Ryoko took a small sip of her sake from the cup and let out a sigh. It
was hard to believe that it was over. That the man who had forced her
destruction of Jurai had been defeated was an overwhelming thought and
she had taken tonight, the first quiet night in what seemed an eternity,to get used to the idea that her tormentor was gone. The roof provided agreat view of the woods surrounding the house and shrine and the latehour kept the others from interrupting her.
The reformed space pirate slowly took another sip of her sake. Life had changed a lot in the past few days. The tender moments she had shared with Tenchi had led to quiet interludes where she didn't try to get into his pants and he didn't try and escape her company. Ryoko's part in Ayeka's rescue had also allowed both women an excuse to enjoy each other's companionship. Ayeka's guardians, now in the flesh, provided unexpected sources of friendship.
In fact, Ryoko almost choked on her drink when she looked up over the lawn to see a figure dressed in the pure white of the Jurain military uniform settled under a large pine tree. Downing the remainder of her cup, she picked up the sake bottle and flew down to investigate.
Azaka was in the lotus position, apparently meditating. Ryoko settled herself on a branch of a nearby tree and wondered how the man had maintained such flexibility into old age. She was certain the human body wasn't meant to bend that way and wondered if it hurt.
"You're out late, Miss Ryoko." The elderly knight said softly, startling her from her musings. "Is everything alright?"
Ryoko shook her head and flew down. Landing in front of him she put her hands on hips. "How did you know I was here?"
Azaka stretched out his legs and stood up. "It's amazing what you learn in the military. Any cadet would have been able to figure out you were there."
"Because I'm a demon?"
"Because the branch creaked under your weight. And I smelled your perfume." Azaka gave a small smile. "Now, how can I help you?"
"You smelled my perfume?" Ryoko gaped at him. The perfume had been a Christmas gift from Mihoshi for the household Secret Santa. She didn't think anybody would realize she was wearing it.
"Yes." They stared at each other for a moment before they both broke out laughing. His low chuckles were drowned out by her loud guffaws and neither of them knew what was so funny.
Ryoko took a swig from her sake bottle, not bothering to pour it in the cup. Drunkenly pointing to it she hiccupped. "This is why I'm out here."
"Ah."
"So why are you out so late? Don't you have to be all bright and cheery in order to serve her majesty?"
Azaka frowned slightly at the insult to Ayeka. "Miss Ryoko, please don't be rude."
Ryoko took another gulp. "Sorry." She muttered. They were both quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds being an owl hooting.
"This is a pretty planet." Azaka murmured. "I've always liked winter."
"Jurai has winters?" Ryoko asked.
"On the Southern Continent, winter is very mild. I got married in the winter."
"Did it snow?"
Azaka gave a small smile and shook his head. "No. It snowed the day after. My wife was very disappointed."
"That must've sucked." Ryoko sat down beneath the tree and held out the sake bottle. "Want some?"
"No thank you. I don't drink."
Ryoko shrugged and sipped the alcohol. "Why don't you drink?"
"Why do you drink?" Azaka countered. She paused in mid sip.
"'Cause I keep hoping Tenchi'll come out and join me." Ryoko put the bottle down and drew her knees up to her chest. "You didn't tell me what you were doing out here." She pointed out, changing the subject.
"I need a little peace and quiet at the end of the day. A man can only kill Mario so many times before he needs fresh air."
Ryoko laughed. "So I guess this means you won't be taking up DDR anytime soon."
Azaka laughed with her. "No, I think Final Fantasy is my limit."
They were both quiet for a while before Ryoko spoke again. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Why're you a knight? I mean, is serving Ayeka really all that great?"
"Service to the Royal Family is service to my homeland. Yes, is it a good job." He ran his hand through his short, grey beard and looked thoughtful. "Besides, the pay can't be beat and it comes with a great benefits package."
"You guys have some back pay from when you were logs don't you?"
"Yes."
"What'cha gonna do with it?"
"That's a very personal question, Ms. Ryoko." Azaka murmured softly. "And I hadn't actually thought about it."
"Sorry." Ryoko mumbled. "What d'you think Kamidake will do with it?"
Azaka snorted. "Cursed if I know. If he's smart he'll find a wife. Tsunami knows, he needs one."
"Oh yeah, someone who'll teach him how to cook. I mean, that spaghetti last night was pretty bad." Ryoko admitted.
"I tasted it. I told him he needed to start watching 'Iron Chef' instead of that 'Thirty Minute Cooking for Men' or whatever he's watching now." Azaka shook his head. "The man needs a wife."
"Yeah." Ryoko agreed. "What about you? You said you got married in the winter."
"She died of the flu." Azaka whispered. "Back then the medicine available wasn't so reliable."
Ryoko was sorry she brought it up. "Sorry."
"It was a long time ago. Long before we were put to sleep."
"And you never thought of remarrying?" She immediately wished she hadn't said that.
Azaka shrugged "No, I don't think I'll ever remarry. For one thing, women just don't interest me anymore."
The wind howled and crickets chirped while Ryoko stared. "Women…don't interest you?" She arched an eyebrow.
"I didn't mean like that! Goodness, Princess Ayeka is right, you do have a perverted mind." Azaka growled. Ryoko just laughed.
"Lighten up, old man! You have to admit what you said could be taken more than one way."
"You're still perverted for taking it like that." Azaka folded his arms and scowled. "And I'm not that old."
"Right." Ryoko said, grinning. "So, what did you mean?"
Azaka gave a defeated smile and leaned back against the tree. He picked up a piece of dark green straw and absently twirled it around his fingers. "I meant that Nonoko left an impression on me as the ideal woman. No female could ever live up to that and I don't intend on giving up that image. It would dishonor her memory to be with a woman who was less than she was."
They were both quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "Why do you wait for Lord Tenchi?"
Ryoko looked away. "Because when I go to him, he always tries to run away." When Azaka didn't say anything she spoke again. "He's the nicest guy I've ever met. He let me live here, he says nice things to me…" She trailed off and wiped her eyes. "Dammit, you've got me all worked up now."
"I apologize. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I was just curious." Azaka dug into his shirt and produced a white handkerchief. "Here."
"Thanks." Ryoko mumbled, dragging the cloth across her eyes. "Guess we're both a little messed up in the love department, huh?"
"It would seem that way." The old knight agreed. "Although I could tell you a universal male secret if you'd like."
The demon grinned. "I gotta hear this."
"Men like sex…"
"That's it?" Ryoko stared. "No duh. You've been hanging around Ayeka for too long, you should tell that to her."
"You didn't let me finish." Azaka protested. "The truth is that men like sex, but we also like stability."
Ryoko still wasn't impressed. "So?"
"Sex is great but it can happen anytime, anywhere. If you're really desperate you can pay for it. Men want something that lasts longer and means more. We want stability." Azaka explained.
Ryoko looked at, finally comprehending what the old knight was saying. "So I should offer stability, not sex?"
"Well, sex is great too, but I think you might want to offer something more substantial along with it."
"Like what?"
"Well, a home maybe."
"I don't have a home to offer Tenchi." Ryoko reminded him. "He offered me his home."
"Happiness is good too." Azaka said. "The old proverb goes 'a woman who can provide happiness is a woman worth having'."
"That's a lame proverb." Ryoko growled. "You Jurains and your damn proverbs."
"The man who said that was one of the best writers the empire ever produced." Azaka shot back. "Madam, you have no appreciation for culture."
Ryoko snorted. For a few moments the only sound that could be heard was the wind and Azaka's light breathing.
"Does Ayeka know you're giving me love advice?" Ryoko asked humorously.
"No, she doesn't. But Tsunami knows it's an unfair competition. You need all the help you can get."
"I should blast you right back to Jurai." Ryoko snapped, knowing full well the man was teasing her.
"You go right ahead, Miss Ryoko." Azaka leaned against the pine tree and closed his eyes. "I'll just wait right here until you do that."
Ryoko chuckled and shook her head. Leaning back against the large pine, she inhaled the evergreen scent. "Hey, Azaka?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
"No problem, Miss Ryoko."
End
Author's notes- Everything belongs to Pioneer. I was just borrowing.
I had a couple of ideas for this little fanfic. First off I wanted to
give Azaka some characterization. He doesn't appear that often in
fanfics and that's too bad. He's got potential to be a really cool
character.
I also wanted Ryoko to actually have a friend. She's a bit of a longer
in the series and I wanted her to interact with someone who judge her
based on her past actions. Azaka knows about Kagato so he would also
know she wasn't responsible.
Finally, I wanted two people, a man and a woman, to sit down and have a
conversation without there being any romance. I hope I achieved that. Comments, questions and reviews are welcome.