Though she was hanyou by virtue of DNA and blood transfusion, Hoshino Ruri was not known for demonic strength. She, and Inuyasha, considered her strength to be her mind. He was the fighter. Despite this, when the alarm sounded to wake her she backhanded it with a force that cracked its casing. She then rolled back over onto her side to look down at the face of her betrothed, who was pretending to still be sleeping.

"'Hey, baka, you're not asleep,'" she stated, propping her head up on her hand.

'Nope, I'm not asleep. Something on your mind?' the youkai replied, matching her pose.

switched entirely to the auditory channel, since she didn't feel like thinking very much. "So why do you always sleep in your kimono?" She felt and saw a very bright blush sweep across his face.

"Um, I've only done it while you've been staying with me."

"You mean to tell me...?"

"Uh huh," the redness firmly there now. "I normally don't bother with, well, pajamas. Besides, sleeping alone for over a hundred years, well..."

"Inu-kun, you don't have to answer this," Ruri started, but couldn't finish. For all of the openness and honesty they had because of the broken barriers between their minds, they both were having problems broaching the subject.

Inuyasha moved to sit cross-legged before the hanyou. "Yes, I do." His head stared down at the point where his legs crossed. "Kagura only understood the youkai way of doing things. Sex among youkai is only for mating. Most of us really are little more than evolved animals, like centipede and spider youkai. She was curious about human emotions, and one of otou-san's hobbies is old movies."

"But, Inu-kun, I know you love me. Don't youkai normally love?"

"Actually, Ruri-chan, most don't. Sure, all youkai know pleasure, pain, fear, even hate. But *love* isn't something that's natural in youkai, with the obvious exception of the descendants of Inutaishou."

"So, why did you two..."

"Well, she was questioning the concept of love, and trying to understand it. You see, I did feel love, of a far weaker sort than between us, for her, but because she did not understand love, she saw me simply as ally and potential mate. That's not exactly accurate, but the closest analogy unless you've grown up with the youkai concepts." He was sifting thoughts and concepts through her mind trying to explain but they really didn't help. Ruri just accepted his words.

"It's a little stereotypical and grade-schoolish what happened. At that point in time, neither of us had anything profession-wise going on, so we ended up watching the romance section of father's film collection for..." Ruri heard his mind count the calls to the pizza parlor. "... six days straight without sleeping. At the end, we were both close to exhaustion and, frankly, I was quite frustrated. About the only thing that she had gotten straight was that sexuality in humans wasn't simply for procreation."

Ruri didn't bother to stifle the giggle. 'You, as a sex-ed teacher?'

"'Baka' is an understatement about it. Trying to explain a concept to her which I didn't understand myself, and my only experience with which was her, didn't help matters. In the end, she wanted me to... uh..."

'You don't have to finish, baka - you're not doing a very good job controlling your mind.' She watched as the scenes played out in her head. Some of her was indeed jealous, but she thought about the conversation they had in the clearing all those years ago in Sengoku Jidai, and replayed that in her love's head. She saw as it helped him turn loose and feel more at ease with actions which were not entirely his fault. Technically, since he was male, it was his fault, but she shoved the thought from her head as she pulled her self into his arms.

'One more thing, Inu-kun,' Inu watched as it appeared to be Ruri's turn to blush, but he had no clue what for. There were two times when he tried to stay out of her head - when she was blushing, and when she was bathing. However, she was trying to relay ideas to him which appeared to link the two, and Inu wondered if he stank despite the fact that he did bathe daily.

Ruri laughed in his head, his silliness apparently putting her more at ease. She suddenly reached out and opened his haori and kimono.

"Oi, Ruri-chan, what are you doing?" Confusion was plain on the youkai's face as he waited for Ruri to put things into coherent thought.

Ruri's face was bright as she tried to explain. 'The first time that we came into contact with each other after you gave me your blood, even through our clothing, we rendered ourselves unconscious. I do want our wedding night to be our first time, but I'd kind of like to remember it too. Even if we've seen each other, it's only been our hands or mouths in direct contact since then.' Ruri stopped. She'd apparently explained it enough, as her actions didn't seem to be troubling him anymore, but something she said had caused more embarrassment. She sensed that he did agree with her words, so what was wrong?

'Uh, Ruri, I think we've taken different things for granted. I, um, haven't... seen you.'

'Are you mad?'

'I answered that one earlier,' the youkai replied, grateful for the reprieve.

'Baka. Answer again.'

'No, I'm not mad at all. Kind of flattered, I guess, and I suppose I'm surprised, but, no, I'm not mad at you Ruri-chan.'

Ruri turned in his lap so that she was facing the same way he was and pulled her pajama top off. He shrugged his haori and kimono off and let her roll back against him until they were both staring at the ceiling. He wrapped his arms around her and felt the coolness of her stomach under his arms as they let their minds swim deeper inside of each other as they grew closer.

// \\

"When does it happen?"

"As soon as those damn suits are off the ship. We're supposed to dock with a station today and drop them off."

"Why not before? It seems that they'd make good hostages."

"This ship's worth more on the black market than all their heads combined, including our new pretty-boy chairman. Besides, I don't want to deal with the whining."

"Just so long as she isn't hurt."

"You still pining for that bitch?" the first conspirator needled. "That bastard's loaded, and they're so damn lovey-dovey he'll stay on the ship 'til it gets back to Earth."

"So I kill him when we take over the ship."

"Hari, you're a dumbass. You're key to doing this and I don't give a damn about your reasons, but you're a god-damned dumbass if you think killing him will get you farther with her. It's just going to turn him into a martyr for the bitch."

// \\

Inutaishou Inuyasha stood with his hands behind his back next to the vice-admiral. They both knew that they had no real purpose on the bridge at this point, but they had nothing better to do while the ship docked. The captain and her crew smoothly ran through the drill, all of them glad to soon be rid of the whining from the decks below.

As the last clamp locked into place, the bridge crew collectively sighed in relief. It wasn't that docking was difficult; it was just tedious. There were countless places in docking a vessel of Nadesico's size where a miscalculation would cause the ship to punch a rather costly hole into the artificial habitat. Granted, the newer colonies and stations could automatically guide a ship in, but this wasn't one of those ports.

'Five hours of nothing, Inu-kun. What do you want to do?'

As if to answer the question, Dean's face appeared beside Inuyasha in a terminal window. "Nii-san, the proprietor of the boarding house Nergal rented is extending nee-san and yourself a dinner invitation. Nothing's on your calendar unless you want me to Wesley Crusher this for you."

'You up for it, Ruri?'

'First, 'Wesley Crusher this for you'?'

'Who's the master when it comes to making up some shit?'

Ruri sighed. 'Baka.'

// \\

Inuyasha, Ruri, and Greg (who happened to be Front at the time) arrived early at the restaurant they had been told to meet their host at and were shown to a rather spacious lounge by the maitre'd. Inuyasha and Ruri, neither being particularly fond of alcohol, had tea while Greg had tequila in deference to his hometown.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, Ruri suddenly felt her love tense and through his mind sensed why. Another youkai was nearby. She saw Greg reach inside his jacket and loosen his ever-present sidearm, apparently noticing the tensing of his boss's body that she felt in her mind.

Inyasha stood, and Ruri and Greg followed suit. Ruri knew that the presence was coming into the room. She watched as the door opened and a tall, distinguished woman in a kimono walked in followed by-

"A-Akito-san?!"

"Kagura?!"

Following the two exclamations was an uncomfortable silence which left Greg with the even more uncomfortable position of standing in between the two couples. The ever unflappable head waiter, however, coolly walked in and announced that their table was ready.

The group stoically followed the maitre'd to their table. Ruri wasn't sure if she should hug Akito, punch him for making Yurika worry, or bitchslap the bastard for cheating on Yurika with Inu's ex.

'Oi, Ruri-chan, was that last thought yours or mine?'

Ruri blushed slightly at forgetting Inu was in her head and took his arm. 'I think it was mine.'

'That's what I thought. I remember my opinion being a lot more violent.'

'My prince, ever my protector,' Ruri teased, managing a smile despite the seriousness of the situation.

'Well, you are a princess after all.'

'Baka.' Their banter was making her feel better, at least. She paused to let him help her into her chair. 'Inu-kun, do I have to invite them to the wedding? My 'royal' parents, I mean.'

'I met your 'birth' father once. The answer is, fucking hell no,' he replied, taking his own seat.

The waiter leaned slightly between their heads. "May I get sir and madam a drink? Iced tea? a glass of wine?"

Inuyasha looked across the table at the most unlikely pairing he could think of. 'Hime-chan, this is for your own good.' "Two iced green tea and two Shiner Bock." 'I think we need a beer.'

'Hai.'

The waiter took the other three's drink orders, either unaware of Ruri's age or choosing to ignore it. Inuyasha felt eternally grateful to Greg for ending up with the seat between himself and Kagura. In a perfect world, they'd have had a rectangular table, but because there were five of them they had been seated at a round table. Thus, Ruri was allowed to sit by Akito, Akito by Kagura, and Inuyasha by Ruri. The relative silence continued as everyone studiously read their menus. The only comments passed around the table until the menus were taken away were about the size of the portions and what was good and what wasn't. The menus gone, the table lapsed once again into an uncomfortable silence.

Kagura was the first to break the silence. "So, you're the new chairman. I suppose you're still your father's pet puppy."

Ruri's eyes narrowed further than Greg would ever see, and were matched only by the look she gave Hakushin. She wouldn't have held her tongue had Inuyasha not spoken first. "Whether I am Otou-sama's pet or his son is irrelevant. The chairman's seat was earned by myself, and was my idea. Though it is none of your business, Sesshoumaru-sama was against the idea."

"And why would that be? It brings power to the family of Inutaishou, and power appears to be all that the fool thinks of. He cares not for the affairs of others."

"It was for the affairs of others that he desired our separation. Though it pained me to do so at the time, I saw the reasoning of Father. The idea of strong youkai breeding with strong youkai to create beings such as ourselves has no place in this world. Though my skills and strengths as a youkai are a match for even my revered grandfather, it is not through their use that I prosper in this world. What prosperity I have is earned by living as a human, though, frankly, I don't care if I'm rich or broke. There is one thing which is rare in youkai, and which is all that truly matters in this existence. I would hope that in spending time with a soul like that which belongs to Akito-san you've come to better understand it."

Ruri didn't say anything aloud but was forced to admit that if Kagura was to learn of human love, Akito was certainly a better choice of teacher than her previous "sensei". Akito's passions were one of the things about him which caused her to care deeply for the pilot. However, she would have preferred Kagura to learn of love from Akito by watching him with Yurika instead of, well, this.

Kagura smirked at the inu-youkai's words. "And how would you yourself know about love? Hmm? You certainly put other things before love when you cast me away. Your words now do not match your actions then. And I do not think you could learn about love from such a passionless trophy as you're walking around with. If you two even consider yourselves 'together.'"

Ruri leaped to her feet, almost knocking her dinner from the hands of her waiter. "How DARE you-"

'Osuwari! She's trying get under your skin.'

Ruri froze for a moment, and slowly lowered herself back into her seat as the waiter set their fish before them. 'You're just going to let her say that about us? About you?'

'No, I'm not. But I'm not going to attempt an argument with her now. We have more important questions to answer at the moment.' "Kagura, such a conversation does not need to be conducted over dinner. Indeed, you obviously did not know that I am the chairman of Nergal. I also believe that had you known it was me you would be dining with this evening, you would not have made such a request."

"Humph. I merely wished to show my gratitude to Nergal for sending clients my direction."

"Then let us change the conversation into a more pleasant direction." Inuyasha sipped his beer, relaying to Ruri its taste, as she had yet to imbibe.

'You certainly have unique taste in beverages.'

'Hai.'

Conversation returned to a forced chatter as the group worked on their meals. Once the plates were almost empty, Inu chose to broach a more serious topic of conversation. "Akito-san, you've been very quiet this evening. If I may ask, are you recovering your memory?"

"H-how did you know I lost it?"

"It's been over two years since you've seen Ruri-chan or Yurika-san. As close as the three of you were, I would assume you lost at least some memory. If such isn't the case, then I'll kill you where you sit for the pain you've caused them." Inu silently cursed himself for letting the last part slip out, but felt Ruri's mind echoing his sentiments.

Akito stared down at his plate, trying to summarize what he did and didn't remember. "I know I served for a while on the Nadesico, and I think you," he said, looking at Ruri, "were the computer operator. Did I meet your father too?"

Ruri nodded, encouraging him on.

"But we weren't romantically involved, I know. There is someone else I remember, with long, blue-black hair and green eyes. Was she the Kanchou?"

"Hai." Ruri wanted to ask if he remembered marrying Yurika, but instead decided to ask, "Do you remember Inu-kun?"

Akito stared at the chairman, trying to remember. He knew he looked familiar, but was obviously trying to place him. The waiter caught the lull in conversation and, noting that everyone had finished their plates, began swapping dinner plates for dessert.

"I don't know, Kanchou. I feel like I should know him, but I just can't place him. I'm sorry, Hoshino-san."

Ruri stared down at the brown and ivory dessert before her, feeling slightly depressed.

'Ruri-chan, it's okay. I think all of his memories are there, they just have to be unlocked. Wait for fullness and eat your sweets, dearest.'

'Hai,' she responded glumly. She took a bite of the confection in front of her and her face involuntarily scrunched. 'Inu-kun, it tastes like coffee.'

'Has hime-chan not had tiramisu before? It is coffee.'

Ruri began scraping off and eating the mousse, avoiding the bottom half and ignoring the smile from her fiance. Greg began valiantly trying to resurrect some conversation among the table, but didn't get very far. Inuyasha slowly ate his dessert while pondering over the situation with Ruri. He watched as she finished off the upper half of her Tiramisu, and then with youkai speed switched the plates.

"Baka."

"Hey, I see that smile, hime-chan. I also don't see you shoving it back my way, either."

"Baka." If there were any question earlier her tone had been teasing him, it was gone now.

They finished their plates and Kagura begrudgingly paid the bill. The five made their way out the restaurant and stood outside.

"Kagura and Akito-san, there is something I am compelled to offer you," Inuyasha began. "The Nadesico departs in a while. The two of you may come with us." Ruri blinked, startled at the offer but wanting Akito to accept. "Tenkawa-san, traveling with us back to earth and meeting those you knew in your former life would be the best way to recover your lost memories, in my opinion. I also doubt that you know why your memories were lost, and I am obviously in a position to offer resources which can track down what happened for you." Ruri blinked, remembering the file they'd both been afraid to read.

Kagura remained indignant. "And why should we accept this offer and trust you?"

Inuyasha returned her stare with one which could force the mightiest of youkai to back down. "Because he is someone whom is very dear to my betrothed." Ruri blushed and wrapped her hands around Inu's arm, causing Kagura and Akito to notice the rock on her fist. She looked down at it as well. Were people really so stupid that they could miss an engagement ring that big?

'Hai, Ruri-chan, they are,' Inuyasha returned and then continued aloud. "However, Akito-san, as one who is about to be married, I must inform you of a choice you are about to make. Either path may cause a woman who loves you great pain. If you remain here, you will be happy with Kagura, but will break the heart of a woman on Earth. As a youkai, I would consider such actions the weakest way out. If you return to Earth with us, you may forsake Kagura. Misumaru-san loves you dearly, and you loved her just as dearly. I suggest you board the Nadesico with us. There are a few more weeks of patrol and then the ship will return to earth. If after confronting your past, you both wish to return here, then do so with clear conscience."

Akito looked at Kagura, whose face was betraying no emotion at this point. His gaze turned to the men present. Greg was tapping on a handheld, the chairman not-so-patiently waiting for his response. He looked at the final member of the group and her pleading eyes. The decision was made.

"Hai. I have to know what happened." His stance was firm, the Akito that Ruri remembered. "One question though. You called yourself 'youkai.' Why?"

The chairman smiled and turned to walk back to the ship. "You'll remember someday. To answer your question, though, it's because I am. I am also not the only youkai here. Hope she told you by now."

Kagura grabbed the fan Akito had always seen her carry and coiled the arm that held it around her body as if it were a sword. "How dare you tell him that if I have not told him yet?!"

Inu's ice-filled response would have brought a tear of pride to his father's eyes. "How dare you NOT tell me that Naraku was your father?" The shock on the female youkai's face brought a rather evil smile to Ruri's face. "If you truly do love Akito-san, you will do two things. You will tell him the entirety of your past, which you neglected to make myself realize, and you will go with us."

Kagura's steel gaze attempted to match Inu's. "I have a business to run."

"Greg."

"On it. No worries ma'am." Greg punched a few keys on his handheld. "Done. I've got a Nergal temp arriving at your place in a few minutes to take over business. Any problems will be relayed through myself or Dean. Nii-san, Tenkawa-san also runs a restaurant. Shall I make similar arrangements?" Akito openly gaped at the efficiency. This guy worked for Nergal?

"Every once in a while I remember why the hell I keep you Lackeys around. Make it so."

"Um, sir? I think only Nee-san is in a position to say that line."

"Baka."

"Hai."

The return to the ship was uneventful. They stopped by Kagura's boarding house on the way so that the two new passengers could hurriedly pack some things. After leaving her residence, Kagura fumed most of the way to the ship, complaining quietly to Akito-san of how Nergal couldn't run her business as well as she could. Greg pounded out some reports he'd been putting off, and Ruri and Inuyasha were just being engaged. Seeing that there was still some time left, Ruri and Inuyasha walked the ship's new guests to their quarters for the trip while Greg took off to meet up with Dean.

Inuyasha waited until the door closed behind the four to broach the even more unpleasant subject at hand.

"Kagura, you hold a great deal of hostility towards myself, and by the time this trip is over you may hold more. However, there's something more important right now that only three people in this time have any ability to deal with, you, Sesshoumaru-sama, and me."

"And what might that be?" the disdain dripping from her voice.

"Do you remember how Naraku was imprisoned?"

The second youkai shrugged. "In Kanna's mirror, with Kanna's soul. I would guess it was the hanyou you're named after and his traveling companions who buried Kanna for us. I saw the grave, so I assume it was that cute Houshi who sealed the tomb."

"That agrees with all the stories I was told as a child," Inu confirmed. "Related subject. Have you heard of the archaeological find in Tokyo recently?"

"The empty one?"

"That is what the news reports. However, Sesshoumaru-sama met with the professor in charge of the dig, whose grandfather I studied under when I attended Tokyo University many years ago. There are several details not included in the evening news.

"The tomb was sealed when it was discovered. The seals were broken and a casket found inside, also sealed. Kanji on the coffin indicated its occupant was named 'Kanna.' They opened the casket to find a small girl, age ten at most, who appeared to be in a state of suspended animation, not mummification. In his haste to examine the body while still inside its resting place, one of the assistant professors let his pick fall against the mirror the body was holding at its chest. The force broke the mirror."

Kagura's eyes went wide with fright. "Naraku... no..."

"Unfortunately. Professor Urashima, who was not in the grave at the time, collected that much information from the other witnesses present. What happened next is still unknown, as all survivors were rendered unconscious suddenly."

"Was the assistant professor any help when he came to?" Akito asked.

"He, and Kanna's body, are missing. That's all Otou-san could find out. I have a feeling, Kagura, that he will try to reclaim you as wel-"

Dean's face popped into existence beside Inuyasha, cutting him off and startling him. "Bossman, we got problems. I can't raise the bridge."

Ruri's mind shifted back to captain of her ship. "Omoikane, how many people are on the bridge?"

"15, Captain."

"That's too many. What's going on? Omoikane, who is the current computer operator?"

"Answer unknown. Security protocols for login bypassed."

"Hari." She turned to Inuyasha. "He's the only one who knows enough about the system besides me to bypass anything."

"Omoikane," Inuyasha stepped in, "can you open us a channel to the bridge but make it appear that we're calling from the galley? Make sure the bridge knows it's the captain."

"Working."

// \\

"Severing ties with the station," Hari called out, for no one's benefit but his own. "Engines to full reverse."

Marcus O'Donovan, the ringleader of the conspirators, slapped Hari on the shoulder. "We'll pull this off yet, boy. Run a scan and see if you can find out if our precious captain and chairman made it back onto the ship yet."

A light blinked on the console again. Without thinking Hari checked to see who he was about to ignore, only to find the message was from the captain and coming from the galley. Odd but whatever he thought as he reached to open the channel. "I think we have your answer."

Hari flipped the switch and the calm face of Captain Hoshino appeared on the screen. "Bridge, please explain why I was not properly notified that tower had given us permission to disembark."

O'Donovan leaned over Hari's shoulder into the viewframe. "They didn't missy. Now be a good girl and stay there, and we'll send an escort to bring you here to tell you how things are gonna be. Comprende?"

"I expect a full explanation upon my arrival."

The channel closed and O'Donovan gestured to two of his group. "You two get down to the galley and round up the captain. If anybody gives you shit, kill 'em." The two nodded and checked their weapons as they left the bridge.

// \\

Opinions." Ruri stated flatly.

Kill the bastards," was Kagura's response. Akito shrugged.

Inutaishou Inuyasha flicked open a personal communications device. "Front!"

Dean here. Avoid using Omoikane?"

"Hai," Ruri replied, taking the device from the youkai. "Their next step should be to lock the doors." A beep sounded in the background on the other end confirming this.

"No problem, Nee-san. Greg and I both have a rather colorful past. You guys armed?"

"Kagura is, we're not," Inuyasha said, leaning over Ruri's shoulder. "You guys know where my stuff is; in nee-san's quarters you'll find two blades and a pistol. Oh, and this suit's pissing me off. Get my fire-rat kimono and my traveling cloak out."

// \\

Next up, fighting in the corridors, Kagura gets a little jealous, and Inu impersonates his uncle...