Where I Belong

Disclaimer – Nadesico is owned by Xebec and ADV Vision.

A/N – Welcome to my first real attempt at fanfiction! It takes place after the final episode of Nadesico, so contains spoilers for the series. I'll warn you now that I've only seen volumes 4 through 12 of Nadesico, so I'll apologise if I get some things wrong.

I'm probably not the only one surprised by the severe lack of Nadesico fics on this site. I was even more surprised by the lack of fics centred around Ruri, considering she's one of the most popular characters. In any case, this fic focuses on her and what happens to her after the final episode. Any criticism is welcome, especially on the characterisation of Ruri.

One

It was over, at least for now. With that ancient supercomputer now aboard the Nadesico, boson jumping through tulips was no longer possible, bringing the war between the Earth and the Jovians to an absolute standstill for the time being. A peace of sorts had been achieved, which meant the Nadesico's mission was a success, albeit a temporary one.

It had been two days since the incident on Mars. Most of the crew were now at the celebratory party which Yurika had organised as a well-deserved treat after the trials of the last year. Everyone was relieved to finally be able to let themselves go and have a good time. Of course, there was one crew-member who still remained on the bridge despite the merry-making taking place elsewhere on the ship.

She knew she should be annoyed, since everyone had conveniently forgotten that at least one person had to be up here while the Nadesico was in motion, and so had left her to hold the fort by default. But in truth, she wasn't so bothered. She had grown used to manning the bridge alone and besides, she was hardly a party animal. Her satisfaction from their victory came purely from the relief that she and her friends had survived the ordeal.

"I thought I'd find you here, Miss Hoshino,"

Ruri looked up from her console as a newcomer entered the room. She recognised him well enough – Nagure Akatsuki, the chairman of Nergal. This man had betrayed the Nadesico in the days leading up to the Martian Incident, but now that his own battleship had been destroyed by the Jovians, he was here on the Nadesico as a prisoner of sorts. Not that they'd locked him up or anything, but he was no longer regarded as a crew-member, more like a passenger under supervision. After everything he'd done, Ruri didn't trust him any further then she could throw him.

"So why aren't you down partying with the rest of them?" he asked, propping himself against the other side of her console.

"Someone has to keep an eye on things up here, Mr Akatsuki," Ruri replied steadily.

"Amazing how it always seems to be you, eh?"

Ruri shrugged, not lifting her eyes from the console in front of her. "I don't really mind. Now that there aren't any Jovian attackers to deal with, controlling the Nadesico is no longer such a big job."

"Naturally," replied the tall Aesti pilot. "Guess it's not so exciting anymore either."

This interruption to her quiet evening had irritated Ruri slightly, so she decided to go out on a limb. "Mr Akatsuki, would I be correct in assuming that you didn't come up here for small-talk?"

Akatsuki's mouth curved upward in amusement. "My, you are a suspicious one!"

"Am I right?"

Akatsuki laughed out loud. "Ever the analyst, aren't you Ruri dear?" He shifted to face her. "Well in truth there is something I want to run by you, while you're here alone."

Ruri looked up at him as a sign that he should continue. Her immense hazel eyes held curiosity now. Akatsuki parked himself at Megumi's post and sat facing the eleven-year old child, his arms casually folded. He met her eyes when he spoke again.

"You've done a great job here Ruri. A fantastic job."

Ruri didn't alter her expression as she replied. "I think we all have, Mr Akatsuki."

"But you in particular. Haven't you seen how those other fools rely on you to keep this ship in order?"

Where was this leading too? The girl coughed to delay her answer, then said, "The Nadesico isn't controlled by any one person. We succeed because we work as a team towards a common objective." This truly was her view, and had been for a while. Although she constantly criticised the mental prowess of her fellow crewmembers (idiots), she knew that their success, and indeed their very survival had required the skills of many. Where would they be today without Mr Uribatake's mechanical expertise, without Ryoko's awesome battle-skill, without Minato's smiling face under all difficulties? However, Akatsuki didn't seem to share her view.

"Nonsense! Don't deny your true value – both Erina and I have seen the evidence. Need I remind you that it was your rallying cry that reunited the crew aboard the Nadesico? That your hacking skill bypassed Nergal's security so you could take her back? Let's not mention the fact that you're up here at your post nearly twenty-four seven while the rest of they crew are all out chasing the fanboy."

She wasn't good at dealing with flattery. And the fact it was coming from Nagure Akatsuki, a traitor who had barely spoken to her before now, made her all the more suspicious. She decided it was time to get to the point.

"Where is all this leading to, Mr Akatsuki?"

"My master plan, Miss Hoshino," Akatsuki rose and strode over to the massive view-screen at the front of the bridge, standing with his back to Ruri, staring into the infinity of stars beyond the screen, as if watching and waiting for the future to come to him.

"My ambitions haven't ended with the destruction of my Kakistubata. Even as we speak, Nergal is in the process of building a new ship back on Earth, to be completed in around fifteen months time. This one will be a true battleship, several times more powerful than the current Nadesico. It will be almost twice as large, with a whole fleet of Aestavalis units and two P-T cannons! This baby will be able to travel to Jupiter and fight the whole war for us, cutting off our foes at the source!" He slapped his hands together to accentuate his point.

He turned to face her again, sheer ambition and pride riding in his eyes. "I want you to be aboard that ship Ruri, as her computer operator. You can continue your fight for peace aboard a true battleship with a trained crew. You'll be no longer held back by the fools you currently work with!"

Ruri didn't need to think long before delivering her answer. "I'm flattered by your offer Mr Akatsuki, but I'm afraid I must decline."

Akatsuki was unfazed. "Now, now, don't be impulsive Ruri dear! I had a feeling that would be your first response, what with all that's happened. Take a step back and look at the situation. You fought against the Jovians under the command of that Yurika. All I'm asking is that you continue that task under me. And I'm not such a bad guy!" He grinned at her.

Ruri's tone remained constant. "Although her captaining skill was questionable I always followed Miss Misumaru because she truly fought for a peace that benefited all parties. On the other hand, your goals are money, power, the destruction of the Jovians and conquest of boson technology. All of which are selfish."

"True, true I won't deny my objectives. But how do you think this war will progress unless we destroy the Jovians? You tried peace talks and they failed. The Jovians must be annihilated before we can truly live on a peaceful Earth!"

"If we seek to destroy the Jovians then we are no better then they are." Ruri replied steadily. "True peace can only be achieved if both peoples agree to accept each other and work together to build a better tomorrow. It's been said so many times by so many people. Don't you understand that yet?"

Akatsuki emitted his overly loud and unpleasant laugh again. "An impossible dream, Ruri dear! You should know more than anyone that the Jovians want nothing more than bloody war. We have to take steps to defend ourselves. I'm surprised you can't see that!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I won't be on this new ship of yours. I would also dissuade you from building it altogether. You still don't understand what true justice involves."

"True justice?" Akatsuki smirked. "Sounds like quite a big concept for such a little girl! Okay, let's approach this differently," He came around the console and seated himself at Megumi's post again. "Think to the future, Ruri."

"The future?"

"Yes," said the dark-haired man. "You can't stay aboard the Nadesico forever, not without Nergal or UEAF funds backing it. I anticipate that the Captain's little game will come to an end once she realises she can't forever control a crew without food or wages!"

"That's true," admitted Ruri. "That's why we're heading back to Earth now."

"Yes, and what will happen when we get there? Everyone will go their own way. I expect Tengowa and the Captain will gallop off into the sunset together. That Megumi has her voice-acting and Minato will go and start a life together with that Jovian brat. The crew will all go their separate ways. And where will that leave you?"

Ruri couldn't stop herself from inwardly gasping. He'd spoken aloud her one of her key fears, of being left alone and forgotten. She'd deliberately avoided thinking about her uncertain future, but Akatsuki's words shoved the problem right into her face. What would she do when they reached Earth?

Akatsuki was merciless. "The only life you've ever had is coming to an end Ruri. You can't deny it. And what will you do when it does? How will you support yourself?" He laughed out loud again – Ruri really wished he'd stop doing that.

"Despite your prodigal ability you're still just a little girl – it's not like you'll be able to take a regular job. So what else does that leave you? A foster home? Forced to repress your immense mental power and become another unwanted orphan?"

The man with long black hair paced over to the pale girl behind the console and faced her, ambition flowing through his veins. "Come with me, Ruri. I can give you a role which allows you to fully utilise your powers!"

Ruri's mind was swimming, but she remained focused enough to deliver her reply.

"It's true I don't know where my future will lead me. But I do know that I won't fight for you."

By now, she'd thought he would be getting angry, but his voice was still level and composed as he said, "I suppose it's only natural that this is your first response after a year of warfare, but I'm patient. I'm not asking you to make a decision now. Think it over first and call me when you know your answer." Akatsuki place his business card on the desk in front of her. "I'll be waiting for your call. I advise that you don't let our Blue Mother Earth down!" With a sly smile, he turned and strode out of the bridge. He stopped at the door.

"And by the way, this conversation never took place. Be seeing you, Ruri-chan."

Ruri picked up the card and watched him leave through the corner of her eye. After he'd left the room, she put the card in her shirt pocket, sighing deeply as she did so.

"Idiot,"

A/N - Well, that's chapter one done. Feel free to comment. Flame me to cinders if you must. In any case, chapter two will be going up very soon. Watch this space!