Chapter Six: Dinnertime
"Can you pass the sake?" Ryoko asked Sasami, leaning over to reach the bottle that Sasami handed her.
"I think that we should have waited for Grandpa." Tenchi sighed.
"Nonsense Tenchi dear, "Ryoko assured taking a swig of the sake, "He said he wasn't hungry." Ryoko disappeared and reappeared with her arms around Tenchi's neck.
"Tenchi, why don't you have some sake with me?" She smiled, her amber yellow eyes glinting devilishly.
"No way Ryoko." Tenchi said bluntly.
"Hey you!" Ayeka yelled," Get off Lord Tenchi!"
"Leave us alone, can't you see we're in love, princess prissy pants?" Ryoko teased.
"Now you see here!" Ayeka shouted standing up angrily.
"Ladies, ladies. Please calm down." Nobouki smiled.
"Keep out of this!" Ayeka snapped.
"Hey, don't talk to my future father-in-law like that!" Ryoko warned, also standing up now.
"Future father-in-law? Don't make me laugh"
"Would you two please be quiet?" Tenchi interrupted angrily. "Now please just sit down and eat your meal. And Ryoko, please don't drink so much sake, we can't control you when you're drunk."
"I never get drunk." Ryoko pouted.
"Oh yes you do, you vicious mummy-woman!" Ayeka retorted.
"ENOUGH!" Tenchi shouted. The table fell silent.
The two girls sat down but stared at each other with evil eyes.
"So, Ryoko, where were you all afternoon?" Washu asked without taking her eyes from her meal.
"I..."
"Yes, good question, Miss. Washu. Where were you?" Ayeka repeated.
"I.. I.. I really erm... "Ryoko trailed off.
"Ryoko, we all want to know. You have been leaving every morning and don't come back till late. We need to know where you keep disappearing off to. " Tenchi agreed, leaving all eyes on Ryoko.
"Look, I don't have to tell you anything!" She slammed her chopsticks and bowl on the table before floating up in the air and disappeared up into her room.
"Well, that was different." Ayeka remarked sarcastically.
"You shouldn't be so hard on her." Sasami sighed.
"Oh, and why not?" Ayeka queried.
"I hear her crying at night you know." Sasami said, as she collected the plates.
"Crying?" Tenchi repeated .
"Yep." Washu agreed, "She's been crying a lot lately...in private of course."
"And just how do you know this?" Ayeka shouted.
"I have my ways." Washu smiled pointing to her head.
Tenchi sighed. "I don't see why she can't tell us why though. I wonder where she goes?"
"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki joined in, nibbling a carrot. Suddenly the half-cat, half-rabbit dropped the carrot and it rolled off the table. Ryo-Ohki jumped onto all fours and began hissing and spitting with her fur on end.
"What's wrong, girl?" Sasami cried as she came through from the kitchen.
The front door burst open with a crash and a figure loomed in the doorway.