A/N: I know, too much technical stuff last time. BITE ME. Well, I'll make up for it with jillions of characterization in this one. ^^ No, I'm serious. This is more like a fun chapter than anything else. Only, not as extreme as Chapter 13 of "To Die or Not to Die". (The one with the card playing and such. ^^) Lots of traveling and shmuff. Yesh. No, I am not drunk. I just have a headache. Well, if we get all that I want to get done with this and still have some time left, I'll get started on the Carmina-stuff. But I doubt it. Okay, exactly WHAT kind of characterization do we see headed for us? Bonding with the kids, relationship thingers, foreshadowing-stuff, fleshing out characters that I have to flesh out NOW, and working more on relationships. But it may seem a bit more dark and angsty than normal, as people are going to be realizing an important fact that they can no longer deny nor ignore. Anyway. Well, let's get to it.

~*~

Three hours into the walk on the first day, Ruri was the first to wake up. She had been using Omoikane's legs as a pillow, especially since Omoikane had told her he'd be shutting himself down to conserve energy, running only on stand-by. She opened her golden eyes, squinting into the seemingly sudden bright light. She sat up and pushed some of her tangled tresses from her face. Combing through her silver hair with a hand, she looked up at the cockpit chair where Akito sat, and was shocked to find he was wide-awake.

He noticed her immediately, and turned his head to smile at her. "Ohayou, Ruri-chan. Did you just wake up?" Ruri nodded slowly, clamping her mouth shut to suppress a yawn. She relaxed her face again when the urge left. "Yes. What time is it?" Akito glanced at his watch. "About eight. Why? Getting hungry?" Ruri shook her head. She normally didn't eat until lunch, and barely ever ate dinner. She never got very hungry very often. "No. I won't be hungry for a few hours yet." Akito nodded. "Well, when you do, tell me. Or tell everyone else. We ARE on an open communication channel, if only just to keep us awake."

When he stopped talking, the cockpit was not as silent as one would expect. Sure, there were all sorts of mechanical noise and such, but there was a constant beeping that made Ruri's eyebrow twitch every time it sounded its annoying alarm. Omoikane also made all sorts of mechanical sounds, from the gears whirring to his own breathing. Ariko was no quiet sleeper, either. He often grunted while sleeping, murmuring to himself about wanting, not this teddy bear, but that one. Ruri didn't understand how she could sleep so well in all this noise.

Akito, in fact, was contributing to it. He was humming some little song, sometimes actually softly singing the words, and bobbing his head. But bobbing his head didn't make any noise, it sure made Ruri dizzy just watching it. Ruri didn't recognize the song, but it wasn't as if she would, anyway.

Akito glanced at the silver-haired princess to find her gazing at him observantly. Seeing her watch him made him feel self-conscious, and he automatically adjusted his glasses. "Did you want something, Ruri?" Ruri shook her head no, sat back against the wall of the cockpit, starting to tap her fingers on the floor in boredom.

Akito watched this action in awe. The girl never seemed to talk, but she also seemed desperate for something to occupy her mind, if only for the time being. 'Well, I can certainly try to think of something…' "Hey, Ruri, when was the last time we talked? Like, one on one?" Ruri blinked in response. She tried to come up with an exact date, but it wasn't working well for her. "Around December 15, I think, 2197." Akito's jaw dropped. "Shit, man! Oh, sorry," he apologized for cursing. Ruri shrugged it off. She was used to the crew's overall bad language by now. He continued, "It's just, jeez, we haven't talked in like, four months? That's pathetic." He sighed. "Well, other than what everyone knows, how's life been treating you, Ruri? Miss Fressange a good teacher? Healing any fun?"

Ruri set her mouth into a line. "Miss Fressange is a fine teacher. It's very different to be learning from an actual person, then just a hologram, like when I was younger." She glanced at the silver, almost white markings on both her hands. "Healing however… is very exhausting and taxing. I… I never wanted to be a nurse for the rest of my life." Akito frowned. This was the first complaint he had heard from the girl. But, of course, they hadn't really spoken in four months. "Well, Ruri, what do you want to do with your life?"

The question hit Ruri like a truck. For the first time in a very long time, the young genius's mind drew a blank. When she was four, she was told that she would become a computer operator for a battleship. She didn't have any plans for her future then, so it was a good idea, to her. Now, when they get back to Earth, and assuming the war was definitely over, what would she do? 'I always have a permanent home with my biological parents, but the only family member I am close to is Ariko-chan. Could I really live with all those strangers, just because they donated my building blocks for life?' She turned to Akito. "I honestly don't know, Tenkawa-san. I assume live with the Peaceland Royal Family." Akito frowned again. "You don't sound like you want to do that. Are you sure?" Ruri's yellow eyes softened to amber as she regarded the question. "No. I'm not sure, Tenkawa-san. But it doesn't seem like I have any other options."

Akito scoffed. "You'll always have other options! I'm sure someone will want to hire you, hell, they'd PAY to hire you! Or you could just go to a regular school and bore yourself stupid! And living quarters? No problem. I'm sure someone would kill to have you live with them, like Minato, Uribatake-san, or Yurika… and if they don't, let me tell you right now that I'll never say no, Ruri!" He lifted his hand for a second to pat her head. "We all stood up for you when your mother demanded that you stay in Peaceland, and we did it because we all love you, very much. You aren't just the computer operator, you're an adorable young girl that everyone wants to hug and take home with them." He smiled, laughing a little at his words. "I got a little too sappy, didn't I?"

Ruri nodded slowly. "But it did help, Tenkawa-san. I don't know now, but I can always figure it out later." Akito nodded. "That's the spirit, Ruri!"

~*~

Five hours into the walk to Carmina, Yukina draped herself on the back of Jun's cockpit chair. "Hey, Jun? I'm bored. Talk to me, please?" Jun keep his vision on the screens in front of him, like a nervous driver, but raised a dark blue eyebrow. "Okay, well, um, what do you want to talk about, Yukina?"

Yukina didn't even need to think. She couldn't talk about this to Minato; she just wasn't in the right place to understand. She couldn't talk to any of the adults in her class, not even Ruri, who was only a few months older than her. Ruri may have been her friend, but not even she was close enough, nor in this situation. "Do you ever wish you were under some other God?"

"Huh?" the question caught Jun off guard. Of course he never thought about it. What was there to think about? He was the only one of their number that had been "chosen" by Flamma, the goddess of fire. From what he knew, She wasn't a very bad person. In fact, She wasn't a bad person at all. "No… I guess I've never really thought about it. Why do you ask?"

Yukina slid down the back of the chair until she was sitting on the floor again, resting her head on the back of it and looking at her black socks. "I really don't like my God. Magus sounds like a real bitch and a half. Pardon my language," she said monotone, as if she had to say it often. "I mean, all I hear is that I should respect Him for giving me advantages that others don't have, but then I hear about how He basically wants most of us dead for just existing! I just don't think we should be secluded to one God."

Jun considered this. This girl obviously had been thinking about this for a while. "Well, I've never been the religious type. It always pissed my parents off, but we're not going into that. But, since I have actual proof in front of me, sure, I'll give Flamma all the respect she wants. No big deal. But She's not a bad person. Personally, I would feel horrible if I was under a God that wanted my friends for dinner."

Yukina tapped her chin. "So, do you think it would be bad if I gave my respects to all of Them? I mean, all Five Gods?" Jun shrugged. "I don't know. I think you should do what you want. If that's what you want to do, don't let people like Rumiko-san or Miss Fressange stop you." Yukina smiled. "You're a nice guy, Jun, you know that?"

Jun rolled his eyes. "Of course. I'm ALWAYS the nice guy," he grumbled.

~*~

Six hours into the walk, Yurika's cockpit, Izumi's cockpit, and Rumiko's cockpit were instantly filled with tons of communication window, all of people complaining that they needed a break, they needed some food, or they needed to go to the bathroom. Yurika's head was spinning. "All right! All right! We'll stop!!!"

Within an hour, they had a fire set up and lunch was served and eaten. Then they were able to just relax for another hour.

Akito pulled his thin wire glasses off his face and set them on his head. He then proceeded to rub his eyes. Gai noticed this obvious act of exhaustion, and cocked his head to regard the smaller, yet older man. "Tired?" Akito glanced up and nodded. "Yeah. Just a little. But… Not so much tired as I am worried."

Gai nodded. Everyone seemed on edge for the same reason. "Who ISN'T worried? Shit, we're going to the one place that, well, we may not come back from!" Just then, Akito realized how much his boyfriend was fidgeting. Gai was obviously trying to hide his fears and uncertainty, but he wasn't doing a good job.

Akito hadn't really thought about that. "Of course… They're going to kill us, aren't they? Sure, we may get the barrier lifted, but we're not going to leave alive." The very prospect of it was mind-blowing. They hadn't really thought much on the fact that a GOD wanted them to die, as Rumiko and Igadosu didn't do anything to issue the order. But they were going to a place where this order would be LAW. Akito pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them.

Gai wrapped both of his arms around him, not to comfort the Martian, but more to comfort himself. 'All this time, I've cheated death. Will this time be the last time? And what about Akito? He… he isn't like me. He doesn't just rise from the dead like I seem to. He'll… he'll most definitely die.' He surprised himself by burying his head into Akito's hair. "Akito, I don't want you to die."

Akito pulled his glasses off his head. "I… I don't want you to die either." Gai shook his head violently. "I might not. There's a good chance that I won't. But, Akito… you will, if they decide that you must. I… I don't want you to…" Gai was openly crying now, his fears out in the open and fallen to ears that actually cared.

Akito was very touched. 'He has no concern for himself, but only for me. It seems that he still loves me more than he wants to admit. He still may see me as the stupid bastard that hurt him, but he would do anything for me to not leave him again, not even in death.' Akito did not cry, but just set his glasses on his nose again. "Gai-chan. I won't die if I can help it. I won't let them. I'll kill them first, okay?" He turned and smiled at him to try to get a smile out of the taller man. Gai sighed in relief, but still looked very worried about it. "Akito, will we make it back to Earth alive? All of us?" Akito shook his head. "I don't know. I honestly don't know."

~*~

Nine hours into the trip, Akito beeped into Jun's communications. He certainly wasn't as confident about Carmina as he was about an hour ago. In fact, the Martian was whispering so he wouldn't give away his being upset to his three passengers, who were playing cards in the back. "Jun? Can I talk to you?"

Jun slowed his Aesti for a bit, then glanced behind him at Minato and Yukina. They were talking about what sort of furniture and clothes Yukina might want when they get to Earth. "Sure. Is there something wrong, Akito?"

Akito's eyes were big behind his frames, and he nodded quickly. "I'm scared… Scared and worried. I don't want Gai-chan to feel bad for making me worry more about it, and the girls would obviously tell him." Jun nodded, but was still very confused. "What's up? Scared and worried about what?"

Akito got closer to the screen. "Jun, do you realize that we are going to go see the big worshipping guy for Magus? Rumiko and Igadosu were nice enough to keep up alive, but what about this Mythos Entrada guy?" Jun's blood froze. "Akito, are you saying-"

"I'm saying, we may not make it off this planet alive, Jun," whispered the cook, obviously very distressed about this little fact that Jun himself looked over. He sniffled as a single tear fell down his cheek. "Jun, I'm scared. I don't wanna die. I don't."

Jun sighed. He remembered that, while they were all in Limbo together, Miss Fressange had stated that Akito's fear was death itself. Death of others and himself. He never thought he would see the day when Akito cried in front of them. "Oh Akito… Miss Fressange, Rumiko, Igadosu, and Yurika won't let us be harmed. They won't allow it. This trip wouldn't have been planned unless they took that possibility into account. Besides, I'm sure we could take them down like the bitches they are, right?" Jun smiled at Akito to indicate that it was a joke. Akito still looked unsure.

"Are you sure, Jun?" Akito sounded like a little kid afraid of a monster in his closet. Jun nodded. "I constantly have to depend on Yurika. This is definitely the time when it's appropriate, don't you think?" Akito nodded slowly. "I suppose so." He grabbed a tissue from off screen and blew his nose. "Thanks, Jun. You really actually helped, in an odd way."

Jun smiled. "My pleasure." Akito glared at him. "And don't tell anyone that I cried in front of you, ok? I'll never live it down." Jun laughed at the request. "No prob, Akito. Your tough bitch reputation won't die because of me." Akito actually smiled back. "It better not. Just keep in mind that I can still kick your ass." Jun rolled his eyes. "Of course."

~*~

Thirteen hours into the trip, it was Yurika's own exhaustion that gave the order to stop for the night. After the camp had been set up, she was so tired she practically collapsed on Akatsuki, who was showing signs for sleepiness himself. "God, I am so tired!"

Akatsuki smirked. "It's not as easy as it looks, now, is it?" Yurika glared at him. "I didn't volunteer for this position." Akatsuki shrugged. "You didn't seem to wonder if it was a good idea or not when the war ended."

Yurika grew silent. "Nagare, do you think we DID end the war? Or is it still going to this day?" Akatsuki shrugged again. "I don't know, but I think that the war would have ended eventually, especially with the Jovians' weapons running low. Earth wasn't in such a great position either."

Yurika regarded him with her green eyes. For once, he sounded like the war was a bad thing. "And what about Nergal?" Akatsuki rolled his eyes. "I'm sure Erina is taking care of it. Hell, she's put up with me giving her orders all the time, I'm sure she just couldn't wait to take control." This wasn't the first time he mentioned Erina taking his place. It seemed odd, that he would relinquish such a responsibility, and such an honor, to his cousin.

Yurika laid down on the ground, watching the fire that Rumiko ordered Jun to set up a little over a half hour ago. "Nagare, why would you give the company up to Erina so easily? Isn't it your family's pride and joy?"

"Erina is my cousin, and direct heir after me, assuming I don't have children. Once I kick the bucket, she gets Nergal and all the money and power associated with it. She's been flapping her gums about killing me for the company, but, while she may share the malicious trait of our family, it isn't quite as prominent. I sincerely doubt she has the guts to kill me." Yurika was stunned; how could Akatsuki speak of such matters so heartlessly? Sure, he was characterized, even known for his ruthlessness, but this was just a little too much.

"How can you talk about dying so… normally? As if it's something that happens everyday, and not something horrible?" 'At least Akito understood that death IS something horrible. Both of his parents were killed, their murder an order by the father of this man. He knows what it's like. But Nagare's brother was killed in an accident, doesn't he understand?'

"Death is like firing someone, Yurika. You don't need them anymore, you let them go. If they stand in your way, you take them out of the picture. Simple as that." Yurika frowned. "But that's so cold."

"Sure it's cold. Life is cold. Besides, death DOES happen everyday. It's just a fact of whether it's today or tomorrow. Personally, I don't care when I die. I could die the second we get to Carmina, and it wouldn't matter. All of my affairs are in order. They have always BEEN in order. I won't be leaving anything unaccounted for. And it's perfectly fine with me."

Yurika wrapped her arms around herself. 'That's why he didn't the war was so bad. Because they were all going to die anyway. It's all so…' "Heartless," she finished, aloud. Akatsuki shrugged. "When it comes to life and death, yes. Love on the other hand…" He took the moment to kiss her passionately, dispelling all her thoughts of him not caring about anything, "is something that should be cherished." Akatsuki smiled wickedly at her, and she couldn't help but smile back. Because that last part was true.

~*~

Itsuki elbowed Jun in the ribs. "Gee, guess who's necking?" She waggled her eyebrows in the direction across the fire to where Akatsuki and Yurika sat. Jun just sighed, but didn't glare in their direction. "Who cares?"

A collective sigh rang around their group. Hikaru pulled her knees to her chest, not caring about whoever had a perfect view of her panties. "It's hard to have fun when you know your on a trip leading to your own death." She closed her eyes and laid her head on her knees, as if curling up to go to sleep.

Izumi nodded, running a hand through her long bangs. "Inez has been antsy, and I'm sure she's thinking the same thing. Carmina… is starting to look horrible with every step." Jun nodded. "Hard to believe that we're going to become casualties in this holocaust set up by an angry God."

Even Itsuki was solemn. "And to think, I have to follow this God. Magus, why is He such an asshole? This is horrible, terrible, awful. Tons of words to describe it, but we just can't because those tons of words don't really exist."

Ryoko pounded the ground, letting a small shockwave shake the camp. "Damn it! Why is this so final?! I mean, are we all just giving ourselves up?" Gai smiled slightly. "That's right. Are we just going to go there and let them kill us? Whatever happened to us to make us so vulnerable?"

Itsuki stood, rejuvenated by this discovery. "That's right! Why SHOULD we give up? I mean, we've lived through a war, haven't we? We lived through hell itself, and now we're just going to let them take what we've worked so hard to keep? I say, if they want to take us out, they have another thing coming!"

Ryoko nodded furiously. "Damn straight, Itsuki. Terra, we're the greatest damn Aestivalis pilots on the planet Earth AND the colonies! Why else would we have been chosen for the Nadesico's crew? We're the best of the best, and we're sure as hell not going to let them take us without a fight. And we'll kick their asses, right?" Without even thinking about it, Ryoko had taken the leader position and brought up their spirits with only a few words.

Some were not convinced, however. Jun could tell as Akito bit his lip. Jun shook his head. 'Not even reassurance from Ryoko is going to bring him up. He has to face his fears, head on. Sure, he's faced death before, but never so close where he can practically smell it.' Jun smiled at him, and Akito tried to smile back. It didn't work. Jun mouthed, "You'll be okay," to the Martian, and he nodded in response.

~*~

Then next morning, about seven in the morning, Akatsuki received an odd message. It wasn't what was to be said in the message, oh no. It was who sent the message. Izumi.

'"I'd like to talk to you." Well now, is someone feeling guilty?' Akatsuki, highly amused by this random act of submission from the pale pilot, connected immediately. "Well? What is so important that you can't talk to your own little friends about?" His tone was not angry, but humored, which made Izumi slightly annoyed.

"Rinji." The simple word that fell from Izumi's pale lips made Akatsuki's black eyebrows nearly audibly snap together. The one thing Akatsuki had to relate with the woman in the screen before was the one thing he couldn't help but despise. "What about him?" he asked, trying to keep his cocky tone.

"You know exactly what about him." She sighed. "Akatsuki, I'm aware that no one seems to like you very much, save for Kanchou. But I understand that you are still a person. And you still blame me for the death of your brother. Hell, I blame myself. But can't there be any peace between us?"

'Oh, this is PRECIOUS. Izumi is asking for peace between the two of us. One of the fugitives that we had problems tracking down when they all mutinied? The girl that got my brother killed and my life practically ruined?' "How could I ever forgive you?" The last thought sparked a huge kindling fire within the CEO of Nergal. "You're the reason he died, the reason he haunts me to this day. You ruined my LIFE, Maki. Do you realize that? My life!"

"How do you think I felt!?" cried the blue-haired pilot. "To know that it was my own longing for his presence that signed his death warrant? I was suicidal for months before I followed Hikaru's example of keeping her emotions inside and hidden! I never wanted him to die, never!"

"Did you even bother to think about his family? At all, Maki?"

Izumi had no answer for that. True, at the time, she was so distraught, she didn't care. Besides, she already knew Rinji's family hated her, even before his death. She knew that calling them and talking to them would only make it worse. Akatsuki wasn't finished. "You knew Rinji would be the CEO of Nergal after our father died. You knew who was requesting you to join the crew of the Nadesico. Why did you accept the request, if you knew who was hiring you?"

Izumi's crimson eyes darkened, nearly to the color of dried blood. Old blood from old wounds. "To atone. To prove myself as a person with some worth. If I was worth your request, then maybe your family could forgive me somehow." She paused. "why did you request me, anyway?"

"Because you were one of the Three Angels, the best damn pilots on Earth or the colonies. We needed you. We hired the best of the best, and somehow, you had put yourself in the list, because of your abilities." Akatsuki stated this as if it was easy, though the look on his face betrayed that it was not. Izumi sighed; it was obvious. He hated her.

"I apologize for your loss, once again." Akatsuki began to laugh, humorlessly. "Apologize? I say it ruined my life, but do you know to what area? I'm one of the most powerful and rich men in the world, hell, the solar system!" Izumi blinked. 'Of course, why does he say his life is ruined?'

Akatsuki's face hardened once again. "I had dreams, Izumi. Do you realize that? I was eighteen when Rinji died. I was barely out of high school. I planned to be a doctor, just like the infamous Inez Fressange. She wasn't my idol, but the human body has always fascinated me. I now know many ways for one person to die, you know." His somewhat evil smile did not change Izumi's expression. "But those dreams were crushed. Crushed, because my brother died. Because you wanted him to visit you. I never really loved my brother. But he ruined my life, all that I wanted."

Izumi lowered her gaze. "Akatsuki. I loved him. I loved him dearly. We were planning to be married. Don't you remember how angry your family was? But, all of my dreams were crushed as well. Crushed because of some stupid accident, an accident that was all my fault. I'll never forgive myself, but will you forgive me?"

Izumi's speech surprised Akatsuki. He didn't think it was possible for one to care so much about someone, even years after their death. Yes, he believed love was something that barely ever came, and when it did, it was a sign of good luck, but it wasn't something that lived very long.

He hadn't even thought about what his brother's death did to her. She said she was suicidal, that they had been planning to marry. She lost just as much as he did, and more, because he still had his money and future ahead of him. When they go back to Earth, what would she have? Inez? He didn't think it would last very long. Her friends, yes. But would she have anything to live on, to put food on the table? 'She's as broken as me, and I wouldn't even see it. Sometimes I wonder if my arrogance doesn't get the better of me, like it just did.'

"I forgive you, Izumi."

~*~

Two hours later, Megumi was very bored. She didn't have anyone right in front of her to talk to or play cards with. And Minato was yapping with Yukina and didn't want to be disturbed. She sighed. 'So…' "BORING!" she cried out, yanking on her braid.

Her yell made Rumiko jump. "AHHH!" The Aesti shook with his frightened reaction, and Megumi had to grip his chair to not fall down. He stopped entirely, and tried to catch his breath. He turned to glare at the Communications Officer. "Was there a good reason for that?"

Megumi shrugged. "Not really. I'm just extremely bored." A few seconds of silence before the Aesti was up and walking again. "Hey, Rumiko? What's Carmina like?" Rumiko was getting better at juggling conscious thought and moving the robot, and considered his answer. "Well, it's much bigger than Somenolenthe, and there are many more stores. There are even restaurants there, not to mention the Ecclesiastical Palace and First Temple of Magus." Megumi cocked her head. "Ecclesiastical Palace?"

"Yes. The First Priest of Magus is automatically the ruler of the planet." Megumi's jaw dropped. "Is Ninlan really so small?" Rumiko nodded. "It's only about a fourth of the size of Mars. However, we've always had such a distinguished government, than no one ever wanted to mess with us, politically. Militantly, we were also the biggest house for mages in the union, back then, when we kept contact with the rest of the solar system."

Megumi furrowed her brow. "Where is Ninlan, anyway?" Rumiko regarded her with a confused look. "You mean you came here and you don't even know where Ninlan is?" Megumi shook her head. Rumiko sighed. "Well, it's about as far away from the small planet you call Pluto as Jupiter is to Mars."

"Really?" Megumi was surprised. She expected them to be much farther in space than that. Maybe, while they were kissing, Akito and Yurika weren't thinking very far in their lifes, their futures? 'Maybe that's a key to Boson Jumping…'

Rumiko looked around the area that they were in. Then he messaged Yurika. "Misumaru-san, it should only be a few hours until we reach Carmina. Maybe two or three, at our rate."

Yurika smiled, genuinely happy with this turn of events. "Are you serious? Wonderful! I'll alert everyone!"

~*~

TBC…

~*~

A/N: Wow, was that not-fun or what? Lots of angsting there, wasn't there? Lots of death-talk. Wee. Yeah, anyway. How was it? I threw in some Akatsuki stuff in there, because, well, I could. Don't think I like the guy, because I don't. But he's a person too. Anyway. Next time? Um, lots of debating and describing. And stuff. Not really any characterization, but I may end up having to put it in there. We're getting to the point where people will be too worried/scared shitless to worry about stupid things like relationships between people. ^^ AKA, plot rape. ^^ Ohhhh, baby. Yeah. So, as usual, review me if you want, or don't if you don't. Whatever. Just remember. Reviews equal inflated ego, and an inflated ego equals less writer's block. So, until next time, see ya!