STRIKE WITCHES: HEROS' RETURN: EILA AND SANYA
Chapter One
Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen jumped as the bed shifted. She looked down to find her Orussian friend fast asleep on her bed. Again? Eila thought. She put the covers over Sanya gently, careful not to wake the sleeping witch. Fine, but this is the last time, okay? she thought for at least the hundredth time. However Eila knew very well that those words meant absolutely nothing. She got up, gathered all of Sanya's discarded garments, then neatly folded and placed them at the end of the bed. After getting into her own uniform Eila left the room, stealing one last glace at Sanya.
By then the base was alive with activity. Activity Eila was used to. Being with the 501st in Brittania and Romagna left her accustomed to late nights, early mornings, and general lack of normality. Military life does that to a person. But this was beyond what any of the 501st were prepared for. Virtually all the witches of Liberion were here, and many of them were new recruits. Eila's patience around them was thin, and thinner still when it involved Sanya. A group of young witches were chattering loudly through the hallway. Eila stormed up to them, her expression cold. "Would you quiet down?! You'll wake my friend!" she whispered harshly. The girls nodded quickly and filed out in silence, more afraid of Eila's fierce expression than her words. Sighing, Eila continued to the kitchens.
Yoshika Miyafuji was cooking for the 501st that morning. Miyafuji, Eila thought. She couldn't tell if she liked the Fuso girl or not. Though her kindness and openness were refreshing, it got on her nerves at times. She also felt bittersweet about the friendship between Miyafuji and Sanya. Although she found it good that Sanya had made a new friend and was opening up, Eila felt a little jealous. Even if she did count Miyafuji as a friend, and knew she was devoted to Lynne. She shook her head. You can't keep Sanya away from everyone just because they're too friendly, it's not healthy for her, she scolded herself. That didn't change her feelings, however.
"Good morning, Eila-san," Miyafuji said cheerfully, spotting Eila. She waved half-heartedly in reply, still simmering over the loud girls from the hallway. Before Miyafuji could ask, Eila said "Some younger witches were making a lot of noise near where Sanya's sleeping. Why can't they keep it down?"
"Your ability to see into the future is as good as ever, I see," Miyafuji said with a cheerful laugh. Eila nodded. She sat and looked at her food. "What is this? Natto again?" she asked. Miyafuji nodded enthusiastically. It was hard to hate her. Eila didn't have the energy to deny her, so she ate without complaint. Once she was done, she took a second serving and brought it back to her room. Halfway there she bumped into none other than . . .
"Sanya?" Sanya sleepily rubbed her eyes and smiled. "Good morning Eila," she said.
"G-good morning! Did someone wake you? Where are your clothes?!" Eila asked, noticing that Sanya was walking around in nothing but her undergarments. Sanya looked down, as if she just noticed this as well. "Oh, that's not good . . . " she said absentmindedly. Eila hurriedly led her back to her room and, putting down the natto, helped her into her uniform. She blushed as she did this, but Sanya seemed not to notice. They sat on the bed. "Miyafuji made us natto again," Eila said, sounding slightly dismissive.
"Yoshika's cooking is always good," Sanya said, checking out the dish. She unintentionally leaned over Eila to do this, much to Eila's embarrassment and guilty pleasure.
"Uhm, Sanya . . . "
"What?"
"Could you get off me?" The Orussian witch looked down and saw Eila under her, and moved out of the way. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Eila said, blushing crimson. She actually didn't mind it at all, but she didn't dare tell Sanya that. Eila watched as her friend ate, mesmerized by how Sanya carefully and delicately put each spoonful of beans into her mouth. Sanya then noticed Eila watching her. "Something bothering you?" she asked. Eila jumped, caught staring. "I. . . uh . . . it's nothing! I just . . . was . . . uh . . . staring off at the sun, that's all!" Eila stammered, pointing at the sunless window. Sanya looked at the window, but didn't question her friend any further. That was close Eila thought, blushing some more. It had been this way ever since they first met.
Eila sat at the back of the conference room, quiet and reserved as usual. Though she had made friends with most of the 501st, she generally kept to herself. Normally she ignored all but the important parts of what Wing Commander Minna had to say, but something about today kept her attention. Part of it had to do with what Eila's tarot cards told her this morning. She had come across the Lover's card, which meant she would find something or someone she would fall in love with. Combine that with the fact that a new recruit was coming in, Eila was interested.
"May I have your attention please?" Commander Minna said, clapping her hands twice. Everyone, including Eila, fixed their attention on their commanding officer. "As you have been told, we are receiving a new recruit from Orussia. This is Alexandra Vladimirovna Litvyak." As she said this, a small girl walked in. Eila's heart nearly stopped then and there. Snow white skin, silvery grey hair. Eyes like emeralds and small frame, this girl was the definition of beauty in Eila's mind. "Please, call me Sanya," the girl said, her voice as soft as velvet and barely above a whisper.
"Sanya," Eila breathed quietly, sounding out the name. Even her name was beautiful.
"Sanya's rank is Flying Officer, so would one of you like to show her around the base?" Minna asked, indicating either Hartmann, Perrine, or Eila.
"I'll do it!" Eila said quickly, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. Minna nodded.
"Excellent Eila, good to see you volunteering your time. I'll leave her to you then. But first, introductions. Sanya, this is Major Mio Sakamoto, our Commanding Officer in battle. Then we have Captain Gertrud Barkhorn, Flight Lieutenant Charlotte Yeager, Flying Officer Erica Hartmann, Flying Officer Perrine Clostermann, Ensign Francesca Lucchini, and finally, Flying Officer Eila Juutilainen." Each witch raised their hand in acknowledgment.
As Minna told Sanya her room number, rank insignia, etc., Eila could not help but stare at the new witch. Her reverie was broken as Lucchini nudged her. "Eh?" she said, before realizing Sanya was standing in front of her. Eila jumped in surprise, but quickly regained her composure. More or less. "H-hi," Eila said, stuttering.
"Hi," Sanya said, quiet and shy.
Suddenly, Lucchini came up behind Sanya and gave her a huge hug. "Welcome to the five o' first!" she said, grabbing Sanya's breasts, which made the Orussian girl cry out in surprise and embarrassment. Eila immediately jumped up and pried Lucchini off of her. Lucchini looked at Eila in confusion. The latter looked at her with a venomous look. "Should I show you around the base?" Eila asked Sanya, never taking her eyes off Lucchini. "Yes, thank you," Sanya replied, a little shaken up.
"And this is your room. I hope it's to your liking," Eila said, as she opened a vacant bedroom. Sanya entered with her things, and looked around. "Cozy," was all she said. Eila stood in the doorway, trying not to look too interested. Sanya opened her suitcase and pulled out some heavy drapes. She then hung them over the windows, casting the room into darkness. "Not much for sunlight?" Eila asked.
"I like the dark."
"I see," Eila said. When Sanya finished setting up her room to her liking, Eila continued the tour. She showed Sanya the training course, the dormitories, the command center, the hangar, dining room and kitchen, and finished with the baths. "Do you have a sauna?" Sanya asked.
"No, sadly not. You like saunas too?" Eila said, surprised. Sanya nodded.
"We should ask for one then!" Eila said excitedly. Later that day they did indeed ask for a sauna, and Minna readily agreed, happy the two girls had found a friendship in each other.
The next day, Eila confronted Lucchini. "What did you grab her for?!" Eila demanded.
"To see what her size was," Lucchini said innocently. Eila sighed.
"Don't touch her like that again!"
"Why not?"
"Because!"
"Because why?"
"Because... because..." Eila stammered, grasping for reply. "You want to keep her for yourself?" Lucchini teased. Eila fumed, blushing bright red. "That's not it! I just don't want her to think we're all perverts!" she said.
"But don't we do this to everyone?" Lucchini asked. Eila was stumped there. It was true that she or Lucchini had groped newcomers. Something about Sanya though stopped Eila. She was shy around the new girl, yet was very attached. She certainly wanted to touch Sanya like that, but on Sanya's terms only.
"How about a compromise? We leave Sanya's body alone, and we'll see who can find the biggest chest. Deal?" Eila said, thinking quickly.
"Deal!" Lucchini said, shaking Eila's hand. Eila then returned to Sanya's side (Sanya having no idea what just transpired), and offered to read her fortune.
"I'd love that!" Sanya said, very interested. They went to Eila's room, and Eila spread out her cards. She shuffled them, split it into three decks, then put them back together. Neatly spreading them, she had Sanya pick one card. It was the ten of swords. "What did you ask?" Eila asked.
"I asked if I would see my parents again. What does this mean?" Sanya said, showing the card.
"I'm sorry Sanya. It means no. But don't worry, it may mean just in the near future. The farther into the future you ask, the less accurate the answer becomes," Eila said, reassuring Sanya. She then set the cards again, this time asking a question herself. Eila set it as the Love spread, and asked if Sanya was the love interest the cards were referring to before. The answer was a resounding yes. "What did you ask, Eila?" Sanya asked, peering at the cards. Eila jumped and quickly gathered up the cards, even thought Sanya couldn't read them. "N-Nothing! I-I just asked how the weather was gonna be. Reply was hazy," Eila lied. Sanya looked at her curiously but otherwise didn't press. They talked for a while, and played with a normal deck of cards Eila had. They got to know each other better, and found many things in common with each other.
From that point on Eila and Sanya were inseparable. They were the best of friends, and completely devoted to each other. Each knew that if one of them was in trouble, the other would drop everything to help. Yet at the back of Eila's mind, she wanted something more...
"Eila?" The Suomus girl was shaken out of her flashback by a concerned Sanya.
"Eh? I'm fine Sanya, don't worry about me," Eila said with a nervous laugh. Why am I so nervous around her today? Eila thought. Sanya looked her straight in the eyes. The Orussian witch's emerald green eyes met Eila's pale blue ones. Just before Eila could break under Sanya's inquisitive gaze, a sharp knock came from the door. "Juutilainen! Litvyak! Report to the assembly hall in five minutes! Otherwise I'll drag you there," Drake said with a hint of humor, before Sanya and Eila heard his footsteps fade away. "Who does he think he is?" Eila jokingly raged, earning a small laugh from her friend. Drake in fact was the Marshal of the Strike Witches and supreme commander of the Strike Witches worldwide. They finished and went to the assembly hall, where they were the last to arrive. The assembly hall was an enormous amphitheater, large enough to hold over several thousand people. When Eila and Sanya took their seats, not a single one was left. Drake walked up to the podium at the center and cleared his throat. Every witch and soldier, and other personnel turned to his direction.
"Thank you. Now that I have your attention, let the weekly meeting begin. First off, a moment of silence for those who have fallen in combat this last week. Thankfully, the number is smaller than usual," Drake said. Everyone bowed their heads in respect and the whole hall was silent. I doubt many other people could pull that off, Eila thought, silently respectful of Drake's leadership. When the moment had passed, Drake continued.
"Now, since one of the fallen was a night witch, the wingman of Flight Lieutenant Litvyak, we need someone to take her place. Any volunteers?" Before Drake could finish, Eila shot up from her seat and waved her hands wildly. "Here, here! I volunteer!" she shouted before she knew what she was doing.
"Eila. Somehow that doesn't surprise me," Drake said. A few laughs flickered around the hall. "Very well, you will be assigned as Sanya's wingman. From now on your schedule will match hers, and you will follow whatever orders she gives you. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir!" Eila said immediately. Drake nodded.
"Now for reports of the enemy's activity. We have lost Iwo Jima to the Neuroi, and they are now able to make more frequent direct attacks on this base because of that. As a result, our patrols must be more frequent and thorough. No one is to fly alone. If you must or have been separated for some reason, report your position to the base here. If you can't do that, abandon your mission and return to base immediately. We cannot afford to lose anymore witches," Drake said. Eila began to tune out his words as she thought of her new mission. Night patrol... with Sanya, she thought, smiling unknowingly.
JUUTILAINEN! Stop drooling over Sanya and pay attention! a booming voice echoed in her head. She forgot that Drake could read minds, and was telepathic. She shrunk back sheepishly, taking her eyes off Sanya. For the next hour Eila struggled with focusing on what Drake had to say, but her attention kept crawling back to Sanya. Eila was eternally thankful that Drake's constant reminders were only sent to her, and not said out loud in front of the whole base.
"Eila, a word?" Drake said before she could leave with Sanya at the end of the meeting. "Go ahead, I'll be with you," Eila said to Sanya, approaching her superior officer. "I understand if Sanya is more interesting than what I have to say, but you could at least make an effort to pay more attention," Drake said chidingly.
"I did!" Eila snapped back. Drake raised an eyebrow at her outburst. "I'm sorry," she said, "I'm just-"
"Excited to be on the night patrol with Sanya?"
"Stop reading my mind!" Eila said angrily. Drake chuckled. "If only I could. I hear the minds of everyone within a certain distance, which is quite a bit. I can't turn it off, despite the times when I want to," he said. Eila just sighed in defeat.
"You seem very attached to Sanya," Drake mused.
"Gee, what made you think that?" Eila replied sarcastically.
"I didn't mean just as friends."
"What?" Eila asked, guarded now. Drake grinned. "You like her." Eila stammered, looked for a clever retort that would never come. Instead, she shyly nodded. "Is it that obvious?"
"Do birds have wings?" Drake said with an even more satisfied grin. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. But tell me, why make it a secret?"
"Because... because..." Eila said, looking for the right words. "You're afraid of what Sanya might think?" Drake supplied. Eila nodded again. "Everyone at some point has that fear. I think she would say yes. She's obviously very attached to you, and although I don't pick up any romantic thoughts from her, I'm sure she'd feel the same way. I can ask Emily to read her emotions, but I'm sure the answer would be the same as mine. All I can say Eila, is to just suck in your gut and tell her. You may not always have the chance," Drake said.
"Thanks, I guess," Eila replied.
"You're welcome. Well, I've got piles of paperwork to do. Unless you have intentions of helping me with that, I suggest you make yourself scarce. Have fun on your night patrol," Drake said with a wink, before leaving to his office. Eila felt embarrassed yet relieved at the same time. At least I have someone to talk to, Eila thought as she left to find Sanya.
The last rays of the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, signaling the beginning of Sanya and Eila's night patrol. They would go alone, but would be in constant radio contact with the other night witches. No one can beat Sanya and I, Eila thought smugly as they took off. She looked ahead at Sanya, mesmerized by her friend's beauty. Sanya's black cat features and her radio antennae were active. The antennae cast a verdant green glow on the girl's snow white face. She started to sing, and Eila was captivated. "Eila?" Sanya asked, once more breaking Eila's daydreaming. "Huh, what?" she asked, shaking her head.
"What did Drake ask you about earlier?"
"Oh, uh, nothing! Just making sure I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this. I told him I've done this before," Eila stuttered. Sanya laughed softly. "You've been acting strange today," she said innocently.
"It's been a weird day," Eila replied honestly. It had been a bit strange today. They continued on, the night sky crystal clear.
For several hours they flew, enjoying each other's company, until the radio crackled to life. It was the command center. "Any sightings?" the night patrol captain asked.
"Negative sir, no Neuroi in range," Sanya answered, her antennae flickering a darker green as she spoke. The other patrols came in with the same answer. Guess the Neuroi are taking a break, Eila jokingly thought.
Throughout the night they continued their patrol, but came across no Neuroi, and neither did any of the other patrols. At the first sign of the impending sunrise they turned back to base. Sanya was just beginning to show signs of weariness. However Eila was virtually sleep-flying. It took all her willpower and strength to keep her eyes open and maintain altitude and heading. This was the first night patrol she had been on since she, Sanya, and Miyafuji were assigned night patrol two years ago in Britannia. "We're almost there Eila," Sanya reassured, flying next to her sleepy friend.
Now I know how she could mistake my bed for hers, Eila thought, correcting her dropping altitude. By the time they got to base, Sanya was exhausted too. Thankfully the runway was well lit, and they made a safe landing. Drowsily stepping out of her strikers, Eila slumped her way to her room, only awake enough to make sure Sanya was safely following her. She didn't even bother removing her uniform: she opened the door, and fell asleep before her head hit the pillow. Sanya fell on top of her, somehow having the energy to remove her uniform beforehand, yet Eila was already in too deep a sleep to notice or care.
