Baby Mine

Chapter Nine

For the next two months everyone at the Masaki house worked to get things ready for the wedding. Ryoko worked on her wedding gown. She had designed it herself, much to everyone’s surprise. She had always been able to draw and sew. Everyone thought she couldn’t sew due to the whole episode with Tenchi’s mother’s kimono that Ryoko had accidentally torn shortly after everyone had arrived at the Masaki house. That had not been a good day for anyone. Ryoko had been so upset with herself that she had not been able to concentrate while sewing the sleeve back on and so had botched up the job therefore causing everyone to believe she couldn’t sew to save her life.

The gown was, as Tenchi had suggested, an empire waist with no sleeves. It was made of white silk with a five foot train. Embroidered all over the gown were leaves made of yellow, orange, green, brown, and red thread. Cloth leaves of the same colors were sewn on to the shoulders of the dress but were not sleeves. Her veil was a crown made of the same type of cloth leaves and fake acorns while the actual veil was white.

Despite Ryoko’s joke about making the bridesmaid dresses an ocean blue she did not go through with it. Ayeka was going to be her Maid of Honor; Minako, Kiyone, and Mihoshi were going to be the other bridesmaids. Sasami was, as promised, going to be the flower girl. Ayeka’s dress was going to be red, Minako’s was going to be orange, Kiyone’s would be brown, Mihoshi’s would be green and Sasami’s was going to be yellow. The bridesmaid dresses were off the shoulder long sleeved gowns with three foot trains and bell-like skirts. A brooch with each woman’s name would be placed on the center of the neckline that dipped down just above their breasts. Sasami’s dress was a puffy-sleeved gown with a long skirt in the same style as the bridesmaid dresses.

Washu, Nobuyoki, and Katsuhito worked on the financial stuff and prepared the shrine for the decorations. Without their help, Ryoko didn’t know what she would have done. The baby was really messing with her emotions and at times she felt she wasn’t going to make it to the wedding because it wasn’t going to happen. Also, she had to constantly be reminded that Tenchi did indeed love her and that he would be there for the wedding. That was what Ayeka was there for.

“For the last time Ryoko, he will be here! I just got through speaking with Lord Tenchi on the phone and he told me he loves you and that he will be here on Saturday for the wedding! Now would you please just go finish your dress?!” Ayeka yelled at the distraught Space Pirate.

And Tenchi was there on Saturday. In fact he arrived on Thursday night with a van load of college friends who where going to participate in the wedding. They all, however, had to stay up at the shrine due to the fact that Tenchi had told Ryoko that he did not want to see her at any time before the wedding. Tenchi had been rather upset when he had arrived home for he had actually forgotten about what he had told Ryoko. He arrived and immediately headed for the house but was stopped by the rest of the girls.

“What do you think you are doing, Lord Tenchi!?” Ayeka demanded, stepping in front of him.

“I’m going to see my fiancée since she doesn’t seem to be out here,” Tenchi answered.

“Oh no you don’t! You told her that you didn’t want to see her at any point before the wedding so we are holding you to your word. Now, the shrine has been all prepared for you so you and your friends will stay there until the wedding.”

“What! I have not heard anything from Ryoko in two months and all I know about her is that she is fine and that she loves me! I am going to see her!” Tenchi growled as he attempted to move past Ayeka. However, Ayeka was faster and she grabbed a hold of Tenchi’s arm and held him back.

“Ryoko has kept her promise by staying inside and now you will keep yours! Grandfather, please take your grandson and his friends up to the shrine and please make sure Lord Tenchi does not see Miss Ryoko at any point in time between now and the wedding.”

“Of course, Miss Ayeka. Come Tenchi, you must be tired, I will show you and your friends to your sleeping quarters,” Katsuhito motioned for his grandson to follow him.

“Yes Grandpa,” Tenchi sighed as he turned towards his friends and led them up the steps to the shrine.

* * *

Friday was the day of parties. Tenchi was thrown his Bachelor Party and Ryoko was thrown a Baby Shower. Tenchi was taken into town to enjoy the atmosphere of a ‘Gentleman’s Club.’ However, the result was not what his friends had expected.

“Come on Tenchi, how can you not be turned on by these beautiful women!?” Amagasaki, Tenchi’s childhood friend, demanded.

“I don’t know,” Tenchi shrugged. “Why should I be? I’m getting married tomorrow, so would getting turned on by another woman be like cheating?”

“Nah, it’s like watching porn. You can enjoy the show without worrying about getting caught with the woman! Maybe you need someone up close and personal,” Kano, Tenchi’s best man suggested with a grin.

So one of the “ladies” was called over and gave Tenchi a lap dance. To the guys’, save Tenchi’s, dismay, Tenchi was still unaffected.

“Sorry about wasting you time, Miss,” Amagasaki apologized to the stripper as he gave her a large tip.

“Eh, don’t worry about it. As long as I get paid, I’m good,” she grinned as she stuffed the money down the front of her outfit.

“Is your fiancée that good in bed?” Kenji, one of Tenchi’s college friends, asked.

Tenchi frowned at the men. “Whether she’s good or not is beside the point. I’m just glad she seems to be the only one to turn me on.”

“She’s good,” Kenji confirmed with a nod.

They left after that and headed for the video store to rent a bunch of movies. They were going to go back to the shrine to watch videos and get drunk. Tenchi stood in one of the isles looking at the videos but not seeing them as he thought about Ryoko. Kami, he thought, I hope the girls haven’t called a male stripper for her. He really didn’t want to think about his Ryoko getting excited by some over muscled man in a tiny G-string that probably wouldn’t stay on for long in the first place. He pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open to look at one of the photos of him and Ryoko.

“Hey, Tenchi my man, what’s that you got?” Kano asked coming up to Tenchi.

“A pocket watch that Ryoko gave me before I left.”

“Can I see?” Tenchi handed him the watch. “Hey, is that her?”

“Yeah, that’s Ryoko,” Tenchi smiled.

“Wow, Kenji was right, she really is something! You are one lucky guy to have snagged such an outstanding prize.”

Tenchi just laughed as he took the watch back. They joined the rest of the guys and left with their movies and headed back to the shrine.

* * *

Ryoko meanwhile was having her Baby Shower. She received numerous baby outfits for a boy and a girl as well as neutral for either sex. She also received a bunch of baby items such as diapers, bottles, baby food and from Ayeka, a beautiful diaper bag. Ryoko was in tears by the time she finished opening the gifts. Of course, Washu pointed out that it was just the raging hormones at work once again.

“We were actually going to throw you a typical Bachelorette Party but we didn’t think you would like having a stripper here. Especially with Sasami here, too,” Minako smiled as she hugged Ryoko.

“Yeah, plus I don’t think a male stripper would enjoy performing for a five month pregnant, hormone crazed woman,” Ryoko pointed out.

“Well, yeah, there was that too,” Minako shrugged.

“I hope those guys aren’t getting Tenchi drunk. The last thing I want is to walk down the isle to a man who is trying to get over his hangover,” Ryoko muttered as she folded one of the baby outfits.

The other girls all nodded in agreement and they laughed as they tried to imagine Tenchi drunk. However, a few minutes later Ayeka pointed out the obvious. “This coming from the woman who had sake on her breath nearly all day. If you weren’t seducing Lord Tenchi, you were dead drunk.”

“Then it’s a good thing this baby has stopped me from drinking,” Ryoko grinned. “You know too much alcohol is bad for the baby.”

Ayeka just sighed and shook her head.

“Well, I’ll go over there in the morning to see what they are all like in the alcohol situation. If any of them are extremely drunk, I’ll give them one of my pills that will get rid of the hangover. You know the ones that I had to give to you all those times you got extremely drunk, Ryoko?” Washu suggested.

“Yeah, thanks Mom.”

The girls spent the next few hours watching movies before they all went off to bed. Ryoko let Minako sleep in her room while Ryoko slept in Tenchi’s room.


* * *

Morning arrived quickly and Washu was up bright and early to head up towards the shrine. When she arrived she was surprised by what she saw. Nobuyuki, Katsuhito and Tenchi were all cleaning up the mess in the living room of the shrine.

“Wow, I was expecting to find you drunk, Tenchi,” Washu grinned.

“Nah, I’ve learned from watching Ryoko and seeing some of my friends back at college that it’s not the brightest idea to be hung-over the next when something important is happening. As long as I kept a bottle of sake in my hand, I’m good. Hey, is Ryoko up?” Tenchi looked at Washu hopefully.

“I don’t know yet. I left before checking. If anyone is up at this time it would be Sasami preparing breakfast. Well, since everything seems to be okay here, I’ll just leave these ‘Anti-hangover’ pills with you for your friends should they need them and head back to the house to rouse everyone. I’ll see you guys at the wedding.” Washu turned and left the shrine to wake Ryoko up.

She heard Sasami in the kitchen running around getting breakfast ready before she had to go upstairs to change into her Flower girl dress. Washu let Sasami know that she was awake before she headed upstairs. Stopping outside of Tenchi’s room, Washu softly knocked and opened the door. She found Ryoko pacing back and forth, nervously wringing her hands.

“Ryoko, what’s the matter?” Washu asked closing the door behind her.

“I… don’t think I can go through with this, Mom. I’m not cut out for being Tenchi’s wife! He deserves someone better then a has-been space pirate demon. I can’t cook like Sasami, I’m rarely sweet and gentle like Ayeka, I’m not smart like you and Kiyone and I’m rarely kind like Mihoshi. Just…just call off the wedding, please! I won’t let Tenchi suffer through a terrible marriage with me! He only proposed to me after I told him about the baby, that…that’s the only reason he’s marrying me!”

“Ryoko, honey, calm down. He is not just marrying you because of the baby. You know that. I just came from the shrine and he looked like he was about ready to dash past me to find out how you were. He didn’t even get drunk because he wanted to be sober when he married you. Of course, all men should be sober when they marry, but that’s beside the point. We had to hold him back physically on Thursday when he tried to see you. He had forgotten about the promise he wanted to keep about not seeing you until the actual ceremony. If that isn’t a man who doesn’t love you for you then I don’t know what he is. He loves you very much Ryoko. He spent a whole year at college and still he loved you. He didn’t choose any of the other girls nor did he even think about choosing someone from college.

“Now, you are going to get in that beautiful wedding gown that you made and then you and I are going to head up to the shrine so you can become Mrs. Tenchi Masaki just as you have always wanted to be for as long as you have known Tenchi. Now come on, go take a shower and then we’ll get you ready for the wedding,” Washu ordered as she grabbed Ryoko by the shoulders.

Ryoko looked at her mother for a moment before she burst into tears, apologizing for doubting the strength of Tenchi’s love and agreeing to get ready. Washu just smiled and left Ryoko to get ready.

* * *

For the next couple of hours the women in the Masaki house ran about getting ready. Ayeka, Mihoshi, Kiyone, and Minako dressed in their bridesmaid dresses and did their hair up in leaves matching their dress colors. Washu helped Sasami with her dress and then everyone went into Ryoko’s room to help get Ryoko ready. They didn’t find Ryoko in her room, however; they found her throwing up in the bathroom.

“Are you sick Ryoko?” Mihoshi asked.

“I really don’t know, I think it’s just morning sickness again,” Ryoko moaned as she pushed her bangs out of her eyes.

“That and your nerves. Here take this, it will settle your stomach,” Washu handed Ryoko a small light blue pill.

“Thanks,” Ryoko swallowed the pill and sighed.

“Okay, let’s get you ready Ryoko. The wedding begins in an hour and you are still in your pajamas,” Ayeka growled as she grabbed the bride’s arm and pulled her out of the bathroom.

Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi and Washu helped get Ryoko in her dress while Minako and Kiyone worked on her hair, veil and make-up. It took them nearly the whole hour to get Ryoko ready since they were working with a five month pregnant woman who couldn’t sit still due to her nervousness. When everyone was ready they rushed out the door and half ran half dragged Ryoko up the steps.

“Well, this is where I leave you girls, and don’t worry Ryoko, everything will be just fine. Remember, I love you,” Washu smiled as she blinked back her tears.

Ryoko had to force herself not to cry as well as she hugged her mother.

Washu entered the shrine and the girls lined themselves up in the order they would be entering. Sasami stood in the front of the line then Mihoshi, Kiyone, Minako, and last Ayeka as the Maid of Honor. Tenchi’s best men stood on the other side of the door where they would walk each bridesmaid down the isle. As soon the music began, the girls began the procession. Ryoko felt her heart and stomach flip as soon as she heard the wedding march. Nobuyuki offered Ryoko his arm since he was standing in for the role of her father and sending her off to his son.

“I am really proud to have you as a daughter-in-law, Ryoko and I know you will both make each other very happy,” Nobuyuki whispered as he led her out onto the isle.

“Thank you,” Ryoko felt her throat tighten.

Looking forward, Ryoko saw Tenchi shifting nervously up at the front of the shrine. He was looking back at her, his face pale but she could see how much he loved her in his eyes. Oh kami, please let us be happy.

Tenchi watched as Ryoko walked down the isle on the arm of his father towards him. She was absolutely beautiful in her wedding gown. The colors of the leaves stitched into the gown stood out just enough to lend color to the dress without taking away from the actual dress itself. Tenchi could hardly tell that Ryoko was pregnant due to the way she had designed the skirt with the empire waist. Tenchi had been worried that Ryoko would suddenly decide not to marry him. He had been very close to running up to the house to make sure she was still going to. However, his father, grandfather and friends had convinced him that Ryoko was going to marry him. He felt his chest tighten with emotion as soon as Ryoko was handed to him by his father. As soon as they were both facing Katsuhito, the ceremony began.

* * *

“Oh wow, that was so beautiful!” Mihoshi gushed once the wedding was over. Everyone was standing outside of the shrine congratulating Tenchi and Ryoko. Just about all the women had tears in their eyes and even a few of the men were misty eyed.

“That it was, Mihoshi, that it was,” Washu agreed as she smiled at her daughter and new son-in-law.

Tenchi and Ryoko stood next to each other through out the entire time. Tenchi refused to let Ryoko out of his sight and once everyone headed back to the house for a late lunch, cake and presents, Tenchi made sure Ryoko was right by his side. Everyone gathered in the living room where Tenchi and Ryoko sat on the couch to open the gifts. Most of the presents were practical gifts such as a beautiful set of pots from Sasami, a bag full of medical supplies from Washu, and a new stereo from Kiyone and Mihoshi. Minako handed Ryoko a gift and Ryoko smiled when she opened the gift and pulled out a new toaster.

“Thank you Minako, but why a toaster of all things? Why not bedding?” she asked.

“A toaster is a must have gift,” Tenchi explained with a smile.

“Oh, well at least it’s something practical.”

Tenchi just smiled and opened the next present. It was a fancy cappuccino maker also from Minako and her husband.

“We didn’t know if you liked coffee or not but hey, your home is never complete without one. You can use it for whenever you have friends over that drink coffee if you don’t,” Minako shrugged.

“Thank you Minako. I believe Tenchi will find it very helpful for when he’s pulling all-nighters at college,” Ryoko grinned at her husband.

Everyone laughed as Tenchi pulled Ryoko in for a kiss.