Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ The Princess and the Demon ❯ Chapter X ( Chapter 11 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
[Chapter X]


Ayeka is staring outside the castle's window, it have been months since she arrived at the Yoshire castle. Once she thought the idea was hideous, sick, repulsive, but then Ryoko, 'her demoness' have proved her wrong. She found out that spending time with Ryoko is great, that she is a very good person, and that being her demon is just a bad publicity. Being curse doesn't mean she have to be the demon herself. She have learned to enjoy and love her stay in the said castle and now, a month more and she'll be send back to her family. It gives her the feeling of both anticipation and sadness. Anticipation of seeing her family again, and sadness of leaving her demoness alone again. 'isn't there anyway to lift her curse?' she ask herself

Ayeka was pulled out of her reverie when a chunk of snow hit her on her shoulder. THe princess frowned, but her expression change as she saw a note that comes with the snow

- Princess...will i have the honor to dine with you tonight? - Ryoko

The princess smiled

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"It was a sick idea Ryoko!" Ayeka yelled at the laughing Ryoko. well hidden in the dark, "You could have hit me in the face. You can ask me personally!"

"But admit it, it's sweet!" Ryoko said still laughing

then there was silence

"Yes...it is sweet" Ayeka said smiling as she begins to eat, "is this just really the time we can be together, eating?" Ayeka ask, her tone quite sad

"The truth...I am already contented and happy to have you with me every meal, i think this will only be the way we can be quite closer princess" Ryoko said smiling, 'if i could only do something about my curse, i would spend all my days with you, all my time my princess' thought ryoko

"I guess...your right" Ayeka continued her eating. Now both eating in silence 'but i want to be with you more Ryoko, i wished for you to be with me...' Ayeka lifted her head and focused her eyes on the dark where she imagine her demoness, 'Ryoko...my demoness'

"Pincess? Is there anything wrong?" Ryoko look at Ayeka

"Ryoko..." Ayeka smiled and straightened herself, "It'll be a year since i came here, in a month...I-"

Ryoko smiled, "I will keep the end of my bargain Princess. I'll send you back to your family"

Ayeka bowed down, then she shook her head "Can i stay longer?"

Ryoko did not expect her princess' request. Tears fell on her face 'you can't stop me from dying just because your staying princess...and i can't let you see me die...' "no princess. You cannot stay longer"

"But why?" Ayeka lifted her face again, "If i leave, you'll be alone again"

"No princess. I will always have your memory with me"

"Ryoko"

"I will never be alone anymore" Ryoko smiled, tears freely flowing from her face, her voice shaking, "you may not see me princess, physically but i will always be there watching you. I promise"

"Don't cry..."

"I'm very happy princess. I am"

there was silence

"Why can't i stay?" Ayeka atlast broke the silence

"I wish i could tell you Princess"

"Come with me?"

"I-" Ryoko stand up, "I can't princess, i cannot get out of this place, it is dangerous." Ryoko smiled, "Lets just make the most of our time together, what do you think? You can do anything you like, i'll watch you-"

Ryoko was interrupted by the princess by shaking her head, "Make the most of our time together...and i want us together...tell me a story ryoko, tell me one?"

Ryoko smiled, "I have a better idea Princess" She took the scarf around her neck and hand it to Ayeka, "Here princess put it around your eyes, don't peek"

"What are we going to do?"

"Surprise princess. Put it on"

Ayeka did what ryoko instructed her to do, She was surprised to feel herself being lifted by 2 strong familiar arms, bridal style. Ayeka put her arms around ryoko as she felt them move, to where she is not sure. Before she would have feared the thought of being alone with her demoness, but now, being alone with her gives her a feeling of safety, of happiness. This thought puts a smile to her face

"You are very beautiful when you smile" Ayeka heard ryoko whisper, Aeka smiled more, "Isn't it unfair on my part, you get to see me smiling while i don't see you at all?" Ayeka teased

"You'll see me someday princess, you will" Ryoko said, 'when the curse is through and my body will just be a body without life' she added in thought.They continued their course to their destination.

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"Wow!" Ayeka's eyes widened to the numerous books she have seen before her

"I'm sure the main palace has a larger collection of books, but this is the largest collection of fictional books here in Jurai."

Ayeka tried hard to prevent herself from looking at her back where the demoness ryoko is, "How did you collect all this books?"

"They are my companion, i can't be with anyone so i keep myself busy from reading, usually mom buys them, or yosho or tenchi, some of the oldest here are from a friend...the one that gave you a book of fairytales as well." Ryoko

Ayeka look around, and inspected books she can reach, "I don't know that there are book like this in Jurai?" She pointed out on a hard bound, well illustrated books reading "Brothers grimm" on its side

"Oh that! Those are fairytales from earth"

"Earth?" Ayeka look quite surprise, "The third planet from the sun is that? Isn't it a JUraian colony?"

Ryoko nodded as if she is seen by the princess, then realized her state, "Yes Princess, My friend travels there a lot and brought me fiction books from there. She even tells me story how beautiful the place is. Its mountain, seas..."

"I've been there once. Just after my Father have negotiation with the Earth's emperror. I've been in just a part but i say it really is lovely. The people there are warm too. From the time i came there, i have dreamt of living there..."

"I wish i could there too...atleast before the sunsets on me" Ryoko said in a whisper, which was still heard by the princess

"Maybe....maybe your curse will not take effect there. Would you want to-"

"No" Ayeka was interrupted by Ryoko, "My curse will be there with me wherever i go princess." She smiled, "My curse will be lifted soon Princess, and when it is lifted, you can see my face already"

silence

"If what you said is true, can i wait for the curse to be lifted before i go?"

"You can't princess. You can't."

"Ryoko"

Ryoko still standing walk towards a file of books and took one, "I'll read you a book Princess, Its a fairytale from earth. You can sit by the couch and i can read from here."

Ayeka nodded. She walk to the couch and sitted herself. The couch is large, and is facing the dark part of the library where a table is situated. SHe can sense Ryoko there. Hearing a chair being pulled, she guessed ryoko sitting.

"Ryoko"

"Yes?"

"What is the story about?"

"Beauty and the Beast"

"Can you stay here on the couch while you read? I'll close my eyes, i won't peek"

Ryoko smiled, she tossed to the princess her scarf the princess used before she brought her to her main library, "I don't trust anyone not peeking unless their asleep so you blindfold yourself?"

Ayeka giggle and did what she was instructed, "Just don't do anything stupid Ryoko"

"I wont. Promise"

Ayeka then heard footsteps coming towards her, then felt someone sit beside her. She heard pages being shuffled, then heard Ryoko's voice. Whole, baritoned but soothing.

"Once upon a time..."

It was like magic as Ayeka hears Ryoko tell the story. The story itself was enchanting. Ayeka moved closer to Ryoko and leaned her head to the demoness shoulder, then she noticed Ryoko stop from reading

"Ryoko? Why did you stop?"

Ryoko did not answer, instead she let her arms that is ipsilateral to the shoulder where Ayeka is leaning snake around the princess and held the princess tight. Ayeka again feeling the familiarity sighed, "Ryoko..."

"yes princess?"

"You know what? I have dreamt of this, it feels familiar to be cuddled like this in your arm"

"Deja vu?"

"Yes. Something like that" Ayeka felt Ryoko's lips touch her forehead, "Will you still read the story to me?"

Ryoko them resumed her story telling as the same arm that embraces the princess was lifted and start caressing the princess' hair

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"1 more month and the curse of the demon will weaken. This should be the time we should strike and kill the demon!" Said he

"Why are you so into killing the demon?"

"I've got reasons"

"What?"

"I'm not telling"

"Then go to the palace alone"

"Alright, alright! One> That palace the demon owns got plenty of a treasure. The palace itself is a treasure man! Two> Killing the demon will entitle me to be the greatest juaraian ever! and Three> if i kill the demon and free my cousin Ayeka, I'm Sure Uncle Asuza will let me marry Ayeka. And i will be the next Emperror of Jurai. I'll rule Jurai!"

The small man just shook his head as he heard the ranting of the biggesr one, "Your insane Kagato!"

"Insane or not! Jurai will bow down before me once i married Ayeka and become the next emperror!" The smaller man shooks his head again, "Now! We have to get to the Juraian main city to recruit men who are willing to attack yoshire castle and kill that demon"

the smaller man just nodded.

-end chapter 10-

A/N: Sorry for long delay in updates. Holiday season is taking the life force out of me. hehehe. I do hope you enjoy reading this fic. Thank you.