The stone steps were eternal, in any practical sense of the word, and for as long as he could remember, there was an almost ritualistic quality to climbing the long stairwell to his house, or the even longer trek to the shrine, suitably higher on the hill. The ritual ascent carried additional solemnity today: Masaki Tenchi had graduated from high school. He'd grown in the last year or so, something typical for persons of Juraian heritage, or so Aeka had told him; a late growth spurt before maturity, giving him added height and lengthening his features just enough to make him almost the spitting image of his grandfather when he was young. He'd even taken to wearing his hair longer, strengthening the resemblance to the Yousho of times past... or to a young man artificially aged in a pocket dimension. He shook his head, scattering that line of thought. College, or the possibility of it, loomed large in the very near future, but it did not weigh heavily on his mind. Rather, each step higher brought increasing thoughts of other long but pleasant burdens, of some matters avoided, of a few decisions deferred... and of two secrets kept. His six-month absence during the 'Incident', as everyone had come to call it, had set him back a year in school, but he wasn't particularly troubled by it. He still enjoyed his school friends, but life was home, and the strange, exotic, or enigmatic but always wonderful people who shared it. He had become addicted to the carnival of his life, even when the ride became rough or dangerous. Mihoshi, bubbling and cheerful, was always trying her hardest to do the right thing, only to end up getting in her own way. The cool professionalism of Kiyone, someone Tenchi admired greatly both for the aforementioned trait and her practiced but limited patience with Mihoshi. He chuckled to himself. Sasami's control of the household was a wonder to behold, and she was perhaps the nicest person he'd ever known, if a bit mischievous now and again. She bent over backwards to see that everyone was fed and cared for. Aeka, sometimes cool and aloof, other times warm and caring, charmed him with the combination. Ryouko-- A flash of red caught his eye just before he reached the landing for the house. Tenchi stopped and stared at the steps in front of him, his vision narrowing to a red camellia blossom that had drifted down from another part of the grounds, most likely from the tree behind the shrine; a rooted transplant, not the original. Its petals fluttered in the soft breeze, drawing the eye to its raised, golden center. "Haruna..." He sat down on the steps and picked up the blossom, twirling the stem thoughtfully between thumb and forefinger, and sighed. Two secrets kept. He'd lied... twice, although the realization of it had crept up on him. One lie to everyone and one lie to a single person over whom he'd slowly come to brood. Still holding the flower, Tenchi rose and walked the remaining distance to his home, built by his father out of love for his mother. He paused at the gate where the Guardians were stationed, hesitant to continue on, knowing his brooding would be interrupted. "Camellia," Azaka said. "A fine specimen," Kamidake added. "Its flowering season is about over, though," Azaka continued. "Making way for others," Kamidake concluded. "Still, a fine specimen." Tenchi stood there, thinking, and then slowly and wistfully smiled. "Yes, she was beautiful in her own way at that... Thanks, guys." Taking a full draught of the bloom's fragrance, he swung the gate open and sauntered in, his mood lighter. After Tenchi entered the house, Azaka and Kamidake peered at each other with their oculars. "What did he mean by that?" Kamidake asked. "Difficult to say, but it sounded complicated," Azaka said. ==================== In vino veritas A Tenchi Muyou! in Love 2 (Tenchi Forever) FanFiction By Sinom Bre Disclaimers, Acknowledgments, Author's Notes, and Glossary at the end. This and other fanfiction of mine can be found at: http://home.houston.rr.com/onnaranma/index.html C&C very welcome, either publicly to the assorted mailing lists or privately to mailto:sinom_bre@yahoo.com. ==================== PART ONE ____________________ Sasami had outdone herself: Tenchi's first meal as a graduate was an Earth-Juraian culinary tour-de-force. He leaned back into the sofa, stuffed with delicious foods both well-known and alien, feeling like nothing more than a space whale beached on a deserted moon. The family, related and otherwise, gathered in the den, and Washuu regaled them with the trials and tribulations of one of her latest inventions. She was an intriguing image as she spoke, and Tenchi reached for two items that had become his constant companions since the 'Incident'. He opened the sketchpad and pulled the pencil out of the tunnel of spiral binding. Quickly penciling in the outlines of Washuu's face and body, he chose an expression she often wore when telling a story, with arms in motion and crab-locks of hair bouncing. Washuu was a favorite subject of his; despite her age, there was a certain free innocence in the diminutive woman, hiding underneath her sometimes hard and seemingly insane exterior. It was fascinating to try to capture it on paper. He paused. He let that thought die without further examination. Tenchi could feel Aeka's and Ryouko's eyes on him, and he smiled to himself. Drawing had always been a talent of his -- his father's legacy, he imagined -- but he'd never really done much of it before the 'Incident'. Haruna had awakened some need in him to create when she'd pulled him into the world she'd made; an unforeseen byproduct of that experience. Now that he was drawing often, however, it always seemed to unnerve a certain two of his housemates. He frowned minutely -- that wasn't entirely fair. He'd caught everyone scrutinizing him at least once, making sure that all of him had returned, that nothing had been left behind... or lost. As Washuu wound up her tale, Tenchi hurried to complete his sketch. Almost in unison, the two of them finished. Washuu's audience laughed, and with a flourish, Tenchi tore the sheet off and handed it to her as a spur-of-the-moment present. She took the drawing, her eyes widening. "Wow! You're pretty good, Tenchi-dono!" She looked up to see him smiling at her. She blushed and lowered her head, looking back at the picture. "Arigatou... Tenchi." Aeka and Ryouko were burning holes in Washuu with their eyes, but she and Tenchi ignored them. "No problem, Washuu-chan," Tenchi said. "It was a good story." "Arigatou, Tenchi-dono." Washuu was flustered, but her mercurial personality soon washed it away as the gathered people continued to have fun. It wasn't long before the sake was broken out, and even Tenchi partook, much to everyone's surprise. He caught Ryouko grinning at him as he sipped, and he returned the gesture, further surprising her. Like Washuu, she blushed and looked away, but would quickly glance at him from the corner of her eye, a snapshot every few seconds. Tenchi chuckled, and then coughed as the harsh liquor burned down his throat. Tenchi made a profound discovery: he was a moody drunk. For the first several rounds, he continued to get happier and happier, temporarily forgetting any troubles, but he soon crossed some unknown threshold and his mood started graying. It wasn't depression, just a low-level brooding, similar to but stronger than his state from earlier in the day. The group went on, getting noisier and noisier, and he realized it was becoming irritating. Grabbing an unopened bottle off the table, Tenchi stood and walked in a reasonably straight line to the door. "Oi, Tenchi! Where're you going?" his grandfather asked, a knowing look still present on his pickled face. "Some air. Need air." Tenchi opened the front door and quickly closed it behind him. "Ah. Better... Maybe a walk..." He eyed the stairs distrustfully, so he wandered down one of the forest trails that disappeared into the darkness along the side of the hill. "Lies, lies, lies..." he muttered, stumbling along and slowly losing awareness of his surroundings as he dwelled on his thoughts. "I'm so tired of it." He came to himself after a long while and looked around. He grimaced at the sight of an old and now-dead camellia tree: Haruna's tree. The sake was exerting more of a hold on him, so he stumbled over and sat down heavily at the base of the burned and split trunk. He sat there for a long time, his forearms resting on his knees, the unopened bottle hanging loosely from the fingers of his left hand, lost in memory. ~~~~~ "Old man, have you seen Tenchi?" Ryouko asked the bleary-eyed Katsuhito. "Err, not recently. Problem?" "I'm worried. The last time..." She trailed off. "Mmmm." He nodded. "He shouldn't have gone out alone, I suppose. Shall we have a look around?" Ryouko smiled in relief. "Thanks." She had to step over a comatose Aeka and Mihoshi. Kiyone was still awake, sitting in a cushy chair and singing into a microphone in a language Ryouko didn't recognize. Ryouko thought as she fondly remembered the good times on the group's way to Jurai. She shook her head, smiling, and followed Katsuhito out of her home, her expression fading to worry. ~~~~~ Tenchi had dozed off, but he awoke with a jerk. Blinking, he groggily brought the unopened sake bottle to his face, peering at it. Nodding to himself, he peeled the foil seal off and took a sip. "BWRACK!!" He spit the liquid out. "Bleah. Jiichan was wrong: it *doesn't* get better the more you drink." His stomach churned. "Ohhh... No more, please." Setting the bottle down, he rubbed his belly with one hand while massaging his forehead with the other. "I'm going to regret this tomorrow, just as soon as Ryouko sneaks in and wakes me up." He giggled at a passing fancy of grabbing her and kissing her madly. His mood soured almost instantly. "No you don't, Tenchi." He sighed, wistful again. He rolled over onto his hands and knees and returned to an upright position by working his palms up the tree's trunk. Once standing, his gaze continued up the split in the bole to where the single trunk divided into many branches. "Haruna..." He backed away several paces, unaware of the two figures that ghosted into being behind him. "Gomen na, Haruna, but you were wrong." He stumbled forward again, picked up the bottle, and poured the rest of the sake on the tree, washing it like a grave marker. "Rest in peace, Haruna." A voice pointedly coughed, and Tenchi whirled around to see his grandfather and a wide-eyed Ryouko. "Oh, boy... I'm in it deep now," he muttered. He took a step forward, but the other foot caught on a root when he tried to bring it up, and Tenchi fell on his face. "Iteee!" "Tenchi!" Ryouko fluttered in teleport and reappeared next to him, helping him to sit up and rubbing his shoulders. Katsuhito walked up and joined them, but nothing was said for several moments. Tenchi was staring at the ground between his knees when he finally spoke. "Haruna was wrong, Jiichan. I... I remember... everything. Not at first, but it crept back up on me, little by little." He absently rubbed his left ring finger. "Everything." Before Katsuhito could reply, Ryouko said, "BUT... but you acted like... you didn't remember... Tenchi, why didn't you say something?" Tenchi laughed ruefully. "I thought it would be easier on you. I didn't want to hurt you... talking about it. You tried so hard to get me back, I--" "Me and Aeka can take it, Tenchi," she answered a little crossly. "We don't break too easy." "Uh... yeah, you and Aeka..." Katsuhito raised an eyebrow, but refrained from speaking. Another period of silence followed. "You saved me, you know," Tenchi abruptly continued. "Well, yeah," Ryouko answered. "I got you out before it all disappeared." "No, no. That's not what I meant." He finally raised his head and looked at her with bloodshot eyes. His hand reached out and clumsily caressed her cheek. "Your face. It wouldn't go away. It gave me a real pounding headache, too." Tenchi giggled drunkenly, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. He picked up a loose red petal on the ground. "I kept drawing it and drawing it, seeing it everywhere I looked, and Haruna kept tearing them up and crying about it and... and--" "Um, what are you saying, Tenchi?" Ryouko was blushing heavily and her breathing was becoming ragged. Without them being aware of it, Katsuhito moved a discreet distance away. Tenchi dropped the petal and looked into her eyes, his own going soft. "You made me remember, and you weren't even there." Ryouko blink-blinked, and then stared at him for a long moment before gathering him up and crushing him in a hug. She finally let him go and sat back on her shins, her eyes moist and her voice catching. In passing, she noticed his color was changing and his jaw was sagging, but the observation wasn't important enough to get past her fearful joy. "Does... does this mean that you... I... ?!" "Ryou-- ko," Tenchi falteringly muttered, bending over at the waist, "I... I..." He scooted to the side, leaned over the ground, placing his palms on the leaf litter, and began emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground. "I... I..." *COUGH!* "love... you..." Another set of heaves cleaned out whatever was left. Tenchi fell to his side, groaning, and Katsuhito returned and helped him sit up. Ryouko was frozen. Joyed warred with an unfamiliar emotion on her face; something felt... off about the scene, like she should be angry instead of happy. In the end, she couldn't get her mind to process it, so she shrugged, stood, and helped Katsuhito get Tenchi to his feet. They both walked him back down the path towards the house, the brooding nighttime forest swallowing them. The branches of the broken camellia tree swayed and creaked with the silent breeze. ____________________ Aeka, First Crown Princess of Jurai, was beginning to see herself as a veteran campaigner in the space-pirate liquor wars. She padded, and sometimes stumbled, downstairs for a cool glass of water to wash away the 2:00 AM cotton in her mouth. "Ugph." The smell of sake was still strong on the ground floor. She pushed open the door to the kitchen and flipped up the wall switch, turning on the harsh lighting. "Oww..." "Owie..." Aeka blinked. "Ryouko-san? What are you doing up? ... And STILL drinking?!" Ryouko peered at her balefully with one reddened yellow eye. "Go 'way, Oujochan. I'm not in th' mood for a fight right now." Aeka studied her for a moment, and then nodded distractedly. She crossed the room to the sink and filled a glass from the cold- water tap, taking a long drink. She stood in place for a few seconds, and then walked over and sat down at the table opposite Ryouko. Nothing was said for several moments as they both sipped at their respective beverages. Aeka delicately coughed once. "You remind me of how you were before I talked you into going back for him... that last time." Ryouko shifted around, but didn't say anything. "I see... I... I will leave you to your thoughts." Aeka made to rise, but Ryouko's hand quickly lay atop her own before she could move. "No! Um, no... Please stay... Aeka. That is, if you want to..." The princess settled back and leveled her gaze at the pirate. "Something happened earlier, or you wouldn't be this, ah, needy for company." Snorting, Ryouko said, "Can't put one by the best Jurai has to offer, can I?" "Not on your life, uncouth pirate." Ryouko opened her mouth to retort, but she stopped and slowly closed it, smiling wanly. "I'm... glad, to tell the truth." She picked up her sake cup and quickly drained it, looking at Aeka over the rim. She set the empty cup down. "I... like having you around, Aeka." The princess stared, then slowly smiled wanly in return. "I understand. I... suppose I feel the same... most of the time." They regarded one another, and then broke into giggles. After calming down, Aeka said, "Now, what is troubling you, Ryouko-san?" The color drained out of Ryouko's face, and she lightly flicked the edge of the empty sake cup with her forefinger, studying the motion. "Tenchi got... really smashed tonight. He wandered off and ended up at *her* tree." She ignored Aeka's sharp intake of breath. "I learned a couple of things, too." She looked back up at her friend. "He *does* remember." "WHAT?! Um, what?" Ryouko nodded. "It all came back to him, slowly, and he's been hiding it." Aeka turned that revelation over in her head a few times, but ended up frustrated. "I don't understand. Why? I mean, why hide it?" The cyan-haired woman nervously peeled the seal off of a fresh bottle of sake and took a long pull straight from it. "Ahhh! Courage in a bottle." Her friend and rival quirked an eyebrow, and Ryouko smiled sheepishly. "Remember what we just said, Aeka. I *like* having you around." She set the sake down with a thump and placed her forehead in her hands, elbows resting on the table. "He... He said he kept seeing my face, drawing my face, and Haruna kept tearing them up. He said that I helped him to remember even though I wasn't there. He said... He said..." Between her wrists she could see the tablecloth creasing inside Aeka's fists. "He said... he... loved me." Ryouko tensed, closing her eyes and waiting for the explosion, waiting for the pain, for the scream, the tears, hate. Instead, the hiss of hands on cloth reached her ears, and Ryouko straightened, opening her eyes. With a neutral expression, an almost empty expression, Aeka's gaze followed her own fingers as they ran down creases, trying to smooth away the lines. She waited, as Aeka smoothed. "If what you say is true," the princess evenly mused after a long moment, "why are you brooding and drinking by yourself?" Aeka's red eyes narrowed slightly at the flash of something unreadable on Ryouko's face. "The truth, Ryouko." Cyan hair bounced slightly as Ryouko sighed. "He was throwing his guts up while saying it." Aeka winced. "I... see...." Feelings of sympathy rose in her in spite of her personal pain. "What are you feeling?" Ryouko chuckled dryly. "I should be jumping for joy, shouldn't I? It's what I've been waitin' for, waitin' to hear, right? What we've been fightin' over, ne?" She started having trouble focusing her eyes. "... And instead?" Aeka softly asked. She barked a laugh. "I'm... disappointed. Go figure. Bad-ass space pirate, disappointed because loverboy threw up his supper along with 'I love you'. Hahaha! I should tell that one to Nagi. Heheh, Heh... ..." The overhead lamp glinted off of Ryouko's moist face as she lowered it, and the soft sniffles tore jagged, mortal wounds in the life-long feud between the two women, a feud that had already had one foot in the grave since the months they'd spent searching for Tenchi together. Aeka rose and sat next to Ryouko, pulling her into her embrace. Ryouko snaked her arms around Aeka's torso and buried her face in her shoulder, still only sniffling. "What's wrong with me?" Ryouko asked, her voice muffled. Stroking the spiky hair and mildly amazed at its softness, Aeka said, "You're just like every other woman who dreams pretty dreams of love, Ryouko." She laced her fingers on Ryouko's back. "Just like everyone else... Just like me." Aeka rocked her, letting her warmth flow into the other, putting off her own disappointment for later. "I may get Tenchi, but did I win?" Ryouko eventually asked. "I... don't know what you mean." Aeka released her, and Ryouko sat back and turned her head away. "If, if you leave... I win... and lose." Aeka clasped her hands in her lap and sighed, but before she could speak, the kitchen door pushed open to reveal Sasami, rubbing her moist eyes. "Oneesama, I had a bad dream, and you were gone." She blinked at seeing Ryouko's tears. "Ryouko-oneechan, did you have a bad dream, too?" "Hey, Sasami." Ryouko wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Uh... not exactly, but... not as good as I wanted... I guess." Sasami squeezed past Aeka and gathered them both in a hug. "I dreamt that everybody went away! I hate that dream." She squeezed her sister and her friend a little tighter. "As long as we're all together, everything's all right. The bad dreams can't hurt us." The two women stared into each other's eyes over Sasami's head. ~~~~~ Depressed, Aeka strode into the kitchen, glanced at the four, the zero, and the seven on the stove clock, and bent down in front of a cabinet. Opening the cabinet door, she loaded a handy basket with the remaining sake bottles, adding a cup as an afterthought. She left the kitchen, turning off the light, and disappeared into the ladies' bath. ____________________ A slice of morning sunlight slowly crept up his face to happily shine directly across his closed eyelids. The scream of chemically abused optic nerves elicited a groan and a rolling of the head out of the path of the offending photons. After a moment, he blinked his eyes open to see a blurry figure sitting next to the bed. Surprise made him sit up, "Aeka-san!" much too quickly. "Ohhh... Ow." He pressed his fists into his temples. "Feeling poorly this morning, Tenchi-sama?" Aeka asked, her voice a dull monotone. Tenchi instantly stopped his self-ministrations and, peering from under his eyebrows, took a closer look at Aeka. It was then that he noticed her color was off, even a little gray, and she wasn't sitting so much as slumping in her chair. "I've... been better," he finally said. "How are you?" "About the same as you. Isn't sake in excess wonderful?" she dryly remarked. "Ahhh, heh, well..." Tenchi sat up and twisted to put his feet on the floor, then regretted the movement, cradling his head in his hands. "Oooh, how does Jiichan do it? He's probably already seeing people at the shrine." "Superior Juraian constitution... perhaps." Chuckling wryly, Tenchi said, "Are you saying I'm a featherweight?" To his surprise, Aeka frowned. "No, Tenchi-sama. Never that." Surprised again, he placed his hands on his knees. "What can I do for you this morning, Aeka-san?" "I was thinking..." She trailed off, then smiled a little evasively. "I was thinking I am always chastising Ryouko-san for doing this when I hadn't experienced it myself." "Uh--" "I must admit to not quite understanding what she sees in it, but perhaps that is the sake's fault." "Aeka-san--" "Why didn't you want to be emperor, Tenchi?" she asked abruptly, a short burst of courage. He massaged his knees absently. "You spoke to Ryouko after I came back last night." "... Hai." Tenchi closed his eyes, not wanting to see her pain, but he forced them open; she deserved nothing less. "Kagato... I killed him. That's why I don't want the throne." Aeka started. "What? I don't..." She stopped, her features illustrating her confusion. "I don't want to have to do that again," he said quietly. "But, Tenchi-sama! That was unprecedented! It almost never--" "And," he uncharacteristically cut her off, "I don't want to be in the position of deciding whomever else lives or dies. I don't want that kind of power." He looked her in the eye. "You can't say that the throne *doesn't* do that." Shrinking back, she put her hands to her mouth. It *was* an uncomfortable fact of rulers' lives. "But... but the high courts make those decisions." "On the emperor's authority." Aeka wilted, "Hai," and looked at her hands for a moment. She absently played with the overlap of her kimono, but a thought occurred to her, and her resolve strengthened. "Wouldn't... Wouldn't that make you the perfect man for the job?" "Eh?" Tenchi blinked at her. "Who would you rather have making those decisions? Someone comfortable with it, not really seeing it for what it is, or someone who dislikes it intensely, aware of every single life taken by his word?" Tenchi's mouth worked, but nothing was immediately forthcoming. She smiled at him. "That you don't desire such a thing is one of the reasons I..." Aeka clasped her hands under her chin and turned away. "It's one of the reasons I... I love you, Tenchi." He winced. "And I... care for you a lot, Aeka-sa-- Aeka, but I... um..." "Can you not say it?" she said in a small voice. "She deserves no less from you." Amazed at the confession, Tenchi paused, then said firmly, "I love Ryouko." "She is... lucky to have your heart, Tenchi-sama." She still hadn't turned back to him. "Thank you, Aeka-sama, but you will always have a place in there, too." Aeka wanted to wince, grimace, cry out, something! But she knew better, better even than Tenchi. "I am glad," she turned back to him, smiling, "because I don't consider myself out of the running quite yet." Tenchi collapsed in surprise, moaning from the floor as he aggravated his hangover. ~~~~~ Something had shifted in the house, and relationships were being realigned. She might not have thought of it in so many words, but Sasami, Second Crown Princess of Jurai, was aware of it all the same. An American-style breakfast had appealed to her this morning, perhaps a reflection of other changes. She already had a pile of crisp bacon keeping warm in the oven, and she was currently expertly assembling several omelets stuffed full of largely non- Western treats. Pancake batter sat ready in a bowl, and she kept her eye on a saucepan of homemade syrup, stirring occasionally. It took concentration to make sure all of the elements of a successfully presented breakfast came off in fine fashion. Timing, expertise in ingredients, and... love. Without the love for the people she cooked for, a meal would only succeed by happenstance. She looked over at Ryou-ou-ki, sitting on a stool and gnawing a carrot without her usual zeal. Even the little cabbit was aware of a change in the prevailing house-winds, and the poor dear was distracted. Sasami forced her mind back to her tasks, lest the meal get away from her. It would all be all right. All the ingredients were gathered in one place, ready to play their parts. Everything would be all right. Everyone would stay together. Bad stuff couldn't hurt them if they all stayed together. That was the important part. The mix. The combination. Together. ~~~~~ Aeka returned with two glasses of water and a bottle of aspirin, handing one glass and the aspirin to Tenchi. He took them gratefully and shook out two tablets, thought about it, and shook out one more, downing them with the water. "I've been told that a little sake in the morning is supposed to help," Aeka said, as she took back the aspirin and dosed herself similarly, "but I'm not sure I could keep it down." "Doesn't sound too pleasant, does--" They both stopped and sniffed. Wonderful odors of cooking were creeping throughout the house, and soon, everyone would be converging on the kitchen. Their stomachs growled appreciatively, and they looked at each other. "Sasami-chan strikes again," Tenchi chortled, as Aeka laughed lightly. He paused, remembering what had caused him to fall off the bed. "Ah, Aeka-san, what did you mean about still being in the running?" She looked at him with a twinkle in her bleary eye. "Nobility are allowed, ah, multiple wives, and as Emperor, you could probably have as many as you wanted-- within bounds of reason, of course." Tenchi's mouth hung open. Aeka sighed. "Do you not remember that some Juraian nobles escorted two or three, sometimes *four* or more, women about the palace?" "Four? Or *more*?" he squeaked. "Hai." "*Four*?!" Aeka finally reddened. "Well... usually two, sometimes three, but four or more happens at times, although some consider, ahem, five and above rather scandalous." She fanned herself, thinking of that circumstance as being little better than a harem. Although Tenchi was already nobility, she had carefully couched her presentation around the throne, using it to lend credence to what she knew would be a difficult moral adjustment for the young Earther. She noticed Tenchi had wandered off into strange mental territory. "Tenchi-sama, I think two... possibly three, wives," she added reluctantly, "would be viewed as appropriate for the Emperor. More and his power might be seen as too thinly spread, especially if the marriages are political." Tenchi scowled at that thought, and Aeka hurriedly said, "Not that you would have to marry for those reasons, of course." Relieved, he let out his breath. "Um, aren't we putting the cart before the horse? Just a little?" Aeka blinked. "I am unfamiliar with that expression." "We are getting ahead of ourselves," he said wryly. "Oh. Well..." Tenchi stood up and walked to his chest-of-drawers, opening one drawer and digging around. "I still don't feel like I want to do that. Me? Emperor? I can't even imagine it." He pulled out a pair of black drawstring pants and started stuffing one leg in, but Aeka broke in with a strange statement. "You have no idea the trouble you've caused, Tenchi-sama." One leg in and one leg out, Tenchi stared at her. "Where? What? How?" "Jurai, disappointment, and not taking the throne." He matched answers to questions, and gaped. "ME?! I'm *NO*-body!" Almost instantly furious, Aeka raged to her feet. "YOU ARE *NOT* NOBODY!! EVER!!!" Tenchi leaned back against the chest-of-drawers. "Uh, okay, um--" "WHEN..." She breathed in and out, calming herself a little, but her eyes were watering. "When the People of Jurai found out that the direct line had been discovered and that the current heir -- and I do mean 'HEIR' -- had been found and had defeated the Usurper... You cannot imagine the joy, the celebration that went on. Don't you remember?!" "THAT?! Was for ME?!" "Hai." "But, but, but... I thought it was because Kagato was gone! ME?!" Aeka shook her head. "No one knew whom Kagato really was; they all thought him Yousho. The revelation of his real identity and your existence came so quickly, they didn't have time to celebrate his... removal. They went straight to celebrating the *real* return of the main line!" Tenchi stared at nothing. "When you declined the throne, I could almost feel the disappointment in the air." "I... I don't know, Aeka." "You are the most powerful, Tenchi-sama, and the direct heir to the throne. I could feel the enormity of your Jurai Power coming off the Tenchiken in waves. It was almost painful. No one... No one else could have defeated Kagato." She paused. "Not even Yousho-sama, as it turned out." Tenchi was speechless. Aeka watched him struggle with her words. Sighing, she tiredly stepped over and straightened his bed, tucked the sheets in, and fluffed the pillows. She gathered the glasses and the aspirin, and put the chair back in the corner. She picked up his dirty clothes from the day before, even though she wasn't on wash duty today, and began walking towards the door. She stopped halfway, a maid burdened with his used items and apparel, and still facing the door, she said, "That you defeated him at all is sufficient to place you on the throne, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, you are heir to it. It belongs to you by birthright. Not to me, not to Sasami, or to any other Juraian except Yousho-sama, but he's chosen his path. Even if I became Empress without you, I would always feel like I was sitting in your place." She turned and bowed to him once, very low, before finally moving to the door. She turned and looked back before opening it. "Be sure to tell Ryouko you love her today." She frowned minutely. "Preferably without throwing up at the same time," she gently chided. Tenchi was stricken, remembering how poorly the night before had gone off, but Aeka reclaimed his attention one last time, her soft voice ringing in the room with quiet power. "The Throne of the Emperor of Jurai will always belong to Masaki Tenchi... until his death. It is *his* -- by blood, by heart, by right, and by might." Pausing, she gazed across to his staring eyes. "*That* is why I am still in the running." Quietly opening the door, Aeka bowed low again and stepped out of the room. Sasami's voice could be heard, calling everyone down, and then the door softly clicked shut. ____________________ He paused before opening the kitchen door, listening to Mihoshi's voice on the other side. "Is it ready, yet? Is it ready, yet? Is it--" "MIHOSHI!!! AH! ARGH! Ow, owie, my head..." Tenchi mused, pushing the door open and seeing the detective cradling her skull. "Ne, Kiyone!" Mihoshi patted Kiyone on the back. "Do you want me to make you egg sake again?" Kiyone looked up, her left eye twitching. "That's - for - colds, Mi-ho-shi," she ground out. "Oh! Do you have a cold? Is that it?" Deciding that silence was the better part of sanity this morning, Kiyone muttered incoherently, ignoring Mihoshi's prattle. "Ohayou, Kiyone-san," Tenchi offered gamely. "Says you." She winced. "Sorry. Ohayou." Tenchi chuckled. "No problem. Business as usual, I see." "You don't know the half of it, Tenchi-san." Looking around the table, Tenchi still had yet to see one particular person this morning. "Anyone seen Ryouko?" He was met with shakes of the head. "Ryouko is in the kitchen, helping Sasami," Aeka said, as she brought in a platter heaped with bulging omelets. Tenchi nodded, feeling a little tense. Sasami was next out, carrying a pile of bacon and a bowl of cubed melons of various kinds. "Mmmm." Katsuhito pulled his head out of the newspaper and eyed the offerings. "Looks good, Sasami-chan. We haven't had a Western breakfast in a while." "Thank you," Sasami said. "Ryouko-oneechan's bringing out pancakes and syrup." As if summoned, Ryouko came through the door. She stopped when she noticed everyone looking at her. She blushed and hurried to the table, setting her platters down. There was one place open at the table, next to Tenchi, but she just stood, hesitating and unsure why. Tenchi smiled lopsidedly and held out his hand. "Your place is waiting," he softly said, his voice seeming to echo unnaturally to her. Ryouko turned scarlet, but took his hand anyway, easing herself down next to him. She watched Tenchi as he smiled at her again and proceeded to fill his plate. Once finished, he smirked at her. "Breakfast, Ryouko... -chan." She jumped and turned to her plate, embarrassed that he actually said 'chan' at the table in front of everybody! She jumped again when she noticed everyone staring at her. Nobuyuki had a big, silly grin on his face. "WHAT?! Iitadakimasu!!" Still blushing, she filled her plate. She ate, keeping her eyes down and on her food. ~~~~~ Sasami had conscripted her sister and Ryouko to do the dishes while she worked on a grocery list. She currently had her head stuck in a cabinet next to the sink. Aeka, washing, looked sidelong at Ryouko, drying. "My, we're awfully domestic this morning. Any particular reason?" "A-e-ka hi-me," she ground out, trying to fight down a smile. "OH-HO-HO-HOOOO!! Imagine it: a domesticated monster woman." "Look, prissy princess," Ryouko wagged her finger, "I'm not the one up to her elbows in dish soap." "Touche, Ryouko-san." Aeka grinned, firmly defusing any escalation to their heretofore-typical fights. They continued to work in companionable silence until Sasami wandered into the latest addition to the house. At her insistence, citing the amount of food she had to prepare each day, Washuu had connected a small pocket dimension to the kitchen to serve as a walk-in pantry. Everything was Sasami-sized, of course. While they were alone, Ryouko studied Aeka for a few seconds and then nodded to herself. She put down her dish, placed an arm around Aeka's waist, and leaned in to whisper in the other's ear. "I don't like to lose, even when I've won, Aeka. I've been thinking about this since last night. When the time comes, 'Oneechan', you'll have my support. I just want him to myself for a little while." Ryouko leaned back and saw suds jumping off of her friend's shaking hands and tears spilling down her face. She gathered Aeka into a hug, and Aeka snaked her hands around Ryouko's torso and buried her face in Ryouko's shoulder. The pirate rocked the princess lightly, stroking her fine, violet hair. "Maa! We are completely out of sake!" Sasami said, coming out of the pantry. "Everybody drinks too-- Ara?" Ryouko smiled at her, but didn't let go of Aeka. Sasami felt a profound sense of relief wash through her, and she rushed forward to hug the other two. ____________________ "Tenchi." He looked over his shoulder at Ryouko. "Hi! Finished up?" She nodded and held out her hand. "Come with me." Looking at her curiously, Tenchi rose and took her hand. "Um, Ryouko, about last night--" She turned and put the fingertips of her other hand to his lips. "No, don't apologize." She let the fingers fall away. "It may not have gone like I'd pictured it... or dreamed about it, but I realized that I was being silly." She chuckled at the contrite look on Tenchi's face. "Besides, the whole thing was so 'me' it smarts." "Ryouko." Pulling him along again, she led him through the house to the door of the ladies' bath. "Uh, Ryouko? I don't think--" "Shhh." She placed one finger against his lips. "It's all right. I, er, got permission." Ryouko slid the door open, and the opulent ladies' bath beckoned with curling fingers of steam. She pulled the nervous young man in and shut the door. "Strip." "Ah! Haha! Um... I was kinda hoping to ease into--" "I'm going to scrub your back," she said, arching one eyebrow. "Got a problem with that?" "Ah... ah... okay... I guess... um..." She pointed a finger down and wagged it back and forth. "Strip," she repeated with a slight smile. Furiously red, Tenchi pulled his shirt off and then started to undo his pants, but stopped. "What about you?" Ryouko read that thought by the expression on his face, and she laughed for the sheer joy of it, causing Tenchi to chuckle in response. Her clothes faded away, leaving her nubile glory open to his inspection. "All right," she said, "where's Tenchi and what have you done with him?" "Ha ha," he nasally deadpanned, clutching his nose. Swaying around behind him and grabbing him in a hug, she nuzzled his ear. "I'm going to have to break you of that nose bleeding, you know." Tenchi considered that with what brain Ryouko was currently leaving him for such activities. He mustered some resolve and his meager wit, remembering that in a sense he wasn't exactly inexperienced, and said, "Oh? In or out of the saddle?" Ryouko blink-blinked in surprise, then she clutched him even tighter. "In," she longingly whispered. "Oh, definitely in." ~~~~~ Riding the crest of their passion, a stray memory flickered through Ryouko's mind. It was something Washuu had said just before their first foray into Haruna's world. <"I was just thinking how women in love are strong..."> the scientist had said after a short pause. She bent over and kissed Tenchi. After the kiss, she lay down on him as her world began to whiten in response to a rising force, a blizzard of emotion and sensation, building and threatening to bury her. "I love you, Tenchi," she softly keened into his ear, her happy tears disappearing like melting snowflakes into his shining black hair. "Forever." "Ai shiteru, Ryouko-chan... Forever." And the storm rose around her, entered her, became her, buried her in an embrace of blinding white heat, and her keen changed to a cry of union, love, and joy, shouting the name that was now her life. ==================== Part Two ____________________ "Tennnchi!! She's coming home! Help meee!!" Ryouko frantically flitted around, trying to straighten up and leaving Tenchi to scramble after her on foot. "Ryouko! Calm down! You'll hurt yourself!" Tenchi skidded to a stop when she whirled on him. She floated down to his level, her belly only now noticeably distended. It had taken three years, but with some help from Washuu, Ryouko was finally blissfully pregnant. Differences in the biochemistries between species, however, had caused Ryouko's hormones to unbalance, expressing itself in shifts of mood and behavior that jumped from belligerent, coquettish, to obsequiously catering, amongst other things. On this day, her behavior alternated between frantic nesting and verbal man- bashing. "You! Nobuyuki! The old man! I'm not gonna break! I wish the three of you would stop buggin' me about it!" "Awww, honey! That's not fair! We all love you." "Oh, yeeeah. Your father loves a good peek, and your grandfather loves a good squeeze, now and then. Some family I married into. Hmph!" He sighed. "Ryouko-chan..." "Gah. Men. You should be worried more about Aeka. I want this to be *special*!" "And it WILL be!" "Ryouko," a third voice interrupted, "quit abusing the poor boy and settle down." Nagi sauntered out of the kitchen, blowing on one of Sasami's fresh cups of tea. She sipped. "Mmmm. The long trip's worth it just for this." "But, Nagi-chan!" Ryouko whined. "Don't call me that!" the bounty hunter hissed. "You know I hate that." Ryouko burst into tears and began showing Tenchi massive amounts of affection. He took it in stride. Nagi smirked at Tenchi. "That's what you get for interbreeding." "What a nice way of putting it," he said dryly. "We'll... weather it... just like we have everything else." "Oh, Tenchi. That's so sweeeet!" Ryouko increased her affection levels. Laughing, Nagi plopped on the couch and turned on the television. Ryouko abruptly stiffened. "AAAAHHH!! I've gotta talk to Sasami-chan about the meal! AAAHHH!!" She teleported out of Tenchi's arms, leaving him blinking. Nagi laughed at him again, but Tenchi shrugged and walked around the couch, sitting next to her. "I want to thank you for coming and being here for Ryouko while Aeka is away." "Don't mention it," she said gruffly. "Ever." She shifted around uncomfortably under Tenchi's grin. "Besides, I don't hunt mothers or mothers-to-be, if I know about it, and Ken-ou-ki was getting to be useless without getting to see his 'mate'. Grrr." "Thanks, Nagi-san. Your presence means a lot to her." Nagi just frowned. "My friend, the 'formerly wanted'. Bah. Darn Juraians and their pardons--" Now it was Nagi's turn to stiffen, and Ryouko came barreling out of the kitchen. They looked at each other. "No!" "Yes!" "Grrr, Ryou-ou-ki!!" Ryouko disappeared, hunting her partner in crime. Nagi sighed and slumped back onto the couch. "Damn." She speared Tenchi with one eye. "I hope you don't mind a litter of cabbits in the house." Tenchi paled, imagining the necessary increase in carrot yield from the fields, and promptly fainted. Ryouko reappeared, a soused and satisfied cabbit in each hand, held by the scruffs of their necks. Nagi wrinkled her nose as the sour odor of sake wafted around the room. Ryouko looked at her friend. "NOW what?!" Nagi shrugged. "Just like you: let nature run its course." She groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Looks like I'm stuck here for a while." She jumped when Ryouko's arms snaked around her neck in a hug. "I'm not sorry, Nagi-chan." "Ryouko!" she grunted. "What'll Tenchi think?!" Ryouko let her go, smirking. "Hmmm, well, Tenchi could probably use a third wife, you know..." "BWAACK!! NO WAY!! UH-HUH!!! I... Third?" She looked at Ryouko askance. Smiling smugly, Ryouko walked off to the kitchen, picking up the two cabbits on the way. "You'll seeeee," she sang, the door swinging shut behind her. Nagi shook her head, spared a glance at Tenchi still on the floor, "No thanks," and turned back to the television, wondering how her life got so turned around. "Some fun we're havin'," she muttered sarcastically. "Ryouko no baaka." ~~~~~ The massive bulk of Aeka's new tree-ship settled calmly on the waters of Masaki-no-ike. She waited on the bridge until all necessary systems had shut down, and as she waited, she wondered what had changed after her four-month absence. She knew Ryouko was pregnant, as the pirate had messaged her, wanting to share her joy. Aeka sighed wistfully. She turned her attention to a cylindrical wooden trunk containing her gifts for everyone. She made one last check to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. It had been an odd trip home. There were things that had piled up that needed the presiding Regent to attend to, and there had also been innumerable meetings with the High Council and especially the Chancellor. She frowned as she recalled the unusual looks she'd received from a few of them. She'd first feared that a coup was brewing, but she realized that the looks were ones of amusement. It happened often enough that she'd almost been to the point of screaming, wanting to know what in the world was going on. But pry and needle as she might, no one coughed up a single explanation. Even the Knights, Azaka and Kamidake, seemed to be grinning more than usual. Not so rare for Kamidake, but Azaka?! she vowed. Satisfied that her gifts were in order, she gave a command, and like the first time she'd come to Earth, she debarked in a ball of green energy, which settled on the shore. It faded away and Aeka looked up to see her beloved family present to greet her. Sasami ran up first, hugging her sister. An emotional Ryouko plowed into her, and Aeka suffered amusedly under the pirate's hugs and kisses to the cheek. When Ryouko finally let go, Aeka exclaimed over how big Ryouko was getting, to which Tenchi's wife blushed and giggled. Aeka shook her head. She exchanged surprised pleasantries with Nagi, and received a warm welcome from Tenchi, Nobuyuki, and Katsuhito. Mihoshi and Kiyone were on patrol, and Washuu was busy in her lab, she was told. It was everything she expected and nothing she'd dreamed. ~~~~~ The evening meal was even better than she'd remembered; she wasn't sure if even the palace chefs could top her sister's cuisine. Aeka chewed thoughtfully, though, and with perhaps even a little annoyance. Some of her family were giving her the same looks the others back on Jurai had: amusement hidden behind warm smiles. It was enough to drive her to distraction. But here, she noticed a difference. The Council members had kept their professional distance, even if they were seemingly enjoying themselves at her expense. Here, though, she could almost feel the warmth flowing into her. It was like a strange electricity in the air, arcing unseen between Tenchi, Ryouko, and... herself. Startled, Aeka dropped her chopsticks. "Aeka-san? Are you all right?" Tenchi asked, concerned. "Aeka?" Ryouko echoed. Nervous, she mumbled, "Fine, fine. Just a passing thought. Nothing for you to worry about." The others nodded, keeping an eye on the princess. ~~~~~ Tenchi, Ryouko, and Katsuhito excused themselves from the table early, offering numerous apologies. Aeka looked at them suspiciously, as they claimed they needed to prepare for a surprise welcome for her. Everyone else was far from through with the meal, so nothing more was said or done until the last of the gathered friends and family pushed back from the table. Sasami then stood and said, "If you will all follow me." Highly interested in what had been planned, the rest got up and followed the blue-haired princess as she led them into a room Aeka didn't remember having been there before. she correctly concluded, seeing the smirk on the scientist's face. The new room reminded her of the ladies' bath, except without the bath. She wondered why it had been necessary to construct a pocket dimension, but the short walk on a path through the thick growth of plants native only to Jurai answered her question. The trail opened onto a clearing paved in rough, gray stone. Stone columns formed a semi-circle, partially enclosing the clearing, and a lone obelisk stood at the rear with the symbol of Jurai, a Great Tree, carved into its face. A low stone table with a polished surface sat in the center of the clearing, and Tenchi and Ryouko, in snow-white kimono, sat on one side, facing the guests. Katsuhito sat at one end, dressed in his priest's robes. Cushions were available for the others, and Aeka made to seat herself with the rest, but Sasami took her hand and led her surprised sister out of the clearing along a different path. The path quickly terminated in a small private area, also paved in stone. A clothing rack with a third snow-white kimono sat off to one side. "Please change, Oneesama, and I will lead you back." Blinking and with shaking hands, Aeka pulled off the several layers of her Juraian kimono, leaving only the undergarment. Sasami held up the white inner kimono, helping her sister into it. Next came the outer garment. When she had finished tying the obi and adjusting Aeka's kimono, Sasami looked her up and down and nodded. They retraced their path, and Sasami led her to a single cushion on the side of the table opposite Tenchi and Ryouko. Once seated on her shins, Aeka clasped her hands to cover the trembling and peered wide-eyed at the two across from her. Sasami retreated and took her own seat, and Tenchi cleared his throat. "Ryouko-san, Katsuhito-dono, and I would like to thank all of you for attending this special occasion," he formally greeted. "We are gathered here today for two reasons. First, I must admit that I've been going behind your back for a little while now, Aeka- sama. In discussing this matter with, er, Yousho-sama, Ryouko- san, Sasami-dono, and a carefully selected few Juraian nobles and other persons, and because of a conversation you and I had a long time ago, I have decided that, should you be willing to step aside, I will take the throne as Emperor of Jurai." Aeka's jaw hung open a moment before she slowly closed her mouth. "Ummm, yeah. I have no idea what I'm really getting into," a round of chuckles greeted him, "but that will hopefully be addressed with the second matter, discussed solely between myself, Ryouko-san, Sasami-dono, Katsuhito-dono... and now, you." Saying nothing more, Tenchi turned to Ryouko, who picked up a teacup Aeka hadn't even noticed in her nervousness. There were also a number of implements, some cloths, a tea box, and a teapot of hot water, all situated between Tenchi and Ryouko. Ryouko proceeded to dip the implements in a bowl of water and carefully wipe them with one of the cloths. When all was ritually cleansed, she passed the cup to Tenchi with a bow. Tenchi bowed to her and took the cup. Opening the tea box, he measured a portion of dried leaves into an infusing basket, closed the box, and placed the basket in the teapot. "We've, ah, really turned this ceremony inside out from the traditional, but we hope the thought remains." After one agonizing minute for Aeka, he carefully poured some of the brewed tea into the cup and set the pot down. He rotated the cup a half turn, studied it, and then carefully picked it up, placing it before Aeka. She couldn't move a muscle. "Aeka," he warmly said, "you have been more than family to us; you have been our friend. And now, we would like for you to be more." His voice firmed and carried. "With no thought to present or future titles or stature, by this engagement ceremony, and with the blessings of both Yousho-sama, highest living member of the Jurai Royal Family, and Masaki Katsuhito-dono, Masaki shrine priest, Ryouko and I are here to formally petition you to join us in a marriage of love, as wife to us and only incidentally as a future Empress of Jurai," he finished with a rakish smile. Aeka's eyes were wide and she was pale, her clasped hands no longer hiding her tremors. After a long moment, she blinked and looked down at the teacup in front of her, almost afraid it would shatter by the weight of her gaze. Slowing managing to pry her hands apart, she moved her jittery fingers around the curve of the fine porcelain. She closed her eyes and prayed to every god she'd ever heard of to not let her drop it. Opening her eyes, she brought the cup to her lips, the liquid jumping and threatening to spill out, and took a careful, measured drink of the bitter brew. She set the cup down, hesitated, and then rotated it a half turn. She picked it up and set in front of a smiling Tenchi. Tenchi repeated the ritual, and then passed the cup to Ryouko, who did the same. Tenchi and Ryouko looked at Aeka lovingly, but the princess was still trembling, her wide, moist eyes blinking. Aeka's voice shook when she finally spoke. "Do... Am I s-s-supposed to say 'yes', n-now?" Soft laughter echoed against the stones. "You already did, Aeka- chan," Tenchi said. Aeka broke down crying at the affectionate honorific, and both Tenchi and Ryouko moved around to either side of her, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. Aeka gripped both of them tightly, letting all her relief and happiness out in great, wracking sobs. It was what she dreamed of... come true at last. Teary-eyed, friends and family moved back into the house to give them some privacy. Kiyone had to drag Mihoshi along the ground, the blonde bawling and totally unable to walk. Katsuhito laid a hand on Tenchi's shoulder before leaving. "Two wives, eh? I hope you know what you're getting into," he said good-naturedly. "Ah... yeah," Tenchi said, scratching his head. "Maybe if I keep them alternately pregnant--" "AAHH!!" "TENCHI-SAMA!!" Fists lightly pounded on him as he laughed. "A JOKE! Maaaannn..." "See you for practice tomorrow, Tenchi. Regular time." Tenchi wilted, as his wife and fiancee snickered at him. Ryouko took the opportunity to whisper in Aeka's ear, the resemblance to the action from years ago sending a tingle along her spine. "I expect a *lot* more from you than just a little kiss on the cheek, but I can wait till later... Aeka-chan." She leaned back, wiggling her eyebrows. "EEEE!!!" Aeka screeched. "Ryouko-sa-- Ryouko-chan!! You naughty, naughty thing!" Laughing, Ryouko levitated and zoomed back into the house, a broadly smiling Aeka hot on her heels, trailing joyful tears. "What was that all about?" Tenchi asked, bewildered. Katsuhito chuckled from the far side of the stone floor. "I have a feeling you'll find out later tonight. Oyasumi, Tenchi." He strode down the path, whistling to himself. Tenchi was the sole remaining occupant of the stone clearing. "What *have* I gotten myself into..." He smirked and trotted after his grandfather, hoping to catch up with his significant others. ==================== Epilogue ____________________ Twenty-one. She was twenty-one today, and Sasami was in joyful, loving awe of her gift. Life had been strange the last few years. Over the last three of those years, Sasami had gone on the very minimum number of marriage meetings required by duty. This wasn't by design... until she realized that she wasn't finding what she was looking for. She would call Aeka, Ryouko, and Tenchi and complain, wail, and sometimes rage about the men she would meet, often surprising herself with her own vehemence. They had been understanding, although lately they had taken to sharing odd looks with one another. Oh, a few of the men she'd met were nice, decent gentlemen, but she'd realized about two years into the meetings that she had a yardstick she was measuring each one against. No matter how nice, how considerate, how gentle, or how whatever-else one valued, they never seemed to measure up. After the third year of meetings, she was weary in spirit and had left for Earth to celebrate her impending birthday and to be with the people she loved the most in the entire universe, either already present or en route from the thrones of Jurai. She looked up at Tenchi, seated across from her: older, more filled-out, Emperor, but still the same person Sasami had first met, sweeping leaves on a lane. She looked to his left. Ryouko and her daughter sat, smiling warmly at her. Ryouko contentedly rested her hand on her swollen belly. On Tenchi's right, Aeka serenely cradled her infant boy. And finally, back to Tenchi, and she had to pinch herself so she wouldn't start bawling in happiness. <...as long as we're all together.> As Tenchi began to speak, Sasami took a deep, shuddering breath and clasped her hands to keep them from trembling, resting them in the lap of her snow-white kimono. ==================== ==================== END IN VINO VERITAS DISCLAIMERS Tenchi Muyou!, Tenchi Muyou! in Love 2 (Tenchi Forever), and the characters of both are the property of Masaki Kajishima and AIC/Pioneer LDC. This work of fanfiction is for free- entertainment purposes only; no compensation has been or will be received for its composition. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My thanks to Andrew Norris, T.H. Tiger, and Vince Seifert for exemplary prereading. My further thanks to Vince for prereading and discussing the revised version. AUTHOR'S NOTES First, I really don't want to hear about how much you hated the movie, "Tenchi Muyou! in Love 2". :) I understand that the majority of the people who saw it didn't, ah... *care* for it much. However, I thought it was grand, and that probably shows in this fic. IVV, first posted in May, 2000, was written to show the working out of certain possibilities presented in the movie. However, I don't expect everyone to agree with my choices, as there were certainly others that could have been made. Second, apologies to Thomas Doscher. This posting revises out an unintentional point of similarity between "In vino veritas" and Mr. Doscher's fic, "Destiny's Balance". Hopefully, this puts that to bed. I highly recommend "Destiny's Balance", and it can be found on GenSao's Tenchi fanfic archive. GLOSSARY Arigatou: "Thank you." -chan: diminutive and/or affectionate suffix. -dono: an honorific suffix that falls somewhere between -san and -sama. Gomen (ne, na, nasai): "Sorry." The particles add or change emphasis Hai: "yes", more or less, although the meanings of "hai" only partially overlap those of "yes" and include meanings that "yes" does not. Perhaps it would be more helpful to think of "hai" as a term of affirmation rather than try to equate it with an English word. :) Ite!/Iteee! - expression of pain, like "Ow!" Jiichan: affectionate diminutive of Ojiisan, "old man" or "grandfather"; what Tenchi often calls his grandfather, Katsuhito. Masaki-no-ike: Masaki Lake. Gratuitous Japanese? Indeed, but I like the sound of it. Oneesama/-oneesama: Honored Older Sister, both as a standalone address and a suffix. Oyasumi (nasai): "Good night." Sake: liquor made from fermented rice. Packs a good whallop. -sama: the highest honorific suffix. -san: default honorific suffix.