Archive of Our Own ^beta

ONE

It begins innocuously enough, for all that it seems to set the tone of their future relationship forevermore.

Kagome is exhausted. She had to pull an all-nighter to complete her analysis on Hendorff’s Dilemma by 0800, and it’s Wednesday, which means she’s overloaded on all her classes. It’s a full schedule, packed with lectures, group projects, and hand-to-hand combat training. She’s command track, but she’s doing everything she can to graduate early with honours. There’s a reason why so few have been able to accomplish such a feat at the Academy. More often than not, Kagome wonders if she’s crazy for doing this to herself.

Possibly. Probably.

Miroku would say yes, but he’s her best friend so his input is mostly moot.

All of this is to point out that she’s not at her best. It stands to reason then, when the seat beside her in the lecture hall is suddenly taken up by a guy she does not know, that she’s startled. And oh, he’s very attractive. Wow, those eyes.

“Look, this is fucking weird, but I need you to roll with it,” the guy states, his voice a deep rumble. “Can I hold your hand?”

“Can you—” Kagome pauses, blinking a few times to make sure she’s not hallucinating. Ayumi had given her that tea this morning, but she’d been assured it was only jasmine. “You want to hold my hand?”

“Yes.” The guy smiles and it’s— Dear god, it’s a little terrifying, like he’s not quite used to it. Still, he is without a doubt one of the most attractive people that Kagome’s ever met, horrifying smile and all. “For fuck’s sake, it’ll be for ten seconds at most. Your hand.”

There’s urgency there, laced with something else Kagome can’t identify. It’s enough to make her hold out her hand, albeit tentatively. The guy seizes the opportunity though, lacing their fingers together as satisfaction brings that strangely scary smile into something more relaxed: a smirk, teasing.

“Thank – and I can’t emphasis this enough – fuck.” He does an abortive little glance somewhere over Kagome’s left shoulder. “I don’t know what the hell happened, but these people won’t leave me alone.”

Kagome narrows her eyes. She watches the way he leans in nice and close, as if the two of them are overly familiar with each other. She feels the way his hand tightens on hers, raising it up between them like he’s showing it off. It takes only a single look behind her seat to see a group of about five individuals – all cadets, and all appearing decidedly dejected – to understand. “Are you pretending to date me?”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” the guys replies. Kagome tugs at her hand, trying to pull it away, and his snarky expression immediately fades into horror. “No, no, wait, listen! I need your help.”

“Pretty sure you can turn down some overly excited fans,” she answers, dryly.

“You don’t understand,” the guys growls. “Some asshole circulated some kind of fucked up rumour about certain things that I’m good at.”

Right. Uh-huh. Kagome gives him a withering glance. “Like fractal calculus?”

“What? No! Well, yes, but that’s not what I’m talking about.” The incredulousness in his voice is decidedly amusing, for all that he’s not letting go of her hand. He stares at her, golden eyes wide and earnest, like he’s trying to get her to understand.

And Kagome understands, alright, but this is so not her problem. “You have until lecture starts, or I will call them over.”

His lip curls into something like a sneer, but he doesn’t argue. An abortive glance over her shoulder suggests that the situation is solving itself, anyways. “What’s your name?”

“Why? So you can tell people we’re dating?”

If he rolled his eyes any harder, he’d break something. “No, actually. It was to give a proper thank you. Not that I want to now, shit.”

Kagome takes a breath. While she’s totally in the right here, she knows that she’s being difficult. It’s unlike her, especially with people she’s just met. “I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours,” she explains, even though it’s unnecessary. There’s not a chance in hell she’s saying sorry, though this is the closest it’s going to get. “And my name is Kagome.”

The guy huffs near immediately. She’s pretty sure that despite the fact they’ve only just met, he understands her intentions without them being said. It’s a bit weird, but likely it’s just a fluke. The guy is clearly Canisian, and as far as the Federation is aware, Canisians don’t have telepathic or mental abilities.

“Inuyasha,” he replies, scowl lessening somewhat. “Thanks for the save.”

“It’s fine.” Kagome wonders what’s taking the professor so long. He’s just standing at a desk in the corner of the room, speaking with his teaching assistants. Of all the days, it had to be this one. “Although, I’m pretty sure at this point, we don’t need to hold hands. I think your fans got the message.”

For a moment, Inuyasha stares at her. It takes him a moment, and then his hand is jerking back and into his lap. His scowl is tremulous, but it’s the triangular ears sitting on the top of his head – fluffy and white and exceptionally cute – that steal her attention. They press against his head, like a dog being shamed. “Right,” he grumbles, “thanks again.”

“It’s not a big deal. What track are you—” But Kagome has to cut herself off, the professor finally activating the microphone to begin the lecture.

The class is – in one word – dismaying. It’s hard as hell, and tends to make less sense to her than quantum chemistry. She’s just not good at it, so all of her attention is focused on taking notes, trying to understand the formulas being written. When class ends, Kagome is so wrapped up in trying to understand where the hell the professor had gotten n from in the equation, she doesn’t even notice that Inuyasha has already left. The lecture hall is nearly empty.

“Oh well,” she murmurs to herself. In a fit of amusement, she thinks, Guess we weren’t meant to be after all.

This, she learns, is a mistake.

Kagome keeps this knowledge to herself, lest Inuyasha murder her over it.

TWO

The briefing room buzzes with activity. Kagome can practically feel it as she enters, the doors swooshing open in near silence. Almost immediately, her executive team quiets, chairs swiveling so that they face the head of the table where Kagome sits, PADD in hand.

“Shiori,” Kagome begins, motioning towards her communications officer. “Overview, please.”

Lieutenant Shiori Bouma stands up, hands folded neatly in front of her. “This morning we received a new mission from Command. We’re to complete a geotechnical map of the L class planet Kazoku III – specifically, their southern-most landmass. Coordinates and specified boundaries have been provided. This is a level four priority, with Admiral Inoue’s oversight.”

“Is there a purpose to this?” Lieutenant Yura Yajima, Chief Science Officer, asks. “Beyond, you know, discovery and exploration of the stars, etcetera?”

Kagome looks away from Yura to watch the newest member of her executive team shift in his seat, brow furrowed like he’s making an assessment. It’s fine, and not altogether unexpected. Most people take one look at Yura and immediately dismiss her: too pretty, too young, and too voluptuous for even standard fleet uniform. Those who manage to get past her physical appearance tend to then get stuck on the casual way she speaks. It’s never been a problem on Kagome’s ship, and never will as long as she’s captain.

Shiori makes her face perfectly neutral, as she answers, “Classified.”

Yura sighs. “Of course. I’ll propose an away team for your approval, Captain.” The last bit is directed at Kagome, who nods.

“Any sign of habitation?” Commander Miroku Tsujitani asks, her First Officer.

“Not according to initial discovery or subsequent explorations dating back over two decades,” Shiori replies easily. “While the planet is habitable during the hours in which its sun is visible, night time plummets to an average of negative eighty degrees Celsius.”

Doctor Suikotsu hums, red flags apparent. “And the duration of sunlight?”

“Approximately six hours.”

Yura, interest clearly piqued, sits up in her chair. “How in-depth of a map is Command looking for?”

“I’ve just sent the briefing to all of your PADDs,” Kagome cuts in. “But based on my estimation, we’ll be in orbit of Kazoku III for at least a week to achieve the mission’s end goal.”

“My team is going to combust,” Yura whispers, delighted as she picks up her PADD.

“While this mission holds priority,” Kagome goes on, “it has a low-level risk. Only minor medical and security required. Which leads into our next topic. Everyone, I’d like you to meet our new Chief Security Officer, Inuyasha Taisho. He’ll be serving with us for the remainder of our five-year mission.”

There is a chorus of greetings. The new member of their executive team nods his head, those familiar golden eyes seeking Kagome out.

She forces herself to look away. “Taisho comes to us from the U.S.S. Fang, and has served for the last nine years. He’ll be replacing our dear and grumpy Totosai, who, as we all know, decided to retire.”

“At least you’ll fit right in here,” Lieutenant-Commander Kagura Ogami states. She sends a peculiar glance Kagome’s way, which she ignores. If her Chief of Operations wants to point anything out, she’ll have to be the first one to say it.

“Thank you,” Inuyasha replies, formal. “I look forward to working with you all.”

Kagome can practically see the way some of her executive team wants to dive in with questions. The only person that’s really had a chance to speak with their new CSO is Miroku, who’s been giving him the grand tour. Sango Houko, their Chief Engineer, is narrowing her eyes at him, considering. Kagome needs to cut this off before the meeting extends. “Great. Any questions about the mission?”

Shiori grins at her, knowing the reason for Kagome’s extremely specific question. Yura is practically vibrating with the need for questions – none of them related to the mission, though. “I don’t believe so, Captain.”

“Wonderful. I’ll be awaiting your proposals. Dismissed.”

Her entire team stands up, Inuyasha included.

“Taisho, a word?” Kagome calls, ignoring once more the pointed look from Kagura as the rest disappear out of the conference room’s doors.

Seeming unbothered, Inuyasha remains seated at the table. He gives another couple of head nods at a few last-second greetings, and Miroku seems to arrange some sort of meeting spot for the two of them afterwards.

When the near-silent doors finally close, leaving the two of them alone, that golden gaze is back on her. Kagome has to suppress the strange urge to shiver. Funny, how things so long ago can catch back up to you.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she starts, leaning back in her chair. It’s far more casual than she would ever show during her executive meetings, never mind to regular members of her crew. Still, this is Inuyasha’s first official day. He may as well get used to her methods. “I thought it’d be better to downplay the new addition. Everyone is going to demand your attention either way, but a new science mission will at least keep a couple of them occupied.”

“It’s better than what my last captain did,” Inuyasha answers. His demeanour is— Familiar isn’t the right word, but there’s an echo of the boy she remembers from her third year at Starfleet Academy. The smirk, at least, still holds some semblance of cockiness, though his scowl has yet to be seen.

Maybe he’s grown out of it.

Kagome hums, nodding. “You’ve been made aware of the situation, right?”

“You mean,” and here, Inuyasha’s smirk gains new life, “the situation in which this is an untested crew with a barely-tested captain? Captain.”

Kagome laughs; she can’t help it. “At least I’ll always know what’s on your mind.”

“My last captain said something similar.”

“I’ve spoken to Kanade at length,” Kagome replies. “She had a lot to say.”

At this, Inuyasha looks vaguely horrified. Oh, but there’s that scowl, creeping in. His arms even cross – on the tabletop, but still. “If you have anything to question me on, you may as well just ask.”

His stare is as intense as she remembers it, and yet, it seems like Inuyasha doesn’t remember her at all. Funny, how the world works sometimes. It has been ten years, after all. “I don’t,” she tells him kindly, sitting forward. “But do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Have questions for me? It’s only fair.”

Inuyasha raises an eyebrow at her. “You seem pretty lax, for a captain.”

“Is that a question?” He definitely scowls, and Kagome holds back her laughter. “Despite appearances, I’m not. I am captain of this ship, Inuyasha, and I run it well. I’m sure you’ve seen the stats: efficiency onboard the U.S.S. Miko is seven percent higher than any other ship in the fleet. I trust my crew. There’s a give and take to it, as you can imagine. I allow some breaks where warranted.”

“Like using first names,” Inuyasha states. He seems more interested than unhappy with the development. “You called everyone but me by their first name in the briefing.”

“The executive team gets that benefit behind closed doors,” Kagome allows, nodding. “During briefings and QTs. Disciplinary discussions, strikes, and anything else that impacts personnel records excluded.”

For a moment, he opens his mouth, about to question her. She can tell: after only a year as Captain – not the youngest ever, but certainly young enough – she’s used to it. However, Inuyasha seems to change his mind, nodding. “So how should I address you?”

“Captain,” Kagome replies, “if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. I won’t take offense if you use my name. Fair’s fair – just don’t be stupid, and never on deck.”

He rolls his eyes, a blatant show of disrespect. Kanade said he did that a lot, which was probably why Kanade pushed so hard for Inuyasha to be transferred to the U.S.S. Miko. Not because she wanted to get rid of him, oh no. Inuyasha was an exemplary member of staff, and a brilliant tactical officer by her own admission. But, he tended to rub people the wrong way, especially where politics were concerned.

“I won’t keep you much longer,” Kagome continues. In the corner of her eye, her PADD lights up in a steady stream of incoming messages. She has so much work to do, and avoiding it by chatting with a man who doesn’t seem to remember her is by far a foolish thing to do. “But I wanted to make sure you were settling in alright. You’ve met your team?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“They seem…” He tilts his head. “Overexcited.”

“Well, Totosai was a bit older, if you remember. He was only onboard as a way for Starfleet Command to keep an eye on me during my first year. An experienced influence, or whatever you want to call it. Either way, he was pretty by-the-book.”

“You mean, he was boring.”

Kagome hides her smile. “So you understand.”

It looks like he’s barely holding back a groan. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“And Miroku’s been helpful?”

There’s a glint in those golden eyes, but he only nods.

“Good. Well, Rin – my yeoman – will have already forwarded you our QTs. We can discuss any departmental changes or concerns you have then. If it’s pressing, my door is always open to you.”

“Thank you, Captain.” She waves a hand, and he stands up, understanding the dismissal for what it is. Inuyasha pauses, however, before he steps away. “Permission to make a request regarding the upcoming mission, Captain?”

So soon? He is bold. Kagome nods, ignoring the way warmth spreads through her. Every time her ship gets better and better – the staff, the engineering, the fluidity of their team – Kagome can’t help her simmering pride. If only her father could see her now.

“I’ll need to properly review the briefing, but I would like to go down. Not necessarily to monitor my team, but to better understand the ship’s process.”

Fair enough. “Send a proposal, along with your staffing plan. If I have any questions, I’ll let you know. I don’t see it being a problem.”

***

Hindsight is, of course, 20-20.

Kazoku III is as predicted. Yura’s team has been efficient and exuberant in equal measure, the science department buzzing no matter what shift schedule it is. For five days, the Miko orbits the L class planet, with no hiccups or disturbances.

It’s going well.

Or, at least, it was.

Her first mistake was giving in to Shiori’s big, violet eyes. While Kazoku III has been proven inhabited by only vegetation, early reports made by the initial discovery ship – the U.S.S. Eli – had included holovids of interesting patterns along various rockfaces. Biologists had confirmed the markings were likely based on the growth rates and movements of the nearby flora, but linguistic specialists had found something almost like a code within the markings.

“I just want to take a look at it,” Shiori had pleaded, in a way that was somehow both dignified and yet, reminiscent of a child. “I’ll confirm with Yura on when best to go down with her science team to ensure I’m not in the way, and that I limit my timing accordingly.”

“Do you have nothing else to do?” Kagome had asked, knowing that this was a losing battle.

“I’m already ahead in my shift work, and this would be done outside of my scheduled hours.” Shiori pursed her lips, seeming to understand that she needed more than just assurances of her punctuality and preparation. “I want to write a report based on my findings, to add to the currently limited data we have on Kazoku III. Whatever mapping we’re doing is clearly in preparation for some sort of future work – I would like to be a part of it.”

God, the opportunity-for-growth argument. If Kagome hadn’t already been convinced, this would have been the final nail in the coffin. “Fine, I’ll allow it. But ensure that you’re travelling with Inuyasha, understood? Him, or one of his team. Ensure that he has the leeway to dedicate a crewman for this.”

Shiori had practically bounced in her excitement.

Now, with Miroku’s voice sounding utterly terrified through the comm system, Kagome wishes she put a stop to so many things.

Maybe this is what the Admiralty had meant about reining her in and keeping an eye on her. The very first mission without Totosai and somehow, it all blows up in her face.

“Report,” Kagome orders, already standing up from her chair. Usually she and Miroku traded off on missions off-ship, depending on their nature. With so little to do, it made far more sense for Miroku to oversee Yura and her science team, while Kagome could confer with Sango in engineering on possible enhancements. “What’s going on down there?”

“Our information is either outdated or wrong. There are, in fact, inhabitants on this planet,” Miroku states, firm. It’s only the fact that they’ve been close friends for years that allows Kagome to understand just how worried he is. “They’ve taken two of our crew as hostages: Lieutenant-Commander Taisho and Lieutenant Bouma.”

Shit. Shit. “Ensign Yukana, can we beam them out?”

Kanna, one of the operations officers, types away at her station before frowning. “No, Captain. I can’t get a lock. It seems that there’s something dampening the signal.”

“Probably the rock,” Miroku clarifies. “They’re being held in a cave.”

Damn it. Kagome heads towards the transporter room, signaling to Kanna. “Patch the Commander directly to me. Lieutenant Matsuno, you’ve got the conn.”

“Yes, Captain,” Koga says immediately, their helmsman sharing a quick look with his navigator, Hakkaku.

“Stay in orbit and keep a lock on the crew. Prepare for transport on my mark. Commander, what happened?”

“I responded to an alert call by the Lieutenant-Commander, but by the time I arrived, I was too late to provide assistance. It looks like Taisho took out at least three of them by himself, but now they’ve been barricaded in some underground cave. I can’t get close and our UTs aren’t translating accurately.”

No wonder Miroku called. Other than Shiori, Kagome’s the next best thing to any sort of linguistic proficiency. “Can you see them?”

“Barely, but they look relatively unharmed. Taisho appears to have a broken arm.”

First mission, and Inuyasha’s already going to have to report to sickbay. Suikotsu is going to murder her, in that incredibly soft-toned way of his. “Is Lieutenant Yajima’s team ready to beam up?”

“Yes, Captain.” She makes it to the transporter room, and relays her instructions to the ensign on duty. Stepping onto the pad is always an odd experience, if only because the disintegration and remapping of molecules is never something she thinks anyone properly gets used to. Kagome gives a nod. “Energize.”

Kazoku III is just how the holovids showed it to be: overflowing with vegetation, and strange, Tetris-like rock formations. It’s almost like the planet was made by a small child, using chunks of dirt and plants to shape a rather uneven plane. Before her, covered in mud, stand Miroku and two security officers, Souten and Nazuna. His bright blue eyes look concerned.

“These inhabitants are impervious to phaser fire,” Miroku says, which is really, really not a good start. “At least on low to moderate settings. Besides the initial skirmish, it doesn’t appear like either Taisho or Bouma have been hurt. They’re not even bound, but these inhabitants are—”

“Large,” Souten – more appropriately, Ensign Souten Mizutani – cuts in. Their glare is ferocious. “They look like those legendary Terran beasts. The ice ones.”

“A yeti?” Kagome asks, eyeing the two other humans with her for reference. If Miroku and Nazuna agree, then the situation will be extremely precarious.

“A short yeti,” Ensign Nazuna Orikasa replies. “No taller than five feet, but Mizutani is correct. Their hair is incredibly thick, like some sort of protective layer.”

“It would have to be, to survive the nights on this planet,” Miroku agrees. “Even if they have bunkered underground. But they seem confused more than anything else. If none of our preceding investigative groups have found a sign of life here, then there’s a good chance they’ve never seen one of us, either.”

Well, there goes the Prime Directive. Half the time, Kagome wonders why it even exists. Their job now is to get out with as little impact as possible. “Alright, take me to the cave. How long until the sun sets?”

“Two hours,” Miroku replies.

Not a lot of time, in the grand scheme of things. Kagome feeds instructions back to Koga at the helm, running with the other three through thick vegetation. It takes only a few minutes – clearly, Shiori had kept to her word about not straying too far from the science team’s base of operations – but it still feels like forever until they get to the edge of a clearing, Miroku’s hand coming up to stop them.

“About thirty feet northwest,” he whispers.

Kagome nods and steps ahead.

Wow, they really weren’t kidding about the yeti look. With her palms open and facing forward, she slowly breaks through the tall flora that lines the clearing. Ahead, the ground sharply dives downwards, a massive cliff face overhanging. Two of the inhabitants are standing guard, leaning together with their piercing blue eyes watching. A few feet behind them, she can see at least another three, clustered tightly together.

“My name is Captain Kagome Higurashi of the U.S.S. Miko. My team and I come in peace.” Trite, strange words, but Kagome has learned when dealing with translation issues that using words with negative meanings – such as hurt, when saying ‘we aren’t here to hurt you’ – tends to cause more harm than good.

Her universe translator, attached to her gold uniform, should be doing its job. The inhabitants watch her, heads tilted in consideration. Behind her, Miroku, Souten and Nazuna remain perfectly still.

“You have my crew,” she says, slow and clear. “We need them. Please give them back.”

One of the inhabitants from the cave calls out, a light, trilling sound from a being that exudes the opposite. The universal translator gives only EMBARK as a word, and Kagome despairs instantly. Any hope of her so-called linguistic proficiency will be utterly useless here. She cannot mimic their sounds, the pitch far too high to replicate exactly. Attempting it at a lower register could be disastrous.

The inhabitants shift, and instantly Kagome can see both Shiori and Inuyasha, at the feet of yet another two of the creatures. Rather predictably, Inuyasha looks pissed.

“Captain!” Shiori calls out. “Family unit above all!”

WE ALARM screams the UT, as one of the inhabitants turns to chirp at her. They’re not angry, but they’re clearly scared and confused. They’ve been alone for however long, and somehow stumble upon two new alien races – four, now that Kagome has shown up with Souten and the rest – with no warning. No wonder they were terrified, and protective of their own.

Kagome stares at Shiori, who is looking back at her with such an intent expression, it’s like she’s trying to telepathically communicate with her. Unfortunately, Chiropterrans don’t have that ability either. Family unit.

She stares at the inhabitants, and it comes to her with a snap, pieces clicking into place. All of them are standing with another, touching: the two guarding the front, the three inside, the two holding Shiori and Inuyasha hostage. They’re together, huddled. A unit.

A family?

“Commander,” Kagome whispers. “You, Mizutani and Orikasa need to stand close together, with contact. Now.”

The inhabitants shift, watching. One of the guards cries out, CONFUSION-HARD. What is it about their sounds that trip up the UT so much?

If they get out of this, Kagome is sure Shiori isn’t going to stop talking about it for ages.

Well, here goes nothing.

“Mine,” Kagome calls out, hoping that the translator will have an easier time giving direction to the inhabitants. “Family.”

CONFUSION, one of them trills.

Biting her lip, Kagome slowly turns, gesturing towards her crew standing behind her. They’ve followed her orders, standing close with their hands on each other’s shoulders. She points to them. “Family. Safe.” She points to the two guards, looking more and more distrustful with each word that comes from her mouth. “Family,” Kagome repeats, making sure that they all understand whom she’s gesturing to. “Safe.” She does the same thing to the trio inside the mouth of the slanted cave, and then, points to herself. “Alone. Lost.”

FIGHT, one of them says, but their body language doesn’t indicate such hostility. SEARCH.

Kagome looks to Shiori, who catches her eye and then leans, as much as she can, into Inuyasha’s space. Her arms are trapped at her sides, but her head butts against his shoulder, a clear connection. Kagome prays that this will work. “Mine,” she says firmly, pointing to Shiori and Inuyasha. “Family. Mine.” She holds her arms out, as if they are empty of a space usually filled. “Help, please.”

There’s a long moment of tense silence. The inhabitants are watching not only her, but her crew behind her. Slowly, almost as one, they shift to the side.

SAD, trills one of them, but whatever they’re saying is not meant for Kagome. The two inhabitants keeping Shiori and Inuyasha roll their shoulders – some kind of body language – before stepping back. Hastily, Inuyasha grabs Shiori, dragging her with Canisian speed towards their group. Kagome holds out her arms, and without hesitation Shiori is curled towards her body, hugging her. Inuyasha presses against her other side, his good arm wrapped across her shoulder.

“Thank you,” Kagome says, emphatic. “Happy. Whole.”

FAMILY, the inhabitants cry out.

“Keep contact with each other,” Kagome orders her team, “and back away slowly. Ensigns, be prepared to fire, if necessary.” Not that it would do anything, but maybe it could stall them just enough.

The inhabitants, though, appear to be relieved with their departure. They shift from foot-to-foot, but do not chase after them as they slowly back away. They make it into the tall flora, and with hopefully enough cover, Kagome sighs. “Higurashi to Miko.”

“Miko, here,” Koga replies.

“Six to beam up.”

***

“So,” Kagome greets, entering sickbay with a jaunty wave at Suikotsu, who is still tending to Inuyasha’s broken arm with the osteogenic stimulator. It looks rather unpleasant. “Have a good first mission?”

It’s almost funny, how predictable her CSO is even after only a few days. He scowls. “They were nearly impossible to take down.”

Throwing up her hands in placation, Kagome shakes her head. “Not what I meant. You kept Shiori safe, and we’re all back alive and in one piece. Well, mostly.”

Inuyasha snorts. “Your humour could use some work.”

“The doctor thinks I’m funny,” Kagome replies instantly.

Suikotsu doesn’t even hum in acknowledgement. So much for her CMO’s backing.

“It’s okay,” she continues, “not all missions should be as unexpected as this one. Our intel was inaccurate.”

“My experience says that’s usually the case.”

A fair point. Kagome shrugs. “Well then, we won’t always have to pretend to be a darling family of three to make it out alive. How’s that for assurance?”

Inuyasha rolls his eyes, and Kagome laughs. He really is truly predictable. She’s going to have to see him fight one of these days; hopefully, he’s more of a wildcard when it comes to tactical ingenuity.

“Rest up. Miroku will reach out for your report.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Inuyasha replies. It’s only a little bit sardonic.

Suikotsu hums, and that is that.

THREE

The Garrulus are a perfectly pleasant race, and extremely generous hosts. After a solid month of relatively low-risk missions, the order from Starfleet to work with them was a welcome interruption. The Garrulus live on Joyaku Prime, a hot planet with stunning planes of sand dunes that seem to go on forever. Of course, the scenery is broken up by only their rather massive, architecturally broad cities. Everything is thick stone, with expansive caverns and tiny slits for wind flow. As a growing race on an M class planet, the Garrulus have only to finalize their agreement with the Federation, after a year-long negotiation.

This, at least, is in Kagome’s wheelhouse. Her linguistic skills provide a lot of help in diplomatic matters, and she’s always been one to focus on xenocultural observances to ensure an ease of communicating.

One of the leaders of the Garrulus, Sol’i, has been nothing but a wonderful host. As a show of faith and trust, Kagome, Inuyasha, Suikotsu and Shiori will be staying on-planet for the evening. The signing is the most important aspect, according to Starfleet, but the Garrulus have clearly focused their attentions on a banquet that’s to be held right before and during the ceremony. As such, there are a handful of customs to be followed: absolutely no touching one another, no excessive commentating on a single subject, and standing on the correct side of an individual at all times. There are greeting customs to be learned, and – much to Suikotsu’s ire – medical protocols to be followed, in case of an emergency.

“If the captain collapses, I’m not going to let her die because I can’t touch her,” he states, grey eyes shining a little darker.

Shiori, leading them through the briefing, sighs. “Well, let’s hope that if such a thing occurs, it’s after the signing. Touching another being is a sacred act, mainly due to their collective telepathy, which is strengthened through touch. It’s an invasion of privacy and breach of consent, otherwise. There are only a handful of circumstances that allow for it.”

“I promise not to die,” Kagome assures. It takes a moment for Suikotsu to get out of his head, but when he does, he gives a soft smile.

Inuyasha still doesn’t look happy. In the month that they’ve been together, Kagome can count on one hand the number of times he’s been clearly pleased. The rest is either a kind of tolerated indifference, or outright irritation.

Somehow, his department’s satisfaction rating is up by three percent.

“So no touching, and pretty much always assume that you stand on the right,” he growls, clawed fingers tapping on the tabletop. “Sounds like a walk in the park.”

Shiori beams at him, proud.

***

Everything is going according to plan.

The banquet is in full swing. So far, every interaction has gone smoothly, the Garrulus clearly pleased by Starfleet’s attempts to adhere to their customs. Kagome leads the discussions, Shiori a welcome presence behind her, and Suikotsu goes off to check with the Garrulus’s banquet manager to get a sample of the food being provided, to ensure everything is edible to their systems.

“You are remarkably intelligent,” Sol’i comments, their blue fingers dancing softly in the air, as if playing the piano. “Your Federation is extremely lucky to have you.”

“I’m humbled by your compliments,” Kagome replies. She watches the way Sol’i smiles, pink eyes gleaming. They’re a very beautiful and very colourful race, stark against the brown sand and beige buildings of their city. Shiori and Inuyasha nearly fit right in, if not for their skin tone. Many of the Garrulus have silver hair, their styles cut short and pixie-like, probably due to the incessant heat. “We are grateful to be here and learn from you.”

“Nonsense,” Sol’i argues, but it’s playful. They reach out, almost as if they were to touch Kagome’s forearm. It’s a close thing, and Kagome can practically feel Shiori stiffen by her side. “What more can we teach such a fascinating being?”

Two compliments. Kagome bites back a frown, and tries to remember the best way to escape a conversation without insulting anyone. The agreement has yet to be signed – only an hour left to go – and Kagome is well aware of how tremulous this situation could be.

“Captain,” Suikotsu breaks in, appearing from thin air. “Honoured Elder, excuse me. I need a moment of Captain Higurashi’s time, if possible.”

“Of course,” Sol’i answers, hands fluttering. “Of course. We will speak later.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” But she’s not. Kagome is absolutely not. She follows Suikotsu away from the crowd, walking to his left while Shiori is to her right. At least they have the walking-thing down. The three of them head towards a corner of the room, and Shiori must be doing some sort of hand signal, because suddenly Inuyasha is there, too. His dress uniform – stark red and utterly pristine – looks far too good on him. Maybe it’s because in the past, it’s only been Totosai wearing it, and while that man could clean up, he didn’t exactly scream GQ cover model.

Shiori breaks the quiet first. “Okay, we’ve stepped away for now, but that was a close call.”

“What happened?” Inuyasha demands, glare shooting between the three of them. “I was like five steps away.”

“The Garrulus delegate is getting a little too friendly.” Sighing, Kagome takes a quick, measured check of the room. Many of the Garrulus are dancing, taking up the main space of the hall. Along the edges, food and drink is being served. There’s a station to the far side, a sort of gathering game the Garrulus do, but only a few remain there. “I don’t believe that anyone noticed the potential issue, but we need to be careful.”

“It’s happened to me, as well,” Suikotsu breaks in, making Shiori groan. “I believe, possibly, that we are…exotic, to them.”

“Dark hair, dark eyes.” Kagome holds back a groan, but barely. “We’ll need to take care, at least for the next hour. We can’t stay in a group like this for much longer – they’ll start to think something is wrong. We’ll split up into pairs. If something does happen, find me. We may be able to play it off due to inexperience, but who knows.”

With that, they disband. Shiori goes with Suikotsu, which leaves Inuyasha to remain by Kagome’s side. They wander the room for a bit, dark purple drinks in hand until some other delegates find them, drawing them into conversation. It’s some lesser politicians, as far as Kagome can gather, and all of them seem to be quite well-meaning.

A few disappear to dance, and Kagome watches after them with vague confusion. There are quite a lot of them twirling around, but given the no touching rule, it seems a little odd. One of the loopholes, possibly, but to what extent, she isn’t sure. There was no mention of it in the briefing.

“Let’s find the other two,” she says, low so that only Inuyasha’s Canisian hearing can pick it up over the din. “I think we can comfortably ask about the signing ceremony now, even if only to understand their timing so we’re not late.”

Inuyasha nods, and the two of them edge around the crowd of dancers.

Sol’i stands in their way.

“Honoured Elder,” Kagome greets, shooting Inuyasha a quick glance. “I was just about to locate my crew so that we could prepare for the signing ceremony. Timeliness is important to us to show our respect.” Her hands form a cup in front of her, and the words of polite conversation flow easily. They honestly better, after how much coaching she received from Shiori prior to their beam down to Joyaku.

“Oh, but we have time!” Sol’i practically cheers. “In fact, I believe we have just enough time to participate in a dance.”

It happens so quickly that Kagome barely has time to react. Sol’i reaches out, and this time, there’s no hesitation. Kagome’s hands are already slightly outstretched from her remarks, seconds ago. The Garrulus are nimble beings, lithe and long. There’s no way for Kagome to properly pull away without stumbling, and everything is going so very wrong.

And then, it goes wrong – but in an entirely different way.

Inuyasha has grabbed her, pulling her by the waist into his side. They’re not just touching hands – they’re touching practically everywhere.

The music instantly dies, which is an absolute horror. Kagome didn’t know that such a thing could happen outside of old romantic comedies. Their collective telepathy was impressive, indeed.

And also – vaguely – scary.

“What…” Sol’i stares at them both, aghast. They’re pink eyes are dilating, turning red. “What is the meaning of this?”

“We are merely adhering to your custom, Honoured Elder,” Kagome tries, mind whirling as to how to get out of this. Inuyasha steps away, but not nearly far enough. His shoulder is pressed against her back, a comfort and hindrance both. “We mean no offense.”

Sol’i looks like they’re about to cry, face contorted. The blue shade of their skin grows darker, flushed. “This is a great breach of trust,” they state. “To touch in the outrageous manner that you have—”

“Forgive this one for intruding, Honoured Elder,” Shiori steps in, violet eyes big and earnest. “And forgive this one for not providing a complete understanding of our statuses. You see: Captain Higurashi and Lieutenant-Commander Taisho are bonded. They are tied by fate, and therefore, permitted to touch within reason.”

Not again, Kagome thinks faintly. Oh, not again.

“But they have not stood at each other’s side all evening!” Sol’i argues, head shaking. “I don’t understand.”

“In deference to custom, we believed it best to limit our interactions at all possible,” Kagome adds in. “To limit…touching. Each other. We did not mean any offense. However, my…partner wanted to ensure there was no confusion as to my availability, just now, as there seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

Sol’i hums, but the mutinous look in their eyes settles. They nod, some sort of subtle cue that restarts the music and the dancing. The synchronicity from their race’s telepathy is a stunning, powerful thing. “Then, it is I who must apologize,” the delegate states, bowing slightly. “I have caused an error.”

“We appreciate your forthrightness,” Kagome answers immediately.

Sol’i looks to Inuyasha, pink eyes vaguely worried.

“We appreciate your forthrightness,” he grumbles out. His hand falls to her back, a gentle touch. “Thank you.”

The agreement is signed with only a slight delay, and the relief it brings is so strong, Kagome’s shocked that none of the Garrulus can feel it. They spend the evening trapped in their dining seats, while wave after wave of Garrulus visit them to provide a blessing. It’s all very kind and generous, especially when they keep bringing by that dark purple drink. It intoxicates the Garrulus, but none of her crew has felt the effects.

“How much longer do we need to stay?” Inuyasha asks quietly, still at her side. Now that they’ve been pronounced as a bonded pair – the proper term for the Garrulus – they’re expected to remain at each other’s sides. Custom dictates that they still don’t touch excessively in public, but they must remain close.

“Not much longer. I don’t believe their banquets last beyond the rising of their moon.”

Inuyasha growls quietly. “They’re getting bolder. I don’t think they’ll do anything, but it’ll be harder to avoid touching if they’re dancing all over the place.”

“Agreed. Shiori, what’s our timing?”

“Thirty minutes tops,” she answers. “Although, I can try speaking with the delegation and see if there’s opportunity to slip away now.”

Kagome purses her lips, but changes it to a smile moments later, as she sees a new group of Garrulus coming towards them. “No, not after what happened earlier. Sit tight.”

Thirty minutes shouldn’t seem so long, but somehow, it drags. The banquet has become exceedingly boisterous, pleasure radiating throughout the room. It’s a palpable feeling, strong enough that even psi-null beings can feel it. Kagome certainly can.

Suddenly, the music drops away. Kagome eyes Shiori, wondering if this is how the evening concludes, but her communications officer only looks confused. So, definitely not a part of the usual proceedings, then.

“We would like, as a final show of our gratitude and blessings towards the Federation, to honour those who have come to us.” It’s Sol’i, standing upon a dais. There is no technology around them, but their voice booms throughout the room. “With apologies and thanks, we shall provide a marriage blessing to the great Captain Higurashi and Lieutenant-Commander Taisho.”

“Oh no,” Shiori whispers, under her breath.

Kagome thinks she lost hers around the time Sol’i said ‘marriage.’ Beside her, Inuyasha is as stiff as a board.

“Captain, please,” Sol’i pleads, hands dancing in the air. “It would be our honour.”

Standing up, Kagome smiles and nods. “We thank you for this blessing.” She kicks at Inuyasha’s shin, which has him immediately getting up to follow her. Around them, the Garrulus watch with pleased expressions. An older being, clearly some sort of priest or rites teller, joins Sol’i at the dais.

“Captain,” Inuyasha whispers, barely audible. “What is the plan?”

“It’s just a blessing,” Kagome hisses back. “If we refuse, they’ll get offended. If we tell the truth, it’s a bigger offense. They could annul the agreement.”

And god, what would Starfleet think of that? Kagome already dreads the upcoming sitrep request.

“Please,” Sol’i starts, voice almost incredibly soft. “Hold hands and face each other. We understand you do not have the Divine Voice, but it matters not.”

“Oh good,” Inuyasha mumbles. “I was worried.”

Kagome will happy stun him with her phaser if he gets this agreement annulled.

The music begins once more, the room filling with a feeling similar to awe. It’s like the happiness of earlier, all of the Garrulus in the room coming together to express an emotion too potent to contain. It’s astounding to witness, made surreal by the fact that she’s holding hands with Inuyasha in the centre of it. The priest sings words that not even the universal translator can pick up, probably some ancient form of their language. It sounds vaguely familiar, in that way that some languages do. There are words that the UT can pick out – love, eternity, happiness – but the context remains unknown.

“Now,” announces the priest, “raise your hands to the Divine!”

With fingers interlaced, they do. Inuyasha’s golden eyes are very, very wide. For a moment, he looks out of his element, but when he realizes that she’s looking, a smirk makes its way onto his face. He raises an eyebrow, and Kagome suppresses a laugh. She can only imagine how rude it would be to giggle at her own blessing.

For a fake marriage, no less.

“The ties of fate have been found,” Sol’i praises, practically beaming. “Congratulations on your everlasting love.”

It seems that this is what ends the banquet. The music dies, a natural fading out as voices murmur their blessings. The Garrulus leave without issues or complaint, orderly so that no one comes into close contact.

Shiori and Suikotsu, sitting still at their table, stare at Kagome and Inuyasha wide-eyed.

“Well,” Kagome starts, “that was something.”

Suikotsu chuckles, though Shiori is blushing a faint shade of pink.

“Can we please get out of her now?” Inuyasha demands, and Kagome is so happy that things went off with only a couple minor hitches that she laughs. “Higurashi to Miko, come in.”

“Miko here, Captain,” Miroku replies. He sounds almost excited to hear from them; the shift must have been boring.

“Four to beam up,” Kagome orders, checking in with all of them. Shiori won’t meet her eyes, which means she probably overheard or understood something from earlier that the rest of them missed. She’ll have to make a note to ask her once everything gets settled. “Energize.”

FOUR

Immediately, Starfleet Command sends them on a new mission. Recent intel has come in from a stationed embassy on Engumi IX. A man with the alias of Naraku, a known sex trafficker, has apparently been spotted in a shady part of one of its major boarding cities. Rumour has it that he’s selling children, and meeting with specific buyers.

“And we can trust where the intel is coming from?” Sango asks, leaning back in her chair. The conference room is once again filled with her team, Shiori working through a holoslide of information for the group to see.

“Command trusts it,” Shiori verifies.

“More specifically, Admiral Kyoda,” Kagome adds. The weight of Kaede’s name rings throughout the room. She’s been Kagome’s mentor ever since she joined Starfleet, and has continued to support the U.S.S. Miko’s missions over the past year. If they can trust anyone, it’s her.

“So this C.I. is willing to set up a meeting for us?” Miroku asks.

“Yes. Apparently, he’s been in the city for long enough that they think he’ll disappear soon. The plan is to go in undercover, and agree to a sale. We need to find out where he’s keeping the children. That’s our number one priority. We’ll place a tracker on him during the meeting, and then wait. He’ll have to get a child for the trade off, and then we can capture him.” Kagome pushes down her anger, and focuses on the task at hand. “Kagura, you and Miroku are together. You won’t have a UT on you, but Kagura can speak Venen.”

“Same as this bastard,” Kagura hisses. Her ruby eyes gleam in the artificial light of the conference room. “We’ll get him.”

“I’m counting on it.” Kagome eyes Inuyasha, his clawed fingernails tapping rhythmically against the table. “Can our security team handle it?”

Inuyasha nods immediately, firm. “I have just the plan.”

***

They’re less than twenty-four hours away from falling into Engumi IX’s orbit. Nearly everyday, Kagome has been on the phone with Kaede, sending her updated plans as new information filters in. For the most part, not much has changed that will impact the mission. Both Kagura and Miroku have been training with the tactical team in case of a dire situation, but the plan itself is sound. They go in to make a buy and plant the tracker, and then they’ll have to wait until the location of the children can be determined. The trade between Kagura and Naraku will happen at the same time as they raid whatever location the children are being kept in. Local authorities have promised to provide assistance, even though it’s Starfleet’s mandate.

Kagome needs this to go well. They’re barely a quarter of the way through year two of space – year two of her captaincy – and while the first year seemed to be quiet… Things have ramped up. Either they trust in her ability, or they’re waiting for her to fail.

Sometimes, it feels like the latter. Case in point:

“You married your Chief Security Officer,” Kaede had said to her yesterday, after finally receiving her sitrep from what happened on Joyaku Prime.

“Technically, no. Our fake marriage was simply blessed.” Kagome had smiled, praying that was the end of it.

Kaede had only groaned. “Just tell me about the plan for Naraku.”

And so, while nothing had gone bad, per se, it would be nice for something to go very well. Everyone on her team was ready for this, prepared for what they needed to do. Lives were on the line – especially the lives of children – and they would do everything in their power to take this monster down.

Her doorbell chimes, requesting entry.

“Computer, who is it?” Kagome asks, getting up to find a robe. It’s late, far later than anyone would normally bother her. Something must be up.

“Inuyasha Taisho,” her computer informs her.

No wonder. Tying her robe tighter, she calls out, “Come in.”

The door opens, and Inuyasha steps inside looking worse for wear. Their CSO has been extremely busy the past couple days, preparing for a detailed tactical plan that will not only protect Kagura and Miroku when they meet Naraku, but will also to work with local law enforcement to be mobile the moment the children’s whereabouts are located. His silver hair, normally tied back, is loose around his pale face. There are dark circles under his eyes, the exhaustion clearly getting to him.

If anyone feels the pressure of this mission, it’s him. Even if Kagura and Miroku’s plan fails to secure them a child, the tracker planting should still be accomplished without issue. They could still find the kids.

If Inuyasha’s plan fails, then hope is lost once Naraku inevitably disappears.

“I have new schematics for you, based on recent data from Astu’s law enforcement.” Astu, the city in which Naraku has been temporarily hiding, has been helpful, if a bit slow. Their technology is not as up-to-date as the Miko’s, and even the embassy are unable to provide better resources. “Minor changes to our personnel. At this juncture, both Nazuna and Souten will be leading the protection detail for Miroku and Kagura.”

“Souten?” Kagome picks up her PADD, noting the recently received proposal. “They’re quite green to lead an assignment like this, don’t you think?”

“Young, but they have a lot of potential.” Inuyasha crosses his arms, shifting as if to stay awake. “Besides, in reviewing the plan with them, Souten is positive that they can feel the electrical charge off of the tracker, if Engineering is able to make a minor modification to the TCU. That way, protection detail can split once Miroku and Kagura are confirmed safe, and we can fully monitor Naraku’s movements.”

Fulgurians had a distinct sensitivity to electrical charges, both static and dynamic. If Souten was right, and if Engineering was able to make the modifications, it could allow for additional security in confronting Naraku.

“Have you spoken with Engineering, yet?”

“Sango’s already working on it. I had to bring Miroku with me just to try and get an ETA from her.”

Kagome snorts. “You think Miroku helped your case?”

“He has the past few times.” Inuyasha runs a hand across his forehead, his silver bangs limp. He needs a shower and sleep, that much is obvious.

“Sit down before you keel over,” Kagome admonishes.

Inuyasha rolls his eyes. “Is that an order?”

“If you want it to be.”

With a snort, he sits down. His ears press flat against his head, throwing her back to that classroom ten years ago. She wonders if she asked to hold his hand, if he’d remember. It would be funny, if he did. It would be sexual harassment if he didn’t.

Kagome blinks, vaguely horrified the idea even came to her mind. She’s running on fumes too, but that’s no excuse. She’s the captain.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she taps her PADD against her knee, considering. “You still haven’t chosen a direct subordinate,” Kagome reminds him. “I know it takes time, and you’re still learning about your crew. But after this, I want you to make a decision. You can’t keep this going, and it’s going to get crazier. With each success the Miko has, the more high-pressure missions we’ll be offered.”

“Yeah,” Inuyasha grumbles, peering up at her from underneath his bangs. “That’s typically how it goes.”

“Okay, smartass,” Kagome replies, a surge of warmth flooding through her chest. “I was being a good captain, you know. Act like this, and I’m not going to care.”

With a snort, Inuyasha shakes his head. “That’s a lie, if I’ve ever heard one. I don’t think I’ve met someone who cares more.”

“You have to, with a crew like this.”

“Young.”

“Young,” Kagome admits with a nod, “but also idealistic, and often foolish. I need this crew to know that I have the heart and the head to make nearly everything that should happen, happen. I need this explicit trust, so that when shit gets bad, they can rely on my orders without hesitation. That split second could save their lives.”

Inuyasha hums, tugging on his rumpled uniform shirt like it could make it better. Kagome’s pretty sure she’s seen craters with less gouges. “You know, before I accepted this placement, I got a few interesting calls from a couple of admirals.”

“Well, shit.”

“And I thought people thought I was trouble,” Inuyasha states, a smirk curling at the edges of his mouth. “The number of requests I received to play messenger were…not great.”

This is something Kagome’s already well aware of. She’s a young captain, with a brand new starship and an extremely young crew. There’s a reason why Kagura, their Chief of Operations who oversees personnel, always gives her funny looks. Every time someone new pledges their allegiance to the Miko, it’s like another tally in the column of this strange, idealistic ship she’s got running. “Take any of them up on it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Maybe I’m glad that there’s a captain out there, willing to have an idealistic and foolish heart, with the brains to back it up.” Inuyasha shrugs. “It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Kagome lets that sink in. The one thing everyone in Starfleet Command – hell, most of Starfleet, period – thinks is her biggest weakness, seems to be the one thing everyone else considers a strength. In the end, it will only matter who’s right when they’re on the firing block, and if Kagome can keep everyone alive.

“Take a look at the proposal, but I think this is the final one,” Inuyasha says then, stealing her from her thoughts. He stands up, giving a half-assed salute that would have made her tactical fleet trainer want to scream. “Night, Captain.”

“Goodnight,” she calls back, listening to the near-silent whoosh of her bedroom doors as he leaves.

***

For a while there, Kagome actually thought things would conclude exactly as planned.

Truly, her idealism baffles her.

“Taisho to Miko,” Inuyasha hails from Engumi IX, “we’ve got a situation. Patch in Mizutani.”

Kagome looks at Shiori, who instantly complies. “Ensign Mizutani on broadcast, Captain.”

“Taisho, report,” she orders, bracing herself in her chair. Everything had been going so well. The tracking device planted without issue, and Souten had been able to follow it, Sango’s modifications absolutely perfect. The initial meeting between Kagura, Miroku and Naraku had been flawless. Miroku had been the perfect Human idiot that only spoke Standard, while Kagura and Naraku discussed prime alcohol choices in Venen. He had left, and promised a meet-up at 2100 hours at a seedy restaurant in Astu, in a part of the city where crime ran rampant.

“There’s no one at the facility where Naraku went to get the kid.”

“What do you mean?” Kagome asks, dread building in the pit of her stomach. “That was the last child?”

“Don’t believe so. Mizutani, tell us what you see.”

“Captain, I’ve been following Naraku as closely as I can. He has two children with him, not just the one he promised.” Souten lets out a frustrated breath. “I think these are the last two he has on planet with him.”

“Let’s try to buy the second child, then,” Kagome states. “Get them both from him right now.”

“Captain,” Souten says, voice tremulous. “I’m not sure that’s going to work.”

“Why not?”

There’s a slight hesitation, but all it takes is Inuyasha barking out a sharp ‘Ensign’ before they comply. “It’s a Kitsune child, Captain. Naraku may have the last remaining Kitsune alive.”

***

Before Kagome was given her captaincy, an entire race was eradicated. She learned about it at the Academy, but not from her professors or holovids or books. She learned about it from the whispers, from the articles posted by galaxy travelers and journalists who made practically no money uncovering news from planets very few care about.

Still, it wasn’t every day that an entire race was wiped off the face of the earth in a matter of hours.

Starfleet stepped in, because it had to. Because it was already too late, and what good was a Federation meant to preserve, enrich and discover new forms of life, if they couldn’t do a single thing to save an entire race of people?

They were Kitsunes, a peaceful, quiet race that lived in small villages and practiced care and reverence to its planet. They were different, though. Powerful empaths, with a strange ability to turn fortune their way. If you spent an hour with a Kitsune, it would be the luckiest day of your entire life. It was why they kept to themselves, staying clear of races on neighbouring continents.

It didn’t matter, in the end.

They weren’t that lucky, after all.

***

“There’s no way,” Kagura argues. Her face is small on the holovid, but it’s enough to see how she isn’t going to budge. “Miroku and I didn’t position ourselves that way. And then going from buying one child to two? He’s going to get suspicious.”

And then he would run, taking the child with him and potentially endangering the child even more.

Kagome closes her eyes briefly, stunned at the turn of events. “We have no idea how long he’s going to hold onto that child. Maybe he doesn’t even want to sell the kid.” That left them with one option, then: making an offer that couldn’t be refused.

“It could work,” Kagura admits, after Kagome’s divulged her growing plan. She still needs to iron out some of the details, but this is the best shot they have.

“Think you can pull it off convincingly?”

Kagura scoffs, red eyes rolling. “Have you ever listened to me speak in Venen?” she asks, practically purring. “I can make anyone do anything in it.”

***

The offer is simple: Naraku loves money, and he needs it – to an extent. But what Naraku needs even more is a way to disappear off of Starfleet’s radar, and a way to effectively travel between quadrants without getting flagged.

Kagura promises him both money and a way to get his legal affairs in order: a rich heiress, whose father gave minimal credits to poor and underprivileged workers to build an impossible empire. With that much money, they could fund anything they wanted, buy anything they wanted.

Including governing bodies, where certain paperwork is processed.

They only have an hour. By the time Kagura sells Naraku on it, she has to promise him that Kagome will meet him at whatever venue he chooses by midnight. They’ve already had an emergency briefing on it, Kagome laying out her plan to a frustrated Inuyasha.

“We have no other choice,” Kagome says, “unless anyone else has a better plan?”

Shiori looks terrified, but she nods. Her violet eyes are steady when they meet Kagome’s gaze. Around the table, everyone nods.

“I can build you a scatter-block,” Sango states slowly, licking at her lips while she considers. “Since this plan hinges on a split-second of action, you could use it to gain his trust from the beginning.”

“Do it,” Kagome agrees. “We’re not going to get a shot at meeting him a second time. I won’t be able to name the right connections, and even if Naraku buys what I’m saying during our little chat, he’s going to make some phone calls afterwards. He’ll see through the plan and run.”

“I’m coming with you,” Inuyasha states. Miroku immediately nods in agreement. “And I’ll have our team surrounding on standby with local law enforcement.”

“You can sit behind me.”

“No,” he argues, “beside you. It’s my job to keep you safe, and I can’t do that with a booth between us, Captain.”

Kagome sighs, but she can see the glares from her executive team around her. “Fine. Why not be married again?”

“That’s the spirit.”

***

One split-second, and that’s it.

That’s all they have.

Kagome enters the run-down street diner, making sure to act the part of a rich heiress. Her clothes were recently synthesized, slimming and beautiful layers that hide the lean muscles in her body. She wears her hair down, a bit of makeup on her face. She’s as far from a Starfleet captain as can be, given so little time.

Beside her, Inuyasha looks like a particularly irritated bulldog. It would be funny, if the situation weren’t so worrying.

“We’ve got this,” Kagome reminds him softly. “The second I’ve got the kid, it’s go-time.”

He nods, gesturing towards a booth on the far end of the room where Naraku waits. He’s lazily looking at mobile device, cycling through god-knows-what. Beside him, a small child with shocking red hair is pressed into the corner, colouring on what looks like paper from the diner.

With all the entitlement in the world, Kagome sits down in the faded leather seat. She gives a slow curl of a smile, making sure to keep her eyes on the dangerous man before her. “Naraku, I presume.”

“Ms. Hidaka,” he replies. His gaze is flinty, even though his lips pout in a moue. He’s dangerous, indeed. “I normally wouldn’t agree to this, but your friend was very convincing.”

“Well, she does tend to look out for things I like. And that,” she says, gesturing towards the child, “is a very unique thing.”

Naraku’s expression doesn’t change. “We can’t always get what we want.”

“That’s not my experience.” She shifts, turning her attention to Inuyasha. “Well, darling? Would it be useful?”

Inuyasha glowers at the kid, but even it’s softer than what Kagome has seen in the past. The only saving grace is that the child is too busy drawing to pay them much attention, although every once and a while, he presses himself tighter against the corner. “He have any luck, yet?”

Naraku shrugs. “That’s not typically until they’re older, but I don’t know. I can’t complain so far. What sort of work do you do, Mister…”

Inuyasha ignores him, nodding to Kagome. “He’ll do.”

“Perfect.” Kagome teases a finger down his neck, distractedly rummaging through the purse she made just for this mission. “Have any compromised I.D. on you?”

It takes a moment for Naraku to realize that she’s addressing him. He frowns. “Why would I have that?”

Raising an eyebrow at him, she pulls out the scatter-block and wiggles it. “Don’t you want to build a new little clean history? Think of it as goodwill until I can get you the credits.”

“I haven’t even said I agree. Or set the terms.”

“Nonsense,” Kagome replies. She tosses the scatter-block towards him. “Use it or not, I don’t care. There are more of those at home.”

Naraku takes it, shoulders relaxing the slightest amount as he studies it. Sango really had done an amazing job, especially in making it look like one pilfered and tweaked from law enforcement. A stolen identity hacker isn’t something just anyone could get their hands on.

“I just have one favour to ask, before we talk terms,” Kagome states, drumming her fingers on the tabletop. Inuyasha’s habit seems to have drilled into her.

“Oh?” Naraku smiles, oily. “And what can I do for you, Ms. Hidaka?”

“I want to see him better.” Kagome points to the Kitsune, keeping her gaze assessing and cold. “Make sure he’s the real thing.”

“He is.”

“Then this will only take a minute, won’t it?” Kagome grins, playful, and she knows she’s won when Naraku’s pout disappears. He grabs the child by the forearm, knocking the set of crayons to the ground. The kid doesn’t even cry out, just looks absolutely terrified as he’s shoved under the table.

Kagome has to work to keep her impassivity, grateful when she can duck under the table and hide her face. She has no idea if the child can feel her intentions or not, but she pushes at him only the kindest of thoughts. Grabbing him, trying to be gentle, she pulls him up and hugs him to her stomach.

“Now!” a voice screams, and then there’s weight on top of her, a buzzing in her ears.

It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, Kagome thinks, over and over. The child doesn’t so much as squeak. There’s shouting, Naraku sounding absolutely feral as their security team and local law enforcement descends.

“Keeping holding, Lieutenant!” Inuyasha growls from above. “Stay down!”

It feels interminable. There’s far more phaser fire than there should be, which means they were right when they thought Naraku would have backup. The shouting eventually stops though, and Kagome can feel Inuyasha pull away from her tentatively.

“Bouma, you can stop,” Inuyasha orders, and it takes a flickering second before the barrier that had been around them disappears. “Oh, shit.”

Kagome turns around as Inuyasha dashes out of the booth, carefully spinning to catch the exhausted lieutenant, who’s face down and shaking.

“I’m okay,” Shiori pants, but Inuyasha still helps her to sit back up, calling for a medic. “I tried to help the other diners, too. I’m just drained.”

It had been Shiori in the booth behind them, waiting for the signal to put up a barrier that would protect them – at least temporarily – from any attack, including phaser fire. The ability is rare among the Chiropterrans, but powerful.

It was the only way they could guarantee getting the child.

The reminder has her gently prying the small kid away from her chest, checking him for injuries. He looks fine, physically, but his green eyes are locked on Naraku on the far side of the room. “Hey,” Kagome murmurs softly, trying to steal back his attention. “Are you okay?”

The Kitsune child hesitates, but then he nods, his small hands clutching tighter to her thin jacket.

“Can you speak?” He looks away, this time to Inuyasha, who’s crouching down beside the booth.

“Suikotsu’s just finishing with Ensign Orikasa,” Inuyasha says, seemingly unfazed by the kid’s absolute attention. “He’ll be right here.”

“Any casualties?”

“None, but we have some injuries.”

“Only minor ones,” Suikotsu breaks in, tricorder in hand. Inuyasha goes to move out of the way, but the child reaches out, nearly falling off of Kagome’s lap in doing so. He balks at the doctor, green eyes clearly distrustful.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Kagome murmurs softly, cajoling. “This is Doctor Hirata. He just wants to make sure you’re not hurt.” The child looks at her, lip wobbling. He must be so scared. “I promise he wants to help. Can you let him?”

It looks dicey for a moment, those green eyes almost accusatory. It takes Inuyasha finding what looks like some kind of blanket tucked into the other side of the booth – where the child has initially been sitting – to serve as enough of a distraction for Suikotsu to start doing a preliminary scan. The kid leans forward again, trying to squirm out of Kagome’s lap towards the blanket.

“This has a name on it, I think.” Inuyasha frowns, and then calls for Shiori.

The child is starting to panic, wiggling with urgency.

“Inuyasha, take him,” Kagome pleads, barely able to lift him for all that he’s unhappy.

There’s a moment where Inuyasha looks like he wants to refuse, and then another moment where he’s torn. He clenches his jaw and takes the child, curling him into his side and doing a truly terrible job trying to wrap the blanket around him. It’s only Shiori coming in to finally assist that they manage to get him settled.

“He’s a little undernourished and dehydrated,” Suikotsu says gently, tilting his head to get a better look. The child turns away from him, burying his face into Inuyasha’s neck.

It’s brutal on Kagome’s heart, in far too many ways.

“Otherwise,” Suikotsu goes on, unaware of her internal panic, “he’s physically fine. I think Nurse Hayashi should take a look though, see what he can find mentally.”

“He hasn’t made a single sound.”

“It’s not due to any issue with his throat, lungs or vocal chords.” Suikotsu grimaces. “With what he’s been through, it’s probably the trauma. Again, Nurse Hayashi should be able to help.”

“This is definitely a Kitsune blanket,” Shiori cuts in. “Captain, see here? The edge embroidery is actually a child’s poem.”

Inuyasha grabs a corner of the blanket, flipping it over to show them. “Is this a name? Shippo?”

Answering is redundant. The child immediately raises his head, patting Inuyasha on the face.

“Is your name Shippo?” Shiori asks, in stilted vowels that can only be the Kitsune’s native language.

Slowly, he nods.

At least there’s one mystery solved. As much as it pains her, Kagome needs to speak with Miroku, who’s been running around being the very best first officer a captain could have. “We need to settle things down. Lieutenant Bouma, can you take Shippo back to the Miko? Get Nurse Hayashi to look him over.”

“Yes, Captain,” Shiori responds, reaching out.

It does not going well.

Shippo is immediately frantic, clinging to Inuyasha and batting away any attempt to take him. Inuyasha gingerly pulls him away, but he only squirms harder, reaching out to Kagome with wide and terrified eyes.

She’s absolutely done for. Without thinking, Kagome takes him, feeling nothing but relief when he sags into her side.

“Captain?”

“It’s fine, Lieutenant-Commander,” Kagome answers, shaking her head. “He’ll be okay just for now. Come on, I need a sitrep. Lieutenant Bouma, see if tactical needs you at all.”

“Yes, Captain,” Shiori replies, immediately spinning around and heading towards where Nazuna, Souten, and a few other security officers were standing.

Inuyasha doesn’t leave her side. It’s a strange picture, and they get more than a few odd looks from local law enforcement when Shippo decides every once and a while to switch between the two of them. There’s a bit of processing with the Astu police, but eventually they get Naraku beamed up to the brig. They’ll be transferring him shortly to another Starfleet ship already on-route, where he’ll be taken back to Earth until they decide the best way to handle all of his charges across the quadrant.

The child saved by Kagura and Miroku is confirmed to be from the planet Engumi IX, and so she stays in the care of local law enforcement. They put up a bit of a fuss when Kagome explains that Shippo will not be doing the same, but they seem to realize it’s a losing battle, especially when Inuyasha growls.

Thankfully, their crew doesn’t even blink at the sight of Shippo, playing with her hair. Kagome’s never loved her team more. The feeling stays with her, even as they finally beam back up to the Miko. Kagura welcomes her back in the transporter room, halfway through confirming that everything’s been well on the ship when she finally notices the sleeping figure in Inuyasha’s arms.

“I thought the children were to stay on the planet,” Kagura says slowly, red eyes highly amused.

“Change of plans.”

Kagura gives her another one of those peculiar looks, knowing. “Well then, I guess congratulations are in order.”

“That’s not—”

But their Chief of Operations ignores Inuyasha’s attempt to clarify the situation, launching into her update proper.

Kagome hides her smile.

FIVE

At least, Kagome thinks, shit hit the fan from the very first moment her team beamed down onto the planet.

It had been an ambush. She, along with Shiori and a handful of security officers, had been shot at from the very first moment. Hailing the Miko was immediately off the table, the signal jammed. Kagome ducks for cover, but there isn’t all that much to use. She rolls on the ground, still searching, but it’s too late. Burning, searing pain lances through her shoulder. In another moment, she’s on the ground, shin on fire.

“Run!” Kagome screams, even as the Traditors race towards her. She flips around, phaser instantly firing. She takes out two of them, and tries to aim at a couple more chasing after her crew. They just need to survive for another couple minutes. Any moment now, Miroku will try to hail her, and her failure to respond will make him send down a team.

“Hello, Federation,” a Traditor snarls in her face. “Welcome to Aemula!”

She tries to shoot him, but there are too many on her. They kick her phaser away, sharp tingles of pain dancing down her arm. She tries to attack with her legs, regardless of how ruined one of them is, but it does nothing but make her nearly vomit from the agony.

She’s kicked viciously in the stomach, forcing her to curl up, and then, suddenly—

It all goes black.

***

She comes to in bits and pieces. It’s loud – so terribly, terribly loud. It hurts her eardrums, or maybe that’s just her headache. A cough works its way up her throat, chest heaving. Oh god, it hurts so much.

“Captain, don’t move,” Shiori whispers urgently. It sounds like she’s been crying, voice hoarse.

The desperation forces Kagome to open her eyes, to push through the pain into full consciousness. Black spots line her vision, but she does her best to breathe through it, slow and steady.

“And what will you do, Canisian?” a feral voice demands from somewhere far away. “You are nothing but a pawn in the Federation’s game!”

“Don’t push yourself,” Shiori hisses, so much closer. “Captain, please.”

“Report, Ensign,” Kagome manages to choke out, ignoring her. It takes a concerted effort to sit up, not just on her part, but also on whoever is at her other side. Kagome is worried if she turns to look, she’ll throw up for sure. More hands come to help, a medic that Kagome knows the name of but cannot remember for the life of her.

“We’ve been captured for ransom,” Shiori states, eyes a little red. “Something must have happened in the two weeks between our visit and the U.S.S. Valiant’s. The Traditors don’t trust us; they think any discussions between us will only end in enslavement for them.”

“Fucking intel,” Kagome spits. It’s not her most professional moment, but given the circumstances, she feels justified. “Our away team?”

“All here,” a voice from behind her chirps. It’s Nazuna.

“Any casualties?”

“No, they were focused on you,” Shiori answers, shaking her head. “But they rounded us up before the Miko could provide backup.”

Outside, a crowd roars. “You do not understand the rite of P’lee-ad-mor,” a cruel voice screams. It’s enough to distract Kagome, to finally take her attention away from her crew and the cage they’re trapped in. They’re situated in some kind of stone field, surrounded on all sides that she can see by Traditors. Yet, standing in the middle, are both Miroku and Inuyasha.

“They came,” Shiori whispers, “but not until too late. Kagome, the only way they’ll let us go is if you take out one of their own. Miroku has tried to take your place, but they know you’re the captain.”

Shit. Shit. Kagome tries to struggle to her knees, but intense pain flares through her from her leg. The medic immediately yelps for her to stop. And oh, that’s right: she’s been shot twice by some kind of weapon.

“Then explain it to me,” Miroku demands several feet away, angrier than she’s ever heard him. “P’lee-ad-mor cannot include a battle between two warriors when one of them was ambushed!”

“A true warrior can never be ambushed.” This is snarled by who appears to be the leader of the Traditors. “The Federation is made up of liars! We were promised a partnership of equals, but your Federation lies. You are no equals. You will cheat. You will steal, and we will not let you.”

“Whatever poisonous lies you’ve been told about us are false,” Miroku declares. “You’ve already been cheated! We came to you in peace. Your honour is the greatest lie of all!”

“How dare you!”

Around them, Traditors start to scream, battle cries that permeate the humid air. “P’lee-ad-mor! P’lee-ad-mor!”

“Your Captain will battle, or your crew will be lost,” the leader announces.

“She needs urgent medical attention! We call for a substitution.” Miroku whirls around, glaring down every single individual that surrounds them. “A true battle must be fought against equals. If you want proof that we are, you must allow for a fair fight.”

“P’lee-ad-mor only allows for the challenged to fight,” the Traditor declares. “The challenged, their an’ma, or if they are so pathetic, their bloodline.”

Suddenly, Shiori bolts upwards. “The Lieutenant-Commander is our captain’s an’ma! They were struck by di p’na and blessed!”

With all of the pain, it takes a horribly long time for Kagome to understand. Once it clicks, however, it’s too late. Inuyasha has already stepped in front of Miroku, his arms spread wide open. “She’s mine,” he growls, louder than somehow the crowd that riots around them. “We are married. We have a child! A challenge to her is a challenge to me. I am amba!”

“An’ma!” Shiori corrects, shrill.

“An’ma!” he shouts, like absolutely nothing happened.

“What the hell is an’ma?” Nazuna asks. “Why isn’t the UT picking it up?”

“Some words are beyond language,” Shiori explains, “or don’t fit a linguistic pattern that the translator can run. The Traditors aren’t part of the Federation, and any work that’s been done with them is limited. Whatever is compiled for the UT is minimal, meaning that most of what we’re understanding is due to algorithms built to extrapolate meaning through familiar etymological context.”

Nazuna huffs. “How do you know, then?”

“It’s my job to know,” Shiori shoots back. “An’ma roughly means ‘soul.’ The Traditors are a warrior race, which believe in an ultimate diety: di p’na. Di p’na gives them everything they need for a successful life, but true victory only comes to those blessed with an’ma – a soul. They believe that souls for those meant to be together are the same: one soul in separate bodies.”

“And the Lieutenant-Commander is the Captain’s?”

This is far too much for her to deal with. Kagome glares at Shiori, who – to her credit – only stares out the cage in clear avoidance. To distract Nazuna, Kagome says, “As long as they take Inuyasha as a substitute, our chances are much better.”

There’s a stuttered choke to the side, and it’s only then that Kagome realizes she’s said his first name, rather than his rank or last name.

“I think I have a concussion.”

“You definitely do,” the medic admonishes.

From outside, the roaring grows louder. It makes her head pulse in time with her heart, body quivering. She’s suffered from too much blood loss, and the makeshift bandages her crew has clearly wrapped around her shoulder and leg aren’t doing much. Blearily, she stares into the arena in which Inuyasha fights. There are cries, and vicious screams. Inuyasha doesn’t have his shirt on, but his chest is still red – bloody. He’s bleeding, for her and their crew.

Nazuna hisses constantly behind her, and Shiori often turns to look away. Kagome can barely follow it, holding onto her consciousness by a thread.

Then, silence. Blessed, beautiful silence. It lasts for all of a second, and Kagome looks through the bars of their cage, startled by the shock of it. There, standing only a few feet away from them, is Inuyasha. His silver hair is loose of its braid, streaked in red and orange blood. A Traditor lies at his feet, unmoving. Dead or unconscious, she doesn’t know.

“Oh good,” Kagome whispers faintly. “Shiori, make sure he goes to sickbay, alright?”

Her communications officer turns to her, immediately alarmed. Her violet eyes are wide in horror. “Captain!”

“Sickbay,” Kagome repeats, or maybe she doesn’t. Maybe everything has only been a mumble that she can understand.

It doesn’t matter, anyways. She’s unable to say anything else as she collapses into the dirt.

***

There are things she doesn’t remember. The shaking of Inuyasha’s hands, the deep slice in his torso. The way Miroku orders a terrified ensign on duty to beam them both to sickbay.

She doesn’t remember the words she whispered to him, about holding hands and golden gazes.

It’s for the best, isn’t it?

***

Sickbay has a distinctive smell to it. Too clean, sterile.

Kagome opens her eyes, and is met with the distinctly fond look of their Chief Medical Officer, Suikotsu.

“Welcome back, Captain,” he greets, voice warm. “You had us worried for a minute there.”

“Can’t…” She clears her throat, and in that moment, Suikotsu gently administers a hypospray. The relief is instantaneous. “Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Glad to hear it.” Suikotsu steps aside and comes back with a glass of water. She sips from it gingerly, the coolness of it more soothing than anything the doctor can give her. “The crew was worried.”

“What happened?”

Suikotsu shakes his head, but he’s got that small smile on his face. “Give it a minute, Captain.”

“Last I knew, my crew and I were in a cage and Inuyasha was fighting for our lives.”

“Inuyasha is sitting outside sickbay, where he’s been parked the entire time you were in surgery,” Suikotsu says, as if this isn’t a bomb that rattles her heart. “Everyone is fine. A few minor injuries amongst the crew, and Inuyasha had a couple broken ribs, some internal bleeding. He’s fine now. Miroku has my orders.”

“And they are?”

“Another day of rest for Inuyasha, and four days for you.” Kagome glares at him, as best as she can while probably looking like death warmed over. “And that’s if you’re a good patient overnight.”

“Overnight?” Kagome whines, horrified. “No! Doctor, come on.”

“My orders are final,” he tells her, not a hint of remorse in those grey eyes. He still has the tiny smile, and it makes her inexplicably fond and terribly angry in equal measure. “But I will allow for guests within the hour, once we finish some tests.”

“Ugh.”

The good doctor doesn’t relent, but Kagome has never worn Suikotsu down before. She’s evaded medical numerous times, but once in their clutches, escape is futile. Kagome succumbs as graciously as she can, putting up with all of their tests with minimal complaint. It feels like an eternity, though, before four familiar faces pop into her room.

“I told you five minutes,” Suikotsu comments as he finishes up a final reading with his tricorder, a hint of warning in his tone. “It’s been three.”

“You know I’m bad at math,” Miroku replies, but his smile is as big as ever, relief evident.

“I’m the only reason he can count,” Sango adds. “You know this.”

Suikotsu hums. “No scenes. Keep it quiet.” He points to Kagome then, serious. “If you start to feel tired or nauseous, you kick them out. You do not want me finding out you’ve failed to do so, and I will have to remove them for you.”

“Yes, Doctor,” she sighs, but it’s all an act. Kagome can hardly focus, strained by the effort to not take in her fill of Inuyasha. He looks healthy, just like Suikotsu had promised her. Still, it’s different to witness in person. Better. In his arms, Shippo sits. He looks painfully scared, one of his hands clutching at Inuyasha’s uniform.

“Hey,” she murmurs softly, smiling. For the most part, she’s healed. Her shoulder and leg are still sore, but it’s nothing that Shippo would even be able to see, never mind notice. “Did I scare you? I’m surprised Inuyasha brought you here.”

“He wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Inuyasha replies, golden eyes mildly reproachful. “And he didn’t want to be far away in case you needed him.”

God, Shippo was so immensely young. They’re still two weeks away from the starbase in which they’re supposed to drop him off, but Kagome has a feeling it’s never going to happen.

We have a child, Inuyasha had yelled. An act, surely, but—

Shippo reaches out, and Kagome lets Inuyasha help him onto her lap to better assist her shoulder. Once in her arms, the kid buries his face into her neck, tiny fists clutched onto her patient robe.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she coos, rocking him gently. “I’m okay. I told you I’d come back.”

The child speaks now, but it’s incredibly rare. He clings and so Kagome holds him, waiting until the tension is out of his tiny body before she looks at Miroku. “Sitrep.”

“Suikotsu will murder me,” Miroku tells her cheerfully. He then proceeds to give her all the details: the crew is fine and morale is recovering, better since Suikotsu advised that Kagome was in the clear. Starfleet Command has received their preliminary report, and will be starting from scratch with the Traditors. They need to investigate what went wrong, which could take a while if the warrior race isn’t open to discussion.

“The moment Inuyasha won, I managed to find and destroy the signal jammer. We beamed up immediately and left.”

“I’m sure Command loved that,” Kagome grouses, but Sango pats her knee, gentle admonishment clear on her features.

“It doesn’t matter what they think,” she says, firm. “You’re alive. The crew is alive. That’s what matters.”

They talk for a little while longer, but Kagome starts to feel tired. She fights it, but Sango is the first to notice her reddening nose. She gives her a gentle hug, promising to visit in the morning.

“I’ve scheduled a meeting tomorrow morning with Rin. You and I can talk more then,” Miroku states, giving her a smile. “Rest up, okay? The crew wants you back.”

“Thanks.” It’s moments like these where she truly wonders how she lucked out.

When the two of them leave, Inuyasha shuffles over. “Is he asleep?”

“Pretty much instantly,” Kagome replies, looking down at the child fondly. “I still can’t believe you brought him.”

“He was distressing the crew worse than your blood all over the transporter floor.” Inuyasha shrugs, scowl tugging down his features. “I tried to distract him, but he knew something was wrong the moment you didn’t come in with me. He’s young, but he’s still a Kitsune. He can read the emotion in a room.”

Kagome swears softly, looking down at the child. “Do you think he knows where we’re going?”

“Maybe. He’s probably too young to fully remember what happened to his planet. I don’t think he understands the kind of place we’re taking him.”

The kind of place we’re taking him. It makes her feel sick, worse than any of the pain she felt earlier in the cage. Slowly, she rubs Shippo’s back, keeping him close to her. Inuyasha doesn’t try to take him away. It’s that, more than anything, which gives her courage. “I wonder if what we’re doing is the right thing. Or, what the right thing even is. A starship isn’t the best place for a kid to grow up.”

“It’s not,” Inuyasha concedes, unusually soft. “But…it’s not the worst, either. It’s been done before.”

Crazy. This entire conversation is crazy. She’s a goddamn captain, with too much pressure on her already. Inuyasha is her Chief Security Officer, and not even her real husband. Not even her partner, or boyfriend, or whatever term would best work. What do Canisians call it? She can’t remember for the life of her.

“If he were to stay…” Inuyasha starts, carefully neutral. The tone nearly breaks her heart. “I think we could make it work.”

“Kaede will torpedo me. We’ll never be able to go back to Starfleet Command again.”

“We’ve got another four years. By then, I’m sure we’ll have done something far stupider than officially adopt an orphan.”

Kagome looks up at him then, throat tight. This picture he’s beginning to paint is something she never imagined she wanted, but it burns within her now, astonishingly bright. “He’d have to be both of ours,” she says, brooking no argument.

He nods, that golden gaze of his intent. It swallows her whole, steals her breath. They’re really going to do this, she thinks, dazed. They’re going to adopt Shippo, and raise him together. They’re going to—kiss, and the realization truly makes her weak. But she wants him to. Kagome is greedy, far too selfish for her own good. She wants her starship and her captaincy, her Chief Security Officer and this tiny, orphan child that she loves so, so much.

She wants it all.

“Inuyasha,” she whispers, and he leans down to close the gap, to press his lips against hers and let that greedy thing within her crow.

Only—

“Your vitals are not looking so great,” Suikotsu calls out, startling them both. Kagome jolts so hard that Shippo wakes up briefly, green eyes peering through tiny slits up at her.

“It’s okay,” Inuyasha soothes, carefully taking him from Kagome’s arms. He holds him close, letting the Kitsune bury his face into Inuyasha’s neck. “We’ll see you tomorrow, then. I’ll try to hold him off for as long as I can.”

Kagome smiles, and it’s tremulous. Shaking her head, she gives a tiny laugh. “Just come at any time.”

+ ONE

They still haven’t kissed. Kagome is going to lose her mind.

Since returning to active duty, it’s been a whirlwind. Starfleet Command sends her mission brief after mission brief, and she’s continually bombarded with questions of what went down on Praelia V – otherwise known as Aemula, to the Traditors. Kagome tells them the exact same thing as per her report.

“He used his marriage claim to fight in your place?” Kaede asks, the only admiral worth talking to, and the only one that shakes her head at Kagome in utter despair. “Do you know how many Chief Security Officers I’ve worked with when I was a captain?”

“Couldn’t guess.”

“Twelve. Do you know how many of them I married?”

“I would guess none, Ma’am.”

Kaede wrinkles her nose, horrified. “Don’t call me that!”

The conversation turns absolutely wild when Kagome and Inuyasha submit their joint request for a child aboard the U.S.S. Miko. Step one is getting their permission, while step two involves going to Starbase 10, and getting the legal right to adopt Shippo. Only once that’s final can they file for actual adoption.

It makes Kagome nervous and anxious, which are not emotions she likes to dwell in. That makes her frustrated, so much so that the crew tends to smile at her before walking the other way.

“Captain on the bridge,” Shiori announces, when Kagome shows up for one of her alpha shifts.

“At ease,” she responds immediately, sitting in her chair. Miroku, beside her, gives her a look that only those pretty blue eyes can accomplish. “Not now.”

“I didn’t say anything,” her first officer retorts, though his grin grows a little wider. “Only another two days until we reach Starbase 10. Lieutenant Yajima has compiled a complete list of supplies needed, and Lieutenant-Commander Houko has already forwarded over her plans upon spacedock.”

“Not much we can do within twenty-four hours.”

Miroku snorts, but he won’t look at her. That silly little grin doesn’t leave. “That’s what you think.”

All of Kagome’s spare time, when not on duty, is spent with Shippo. He’s clearly bright, and an exceptionally fast learner. Shiori doesn’t believe that he’s ever had any kind of schooling, but with her small lesson plans, Shippo has done wonders in such a short timeframe. He’s still barely speaking, but Kagome’s not too worried. They have therapists onboard working with him, and will continue to if he’s able to stay. If not, Kagome will do everything in her power to ensure he’s set up to have the best life possible, no matter what kind of strings she has to pull.

Shiori watches Kagome carefully after one of Shippo’s little teaching sessions, watches the way she fusses with his hair and plays with his chubby cheeks. Inuyasha will be off duty within the hour, and the two of them plan on having dinner together, if they can.

“You’re…going to adopt him, right?”

The question hangs in the air. Inuyasha is the only other person on this starship that knows – not even Miroku or Sango, her two closest friends. Kagome shakes her head, smiling. Shiori is too smart for her own good. “How’d you know?”

“Just…the way you care for him,” she replies quietly. “It’s hard to look at this and think that at the starbase you’re just going to let him go.”

The thought makes Kagome ache viciously. She tamps it down. “It’s going to be hard, but we’ll see. Command has, grudgingly, given us approval.”

“That’s fantastic!”

“Don’t get all excited, that was actually the easiest part. Inuyasha and I have to prove that we’re fit to adopt, and the plan we have in place for his growth and development. There are resources to help – we’re not the only members of Starfleet who have gone through this – but I think my captaincy will put it at risk. And the fact that Inuyasha’s job is, you know, jumping into danger.”

“Send me your plan.”

Kagome frowns, surprised. “What?”

“Send it to me. All of it. My mom used to work for an organization that assisted single mothers win custody of their children. She can take a look at it and probably find things that may have been missed, or red flags that you and Inuyasha will need to cover. Mom’s got some contacts who focus on adopting, too. I’m sure she can reach out and get some additional insight.” Shiori smiles down at Shippo, who tosses a toy onto her lap. “We’re your crew, but we’re also a family, you know?”

Gently, Kagome puts her hand on her shoulder, making sure the lieutenant’s violet eyes are on her. “Thank you, Shiori. We appreciate it, more than you know. But we have less than a day, now.”

“Send it to me,” her communications officer pushes. “I promise. We’ll do anything we can.”

Kagome sighs and gives in. Hope sits heavy in her chest.

***

Shiori’s mother is able to help them out on a few key points, though not everything where it comes to the adoption process. It’s still more than what they originally had, and Kagome is grateful as she and Inuyasha steps into the legal adoption offices located at Starbase 10. Shippo is hanging out with Miroku, who promises a fun time for his favourite little man.

Everyone is already so attached. Kagome wonders how much it will hurt, if they don’t get this.

The case worker asks appropriate and respectful questions throughout the process. There are a few questions regarding Shippo’s care, and potential scheduling conflicts. They explain their proposed situations for a variety of scenarios, in which he seems to at least be minorly satisfied. They provide him with sheaths of approvals, as well as a heavily redacted report on how Shippo came to be in their lives in the first place.

In fact, as the interview seems to conclude, their case worker is nodding easily, agreeing to virtually everything that they’re saying.

It makes it that much harder when the older man looks at them frankly, lips pursed. “So, which one of you is going to adopt him first?”

“Pardon me?” Kagome asks, unsure that she heard correctly. “We’re both adopting him.”

“Are you married?”

There’s something almost painfully funny about the question. Kagome glares at the case worker, and she can feel that Inuyasha is doing the exact same thing right beside her.

The lawyer puts up his hands, placating. “Look, I’m not judging. I’m trying to be realistic in terms of timelines. Your approval to have the child onboard the U.S.S. Miko terminates within the next day, unless paperwork filing for adoption has commenced. If you wish to jointly adopt him, unmarried, you’ll need to first file a petition through the Terran courts. They’ll want to interview you again before making a decision as to whether to submit your application for adoption.”

“And I bet that takes days,” Inuyasha drawls.

Shrugging, the case worker acquiesces. “The fastest turnaround I’ve ever seen is three days. The child would have to be submitted to child services and—”

“Wait!”

Inuyasha is the first to spin around, and Kagome barely turns her head by the time Shiori makes her way further into the office, panting. In her hands is a PADD, clutched tightly in her palm. “What are you doing here?” he asks.

“This. Mom said this will help. Antiquated, stupid system,” she pants out, “which sucks. But. But! Here.” She taps on her PADD, and then gestures towards Kagome. “Your marriage license.”

“Our—”

“Our marriage license,” Kagome repeats, beating Inuyasha. She can feel his glare on the back of her head. “What?”

“You’re married,” Shiori explains, leaning heavily on the corner of the desk. The case worker looks incredibly alarmed. “Actually. Officially. On Joyaku Prime, it wasn’t just a blessing ceremony. It was an actual marriage rite. They probably thought of it like how Terrans renew their vows.”

“Oh shit,” Inuyasha whispers faintly. “My mother is going to kill me.”

“We’re married?” Kagome asks again, because she logically understands the words, but it’s just not processing.

Shiori nods. “Have been for months. I managed to get a license rushed to us. To help.” She narrows her eyes at their case worker.

“We’re married,” Kagome says.

“We’re married,” Inuyasha repeats.

They look at each other, letting it sink in. They’ll need to talk about it, to really make a plan on what they want to do. But right now, in this moment, it’s perfect. It’s everything they need.

It’s everything Kagome wants and more.

And then it clicks.

“You knew?” she demands, whirling around on Shiori. “After the ceremony, you looked at me funny!”

“I definitely didn’t know for sure,” Shiori corrects, palms up and eyes wide. “I didn’t! I swear, Captain, you have to believe me!”

Inuyasha snorts. “Oh, you had an inkling though, I’m fucking sure.”

“An inkling is not concrete proof,” Shiori states, as if reciting a rule. “And besides, we got immediately swept away into that other hot mess of a situation.”

“Hot mess?” the case worker asks.

“Euphemism,” Inuyasha assures like a liar, giving him a smirk before glaring outright at Shiori. “Well, thank you for delivering that tidbit of news. You’re dismissed.”

“Yes, Sir. Captain?”

Kagome can feel laughter bubbling up in her throat. This is too much, far too much. It’s good, though, beautifully so. “You can go, Lieutenant. Thank you for your attention on this.”

“Of course, Captain.” Shiori grins. “See you aboard.”

***

“So,” Inuyasha begins, the moment they leave the legal office. Everything is properly filed and for the interim, Shippo can remain on the U.S.S. Miko. It’s the best-case scenario that Kagome had dreamed of fervently, but hadn’t honestly believed in.

“So.”

“We’re married.”

Kagome nods, letting that knowledge sink in once more. They had actually gotten married on Joyaku Prime.

Oh, god.

“Kaede will have me marooned on an F class planet for this,” she whispers. “We filed the paperwork. It’s going to come across her desk eventually. Oh shit.”

Inuyasha grabs her hand, dragging her rather briskly away from the offices. He doesn’t stop, not until they’re practically the only people around, hidden away behind some stone statue. His golden eyes focus on her, a single clawed finger tilting up her chin so that there’s no chance to possibly look away.

“Kagome,” he says, and it’s only the second time that he’s ever said her name. The first time was all those years ago, sitting in a third year class and waiting for his group of fans to disappear.

“Kagome,” he repeats, and her name sounds so safe on his lips.

“Yes?” she asks.

“I need you to do me a favour.” Mirth dances in his eyes.

“And why should I do that?”

Inuyasha hums, the rumble of it teasing her heart. She hadn’t realized they were pressed together so close, from hip to chest, faces just inches away from each other. Lips tantalizingly close.

Kagome leans up, just barely, but Inuyasha smirks and pulls away, the slightest bit.

“If you do me a favour,” Inuyasha tells her, “then we’ll be able to figure this out. We’ll make it work, and we’ll have Shippo, and we’ll explore the galaxies and do stupid shit every other month so that your admiral is never happy. But we will be.”

It sounds far too idealistic, far too foolish. Her heart and her head should know better. She smiles. “And what kind of favour can do all that?”

“Hold my hand,” Inuyasha murmurs, making sure to interlace their fingers as he kisses her, stealing the very breath from her lungs.

Space has nothing on him.