Galaxy of Stars
Summary: after the murder of the Echizen family, strange people seem to be interested in the Seigaku, Rikkai and Hyoutei regulars in particularly in Ryoma. Who, become much calmer and less enthusiastic than anyone has ever seen. Nadesico Crossover…
yes!! one exam out of the way!! however i'm not sure if it was good!! but i thought i'd better update this before you all run away and abandon me... lol... i'm joking... i thought i'd celebrate in a way with something that relaxes me... hope it doesn't seem alright... it's not very detailed but anyways... Thanks for the review!! love you all heaps!! hugs and kisses!! enjoy the story!! beware of weirdness...
Chapter 8
"Ochibi…!" called Eiji, "Come over here… Ochibi needs to spend more time with me!"
"Go over to your friends," said Jun smiled, "I'm sure they were worried about you for a while now…"
"Okay…" said Ryoma, and handed Jun some files and walked over to the regulars. "Is there something you needed?"
"Ochibi is being mean…" whined Eiji as he hugged the boy.
"I don't recall insulting you," said Ryoma.
"Nyah…! Ochibi hasn't been spending time with us!" said Eiji.
"I was busy," said Ryoma.
"You didn't tell us what was going on," pointed out Takeshi.
"It was a secret," said Ryoma.
"…"
"Would you like to play twenty questions?" asked Inui with a grin.
"If I said no, would it matter?" asked Ryoma.
"It would," said Inui.
"You're lying," said Ryoma, "You can drink the penalty…"
'Bad idea,' thought everyone as they laughed nervously.
"Sa… Ryoma-kun…" smiled Syuusuke, "Was there a time that you ever lied to us?"
"Yes…" said Ryoma.
"Wow… he's honest," whispered Bunta.
"When was the first time be?" asked Syuusuke.
"The first day you met me," said Ryoma.
Everyone gapped; they could not believe that Ryoma had lied to them at their first meeting.
"Considering the first lie was where I came from and my name," said Ryoma and everyone realised that was true.
"You're name?" asked Syuusuke, "If your name isn't Ryoma Echizen… then what is it?"
"I'm unable to divulge anything to you at this point," said Ryoma formally.
"Is this a game or an interrogation?" asked Ryoma.
"Game," said Takeshi.
"Your drinking next," said Ryoma. They all sweat dropped; they knew they had to play it safe.
"Who are you really?" asked Akaya.
"The captain of the ship Nadesico," said Ryoma.
"…"
"If you want to ask something, ask straight out," said Ryoma.
"Sa… Why are you involved?" asked Seiichi.
"Because my friends and family are involved in this," said Ryoma. "I can not and will not allow them to continue to terrorise this universe… not during this lifetime of mine…"
"But…" started Yuushi, however…
"Ryoma, its lunch time!" called out a girl, "Come on…! We tried to make the ramen special for you!"
"Excuse me…" said Ryoma and walked away.
"How is it someone as young as him, get sucked into this mess?" questioned Seiichi.
"He was born into it," said Genichiroh from behind them.
"Born into it?" asked Yuushi.
"He's similar to Hari," said Genichiroh, "however their pasts are completely different and as you can see their personalities as well… as his friends, just trust him…"
All anyone could do was just stare, as Genichiroh joined Ryoma in a casual conversation with the old crew of the Nadesico.
...
"Ryoma… are you sure you're alright?" asked Jun, "You're looking more pale than usual…"
"I'm fine…" said Ryoma, "I just have a headache…"
"Are you sure?" asked Jun.
"I assure you that I'm fine," said Ryoma. "It's not like I'm not dying…"
"Go to bed… if that headache doesn't go away by the time you wake up then Ms. Inez might have to see what's wrong," said Jun.
"I'm just more tired…" said Ryoma.
"You sure…?" asked Jun.
Ryoma offered a small smile to him, "I think I'll take the stairs… I could do with the exercise…"
"Oh… Okay…" said Jun. "Have fun with the exercise…"
But Jun could not get rid of the worry on his face as he watched Ryoma walk off.
...
"What are you doing?" asked Yuuta, as he walked down the stairs and watched as Ryoma run past him a third time.
"Exercise," said Ryoma as he run up the steps two by two.
Yuuta thought nothing of it and continued walking down.
"Yuuta… have you seem Ryoma?" asked Jun.
"Yeah… he's in the stair-well…" said Yuuta.
"Still…?" and Jun rushed up the stairs, Yuuta followed and they found Ryoma breathing hard and sweating. He was sitting on the top step and his hands were on his leg.
"Ryoma… what's going on?" asked Jun, "What wrong…?"
"I think you'll have to captain the ship," said Ryoma as he looked up to him with piercing eyes.
"I'm unfit to command the ship," said Ryoma, "At least not right now…"
"What's going on?" asked Seiichi as he and the other regulars came into the stair-well.
Jun and Ryoma continued looking at each other. Jun looked away first, "If you can't talk to me, then talk to Ms. Inez…"
"It's not something that's easily said," informed Ryoma, "I assure you that it's not the matter of who I would be willing to talk to…"
"However, if it interferes with the mission, I have to know what it is," said Jun.
"It won't," said Ryoma.
"How…" started Jun.
"Because I'm not going on the mission," said Ryoma, as he stood up, "I'm pulling myself out of the mission…"
Ryoma walked away, "I'll be the other decoy…"
Jun stood there for a moment before punching a dent in the wall beside him, "Damn it!"
The regulars just watched on clueless-ly.
...
Ryoma sat in bed; head leaning against the wall, knees drawn to the chest with his arms wrapped around them and eyes glued to the ceiling. Flashes of the old Nadesico crew, his mother and father, aunty, uncle and cousin appeared in her mind. A lone tear came from his eye, 'Sorry…'
...
"And those were the kid's exact words?" asked Seiya.
"That doesn't sound right," said Mrs. Howmei. "Ryoma would have gone through with it to the bitter end…"
"Has anyone seen the Captain?" asked Saburota, as he walked up to them.
"Probably in his room," said Jun.
"Does that mean I get to stay in the same room as him?" grinned Saburota.
"Shut up you pervert," said Jun.
"Sorry," said Saburota, with his hands up in defeat, and walked away.
"That was a bit harsh," said Mrs. Howmei.
"Sorry… it's just frustrating," said Jun.
"What is this I hear about Captain Ryoma standing down?" asked Genichiroh.
"Exactly what you heard," said Jun.
"He cannot back down so late into the mission," said Genichiroh, "Even if he wanted to… he's stuck in this mission. And apparently the Nadesico has to part in three hours."
"We'll have to see him and tell him that then," said Mrs. Howmei.
"Oi… The kid's isn't in his rooms," said Saburota as he came back.
"Stair well…" said Jun and made his way there, sure enough, Ryoma was at the top asleep with five empty cans of Ponta. His forehead was sweating furiously. In his lap were three pictures…
"He isn't taking it well…" said Mrs. Howmei.
"It's their anniversary," said Jun in realisation. "Today was the days when everything happened…"
"How could I have been so stupid!" cursed Jun, "He must really think that we don't care about them…"
"I doubt it," said Inez, "He's not the type… he is strangely understanding for a person as young as he is…"
"That could have been the reason to his resolve," said Seiya, "It was a spur of the moment because of today…"
"No…" said Jun, "His eyes were dead serious…"
"Then what will we do about it?" asked Mrs. Howmei.
...
Ryoma woke up the sound of running water. He looked up at the ceiling and knew he was on the Nadesico and he continued staring up at the ceiling as the other person came out of the bathroom.
"How are you feeling?" asked Jun. There was no reply. "You can't exactly hate me for not allowing you to get out of this mission…"
Still there was no reply. Jun sighed, "You are expected on the bridge in two hours… no excuses…"
Ryoma walked out without a word. He said nothing as he passed a couple of the regulars who greeted him. He continued to walk as his name was called as if he didn't hear it. He didn't speak or acknowledge anyone and his movements were brisk however sluggish.
Three Hours later…
"The captain still isn't here," said Hari.
"Apparently he forgot," said Jun and went off to get him. He neared the room which he shared and was just in time to see Ryoma round the corner. He followed him and frowned as he watched the boy walk with his hand on the wall as if he was being supported by it. Jun rushed forward as he staggered and fell backwards. "Hey, what's wrong?"
There was no answer and he looked down to see that he was unconscious.
"Someone, call Ms. Inez!" shouted Jun.
Yuuta, who was once again there, immediately did what he was asked and passed a few regulars on the way who somehow took it as 'follow the leader'.
"What's going on?" asked Takeshi.
"Echizen… I mean the Captain collapsed," said Yuuta as they ran all the way to Ms. Inez.
"What can I do to help you boys?" asked Inez from her desk.
"Ms. Fressange, Commander Aoi urgently needs your help," said Yuuta and he burst through the door, "The captain collapsed…"
Inez immediately stood up and disappeared right in front of their eyes. "Where the hell did she go??"
...
"How is he?" asked Jun as Ms. Inez sighed.
"Considering everything that has happened… he's strangely fine…" said Inez. "Would you like the good news or bad…?"
"There're two?" asked Eiji. "Meaning good and bad, meaning happy and sad…?"
"Indeed… however, I would like to talk about this to Jun only," said Inez.
"But we're his friends," said Syuichiroh.
"This isn't something that he would want everyone to know about," said Inez.
"However if you do want to know something," said Inez and the regulars all waited in anticipation, "he's doing very well… and he said something…?"
"The kid said something?" asked Keigo.
"He said 'get back to work'…" said Inez and they all sweat dropped.
"You called?" asked Genichiroh as he came in, "My… this must be serious if he's connected to all that… this is the first time he's ever been sick isn't it?"
"Tsukuomi, I want you to take command of the ship for a while," said Jun.
"I take it that you feel partially responsible," said Genichiroh.
"I shouldn't have forced him to go to the bridge…" said Jun as he sat in the chair next to Ryoma and was very distressed.
"Do you even know what's wrong with him?" asked Genichiroh.
"Whatever it is… he collapsed because of me…" said Jun.
...
"Is Ochibi going to be alright?" asked Eiji.
"I'm sure he will be," said Genichiroh as they walked out of the room. "It may be the first time he's sick but that does not mean that he won't overcome it…"
"The original Nadesico crew… how did they…?" asked Seiichi.
"It's rather typical really... at the beginning at least," began Genichiroh. "Nadesico was considered the ultimate battleship… the unstoppable… the enemy wanted it. The captain, knew they couldn't run any longer… evacuated most of the people on the ship."
"However a few remained," said the former Jovian Commander, "Commander Aoi was ordered to make sure the evacuees reached safety… from what I've heard the Nadesico was caught and taken to a space station. They cuffed them and tied them to chairs. They were burnt when they left…"
"Burnt..?" asked Kunimitsu.
"They were tied behind the ship, in front of the boosters," said Genichiroh, " they were burnt alive when they took off with the Nadesico…"
"!"
"It's been a year since that incident," said Genichiroh.
...
"That is probably the reason why he's been running up and down those steps," said Inez, "However, the strain of it causes him headaches and today everything just collapsed…"
"Does that mean he knew this was going to happen?" asked Jun, "He removed himself out of the mission because he knew he was unfit and could compromise the mission?"
"That is my theory," said Inez, "That is not to say that he won't be the same ever again…"
Jun took Ryoma's hand into his and held it, "I'm sorry…"
there you go... chapter 8... how was it? slightly strange?? okay...? confusing?? i can't promise that i'll be updating this week or next... but i'll try... (if the exams don't get to me first... sweat drop...) i won't put anymore clues about the next few chapters... cos... these next ones are a bit... straight forwards in a way... (more like it'll give away the ending...) okay... umm... hope to see you next time when i update!! lol... hugs and kisses!!