8-13-98 ----------------------------------------------------------------- The characters and locations expressed in this story are not mine and I take no credit for them. They belong to other people who worked hard to make them and I'm sure were paid. So all I take credit for is the "what if" plot contained here in. Email questions or comments, rants or praise to zetser0@yahoo.com This is a Sasami fic, and I rate it pg-13, or an iced tea with sugar and a hint of lemon. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Zetser and the Great Rosario-sama present... A Tenchi Fan Fiction: The Shojo of Choice by Todd Hortillosa The sun rose quietly over the Masaki shrine as the birds began their song and a lone crow cried out its solitary call that resonated throughout the valley around the Masaki shrine. It was mornings like this that still held an enchanting feeling to Yosho who sat at his table with the doors open wide. He sipped his green tea looking out at the horizon lost in thought. Most of the main chores had been done yesterday, only the daily laundry and sweeping were left. Tenchi and Mihoshi would be finished soon and the day would be left open. A day like this should not be wasted and continuing Tenchi's training should be the utmost priority, since he had school for the rest of the week. He sipped his tea again and sighed looking down into his cup. His wife had made the most excellent tea. She meant more to him than anything. Tenchi had three suitors practically throwing themselves at his feet. The thought of great grandchildren amused him and he often wondered how it would turn out. Tenchi might even take his place in Jurai as their leader, though he doubted it at this time. Should they ever need him, Yosho was sure he could nudge Tenchi in the right direction. Though he himself would not be able to go back to Jurai, he was sure he could work out something with Azaka and Kamadake. Yosho looked up at the blue sky and stood moving to the door. The all too familiar arguments that had become more ritual than anything else could be clearly heard from the house. Ryoko had served her time, seven hundred years of imprisonment by his hand, for the attack on his home world Jurai so long ago. She was a bit eccentric, but she would be quite loyal and guard Tenchi with her life, not that he needed guarding. She would be loving, maybe too loving, and Tenchi would have to adjust to her needs as well as fill his own. He'd also have to deal with Washu as a mother in law. Aeka would have to return with Sasami someday to Jurai. They were both princesses of the Royal House and it would be there duty, but there would be no need to carry it out for some time. Aeka would be a gentle and kind wife, though her attitude toward domesticity would be a problem. There was always Jurai to return to though. Sasami he thought, though still young, would make an excellent wife for Tenchi for whatever the future would bring, she would cook and care for him and probably change him so subtly he wouldn't even notice. For all her child like quiet and kind quality there was a fire in her personality that put her above any child of her mentality. The only thing that would prove a problem would be Tsunami. Yosho could only hope Tsunami new what she was doing when she assimilated with Sasami. Mihoshi had her job with the Galaxy Police, but there wasn't anything that kept her from blending in here on earth until she needed to go back to headquarters. She was a sweet girl, and for all her naïve and free spirited ways, she would make a great mother and wife. As for Washu, Yosho hoped she was only playing like she claimed she was. Yosho understood that Tenchi was quite unique, especially since he could generate a Light Hawk Wing from his own energy alone. Washu was flirting with him outrageously, though he was sure it was just to cause friction between the girls. He slid the door closed and seated himself at his table again sipping the now tepid tea, thoughts of his wife returning to him. He decided today was not such a perfect day for training after all. Tenchi sighed with relief as he put away the broom in the closet and made his way to the shed. Ryoko and Aeka had started in on him early this morning, something about guarding his room for him last night; he didn't want to know. He was thankful for Washu stepping in with one of those multi armed machines and hauling them off to her lab though. Tenchi had came to the conclusion that he wouldn't mind the attention so much if it were not for the fact he felt like a prize to be won, instead of being sought out for a relationship. He could not deny that having beautiful women fighting over him was such a bad thing even if one was a princess and the other a space pirate, but it was more something else he couldn't quite name. Maybe it was the fact that he couldn't find fault in all the trouble they caused. He knew now that they both loved him, he wasn't stupid, it was much more than an ego-trip for them. In fact the heart of the matter lay right there. They both were throwing promises of true and unconditional love in his face and he knew that until he chose one, both, or neither of them, that the fighting would not stop, and it would be his fault. Not that anyone could blame him though, breaking hearts is not something a normal person does for fun. He sighed and had brought his hand up to slide open the shed when a familiar sound rang through the air. "Miyaa!" " Ryo-ohki." He smiled "I know what you want, you little devil." He slid the door open the door and stepped inside. "You can only have one, ok?" His voice still playful yet firm. "Miyaa, miyaa miyaa miyaa" She bounced around happily. He took one of the bigger carrots from the straw basket and handed it to her, still amazed at how she could devour something so quickly. "Miyaa!" She thanked him before smashing her face into the wall of the shed, yet again forgetting to phase through it. She stood up a little dizzy but shook it off and happily ran out the door. Tenchi shook his head as he watched the little cabbit run off. "Baka..." he sighed, and went to gathering what Sasami would need for lunch. Sasami was the one person he could trust for peace and quiet. She would not chase him, or fight over him like the others; in fact she often could set Aeka and Ryoko off on some tangent with only a few words and a little reverse psychology. She could be quite devious when she wanted to, she was just very quiet about it. The fact that she was younger than him, if you didn't count the 700 year cryogenic sleep she was in on the way to earth, made him pay more attention to her. She was fun to be around, and she was a great cook. The first few weeks he had known her she instantly had become that little sister he never had, but as time went on he noticed she became more than that. She was a friend, someone to confide in and someone that looked up to him as an equal. He had to admit that much like her mother and her sister she was very beautiful and had all the signs of becoming even more beautiful a woman when she was older. He had given it some thought, and in four or five years, if he had not found anyone, he could try to win her over without age getting in the way. He knew of couples with more years than that between them. Still it was just a small fantasy of his. Every time he had a quiet moment alone with Aeka feelings moved in him that still seemed new to him. There was something about her that distracted him from such stray thoughts. Not that Ryoko's uninvited embrace did any less. "Tenchi?" "Huh?!" Startled by the voice interrupting his personal digression he turned almost dropping the basket of vegetables. "Oh , Sasami it's you. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in, heh heh." He stammered, regaining his composure. "That's all right Tenchi-nichan, I just came to make sure you got the vegetables. I saw Washu with that funny look on her face earlier and I thought she was out looking for you" she replied with a smile , a little sweat drop on the side of her head. "Yeah heh heh, but surprisingly she took Ryoko and your sister with her and didn't even look at me for once, and that worries me." He replied. Sasami chuckled and nodded. "Anyway, I'll go finish lunch. Could you set the table for me? Mihoshi fell asleep again." "Sure thing Sasami-chan, lets go." She laughed and took his hand after he closed the shed door smiling and looking up into his eyes. Tenchi looked at her and smiled, his eyes meeting hers. It only lasted a moment but she lost herself in his gaze, as if all time stopped. She felt something deep inside her that made her want to give herself over to him completely. She looked away from him blushing, not hiding her feelings so much as keeping herself in check from doing anything stupid. She knew that Tenchi had enough trouble in his life with her sister and Ryoko, he didn't need her to add to the confusion. It was around noon when lunch was ready and the table set. Mihoshi miraculously revived from her coma at the smell of food and was the first to make it to the table. The three waited for the rest to show up. It took longer than usual but after a good fifteen minutes Washu stepped into the kitchen. What came next were two girls , Aeka with an obvious nervousness, and Ryoko acting like her laid back usual self. Washu had a grin on her face that the Cheshire Cat would have envied. "Sorry we were late. I was just having a heart to heart talk with my daughter and the princess. He he , I think they will be behaving themselves from now on. Oh why look, there is one seat left next to Tenchi. I hope you two don't mind" She left it hanging there and walked over next to Tenchi and sat down. For as smart as Tenchi was he felt generally stupid for not positioning himself better at the table. But this was only a fleeting thought. Everyone , confused as well as ready to duck and cover, sat there wide eyed as Ryoko and Aeka both didn't seem to mind the fact that the best seat in the house was just robbed from them. "Heh, suit your self." Ryoko said halfheartedly as she sat down Aeka sat down as well , saying nothing. She seemed torn at the moment, though she never took her eyes off Washu. "Uh well, can we all eat now?" Mihoshi asked "Of course!" Washu replied with a smile on her face. She then hugged herself around one of Tenchi's arms and smiled girlishly up to him. "You just relax Tenchi, I'll feed you." She giggled and picked up her chopsticks picking up one of the fried dumplings. "Uh , that's okay Washu, I can feed myself really." He stammered with a nervous smile on his face, a sweat drop forming on the back of his head. He suddenly felt like a bug at ground zero of a nuclear test site. Aeka , Mihoshi noticed, was shaking violently and suddenly slammed her fists down on the table. "Oh I will not sit by having to watch this! Why are you doing this, just leave Lord Tenchi alone!" "Yeah! I'm not gonna let you Take Tenchi from me like this! Just wait till I get my hands on you Washu!" Ryoko raged as she stood up simultaneously with Aeka. Both converged on Washu to separate her from Tenchi when they both fell to the floor with sudden yelps of pain and surprise. Washu smiled at them and stood up "I see you like my hormonal modulators. Every time you start fighting over Tenchi you get a pleasant little surprise, and it varies what it does, so you won't ever get used to it" She laughed as the two mini Washu dolls popped up on her shoulders praising her. "This is all your fault Aeka, if you had just left me and Tenchi alone like we wanted none of this would ever have happened" She phased to a standing position glaring down at Aeka. "Me?! If I had not had stopped you when I did this morning , there is no telling what disgusting things you would have done to Lord Tenchi!" She exclaimed. She suddenly felt something in the pit of her stomach. "Nothing you wouldn't have done if you were all alone with him, and I was only standing guard in his room. I....I don't feel so good." They both suddenly bolted out the back door with collective nausea that could still be heard from the kitchen. "Yep. Works like a charm" Washu gloated Sasami , who was caught up in what had just played out hadn't noticed Tenchi sneak away. She sighed and looked disapprovingly at Washu. "That wasn't very nice you know." She scolded. She then decided that Tenchi might need help, and by the way it looked, Mihoshi's appetite would take care of the food she had made, so she set off searching for him. It was a half an hour before she found him in front of Funaho, Yosho's tree. Tenchi was lying back against it with his eyes closed and hands behind his head. She watched him quietly for a moment, he looked so peaceful she thought. She almost turned to go , not wanting to disturb him in his moment of peace, but she decided that she had to say something to make him feel better about all this. She stepped out from the trail quietly and walked over to where he sat. Tenchi opened his eyes and looked up at her and smiled slightly. "Uh , hi Sasami-chan. I thought I'd let things simmer down in there a bit. Sorry to run out on lunch." "That's okay, I understand why. Ryoko and Aeka are always fighting over you and Washu likes to make it worse." She said while sitting down next to him. "You know why they fight over you, don't you Tenchi?" It was obvious he did, but she wanted to hear it for herself. "Yeah, I do, it's just not as easy as you think it would be to pick one, I don't even know if I'm ready yet. I just wish there was an easier way." He replied softly. The sun was warm as it filtered through the trees , casting shadows that moved with the wind. Sasami couldn't help but gaze at him. He was handsome, but it was his heart and his mind, the way he spoke and the emotions that played across his face that captured her, that spoke of why she felt this way. It was new for her, and honesty was the only way she could go here. "Tenchi, you don't have to choose yet. I know that choosing means hurting one of them, and we are all friends. But you will choose, you have to. You'll break more than one heart when you do, there is no helping that, but you can't blame yourself. I've read shojo manga so I know how people feel about this. It's hard for the person choosing as well as the ones not chosen. If there is anything I've learned it's that love is not a fair game. You might not know it but Mihoshi, and even I wait for the day you choose." She looked down, a small blush on her face. It was all she could say, she only hoped he understood. There was only one thing left, so she decided to risk it. Tenchi sat up slowly looking at her. He watched her sitting there , words leaving him. She loved him as well. It all seemed to click into place, the way she cooked something special just for him with every meal, worried about him, and all the other little things. She had been letting him know the only way she knew how without causing added trouble. He didn't even notice that he was staring at her until she looked back up at him with her soft pink eyes. He felt something deep inside himself that made him forget her age, and the morals of this world as she closed her eyes and brought her parted lips up to his in a soft lingering kiss that she put all her warmth and love for him into. He felt her arms wrap around his neck , as he lost himself in her embrace. After what seemed like forever, but in truth could not have been more than a minute or two, she slowly brought her head back, her eyes meeting his. Tenchi held her gaze, not sure what to do now. It was so unexpected. Was this really the Sasami he had lived with all this time? Sasami looked away , slightly embarrassed. She wasn't sure she had done the right thing, but she knew it must have gotten her point across. She was just surprised at how wildly she had expressed her emotions to him. "I, I'm sorry Tenchi...I don't know why ..." "Um, no it's okay Sasami. I mean , um , I enjoyed it. I just never thought that, well you felt like this , until now." Tenchi said calmly, as he quelled the sudden urge to hide under a rock. She looked back up at him, then laid her head on his chest , her arms still around him. "I love you Tenchi, and I always will." She said softly "I don't want to lose you, but I'm ready to accept who ever you love Tenchi. I won't get in your way or fight about it like my sister. I just want you to be happy, even if it's not with me." She held him tighter as a tear trickled down her cheek. Tenchi tried to rationalize this in his mind, this beautiful young girl just poured her heart out to him. She felt small in his arms and he held her closer. He didn't know what to do. She was so young but it was clear she had given this quite a bit of thought. She was silent and still and her hair had a soft warm smell as the mid-afternoon sun played across her. She had on the teal and forest green kimono she usually wore and her hair pulled to either side. He knew in his heart that he loved this young beautiful girl. She was hardly a woman on the outside but her mind was very mature and she had a good heart. He would choose her, he thought. It would take time , but he knew he would choose her. He pulled back from her arms and smiled letting his eyes fill themselves with her. He brought his hand up and caressed her cheek softly. "I love you too Sasami." He said putting his heart into his words. She smiled , feeling her heart would burst as she gazed into eyes of her newfound love. "Oh Tenchi!" She hugged him tight , happier than she had ever been before. Somewhere inside of her she could tell Tsunami was overjoyed in this event. She had a sudden pang of jealousy at the fact Tsunami might take over a some intimate moment when she and Tenchi were alone, but that all melted away as Tenchi lifted her chin gently an kissed her passionately. Tenchi knew he would not be able to do this again for a while so he inwardly smiled and made this a kiss she'd never forget. He started slow parting her lips with his and with gentle pressure his tongue met hers exploring and tasting its sweetness. New to this she tentatively did exploring of her own finding the sensation exciting her inner most desires. The kiss lasted a good fifteen minutes , though they never even noticed the passage of time. Tenchi ended the kiss slowly pulling back , sucking her bottom lip softly as he went . Sasami opened her eyes slowly, the wanting feelings still coursing through her as their eyes met. She looked down a small blush on her face. It was the first time she had ever been kissed this way, though she had read about it any number of times, and she knew she would never forget this moment. "I think we should go back" Tenchi said quietly. Sasami nodded and stood up with Tenchi. They held each other's hand as they walked back. As they neared the house they heard something and Tenchi went ahead of Sasami to see what it was, but the scene that played out before him made him afraid. There stood Ryoko over Washu , who was hog tied on the ground in ropes. Aeka stood at Washu's feet holding a leather whip, the lashing end wrapped around Washu's neck and her foot in the middle of Washu's back as she held the whip taught. Ryoko was wearing a pair of candles that were tied to her head by a white cloth. She held one of the little Washu dolls in one hand and a fork in the other. "H-hey now, can't you two take a joke?" Washu asked pleadingly. Tenchi had never known Washu to leave her back unguarded , so he knew that Ryoko and Aeka must have called a truce to pull this one off. "Heh! Not likely, if you called that little stunt of yours a joke, I really don't like your sense of humor ." Ryoko said as she stabbed the fork into the doll's arm. "OWW! Hey I give up!" Washu cried , still trying to keep calm about this. "Not likely Washu-chan." Aeka replied with angry look on her face. She then pulled the whip harder tightening it around Washu's neck and laughing. " Oh ho ho ho! I'll tech you to treat a Jurai Royal Princess that way!" she exclaimed maniacally. Tenchi looked at Sasami who seemed just as afraid as him. "I don't think we should tell them about us yet." Sasami noted as she watched her sisters chastise Washu. "No, not yet. Definitely not yet" Tenchi replied, rubbing the back of his head, a sweat drop forming. Yosho sat at his table in deep thought. Sasami, he thought to himself. She was a good choice but he knew he'd have to wait this one out to the end to see where it was going. He would definitely have to have a talk with her though. It was late in the afternoon and the bickering from below could be heard quite clearly from his vantagepoint in the shrine. The day was still warm and the was sun a light orange color that hung over the horizon as twilight approached and most of the birds had ceased singing. Nobiyuki would be home from work soon and he decided he would join them for dinner tonight and stood making his way down to the house. ---------------------- I'd like to thank Robbie and Kirsy for support, I'm not comfortable writing , let alone making it public. I'd also like to add that Pedophiles are evil and I find Sasami Lemon fics down right disgusting, there is a line between romance and hentai. Some peple just go too far. -- Todd Hortillosa Proud memeber of #SAS - The Sasami Appreciation Society - since 1996