Author's Notes: WOW, I sure did get a lot of mixed reviews from that last chapter! I got the impression that not a whole lot of people liked the way I made things--but you have to remember, folks, life sometimes deals you a wild card. I think it was a perfectly reasonable idea to have Tenchi hook up with a hitherto-unknown girl. Disappointed at the way things turned out? Well, I wrote it that way. I strung you along all this time, feeding you false hopes, and WHAM! Everything comes crashing down! As for Washu, she may be the "universe's greatest genius", but she's not perfect. The forces of nature are much more powerful than the forces of man--or woman (if you're wondering, the hurricane she referred to was the same one that Ryoko and Ayeka experienced). And as for Mihoshi… well, I think 3 years is enough time to find a boyfriend (and for that elixir to wear off). Finally, for those of you who are curious about what Nagi whispered to Ryoko, check out my other Tenchi Muyo story, which stars Nagi. You'll get a pretty good idea of what she was talking about. Once again, I'm not going to apologize for what I wrote in chapter 40. Sometimes reality can be a little harsh, even in a fantasy/sci-fi anime. And, by the way, I am one of those RARE people out there who likes Sakuya (and will openly admit it). If you have a problem with that, go kiss a cow. ;) I hope everyone enjoyed this story.

Chapter 41: Tomorrow Never Knows

She sat on the terrace, content to sip at her morning tea and watch the sun rise. It was a gorgeous summer morning, and the air smelled of fresh pine and roses and well-trimmed bushes. The air was thick with the warmth of the upcoming day, and the chorus of twittering birds ushered in peace. In short, it was a perfect day.

And as it always had been and forever would be, said day was abruptly ruined. The gate to the terrace swung open and struck the wall with a terrible bang, several coughing sounds could be heard, and a wad of spit found its way on the clean ground. Kiyone sighed to herself, visibly rolling her eyes as she greeted her guest.

"Morning, Ryoko," she sighed. Ryoko grunted out something and somehow managed to find a chair to sit down in. Kiyone, ever the polite lady, tried her best at a smile.

"WhatimeizzitKiyone?" mumbled Ryoko, stringing all her words together. Kiyone pursed her lips in irritation.

"Eight thirty-five," she replied. "For you, this is very early." Ryoko suddenly let out the mother of all yawns, nearly breaking her jaw open in the process. The hairs on her head bristled, and she shivered after her stretch.

"I feel terrible," mumbled Ryoko in a dead voice. Her face drooped down slightly, and her eyes started to get an empty, glassy look in them. Kiyone nearly snorted when she spied the trickle of drool threatening to run down Ryoko's chin.

"Bad night?" offered Kiyone. She knew full well that if Lady Ayeka had joined her like she wanted, Ryoko be a whole lot more cheerful than this. Kiyone sighed, wishing for Ryoko to gain some clarity from her nap, and prayed to the powers that be that Ayeka would brighten the former pirate's mood. Both girls had underwent some very difficult and traumatic experiences, so it was understandable that their attitudes were different.

"I guess it was a bad night," replied Ryoko after a pause. Her head snuggled up against the table that was sitting on the terrace, and she smiled happily as her arms cushioned her face. A minute had not passed, and already she was snoring gently. Kiyone sighed, removed her jacket, and placed it over the ex-space pirate lovingly. She smiled and gently began rubbing the other woman's shoulders.

Poor Ryoko, said the officer to herself. She's had such a hard past three years. I'm grateful that she's back with us and that she's friends with Lady Ayeka. Though I will admit, she's taking Tenchi's engagement news a little too well… I wonder what's on her mind?

"Tenchi…" mumbled Ryoko in her sleep. Kiyone paused and smiled warmly. She must still love him, she thought. Kiyone sighed, and scratched the nape of Ryoko's neck delicately.

"Hey, Ryoko?"

"Mmmm… lower…" A chuckle.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nhhh…"

"How do you really feel about Tenchi and Lady Kara being married?"

"Tenchi…" Kiyone sighed, and reasoned that only one thing would wake Ryoko up.

"Oh, good morning, Lady Ayeka!"

"What, where?" Kiyone laughed uncontrollably as Ryoko's sleepiness faded and she glanced around the terrace. Now completely awake, and discovering that Ayeka was nowhere in sight, the agitated woman pouted at the only other person in the vicinity.

"Hey, you tricked me!" Kiyone smiled warmly and apologized.

"Sorry, but it was the only way I could get you to talk to me." Ryoko sighed, and curtly placed her hands on her hips.

"Right, well, you should've let me sleep. I'm not much in the mood to talk."

"Sorry. I just wanted to know how you felt about Lady Kara and Tenchi getting married."

"How I felt?" replied Ryoko. "Hm… Well, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what to think. On one hand, I'm overjoyed that Tenchi has finally found someone that makes him so happy and content that he's willing to spend the rest of his life with them.

"But on the other hand… Well, this might seem a bit selfish, but… I, well…"

"I understand," whispered Kiyone gently. "You still love him. And so does Ayeka. But, Ryoko, there's really nothing you could do. Tenchi would hate it if one of you tried to break this marriage up, and then neither one of you would have him. And you know that one man can't possible handle three wives. Tenchi has a big heart, but it's not that big."

"Yeah, yeah…" mumbled the former pirate. "Ehhh, maybe you're right. Maybe it's best this way. I dunno. I'm still trying to get over the shock. Huh, I slept on the roof all last night, just thinking about what happened over here for the past three years." Ryoko let out some air, and stared up at the beautiful blue sky. "…I hardly got any sleep. Normally I'm not so out of it in the morning." Kiyone smiled softly, and offered Ryoko some tea.

"Nah, I'm having breakfast downstairs," replied the ex-pirate. "Sasami said that she'd make something special for us, and I don't wanna be late." Kiyone silently nodded her head, and waved goodbye to a one-time criminal.

"Oh, Ryoko?"

"Hm?" A pause.

"…Uh, nothing. It's nothing." The former pirate grinned playfully, and gave a one-time enemy a wink.

"I think I'll go try and make friends with this Kara chick. Who knows, I might grow to like her."

"That'd be great," smiled Kiyone. "I'm sure Tenchi would appreciate it if the three of you got along. Ryoko, I know this is going to be difficult for you--"

"Ahh, don't worry," sniffed Ryoko. "I can adapt. Heh, I adapted pretty well on that stupid island. Next to that, this will be as easy as sneezing."

Ryoko giggled, opting to slide down the banister instead of materializing to the next floor. With a squeal of childish glee, Ryoko smoothly sailed down the rail, and plopped gracefully on the floor. Mihoshi, who was absorbed in a television show, had not seen the act, and everyone else was busy with other matters. Still, Ryoko took a bow.

The space pirate casually hurtled herself onto the couch and sat next to Mihoshi, who had realized her company all too late. By the time a commercial rolled around, Ryoko had already made herself comfortable.

"Dg'aaaaahhhh!!!!!" Mihoshi jumped fifteen feet in the air before realizing that it was just Ryoko, and sighed heavily as she calmed down. "Don't sneak up on me like that, Ryoko!"

"Sorry," giggled the space pirate. Not one to be mad at someone for more than 4.23 seconds, Mihoshi forgave her and invited the space pirate to stay. Ryoko regarded the television program with quasi-amusement.

"So, what's on?" she asked. She received an unnecessarily loud giggle in return. Ryoko muttered something and realized that it must've been a cartoon, because the only shows Mihoshi ever watched were cartoons, action shows, and soap operas. Without saying a word, Ryoko floated away and headed towards the kitchen.

"Oh!" blurted Mihoshi suddenly. "I'm gonna be late if I don't hurry! Burty, Kiyone, c'mon! We're gonna be late!" From the terrace came Kiyone's voice; Burt was the only officer among them who was actually ready. He came in from the bathroom, his uniform already on. Ryoko smiled wickedly, and secretly wished that he was still a bachelor. He was almost as attractive as Tenchi.

"Mihoshi, dear, you know that watching too much TV is bad for you," he said as he came in.

"I'm sorry, Burty! I'm trying really hard, honest!" She scrambled to get up, but only succeeded in tripping over something and plummeting to the floor. Ryoko sighed as she heard the beautiful sound, and knew right then that she was home.

"Oh no, are you okay?" said Burt. He kneeled down to Mihoshi's level, and delicately touched her forehead. She groaned out in pain and began to sob a little.

"I'm sorry," she cried. "I… guess… I'm still… a little clumsy." Burt merely sighed, and shook his head before leaning in to kiss the bump on her head.

"That's okay," he smiled. "I still love you." Ryoko, who had been watching the scene for some time now, could only hold back her bile for so long.

"…You realize, of course, that Mihoshi is a complete klutz, and a ditz, and a flake, right?"

"Yes, I do," grunted Burt as he helped the gangly girl up. "But you also have to admit that she's got a heart of pure gold. Mihoshi is the sweetest, kindest, most entertaining, most enthusiastic, and most loving young lady that I've seen in a long time. It's true that she can be childish, but in my opinion, the world needs more people who are in tune with their inner child. Besides, how can I not love someone who's such a hard worker and a caring friend? Yes, she has faults, but everyone does. Take me, for example: I'm allergic to chocolate."

"You what?" Ryoko paled upon hearing his declaration, her mouth hanging open like a drawbridge.

"Yeah, it's my little cross to bear," sighed Burt sadly. "Thankfully, I've got Mihoshi, and she's the only sweet thing I'll ever need." Resisting the urge to vomit out her inner organs, Ryoko could only make a face.

"Well, whatever makes you happy, bud." Burt smiled, and helped Mihoshi up. A frantic Kiyone assured everyone that Yes, they would be late if they didn't get their rears in gear, and soon the police trio had dashed out of the house and back into the city for another day of fighting crime.

Ryoko flew into the kitchen, and smiled the very second her head was in the door. Both Kara and Sasami were busy making breakfast, and Ryoko could smell her absolute-favorite dish cooking on the stove. A certain purple-haired princess provided a welcome smile.

"Oh, good morning, precious!" sang Ayeka merrily.

"Morning, sweetheart," replied Ryoko, a tone of happiness in her voice. Ryoko lowered herself into a chair, and gave Ayeka a friendly peck on the cheek.

"Good morning, Lady Ryoko!" greeted Kara cheerfully. "May I offer you something to drink?"

"Sake," demanded the blue-haired woman. "I need sake."

"Oh, are you certain?" asked a concerned Kara. "Sake at such an early hour? That's bad for your liver!"

"(She always has some around this time of the day,)" whispered Sasami. Kara pursed her mouth in confusion.

"Oh. Well, since you haven't had any in three years, I suppose it's okay!" Smiling brightly, the future Mrs. Masaki strolled over to where she thought the liquor cabinet would be, but was intercepted by Ayeka.

"(Kara, dear,)" whispered the princess, "(if you plan on marrying Lord Tenchi or living in this house, then I suggest you memorize where we keep the sake. Poor Ryoko can't seem to go a day without getting drunk.)" Kara smiled and giggled politely.

"I heard that," muttered Ryoko. Ayeka gave her friend a faux glare, and winked playfully. Kara laughed out loud, but even this was gentle and soft.

"You two are very strange indeed," she said. "But… I can tell you're very close to each other, and to Tenchi." Without adding another word, Kara walked over and poured Ryoko a cup of sake. The ex-pirate grinned and downed the drink in the blink of an eye.

"Oh, my…" muttered Kara. "I shall have to get used to this. Lady Ryoko, are you certain that you shall be all right?"

"Yeah, quit worrying!" sang Ryoko. "Here, c'mere and have some with me!"

"No thank you, I do not drink." Kara quietly returned to her place, and rose out of her seat as soon as Tenchi arrived.

"Good morning, Kara!" he said. He gave her a polite peck on the forehead, and smiled as he saw the rest of the gang assembled around the table. "Good morning, Ayeka, Ryoko! Morning, Sasami! Mmm, that smells great! You're as efficient as an alarm clock!" She giggled and continued chopping and stirring like the master chef she would probably grow up to be; Kara served Tenchi a drink and passed out plates, napkins, and silverware. Ryoko was not accustomed to being served, so she felt a little awkward as the young lady slaved over her.

"Hey, siddown for awhile!" sang the former pirate. "Take a load off, Suzi! Have some sake! Kick back, relax!"

"Thank you for the offer," smiled Kara, "but I was raised to be a servant. I apologize if my actions make you feel uncomfortable."

"Nahh," grinned Ryoko. Kara gently sat down, and Ryoko (who was obviously drunk already) placed her arm across the woman's shoulders. "You're all right, y'know that?"

"Ah, thank you, Lady Ryoko…" Ryoko grinned and drank another cup of sake; Tenchi merely smiled that same watery smile of his, and Sasami ignored her partially as she served breakfast.

"Tell you what I'm gonna do," slurred Ryoko. "I'm gonna… (hic!) I'm gonna give you the best bloody bachelorette party you've ever been to! You, me, Ayeka, the cops, it'll be fun!!"

"Oh, uh, that's not necessary," muttered Kara, her smile eerily similar to Tenchi's. Ryoko giggled and rubbed her cheek against Kara's.

"Course' it is!" she sang. "I mean, yer like one'a the family, right? An' as one'uh the family, you need to party once in awhile!"

"Ah, well, I…" Kara, obviously tongue-tied, could only smile as Ryoko chuckled over her in a drunken stupor; Ayeka sighed wearily.

"Miss Ryoko, dear friend," she sang, "would you please release Miss Tsukata? I'm sure she has other matters to attend to, such as breakfast."

"Yes!" agreed Tenchi. "Ryoko, you two can be buddies later! I'm sure she's pretty hungry."

"Oh." Ryoko, drunk as a skunk, gazed at Kara through hazy eyes. "Yehh, I guesso. We c'n eat now, n' talk later, okee?" Smiling wildly, Ryoko released Kara from her grasp and floated over to sit in Ayeka's lap. Ayeka stared in surprise and tried not to freak out completely; Tenchi merely kept his peace and did his best to enjoy breakfast.

"Hey there," smiled Ryoko, tickling Ayeka's chin. The princess sighed and dropped the drunk woman on the floor.

"…It's going to take a lot of patience to get used to this," she sighed.

"Hey," came a meek voice from the floor, "I'm sorry. I'm real sorry, Ayeka, really I am. Please don't hate me. I'm just--"

"Being yourself, I know," sighed Ayeka. The princess smiled lightly, and helped Ryoko to her feet. "Though you can be irritating sometimes, dearest of all friends, I do believe that if I had the opportunity to change something about you, I would hastily decline. I love you just the way you are." Ryoko sighed, and smiled warmly at her friend's words. She knelt down, and hugged the princess softly.

"Mmm, you're so good to me, Ayeka…"

"Yes, yes, now you'd better eat your breakfast before it gets cold. Sasami and Miss Tsukata spent a lot of time making this just for you, so you'd better appreciate it!"

"As you command it, highness."

"What do you wish to speak to me about, Lady Ayeka?" Gently, Kara stepped forward, and joined the princess on the terrace. Both girls stared out at the forest before them, smelling the soft air of a summer evening.

"Isn't it a lovely evening, Miss Tsukata?" Kara smiled gently and nodded her head.

"Yes. But please, feel free to call me Kara. All my other friends do."

"Ah. I'm glad you consider me a friend. You do realize that I once held a romantic interest with Lord Tenchi?"

"I do," replied the young lady. "I cannot blame you a bit, though. Aside from his outward appearance, which is rather nice on its own, Tenchi has a very good heart. He's so kind and understanding that… it's hard not to like him. I, ah… hope you're not, well… jealous."

"…No," sighed Ayeka. "To be honest, though, I'm more disappointed than I am jealous."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Well, you see, to be perfectly honest…" Ayeka paused, unsure as to how she should approach this most delicate matter. True, she was happy for Tenchi, and she was even beginning to like Kara, but old flames are difficult to extinguish, and she never could get her feelings across well…

"Go on, milady," said Kara. "Please, feel free to speak your mind."

"Yes…" sighed Ayeka. "Well, here goes nothing. Miss Tsukata--I mean, Kara, Ryoko and I have spent three years of our lives on an island far away from civilization. We have weathered much during those three years, and we have grown to trust and even love each other. We, uh, even made future plans, should we ever get off.

"Well, we did escape, but when we got home, we thought that… well, Lord Tenchi would be, ah… available. We were, ah… disappointed to see that he had a fiancée." The princess paused, hanging her head so that she could not look into Kara's gentle eyes. The quiet young lady merely nodded her head.

"I see."

"We did not expect things to turn out like this," sighed Ayeka sadly. "We thought that we would both marry Tenchi--erm, I mean, that is, where I come from, it is perfectly normal for a man to have two wives, and vice-versa. We thought that we could both marry Tenchi, and live in happiness forever. But, I guess we were in for a rude awakening." Kara gently nodded her head, allowing the silence to speak for her.

Indeed, while she was getting to know Tenchi, Kara had heard much about Ryoko and Ayeka, and how often they would fight over Tenchi. Sometimes she received these quarrels as humorous, other times pathetic, still other times horrible. She knew what kind of relationship the three had, though she didn't expect to see them come back again, nor did she expect to fall in love with Tenchi and get married.

"I don't know what to say to you, Lady Ayeka," she said gently. "I really don't."

"No, that's okay," sighed Ayeka. "I'm not jealous, just disappointed. You really are a wonderful girl, Kara. You could probably make Lord Tenchi happier than either one of us. I'm certain that he's not suited for the lifestyle that either one of us would have given him. You are, I must admit, the right woman for him."

"Oh, why thank you, Lady Ayeka!" smiled Kara. "This really is a privilege, and one that I probably do not deserve."

"Hm…" Ayeka nodded her head, and shifted her body so she was looking directly at Kara. The young lady with the ponytail did likewise. "Listen, Kara. I have but one condition you must meet before I will give my blessings to you both."

"I am listening," replied the girl. Ayeka took a breath and uttered her demand.

"Please, Lady Suzikara, do not make Tenchi unhappy. If you ever cause him grief, or sadness, or discord, or if you cause him to have a broken heart, or tears without reasonable cause, then you shall have to answer to myself personally, as well as Ryoko. Do you understand? I do not want to hear that he is unhappy with you, ever. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," replied Kara with a smile. "You know, Lady Ayeka, we both are thinking the same thing. I would hate myself forever if I ever failed Tenchi as a wife, and just between us, I would want to be punished if ever I caused him harm, in any shape or form. I love him too much to have the desire to fail him." Ayeka let out a breath, and glowed with a bright smile.

"…You're a good person, Kara," she said. "I'm starting to like you very much. You have my blessings and full support. Oh, and Kara?"

"Hm?" Ayeka smiled as she allowed a break in the conversation.

"Watch out for Ryoko when you attend that bachelorette party. I love her to death, but I can't trust her to keep her sanity when alcohol is involved."

"I'll keep an eye out for her," smiled Kara. Just then, as if on cue, Tenchi walked onto the terrace with a grinning Ryoko hugging his neck like she did in the old days.

"Hi there!" he smiled. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything!"

"Oh, not at all," replied Kara with a bow. "I believe out chat has come to a conclusion anyway. Do you need my services, Tenchi? Or does Lady Ryoko have everything under control?"

"Well…" Tenchi stammered, and Ryoko slowly released him from her grip.

"Sorry, Suze. Just tryin' to steal a few last seconds before he ties the knot. He's all yours." Kara smiled and chuckled playfully as she hugged Tenchi by the neck, miming Ryoko's posture perfectly.

"Thank you," she smiled. Tenchi smiled too, though anyone could tell that he was more beleaguered than amused.

"…Right!" he coughed. "Anyway, I need your help with the decorations, Kara. You two can just relax here; Sasami and Washu are helping me." Ayeka nodded her head.

"Oh. Well, just call us when you're ready."

"Will do! Later!" Tenchi and Kara waved farewell to the girls, and returned inside to help with decorations. Ryoko, meanwhile, sighed and rested her hands behind her head. She slowly joined her friend and stared out at the vastness of the earth and space.

"She's something else, isn't she?" Ayeka smiled, and couldn't bring herself to disagree.

"Yes. Lord Tenchi certainly has found one of a kind."

"Yeah. …Hey…"

"Hm?"

"I have an idea…"

"Yes?" A pause.

"Maybe Tenchi can have three wives!!!!"

"Ryoko!!!" Ryoko laughed out loud, slapping her friend on the shoulders.

"Aw, just kidding!" she howled. "Seriously, though, you're right. I don't think Tenchi could handle three girls. Erm, I mean in the married sense, of course. Jeez, people'd get suspicious of the kids, wouldn't they?"

"Yes," giggled Ayeka, "they certainly would!" The two friends shared a smile, then things grew quiet and serious as they continued to stare out at the stars. For a few minutes, silence.

"So, what now?" asked Ryoko. This seemed to be the question gnawing on both girls' minds.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… we're back here, safe and sound, and the object of our desires is getting married. We seem to have a pretty close connection ourselves, too. It's gonna be awfully hard to continue with these new changes."

"We'll adapt," shrugged Ayeka. "We adapted on the island, right? I'm sure we can change our lives around for these new predicaments."

"Right," agreed Ryoko. "…But still. I was hoping that the three of us would… get together, and get married, and have a buncha kinds, and live happily ever after… You know, that sorta stuff." Ayeka nodded her head.

"Yes, you're right. And now, fate seems to have pulled the proverbial rug out from our feet. But, that's all right. I really do like Kara, really I do. And I value our friendship more than anything."

"More than being a princess of Jurai?" questioned Ryoko. Ayeka gave her friend a very serious glare, and grabbed both of her hands. Ayeka planted one dainty kiss on the lips of her former enemy.

"Ryoko, I love you so much," she whispered. "And, if the empire of Jurai does not approve of our relationship, then… then… then I'll just abdicate the throne!"

"You WHAT?!?"

"Yes," whispered Ayeka, using her hand to sooth Ryoko's shocked face. "Ryoko, darling, if it came down to it, I would give up my entire family name and legacy for you. I would sacrifice all the privilege, all the responsibility, all the glory, all for you. After all, what is status when compared to a friendship?" Ayeka smiled warmly at her friend, who could only shed tears of happiness. Ryoko sighed, and held her soulmate close.

"Oh, Ayeka… I'm not worth all that…"

"Nonsense," snorted the princess. "You're worth far more and then some. I would rather be poor and living on the streets with you than wallowing in luxury by myself. This life is too cruel to survive without the aid of a friend." Ayeka grinned, and kissed her friend on the cheek; Ryoko merely shuddered happily.

"Remember, dear one," whispered Ayeka, "no man is an island."

"Or, in our case, no woman is an island," pointed Ryoko. Ayeka chuckled and punched her friend playfully.

"I never thought you'd be politically-correct, Miss Ryoko."

"Hmph, I must get that from you," snorted the former pirate. The girls sighed, and kept on holding each other in the darkness and warmth of the summer evening. "So…" sighed the ex-pirate, "now what do we do?"

"We live," answered Ayeka. Ryoko smiled, and chuckled just a bit at her friend's simple yet elegant answer. Yes… she thought to herself, that's all we can do now… You never know what tomorrow will bring!

"Hey! You two out there!" Both women sighed in irritation, hating the fact that their moment was ruined by Washu.

"(Better see what the nut wants,)" muttered Ryoko. She shouted, "Yeah, what is it?"

"She's here!" blurted the red-haired genius. "She's coming! Hurry up!"

"Oh, right!" blurted Ayeka. "I forgot! We'd better get inside quickly!" The two scampered inside, trying their best to keep quiet as they hid. Somebody dimmed the lights, and slowly the front door opened…

"(One, two, three…)"

"SURPRISE!!!!! Happy Birthday, Mihoshi!!!"

"Foooooooooooooooor she's a jolly-good lady, for she's a jolly-good lady, for she's a jolly-good laaaaaaaadyyyyyyyyy…… Which nobody can deny! Which nobody can deny! Which nobody can deny! For she's a jolly-good lady, for she's a jolly-good lady, for she's a jolly-good laaaaaaaadyyyyyyyyy…… Which nobody can deny!!"

Finis

Epilogue

Sighing, Ryoko disrobed into her nightgown, a mixture of sex and sensibility that she had stored somewhere. The lights had been turned low, and the festivities were long since over, and now it was time for Night to cover the world in her loving cloak of sleep and darkness. Letting out another gust of air, Ryoko crawled into the bed and, without even thinking about it, snuggled up next to Ayeka. Her smile faded as she suddenly realized what she was doing.

"WHOA!!!" She jerked back slightly, staring with a mixture of confusion and apology at the princess. "Sorry about that," shrugged Ryoko helplessly. "I guess old habits die hard." Ayeka smiled and placed her book down.

"That's all right," she said. "I don't mind anymore. Come on, we're friends, right?" Ryoko smiled, and nodded her head.

"Of course we are," she replied. Both girls smiled, and Ryoko snuggled up next to Ayeka once again. Without saying a word, Ayeka shifted so that she too was holding Ryoko in her arms, and together the girls fell asleep. They held each other very close--so close, in fact, that their hearts were touching, and after a few seconds, both their hearts began to beat as one.

The End