Nadesico Fan Fiction ❯ To Die or Not to Die ❯ Chapter 17

A/N: Hey everyone! So, how did you like last chapter? Shadow-san said it was pretty damn good! DOMO ARIGATO SHADOW-SAN!!! ^^ Anyway. Wassup. ^^ Okay… Right… OH! Yeah, um, just for your info… this is the third to last chapter! ^^ Aren't you so excited? I am! ^^ Anywayz… here we get to see Gai react to Tsukumo… not to mention Gekifest! And Minato and Tsukumo's cuteness… and other stuff! Oh, not mentioning more bonding among the youngest members of the crew and a certain Jovian girl… nor am I mentioning that Akito's incapability to make decisions comes up and bites him in the arse. >< Oh well. Okay, playlist… Not that spaced out, but it really works. Really. ("Ultimate Power, Gekigan Punch", "Let's go Gekiganger 3!", "Shori no V da! Gekiganger V!", and "Habatake Gekiganger 3" from Nadesico, "Are You Still Breathing" from But I'm a Cheerleader, and "Ave Satani", "The Ghost and The Darkness", and "Carol Anne's Theme" by Jerry Goldsmith) And now commences… Chapter 17.

~*~

Yurika sat down, and rested her head in her hands. 'Now that I think of it… Perhaps we made the wrong choice. I mean… Didn't the records on the definition of a captain say that a single captain can't make much difference in a battle? How should I be able to stop this entire war?' She sighed and closed her green eyes. "I sure hope this was the right thing to do."

Jun spun his chair around instantly. "Yurika! Surely you don't have doubts now? After we've already done so much?" The blue-haired Executive Officer suddenly looked frightened. 'She's usually looking to the positive side of things… And has a lot of ambition to compliment her talent. Surely she can't be pessimistic now… when we're so close…'

Megumi looked up to the next level, a worried look playing her cute features. "Do you think we'd be better as virtual prisoners back on Earth?" Yurika shook her head. "No, but do you think maybe we'll be able to actually bring peace between these two peoples?"

Prospector's purple eyebrows knit. "If both Earth and Jupiter realize the mistakes they have both made, peace should be inevitable." Yurika sighed, and shook her head again. "Are you so sure? I mean, they may realize their own mistakes, but they might think they are justifying them. A lot of water has traveled under the bridge. Will both sides be able to forgive and forget? How can we guarantee that the people won't want revenge, that they can believe in peace?"

Minato smiled and closed her brown eyes. "Well, I believe in myself." Most of the bridge turned to her, wondering if it even was her that said it. She opened her eyes and pointed her face upward. "And in Shiratori-san." Omoikane, standing between Ruri and Minato, smiled broadly. He turned to his silver-haired controller. "That's so nice, isn't it, Ruri-sama?" Ruri only blinked.

~*~

Tsukumo glared at the person he had believed was his best friend. "Unhand me, Genichiro!" Genichiro shook his head, keeping a good grip on Tsukumo's hand, holding a suitcase. "If only you were leaving to be an ambassador, I wouldn't feel so compelled to be angry with you. However…" Genichiro glared his own black eyes at the brown-haired man. He twisted his hand quickly, forcing Tsukumo to drop his suitcase. The black luggage sprung open, clothes flying everywhere, his Gekiganger figure clattering to the floor. A small black box fell to the metal surface, opening itself. A simple diamond ring gleamed at them, telling the tale with few words.

Tsukumo fell to his knees and scrambled to gather his things. Genichiro fisted his hands on his hips. "I can't believe you have fallen for that disgusting Earth whore's witchery." He reached inside his shirt and grasped the picture frame in the inside pocket. Pulling it out, it became apparent that this picture wasn't of any normal person. Quite the contrary. "How could you forsake the Jupiterian Empire's image of womanhood, the beautiful Nanako?"

Tsukumo closed his suitcase and reached for the small black box on the floor. He looked at the piece of jewelry inside as he spoke. "Nanako is a wonderful image of womanhood, an ideal role model." He closed his eyes and the box. "But still…"

Genichiro glared at his friend. 'Just what is it about that Earth woman that he desires so much?' "Go ahead. Just say it."

Tsukumo stood, the box well hidden in his fist. "She's an anime character, Genichiro! She's not real!" Genichiro blinked and his jaw dropped. 'Gekiganger is our life, it always has been… but he's dropping it like a rock.'

Tsukumo stepped into the elevator to his Daimajin. He turned and saluted his best friend as the doors closed. 'If this is how it will be, Genichiro, have a good life.'

~*~

"Boson particles forming directly in front of the ship," reported the silver-haired girl stoically. Before Yurika could even blink, Ruri was speaking again. "It's a Gekigan type, Kanchou." A window appeared, showing Tsukumo's face. Minato smiled. Tsukumo saluted the captain. "I am Shiratori Tsukumo of the Superior Male Forces of the Jupiterian Empire, here to engage in possible peace talks. Requesting permission to board the Nadesico." Yurika smiled brightly. "Permission granted! Ruri, lower the distortion fields!" Ruri nodded. "Hai."

~*~

Tsukumo saluted Yurika again when he first came onto the ship. "Greetings, Captain." Yurika nodded. Tsukumo's brown eyes jumped from the blue-haired girl to the helmswoman standing nearby. Minato smiled. The Jovian could feel a blush start to form in his cheeks, and he knew it really was there when he saw Minato's smile widen, seeming more from amusement than complete happiness. "Oniichan…" Brown met brown, and Tsukumo felt like he was going to die right there. He didn't even notice the pale hand reach up to his ear and twist it until he felt the pain. "Oniichan!"

"Itai-tai-tai-tai!!!" The thirteen-year-old pulled him down to her level, when she finally let go and smiled. He grinned at his little sister. "Hey Yukina-chan! How's the weather down here?" Yukina giggled, then wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a quick hug. "Fine!"

Itsuki smiled maliciously. "Oh, is THIS the man who's ass I whooped back in January? Not a bad catch you got there, Haruka-san." She grinned at the now-blushing helmswoman. She stroked her chin in mock-thought. "Though the only thing I see wrong with him is that he looks way too much like Jiro no baka… But it's got to be the haircut. This guy's much more pale than you, booger."

Tsukumo looked up in confusion; only to see a man that, in fact, did look very similar to him, attempt to strangle the purple-haired woman. "Nani? What are you doing to this poor woman?" It was the green-haired woman that burst out laughing. Tsukumo remembered he called her a boy. "Poor woman? Fuck, he certainly doesn't know you, does he, Itsuki?" The purple-haired woman shook her head.

The man who looked like him smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Um, I wasn't doing anything to her… honest…" Tsukumo shook his head. "I forget you Earthlings have a different society from us." The man blinked a moment, and then Tsukumo stuck his hand out to the purple-haired woman. "May I have the name of the woman who so honorably defeated me in combat?" She nodded, her vicious smile back on her face. She took his hand and introduced herself, "Kazamo Itsuki, Aestivalis pilot and CEO of Mugendai Industries." A good portion of the present crew's jaws dropped at this.

Tsukumo nodded slightly, then scanned those present real fast. "I know someone here is a Gekiganger fan… I have a present for them~!" Minato giggled, not at all fazed that she wasn't getting the most attention from the Jovian. His eyes stopped on the one who looked like him. The man shook his head violently and pointed towards a somewhat short boy with short chestnut hair. Tsukumo nodded slightly, then reached into his inside pocket and pulled out what looked like a two hundred year old video cassette, and handed it to the Martian, saying very calmly, "Here you go."

Akito raised his eyebrows at the whole scene before reading the label on the video. "Holy crap! The 'Intense Fight Volume'? I thought only five hundred copies of this went out, a hundred years ago!" Tsukumo nodded. "We had about five copies when we finally made it to Jupiter. Now every one has a copy of it."

~*~

Uribatake shook his head as he realized exactly what kind of media Akito had shown him. "A video tape?" He started hooking up one of his VCRs from his office in the cafeteria, scolding both the Jovian and the Martian. "In this day and age? You're lucky I have an extensive collection of ancient decks, or you wouldn't be able to watch this! You should thank me."

Izumi jumped up from her seat in second row, cupping around her mouth with one hand and pointing downward with the other. "Hikaru-chan thanks you!" A pale hand reached up and pulled the blue-haired pilot down, and each of the other red-clad pilots laughed, knowing exactly just what the hell Izumi was doing. Uribatake, on the other hand, was slightly out of the loop. He waved a hand at Izumi. "Now now, Izumi, no need to embarrass the doujinshi artist in the presence of a possible cult-member!" He laughed to himself as he sat down and Hikaru jumped up herself, cupping her hands around her mouth and yelling, "Cult-members my ass! I'll have you know, I was famous online for my Jyou-times-Ken fanfic, 'Under the Branches'!" She plopped down and looked huffy. Ryoko shook her head, smiling. "Hikaru, you're, like, the only person I know who would be proud that people remember her on the internet for making readable gay porn." Hikaru glared at her, and made a pinching gesture under her nose.

In the back, Mr. Hory sighed in eternal agony. "Why do we have to watch this stupid anime?" How Mei shrugged. "He's a V.I.P., whaddya gonna do?" Hory grunted in response, then glanced at Minato. She was talking to Tsukumo, and somehow making him feel very embarrassed, as he was blushing like crazy. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he didn't have to.

The lights finally cut and the video started playing on the screen, the scenes accented by unintelligible responses from Akito, Tsukumo, and Hikaru. Mostly Hikaru.

Gai sat on the ordering counter, facing the wall. 'This is the worst déjà vu yet. Only this time…' He glanced at Akito, who seemed totally immersed in the show. 'He stands alone. Alone… and carrying the ideals of the old Gai. The Gai who didn't care who said what, who didn't care if a certain Martian never wanted to see him again.' He sighed. 'Just as well. In the end… I think that's the person he was really trying to find in me.' He straightened up. 'But not anymore. It's like I told Megumi earlier. I am who I am,' he glanced at the cook, 'and he is who he is. Nobody can change you, or your ideals, without your permission.'

~*~

Ruri found herself alone on the bridge. Well, not alone. She did have Omoikane with her. But still, finding the entire bridge crew in the cafeteria, watching anime, made her want to say the only thing that could describe what was going on. She took a deep breath, anguished at how much the crew had not matured, and-

"Honto, baka baka!!!" cried the Jovian girl, coming into the lowest level of the bridge, Ruri's little brother trailing behind her. Ruri's silver eyebrows jumping to her hairline as Ariko tried to calm Yukina down. "Yukina-san, they're only watching to make your brother feel welcome. It's not big deal…" Yukina shook her head. "A whole bunch of adults watching a stupid anime! It's so moronic!" She huffed a little before glancing at the princess. "What's with you?"

Ruri sighed, then looked away. "Nothing." Omoikane glared at the Jovian girl. "How dare you speak to Ruri-sama in such a tone!" His electric blue eyes glared at the brown-haired girl behind their thick black frames. Yukina raised a finger at him, feeling a little silly for being scolded by a robot. "Hey, weren't you broken?" Omoikane closed his eyes and fisted his hands on his hips. "I wasn't broken! The hacker shut me down so I couldn't alert the crew that we were hacked, and I stayed off the network because I knew Akatsuki Nagare would order the rewriting of the computer's software, and I had to be off the network to not be rewritten too!" He glared at her. Yukina smiled before turning to Ariko, still pointing at the robot. "And you say I talk too much?"

Ariko nodded slowly. "Omoikane has always talked too much. He makes up for Oneesama not talking much at all." Yukina glanced at the silver-haired girl. Ruri made not effort to respond, occupying herself with one of her favorite games, Kanji Tetris. Yukina raised an eyebrow, and then started for the second level of the bridge. She stood next to Ruri's chair and waved a hand in front of the amber eyes. Ruri's gaming didn't falter, and she didn't blink either. Yukina sighed, and then placed her hands on her hips. "Jeez. Ariko-san, are you sure your sister isn't really, like, dead?" It wasn't Ariko who answered, but Ruri herself. "I am not dead. I am perfectly capable of responding to stimuli such as you waving your hand in front of my eyes. However, I choose not to react to such silly attempts to gain my attention." Ruri finished her game then, and turned to the Jovian girl. "Things must wait their turn."

Omoikane sighed, shaking his head. "That philosophy is never used at the console, is it Ruri-sama? You always run at least five different scanners all at the same time, sometimes while charging the Gravity Blast Cannon." Ruri didn't even blink before issuing her answer. "Omoikane-chan, you know as well as I do that all of those things must work at the same time, especially during battle." Omoikane sighed, but nodded this time. "Hai, Ruri-sama."

Yukina glanced at the three Earthlings before her. 'I don't know how, but somehow, it's not just Minato that's making me think more highly of Earthlings. It's also these people too. The prince-turned-mechanic, the princess-turned-stony-hacker, and the robot-boy. Maybe… just maybe… they could be my friends.'

~*~

The lights came back on, and it was pretty silent over the video was over. Akito took this moment to stretch, feeling absolutely satiated after watching the in-depth collection. Next to him, Yurika stared at her knees. "Akito…" He cocked his head. "What?" Yurika looked up and smiled. "Gekiganger is the answer!" She stood. "Together through Gekiganger, we can achieve peace!" She clasped her hands in front of her and sighed happily.

Akito stood; his eyebrows practically glued together, and grasped his friend's arm. "Yurika, what are you talking about?" She jumped up and faced the crowd. "I was so worried about who would be willing to forgive everyone for everything, who would be able to accept peace! But I see now! Truth and Honor are the basis of Gekiganger!" Akito sighed, ready to tell Yurika that she was being crazy, again, when Tsukumo stood.

"She's right! Our society is based on Honor, Love, Courage, and Passion! It is through these virtues that will lead to true peace!" Jun looked down at his hands, bunched in his lap. "All this time, I thought it was just a stupid cartoon…" Megumi sighed in contentment. "Never, in all my time in the acting industry, had I seen such depth in an anime." Even Hory had to say, "It touched my heart and made me feel like a child."

Yurika nodded vigorously. "I want to know everything about Gekiganger!"

Uribatake seemed to appear out of nowhere, holding a figure of Aquamarine. "You want models? I got models!" Hikaru appeared from the same nowhere, holding up a book that seemed fan-made. "The art books are over here!" Yurika shook her head. "That's not enough! I want more! I want to eat, sleep, and breathe Gekiganger!"

Prospector glanced at Hory. "You know what this means, don't you?" Hory nodded. Together they shouted, "Gekifest!!!" Yurika gasped. "That's a great idea!" She pumped her fist into the air. "Tomorrow morning we'll have a Gekiganger convention!"

Gai shook his head, chuckling, as he hopped off the counter and out of the cafeteria. 'I applaud you, Shiratori Tsukumo. You succeeded in the one good thing I tried to do on the ship. However… while Gekiganger may exemplify the virtues that may lead to a great peace…' He shook his head. 'Its beliefs, where their faiths lie, are truly misconceived. It may seem deep at first, especially to those who focus only on what's on the screen, but if you become enlightened to something you thought you would never know, and think about it while watching it, you realize just how unlike reality it is. Just how harsh life can be, and how fake anime is. I…' He turned into his room, and glanced at the space on the floor where Akito's futon used to lay. 'I pity whoever realizes this first. And… I wish I knew how to tell them without crushing them, especially now.' He shrugged before started to get undressed. 'Perhaps it's best they don't know. They seem to need this pick-me-up now.'

~*~

Hikaru, dressed in her Jyou costume, plopped in a chair behind Jun and Uribatake's table. "Hiya, Junny!" Jun turned to the redhead behind him. "Hikaru, where the hell did you come from?" Hikaru shrugged. "Other side of the cafeteria. Why?" Jun sighed and put his hands on his hips. "What do you want?" Hikaru clasped her hands together. "Oh, is it so wrong to want to be around my dear friend, Jun-chan? Is it so wrong to want to get to know you better, Junny-poo?!?" She started to very obviously fake weep. Jun took her seriously though. "Well, no it's not wrong…" He patted her hair, trying to get her to stop crying… but she just burst out laughing.

"Junny-chan's gullible! Junny-chan's gullible!" She stood up and started looking at the cardboard boxes of Aquamarine models. "So, where'd Uri-P go?" Jun shook his head, feeling stupid. "He went to get more resin, why?" Hikaru shrugged. "No reason. Wanted to bug him." Jun shook his head. "Hikaru, you obviously wanted to TALK to him. Not bug him. Bugging is what you're doing now. But I don't blame you. You and him need to talk, badly." Hikaru nodded slowly, then left just as quietly as she had come. Jun looked around and noticed that there was a box missing. "Damn you Hikaru! Get the fuck back here with that model!"

It wasn't Hikaru that brought it back, but Izumi. She stood it on the table carefully. "Sorry, Hikaru has this problem… It's called stupidity…" Jun laughed a little bit. Izumi smiled. Jun noticed she was dressed like the fat pilot Akira, but she sure didn't look like it. "Somehow, Izumi, and I mean this in a friendly way, but damn Izumi. I don't know how you do it, but you make Akira, well…" Izumi finished it for him. "Hot and sexy?" She ran a hand through her blue hair. "I know. Isn't it great!?!" One of Jun's eyebrows twitched. Izumi grinned at him. "Hey, it's okay. If I say it for you, it's not necessarily being unfaithful to Yurika! Besides," she pushed her bangs out of the way, slightly, "you should be allowed to look. Hell, God knows she is."

Jun blushed slightly, and then started glancing around the room for her. "Do you know where she is?" Izumi nodded, her look showing that she was feeling a little bad for her fellow blue-haired lovesick puppy. "She's in the next room. Her and Akito are hosting the thirty-nine episode marathon." Jun sighed. Izumi smiled sadly, then ruffled Jun's hair. "Don't sweat it. You knew this was coming." Jun nodded slowly. "I know, but…" Izumi nodded. "It still hurts, huh?"

"Yeah."

~*~

Akito and Yurika felt pretty breathless after announcing the beginning of the marathon, and sat down quiet together for a moment. Yurika broke their personal silence with a question. "Akito, just how does Gekiganger end?" Akito shrugged. "Most Robot shows end with a big fight and a happy ending." Yurika smiled. "And Peace and Honor triumph in the end! That's simply wonderful!" Akito nodded slowly, but kind of sadly as well. "Actually… I don't know how Gekiganger ends. I was always afraid that if I watched the last episode, it would change how I feel about the anime, kinda like it did with Gai." He winced a little at mentioning his ex-boyfriend, but continued. "But this time, I'm going to watch the entire thing, and then we'll make peace with the Jovians!" Yurika grinned and nodded.

~*~

After the showing of the first nineteen episodes, everyone decided to turn in and get rested for the next day, the final day of Gekifest. However, not everyone had gone back to his or her rooms yet. Yurika and Akito were crawling around on the floor, trying to find the shoot-off arm of Akito's Gekiganger figure. Akito sighed. "I wish people wouldn't play with MY Gekiganger…" Yurika looked under a piece of paper under the same table. "Why don't you attach it with string?" Akito shook his head and was about to crawl out from under the table. "We have to find it first!" Their conversation was murdered when they heard a door open and Minato whisper, "Okay, no one's here. Come on!"

Minato pulled Tsukumo into the messy room, and then turned to face him. "Finally we're alone!" She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him gently but firmly. Tsukumo looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. "Um, Haruka-san… Minato… Um… Could you please back away a bit…?" asked he, not very convincing-like. Minato loosened her grip a bit to look at Jovian man, then smiled, and returned to her hug, rubbing her face against his chest like a cat. "You're so cute!" she exclaimed.

Tsukumo shut his eyes as tight as he could, and squeaked out, "Please, Haruka-san, the Male Forces do not have any contact with women and I really don't know what to do next!" Minato blinked slightly, then let go. She looked at him, a little unbelieving. "You mean you've never even kissed a girl?" Tsukumo shook his head. Minato smiled, a little evilly. "Do you want Minato-sensei to teach you?" Tsukumo blinked a couple times, and shook his head to clear his thoughts. It didn't work. "Um… Ah… Er…" Minato frowned slightly. "Is that a no?" Tsukumo breath hitched a bit. "Er… no… I mean…" Minato placed her hands on her hips. "Well, what do you mean?"

Tsukumo took a deep breath and whispered, "I'm not against it." Minato smiled. "Okay." She lowered her voice to a sensual whisper. "First… Close your eyes." She was practically grinning as she watched Tsukumo do exactly as told, his brown eyes now obscured from view. "Next… Lean forward." He did so, feeling a little strange. "Like this?" Minato nodded. "Yes. You're doing well. Now…" She grasped his hands. She slowly moved his right hand to one of her hips, and his left to the other. "Place your hands here… and here…" Tsukumo's eyes popped open, as he was sure that he was touching Minato's hips, and his fingers were definitely not in an appropriate place. He gulped. "There?!?" Minato reached up and pushed his eyelids down, her voice rising a bit. "No, don't open your eyes!" She lowered her voice again. "That's better… Now… Is your heart pounding?" Tsukumo nodded slightly. Minato smiled happily. "Mine too… Ready?" Tsukumo didn't even nod; she knew he was by his sharp intake of breath. Minato raised herself on her toes; closing her eyes as her lips made contact with the Jovian's.

Almost a full minute passed with just that simple touch, then Minato pulled away, her eyes reopening. She smiled slightly at the man before her. "That's all there is to it," she whispered. Tsukumo was blushing, but not too hard. His breath was ragged, as if unable to keep up with his heart. He raised his hands to Minato's arms and quickly kissed her again. Nothing more but lips on lips, but this sudden act by the shy Jovian surprised Minato to widen her eyes. After a moment, she softened, and closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his torso. After they pulled away again, they just stood, embracing.

Akito pointed towards the door. Yurika nodded, and the two Martians scuffled out of the cafeteria.

The two Martians walked through the halls in silence. After about ten minutes, Yurika stopped suddenly. Akito stopped and turned to her. "Why'd you stop?" Yurika blinked slowly, obviously thinking deeply. "This is the door to my room, Akito." Akito nodded. "Oh. Okay." He turned away, heading for his own room. "See you tomorrow then."

"Akito." The seriousness in Yurika's voice made Akito stop completely and turn around. She was looking at the floor in front of her, and hands clasped together. "I was just wondering… If you're ready to watch the last episode of Gekiganger… Maybe you're ready to make a decision?" She swallowed. "About me?"

Akito looked down. 'Am I ready to make a decision about her? I mean… Do I love her? Do I? Don't I? Which is it? Yes or no? Yes or no!' Memories flew through his mind. Yurika playing with the machine and accidentally starting it. Their first kiss, ending in him vomiting. Yurika leaving Mars, his parents dying, and Akito being left without a friend in the world. He swallowed. "I…" He glanced down to see a Jovian girl squatting on the floor, watching them intently.

"Uh, Yukina!" he cried, jumping back. Yurika's blue head shot up, and then smiled embarrassedly at her. "What're you doing here?" Yukina stood up. "I'm looking for Oniichan. He hasn't come back to our room." Yurika nodded. "He's in the cafeteria."

Akito squeaked. "Yurika, I don't think that's such a good idea!" Realization dawned on the green-eyed girl and she jumped in front of Yukina. "On the other hand, maybe you should wait a bit!" Akito nodded quickly. Yukina raised her eyebrows at the pair. "What're you talking about…" She looked over Yurika's shoulder and grinned. "Hi, Oniichan!" The two Martians glanced back to Tsukumo, who was walking up with a big goofy smile on his face. They both let out a sigh of relief.

~*~

"You mean… we found it?" asked Genichiro, his dark eyes widening at the words his superior just lent him. Kusakabe nodded. "Yes. Our excavations on Mars have finally paid off. We have found the Lost City." One side of his mouth turned up. "We can finally replenish our supply of Phase Transition Engines and Leap tools."

Genichiro looked away. "And how will this effect the peace talks?" asked he quietly. 'And Yukina… and Tsukumo.' Kusakabe turned back to him. "Once word of our success at finding the Artifact reaches the ears of the War Council, all plans for peace will no doubt be extinguished." He stared off into space for a moment, and then turned back to the longhaired man. "I will be leading peace negotiations personally." He started to leave the room, but stopped and laid a hand on Genichiro's shoulder. "I have a special job for you, Tsukiomi." One of Genichiro's eyebrows shot up. "A special assignment?"

~*~

Everyone went to lunch after episode thirty-eight was aired in the marathon, leaving Akito and Tsukumo alone in the screening room. Tsukumo sighed slowly. "It's too bad Gekifest is almost over. It was a lot of fun." Akito nodded. "But, the way I see it, the peace talks are a continuation of Gekifest. After we all have peace, we can go back to our lives, back to things like this." He smiled slowly to himself, thinking privately of the day two and a half weeks ago. When he was just having fun with his friends.

Tsukumo nodded. "Not everything will be same. But that's to be expected. At least it will be better. Akito was quiet at this. 'Will it? Will the way things are be better after the war is over? I… never really thought about it.'

As if reading his thoughts, Tsukumo turned to him. "Tell me. What are you planning to do after the war?" Akito looked away. "I haven't really thought that far ahead." Tsukumo looked down, smiling. "I want to start a family, with the woman I love." Akito's eyebrows knit. "You sound so sure of yourself." Tsukumo nodded a bit. "I guess… when you find the woman you love, the path to happiness is easy to find."

Akito looked away, thinking. 'The woman I love…'

~*~

Not twenty minutes later, the crew was back in the screening room, and Yurika was smiling at the cook. "It's the last episode, Akito." Akito took a deep breath and nodded. But before the episode itself could actually start, the opening credits disappeared, replaced by the image of Ruri. "Kanchou, a Jovian fleet has appeared in front of the ship." The crew was on the bridge in less than five minutes, anxious to see what was going on and a little nervous as well.

~*~

A light on Megumi's console flashed. She positioned her hand above it. "Incoming message from the main ship, Kanchou." Yurika nodded. "Patch it through, please." Megumi flipped the switch as easily as breathing. A large window appeared. "I am Admiral Kusakabe Haruki of the Superior Male Forces. I have been ordered by my superiors to being the peace negotiations as soon as possible." Yurika nodded. "I will gather a team and we will board your ship to start the peace talks." The window disappeared.

~*~

With the Hinagiku being towed by Tsukumo's Daimajin, there wasn't any need for a pilot with them. Akito came with them, anyway, mostly by the request of Yurika, but also as Hory informed him that something just might happen. He was a bit uneasy about how, even though they had sent two ambassadors, they had requested for their group to come to them. Minato wasn't worried in the least bit, in fact, she was happy. "I'm so glad we have Shiratori-san to act as a go-between!" She smiled brightly. Hory shook his head. "Keep your guard up, I still don't trust these people." Minato gave him a sidelong glance. "Do I detect a certain hint of jealousy?" Hory closed his eyes. "I don't mix business and pleasure." Minato scoffed. "Oh, so you wouldn't tell someone you had been intimate with to get off the ship, now, would you?"

Yurika's eyebrows knit, and she pulled her knees up. "I don't feel very comfortable right now…"

~*~

Yurika's jaw dropped when she read over the requirements they had handed them. "What are these?" Kusakabe brushed her off. "Oh, just some preliminary paperwork."

Hory didn't just let it go as preliminary paperwork. "This isn't a peace treaty, it's a terms of surrender! You're asking for a complete disarmament of Earth, not to mention control over our major industries! We can't agree to these!" Akito looked at the Jovian admiral with hate. "And these terms are nonnegotiable?" Kusakabe's face hardened. "That's right."

Tsukumo stood. "I demand that these terms be withdrawn!" Kusakabe glared at the insubordinate lieutenant-captain. "Why should we?" Tsukumo threw down his folder. "Because they love Gekiganger too!" The room grew silent, and Tsukumo continued speaking. "Through Gekiganger we have discovered the common thread that binds all men as brothers. It's the values we share. Courage, Perseverance, Friendship, and Love. They have come here today because they're learned the truth about Gekiganger! There is only one true righteous path!"

Kusakabe smiled maliciously. Akito took his breath in sharply. 'This is nothing like Itsuki's vicious smile. This is just plain cruel.' "You're right. There is…only ONE righteous path!"

A shot rang out. Yurika gasped and clasped her hands at her mouth. Hory's eyes widened and Akito's jaw dropped. A look of pain froze on Tsukumo's face and he pitched forward, falling to the floor with a hollow thud. Minato jumped up and knelt beside him, cradling his head. She let out a choked scream, "Tsukumo!"

Akito stood, shaking his head quickly. "You bastard! Why did you shoot him!?" 'He was my friend! Do all of my friends have to be pried from me?!'

Behind the wall, Genichiro walked away, dropping the now empty gun. 'I have accomplished my task. Now, I must deal with my guilt. Alone.' He shook his head, his eyes welling up. 'With one action, I have lost all my friends.'

Kusakabe didn't even move. "The Evil Empire must be destroyed. That is the central theme of Gekiganger! Thos who oppress must be eliminated! We must destroy the Evil Earth battalion and wipe their oppressive existence from the universe!" Akito took a step back. "You… you think WE'RE the Evil Empire?"

On the floor, Minato shook her head, not even noticing that she was getting Tsukumo blood on her at all. "Who cares who's right or wrong? Can't you see Tsukumo's dying? Please, help him!"

Hory kicked the gun out of the guard behind him's hands. "Tenkawa!" Akito caught the hint, and the gun. He let fire loose on all the other guards.

~*~

Jun's eyebrows knit together. "Why are they firing at us?" Yukina almost fell down from the force of the blast. "I don't know, but you gotta do something, Aoi-san!" Jun nodded and issued the order to Ruri. "I want all Aestivalises launched! Tell them to only engage if they must!"

~*~

Hory carried the hardly-breathing Tsukumo on his back as the group ran off to get onto the Hinagiku. Minato kept up with him best she could, making sure Tsukumo was all right and feeling slightly regretful for making fun of Mr. Hory before their journey to the Jovian ship. Yurika tailed the closely, Akito behind them taking down any Jovian guard that chased them.

~*~

Itsuki disabled yet another jiro, and exclaimed, "Why are they attacking us while Akito and the others are having peace talks?" Ryoko pushed herself through at least five of the yellow robots and fired her gun at two more. "Temptation?"

On the Nadesico, Jun and Yukina were trying their best to stay on their feet. On the level below them, Ruri turned in her seat. "Aoi-san, our shields can't take much more of this." Omoikane was controlling the console with a slight hum. Another blast rocked the ship. Jun held onto the captain's controls. "Then pull out, immediately!"

Megumi gasped as Ruri reported the error of Jun's order. "That would mean deserting Kanchou and the away team." The ship rocked again, and Jun's eyes widened. 'Save Yurika and die… or save us all and leave them behind…'

~*~

Hikaru was the first to notice the two figures in the dust cloud. She scanned them and they turned out to be Akito's pink Aestivalis and the Hinagiku. "It's Akito and the away team!" she exclaimed. Ryoko nodded. "Cover that shuttle!"

There may have been six Aestis out in the battle, but trying to destroy the enemy and to keep the Hinagiku safe at the same time soon overwhelmed them. Gai blinked as he saw a bright light, somewhat far from the Nadesico. He immediately identified it and gave the order. "Gravity Blast Cannon! Scatter!" The other pilot's followed his lead without asking a single question. The shot destroyed a large amount of the armada before them, enough for the Aestivalises and the Hinagiku to get on the Nadesico, not to mention a little shuttle of the new ship.

~*~

A communications window appeared before the bridge as Jun realized he could stand on his own. The window held Akatsuki and Erina. "Hey, aren't you going to thank us for bailing you out?" Jun's eyebrows knit. "Why did you…"

Akatsuki shrugged. "Hey, we have the same enemy, so that makes us on the same side." Jun looked down. 'But we are also enemies.'

~*~

Yurika jumped off the Hinagiku and ran straight for the bridge. Inez came from the landing deck and helped Hory get Tsukumo onto a stretcher. She pulled it away quickly, heading straight for the infirmary. Minato pulled it faster than Inez was. "Tsukumo, Tsukumo please hold on!"

Inez was speaking into her communicator. "Prepare for surgery and have the anesthesia waiting for us! We have to get a bullet out of him! Also, I want Hoshino in there immediately! I'll need her hands!"

~*~

On the bridge, Ruri got the message from one of the hospital attendants and rushed to the infirmary. Omoikane sat in her seat. Yurika stood before her controls and ordered, in a somewhat demanding tone, "Omoikane, charge up the Phase Transition Cannon!" Prospector jumped up and looked at the captain in horror. "But if we fire the PT Cannon all hopes of peace will be lost!" Yurika closed her eyes, a definite frown on her face. "It's too late. Peace is an idea of the past. No more games."

Omoikane turned in his seat, not touching the console, but the electric blue lights still shining in his eyes. "Are you sure, Kanchou? Are you absolutely sure?" Yurika nodded slowly. The robot turned and commanded the computer to charge the devastating cannon.

~*~

A soldier on the battleship announced, in a very quick voice, "The Nadesico is charging their PT Cannon!" Kusakabe smiled. "Just as well. Prepare for Leap back to the Kagurazuki!"

~*~

"Boson particles detected in main battleship. It's Jumping away," reported Omoikane, as stoic as Ruri would ever be. Yurika glared out the view screen at them. "Fire the PT Cannon!"

~*~

In the infirmary, after the surgery, Inez stood by, squeezing an IV bag filled with blood. "Minato…" She looked at the shocked woman. "He might not make it." She shook her head. "No…"

Inez turned to the silver-haired girl. "Hold your hands over his wound, but do not touch it. Concentrate on closing it please." She glanced at the IV bag before squeezing it again. "He's lost a lot of blood, and I'm not sure this will replenish it in the least bit."

Ruri felt just plain dumb in following the blonde's orders, but she did as told, holding her hands over the wound and closing her eyes, concentrating on closing it and making the blood flow stop. Whatever she did, it made Tsukumo awaken. Inez looked on knowingly as Ruri's Nanomachine markings started to glow golden.

Yukina ran back into the room, various people following after her. She held the Gekiganger figure in her brother's vision. "Look Oniichan! I brought you your favorite Gekiganger! If you get well, I swear I will never make fun of it again!" He smiled painfully at the young girl. "I know you won't, Yukina."

He shifted his gaze from the girl to the woman standing there. "Minato…" His hand came out from under the blanket, holding a small black box, some of it covered in his blood. She grasped the box and opened it, and sharply in took her breath as she saw the simple diamond ring inside. She let loose a sob and her eyes welled up. She focused onto Tsukumo's face. "The answer is yes." He smiled.

Ruri noticed that he was gaining strength as she concentrated, and focused her whole being on her hands, which were growing very warm.

Tsukumo moved his head to the other side and glanced at the Martian standing there. "Hey, Tenkawa-san. I guess I won't be able to watch the last episode with you." Akito shook his head, his own brown eyes starting to well up. "It's okay. Just work on healing, please." Hikaru, standing next to him nodded quickly. "You're one of us, Tsukumo-chan," added the redhead, tacking on the endearment suffix as she did to everyone's name. He smiled at her. "Amano-san. Don't ever feel scared to show who you are on the inside." Hikaru's breath became intense. 'How did he know that I hide…'

He glanced to the man who looked like him. "Daigoji-san." He grimaced for a moment. Ruri's eyebrows knitted together in the effort to keep concentrating. He face relaxed again. "I'm sorry that… we couldn't see what you saw." Gai nodded slowly, coming closer to the bed. "Don't worry about things like that." Tsukumo shook his head. "You were right all along. But… don't ever give up on something, because it didn't go your way." Gai understood his words perfectly. 'I must be very obvious in my feelings… There's no other way he could have known that.'

His head rolled back to face Minato. A tear trailed down his face. "I'm so sorry about this, Minato." On the other side of the bed, Ruri's hands twitched. They were becoming very hot. Minato shook her head, his hand that had held the box in her lap. She pulled the hand up to her face, resting it on her face. She hiccupped and a spatter of tears fell onto her skirt. "Tsukumo, please don't die on me. I couldn't bear it," she whispered, not sensuality in her husky voice this time.

Ruri's lips started to twitch now. Her hands were growing unbearably hot. "Miss Fressange…" she whispered. The blonde shook her head. "You're doing fine, Ruri. Keep concentrating."

Tsukumo's eyebrows knit, and he smiled painfully at the woman he loved. "Minato, I'm sorry… I don't think I can promise that." She started to breathe uncontrollably, almost hyperventilating. He blinked slowly. "But… I love you, Minato." She hiccupped again, unable to speak. "I love you now, and I'll love you always." Another one of his tears fell. "I'll…" He felt his body start to fail him. His eyes widened.

Ruri, unable to keep up the pace, fell to her knees beside the bed, holding her hands. She promptly passed out. Inez sat down, beside the girl, and held her head in her lap. "You did your best Ruri. That's what matters."

Tsukumo tried to take in breath, but it was becoming more difficult by the second. "T… t… take… care of… Yu… Yuki…" His heart meter read a flat line. Minato's eyes widened and she started to shake uncontrollably. "Tsukumo…" His hand fell from her cheek and back into her lap, limply. "No…"

Unexpected, from the other side of the bed, Gai let out a near animal yell. "No!" He grabbed Tsukumo's other hand from under the sheet and squeezed it. "I can't just let a friend die!"

Even more unexpected, in a flash of light orange, the heart meter started up again, but this time, Tsukumo's face was screwed into a look of utter torture. Minato could feel little sparks travel through her skirt as static electricity. She started to shake much more violently.

Inez stood and slowly made Gai let go of Tsukumo's hand. As soon as the contact ended, the seizure did as well, leaving Tsukumo as dead as he was a moment ago. Minato covered her face with her hands. Akito covered his face and ran from the room, weeping softly. Gai left slowly, trying to keep down his anger.

~*~

Genichiro looked at his right hand, still unable to understand what compelled him to follow the order to fire the shot that killed his best friend. Kusakabe didn't seem to have any guilt behind the matter. "Do not mourn Shiratori Tsukumo. He was a traitor and an Earth-sympathizer." Genichiro nodded, not believing a word of it. Kusakabe continued talking, somewhat proud of the incident he staged. "We will tell the people that he was assassinated by United Earth agents. That will guarantee that there are no more calls for peace. It seems Shiratori will be much more useful dead than alive." Kusakabe smiled evilly at the longhaired man. "Thank you for killing him."

~*~

Akito ripped a poster from the wall in the cafeteria. "Dammit! Damn this stupid robot show to hell!" He stopped a moment, then kept his eyes down, his knees shaking. "Why am I so blind? Baka! Why couldn't see what we right in front of me? How could I be so stupid? I saw what I liked, and didn't think any farther… Why didn't I consider how others might see it?" His tears took over again, and he slumped to the floor, leaning against a table leg.

Gai came into the room, opening a door full of light into the darkened room. He shivered. The room was almost unbearably cold. Akito looked up with reddened eyes. Gai walked over to him and petted his hair. Akito closed his eyes at the touch and sniffed. Gai handed him a tissue box. Akito took the box, but said and did nothing.

Not caring what would happen, Gai wrapped his arms around Akito, pulling the Martian into a consoling hug. Akito thought nothing of it, nothing of the incident two weeks ago. He sobbed into Gai's shoulder. Gai ran a hand through Akito's hair, feeling the softness and cursing his stupidity in his silence.

After a few long moments, Akito finally pulled away and blew his nose. It was when the soft paper touched his nose that he remembered how awful Gai was to him, saying that secrets should not be kept from people, but being a hypocrite the whole time. He glared at the Earthling. "What do you think you're doing," asked he in a cold voice. Gai shook his head. "Akito, this isn't the time for this." Akito left, giving him the cold shoulder. "You should have thought of that a long time ago."

Gai growled at the Martian's words. 'Crying over spilt milk will do you no good. I can't go back in time and change things, though I wish I could.'

~*~

Just inside her room, Yurika could swear that she knew what was going on in the cafeteria at the same time. She hugged herself. 'All hopes for peace were dashed… and the man Minato loved was killed. How much more must this war effect us before we can't take it anymore, and do something so drastic, we will regret it?' "How much more until we all become raving lunatics that have to be destroyed to be safe? How much longer until we destroy each other? How much longer before we can't trust a single person?" 'How much longer until we all die…'

TBC…

~*~

A/N: I'M SO SORRY!!! I lied. >< Okay, my computer is definitely getting shut off tonight, so I will definitely not be writing for the next two weeks or so. But at least I gave you this, eh? Anyway. Oh my god Tsukumo's death was so cliché and craptacular… not to mention sappy and sad. ;; Anyway. Did anyone else notice the blatant foreshadowing in this? Ugh! So obvious! Anyway. So… Akito seems to want to forgive Gai on the inside, but his temper is keeping him from doing so, it seems. And Itsuki and Ryoko? Who the fuck knows. >< And how did Tsukumo know so much about the crew's mentality? What the hell did Inez have Ruri doing? What happened between Gai and Tsukumo that made him have an after-death seizure? Oh, and Ruri and Yukina don't seem to be becoming good friends at the moment, are they? ^^ Anyway, next chapter… well, shit. Next chapter's going to be as confusing as fuck, and then we realize (a piece of) why Erina said last chapter that Inez had a "thirst for chaos". Anyway… um… a lot of Boson Jump explaining… and… other shmuff that will want you people to have chapter 18 and 19 smashed together, but we just can't have it that way. ^^ Well, I'll see you in two weeks or so with the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end. Review as always!