Feelings

One week passed, and Ayeka recovered her health. To pay Ryoko back, Ayeka volunteered to cook the very last chicken they had, a burly old monster they had nicknamed "General Obesity" because of the way it ate so much feed. Ryoko spent most of that day reclining in a hammock she had made herself, and Ayeka even let her do it in the nude. Today, Ayeka had reasoned, would be Ryoko's day. After all, she had helped Ayeka through that illness.

Sighing, the teasing smell of roasting chicken drifting in her nose, Ryoko smiled as the wind tickled her bare body. As she relaxed, she couldn't help but think. What did Ayeka feel about all this? How was she personally taking this livelihood? Ryoko had sworn on her own blood (after accidentally wounding herself on a rock) that she would never peek in the girl's diary, but she still wanted to know what her friend was thinking.

How were the others doing? How was Sasami holding up? Would Washu have gotten off of her lazy butt and built a machine to rescue them, or did the perky scientist die in an ironic laboratory explosion? What about Mihoshi and Kiyone, what were they up to? And… Tenchi… There was always the matter of Tenchi to address… What was he doing? Did he miss the girls? Did anybody miss them? Was the Masaki house quieter without them?

Would they ever be rescued? And if so, how would they be rescued? By now, Washu would have had plenty of time to make some kind of machine, even from scratch, so there must have been something wrong over at her lab. Maybe… though the thought was sickening, maybe… Washu did not make it to the Masaki house. Maybe that little hub of space she had claimed was empty yet again, and the house was eerily still as the residents mourned the loss of three women. That was a possibility.

Ryoko sighed sadly. She even missed Washu. Who was she kidding, she missed everything! She yearned once again to be squeezed by a terror-stricken Mihoshi, or to taste Sasami's delicious cooking, or to be jibed by Washu. She missed being chased by the overzealous Kiyone or the vicious Nagi, and she longed to even get a glimpse of dear Tenchi. She even missed those two wacky guardians, and those annoying dolls of Washu that were mysteriously absent during the cruise. In a sense, she even missed Ayeka.

Speaking of which, the princess soon emerged from the cabin, wearing a sensible ensemble that was crudely sewn up to look like a summer kimono. It was red and gold in color, and Ryoko was only faintly surprised to see her comrade wear such unusual styles. But, they certainly seemed to fit the princess.

"Lunch is almost ready," she reported. Ryoko smiled and gave a silent thumbs-up. Ayeka, however, kept staring into the distance, a glazed look in her eyes. Ryoko knew for a fact that the princess was not ogling her, or gazing at the monotonously familiar scenery around them. Something was on the girl's mind.

"What's up?"

"Huh?" Ayeka snapped out of her trance, and smiled weakly. "Oh, uh, nothing. I'd, uh, prefer it if you wore something, but if it suits you, then today you may do as you wish." Ayeka quietly ducked back into the house and resumed cooking, leaving Ryoko to shrug.

I wish I had brought a book, grumbled the wild one to herself.

Bringing the meal outside for a picnic, Ayeka gave a lukewarm greeting to her companion. After bringing a primitive table out for them to eat, Ayeka even went so far as to set the table and pour drinks. To Ryoko's surprise, the princess used up some of the white wine that they had found three months prior to the New Year. Ryoko, who knew that Ayeka would never pour out so much luxuries at once, even on the best days, suspected something.

"Something's bugging you," she said. Ayeka made no reply, except to smile brightly and resume her duties. Only after everything was prepared did she sit down and answer her friend.

"Ryoko is quite observant," noted the princess. "There is indeed something on my mind. But, let us not spoil this nice lunch by delving into such matters. Let's eat." Quietly, Ayeka began cutting up her chicken, and stuffed several slices into her mouth. Soft, warm bread was used to sop up any juices that would have been left over, and even a few candles were lit, despite the presence of the sun. Ryoko picked at her island salad, but remained quiet. Yes, something was definitely on Ayeka's mind.

"Come on, spill it," insisted the lady. "I know something's wrong, so why don't you tell me, huh? Come on, I can take it. What, you haven't done anything bad, have you?"

"Not recently," said Ayeka with a knowing smirk. "But, well, I've just been thinking, that's all."

"That is big news," muttered Ryoko. Ayeka gave her friend a look, but kept her tongue tied down.

"Cute. Seriously, I've had a lot on my mind in these past few weeks. You know, just stuff. Of course, I've had lots of time to brood, but… Well, it's nothing."

"Come on!" insisted Ryoko. "Tell me!"

"All right," sighed Ayeka. "I never could say no to you after that one argument we had. Very well, if you really wish to know, I've been thinking about many things. Like, Tenchi."

"Naturally." Ayeka ignored the brief comment.

"And, Sasami, and the others. I've been wondering also if we'll ever get off this place, and--"

"And if Washu actually lifted a finger to help find us, I know," noted Ryoko. She smiled halfway. "We must be on the same wavelength, because I've been having those same thoughts all day. Weird, huh?"

"Yes, we really must do something about it," muttered the princess. "We're starting to think alike now, God forbid. All right, well, I guess I should just start out with the obvious. Ryoko, we're close, right?"

"Like sisters, so?" Ayeka smiled warmly.

"Sisters. That's sweet. But, anyway, we're close. I… fear that our friendship just might be ruined… ever so slightly, that is… it might be ruined if we are to reunite with Lord Tenchi. I know you love him to death, and I'll freely admit that I feel the same." That declaration came not as a surprise to Ryoko, who had learned of Ayeka's true feelings months ago.

"So you're wondering which of us will get him?" stated Ryoko. Ayeka nodded her head. "Who knows? It's not our decision to make, really. I… guess it'll have to be left up to him."

"Why, Ryoko!" exclaimed Ayeka. "What a mature thing for you to say! You know, dear chum, you never cease to surprise me!"

"It's a talent," sighed Ryoko proudly. "But seriously, if he chose you, I'd be okay with it."

"I don't think that's necessary," said Ayeka with a wry smirk. "You know, dear friend, noblemen of Jurai are allowed more than one wife. Why, my own father has claimed two wives for himself, or did you not know?"

"Not really," replied Ryoko. She paused, and the realization of what Ayeka was saying finally sunk in. "…You mean…? He could…?"

"Yes, he could have both of us as a wife," she whispered. "And, that way, you could become a genuine princess." Ryoko grinned broadly at the thought, and Ayeka returned the smile happily. A year ago, the lady would have screamed at the thought of Ryoko being a princess, or even a co-wife, but now… well, things were a whole lot different.

"That'd be great," sighed Ryoko. She suddenly realized that there was food in front of her, and a large chunk of her chicken disappeared. "Mmm, wow, great! Ayeka, your cooking's excellent!"

"Yes, well…" The princess chuckled and tried to remain humble. "It's genetic. Sasami's the real chef of the family; I just learned the hard way." Ryoko nodded, only halfway paying attention as she devoured her side dishes.

"Anyway," mumbled the former pirate, "that's one less problem out of our way. But… one thing still bugs me." She swallowed her food and drank a little water before continuing. "If Washu is 'the universe's greatest genius' and all," (and here Ayeka burst out laughing at Ryoko's dead-on impersonation of the mad scientist) "then why hasn't she been able to find us? I mean, with all those crazy gadgets of hers, you'd think they'd be able to find us by now!"

"I know what you mean," muttered Ayeka. "I've been thinking the same, and the only logical explanation I can come up with is that… well, she may be dead."

"Not likely," groaned Ryoko. "That would be too good to be true. Besides, you think a maniac like Washu would go down in a measly little storm?"

"True, true," agreed Ayeka. "And that's what else worries me. If they think that you or I would survive such, I'd think they'd at least make some effort to look for us. I mean, even if Miss Washu was unwilling to look for us, I'm sure that everybody else would've ganged up on her and forced her into it, or else buttered her up as always." Ryoko nodded her head.

"Oh yeah, and what about those two people you were hanging out with? Didn't one of them have something to do with the captain?" Ayeka grumbled, and racked her brain for names she should have remembered. Slowly, she remembered, and shrieked out their names.

"Ah! I forgot! You're right, Ryoko! What about Quin and Farrah? They would have sent rescue parties out! I'm sure something would have found us by now, but it's a mystery that we haven't been discovered yet! I wonder whatever happened to them?" Both girls paused and sighed as old memories filed back into their heads.

"Or Nagi!" blurted Ryoko. "You think Nagi would have found me by now?"

"Who knows?" shrugged her companion. "The only thing that's for certain is that we've been here for an abnormally long time, and it quite frankly surprises me that we haven't been discovered. Oh well, I suppose. No use worrying about it now." Ayeka paused, and dug into her meal after awhile. In the silence of the moment, Ryoko joined her companion in the exquisite lunch, and made sure to thank Ayeka for her troubles.