Conversations
Chapter 7
On a Path
*****
Ayeka and Ryoko walked along the path leading to the carrot fields. Today was the day they were going to make Tenchi choose. Although, thought Ayeka with smile, he doesn't suspect that Ryoko and I have already chosen for him.
Ryoko saw the smile. "What're you so happy about princess?"
"I was just thinking about Lord Tenchi's reaction when we tell him."
"Yeah, it's gonna to be interesting isn't it?" the ex-pirate said.
Suddenly Ryoko stopped walking. "Uh, Ayeka, before we talk to Tenchi, I have a confession to make."
Ayeka stopped as well. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"Well, um, this is kinda hard… um… you how forward I am with Tenchi all the time?"
"Yes, so?"
"Well, its all a put on."
"Just what do you mean Ryoko?" Ayeka asked her friend.
Ryoko mumbled something in reply.
"I couldn't quite hear that, could you repeat it?"
"I'm still a virgin. A virgin. There. Happy?" Ryoko stated.
"Oh, is that all. Is there a problem with that?" Ayeka snickered.
"It's just that with the way I act toward him, Tenchi probably thinks that I'm much more, uh, you know… experienced." Ryoko said.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you," the princess responded.
"That's easy for you to say, you're so pure and innocent. Tenchi'll already know that he'll be your first."
Ayeka walked back to where Ryoko was standing and looked her in the eye. "It appears that neither of us are quite what we make ourselves out to be," she said.
"What do you mean princess?"
"Tenchi won't be my first, demon."
Ryoko was stunned. Her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the ground. "You mean… you mean… you mean that all this time…"
"Yes."
"Does your father know?" Ryoko could picture Azusa's rage if he found out.
"No, and neither does my mother, although I think Aunt Funaho suspects. Don't you go telling them either, pirate." Ayeka snickered again.
Ryoko got back to her feet, although her legs were still a bit weak. "You want to talk about it, princess? When did this all happen?"
Ayeka smiled. "I'm not ashamed of it, I have no regrets. It just doesn't need to be common knowledge."
Ryoko, thinking again of Azusa, said, "I understand. So tell me."
"Well, it was after Yosho left to pursue you. I wanted to follow him but father forbade it. When Yosho didn't return and father still wouldn't let me look for him I was despondent. I didn't know what to do. There was a young man at the palace, the son of one of father's noble friends. He was a couple of years older than me, but was the only other person near my age in the palace. We became friends and began to spend all of our free time together. Father saw this and saw our relationship growing, but this boy's family didn't have enough political power to make him a candidate for my hand. At least not to my father's way of thinking. Father began to find reasons to keep us separated. I had already lost the one I loved and now my father was trying to take away someone else that I had grown close to."
Ayeka pause to collect her thoughts. They came to a large rock that was next to the path. Ryoko took a seat and motioned for Ayeka to do likewise. "So what happened then?"
"Well, I believe now that if the relationship had been allowed to continue, nothing would have come of it. Remember, I was only about sixteen at the time. I still had a lot of growing up to do. But father, of course, couldn't see that. He arranged for the young man to be appointed to a prestigious military academy. At the same time, he gave me permission to finally begin a search for my brother. I was upset about this. Not that I didn't want to search for Yosho, but I could see what father was trying to do. Anyway, the night before this boy was to leave for the academy, I seduced him."
"You seduced him? Hahahaha" Ryoko fell off the rock.
"What? Is that so hard to believe? Isn't that what you've been trying to do to Tenchi?"
Ryoko was rolling on the ground, doubled over with laughter. "Hohohoho! This is rich. This is too funny! Miss `I am not a woman of loose morals'! I should've been coming to you for advice all along! Hahahahaha!"
Ayeka got off the rock and kicked her. "Ryoko! Stop it!" But she couldn't help laughing herself.
Ryoko picked herself up, tears still streaming down her face. "Sorry princess, but the picture I get… Juraian customs… Hahahaha!" She fell down again.
"Oh! I give up!" Ayeka began to walk away.
"Wait Ayeka! Wait!" Ryoko caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder, trying not to burst out laughing again. "I won't tell a soul. I promise."
"You'd better not. I'll find all your ticklish spots and get Tenchi to help me."
"Tell me Ayeka," Ryoko asked more soberly, "did it hurt? That first time I mean?"
"Yes, at first. But only the first time."
"Only the first time?" Ryoko stopped walking again.
"Well, I was with him all night," Ayeka smiled at her.
"What happened to the boy?"
Ayeka looked down. "Aunt Funaho told me he was killed in a border skirmish about 150 years ago."
"I'm sorry Ayeka."
The two walked in silence for a few moments then Ryoko spoke up, "So, are you going to tell Tenchi?"
"Yes, eventually. He is to be my husband, so there should be no secrets between us. Just as you should tell him your secrets."
"Before the wedding?"
"Well, before the wedding night anyway." Ayeka stated with a smirk.
"Have there been any others?" Ryoko asked her.
"You mean aside from you?" Ayeka teased.
"That's not funny Ayeka. You know how we both feel right now about having that kind of relationship, it won't happen. And no secrets remember?"
Ayeka sighed, "No, just that one night. It was fun, but something was missing. I believe it was love. I didn't really love him, it was more an act of rebellion against my father."
"And your father will never know about it. Some rebellion."
"I'll know Ryoko, I'll know. And like I said, I have no regrets. Now, let's go have that talk with Lord Tenchi. And Ryoko?"
"Yes, Ayeka?"
"I notice you didn't say `never'"
"Nope, I didn't. If this works out, we're going to be together with Tenchi a long, long time. Anything could happen, attitudes and feelings change as do people. We may become lovers, we may just become comfortable friends or we may end up trying to kill each other over some issue."
"And how is that last one any different from right now?"
"It's not, really. Let's go princess."
The two continued along the path, Ryoko chuckling to herself and Ayeka smiling, lost in her memories, thinking about a young man she once knew.
*****
To be continued
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