Chapter 44: 'What are Rivals for?'

Ryoko carefully slid the door open, glanced left, right, then just for good measure leaned impossibly backward. Defying gravity just shy of bringing both feet off the floor as she surveyed the darkened corridor behind to either side.

"The coast is clear!" She whispered gleefully, having no real idea what that saying had to do with someone lurking about but when in Rome...

Thinking 'that' in turn set her to 'thinking' which made her pause.

"Whoo boy!" She grumbled shaking her head, thinking. "Ayeka and her damn slang!"

It was damn annoying. With the princess's incessant repeating of 'earth sayings' in an attempt to humanize herself! Which In Ryoko's firm opinion just made Ayeka look like a damn fool! Worse still, was the notion, now she was doing it too!

Fading out momentarily, she re-materialized righting herself just inside the bathroom, closing the door then cackling as she made strait for the toilet.

"Heh, heh! Alright!" Ryoko chortled. Opening the tank, deftly removed her six pack.

It had been one hell of a long ass day and oh boy! Was she ready!

Seating herself upon 'the thrown', popping the top on her personal scepter, the lady Ryoko prepared to get royally blitzed! Knowing if caught she'd be toast!

But Mayuka was asleep, the house was quiet and DAMN IT! she'd earned it. Literally!

After all she bought the sake with her own cash and she was going to drink it by god! Just so long as Tenchi didn't find out!

Sighing with expected pleasure bringing can to her lips, just as the door was suddenly flung open! Startled Ryoko whipped the incriminating can behind her, phasing it and just enough of her hand, into the wall behind to release. Distantly hearing it fall wetly atop what was most likely a good size pile accumulating between the sheet rock.

"Hey!" She snapped at the intruder. "Ocupodo!" Ryoko's voice trailed off, her mouth falling open.

Ayeka stared back at her, eyes brimming with barely restrained tears though long dark mascara trails down her beautiful face testified volumes. As did the thinnest robe Ryoko could ever recall seeing the princess wear.

"RYOKO!" Ayeka suddenly sobbed, stumbling forwards almost falling, burying her face against Ryoko's startled lap.

"Hey." She whispered tenderly, hand instant falling to tentatively touch, then to stroking the princesses' hair. Feeling well ... just a little stupid like always at times like these. Dumbfounded the ex-space pirate responded, the only way she could think.

"What's wrong?"

Ayeka tried to respond, taking in one ragged gulp of air she lifted her face.

When their eyes met whatever was gnawing at her soul just brimmed over and she just began to cry anew unable to hold it in. Ryoko bent, gathering herself against Ayeka and held on.

"S'ok kid." She said quietly. "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere!"

That seemed only to trigger a new round of sobbing. Not knowing what else she could do Ryoko just held tight and helped Ayeka weather the storm.

"Shh, shh, shh," She sighed. "It's ok sweetie."

After several moments, during which Ryoko dutifully passed wave after wave of toilet tissue for Ayeka's nose, the princess at long last found the power to speak somewhat coherently.

"We, We've lost him!" Ayeka sobbed at last.

"Wha?" Ryoko startled, wondering what Ayeka was talking about? Had she found out about Her and Tenchi? But what did she mean by we?"

"He's he's," She tried to get it out, failed, swallowed then drew a deep breath.

"I saw him in the Olsen with Kiyone!" Ryoko just stared uncomprehendingly.

"Duh! Ayeka!" She chuckled after a moment. Feeling relieved and more than a little guilty because of it. She'd been worried Ayeka had found out about yesterday.

"They always go there after a workout!" She muttered darkly. "Tried to join in once but they threw me out!"

"NO!" Ayeka Actually yelled. "He was ... with her!"

There was a long pause as the statement just hung in the air. Ryoko just continued to stare blankly at the princess, blinking.

"Come again?" She finally asked, smiling.

"I caught them naked on top of each other!" Ayeka wailed, eyes burning.

Ryoko however just sat there still staring, still smiling.

"I'm just not following this." She muttered. Maybe it was just how she had said it? After all only one of them could be on...

"DAMN IT RYOKO!" Ayeka cried over clenched fists. "They were having sex!!"

Ryoko blinked again, mainly due to just not being used to hearing Ayeka swear, even mildly. But then as the statement finally began to sink in her face clouded over.

"Son of a bitch." She finally mouthed. Now her brain was really whirling.

"That's impossible!" She hissed. "He, he'd never!"

"I know what I saw!" Ayeka sniffed quietly seem more under control, Almost as if the admission had cleared her mind. "They were at the edge of the pool, she was flat on her back, her legs open and he was..." She faltered unable to continue.

Ryoko seem to distantly feel her self-slump, her own anger start to rise.

"Bastard..." She muttered quietly. Thinking of yesterday morning standing in the entry hall, of the things he said, what he did.

Just like that, Ryoko felt a calm pass over her. His smile, his eyes, Oh god, those eyes! Knowing right then and there she believed, she Knew! Tenchi 'd never betray their love. "Did you see his cock?" She asked Ayeka suddenly.

"What?"

"I said, did you see Tenchi's cock?" Ryoko gazing levelly at the princess.

"What kind of a sick, question is that for you to ask me?" Ayeka sniffed.

Ryoko sighed. She wasn't certain herself. But...

"Ayeka," She began. Then paused. "How shall I put this?" It took a moment trying to imagine someway what she was about to say could be worded so not to further damage the princesses already bruised ego.

"Ok, sweetie you're still a virgin. Am I right?" Er, that wasn't it.

"WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ANY OF THIS?" Ayeka stormed blushing lividly in spite of herself.

"And ... you love Tenchi? Am I right about that?" Ryoko asked, while ultimately thinking, "That has got to be about the most stupid question I have ever asked!"

"You know! Good and well what my feelings are!" Ayeka hissed.

"Answer me." Ryoko calmly pressed. "Do you LOVE him?!"

"YES! DAMN YOU!!"

"Ok! Well, my point is..." She said, then paused again.

"If, never having seen a 'shlong' before," She emphasized mildly. "If you'd seen Tenchi's, the sight would be burned into your mind."

"What?"

"YOU'D REMEMBER IF YOU SAW HIS DICK!" Ryoko told her forcefully.

"I, I." The princess stammered.

"So," Ryoko asked after a moment or two. "Did you?"

"Well." Ayeka hesitated. "I'm not quite..."

"DID YOU?"

"No." She said at last. Suddenly feeling oddly ashamed of her self.

"So, at the very worst." Ryoko told her with no trace of smugness to her voice.

"He was copping a feel, I rest my case."

Privately however she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

"How can you be so damn casual about it?" Ayeka snapped.

"I just..." She smiled, reaching behind her. "Believe in him! The rest is easy."

Her hand returned holding another can, which Ryoko deftly opened and handed to Ayeka.

"Here, have a blast." She offered firmly. Slightly agog Ayeka alternately regarded first can then Ryoko.

'Uh..." She grimaced slightly.

"Com'on!" Ryoko sighed, bringing the can within inched of Ayeka's lips. "You know you want it!"

"You just took that out of the toilet!"

"It was in the tank!" Ryoko gruffed. "Not like anybody peed on it!"

"It's still out of the toilet!"

"So?" She waved the can gently, hypnotically, beckoning.

"Doh! What the hell!" Ayeka coughed. Snatching and chugged. Half a can later. She came up for air.

"Way ta go!" Ryoko exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.

"This is so nasty!" The princess swore making a face. "Why on earth do you buy such cheap sake?" She paused raising an eyebrow. "Or have I answered my own question?"

"By the way?" Ryoko asked, un-phased by the intended sarcasm. "How did you know where to find me?"

"Oh?" Ayeka said, seeming surprised by the question. "Well, everyone knows this is where you come to do your drinking?"

"W-Wh-WHAT!" Ryoko exclaimed opened mouthed. "Since when?"

"Well..." Ayeka pondered seeming to actually devote thought to the subject. "At least since the house was rebuilt last time."

"So much for my 'slick dick' of the year award!" Ryoko thought darkly.

"What are we going to do Ryoko?" Ayeka asked suddenly after another long pull from her can.

"About what?" Ryoko asked, seeming distracted, thinking...

"Well, I guess there's always the tool shed or the green house..."

Just then the princess's question seemed to percolate.

"OH! Y-You mean about Tenchi and stuff?"

"What else would I be referring to?" She huffed.

"Why the hell are you ask'n me Ayeka?" Ryoko snipped, feeling that guilty feeling rising again. "I always thought we were, you know? Rivals?"

The princess paused growing very quiet. Ayeka then sat carefully down on the edge of the bathtub regarding Ryoko, her eyes turning soulful.

"It is strange isn't it?" She said after a long few minutes thought.

"I'm not really sure I can answer. I suppose, I've become accustomed, even comfortable with you!" Ayeka paused, letting the revelation and its moment quietly linger.

"You know Ryoko," She continued. "I even got used to the thought," She swallowed.

"The idea that I could lose him!" Ayeka leaned closer.

"But if I did, I still had the satisfaction of knowing it would be someone, deserving of him. Someone I knew and maybe even respected." The princess continued to regard her, tears again forming.