Chapter 70: 'Bad Intelligence.'

"Meyow..." Ryo-chan moaned. Watching darkness slowly fade as the shadows about her assembled themselves, taking on the familiar shapes of Sasami and Kiyone looking down at her. "Meyow?" she asked faintly, hoping, somehow she had imagined the whole business.

"That's a big aye-firmitive Ryo-honey." Kiyone told her seriously. "You plum fainted."

"Mooooooh." Ryo-ohki whispered, totally mortified suddenly identifying the new location she was in as the sun porch or patio. Smiling Sasami adjusted the cool towel presently adorning her forehead.

"You should be more careful! Yah Knuckle head! Running around in a full dress, with your fur!"

"Meyow?" Oki moaned, grateful her friend was here.

"I guess you over heated!" Kiyone told her, patting one of Ryochan's hands in a comforting supportive fashion.

"How embarrassing!" Ryo-ohki thought. "I've flown past novas! Taken hard angle re-entries! Ryoko must be furious!" Noticing their charge was becoming agitated, Kiyone covertly winked at Sasami.

"It's a good thing that nice young man gave you mouth to mouth!"

"MEYOW?!" Ryo-chan sat bolt upright, her eyes absolutely open, both hands coming to clasp over her mouth. She sat there like that for perhaps a moment, while her face turned red as the jewel on her forehead, before noticing the smirks on both her friends' faces.

"Bus-ted!" Sasami sneered sweetly. Ryo-ohki starred at them mortified, her hands sliding up, hiding her face. Sasami grinned, surveying her latest culinary creation, hastily labeled 'Cabbit Stew'. She allowed Ryo-ohki to 'simmer' for about ten seconds that way before leaning over and touching her friend. "Aww comon Oki!" She coaxed softly. "Don't be that way! He's a dream!"

Sasami hadn't witnessed all the details, leading up to the moment she'd rounded the corner of the dinning area and saw Ryo-chan more or less, passed out on the floor. It was up to Kiyone, to fill in most of the gaps as they'd carried Oki to the sun porch, so they could unzip the back and loosen the gown.

"That's a mater of opinion!" Kiyone sourly smarted.

"Why?" Just cause he stood up to you Key?" Sasami asked, she had of course over heard most of the exchanges in the living room. "I thought you liked guy's with big cohonies?" She curiously added.

"SASAMI!" Kiyone wheezed, utterly astonished...

"Oh! For crying out loud!" Sasami grimaced tiredly. "Not you too?"

"Ok, Ok, OK!" Kiyone instantly back peddled. "I'm just not used to you talking like that!" She then sat back, seeming to consider. "Still your right," She added, mildly begrudging after a moment. "The little shit's cute."

"Yeah, did you catch those eyes?" Sasami winked delightedly as Ryo-ohki glanced her way.

"Uh huh, and that smile?" Kiyone breathed elaborately, watching Ryochan's gaze volley her direction noting panic was on the rise! "Defiantly hot mattress material!" She added.

"And he's got the cutest little tushy!" Sasami grinned, wiggling her eyebrows.

"MEYOW!" Oki snapped indignantly, suddenly glaring at them both.

"Whoops!" Kiyone laughed. "Looks like someone's hanging out the do not disturb sign."

"Yup!" Sasami added. "Target has been acquired!"

"Meyow..." Ryo-chan said softly glancing shyly down. There was a short pause before all three started laughing.

Back in the living room, Tenchi glanced nervously over his shoulder. He'd heard that kind of feminine laughter before however he was almost certain somehow, he wasn't the target this time. Still, it made him nervous as hell. Not to mention...

Well, it was clear at least to him what was gong on, you could almost see the sparks flying between Oki and Hero. It was odd, he reflected how easy it is to see, when its happening to someone else.

"Maybe I should warn him?" Tenchi thought looking back at Hero actively engaged in conversation with Ayeka and Ryoko. Mihoshi had relegated herself to the roll of servant. Bringing Tea and fetching biscuits.

"Alright." Hero was saying, cavalierly. "If your not princess Sasami, then pray tell who are you, ravishing creature?" While not as susceptible to the influx of 'bull' as Ayeka, Tenchi could see Ryoko clearly was still enjoying this.

"Oh ho, ho, ho!" She lisped, obviously 'mocking' the princess seated nearby. "Now that would be telling!"

"Please." Ayeka mumbled darkly. "Someone fetch me a shovel."

"Now, I'm quite certain my files didn't mention any other nobles." Hero continued smiling, seeming not to have heard. "And you're just too damn pretty to be a commoner!"

"Phew!" Tenchi grimaced mentally. "He sure knows how to ladle it on!"

The flow of the conversation was interrupted when Washu leaned over Ryoko's shoulder, seizing her wayward daughter by the hair.

"Hey! OW!" Ryoko instantly snapped, "What's the big idea?" as their faces were brought side by side.

"Notice a passing resemblance here?" Washu challenged dryly, gazing disdainfully at Hero who paused in surprise, his eyes then growing hard as they now fixed on Ryoko.

"Wait!" He breathed, seeming to become more alarmed by the second. "N-now I see it!" He glanced about as if seeking affirmation. "Of course! it's so clear!"

"There now, ya see?" Washu grinned.

"Didn't I see her on Star search?!" There was a general groan as everyone fell over.

"On second thought!" Tenchi grumbled inwardly. "Let him suffer!"

"No! No! NO!" Ayeka steamed, unable to 'take it' any longer. "Don't they ever post news bulletins in your office?"

"From time to time my lady." Hero told her, a look of worry crossing his face at having displeased the princess. "Mostly they're just 'repeats' or reshuffles of old news, hardly ever any useful information." He paused, smiling apologetically. "I usually just chuck 'em!" He added.

"So, is it possible young man?" Washu asked in total disbelief. "That you've never even heard the legend of Ryoko?" Hero's response was to sip tea and roll his eyes.

"Oh, I've heard of it alright." He almost snorted. "The deadly 'Space pirate'..." He made a face over his cup. "That 'supposedly' destroyed half of Jurihelm?" Hero shrugged. "That was a little before my time!"

Was it the muffled sound of multiple jaws striking the floor, which caused him to glance up? At any rate, everyone was staring back at him, glassy eyed. Startled glances were exchanged all around. This was certainly turning into a novel experience for the entire 'household'!