Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Tales of the Daishi'cha: Reunions, Remembrances and Returnings ( Chapter 73 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Urusei Yatsura - Tales of the Daishi'cha: "Reunions, Remembrances and Returnings"
by Robert Geiger
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Edited by Fred Herriot and E.B Kushnir
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Based on the series "Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year," in turn based on
"Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES...

"Uh...there are no writer's notes."

"There's gotta be writer's notes!" Fred insists. "I always put them
in mine."

"I can't think of anything," Robert rubs the back of his head.

"Give it a try."

"Err...OK. I really hope you like this story. Comments and praise
can be sent to PHPN65A@prodigy.com."

"W-wonderful!" Fred mutters.

"Flames go to gorgo@kwangju.net," Robert adds.

"WHAT?!?!" flames erupt around Fred.

"Just trying to inject some humour!"

"Humour this!" Fred clobbers Robert with a Saturn Five, but he snaps
his fingers and the mallet splits in half!!!!

"That's not cool dude!" Robert is now dressed in outrageous 70s style
clothing.

A large metal foot suddenly lands on Robert. "Crush all enemies,
Giant Robo!" Fred says on his impressive perch. "Now then, ON WITH
THE...URK!!!!"

Fred and Robo go down as EVA-01 runs up and smacks them with the
Mallet of Longinus! Noriko leans her head in. "Both Robert and Fred are
occupied at the moment, so I'll just fill in for the moment. Ahem, the list
of children appearing: Mine: Jung-Freud (F), Jarec (M); Kazumi: Kocgh (M),
Ajira (M); Mari: Marian (F); Kasua: Irad (M). This is a sequel to 'It
Takes A Spark' and also ties in with 'Penpals.' The story starts about..."
Noriko counts on her fingers, "...one year after ITAS and ends way after
UY20YL!"

**** **** ****

"Everything is all set," the middle aged, rotund man in front of
Toren Smith said. "There's going to be a banquet tonight in celebration of
the newly signed treaty. But unfortunately, only the higher ups are invited.
I hope you understand."

"Of course Mr. Wujcik," Toren's eyes roll. *Gophers and grunts don't
mix with royalty,* he mentally added.

The ambassador nodded. "But don't fret! Arrangements have been made
at a local club to host you and your co-workers so you can get some sorely
needed R-and-R. You deserve it!"

"Thank you, sir," Toren said and took his leave of his superior's
office. He exhaled and loosened his collar as he walked down the hall.
*Sorely needed indeed!* he thought bitterly. *After busting my ass for weeks
I can finally get around to doing some touring!*

The Topeka native stopped off in a restroom and studied himself in
the mirror while cleaning up. Tired blue eyes gazed out from a face burned
by both Sol and Sen'a. His sun-bleached brush-cut blond hair was bleached
towards an almost white-gold hue. Toren straightened his uniform and set out
to enjoy his first free night since coming to Tere'na City.

Toren probably would have remained on Earth if he hadn't been born
with an incredible wanderlust. His down-to-earth parents encouraged him in
his goal to become a teacher. Imagine their surprise when he decided instead
to become a clerical assistant to the ambassadors going to sign treaties with
the governments of Uru, Triton and Sagussa! Toren had raged through many a
heated argument with his parents, who thought he was throwing his future
away. He had passionately spoken of his heartfelt desire to travel. He
pointed out that he could be one of the first teachers on Earth to teach
about the history of other worlds...In the end, his parents had reluctantly
given their approval, and so Toren found himself given the most menial chores
of the bureaucracy.

Errand boy.

He regretted his decision almost instantly. He was usually stuck in
one building steadily working and hardly ever getting out while everyone
shuttled around from planet-to-planet and city-to-city. Thank goodness that
Sagussa was the last stop for a while. His superiors had relaxed the workload
a little and he was able to look around some. Although, again, not as much as
he liked.

Toren rather liked Sagussa. It reminded him a bit of Kansas with its
dusty plains and bright sun. A world that was populated by the *daishi'cha,*
women who were brought back to life by the Gatherer to start a new society and
who avoided the mistakes which destroyed the Fourth Republic.

One thing bothered him though. Not long after he had arrived, he had
this feeling that he was being watched. This persisted even though he had
travelled with his group to other cities. He kept looking about for someone
who was staring directly at him. Nothing. The feeling persisted. He
couldn't see any reason why though. He was basically a Dilbert,one of the
faceless cubicle workers that populated nearly every company. Finally, he
passed it off as a overworked mind imagining things. Besides, on a world
where temperatures could easily reach the triple-digit range on the
Fahrenheit scale, mirages and illusions were probably common.

"Hey, Smith!!"

The voice brought him out of his musings. He saw a group of his co-
workers gathered in the lobby. No doubt ready to enjoy their time off as
well. "You ready, Smith?" a rather sharply dressed Oriental wonders.

"Sure thing, Keisuke!" Toren grinned.

And the group headed out...

* * *

"Are you sure you two don't mind?"

"Of course not, Oshoi'cha," a calm voice assures her. "I can find
lodging elsewhere for awhile. Follow your heart."

"Do the others know?" a high-pitched voice muses.

"Well...no," the first admits.

"I think this is how you two got into trouble the first time."

"I'm absolutely certain that everything thing will go smoothly! Just
be sure you don't mess up!"

"Not a chance!" the third chuckled. "A certain someone needs to be
taken down a few notches."

* * *

"Touring?" Keisuke sniffed.

"Hey!" Toren was slightly offended. "That's the prime reason I
signed onto this outfit."

"Ya, ya!" Keisuke waved his hands. "But you got to fully immerse
yourself when you visit distant lands. To fully appreciate what there is to
be offered."

The rest of the group, all young men since the women had decided for
"a certain reason" to go to a different club, groaned. Keisuke's idea of
"immersing oneself in the culture" was to chase anything that vaguely
resembled a female. He had hardly stopped drooling since arriving on
Sagussa!

"You better watch yourself, Keisuke," a rather chunky co-worker named
Steven warned. "A society that was started by women no doubt has ways of
dealing with people like you. One hundred thousand to one...not good odds."

Keisuke was unperturbed. "I never resist a challenge!"

"I like a good challenge myself," a high-pitched voice said from
behind them. "I trust you won't disappoint me."

Everyone turned around...and looked up...and up...and up! Standing
behind them was a very LARGE husky-skinned woman. Towering over the group,
she was dressed in a standard Sagussan uniform, the red and gold of an
engineer. She leaned down a bit and they saw glittering brown eyes peering
out from a thick featured face that was framed in dark hair tied into two
pigtails. Bright white teeth flashed as she gave the group a predatory grin.

She was...formidable to say the least.

"Uhmm..." Keisuke stammers. "Who might you be?"

"My name is Mari, *daishi'cha* Fifty-eight-seventy-five."

"*Daishi'cha*...?" Keisuke stammered.

"Couldn't you tell?" Mari angled her shoulder down to show a series
of numbers on the uniform along with a badge showing that she worked as a
architect.

"Well, I...!"

"Expecting someone smaller?" Mari grinned. "Not all of us are little
folk. We come from many races. I was a Gophentaxian. As you can see, we are
a bit taller than most other races...though I am considered on the SHORT side
for my parent race."

"That's...very enlightening!" Keisuke was sweating profusely.
"Um...it's been nice meeting you, but I have to leave now!"

He turned as if to walk off, but a large hand snagged his collar and
reeled him in, pressing him up against Mari's expansive chest. "Leaving so
soon?" Mari leered. "I thought you wanted to immerse yourself in our culture.
And what better way then one of those who you wanted to immerse yourself in
show you around?"

Keisuke's eyes bugged out from his head. "Err...Excuse me," Toren
said.

Mari leaned down so that she was face to face with Toren. "You have
something to say?"

"Not really!" Toren squeaked.

Mari smirked. "Thought not," her face suddenly turned appreciative.
"Say! You're not too bad looking," she prodded Toren's chest. "Care to join
us?"

The resulting dust cloud and Toren's rapidly vanishing figure gave
her a definite "NO!!!!" "Humph!" Mari grunted. "Some people have no sense
of adventure!" She turned to where the rest of the group had been standing.
"And how about...now, where did they run off to?"

Other then the noise of chirping crickets, Mari and Keisuke were the
only ones remaining on the sidewalk! "Oh, well," Mari shrugged, then looked
down at Keisuke. "Well, at least we can give each other our UNDIVIDED
attention."

Keisuke whimpered as Mari carried him down the street. *Mother!*

* * *

Toren leaned up against a lightpost as he stopped to catch his
breath. His flight has taken him a good way across the city and now he was
experiencing the unpleasant sensation of the adrenaline wearing off. "Had to
happen!" he muttered. Keisuke had defiantly bitten off more then he could
chew. He only hoped there would be enough left to learn something from his
experience.

Toren looked around the street, recognizing that he was in Kyonggh-
Tere'na district. It wouldn't be to hard to find his way back but right now
he just wanted to find a place to wind down and to get slightly blottoed. He
turned his head and saw the bright lights of a sign that said SAKU'S,
deciding that this was just what the doctor ordered. Going inside, Toren saw
a rather empty pub with only a group in one of the cubicles and a rather
bored-looking Tofunokoibito woman sitting behind the bar listening to the
soft music wafting from the CD system. Toren walked up as the woman
brightened on seeing him. She placed a coaster on the bar and nodded her
head. "Good evening. How may I serve you?"

"I'm in dire need of a drink," Toren grinned. "I hope you're well
stocked."

"Of course!" she replied. "Would you like something from Earth, or
perhaps something more exotic?" She held a small selection of menus out like
playing cards.

"Hmmm...I'll play it safe this time," Toren drew out one that had
several Earth beverages on it. "I'll take some Samuel Adams."

"Excellent choice!" the bartender swiftly uncapped a bottle and
filled a frosted mug for him. "Just tell me when you need anything else."

"Thank you," Toren eased back in his stool and took a sip, letting
the tensions of the day ease away.

The sudden opening of the door and the loud group of voices signalled
to him that the day wasn't over yet. He glanced over and saw a large group of
*daishi'cha* enter, nearly all with the markings of the Sagussan military.
*Urg!* Toren thought as he focused back on his drink. *So much for peace and
quiet!*

The sudden changing of the music to a loud blare drove the point
home. He raised the glass to his lips for another drink when suddenly that
same feeling of being watched passed over him. He knew it had to be someone
in the newly arrived crowd, but still didn't know why he had that feeling.

A pair of well-formed arms leaned on the bar next to him. "Oi, Mrs.
Saku!" the new voice said. "I'll take my usual!"

"Sure thing, Noriko," the Tofunokoibito woman replied and set a
rather large snifter down on the bar and proceeded to fill it with a bright
reddish-gold liquid.

"Your with the ambassadors from Earth, aren't you?"

Toren turned his head and saw a beautiful full-figured woman standing
next to him with the sigils of a Warsuit troop commander emblazoned on her
duty uniform. "Umm...yes," Toren nodded. "Just an errand boy, actually. I
finally got some free time after all the negotiations were completed."

"I saw that on the Webscape Three-D News," Noriko said. "I bet
you're worn right out."

"Definitely," Toren gazed a bit forlornly at his now empty mug.

"Let me buy you a drink to celebrate!" Noriko called over to the
other end of the bar. "Mrs. Saku! We need a refill here!"

"Sure thing. What would you like?" she asked Toren.

Toren looked at his mug and then Noriko's snifter. *Oh, what the
heck!* he thought. "Let me have what she's having."

Both women blinked. "You sure about that?" Mrs. Saku asked
cautiously. "Ran-jugh is quite strong. It was made with the *daishi'cha* in
mind."

Toren measured the size of Noriko's snifter. "Well, just a little
couldn't hurt."

"A little then," Mrs. Saku put a shotglass in front of Toren and
poured out a measure.

*Beg for mercy,* Toren told his liver.

As he started to bring the glass up, he heard a snickering behind
him. "Hey, you!" a new voice said. "You better think twice about drinking
that. Next thing you know, you'll be chained to Noriko's bed and wearing a
dress!"

Toren sputtered. Noriko's face turned red. Mrs. Saku just sighed
and began putting the breakables away. "Mind your own business, Plastic
Nipple!" Noriko snapped without turning around.

Toren heard outraged sputtering behind him. "It's Plastic
LITTLE!!!!" the voice growled.

Toren swivelled around and saw another beautiful woman wearing a low-
cut tight-fitting bodysuit, realizing this was Tita, the Fourth Fleet's ace of
aces. She was indeed quite well endowed. "And you're the last to comment on
anyone's size, Miss Bouncing Bustline!" Tita barbs.

"Oh, sure!!" Noriko span around. "I may be big..." she hefted the
objects in question. "But at least I can keep mine under control!! Yours
look like their about to leap off and make a break for it down the street!"

Loud laughter erupted around the room as Tita's face turned crimson.
"YOU BITCH!!!!" she hefted a chair and lobbed it.

Noriko easily dodged, but Toren wasn't so lucky. He collapsed as it
bounced off his head!! "NOW YOU DID IT!!!!" Noriko launched herself at Tita,
knocking over the table and ending up in a snarling heap.

"BAR BRAWL!!!!" everyone yelled and piled into the fray.

* * *

The door to the apartment Noriko and Kazumi shared opened and Noriko
walked in with Toren draped overher shoulder. She flipped on the lights and
strode into the bedroom with her senseless cargo.

Noriko hadn't stayed 'till the end of the brawl; only dallying long
enough to stuff Tita headfirst into a trashcan before throwing Toren over her
shoulder and heading up to the bar. "Can I use the back door?!" she asked
Mrs. Saku, pausing with a hand on the kitchen door.

"Leaving so soon?" the Tofunokoibito growled disgustedly.

"Places to go, people to meet!" Noriko grinned and motioned to Toren
with her head.

Mrs. Saku sighed and shook her head. "Git!"

Noriko hurried out for the mag-lev to Kyre'sha while Mrs. Saku pulled
a large mallet out from under the bar and proceeded to bring order to her
establishment.

Noriko's room was rather simple, with a double bed, desk, bookshelf
and a few items that she had collected over the years. A door led off to the
bathroom which had a rather impressive tub sitting directly under a skylight
that Noriko liked to look up through at the stars while she bathed in the
darkness with a slightly wistful and sad expression on her face. Kazumi's was
the same although she was content with bright lights and flowers that chased
away the gloom.

Noriko tossed the covers off and carefully laid Toren down. She
noticed as she undressed him that he had a rather nasty bump on his head and
vanished into the bathroom, emerging soon after changed to a robe and carrying
a small water filled bowl and cloth.

Noriko sat on the edge of the bed, dabbing the cloth on his head.
"Why do I feel I know you?" she softly inquires. "Something has been
whispering at the edges of my mind ever since I saw you...and I've felt even
lonelier when I look up at the stars," Noriko's fingers lightly traced Toren's
features.

A small smile appears on Noriko's face as she stands up. "In any
event, Toren Smith..." she lets her robe drop to the floor. "I have a feeling
that we are going to have plenty of time to solve this little mystery."

Noriko then slips into bed with him and then shuts off the light. As
she snuggles up against him, her fingers brush against his battered
forehead...

* * *

Toren's eyes fluttered open and he blinked and the unfamiliar
ceiling. *Where am I?!!* was his first thought, his last one being of a chair
that was on a collision course with his head.

*Still alive after that?!* Toren reached up with his left hand and
felt his forehead. Instead of a very sore spot, he felt just an unblemished
surface. He was going to rub his head with his right hand but found it to be
rather occupied.

Toren's eyes widened as he saw the woman...Noriko?...dozing in the
crook of his right arm. She had a somewhat mischievous grin playing around
her lips and had her arm around his bare midsection. *I only thought this
happens when you drink too much!* Toren grimaced and tried to ease out of
Noriko's grasp.

Noriko's eyes promptly opened and her grip tightened around him.
"Good morning!" she said cheerfully.

"Uh, 'morning," Toren tried to gently pry her fingers off but she
just twined them around his. Desperately trying to regain control of the
situation, Toren tried talking his way out. "Did anything happen last night?"

"Lots of things happened," Noriko answered.

She was no help at all. "No, I mean after I had a chair hit me
upside the head," Toren started getting a little irritated.

"After you went down, I spirited you away to my apartment and gave
you some first aid. Your head is now in perfect shape," she pressed a finger
against his forehead.

"That's it?"

"That's all."

"Then why did you get into bed with me?"

"Well, I can't sleep in my sister's bed," Noriko grinned. "Plus I
had to make sure you stayed warm."

"You don't use blankets?"

"Blankets?" Noriko looked over the side of the bed at the objects in
question now scattered on the floor. "My goodness! I completely forgot about
them."

A bead of sweat crept down Toren's head. "Well, thanks for helping
me out," he started to get up. "But I really have to..."

Noriko suddenly swung a leg over him. "Leaving so soon?" she said as
Toren found himself pressed back down into the bed.

Normally the idea of a beautiful nude woman straddling him was quite
arousing. However, Noriko's particular choice of words and his current
position made an image of Mari and a terrified Keisuke flash through his head.
And since his eyes wern't on Noriko's face, he missed the arched eyebrow and
knowing look cross over it. "Erk!" a trickle of blood crept out his nose.

Noriko darted her head in and licked it off. "I don't think this is
proper!" Toren stammered.

It had to be his imagination, but he could swear that Noriko's body
was heating up even though there wasn't a drop of sweat on her. "Not
proper?" Noriko asked. "Not a proper way for an assistant of an
ambassadorial entourage to act?"

"I am fairly certain of that!" Toren wriggled a bit, trying to get a
bit of leverage. "I can't stay."

"You could leave," Noriko slid her hands from his shoulders to his
chest in a heated path. "But then you couldn't do your job."

"My job?" Toren's face was one large question mark.

"Isn't that part of what an ambassador does?" Noriko asked. "To find
out what the other party wants and can offer? And how both can come to an
agreement?"

Toren looked at her warily. "And just what do you want? And what
can you offer?"

"I want many things," Noriko said slyly. "But I can offer you
something right now." She leaned her head down and whispered into his ear.
"I know who's been watching you."

She then licked his ear. Toren's toes curled. "Who?"

"Someone somewhat important," Noriko said as she began eagerly
nibbling on his ear.

Noriko pressed her body into Toren's and he found rational thought
becoming increasingly more difficult. Especially since his other 'brain' was
determined to take over running things. "Why are they watching me?" Toren
clenched his teeth as Noriko rubbed her body against him, her hardened nipples
scraping a burning path across his chest.

"Because they want to know about you," Noriko started lightly biting
Toren's neck, licking where her teeth made indentations. "Ever since you were
seen here. They wanted to know everything about you. They want you to tell
them all about your life."

Toren gasped as Noriko's teeth sent electric shocks through his
body. "I just can't tell everything without knowing about who they are."

"But of course," Noriko leaned back and lifted herself up. She
reached down and gently grasped Toren, who cried out slightly. "We are most
accommodating." And slowly sat down upon him.

Toren's eyes screwed shut and he arched his back as he felt himself
sink into her. His entire lower body was engulfed in a burning wave of
pleasure that started sweeping up his body. It was almost painful to move,
and he lay there gripping her legs as she rose up and down, sending the wave
surging further up his body.

<<Can you see?>>

Toren opened his eyes as the voice and wave reached his head. His
vision seemed to swim as he saw everything but Noriko being blocked out by a
corona of flame racing around her body. The fire originated from where they
where joined and crept up his body with a lover's caress.

<<Can you see how much I'm willing to show you?>>

Noriko opened her eyes and Toren found himself looking into twin
stars.

<<How much I'm willing to let you past my defenses?>>

Flame danced around her lips which were still even though he heard
her words.

"Yes!" Toren felt as if he was going to explode. "You have nothing
to hide from me. Nothing at all."

Noriko leaned down until her face was a hair's breath away from his.
"No secrets?" she asked, speaking this time, with flame licking at his lips.

"No secrets," he answered.

Then Noriko kissed him and his mind erupted in novafire...

* * *

Toren's feet made a brisk clicking on the sidewalk as he walked up
the street to the apartment he shared with Noriko and Kasumi. His face was
etched with a wide grin that spoke of the happiness in his heart and his
hands were protectively wrapped around a bundle of flowers and a small box.
Toren's friends were still amazed at the grin that was almost always on his
face in one form or another. He seemed more alive as well, practically
bursting with energy.

Toren was a little surprised at this as well. Ever since that
morning with Noriko...of which he could never clearly remember...he felt like
a powerful car humming with a well tuned engine. He spent the entire day
with her and returned to his office to get a chewing out for getting involved
in a bar-brawl. Toren didn't mind and started making plans to quit his job
once he could arrange something for himself on Sagussa. He mentioned this to
his co- workers and got a round of chuckles and winks. Keisuke had been
sitting around with a stunned expression on his face. When prodded for
details on what happened, he just muttered something under his breath and
wobbled off. Perhaps he would learn a little sensitivity after his ordeal.

Toren's parents were distraught that he had elected to stay on
Sagussa. He had assured them that he had signed up to take teaching courses
with the Kyre'sha Province Education Department right after he quit his job
and had been given their blessing to stay. His father, ever the observant
one, had made a comment on hoping he would at last be settling down now that
he had found what he wanted in life.

Indeed he had.

He had moved in with Noriko the very next day. He couldn't explain
really why. Except that his heart was completely captured by her. He had
never met a woman like her that made him act like that and cheerfully accepted
his fate.

Noriko explained later that she had been watching him ever since she
first saw him. Her elder sister Kazumi and their friend Mari had been in on
the plot to separate him from the others, something easily forgiven especially
when there was so much gained.

Like Jung.

He had been stunned when Noriko had curled up in his lap and
whispered that she was going to have his child. The thought of being a
father had entered his mind at times but for it to be almost literally
dropped in his lap was almost overpowering. His hands shook and sweat beaded
up from his skin and all he could do was hold Noriko to him and revel in the
pride swelling in his heart.

Jung was born naturally rather then via the gestation chambers.
Noriko named Jung in the tradition of taking Earth names of famous characters
for themselves and their children. Although Toren had found Jung-Freud to be
a bit odd, he found 'Jung' to be more then acceptable.

Toren's life seemed to be complete. A loving companion, a child, a
promising career. He looked down at the small box in his hand. All that was
needed was the icing on the cake.

Toren opened the door to the apartment. As he entered, he saw Kazumi
reading on the couch. "Is Noriko around?"

"Taking a nap with Jung-chan," Kazumi answered.

She looked up from the book and noticed the box. Her eyes widened
and she was going to say something when Toren held a finger to his lips. "I
want to surprise her," he said.

Kazumi nodded. "I hope this works out for both of you," she said to
herself as she left to give them some privacy.

Toren entered the bedroom and saw Noriko lying on the bed with Jung
next to her. He grinned at their sleeping forms and crept up quietly and
knelt at the edge of the bed. He kissed Noriko softly on the forehead. Her
eyes fluttered open, a grin spread across her face as she saw him. "How are
you both doing?" Toren asked as he slipped a finger into Jung's tiny hand.

"Just fine," Noriko murmured. "Jung-chan went to sleep right after I
fed her. How was your day?"

"Excellent," Toren replied. "My classes went well. And I managed to
do a little shopping."

Toren brought the flowers up and Noriko inhaled their sweet scent.
"Fire blossoms! My favourite!!" a sly grin appeared. "Is there some special
event going on?"

"Defiantly. There's been something I've been wanting to ask you,"
Toren brought out the small box.

"What?" Noriko asked as she leaned up.

Toren opened the box. Inside was a ring with a fire opal surrounded
by small diamonds on it. The gems caught a sliver of light coming through the
shades and sparkled. "Noriko-chan, will you marry me?"

Noriko's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the ring. She
looked up at Toren and her reply was a whisper.

"Marry...?"

* * *

"...him?!!" Kasua grinned over the videophone at Noriko.

Noriko sighed at the beaming face of her penpal. She had been
corresponding with the Kagamasei for a while. Exchanging e-mail, videophone
conversations and recordings. Kasua was well aware of the affection Noriko
and Toren had for each other. She didn't mind at all and had started making
not so subtle hints that she wished to come to Sagussa and live with them as
*marei'cha* to Noriko.

Wanting *marei'cha* was jokingly referred to as "that time of month"
among the *daishi'cha.* A feeling as inevitable as the sun coming up in the
morning. Noriko and Toren had discussed Sagussan mores, and while he had some
disagreements on how the *daishi'cha* lived he accepted Noriko's beliefs and
lifestyle. Loving her was more important.

The *marei'cha* topic was going to become a problem. Toren, knowing
about this form of bonding, had believed his relationship with Noriko was
"safe" since she had chosen him before she felt the urge to find a
*marei'cha.* But it was never that easy. The feeling came whether you were
involved with someone or not. Noriko had felt the stirring of love soon
after meeting Kasua and it wasn't just a physical attraction. Kasua was
intelligent and had incredible potential even though she was virtually
uneducated thanks to that damned Kagamasei law making her little more then
chattel. Kasua had told her that several of her friends were trying to
arrange a way to flee Kagamasei and come to Sagussa to find their bond-mates.
Something Noriko also wanted.

"It's not as simple as that, Kasua-chan," Noriko said.

"Of course not. There's guests to invite, reservations to make and
you have to make sure to register those gifts."

Noriko groaned and leaned her head against the side of the vidphone
booth. She suddenly knew how Toren had felt when she had teased him in bed
that day. "Kasua-chan...the Terran way of bonding is so different then the
Sagussan way. I know he can accept how we live, but to be married and then
find out that your wife still wants another...and to be with only one person
for the rest of your life is so against the Sagussan way."

"I'm completely aware how culture can be so wonderful and so horrible
at the same time," Kasua lay her head down on her arms. "To be a twin of
your brother was once seen to be divine. I should have lead a blessed life.
But I live in silent terror that I could be cut down at any moment if my
brother falls ill. I can leave my world behind with no regrets. And Toren
was willing to change his life for you. If he wasn't, he wouldn't've
proposed to you. And I'm sure he can accept me becoming your *marei'cha* if
you just talk to him about it."

"But..." Noriko toyed confusedly with the ends of her hair.

"Noriko!" Kasua's eyes suddenly filled the screen. "If you don't
marry Toren, I'll never talk to you again."

"Kasua!!!" Noriko clutched her chest. "Don't be cruel!!"

"I'm not cruel! I'm someone who loves you and someone who wants to
see you happy. Toren loves you and I can love both of you. We mustn't let
our differences spoil our love."

Noriko silently nodded. Kasua grinned. "So what do you plan to do?"
she asked.

"I..."

* * *

"...do!" Noriko said to the priest.

"And so by the power invested in me by God," the priest finishes, "I
now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Toren lifted Noriko's veil and placed a passionate kiss on her lips
which Noriko responded to eagerly. Loud whoops and claps came from among the
audience as Noriko's squadron-mates cheered them on. More subdued clapping
came from where Toren's friends and relatives were sitting as the first Terran
wedding on Sagussa was completed.

Noriko's squadron-mates were stunned when she announced that she and
Toren were getting married. They knew that Toren was her child-mate, but to
MARRY him was something they'd never considered doing with theirs. They
thought that telling each other that you loved them...and PROVING it...was
enough. Actually going through a complicated ritual was seen as almost
regressive considering that many marriages fell short of "'till death do us
part."

She had heard of some of the reactions...

* * *

"What's this?" Tita asked as Mrs. Saku put some fancy envelopes in
front of her and her friends.

"Just a little surprise from one of your friends" Mrs. Saku grinned
as she went over to another table.

Tita opened the envelope curiously and saw a decorative card with the
words, 'You are cordially invited to..." Tita opened the card...

"***THE WEDDING OF NORIKO AND TOREN SMITH?!?!***"

The entire building shook as everyone fainted in shock!

* * *

Noa sighed, watching Noriko stand before her getting her wedding
dress made. Noriko's android double worked industriously with needle and
thread. Noriko had insisted on a home-made dress instead of having one made
at some factory. "Really, Noriko," Noa said. "I have to wonder where your
mind is these days."

"My mind is right inside my head," Noriko grinned, extending her
arm. "Care to check?"

Noa sighed again. She was doing a lot of sighing these days. The
stresses of her role as Elder Mother kept piling up, with her growing number
of children, Ataru and Lum leaving for Earth, the loss of Henry and
Koishii...it was no wonder her hair was starting to turn grey! She had just
come from a tense session with several diplomats from Uru who wanted aid in
cleaning up the radiation from the nuclear missiles used against the Imperial
Round on Toshitto. Plus reports on the rumblings several other nations were
making towards them. Zephyrus had ben acting like an old lion who's turf had
been invaded by a young rival; now that Sagussa had been shown to be less
then indestructible, the Holy Republic was taking a harder stance with any
treaties made between the two.

When Noa had heard Noriko was going to marry her child-mate, her
eyebrows shot up like most other *daishi'cha*. She would have passed it off
for other more important things, but there were more mutterings that had to
be dealt with. Such as people thinking the stunt Noriko and Kazumi had
pulled years ago with testing the Inferno had burnt out their social
programming (to which James had firmly said, "*Impossible!*"). They were now
proposing tighter restrictions on immigration to prevent "Corruption of the
Grand Design"...which would happen over Noa's dead body!

"I am hoping you are aware of the possible consequences," Noa said.
"Your both going to be living with a vast social rift between the two of you.
Have you thought how this will effect your children and how other relate to
you?"

"I'm fully aware of what is going to happen, and what might happen,"
Noriko said. "I'm going to marry the man I love. I doubt very much that I'm
going to abandon the Grand Design to become a housewife...or start a fad for
marriages, or that Jung will be tormented at school. As for the social rift,
Toren was willing to come here to live with me despite this being a
matriarchal society. It's only right that I make compromises for him as
well."

"I see," Noa sighed again.

"You're upset?" Noriko asked.

"Perhaps," Noa rubbed her arms.

"I guess it's only natural that you are worried," Noriko said. "I
heard that many mothers feel that they are losing their daughters when they
get married."

Noa was stunned. "Noriko!"

Noriko turned to face Noa. "'Elder Mother' isn't just a title
despite what others might think. Many of us gained our names from you and
Ataru that day. And if that doesn't make us your children...I don't know what
will."

Noa's heart seemed to swell. "I...don't know what to say."

Noriko smiled. "All I'm asking is for your blessing on my wedding
day. And to give me away."

Noa grasped Noriko's hand. "I will. You have my blessing. And may
Lyna smile upon you both..."

* * *

...and so when Noa appeared to lead Noriko up the aisle, all
mutterings were silenced. Noriko looked absolutely stunning in her wedding
gown, which earned Toren many jealous glances.

The couple swept down the aisle to the waiting hovercar at one end of
Lima Squadron's hangar bay, which had been hastily converted to a makeshift
church for the occasion. A gaggle of children lifted up Noriko's long train
as they passed by well-wishers. Kazumi was waiting by the door with Jung in
her arms. Kazumi had been more then happy to watch after Jung while Noriko
and Toren were on their honeymoon and considered it good practice for when
her time to become a mother came.

Tita was at the front door with Unapuma and Anapuma. Noriko had
since buried the hatchet between them and made sure they were the first to
receive their invitations. "Gee, Noriko!" Tita grinned. "I don't know about
this wedding stuff. Next thing we know, you'll start wearing underwear!"

"Underwear?" Noriko grasped the hem of her gown. "You mean something
like this?" Noriko lifted her skirt up to show the white lace panties and
garters that matched her gown perfectly.

The entire hanger shook as people fainted from shock...and some from
the large amount of blood shooting out their nose! "What a woman!" Tita
gasped at the bottom of a pile of bodies.

"Toren," Noriko said. "Would you do the honours?"

Toren grinned and slipped the garter off Noriko's leg and then handed
it to her. Noriko held it over her head. "Heads up!" she yelled, and then
tossed it into the air.

Time seemed to slow down as eyes tracked the garter arcing through
the air. "What was that for?" Tita asked.

"I think we're supposed to try to catch it for good luck," Unapuma
answered.

"Isn't it undignified to dive for a piece of cloth?" Anapuma wondered.

"TO THE MASTER'S KEEP WITH DIGNITY!!!!" a voice cried out. "DIVE FOR
IT!!!!"

Just as the garter started down, a mass of bodies leapt through the
air and ended up in a very massive pile! The pile suddenly shook and bodies
flew everywhere as Mari stood with the prize clutched in one hand. "Keisuke-
kun! Keisuke-kun!" she called out. "It is a sign from the heavens!"

This was followed by a scream as Keisuke made a break for the back
door with Mari in hot pursuit! Noa shook her head. *My daughters...what
shall I ever do with you?*

Noriko and Toren entered the hovercar and waved to the crowd gathered
outside the hangar as it pulled away. The hovercar flew up into the sky and
towards the spaceport where they would take a honeymoon trip on a cruise ship
before heading to Earth and spending some time at a quiet mountain village.

Noriko curled up next to Toren. "Tired?" he asked.

"No," she laid her head on his shoulder. She rarely got tired. A
benefit of the boosting ability that made her and Kazumi the heart of the
Inferno-X they piloted as commanders of Lima Squadron. She did sort of wish
that she could just gently drift off to sleep without having to meditate
first. "I can't get tired now, we have quite a journey ahead of us."

"Still going here," Toren grinned. "I could go on like this
forever." He said as he relished the sensation of flying as the hovercar
swooped through the city.

*Yes!* Noriko thought as she wrapped her arms around him. *We'll
keep going no matter what...*

* * *

Noriko read the e-mail from Kasua and sighed. Kasua had said that
the arrangements were about to begin and hoped that she would finally be able
to meet Noriko, Toren and Jung in person. She also said that Noriko should
now talk to Toren about her becoming Noriko's *marei'cha.*

Noriko walked into the kitchen where Toren was getting a drink. She
came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "How are you doing?"
Toren asked as he slid a hand along her arm.

"Okay," Noriko kissed the back of his neck. "Toren, you know my
penpal Kasua Tongapp?"

"From Kagamasei right? How is she doing?"

"Very well. She and a number of her friends are planning to arrange
to leave Kagamasei and seek asylum here. Kazumi has also been told of this by
her penpal Kumie."

"And they're asking for our help?" Toren asked.

"Yes."

"I'll be glad to help in any way I can," Toren said. "I suppose we
need to be briefed on our mission."

He chuckled. "There is something else," Noriko tightened her arms
around Toren.

"Yes?"

"Kasua wants to become my bond-mate."

Toren was silent for a moment. "And how do you feel about this?" he
asked in an even tone.

"I want us to. I've been feeling an urge I've never felt before I
met her. I do love her." Noriko's voice carried a small trace of fear.

Toren turned around in Noriko's arms and gently stroked her cheek
with his thumb. "Are you planning to talk to her again anytime soon?"

"Yes," Noriko replied.

"Can I talk to her with you? I think it's best I get to know her
before she comes here."

Noriko's eyes brightened. "Of course!" she hugged Toren.

* * *

Toren stood in the shadows in Tere'na-korgh near Lyna's grave as
Noriko and Kasua kneeled on their prayer mats. Both awoke from their trance
and embraced each other, drawing each other down next to the crystal coffin to
make love as so many other lovers have done before them.

Toren's eyes flicked away and he felt a quick sting of jealousy. He
promptly kicked himself mentally for feeling that way. *Idiot! After all the
times that this has been talked about between the three of us. After I still
know I love both of them with all my heart...how can I have that feeling? I'm
such a fool.*

<<You're not a fool.>>

Toren suddenly blinked as mists filled his vision and he found
himself in the *te'a* with the glowing form of Lyna before him. "How could it
not be foolishness?" Toren asked.

"You see the woman you love making love to another. That is a
natural reaction. If you were a fool, you would have never made it this far."

"Your right, I can't let that eat me up," Toren said. He gave a
small smile. "You know exactly what to say."

"If it makes it any better, I've felt jealousy as well," Lyna said.

"You?!!" Toren was amazed at the mere notion that Lyna could ever
have a negative thought.

Lyna blushed slightly. "When it started becoming tradition for
couples to make love here, I felt jealousy that I could not make love like
they did. But I came to realize that physical love is only a mere fraction
of true love and I have all the love in the galaxy to sustain me."

Toren smiled. "Leave it to you to solve all problems."

Lyna gave a sly grin and whispered conspiratorially into Toren's
ear. "When you're stuck in a chunk of glass, you learn to change the way you
think very quickly."

Toren was about to faint when a he was brought out of the *te'a* by a
loud, "TOREN!!!!"

Toren blinked and saw Noriko and Kasua looking at him with arched
eyebrows and pursed lips. "I turn my back for one second," Noriko said with
hands cocked on hips, "...and you're fooling around with another woman!"

Toren hit the ground. "You didn't even wait for me to turn my back
before getting down!"

All three glared at each other before they suddenly felt very silly
and laughed. "You're looking rather neglected, Toren-kun," Kasua mused.

Noriko and Kasua beckoned to him. Toren's feet carried him where
they lay. "You sure you're not tired?" he asked Kasua as he kneeled next to
her.

"Not at all," Kasua said as she slid her hand along his chest.

It was true, her entire body hummed with a vibrancy she had never
felt before. "I want to feel like this forever," she whispered as she touched
her lips to his.

* * *

"C'mon, Marian!" Jung called as she ran down the hill.

"Ah! Wait for me!" Marian yelled as she sprinted after her.

Jung watched as her friend thundered down the slope. Even though
Marian was about the same age as Jung, she towered over her friend. She
inherited her height fromm her mother. This didn't seem to help her much in
keeping up with Jung who ran circles around her and everyone else.

Marian panted as she reached Jung. "Hey, Jung!" she said. "Let's
rest for a bit."

"Rest?" Jung pouted. "But we still haven't visited the orchard!" she
pulled on Marian's hand. "I know you can make it!"

"Well..." Marian started feeling better after the brief stop. She
guessed that she had just got her second wind. "Okay. Do you want to stand
on my shoulders?"

"Sure!" Jung smiled as Marian hoisted her onto her shoulders and ran
towards the trees in the distance...

* * *

"Marian! I need to get down and use the restroom."

Both Marian and Jung had been spending quite some time at the
orchard. They alternated helping the workers pick fruit...and then eating the
fruit...and playing. Jung and Marian had been sort of a tag-team with the
former on top of the latter's shoulders.

"Okay," Marian said and set Jung down. Jung ran off to the warehouse
while Marian stretched her shoulders tiredly.

Jung came running back after a short while. "Marian! I'm back!" No
response. "Marian?!" she called again.

She suddenly saw Marian lying down on the ground a short distance
away. "Silly! Are you sleeping?" Jung grinned as she went up and shook
Marian.

Marian didn't move however. "Marian!! You shouldn't go to sleep out
here!! MARIAN!!!!" Jung shook Marian again.

She suddenly froze as she saw Marian's face all pale and sweating.
"Marian!!!" Jung cried. She shook Marian again and gaining no response, tore
off to the warehouse. "Help!! Help!!!"

* * *

"It seems like she fainted from overexertion," the doctor told Mari
when Marian was examined at the hospital. "It is strange though. Jung said
Marian was doing just fine after she left to use the restroom. Nothing
serious has happened though. Marian just needs plenty of rest."

There was a collective sigh of relief from the group gathered at the
hospital. Mari took Marian home leaving Noriko, Toren, Kasua, Kumie, Kazumi
and Jung in the office along with the doctor and Misato. Kazumi's twins Kocgh
and Ajira, along with Noriko and Kasua's newborn sons Issac and Irad, were in
daycare.

"So," Toren mused. "Why are we all here? Wasn't it a simple case of
fainting?"

"No, it wasn't," Misato said. "You were not here when it happened.
But the symptoms that Marian suffered were exactly like those Unapuma had a
number of years ago. Marian's case seemed a bit unusual so her case was
checked with the hospital's computer files. The symptoms were confirmed as
extreme exhaustion. But it was also noted that this particular situation had
happened when Unapuma was in prolonged contact with Kazumi and Noriko. And
noted the research I had conducted on them when they were training for their
new Warsuits. That is why I have been called in."

"So it seems that Jung has the same ability as Kazumi and I?" Noriko
asked.

"It seems so," Misato sighed. "But this seems to be a bit more
serious. Unapuma didn't have this extreme reaction. Either it was from
Jung's and Marian's age or some other factor hasn't been determined. I do
think it's time that we get to the bottom of what exactly this 'boosting'
ability is. I should have continued the research but ran into military
politics who wanted the project moved along ASAP, and so I dropped it. But
now there is nothing standing in the way."

Misato pulled out a folder. "I decided to do some more checking into
Noriko and Kazumi's background and pulled the back-up files Henry had on the
*daishi'cha.* In the files, Henry had found both of you in the wrecked
remains of an unidentified fighter ship."

"Though you were found fifty years apart, Kazumi first and Noriko
later, Henry then discovered that the wreckage belonged to the same craft.
Further examination revealed you both to be Terran in all aspects and so that
was how you were classified even though Terrans had never developed the
technology to get out that far. Henry guessed that you both were just from
another race that is very similar in genetic makeup."

Misato turned a few sheets over. "Regeneration went well. Although
due to brain damage you both sustained, there would be heavy memory loss.
Social programming went without any problems. It was noted that your first
memories would begin when you emerged from the regeneration matrix."

"That's true," Noriko said. "Neither Kazumi or I remember anything
of out past lives."

Misato nodded. "Henry makes no note of any special abilities beyond
the standard enhancements the *daishi'cha* receive. Possibly the
regeneration and programming triggered something, it's impossible to say
right at this moment. I would like to run tests on Noriko and Kazumi first.
Toren, Kumie and Kasua would come later since they don't have the ability but
suffer no adverse effects due to bonding. Jung's case is that she has gained
this due to her being Noriko's child. And Kocgh, Issac, Irad and Ajira will
not be tested due to their young age. Is this okay with you all?"

Everyone nodded. "Excellent," Misato smiled contently. "I'll have
things prepared ASAP and will notify you when we're ready."

As everyone filed out of the office, Misato mused. *You could do a
lot better if you wanted to conceal something, Henry. And even if they had
suffered brain damage, reconstruction of past memories wouldn't be that
difficult. Why were you hiding something?*

* * *

Noriko and Kazumi lay down on side-by-side diagnostic tables. Over
their heads were scanners that would examine them and relay the information to
the waiting computers. Small electrodes were also attached to their temples,
chests and arms. Misato stood by a bank of monitors with some assistants.
Toren, Jung, Kasua and Kumie were sitting in the observation booth overlooking
the room.

"Let's get started," Misato said.

The machines hummed to life and the scanners moved up and down over
Noriko and Kazumi's bodies. Data scrolled past on the monitors which was
quickly stored by the computers.

<<This isn't going to work,>> Noriko psi-linked to Kazumi.

<<No it won't,>> Kazumi replied. <<We'll have to find it on our
own.>>

"Please don't psi-link," Misato said. "It's interfering with the
readings."

Both Noriko and Kazumi gave silent nods to each other and grasped
hands. Instantly they slumped back on the tables. "What?!!" Misato gaped as
the readings went wild. "You two! Why can't you listen for once?!"

She went over and grabbed Noriko's arm to shake her out of it. As
soon as she touched their minds, she froze as she was drawn into the swirling
image of flame and of their shadowy forms going deeper and deeper...

* * *

"When I grow up, I want to be the captain of a starship, just like my
papa!"

The first thought was of a young girl, gazing up at the stars where
her father flew. Only able to come back once a year for her birthday. But
she never despaired. And hoped one day she could fly by his side.

And so she worked towards her dream. Through joy, pain and
humiliation. She gained a sister who gave her strength. And flew out to the
stars together like a small spark of light against the blackness...

Death. A wall of death that approached without malice or mercy. All
light was snuffed as the wave of flesh rolled across space, and only the
bright points of light stood to hold it back.

Love. The first love, of shy glances and second hand kisses which
brought hope to the isolation of space.

Death of love. Because of inexperience the love was snuffed out and
replaced by shame and sadness, which became determination and fed the spark to
a bright flame against the darkness.

Peace. Of a brief time where they could rest under the sun and live
in the same time as everyone.

But once again the wall of darkness advanced. And the sisters
escorted what would loose oblivion against the wall, for there was no other
choice.

Of despair, of another love that was flickering weakly home, one that
might not survive from the sisters' prolonged absenteeism.

Of love that brought hope. And the fire turned into a blazing sun
that became the heart of a titan that scattered the darkness before it.

Of peace. One sister left to live with love for a short while. Her
place was taken by a friend whose head was wreathed in flame. Who helped
watch for when the darkness returned.

And it did return. In such a magnitude that a machine was built that
would tear a hole in space and suck the darkness into one even deeper. And
piloting it was the other sister, who came to stand at the end with the other.
Against the darkness that swallowed the bright points of hope that stood
against it. But always, the sun blazed brightly against it.

But the last hope was damaged. And so the sisters had to descend to
its heart to trigger it and in doing so doomed themselves to never see the
ones they held dear again. For time would pass them by while they raced away
from the widening jaws of oblivion...

* * *

"Everything is going as planned," Noriko said as she watched the
Gunbuster thrust away from the growing black hole.

"Hmm..." Kazumi replied absently. She was silently gazing at the
origami hanging her students had given her.

Suddenly, an alarm blared. "Space-warp detected!" Kazumi said,
instantly snapping to attention.

"Next to us?" Noriko gasped. "How?"

Suddenly, space warped next to them. And a huge being resembling a
giant caterpillar lunged out, with its flesh burning off its body. It opened
its jaws as it hurled itself at them, energy bulging from its internal
cannons.

"It's going to kamikaze!" Kazumi shouted. "Defense!"

Noriko reached behind her and the Gunbuster mimicked her motions.
She drew her arm in front of her and the Gunbuster drew out...tattered cloth!

The monster slammed into the Gunbuster and fired a point-blank blast
that blew the mammoth machine in half. Noriko heard Kazumi scream which was
echoed by her own as the side of her cockpit caved in and she felt a jagged
piece of metal slam into her side.

"NO!!!!" Noriko screamed as blood burst out of her mouth. She thrust
her left arm forwards and drove the Gunbuster's arm into the monster's head.
Armour plates blew off and rods slammed into it. A blast of energy shot into
the monster's head which blew it apart and destroyed the last arm!

Noriko felt no joy, for she was struggling against the pain that was
spreading up her body. Her hand groped at the metal spike that pinned her to
the wall.

"Onee-sama?!" she groaned. "Onee-sama?!"

No reply, the screen showed nothing.

"Status?" she addressed the computer.

"*Systems failing,*" the computer's voice said, unconcerned of its
own demise. "*Collapsar engine nonfunctional, all systems from Buster Machine
One nonfunctional. Life signs of Kazumi Amano terminated.*"

Noriko wailed at this. "*Life support systems failing,*" the
computer continued.

*I have a choice of my deaths,* Noriko thought bitterly to herself.
*Blood loss, suffocation or freezing.* "Outside view."

A flickering image of a starfield appeared before her. The stars
were visible and still. They were no longer in warp. "Location?" Noriko
whispered. A chart flickered into view, showing them to be far from the
galactic centre.

"Communications possible?"

"*Attempting,*" the computer beeped. "*Unable to establish
communications.*" A short whir. "*All functions will fail in two hours. Due
to extreme blood loss, Noriko Takaya's life signs are failing.*"

"Enough!" Noriko snapped.

The computer fell silent. Noriko looked out at the stars. She would
stay like this, looking out at the bright points of light that were so far
away even though they seemed so close together. She felt so alone.

"Jung, Kimiko, Takami...I'm so sorry..."

And the light was extinguished...

* * *

...then soon reborn.

"*Fascinating,*" a British-like accent mused...

* * *

"AUGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Both Noriko and Kazumi screamed as their bodies arched up from the
tables. Misato fell to the ground stunned as she came out of the vision.
Noriko and Kazumi shot straight up, the electrodes tearing off their heads as
they looked wildly around the room, their gazes fell upon each other.

"Onee-sama!!"

"Noriko!!"

Both women leapt into each others arms and slumped to the floor
sobbing. Misato was helped to a chair. "Lyna's Soul!" she whispered. "Who
are they?!"

Suddenly there was the sound of running feet. The door burst open
and Noriko and Kazumi's family rushed in with distraught looks. They rushed
to the pair and swept them up in a mass embrace. Slowly the sobbing stopped
and they all sat on the floor with their heads pressed together.

"What's happening?" a technician asked Misato.

"Don't bother them," she replied. "This needs to be handled by them."

Shortly, the group parted with Noriko and Kazumi wiping away their
tears. Noriko looked at Toren. "How could I ever forget you?" she stroked
his face. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Toren smiled and held her hand. "I never forgot you, and I followed
you here. It cost me my memories for a while but it was worth it. And there
is nothing to forgive, it wasn't your fault."

"May I ask what is happening?" Misato said.

Kazumi turned to her. "As you have seen, Noriko and I were the
pilots of a Warsuit-type vehicle called the Gunbuster. When we were attacked
after triggering the Black Hole Bomb, I was killed and Noriko critically
wounded. Somehow, we ended up in another place. Perhaps due to the effect of
the Bomb and the failure of the collapsing engine that was supposed to take us
home." She then sighs. "Another reality, no doubt since there has never been
a record of Earth being involved in a war of such magnitude. And after that,
we died. Somewhere along the way, the parts of the Gunbuster housing us were
separated. Henry picked me up first, then Noriko fifty years later and we
became *daishi'cha.* Why we never remembered until now I don't know. And
Henry is no longer here to tell us why."

"Toren here..." Noriko added, "...was my first love. I guess he just
followed me here waiting for the chance when we could meet again. Just like
you, right Jung?"

"Of course, Momma!" Jung grinned. She suddenly had a much more
mature look about her, especially in the eyes. Her smile faded to a more
sombre mein. "I grew old waiting for you. All of us grew old looking up at
the skies for the ones who gave our future back. I died so lonely," she
sighed.

"With all these reunions," Kumie said with a small grin. "I'm
surprised that Coach isn't here."

"My husband," Kazumi said in answer to Misato's questioning look. "We
had only a short time together that we could show our love. But our hearts
are content and he is at rest."

"It seems we have even more questions," Misato said as she rubbed her
temples.

"Quite a bit more," Kazumi said. "But as for the talent Noriko, Jung
and myself possess...I guess we just pass along our inner fire. We'll just
have to learn to be more careful."

Noriko and Jung nodded. "And so now what?" Misato said as the group
picked themselves up.

"Now...we go back to our homes here," Noriko said. There were more
questioning looks. "What happened in our past still needs to be dealt with.
There are questions that need to be answered. But not until we can live full
lives here as we were unable to before."

"So do I still have to call you 'Mom?'" Jung asked as the group filed
out the door.

"I should hope so!" Noriko grinned.

"Oh well, I guess being a kid again isn't so bad," she sighed.
"Although I looked much better with red hair."

"Your hair looks just fine," Noriko said.

"I guess you're right," Jung then looked down her blouse. "I wonder
if my breasts will be as large as they used to be?"

Everyone fainted!

* * *

Epilogue...

Somewhere in space. Year 30 of the first age of Ataru'cha.

Numerous ships hovered in the darkness while stars shone around them.
Many were Sagussan, with the sleek form of the "Ossa'cha" in front. On the
bridge, Ataru Moroboshi sat in the shipmistress' chair. His gaze moved down
to the group that stood looking at the viewscreen in front of them. Kasua
Tongapp, Kumie Allak, Toren Smith and their children Jung Freud, Jarec, Irad,
Kocgh and Ajira, now fully grown and beginning to start families. They all
stood together and watched the shape on the viewscreen.

It stood like a giant sculpted out of obsidian. A dark titan with
the symbol of the phoenix emblazoned on its upper chest which matched the
starburst design that formed its head. And inside, at its heart, two people
sat together with their thoughts...

* * *

"What do you see when you look up at the stars, Noriko-chan?" Kasua
asked. Noriko, Toren and Kasua lay together in the large tub that was under
the skylight in their home with their arms wrapped around each other.

"Although they're far apart," Noriko mused, "When you look at them
another way, they fill the sky and seem so close together."

"No matter how far apart some people are," Toren twined his fingers
through hers. "They always carry the thoughts and love of those close to
them. So they are never more then just a thought away."

Noriko held both closer to her. "Yes, your light will always be in
my heart, as I have passed my light to you..."

* * *

Noriko opened her eyes and smiled softly as she glanced over at
Kazumi, who was wandering in her own thoughts...

* * *

Kazumi sat silently as Ataru read the folders that sat on the table
between them. After closing one file, Ataru sat back and let out a breath.
"Amazing. I had no idea that something like this could ever exist. How did
you come by these?"

"After Noriko and I regained our memories," Kazumi began, "I began to
wonder why they had been suppressed and so accessed the files Henry had
stored. I purposely asked for specific information on myself and Noriko,
along with the Gunbuster. The first thing I saw was an apology."

"Henry had a specific reason?" Ataru asked.

Kazumi nodded. "He said he was frightened when he examined the
remains of the Gunbuster, because it reminded him so much of the machines of
destruction employed during the Clone Rights War. He wanted to destroy all
traces of it. But he changed his mind when he talked to Noriko and I before
erasing our memories."

"And why is that?"

Kazumi sighed. "The Gunbuster was created because there was no other
choice. The Earth of my reality was facing a force that would not talk,
would not stop, it existed only to reproduce and would've swept Earth clean
of all life just so they could feed. We were forced to make weapons that
kept getting faster, bigger, deadlier. And it wasn't enough. We not only
had to rip planets apart, but to tear apart the heart of our galaxy."

Kazumi wiped away a tear. "Henry suppressed our memories and
destroyed the Gunbuster because there was no foe here. No foe to keep the
Gunbuster as a last resort. To give something like the Gunbuster to the
*daishi'cha* when they already had so much would be courting disaster.
Because the *daishi'cha* are such a young race, we aren't able to look back
and learn from our mistakes like we can with the Fourth Republic."

"But Henry realised something good was gained. The technology amazed
him and he knew that if used correctly it could do great good. He had plans
for the Collapsar engine to be modified so that it could be available for
all. It could cut travel time to a fraction of normal transwarp speeds. And
he had designed the Inferno and Inferno-X as scaled down versions of the
Gunbuster to be a potent addition of the Warsuit Brigade. And he knew that
if the Gunbuster brought us here, it could take us back. Thus he left a key
in us so that even though our minds would forget, our souls wouldn't. And
kept files on his modifications to our technology, most notably the
Supernova."

"A more reasonable version of that monstrosity I had in my hold
once," Ataru grinned as he quoted Henry. "But still, why have you brought
this to me? If you want any assurances or authorization, Noa would be more
than happy to give it."

"Because you have had personal experience with a weapon of last
resort...and what drives one to make one."

"The Cyborg?"

Kazumi nodded. "I could practically see the drool off the
technicians' mouths when they saw the plans for the Collapsar engine, although
they almost had fits when they saw the Supernova. I came to you to ask that
you do whatever you can to make sure the Supernova is used only as a true last
resort when it is made. That it only is used when all will be cast into
oblivion otherwise. For you are *daite'cha,* and your word will be heeded."

Ataru nodded. "I will do all I can to make sure of it."

Kazumi smiled. "Thank you."

* * *

Kazumi opened her eyes and looked over and Noriko and smiled,
squeezing her hand. "Ready?"

"Yes, Onee-sama."

Kazumi opened communications with the "Ossa'cha." "We're ready.
Activating collapsar engine."

"Acknowledged," came the reply.

Deep inside the Supernova came a rumbling, a display of the systems
showed a light pulsing in its centre...

* * *

"Collapsar engine climbing towards prime levels," came the report on
the "Ossa'cha." "Warp capability will soon be reached." The technician had
a confused look on her face as she stares at Ataru. "I don't understand how
this will get them home."

* * *

Inside the Supernova, Noriko and Kazumi grasped each other's hands.
They slumped back in their seats with peaceful looks on their faces...

* * *

Suddenly the screens on the "Ossa'cha" flared. The light turned into
a ball of flame that pulsed in time with the pilot's hearts. "Warp capability
ready!" the report came. "Readings are going to go off the scale. It's just
like when they were testing the Inferno!"

"Their hearts," Ataru heard Jung say. "Their hearts will bring them
home."

Her face beamed as she clasped Toren's and Kasua's hands and were
joined by Kumie and the others. All aboard suddenly felt a wave of love wash
over them. For a moment, they were all connected by the *te'a* and saw the
form of the phoenix appear around the Supernova. And they received a promise
in their hearts, that their loved ones would return to them. And they would
not have to keep looking up at the stars waiting for them.

They would be able to keep them in their own future.

Space suddenly seemed to fold and the Supernova moved it aside as if
parting a curtain. Passing beyond it from this reality to another. Suddenly,
all screens went blank, showing nothing but empty space and a residual energy
that was quickly fading. "No sign of the Supernova!" came the report.
"Computer's coming up blank with what happened."

"They just went home for a while," Toren said. "Just for a little
while to say hello to those who have waited for them to come home."

"Home," Ataru hummed, then nodded. "Let's all go home, to the ones
who wait for us."

The ships turned and leapt through the vastness of space to home,
leaving the stars shining brightly against the darkness...

*** The End (?) ***

**** **** ****
ENDING NOTES: I'd like to thank Rumiko Takahashi for creating
"Urusei Yatsura;" Fred Herriot and Mike Smith for creating the world of
"Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year" and its sequels; E.B. Kushnir for editing
it all; and Gainax for creating "Gunbuster." And for those who wonder "When
did Noriko and Kazumi return to Earth?" Well...watch the OVAs to find out.
^_^
**** **** ****