Before the Stars Call: Part I

Two months later, the night before lift-off…

The hum of conversation filled the upscale restaurant, where soft candlelight flickered across polished tables and elegant décor. The atmosphere was warm and intimate, the kind of place where you could pretend, even for a short time, that the world outside didn't exist. For Minato Sahashi, it was the perfect setting for what he hoped would be a meaningful moment with his sister before his departure into space.

He and Yukari sat at a secluded table near a window, with a view of the city's skyline glittering beneath the night sky. A glass of wine rested in front of Yukari, though she had barely touched it, swirling it absentmindedly as she stared at her brother.

"This place is fancy," Yukari commented, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't know you had it in you to splurge like this."

Minato chuckled softly, though there was an edge of nervousness in his laugh. "Well, I figured… it's not every day I go off into space for two years. I wanted us to have something nice before I leave. A good memory and a good meal."

Yukari's teasing smile faltered for a moment, and she set her glass down, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah… I guess it's not."

They sat silently for a few moments, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Minato could feel the tension in his chest, the overwhelming need to say something that mattered. But where did he even start?

"You've been quiet tonight," Minato finally said, breaking the silence.

Yukari glanced at him, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her glass. "Just thinking."

"About what?" he asked gently.

She hesitated before answering, her gaze shifting to the view outside the window beyond her reflection. "About a lot of things, I guess. About how crazy all of this is. I mean, space, Minato? You're really going to be out there. And we'll be… here."

Minato nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words settle over him. "I know. Believe me, I've been thinking about it non-stop. But… this mission, Yukari, it's important. It's more than just me leaving Earth. It's about the future, not just for me, but for the Sekirei. For Kusano."

Yukari let out a soft sigh, her teasing bravado melting away as she looked directly at him. "I get that. And I'm proud of you, Minato. Really, I am. You've come so far. But two years? A lot can happen in that time."

Minato lowered his gaze, nodding again. "I know. I worry about that too. About Kuu… about you."

Yukari rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of affection in the gesture. "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine. I've been taking care of myself for a while now. Shiina even got promoted!"

"That's great to hear," Minato said, his voice soft. "But still. I don't want you to feel like I'm abandoning you. Or Kusano."

Yukari shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're not abandoning us, Minato. I mean, sure, you're ditching me for outer space, but it's not like you're leaving because you want to get away from us. You're doing this because you have to. And… I respect that. Even if it sucks."

There was a moment of quiet between them, and Minato felt his heart swell with gratitude. He had always admired Yukari's strength, her sharp wit, but moments like this reminded him of the depth of her care—buried beneath her usual sarcasm and tough exterior.

"Thank you," Minato said softly, his voice carrying a weight of emotion that he didn't try to hide. "You don't know how much that means to me."

Yukari met his gaze, her expression softening as she leaned forward slightly. "You're my big brother, Minato. You've always been there for me, even when you had your hands full with your Sekirei and their whole… thing. I know you care. And I know you're going to come back. It's just going to be weird without you here."

Minato reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "I'll come back. I promise. And when I do, we'll have even more stories to tell. You'll probably have to keep Kuu from running straight to me the second she sees me."

Yukari laughed softly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "Yeah, that sounds like her. She's going to miss you like crazy, you know that, right?"

"I know," Minato said, his voice cracking slightly. "That's what scares me the most."

Yukari squeezed his hand gently, her eyes softening as she tilted her head slightly. "She'll be okay. We'll be okay. I'll make sure of it. You just focus on not getting yourself blown up in some space disaster."

Minato chuckled, though the heaviness in his chest remained. "I'll try my best."

He stared down at his plate, pushing the food around absently. The weight of the upcoming mission, of the years he would spend away from Earth, away from his family and Kusano, gnawed at him. But it was the training that had already taken its toll—both on him and his Sekirei—that weighed heaviest on his mind tonight.

Yukari took a tiny sip of her wine, her sharp eyes fixed on him. "You've barely touched your food, Minato. Don't tell me the fancy dinner's already making you nervous."

He glanced up, offering a half-hearted smile. "No, it's not that."

Yukari raised an eyebrow, setting her glass down with a soft clink. "Then what? I haven't seen you like this since… I don't know, since before you even got your first Sekirei."

Minato leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "It's the training. All of it. The centrifuge, the simulations… it's been brutal, Yukari."

She blinked, the usual teasing glint in her eyes softening into something more serious. "How bad?"

XXXXXX

6 weeks earlier…

Minato Sahashi's heart raced as he was strapped into the centrifuge chair, his eyes darting nervously around the sterile chamber. He glanced at his Sekirei—Musubi, Tsukiumi, and Kazehana—each in their own seats across from him. They were far more composed than he was, though Kazehana's usual calm was tempered by an amused smile. Musubi was practically bouncing in her chair, and Tsukiumi had a determined look on her face as if this were another chance to prove her superiority.

And overseeing it all, from the control room behind the glass, was his mother, Takami Sahashi, casually holding a cup of coffee in one hand while she pushed the button to start the machine with the other.

"I'll make this quick," Takami's voice crackled through the speakers, sounding almost too casual. "You'll hit a few Gs, do your little space dance, and we'll see if any of you are made of sturdier stuff than noodles. Ready?"

"Wait, Mom—!" Minato barely had time to finish his protest before the centrifuge began to hum, the arm slowly coming to life. He had been working out way more than usual because of the strict training regimen, but he truly didn't know what he was in for.

"Takami, please, we could use a slight warm-up!" Tsukiumi called out, trying to maintain her usual air of dignity, but there was a faint edge of panic in her voice.

"Nope." Takami didn't even look up from her coffee. "You're astronauts now. Get used to it."

The whir of the machine grew louder, the chamber around them blurring as the centrifuge picked up speed. Minato clutched the armrests, his knuckles white. His stomach flipped as the sensation of spinning began to increase, pressing him deeper into the seat. The machine was merciless.

"M-Minato-sama!" Musubi squealed with enthusiasm. "This is just like a really intense ride at the amusement park!"

"Amusement park?! This ishorrifying!" Minato wailed, the pressure on his body growing by the second. His vision started to blur, and he could feel his cheeks being pulled back by the g-forces. "I think I'm going to die!"

Kazehana, her lips slightly parted from the forces, managed a smirk. "Don't be so dramatic, Minato. It's not the first time we've been in… compromising positions together." She gave him a teasing wink, which was somehow even more infuriating considering the circumstances.

"Not helping!" Minato's voice cracked as the centrifuge whirled faster. The world around him spun into a dizzying swirl, and the pressure was unbearable. His entire body felt like it was being flattened, his mind screaming for the ride to stop.

"Quit your whining," Takami said, taking another sip of coffee as she flipped a switch. "We're only at 4 Gs. Let's see if you can handle 7."

"Seven?!" Minato's voice shot up several octaves. "No, no, NO—"

The centrifuge roared louder, the pressure intensifying, and Minato's screams echoed through the chamber. Beside him, Musubi was still grinning, though her face was contorted from the forces. Tsukiumi, meanwhile, was gritting her teeth, refusing to show weakness, but even she couldn't keep her composure under the strain.

"I-I will endure this indignity, Minato!" Tsukiumi forced out, her voice strained. "A true warrior does not back down from— Oh gods, this isterrible!"

"Glad to hear you're having fun!" Takami's voice chimed in. "Remember, you've got a lot of this to look forward to once you're in space."

Minato could barely manage a reply, the forces pressing down on him like a ton of bricks. "I-I don't… want to… go to space!"

"Oh, stop whining, Minato!" Takami shot back. "You're the one who wanted to save the galaxy or whatever. This is just the beginning."

Kazehana, still somehow maintaining her flirty demeanor despite the chaos, chuckled. "This is pretty wild, huh, Minato? Just think… once we're out there, it'll be zero gravity. No more weight at all." Her words were playful, but her face had stretched in ways that made her look a bit ridiculous.

Musubi, still bubbly even as the forces flattened her to the seat, tried to encourage him. "We'll protect you, Minato-sama! No matter how fast it gets!"

"Th-That's great!" Minato gasped. "But how is this… training me for space?!"

Takami's laugh came through the speakers. "It's training you to survive. And it's making sure I get my entertainment for the day."

The centrifuge continued its torment as the forces pressed down on them harder. Minato's cheeks flapped from the g-forces, and he felt like he was being squished into his seat. His mind reeled, and for a brief moment, he saw his entire life flashing before his eyes.

Just as Minato was sure he was about to pass out, Takami casually hit the button to slow the machine down. The roar of the centrifuge quieted, and the spinning gradually eased to a stop. Minato slumped in his chair, panting heavily, his entire body drenched in sweat. He felt like he had just survived an apocalypse.

Musubi popped out of her seat the moment the restraints released, still smiling. "That was fun! Can we do it again?"

"Again?!" Minato's eyes widened in horror. "I'm never getting in that thing again!"

Tsukiumi wobbled as she stood, clutching her head. "That was… barbaric. We shall never speak of this day again."

Kazehana, standing up gracefully despite the ordeal, stretched and yawned. "Well, that was a good start. How about we grab a drink to celebrate, Minato?"

Minato groaned, still slumped in his chair. "I'm not celebrating anything. I'm barely alive!"

Takami's voice cut through again, filled with smug satisfaction. "Well, you didn't die, so I'd call it a win. Get used to it, Minato. You're just getting started. You are to do this three times a week."

Minato buried his face in his hands. "Why did I ever agree to this…?"

XXXXXX

"The centrifuge," he said, pausing as the memory flashed in his mind, "nearly broke me. You're strapped in, spinning at ridiculous speeds, and the G-forces feel like they're crushing every bone in your body. I barely stayed conscious most times."

Yukari's face tightened, her usual sarcasm gone. "And they're making you do this because of the space mission?"

"Yeah. They want us ready for the worst conditions, in case something goes wrong out there. It's not just me, either. My Sekirei—Musubi, Kazehana, even Tsukiumi—have all gone through it, too." He swallowed hard, his voice lowering. "They're taking it better then I am, but they've since adjusted to it. I haven't. And I've ridden it twice as many times as they did."

Yukari crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly. "But you're only human. I doubt Chiho is faring better either."

"Barely," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "They're pushing us to the limit, Yukari. Not just physically, but mentally. The space simulations—zero-gravity combat, navigation, even the constant drills—we've been living, and breathing this mission for two months. I'm exhausted, and we haven't even left Earth yet."

Yukari was silent for a moment, her gaze softening as she reached across the table, placing her hand over his. "Then why go through with it? Why put yourself—and them—through all of this? You don't have to go, Minato."

"Because this is something we will all be remembered for." He looked down at her hand on his, a lump forming in his throat. "Besides, it's one day before lift-off, so it's a bit late for that now."

Yukari's expression wavered, her hand tightening slightly around his. "And you're really okay with leaving for two years?"

Minato looked away, his eyes drawn to the skyline as if searching for answers in the distant lights. "I am."

Yukari sat back in her chair, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You know Kuu's going to miss you like crazy. She's been sticking to you even more than usual these last few weeks."

Minato's heart ached at the thought of Kusano's tearful face, of how tightly she had clung to him when he'd told her about the mission. "I know. She doesn't really understand why I have to go… I'm not sure I fully understand it myself."

Yukari scoffed, though her voice was tinged with sadness. "You're always trying to play the hero, Minato. You don't have to do everything alone, you know."

Minato chuckled, though it was without joy. "I'm not a hero. I'm just trying to keep everything from falling apart."

Yukari was quiet again, her gaze soft but piercing. "You've already done enough for everyone. You've done enough for me. But just… don't lose yourself out there, okay? You've been through hell with this training, and you'll be going through even more. I don't want to see you come back… broken."

Her words hung heavy between them, and for a moment, Minato couldn't find his voice. He knew Yukari wasn't just talking about the physical toll. She was talking about everything—the emotional burden of leaving, the isolation of space, the weight of responsibility he'd been carrying for so long. It was all building up, and part of him feared she was right. That when he returned—if he returned—he might not be the same person.

"I'll try," he said, finally meeting her gaze. "I'll do everything I can to come back in one piece. For you, and for Kusano."

Yukari's lips curled into a faint smile, though her eyes glistened in the candlelight. "You better. I've gotten used to you being around, you know. Even if you are a space-cowboy pain in the ass now."

Minato laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension between them. "I'll take that as a compliment."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the weight of the conversation lingering but softened by the shared understanding between them. Minato glanced down at his untouched plate, realizing for the first time just how hungry he was. He picked up his fork and took a bite, savoring the rich flavors of the meal.

Yukari watched him, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Finally. I was starting to think you forgot how to eat."

Minato smiled back, the heaviness in his chest lightening just a bit. "I guess I needed a little push."

Yukari raised her glass to him, the playful glint returning to her eyes. "Here's to surviving space training, and to you not getting crushed by the centrifuge next time."

Minato chuckled, clinking his water glass against hers. "I'll drink to that."

Following a light sip, Yukari broke the silence, her smile returning, though it was tinged with melancholy. "When you get back, I owe you fancy dinner. You know, to celebrate."

Minato smiled, his heart full despite the uncertainty ahead. "It's a deal."

XXXXXX

A/N: I've been wanting to write that centrifuge part for months now. I hope you all got some laughs out of it.

Part 2 I'll have up within a week, but if I see an increase in user engagement, I may be encouraged to share it even earlier.*wink-wink *nudge-nudge