Disclaimer: Tench Muyo is the property of Pioner Inc. and it associates. I do not claim posesion of the series or the creation of any of the charaters. Authors note: This fic is centered around Ayeka but is really about Ryoko and Ayeka. Now, I am sick and tired of writers that think that Ryoko is the one for Tenchi. In my opinion these writers are young (maybe) and shallow (definetly) to discard Ayeka's character and feelings so easily. I have always thought that Ryoko and Ayeka where two sides of the same coin instead of the difference between night and day like so many others. So this fic I wrote was intended to even the playing field so to speak. Who Am I Princess Ayeka woke up feeling odd this morning. She woke up earlier than usual. Both Princesses Ayeka and Sasami woke early. Sasami out of necessity and Ayeka out of Jurian spiritual philosophy. But mostly out of habit. But today it was very early. Even before the sun came up. She had not been sleeping very well of late. So she stayed up late the night before. But instead of the usual good sleep she was expecting she had only fits of sleep, separated by bouts of restless turnings upon her mattress. She threw off her blankets and got dressed. ( I'll get no more sleep tonight) she thought to herself. She went down to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Princess Ayeka was sitting at the kitchen island counter with her cup of hot steaming tea when Sasami came in. " Good morning sis, your up awfully early." "I could not sleep. I gave up and came down here." Sasami got right to her work of preparing breakfast. It was Sunday and she always made a big breakfast on Sunday. She said it was to make up for the rest of the week. During the rest of the week Nobleyuki and Tenchi ate lite before running off respectfully to work and school. Katsueto rarely came down from the shrine for breakfast. Unless Sasami was making muffins, coffeecake or some such other lures. And only if the wind was blowing the right direction. Princess Ayeka often mused over Sasamis enjoyment for housework. She was only half grown and she worked harder than anybody. Except maybe Tenchi. Princess Ayeka mused over the unfairness of it all. Here she is the most powerful person in the galaxy next to her father of course. She had training in the Jurian powers. Training in edict, diplomacy, and a hundred other things that a princess needed to know. But she could not make a simple hard-boiled egg without help. It was a point of continuous frustration for her. She did not hold it against her little sister it was just a fact of life for her. She had to get use to the idea that there are some things she could not do. Speaking over her shoulder Sasami asked "Are you feeling ok Ayeka?" Shaking herself out of her train of thought she said "Yes I'm alright. Why do ask?" "Well.The only time that you have trouble sleeping is when something is bothering you. Is their something bothering you? Do you want to talk about it? Princess Ayeka blinked at Sasami who had turned to face her. She felt uncomfortable under her sisters' gaze for she really did not know the answer. Princess Ayeka got a though of saying( Yes there is something bothering me, It named Ryoko).She discarded the though immediately for it would not do for a princess to talk like that no matter how true. "It's not about that argument that Ryoko won a few days ago is it?" inquired Sasami. "What?" Princess Ayeka said thinking back. "Oh no, its not that." she said waving it away with a hand. "I actually forgot about that." That was not the case usually. The rivalry between the two women sometimes got so juvenile and petty it was a wonder that the others in the house did not laugh at them. On the other hand nobody else in the Misaki household could make energy balls and cause such destruction as either of the two rivals. "Really Sasami do you think that I would let such a trivial thing get under my skin?" Princess Ayeka asked taking a sip of tea. Sasami gave her sister a look of , as she turned back to making breakfast. Princess Ayeka set down her cup. She mentally chastened herself for trying to hide within it. Thankfully Sasami turned away from her. "Oh ok! Yes she does. Ryoko does get under my skin. What gets me is that despite all my training and who I am she comes in and without even trying she slips right in and Aahhgg," she finished with an emphasis. Giggling over some memories of Ryoko getting under her sisters skin she turned back to her sister. "She does have that effect on you." "Actually, I think its good for you." Seeing her sisters questioning gaze she went on. "You are always so proper and formal sis. Your just like father is. I think it is good for you the blow off some steam now and then." "However, I do not think that you can lay your sleeping problem at Ryokos feet. She only gets to you when she is trying to tees you. Or when Tenchi is around." "Yes, I know. I do not know what it is. Maybe I'm just going through a phase." "Maybe you could think about it. You remember master Armwar Don't you?" Princess Ayeka thought for a moment and replied "Why yes I do remember him. He was my mentor in Jurian philosophy. But you where so young at the time I'm surprised that you remembered him." Sasami smiled over her shoulder at her and said "I liked him. He always had sweets in his pocket." "I remember one time I was with you while you where talking to him. He was saying something about coming to a solution to a problem by thinking about it without thinking about it." "I vaguely remember the lecture." Princess Ayeka replied. She looked at her sister with a suspicious look. "Am I speaking to Sasami or Tsunami now?" "Ayyeekaaa." Sasami exasperated at her sister. "Ok, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend. I know you don't like to talk about it." When Sasami gave her a small smile and turned back to breakfast Princess Ayeka relaxed again. "Maybe you could talk to Katsueto about it."Sasami suggested. "Hmmm.Maybe." Said Princess Ayeka before finishing the last of her tea. "I'll set the table" Princess Ayeka said and moved to the cupboard for the plates. Closing the door behind her Princess Ayeka joined her half brother who insisted on being called Katsueto and Tenchi. They all started toward the shrine. Tenchi and his grandfather where going to do their sword practice again this morning. Tenchi had a bad day yesterday. He still bore a bruise on his forehead from yesterdays training. "Tenchi, run alone and get things set up. And do your warm-up routines." "Ok grandpa, see you later Ayeka." And like his grandfather said, Tenchi ran. "Bye Tenchi." Princess Ayeka said with a smile as he left. She watched him go. With a smile she leaned over to her brother and said, "He sure is quick on his feet." "Hmmm.Yes he is. I think that he has gotten faster ever since you girls showed up." Katsueto remarked with a chuckle and a side glance at Ayeka. "So, what can I help you with Ayeka?" "I'm not sure brother. I'm having trouble sleeping. Sasami thinks that I might be having a problem but I have no Idea of what it could be." "Hmmm.A perplexing situation." Katsueto thought for a few moments and mused, "So you think that your Ki is unbalanced." "My Ki?" "It is part of the Touist philosophy. Your Ki is a representation of your over all well-being. Your mind, heart and spirit. When aligned your Ki is doing well. Just like saying that you are feeling well. " "Do you think that a part of you is out of balance?" "I do not know brother. I feel fine. I'm just been having problems sleeping." "I have seen you working very hard over the past week. You also have been taking extra long walks too. I do not think that the problem is with the heart. It has to be with the mind or the spirit." "Is there something that has happened to upset you lately?" Katsueto inquired. Princess Ayeka thought about this as the two walked alone. "No nothing out of the ordinary." "It has been quiet over the last few months. Other than fights with Ryoko or dealing with some explosion or other from Washu or some mishap with Mihoshi." "Last big thing to happen was the Yakage incident." "I'll admit it has been kind of fun turning the tables on Ryoko from time to time. It almost seems like she is a different person now." "Oh ? How so?" "Its hard to explain but its almost as if she where more alive now. I can see the emotions run across her face now and I could not see them before." "Hmmm.How does that make you feel?" "Ahumm..I'm not sure what you mean." "What emotion do you feel when you see this." "I do not see the point. What difference does it make what I feel when I see Ryoko acting silly." Blowing out his mustache Katsueto tried to explain." There are several ways to go about finding a problem within yourself. But only you can ultimately find it Ayeka." "Look at your world from a different view. Think about how stimulus affects you and how it makes you feel. Or you could even talk to yourself." "Talk to myself?" Princess Ayeka asked incredulously. "Its called speaking to your inner self. You do remember the philosophy of duality don't you?" "Umm yes I do remember now." Princess Ayeka said remembering another one of master Armwars lectures. They had stopped their climb up the long stone steps at the point where the training field was. Katsueto turned to Ayeka and said "Maybe you should try that. You just might find something out about your self." "I must meet Tenchi now but if you like you can come by the shrine later and we will talk more in depth about it." "Till later then brother." Princess Ayeka watched him go off the stone steps and into a side trail to the training field. She wanted to follow and watch Tenchi but the rain over the past few nights made the area damp. Besides Yosho seemed to not want her to follow either. (It is just as well. Tenchi did not need the distraction.) She mused to herself. Moving up the steps she spoke in a whisper. "Ok, talk to myself. Think about how I feel." "Well lets start with that name. Katsueto. It was not his true name. Yosho, or better yet lord Yosho is what he should call himself. Even with his true self revealed why did he insist on keeping that name?" Princess Ayeka felt betrayed still over the matter. It did not hurt as much as she imagined it would be. Mostly because of Tenchi she thought. She had run from everything she new and loved to follow her beloved half brother and fianc‚. For 700 years she searched. Mostly she was in stasis sleep for the trip. So it was like the wounds where still fresh to her mind when she met Tenchi. Then everything started to change when she started to live with the Masakis. She had learned that Tenchi was distantly related to her and therefore family. At the time she had no idea of how distant 700 years on earth could make, but it did not mater either. Later they all discovered that grandfather Katsueto was actually Yosho. But by then Princess Ayeka had fallen for Tenchi. And Yosho had given his blessing for the two of them. Princess Ayeka had begun to feel at ease in the Masaki home and fell into the routine of life there. Still, even if she had forgiven Yosho for keeping his secret for so long she still could not bring herself to call him Katsueto. Yosho had changed over 700 years. He seemed more serene and even more mysterious. Ayeka had always loved Yosho and most of all felt comfortable with him. Even for the facts that she trusts him completely and always has such faith in him. Still, he did not give her heart a thrill with a simple smile like Tenchi did. So no, Yosho did not bother Princess Ayeka. "Could it be Tenchi?" Tenchi was a source of frustration for her. All the little things that she tried to do to get him to notice her and he rarely did. On the outside Tenchi does not seem like anything special. Ok, he is really cute. And he has been getting more muscle toned over the past several months. The boy filling out into the guise of a man. It was his gentle nature that attracted Princess Ayeka to Tenchi. There was something about him definitely. Just being in his presents was comforting. "Ok, so he is hansom and kind, gentile, brave, courageous. Frustrating and indecisive." "No, I've hashed over this problem enough over the past year. I don't think Tenchi is a cause of my sleeping problem." "Ryoko, now there's a case for sleeplessness. She gives me fits just thinking about her." "That vile evil demon hussy." "Stop it Ayeka. There is no sense getting yourself worked up over nothing." "The thing that gets me is that she is always throwing herself on him. And he does nothing. As if he likes it. "I can't stand the thought that he likes her more than me." "Its not like she has anything going for her, except her looks. She has no refinements at all. No redeeming qualities." Princess Ayeka sighed again chastising herself. "Ayeka stop it. You are trying to convince yourself of things that you know are not true." Princess Ayeka sighed and said "Oh, Ryoko. Fierce and free spirited Ryoko." Princess Ayeka let her thoughts wash over her. She tried to organize and identify them but it was all a jumble and too fast. It was Ryoko that she secretly blamed for all that has happened to her. It was Ryoko, the demon space pirate who attacked the Jurian palace. Who caused Prince Yosho to leave to follow her to earth. It was Ryoko who changed her entire world. Because of Ryoko her world had become more isolated and lonely. And who caused her to forsake her fathers' wishes and left to follow after her beloved Yosho. The only redeeming thing was that it was Ryoko who had caused her to meet Tenchi. And now she was trying to rival her true love from her. Again!! "I have watched you over the time we have lived together. You have changed from the monster woman I had first though of you as. You no longer push peoples buttons just to stir things up like you used to. Just to see the reactions of people; as if experimenting with them." "Especially since you joined with zero. Know I can see the hurt I give you with a good insult. And I have noticed the subtle changes too. You are like a new babe testing out the sensations of life for the first time." "Hmmm?" Princess Ayeka spoke questionably. Yosho had said to think about how she feels and what she felt. At that moment she felt a sensation that was a painful stab that could only be jealousy. "What? No, that can't be. I must be mistaken. What do I have to be jealous of Ryoko for?" "Well ok, maybe its that she is so loose moraled to the point of flaunting exhibitionism that she gets Tenchis attention." "NO,no,no. Any man would give her that kind of attention for her exhibitionism." "It's the flirting. How she cane make his face go red or make him stammer." "I want to be able to do that to him. As much as I want the returned affection. But I can't do it, no matter how hard I try. I can't bring myself to say those things. It's not proper for a princess to do. Dam my training." "No, I don't mean that. I owe everything to my training. My learning of discipline. My upbringing and my heritage. It has made me who and what I am. "Huh?" "Now why would my inner voice say that?" "Hello Princess." Said Ryoko in her usual condescending tone, shaking Ayeka out of her train of thought. "What are you doing?" Princess Ayeka realized that she was now at the top of the stairs and in front of the Misaki shrine. She was startled out of her train of though by Ryokos appearance. "Oh, Miss Ryoko. Ahh.. Nothing. I was just lost in thought." "Oh you where lost alright. I heard you talking to yourself. Tell me, are you having a pleasant conversation with you little voices?" Asked Ryoko with that condescending voice and a teasing smirk on her face. "What are you implying?" Demanded Princess Ayeka. "I always thought that all those thousands of years of inbreeding would cause a weakening of the mental faculties within the Royal family. And now I know I was right." "I'll have you know that I was using a bit of Jurian philosophy to work out a problem. As if it was any of your concern." Replied Princess Ayeka with a down turned brow. "Huh," she huffed out. "Philosophy; a bunch of mental mumbo jumbo if you ask me." "Don't worry too much Princess. I heard that too much worry could cause premature wrinkles. Like me, I have no worries. I am who I am and I make no apologies." "Of that, I'm sure of Ryoko." "I have got better things to do than to bandy words with you Miss Ryoko. Good day to you." And Princess Ayeka turned to leave the presents of Ryoko. She moved across the compound of the shrine to the beaten down trail that went up to the top of the hills where the fields where while Ryoko watched her go with that annoying smirk on her face. "Prissy little princess. Ha, she will never change." Ryoko thought to her self. "Lets see, where was I. Oh yes, I contradicted myself. But why?" "I am Princess Ayeka. Why should I contradict that?" The inner voice said. But the sound of it was hollow. "Yes, Princess Ayeka. First crown princess of the royal family of Juri. I have been schooled and trained to become empress of the most powerful empire in the galaxy some day." What in the world thought Princess Ayeka. Why is my inner thoughts acting so strange and contradictory? At that point her walk had taken her to the intersection of where Ryokos cave was and the trail to the fields. She opted to take the cave trail. She had only been their alone only once before. This time she was feeling the need for a lonely place. She walked up to the cave and over to its side where she could walk up the slop to get to the top of the cave proper. All the while musing over her inner thoughts and feelings. She though about Ryoko in the cave. At one time she had believed that it was a good and proper place for a demon like her. Shut away beneath tons of rock. Mummified, alone and forgotten. That was before she had meet Kagato. A truly evil man who manipulated and literally controlled Ryoko like a puppet. He treated her worse than Princess Ayeka or Yosho ever had. He had even referred to her as waste product. Later she had discovered that Ryoko being a genetically engineered automaton had every gift and blessing that humanity could offer. And all the evil she had done was controlled by the puppeteer Kagato. Yosho had no choice but to cut the strings. And while she lay mummified in a cave for 700 years she was actually not dead. She was undead. Unable to move or walk. Only able to move her astral spirit far enough to see the outside world and not to share in it. Not even to get the sweet taste of air in her lungs. Goosebumps ran up Princess Ayekas arms. The thought of Ryokos living death always did that to her every time she though about it. Now a days she believed that not even Ryoko deserved that fate. "Well I can go no farther. I am at the top. Just like my training. I had done far better than many ever thought I would do." "Yes,yes,yes. And I am proud to be that princess. I am proud to be Princess Ayeka." "Inner voice, what is your point?" But only an empty silence came from the depths of her inner self. "Oh forget it all. I'm just being silly. I'm going around and around inside my head and for nothing." Princess Ayeka sat down against a tree. From her position she could see out to some of the fields and down into the valley farther on. It was a pleasing view. As she sat their trying not to think of anything she felt her eyes getting heavy. She though a little nap would do her good. It was past mid morning and still a while before lunch. She thought she would try to node off for a little while. As she drifted off a last piece of her inner voice bubbled up from her depths. < What is a princess?> {Dreamscape} She was standing in front of a mirror. She saw herself in her first official princess dress. She was a little girl just out of toddler years and it was her acknowledging day. She turned around to see her mother and aunt Funaho. "You look lovely dear." Said second queen Misaki. "You will make a beautiful princess, Ayeka." Said first queen Funaho. Turning to Funaho Misaki asked "Are all the arrangements made for her training tomorrow?" There was something strange that Ayeka could not point out. Funaho and Misaki where talking over her. That in itself was not strange but she did not like it. She opened her mouth to say "Hay, I don't like being talked over like I am not even here." But she did not say it. Her mouth never moved. She tried again and nothing. She tried to scream and move her body away but nothing happened. She was like an inner voice in her own head unable to manipulate her surroundings. By now the scene had moved on and Misaki had placed the tira apone her head. Ayeka looked up to both of them and to her it seemed that both where sniggering over some private joke. Somehow Ayeka thought that it was at her expense. "You are going to be the best little princess their can be." Said Misaki. They all turned to the doorway where Emperor Azusa just entered. He walked across the fine leaf green carpet to kneel in front of Ayeka. "Are you ready my little princess?" "Yes father." Ayeka said with a frightened shaky voice. But Azusa seemed not to hear it. Azusa stood again and said "All you have to do is walk to me down the isle. Then I place the ceremonial sword on your head to acknowledge you, like this. Azusa held out his hand to the empty air and a sword came out of phase space. It was not the master key as it should be but a much more gnarled sword with a wide blade end. Azusa ignited it and it glowed with a sickly green light. Ayeka recognized it as the sword of Kagoto. She looked at her father who now had the past white complexion of Kagoto. Ayeka tried to scream as Azusa brought the sword down apone her head. Ayeka was running through the Royal grounds. Her long adolescent legs kept her ahead of her peruse. But no matter where she ran she could not find an escape. A giant tree copes where there was no way down or off supported the great complex of the royal palace. Every way she turned more and more pursuers joined the chase after her. Turning a corner she ran right into a group of them. They grabbed her and held onto her wrists. She was handed off to another who wrapped a cold hand around her wrist and started to lead her away. "That is enough play for you today. You have a lot of studies to do." Ayeka looked at him with startlment. It was master Armwar, but he was wearing the little dark round spectacles of Kagoto. Plus he spoke in the quiet deadly unemotional voice of Kagoto. He recited philosophy as they walked into the dark and cold palace. Ayeka tried to break away but he would not let go. Master Armwar handed her off to another and they started down another corridor. No matter what she did, kick, scream, pull, get dragged she could not let any of here escorts let go of her wrist. And as she was escorted around everyone around her was telling her in verbal borage, things like, "don't eat with you mouth open." "Walk straight and tall." "Do not show any emotion on your face." "If you show fear the politicians, nobles and journalists will eat you alive." "You must hold the cup like this. Do not laugh out loud like a braying ass." "You must cover your mouth at least." " NO,no,no you use the wrong inflection. You must say the greeting like this." It was a horror to see every teacher she remembered with some aspect of Kagoto. Her math teacher, Kagoto. Her science teacher, Kagoto. Jurian history, galactic history, Self defence teacher, Jurian powers teacher, politics teacher all Kagoto. Even the short friendly women of courtly edict with the unsmiling face of Kagoto. At last a careless hand and she slipped away. She ran from her Kagotoien teachers as fast as she could go. Out into the light of day she ran. Again with each corner she turned more pursuers joined the chase. She spied a ship at the docks and she ran toward it. It was Ryu-Oh, her ship. She turned the last corner for the docks and found a group of Kagotoien teachers waiting for her. She watched as her ship left the dock and moved away out of her reach. She stopped and gathered her strength then unleashed her power. The lil guardians appeared out of nowhere surrounding her. She jumped into the air. Though flying was her worst ability she flew straight and strong like Ryoko to her ship and then phased into her like Ryoko could. Within the ship she saw her beloved tree Ryu-Oh. She moved over to it and touched the trunk of it. "What is our destination your highness?" said the voice of Kamidaki. "We are headed for the planet earth." She said placing her check apon the tree. "Earth? Never heard of it." Came the voice of Azaka . Princess Ayeka turned to her guardians and her voice caught in her throat. Before her where two Kagotos with the printed emblems of Azaka and Kamadoki apon them. "It must be far your highness." said Azaka. "About 700 years. You should go into the stasis chamber for the trip. You wont even now your sleeping." "NO", said Princess Ayeka. "You stay away from me." "Come now your highness," intoned kamadoki. "Nothing will happen to you, you will just lay there. You will not eat nor breathe. It will be like death only not quit." "NO, GET AWAY." Princess Ayeka shouted with her back against Ryu-Oh. "Just one more step your highness." They both intoned. Princess Ayeka looked over her shoulder then turn around to see a gaping hole within the tree. But where the stasis chamber should be was a full-length mirror. She looked into it to see a reflection of herself as a little girl with the acknowledgment ritual dress on her. She felt two hands shove her from behind and she fell into the mirror like it was water. The little princess looked at herself in the mirror. Her mother Misaki said from behind her "You are going to be a lovely princess." And then she cackled like an old hag. Ayeka turned around and saw that she was not in the royal apartments as she expected. They where in Ryokos cave. Funaho said leeringly "You are going to be the best little princess there is." Then she laughed as if it where a great joke. Both Misaki and Funaho have the pasty white complexion of Kagoto along with the small round spectacles. "Come here Ayeka and let me put your tira on". Ayeka obeyed and she watched as Misaki placed the tira apon her head. She turned Ayeka around to take another look at herself in the mirror. But what looked back at her was the facemask of the mummy Ryoko. She heard herself screaming in her ears as Misaki and Funaho laughed. "Ayeka" she heard her father call. She looked and he stood in the middle of the cave with a hand holding heavy iron shackles that where driven into the rocky floor around the mummy Ryokos half water filled grave. "Are you ready to don the responsibilities of a princess Ayeka?" Ayeka stepped backwards into the folds of her mothers dress to hide. It folded over her engulfed her and began to smother her in a wave of ice- cold water. She heaved forward and broke through the surface of the water. The facemask on her face was heavy and she could barley keep it above water. She thrashed about, but her arms and legs where shackled. She was getting weaker. She was drowning. And all the while her kagotoien family Azusa, Misaki and Funaho looked down at her and smiled. In unison they said "That's our perfect princess;" as Ayekas head sank back into the watery grave. "NO" Princess Ayeka screamed as her eyes shot open. She heaved for breath and her heart was thumping wildly in her chest. Her face was sprinkled with a cold sweat. She rolled herself onto her knees. Her mind was racing and she felt the welling of tears in her eyes. "No, it can't be true. It was just a silly dream." "I'm not a little girl anymore who cries at nightmares." But the tears brimmed and stared to fall. Her mind was connecting the pieces and comparisons. It was revealing a picture she did not want to see. But it was so fast the conclusions came unbidden. "No, I'm not like her! I'm not!" Ayeka was on her hands and knees. Sobs racked her body. Tears dropped to the earth. And with every denial the truths stung a little more. "Not like her, I'm not like her!" And at last her mind stopped it's reeling and landed on one of master Armwars favorite sayings. "The truth always points to itself." In some corner of Ayekas mind a crack formed. It widened and branched out. And then the wall shattered reveling something hidden and missing within herself for a long, long time. Starting with the truth that she could handle she spoke it aloud. "Ok, yes, I have been lying to myself," she choked out with a sob. "I have built a shield wall around me to protect myself from the truth. But the truth is that I have only imprisoned myself." "I have used the persona of a princess to hide behind as well as a shield. It is the one thing that I should not have been doing." "My whole life has been centered around being a princess. My family, my heritage, my teachers have all manipulated me into making me a princess. " "But what is a princess? A princess is a title for one who has land or rank. Nothing more. I have personified myself into a princess to the point where I think of myself as Princess Ayeka and not just Ayeka." "But take away the princess and what have I got?" She sat back onto her heals and dried her eyes. She though, but everything she could think of about herself. But everything was somehow manipulated into the perfecting of being a princess." "Who am I?" "Who is Ayeka?" "I do not know." Two new tears spilled over her face and she wiped them away. "Now, I think that the wall has been broken. I..I." "I think that now I am free to find out who I am." "Just like Ryoko." "Ryokos life was setup by Kagoto. He forced her to become what she is. Through fear and hate and terror, he controlled her." "I on the other hand was manipulated with a helping hand a velvet touch and a loving kiss." "Two very different ways but in the end they are the same. Controlled." "I broke that control when I faced my father and chose to stay here." "Perhaps this is part of the reason that I did it. And not just because of Tenchi." "I do not know where this will take me but I do know that I will become a better person. "As I discover more of who I am." Ayeka rose to her feet and brushed herself off. Her watch said it was almost noon. Lunch will be ready soon. She walked down the path with lightness in her step as if a heavy load was lifted off her shoulder. Sasami was worried about Ayeka. She had always trusted Tsunami when she did things to manipulate the people and world around her but this was different. This time Sasami new that Tsunami was messing directly with her big sister and she did not like it. She new Tsunami was acting within the area; she could feel it. She tried to ignore it but when she gave herself a cut on her finger while preparing lunch she could not take it anymore. She went out of the kitchen and out the side door. Sasami walked across the dock and over to the sapling tree of Ryu-Oh and laid her hands on it and enchanted. "From the wellspring of my true name. Please open the path to our ancestor the space tree. Heaven to ocean, ocean to earth, earth back to heaven. Show me the path engraved by the light." In a shower of sparkling light Sasami seemed to fade into the sapling tree. Mihoshi was asleep on the dock floor with a broom clutched in her hand. She was startled out of slumber by the slamming of the side door. She groggily sits up supporting herself with one hand and wiping one sleepy eye with the other. "Mmmm? What was that?" She blinked and spied Sasami just as she disappeared in a shower of sparkles. "What? I must be dreaming. Sasami?" "Well since I'm dreaming I guess I should go back to sleep." Mihoshi laid back down and closed her eyes and back asleep in a single moment. When Sasami opened her eyes she was in another place. It was the Ship Tsunami with the atmospheric view of the earth above her. And she turned around to the ships captain. "Tsunami! I want you to stop messing with my sister." Tsunami gave a smile to Sasami and said "Sasami, this is a surprise. You have never spoken up before. You have always trusted me, right? Why do you try to interfere now?" "This is my sister where talking about. She's my closest family. We are as close as two sisters can be and she watches over me and teaches me. And." "I am well aware of how you feel about her Sasami. But do not fear for her." "What are you doing to her!?" Sasami asked impatiently. "Nothing anymore Sasami. I am finished. But you know that your sister Ayeka is not the happiest person. You have notest that there is always something hidden away inside her that she will not share; that makes her sad." Sasami just looked at the goddess but a slight nod gave confirmation. Tsunami continued, "With a few whispers on the wind I have made her confront it. She was not even aware of the problem herself; that's why she could never speak of it. Because she did not even know herself." "Now I think that she will be able to define it and deal with her problem and grow beyond its limiting of her development." "So you're not going to take her away or use her in some scheme of yours?" inquired the little princess with a sniffle. "No Sasami, I just wanted her to have the same chances that others do. Like you and Tenchi and Ryoko." "You better get back, people are getting hungry out their." With a smile and a down turned head she said "I'm sorry that I doubted you Tsunami." "Its quit alright Sasami. Someday I see you being as protective of Ayeka and the rest of your family as she is. Now go on." With a gesture Sasami was enveloped by a shower of sparkles again and was next to the sapling of Ryu-Oh. Sasami blinked and snuffled again and was back to normal by the time she passed the sleeping Mihoshi. . When Ayeka had walked down to the shrine she saw Ryoko there in the same place where she saw her last. "Hay Princess, It's almost lunch time. You didn't fall asleep up there did you?" Ayeka approached Ryoko saying "Miss Ryoko, I would like to ask a fav..." "Hay Princess, do you want to go to the onsen after lunch?" Ryoko interjected. "Nobelyuki bought a load of saki. And I bet that if we could get you liquored up you could get a good night sleep." Drinking saki was about the only thing that Ayeka and Ryoko could do together peacefully. And Ayeka was in a much better mood than she was this morning. "Hmmm. I'll have to think about it." She said non-commitaly. "Tenchi!" Ryoko cried looking down the stone stairway. Looking down the long stairway Ayeka spied Tenchi and his grandfather coming from the practice field onto the stone stairway. Tenchi waved to them with a smile. Ayeka waved back but stopped in mid wave for she saw Ryoko had teleported right next to Tenchi and smothered him in another one of her affectionate embraces. "Ryoko stop it." said Tenchi. Ryoko had been more reserved since the assimilation with zero but she did not let go this time. Instead she stuck out her lower lip in a pout and started to do the too familiar figure eight doodle on Tenchis chest. "What's the matter Tenchi? Don't you like me anymore?" She finished with a pair of sad down turned eyes. Tenchi stammered. "No, no Ryoko that's not it. It's just that I'm tired and sweaty an sore." Just then Ayeka caught up the group. "Miss Ryoko will you stop. Your making lord Tenchi uncomfortable." "Tenchiii," said Ryoko in a seductive voice, "I'm going to the onsen after lunch. Do you want to come with me? I could give you a rub down for those sore aching muscles." Ryokos voice and face did not falter but she was getting some color in her cheeks. Tenchi began to get a big sweat drop on his head as he said, "Ahh..well I ahh.do need to wash but." "Great! It's a date then." Interjected Ryoko, jumping up and away before Ayeka could physically try to remove Ryoko from Tenchi. "If you think for one moment that you are going to the onsen alone with Tenchi your mistaken!" cried Ayeka already fuming. Ryoko just laughed delightedly and then teleported away. Ayeka sniffed at the disappeared Ryoko and started down the steps again with Tenchi and Katsueto. Ayeka along side with Tenchi walked toward the house in anticipation of the call for lunch. Katsueto walked right behind them far enough to give them a little privacy. Ayeka spied Ryoko in one of her favorite spots, on top of the roof. Ryoko waved with a big smile for Tenchi. Tenchi waved back an gave a friendly smile back. Ryoko then playfully stuck her tongue out. Ayeka assumed that it was aimed particularly at her. "Tenchi, brother, you two go on ahead I want to talk to Ryoko before lunch." "Ahh miss Ayeka. Please try not to fight. Ok?" "Do not worry lord Tenchi. I have no intention of letting miss Ryoko needle me into a fight." "I am in much too good a mood to let her spoil it." "Oh and one other thing. I have an announcement to give to everyone so don't start without me." "Alright, said Katsueto, don't be too long." He turned to a bewildered and worried looking Tenchi and said, "Move along Tenchi, you still need to wash before lunch." "Ahh. Yeah right grandpa" he responded. Tenchi did note however before he went inside was that grandfather had another one of his all knowing grins on his face. Ayeka walked to the house and stopped before reaching the front door. She began to concentrate and the air around her began to stir. Her tira began to glow and the air began to blow and wipe her kimono around her ankles. Ayekas feet left the ground and she floated up into the air to the roof. She flew over and touched down onto the roof. Ayeka sighed and breathed deeply as she pulled out a kerchief to wipe her perspiring brow. She walked over to Ryoko who watched her. "Getting some flying practice in princes? Don't you think that you're a bit out of your league trying to compete with me in the flying area?" "Miss Ryoko, I came her to ask you for a little favor of you." "A favor of me?" Ryokos eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's the catch?" "No catch. It just that. Well Miss Ryoko, if you have any friendship or respect for me at all I would ask you to please, do not call me princess any more." "What? That's it?" "Yes, that is all." "What's this all about? What are you up too?" I'll tell you at lunch along with everybody else. But just between you and me I have had an epiphany this morning. About myself, and about you." Ryoko looked at Ayrka with a curious look that said in her expression, what are you up to? "You've had a what?" "I have had a realization that you and I are not so different." "That you and I are on the same stretch of road on the road of life; so to speak." Ryoko just sat there looking at Ayeka with a suspicious look on her face. Ayeka tried again, "You and I are learning about life as our own person for the first time in our lives. We are free to become whatever we want to be. In a way you could say that you and I are finally learning to grow up a little." Ayeka got to her feet and turned away. As she left she said over her shoulder, "don't be late for lunch." Ryoko continued to sit on the roof. She was bewildered by Ayekas actions not to mention what she said. Ryoko when over what she said looking for some kind of joke or insult like what she normally would say. Soon Ryoko concluded that she was serious. "Who does she think she is. Comparing me to her. We are nothing alike." "And I have always been free to do what ever I wanted. Well except for when I was with Kagoto." Sigh, "Who am I kidding?" "But she's a stuck-up prissy princess. She has had her whole life handed to her on a silver platter." "So why does she stick around here? Their are no adoring peasants or noble princess to chase her. Not even my Tenchi looks at her that way. Sigh, now I really am kidding myself. "Why did she defy her father to stay when she could have easily gone back with him? She has to actually work here. I have even seen her scrub the floor." Ryoko thought about and came to a conclusion. "She would rather stay here on this backwater world as a nobody than return as a princess. And I don't believe it is all because of Tenchi. Just like I would rather stay here than return to the stars. And probably a life of piracy. And no it is not all because of Tenchi. Dam! This is going to take a lot more thought. I bet that's why. She knows that my thinking about her would upset me. She knows that she can get under my skin easily. Ryokos set her head down in her palm in a huff. She started to scheme when her thoughts where interrupted by a dark whole that materialized and enlarged next to her. The head and shoulders not to mention several long locks of red hair of Washu popped out. "Hay, are you coming to lunch or not? Everybody's waiting." "Ok,ok I'm coming." "You seem a little upset. Is their something wrong little Ryoko?" "Not now, later." "Ok, little Ryoko, have it your way. Maybe after lunch in the onsen hmmm?" Washus head popped back into her dimensional whole and disappeared. Ryoko teleported down stairs to the dining table. As she sat down she had a final thought that brightened her mood. (Well, if I'm not going to get Tenchi alone in the onsen then maybe I can stir up a little fun. Ha ha ha) END