Chapter 81: 'Funaho'

Lady Funaho had changed little since Mihoshi had last seen her. But then, she had 'changed' little in the last thousand years if the truth were told. One did not bring such matters up around the queen of Jurai However, if one wished to remain in good health.

"I would say that this is an unexpected pleasure." The queen politely intoned. "But of course we know that would be untrue."

Kiyone stood staring, uncharacteristically mute. Mihoshi however, having met the queen on more than one occasion, had no problem bringing current matters into focus.

"Your majesty!" She gasped, moving past her stunned partner, making the final decent into the living room. "What's going on here?"

From the base of the stairs, Mihoshi took four complete steps towards the queen, before a pair of battle staff's were raised, barring her way.

"Huh?" She started, looking at the retainers as if just noticing them.

"All in good time." Funaho said, almost Kiyone could have sworn apologetically. "We must assemble all our players, before this little drama can commence." For some reason, the statement, delivered in a mild tone of voice, cause a chill to sweep up Key's spine.

"Lady Funaho!" A voice said suddenly from above. Following the line of the Queen's gaze Both Kiyone and Mihoshi looked to where Tenchi was standing on the second floor balcony. Key took another moment to stare.

She was so used to seeing him in his 'farmer browns' or T-shirt and Kackies, the sight of Tenchi dressed in a white low-cut Jurian style tunic and breaches was enough to bring her to a halt.

"He looks like one of the pirates of Penzance!" She thought, only having known that because of a play the whole family had gone to last year.

"THE PRINCE!" Came a general call as all the assembled knights suddenly snapped to attention, insuring that everyone only recently arriving at these festivities nearly jumped out of their respective skin. Including Tenchi, who looked that if he'd jumped any higher he might have tumbled over the upstairs rail. Seeing that wasn't the case Kiyone found herself speculating.

"The Prince?" She mused astonished. "WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?"

Even Hero had called Tenchi an 'unrecognized' Heir apparent! Most of the facts were hear say from her perspective. According to Mihoshi's infamous six thousand, page report however, The emperor had little use for his bastard great grandson! The smell of this was getting worse by the nanosecond!

Shrugging off his surprise best as current circumstance permitted, Tenchi made his way down in rapid fashion. Both Kiyone and Mihoshi couldn't help but notice how most of the Knights seemed quite eager to give ground as he raced purposefully past them.

"They're afraid of him." Mihoshi signed to her partner.

Kiyone mildly nodded waiting at top of the last landing, falling into step beside Tenchi as he made his way finally down into the living room.

"Your highness." Tenchi greeted Funaho as Kiyone slowed allowing him the lead, stopping a respectfully distance away from the awaiting queen.

"Forgive my rudeness of insisting!" He continued uncharacteristically firm. "But under the circumstances I think some explanations are in order!" It was clear Tenchi was at the limit of even his store of patience. Funaho however didn't answer immediately, rather her eyes did a slow scan of Tenchi from ankles to forehead.

"You have grown since our last meeting." She smiled A look of approval settling on to her features.

"Handsomely." The queen added, insuring Tenchi found a moment in which to blush, in spite of the situation.

"I'm awaiting that explanation, My lady!" He stated coldly, unwilling to be deflected. Funaho's lips parted as she drew breath for her reply. that was as far as it got however.

"MOTHER! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Even had he not turned, there would have been no mistaking Ayeka's voice. Seeing that he had, Tenchi found himself riveted to the spot along with Mihoshi and Key.

Dressed in the most elaborate costume he believed he'd ever seen her wear, Ayeka literally, 'stomped' out from the patio area right up to where lady Funaho was standing.

No less than fifteen layers of what looked like white satin appeared to be the major theme of her attire, above and below. With intermittent elements, layers fringed in red, blue and green. Long semi-transparent brocade sleeves almost covered sheer gloves of white lace.

The entire 'upper portion' more 'halter like' from Tenchi's perspective as it gathered just beneath the breasts. Leaving mid to lower torso bare to where the generous swell of her hips flowed into a floor length brocade skirt. All and all, and outfit meant to reveal more than conceal.

Jewels of every cut and description were woven into her hair and dripped as trails cascading down her bare back. It was odd for him to note at that moment, giving how eye popping she looked but Tenchi noticed Ayeka's key was nowhere to be seen.

Heavy white makeup, automatically reminding him of a geisha, provided a backdrop for a delicate ivy leaf pattern winding around her body.

Well, it resembled ivy, at an rate the design started just at her left cheek and descended, spiraling downward vanishing and reappearing from under her clothing, till disappearing finally at the lower right of her bare abdomen below her jeweled navel.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS ASSAULT?" the princess demanded hotly, apparently ether unaware or unconcerned of her current appearance.

"NOT ONLY DO YOU SNEAK UP IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT LIKE BRIGANDS!" She stormed, volume undiminished. "YOU HAVE THE UNMITIGATED GALL TO USE GUERILLA TACTICS UPON THIS HOUSEHOLD!!"

"I assure you my dear," Funaho rasped coldly. "Age has not robbed me of my hearing!" Ayeka paused apparently startled. Swallowing visibly then, seeming to gain some control before, after glancing at Tenchi and Kiyone she continued.

"To say nothing of arraying me in this!" She gestured down at her self. "This! Circus attire! While I in fact slept!"

"I think you look positively lovely in your pre-bridal array." Funaho returned mildly.

"To awaken, being dressed like some doll! With that old crone!" Ayeka raged, tossing her head indicating the general direction of the patio. "Painting my lips!" the princess added venomously. "Positively ghastly!"

She then stopped cold. Not certain she'd heard her stepmother correctly. Ayeka stood for a moment mentally playing it back in her mind, several times in fact, before...

"What?" she gasped, her eyes suddenly wide round as saucers with the only response forth coming, a quiet nod from the queen.

"Oh my god!" Ayeka's mind instantly panicked. "The Letter!"

"Oh! Oh, mother please!" She suddenly begged, wondering how Washu could have delivered it so quickly?

"I, I'll marry him!" Ayeka stammered. "Just ... please! Not in front of The Masaki's!"

In the echo of her statement, the queen's expression curiously fade. Melting to match those of Tenchi, Mihoshi and Key, that is to say deeply confused.

"Why wouldn't, you want?" Fanaho attempted hesitantly. The queen of Jurai then paused. "Ayeka, what are you talking about?" the queen's confusion was palatable. Still in the throws of frantic abandon herself, Ayeka leaned against her stepmother.

"Please," She whispered fiercely desperate. "Don't, force me to marry Seiryo in front of Tenchi!"

Funaho look back upon her, eyes mildly vacant, her face a mask of total wide eyed befuddlement. Before wonder of wonders, the Queen suddenly burst out laughing.

"Oh Tsunami!" She gasped delighted. "Sweet child! Whatever gave you that notion?"

"But, but," Ayeka still stammered. "My ... my letter!" Funaho's eyebrows shot again to the sky.

"Letter?" She gasped, still openly amused. "And now what do you mean?"

"Nothing!" Ayeka sniffed, A feeling of palatable relief passing over her, for about two some odd seconds before...

"But, if that's not who I'm to wed?" She ventured.

"Turn now little one." Funaho gestured, smiled in a strangely conspiratorial fashion. "He stands behind you!" Ayeka did as bidden. Turning and looking behind her, directly at Mihoshi.

In her current state of mind, the first princess had a nanosecond's worth of a heart seizer before glancing to one side, realizing whom Funaho was actually referring to.

"Oh?" Ayeka gaped mildly at Tenchi for a moment, before it was suddenly her turn to laugh.

"Oh!" She sighed with relief as she turned again to the queen.

"Mother! I'm afraid that's quite impossible." She continued having turning away from a concerned Tenchi. Amazed at how much at peace she now felt about the whole thing.

"You see, Lord Tenchi has 'finally'," She found she couldn't help emphasizing the word. "Chosen the lady Ryoko!"

There! She had done it. At long last. No mater what happened now Ayeka was certain she could finally put it behind her. Maybe even truly, be happy for them. After all, she loved Ryoko as a friend almost as much as she loved Tenchi. It was time, at last to move on.

Right at that moment however Kiyone noticed Tenchi's head subtlety snap to one side. Almost like he was tracking a sudden unexpected sound. He attempted a casual, almost painfully apparent scan of the room from her perspective. Key was mentally kicking herself as well. It didn't take a great leap for her to figure out who he'd also just noticed was missing! Even as a feeling of serenity, was passing over the entirety of Ayeka's being. With everything at last out in the open, no more uncertainties, at least she felt, the worst was over.

Or was it? Now looking directly at Funaho, Ayeka thought she saw something. Almost sinister, for lack of a better term to fit the mood, gleaming in the queen's eye.

"Most ... unfortunate." Funaho told her daughter flatly. "But you see my dear," She paused ever so briefly to glance first at Tenchi and then back to Ayeka. "This matter has also been decided."

"What?" Kiyone gasped causing the queen to glance, visibly bristling. Most likely inflamed by Key's refusal to 'keep her place' as was the term.

"In two days," Funaho stated, choosing to ignore the disruption. "You Ayeka, of the house of Azusa will marry Tenchi, of the Line of Yosho."

There followed, the longest of silences, you could even make out the sound of the kitchens electric 'cat clock', which Sasami had won at a fair two years ago. Then suddenly everyone began shouting at the top of his or her lungs.

"WHAT!" Exploded from Kiyone's vicinity.

"MOTHER?" Ayeka exclaimed. "ARE YOU INSANE?"

"HOW DARE YOU?" Tenchi wanted to know, as Kiyone only managed to stare at the queen blankly.

"BARGING INTO MY FATHERS HOUSE LIKE THIS AND ISSUE COMMANDS!!" He continued to blurt while Ayeka gestured wildly.

"MOTHER I WILL NOT PERMIT THIS MISCARRIAGE OF EDICT!!!

the cacophony held for several seconds, perhaps more the general 'run on' of shouted words slurring to indecipherable, till a single voice cut through a minor lull.

"Has ANYONE seen Sasami?" Mihoshi suddenly called, forcing everyone again to fall silent.