The Second Wedding of Maho and Keisuke Takahashi, Part 5: Reception (Part 2)

Posted on Sat Mar 12th, 2022 @ 4:15am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Commander Ichika Misono & Chief Petty Officer Kozakura Kikuchi
Edited on on Sat Mar 12th, 2022 @ 4:16am

1,693 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Handling the Fallout
Location: Holodeck One
Timeline: After 'The Second Wedding of Maho and Keisuke Takahashi, Part 4: Reception (Part 1)

Previously, on Star Trek Myogi:

When the set concluded, Maho and Keisuke took a moment to bow for the ovation before stepping off the dance floor to assume their seats at the center of the wedding party table overlooking the dance floor.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen; we invite you to grab your plates and head for the buffet to fix yourself a meal, compliments of the bride and groom." Rodgers said, announcing the opening of the buffet.

And now, the continuation:

"So many choices..."

Ichika was admittedly surprised by the number of buffet items that her delicate immune system could handle. Sea bream, red rice, seaweed that didn't contain allium (she checked with the caterers, just to make absolutely certain), herring roe... she hadn't felt this emboldened to eat human food since she first came to earth- and this was supposed to be a hologram!

Kozakura Kikuchi, more commonly known as Kiki, was snacking on some rather good sushi with a little wasabi, "It really isn't a bad selection, a real sushi restaurant would have a larger one, but I'm not about to complain." She smiled at the Commander, her dress uniform with a spot of soy sauce on it that she didn't know about, "And this is fresh, not replicated, it's usually pretty hard to tell, but I can."

"Huh," Ichika muttered. "Perhaps you could offer me a recommendation, Miss? You sound fairly knowledgeable when it comes to sushi."

"Kozakura, but call me Kiki, everyone does." The redheaded caucasian said with a slight smile as she glanced over Ichika, "I'm partial to the Ahi tuna sashimi myself." She pointed to the pink pieces of raw fish on her plate with her chopsticks, then to a roll on the side, "This is a Temaki roll that they sliced, with salmon roe and avocado, and an Uramaki roll with avocado and crab meat, more commonly known as a California roll." She smiled, expertly wielding the Hashi(chopsticks) as if she'd been born with them in her fingers.

"Avacado? Oh, I really shouldn't," Ichika insisted. "I'm told that the persin in avacado's not all that healthy for Inuto- congestion, vomiting, diarrhea- pretty nasty stuff."

"Hm.." Kiki considered the selection on the table, then pointed out two of the sushi options with her chopsticks, "This Maki roll looks like it has mango with a whitefish, and this is a nigiri with kobe beef and sesame. Both of those should be fine for you, I'd think?"

Ichika appeared to ponder Kiki's recommendation for a second or two.

"Hmm... might be worth giving a shot," she muttered, grabbing a pair of tongs and moving a couple of Maki rolls onto her plate. "So long as the beef's properly cooked, it should be alright..."

As Ichika and the enlisted security officer chatted, Maho and her troop of bridesmaids made their way up to the buffet.

"I've got to tell you girls; some of the cravings I've been having lately have been nuts:" Maho explained as she began piling her plate with some Italian beef sandwiches, some tacos, and some Mexican rice. "I mean, who would've thought that blue raspberry shaved ice on chilled lobster with a side of shrimp was something I needed?"

"You mean you put the shaved ice on the lobster?" Ichika reiterated, retching slightly at the thought. "I'd rather poison myself."

"You mean you Inuto don't get crazy pregnancy cravings?" Maho asked, a sly grin crossing her face.

"Oh, they get pregnancy cravings," Ichika replied, "But I have yet to stumble across an Inuto that's crazy enough to put the shaved ice on the lobster!"

Her evident disgust at Maho's unusual appetite earned Ichika a few snickers from the holographic bridesmaids.

Ichika frowned. "You look at that with a straight face and tell me that's not revolting, and we'll talk."

"Hey, I'm sure once the baby's born, she'll look back on this with disgust, but until then, how about you cut her a little slack?" The holographic maid of honor spoke up.

"Right; forgive me, Captain, Ichika sighed, bowing her head in apology.

"It's alright;" Maho responded. "Itsumi here can be a bit of an acquired taste if you catch my drift."

"Itsumi, you say?" Ichika remarked, shifting her attention over towards the matron-of-honor. "I don't believe we've been acquainted; care to introduce us, Captain?"

"Of course;" Maho said, turning to Erika. "Commander Misono; I'd like you to meet Erika Itsumi; my maid of honor: I know her from my Parrises Squares days." Maho didn't bother to introduce in the other direction, as what stood before her and Ichika was but a mere holographic representation of the real Erika.

Erika stepped forward and offered a hand to Ichika.

"It's a pleasure:" She said.

"Likewise," Ichika responded, setting down her plate to shake Erika's hand. "I take it you and the Captain are still relatively close?"

"We still keep in touch;" Erika responded. "Unlike your captain, who decided to throw away everything she had going for her and go into Starfleet, I decided to stick with Parrises Squares: I play professionally for a team based out of the Philippines."

Ichika frowned. "I would watch who you speak ill of, Miss Itsumi," she remarked, taking slight offense to Erika's insinuation that Starfleet was a waste of talent. "If you didn't have Starfleet to protect the freedom of your precious Parrises Squares, you would be using Batl'eths instead of ion mallets."

"You want to say that again, poodle?" Erika snarled, pushing up her dress straps. "I've faced down tougher guys than you on the court!"

"Likewise, I've wrestled Klingons to a standstill," Ichika countered, her patience with Erika's attitude wearing painfully thin. "A smack-talking hologram doesn't scare me in the slightest."

"Easy, you two!" Maho said, placing an arm on both Ichika and Erika before either one could take a swing at the other. "Now is not the time or place to bicker over petty disagreements."

"Right;" Erika said, bowing apologetically. "Sorry, Ms. Ni-! I mean, Mrs. Takahashi:"

"My apologies, Captain," Ichika added, hanging her head ashamedly.

Kiki had attached herself to the edge of the group as they'd chatted, comfortable around senior officers even as she made sure not to drip anything on her dress uniform, "Ma'ams, I'll admit that shaved ice on lobster can be a bit different, but I've actually enjoyed chocolate on lobster as a dessert, especially with a citrus creme added to it."

"See? I know I'm not nuts!" Maho said, glad to hear that her weird cravings were justified to a degree.

As if she’d just realized it, Kiki’s arms snapped straight down because she was in the presence of the BRIDE. Father would kill her if she didn’t… She bowed precisely to Maho, “ Asahi ga nobori, kaiteki-sa to atataka-sa o motarashimasu yō ni, Senchou.” May the sun ever rise in your mornings, bringing you confort and warmth, Captain.) the warmth in her voice was obvious, and she resisted more than the slight smile, good, Father would be proud.

Maho returned the bow, as was customary.

"Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita, (Thank you very much,)" She responded in Japanese. "soshite itsuka anata ga kagayakashī shōri o osameru koto ga dekimasu yō ni, kashikan (and may you one day have a glorious victory, Petty Officer)" The traditional Nishizumi family blessing, just as Maho's mother would have given it.

Ichika raised a brow. "You're part of the crew, Ms. Kikuchi?" she remarked observantly.

"Hai, Okusama, yes, ma'am." Kiki grimaced as she repeated herself in Standard, bowing to Ichika this time, her flame-red hair dripping forward with the mortion, which combined with her round eyes and rather pale skin proved that while she had the manners and mannerisms of a native Japanese, including her name, that it wasn't genetics by any means of the word, "Petty Officer First Class Kozakura Kikuchi, Senior Security NCO after Chief Nitakara left us, ma'am." The rockers on the collar of her gold dress uniform were evident, just as the unspoken 'in disgrace' at the end of her sentence.

Maho wordlessly nodded, acknowledging the unspoken dog whistle in Kiki's statement. Nitakara had been a good NCO, and her reassignment had been felt as much as everyone else's.

"No, where are my manners?" Ichika chuckled, scratching the back of her neck. "It's an pleasure to have you in our company, Petty Officer; though, word of warning regarding your supervisor: we have a bit of an issue with getting her to follow Starfleet Dress Code Policy, so try not to follow her example."

Kiki tittered a laugh, “Oh, I’m very well aware of that Ma’am, the Lieutenant, though, she does do her duty, so I’m willing to put up with it. Besides… She’s not my type, or gender.”

"I agree with Kikuchi." Maho added. "Tristana's a good officer whom I have served with together for a long time. Her merits far outweigh her flaws, and perhaps once you get a chance to see her in action, Commander; you might be more willing to change your tune."

Ichika picked up her plate and shrugged. "Honestly, I can't say I trust an officer who can't be bothered listen to her superiors when it comes to following the dress code, so in that light she's got quite a ways to go before she earns my respect."

And with a parting nod, she broke off from the group and headed off to seat herself.

Erika had observed the conversation, and it was evident that the conversation wasn't very involving for her anymore.

"Well, chief;" She said, placing a hand on Maho's shoulder. "The girls and I will be getting back to the wedding party table; come along at your leisure."

"Of course;" Maho responded with a small grin. "I'll see you all back there."

To be continued...

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