Tomorrow is Another Day
Chapter 6 - Ayeka's Gift
A/N - To any Ayeka fans, I just always saw her as a bit of a cry-baby so that’s how I write her
"blah blah" = talking
blah blah= thoughts (since perspectives change I do try to make it more obvious who is thinking what but if you get confused it will follow the same rules as spoken dialogue.)
WARNING – Filler(sorry for more filler, I wanted to get a chappy out because it could be a while before I get the next one out here)
Chapter 6 – Ayeka’s Gift
Ayeka had been in her room all morning. The few times Sasami had checked on her she was sure her sister had been crying. Oh Boy… I wonder what they fought about this time… The short girl had learned to leave her older sister alone after one of those fights with Ryoko that seemed to be nearly a routine lately. But it bothered her that Ayeka had been crying.
As she worked on what would be dinner Sasami sighed. Tonight was going to be a busy occasion and it was supposed to be a fun thing having the Higurashi family over from their Tokyo shrine. She stirred a pan of sauce and tried to think of someway to cheer up her sister.
There really wasn’t anything to do until she figured out what the problem was… and that meant leaving the kitchen… Most everything was at a point were she could leave it for a while. Nothing that should be a problem except that she usually ended up having helpers come by that added things to her dishes. Last time she left the kitchen while there was a meal in the kitchen her miso ended up as popsicles and the fried fish they were supposed to have with breakfast was peppered black. Not surprisingly no one admitted to the near disaster.
She really didn’t have a choice though since things just wouldn’t be right if Ayeka didn’t come down and have fun with everyone. Sighing one last time she hung up her apron and peeked around the living room. Mihoshi was there watching some weird comedy show. She snuck past hoping not to arouse the attention of the blonde. Sasami loved her with all her heart but that cake this morning had been all the disaster she could take today.
After successfully slipping past Mihoshi Sasami next had to get past Washu’s lab. Sasami eyed the door warily. This meal absolutely could not get turned into a science experiment. As she reached the top of the stairs she let out her breath and walked to the room she shared with her sister.
“Ayeka?” She opened the door to find the room empty but hearing a muffed sigh of frustration from the balcony she moved across the room to stand where she could see out the glass door. “Ayeka?” She repeated.
A clothed mound of grieving princess gave a muffed reply that was lost somewhere between her long purple hair and the soggy pillow.
Sasami was very concerned at this point. She was used to the somewhat high-strung demeanor of her older sister but usually it just ranged from haughty to arrogant and sometimes mopey. Ayeka was, to say the least, a wreck. Oh boy… this really doesn’t look like a run of the mill fight
“Ayeka, what’s wrong?” Sasami moved close enough to catch what could have been whimpered reply. “What?” Ayeka lifted her face and gave her sister a look at the most pitiable pouting face, red with tears and damaged pride.
After a second the older princess took a deep breath and seemed to collect herself.
“I lost a fight with Ryoko…” She stopped to take another long breath. “She took all the money I’ve been saving and she’s gone to buy Tenchi a present.” Tears were falling down Ayeka’s already tear-burned cheeks. “He’s sure to pick her now and I’ll have to leave forever.” A big sob erupted that hereto Sasami would have never thought could come from her sister and the pitiable older Princess of Jurai buried her head back into the well abused futon pillow.
Sasami moved to give her sister a hug and saw that there places in her hair that needed combed back into place so she pulled a small round comb out of a pocket and started on the job. After about ten minutes Ayeka looked up and out across the lake.
“I just don’t what I’d do if that happened Sasami” There were still tears trickling down her face, “As much as there are times when I really miss Jurai, I love Earth and I love Lord Tenchi. What am I going to do? With no money I can’t buy him anything at all, I can’t compete with whatever Ryoko brings in from the City.”
It was Sasami’s turn to take a deep breath, the sight of her sister in such distress almost brought the sweet girl to tears herself but she had to be strong so she could help Ayeka.
“Where did you get all the money Ryoko stole?”
“I sold some of my calligraphy practice to a merchant who lives closer to town. Lord Tenchi’s father suggested it after he saw them. I suppose it looks a lot like some of the artwork on this planet.” For the first time Sasami saw a hit of a small smile on Ayeka’s face.
“I’ve been selling him twenty small sheets a week for about a year. He pays me ten thousand yen each. I had more than ten million yen in that purse and Ryoko took it all.” The smile had faded and Ayeka let out a sigh. “I was hoping to use that money to buy everyone some Startica presents but now I’ll have to start over.”
“Why don’t you just give everyone a calligraphy painting? Tenchi too.” Sasami looked hopefully at her sister waiting to see if the most obvious answer would mollify her.
And it did. Ayeka’s eyes lit up and there was most definitely a smile trying to bloom on that face. “I can do that can’t I?! And it’ll be ten times better than Ryoko’s present because I made it… I didn’t just buy it.” Ayeka dove into the room and started pulling all her ink supplies out of the closet.
Sasami beamed a great big smile at her now busily working sister then made her way back down the stairs. She made it all the way to the living room before she remembered that her dinner had been in danger of interference for nearly twenty minutes.
She raced the rest of the way back to find everything as it should be except that Tenchi’s grandpa was standing there at the doorway with a rolled up newspaper looking for all the world like her guardian angel. As he saw her he gave her a big goofy grin.
“I told them the kitchen was closed today. I’ll just be getting out of your way now Sasami.” Sasami hugged him on her way past and went back to the kitchen to finish dinner.