Chapter 10: Thrown back into the Mix

The ships had found each other soon at Space dock, Tomoe's ship coming aside the Outlaw Star and began transfer plans of Aisha and Haomaru to the ship. It took a fair moment of Tomoe's brief explanation and Aisha's loud yelling at Gene that got them aboard, they'd be staying with the crew for a while it seemed, in the devious C'tarl's plans it was to break the enigmatic Haomaru's shell much the same way that her own shell was cracked open; it wouldn't fail her.

The transfer took a short while of focus and determined moving, there wasn't much from in supplies or clothing that Hao traveled with across space, he had a very small knapsack full of several sets of clothing, getas, sword care products; including a weight stone and sharpening stone. While his pack was strange, it was expected in Tomoe's eyes though she noticed that Aisha traveled with almost nothing for clothes; it clued her in easily.

"You don't have any clothes besides those few do ya?" her voice came momentarily cracking into soft giggles, though they were silenced by a growl; after the punch from Aisha last night she knew too much would earn her a punch. But her face straightened out as she stood next to her.

Aisha blinked at the sudden change of her look, and then jumped when Tomoe had brushed down her sides lightly; measuring over her waist with her hands it seemed no less. Before Aisha could get mad, Tomoe spoke up to answer her curiosity about the measurement.

"Well we're about the same size, I have clothing that might suit you Aisha. I offer you some from my expansive wardrobe; those you can keep as your own at least until you can build one back of your own. Out of the sheer will for you putting up with me." She gave a fangy grin; while it was in play she seemed to mean it about her putting up with Tomoe's actions so far on the trip.

Aisha's look had changed slightly; it broke into a soft smile as she gave Tomoe a good healthy slap on the back for her kindness. "I like that thank you for your kindness; it's a rare treat from you. Especially for you not to continue on like some jackass." Her words still made Tomoe grin; she led Aisha off while Tomoe winked at Hao, this meant she was going to try to influence her choice of clothing no doubt.

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"So what do you think of my closet?" Tomoe's words nearly echoed off of the back wall as she turned on the lights for Aisha to see the vast walls covered in clothing, kept in order of tradition, formal, casual, relaxed, etc. with the list. It seemed surely that Tomoe had a vast taste and her position let her have a large gathering of clothes to use for about anything.

Aisha's eyes focused on traditional, she saw Haomaru walking around in his Kimono everywhere, even in focus he looked so graceful when he wore his Hakama and it held a strange appeal to her eyes. She drew in closer and began to sift through some of the kimonos, taking them along her arm and gathering several ones that caught her eye; she found with design of lotuses and water lilies along the outside, in a beautiful pink, red, and gentle pigments of the flowers along the yukuta's length. Another was a full length kimono with kanji she hadn't recognized, but the strong black and red colors, and fusion into cobalt and several arrays of other colors had her choose it as a second. The other two had been a slim fitting kimono she was sure to hug her body the way she liked, the color a simple white hued kimono with a white sash. The final of the kimono had been one with serene waters of a lake and surrounding lavish trees and peaceful sights, something she liked for its calm presence.

Sifting through the other clothes was more a breeze, she took several casual clothing sets, some skirts and dresses with appropriate garments all too and fro about it, even some formal wear just incase they might need it, she doubted it but one could never be too careful. Her favorite area was the nightly attire, to which her secret to taking a few interesting teddies, night gowns was intended to woo her roommate. She had some plans in mind of breaking him by means of her beauty as a step along the way; that seen as the night gowns and several teddies were clearly translucent. They left enough modesty to make one imagine, while revealed enough that even Haomaru and his clear mind would want to think about it.

"Hee hee, you have plans I see. Take a few garters, with killer legs like yours; he'll be drooling over you in no time flat I'm sure to believe that. Aisha I really wish you luck with seducing him, it'll be good for you both that you chip away at his will." She shared a hug with the C'tarl C'tarl before she got on her way with her few bags of clothing.

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Haomaru had been waiting for her with careful meditation, as he balanced his sword on his fingertips and held the blade up on the end; he was amusing himself and training a little more at once with an action such as this. He was really just glad to get away with some reckless like this once in a while.

He held the sword in focus up on his palm, the idea being if balance was achieved with the blade, that the sword would be more graceful in hold and less dangerous to the user of the meditation and exercise; there was many a strange meditation that he'd conjured up to test himself. None that were any more or less life threatening than before to him, but he hoped she wouldn't catch him; Aisha made it clear that he'd never get the chance to make any mistakes because she'd fix him first.

He all but knew he was right, and by the first sound of footsteps, had quickly taken the sword down and sheathed it away. It was just on moment since Aisha had just entered the room with a bright smile on her face; the words that came next were the simple reason.

"I'm done getting clothes! Let's get onto the ship already; Gene's probably been missing me too much. The worthless bounty hunter's probably been miserable and bored." Her words brought a soft goofy smile to Tomoe's face, but she said nothing for sheer fact she was getting along with Aisha as of late.

Haomaru picked up his small sack, plus extra that he'd had aboard from the last few times that he had visited with Tomoe.

"Well, I'll miss you again Hao, it's always good to see you. And you too Aisha, it was great fun I must say. Most I've been amused in some years." She said with a grin that got a soft snort from Aisha.

"Well I'll say for you that it was the most annoying time I've had in a number of years, though you're the first girl not to faint from pissing me off…You definitely have balls, I'll give you that." She was hoping to get her a little annoyed with it but nope.

"Why thank you, big brass balls much like yourself." The words had barely left Tomoe's mouth before she'd pissed off Aisha.

"Why I oughta rip your lips off of you…oooohh…" she growled and counted to 3 slowly, she couldn't make it to 10 and she knew it.

She turned and had walked from Tomoe's ship, moving down the catwalk at the station. She was a bit eager to be back home, what she considered one true place to her that she belonged…it wasn't a temporary place that she'd stay at some point; it was truly a home for her away from home.

Haomaru followed her after giving a hug to Tomoe, and Tomoe well grinning at him since she obviously knew it was going to be a rocky road ahead of them. But it was nothing that she was sure he could handle. He knew he had to loosen up quite a lot still; he'd started and now he had to continue on his way. Though words broke him away from his train of thought.

"So Hao, do you have any expectations?" her words were lit with some amusement since she knew what more to expect. She noticed his eyes closed as he slipped into thought about the question; something that annoyed her slightly. "Well?" her tone was carried a little high for him to hear to tell her mood.

"Umm… I'm a little excited, since I'll be staying not with just you, but so many famous faces. The famed Twilight Suzuka I hear is still aboard, Jim Hawking the young computer genius. There are many people on board that I am going to be proud to meet."

She was amused by his knowledge of them, he'd named almost the entire crew, and she just stroked her fingers through his hair as she looped her fingers with his afterwards. She took to walking next to him, she was happier now at this moment than she had been in quite a while; back with family and with someone she'd began falling for slowly.

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The two were greeted by Jim, Gene, and Melfina; those of which hadn't had much time to know Haomaru when he was aboard for a small trip before. Jim had run up to Aisha and gave her a big hug, which was carefully returned to him.

"Aisha! It's been far too long, even if it was only a short while ago. I didn't get to spend too much time with you and-" he was cut off by her finger coming to his lips.

"It's alright, Jim we have plenty of time now since I intend to stay with you guys for a good while. We're going to be breaking down Haomaru's shell, just like you guys did with me."

Gene grinned as he looked over to Haomaru, and had started to poke his back and well speak up. "Ooo, so you must be like uptight like one couldn't believe, when Aisha got here it took months. So you're her beau or something? You two are awful close." The questions were stopped there to give him time to answer.

"Well I'm not too uptight; she just thinks I'm too enigmatic for my own good I guess. I try not to be. And as for the other question, yes we are seeing each other now. I have no thought in my mind that would give her the mannerisms of her thought process to have her perceive that I'm too 'mysterious' if you'll forgive the word use, for my own good though." The words left his lips, and had left Aisha grinning.

"The hell does all that mean?" now this didn't Gene was a fool, it was the odd wording that made what Hao just sound much more complex than it's nature overall. Jim had given a grin and nodded.

"I understand your thoughts, but that right there is an example. Heh, no worries we'll have you kick the habit of long drawn out speech in no time." Jim just patted Haomaru's shoulder and gestured his hand before him now.

"Welcome to the Outlaw Star, I'm glad to meet you on a more formal basis; I'm Melfina." Her cheery disposition had Haomaru smiling already, he moved forward and took her offered hand and shook it.

"I am Isobe Miittou Haomaru, Son of the Grand Instructor of the Shoreline Blade, school of swordsmanship." He bowed his head to her, having given the full extension of his name now; getting a laugh out of Gene.

Aisha quickly silenced the laughing bounty hunter, "Enough out of you, he's formal a lot of the time and we'll be breaking that habit. This is a pretty big line of work, I promise you that Gene. He's a complex guy, but together we've got it." She was certainly assured of that.

She wasn't going to put up with his words; she smiled and started down the hall since she still remembered the ship well.

"Come on Hao, we're going to our room; my old room. It's still together…right?" her glare made Gene jump a little, yep it had been a while without having her here; but he cracked a smirk.

"Yep, still together but not real clean, since no one has done much with the room-" his words were cut shy.

"I took the liberty of cleaning the room and setting it for our guests Gene." Her words had Haomaru bowing again, and Aisha just taking his hand and yanking him on down the hall.

The two disappearing into the second room down the right hall; she was going to get settled and show him around the ship. No doubt, there was much for them to spend time doing. Then she'd start with her 'family' and start breaking his cocooned shell. The adventure was just getting a little more interesting.

(End Chapter)

I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it.

They arrived as of this chapter, and next Chapter the antics will start .

R&R okay?

-Quent