To be a Princess, Day 7 - The Luncheon
While Tenchi waited for Ryoko to finish he got dressed in a pair of black slacks and a dress shirt. He skipped the tie as it felt too much like he was getting ready for school. Upon thinking of school he remembered that day, when he had come back from vacation to start another year of school. His friend had made fun of him for dating a mummy and now that mummy, that same girl that he thought was trying to kill him had turned out to be his angel. Not only that but he was not willingly spending a week with only her and he would not want it any other way at this moment.
He was lost in thought with a goofy grin on his face when he felt the bed shift as Ryoko sat beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder to shake him out of his daydream, but he just placed a hand on hers and turned to see her face. The smile she wore was one of love that he could see in her eyes as well. It was amazing to him to think of how just under two days ago he had thought she was kidnapped or replaced and then he declared to her that he wanted 'his Ryoko' back. She leaned in and placed her chin on top of their hands looking at him closely and smiled at him. Tenchi lost himself in her smile and eyes. He leaned towards her and placed a kiss on her lips. When he pulled away her smile seemed to have grown larger it that was possible.
Standing up he turned towards her still holding her hand so that he could look at her. Ryoko still wore her hair in its normal spiky style and she had on her white dress with red leggings and the green and gold sleeves. A blush came to his face as he noticed how much cleavage it showed off, especially when he was looking down at her sitting on the bed like this. He could not help but notice how the black belt made her waist seam smaller and accented her bust. Pushing thoughts of her figure out of his head he tried to talk, "Well," he stopped as his voice seamed to give out on him. She just smiled as he finished, "Well, um, where are we going to go eat?"
She giggled for a moment at his actions then told him; "Oh it's not far. It's a small restaurant that promises to be good. The critics here give it good marks for being one of the cheaper ones." She remembered how in the guide it had said that some of the restaurants had server means that she was sure made some of the treasure she stole for Kagato look like trinkets. At the mention of his name in her mind she frowned slightly then seeing Tenchi again all of those bad thoughts were chased away.
Lifting her off the bed he gave her a quick hug then they turned to leave, but Ryo-Ohki stopped them. Ryoko quickly checked her laptop, "Ryo-Ohki, you better change into your human form for now, unless you want to stay here?" The little cabbit shook her head vigorously then changed quickly. She was still unsteady in her adult form so she stayed with her toddler form for now. Tenchi laughed at her for a moment then picked up the little cabbit in one arm and wrapped the other around Ryoko before heading to the door.
Upon stepping out into the street Tenchi was keenly aware of the vast numbers of beings in plain view. He had never seen anything other than humans and now his eyes were assaulted with being of all sorts of shapes and descriptions. If it had not been for Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki he would have been scared. But since discovering through them that there were other races in space he was not as shocked as he could have been. Ryoko took great delight in pointing out several of the races that she had seen and describing them. After each one she would get a far off look and to him appeared quite sad. He guessed it was because the only contact she had with them had been at the hands of Kagato.
Holding her close to him he hoped and wished he could do something to erase or lessen her bad memories, but there seamed to be no cure. So he just held her close and reassured her that she was still loved no matter what had happened before. Soon he was ushered into a building that he discovered was the place she had told him about back at the hotel.
Inside was to say the least breathtaking. Paintings and statues were placed around and it looked like a very nice place. He thought for a moment how they would pay for it, then remembered his card from Washu and gave silent thanks for once to have known her. A few of the patrons did glance their way but to everyone else they were dismissed just as quickly. He thought that if this was not a fancy place then what did those places look like? His thoughts were interrupted as a waitress showed them to a table then hastily walked away.
It looked for a moment like she recognized them, but she did not say anything to them about it. After She had entered the kitchen a loud gasp was heard, but neither Tenchi or Ryoko paid any attention to it. The waitress had recognized Ryoko, but since she had not been seen for 700 years it was thought that she had died or something. But now it looked like she was back. Excitedly and fearfully she told the cooks and manager that Ryoko was here. At first they did not believe it so the manager went out to talk to them to put an end to this.
The manager was a tall scaly man that resembled a man with the exception of having scales covering his body instead of hair. He approached the table and upon seeing her cyan hair he was reminded of his history classes that spoke of a female with hair like this that destroyed worlds. Summoning up his thoughts and courage he spoke to them. "Greetings, I am the manager here, and I could not help but notice your resemblance to the demon Ryoko." He did not get to finish as she began to speak.
"Resemblance? What do you mean? Have I changed that much?" She seemed to be getting agitated and it was Tenchi that calmed her down by holding her hand and squeezing gently.
"Sir," he began, "What do you mean?" Tenchi was trying to find out what he thought about her before letting on that she was in fact Ryoko.
"Well she has the hair color of the demon, and you have to admit that she looks a lot like her. I mean no disrespect ma'am." He bowed to her and continued, "But that Ryoko destroyed a lot of worlds and even now is hated across the universe." He was going to continue but he noticed that she was starting to cry. "I'm sorry ma'am. I will go, I did not mean to imply that you were that beast."
"Beast!" Ryoko had heard enough. Sure this guy did not know who he was talking to but he was insulting her to her face. She pointed a finger at him and poked him in the chest as she spoke. "I'll have you know that I am not a beast and I am not..." She stopped cold as his eyes turned to saucers as the realization dawned on him.
"You, you, you're her? You're Ryoko?" She nodded and moved to sit back down, but as she did she noticed that all of the patrons have noticed their conversation and all talking had stopped. All eyes were on her now and she found it very unsettling. All she wanted was a quiet lunch with Tenchi and now her reputation has caused her more trouble. Ryo-Ohki had scooted closer to Ryoko and was patting her on the shoulder to show her support. Tenchi reached across the table and held her hand again to hopefully calm her down but it was not working very well.
Turning to face the manager Tenchi addressed him, "Sir, we have traveled a long ways and are very hungry. We would like to eat and then we shall be on our way. I promise nothing like you are fearing will happen here." Although his voice was soothing it did not completely calm his fears, but the manager sensed that this would be a good time to make a fast exit. As he ran off the other patrons still stared at the three of them.
"What?" It may have been one word, but coming from Ryoko in that tone everyone went uneasily back to his or her own business. "Tenchi, I'm, I'm sorry."
"There is no reason to be. I am not ashamed or afraid to be here with you." She looked into his eyes and saw his love there for her and it lightened her spirits. She was still not happy that her being recognized here had disrupted their vacation, but she was not worried about it as long as he was not.
Many of the other patrons were nervous with having Ryoko the demon and space pirate in the same room with her and some began to grumble about it. The manager when he left had called the police frantically and told them that Ryoko was here. As the two of them sat and waited for their server to return a squad of policemen showed up, weapons drawn and ready for a fight. It did not take them long to surround the place and then approach the table. Tenchi saw them approaching and could tell that Ryoko was gearing up for a fight. He lightly touched her hand and told her in her ear, "No fighting here my love."
She blushed at hearing his voice and calling her his love like that and she hoped that he would do it more often, but that did not calm her fears. "Space Pirate Ryoko." One of the men shouted. "You are placed under arrest, give up peacefully of we will have to use force."
Tenchi had hoped it would not happen but when they shouted that his face contorted in anger. Ryoko saw it and was about to say something when Tenchi turned to them.
"What law has she broken to be placed under arrest?"
"Disturbing the peace and the destruction of countless worlds. Give up now."
"She is not disturbing the peace, we came here to have lunch." Tenchi was beginning to get more aggravated but he kept going through some calming exercises to keep his thoughts clear.
"People are complaining that she is disturbing the peace and she had a history or destruction. Raise your hands and give up now."
Standing slowly Tenchi placed himself in front of the man. "Would you arrest the Prince of Jurai?"
The patrons and the police laughed, "Oh, and I guess you are under arrest for impersonating the Royal Family." Ryoko saw Tenchi's hands tense at his sides before he spoke again.
"Let me give you something and see if this changes your mind." He then reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out his identification card Washu had given him. After retrieving it he handed it out to the lead guard. He took it and scanned the card. As he read it his face drained of color and his knees began to wobble.
"This, this, is the Royal seal of Jurai given only to the Royal family!" as the others hear it they paled and the restaurant patrons gasped.
"Will you arrest the Prince of Jurai?" Tenchi repeated again.
All of the guards fell to their knee's guns down. "We're sorry your majesty, we did not know." Ryoko watched and could not believe what had just happened.
Ina loud voice Tenchi declared to the others in the room, "I am Prince Tenchi Masaki of Jurai, and the first crown prince. Unless you wish the wrath of Jurai then I suggest you cease this nonsense. Ryoko has been pardoned of her crimes, and anyone that wished to lay hands on her must go through me first." With that said he looked at the manager. "Now may we get some service?" He turned to go and Tenchi was sure that he had never seen someone run that fast before. The policemen retreated out of there after handing him back his card and apologizing yet again.
After he had sat down Ryoko had teleported to his side and hugged him for standing up for her like that. However she did not leave it at a simple hug as she had originally intended. Instead she placed a hand on his cheek as he told her again that he loved her, but he did not get to say that no one would hurt her again. Instead after he had said the word 'you' she kissed him. Even though they were in public Tenchi for once threw caution away and wrapping his arms around her he returned the kiss.
Those who saw this now had a lot of gossip to tell their friends and neighbors for the next hundred years or so. But they now knew why he had said what he did. The waitress had arrived halfway through their kiss and had to stand there clearing her throat for at least thee times before they noticed her and then three more times before they broke off the kiss. For the rest of the meal they sat close to each other and one or the other would occasionally steal a kiss but neither seemed to mind.
It was when they were sharing a desert that their waitress actually stopped to ask them a question. "Um, excuse me your highness?"
He looked up at her to see her bowed before him. "That is not necessary, but what is it?"
Standing again she leaned closer to asks them a question, "Why, why here?"
"Why not here? It is a nice planet, a lot of vacation spots, do you have a better Idea?"
She blushed at him, "No My Lord. I mean why here at this little place? Surely there is more respectable places for a Prince to go to?"
He caught on to what she was saying when she was not even half way through her explanation. "Well we just arrived and I have not decided on the proper attire for those places yet." Lying just did not feel right, but he had not really wanted to go to those places. She seemed to accept it though and left, but not without leaving the bill. He laughed as he paid it and left a nice tip for her as well, even though they were nearly arrested. He had wanted to do some sight seeing but after what had happened they decided to head back to their room for now.