There isn't any money being made from this story and the characters do not belong to me. The Uncertainty By kenzie kennedy Washu yawned as she sat at her computer in the early morning after breakfast. Her eyes were heavy but still they detected the footsteps of two young ladies. "Ryoko, come here for a minute!" She called. Ryoko came floating over. "Yes?" she said crossly. "You didn't think I'd forgotten all about your practicing, had you?" Washu said. Ryoko rolled her eyes. "I had hoped." She looked at her mother, staring into her eyes. "I don't want to do that again." Washu sighed. "Ryoko, you can't kill me and you can't hurt me. It just took a while for the energies to put me back together again." "But-" "No buts. Two hours and then I'm going to come and find you." Washu said firmly. Ryoko dragged her feet back to Ayeka and the two went off toward the garden. It was almost completed and would be done today. *** At ten minutes after ten o'clock, Washu sighed. Telepathically, she called, "Ryoko?" Ryoko told her mother that she'd be right there. Another ten minutes went by and Washu started toward the garden. *** Standing in the doorway and watching a space pirate and a princess play in the mud was certainly amusing, Washu thought. But it's not brushing up Ryoko's skills. "Ryoko, dear. You're twenty minutes late." Washu reminded her daughter. Ryoko jumped. "Oh, Washu, it's you." "You've put it off long enough. Let's go." Washu looked at Ryoko. Ayeka stood and brushed off her apron. "I'll leave." Washu looked at her strangely. "Why? You might like to watch." "If I wouldn't bother you, I think I'd like that." Ayeka agreed. *** In Washu's training area, Ryoko stood defensively and looked at her mother with reluctance to begin in her eyes. Washu pretended not to notice. "Since I think you should practice conjuring a sword with decorations by yourself, we'll brush up your sword- fighting techniques today." "You didn't teach me that, Kagato did." Ryoko insisted. "I remember." Washu shook her head. "No, he didn't. I taught you to defend yourself. He taught you to kill. There is a difference." Washu looked at her hand and a simple energy blade sprang into existence. Holding it out in front of her she grinned at her daughter. "Come on. You're more in shape than I am. You ought to be able to beat me." Washu relaxed and tapped one finger against her chin. "Though it would be the first time...." Ryoko did not flinch, she simply engaged her mother in combat. *** Ayeka sat in one of the chairs that had appeared. They really were very good. Ryoko employed a vast variety of jumps, spins, and keep-away techniques. Washu concentrated on her speed and agility more than moves. Ryoko was more spontaneous, but Washu still had beaten her throughout the five matches. Finally, Washu signaled a stop. They collapsed into two chairs and panted. "I can't believe I'm this out of shape." Washu said. Ryoko glanced at her in disbelief. "I'm the one getting beaten out there and you say you're out of shape!?" Washu grinned at her daughter. "I used to be able to take both you and your double, run you around here for ten minutes, then beat you both, and still have the poise to juggle lightbulbs if I wanted to." Washu turned to Ayeka. "So what did you think?" Ayeka replied truthfully, "I think you're both splendid at sword- fighting." "Want to go a few rounds?" Ryoko twirled her energy sword in mid-air. Ayeka shook her head. Washu glanced at her. "Why not, Ayeka?" she asked. "Princesses of Jurai are not taught such things." She slowly replied. "Why not?" Ryoko asked. "The guardians will take care of any intruders and I am proficient enough in energy casting." She replied. "Besides, who would harm a princess of Jurai?" "Let's see, Kagato, space pirates, need I go on?" Ryoko said sarcastically. Washu cleared her throat. "Ayeka, suppose you were in the middle of a battle or something where your guardians were called away. A person has just grabbed a small child and threatened them harm. What do you do? You can't blast them because you might hurt the child. Even if you do cast energy at their leg and they drop the child, what are you going to do then when his friends come through the door?" "Another reason," Washu continued, "is that you plan on having children someday right? I don't care what the crime level is or who's report says an area is safe, someone will always be trying to hurt you, simply because you are the princess. And people recognize the fact that hurting your children seems to do you the greatest damage." Washu closed her eyes and she suddenly seemed old. When she opened her eyes again, she spoke, "Ayeka, at some point in your life you might be your child's last defense. Do you really want them to be hurt because you didn't know how to fight with a sword or at least know some holds to get you away?" Ayeka shook her head. "Then damn the Juraian custom. Katsuhito's got two pupils and I can teach at least as good as he can. If Ryoko at the top of her form could give him a run for his money, then I know I could." Washu leaned forward her eyes bright. Ayeka nodded. Washu looked at her with quiet pride. It took a lot for the princess to cast off one of Jurai's customs. "Hey, what are we sitting here for? Let's practice." Ryoko said impatiently. Washu sighed. "You and I will practice, then I'll teach her. I don't want you and her to spar against each other until your powers are more under control and she's had a bit more teaching." Washu laid down the rules. *** Tenchi walked up the steps to his grandfather's shrine. Reaching it, he was immediately ambushed by his grandfather. Tenchi got his bokken and the practice began. *** An hour later, Katsuhito sat down, tracing designs in the ground with his bokken. "Tenchi, you are not paying attention today, even less than usual. Is something on your mind?" Tenchi sat down beside his grandfather. "I am uncertain, grandfather." Katsuhito continued to draw in the ground. "About what?" "My future. I've graduated high school now. What do I do now? I'm not really that good at school, but I could go to college anyway. I could get a job..." Tenchi trailed off. Katsuhito nodded. "Ah, yes. You could go to college, get miserable grades, be miserable because you are away from the house. You could also get a job and risk Ryoko causing an "accident." Tenchi stared at the ground. What was he going to do? "There is one job you might be suited for." Katsuhito said slowly. "What?" Tenchi asked forlornly. Katsuhito sat back and put his hands on his knees. "My mother was telling me that she and Misaki would like to have Azusa retire." Tenchi jumped up. "Emperor of Jurai?! That's the job you think I could handle?!" "Sit down and listen. Now, Funaho and Misaki would like to have their husband retire. He has been ruling a long time. Every time they plan something special it is interrupted by a supposed crisis. If you were to speak to Funaho and tell her of your intention to become Emperor, she would leap at the chance." "But," Tenchi asked, "won't the emperor be mad? He doesn't exactly like me." "I don't think he really got to know you. He was here for maybe an hour and saw you as the man who was trying to win his daughter so he could take the throne. If this idea is presented through his wives as a "train the boy and then come into retirement" then he will go for it." Katsuhito went on. "To tell you the truth, Tenchi, he doesn't really like me either and I planned to marry his daughter." "Wouldn't I have to marry?" Tenchi asked. Katsuhito grinned at him. "Oh-ho! The idea of marriage is foreign to you? Wait until Washu hears that you are just dallying with her daughter." "No, no! I-" Tenchi stopped. "Yes, Tenchi?" Katsuhito said slyly. "I don't think we've known each other long enough for me to-" Tenchi gestured to relay the idea of marriage to his grandfather. Katsuhito nodded sagely. "You have not known her long enough. She has known you since you were a baby. You've lived with her for two years and played with her while you were small. Try again." "I don't have any way to support her." Tenchi grasped at the straw. "You'll be emperor of Jurai and you can't support her? Try again." "Um, I don't know if she'd say yes." Katsuhito stared Tenchi in the eyes. "She's been mooning over you ever since you were a baby. I think she'd say yes." He turned his attention back to the ground and the design. "Maybe you'll have to ask her." Tenchi got up. "I'd like to think about it, grandfather." "Of course, Tenchi. Ask Washu how to contact your grandmother." Katsuhito said, staring at the ground. *** Tenchi walked down the shrine steps. It was a good thing that he knew these steps well or he probably would have fallen half a dozen times because he was so deep in thought. A gentle breeze stirred his hair and he swiped it out of the way without thinking. He thought of becoming Emperor over a planet. A whole planet. What if he messed up? What if he offended someone and had to go to war? He didn't know anything about ruling, who does? Tenchi shrugged. Not anyone I know. He slapped himself on the forehead. Washu knows! She's a goddess. Or Ayeka might have some idea. I can always ask them. That simple problem out of the way, he now came to the really tough question. Ryoko and Marriage. Marriage and Ryoko. The two ideas swam through his brain. Tenchi had always seen marriage as something he would know when the time was right. He grinned at himself. He would know? A whole flock of alien girls living with him and it had taken him two years to figure out which one he wanted. But marriage? Tenchi thought of his lovely Ryoko. Her cyan hair glistening in the moonlight. Her cuddling up to him on the steps, afraid of the darkness. The sweet kisses they had shared. I haven't even told her that I love her yet. A look of shock came over his face and his feet stopped. I love her? He thought. He realized it was true. "I love Ryoko." He said aloud for the first time. The ripple of shock was still moving through his brain as he started down the steps again. *** "You're doing well for your first lesson, Ayeka." Washu told her. They were all sitting down under Washu's picnic table. Ryoko nodded agreement. "You'll be able to tackle your brother soon." Ryoko winked at Ayeka who smiled in return. Washu stood up. "Well, I think I've kept you girls long enough. Sasami'll have lunch ready soon." They started toward the door. *** Washu had been right and Sasami had just been ready to call them for lunch. Tenchi wandered into lunch and sat through the whole meal looking bewildered. Ryoko tried asking him if anything was wrong, but he simply shook his head. *** After lunch, Balar, Ryoko, Ayeka, and Tenchi went to the library for more of their history lessons. Ayeka and Balar chose chairs near each other and Ryoko was about to do the same when Tenchi said, "Ryoko, won't you sit with me?" Ryoko looked at him. He had sat on the couch and was gesturing for her to sit beside him. Ryoko walked to the couch and sat on the other end. The lesson started and everyone paid attention. Tenchi kept one ear on the movie and all of his brain on Ryoko. He loved her, but he hadn't told her. He had thought about marriage before, but not with her. And if he did think about marriage with her, what would she say? Tenchi looked out of the corner of his eye at Ryoko. Her face was riveted to the screen. He hadn't known she liked history so much. She sat on the other end of the couch, legs stretched out along the edge of it. She had such long and delicate legs... Tenchi snapped himself out of it. He bit his lip. He had meant for her to sit beside him. Gesturing hadn't helped, maybe the direct approach? Glancing at her, he returned to his normal way of thinking. Nope. Too forward. What if she doesn't like it? The yearning to be near her was getting to be too much for him to handle. Trying not to disturb Ayeka and Balar, he scooted over on the couch until he was on the middle cushion. He watched the screen for a few minutes, then he crept up past Ryoko's legs and laid his head down on her ribs. Fairly safe area, he thought. *** Ryoko had watched him move to the second cushion. She had idly wondered what he was up to but just then they had some information on the taking of two wives. She snorted. She'd never want to share Tenchi with anyone and he had better feel the same. Then he had crept up to her, careful not touch her with his hands to lay his head on her midsection. She had stopped breathing for a second. When she started breathing again, she looked at him. He was very tense as if he thought she'd push him away! Ryoko stopped herself from laughing. She'd been waiting for him to do this. Now if only she wasn't so thirsty! Ryoko sighed. She whispered, "Tenchi, I'm going to get up to get something to drink. I'll be right back." Oh, no. Tenchi kept his face from going red. I moved too soon and she didn't like it and now she hates me... His mind continued to babble at him. As soon as Ryoko was out of the room, he walked back over to his end of the couch. *** Ryoko came back in with four glasses of drink and noticed that Tenchi had moved back to his side of the couch. She sighed. That won't do. She gave a glass to everyone and put her glass right beside Tenchi's. She walked up on the sofa, gently shoved him to indicate that she wanted him pressed into the corner of the couch, and pillowed her head on his chest. His arm crept around her shoulders and together they watched the history of Jurai. *** Ayeka fought to keep the grin off her face. Romantic comedy in the house for our own private enjoyment! Her eyes crept to Balar and they smiled at each other. *** In the bath after dinner, Ayeka and Ryoko were talking about the garden and how the seeds had sprang into plants when Washu walked in. "Hi, girls!" she chirped and stepped into the bath. "Miss Washu, do you know what your daughter has been up to?" Ayeka said imperiously. "Enlighten me." Washu said conversationally. "Your daughter was...cuddling with Lord Tenchi today! On the couch in the library!" Ayeka reported. "Oh, and you want me to tell your mothers about how you were Kissing with Balar the other day?" Ryoko shot back at her. They both shot angry looks at one another and then dissolved into giggles. Washu laughed with them. "Oh, so my little Ryoko's been cuddling with Tenchi. Ah, how quickly they grow up." Washu sighed dramatically. Ryoko splashed her mother. As a result, Washu swam under water and tugged her daughter under too. Ryoko retaliated by floating upward. Washu reversed gravity for a few seconds and in a concentrated area and they plunged to the bottom of the pool. When they surfaced, Washu said, "Truce?" Ryoko nodded and wiped water out of her eyes. *** Balar sat in his room after his bath for the night. He was working on the afghan for Ayeka. Tenchi knocked on the door and came in. "What are you doing, Balar?" he asked. Balar held up his creation. "I am making a blanket for Ayeka. Isn't it beautiful?" "Yeah, it's hard work, isn't it?" Tenchi asked. Balar nodded. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to help get vegetables out of the garden tomorrow before we weed it." Tenchi asked. Balar said yes and Tenchi exited the room. *** After the vegetables had been gathered before breakfast, Tenchi and Balar went inside and ate. Then next came the chores and the sword-fighting practice. Tenchi and Balar went inside the lab. "Balar, do you really want to watch the history today?" Tenchi hesitantly asked. Balar sighed. "I'd rather work on my afghan for Ayeka. But I did start this." "You don't have to, you know." Washu said behind them. They turned. "It's good to take a break sometimes," she continued. "Ayeka and Ryoko are finishing up their garden today." Washu shook her head. "I don't know where they're going to put it." "So Balar, you can go work on the afghan. How many rows have you got now?" she asked politely. "Ten. Thank you for helping me choose the yarn." Washu smiled and said, "You're welcome." Balar left. "Yes, Tenchi?" she asked, turning to him. "Could you take me to the house? I'd like to watch them." Tenchi asked. *** Washu led the way into the house. "Ryoko!" she bellowed. Heavy footsteps thudded across the floor. "Yeah, Mom!" Ryoko called from the balcony. "Tenchi wants to know if he can come up and see the garden." She called up a little quieter. "Sure, Tenchi, come on up. We just finished." Ryoko paused. "You want to see, Washu?" Washu nodded and the two of them climbed the stairs. *** The garden was lovely. They had put the ship in the middle of a circle and grown flowers around it. Small flowers like phlox crept over the few rocks they had placed in the circle. Grass waved softly. Moss had been coaxed to grow in small areas on the wings and a little bit on the underside of the nose. There was a cascade of flowers rolling out of the doors. "It's beautiful, Ryoko." Tenchi said with love in his eyes. Ryoko's eyes sparkled at the compliment. "Ayeka, it's truly a work of art." Washu told her. "How did you get these to grow?" Ayeka explained while Tenchi and Ryoko gazed at each other. Washu tapped Ayeka's shoulder and jerked her thumb toward the trellis. Ayeka smiled and they walked out. Tenchi and Ryoko didn't even notice. *** Ryoko and Tenchi walked out of the room. She smiled as she tapped the button that revealed her garden. Upon seeing it, she immediately blushed. Oh, no, she thought. The garden desperately needed attention. The weeds had sprouted again, the water in the fountain was growing murky, and while the blossoms had been picturesque while they were still fresh, now they were dead and clogging up the grass. Ryoko looked longingly at the gloves and gardening tools. Tenchi followed her gaze and grinned. "Want me to help?" he asked. Ryoko nodded gratefully and started toward the gloves. *** Four hours later, Washu called them down for dinner. The weeding had been done, Ryoko had changed the water and raked the blossoms off the ground. Dinner was delicious as usual. After dinner, Ryoko disappeared. Ayeka and Balar went to watch TV with Mihoshi and Sasami. Tenchi walked outside. He looked to the right and the left and then sighed as he looked up and saw no Ryoko. Where had she gone? "Ryoko," he called. Ryoko immediately looked to where Tenchi was calling her. She half smiled wistfully at him. Phasing from the roof to where he stood, she appeared in front of him and said, "Yes, Tenchi?" "Oh, there you are, Ryoko. I missed you." Tenchi said to her. Her eyes sparkled with the knowledge that he actually wanted to be around her. He continued to speak. "Where were you?" Ryoko pointed to the roof. Tenchi nodded. "The stars are so bright." She said to him. Laying one hand on his arm, she phased them to the roof. They stood on the roof looking at the stars. "They symbolize freedom to me. I always wanted to go where I wanted to, not be led by Kagato." Ryoko smiled at Tenchi. "Of course, Earth's okay too. For a backwater planet ruled by a goddess that no one's ever heard of." Washu's voice told her in her mind, "I heard that!" and disappeared again. "Did Washu just speak to you?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko nodded. "You get a certain look on your face. Far off, yet listening." Tenchi suddenly got a far off look in his eyes, too. "You are so beautiful." He whispered to her. Ryoko almost fell off the roof. She stared at him in shock. "Warn me before you're going to say things like that!" "Okay, consider yourself warned." Tenchi said impudently. Ryoko tilted her head and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "So, what are you going to say now?" she purred. Tenchi gazed into her golden eyes and said softly, "I love you." Ryoko looked like she had been hit in the back of the head with a board. "What?" she whispered. "I love you." Tenchi repeated. Ryoko nodded slowly. "That's what I thought you said." Her eyes stared piercingly into his. "Are you sure?" Tenchi looked exasperated. "Yes, of course I'm sure." "I mean are you really really sure?" Ryoko wanted to make sure that he was sure before she said that she loved him because if he wasn't sure she was going to have to go away very quickly. "Yes, Ryoko. I am very very very sure that I love you!" Tenchi said loudly. Ryoko grinned at him. "Then I love you, too." She crossed her legs and stared at him saucily. "So what is that you love about me?" Tenchi crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm pretty sure it's not your trust in me." Ryoko pouted. "What do you mean I don't trust you? I just wanted you to be able to back out of it like you usually do." Tenchi's eyes narrowed. Leaning over, he stopped Ryoko's mouth with a kiss. *** Washu sensed something from the link. Extreme joy. She stopped herself from finding out what it was. She grinned. I'll let her tell me what's going on, instead of prying.