To be a Princess: Day One - Princess Ryoko
Sunday's at the Masaki house usually are laid back and lazy days where even Sasami does not do much. However, this was not one of those Sunday's. Katsuhito woke Tenchi up early for practice and had it not been for his dad telling him to get dressed he may have tried to practice in his nightclothes. Sasami woke up late and felt a need to cook so she diligently began preparing a breakfast feast for everyone. And for some time it was just her that was awake in the house, but after his early practice Tenchi was allowed to go back home for breakfast.
When Tenchi entered the house he could smell Sasami's good cooking so he made his way to the kitchen almost tripping over a passed out Mihoshi. "That's funny, I don't remember her lying here this morning."
Sasami heard him and piped up, "silly you were barely awake when you left, you didn't even notice you weren't dressed." Tenchi blushed and he vaguely remembered this morning.
He moved Mihoshi off the floor and onto the couch then covered her up with a blanket. As he turned around he noticed that the TV was still on and playing her favorite show. As he was about to turn it off the announcer broke for a commercial break and that the twenty-four hour marathon of Space Police Policeman would be right back. Grinning he realized that she had seen the marathon and tried to stay awake for the whole thing. With the TV off and Mihoshi sleeping soundly he entered the kitchen and took his normal place at the table after setting it for the others.
It was not long before Ayeka arrived. "Good morning Lord Tenchi." Inwardly he grimaced at his title, it still sounded to formal for him, but he did not want Lady Ayeka to know how he felt because it might upset her. After a few more moments Washu arrived at the table. Tenchi, Ayeka and Sasami were surprised at how tired she looked. "Miss Washu, are you feeling ill today?" Ayeka showed a little concern but Washu laughed it off.
"No, I have been doing an experiment for the past thirty-six hours and it is finally finished." She looked around the table, "hay where's my little Ryoko?"
"I am here." Tenchi and Washu turned to the sound of her voice and both were shocked to see how she looked. Ryoko was wearing a long almost formal Kimono that was close to the color of her hair, and it had trimmings that really made her eyes stand out. Instead of her hair standing out in spikes she had it pulled back and braided so it flowed down her back. "I am sorry for keeping you waiting." She approached the table with her head slightly bowed and took a seat by Tenchi but not as close as she usually did.
Washu recovered from her shock first and told her daughter mentally, "wow when you make a bet you take it seriously." Ryoko just smiled knowingly at her mom then looked at Tenchi.
For his part he had just been staring at her since she walked in, and so far he had been unable to form any type of thought or word, not even a hello. He continued to watch her as she moved and then as she sat beside him. When she looked up at him he felt himself weaken as he looked into her eyes. "Good Morning Lord Tenchi." Ryoko said the words but inwardly she hated calling him that, but she hoped that he would at least say good morning to her. Seeing how he was looking at her she kept looking down slightly to hide her blush. And up to this point Ayeka had paid her no attention, at least not until Tenchi spoke.
"Wow, um. Morning Ryoko." Tenchi's voice almost cracked while looking at her.
When he spoke and she heard his voice like that she wanted to jump into the air and shout, but she reminded herself that she had to remain calm, no matter what. She was going to make Ayeka eat those words yesterday. Ayeka had looked up at Ryoko when she heard him say wow and when her eyes passed over the pirate she almost gasped at the sight. She had expected her to get a little dressed up, but not like this.
Sasami entered the room and set the food down and when she saw Ryoko she was impressed as well. "Wow Ryoko! What's the occasion?"
In the calmest voice she could muster with Tenchi still gazing at her she told the little princess, "No occasion really."
Ryoko felt like she was sitting in the clouds, she had Tenchi watching her closely and everyone seamed to like how she looked. However she kept her composure and taking a plate she placed some food on it and placed it before Tenchi. At this he came out of his trance and looked at her strangely.
"Ryoko, why... um, what are you doing?" He had never known her to wait for others to eat much less serve someone else first.
"My lord, as Head of this house while your father is away it is you that should be served first." She remembered in some of her books that it is the man of the house that eats first and also royalty dines first. So she decided to serve him, then a very confused Ayeka and finally a smiling Sasami. Unsure as to what to make of it he did go ahead and eat and after they had begun Ryoko served Washu and finally herself.
"Ryoko, I think you are taking this bet too seriously." Washu told her using their mental link.
"Just don't get used to it, cause it's only for this week," came the reply, but not in the usual smart ass tone. Ryoko had spent since yesterday reading and studying how to act right and eat right and if she was going to pull this off then she had to go all out, nothing should be skipped.
While he ate he would keep looking back at her with a surprised look, yet strangely happy. He had always wondered what it would be like to have her act like this. When breakfast was through he got up to head to the field, Ryoko got up to and wished him a good day, but she did not touch him. Even though she was aching inside to do so. Ryo-Ohki came down at that time and seeing Tenchi about to leave she bounded out the door with him to help with the carrots, or at least help eat them.
As soon as Tenchi was out of hearing distance Ayeka approached her, "listen you tramp! You are not going to ever be a princess or anything other than a monster so I suggest you had better stop now!"
"Ayeka that is not very nice!" Sasami was behind her with a hurt look in her eyes. Washu had her back to Ayeka and if anyone could see her face then they would also see death knocking on their door. Even though she did not show it, Washu hated it every time someone put her daughter down, but she also knew that Ryoko would have a fit if she ever tried to step in.
Ryoko just bowed to Ayeka; "if my presence displeases you I shall remove myself from your sight for a while." She had wanted so much to say more and gloat over Tenchi's reaction, but she did not want to loose her bet. This comment took everyone by surprise, especially Ayeka who seamed to want a fight.
Ryoko retreated to Washu's lab to do more reading, and she was joined shortly by Washu who congratulated her on a job well done. She only left the library in Washu's lab to join everyone for lunch and again for dinner. Both times she served Tenchi his meal first followed by Ayeka, Sasami and then her mom. Making sure that everyone started eating before her was quite a bother, but deep inside she knew it would be worth it. In the evening when Tenchi was going off to bed she wished him a good night, but she still had not touched him once today. Inside she ached to feel him close even if he did push her away. But her resolve to win this bet held her in place.
That night Tenchi though back on the day, there were no fights between Ayeka and Ryoko, no new holes in anything to patch, she had not tried to grab him once and she was being very kind and proper. As he tried to consider why any possible reason just did not seam to fit, unless she had been kidnapped and replaced, but then Washu would have known about it. As he slept that night he dreamed and wondered of what the next day would hold. And for her part Ryoko did not enter his room at all that night, no matter how much she wanted to.
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Authors note: I admit that Ryoko acting so nice and not groping Tenchi is unusual, but that's why I keep adding parts about her wanting to do something, but holding her self back to win this bet.