The characters don't belong to me and I'm not making any money from this writing. This is a continuation of The Bet. The Sneakiness By Kenzie Kennedy Ryoko yanked open another photo album and paged through it quickly. Washu thought she was with Tenchi. Ryoko chuckled. Fooled you, mom. Placing the discarded photograph album on the pile, she grabbed another one. Come on, Washu, you've got to have your wedding pictures somewhere. Ryoko thought to herself as she flipped through one and grabbed another. Washu made sure everyone else had a gown and a headpiece but not herself. Then she had offered Ryoko her wedding dress by absentee, saying it was destroyed by her own error. Washu hadn't chosen a wedding dress. That was the whole point. Bingo! Ryoko's mind chorused. There were the wedding pictures. "Oh," Ryoko breathed. Washu's gown was lovely. A long train with ruffles and lace, long sleeves that clung to the shoulders, but widened at the elbows and draped down her hands. The lace and satin dripped down her middle. Oh, Mommmm.....! The man beside her was resplendent in his black suit. They gazed at each other with so much love in their eyes. Ryoko slammed the photo album. Will my marriage end this way? Tenchi is royalty after all and I'm just a space pirate, an experiment.... *** Ryoko sneaked to her bedroom with a stolen photo in her hand. I'm not stealing it, she thought to herself. I'm just looking at it for a long period of time. Wait a minute! Me, the space pirate, not wanting to steal? Ryoko considered that thought. Well, I never did steal from family. Ryoko secured the picture in her room with her mother's dress and hairpiece showing clearly on it. She smirked and went to find Tenchi. *** Tenchi had just finished bowing to his grandfather when Ryoko arrived. "Ah, Ryoko. I have been meaning to talk with you." Yosho said. Ryoko approached warily. "You, too, Tenchi," he said to the boy who was trying to sneak off. Both of them sat down on the porch with him. He sighed and spoke. "You two will be getting married soon. This is a high responsibility. You have not been in a relationship long. I do not advise it." "Grandfather-" Ryoko began hesitantly. "Grandfather," Tenchi said angrily, "with all due respect you were the one who didn't tell me about the law, you were the one who pushed me into the idea of proposing, so I hardly think-" "Wait a minute!" Ryoko stood up. "You were Pushed into proposing to me?" "No. Grandfather kept after me, though." Tenchi directed an angry gaze his grandfather's way, but Ryoko caught his attention again really fast. "Oh, so you proposed because someone kept bugging you about it. Wow, if that's the case maybe I should have tried it earlier." Ryoko said sarcastically. "Ryoko, he may have planted the seed in my head, but I wanted to marry you." Tenchi said trying to head off the argument. "Oh, you wanted to? As in past tense? So that's why you've been asking me so much if I want to go through with it!" Ryoko flared up at him. "Ryoko..." Tenchi said trying to calm himself down. "What?" she screamed at him. "You do love me, don't you?" he asked. Ryoko looked at him and huffed. "Yes," she said grudgingly. "Then why don't we sit down and talk about it." Tenchi tried. "I'm just as happy where I am." Ryoko said haughtily. "Grandfather told me that I might be considering marriage. I considered it. He asked again. I considered it until I managed to get up the amount of courage to ask Washu-" "Washu?" Ryoko said shocked. "-for your hand in marriage." Tenchi finished. "Oh, so I'm something that she's trading off!" Ryoko yelled. "On Earth it's customary to ask the father for the daughter's hand. If he says yes, then you can ask the girl. Could you see me trying to ask the mass for your hand?" Tenchi said, sounding exasperated. Ryoko glared at him. Tenchi looked at her with a hopeful smile. The corner of Ryoko's mouth twitched. Tenchi's eyes started to sparkle. Ryoko finally had to hold her sides in laughter. Tenchi reached out his hand and she took it. Smiling at each other, they hugged fiercely. "Bravo." Tenchi's grandfather said looking at them fondly. Holding Ryoko's hand, Tenchi looked at his grandfather coldly. Yosho grinned. "Just a test. I dare anyone to say that you won't make a good marriage now. Ryoko angry, and still you calm her down, Tenchi, while furious at me. Very good." Tenchi sighed and his shoulders slumped. He should have known it was just another of his grandfather's tricks. *** Tenchi and Ryoko walked down the steps hand in hand. They came to the place where they had watched the fireworks and glanced at each other. The next thing Tenchi knew Ryoko was all over him. Her mouth was pressed hard against his and her hands were crawling all over his back. His lips moved against hers, telling her no, but she didn't listen. He finally had to dodge away from her. He looked at her form, standing there, defeated. "Ryoko, why..?" he asked lost. "You don't want me." She said solemnly. "Not that way." Tenchi agreed with her. "Not now." "So when will it be right?" she asked with her eyes blazing into his. "About ten days from now." He joked. She jumped back from him as if burned. "Then I'll see you in ten days." She phased away. Tenchi looked around and then slumped. "What did I do?" he wondered. *** Ryoko appeared in the house. She ran straight to the lab door, flung it open, and ran inside. All she could think about was getting to her garden. *** Washu's ears perked up. Running and the sound of...crying? She tapped into the link very gently and found that it was Ryoko who was crying. Pulling the helmet from her head, she ran after her daughter's sounds. Washu finally found her struggling with the doorknob. "Why won't it open?" she sobbed. She slumped down the door to her back. Her mother knelt down. "Little Ryoko?" she said softly. "What's wrong?" Ryoko just cried harder. Washu slipped into her adult form and cradled her daughter against her. When the crying had gotten under control, Washu pulled a handkerchief out of thin air and handed it to Ryoko. Ryoko blew her nose noisily and dried her eyes. "Now what's the problem?" Washu said again. "I-I'm scared." Ryoko confessed. "Of what?" Washu said patiently. "Of-of, oh, you know!" Ryoko said impatiently. From what was leaking through the link, Washu did know. "The wedding night?" she guessed. Ryoko nodded. "Ryoko, I know very well that I gave you the talk on the birds and the bees when you were nine, just the same as Chiro." Washu said sternly. "Yeah, and then we went out and got our ears pierced." Ryoko grinned. "You figured we were grossed out enough not to worry about the small wince of pain." "Yes, but then you let yours grow over." Washu reminded her. Ryoko's smile faded as it came back to the problem. "Washu, what do two people...do?" Washu looked at the fearful look on her daughter's face. "They have fun." Washu told her simply. "How?" Ryoko asked. Washu laughed and helped her daughter up. "This is one piece of life you're going to have to figure out on your own." At Ryoko's glance, she sighed. "I am not going to explain it again. You and Tenchi will be fine. Most couples figure it out. What sparked this fear?" "Tenchi said he didn't want to. I kissed him and tried to get him to touch me, but he said he didn't want to." Ryoko's eyes glistened. "That's because earthlings have this strange notion that you have to be "pure and untouched" on your wedding night." Washu told her wryly. "Some Juraians, too." "Were you?" Ryoko asked. Washu grinned. "Nope." Walking a little down the corridor, Washu turned and asked, "Funaho wanted to speak with you. Come on?" Ryoko nodded and jogged after her. *** Funaho appeared a half hour after she was called. "Sorry I'm late." She said as she sat down. "No rush. What's going on?" Washu asked easily. "News reporters. They seem to think we're hiding something about Ryoko. We're not, but they think we are. They're coming up with all sorts of questions. How many systems did she/Kagato destroy? Is she a virgin? Is she going to listen to the people, etc?" Funaho threw up her hands. "I left them with Misaki." "Kagato with her as a tool destroyed 83 systems and yes she is to both of the latter questions." Washu said coolly. "So what did you want to speak about?" "I wanted to know if Ryoko would like the garden in the square. I had it plowed under today. The plants had all died from someone throwing battery pack acid on them from a standard issue gun. There are plenty of greenhouses around and either I or Misaki could go with her." Funaho offered. Ryoko looked eagerly at her mother. "You don't have to ask my permission, Ryoko. I lifted curfew on you when you were fifteen." Washu told her. Ryoko turned to Funaho and nodded eagerly. "When?" she asked. "Would tomorrow be too soon?" Funaho asked. "No, tomorrow's just fine." Ryoko smiled. The phone shut off. Ryoko sat back. Washu groaned mentally. Another garden. Where would the madness end? Washu heard Tenchi enter the lab followed by Ayeka and Balar. "Ryoko, your friends are here." She said. Ryoko snapped out of her trance and flew off toward the library. *** In the middle of the lesson, Washu poked her head in and asked if Tenchi could come out. She directed him to the phone and left him to talk with his father. Tenchi tried to get whole sentences out of his dad, but most what he got was "your mother...proud", "ryoko and you...happy life", and "I'll be there on the wedding day". Washu winked as the phone cut off. "The conference must be going longer than we thought?" "Washu, did you-" Tenchi began. "Nope. Technical difficulties with the phone. It doesn't do Earth to Earth atmosphere very well. I usually send a fax to the restaurants. I didn't do anything with the conference either." Washu walked back into her lab and Tenchi went to the library. *** After lessons were over, Tenchi and Ryoko went up to her garden to do her chores together. Balar and Ayeka looked at each other fondly as they left. "Wonder what they'll get up to while we're gone?" Ryoko whispered. Tenchi elbowed her in the side as they walked. She grinned and conveniently put her hand beside his. Tenchi, taking the hint, held her hand tightly as they walked to the house. *** "So what are you going to do this evening?" Tenchi asked, pulling at a stubborn weed. "I have no idea. Did you have something in mind?" Ryoko asked coyly. Then the photograph popped into her head. "Oh, I have to have a dress made. I wonder if Ayeka would know anywhere." Tenchi rubbed the dirt off his hands. "We'll ask her later." He kissed Ryoko passionately. The trowel fell out of her limp hands. When the kiss ended, Tenchi cradled Ryoko's cheek in his hands. "So why did you disappear?" he asked softly. "I thought that you didn't want me." She said. "Oh," Tenchi said slowly. He tilted her head up and looked into her eyes with a fire burning behind them. "Can you doubt that?" She shook her head. "Why don't we go find Ayeka and ask her about the dress?" The two of them got off their knees and shook off the dirt. *** Ayeka looked up from her movie when the door opened. She expected Washu who wouldn't comment on Balar leaning on her chest. When Tenchi and Ryoko walked in, she sat up straight causing Balar to fall off. "Hello," she said trying to sound calm. Tenchi looked embarrassed like he had interrupted something and Ryoko winked at her. "Ayeka, would know a really good dressmaker? One that can make something from a picture and a set of measurements?" Ryoko asked. Ayeka thought. "No, but I'm sure Misaki would." At Ryoko's shocked look, Ayeka's smile tilted up. "Misaki handles the dresses, the jewelry, etc. Funaho handles the public with her calm manner." She got up and walked over to the television. Popping the movie out of its machine, she dialed the number and asked for Misaki. Misaki sat down moments later and smiled at her daughter. "So dear, you said you had a question?" she asked a few minutes later after the greetings and re-introductions were over. Ayeka repeated Ryoko's question. Misaki hemmed and hawwed over it a bit. "I would have to say the seamstress Pira. She's good enough and she won't flinch at it being Ryoko." Her eyes flickered to Ryoko. "Sorry, dear, but your name does incite fear in people who don't know you." She brightened suddenly. "But I can tell you that I'll be walking you around to the greenhouses tomorrow." "Mother, where would Pira be?" Ayeka asked. "She'd be in Jurai. I can take Ryoko tomorrow on our outing." Misaki said good-bye to everyone and cut the phone. Washu popped her head into the library. "Sasami's calling everyone for dinner." *** After dinner, Ayeka and Balar decided to take a walk as a break from their sore fingers. Both of them had looked at the yarn with longing and then at their worn hands wishfully. Ayeka walked sedately beside Balar. He spoke suddenly, "Why were you upset when I asked if we were going to get married?" Ayeka forced herself to keep walking and not stop. "Well, I was shocked." "Why?" Balar asked. "We haven't known each other very long." She said as an excuse. "But if we had known each other longer, would you still have been shocked?" he returned. Ayeka bowed her head. "I guess I would have." Tossing her head, she said to him, "Oh, Balar! You don't know enough yet." "Explain it to me, my darling Ayeka?" Balar said softly. Ayeka was startled. He used the words that her brother had used when they were engaged. She sighed. "You know that I am a princess. What you don't know is that princesses marry royalty." "Explain royalty to me." Balar asked. "Royalty is the family that is chosen to govern people. My father is emperor of Jurai. He makes the laws and enforces them. I am a princess and I am supposed to marry one of royal birth." Ayeka said sorrowfully. "But Tsunami said that she would look after you." Balar pointed out. Ayeka smiled. "That is true. Tsunami will provide a way for us to be together if that is what you decide you want." "That is exactly what I want. But I would like to meet your father before we go further." Balar told her. Ayeka nodded. *** Ryoko flung the books down on the table. "There!" she said proudly. Tenchi looked up from the television. "What are those?" he asked. "These are books. You open them and look at the pretty pictures." Ryoko teased. Tenchi rolled his eyes. "Why so many?" he asked. "I thought you might like to pick a few favorites for the garden on Jurai. After all, you're going to inherit it." Ryoko asked. Tenchi sighed and got up. He walked over to the table, flipped through a few books, and settled on a page. Slipping an arm around Ryoko's waist, he pulled her closer and pointed to three of them. "Those," he said and kissed her cheek. Ryoko melted into his embrace. He actually wanted to touch her! "But those three don't grow on Jurai." She taunted. The door opened to the library and Washu came in, muttering under her breath. She walked straight to the ladder and swung herself over. Pulling a book out, she climbed down the ladder. Two steps before the door, she said, "Ryoko, I need to see you for a moment." Ryoko sighed and Tenchi grinned. He tugged her hand and they walked out of the library. *** "What is it?" Ryoko asked crossly. "Sit there." Washu pointed, her eyes gathering information from the book. Ryoko sat. Washu made minute adjustments to the machine and then hit the yellow button. Ryoko felt nothing. Well, nothing out of the ordinary. After a moment, Washu hit it again. "Okay, you're done. Tenchi, your turn." The procedure was repeated and then Washu looked at them. "You're both as healthy as can be. Make sure you stay that way until the wedding." "Ryoko, the florist sent a message. The fireflowers will be hard to get, but she'll get them. They're going to be paired with snapdragons and some white flower I've never heard of. The dresses are being made, the food is about ready, the next problem is your wedding cake." "But Sasami said-" Ryoko objected. "Sasami needs to know which one you want. Please no almond frosting, though." Washu held up a hand. "These are your choices." Pictures flew by of cakes and Ryoko and Tenchi's eyes started to burn. "Now, my favorite is this vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting and purple rosettes, but that's just my favorite." Washu trailed off. "That's fine." Ryoko said, glancing at Tenchi. "Um, how many people is that supposed to feed?" "Let me worry about that." Washu waved them away. Her clipboard came out and crossed off The Cake. She sighed and watched the two flee. "This is getting to be a fiasco with all the guests I have to invite." She glanced at her computer which was now numbering the guests into the six hundred mark. Washu sighed again.