For The Love of Kiyone


A Tenchi-Muyo fanfic by Keiichi Masaki
(Keiichi_dono@hotmail.com, Keiichi_dono@scifianime.com)


Tenchi and Kiyone Masaki (did I hear a collective faint?  Good!), as 
well as the rest of the cast from Tenchi-Muyo!, are the property of 
Pioneer and AIC.

Author's note/rant: This is my response fic to Dr. Tran's challenge 
on the FFML, and to a similar one made at GenSao's this weekend.  
Ten-Kiyo fics are my stock in trade (no apologies whatsoever to the 
RFFC), and so, being the High Priest of the Temple of the 
Teal-tressed Goddess, it falls to me.


(Author ducks rocks and bricks thrown by various RFFC members bearing 
the words "traitor" and "heretic")

Well... on with the fic:


Chapter 2: The 8 AM Shuffle


	Tenchi was not really a morning person, but for some reason 
he was finding it harder to get up today than usual.  Finally he 
heaved himself into a sitting position--and almost keeled over for 
his trouble.  Oh....  my aching....  everything.... What was I doing 
last night?!
	Oh yeah, he reminded himself.  I was up till three talking 
with Kiyone.
	He smiled at the memory.  In the nearly two years that he'd 
known Kiyone, he had learned very little about her personal life and 
background.  But last night....  now he felt like he'd known her his 
entire life.
	Foe example, he now knew that she had grown up with Mihoshi, 
both of them the eldest children of noble Megamian houses with long 
histories of service in galactic politics.  He knew that they had 
joined the Galaxy Police to prove to both their parents and 
themselves that they could stand on their own two feet.  Most of all, 
he finally knew for certain what he had suspected for the longest 
time: that under the brittle, professionally cheerful exterior.... 
	.... Kiyone was a real sweetie.
	I think Mom would really like her.
	He suddenly blinked.  Where did that thought come from?!
	No time to think about that now.  Look at the time.
	His eyes flew to the clock, which read 7:59 AM.  He gulped 
and continued watching the clock.
	The LCD changed from 7:59 to 8:00.
	And the house shook, as if on cue.
	Smoke wafted out of a window a moment later.  Said smoke was 
followed by angry female voices.
	Tenchi sighed and snapped his fingers.  "Right on the tick.  
Damn, I wish that wasn't so predictable...." He swung his legs out of 
the bed and set to getting dressed.

	".... and that was Megumi Hayashibara with "Teach Me 
Happiness," announced the DJ on the radio.  "Next up is a real sweet 
number by Chisa Yokoyama, called "Asian Girl."  And remember, you're 
listening to Mornings with Mamoru on--"
	Sasami turned down the radio as she saw Tenchi coming down 
the stairs.  "G'morning, Tenchi!" she called out cheerfully.
	"Morning, Sasami," Tenchi smiled.  "I presume that last 
shaking of the house was courtesy of Ayeka and Ryoko?"
	Sasami nodded gravely.
	Tenchi sighed.  "What was it this morning?"
	"There was only one rice ball leftover from last night."
	"I wish I could say I was surprised." Tenchi walked into the 
kitchen and opened the fridge.  "Need some help with breakfast this 
morning?"
	"No thanks." Sasami returned to the kitchen, whistling to 
herself.
	"Morning, everyone." Kiyone came down the stairs, Tenchi's 
tunic still wrapped around her shoulders.
	"Oh, good morning, Kiyone," Tenchi replied.  He smiled wryly. 
 "Say, if you're done with my tunic, could I please have it back?"
	"Well, I don't know," Kiyone bantered.  "I think I want to 
keep it."
	Tenchi's wry smile turned into a grin.  "Please?"
	"Oh, fine." Doing her best to feign a pout, Kiyone pulled off 
the tunic and started to hand it to Tenchi.  He touched it just as 
the remains of the screen door slid open and a still-arguing Ayeka 
and Ryoko stormed back into the house.
	The two of them stopped short when they saw Tenchi and Kiyone 
smile at each other.  Tenchi pulled the tunic back on and tied the 
sash.  It was only then that he noticed the two new arrivals.  "Oh.  
Do you two think you can stop fighting long enough to have 
breakfast?"
	The pirate and princess immediately blushed.
	"I'll take that as a yes," quipped Washu as she entered the 
room.  "Sasami, is breakfast ready?"
	"Just about!" Sasami called from the kitchen.

	"Hey, Ayeka." Ryoko nudged Ayeka.
	"Really, Ryoko, what is it?!"
	For once, Ryoko ignored Ayeka's belligerence.  "Look at 
them."
	"What do you--" Ayeka cut herself off in mid-bluster and 
looked.
	For all intents and purposes, the scene was a typical 
breakfast at the Masaki house.  No one who didn't live there could 
tell anything out of the ordinary (anything more than usual).
	On closer inspection, however, there was something.
	It was Tenchi and Kiyone.
	Was it their imagination, or were they bantering playfully 
back and forth?
	No, it was real.
	It had been little surprise that Tenchi was most comfortable 
with her and Sasami, who weren't trying to fight over him.  However, 
Kiyone had never really showed any romantic feelings for Tenchi, nor 
he for her.
	Was that changing now?
	All Ryoko and Ayeka knew for sure was that Kiyone had been 
wearing Tenchi's tunic earlier, and that they seemed very 
comfortable, almost intimate, with each other now.  This was a 
development that would bear watching.... 

	"Ahh....  this is the life."  Kiyone leaned back in the large 
bath, luxuriating in the warm water.  She closed her eyes, 
relaxed-and opened them in a hurry as she felt herself being yanked 
to her feet.  "What th-"
	Ryoko was glaring at her and holding her by the shoulders. 
"What the hell have you been doing with Tenchi?" she hissed.
	"Wh-what?" Kiyone was completely lost.
	"You know what I mean!  You gave him back his shirt this 
morning and then you were flirting with him all through breakfast!   
What gives?!"
	"Hush, Ryoko.  Put her down." Ayeka came up from behind Ryoko 
and gently pulled Kiyone from her grip.  "There are other ways to 
find out what's happening besides beating it out of her."  Ayeka then 
turned her attention back to Kiyone, who was sitting and gasping for 
air on the edge of the bath.  The princess graced the policewoman 
with a smile that was at once sweet and hard-edged.  "Now, Kiyone, 
would you please explain what happened?"
	"What happened?  Nothing happened!" Kiyone replied 
indignantly.  She stopped for a moment to calm down, then continued 
in a more reasonable tone.  "We were sitting on the roof last night 
talking.  It got a little cold, and he loaned it to me."
	"And what were you two doing up on the roof?" grumbled Ryoko.
	"Talking....  staying out of the way of explosions....  the 
usual."
	"And you still had it this morning?"
	"We were up talking till three.  I didn't notice that I'd 
taken it with me until I woke up this morning."
	"And what were you two talking about?" Ayeka asked.
	"I don't see how any of that is your business, but....  just 
life....  the universe....  stuff like that."
	"Is that all?  You two looked pretty cozy at the breakfast 
table."
	Kiyone definitely didn't like Ryoko's tone or her 
insinuations.  Honestly, don't these two have any concept of logic?! 
 This is so annoying....  she thought.
	Is it annoying because they're bothering you, or because 
there may be reason for them to worry? another part of her mind 
quipped.
	To Ryoko's question, she answered, "Yes, that's all."
	"Are you sure you two didn't talk about anything--or 
anyone--else....  like me or Ayeka?"
	Kiyone gulped but met Ryoko's eyes "Ask Tenchi."
	"Why won't you tell us?" inquired Ayeka, who was at least 
trying to maintain a semblance of calmness.
	"Because it's not my place to tell you." Kiyone sighed.  "All 
right....  Tenchi and I did talk about you, but I didn't try to steer 
him in one direction or another.  I was just there to listen to 
him--" Which is more than you two have ever tried, she thought sourly 
"--and that's it.  All I told him to do was what he thought was 
right.  As to what that is....  you two really should ask him, not 
me.  If you really care."
	That effectively ended the conversation in the bath.  Ayeka 
and Ryoko finished their ablutions in record time, dressed, and left 
the bath, almost running Mihoshi over in their silent rush.  Mihoshi 
stood blinking after them for a moment, then shrugged and entered the 
bath.  She seated herself next to Kiyone and turned to her partner.  
"Are you okay, Kiyone?"
	Kiyone relaxed and sighed.  "Yeah, I think so.... "
	"Those two were in a hurry."  Mihoshi eyed her partner and 
childhood friend cannily.  "Might this have something to do with you 
coming in with Tenchi's shrine tunic last night?"
	Kiyone nodded, unfazed by Mihoshi's sudden spurt of 
intelligence.  This had been happening since they were kids: sporadic 
instances where the blond detective actually had a clue.
	"They think you're trying to put the moves on Tenchi too now, 
huh?"
	Kiyone nodded and released a shaky breath.  "The thing is, 
Mihoshi.... "
	Mihoshi's eyes widened.  "Oh, no, don't you dare tell me that 
you.... "
	Kiyone blushed slightly, but forged ahead.  ".... I'm 
starting to see what they see in Tenchi."
	"Oh, my."

	"Lord Tenchi?"
	"Tenchi?"
	Tenchi turned from the dishes he was washing to find Ayeka 
and Ryoko standing behind him.  For once, they weren't bickering or 
imitating a wrecking crew.  No, they had matching serious expressions 
on their faces.
	Keeping his voice carefully cheerful, he smiled and said, 
"Hello, girls.  Can I do something for you?"
	The two contenders for Tenchi's affection exchanged looks, 
then Ryoko spoke.  "Tenchi, we need to talk with you.  Now."
	For the past two years, Tenchi had dreaded this moment.  Now, 
however, he felt almost relieved.  Finally.  Finally we can settle 
this.  
	He followed the two out side.  As he passed the bathroom, 
Kiyone came out, wrapped in a kimono.  Their eyes met for a brief 
second, and through that connection, Tenchi actually felt a little 
better.
	I'll take all the strength-both mental and emotional-that I 
can get.  Somehow I get the feeling that I'll need it.... he thought.

	End part 2

Author:  Please bear with me.  I'm trying hard not to vilify Ayeka or 
Ryoko, or make them seem petty.  One has to admit, though, that their 
behavior most of the time does give that impression.  Kami-sama 
willing, the third part will be out by end of Thanksgiving break.  Be 
ready for a little shock.  Jaa ne!




Keiichi Masaki, High Priest of the Temple of the Teal-tressed Goddess, Kiyone Makibi



Member of the Kiyone Ring and the Tenchi Ring



Co-writer, Mugen Tenchi Muyo!

http://members.xoom.com/RC_Books/mugen1.html



Visit my Temple of the Teal-tressed Goddess

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/9909



ICQ #: 18044248



"I am the one you think I am."

--Katsuhito "Yosho" Masaki



"The carnival comes and goes. If you wait for a while,

it'll always come back to you."

--Ryoko






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