Washu hadn't been able to sleep. Something bad was going to happen, she just knew it. Since Ryoko had come into her lab yesterday she knew things were going to change. She didn't like change.
She hadn't had a happy life, but she was happy now. Where she was now in her life, she was good. Ok, things could improve, but she got to be close to Ryoko. That was all that mattered really. If Tenchi made a choice…well then things would change. Either she would be closer to her daughter or pushed further away. Odds were on the last one.
She couldn't help feel sorry for her daughter. She had got so excited and she was sure Tenchi wasn't going to share that level of enthusiasm. Her poor little girl could be hurt.
Her poor little girl was going to have a baby.
She was going to be a grandma.
That would make it hurt even more if Ryoko pushed her away.
She stood and wandered over to a console, bringing up a camera she had hidden in the kitchen. Sasami was already about, making breakfast. Ayeka entered and sat herself down, talking to her sister. Nothing of interest there.
Ryoko was still sleeping. She could feel the peace over the link. Ryoko was only ever at peace when asleep, the rest of the time she was bubbling over with some emotion or another.
She pressed a button and the camera switched to one in Ryoko's room. She was surprised her child hadn't discovered this particular camera yet. She would have expected it. It was still there and functioning thought so she couldn't have.
Washu enjoyed watching Ryoko sleep. She hadn't been allowed contact with her for so long…it was good to watch over her. And this was the only way she could watch without being rejected.
Sighing she shut of the camera. She should go out to breakfast.
By the time she got out of the lab Mihoshi, Ayeka and Tenchi were seated at the table. Tenchi looked at her oddly. She wasn't normally out so early, but things were going to blow up badly and she wanted to be there for her baby.
Ryoko appeared a few minutes later and sat herself at Tenchi's side, just as Sasami was serving the delicious food. They all tucked in, compliments and idle chatter flying. Tenchi was strangely silent and solemn though. None of the others seemed to notice. Maybe it was just her imagination. After all, she was expecting things to go wrong.
Breakfast went of without a hitch and Tenchi left to work at the shrine. Ayeka went to do her chores and Mihoshi wandered of to the TV. Ryoko hung around for a moment, and then joined the blond detective. Washu helped Sasami with the washing up, and then sent the girl of to enjoy herself. It was a lovely day she should be having fun.
As Washu went into the living room Ryoko caught her eye. She gestured towards the laboratory and they both made their way over.
Once in the safety of the laboratory Ryoko turned to look at her mother. The small woman studied her daughter for a second, and then changed her form, growing into her adult body. Ryoko nodded softly. Washu knew Ryoko found it easier to talk to her like this. She looked more like a mum. After all, how could a 12 year old be a mother?
She summoned a pair of cushions and sat down, watching as Ryoko did the same. Something was weighing on her daughter's mind and she wanted to help.
"What's bothering you?" she asked softly. Ryoko looked at her, grimly.
"Can you do something to make Tenchi believe me?"
Washu just stared at her. He wouldn't even believe her? That was absurd…and dangerous. If he thought she was just lying to him again then he might make the wrong decision in anger and her baby would be hurt. No, she wouldn't let that happen. She would have to talk to Tenchi.
"I'll see what I can do…but I'm not promising anything. He might not believe me."
"Of course he'll believe you, you're meant to be the greatest scientific genius in the world," she scoffed. Washu shook her head.
"That's one of the reason's he may not believe me. I can fake results like this easily, and my equipment is to advance for him to use it to check for himself. Also, I'm your mother. I wouldn't exactly be the hardest person for you to convince to lie…"
"Yes you would," Ryoko pointed out.
"Well…yes. But I am still your mother."
"So you say," Ryoko said, standing up and stretching. Then she was gone.
Washu sighed then walked over to a console, calling up the readings she had taken earlier. She only hoped, for Ryoko's sake, that he believed her.
She printed of a copy of her results and went to find him. She needed to talk to him before he made a big mistake.
To his surprise, he was stood right outside her door.
"I was about to get you Little…" he trailed of, noticing she was in her adult form. She smiled and shrunk down to the size he was used to.
"Little Washu," he continued with a smile. "I need to talk to everyone."
"Maybe you should look at this first," she said, thrusting the papers under his nose. He just turned and walked into the living room though.
"There's not time," he told her. "I'll look later."
"It might be worthless later," she called out, rushing to his side.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," he said with a smile. All the other girls were already gathered around. Washu grabbed hold of Tenchi's arm, trying to pull him back with her but he wasn't having it. Slowly she sat down with the others, clutching her proof in her hands, and waiting for him to start.
"I'm sorry I've kept you all waiting to hear this for so long," he said softly. "I've finally made my choice…"
All of the girls' eyes lit up and they leant forward in their chairs.
"No offence to you all," he started. "But I think we all know this comes down to Ayeka and Ryoko. I'm sorry Mihoshi, Washu, Sasami, Ryo-Oki…I love you all in different ways but I don't love any of you like this…"
Mihoshi immediately burst into tears. Poor thing, she had really believed she had a chance. She'd get over it quickly though. Even now, as Sasami hugged her, her sobs were beginning to lessen. She would find someone else. There were plenty more guys for her.
Now they all watched Tenchi. He sat quietly, seeming to organise his thoughts. Washu clenched her hands so tightly it hurt. Her teeth ground together. He'd better not hurt her baby. Ryoko and Ayeka were both sat on the edges of their seats, eyes shining, each sure of their own victory.
"Ryoko said something to me yesterday…" he started. "And It made me thing. I'm tired of the way things are around here. I'm tired of the lies and fights and schemes. I'm tired of no one getting along. I just want a peaceful happy family life, and If that means choosing then I'm ready to choose.
"I choose Ayeka."
The entire room was silent for a second, then Ayeka let out a very undignified scream and threw herself around Tenchi's neck. Washu turned to look at Ryoko who was rising from her seat.
"Ryo-Oki," Ryoko cried out. The rabbit came running up to her and she scooped it up, then ran outside. Washu followed behind her.
"Where are you going?" she called out as they emerged from the house. Washu watched Ryo-Oki as she went up into the air and changed into her space ship form.
"I don't know," Ryoko said, turning to look at her. Washu could see the tears running down her daughter's face. She Ran down the steps and lunged forward, reaching out to grab her daughter's hand, but she disappeared. Washu fell over and rolled just in time to see Ryo-Oki shoot of into the distance. A second later, her link with Ryoko shut down.
Washu sat there watching the sky. She had known that Ryoko could shut down the link and that she might…but she hadn't really been ready for it. She was so used to having her daughter in the back of her mind. A constant source of reassurance.
Ryoko must have known she could have been traced by it. Slowly Washu pulled herself out of the dirt and made her way into the house. She saw Ayeka was leaning against Tenchi, looking up at him dreamily. Sasami was watching the door, a worried look on her face. Mihoshi had gathered up the papers and was looking at them, her brow creasing.
"Little Washu," Mihoshi called out, looking up. "What are these?"
"There some medical scans I took of Ryoko yesterday," she said softly.
"But…but these say that she's pregnant…" Mihoshi cried out.
Tenchi jumped to his feet in shock, dropping Ayeka. The princess was fuming.
"They're obviously fake!" she cried out.
"You can check them if you like," Washu said softly. "But they're genuine."
"I thought she was lying," Tenchi whispered, taking the papers of Mihoshi.
A look of worry passed over Ayeka's face, then one of determination. Suddenly Washu knew what she was doing. Jurians have the capability to hold sperm alive in their uterus for months, until it was needed. She watched in vein as the princess released the sperm she had been holding.
"Tenchi…I think I may be pregnant to…"
~*~*~*~
Ayeka sat on the table with a self-satisfied smile. Washu wanted to punch her. She was such a silly little girl, creating a child just to outdo her rival. Ryoko would never do anything like that. Pity Tenchi hadn't believed it.
She ran a quick scan and looked it over. Of course, it was just a formality. Ayeka knew she had created a baby. Washu loaded the info from the hand link into the main computer bank and the machine began to beep away to itself as it processed the data. It only took a few seconds for the console to confirm the results.
Washu walked straight past Ayeka, grabbing Tenchi's arm and pulling him out of the room.
"Don't you realise Ayeka's manipulating you?" she asked. "She's only having this baby because Ryoko's pregnant."
"Don't be silly Washu," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "She couldn't have known…"
"Jurians don't get pregnant at intercourse like humans, Tenchi. It happens later. They hold the sperm until they are sure of their decision, then they use it."
"You're wrong," he said softly.
"You know I aren't." Washu replied. "She lied to you. She'll only hurt you."
"I'm not listening to you. I love her," he said. His voice lacked conviction though. It was uncertain.
"No, you don't." Washu said simply. "You picked her as she was convenient, and she's only going to cause trouble."
With that Washu turned and stormed into her laboratory, the door slamming shut behind her. She walked over to the Jurian princess sat on the table. The very spot where Ryoko had sat only days ago, so happy. Washu wished desperately she could re-activate the link on her own to talk to her daughter. She needed to know her baby was ok.
"Am I, Miss Washu?" Ayeka asked, a smug grin on her face. Washu checked the readings once more. She hadn't read them wrong. She turned and slapped Ayeka.
The princess looked utterly shocked. She stared as if Washu had grown an extra head.
"I know your game," Washu said bluntly. "You, princess, are a horrible person. You're manipulative and a disgrace. Tenchi wont believe me now but one day he'll see it from himself."
"I can't even begin to imagine what you're talking about," Ayeka said, rising from the table. She turned and left the lab without another word. Washu watched her go, then turned, grabbed the nearest object, and threw it across the room, screaming.
She should have done something sooner. She should have told Tenchi about the scan. She should have told Ryoko she had the same ability as Ayeka. Ryoko probably knew that though. She had wanted Tenchi's baby. Maybe not seriously. She had been drunk at the time of conception. Washu knew. She had been very amused to wake up in the morning and see the three of them on her monitor. She's rewound it and watched snatches of the night before. They'd all been thoroughly smashed.
A tear ran down her cheek. It just wasn't fair. She was getting to be closer then ever to her child and Tenchi had spoilt it just like that.
Angrily she wiped the tear away. She didn't have time for that now. She had to find Ryoko. The poor thing must be hurting. She had to find her and help her.
She summoned ten consoles around her and began to program them. Continual scans. News channels, all the TV channels, private radio, hotel registers, bank accounts, bars, hospitals, clinics. Hell, she even got a line into the public toilets on Zeborn 3. She would find her baby.
She took a small watch-type device from a nearby console and wrapped it around her wrist, programming it to beep if it detected anything. There were other things to do yet.
She exited the lab and walked slowly through the living room to the kitchen. A quick enquiry with Sasami told her that Ayeka and Tenchi had taken a walk outside in the fresh air. They'd thought it would do her good after the horrible things Washu had said.
She left the house herself and walked up to the shrine. She needed to talk to Yosho. A lot had happened today and she needed to clear her head if she was going to be any help. She knew that Ryoko had to be found before she did anything to rash.
Luckily, Yosho was right where he should be. He greeted Washu with a nod and asked her what was wrong. She let rip, telling him the whole story from start to end. By the end of it he was as shocked as she had been.
"I'll talk to Ayeka," he said, standing. "Do you know where Ryoko could be?"
"No, but I'm looking."
"You need to find her quickly."
"And the second she writes anything down on any electronic device anywhere in the known universe I'll know. Until then, there's not really anything I can do."
Yosho nodded and excused himself to go talk to Ayeka. Washu went back into her lab. All she could do now was wait.
She busied herself for the rest of the day with her inventions, keeping the alarm close at all times. She made sure all her machines were in working order so she could get wherever she was needed quickly. She had to be there before Ryoko left.
Finally, exhausted, she retreated to her bed. She just couldn't seem to sleep though.
She kept thinking of Kagato. Taking her baby from her. Now it was all happening again. Ryoko had gone away and she didn't know were she was or what she could do to help.
When Ryoko was first created, Washu hadn't cared about her. She was just another invention. A toy. But she was more then that now. She was her daughter. The link they shared and the long years of introspection being trapped on Kagoat's ship had brought led her to this conclusion.
Unfortunately, Ryoko didn't seem willing to let her be a mother.
Sighing she got up and gathered her sheets. She made her way over to the bank of computer screens scanning for Ryoko, sat on the floor and pulled the blankets around her shoulder. With an almost unconscious movement, she grew into her full body and sat studying the screens. It would be a long night.
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