Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo!/No Need For Tenchi is a product of Pioneer/AIC. Tenchi Muyo and the characters within were created by Kajashime Masaki. Note: An uchikake is the over-kimono worn by a Japanese bride.Usually a number of other kimonos are worn beneath it. Note 2: A haori-hakama is the wedding outfit worn by a Japanese groom. WARNING!!: Spoilers for OAV 13 "Here Comes Jurai" occur in this fanfic! ------------ Naoki Kokomori rose from slumber, yawning and stretching. He took a deep breath and turned to the door of his bedroom where the haori-hakama hung. He stripped off his night clothes and slipped into his wedding clothes. As he dressed, he thought of his bride, Makiya Tanaka. He wondered what her uchikake would look like. She'd be pretty in anything, he told himself. He had just finished dressing when there was a knock on the door. "Yes?" He asked. "My I come in?" Tenchi's voice asked from the hall. "Sure." Naoki smiled as he replied. Tenchi walked in. "Wow!" he said. "You look great." "I'll let you borrow it when you marry Ryoko." Naoki joked. "But, I'm not..." "Why not. You two *are* in love, after all." "Excuse me." Tenchi wandered out of the room. In the hallway, he ran into Yosho. "Tenchi, what is the matter?" Yosho asked. "Naoki thinks I should ask Ryoko to make it a double wedding." Tenchi sighed. "I see. And what do you think...?" "Well.. um... I..." "I see. "Yosho said, resignedly. "Very well. We'll wait for fifteen minutes to give you and Ryoko time to get ready." "I'm *NOT* getting married!" Tenchi told nobody as Yosho made his way to Naoki's room. "Naoki," Yosho asked from the doorway. "You almost ready?" Naoki gulped in cold fear, but replied. "Yes." In another bedroom, Makiya Tanaka was getting dressed. She had five kimonos on, and now Ayeka was helping her into her uchikake. It was a good thing, too, since Makiya could hardly move her arms. She smiled to herself, then sighed as the traditional wig and bridal headdress were set in place. They were heavy, but Naoki was worth the discomfort. "I hope Naoki's okay." She said, as Washu walked in, wearing a very nice outfit she'd selected for the wedding. "What do you think he's doing right now?" "Probably breathing into a paper bag." Washu shrugged. Naoki was breathing into a paper bag. This didn't come as a surprise to anyone else, but it sure as heck was a surprise to him. "I was once," he said, between bouts of anxiety attacks, "The bravest operative the Galaxy Police ever knew. I faced..." another pause, "...some of most dangerous criminals in the Galaxy without flinching." Another pause. "Now, I'm getting married," A very long pause, this one with a lot of rapid breathing into the paper bag. "...and I'm scared to death." he concluded There was a knock on the door, and the former Galaxy Police Operative nearly jumped a foot straight up. "It's just me." Tenchi told him. "Grandpa sent me make sure you made it to the shrine." "Thank you." Naoki nodded as he stood up and brushed out any wrinkles his clothes may have obtained by sitting down. He left the room and Tenchi followed, ready to offer support should he decide that fainting would be a good idea at some point during the walk to the shrine. Naoki and Tenchi made it to the shrine and Naoki took his place at the ceremonial setting. A moment later, Makiya Tanaka appeared in the temple doorway. She looked quite breathtaking in her uchikake. All eyes turned toward her as she made her entrance. Naoki gazed at her from his place at the temple altar and swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. Naoki was trembling as she approached him. None of his experiences working for the Galaxy Police had prepared him for this moment. He could hear his heart pounding as it raced in his chest, feel the adrenaline as his bride drew nearer to him. Ayeka and Ryoko, watching from nearby, were whispering to each other, wagering on if and when Naoki would pass out. Makiya knelt before Naoki and bowed to him in respect. Her own heart was racing just as quickly as she felt his eyes upon her and knew that for that moment she alone commanded the attention of a being who had seen countless things she could only dream of, and even some things she couldn't imagine. He looked down at her, tenderly. Love permeated every part of him, filling his very soul to overflowing. Naoki, who until he'd met Makiya knew close to nothing about even the simplest happiness, was overwhelmed by it and could not hold back the tears of joy that trickled down his face. Sasami was dressed in the robes of a Shinto serving girl. Without a word, she stepped foward with three cups of sake stacked one atop the other and placed them on the altar. She bowed for a moment, in silent prayer, then backed quickly away. Naoki and Tanaka knelt side by side at the altar and Yosho stood over them. Yosho waited a moment, then began the ceremony. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you a lifetime of love in your marriage." He made the first prayer. In reply, as was the custom, Naoki and Makiya took turns drinking a sip from the topmost cup. Because Makiya could barely move her arms, Naoki held the cup for her. After Naoki set the cup down, Yosho made the second prayer: "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you prosperity in your marriage." Naoki and Makiya each took a second sip from the topmost cup. Naoki set the cup down and Yosho made the third prayer, the last one for the topmost cup. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you joy in your marriage." Naoki and Makiya each took their final sip from the topmost cup, which Sasami then took away and set upon a nearby tray. Yosho made the fourth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree keep watch upon your new home." He said, home referring to the home they would be building as husband and wife as well as to any simple structure which might also be called a house. Naoki and Makiya took the first sips from the middle cup. Naoki put the cup back down and Yosho made the fifth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you safety in your new home." Naoki and Makiya took the second sips from the middle cup. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you the gift of peace in your new home." Yosho made the sixth prayer Naoki and Makiya took the final sips from the middle cup, which Sasami took away and set alongside the first. Yosho began the seventh prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issue from this union the gift of good health." Naoki and Makiya took the first sips from the last cup. Then Yosho made the eighth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issue from this union the gift of prosperity." He prayed. Naoki and Makiya took the second sips from the third cup. Then Yosho made the ninth and final prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issure from this union the gift of happiness." He concluded. Naoki and Makiya took the final sips from the last cup. Then Naoki handed the cup to Sasami who took it away and placed it alongside the other two. Having handed away the last cup, he rose and turned to Makiya and spoke as she again bowed before him. "As your husband," he recited, as he'd been instructed, "I shall always keep you in my heart and home. I shall keep safe you and all offspring which you bear unto me. I shall be faithful unto you always and shall expect the same from you toward me." And then he bowed before her, sealing the promise he'd made her. Now the ceremony was over and it was time for the reception. Of course there was the traditional cake to be cut, but in order to do that, Makiya had to first change into a western-style dress, which was less restrictive. Once she was in her reception gown, the newlyweds cut the cake, which elicited a cheer from the others present. "Isn't this romantic?" Ryoko asked, leaning on Tenchi. Tenchi gulped. "Um. Ryoko?" "Ryoko! How dare you!" Ayeka challenged. Having gotten past the hurdle of actually getting married, Naoki was no longer in danger of fainting and had pretty much relaxed. He was enjoying the reception with Makiya Tana... he stopped himself. Makiya Kokomori, he made a mental note of her new name. He was about to thank Yosho again for performing the ceremony when he heard Ryoko and Ayeka. He calmly strolled over to them and looked them square in the eye.. "Galaxy Police Law twenty-five, subsection D, Paragraph one of the Intergalactic Arrest Accord states that you have the right to remain silent." he told them. "Please take advantage of it." Without waiting for them to reply, he turned and went back to his place at Makiya's side. Makiya was laughing, pleasantly. Ryoko and Ayeka exchanged looks. "Did he just tell *me* to shut up." Ayeka. "How *dare* he." "It *is* his wedding." Tenchi pointed out. "You keep out of this." Ayeka retorted. "Why don't *you* keep out of it?" Naoki suggested. Ayeka turned a very unflattering shade of purple as she turned toward him. "And just what is *that* supposed to mean?" "Well," Naoki shrugged, as he picked a piece of tempura up from his plate with his chopsticks and took a bite. "from what I've gathered, Ryoko was already here when you arrived and you've been doing everything you could, including baiting her and trying to make her get mad in front of Tenchi, to prevent them from having a relationship." "That isn't true!" Ayeka gasped. "You claim you love Tenchi." Naoki began "I do love him." "But you've never actually got to know him." Naoki pointed out as he continued speaking. "All you've done since you arrived is plot how you're going to get him away from Ryoko." "I..." Ayeka began. But then she realized he was right. She had been so busy working on getting Tenchi, that she had't actually taken time to know him. She fell silent as she contemplated what to do to remedy that. Yosho watched and listened from his place near the buffe tthat Sasami had laid out. He knew that if they ever found out about the fact that he hadn't really aged, they'd probably lynch him for putting Tenchi through all the trouble he'd gone through. After all, if Ayeka knew he was still young, she'd return her affections to him, wouldn't she. He was, after all, the reason she had come to Earth in the first place. Washu noticed his contemplativeness and joined him. "You know there are a couple of things you could do that would solve that problem. One, you could tell them the truth and take your chances." "And two?" Yosho asked. "I could marry Tenchi!" Washu perked up cheerfully. Everyone in earshot facefaulted. The reception continued on until late at night. No one really noticed the time. They were all enjoying themselves quite thoroughly. While the others were busy enjoying the reception, Makiya and Naoki slipped quietly out of the room and went upstairs to where the bedrooms were. They hadn't decide which of the two rooms they had previously occupied separately would be the best to sleep in. At the moment, however, her room was closer so they slipped into the room, quietly, and carefully closed the door. For a long while, they simply stood there and stared at each other. Then, Makiya undid her dress and let it fall from her body. It pooled at her feet so that she looked almost like a semi-clad angel standing in a cloud of white silk. As it turned out, Tenchi wasn't the only male in the house who got nosebleeds when he saw a woman in the nude. Makiya shook her head, smiling in amusement, as she got a tissue and wiped the blood off Naoki's face. "You poor thing." she said, gently. She felt his head lean against her hand as she reached over to throw the tissue away. When she looked in his direction, she saw that he had fainted. At least, she thought, he was nice enough to faint onto her futon so she didn't have to drag him over there. She drew the blanket up over him and snuggled up to him under it after going over to the wall and turning off the light. In the darkness, she felt him kiss her... Tenchi and the others retired to their rooms for the evening, one after the other, leaving Washu to tidy up after the party. Of curse, Washu planned to get even as she swept up after the party. "But Naoki and Makiya are making love!" Ryoko protested as she followed Tenchi. "Why can't we?" "Because we're not married." Replied Tenchi who was rather old fashioned about such matters. "Then let's get married and then we can make love." Ryoko pleaded, melodramatically. "Um, I can't tonight." "Why not?" Ryoko whined. "Headache." Tenchi pleaded. "Oh, my poor Tenchi!" Ryoko wailed. She began to drag him in the direction of Washu's lab. Tenchi began to think he'd picked the wrong excuse. "Um... Ryoko?" He began. What could he do. If he admitted he'd lied to her, she might get angry and she would certainly be hurt. Ryoko looked at him hopefully. "Yes, Tenchi?" She flirted. "Never mind." Tenchi gulped. Ryoko continued to drag him toward her mother's lab. "Don't trouble Washu." Tenchi told her. "it's just a headache." "Are you sure?" Ryoko asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "I'll just sleep it off." Tenchi assured her. "It'll be okay by morning." "Maybe I should sleep with you just in case." Ryoko offered. "Um, no thanks!" Tenchi replied, too quickly. He corrected himself. "I mean, I don't want you to lose any sleep." "You're just the *SWEETEST* thing!" Ryoko hugged Tenchi. "Sweet dreams, Tenchi." She said as she finally headed off to her own bed. Tenchi walked into his bedroom and sat on the futon, letting out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that's over." He told himself as he laid back with his hands behind his head. From the adjacent room he heard Naoki's and Makiya's voices, sometimes moaning, sometimes speaking, always very soft. Of course, there was no way to know exactly what they were doing, but one obvious idea came to Tenchi's mind... the kind of idea that usually gave him nosebleeds. He began to think that Washu's lab might not have been such a bad idea after all.