Chapter 95: Waving A white Flag

"One should always remember, my princess." Shalla nodded pleasantly, her wizened features almost seeming to bob upon her neck.

"Virtue is mostly for the masses! Nothing is inherently sinful in the bed chamber after all!"

In the sun-room at the houses West End Ayeka, now dressed only in a light robe, surveyed her options without much enthusiasm.

Gone where the carrot shaped throw pillows and cushions, replaced by row after row of garment racks holding the finest livery. Except for the far corner where an area had been hastily converted to a seamstress station.

Amid the staggered isles, no less than five young girls acted as assistants to the old woman.

There was no precise term for Shalla's function within the royal household, technically, she wasn't even related to the family. Having entered service to the Jurian court as nurse and nanny to Ayeka's father Azusa, and was reputed to have once been breath taking in the depth of her beauty. However, that as they say was then, yet no one seemed to have a clue as to when that was precisely.

The only possible hint Ayeka had ever been able to unearth came in the form of a huge portrait. Hanging in the great hall in the castle at Jurihelm.

The massive painting was of her grandfather and grandmother the old emperor Aquella and her namesake, the royal lady Ayeka.

However, it was the mysterious dark haired beauty, seated opposite the queen at grandfather's other elbow that was the disturbing point.

Many of the older knights and retainer insisted it was none other than Shalla! Which would make the woman, currently inspecting the hem of Ayeka's bridle cloak at room center over twenty thousand years old!

Yea gods! Did even Jurians live that long?

She reminded Ayeka of an old apple. Shriveled but with a certain sweetness still about her.

The princess was startled out of her musing when the old woman approached, reached for and undid the ties of the princess's robe.

"Time for these old eyes," The old woman winked knowingly. "To get a good look at you my precious little bird!" Ayeka had a few moments of understandable anxiety, having spent the last few years of her life away from the familiar personal contact of handmaidens and retainers. Actually having to close eyes, as Shalla lifted her robe and allowed it to fall. In the brief pause which followed Ayeka scarcely wanted to breathe, though born to this sort of treatment the situation was so strange to her now, she felt frozen to the spot. It wasn't until she reopened her eyes that she saw the old woman's shinning with actually tears.

"Oh, you have blossomed so beautifully my darling Ayeka!" Shalla sighed with pride. "I can see that young stallion is going to have his hands full!"

"Shalla!" Ayeka gasped, astonished in spite of her self. But then the old woman had always spoken her mind.

"I had worried, life in the sticks might have somehow marred you." The old woman continued, taking her hand and turning Ayeka slowly about. "But I can see a little hard work has only served to enhance your royal assets!"

Ayeka spared a second startled glance her way, hearing the added giggles from the other retainers in the room was more than enough to make her face blaze a burning red.

"Lady Shalshlay please!" Ayeka begged unable to believe the frankness of the old woman.

Not that she found her company completely unpleasant. Quite the contrary, It was just the current circumstance which made what should have been a joyous occasion feel like a death march.

"Not a blemish on you eh? My little snow hill?" Shalla continued.

"Still, a few little touches here and there will insure your young prince will be begging your favor for years to come!" Ayeka smiled, remembering her and Tenchi's plan. It was unlikely they would be hanging around long enough for any nuptials, but a girl could have her fantasies.

"I don't need your tricks!" Ayeka told her. "When two people love each other as I and my Tenchi do." She paused, smiling wistfully. "There is no need for subterfuge."

"Is that so?" Shalla grinned slyly, glancing slightly up at the princess due to a stooped posture "Then what's this I hear about your younger sister?" Ayeka gasped, feeling a cold wind blow up her spine.

"MIND YOUR TONGUE!" Committed to their plan or not Shalla had managed to hit one of Ayeka's long standing sore points! Her reaction, drawing a soft chuckle in response. Seething and nude Ayeka presented an image of absolute charm to the old woman.

"Forgive me!" Shalla smiled. "I'm certain that the princes love for his princess is unwavering as you say," She then leaned closer.

"But Ayeka, Men are all fools! So easily distracted!" The old woman's smile now took on an almost sinister aspect.

"It is the wise maiden who stacks the deck in her favor!" Ayeka continued to stare.

Everything Shalla was saying did make a kind of sense. Perhaps she had just been going about it the wrong way!

Ryoko, and in a weird way Sasami both had more experience with this sort of thing than she did. Her eyes narrowed speculatively as if only now considering the old woman.

"Well." She reasoned. "Maybe all the wisdom I need is standing right in front of me!"

Perhaps the game with Ryoko wasn't over just yet! Certainly she was willing to share but who could be more magnanimous in the war of love than the victor?

Tenchi would be officially married to her after all! She would be the loving wife, understanding of his desires! What a coo!

And when they had at last tracked her down... "IN YOUR FACE RYOKO!"

"My princess?" Shalla asked concerned. Seeming relieved when Ayeka's eyes refocused upon her. "You seemed lost for a time?" The old woman nearly felt her ancient heart stop when Ayeka suddenly took her hand and regarded her fiercely.

"Tell me everything you know!" She breathed. Her sudden change in demeanor a little more than frightening.

"Eh?" Shalla stammered.

"Every dark, nasty, juicy, little dirty trick!" Ayeka rasped darkly almost malevolent. "Tell me now!"

"Certainly..." Shalla sort of muttered. "But perhaps..."

"What is it now?" Ayeka snapped.

"How long are you going to make her stand there?"

Truth be told, Ayeka had been aware of the up and down motion of the white bath towel poking through the courtesy screen for at least five minutes. She just had not felt like acknowledging whom she knew was waving it.

"What is it Mother?" She sighed sharply.

Drawing looks of outright astonishment from all present including Shalla who was amazed enough to open her eyes fully from a seemingly eternal squint, to stair glassily at the princess, just as from behind the hastily erected screen Masaki carefully stuck her head into the room.

"Truce?" She asked tentatively.

"Not interested." Ayeka snapped coldly not even looking her direction.

"Ayeka!" Shalla gasped, echoing a general noise escaping all the retainers.

"Can't we even negotiate?" Masaki smiled hopefully.

"Mother..." Ayeka warned.

"I was hoping you'd let me speak with my daughter?" Masaki ventured. "I'd heard she was in here somewhere?"

"Which one I wonder?" Ayeka continued uncharitably, still refusing to turn. "Rumor has it one of them is missing!"

"Ayeka!" Shalla repeated her voice hushed and outraged.

"Child! Don't speak to your mother in that fashion!" Instantly bristling, the first princess whirled, her gaze like a tiger's.

"You will be silent!" She hissed directly to the old woman's face.

"Or I will have you removed!"

In the face of such sudden ire, even Shalla felt her resolve melt. So much so she physically backed away a step.

"That was one of the subjects I was hoping we could talk about?" Masaki continued, ignoring the exchange.

"That is of course if you will let me?"

"You presume much!" Ayeka finally turned, eyeing her mother coldly.

"The very sight of you is hateful to me!"

Masaki's eyes widened slightly, she had thought herself prepared for this particular onslaught.

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness Ayeka!" She attempted, after a moment chewing her lip.

"I, I just wanted to see you!"

She now had the further displeasure of hearing the slightest of gasps escape her daughter.

"Why mother?" Ayeka hist sarcastically. "So you and Funaho can gloat?"

"No..." Her mother almost stammered, seeming to actually tremble.

"Because my little girls getting married."

The hushed statement brought Ayeka up short, starring blankly at her mother.

Masaki chose to take that as a favorable sign.

"Com'on Ayeka." She urged. "I know its not how you wanted, or the way you planed."

Ayeka continued to stare as her mother inched slightly forward.

"Yes, Its upside down and ass backwards!" She continued rolling her eyes helplessly.

"The most god awful thing imaginable! But!" She paused for effect.

"Isn't it with who you always wanted it to be?"

The odd brand of logic seemed to touch a cord somewhere. Some of the hardness to Ayeka's eyes seemed noticeable to soften.

"Comon..." Masaki coaxed gently.

"Ayeka, its Tenchi! Surely that has to count for something?"

"How can you even expect me to look at you after what you Funaho and Father have done?" Ayeka sniffed bitterly.

"Ayeka!" Masaki cried. "I love you!"

"You have an odd way of showing it."

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"Isn't it?"

"You don't understand!"

"What?" Ayeka challenged. "That you've all gone insane? Assaulted our home? Threatened billions of lives all for a political agenda?"

"I thought Funaho had explained..."

"Oh yes!" Ayeka interrupted. "I listened to the mad woman rave!"

At that precise second, hearing such verbal assault by the princess directly upon the Queen, one of the handmaidens rolled up her eyes and actually fainted, falling loudly to the floor.

For a few seconds afterwards, no one moved, the event having disrupted some of the flow.

Ayeka glanced curiously Shalla's direction. When the old woman continued to stand in astonishment, Ayeka felt her all ready heated blood begin to boil.

"Why are you just standing there?" She snapped as if addressing the thickest of dullards.

"SEE TO THAT GIRL!"

Observing it all, even amid the current storm between them, Masaki felt motherly pride swell within her heart.

"You used to be so cold, vain and aloof!" Watching her daughter standing in her naked glory, yet still in full command, her power undeniable.

"Look at you now." She sighed privately. "Showing such concern for a mere servant." She felt her eyes growing moist.

"Little Ayeka, you will make a fine queen!"

"Our royal blood carries with it certain responsibilities!" She continued aloud. "We can't always choose the easiest path! You most certainly know this!"

"Don't you dare lecture me about duty!" Ayeka growled warningly, retrieving her robe from the room's floor. "Having utterly failed at yours!"

Masaki blinked, non-comprehension lodging on her face. Ayeka didn't wait for her to voice any confusion.

"WHERE IS SASAMI?" She almost shouted. "I know full well you had a hand in her disappearance!" Ayeka then paused allowing her gaze to harden even further.

"Mother?" She added, coldly sarcastic. Masaki looked startled for a moment a kind of dread flashing across her face.

"W-we placed her into hyper-sleep." She stammered taking a full second's hesitation.

"Even as we immobilized Tsunami. We ... just couldn't take the risk of, either one of them interfering."

"How wonderful." Ayeka sneered after a moment, pulling on the robe.

"You seemed to have thought of everything!"

"We intend to wake her once matters here are settled." She continued clearly miserable.

"Surely you don't think ... I could ever harm her!"