Subject: [Fanfic][Tenchi][Lemon] Aikan Muyo, Chapter#8, part 6
From: "Happosai" <happosai@jps.net>
Date: 11/21/1997, 10:11 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
happosai@jps.net

Tenchi examined it suspiciously. It looked real enough. It even had
his photo ID on it. "Don't you mean `Platinum Card'?"

Washuu shook her head. "No, Plutonium Card. Just like it says."

"Is there such a thing? On Earth, anyway?"

"There is now."

"Will it *work*, though? I've never heard of it, and don't the banks
have to approve the charges and all that?" asked Tenchi.

Washuu seemed about to launch into a long dissertation on the subject,
but stopped herself, deciding against it. "Don't worry, it'll work. It
would take too long to explain, but that's not your ordinary piece of
plastic."

Tenchi thought for a moment. "What's the difference Platinum and
Plutonium, anyway?"

"Sixteen protons, twelve electrons, and the neutrons depend on the
isotope," answered Washuu.

"No, I mean between the two kinds of *card*," groaned Tenchi.

"A much higher credit limit. In your terms, 3,141,592,653,589,793
yen."

Tenchi face-faulted.

"You're *serious*?!" he asked, when he got up.

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?" replied Washuu.

"But that's probably more money than there *is*! And it's *stealing*!"
said Tenchi, staring nervously at the card.

Ryoko shrugged. "So? What's the problem?"

"Who does this belong to, anyway?" asked Tenchi. "Won't he get upset?"

"But that's the idea!" replied Washuu. "He's an old colleague of mine
from the Science Academy. This card charges against his departmental
expense account." She started rubbing her hands together gleefully. "I
always said he had a thing for little girls, and when the department
chair sees what you've charged as course-related services...!!!"

"I really don't think it's right," said Tenchi.

Washuu clasped her hands together and looked up at him with sparkling
eyes. "Please, Tenchi? Please? Pretty please?"

Tenchi sighed. "Alright, alright. I guess I have to, to catch the
robot, anyway."

"And afterwards, you can use it to rent a nice hotel suite, with a
waterbed and a hot tub," added Ryoko, cuddling up to Tenchi.

"No," replied Tenchi.

Ryoko eased herself onto his lap, slid her hand between his legs, and
started licking his neck. "Are you sure? Otherwise I'm liable to start
in on you here in the restaurant."

Aeka looked over at Ryoko and glared at her, but the pirate didn't
even seem to notice.

"Come on, Ryoko, please! People are staring!" protested Tenchi.

"Ryoko...!" hissed Aeka.

"Bubble-bath in the jaccuzzi, satin sheets on the bed, a few bottles
of Daiginjo sake..." murmured Ryoko.

"Cut it out!" said Tenchi. "If we don't catch that thing, I'm going to
be in big trouble! Don't you care what happens to me?"

Ryoko froze. Then she brought her face level with his. "Of course I
care, Tenchi. I just want us to have a nice time, that's all." She
sighed and moved off of him. "There. Happy?"

Tenchi shook his head, wondering why Ryoko always seemed to treat each
question as a choice between everything and nothing. "I'll talk to you
about it later. OK?"

"I guess," she said, looking away dejectedly.

For a moment, Tenchi sat there trying to think of what he could do. He
sighed. Wasn't there anything short of having sex in full view of the
entire restaurant that Ryoko would accept?

Then he smiled. "Hey, I thought we were going to share this," he said,
bending down and starting to sip the blue, frothy beverage in Ryoko's
glass through one of the straws. "Or do I have to drink it by myself?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot," she answered, quickly taking the other straw,
and Tenchi quietly begged every kami in existence that she not do
anything lewd with it. His prayers were answered. Ryoko simply drank
the stuff -- whatever it was, it was almost the color of her hair --
and watched him. "I still want to get you into a hot tub with me," she
said after a few seconds. "Wouldn't you like it? It'd be so nice and
*warm*!"

"I don't want to with stolen money," answered Tenchi.

"Spoilsport," accused Ryoko.

"I think Ten-chan's integrity is quite admirable, and you should
respect it," put in Aeka.

Ryoko and Aeka's eyes narrowed as they started to glare at each other.

"And I think it's about time for me to get going," said Tenchi.

Aeka took hold of his hands. "Ten-chan, do you really have to go into
that horrible place?"

"I don't like it either, Tenchi," said Ryoko.

"I already explained why I have to," replied Tenchi. "What were those
numbers again, Washuu?"

"Zero, one, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one,
thirty-four," she replied. 

Tenchi got out a pen and wrote them down on his palm. He started to
try to slide out of the booth, but both Ryoko and Aeka pointedly
refused to budge to let him by, so he ducked under the table instead
and emerged in the aisle.

Ryoko looked at him, her face worried. "Watch yourself, Tenchi. OK?"

Next to her, Aeka nodded, her expression equally concerned. "Yes.
*Please* be careful, Ten-chan."

Tenchi sighed. "I really wish you'd trust me more," he replied sadly.
Then he smiled. "Both of you should know I don't give in easily."

He turned and left, and as he did, he could feel their eyes on him.

Wishing he could have found a way to allay their fears a bit more,
Tenchi headed down the sidewalk towards the soapland. He really hoped
his plan would come off smoothly. He turned the corner, and saw to his
relief that the entrance to the Lavender Club was now deserted. He
reached the door and halted, glancing around to be sure no one was
watching him.

Tenchi forced down his nervousness, went inside, and walked up to the
counter. "Welcome to the Lavender Club. How may I help you?" asked the
man behind it.

"Well, you see, there's someone who came in a while ago that I need to
talk to. He's my twin brother -- he looks just like me."

"Can't do anything for you there. I just got on duty. You're the first
customer I've talked to."

Tenchi blinked. This didn't bode well. "It's sort of important. I
really need to see him."

"Sorry. I can't let anyone back there except to be with one of the
girls. Are you sure he's here?"

"Positive. Couldn't you go look in the rooms, and find him? Like I
said, he looks just like me."

"I can't disturb the other customers like that. Can't you wait until
his hour is up?"

Tenchi laughed nervously. "Well, he's a little... oversexed. He said
something about staying here until you close."

Takemura let out a whistle and grinned. "Damn. I wish *I* had that
kind of stamina! OK, even if he's going to be here for several hours,
the same girl's not going to stay with him the whole time, so when the
one he's with now comes out, she'll recognize you, and I'll have her
go get him. Sound alright?"

"Yeah, sure," answered Tenchi, letting out his breath. "Thank you.
I'll just have a seat, then."

"Hold on a second," said Takemura. "If he was going to stay here until
closing, that's eighty thousand yen I'm giving up."

Tenchi smiled and got out the credit card Washuu had given him, then
bowed politely. "Please accept my apologies for disturbing your
business. Charge one hundred thousand, and keep the change."

"Thanks you, *sir*!" replied Takemura enthusiastically. He handed
Tenchi that day's copy of the Sanyo Shimbun. "Read this while you're
waiting, and make yourself comfortable."

Tenchi sat down and opened to the sports page. The headline read
"Baystars Beat Dragons 6-4." He started browsing, feeling relaxed now
that he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

While waiting for Tenchi's transaction to be verified, Takemura
flipped through the index cards in a small box labeled "Preferred
Customers." Anyone who could lay down a hundred thousand yen without
batting an eye was someone he wanted to come back, and if he wasn't
already in the file, Takemura intended to add him before he forgot.

*Ah. Tenchi Masaki, here it is. Hmm... damn, this is over a year old.
Hmm... hmm... See attached instructions...* He unfolded piece of paper
clipped to the card. *Hmm... mmm-hmm... WHAT THE...?!*

"Hi!" said a woman in a black business suit as she walked in through
the door.

"Oh, hi, Mari. You're sure early today."

"Yeah, I was going to go down to the Tennoji Mio, but they've cordoned
it off. Did you hear? Someone got murdered there today, in broad
daylight! It's all over the news!"

"No, I didn't," answered Takemura. "Murdered?"

Tenchi hid behind the paper and slid down a little in his seat.

"Uh-huh. They say it was some kind of terrorist attack."

Takemura shook his head. Then he remembered noticed the card and paper
he was holding, and remembered. "Mari, come back here. I want you to
take a look at this." They walked back into the hall. The girl leaned
over his shoulder, and he started reading in a whisper. "This guy was
supposed to come here a year ago for his sixteenth birthday. His dad
left instructions for it and everything! Listen: `My son is rather
bashful around women, but I want to be sure he enjoys himself, even if
he doesn't want to, so feel free to use whatever force is necessary.
Tie him up if you have to, I don't care. And he'll probably try to
chicken out as soon as the girl comes out to meet him. Please be
prepared. Signed, Nobuyuki Masaki.'"

"Oh, how sweet!" said Mari.

"And get this -- his dad wants us to *videotape* it, and paid in
advance for it! I guess I'll have to return the money, I don't have
the camera around today." He turned to the girl. "Think you can show
the kid a good time?"

"Definitely," replied Mari. "It'll be a pleasure. I love the shy,
innocent type."

"It's taken him over a *year* to work up the nerve to come here! `Shy'
isn't the half of it! His dad must have decided to leave this on file
for the kid's next birthday."

"Ooh! This is going to be such *fun* for him!" squealed Mari.

"Shhh! He'll hear you!" hissed Takemura. "Now hold on while I get some
rope or something." He went to a closet and grabbed a long extension
cord and coiled it. Then he whispered to Mari. "You distract him while
I sneak up behind him."

"Gotcha," agreed the girl. She went out into the lobby. Tenchi looked
up nervously as she approached.

"Hi, Masaki-kun," she said, standing next to him. "My name's Mari. So,
how are you tonight?"

"Uh, fine," replied Tenchi, glancing over the edge of his paper as he
hid behind it as if it were a concrete wall.

She smiled and sat down next to him. "I'm looking forward to going
back to the room with you." Her hand started reaching towards his
knee.

Tenchi defensively placed the newspaper over his lap. "No insult
intended, but I'm not here to do that. I'm waiting to talk to another
customer."

Mari smiled. "That's OK. *I've* decided you're going to do it,
anyway."

Tenchi blinked. "This is starting to sound familiar," he muttered.

"What was that?" she asked curiously, as she edged closer to him.

"I think I'd better be going," said Tenchi, standing up.

Mari stood up with him. "Don't go. I've got something special planned
for you."

"Why am I not surprised?" asked Tenchi. He swallowed hard and started
to back away.

Someone grabbed his arms and tightened a noose around his wrists. He
turned around, half-expecting to see Ryoko or Aeka, instead coming
face to face with Takemura. "What do you think you're *doing*?!?!"
demanded Tenchi, struggling to get away.

Takemura wound the cord around Tenchi's arms, and whistled slightly.
"Damn, he wasn't kidding!"

"Let me go!!!" shouted Tenchi, squirming frantically.

"Sorry, but we have specific instructions," said Takemura.

Alerted by the noise, a girl wearing a tight green dress walked out
into the lobby. "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Oh, Nakajo! Give us a hand here, will you?" asked Mari.

"Get them off of me! They're nuts!" yelled Tenchi.

"I'll explain... *OOOF!*... later," promised Takemura, trying to hold
on to Tenchi.

"Hey, don't struggle so much, honey, it'll be fun!" said Nakajo.

"AGGHHHH!!! LET ME GO!!!" shouted Tenchi, still trying to escape. "I
SAID, LET ME GO!!!"

"I dunno about this," said Takemura. "He's going to upset all the
other customers."

"Once I start working on him, he'll quiet down," answered Mari slyly.

"Well, let's get him into the room," he said. "Mari, you get his legs.
I'll carry him by the shoulders. Nakajo, put your hand over his mouth,
will you?"

"Do you want us to give him the two-girl special?" asked Nakajo,
clamping her palm over Tenchi's face.

"Yeah, why not," replied Takemura, grunting slightly as he lifted
Tenchi. "If it'll keep him quiet."

The three of them carried Tenchi into one of the private rooms.
Takemura held him fast while Nakajo kept him silent and Mari removed
his clothes. Getting the shirt off required untying him, and Tenchi
almost broke free, but not quite. Once he was naked, Takemura tied him
up again and deposited him in the pink tub at the back of the room.

"LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" screamed Tenchi, the moment his mouth was
uncovered. Nakajo quickly put her hand over it again while Mari poured
bubble-bath into the tub and turned on the water.

"Don't worry, silly, this isn't going to hurt a bit," assured Nakajo.

Tenchi's eyes bugged out as Mari started slowly removing her clothes.

"I'll see you three in an hour," said Takemura. He smiled and bowed
towards Tenchi. "Enjoy your stay here at the Lavender Club, Mr.
Masaki."

"MMMMMMFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!" answered Tenchi, struggling desperately.

Takemura exited, closed the door behind him, and resumed his position
behind the counter where he opened a soda can and began drinking.

Meanwhile, back at the cafe, Washuu was busy at her laptop, perfecting
the design for the second version of Mecha-Tenchi while Ryoko and Aeka
pensively sipped their drinks.

Ryoko finished hers, slurping loudly with the straw. Then she put it
down and frowned. "Um, Aeka, I'm going to..." she motioned towards the
door with her eyes "...go outside."

"Fine, we'll be here," replied Aeka, most of her mind occupied and
very far away.

"No, I mean, I'm going to go..." Ryoko jerked her head slightly in the
direction of the exit "...*outside*."

Aeka blinked, then realized the meaning and nodded. "Oh, I see. Yes, I
think perhaps I'll join you."

"Don't go too far," said Washuu, concentrating on her work.

"Well, what is it?" asked Aeka, once the two left the restaurant.

"Tenchi's been gone an awful long time. Or haven't you noticed?"

"Of course I've noticed!" snapped Aeka. "What do you suppose I've been
thinking about, all this time?" She calmed down, and the anger in her
face changed to worry. "I wonder if perhaps something's... happened to
him?"

"That's just what I was thinking. We've got to go into that place."

"But you heard the proprietor. Women aren't allowed in there."

"He *did* say they were hiring," said Ryoko, grinning.

Aeka's eyes widened as she gasped in horror. "Ryoko! I'm shocked at
such a suggestion, even from *you*! The very *idea*...!"

Ryoko waved her hands. "No, no, no. We just *say* we want to work
there to get inside. Then we can make sure none of the girls there get
near Tenchi."

"I don't think it's necessary." 

"You don't?!"

"I trust Ten-chan."

"And when one of them sees how sweet he is, and takes a liking to
him...?

Aeka frowned. "You're right. That's a definite possibility." She
thought for a moment. "But certainly Ten-chan is capable of defending
himself."

"There could be *dozens* of them in there! He can't fight them *all*
off!"

"I suppose not," agreed Aeka, looking even more worried.

"We *have* to get in there!"

"I still think it's quite embarrassing," said Aeka.

"Are you going to let some Earth bitch get her hands on Tenchi because
you're too shy? I don't know about you, but I'm going."

"Very well, but I certainly hope he doesn't see us in there," replied
Aeka.

"You never held anything back trying to stop *me*," said Ryoko. "I
remember someone smashing through a stone wall in a certain cave a few
months back..."

"The cave was merely damp. This place stinks of iniquity, and I'd much
rather be mistaken for a monster than a harlot," replied Aeka. "But I
see your point." Her eyes narrowed as determination set on her face,
and she began striding rapidly down the sidewalk towards the Lavender
Club. "Once more I must save Ten-chan from the clutches of women of
degenerate moral character."

"HEY!" shouted Ryoko. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!"

"You made the comparison, not me," said Aeka, a smirk replacing her
wrathful scowl for an instant.

Ryoko's expression turned thoughtful. "I sure hope he resists as much
now as he did then," she said quietly, as the two of them advanced on
their objective.

When they reached it, Aeka shoved the door open with a bang, startling
Takemura into spraying a mouthful of soda onto the floor. Ryoko shut
the door behind her almost as loudly, and the two girls walked up to
him with faces that radiated hostility. They glanced around the lobby.
Not seeing Tenchi raised the level of anger in their expressions
several notches, and they focused it on the only person in sight.

"We are here to seek employment at this depraved establishment!"
announced Aeka, slamming her hands down on the counter and glaring at
Takemura.

The man reflexively backed away under the force of their intense
stares. "You want to work here, you mean?"

Aeka nodded. "We will begin at one," she decreed, heading towards the
hall that led to the back rooms.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!" said Takemura as he blocked her way.
"First you need to fill out the forms, and I need some I.D. to be sure
you're not minors. Then the law requires you get a blood test."

"Blood test?" replied Aeka haughtily. "I'll have you know my lineage
is of the highest conceivable character."

"No, I mean to be sure you don't have any sexually transmitted
diseases that you might spread to the customers," said Takemura.

"WHAT?!?! How *dare* you imply such a thing of me!" shrieked Aeka.
"Out of my way!" she ordered, pushing past him.

Takemura grabbed her arm. "Now, Miss, please calm down, I'm sure..."

"KEEP YOUR HANDS *OFF* ME, YOU FILTH!!!" shouted Aeka, slamming the
man into the wall. "Come along, Ryoko," she said, looking back into
the lobby as Takemura slid, unconscious, onto the floor.

Ryoko followed, shaking her head. "And people tell me *I'm* pushy
sometimes," she said under her breath.

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the walls. Both girls immediately
recognized the voice.

"Ten-chan!"

"Tenchi!"

They rushed towards the source as doors started opening and women in
various states of undress peeked out to see what the commotion was.
Aeka smashed through the only still-closed door. Ryoko teleported
through it in front of her.

Then they both froze.

Aeka's expression was cold and merciless as her force field started to
form.

Globes of energy formed in Ryoko's hands as she glared at the two
soapland girls who were holding down Tenchi. Fire burned in the
pirate's eyes, her fangs gleamed, and her face was that of a vengeful
executioner.

"Both of you are *dead*," she said slowly.

Ryoko's expression left not a shred of doubt, and Mari and Nakajo
swooned onto the floor.

"Forget that, just untie me!" demanded Tenchi, squirming amidst a
tubful of suds.

"Hey, don't leave now, we were just getting started!" said the same
voice from out in the hall.

Tenchi blinked and remembered what Washuu had said. He wracked his
mind for the numbers, and couldn't recall them. Remembering where he'd
written them down, he brought his hand up out of the water and looked
at it.

The writing had been washed off.

He cringed as he watched Aeka out in the hall preparing to activate
her force field.

"Zero, one, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one,
thirty-four," called someone out in the lobby.

"Damn. Excuse me, but I've got to go now," said Mecha-Tenchi. Aeka
blinked as the robot walked passed her towards the sound of his
creator's voice.

Ryoko helped Tenchi up as her energy sword sliced through the cord
around his wrists. He scrambled to put on his clothes, not bothering
to dry, while the pirate looked down at Mari and Nakajo, obviously
contemplating a gruesome fate for them.

Tenchi noticed, made a quick mental note to have a long talk with her
about the subject, and grabbed her arm. "Forget about that, Ryoko. I
want to get our of here *now*!" He pulled her after him down the hall
and jumped over Takemura's prone form out into the lobby.

Washuu was standing there next to Aeka and Mecha-Tenchi, in front of a
black opening in the air.

"You followed us here?" demanded Aeka.

"*Somebody* has to be the babysitter," replied Washuu.

Hearing a groan from the hall, Tenchi looked back and saw Takemura
rubbing his head as he slowly got up.

"Charge another million yen to that credit card, and forget you ever
saw us. Deal?" he asked.

Takemura blinked. "A... *million*?"

"That's right. Is it a deal?"

"Sure!" answered the man. His head didn't hurt quite *that* bad.

Takemura watched as the five of them ran into the black circle in the
middle of the lobby before the dark shape shrank in on itself and
vanished.

He stood up dizzily, went to the counter, and picked up the credit
card. There was no question of calling the police. They'd never
believe him anyway.

Moments later, the group stood in the midst of Washuu's lab, greatly
relieved. All except Mecha-Tenchi.

"Can you put me back in normal mode?" he begged Washuu. "I want to go
find some more women!"

Washuu shook her head. "No. I've got some modifications to make on
you."

"PLEASE!!!"

Washuu sighed. "One zero one one zero one zero one."

Mecha-Tenchi's head slumped down as he froze, deactivated.

"I don't *ever* want to go through anything like that *again*," moaned
Tenchi.

"What exactly *happened*, anyway, Tenchi?" asked Ryoko.

"I was waiting out in the lobby, and that guy and one of the girls
came out and tied me up," answered Tenchi.

"WHAT?!?!" shrieked Aeka. "How *dare* they?!"

"Don't worry, it didn't go much farther than that," assured Tenchi.
"You two came in at just the right time."

"I *told* you the girls would be all over him," said Ryoko. Aeka
nodded.

"Well, I'm not going back *there* again," said Tenchi. "Right now I
just want sit down and rest."

Ryoko grinned at him. "Wanna go take a bath?"

Tenchi shook his head. "Not after *that*. Some other time. OK?"

As he, Aeka, and Ryoko walked out of the lab, Washuu busied herself
hooking Mecha-Tenchi into her computer.

The next one was going to be even *better*, she decided.

Some time afterwards, Tenchi, Ryoko, and Aeka sat in the living room,
watching TV. Tenchi's eyes were glued to the screen as the conclusion
of the episode neared, while Aeka and Ryoko tried their best to show
polite interest.

Aeka was doing a much, much better job of it than Ryoko was.

"It's ready for launch."

"OK. Not that it matters, right?"

"Of course it does. We have no future unless we beat the Angels."

"Ikari, are you truly satisfied with this?"

On screen, behind folded white-gloved hands, a man's lips curled into
a cryptic smile.

"Launch!" shouted a woman with long blue hair.

A young, confused boy screamed as sudden, terrifying forces unleashed
by science tightened their merciless grip around him. Klaxons sounded,
doors opened, and a giant humanoid purple-and- neon-green fighting
machine burst from the ground to face its adversary.

In a control room, the blue-haired woman watched apprehensively.
"Shinji-kun... come back alive."

The instant the credits started to roll, Ryoko wrapped her arms around
Tenchi and pulled herself closer to him.

"That was very... interesting, Ten-chan," said Aeka, still watching
the screen.

"I can think of much more interesting things to do, though," said
Ryoko, starting to lick Tenchi's neck. Aeka looked over at her and
frowned. Seeing the princess' expression, Ryoko smiled back at her and
started moving a hand towards Tenchi's crotch.

Tenchi gulped. "Actually, Ryoko, first I've gotta... go." He stood up,
and headed towards the bathroom.

"Wait up, Tenchi!" called Ryoko, floating off of the couch.

"Ahem."

Ryoko looked back at Aeka. "What?"

"I think Ten-chan would prefer that you not accompany him into the
bathroom," suggested Aeka.

Ryoko blinked. "He would? You're not just saying that so I'll be with
him less than you, are you?" she asked suspiciously.

Aeka shook her head and sighed. "I'll let him be alone for that, if
you will," she said.

"Oh. Alright, then, I guess."

"And another thing. Will you *please* be a little more circumspect
with regards to Ten-chan, when you're not in private? It's important
that he not be embarrassed."

Ryoko folded her hands behind her head and looked at the ceiling. "You
mean, sit there like an ice statue?"

Aeka grit her teeth. "No, I'm simply asking that you show a little
restraint."

"I wasn't fucking him on the couch, was I?" asked Ryoko, smiling.

"Not *yet*..." admitted Aeka.

"Well, you see? I was showing restraint."

Aeka sighed again, exasperated. "Can't you just wait for a few
minutes? You'll be going to bed with him tonight, anyway."

"She will be?" gasped Nobuyuki, walking in from the hall. "Really?"

Moments later, Tenchi returned from the bathroom. Seeing his father
standing there, he smiled. "So, dad, how was work today?"

"SON!!! I JUST HEARD THE WONDERFUL NEWS!!!" shouted Nobuyuki, grabbing
Tenchi and hugging him.

Tenchi blinked. "News?"

Nobuyuki dropped to his knees and bowed in front of Achika's kami
shrine. "Oh, dear, I'm so happy!" he said in a joyous voice. "Remember
those pretty girls from outer space that are staying with us? Tenchi's
*finally* sleeping with one of them!" 

"DAD!"

"I see what you mean, about not embarrassing him," said Ryoko under
her breath.

Aeka glared at her for a moment, then hid her face in her hands,
ashamed at what she'd mistakenly done.

"I'm so proud! I was always so worried about how shy he is around
women, but now he's grown up into a healthy young man!" 

"DAD!!"

"And he's got such a beautiful girlfriend!" Nobuyuki sighed. "I wish
you were here to see this. Your son's finally got himself a girl!"

Aeka frowned for a moment, weighing two unpleasant alternatives. On
one hand, Tenchi was obviously being made uncomfortable by his
father's behavior, and wanted it to end as soon as possible. And part
of her was quite happy to be spared being discussed by Nobuyuki in
such a way. On the other hand, there was the matter of Ryoko receiving
exclusive status as "Tenchi's girl."

The princess cleared her throat.

"*Two* girls," she said quietly.

"Two?" asked Nobuyuki, his eyes widening as he, Ryoko, and Tenchi
turned to look at Aeka. Then he faced Tenchi. "Is this true?!"

"Yeah, dad, I know it's a little unusual, but..."

Nobuyuki jumped up and grabbed Tenchi in a crushing hug. "OH, SON!!!
I'M SO *PROUD* OF YOU!! Honey, did you hear that? Your son's got a
*pair* of girlfriends! He's sleeping with *two* of them!"

"DAAAD!!!"

"Two of them! I can hardly believe it!" repeated Nobuyuki. Then he
looked back at the girls. "At the same time?" he asked hopefully.

"NO!!!!!!" shouted Ryoko and Aeka.

Nobuyuki shrugged and knelt before the kami shrine again. "Well,
anyway, I don't know when he's going to sleep with the rest of them,
but I'm sure he'll get around to it, sooner or later. Won't you,
Tenchi?"

"DAAAAAAAAD!!!!!!"

"Stay right there!" ordered Nobuyuki, as he got up and ran from the
room. 

Tenchi sat down on the couch next to Aeka and Ryoko, and the three of
them started to sweat.

"I'm sorry, Ten-chan. Truly I am," the princess said quietly, hanging
her head. "He overheard something I said to Ryoko. I should have been
more discreet."

Tenchi sighed and put his arm around her. "It's not your fault,
Ae-chan. He'd have found out eventually."

"`Found out'?" asked Ryoko, sounding a little hurt.

Tenchi smiled and hugged her with his other arm. "It's not like that,
Ryoko. But you saw his reaction. And I think something worse is coming
up..."

"Tenchi! Have you seen my camcorder?" asked Nobuyuki, walking back
into the living room. His eyes widened when he saw his son's arms
around the two women, and he cursed whatever terrible misfortune had
deprived him of the means to capture the image forever.

"No, I haven't," Tenchi replied, cringing.

Nobuyuki frowned in thought. "I wonder where it is. I can't find any
of my other cameras, either. Still, 8mm, video -- they're all gone."

"Maybe you misplaced them," suggested Tenchi.

"I'll keep looking," said Nobuyuki. He started leaving the room again,
then paused and looked back at them. "Stay like that. *Just like
that*!" Then he resumed his frantic search.

"I don't think I'm going to be happy when he finds them," muttered
Tenchi.

"Neither will I," said Aeka. "I have a *very* bad feeling about what
exactly he intends to take pictures of."

"Well, you've seen how my dad is. He wants to film everything. And I
mean *everything*."

"Don't worry, he won't find them," chuckled Ryoko.

Aeka and Tenchi looked at Ryoko. She grinned, and their eyes widening
in realization. The princess inclined her head slightly and sighed
with intense relief.

"Domo arigato gozaimasu," she said with a quiet smile.

"Don't mention it," Ryoko answered.