There and Back Again

Chapter Twenty-Three:  Reunion of Friends

            The two did not get to see each other very often.  Inuyasha became more involved in his and his father's business interests, and Nergal wanted Ruri back on the Nadesico.  The youkai was stuck in London when the shuttle incident occurred, and locked himself in his hotel suite as he did his best to console Ruri, becoming part of the pain that she could never publicly show.  His pride far exceeded that of almost everyone else Ruri knew combined when she was given command of the Nadesico permanently.

            Suitors for Ruri did come, as Inuyasha knew they would, and he often would nag her for how coldly she turned them away.  He knew that she was waiting for him to fulfill his promise to her, but he also didn't want her to avoid contact with humans to do so.  She finally did cave in and did go on a few dates, and found that she was having more fun listening to the youkai's commentary on the situation than actually being in the situation.

            They spoke on the vidphone channel fairly often, and kept in touch via email.  Their mental channel always stayed open, though when Ruri was in deep space the distance made it hard for them to hear each other, and both had to retreat to a quiet room to carry on any meaningful conversation.

            It had been a year and a half since she actually got to see Inuyasha in person, shortly after the Prince of Darkness incident, and she felt that she missed him greatly.  Nadesico's being in deep space patrol as her birthday approached wasn't helping either.  Even if he couldn't be with her physically, Inu had always spent her birthday with his mind completely open to her, and always sent her presents if he couldn't deliver them in person.

            The day of her eighteenth birthday "dawned" (as such is relative in space) and Ruri was not looking forward to the event.  Inuyasha was on a business trip and Nergal had coincidentally decided to announce its new CEO onboard the Nadesico at a lavish dinner party this evening.  It was also this day that Hari, a long-time member of her bridge crew, chose to try to express his devotion to her.  She'd figured out some time ago that he was interested, but frankly didn't share the affection.  She did care for him, but not in the way that he wanted her to.  He blathered on in front of the desk in her office as she felt the blood vessels in her head begin to constrict.

            'Nii-chan, where are you?'

            'Still in your head, imouto.'  He dug through her head until he found the fledgling migraine and forced the blood vessels to release.

            She sighed, one pain out of the way.  'You're getting a lot better at that.'

            She felt him laugh.  'As many business ventures as father and I have each done, this one's the most 'corporate.'  I haven't worn suits this much in a long time.  I've had a lot of experience with headaches as of late.'  Ruri stifled a laugh as he sent her a mental image of ":P".

            'If I understand correctly, your final guest should be docking shortly.'

            'Baka.  He's not my guest, he's the new Nergal bigwig.'

            'Point.  But it gets you out of your office, and Hari'll have to shut up while you're out in the halls.'

            "Hari, can this wait?  We have to greet the new Nergal chairman."

            "Uh, okay, Captain."

            "And, Hari, please stick with protocol in his presence, okay?"

            "Er, okay, I mean, Yes, sir."

            'Good one, imouto.'

            Ruri rose from her desk and headed for the door, Hari close on her heels.  As she entered the hallway, a furball of a protocol droid rolled up beside her and began the briefing her on the protocols Nergal had decided upon for visiting chairmen-to-be.  Ruri reflected that someone had too much time on their hands to create protocols for how to behave around an executive officer.

            'It's fine to tune the droid out, Ruri - the new guy's a lot more laid back than the protocols they're making up.'

            'You know him?  That's how you knew he was going to be here.'

            'Hai.  Try to be nice to him, imouto.'

            'Alright.  He's still a corporate lackey.  No offense.'  She hastily added the last part, remembering what he had said about his current venture.

            'None possible.'

            The two Nadesico officers walked out onto the observation deck to the landing dock, waiting for the green light to signal it was re-pressurized.  Finally, it blinked to life and she stepped through the airlock into the actual bay.  The protocol droid began prattling again, so Ruri booted it into the wall.  The shuttle door opened and Ruri went ahead and bowed.

            "Welcome to the Nadesico, sir.  I am Captain Hoshino Ruri."

            "Thank you, Captain.  I am, well, screw it, you know who I am."  Ruri's eyes blinked wide and her head snapped up before her back could straighten out.  Inuyasha smiled, reading the surprise.  "Wow, I didn't think I'd actually be able to pull off the supris--oof!"  Ruri had actually managed to knock the wind out of him, and he had no choice but to hug her back.  It was that or crumple to the floor.

            He flashed a picture of Hari into her head.  'I think you took care of your suitor.'

            Hari made a valiant attempt to recover his composure.  "Mr. Chairman, I'll show you to your quarters now, if you would like."

            "However, protocol also says that the Captain may escort guests herself, if she so chooses.  Return to the bridge."

            "Er, yes, Captain."

            Hari scuttled off to the bridge as Ruri grabbed a case with one hand and Inuyasha's arm with the other.  With his free hand, he shouldered a bag, leaving his final items to the two assistants traveling with him.

            'Happy Birthday, Ruri-chan.'

            'Arigato, Inu-kun.  So, why?'

            'Hmm?  Oh, the whole chairman thing?  I strongly disagree with a lot of what Nergal's doing.  The best way to fight corruption is to rip its heart out and replace it, so, well, I did.'  They had ended up in front of the guest dignitary's quarters, which until a few minutes ago Ruri had been cursing because they were next door to her own.  She punched in the code to open the door and they stepped inside.

            She plopped the case she was carrying on the desk and he placed the bag he was holding beside it.  The two Lackeys (they'd chosen the term themselves) dropped off Inutaishou's bags before going to their quarters a few doors down to deposit their own bags.

            Inuyasha tossed his suit coat and tie onto the bed and stretched.  Ruri stayed in the office area, sensing he wanted to put on his fire rat kimono for a while before the dinner that evening.  As he had Omoikane queue up a play list he had stored on the shuttle, a thought began to form in her head.  When he returned to the office area, she gave him an evil smile which before then he'd only seen on his father.

            'Oi, Inu-kun, wanna spar?'  Inuyasha returned the smile.  They hadn't crossed weapons since Sengoku Jidai.  'Come to my quarters in fifteen minutes, and I'll get out of my uniform.'  The youkai nodded and started unpacking bags.

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