Hey, well it's been a while since I posted the last Mugen
Tenchi Muyo Episode, so it's high time that I send in the 13th
episode. I'll be sending the following episodes at a slightly closer
interval than normal to bring a little tenchi to this ML.
Also, I'm still in desperate need of people to join the
Fan Fiction Archive Network! If you're interested in drawing more
traffic to your site without having to acutally put the banner
exchange on your site, then PLEASE!! go to
http://members.xoom.com/RC_Books/FFAN/ and sign up! I need sites!
NOTE: All characters original to the Tenchi-Muyo! TV1 series
portrayed in this story, as well as all those from the Tenchi-Muyo!
Ryo-Ohki OVA series, are the sole property of AIC and Pioneer
Animation. Any appearance of them in actual life is purely
coincidental. Tenchi-Muyo! material and paraphernalia listed within
is copyright Pioneer Animation 1997. Kyoto Minamoto, Muriyaki
Kushiragi, Chisako, Chi-Ohki, and all other related characters
are the sole property of R&C Books and appear through permission
from R&C Books. If you would like to use any of these characters
in your work, please contact the licensing department at
RCBooks@hotmail.com or visit our website at
www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/1375.
Send all C&C to muriyaki@hotmail.com (for storyline and fight scenes)
and/or keiichi_dono@hotmail.com (for intercharacter relationships
and continuity). Thanks for reading!
Episode #13
No Need For Babies!
Kiyone sits up in bed, her entire being quivering with....confusion.
She had just dreamed what had to be the weirdest dream in history.
In this dream, Tenchi had been kidnapped by a bunch of Ohkis, who'd
thrown him in the back of a truck and and driven off. Kiyone and
Mihoshi had given chase....on a unicycle. The rest of the dream is a
blur, except for the end, where they were all at the beach, shoveling
sand into their mouths.
As always, Tenchi is awake and sitting up beside her a moment later.
"Kiyone-yoni, are you all right?"
She sighs and leans against him, feeling relief as his arms go around
her. "Yeah. Just a weird dream. How 'bout you?"
"The same," admits Tenchi. "What was yours about?"
"You got kidnapped by a bunch of Ohkis," answers Kiyone. Now that she
thinks about it, it's more humorous than anything else. "And you?"
Tenchi sighs. "Well...."
"Yes, Tenchi-yon?" prods Kiyone teasingly. When he hesitates like
this, she knows the dream wasn't innocent.
"Well...." He's looking down. "I was married to Sami-cha'ya--"
Kiyone bursts out laughing at this, and he ignores that "--and you
were our little girl."
Kiyone's laughter has died quickly, but she is still grinning.
"Oh, daddy, you wanna be naughty with your little girl?"
Tenchi shoots her a slightly annoyed look and pulls her into his lap.
She giggles delightedly.
It's a good thing Nobuyuki put in extra soundproofing, because
otherwise the rest of the house would have been kept up all night
by Tenchi's answer to Kiyone's question.
The next morning, Kiyone is grumbling as she takes off her clothes.
"Honestly, Washu, I don't see why you have to run all these tests
on me...."
Washu looks up from her hololaptop. "I told you, Kiyone. Ever since
the wedding, you and Tenchi have been in the bedroom every chance
you get--and then some. I just want to see want to see if the
goddess' gift has taken effect yet."
Kiyone gestures down at her body, now only clad in underwear.
"But in my skivvies?!"
The scientist in the guise of a young girl shrugs. "Do you want to
get this over with or not?"
After glaring at Washu for a long moment, the
detective-turned-empress nods.
Tenchi is pacing around in the living room nervously when the door
to the closet opens and Kiyone, a pensive look on her face, emerges.
He is immediately in front of her, holding her hands. "Are you all
right, Kiyone-yoni?"
Kiyone nods, still looking pensive.
"So...." Tenchi tries not to sound too impatient.
"So...." The thoughtful, almost impassive demeanor disappears
in an instant, and she hurls herself into Tenchi's arms. "I'm gonna
have a baby!" she cries happily.
Tenchi's eyes go wide. He was expecting this, but the news still
catches him off-guard. "Y-y-y--"
Kiyone bobs her head up and down, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yes, Tenchi-yon! I'm going to be a mommy!"
"And I'm gonna be....a daddy...." Tenchi's expression blends
happiness and weariness. And so does his next action.
He faints.
Recovery is quick, however, and he picks his wife up and swings her
around happily. "We're gonna have a baby!" he exults.
"Hey!" Sasami comes out of the kitchen. "What's going on here?"
Her adopted parents stop dancing and smile at her. Kiyone leans down
to Sasami's height and says, "Sami-cha'ya, I'm pregnant!"
Sasami's eyes go wide. "You are?" She looks at Kiyone's stomach.
"But Mommy, your stomach isn't big."
Kiyone laughs and hugs Sasami. "No, it isn't, but it will be."
The good news is announced to the rest of the "family" that
evening--those who are home, that is. Nobuyuki and Washu have gone
out to dinner. It is still surprising to Tenchi that his father and
Washu have started getting close, but he's glad. The shadow of his
mother's death has haunted Nobuyuki far too long, and Washu may be
just who he needs.
Everyone is happy to hear that Kiyone and Tenchi will have a baby,
especially Sasami, who is already making plans on teaching her little
brother or sister all about everything!
Ryoko, however, looks a little worried. This fact is not lost on
Kyoto, who leans over to his wife and whispers, "What's wrong,
sweetie?"
What she whispers back makes his eyes widen. "You're sure?" he says,
keeping his voice low. Just as well, considering that Mihoshi and
Mitsuki are arguing over who gets to be the baby's godmother.
Ryoko nods. "It's been almost two weeks," she replies. "I was
thinking that maybe it was just....you know, one of those
things....but...."
The news, though not said as itself, hits home like a bomb. And
Kyoto's tact fails him.
"You're pregnant?!" he blurts out, grabbing everyone else's
attention.
Kiyone looks the most surprised of all. "Ryoko, you're pregnant
too?"
Ryoko shifts uncomfortably on her cushion. "Well, I missed my period,
and it's been several weeks...."
Tenchi takes note of Kyoto producing a bottle of Suntory and pouring
himself a tall drink. "Ahh, Kyoto, what are you doing?"
"Coping," he replies, as he slowly sips the whiskey.
Ryoko looks up, hurt and annoyance mingling in her expression.
"Would you rather I wasn't pregnant?"
Kyoto shakes his head, drawing a penitent expression onto his face.
"I'm sorry. It's not that. This is just...." He shrugs. "It's just
the way I deal with becoming a father." He takes another drink.
Ryoko's face now wears an appeased expression.
The doorbell suddenly rings.
Sasami rises from the table. "I'll get it!" She walks into the foyer,
slides the door open--and finds herself swept up in an embrace that
nearly suffocates her. "G-gr-grandma Misaki!" she finally manages.
"My little Sasami!" sobs the ever-emotional chief Megamian delegate
to the Galactic High Council. "You've grown up so much!"
Sasami laughs, finally managing to wriggle free--or at least to get
some breathing room. "So, what are you doing here?"
"A surprise visit!" announces Misaki.
"Sami-cha'ya, who's at the--" Kiyone comes into the foyer, sees her
mother, and pastes on her best little girl face. "Mommy!" She
catapults herself into Misaki's arms.
"My little Kiyone!" Misaki is sobbing happily. Finally the blissful
tears dry, and she looks at her daughter with sparkling eyes. "So,
what's happened since I've been gone?"
Tenchi comes up behind Kiyone and wraps an arm around her waist.
"Well, Mom....I mean Mommy--" (at the sudden look in her eyes) "--uh,
Kiyone-yoni, you wanna tell her, or should I?"
"It's okay, I will." Kiyone takes a deep breath, then says:
"Mommy, I'm gonna have a baby!"
Misaki's face goes into ultra-cute-and-loving mode. "You are?!" She
hugs her daughter again. "Oh, how wonderful! Now, I'm going to have
to teach you everything I know about being a mother...."
The next nine months pass very swiftly, as periods of time filled
with frenetic activity tend to. Once the media gets ahold of the good
news, both the Masaki house and the Royal Palace on Jurai are
bombarded by interview requests. Kiyone is able to beg off on most
of them, citing her "delicate condition."
Ryoko tries the same tactic, but with less success. The respect
that the typical reporter would naturally accord the Empress of Jurai
seems to almost disappear when dealing with a space pirate, pardoned
or no. Most keep their stories somewhat polite, not wishing to incur
her (or Kyoto's) wrath, but one irreverent-but-witty
writer tops his coverage with the headline "Can two wrongs make a
right?"
The next day, he is forced to make a public apology. The official
reason for this is unknown, although there are rumors that this was
the result of a phone call from Jurai....
Misaki takes it upon herself to teach Sasami all about the birds and
the bees. Consequently, Sasami is blushing a lot, and not teasing
her parents quite as much about being "naughty." Kiyone has found
that her mother has thrown herself into the grandmother/coach
role, even bringing out all of Kiyone's baby clothes and things,
while spending a lot of time with Sasami to make sure she doesn't
feel left out or forgotten.
Ryoko also receives tutelage in the art of mothering, from her
mother-in-law, Murasaki, and from her new sister-in-law,
Muriyaki, both of whom have had extensive experience in motherhood.
Needless to say, the ex-space pirate is grateful for their patience
and instruction.
On the other end of the spectrum, Nobuyuki, Katsuhito, and Kyoto are
instructing Tenchi in the arts of being a father. In the less
peaceful side of things, Tenchi is still training against
Katsuhito--when the older man is not begging off because of a sore
back or something. Katsuhito had found some old Juraian texts
pertaining to the generation of Light Hawk Wings; they use the same
quick-start principle that Katsuhito had taught Tenchi to use when
using the Tenchiken: concentrate your thoughts on the one you love
the most. Quickly grasping and mastering the mechanics of this,
Tenchi teaches the technique to Kiyone.
In addition to being an expectant father and husband, Tenchi has to
settle into the role of Juraian Emperor. Much to his surprise and
relief, the duties are not nearly as arduous as he'd expected.
Nobuyuki and Washu continue to grow closer. Apparently, something
happened while Tenchi and Kiyone were on their honeymoon, and they
are now a full-fledged couple.
Eight and a half months have passed. Tenchi and Kiyone are
more-or-less settled into their new royal roles, but still manage
to visit Earth on a regular basis.
Strangely enough, Kiyone looks little changed (save for the
drastically swollen belly), but Tenchi....Tenchi's hair has grown,
and it's pulled into a ponytail that reaches down to about the small
of his back. The past months have made shaving a twice-a-week
event at best, so his face is starting to look like Mr. Fujisawa's.
Add to this the slacks, buttondown shirt, and loosened tie he know
wears as Earth-style casual clothes, and the picture one gets is of
Ryoji Kaji from Evangelion. Not unappealing.
Kiyone, who once had resigned herself to never being able to have a
child, is almost enjoying her pregnancy--even the strange cravings!
Christmastime,1997, almost exactly nine months after the two
weddings. Kiyone and Ryoko are due any day now.
Sasami smiles at Kiyone as she comes down the stairs. "Morning,
Mommy!"
"Good morning, Sami-cha'ya," she replies, smiling back. Her gaze then
shifts to Tenchi, who is standing at the door. "We all set,
Tenchi-yon?"
"Of course," Tenchi answers. "Now, Kiyone-yoni, you haven't had
anything to eat, now have you? Remember, the doctor said not to eat
anything before the check-up...."
"Yes, daddy," Kiyone chirps.
Sasami wrinkles her nose prettily. "You two are naughty!"
Tenchi sighs (this one is not so theatrical) and pushes open the
door. "We'll be home this afternoon!" he calls out as he closes the
door behind them. A moment later, the engine of his secondhand
Accord roars to life as the car rumbles out of the driveway.
Nobuyuki comes out of the kitchen, an apron draped over him and a pot
of rice in his hands. "Well, they're off...." He sits down the rice
and smiles as the door to Washu's lab swings open. "Good morning,
Washu."
She smiles back. "Good morning, Nobuyuki." She leans up and kisses
him on the cheek, just as Ryoko floats down the stairs. The sight
of her with a swollen stomach and wearing maternity clothes is more
than a little surprising. She makes a face as she sees Nobuyuki
picking Washu up and hugging her. "Ick. You two are almost as bad as
Tenchi and Kiyone!"
"Speaking of which," comments Nobuyuki, "they just left to see the
doctor."
"You oughta go see the doctor yourself, Ryoko," suggests Washu.
"Who are you, my mother?" Ryoko shoots back.
(Unnoticed by her, Washu and Nobuyuki exchange glances.)
Nobuyuki clears his throat, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"When's Kyoto supposed to be back?"
"Oh, he should be back from Tokyo today," Ryoko answers.
"Did he say how the negotiations with the investors were going?"
Washu inquires.
"He thinks he's convinced them, this time." Ryoko smirks. "It
probably helps that the president of the bank just adores his special
soy sauce." The sound of an engine outside catches her attention.
"Oh, that must be him now."
She's right. Kyoto, dressed in a conservative business suit, walks
through the door. "I'm home."
"Obviously," Ryoko mock-growls. She floats over to him and hugs him
as best she can, considering that she's nine months pregnant.
"Welcome home."
He returns the hug. "Glad to be back. What's for breakfast?"
"Oh, that reminds me! I'd better get going." Nobuyuki plants a kiss
on Washu's cheek. "I'll see you tonight--oh, and the rest of you,
too." He's out the door in a flash, and another car comes to life as
Nobuyuki's Corolla navigates down the driveway. Blushing slightly,
Washu scurries back into her lab.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"....and there's a triple-scoop super sundae for you, little lady."
"Thank you!" Sasami, holding her sundae carefully in both hands,
scampers back to the table. Smiling, Tenchi fishes the appropriate
amount of yen out of his wallet and hands it to the cashier. He then
rejoins his family at the table. After the doctor's appointment,
they had decided to go to the mall for lunch and to go shopping.
Now, they are relaxing over ice cream before carrying their purchases
back to the car.
Kiyone is about to bite into her fudge ripple cone when she suddenly
jerks upright, a strained look on her face.
Ever the attentive husband, Tenchi is out of his chair and at her
side in an instant. "Kiyone-yoni, are you all right?"
Kiyone is breathing heavily. Between clenched teeth she manages
to say, "Tenchi....my....water....broke...."
Tenchi's first reflex is to look at the table, where her glass of ice
water is still intact, but the realization of what she's trying to
tell him hits him like a punch to the stomach. "Oh my god." He helps
Kiyone to her feet and loops an arm as best he can around her waist.
"Sami-cha'ya, come on!"
Sasami starts to ask about her sundae, but sees Kiyone's pained
expression and leaves it.
Fifteen minutes and several broken traffic laws later, Tenchi's
Corolla pulls--or, rather, screams--into the parking lot of Okayama
General Hospital. While driving, Tenchi had paged their doctor with
his cellular phone--ah, the advantages of having an executive
in the family--and he is already standing by with a nurse and a
wheelchair. "How far apart are the contractions?"
"About five minutes," Tenchi answers breathlessly. He turns to
Sasami. "Sami-cha'ya, I've got to go with your mother and the
doctor." He gives her his cell-phone. "The numbers for home and my
dad's office are already programmed in. Call them, and then--" he
gives her some money "--get something to eat, 'kay?"
"Okay, Daddy," Sasami replies. She hugs Kiyone. "See you later,
mommy."
The phone in the office of Nobuyuki Masaki, vice-president
in charge of design for the architectural division of Yamamoto
Enterprises, rings. The executive, however, is not dilligently
at work. He is instead playing Tekken 4 on the new, state-of-the-art
video game system he had secretly installed in his office. When the
phone rings, he sits up in his chair, looking fearfully down at the
phone. He snatches up the receiver while clicking the remote at the
TV, which switches off and rolls back into a recessed alcove. A panel
of wall slides shut over it. Thank god for Washu.... "Hello?"
"Grandpa Nobuyuki?" asks an adorable voice.
"Oh, Sasami! Hello! Is anything the--"
"Grandpa, Mommy's gone into labor!"
"What?!" Nobuyuki is on his feet now. Memories of Tenchi's birth are
flooding though his mind. "Now, Sasami, just....just stay...."
"I'm already calm," she replies cheerfully.
"Uhh....uhh...." Nobuyuki is throwing on his jacket. "Just hold
tight, Sasami. I'll be at the hospital soon!"
"Okay. Bye!" The line goes dead.
Nobuyuki replaces the receiver and hits the speaker-phone
key. "Reiko?"
"Yes, Mistah Masaki?" his secretary answers in her slightly nasal,
Japanese-equivalent-of-a-Brooklyn-accent*.
"I'm leaving for the rest of the day. My first grandchild is being
born!"
"Ah-kay, Mistah Masaki."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The phone in the Masaki household rings. Rubbing sleep from her
eyes--she and Mitsuki had been out at a karaoke bar till four a.m.
the previous evening--Mihoshi picks up the receiver.
"Hel--yawwnn--hello?"
"Auntie Mihoshi?"
"Oh, hi, Sasami!"
"Mihoshi, Mommy's gone into labor."
Mihoshi waits for a moment for that piece of information to process,
and then gasps. "Oh my!"
"We're at the hospital--Okayama General. Daddy said the contractions
were five minutes apart. Grandpa Nobuyuki's already on his way--"
"Okay, Sasami we'll be there soon!" Mihoshi slams down the receiver
and runs up to Mitsuki's room. The red-haired detective is curled
up on her bed and singing quietly in her sleep.
The tranquil slumber is shattered when Mihoshi slams open the door
and starts shaking Mitsuki. "Mitsuki! Wake up, Mitsuki!"
Mitsuki comes to partway. "Huh...? Mihoshi, what're y' doin'?" Her
voice is still a little slurred. That tends to happen when you drink
six margaritas and half a bottle of Suntory in a four-hour period.
"Mitsuki, Kiyone's going into labor!"
Mitsuki's eyes open wide, as if the words had sliced through the fog
in her head. "Huh? Mihoshi, did you say that--aggh." She reaches
for the vial of Alka-Sober on her nightstand and swallows several
of the anti-hangover pills dry. A grimace crosses her face as the
sour-tasting tablets slide down her gullet, but when she looks up her
eyes are clear. "Okay, so where is she?"
"Okayama General Hospital." Mihoshi is tugging at Mitsuki's arm.
"Mitsuki, we have to go!"
"Okay, but how?"
That stops Mihoshi. "Huh?"
"We have to get there right away, and the next bus isn't due for--"
she looks at the clock "--an hour, and neither of us has a driver's
license...." Mitsuki spreads her arms helplessly.
Mihoshi deflates, but only for a minute. "I know!" She grabs
Mitsuki's arm and pulls her out the door. "Come on!" It is this
moment that makes Mitsuki glad that she'd slept in her clothes.
Mihoshi skids to a stop in front of Kyoto and Ryoko's room. She
slides the door open and sees that they're asleep. In a rare attack
of common sense, she gently slides the door shut. She then grabs
Mitsuki's arm again and drags her down the stairs.
Washu is walking out of the kitchen, a bowl of rice crackers in hand,
when she sees Mihoshi and Mitsuki stumble down the stairs. She looks
at them curiously. "Can I help you?"
Mihoshi is babbling incoherently, so it falls to Mitsuki to explain.
"Washu, Kiyone's gone into labor."
Washu brightens. "Really? Then we must go there! Where is she?"
"Okayama General," Mitsuki explains. Mihoshi is still catching
her breath.
"Hmm...." Washu adopts her signature "let me think" pose. "It would
look too weird to just teleport in, we couldn't explain a dimensional
portal popping up in a bathroom....I've got it!"
Mitsuki leans forward eagerly. "Yeah?"
"We'll use Kyoto's car!" She triumphantly holds up the keychain
with a little, plastic, scantily-clad Ryoko dangling from it.
Mitsuki facefaults. When she has hauled herself back up, she
stammers, "B-b-but, Professor Washu, y-y-you don't have a driver's
license....do you?"
"I'm a super genius! I don't need a driver's license!"
Groaning, Mitsuki helps Mihoshi to her feet. As they step outside,
they run into Katsuhito and Ayeka, who are walking down from the
shrine. Ayeka raises an eyebrow. "Where are all of you going in
Kyoto's car?"
"Kiyone's gone into labor!" announces Mihoshi. Ayeka looks shocked.
The only reaction Katsuhito gives is a little twitch of the lip.
"Who's going into labor?" This comes from Muriyaki, who comes down
the steps dressed like a Shinto priestess. She had asked Katsuhito
to train her in the ways of being a priest(ess), and he had been more
than happy to teach her.
"Kiyone," explains Katsuhito. "We're going to the hospital. Would
you like to come along?'
Muriyaki considers it for a moment before shaking her head. "No
thanks. I'd better stay here with Kyoto and Ryoko. They may need
help, and Mother and my aunts won't be back from the Deities'
Conference for another day or so."
Katsuhito nods in approval at his adopted daughter. "Very generous
of you. We'll see you later then." He, Ayeka, Mihoshi, Mitsuki,
and Washu climb into Kyoto's Isuzu Rodeo.
The first thing everyone notices is that Washu is in the driver's
seat. The second thing they notice is that she can barely see over
the rim of the steering wheel.
Washu notes this too. "Hmm." After a moment of thought, her
hololaptop manifests itself. She taps in a sequence, and....
A really tall pair of platform shoes are on her feet. She reaches
down to touch the pedals. "Oh, good! I can reach them!"
She proceeds to nearly back the Rodeo into the house as she spins
around in the driveway, causing everyone to hang on for dear life.
As they are all catching their breath, Katsuhito notices something
about Mitsuki.
"Hey, Mitsuki, what's with the '70s getup?"
The night before, the karaoke bar which she and Mihoshi had been at
had had a '70s motif that evening. Mihoshi had gone dressed in hot
pants and a tube top--naturally drawing the attention of many
men--while Mitsuki had worn bellbottom jeans, a loose-sleeved
flower-print shirt, and a very tall pair of platform shoes.
Washu looks in the rearview mirror and her eyes happen to fall upon
Mitsuki's shoes. "Oh, good! Those are just what I need!" The platform
shoes disappear from Mitsuki's feet and reappear on Washu's. "These
are perfect!"
"Umm... could you give me a new outfit?" asks Mitsuki.
"You could always go in the buff, I hear that that's really popular
in some place called Oregon." After a minute, Washu produces her
hololaptop and hits a few keys. Mitsuki reappears a second later,
dressed in valley-girl style. Now, with the larger pair of platform
shoes settled on her feet, Washu presses down on the accelerator
and roars down the hill, shooting gravel in every direction.
* * *
Ryoko floats down the stairs again, and smiles as she sees her
sister-in-law in the kitchen. "Oh, hello, Muriyaki."
Muriyaki returns the smile. "Good afternoon, Ryoko. Sleep well?"
The ex-space pirate nods. "As well as one this far along can. Tell
me, sister, how did you ever bear birthing so many children?"
"It was generally over in two days, generally." A motherly smile
graces Muriyaki's features. "Still, each and every one of my little
darlings was worth every moment of pain I experienced. Wait and see;
when you have your baby, you will agree with me."
Ryoko smiles and seats herself in front of the television. She starts
to reach for the remote when she jerks upright, a strange sensation
flooding through her body. "Oh, my..."
Muriyaki notices this and strides over to her. "Are you alright?"
"I... I... kami-sama.... Muriyaki, I...." Ryoko suddenly jerks
violently. "My... water.. it's..."
Muriyaki's face goes alabaster. "Oh, no. You're...." She snaps her
fingers, and rushes off. Ryoko is shocked by her sudden
disappearance, but before she can say anything, the magenta-haired
girl returns with a satchel--one that Ryoko recognizes as the
overnight bag she had kept packed just for a situation like this.
She manages to nod her thanks, and then remembers something.
"What about--"
"Already on it." Muriyaki disappears up the stairs.
Abruptly the house shakes slightly, and black smoke comes a-wafting
down the stairs. Following the smoke, holding his head, is Kyoto.
He looks slightly singed. Behind him, Muriyaki has a mischievous
smile on her face. She gives her brother a push, almost sending
him falling to the first floor. "Well, hurry up! Your wife's going
into labor!"
Unbeknownst to its owner, Kyoto's Rodeo is causing havoc as it
navigates towards the hospital. Washu is demonstrating conclusively
that just because one is a super-genius, that does not automatically
make one a good driver (they started to get really worried when she
mentioned that, back when she taught at the Science Academy, she
always relied on rides and public transportation), and the streets
of Okayama are bearing testimony to her inexperience. She has run at
least ten red lights (the cops attempting to stop her are now water
sprites), caused about five or six cars to collide with each other
or buildings (fortunately, no one was seriously hurt), almost ran
over a traffic light, and run over an okonomiyaki cart. The
sport-utility vehicle finally comes squealing into the hospital
parking lot on two wheels, with all of its occupants
screaming--except for Katsuhito, who is just hanging onto the
overhead handle for dear life, and Washu, who is having the time of
her life.
Ironically, it's Mihoshi who spots the impending danger. "Oh my!
We're going to crash into that car!" She squints as she takes
another, closer look at the approaching car. "Oh my! That's--"
"Nobuyuki!" cries out Washu.
And she jerks the wheel hard to the right.
In his Corolla, Nobuyuki has already seen the incoming. He jerks his
wheel hard to the left.
Miraculously, both cars come to a perfect stop in parking spaces
almost exactly opposite one another.
Nobuyuki, looking like he has just come face-to-face with the devil
(or Gendo Ikari ^_^), stumbles out of his car and turns to look at
the group spilling out of Kyoto's. It takes him several tries before
he can form a coherent word. "Huh?"
"Come on!" yells Washu. She grabs his hand and they rush through
the doors.
Kiyone is looking up at Tenchi. In the place of the almost
diabetic-shock-sweet looks of affection that she usually bestows
upon him, she is glaring up at him. She has his crotch in a death
grip (in her pained state, she cannot reach up for his neck).
It is a testament to Tenchi's training that he can stand, although
his eyes are watering.
"You did this to me!" she is screaming, flexing her fist around the
fragile items in her hand.
Tenchi, gulping, attempts to calm his frantic wife. "Now, Kiyone,
just cal--"
"I hate you!" Her voice slashes out like a whip. "I hate you, Tenchi
Masaki! This is all your fault! You're never sleeping in my bed
again!"
The words cut through Tenchi's heart like a rapier, but he know's
it's the pain talking.
He hopes.
The doctor looks over Tenchi's shoulder. "Mrs. Masaki, would you like
some drugs?"
All at once, Kiyone regains a semblance of calm and clarity. "Please,
Tenchi, no drugs. I want this to be a natural childbirth...."
The doctor looks sympathetically at the young husband. "Would you
like some drugs, Mr. Masaki?"
Tenchi nods.
(It's gonna be a long ten hours....)
Back at the Masaki house, the treatment that Ryoko is giving Kyoto
is making Kiyone's treatment of Tenchi look like a seduction.
Somehow, Ryoko was able to split herself in two again, and the second
her is unencumbered by the original's condition, thus enabling
her to do to Kyoto what Evas are built to do to Angels. Poor Muriyaki
has to both calm the frantic Ryoko and defend the bruised Kyoto.
Finally, Ryoko's pain is too much for her to continue beating down
on her husband, and she starts screaming. Kyoto and Muriyaki are back
by her side. She has now been covered by a blanket and has her legs
raised and spread. Since Kyoto would probably recieve a kick if went
down there, Muriyaki takes that position. "Okay, honey, you're fully
dialated....okay....yeah....Yes! Ryoko, I think I see the head! Okay,
honey, now start pushing...."
The doctor crouches between Kiyone's legs. "Mrs. Masaki, I can see
the head now. Keep pushing...."
Kiyone has long since vented her anger and is now clutching Tenchi's
hand fiercely. He is squeezing back as best he can, considering
that half his nerves in that hand are now shot. He leans down to her
ear and whispers, "It's okay, Kiyo-chan, it's okay, you're doing
great, just keep pushing...."
Kiyone manages a tight smile in her husband's direction and keeps
pushing.
"Keep pushing....you're almost there...." Muriyaki smiles
reassuringly at her sister-in-law. "You're doing great, Ryoko. Just
keep pushing...."
"That's very good, Mrs. Masaki. The baby's coming out. Just a few
more pushes...."
Kyoto pats his wife on her left shoulder with his free hand. (The
other hand is being squished by hers.) "Doing great honey, just keep
going....almost there...."
Tenchi kisses his wife gently on the forehead. "Kiyone-yoni,
you're doing great.... almost done, sweetie....just keep pushing...."
"Okay," says Muriyaki excitedly, "she's almost out all the
way....just give one more push...."
"The baby--oh, by the way, congratulations, it's a girl--is almost
completely out, Mrs. Masaki. One more push ought to do it."
Nodding--and glad that she decided to take the drugs after
all--Kiyone squeeezes her eyes shut, grits her teeth, and pushes.
"Just one more push, honey," whispers Kyoto.
Nodding--and wishing that she had some drugs to take--Ryoko
gathers her strength and pushes.
At the exact same moment, two new babies scream their first breath.
The doctor cuts the umbilical cord, wraps the newborn girl in a
blanket, and hands her to Kiyone. "Congratulations, Mrs. Masaki."
Kiyone, sweatsoaked and disheveled, nevertheless manages a dazzling
smile. "Thank you, Dr. Akagi." She cradles her daughter in her arms.
"Hello there. I'm your mother. Isn't she beautiful, Tenchi-yon?"
Tenchi nods, a sappy smile on his face. "As beautiful as her mother."
Kiyone looks up, a look of surprise on her face. That surprise
melts into affection as her eyes meet Tenchi's. That affection
grows as Tenchi gently takes their baby in his arms and cuddles
it. "Hi there. I'm your daddy, and that's your mommy, and we're going
to take good care of you...." After a few moments, he returns their
child to her mother's arms and sit next to her. Smiling, the doctor
excuses himself.
"Oh! Sorry I'm late!"
The emperor and empress of Jurai look up in surprise to see the
goddess Tsunami appear right in front of them. Contrary to what myths
have deities wearing, she is dressed like an English nanny (oh, how
kawaii^_^!).
Tenchi stares, open-mouthed, at the woman. "Tsunami! What the--"
The blue-haired goddess smiles. "I have come to say hello to my
namesake." At the shocked looks from Tenchi and Kiyone, she merely
says, "Well, does she not look like me?"
The two new parents look down at their younger daughter--and
find themselves agreeing with Tsunami. Their new baby is indeed
almost identical to the goddess.
After looking back and forth for a few moments--and holding a quick
mental conference--Tenchi and Kiyone look up and nod in acquiesence.
Kiyone smiles. "I've always wanted a daughter named after a wave...."
Ryoko is looking down happily at the pair of babies in her arms. The
little darlings have been worth every minute of labor. The girl is
asleep already, while the boy, apparently hungry, is scrabbling
at her breast.
Kyoto comes up, carrying a tray of drinks. He sets it down and gently
removes the sleeping infant from her mother's arms. Ryoko smiles
gratefully up at him. Kyoto then gives the baby to Murasaki. The new
grandmother goes into "oh, how adorable"-mode and takes the baby.
"Ohhh....she has my eyes...."
Ryoko smiles. "She certainly does, Mom." She is about to say more,
when the door opens and everyone walks in, clustered around Tenchi
and Kiyone. Craddled in Kiyone's arms is a beautiful, blue-haired
baby who is sleeping soundly. The eyes of the girls in the group fall
on the babies in Ryoko and Murasaki's arms and they immediately
go over to see the new newborns. Kiyone and Ryoko share a weary
smile, the kind that only mothers can wear without looking
pretentous.
* * *
Six weeks later...
"Honestly, Washu, how much longer is going to be hooked up to this
scanner of yours?" demands Tenchi.
"Oh... not too much longer, presuming that you let me run some tests
on you and Kiyone?" Kiyone, once again on Tenchi's arm, raises her
eyebrows. "What kind of tests?"
"Oh, you know, the kind Digital Washu did to you in Outworld and
stuff like that."
Tenchi and Kiyone groan.
"Seriously, though, I'll be wrapped up with her in just a minute.
I just have to run one more test on her." Washu holds up a Rubix Cube
to the six-week-old infant. "Tsunami, can you solve this?"
Tenchi is about to tell Washu not to even try to get the baby to
solve the Rubix Cube, when...
"Sure, Professor, it should only take me a couple of minutes."
And to the amazement of all the adults in the room, Tsunami Masaki
solves the puzzle of the Rubix Cube in 49 seconds.
Tenchi kneels down to eye-level and looks his new daughter in the
eye. "Nami-cha'ya, how did you do that?"
"It was easy, daddy, all you have to do is figure out the trick."
Tenchi face-faults and promptly falls over onto his back. Kiyone
yelps and helps her husband back onto his feet.
Washu re-checks her findings. "Hmm... According to this, she has the
mind of a thirty-year-old college professor."
Her parents are dumb-struck. Tenchi finally manages to sputter,
"H-h-how?"
Tsunami appears before anyone in the room can give an answer. "It's
simple, really it is, she's my protege."
"Your protege?" asks Tenchi, sounding somewhat surprised.
Tsunami nods, a gleeful expression on her face. "Uh huh, when she is
grown up and has had a child she can return to the Triad and take my
place." At the looks of shock on the people's faces, she explains,
"You see, even we goddesses have a limited life span. The time will
come when I must step down from my position, retire. When that time
comes, this girl will take my place as a goddess of the universe,
while I live out the remainder of my life as a housewife and mother."
Tenchi swallows hard, trying to force the lump that had formed there
down. "Replacement... dying... I'm a little confused."
"Oh, this will not happen for many millenia. During that time little
Tsunami will have plenty of time to fall in love, marry, and have
children. When the time comes for her to take her place as a goddess,
her life will be as happy as any mortal could wish for. So, be happy
for your daughter, Tenchi Masaki, she is about to inherit the
universe!"
(And what can you say to that?)
The door slides open again and Ryoko floats in, carrying her twins
in each arm. She is laughing and cooing down at both of them. "Come
on kids, say hi to your cousin Tsunami!" she prods gently.
The twins giggle and wave their little, chubby hands at their de
facto cousin. Tsunami smiles and waves back.
The door opens again and Nobuyuki walks in, carrying a sheet of paper
in his hand and a worried look on his face. "Washu, we have to talk."
"What about?!"
"Kyoto's car.... and the damage done to the city..."
"It's Kyoto's car, let him pay for it!"
Nobuyuki sighs in exasperation. "That's the problem. I underwrote
his insurance, so I'm responsible for paying for the damage!"
Washu moans and takes a moment to read the paper. She then sets down
the paper, types into her laptop, and several large piles of �10,000
notes appear on a table. "That 'ought to cover it all!"
Nobuyuki smiles, weakly. "I know the wife is supposed to handle the
finances, but this is ridiculous."
Tenchi looks up, an alarmed expression on his face. "What did you
say, Dad?!"
Nobuyuki and Washu both blush a little. Finally, Washu speaks up.
"Tenchi, do you remember when your father and I went away to that hot
springs resort a couple of weeks ago?"
Tenchi nods, slowly.
Washu holds up her right hand. On it is a gold ring with a diamond
solitare mounted on it. Nobuyuki laughs self-consciously.
"Say hello to your step-mom, Tenchi."
Kiyone smiles and looks down at her and Tenchi's new daughter.
"Hear that, sweetie? Now you have another grandma!"
Tenchi himself is smiling. His mother's ghost seems to finally have
allowed his father some measure of peace, and he knows that it is the
short-pinked haired woman who is largely responsible for that. "Wow.
Congratulations, you two." He loops an arm around Kiyone's waist.
As he kisses her forehead, he realizes something.
All's right with the world. For the first time, in a long time, all's
right with the world.
The End--Chapter Space
Footnotes:
*Watch the dubbed version of Tenchi Universe, epsiode #9, "No Need
For Memories!" You'll agree how I call that accent!
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