SunTzu really needed to see Rei as soon as possible but first things first and after a long shower he felt like a new person.
He put on one of his Taskforce's uniform and went over to Rei's Room.
Rei didn't even open the door completely before she violently pulled him inside.
When they left her room some time later again, SunTzu went first and checked if the coast was clear. When he motioned her everything was clear she followed. As soon as both were on the gangway the door to the room of Haruka and Michiru opened.
"Look who we have here! Our favorite non-dating couple."
"Where one half Is the reason we're still alive my dear Haruka." SunTzu told her.
"Huh?"
"Yup, Rei in her ways we all know and value was nagging people so much that the Far Side finally went to our rescue." SunTzu explained, while Rei slowly went from smiling to a frown and an angry glance at her boyfriend.
"Hey! I wasn't nagging anyone! Way to be thankful that I saved your ass!" She started to complain while he didn't even looked back to her.
"You know I'm actually totally into that temper of hers." SunTzu calmly told Haruka, while Rei was still complaining angrily behind him.
"Who would have known that it takes a bloody German to tame her." Haruka stated, not caring about the complaining Rei either.
"Hidden talents I guess."
SunTzu turned around, looked if the the gangway was clear and pressed his lips on Rei's who still was scolding.
After a moment she reciprocated the kiss.
"We're more than thankful for saving us Rei." SunTzu told a now silenced Rei and turned back to Haruka.
"I'm starving, you two coming along for dinner?"
"Sounds great."
They went for the near cafeteria that was pretty packed. They found Ada and her accompanying Jedi Master sitting on one of the small tables, the two just had finished their dinner.
"Let's go down to the other dinning hall." Haruka supposed.
"Yeah, just a minute." SunTzu answered and went over to the table his assigned Jedi Master and Intelligence Agent were sitting.
"Master Cilghal, Agent Wong. Glad to see you here in personal. Thank you for your help, things looked a bit dire before reinforcements arrived." He bowed slightly down.
"Lieutenant, glad to see your safe. Captain Urawa informed us of the potential trap you were heading into. Glad we make it in time. Oh, Masters Skywalker and Durron give their regards." The Mon Calamari Jedi Healer replied.
"Yeah, we stacked up quite some scrap metal today. Glad we got here in time too." Ada chimed in. "You're having dinner here too?"
"No, it's too full." He motioned to the three woman at the cafeteria's entrance waiting for him. "We're heading down to another dinning hall. Better drinks there too."
"Better drinks? C'mon Master Jedi, we accompany them."
The female Jedi Healer sighed.
"If you really insist Agent."
"I do my friendy" Ada replied with a wide smile.
They got up, Cilghal put their trays away and they joined the other three women.
Just as they left Artemis ran into them, the white haired Man had a look at the five girls grouped behind SunTzu.
"And people used to tell me I was the only rooster In the yard. Where you and your companions are headed to Lieutenant?"
"Admiral, Sir!" SunTzu, Michiru and Haruka sprung to attention and saluted.
"At ease. You three did enough for today to deserve some rest. Exceptional flying today. There might be some medals incoming soon." He greeted the pilots back and then changed his glance to Rei.
"Rei, I wouldn't have expected you with the pilots and SunTzu's associates."
"Oh, I accidentally ran into the Lieutenant and he told me he wanted to meet with Agent Wong and Master Cilghal. I thought in my profession as Diplomat It would make sense to accompany him, to make sure our guests are proper taken care of. You know how brute these soldiers can be."
Ada glanced over to Rei. She understood pretty fast what really was going on.
"Is that so?" Artemis asked with suspicion in his voice.
"Yes Admiral. Miss Hino volunteered to take care of our well-being on board." Ada chimed in.
Thanks Ada.
"I see. So, where are you headed then?"
"Dining hall near the ground troops quarters."
"Ah, yes. Miss Wong wanted a drink. Good choice, mind if I join? Tiffany makes the best food on board." Artemis asked the group in a way too friendly voice.
"Uhm, sure. It would be a pleasure if you'd join us Sir." SunTzu answered.
So much for cuddling with Rei.
A few minutes later the group arrived at the other dining hall, which was almost empty. Because the hasty departure of the Far Side most ground troops had stayed on earth.
Even better for the group that Artemis now lead into the room.
They all settled for a table, accommodating them all and Rei, the two outer Senshi and Artemis went on to get food and beverages.
Cilghal leaned in to SunTzu.
"I heard your making progress with using the Force, Lieutenant."
"Yes, Master. It helps a lot while flying combat sorties and in combat. But my regular Force powers aren't that developed. I can barely make something move up to me." SunTzu explained and then leaned forward to her. "I have the suspicion that my mastering in the Force increase when I'm around the Sailor Senshi."
"I see." The master replied. "You mind if I try something Lieutenant?"
"No, help yourself."
She put her hand on his forehead. He could feel a strange feeling that felt rather warm and relaxing.
The Jedi Master took a few moments and then stopped.
"Good, that's all I wanted to know."
He looked at her with a puzzling look but she didn't explain it any further.
Jedi. Whatever.
Ada observed the whole thing silently and with a neutral face.
"Lieutenant, why you don't get something to eat. We wait here for you."
Ah yes, associates. More like overseers but he expected that. But after three months he had started to except there were more questions open regarding himself and his past than answers and focused on the now.
And right now he was hungry.
They ate, at least most of them, Ada started with wine as she already had eaten and Cilghal just settled for a glass of water. She soon excused herself as she wanted to see if she could help on the medic bay. With the many wounded from the Shadow probably not the worst idea. The Far Side was on route to Anaxes to deliver the wounded to a GA Forces Medical Center.
As they were, understandably, tired the two Senshi soon excused themselves and left. After some unhealthy food and a beer, he had to celebrate his survival after all, SunTzu could feel the tiredness come back also.
The group soon left too and went to bed. Rei waited till the coast was clear and sneaked into his room. He was already sleeping though.
The next day at early noon, after a long talk in the Queen's quarters with the Royal Couple, Artemis and Ami, Ada and Cilghal left the Far Side on their X-Wing again, heading back to Coruscant.
SunTzu said his goodbyes in the hangar before they left. Hotaru escorted them in AICA until their jump to hyperspace.
At afternoon they arrived at Anaxes and Shuttles from the planet ferried the injured service members to the planet.
The trio of pilots was called up to the Royal Couple.
Michiru and Haruka were to show up first.
As SunTzu was told to enter his two wingmen were sitting on the sofa opposite of King and Queen.
"Ah, Lieutenant. Please join us. As I told Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune already, I'm glad you three made it. And I have to praise your efforts yesterday." She paused a moment and smiled at him. "This is why I actually wanted to see you three. The Taskforce will fly back to Earth but you three and your starfighters will stay here for a few more days longer. Your actions didn't go unnoticed yesterday and you're about to recieve immediate commendations for it here on Anaxes. Directly from the Commanding Officer of the Fourth Fleet. They're taking the momentum." She paused and smiled again. The battle was all over the holo news, and headlines like "The Return of the CIS?" where making the scene. It really made sense to immediately use the propaganda value too. "The whole ceremony will be live broadcasted into the Holonet also. I don't have to tell you how good of PR this is for us." Usagi went on.
Haruka was the first to answer.
"Nice, we're part of the propaganda campaign now. You're becoming a poster boy now." She said to SunTzu, in a very mocking tone.
And again he would be separated from his girlfriend.
After the trio left the room they went back to the rooms as they were told to leave within two hours and he messaged Rei to come see him.
A few minutes later, she had been helping Ami with sighting data, Rei appeared at his door and knocked.
"TopGun, I hope it's important that you had to get me here. Me and Ami were on something about this droid signal."
He looked at her with a severe expression for moment, not saying anything.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm leaving again. We're staying on Anaxes a few days. Propaganda, Public Relations, we're getting medals, all this stuff."
She pressed her lips together and looked briefly to the ground.
"This galaxy lately seems to not want us to be with each other I guess."
SunTzu embraced her.
"It's not fair, you know." She said with a sad voice.
He kissed her head and pulled her tighter.
"I promise this time I won't need the whole Taskforce to get home."
"Wow, really? This is all you have to say?"
"What do you expect Rei? You know, i go where I'm sent to. That's why I'm here. I don't like it either but I can't change it. The Queen is very much behind that."
He took his hands off from around her.
"Oh yeah Duty. It's always about duty. What if one day I'll be not here to mobilize all the world and it's brother to safe you."
What has supposed to be a tender farewell now had grown into a full blown argument.
"Oh c'mon, it's not that I head out into space with a deathwish and hope that Rei Hino comes and saves me!"
"Very thankful you are!" She looked at him as if she was about to hit him. "Fine. Safe your ass yourself next time! Idiot!"
She stormed off, hands clenched to fists.
SunTzu stood there for a moment, contemplating to call her to get back.
But she was gone in a few seconds and if he'd rushed behind here, people would probably take notice. She would be back anyway. Soon.
The Pilot got back into his room and started packing.
Maybe this fucking commendation would finally make him good enough for everyone to be her official boyfriend.
Twenty Minutes later Michiru and Haruka arrived in the Hangar and noticed a frowning SunTzu sitting in his cockpit, getting ready for take off, aggressivly chipping data into AICA's Navcomputer not looking up once.
Rei didn't came back and his his sour mood became even worse.
A few minutes later they were all set and lifted off.
Anaxes, The Defender of the Core, and home of various important and prestigious military academies and naval institutions.
It pretty much was the usual Core City Planet except maybe that it's inhabitants were more bourgeois and orderly than elsewhere.
The trio landed at a starfighter base near the Headquarters of the Fourth Fleet and were greeted by a Second Lieutenant that was ordered to be their guide and contact person.
The young officer was pretty stoked to meet so successful starfighter pilots and was pretty overzealous which led to a bit of ironical mocking from Haruka. At least till Michiru intervened.
They got a tour of the installation and then were shown their rooms for they stay. Thank god, this times they had seperate rooms. Actually even Michiru had her own room and used it to get revenge for Haruka harassing their guide earlier on.
"Nice, my own room. I hope you won't feel lonely tonight."
"Huh?"
"Should have been nicer to our host my dear." Michiru winked and vanished in her room.
SunTzu just went into his room too.
"Hey guys, don't leave me alone!" Haruka yelled.
She tried to enter Michiru's room but it was closed.
They had tea and pastry in a lounge soon after and met various high ranking officers of the base. Everybody was very interested in the pilots that each shot down over thirty enemy fighters in one battle.
While he was very polite and answered every question he was asked, Haruka and Michiru noticed that SunTzu seemed to be bothered by something and was more quiet and reserved than usual.
Rei couldn't believe it. He really went without saying goodbye. She wasn't even angry anymore, she was more sad that he actually did that. Especially after she basically saved his life yesterday.
Idiot.
Okay, she still was angry. But she knew that she wouldn't be the one to make the first step and contact him.
After dinner on the base the three Earthlings got their schedule for the next days. The commendation celebration would be in two days and till then they would have the chance to visit various workshops on the Anaxes War College, one of the most famous Universities for Military Personnel in the galaxy.
It was a great honor although the days were pretty packed.
SunTzu didn't listen all too close, his mind was with Rei. Maybe, just maybe he did her wrong. But there's always two people to it. And she called him an idiot. He wasn't going to do the first step if she wouldn't apologize.
After that, when they went to their rooms, Haruka asked him what was wrong with him as they walked up to their doors.
"What's up with you today? You're so quiet and lost in thought. Something bothering you?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm good. Just a bit tired I guess." He replied, in a neutral tone.
"It's Rei, right? Trouble in non-dating paradise?" Haruka asked him curiously.
"Haruka! Leave him alone or you really sleep alone tonight." Michiru chimed and punched her girlfriends shoulder.
Haruka rubbed the point with a painful expression in her face but otherwise stayed quiet then.
SunTzu wished them both a good evening and vanished in his room.
A few hours later SunTzu was still laying awake and his mind circled around Rei. It was the middle of the night and he was pretty sure she wasn't awake.
On the Far Side Rei suffered from a sleepless night as well. She kept checking her holo-receiver and even her phone.
Talk to me you Idiot! I miss you dammit!
The following days went by fast and the courses and workshops, most aimed at tactics, were very informative.
Soon the evening of the commendation came and SunTzu met the girls outside their room. All three of them were wearing the Galactic Alliance Starfighter Corps Gala Uniform. The two women as soon as possible got two of the uniforms as well after the last time they saw SunTzu wearing his.
"I still prefer you in a dress tho." Haruka told Michiru.
"And you looked better before also Mate."
"I didn't sleep well the last two days." SunTzu explained, he had dark rings under his eyes.
"You guys had quite the scuffle, right?"
"Yup. I haven't talked to her since we left."
Haruka answered with a empathetic expression and Michiru's face went to a worrying look.
"Sorry to hear that. I hope you guys can work it out." Michiru said. "Let me know if you need someone to talk."
"And me if you need a drink." Haruka followed in.
He nodded thankfully. At least he got his two close friends with him.
The trio arrived at the Fourth Fleet Headquarters after their hosting Lieutenant brought them there via repulsor car.
The Medals were to presented by the Commanding Officer of the Fourth Fleet, a Bothan Admiral named Nek Bwua'tu.
The Ceremony was rather stiff and dry but SunTzu was positive surprised to see Jedi Master Kyp Durron under the attending guests.
After the golden medals for 50 Combat Scores for Haruka and SunTzu as well as the silver one for Michiru were pinned on their uniform a bigger also golden Medal followed, the Distinguished Flying Medal of the Galactic Alliance's Starfighter Corps.
It had the shape of stylised X-Wing-S-Foils and a black and red ribbon. The trio was awarded with one of the highest decorations for Fighter Pilots in the Galactic Alliance. A very good publicity for the Kingdom although the two women and SunTzu didn't care much for the attending media and holo reporters.
Following the ceremony a banquet was held and although he really was feeling like shit because of Rei now and missed her with every inch of his being he was glad that Master Durron had been sat at his table along with the Admiral and other high ranking officers.
The food was very good and it was between main course and dessert when Master Durron leaned in to his former charge.
"SunTzu, even without the force I can see something is not right with you. What's bothering you?"
"Nothing Master, I just didn't sleep well in the last few days. Guess that battle still hangs onto me."
Haruka next to SunTzu leaned in too.
"Your apprentice, heartbreaker as he immediately became since you let him loose on the galaxy has trouble with his girlfriend at home."
SunTzu blushed and his jaw dropped.
"I see. And you're here for the next few days right?" Kyp asked SunTzu with an understanding nod.
"Yes Master." SunTzu found his voice again.
"If it's just this."
Kyp got up and glanced over to the table at the high ranking Admiral.
"I'm sorry Admiral, but I need to immediately borrow out my old trainee, Lieutenant SunTzu. Highly important Jedi Business. He needs to go to Sol System immediately."
SunTzu's jaw dropped again, as did the jaws of his both wingmen.
Not even hour later SunTzu lifted off in AICA and was on his way to Earth. Or rather to tell his hopefully-still-girlfriend that she was right and he was an idiot.
He ordered AICA to fly as fast as possible but when he would arrive it would be the middle of the night. He ordered AICA to fly on autopilot and closed his eyes. A few seconds later he dreamt about his Rei.
SunTzu woke up at the end of the hyperspace jump to the CTE and when he dropped out of hyperspace from his last jump he noticed a beautiful comet shower near Mars. He had an idea.
It was around 3am And Rei was sleeping in her bed, at her home in the shrine. Tonight she had cried herself to sleep, she missed SunTzu and she really regretted that fight with him.
She woke up as her mobile phone was ringing.
Who in the hell?
After searching the phone for a moment she took the call.
"Hel…Hello?"
"Hey." SunTzu replied.
"You're drunk, right? You're drunk and now you're regretting our fight."
"No. Yes... I mean I do regret our fight but I'm not drunk."
Her eyes widened as she understood she was on her phone with him.
"Where are you? How can you call me?"
"Look out your window."
She walked over to the window in her room.
AICA was sitting in the middle of the shrine's plaza.
"What the hell. How could you already come here."
"Important Jedi Business. Down for a ride? I wanna show you something."
I should wait for an apology. Or at least tease him some more. Make him pay a bit...
Fuck it, he's here and that is what counts.
The Senshi donned a Yukata and ran outside.
As soon as she approached the canopy opened. Rei saw SunTzu was wearing his gala uniform.
She came in running and he took her hand and swung her up and both landed in the cockpit. He didn't even care for the second seat and she sat down on his lap.
"Today you're helping me to fly." He hushed in her ear, before griping her hand with his and putting both hands on the joystick. He let AICA lift off almost soundlessly with her repulsors and hovered away into the night. When he was away from the shrine he turned the engines on and after a small turn over Tokyo they rocketed into space.
They hadn't said a word yet when they entered into space.
"Where are we going?" She asked after they passed the ever watching Selene.
"Surprise. I want to show you something. To make up a bit for my behavior. I acted like an asshole."
"Me too. I'm sorry." It was quiet in the cockpit for a moment and she petted his face.
"I missed you." They both said at the same time.
As soon as they said that she got up just a bit and turned around, sitting down again.
After making sure they were safe, she kissed him and he kissed her back.
Soon the couple arrived at Mars and the comet shower came into view. Dozens of comets in various colors traveled through space and left long traces of light and dust in space while the stars shone in the back. It was truly a sight to behold.
"This is beautiful." Rei stated.
"Rei?"
She looked up to SunTzu.
"I love you!" He blushed as he told his girlfriend about his true feelings.
Rei looked at him for a long moment before she started to grin widely.
"I love you too! Baka!"
The two started to kiss passionately and one thing led to another.
Soon they were making passionate love to each other in AICA's cockpit while outside the spectacle of the comets went on, the comets outside passing by, their trails mirroring on AICA's canopy.
When the couple had finished their lovemaking the two lovers were laying naked in each other's arms in the cockpit and watched the last of the comets pass by.