Macross Fan Fiction ❯ One Moment ❯ Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

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: Shintored@yahoo.com or review