Standard Disclaimer!
Yes I'm back with the next chapter, and it didn't even take me three months this time! But don't get used to this. Having a heavy class load, work, and extra programming to do, I don't have much time to write.
I'll try to keep things at a good pace but don't expect me to get more than one chapter of one of my stories out ever two weeks. At least for now.
So are you ready for some excitement?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Anata No Ichiban Ni Naritai Chapter 7 - Letting Go
Ruri's hands danced upon her consol. Her mind was accosted by a multitude of thoughts. The most predominant was that in under a month the Jovian attack on Mars would occur. She still had no idea as to what her actions had done to affect the time line. Had her living with Akito altered time so much as to prevent the event that spared him from the attack from occurring?
She sighed heavily and reclined in her chair. Her position in Nergal was now a few rungs higher up the ladder, but she was still a grunt technician. Far below her old position on the Nadesico, but it offered her invaluable access to the Nergal Mainframe. To which she successfully hid her dual existence.
'I love him,' Ruri thought. Over the years spent with him, she could finally admit it, to herself. 'I love him and I'll lose him soon. Never having told him. But.But should I? Can I?'
A tear threatened to break from her eye as she pictured not only her upcoming death, but also possibly his due to her presence. The tear did fall when she knew that despite knowing the Jovian's were going to attack, she couldn't inform the populace. So many would die, so many would lose their hopes and dreams, but she could do nothing to stop that.
She was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the blond haired woman watching her type with such skill. To say she was impressed would be an understatement. 'She can be of great help to the project,' she thought as she approached the young woman.
"Excuse me," she said as she tried to gain Ruri's attention.
Turning to face her superior, hoping she wasn't going to be scolded for slacking off in her duties, Ruri's eyes went wide as she saw the woman standing behind her.
"Inez-san!"
-------------------
Akito was worried. Over the last few months Ruri and he had become even closer, if possible. They could have easily been confused for as a couple, but if asked both would have denied it, and it frightened him.
Even though both worked a great deal, they always found time to do something together. Either on the weekend when both had downtime, or if work was lite after they ate dinner.
They would attend movies, restaurants, or simply walk around the colony's growing forest lines. On several occasions both of them were sorely tempted to push the envelope so to speak and take a gambit.
'I still can't believe I almost kissed her,' Akito mused as he started to prepare supper. The incident in his mind replayed itself.
He thought back to the previous week when they had been to the shopping district. Something about how Ruri was looking at him caused him to lean closer to her. If it weren't for a child running into his leg he would have. He shook off the thought, he couldn't risk it.
"But this is tearing me apart. I think it's worth the chance of telling her.oh crap." He looked down and saw his fried rice had burnt, meaning another trip to town for more.
------------------
"So you want me to help you?" Ruri asked skeptically.
Reclining in the chain in her office, Inez was intrigued. This girl had know of her, not only known of her but her name as well. Inez was under the impression that Nergal had hid her identity once she arrived on Mars and started working for them. 'How much does she know?'
In her usual manner, "Exactly, with your skills you'd be an indispensable help to me."
In her mind Ruri was having a crisis. If she took Inez up on her offer, and stayed with her. She could live. Inez lived through the attack, and if Ruri was with her she could as well. All she had to do was accept her offer, but she didn't know much about the offer. 'What about Akito?'
"What can you tell me about your work?" the smaller woman asked.
Calling up several virtual displays, Inez spoke, "I cannot tell you to much as it is confidential. What I can say is that you'd be highly paid, and the work would be probably something you'd like very much."
"Would I need to relocate? Would I be working directly with you?" She asked mainly to discern where the safe zone for the attack would be.
Smiling slightly at her new found advantage, "Actually you'd be my subordinate. And the location is a Nergal facility about two hundred miles north of the Utopia Colony."
'Her subordinate,' Ruri replied her previous thoughts about survival. 'It would work.' Again she fumbled with her hands and tried to act as if she was under Inez's influence. "Would I have to relocate? I have.someone living in the colony."
To that Inez looked confused, "According to your personnel file your are not married."
Ruri instantly blushed, quite uncontrollably, "Not married.we are simply childhood friends. I don't believe he could afford the rent if I were to suddenly leave."
Nodding in understanding, "You would be required to live on base during the week, but if you wished you could return to your 'friend' on the weekends."
Her base survival instincts warring with her logical mind fought for her life. Survival claiming Inez was offering salvation; logic asked her about the fate of countless others if her actions altered time.
She made her decision.
--------------------------
Walking out of the grocery store, Akito was pondering recent events again. Even though things were great between the two of them, something felt off to him. 'It all started that day I heard her singing.'
Akito never told Ruri, or even hinted, that he had overheard her that day. Even now he would take a look at her while she didn't think he was looking and see an intense sadness in her features. For a while he thought it was because she may have felt trapped with him. That she wanted to leave and seek other options in life.
His thoughts propelled him so far as to ask her how she felt about living with him. Her response quelled any notion that her depression was based from him.
"Maybe a gift will brighten her mood," he said to himself with a smile. 'Sure money is a little tough but if it helps her, why not?'
So as he walked back to the transport home he window-shopped. He stopped outside an electronics store and got an idea. Ever since Gekiganger had stopped playing on television, the two of them had often found themselves bored on Saturday mornings. Remembering her unspoken enjoyment of games, he purchased a consol unit.*
-------------------
Akito returned home with ample time to cook supper over again, much to his joy.
'I may not be able to pursue my dream now, but I can still try,' he thought as he added a few spices to the simmering pot. He set the timer and retired to the living room and found a place in front of the television.
"Why did they have to cancel it," Akito moaned for the loss of his favorite show.
Startling him Ruri announced her presence, "Still upset about losing Gekiganger?"
Yelping in surprise Akito turned to see his roommate, "Ruri, when did you get here?"
Smiling at his typical reaction to surprise, "Just a few moments ago."
Before she had the chance to say anything else, "And what do you mean am 'I' still upset? Look at Geki," He stressed his point by pointing the Geki plush on top of the television.
Ruri blushed at his accusation; she had made many upgrades to Geki after they were no longer able to view the show. "I just." she then saw the smile on his face and realized it was a joke. "I'll get you for that Akito Tenkawa."
Simply nodded to her and heading for the kitchen, "Sure you will Ruri- chan." Akito froze after slipping in his speech, as did Ruri, both thought, 'did I hear -chan?"
Both brushed off the comment, and prayed the other would as well, headed to the kitchen/dining room.
They took their customary position in the cramped room and Akio served the food. As they began to eat, Akito asked Ruri a question that she was hoping to have more time to formulate a response for.
"You're a little late coming home today, something happen?"
She thought on the fly and took the path of least resistance, "I got a promotion today."
Beaming a smile at her, "That's great Ruri! When does it take affect? Oh wait! I got something for you, I guess you can call it a gift for getting promoted."
He hurried out of the room, leaving Ruri to wonder if she had done the right thing. 'We have two days then I'll be gone a lot. If I can just hold out for the attack and not tell him. He'd never have to know.' As soon as she thought about Akito never knowing her feelings she felt the urge to cry again.
She composed herself just as Akito walked back around the corner and handed her the box. Looking at the game system in the bag, she smiled widely at Akito. "How did you know?"
Taking his seat again, "It wasn't that hard, I saw you eyeing those commercials intently. You always did have a thing for computers too. So tell me about this promotion?"
-------------------
The 'promotion' as Ruri put it didn't make Akito to happy, but he encouraged her non-the-less. The time apart was hard on both of them, but they managed. The weekends, which they both waited for with rapt anticipation, were spent doing random events.
They would play Ruri's game system, Akito being sorely outmatched, take Geki out for a fly, or if Ruri was overly tired, watch something.
But unfortunately time marched on to its apex. Ruri felt it coming, and through her actions and feelings, so did Akito to an extent.
So it wasn't a great surprise that they both saw Sunday nights as something to dread.
-------------------
Ruri looked at the calendar, 'September 28, 2195. Three days until the attack.'
She made her way towards the door, and to leave Akito's life, possibly forever. "I'm heading to the station Akito.I.I'll see you next.week." The words were not easy for her to say, nor was the smile she forced herself to have.
She had hoped he wouldn't have been there at the moment, but he was. He could feel something was wrong with her. "Ruri, can I ask you a favor?"
'Please Akito.I can't.' her heart was torn; she looked at him approach with his hands behind his back. She desperately wanted to throw her arms around him, kiss him, and tell him everything. 'I have become so weak since coming here.and selfish.'
Akito presented her with the Gekiganger plush toy that they both cherished now, "Take him with you."
Astonished, "But why? Why don't you keep him?" Her mind begging him to keep something of that could remind him of her once she was gone.
He couldn't fully explain why he wanted her to take it, he just did. "Please Ruri, it'd mean a lot to me. I worry that you're lonely. You seem so depressed lately. I just want you to take him." He put the toy in her hand.
"As you wish," she said softly. She took another look into his eyes and saw the concern within them. 'This is goodbye, we may never meet again.'
She felt her body move as if in a dream, her lips resting softly on his for but a brief moment. A moment she knew she would cherish, but with all things it ended. She saw the astonished look on his face, "We'll talk about it next time."
With that she shut the door and ran to the station, praying to whatever God was listening that he wouldn't follow, and secretly that she'd survive and meet him again.
--------------------
Akito spent the next three days in a subtle confusion. 'She kissed me. Does that mean.does that mean she likes me too?' He mused about what it would mean if she did. He smiled.
His revelry was brought to a close as the door chimed. Answering it he found a man in a brown suit with a large box in his hands.
"Package for a Mr. Tenkawa. Sign here please," the man said as he held out a clipboard.
Signing his name and taking the large box, he thanked the man and retired to the kitchen where he could gain a knife to open said box.
Reading the 'from' address Akito was shocked to see that it was from Kyoko, and it was sent from Earth. Once he had it opened he saw a cooler and two letters. One addressed to him, the other Ruri.
He opened and read his note first.
Dear Akito,
We decided to take Ruri-chan's advice and retire to Earth. Hope things are going well for you two, and I hope to be invited to the wedding ^_^. Seriously, the Earth is a wonderful place. So Green and full of life. Hope you like the oranges, they should have survived the trip well, but don't wait to long to eat them or they'll go bad.
Yours truly,
Kyoko Takeshi
He folded the letter and opened the box. Sure enough it contained oranges, and they seemed healthy. He looked at Ruri's letter, 'wonder what hers is about.' He reached for an orange when a siren bleared.
-----------------------
Before he knew what was happening, Akito found himself walking into an underground shelter with the box of oranges and the two letters in his hands. After he heard the siren, he turned on the television and saw the report about some sort of attack.
He hurried to the location the report told him to go. His mind was at ease knowing that wherever Ruri was, it had higher security than he had. At least he tried to be at ease knowing that.
As he walked further into the complex, he saw a multitude of people in varying degrees of shock and fear. Not knowing what to do, he simply walked further into the complex.
He was about to sit when a soft cry entered his ears. He saw the source to be a small girl not twenty meters away. He looked at the box in his hands and walked over.
"Hi there, like an orange?" he offered an orange with an outstretched hand.
The child looked at it and then Akito and smiled. Her fears momentarily forgotten as she grasped for the fruit.
"You're a nice man! My names Ai!" she introduced herself.
After a few moments talking to Ai's mother, Akito returned his attention to the young child all but demanding his full focus.
"Are you married?"
Blushing softly and thinking about Kyoko's note, he shook his head. Trying to calm the child more he said, "No."
Taking his hand, "You can marry me."
Smiling again at the girl, "If you still want to when you're older, sure."
The girl's response was cut short as Akito dived over both her and her mother to protect them from an explosion erupted from behind them. A mechanical beast had broken its way into the building.
People began to panic and flee from the assailant. Akito took a look at Ai as she and her mother as he stood up and vowed, 'I'll save them.' So as people were fleeing the scene, Akito jumped into a power cart near by and drove towards the machine. He collided with the beast and pressed it firmly against the wall. It tried to push him away, but Akito increased his acceleration. Several moments passed and the thing's eye seemed to burst and it went silent.
Several people spotted his actions and cheered him on as they worked on opening the door. Ai saw him and exclaimed how great he was and that she'd defiantly marry him when she was older.
Another cheer erupted from the crowd as the doors were opened and the people made ready to escape. But escape was not to happen. On the other side of the door a small army of the bug like machines were waiting.
Akito saw the initial attack by the new aggressors and felt panic sear through him. His panic was intensified as the dead machine in front of him turned out to not be dead at all. It started its attack upon him again, only this time it was winning.
Akito looked about the room, seeing yellow machines slaughtering people, seeing death all around him, then he saw Ai had ran over to him as her mother had been pinned under debris.
Akito's mind flashed, he saw the earth, saw Ruri, saw Ai, and lastly his old childhood friend and then nothing.
--------------------
He opened his eyes and saw the moon in the sky, but it wasn't one of the Martian moons. He felt grass under his skin. His pendant had lost it's stone.
His mind cleared, and he realized he was on Earth. Only he was on Earth. His eyes shot wide open and he screamed into the night air at the top of his lungs.
"RURI!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
*I claim she likes games as in the anime she does play a lot of them, maybe just out of boredom, but either way it works.
This chapter was fast, and covered a lot of ground, but then again, so did Nadesico. I think I kept the characters IC and I did my best to convey emotions. Hope I did a good enough job.
Well hope to hear from you in form of reviews.
Ja Mata
Zentrodie (zentrodie@secondimpact.com)
Yes I'm back with the next chapter, and it didn't even take me three months this time! But don't get used to this. Having a heavy class load, work, and extra programming to do, I don't have much time to write.
I'll try to keep things at a good pace but don't expect me to get more than one chapter of one of my stories out ever two weeks. At least for now.
So are you ready for some excitement?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Anata No Ichiban Ni Naritai Chapter 7 - Letting Go
Ruri's hands danced upon her consol. Her mind was accosted by a multitude of thoughts. The most predominant was that in under a month the Jovian attack on Mars would occur. She still had no idea as to what her actions had done to affect the time line. Had her living with Akito altered time so much as to prevent the event that spared him from the attack from occurring?
She sighed heavily and reclined in her chair. Her position in Nergal was now a few rungs higher up the ladder, but she was still a grunt technician. Far below her old position on the Nadesico, but it offered her invaluable access to the Nergal Mainframe. To which she successfully hid her dual existence.
'I love him,' Ruri thought. Over the years spent with him, she could finally admit it, to herself. 'I love him and I'll lose him soon. Never having told him. But.But should I? Can I?'
A tear threatened to break from her eye as she pictured not only her upcoming death, but also possibly his due to her presence. The tear did fall when she knew that despite knowing the Jovian's were going to attack, she couldn't inform the populace. So many would die, so many would lose their hopes and dreams, but she could do nothing to stop that.
She was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the blond haired woman watching her type with such skill. To say she was impressed would be an understatement. 'She can be of great help to the project,' she thought as she approached the young woman.
"Excuse me," she said as she tried to gain Ruri's attention.
Turning to face her superior, hoping she wasn't going to be scolded for slacking off in her duties, Ruri's eyes went wide as she saw the woman standing behind her.
"Inez-san!"
-------------------
Akito was worried. Over the last few months Ruri and he had become even closer, if possible. They could have easily been confused for as a couple, but if asked both would have denied it, and it frightened him.
Even though both worked a great deal, they always found time to do something together. Either on the weekend when both had downtime, or if work was lite after they ate dinner.
They would attend movies, restaurants, or simply walk around the colony's growing forest lines. On several occasions both of them were sorely tempted to push the envelope so to speak and take a gambit.
'I still can't believe I almost kissed her,' Akito mused as he started to prepare supper. The incident in his mind replayed itself.
He thought back to the previous week when they had been to the shopping district. Something about how Ruri was looking at him caused him to lean closer to her. If it weren't for a child running into his leg he would have. He shook off the thought, he couldn't risk it.
"But this is tearing me apart. I think it's worth the chance of telling her.oh crap." He looked down and saw his fried rice had burnt, meaning another trip to town for more.
------------------
"So you want me to help you?" Ruri asked skeptically.
Reclining in the chain in her office, Inez was intrigued. This girl had know of her, not only known of her but her name as well. Inez was under the impression that Nergal had hid her identity once she arrived on Mars and started working for them. 'How much does she know?'
In her usual manner, "Exactly, with your skills you'd be an indispensable help to me."
In her mind Ruri was having a crisis. If she took Inez up on her offer, and stayed with her. She could live. Inez lived through the attack, and if Ruri was with her she could as well. All she had to do was accept her offer, but she didn't know much about the offer. 'What about Akito?'
"What can you tell me about your work?" the smaller woman asked.
Calling up several virtual displays, Inez spoke, "I cannot tell you to much as it is confidential. What I can say is that you'd be highly paid, and the work would be probably something you'd like very much."
"Would I need to relocate? Would I be working directly with you?" She asked mainly to discern where the safe zone for the attack would be.
Smiling slightly at her new found advantage, "Actually you'd be my subordinate. And the location is a Nergal facility about two hundred miles north of the Utopia Colony."
'Her subordinate,' Ruri replied her previous thoughts about survival. 'It would work.' Again she fumbled with her hands and tried to act as if she was under Inez's influence. "Would I have to relocate? I have.someone living in the colony."
To that Inez looked confused, "According to your personnel file your are not married."
Ruri instantly blushed, quite uncontrollably, "Not married.we are simply childhood friends. I don't believe he could afford the rent if I were to suddenly leave."
Nodding in understanding, "You would be required to live on base during the week, but if you wished you could return to your 'friend' on the weekends."
Her base survival instincts warring with her logical mind fought for her life. Survival claiming Inez was offering salvation; logic asked her about the fate of countless others if her actions altered time.
She made her decision.
--------------------------
Walking out of the grocery store, Akito was pondering recent events again. Even though things were great between the two of them, something felt off to him. 'It all started that day I heard her singing.'
Akito never told Ruri, or even hinted, that he had overheard her that day. Even now he would take a look at her while she didn't think he was looking and see an intense sadness in her features. For a while he thought it was because she may have felt trapped with him. That she wanted to leave and seek other options in life.
His thoughts propelled him so far as to ask her how she felt about living with him. Her response quelled any notion that her depression was based from him.
"Maybe a gift will brighten her mood," he said to himself with a smile. 'Sure money is a little tough but if it helps her, why not?'
So as he walked back to the transport home he window-shopped. He stopped outside an electronics store and got an idea. Ever since Gekiganger had stopped playing on television, the two of them had often found themselves bored on Saturday mornings. Remembering her unspoken enjoyment of games, he purchased a consol unit.*
-------------------
Akito returned home with ample time to cook supper over again, much to his joy.
'I may not be able to pursue my dream now, but I can still try,' he thought as he added a few spices to the simmering pot. He set the timer and retired to the living room and found a place in front of the television.
"Why did they have to cancel it," Akito moaned for the loss of his favorite show.
Startling him Ruri announced her presence, "Still upset about losing Gekiganger?"
Yelping in surprise Akito turned to see his roommate, "Ruri, when did you get here?"
Smiling at his typical reaction to surprise, "Just a few moments ago."
Before she had the chance to say anything else, "And what do you mean am 'I' still upset? Look at Geki," He stressed his point by pointing the Geki plush on top of the television.
Ruri blushed at his accusation; she had made many upgrades to Geki after they were no longer able to view the show. "I just." she then saw the smile on his face and realized it was a joke. "I'll get you for that Akito Tenkawa."
Simply nodded to her and heading for the kitchen, "Sure you will Ruri- chan." Akito froze after slipping in his speech, as did Ruri, both thought, 'did I hear -chan?"
Both brushed off the comment, and prayed the other would as well, headed to the kitchen/dining room.
They took their customary position in the cramped room and Akio served the food. As they began to eat, Akito asked Ruri a question that she was hoping to have more time to formulate a response for.
"You're a little late coming home today, something happen?"
She thought on the fly and took the path of least resistance, "I got a promotion today."
Beaming a smile at her, "That's great Ruri! When does it take affect? Oh wait! I got something for you, I guess you can call it a gift for getting promoted."
He hurried out of the room, leaving Ruri to wonder if she had done the right thing. 'We have two days then I'll be gone a lot. If I can just hold out for the attack and not tell him. He'd never have to know.' As soon as she thought about Akito never knowing her feelings she felt the urge to cry again.
She composed herself just as Akito walked back around the corner and handed her the box. Looking at the game system in the bag, she smiled widely at Akito. "How did you know?"
Taking his seat again, "It wasn't that hard, I saw you eyeing those commercials intently. You always did have a thing for computers too. So tell me about this promotion?"
-------------------
The 'promotion' as Ruri put it didn't make Akito to happy, but he encouraged her non-the-less. The time apart was hard on both of them, but they managed. The weekends, which they both waited for with rapt anticipation, were spent doing random events.
They would play Ruri's game system, Akito being sorely outmatched, take Geki out for a fly, or if Ruri was overly tired, watch something.
But unfortunately time marched on to its apex. Ruri felt it coming, and through her actions and feelings, so did Akito to an extent.
So it wasn't a great surprise that they both saw Sunday nights as something to dread.
-------------------
Ruri looked at the calendar, 'September 28, 2195. Three days until the attack.'
She made her way towards the door, and to leave Akito's life, possibly forever. "I'm heading to the station Akito.I.I'll see you next.week." The words were not easy for her to say, nor was the smile she forced herself to have.
She had hoped he wouldn't have been there at the moment, but he was. He could feel something was wrong with her. "Ruri, can I ask you a favor?"
'Please Akito.I can't.' her heart was torn; she looked at him approach with his hands behind his back. She desperately wanted to throw her arms around him, kiss him, and tell him everything. 'I have become so weak since coming here.and selfish.'
Akito presented her with the Gekiganger plush toy that they both cherished now, "Take him with you."
Astonished, "But why? Why don't you keep him?" Her mind begging him to keep something of that could remind him of her once she was gone.
He couldn't fully explain why he wanted her to take it, he just did. "Please Ruri, it'd mean a lot to me. I worry that you're lonely. You seem so depressed lately. I just want you to take him." He put the toy in her hand.
"As you wish," she said softly. She took another look into his eyes and saw the concern within them. 'This is goodbye, we may never meet again.'
She felt her body move as if in a dream, her lips resting softly on his for but a brief moment. A moment she knew she would cherish, but with all things it ended. She saw the astonished look on his face, "We'll talk about it next time."
With that she shut the door and ran to the station, praying to whatever God was listening that he wouldn't follow, and secretly that she'd survive and meet him again.
--------------------
Akito spent the next three days in a subtle confusion. 'She kissed me. Does that mean.does that mean she likes me too?' He mused about what it would mean if she did. He smiled.
His revelry was brought to a close as the door chimed. Answering it he found a man in a brown suit with a large box in his hands.
"Package for a Mr. Tenkawa. Sign here please," the man said as he held out a clipboard.
Signing his name and taking the large box, he thanked the man and retired to the kitchen where he could gain a knife to open said box.
Reading the 'from' address Akito was shocked to see that it was from Kyoko, and it was sent from Earth. Once he had it opened he saw a cooler and two letters. One addressed to him, the other Ruri.
He opened and read his note first.
Dear Akito,
We decided to take Ruri-chan's advice and retire to Earth. Hope things are going well for you two, and I hope to be invited to the wedding ^_^. Seriously, the Earth is a wonderful place. So Green and full of life. Hope you like the oranges, they should have survived the trip well, but don't wait to long to eat them or they'll go bad.
Yours truly,
Kyoko Takeshi
He folded the letter and opened the box. Sure enough it contained oranges, and they seemed healthy. He looked at Ruri's letter, 'wonder what hers is about.' He reached for an orange when a siren bleared.
-----------------------
Before he knew what was happening, Akito found himself walking into an underground shelter with the box of oranges and the two letters in his hands. After he heard the siren, he turned on the television and saw the report about some sort of attack.
He hurried to the location the report told him to go. His mind was at ease knowing that wherever Ruri was, it had higher security than he had. At least he tried to be at ease knowing that.
As he walked further into the complex, he saw a multitude of people in varying degrees of shock and fear. Not knowing what to do, he simply walked further into the complex.
He was about to sit when a soft cry entered his ears. He saw the source to be a small girl not twenty meters away. He looked at the box in his hands and walked over.
"Hi there, like an orange?" he offered an orange with an outstretched hand.
The child looked at it and then Akito and smiled. Her fears momentarily forgotten as she grasped for the fruit.
"You're a nice man! My names Ai!" she introduced herself.
After a few moments talking to Ai's mother, Akito returned his attention to the young child all but demanding his full focus.
"Are you married?"
Blushing softly and thinking about Kyoko's note, he shook his head. Trying to calm the child more he said, "No."
Taking his hand, "You can marry me."
Smiling again at the girl, "If you still want to when you're older, sure."
The girl's response was cut short as Akito dived over both her and her mother to protect them from an explosion erupted from behind them. A mechanical beast had broken its way into the building.
People began to panic and flee from the assailant. Akito took a look at Ai as she and her mother as he stood up and vowed, 'I'll save them.' So as people were fleeing the scene, Akito jumped into a power cart near by and drove towards the machine. He collided with the beast and pressed it firmly against the wall. It tried to push him away, but Akito increased his acceleration. Several moments passed and the thing's eye seemed to burst and it went silent.
Several people spotted his actions and cheered him on as they worked on opening the door. Ai saw him and exclaimed how great he was and that she'd defiantly marry him when she was older.
Another cheer erupted from the crowd as the doors were opened and the people made ready to escape. But escape was not to happen. On the other side of the door a small army of the bug like machines were waiting.
Akito saw the initial attack by the new aggressors and felt panic sear through him. His panic was intensified as the dead machine in front of him turned out to not be dead at all. It started its attack upon him again, only this time it was winning.
Akito looked about the room, seeing yellow machines slaughtering people, seeing death all around him, then he saw Ai had ran over to him as her mother had been pinned under debris.
Akito's mind flashed, he saw the earth, saw Ruri, saw Ai, and lastly his old childhood friend and then nothing.
--------------------
He opened his eyes and saw the moon in the sky, but it wasn't one of the Martian moons. He felt grass under his skin. His pendant had lost it's stone.
His mind cleared, and he realized he was on Earth. Only he was on Earth. His eyes shot wide open and he screamed into the night air at the top of his lungs.
"RURI!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
*I claim she likes games as in the anime she does play a lot of them, maybe just out of boredom, but either way it works.
This chapter was fast, and covered a lot of ground, but then again, so did Nadesico. I think I kept the characters IC and I did my best to convey emotions. Hope I did a good enough job.
Well hope to hear from you in form of reviews.
Ja Mata
Zentrodie (zentrodie@secondimpact.com)