Aeka and Ryoko led the way out of the lab, followed by Mihoshi and
Kiyone. Realizing she'd forgotten something, Sasami headed after them.
"Wait just a minute, I haven't..."

"AAAAAAAA!!!" cried Kiyone, as Taro grabbed her hair and yanked down on
it.

"... introduced you to Taro-chan," finished Sasami, trying to get the
baby to let go of the officer's tresses. "Don't do that! It's not nice,"
she chided.

"Whatever is the cause of his fixation with hair, anyway?" asked Aeka,
carefully keeping her ponytails away from Taro.

"Different colors, different shapes. Babies are full of curiosity,"
explained Washuu.

Her hair having been freed, Kiyone turned around, smiling, and pointed a
finger at Taro. "If I wasn't in a good mood, I'd have to arrest you," she
warned, touching the tip of the baby's nose. "You're really kawaii, you
know that?"

"He sure is!" agreed Mihoshi. "Who's is he?"

"He's Tenchi's cousin's baby," said Sasami. "I've been over to see him
before, but this is the first time they've brought him to visit us."

"Well, we'll see you in the bath," said Kiyone. The four women left the
lab, leaving Washuu, Sasami, and Taro behind.

"So, what was it you wanted to show me?" asked Sasami.

"There's an invention of mine I've modified for you, and I *know* you'll
like trying it out," replied Washuu, typing on the keyboard that suddenly
appeared in front of her. "But I have to hold Taro while you do." A black
void opened in midair. Washuu reached inside and came out with a strange-
looking wand, which she offered to Sasami.

"Wow! Just like from my dream world!" Sasami gasped, handed the baby to
Washuu and taking the wand. 

"Go stand over there," said Washuu.

Sasami walked over to the spot the scientist had indicated, feeling a bit
puzzled. "OK."

"Now, say the magic words."

The princess blinked, confused. "But I thought you said this was one of
your inventions. That's not magic."

"Magic, advanced technology -- same difference," Washuu explained
patiently. "Just try it."

Obediently, Sasami raised her wand and shouted. "Jugem, jugem, gokoh-no-
surikire, Sammy Davis broiler chicken!"

Bright light suffused the lab, and Washuu smiled. As Sasami's
transformation sequence began, miles away Tenchi finished the last of the
extra laps he'd had to run as punishment for being late to P.E. class.

"Alright, Masaki, rest one minute, then join your team," ordered the
coach, pointing to one of the soccer fields where a game was in progress.
"And stand up straight!" he barked.

Tenchi forced himself completely upright. "Gomen, coach. It's just that
my back hurts a little."

"No excuses," growled the man. "Hey, Hitoshi, don't think I can't see
you. Quit slackin'!" he shouted, his attention caught by one of the
goalies leaning against the frame of the goal.

Tenchi sighed. The exercise, though tiring, had taken his mind off his
very unpleasant lunchtime dream. He wondered how much longer he might
have been able to wait before exactly that sort of thing would have
happened. Before both of the girls he now loved would have left him,
never to return, without him even realizing what he'd lost.

Until afterward. Afterward, he was sure, he'd have understood. But then
it would have been too late.

Lost amidst his thoughts of relief, regret, guilt, and worry, Tenchi
nearly jumped out of his skin when his coach's voice sounded next to his
ear.

"Time's up, Masaki. MOVE!!!" the coach ordered.

"H-h-hai!" Tenchi answered as he ran off.

Meanwhile, in the women's bath at the Masaki house, Mihoshi sank up to
her neck in the luxurious hot water. "Ooooh, this feels great!"

Kiyone nodded, her eyes closed. "I'm in heaven," she sighed. Briefly she
considered what she'd do if an alert came through during the next hour or
so, and she almost decided that she'd ignore it.

"We're always glad to have you," said Aeka happily.

"It's nice to have you guys over," agreed Ryoko. "Even if you *are* on
the wrong side of the law."

"But... Kiyone and I are police officers," said Mihoshi, hopelessly
confused.

Ryoko stretched. "Yeah, that's what I said."

Kiyone was so lost in the soft warmth of the bath that she completely
missed the exchange between her partner and the pirate. "You two are
really lucky to be able to enjoy this every day."

Aeka nodded. "I must admit, for all the inconvenience she sometimes
causes, we're very much in Washuu's debt for these facilities."

"It'd be even better if Tenchi was here, though," mused Ryoko wistfully.
"I think it's time to have Washuu get rid of that silly 'women only'
thing on the door."

Aeka frowned. "You're forgetting the other two males of the household,"
she said. "One of whom I very much do *not* want to be able to find his
way in here."

"Oh, yeah, forgot about that," said Ryoko, mentally weighing the risks
and benefits. "Do you suppose Washuu could maybe fix it so only women
*and* Tenchi can go through the door? And still keep out his dad?"

"If it's all the same with you, I'd rather keep this the *women's* bath,"
said Kiyone. "Besides, you can always open the door for him. Somehow, I
don't picture Tenchi coming in here uninvited."

"Yeah, I guess not," Ryoko sighed regretfully.

"So, I understand something's happened between you three recently," said
Kiyone, opening her eyes and looking at Ryoko and Aeka.

Mihoshi blinked. "Something's... happened?"

"Sure has," answered Ryoko proudly, stretching her arms above her head
for a moment. "Five or nine times, depending on whether or not you want
to count..."

"Ryoko! Don't you realize how embarrassed he'd be at you discussing such
intimate matters?!" hissed Aeka furiously. "You don't see *me* bandying
these details about!"

"Just 'cause you're ashamed of it, doesn't mean I have to be," retorted
the pirate.

"I'm not ashamed, I'm discreet," countered the princess.

"So, you too, huh?" asked Mihoshi quietly, looking at Aeka but not quite
meeting her eyes.

Aeka hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly and nodded.

"Really, Mihoshi, you mean you didn't *notice* yesterday?" laughed
Kiyone.

Mihoshi hung her head slightly. "I guess... I was just so upset when I
thought I'd killed him, and so happy when it turned out I didn't, I just
wasn't noticing other things."

"Well, as she certainly won't do so, I'll apologize for Washuu about that
little incident," said Aeka. "It must have been quite a shock."

Mihoshi nodded.

"Although I'm also surprised you didn't notice anything," the princess
said. "While I was quite careful not to cause Ten-chan any undue
embarrassment, there was *someone*..." she glared at Ryoko "...who very
nearly ravished him on the train, in front of everyone."

As Ryoko returned Aeka's nasty look, Kiyone laughed. "Actually, if we're
talking sexual assault, you're the one who might have broken the local
statutory rape ordinances, Aeka-hime. If I was being really strict about
the letter of the law, I ought to arrest you."

"WHAT?!?!?!" shrieked Aeka, started to get up out the water before
recovering her composure and sitting back down. "Kiyone-san, I assure
you, the matter was completely consensual."

"No, I meant that I *think* Tenchi is under the legal age of consent, and
you're not," said Kiyone. "I'm not sure, though. In Japan, that sort of
thing is determined at the prefectural level. The age here in Okayama
might be different than in, say, Tokyo, or even Osaka."

Mihoshi's eyes widened. "Wow, Kiyone, you sure know a lot about this
stuff."

"We're *supposed* to know about the local legal system, Mihoshi!" snapped
Kiyone, clenching her fists under the water. She sighed. "Anyway, Aeka-
hime, I was only joking about arresting you. The Galaxy Police enforce
the Galactic Law articles, and that's all. Especially on primitive
worlds."

"Let me get this straight," said Ryoko, an evil gleam beginning to shine
in her eyes. "Aeka might have broken the law by sleeping with Tenchi
because he's too young and she's too *old*?"

Kiyone nodded. "Yes, that's basically it."

Ryoko turned and grinned at Aeka. "*Now* I see how it is. 'Mature woman
seeks young, unattached man for a *discreet* relationship. Light the
fires to brighten my autumn years!'"

Aeka ground her teeth and looked daggers at Ryoko, keeping silent for
lack of a response other than incoherent rage.

Smiling broadly, Ryoko extended her hand. "Welcome to the club, princess.
Congratulations on a fine haul, one thief to another."

"T-t-thief?!" asked Aeka incredulously, nearly choking on the word. "What
in the world are you talking about, Ryoko? How can you make such an
accusation?"

Ryoko's smile widened. "Because you've been robbing the cradle," she
said, before she collapsed, laughing uncontrollably. 

Aeka stood up, shaking with fury, on the verge of unleashing her force
field on Ryoko as vengeance for the insult. Then her temperament suddenly
switched from one of anger to humor as she put a hand in front of her
mouth and laughed. "I may be three years older than you, Ryoko, but my
beautiful skin attests that my youth will endure far longer than yours,"
she said proudly, holding up one of her arms and admiring the smooth
alabaster complexion. She smiled, looking down at Ryoko. "And in any
case, it is not *your* assessment of my age or appearance that interests
me. I have no reason to believe Ten-chan doesn't like what he sees."

Managing to halt her laughter, Ryoko smiled back. "He *is* a fine haul,
though. Right?"

Aeka nodded and sat down. "I never said he wasn't."

The two girls heaved a collective sigh and closed their eyes, obviously
thinking blissful thoughts about Tenchi. Mihoshi stared at them for a few
moments. "So, *both* of you are sleeping with Tenchi, then?" she asked.

"I believe that's what we said," replied Aeka.

"And you're going to keep on doing it? Both of you?" asked Mihoshi, her
voice becoming rather meek.

Ryoko nodded and grinned. "Every chance I get."

"I guess that means that... means that..." began Mihoshi hesitantly.

"Means that...?" prompted Aeka.

"It means... it means..." Mihoshi continued. "It means..."

"It means...?" asked Ryoko.

"It means that I can sleep with Tenchi, too, now, right?" asked Mihoshi
cheerfully.

Three loud splashes sounded as Ryoko, Aeka, and Kiyone all face-faulted.
After they sat back up, they stared at Mihoshi in disbelief. Aeka and
Ryoko were so shocked at the foolish naivete of Mihoshi's statement that
they completely forgot to become enraged and attack her.

"Oh, how *embarrassing*!" giggled Mihoshi, looking away and blushing. "I
can't believe I just said something like that!"

Meanwhile, Kiyone looked over at Ryoko and Aeka, nervously wondering if
their apparent calm would hold or if they would snap and obliterate
Mihoshi. She wanted to be sure she was prepared to dodge. Several tense
seconds passed before Ryoko decided to try to change the subject. "So,
Kiyone, what about you? Met any guys you like here on Earth?"

Kiyone shook her head. "We're not supposed to do that. It's against
regulations."

"What, they make Galaxy Police take a vow of celibacy or something?"
asked Ryoko.

"Not exactly. But the regs specifically forbid us from getting involved
with the inhabitants of primitive worlds," explained Kiyone. "They
usually have a lot of weird taboos, and it's too easy to unwittingly
break them. And becoming emotionally attached really increases the risk
of an officer letting their guard down and revealing information the
locals shouldn't have."

"I suppose it must make you feel rather... isolated," said Aeka
sympathetically.

Kiyone nodded, then sighed. "If I was back at HQ, or assigned to a world
with space flight, I could at least *date*, maybe find *someone*," she
said, glancing over at Mihoshi for a moment. "As it is, you're right,
it's really tough. But rules are rules."

"I won't tell if you don't tell," offered Ryoko.

Aeka briefly wavered on the edge, caught between her ingrained respect
for obedience to authority, and her recent knowledge of the things such
obedience could deny someone. After a moment, she nodded. "Neither will
I. Not a word, Kiyone-san. I promise."

Kiyone blinked, momentarily stunned by the offer, wondering what could
prompt a most-wanted criminal to want to help a GP officer and a
tradition-bound princess to advocate violating the law. "Well, thanks. I
really appreciate it," she answered. "But I just *can't*. The last time
somebody broke that regulation, the officer wound up revealing the
existence of 'life on other worlds' to a civilization that didn't even
have gunpowder yet, and he made it even worse by taking sides in one of
the planet's wars. He didn't just ruin his career, he got court-
martialed. He's on a chain gang digging fissionables out of asteroids,
last I heard."

"Yes, but you've already been found out, so to speak, haven't you?" asked
Aeka. "Ten-chan and his father and grandfather certainly know."

"That's true, but I don't think they're going to tell anyone," replied
Kiyone. "Katsuhito hardly ever leaves the shrine, and no one would
believe Nobuyuki anyway. And Tenchi values his peace and quiet way too
much to let the secret out."

Ryoko nodded and looked sadly down at the water for a moment. That was
one thing about Tenchi she really wished would change. She realized that
he liked his privacy and wanted to avoid attention, but his fear about
her being seen using her powers seemed to her to verge on paranoia, and
it was hard not to take it personally. Sometimes it was almost as if he
were ashamed to be seen with her.

"Well, if you should change your mind, my offer still stands," said Aeka.

"Mine, too," said Ryoko.

"You really should think of something besides your career, Kiyone," said
Mihoshi. "Say, would you two cover for me, too?" she asked Aeka and
Ryoko.

The two of them glared at Mihoshi and pointedly didn't answer.

Mihoshi hung her head and twiddled her fingers. "I'm... really happy for
you two," she said quietly. "I hope... I hope Tenchi's happy, too."

Ryoko and Aeka's eyes continued to burn into Mihoshi.

"I'm... sorry if I said anything wrong," Mihoshi said in an even quieter
voice.

The merciless stares didn't let up even slightly.

The door to the baths opened, and in walked Washuu and Sasami. Both of
them had towels wrapped around them, and Washuu carried Taro while Sasami
had Ryo-oh-ki perched atop her head. They shut the door and quickly sat
down in the water on the other side of the bath from the other girls.

"Hi, everyone!" said Sasami cheerfully, as Washuu began undressing Taro
to wash him.

All of the women waved at her, and Mihoshi, unable to bear any more of
the hostility radiating from Aeka and Ryoko, headed across the bath to
sit with Washuu and Sasami. Kiyone started to get up to follow, then
turned back to look down at Ryoko and Aeka.

"Look, I'm happy for you two and all, but do you think you could go easy
on Mihoshi a little?" she asked. "I know she's an airhead most of the
time, but she's my partner." Kiyone's voice hardened a little. "And if I
understand Mihoshi's reports correctly, neither of you would have ever
even *met* Tenchi if it hadn't been for her." 

Aeka and Ryoko hung their heads guiltily. Having said her peace, Kiyone
moved off next to Sasami and Mihoshi, who sat watching Washuu bathe the
baby.

"Like *she* never gets pissed at Mihoshi," grumbled Ryoko.

"Yes, it's rather hypocritical of her, I must say," agreed Aeka.

The two of them sat silently for a while, Aeka soaking contentedly and
Ryoko frowning in thought, before the pirate spoke up.

"Aeka, I've got an idea," she said.

"My, how wonderful for you," replied Aeka.

"I'm serious."

"Well, what is it, then?"

"I think we should get those two fixed up with a couple of guys," said
Ryoko. "What do you think?"

"I think it would be meddling, and while that's usual for *you*, I'd
prefer to mind my own business," answered the princess.

"Come on! Who better to be matchmakers than us? I mean, we already know
we've got great taste in men, right?"

Aeka smiled and nodded. "I'll agree with you on that point."

"We've got nothing better to do all day, anyway," continued Ryoko.

"House chores," reminded Aeka.

"Skip 'em," countered Ryoko. "Plus, *I* think it would be fun."

"Perhaps."

"And, most importantly, we'd be giving Mihoshi someone to be interested
in besides Tenchi."

Aeka thought about it for a while. "I must admit, your plan does have
some merits."

"'Some'? It's perfect!"

"I'm not unfamiliar with pre-arranged relationships, however," said Aeka.
"And I've come to realize that they aren't often for the best. I'd much
rather we let them proceed on their own. We're quite likely to sour them
on the whole idea, otherwise."

"Spoilsport," pouted Ryoko.

"I didn't say I'd dismissed the idea altogether. I just feel that some
subtlety is called for. And subtlety isn't exactly your area of
expertise."

Ryoko blinked. "It's not?"

"No, it's not."

"I can be sneaky with the best of them, princess. You should know."

"Stalking up behind someone and hitting them over the head isn't the kind
of subtlety I was referring to."

"Well, yes or no?"

"I'll give it some thought."

The two of them sat silently for a while, before Aeka spoke up again.

"I wonder what he's doing right now," she said quietly.

Ryoko nodded. There was absolutely no need to clarify who was meant by
"he." A smile formed on her lips. "Oh, I'm pretty sure he's thinking of
me," she said.

Aeka arched an eyebrow.

"Us," corrected Ryoko.

"I hope it isn't a distraction for him," said Aeka. Then, after
considering her words for a moment, she couldn't decide if she meant them
or not.

Shortly thereafter, Tenchi sat at his desk and tried his best to keep his
mind focused on what he was supposed to be thinking about -- Chinese
literature -- instead of the girls. So far, Ryoko's assessment was
turning out to be all too correct, and Aeka's half-sincere worries
completely justified. The sound of the student in front of him reciting
Li Qing-zhao's "More Gracile Than Yellow Flowers" barely registered in
Tenchi's brain.

        I always remember the sunset
           over the pavilion by the river.

        So tipsy, we could not find our way home.

        Our interest exhausted, the evening late,
           we tried to turn the boat homeward.

        By mistake, we entered deep within the lotus bed.

        Row! Row the boat!

        A flock of herons, frightened,
           suddenly flew skyward.

The voice stopped, and expectant silence filled the classroom.

"Masaki," said the teacher after a few moments.

Tenchi didn't hear him.

"Masaki! Recite the next stanza!" ordered the instructor.

"Oh, sorry, sensei," said Tenchi. He looked down at the book on his desk
to read the verses.

His book was closed. And so were everyone else's.

Then he remembered. He was supposed to have studied this over the
weekend. But, of course, he hadn't. Almost every waking moment since he'd
snapped out his nightmare Friday night and found Ryoko lying next to him
had been occupied by her or Aeka, in one way or another. Desperately he
wracked his brain for the requested poetry. Deciding he'd recalled it,
Tenchi began to recite.

        Lonely in my secluded chamber,

        A thousand sorrows fill every inch
           of my sensitive being.

        Regretting that spring has so soon passed,

        That rain drops have hastened the falling flowers,

        I lean over the balustrade,
        
        Weary and depressed.

        Where is my beloved?

        Only the fading grassland
           stretches endlessly toward the horizon.

        Anxiously I watch the road for your return.

Partially-suppressed laughter filled the classroom, and Tenchi tried to
think of what mistake he might have made. He was sure he'd gotten the
words right. Yes, absolutely certain of it.

"That was great, Masaki, except you were supposed to recite the stanza
*before* that one," sighed the teacher, shaking his head. "I'll talk to
you after class."

Tenchi groaned as the recitation moved on to the student behind him.

Later that afternoon, Taro lay in Sasami's arms while she fed him his
formula and the rest of the girls sat around her, watching. Washuu, Aeka,
and Ryoko's faces were each tinged with regret, whereas Kiyone and
Mihoshi's expressions were unusually happy.

"This is great," said Kiyone. "Not one single alert all day long!"

Mihoshi nodded and tickled the baby. "Yeah. I'm glad we can spend some
time visiting."

The doorbell rang.

"I wonder who that is?" asked Aeka. "Never mind, I'll get it." She rose
from the couch and made sure of the immaculate neatness of her kimono,
then headed towards the door and opened it.

"Konichi wa," said Tenchi's aunt, standing outside and bowing.

Aeka bowed back. "Please, come in."

"Ah, I see's he's surrounded by female admirers," the woman laughed,
looking at Sasami holding Taro and Washuu, Mihoshi, Kiyone, and Ryoko
sitting on either side of her. "And at such a young age, too."

"Must run in the family," said Kiyone under her breath, smiling.