Returning To The Land Of The Rising Sun.

Posted on Wed Apr 12th, 2023 @ 5:17am by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Lieutenant Commander Ryuuji Takasu

1,317 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Sand Sea Fun and Surf
Location: Japan, Kyoto, Earth.

The land of the Rising Sun. Also known as Japan, or in its native tongue Nippon was a beautiful part of Earth. The archipelago was made of 14,125 islands each had their own beauty and special place in the people's hearts. This ancient land had seen war, disaster, economic boom, advances in technology and entertainment as well as becoming a world power in the late twentieth century. Japan was also home to the biggest Human city in existence, the city of Tokyo the country's beating heart and capital.

Japan was also home to beautiful sprawling mountain ranges, from the Hidaka Mountains on the northern island of Hokkaido to the famous volcanic mountain of Mount Fuji. The country also had many of its ancient forests and rice paddies still to this day, sprawling across the untouched wilderness covering over sixty per cent of its surface. The Japanese people were welcoming, respectful but also fearless to protect their homes and family, honour was still a central part of the Japanese customs and ideologies.

This beautiful country was also home to Captain Taiga Aisaka and Lieutenant Commander Ryuuji Takasu. After seven years both of them returned to their homeland after several years serving Starfleet in the cold depths of space. Their return had been a quiet one, and they returned to their small wooden house on the edge of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan.

"Its nice to be home!" Taiga said as she slid the door open. The house had been quiet and silent for a long time. However both of them had put roots down here some time ago. It wasn't the biggest of homes, all on one floor with only two bedrooms a small kitchen area and living area.

"It needs dusting..." Ryuuji flames of passion starting to ignite in his eyes. Taiga simply sighed as she slipped off her shoes and swapped them for her slippers. She wiggled her toes in them, it had been a while since she had worn them. She walked to the large floor to ceiling windows and pulled back the curtains allowing the natural light to flood the room.

"Its nice to see that Mrs Takagi has been looking after the place for us." she said as she plopped herself down on the floor made of Tatami mats.

"Well, she did say she would keep an eye on the place. She does have a key so she can come in and clean every now and again." Ryuuji stated as he fired up the stove. There was no replicator in this house. When they had taken ownership of the dwelling they had decided to keep it as traditional as possible. Plus Taiga preferred Ryuuji's cooking over replicated food.

He scowled as he opened the refridgerator. Naturally it was empty, and had a rather stale smell. "We should go to the market if we want to eat" he stated. "I bet the futons could do with airing out too. They've been in the cupboards how long now?"

"Eight or so years I think" Taiga said. She leant back supporting herself with her arms as she stared at the photograph hung on the wall. It contained a much younger Ryuuji and herself. She smiled as she remembered them taking the photograph, it had been on the day after they had graduated Starfleet Academy.

"Well, although we consider the Tokyo home. I would like to come here more often. This is our Official home. I wouldn't mind putting that second bedroom to good use..." Ryuuji stated as he pulled out a feather duster and began to run it around various surfaces.

"Yeah me too. I can see us having children here. Or on the Tokyo, but when we finish with Starfleet this will be where we will live our final years," Taiga told him with a smile. Ryuuji stopped dusting and made his way over to Taiga, he sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her.

"It would be perfect for us. I could happily stay here right now. Give up our positions on the Tokyo just to spend my life here with you in this house," he told her softly. "However, I know you're happy being the great Captain that you are."

"I'm not that good of a Captain. Honestly, I wing it half the time. Until we have our own children and hopefully grandchildren, the Tokyo crew are our family," Taiga replied to him. She pulled herself up. "Well, I'm going to pay a visit to Mrs Takagi next door."

Ryuuji smiled as he also rose to his feet. "Ok Taiga. Give her my regards, I'll get the place cleaned up a little."

Nodding Taiga made her way back to the door of the house. "I won't be too long, we only have a week or so here. So lets make the most of it" she told him as she swapped her slippers for shoes.

[Next Door]

Taiga knocked on the door, which opened slowly a few moments later. An elderely woman stood there a walking cane in her hand. She smiled at Taiga.
"Taiga" she said her smile widening. "I wasn't expecting you to be here. Please come in," she said.

"Thankyou Mrs Takagi, its been along time since we've come home." Taiga said in response as she followed the woman in and shut the door behind her.
"Yes it has dear, come tell me all about it. I've been looking forward to seeing you and Ryuuji again."

[Back in the house]

Wearing a mask over his mouth, Ryuuji was enjoying himself cleaning the house. With a cleaning cloth and some cleaning spray he couldn't help but smile as he wiped down the surfaces. Granted Mrs Takagi had kept the place somewhat clean over the years, and he was grateful she had been caring for the house.

However he understood that she was elderly now and couldn't keep it as clean as it used to be. Truly though he was enjoying himself as he wiped out the refigerator humming to himself.

[Later]

Taiga returned to a house that was sparkling. She had spent the last two or so hours with Mrs Takagi. "Hey Ryuuji" she said as she stepped inside and took off her shoes. "Mrs Takagi has invited us around to dinner tonight." she told him with a smile.

Ryuuji emerged from one of the bedrooms. "Oh good, I popped down to the local market whilst you were out. We have some basic food in now. But it didn't have everything I wanted," he said with a sigh.

"Don't worry. We'll go around about seven. She's going to cook Sukiyaki for us." Taiga said as she made her way over to the main living area and stood infront of the bookshelf. Gently she pulled off one of the dusty books and settled in a beanbag which was in the corner. It had been a while since she had had the chance to sit and read something for pleasure.

"That sounds good. We'll invite her around in return" Ryuuji replied. "Well, we have a week here. What do you want to do Taiga?"

"Honestly. I just want to be at home. Away from Starfleet, Starships anything that flies. I just want to spend time with my husband in our little house without anyone disturbing us."

Ryuuji chuckled. "Thats good enough for me. You want to play house."

Taiga nodded. "I want us to be just a couple these next few days. A married couple with nothing better to do than just sit here loving each other". She couldn't help but smile as she turned the pages in her book. To her this was perfect, she was happy and this was a nice break from the day to day busy lives they both lived.

Posting by

Captain Taiga Aisaka
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Ryuuji Takasu
Chief Strategic Operations Officer

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