2.12
"The nerve!" Todd muttered sympathetically, having witnessed the entire scene.
"Pardon me?" Ayeka started still stunned, turning to look uncomprehendingly at him.
"Sounds like sour grapes if you ask me!" He added brightly, adjusting the strap holding the cam he was carrying.
"I-I'm afraid I don't…" Ayeka stammered, still in a kind of shock.
"Well, its kind'a obvious!" He continued smoothly, really wanting to cheer her up.
"I think the girls around here should just 'wake up', smell the coffee and realize he's made his choice!"
The princes blinked, continuing to stare, Mihoshi's comments having severely rattled her cage.
"W-What would YOU know about it?" She asked finally still somewhat confused, thinking. "Who is this person?"
"Plenty!!" Todd exclaimed smiling. "I, may be breaking 'the men's club' rules here," He leaned even closer, only sheer surprise held the princess in place as Todd's voice then fell to a whisper.
"But little lady, one guy can tell when another gets... 'That look'." He nodded knowingly.
Perhaps it was just his tone or maybe, the simple timing of the whole situation. Whatever the reasons Ayeka suddenly gasped, seizing the cameraman by the shoulders!
"What! What look?" She demanded. "What do you mean?"
"W-Why, when he's found the woman he loves of course!" Todd stammered more than a little bit rattled by her sudden animation. He was more amazed when she began to shake him violently by the lapels!
"How do you know who Lord Tenchi has chosen?" Ayeka raged, shaking Todd like a rag doll. "Did he tell you something? Where did you obtain that information?"
"Help!" Todd moaned pitifully, firmly in the grips of the green eyed monster.
"Tench." Kiyone called, quietly falling then into step along side him as they crossed the clearing. "You really shouldn't stare like, that it'll only encourage her."
"Well, she looks good like that!" He Admitted, looking to where Mihoshi and Tony where apparently discussing their next shot. "Guess I'm concerned about her hanging with those photographers." Glancing at Key he was rewarded with a dark look.
"Just as much as you are." He added.
"She's a big girl!" Kiyone sniffed, obviously unhappy. "If she wants to make an ass of herself, let her!" Tenchi stopped completely, waiting as she passed before turning to finally glance back at him.
"OK! Yes, I'm worried!" Kiyone answered the look he was giving, before finally giving a helpless shrug. "She's already made up her mind! Won't listen to me!"
"How about a few shots over here?" They heard Mihoshi remark.
"Well, it's quaint, I'll grant you." Tony paused to consider the temples modest rest stop.
The small well manicured building, only slightly less ancient than the shrine itself, had borne the indignities of recent years with the same quiet dignity it had always served it's vital, if somewhat less than publicly celebrated function. Providing all visitors in its humble way, the chance to 'freshen up', before making the long final climb up the mound.
Recent years and increasing interest, had seen the roadway close by 'widened' to accommodate a few meager parking spaces for those visitors choosing more modern conveyances than the traditional country lane approaching through the foot hills.
In short all, of the signs that the modern world soon would irrevocably intrude.
"Rustic, to be sure." Tony continued, smiling at where Mihoshi was leaning against the building. "Spanpebble does represent a lot of different products Miho."
Tony paused, smirking ever so slightly. "I just don't think toiletries are among them!"
"Oh." Mihoshi quietly nodded, feeling a little silly for even suggesting it.
"We could paint racing strips on it!" He offered, wanting to recapture her mood. "Slap on a set of slicks!" He gestured to ether side of the rest stop.
"I can see it now!" He indicated an imaginary marquee in front of the old building while sliding his arm around Mihoshi's shoulders.
"Spanpebble! The sign could say!" He announced. "We're full of crap!" Mihoshi could not help from giggling in response.
"Tony!" Someone suddenly called. Searching for the source, they saw Michele as she hurried up the short path from the roadway. Glancing behind herself at the rest stop then at the on coming make up artist, nodding, Mihoshi quickly stepped to one side.
"What's the matter?" Tony asked as Michele came to a halt before him only slightly out of breath.
"Did you take the blue outfit out of the garment bag?" She asked. "You know the one a lot like Miho's wearing?"
"Hell no!" He answered without pause. Tony then stopped, trying to remember if he had even packed the second outfit.
"Well, it's gone out of the caravan!" Michele complained loudly. "Right along with that big 'pom-pom skirt!"
"Whoo!" Tony wrinkled his nose. "Well, no big loss there!" Fanning the air with a hand as if catching 'a whiff' of something ripe, Mihoshi again glanced almost reflexively behind her at the rest stop.
"After all," He rasped, "They were about embarrassing as those giant 'galloper romper pants' that one idol was wearing last week!"
"I mean yuck!" Tony continued, rolling eyes before looking over at Mihoshi. "No girl, with a ounce of sense or class would be caught dead wearing…"
Suddenly a blast of feed-back cut him off while echoing through the quiet hills, causing birds to take flight and all heads to turn in time for a nova, bright as the midday sun to explode in their faces!
"What the hell?!" Tony winced, amid the general outcry. Multicolored spots were just beginning to fade from their dance when spotlights of similar hues suddenly switched on! Accompanied by a blast of noise which only after the initial fright, one could begin to identify as music.
"ALL RIGHT!!" An amplified female voice suddenly boomed. "ITS SEVEN HOURS TILL SUNSET! BUT THE STARS GONNA SHINE RIGHT NOW!!"
High atop the long flatbed silhouetted against the colored lights a figure launched into a disturbingly familiar song.
'I'm stuck out in the wilderness.
With this retarded crew-oo,oo.
Didn't know how fuck'n lost I was, till I found you!
I'm complete, Can't be beat!
I been had, I was sad and blue.
But you made me feel, Yeah ya made me feel.
All Shinny and nude!
Like a vir-gin,
HEY!
Touched for the very first time!
Like a vir-er-er-gin, with your heart beat next to mine!.
If one word would describe the crowd's present state, agog fit the bill nicely. A feeling which only intensified, when the stage's flood lights finally switch on. 'Fore lighting brightly enough to reveal identity of the prancing figure.
"YUBA!" Todd attempted to yell over the din. "HAVE YOU GONE LOCO?!"
"Well, at least we know who took the outfit!" Michele drawled loudly.
"WHAT?" Tony asked, over the din.
"YEAH!" Mihoshi yelled excited. "It's a party!"
"This is awful!" Ben gasped / shouted. "She shouldn't be up there doing that!"
"Yes I know!" Wataru agreed, grimacing. "She tone deaf as a post!"
"And not union certified to rig lights!" Ben informed angrily shaking his head.
While the assembly looked on Yuba began to play with sledgehammer subtlety to Tenchi's location in the crowd. The object of her attention standing, staring completely bleary eye off into space, vaguely wishing Kagato or some other more handy space type villain would attack right about now.
"Some women have no sense of shame!" Ayeka spouted causing Kiyone's head to whip around almost fast enough to break her own neck.
"What?" The princess snapped as Kiyone just stared incredulously as the impromptu 'concert' continued.
'Gonna give me all your love boy.
And my pride is fading fa-as-st.
Gonna show it all to you, cause I want your ass!
You're so fine, please be mine!
Dump that broad! Leave her far behind.
Cause you need someone, yeah, your need some-one-uh-uh.
Who doesn't come from the sticks!
Like a' Yuba!
Hey!
Just because she is so fine!
Like a' Yu-hoo-hoo-ba! Cause she a babe-boy! So sublime!
Other than the sheer surprise of the event, Kiyone was finding a moment to be darkly amused. Ayeka was dividing her glare between the girl on stage and a progressively redder faced Tenchi Misaki. 'Small wonder', it was not that Yuba was particularly unattractive, other than the outfit looked plainly ridiculous! Plus general crowd consensus dictated she probably would have done better with a gag shoved firmly in her mouth.
Not so much due to any poor vocal quality, rather than it might have cut down on the profanity!
"CHRIST ALMIGHTY!" Yoshi suddenly screamed, as 'The natives' continued to grow restless. "SCREW UP A SONG YOU AT LEAST KNOW THE WORDS TO!!"
"She's making a complete ass of herself!" Mikito rasped sadly.
"Maybe somebody ought to stop her?" Todd offered loudly with a shrug.
"Wanna borrow my gun?" Kiyone offered glumly.
"Ben?" Wataru finally asked, leaning over one finger in his ear his face, embedded in a wince. "Would you be so kind as to cut the power?"
"My pleasure!" Ben answered and with a bow disappeared quickly around the side of the truck.
"You know." Tony called speculatively, leaning his head to one side in Michele's direction. "She doesn't look half bad in that skirt!"
"You've got to be joking!" Michele gasped.
"Yep!" He answered with an elaborate smile.
"Like a virgin!" Mihoshi yelled, as usual not getting the exact flow of events.
Yuba was just about to launch into a third verse of amplified butchery when a noise of respectable volume suddenly cut through the din.
"HE'S ENGAGED! DIPSHIT!" Someone thundered.
Everyone came to a halt, the 'counter blast' of amplified nose while not matching the stage's output was still repeatable. Nursing almost broken eardrums, all heads cranked slowly to behold Sara small holding Wataru's bullhorn.
"WHAT?" Yuba asked, music blaring still clutching the microphone.
"I SAID!" Sara volleyed thunderously through the horn. "HE'S ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED!"
"W-WHAT??" Yuba stuttered, the amplified sound reverberating through the valley.
"TO HER! RIGHT HERE!" Sara pointed to Ayeka who, after a moment of necessary 'lip reading' following a nudge from Kiyone, waved meekly to the stage.
Realization dawning, some semblance of sanity seemed to return as Yuba's features went slack.
"OH fuck'n GREAT!!" The Sound system blared her total dismay. "THEN WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING UP HERE?"
"About eighty points!" Mihoshi gave her best cheer.
Now beat red, Yuba suddenly bolted off stage, round side of the flatbed, continuing at a dead run, to promptly lock her self in the group's caravan.
"What? No encore?" Wataru laughed after a moment that is before turning, catching a double dose of feminine ice courtesy of Andarka and Michele glaring holes in him.
"Wha?" He gasped, confused and more than a little intimidated.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Michele demanded. "Mr. Older, in charge, role model?"
"Da-wha?" Wataru paraphrased.
"Go offer some comfort to the poor thing!" Michele snapped.
"Wha?" Wataru Repeated, looking back and forth between their faces. Quickly realizing he was up against a very solid wall. "Why me?" He wanted to know.
"She's obviously in need of some guidance sir." Andraka murmured sullenly with strained politeness.
"You're her boss, you wiener!" Michele added sarcastically. "It's your job to help her out of this crisis with a pep talk!"
"Christ!" Wataru wilted, muttering as he took off in pursuit. "Why me?"
"Seems you weren't that protective of Petra, Michele!" Tony commented from a few feet away, not attempting to hide his amusement.
"Because that boy's a caustic asshole!" She snorted adding. "Pardon my French." with an embarrassed glance.
It was at that point the background music cut out, followed by three seconds of feedback, which then mercifully died. The silence which fell afterwards as much a product of shock much as functional deafness.
"Hey Masaki!" Todd at last commented clapping Tenchi on the back. "You still up to help me unload that flatbed?"
"Indeed!" Ayeka suddenly snapped, just as Tenchi was about to turn direction of the truck. "What makes you think Lord Tenchi has to help with the manual labor?"
Drawing herself up regally, Ayeka took a step Todd's way.
"Hey!" Tenchi told her quickly. "Ayeka It's no trouble!" He was actually 'starting' that direction, managing two complete steps, before being snagged by the arm.
"I won't hear of it darling!" She chided. "You do far too much around here already!" Visions of well-shaken rag dolls dancing in his head, Todd back slowly away.
"If you require help." She continued to the shrinking cameraman, gesturing around the clearing. "Why not let one of these roustabouts assist you?"
"Ayeka!" Tenchi muttered embarrassed. "This is rude!"
"Nonsense!" She replied. "I think it would be splendid for us to sit together in the shade and watch the commoners toil for a change."
"Typical." Kiyone muttered quietly, standing on the sidelines a few feet away, hands on hips shaking her head sadly.
"Like her for instance!" Ayeka said pointing, sporting a nasty little smile. Indicating the princess's hearing had rapidly recovered from the earlier pounding. It took Kiyone a few seconds to gather whom she was indicating.
"Oh..." Key smirked knowingly. "So, that's how it is?"
She regarded Ayeka for a moment before placing palms against her face.
"How dare you." She drawled in a high pitched voice. "Indicate a mere slip of a girl, like little ol' me! Should be suited for heavy manual labor?"
"It is a fact," Ayeka replied coldly. "That between milkings, the cow plows as well as the bull!" Key stopped short, smiling in return. Wondering where the Princess had netted that?
"So, you're saying it's your turn to get your teats twisted?" Kiyone asked with a sidelong grin.
"HOW DARE YOU RYO…" Ayeka snapped, the color rising to her face, before stopping, her eyes going wide just as Kiyone burst out laughing.
"Scandalous!" Ayeka breathed. "You and that cave fossil are just alike!"
"Did you hear what she said to me lord Tenchi?" It was then, she noticed her arm lock, was now firmly established on a shrub.
"Huh?" She gasped.
"I'll loosen the straps on this side Todd!" Tenchi said, now over at the side of the truck.
"HOW DID HE?" Ayeka asked astonished.
"You mean Houdini!" Kiyone said amused and amazed.