Miss Ayeka

by Lesell Charis

Ayeka padded down the dimly lit corridor of the Castle. She was muttering incoherently to herself, wringing her hands, and gazing at the world with a stunned expression on her face. Jaf sneaked behind her, concern etched on his features. Walking in the shadows he stepped silently, so as not to be heard by her. Suddenly, she paused and snapped her shoulders up, cocking her ear to the side. Jaf stopped still in his tracks. She turned, and stepped towards him, her eyes adjusting to the light. Instinctively, he stepped back and consequently, out of the shadow.

"Who's there!?" She snapped.

"It's J-Jaf...Miss Ayeka." He stammered. She seemed mad.

"Jaf...?" she said coyly.

Jaf frowned... Ayeka, coy?! Never in his whole life had he heard Ayeka being--

"Ooof!"

"Jaf!!" Ayeka exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him and ruffling his hair. "Oh Jaf, I missed you so much!!!"

"But, Miss Ayeka you saw me before at the round tabl--ulp-- " He swallowed as she squeezed him harder. Then reddened, as he became aware of the increasing proximity of her face to his. Never, ever, had Ayeka acted like this... it was uncanny, it was impossible... Jaf felt his heart beat increase tenfold as her head inched closer to his...

"Jaf...you know, you're really good looking." She whispered sensuously, running her hands through his hair. Jaf turned the colour of a lobster. With any other girl that looked this good, he would have been ecstatic... heck, he would have even taken advantage of the situation-- but this was Ayeka, *Princess Ayeka*, for cryin' out loud... this wasn't like her.

He was cut off in mid-thought as Ayeka suddenly turned, let go, ran down the corridor and disappeared, leaving an extremely stunned Jaf. Jaf stood, with his mouth hanging open, and frowned. He gingerly trailed his hand to his butt and gasped...

"What the--!?" He yelled, at the top of his lungs. She had-the princess had-- stolen his wallet!!!

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Ayeka walked carefully into the kitchen, treading slowly. It was late-and this was so unlike her but she couldn't help it. Her stomach rumbled loudly, and she froze and winced, closing her eyes as she did so. She blinked into the darkness, making her way through the dimly lit kitchen. Suddenly, voices greeted her ears and she froze in mid stride.

"Sorry, Kitchen is closed." A hand stopped her in her tracks

She looked up in disbelief Nekobus looked down at her.

"You again Princess?" Nekobus looked at her quizzically. "You must be really hungry tonight, but I told you there's no food."

"What?" Ayeka said, incredulously.

"You know, Lesell's party needed supplies..." He looked annoyed "between K'thardin and Metroid there's no food for us." He rolled his eyes. "Then Jaf decided he had rights to finish the rest off..." He looked down at her. "You look, different from before..." he stated, quirking his brow. "Anyway, there's no food so you had better go back to bed."

She nodded and turned away, he looked away and heard his own stomach grumble loudly, and as he looked up again Ayeka was still standing there.

"Princess, I told you-there's no food, we'll get some in the morning... or something." He scratched his head and stated aloud; "If Jaf ever gets his a---"

"Hey!" The Princess, who was glaring at him cut him off in mid sentence. "My name is not 'Princess' my name is... Miss Ayeka!!" She yelled at the very bewildered Nekobus.

"Wait! I'm Ayeka!!" a firm voice cut through the room.

Two Ayeka's turned to face each other, looks of disbelief on their faces. Gradually the disbelief was replaced by anger.

Suddenly, a breathless Jaf burst into the kitchen panting heavily "Guy's! Ayeka just stole my wallet!! There must be something up, because she was acting majorly--" His Jaw dropped in mid sentence, and he gazed at the two Ayeka's in disbelief.

Nekobus sighed... "Jaf please..." he pointed downwards. "Pick your Jaw up-that's really gross."

Jaf picked his Jaw up off the floor and managed to splutter; "What the-"

"You," The Ayeka by the door piped up "are an impostor."

"Me?" The second Ayeka retorted "You're the impostor!"

"No..." She looked haughty as the guys looked between them in disbelief.

"Who's the real Ayeka?" Jaf asked

The Ayeka on the left pointed "Look at her eyes, they're cyan..."

"Aww crap!" The impostor placed her hands on her hips in a very un-lady-like pose. "Well, that sux." She sighed as the others looked at her, bewilderment written on their faces.

"Where did you come from?" Jaf asked her, "why do you look like Ayeka?"

She sighed, and said, "I don't-- not really anyway." She tugged at her right pigtail and her violet hair fell to the ground replaced by a shock of light green pigtails, in exactly the same style-- but A different colour. The two women looked exactly the same except for their inversities. "I'm Miss Ayeka," She grinned... extending her hand to Jaf. "Pleased to meet you." She beamed, and Jaf looked at her rather startled. She had the same mannerism's, same face too but she was so different.

"Are you from a parallel universe?" Ayeka, the real Ayeka piped up.

Miss Ayeka looked at the Princess and nodded, amazed. "Wow, you're sharp! How d' ya know?" She grinned.

"Because you're so... different to me." Ayeka stated

"Heh, smart one this Princess...I wouldn't let her go if I were you." She winked at Jaf

"You have my wallet..." He managed to utter.

"Oh yeah, sorry 'bout that...thought I could buy some food with the money..." She fished around and produced it. "'Cept all you had was ten dollars and all these weird card things..." She opened it and took one of them, reading it aloud; "The Dollhouse-- VIP Member..." She read carefully. "All the sexy dolls you can handle all night lo-"

"I'll take that!!!" Jaf snatched his wallet away from her.

She blinked and began to speak again... "So anyway, since I travelled through a space time wormhole, I think the chances of me getting back to my own reality is minimal... so..." She looked at everyone earnestly... "Can I stay here...?"

"What!?" Jaf almost choked-- there was no way he was going to let her stay-

"Yes, I think so." Ayeka, the real Ayeka decided.

"No, she can't stay here!" Jaf interrupted. There was no way she was hanging around here, not after all the havoc she caused. "I'm sorry..." He began firmly but you really can't stay here..."

"Aww, Pwease?" She inched closer to him, snuggling up to his body... " I have no where else to go..." she ruffled his hair playfully, "I'll be all alone..." He melted before her.

"Sure..." He squeaked, blushing red.

She grinned and turned on her heel, making her way down the corridor... "Hey, you... she called to Nekobus-where's my room?"

As she left, Jaf stood staring blankly ahead, half dazed as an amused Ayeka smiled and ambled off to bed. he trailed his hand gingerly to his butt. Suddenly his eyes flew open in recognition.

"She stole my wallet!!! My cards! My beautiful cards!" He exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

And that's why we have two Ayeka's.