Thanks for all the comments, Vincent!
Funaho, Misaki, Youshou, and Tenchi knelt in a circle, in Youshou's
{Are you sure it's "Youshou"? I was just discussing this with
Dave Roeder a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed that (judging
from the meanings) a prince of Jurai would be more likely to be
named "Yousho" than "Youshou"... but I'm not sure. If you have
hard info, such as the kanji spelling, I'd sure like to share it.
Unfortunately I'm not at home right now, and won't be until Saturday.
At home I have copies of some of the Japanese Tenchi manga, which
do give the kanjis, plus furigana, for all the names. At the moment
I'm going on memory alone.
{Alternatively, you could dodge the matter by spelling his
name "Yosho", since you have "Washu" rather than "Washuu"...
but then you'd have to change "Ryouko". Arrgh, I hate deciding
on the romanizations. :) }
I'm not noted for absolute consistency myself, as I consistently use
"Tendo" rather than "Tendou". And I was pretty sure that it _was_
"Washu" with one "u"; as I remember the furigana, it was 'Wa-Shi-yu',
without a second "u". I'll have to recheck on Saturday.
<clip minor corrections and comments>
In the shrine office, Funaho explained to Tenchi, "The Emperor
must approve the entire list as a single package once you have
made up your mind, you have asked the women involved, and they have
accepted. You may consider yourself engaged when the Emperor
approves your list. The marriage itself will take a few years
to plan. The Emperor will approve or disapprove of your list fairly
quickly, but until he does, you should not assume the approved
list will be identical to your choices. He does reserve the right
to make changes.
{This appears to contradict the "approve the entire list as a single
package" above; I interpreted that to mean that the Emperor
can approve
all or disapprove all, but does not have a, er, line-item veto, as it
were. You might want to clarify this, as Funaho strikes me as the type
who would speak clearly on this matter.}
Hmmm... you're right, that should be rephrased. I had intended that
the Emperor does in fact have a line-item veto. The "single package"
was intended to mean that _Tenchi_ can't go back later and add women
to the list.
Misaki crooned, "But they're so much in love, sister. My little
Aeka may have already made her move."
{heh. I think of Funaho as sly and Misaki as blatant, but
slyly blatant works too. :) }
:) I thought so, in this case.
"Are you sure, Tenchi? If you marry Sasami at the same time
as the others, the moment you choose for the consummation of
your marriage to Sasami is a purely private matter. However,
if you postpone the marriage with Sasami, the Jurain public will
Juraian {?}
Kamisama knows. But I certainly need an adjectival form, and
yours looks good to me.
{Misaki certainly is practical... in some ways. :) It occurs
to me that
the mothers Tenchi gains by this may be even more comforting -- and/or
exasperating -- than the wives...}
OH, yeah.
"Aeka-oneesama, what are they all talking about?"
"Later, Sasami. It's hard to explain."
{"But I already help you with the whips and chains!" :) (Ojousama to
Oyobi reference, for those as didn't get it.) }
I got it (I have read "Aikan Muyo"); I just don't want to handle
Aeka that way myself.
"I am Tokimi. I wish to join my sisters in this matter. You
will reserve one position as Tenchi's wife for me. I will
return for the wedding itself." The woman faded away and
Youshou's office resumed its normal appearance.
{Right, who's going to balance TOKIMI, then?! Yikes.}
We'll have to wait and see, won't we? :)
THE END (for now).
Well, that's pretty cruel, because the most amusing aspect of this fic
for me was the images of Tenchi's future home life it conjured up. It
sparkles possibilities of hilarity and mayhem in all directions;
Tenchi's going to be in even more trouble now that he's been
forced to a decision, and that's good for us, the audience.
Yep, exactly!
I hope you see fit to tell some of those tales, and that "for
now" isn't too long. :)
I plan to tell quite a few of these tales. "For now" was quite
short for Sketch 2, but will get longer.