A/N: Sorry for not updating for very long. I've been struggling in uni and suffering a severe case of writer's block. As a result, I haven't been updating ANY of my stories for over nine months.
I'm just gonna get this out of the way. Although this fanfiction is in Sakura Wars Universe and take place years after Sakura Wars 5 OVA, it is more or less influenced by real history, i.e. anything set between 1931 and 1933ish. There will be references of the political and diplomatic climate for East Asia in 1930s, which was and still is glowing hot.
For people who just come here and criticise me for it anyway, this political scene may be big, but it's not the main focus.
There will be multiple characters that are very real in history, though a few are a bit fictional.
You've been warned.
Also, I do not own most characters in this fanfiction; They are owned by SEGA and Red Entertainment. The rest either existed real life and I just pulled from them or OCs I made.
UPDATE: I have changed the name of the Chinese man a bit, as I felt his old one was a bit too generic. Also, I would apologise for calling out those three words from above, which made me look like an idiot.
Chapter 2 - Dragon's Arrival
6:45pm
Grand Imperial Theatre
Dear Sakura and everyone,
Unfortunately I'm not able to come back to Japan in time for our anniversary. This is truly shameful for me as I was looking forward to it, but my hands were full. Sometimes promises and wishes may be broken if it means for the greater good. I hope you understand this.
About my time in Europe, things are going well. So far, I've seen their skills improving and bonds growing like trees. I've met Ratchet again and this time she's here to support me. She's a very well mannered woman, but to my disappointment and sadness, she's no longer able to use her STAR again. She told me that her STAR was donated elsewhere, although she was never told where exactly. Erica and everyone else from Paris came to support me as well, which put off some loads from me. I've been told Erica was their new captain, which put me a great smile on me as that meant they are united as one.
Although I'm very happy here, I'm more concerned with the events around the world. Even though the teams in Europe are doing well, the state of Europe itself is worrying me. After the Great Stock Market Crash, many became homeless and we barely keeping them alive. Germany itself is on the verge of falling apart. Tensions are running high and many are starting to hurt each other. Speaking of America, Ratchet told me America was hit hard and forced many without homes as well. I only hope my nephew Shinjiro is doing fine.
But the most worrying part was the country across our sea, China. Things are looking grim as there incidents after incidents plunged her into chaos. Unfortunately, I have no idea what our country is doing, but whatever they are doing, they are definitely and blatantly not helping. I could only wonder who's fighting against evil.
Regardless, I can't wait to see you all back in Japan next year. Maybe come visit us if you have time. Well I have to go now, I have to help clean up a mess after Erica caused a chain reaction.
Signed
Oogami Ichiro
"Sakura, you still reading that letter?" a girl voice asked her. In front of Sakura was now a beautiful young woman, Iris. She grew mature, but still has the habit of returning to her young self.
"Oh no, I've just finished. Do you want to read it?" Both giggled for a bit.
"Sakura, you met your nephew and his team from New York. How are they?"
"They're an odd bunch." She paused a bit to watch Iris' expression. Sure enough, her expression was tilting her head in a bit of confusion. "Just like us." Once again, both laughed. However, once they stopped, Iris turned form being happy to depressed.
"I wish he's still here."
Sakura understood who she referred to. "I know, but his hands are full. Maybe we can visit him like when we visited while he was helping in Paris."
"Hey Sakura, Iris, are you ready?" a voice came along. Both looked and saw Kanna, already in her costume, standing by the door to the stage.
"Oh, we both ready!" Sakura answered as she stood up and followed Kanna, with Iris following them behind.
Grand Imperial Theatre
"Wow, it's beautiful!" Gemini exclaimed in her excitement. Everyone else agreed.
While Shinjiro was excited, he was nervous at the same time. Even though he met Sakura a few times in his life, he hasn't seen her other team members in person. He was told how much was changed in Tokyo, but he hasn't seen it himself.
"What's the matter, Shin? Scared?" Cheiron mocked him a little.
The only response was Shinjiro jumping, breaking his trance, "What? Oh, not really, just..." He looked back at the theatre. Not trusting his words, he felt scared to go in.
"Didn't you hear what Sakura said? She and her team's waiting for us! Come on!" Rosita shouted as she ran up. Cheiron and Diana chased after her into the building.
"Hey Shiny, there's nothing to be afraid. It's like going into Little Lips Theater, right?" Gemini pulled herself alongside her leader. Her face was filled with confidence.
Shinjiro looked at her for a good second before smiling, having his confidence restored, "I guess you're right."
"Well come on Shiny! I'll see you up there!" Gemini shouted as she ran up to the theatre as well.
Shinjiro about to chase her before he noticed someone didn't went up yet. "Subaru, what's wrong."
Subaru, standing at her spot the whole time, fanned herself, "It's nothing. Just..."
"I know what you're thinking. It's them right? Ratchet told me her time when she saw them again."
Subaru looked at him with surprise, "She did?"
"The two didn't have ill-will to her, so I'm pretty sure they don't have any to you as well."
She looked at him with wide eyes before giving a warm smile, "I guess you're right. Come, let's go."
As the two walked up the steps into the theatre, the man just arrived at the theatre. None of the two groups noticed each other. He took one look at the theatre and sighed.
"Grand Imperial Theatre. A grand jewel for Tokyo. Wishing they are seeing this in person." He grabbed a photo from his pocket. On the photo has three boys and two girls smiling. On the left was him, at least his younger self. He was all smiling and cheerful, contrasting what he is now.
"So you were the one that created a mess in Chinatown."
His trance was cut, but he didn't showed any reaction. He was surprised, but he stood there like a rock and that surprise wore off a fraction of second later.
"They deserved it. Such welcoming party you sent me, Kaede," he replied sarcastically.
"I'm sure we'll compensate for that," Kaede said back, also with a hint of sarcasm. "Welcome to Tokyo." He smiled at her comment, amused by it.
"Kaede! The show's about to start!" a woman shouted from the door.
"Just a minute, Kasumi!" Kaede replied before turning back to this man.
"Let's save chit chat for later," he said as he began to walk up the steps.
"Do you still have the show's ticket with you?"
The Chinese man showed her the ticket, "Not like I threw it out the ship, didn't I?"
Kaede giggled at his sarcastic reply, "Thought you would. Come, I'll show you your VIP seat."
Unknown Place
"Even if he lost one of his comrade, he still wouldn't give up. He does live up to his element at least."
A meeting was being held in some kind of old-looking building from the Three Kingdom Era, but unknown to normal human being, this building cannot be seen by normal naked eye. In front of the doors was guarded by two guard, both that doesn't look human. From the looks of it, they don't seem to be on the good side.
"But even so, why would he throw away his pride just to ask the pathetic Japanese to help him."
"It's not just them, it looks like another team from America just arrived at Japan. Besides, even he knows that fighting against us himself would be suicidal for minimal profit. Unlike you."
"What?! You saying that I'm a suicidal bastard! I know more fighting than you! You just have smaller balls that can't take the heat!"
"Just because you keep throwing away many of our troops doesn't mean it will achieve anything! You are one of the reason we lost that battle! You're better off dead than alive!"
"You bastard!" One of the general unsheathes his sword, but before he could slice the other general's head, another sword clanged onto his sword, stopping him.
"Both of you, control your anger later! You two are just children arguing over a toy! You, withdraw your sword!"
The general with his sword hesitated at first then withdrawing his sword back to his sheathe. The other general with his sword went back to his seat, withdrawing his sword. It was at this point the person at the front of the table, who was watching the meeting the whole time, spoke up.
"General, while throwing away many of our troops is undoubtedly foolish and short sighted, I still have value with you. Your aggressiveness may not work against our real enemy, it still strikes fear against the other army. Many ran away rather than face our might and only the bravest like him can stand. While they can still win, sooner or later, they can't sustain these losses."
It was at this point another person, holding a feather fan, spoke up, "Yes General, he may be strong, but who can help him if they keep going the other way. Only a selected few fully understands Sun Tzu's tactics and most of his allies aren't. I doubt his future allies are the same."
Everyone else nodded, but the calm general who stopped the other general attack shook his head. The person with a feather fan noticed. "You seem to be troubled. Speak out."
"They may not have the experience and capabilities as he has, but they still have the same will as he does. After all they already defeated multiple enemies."
"The enemies they face aren't like us. We'll show them before they even set foot on a boat to China."
The leader on the front nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's what in my mind. We will attack them and show our power they have never seen before."
"That's right, but not at the obvious place though," the person with a feather fan continued, a smile on the face, "Tokyo is too obvious, but we do know where they will depart for China." The fan pointed at a point on the map on the table. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Well everyone but the general who objected. Under the table, his hands became a fist on his knees. Unbeknownst to him, the leader noticed and was aware of his expression.
"Thank you for attending our New Years Performance at Grand Imperial Theatre! We appreciate your patronage..."
This was what this man heard before drowning in his thoughts while walking out of the theatre room. Memories flooded in his head as he sees himself as his younger self in front of the light. But more importantly was the smile on his face he had, as if he can still remember his innocence of a child. And he wasn't holding a weapon, just a pole. It's as if he's performing like the Flower Division he watched earlier, except he was.
Why am I thinking of them now?
"Are you ok?" a woman asked, snapping out of his thoughts. Because he just left the theatre room, he didn't have his hat on, so he can see who was talking to him more easily. The woman in front of him looked like someone that works in the theatre, so it was natural she ask about any problems that any patron might be suffering.
"Huh? Uh, hai hai," he replied. Only then he noticed he just spat out his language.
The woman looked at him, a bit confused, "Is that a yes, sir?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. By the way, thanks for the performance," he replied, this time in her language.
Surprised, she gave a warm smile, "It's a pleasure for our patrons. We'll see you at a later time."
He was about walk away, before he just remembered something important. As in why he's here. "Actually, I like to find the manager's office. Do you know where it is?"
The woman looked at him, a little more confused, "Sorry?"
Getting a bit annoyed, he asked again, this time clearly in perfectly legible Japanese, "Do you know where is the manager's office?"
It took only few seconds before she realised what he was asking about, "Ooh, you want to see the manager. Unfortunately, he's away on a trip. We do have an acting manager in his place. Do you want to see her instead?"
That's a bummer. He's gone, he thought. Then again, I'm expected to meet up with whoever's in charge. "That will do," he replied, giving her a smile.
"Let me show you the way," she said, leading him the way.
Manager's Office
"So we supposed to be expecting this man?" a woman asked. She's seated behind a large table, meaning she's the current manager of the theatre. She looked over files, puzzled over the information given. In front of her was an old man and another woman.
"Ah yes, this man. He's remarkable, isn't he, Maria?" the man remarked with a smile on his face.
Maria could only frown at that remark, "Remarkable, but he's no Oogami. But why are we doing this anyway, Yoneda?"
"You mean helping China? It's to show our goodwill isn't it?" Yoneda replied back.
"I'm pretty sure our government just want to tell the Chinese how superior they are. The Chinese are just as prideful. Besides, isn't he enough."
It was then Kaede spoke up, "He's one man people dreamed to be, but he's still one man. They do have a new recruit, but they just got her. They said she's not yet ready, and even if she is, two isn't going to be enough. That's why we offered to help. Besides, I saw him earlier and beneath his eyes lay a war-torn man. We should give him some slack."
The only thing Maria did was leaning back on her seat, breathing in deeply. It was then the door knocked. "Manager, a man wanted to see you."
"That's him," Kaede nodded.
Maria nodded back, "Alright, let him in."
The door opened, revealing a late-twenties man in his Chinese attire holding a pole with his belonging in his cloth wrapped at the end. He stepped in and let the woman close the door behind him. Yoneda and Kaede turned to meet his gaze.
"You must be..." Maria began the conversation.
The Chinese man let his belongings lean against the wall and gave his fist-and-palm salute, "Guan HuangChen! Member of Shanghai Dragon Troupe!"
The only response was Yoneda scratching his back, "Geez, you sure are uptight. You remind me of that man when he first arrived."
Maria only smiled at him, knowing who he's referring to. She decided to continue, "In any case, we honoured to have one of the most senior member of Shanghai Dragon Troupe as our guest in our great theatre."
He let his arms go down, giving a smile, "It's an honour for me to visit this theatre and witness once-in-a-life chance to witness the performance of the Flower Division."
Yoneda smirked and returned a palm-and-fist gesture, "The honour is ours."
"We'll save some chatter at the party. For now, I want to ask an important question: Are they're ready?"
