kept his eyes averted to the corner. "I mean, Rito and I have only been bathing together by necessity these past few weeks. There's really no need for you to get involved in this."
"Then there should be no problem with me bathing with Rito," Yami concluded as she finished removing her clothes and covered herself with her hands. "Unlike you, I'm his girlfriend. If he's fine with your body, he'll be fine with mine." As she said this, she gave a cold glare directed at Tearju's huge breasts and hips before patting her own flat chest self-consciously.
"Tearju and I don't even look at each other in the bathroom," Insisted Rito firmly, though not uncomfortably. "We just sit back to back and wash up, nothing else."
"Then it's fine this way." Yami said as she began running the bathwater. "It's a big bath, so we don't need to trouble each other much."
"Bath?!" Panicked Rito and Tearju as they both looked at Yami in shock, Rito getting a nosebleed as soon as he saw Yami nude.
"Now hold on just a second, Yami!" Rito tried to stop her by grabbing her arms. "We just clean ourselves off with a shower hose and soap. We've never used a tub together." Suddenly, Rito's mind caught up completely with the present and noticed that he was restraining a naked Yami, and not getting hurt.
"Ecchi," Whispered Yami as she grabbed a now very nervous Rito by his arms. "This is very ecchi, and normally I'd be mad," Her hair turned into blades and slashed rapidly at Rito, who recoiled in fear. "But even so, I'm still a girl, and you're my boyfriend," Suddenly, all of Rito's clothes fell off, revealing him unharmed, as well as just revealing him before he covered himself in a panic, and Tearju looked away blushing. "All this time we've been apart, I've wanted to be with you more and more." Saying this, she wrapped Rito in her arms. "I wonder why I've wanted to do this for so long now. At first I just thought that if it was you, it was okay," As she said this, she pulled Rito over to the tub. "Now I'm thinking, that if it's you, I want it." With this, she pulled them both into the tub with a splash.
"Wait a second! What do you two think you're doing?!" Panicked Tearju as she tried to pull Rito and Yami apart, getting herself soaked in the process.
"Believe me, this isn't my idea!" Struggled Rito as he tried to get out.
"AHHH!" Screeched Yami as her hair turned into blades and slashed wildly, cutting off Tearju's clothes by accident.
"No! Not like this!" Panicked Tearju as she tried to cover her epic breasts. "I wanted Rito to see me, but not like this!"
"You wanted me to see you nude?!" Questioned Rito worriedly as his continued struggle pulled Tearju into the bath as well.
Downstairs - With Ryoko, Yui, Lala, and Mikan
"They certainly are making a lot of noise," Said Mikan neutrally as the sounds of the struggle reached all the way downstairs. "What do you think they're doing?"
"Something they really shouldn't be doing!" Grunted Yui as she tried to pry herself from Ryoko's arms to stop it. "Will you please let me go?"
"Nope," Denied Ryoko as she held tight. "Remember what Rito said about wanting Tearju in the harem? Well I trust in his judgement to find a way to do it in this situation."
"Aren't you the one who suggested that they take a bath together in the first place?" Asked Yui suspiciously. "Did you know something like this would happen?"
"Well, I was hoping." Shrugged Ryoko. "Tell you what, when the noise begins to die down, then we can go up there and join them. How do you like the sound of that?" She suggested to a blushing Yui.
"What are you thinking?" Asked Yui worriedly. "Whatever is going on in there is something that shouldn't be happening for a long time to come. If we don't put a stop to it now, things could happen that can't be undone!"
"Yes Rito!" Shouted Yami loud enough to be easily heard downstairs. "Yes! More! More!"
This outburst cast a spell of silence over everyone in the room for a few long awkward minutes. The only sound coming from the upstairs bathroom until Lala broke the silence. "Was that Yami?" She asked.
"I'm pretty sure it was." Mikan said, a blush covering her face. As much as she supported Yami's relationship with her brother, to hear her having sex with him was a bit much.
"I had no idea she could ever sound like that," Ryoko said in silent astonishment. "Rito must be really good..." She contemplated this new information quickly, many vivid ideas swarming through her head. "Do you still want to go in there now? Or would you rather wait your turn like I suggested?" She asked Yui.
"Nyaaaa..." Yui mewed quietly as her own mind came up with a few dirty images. "I... well... if we went in there now it would already be too late." She said neutrally. "What I mean to say is... I mean this is shameless... I mean... I wanna make kitties." She admitted with a pout.
"There, there," Reassured Ryoko as she scratched Yui behind the ears. "Don't you feel better now that you've admitted it?" She asked her, to which Yui nodded.
Bathroom - With Rito, Tearju, and Yami
"Rito," Mumbled Yami groggily as she held him tightly on the bathroom floor.
"I know, Yami," Rito gasped as he brushed her hair, noticing a few splotches of blood on the ground that weren't from him. "It was nice."
"You two actually did it," Tearju said in astonishment. "You two actually did it on top of me." Suddenly, the camera panned out, showing Tearju on her back on the floor, Yami lying on her back on top her, and Rito lying on his stomach on top of her, his head sandwiched between Tearju's breasts as his hands massaged them.
"Hey Tearju," Began Rito as he continued massaging Tearju's breasts. "What was that you were saying when I started fucking you?" He asked bluntly, subtlety and decency not high on his priority list right now.
"You mean when I asked you to marry me?" Tearju asked, receiving a nod against her bare breasts as an answer. "I mean just that. Would you let me into your harem?" She asked him, too tired from the sex to ask him any other way.
"Of course," Rito said as he kissed the crown of Yami's head. "I was actually planning to ask you soon if you didn't."
"I'm just worried about how Yami will take it," She said as she stroked her daughter's hair. "I know she's still pretty mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you, Mom." Yami spoke up breathlessly, startling Tearju and Rito at her choice in words. "After this experience with you and Rito, holding onto an old grudge like that is stupid."
"Yami..." Gaped Tearju in shock, tears forming in her eyes. "Did you just call me... Mom?"
"I did Mother," Yami said as she crawled up between Tearju's breasts and looked her in the eye. "Even though I'm still inexperienced in such things, you, Rito, and I have just shared in the most personal actions people can make." Leaning forward, she captured her mother's lips with her own, much to the shock of both Rito and Tearju. Slowly but surely though, they both began to really get into it, with Rito looking on in embarrassment and arousal. Eventually, they both had to come up for air and separated. "I love you mom," She hugged Tearju gently. "So please... please don't leave me again."
"Yami," Tearju cried, tears flowing down her face freely. "Of course! I'll never leave you again!" She choked up as she hugged both Yami and Rito. "I promise." Suddenly, a dark glow began to emanate from the handcuffs linking Rito and Tearju.
"What is it this time?" Sighed Rito as he held up the cuffs in irritation.
"Ahhh, Rito," Moaned Tearju as her breasts and butt grew to even more ridiculously huge proportions. "I think I know what it's doing~!" She moaned pleasurably as two yellow flowers bloomed on the vine. Once the flowers were all fully bloomed and Tearju's figure had stopped growing, the cuffs vanished and the flowers fell to the floor.
"They're gone," Gaped Rito in surprise as he picked up the vine of flowers. "But how? We didn't sleep with anybody?"
"That depends on your definition of sleeping together." Said Ryoko in a sing-song voice as she, Yui, and Lala let themselves in. "You three certainly seem to be having fun." She smiled slyly.
"Ryoko! Yui! Lala!" Rito panicked as he got up and covered himself with a towel.
"To think that you'd actually go this far," Stared Yui, her face redder than ever before. "To think that this happened... What do you three think you're going to do if Yami and Tearju wind up pregnant?"
"Rito-dono... sex..." Blushed Peke from her perch on Lala's head before she fell off from embarrassment, leaving Lala completely naked.
"Is this that sex stuff you taught me about, Ryoko?" Asked Lala curiously, not even paying attention to her nudity.
"What have you been teaching her about?" Rito asked nervously.
"Nothing a girl her age shouldn't already know about," Ryoko explained as she started stripping off her own clothes, exposing her strong musculature. "Now then, since you're not a virgin anymore, I suppose you won't have any problems with having some fun with me next."
"Hold on just a second!" Yui protested as she began pulling off her own clothes. "I've known him the longest out of any of us! If anyone should go next, it should be me!"
"Yui, are you feeling alright?" Asked Rito worriedly. "And what's that about me knowing you longer? If anything, aside from Tearju, I've known you for the least amount of time of anyone in my harem."
"We met once when we were kids," Explained Yui as she finished undressing, her fur the only thing protecting her dignity now. "Let's just say that you made a very good first impression." She said as she positioned herself on top of Rito, a faint blush still on her face. "Now prepare yourself. This is my first time too... and it's taking me a lot of courage to say this... Rito, let's make kittens!" She blurted out.
"Ara, ara, Yui. This is surprisingly bold for you," Noticed Ryoko as Yui proceeded to essentially rape Rito. "What's gotten into you?"
"I want to be a mother!" Blurted Yui, making Rito twitch in embarrassment. "At first I just thought it was feline instincts, but it's more than that! Ever since puberty started for me, I've been holding it in, placing morals above all else, but not here! Not now!" She insisted as her tail wrapped around Rito's right leg. "To be with a man. To bear children. To be a mother. All this time I've been looking for the right one, and now that he's here I'm not holding back any longer!"
"Yui, I never knew you felt this way." Murmured Rito in surprise as he held her closely. "If I'd known..."
"Well you know now," Said Yui tenderly as she nuzzled his neck. "We're going to make kittens. Lots and lots of kittens. So be gentle with me, alright?"
"258-56-232," Said Yami as she finished measuring her mother. "You've gotten very, very big." She said enviously as she patted her own flat chest self-consciously.
"Well that's going to make it hard for you to function," Ryoko noted. "Do you want me to give you a reduction?"
"No thank you," Denied Tearju as she held up her boobs. "Rito seemed to like them very much. Not to mention that this is part of why I'm with him in the first place. My relationship with Rito, Yami, and the rest of you was helped along by these, and I don't feel like changing a thing."
"Well said," Smiled Ryoko as she, Yami, and Tearju moved over to Rito and Yui. "Hope you have room for a few more, because Yui isn't the only one who wants to start a family." As she said this, she turned back to Lala for a second. "Would you like to get in on this too? As the first girl he confessed to, you should have a place here as well."
Lala, who'd been staring at the scene like it was a slow moving train wreck until now, came to her senses and quietly nodded her head.
"Good, because this is gonna be a big step for all of us." Smiled Ryoko in a predatory grin before she, Tearju, Yami, and Lala all pounced.
Downstairs - With Mikan and Peke
"Honestly," Mikan blushed as she tried to drown out the sounds of sex with the TV, but too little avail. "Don't they know I can hear them from down here?"
"I'm not very fond of the situation either," Peke - in her human disguise - sighed from the recliner, having been snatched from the bathroom by an eavesdropping Mikan. "If anything, I can't help but feel a little jealous of them." She said with a blush.
"Jealous?" Repeated Mikan in shock. "Why on Earth would you be jealous?"
"Well, you see..." Began Peke awkwardly as she scratched her cheek. "Even though I was programmed with emotions, and I know what they all are, there are still some things that I don't fully understand sometimes..." She looked away in uncertainty, but that was all Mikan needed to see.
"Say Peke," She began mischievously. "You wouldn't happen to have a crush on my brother, would you?"
"Crush? Rito? Me?" Panicked Peke as her eyes darted around the room nervously.
"It's fine," Mikan reassured her after letting her worry for a few seconds. "It wouldn't be the first time someone fell for my idiot brother." She sighed as she cradled her head on the sofa's armrest in melancholy.
"...Say, Mikan..." Began Peke hesitantly. "Could it be that you also..." She trailed off, letting Mikan's mind fill in the blanks.
"EHH!" Panicked Mikan as she waved her arms in denial. "D-Don't be ridiculous! Why would I have feeling for my own brother?! That would be incest!"
"I'm a robot," Peke deadpanned. "Yet as you pointed out, even I have feeling for Rito-dono."
"I guess that's true," Sighed Mikan as she lay down on the couch. "What is it about him, anyway?"
"Lala, Ryoko, Yami, Yui, and Tearju could probably answer that question for us." Peke joked as she jerked her thumb toward the stairs.
"I don't think that I want to ask them right now." Mikan chuckled, her mood lightened slightly by Peke's joke. "They seem preoccupied making my nieces and nephews right now."
"If you had children with Rito-dono, what family term would you classify them as?" Peke asked curiously.
"I'm not sure if there's an actual word for that besides inbred." Mikan sweatdropped. "I'll just wait and see how thing develop before I do anything."
"I believe that there's an old Earth proverb that goes 'Life is what happens when you sit around waiting for it'." Peke said sagely.
"Where did you learn that?" Asked Mikan curiously.
"I do a lot of reading whenever Lala's in the shower or wearing regular clothes." Peke shrugged as she pulled a book out of Lala's book bag. "Human literature is quite a bit more interesting than anything else I've read before. You all have such vivid imaginations."
"Since my dad is a writer, I'll take that as a personal compliment." Smiled Mikan before a very loud meow reverberated throughout the house, putting a buzzkill to their conversation.
"They're really going at it, aren't they?" Asked Peke awkwardly.
"I know," Nodded Mikan tensely. "And by the way, I empathize with you." She said as she continued channel surfing. "I'm also jealous."
Meanwhile - On a Spaceship in Earth's orbit
"Man, how do we keep winding up with all these dead end freight jobs in this remote area?" A stout crab-headed alien asked his lanky crab-headed co-worker.
"Because," Sighed the lanky crab-headed alien tiredly. "This backwater planet is such a cesspool of illegal dumping for things no one really wants, that a work related accident can easily be written off on any insurance form, and nobody would even bother to see if the stuff was really cleaned up if it's not much to worry about."
"Yeah, I can see that." Nodded the stout crab-headed alien. "Especially since our track record for transporting goods to their destination is horrible. Is that why our pay is so good even though we screw-up all the time."
"Yep," Confirmed the lanky alien. "Our bad luck for these things could really only be put to use in a job like this. If word got out that the stuff we do was semi-intentional, there'd probably be at least a few arrests, so you have to keep quiet about this."
"No problem," Reassured the stout alien. "But while we're on the subject anyway, don't you think it's weird that most of our screw-ups are all for the same reason?"
"And what reason would that be?" Asked the lanky one rhetorically.
Suddenly, a giant blue robot with hot-rod flaming 8-ball and eyeball and a red convertible for a head zoomed by and accidentally smashed the cargo hold off of the spaceship, sending the cargo hurtling down to the planet.
"That would be it right there." Answered the stout one.
"Oh yeah, that guy." Sighed the lanky one. "Well don't just sit there. Have the computer calculate where the cargo's going to land so we put it on the accident report."
"Roger that," Complied the stout one as he set to work on his task. "Here we go. The computer says it's gonna land in some place called Japan this time. That's weird, usually it always lands in some place called Jersey City."
"I really don't think it matters either way." Replied the lanky one. "As far as the insurance agencies are going to be concerned, it's just another screw-up in a place no one cares about. But still," He said as he looked out the window. "I can't help but feel a little bad for making these innocent people deal with stuff our employers don't want to. Not that those mutagens we lost today are the worst things we've ever dumped here, but I still wouldn't want to be an unwitting victim of them."
"Do you wanna go clean it up then?" Asked the stout one.
"I don't feel that bad about it." The lanky one quickly backpedaled. "Let's just get back and report this already."
"Roger that!" Agreed the stout one as they rocketed off, leaving their cargo on a crash course towards Japan.