Outcast 2 Alternative World Chapter 2: Settling down, a sakura wars fanfic

Hi this is Benji Himura. I am now starting a new fanfic, is a Sakura Taisen story. I don't own Sakura or any of the characters of the series. Some anime or manga characters might show up in the story I also don't own then. I own Benji Himura and others original characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. Anyway enjoy the story.

Signed: Benji Himura.

"Text"= Talked sentences.

'Text' = Thoughts.

-Text- = Sounds effects.

(Text)= Talked sentences in a foreign language as English when everyone else speaks Japanese.

: Text: = Messages show in an electronic screen or written.

Text: something being recalled, flashbacks, scenes being replayed.

Text: a detail found in a location, scene, person, recording and images that originally wasn't there.

Chapter two: Settling down

Benji finishes his breakfast in silence, the meal was simple and lightly filling, but he as bigger concerns than that, he was really worried for how long he would stay in the cell. Thankfully not for long as Kaede and Kayama come shortly after he is done, Kayama places the handcuffs on Benji's wrists, and Kaede in her broke English tried to explain what would follow.

"Ghost exam in you." Kaede said pointing at him, Benji took a couple of minutes to realize what she means, she was likely to be trying to say spirit exam, either way Benji just follows them. He is taken to a different room and sited on a chair, Kayama moves to a table a couple meters away from Benji and picks up an odd device, Benji could only guess that it was some sort of spirit energy detector.

Benji also noticed that Yoneda was there as well, Kayama seems to be speaking to Yoneda while adjusting the machine, constantly reporting to the old man about what he sees on the machine.

"This is quite rare, his levels are above Kanna's." Yoneda commented, it placed Benji quite high in the hanagumi levels of power, a little bellow Sakura's levels, he could guess why Benji got it so high, it must be because he isn't from this world, the transfer did it to him.

"Then what we will do about him?" Kayama asked seriously. "I just can't let this kind of power go to waste." Yoneda answered. "I have no choice but take him in." Kaede looks at Yoneda. "What about the language barrier?" Kaede asked seriously. "He can't speak with anyone as he doesn't understand Japanese and only Maria speak English, and Maria is quite shaken by what she heard from him."

"I will deal with that." Yoneda answered. "For now we have to get Maria here again, it might be a good chance to see how she will react to the news." Kaede doesn't think that it is a wise decision but obeys anyway.

Maria reacted better than Yoneda expected, he was expecting to hear loud protests from the blonde, but she only nodded in agreement, sure she looks a little down and tired, but after hearing what she did and drinking as she did who wouldn't?

Maria then explains to Benji what is going on, Kaede kept her ears sharp, her English wasn't the best but she would be able to understand if Maria decided to say something else to Benji, but Maria tells Benji the exact words that she was told to relay to him.

Then Benji tells to Maria that he would accept the proposition, isn't like he has anything else to do, Maria then tells Yoneda Benji's answer, Kayama then leaves the room and return shortly later with Benji's belongings, everything that was in the backpack was replaced there, the pendants and wallet was next to it, the sword was being carried by two tsukigumi members.

Benji puts on his watch, pendants and pockets his wallet and cell phone, he checks the contents of his backpack and places the tassets inside of it alongside the gauntlet, then he puts the backpack on his back, takes the sword from the tsukigumi members who are surprised in seeing him lifting it with one hand by the handle.

Benji walks to a sturdy wall, then he adjusts his grip on the handle and swings the sword with everything that he has, the cracked mock sword impacts against the wall and breaks violently, the metallic looking wood breaks and falls down, large chunks of polyurethane foam falls in large pieces from the inside, Benji swings it once more breaking it all away from it, exposing a metal skeleton of it, a violent pull breaks the connections of it, until only the two and a half centimeters thick rebar of the core of the sword remains on his hands.

It is one meter and a half long, from the end of the handle part to the tip, jet black other than the cloth wrapped handle, and looks very menacing. Benji shoulders the metal rod and walks towards the rest of his stuff. "What about all that?" Maria asked pointing to the pile of wood, foam and metal framing. "It is trash." Benji answered picking up the spaulders from the pushcart that Kayama brought. "You can throw it away if you want to."

Maria translated what Benji said and Yoneda nodded in silence, he could tell that Benji realized that he would need something to fight with being part of the hanagumi, and until now all that he had was what he had with him from the beginning.

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Yoneda doesn't really know what to tell to everyone else, he couldn't just tell them what Benji told them, if Maria who is the stronger of them took it so badly the others would surely break. Benji is there waiting for them to come up with a believable story, but how you explain a guy dressed like he was, carrying what he was carrying and then passing through everything that they saw him?

In the end Yoneda called everyone and said that for several reasons including ones that he won't tell them Benji would be helping as part of the hanagumi, that was took in different levels of surprise and acceptance, Benji could hear the complains and questions even though he can't understand them.

"For now he will be under Maria's responsibility as she is the only one who can speak with him." Yoneda says to everyone. "She will be teaching him how to speak Japanese, so don't be too harsh on them." With those words Yoneda leaves the briefing room telling to Maria to help Benji in getting a bedroom for himself.

Without anything to put on the room Benji finds himself without anything to do about it, Maria had opened the windows to let the air in, changing the airs from the formerly locked room. "The old man mentioned something about shopping didn't he?" Benji asked to Maria. "I don't have anything other than this."

"He said that after the lunch I am supposed to take you to a clothing store so you can purchase clothes." Maria answered. "As well other articles of immediate need." Benji nodded pleased, he could use toiletries and other items as well. Finding a notepad on the dusty table Benji writes down a quick list of what he needs.

Maria checks on the closet to see if the bed sheets and other dressings are there. "You should add towels to your list." Maria said after checking the closet. "There are enough dressings for the bed here, as well blankets and comforters." Benji nodded and writes them down.

"It is way longer than I thought that it would be." Benji commented with a sigh, realizing how much people have in their daily lives that they don't pay much attention to. "You are only writing the absolutely needed, right?" Maria asked seriously. "Yes." Benji answered. "From clothes to a razor, it ends being a lot of stuff."

Yoneda wasn't surprised when Maria delivers the recipes from the shopping trip, Benji was lacking everything. "You found anything superfluous?" Yoneda asked just for the sake of asking. "I believe that the soap, shampoo and razor were unneeded." Maria answered.

"You also use a different shampoo and soap than the other girls." Yoneda commented. "You all use a favored brand for whatever reason you have, now the razor I can see why, he needs to shave, you know?" Maria nodded understanding. "Everything is fine then." Yoneda said seriously. "Now Maria what you think of everything so far?"

"I really wanted not to be the one who did the translation." Maria answered seriously. "I am trying hard to not to believe on what he said, but he simply knows too much to be a lie. I just want to forget everything that he said, but I can't." Yoneda smiled sympathetically, he knew how much ignorance was a bliss, but sadly Maria can't just unlearn what she learned.

"Anything else?" Yoneda asked. Maria denied with a nod and leaves when dismissed, Yoneda remains on his office with Kaede. "So what we will do about him?" Kaede asked to Yoneda. "Producing a new koubu from scratch will take too long and cost too much, and we already are with Reni's and Orihime's koubus in the line for production."

"I thought in repurposing Maria's or Kanna's old koubus." Yoneda answered. "Himura will fit inside any of them, but until we learn what is his favored fighting style we can't decide in which to repurpose. For the moment I want him to focus on learning Japanese, in a couple weeks from now we will make some tests and find if he will be short ranged or long ranged." Kaede nodded silently and resumes her tasks.

The first week proceeds calmly, Benji finds himself as the center of attentions, Orihime seems to be especially curious about him given that their skin colors are similar and as she does Benji is from mixed heritage, and not being a Japanese man she is fine with him, that was said through Maria.

The Japanese lessons take place whenever Maria isn't busy with something else as rehearsals and acting, as well training, since is a conversation learning Benji was starting to learn with ease, but he still couldn't make much of what everyone said, even with he had learned from watching anime in Japanese with English subtitles, but he knew enough to greet everyone and be reasonably polite.

Maria found herself translating a piece of news that made her uneasy. "I recalled something about the enemy." Benji said to Yoneda. "Kokkikai if I remember the name correctly,

Yoneda let out a throaty sound at the statement. "I recalled that Sakura's father somehow is part of the enemy this time." Benji added seriously, that make Yoneda jump at his feet in anger. "What else you know about that?" Yoneda asked angrily.

"Not much." Benji answered. "He was revived by the enemy and if the information is right killed Aoi Satan and took his sword, he was brainwashed, I don't have much information about this." Yoneda frowned gravely, Benji's revelations were disturbing, but based on everything else that he said, truthful.

"I appreciate the new information." Yoneda said somberly while sitting on his chair again. "I will decide what course to take soon enough, and Himura don't tell Sakura about this." Benji nodded and says. "But it would be wise to do so, it would give her plenty of time to get over the information as well prevent a much bigger shock during battle."

"I will think about it." Yoneda replied. "For now don't say anything." Benji nodded and leaves with Maria. "You were serious weren't you?" Maria asked in a cold voice. "You meant what you said." "Yes." Benji answered. "I am just reporting what I know Tachibana, I am not the one behind this, I am just trying to give everyone a heads up on the situation." Maria felt uncomfortable with that knowledge, wondering how Benji deals knowing what he does, but doesn't say anything else.

Kayama follows Benji and the translator that he found for this particular outing since Maria is busy, Benji had Kayama looking for a metalwork shop, one with a hydraulic hammer, in the end they are in hana-yashiki branch where everything that Benji wanted could be found.

Benji explained through the military translator that he wishes to turn the rebar rod into a sword, so be needed a forge and the hammer for it, with the man responsible for working on that area the work begins, heating the metal and shaping it as a long blade, Kayama saw the rod getting longer as the edge part becomes thinner, the tip is shaped triangularly thanks to a regular hammer and anvil, then the now long sword is entirely heated and tempered. The entire process took two hours, that just to turn the circular rod into a sword, adding more carbon to it and then tempering it.

Kayama saw a simple cross guard being added to the sword, the hilt now being properly stringed and a weighted pommel replacing the original one from the sword in order to balance the blade. After those two hours Benji now have the sword with a very crude double edge, Kayama already knows the next stop, but surprisingly Benji says that he has a shorter stop to make before they move to the sharpener and polisher.

After dropping the sword in the sharpener Benji is taken back to the theater, Kayama reports everything to Yoneda, the general is pleased in hearing that Benji got a proper weapon now, a little surprised in how he got it, but pleased, even though it will take two weeks for the sword return from being sharpened and polished.

Yoneda's trials were pretty simple, first it was shooting at the shooting range, Benji selected a couple of pistols, one nine millimeters and a .45 one, at first Benji was a bit surprised with the recoil but once used to it he was making consistent groupings in the targets.

Then it came the troublesome part, Yoneda send Ogami to right with Benji, Ogami was armed with two wooden swords, Benji got a replica of his new long sword made out of wood, since it was practice Yoneda allowed the usage of protection, Benji takes his armor plus a helmet and a breastplate, Ogami confident on his skill is clad only on his uniform.

Benji was being pressed by Ogami, who thinks that Benji is clearly western style, pure brute force and no technique, hence his oversized sword.

While Benji didn't had Ogami years of sword training he had a few years of martial arts on his back as well, the different ages add an entire different value on that as well, but Benji had a more inventive mind and isn't bound by things as honor. Ogami is surprised when taking a kick on his left leg, the pain as well the surprise leave him open, Benji smashes the sword on Ogami's shoulder making the shorter man howl in pain and fall on the ground.

Yoneda sighed at that, it was a possibility that he didn't want to come true, but it did, Benji defeated Ogami using an unorthodox style, and Ogami were arrogant thinking that he wouldn't be touched by Benji. Kaede checks on Ogami and finds that the young lieutenant isn't with a broken shoulder.

Yoneda gives Ogami a little time to get some protective gear on, this time knowing better than just waltzing there without anything Ogami puts on kendo protective gear. After twenty minutes and several rounds later the two men are still practicing. Maria enters in the room where Yoneda and Kaede area.

"I thought that you were busy with rehearsal today." Kaede said to the blonde. "Iris is feeling a little sick so we ended earlier today." Maria answered. "How it is going?" "Himura clearly lacks a serious base in martial arts, but he seems to have plenty of knowledge about it, so he makes up with unusual techniques and attacks." Yoneda replied. "Ogami did score good hits, but Himura seems to have a bigger pain tolerance than Ogami, so he strikes back through the pain."

"It is just me or taisho is a little slow with his right arm?" Maria asked while watching the current match. "Ogami started very prideful, sure that Himura wouldn't hit him." Yoneda answered. "But Himura hit him hard in the shoulder after kicking Ogami on the knee, so yes, his right arm is a little weaker and slow today thanks to that."

"You decided what kind of unit he will pilot?" Maria asked seriously. "I am seriously considering on making him a heavy anti-heavy infantry unit." Yoneda answered. "Adding more armor to Kanna's old koubu as well more actual pistons and actuators." "I advise to hearing his opinion first." Maria said seriously. "He seems to have his own opinions about a favorable koubu, it might be worth hearing them out." Yoneda nodded at that, if Maria went out of her way to tell him than then he should do as she says.

Yoneda can't really disagree with Benji's ideas, even though Benji is very set in how much he dislikes a heavy and slow unit, it doesn't matter if the unit was the strongest, what good it doesn't when it can't even hit the weakest enemy? The idea of a light machinegun built on the left arm was good, a secondary weapon like that for such unit would be important, but Benji wasn't all that fond of the koubu wielding a larger copy of his dragon slayer.

Yoneda was set on that, the hanagumi lacked a power focused unit, even with Kanna's unit being the strongest she lacked the anti-heavy power that Yoneda wants, so the dragon slayer was a set feature, Benji managed to make the old man agree in also adding a shorter and more normal sized sword in the unit as well, since the huge sword can't be used in cramped spaces. Yoneda agreed with it as well giving to the koubu mobility par to Maria's koubu which is one of the swiftest of the hanagumi, bellow only to Sakura's, Sumire's and Ogami's, Sakura's and Sumire's share the same speed while Ogami's is a little slower than theirs.

Still Benji wasn't looking forward to it, the dragon slayer is an absurd fictitious sword, he told that to Yoneda who is dead set with it, Benji can't see a koubu wielding a scaled dragon slayer, it would be too heavy even for the heavy steel machines. Not even the 'let us worry about that' from Yoneda eased Benji's worries.

Now with a new thing added to his daily routine Benji had to start training how to pilot the koubu, a new simulator had been installed already and Maria gained a new task of teaching Benji how to pilot. The two sigh in annoyance at the new task, not looking forward to it at all.

Kohran watches curiously while Maria and Benji train, yes it was funny to watch since Benji had little clue of how to pilot the koubu, but again everyone what like that in the beginning. Now taking a break Benji stretches his legs and lightly rubs his sore inner thighs, yes Kohran could remember the cramps that she got in the beginning, how much her butt hurts afterwards as well, the motorcycle styled seat could take a good toll when you aren't used to it and isn't fit for you.

Wearing a borrowed and adapted jacket from Kanna Benji is looking at the source of his pain, the simulated cockpit of the koubu, it was different from what he expected, it wasn't the seat that he saw in the anime with two handles similar to bike's handle bars, no, it was more like sliding inside a confined armor, there was some sort of clips that locked in place once Benji's boot clad feet touched the bottom, holding them in place and moved an entire part that simulates the movement of the koubu's legs.

The arms where inside two proper sleeves, there was a grip deep down on it with three smaller sleeves around it where his fingers slide in to control the grip of the koubu as well its individual arms' movements. There was little room for movement inside the koubu, the entire cockpit was padded, the eyepieces where made of rubber so they wouldn't hurt either in case of hits and falls.

"It is just mine or every koubu is that cramped?" Benji asked to Maria in a serious tone. "You are using an older unit." Maria answered. "There is little room there, in newer versions we have some more room inside, but still inside that version there is enough room for you to slide your arms out of the sleeves and lean back a little."

"I always thought that the koubus were a little bigger, specially the cockpit." Benji commented. "They aren't all that spacious inside." Maria said seriously. "There is anything that can be done with the seat then?" Benji asked. "That thing is killing my legs."

"Now that is doable." Maria answered, she also could remember how bad it was in the beginning until they changed the seats for regulated ones, and then to custom ones for each other one them. "Under the seat there is a small wheel that spins sideways, that is to adjust the seat's width."

Benji nodded and adjusts it and tries it until he finds a comfortable setting. "Why you didn't tell me about it before I spent two hours buckling and moving inside this thing?" Benji asked seriously. "Slipped out of my mind." Maria answered honestly apologetically. "Nowadays the seats are custom made so I forgot of how they were in the beginning."

Benji decides to forgive Maria and now that the seat is adjusted the cockpit felt a little more welcoming.

When the alarm sounds everyone is shocked with it, Benji with his hips almost failing thanks to the long hours in the koubu runs after Maria to the command room where he finds the other hanagumi members. "Good everyone is here." Yoneda said pleased in seeing the second red jacket that belongs to Benji, Benji doesn't like it at all.

"There is another attack in progress, this time like before inside a shopping facility, the civilians in there turned into fallen humans." Yoneda said seriously. "And there is where you come." Benji didn't understood what Yoneda said, but Yoneda was looking straight at him and that doesn't look good at all, prediction that comes true when Maria tells that Yoneda is planning on sending him alone inside the store that is occupied with fallen humans.

Benji's protests through Maria falls on deaf ears as Yoneda is set on it, and Maria explains that even being compact the koubus can't enter on certain buildings, which is why they where keeping a siege in the store where he was. "Then why you don't send the others as well?" Benji asked seriously. "Even without the koubus everyone here is a master in some form of combat or another."

"Fair question." Yoneda answered. "By previous experience sending the hanagumi members, every member or part of it resulted in an ambush from the outside as well, when they were dealing with the inside the enemy came from behind and attack as well." Benji grunted at that, Maria had added few words about the truth of that.

Without a koubu Benji was the only one who could enter there without worries of having the koubu damaged by an ambush. "As you saw in the last time fallen humans are fairly slow and easy to defeat." Yoneda said seriously. "Even you can easily take care of large numbers of them, now with a proper weapon with even more ease."

"I am going to raid the armory." Benji said annoyed. "I want some firepower as well." Yoneda nods and has Tsubaki escorting Benji there while he explains the situation to the hanagumi.

Benji adjusts the leather gloves that he got, tightening the buckles on the wrists keeping then firm in place, the gauntlet on his left hand was in place as well, so are the tassets, spaulders and a chain mail under a leather jacket, not his, Benji got another one for the sake of fitting, he never guessed that his new jacket would see combat, but it was a good thing that it has snap buttons on it, wrapping his neck with a protective layer of leather.

He is standing behind the hanagumi and in front tsukigumi soldiers, getting himself ready to enter on the store, a nine millimeters pistol is holstered on his left thigh, magazines for it on a pouch attached to the right side of his belt, his long sword is with Tsubaki while he puts on the carrier belts of it.

Tsubaki hands the sword to him and wishes him luck before moving to the command truck, Benji places the sword in the clip holder on his back, it is firmly keeping the sword in place, he was so not looking forward to entering on the store. (Don't worry so much.) Maria said to Benji through the radio, as he was wearing a small tactical radio around his neck and ear. (You did well last time.)

(Last time I was inside a chokepoint.) Benji replied, Benji takes a deep breath and enters on the store, he was carrying a shorter sword and few daggers as well, he wouldn't rely only on his rebar sword.

"I am impressed that he actually entered there." Orihime said to Maria through the radio, making sure to use a private channel. "Himura might be reluctant of doing that, but he knows that he had to do it anyway." Maria replied. "I meant as a praise Maria." Orihime said a little nervous.

For long minutes all that comes through the radio is silence, then a loud shout that makes every member of the hanagumi leap in surprise, it wasn't a cry of terror or fear, but a powerful and menacing war cry, and they knew that it came from Benji.

Inside the store Benji is slashing at a group of fallen, the sword slicing easily through flesh and bone thanks to its weight, sharpness and speed. 'Way too easy.' Benji thought somberly as he cleaves his path through what just hours earlier were humans that were just minding their business.

The fight is short, the result is seventeen mauled corpses on the ground, twitching and bleeding, and Benji learned that the fallen humans were alive, but not entirely human anymore, his new boots make light splashing sounds as he walks on the bloodied ground. Benji answers to Maria that he is fine when she asked why he shouted, be briefly explained that he met a group of fallen and she passes the information forward to Yoneda.

(I need back up now!) Benji shouted, his radio filled with static and noise. (It is huge! I can't…) "Himura! Himura!" Maria shouted back, the radio filled only with static. "Taisho we have to help him!" Ogami remained in silence, the decision wasn't his, but Yoneda's.

"We can't connect with his radio, we tried every frequency." Kasumi said seriously. "Is there any way for koubus to enter there?" Yoneda asked to Kayama. "The shipping area should be big enough, I am unsure about the interior of the building, if is standard sized it will be a tight fit." Kayama answered. "Kanna's and Kohran's koubus certainly can't fit."

"Maria you take point." Yoneda said in a level tone, then Sakura, Ogami, Iris and Sumire. Kanna, you and Kohran will remain where you are."

The acknowledgment from the hanagumi fills the radio, but before they could move in the front doors of the store breaks open, violently kicked by something. Sounds of shock and disgust come erupt from the hanagumi and the soldiers there, a huge monster, a sort of fused mass of corpses forking a hulking gory giant leaves the store armed with a solid stone column.

Maria reacted first and fired her machine cannon at the monster, but even the large caliber rounds do little against it, only enraging the monster even more. Kohran fires her rockets, blowing huge chunks of flesh from the monster's body, but the pieces crawl towards the monster repairing the damage.

By Yoneda's command the soldiers back away making room for the hanagumi to fight and as well saving themselves as they would be useless in combat. Ogami and Sakura strike together, but the effect is just the same. Sakura take a hit from the column that cracks upon impact.

"There has to be some way of killing that thing." Ogami mused while taking some distance of the regenerating creature. "But cutting, shooting and exploding aren't working." Sakura said seriously. "There has to be some weak spot, a place that won't regenerate." Ogami replied. "We must find it."

The issue was how and Ogami knew it, the creature's shape changed each time that it regenerated, the weak point could easily have changed its location as well. "Isn't that the Himura guy?" Kanna asked pointing at the roof of the store, they spot Benji there, his face stained with blood, holding his sword and with an fire axe on his waist.

Benji leaps out of the roof eliciting cries of shock and surprise from everyone, Benji lands sword first on the back of the monster, at the base of the neck. The monster roars on pain, trashing and buckling violently trying to throw Benji away from him and remove the sword that is buried deep on its body.

The hanagumi stares in shock at the violence of the creature, but Benji keeps a solid grip on his sword, with more of half meter of it exposed on the creature's chest, the exit point. Benji pulls the axe from his belt with his left hand and drives it on the monster's head while holding tightly to the hilt of his sword.

As a butcher cutting a thick bone with his cleaver Benji raises and brings down his axe on the monster's head, the creature roaring and trashing even more at it than with anything else that were throw on him.

Maria realized what is going on first, she shoots at the creature's left forearm before it hit Benji, and as she expected the arm didn't crawled at the creature's body, Benji was hitting such a sensible spot that every bit of regeneration was being focused there.

Throwing the axe away Benji drives a loaded magazine on the hole that he carved on the monster's skull, then he pulls the pistol from the holster and fires several times on it until the entire things explodes. The monster gurgles a roar and falls forward, Benji leaps from the monster's back before it hits the ground.

Before anyone could celebrate that victory many fallen humans leave the store, Benji moves to the dead creature, pulling hard Benji managed to free his sword. Then Benji steps forward and slashes the closest ones, neatly cutting them in half by the waist, spinning over his heels Benji readies another strike cleaving four more of them.

Ogami swallows uncomfortably, he had crossed swords with Benji and ruled Benji as a dishonorable cur of a fighter, but seeing like this Ogami felt a shiver running down his spine, he couldn't do that with his swords, maybe cutting four of the fallen, but not slicing them so cleanly, mauling their bodies so badly.

Benji's vicious war cry cuts the air as he continues to kill the incoming fallen, each slash sends at least two of them to the ground in pieces, each movement sends blood flying through the air, then it is finally over, no more fallen leaves the building, not all of them are dead yet, dying yes, dead not just yet as they lie in pieces on the curb.

Benji supports himself on his sword, hacking violently while gasping for air, sweat and blood dripping from his face, barely able to stand on his feet even using the sword to support himself. Yoneda remained in silence through the battle, he wanted to see what Benji was capable of, and it quite pleased with the results even though Benji's fighting style clearly terrified everyone else.

Maria notices that as soon Benji got steady on his feet he clipped the sword on his back and reached to his left arm, a gesture of pain, showing that something isn't right. (Are you wounded?) Maria asked through the koubu's speaker. (Yeah, during the first encounter with that flesh golem.) Benji answered. (I was thrown against a storage shelf, a sharp edge from a broken part of it tore through my jacket into my arm, it is in the triceps area, I can't really see the damage extent, I also got a cut somewhere in my head.)

Maria relies that information to Yoneda who orders Kayama to take Benji to a hospital for treatment and examination, after that everything proceeds as usual, the clean up and the isolation of the area, as well the return of the hanagumi to the theater.

"The cut was deep but luckily it ran parallel the muscles without damaging them or vital structures." Maria translated what the doctor says to Benji. "We to stitch it shut though; with some local anesthesia you will hardly feel it." Benji noticed a nurse filling syringe with something.

"I don't feel all that lucky." Benji commented. "Given the state of the depot where you said that encounter the flesh golem you are." Maria replied seriously. "You got out of it only with a not so bad cut in your arm, some bruises and a small cut in your scalp that doesn't even need to be stitched, you could have been killed countless different ways, count your blessings."

Benji can't really contest that, but he still doesn't feel all that lucky. "So what is the damage assessment?" Benji asked seriously. "How badly I freaked everyone else?" Maria sighed at that, first she tells Benji that the procedure will start. "Pretty badly." Maria answered. "We aren't exactly used for that kind of fighting style, the manager did said that vicious war cries are a form of charging and releasing spirit energy when fighting, Sakura, Ogami and Sumire did support that, but it still was a bit too much for us to digest easily. Honestly I didn't think that you fought like that."

"It is the sword." Benji answered cringing at the doctor piercing him with the needle, not feeling anything? He could still feel it, but not the pain, the discomfort. "Great swords are vicious weapons, they aren't neat and stylish, great part of their effectiveness is their ability to instill fear on the enemy added to the maximum speeds that they can achieve when swung, the results are anything but neat."

Maria could understand the explanation, it wasn't only that Benji's fight was scary, it was also something that made you want to watch, it was also entrancing, so shocking that you wanted to see what would come next, and that is what made most of the hanagumi queasy.

After a short while Benji is released with his left arm restrained with a sling and a warning to not use it to not tear the stitches. That meant that the koubu piloting training would be interrupted until his arm healed.

Benji his honestly surprised with the commotion that started when he returned to the theater, his improving Japanese was enough to tell that the girls were worried about him, even before his classes he knew what 'daijobu' meant 'are you hurt', Benji is inwardly relieved, he really hoped that he haven't destroyed his chances in becoming friends with them with the way that he fought earlier, Maria was also relived, if no one minded, then continuing her mission of training and teaching Benji won't create a tear between her and the rest of the team.

The following week wasn't one of the easiest ones for Benji, changing bandages, wrapping his arm with plastic when bathing, not using his left hand, everything was a huge impairment, even changing became a challenge. The problems that Benji was facing made the hanagumi understand how for granted they take their limbs to do all those unimportant things that you do every day without much of a care on your mind.

After struggling with his breakfast once again Benji was having some tea with the hanagumi, it was more of a presence thing than really enjoying the tea, which Benji doesn't, he used those little events as ways to practicing his Japanese, trying to make sense of the conversation, and it was then when Yoneda enters on the dinning hall followed by a young woman.

"Good even Himura is here." Yoneda said with a pleased nod. "Anything wrong?" Ogami asked seriously. "After careful deliberation on this past week about recent events I decided to hire a nurse." Yoneda said seriously to everyone. "Maria, you translate to Himura, this greatly affects him."

Maria translates as told, Benji is surprised with the sudden action, and is bothered by the young woman that is being hired as a nurse, he knew that he knew her, he just can't remember much about her. "Her name is Kageyama Saki, she was recommended from the Army to be transferred here." Yoneda continued. "Her duty will be treating any sort of small injuries that might happen to anyone of the theater and if needed seeing them to the hospital if the injury is serious, as you have guessed, her present main task will be assisting Himura with the treatment of his wounds."

Benji once hearing Saki's name he knew that she appeared in Sakura Taisen, he recalled seeing her in random images before, but he can't recall her background. Saki bows politely while introducing herself to everyone, wishing that they will get along, an traditional Japanese introduction.

(Benji-san did you already changed your bandages today?) Saki asked to Benji in an accented English. Yoneda notices Benji's and Maria's surprise. "One of the reasons that I hired Kageyama-kun is that she can speak English." Yoneda explained. "Her fluency is far bellow yours Maria, but it is enough for her to be able to speak with Himura without much trouble, she might not understand some words though."

Maria nodded understanding and by habit translates it to Benji, who nods understanding. (I already changed them today.) Benji said to the nurse, she was polite enough to ask, then he should answer her. (I change them after bathing.) (That is good.) Saki replied with a smile. (Still let me check it to see if is firm and well applied, doing by yourself must not be easy.)

Maria says nothing when Saki moves to Benji and pulls him by his right arm, not giving Benji much of a choice but follow her. "You are fine with that Maria?" Orihime asked to the blonde. "With what?" Maria asked confused, not knowing what Orihime was asking about.

"Well that Saki woman just arrived and is dragging Benji away without a second thought." Orihime answered. "It doesn't bother you?" "Why it would bother me?" Maria asked back. "I am doing what I am doing because the manager told me to teach him Japanese and to help him to communicate with everyone else."

Orihime nodded understanding and looks a little disappointed with Maria's answer, Maria wouldn't just say that she felt a little bothered by the fact that Benji allowed himself to be dragged by the nurse, and the fact that she noticed that Benji stared at Saki very intensely since she arrived.

Benji can't deny that having someone else cleaning the wound and changing the bandages made things easier for him, but he could live without Saki forcing her way into helping him changing, he really could live without that, no matter what she said that was part of her duties as a nurse, it wasn't because it was embarrassing, but because how that can hurt his reputation with the hanagumi.

But Benji counted the small blessings, as the fact that once that is over Saki retreated to her newly assigned room or to the infirmary, so he could be by himself or with Maria for his lessons. Benji noticed that Maria is a little grumpy when he finds her, but she doesn't say anything and Benji knows better than pressing the issue, in the end the lesson was a bit tense.

Things got complicated when Saki suddenly tried to help Benji changing out of his daily clothes into his sleeping clothes, Benji was standing his ground in the lack of need for that, he can easily change into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt without help, it got really aggravated when Maria entered on the discussion.

The other members of the hanagumi watch without being able to understand the discussion or the contents. "I wonder if this is like that how Benji-san feels most of the time." Sakura commented to the others, it felt bad being unable to understand what is going on in front of her.

Everyone nodded agreeing, it was particularly unpleasant because they just can't find a way to interrupt the discussion that is getting pretty heated, specially between Maria and Saki, the end comes suddenly with Benji hitting the table with his right hand, the stern look on his face and the silence that followed that action ensured that the two stopped.

What Benji said wasn't understood by them, but is clear that Saki didn't found all that appeasing, neither did Maria, Benji leaves the dinning hall while running his right hand on his hair, Saki let out an annoyed hmph and leaves as well, Maria stays behind and sips her cooler tea.

"What just happened Maria-san?" Sakura asked to the blonde. Maria sighed annoyed and tired. "Kageyama was being stubborn about 'helping' Himura out of his clothes." Maria answered. "Himura doesn't feel comfortable with her, specially with her trying to do everything for him, he said that doesn't mind getting help buckling his belt or buttoning his shirt, but everything else he said that can do on his own."

"And why you joined the discussion?" Sumire asked curious, the blonde wasn't the type that simply butted in a conversation. "Because I found offending that she wanted to help him to change everything." Maria answered seriously. "If you understand where I am getting to."

The others understood, the girls could understand that it wasn't all that decent wanting to strip Benji naked, even as for her duties, Benji does need help with certain things, but changing into or out of clothes didn't sound like a severe need for other what Maria had mentioned.

"I guess that she is being over dutiful and serviceable, it is her first day here, she might be trying to prove herself as a capable nurse able to take care of you when you need." Ogami said neutrally. "Maybe she went a little too far trying to perform her duties, and that is excusable isn't?" The hanagumi had to agree with that, even Maria begrudgingly agreed with him, maybe Saki was just trying to help in the best way that she could, but the way that she was being forceful and how she reacted to what Benji said didn't match Ogami's theory.

At the end of the second week Benji got the stitches removed, he was also allowed to use his arm as long he didn't force it too much, lifting heavy stuff and fighting were forbidden for at least two more weeks, but at least he could change by himself again. Saki was also assigned for office work whenever not performing any nursing duties.

Kanna also discovered that Benji wasn't exactly resting, it wasn't exactly something new, more than once in the past weeks she spotted Benji with his sword moving around the theater, sometimes neat and clean, others covered in sweat, now she knew why, inside the training room Benji was training, he wasn't using his hurt arm, but swinging the long sword one handed, Maria was nearby leaning against a wall with a pile of bamboo and straw mats next to her.

Kanna knew what those are, those are replacement bodies use to test swords, very often Sakura, Ogami or Sumire used them when training with real weapons, Kanna saw the floor littered with slashed dummies, the cuts are neat and clean, Benji was moving around adding plenty of momentum to the blade moving it with large circles, it was nicer to see than their first exposure to Benji's style.

Kanna moves to Maria making sure to keep distance from Benji. "What are you two doing down here?" Kanna asked seriously. "He was supposed to be resting." "Resting his wounded arm." Maria replied. "He isn't using it, he is training his body and his sword arm." "And why are you helping him?" Kanna asked.

"He asked." Maria answered. "And I think that no one else would help him because his wound." That was part of the truth, Maria found uncomfortable seeing Benji with Saki, especially that Benji seems to stare Saki from distance when she is in the room, with far too much interest for her liking, but she won't admit that, so any hour that Benji expends with her is an hour that Benji isn't expending around Saki.

"So you saw any progress?" Kanna asked casually. "He is getting better, in the beginning he wasn't able to cut even one of the dummies with one arm." Maria answered. "Now he can slice two and a half just with arm's strength, four adding large swings." It was an impressive mark, Kanna admitted that.

"But why training like that and not training Japanese?" Kanna asked seriously. "We do this between the breaks from the Japanese lessons." Maria answered. "It gets pretty tiresome and annoying after a while." Kanna couldn't understand that, studying wasn't her best suit, but she remember school being a pain and related that to what Maria meant.

End of the chapter two:

Author explanation corner:

At first I want to thank everyone who read everything that I wrote until know. Thank you very much for your time and attention. It has been a while since I actually post anything that I wrote in the Sakura Taisen area. I also want to say thank you for, everyone who is reading this story.

Now I want to thank my friends who gave me the idea for this story as well assisted me to hammer out raw ideas to form this story. I won't name you because you know very well who you are, you guys are great.

A little something else, it has been a while since I consistently wrote stories with chapters above 10 pages long, the average so far is around 15, some later ones are pretty longer, especially special events chapters.

Kageyama Saki: She is a character introduced on the second game, she becomes Yoneda's personal secretary, I don't remember where but once was said that she was also a nurse, from what I gathered recently the information is also wrong, but since I always thought on her as a nurse too I made her a part time nurse and secretary.

Fallen flesh golem: Another piece of information on the fallen, they are changing with each attack, explanations won't be given today. The flesh golem is the combination of several human victims and fallen fused together to form a monster outside a vital sensitive, unknown core, which once destroyed kills the monster.