Chapter 2 Kiyone sighed as she sat on the couch, for once in her life nothing wild to do. There was no patrol to be done. There was no need to save Mihoshi. There was absolutely no need to instinctively recall Galaxy Police protocol. In short, she was just sitting there, with absolutely no purpose whatsoever and without a single care in the world. Kiyone was uncomfortable. "Kiyone? Kiyone, where are you?" Kiyone almost tipped backwards, for it had been a long time since she heard her partner's voice. Ever since being paired up with Mihoshi, Kiyone had quickly learned to associate that voice with trouble, pain, and a lot worse. It was a wonder that Kiyone didn't resign out of Galaxy Police for psychological reasons. "Oh, there you are! I was wondering where you were." Mihoshi made her way to the couch, and she plopped down. "Say Mihoshi, is there anything that needs to be done here?" Mihoshi looked pensive for a moment as if she were trying to think. Kiyone grumbled as she looked around. It was just too peaceful, too calm, something that she hadn't experience for a long time. It was strange that she seemed to miss her job. "Well, sometimes I help Tenchi's grandfather clean the shrine. And there's Sasami, sometimes we cook dinner together, and... Well, I don't know, time just seems to pass by here!" Mihoshi started to giggle uncontrollably, and Kiyone knew there was just no way she could get anything more useful information. "I'm home." The front door slid open, and in came Tenchi. Almost immediately, two things happened. One, the calm nature of the entire home was no more. Oh yeah, and number two, almost everyone crowded the entryway. Tenchi walked into the main room, still carrying his bookbag. It was Saturday. "Hi Kiyone, so how was your day?" Tenchi stood there, carefully loosening the collar to his uniform as to unrestrict his breathing. Kiyone shrugged her shoulders. "Pretty calm, I guess that's a good thing." Tenchi smiled. "Well that's great to hear. I guess I'd better go do my homework." Tenchi sighed as he walked out the door. But before he could get there, Ryoko materialized right behind him in a tight embrace. "Tenchi, why do you need to do all of your work? Come on, why won't you play with me?" Ryoko began overpowering Tenchi and started to drag him towards her bedroom. "We can play in bed right now." "Ryoko! Let go of Tenchi this instant!" Ryoko stared at Ayeka who was fuming at the sight of Ryoko making her move on Tenchi. "If I knew any better, I'd teach you a lesson right now!" Tenchi meanwhile was struggling to get out of Ryoko's grasp before he could get caught in the imminent fight. "Come on, there's no reason to fight." Mihoshi reached into the ensuing tangle of girls, and dragged out Tenchi. "Right Tenchi?" Kiyone watched the fight in the corner of the room continue unabated and Mihoshi drag a stunned Tenchi out of the living room. Kiyone slapped her face. "Those idiots. Is it always like this?" This was definitely a strange household. Almost immediately, there was a sigh. "Yes, it's always like this." Kiyone looked at Sasami, who for some reason seemed a lot older than her real age. "But, it's sure fun!" Sasami giggled like a little girl. "So, do you want to help me cook lunch?" Kiyone nodded her head, because there seemed like nothing better to do. * * * Kiyone watched as Sasami carefully prepared lunch. As her mind slowly idled, she felt that indeed that there was a certain peace in this house. It was at first disorientating, because she had spent a great deal of her life on edge, whether it be arresting criminals or looking out for her partner. But now, she had adapted somewhat to the life. Sasami looked around. "Some carrots." Both Sasami and Kiyone looked around, but no carrots were to be found at all. Sasami giggled. "I guess Ryo-Ohki ate them all again. Well, I guess you have to go to the fields, and ask Tenchi to bring some back." Kiyone nodded, and she went to the door. "The fields are in that direction, you can't miss them." Sasami pointed in the proper direction with her ladle. Kiyone briskly walked up the stairs part way to the shrine, but made a quick turn about halfway to go to the fields. After a few more minutes of walking, she finally reached the fields. She couldn't help but notice Tenchi working, carefully pulling the carrots out of the ground and throwing them into a basket that he had slung over his shoulder. Without complaint, he dutifully did his job in silence. "Hey, Tenchi!" Tenchi paused in his work to look up. When he noticed Kiyone, he smiled, and put down his work. "Hi, Kiyone, what are you doing here?" Tenchi wiped some sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He stood up straight. "Well, Sasami wanted to have some carrots." Almost immediately, Tenchi started to laugh. Perplexed, Kiyone stared at Tenchi for a moment. "Let me guess, Ryo-Ohki ate the carrots?" Groaning a bit, Tenchi slung the heavy basket filled with carrots over his shoulder, and slowly walked towards Kiyone. "I guess I've harvested enough carrots to last three days. Ryo-Ohki really likes the stuff. And to think she's really a spaceship." Tenchi slowly walked besides Kiyone on the way down the hill. "So how do you like it on Earth?" Tenchi asked while struggling not to fall backwards and dump all of the carrots on the steps. Kiyone thought for a moment as she continued down the stairs. "I like it. Although I'm not completely comfortable with the fact that I really do not have any obligations here." She steadied Tenchi for a moment. "I mean, well, you know." Strangely enough, she found herself somewhat longing for the good old days, where she had cases to solve, criminals to capture. "Well, you should take advantage of this moment. I mean, I'm sure that a Galaxy Police Officer's life must be crazy at times." Tenchi sighed as he felt the carrots weighing down on his back. Doggedly, he continued. "Well, feel free to stay at my home as long as you like. I mean, one more guest isn't going to make my life any more hectic." Kiyone thought for a moment, for what Tenchi said seemed quite tempting. So tempting in fact, that she might just take up his offer. Besides, she was willing to admit to herself that her nerves were beginning to get a little frayed from stress in the police force. * * * "Tenchi!" Tenchi almost sighed when he heard that beautiful voice. Unfortunately for him, that beautiful voice almost heralded the coming of a great amount of trouble. All Tenchi could do was brace himself, and prepare for the worse. "Tenchi! Do you want to elope?" Kiyone almost leaped backwards 20 feet when Ryoko materialized around Tenchi. "Geesh Ryoko, I'm too young to elope!" Although, Tenchi didn't seem to displeased with the closeness of Ryoko's body. Well, in reality, Tenchi was quite paralyzed by the fact that a lush and firm woman's body was pressed up against him. In situations like this, he just didn't know what to do. Kiyone started to laugh silently as the situation moved from pretty bad to terrible. The other girls showed up. First Ayeka, who had to completely freak out. Then Sasami, who obviously tried to get Tenchi out of the way of the fighting, while Mihoshi tried to break up the fight. Kiyone shook her head once again, as she walked into the house. She just knew that her life here was sure to be interesting, in its own way. And at the same time, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Tenchi, who was obviously stuck in a rut. Either way, he would have to be stuck with Ryoko and Ayeka's constant fighting, and should he finally pick one, the wrath of the other is sure to be quite terrifying. Seating herself at the dinner table, she banished all thoughts from her mind as she stared at the wonderful meal that Sasami had prepared. It was definitely going to be a good meal, unlike standard rations. Well to make a long story short, dinner turned out to be quite, uneventful, as Tenchi was able to control Ryoko and Ayeka by feigning anger, and not speaking to either of them. Actually dinner was pretty short, with Tenchi going upstairs to study, leaving the others to do as they please. Well, in most cases, the girls wanted to sneak in on Tenchi. Ryoko silently walked towards the stairs, however, she wasn't stealth enough to avoid Ayeka's critical glare. "Ryoko, what do you think you are doing going up the stairs?" Kiyone was shaken, as she was getting quite engrossed into a magazine. Ryoko immediately assumed an air of innocence. "Well, gee, princess isn't it obvious? I'm going upstairs to give Tenchi a backrub," Ayeka started to fume and she walked briskly to Ryoko. "and maybe something extra." Ryoko smiled rather wickedly. Kiyone by now had dropped her magazine, and watched the developing fight with Sasami, Washu, and Mihoshi. "Well, Tenchi needs to be alone right now, and that means you too Ryoko." Ayeka seized Ryoko's arm, and started to drag her away from the stairs. "What manners you have, trying to involve Tenchi with your lecherous activities!" "What? It's perfectly natural for lovers to have these urges." Ryoko stared down Ayeka, who stared back fiercely. "Well, who ever said you were lovers? I wouldn't think Lord Tenchi would associate himself with the likes of you." Ayeka said plainly at Ryoko. "You're a space pirate, remember?" "Yeah, well you're a stuck up royal snob." Ryoko shouted back. Both warring females came together with a crash and started an all out brawl. Washu and Sasami stood up. "Well, Ayeka," said Sasami. "If you're so busy, I'll go see Tenchi." Both girls ran up the stairs, leaving the battle behind them. Apparently, Ryoko and Ayeka didn't register this for awhile. Some three minutes later, Grandfather Masaki, who was calmly reading the newspaper in the shrine office, thought he could hear two women scream, "Sasami!" in the distance. * * * Tenchi came walking down the stairs with Sasami seated on his shoulders, and Washu poking at him. "Well, I just finished studying, and" Tenchi's eyes practically rolled out as he noticed Mihoshi, Ryoko, and Ayeka lying on the ground gasping for air as if they had been swimming forever. "Hey, are all of you all right? Were you fighting again?" Tenchi stared at Ryoko and Ayeka, both unable to respond at the moment. Tenchi smiled, and swung Sasami down. "Ayeka, Ryoko, why can't you two be mature like Washu and Sasami? I mean, fighting isn't always the way to get things done. Well, never mind. I'm going to go train with Grandfather." "Tenchi, I more mature other ways as well." Washu asked while rubbing her cheek into Tenchi's stomach. "I want to run a couple more tests on you, and you can find out how mature I really am." Almost playfully, Washu grabbed onto Tenchi's pants and tugged gently. "I want to get that sample again." Tenchi visible gulped, and he was out the door in a flash. "Sorry Washu, I don't have the time. Well you know how angry Grandfather gets when I'm late. Anyway, I don't know." Tenchi was out the door in a flash. Ryoko and Ayeka both started to direct some of their anger at Washu. "Miss Washu! How dare you try to trick Tenchi again! If I could..." At that moment, Ryoko pushed Ayeka over the couch. "Take five." Ryoko turned back to Washu. "Mom! Tenchi's mine, and there is no way I'm going to let you toy with him like that!" Ryoko started grumbling and lightning started to arc through her hair. While Ryoko was talking, Ayeka picked herself up, and marched over to Ryoko when she gave Ryoko a slap. Ryoko growled, and she threw herself at Ayeka. Both girls fought on the ground, completely forgetting Washu. "Um, I think I left my sword behind." Tenchi walked into the room with embarrassment written all over his face. He noticed the giant squirming tangle on the ground. "Ryoko, Ayeka! What did I say about fighting in the house?" Ryoko and Ayeka both froze. "Um, Tenchi, we're not fighting. Um, Ayeka and I are, um, playing together. It's really fun, wanna join in?" Ryoko's voice adapted a more sexy tone that made Tenchi blush like a red light bulb. He stammered out. "No thanks." Grabbing his sword, which he had left on the mantle awhile ago, he left again. "Ryoko, what were you implying!" Ayeka's face was filled with rage, enough rage to make a demon look like a happy carefree child. "Hey, do you want Tenchi to get angry at us for fighting? He might not speak to us for a week!" Ryoko explain, while quickly climbing off Ayeka. Ayeka stood up and brushed her robes clean. "You have a point there. But never ever again make such insinuations!" * * * "So, Kiyone, how do you like the bath?" Mihoshi was her cheerful self as she slowly eased herself into the warm pool. Mihoshi sighed as her body started to soak in the warmth. Kiyone stretched comfortably and looked at the crystal clear water. "Well, Mihoshi, I didn't know that you had it so well here. I mean, I've never had such a relaxing bath before in my entire life. I can feel my entire body loosening up." Mihoshi giggled, as she brought out her bathing toys. Kiyone groaned silently. "Well, Mihoshi, I wanted to know. Why are you interested in Tenchi? I'm sure with your status you could get a more impressive man." Immediately, Kiyone noticed a change overcome Mihoshi. For one thing, she wasn't giggling like crazy now, in fact she was blushing quite intensely. Mihoshi brought her two index fingers together and started to flex them quite nervously. "Well, well, well, oh Kiyone, you're embarrassing me! I mean what's the least I can do, especially when he's saved my life twice." Kiyone watched as Mihoshi melted into the water like warm butter. Kiyone moaned and stretched her legs out trying to feel the warm water a little more. "Um, Kiyone, what do you think are my chances with Tenchi." Kiyone eyed Mihoshi a little weirdly since her face had a slight pinkish hue to it. "Please Kiyone, I want your opinion. Can you tell me! Can you tell me!" Kiyone brushed her green hair back with her fingers. "I don't know Mihoshi. I guess it depends on whatever is happening between you and Tenchi. Oh wow, look at the time. I can't spend my life wasting away in this bath. I'll be going." Kiyone stood up, and left Mihoshi. Yawning contently, Kiyone made her way to the entrance. * * * "Tenchi! I'm impressed. Before, you've never been able to hit me at all." Yosho stood grinning above his grandson. Unlike his grandfather, Tenchi couldn't return the smile. He was too busy trying to get the ignore the bruises all over his body. For one thing, he was still sort of outclassed by his grandfather. "Well Tenchi, up you go." His grandfather picked up Tenchi, and patted him on the back. Not a good thing. Immediately, Tenchi winced as before in combat, Yosho sent a blow so hard that in the process of parrying it, Tenchi was thrown backwards into the tree. "Go take a nice hot bath, you deserve it. How about this, since you've recently been improving, you don't have to practice at all tomorrow." Tenchi stiffly bowed, and he made his way down the hill to the bath. Tenchi although stiff and sore all over, he couldn't help but smile a bit. His grandfather was certainly amazed that he was aggressive. Of course, after striking his grandfather early on, the training became a giant beating for him. Grabbing a hold of a towel, and taking of his clothes, Tenchi thought about the warm water washing away his bruises. Taking care to wrap himself in the towel, Tenchi slid open the door. * * * There was a gasp, a splash of blood, and a final breath as a body impacted with the ground. Slowly, blood trickled from the body into the drain in a spiral pattern. No this is not Psycho. Kiyone practically screamed in surprise at the fact that Tenchi had completely keeled over at the sight of her. First of all, she was beginning to think that Tenchi was a complete pervert, having the audacity to peep in on her. She was stuck between kicking the body in front of her into a pulp or just leaving him there. Fortunately, Mihoshi came running up. "Kiyone, what happened? Oh dear, Tenchi!" Mihoshi completely ignoring the fact that she was nude grabbed Tenchi, and was dragging him out of the bath. "Mihoshi, what do you think you're doing? He saw my body! I'm going to kill him for that." Mihoshi giggled, and waved her hand at Kiyone. "Kiyone, no need to be so concerned for Tenchi. I mean, he fainted once, when Ryoko undressed in front of him. And he couldn't remember a thing at all." Mihoshi giggled. "I'll get Sasami to attend to him." Sasami patiently fanned Tenchi. "There, there, Tenchi. Just take it easy." Sasami sighed mentally, for this was already the third time Tenchi fainted this year. He was just a wee bit too sensitive, but then again, it was an endearing trait of his that made him seem such more likable. * * * Tenchi bowed before Kiyone, who was beginning to forget her experiences in the bathroom. Surprisingly, after this accident, normal enemies banded together to a common cause of trying to justify Tenchi's actions. Kiyone was just surprised that Ayeka and Ryoko were less than a yard apart, and not fighting at all. Both were simultaneously trying to explain that Tenchi was a decent guy. And after they were done, they tore at each other's throats. "I'm sorry Kiyone, it will never happen again." Tenchi stammered out. Kiyone looked at Ryoko and Ayeka both duking it out on the ground. "I didn't know that you were in the bath, and I guess I was too careless." Kiyone began to say something, but never got the chance to start. "Oh, Tenchi." A subspace portal open up next to him, and out stepped Washu. "I was kind of lonely working in the lab alone, so I was wondering... whether I could do any tests on you. Come now, my guinea pig." Washu latched onto Tenchi's arm, and dragged him to the door to her lab. "Washu, you aren't joking? Are you going to do anything bad?" Washu laughed evilly. "No, no, no, Tenchi, I'm just going to have a little fun. And if you don't resist, it might be fun for you too." "No!" Tenchi screamed as Washu closed the door to her lab behind her. Kiyone looked in amazement. It was obvious that 12 year girl was no threat at all to Tenchi. * * * "Washu, is this what you mean by fun?" Tenchi was wired up to a ton of electrodes. In fact he was quite sure that electrodes were placed all over his body, his head, his chest, his arms, his legs. In fact, he even had electrodes on his tongue. Tenchi noticed that his speech was temporarily impeded. In fact, Tenchi was relieved. The last time Washu tried to extract a sample, he almost had a heart attack, but fortunately Washu never succeeded. "Not yet." Washu grabbed a beaker. "Now it's time for that sample." Tenchi started screaming. "Actually, Tenchi. I don't think I need the beaker." Washu carelessly tossed the beaker over her shoulder. "You know Tenchi, I'm only professionally interested in you." Washu leaped onto Tenchi, and her face was only inches away from his. "So, you don't need to resist." Washu's lips slowly approached Tenchi's face. * * * "Dinner's ready." Sasami leaped out of the kitchen, with Ryo-Ohki on her shoulders. "Great! I'm starved." Mihoshi stood up, and the others did likewise. Mihoshi looked around, and noticed something amiss. "Where is Washu and Tenchi?" At those words, the door to the lab opened, and in came Washu carrying Tenchi. "Ryoko, dear, I just don't know why you like Tenchi so much. He practically doesn't have any endurance at all. You should leave him for your mother. Even I wore him out." Ryoko started to growl at that comment. "Washu! What were you doing with Tenchi?" Washu placed Tenchi on the couch. Inwardly, she giggled as she only toyed with him. All she did really was basically kiss him. She didn't have wild sex with Tenchi. She just did that so she could have a little fun, and plus, she did think it was cute when Tenchi struggled. "Oh nothing, Ryoko-dear. I just think you might be too much for him." Ryoko's eyes stared to glow yellow as lightning bolts electrified her arms. "I mean, he practically fainted when I was done with him." Everyone stared at Washu with incredulity. Everyone except for Sasami, who didn't really have a clue what Washu was implying. Oh yeah, Mihoshi was also clueless. Ayeka was first to react. "Miss Washu, you mean to tell me that you've corrupted Tenchi's purity!" Washu grinned. "Well, I guess if that's what you call it, sure!" Washu grabbed some food and chewed. Ayeka grabbed Washu and started to shake her violently. "Miss Washu, of all the people in this world I'd never think that you would be so low!" Ayeka turned to Ryoko. "I guess I can't blame you for your faults. It seems that they are mostly hereditary!" Washu shrugged her shoulders. "Well, you know, a simple kiss is no reason to get murderous." Ayeka's eyes dilated and she dropped Washu. * * * "Good night Kiyone." Mihoshi settled into her bed. "Good night, Mihoshi" Kiyone yawned as she lay back in her bed. This household was certainly crowded, but it was this closeness that made it interesting. Still, she couldn't help but remember the expression on Tenchi's face when he saw her. It was quite funny, for Kiyone couldn't remember the last time someone thought of her or even treated her like a female. "I guess I still have a chance with men." Kiyone had never thought of herself as a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but seeing Tenchi collapse in front her, gave her some hope.