Ayeka's Summer Day

What a lovely summer day.
The trees, the flowers, the sweet afternoon air...
All so beautiful.
I feel so light hearted...
Not even the burden of a crown can wear me down on a day like this.
Looking around, I spot Lord Tenchi working in the fields.
I want to go talk to him, but I'm worried we'll be interrupted by-
No, wait. She's not here.
She's lying all alone in that bed of hers.
Strange... The thought of having him all to myself should fill me with joy...
But, it doesn't. A tiny flame of saddness sparks deep within.
I turn back around and watch the trees again.
At dinner time, I seat myself at the table.
As Sasami sets down the trays of her delicious cuisine,
I prepare myself to do battle for my meal...
But no. That's right. My competitor does not sit at this table anymore.
Instead, she lies in that room, unconcious.
She is fed through a tube by a machine built by Miss Washu.
I wonder, does she still greedily grab at the food being supplied to her,
Even though it's all for her?
That's a silly thought. I giggle, and recieve curious stares from my housemates.
The smile on my face fades when I remember her situation...
How lonely it must be, up there in that room.
Later, I jump into the Onsen for a bath.
I await for my druken companion to spark some argument.
'Hey there Princess, what's with the towel? Are you modest or are you just hiding something horrible under there?'
I hear her voice in my head.
'How dare you!' I shout aloud.
Sasami turns to me. 'Is everything alright, Ayeka?'
I realize my situation, and nod to her with a smile.
There won't be any arguments tonight.
There won't be any arguments for a long time...
I walk down the hallway, smoothing down my hair as I head to my room, to my bed to sleep.
Something catches my eye- a motionless body lying in bed.
Someone has carelessly left Ryoko's door open... Perhaps Washu after one of her machine check-ups?
I shrug off the thought and take another step towards my room,
But something inside me compels me to stop.
In Ryoko's room, I kneel down by her side.
My hand rests on one of hers.
She's so cold...
What? I'm crying?
How silly of me... Mourning the loss of a simple criminal like her...
I stand up and turn away.
A sound strikes my ear from behind me- a groan.
I hear a whisper from Ryoko's body, a mutter under her breath...
'Oh Tenchi... Don't leave me here alone...'
I frown. She's talking in her sleep again.
I start to walk away, but her muttering turns to sobs.
'Tenchi... Why did you abandon me?'
Her speech is quiet and so sad that it draws another tear from my eye.
I start to wipe it away, but... No. Ryoko, you may have this tear.
Consider it a gift from my heart...
From my heart...
'Sleep well, Ryoko...' I whisper as I walk out into the hallway.
The next morning, I awake to the glimmer of the sunlight.
Another day to spend on Earth.
I walk down the hallway, headed towards the breakfast table.
A sideways glance into Ryoko's room makes me stop.
The window in her room casts the sunlight onto the floor beside her bed.
So sad... The sunlight won't even shine on her.
She lays there, alone in the shadows...
I gaze out her window at the trees, the flowers, the sweet afternoon air...
What a lovely summer day.
What a perfectly lovely, horribly sad summer day.