AyekaCharProfile

Ayeka is Tenchi's great aunt, the Crown Princess of Jurai and the owner of the powerful ship Ryu-Oh. When Ayeka is first introduced, she is grieving for her lost brother, Yosho. Many years ago, Ayeka was betrothed to her brother, but at the same time, she was too young for marriage. When Ayeka matured, Yosho left Jurai very suddenly after Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki attacked. For several hundred years, Ayeka searched the galaxy for Yosho while crying many tears for her loss. She was never completely sure whether Yosho was alive, but until she could see his body, she would always deny his death. In her quarters is an animate, holographic image of Yosho to which she used to speak and then often cried. Ayeka blamed Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki for her brother's disappearance and was enraged when her guardians, Azaka and Kamidake, informed her that Ryoko's crimes had been canceled by the Holy Council of Jurai. Although she is many light years from Jurai, Ayeka is still under the authority of the Queen, and her servants ensured that Ayeka followed her orders while she was traveling in Ryu-Oh.
   After Ayeka captured Ryoko and Tenchi, she brutally tortured Ryoko with the Master Key (which she recognized as Ryoko's sword), all the while displaying a very confident attitude. When Tenchi escaped from her guardians with the Master Key, Ayeka could see that it accepted him. Ayeka concluded that Tenchi is related to her through blood, which devastated her because of his association with the person who took Yosho from her so many years ago (Ryoko).
   When Ryu-Oh crashed into Earth, Ayeka felt very desolate because she had to stay on what she considered to be a "remote planet". Ayeka confined herself to her room in the Masaki house and refused to come out. In addition to mourning for her brother, Ayeka felt very alone and bitter about being stranded. It is interesting that her feelings of loneliness became a self-fulfilling prophecy when she shut herself in her room and pushed others away with angry words and violence. Ayeka's feelings of abandonment from her brother surface in the form of nightmares in which Yosho leaves her and then dies. Sasami, unaware or her sister's nightmares, explained that it was Ayeka's responsibility to speak with the head of the household and not hers. Ayeka then apologized to her sister and accepted her diplomatic role. She was still lonely, and at first, her long-hated enemy, Ryo-Ohki, was the only one who could comfort and get close to her.
   Eventually Ayeka shows kindness to Tenchi after he chivalrously makes a fire with which she can warm herself after they were caught in a bad storm. She also seemed relieved when Tenchi told her that he did not really consider Ryoko to be his friend. While travelling back to the Masaki house, Ayeka recognized Funaho on sight and was able to tap into its memory with the Master Key. Once she viewed the events that are part of Funaho's memory, Ayeka fully believed that her brother was still alive and became even more determined to find him. With this newly found hope, Ayeka was able to apologize to Tenchi for her rude and unkind behavior towards him. She then charged Tenchi to protect Sasami and herself.
   Ayeka's turning point in her character was at the moment she decided to accompany Mihoshi, Tenchi, and Sasami on their mission to rescue Ryoko. After this, Ayeka showed less hostility towards Ryoko, but she still did not fully forgive her. Ayeka was probably also impressed when Ryoko said she was willing to die to seek revenge against Kagato for Tenchi. Ayeka finally seemed to forgive Ryoko once she learned that Ryoko did not attack Jurai out of her own volition. With her anger lifted from her, Ayeka is also able to show more kindness, patience and warmth to the others in the Masaki house and can behave in a less formal manner.
   When Ayeka introduced Tenchi to her father, she was surprised by his cold reaction towards him. Ayeka told the king that she preffered to remain on Earth with Tenchi rather than return to Jurai. Ayeka's love for Tenchi is so strong that she is willing to seperate herself from her family and her home. However, Ayeka may also want to stay because, for the first time in her life, she has been able to live freely and without the scrutiny that a princess must endure.
   Out of all the characters, Ayeka changes the most dramatically from when she is first introduced. In the beginning, she was a very impatient, damanding and spoiled person who did not realize that she had no authority or power over others on Earth. She rarely used polite forms and instead gave orders that she expected to be obeyed and carried out. When her orders were not followed, she became extremely frustrated and demanded an explanation. While living in the Masaki house, Ayeka learned tolerance and humility. She also learned some domestic skills, such as knitting and washing-chores that she would never have to perform while on Jurai. It is important to remember that Ayeka was accustomed to having many servants on jurai who would respond to her bidding at a moment's notice. The concepts of friendship and equality were difficult for her to embrace willingly and understand. However, she still expects complete obedience from Azaka and Kamidake, who are so loyal that they can obey her with only a nod of Ayeka's head. Ayeka is possesive about her guardians and does not like anyone else to use them without her permission.
   Ayeka can be very staunch and she holds herself in a regal manner. However, she does act hastily and willresort to physical violence without hesitation. When in dire situations she commands others around her. Ayeka values her beauty and displays a shallow side when she puts appearance above all else. She is quite concerned that, once mature, Sasami will be more attractive than she will. Before going to bed, Ayeka ritually brushes her hair and then wraps it. Ayeka never removes her head ornament-even while she's sleeping and bathing. Ayeka has a strong grip while sleeping and is, in general, a deep sleeper. Issues involving sex and sexuality are very taboo, embarrassing, and hard for her to manage.
   Ayeka posses great knowledge of Ryu-Oh and how he operates as a ship. She is able to teach Tenchi how to command and use Ryu-Oh's Lighthawk Wings. She knows exactly what kind of environment from which Ryu-Oh needs to germinate and grow. Ayeka understands how most ships operate in general, but she cannot successfully manoeuvre and ship with controls unlike Ryu-Oh's. Examples of this knowledge include: working Ryo-Ohki's communication system and moniters, recognizing when the Soja was going to attack, and speculating that Ryo-Ohki's drunken flight pattern was a result of the balancer being damaged.
   Ayeka has the ability to ensnare others and objects (as large as Ryo-Ohki) in a force field. A series of what looks like smaller versions of her guardians surround the target and trap it in tentacles. In addition to this offensive force field, Ayeka has a defensive, transparent shield that encircles her entire body. She can will this to extend to protect others as well, but it is more difficult for her to keep it active. She can also heal very quikly. For example, when she fell down the hill from the Masaki training area and sprained her ankle, she was able to walk again in only a few hours. Ayeka is an adept runner and she has excellent endurance.
   Ayeka is not a social drinker and does not know her own tolerance level. She seems to have developed the habit of turning to alcohol to numb the pain caused from problems. For example, she comsumes a large amount of sake when she realizes that Sasami's beauty will surpass hers. She also uses denial as a coping mechanism. This was illustrated when the Soja fired on Ryu-Oh (with Tenchi inside) and Ayeka cried out in grief, agony, and anger. Ayeka did not fully believe that Tenchi was dead until Ryoko produced a piece of his clothing stained with blood. Once she saw the truth, Ayeka was surprisingly calm, but ready to take revenge for Tenchi's death.
   Ayeka has learned the skill of negotiation and diplomacy and is able to tell others exactly what they want to hear (with the exception of Ryoko). Ayeka uses these skills to get what she needs from Washu, such as the special unit in which she plants Ryu-Oh's seed. However, she has more difficulty using these talents with her father, especially when Ryoko is present.
   Ayeka is directly responsible for Sasami while they are away from the Palace, and she often reprimands her while she trys to teach her decorum. At first, Ayeka is angry that Sasami enjoys Ryoko's company and she expresses her displeasure with Sasami for interacting with Ryoko. Ayeka also tells Sasami that she believes her manners have deteriorated since she met Ryoko. Despite her strictness, Ayeka cares deeply for her sister and expresses these strong feelings to her even after Sasami tells her that she died many years ago. Ayeka helps Sasami to see that she will not abandon her and that the only thing that matters between them is their love and relationship as sisters.
   Over time, Ayeka's feelings towards Ryoko change considerably. In the beginning, Ayeka says that she will never forgive Ryoko. It is interesting that Ayeka calls Ryoko unreasonable when she herself can be just as inordinate. Ayeka's hatred disappears when she learns that Kagato was controlling Ryoko during the time that she attacked Jurai. Their relationship is still quite volatile, however, and Ayeka shows little patience with her. Ayeka competes with Ryoko for Tenchi's affections and wants to win his love at all costs. Ayeka enjoys antagonizing Ryoko, especially about her age, which is a sore spot for Ryoko. In general, Ayeka is not sensative to Ryoko's feelings and tends to project her anger towards her. However, by the end of the second OAV series, Ayeka showed some concern for Ryoko after Dr.Clay abducted her. Interestingly, she could not watch when Tenchi held Zero (who is in Ryoko's form). For the most part, Ayeka and Ryoko are very akin (stubborn, antagonistic and strong-willed) and this similarity is probably the root cause of the majority of their conflicts.