Aikan Muyo
Chapter 9 - No Need For Two Swords, Part 1

Story by Happosai (happosai@jps.net)

Pre-reading by Ryan Anderson and Michael "Brazil" Borgwardt

Washuu haiku submitted by Adam Alman, Christopher Bair, Michael "Brazil"
Borgwardt, Devin Fujimoto, and The New Reb

Web: http://ugrad-www.cs.colorado.edu/~andersor/fanfics/aikan/aikan.html

Imaginary seiyuu
Amaiko: Inoue Kikuko
Kintarou: Seki Toshihiko
Midoriyama: Tsuru Hiromi
Torakami: Genda Tessho

Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo and its characters are the property of AIC and
Pioneer. If any of their lawyers are reading this, please don't sue me.
Instead, pass my humble work on to the creative geniuses behind this my
favorite series, in the hope that they might actually like it.


     "Support your local emperor,
      Pay him tribute every time,
      Let it be known he holds your fate,
      From his fingertips shall flow the wine,
      Tell him when he speaks the air is sweet,
      Wherever he walks, rosebuds be laid,
      So that he may always feel secure,
      In the vast empire that he's made."
        -- "Support Your Local Emperor", Blues Traveler


In a large hall on Jurai, decorated precisely according to the dictates
of ancient tradition, light from the setting sun shone through an open
window and fell upon a portrait of a young, sharp-featured man whose hair
and beard were both short and pale blue. The gilt-framed picture sat at
the back of a table carved of dark wood, set against a wall. In front of
the picture lay a number of objects -- candles, an incense burner, a cup
of tea, a bowl of rice with chopsticks stuck vertically into it, a purple
flower, and a gold bell.

The bell rang as it was struck.

"Sayonara, niichan," said a young, frail-looking girl, as tears flowed
from sapphire eyes rimmed with red. Her white kimono contrasted with her
indigo hair, long ponytails sprouting through silver rings above her ears
and trailing almost to her ankles. She put her hands together and bowed
her head. "Who was it that took you from us, Kaji-kun? Please show me,
somehow. When I find them, they or I will join you." She sniffled, and
forced a smile. "It sounds funny, I know. If you were here, you'd
probably laugh, hearing your little sister promising to avenge you,
pretending to be so brave. But tomorrow I fly Sakura-oh for the first
time." The smile died as her voice broke with anguished sobs. "I wanted
you to watch me, and be proud."

"He will watch you. He will be proud. And so will I, Chou-chan," said a
voice behind her.

"Otou-sama!" gasped Amaiko, turning around in surprise. She quickly bowed
her head and started wiping away her tears. A tall, powerfully-built man
dressed in ornate robes set his hand comfortingly on her shoulder,
regarding her through violet eyes. Two tails of dark green-blue hair hung
next to his temples, where it was starting to turn grey, as was the
portion of his beard nearest the corners of his mouth.

"You shouldn't be crying, Amaiko," Torakami said sternly. "I know it's
hard, but he died in service to Jurai. Show him honor, not sorrow."

"I'm sorry. I'll try," she said. "I miss him already."

"So do I, though I know it doesn't show," he answered. "But you need to
put on a brave face. Your aunt will be here soon."

Amaiko nodded, realizing that she'd best go find a mirror and be sure she
was presentable. One didn't greet an Empress with a face marred by hours
of crying.

"Will she be bringing Aeka-hime and Sasami-hime with her?" she asked
hopefully.

Torakami shook his head. "They're still on that backwater planet, on
that... vacation... of hers," he said, anger entering his voice.

"I wish they were here," sighed Amaiko, not noticing her father's tone.
"Sasami-chan always manages to cheer me. They were such a comfort, after
mother died."

"Aeka-hime shouldn't be gone this long," Torakami said. "Something bad
will come of it."

"Yes, I'll be happy when she's back," replied Amaiko. Then she bowed her
head again. "If you'll excuse me, otou-sama..."

He nodded. "Yes, of course."

As Amaiko left the room, Torakami frowned in thought. "She shouldn't
shirk her obligations like this," he said quietly to himself.

Aeka had never done anything like this before. Torakami had always been
so proud of his niece's staunch devotion to duty. Yet now she'd postponed
her marriage meetings, stopped on an unimportant planet in the middle of
nowhere, and hadn't said a word since. All attempts to contact her
through the resident Galaxy Police operatives had been met with a polite
but firm response: Aeka was fine, but she didn't want to be disturbed
during her vacation.

There was something else. He'd been concerned with Aeka's absence for
some time now, and he'd watched recordings of the conversations with the
two officers. The dark-haired one's manner was always crisp and
businesslike, and it was she who usually answered when Jurai called. But
once or twice the other officer, a blonde one, had handled the matter.
And some of the things she'd said -- or rather, how she'd said them --
were disturbing, if one was suspicious.

Torakami was *very* suspicious.

"Well, I guess I'd better warn her that you're trying to make her leave
again," the woman had said.

*WARN* her?

*MAKE* her leave?

This wasn't like Aeka at all. Something strange was going on.

Torakami sighed. The princess was old enough to handle her own affairs.
Ultimately it was the Emperor's word that would decide the issue, and
thus far His Highness had seen fit to let the matter lie -- which
Torakami heartily disapproved of, though he'd never be so disrespectful
as to say so openly.

Not that the situation was truly dangerous, yet. But it couldn't be
permitted to go on forever. Eventually, something would need to be done,
even if that meant actually telling the Emperor that Aeka's conduct
should be looked into more thoroughly.

Torakami strode across the floor, straightening his clothes as he walked,
his actions controlled with precise economy of motion. He reached the
window, and gazed out. A tear welled in one of his eyes, but he quickly
wiped it away, and no more came.

"Who was it that killed you, my son?" he asked in quiet rage, his
knuckles whitening as his hands clenched the windowsill. "When I find
them, I swear I will make them wish they were never spawned."

He stood, thinking of his lost firstborn Kajimoto, as the flames of
Jurai's sun sank into the sea and died in darkness.

At the same time, many parsecs away, Sol rose burning above Terra's
horizon and cast its yellow light on a sleeping space pirate. The
pirate's arms were wrapped around the most valuable treasure she'd ever
captured, which she'd plundered joyously and repeatedly the previous
night. And, as is usual for pirates, she'd turned a deaf ear to pleas for
mercy and given no quarter.

A bird landed outside the window, and started singing loudly.

Ryoko opened her eyes, blinking in the sunlight, and lay still, enjoying
the feel of Tenchi's body against her.

A second bird joined the first on the ledge, then another, and all three
chirped in annoying chorus.

Ryoko got on all fours, then passed through the glass up to her neck. She
glared down at the birds with angry feline eyes, baring her predatory
fangs.

The birds quickly decided to find another place to sing, and flew away.
Satisfied, Ryoko lay back down.

Then the sunlight reminded her of something. She glanced up for a moment
at the sun, hating it for its terrible intrusion.

*Why don't you just burn out and leave us alone?*

Ryoko turned and looked at Tenchi, and sighed, knowing she had to leave
him. She searched her mind for a way to make it unnecessary, but didn't
find one. It was either leave on her own, or have to leave anyway when
Aeka came, and she knew that if she waited that long, a fight might
result. She didn't think Tenchi would like waking up in the midst of
combat.

*Speaking of waking up...*

Ryoko shook her head regretfully.

*No, if I do that, Aeka will probably get here before I finish, and
she'll tear me away from him just like she did before.*

Giving another sigh, Ryoko floated up off the bed, hovering above Tenchi.

"See you tomorrow morning," she whispered, giving him a kiss. Then she
vanished.

Aeka lay on her futon, tossing uneasily in her sleep. "No, otou-sama, I
cannot..." she mumbled, clenching her fists. "I cannot." She started
shaking her head violently. "Never..." She rolled over and curled into a
ball, muttering indistinct words in a quiet, fearful voice.

A foot prodded her in the backside.

"Hey, princess, wake up," said Ryoko quietly, kicking her again with
forced gentleness.

"Never..." murmured Aeka.

Ryoko frowned, and started nudging her more roughly. "It's time... for
you... to be with... Tenchi!" she hissed, feeling angry now that she'd
seen that Aeka wasn't even up yet, and she'd left Tenchi earlier than
she'd had to.

Aeka stopped moving. After a few seconds, she rolled over and looked up.

"Ohayo," said Ryoko, glaring down at her.

"Ohayo," Aeka replied. She yawned slightly, then sat up. "Thank you for
awakening me."

"Don't mention it. Going to go to wake up Tenchi?"

Aeka nodded, reached under her pillow to retrieve something, and got to
her feet. She smiled. "Was he asleep when you left, then?"

"Yep. Remember, the trick's to suppress the gag reflex," Ryoko reminded
her, lying down on her futon.

Aeka heaved an exasperated sigh. "Thank you so *very* much," she replied.

"Hey, I was just trying to be helpful," said Ryoko. Then she pulled the
covers over herself.

Shaking her head, the princess closed the door behind her and went off
down the hall. She made a quick stop in the bathroom for some mouthwash -
- the greatest scientists in the Jurai empire had guaranteed that she
didn't have bad breath, but there was no harm in being sure -- then
walked into Tenchi's bedroom and shut the door.

She looked down at Tenchi, who was still peacefully asleep, and smiled.
Regretfully, his bed didn't have posts on it, nor were there any rings
placed conveniently in the wall above it. Making a mental note to remedy
that last error, she shed her clothes and got under the covers.

A warm body lying next to him and soft lips pressed against his cheek
woke Tenchi out of a deep sleep. When he opened his eyes, Aeka's face was
directly in front of them.

"Ohayo, Ten-chan," she said, kissing him.

He kissed her back. "Ohayo, Ae-chan," he replied. He started moving his
hands to embrace her, but found out that they were bound, as were his
ankles. Noticing his slightly-frustrated expression, Aeka kissed him
again.

"My love will bind you from your first waking moment," she whispered to
him.

"Ae-chan, I'm sorry but..."

Aeka kissed him. "Oujo-sama..." she insisted.

"Oujo-sama, I *can't* this morning. I've got to get up and go to school.
I'm sorry."
    
"This is disobedience, Ten-chan," she said, pressing her lips to his.
"Treason." She brushed a fingertip against his cheek. "Such crimes merit
punishment. Severe punishment." She moved her mouth next to his ear.
"Shall I fetch my whip? Must I take your loyalty by force, Ten-chan?"

"No, oujo-sama, but..."

"Silence, you vile, traitorous wretch," she whispered, kissing him again.
"You will obey, or face my merciless wrath." Then she smiled at him. "I
know you must go, Ten-chan, but please make love to me anyway. We need
not take very long. We can have... what is it your people call it?" She
thought for a moment, then giggled. "Oh, yes. A 'quickie'."

"I suppose so, oujo-sama," he answered.

"You will submit to me, then?" she asked.

Tenchi nodded and smiled. "Always, oujo-sama."

Aeka hugged him and gave him another kiss. "Thank you, Ten-chan." The
princess sighed as she rested her head on his chest "I missed you so
much, last night. I wanted your arms around me, more than anything."

"I'm sorry, Ae-chan," replied Tenchi, managing to embrace her despite his
bonds. "I really am. I wish I could make it up to you."

Aeka didn't correct his form of address. "I'm with you now, Ten-chan,"
she said softly. "That's all that matters to me. Beside it, all else is
unimportant."

Tenchi sighed. "But the way you looked last night... I don't want to hurt
either of you that way."

"Put away thoughts of painful things, Ten-chan, please," Aeka asked,
moving her face in front of his again. "At this moment we are together.
Think of nothing else." She smiled. "And right now, I desire you," she
whispered. "You said you will submit to me. Did you speak truly?"

Tenchi kissed her. "I just hope I'm *able* to. I'm really worn out."

Aeka frowned for just a moment, but quickly smiled again to hide her
bitterness. Ryoko was probably tiring Tenchi out on *purpose*. Wouldn't
it be just like her to do something cruel like that? And even if she
didn't do it intentionally, it was so unfair. Certainly being with Tenchi
was joy enough, but to be denied the sharing of pleasure with him because
Ryoko had mercilessly wrung him out like a wet rag...

"Then I shall test your body's loyalty to me," Aeka said, "though I do
not doubt it will serve me valiantly." She felt the warmth of Tenchi's
penis as she gently wrapped her fingers around it. Aeka's soft skin began
gliding slowly up and down the flaccid shaft, and she pressed equally-
soft lips against Tenchi's at the same time. Eventually the princess
noticed the flesh in her grasp start it's gradual transition from limp to
firm as she continued stroking Tenchi's penis, kissing his lips, and
murmuring soft words urging his unquestioning obedience.

"I wish you didn't have my hands tied," Tenchi said after a while.

Aeka tensed for an instant. "Please don't say that, Ten-chan," she
replied. "I know you don't realize it, but for a man to ask a woman to
unbind him is a very grave request. It means an ending between them."

"I'm sorry, Ae-chan..."

Aeka cleared her throat.

"...I mean, oujo-sama," corrected Tenchi, "but I didn't mean it that
way."

"I know," Aeka assured him.

"It's just that I can't really touch you with my hands like this," Tenchi
explained. "I want to do something for you, too."

Aeka moved her mouth beside Tenchi's ear. "Seeing you bound for me is
more than enough to drive me mad with desire," she breathed hotly. "But I
see what you mean. Wait just a moment." She reached between his hands,
untied the silk, then remade the bonds with one end wound around each
wrist, giving him about a meter of slack. When she was done, she smiled
and kissed him.

"Is that better?" she asked.

Tenchi nodded. "Yeah, *much* better." He brought his arms down over
Aeka's head and embraced her, then began returning her kisses and
caressing her. "And I think I'm ready to... demonstrate my loyalty to
you, oujo-sama," he said. "Almost, anyway."

"I noticed," Aeka replied, softly grasping Tenchi's hardening penis. "Now
you shall submit to me." She kissed him. "You *do* remember what I mean
by that, Ten-chan?"

Despite his weariness, Tenchi grinned.

Some time later, the Masaki household sat around the breakfast table.
Tenchi stared bleary-eyed at his food, picking at it slowly. He needed
the energy, he knew, but he was almost too tired to eat. All he wanted to
do was go back to bed and fall asleep. He sighed and forced a smile as he
looked at the two chief causes of his fatigue, sitting across from him.

Ryoko and Aeka smiled back.

"Eat your breakfast, Tenchi," said Nobuyuki. "You need to build up your
stamina! Otherwise your lady friends are going to be very upset with
you."

"Yeah, sure, dad," mumbled Tenchi. Ordinarily he would have gotten
annoyed by his father giving him that kind of advice, but just then it
seemed a waste of strength.

Ryoko thought for a moment. "Sasami-chan, what are we having for dinner
tomorrow night?" she asked.

"I hadn't really decided yet," replied Sasami. "What would you like?"

"Let's have unagi," said Ryoko. She put her hands together and bowed her
head slightly. "Please please please, Sasami-chan?"

"Sure!"

Nobuyuki slapped Tenchi on the back. "Good idea, Ryoko! Unagi's just the
thing for him to build up his endurance. I'm depending on you, Tenchi,"
he said, proudly thumping his chest a moment and looking over at his son.
"The family reputation is at stake. I won't let it be said that a Masaki
ever let a girl down in her time of need."

"Daaaaaaaaaad!" groaned Tenchi, despairingly putting his face in hands.

"What is it you need more strength for, Tenchi? Are you going to fight a
monster tomorrow night or something?" asked Sasami.

"In a manner of speaking," said Aeka very quietly.

Ryoko glared at her momentarily, then resumed her smile.

"I've just been feeling tired lately, Sasami," replied Tenchi.

"Well, I'm off to work," announced Nobuyuki, standing up. Then he shook
his head and sighed. "Maybe today, for once, I can get home in time for
dinner." He walked towards the door and waved. "'Bye everyone"

A chorus of "'Bye" and "See you tonight" and "Have a nice day at work"
followed Nobuyuki as he departed. Moments later, Washuu walked into the
room, smiling the smile of one whose thoughts were taking physical shape
so rapidly she could afford a breakfast break. After being greeted, she
sat down and began eating.

"I'd better get going, too," said Tenchi. "My bus is going to be here any
minute."

"Oh, that's right!" said Sasami. "I've got to go finish making your bento
box." She got up and ran to the kitchen, Ryo-oh-ki hopping after her.

Ryoko blinked. "You're going to *school*?" she asked in disbelief.

"Well, yes," answered Tenchi, confused. "It's Monday, after all."

Ryoko's face fell. "I thought that, after all that's happened, you'd want
to stay home instead. Do you really have to go?"

"You... do look rather tired, Ten-chan," put in Aeka.

Tenchi shook his head, deciding that he didn't want to make an issue of
the *reason* he was tired. "I have to. I've got a math test coming up
soon."

Without warning, Ryoko teleported behind Tenchi and put her arms gently
around him. "One and one make two, Tenchi," she said, kissing him. "Isn't
that the most important kind of math?"

Aeka frowned and cleared her throat. "I believe something's wrong with
your equation, Ryoko."

"There certainly is," agreed Washuu. "She's only thinking about the
common factors of variables R and T, while forgetting that A *also* has
some factors in common with T."

"Huh?" asked Ryoko.

"Well, *I* understood that," laughed Aeka. "And I'm sure A is much
greater than R, correct?"

Washuu munched a bit of pickled radish. "Never checked, though the values
of both are negative, irrational, and imaginary," she replied. Seeing
Aeka's confused frown, she grinned. "Now the variable W, on the other
hand, is positive and prime!"

Ryoko floated onto Tenchi's lap, her arms clasped around his neck as she
kissed him. "I think Tenchi's more interesting in some triple-X. Ne,
Tenchi? Ne?"

Aeka's eyes narrowed as she gave Ryoko a look intended to warn her whose
day this was. Ryoko didn't see it as she kept her face just in front of
Tenchi's.

"X-cubed," corrected Washuu. "Ah, which reminds me..." She picked up her
rice and soup bowls and headed back to her lab, a contemplative
expression on her face as her mind ran over certain details of neutron
stars and how those facts might be applied to one of her latest
inventions.

Tenchi barely noticing Aeka's glare or Washuu's departure. "I *have* to
go, Ryoko. And I'm way too tired for that anyway," he said.

Pouting slightly and gazing at him with pleading eyes, Ryoko slid closer
to him. "I was only kidding, Tenchi. I'll let you sleep. I *promise*. But
please stay." She twirled the tip of her finger around on his chest.
"Please? I'll miss you so much if you go."

Aeka shook her head, feeling just a little sympathetic. "He has a duty to
himself to fulfill, Ryoko." She got up, walked over, and sat down next to
Tenchi, then grasped his hand and kissed his cheek. "I'll miss him, too,
but you shouldn't try to dissuade him from what he knows is right."

"To hell with right and wrong," growled Ryoko, before her voice gentled
again and she hugged Tenchi tight, putting her lips next to his ear. "All
I care about is being with you, Tenchi. Please don't go," she begged
softly. "It hurts."

Hearing the obvious pain in her voice started to wear down Tenchi's
resolve, but he did his best to stand firm. "I'm sorry, Ryoko. I have to
go. I wish I didn't, but I do." He sighed, then squeezed her, smiling at
her as he gave her a kiss. "Please don't make it harder than it is. OK?"

Ryoko gave Tenchi a wounded look that made him fear she was about to cry,
before she bowed her head and disappeared.

Tenchi closed his eyes, fighting back the urge to find her and talk to
her, knowing he had to leave soon. Aeka put her arm around him, trying to
concentrate on the sweetness of Tenchi's obvious concern rather than on
whom is was for. She kissed his cheek again.

"You too, Ae-chan?" asked Tenchi.

Aeka shook her head. "No. As I told Ryoko, I wish you could stay, but I
realize quite well what it means to have obligations one must fulfill. I
fear that's something she has very little experience with."

Tenchi nodded. "You two seem to be getting along a little better,
though," he said. "I'm really glad to see that."

"I've been trying very hard," said Aeka. "And I think she has been making
some effort as well, I must admit."

"As long as the two of you aren't fighting, I'll be happy," said Tenchi.
"But I'd be even happier if you became friends. Can't you be, now?"

"I'm sorry to say it, but things between her and I go back much further
than you, Ten-chan," she sighed. "I would attempt anything, if it pleases
you, but I cannot do the impossible."

Tenchi got up, and Aeka rose with him. They were locked in an embrace and
in the midst of a very long goodbye kiss when Sasami skipped back into
the room carrying the bento box.

"Tenchi, here's your... oh, sorry!" she gasped, putting her hand over her
mouth.

Startled, Aeka and Tenchi quickly let go of each other. "Uh, thanks,
Sasami-chan," he said, taking his lunch. He grabbed his briefcase and
headed out the door, saying goodbye as he did, then walked towards the
path down the hill.

Aeka turned to her sister and smiled. "Sasami, do you suppose we could
have unagi tonight as well?" she asked sweetly.

Sasami gave Aeka a quizzical look. "Two nights in a row? Won't everyone
get tired of it?"

"No, I don't think so," replied Aeka. "Please? It's for Ten-chan."

"Why? I don't think he likes unagi *that* much. Does he have *two*
monsters to fight or something?"

Aeka frowned and was about to respond angrily but caught herself. "Um,
no. It's just that he needs lots of energy for... for..." She thought for
a moment. "... for his swordplay routines. Yes, they take quite a bit out
of him, and I was noticing how tired he was afterward."

"But I haven't seen him go practice with jiichan for almost a week," said
Sasami.

"Yes, but I think he'll be doing more of it soon," said Aeka. "Please?"

"Well..."

Aeka put her hands together and bowed her head slightly. "Please?"

"Hmmm..."

"Pretty please?"

"Can I have one of your necklaces?" asked Sasami.

"AGAIN?!?!" cried Aeka. Then she sighed. "Which one?"

"The one with all the blue and green gems," Sasami replied.

"The matching bracelet as well, I suppose?" grumbled Aeka.

Sasami thought for a moment. "Don't you have a ring that goes with those,
too?"

"Why didn't you ask *Ryoko* for anything?" Aeka demanded. "It's very
cruel to extort things from your own sister, Sasami."

"I'm sorry, Aeka. I'll make Ryoko give me something, too."

Aeka frowned. "That wasn't what I meant."

"Can I have the ring?" asked Sasami.

"I think three pieces of jewelry are worth considerably more than one
night's dinner," Aeka said testily.

"OK. One dinner for each piece, then," said Sasami.

"That's outright thievery!" protested Aeka. "Why, the ring alone is
probably worth as much as this *house*!"

"You know, I think Tenchi would like it better if I fixed takenoko gohan
instead," Sasami mused, smiled sweetly at her sister.

Aeka glared down at her.

Sasami's smile widened.

"Oh, very well," sighed Aeka.

Sasami beamed. "Thanks! I'll go put the things I'll need on my shopping
list," she said happily, heading towards the kitchen as she considered
what Ryoko might have that would appeal to her.

Besides Ryo-oh-ki, of course.