Chapter Thirty-Seven: Princess Ayeka

William Mark had to admit he had some doubts at the back of his mind.

However, he focused on the task of hand and began his summer job. During this time, Kiyone got a part-time job. She apparently took it as a matter of principle to pay rent. For his part, Mark did not see very much of them day-to-day.

His focus was on maintaining the shrine, which had to get to early. That had revealed itself as far more difficult than expected. There were multiple terraces to clean, and one also had to cut back the weeds. Later, he'd been assigned to help Katsuhito with clearing the woods.

Katsuhito was by no means unfair in his demands, but Mark had to work at it to maintain his cover. On the one hand, he wanted to do his task to the best of his ability. Yet he was also playing an out of shape nerd. So it took a great deal of acting.

"Hey, Mark, there you are," said Tenchi Masaki one morning as he came up the steps, carrying a broom. "How are things going?"

"Great, Tenchi," said Mark quickly. "I've gotten most of the steps swept very quickly. How um, well, what brings you up here?"

"I've got to clean a particular shrine," said Tenchi. "Grandpa says it's my turn for it."

"Oh, you mean that shrine, which I'm not allowed anywhere near?" asked Mark. He remembered a cave with numerous symbols posted on it. Katsuhito had specifically forbidden him from going into it on the first day.

"Yeah, that one," said Tenchi. "Sorry, Grandpa's very protective of some of the sites up here."

"Oh, you have nothing to worry about," said Mark. He had no interest in Shintoism outside of how the information benefited his mission. "I'm hardly getting all the work I have done right now. This is giving me a real workout."

"Yeah, I'm actually kind of surprised you did as well as you have," admitted Tenchi. "I mean, you've never been all that big on PE.".

As opposed to Tenchi Masaki, who seemed to get top of the line grades easily, with zero effort. "Well, um, I've been jogging a lot lately," said Mark.

Put out a weak excuse; these idiots never questioned anything below surface appearances.

"Right, well, keep up the good work," said Tenchi. "I have my own job to get to."

"Well, see you on the other side," said Mark.

Then Mark went back to work. As he did, he remembered his training at the Tactical Empath academy. The best use of psychic power was not in spectacular displays but in the mundane. You could infuse power into small, practical acts. Using those, you got a far greater effect than if you used all your power on a shockwave.

Not that anyone had managed to make shockwaves a practical ability. The highest-ranked could create a small amount of force, but it exhausted them and was useless.

"Well, you seem to be doing well so far," said Katsuhito, coming out of the shrine from his meditations. "I'm glad to see you taking the job seriously."

"Well, I have to clean my own apartment, so I've got some experience," said Mark. "You wouldn't believe how much exercise that'll get you."

"Of course," said Katsuhito.

Mark met his gaze and felt Katsuhito peering at him and found it difficult to meet. Mark would have kept up the challenge, but he wasn't allowed to. Before he could, however, Katsuhito turned to the trees and breathed in the air. "Tell me, have you tried admiring the mountain trees while here, yet?"

"I'm afraid not," admitted Mark. "I've always been more interested in people than in trees."

"You should try reflecting on the beauty of nature now and then," said Katsuhito. "It may help to focus you, and remove distractions."

"I'll keep it in mind," said Mark, looking at the trees. They were decaying gray matter that his eyes perceived as brown with green leaves. What was to reflect on? "Um, Katsuhito, mind if I ask something?"

"Of course not, what is it?" asked Katsuhito, looking to the trees.

"Why is that shrine so important?" asked Mark. "The one Tenchi is cleaning?"

Katsuhito looked up, and his eyes reflected the light. "...Well, if you must know, there is a demon in there."

"Demon?" asked Mark in surprise. "Of what kind?"

"Legends tell that ages ago, a great stone crashlanded on Earth from space," said Katsuhito. "From it came a demon who caused all kinds of chaos from within the stone. So it was that the people from the surrounding area sealed the demon within the shrine and warded it.

Now it resides, trapped in eternal slumber."

"That's not a demon, that's an alien," noted Mark.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" asked Katsuhito.

"Aliens come from out of space," said Mark. "Demons are fallen angels who have been cast down from heaven, having defied God's will."

"Ah, right, I'd forgotten you were a Christian," said Katsuhito. "Well, you might call it an alien if you prefer. Still, I'm interested in why you believe that the Darkness must have once been Light?"

"The philosophical reason is that evil is a parasite," said Mark. "It cannot exist independently, but rather is a corruption of an existing good. Demons are powerful supernatural entities that exist independently of the physical realm. They are also defined universally as evil.

"Since nothing is created evil, they must have once been good. And since evil is a corrupting force that weakens and mars, they must have once been a great power."

"That being angels?" mused Katsuhito.

"Yes," said Mark, deciding to cut this short before he broke character. "Although, it is conceivable that a demon could have entered this universe in outer space. Then they could have been sealed inside and then cast down. That would make it both an alien and a demon.

"Hang on, why is Tenchi cleaning it then?"

"Well, there are certain rituals that have to be observed. You haven't been trained in their use yet," said Katsuhito. He put a hand to his shoulder. "Maybe next time, young fella. Now, I have to go get some things from town, keep up the good work here."

"What things?" asked Mark.

"Basic supplies and other more frivolous things," said the old man as he walked down the steps.

Mark was glad he was gone.

Yosho was far more intelligent than the others in the Masaki Household. Tenchi was somewhat intelligent but didn't apply himself. Nobuyuki was gone too often to suspect anything, while the girls wouldn't think to ask. They'd bought his persona entirely. Yosho, though, was grounded firmly in this world. He'd lived here long enough to have an idea of how it operated, so he might well learn Mark's nature if he did not suspect already.

Mark would have to be cautious.

"Wonderful, now here I am sweeping up after them," said Mark's persona to himself, for effect. "Some friends."

"Excuse me," said an eloquent voice. "I must speak with you."

Mark looked up and saw a majestically beautiful, violet-haired woman. Her hair was tied into a braid behind her head, and she wore what might have been silk garments. Her eyes were pink, and her hands hidden in long robes.

"Hmm?" said Mark, guessing her to be a Juraian. His persona was instantly attracted to her and wanted to make a good first impression. "Oh, welcome to the shrine. Can I help you, Miss?"

"I'm terribly sorry for my abruptness," said the woman. "But I received a distress signal from this location. Is there anyone here who has been requesting evacuation from a crash landing?"

This was some search and rescue operation.

If Mark were running the GP, there would be none of this nonsense. He'd have dispatched someone to Kiyone's last known coordinates the moment she disappeared. "Oh, you must be the rescue mission Ms. Makibi called for. I didn't think that box she used would actually work."

"Kiyone, is that her name?" asked the woman.

"Yes, she's not here right now," said Mark, pausing his efforts. "She sort of felt guilty for living at the house for free, so she's started doing a part-time job in town. She should be back in a bit."

"I see, well, I owe you my thanks for providing her with your hospitality," said Ayeka.

"Um, actually, I just work here," admitted Mark, his persona pleased by the attention. "I don't actually own the house."

"Oh, I see," said Ayeka, her manner changing just slightly. "Then you are a servant."

"I'm an employee," said Mark, letting some real irritation into his voice.

The woman shifted. "Um, may I inquire as to the difference?"

"An employee chooses to perform a service in exchange for being compensated," said Mark. "A servant is part of the household."

"...I see," said the woman. No, she didn't.

"It's kind of weird and doesn't make a lot of difference," said Mark, his persona wanting to get along with her. "Basically, I only just started working for the priest here, and I'm only here for the summer for the moment. Maybe my employment will be extended beyond that if I perform well, maybe not."

"Then you are trying to become a permanent part of the household?" asked Ayeka.

Mark was insulted by that question. "...Not exactly.

"My name is William Mark, can I get your name, ma'am?"

"I am Princess Ayeka of Jurai. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," said the woman, though she seemed to be looking for someone else to talk to.

"A Princess?" asked Mark, persona going through fantasies of wooing her. "What are you doing all the way out here? When I talked with Kiyone, she seemed to think that Earth was a bit out of the way."

"Well, truth be told, I was on my way for another marriage meeting," said Ayeka. "As a Princess, I have received many blessings, but also obligations. Royalty rarely has the chance to marry for love."

"That's sad," said Mark, with less sympathy than he intended.

Ayeka looked annoyed at his statement, and Mark realized he'd misstepped. His persona was on the verge of panicking. "...That was a somewhat insensitive response, don't you think?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just..." Mark shifted and tried to find a way to spin this. "That's pretty normal here on Earth. You know, we had a lot of arranged marriages in our world as well. They were often very important in preventing wars in Europe.

"Actually, the Hapsburgs almost united Europe with marriage alliances."

"Well, I suppose it is a universal responsibility," said Ayeka. "Tell me, do you know where I can find your master?"

Master? Mark felt fury at that statement but decided to let it pass as his persona wilted. "Kasuhito should be returning-"

And then Tenchi, damn him, arrived. "Mark, do you know where I can find another mop? Mine broke-" Then he halted as he saw Ayeka. "Oh, hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Tenchi Masaki; my grandpa runs this shrine. Can I help you?"

Ayeka looked to Tenchi with a warmer appearance. "I am Princess Ayeka; I'm here as a rescue mission for the woman you've been hosting."

"Well, would you like some tea at the house?" asked Tenchi. "Kiyone will probably be a while before she returns."

Ayeka shifted. "Yes, I would... like that."

Tenchi looked at Mark. "Mark, do you want to come with us?"

"I have a job to finish," said Mark simply.

"Right, sorry, well, if you want to come by after you're done, feel free." began Tenchi.

"Thanks, I might just take you off on that," said Mark. "Have a great day, Ms. Ayeka."

"Thank you," said Ayeka.

As they moved off, they began to talk. Mark remembered his conversation with Kiyone and those that had come after. He'd made numerous reports on what he'd learned about Jurai and the Galaxy Police. If anything, he should be very pleased to have a chance to speak directly with Royalty. What if the Royalty had a different approach to things to Kiyone? Then there might be some weaknesses to exploit.

What did it matter?

Every single one of them would be dead long before even one of these women had a single gray hair. Earth's entire history, endless ages of warriors, wise men, kings, and scientists were nothing. Less than nothing, just dust in the wind.

Ryoko had power beyond anything Mark had; so did Yosho, and this was treated as a common occurrence. Even if a weakness could be identified in the Juraians, could it even be exploited? And even if Jurai was defeated, there were other powers who would take their place.

Mark was beginning to think that they would not even achieve status as a thorn in Jurai's side. Or, for that matter, a thousand lifetimes.

"Tenchi, Tenchi, where are you?" called Ryoko's voice.

Mark looked up and saw Ryoko floating out of the woods. This wretched creature, born beautiful, with powers beyond comprehension. And what was she but a pirate with poor impulse control? Why did she deserve the power for which humanity could only dream?

Ryoko noticed him at last, once she realized Tenchi wasn't here. "Hey, Mark, where's Tenchi-"

"Fuck off!" snarled Mark flatly.

Ryoko blinked at the outburst. "Wow, what's your problem?"

"I'm going to be dead in a hundred years," snarled Mark, before going back to work.

Working as an employee in the hopes of becoming a servant? As if. Mankind had not emerged from nothingness to play the role of a servant to anyone. Especially not these degenerates.

Ryoko, however, stared at him in sudden concern. "Hang on, are you terminally ill?"

"No," said Mark flatly. "Though we all might as well be by your standards. The average lifespan of an Earthling is eighty to a hundred years. I'm sixteen."

Ryoko's eyes widened, shifting nervously. "So... Tenchi will die that quickly?"

"Everyone on Earth will die that quickly," said Mark.

"But... how is that possible, I mean..." said Ryoko, looking genuinely upset.

"Why are you asking me?" snapped Mark, who had no sympathy for her by this point. "I'm just the help."

"Tenchi! Tenchi!" cried Ryoko while rushing off.

Mark took some satisfaction from the fact that he'd upset her. He also noted that Ryoko seemed to have an obsession with Tenchi for some reason. Perhaps she genuinely liked him, and Mark contemplated why. LIkely she'd had few emotional bonds before he was kind to her, combined with a childish crush. Mark refused to believe that anyone who was well-adjusted could possibly like Tenchi Masaki. The boy was a blank slate.

"Hmm, does she... actually care about him?" asked Mark. "It hardly matters, does it?"

And so he worked, finishing the sweeping and going to cutting underbrush away. He uprooted a number of new weeds and worked until the sun was high in the sky. Then Mark realized he was largely done. "Hmm, so I've finished ahead of time. I suppose Mark is obligated to go see how Tenchi is doing and inform him of the situation. Assuming Ryoko hasn't blown the place up yet."

Making his way down the steps, Mark sensed for Tenchi and Ayeka. To his irritation, they were not in the house. Instead, they were moving around the various lands. Mark suspected Tenchi was giving her a tour of the grounds.

Making his way after them, Mark caught up to them when they were by that same lake with the tree. Kiyone's ship was gone, of course. But Ayeka and Tenchi were making their way over the stones to the opposite shore. Tuning his hearing, Mark tried to make out what they said.

"These hills and trees, Tenchi, they are truly beautiful," said Ayeka.

"What?" said Tenchi. "Well, I guess they're pretty and all, but they're just plain hills."

"Oh I disagree, these are every bit the equal of Jurai," said Ayeka.

How polite of her. Mark doubted she meant it.

"...Hmm, it's funny," said Tenchi. "I'm so used to it all that I didn't realize it until now. I guess we can't really see the beauty all around us normally." After a bit more meaningless navel-gazing, they began making their way back.

However, Ayeka slipped on a stone and accidentally fell forward. Tenchi turned and caught her, and they stopped her. Ayeka looked up at him, and their eyes met.

Sickening, truly sickening, especially since they were probably related.

Mark turned and walked off before seeing anything else. Getting back to the house, he did his best to look like he'd been here for a while. As he sat down, however, he noticed something. A rabbit coming toward him, snuffling at the grass. It had a mottled, brownish color, and it looked at him oddly.

Standing up, Mark moved softly toward it. He focused on calming the emotions within the creature. Putting a hand to it, he focused on calming it and scratched it beside the ears. The rabbit nuzzled him, then turned and hopped off.

Interesting.

Mark had never been trained to try calming animals. Either way, it was of no consequence. He drew out his phone and called Doran.

"Mark, what news?" asked Doran.

"I have reason to believe that there may be some sort of power near the Masaki Shrine," said Mark. "Yosho doesn't want me going anywhere near a place, saying a demon is there."

"And you believe he might be hiding something?" asked Doran.

"It's possible," admitted Mark, suddenly seeing the rabbit in the grass.

"Mark, you don't seem focused," said Doran.

"I am focused," said Mark quickly.

"Then see to it that you do not lose it. Humanity is relying on you," said Doran.

"I understand," said Mark. "Sir, if I could ask, how is reverse-engineering the weaponry we acquired going?"

"Not all that well," admitted Doran. "They operate on principles we don't fully understand. I've decided to call in a specialist, someone from the energy industry."

"Who?" asked Mark.

"Professor Hayden, he one of the most influential minds on theoretical science. And several other disciplines," said Doran. "As for you, I want you to investigate that shrine, somehow unseen. Understand?"

"Doing so could compromise my cover," noted Mark.

"Then find a way for it to be someone else's responsibility," said Doran. "I have faith you'll perform your duties exceptionally, as you always have."

Mark nodded. "Of course. Anything else?"

"Nothing yet," said Doran. "Doran out."

He hung up.

Mark sat down and waited, wondering if the rabbit would appear again. Yet it did not, and Mark found that he, not his persona, was disappointed. Then he looked up and saw Tenchi and Ayeka returning and wondered how far things had gone. Probably no that far.

"Oh, Mark, you're finished," said Tenchi. "Sorry if I locked you out, Princess Ayeka wanted to see the surrounding lands."

"Oh, great, did you enjoy the view, Princess Ayeka?" asked Mark, falling back into character.

"Very much," said Ayeka. "I am glad my path me here, however briefly."

And then Ryoko surged out of nowhere and glomped Tenchi in a panic. "Tenchi, Tenchi, you're alive, thank God!"

"Ryoko, what is going?" said Tenchi, fighting to free himself.

"You can't die; please don't die!" said Ryoko.

"Ryoko... what are you..." choked Tenchi. Finally, he got free. "I'm not going to die, okay!"

"But Earthlings die so quickly, in a hundred years!" said Ryoko.

"So what?" asked Tenchi. "A hundred years is a long time. You don't have to worry, Ryoko. I'm not going anywhere."

Ryoko let go and looked down, obviously upset. "Right, right, I just..."

Ayeka, meanwhile, had been watching, open-mouthed. "Ms. Ryoko, what is the meaning of this?!" This knew eachother.

Ryoko then turned to Ayeka and narrowed her eyes as they faced eachother. "Oh, Ayeka, what are you doing here?"

"I am here on a rescue mission. What are you doing here?" snapped Ayeka.

"Well, I guess I'm the one Kiyone needs rescuing from," said Ryoko, grabbing Tenchi in another glomp. "Wouldn't you agree, my Tenchi."

"What are you, get off Lord Tenchi!" said Ayeka, stepping forward.

"Make me, Ayeka," said Ryoko with a smile.

"Why you..." said Ayeka.

Suddenly, numerous logs appeared around them, coursing with lightning. Ryoko, meanwhile, summoned spheres of energy. At that moment, Mark decided he had to act.

"Wait!" said Mark.

They halted and looked to him in surprise. "Why?" asked Ryoko.

"Before you kill eachother, let me get a safe distance away," said Mark, standing up and walking away. "Okay, proceed."

And then you had a mass wave of lightning hit Ryoko's shield, even as she hurled a bolt of red. It struck Ayeka, and she was sent flying into the air, only to halt in midair. Tenchi dodged the resulting counterattack and stood on the sidelines. "That's not really helping, Mark."

"Do you want to try to stop them?" asked Mark.

Tenchi took the point. "Listen, ladies, I'm not sure what it is that made you have this kind of vendetta, but can't we try to put it behind us?"

That actually did get their attention. Ryoko then went back to her usual self and landed. "But Tenchi, you have no idea what this woman did to me! She's a total witch!

"I remember when I was only a young girl, growing up on the mean streets of Jurai-"

"The streets of Jurai are not mean!" screeched Ayeka.

"I was hardly able to eke out a living making pottery to sell my wares," said Ryoko, wiping away false tears. "Then she came by and broke up my stall, proclaiming that I didn't have a permit! I lost all my merchandise!"

Tenchi said nothing.

"...You're not a very good liar, are you?" asked Mark after a moment.

"My reactions as well!" said Ayeka. "You're always making up stories about me! I remember all too well when you stole the crown of flowers I made for myself!"

"As usual, trying to explain away what a horrible person you are!" said Ryoko. "I am a victimized orphan who had to look out for herself?"

"Weren't you boasting about your criminal record a few weeks ago?" asked Mark.

"Well yeah, obviously, but Jurai is a corrupt tyranny, so I'm more a dashing rebel than villain," said Ryoko.

"Liar! I will no longer tolerate this slander!" said Ayeka. "You will pay the price for your lack of respect! Ryu-Oh! Heed my call!"

Ryu-Oh? Who was-

And then a vast ship appeared overhead them. Mark glanced up and noticed it seemed to be made from golden wood. As if it had been grown rather than built. Even as it appeared, a beam of light shot down and drew Ayeka upward. Ryoko, however, seemed eager to pursue. "Alright then! Ryo-Oki! Come on Tenchi!"

Then, out of the sky, came an immense ship of crystal. A single red gem was upon it, and from that gem shot two red lights. One drew in Ryoko, the other Tenchi, as what might have been the sound of a cat yowling resounded.

Mark sighed and drew out his phone and camera. Dialing as he took shots of the two ships flying into the air, he reached Doran. "What is it, Mark?"

"Sir, I believe there is going to be another space battle over Japan," said Mark.

"What?" said Doran. "But how could this happen? We should have detected a second vessel."

"Ryoko got on the nerves of a Juraian," said Mark. "And summoned the ship we thought destroyed. They are now trying to kill one another in ship-to-ship combat.

"Also, Ryo-Oki, Ryoko's ship, yowls like a cat."

"...And they honestly think we won't notice this?" asked Doran after a moment.

"I doubt they care," said Mark. "We're little more than unimportant ants to them. Mark out." And he hung up.

That was, technically, a breach of protocol, but Mark found himself walking down to the lake. As he did, he passed a camellia tree and eyed it, finding it rather beautiful despite himself. Perhaps there was more to nature than gray matter after all.

Certainly, it was far more interesting than anything else on this mountain.

Then Mark noticed that same rabbit coming back toward him. Kneeling down, he picked it up and looked in the eye. "I will give you a name. And I shall call you..." He paused. "I'm not sure."

Taking Daisy back to the house, he made plans to arrange for her food and cage. He could make good use of her as an intelligent company. However, as he sat on the deck, petting her, Kiyone Makibi came back, looking tired.

"Alright, I'm back," said Kiyone. "Oh, Mark, where are the others?"

"Oh, Princess Ayeka arrived to evacuate you," said Tenchi. "However, she is now engaged in a lethal bout of ship-to-ship combat with Ryoko. Depending on who wins, you may be here for a while yet."

"Oh, I see," said Kiyone. "Well, at least..."

And then Ryo-Oki and Ayeka's ship descended from on high like fiery angels. They were locked together, descending toward the land. At last, they crashed, and a great flash of light surrounded the landscape. No mass destruction, fortunately, still, chance were they were all dead.

Finally.

Mark stood up. "Well, that was a deeply unpleasant job, all things considered. But now that they're all dead, I'm sure we can-" Then he sensed them alive, somehow. Their ships must have had excellent safety measures. "Nevermind."

"...So much for rescue," said Kiyone, putting her face in her hands.

"How is the job going?" asked Mark, petting his as yet unnamed rabbit.

"Oh, pretty well," said Kiyone in frustration. "I actually got congratulated by my boss for the good work today."

"You don't sound enthusiastic," noted Mark, adjusting his glasses.

"Yes, well, I graduated second in my class in the Galaxy Police," said Kiyone. "So minimum wage on any planet is a bit beneath me."

"Ah," said Mark.

"So um," said Kiyone, looking at the rabbit. "Who's your friend?"

Mark looked at his rabbit and then to the flowers nearby. "Her name is Daisy."

All in all, this had been a good day.