Hello, 

Thank you for any C&C so for, any future C&C on old or
new chapters highly appreciated (though of course I'm
only willing to revise old chapters so much:)

Here is my revised first chapter for those who missed
it:
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/e3c24609/bc/_the_unruly_son/Chapter+1.html?bcaqS.9AZ105_vM_

Here is the second chapter if you prefer html viewing:
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/e3c24609/bc/_the_unruly_son/Chapter+2.html?bcK9S.9Aq2h2yNu_

Here is the second chapter in text, thanks for
reading!

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: 
I don't own the characters. Pioneer and AIC do.  I own
this story though.

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: 
I'm calling the other Tenchi now Chiten, <ten chi to
chi ten>,  for the sake of simplifying who is who. 
Both Tenchi and Chiten equally make up an (unaware)
Tenchi together, but they have distinctly different
personalities that would be easier to sort out for the
reader if I called him Chiten instead of the 'other
Tenchi' all the time, though no one knows him or calls
him by that name, it's just a point of reference.  I
pronounce it Chi (rhymes with shy) ten, though that is
up to you:)

KEY:
<> - indicates thoughts
[]- mental communication

ONCE AGAIN:
CHITEN = THE OTHER TENCHI


*********************************************************************


THE UNMASKING PART II


CHAPTER 2 : COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET? NOT A CHANCE!


Ryoko sank down to her butt in the closet, wondering
when she would be discovered.  <Brother? And this
isn't a shadow is it? They acting like totally
different people, at least I think they do.>

Tenchi, incensed, slapped the hand out of his hair,
"Will you stop touching me!"  He admonished his
doppelganger, "Why didn't you stop me?!  You should
have, this time around, you weakling." 

Chiten brushed his own bangs out of his eyes, "You
know, in a single body you're very dominating.  You
never listen and totally take over."  

The angry prince scowled, "What is that supposed to
mean?  I have to do all the work to get everybody out
of the messes the people around here make.  You
weren't making any helpful suggestions, in fact you
weren't doing a damn thing.  And where did those
photos come from exactly?"  Tenchi started poking his
finger at the doppelganger. 

Tenchi kept on glaring at his twin and added, "It's
awfully convenient that they just *happen* to pop up a
week after Washu refuses my alliance.  I know you two
are scheming up something together to betray me."  

Chiten lowered his eyes, refusing to level his gaze
back into those accusing eyes, "Why don't you summon
her yourself?  Why are you asking me anyway?  We know
each other's thoughts and have each other's memories
after all, what more do you want?"  

Unsatisfied with the answer, the suspicious Masaki
started pacing back and forth, "Sometimes
brother...... I wonder.  I feel.... I know you're
hiding something.... right now I don't know what it
is.  I didn't even know it was possible but I've
gotten this weird feeling from you since that
meeting."

The twin choked out desperately, "Nonsense!"

Ryoko watched in wonderment and terror as the scene
unfolded before her eyes, <Ok, get a hold of
yourself.. Definitely two Tenchis.  One of them even
think the other is betraying him.  Why would they want
an alliance with Washu?>

In a blink of an eye, Chiten was staring at two energy
swords in his face, one red and one black, which cast
an eerie glow in the already darkened room.  Tenchi's
evil look chilled him, "Keep on lying to me, I know
when people are lying to me, it's all in the eyes
after all.  And you forgot the first lesson."  

Chiten, having gone through this numerous times,
yawned bored and fearful simutaneously,  "I know, I
know.  Always be prepared for anything, anywhere,
anyone." 

Tenchi relaxed his smile to the point of it resembling
something more natural, "Good, you're learning......
now.... prepare to die!"  With that pronouncement, he
swung his obsidian blade at the doppelganger. 

Chiten jumped a few steps back and summoned his own
energy swords, blue one and green blades came to life
in his hands.

Ryoko jumped up from her sitting position, <Energy
swords, and all different colors?  I've never even
seen a black one before!>

Both of them circled the room back and forth, waiting
for the other to make the first attack, until finally
Tenchi charged with his crimson and ebony swords
blazing.  Chiten put up his defenses, his blue sword
blocking the red one and dodged out of the way of the
black one.

Tenchi spoke up, "One more thing, only energy swords,
nothing else.  Like normal practice." 

His twin retorted sarcastically, "I thought we have to
be prepared for anything, anywhere, anyone." 

Tenchi lunged at him, "We do, but the everything else
takes up too much energy.  What if we just don't have
that energy one day?  We have to be ready to fight
with nothing but skill then.  And no reassimilation
either, I know you like that trick." 

The doppelganger agreeingly nodded, satisfied at the
answer.

The two stopped talking entirely for the time being. 
They began stalking each other around the room. 
Circling, each waiting for the other one to move.  The
only sound was the low hum of the four blades they
wielded.  Finally Chiten, with the cobalt and emerald
light blades, charged silently forward.  The four
swords met each other and started dancing in
conjuction one with the other.  Occasionally a strike
slipped by, more often than not on Chiten, where he
had to physically dodge it.

Ryoko desperately wanted them to scream out loud, 
<Stop already, damn it.  You two might get hurt.>  She
looked from one Tenchi to the other though, how in
nine hells would she stop them.  Admitting it to
herself, even with all her years of constant battle,
both of them were much better in technique than her. 
The demoness briefly wondered whether this is how
Sasami and Tenchi, or Tenchis in this newfound
situation, feel when she and Ayeka fight with more
than words.

And so the battle went on and on like this for what
was at least fifteen minutes.  Neither side winning
nor losing, and for all intents and purposes at a
standstill.

 


Time has passed, and with a sudden abruptness, the
smooth flowing sparring, that previously was more like
an elegant dance, ended.  Chiten slipped and fell by
the writing desk, and his twin took advantage of the
situation.  Tenchi swiftly stabbed the ruby blade down
near his doppelgangers midsection, only narrowly
missing the other Tenchi, who had rolled under the
desk.  

Paying no heed to his own property, the still standing
combatant used the black blade to slice his desk in
half, "Brother, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.  Make
your little pitiful move, come on.  By the way, watch
out for falling objects."  

Chiten glanced up in time to see the two desk halves
descending in the direction of his head.  Rolling out
of the way, barely escaping cleaved furniture, his
stomach promptly got kicked in, "Oof!". 

Tenchi stared down at him, with a deadly serious
expression on his face, "If this were a real fight,
you'd have my blade in your gut, instead of my foot." 
Tenchi firmly booted his doppelganger in the stomach
again and let him scramble away.  

Chiten, short of breath at the moment, scurried over
to the bed to help himself up.  He growled out loud in
pain and irritation, "Could you kick me any harder?! 
I don't think I crapped out my guts today yet." 

His tormentor's face was covered with a malicious leer
while he closed the distance fast, "I guess I will
take care to be obliging, since you know how to ask." 
He raised his red energy sword and sliced it down onto
the mattress, essentially ruining another piece of
furniture.  As the bed broke in the middle, falling
apart, Chiten scrabbled up and away.  Tenchi gazed at
him from across the room, "Lie down my dear, little,
useless, soccer ball; make your brother's job easier."


The twin unsteadily got back up and wiped fresh blood
from his mouth, "I don't think so, lets get back to
using the blades." 

Tenchi's face went unreadable for a moment, which
quickly transitioned into a shocked expression, "You
don't want to be my little soccer ball!" 

The doppelganger grimaced, lips twisted in anger and
pain, and charged, his swords up and crisscrossing in
a flurry of moves.  The two met in middle of the room
with their swords clanging against each other's.  This
time the dueling was not as choreographed like the
first fifteen minutes, the two went at each other like
mad and as a result their swords swung about wildly,
having the result of wrecking the entire room. 
Furniture, posters, shelves, nearly everything.  The
only things that were left untouched was the closet,
and for some reason the energy blades did no damage to
the walls,  they just kept bouncing off.  Nothing else
was left standing, many small knicknacks were
destroyed, and the two Tenchis still battled in middle
of the room, slowly advancing towards the closet.

Chiten found himself backpedalling more and more,
almost into Ryoko's hiding place, unable to stop his
twin's barrage of attacks.

The former space pirate found herself for the first
time very nervous on whether or not these two will
find her, and she started edging back against the
wall.  <Look at me, went through all sorts of danger
and here I'm getting jumpy because they close to the
closet.  What do I say if they find me, how will they
react?  Probably erase my memory too, that's not so
bad now, is it?>

Chiten was still on the defensive again, walking
measured steps slowly backwards to avoid Tenchi's
swipes at him.  When Chiten was finally pressed
against the closet, Tenchi was preparing to start
charging into him.  Letting out a loud battlecry,
Chiten abruptly turned tables around, and bought both
blades up offensively to bear, and dashed forward.

Right when it appeared that Tenchi was about to launch
a counter-attack with his swords, he instead took
lightning fast, low, sweep at his doppelganger's legs.
 The twin fell backwards onto the floor and Tenchi
jumped onto him, landing a knee on his chest. 

Chiten cocked his head up in time to see the black and
red energy swords criss-crossed at his neck.  His
doppelganger eyed him with a piercing gaze, and
breathed heavily into his face, "Checkmate?  By the
way, that was the dumbest move I seen you make in a
century.  What came over you?!  Watch too many
kung-foo movies lately?" 

Chiten acknowledged his defeat quietly by dispelling
his energy blades.  After Tenchi did the same, his
doppelganger held up his hand, "I don't know, can you
help me up?  You knocked the wind totally out of me." 


Tenchi grabbed hold of his hand and roughly yanked his
twin up.  The two surveyed the damage in the room and
one laughed softly, with a note of pure pleasure,
"Well, it was a good fight, we managed to destroy the
entire room.  *And* I managed to kick your ass again. 
As is usual." 

Chiten clenched both his fists, annoyance coloring his
cheeks red, spat out disgustedly, "Keep on boasting. 
You have over 4300 years fighting experience over me."


The blusterer scratched his chin, "Excuse me, but
aren't you the one who's been around 20,000 years. 
I'm sorry you didn't play with your sword more often
in the meantime."

Ryoko shook her head, <20,000 years old?, 4300 years
fighting experience like me?, What the hell?>

Shrugging the innuendo of the last comment comment
off, the twin countered, "In a way, you lived life a
lot longer than I have.  Are you in a better mood
now?" 

Tenchi made a half-nod, "Somewhat.  You know, life
would be a lot simpler without those two whores
constantly fighting each other.  Sometimes, I dream of
a life totally free from them." 

Chiten gave a sigh, "Yeah.... One is just as bad as
the other, I believe.  She would be possessive as
hell, and never let us go.  If we could only kill them
somehow or at least exile them."

A sinking feeling came to the pit of Ryoko's stomach. 
<I hope they aren't talking about.......no it can't
be.  Tenchi would NOT say something like that.  No,
no, no!>

Tenchi gave out a laugh, "Time to discuss strategy. 
Now what?  We used to have a plan all mapped out, and
it already got screwed up in the beginning, mostly
because of Mihoshi and Washu." 

Chiten shook his head and said rather sadly, "Brother,
I can't see what the future brings anymore either.  To
many unknown variables and factors as Washu would say.
 But I don't feel like reacting simply to everything
that comes up anymore either.  Today with the photos,
for instance.  When we came into full awareness,
instead of just fixing the situation, you totally
over-reacted.  As usual, lately."

Tenchi coughed and accused, eyes narrowed, "And you
have nothing to do with it."

Chiten sighed, "You acting like a nutcase over
something small like that?"

His doppelganger growled out, "No, I know you and
Washu have something up your damn sleeves."

Chiten holler back, "You've been pestering me all last
week about this, how could I even manage such a thing?
 You know, it was just some photos, and you were
acting like that in front of Sasami!"

Tenchi howled out, "What was I supposed to do!  Let
Nobuyuki show those photos to others, especially
Sasami.  Then everybody would start asking questions,
wanting answers, and then even more questions would
follow.  Let one thread accidently slip, and
everything will unravel I say."  He continued
expressing his train of though, "How about since Washu
denied an alliance, we kill her, now that she's our
our enemy too.  It'd be best to get the first one out
the way and she would be the easiest to dispose of, I
believe." 

Chiten waved his hands emphatically with a shocked
expression, "Brother, please don't even say such a
thing!  Lady Washu said she'd think about it. 
Besides, so what if she doesn't join us?  It doesn't
mean she's fighting against us.  No!  Let her decide
either way what she wants to do." 

Tenchi sat down on the ruined bed and started tapping
at the edges idly, "So we wait here like sitting
ducks?"

Chiten took a deep breath before finally answering,
"We do have some time." 

Ryoko had to suppress a cringe, with his words ringing
in her ears, "we kill her."  <Damn he's speaking as if
he's planning to wash the dishes or take out the
garbage.  Now I know I don't want to be found.  Why
would Washu be his enemy?  Things are going way too
fast.....>

Tenchi looked at him quizically, "I hope you know that
I'm still am going through with the plan to destroy
Yosho's little life here.  I want him rendered.....
ineffective.  He's not going to be influencing any
future events."  

The one hidden in the closet resolved to listen,
refusing to be surprised again, <Second time he
mentioned Yosho.>

Responding thoughtfully, Chiten replied, "I know.  But
are you *sure* you want to totally destroy any
influence he can have.  We can use him, you gave him
the mark after all." 

His counterpart smiled back deviously, "Master used to
say, 'For some, pain and punishment are the best
learning tools.'  And I'm going to teach Yosho one way
or the other.  After all, he gave me nearly 700 years
of punishment and this miserable existance."

The spiky haired woman became utterly puzzled, <700
years of punishment?  Like me again, what is he
talking about?>

Tenchi commented, "Using Mihoshi is working better
than I ever imagined." 

The other one sucked in his breath, surprise etched in
his face, "Wow, that's a change.  Didn't you want to
toss her off the planet when she got here,  especially
after the fight with Kagato.  Just last week you were
yelling at her."  

"Yeah, well, she needs to be babysat sometimes but
she's an even better agent for me than I thought
possible.... we do need to start feeding more
misinformation to the Holy Council in the future after
all.  Plus she's becoming a good friend to Washu.  I
guess I'm glad of that."

Chiten arched his eyebrow questionly, "You know it
would be good to calm down with all this activity.  We
are playing dangerous games afterall, with all the
spies around here, one slip up like this morning again
with Sasami and ........"  

His counterpart studied the floor suddenly, guilt
washing over his features, "I'm was trying to keep
everything from Sasami, do I look so stupid...... it's
makes it harder with her connected to that whore
Tsunami.  On the bright side, Funaho won't talk as
long as we feed her a little energy, a little hope,
and can threaten her existance.  Yosho is kept in the
dark by Funaho's lies, some memory blocks and changes,
and his own stupidity."  The teenaged boy lowered his
tone snarling, "By the time I'm done with fuck-whore,
he'll be under the bed sheets pissing himself before
he even thinks of trying any type of action anymore." 
Tenchi took a short break to compose himself, "The
best thing is that he won't ever know what it is that
scares him so much.  And we'll just have to keep
filtering what Mihoshi feeds her headquarters.  No
problem at all."

Chiten sighed tired, "If those two just didn't exist,
I'd be happy." 

Tenchi imitated the sigh but longer, "Yeah, I
know......"

Sniffing, his doppelganger languidly concluded,
"Tsunami and Tokimi, Tokimi and Tsunami.  Constantly
ruining our lives.  Washu doesn't even know how to
protect Sasami from Tsunami.  But why should she, we
don't know and we have her memories as well."  
Frowning, Tenchi pointed out, "I was the one hoping
Azusa would just take Sasami back to Jurai.  No mess
and no bother..... and one less pair of eyes and ears
for Tsunami."  He paused, and then added with deep
regret, "I hate seeing her used, just another pawn in
this game."

Both yawning, the two sat down, back to back agaist
each other, spending a few idle minutes in silence.

Her previous emotional burden lifted, and some of her
gut wrenching subsided,  Ryoko smiled weakly  <Tsunami
and Tokimi, that's who he...they meant.  Tokimi, I
heard that name before, where......in the lab and
where else..... at Dr. Clay's ship.  They have Washu's
memories, but how?  Sasami is Tsunami's pawn, I
thought they were just to be assimilated.>

Ten minutes passed before they spoke again.  Turning
around and looking at his twin in the eye the one
spoke, "I tired about this constant strategizing and
stuff.  Let's talk about something less depressing. 
How about how when we first fell in love?"  With a
broad grin, Chiten nudged his twin in the ribs and
commanded, "And you go first." 

His counterpart nudged back much harder, "Your idea,
you first, besides" and matched his twin's grin tooth
for tooth and added, "You know brother, always save
the best for last."

Chiten rolled his eyes.  "Oh, ok.  Watching Lady Ayeka
grow up, she was so beautiful, even when she was so
young.  I don't know what, but something about her was
special, and she was so carefree back then.... picking
flowers, chasing butterflies and stuff.  I always
loved watching her."

The other one interjected, mockingly, with smacking
lips for extra effect, "Oh, and when the ponytailed
haiku-spewing 'sword master' start making out with the
little princess.  Did he let her polish his long hard
blade often?"  

After some growls Chiten spit out, "Shut your filthy
trap!  I believe the marriage contract was made when
she was around eight, and he was about sixteen or so. 
He was nice to her but even I could tell he wasn't
interested in marrying her or in that way.  Her
brother only came around from time to time, he had
other things to do, besides he was seeing that other
woman at the space academy."

A malicious reply followed, coming out of Tenchi's
mouth, "Worthless, faithless, little slut and a whore.
 A man who betrays his sister like he did deserves to
die, not to mention what he did to his chaperone."

After his twin calmed down, Chiten followed up calmly,
"Whatever, anyway I had totally fallen for her after
watching her grow up and become a beautiful young
woman.  The attack on Jurai was a godsend, because her
brother left her.  Quite willingly I may add."

For the third time that day a pirate's heart stopped
beating altogether again, <He likes Ayeka. But he
couldn't have watched her grow up, could he? How?>

A nasty snort was heard, "Oh yeah, a great gift that
was.  How long after that did Tsunami send you to kill
me?"

"I don't remember...."  Silence followed until Chiten
softly coughed, "Not everything was so bad, we kept
watch over her those six years as she waited for her
brother.  I always did admire her devotion even
though, as you note, he didn't deserve it......."  

After a brief lull in the conversation, Chiten started
up again, "I'm glad she likes it here, but I've always
known she would like the simpler life, since she
always did enjoy the plainer things, she had private
hobbies like poetry, or tending the plants on her
ship."

Tenchi noted, "Ayeka was nicer back then, wasn't she."


His counterpart frowned and spit out, "How was she
supposed to act?"  Chiten sighed longingly and lay
down on the floor looking up at the ceiling, "If only
the girls didn't think there was a competition for our
hearts..... If only they knew, there is no competition
whatsoever.  Ayeka is the one for me." 

"She is ok, I guess." 

Eyelids fluttered in surprise, "Brother, I knew you'd
like her again someday!"  Chiten tried to give his
twin a hug but was immediately shoved off. 

"Dammit, will you stop that nonsense.  How many times
do I have to tell you I *HATE* being touched." 

Following his failed attempt to give a simple hug,
Chiten yielded meekly, "Sorry, anyway your turn."

Tenchi stared blankly at the wall, "One day she
stumbled in somehow, no more than six years old.  I
was too scared to even say anything half-way
intelligent, so she just started talking instead.  I
yanked her hair a couple times and she cursed me out
before getting the hell out of there.  But I'd like to
think we had a bond since that first meeting."

His counterpart um-hmmed, knowing this already.

"Eventually, I even talked back.  She let me touch
her, gave me a name even, since I didn't have a real
one at the time."

The twin corrected, "You had a name, you just didn't
know it yet.  All she did was tell it to you."

Lips were pursed, and eyebrows twisted in frustration,
"SHUT UP!  Anyway, we used to play for hours on end. 
Best friends and all that.  I loved her the day I met
her, and she fell in love with me, even if it took a
while for her to come around.  Probably because I was
on the other side of the bars."  Frowning, he hissed
out, "It was later that Kagato made his move.  Filthy
bastard whore."  Calming down he smiled, "You know, I
met Ryoko outside the cave every chance I got and we
played together even if she was a ghost.  I'm happiest
just being with her, around her."

Her frozen heart started beating again rapidly, no,
not only that, Ryoko thought her heart would explode,
<What is he talking about...... who cares.... he loves
me! Now one Tenchi loves me.  But he says he remembers
me growing up and stuff.  But I don't remember ever
being a kid.  And we never played together.  I just
watched him outside the cave.  And he only saw me
sometimes until he was around five.....>  Lost in her
own confusing thoughts, she missed the few quick
glances Chiten directed at the closet from time to
time.

Scowling over at Chiten, Tenchi spat out, "It was just
supposed to be me and Ryoko.  But somehow I got
dragged into some other mess because of Tsunami.  And
because of you.  I hate having to share a body and I
hate you."

His doppelganger whispered softly, "I love you
brother.  Even if you won't admit it, you love me."

After some hysterical unbelieving laughter at the last
statement Tenchi crawled behind his doppelganger, and
put his mouth near his twins ear and hissed out  "I
hate you more than anything else you nothing. 
Sometimes brother.......... I wonder.  I *dream* of
killing you during our sparring, one clean swipe will
take off you empty head.  And I could do it too,
anytime, anywhere.  I haven't trained you so well that
you are on par with me yet.  It would be the one
perfect murder.  No body, hell no one even knows would
know theres really two of us except...... for Washu. 
Then I would just grab Ryoko and fly off like a bat
out of this hellhole.  No Megami to play stupid with. 
No you.  Not a million headaches to deal with
constantly.  Just me..... and her..... and Ryo-ohki
and ....."  Tenchi mumbled something unintelligible at
the end, not discernable to the sharp-eared creation
of Washu.

Ryoko puzzled, <The one Tenchi sounds like he really
means it.  Why would he hate the other so much?>

The twin sighed a sigh of one who went through this
often enough, "Remember when you tried killing me last
time, all those times.  Everytime.... it's the same
result, get over it, our souls are linked."

"We don't really know that, it might just be worth
dying to find out.  Wouldn't it, it would for me, I
might finish it one of these days?"

Eager to improve his doppelganger's dour mood, and
more importantly avoid his ire, Chiten suggested,
"Give me your version of heaven." 

Tenchi mechanically spat out, "Oblivion.  Pure
nothingness. Oh..... and a mattress made of boobs."

Chiten rubbed his temples, and started explaining
slowly as if talking to a little child, "No idiot, I
mean lets start this over again.  Tell me a story, it
starts out 'In a perfect world........' and you fill
in the rest."

Tenchi lay still on the floor, closed his eyes and
began "In a perfect world I would have married Ryoko
under the stars, free." 

His twin urged him on, "Oh, how would you have
proposed in that case?" 

A lecherous smirk tugged at his lips, "At night, I
would bring her to the top of the cave.  I would tell
Ryo-ohki to do some sky writing, she'd dump out
something radioactive that glows really bright at
night.  It would be in gold, like Ryoko's eyes."

As she listened, Ryoko smiled trying her best to
forget for a little bit the previous events, <That
does sound nice.>

"Sounds romantic, what would it say?"  prodded Chiten.

A leer tugged at the one prince's lips before
answering, "Ryoko will you marry me?  Screw me once
for yes and twice for no."  

Chiten mumbled exasperated, "I should have figured. 
How about your wedding?"  

The former space pirate's cheeks burned, <Tenchi,
talking like this..... Where has he been the last nine
months.....>

Tenchi scratched the back of his neck, "I really don't
need a wedding, I don't need other people to give me
ceremonies and tell me I'm married.  My heart was and
always will be hers and that's all there is to it.  If
she wants something more fancy, I'd go for it as well,
but I don't like being around too many people.  It
should be something small."

Putting her chin on her hands the demoness commented
mentally, <I think the same way sometimes.>

Chiten started his version of an ideal life, "I don't
know how I'd propose to Lady Ayeka.  I think perhaps
in Ryu-oh.  We'd have dinner alone.  I would want to
be dressed in my battle armor, of course, to show
myself as her knight.  We'd have her favorite meal,
Oshimara.  Some wine I suppose."

The other one cut in, "To get her drunk, of course!"

Pointedly ignoring the jibe, Chiten finished, "uh....
and I would perform the Chet'ere, cut my wrist and
drain the blood into a goblet.  If Lady Ayeka accepts
it, I would pour it onto Ryu-oh roots, as is custom. 
Then I can present her with the engagement ring."

"Made of your blood?"  ask his twin.

Appearing confused at first, Chiten brightened up,
"Oh, of course!  Jurain custom dictates it so."

A groan almost emitted from the closet, <Weird Jurain
customs.  But if it's custom...., I'm sure Ayeka would
go for that.>

Tenchi smiled and nodded, "Not bad.  I think I want to
change my *already* perfect marriage proposal. 
Ryo-ohki would still do some sky-writing or rather
sky-drawing.  She'd draw Ryoko with wings, like an
angel.  Ryoko would be sitting on top of the cave
entrance, and I'd be on the bottom.  I wouldn't ask
her to marry me literally.  What I would do is pull
out the ring and sing her the song I made for her
instead."

Blushing yet again, Ryoko breathed in, <He wrote me a
song?>  She breathed out, <I want to hear it!>

Chiten gave a short chuckle, "You and that damn song. 
You're right with weddings though.  How about your
honeymoon and how'd you live?"

Deep throated excited giggles were heard throughout,
"The honeymoon..... I really don't feel like going
anywhere.  I like this area.  I know only one thing
though.  The honeymoon is gonna last at least ten
years.  Do you see our bed now? (Waving over to the
destroyed mattress and frame.)  That thing will be
considered mint condition compared to what me and
Ryoko would leave behind.  I'd sleep eleven hours a
day.  Have sex twelve hours a day! No problem with
advanced powers and technology!  An hour a day for
something else.  We'd mooch off Washu, she can
replicate the carrots for Ryo-ohki, food and money for
us, and whatever else we'd want, probably a new bed
every other week.  We'd go out of the house once a
year for mother's day, and show Washu around the town.
 Maybe go to a dance with her, who knows.  Then one
more year of sex!"  

A certain person in hiding felt a tinge of anger,
<Damn you Tenchi, you're making me blush again and
again, my face is all red.  And look at you, grinning
like a fool.  You're not even the least bit
embarrassed talking like that.  What's come over you?>

At this point he was laughing hysterically and Chiten
was sporting blood red cheeks, some blood coming out
of his nose.  "And every night before we go to sleep,
I'd sing  her her song.  After a decade, we'd have
some kids.  I'd show them sword fighting, real sword
fighting.  Not that Jurain garbage.  Washu can tutor
them for six hours a day so we can have private time. 
Ryoko..... makes a great mom.  We'd read them fairy
tales and stuff.  The kids can be anything they want,
as long as it is honorable.  Nobuyuki and Achika would
be still together.  They'd make good grandparents. 
Even you and Ayeka can be there."

The so-called demon settled down, her anger subsiding,
<Sounds nice, why doesn't he just come out and say it?
 Because of Tsunami and who.... Tokimi?>

In utter astonishment Chiten asked skeptically,
"Really?! um... I was sure you'd want us gone as far
as possible."  

"No, no, of course not. You'd be the butler of the
house and Ayeka the maid.  She could use those long
ponytails as a mop.  As long she doesn't leave purple
stains behind on the floor, now that would be really a
bother."  

The doppelganger mock elbow punched his twin in the
back and flustered out angrily, "Hey! I don't make fun
of Ryoko do I?  Besides Lady Ayeka has had her DNA
converted, her hair isn't colored purpled with dye or
anything close to that."  

Appearing to ponder this revelation deeply, Tenchi
asked in all seriousness, "So what you are saying is
that her hair would make a good mop since it won't
stain anything?"

Having a much better time than before, Ryoko grinned
maliciously, <I'd never thought I'd hear Tenchi making
fun of Ayeka.  And purple isn't her real hair color. 
How would he know?  This could come in handy.>

Chiten glared at his doppelganger, "That is not what I
meant and you know it.  I would not want Lady Ayeka to
be your personal maid, and on top of that you can stop
making fun of her."  

"I could.... but I won't.  What about your honeymoon
and life?"

Chiten nervously fumbled over the thoughts, "I think
I'd want to see some more of the universe.  Not a
whole lot more but some of the nicer spots.  I.....
um.... you see.... the wedding night.... it would
be..... oh... ah.... special of course."  Becoming
crimson at the mere prospect of it he quickly followed
through, "um...yes.... it would be.....  I think I
would want to train my kids in sword fighting as well.
 I really never thought so much about it."

"Might as well not, as long as I'm stuck with you
fighting a war with these little megami.  Say, what
about everyone else?"

Catching on, he noted, "I think Lady Mihoshi needs
someone who's nice and will be... uh... very patient
with her.  And who doesn't have.... too many
electronics of any sort....  Lady Washu needs someone
that'll drag her out of the lab.  Little Sasami, I
don't know.  She's not even reached puberty, she could
change a lot, you know?"

"Yeah, your right.  I'd want Yosho and Tsunami
together though, on the throne.  Yosho could tell her
riddles and rhymes, and meaningless philosophy all
day.  Make her do all these chores and stuff.  And
make promises he'd break."  Tenchi started imitating a
singing gruff, old voice, "Sweep, sweep, sweep my
stairs, with your tree branches or bluish hairs.  Do
all the chores, so I can be lazy and have no cares. 
This shrine is mine, but you own all the work,  it's
best this way, because then I can sip my tea, write
bad haiku, and smirk."  Going back to his normal tone,
"Tsunami could lie to him all day as well and betray
his trust for her own goals."  Now he managed to
emulate a whiny higher pitched ethereal voice, "Oh,
you are mine, mine, mine, forever and all time.  Now
you're in my hands, I'll use you to implement my
devious plans.  A tree I might be, but I'm so cute
won't you marry me?"  Tenchi tone went back to normal
as he guffawed, "Yes, yes, yes, me thinks it would be
a match made in heavenly hell."

Tired of his silliness, Chiten sullenly considered,
"Who do think Ryoko and Ayeka will meet after we die?"


Shutting his eyelids, Tenchi barked, "I don't really
want to think about it!"  

Defensively Chiten put his arms up, "Sorry, sorry,
neither do I."

Abruptly frozen, chilled to the bone, the cyan haired
woman mentally repeated,
<After....After......After....>

"Might as well fix the room."  One of them summoned up
the holo-top, and tapped in a few keys.  For a few
seconds nothing happened, then everything not tied
down disappeared into a subspace hole.  A few more
moments later, everything reappeared out of a hole in
tip-top shape and perfect condition and order.

Ryoko presently took little notice any of these things
going on.  <.....After he...they....he...dies...  >

One doppelganger pleaded with the other, "Ready, I'm
getting tired of being apart."  

"Yeah, me too."  Tenchi did a few little silly twirls,
dancing around the room, "Lest we forget to forget. 
Let's forget."  

Unable to supress a small snicker, Chiten mentioned,
"Sometimes you have your way with words." 

His counterpart tapped him playfully on the nose, "And
sometimes words have their way with me."  The two
phased back together so that only one Tenchi remained.
He picked up the sword hilt and slid himself into bed.

He instructed in a monotone voice, sword on his own
forehead,  "Tenchi, Re-institute all previous memories
blocks and changes.  Institute memory block-memory
change.  This morning father found two photos that he
thought were of me before and after a beating.  He
went down to Washu in the lab.  She agreed with father
and both of them came up here to talk to me about it. 
Father then proceeded to wake me up and talk to me.  I
explained to him that it was just make-up for a
costume festival that my grandmother applied.  He
disagreed and we got into a loud verbal argument over
it.  Then Washu came into the room.  Ayeka and Sasami
came to my door as well.  I apologized for the noise
and they went back into their room.  Father, Washu and
I sat down and had a calm discussion.  After more
examination they both realized they jumped to
conclusions.  That the seemingly damage done to my
body was make-up after all because they missed some
details.  We all laughed over the stupid mistake. 
Now, the issue is resolved and need no further
discussion of it.  Father let me keep the photos so I
can destroy them so no more misunderstandings like
this occur.  Since father was late to work anyway, he
decided to take the day off and sleep in.  He also
decided I can take a day off school.  I accepted the
offer reluctantly, afraid to miss too much school. 
Washu and father left the room.  After closing the
door behind them,  I felt very tired and promptly fell
asleep.  Release protection area, open all links.
Return to drawer.  Done."

Having recovered from their revelation, Ryoko had to
keep herself from stumbling out of the closet, <What,
he even made himself forget stuff?!  Why?!>

With the final instructions given, Tenchi started
snoring lightly and the sword hilt disappeared from
his hand.

Trusting it was safe after at least fifteen minutes,
she stood up in the closet.  <I-I see.... I probably
was never meant to see or remember this
conversation...... whatever he, I mean they are
hiding, they even hide it from.... themselves..... I
suppose.>  Ryoko phased backwards and nodded,
satisfied that she could now go back out in the hall
anytime.  Instead, she phased forward again and
floated above him, confounded at what she heard today,
moreso that she could not make sense of most of it.

<I thought I knew everything about you.  Who are you
really?  How do you know these things?  How do you do
these things?>  In light of the fact that she didn't
get much sleep lately, she drifted off while trying to
work out what exactly she saw and what it meant.


*********************************************************************


Authors Note: 
PLEASE REVIEW, THANK YOU!

Email: 
rolfwind@yahoo.com



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