The evening meal started later then usually yet many lowers were missing. Some of them started to appear tardy. Lowers' leaders were displeased by the lack of the discipline yet they kept quiet. Monarchs were busy with their own conversations and didn't pay any attention to the lowers. Taiki, Yaten and Marc started to talk with two older monarchs. They were exchanging their experiences on Middle Planet. Two monarchs didn't seem to be fascinated with this planet. Seiya was listing to them only partially. He was watching incoming people. He had hoped that he would be able to talk to Usagi before the meal, but she hadn't show up. The meal was almost half way through and lowers kept coming in trying to compel as little attentions as possible. Suddenly red headed ikarian peeped trough the doors. He was watching his leader. The leader was sitting turned back to the doors. A group of two centaurs, two ikarians, two human girls and one tiger sneaked in quickly. They ran to the first vacant sits when white-haired leader turned suddenly. Two ikarians and tiger docked quickly under the nearest table.
"Why are you late?" yelled Aso.
"We…" said Cer.
"Don't explain yourself. It doesn't matter. I expect a perfect discipline from my people which includes being on time for meals. I can't tolerate such incompetence. I think that maids who have prepared this meal deserve more respect. If you can't appreciate their hard work you will do it instead of them. You will wash all dishes after this meal. Maybe that will teach you." Centaurs and human girls sighed.
"That includes also the three of you who hid under the table. Get out". No one got out.
"Don't play with me, get out!" Usagi, Erst and tiger crawled from under the table with apologetic faces.
"You've heard what you have to do. Now sit and eat fast. I bet you won't finish dishwashing before the middle of the night."
"Aso, but lowers from other teams are also late and nobody makes a fuss over it." Erst tried to discus with his leader.
"I don't care about others. I am responsible for you and you must learn to be disciplined. If I have to teach you that in a hard way so be it. "
"But Aso…today was day off." Usagi tried to convince him.
"How dear you to disobey me? I think two of you really want to help to prepare tomorrow's breakfast. I think I will accede to your request. One more word and…". Usagi and Erst looked at each other.
"You are right sir we must be more disciplined. Thank you for letting me see it clearly" said Erst and three of them sat near the centaurs. Other lowers were watching them with amusement. "Damn, it's such a bad luck to be in Aso's team" somebody said. The dishwashing team just nodded their heads.
Seiya wasn't able to talk with her once again.
…..
Two centaurs and two ikarians were standing near each other and washing dishes. Human girls and tiger were working on the other side of the kitchen.
"Erst you always get us into trouble," Usagi said with anger.
"I just gave an idea we race. It was you who insisted we should do it."
"Now I can see how stupid your idea was. I know that I should have known but…We were late because of you."
"Too bad you didn't see it before. Late regrets don't count."
"It's all right guys" said Ceiri (centaur girl) with a smile.
"No, it's not all right. It's one of those rare occasions when we can sleep in comfortable beds. I am going to be here washing tons of dishes instead of sleeping in the warm covers all because of him." Usagi said to Erst. "Why Aso has to be so strict?"
"That's ok. Washing dishes reminds us that we are not only soldiers but normal people as well. We fight but the chores of normal humans relate to us. One day we will have families and we will have to do this kind of things. I like to do it though. It calms me down." Ceiri smiled and looked into Erst eyes. He returned the warm look.
"Well I am never going to have a family so I don't have to do it. You can learn by yourself and don't drag others into it"
One of human girls came from the behind unnoticed. She was listening to conversation because she didn't want to interfere. What she had heard surprised her so she spoke.
"Usi, I thought that after this mission you are going to go with Erst and become his mate. I was hoping that one day you two would be the rulers of Northern Ikarian Tribe and you will invite me to stay there for a while!" Four friends jumped.
"Alicia, you shouldn't scare us like that" Usagi said.
"And you shouldn't listen to our conversations" Erst said with anger.
"I didn't want to, but I was just surprised by what I've heard." Usagi laughed nervously and waved her hand.
"Don't listen to me. I'm too bitter sometimes. Hehe. Erst just annoys me. Of course I am going to go with him. Everybody knows that. You see it's because of him we are washing dishes now, so I am kind of dense." Erst nodded and embraced her nervously. They looked at each other awkwardly.
"I see now" girl smiled. "Erst can be annoying at the times." Erst made an angry grimace and his friends laughed. "I came here to tell Erst and Ceiri that we are going to rehearsal tomorrow starting right after breakfast for the great show. Leaders announced that tomorrow would be day off. They want to be proud of us during the great show, which will take place in two days."
"All right we'll be there". Ceiri said and Alicia went.
"Usagi, you must be more careful with what you are saying," Erst whispered with anger.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful. You can count on me." She smiled with apologetic smile.
"We trust you. Four of us together can find the happiness we seek. We must help each other" said Ceiri and put her hand on Usagi shoulders.
"We will make it Ceiri don't worry," Usagi smiled. "Unless I won't be able to stand Erst any longer"
"So we were talking about washing dishes" said Erst trying to change the subject to more casual one.
"I hate it" Usagi answered.
"It's good, I really like it" said Ceiri.
"Whatever we do can bring us closer to God" said Cer who hadn't spoke until this moment.
"Oh please, don't start it again" whispered Erst and two girls looked at him agreeing.
"It doesn't matter what we do," continued centaur "If we do it with focus and if we put all our attention and all our heart into it we will be drawn closer to eternal God's love. God doesn't distinguish what we are we do, he just looks if we do it with good intentions…"
Some kitchen maid yelled to them.
"Hey, better wash dishes instead of talk and you'll finish sooner."
"Yes!" three friends exclaimed.
"God's love..."
"Just shut up" said Erst.
"…is like an ocean that never ends…"
"There is no use Erst, he won't stop once he's started" Ceiri said.
"… ocean that doesn't have a beginning…"
"Let him speak, his word give me the strength." Usagi said with a smile.
…
