***This Fanfic is written without the permission of both Pioneer and AIC but I'm not
selling it
so please do not sue me. Actually what you can do Pioneer and AIC is reopen sales of
Tenchi
in the UK (you know how much it costs to get the stuff from America!!!!!!!) PLEASE!!!!
***
No need for watching 5.
"I'm saying nothing," Tenchi said with a smirk.
Gary was sitting at the table head in his arms making whimpering sounds.
"I told you Manchester United would lose" Washu said in an 'I told you so' tone of voice.
"Dammit I bet next months pay on that match!" Gary wailed into his arms "That was
going to
pay for Ayeka's present"
"Oh was it now" Gary froze and turned around slowly and saw Ayeka, dressed up in her
Autumn Kimono, arms crossed and looking very angry "Oh hi Ayeka, I was saying.."
"About how you lost all of next month's pay yes I know what you were saying all right"
said
Ayeka quietly as she turned and walked out gracefully.
"She's going to kill me in private" murmured Gary, terror in his eyes.
"Yeah we know that already!" Ryoko mumbled to herself.
"You should've listened to me Gary" smiled Washu to herself.
Gary stood up "I'll have to address my fiscal problems later, I'm about 10 minutes late
with a
meeting with my friend"
"Ooo more sake!" sighed Ryoko happily "more famous Grouse Whiskey please!"
"Ryoko the only time you get my Sake is when you threaten me with death by
mutilation"
Frowned Gary as he walked upstairs to get changed.
Ayeka sat on one of the rolling hills overlooking the valley, she was crying before in
anger that
Gary had done such a stupid thing. After all that he did in the past week to impress her.
"Feeling down?" Ryoko said as she appeared behind her. Ayeka said nothing, past
prejudices
holding her back. Ryoko sighed and sat down.
"I'm not the enemy anymore Ayeka" Ryoko said softly wiping a tear away from Ayeka's
face.
"I know, my apologies for Saturday" Ayeka said, still looking over at the house and the
lake.
"Thanks" Ryoko smiled "Gary is very unhappy that he failed you Ayeka"
"I know but he can be so stupid and rash sometimes" Ayeka turned to face Ryoko "that
kind of
attitude in a man who I love is a new thing to me"
"I understand" Ryoko nodded "but you must give him time, like Tenchi, he will try his
hardest to
make up for his mistakes" she put a hands on Ayeka's shoulders "Believe me give him
time and
you two will be getting on like a house on fire!"
Ayeka laughed, "Your choice of words is exceptional".
Ryoko smiled back "why thank you princess"
The scene was a field; it was frozen over, a fine sheet of white frost covering the ground,
the
mud frozen solid. In the middle a party of people stood with dogs.
"Let batch 2 go Gamekeepers" McCann barked into his radio.
"Will do sir" came the reply and a moment later, Pheasants came flying out. The party
(about 5
in all) brought their shotguns to bear and fired off, knocking down 3 of the 10 Pheasants
that
flew by, and the dogs faithfully ran to get their dead prey.
"Gary good evening" grinned McCann as Gary approached "nice of you for gracing us
with
y'presence" McCann's Glaswegian accent shining through as he reloaded his shotgun.
"I knew you wouldn't mind me arriving late, had a domestic to deal with back home" said
Gary
as he checked his shotgun "miss anything?"
"Yep we've downed about 5 already" McCain said as he picked up his radio "let batch 3
go"
Another load of Pheasants flew into the air from the wood next to the field; everyone
raised
their guns and fired. 6 fell this time.
"Wow big catch" laughed Gary as they fell to the ground "What did you want to talk to
me
about?"
"You're fully in the clear now, the Emperor though still is suspicious of you"
"you mean?"
"I don't think he'll let it lie, no matter what Princess Ayeka or even Funaho and co say"
"So he's putting pressure on us?"
"Yep, he wants us to investigate you over what happened two weeks ago" McCann said
as he
fired again "naturally we're not listening".
"Why is he so hostile?"
"I'd think I would be pretty suspicious of a bloke who had a big fight with my daughter
then fell
in love with her" he smiled at him "Wouldn't you?"
"Yeah" mumbled Gary as he aimed a shot, downing another pheasant "good point".
"I'm just saying be careful that's all" McCann said wringing the neck of a half-dead
Pheasant
"We need you out there to keep the princesses under protection, Tenchi can't be with
everyone
all the time y'know"
"So what can we do?" asked Gary as he put his Pheasant in a plastic bag.
"Ayeka and Sassami have been told in private that they are to appear at Reception on
Planet
Jurai in two days time. The whole court is expected to be attendance including all major
members of the Royal family"
"Wow that's big" smiled Gary as he took aim again "isn't Tenchi going"
"No he can't the night on the same two day period which him and Yosho do their special
shrine
celebrations"
"So why are you telling me this?"
"We've been secretly contacted by Funaho, we talked, she understood what had happened
and
felt that you were still the best person for the job. So you're girl's Chaperone for the
night"
grinned McCann.
"What?" Gary Coughed dropping his shotgun, setting it off and shooting off the hat of a
nearby
gamekeeper.
"In your new life you're Captain Thatchman in B company, the 1st Battalion, of the Royal
Lifeguards" explained McCann "very strange I know but it sounds good, the ceremonial
uniform
is very impressive and you get a ceremonial sword that you can wear" he smiled "cool
huh?"
"If I'm a Captain who are you"
"Field Marshall" McCann said as though the rank meant nothing in the world.
"Lucky bastard!" laughed Gary "Thanks for the rank"
"No problem" nodded McCann "now this way, we can put you in a better light than what
he
sees as you at the moment"
Gary nodded as McCann started walking away to a waiting car.
"oh and don't worry about the bet you made a couple of nights ago, told ya should've
gone
with Washu's prediction"
"Cheers for the advice" grumbled Gary.
"Your Uniform will be delivered soon, you'll be given extra advice on how to handle
yourself
later on"
****
"Ryoko" nagged Tenchi "you haven't swept the yard yet!"
"Wait let me give it a try" yawned Ryoko as she laid on the couch she stretched her arm
in the
direction of where the broom was then did a mock-sigh "Damn" she smiled "can't reach"
"Oh Ryoko stop being so lazy and do some work for once" frowned Tenchi as he walked
away.
"Yeah but its such a beautiful day Tenchi" Ryoko said as she got up a wrapped herself
round
Tenchi before he could do anything "why don't you give up your chores for the day and
go
spend the day with me?"
"Ryoko you know I can't do that!" gasped Tenchi as he struggled in vain to get away
from her
vice like grip "you'll do anything to get out of work!"
"I do not" frowned Ryoko.
"Hey guys" Gary said as he walked past.
"Gary!" Ryoko said dumping Tenchi on the floor "I was looking for you, why don't we
play a
game over some Sake!"
"At 1 o'clock in the afternoon?" Gary asked suspiciously looking at Tenchi in a battered
heap
on the floor "are you trying to get out of your chores"
"Me?" Ryoko said innocently "no way!"
"Well I am kinda busy and…oh" Gary said as he saw a nice orange ball of energy in
Ryoko's
hand, hidden away from Tenchi as he was behind her.
"Hahahaha" Gary laughed very nervously "okay wait here and I'll teach you how to play
poker," sighed Gary as he shrugged at Tenchi.
"Thank you Gary" chimed Ryoko.
Tenchi just sighed and walked off to maintain the shrine.
*******
"Whahahaha!" laughed Washu evilly "its working its working!"
"Ow!" yelled Mihoshi "That hurts!" a loud POP was heard as the offending zit that was
artificially inserted onto Mihoshi's face blew up. All the disgusting liquid and loose bits
of skin
were sucked up instantly and then a cleansing hot liquid flooded in to seal and properly
cleans
the zit area.
"At last!" shouted Washu as she clapped her hands above her and thunder and lightning
machines appeared above her, sending out enough thunder and lightning to make any
mad
scientist shed a tear in pride.
"Washu that was very mean" cried Mihoshi as she watched from the operating table to
which
she was chained.
"Oh quit whining," said Washu "you've just been the witness of my latest invention. The
patented zit-be-gone!" Washu laughed like a maniac "see what wonders my invention has
done
to your face".
A mirror was put in front of Mihoshi's face. She looked for a second then opened her
mouth to
scream really, really, really loud.
"Gary, Ryoko" Sassami poked her head through the door "Did You hear something?"
"No" Ryoko said, eyes totally focused on her hand of cards "2 pair!" she smiled bring out
two
2s and two 9s.
"Three of a kind" Gary grinned as he produced three kings "and a pair of jacks"
"Dammit!" Ryoko cursed, "How do ya win at this game"
"A game!" Sassami's eyes lit up as she ran up to the table "I wanna play"
"Well we're not playing for money so I guess so huh Gary" Ryoko smiled.
"Yeah sure" Gary pushed a chair out for Sassami.
Ayeka had finished putting the washing up on the line, she put the wicker basket next to
the
shed and looked up at the clear blue sky (bar a cloud or so).
"He was going to get me a present" she smiled to herself "He means well at least" She
turned to
sit down in the grass and look out over the lake.
"Will father really accept him?" she thought as brushed one of her long pigtails back
behind her.
She got back up choosing not to answer that question and walked inside the house to
change
for her housework chores.
The sight she saw was ghastly to her. Two drunk people playing an adult card game with
Sassami!
"What is this!" she fumed.
"What its legal" said Gary as he whipped his head round in surprise?
"Yeah Sassami isn't drunk and the card game won't exactly turn her into some wild
criminal"
smiled Ryoko.
"What like you are?" spat Ayeka
"You take that back!" appeared Ryoko in front of Ayeka, the pair both fuming at each
other.
"Wow you two calm down its only a game of" SLAP! SLAP! "Ouch, ouch!" both of his
cheeks
were cherry red as Ryoko and Ayeka slapped him to shut him up as they returned to the
staring
contest. They stopped for a second and looked back at Gary, then at each other.
Gary was totally silent as he rubbed his face. He turned around and walked to Sassami.
"I think we better get Tenchi" Sassami said as Gary picked her up and ran outside
quickly.
"Gary come back I'm sorry!" shouted Ayeka. She turned back to Ryoko "its all your
fault!"
"My fault if you hadn't have slapped him first that wouldn't have happened!"
"Oh is that so monster woman?"
"Yeah it is so!"
As Gary and Sassami ran past, Washu's door opened and Mihoshi ran out.
"My face what have you done to my face!" she screamed.
"Oh Mihoshi its only a small rash, nobody will notice!" Washu shouted as she chased
her.
Speaking of Tenchi he was walking back after fixing a leak in the roof of the Shrine. He
looked
at house ahead of him, and then saw smoke blast out of the ground floor.
He sighed to himself saw Gary carrying Sassami on his back.
"What's happened now?" Tenchi said.
"Hif, Hif…Ayeka and Ryoko are Hif" gasped Gary.
"Ayeka and Ryoko are fighting and they both hit Gary when he tried to break them up"
"Oh boy" though Tenchi.
"Right you two, you both apologize to Gary. Sassami told me what happened and what
you two
did was uncalled for" said Tenchi as he glared at the girls.
"We're sorry Gary" said Ryoko and Ayeka guiltily
"Apology accepted" nodded Gary in respect.
"You two can be so difficult sometimes," sighed Tenchi as he walked away.
Both Ayeka and Ryoko's faces were black by the sudden battle that they had fought. Gary
nodded happily and said to Sassami.
"Fancy we do something with Ryo-ohki before you make a start on dinner?"
"Sure, Ryo-Ohki!" called out Sassami. Ryo-Ohki walked in as her child-like form.
"Common you little tyke lets go outside and play something"
They walked outside.
"Sassami you know the function that you and your sister are going to next week?"
"What?" gasped Sassami "but how did you?"
"Lets just say Gary got an invitation with his name on it" beamed Gary.
"Wow why are you going when you haven't got any ties or relations to Jurai?"
"As your Royal Protection Officer, I have to keep an eye on you two and that means
helping
Azaka and Kamadaki and also making that you're not grabbed by some 70 year old
suitor"
"Ah yes" said Sassami looking down.
"Did I bring up any bad memories?"
"I can see why you're our Royal Protection Officer now Gary" Sassami said quietly.
Gary nodded "when we're there you'll have to be on your best behavior, remember the
procedure, etiquette and attitude that you have taught as a Princess right"
Sassami nodded slowly "you promise to protect me Gary?"
"Yes Sassami" smiled Gary.
*******
"Washu what have you done to Mihoshi!" cried Tenchi as he saw the bright red rash on
Mihoshi's cheek.
"I told you that they'd notice!" whimpered Mihoshi.
"Tenchi!" Scorned Washu "That was the wrong thing to say"
"She must've been allergic to the facial wash you gave her," Ayeka said looking at the
rash a bit
more closely "It should wear off soon"
"My face" sobbed Mihoshi "my beautiful face".
"Washu what you did to Mihoshi was very, very mean!" glared Tenchi.
"Okay, okay!" said Washu "I'll figure something out to cure the rash!"
Ryoko phased in, she gasped as she saw the big red rash.
"Goddamn!" she laughed "What do you do to deserve that".
********
"God what's with the wailing in there" Gary said, eyebrow raised as he looked back into
house.
"I don't know" Sassami said looking over his shoulder.
"Sassami as I'm going with you, I've never been to one of these Receptions" he smiled
nervously he sat back down on the grass.
"Ceremony" Sassami corrected "It's a celebration of the Jurai empire and everyone in it.
That's
why the whole court will be there. First there is the main ceremony where my father will
meet
the heads of his armies, blah, blah and commend them for their work"
"This is where I come in?" Gary asked.
"Yep" smiled Sassami "Listen here and I'll explain everything"
Ayeka walked outside to see Sassami whispering quietly into Gary's ear. She smiled as
she saw
how well they got on. Sassami looked behind her and gasped.
"Oh erm err hi Ayeka" smiled Gary as he saw Sassami.
"What are you two doing now?" Ayeka asked Sassami in a highly suspicious yet
humorous
voice.
"Oh we're err, erm, uh" Sassami mumbled.
"We're kind of…kinda…well" said eyes looking up thinking of something.
Ayeka giggled "I'll just leave you two to think of something" she nodded and walked
back
inside.
"Gary" Sassami looked over "Gary?"
"Well we were erm," Gary said rubbing the back of his head.
"Gary!" Sassami laughed "she's gone now!"
"What?" Gary "Oh yeah" he said dumbly.
"Well anyway…" Sassami said whispering into his ear.
********
The night was young as Ayeka looked out of her window at the starry night above, she
looked
over at her Ceremonial Kimono, split into its several layers. When Gary saw one of her
Kimonos she was amused when he realized how much effort and time it took to put each
layer
on and make it look just right. "It'd so much effort it'd make my head hurt!" she
remembers him
saying.
"Ayeka" Sassami said poking her head around the door "Dinner's ready"
"Sassami" Ayeka asked as she looked out "What were you and Gary talking about
earlier?"
"None of your business" giggled Sassami childishly "just some game we were playing"
Ayeka turned and smiled "okay, you better behave yourself when we go away for the
week"
"I will" Sassami smiled sweetly "can we have dinner now?"
"Of course" Ayeka nodded "lets".
After dinner Gary went upstairs. Upon walking into his room he found a medium sized
cardboard box, a shoebox, a long, thin cardboard box and a dry-cleaning clothes holding
packet. The box was marked in black permanent pen: 'CEREMONY: KEEP
BREASTPLATE
SHINY!' and on the Clothes packet was written 'Mess Dress for the Reception, DO NOT
STAIN RED DINNER JACKET!"
"They never knock" he muttered to himself as he opened the Ceremony box. Inside was
the
uniform of the Royal Lifeguards, only used in such ceremonies such as the Trooping of
the
Color and when escorting the Queen of England when she went to open Parliament (not
that he
watched that kind of thing of course, bored him out of his skull). The perfectly shiny
black riding
boots with the spurs on. The handcrafted breastplate shone out whenever it caught the
light
along with the other brass that he would have to wear. Then came the helmet of shining
bronze.
"Bloody hell" he thought "I won't be able to stand up with all this metal on me!"
He carefully repacked the box and put the lid back on as he turned to see what was in the
dry-
cleaning bag. Opening up the bag he saw a Bright, scarlet dinner jacket with the insignia
badge
of the Lifeguards Sewn expertly onto the left side of the jacket, under which was a dinner
shirt
with black tie. Completing the dinner jacket setup were a pair of finely pressed black
trousers.
Smiling to himself as he zipped the bag back up, he laid down on his mattress and pulled
out his
Minidisk player.
**********
The big day was early for Gary as he got, got dressed after a prompt shower in a black
suit and
looked out of the window. He saw through the early morning fog and low cloud the
outline of
the Jurain ship to take them to Jurai. He would have to grab a quick breakfast and get on
board, meet Funaho and hide in his quarters before Ayeka and co got up. He looked at his
watch as he drank some water. 5:30AM. He sighed and picked up the stuff and staggered
through a portal to the pickup point, safely out of view from the house.
Walking out of the portal he walked into a clearing in the woods. Above him was the
ship,
must've been floating there for a long time. "You'd think this area be notorious for
UFO's" he
muttered to himself as he was transported onto the ship.
He appeared in a special room as servants came up and took his bags and boxes away. He
nodded his appreciation.
"So this is Captain Thatchman" came a clam, quiet female voice behind. He turned
around
slowly and bowed his head in respect, his arms by his side and his feet together as he saw
Funaho, in her autumn Kimono.
"Ma'aam" he said obediently "It is an honor"
"So what they say about the British is true" Funaho smiled "please I wish to talk to you
before
the other 'guests' arrive"
"Of course Ma'am"
They moved to a side room, and knelt down on opposite sides of a table.
"I understand that your superior, Commander McCann recommended you for this post of
RPO"
"That is true Ma'am" nodded Gary.
"And that you have sworn to protect the lives of the Princesses to within an inch of your
life?"
"Yes Ma'am"
"And that you and the 1st Princess Ayeka are in an relationship?"
"Yes Ma'am..huh!?!" blinked Gary for a second.
Funaho giggled "Commander McCann let on a bit more than he should've"
Gary laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.
"So to business" said Funaho seriously "Your position seems to be a precarious one
Watchman"
"Yes Ma'am I trust that my Commander has informed you of the previous events"
"Commander McCann did indeed" Funaho nodded "A full report was delivered to me and
to
me only, the king still does not know of what went on at Thanthos"
Gary breathed a sigh of relief "So what will I need to do in the ceremony and the
Reception
afterwards Ma'am?"
"Just keep calm and polite to everyone you see, you will be dressed differently from
everybody
else who will be attending so do not take the attention seriously" Funaho said lightly as
she was
talking to a friend on how to behave on a date.
"Any specific orders Ma'am" asked Gary "I am of course your humble servant"
Funaho smiled "You will be required to prevent any 'unsavory elements' from reaching
the
princesses. As much as the King dislikes this I feel this is necessary to protect them."
"I thank you for your advice Ma'am" smiled Gary as he bowed his head again "Ayeka
does not
know that I am here Ma'am?"
"No she does not"
"May I be allowed to ask a personal question Ma'am?"
"Go ahead" nodded Funaho.
"Why have you taken a special interest in my case Ma'am, any other person in my
position
would be in prison for assaulting and seriously injuring a subject. But I was saved"
wondered
Gary "Why am I so special?"
"Commander McCann is very protective of you because you are the only Watcher that he
has
personally got on with. That and you are the best out there, even if you only have 6 years
of
service left" Funaho explained with a tint of firmness in her voice "McCann can be very
persuasive when one of his best men is going to be struck off for treason"
Funaho stood so did Gary, bowing his head again in respect.
"The Princesses are about to arrive and as you are Civil servant on loan from her
Majesty's
government you must make yourself scarce" said Funaho.
"Of course Ma'am" nodded Gary "It has been an honor to meet you"
Gary bowed his head, turned perfectly and walked through a door directly behind him. A
couple of seconds later he re-entered must to Funaho's amusement.
"Erm, well that obviously confirms that Jurain ships do have side rooms to put their coats
in
Ma'am" bowed Gary.
*****
"Auntie Funaho!" gasped Sassami running over and hugging her tightly "I didn't know
you
would be here"
"Your mother couldn't be here so I came to pick you up, excited about seeing Jurai
again?"
"I am thank you" smiled Ayeka weakly.
"What is the matter Ayeka?" asked Funaho, confused "I thought you'd be thrilled about
visiting
home again"
"Its not that, I'm really looking forward to it I am really" Ayeka said "its something I'd
rather
not talk about"
"Sassami why don't you go and look at your quarters" Funaho smiled at Sassami.
"Sure, I'm so glad to see you Auntie" beamed Sassami as she skipped out to her room.
Funaho looked at Ayeka with a concerned smile "is it about Tenchi?"
Ayeka shook her head "its about my Royal Protection Officer, he didn't see me off"
"And that troubles you?"
"He wasn't in his room this morning, nobody knew where he went" Funaho knew what
was
coming "has father removed him?"
"Not that I know of" Funaho said with a smile.
"You mean he's not going to be tried?" said Ayeka with hope.
"No Ayeka he wont be tried"
Ayeka smiled through the tears and hugged Funaho softly "thank you" she whispered.
Gary sat on his bed and shined his riding boots, readying himself for the coming ordeal.
He tried
to practice how he would announce himself. It should come out as:
I am Captain Gary Thatchman of B Company, 1st battalion, the Royal Lifeguards. I
represent her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's government of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland on the Planet Earth and have the honor and duty to act as 1st
Princess Ayeka's and 2nd Princess Sassami's Royal Protection Officer.
However whenever Gary tried to do it without the help of the lines, it kind of trailed off
at the 'I
represent' bit. He never was good at this lark. Not surprising really seeing, as it was the
very
first time he's doing it in his life.
He wondered what Ayeka was thinking. Was she worried about him? Was she mad that
he
didn't see her off on the way to Jurai? Or did Sassami tell her and she was waiting to be
reunited with her love?
Gary shrugged and started to polish his breastplate.
"Gary!" Sassami whispered as she crept into Gary's quarters.
"They've fallen in the water!" Gary mumbled in a high voice in his sleep.
"Oh Gary wake up!" giggled Sassami.
"Wow Sassami what are you doing here?" blinked Gary "Does Lady Funaho know about
this?"
"No of course not silly" smiled Sassami as she sat on Gary, producing an off from him
"Have
you learnt what you need to do"
"Just enough" he smiled as he pointed to his Ceremonial Uniform, finely cleaned and
pressed
and laid out on the table in the room.
"Wow you're gonna wear that for the ceremony?" Sassami smiled as she ran over to it.
"Don't touch the brass, I used a whole bottle of Silvo polishing it up"
"It looks so weird" said Sassami, her eyes pouring over the items of clothing "Is that what
your
soldiers wear all the time?"
"No" laughed Gary "They used to, that was the standard uniform of the Royal Lifeguards,
a
cavalry regiment" he smiled "Nowadays instead of horses and those uniforms they wear
camouflage and drive Tanks"
"So they only wear them for ceremonies such as these?"
"Yep, most regiments dating back past the 19th centaury of Earth's history have their own
unique uniform" he got out of bed and put a shirt on.
"How far away from Jurai are we?"
"We're already here!" giggled Sassami as she pointed outside.
"Well" he said as he stared out of the window "long time no see" he said to himself.
"You excited?" Sassami asked looking up.
"Yes" said Gary blankly " very".
Sassami smiled and made her way out of the room "You better get ready otherwise we'll
be
late".
The ship had been in orbit for about an hour and a half, Ayeka though still wasn't ready.
"Ayeka dear!" Funaho called through the door "We have to leave for the surface in half
an
hour!"
"Nearly ready!" called back Ayeka, as she looked in the mirror at her ceremonial dress
"the
very definition of Beauty" she smiled to herself as she checked her hair for one final time.
She opened the door and made her way to the ready where Sassami and Funaho were
waiting.
Funaho and Sassami were also dressed up in the Ceremonial dress of the Family.
"Are we all ready?" asked Ayeka as she looked over herself again "We were waiting for
me
right?"
"Nope" smiled Funaho "One more person"
"What?" blinked Ayeka "Who?"
A side door opened. A sound tap signified the entrance of a man. Ayeka looked round to
see
Gary, fully dressed as a Royal Lifeguard. He wore a thick, scarlet riding jacket, over this
was
his polished silver breastplate shinier than the sun itself. Around this there was a leather
strap
holding a riding pouch with the royal crest over it on his back. He carried his shining
silver
helmet and attached to his side was the ceremonial sword, sheathed inside its regimental
holder.
He wore white gloves, the Dim-e of course just a different color.
"Gary?" Ayeka said, obviously surprised.
"Lady Ayeka" Gary began head bowed in respect "I, Captain Gary Thatchman has
accepted
the honor to accompany you as your Royal Protection Officer for the duration of this trip"
Ayeka smiled softly "You have honored yourself Captain" she nodded "Thank you"
Gary put his head up and grinned broadly "Now is this snazzy or is this snazzy".
Ayeka smiled deeply and Sassami let a quiet giggle slip.
"Captain!" laughed Funaho.
"Sorry Ma'am" smiled Gary.
"Captain, you will walk in between myself and the Princesses. The Royal Guardians
Azaka and
Kamadaki will follow behind the Princesses. Keep your sword sheathed and only use it to
salute the King. Silence is needed for the whole ceremony. Understood?"
"Fully understood Ma'am" nodded Gary.
"Right lets make our way down to the surface"
The Grand Hall in the palace was huge, inside was tens of thousands of people from all
over the
Jurain Empire, all the Royal court, all the different houses of Jurai were here in force.
Down the
center was an aisle and people on each side peered down it. Past the cordon of Jurai
Royal
bodyguard to see who was coming now King Azusa and Queen Misaki have taken their
places
and have met the many important people in all professions all that was left now was for
Lady
Funaho and the Princesses to arrive.
A loud boom as trumpets called out the arrival of the Princesses and everyone looked to
the
entrance.
Out first came Lady Funaho, everyone bowed in respect and admiration. Next though
brought
gasps rather than bows as a young male with gray eyes in a set of clothes totally alien to
what
anybody had seen before followed her, eyes forward, emotionless.
Then finally came the Princesses, followed by the Guardians. But all eyes in the hall were
on this
unknown walking between the two sets of well-known public figures. Azusa, the King
himself
blinked, as he looked past Lady Funaho and stared, simply stared at this figure, walking
in step
with Funaho and the Princesses. Queen Misaki just smiled sweetly at Lady Funaho and
Funaho
returned the favor.
Soon the party reached the steps to the throne and Lady Funaho, after hugging the King,
took
her place on the thrown on the other side the king, now flanked by both her wives.
Gary stepped back and stood aside with Azaka and Kamadaki as Ayeka and Sassami
stepped
up. The King stood and nodded silently as he accepted their bows. They took their places
next
to Queen Misaki.
King Azusa looked down at Gary and said in a booming voice "come forward".
Gary Nodded and stepped slowly forward, he bowed his head and dropped to one knee
once
in front of the King who was nearly twice as tall as Gary.
"Name yourself unknown soldier?" Azusa asked.
Gary took a deep breath and thought really hard.
"I am Captain Gary Thatchman of B Company, 1st Battalion, of the Royal Lifeguards. I
represent her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's government of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland on the Planet Earth and have the honor and duty to act as 1st
Royal Princess Ayeka's and 2nd Royal Princess Sassami's Royal Protection Officer."
Azusa looked over the mortal and said, "very well Officer, you may salute and stand
down".
Gary nodded, stood and in one fluid movement, unsheathed his sword. He held it,
pointing up,
holding it his side. Then swept it up and held it up in front of his face, saluting the King
in front of
him. He then sheathed it and stepped backwards, rejoining the Guardians.
"My mommy!" wailed Ayeka into Misaki's shoulder.
"My little Ayeka" cried Misaki "My little Sassami!"
"Mommy!" smiled Sassami as she joined the group hug.
Gary and Lady Funaho stood as they watched this thoroughly heart warming scene.
"As much as I'd hate to say it" blushed Gary "They are so cute when they do that Ma'am"
he
grinned to Funaho with closed eyes.
"Ahh this is my darling daughters RPO" said a really happy voice.
Gary opened his eyes and saw Misaki right in front of him.
"Erm, yes Ma'am I am that man" he nodded as he bowed his head. Most of the air in his
lungs
was forced out as Misaki hugged him as hard as possible.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you for helping protect my Daughters from harm"
"No problem Ma'am" gasped Gary as his innards were crushed "Ma'am what a strong
grip you
have for such a young age"
"Oh you're such a cute kidder," she laughed as she dropped him "What do you think
sister?"
Lady Funaho laughed, "I think he'll recover".
Soon after that, Lady Funaho and Queen Misaki left to attend to business. As soon as the
door
shut, Gary collapsed into a waiting chair.
"God that was difficult" he stopped for a second "the ceremony not your parents" he
laughed
nervously.
"Oh Gary, you've got a lot to learn" giggled Ayeka as she sat down next to him.
"Yeah you'll get used to it, we still have the Reception to do yet!" smiled Sassami as sat
in
between the pair.
"Well at least I won't have to wear something that weighs a ton!" he panted, as he took
off his
breastplate "didn't you see me sweating on the way to the throne?"
"I did but I don't think anyone else did" nodded Ayeka.
"Will you read to me later Gary" smiled Sassami.
"Yeah sure" nodded Gary as he ruffled her hair "now you go and get ready for the
Reception
tonight"
Sassami grinned and skipped off to her room, leaving Gary and Ayeka together.
"How do you think your father took it?" asked Gary taking a glove off and holding
Ayeka's
hand.
"Pretty well" nodded Ayeka "much better than I had thought"
"Well I'm your RPO for the Reception" he smiled.
"Yes so I noticed" smiled back Ayeka as they looked into each other's eyes "there'll be
suitors"
"And I've been instructed to act on you behalf to turn them down"
"Really?" she said.
"Uhuh" he put a hand on her cheek "You looked so cute when you hugged your Mother"
Ayeka blushed "its what we're used to"
They kissed slowly.
"I enjoy those moments," joked Gary as they finished their embrace.
"I'm glad you do" giggled Ayeka "is this your first time on planet Jurai?"
"Nope if you remember right back to when you were about 5 years old, you'll see a
servant
who cleaned your room everyday and sometimes even sung you to sleep if I disturbed
you"
Ayeka's eyes widened "That was you?"
"Sure was, withdrew to space once you went past your 8th birthday" he smiled
nostalgically
"You were so mature for your age!"
Ayeka blushed again as she stood up "I have get ready for the Reception" she smiled "See
you"
"Bye" he smiled as he got up and went to an opposite door to Ayeka.
He could remember it clearly now. He knocked on the door of the Princess's private
wing. A
small opened the door, child with shiny purple hair, neatly separated into sweeping
pigtails,
much like Sassami's.
"Good afternoon Servant" smiled the young Ayeka sweetly "Are you here to clean my
bedchamber?"
"Yes Ma'am" I nodded with grace "If that is okay with m'lady then I shall proceed"
Young Ayeka giggled, "You handle yourself very well for a servant" she stood aside
"you may
enter"
I bowed with respect and walked inside, this was to be my last day on Jurai for 712 years.
Ayeka sighed as she laid on her bed, she also thought back to that time when she saw
him. His
features much more different than what he looks like now but his voice was exactly the
same.
Was it this attraction that drew them both together?
I was sitting in my bedchamber playing and looking outside the window when a knock
came at
the great entrance doors to her wing of the palace. I walked gracefully from the door and
watched as he walked in front, he was in his servant clothes, perfectly clean and poise
was
exceptional.
"I haven't seen you before servant" I said as I sat on the bed "have you just joined?"
"No Ma'am" said the man, not looking as he cleared the room away carefully, checking
for
anything that was out of place "I have had the privilege of looking after you since you
were at a
very young age"
I blinked at this. This man had taken care of me since I was a baby yet I had no
recollection of
him being in any part of my life.
Gary pulled off one of his knee high riding boots then looked out at the sunset.
"That cannot be true" Young Ayeka said looking out of the window "I know every one of
my
servants"
"Ma'am I assure you I have been working here for 9 years" I smiled as I placed another
cloaked camera in the corner of the room, on a top shelf next to the clothes door. I moved
to
check over the rest of the Royal apartment.
"Then you must tell me your name Servant," demanded Ayeka with a smile "I know all
of my
personal servants by their first names".
I grinned to myself as I placed a microscopic voice monitoring device on the wall next to
the
wall mounted video-phone.
"Ma'am just call me Thatch"
"That is a strange name" Ayeka commented as she watched me "Are you off this planet?"
"I am Ma'am I come from the edge of the Empire" I nodded as I placed another cloaked
camera on the wall opposite the main door.
Ayeka opened her clothes door in her bedroom, just how she left it. She looked up and
smiled
as she saw her favorite stuffed toy on the top shelf.
"How much longer will you be?" I asked.
She felt the shape of a foreign object as she moved her hand around the top shelf. She
grabbed
whatever it was and pulled her arm down.
"I'll done so quickly you wouldn't even know I was here" he smiled as he finished dusting
the
rooms.
She opened her hands to see a miniature camera appear out of cloaking. She gasped and
dropped it hearing it thud onto the floor.
"Thank you for your work Servant" I nodded with a smile "I shall see that your work will
be
rewarded"
"Thank you Ma'am" the man bowed as he closed the door behind him.
Ayeka ran out into the entrance hall to the Princesses wing, she looked at the
Videophone,
updated but she felt the area next to it and felt something the size of a pin, she pulled it
out and
crushed it with tears welling in her eyes she turned to the wall and ran over hitting the
invisible
object off the wall as hard as she could.
There was another knock at the door soon after the servant had left; I opened it to see
Father
and another man, strangely dressed. I bowed to my Father and his guest in turn.
"Daughter" Father smiled "I wanted to use your rooms to speak with my guest here"
"Of course father" I smiled.
"Your brother Yosho is outside in the fields, why don't you go join him"
"Of course" I nodded and bowed again to the pair "please excuse me".
Gary walked out of the bathroom and dried himself.
I walked rapidly away knowing I had only a one and a half time frame to get out before
the
King and his 'friend' arrived to do business. I moved to dark side passage and activated a
stealth portal to my ship.
"Goodbye Princess" I smiled as I looked behind me and walked into the portal.
I was on my monitoring ship now.
"53, this is control"
"Go ahead HQ" I muttered as I put on my earpiece and sat down onto my monitoring
station.
"Were you successful in your bugging mission?"
"Affirmative HQ, subjects have arrived, patching you in now"
"Roger 53"
I tapped on my keyboard as I patched HQ a link to the footage of the King of Jurai
cutting a
power deal with the head of another Galaxy alliance. I switched my monitor to Ayeka
who was
now playing in the fields.
"I'm sorry Princess" I smiled sadly as I watched.
Gary was awakened from his standing dream by a knock on the door. He opened it to see
Ayeka at the door, holding something.
"Princess I'm not very decent ri-wow" Gary gasped as she barged inside and closed the
door
firmly. She walked to the window and closed the curtains.
"Ayeka what is the matter?" Gary asked, worried to say the least.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ayeka said as she thrust the broken camera into his face.
"Ah" he stuttered "Well"
She slapped him squarely in the face.
"How dare you use me in your spying games!" she said, barely containing her rage.
"Erm that was a bit unnecessary" he said rubbing his face "look at the camera"
"I haven't finished with you!" she said nearly exploding with tearful anger.
"Just listen and calm down please" he said quietly "look at the camera's display, press the
black
button on the top and will list the date which it was last used"
She looked at him, high suspicion in her eyes as she pressed the button and a date flashed
up on
a holographic projector above the camera. It was the date that he had arrived to clean the
room.
"We switched it off when your Father left" he said looking away "not once did we record
you
or your voice"
The anger drained away from Ayeka's face as she dropped the camera "Does Auntie
Funaho
know?"
Gary nodded "We handed over the tapes a hundred years ago".
Ayeka bit her lip "I'm sorry I thought you were taking advantage of me"
"Not you directly no, just your room for half an hour" he said as he turned away and
opened the
door "I think you better leave".
"Gary please" pleaded Ayeka.
"Ayeka I need to get ready for the reception and I think you do as well," he said still
rubbing his
face "please leave"
Ayeka walked out slowly, wiping a tear away from her face.
"So" Funaho said as she sat at her table drinking tea "you found the equipment?".
Ayeka nodded, her head facing the floor.
"And Gary told you of its real purpose?"
"Yes Auntie Funaho" said Ayeka quietly "I have upset him"
"No you didn't" Funaho said shaking her head "you just brought up painful memories"
"But he was angry I could feel it" Ayeka said a tear dropping onto the floor.
"No my dear Ayeka, he wasn't mad at you" Funaho said shaking her head "he was angry
at all
the years he wasted doing stuff that was mostly wrong".
Funaho stood and walked over to Ayeka who was openly weeping.
"I've scared him away because I could not trust him"
Funaho held Ayeka's head in her shoulder and looked down at her "He will forgive you
before
the night is out little Ayeka" she said solemnly "Get ready for the reception and visit him
before
it starts"
Ayeka looked up, she sniffed as she nodded. They both stepped back and bowed to each
other.
Gary was shining his shoes as he neared the time to appear with the Princesses at the
reception.
He clicked his neck he was so stressed. His Mess uniform for the reception had been
cleaned
by staff, some recognized him but couldn't quite place the name to the face.
There was a knock at the door, he placed his shoes on the floor, walked over and opened
the
door.
Standing there in all her majestic, royal splendor was the 1st Princess of Jurai, Ayeka.
***** Desc of Dress to follow here!!! *****
"Princess" smiled Gary; pleasantly surprised "you look marvelous"
"Thank you Captain" nodded Ayeka in reply "you look very handsome in your suit," she
said as
Gary offered her in.
"But the reception isn't for half an hour yet" Gary said closing the door "Why are you
here?"
"I'm here to" she stopped for a second "to apologize for how I acted" she said looking
straight
into his eyes "it was rash and the decision taken without thinking" she said taking his
hands into
her own "for that I am sorry" she finished her head looking down at the floor.
"I was at fault, you had every right to be angry, I should've told you weeks earlier" Gary
said
with a smile "I accept your apology"
Ayeka smiled and hugged Gary deeply
"Wow calm down Princess" smiled Gary "We don't want to crease our costumes for the
Receptions"
"Yes" Ayeka said letting go "you're right" she put out an arm "shall we?"
Gary beamed from eye to eye as he hooked his arm with hers and after he had put his
shoes
back on; they left his bedchamber for the main festival hall to greet the many people of
the
court.
Fin
***Ho Hum, yet another one done, I think I'm gonna start redoing parts 1-3 to check for
any silly
mistakes that I made and check overall readability. Anyway the last part of the series is
the
next one (part 6) and might even be last one to include Gary Thatch (unless I find some
excuse
to bring him back :). Thanx for reading and hope you liked the series in general***
selling it
so please do not sue me. Actually what you can do Pioneer and AIC is reopen sales of
Tenchi
in the UK (you know how much it costs to get the stuff from America!!!!!!!) PLEASE!!!!
***
No need for watching 5.
"I'm saying nothing," Tenchi said with a smirk.
Gary was sitting at the table head in his arms making whimpering sounds.
"I told you Manchester United would lose" Washu said in an 'I told you so' tone of voice.
"Dammit I bet next months pay on that match!" Gary wailed into his arms "That was
going to
pay for Ayeka's present"
"Oh was it now" Gary froze and turned around slowly and saw Ayeka, dressed up in her
Autumn Kimono, arms crossed and looking very angry "Oh hi Ayeka, I was saying.."
"About how you lost all of next month's pay yes I know what you were saying all right"
said
Ayeka quietly as she turned and walked out gracefully.
"She's going to kill me in private" murmured Gary, terror in his eyes.
"Yeah we know that already!" Ryoko mumbled to herself.
"You should've listened to me Gary" smiled Washu to herself.
Gary stood up "I'll have to address my fiscal problems later, I'm about 10 minutes late
with a
meeting with my friend"
"Ooo more sake!" sighed Ryoko happily "more famous Grouse Whiskey please!"
"Ryoko the only time you get my Sake is when you threaten me with death by
mutilation"
Frowned Gary as he walked upstairs to get changed.
Ayeka sat on one of the rolling hills overlooking the valley, she was crying before in
anger that
Gary had done such a stupid thing. After all that he did in the past week to impress her.
"Feeling down?" Ryoko said as she appeared behind her. Ayeka said nothing, past
prejudices
holding her back. Ryoko sighed and sat down.
"I'm not the enemy anymore Ayeka" Ryoko said softly wiping a tear away from Ayeka's
face.
"I know, my apologies for Saturday" Ayeka said, still looking over at the house and the
lake.
"Thanks" Ryoko smiled "Gary is very unhappy that he failed you Ayeka"
"I know but he can be so stupid and rash sometimes" Ayeka turned to face Ryoko "that
kind of
attitude in a man who I love is a new thing to me"
"I understand" Ryoko nodded "but you must give him time, like Tenchi, he will try his
hardest to
make up for his mistakes" she put a hands on Ayeka's shoulders "Believe me give him
time and
you two will be getting on like a house on fire!"
Ayeka laughed, "Your choice of words is exceptional".
Ryoko smiled back "why thank you princess"
The scene was a field; it was frozen over, a fine sheet of white frost covering the ground,
the
mud frozen solid. In the middle a party of people stood with dogs.
"Let batch 2 go Gamekeepers" McCann barked into his radio.
"Will do sir" came the reply and a moment later, Pheasants came flying out. The party
(about 5
in all) brought their shotguns to bear and fired off, knocking down 3 of the 10 Pheasants
that
flew by, and the dogs faithfully ran to get their dead prey.
"Gary good evening" grinned McCann as Gary approached "nice of you for gracing us
with
y'presence" McCann's Glaswegian accent shining through as he reloaded his shotgun.
"I knew you wouldn't mind me arriving late, had a domestic to deal with back home" said
Gary
as he checked his shotgun "miss anything?"
"Yep we've downed about 5 already" McCain said as he picked up his radio "let batch 3
go"
Another load of Pheasants flew into the air from the wood next to the field; everyone
raised
their guns and fired. 6 fell this time.
"Wow big catch" laughed Gary as they fell to the ground "What did you want to talk to
me
about?"
"You're fully in the clear now, the Emperor though still is suspicious of you"
"you mean?"
"I don't think he'll let it lie, no matter what Princess Ayeka or even Funaho and co say"
"So he's putting pressure on us?"
"Yep, he wants us to investigate you over what happened two weeks ago" McCann said
as he
fired again "naturally we're not listening".
"Why is he so hostile?"
"I'd think I would be pretty suspicious of a bloke who had a big fight with my daughter
then fell
in love with her" he smiled at him "Wouldn't you?"
"Yeah" mumbled Gary as he aimed a shot, downing another pheasant "good point".
"I'm just saying be careful that's all" McCann said wringing the neck of a half-dead
Pheasant
"We need you out there to keep the princesses under protection, Tenchi can't be with
everyone
all the time y'know"
"So what can we do?" asked Gary as he put his Pheasant in a plastic bag.
"Ayeka and Sassami have been told in private that they are to appear at Reception on
Planet
Jurai in two days time. The whole court is expected to be attendance including all major
members of the Royal family"
"Wow that's big" smiled Gary as he took aim again "isn't Tenchi going"
"No he can't the night on the same two day period which him and Yosho do their special
shrine
celebrations"
"So why are you telling me this?"
"We've been secretly contacted by Funaho, we talked, she understood what had happened
and
felt that you were still the best person for the job. So you're girl's Chaperone for the
night"
grinned McCann.
"What?" Gary Coughed dropping his shotgun, setting it off and shooting off the hat of a
nearby
gamekeeper.
"In your new life you're Captain Thatchman in B company, the 1st Battalion, of the Royal
Lifeguards" explained McCann "very strange I know but it sounds good, the ceremonial
uniform
is very impressive and you get a ceremonial sword that you can wear" he smiled "cool
huh?"
"If I'm a Captain who are you"
"Field Marshall" McCann said as though the rank meant nothing in the world.
"Lucky bastard!" laughed Gary "Thanks for the rank"
"No problem" nodded McCann "now this way, we can put you in a better light than what
he
sees as you at the moment"
Gary nodded as McCann started walking away to a waiting car.
"oh and don't worry about the bet you made a couple of nights ago, told ya should've
gone
with Washu's prediction"
"Cheers for the advice" grumbled Gary.
"Your Uniform will be delivered soon, you'll be given extra advice on how to handle
yourself
later on"
****
"Ryoko" nagged Tenchi "you haven't swept the yard yet!"
"Wait let me give it a try" yawned Ryoko as she laid on the couch she stretched her arm
in the
direction of where the broom was then did a mock-sigh "Damn" she smiled "can't reach"
"Oh Ryoko stop being so lazy and do some work for once" frowned Tenchi as he walked
away.
"Yeah but its such a beautiful day Tenchi" Ryoko said as she got up a wrapped herself
round
Tenchi before he could do anything "why don't you give up your chores for the day and
go
spend the day with me?"
"Ryoko you know I can't do that!" gasped Tenchi as he struggled in vain to get away
from her
vice like grip "you'll do anything to get out of work!"
"I do not" frowned Ryoko.
"Hey guys" Gary said as he walked past.
"Gary!" Ryoko said dumping Tenchi on the floor "I was looking for you, why don't we
play a
game over some Sake!"
"At 1 o'clock in the afternoon?" Gary asked suspiciously looking at Tenchi in a battered
heap
on the floor "are you trying to get out of your chores"
"Me?" Ryoko said innocently "no way!"
"Well I am kinda busy and…oh" Gary said as he saw a nice orange ball of energy in
Ryoko's
hand, hidden away from Tenchi as he was behind her.
"Hahahaha" Gary laughed very nervously "okay wait here and I'll teach you how to play
poker," sighed Gary as he shrugged at Tenchi.
"Thank you Gary" chimed Ryoko.
Tenchi just sighed and walked off to maintain the shrine.
*******
"Whahahaha!" laughed Washu evilly "its working its working!"
"Ow!" yelled Mihoshi "That hurts!" a loud POP was heard as the offending zit that was
artificially inserted onto Mihoshi's face blew up. All the disgusting liquid and loose bits
of skin
were sucked up instantly and then a cleansing hot liquid flooded in to seal and properly
cleans
the zit area.
"At last!" shouted Washu as she clapped her hands above her and thunder and lightning
machines appeared above her, sending out enough thunder and lightning to make any
mad
scientist shed a tear in pride.
"Washu that was very mean" cried Mihoshi as she watched from the operating table to
which
she was chained.
"Oh quit whining," said Washu "you've just been the witness of my latest invention. The
patented zit-be-gone!" Washu laughed like a maniac "see what wonders my invention has
done
to your face".
A mirror was put in front of Mihoshi's face. She looked for a second then opened her
mouth to
scream really, really, really loud.
"Gary, Ryoko" Sassami poked her head through the door "Did You hear something?"
"No" Ryoko said, eyes totally focused on her hand of cards "2 pair!" she smiled bring out
two
2s and two 9s.
"Three of a kind" Gary grinned as he produced three kings "and a pair of jacks"
"Dammit!" Ryoko cursed, "How do ya win at this game"
"A game!" Sassami's eyes lit up as she ran up to the table "I wanna play"
"Well we're not playing for money so I guess so huh Gary" Ryoko smiled.
"Yeah sure" Gary pushed a chair out for Sassami.
Ayeka had finished putting the washing up on the line, she put the wicker basket next to
the
shed and looked up at the clear blue sky (bar a cloud or so).
"He was going to get me a present" she smiled to herself "He means well at least" She
turned to
sit down in the grass and look out over the lake.
"Will father really accept him?" she thought as brushed one of her long pigtails back
behind her.
She got back up choosing not to answer that question and walked inside the house to
change
for her housework chores.
The sight she saw was ghastly to her. Two drunk people playing an adult card game with
Sassami!
"What is this!" she fumed.
"What its legal" said Gary as he whipped his head round in surprise?
"Yeah Sassami isn't drunk and the card game won't exactly turn her into some wild
criminal"
smiled Ryoko.
"What like you are?" spat Ayeka
"You take that back!" appeared Ryoko in front of Ayeka, the pair both fuming at each
other.
"Wow you two calm down its only a game of" SLAP! SLAP! "Ouch, ouch!" both of his
cheeks
were cherry red as Ryoko and Ayeka slapped him to shut him up as they returned to the
staring
contest. They stopped for a second and looked back at Gary, then at each other.
Gary was totally silent as he rubbed his face. He turned around and walked to Sassami.
"I think we better get Tenchi" Sassami said as Gary picked her up and ran outside
quickly.
"Gary come back I'm sorry!" shouted Ayeka. She turned back to Ryoko "its all your
fault!"
"My fault if you hadn't have slapped him first that wouldn't have happened!"
"Oh is that so monster woman?"
"Yeah it is so!"
As Gary and Sassami ran past, Washu's door opened and Mihoshi ran out.
"My face what have you done to my face!" she screamed.
"Oh Mihoshi its only a small rash, nobody will notice!" Washu shouted as she chased
her.
Speaking of Tenchi he was walking back after fixing a leak in the roof of the Shrine. He
looked
at house ahead of him, and then saw smoke blast out of the ground floor.
He sighed to himself saw Gary carrying Sassami on his back.
"What's happened now?" Tenchi said.
"Hif, Hif…Ayeka and Ryoko are Hif" gasped Gary.
"Ayeka and Ryoko are fighting and they both hit Gary when he tried to break them up"
"Oh boy" though Tenchi.
"Right you two, you both apologize to Gary. Sassami told me what happened and what
you two
did was uncalled for" said Tenchi as he glared at the girls.
"We're sorry Gary" said Ryoko and Ayeka guiltily
"Apology accepted" nodded Gary in respect.
"You two can be so difficult sometimes," sighed Tenchi as he walked away.
Both Ayeka and Ryoko's faces were black by the sudden battle that they had fought. Gary
nodded happily and said to Sassami.
"Fancy we do something with Ryo-ohki before you make a start on dinner?"
"Sure, Ryo-Ohki!" called out Sassami. Ryo-Ohki walked in as her child-like form.
"Common you little tyke lets go outside and play something"
They walked outside.
"Sassami you know the function that you and your sister are going to next week?"
"What?" gasped Sassami "but how did you?"
"Lets just say Gary got an invitation with his name on it" beamed Gary.
"Wow why are you going when you haven't got any ties or relations to Jurai?"
"As your Royal Protection Officer, I have to keep an eye on you two and that means
helping
Azaka and Kamadaki and also making that you're not grabbed by some 70 year old
suitor"
"Ah yes" said Sassami looking down.
"Did I bring up any bad memories?"
"I can see why you're our Royal Protection Officer now Gary" Sassami said quietly.
Gary nodded "when we're there you'll have to be on your best behavior, remember the
procedure, etiquette and attitude that you have taught as a Princess right"
Sassami nodded slowly "you promise to protect me Gary?"
"Yes Sassami" smiled Gary.
*******
"Washu what have you done to Mihoshi!" cried Tenchi as he saw the bright red rash on
Mihoshi's cheek.
"I told you that they'd notice!" whimpered Mihoshi.
"Tenchi!" Scorned Washu "That was the wrong thing to say"
"She must've been allergic to the facial wash you gave her," Ayeka said looking at the
rash a bit
more closely "It should wear off soon"
"My face" sobbed Mihoshi "my beautiful face".
"Washu what you did to Mihoshi was very, very mean!" glared Tenchi.
"Okay, okay!" said Washu "I'll figure something out to cure the rash!"
Ryoko phased in, she gasped as she saw the big red rash.
"Goddamn!" she laughed "What do you do to deserve that".
********
"God what's with the wailing in there" Gary said, eyebrow raised as he looked back into
house.
"I don't know" Sassami said looking over his shoulder.
"Sassami as I'm going with you, I've never been to one of these Receptions" he smiled
nervously he sat back down on the grass.
"Ceremony" Sassami corrected "It's a celebration of the Jurai empire and everyone in it.
That's
why the whole court will be there. First there is the main ceremony where my father will
meet
the heads of his armies, blah, blah and commend them for their work"
"This is where I come in?" Gary asked.
"Yep" smiled Sassami "Listen here and I'll explain everything"
Ayeka walked outside to see Sassami whispering quietly into Gary's ear. She smiled as
she saw
how well they got on. Sassami looked behind her and gasped.
"Oh erm err hi Ayeka" smiled Gary as he saw Sassami.
"What are you two doing now?" Ayeka asked Sassami in a highly suspicious yet
humorous
voice.
"Oh we're err, erm, uh" Sassami mumbled.
"We're kind of…kinda…well" said eyes looking up thinking of something.
Ayeka giggled "I'll just leave you two to think of something" she nodded and walked
back
inside.
"Gary" Sassami looked over "Gary?"
"Well we were erm," Gary said rubbing the back of his head.
"Gary!" Sassami laughed "she's gone now!"
"What?" Gary "Oh yeah" he said dumbly.
"Well anyway…" Sassami said whispering into his ear.
********
The night was young as Ayeka looked out of her window at the starry night above, she
looked
over at her Ceremonial Kimono, split into its several layers. When Gary saw one of her
Kimonos she was amused when he realized how much effort and time it took to put each
layer
on and make it look just right. "It'd so much effort it'd make my head hurt!" she
remembers him
saying.
"Ayeka" Sassami said poking her head around the door "Dinner's ready"
"Sassami" Ayeka asked as she looked out "What were you and Gary talking about
earlier?"
"None of your business" giggled Sassami childishly "just some game we were playing"
Ayeka turned and smiled "okay, you better behave yourself when we go away for the
week"
"I will" Sassami smiled sweetly "can we have dinner now?"
"Of course" Ayeka nodded "lets".
After dinner Gary went upstairs. Upon walking into his room he found a medium sized
cardboard box, a shoebox, a long, thin cardboard box and a dry-cleaning clothes holding
packet. The box was marked in black permanent pen: 'CEREMONY: KEEP
BREASTPLATE
SHINY!' and on the Clothes packet was written 'Mess Dress for the Reception, DO NOT
STAIN RED DINNER JACKET!"
"They never knock" he muttered to himself as he opened the Ceremony box. Inside was
the
uniform of the Royal Lifeguards, only used in such ceremonies such as the Trooping of
the
Color and when escorting the Queen of England when she went to open Parliament (not
that he
watched that kind of thing of course, bored him out of his skull). The perfectly shiny
black riding
boots with the spurs on. The handcrafted breastplate shone out whenever it caught the
light
along with the other brass that he would have to wear. Then came the helmet of shining
bronze.
"Bloody hell" he thought "I won't be able to stand up with all this metal on me!"
He carefully repacked the box and put the lid back on as he turned to see what was in the
dry-
cleaning bag. Opening up the bag he saw a Bright, scarlet dinner jacket with the insignia
badge
of the Lifeguards Sewn expertly onto the left side of the jacket, under which was a dinner
shirt
with black tie. Completing the dinner jacket setup were a pair of finely pressed black
trousers.
Smiling to himself as he zipped the bag back up, he laid down on his mattress and pulled
out his
Minidisk player.
**********
The big day was early for Gary as he got, got dressed after a prompt shower in a black
suit and
looked out of the window. He saw through the early morning fog and low cloud the
outline of
the Jurain ship to take them to Jurai. He would have to grab a quick breakfast and get on
board, meet Funaho and hide in his quarters before Ayeka and co got up. He looked at his
watch as he drank some water. 5:30AM. He sighed and picked up the stuff and staggered
through a portal to the pickup point, safely out of view from the house.
Walking out of the portal he walked into a clearing in the woods. Above him was the
ship,
must've been floating there for a long time. "You'd think this area be notorious for
UFO's" he
muttered to himself as he was transported onto the ship.
He appeared in a special room as servants came up and took his bags and boxes away. He
nodded his appreciation.
"So this is Captain Thatchman" came a clam, quiet female voice behind. He turned
around
slowly and bowed his head in respect, his arms by his side and his feet together as he saw
Funaho, in her autumn Kimono.
"Ma'aam" he said obediently "It is an honor"
"So what they say about the British is true" Funaho smiled "please I wish to talk to you
before
the other 'guests' arrive"
"Of course Ma'am"
They moved to a side room, and knelt down on opposite sides of a table.
"I understand that your superior, Commander McCann recommended you for this post of
RPO"
"That is true Ma'am" nodded Gary.
"And that you have sworn to protect the lives of the Princesses to within an inch of your
life?"
"Yes Ma'am"
"And that you and the 1st Princess Ayeka are in an relationship?"
"Yes Ma'am..huh!?!" blinked Gary for a second.
Funaho giggled "Commander McCann let on a bit more than he should've"
Gary laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.
"So to business" said Funaho seriously "Your position seems to be a precarious one
Watchman"
"Yes Ma'am I trust that my Commander has informed you of the previous events"
"Commander McCann did indeed" Funaho nodded "A full report was delivered to me and
to
me only, the king still does not know of what went on at Thanthos"
Gary breathed a sigh of relief "So what will I need to do in the ceremony and the
Reception
afterwards Ma'am?"
"Just keep calm and polite to everyone you see, you will be dressed differently from
everybody
else who will be attending so do not take the attention seriously" Funaho said lightly as
she was
talking to a friend on how to behave on a date.
"Any specific orders Ma'am" asked Gary "I am of course your humble servant"
Funaho smiled "You will be required to prevent any 'unsavory elements' from reaching
the
princesses. As much as the King dislikes this I feel this is necessary to protect them."
"I thank you for your advice Ma'am" smiled Gary as he bowed his head again "Ayeka
does not
know that I am here Ma'am?"
"No she does not"
"May I be allowed to ask a personal question Ma'am?"
"Go ahead" nodded Funaho.
"Why have you taken a special interest in my case Ma'am, any other person in my
position
would be in prison for assaulting and seriously injuring a subject. But I was saved"
wondered
Gary "Why am I so special?"
"Commander McCann is very protective of you because you are the only Watcher that he
has
personally got on with. That and you are the best out there, even if you only have 6 years
of
service left" Funaho explained with a tint of firmness in her voice "McCann can be very
persuasive when one of his best men is going to be struck off for treason"
Funaho stood so did Gary, bowing his head again in respect.
"The Princesses are about to arrive and as you are Civil servant on loan from her
Majesty's
government you must make yourself scarce" said Funaho.
"Of course Ma'am" nodded Gary "It has been an honor to meet you"
Gary bowed his head, turned perfectly and walked through a door directly behind him. A
couple of seconds later he re-entered must to Funaho's amusement.
"Erm, well that obviously confirms that Jurain ships do have side rooms to put their coats
in
Ma'am" bowed Gary.
*****
"Auntie Funaho!" gasped Sassami running over and hugging her tightly "I didn't know
you
would be here"
"Your mother couldn't be here so I came to pick you up, excited about seeing Jurai
again?"
"I am thank you" smiled Ayeka weakly.
"What is the matter Ayeka?" asked Funaho, confused "I thought you'd be thrilled about
visiting
home again"
"Its not that, I'm really looking forward to it I am really" Ayeka said "its something I'd
rather
not talk about"
"Sassami why don't you go and look at your quarters" Funaho smiled at Sassami.
"Sure, I'm so glad to see you Auntie" beamed Sassami as she skipped out to her room.
Funaho looked at Ayeka with a concerned smile "is it about Tenchi?"
Ayeka shook her head "its about my Royal Protection Officer, he didn't see me off"
"And that troubles you?"
"He wasn't in his room this morning, nobody knew where he went" Funaho knew what
was
coming "has father removed him?"
"Not that I know of" Funaho said with a smile.
"You mean he's not going to be tried?" said Ayeka with hope.
"No Ayeka he wont be tried"
Ayeka smiled through the tears and hugged Funaho softly "thank you" she whispered.
Gary sat on his bed and shined his riding boots, readying himself for the coming ordeal.
He tried
to practice how he would announce himself. It should come out as:
I am Captain Gary Thatchman of B Company, 1st battalion, the Royal Lifeguards. I
represent her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's government of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland on the Planet Earth and have the honor and duty to act as 1st
Princess Ayeka's and 2nd Princess Sassami's Royal Protection Officer.
However whenever Gary tried to do it without the help of the lines, it kind of trailed off
at the 'I
represent' bit. He never was good at this lark. Not surprising really seeing, as it was the
very
first time he's doing it in his life.
He wondered what Ayeka was thinking. Was she worried about him? Was she mad that
he
didn't see her off on the way to Jurai? Or did Sassami tell her and she was waiting to be
reunited with her love?
Gary shrugged and started to polish his breastplate.
"Gary!" Sassami whispered as she crept into Gary's quarters.
"They've fallen in the water!" Gary mumbled in a high voice in his sleep.
"Oh Gary wake up!" giggled Sassami.
"Wow Sassami what are you doing here?" blinked Gary "Does Lady Funaho know about
this?"
"No of course not silly" smiled Sassami as she sat on Gary, producing an off from him
"Have
you learnt what you need to do"
"Just enough" he smiled as he pointed to his Ceremonial Uniform, finely cleaned and
pressed
and laid out on the table in the room.
"Wow you're gonna wear that for the ceremony?" Sassami smiled as she ran over to it.
"Don't touch the brass, I used a whole bottle of Silvo polishing it up"
"It looks so weird" said Sassami, her eyes pouring over the items of clothing "Is that what
your
soldiers wear all the time?"
"No" laughed Gary "They used to, that was the standard uniform of the Royal Lifeguards,
a
cavalry regiment" he smiled "Nowadays instead of horses and those uniforms they wear
camouflage and drive Tanks"
"So they only wear them for ceremonies such as these?"
"Yep, most regiments dating back past the 19th centaury of Earth's history have their own
unique uniform" he got out of bed and put a shirt on.
"How far away from Jurai are we?"
"We're already here!" giggled Sassami as she pointed outside.
"Well" he said as he stared out of the window "long time no see" he said to himself.
"You excited?" Sassami asked looking up.
"Yes" said Gary blankly " very".
Sassami smiled and made her way out of the room "You better get ready otherwise we'll
be
late".
The ship had been in orbit for about an hour and a half, Ayeka though still wasn't ready.
"Ayeka dear!" Funaho called through the door "We have to leave for the surface in half
an
hour!"
"Nearly ready!" called back Ayeka, as she looked in the mirror at her ceremonial dress
"the
very definition of Beauty" she smiled to herself as she checked her hair for one final time.
She opened the door and made her way to the ready where Sassami and Funaho were
waiting.
Funaho and Sassami were also dressed up in the Ceremonial dress of the Family.
"Are we all ready?" asked Ayeka as she looked over herself again "We were waiting for
me
right?"
"Nope" smiled Funaho "One more person"
"What?" blinked Ayeka "Who?"
A side door opened. A sound tap signified the entrance of a man. Ayeka looked round to
see
Gary, fully dressed as a Royal Lifeguard. He wore a thick, scarlet riding jacket, over this
was
his polished silver breastplate shinier than the sun itself. Around this there was a leather
strap
holding a riding pouch with the royal crest over it on his back. He carried his shining
silver
helmet and attached to his side was the ceremonial sword, sheathed inside its regimental
holder.
He wore white gloves, the Dim-e of course just a different color.
"Gary?" Ayeka said, obviously surprised.
"Lady Ayeka" Gary began head bowed in respect "I, Captain Gary Thatchman has
accepted
the honor to accompany you as your Royal Protection Officer for the duration of this trip"
Ayeka smiled softly "You have honored yourself Captain" she nodded "Thank you"
Gary put his head up and grinned broadly "Now is this snazzy or is this snazzy".
Ayeka smiled deeply and Sassami let a quiet giggle slip.
"Captain!" laughed Funaho.
"Sorry Ma'am" smiled Gary.
"Captain, you will walk in between myself and the Princesses. The Royal Guardians
Azaka and
Kamadaki will follow behind the Princesses. Keep your sword sheathed and only use it to
salute the King. Silence is needed for the whole ceremony. Understood?"
"Fully understood Ma'am" nodded Gary.
"Right lets make our way down to the surface"
The Grand Hall in the palace was huge, inside was tens of thousands of people from all
over the
Jurain Empire, all the Royal court, all the different houses of Jurai were here in force.
Down the
center was an aisle and people on each side peered down it. Past the cordon of Jurai
Royal
bodyguard to see who was coming now King Azusa and Queen Misaki have taken their
places
and have met the many important people in all professions all that was left now was for
Lady
Funaho and the Princesses to arrive.
A loud boom as trumpets called out the arrival of the Princesses and everyone looked to
the
entrance.
Out first came Lady Funaho, everyone bowed in respect and admiration. Next though
brought
gasps rather than bows as a young male with gray eyes in a set of clothes totally alien to
what
anybody had seen before followed her, eyes forward, emotionless.
Then finally came the Princesses, followed by the Guardians. But all eyes in the hall were
on this
unknown walking between the two sets of well-known public figures. Azusa, the King
himself
blinked, as he looked past Lady Funaho and stared, simply stared at this figure, walking
in step
with Funaho and the Princesses. Queen Misaki just smiled sweetly at Lady Funaho and
Funaho
returned the favor.
Soon the party reached the steps to the throne and Lady Funaho, after hugging the King,
took
her place on the thrown on the other side the king, now flanked by both her wives.
Gary stepped back and stood aside with Azaka and Kamadaki as Ayeka and Sassami
stepped
up. The King stood and nodded silently as he accepted their bows. They took their places
next
to Queen Misaki.
King Azusa looked down at Gary and said in a booming voice "come forward".
Gary Nodded and stepped slowly forward, he bowed his head and dropped to one knee
once
in front of the King who was nearly twice as tall as Gary.
"Name yourself unknown soldier?" Azusa asked.
Gary took a deep breath and thought really hard.
"I am Captain Gary Thatchman of B Company, 1st Battalion, of the Royal Lifeguards. I
represent her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's government of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland on the Planet Earth and have the honor and duty to act as 1st
Royal Princess Ayeka's and 2nd Royal Princess Sassami's Royal Protection Officer."
Azusa looked over the mortal and said, "very well Officer, you may salute and stand
down".
Gary nodded, stood and in one fluid movement, unsheathed his sword. He held it,
pointing up,
holding it his side. Then swept it up and held it up in front of his face, saluting the King
in front of
him. He then sheathed it and stepped backwards, rejoining the Guardians.
"My mommy!" wailed Ayeka into Misaki's shoulder.
"My little Ayeka" cried Misaki "My little Sassami!"
"Mommy!" smiled Sassami as she joined the group hug.
Gary and Lady Funaho stood as they watched this thoroughly heart warming scene.
"As much as I'd hate to say it" blushed Gary "They are so cute when they do that Ma'am"
he
grinned to Funaho with closed eyes.
"Ahh this is my darling daughters RPO" said a really happy voice.
Gary opened his eyes and saw Misaki right in front of him.
"Erm, yes Ma'am I am that man" he nodded as he bowed his head. Most of the air in his
lungs
was forced out as Misaki hugged him as hard as possible.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you for helping protect my Daughters from harm"
"No problem Ma'am" gasped Gary as his innards were crushed "Ma'am what a strong
grip you
have for such a young age"
"Oh you're such a cute kidder," she laughed as she dropped him "What do you think
sister?"
Lady Funaho laughed, "I think he'll recover".
Soon after that, Lady Funaho and Queen Misaki left to attend to business. As soon as the
door
shut, Gary collapsed into a waiting chair.
"God that was difficult" he stopped for a second "the ceremony not your parents" he
laughed
nervously.
"Oh Gary, you've got a lot to learn" giggled Ayeka as she sat down next to him.
"Yeah you'll get used to it, we still have the Reception to do yet!" smiled Sassami as sat
in
between the pair.
"Well at least I won't have to wear something that weighs a ton!" he panted, as he took
off his
breastplate "didn't you see me sweating on the way to the throne?"
"I did but I don't think anyone else did" nodded Ayeka.
"Will you read to me later Gary" smiled Sassami.
"Yeah sure" nodded Gary as he ruffled her hair "now you go and get ready for the
Reception
tonight"
Sassami grinned and skipped off to her room, leaving Gary and Ayeka together.
"How do you think your father took it?" asked Gary taking a glove off and holding
Ayeka's
hand.
"Pretty well" nodded Ayeka "much better than I had thought"
"Well I'm your RPO for the Reception" he smiled.
"Yes so I noticed" smiled back Ayeka as they looked into each other's eyes "there'll be
suitors"
"And I've been instructed to act on you behalf to turn them down"
"Really?" she said.
"Uhuh" he put a hand on her cheek "You looked so cute when you hugged your Mother"
Ayeka blushed "its what we're used to"
They kissed slowly.
"I enjoy those moments," joked Gary as they finished their embrace.
"I'm glad you do" giggled Ayeka "is this your first time on planet Jurai?"
"Nope if you remember right back to when you were about 5 years old, you'll see a
servant
who cleaned your room everyday and sometimes even sung you to sleep if I disturbed
you"
Ayeka's eyes widened "That was you?"
"Sure was, withdrew to space once you went past your 8th birthday" he smiled
nostalgically
"You were so mature for your age!"
Ayeka blushed again as she stood up "I have get ready for the Reception" she smiled "See
you"
"Bye" he smiled as he got up and went to an opposite door to Ayeka.
He could remember it clearly now. He knocked on the door of the Princess's private
wing. A
small opened the door, child with shiny purple hair, neatly separated into sweeping
pigtails,
much like Sassami's.
"Good afternoon Servant" smiled the young Ayeka sweetly "Are you here to clean my
bedchamber?"
"Yes Ma'am" I nodded with grace "If that is okay with m'lady then I shall proceed"
Young Ayeka giggled, "You handle yourself very well for a servant" she stood aside
"you may
enter"
I bowed with respect and walked inside, this was to be my last day on Jurai for 712 years.
Ayeka sighed as she laid on her bed, she also thought back to that time when she saw
him. His
features much more different than what he looks like now but his voice was exactly the
same.
Was it this attraction that drew them both together?
I was sitting in my bedchamber playing and looking outside the window when a knock
came at
the great entrance doors to her wing of the palace. I walked gracefully from the door and
watched as he walked in front, he was in his servant clothes, perfectly clean and poise
was
exceptional.
"I haven't seen you before servant" I said as I sat on the bed "have you just joined?"
"No Ma'am" said the man, not looking as he cleared the room away carefully, checking
for
anything that was out of place "I have had the privilege of looking after you since you
were at a
very young age"
I blinked at this. This man had taken care of me since I was a baby yet I had no
recollection of
him being in any part of my life.
Gary pulled off one of his knee high riding boots then looked out at the sunset.
"That cannot be true" Young Ayeka said looking out of the window "I know every one of
my
servants"
"Ma'am I assure you I have been working here for 9 years" I smiled as I placed another
cloaked camera in the corner of the room, on a top shelf next to the clothes door. I moved
to
check over the rest of the Royal apartment.
"Then you must tell me your name Servant," demanded Ayeka with a smile "I know all
of my
personal servants by their first names".
I grinned to myself as I placed a microscopic voice monitoring device on the wall next to
the
wall mounted video-phone.
"Ma'am just call me Thatch"
"That is a strange name" Ayeka commented as she watched me "Are you off this planet?"
"I am Ma'am I come from the edge of the Empire" I nodded as I placed another cloaked
camera on the wall opposite the main door.
Ayeka opened her clothes door in her bedroom, just how she left it. She looked up and
smiled
as she saw her favorite stuffed toy on the top shelf.
"How much longer will you be?" I asked.
She felt the shape of a foreign object as she moved her hand around the top shelf. She
grabbed
whatever it was and pulled her arm down.
"I'll done so quickly you wouldn't even know I was here" he smiled as he finished dusting
the
rooms.
She opened her hands to see a miniature camera appear out of cloaking. She gasped and
dropped it hearing it thud onto the floor.
"Thank you for your work Servant" I nodded with a smile "I shall see that your work will
be
rewarded"
"Thank you Ma'am" the man bowed as he closed the door behind him.
Ayeka ran out into the entrance hall to the Princesses wing, she looked at the
Videophone,
updated but she felt the area next to it and felt something the size of a pin, she pulled it
out and
crushed it with tears welling in her eyes she turned to the wall and ran over hitting the
invisible
object off the wall as hard as she could.
There was another knock at the door soon after the servant had left; I opened it to see
Father
and another man, strangely dressed. I bowed to my Father and his guest in turn.
"Daughter" Father smiled "I wanted to use your rooms to speak with my guest here"
"Of course father" I smiled.
"Your brother Yosho is outside in the fields, why don't you go join him"
"Of course" I nodded and bowed again to the pair "please excuse me".
Gary walked out of the bathroom and dried himself.
I walked rapidly away knowing I had only a one and a half time frame to get out before
the
King and his 'friend' arrived to do business. I moved to dark side passage and activated a
stealth portal to my ship.
"Goodbye Princess" I smiled as I looked behind me and walked into the portal.
I was on my monitoring ship now.
"53, this is control"
"Go ahead HQ" I muttered as I put on my earpiece and sat down onto my monitoring
station.
"Were you successful in your bugging mission?"
"Affirmative HQ, subjects have arrived, patching you in now"
"Roger 53"
I tapped on my keyboard as I patched HQ a link to the footage of the King of Jurai
cutting a
power deal with the head of another Galaxy alliance. I switched my monitor to Ayeka
who was
now playing in the fields.
"I'm sorry Princess" I smiled sadly as I watched.
Gary was awakened from his standing dream by a knock on the door. He opened it to see
Ayeka at the door, holding something.
"Princess I'm not very decent ri-wow" Gary gasped as she barged inside and closed the
door
firmly. She walked to the window and closed the curtains.
"Ayeka what is the matter?" Gary asked, worried to say the least.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ayeka said as she thrust the broken camera into his face.
"Ah" he stuttered "Well"
She slapped him squarely in the face.
"How dare you use me in your spying games!" she said, barely containing her rage.
"Erm that was a bit unnecessary" he said rubbing his face "look at the camera"
"I haven't finished with you!" she said nearly exploding with tearful anger.
"Just listen and calm down please" he said quietly "look at the camera's display, press the
black
button on the top and will list the date which it was last used"
She looked at him, high suspicion in her eyes as she pressed the button and a date flashed
up on
a holographic projector above the camera. It was the date that he had arrived to clean the
room.
"We switched it off when your Father left" he said looking away "not once did we record
you
or your voice"
The anger drained away from Ayeka's face as she dropped the camera "Does Auntie
Funaho
know?"
Gary nodded "We handed over the tapes a hundred years ago".
Ayeka bit her lip "I'm sorry I thought you were taking advantage of me"
"Not you directly no, just your room for half an hour" he said as he turned away and
opened the
door "I think you better leave".
"Gary please" pleaded Ayeka.
"Ayeka I need to get ready for the reception and I think you do as well," he said still
rubbing his
face "please leave"
Ayeka walked out slowly, wiping a tear away from her face.
"So" Funaho said as she sat at her table drinking tea "you found the equipment?".
Ayeka nodded, her head facing the floor.
"And Gary told you of its real purpose?"
"Yes Auntie Funaho" said Ayeka quietly "I have upset him"
"No you didn't" Funaho said shaking her head "you just brought up painful memories"
"But he was angry I could feel it" Ayeka said a tear dropping onto the floor.
"No my dear Ayeka, he wasn't mad at you" Funaho said shaking her head "he was angry
at all
the years he wasted doing stuff that was mostly wrong".
Funaho stood and walked over to Ayeka who was openly weeping.
"I've scared him away because I could not trust him"
Funaho held Ayeka's head in her shoulder and looked down at her "He will forgive you
before
the night is out little Ayeka" she said solemnly "Get ready for the reception and visit him
before
it starts"
Ayeka looked up, she sniffed as she nodded. They both stepped back and bowed to each
other.
Gary was shining his shoes as he neared the time to appear with the Princesses at the
reception.
He clicked his neck he was so stressed. His Mess uniform for the reception had been
cleaned
by staff, some recognized him but couldn't quite place the name to the face.
There was a knock at the door, he placed his shoes on the floor, walked over and opened
the
door.
Standing there in all her majestic, royal splendor was the 1st Princess of Jurai, Ayeka.
***** Desc of Dress to follow here!!! *****
"Princess" smiled Gary; pleasantly surprised "you look marvelous"
"Thank you Captain" nodded Ayeka in reply "you look very handsome in your suit," she
said as
Gary offered her in.
"But the reception isn't for half an hour yet" Gary said closing the door "Why are you
here?"
"I'm here to" she stopped for a second "to apologize for how I acted" she said looking
straight
into his eyes "it was rash and the decision taken without thinking" she said taking his
hands into
her own "for that I am sorry" she finished her head looking down at the floor.
"I was at fault, you had every right to be angry, I should've told you weeks earlier" Gary
said
with a smile "I accept your apology"
Ayeka smiled and hugged Gary deeply
"Wow calm down Princess" smiled Gary "We don't want to crease our costumes for the
Receptions"
"Yes" Ayeka said letting go "you're right" she put out an arm "shall we?"
Gary beamed from eye to eye as he hooked his arm with hers and after he had put his
shoes
back on; they left his bedchamber for the main festival hall to greet the many people of
the
court.
Fin
***Ho Hum, yet another one done, I think I'm gonna start redoing parts 1-3 to check for
any silly
mistakes that I made and check overall readability. Anyway the last part of the series is
the
next one (part 6) and might even be last one to include Gary Thatch (unless I find some
excuse
to bring him back :). Thanx for reading and hope you liked the series in general***