Notes: Hey people, I'm new over here. A little introduction to myself: I am just a university student with too much free time at hand. This is my first fanfiction, although I am not new to writing. I've done quite a bit of creative writing during highschool. I got introduced to the Gate anime by a friend who is co-writing this story with me, and I liked it. But I thought that if the anime had taken a different direction than what it did I would have liked it even more. So after some discussion with my friend, we decided to write the concepts we thought the anime could have explored to make it better. Think of this story as a re-imagination of the anime, with a heavier emphasis on the characterizations of the members of the Third Recon Team as they experience, through war and peace, the strange world that is Falmart. Enjoy!

Ginza: Aftermath

Showa Street, Ginza, Tokyo

Before today, the only concern for the people passing through Showa Street was being caught in traffic during rush hour. The usually congested roads were now empty. Empty in the sense that the livelihood of the street—the people, the urban noise of the city, the fuss and commotion of shoppers—was all missing. What little cars in sight were abandoned by their owners, some with the engine still running. The buildings on both of the streets, devoid of the activities of the working class, looked more like monuments rather than centers for offices.

This all, Captain Yasuda Taro of the 32nd Infantry Regiment saw with his own eyes, and yet he still could not believe. Ginza, the famously dubbed 'Pedestrian Paradise', was now a scene of the dead. Legionaries, out of their supposed timeline, had rampaged throughout the streets, killing all those in their way. Why this was happening, he had no idea. He never imagined that the city he was born in, grew up in, and ever since loved would ever turn into a war-zone.

Why?

That didn't matter though. In his line of work, he knew at times it was best not to ask why. He only needed to do his duty to his people, whom many have died today. Their peace all but vanished.

His fists and jaws clenched, and he began to trembled slightly. He soon brought himself under control, unwilling to let his anger run free. Now was not the time to lose control, he told himself.

From on top of a footbridge, Taro surveyed the area once again. He saw the heaps of corpses at one end of the street, where his company had engaged the enemy earlier. The Damascus steel of the legionaries' swords failed to triumph over the firearms his men possessed as the time-tested proverb 'never bring a knife to a gunfight' proved true yet again. As he shifted his gaze, he also saw the bodies continue to littered towards near his position, where they had been shot after they attempted to flee. The enemy had beaten their horses till they bled, but it was still not enough.

"Can't outrun a speeding bullet." Those words came out of Taro's mouth before he knew it.

The whole fight had lasted less than five minutes, and it scared Taro that he could now recall the whole sequence just by reading the corpses on the road. Was this what war teaches people? He had never been to war before; he didn't even know if he could describe this as one either.

"Sir, all squads are in position. All major intersections and exits of the street are now being covered. The area is now in lockdown."

Taro, broken out of his stupor, nodded at the radio operator. "What about the enemies who have surrendered?"

"They are still awaiting transport out of the battlefield, sir."

"Any idea what kind of language they're speaking?"

"No clue, sir."

"I see." He paused to look at his surroundings again, then exhaled a sharp breath. "Lieutenant Danno."

"Sir?" First Lieutenant Danno stood to attention below the footbridge.

"Proceed with orders. Take your men and search and secure any civilians still hidings in these buildings." He pointed to the buildings that lined the sides of the street.

"Yes, sir!"

The lieutenant called his platoon, who then split into two squads, each one heading for one building on either side of the street, weapons at the ready in case any legionaries had taken refuge inside the buildings as well.

Once both squad had entered their designated locations, Taro turned to Sergeant major Kai, his NCO assistant. "Get a squad ready to direct any civilians found to the evacuation point."

"Yes, sir."

With that done, Taro descended the footbridge and walked towards the pile of dead legionaries, his expression a straight one. The blood of the enemy was splattered everywhere, staining the road and pavements, while dusty air filled his nose. He could see the holes in their armor where the bullets had pierced through. The fight had been like an execution by a firing squad. The enemy's tactic of massed infantry formations, though successful in the distant past, proved to be their death sentence as Taro's company could easily focus their firepower on a single target. Targets, that what they were. He had no sympathy for them, the men who attacked his city. Better dead than living.

A horse neighed. Not quite a neigh actually. More like a dying breath.

He looked and saw an injured horse lying on the ground, over a pool of its own dark blood. It had been shot in its chest, and Taro knew that it was certain that the horse would not recover. Looking down the road, he saw that there were many other horses still alive, though mortally wounded, some with broken legs—unlikely to be able to stand again—and others lying on their flanks, waiting for death to come.

Taro called Sergeant major Kai forward again. "What do you think, Kai? The horses."

The sergeant major took a good look at the wounded animals, his arms folded. "I think we should kill them, sir. You know, put them out of their misery. No use saving a couple of half-dead horses."

"That's what I was thinking as well." Taro scratched his chin, then nodded. "Do it."

"Yes, sir."

"One bullet through the temples each. Make it quick."

"Understood, sir."

The sergeant major drew his pistol and Taro turned away as he heard the sound of gunshots begin. He tuned out the noise.

Coup de grâce, mercy killing, a practice done to wounded animals many times throughout history. Yet giving the order felt so unfamiliar—so unnatural—to him. Perhaps it was because he wasn't really thinking of ending their misery, but more to vent his frustration against the enemy who had attacked and killed his people. Nothing that happened today was natural.

"Sir, what about this one?" Taro walked over to where Kai was, who had a hesitant expression. "It's not human."

Taro took a look at the beast on the ground. It had the body of a man, but also the head of a bull. Thick, large horns extended from its temples, stained red with blood, and its legs were also that of a bull, strong muscular thighs with hardened hooves for feet. A minotaur, according to legend. What was it doing here, Taro had no idea. It seemed that the stuff of myths and fables no longer appear to be what they were supposed to be—fictional.

He took a closer look. The beast was bleeding from its abdominal, where it had a furred hand clutching onto it. Its breaths were labored and sounded like a wild boar snorting. It tried to move, but a shot of pain stiffened it and it let out a whimper. Then Taro noticed there were tears falling from its eyes and its mouth was moving. Was it trying to speak? Taro couldn't understand. Was it asking for help?

"Sir?" Kai noticed his superior hadn't respond for a long moment.

No. Taro looked away in disgust.

"Kill it."

Alleyway, Ginza, Tokyo

Izumi crawled out from under a dumpster. Her flower printed dress, once a bright yellow, was dirtied with brown patches and reeking a horrible smell. Her pigtails had come off undone, letting her dark hair fall messily onto her shoulders.

"Mama! Papa!" Her acute voice echoed against the empty alley.

Mama and Papa didn't answer. They were nowhere to be seen. She looked everywhere, but could not find them. She stood up and walked down the length of the alley, the area completely quiet. Broken glass, torn rubbish bags, overturned bins was all that she saw. The air seemed to have stood still as well, while every slight move she made reverberated loudly; the shuffling of her feet, the rustling of her dress, the sniffing of her nose.

No Papa and Mama.

The fear in her resurfaced with strength, tearing at her as a memory returned.

"Izumi, don't run off too far."

She hadn't listened, and when the city had suddenly broken into chaos with strange, scary men and beasts appearing out of nowhere, she lost sight of her parents.

"IZUMI! IZUMI! WHERE ARE YOU?"

"MAMA!"

They couldn't hear her. Everyone was screaming.

"Izumi! We're over here! Izumi, where are you?"

She couldn't see them. Everyone was running.

"PAPA!"

"IZUMI!"

The memories of the scene earlier left her as quickly as they came, and she was left with a sense of horror gripping her heart. The walls of the alley were closing in on her, threatening to trap her in. Where are they? If she had listened to Mama, all this wouldn't have happened. Now they were gone, nowhere to be seen. She didn't want to be alone.

"MAMA! PAPA!"

Her throat strained as she screamed. Still no answer. Izumi ran, tears spilling out of her eyes. She didn't know where she was going, she just wanted to be out of this place. She wanted to be with Mama and Papa.

Left and right, she turned the corners of the alley, her little feet stamping on the asphalt pavement. She was starting to tire, but she pushed on. Her heart pounded against her chest, her lungs burning. Her arms hurt, her legs hurt. She felt the cold wind blow past her, chilling her skin.

Then, she tripped. The ground had been uneven—a subtle rise that might have gone unnoticed by an adult, but as a child of only a mere five years of age, Izumi lost her footing and came crashing down against the floor.

The rough asphalt scrapped her arms and face, and the pain brought forth more tears. Her cry was mixed in between sharp intakes of breaths, her lungs desperate to be filled with air after her run.

"Mama…" she managed to croak out.

She could scarcely move now. Her whole body was aching, bruises forming on where she had hurt herself in the fall. It hurt so much. She tried to push herself up, but her strength deserted her, causing her to drop right back to the ground.

"Mama…"

The fear and helplessness of being left alone welled up in the pit of her stomach as she curled up into a ball, hugging herself. Time passed slowly as she laid on the floor, gasping in breaths. Her will was all but gone, while the bruises began to throb and she only cried more at the pain.

Where are they?

"Over there!" A woman's voice. Mama? "Hurry!"

She heard footsteps.

"Oh crap, it's a kid!"

She felt shadows fell over her, and she strained to move to see who it was, her vision blurred by her tears.

"She's alive! Natsuki, quick, help me!"

Strong arms lifted Izumi up and carried her, bringing her to rest her head upon a shoulder. "Papa?" Her voice was feeble.

"Not your Papa, girl." The man who was carrying her indeed wasn't Papa. He was taller and leaner, and whereas Papa wore round-framed glasses, he didn't have any.

The woman who stood behind the man smiled at Izumi. "You're safe now. We're police officers. We're here to help."

"Police?" Izumi rubbed her reddened eyes, and saw the two were wearing dark blue uniforms.

"Yes, police. What's your name?"

"Izumi."

"Nice to meet you, Izumi, I'm glad we found you." The woman gave another gracious smile. "I'm Kano, and he's Natsuki. Don't be scared now, you're safe with us."

Izumi believed her words. Papa have always said that police officers are there to help protect the good people and catch the bad people. So she was safe now, because she knew she was a good girl, except for earlier when she hadn't listened to Mama…

Natsuki gave Izumi a pat on the back. "We're going to take you to somewhere else right now, okay? Somewhere even more safe."

Izumi suddenly remembered why she was here, and shook her head. "I want to find Papa and Mama."

It was Kano's turn to shake her head. "I'm sorry, Izumi, it's too dangerous for you to do that. But I'll tell you what, there're many other police officers searching the place right now. They'll find Mama and Papa and bring them to where we are going to bring you now. You know what, maybe they're already there waiting for you!"

Izumi sniffed. "Really?" Papa and Mama were waiting for her?

"Really. I can take you to them." Izumi's face brightened. The smile Kano had was genuine and Izumi, amidst the tears rolling down her cheeks, smiled in return. "It's a promise, Izumi."

The policewoman, reaching forward with her right hand, extended her pinky. "Let's go find Mama and Papa."

Izumi nodded eagerly and she crossed the offered finger, then rubbed the tears off her face, feeling relief spread across her chest. "Yes."

But as they headed their way out of the empty alley, unbeknownst to Izumi, who was only looking forward heartily to be back with her parents, Kano and Natsuki exchanged a look between themselves. A look that shadowed the cold terror forming in the two officer's hearts, a look that asked the question neither of them wanted to ask out loud.

What if Mama and Papa were dead?

Tokyo Imperial Palace, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo

The sound of AH-1S attack helicopters patrolling above the area blared through the air. Members of the Tokyo Riot Police Unit and Special Assault Team stood in a dense formation in front of the Tokyo Imperial Palace, their front line equipped with riot shotguns while the successive ranks behind wielded Type-89 assault rifles.

Riot officer Naide Kizawa breathed a sigh of relief as he saw military personnel arriving onto the scene. Behind him, the gate to the palace was barred and it brought him even more relief to think that the civilians hiding within were now safe.

He saw his fellow platoon mates relax visibly as well, grins forming on their faces as they knew their fight was now over.

His superior, Inspector Isayoshi, cleared his throat, a smile on his face as well.

"Alright boys, guards down. Our work is done here. We did good. Now let's see the military handle the rest of this mess."

There were some cheers among the platoon.

"We did good. Go get a breather now. I expect that we'll be called in a bit to help clear the dead. Dismissed."

The platoon gradually filed out towards the mobile support camp, where they will be treated with something to eat and water to drink. Any of those wounded—and there were only a few, mostly burns due to the heat of dragon fire—would also be treated there.

Naide followed his platoon, but then stopped in his track as he gazed at where the enemy had come from. The dead covered his sight. The bodies of romans, and dragons, and beasts he had never seen before and probably belonged to myths and legends. Bodies that lay in the heaps as the enemy failed terribly in their attempt to break through the palace's defense.

"What just happened?" the question everyone was asking.

Then he saw the bodies of his people, the people who he was sworn to protect as a member of an organization dedicated to the people's safety. The bodies of those who were unable to escape in time. Those who felled to the swords of the romans and breaths of the dragons. Those who he had failed to save. He saw their blood and his fist clenched, feeling an anger building inside of him.

How many have died today, the question came up in his mind. He saw the corpse of a woman, whose back was seared black as charcoal. She had been hugging onto something. That something, Naide realized, was the body of a toddler, probably not more than two years old. Naide froze at the realization that the mother had died shielding her son from a dragon's fire.

For a long moment he just stood there, unable to move, but then his expression hardened and he strode forward. "Fuck this."

He ran up to the nearest dead enemy soldier and starting kicking it, stomping it.

"Fucking bastard!"

The roman's head caved in at the fifth kick, and his boot was now covered in blood.

"What the fuck are you?!"

He could feel the eyes of many others on him, but he didn't care. He assumed that he would be suspended after this, but he didn't care. All he felt right now was anger, anger to vent on the dead of the enemy.

Then a hand touched his shoulder. "Hey!"

He turned towards the new voice, ready to swing his fist…but stopped dead in his track, his anger deserting him.

One Warrant Officer Yoji Itami stood there, concern in his eyes. "You okay there, officer?"

Naide immediately saluted. This was the man who had taken control of the civilian evacuation to the Imperial Palace. If it wasn't for his efforts, many more would have lost their lives today. "Sorry, sir. I wasn't myself."

"That's alright, I understand. I guess we all are not ourselves right now. I can't even begin to understand what the hell is happening now."

"Neither do I, sir. Nothing makes sense. Dragons, minotaurs, elves. It all sounds like a pile of steaming bullcrap."

"Tell me about it."

An awkward silence settled between them, and Naide suddenly felt guilty again for his burst of anger earlier. "I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have done that."

Itami shook his head. The man looked tired, and his shirt was covered in blood—not his, presumably—and his face was full of grime and dust and sweat. "No, you shouldn't have. We have enough of our own dead to worry about. Let's not start by disrespecting theirs."

"Tokyo – On the 17th August, 2016, a mysterious 'Gate' appeared in the middle of Chuo Street, Ginza. The reception to the strange phenomenon was initially treated with mild curiosity as pedestrians believed the structure to be a part of the Anime doujin convention that was ongoing in Ginza for most of the day.

At approximately two o'clock in the afternoon, witnesses reported an unusual noise coming out of the Gate, which one man described as sounding akin to grunting boars. This drew spectators to gather around the Gate as it was widely thought that a stage show was about to begin. Around ten minutes later, a dragon flew out; on it was mounted a man equipped in Roman Legionary armor. After which, an entire army of foot soldiers, all in legionary armor, charged out and began attacking on those gathered.

Besides dragons and roman soldiers, ogres and orcs and other mythical creatures unseen before had come through the Gate.

The hostile army's attack soon involved the rest of the Ginza district, and it is believed that most of the people closest to the epicenter of the Gate when the army had appeared had failed to escape and have been killed.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was delayed in their response as they had initially believed the emergency calls to be a prank, but soon acted once convinced otherwise. Riot Units and Special Assault Teams were deployed to secure civilians to safety.

The police branch in Ginza was the first respondent as they, led by one off-duty Warrant Officer Itami Yoji of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, managed to save over eight hundred civilians by bringing them to the Tokyo Imperial Palace, while fending off the relentless assaults by the Roman army before being relieved by the 1st Infantry Regiment and 1st Aviation Squadron of the JGSDF's 1st Division.

The failed attack on the Imperial Palace blunted the Roman's offensive, and the arrival of the 1st Division immediately turned the tide over. Streets by streets, squares by squares, the Romans were forced back towards the Gate, where many of them surrendered once surrounded.

The aftermath of the battle of Ginza brought forth a terrible light as the number of civilian casualties tallied up to 1347 fatalities, 2589 lightly wounded, and 574 severely wounded and under intensive medical care. The number of missing have yet to be reported but current estimates are ranging to be less than one hundred.

These numbers made the Battle of Ginza the worst attack on Tokyo by a foreign sovereignty since the bombing of Tokyo during World War II. The rage of the Japanese people runs high; they cry for revenge and justice. However, who exactly are the men and beasts who attack Ginza?

As Japan struggle to understand the phenomenon of the Gate, as the world recoils in shock at what has happened to Japan, there remains one important question which everyone is asking, from the highest of government officials to the average middle school student.

What happens now?"

Kiyota Koyo. Attack on Ginza; Hundreds Dead, Nippon News, 2016

Notes: That ends the prologue, which at first I did not plan to write because none of the Third Recon Team actually shows up here except for Itami at the end, but my friend suggested it was vital to include the Battle of Ginza in the opening chapter. I didn't want to write a battle because one, it's already seen before in the anime, and two, a battle scene didn't really seem to fit the tone I wanted this chapter to be, so I compromised and wrote the aftermath instead.

I'll try to get the next chapter up by around next week, which will actually include the Third Recon Team. Right now, me and my friend's work routine goes like this: I focus on the plotting and the characters, then I write the rough first draft, and my friend will be the one who focuses on the stylistics and editing. He rewrites what I have written so that it just sounds and reads better. And then both of us go over a final edit together before posting the final product here. It's neat process so far, but I doubt that we can keep it up all the time because it is definite that one of us will be busy sometimes. So when that happens, either we will take a longer time to update, or one of us will just write an entire chapter by ourselves. You people will probably learn to tell the difference in our writing styles in time (mine is more choppier, straight to the point, and his is more smoother and subtle).

That's all I have to say. Stay tuned for next week.