A few minutes later, the two were outside the largest "adult" bookstore in town. Ayeka paused while tying a scarf around her head. "Please, Washu," she implored once more, "couldn't you go in and buy the magazines?"

"For the last time, Ayeka, they won't let twelve-year-olds into the store." Washu said testily. "And there are too many people on the street to change to my adult form. Not that I'd want to anyway." she added.

The next few minutes were an experience that no other princess of Jurai was likely to have. Ayeka did not know exactly which magazine she was looking for, and could not bring herself to ask anyone in the store. There was no choice but to leaf through each one until she found the pictures. This brought more bad news: she was in more than one magazine. Once she had the number of magazines that Washu had dictated, Ayeka waited until the counter was clear of other customers, and until her fingers were no longer twitching. Both of these took some time.

Checking that there were no passersby, Ayeka exited the store as rapidly as she could without breaking into a run. She gave a nod of acknowledgement to Washu when the genius scientist asked her if she had been successful, but did not say anything until the two had found a secluded alley to examine the magazines.

"Hmmm." Washu might have been appraising a new species of beetle rather than pictures of Ayeka. "Not printed from film. That means it's a digital image, which could have been made here on Earth, or the original picture could have been converted to a format usable on this planet. Is there any chance this could have come from an actual snapshot of you? Someone sneaking a camera into your Juraian Bridegroom Training lessons?"

"Lady Washu!" Ayeka hissed so as not to attract anyone else. "I keep telling you, that is a vicious rumor--"

"Then someday you'll have to tell me about the actual erotic practices on Jurai . . . and don't tell me there's nothing special." Washu gave Ayeka a penetrating look. The princess sweatdropped. "But to get back to my original question, could these possibly be actual pictures of you?"

Ayeka gave the pictures a careful look. "No. Take my word for it."

"And yet there's no trace of a joining line." Washu had brought out a scanner with a magnifying lens. "I don't think these were made by putting your head on someone else's body. I need to go over these in the lab."

By the time the two cyclists came in view of the house, Ayeka was breathing heavily. But Washu couldn't be sure if it was due to the speed that the princess was traveling at, or wrath against her arch-rival. Whatever the reason, she still had plenty of breath left.

"Ryoko!" Ayeka yelled in a very un-royal manner. "Come out, Ryoko! I know you can hear me!"

"Everyone not struck deaf can hear you," commented Washu.

Ryoko opened the front door, and floated lazily out. "What's got you steamed this time, princess?" she inquired. "It can't be the chores. I've already done mine for the day."

"Aha!" Ayeka fired back. "And when have you ever before done chores ahead of time? You knew what was coming!"

Ryoko gave a start, but kept her face as blank as she could. "And just what was coming?" She asked.

"These!" The princess took the offending magazines out, and began to open the first.

"What's wrong, Ayeka?" Sasami appeared on the front porch, dressed in her usual smock with a large picture of a carrot on the front.

"Nothing!" Ayeka hastily held the magazines behind her back. "Ryoko and I are just having an argument over . . . over . . ."

"Over who's had more practice." Ryoko snickered.

"Practice at what?" Sasami asked.

Ryoko pointedly looked away. "Grown-up things." Ayeka had to say.

"Oh." Sasami turned to the more important aspect. "Are you two going to blow up the house again?"

"We never blew up the house!" Ayeka and Ryoko exclaimed together.

"Just damaged a few parts . . ." Ayeka amended.

"Throwing Ayeka through the roof doesn't count as 'blowing up'." stated Ryoko.

"What's going on?" Tenchi had arrived on the scene. In spite of Ryoko and Ayeka's protests, he clearly was worried about the house being demolished; he had raced to the front porch as fast as he could.

"Tenchi, Ryoko has done something unpardonable." Ayeka announced.

"Me?" Ryoko looked indignant. "Ayeka's trying to blame me for her own vices! Sasami, why don't you go back into the kitchen. I think your big sister is about to make a fool of herself." She shooed the little princess back inside the house.

"That monster-woman has violated my privacy, and brought shame upon the entire house, and further--" Ayeka was building up steam rapidly when Ryoko suddenly teleported behind her. The ex-space pirate snatched the magazines and held them up to Tenchi.

"Oooh, look what Ayeka brought home." Ryoko said. "I guess our princess isn't as pure as she pretends."

Ayeka gave a startled cry, and moved to block Tenchi's view. Too late. Tenchi's eyes went wide open, and his hands flew up to cover his nose, which had started leaking red. Ayeka looked at him, then at Ryoko laughing, and did the only ladylike thing remaining: she fainted to the patio deck.

"Ayeka?" Tenchi called out. He would have rushed over, but he didn't want to get blood on the princess.

"Don't let her fool you with that 'delicate' act, Tenchi!" Ryoko scolded. "Ayeka is tough as leather. And I should know; I've been trying to beat her unconscious for months and months . . ."

"And I really wish you—" Tenchi began.

"Oh, aren't you so sweet to be concerned?" Ryoko sidled up to Tenchi. "But it should be me taking care of you. Just look at your poor nose. Why don't we go inside and you can lie down. In fact, we can lie down together—hey!" Washu had chosen that moment to snatch the magazines in turn.

"Fun's fun, but I need my specimens back now!" announced the pint-sized genius.

"Give those back!" Ryoko snarled. "Tenchi and I weren't through with them yet!"

"Um, yes we were." Tenchi interposed, having managed to get his nose to stop bleeding.

"Aww, Tenchi, I haven't shown you the ones where. . ." Ryoko stopped herself.

"I'll be in my lab." Washu said, turning to go. "If anyone wants me – tough luck." This last was clearly aimed at Ryoko.

"Oh, well," Ryoko turned her attention from the departing Washu to the still unconscious Ayeka. "Want me to wake her up?"

"Why don't I take care of it." said Tenchi.

The sun had gone down, and twilight was fading rapidly. The sound of leather shoes came up the path. "Dad must be home." Tenchi said.

"Please don't let Noboyuki have seen any of the pictures." Ayeka prayed over and over.

The front door slid open, and Noboyuki stepped inside. In each of his nostrils was a small wad of tissue, stained red. His briefcase bulged noticeably larger than usual.

"What's going on, Dad?" Tenchi asked.

"Oh, I hit my nose on the door leaving the office." Noboyuki said unconvincingly. "Um . . . why is Miss Ayeka on the floor?"

"Honestly," Ryoko commented, "How many times in one day can that girl faint?"

"Hello, father Noboyuki." Sasami leaned her head into the doorway. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. My, it looks like you've brought a lot of work home."

"Work. . .yes!" Noboyuki nodded. "I'll have to get on it right after dinner." Tenchi suspected that his father would work primarily on hiding what he had brought home. Sasami also looked thoughtful.