In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate them greatly. All the characters introduced in this chapter were suggested by readers.

This chapter may appear to be an aside but, I assure you, it is necessary for the plot later. I hope that you enjoy it.

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.

62. Inari

Inari sat outside his grandfather’s office. He could not hear what those inside were saying but the tone of their voices indicated that the conversation was the same as the many that had gone before it: threats of destruction or violence from the goons and soft reassurance from Tazuna-san. His arms tightened into fists. He wished he were strong enough to beat Gato’s goons to a pulp.

The scraping of a chair, footsteps and the door was opening.

“Another five days,” the smaller of the goons said. “The brat is gone by then or we’ll make sure of it. Word is his arse is still virgin. Slavers pay well for a virgin arse.”

He hated the fact that they could frighten him. He loathed that they used him against his grandfather. He felt guilty that his grandfather had made promises to Gato in return for Inari being exiled rather than killed. He refused to be sorry for managing to kill five of Gato’s goons.

Now they were threatening retaliation because his would-be spacer crew had been delayed.

“Inari!” his grandfather called.

He slunk into the office.

His grandfather sighed. “I told you to stay in the shipyard, Ina-kun. You went into town. They saw you. You reminded them that you are still here.”

He had wanted to see his friends.

“I am sorry, Grandfather,” he admitted. “Do you think they will be here within the five days?”

“Yes, they jumped into the system this morning. I saw no reason to share that with Gato. They will be dropping tomorrow. They have obtained permission to land on the pad within the yard.”

Inari was surprised. Bribing officials to control who was allowed to drop and lift from the yard was one of the ways Gato made his grandfather’s life difficult. He was about to ask more questions when he spotted the sparkle in his grandfather’s eyes. The old man was up to something.

“Grandfather?” he queried.

“Tomorrow, Ina-kun, tomorrow,” his grandfather promised.


Whatever Inari had imagined the morrow would bring, it was not a magnificent battleship in full Uchiha livery landing in their shipyard.

“I sent him your application video, Ina-kun,” his grandfather informed him with great pride. “He has come all the way from Tarrasade for you.”

Inari heart was beating so hard he was sure he could hear it: the Last Uchiha and his Companion, Naruto. He was suddenly pleased that he was wearing his best clothes and that his grandfather had summoned his mother.

“For me?” he queried.

“For you, Ina-kun,” his grandfather confirmed.


He was living a boy’s best fantasy. Naruto was a thousand times more impressive in the flesh than in the holos and he was accompanied by the legendary sharkman, Kisame. Uchiha-sama was being charming to his mother, who looked on the verge of fainting. Kakashi-san, the captain, was speaking with his grandfather.

“My name is Iruka,” someone said from behind him and to the right. “I am queen of this crew and I manage the Uchiha household. It is a pleasure to meet you, Inari-kun.”

Inari spun about and found himself facing an ordinary-looking man with steady dark eyes and a Hyuga. He was sure it was a Hyuga. He bowed. “It is an honour, Iruka-san.”

“This is Neji-san, a member of our crew,” Iruka told him.

Inari bowed again and the Hyuga bowed in return. His heart started to hammer again. He was about to be interrogated. If he lied, they might lift without him. His grandfather would be so disappointed if they lifted without him. He would end up whoring for slavers if they lifted without him.

“And how long have you wanted to space, Inari-kun?” Iruka asked.

“Not long,” he admitted before thinking how badly that sounded. “I mean, every boy dreams about spacing, but I thought I would stay here and take over the shipyard when grandfather retired, Iruka-san.”

Iruka frowned. “So what has caused this change in plan?” he asked.

Inari told himself that lying in front of a Hyuga was a very bad idea. He took a deep breath. “Grandfather always said I did not have to stay and, well, things are difficult here.”

“In what way difficult?” Iruka pressed.

Inari shut his eyes to build courage and then took the plunge. “I have to leave, Iruka-san. I annoyed the head of the local crime syndicate. I have three more days to leave the planet or they will take me and sell me to slavers.”

Iruka gaze was steady. “This was not in your application video, Inari-kun,” he reminded him.

Inari could feel himself blushing. “The, uh, incident that lead to the, er, ultimatum had not happened when I recorded the video, Iruka-san.”

“Incident?” Iruka queried.

“Five of the goons had this thing for children.” Inari’s embarrassment was replaced by anger. “They would pick up a child and play with him until he broke. I tricked them into going into an abandoned building and blew it up.”

To his amazement Iruka smiled at him. “How enterprising of you, Inari-kun. I am very impressed.”

Inari’s head swam a little. Iruka sounded like a schoolteacher praising a particularly inventive vacation project. It was surreal.


Then, unexpectedly, the visitors began grouping around his grandfather, whose previous expression of proud benevolence had been replaced by one of agitation. When Iruka and Neji excused themselves to join them, Inari sidled around the periphery of the room to his mother’s side. He looked at her anxiously.

“They do not have an Engineer,” Tsunami told him. “They have a Mulligan drive and no Engineer.”

Inari winced. He could imagine his grandfather’s reaction to that. He studied Uchiha-sama and watched his naturally pale skin turning an interesting shade of grey-green; it would appear that Tazuna-san was telling them his most extreme horror story about a crew stranded in an ungated system. Uchiha-sama and his crewmates must have strong stomachs; usually people threw up. His grandfather reached the final twist in the tale; Naruto-san’s blue eyes went completely circular and one of the others detached himself from the group and bolted for the bathroom. Have ensured their undivided attention, Tazuna-san proceeded to list the reasons that any sane crew spaced with an Engineer. Inari did not need to be within earshot, he could recite them he had heard them so often.

“He’ll tell them to go to Wave VI,” his mother was saying.

That made sense to Inari. His grandfather had trained many excellent engineers but Izumo and Kotetsu were undeniably the best; always working as a pair gave them an advantage over any individual. Whether they could be persuaded to space was another matter; they had not even wanted to leave the shipyard, but one of Gato’s henchmen had taken a fancy to Kotetsu, Izumo had reacted and flight had become prudent. They had moved to the Wave VI space station, where they were earning ridiculously large amounts of credit and having to spend most of it just in order to survive; everything in the space station cost a hundred times more than it did on Wave II.

It would appear that Uchiha-sama had promised to recruit an Engineer because Tazuna-san had relaxed and was suggesting tea.

Then, too soon, they were talking about lifting. His mother hugged him fiercely and told him to remember his father and his stepfather, because then he would always behave honourably. His grandfather spoke of how proud he was to be sending Inari into space as their representative. Inari put aside his adolescent reserve and told them that he loved them. He then slung his bags across this shoulders and stepped out towards the Sakura.


By mid afternoon he was on their mother ship, the Oak, sitting in the galley opposite Iruka-san. He very much liked his room, which was a luxury he had not anticipated. He almost had who was who sorted. Konohamaru, one of the other cats, had taken him on a tour of the ship. He had begun to feel settled, but now Iruka-san was talking about sex and Inari did not know what to say or where to look.

“Cats are expected to cat, Inari-kun,” he was saying.

Inari knew that, but knowing was very different to doing.

“We are not a Traditional crew,” Iruka-san admitted. “Although, any member of the crew is permitted to be intimate with any other member, the truth is that many of us have chosen partners. At this time, there are relatively few crewmembers who are not in an ongoing relationship and they are best left to Haku, who has the experience required to give them what they need. This means, Inari-kun, that I will not be creating a list for you at this time. I suggest that you familiarise yourself with the e-machine in your room and consider your options. If you wish to develop some experience, ask Kono-kun. I am sure he will be more than happy to assist.” There was a pause. “Inari-kun?”

Inari looked at him, wishing he were not blushing so fiercely. “Yes, Iruka-san?”

“If anyone suggests fucking and you feel in the least bit uncomfortable about it, do not hesitate to say no. You may also come to me at any time for advice.”

“Thank you, Iruka-san,” Inari replied.


Inari was glad that Iruka-san had spoken to him, however embarrassing it had been, because it prepared him for Konohamaru’s proposition, which came the next day. For Inari, who had only groped other boys and the occasional girl, gaining some experience seemed an excellent idea. He soon decided that he liked Konohamaru’s attitude to fucking; Kono-kun asked Inari what he wanted to do and then helped him do it without pushing for more. It was fun.

“What about Tayuya-kun?” Inari asked as they sat side by side on Inari’s bed after cleaning up the happy mess they had made.

Konohamaru looked at him in horror. “Don’t try offering her your prick, she’ll probably cut it off and hand it back to you.”

“So she is off limits?” Inari checked.

“No, she’s Tayuya.” Konohamaru struggled to find the words. “She’s unpredictable and vicious and takes offence if you look at her wrong.”

“She’s pretty,” Inari observed.

Konohamaru rolled his eyes. “You are insane,” he insisted. “You should find out if Rin-san can regrow your penis first,” he added. “We can check tomorrow.”


They reached Wave VI within two days. Sasuke-sama had suggested that Inari accompany them to their meeting with Izumo and Kotetsu. This had meant being fitted for a uniform and a long lecture from Iruka-san on appropriate behaviour for a cat in public.

They met in one of the bars, which was where most spacers conducted their business. Izumo and Kotetsu looked the same as always; sitting thigh to thigh with Kotetsu doing all the talking and Izumo doing most of the listening.

“It is an honour that you should ask us, Uchiha-sama,” Izumo said once Sasuke had finished making his case, “but we do not wish to space.”

“We have a Mark IX Hokstein Mulligan drive,” Inari told them.

Kotetsu looked as if he might cum in his pants.

Sasuke-sama was quick to follow up. “Perhaps you would like to look about the ships,” he suggested. “With no prior commitment.”

Izumo took in Kotetsu’s pleading eyes. “Very well. But we are only looking, Uchiha-sama. We will be at the dock this afternoon, a hundred minutes after midday.”


Sasuke grilled Inari on their way back to the ship.

“What can I offer them to persuade them to sign on?” he asked.

Inari considered. “They won’t want to live in the crew room. They would prefer their own place. Kotetsu likes plants so Izumo likes growing them for him. If you could offer them somewhere to have a garden that would be good. They don’t have that on the space station.” A thought crept into Inari’s mind. He knew what they really wanted and, if what Konohamaru had told him was true, Sasuke-sama might be able to give it to them. “They want a baby. It the only thing they argue about. They know they will never be able to afford a male-male parenting. Kotetsu’s solution is to adopt. Izumo wants them to buy an egg and for Kotetsu to be the father.”

Sasuke considered. “Is their relationship stable? Will they make good parents?”

Inari was impressed that Sasuke-sama put that above getting his Engineer. “They met at elementary school. They’ve been lovers forever. Yes, they will make wonderful parents.”


For Kotetsu the drives would have been enough and Inari could tell that Izumo was convinced by the time they had seen the apartment. He was sure that Neji-san had told Sasuke-sama that the deal was done, so it was nice of him to mention the baby.

“Inari-kun tells me you are planning a family,” he stated.

Izumo scowled at Inari.

“Naruto and I have three babies gestating at this time,” Sasuke continued, “and one of the other couples have three children. It will be fine if you decide to raise children while you are with us. Perhaps we would be able to share some of the childcare.”

“That is kind of you, Sasuke-sama, but…” Izumo began.

Sasuke carried on as if Izumo had not spoken. “Rin-san, our medico, has the very latest conception, optimisation and gestation technology. You would, of course, as members of our crew, be welcome to take full advantage of it.”

“How do we sign on?” Kotetsu said immediately.

“But…” Izumo was struggling to take it all in.

“No buts. Can we speak with Rin-san now?” Kotetsu asked.


Inari could feel Konohamaru’s eyes on him. It had been ten days since Iruka-san had introduced all four of them to the Performance Tracker and this was the first time they would see scores. Tayuya appeared not to care, Sumaru did not care and Konohamaru cared greatly. Inari would only care if it caused problems between him and Kono-kun.

Relief: Konohamaru was well in the lead with Inari second and not much between Tayuya and Sumaru. Inari used the pointer to investigate the composition of his score. For him the most interesting aspect of the Performance Tracker was that it told him what skills Iruka-san regarded as important.

It was a few minutes before he realised that Kakashi-san was watching him. This had happened on occasion since Inari had joined the crew and continued to do so over the next two days. On the third day Kakashi was sitting at the table in the galley. He was alone. The galley was empty. Inari took one of the chairs on the opposite side of the table.

“You will surpass Konohamaru,” Kakashi warned him. “He is excellently trained, but your potential is much higher. I will work with both of you, but it is you who truly interests me.”

“What about Tayuya?” Inari asked.

Kakashi shrugged. “I have no interest in Tayuya. She is Iruka’s project. You are mine. The latest in a line of four: Iruka, Shikamaru, Sasuke, now you.”

Inari looked at him, “Perhaps all I wish to be is an Engineer.”

Kakashi shook his head. “No, that is not enough for you. If that were enough your grandfather would not have sent us your video. If that were enough you would have stayed out of trouble on Wave II.”

“And what do you see me becoming?” Inari asked.

Kakashi considered and then decided to tell him. “You will be one of Sasuke’s lieutenants, Inari-san. As Uchiha grows there will be more than one crew. You will be one of those who will take decisions on his behalf and act in his place.”


Inari lay on his bed thinking. He thought of what Kakashi had told him and Kakashi’s reasons for telling him. He imagined himself acting on Sasuke’s behalf, surrounded by his own crew, carrying out missions for Uchiha. Perhaps Sasuke and Naruto would trust one of their sons to him as cat, or maybe even their daughter. Maybe he would be able to manage Kono-kun’s disappointment when Inari surpassed him so that Konohamaru would be still be with him. Perhaps Tayuya would have grown into a magnificent, fiery woman, like Anko-san but more so, who would occasionally deign to allow him to bed her.

Yes, he understood why Kakashi-san had told him. For Inari a Performance Tracker would never be enough. Inari needed a dream.

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