You Had To Make It Weird
Posted on Thu Jul 30th, 2026 @ 6:52pm by Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome
2,153 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Below Decks
Location: USS Valkyrie- Doctor Tanaka's quarters
Timeline: Between "Diversion & Deception" and "A Cry In The Dark"
It had taken nearly thirty minutes and lots of internal conflict for Urushi to make it to Ayumu's door that evening. Dressed in a slightly short t-shirt that exposed her lower stomach and navel, accompanied by a pair of shorts, she was giving off a very casual vibe. She took a deep breath and tapped the chime to Ayumu's door.
There was a short pause before the door slid open and Ayumu poked his head out; contrary to Urushi, he was still in dressed in full uniform, though the manner in which he wore his clothes somewhat more loosely than usual, coupled with the absence of his commbadge, indicated that he was unwinding for the evening.
"Ah, Lieutenant Yaotome," he greeted. "What can I get for you?"
A blush spread across Urushi's face as she avoided eye contact. "Evening... I... Well... I thought that you'd be... you know... feeling down and you know... after everything that happened on... the planet and... everything...?" She managed to stumble out before looking up at him.
Ayumu took a deep breath. "Truth be told, I'm a bit... disappointed that things panned out the way they did, given their circumstances and the fact that our charity was at least partially exploited- and especially that people lost their lives because of it- but that's unfortunately one of the risks with the service. Certainly not happy with it, but I accept that it's not always going to be sunshine and rainbows."
"Yeah..." Urushi said. "Say, I was thinking. Want to take a walk? I have a nice holodeck program along an Earth beach. I find its a good way to clear my head." She asked.
"Well, I'm not doing anything important right now, so... if you'll give me a moment to change out, I'll be right with you?" Ayumu accepted.
"Of course. I can wait." Urushi said as she took a step forward instinctually as if she was just allowed to walk into his quarters.
"Um... Lieutenant?" Ayumu halted. "If you could give me a moment of privacy, please?"
"Huh?" Urushi said in surprise at being stopped. "I mean its nothing I haven't seen before Ayumu..." she then caught herself. "Oh..." she took a half step back. "Sorry. That was... awkward... Sorry...."
Ayumu bowed his head, as if he too were reckoning with the awkwardness of the situation.
"It's, um... It's quite alright, Lieutenant; just give me a minute..."
The door shut, and for a minute Urushi scolded herself under her breath. But just as quickly as the thoughts came to fruition, the door opened once more and there stood Ayumu in a white ribbed tank top and beige khaki shorts.
"Hope I'm not dressed too lightly," he remarked as he stepped out of his quarters. "I assumed on the basis of how you were dressed that this was intended to be a more tropical outing?"
"Oh... This is just something casual I threw on...." Urushi said as she looked Ayumu up and down. "But that suits you..."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Ayumu nodded as the door shut behind him. "So... Lead the way?"
Urushi blushed as she led the way through the corridors. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage as she walked. 'What is this feeling? Why am I so nervous?' she thought as they rounded a corner and soon came face to face with the holodeck doors. "Just... give me a moment." She reached up and tapped on the holodeck control panel.
"No rush, Lieutenant; this is just a walk," Ayumu assured her.
"Program complete. Enter when ready," the monotone female voice of the computer said. The doors slid open and a beautiful tropical beach awaited them. White soft sand spread along a treeline of palm trees and small flowering plants. Crystal blue water lapped away, causing refreshing sounds to fill the air. The smell of salt and sweet pollen drifted on light breeze that rustled the palm leaves. The sky was washed with a beautiful watercolour of orange, red and yellows. The sun was setting over a mountain that towered high above the paradise.
"Impressive," Ayumu remarked. "You ever been to an actual Earth beach, Lieutenant?"
"A long time ago." Urushi replied. "Before I made the rank of commander...." she stopped herself and her cheeks turned even redder. "Just ignore that..." she said as she stepped out onto the soft sand.
There was a moment of silence.
"As your... previous host, I presume?" Ayumu asked, evidently trying to avoid mentioning Haruk by name. If Urushi wanted to talk about it, that was obviously her business, but at the same time it wasn't his to ask.
"Um.. Yeah. I didn't know that you knew... But thats not surprising considering your position." She said nervously. "I never went through the Initiate program. I only took the symbiot because if I didn't it would die." She explained.
Ayumu chuckled, if somewhat nervously himself. "Well, that would've been made fairly obvious given that whole ordeal on the Pricari homeworld... or, what was left of it, anyhow..."
Urushi nodded as she led the way. "Tell me Ayumu. Now that we're alone. You've already worked it out. Haven't you?" She asked turning to face him. Her hazel eyes locking onto his.
Another pause.
"...I have," Ayumu admitted. "And I do have some questions, yes, but at the same time, I respect your right to privacy, hence why I've made no effort to bring it up."
Urushi frowned. "Just tell me Ayumu. You know who I am. Or at least... Who part of me was. Just, tell me that you know. This is just as hard for me as it is for you."
Ayumu averted his gaze.
"When I was performing surgery to reattach the symbiont to your spinal cord, I observed what appeared to be a surgical scar on the symbiont's oral cavity," he explained. "I happen to recall my Docent mentioning his own symbiont sustaining such a scar during the initial joining process, and coupled with you're mentioning that I need to smile more- which is something he would have absolutely said..."
his gaze wandered briefly towards Urushi, before quickly darting down to his feet.
"...I have... credible reason to believe that the symbiont you are hosting is that of my late Docent and mentor, Captain Haruk Leon," he stated. "And if my suspicions turn out to be correct, then you can understand the dilemma that I've found myself in?"
Urushi shifted a little, dragging her feet through the sand. "Captain Haruk Leon was heavily injured." She said. "My previous posting aboard the Phoenix was that of Chief Science Officer. The Phoenix responded to the distress call..." she paused for a brief moment. "With the Phoenix being a Prometheus class, our medical facilities were advanced, but still limited due to the ship being primarily designed for tactical engagements. Unfortunately we couldn't save Haruk from his injuries..."
She reached out and took his hand gently. "As the only Trill on board, Urushi Yaotome, at least, Urushi that I was back then knew that saving the symbiot was more important than her own desires." She took a deep breath. "So, yes, the symbiot that now has become part of me is the Leon symbiot. As a thankyou for saving him, Leon allowed me to keep my family name."
She reached up with her other hand and cupped his cheek. "I was never really a traditionalist. That much you knew. I'm just glad I got to see you again Ayumu. Although... this is only my second lifetime. So, this is new, even to me." She explained giving him an endearing smile. "I'm sorry to have kept this from you."
For one glorious, fleeting second, Urushi could just barely make out the corners of Ayumu's lips curl up in a smile, just like Haruk had told him to.
"Thank you, Captain," he expressed, referring directly to the half of Urushi that had been something of a second father. "I missed you too; I really did."
And with that, he turned his attention towards the half of Urushi that was now standing before him. "And Lieutenant- don't feel you did anything wrong holding this back from me; as I stated before, you have the right to confidentiality; whether or not you want to discuss Haruk's life is your business and your business only."
"Its not Captain." Urushi told him. "Its Lieutenant now." She corrected him. "As much as Haruk is part of me now, you should know that I'm Urushi." Her voice was soft and gentle. "And... this may sound weird. But.. I kinda get the feeling that I... you know..." she looks away as her cheeks blush red once again. "Enjoy your company." She finally cane out with.
"I enjoyed his company as well," Ayumu replied, though there seemed to be no indication- not even a shred of irony- that he was reading the mood. To him, that sense of companionship that he shared with Haruk was likely one of a familial nature- a bond a father, whether genetic or in spirit, shared with his son, nothing more. For all Urushi cared, she could've been flashing a big neon sign saying that she wanted to go steady with him, but it was clear he wouldn't have seen her that way.
Urushi took a step back and looked him up and down. "Computer. Swimwear." She said simply. In an instant their clothes were replaced. Now, she stood before him in a lavender bikini with white frills. The gentle breeze caused her hair to dance as she stood before him. Lifying a hand to her ear she gazed upon him now in a pair of swimshorts. "Tell me Ayumu. Have you always been this cut off from your feelings?" She took another step forward and placed a hand on his chest. "You should know, Haruk was exactly like you. Devoted to duty, to being the perfect Captain. Now he... I mean me... knows that theres more to life than that."
Ayumu's eyes widened.
"W-well, yes, but-!"
Urushi moved in closer, bringing her body upto his. She could feel the warmth of his skin against hers. As she was consuderay shorter, her head rested above his chest. She could hear his heart beating, it seemed faster than usual. "Before you finish that..." she said softly. "You should know. I don't want to spend this lifetime... alone again."
"Erm... if you're struggling with loneliness, Lieutenant, you could always consult with Counselor Troga-?"
Urushi didn't respond. Instead still pressing her body against his, she reached up and wrapped her arns around his neck. Then standing on her tiptoes and pulling him down slightly pressed her lips to his. After a few seconds she looked into his eyes. "Haruk thought of you as a son. His love for you was pyrely platonic Ayumu. However..." she continued to look into hos eyes, her cheeks still flushed. "As Urushi. I feel... more. Can you accept me, Urushi Yaotome?"
Unfortunately, what he said next was not what she had been expecting:
"Urushi... I mean no disrespect to you, but... I'm afraid I don't see you that way," he replied. "At best, we're not acquainted well enough as friends to be making a leap like this so soon; at worst... dating someone who carries with them the memories of a person I considered to be a close family friend would be like dating my own father."
He stepped back. "I would be happy to begin a friendship with you, Urushi, but I think I'm going to need a little bit of time before I can even consider pursuing a serious commitment like that."
Urushi stepped back. She could feel tears starting to surface, however she held them back. Slowly she looked down at her feet. She shifted one over the other and held her hands behind her back. "I get it." She said softly. "I know its complicated, but I can't help change how I feel." She turned away from him to look out over the ocean. "I'm sorry."
With that she walked towards the ocean and the arch and doors of the holodeck appeared. They opened and she stepped towards the corrudor outside. Her clothes returned back to the shirt and shorts she had arrived in as she stood in the doorway, a hand on the frame. Briefly she looked back. "If you don't feel the same. We can still be friends." Her gaze turned back to the corridor. "Enjoy the beach. Lieutenant." With that she stepped out of the holodeck, the doors swished closed behind her leaving Ayumu alone on the soft white sand.
Posting By (In order of Appearance):
Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome
Chief Science Officer
USS Valkyrie
Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka
Chief Medical Officer
USS Valkyrie
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