-------
"I guess nothing on this planet changes
all that much when we're away."
As they walked through the ornately decorated halls of Jurai's Royal
Palace, Ryoko cast a glance around her, a rueful smile touching her
lips as she did so. "It's like we never left."
"Perhaps on the surface." Sasami said hesitantly. "But a lot has
changed beneath it, Ryoko. Uncle was Emperor for a very long time. One
of the longer reigns in recent history, and one of the most stable,
too, in many ways. Remember, he pulled Jurai together after the death
of Grandfather and in the aftermath of Kain's galactic onslaught. He's
still badly missed - there are a lot of open
wounds still waiting to be healed."
"That sounded almost Tsunami-like." Tenchi remarked, as Azaka led them
through a series of arches towards Ayeka's royal apartments. Sasami
blushed, looking self-conscious.
"Sometimes she speaks for me." She admitted. "The line between us gets
thinner every day. But it's still true. It isn't just Ayeka and I who
miss Uncle."
"It's hard to imagine that it isn't him we're going to see." Tenchi
acknowledged. "Somehow I'm still having trouble getting the idea of
Ayeka as Empress into my head."
"Well, I doubt that you'll feel that way, when you see her." Sasami
assured him. "Whatever she's feeling inside, she puts on a good show
for the Council and the representatives from outside our world. Since
there are members of the Council with her, I doubt she'll drop her
guard even a little bit."
She pursed her lips.
"I wonder if Shigure is among them." She added.
Before either Ryoko or Tenchi could respond, Azaka was ushering them
into the Royal Study, and Ryoko found herself standing before the
Empress of all Jurai, her fine clothing and the delicate coronet atop
her brow indicating the superiority of her status. Grave ruby eyes
glanced from one to the other, and her thick, silken hair was bound
back from her face with the most ornate of clasps. She gave them a
slight smile as her companions rose to their feet, bowing to
acknowledge the entrance of the second Princess and her companions.
"Ryoko. Tenchi." She said in soft tones. "Welcome back to Jurai. I
trust that you had a pleasant trip?"
"Not bad." Ryoko agreed. "We had a meteor storm to dodge past but
otherwise it was plain sailing."
"That's good to know." Ayeka gestured to her councillors that they
could resume their seats, and then indicated for her guests to follow
suit. "You must be tired. Can I send for some refreshments?"
"I don't think we'll argue with that, if it isn't any trouble." Tenchi
sent Ryoko a sidelong grin. "Ayeka, it's good to see you again - both
you and Sasami. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry about Great
Grandpa. He was always more your family than mine in a lot of ways, so
I know you must both miss him."
"Thank you, Tenchi. Yes. We do." Ayeka's beautiful eyes became sad for
a moment, then she seemed to regain her composure, shooting him a
grateful smile. "But life must go on and so it does. Which brings me to
you being here on Jurai. I admit, I was surprised to see you back so
quickly. I thought that Sasami might take a little longer to persuade
you that a trip here was necessary."
She paused for a moment, then,
"Tell me, is the Lady Nozomi really accompanying you on this visit?"
"Nozomi is here, yes." Ryoko agreed warily, suspicion flickering into
her amber eyes as she eyed the Empress carefully. "Though we sent her
off to explore with Ryo Ohki, since you didn't want her here right at
the moment. Why are you so interested in my daughter, Ayeka? Why the
sudden desire to bring her to Jurai?"
"There are many answers to that question." Ayeka admitted. "And it
might take some time to properly explain all of them. I've arranged for
you to eat with me here in the private chamber this evening - so long
as you don't have any personal objections to doing so. I suspect that
we will have many things to discuss and I would rather be able to do it
at leisure."
"If it's no trouble." Tenchi nodded. "But what about Nozomi? She'll
feel we've abandoned her, since we said we'd meet her shortly in the
palace grounds."
"I can see to Nozomi." Sasami rose to her feet, casting her sister a
warm smile. "I'll go and tell her that there's been a change of plan,
and I can take the girl under my wing until either you or Washu are
able to. I doubt she can have got into much mischief since we arrived,
not with Ryo Ohki to keep tabs on her, but she might as well know the
situation and I already know the things that you want to talk to Ryoko
and Tenchi about, Ayeka."
"Indeed you do." Ryoko saw a faint smile pass between the sisters, and
her suspicion increased three-fold. "Very well, Sasami-chan. If you
will make sure Lady Nozomi is given all the due respect and deference
of a Princess of Jurai, then I shall feel better about spiriting away
Ryoko and Tenchi for my own ends."
"I'll go now, then." Sasami's eyes sparkled. "Ryoko, Tenchi, I'll see
you both later. It's so great to have you back on Jurai!"
With which parting statement she was gone, and Ryoko turned her gaze
back to the Empress, eying her cautiously.
"So what, exactly, is going to take you all night to explain?" She
asked suspiciously. Ayeka sighed, folding her hands in her lap.
"I will be straight with you both, now you are here." She said at
length. "There are many reasons why I sent Sasami to see you, and now I
think it's time to properly explain them to you."
--------