Nadesico Fan Fiction

Romance Of The Stars

By Kraven Ergeist

Chapter Four

Minato had fancied herself Ruri's self-styled guide throughout the majority of their voyage on the Nadesico, particularly when managing with her fellow crewmates. She had seen possibly more emotions from the girl than any other crewmember could boast, and knew, unknown to most, more of Ruri's personal secrets than she cared to reveal.

But never had she seen Ruri so extensively put off before.

"Ruri?" Minato gaped as Ruri made her way onto the bridge, taking her seat before Omoikane.

Ruri nodded her head, but otherwise did not acknowledge the helmswoman.

"Ruri?" Minato pressed again. "What…what's going on with you?"

Ruri stared blankly at her screen as she began her systems diagnostic for the day. "Nothing is wrong, Minato."

Minato stared hard at the young woman. "Ruri…you're lying through your teeth."

"I can assure you," Ruri said, unblinking. "My teeth are unclenched."

Minato stared, unperturbed. "Ruri, what's going on with you? Is there a problem with Akito?"

Ruri sighed, submitting to the truth. After all, friends were supposed to be honest. "Yes. There is."

Minato nodded. "Thought so. What's the matter now? Is he refusing to sleep with you again?"

Ruri nodded. "Actually, he is."

There was a pause, which contained the most uncomfortable five seconds Minato could recall in her lifetime.

"Ruri…" Minato stammered. "I was kidding. You mean you actually invited him to sleep with you?"

Ruri nodded again.

Minato got out of her chair and stared at the girl head on. "Ruri, what are you thinking?"

Ruri blinked. "I am confused, Minato…aren't you the one who recommended that I become romantically involved with someone?"

Minato gaped. "Ruri, getting 'romantically involved' and sleeping with someone are two different things. Besides, I only meant for you to get a close friend. You're the one who made it about sex."

Ruri blinked. "I did?"

Minato blushed. "Yes! You did! I distinctly remember you asking me if I'd slept with Tsukomu!"

Ruri blushed. "I…I did, didn't I?"

Minato smirked. "It completely shocked me to hear you just ask it out of the blue. But my point is, you don't have to have sex with someone just to prove that you love them. And you don't have to love someone to be their friend. It can be a type of love, but it's not the same."

Ruri blinked. "How do you mean?"

Minato shrugged. "Well, some types of love are like the way we feel about our families. We hug them and kiss them like we do boyfriend, girlfriends and spouses, but the emotion isn't the same. And it's the same for friends. My girl friends and used to hug and kiss all the time, but it wasn't romantic, were just good friends. Lovers, however, have a completely different set of rules. For instance, we don't have sex with friends and family members."

Ruri nodded. "I know that much."

Minato nodded. "Then you know that there is a reason. Ask yourself how you really feel about Akito. You may want to hug and kiss him, but is it as a friend, as a lover, or family? Think carefully, Ruri, because emotions are tricky things. If you try to take one course of action with Akito, and suddenly decide that you felt something different, you could very easily hurt him – or yourself."

Ruri nodded. It made sense in a way. It made sense that there would be different kinds of love. The question was, as Minato put it, what kind of love did she feel for Akito? Clearly, they had been friends before. But now?

Detecting her confusion, Minato thought of some ways Ruri might find it easier to decide. "If you can't figure it out, than just picture yourselves in hypothetical situations. Imagine that you two were school children, and that you went to the same school, sat next to each other, ate lunch together, helped each other with homework, and walked each other home. Does that sound appealing?"

Ruri nodded. The idea of attending school with Akito sounded very appealing. Then again, the idea of attending any normal school at all sounded very appealing. Ruri had never had much of a normal life, and the chance to experience it with anyone was appealing enough as it is.

"Or imagine that you two lived in the same house together, were raised by the same parents, ate dinner together at home, harassed each other when it mattered least, protected each other when it mattered most…does that sound appealing?"

Again, Ruri nodded. Living in a normal home like that with anyone as a brother would be a God sent. Then again, it was very much the life she lived already. She and Akito already did live in the same house - a very, very big house with Phase Transition engines and cannons. They ate meals together when the occasion warranted. And Akito had repeatedly protected her when it mattered most, but she didn't really recall a time when either had harassed the other. Perhaps it wasn't important.

"Now…God, I can't believe I'm saying this…imagine that you two are older, much older, over 18. Imagine that you live in the same house as Akito, you go out to eat at fancy restaurants, kiss each other, and hold each other at night."

Ruri flushed. It was for a third time, the idea sounded excruciatingly appealing to her. But unlike the other two options, the idea of sharing such an experience with just anyone didn't sound as appealing as it did with Akito. She couldn't imagine spending all her time and eating together and sleeping together with any of the other men (or women) she knew. Only Akito fit that bill.

Ruri nodded. "All three of those sound appealing to me, Minato."

Minato sighed. "I was afraid they would. But you're going to have to pick one. And don't forget, I may have sugarcoated them, but they're not always peaches and cream. When someone's close to you, especially when they're lovers, you find yourself getting into arguments and disagreements, sometimes over the pettiest things. You can't help it, it's natural, you're two different human beings. Some find they can rise above it, but sometimes…sometimes, it can tear you apart." Minato sat back down in her chair. "That's what happened with me and Mister Hoary. We may have been lovers, but we couldn't agree on one simple idea: our professional relationship. That single, insignificant fact drove us apart."

Recalling the earlier event with Akito that morning, Ruri nodded. "Yes, I suppose we will always have our differences. But Minato?"

Minato blinked, her face somewhat saddened by her recollection of Goat Hoary. "Yes?"

Ruri blinked. "You mentioned that kissing was acceptable in all three relationships, right?"

Minato nodded. "It depends on what kind of kissing. If you kiss them on the cheek, forehead, or just briefly on the lips, it's okay with friends and family. But anything more than that, like a long kiss on the lips, or with tongue…that's pretty much romantic intimacy." Minato looked at Ruri. "Why do you ask?"

Ruri stared blankly at her.

"You didn't," Minato gaped.

Again, Ruri stared blankly.

"You did," Minato got out of her chair.

"There was no…tongue…" Ruri admonished. "But it was fairly prolonged."

Minato sighed out loud. "Oh, Ruri-Ruri, what am I going to do with you?"

Ruri frowned. "You are disappointed in me. I apologize."

Minato shook her head. "No, it's okay. At least you didn't go any farther than that." Minato looked at Ruri, somewhat hopeful.

Ruri nodded. "He refused to continue beyond kissing."

Minato sighed. "Well, than Akito's a better man than I thought. Tell you the truth, it'd be hard for any man to resist such a precious little thing like you."

Ruri blushed. "Th-thank you."

Minato shook her head. "That was a caution, Ruri. You simply can't just offer yourself to any man you happen to have a crush on, especially if they're older. They might try to take advantage of you and hurt you. I'm trying to protect you here, Ruri, so please understand-"

"Akito's the only one for me," Ruri said, suddenly.

Minato blinked. "What?"

Ruri paused, placing a hand over her mouth, surprised by her own words. She practically watched the words come out of her mouth again, trying to make sense of them. "Akito…is the only one…for me…"

As Ruri pondered her own meaning, Minato was left with no doubt. "Oh my…" She knelt down next to the girl. "Ruri…you're in love with him, aren't you?"

Ruri looked up suddenly, a gasp of shock escaping her lips. "I'm…"

A small movement caught Ruri's attention, as she turned around in her seat and stared up at the helm.

Standing there, staring down at the two of them, a look of shock on her face, was Yurika Misumaru.

"Captain!" Ruri said, caught unawares.

Minato stood up, suddenly, looking straight at the aforementioned woman. "Captain!"

Yurika, for her part, just stared forward.

"I can't believe it…"

Looks of shock, embarrassment and guilt stretched across the two girls' faces as they watched Captain Misumaru rush out the door.

xxxxx

Akito never really left his quarters that day. He just stayed in his room, watching Gekigengar, as his mind slowly rotted away. The events of that morning repeated themselves over and over again in his head. He wondered how he could have handled the situation differently, if what he did was the right thing.

He gripped his head. "Of course it was the right thing! She was just too young! There was no way I could have done that! It just wasn't right!"

But the look on her face she left…so hurt…so bitter…so mature.

Akito knew that underneath that child-like look of innocence was a strong, smart beautiful young woman, and that she deserved better than what he had done to her. She deserved more than he could offer her. More than anyone…

Akito shook his head. Heaven help him, he was falling for her! Here he was, trying to reason with himself why sleeping with her was a bad idea, and all he could think about was how wonderful that kiss had been. The feel of her soft body pressed to his, the taste of her savor…

God, where had she learned that?

Akito scrunched into a ball. A grown man in his early twenties, and a twelve year old was getting the better of him. How pathetic was that?

A knock came at his door.

"Akito?"

Yurika. After this whole ordeal with Ruri, he wondered if he could even hold an intelligible conversation with her. Then again, at least with Yurika, it was a simple matter of her chasing him and his own reluctance. It would be refreshing to go back to that life.

But no such luck.

"Akito!" came Yurika's wailing voice, once he opened the door. If she noticed how disheveled and unkempt he looked, she didn't comment. Instead, she grabbed him by the shoulders and stared at his face.

"Akito…" she moaned, a look of hurt on her face.

Akito gulped. This could not be good. "Wh…what is it?"

Yurika sniffed. "Akito…what is wrong with me? Am I not good enough for you? Am I not strong enough, like Ryoko? Am I not talented enough, like Mrs. Frissange? Am I not busty enough, like Miss Won?" Grabbing his shirt, she shook him hard. "Am I not cute enough, like Ruri?"

Akito's through tightened. Oh…crap…

"Y-Y-Yurika!" Akito stammered. "I can-"

"Don't even!" Yurika screamed. "Don't even try to explain this away!" Yurika let him go, crying in her hands now. "So, your little 'personal conversation' in the cafeteria this morning really was personal, wasn't it? I can't believe this! Everyone…everyone's after my Akito! And such a cute little girl like Ruri…" Yurika looked up, staring him, desperately. "How am I supposed to compete with that?"

Akito just stood there, staring. The worst of his fears had come to pass. He and Ruri had been found out. He didn't know how or why. Maybe Ruri had told her…maybe Minato had told her…maybe she'd simply overheard them…but whatever the case, he was doomed.

"I'm sorry, Yurika," Akito grunted. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

Yurika just sniffed again, looking away. "Akito…do you…I mean…do you really love her?"

Akito gaped. "Yurika! How can I make a decision like that?"

Yurika threw him a hurt look. "You can't just keep stringing me along like this! I have to know, Akito! I have to know which of us you truly love!"

Akito clenched his eyes shut. "I can't make a decision like that, damn it! Can't you understand, Yurika? I can't choose one of you without hurting the rest of you! You're not asking to choose who I love, you're asking to choose who I hurt! You can't ask that of me!"

Yurika sobbed. "What am I supposed to do…what am I supposed to do?"

Akito frowned, looking away. "Alright…look… If you want me to make a decision…then let me think about it. Let me be alone for a while, and I…God, I can't believe I'm saying this…I'll give you my decision. I have to think about this. I need…I need time."

Yurika sniffed back her tears. "Alright…alright, Akito…take as much time as you need. And if it's your decision…if the girl you choose is truly…truly who you love…than I'll respect that decision."

Gratefully, Yurika bowed and stepped outside the door.

Akito let out a sigh.

"And, Akito?" Yurika's voice caught him off guard. "I really…I really do love you…and that's not going to change."

Akito stared painfully at the closed door, before clenching his eyes. He waited until he was sure that Yurika was gone, before slamming his fist into the door, over and over again.

"Damn it!" he screamed. "Damn it! Damn it all!"

He toppled onto his bed, curling up, cringing.

It wasn't fair! He cared for everyone! Not just Ruri and Yurika, but he cared for Ryoko, Megumi, Miss Frissange, everyone! Even Miss Won was a decent enough human being that he didn't want to hurt her feelings. How could he decide which of them to love, and which of them to deny?

His debacle was cut short by another knock on the door.

"Go away!" he grunted. He did not have the energy to talk to anyone, whoever it was.

"Akito…" He heard Minato say from behind the door. "It's me."

"What do you want?" Akito said, gruffly.

"Was that…the captain, just now?"

Akito rolled over on his bed. "Yeah, what about it? She's hurt now, cause she thinks I'm in love with Ruri. That about cover it?"

There was a pause.

"Akito, please understand, I didn't mean for it to happen like this," Minato said. "All I really wanted for Ruri to have someone close to her. Someone she could depend on. You seemed like such a good person, Akito."

Akito grunted. "Yeah, well, surprise, surprise, not everyone shares your opinion."

"Akito…I asked to try to make a close friend…it was her idea to make it about…um…"

Akito sighed. "Sex?"

"Well…yes…"

Akito sighed. "So, what, you just wanted me to know that you're not the one to blame for this?"

"No!" Minato yelled. "I want you to understand that Ruri really and truly wants to be with you that way!"

Akito felt his throat tighten as the truth sunk in.

"And Akito?" Minato added. "She's in love with you, you know that? She truly is. I can see it. I can feel it."

Akito clenched his eyes shut. Now it was for certain. Choosing Ruri would damage Yurika, possibly beyond repair. But choosing Yurika would also upset Ruri so much. And at such a young age, it might change her forever.

"Alright, Minato," Akito said. "I'll talk to her later. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

Minato nodded at the closed door. "Please, try to understand…Ruri is still so young…"

Akito rolled his eyes. "Gee, why haven't I thought of that."

Minato sighed. "I'm sorry, Akito…I didn't mean for you to be put through this."

Akito closed his eyes. "It's not your fault."

Minato nodded again. "I know. Bye."

Akito heard he faint footsteps disappear, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Moments later, he was dreaming of blue haired faeries dancing in the moonlight.

xxxxx

Well, no interaction between our two favorite lovebirds, but some definite progress made. What will Yurika's involvement entail? Who will Akito decide on? Does Ruri really love Akito, or is it just her childish imagination running off with her? I'd love to say that this will end happily, but I don't know. This story is pretty much writing itself.

Read and review.

I'm out.