Chapter 77: Sasami's Heart

"Sis?" Sasami called quietly, knocking softly at the door. "You still awake?"

In the darkness beyond Ayeka turned, in a way grateful for the intrusion. Try as she may, sleep simply would not come. She had lain for what seemed like hours, wrestling with her conscience. Listening to the sounds of house surrounding her.

It had taken every ounce of will she could muster not to rise and follow, when she'd heard Tenchi's soft foot steps. Growing fainter and fainter as she noted his leaving earlier. Obviously, on a late rendezvous with Ryoko.

She had decided, right then and there she was going to leave them in peace! Ayeka only wished she actually felt noble about it. Her pillow was positively damp from nobility. Some portion of her, even now was refusing to let go.

"What do you want Sasami?" Ayeka responded, hoping her voice wouldn't betray how distraught she truly was.

In the hallway, Sasami paused. Wondering if she shouldn't just back away. Ayeka sounded upset.

"Gee! I wonder why?" She instantly chided herself.

"Sis..." Sasami called firmly, in close to a normal tone of voice. "I'm coming in."

When no objection immediately came her way, Sasami carefully slid open the door. Pausing to glance inwards. The lance of low light from the hallway, more than enough to reveal her older sister's red rimmed eyes.

"Awww Ayeka..." Sasami whispered walking forward, and kneeling beside her sister's futon. "Have you been crying in the dark all this time?" Even to her it seemed like a stupid question. Looking at her sister's condition however snappy banter was the furthest thing from her mind.

Sasami herself had awoken a short while ago from a restless sleep. Blissful however in that no visions had intruded ... except.

She'd a vague recollection, just a fleeting image really. Herself walking through a huge maternity ward, thousands of screaming babies all about her. Each infant identical with hair and eye color exactly matching her own. Disturbing as that sliver of semi-consciousness had been, seeing her sister in such a state as she was had to be worse.

"Don't make a fuss." Ayeka forced a smile, "I'm just having a little difficulty dealing with all of this!" Gingerly she reached out and stroked Sasami's concerned face. "How are you holding up?"

"I feel like shit!" Sasami instantly rasped. Her eyes then widened just as quickly. It had just slipped out! Briefly she considered, promising to curb her future use of language. It had gotten a little out of hand recently. After all, if there was a paragon to the notion that 'swearing did not equate maturity' it would have to be dear Ryoko.

"Eloquently put." Ayeka smiled understandingly, patting her sister's head. "I can't seem to stop myself wondering where they are." She then added.

"Probably Ryoko's cave?" Sasami shrugged noncommittally, feeling slightly guilty over, she'd checked Tenchi's room already. Finding of course that he was no where to be seen. "It'd be the one place Tenchi'd think, we'd never think of." She added.

"He's sooo predictable!" Ayeka actually laughed. "But to take her there!" She mildly groused. "Oh! How unromantic!"

"Yeah." Sasami sighed. "Poor Ryoko!" The mere utterance of the name was more than enough to silence them both.

"Sis?" Sasami ventured slowly after a moment. "I wanted to tell you, how sorry I am about the way I spoke to you the other day?"

In the darken room Ayeka flashed a gentle smile.

"As Tenchi might say, 'We both said some things'," She told her mildly. "Let's let the past be just that."

"You give'n any thought bout what's next?" Sasami asked after another moment.

"I think I shall just go home." Ayeka breathed, then paused waiting for a reaction from her sister. The only surprise forth coming was that Ayeka herself wasn't startled by Sasami's lack of reaction. "You knew?" She asked.

"I suspected." Sasami made a face. "Your kind'a predictable yourself sis ... No offense."

"None taken..." Ayeka smiled. "And you?" She watched as Sasami mildly started, Seeming to consider the question for a moment. Her sister then appeared to collect herself, siting back on her heels, regally straitening.

"I'm staying..." Sasami sighed then stopped, "For now." She added. Thinking back on her dreams of the last few days, wondering how much she should tell her sister. "I think, I might be needed here." She concluded.

"How will you be able to stand it?" Ayeka asked wonderingly, Genuinely concerned. "Mooning over them everyday?" In the darkness, Sasami smiled and winked.

"Who says I'll be mooning over Tenchi?" She laughed. "Few years from now little Taro ought to be old enough."

"Sasami." Ayeka hissed, trying to look reproachful, only succeeding in rolling her eyes.

"Wouldn't be the first time someone in this family robed the cradle." Sasami mildly shrugged.

"Goodnight Sasami!" Ayeka gasped, laying back and covering her head.

"Goodnight sis." Sasami told her, leaning forward and kissing Ayeka's covered forehead. She then gracefully rose to her feet. Moving carefully to the door. "I don't know why," She smiled, turning to look back. "But talking to you always seems to help big sis! I feel better somehow."

"Me too." Ayeka said, uncovering to gaze fondly. "Thank you," She added then paused. Realizing perhaps, for the first time in a long while just how important Sasami was to her. "My sweet little sister." Ayeka amended with genuine feeling.

Blushing at the moment, wiping away a tear, Sasami turned and left the room. closing the door behind her.

Standing in the hall beyond, Sasami sighed. Things were certainly complicated right now. She hated seeing Ayeka upset like this, wishing for some way to keep everything from flying apart as it certainly seemed was about to happen. It was so frustrating! All the power she could tap. And yet to be helpless, when it really mattered! There were times, she almost wished she'd never heard the name...

"Tenchi?" Sasami asked suddenly seeing his head peeking into view at corridors end. His eye's widening slightly upon recognition. Obviously surprised to see her still up and about. He paused, almost, it seemed to her wishing he could turn around and head the other way.

"I don't bite." She offered, almost a tired whisper. At his end of the hall Tenchi was grinding his teeth. He was still so 'keyed up' over Ryoko he just didn't need a dose of Sasami right now. Especially the way she looked at the moment! Where the hell did she get that? He never remembered seeing her in that nightshirt before. The long sensuous stems of her legs where almost hypnotic, beckoning to him.

"Sorry." He told her, finally moving forward. "I'm just," He paused. "A little tired." Not willing to let him off that easy Sasami stepped quickly forwards, placing her hand on his door frame barring the way.

"Ryoko wore you out?" She asked cattily. Some portion of her feeling he deserved it for being so obviously evasive with her. Tenchi eyed the hand. His eyes then tracing along her arm, followed the logical progression up to Sasami's rather expectant face.

"I don't want to talk about this right now." He said tiredly.

"That bad huh?" she smiled. Watching him carefully.