Arex felt branches and rocks poking into her back, and opened her eyes. The sun blared in her face and her head began to spin; with a groan, she closed her eyes again and rolled on her side.

She was vaguely aware that she was somewhere in a forest; the branches underneath her told her that. It was probably about midday, but other than that she knew nothing. It seemed that all she remembered was her name. Suddenly, a female voice cut through her thoughts.

"Alright, alright! I'm going! Would you stop pushing? I said I'm going! Jeeze, they're so frustrating."

Arex panicked when she heard the sound of footsteps and twigs snapping getting louder. Whoever that person was, she was coming her way. She wasn't actually sure if she should be worried or not, for there was no way to tell if she was hostile. Nonetheless, there was still the possibility.

In an effort to appear more formidable in case the approaching being was an enemy, Arex gathered her strength and attempted to stand. She got about halfway there, but then sank down to her knees. Her head felt like someone was setting off firecrackers inside it, and her energy level was at about zero. Just then, the other girl broke through the bushes.

On seeing someone lying around in the bushes looking like something the cat dragged in, in a part of the forest where she had never seen anyone new appear before, the blue haired person that had appeared in the clearing where Arex lay was quite astonished. "W…what the hell?" she asked.

"Ugn…" Arex tried to speak, but found that her voice was not working properly.

"Wow, you look like you have a major hangover," the blue-haired girl commented. "I know that feels; why don't you come with me and I can fix ya up? I think we could arrange a meal, too. You hungry?"

Arex looked up at her, astonished. Here was a complete stranger—one who didn't even look like the type to have sympathy for people—and she was offering help. And better yet, some food. Arex felt like she hadn't eaten in months. She somehow found her voice again, and spoke.

"R...really?"

"Yeah, why not? You look like you could use it."

"You didn't…seem like the type…"

"Huh?"

"You know…to help people out…"

The blue-haired girl's expression changed rather quickly. "Oh, you think so, do you! Well, after I offer you help—which I rarely do, mind you—you go and complain now, huh! Well then you can just lie there in the mud, for all I care!"

"No wait, that's not what I—"

A male voice interrupted. "Ryoko! Where are you? Does it really take that long to fetch the laundry?"

The girl, which Arex suspected to be Ryoko, reached out her hand. "Get up, squirt. Tenchi will be mad if I just leave you out here…"

Confused, Arex took her hand and Ryoko pulled her to her feet. Despite the fact that her head was pounding and her feet were sore, she tried her best to keep up with Ryoko when she darted off through the woods.

Slices of light crept through the canopy of leaves and cast eerie shadows on the girls blue hair. "R…Ryoko?" Arex ventured.

She looked back at her. "What now?"

"Where are we?"

Ryoko looked at her like she was insane. "Wow, you must have drunk a lot."