I sat on my couch and gazed absently into the TV screen. I was hypnotized by its repetitive commercials and episodes I'd already seen. Ryoko slid her lithe form down beside me and curled up, amber-hued orbs gazing just as absently as mine into the screen. I looked down to her and studied her body, curled up on the couch, so seemingly innocent and loving. "Ryoko………I know this may sound strange, but you already mean a lot to me. Even that dream you gave me last night was enough to show me that. I'm not sure if that's all it was, but I think………I……" I looked down and sighed, unsure if I could say what I needed to say. This was crazy! How could I feel this way so soon? I just met her. Yet I knew. I loved her. "Tenchi………" she began, her gaze shifting to me. "I think there's something I should explain to you, because I think………" Before her sentence was completed, a loud airy sound could be heard, like a severe shifting of winds. "Ayeka………" she said softly, quickly standing and closing her eyes, her body disappearing into the winds. "Ryoko?!" I stood and looked all around the room, still hearing the loud noise of what sounded like a helicopter. I ran outside to my deck and looked outward into the field, eyes widening at the vision of a very complex airship, lowering itself to the ground slowly. Ryoko stood before it, her long hair and skirts swaying gracefully. When she ship had lowered completely, silver light came forth from an opening in the ship's wall. A platform descended slowly, and the engine of the ship was shut off. The quiet of the air was unlike any silence ever experienced before. Not a sound was made as the empty silver light was clouded by a shadowed figure. The figure moved forward towards Ryoko. Ryoko's expression remained blank until the figure gained more defined shape and attributes. "Ryoko Hakubi........." the voice of a young woman resounded in the silence. The voice was sweet and soft, though in the serious moment it seemed distressed. As the woman came closer, her long robes glistened in the sunlight. "Princess Ayeka………" was Ryoko's response. She bowed to the ground, the imperial goddess approaching her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come up, my love. I will never allow you to lower yourself to me again. Well. Not in that way." She smiled seductively and gently pulled Ryoko up to her. The princess was quite the opposite of Ryoko in her appearance, first with her rose-colored eyes, large and expressive. Her form was slightly shorter, though her skin just as pale and smooth. Her hair was long in the back, split into 2 sections that hung down her back and all the way to her ankles, lightly flowing in the breeze, while a second section of hair was cut above the 2 long strands, curling inward about her chin and leaving full, puffed bangs. The royal lady had adorned herself in elaborate robes, flowing all about her body in an array of many colors and fabrics. She appeared like an angel, her eyes so loving as their gaze fell upon Ryoko. I looked on in confusion as the two continued with their greeting. Ryoko seemed somewhat intimidated by the princess, as anyone would be, but by the way that the woman seemed so familiar to her, one would think a warmer approach would be expected on Ryoko's part. "Princess. How did you find me?" Ryoko asked, her eyes lingering upon the ground, never looking to meet her superior's. "I have my ways. So many." Ayeka said, running a sleek hand down Ryoko's back, as if it were the first time they had touched, though I would assume differently. Ayeka could sense Ryoko's barrier of formalities. She moved her hand to her cheek, almost forcing Ryoko to look at her. "Did you not want to come home to me?" Ayeka asked, slightly tilting her head. At this point, I was more confused than upset that the woman I loved had a………girlfriend. I didn't understand any of what was going on. I stood back from them, and continued to observe. "Yes, my princess………I wanted to come home to you more than anything. But home to Jurai meant more of the same………I am never treated normally there. I wanted to be somewhere else. Somewhere where no one would know who I was. Where I could be accepted, and not have anyone judge me based on my gifts. Not put me through anymore testing." Ryoko continued to look up to her, eyes illuminated with passion and anger. The more I heard, the less I understood. I stepped forward a bit, so perhaps the princess would notice me without blasting me with an imperial big blasty thing. Who knows what they have hidden in those huge robes. In my timid way, I approached them, saying nothing, but stepping forward. Ayeka nodded in my direction, and looked to Ryoko. "Who is this? Your bodyguard?" She questioned, looking me over. Ryoko was blushing and speechless, and Ayeka noticed. "…I see. So this is why you didn't come home! You………I thought you were true to me, Ryoko. I never thought you would disobey me. Dishonor me!" Ayeka's eyes blazed like an inferno, as she gazed into Ryoko's eyes. Ryoko had a look of innocence and apology, still moving her eyes from Ayeka's fiery glare. "No, my love. He means nothing to me. I promise you. He only kept me in his house while I was in danger. Isn't that right?" Ryoko looked to me and expected an answer from me. I couldn't believe this. Maybe it was the truth. Maybe she didn't care about me at all. Still, it burned me, and I wanted to tell Ayeka that we had made passionate love on the roof, but I couldn't bring myself to lie about Ryoko in any way. I really did love her. "………Yes. That's right. I took her in as a guest." I bowed to the princess as I spoke these words, but she came to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. She giggled, with a hand over her mouth, politely. "No need for such formality. I only have one request of you." She said. I stood and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. What is that?" I asked. "That you allow me to stay with you and miss Ryoko tonight. You see, I'm quite tired after such a long trip………Can you accommodate just one more?" She asked, smiling sweetly. I nodded. "Well, I don't have an extra---" She placed her hand up. "Bed? That won't be necessary." A rather scheming smirk came across her face as she made this proclamation, moving her body behind Ryoko's and sliding her hands to embrace her lightly. "Come now. We have to make up for lost time, now don't we, Ryoko?" Ayeka's smile only grew more sinister as she held to her lover tightly. "Yes, princess. We must make up for so much………" Ryoko narrowed her amber-hued eyes and looked to me as they flashed a slightly lighter color, then returned to their normal state. She then took Ayeka's hand and led her toward my home, and away from me.