This is a fanfic, and is done for fun, not profit.
The Alchemy of Love
Chapter Five by William Nichols
It had been two days and Ryoko had not been seen much except for token appearances at meal times. Even then she did not have much to say, nor did Tenchi and Ayeka. She knew Tenchi was not mad at her for the incident in the woods, and to her extreme surprise Ayeka had even apologized to her for provoking the incident. Although she was not sure about it, she thinks she might have even apologized to Ayeka in the shock of the moment. As to any further dates with Tenchi, well, that was another story.
For his part in the 'Forest Debacle', as Katsuhito called it, Tenchi was spending extra time training at the shrine. If his grandfather had been a stern taskmaster before, now he was a slave driver.
"The shrine steps need polishing," began Katsuhito as he paced around his nervous grandson. He knew the boy had meant well, but he should have been firmer on the ground rules of no fighting and provocation. "By hand." Tenchi's jaw nearly cratered the shrine courtyard as his grandfather nonchalantly handed him a bucket of water and holystone. "Meditate on your actions and theirs," the aged priest had instructed as Tenchi saw the enormity of the task before him.
So for the past two days Tenchi had been fairly out of sight and out of mind as he tackled his 'punishment'. After he would finish his work at sunset about the only thing he had energy for a bath, dinner, and plowing through his homework. This had given Ayeka and Ryoko plenty of time to think about their roles in the abortive first date.
****
Ayeka was walking by the small lake that surrounded her brother's space tree Funahoe. She had been thinking about things a lot lately. With Tenchi busy and Ryoko staying out of sight, she had been able to examine her thoughts on the matter. Ryoko had provoked her, but she had started things by making an off hand comment. It had become so commonplace with her to say such things that they did not even register when she said them. Only if Ryoko's hearing wasn't so sensitive…
Tenchi had asked them not to fight, and she had even called a truce with Ryoko. So why did her competitive nature jump out like that? She really did not know. All that registered is that Tenchi had taken off like a scared rabbit afterwards and Ryoko had been sulking for the better part of two days. Something has to give, but what?
"Maybe I'm going soft," Ayeka mumbled to herself before she realized how much like Ryoko she had just sounded. With a soft laugh Ayeka shook her head and tried to clear that thought from her head. All I need to do now is find some sake and glomp onto Tenchi! As she finished her mental tirade against Ryoko something crossed her mind. Has she grown on me that much? Is she my, dare I say, friend?
Of course not! An angry voice shot back from inside of her head. Because of her Yosho left you and she wants to steal Tenchi from you!
That is not entirely true, she reprimanded herself as she walked along the path. Yosho did leave to fight Ryoko, but he has explained to me that he never intended to take the throne. And as for Tenchi, it is up to him to decide which one of us he wants. Ayeka sighed as she tried to reconcile her feelings. This was obviously going to be harder than she thought it was going to be.
***
"How dumb can I be?" Ryoko asked herself as she sunned on the rooftop. Tenchi had asked them not to fight, and what did she go and do? She tried to nuke Ayeka for making an off hand comment. So much for her self-control.
Ryoko sighed again. Did the princess really irk her that much? Did Ayeka get under her skin so badly that she would let it ruin her chance to get Tenchi? What if she had blown her chance to get Tenchi?
:: Will you cut out the gross self-pity? :: Washu asked across their link. :: I've listened to you mope around for two days now and frankly, as your mother, I am getting tired of it. ::
:: Thanks for the sympathy, MOM!:: Ryoko growled back.
:: Listen dear,:: Washu began, :: moping around is going to do no one any good.::
:: So what are you suggesting?::
:: Go find Ayeka.::
:: I'm sorry,:: Ryoko nearly laughed, :: who are you and what have you done with my mother?::
:: Oh so droll,:: Washu retorted. :: No, I'm serious. Go talk to her. I'm betting she would not turn you down. And who knows? Maybe the two of you can cook up a plan to get Tenchi on another date. ::
:: You have tried our cooking before, haven't you? :: Ryoko asked back playfully.
:: OK. Bad choice of words. Just go and find Ayeka. Got it?::
::If you say so,:: Ryoko replied back as she began to float down from the roof. I don't know how much good it's gonna do.
:: I heard that!:: Ryoko grimaced as Washu let her know she had forgotten to close off her end of the link. Maybe Washu has a point, Ryoko figured as she faded from sight.
***
Five more steps to go! Tenchi thought as his task drew to completion. As per his grandfathers instructions he had spent the past two days of work thinking about what had happened in the woods that day, and he had come to a few realizations.
All right, he had run for his life when Ryoko and Ayeka flew into each other, but the gods only know what will happen when they go at it. Both his father and grandfather had been right. He should have been firmer in the no fighting stipulation. But it was not entirely his fault, nor could it be heaped on either of the girls.
The blame for the failure lay squarely on each of them. Tenchi realized this, and he hoped the girls did as well. There's a thought: the two of them agreeing on something. Tenchi allowed himself a slight laugh as he moved on to the next step. Maybe later we can figure out where the next date will be. But right now Tenchi had only one date in mind, and that was with the men's bath.
***
"Then it is agreed," Ayeka said as she turned to face Ryoko. "We will go and ask Tenchi for a second chance."
"Fine with me," the space pirate added. "We both screwed this up, so we might as well go to him together." I can't believe Washu was right.
::Give your mom some credit,:: Washu whispered to Ryoko, which garnered a slight grin from the space pirate.
"And what are you smiling about?" Ayeka asked.
"Just the fact that the two of us actually agreed on something."
"Maybe we have more in common than we think," Ayeka added, not believing that those words had just come from her mouth.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ryoko said with a slight chuckle.
"Don't think I'm going soft on you," Ayeka said half-heartedly. "Just because I agree with you does not mean that I am going to let you walk away with my Tenchi."
"Your Tenchi?" Ryoko shot back playfully, baring the slightest glimpse of fang. After the two of them traded menacing glances for a moment they broke down into shred laughter. "Come on Princess," Ryoko laughed. "Let's hit the Onsen and share some sake."
"Is all you ever think about is bathing and drinking?" Ayeka asked sarcastically.
"And Tenchi," Ryoko added in.
"Only Ryoko," Ayeka laughed.
*****
"I'm glad that's over with," Tenchi sighed as he pulled a clean shirt on. The shrine steps were polished to his grandfather's satisfaction and he had learned the lesson Katsuhito intended. All that was left for him to do was find the girls and make plans for the next date. Some times fate is makes life easy.
"Tenchi!" Ayeka squeaked as she opened the door to the Onsen. Ryoko stepped in behind the shocked princess and shot Tenchi a wicked smile. Tenchi thanked the gods that both Ayeka and Ryoko were still fully clothed, as was he.
"Come to join us?" Ryoko asked.
"Actually I was just headed out," Tenchi said trying to keep the mental image of Ryoko and Ayeka bathing pushed as far back into his mind as possible. "But I do want to talk with the both of you later."
"Is this a good or bad thing?" Ryoko asked, voicing the fears both she and Ayeka had.
"A good thing," Tenchi promised as he slid the door open. "After dinner, all right?"
"Sounds good to me," Ryoko said.
"Fine here," Ayeka added. With that Tenchi left Ryoko and Ayeka in the baths.
"Do you think he has an idea for a second date?" Ryoko said as she phased out of her clothes.
"Possibly," Ayeka said as she too began to undress. "We will just have to find out after dinner."
****
Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this playful little tale. I appreciate all of the comments and suggestions you have all made. A special thanks goes out to those who corrected my horrid map reading skills from the last chapter. As of now I am thinking about what the next date should be, so if ya'll have any suggestions, drop them in the review box, you just might see it happen. As to who will win out in this story, I really don't know just yet. Any way, just have fun with this one. I am. Later.
William Nichols
