Chapter 58
It hadn't been long since Dearka had finished his breakfast, and was currently leaving the mess hall with his girlfriend, Cagalli and Mayu that was walking not that far behind him. Yet they hadn't really gotten all that far, before the blond woman started complaining about the tray of food she was carrying.
"Ahh damn it! I can't handle this smell right now! So would somebody please take this? It's making me hungry all over again!" She said loudly.
And before anybody of them could even think of a response, she practically slammed the huge tray of bacon and eggs into Dearka's grasp, who just barely manage to grab on to it, before she released her grip on it.
Yet while he was glaring a bit at her for the somewhat rough way of handing him the tray of food. The blond woman reached up and softly rubbed her nose in a small attempt to try and forget about the delicious aroma of the highly yummy food.
And the sight of her doing that made it kinda obvious to Dearka, that it wouldn't really do him much good to continue glaring at her, seeing as she wasn't really paying any attention to him, at the moment.
So while muttering out something about make a few minor adjustment on the Duel Rouge.
The overly powerful scent of the meal now in his hands just happened to reach his nose. Which was more than enough to make him forget everything else and make his stomach growl softly in hunger.
And as he looked down at the large amount of food he couldn't stop himself from considering stealing a piece of bacon or two. And when he noticed that there was a single piece, of the well cooked meat, not that far from his left hand. He carefully change his grip on the tray. And once he was absolutely sure that none of the girls was looking in his direction he slowly moved his hand up and reach out after the food.
Yet just before he could actually get his hands on the bacon. Miriallia reached over, and took the tray out of his hands. "I better take that, otherwise there wouldn't be anything left for Kira once we get down to the med-bay" the brown haired girl said, then took a couple of quick steps forward to get some distance between him and the male Yamato's breakfast.
Looking somewhat insulted at that Dearka let out a light disappointed sigh. "O'ye, of little faith!" He growled out displeased, then took a brief glance down at the tray of food Mayu was currently carrying.
He did however not even get the opportunity to try and decide if it was worth the risk to swipe a piece from that tray. When the clever eleven-year-old girl narrowed both of her eyes in a challenging fashion.
"Don't you even think about it" the evil little Ramius teasingly warned him. Just as she wildly started swing the tray back and forth. In an obvious attempt to provoke him into taking, just one piece of the bacon.
Seeing the way she was acting Dearka instantly realized what the little troublemaker was up to. And knowing that, the blond pilot got a somewhat sour expression on his face, as he tried to figure out just what exactly his next move was going to be.
But as luck would have it.
He did not really get a whole lot of time to come up with some highly ingenious strategy, to remove any of the bacon from her tray. When the four of them arrived at their destination.
And that could unfortunately only mean, that his chance of getting his hands on any of the food, had been reduced quite a bit.
And one look at the little devil was enough for him to know that she was also well aware of that simple fact something which she made sure to show him by sticking her tongue in his direction. Then hurried followed the two other girls in o the med-bay.
'Man, everybody is against me here' Dearka thought displeased, as he went after the three girls.
Once in there, the first thing they saw was Kira and Murrue sitting up against each other in a friendly fashion both of them fast asleep. And having known how exhausted her little brother had been when she had ran into him not long ago Cagalli was glad that he was getting some well deserved rest and as Mayu and Miriallia placed the trays of food down on the small table at the end of the room.
Cagalli moved over and picked up the small blanket which had obviously been wrapped around Murrue at one point in time. And after shaking it slightly she carefully place it back around the brown haired woman.
Then tried to decide what they should do next. It did not really take a genius to tell, that both Kira and the Captain had not been sleeping all that well through the night and that they where both deeply exhausted.
"I guess that both mom and big brother Kira was really tired after everything that happened yesterday" Mayu whispered just loud enough for the others to hear.
Before she slowly reached over and gave her mother's hand a light caring squeeze. Then turned and looked back at the three family members, she had spend most of her morning with. Now just waiting to hear what they had to say.
Yet before any of them could figure out what to say to the girl. A well-known voice that practically made Dearka, Miriallia and Cagalli jump halfway to the ceiling cut into the conversation.
"Yeah, those two have been asleep since that kid got here not long ago. By the way can I have one of those portion of bacon and eggs?" The blond man on the other bed asked in a friendly tone. That instantly made all of them swivel around to look at him, where they immediately noticed, that both of his eyes was open and that he was looking straight up at the ceiling, with an unreadable expression on his face.
And it took a couple of very long intense seconds, before one of the people in there was able to get her bearing somewhat back together and say one single thing. "Mu...?" Cagalli asked in a voice, that did little to hide how deeply shaken up she was right now.
Hearing her call him that. Neo let out a small annoyed sound as he laid his head back down on his pillow.
"Ohhhh that again! When will you people realize that my name is and have always been Neo Roanoke! N-E-O and then R-O-A-N-O-K-E!" The blond man spelled out for them a tiny bit louder than he had first intended.
Seeing as his loud highly displeased complaining about the blond girl calling him by that name. Was more than enough to make both Kira and Murrue stir slightly over on the other bed.
Yet before either one of them could wake up completely.
Miriallia took a single step over towards the blond man, and asked him the one question they were all so deeply curious about. "Mu...what in the world happened to you back at Jachin Due?" She asked, while tightly grabbing on to Dearka's hand in a small attempt to get some comfort from him.
Glaring slightly at the brunette. Neo once more let out a small sound, which was identical to the last one he made. "I seriously don't have any idea about what you are talking about girl! I never fought at Jachin Due!" He explained loudly. Frankly not getting how these kids could say such ridiculous things.
Pulling his hand out of Miriallia's almost painful grasp. Dearka gave his lower lips a severe bite that immediately made the unpleasant taste of blood appear in his mouth. Not that the young Coordinator really paid all that much attention to that, as he spoke the only words he could think of at the moment.
"But Mu, you where at Jachin Due! You where piloting the X105 Strike gundam back then. Don't you remember how you used it to protect the Archangel from the Dominion's final assault?" Dearka asked, while thinking back to the last time they had seen the multi-mode mobile suit.
Not saying anything to that at first. Neo just looked up at the boy with an expression on his face, that made it more than just a little obvious that he thought they where all completely crazy.
"What little knowledge I have of the Alliance battleship Dominion, is only what I read some time after I enlist" the blond man explained. Seriously wondering how a ship such as this, could function probably with so many people on board in the dire need of a really good Shrink.
Blinking confusingly at those words, neither the teens or Mayu had any idea about what to say to him now. So they just stood there staring intensively at him for what seemed very much like an eternity.
Yet it was only a couple of short minutes. Where Dearka and the three women, was trying their very best to make some sense of it all. But before they could actually do that.
Murrue Ramius who had of course heard everything her love had said about the Dominion, was practically shivering all over when she fought her way out from under the blanket. And once she got up on to her feet she almost felt like her legs was unable to carry the weight of her body. And she almost collapse when she took the one or two steps which was necessary to get over next to his bed.
Where she just stood quietly watching him for a long time. Even through it had been two years since she had last seen him, his two eyes, had the same blue color which she remembered so well. But had still yearn so deeply to see, once again.
And after a short moment of just staring absently at him. A couple of sad tears left her eyes and slowly made their way down her face. Followed shortly by two more and a deep intense heartfelt sob.
Seeing the strange yet familiar woman cry like that. The blond man got a slightly bewildered expression on his face. And as he much to his own surprise found himself wanting to reach up and wrap his arms tightly around her and tell her that everything was all right.
But with no idea why exactly there was such a huge part of him, that just wanted to make the extremely beautiful brunette feel better.
He literally forced himself to ignore those emotions. And do what would probably have been a normal reaction for him, had this been the Minerva or any other enemy ship. He tried his best to act somewhat high and mighty in an attempt to make it clear for these people. That if they where going to try and get any kind of information out of him, they were going to have a tough time doing it.
"So gorgeous, what's with the tears? Don't tell me that you are actually falling head over heels for me after just meeting me once" he said loudly, trying hard to sound as smug as humanly possible. Even though deep inside he seriously hated himself for doing that.
Hearing him ask her that, Murrue instantly started crying that much harder. And as yet another painful sub went through her body. She hurried turned away from him and rush hastily out of the room, without looking back even once.
Just the sight of the sweet woman that had been like an older sister to both Lacus and him leave in such a manner. And knowing just how much this whole ordeal had hurt Murrue.
The pilot of the Freedom fought down his own confusion about the situation, then slowly moved his deeply conflicted gaze away from Mu and over at Miriallia and Cagalli.
"Will...will the two of you please go after her and see if she is all right? While Dearka and me try talking some sense into him" the male Yamato asked in a far away tone.
That really made it clear to all of them, just how utterly confused he was about all of this. The blond daredevil had after all, been one of his very best friends during the last war.
And Kira had long since realized that if it had not been for Mu he would never have been able to handle the pressure, that came with piloting the Strike gundam and actually using that machine to kill other people.
Like he had done so frequently, since the very first time he had gotten in front of the Strike's controls back at Heliopolis.
The young Coordinator knew that if Mu hadn't helped him during that time, the stress of all those battles would most likely have given him a nervous breakdown at some point in time.
So he just had to talk with the man. And at least try and get him to remember.
He just couldn't have completely forgotten about miss Murrue, and everybody else here on the Archangel. There just had to be some of his old memories about them left, deep down in his subconscious.
So maybe asking him about the Moebius Zero and a few other things, would help jinx his mind and make him remember again.
Hearing what her brother was requesting of her Cagalli nodded a single time, as she ignored those feelings which seriously want to give Mu a good smack or two for making the Captain cry like this.
But realizing that violence, was probably not something that was going to help on the blond moron's memories. She just reached over and tucked slightly on Miriallia's sleeve.
Which instantly draw the brunette's gaze away from the man and over towards her and once they got eye contact with each other Cagalli gave the other girl a small nod in the direction of the door.
Seeing her do that, Miriallia instantly snapped back out of her thoughts, and quickly went after miss Murrue without saying even one word to anybody in there.
Cagalli on the other hand had one last thing she needed to do, before she could leave.
She simply had to glare angrily at the blond nincompoop one last time, before she felt like she was ready to leave the room calmly. And once that minor task was out of the way, she hurried followed her brown haired friend out of the small chamber.
Once gone, Neo did his best to ignore the deep guilt he was currently feeling as he turned his head and looked up at the two male teenagers. Where he was easily able to tell from their expressions that neither one of them appreciated his last comment to the woman. "So are you guys going to beat the crap out of me, while demanding that I tell you all of the Earth Forces' secrets?" He asked half serious.
Not that either of the Archangel's two mobile suit pilots got that. They where both to absent minded right now to realize that he was just joking around. So they both whirled around and looked back at him.
"We would never do something like that, Mu" the brown haired one said softly, while the blond nodded slowly in agreement.
Deciding to just ignore the Mu thing this time around Neo smiled slightly at the two other men. "Well that's definitely good news for me. To be absolutely honest with you guys, I'm not really keen on the whole beating up thing especially when I'm the one getting the beating. So now what?" He asked curiously, while using the next few seconds to try and determined which one of them was the most dangerous one.
Not that he was actually going to try and escape from this ship. He had next to no idea about, how many people was on board the Archangel. But he was pretty sure that there was more than enough to overpower him, so why waste time even thinking about something like that.
Feeling more than a little uncertain about what they where going to do now Kira and Dearka took a look over at each other to try and figure out the best way to talk some sense into their blond friend.
Yet before either one of them could get even one word out the fourth person in there, which they had all pretty much forgotten all about, in the confusion decided that she had something she needed to tell the blond man.
"I agree, with big brother Kira and big brother Dearka, that you don't deserve a beating! But if you ever, make my mom cry like that again, you can be damn sure that I'm going to kick your ass so BADLY, that you will never be able to walk straight ever again!" Mayu said loudly from her position over by the door, while glaring furiously at the blond man, for what he had done.
Giving the girl a somewhat skeptical look Neo was slightly tempted to say a few comments to the whole ass kicking thing. Yet in the ended he came to the decision that he had already made more than enough women cry today.
"I'll remember that little one. Now why don't you run along, and check up on your mother? I'm certain that she would really like for you to be with her right now" Neo said in the most kind tone, he could muster under these circumstances.
Slightly taken back at how nice he suddenly sounded the highly cranky expression on Mayu's face soften a tiny bit as she studied the weird man's face. Yet once she saw him wink at her in a teasing manner, her annoyance and anger at the man instantly returned full force.
"Just remember what I told you, idiot!" The deeply pissed of girl loudly told him. Then swiftly wield around on one foot and quickly left the room. Still muttering loudly about what an idiot the moron she had just meet had been.
And when the door flew shut behind her, Neo again looked up at the other two men. "Hmm cute kid! A bit loud maybe but still kinda cute. Now then Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, who of you are going to ask the first question?" The blond pilot asked jokingly.
Hearing him call them that. Both Kira and Dearka took a short glance over at each other. The two of them might not really show it. But they where actually kinda relieved that even with his lose of memories, he still had his at times wicked sense of humor.
And knowing that, the two friends smile slightly. Just before they once more turned their attention back towards the easygoing blond man who was currently occupied with watching the two trays of food. Dearka and the three girls had brought with them in there.
And realizing just how unbelievable hungry their 'prisoner' was right now.
Dearka took a single step towards the delicious grub and picked up one of the trays, which he immediately place down on Mu's already growling stomach. "Thank you buddy! I can't even remember the last time I got a good meal" Neo said, while smiling gratefully at the boy. Then hurried used the fork to rip off a nice huge piece of the fried egg, which he instantly stuffed into his mouth.
"That's definitely not the only thing you can't remember, Mu" the blond Murasame pilot mumbled quietly, while he and Kira watched their old friend devour more than half of the large amount of food in just under two minutes.
Not really pleased being call by that name again. The blond man took a small break from eating, to glare a bit at the boy. "It's Neo Roanoke!" The man growled out. Then once more turned his attention back towards the food.
Hearing him insist on being called by that name one more time, Kira and Dearka took yet another glance over at each other. Both Archangel pilots a tiny bit concerned that he would never return to his old self again.
And while still thinking about that. Dearka let out a small breath. "I do believe that Tweedle Dum should ask the first question" the Murasame pilot said before nodding a single time in Kira's direction.
Raising an eyebrow at that Kira wondered briefly why exactly he was suppose to be Tweedle Dum. But in the end the Freedom pilot decided, that it wasn't really worth the trouble to complain about it. And with that in mind he stepped over to the small white sink in the room and turned on the faucet. Then waited a couple of seconds until the water was nice and cold.
And once he was sure that it was just the way he liked it. The young man slowly filled a plastic cup with the clear refreshing liquid. Then took a long mouthful of it, while he went back over beside the bed. "Mm does the name Hawk of Endymion mean anything to you?" Kira carefully asked. Sincerely hoping that hearing his old nickname again would trigger something in Mu's mind.
Yet much to his disappointment. Mu only seemed to be thinking it over for a few minor seconds before slowly shaking his head. "Nope never heard that before but it really does sound kinda corny" he said in a far away tone, which did nothing to hide that he found the meal much more interesting than whatever questions they could ask him.
But that didn't stop the two Archangel pilots from asking a few more. "What about? I'm the one who can make the impossible possible! Doesn't that sound just a tiny bit familiar to you?" Dearka asked next as he tilted his head slightly to the side in a curious fashion.
Slowly swallowing the last bite Neo shook his head a few times. "Haven't heard that either but it does however sound kinda catchy" he said. Then asked if he could get a glass of water.
And seeing as it had now become Kira's turn to ask a question. The former Buster pilot stepped away from the two other men and over towards the sink to get what the Hawk of Endymion was so kindly requesting.
Meanwhile Kira slowly reached up and scratch his hair, in a thoughtful way. "Do you know anything about the mobile armor Moebius Zero?" He finally asked after a few seconds of deep silences, where the only kind of noise in there was Dearka filling yet another plastic cup with water.
And it was only once the pilot of the blue Murasame handed Mu the water, that he bothered to take the time to give Kira's last question a little thought.
"Hmm not all that much. Other than that the old war museum in Washington, would really like a complete one of those things to put on display" the man explained calmly to the two teenagers. Before emptying the plastic cup of it's contents in just a single mouthful.
After that he smiled slightly at the two men and place the small cup down on the table. "So if you do have one of those stashed away down in the hangar I'm certain that the museum would really appreciate a call from you, guys" Neo said in a tone, which made it more than a little obvious, to both Kira and Dearka, that he wasn't going to take them serious anytime soon. And that he was determined to keep on joking around no matter what they asked him.
And just coming to that highly unwanted realization was more than enough to make both Archangel pilots sigh. "Lets just get out of here, Dearka. I'm certain that, Umm, Neo would like to get some rest after you shoot him down yesterday" Kira said in a quiet tone, as he saw Dearka nodded briefly in agreement.
So without saying another word to their 'guest' or whatever he was. The two friends, slowly began making their way over to the door.
They did however not get very far, before Neo call out after them. "Now that you guys are done asking all of your odd question. I would like to ask one myself"
Just as the two teens once more turned their attention back towards him. "What is it?" Dearka asked slightly curious.
Not saying anything at first. Neo spend almost an entire minute just looking Kira over. "You are the one piloting the Freedom, ain't you?" He asked frankly surprising Kira and Dearka with how utterly serious he sounded right now.
And while they both kinda wished that he had taken the rest of their conversation this serious.
Kira thought hard about what the man had just asked him. He honestly didn't understand why this was so important for Mu to know. But in the end he decided that it wouldn't really hurt if he told their old friend that.
"Yeah, I'm the Freedom's pilot" he said in a quiet tone. As he carefully watched the man's face for any sign of hostility.
But Neo just nodded slowly in understanding. "I do appreciate that you told me that kid. I really want to thank you for taking revenge for Stella. That girl truly did not deserved to die like that" he said quietly, while sadly thinking back to how, that insane bastard to Sting Oakley had mercilessly shoot down the Chaos. And kill the blond girl in the process.
Blinking a few times at that, Kira just stood there looking at the man not having any idea about what to say to him. He honestly did not like being reminded of how he had taken the life of yet another human being. Even somebody as cold-blooded as the pilot of the Destroy.
But he realized that with Mu in this condition. There was simply no way their blond friend could have known, how much he disliked discoursing the people who's lives he had ended.
"Umm, you are welcome...Mu!" He said quietly, then hurried turned around and left the room.
Seeing him leave in such a hurry Neo slowly raised his left eyebrow. "Hmm, I guess that he is the type of person, who doesn't really like to talk about all of his kills after a battle" Neo said observant.
While Dearka nodded briefly in agreement. "Yeah, he has always been like that" the blond Murasame pilot said in a far away tone. Knowing that there was still times where Kira was blaming himself, for what had happened to Yzak back in Orb.
Not that Dearka in anyway thought, that it was Kira's fault that his silver haired friend had ended up like he did.
In Dearka's eyes the only one to blame for that whole mess had been Yzak and nobody else.
He had been the one to threaten the crew of the Cousteau to let him go and give him a Guul. And he had been the one ready to go completely bananas in that civilian area back in Orb, and most likely kill a whole bunch of innocent people.
So Dearka sincerely believed without any doubt that Kira had done the right thing back then. And he had long since realized that if he had been there in the Buster he would probably have helped out the Strike instead of his psychopathic silver haired friend.
He just wouldn't have been able to live with himself, had he actually helped Yzak commit mass murder like that.
And just the mere thought of himself doing something so utterly terrible, was more than enough to make an almost freezing cold shiver travel down his spine. 'Damn it Elsman! This is definitely not the right time, to be thinking about the past' the young man growled inside his mind, while determinedly shaking those highly unpleasant thoughts away.
After that he again lifted his gaze away from the floor, and over at the blond man, who was currently watching him from the bed. Obviously wondering what exactly he was thinking about right now. And seriously not in the mood to talk about Yzak with a 'stranger' he just smiled slightly at the man.
"Try and get some rest...Neo, you do look a little beaten up after yesterday" Dearka said softly, and was just about to reach over and open the door, when Neo call out after him. "Yeah, and who's fault is that exactly?" He asked displeased. Even though he already knew the reply to that question. Seeing as the pilot of the Freedom had mentioned that it was this guy who had shoot him down.
Looking a moment or two at the cranky expression on Neo's face, Dearka was a bit unsure about what to say to him now. But finally he got a more determined look in his eyes as he decided to tell him what he thought when the two of them fought over Berlin.
"I'm sorry that I had to do that...Mu! To be honest with you I would have preferred that you just landed on the Archangel voluntarily. But you obviously wasn't going to do that, Mu! So I had no choice other than to shoot you down, Mu!" Dearka said hastily. Then quickly left the room before Neo had the opportunity to come up with some kind of respons.
And seeing the door fly shut after his last opponent, Neo let out a small breath. "It's Neo!" He growled unhappily.
Just as he laid his head back down on the soft comfortable pillow and closed his eyes, seriously hoping that he could get a little sleep before anymore of those odd people felt the need to talk with him again.
000000
Meanwhile elsewhere.
Kira Yamato was slowly making his way down the ship's halls, thinking hard about the conversation Dearka and him had just had with Mu. It was kinda obvious that it was going to be more than just a little difficult to get the blond man to remember everything again.
"Damn it! I wish I knew what I'm suppose to do now. I really don't think, it will do much good to just talk with him. Perhaps it would be best, if we just let him spend some time around Archangel. Maybe that will trigger something inside his mind" the young man mumbled softly to himself.
While trying his best, to come up with some kind of plan to get the Hawk of Endymion back to normal.
Yet it took a couple of minutes before he got another idea. "Hmmm, it might also be worth a try showing him the engagement ring he bought for Miss Murrue. He was after all planing on asking her a very important question when giving her that thing. And perhaps if he suddenly remember that, he might just remember everything else as well" the teenager said thoughtfully underneath his breath.
Now seriously considering asking Miss Murrue to show Mu the highly expensive engagement ring she usually wore around her neck. Yet while still thinking about that he turned around a corner and enter the mess hall.
Where his deep purple eyes instantly found their way over to the two Ramius', his cranky sister and Miriallia. Who where all currently sitting at the table farthest from the entrance each of them judging from the smell drinking what could only be hot chocolate.
And seeing how utterly depressed all the girls looked right now, especially Miss Murrue Kira found himself sincerely wishing, that he at the very least had some good news to give them.
But having reluctantly realized almost immediately after he had left the med-bay that his and Dearka's small chat with Mu hadn't really done much good.
Which meant that pretty much the only thing the young man could do at the moment, was to give his lower lips a hard displeased bite, as he slowly started making his way over to the vending machines in the hope of getting himself a cold soda.
He did however not get very far before Cagalli called out after him. "So, any luck, Kira?" She asked in a slightly hopeful tone.
Taking a brief glance over at her. Kira slowly shook his head a few times. "No not really. He kept on insisting through the entire conversation, that his name was Neo Roanoke. And whenever we asked him about either the Moebius Zero or his old motto he just made jokes about the whole thing" Kira said quietly, as he reached out and pressed the button to the soda he wanted.
After that he went over to the table which the four ladies was sitting at and dropped down beside Cagalli. Where he without any hesitation got the yellow can of soda open.
Yet before actually drinking any of it he gave Murrue an apologizing look. "I'm really sorry Miss Murrue that I couldn't get him to remember" the pilot of the Freedom said quietly, then took an enormous sip of the unhealthy yellow liquid in the can.
Hearing the young man say that, and seeing the low spirited expression that was covering his face. Murrue smiled slightly at him before she once more looked back down at the table.
"It's...It's ok, Kira. It's not like it's your fault, that he has lost his memories" the woman said in a low tone, which Kira and the others could just barely hear.
Placing the can of soda down on the table in front of himself, the male Yamato let out a long tired sigh afterwards. "I just wish I knew how to get him back to normal, Miss Murrue. He might insist that his name is Neo Roanoke. But I know that it's really him, I can somehow sense that" Kira explained.
Seriously wondering just how exactly, he had suddenly gotten the ability to sense a few certain people. In almost the exact same manner as Mu had whenever he had been near Rau Le Creuset, during the last Bloody Valentine war.
It might be an extremely useful ability from time to time. But the young man simply could not deny that he did find it somewhat freaky. That he suddenly from out of nowhere, had developed such an ability.
One thing Kira knew for certain was that he had never at anytime while fighting in the last war, been able to sense Mu or anybody else's present.
Which quite frankly served to make him wonder if this sensing ability would get even more powerful with time. Would there actually come a day out on the battlefield where he would be able to tell where Athrun, Dearka or somebody else was, without using the Freedom's scans.
Yet as much as this new capability was a source of wonder for the young Coordinator. He didn't really get a whole lot of time to think about it, before Murrue's quiet voice snapped him back to reality. "I'm just...so relieved Kira that you and Dearka brought him back to me. Even if he doesn't remember anything it was still nice to see him again" Murrue said in a tone that made it clear to them all, that she wasn't really telling the truth.
But even though there wasn't one person sitting by the table who did not wish, they could do something to comfort the brown haired woman. None of them knew what they could say that would make her feel better about all of this. Seeing as neither Mayu or the three teenagers could possibly know, if Mu was ever going to regain his memories again.
Yet seriously not liking her look all depressed like this, Mayu slowly reached over and took a hold on her mother's hand. Which she instantly gave a light reassuring squeeze.
"Why don't you just take it easy today, mom? It's been some time since we were last down in the hot spring together. So why don't we go now?!" The girl asked in a loud excited tone.
Hearing her daughter ask that, Murrue tried to shake away her highly bewildered thoughts about Mu, as she slowly turned her head and looked over at her small trouble maker who frankly meant the world to her.
And once she got eye contact with the girl, the older Ramius could easily tell, that her daughter was more than a little concerned, about her well-being right now. And realizing that, Murrue could not help but smile slightly at the girl. "That does sound really nice, Mayu. To be honest with you, dear, I could use a few hours to just relax and get my thoughts straighten out, after all of this" Murrue explained.
"Great then, let's go right now" Mayu said somewhat cheerfully. Before she practically leaped full speed up from her seat and looked directly at her mother with a hint of impatient in both of her eyes.
Seeing that Murrue let out a light chuckle as she stood up and slowly follow Mayu out of the chamber, with everybody else looking after them until they where out of sight.
After that Miriallia turned and looked over at the two siblings. "It's a good thing that Mayu is there to keep her company at a time such as this. That girl is definitely better suited to cheer her up then the rest of us put together" the brown haired girl said in a tone, that made both Kira and Cagalli nodded slowly in agreement.
With that said they all remained quiet the next many minutes. Each of them thinking their own thoughts about this whole matter with their reckless blond friend.
The silence did however not last for long before Murdoch stepped into the mess hall with a happy smile on his face. "Morning boy and girls!" The big man yelled, as he made his way over to the counter to get some food.
Watching the man do that Kira was remained that he still hadn't gotten any breakfast yet. And once his stomach growled loudly in hunger, he realized that it had been over twelve or thirteen hours before he had last gotten anything to eat.
Yet just when he was about to stand up to go get some food, the chief mechanic loudly call out for him to stay put. And that he would bring him a tray of the yummy grub since he was heading up there anyway.
And it was only a small minute later when the engineer dropped down beside Miriallia. "So what are you three up to this fine morning?" He asked loudly, before taking a big bite of the food.
Raising his left eyebrow slightly at the man's cheerful behavior, the male Yamato used the knife to cut off a huge piece of the fried egg. "You do know Mr Murdoch that it's almost afternoon?" He asked, while stuffing the first piece of his meal into his mouth.
Hearing the Freedom pilot's question Murdoch smile slightly at his young friend. "Yeah well after everything we saw yesterday in Berlin. I wasn't really in the mood to sleep and neither was the rest of the gang. So we spend half the night playing poker and drinking apple juice pretending that it was alcohol instead" the man said quite annoyed that they where not allowed to drink any liqueur on board the Archangel. He could to say it mildly really have used a glass or two of whisky yesterday after seeing half of Berlin being destroyed, by that damn monster.
Yet knowing that thinking about such depressing things wouldn't really do him or anybody else much good.
The mechanic took a mouthful of milk before asking the one question, he had actually been more than just a little curious about since first stepping out of his room.
"So how is Commander La Flaga doing? I'm quite worried about our old friend" Murdoch said with a highly serious expression on his face.
Hearing Mu's name being mentioned yet again, the Orb leader instantly got a deeply pissed off look in both of her eyes. "That moron is even more stupid now than he was before. The only really difference is that the idiot doesn't remember any of us!" Cagalli said angrily, just as she made a cracking sound with her hands.
Not at all sure what to say to that, Murdoch remained quiet as he reached up and thoughtfully rubbed his chin, going over everything the cranky pregnant woman had just told him. And finally after a couple of seconds he turned his gaze over at Kira.
"Do you think he lost his memories, when the Strike was shoot down?" The chief engineer asked.
Thinking briefly about the mechanic's question, it did not take long before the pilot of the Freedom, slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid that it's not nearly as simple as that. It seems more like his memories has been replaced. Like whoever found him after Jachin Due actually tried to make him into a completely different person than the one we knew" Kira explained seriously.
Not really pleased with the idea of somebody brainwashing one of his friends, Murdoch instantly narrowed both of his eyes in an angry fashion.
"Damn it, whatever bastard did that really does deserve to be thrown of a canyon somewhere!" The man growled loudly, just as he jammed his fork hard down into a piece of fried egg.
Looking silently at the chief engineer for a small moment or two, Kira could do nothing more other than agree with the large man.
No matter who the bastard was who had found Mu after the Strike's destruction, certainly didn't have a whole lot of respect for other people's feelings. Seeing as he was actually sick enough, to have another person's memories deleted.
And now that he was giving it some thought, the male Yamato wondered, if the moron responsible for all of this, had even the slightest idea about how much pain his actions, had brought Miss Murrue and a great deal of other people here on the Archangel.
Yet while he was occupied thinking about that, Murdoch decided to ask the two girls another question which he was quite curious about. "So how is the Captain handling this?" He asked generally worried about the brown haired woman he had so much respect for.
Running a hand through her hair a single time, Miriallia started giving the man an answer to his question. "Well she was of course deeply shocked over seeing him again after all of this time. Not that I don't understand why. The two of them did after all love each other a great deal back then. And now he doesn't remember any of that" she explained sadly, then took a small breath before she continued.
"Fortunately Mayu is there to keep her company. I'm completely certain that Miss Murrue, will feel much better after spending some time together with our sweet little trouble maker" Miriallia said calmly. Sincerely relieved to know that the Captain wasn't alone right now.
Hearing the girl's words Murdoch nodded a single time in understanding. "I see, that's good to hear" the man said loudly. Just before emptying his glass from the rest of it's contents.
After that the four people in there remained completely silent for who knew how many minutes. The pilot of the Freedom was still trying hard to figure out just who in there right mind would so casually brainwash another human being.
Yet while he was thinking about that, Cagalli was quite busy daydreaming about her handsome fiancé.
Just the thought of him in that black outfit. He had worn the last time they had been on a date together, was almost enough to make the young pregnant woman drool all over herself.
Yet once the more rational part of her mind realized just exactly what she was doing, she immediately tried to get her thoughts away from her blue haired lover.
But unfortunately, she did not really have much luck with that. No matter what she did and how hard she tried, it was simply impossible for her to keep Athrun out of her mind right now. And when she realized that, the Orb leader came to the conclusion that she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
Yet while she was caught up doing that, Miriallia too was having some thoughts about her boyfriend. But unlike Cagalli, it wasn't really something that made her drool or feel overly giddy inside. The brunette was simply wondering just where exactly her sweet idiot was right now, and what he was doing.
Yet as the three teenagers was thinking about all of that, the chief engineer had only one thing on his mind and that was if it was possible for him to convince the chef to give him yet another portion of bacon and eggs once he was finished with this one.
His thoughts did however not remain on the tasty grub for very long. Once he moved his eyes over on Miriallia, it took less than a second before he started to wonder if today was going to be the day where he would beat the clever girl in poker. In his eyes he had already figured out the perfect strategy to finally claim victory over the girl.
Pretty much the only things he needed was his cheap sunglasses and the scarf he had borrowed from one of the female crew members. He was absolutely certain that if he used those things to cover up his face, the clever girl would not be able to read him as well as she used too. It definitely was fortunate for him that there wasn't any rules in poker about being dressed like a complete nut case.
And with that in mind he looked over at the brown haired woman sitting next to him and smiled slightly at her. "Once I'm done eating I challenge you, Miriallia Haw, to another game of poker. This time I'm going to win for sure!" The large man said in a highly confident tone.
Raising her right eyebrow at those words, Miriallia let out a light chuckle. "Heh! If that's what you want than I'll be more then happy to wipe the floor with you for the hundred and seventeen time" she said back with a small teasing grin on her face.
Not really overly pleased to be reminded about how many times, this girl had beaten him in poker. Murdoch narrowed both of his eyes in a angry fashion. "Yeah well this time it's going to be different! This time I'm going to win for sure!" He said back. Just before shoveling a huge bite of food into his mouth.
Letting out another small laugher at that, Miriallia tilted her head slightly to the side. "If you say so, Murdoch" Miriallia said in a highly mischievous voice. Already looking forward to once more show the chief engineer just who of them where the best poker player here on the Archangel.
Still feeling slightly annoyed by her teasing, Murdoch stood up from his seat and went over to get another glass of milk. "You wouldn't be so confident once I win this game woman!" He boasted loudly.
Which made all three teens laugh softly not one of them believing that he was actually going to win against Miriallia in poker. But that just made Murdoch all the more determined to finally defeat the brown haired girl.
000000
Meanwhile elsewhere.
Murrue Ramius and her daughter was down in the hot spring relaxing calmly in the extremely hot water. "This is just what I needed, Mayu dear. I can't even remember the last time I felt so utterly frustrated and helpless. So it truly is nice to just sit here and relax for a bit" she said in a much more calm tone, than the one she had used back in the mess hall.
Smiling a tiny bit at her mom, the child nodded briefly in understanding. "I'm just relieved that you are feeling better, mom. I have been kinda worried about you since you found that man yesterday. You have been acting somewhat distance ever since we left Berlin" Mayu said softly. Then tried to find a more comfortable position in the steaming hot water.
Not overly taken back at being told, that she had far from been the most talkative person since she had brought Mu onboard yesterday.
Murrue slowly reached over, and gently wrapped her fingers around her daughter's hand.
"I'm sorry about that Mayu sweetheart, but seeing him again after all of this time just made me feel so confused. It was almost like I couldn't figure out, if this was just some wishful dream I was having or really happening" she calmly explained, while giving the small hand she was holding a light squeeze.
Looking quietly at her mother for a small moment two, Mayu sank a bit deep into the hot water so it was only her head which could be seen. "Mom, can I ask you are question?" She asked in a tiny voice that Murrue just barely managed to hear.
Wondering slightly what was going on in her daughter's mind right now.
Murrue gave her a small yet caring smile, before nodding a single time to what she had just asked. "Of course you can, sweetheart, go right ahead" the brunette haired woman said kindly.
Truly glad to hear that, the smaller Ramius looked down into the water for almost an entire minute. Now trying to figure out how she could best formulate the overly important question, she had been wondering about for quite some time now.
And it was only once her mother told her in a kind voice that she could ask her anything, that the smaller Ramius finally succeed in getting out the one question which she had been so utterly curious about, ever since she had first gotten out of her bed.
"Mom, are you still in love with that man?" Was the highly serious words that left the little girl's mouth.
A bit taken back by what Mayu was asking her, Murrue leaned backwards in the water and looked up at the white ceiling above them, with a far away gaze in both of her eyes.
She did of course already know the answer to the question, but with her fearing, that the blond man would never again return back to his usual self, she honestly had quite a hard time figuring out what to tell her daughter right now.
And it was only a few long minutes of absolute silence that she let out a small breath and once more turned her attention over on her little trouble maker. "Yeah Mayu, I love him. I love him just as much as I did two years ago" Murrue explained quietly. While thinking back to all of those wonderful moments, she and Mu had shared since that time they got back to Orb after the battle at Alaska.
But before she could really start daydreaming about the past, Mayu's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Then I guess that it really was a good thing that big bro Dearka and big bro Kira found him back at Berlin. I might still be mad at him for making you cry, mom. But if there is anybody on this ship that deserve some happiness, then it's definitely you, mom" Mayu said softly, just before she moved a tiny bit closer to the woman who had done so incredible much for her these past two years.
Hearing Mayu's sweet words, the smile on Murrue's face grew a tiny bit in size. "I'm so happy to hear you say that, Mayu. It would mean so much to me if the three of us and everybody else could be one big happy family together" the woman said in a somewhat far away tone.
Getting a slightly thoughtful look in her eyes after hearing that, the prankster slowly reached up and brush away the wet hair that was presently hanging down in front of her eyes.
"Hmmm then maybe I should consider start calling him dad from now on. No matter what, his reaction to that should definitely be entertaining!" The brown haired girl said with a small mischievous grin on her face.
Using a brief moment or two to imagine just how much the whole dad thing would annoy Mu in the condition he was in right now, the Archangel Captain just couldn't help but roll her eyes a single time, and let out a light chuckle. "Just make sure that you do not tease him too much, Mayu. He does need a lot of rest so his injuries can heal properly. So if you really do have to play pranks on somebody, then it would probably be best that you go after Murdoch or Amagi" Murrue said quietly.
Of course realizing that it was simply impossible for her to talk her daughter out of playing pranks on a few certain people.
Hearing that Mayu smiled brightly at her mother. "All right, mom! But if any of them ask I'll be sure to mention that you were the one who told me to go after them in the first place!" She declared loudly. Now already trying to come up with her next idea to bother grandpa Murdoch and grandpa Amagi.
Looking at her for a few small second, Murrue rolled her eyes one more time. Then leaned further back into the nice hot water, and let out a deep sigh. "Yeah you do that, Mayu. But I seriously doubt that any of them will believe, that I actually told you to go do something like that"
Knowing if the two men already was angry at Mayu over one of her pranks. There was noway they would listen to any of her excuses.
Instantly realizing that he mother was right about that, Mayu got a deeply displeased expression on her face. "Ahhh that's not fair! And here I thought that I finally had the perfect excuse to play as many pranks on those two as I wanted!" The girl complained in a voice, which made it completely obvious to Murrue that she really did believe that she was being treated unfairly right now.
Letting out yet another couple of chuckles. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, sweetie" Murrue said in a soft relaxing voice. As she closed her eyes to really enjoy the feeling of the steaming hot water surrounding her body.
"Yeah well I guess I'll manage somehow, mom, but I really do think you should give me permission to do as many pranks as I want" the eleven-year-old said. Clearly already imagining just how much trouble she could do around the Archangel.
Taking one more look over at the girl. Murrue gave her an apologizing look. "As tempting as that sounds, Mayu. I do think that it would be bad for the crews moral if I actually gave you the permission to cause trouble all over the ship" Murrue explained, before once more closing her eyes.
Hearing that, Mayu let out a loud offend sound, while muttering out a single word. "Humf spoilsport" she said. Then tried to figure out what she and her mother should do once they finally left the hot spring.
To be continued.