[Ketsurui no Iori] Wanting to join the YSA

0N> Ketsurui no Iori Private Academy

Michiko sat in her dorm room, looking out the large window at the gardens below as raindrops trickled down the glass. She smiled quietly to herself as she thought back to the days when she didn't understand anything at all, not even what rain was. But today she had decided for herself where she wanted to go from here, and she knew that it was probably inevitable that it would happen. "I should send a transmission to Mother about my decision." She rose from her chair and glanced about the large dorm room for the com. She approached the screen and adjusted her black uniform blouse and straightened her skirt before activating the com. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breathe. "Connect me to Ketsurui Yui, please."

Yui appeared on the screen momentarily. She was in a large office of some sort, with a bunch of starship designs around her she'd been looking at, dressed in a silk kimono. "Konbanwa, Michiko-chan! It's good to see you again sweetheart," the woman greeted her with a warm smile.

Michiko smiled brightly, "Konbanwa, okasan. It's good to see you as well. I'm sorry I haven't been able to contact you as much lately. I've been trying really hard to do well in my studies."

"Are you succeeding?" Yui asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am. I just have been trying not to get distracted by the other students, they are odd but I've gotten better at tuning out their emotions

lately. I actually have decided what I want to do." Michiko talked quickly and reassuridly.

Yui gave Michiko a funny look. "Their emotions are that bad, eh?" she joked. "And what would that be, Michiko-chan?"

"As bad as can be expected from students. I want to be a counselor... onboard one of the starships. I want to be in the YSA like you and Chiharu-sama were." Michiko pushed a loose strand of hair back behind her ears, as she waited for her mother's reaction to this turn of events.

"Alright," Yui nodded, taking this in. "I'm sure you will help many people." While Yui seemed to agree, there was an obvious look on concern in her eyes, the kind people would have if a puppy started whimpering.

Michiko continued to smile, despite the look in her mother's eyes. "I'll be fine, okasan, really, I will be. I don't think I'll be able to get into much trouble. And I can read people well enough to avoid most conflicts, plus, Saito will be there to protect me if need be. I just, for some reason, feel drawn out there."

"I just worry about you disappearing in a flash of white light like your mother did, sweetie...you have my blessings, but please stay out of enemy sights if possible, dear."

"I know you are. But, I'll do my best to stay backed up and out of harm's way. I just hope that Minori-san will assign me to a ship that's interesting." Michiko replied hopefully.

"I'm sure she will," Yui told Michi. Her mind began to race, searching for a ship to suggest that would stay out of combat for the most part and stick to peaceful exploration.

"How have you been, okasan? You haven't been overworking yourself?" Michiko continued to smile changing the subject, feeling a little relieved that it was recieved as well as could be expected.

"Not really," Yui said. "I've got a lot on my plate but I suppose that's the usual. There are a lot of others out there helping me, so I know I'm not on my own though. It helps. I'm considering retiring again, though."

"Oh? So who'll take over for you and what are you going to do here at home once you retire? I cannot imagine you sitting idle reading books all day in the gardens." Michiko look at her mother curiously.

"Well, I'd still have my job as a starship designer. I'd be able to put more time into it, then, too."

"Ah, I see. Maybe, one of these days we could all go do something together as a family again, when we all get leave, or have time off. I think Daddy will be harder to get a hold of though.." Michiko said thoughtfully, a hint of disappointment in her eyes at mentioning her father.

"I haven't spoken with him in some time," Yui admitted. "He seems preoccupied with Elysia, but I suppose it's to be expected."

"And with his family... doesn't he had a youngling now?" Michiko fiddled with her hair, knowing that she should try to contact her father next.

"I believe so," Yui nodded. "I haven't seen her because Zemer's wife hates Nekovalkyrja. She won't talk to me."

"So my call to Daddy will be very interesting if she's nearby. I guess grudges are hard to overcome, but it understandable." Michiko frowned a bit. "I don't think he'll like my decision very much but, at least, it is my own."

The Taisho nodded solemnly, a little bit of sadness and wonder in her face. "My little baby's all grown up," she half-smiled.

"I guess, I should try to give Daddy a call before it gets too late over there. I'll try to call you again once I get my ship assignment, Mommy. I promise to make a habit of calling you more often." Michiko offered her mom a reassuring smile again as she pushed her hair back behind her ears.

"Alright, sweetheart. Be safe! I love you."

"Love you too. I'll try to be." Michiko gave her mother a short wave as she closed the channel and sighed. She knew that talking to her father wasn't going to be as easy as it was her mother.

Calling Zemer

ON> Ketsurui no Iori Private Academy

Michiko had spent about a half hour in from of the wall com after she had finished talking to her mother to work up the nerve to call her father next. She stared at the com long and hard and took a deep breathe, "you'll never fly if you don't try to flap your wings.. Connect me to Zemerias Kiriel, please." She waited for the call to connect and for someone to answer.

After a long series of rings, each full of heart-wrenching anticipation, a handsome-sounding male voice answered. "Hi! Zemerias Kiriel here..."

Michiko started to speak, "Hi! Dadd..."

"...sorry I can't come to the phone right now. If you'd like to leave a message, just let me know what's on your mind after you hear the chime!" A soft melodic noise followed, and then, uncomfortable silence.

She frowned, and sighed. "Hi, Daddy. It's me... Michi.. I just wanted to know how you and your new/old family were doing since I hadn't heard from you in a while. I guess... that... you have forgotten about me after all. I just wanted to let you know that I am leaving for the fleet within the next few days and I probably may not get the chance to talk to you again." She paused, biting her lip and closing her eyes, it wasn't like he could see her. "So I guess, I won't try to call back again. Talk care... I hope you and your family have a happy life."

Zemer's large, manly hand suddenly snapped up the phone within its grasp. "Michiko, wait!" But the call had already ended. His wife called from a nearby room, where she was taking care of their baby, "who was that?" Zemer held back tears while he casually replied, "Just a wrong number."

Michiko stood in front of the com, pressing her hand against the glass. She was shaking and trying not to cry, but even still, the tears rolled down her cheeks. She had been afraid that he wouldn't answer but she had hoped that he would. She just felt horribly abandoned and alone, even though she knew that Saito would come and try to comfort her once he sensed her distress. It just wasn't fair. She knew he must've been happy there with his first wife and a baby.

OFF>

((Tyler, go ahead and post Saito's reaction to this going on here. Then we can start the IC prep for their departure as a SP as well. ))

Indeed, her thoughts were right that Saito would try to comfort her; it was a natural parental reaction to seeing a child (or equilvalent) in distress. He had been leaning against the wall off to her side out of the view of the screen, disliking the fact she saw fit to let Zemer know about her decision. Frankly, he still didn't like the man but she still saw him as a parent....somewhat and Michi was growing up. It was her choice to make afterall.

"He's such a jerk." He finally said quietly, his keen hearing picking up on what she had said from proximity. Saito didn't say more because he knew his opinions on Zemer would just hurt her more. He walked over behind her and gently put a hand on her shoulder, automatically, his arms held her in a comforting hug, gentle but easy to pull away from. "Don't worry too much Michiko-san (that the right suffix?) you'll meet new people and with you being such a nice girl, it won't take long to make other friends." he said quietly. "I know friends can't replace family but it does make the pain lessen." He added after a moment.

"And you aren't alone." he said, he'd been around her long enough to make educated guesses on what she felt by her body language. He released her after a moment and stood back and shrugged. "We'd best prepare for our departure." Saito said almost to himself.

Michiko remained in the hug, not quite returning it. She sniffed miserably and pulled away from Saito, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Even though it hurts, he is still my father and I do love him. Not... everyone can be perfect, and I don't expect anyone to. He has another family now... one that cannot bear the site of Nekos. Meeting new people will never replace what has been lost here. But, yes, you're right. We should prepare to leave... but I don't believe the next shuttle out is for another few days."

For the rest of the evening, Michiko acted rather distant from Saito, knowing his concern and anger at Zemer where well placed, but she still felt left out despite his reassurance of not being alone.

The next day, Michiko recieved her orders to the 5th Expeditionary fleet and then another few hours later, her assignment to the YSS Akuro..

Michiko stood in front of the mirror in her dormroom, looking over how her new YSA skirt uniform looked on her. Earlier that morning she had recieved her orders to the YSS Akuro and she felt a mix of butterflies and excitement at the sudden news. "This should be interesting. " She spoke off-handly, more to herself than to anyone else. She also vaguely wondered if her father would be proud of her for the choice or angry.. but she didn't even know if he actually cared anymore...

"It looks good on you." Saito said, leaning on the wall behind her. He was wearing a uniform with a long dark blue cloak with his arms crossed, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes and rested his forearm on the sheath of his sword, the longer one across his back under the cloak. "Your first assignment, you must be proud."

Michiko smiled softly as she turned to look at Saito. "A little bit nervous too. I don't plan to leave just yet but I figured that I should try to get used to wearing this new uniform. I think I heard that Chiharu designed the skirt uniform... so I thought that it might be good to honor her memory by wearing it in my first assignment. Are you excited to be heading out to the Akuro as well, Saito-kun?"

He shrugged, his shoulders moving almost imperceptibly but the rustle of the clothing gave it away. "Not really, but it's still my job to keep an eye on you, so that's what I'm doing." he said. "And it would do her an honor if you wore the skirt on the first assignment you received." he said.

She glanced hopefully at the com for a moment out of the corner of her eye before looking back to Saito again. "I just hope you won't be too bored on ship. "

He chuckled a bit. "I'll be fine, even if it's uneventful I'm sure I'll find something to do." Saito said.

Michiko smiled again despite an inward sigh. "Well, I guess we should go get something to eat before we finish out preparations, then? Are you in the mood for anything in particular?" She tilted to her head to one side looking at Saito for a moment before walking towards the door.

"Nothing at the moment." Saito said, brushing a hand through his hair as he pushed off the wall to follow behind her as a lazy seeming, yet confident pace. "I'm up for anything to eat."

She opened the door without really looking, "One of these days you're going to end up eating something that is gross and regret saying things like that. "

A familiar face an broad-chested body stood outside the door. Zemer, his hands fulled with a massive boquet of flowers, seemed to take up the entire doorway, and being right outside, stood directly in Michiko's path.

He chuckled slightly, getting a mental image of that happening. "But Michiko-sama (that right?) I do eat metal on a normal basis." he said, in reminder. Then stopped, his eyes suddenly going hard as the metals he ate a bit of a scowl crossing his face.

Michiko stopped and looked at Zemer, a little startled. "D...daddy?" She wasn't sure what to do now that he was standing right in front of her.

"Hey Michiko," Zemer smiled, putting a large, warm hand on Michi's shoulder. He pushed the flowers towards the girl, offering them.

How can you just act like that when you wouldn't even answer the communication she sent? Saito thought, his features not changing.

Michiko took the flowers with a great sense of uncertainty and tried to smile as her lower lip quivered. She was trying very hard not to start crying again.

"I got your message," the arch-angel told her. "I had to see you off, sweetheart."

"I had thought... that you had forgotten about me." Michiko bit her lower lip as she looked up at her father. "I never thought that you'd come here since you didn't respond." She flushed a light pink, as felt a familiar conflict of emotions again. She tried to mentally pull out which ones were actually hers. "I... I've really missed you..."

"I've missed you too, darling...I didn't know if you wanted me around," Zemer told her, his eyes glossy with wetness. "I'm so sorry."
"You were understandably busy..." Saito muttered quietly. "And forgot her." he thought to himself

"What made you think that... I was really hurt when you left." Michiko frowned a bit and wiped her eyes with one hand. Trying to focus again and keep her blood from starting to boil.

Zemer pulled his daughter in close to him, rubbing her back with one hand, so very glad to have her with him once more. She was so beautiful and wonderful to him, and family. "I should have never left you, but at the time I don't' think I could have done anything else. Please forgive me, Michiko."

Saito kept quiet, he didn't like this much; but it was something Michiko had to deal with on her own.

Michiko leaned against her father's chest, closing her eyes. She wasn't sure what to do or really to say. "I don't think that you could really stay with me now, even if I were to stay... your wife doesn't care for my kind very much from what I've heard... I doubt I could ever be allowed near your other family with how she feels. I guess, sometimes, you just have to leave behind one life for another to find happiness... I have missed you and I still love you but, I know that you were happier to leave than to stay." She kept her eyes closed, knowing that if she didn't keep in control she;d start crying. She had often thought of all the things that she wanted to say to her fater, all the questions... but now she was at a loss as to what to really
"I know," her father nodded, "I know." He kissed her head gently, "I just couldn't let you go, thinking that I didn't care. You're going to be a great Star Army officer, just like your mother was," Zemer smiled. "And you're going to have lots of stories to tell by the time you're ready to become a civilian again, and I'll want to hear them all, dear. I'm so very proud of you."

"Just as long as you don't go getting ideas on her again." The male neko thought, still giving Zemer a deathglare.

"I'll do my best, so that I can come back and tell you some good stories. And so that I won't worry you and Mom too much." She paused for a moment, trying to come up with some small talk. "Oh! We were on our way to get something to eat, if you wanted to join us?"

"Do you think I should?" Zemer asked, a little nervous.

"Why not? it's the least you can do after all this time of ignoring her." Saito growled softly. "She's been worried about you all this time.â€