Disclaimer: Galaxy Angel is owned by Broccoli, not by me.

Author Notes: I've fallen completely in love with the Galaxy Angel anime. It's totally bat shit insane while still obeying its own weird logic. Any show where you've got a love story between a sassy missile AI program and a stoic robot nun is inherently awesome. The best part though is the characters. They're refreshingly unique and original, which is nice considering how many anime characters have interchangeable or indistinct personalities. My personal favorite is Ranpha. After watching the episode "Rouge Flavored Spring Rolls of Love", I knew she was a girl after my own heart. Send me an e-mail if you'd like to sign my petition to get a Galaxy Angel section up on the website. I know there are at least eight other Galaxy Angel fics here in Anime Misc, so we deserve a spot.

This fic takes place just after "Five Sukiyaki Lunch Boxes".

-Truth Maki and Love Nigiri-

"... for the last time Forte, I, am, sorry." Ranpha pleaded with her colleague. Nothing doing. The redhead's cool expression didn't change an iota as she downed another mouthful of liquor. Okay, so she had almost killed them and their client while distracted with her amorous antics. It would take some time to atone for that. Still... Forte wasn't throwing rocks at her anymore, but she hadn't forgiven her. It was driving Ranpha crazy. The older woman finally broke the silence.

"You want to know why I'm really mad Ranpha?"

"Obviously." she snapped impatiently. The two of them were bad tempered best friends; always blunt and direct with each other. Tact probably would have been wiser, but the day had been nothing but stressful for both of them.

"It's because you always treat us like shit when there's a man involved. Doesn't it even bother you?"

She had nothing to say to that. There was really no way she could justify herself. Damn it.

"You're always dreaming about boys, and you always fall for ones you can't have." Forte continued, not seeming surprised at Ranpha's silence. "All it takes is good looks and you fall for them like a ton of bricks on Jupiter."

"Boo hoo, I'm a shallow ditzy blond." she quipped sarcastically. "What do you care how I pick guys?"

The gun enthusiast showed her temper again with a growl. "I care because it's pitiful the way you lose control around them! I can only hope that getting your heart stomped on again and again will teach you to be more realistic. Like I said, doesn't it even bother you how much we suffer because of you?"

"Forte, you know I hate hurting you..." Ranpha said softly. Her eyes must have shown her pain, since her friend's expression softened. She wondered if she too, was remembering that time...

(flashback)

"Come visit me on the uninhabited planet once in a while."

"Forte..." It was all so wrong. Why should Forte have to leave behind her life just because of a lie Ranpha had told? She should be the one going alone into the cold depths of space, not her.

"I'll go with you too! This is my fault after all! I couldn't leave you all alone after this!"

She could barely contain her feelings. She just about pounced on her older friend, with a few futile protests.

"Now stop it. Watch it."

Ranpha nuzzled her cheek against Forte's chest, but was knocked unconscious by a falling gun. When she came to, she was embracing the redhead inside the buried casket.

(end flashback)

Afterwards she had tried to slink off to avoid having to explain her actions. She had no idea why she had done it herself. Or rather, she knew, but was too disturbed to admit to herself why.

Forte sighed. "Then could you stop possibly?"

"You're right." Her friend blinked, mildly surprised. "There are more important things than guys. My responsibility to my friends, I should always put that first."

"That was certainly a fast switch." Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the bill for their dinner. There was a bit of awkwardness between them as they went upstairs to their hotel room. Ranpha felt like collapsing on her bed immediately, but she felt there were things left unsaid she needed to get off her chest. She wondered how best to voice what she wanted to say as they changed into their night clothes. She sat on the edge of her bed, watching her friend. Forte broke the silence again, this time without hot or cold anger.

"I guess the truth is I worry about you," she said abashedly, "I worry you're going to break your heart so many times you'll stop being cheerful and carefree. You'll stop... being Ranpha. All bright and optimistic."

"That's sweet of you to be so concerned."

"Bah." Forte hit her forehead with her palm as she sat down opposite her younger friend. "It makes me feel like some mother hen talking like that."

The blond laughed at the thought. "No way, I could never see you being a mother. A big sister maybe."

"Yeah, so I've heard."

She still hadn't brought herself to say it. If only she could figure out what it was...

"I'm sorry I pulled a gun on you." Forte blurted out.

"Nani?" She had totally forgotten about that. Now that she looked at the markswoman, she saw it had been nagging at her conscience for a while.

"It was humid, and you were pissing me off with your whining... It was really stupid of me." Stollen was as near to tears as Franboise had ever seen her, and that was saying something. She moved to sit beside her on the bed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, I think we've established that both of us were idiotic today. Let's put it behind us."

Forte scowled at her, angry again.

"And what if I had shot you, huh? I would have you know! How do we know you won't piss me off again? Oh god Ranpha, I couldn't live with myself if I killed you..." Ranpha silenced her with a finger.

"I know we grate on each other's nerves constantly. But I trust you Forte." She looked into her friend's scared blue eyes, and she was filled with a new conviction. "I can always count on you to be there for me, no matter how moronic or immature I behave. And from now on, I promise I'll be there for you the same way."

"What's with you tonight? You haven't been this serious since..." Forte stopped mid thought, realization dawning on her face. "... just before we fell in the casket."

"I was going to tell you then. I should have told you this a long time ago," Ranpha had been trying not to clam up, but she had to pause to gather enough strength to finish. She took her hand from Forte's shoulder, and wrapped her arm around the taller woman's waist.

"I love you Forte."

Author's Notes (Part two): Yikes! Shoujo ai from me, Miss Graq "for the love of god people, they're not gay" Wild Child? Well, I think I can sort of get away with this because of that scene from "Grilled Girl in a Box". Ranpha was going to throw away her life to be with Forte on an uninhabited planet, plus she practically buried her face in Forte's bosom. If that's not coming on to someone, I don't know what is. I'm not sure if I'll add more chapters to this story, but if I do they'll have an actual plot rather than this "two characters talk about their feelings" tripe I love so much. Of course, served up with Galaxy Angel's trademark insanity and hijinx.