Author's Note: Well, this is the chapter that everyone has been waiting for. The girls finally get rescued! Thanks to all those who sent in their thoughts on my poll. An extra-special thanks goes out to daniel_c3@yahoo.com and ATUNALEY@oswego.com for suggesting that Tenchi should rescue them. Makes sense! Also, thanks go out to martina@in2.hr.com for proposing they get off via boat ("the simplest solution is usually the best"), and dennis_d@popmail.firn.edu for your thoughts. Your suggestion of the storm creating a multiple dimensional vortex and each person being flung to a different dimension (with Washu rescuing them one by one) was quite brilliant. Thanks also go to tenchi_masaki_528@hotmail.com for your intricate plan. Your thoughts of our heroines being in another dimension in space-time and Washu and Mihoshi (along with Tenchi's increasing Jurai powers) rescuing them were excellent. Everyone who voted were unanimous when it came to the girls being rescued, and most everyone thought Tenchi should have both of them as a wife. Keep reading to see the results!
Unlikely Savior
"You wanted to see me, father?" Bowing her head slightly, Ayeka let herself into the room. A very eager Nobuyuki, who was trying his best to keep calm, sat at the table with his hands folded.
"Yes… there's something I need to announce today. I've already told Tenchi, so you'll be the next to know. Please sit down, Miss Ayeka." Ayeka did so, and Tenchi's father poured her a cup of tea.
"Now," he resumed, "as you know, my job's the sort that pays people a lot of money. And recently, my boss has been considering giving me a raise. But, I'm also due for a holiday sometime soon. We negotiated, and here's what we came up with." As soon as he finished talking, Nobuyuki flashed several small pieces of paper at Ayeka's direction, and the young lady's eyes widened as she read what was printed on them.
"Oh! Tickets to a luxury cruise!"
"Yes, and do you wanna know what else?" asked Nobuyuki with a wry smile.
"Yes, of course, tell me!"
"Well…" A slight pause, and the dam to Nobuyuki's emotions broke. "WE'RE ALL GOING ON A CRUISE!!!!"
"WHAT?!" blurted Ayeka. "You mean… all of us?"
"Every last one, princess!" declared Nobuyuki. Ayeka grinned openly, and clasped her hands together in rapture.
"Oh, is it true?" she gasped. "Is it really true? All of us?"
"Yes, all of us!" declared Tenchi's father. "Myself, dad, Tenchi, you, Ryoko, Sasami, Mihoshi--"
"Wait a second!" spat Ayeka. "Did you say that Ryoko was going too?!"
"…Yeah," muttered Nobuyuki. "Why, is there something wrong?" Ayeka's eye twitched, and her body shook in anger. For a good minute and a half, she was so angry that she was speechless.
"…I… suppose it cannot be avoided," she muttered with a sigh. "After all, the demon is living under this roof. Hmph, but don't expect me to be anywhere near that whorish monster!"
Suddenly, Ayeka's eyes opened up, and the rays of a mid-morning sun hit her eyes. She grumbled, and realized that she had been dreaming again. She had no idea why she was dreaming of that very moment in time, when Nobuyuki told her about the infamous cruise--but whatever the reason, it was an unwelcome thought. She hated that side of her now.
As Ayeka's eyes opened, she smiled as she realized Ryoko was snuggling up next to her, snoring lightly with a hint of drool on her mouth. Ayeka smiled warmly, and wished to stay in that position for all of time. Ryoko looked so adorable when she was asleep! Ayeka had become more and more reluctant to wake her up as the months drawled on, until it came to the point to where her greatest happiness came by letting Ryoko do whatever she wanted.
The princess with purple hair yawned, and the princess with blue hair stirred in her sleep. Fearing she had woken her friend, Ayeka stared intently at the sleeping woman until she mumbled and went back to sleep. The princess with purple hair sighed with relief, and gently placed her hand on Ryoko's cheek.
"Ryoko dear," she called gently, "it's time to get up."
"MMnnhmmnhh… bite me…" Ayeka smirked and lightly slapped her dearest friend.
"I just might if you don't get up. Come on, sleeping beauty, rise and shine."
"…I'll rise," mumbled Ryoko, just barely moving, "but I won't shine." Ayeka chuckled lightly, and shook her friend until she woke. Mumbling and yawning terribly, Ryoko looked like she had just slept in a ditch. Her hair was out of control, her eyes were bloodshot and crusted over, and her lips were chapped.
"My, we're looking lovely this morning," commented Ayeka. Ryoko gave her best friend a nasty look.
"You're not so attractive yourself, cow-face." Smiling brightly, Ayeka leaned forward and placed a friendly kiss on her friend's lip.
"You're the most beautiful woman in the entire universe," whispered the princess.
"Yeah, I know…" Ryoko yawned, and managed to fly out of the bed. She was wearing night clothes approved by Ayeka; that is, she wore something that even covered up her stomach. The princess with purple hair (on that island, they were both of them royalty) stretched powerfully and groaned as her body greeted the day. With a lazy leap she got out of bed, and mechanically made the sheets so the bed looked reasonably attractive. Ayeka could hear Ryoko yawning from their bathroom, and the distinct scrubbing of teeth.
"Hey, princess, we're gonna need more toothpaste soon!" called the one-time pirate.
"I'll go down to the store and get some!" countered Ayeka. A spitting sound could be heard, and a minute later, Ryoko emerged from their makeshift bathroom with clean teeth and combed hair. She went over to her friend and gave her their traditional morning hug.
"Three years," sighed Ryoko, stroking her friend's violet hair. "Three long, hard, strange years. To the day, I bet."
"Almost," replied Ayeka. "It's May the second. Tomorrow's the, ah, anniversary."
"Yeah, whoop-dee-doo." Both girls smiled despite their lack of enthusiasm, and after a quick kiss, they began to set about their duties.
Ryoko suddenly jerked up, her sensitive ears picking up something.
"I hear it too," replied Ayeka, the ears of a huntress having long since replaced her delicate royal ones. "What do you think it could be?" Pursing her lips in thought, Ryoko racked her brain for the sound. Somewhere, somehow, she had heard that noise before… but, she had great difficulty recalling it. She finally shook her head in defeat.
"I dunno, but I'm gonna find out. You coming?" Ayeka nodded her head, and together the two girls rushed out of their cabin, Ryoko floating down and Ayeka using the zip line. They came to an open area at the beach, and stared in awe as the object that had produced the sound they were hearing flew over their heads.
Then, their hearts pumped a mile a minute as the object made a near-perfect landing some distance away from them. Wind and sand flew against their hair and faces, and both girls let out a mild curse. When the miniature storm died down, the hatch to the unidentified flying object opened up, and out stepped a figure which brought back horrifying memories for Ryoko. Even Ayeka quivered slightly as the figure emerged.
"Well, well, well…" said the figure slowly. "I believe a famous author put it best when he said, 'The reports of your demise have been greatly exaggerated'. I thought you'd be alive, Ryoko. Believe it or not, I'm actually glad to see you."
"Stuff it up your anus, Nagi!" spat Ryoko. "What are you doing here?!"
"(Ryoko, she might be our ticket out of here!!)" hissed Ayeka. Ryoko's hair bristled, but the figure--the universally-famous bounty hunter called Nagi--merely smiled.
"You should listen to your buddy, Ryoko," said Nagi coolly. "Believe it or not, Highness, but you're absolutely right. I am your ticket out of here." An exceptionally thick pause hung in the air as both women stared at the bounty hunter, Ken-ohki docked right behind her. Mouths gaped open.
"…Yeah, right," snorted Ryoko. "I'm not stupid. You're just here to collect the bounty on me!"
"Unfortunately not," retorted Nagi. "Under any other circumstance, I'd have your head long ago. But…… well, I… made a promise to someone."
"…Who?" asked Ayeka. Nagi paused and shrugged.
"That young man you two fight over all the time. Tenchi, right?"
"Tenchi's okay?!" Both girls suddenly began shrieking, and blurted out a hundred different things: "How is he? Where is he? Has he said anything about us? What's going on? Why haven't they saved us sooner?" Things like that.
"Hey, one at a time!" shouted Nagi. The famous bounty hunter sneered, and adjusted her cloak for the hot beach weather. "Anyway," she continued, "to answer your question…"
"One day, about a month or so ago, I decided that I had enough of chasing scum across the universe, so I went down to Earth so I could fight Ryoko again. Huh, I knew that little fight with Kagato wouldn't kill her, so I figured she was still on Earth somewhere. Believe me, it took me a few years to figure this out.
"Anyway, once I landed on Earth, I went to the place where I thought you'd be--that young man's house. …Let's just say that, when I arrived, the mood was, ah… hardly festive. Your friend, Tenchi, eventually did convince me that neither Ryoko nor Ayeka were around. He even told me about that cruise you all took."
"So you actually saw Lord Tenchi?" blurted Ayeka. Nagi nodded her head. "How is he? Is he all right? What about the others?!"
"Hold your horses, highness," sighed Nagi coolly. "I'm getting there. Anyway, Tenchi told me that you two were lost in that shipwreck they had, and nobody ever found your bodies. Well, I kinda went medieval on him. I basically told him, in less-than-polite terms, that he was a sad excuse of a man if he gave up so easily. I will admit that three years is a lot of time to keep holding onto hope, but I didn't think he'd give up just like that.
"I then told him that, for a fair price, I'd go out there and look for you two myself, and to expect me back with you in tow in a month's time. He told me that, if I found both of you, then you'd gladly pay me any price to let me take you home. So, would you?"
"Oh… yes, Miss Nagi, yes!" sang Ayeka. "I guarantee, as crown princess of Jurai, you shall receive any payment you ask for! Please, I beg of you! Take us off of this island!!" Nagi smiled sinisterly, and closed her eyes.
"One million."
"What?! You little leech!"
"Ryoko, please…" whispered Ayeka (Nagi opened her eyes just enough to see the princess kneading Ryoko's hand). "Aren't you sick of staying here? Wouldn't you give anything to get off?" A pause. Ryoko let out an irritated sigh, and glanced from the island to Nagi and back to the island again.
"…Okay," she grunted, "we'll pay the million."
"Ah-ah-ah," said Nagi. "That's one million… for each of you."
"WHY YOU DIRTY--" Ayeka hastily covered Ryoko's mouth, and smiled weakly at the bounty hunter.
"Yes, I'll be happy to pay your fair and reasonable price!" she shouted, emphasizing the last four words. The glare she gave Ryoko convinced her that her pride should be swallowed and the bullets bitten. Now, they were just desperate enough to take an offer from this unpredictable woman. It certainly was better than staying on the island forever!
"Well, then it's settled," said Nagi coolly. "I'll give you ten minutes to pack up what you want, then I'm outta here. Oh, and Ryoko?" The pirate glared at her nemesis, but Nagi gave her an uncharacteristic wink and a sarcastic smile.
"Good seeing you again."
"A little on the egotistical side, aren't we?" Ayeka snorted and placed the wooden statue of herself (the one Ryoko had made her for their first Christmas) on the ground.
"Just for your information," she said, "this happens to be a gift from Ryoko!" Nagi jerked back slightly, a confused look on her face as she gazed at the creation. Ayeka nodded her head in superiority, and placed the statue inside Nagi's ship. A silent Ryoko, carrying some food they had managed to save, floated past the bounty hunter without even batting an eye.
"Miss Nagi?" Nagi didn't move an inch as she heard her name being called, not even when Ayeka stepped out in front of her. "Might I have a word with you?"
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"Is… well, do you know if the bounty on Ryoko's head is still active?"
"Yeah," replied Nagi, "it's still in effect. She's been missing for awhile, so the price has been going up since nobody's been able to catch her. Don't worry, I'm not out to get her this time."
"I see," replied the princess. "Well, in that case, as the royal crown princess of Jurai, I hereby declare today that all bounties on Ryoko's head will be cleared and stricken from every record!"
"What?" Nagi blurted out her disapproval, and glared at the princess in all her cheek. What was happening? Ayeka revoking Ryoko's bounties? What was the princess thinking?
"Furthermore," she continued, "as princess of Jurai, I hereby pardon Ryoko of all crimes and sins she has ever committed in her entire life. In fact, I pardon Ryoko from all future crimes she may commit. There!" Nagi growled out in a rage, glaring at the very nerve of the girl. How could Ayeka be so wicked as to pardon one of the universe's greatest threats?!
"Princess--"
"Do you have any problems with that, Miss Nagi?" A thick pause. Nagi bristled, obviously well past the boiling point, but slowly her anger faded.
"…No," she hissed.
"Good. Because if I ever see you lay a finger on Ryoko, or in fact if I ever see you anywhere near her, I shall personally punish you for harassing a public citizen! Do I make myself clear??"
"…Yes," hissed Nagi darkly. Ayeka crossed her arms and smiled proudly.
"Good. Then, as crown princess of Jurai, I order you to assist us in packing up our things. Don't worry, Nagi." Ayeka smiled wickedly, and gave the hunter an insidious laugh. "We don't have too many things here with us." The bounty hunter snarled, and mutely let a string of vile curses fall out of her mouth. Grumbling terribly, Nagi had little choice than to obey the princess, and stormed off to see what she could salvage.
"Ayeka?" The princess turned around, seeing a dazed Ryoko standing there, her golden eyes threatening to become watery. The former pirate smiled compassionately, and set her things down on the floor. Ayeka returned the smile and winked.
"…Well, somebody had to do it," she said after a pause. Ryoko choked up with tears, and rushed over to embrace her dear friend.
"Oh, Ayeka… that was the sweetest thing anybody's ever done to me!" She sniveled, and wiped her tears on the princess' shoulder. Ayeka merely chuckled, and squeezed her friend. The two let go of each other, and gazed into the other girl's eyes affectionately. Ryoko slowly pulled Ayeka into a deep kiss, and despite Ayeka's inexperience, the wild woman moaned softly in content.
"…Oh, I get it now!" The two women hastily broke their embrace, their faces flushed from the kiss. Ahead of them, Nagi's face was contorted in glee, and a slight crimson hue was on her own face.
"Erm, Nagi!"
"It's, ah, not what you think!" they insisted. Nagi chuckled darkly, glaring at the two in awe.
"Sure," she sang. "Right. I think I'm understanding things now."
"Really, it's not what you think!" blurted Ayeka. "Ryoko and I, well…"
"Ehhh, it's none of my business," shrugged Nagi. "I guess spending three whole years on an island with the same person would settle any bad blood. Huh, wonder what would happen if I was the one stuck with Ryoko."
"Ugh, I'd rather not find out," sneered the ex-pirate. Nagi grinned, and threw her head back in a riotous laughter.
"Anyway," coughed Ayeka, "I think we're almost done here. Miss Nagi, thank you for your help. Really, thank you. You have no idea how much we really appreciate this kind gesture." Nagi merely shrugged, and mutely carried in more of the girls' possessions they had amassed. Sighing, Ayeka shook her head and gave her friend a shorter kiss.
"(We should really be more careful,)" warned Ryoko. Ayeka stuck out her tongue, and Ryoko chuckled. "Come on, princess. Just a few more things to get, then we can finally bid this sorry place farewell." Ayeka smiled, and shyly held Ryoko's hand with her own, and together the two spent their last hour on the island together.
Diary of Princess Ayeka and Princess Ryoko
May 2nd, year 3
FINAL DAY
How can we define happiness? How can we fully express our genuine relief over having left this horrible island? How can we ever have enough gratitude? We really cannot say. The fact of the matter is, both of us are rather ecstatic from leaving the island--so happy that we cannot keep from smiling! Not even Nagi, bless her, could completely dampen our mood. Yes, every single Jurai we give her will be well worth the cost.
And so, after three entire years spent on Ayeoko Island, we, the princesses and guardians of the island, must bid it farewell. Goodbye, cave. Goodbye, cabin. You were both such wonderful homes. Goodbye, jungle. You provided excellent food, water, and so much more. Goodbye beaches, full of fond memories and time spent bonding. Goodbye, Mt. Tenchi. We both loved to climb your breathtaking peak. Farewell, forests and grasslands, where we both spent an eternity playing and romping around without any cares. Goodbye sky, goodbye sea, goodbye rocks where we were reborn! Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye all. Farewell, Ayeoko Island. Thank you for having us.
Sincerely,
Princess Ayeka and Princess Ryoko
Soulmates for life
"Goodbye…" Ayeka waved farewell to the island which she shared with Ryoko for so many months, and couldn't help but sigh sadly as the place faded from view. Well, she thought, that's that. It's time to get back to civilization now. Finally, we'll be reunited with Tenchi and Sasami and all the others! Oh, I can't wait to see them! I really can't!
In all the excitement, a tear fell down Ayeka's face, and she let out another sigh as she waved a final farewell to the island which she had called home. Though she did hate the place, she secretly wished to never leave. She had quietly grown to love the island, with its solitude and its simple way of life. She was going to miss having so much privacy with her dearest friend, and was sad to see a part of her life fade away so easily.
Both girls had changed dramatically while on that island. Ayeka entered into it a spoiled, bossy little brat, who cared more about the wrinkle in her clothes than the wrinkle in her heart. She had experienced the darkness of her own soul and weathered through the worst she had to throw herself. Now, there emerged not a girl, but a woman, a fully-grown woman, one who had matured into adulthood and one who had learned lessons far more valuable than any taught in an academy.
Ryoko, too, had underwent a change. She came to the island in pieces, literally, and clung proudly to her ego and her biting disposition. She had been a gigantic nuisance, and a general pain in the neck, but now she was old enough and wise enough to admit that she had been wrong. Now, Ryoko was a noble spirit with an unquenchable fire burning in her heart. She had learned to love again, and to love unconditionally, and to love unquestionably.
Smiling silently, Ryoko joined Ayeka as she gazed out the window, and two gentle arms folded around the princess' toughened, tanned body. Out of the corner of her eye, Nagi saw them embrace, and let a secret smile escape her lips. Deep inside her own stony heart, she really was glad to see Ryoko--and the fact that the two former enemies were now friends melted her icy heart just a bit.
"Okay, Ken-ohki," she said to her ship. "Let's take these two girls home."