"Remind me to give you a bottle of ume wine someday. It is made from Japanese plums. Its like a very sweet fruity wine. Some people like it, others don't. But the scotch is not bad"
The play was over. She smiled as the actors bowed to the audience. Mariko noticed Taisuke saw here and she discreetely waved at him with a smile on her face before turning turning back to Doc.
"I really need my fix of cardamine soon."
"Japanese Plum wine," he stated. "I actually have tried that years ago. My late wife kept some about. It was pretty good. I would be honored to have some as I have since forgotten about it."
With the play over, he got to his feet, offering a gentleman's hand to his host to help her up. He noticed her wave to Taisuke.
As they left, he inquired. "I take it you know each other, Taisuke and yourself?"
Normally, he wouldn't offer up cardamine but he did keep some for medicinal purposes for his addicted patients. Quietly he told her, "I have some on the ship if you need it in my medical bag."
She took his hand "Hai we do, we are childhood friends" She smiled at the memories. "Plum wine it is then!"
She raised an eyebrow at the mention of cardamine.
"Depends... what is the source? Some quality is better than others. I do have a supply on hand though, but you know... this is not the time and place to get dosed." She looked around at the crowd around them.
"No, not here," he answered, "on ship."
As they walked, he broke the conversation up about the cardamine so as not to get anyone's attention.
"Malta," he said. "A beautiful planet but for the non addicted, one best have a respirator. I make only make an occasional trip out of respect for them and I go alone so as to not risk my own people."
He then continued, "They have some fine quality stuff there. Ships, equipment...." He shrugged, "I believe it was a Zoner on Freeport 10 who once said that an Outcast knows how a ship should feel. I mean, I am not fighter pilot but I do try to get the very best when chance allows."
After "chance allows," he gave her a gentle nudge hoping that answered her question.
She smiled "A fighter pilot has to know her equipment if she wants to survive in hostile space, no? I must say, the Their technology is very good. I have used one of their Very Heavy Fighters for a long time. Currently I prefer using more local hardware. But I occasionally need to venture into the Omicrons to buy new hardware which we cant produce in Kusari"
She glanced over her handfan towards the farmers.
"Being a fighter pilot has its thrills compared to the heavier ships. It is just you, a couple of layers of metal and death accompanying you. Knowing that each wrong move will end up with her taking her scythe to your neck... and when you return to base unharmed... it just gets the blood going."
The Kyushu sun wa setting as they walked towards where his ship was. It was pleasant out as they made small talk. For once he was relaxed and enjoying himself and her as well. When they finally arrived to where his ship was moored, he opened the entry with a remote.
"Young Lady, your chariot awaits," he said to her kindly. "I should probably get you home before the other Chrysanthemums wonder where you went to."
Once onboard, he went over to his medical bag and took out a cardi inhaler. "I have one injection as well but it is my only one left, hence our arrangement."
He handed her the inhaler, "Let me know when you are ready to head back."
While she took her "hit," he stood in the still open door, looking out over Kyushu. It truly was lovely at this time of day and he was enjoying the view.
She supressed a smile "You make it sound like I have a curfew, Doctor. It is not like the Sisterhood tracks my movements 24/7 and my position has me absent for longer periods anyway. I pretty much operate independantly most of the time."
She took the inhaler and studied it for a second.
"Similar to the portable inhalers we use." She opened it to look at the contents before closing it again. "Seems all in order, just had to be sure."
Afterwards she walked into the open doorway and entered the ship, briefly stopping infront of Doc and giving him one of her handfans, a blue one with asagao flowers.
"Have this a sign of my friendship. I truly enjoyed this day."
He gave a snicker. "Of course I know that you do not have a curfew." He smiles sheepishly, "I guess I was just teasing you a little."
He then nodded when she studied the inhaler, "I think the inhalers I have are an older design but still useful. For what we need them for, we do not need newer types."
With her in front of him, he accepted the hand fan and studied it. He remembered what the asagao flower represented from his teachings by his late wife. It made him smile a bit as he looked at one side of the fan and then the other. His conscience was pulling at him in the background. John,......the cardi. You hate the stuff and What if she found out the truth about Emiko
He looked into her face as he folded the fan, speaking as he did. "I love it. The hardest decision I will have is which of my offices to display it in so that it does not get damaged."
He carefully tucked it into a deep pocket of his robe. Still, a little of it stuck out the top as it was longer than the pocket was deep.
"I too enjoyed this day. I do hope you will consider doing this again in the future."
He then showed her to her seat and began pre-launch for the trip to Ainu and then home.
Mariko sat down on the seat next him while she watched the atmosphere pass them by and the landmasses shrink beneither them, "Hai, I certainly did enjoy it. It was a long time since I felt carefree like this. The inhaler works as intended, so no problems there." She twisted it between her thumb and index finger before using it and giving it back.
"Be glad that the problem of where to display the handfan is the most pressing matter on your mind right now. I am glad that this fleeting moment also drew your worries to the background."
He was busy for the moment clearing the docking ring and plotting a course for Ainu. It would be a relatively short flight without too much trouble. A couple of Kusari patrol passed as did a GC patrol, both without incident. For the moment, the hand fan stayed in it's pocket. Even with the cardamine use, even with the violent agenda of the Chrysanthemums, he felt comfortable around her and had a liking as well. It was but a "date" and the gentleman within him was to bring her home. They would make small talk as they went through the jumphole into Hokkaido and began his approach to Ainu.
"You are cleared to dock," came the voice over his com. In the next sentence he heard, "Welcome back home, Sister." With a smile, he handed her the headset incase she wanted to say anything. Finally, like a gentleman, he escorted her through the airlock and onto the station.
"I am sure you have much to do so I will be on my way," he stated. He then became cautious but kind, "If you do not mind, I would like to do this again sometime....at your best convenience, of course. It would be my honor."