Chapter 85: 'A Cunning plan'

"You look good." Tenchi told the Princess as she stood leaning against the side of the porch. It had been several minutes now, the two of them standing there, alone.

The air in the living room before had seemed, stifling. Beyond his ability finally to bear. There hadn't been anything so much as a plan in coming outside, rather than the sudden, almost overwhelming need to just get out of there! Tenchi had taken her hand almost without realizing he had done so. More of ... an after thought really. Some portion of him wanting to lead Ayeka away as well ... and now? With the immediate worry of Mayuka dealt with, at least for the moment. His mind had turned at once to the princess, for whose sanity he feared.

Ayeka glanced up, smiling perhaps a little sadly at his words. Her tears had since stopped, having gained some equilibrium. Though it was more likely, she herself reasoned that the total reality of the situation simply had not taken hold.

"No, I mean it!" He continued emphatically, "You look really good that way!"

Gesturing at the garb in which she had been dressed against her consent. Tenchi considered briefly that Ryoko had spoiled him for bare midriffs. It only occurred to him at that moment, He hadn't the occasion to see Ayeka's bare abdomen that often. She' always favored more concealing conservative styles due mostly to her upbringing he supposed. It was abundantly clear now that he was at last allowing him self to notice, the princess had nothing remotely to be ashamed of!

"I wish I could say that makes me happy Lord Tenchi." Ayeka told him sadly. "But given the circumstances under which I am receiving the complement..." She paused, realizing she was being 'as dear Ryoko put it' terribly long-winded! Actually, she had called her a windbag! However...

"But thank you." Ayeka finished simply, letting her eyes then drift over him appraisingly.

"You look rather nice yourself by the way." She added nodding at the loose fitting blouse and 'oh, so tight pants'! She couldn't help but consider the styles of Jurian noblemen would suit Tenchi most handsomely.

"I look like a wuss!" He grumbled, laughingly, gesturing down at himself.

The Princess regarded him wonderingly, for a moment. Before her face quirked when what was most certainly a snort escaped the slender hand rising reflexively to stifle it.

"Oh!" Ayeka gasped. "Lord Tenchi please!" She tittered, suddenly realizing how good if felt to laugh. Understanding how precious it was to her just now!

"Guess, I'm going to be dressing like this a lot more often." He noted glumly.

"Not necessarily!" Ayeka smiled. "As emperor, you can set any fashion you like!" She paused seeing he was eying around speculatively.

"How about Blue Jeans cut offs and tee-shirts?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"And, as empress," Ayeka volleyed, not missing a beat. "It will be my duty to inform you when you've gone too far!" She favored him with smile, which also seemed so precious in that moment. To both of them. It lasted, perhaps a few additional seconds before almost immediately Ayeka's mouth contorted into a frown.

"Lord Tenchi?" She asked, as his eyes darted to meet hers. "I swear, that I will make you an excellent wife."

Again, she smiled, so distinctly different from before. An expression tinged with sadness, conveying longing, regret and love all as one. It rendered the princess almost painfully beautiful in his eyes.

"I," He muttered uncomfortably in response to that gaze, almost like he were clearing his throat.

"Even though I know..." Ayeka added sadly as her eyes found the ground between them. "That you don't really love me..."

She lapsed in to silence then, considering the past behind and the path before them. It had been no act! The rapidly unfolding events of the last few days leading to her decision. Ayeka had been prepared, honestly ready finally to put this chapter behind her. To at last move on. And now? What was there more to say? How long the stillness between them lasted, Ayeka certainly had no clue. The moment ended abruptly, when to her utter surprise she heard him chuckle.

Her eyes flew wide with astonishment, instantly locking her gaze upon him. Tenchi was sadly shaking his head, his upper body vaguely trembling in suppressed mirth.

"You stupid, silly ass girl!" He swore wryly under his breath. "Don't you get it yet?"

"Stupid?" Ayeka gasped. "I..." She openly stared at him, beginning to taste the first hint of a swelling of what felt like anger! How could he dare?

"Ayeka." Tenchi straightened then took the last few steps required to gently take possession of her shoulders. "I LOVE YOU TOO!" He told her emphatically.

Ayeka stared and stared, almost as if not comprehending. A tiny inhalation followed by a rapid series of blinks then, as her large burgundy eyes began swelling with astonished tears.

"You, You ... do?" She asked stupidly, not able to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes!" He told her passionately, almost sounding like a laugh. "As much as I love Ryoko!"

Tenchi then paused, blushing in his moment of ultimate admission, unable to believe he was finally saying what he should have said, years ago! Musing as well, what it had taken him to finally admit his feelings. "Does that make any sense to you?" He asked.

"Yes!" Ayeka gasped, nodding delightedly.

"Trouble is." He told her, wanting to keep his momentum. "I knew I had to choose!" He stared deep into her eyes.

"How does a man choose between the sun and the moon?" He asked earnestly, letting the words and his feelings pour from him in a rush. "You both rule my sky!" He added, pausing only long enough to swallow, not certain if he even completely understood what he was saying. Only knowing in that moment that it had to be said.

"And I can't imagine living without either of you!" Tenchi concluded passionately. Ayeka only nodded again, finding no words. Not wishing to speak, hoping only that he would say more.

"But you've always had your family!" He told her. "Your life in the empire! If push came to shove, you could always go back to that!" The corners of his mouth faltered slightly. "What has Ryoko got?" Tenchi asked.

The princess sat for a moment, mulling the question about. Almost realizing just in that instant that she should say something.

"I never thought of it that way." Ayeka told him meekly, glancing about, considering. "This house, and the people in it," She again looked his way. "We are her only family!"

"And that," He told her slowly. "More than any other reason, Is why I decided to marry Ryoko."

Tenchi paused, his ultimate admission made. Having at last said his piece slowly turned away. Ayeka studied the broad back of the man before her fondly. It seemed a lifetime ago, she had awoken with a start. Gazing in utter astonishment up into a boy's equalyy amazed face. She had seen him before of course when her guardians had brought him aboard Reh-yo.

However, it had been in that instant, as she had looked back many, many times since that she had fallen. The reasoning portions of her mind had always argued that was utter nonsense. Love at first sight was a fairy tale. Moreover, at the time of that encounter she, 'Ayeka' had been firmly fixated upon finding her brother and betrothed. The connection was formed however, fear giving way to fascination. Fascination begetting admiration as Tenchi acquitted him self time and time again. His nobility and honor all made him shine like a star on her horizon. And yet...

"Now, who's being stupid?" Ayeka snorted, rolling her eyes, as it was his turn to suddenly gaze startled back at her. "Tenchi!" Ayeka laughed. "Who ever said you have to choose?"

"Other than 'me' through my actions on several occasions." The princess added to herself glumly. Those matters however were 'water under the bridge' far as she was now concerned.

"What?" He gasped.

"It is quite commonplace for Jurian males to practice polygamy." Ayeka shrugged, lightly. "We actually consider it healthy."

"That is ... when one of the perspective partners doesn't let themselves become so jealous it borders on psychotic!" The princess amended privately. Perhaps she was being a trifle hard on herself. Over the last few days however she had given a great deal of thought to the matter. Several times in fact.

"Healthy?!" Tenchi gaped, as if just discovering a new word.

"Why not?" Ayeka sighed, leaning forward. "And for that matter, your own culture has embraced it."

"M-My culture?" He stammered, still reeling from the shock.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but we are in Japan?" She asked evenly.

"Well..."

"And you're a 'Shinto' and not a 'Catholic' priest?" She smiled. "Am I right?" He rolled his eyes mildly before fixing her with a dubious stare.

"You know the answer to that!"

"Then what is the problem?" The princess inquired softly. Only then wondering upon that very matter herself.

Had it been the shock of losing Yosho? Not once but every single time a new portion of the puzzle of his whereabouts had unravelled. The final blow coming when finding that he was alive and yet ... Forever beyond her grasp. Ayeka only now reasoned that she had 'latched on'. It certainly wasn't like Tenchi wasn't desirable? The added friction of Ryoko, the utter outrage resulting from the possibility of someone whom she saw at the time only as a monster suddenly being considered as a rival? All of it had ... contributed. Not that it was any kind of an excuse for some of the antics ... But these were affairs of the heart. Perhaps it was simply a matter of time. She had traded one type of sheltered existence, her life in the empire for another. Perhaps the time had simply come to grow up.

Tenchi had fallen silent, seeming to see Ayeka anew. She wasn't the haughty princess that had interrogated him when she'd brought him aboard Reh-yo! Her smile was warm, open and inviting. A peace seemed to have settled about her and the universe almost appeared to draw strength for the simple fact that she was in it. It made her even more beautiful. Tenchi found that he could be content to just stand there drinking her in. Except for the single dark cloud which refused to disperse, surrounding everything like a shroud.

"Where the hell is she Ayeka?" He asked her after a few moments. "Why isn't she here?" Tenchi continued despondently. "I can't stop thinking about it!" Her only response was to look about helplessly, feeling his pain.

"Up till now," He continued emphatically. "I just assumed she was just waiting to make one of her grand save the day entrances! You know how she is!"

"She so loves playing the role of the bad penny!" The princess smiled. "Showing up when you least expect!" Both of them paused. Feeling that same nameless dread.

"Yes," Ayeka sighed speculatively. "Her absence is quite, troubling. She was acting strangely yesterday." She paused, suddenly self-conscious of the remark, glancing away.

"More so than usual, I mean. Ever since ... I figured out about..." she trailed off.

"I'm sorry you had to find out about it like that." Tenchi told her quietly, not at all certain what he was supposed to say.

"That wasn't very fair of me." He finally said.

"You're not the only one around here who's thick headed!" She closed her eyes, smiling crookedly. "It's most likely a genetic trait!" she added sighing.

"Yeah." He agreed. "She was ... upset last night." Ayeka caught her breath, some of the old rivalry still nagging at her. Not much, but enough to prompt her to say.

"Did you enjoy your little rendezvous?" She ventured, adding a knowing smile.

"Well..." Tenchi grumbled uncomfortably. "It didn't go very well."

"Small wonder in a damp cave like that." The princess mused softly.

"But it was the only..." Tenchi took a moment to shrug, before his eyes shot upward.

"HOW THE HELL?" He gasped in astonishment. Ayeka had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep from bawling like a hyena.

"Oh my!" She tittered. "Lord Tenchi! You are so predictable!" Tenchi glowered at her for a moment, his expression dark.

"Women!" He snorted quietly befuddled. "The scourge of mankind!"

As the princess slowly gained control over her mirth, however Tenchi found it was impossible to be angry with her. Possibly, it was the situation. More honestly though, he found himself more and more please with the way Ayeka was attired. The exquisite line of her stomach. The way her dress, or the lack there of, accentuated her curves. He was hoping she would dress like this more often. When she was his queen.

"How odd." He mused. "It's almost like I've accepted it already!"

"I can't believe you actually took her there!" Ayeka gasped delightedly. "What were you thinking?" Tenchi heaved a sigh, hindsight is after all twenty-twenty.

"It wasn't THAT bad!" He said defensively.

"So..." Ayeka concentrated, continuing to smile. "How did she fend off your subterranean advances?"

"Well..." Tenchi muttered.

"Did she, demand? You take her to more respectable surroundings?" Ayeka paused in her amusement. Tenchi was noticeably fidgeting. More than, she than she warranted for reasonable embarrassment.

"Did ... Did something happen?" She asked carefully.

"I'm not sure I should say." He shrugged, a little miserably