Chapter 01: Protectors of Light
Les Chattes Noires, Paris Kagekidan's Briefing Room…

"It was detected before that a large movement happened around D3 Area…it seems new enemies strikes their attack in this City of Light…" Grand Mere explained as everybody including Miki stared at a large monitor screen behind Grand Mere's seat. "Are they…those Kaijin…?" Glycine asked. "Sorry…you got it wrong this time Bleumer…" Lobelia suddenly speaks as she entered the briefing room. "You…! Where are you come from…! Don't you know about the situation here…!" Glycine snapped as Lobelia just smirked. "Glycine…! Just put aside that kind of argument…! Lobelia…what do you find anyway…" Grand Mere quickly asked. "It is not something pleasant…don't want to sugar coat it so I just say it straight…they are Kouma…" Lobelia replied as the briefing room suddenly silenced as nobody speaks a single words.

"Kouma…I heard the name before…those foul demons who was defeated once by Teikoku Kagekidan…why are they here…in Paris…?" Miki asked as her voice trembled. "There must be something happened and bring those Kouma here…Erica sure about it…!" Erica replied with her energetic tone like usual. "It is good for you to be able to have spirit knowing about our enemies here…" Glycine commented. "Glycine-san…" Hanabi stared at her best friend meanwhile Coquelicot decides to remain silent. "Anyway…the mission this time is to protect evacuation of the citizens meanwhile…defeat those Kouma…I personally know about it is the first time for all of you to engage the fight against Kouma…but please do the best you can…I pray for your victory…" Grand Mere instructed.

"Alright…everybody…we will prevail…just believe in ourselves…since we always win before…alright…! Paris Kagekidan…! Dispatch…!" Erica commanded as the others saluted and run toward the hangar. "Ah…Erica-san, Monsieur Jean ask us to inform you about the new improvement of Koubu F2 for all of you…including the new makeover for Koubu F2 that used by Monsieur Ohgami before…" Mell informed. "New makeover…? Mell-san that's…" Erica asked as she stared toward the silver coloured Koubu F2 as before Mell answered, Ci already answered on Mell's behalf. "That's Koubu F2 was before being used by Ohgami-san…and Erica-san…aside from additional power…there are two new weapons installed there…a long France Navy's sabre and small bazooka…it is quite suitable for Miki-san…" Ci commented. "Kakoi desu…Erica being astonished desu…say thanks to Jean-san for me…!" Erica smiled as she quickly run toward her own Koubu F2 meanwhile others already inside their respective Koubu F2 units except for Miki.

"This…?" Miki stared at the silver coloured Koubu F2 as Mell smiled at her. "This is your new unit Miki-san…I hope you like it…" she replied and smiled at her. "Thanks Mell…Ci…" Miki replied back as Mell and Ci just giggled meanwhile Jean appeared from behind. "This unit is quite powerful and balance…take a good care of her…Miki…" Jean commented. "Don't worry Jean-san…I will…and thanks for building this unit for me…" Miki replied as she bowed her head slightly before entered the cockpit of her Koubu F2. "Everything…all green…and weaponry…sabre…bazooka…everything is fine…combustion…propulsion…all green…Miki Akechi ready to launch…!" Miki informed. "Miki-chan…this is your first battle…Erica will protect you…and don't push yourself too hard…" Erica commented from her communicator. "Thanks Erica-san…" Miki replied as she smiled toward Erica. "Alright…! Everybody…! Let's roll…!" Erica shouts as those Koubu F2 units being transported to Éclair Forte to be dispatched to the battlefield.

D3 Area, Five kilometres from Champs-Elysées…

"Destroy…! Destroy everything…!" a woman wearing medieval armour with a long sword and crimson robe ordered around as many Kouma begin to destroy many buildings. "This Paris will taste the wrath and divine punishment for the betrayal set upon me…! The long time wages of blood will be paid by blood…!" she laughed maniacally as more buildings get destroyed. "Stop right there…!" a spirited voice can be heard as six coloured spirit armours fly from nowhere and land on the ground bellow. They are Koubu F2 units, and they quickly activate their respective weapons. "Paris Kagekidan…sanjou…!" Erica and the other yelled their entry sentence as usual. "This is…" Erica stared at her surrounding as buildings already reduced to debris and Kouma can be seen everywhere. "Erica-san…! Over there…!" Miki quickly pointed toward one of the building that still standing despite the casualties happened.

"That moron…who the hell is she…?" Lobelia asked as Glycine and Hanabi stared at the figure on the top of the building. "She's the one that control these Kouma…I can sense dark spirit energy being emitted from her…!" Hanabi informed. "You bastard…! How dare you destroy this city of Paris…!" Glycine shouted as she readying her long halberd axe to fight this new enemy. "Ha…ha…ha…ha…puny humans want to challenge me…one of the four Sword Guardians…! Indeed very funny…! Let me tell you…! My name is Joan and I am the one…who will send all of you to HELL…! Kouma…! Kill them…all…!" the woman with medieval armour shouted as those Kouma begins to attack Paris Kagekidan viciously. "Everybody…! Be careful…!" Erica instructed as she use her Koubu F2's Gatling Cannon to kill one of the approaching Kouma instantly. "Erica-san…!" Hanabi shouted but she cannot really do anything as two Kouma occupied her and force her to draw her long bow and two arrows. "Heaaaa…!" Glycine lets her spirited war cry out as she cleaved one of Kouma by using her long halberd axe followed by Lobelia using her Koubu F2's long claws to decapitate two incoming Kouma.

"Miki-san…!" Coquelicot shouted, as she was too busy for having to deal with three Kouma in the same time as she realizes another four Kouma marched toward Miki's Koubu F2 that already busy dealing with three Kouma. "Kyaaaa…!" Miki screams as one of the attacking Kouma uses its tail to slam toward her Koubu F2 and make it crashed toward the nearby remaining wall. "Ugh…! They are strong…!" Miki commented as she feels her body begin to feel numb. "Miki-chan…!" Erica screamed as five Kouma seems jumped toward Miki's helpless Koubu F2, ready to decapitate it. "Miki…!" Glycine yelled. "Miki-san…!" Hanabi also paled meanwhile Lobelia trying to help her but always getting cornered by another wave of Kouma.

Miki closes her eyes as she feels her life will be ended soon. Her only regret is she can never see her beloved brother anymore and she also feels that she already screw up in her first sortie. She feel nothing as those long jaws of Kouma should already begin to piercing through her Koubu F2's armour and through her skin. Slowly she summons all of her courage to open her eyes as she saw something that she can never believe. It was a blue coloured figure looks like Koubu F2 but more humanoid shape and has a size approximately two times taller compare to Koubu F2 units, standing in front of her Koubu F2, shielding her from those Kouma's attacks. That humanoid mecha's left arm seems glowing as three plasma stakes being pulled in after seems being used to attack something. There another unbelievable scenery in front of her as six Kouma seems laying down with their heads already explodes because of something. "Did…that humanoid Koubu F2 did it…?" Miki asked herself a question.

"Miki-chan…! Thanks God…you're alright…!" Erica sniffed as her face suddenly appeared from Miki's communicator in her Koubu F2. "That's humanoid Koubu F2 save me…" Miki replied as she trying to stand. "Who is she…or he…?" Glycine asked as Lobelia shrugged. "Beats me…but at least Miki is alright…" Lobelia replied. "Ano…thanks for protecting Miki-san…" Hanabi's Koubu F2 bowed slightly as Coquelicot's Koubu F2 quickly run toward that humanoid Koubu F2. "May I know your name…?" she asked, but before Coquelicot can get answer from that humanoid Koubu F2's pilot, another wave of Kouma army already stormed. "This time…will not be the same…!" the pilot of humanoid Koubu F2 begins to speaks. "With the power of this Gespenst…! I will defeat all of you…!" he screams. "A man…?" Glycine stared in surprised but she quickly get hold of herself and kills one of the incoming Kouma.

"Tenjou Tenga…! Ichigeki Hisatsu Ken…!" the mysterious pilot of humanoid Koubu F2 called Gespenst quickly launched another rapid punches toward one of the Kouma before flying toward the top of the building and slammed its gleaming left fist toward Joan. "He did it…!" Erica stared in disbelief. "No…! He failed…" Lobelia commented as Paris Kagekidan members realize the existence of barrier appeared between Gespenst's fist and Joan. "Puny human…! How dare you to challenge me…! Joan…! One of the four generals from the Saint of Swords…!" she screams as Gespenst being slammed away to the ground, but because of the pilot quickly activate the vernier, Gespenst can land safely and kneeled on the ground. "Saint of Swords…? What is it…? Erica doesn't understand at all…!" Erica commented, as her Koubu F2 is the first one arrives near Gespenst followed by Miki's Koubu F2 and the others.

"Silence…! You no need to know…! When the time arrives…all of you will be reduced to ash…along with Paris that betray me…! Ha…ha…ha…ha…!" Joan laughed maniacally before disappeared. "She's gone…" Glycine muttered as Hanabi just sighed in relief since after defeating the entire army of Kouma, Paris Kagekidan feel tired and to be honest battered. "Anyway…now everything is solve…I rather want to know about the identity of our saviour of the day…" Lobelia commented as she comes out from her Koubu followed by other Paris Kagekidan members. "Erica…Glycine…Coquelicot…Hanabi…and Miki…?" the pilot of Gespenst speaks and his voice tone seems a bit shocked meanwhile Paris Kagekidan members also slightly shocked for their identity being known by a stranger. "He knows about us…Erica sure surprised…!" Erica commented. "Who are you…!" Glycine shouted as she readying her halberd spear in case something happened. "Glycine-san…please…he will do no harm to us…since…he is the one who save me…!" Miki quickly assured. "Miki-san…" Hanabi and Coquelicot stared at the new member of Paris Kagekidan as the crimson visor of Gespenst begin to fade and its chest area being opened since it was the cockpit block area.

"Hi…everyone…its me…" the pilot of Gespenst grinned as Paris Kagekidan members stared in disbelief toward the young man that pilot Gespenst and protecting Miki just before. "A…Ave…!" Glycine yelled in disbelief. "Who is he again…?" Lobelia stared at Glycine. "Ave-san…! Oh my God…! Erica shocked ever more…!" Erica commented. "It is something that unbelievable isn't it…?" Ave grinned as Coquelicot stared at him. "Ne…Ave, how can you become a pilot of that Gespenst…?" Coquelicot asked. "I personally don't know myself…but suddenly…I already there and piloting this thing…" Ave replied. "Oh…that's not making any sense of all…!" Glycine retorted. "Glycine-san…Ave-san already saving Miki-san…he is a good person and I don't think he's lying…" Hanabi quickly replied as Glycine just sighed. "If you say so Hanabi…" she replied in defeat.

"Ave-san…ano…thanks for protecting me back there…" Miki bowed her head slightly as she smiled toward the young man. "It is alright Miki…I just doing what I thinking should be done that time…" Ave replied. "By the way…Ave-san…! He's our sidekick now…! Erica can be assured…right everyone…?" Erica smiled as she nodded. "Sidekick…?" Ave stared toward Erica smiling face. "Don't mind her Ave…she's ditz sometimes…" Glycine commented. "UNTIL WHEN ALL OF YOU WANT TO KEEP ON CHIT CHAT…! QUICK RETURN TO THE BASE AT ONCE AND BRING MONSIEUR AVE ALONG…!" a loud voice of Grand Mere can be heard as Paris Kagekidan members and Ave winced while closing their ears.

"Order to return already come and Grand Mere said to bring him along…" Glycine commented. "Yes…but before that…shall we do that…shall we…?" Erica grinned. "That…?" Miki and Ave asked in confusion. "Oh…that…yes, it is already a while since we do it right…?" Glycine smiled. "Glycine-san and Erica-san correct…I think we need to do it…since this is our first time of battle after long peaceful time…" Hanabi commented. "I have no objection, and I think…it is good to do it again…!" Coquelicot replied in enthusiasm. "C'mon…you kids…better do it quickly before Grand Mere yelling again…" Lobelia commented. "Doing what…?" Ave stared in confusion as suddenly his collar being grabbed by Erica and he was positioned right beside Miki as his right arm wraps Miki's shoulders. Meanwhile, Miki herself just blushing while still confused about what happened. "Are everybody ready…?" Erica asked. "Anytime OK…Taichou…!" Coquelicot replied.

"READY…! SHOURI NO POSE…! KIME…!" Erica and the others shouting in unison as they posing their victory pose together while Ave and Miki just stared at them in confusion before they finally realize that their pose already being formed by Erica before to suit the others. "Ave-san…arigatou…" Miki whispered as she still blushed under Ave's right arm that wraps over her shoulders.

Evening, Les Chattes Noires stage…

"So this is where they do their job as those who not only protecting Paris from enemies' attacks but protecting its citizens' smiles as well…" Ave commented as he stared at Erica, Glycine, Coquelicot, Lobelia, Hanabi and Miki performing on the stage. "Yes…that's the mission for us…Paris Kagekidan…Monsieur Ave…by the way thanks for considering my offer to lend your strength for us…" Grand Mere smiled as she sips her wine. "I just doing what I feel should do…since I have nobody here and I'm indebted with those girls…" Ave replied. "It is quite an understanding person you are Monsieur Ave…by the way…Miki seems really grateful because you helped her…I also saying my gratitude for that…" Grand Mere smiled toward Ave. "Same here Madame…by the way if you excuse me…" Ave bowed his head slightly as he walks toward the backstage area since Mell and Ci already close the curtain that end the performance on the stage.

"Thanks for the good work everyone…" Ave commented as Erica and the others just smiled toward him. "Ave-san…by the way…I was just being told to give you this…it is from Mr. Sakomizu…" Miki speaks as she handed down a key toward Ave. "What is this for…Miki…?" Ave asked. "This is the room of your apartment…it is located between my room and Mell's and Ci's room…" Miki replied. "Oh…thanks a lot Miki…says my regard toward Mr. Sakomizu as well…I might see him tomorrow…" Ave replied. "Ano…Ave-san…if it's okay…may I walk together with you to home…?" Miki asked, slightly blushing. "Eeeeh…?" everyone in the backstage room stared at Miki and Ave in disbelief. "Sure…why not…I don't want to get lost on the way anyway…" Ave replied and smiled toward Miki. The new member of Paris Kagekidan quickly smiled back and nods. "Wait for me Ave-san…after I finish changing…we go…alright…?" Miki smiled as Ave nods before he left the backstage props room.

"Miki…she's nice…meanwhile Erica, Glycine, Lobelia, Coquelicot and Hanabi…they are also nice…they are my new friends here…and with the power of Gespenst I will protect them…" Ave smiled by himself as he stared at the ceiling. It was the new fate and life for the young man as he doesn't know from where he got the power to pilot Gespenst and wether he will be able to return to his own world. But Ave doesn't care about it, since he found the true meaning of friends here and he will live his life here without regret, fighting with his newfound comrades.

Together with Paris Kagekidan…!

To Be Continued...


Preview of The Next Chapter

A prideful me…the one that want to protect Paris…

A blood of nobility that only a regret for the bearer of light…House of Bleumer's heir…

The true me that being concealed by lies and hypocrisy…

Next…Sakura Taisen Monogatari, Chapter 02: Lament of Blue Ocean…

Ai no Mihata no Motoni…

Am I…allowed to smile and being honest to myself…?