It would take Ada and Master Cilghal a few hours until they would arrive from Coruscant.
So after the Senshi had left the planet on the Royal Yacht, SunTzu retreated back to the suite he and Rei had shared.
As he was suddenly alone and had time to think it all crashed down on him at once.
He had almost died. Or rather he would have been dead without Grandmaster Skywalker and a very powerful Sith Lord.
He had almost died holding Rei in his arms and it had terrified her, of course. And now he felt terror as well. What if he really had died here? What would have been with Rei? Who would watch over her then? Who would protect the other Senshi? A crushing, gut wrenching feeling of failure seized SunTzu's soul.
He hadn't been careful enough. He hadn't thought far ahead enough. He had let their security slip. What if Rei would have been the one who had gotten shot in the neck? He felt miserable.
SunTzu knew had to change his ways. Had to get better, had to get stronger. He, and not only him, the whole Taskforce had been slacking lately. They had lost their momentum. He had to bring the fight back to the enemy. He had to be at the enemy before anybody else of his loved ones was. To save them, to protect them, to keep harm from them. As long as he was in AICA and operated in front of the Taskforce he could make sure they were safe.
For what seemed like an eternity he had the wish to end this War as soon as possible. So that Rei could live in peace. So they could live in peace together, start a family. It was out of the question that Rei would do great in the Senate fighting for the rebuilding of the areas of the Galaxy which had been inflicted by the war. She would make the Galaxy a better place. But for this they needed peace first. He always had wanted to end the War, but he hadn't done enough for it. That would change. He had to change. He had to fight more. He had to fight until they had won.
SunTzu hoped the Intelligence Officer and the Jedi Master would arrive soon. He wanted to get back into the fight. The next thing he did was to call AICA.
On Earth, Rei woke up early the next day.
She still felt horrible, seeing SunTzu more or less die had broken something inside her and by now she could clarify what it was. It was her will to fight, she was tired of it. Tired of combat, tired of battles they couldn't win, tired of seeing people get injured and die. And most of all she was tired to see the man she loved getting hurt in the line of duty, especially because of her.
Maybe if she would stop actively fighting, maybe then she could persuade SunTzu to hold back. Maybe she could persuade Usagi to make him her bodyguard exclusively. They could stay on Earth and on Coruscant, far away from the Shadow War. Far away from him fighting and taking risks, necessary and unnecessary ones. There were other great warriors out there. The Jedi, the Sith, Darth Vader. Those Yuuzhan Vong they had met. They could fight, the couple had done enough in the Shadow War. SunTzu didn't have to be, didn't have to become Personified War.
But would he really stop fighting in the War? Would he really stay with her, away from combat?
Headache sneaked into her temple, the sunlight of the beautiful fall morning being too bright for her right now.
So many questions.
She let out a big sigh. Maybe meeting Yuichiro would really take off her mind from all that a bit. Another set of questions poured into her mind. Was it right to meet him? Should she tell SunTzu about it?
No, it would be just two people that shared a long past together catching up with the other. Just some time off from everything that was going on right now. After all, Yuichiro and her were done. She had made that clear to him. And she loved SunTzu, otherwise she wouldn't be that devastated right now. A little tea with an old friend. That would be it.
She even made excuses to herself about the part in herself that was actually happy to meet him in private again and catch up. That was just normal after such a long time, wasn't it?
No, it wasn't. Contrary, it would only be fair to at least tell SunTzu about it. She didn't even know how he was. Maybe he felt horrible as well. He wasn't even here yet and now she hoped everything was alright, as it was strange that he was still ther. He had said he would come home as soon as he could.
They would have informed her if something was up, right?
And again! Kami, you're a horrible girlfriend, Rei Hino. Your boyfriend dies and gets resurrected and all you think about is yourself. No wonder Yuichiro ran away and SunTzu didn't get engaged with you yet. You should have checked up on SunTzu way earlier. Skip Yuichiro, see that you meet SunTzu. What is wrong with you? Why did you called Yuichiro up yesterday anyways?
She pulled out her phone and called her boyfriend up.
Almost immediately he answered.
"Rei, Baby. How are you? Did you sleep well?"
"Hey TopGun. Where are you? Why aren't you here?"
"I'm at the border to the Core, just finished mopping up after I helped a Taskforce of the Fourth attack an enemy fleet."
"You're where?! Wh… why?!"
"When Ada and Cilghal left yesterday it was so late that I presumed you were asleep anyway. And I wanted to let you rest. And then I heard about this attack and took AICA out for a ride."
"A ride? A ride? You died yesterday! And the next thing you do is get back into combat? What's wrong with you?!"
"I… I thought I could help here. Make a change or something."
"I have to ask you this. DO you have a deathwish? Do you have any idea how I feel?! I… I can't believe this."
"Rei, Baby… I."
"NO, SunTzu." A small pause followed before she continued. "Do what you want… I don't care anymore. I told you after Phu how I feel and yesterday things became even worse! If you so desperately want to fight, if you really think dying once wasn't enough, then fine, do what you want. But don't expect me to stick around!"
And then she hung up.
SunTzu let out a deep breather before he began to type on one of the monitors in AICA's cockpit and tried to call Rei back.
She didn't attend.
His fingers stroke over the back of his nose.
"AICA, we're going home." He then told his starfighter.
Two hours later Rei met with Yuichiro in a cafe in Shinjuku.
After her telephone call with SunTzu she felt like she wanted to burn down everything that was around her. How could he do this?
She decided that she really needed some time off and to not cancel her meeting with Yuichiro. Some dispersion would be fine.
It was awkward at first. They once were so close and now so much had happened in her life that he hadn't been a part of.
But it felt good, her duties, her fear of loosing SunTzu, the War, even what happened yesterday, everything felt so far away as the two former lovers chatted for one and a half hours about what they had been doing in the last four years.
She actually found some of the things he did after he had left her understandable, respectable even, like when he told her that he studied the blade in the north for two years. Or when talked about some of the places he used to meditate and the priests and wise masters he had met.
And when she told something he was hanging at her lips, adoring every word that he heard, like back when they were in love.
Rei had to admit that meeting him had an effect on her and made her heart beat faster than she had expected. And his proud look at her when she told him about her work as Senator made it even skip a beat.
After the tea and catching up with the other he insisted on bringing her to the subway.
They were walking in silence next to each other on this beautiful but cold early noon before Yuichiro finally said something.
"Thank you for meeting me, Rei. I have to admit I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of our past and the great times we had. But it also reminded me how much I miss you."
"Please, don't do this Yuichiro. Don't make it awkward now, we had such a nice time today."
"We did. Like in old times. Doesn't that make you want to get back to them?"
"Yuichiro. I am with SunTzu now. Things between him and me are serious."
"I don't see a ring on your finger."
"There's more to a serious relationship than a ring. Me and SunTzu share a very, very special bond, maybe even deeper than ours used to be."
"What we had was unique, Rei."
"Maybe. But you broke it."
"I now understand, that I made mistakes."
"You left me the day before I wanted to pick up my wedding dress."
"It was all… I was afraid. Not ready. Unsure if I could keep you forever. You're such a great person Rei. I ran away out of fear. But I now know that I made the biggest mistake in my life."
"Yuichiro, I waited and waited and waited but you never came back. I waited years for you to come back. But apart from a small letter, there was nothing when you left. And you never contacted me. You just went away."
"But I'm back now, Rei. And I don't want to leave you anymore.
Pain shot into Rei's head again. So much for dispersion.
"Listen, I know you're excited to see me, and there might be things unspoken from your side but I… I can't. I moved on. I… I'm okay on my own from here to the subway."
That said she decreased her pace and walked away.
Yuichiro stayed where he was, his face unreadable.
Rei had her phone switched off, while she had met Yuichiro and turned it on after she had left the subway in Juban and was on her way to the Shrine.
A few moments after turning it on, it began to ring and she took the call after she saw it was Minako.
"Hey."
"Rei! Where the hell are you?"
"Me? I'm on my way home. Why?"
"I was worried, you weren't in your room. And I couldn't reach you. What were you doing?"
Silence followed.
"Rei?" Minako asked.
"I met Yuichiro."
"You did what!? Why did you do that?"
"Because I needed some time off and you know what? It felt good! It felt good to not get reminded about what is going on in the Galaxy right now. About this War. About fighting nonstop. About that my fucking boyfriend dying in my arms and only being alive because luckily for us some of the most powerful Force-users in the Galaxy were around to revive him."
"Rei, SunTzu dies and you go out on a date with Yuichiro the next day? Have you lost your mind?!"
"It wasn't a date, just a harmless catching up. And no, I haven't lost my mind. Yet! It actually was nice to take a time out and get reminded that I'm still a human as well."
Minako sighed loud.
"Okay. If you say so, I believe you. But please Rei, don't do something you'd regret."
"Don't worry, I won't. I'm very aware of that I'm in a relationship. Although my boyfriend rather roams through the Galaxy and participates in combat than coming home to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Instead of coming home he flew just further into the next battle, probably trying hard to get killed as the first time didn't work out."
Another pause.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Listen, maybe you guys should talk with each other."
"Maybe we should. If he ever comes home that is. Listen, I'm almost at home now. We talk later."
"Please, talk with each other."
"We will. Bye Minako."
Rei hung up, the phone call had made her quite angry. Why SunTzu could do what he wanted and she was wrong because she met an old friend to catch up?
SunTzu in the meantime was on his way back to Earth with AICA. Before they had participated in the space battle Cilghal and Ada had visited him on Pantolomin in his room.
Cilghal had performed a few tests with him, medical and Force-centered. SunTzu could feel that even the Jedi-Master was impressed by the healing. Apparently Grandmaster Skywalker had briefed her on what had happened.
Ada had been standing beside Cilghal and it was probably the first time that SunTzu saw the Intelligence Officer with a trace of nervousness in her face.
"Thank the Force that Grandmaster Skywalker had that vision and made it here in time. We almost lost you there."
All SunTzu could do was to nod in agreement.
The Intelligence Agent visibly relaxed when Cilghal declared that SunTzu was fit and healthy.
"Sometimes I really get the intention that you actually care for me, Ada."
SunTzu stated with a sly grin.
"Of course. Imagine all the paperwork that I would have to fill out when you finally kick the bucket." She said with an equal sly grin and put her hand on his shoulder as both shared smiles with the other.
"Anyways, since I'm good to fight now, I'll get going."
Cilghal and Ada's gazes met.
"You basically just died a few hours ago and you already want to get back in the fight again?"
"Sure. We won't win this War from sitting around. I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but I do understand what's happening all over the Galaxy."
Ada nodded, it wasn't official and nobody talked about it openly but the GFFA was loosing ground, and masses of equipment and personnel.
The Fleet and the Armed Forces were just not prepared to fight at so many fronts and places at the same time.
Ada looked at Cilghal again.
"Nothing speaks against it. Although I would recommend to take a break." The Mon Cal said.
"I appreciate your concern Master. But I'm needed out there." SunTzu said as he began to fetch his things.
"Fine. I'll try to forward the latest Intel of enemy movement to you. If AICA doesn't have that already."
"Thanks Ada. You guys don't mind if I leave immediately, right?"
Rei was outside the Shrine's Gate smoking a cigarette, trying to make sense of all this mess that was her live right now, as she heard a familiar sound on the sky.
Look who's finally coming home.
SunTzu had entered airspace over downtown Tokyo and was heading towards Crystal Tokyo when AICA came in, notifying him about a message. It was from Rei and it stated to meet her in twenty minutes at her room in the Crystal Palace.
Punctual on the minute he arrived in front of her room but he needed a moment to gather himself. Hopefully she wasn't still mad at him.
Since yesterday everything had been off and he just wanted to be on good terms with her again.
He took a deep breather and was about to know on the door when suddenly someone behind him spoke.
"I'm here." SunTzu turned around to see Rei standing behind, apparently she just had gotten out of the elevator.
"Always on time." She said and shot him a small smile as he was basically frozen, looking at her.
"Rei." He said after a moment. "I… I." Rei wanted to hold back. She wanted to talk about how things were slowly falling apart and how to fix them, but seeing him there in his black flight suit, those puppy eyes looking at her, she couldn't restrain herself.
She rushed forward to him and embraced him and he pulled her in, one of his hands gently caressing her face
"I'm sorry." It was the only thing he could bring out.
"I was so worried after yesterday." She said and the two lovers locked each other in the eyes for a long moment, both tearing up.
Slowly their faces came closer and then they shared a kiss.
Rei thought that she should be angry, should make a scene but all her anger had deflagrated the moment she saw him in front of the door.
He was here. He was alive. And he was safe. He even came here although she hadn't been particularly nice with him.
The only thing that counted now was that they were together again.
Another kiss followed.
She knew they should have had a long talk as Minako had proposed. But his hands were all over here, clouding her mind as her lust began to rise and her passion got the best of her.
The couple crashed into the door while kissing.
Yeah, we should definitely talk, Rei thought, as they somehow managed to open the door.
In an instant they were inside and the door was closed again.
We have to talk, Rei thought one last time, before everything turned into hands all over each other's bodies, mouths and lips and tongues everywhere, clothes falling down, the sensation of naked skin on naked skin and the irresistible urge to become one with the other.
Hours later the couple still hadn't talked about their issues but for them it didn't matter. Rei had her head lying on his chest, carefully listen to his heartbeat and in this very moment it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard. They were still naked, breathing in the other's scent, feeling the other's warmth, all that mattered was here and now, them being together. No War, no past, just two souls forever bonded together.
Their minds united in a way only the two of them managed to create, there were no needs for words, their love being sensed by each other more than words could ever tell. Both fell into the best rest they had since ever they had faced Abeloth.
The lovers woke up at the same time the next morning and began their day with eyes locked and gentle kisses and caressing the other.
But then Rei's phone vibrated and she grabbed it from nightstand.
She had gotten a message. From Yuichiro.
Trying to read it secretly she turned away.
Of course SunTzu saw right through her.
Just as he wanted to ask her who it was his communicator sprung to life. It was AICA.
"Good Morning, Meatbag. Ada just sent over the newest Intel and I'm fueled up and fully armed. Looks like we could be really useful near Kuar in the Deep Core. Local security fleets are building up an force for defense because Coruscant can't spare any more ships."
Rei looked up from the message, in which Yuichiro stated that it had felt great yesterday meeting her and if there was any way they could repeat that.
SunTzu sat up in bed next to her.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"You heard AICA, we could be useful. The enemy is getting dangerously close to the Koros Trunk Line and once there he could secure a beachhead to Coruscant."
Rei understood very well what that meant. Nonetheless it bothered her and she had to control herself to not get angry again. But different to the anger she couldn't fight the sadness that also filled her.
"I'd tell Mamoru and Artemis but the Taskforce needs replenishment first. So I guess it's just me and AICA." He turned around to Rei but Rei didn't answer.
"I promise I'll take care." SunTzu continued and then leaned down and kissed her forehead before he got up and left the bed. From how she was holding her phone he could see that she was hiding something.
I guess I know who wrote…
A few minutes later he came out of the shower and started to dress.
When he was done and just had closed his flight suit he looked at Rei again. She had turned away and lay there.
What he didn't see was the tears that ran down her face.
I don't want you to go TopGun. Why can't you just stay here?
"I'm off now. Is there maybe something you want to tell me?" SunTzu asked.
All Rei did was slightly shake her head.
"Alright." He left but after a few steps he turned around again.
"I love you Rei and I trust you. Never forget that."
As soon as she heard the door shut, Rei began to break down, crying for real.
Hours later SunTzu was on his way back again. He should have been in a high mood but he wasn't.
At the Deep Core they had won the battle, not only had they held off the enemy, very much to AICA's and SunTzu's account and their aggressive approach, the thrown together fleet of all sizes up to a Nebula Star Destroyer had not only hold the line before Kuar, but they had broken the enemy's line and had been able to start a counterattack which lead to a great gain of space.
Impressed by the success Coruscant had decided to reinforce the Fleet in the Deep Core with ships that had been set for the Defence of the Core Worlds straight from the First Reserve Fleet.
Word of the tactical and strategic victory had made it's way through the Fleet really quick.
But the whole situation to where his and Rei's relationship had gotten into weighed down heavy on SunTzu and he just couldn't get to feel good about winning another battle.
As he dropped out of Hyperspace and passed Mars he couldn't help but to think about what one of the Senshi, he guessed it had been Hotaru, had said to him. For the Japanese it always was the first love that was the most important.
He stopped AICA in front of the Red Planet and zoned out into his thoughts for a few minutes.
AICA startled him out of his thoughts asking if he was okay, after a few minutes.
"I'm good. Let's go home."
Maybe Rei will be there waiting for me…
Rei actually had been waiting for him. She had been having a briefing with Ami when the news about the battle in the Core came in. As soon as they had been done, Rei had called Artemis up and told him to inform her whenever he would get to know when SunTzu was coming home. She wanted to at least spent some time with him before she had to leave for Coruscant and the Senate.
The Senator of Sol was outside of AICA's hangar when her boyfriend and his starfigher swooped in, heading for the spot in front of the snub's hangar
In front of the building a knot of people, other pilots, ground crew and officers were already waiting. They had heard what happened and that SunTzu played a crucial role in the victory. For them it was a hero's welcome.
The Pilot and the Senshi would have preferred if nobody except them would have been waiting there.
But as soon as SunTzu opened the canopy the ship was swarmed by the people to congratulate him and cheer for him.
Everybody, except Rei, she was standing afar and looked on the scene in front of her.
SunTzu stood up and was shaking hands and interacting with the people.
SunTzu enjoyed the treatment as war hero but Rei just could shake her head about it. Rei couldn't take it anymore that people actually cheered for him for fighting, and that he apparently enjoyed their praises for it.
When SunTzu looked up he saw Rei standing a few dozen meters away looking at him.
He began to smile but she just shook her head one last time and then turned around to walk away.
