as said in all the chapters, this is a spin-off. the plot-line does not - sadly - belong to me. it belongs to Makoto Shinkai-sama.

only the characters and personalities differ...

i thank once again, those who reviewed and read, and i apologize for putting this up late. tomorrow is my exams and--

I HAVEN'T STUDIED! GAH!!!

wish me luck for my exams please? haiz...

anyway, dozo.


Voices of a Distant Star

CHAPTER 3

The loud crackle of electricity that burst forth the planet's atmosphere was stunning. The bright light bounced off the natural satellite orbiting around it to shoot into the dark space like a mystical beast of the stories of the old. In a cockpit, safe and away from the dangerous force, Sasuke sat in contemplative silence.

Once again, he wasn't paying much attention to the wondrous surroundings. His dark eyes were glazed in thought even as he shifted absently to rest his arms upon his withdrawn knees. The dark orbs slid to the side almost hopefully to look at the phone resting on the smooth surface of the seemingly floating cockpit.

Hey dobe, how are you?

His pale fingers reached for the device. However, they did nothing more than that.

I have completed the training on Mars, and am now at Base Europa on Jupiter.

The surface of the planet was rippling again as the lightning vanished. Those dark eyes still didn't absorb the sights.

I never get tired of looking at the clouds here. Shikamaru would be proud.

Sasuke pushed his knees from himself slightly to stretch. The phone was still held in his pale grasp. He was quiet as he watched the vast planet under him settle into a semblance of calm. Any traces of electrical activities were gone.

Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, with many moons orbiting around it. The view here is bewildering, yet mystifying at the same time…

The phone beeped faintly for a short while before falling silent again. Sasuke brought it down slowly to rest the hand-clasped phone onto his lap.

Wish you were here to see it.

-line-

I've slowly gotten used to life on the Lysithea.

Light chattering filled the canteen as the crew of the ship bustled around for their food. While groups of them sat together, a raven boy's slender form sat at a lonely corner of the canteen. In his hands was a phone.

Heard you've joined the Kendo Club again?

His face was blank as he stared at the small screen.

You were pretty good at it, I recall…

"Sending a message to Earth?"

The phone gave one last beep before ceasing in its noise. The boy turned calmly to look at the speaker. Another boy, also dressed in a school uniform, though older and with lighter eyes and hair – brown compared to the younger's black as night hair and pale, pale eyes the colour of faded lavender compared to the dark orbs – smiled slightly at the blank face. In his hands was a tray. Sasuke blinked for a moment before nodding curtly.

"Aa…"

Without asking for permission, the older boy sat easily into the seat beside him. Sasuke simply turned back to his phone. The older boy smiled ruefully as he glanced at the the small device.

"You never know when it'll get there, huh?" he remarked casually over his food. "It's like good old airmail."

And I've made friends…

"So, what's your friend like?"

Sasuke paused for a moment before answering. "He's attending the school you went to, Hyuuga."

The older boy looked annoyed as he crossed his arms. "I told you to call me Neji, right? And your friend's in Anbu?"

Sasuke smirked slightly at the other. "Sorry – Neji. Yeah…some coincidence, huh? I was actually quite surprised when I saw your uniform…"

"Wow…" the Hyuuga – Neji – gazed thoughtfully at his food. "You could have been my junior."

"You think so? It would be fun, I guess…"

Dark eyes glanced down briefly to look at the picture of a familiar blonde in an equally familiar High School uniform. A moment of comfortable silence stretched over the two. Pale lips parted to let out an almost inaudible, "But…"

Sasuke's thoughts unexpectedly ran back to the times when the blonde had just properly become his best friend. He had somehow forced the other to study with him and he was content for the first time in so long as the other asked him unbelievably intelligent questions about school. He smiled.

"It's too late now."

Neji was quiet. A strange feeling seemed to well up inside him as he watched the younger boy. Absently, he touched his coat. "Sasuke?"

The raven looked up blankly at the call and the strange feeling grew stronger.

"Hey, you want to exchange uniforms?"

"Huh?" was Sasuke's intelligent response. Neji smiled kindly to the surprised boy.

"We've still got some time before the briefing. Come on."

And somehow, they found themselves in the changing room, doing just that. An unknown feeling gathered in Sasuke's guts as he held the other's uniform in his hands. Without saying a word, he lifted it to himself. Maybe, just maybe…

-line-

"I've never worn a tie before."

They were now leaning casually by the large windows outside of the changing room. Neji touched the dark tie in wonder as he explained how his past school uniforms were always either the old, girly sailor-outfits – this applied to his elementary school, of course – or the basic high-collared, traditional uniforms – which he seemed to be wearing since Junior High.

"How do you wear it so nicely? And there's even a button…"

Sasuke fought down a chuckle. "Oh, it's not a real tie."

Neji looked amused before turning to the raven anxiously. "Is my uniform too big?"

Sasuke blushed and looked down at himself. Neji was almost his size except for his slightly taller height but Sasuke had always liked baggy clothes, right? He smiled – for the second time that day. What was Neji doing to him? He rarely smiled.

"Ah, not at all…it's perfect…" – Sasuke looked up bashfully – "Just feels kind of weird…"

Neji smiled in relief at the comment. "Well, want to keep it on for a little longer?"

Sasuke looked up at the brunette (1) in surprise. He blinked at the other dumbly. Keep it on for a little longer…?

"How about it?"

Sasuke blushed deeper at this. Keep the uniform on for longer?

"Okay…thanks."

-line-

"All ships, including the Lysithea, are fitted with the auto-hyperdrive, with the capacity to jump a distance of fifteen light years while the Shortcut Anchor the Tharsians left behind is estimated to be eight light years ahead of us."

The officer in charge looked serious as she briefed the people in the room. Behind her were large drawings and figures of her plan. Sasuke and Neji took this all in as she continued.

"At present, we have identified a number of warp gates."

The only problem was that the two teens were standing outside the briefing room. Still, the female officer's strong voice echoed out into the hallway.

"Our objective is to follow the trail of the Tharsians as well as to search for a new Shortcut Anchor. Further…"

The impressively loud voice faded away slightly as the two teens crouched low under the high window they were peeping through before.

"The briefing has started…"

"We lost track of time…"

A small laugh escaped the raven. Of course, it was soon hushed – much like their whispers – to prevent the people inside from hearing them. Neji couldn't help but smile at the strangely addictive sound. Still, he wondered what was so funny to the younger. Sasuke's eyes were nostalgic as he smiled absently at nothing.

"It's almost like being in school again."

Neji's pale eyes grew wide with realization and he smiled. "You're right…"

"We are going to get a scolding, aren't we?"

Neji answered Sasuke truthfully and sat back against the cold, metallic wall beside the raven. "Yeah. Maybe even worse…"

Sasuke looked up as the older boy went on. "But you know, I don't mind it, once in a while…if they tell us off, at least it will feel more real. To tell the truth, I don't really understand what's going on."

Sasuke easily replied to that. "Yeah, me neither…"

"Maybe they'll discharge us on disciplinary grounds!"

Sasuke smirked. "Maybe."

"Say…" – Sasuke cocked his head in puzzlement at the other – "If we're going to be punished anyway, why don't we just skip the whole briefing?"

Sasuke smiled – for the third time and counting – at the other boy. It was comforting to know that at least he wasn't alone anymore.

Dobe…

Sasuke turned to look at the endless space from beside the comfortably chatting Neji.

The Lysithea will be traveling way beyond Pluto.

Jupiter's moon glowed ethereally in its place over the gaseous atmosphere.

My messages are going to take a much longer time to reach you.

Absently, he touched the cool surface of the thick glass window. The reflection on its surface made his hand seem ghost-like.

From the edges of the Oort cloud alone, they'll take six months…

Sasuke barely noticed that he had stopped walking as he stared out.

But…

He barely noticed that Neji was now a little ways ahead of him.

We'll be okay, right?

His brow creased in worry. He barely heard Neji calling for him.

-line-

Right, dobe?

...to be continued...


(1) you know, I looked in the dictionary and saw that brunette means 'a woman with brown or dark hair'. A woman! LOL. And I still went and put Neji as that. Lolololol.

BLEARGH.

this chapter was short. i'm not going to lie. but hey, at least neji's finally here...! comments please?

watcheva.

still, heart you all. and Belated Valentine's to you as well.