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One Moment

Author: shinto_red


Rated: PG13



Chapter 4

 For the story line, I've pushed the characters' age up by a year.
 Meaning, Hikaru will be 18 ( instead of 17 that I think he is at this
 point in the regular series) and Misa will be 21.
 Kakizaki ( Ben Dixon ) will stay dead, unlike Roy.
 Max is already married and has a kid. I think that's about it
 with my screwing up the timeline. What? Still here?
 If you want to find out about the rest, read the stuff below!
 Oh, and this part is dedicated for Admiral RT and pangeman, for
 all their encouragement.
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Don't own Macross.

One Moment
by Shinto Red




Part 4:


" Psst. What do you guys think the happened with
 Capt. Hayase and Lt. Ichijyo? " whispered Shammy.
" I don't know. But I heard they were running all over
 the place and ended up at her room. " said Kim.
" I heard they were on something and then they did it. "
 added Shammy.
" No way! "
" Keep it down!"
" Sorry. I understood they were sent to the brig. "
" Uh, guys... I think you should stop." cut in Vanessa. " As
 bizarre as the situation is, it's really none of our business.
" Don't be such a weenie. "
" I think you should listen to her. "
The heads turned to the front of the bridge to find
 Claudia giving them a warning glare. They quickly returned
 to watching the monitors. As scary as Capt. Hayase was when
 provoked, they had a feeling that Claudia was probably much worse.
************************************************************


After completing her shift, Claudia decided to visit
 Misa on the last day of her "sentence". " How are you? "
" Fine. Just can't wait till tomorrow. "
" How was it? "
Misa let out a sigh. " We didn't really talk.
 He just stood in one part of the room, while I stood in another. "
Claudia looked exasperated. " Did anything happen? "
" We just agreed to act like everything is normal for
 appearances. God knows what a mess we created with him chasing
 me. "
Claudia let out a sigh. " That's true. You will have to watch
 yourselves the next couple of days. The gossip factory is in full swing.
 What did the Captain say? "
" Gave a mild reprimand. I can only think fate decided to be
 merciful by having a Minmei single released that day. Thanks God it
 wasn't a slow news day. "
" Misa... Have you thought about what you're going to do about
 the baby? "

She had a far away look in her eye. " I don't know. "
" I can't have child right now. My career would be ruined. I'd
 never be promoted again. A single mother who a child out of wedlock
 is not a great example for the military. And I can't... I don't want to bring
 a child that isn't wanted. I want the child to have a family, like I
 did until..."
"...Your mother passed away. " added Claudia quietly.
Misa shut her eyes and nodded. " I don't want the child to go
 through that type of suffering. "
" But this child's parents are alive. Besides, how do you
 know he'll reject the child? "
Misa let out a sigh. " Why would an 18 year old kid want to
 be a daddy? "
" You never know until you ask. "
Misa just stared at her bare wall. " You want keep it, don't you?"
Misa wrung her hands. "...Yes..."
Claudia waited patently for the rest to come. " I always
 thought I'd be a spinster with twenty 20 cats. "
" Only twenty? "
Misa gave a small smile. " Maybe more... but, now I have a
 chance to have some sort of family, even if it isn't with a house,
 a dog and white picket fence. I'll be able to love someone with my
 whole heart...and perhaps they will too. "
' And at least I'll have something from him. '
Claudia took Misa's hands. " If that's what you want, don't
 give a damn about anyone else. Who knows what will happen in the future.
 Married women in the service were frowned upon once and now that's ok.
 Maybe single mom's are next. I'll support you no matter what. "
Misa gave a choked 'thank you' before hugging Claudia.
" Besides," added Claudia after pulling back from the hug. "
 I've always wanted to be an aunt. "

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

Hikaru sat with arms folded. His brows were creased and
 he wasn't talking. If Kakizaki was still around, he'd say Hikaru
 was in one of his ' Minmei moods '.
" I love the food here. It's the best Chinese restaurant in
 town. " gushed an enthusiastic pilot.
" It's the only one. " added Max.
" That's why it's the best! Isn't that right, Lt.Ichijyo? "
Silence.
" What's wrong, sir? "
" Nothing. "
The noise and the excitement increased suddenly.
" It's Minmei! " someone shouted.
' Just my freakin' luck! I'm having enough trouble
 with women! ' thought Hikaru.
Minmei came to their table. " How's everyone doing? "
The young pilots who sat with Hikaru and Max gave
 her enthusiastic responses. Max's response was by far more
 subdued.
" I'm fine. Thank you for asking. " said Max.
Hikaru's was sarcastic. " Super. "
" Is something wrong, Hikaru? "
" Sorry Minmei. It just hasn't been my week. "
" Oh, well, I hope things will work out for the best. "
Minmei's aunt entered the room. " Oh, there's my aunt. I'll
 talk to you later. "
" Wow! I can't believe we met Minmei. Hey Lt. Ichijyo, you
 weren't kidding when you said you knew her. "
The rookie pilots chatted excitedly amongst themselves. Meanwhile
 Hikaru got up from the table, left money for his order and walked out
 of the restaurant. Max did the same and followed Hikaru.
" Sempai! Wait! "
Hikaru stopped and sighed. " Sempai, what's going on? "
Hikaru resumed his walking. Max was getting frustrated.
 " You're not running from me. "
" Who said I'm running. You're coming with me to my quarters. "
Max just shook his head. ' Definitely worse than a Minmei mood. '

*******************************************************************
He placed the pot of tea and the tea cup in front of Max and placed
 a bottle of whisky and glass for himself. It been a gift from Roy when he turned
 eighteen not so long ago.
' Who would have thought I needed it. Guess Sempai knew what he was
 talking about. '
He poured himself some and took a gulp. He started to cough and
 he beat his chest lightly. ' How does Roy drink half a bottle in one gulp?'
After the second time though, it wasn't as harsh. Max meanwhile
 took a sip his tea. His brow had furrowed briefly before a look of
 understanding could be seen on his face. A smile was tugging at the
 corners of his mouth.
" Sempai, what problems are you having with Capt. Hayase that you
 have to drink?"
Hikaru lost his grip on his glass and the glass spilled all over the
 carpeted floor. " Shit! "
Max helped Hikaru clean up the mess as best as they could. " I'm
 sorry. I'll pay for the cleaning. "
" It's alright. I have rug that I can use to cover it up. "
They got settled again in their seats. Hikaru's hands were on his knees
 and his gaze was focused on them. " How did you know? "
Max smiled again. " My father told me that only to things can drive
 a man to drink: financial woes or a woman. If it was financial woes, every
 soldier would be found passed out in his room. So it had to be a woman.
 It wasn't Minmei, your interactions with her didn't show tension. So,
 the only logical choice was Capt. Hayase. "
" You really are a genius. "
Max shook his head. " It was only a logical deduction. I could have
 been wrong. There could be a third woman in your life I'm not aware of. "
' He's so modest. '
" So, Lt. Ichijyo, what problems do you have with the good Captain
 now? "
" You'll find out in less than nine months. " he said softly.
Max's eyes widened. " She's pregnant?! "
Hikaru nodded an affirmative. " And you're the father? "
Hikaru couldn't quite bring himself to look at Max.
" You're not very enthusiastic about fatherhood. "
" It was unexpected. "
" I hear a story coming. "
Hikaru grinned at the comment. He proceeded to tell Max what he had
 told Claudia and Roy in addition to the events of that day. Max sat quietly
 in his seat and processed the information before responding.
" Do you know what her plans are? "
Hikaru shook his head. " No. Like I said we just stood there and tried
 to look at anything but the other person in the room. We only agreed
 to act like we would usually. "
Max sighed. " You need to talk to her. Do you even want the child? "
" My dad always told me to take responsibility for my actions. If
 she's keeping the baby, then I'll support her and the child. I won't leave
 a kid without a father."
" You still haven't answered my question. "
Hikaru let out a sigh of his own. " I don't know Max. Just a little
 while back I was still considered a kid. Heck, I still am. The next, I'm
 a daddy. It's just scary. I don't know... "
" I was also scared about Komilia before her birth. "
Hikaru's head popped up. " I had lot's of worries. Would she come out
 normal? Would there any complications? "
" Well, that's obvious you'd be thinking about that. She was the first
 Zentradi-Human baby. "
" True. But I also had the fears you did. Even though I had wanted to
 be with Milia, I wasn't quite as ready for the idea of fatherhood as I
 thought I was. "
" So, what changed? "
" When I saw Komilia the first time, I would have to say I was
 petrified. She was so small...so fragile... How could I hold something so
 delicate? How could I take care of her? "
A warm small spread across his face. " But, then one small hand grabbed
 my finger... and I knew I wanted her. I knew that I really wanted to be
 a father. Somehow, I felt I was ready... "
Hikaru sat back in his arm chair. " I think I should be calling
 you Sempai. "
Max started laughing. " You're older and have more flight experience.
 You're still Sempai. "
" By just a few months. "
" Doesn't matter. " said Max. " Sempai? "
Hikaru noticed a sudden change in Max's mood. " Yeah? "
" Do you love her? "
Hikaru ran a hand through his unruly hair. " I care for
 her. We had become friends. "
Max folded his arms. " Well, I believe the situation proves
 that there is more than friendship between the two of you. "
" There is an attraction, but I don't know if I love her..."
" Do you love Minmei? "
" If you had asked me several months ago, I would have told
 you I did. But, I guess it was Kakizaki's death... When she called me
 and just started talking about herself... How she wanted me to visit
 her as if she expected me to drop everything... She never asked how
 I was doing... She never asked afterwards why she didn't see Kakizaki
 anymore..."
He shifted in his seat. His hands were folded and his back hunched over.
 " And her relationship with Kaifun... Her career... I felt like she had drifted
 so far... "
He shut his eyes. " I lost her as soon as she won that contest...
 She always said we were just friends ... She never thought
 of me in any other way... Never showed interest..."
He opened his eyes. " Misa... she visited me immediately after I was
 shot down... even after I said some stuff I shouldn't have... Minmei...
 only knew about after Roy tracked her down... she barely calls...
 Misa was there for me when Kakizaki died... she listened to me...
 She actually listened to me. "
" You found one answer. "
" Yeah. " said Hikaru sadly. " What about the other? "
" I think you need more time with that one. "
" How do I start? "

--------------------------------------------------------------------

How should he? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter.
Comments: Anonymous Reader:Censored Email Address or review


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