Chapter 1 – Reunion

A soft light illuminated through the beautiful garden. The garden has been build within the space colony just a few step away from palace. Roses of different color, tulips and sunflowers blooming without cared for season. It was warm and the rain are maintained by the A.I of the environment support technology. Two pupies play with each other. One was grey in color and the other was orange. Both are from the siberian husky breed. A white siberian husky puppy nap comfortably on white cloak lap. Soft hand quitely petting the said puppy.

"Shizuru, you're here."

"Ara, Natsuki…."

"Any words from your home world?"

A brief pause of the petting soft hand. The puppy's eyes glance upward, maybe sensing the emotion from it's owner. "….No. I wonder why it is…" A sad smile gaze her lips. "I'm not concerned that we've lost communication with my home world. Am I a selfish person?"

Another form closing in. "I don't know."

Silence….it's not an awkward silence, but a silence of solemnity.

"Tomorrow you start to attend the Administrative University of Star Forces in Aries Kingdom."

A huffed escape a pair of pink lips "Ara….yes. Three years of studying ahead of me."

It saddened Shizuru to think that this is the end of their journey together. A memory of the kiss invaded her mind. What was that all about? She act like nothing has happened.

"You'll probably be a Captain in three years."

A smile grace Natsuki's eyes. She glint with happiness. "I should have a small ship. Maybe an escort ship or an assault ship."

Silence….

"…..an assault ship will need a supply officer to keep a records. And…." The tone serious. The said person scratching cheek "…it's customary for the captain to choose her own crew." Did the voice sound quivering a little, maybe it's Shizuru imagination. "…if…uurrmmm.." a cough.

Shizuru smile. "Future Captain. Should you cross path with Supply Officer Fujino. You shall invite her to serve you as your secretary."

"Good!" Natsuki smile also.

- I believe it a real sincere smile from her. Shizuru thought.

"Well. If you insist, I may just have to." A sigh escape Natsuki "So, the only thing left is making sure the future happens. Study hard and make sure you achieve that rank of Supply Officer."

"Ara-ara. Yes. Future captain"

...

...

"Wing Flyer Fujino!" a husky quiet voice stop her reminiscences

The captain serious face was annoyed. Maybe not replying the said captain's order has eventually irritated her.

"Yes, captain?"

"Your puppy is on my lap."

"Ara. Kannin na, captain."

"The beast does not belong in a a battle zone. The word "Baka" simply doesn't do you justice."

"Ara. Ace-chan. Come here." Smooth voice cooed.

"And you even named him Ace. Can you not choose other name?"

"Ma..ma.. don't mind about the name." Shizuru sympatheticly smile to her puppy. "I have no other choice. The Duran's the only home I've got. And it is customary for the Hime to bring their families aboard ship during battle, is it not?" said Shizuru nonchalantly. The puppy is a gift Natsuki gave her as a pet.

Hime Canines – these dogs are decendents of a hardy and big canines breed that thrived on the Arch Island of Earth. When Hime set sail into stars, many of the Arch Island dogs were brought with them as pets. The space-bound Hime form a particular bond with these dogs. Although the sized of these dogs are smaller than the sized of their decendent. Woof! The dog bark happily on Shizuru arms. Some might imagine they smiling at Natsuki. Natsuki feel mocked.

It's been three years since the war broke out between the Hime Empire and the Alliance of the United Mankind. Each side prepared large-scale plans of attack for a quick, decisive victory. However, shortly after the onset of hostilities, the two sides reached a standstill. Now the Hime Empire has amassed an unprecedented number of ships, several times that size of its prewar fleet. Each minute passed, new ship been born, new division formed and new fleet sets out to war. They depart throughout the universe with the possibilities of no returning back. Some might then perished with the stars, some might find new sparks been born. Even they knew the verity, they will still head off toward war with head set high of pride. They hope to be back to their home with victory in hand.

The four nations of the The Artai Federation, The Republic Of An Nam, The Lutesia Star System and the Romulus United formed the United Mankind Alliance. Thus, the wars of the universe began it dance.

…

…

In an Assault Ship Class, Duran's command room.

"10 second before the space docking. A dark brown short haired officer announced to the captain of the Assault Class Ship Duran. 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2..1…space docking!" The Wing Flyer of Navigator announce.

"It's coming. All crew ready for impact!" the husky voice of the captain state calmly despite the tension feeling of the crew.

"The assault ship jumped aside!" The Forward Flyer can't control her voice but to yell.

"Forward Flyer, Slip in from its side!" Said captain immediately after the report. "Focus the fire in the back of it!"

"Go all out, my crew!"

"Understood!"

The bow of the ship reverse 180 degrees and a nuclear fusion cannon charged. Another shot from the assault ship.

"Miss!"

"Stead.. bow right…."

"Captain..it's so fast.."

"Nuclear cannon had been destroyed" Wing Flyer of Engineering officer's voice rang through the command room. " The output power of the engine is decreasing!"

"0.9…0.8…0.7…the defending system lost it's function!"

"Air runs off from 7th section. The air pressure is dropping from 0.6 to a lower degree." Wing Flyer of Administrative Officer announced. "The crew are without response. Now sealing the partition walls…..the sealing partition walls is done, 7th section is abandoned."

"Captain…" before the Wing Flyer of Navigator finished her word, another shot of cannon rang through the ships. "Captain, If it goes on like this…."

"Start space parting. Quickly"

"Understood!" Forward Flyer response "NO! We can't make it in time!"

With that last response the screen turn into red…..

"The main fleet had been destroyed!" the big screen on the command room flash rapidly with the system warning.

All the fleet crew quiet.

"Engineer. What's up?"

"So far everything is all right, captain! But, I will go checking."

"Captain. There comes message!" The Wing Flyer of Navigator chime in.

"Turn it on!"

"Greeting, Deca-commander Kruger." The view of Deca-commander Ivory on the screen. "It's obvious that you want to fight a perfect war. Just….hmmm…how to put it…If you're in good luck, you may escape it. I will pray for good luck for you and your subordinates. Then… the mock war is over then". The screen turn off and blank again.

"Captain…" a kindness voice of Wing Flyer of Engineer trying to start a conversation. The air in the command room seems heavy to her.

" Forward Flyer Harada. Take the command. I…..would like to take a nap."

All crew silence, and the air seems heavy with seriousness…..

In an assault class ship that is withour any fighting experiences called Duran, it's famous for an amazing thing. That is, there're two nobles in the ship at the same time. One is our Captain, Her Highness, Duchess of the Wulfaz Kingdom, Deca-Commander Natsuki Kruger. Who is a Hime Princess from the Emperial Family. The other is me, Countess of Kiyohime Kingdom, Fujino Shizuru. Except for that narrow room in Duran, I have no other place to go. The place has become the only place that I can dwell in.

"Excuse me…Officer Fujino."

"Ara, Flyer Harada. What is it?"

"Since I am so young, I don't know if I do carry out my duty?"

"Ara, don't worry Flyer Harada. You did a good job!" said Flyer glance at her companion seat next to her.

"ehem…Officer Fujino.." Engineer Officer Tokiha chime in. "You know..I am much higher rank than you in Star Force here."

"Ara. I know."

"You see. I can give you order. But I also feel sorry to force you to accept such tough job."

"What job, Officer Tokiha?"

"All right, Officer Fujino."

"Yes?"

"The mock war before…did a lot of damage to the self esteem of our captain. I guess you know that."

"Ara, I wonder if you are…uneasy about the fighting skill of the captain?" Shizuru raise her eyebrow. "Deca-Commander Ivory. She is experienced in the war. While our captain only had took over the ship for a short while"

"We all know that, Your Grace the Countess."

"Anooo, can you not address me like that?"

"Fuhhh…Then Officer Fujino….. Anyway, we are not uneasy about the fighting skill of the captain at all. Just…." Officer Tokiha stop unsure how to describe the uneasiness with best word could be. " under the command of Deca-commander Kruger, I don't think we will be certainly safe. Her situation is almost the same as the captain I have been worked with. But our captain's skill is by no means lousy. I do think so. Yes. Maybe she had been worked on this. I think so far you can understand."

"Ara. I do, Officer Tokiha."

"So, I just hope that our Captain fight with a delight mood. I think in this way, we will have more chances to be survival. All in all, the princess's confidence has never been stricken."

"Ara, Do you think the depression of the captain will lead to danger?"

"It's not a problem about danger. Only that our chances of survival will be lower. But most important is…" Officer Tokiha stands and approach Shizuru. "things concerning the chance of survival, if we could only enhance it a little it's better than none."

"Ara..I understand. So?"

"Now it's your turn"

"It's my turn?" Shizuru raise her left brow questioning. "What can I do?"

Officer Tokiha hanging her arms on Shizuru's chair. "You really want me to put it?"

"Ara? Don't you mean…you want me to help her rebuild her confidence?"

"It can't be better if you do so" Mai grin.

"Kannin na. I have no confidence in that. Officer Tokiha"

"I think so. I don't have the expectation, either Officer Fujino" Officer Tokiha continued "You just properly go talk to her like…..hmm….grumbling at her?"

"Ara, grumbling? I don't do that, Officer Tokiha..besides, I don't think it works if you grumble at her. After all, she is one of the Kruger Family"

"But it's a good idea if you go to her and be her listener. It's especially better when she is depressed."

"Anoo..why..me?"

"Eh? You really want me to put it straightly?" Officer Tokiha faced Shizuru. "I ask you…. if the captain look angry, what will you do?"

"Ara, I will try my best to comfort her with soft words." Shizuru stated as a matter of factly.

"Flyer Harada." Tokiha then look at the flyer. "If it were you, what will you do?"

Flyer Harada spun her chair around so that she face both the officers. "I think I want to take a break for a while and go to a remote place, far away from her."

"Ara…so?"

"Hey! This is the action that common people will take. While… you want to comfort."

"Ara, Officer Tokiha. You think too much! Captain can take care of herself. If she knew we are worried about her, she will really get angry"

"Compared with a depressed Kruger, an angry Kruger make people feel more natural"

"Ara..that's right…but the rage will make her ascribe the blame to herself. If you say that's more natural, will her worry more about this"

"So it is…"

"Anyway…" Shizuru continued "…from long time ago, once the captain feel that others view her as a child, she will be hysterical. If she thought we view her as a child, I can't imagine what it will be.."

"You do know much about the captain. After all, we've never ventures with captain. Neither were we specially appointed to the ship on purpose. Nor did we receive the puppy sent by others. The most important of all, we can't address her name directly like you. Let alone the first name basis."

"Ara! You know everything?"

"Heehh…don't you realized?"

"I've heard it for three times." Wing Flyer of Navigator Aoi Senoh cut in.

Shizuru just look at the wing flyer trying to form an excuse.

"Don't worry, Officer Fujino. As to the private friendship between you and the captain, we hope it grows and won't damage it" Officer Tokiha grab Shizuru's hand and lead her toward exit. "and you always finish your job. We won't play tricks on you out of jealousy."

"Ara. No, I don't worry about that.."

"Then, you just take it easy and go to captain's room."

"But…wait a minute! What I mean is, you thought too much!. What's more, I don't have any excuse…" worry start to unconvince Shizuru's heart "If I go to talk to her, she will feel very strange."

"So, you need an excuse." Officer Senoh interrupted again and pointed to a screen in front of her. A single small dot of blue blink in some area of the screen "it's inside the room."

"Ara, Ookini…Ace-chan"

….

"Who is it?"

A door to the commander quarters opened…

"hmm.. Natsuki, can I come in?" Shizuru smile sweetly. "It seemed that Ace-chan bother you again."

Natsuki seat on her working area with puppy on her lap. She's petting it.

"So…" Shizuru approach her.

"Nothing to worry about." Natsuki start the conversation.

"Ara, Worry?..what are you talking about?"

"If you're worried about nothing. That's fine."

Shizuru petting Ace-chan and lifted him up. "Don't you greet me, Ace-chan?"

"Shizuru…"

"What?"

"Ace-chan always come here bothering me…"

"What can I do?" Shizuru craddle the puppy. . "Besides…. He'd miss his Aunty Kruger."

" .Baka" (Notes: In Hime of the Stars, When Natsuki was a child, she believe Ace-chan's grandmother, Clochette, supplied half of her genes.)

Silence….

"What's the dinner tonight?"

"Ara. I though what kind of serious question my Natsuki want to ask." Shizuru taking her seat on the captain's bed. "You'll know that as long as looking at the A.I data."

"That's…true." The defiant look on natsuki's face now can't be much cuter. "…but you sit there without uttering a word, which makes me uneasy."

"Ara, so it is." Shizuru cooed smoothly. Shizuru's voice always calming her. "By the way, the main course today is…" Shizuru look at her wrist computer. "Bake potato with other vegetable, an added mayonaise for captain. Do you want to know about other side dishes?"

"No.."

Silence….

"If you want to say something, just put it straightly."

"Ara….I don't even know about that." Shizuru put the puppy down on the bed and stand behind Natsuki's chair. Her hand massaging Natsuki's shoulder. It release all the tension pent up inside. "Thank you…" Natsuki exhaled.

"The mock war just now…."

"You can save your time saying those what I have known. Things like even Deca-commander Ivory will lose or to a new captain, it's nothing wrong for her to use the strategy."

"I won't say like that, my Natsuki. Just…" the hand massaging a shoulder stop. "You had better don't show everyone that you are depressed."

"Depressed!? Are you talking about me?"

"Everybody thinks that if a Kruger Family feels depresed, it's an omen of something bad happening."

"So you think so, too?"

"Ara, my precious princess. I can't deny it." A blush appear on Natsuki's cheek by the called. "No matter how it is, three years ago, I'd even seen Her Highness shedding tears and was depressed to the baroness."

"Shut up, women!"

"Ara, you said if I said nothing, you will feel uneasy."

"Even if I demand you to shut up, you never obeyed me once!"

"Ara..it makes sense..na.." Shizuru smile and look fondly. "Let's return to the topic before…"
"As to the uneasy feeling of everybody?"

"No, I think it's nothing surprising for everybody to feel uneasy because…defeated by an opponent that we can never win, you have right to feel so depressed."

"I don't know what to do."

"Ara. Then take it easy, my Natsuki..Actually no one doubts your ability..Only..they worried about you"

"You mention "everybody" again and again. Then, what do you think? Do you also feel uneasy?"

"No." Shizuru then spun the captain's chair around and lower her knees so that she level her. "Because you seem to have the ability of telling the time to do the right thing. You already made it three years ago. I believe you're not changed."

Natsuki averting her gave. "Sure, don't worry." Blushing. "But I feel…I've never seen you for a long time. The way you speak becomes so arrogant."

"Can't you say I become more reliable?. If you really want to say that I am more arrogant you'd better say that you don't seem to get used to losing others. Thought you look smart and short, once you meet a toughter opponent you lose before you fight. Next time if you admit you lose, I believe that everybody will look you in a different way."

"Baka…" the scold come as a mutter.

"All right, it's time for me to go." Shizuru lift her puppy.

"I wonder if you think you're my guardian yourself?"

"Ara, do you have that kind of feeling?"

"Yes. And I feel uneasy about that."

"Ara. It's really a misunderstanding. We're in space. Isn't it the home land where you Hime were born? As a tragic human being comes from ground, I just trust you and willing to follow you to survive."

"You are still the same as what you was. Just say something that makes me feel unreal."

"If you don't trust me, I will be very sad, my Natsuki. I am always very serious. Then see you later." Shizuru turn to walk toward door.

"Shizuru.."

"What, my Natsuki..?"

Natsuki open her mouth to say something but then close it. "no…nothing.."

...

...

Natsuki….

Three years ago we intended to protect each other…

Now when recalling it, I feel it so funny.

…..

...

Three years ago…

I meet you. I bring you to the cruiser Volash…

"Please follow me"

Then I went with you together. Laugh with you….

Cry…with you..

"Shi…shi….Shizuru!"…"You…I will kill you, Tomoe!"

"No, Natsuki..No.."

Then we ended our venture.

"I…you are my pride"

…..

...

After that….

I lost my home land and family. As well as what is related to me before.

"The war at Sora Planar space. It's only a strategy that the enemy use to make a diversion. They took advantage to the capacity of 150 fleets attacking Empire. Though we fought them back successfully, it caused a lot of damage, too. The enemy take the gates in the border as a military base to hinder our, so that we couldn't pass."

"You mean it formed an obstacle inside the empire?"

"Yes."

"While our enemy doesn't have enough power to eliminate those obstacles…."

But I don't feel sad at all…

Even when I heard I am disconnected of my home land,

Even when I heard the death of my father,

I…feel relieved instead

"Shizuru!"

And what's more important is,

I am really glad to see you again!

"Baka!"

"Just called me Natsuki!"

I only have half of your life span…

Whether it be until the day you first ascend to the Jade Throne…

Or until the day you perish into planar space….

I will be at your side…

My precious princess, Natsuki…