My Space

He was sitting on the couch in his room. A picture lay besides his right leg. It showed Rick and Roy smiling with drinks in front of them. It was taken after their first big mission with the Zentraedi. They looked so happy. Rick wished that he could feel that happiness again. But Roy was gone. His funeral was eight hours ago. He had gone to the White Dragon with the others and listened to their stories. He saw Claudia leave early and after a couple more stories he had left himself. He hadn’t cried. Yet he still felt the pain of losing his brother. A knock came from his door. Rick got up to open it and found Lisa standing there.

“Rick, are you alright?” She asked.

“I’m as well as to be expected I guess.” He answered.

Lisa nodded. “That was a nice touch, saluting Roy at the funeral.”

Rick nodded. “I can’t believe that he’s really gone. I think that he’s off on some mission and that he’ll be back any day now.”

“Well, I guess that would be a normal coping device in this situation.” Lisa said sitting down in the chair next to the couch.

“I guess so. Did you go after Claudia? I saw her leave.” He inquired.

“Yes, I found her at Roy’s room. I walked with her back to her room and then decided to come see how you were faring.” She replied.

“Sammie and Vanessa are with Claudia now, so she isn’t alone.” She continued.

“She is real torn up about Roy so the company will be good for her. How’d you know I’d be here and not anywhere else?” Rick asked.

“Lucky guess” Lisa answered shrugging her shoulders.

Rick grinned. “You know Roy thought I was crazy for not turning around and staying on Earth the day the SDF-1 launched.”

“Why would he say that?” she asked.

“Because, he didn’t want me getting killed. And look here we are-he’s in a casket and I’m sitting here on my couch.” Rick answered.

“Well he died a hero, doing what he loved.” Lisa stated.

Rick nodded.
Rick and Lisa spent the next few hours telling stories about Roy. Rick told Lisa stories from before she had met him and Lisa told him stories from when she first met Roy. They talked into early morning. Halfway through the last story, Lisa drifted off to sleep with her head resting on the cushiony back of the chair where she had positioned herself not twenty minutes ago with her feet curled up under her. Rick stopped in mid sentence when he saw that Lisa was no longer listening. He went to his closet and grabbed a blanket. Walking back to Lisa he placed the blanket over her and went into his own bedroom to catch some sleep.

Rick found himself in front of his old house, the one he lived in with his father and Roy.

“Hey little bro, you’re blocking the light.” Roy said.

Rick turned to see Roy sitting by a tree with a book in his hand.

Rick walked over to his big brother and sat down besides him. “What are you reading?”

“The Art of War by Sun Tzu.” Roy stated. “It deals with military strategy and was written many years before either of us was even born.”

“Is it still prevalent to us in this day and age?” Rick inquired.

“Yes, I find it quite interesting. In one chapter it states “If you know both yourself and your enemy, you will come out of one hundred battles with one hundred victories.” So by understanding the enemy you will have a greater likelihood to win the battle.” Roy answered.

“That sounds like a good idea.” Rick said.

Roy nodded.

While looking at the book Rick noticed an envelope protruding out of it. He took the envelope and looked at it. “Who sent you this? Claudia?”

“Give that back.” Roy stated.

“Not until you answer my question.” Rick replied.

“Ok, yes if you must know. Claudia sent it.” Roy answered him.

Rick grinned.

“You know, someday you’ll find someone as wonderful as my Claudia and in your heart you’ll know she’s the one.” Roy continued.

“How will I know?”Rick inquired.
“Just listen to your heart. It will guide you.” Roy replied.

Rick nodded. “I’ll try.”

Roy looked at his watch and started to stand. “It’s time for me to go. Pop wants to see me.”

“See you about what?”

“Never you mind little bro.”

Roy started to walk towards the house. “I’ll catch ya later Rick.” He said stopping for a minute. He then walked towards the house again.

Rick woke up. He sat up in bed and wondered the meaning of the dream he just had. Meanwhile in the other room Lisa was sound asleep having a dream of her own.

Lisa sat on the park bench in the middle of the city looking at the fountain.

“Penny for your thoughts.” She heard. Looking up she saw Roy standing besides her.

Lisa smiled. “I think you’ll want to up that price once you hear what I have to say.”

Roy sat down next to her. “Well let me the judge of that.”

Lisa grinned at him. “I was thinking of Karl and wondering what it would be like if he was still alive. I wonder if he’d be on a base somewhere while I was here and if we’d still be together. Then I start to think about Rick and even though he’s immature at times there’s still something about him you know, but then theres Minmei and how he’s still enraptured with her.”

“Wow, I should have asked for more upfront.” Roy teased.

Lisa hit him gently on the shoulder. “What am I to do with you?”

Roy shrugged.

“You know Lisa, it’s time to stop thinking about Karl.”

“How do I do that?”

“A shot of brandy? No, focus on your job and friends and just listen to your heart...it knows whats good for you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Positive”

“And if my heart is telling me to give Rick a chance what will happen if he chooses Minmei?”

“He won’t choose her. She hardly compares to you.”

“Aww that sweet of you to say even if you are lying.”

“But it’s true. Just wait and see. Your heart knows what it wants and how to get it.”

Roy gave Lisa a quick kiss on the cheek. “I have to get going now.”

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere where I can watch over everyone.”

“Where’s that?” She asked.

“Be seeing you Lisa.” Was all Roy said as he walked away.

Lisa woke up.

“What a strange dream.” She said.

She then noticed that she was not laying in her bed and then she remembered that she fell asleep on Rick’s chair. She got up and quietly picked up her shoes and tiptoed to the door. She had not noticed a pair of bemused blue eyes watching her. Lisa had her hand on the doorknob.

“You wouldn’t be trying to sneak out now would you?”

Startled, Lisa replied “Rick! I thought that you were asleep!”

“I was but then I woke up.” He responded. “Um, before you go I want to thank you for coming over tonight and checking on me. I know the last twenty-four hours have been rough on everyone but I really appreciate it.” He continued.

“You’re welcome. I know in times likes this it helps to have a friend.”

“Yeah” Rick said looking at Lisa.

“Well I should probably get going. I think I overstayed my welcome. Are you going to be alright if I leave? Lisa asked.

Rick nodded.

“It will get better I promise.” Lisa said as she kissed him on the cheek. “I shall see you in the morning.”

Lisa walked to the door. She opened it and walked out leaving a stunned Rick. He could still feel the heat from the kiss on his cheek. As he walked back to bed his heart skipped a beat at the thought of Lisa and at what the new day would bring. Rick now knew what Roy had been telling him. He would let his heart guide him.

As Lisa walked back to her room, she thought about Roy and what he had said to her as well. Her heart did know what it wanted and by listening to it she may one day get her heart’s desire.

You just wanted to make a love story between you and Chichiri, didn't you?

Chichiri: Daaa?

Neko: Who, me? Psshhh...no! 'Course not! *glomps Chichiri*

Chichiri: *sighs and pats Neko's head* No da...

Ayame: I apologize on her behalf.

Chichiri: It's okay, no da. I'm used to it. (^-^)

Neko: Hey, he has it easy! You should feel sorry for Tasuki.

Chichiri: Why, no da?

Aki: TASUKI? DID SOMEONE SAY TASUKI?

Chichiri and Ayame: (O.O)

Neko: That's why. (-.-')

Aki: Has anyone seen Tasuki?

Tasuki: Kuso...*tries to sneak away*

Aki: TASUKI! *glomps Tasuki*

Tasuki: HOLY SUZAKU! SOMEONE GET THIS CRAZY WOMAN OFFA ME!

Chichiri: *starts to help, but is stopped by a death-glare from Aki* U-umm...I-I don't think I should, no da...*sweatdrop*

Ayame: It was nice knowing you, Tasuki.

Tasuki: But...I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON! WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?

(*Neko: I bet you guys are wondering the same thing. I'm Chichiri'sNeko-chan, the author of this fic. Ayame is my alter ego. (^-^) Aki is short for AKIMOTO TSUBAKI, a fellow author and Fushigi Yuugi fan. (n.n) Look her up! Her story will BLOW YOUR MIND! (o.O) And hopefully, you know who Chichiri and Tasuki are~! (^^)*)

Neko: We're just a couple fangirls. No one special~! *continues to glomp Chichiri*

Ayame: Speak for yourself.

Neko: And THIS is why you're my alter ego. We're NOTHING alike! (-.-)

Chichiri: Of course, no da. That's why it's called an ALTER EGO. (^^')

Neko: Shut up.

Chichiri: (o.O)

Neko: I'M SORRY, CHIRI-KUN! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! (TT^TT) *squeezes Chichiri tightly while crying*

Chichiri: N-Neko-chan...I-I can't breathe...no da!

Neko: *stops* (o.o) *lets go of Chichiri* Eh heh heh...gomen ne, Chiri-kun. (^^') Daijoubu ka?

Chichiri: *gasp* *wheeze* D-daijoubu, no da. (O.O)

Ayame: Neko no baka.

Neko: Shut up, Ayame!

Aki: Hey Neko, do you know anyone who would marry someone against their will?

Neko: Hmm...nope, not me. Google it! Google knows everything! (^-^)

Aki: Okay! Thanks! *drags Tasuki away* Come on, Tasu-chan. It's Google time~! (^^)

Tasuki: NOOO! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!

Ayame: *sweatdrop* It's just marriage, Tasuki. She's not proposing to throw you off a cliff.

Tasuki: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Neko: *sigh* Oh well. I'm focusing on my darling Chiri-kun now! *grins at Chichiri with hearts in her eyes*

Chichiri: *blushes* D-daa...(o.o)

Neko: Awww, look! Look, Ayame! Chiri-kun's blushing~! SO KAWAII! *glomps Chichiri...again ^^'*

Ayame: Yep.

Neko: You're so kawaii, Chiri-kun! Maybe WE should get married!

Chichiri: (O.O) N-nani, no da?

Alyssa: Hey! I wanna join in with everyone, too!

Ayame: Who are you?

Neko: *gasp* Alyssa-chan! Kon'nichiwa! *runs up and hugs Alyssa*

Alyssa: Kon'nichiwa, Neko-chan!

Chichiri: Anou...*blinks* No da?

Neko: Alyssa-chan is my fellow Fushigi Yuugi fan from Quizazz!

Alyssa: Hey! How come everyone gets their favorite bishies except for me? (:O)

Neko: But Alyssa-chan, Tamahome isn't—

Tamahome: Did someone mention me?

Neko: Oh. Uh. Nevermind, then. (o.O)

Chichiri: Tamahome? When did you get here, no da?

Tamahome: Just now.

Alyssa: (O.O)...

Tamahome: *looks at Alyssa* Anou...*blinks*

Alyssa: TAMAHOME~! (XD) *glomps Tamahome*

Tamahome: WHOA! WHAT THE HECK!

Neko: Looks like Tama-chan has a fan, too. (^^)

Tamahome: *sweatdrop* What's that supposed to mean? Anyway...WHO THE HECK IS THIS GIRL?

Ayame: *sigh*...Just another Fushigi Yuugi fangirl. Will it ever end? (TT^TT)

Neko: Oh, stop complaining! Fushigi Yuugi is what this whole story is about!

Ayame: Hai...I've noticed. (-.-)

Tamahome: Hey! Isn't anyone gonna help me?

Neko: Umm...nope! (n.n)

Tamahome: Why me? (TT^TT)

Alyssa: Because you're cute! (XD)

Tamahome: But I've got a girlfriend!

Miaka: Tamahome? What's going on here? (:O)

Tamahome: M-Miaka! This isn't what it looks like!

Alyssa: What? Of course it is! *grins evilly*

Miaka: Tamahome... *radiates a murderous aura*

Tamahome: You've gotta believe me! This girl just jumped on me! I had nothing to do with it, I swear! (o.O)

Miaka: *glares at Alyssa* Oh, it is ON now! *tackles Alyssa*

Alyssa: Waa!

Neko, Chichiri, and Ayame: *sweatdrop* (O.O)

Ayame: Umm...well, then.

Chichiri: Should we separate them, no da?

Neko: Nah, they'll be fine. Let them work out their differences. (n.n)

Miaka and Alyssa: *surrounded in a cloud of dust. Yells and curses are heard from within*

Tamahome: (O.O)

Ayame: Poor Tamahome.

Neko: I'm just surprised he has fans. Him and Miaka both have always irked me. (-.-)

Miaka and Alyssa: *freezes* HEY!

Neko: Eh heh heh...what? (^^')

Chichiri: Umm...I don't think you should've said that, Neko-chan.

Ayame: Baka.

Neko: Huh?

Miaka and Alyssa: *looks at each other* *glares* GET HER!

Neko: Chikuso! *looks at Chichiri* Chiri-kun, get me outta here!

Chichiri: Anou...

Neko: *turns chibi* *eyes widen pleadingly* Onegai~?

Chichiri: *sighs* Alright, no da. *takes out his kasa (*which is his straw hat that he carries around. If you put something in it, it'll disappear into...well, no one really knows! ^^'*)* Jump in, no da!

Neko: Arigatou, Chiri-kun~! *kisses Chichiri on the cheek* *jumps in the kasa*

Chichiri: *blushes...extremely* (O.O)

Miaka and Alyssa: *stops* AWWWW~! KAWAII~! *looks at each other*

Miaka: But...he helped her!

Alyssa: *grins* GET 'IM!

Chichiri: Uh-oh, no da! They're after me too! *turns to audience* Sayonara, no da! *jumps into kasa* *disappears*

Ayame: *sweatdrop* Anou...nani? (o.O)

~DISCLAIMER END~

Chapter One

It all started when my uncle had given me that letter. It was in a crisp, white envelope, and several stamps were attached at the back neatly. Of course, I was surprised, since I had seldom gotten a letter. The last letter I got was from the court, explaining that I was my own legal guardian.

I quickly tore the envelope apart, and read the letter. My eyes widened as I read about the document stating that my grandmother had given her own house to me. I was shocked by the fact that I had a grandmother, and gotten a sinking feeling as I realized that she died before I even met her.

"What is it?" said my uncle as he took a sip of his coffee.

I looked at him hesitantly, then handed him the letter. He took his time reading it, taking what seemed like hours. Finally, he put the letter down and looked at me. "What are you going to do now?" he asked.

"I was thinking, maybe I should go move in the house. I've been living with your family for too long, uncle. I must have been quite a bother," I said.

"Of course. But remember, you can always come back."

"Thank you, uncle."

"The house is old, and people claimed that they have seen ghosts wondering around the area," the realtor said as we walked towards the house.

"It would be better if you just sold the land. You can use the extra money to go to university. You are planning to go to university, right?" my lawyer asked.

"I'm planning to be a lawyer after I graduate," I replied back.

"Yes, that is going to take a lot of money, especially in this economy," the lawyer said.

"Here we are," said the realtor.

We were standing in front of a rusty, metal gate. Behind it, I could see an old house, surrounded by the black trees and the dark clouds. My body shivered, and it was not from the cold air.

"How scary..." I murmured unconsciously.

"Rumours say that people have seen blood-stains and someone wandering around here," said the realtor once again. "So, should we go back?"

I ignored the Realtor and tried to open the gate, but it wouldn't budge. I could see that the doors haven't been opened for a long time, and it was stuck. Without thinking, I kicked the door as hard as I could, and it broke down onto the floor with a loud, "clank". I found the two men staring at me.

"S-sorry, the gate wasn't opening properly, so I-I. It's just a habit," I stuttered. "I wonder if I can live here."

"You want to live here?" said the realtor loudly.

"Well, I already left my uncle's place, so I'm going to stay here tonight," I said as I started walking towards the house. It was true. Even though uncle had said that I was welcome any time, I knew that the rest of his family wasn't too fond of me. Also, it would take another two hours just to get to his house, and by then, it would be past midnight.

As I walked into the mansion, I noticed that parts of the house were breaking down, and plants were growing on the brick walls. Inside was worse. Although it was grand, the royal red paint was peeling off, and spider webs covered the corners of the room. Surprisingly, there was barely any dust covering the creaking floor, as if someone had recently cleaned it. The giant room looked naked, and I was scared to climb on the rotten stairs. "I guess I can't live here, after all," I thought to myself.

Suddenly, a loud, girly shriek was heard behind me. I looked back, only to see the realtor on his knees. "Someone was holding my leg," he claimed.

"Oh, it's just stuck to the floor," I pointed out. Actually, I wasn't too sure. I just said that to make myself believe that this house wasn't haunted. I put my hand on the floor, only to find it wet. "Great, the roof must be leaking," I thought. I looked at my hand, only to find something red. "Blood?" I thought. Suddenly, a chill went down through my spine, but before I could say anything, millions of bats flew at us. I could barely hear my own screams as it was drowned by the sounds of the fluttering of the bats' wings.

And then, I saw someone. A boy. A very attractive boy, actually. He looked at me calmly on top of the stairs, as I stared at him wide-eyed.

Finally, the realtor and the lawyer seemed to notice him as well. "Who are you? There's no trespassing here!" the lawyer shouted at him.

"Trespassing?" the unknown boy said.

Before I could understand what was happening, the boy disappeared from the stairs, and appeared behind the realtor. "What the-" said the realtor. But before he could finish the sentence, the boy slashed his long, sharp hands at the man, and blood seemed to explode.

The lawyer ran to the realtor, and the boy disappeared once again. He stood in front of a wall made entirely out of glass. His figure had the appearance of a vampire as blood covered all his clothes. I could see his sharp fangs as he opened his mouth, as blood dripped slowly down to his chin.

He started moving again, and the lawyer quickly ordered for us to run. I started running, but he was too fast. "The rumors are true," I thought, "this house is haunted...by vampires." I was suddenly grabbed by the boy, and his mouth was almost touching my neck. I could hear him panting loudly, and I thought that I was for sure going to die.

"No, I'm not going to die like this," I thought. I quickly grabbed his hand and twisted his whole arm, pulling it to the floor. He tumbled across my back and landed harshly at the ground as I sat on my hands and knees.

"Kuroboshi-sama!" said a loud voice. A man with long blonde hair came over to the boy. "Don't push yourself. You're no better than a human right now," he said.

"Another guy? Who is it now?" I thought. I quickly looked around the room in panic for my lawyer and realtor, but they were long since gone. Those bastards have already left me in this haunted mansion for me to die.

"How dare you," said the boy as he touched his head in pain, "Katsuragi Kiyo."

I looked at him in shock. How did he know my name?

Everything is over. This is it, the end of an era; the great finale of a saga. I believe we just made history. All danger is gone now and I know we have a big task ahead of us: the reconstruction not only of a planet but most of all, the reconstruction of our own lives.

As I stand there, under the shadow of the destroyed SDF-1, I realize I’ve just made a promise: the promise of reaching the stars. But I won’t do it alone. I don’t have to be alone anymore. Not now that she’s by my side.

“We’ll do it together.” I think.

Her eyes, those beautiful emerald green eyes are lost in the horizon and I know her mind is even far beyond. I had never noticed how beautiful she really is and how perfect. I was so busy obsessing over Minmai and trying to get my mind away from my feelings, concentrating only on my missions and fighting the battles against the enemy, that I forgot to fight my own battles and failed to knowledge that the woman I really wanted and needed was just at the reach of my hand. Claudia was right; Lisa had been so close to me all this time, that I didn’t see her.

I tighten my grasp on her shoulder and she seems to come out from a dream. She blinks, as if to make sure she’s not dreaming… there’s so much destruction all around us… but there’s love, too!

“Lisa, you need to rest.” I whisper. “It’s been a rough day and you…”

I was going to say she’s still weak after being knocked down during the attack and after all the events that happened afterwards, but I stop… I stare at her small and delicate figure and I tell to myself that by no means Lisa is weak. She’s the strongest person I know.

“I’m alright.” She starts to protest. “I should go to—”

“Lisa!”

I interrupt her and I regret the fact that my voice sounded more authoritative that I would’ve wanted. She doesn’t seem to mind it, though. She looks at me and in her eyes I can see she’s asking for my support. It seems Captain Hayes doesn’t mind me taking over for a change.

“Let me take you home.”

I say, placing my hands on her shoulders and looking straight into her eyes.

“You won’t do yourself any good going to the headquarters now. They are going to need you there a little later, when everything is over and the emergency corps have done their job. There’s very little we can do there right now. I’m going to take you home. You will have a hot shower and eat something. Then you can go to sleep and things will be better in the morning, ok?”

“Alright.” She, for once, doesn’t object me.

I put my arm around her shoulders and we start to walk. It takes a while for Lisa to take her eyes off the remains of the SDF-1. I know things are starting to sink in her. She’s in shock, I think. She just lost her family. Admiral Gloval, Claudia and the trio… they are all gone.

“But you are alive!” I think “And you are not alone anymore, Lisa. I’m here to stay!”

We walk silently. I keep her close to me, to support her wore out body, to keep her warm and to let her know, without worlds, that I’m here with her, that now she can lean on me. I won’t let her down… not again!

I take her to my house, for I know the sector where Lisa’s house is located received a direct hit and her house could be damaged. I can’t know it for sure, but the last thing she needs now is to watch more destruction. It feels odd to be making all the decisions for Lisa now… but I told her I was going to take care of her and I will, for as long as she allows me to.

“It was so sudden.” –I hear her speaking almost under her breath.

“I know… but it’s all over now. War is over now, Lisa.”

She nods and I notice her body starts to shake. I stop and instinctively pull her closer to me, embracing her tight. She holds on to me as if her life depended on it. She buries her face in my chest and starts to sob quietly. All I can do is hold her close to me. I rub her back, trying to reassure her. I’m at a loss for words. What could I possibly say in a time like this?

It’s starting to snow again. The air is blowing hard and it’s freezing out here. Lisa is trembling in my arms. I realize I’m not with Captain Hayes anymore, the strong, invulnerable, self-assured, independent, secure woman everybody knows and respects… right now I’m with Lisa, just Lisa, a human being with fears and doubts, like everyone else. As I see her like that, I realize she’s not as tough as everyone think she is. That realization makes me feel a wave of tenderness flooding my chest.

Why I never took the chance to get to know her better? Why I never realized how lonely she was… how she was crying out for help in every one of our fights, arguments and discussions?

I pull away just a little and look at her tear-strained face. I don’t even try to smile, just brush her tears away with my thumb and for a moment I get lost in her eyes. She grabs my hand, holding it to her cheek. She stares at me as if I was nothing but a vision or a ghost. I’ve hurt her before, now I know that. But not anymore, Lisa… I’m going to spend the rest of my life making things up to you.

My heart is beating faster now. I love her, now I know it for sure! Shouldn’t I be telling her all of this? But I just can’t find the words. I declared my love for her under a rain of fire… why can’t I say it again, now under the snow that’s falling upon us?

“It’s getting cold.” I say sheepishly. “C’mon…”

Lisa follows me willingly, not even questioning why we are heading to my house. There’s so much I want to tell her… there’s so much I want to know about her… about this woman who’s been my guardian angel for so long. Whenever I was in battle, she was always there. She was the one who guided me through the enemy fire… and when I came home, she was always waiting for me. Whenever I had a problem, she was ready to help… no questions, no regrets. I can’t even count how many times she covered up for me, when I was being stupid and chasing after that mirage called Minmai.

Lisa, it’s always been you, Lisa… now I realize that. Suddenly I remember those two years we spent together in New Macross after the SDF-1 came back to Earth. I can honestly say that was the happiest time of my life. You and I got very close then. But one day war started again… and Minmai came back into my life. Then I forgot everything we had shared in those two years. I pushed you aside. It pains me to think about this.

All I want to do now is plead for your forgiveness. I want you to stay by my side forever. I’m dying to hear you say those words again.

“I love you; I always have and always will.”

Now I realize how little I know about her, while she seems to know everything about me. I don’t even know what her favorite color is or her favorite song, while she even knows my clothing size and the way I like my coffee. She knows more about me than anyone else.

Now my heart is burning. I have the urge to hold her, to kiss her, to get on my knees and ask for her forgiveness. I don’t know if I’m worth of her love. But I do know that from now on I’m going to do whatever it takes to deserve the love of Lisa Hayes.

We finally arrive home. The neighborhood is a mess, but my house is in one piece. The door is ajar and I remember that the last time we were there, Lisa said her goodbyes, declared her love for me… and then ran away from my life. It happened just this afternoon, but it feels as if that had happened a lifetime ago… in the last few hours the world changed. Nothing will ever be the same after today.

It’s snowing hard now. I stop by the door for a second, as a disturbing thought comes to my mind. My whole house is filled with Minmai memorabilia. She spent the last few days here and her clothes, her belongings and her perfume are all over the place.

But we have nowhere else to go. Then I think that in any case, my house also has Lisa’s hand all over. For the last couple of years, Lisa has always been here, taking care of things for me. She decorated the house, she helped me pick up my furniture… my house is –in many ways- a shrine Lisa built for me.

We get into the house and I’m already thinking I must get rid of every item that can be related to Minmai. Lisa looks tired and the fist thing I do is suggest she should take a hot shower. Not only I want her to warm up and relax, but that will give me the time to fix the house for her… the sheets, I must change the sheets first of all!

Lisa doesn’t refuse the suggestion to go and take a warm shower. I lead her directly to the bathroom and I go to my bedroom, to get some clean clothes for her. I know my clothes are too big, but as soon as they keep Lisa warm and comfortable, they are fine. I’ll go to her home and find her some clean clothes as soon as I can… if she agrees to stay in my house for the time being, that is.

I pick up some green and yellow flannel pajamas I have in my wardrobe. I have to stop and wonder… it seems like a lifetime ago, but I do remember I got these from Lisa. I think those were a Christmas gift, a couple of years ago. She seems pleased when I hand her the pajamas. Now I’m sure those came from her and I smile.

“These will keep you warm… now go and have that hot shower. You’re freezing and I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

I rub her arms as I spoke and she smiles at me for the first time in what seems to be an eternity. It’s a small smile, but at least it’s a start. Her eyes are so bright and deep… why does she always have that sad look in her eyes? Lisa, I can’t start to imagine how much you’ve suffered in your life. And what pains me the most is the fact that I know I have my share of that sadness I see in your eyes. But no more Lisa… I promise it!

She turns around and gets in the bathroom. I stay there, standing still, looking at the door that just closed, unable to move or to start the task I have ahead. I feel I’m glued to the floor. My heart is beating faster and I don’t know why.

“Lisa…” I think. “I need to start mending things right now, right at this second. I know you love me now, Captain Hayes, but I promise that soon you’re going to be mad about me… I’m going to spoil you in a way you don’t imagine!”

I run to my bedroom to take care of the most important thing: get rid of the sheets where Minmai slept in for the last few days. They smell like her and I don’t want Lisa to be bothered by that. I take them off the bed and I go to find a clean set of sheets. I’ve always been a very lousy housekeeper, but I do my best to have the bed ready for Lisa to sleep in it tonight.

“I guess it’s going to be another night on the couch for you, Hunter.” I speak to myself.

But this time I smile. Having Minmai in the house was a very strange experience for me. I would think it’d thrill me, but the truth is it didn’t. It actually bothered me… it wasn’t about Minmai, I don’t think so anyway. It was about the whole situation and the way things had been between us for years. And then suddenly, out of the blue, she is standing in my doorway, asking me for shelter and protection. She came too late… and I was foolish enough to accept her into my house. I would’ve done anything for her… a while ago. But now things had changed and I knew it. Still I opened the door and welcomed her in, not even realizing that in doing so I was wounding the one woman I should’ve cherished and be thankful to the most.

But now things were going to change. I grab a box and put in it every little piece of Minmai paraphernalia I find lying around the house. I close the box with duck tape and put it away, in a place Lisa won’t find. I’m going to get rid of it as soon as I possibly can.

Lisa is still in the bathroom. I go to the kitchen, trying to decide what to prepare for her. I want her to be warm and coffee would be my first choice, knowing Lisa likes coffee. Then again, she likes tea as well. I stand there, trying to decide between coffee or tea. At the end I decide to prepare some hot cocoa. There’s nothing more comforting in the world that a cup of hot chocolate, I say to myself.

While I wait for the milk to boil, I take the phone and automatically dial Max’s phone number. It takes a while for him to answer my call and when he does, he informs me that the situation in the SDF-1 is worst than he thought. There are lots of lost soldiers and casualties. The death of the bridge crew has been confirmed. They are rescuing the bodies as we talk. He asks about Lisa, he and Miriya have been very worried about her. I inform him that Lisa is safe and sound and she’s staying with me. We agree we shouldn’t bother her with the sad news. Right now she needs to rest and put herself together. Max tells me that I know I can count on him. Of course I do, he’s been my right hand man all these years.

I hang up the phone and suddenly Lisa appears in the kitchen and she’s like a vision from heaven. She’s wearing my flannel pajamas and the green in them really brings out her eyes. These clothes are too big for her and she laughs amusedly, pointing that fact. She looks adorable though. Her wet hair and her smell are the perfect complement to her looks. I step forward and lift my hand, but I stop abruptly, not exactly knowing what I want to do.

“I—I’m making some hot cocoa.” I inform her sheepishly.

“I’ll take it from here, captain.” She replies. “Why don’t you go and change your clothes?”

Until then I notice that I’m still wearing my flying suit and that it is wet and stained. I nod and leave the kitchen. I go to my room to get my pajama pants and a sweatshirt. Then I go to the bathroom, that’s still warm and moist after Lisa’s bath… her scent is all over the place and I take a deep breath, trying to fill my lungs with that aroma. My heart is beating fast again. Lisa, what are you doing to me?

It only takes me ten minutes to be clean and dressed. When I go back to the living room, I see Lisa has two mugs with hot cocoa on the coffee table as well as some cookies. I didn’t even know I had cookies in the house… this girl is amazing!

“I don’t know if you’re hungry… but you don’t really have any food in the kitchen and—“

“That’s alright, Lisa… maybe we can go grocery shopping tomorrow.”

“Yes, we must.”

I sit right in front of her and she smiles at me. She looks different from the scared Lisa I led to my house earlier. Now she seems more relaxed and at ease and that soothes my heart. I think it’s time we talk about the living arrangements.

“Lisa,” I say hesitantly. “I don’t have much to offer but you should know that the section where your house was located received a direct impact… you can’t go back to your house for now. This is a humble space and all, nothing like your quarters but you can stay here.”

I look at her, fearing a negative response. Instead she smiles at me and lowers her eyes. I try to read her thoughts in her face, but I can’t. There’s so much I want to learn about you, Lisa Hayes! She looks at me and nods weakly.

“I appreciate it, Rick… and I accept it. It’s just that I don’t want to cause any problems or make you feel uncomfortable.”

“Nonsense! You are welcome to stay for as long as you want!”

“Thank you!”

Lisa hides herself behind her mug and I contemplate her for a moment, fascinated by what I see. I always thought she was a beautiful woman, I even told her that when we were trapped in that Zentraedi ship so many years ago. But never until now had I realized how perfect and stunning she really was. I had never allowed me to see beyond her military uniform… why, I never allowed me to see beyond Minmai. Lisa’s eyes have always fascinated me, even when I looked at her in my monitor while flying my VT, it was her eyes what stood out the most.

I think it is funny. Few days ago Minmai came to my house, begging me to let her stay. And now here I am, asking Lisa to stay with me. I know her house is probably very damaged, but I’m not sure if I’m doing this because I don’t want her to sleep in a destroyed house or because I don’t want her to leave me. Not tonight at least.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her, sincerely concerned about her health.

“I’m fine.” Her voice doesn’t sound very convinced.

“Lisa… you were hurt during the attack… then you were in the eye of the battle itself… are you sure you feel alright?” I feel scared, suddenly remembering Roy and the way he passed away.

“I am perfectly fine.” Lisa says slowly. “Well, just a little sore… I have a few bruises and black and blue marks here and there… nothing to worry about though.”

“Maybe you should see a doctor, I—”

“Doctors are busy as they are.” She cuts me off. “There were a lot of people wounded in combat today… and the civilians too… and only God knows how many casualties.”

I see how Lisa’s eyes get teary. She closes her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. I wish I knew what to do to make her feel better!

“It’s alright.”

Suddenly I found myself sitting right next to Lisa on the couch. She seems surprised by my sudden closeness to her. She looks at me and I just look at her directly in the eye. I wish she could read my eyes and realize that right now I’m dying for her. My heart is beating so fast that I feel dizzy. I want to hold her, I want to tell her so many things… she’s staring at me silently, as if waiting for something important to come out of my mouth.

“I—” I whisper, not knowing exactly what to say. “I said I’m going to take care of you, Lisa. Now, that’s a promise I’m going to honor.”

Lisa opens her mouth, but I interrupt her before she can utter a word.

“I know you don’t need people to take care of you… I know you don’t need to be taken care of. You can take care of yourself just fine but… if you only let me be with you… Lisa, you don’t always need to be the strong one. Not with me, at least.”

“Rick…” I look at her, waiting for the rest of what she wanted to say, but words die in her throat.

I take her hands and kiss them lovingly. They are warm and soft and feel so tiny and delicate in mine. She shudders when I touch them with my lips and that sends a wave of energy through my body. I look at her, directly in the eye and I see tears shinning there.

“Lisa,” I whisper. “I want to open all your doors now… please let me in. if we’re going to be together, I need to get in… to get to know you. You don’t have to pretend around me. If you must, then cry… if you want, then laugh.”

“Rick…” She whispers, blinking back her tears. “Are we really going to be together?”

I feel my heart stopping right there. I stare at Lisa, a dumbfounded expression in my face. She’s looking at me, holding her breath, waiting for an answer. Then I realize that Lisa is insecure about the way things are between us. I am a man who always takes things for granted. I told her I loved her and that was enough for me. I know what my feelings are and I know they won’t change. But at this moment I realize that things won’t work like that with Lisa. She needs to be reassured; she needs to be sure of things.

Hunter, whatever happens, you won’t take her for granted. Not anymore. This has been your problem for as long as you’ve known her: you’ve always taken her for granted. You know that no matter what, she will always be there for you. You know that when things go bad, you can always count on her, to pull you up, to help you out, and to listen to you. And what have you done for her? What have you done with her?

I shake my head, hating myself. I can’t believe I’ve been such a jerk… I can’t believe how much and how deeply I’ve hurt her. She has every right to doubt my word now. After all, I’ve let her down again and again… this time I have to make sure she believes in me and in my word. Things are going to change, Lisa… things will never be the same.

I look at her face, deep into her eyes and squeeze her hands in mine, trying to reassure her. Her eyes are shinning with tears and contained emotion.

“We ARE together now, Lisa.”

There’s a heavy silence between us. I don’t think we’re even breathing.

“Lisa Hayes… I want you to be by my side forever because I love you!”

A rebel tear escapes the corner of Lisa’s eye. I brush it away with my thumb and then slowly I lean in and plant soft kisses on each of her eyes. When I pull away, she’s staring at me with open adoration. I had never seen that kind of look in her eyes before and it is enough to melt my heart. God, I love her! I have this urge to be by her side, to protect her, to take care of her… even if I know she won’t let me, I’ll do it anyway. Why didn’t I see it before? I’ve been in love for so long… with you, Lisa! Now I know that!

I touch her face with my hand, softly, gently. She’s smiling at me and I return the smile, feeling happy and complete. She’s beautiful, she’s perfect… she’s gorgeous in every possible way! There’s so much I want to say, so much I need to tell her but somehow it doesn’t feel this is the right moment to have a long and deep conversation. We both are tired and we need to rest… she needs to recover herself, for I know that, as soon as the sun comes out, she’s going to be up and heading to the headquarters. The next days are going to be tough, so at least I want her to have a good rest tonight.

I am trying to think on her well being, but for some reason my thoughts drift away… and my body starts to ache with some kind of pain… a deep desire to be close to her… to kiss her.

Until then I realize that even if I said I loved her, I never kissed her… we’ve kissed before, but all those kisses were part of a military plan. That didn’t stop me from feeling a range of emotions whenever we kissed. Strategy or not, those kisses were something else… but now she’s here with me and I have the opportunity to show her how much I really care.

“Lisa…” I say, still caressing her face. “You are so beautiful!”

“Oh Rick…” Her voice is soft with tenderness and emotion.

I look deep into her eyes and move forward slowly. My hand goes to her jaw and gently lifts it up. She doesn’t pull back. I can feel her trembling then. Her eyes close and I brush her lips with mine, which sends an electric shock through my body. My eyes close and I move closer to her. My lips are teasing hers but not yet kissing. I notice her breathing becoming ragged and heavy. My hand is in the side of her neck now and I can feel her pulse speeding up there. I don’t know whether she’s begging for that kiss or she’s about to break down and cry.

The fact is, my body is reacting to that physical closeness in a way I never thought was possible. It feels as if I was suffering a shortcut inside. I feel my entire body shuddering. I finally kiss her, hesitantly at first but Lisa responds to my kiss willingly. I can feel her urge and her need in that kiss.

I put my arms around her and deepen the kiss. At this moment I lose track of time and reality. Lisa is in my arms, I’m kissing her and she’s kissing me back. I feel her hands caressing my hair and my back and it drives me crazy. No one had ever kissed me like that. It is a deep, passionate kiss but it is tender and loving at the same time. It’s hard to explain, but then again, who can really explain love?

I feel alive, I feel vibrant, I feel full of energy… I want to stay like this forever. I love you, Lisa… now I know I do. Inadvertently Lisa is leaning back to lay down on the couch and I’m following her willingly. I’m holding myself up on one arm, to prevent from crushing her under my weight. My other hand is wandering, running up and down Lisa’s side as we kiss. We are kissing as if our lives depended on it. It is a kiss we have been waiting for so long, because I admit that there were times when I was dying to kiss her, but I never did. At the time I thought it was only a way to get my mind off Minmai momentarily and I didn’t want to use Lisa for that purpose. Now I know it was love all along.

We finally break the kiss, but I don’t pull away. I stay close to her, my lips almost touching hers. Our eyes are closed and we’re breathing fast. My heart has gone wild and I can feel Lisa’s heartbeat against my chest. She isn’t any better. We’re trying to catch our breath. It was one hell of a kiss. Who would’ve known Lisa was such a great kisser?

I open my eyes, still close to her, and I see tears running down her face. I don’t want to see her like that. I kiss her tears away and then pull back just the necessary amount of space to look at her face. She slowly opens her eyes and flashes a beautiful smile at me. She’s running her hands through my hair and that has a very calming and comforting effect on me.

“I love you, Captain Hayes.” I whisper sincerely.

“Rick… Captain Hunter… I love you so!”

We are lost in each other’s eyes. I love the way Lisa touches and caresses me. I don’t want to move, I want to stay forever like this. My hand goes to touch her face, tracing the soft and delicate line of her jaw. I outline her features gently with my fingertips, which seems to thrill her, for I can feel her trembling under my touch. Finally I collapse on her, exhausted after the day we have just spent. She doesn’t seem to mind my weight on her. I rest my head on her chest, and I get this feeling of belonging and experience a peace I had never felt in my life. I get lost in her, in her soft touch, in her warmth, in her aroma.

I close my eyes and abandon myself to her. There’s a fire waking inside of me. I feel her lips brushing my forehead and I look up. Our eyes met and she smiles tenderly at me.

“I thought I’d lost you.” I speak softly, feeling tears in my eyes. “I don’t want to lose you ever again, Lisa… there have been so many times in our lives when I almost did… only today, I thought I’d lost you when the two SDFs were hit… of after the attack, when I saw you laying there, in the ruins of those buildings…”

“Rick… please, don’t!”

“But what pained me the most was when you came to say goodbye.” I continue talking. I want her to know how much I really care. “I never thought I’d feel the way I did… if I didn’t say anything was because I just didn’t know what to say… my heart broke when I saw you there, crying for me… and then you ran away from me… Lisa, forgive me!”

“For what?”

She said those words as if she really didn’t have anything to forgive me for. Could it be that she loves me so much that she doesn’t even realize how much I’ve hurt her?

“For everything… I’ve been such a fool!”

“We were given a second chance today.”

She speaks quietly, looking away. She is teary eyed again and I know her mind is going to those we lost today.

“I don’t think we should waste our time asking for forgiveness or trying to find guilty ones. Things happened in the way they were supposed to happen… the important thing is that we’re here now… we have a fresh start. There’s no looking back, alright?”

“Alright.”

I smile. Must she be this wonderful? Why didn’t I see things before? I move closer to her and kiss her forehead, then her eyes and finally I move to her lips. It is a soft and tender kiss. I feel her hand searching for mine and our fingers entwine. When we pull away, she sighs satisfied and it thrills me to see her like that. Her eyes are still closed and I realize she is exhausted.

“Lisa, you need to go and get some sleep.”

“I know… I just… can we just stay here for a little longer?”

Her green eyes met mine and I melt. A soft smile comes out directly from my soul and I nod. I move aside in the couch, taking my weight off Lisa and I lay down on my side, hugging her to me from behind. She smiles and moves until she finds a comfortable position. My arm is around her waist and she starts to run her hand up and down my arm. It feels so good! I sigh deeply, smelling her hair. Everything about Lisa drives me crazy! Our legs tangle and I close my eyes, allowing me a moment to rest.

I know the following days are going to be very hard for all of us. I know Lisa is going to need all the help she can get, now that she’s the officer who most likely will be in charge of things. But she has nothing to worry about, for I will be there for her all the time. We’ll do it together.

I think tomorrow I’m going to phone Max first thing in the morning, to ask him to take care of things and I’m going to force Lisa to stay home. I chuckle softly, knowing that I won’t get away with that plan, but I will give it a try anyway.

Until then I notice that Lisa’s body has relaxed in my arms and her breathing has become steady and rhythmic. I move a little, trying to look at her face and I can see her eyes close. She’s fallen asleep. I smile contentedly. It feels so good to have her like that in my arms! I know the couch is a very uncomfortable place to sleep, I can say that from personal experiences. I have to take Lisa to the bed… but I want to stay like this for a little longer. Just for a little longer.

How long did we stay like that? I don’t know… I just know that I have just replayed all my history with Lisa in my head, from the moment we first met until the events of this day. There were so many signs I overlooked, so many hints I ignored… Lisa, my Lisa… my beautiful commander officer, my best friend, my accomplice… my love!

I lean in and kiss her cheek softly, not wanting to wake her up. She looks so beautiful like this! I’m fascinated by the sight of her. I have to admit, I have never seen anyone who carries the uniform with more dignity and elegance than Lisa… but to see her like this, in that oversized pajamas… I smile to myself, thinking how cute she is!

This feels like a dream and I just don’t want to wake up from it! Lisa is here, in my arms. I feel her so vulnerable and fragile, even if I know she’s not. But it gives me a sense of peace and completeness to have her here, sleeping safe and protected in my arms.

“I’m going to take care of you… to look after you and to love you forever, my love!”

I wish I could stay like this forever, but I don’t want Lisa to be uncomfortable. So finally I get up, being careful. I don’t want to disturb her sleep… I don’t want to wake her up. I stand there, by the couch, contemplating her. She moans softly, as if she had lost something. She moves a little and I want to think she’s searching for me.

Now, I take Lisa in my arms and pick her up carefully. She’s light like a feather but I can feel her strong body underneath her pajamas. Well, she’s a soldier, she must be in excellent physical condition. Her head falls against my chest and I smile when she snuggles up to me.

I carry her to my bedroom and lay her in my bed. I make sure she’s comfortable and cover her, tucking her in the best way I can. She seems to be comfy and warm and I nod to myself. I kneel by her side and contemplate her face for a long moment. We’re starting a new life now… this is not the end of the road, it’s only the beginning. We can’t look back. The road is ahead of us.

Lisa, I promise you, from now on your life is going to be very different. There’s so much we need to overcome, but we’ll do it together. And I promise that every day you’ll fall more and more in love with me. I am here now, and I’m not going anywhere. The time will come, when we will have to go to the stars, but we’ll do it together. It’s a promise!

I move closer and kiss her forehead. My lips stay there for a little longer than required but it is hard for me to pull away from her. When I do, I contemplate her face again, brushing some rebel locks of hair off her face. I can’t believe she’s with me now. Life changed radically in just one day. This morning I was stuck with Minmai and nothing made sense. Then Lisa came to say goodbye… then she told me she loves me… we were under attack… I thought I had lost her… and now here she is, peacefully sleeping in my bed. Oh, what a day!

“I love you, Lisa… I won’t get tired of telling you that.”

I walked to the door, giving her a last, loving gaze before closing the door. It’s time to go back to my old couch, but things feel different tonight. As I lay down there, I can smell Lisa’s aroma on it and that alone is enough to calm me down. I close my eyes and the only image I have in my mind is Lisa, sleeping in the next room. A sigh comes directly from my soul and I smile contentedly. Tonight I won’t allow myself to think about the sadness and destruction this war caused. War is over now, and tonight I will give myself the chance to dream.

The park was practically desert by the time Lisa Hayes walked across it. The streets around still showed the signs of the last Zentraedi attack, but somehow it seemed to her that Macross citizens were like the phoenix, always reborning from their own ashes. ‘But for how long?’ she asked to herself and stood in front of the central fountain looking at the water drops jumping almost happily. Since they had left the Earth the first time, she had known the lives of the soldiers were always in danger, but the civilians had been safe. Now, nor only the civilians had been attacked but one of her best friends had died, another was suffering and she had announced Captain Gloval that they had lost one of the members of the Vermilion squadron. The war she had so far seen like part of her job was now affecting her directly... and she wasn’t a phoenix. She started to walk again looking nowhere but at the floor, so she didn’t see another person coming to her until she crashed on him.

“Ops, I’m sorry,” she said stumbling and about to fall.

A strong hand took her arm and helped her to stay on her feet. “No, I didn’t see you, commander. I’m sorry.”

“Rick?” she asked surprised.

“What are you doing here alone this late, commander?” Rick asked her.

“I could ask you the same, lieutenant,” Lisa said. “You’re scheduled for the morning patrol.”

“I... I needed some time alone... to think,” he confessed burying his hands in his pockets.

“Me too...” Lisa said starting to walk. He joined her. “These weeks had been too hard. It makes you wonder...”

“Wonder what, commander?”

“We’re not at the base. Why don’t you call me Lisa when we are outside?”

“As long as you don’t call me lieutenant out of work too,” he grinned.

“Ok,” she said smiling. “Hum... Rick, if you’re not too tired, would you like to have a cup of coffee?”

“I’d be glad, Lisa! But this time I’m buying.”

The night was so calm that they decided not to stay at the café but to have the coffee to go and keep walking around the park.

“You were telling me, Lisa, that these weeks make you wonder...” Rick started their conversation again.

“Yes...” she said sipping at her cup. “Makes you wonder if what we do is the right thing to do...”

He looked away and remained silent for some minutes, just sipping distractedly at his beverage. “We’re doing the right thing, Lisa,” he finally stated.

The certainty in his voice made her turn to see him. “But how can you be so sure?”

Rick turned to see her too and met her green eyes. The deep anxiety he saw in them surprised him a little: he didn’t know but a very strong, very secure Lisa Hayes, a perfect officer that believed in and defended the army against everything. “I have to believe it, Lisa,” he told her placing his empty cup away. “Otherwise I’d lose my mind...”

“Rick!”

Rick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Don’t you think I have enough reasons to question this war myself? I lost my best friend and one of my men in a matter of days... not to mention I almost died...”

“I know...” Her trembling voice shocked him and when he faced her, he saw a big tear rolling down her cheek. Lisa had put her cup away too and her arms were now crossed over her chest as if trying to protect herself, her head down to hide her tears.

Rick contemplated her for a long minute unable to believe this was the same woman he had called the ‘ice queen’. “Lisa?” he finally asked carefully tilting her head to force her to see him.

“I know I have enough reasons to question the army, Rick,” she murmured now crying unashamedly. “Roy, Ben... you. You almost die because of...”

“No, Lisa, no...” he said coming closer to her and cupping her face tenderly. “Don’t say it was your fault.”

Lisa felt a discharge of electricity when his warm hands touched her cheeks. “But it was!” she argued weakly.

“Pilots make mistakes, Lisa. We already know that when we get into the planes...” He was wiping her tears away with his thumbs, his heart full of a tenderness he had never considered coming from Lisa.

“I would have never forgiven myself if you... if you have...” she stuttered taking a deep breath.

Rick’s finger over her lips made her stop. “But I didn’t... I’m fine, I’m alive and I’m here... with you.” ‘God!’ Rick thought looking carefully at her, ‘she’s suffering... for me!’

“Many times I’ve thought about what I could have done different... if I could’ve done something for Roy and Ben and...!” she sobbed.

Rick couldn’t stand it more and pulled her to him hugging her fiercely. Her sobs were making her body tremble and the way she was clutching his jacket made him know she had been holding the pain long enough. He started to stroke her long hair soothingly, resting his head against hers. “You did your job perfectly well, Lisa, you’re the most capable officer they can have...”

“I would not stand it if one day you...” she murmured her head still buried in his chest, “...if I make...”

Rick startled Lisa pulling away quickly and cupping her face again. His baby-blue eyes shined with aching anger and something that resembled frustration. “Stop it, Lisa!” he shouted looking straight into her eyes. “Their deaths were not your fault! It’s a risk we all know! You didn’t kill them! You’ve saved more lives that you can count! You’ve saved my life many times!”

“Have I...?” she asked very surprised. Her brain was having a hard time to understand his reactions: he had never been so worried about her, this could not be the same Rick that have shouted at her many times...

“I wouldn’t be alive hadn’t you been there, Lisa...” he said sincerely, his fingers tracing the line of her face. Her trembling lips had transfixed him and had him thinking once and again about the times he had kissed her. He longed to do it again, to feel her abandoned to the response of her body and unaware of anything else... “I’m alive thanks to you...” His voice was now very low and his face was barely an inch away of hers.

Feeling his breath over her face, Lisa closed her eyes. Rick saw her and did the same, then slowly he leaned down and claimed her mouth. He kissed her long and slowly, barely touching her at the beginning but pressing harder little by little. Rick played with her lower lip, taking it between his and daring to nibble it lightly. He felt Lisa getting limp in his arms and one of his hands went lower to circle her waist and pull her closer to him. Automatically, Lisa held him tightly as if to dear life, his lips giving her back the meaning to her existence.

Lisa felt her heart beating wildly when they parted after good minutes lost in their kiss. “Rick...” she murmured still panting heavily.

“Never let me hear you’re doubting about yourself again, Lisa Hayes,” he replied stroking her cheek. “You’re the best... and I care about you... so much...”

Her breath caught in her throat at his words and she couldn’t reply. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, hoping her body could tell him all she wanted to say.

And he did understand. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her to him in that dialogue of their bodies. There would be a lot of time to talk, to figure out where they moved from there... That night was nothing but the encounter of their souls, so he buried his face in her sweet smelling hair and closed his eyes and his mind to anything but the presence of Lisa in his arms.

Lisa never felt so much pain inside her until now, and she knew she had a lot to compare with, because somehow her life was always bringing pain and sorrow. But this time it was so much more difficult, because it felt like a slow and painful illness.

After the incident when the SDF1 was destroyed and everybody Lisa loved and cared about died, leaving her behind , alone, Rick Hunter found out he cared deeply for her and he also realized that Minmei wasn’t the woman for him. Rick felt in that time more frustration than pain, because his sweetheart chose her career and glamorous life rather than him. But deep inside, he was glad that he wasn’t alone. Luckily for him, when he found himself in solitude again, the warmth and love of Lisa Hayes was already there waiting for him with open arms, even when she was devastated by the loss of the crew of the SDF-1, her surrogate family. Lisa and Rick started living together almost as soon as Rick said to her that he loved her. Lisa, at first, needed the company, and security that Rick’s hands and soul brought to her. Rick, for his part, was glad to find someone who could share his same interests, and that who was completely and absolutely in love with him. After just six months, they got married in a simple ceremony and since then, one year passed in their lives.

Lisa now remembered those times with a feeling of regret. She knew that she acted impulsivey for the first time in her life, and after a year with him, she knew that was the wrong. She loved him too much, and even when she tried her best to make him love her, she knew deep down that it was hopeless and she knew it by the way looked at her. Their life together was beautiful, they had fun, they certainly didn’t have any problems in bed and she knew that Rick loved her, but it wasn’t the way she love him. She felt him inside like he was part of her own soul. She certainly had problems with him like any other couple in the world, but he always held back with her, and that hurt her.

Sadly, 2 weeks ago her nightmares were confirmed. After a year without hearing from or seeing Minmei, she came back into their lives and the first thing she did was look for Rick. Lisa remembered clearly the day she picked up the phone and recognized the voice of the girl. Lisa’s heart almost stopped and she almost couldn’t breathe when Rick answered and looked at her with guilt. She looked away in that opportunity and gave him enough privacy, but remembered his sad tone of voice when he said to Minmei ‘I’m married now, to Lisa’. She remembered the sound of his voice, so deep and full of sorrow. She knew he regretted it, because she never thought in her life that the words ‘I’m married to’ could sound more like a prison sentence than a good thing. Lisa hid herself in the bathroom and with the excuse of taking a bath, cried for hours.

She was all alone. It was saturday afternoon and she still was thinking about the events of the night before. It was a charity event and Rick asked her to join him there. She took good care of herself and bought an evening gown. The fashion day wasn’t exactly nice, because every time she remembered Claudia making jokes of past fashions during shopping, and Lisa felt alone again. But even with that, she chose a very un-Lisa, black long dress with a low cut in the back and in the front. She looked completely sexy with it. She knew that she put more than money in that dress, she knew she put her hopes in it, too. Lisa went home, changed and waited for Rick. When he came home, his jaw hit the floor. He took her into his arms and kissed her with passion. They enjoyed each other for sometime until he went and change himself.

Both Rick and Lisa arrived at the event joyfully, but Lisa’s dream date was suddenly cancelled when Minmei came straight from her place to meet them. It was sure that the girl looked at Lisa with an amazed gaze, but Minmei was confident in her looks, and Lisa wasn’t. Rick hesitation didn’t help either, and after a polite greeting, Lisa disappeared to the bar.

From her view, she saw how Rick and Minmei talked and laughed with good humor. They weren’t just two old friends, they were more intimate than that, and Lisa knew it. After a while, Rick remembered that he was with his wife and started looking for her. When he found her, Lisa hid her pain one more time. It didn’t matter what people said to her about her looks, It didn’t matter how people congratulated her for her last job. Lisa knew that Minmei was looking at Rick through the back of her head.

Automatically, she grabbed his arm with hers and Rick smiled widely and asked her to dance. That brought some joy again, but one more time, Minmei interrupted in the middle of the slow dance and ask for a dance with her ‘old friend’. Lisa swallowed hard and nicely gave her space to the shining girl. Rick didn’t notice when Lisa went one more time to the bar and hid herself behind a glass of scotch. From her seat she saw how Rick’s arms where around the narrow waist of perfect Miss Macross, how their eyes met and even how their noses almost touched. Lisa felt like her heart was broken into a thousand pieces when Rick looked back to Minmei lips and then nodded to himself, remembering he was married now.

‘Married now? Thought Lisa sitting at her desk alone at home the day after. She knew she couldn’t lie anymore to herself or Rick. He loved Minmei and he probably always will. Her tears wet her face one more time from this realization. She knew that it was a mistake to accept his marriage proposal, she knew deep down that neither of them were ready for it. But she hoped, hoped for them, hoped for a life together, hoped for him to love her, but now the harsh of reality hit her in the face, hard.

She thought a moment what she felt for him, how much and deeply her love went for him. Almost ashamed, she realized she would do anything for him, even if it was against any rule she had. She would die for him if she needed to, because she knew that his presence was enough for her to make her feel all right. But now, after a year in his arms, learning more about him, feeling his need, his temper, she knew that she would do even more than that. She would do even something that would kill her slowly to see him happy. His happiness was her own life. She suddenly saw their wedding picture on her desk, and she took it slowly. Her hands touched the cold glass where Rick’s smile face was looking at her lovingly. One tear escaped from Lisa’s eyes and fell onto the picture frame.

Lisa cried at her desk as the sun was going down in the sky. She cried her soul out until her sobs where constant and almost didn’t let her breathe. She sat up, feeling dizzy and tried to catch her breath. She felt a physical pain in her chest, but she didn’t care. She could die this moment and wouldn’t care. The sun almost disappeared over the horizon and Lisa’s eyes focused on the view, she sobbed one more time and with shaking hands grabbed a piece of paper.

When Rick came home after his patrol, he found that Lisa had the dinner done on a beautiful table. Rick grinned from ear to ear and wondered if he missed something.
“Wasn’t our anniversary 3 weeks ago?” he said kissing her cheek. Lisa smile sadly and hid her pain, one more time.

“Yes, but I just wanted to make something nice, after all its saturday” she said and turned off the stove.

Rick smiled from ear to ear and ran to wash his hands. When he came back, he sat and waiedt for Lisa. They ate the simple but really nice dinner and talked about the world. Rick told her about his day. Lisa listened with attention to everything he said, like she was recording in her brain every little word, tone and look of his face.

“Are you all right?” asked Rick suddenly holding her hand with him. Lisa looked at him and almost couldn’t breathe, she held her tears and nodded to him.
“Yes” she whispered and one single tear escaped and Rick gasped. He stood up and held her in his arms.
“Oh baby, what’s wrong?” he said comforting her, which made Lisa feel even worst. She held herself against him and nodded again.
“I’m fine, really…I’m just…well….kind of sensitive” she said and Rick looked in her eyes for an honest answer. She looked at him and Rick wasn’t convinced with that.
“Rick” she said and her hand took his.
“Yes?” he asked
“Would you make love to me tonight?” she asked sadly. Rick opened his eyes wider and knew something was wrong, because of the look on her face.
“Lisa, you know you don’t need to ask me for that” he said and tenderly touched her cheek with his thumb “But I want to know what happened with you”.

Lisa swallowed and looked into his eyes. She wanted to tell him, she needed to free her soul and tell him what she was feeling, what she was thinking. But she couldn’t. Lisa was beyond the line where she could pretend that nothing happened anymore. This was a pain that she was going to keep for herself, for the rest of her life.

“I need you” she said and put her arms around his neck in a embrace. “I need to feel you next to me, I need to touch you…I need you to make me feel alive” she whispered truthfully with her eyes full of tears.

Rick didn’t know what to think or say, but his first reaction was to hold her closer to his heart. They both hugged each other and Rick kissed her head tenderly.
“Please” she said against his neck, trying not to sob, “please make love to me” she said and then looked at him.

Rick looked at her and kissed her on the lips. He didn’t know why she was so sad, but looking at her in that way worried him, even more… scared him.

The kiss was something that Rick never felt before in his life, it was bittersweet and full of love, it was a sad kiss. Lisa gave to Rick everything she was in that simple gesture. Rick felt overwhelmed for so many emotions.
When they stopped, Rick looked at her for a while. She was perfect and he wondered why he didn’t notice that earlier. Rick kissed her tears away and then took her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

After a few hours, Lisa looked at Rick sleeping next to her. The moonlight was all the light in the room, but it was enough for Lisa. She had a clearer view of his face. She traced his face slowly with her finger, barely touching him, but enough to memorize every single line, every single detail. He was so beautiful. His nose was perfect and his lips inviting. He was breathing softly and his hair fell into his face. Lisa sadly smiled and, for the last time, took his soft hair and tucked it away behind his ear. Lisa almost started to cry, but she composed herself and just come closer to his ear and whispered to his sleeping form.

“Rick, I love you”.

But Rick didn’t wake. Lisa kissed his lips softly and got up from bed. After a few minutes, she looked at him one more time, wearing her uniform, and when she left a letter on his nightstand, one tear fell onto the wood of the table.

When Rick woke up a few hours later, he turned around in bed and found that Lisa wasn’t there anymore. He focused his eyes after a while and found out that the sun was just raising in the sky. He called her but nobody responded. Rick went to see if she was in the kitchen or in the bathroom but she wasn’t.

Rick couldn’t stop the painful feeling inside his chest. He looked around in vain one more time and nothing. He was chilled to the bone. He walked to the bedroom one more time and then he saw the letter on his nightstand. Quickly, he took it and opened it, recognizing the handwriting.

“My dear Rick:

I know that when you find this letter you will not understand what it is about, but I will tell you. This letter is the last thing you will see of me for a long, long time. Maybe you will not understand why I’m leaving. I know that you don’t love me, and even when you tried your best, you couldn’t. I’m glad that we made an effort, but I can’t fool myself anymore with it. I love you too much to see you in pain, and I know that deep inside, being with someone you don’t love, even if you care about her, sooner or later will bring pain and frustration, and I don’t want that for you, because I love you too much for that. This is the reason why I’m leaving, because I learned that real love means to setting free what you really want, even if that kills you.

Maybe it was wrong for us to jump into a marriage so soon. Being alone or afraid after losing the ones you love is not a good reason to commit to something for life, and that was our reason.

I know you too well, I know that you will feel guilty and you will try to find me, but don’t, because I’m going to disappear from your life and give you the only gift I can, freedom. Don’t be afraid to love Rick, because its the one feeling that will follow you to the end of time, and I know, because it’s the only thing that I will bring with me. Look for Minmei, I know you love her and I know she loves you. No matter what, accept that and be happy.

Thank you for giving me the best year of my life. Thank you for making me feel whole, secure and beautiful since I was a child, when I used to have a family. Thank you for all the little details we shared. Thank you for being you and teaching me to be a better person.

I love you and I will love you forever. Please be happy, for me.
Lisa”

When Rick ended the letter he was shaking. He couldn’t breathe and felt even dizzy. His lower lip was quivering and a tear fell from his eye to the letter. ‘no, this is not happening’ he thought and tried to do something. He felt his heart breaking in thousand pieces, because now he understood the pain she felt all these years for him, and now he felt it for her. Rick stood up and held himself against the wall. ‘She can’t leave me, she can’t!, what am I going to do without her? I need her! I need her too much for…for…I just need her in my life!’ he thought and then fell onto the floor holding the letter. He looked at it one more time and touched her letters. Slowly. She loved him that much that she set him free, but free from what? He thought. Until then, he truly believed that he was in that marriage because he didn’t want to be alone, but it was more than that. With just a year, he made himself dependent on her, on her presence, oo her love. He knew she loved him, but now that she was gone, he realized he needed her because she was the one who could make the blood run in his veins everyday, because she was his best friend, his lover, his partner. He needed her because she transformed herself into the reason to keep going, even with all the bad. He needed her simply because...he loved her.

That realization shocked Rick and kicked him in the guts. He loved her more than anything in the world and he missed her. He missed her. She left him. Rick stood up and put on a pair of pants and a t-shirt before running to the car. He needed to find her, he needed to stop her from leaving, he needed to tell her, that he loved her.

Lisa looked to the horizon. She was on the cliff where the ruins of the SDF-1 were. The sun was raising slowly and she closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the first sunlight. She looked down where the rest of the ship and her family were. This was the only place where she felt close to life again, just because of the memories. Lisa remembered once again all the details of her life since she was a child. She remembered her mother and her piano. She remembered her father and how much they loved each other. She remembered Karl and her first kiss. She remembered the girls from the SDF-1 and the jokes, she remembered Claudia, Roy and Gloval. She remembered Rick.

Tears escaped freely from her eyes and she let them run, for the first time. She had so much to give, she always had. Her soul was full of love that made her feel tired. She sat on the dusty ground, and the wind moved her hair against her face. She was so tired.

Lisa put her hands in her pocket and took out a little white bottle. She looked at it and sighed. She was sure what she wanted and needed to do. She looked around and found herself completely alone. There was no one there in her life anymore, and she didn’t have the strength to go on. Lisa was ashamed of her own weakness, but one more time, she told herself that they wasn’t anyone out there to show that she was strong, so she did was she had to.

After a few minutes, she started feeling sleepy and rested her head on the ground, next to the flowers. She looked at the sky and asked for forgiveness and then remembered her wedding and blessed Rick, wherever he was, for the last time.

Rick drove like a madman until he reached the one place he knew where Lisa could be. He looked around for a car or something, but he didn’t see anything. He parked and ran around calling for Lisa until he passed the woods and found the cliff. He looked around to the rest of the SDF-1 but couldn’t see her down there either. He passed a hand through his hair and then he saw her, on the floor a few feet away from him.

Rick felt the wind knocked out of his stomach. His heart pumped fast against his chest and the air missed his lungs. He walked next to her and slowly, turned her face to him. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully against the white flowers, but when Rick touched her face, she was already cold.

Rick started to cry like a child and held her in his arms. He cried for being too late, and for the pain she endured because of him.

“I love you Lisa, please came back….please….listen to me baby…I love you so much…don’t leave me, please. I can’t go on without you, you are my wife, my love! I need you Lisa, baby don’t…” he said and couldn’t spoke anymore. His tears ran freely down his face and he sobbed against her hair. He held her closer and prayed for a miracle that she be returned to him. He cried and shouted until he had no more strength. He kissed her forehead and asked for forgiveness. He repeat over and over again that he loved her, but it was too late, she was gone forever.

It was a lovely morning when Rick walked by, one more, time around the resting place of what was the SDF-1, the ship that changed his destiny forever. In his arms he carried a beautiful jar and he looked at it. His hands weren’t the same anymore, and it was perfectly normal, considering that 50 years passed since the day Lisa died. His hair was silver now and his once handsome face showed the years on it. But he didn’t care anymore.

After Lisa's death, Rick never was the same again. After months of loneliness, he realized that if Lisa were with him, she would never let him pity himself in that way, so in her memory, he got up. For Lisa, his wife, he took the command of the new SDF-3 and came through on his promise to Lisa and took her aches to the stars.

During 50 years he never was with any other woman. Several of them came into his path, but he never could accept anybody else love or interest, not even Minmei who was right there with him the whole time. After knowing Lisa for so many years without realizing she was the only woman for him, his only and true love, Rick never accepted not even a date with anybody else. But he didn’t regret it, because he never felt alone, no matter what. He always felt her presence around, taking care of him like an guardian angel, every day, every second, for the past 50 years.

Rick looked to the blue sky of earth one more time and smiled.

“I take you back were we belong Lisa” he said and opened the jar. “Its time for you to rest from this selfish husband of yours and be free. I love you baby…and I will, for the rest of my time” he said, and then slowly the aches danced in the air and moved like a feather in the wind. Rick smiled and threw a kiss to her direction one more time. That night in his sleep, Rick Hunter passed away.

A light came at the end of the black tunnel, and he followed it. He didn’t feel fear, he didn’t feel pain, all that he knew was that he needed to go into the light. When he finally reached it, he felt the warmth and calm off the morning sun in summer.

“There you are” said a familiar voice and Rick turned around to see someone coming next to him and he felt pure and complete joy.

“Lisa!” he said and ran to her. Lisa giggled when he took her in his arms and turned her around in the air.

“You are here! You are fine” he said looking at her pretty face.
“I've been here for a while Rick, and I missed you too” she said kissing him. He kissed her back and cried from happiness.
“I love you so much” he said sobbing against her neck.
“I know” she said holding him closely “I love you too”
“I’m sorry for what I did…I sorry if I didn’t say it on time” he explained holding her hands, but Lisa nodded.
“Don’t worry Rick, that was how it was supposed to happened. We all have a lifetime to learn, and I learned my lesson” she said kissing his tears away.
“But you died, and it was my fault” he said and kissed her forehead.
“No, It wasn’t. My death was necessary so you could learn too” she said and looked into his baby blue eyes and smiled.
“But it wasn’t fair. I learned, I know…but I missed you so much”.
“Everything happens for a reason Rick, you just wait and you will see” Lisa said one more time.
“I’m going to be with you forever Lisa. I promise you that. We will, because you are my soul mate. You are the only one for me even throughout eternity, and now I know” he said and held her closer.

Lisa smiled widely and they kissed one more time. Their forms disappeared slowly and joined together in lights of pure energy that danced together. The energies of their souls flew away through the sky more and more further away, but always together.

A little girl cried on the playground. She sobbed against her hands while a bunch of children laughed at her and ran away.
“Don’t cry” said a voice and the little girl looked up. She had black straight hair, brown eyes and fair skin.
“Those kids just wanted to played with you for your toys, don’t worry, they are fools” said the voice and a little blond boy sat next to her.
“How do you know?” said the girl clearing her tears away with her sleeve.
“Because I saw them” said the boy raising an eyebrow and looking at the girl with a sarcastic smile. She frowned for a second and looked at him suspiciously.
“And how do I know if you are not one of them?” she asked and the boy laughed.
“Because….I probably have more toys than you and all those kids together, silly” said the blond little boy and smiled to her.
“Hmmm….I never saw you before” she said playing with the sand of the sandbox “How old are you?”.
“You asked a lot of questions!” he said annoyed but smiled again “I’m seven” he said proud “You?”
“I’m going to be seven next week” she said.
“AHA! I’m older then, you have to obey me!” he joked, but the girl got angry.
“No way! I’m not going to obey you! I don’t obey my sister and she’s older than you” she said smirking.
“Hmm…well ok, I thought I could have luck and boss someone. My brother is older too, he’s 9 and he always tease me” he said.
“My sister is 9 too, there she is, having a race with her bicycle with that boy over there”
“That’s my brother!” he said amazed “WOW! Your sister is pretty good, I never saw someone beating Roy before!” said the boy smiling from ear to ear.
“Yeah, Claudia likes to compete all the time in everything” said the girl and made a hole in the sand. The boy looked at her, sat with her and helped her.
“I live in the house next to you, we moved yesterday” said the little boy and the girl looked at him straight in his blue eyes. He was familiar in some way, but she couldn’t remember.
“Cool” she answered him smiling “we can be friends then! Did you know that there’s a door in the basement that joins our two houses?” she asked with shinning eyes.
“Wow! Really? That’s too cool!” said the boy and added “yeah, we can be friends, but you have to obey me” he said smirking.
“No way!” she answered angry again and the boy laughed.
“You are funny, you always get angry so easily?” asked the boy again.
“That’s what my sister says all the time, but I don’t care…” frowned the black haired girl and made a bigger hole.
“Ok, ok, I always bother people, but its just for fun, so don’t get angry with me all the time, deal?” offered the boy extending a hand to her. She took it.
“Deal” she answered, when another voice took their attention.
“C’mon kids, time to go home” said the girls mother.
“Have to go” said the girl and this time the boy frowned.
“I will see you again?” he asked sadly.
“Of course silly! Didn’t you say we were neighbors? Duh!” joked the girl and the boy blushed.
“Hehehe, I forgot” he said touching his head embarrassed. “Let’s try to open that door later!”
“Sure” said the girl and walked away waving, but the boy ran after her.
“Wait! I didn’t ask your name”, said the boy breathing hard from the run.
The girl smiled from ear to ear and didn’t know why her heart was pumping faster “My name is Elizabeth, but everybody calls me Lisa” she answered “and you?”.
The boy looked into her brown eyes and blushed, feeling butterflies in his stomach “I’m Richard, but It’s too long, so call me Rick” he said, and both kids felt a warm feeling inside, making them feel completely and unknowingly happy.