Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ The Princess and the Demon ❯ chapter 11 ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
A/N: Sorry for the very-very long delay, i had this story hanging for long and it is only now that i finally got the groove to continue this. Thank you for all the reviews, and for all those who read.

[Chapter 11]

Princess Ayeka looked at the door to the castle. Today is the day that she dreaded to come. She have a mix feeling in leaving the castle, for the whole year she spent with Ryoko, the more she doesn't want to leave, but she misses her family, her father, her mother, her aunt and her sister Sasami, Ryoko even begged her to leave when she told the woman that she wanted to stay. Ryoko told her that today, her curse will be lifted, and she really wanted to be with her "demoness" once the curse is out. She wanted to see her Ryoko's face, touch it, maybe kiss it, she wanted to see her smile, she wanted to make a definite memory of her, not just imagine what she looks like from the shadows she sees. But the way Ryoko begged makes her heart squeezed. Woman's intuition- she knew there is something wrong, and she can feel that something is odd. Ryoko even asked her mother Washu, and her friends Yosho and Tenchi to take her to the main castle, wich means, Ryoko will be all alone...Her Ryoko....

"Shall we go Princess?" Washu is standing there before the princess, she is wearing an emotionless face, Yosho and Tenchi is at her back, carrying the Princess luggage. Then Washu handed Ayeka something

"What is this?" Ayeka ask, her voice sad

"It's a gift from Ryoko. She said if you feel alone, just look at it and say her name." Washu said giving the princess a sad smile. Ayeka just nodded, tucking the gift into her pouch without looking at it.

Ayeka, Washu, Yosho and Tenchi boarded the carriage, and it started moving out of the castle. Ayeka, feeling Ryoko's gaze on them look at the castle one last time, focusing her gaze on that open window, whic the princess knew where Ryoko is, looking at them. And tears fell in the Princess' eyes.

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"They knew today is the day the curse will be lifted" Ryoko said flatly

"And what is your plan?"

"Nothing"

"What?"

"I am dying anyway. What is the use of me fighting?" Ryoko said then smile, "I will die Happy Tara" Then Ryoko turn around to look at the demoness

"We have to fight" Tara insisted, her voice firm

Ryoko just shook her head, she walk towards the girl, "This is not your fight Tara, let me live thru with it" Ryoko said then she embraced the girl, "I'm sorry" Ryoko said, no tears were falling

"Sorry?" Tara scrunch her forehead

"Sorry for being stupid, I never knew you have a feelings for me"

there was silence

"But, i do not regret anyting Tara. I am happy now, at least i've been with Princess Ayeka even for just a while." Ryoko finally said before she breaks her embrace, "I will never forget you Tara, you are my very good friend aside from Tenchi, and you are a big part of my life"

"Ryoko" Tara said, not being able to contain her sadness anymore, tears starts falling in her face

"Hey, don't cry" Ryoko smiled, "My body may not be here anymore, my soul maybe taken by the demons, but i know i could still see everyone, and my memories will always be with you" She turn away from Tara, "No one will lose in the end" Ryoko then sighed

silence

"You have to leave now Tara, i could feel them coming"

"I wanted to be here, i have to protect-"

"No" Ryoko said in a firm voice, "No matter what we do, i'll never live to see tomorrow. Maybe i'll just give those men something that will make them happy"

"You should have not let Yosho and Tenchi out, they could help you!" Tara shouted desperately

"It's better this way." Ryoko turn around again, smiling, "Goodbye Tara"

Tara knew that Ryoko have made a decision. She bowed before Ryoko and left

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"50 men against one woman! What could that demon do now? Without power, she will die!!!!" Kagato shouted before 50 assembled men at the Yoshire Plaza, "Men! Grab your weapons and we are now heading to the castle and kill that Demon!!!!"

"Yeah!!!!!" The men shouted as they grab their weapons.

KAgato leap from the fountain as he grabs his sword, and lead the way, "To the Castle!!!!" He shouted

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It was as if the travel from yoshire to the main castle of Jurai takes them forever. The women now unboarded the carriage, Princess Ayeka smiled as she saw her mother, her sister, her father and aunt came to meet her.

"Ayeka!" King Asuza opened his arms wide, and the princess run to his father's embrace, "I am glad you hjave come home" The Hulking King said as he embraced her daughter, then looking at the three woman beind the princess

Washu, Yosho and Tenchi bowed before the King. King Asuza smiled and motioned them to stand up. Queen Funaho and Queen Misaki smile at the three woman as well, and motioned for them to go inside. Princess Sasami on the otherhand run to her sister and hug the older one.

"You've grown up Sasami" Ayeka whispered to her sister

Sasami nodded, then she pulled from the embrace and look at her sister contemplatively, she reach out for her sister's face and traced Ayeka's eyes, "Your smiling, but your eyes doesn't" Sasami whispered

"Sasami"

The younger girl returned the hug, this time more tighter, and reassuring, "We can always go to Yoshire, the curse will be lifted right?" Sasami ask.

Ayeka stiffened with Sasami's words. 'how did Sasami knows that?' the princess ask herself. They proceeded and walk towards the palace throne room. Ayeka felt her environment quite odd, something is not right.

"Sasami" Ayeak speak while the sisters are walking hand in hand along the palace corridor, "How did you know that the demon's curse will be lifted today?"

"Oh, that?" Sasami's smile suddenly disappear, and was replaced by an expression of sadness and worry, "You know Kagato? Fater's nepew?" Ayeka nodded, "He came here Yesterday and told Father about the news" Sasami look at her sister, "So the news is true?" Ayeka nodded again. Then as if something is pushing her, she remove her hand from Sasami and walk faster to catch up to her father

"Father!" Ayeka called. This made the King stop on his track and look back at her daughter

"What is it?" He ask smiling

"You knew that the curse will be lifted today?" She ask, King Asuza sighed, but he nodded in response, "What did Kagato told you?" Ayeka's voice is insistent

silence

"Father!" Ayeka shouted, "I knew Kagato, he wants something, what does he wants for him to tell you about Ryoko's curse?"

"Ryoko...not demon anymore?" King Asuza ask

"PLease" Ayeka beg

"He wants your hand in marriage, and in return he will kill the demon"

"She is not a demon!" Ayeka shouted. Sasami, Washu, Yosho and Tenchi just look at her, "He is going to kill Ryoko? Why? She have not done anything wrong, why can't he just leave her alone?"

"Ayeka-"

"Why?!"

"I made the promise Ayeka. I am giving your and to him in marriage once the de-Ryoko is dead"

Everyone stop when they saw Washu shook her head

"They really don't have to resort to that thing. Whether they be able to kill my daughter or not, Ryoko will die anyway"

there was silence. Ayeka just look at Washu, and like Magic, Washu's child like form disappear, and was replaced by a tall, womanly figure. Ayeka's eyes widens as she remembered the picture in the Yoshire palace.

"What do you mean?" It was Sasami who ask

Washu did not answer, tears began falling in her face

"On Ryoko's 15th birtdate, she was cursed by her friend's mother. She was turned into a demon, and the reason was because Ryoko fell in love with another woman, and not her friend." It was Yosho who gathered the courage to explain

Ayeka can't beleived what she heard. Was this a make up story? It is as if Yosho have read the book Ryoko's friend gave- then the thought dawned on her, Is Yosho pertaining to the same woman who gave her the book? Then if it is...IS Ryoko and Hakubi the same person? "Hakubi" Ayeka mumbled.

Upon saying the name, Washu, Yosho and Tenchi look at her

"How did you know that name?" Tenchi ask, her eyes wide, "She have never used that name since she was cursed"

Ayeka look at Washu, "She was cursed because she fell in love with a woman who doesn't even know her?" Ayeka's question was a confirmatory one, when the three women nodded, her heart started sqeezing, "Who is she?"

there was silence

Ayeka is now determined to know who is the woman. From the book she read, she knew how to lift the curse, that woman should come to Ryoko in her own, and love Ryoko back, but who is she?

"Please tell me, who is the woman? She is what Ryoko needs to lift the curse" Ayeka inisisted

"Princess-" Yosho started, shaking her head

"PLease Yosho, I beg you" Ayeka said, her head bowed down, Ayeka is determined, she wants her Ryoko alive, if she have to beg for the woman to save Ryoko she will do it, "PLease"

"Ayeka" Sasami mumbles as she approach her sister and hug her

Yosho sighed and look at Washu, Washu just nodded at Yosho, "She...she fell in love with you"

Ayeka stiffened as soon as she heard Yosho's declaration.

-end chapter 11-

A/N: Next chapter is the finale