Liliana cautiously poured the contents of the vial into Lady Ayeka's teacup. Just four drops, otherwise it might have noticeable side effects, Black had said. And Tsunami knew, she didn't want to hurt the Empress in any way.
Suddenly, a hand descended upon her shoulder. "Mind telling me what you're doing?" Pale, the lady-in-waiting looked behind and up. A tall woman stood over her.
Liliana was no fool. She, like every citizen of Jurai, had been enrolled in the empire's excellent school system as a child. She had avidly scanned her history texts, and had watched the recommended historical vids. There was only one known individual with the same untamable cyan mane, golden eyes, and fanged smile to match that of the woman she faced.
Ryoko. The demon of whom parents spoke to scare their children into behaving. The monster that had nearly destroyed the entire empire.
The woman that had helped Lord Tenchi to save that self-same empire not so long ago.
"I . . ."
"I think we need to have a little talk." And grabbing her arms, Ryoko –it could only have been teleportation- instantly brought Liliana to a large, beautiful room. "Washu! I caught one!"
A diminutive redhead turned from her study of some machine. "One what? Because I'm not keeping any pets in here." Liliana recognized the woman as Washu Hakubi, yet another of the infamous individuals that had helped Lord Tenchi. "Wait. I remember you. You're that little maid Ayeka likes so much." Washu's eyes narrowed. "Ryoko, what exactly did you catch her at?"
The demoness deposited Liliana on the floor, at which point her legs failed her and she sank to her knees. "She was putting something in Ayeka's tea. The way she was being all sneaky and stuff made me suspicious."
Washu sighed. "I don't suppose you brought that "something" with you, hmm? For all you know, it could have been a real medicine or something of that sort."
"Well, I-"
"No, wait!" Liliana reached out to both of the women standing over her. If they truly were, as she now believed from their words, trying to help the Emperor and Empress, the very least she could do was help them. And maybe, just maybe, they could help her, as well. Tears found their way down her face as she told them of the plot she had been led into, what she had since discovered, and anything else of use that she could think of.
Washu and Ryoko looked at each other. "Think she's telling the truth?"
"Think she has any reason not to?" Washu bent down to stare Liliana in the face. "I know who you are, and who your family is. If you're lying, or if you betray us, we'll come after all of you, and it won't be pretty."
Liliana gulped and nodded wildly. "I don't want to hurt anybody. I never did! I didn't know, I really didn't! But . . . I can't let him hurt my family. The dishonor of knowing what I've done would ruin them, should it come out."
Ryoko ran a hand over her mane. "This thing just keeps getting bigger. Well, nothing to be done now." She too knelt down. "Any chance you could identify Black or the others for us?"
Liliana shook her head in doubt. "Only Black knows. We always wear masks. I could maybe recognize voices, but that's about it."
Washu and Ryoko exchanged another of those long looks. It was as if they were communicating in some way Liliana couldn't hear. After a bit, Washu reached into a pocket and presented the young lady-in-waiting with a small device. "You can use this to get in touch with me if you've got anything that can help us. Other then that, don't tell anyone -and I mean anyone- about us. Got it?" After Liliana's nod, she said, "For now, I want Ryoko to bring that potion to me. I'll give you something else to put in the Empress's tea that will counteract it, and this "Black" character will never know. Take her back, Ryoko."
"Okay. Ready to go?" So saying, Ryoko grabbed Liliana by the shoulder and the room was replace by more familiar surroundings. "Here we go." She knelt down and picked up the bottle Liliana had dropped in her surprise. "I'll get this back to you as soon as Washu plays around with it. Just remember; keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut." And she faded from sight, leaving Liliana to go about the rest of her duties.
* * *
Ayaka Jurai, Empress of the Juraian Empire, sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, wishing that, for the space of only five minutes, she could shrug off the duties of her position as easily as she would take off a robe. It was true; she was a good ruler and she knew it. The Empire had flourished under her two-year rule. She loved the intricacies of court life: the rituals, the intrigues and little plots, the joy of figuring out the best plans of action for the betterment of her people. But sometimes, as her advisors sniped at each other across the table or her courtiers looked down their noses at her Consort, she longed for the simplicity of Terra.
She missed the rustic smells the hills, the soothing peace of Yosho's temple…
The chance to forget her upbringing, to just act like a normal being and fight with Ryoko, even if she had usually been the one to get the worst of those little battles. Oh, to hear Tenchi groaning in annoyance and frustration as they destroyed the house once again! To be able to sniffle in her all-too-proper-and-helpless manner that it was that ungracious demon-woman, not her, who had started the fight!
It was funny how much two years could change a person.
Now, Lady Ayeka was the conscientious authority, responsible for solving the hurts and problems of billions of individuals.
She sighed. Now she was the one criticized and worried over. Because, after two years of marriage, she still had yet to produce a viable heir. And her courtiers and advisors were making her life, and Tenchi's, absolutely miserable because of it. She had just come from a meeting where an ambassador from one of the Empire's most powerful planets had tried to coerce her into signing documents that would pass control of the Empire into his family's hands should she die without a heir of her body.
Ayeka groaned and rested her head between elegant hands. What to do? At one time, she would have ignored her own feelings for the sake of propriety. She would have demanded that Tenchi return to her bed and do his duty for the sake of hers. Now, however, the very idea horrified her. She would no more force Tenchi (or herself, for that matter) to engage in what should be such a deeply emotional and loving act then she would order Sasami to choose a match. She wouldn't. She couldn't.
A throbbing headache was pounding its way through her skull. The events of recent days were becoming too much. The disappearance of the power gems from the Tenchi-ken, Ryo-oki's return, the attempted poisoning… They fit together somehow; every instinct she possessed screamed that fact. But she couldn't, by the Blood of Tsunami, figure out how! And this headache had been plaguing her for days now, and nothing she took seemed to fix it.
"So serious, my daughter?"
The eternally youthful voice brought Ayeka's head up with a gasp. At the sight before her, the purple-tressed empress jumped to her feet, unsure whether to curtsy or invite Tsunami for a cup of tea.
Tsunami chuckled, and Ayeka flushed, realizing that the goddess quite likely knew every thought passing through her head. "Divinity, I-."
"A cup of tea would be rather lovely, but I'm afraid Sasami will wake from her nap soon, so I have little time for pleasantries."
Ayeka nodded cautiously. "Then there is something you wish to tell me, Divinity?"
The goddess of life floated forward, and cupped the empress's cheek with one perfect hand. "Your pain and frustration called to me as a babe to its mother." The implications of that particular metaphor made Ayeka wince, and Tsunami nodded once, her endless eyes sympathetic and grave. "You need a child for your empire, but will not make your husband father one."
Ayeka nodded as well. "I love Tenchi, but I've come to realize that my love for him is the love of a sister, not of a wife and lover. There can be no offspring between us, ever. With Sasami, there is at least one of the blood should anything happen to us, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you how imperfect an answer that is."
Tsunami looked elsewhere, at something Ayeka knew no mortal could comprehend. "Sasami would chafe under the duties of Empress, and the courtiers would be very unhappy at having their goddess as their ruler."
Ayeka gestured helplessly. "We love you, Divinity. You don't need me to tell you that. But the idea of a ruler with such power, who could potentially know their every thought and action…"
The goddess looked back at her, and smiled. "There are movements in the collective worlds, both of the living, unliving, and eternal, that will come to a head soon. Even I cannot tell what will come to pass, for there are others of my family who desire to interfere."
"Your family?" Tsunami had a family? As in other gods, or goddesses? This was news to Ayeka, and she wondered what that knowledge would mean to the entire assembly of religious worship, should Tsunami choose to reveal it to the rest of the world. The idea made the empress in her sit up and rub her hands together in delight over the implications.
"Yes, my family. I did not will myself into being alone, but with others. But that is not for you to know yet. For now, know that there are forces working for your sake, and for the sake of your Consort and of the entire Empire. And do not forget, you have my protection and love at all times." The goddess closed her wondrous eyes for a moment. "Sasami wakes, and I must go. Be well, my Daughter."
She faded from sight, and Ayeka sat down on the nearest surface. Damn it, why was it that, every time she encountered the Goddess, or anyone else who should know what was going on, that she was left with more questions then she began with?
* * *
Ryoko? Washu called to her daughter through their unique mind-bond and waited patiently for an answer. These little rules of conduct sometimes became cumbersome, she mused, but absolutely necessary if she was to retain Ryoko's full trust. Gone were the days of thoughtless intrusion.
Yes? With her answer, Ryoko allowed her end of the link to open completely, allowing Washu to see exactly what she was up to. Yet again, Ryoko was poring over the photo album she had received. It was as if she thought she could regain the memories by simply absorbing the images into her mind. Yet another thing, Washu thought, which she needed to figure out how to fix.
I've analyzed the contents of Liliana's little brew. Just thought you'd like to know.
Yeah? Ryoko closed the book and sat up to give her mother her full attention. She curled her legs up and crossed them beneath her, then rested one elbow on a knee and leaned her cheek into the hand. It was a position that Washu knew she herself often assumed. She wondered if Ryoko knew just how alike they were, sometimes. Shoot.
It's an anti-fertility drug.
She watched as a pained expression passed over Ryoko's face and felt her turmoil. Washu knew very well what the thought of Ayeka sharing intimacy with Tenchi brought to her offspring. She couldn't do much except send soothing feelings of comfort and love through their link. Although Ryoko remained silent, Washu could feel her gratitude for the support.
Why would they… oh. Anti-fertility means no heir, which means upset and uncertainty in the Empire.
Washu nodded. Got it in one, daughter-mine. I've replaced the potion with a placebo that won't affect Ayeka in any way whatsoever, so you can return the bottle to Liliana when you've got a free moment. Although…
Ryoko picked up on the momentary feelings of puzzlement. What's wrong?
Well, I'm not really sure. Washu stared at the readout on her screen. There are traces of something else in the potion's chemical makeup. Problem is, I can't identify them, and I'm pretty certain I've got records of every substance in the known universe. And I mean every substance. It really worries me that I can't figure this out. The anti-fertility drug is a political problem, but it wouldn't actually hurt Ayeka. This other stuff, though…
Ryoko hastened to reassure her mother. Well, Ayeka seems fine to me, and you can keep an eye on her for a while. And since I caught the little maid before she'd put it in Miss Priss's tea too many times, I'm sure Ayeka will be fine.
I hope so, little girl. I certainly hope so.
* * *