NO NEED FOR CONFESSIONS

a Tenchi Muyo fanfic by the Space Pirate Ryoko

 

Spring had come again to the valley, and all was good in the Masaki household.  Nobiyuki had announced that evening that he had received an important promotion at work, Mihoshi and Kiyone had a day off and came to visit, and Washu had just finished a new inter-dimensional invention.  Tenchi was glad for everyone's happiness, so he didn't protest when Ryoko and his father suggested a night of celebratory drinking.

After a couple of hours and more than a few drinks, Tenchi glanced around the room at all of his friends and family—everyone he cared about right here in one place.  Yosho had paused in his drinking to let Sasami refill his cup.  The young girl giggled softly as she tipped the sake bottle, her own cheeks pink from the sips she'd stolen from Mihoshi.  The blonde Galaxy police officer lay with her head on her partner's lap, while Kiyone leaned against the wall and sang songs with Tenchi's father.  Nobiyuki himself looked pretty pleased as he shifted his attention between the lovely Kiyone and the even lovelier princess.  Ayeka wasn't aware of Nobiyuki's glances—she was heavily involved in a drinking contest with Ryoko.  She paused, mid-sip, to smile at Tenchi.  The space pirate's cheeks were flushed, but her eyes gleamed sharply at him.  She smiled.  Washu observed everything, wickedly sober.

Tenchi's heart pounded.  He ached as his mind snapped with sudden realization.  In a moment, everything seemed clear—it was as though the fog that had settled over him the past few years had suddenly lifted.  Tenchi realized that his newfound passion was something he wanted to share.  In fact, if he didn't tell everyone exactly how he felt, he was sure he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

Standing up shakily, Tenchi lifted his sake cup high in the air.  "I have an announcement!" he cried, his face flushed red with alcohol and warmth.  "Actually, it's more of a confession."

All eyes turned to Tenchi.

He grinned happily.  "I've finally decided," he announced solemnly.  "Ryoko, Ayeka, please come up here—I need you two to know this."

Ayeka stumbled to her feet slowly.  "But Lord Tenchi!" she cried in dismay.  "Don't you think we should talk about this later, when it can be more romantic?"  Her voice was confident, almost commanding, but deep down, Ayeka was terrified that Tenchi would choose Ryoko in front of everyone before she had a chance to change his mind.

Ryoko bounded up, an equally concerned look on her face.  "Yeah, Tenchi, don't you think you should wait until we're alone, so we can do all the things that naturally follow a confession like this?"  She traced small circles on his shoulder with one finger, pressing herself against him.  She sounded confident, and she looked at her love with conviction, but deep down, Ryoko was terrified that Tenchi would choose Ayeka in front of everyone before she had a chance to change his mind.

Tenchi shook his head, determined.  This was too important a matter.  He couldn't bear to let another moment slip by without his true feelings being known.  He slipped a hand into Ryoko's, interlacing their fingers.  He did the same to Ayeka, pressing his palm securely against hers.  With a brave smile, he looked at them both, then around the room to the waiting gazes.

"The time has come for me to confess that I've finally decided," he proclaimed with bravado.   "I've decided that I like warm sake better than cold sake."  He grinned drunkenly, happy to have this finally off his chest.

Both girls dropped his hands like hot potatoes. "What!?" they demanded in unison.

Tenchi picked up two small cups of sake.  He sipped one. "Yep," he verified.  "I definitely like hot sake better than cold."  Then he sipped the other, a confused look falling over his features.  "Hmmmm . . .  Maybe not so much after all."  Ignoring the face-faults of the family around him, Tenchi sat on the floor to puzzle out this new mystery, wondering if he hadn't spoken too soon.