I always was bad at writing an introduction, so, just enjoy the story.

"Captain, you and your men have the honour to represent our country and our armed forces in Japan. You will join the national tournament. Bring our country honour." With a sharp salute, the Captain was dismissed and he went to the quarters of his men, informing them, about their journey.

"Nishizumi-dono, do you heard about the news?" Yukari asked, joining Miho, who sat down to a bench and was eating her lunch. "No, would you mind to tell me?" Miho said, laying down her chopsticks. "We will have new teams in the national tournament this year. We have confirmed a team from Germany, a team from Russia, a team from the US and a team from Poland. In fact, they send their cadet schools teams. Oh, and I have talked with Saori. She said, that we will host quarters to the German team. She was all into it. She said something like: Now I will get a cute soldier for myself." Yukari shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever, you know her. Before I forget, they will arrive in seven days or so. Saori said, as captain of the tankery team, you should prepare a welcome ceremony." The brown-haired girls added and took her own bento-box out of her backpack.

"Julius, is everything ready?" Captain Erik Bolter asked his company sergeant major. The blond-haired officer was wearing a black uniform, which resembled the German tank uniform of the Second World War, just lacking the national-socialist symbols. Around his neck, he had tied the commanders cross of the order of merit of the republic. The NCO didn't salute to the superior, because they had been through so much that the rank didn't bother anymore. The black-haired men simply nodded and answered: "Everything is on board and the guys are ready for deployment to Japan. What do you think about it, especially about the host school? How was the name?" "Oarai-Girls-High-School. It's kind of pathetic. They send trained soldiers, to play with girls, three or more years younger than us. Despite of that, who knows, probably there is a girl waiting for you." Julius wanted to answer, but was interrupted by Yura, an exiled Ukrainian Sergeant: "I heard, Japanese girls like our bad-ass look and our charming smile. I bet, even Captain Scarface will get a girl." Erik punished the men, which saved his life, with a playful slap at the head. "Watch your mouth Yura. Or did you forget the story with that little red-head in Munich?" "Come on, it wasn't my fault, that her father caught us." "Yeah, but don't do it again." Erik ended the conversation. He watched the crowd, which waved farewell to the small fleet, which was starting her way to Japan.

-6 Days later-

It was there again, the awful sweet smell of burned human flesh. There was it again, the thunder of guns, the explosions and the screams of the wounded and of the refugees. And there was the pain again, the pain of the knowledge, that he had failed in his task. It hunted him since the cruel day, barely two years ago. With a scream, he waked up, looking around. He wasn't inside his Leopard 2. He was inside a cabin on the transporter, which shipped his team tanks to Japan. Someone knocked at the door, it was Julius, who entered after a second. "You had that dream again, I'm right?" He asked, concerned about his friend wellbeing. "Yes, I had. I talked with Yura about it, he had the same dream since then." "You have to talk with a therapist. They can help you." "That's bullshit, you know that. The only thing they will give me is a discharge. What I am without this? What I am without the guys? What would await me?" "Your family. I'm sure your father would accept it. You have done enough for our country." "He would despise me. My family served the fatherland since centuries! No, I have to deal with that by myself." Julius green eyes looked over his friend, with genuine concern. Then he shrugged with his shoulders and said: "However, we will arrive at Yokohama in an hour. The consul invited you to a formal dinner at the consulate. You should take out the gala dress. I will waiting for you at deck, there should be a car waiting for us. They can't wait to meet the Lion of Warsaw."

-The next day at Oarai-

The whole school was in turmoil, with today's arrival of the German guests. Especially Erwin was tensed, she was thrilled, that she would soon meet the heirs of Guderian, Rommel and Manstein. "Hey Guderian, has Nishizumi-san finished the preparations for the welcoming ceremony?" The blond girl wanted to know. "Yes, our guests are expected to arrive within the next hour." Yukari answered. A distant rumble announced the closer of the guests. "When talking about the devil, come on Guderian, inform Miho about that." Erwin said. "I will gather the other girls."

Miho sat at her place inside the classroom when Yukari entered and shouted: "The Germans are coming!" Miho stood up and followed her friend to the school yard, where just the same moment, 15 German Tanks from WW 2 appeared. Out of every hatch, a man clad in a black uniform, some with medals, looked with an arrogant gaze. One man shouted loud in German: "Panzer halt!" The tanks stopped and the Germans left their tanks. The man shouted again: „Kompanie zur Begrüßung in Formation antreten!" The German students formed a perfect rectangle. Three men stepped forward, walking towards Miho. The red-haired girl, accompanied by Anzu and Yukari, bowed slightly before the men. The man in the middle, with a scarred face, slammed his heels together and saluted sharply: "Captain Erik Bolter, second Company/third Battalion reports for duty! It's a pleasure to meet you Nishizumi-kohai." He looked with disdain into her eyes. He was about 1,82 meters tall, wearing his blond hair in the traditional style of German soldiers. Miho, knowing, that she had been insulted, answered: "Likewise Bolter-san." "Captain Bolter is just fine. I don't care about your honorifics." The officer interrupted her rudely. "Would you show my men their quarters, I would appreciate that." Offended by so much rudeness, Miho just could nod and her teammates prepared themselves for leading their guests to their quarters. Bolter turned and shouted: "Kompanie, wegtreten!"

"What do you thing about our hosts?" Julius asked his friend. "As pathetic as I imagined. Little girls, playing with tanks, too scared to see the truth, that lies beyond the graves." Erik answered cryptically. "Please, try to be nice to them. They planned a dinner to our honour in the evening. Just try, really, just try to avoid any confrontation. We will stay a whole year with them." Julius explained. "Yes, yes, all clear. I will try to be nice to that brat of commander." Julius sighed, then he pointed to the clock at the wall. "You have half an hour to be ready." The Company Sergeant Major left the room, leaving his old comrade alone. I hate those celebrations. The make no sense. With reluctance, the Captain looked to the wardrobe, where his gala dress uniform hung. The uniform resembled the gala dress uniform of the Wehrmacht, only lacking the NS-Symbolism. He fixed his officer saber at his belt, which paddock read: Gott mit uns. He looked upon the awards, he was given for his service. Around his neck, he had the commanders cross for merit of the federal order. At his chest, he had the cross of honour for valour, the cross of honour for the war order of militari virtuti, the combat action medal, the wounded badge in silver and the order of the celestial hundred. Satisfied with his appearance, he took his peaked cap and put it upon his head. Julius waited at his door. With an earnestly nod, he greeted his captain. "Let's go." Erik said and he joined his comrades.

The school yard had changed completely. The school's students had turned it from a boring square into a solemnly place. There were dozens of tables, which had been decorated very tasteful. Miho wasn't looking forward to meet that rude guy again, which was the team leader of her guests. She was dressed in a blue gown. She sighed, which was noticed by Yukari, which sat next to her at the first table next to the band. "Calm down Nishizumi-dono. I will be at your side." "I know, but I don't like it, when people aren't nice to each other." Before Yukari could answer, a girl of the service club seated the Captain, his black-haired comrade and another man in the grey uniform at the table. "Good evening Captain Bolter, I would like to welcome you formal to Oarai-High-School. I hope, you like your quarter." "Thank you Miss Nishizumi. I really appreciate your hospitality. And I want to excuse my previous behaviour. The journey wasn't very comfortable." Erik showed some manners. "I accept your apology Captain. But now, let us start the celebration." Miho tapped her fork against her glass and stood up from her chair. "I would like to welcome Captain Erik Bolter and his men. They are the Sensha-Do team of the Federal Military Academy "Count Stauffenberg". It is an honour to have such illustrious men as our guests." The guests applauded polite. Then Erik stood up and said: "The same goes for us. I'm not a man of many words, some of you know that." The guests laughed at his words. "But I appreciate the hospitality of the Oarai-Girls-High-School. Because of this, I have a little present for the Tankery's team commander." Julius gave a wooden box to the Captain. Erik opened it and gave it to Miho. She looked inside the box, which contained a precious dagger. "This is an honorary dagger of the German armed forces. Please accept this gift as a symbol of friendship." "Thank you very much Captain." Miho answered. "I feel honoured. Please accept that Katana as our symbol of friendship." She gave the sword to the officer. "Of course I accept that present, Miss Nishizumi." The Captain said, giving it to his Adjutant. "Please sit down and enjoy the dinner." Miho declared and everybody present sat down, while the first course was served. "Captain Bolter, please tell something about you. I have to confess, I didn't know much of you." The brown-haired girl asked. "I fought in the eastern campaign. The NATO Forces had been overrun by the Russian Forces. My Company was deployed to eastern shore of the Vistula. We defended refugees, which tried to escape the battle, which raged only two miles away. My men did their duty as I did. 64 had stayed on the field of honour. " Miho didn't knew what the German meant, so she asked: "What do you mean? Stayed on the field of honour?" The officer looked up from his plate and answered: "I'm sorry. It's a special German Term. It means a soldier died in battle. We refer to the battlefield as the field of honour. Whenever a German soldier dies, he remains on the battlefield." Miho was shocked, hearing the man's words. "You have been in real combat?!" "Yes, where do you thought these medals came from?" The blond-haired German answered, looking with his blue eyes directly in Miho's eyes. The Oarai-Team-Captain blushed and looked away. "It is not bad, that you asked. I understand that you didn't know about that. Many foreigners are astonished, that I have already fought for my country. It is that way: When the Fatherland calls, you have to follow. Otherwise you bring shame upon your family." Miho answered: "I knew that. I brought shame upon my family." Erik shook his head and grinned. "No, it's something different. I heard about your deed. There is nothing wrong with saving your fellow comrades. Consider yourself lucky, that you were able to save them. Ask the dead, if honour matters." Then he turned again to the food and ate in silence. Miho was left in awe and silence.

-Later that evening-

After the dinner, the assembled crowd dispersed. Erik leaned against a tree, watching his men. There was Julius, who talked with a girl, which styled her hair it looked like a fennec's ears. Yura, already accompanied by a gorgeous student of the school. At the dancefloor, Frederic danced with a red-haired girl a slow waltz. He sighed and emptied his glass of wine. Then he heard behind him a tune and turned around, before him stood Yukari. "Good evening Bolter-san. Enjoying the party?" She asked. "Aren't you the friend of Nishizumi?" "Yes I am her friend. Please answer my question." The brown haired girl said. "Well, my men enjoy it, so I'm going to enjoy it to. Say, Miss?" he asked for her name. "I am Yukari Akiyama." "Captain Erik Bolter, it's nice to meet you." He slammed his kneels slightly and bowed polite and reached out his right hand, which was covered with a white glove. "So Miss Akiyama, do you know how to dance?" He asked with a charming grin. Yukari blushed, mumbling something in her imaginary beard. "Please Miss Akiyama, just a dance, nothing more." He didn't wait for the answer, took her hand and dragged her to the dancefloor. "If you don't know the steps, just follow me." He laid one hand on her waist and raised his hand, putting her left hand onto his right shoulder, and raised her right hand. "Please, I really don't know how to!" Yukari begged. "Calm down, just follow my steps." The band started to play the Kaiser Walzer from Strauss. The Captain leaded the loader of the anglerfish team with a huge confidence. Yukari was astonished by finding herself enjoying the dance. She looked into his face and found a wide grin. "You know, a soldier appreciates always the joys of life. You do me a great favour." The officer said. "I believe that. But tell me, how do you deal so well with your sabre?" Yukari giggled. "I watch the other dancers." He laughed. "I have heard about you, the mind behind the victory of Oarai in the last year's tournament, my congratulations." The blue-eyed man complimented. Yukari blushed, before she answered: "I'm just using my knowledge, which I gathered through my passion." Erik leaned a little bit forward and whispered into her ears: "I don't think so. Beyond every leader, there is a mastermind, in this case, a good looking one." The Captain complimented. Yukari stopped following his steps. "Please, don't!" The brown-haired girl said shyly and turned away, leaving the German behind. Julius, which had seen the scene, shook his head, smiling. He saw his friend following the girl that walked away. "If you want to go, just say it, I will walk you home. No further intends, I promise!" Yukari sighed and turned around. "Stay silent, not a single word." "I swear." The blond-haired man said and offered his arm. The Japanese girls took the arm and the two of them started the way towards Yukari's home. And he held his promise. He didn't say any word, until they had arrived at the houses door. "It was a pleasure to meet you Akiyama-hime." The soldier said, gave her a light kiss on the cheek and walked away. The girl was left flustered and opened the door of her family's home. She walked into her room and her gaze felt upon a copy of an old Life magazine. It showed a picture of a German, which looked outside of a tank hatch, screaming something into a headset. There were polish and german soldiers. The headline announced: The eagles of the east. And she knew, who was the soldier, which looked outside of the tank. She had to tell Miho about it the next day.

-The next morning-

Bolter met his comrades for breakfast inside of a small Café. He had to laugh about Yuras blue eye. "How did that happened?" He asked. "I met a girl. Her father came in, during the act. He gave me a right hook and I had to flee." Julius gaze just said: I told you, that this will happen. "Yura, you will never learn it. It will kill you someday." Erik shook his head and bit into a bun. Julius broke the silence. The black-haired looked towards his friend. "Please tell me, what have you done with that girl, what was her name? Akiyama?" "Nothing." Erik answered and took a sip from his coffee. "I teased a little bit, nothing more." He said truthfully. "Stop with that. You never overcame Natalia's death." Erik slammed his hand on the desk and growled: "Don't dare to take that name in your mouth!" Julius raised his hand in appeasement, Yura he said loud: "Calm down Captain Scarface. He didn't meant what he said."

-Later that day at school-

The three friends arrived at the school, just in time for the afternoon lessons. "Remember to deal with that girl from yesterday." The officer said to his Ukrainian friend. Yura nodded and walked away to find the red-head. Erik himself moved towards his assigned class room, when he was intercepted by Yukari. "I know who you are." She simply said. "So, who am I?" He asked sarcastic. "You are the Lion of Warsaw, eagle of the east." He looked in her eyes with a cold expression in his face and answered: "This is who I was. Don't imagine you know me." With this, he entered the class room. Yukari turned to Julius: "What is going on with him?" The German NCO sighed: "Come to my quarter at 2000. I will explain everything to you." The black haired man wrote down his address and gave the piece of paper to Yukari. Then, he followed his old friend and comrade.

-At the Evening-

Erik avoided her and the rest of the Oarai-Sensha-Do Team for the whole day. Not sure about what was about to happen, Yukari was afraid of meeting Julius alone, so she asked Miho to escort her. "Of course I will go with you. To be honest: I would like to know, why the Captain acts, like he acts." So, the two women were on their way to the German quarters. They were cowed by all the men in the black uniform, working at the tanks or doing sport. The complex was huge and they couldn't find the address of Julius, because every sign was in German. A man with brown hair asked them: "Can I help you?" "Yes, we are looking for the quarter of Julius Wittman. We're supposed to meet him." Miho answered. "Please follow me." The soldier said and lead them to a door, at which he knocked. A silent: "Yes?" was heard. The brown-haired opened the door and said: "Sir, there are two women who want to see you." "It's okay Hartmann, I expected them, dismissed!" Julius answered and signified the girls to step in. "Please sit down. Do you want something to drink?" The German NCO asked polite. Both shook their head, but sat down. "You may want to know, why Erik behaves, like he does. It is complicated, but I will try to explain."