Here's the last chapter of Iron Curtain. Enjoy.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I don't the rights to Macross, etc.

Iron Curtain

by Shinto Red

Part 3:

' Minmei. '

" Add more weight. "

" But..."

" I said add more. "

Kakizaki looked over at Max who just shrugged his shoulders.
The two followed through with his request. Kakizaki helped Hikaru
remove the bar and held onto to it until Hikaru nodded his head. He
and Max kept a careful on him while he bench pressed.

' Why'd she have to do the contest? She could've declined. '

His pace increased slightly.

' We never had dinner. And she's always busy. '

His pace increased. ' At least we're meeting today. '

His pace slowed and the frown faded momentarily. ' Hayase. '

His pace increased once more and the frown returned. She was
cold, bossy and after his hide. The " Old Lady" had returned from her
hibernation.

' How can she be the same woman I held in the park? '

He gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut. His mind
was haunting him again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Her shoulders were shaking and her face was in her hands. A
choked sound would come from time to time.

" Hayase? "

He got down on his knees. He raised his hands and slowly
placed them hers. He gently removed them from her face; his breath
caught in his throat.

Gentle streams slid down her face. Her eyes held a lost look.
Why did she seem so beautiful at that moment?

She wasn't hidden by the iron curtain.

" Hayase? "

She seemed to be talking from afar. " Everyone leaves me. "

" What? "

" Everyone leaves me. "

" What do you mean? "

" Mother. Father. Riber. Everyone. "

He grabbed her hands. " I'm here. I'm not leaving. "

She stared at him with that strange gaze. It chilled him to the
bone, but he didn't turn away. He wraped his arms around her.
" I'm not leaving. "

Blink. Her gaze seemed to be normal once more. Blink. Blink.
She was fighting herself. He hugged her tighter. She scrunched her face
up, but it was no use. Streams soon flowed once more. She buried her
face into his shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kakizaki's jaw hung open. " Wow, he's just about lifting as
much as I can. "

Max had a thoughtful expression. " Hey Leader! Hold on! "

Max snapped out of his thoughts and helped Kakizaki quickly
grab an end of the bar. " What happened? " asked Kakizaki. "One
moment you were Superman, the next you were shaking like a leaf. "

" Nothing. Just lost my concentration. "

The screaming of the sirens prevented the conversation from
going further. " Move out, guys! "

" Yes, sir! "

************************************************************

2nd Lt. Ichijyo removed his helmet from his head, taking in a deep
breath. He had survived another battle.

" And another fight. " he grumbled.

Another of the infamous fights between himself and Lt. Hayase
had occurred. Hikaru kicked a piece of metal on the hanger floor.
" Stupid woman. "

' How can she be the same person that I held in the park. '

It had been a another difficult battle and Kakizaki's plane had
been hit. Air ended up leaking from the cockpit and the Lt. refused to
let them return to the ship. Hikaru had been livid.

' Even Sempai told her off. It's a good thing he outranks her. '

His nose wrinkled slightly when his thoughts turned to the
rebuttal he had received from Roy after he dealt with Lt. Hayase.

" Hikaru! Wait! "

A sardonic grin formed on his face. " Speaking of the devil. "

Hikaru turned around an saw Roy running towards him.
' He looks like he's going to attend a funeral. From the looks of it,
it's probably going to be mine. '

" Hey Sempai. " Hikaru said wearily.

" Let's take a walk to my quarters. "

Hikaru tried not to grimace at Roy's tone. ' Bingo. Damn, why'd he
have to be sober this time. '

The walk to Roy's place had been quiet and it wasn't until Hikaru
was sitting down on his couch did he talk to him.

" I think you know why you're here. "

" ... Yeah ... "

Roy took a seat in the love seat across from the couch. He clasped
his hands together before he continued.

" Look, Hikaru, if it had been anyone else, you would have been
thrown in the brig so fast- "

Hikaru cut in. " But she was risking Kakizaki's life- "

" Hikaru. Let me finish. "

Hikaru folded his arms, turned his head to the side before nodding.

Roy let out a sigh. " She was wrong this time. "

Hikaru's face focused on Roy's once more. " I hear a but coming. "

" But, she is right most of the time. Even though she is young and
lacks some experience, she is a highly trained officer. Probably the best to
come out of the academy. "

" Scarier than an Ogre... " mumbled Hikaru.

" Hikaru! " Hikaru jumped in his seat.

" I know she rags on you, but you certainly didn't give a great first
impression. Calling your future commander an " old lady" is not the right
way to go. "

" But you teased her... "

" She's like a kid sister to me. I can get away with some of
that crap. "

Hikaru frowned slightly. " Hikaru, think about what she goes
through. She has a responsibility not just to the crew, but to the civilians
as well. "

" So do we. "

" Yes we do, but she has far more to do than we do. "

Hikaru stood up. " What do you mean? She sits in a nice, safe place
where she bosses people around, not caring if something happens to them. "

" Hikaru. Sit down. " Hikaru vented his frustration on the couch
before sitting down again.

" Hikaru, first off, the bridge is not a ' nice safe place'. I have
seen on countless occasions why it's probably the most dangerous place.
It's usually targeted. It's the heart of the ship. Without it, everything
would fall apart. Second, the 'bossing around' is the key. As I've said
before, if there wasn't someone directing us where to go, we wouldn't
be much use to anyone. What's the main target? Where is the enemy
coming in from? We wouldn't know anything until it happened. Besides,
you also "boss people around" since you've become a CAT. It isn't easy,
isn't it? Now try imagining that same responsibility with thousands
of pilots. "

Hikaru sat back and thought about that. ' Just having two guys is
tough, how can someone do it with thousands of troops? '

" I can't really imagine it. "

" Neither can I. "

Roy got up from the love seat and walked to a group picture on
the wall. Hikaru noticed it was a picture of the first team he had ever
flown with during the UN Wars. Roy picked up a small glass bottle.

" How would you react knowing that with each mission you
direct, you are possibly sending someone to their deaths? How would
deal hearing someone's last words, perhaps screams of agony? Everyday. "

He turned around. Hikaru's breath caught in his throat. He had only
seen Roy look like that once, and that was when he heard of Hikaru's
father's passing.

" Hikaru, we just shoot the target we’re told to. The bridge has to
try to solve the situation. They have to deal with the aftermath. No one
is left unscathed in war. No even them. "

Hikaru slumped in his chair, his anger vanish with the action.
" I'm a real jerk. "

" Yeah, you are. " Hikaru gave him an incredulous look. " What? You
said it yourself. "

He placed a hand on Hikaru's shoulder. " But, admitting you're a
jerk is a sign that you will probably be good man. "

" Look, Hikaru, all I wanted to tell you was to lay off her a bit.
Claudia said she's been down a bit. Even the Global has noticed. Can
you do that for me? "

He gave a small nod. " Yeah. "

Hikaru got up an head towards the door. " Oh, Hikaru. "

" Yeah, Sempai? "

" A little bird told me you were down in the dumps yourself.
Is it Minmei?"

He clenched his fists. ' Should I...?'

He let out a breath he had been holding. " Who's Riber? "

Roy's reaction was similar to Claudia's. ' So...Claudia was right. '

Roy took a swig from the bottle. " Well, we might as well sit
down again. "

Hikaru nodded his head and sat down on the couch he had abused
before. The silence between the two was palpable. " Sempai? "

Roy let out a sigh. " Riber Fruhling had been a graduate of the U.N.
Spacy Officers' Academy. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant and
posted on Mars Base Salla. "

' Finally, some answers. '

" Did he die in the attack by the Anti-U.N. forces? "

" Yes. "

Hikaru had one question in his mind that he was afraid to ask.

" You're wondering what's the connection with Lt. Hayase? "

Hikaru's head shot up. " It's the only reason why anyone would
ask about Riber. "

Hikaru cursed under his breath.

Roy bit back a chuckle. ' You are far too easy to read. '

" From what I've heard from Claudia, he had been a childhood
friend from the time she had been living in Australia. "

" Australia? "

" Her father had been stationed there. They moved away when
she seven."

" Why? "

Roy took another swig. " She's like you. "

Hikaru's brow furrowed. " What do you mean? "

Roy gave him a penetrating gaze. " What I'm about to tell you
doesn't leave this room. Make that everything I've told you. Claudia
would have my head if she knew about this. Hayase would have another
part of me. "

Hikaru stared at him with wide eyes before nodding his head
slightly. ' What the heck is it? The code to the grand canon? '

" When she was seven her mother passed away. "

Roy answered Hikaru's quizzical look.

" She's a very private person. It's true it's not exactly a secret,
but it was a very painful time for her. She doesn't like to discuss it.
You could probably understand that better than anyone. "

The bottle touched Roy's lips. He gave a solemn nod.

" Now, after Australia, her father was transferred back to Japan.
At twelve, she started junior military academy. While there, he was
given a position at Alaska Headquarters. At a party held in his in
honor, she met up with Riber again."

" Did he become her boyfriend? "

Roy had a twinkle in his eye. " Jealous? "

" No. "

Roy gulped down more of the bottle's contents. " Your no fun. "

" Roy..."

" Right, right. As far as I understand the story they were an item.
They started dating when she was fourteen. They had been going
out for a few months before he went off to Mars. Though Misa
may deny it, Claudia believes he was the main reason Misa chose
UN Spacey instead of the navy. Actually, she was planning on
getting herself stationed there. "

" She must have really loved him. "

" Yup. "

Roy's trademark had come out. " You're drunk. Aren't you? "

" Yup. "

Hikaru let out a sigh. " I've got to get going. "

" It's Okay. I have company. " he said while raising the bottle
of whiskey in his hand.

Hikaru had his hand on the door knob, but he hesitated. " Sempai? "

" Yeah? "

" Did her father die as well? "

" Nope, but I've been told that she has a shaky relationship with him. "

" Thanks. "

" No problem... Hikaru?"

" Yeah? "

" Do we have to keep an eye on her? "

Hikaru thought about the question. " You are going to talk to Claudia? "

" Yeah. "

" Then, you don't need my answer. "

" If you ever need someone to talk to..."

" Yeah, I know. Thanks Sempai. "

*****************************************************************

Hikaru wrung his sweater out. ' First Minmei cancels, then I get thrown
into the fountain. What a day! '

He fumbled with his keys before finding the proper one for his quarters.
He removed his soaking wet sweater and shirt and replaced them with a fresh
t-shirt. A beep sounded and the loud speaker came on. " Vermillion team,
report to the hanger. I repeat, Vermillion team report to the hanger. "

Hikaru let out a groan. " What now? "

*******************************************************************

" I had to open my big mouth. " muttered Hikaru.

He, Max, Kakizaki and Lt. Hayase had just returned to the
Macross after they escaped the Zentradi. He bit back a curse when the
doctor sewed the final stitch on him. Kakizaki didn't have the same
self-restraint when his turn came. " OW! "

Max chuckled. " The great pilot has been brought to his knees
by stitches. "

Kakizaki pouted slightly. " But it hurts. Getting shot at didn't
hurt as much. "

" Oh. It's not that bad. After what you four went through, this
should be easy. " said the doctor.

" That's easy for him to say. He's not getting poked. " grumbled
Kakizaki.

The doctor grinned down at Kakizaki. " Well, I understand there's
a special treat for you. "

Kakizaki's scowl was quickly replaced with a look of curiosity.
" What treat? "

" Don't know. They're rather secretive about it. "

" Wonder what it is? " thought Kakizaki aloud.

" Probably some medal ceremony. " said Hikaru while buttoning up
his uniform.

" I'm going to check on the Lieutenant. "

After he stepped out of the room, the two pilots were grinning.

" She REALLY has him wrapped around her finger. " said Kakizaki.

" When you're right, you're right. "

" OW! "

******************************************************************

Hikaru tried to remember what room she was in. As luck would have it,
a door opened and Lt. Hayase walked out from it. " Lieutenant. "

She gave him a warm smile and walked to him. He returned he smile.

" How many did you get? "

Hikaru grimaced. " Twelve. "

" Not bad. I beat you. Fifteen. "

He grinned briefly before a solemn took over his face.
" How are you? '

She gave him a small, shy smile. " Better. Claudia's helping. "

" Good. "

An awkward silence ensued. " I wanted to thank you for
saving me. And to apologize-"

Misa raised a hand. " It's forgotten. Besides, if anyone has to
thank someone, it's me. "

Silence. The two jumped when a phone rang. Misa pulled her
mobile phone out of her pocket. " Hello Claudia. I'll be there in a
bit. "

She hung up before turning to Hikaru. " That was- "

" It's ok. You better get moving. "

She stuck out her hand. " I'll see you at the surprise. "

Hikaru shook her hand. " Yeah. "

Their hands lingered. " Bye. "

" Bye. "

- End -

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the end I chose the main story line instead of AU, but...
I'm thinking of adding bonus chapters with the AU plot I had
in mind. The conversation between Roy and Hikaru was based
on the scene where Hikaru and Misa are trapped. It seems
to me like he knew something about the person she cared
for. Also I once again used some information from
the Macross Compendium. In any case, I had a blast writing this fic.
Thanks to the DYRL crew and all those who reviewed.