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…
last chapter!! Arg!! i don't know if i should be happy or sad... lol... oh well... anyways... this was fun to type up... i'm actually amazed that i wrote this up... lol... anyways there is still the epilogue to come... and then the story is complete!! yay!! anyways... thanks again for all the reviews!! it was fun reading them... and now on with the story!! how it's not over the top!! hugs and kisses!!
Chapter 14
"What happened?" asked Jun in panic.
"I don't know?" said Hari. "There's some sort of disturbance that caused the malfunction…"
"Ruri-Ruri, please be safe…" whispered Jun, with his hands together in prayer.
"Sir… we've got the visual back…" said Seiichi. A screen appeared… empty space…
"Where's Mars?" asked Jun.
"It's… It's…" started Syuusuke, his eyes opened in shock, "It's gone…"
"Gone…?" asked Jun, his hands shaking.
"They boson jumped a whole planet?" asked Keigo, with a frown.
"No… they didn't… they were…" whispered Syuusuke.
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"…destroyed," whispered Syuusuke, and allowed himself to cry.
"!"
"No… No!" shouted Jun, "That can't happen… she was supposed to be there… she's supposed to allow us to save her… she was supposed to allow us to save the world together! She was supposed to allow someone to be her knight!"
Kitchen
"Ouch…" Mrs. Howmei held up her cut finger and looked at it.
"Mrs. Howmei… are you alright? You never cut your finger before!" exclaimed a Howmei girl.
'Something bad must have happened,' thought Mrs. Howmei in worry.
Hanger
"Damn it! What the hell wrong with this wrench?" shouted Seiya and tossed it to the floor… the metal wrench broke, surprising everyone.
"Wow… you must be really strong to have thrown it that hard to break," commented Bunta.
Seiya frowned, 'this isn't good… this isn't good at all…'
Sick Bay
Inez, looked out into space, slowly she reached for her wine glass. She accidentally knocked it over, "That was the last of my favourite wine…"
"This isn't good," said Inez.
"Help…!" called out Yuuta.
"Him again…" sighed Inez and opened the door and saw him and all the other systems and communications operators, with an unconscious Jun.
"What happened…?" asked Inez.
"He fainted," said Yuuta.
"That's all…?" asked Inez with a frown, as she picked up her glasses from the table.
"That was after we told he that Mars exploded," muttered Keigo. Inez dropped her glasses, and spun around.
"What was that..!" demanded Inez.
"Mars… it exploded," whispered Seiichi.
Inez stared in shock and did not notice the tears that came down her face.
"Ruri…" whispered Inez, and walked towards the window and looked out into space, "That's why, wasn't it…? The final goodbye…"
Inez chuckled, "You really couldn't take no for an answer could you… in the end… you were the bravest amongst us all…"
The systems and communication operators left and made their way to the bridge, to make sure that nothing happens.
"Oi… where's the captain? I need to ask him when I can head out and rescue the princess," said Saburota, as he appeared as well as other pilots and Seiya. They couldn't take it anymore and allowed the tears that they held, to fall. Everyone stared in shock. Especially when most of them were know to show no sadness at all.
"Oi… where's the captain? What's going on?" asked Saburota as he was freaked out a bit. Hari pointed to the sick bay before bawling his eyes out.
"The captain's sick? Is he dying?" asked Takeshi. They shook their heads.
Seiya shook his head vigorously, "No… that can't be right… I'm not going to believe it!"
"What's going on?" asked Genichiroh and Genchiroh at the same time. However Seiya continued on his ramble.
"I will not believe that Ruri-Ruri's dead! I won't…! Tell me that she's fine!" demanded Seiya in a desperate tone. The communications officers just shook their head and continued to cry. "No…! I was supposed to raise her as my own when this was all over! She was going to be a big sister…"
Seiya stumbled away from them like a drunk, disoriented and aimless…
"Tell me his wrong," said Takeshi.
"I'm afraid… not, Momo," choked Syuusuke.
"What…! How…?" grunted Kaoru in disbelief, he could not believe that the kid could die.
"No… that kid can't be dead… she has to get better!" shouted Takeshi. "She promised to have a match with us!"
"What's going on out here!" asked Eiji as he walked out from the kitchen and stood shocked at the sight off everyone. Soon he was accompanied by the other kitchen staff and maintenance that were in the kitchen getting food.
Mrs. Howmei took one look at them, "Oh God… No… please no… you can't do this…"
Everyone looked at her and then looked at the others who were in tears. The maintenance and kitchen hands shared a look of worry.
The Howmei girls looked at each other with worry etched on their face, "Mrs. Howmei… I'm sure… I'm sure that… that… she's… she's just waiting for us…"
"Yes… waiting for us on Mars…" said another Howmei girl.
"Mars exploded," whispered Seiichi. Everyone froze.
"Mars… exploded…?" asked Syuichiroh. The communications officers nodded; Mrs. Howmei was close to collapsing and sobbed.
"Ochibi…?" whispered Eiji, "She's… she's gone…?"
"We had her intentions all wrong… she didn't want to join them…" whispered Yuuta, "she destroyed the planet… and wanted to save us… and earth…"
No one had the heart to say anymore, silently they allowed a moment of silence. Everyone allowed tears to come; some were more vocal in their tears as they turned to sobs, others allowed the tears to trail down their cheek shamelessly.
The young girl that pretended to be a boy, to hide from the world of war… the same girl that helped them discover that they were not at all as strong in tennis as they thought. The girl that said being cocky took too much energy and said she was too lazy… the young girl not yet a teen, that did not care what everyone thought about her. The one who allowed everyone to bad mouth her and didn't look for revenge, but avenged those that she cared for. The young girl that was a fearless captain, who lost practically everything and gained almost nothing… the same person who they were weary of as a possible spy or betrayer, for the fact that she was so smart and talented. Child prodigy at birth and ultimately the perfect systems operator was no longer with them.
She was gone and somehow they felt horrible. Horrible for the fact that they accused her for being suspicious on many occasions and that they could no longer have the chance to tell her that they were sorry in person. They felt horrible for not looking out for her as her sempai. Horrible that as her royal guard he could not protect her and that she was able to protect the universe. The feeling of shame, as they pushed her aside and considered her as someone, who was somewhat a show off, and somehow knew so much without trying. They could do nothing now but regret.
However they could not stop the feeling of hate at the same time. The hate for Omoikane that Ryoma was so attracted to and was willing to protect. Hate for themselves, for not being able to do anything for anyone. The hate they felt for not looking out for their kouhai's wellbeing. They knew it was too late to do anything. The Royal princess that in fairytales were always the damsels and was always guarded very well. It had changed, everything had changed. Although royalty always looks out for the wellbeing of their people, Ryoma took a step further and sacrificed herself for the universe. She was no damsel and acted like a fearless knight.
Silently they knew that everything she had said before and the smiles she gave was her farewell. It was her way of saying sorry… saying that this was the last memory that they could ever make with her. Allowing them to see, the vulnerable side that, they have never seen in the girl before. Rikkai regulars never known Ryoma, and only heard rumours of the super rookie. They wanted so much to play her and at the same time to crush her and declare they were still invisible. However, now, they could see that the girl was far stronger than all of them. Someone who they could never defeat… someone with the heart of gold… she feared nothing… The moments they spent with her blew their minds away and slowly they felt responsible for her, with the little knowledge they knew about her. Now… they could no longer be able to get to know the enigma.
Soon the news spread throughout the ship and no one was in the mood to work, eat or talk. Jun was still in sick bay, his eyes lifeless and dull. Inez was checking up on him every now and again. They somehow understood each other silently and no words were needed.
Each regular was in their own room, taking their own way to grieving. Syuusuke pooling over albums of pictures; Eiji hugging his pillow tightly and crying; Takeshi opening and closing his wallet while running his hands over the 'doubles for dummies' book. This was something no one expected to happen. They felt that if they were all alone and asleep, maybe… just maybe they could wake up and find it was just a nightmare.
There was only one person in the whole ship that seemed to be doing work… Seiya… He didn't care what anyone said; he wanted to get himself so tired that he couldn't think straight. He wanted to drink until he was drunk, drown in the poison that would affect his brain and help him forget the pain that he felt. However he knew that that wasn't what she wanted, he knew that she might be looking down at them and shaking her head in disapproval. He didn't want that… he didn't want to show her that they had all disappointed her…
He knew what she would have said if she was able to tell them. 'When someone dies… they don't really leave… it's not goodbye forever… they will always be with you… watching over you… worrying about you… and at the same time feeling guilty that they aren't there in person with you…'
"That brat…" cried Seiya, "A whole lifetime of knowledge… even when she's not here she's still able to give me advice…"
Seiya wiped his eyes and grinned while he looked determined, "Yes this is what she wanted…"
He marched himself out of the cockpit and started yelling at everyone who sulked, "What the hell are you doing? Get back to work and be a man!"
He marched into the infirmary and took Jun by the arm, "Come on Jun… you have a ship to command!"
"Leave me be!" muttered Jun.
"What do you think Ruri-Ruri would say if she saw you like this?" asked Seiya.
"…"
"'Fools… What a bunch of fool…' that's what she would say," said Seiya. Jun's eyes widened, "I know she's the opposite to all of us… but she doesn't idle around after a death… now be a man and command the ship…"
"Ruri-Ruri…" whispered Jun as he looked down the hall. Seiya looked too and his eyes widened.
Eiji
"O…Ochibi…" whispered Eiji as he sat up in bed with his eyes wide.
Inez
"Ruri," uttered Inez, as she dropped her glasses again.
Syuusuke
"…" Syuusuke sat speechlessly with his eyes open.
Sadaharu & Renji
"This is illogical…" muttered the two data collectors in unison.
Throughout the ship everyone was in shock, they could not comprehend what was happening. They could not begin to say a thing.
"Ruri-Ruri… you're here…" said Jun. There was no reply on Ryoma's part.
"How could you do such a careless thing?" asked Jun, "We were so worried!"
Ryoma just stood in front of everyone. In every part of the ship there seemed to be a Ryoma in front of every member. Each one, having a different appearance… some had the image of the young Ruri with silver hair others had Ryoma with emerald hair… some saw her in a wheel chair others saw her standing up…
"I'm not real," Ryoma finally said.
"No… that's not true!" said Jun, "you're right here in front of us!"
"This is exactly like the time Omoikane had a bug…" said Ryoma, "I'm just an illusion create by what is holding you back…" (A/N: when Omoikane had the bug, the bug started to control the ship and people started to see illusions and some started to act strange…)
"No, you're real! You have to be real…" said Jun.
Ryoma shook her head sadly and smiled, "I'm sorry but in your heart you know that this isn't real… this is something that you yearn to see… Just remember that even though I am not here in flesh…"
"No…! Don't say it!" cried Jun. "I don't want to hear those words…"
"I'll always be watching over you…" said Ryoma. "I want to stop this madness that is on this ship…"
"People die, Mr. Jun… it is the way of life…" said Ryoma, "Some just die earlier than others… you must not allow one death to take away your own happiness…"
"You were my happiness!" cried Jun.
"I apologise for my selfishness… Mr. Seiya… I'm sure your children will grow to be fine people…" smiled Ryoma.
Infirmary
"Ms. Inez… I apologise that we couldn't have anymore talks…" said Ryoma.
Kitchen
"I'll miss your cooking…" said Ryoma.
Cockpit
"It was nice to know that my parents cared enough to send you to protect me…" said Ryoma.
Other rooms
Ryoma held a tennis racquet, "I apologise that we could no longer play tennis with each other… however we will one day… I promised… we'll play tennis with the stars…"
"I'll always watch over you… look to the stars… and I'll be there," said Ryoma and slowly she faded.
"Ruri-Ruri!" shouted Jun.
"Mr. Jun… please be a captain that everyone would respect and look up to…" Jun widened his eyes at those words. He wiped away his tears and stood up straight.
"Okay… Seiya… get maintenance and get to work…" said Jun.
"Aye… Aye captain," said Seiya.
"This is your captain Jun speaking," said Jun over the PA. "Everyone get to work… we have many things to do!"
Everyone looked shocked over this, however made their way to their stations.
"Set course to Mars," said Jun in the captain's chair. Everyone turned to him in surprise, "It wouldn't be right if we stayed here and not look at what's left over there…"
"Aye… Aye…" said the crew and set to work.
A few minutes later they reach Mars and could see what was left, floating debris and if they didn't know any better they would have mistake them as a cluster of asteroids.
"Sir we have a message coming in," said Hari.
"Who from…?" asked Jun.
"The… the Captain and Omoikane…" stuttered Hari. Everyone's eyes widened.
"Patch it in…" said Jun as he looked determined. There was no visual but Ryoma's voice rung throughout the ship.
"By the time you get this message… You would have reached Mars and Mars would have been destroyed… it was the only way to stop this madness… Omoikane agrees too… Without us… this world might have been less violent…" said the voice that was Ryoma's.
"I'm tired to watching all this fighting… however I will continue watching over you as the others has continued to watch over all of us… This is my complete version of my written English piece," said Ryoma's voice. "I'll be sure to say hi to the others for you…"
"There's an attachment," said Hari.
The Seigaku regulars on the bridge looked at the document with wide eyes, the English piece that was very deep.
"This isn't goodbye… but only the beginning," said Ryoma, "Live life to the fullest… we'll meet again in the waltz of the stars…"
The message ended and everyone was silent. Jun broke the silence, "You heard her men… live life to the fullest… we don't want her saying that we're idiots to everyone else she's with right now…"
"Let's show her that we've taken what she said and really listen to her," said Jun, with a soft smile, "She'll always be with us…"
"In the tennis that some play… in the food that we eat… in our minds and in our hearts…" said Jun, "That's what she would have wanted us to think and believe…"
"Aye…" said everyone and got back to work.
:cries: i was so close to tears when i reread this... and then i thought: 'hang on... i cen't believe i wrote this...' lol... the sttories not done... yep... the epilogue will be up in two days or maybe tmrw... not sure... anyways... thanks for keeping to tabs with this story and thank you for reading it!! it made my day... or year... not sure... which word fits... lol... thanks again for reading!! hugs and kisses!!