I'm back at last! I was traveling over the past weekend and that is my prime writing time. I finally got the rest of this chapter written tonight. Thanks for being patient - your reward is the longest chapter I've ever written!

I appreciate all the feedback on Chapter 7 - thanks to Adena, Guilio, carolblue, Abril, reeves, janditapreciosa, and Tani. Thank you for supporting me as I write this!

Please review this chapter and let me know what you think! I love your notes and thoughts.

Stay tuned for Chapter 9 . . .


Misa could feel the air rustle as Hikaru took his hasty leave. Suddenly, she was alone on the dance floor. She shook her head sadly as she regained her mettle, still stunned by his swift departure. Taking a breath to collect herself, she smoothed her dress and walked off the dance floor with as much dignity as she could muster, heading towards the bar.

Resignedly, she perched on an open stool and glanced around. Max and the green-haired woman were rising from the stools and heading to the dance floor. Upon closer inspection, Misa noted that the unfamiliar woman he was with was rather beautiful, with the most unusual purple eyes. The bartender came around and gave Misa a sympathetic glance.

"Another gin and tonic," she ordered flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. In an instant, the drink was placed before her.

Misa was playing with the slim straw in her rocks glass, swirling the clear liquid, ice, and lime wedge around and around, talking to no one in particular. The wannabe idols had begun their contest in earnest. She'd already heard "Shao Pai Long" a few times, mixed in with Minmay's other hits "Sunset Beach" and a particularly screechy version of "My Boyfriend's A Pilot." Not wearing a wristwatch, she pulled her phone out of her clutch. No missed calls or texts, she sighed to herself. She eyed the time, just about ready to call it a night, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

"Misa?" A vaguely familiar male voice asked.

She turned on her stool to face the person calling her name, and was surprised to see a handsome face smiling at her.

"Ethan!" Misa exclaimed in recognition.

"I thought it was you! I saw you on the floor earlier and could hardly believe my eyes. You look lovely, of course—I'm just used to seeing you in scrubs!" Ethan explained with a grin, his voice lively and warm.

"Unfortunately my scrubs are in the wash tonight," she joked back. "Which is a shame—

they're much more comfortable than this getup," she continued, motioning to her fitted dress and towering heels.

He laughed in reply. "I can believe that," he said warmly.

Ethan flagged the bartender and ordered a beer, producing a credit card from his wallet. "Actually, do you mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Of course not, take a seat," Misa replied with a smile.

They made small talk for a few minutes, chatting amiably. She was glad to see a friendly face, and happy for a distraction from Hikaru's inexplicably hasty departure. As the next contestant took to singing Minmay's moody ballad "Cinderella," Claudia approached the pair from behind.

"There you are, Misa!" Claudia exclaimed, her curiosity piqued. She was surprised to see her normally shy friend sitting without Hikaru, her date for the evening, and even more surprised to find her laughing in the company of another man, who was quite the looker. Claudia eyed him appreciatively. Ethan boasted sandy strawberry-blond hair, a straight nose, a strong jaw, and a pair of luminous hazel eyes that changed from whiskey to honey to sage depending on the light.

"I looked for you on the dance floor just now, but here you are," she continued easily, giving the unfamiliar man a quick nod of acknowledgment.

"Here I am," Misa mimed back, trying to make the smile she'd pasted on her face feel real. Forcing herself to be a little more cheery, she let her instinctual manners take over.

"Claudia, this is my friend Dr. Ethan Vincent. He's a medical reserve doctor on the SDF-01 and the chief of oncology at Macross City Memorial Hospital. I volunteer twice a month with some of his elderly patients," she explained.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Vincent." Claudia said. They shook hands politely, firmly.

"Any friend of the Captain is a friend of mine," Ethan returned kindly. "And please, call me Ethan." He flashed Claudia a dizzying smile. You could do worse, Misa, Claudia thought wryly.

The little trio continued their friendly chat. Claudia inquired about Misa's volunteering, surprised to learn something new about her close friend. Ethan couldn't hide his admiration for the Captain, raving about how patient and gentle she was with the seniors on his oncology ward. Misa deflected, a slight flush creeping across her face, trying to bring the focus back to Ethan and his many accomplishments. At age twenty-eight, he was the youngest Chief of Oncology in Memorial Hospital history, and in his free time, he was a champion swimmer and dabbled in photography.

Suddenly, Claudia excused herself rather abruptly. "Gotta, go, I'm up next," she said with a wink at Misa.

"Next?" Misa asked blankly, not registering the meaning of her friend's words, but Claudia was already gone before she could make sense of it.

The DJ interrupted once more, announcing the last contestant of the night, a Ms. Claudia LaSalle. Misa nearly fell off her stool, struggling to swallow the sip of gin and tonic she'd just taken. Ethan put a light hand on her back, steadying her. They watched as Claudia made her way to the stage, solemn and confidence. She took the microphone from the prior contestant, who shrank away from Claudia's impressively statuesque figure. Raising it to her lips, she looked out into the crowd.

"Rest in peace, love of mine," she announced with emotion in her voice, but she did not waver. Everyone knew who she was referring to in her unspoken dedication. Roy. She nodded to the DJ to cue the music, her eyes twinkling with bittersweet memories of her fallen fighter pilot and hero.

I don't think I've ever heard Claudia sing before, Misa thought to herself, anticipating the start of her friend's song.

After the introductory notes reverberated across the floor, Claudia began to sing. Her voice immediately stood out from the rest of the competitors, who had all emulated Minmay's infectious, silvery, pop star style in that signature soprano register of hers. No, Claudia's voice was that of a grown woman—a woman who had faced love and loss and ecstasy and heartbreak. It was rich and resonant, but a mature sound, with a certain smokiness to its phrasing. The din of the crowd, which had buzzed lowly through the other performances, was no more. Everyone was stunned into silence.

Time drifts away

Love drifts away..

You must go off to war, your face is so forlorn..

The men's eyes burn as they march forward.

You're leaving me behind..

For the sake of war, for the sake of pride.

Time drifts away..

Love drifts away..

I'll drift away too, crumbling.

Time drifts away..

Love drifts away..

I hate this war, I can't hide it on my face..

The women's eyes glisten with tears, hidden from the children.

I don't know if you're coming back..

Or if the fighting will end..

Will life go on?

Time drifts away..

As the music ended, Claudia took a small bow and returned the microphone to its stand before adroitly disappearing into one of the stage wings. After a moment, the collective audience arose from its collective stupor, breaking the silence with thunderous applause that refused to end. Panicked, the DJ disappeared into the wing, hustling after Claudia. A few minutes passed before the pair reappeared on stage. The crowd roared in appreciation. The DJ declared Claudia the undisputed winner and presented her with an envelope and a bouquet of long-stemmed white roses, their blooms as pure as the snow that used to fall on their desolate planet. She took a final bow and exited the stage, the crowd parting around her as she walked.

Misa threw herself at Claudia when she returned to the bar, hugging her in a tight embrace. Tears fell from both of their eyes, trickling down their cheeks.

"Congratulations, Claudia," Misa whispered. "Your performance... it was..." she trailed off, wiping her eyes. "It was the most beautiful requiem that I could have imagined," she continued, her voice quavering.

"I don't know what came over me, really," Claudia demurred softly, smiling at her friend. "I just found myself in the moment, wanting to sing—to him, for him, for us all," she confessed, exhaling.

"I didn't even know you could sing!" Misa exclaimed, a little more brightly.

"We all have our secrets and mysteries," Claudia replied, her voice husky.


Hikaru had needed time—air—space—something—after hearing Minmay's song and seeing her lifelike form displayed on the stage. A mix of guilt, fear, confusion, nostalgia, and a flutter of longing had washed over him, overwhelming his senses. He remembered mumbling something lame to Misa before bolting. Misa, he thought woefully. You deserved better tonight, he chastised himself, regretting what he'd done to her. Hikaru knew he'd spoiled what had been an enjoyable day and evening together, shattering the fragile progress they had made after the island. He frowned, not knowing how to go about making it right between them.

He had exited the club and walked to a nearby park that bordered the downtown area, finding an empty bench to perch on while he sorted himself out. A few couples passed through, using the park as a thoroughfare between the city and the civilian residential district. Hikaru pulled his phone out a few times, on the precipice of calling or texting Misa, but he thought better of it. She's probably still dancing, or out with the girls. Even if she's not, she won't want to talk to me, he lamented to himself.

Sighing, he let his mind wander back to his time with Minmay, trapped in a remote hold of the SDF-01, fearing they would never be discovered. How young and innocent we both were, he reflected somberly. I was as green as they come, and even though she was a rising star at that point, she was just a girl to me. Hikaru sighed, missing what that much simpler time had represented to him. Before he'd been swept up in the war, before Roy had died, before he'd understood why a person like Captain Misa Hayase would have needed to harden her heart to survive.

Lost in his thoughts, he stopped suddenly, realizing he had been pacing for god knows how long. What is your deal, man? Hikaru asked himself. He sat back down, putting his head in his hands, exhaling and then swallowing. The breath had brought him some clarity. He took another restorative deep breath. While Hikaru knew that he would always be fond of Minmay, he also knew that she'd be a giggling girl all her life, even when she was sixty. I'm a man, a pilot, a survivor. It's time to put the things of childhood away, he concluded to himself.

Hikaru stood up with resolve, and decided it then. Misa. A woman, a soldier, a survivor. She's like me. She knows me. She never makes it easy, but what good thing comes easy? It was amazing how light he felt after coming to this realization. He decided that he had to find her. Tonight. He insisted to himself.

Hikaru began to run, down the path, out of the park, and back downtown. The club was dark, of course. It was past the midnight curfew, but not so late—there were still a few cabs around to ferry the straggling revelers home. Not wanting to run back to the military housing complex in his jeans and sport jacket, he flagged one of the taxis down and smiled, knowing he was on his way to her.


He'd decided to perch on a bench in a small courtyard that abutted the front door of Misa's housing complex. Hikaru knew she'd have to pass by the dark little patch of lawn as she came home, and he didn't want to wait at the locked main door of the building—she wasn't prey to be stalked. He pulled out his phone, reading a few emails and returning a few texts he'd left unanswered, waiting for her appearance.

After a few minutes of silence in the dark, Hikaru heard a female voice approaching, and his head perked up, thinking Misa must be with Claudia or on the phone. He couldn't see her or make out what she was saying yet, but he smoothed his hair and adjusted his shirt collar in preparation. What are you going to say to her? He suddenly wondered to himself, palms going sweaty. Just be honest, his inner monologue insisted.

"I still can't believe Claudia won," he could hear Misa saying. Claudia won? Won what? Hikaru wondered for an instant before willing himself to focus on the more important matter of her approach. Well, she's must be on the phone if she's talking to someone, and she's not with Claudia, by the sound of it, he concluded, deciding to stay put so as not to startle her when he emerged from the darkness.

"Her performance was incredible," a male voice replied. "What an excellent way to honor Major Focker and all of the brave souls that have given their lives to protect us all," the man continued.

What?! Hikaru's mind screamed, shocked to hear that Misa had a male companion.

"She's stronger than anyone I know," Misa replied admiringly of Claudia. "And she's lost so much," she continued sadly.

Hikaru had to stifle a gasp as he saw them, at last. Misa was walking with a tall man, her hand looped around his elbow. To his distress, they looked friendly and relaxed with each other, smiling. They were plainly heading for her door. The conversation had taken a lighter turn for a moment, but he couldn't make out the words anymore—he could only hear his own deafening heartbeat in his ears. Obviously, they didn't see him sitting there in the dark. After they disappeared from view toward the door, Hikaru crept off the bench quietly, sidling along the wall of Misa's building. He begged his ears to listen.

"Thanks for walking me back, Ethan. You were right, the air was good for me," She said kindly.

"You don't have to thank me—I was happy to walk with you. Walking really helps me, especially after a tough shift," he replied thoughtfully.

Ethan, huh? Hikaru huffed to himself.

"I can imagine," Misa replied, trailing off.

Holding his breath, Hikaru could feel the pregnant silence that hung between Misa and Ethan like a weight on top of his chest, threatening to crush him.

Her voice continued. "Well, it's late, but you're welcome to come inside for some tea if you'd like," she offered politely. "I don't have much else to offer, unfortunately," she said with some fatigue in her voice.

"Tea sounds great," replied Ethan.

With a familiar click-clack, the locked door disarmed itself. Hikaru could hear the door swing open, followed by a few footfalls. He jumped when the door clanged shut at last, his nerves shot. He sank to the ground, hands in his hair, gasping for breath.


Author's note: I took some creative liberties with Minmay's "Love Drifts Away" lyrics. Hope nobody minds that. The song is really pretty though, give it a listen sometime.

Inspiration song for Hikaru's feelings: "X&Y" by Coldplay. Give it a listen while you're at it, and read the lyrics too. :)