Chapter 2
By Moony
"Ha, ha, ha!" Ryoko laughed. "I'm back!" She kicked the door down and saw no one in the front room. She gave an annoyed look to no one and turned to go find someone when Washu stepped out of her lab.
"I thought I heard you, Ryoko," Washu smiled and put her hand on her hip.
"Where is everyone?" Ryoko asked curiously. She hated it when there was no audience when she made an entrance.
"Well, I think Tenchi and Sasami went on a walk together and Tenchi's father is out on business of some kind," Washu explained. Ryoko looked around.
"Well, where's Ayeka and the other two?" Ryoko asked and turned back to Washu, but she was gone. She had already disappeared into her lab. Ryoko sighed with her eyes closed and shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated way. "All well," Ryoko laughed. She opened her eyes with a new determination "Now, to find Tenchi."
* * * *
Tenchi watched Sasami pick wild flowers with Ryo-Ohki. He sighed. It was so peaceful…
"Tenchi!" a voice Tenchi knew all too well yelled behind him. Tenchi turned around and saw Ryoko in the air.
"Ryoko, you're back!" Tenchi smiled. "Did you enjoy your trip?" Ryoko had reached Tenchi now.
"Yes," Ryoko said with a laugh. "It was great fun! You should have come with me Tenchi!" Tenchi laughed uneasily.
"Maybe next time."
"Ryoko!" Sasami cried and ran over to them, Ryo-Ohki in front of her. Ryo-Ohki jumped on Ryoko.
"Well, hi. I'm glad to see you too," Ryoko laughed. Sasami stopped in front of her.
"I'm glad you're home Ryoko," Sasami smiled with a handful of wild flowers. "Here, you can have the flowers I picked to make up for when Ayeka stole yours on our personal planet." Ryoko took the flowers.
"Thanks Sasami," Ryoko said. She was surprised Sasami ever heard that story, even if it was made up.
"Well, let's get home! I have to fix dinner!" Sasami smiled.
"Okay, lets go," Tenchi said. The three headed back to the shrine.
* * * *
Ayeka looked out the space ship window. She was dressed in her royal attire, which made her now looked more like a queen than a princess. This would be her last trip to Earth, her last time to see Tenchi. She sighed heavily.
"Princess, is something the matter?" Tsugaru asked. Ayeka glanced over at her adviser and gave a weak smile.
"No, I'm just thinking," she responded. Tsugaru took the answer without second thought and continued his work on a small economic problem on Jurai. Tsugaru was Ayeka's new adviser. He traveled with her everywhere from now on, but Ayeka didn't mind Tsugaru. She was even becoming fond of him as they spent time together, but even if she had such a companion as Tsugaru she knew her heart would still ache for the Earth. "Tsugaru," Ayeka sighed. "Do you think I will be able to come back to the Earth after this trip?"
Tsugaru thought before answering, "I do not know, my princess. I believe that, once you are crowned, it will be your decision." Ayeka nodded, this was so troubling. She wanted to stay on Earth forever… She, however, knew her place and her responsibilities, but her heart would forever yearn to return to Earth, her friends and the boy she loved. "Princess Ayeka, we're getting an incoming message from the Galaxy Police," Tsugaru stated.
"Put it on the screen, please," Ayeka said and turned to the screen. The screen came up with a worried young woman in a Galaxy Police uniform.
"Princess Ayeka," the lady started. "I have some terrible news. Two of our officers were on pursuit of Ryuichi when we lost connection with them. We went to the place that they were last spotted at. Pieces of their ship were everywhere...Princess, the officers were Mihoshi and Kiyone." Ayeka gasped and put her hand over her mouth as it hung open.
"No..." Ayeka whispered. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Is there any proof that they didn't get off the ship before it exploded?" Tsugaru asked.
"Only a small chance that they would have been able to. We're looking into it now," the lady replied. Ayeka looked up from her lap and back to the monitor. Tears were running down her face.
"I want this man found and I want justice brought to him fore what has been done. I will not stand for my friends being killed. Find him now!" Ayeka cried. She switched the monitor off and buried her face in her hands. Her body was over taken with sobs when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Tsugaru with a sympathetic look. She turned to him and buried her face in his chest.
* * * *
Ryuichi turned off his intercom. He had heard everything Ayeka said. "Senseless princess, you're knights can't catch me. No one can catch me. And don't you know Ayeka, you are to be the greatest prize of my collection?" Ryuichi looked up at the two girls in the stability chambers. "Mihoshi and Kiyone you will live a little longer..."
* * * *
Ryoko sat at the table with Sasami, Washu, and Tenchi. She sighed. Everyone was quiet and Ryoko was very bored, thought she did have to admit it was nice having no competition from Ayeka.
"Where's Ayeka?" Ryoko finally asked. "She was here when I left."
"She's at Jurai," Sasami explained. "She's preparing for her crowning."
"You mean she's not going to come back?" Ryoko asked.
"She has one last trip, Ryoko. She should be on her way by now and I don't want you flopping it up for her," Washu said. Ryoko stuck her tongue out at her. Ryoko crossed her arms on her chest and gave a loud huff.
"I don't see why I have to," Ryoko pouted. "Just because she'll never come back here..." It suddenly hit Ryoko, without Ayeka, Ryoko could spend as much time with Tenchi as she wanted. She smiled evilly. Giving Ayeka one happy trip was a price that Ryoko was willing to give if she had Tenchi to herself from then on. "Alright, I'll be nice to her."
* * * *
"Princess, we will be entering Earth's atmosphere in only a few minutes," Tsugaru said.
"Thank you, Tsugaru," Ayeka said and stood up. Tsugaru was about to leave the room when Ayeka said, "Tsugaru, how will I ever be able to tell them?"
"I don't now, Ayeka. Just do what your heart tells you to," Tsugaru sighed and left. Ayeka prepared herself. She didn't know how she was going to tell her friends that their two other friends were...No she wouldn't allow herself to think they were. They had to make it out of there alive...Somehow.