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The Challenge 1
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These characters do not belong to me, they belong to AIC and Pioneer. No profit is being made. The Challenge Washu yawned as she made her way up the stairs. She opened the door to her daughter's room slowly making sure the door didn't squeak. Gazing fondly on her daughter and Tenchi, she began to reminisce. Sighing lightly, Washu thought to herself, ten years. They've been married for ten years. She grinned slightly. And the fun is just beginning... *** Ryoko and Tenchi woke up with Tenchi curled up to Ryoko's back. Ryoko woke and stretched first with Tenchi waking up at her movement. "Hey," he whispered softly. Her body turned to face him and her eyes were soft and gentle as she said good morning. Her sensitive nose sniffed the air delicately. "Washu's making breakfast." She told him with a grin. Tenchi's eyes rolled. "It's morning. Of course, she'd be making breakfast." Ryoko giggled and got out of bed to get dressed. *** Washu's eyes noted the movement on the stairs and started to distribute the food over three plates. "Morning, Mom," Ryoko said to Washu. "Good morning, my little Ryoko." Washu returned. "Have any plans for the day?" Ryoko shook her head. "Nope. What do you have in mind?" "I want you and Tenchi to try Ayeka and Balar." Washu explained. Ryoko sighed. Cryptic as ever. "Yup," Washu said mentally. "You know where you get it from." "What do you mean, Washu?" Tenchi asked. Washu shook a spatula at
him. "Son-In-Law." Ryoko absent-mindedly corrected. "Whatever." Washu told her daughter. "Sorry, Goddess Washu." Tenchi told her. Washu sighed. "No respect. I'm the number one genius scientist in the universe, an elder goddess, and a darned good cook, but what do I get? Not Little Washu, just Washu." She shook her head. "I want you two to spar a bit with Ayeka and Balar. They're getting pretty good and I want to see how they bear up under an opponent who's not their teacher." Ryoko grinned. "I get the princess, you get the ex-god?" Tenchi smiled and nodded. Washu dropped their plates in front of them. "With such adversaries," she said completely deadpan, "you'll need a good breakfast first." *** Ayeka and Balar were just gathering the dishes to be washed, when Washu poked her head out the door. "Could I see you two for a moment?" she asked sweetly. "One moment." Ayeka held up her stack of dishes. Washu grinned and ducked back into the lab. Ayeka and Balar dropped off their dishes and went into the lab unsuspectingly. The hiss of an energy sword being formed made Ayeka's ears prick up. Snatching her weapon from her kimono's sash, she ignited it. Ryoko's grinning face came out of nowhere, her sword leading. *** Balar whirled around to see Ryoko jump from above his wife to engage her in battle. Tenchi, seeing his opponent's distractedness, moved from behind the machine he had been hiding behind and ignited Tenchi-ken. Balar's sword came up from his belt and defended his body just in time. Tenchi grinned at him and nodded toward their wives. "You've got other problems besides them to think about." "Oh?" Balar said, holding his own. Barely. Tenchi grinned wider. "Like me." *** Washu watched from a safe location above them. She smiled softly. They are getting better. I have to admit it, they are getting better. Ayeka was using her sword very creatively, using techniques her mother Misaki had taught her. Ryoko almost got caught by a move and Washu smiled. Her attention shifted to the men. Tenchi and Balar weren't evenly matched. In body weight and height, they were, but not in technique or swords. Balar was good at defense, Tenchi at offense. They were fairly good at the opposite but they each had their own specialty. Tenchi had been forced to put his attention to offense by everyone in the household. Ryoko had pushed that he needed to know how to defend himself and get out of a sticky situation in case she wasn't there. Balar knew that he'd be better off defending himself until someone else got there. He wasn't in such a high risk situation as Tenchi. Kill Tenchi, immediately gain the throne. Kill Balar, battle his wife. Not good odds for any assassin. Washu thought back to the practices that she had held with Ayeka and Balar. Katsuhito had graciously lent Balar to her frequently so Ayeka could have a sparring partner. When they sparred together, they were like dancers. The difference sparring with Ryoko and Tenchi was noticeable. It was as if they had been close-dancing, knowing exactly the rhythm of the other when suddenly they had been forced to switch partners. Washu leaned against the railing to watch the two battles. Not that switching partners made them any less graceful. *** The battles went on until Washu called down for them to stop and go take a bath. Ryoko and Tenchi grinned at each other and walked off with Ayeka and Balar to the family baths. Washu went back to her laptop and typing furiously away. *** Sasami crossed her legs on the porch and leaned back with her face turned to the sky. It's a beautiful day, she thought idly. Ryo-ohki miya'd from beside her, an ear flicking in the wind. Sasami smiled at the cabbit. Her eyes wandered to the clouds and her mind started to think about Tsunami. What if when we merge, I die? What if it's Tsunami in this body and not me? Sasami could feel her eyes start to tear up. I don't want to die, she cried out mentally. "Hi, Sasami!" Mihoshi said in her overly-bubbly voice. Sasami smiled at the friendly blonde. Other people might thing Mihoshi was a bubble-head, but she didn't. "Hi, Mihoshi." Mihoshi looked at her young friend. "Is something wrong?" she asked. Sasami shook her head. "Not anything unusual." "Ah," Mihoshi nodded. "Guy trouble?" Sasami snorted. "What guy?" Mihoshi hesitated. "Good point." She said nodding. "Not many guys around here?" Sasami shook her head. "Nope. Not unless we go to Jurai or another god falls down." Mihoshi giggled. "I've been thinking about dating again." Sasami's eyebrow arched. "You have?" "Sure!" Mihoshi said enthusiastically. "I just wanted dates in the Galaxy Police academy. Now I want to go shopping for a husband. The marriages around here are inspiring." Sasami sighed. "But what guy would want to date a goddess?" "You're not a goddess yet." Mihoshi reminded her. "And Washu met a guy that she married." "But she wasn't a goddess then." Sasami pointed at Mihoshi grinning. "Well, you'll have a lot more time to look than I will." Mihoshi said philosophically. Sasami sighed. *** "So what are we doing for the rest of the day?" Ryoko said in a slow voice. Balar shrugged. "We've practiced our lessons." Ryoko tilted her head back. "Aren't we all glad we don't have any more lessons in Juraian history and etiquette?" Tenchi let out a great sigh. "Oh, yes. Azusa heaped on the work when he found out Ayeka and Balar were going to be co-rulers." Ayeka gave an uncharacteristic groan. "I couldn't believe that it took both Misaki and Funaho to get him calmed down. He did want me to rule in the first place." Ryoko grinned. "I think it was the fear that Tsunami would show up." Ayeka covered her face. "And what is he going to say when he finds out Sasami and Tsunami are the same?" Ryoko grimaced. "Whatever he says, he'll have to say it to all of us." That thought sobered all assembled. Trying to cheer everyone up, she said, "Well, why don't we go to Jurai for a few hours today?" "An excellent idea." Ayeka confirmed. *** After checking in with Washu, the foursome went through a portal to Jurai. Washu had set it up so that a portal opened up inside a trellis. If someone was occupying the space, whoever walked through the portal would be shifted elsewhere. No molecular merging while Washu was on duty. Ryoko grinned at the memory of her mother saying that. She had struck a pose with one hand on her hip and one finger pointed in the air. Ryoko looked around proudly at her first garden on Jurai. It hadn't changed much at all. The statues had been placed in more prominent places. The fountains had to be repaired a few times. But everything was pretty much the same. "Hi, Ryoko!" Ryoko turned to the voice and grinned. "Hi, Lacey! How are you doing?" The teenaged girl shrugged. "I'm okay. Funaho's assigned me to the garden in my spare time." "What's your brother up to?" Tenchi asked, sliding up to his wife. Lacey directed her attention to the future emperor. "Art's getting us drinks. This is a huge job." She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "So what are you up to today?" Ayeka shrugged. "We thought we would visit Jurai and talk with people." Lacey laughed. "Well, there's plenty to talk about. You'll be mobbed with people. Not everyone's at ease about this joint rulership thing." Tenchi shrugged. "They weren't exactly happy about me marrying Ryoko either. Or did I miss the intentions of those assassins?" Lacey opened her mouth to speak, but just then her brother came running up. "Hey, Lacey, I hope you wanted a small because they ran out of bigger cups again." He told her with a smile. Lacey frowned at him. "Where'd this come from?" she asked, tracing a delicate finger on the black eye that was just beginning to appear. "Oh, that." He said flatly. "Um, I walked into a wall?" Lacey put her hands on her hips. "All right." He sighed. "Reevver was talking about Ryoko again. Then he saw me, the two things linked together, and then his hand introduced itself to my eye." "Who's Reevver?" a soft voice said quietly and innnocently. Art turned around. "Ah!" he jumped. "Ryoko! Where'd you come from?" "My mother's lab. Now who's Reevver?" she demanded. "No one." Art stuttered. "Just someone who likes to blame things on you." "Yeah, like black holes and tree rot and everything bad." Lacey muttered. "Take me-" Ryoko started. "Miss Ryoko, such behavior is completely unsuited to a future empress." Ayeka said firmly, taking her friend's arm. "You cannot do anything about this Reevver. He is entitled to his opinion as all Juraians are." "Well, can't I change his opinion just a little?" Ryoko wheedled. Tenchi shook his head. "No, you can't." Ryoko slumped. "All right." She dug some money out of her pocket. "Art, why don't you go get us some juice?" Art nodded and ran off. "So, Lacey, how's the fountain coming?" Ryoko changed the subject. Then, when everyone was looking away, Ryoko split in two and phased away leaving one half to make appropriate noises about the garden. *** Art mumbled on his way to get the juice. "Sent here, sent everywhere." He muttered. "Yeah, well, that's your job." Ryoko spoke in his ear. He jumped. "Ryoko?" he said, holding his hand to his chest. "Yup," Ryoko giggled. "Now take me to Reevver." "But Ryoko, he's just being arrogant fool. No one pays attention." He wheedled. Ryoko raised an eyebrow at him. "He hurt you. That is an act of violence on a ward of the Throne. And as the nearest representative of the throne, it is my duty to reprimand him." Art thought to himself, but reprimand can mean so many things to the Space Pirate Ryoko.... Ryoko caught the expression in his eyes. "What?" She said. "You don't think I know how to be diplomatic by now? I've had so many lessons shoved down my throat, I'm hoarse!" Art diplomatically gave up. "Come on," he said and lead the way. *** Entering the building, Art walked up to Reevver just as Ryoko and he had planned. "Hey, Reevver." He said. The average height brown-haired man turned around. "What, you again?" He said with a grin. "Come to defend your space pirate?" Art sighed. "She's not mine, she's Tenchi's." "Oooh," Reevver's friends made the sound. "On first name basis with the future emperor now?" "Yes, I am." Art stood up straighter. "Then why doesn't he get you off this rock so you stop smelling up the air?" Reevver said. His friends laughed. "Now, I suppose you're wanting another black eye." He started to move. "I'll-" Ryoko materialized in front of Reevver. "You'll what?" she purred. He blinked at her. "I'm going to give your friend here a black eye. That's what." He sneered at her. "You're nothing without that badass Kagato." Ryoko grinned. "Oh?" Her red and black battle armor swept over her body and her energy sword formed in her hand. "Care to try me?" "Sure!" Reevver said. Ryoko jerked her head toward the door. "Outside." The two started to move toward the door. Art followed her. "Uh, Ryoko, are you sure this is a good idea?" "Never a better one." She tossed over her shoulder. *** They walked out into the street, Reevver smiling, imagining his victory. "Ready?" Ryoko said mockingly. Reevver charged. The people in the square gasped and moved away. The crowd buzzed with rumors of Ryoko gone berserk and bloodthirsty. A few ran away. Reevver and Ryoko clashed blades. Reevver was obviously doing his best and Ryoko was playing with him. She chuckled. Washu had taught her, Kagato next, a few tricks picked up from Tenchi and Katsuhito... This guy didn't stand a chance. Ryoko had him pinned to the ground in minutes after she got serious. "Now," she panted slightly, "you will apologize to my friend." Reevver spit at her. Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "RYOKO!" Tenchi yelled at her. Ryoko turned and smiled at her Tenchi. Then she saw the look on his face. She winced. Uh-oh... "How could you do this?" Tenchi said to her. "Well..." Ryoko extinguished the sword. "He, um..." "I mean, you were the Space Pirate Ryoko, the boogie man of Jurai! You're fighting in the streets that you're going to be Empress of!" Tenchi yelled. "Yes, I am. He hurt a ward of the Throne, a friend of ours because he didn't like me." Ryoko told him quietly. "If I am to be empress I will not see my people hurt." Ryoko turned to the crowd. "A ward of the Throne, Art, reported to me that a citizen of Jurai had been talking about me in a less than flattering nature. When he told the citizen to stop, the citizen hit Art. Therefore that constitutes a threat to a royal ward and one of my friends." Ryoko paused. "Would you rather I not deal swift justice and capture on your behalf?" The crowd mumbled. Ryoko cupped a hand to her ear. "What was that? You want citizens to be able to say that the empress is a whore? Don't you have any pride in Jurai?" The crowd said, "Yes!" Ryoko smiled. "Then did I do anything wrong? I found the citizen, I asked him about the comments, he challenged me, and we took it outside. I did not kill or harm him, just captured." The crowd made its approval known. Ryoko turned back to her husband. "I can't be wholly a space pirate anymore, Tenchi. Those memories are bad, but my reputation is worse. I have to defend, not kill." Tenchi stopped. He looked at his beautiful wife. The fire went out of his eyes to be replaced with a loving glowing ember. "You're right." He said softly. He walked to the man and helped him up. "You are charged with brawling and hurting a ward of the Throne. Since I know and trust him very much, you'll still have a fair trial." Tenchi turned to the public. "Are there ten people here who would serve as jury?" A few hands went up and ten people eventually walked forward. Tenchi smiled at his wife. Justice would be served and in a nonviolent way. Ayeka leaned against Balar and his hand went around her waist. Their friends would be good rulers as would they. *** Back at the house that night, Nobuyuki complained that the office was having him train a college student for her internship. Ryoko told Sasami what she had done with Reevver and she giggled. Washu rolled her eyes at her daughter's escapades. ************************************************************* |
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