Part
Seven
"How would you like a job?" Ryouko had asked Kiyone with a smile.
The former Galaxy Police officer gaped at Ryouko in honest surprise. Not just
startled to see her, but that the Empress of Manticore would even venture into a
dive like this one. "What kind of job?" she managed to ask.
"I could use a captain. I lost a lot of good people against Kagato,"
Ryouko said seriously. "And you certainly demonstrated your caliber during
that battle," she added.
"I won't reveal GP secrets to you," Kiyone said bluntly.
Ryouko just smiled at that. "I wouldn't expect you to," she answered.
Kiyone met Ryouko's eyes, looking for any signs of deception. She didn't find
any. "All right," she smiled, "I'll do it."
Kiyone was jerked out of her thoughts by someone calling her out name. She
turned, and saw Minagi running up the hall towards her. "Hey, Minagi,"
Kiyone smiled at her. "What's the good word?" she asked.
Minagi smiled, "You've heard about Ryouko and Ayeka, right?"
"The proposal's been accepted, then?" Kiyone asked. At Minagi's eager
nod she laughed softly, "About time! Maybe now Ryouko can get her mind back
on the job."
"I wouldn't bet on it," Minagi chuckled. "I need your help with
something," she started, then she trailed off.
"What?" Kiyone asked.
"Could you help me get the bachelor party organized?" Minagi asked. At
Kiyone's odd look, "Washu's insisted on it."
Kiyone shook her head. "Well, I guess we're better than letting Washu set
up the party," she admitted quietly. She looked over at Minagi, "Any
ideas?"
Minagi grinned evilly, and her resemblance to Ryouko was even more pronounced.
Ayeka lay back on her bed, a contented little smile on her face. Lunch with
Ryouko was enjoyable, the conversation lively. Another sigh, as she thought,
'And Ryouko is both charming and gallant, too.'
"Myah!" she heard, and looked down to see Ryo-ohki sitting at her
feet.
Ayeka reached down and gently picked her up, cuddling close. "Hello, Ryo-ohki,"
she smiled. The door chimed, and she called out, "Enter!"
Washu smiled at her, an almost elfish looking woman standing at her side.
"Can we come in?" she asked.
"Certainly," Ayeka smiled, looking curiously at the other woman. The
way they stood spoke of some deep intimacy between them. 'Are they lovers?' she
found herself wondering.
"Princess Ayeka," Washu smiled, "I'd like you to meet my lover,
Yume."
Yume smiled, extending her hand, "I guess that makes me Ryouko's step-
mother." She made a cute face, "There are worse fates," she
paused, looked thoughtful, "but right now I can't think of a single one of
them."
Ayeka had to muffle a laugh at that.
Washu smiled slightly. A bit more seriously, "After talking it over with
your Mothers, we settled on a simple exchanging of vows for the wedding. Would
that be all right?"
"I'm a bit relieved, honestly," Ayeka smiled. "I did some
research, and was preparing myself for the possibility of you deciding on the
Manticore customs," she admitted.
"The nude ceremony?" Yume chuckled. She gave a sideways glance to
Washu, "I understand that it was suggested.
Washu whistled, trying to look innocent.
"Myah," Ryo-ohki said in a scolding tone.
Ayeka tried to keep her expression suitably grave, but finally she just had to
laugh.
"See you at the bachlorette party," Washu grinned, leading Yume out of
the room.
"Bachlorette party?" Ayeka echoed, surprised.
Ryouko looked out a viewport, out into the darkness of the void. She heard
footsteps growing nearer, and had to throttle back her temper. "I thought I
had given orders not to be disturbed," she said, her voice a low growl.
"I think the nice young man guarding the entrance was a bit too afraid to
try and interfere with your future mothers-in-law," the voice said
cheerfully.
Ryouko turned quickly, seeing a beaming Misaki and somewhat more serious looking
Funaho walking up the hall towards her. Ryouko nodded her head with a smile,
"I'd probably be too, in his shoes."
"Washu sent us," Funaho said gravely. "We decided on a simple
exchanging of vows for the wedding ceremony, if you have no objections,"
she smiled slightly.
Ryouko blew her breath out in obvious relief. "I was worried I was going to
have to try talking Ayeka into the nude ceremony," she confessed.
Misaki smiled suddenly, "We could change the plan if you like."
"Please, no," Ryouko smiled, waving her hands.
Funaho and Misaki joined her by the viewport, and Ryouko took the opportunity to
take a look at them covertly. The blue haired Misaki was obviously Sasami's
mother, a cheerful, almost genki presence. But there was intelligence in those
eyes, no matter her foolish behavior.
"The stars are so beautiful, aren't they?" Misaki said cheerfully.
Ryouko felt a bit startled, having only seen the darkness, not the lights
shining out there.
Ayeka's mother Funaho was a bit more enigmatic. She stood with formal dignity
looking out into the void, but the purple hared woman has steel in her despite
her manners. Like Ayeka, she reminded Ryouko of a sword shining in the darkness.
"You're in love with her, aren't you?" Funaho surprised Ryouko by
asking.
"Yes," Ryouko admitted, and was suddenly hit with a flying hug!
"I'm so happy!" Misaki squealed, hugging Ryouko in a death grip.
Ryouko wiggled and struggled free, gasping for breath.
Funaho watched, eyes twinkling, hiding her smile behind her hand. "I think
once Ayeka gets used to the idea, she'll be all right," she smiled at
Ryouko. She reached over to take the beaming Misaki's hand, "She's known
about us for years."
"Oh, really?" Ryouko raised her eyebrow.
Misaki blushed charmingly, "Ayeka walked in on us, when the Emperor was
away."
Funaho blushed as well, and Ryouko had to fight a smile.
Sasami smiled, seeing Minagi and Kiyone walking in. She jumped up and waved, and
both young women came over to where she was sitting. "Hello, Sasami,"
Minagi smiled.
Kiyone pushed her hair out of her eyes as she asked, "Have I thanked you
yet, for taking over the ship's kitchen?"
Sasami blushed sweetly, "Consider me thanked."
"Kiyone!" Mihoshi cried, running across the dining hall.
"wait for it... wait for it... " Minagi whispered softly.
Trip! Mihoshi fell face first to the deck, sat back up, and cried, "Whaa!"
Kiyone rushed to her side, "Are you all right?"
Mihoshi rubbed her head, sniffling softly. "I'm sorry, Kiyone," she
whimpered.
Kiyone helped her up, holding her protectively close.
"Let's leave them alone, shall we?" Minagi suggested to Sasami.
The little girl nodded, making a face. As they were walking away, she asked
Minagi softly, "Does everyone on this ship have somebody?"
Minagi looked at Sasami in a bit of surprise. "But I thought that you and
Asashi were..." she started to say.
"No," Sasami shook her head, "we're just friends."
"I went looking for you to ask, would you like to help with your sister's
bachlorette party?" Minagi asked her.
Sasami looked a bit surprised, "Me?"
"We could really use your help," Minagi smiled, looking down at her.
A little blush appeared on her cheeks, and Sasami said, "Sure, I'd be glad
to."
"Good," Minagi flung her hair back with a grin as she confided,
"because I have almost no idea what I'm doing."
Sasami laughed, "I'll handle the cooking, too." She looked at Minagi
curiously, "I guess I should cook for Ryouko's party, too?"
"Please!" Minagi laughed. She looked thoughtful, "Could you ask
Asashi to make a few dishes, though? Ryouko does have a fondness for
spice."
Sasami smiled, "Then I'm glad she's with Ayeka. My sister has a
temper."
Minagi grinned, "That's not what I meant!"
They both laughed.
Nimitz glared at the closed bedroom door. Honor and Michelle had been in there
for a few hours, now, leaving him out here, all alone. The treecat felt a
presence, and turned to see Ryo-ohki slipping through the bulkhead.
"Bleek!" Nimitz complained.
"Myah," Ryo-ohki said sympathetically.
"Bleek?" Nimitz asked.
"Myah, myah," Ryo-ohki shrugged helplessly. With that, she turned and
bounced back out into the hallway.
Nimitz turned back to glare at the closed doorway