RP: YSS Miharu Mission 3 Prelude: Rise; you better shine

[5tar]

Re: Mission 3

As Sora made her way about the Miharu, silently Sumaru followed beside the Ketsurui princess, his mind was surprisingly calm, he took in everything that they passed, from rooms to hallways, studying the inside of the ship from step one. His eyes however were always set forward; he concentrated more on his skin vision, becoming more adapted to it then when he first became what he is. Then as Sora arrived to her quarters Sumaru decided to let her enter on her own, he sensed that she may need some alone time, and thus with a silent gesture getting her permission, he left her side and went off to wander the halls of the ship he'd be living in until Sora decided she wanted to be elsewhere.

Sumaru at a first glance to anyone who'd catch him in the halls would come off as a slender yet solid feminine figure in a crisp Ketsurui Clan samurai garb with a small waist and fair skin; even a second look may make you question if he is a she. The NH-27 Nekovalkyrja body wasn't helping either, since Sumaru was now the only male one in the entire empire. His once possessed young feminine like facial features, were now accented with subtle masculine lines, making him come off as more of a bishonen character replacing his old trappish looks that made him almost unmistakably a girl by appearance. He had a small nose and a pair of sharp slightly slanted, almond shaped, frost blue eyes that glinted a hint of softness and carried the sharpness of someone with a strong sense of duty.

His hair almost colorless was a platinum blond, that parted so his long bangs could cover his left eye and come to a point just a little under his chin, though his eye was still visible because of the vibrant light frost blue. The lightly textured hair line cropped just at the base of the back of his skull and progressively sloped longer forward to his bangs.

A few minor details about Sumaru worthy of note, his left Nekovalkrja ear was pierced in three places going up his and was was furred to match the color of his platinum colored hair. In the deep neck opening of his samurai uniform there hung a thin silver girl's necklace with a tiny tribal star charm hanging from it. Then last but not least, the Ketsurui Samurai wore his rank insignia, a Santô Juni pin was displayed over the left breast of his short white yukata top.

 

[Kim]

Re: Mission 3

"Yes ma'am, I have double-checked all of our medicinal inventory and run two diagnostic routines on all of the medical equipment. Everything is in perfect working order, although I am certain you will not take my word for it. And I agree, you should scrutinize my work as you are my superior, and I understand that your level of skill is in a league beyond mine. If there is any way I can assist you, however, please ask."

The young Ketsurui smiled warmly at Sanjuro, reassured by his attentiveness to detail and his diligence to his duties. "You flatter me, Ashitaka-Hei but I'm afraid if I didn't check your work, I might not have anything to do. You are very efficient and I appreciate your dedication. Did you have any suggestions on anything we might need for the next mission?"

Sora pushed an errant strand of red hair back behind her ear as she divided her attention between Sanjuro and her data pad. She of course, had no problems giving Sumaru free range around the ship, and she still questioned the need for a samurai to be shadowing her on her assigned ship.

Am I really in any more danger than anyone else on the ship during combat? She wondered to herself. I remember Hanako-san having one but... it didn't seem to help her that much but if this is what Sumaru-kun and Grandma want, I guess I can deal with it. It's just a role I have to play, but I'd rather not be the frightened, helpless princess that needs a knight to rescue her. She thought a little bitterly. She continued to smile softly at Sanjuro as she waited for his response.

"Sumaru-kun, just so you know, I'm in the Medical Bay if you need to locate me," Sora passed the message along to the Samurai a little reluctantly but she couldn't see herself backing out of this agreement the second she returned to the Miharu because the notion of a bodyguard annoyed her with it's implication of her needing protection.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

"Silly on the ship ... but once we are off, you will blend right into summer." Yukari smiled, before returning to the oven. The heavy smell of bread seemed to push breathable air out of the way. "It sounds like a very nice dress. I wish I owned one such as that.

"But there are too many options, are there not? Neko were not made to be fashionable outside of their uniforms. We are ill-equipped to even speak about it. It does not seem right, to have created a lifeform, but give it no chance to look pretty."

* * *

Yuri, at that moment, was thinking the same thing. Sort of.

She was thinking why Kei's near-platinum hair was all the rage with the trainees. Did no one appreciate a deep, subtle hue like hers? Walking behind Kei usually brought these thoughts to her mind. They had just arrived onboard the Miharu, and were walking through the hangar as their shuttle flew away.

Kôsuka was in the lead. Each warrior had a small shoulderbag, white with a red dot on the flap, signifying the nation it belonged to. Kei and Yuri were not wearing a completely white uniform, as was standard for their trainee status; they wore navy blue hakama, which placed them in the strange situation of being "journeywomen" Samurai. It gave them many of the responsibilities of being Samurai, but without all of the authority. Their rank was technically Ittô Hei.

Getting up to the upper deck was easy enough. A long corridor all the way to a really, really impressive wardroom — Yuri didn't expect it to be this glamorous — and what appeared to be some fellow crewmembers. A Neko with a really long skirt ... a few men ... hm. Weird. There wasn't time to deal with it anyway; she and Kei were sent port-side to settle into one of the enlisted quarters.

The pair almost silently cleared the stairs, and started down the hall, but froze when they saw a — a man? A man?! Wearing Samurai robes? Yuri started to reach for her short sword, but Kei put a hand back to stop her. Handcode — "Inquire MEGAMI." Yuri did so, and found the male Neko was an actual Samurai. How ...

Kei engaged him as she would any other Samurai. Brown-noser, Yuri thought.

"Hasegawa-dono," the Neko said, bowing.

* * *

Kôsuka was busy absorbing the atmosphere of the ship's wardroom. She stood in place and merely looked.

 

[MoonMan]

Re: Mission 3

"I do not know the specifics of our next mission, therefore I have prepared for most possible scenarios as well as one or two unlikely positions that we, as medical crewman, would possibly be faced with," Sanjuro noted with a dry tone as he flipped through his own datapad. "We should have everything we need..."

And then, a pause. Sanjuro stopped tapping away at his datapad and simply looked at it, an odd look playing across his face as his eyes narrowed and lips pursed. After a moment or so of contemplation Sanjuro spoke up, taking his attention away from the small screen and onto his superior. "I suppose I do have one concern I must share. Whom do you, as my leading officer aboard this vessel, consider to be a part of the medical group? A complete list, if you may be so kind."

 

[5tar]

Re: Mission 3

"Sumaru-kun, just so you know, I'm in the Medical Bay if you need to locate me," Sora passed the message along to the Samurai a little reluctantly but she couldn't see herself backing out of this agreement the second she returned to the Miharu because the notion of a bodyguard annoyed her with it's implication of her needing protection.

Sumaru felt the slight hints of displeasure in her tone, and returned the message a few moments after a sigh. "Would you like me to come bring you something, or perhaps stop by for a visit?" Sumaru's tone was teasing, after all he preferred to hear her in better spirits. "You don't need to keep me updated on your position if you don't wish to, it's okay." He had MEGAMI to do that for him instead. "Are you feeling any better though Sora? I didn't mean to leave you... but I assumed you would have liked to spend the time alone."

• * * *

Sumaru paused in his steps as the two trainees froze, his back to them, his frost blue eyes closed a moment as he concentrated on the vision though his skin on the two. A single slow breath filled Sumaru's lungs, his mind clearing of all thought as Yuri reached for the hilt of her blade. There seemed to be nothing disrupting his external serenity other then the opening of his right hand which was freely hanging at his side, it was the only reaction he seemed to have to the situation, the subtle movement was enough to warn that he had no qualms with defending himself to an attack.

His hands never reaching for his sword, because he knew unless he was planning on drawing blood he wouldn't be using it, and to attack a student with his blade would be a sorry display of self-control.

He paid attention to the hand gestures of the other blond, and noted internally their dispositions. He expected something like this, after all he received the same treatment all throughout his samurai training, so he waited until the hostile one was less tense and turned to face the two as Kei moved to engage him in a formal greeting.

He smiled kindly to Kei and bowed in return; giving her a properly respected bow, not low enough to be humble and not too high to be arrogant. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Seito-kun," Sumaru said with an almost endearing equality to his tone, then turned his head, and from his bow he nodded to his head once more towards Yuri and greeted her too, "and you as well Seito-chan." He said almost playfully, being the kind soul he was, after all Sumaru was like that once too, so strong headed.

He had grown accustomed to being around Samurai, so the two were a welcome sight, and it also meant that their teacher was on board, another samurai for him to meet.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

Kei rose from her bow and smiled, short hair gleaming. "We were not aware of another Samurai on board, Hasegawa-dono. You are protecting the Ketsurui princess?"

Yuri was standing straight and behind Kei, but her facial expression was not a positive one. She was somewhat reviled and confused. A male Neko ... let alone a Samurai? It seemed an abomination. Something reserved for bad Neko porn. Suddenly the toilets back at Samurai House did not sound so bad.

 

[5tar]

Re: Mission 3

Sumaru rose just the same and nodded once to answer Kei's inquiry. "I was assuming that I'd be the only one onboard, but to see other samurai here is indeed a welcome sight." His eyes moved from Kei to the space behind the two trainees. "I assume your sensei is elsewhere then," now back to the short haired student, "may I ask, whom are you two training under?"

He didn't seem to react any to Yuri's expression, he expected it really. Internally he simply shrugged it off.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

"Kôsuka-dono," Kei replied, then paused for a second. "She is here on official business for the Taisa."

Yuri nodded; Kei had remembered what to say.

 

[5tar]

Re: Mission 3

Taisa Ketsurui's own mother, here on official business for herself? He seemed intrigued to know more, but decided that now would not be the time nor the people to ask. This ship might have a little more to it then he first thought, but perhaps knowing less would be knowing more. "Well I look forward to another conversation, and if you need anything from me do not be afraid to ask."

"May Yuumi's spirit watch over you." He bowed his head once more and allowed them to move by before he'd continue on his way wandering the halls.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

Kei and Yuri both bowed as he passed, and Yuri looked through her skin to see him continue to wander.

The pair found their room — Enlisted No. 5 — and sat on their respective beds.

"Men are not meant to be Samurai," Yuri said as soon as her ass hit the mattress. "We are. Us. You and me."

"Sex is not a defining characteristic, especially for us," Kei said, looking down at the floor. "We're NH-27 ... We are practically sexless, aren't we?"

"It's more than just his sex," Yuri said, disgusted. "We are Neko. We live to fight and kill for our Empire. What was he? Some Yamataian who wanted to play Samurai."

"He did not get the aka-no-hakama by buying them, Yuri." Kei was trying to defend him, but she knew she wouldn't win. Yuri was already convinced. "M-maybe Kôsuka-sensei knows something about him?"

* * *

Kôsuka almost sneezed, but she suppressed it using an ancient Samurai trick.

Her eyes darted from person-to-person, from the two men sitting and discussing something over a datapad, to the long-skirted Neko in the wardroom who appeared ... awkward. She knew the type.

She took deliberate steps up to the Neko and smiled down at her — the Neko was a bit on the short side. "Murasaki ... -Shoi, isn't it?" the Samurai asked.

 

[Lin]

Re: Mission 3

Aoiko's plan for coping with the sudden influx of samurai in the wardroom - making herself as small and unobtrusive as possible - seemed to have failed. The moment it became clear that Kôsuka was heading in her direction, she was on her feet and issuing an exceedingly formal low bow.

'Hai. I am Shoi Murasaki Aoiko, samurai-sama,' she said smoothly, desperately hoping that she was not giving away her nervousness and anxiety.

 

[Abwehran Commander]

Re: Mission 3

"No it's not you, Kurohoshi-Juni. You're a fine armor commander, it's my fault for being a poor pilot."

Masako seemed confused by the statement at first, her left eyebrow rising as if to request her subordinate to continue.

"I think I love Westwood-Hei."

Okay, that got the Warrant Officer to halt altogether and raise both eyebrows in surprise. Someone...love Asher? A moment of pause in her mind and Masako berated herself mentally. That wasn't the nicest thing to be surprised about. After all, Asher's qualities could be endearing....if he weren't such a hot-head. Okay, that thought wasn't fair either. Maybe she was just being biased when it came to the Yamataian.

"But I don't know what that means. What's it mean? I don't feel like I used to, I feel....different."

Now Masako was frowning, not in any disappointment, but rather in sympathy. Yoroko wasn't the first to not understand the concepts of love. Hell, Masako barely understood it herself. But that was because she had never expressed any interest in finding out before. Maybe she was the strange one. "Mizuno-Hei," Masako replied softly as she grasped the enlisted woman's arm gently, a mere seconds had passed while she was thinking and the arm was meant to halt her progress as well.

"I honestly can't help you with this," she replied honestly after a moment's pause. "Love isn't something I've openly...tried to understand. That and personal bias against Westwood-Hei has my thoughts on this rather mixed," she explained before shaking her head. "But...I believe that it's good to explore these feelings," she stated as she gave the pilot a cute smile. "Talk to him. Maybe if you talk...something will come of it." she stated before nodding. "Now...no crying at dinner, okay? It's not good to embarrass yourself in front of samurai," she said in a teasing tone, hoping to cheer the woman up.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

The reverence some paid Samurai always unnerved Kôsuka. She wasn't angry, but had never adapted to it. Being a Stealth Sentinel, she dealt with people too little, she had surmised one day in the palace. Some, such as Sonoda-san, were just overly formal.

Not this one.

"Kôsuka," she said smoothly, trying to put her at ease. "You must be the intelligence officer?" She felt lame for having only that question to ask, but Kôsuka had already done the research on most everyone, and now that she confirmed Aoiko was Aoiko, she knew far more about the Neko than she wanted to.

 

[Lin]

Re: Mission 3

Aoiko herself was unnerved by unexpectedly having to shift into an even more formal demeanour than she normally used. 'I am, Kôsuka-sama,' she said as smoothly as she could. She very nearly launched into a recital of her curriculum vitae, but quickly thought better of it - if the samurai knew her name, she almost certainly knew who she was. After realising that, Aoiko further realised that she had nothing further to say, and quite promptly began an awkward silence.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

"Just Kôsuka," the Samurai said. Poor Neko. She was older than Kôsuka by a couple years, but she was treating her as if she were royalty.

"Have you met your ship commander yet?" she asked.

 

[mizunoyoroko]

Re: Mission 3

Yoroko turned to face Masako when the officer gently grasped her arm, and listened to what Masako had to say. "But I can't love him!" Yoroko almost shouted before running her hand through her hair angrily. "I can't. You saw me in the simulators, I can barely fly let alone shoot the right targets." Yoroko's face and voice betrayed her exasperation as she spoke. "If that's what love will do to me, I-I can't. I'd be putting this ship at risk. Her entire crew." Yoroko paused a bit, confused by her own thoughts, "Him."

But I still love him, the Yamataian thought sadly as another tear slid down her cheek, "and I don't even know what it means." Yoroko felt horribly for dumping all of this on the unexpecting Warrant Officer, but it mattered. It was Masako that had been mowed down countless times, in recent simulations Yoroko was sometimes as dangerous or more dangerous than the simulated targets.

It was then that Yoroko processed the last comment by Masako, Samurai!? Yoroko's mind reeled and her face contorted itself in a mixture of fear and surprise she wasn't even half presentable emotionally or physically. I need to change!! the Yamataian tried to get to her room, but her body wasn't responding, she stood there locked in place a prisoner of herself. Silently a small stopwatch in her head counted down the time left before dinner.

 

[Abwehran Commander]

Re: Mission 3

"If that is what love does, then how can Suzuka-Shosa and Freeman-Juni function the way they do?" Masako asked the enlisted woman with almost a motherly tone. The short nekovalkryja frowned and looked at Yoroko's eyes. "You won't get over this if you don't talk to him," she emphasized as Yoroko seemed to be getting worse.

This wouldn't do at all...having someone come to dinner as an emotional wreck. With a sudden sigh, Masako did something very many people wouldn't expect.

The 4'11" tall Warrant Officer stooped down until her shoulder was at waist height to Yoroko and with one quick motion, picked the Santô Hei up over her shoulder. It was a good thing the two had been in the Starboard Recreation Room for their simulation, because that was the same area that Yoroko's quarters were on. With the enlisted woman secure on her shoulder, the shorter neko physically began to carry Yoroko to Starboard Enlisted Quarters Seven.

 

[Lin]

Re: Mission 3

Aoiko shook her head. 'I am afraid not,' she said. 'I went from the interview to my house, and my house to the shuttle. I have yet to really meet anyone of the crew, I fear.'

 

[Doshii Jun]

Re: Mission 3

"Don't fear," Kôsuka said. "I believe she is a good commander. From what I hear."

A call quickly went through the ship — "Two minutes to the start of dinner. Two minutes."

 

[Kim]

Re: Mission 3

Sumaru felt the slight hints of displeasure in her tone, and returned the message a few moments after a sigh. "Would you like me to come bring you something, or perhaps stop by for a visit?" Sumaru's tone was teasing, after all he preferred to hear her in better spirits. "You don't need to keep me updated on your position if you don't wish to, it's okay." He had MEGAMI to do that for him instead. "Are you feeling any better though Sora? I didn't mean to leave you... but I assumed you would have liked to spend the time alone."

Sora looked at Sanjuro thoughtfully and for the moment, dismissed Sumaru's teasing without comment, returning her attention to Sanjuro's question, hoping to resolve the conversation with her visible subordinate first before replying to her currently absent shadow.

"I suppose I do have one concern I must share. Whom do you, as my leading officer aboard this vessel, consider to be a part of the medical group? A complete list, if you may be so kind."

"Well, there's only a couple of us really now that Ich... Serizawa-Hei has left us. So that means that on my official roster, I have myself, you and Saito-Hei. But as you already know, Saito-Hei works primarily as a sensor specialist so her attentions are understandably divided per Ketsurui-Taisa's need for bridge crew.

To me, this means that Saito-Hei will most likely be filling in to assist us here in medical as the need arises. I also wouldn't be against the notion of training all the crew members on first responder triage techniques or even basic first aide / life saving techniques. It's better for more people to know how to stabilize critical wounds until we can get people proper medical treatment. But again, as you already know, most of our field triage techniques and training in the case of serious or life threatening injuries is primarily- stabilization until we can get the patient into a hemosynth tank...."

A call quickly went through the ship — "Two minutes to the start of dinner. Two minutes."

The young Ketsurui paused with a smile, "But I digress, we can discuss the options for how we want to maintain proper staffing in the medical bays after dinner. If that was what I believe your intention was in asking whom I considered a part of our medical staff?"

She flicked some loose strands of her hair off her shoulder with a flick of her right hand before she inwardly sighed and decided to reply to Sumaru. "I can meet up with you at dinner, since I'm going to head there now. I'm feeling.... okay, as well as could be expected but I'll survive. Life... goes on, I guess is what I can learn from this whole mess among other things. "