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 six: A very busy day or time to pay back for your good fortune
Benji finds Sumire in the terrace having some tea. "I thought that you would sleep some more." Benji commented seeing her there. Sumire gestures at him to sit in front of her, Benji takes the offered seat, he noticed that there was another cup there even though she was alone.
"I am not all too happy for being left out of the morning chores." Sumire said in a serious tone, while pouring him some tea. "And it is the first day of the new girl here, I feel like she thinks of me as some slouch." "I told everyone that you had a bad night and when helping me this morning worn you even more, so I told you to rest." Benji replied in the same way. "You are my second Sumire, I don't want you to faint in exhaustion."
Sumire blushes at his words but she is still miffed for oversleeping. "And after what we did this morning you surely needed the rest." Benji added making Sumire blush crimson. "Benji-san!" Sumire exclaimed embarrassed. Sumire takes a deep breath to cam herself. "I don't want any preferential treatment because what happened this morning." Sumire said serious.
"I am not giving you a preferential treatment over that." Benji replied in the same tone. "You were tired Sumire, trust me I don't want to make a routine of dishing out your tasks to the others, I prefer you doing them since I know that you will do them well and right, at the very least you won't question why I am telling you to do what I am telling you to do. This rest is something for this morning only, well unless you have a real bad night or something similar that makes you so tired that you can do anything."
"I guess that I can live with that." Sumire said with a nod, now that she understood that it wasn't Benji giving her a different treatment because they slept together, but him being considerate about her state she feels better over sleeping over, specially since he said himself that he prefers having her as his second. "Now, I kind of want to go shopping as well." Sumire added. "I don't want to sit around doing nothing all day."
"You feel good enough for it?" Benji asks seriously, Sumire knows too well how much they walk when shopping. "No pains or anything?" Sumire blushes embarrassed. "I am a tad sore, but I don't think that is all that bad." Sumire admitted. "Then you are staying." Benji said seriously.
"What? Why?" Sumire asked surprised. "Because I am sure that it will affect your walking." Benji said seriously. "Someone might figure why you might be walking in this particularly way." Sumire grunt but admitted that Benji was right, it was better to avoid rumors and stay indoors.
"However if you need to do anything then I want you to go over the reports of the fallen cases that happened so far." Benji said in a level tone. "I can't read them, so get familiar with them and explain to me, see if you can find something that we haven't yet." Sumire nods agreeing, she could do that.
…
"Tsubaki you locked the location of the enemy's cannons?" Benji asks while slashing a wakiji with his sword. "Yes." Tsubaki answered. "Then fire away." Benji replied. "I don't want us being hit by those." "Roger that!" Tsubaki replied firing the Shogei-maru's cannons at the enemy's cannon.
"Sweet!" Kanna exclaimed seeing all the positions gone. "Now we don't have to worry about them!" "Yeah but we still have a lot to do!" Sumire said while killing a wakiji, now she could feel her hips complaining from the rather intense experience from that morning. "We are doing fine!" Orihime commented while firing energy blasts at a group of wakijis. "Don't worry so much!"
"How is the evacuation proceeding?!" Benji asks to the kazegumi. "Almost over!" Tsubaki exclaimed. "Just hang on a little longer." "Do you want to launch Nanako-kun?" Yoneda asks to Benji. "No." Benji answered. "Unless things are really dire she stays put in there, this isn't training, I don't want her getting hurt, she can't make mistakes here."
Nanako doesn't say anything she knows that Benji is worried about her safety, but she hates being left behind in her koubu unable to help. Kongou attacks Benji who defends the best that he can with his sword. "This will be really easy!" Kongou exclaimed viciously.
Benji winces while holding the strike only with his left hand, but he shoves the barrels of his cannon arm on Kongou's masoukihei stomach and fires at point blank range. Kongou screams in rage as the large bore bullets tears his armor with ease. Kongou leaps backwards with his machine greatly damaged, Benji aims the gun and fires again forcing Kongou to move.
"Sumire!" Benji exclaimed. "Got it!" Sumire exclaimed back swinging her naginata hard, Kongou screams when the heavy weapon smashes on his back. "Kanna!" Benji shouted. "On my way!" Kanna shouted dashing and hitting Kongou with her claws. "Orihime!" Sumire shouted seeing where Kongou moved. Orihime screams while firing a volley at Kongou.
"Damn you teikoku kagekidan!" Kongou shouted while fleeing, any more damage and he wouldn't be able to move. "Reni!" Benji shouted. Kongou leaps scared and barely avoids the German, however he totally misses Benji who fires his last rounds on him. "Get him!" Benji ordered, the hanagumi moves to the kill but the remaining wakijis get on their way.
"Not this time teikoku kagekidan!" Kongou shouted abandoning his damaged machine. "Don't pursue." Yoneda said from the Shogei-maru. "There might be traps further ahead, for now this victory is enough." Benji clicks his tongue annoyed and just kills the wakijis close of him.
"It wasn't so bad." Orihime commented. "I am pretty impressed." "It was good." Sumire commented. "The civilians are safe, we fended off the enemy, it is all well." "Yet taisho is sour." Kanna pointed out. "Why you are always sour after the enemy flees?" "Because they will return later and harm more people." Benji said with a sigh. "This kind of thing I like to get done and over with as soon as possible."
"I can't disagree with that." Sumire commented. "But we all did a good job." Iris nods agreeing, no one was hurt. "Well at least I settle in getting that machine." Benji commented casually. "Old man I want Kohran to study and reverse engineer it." "You know kid in times like this we think almost time same." Yoneda said with a chuckle. "I also want to study that, secure the machine and the area, then wait for the pick up."
"Roger that." Benji replied. "Taisho we will do that thing or not?" Kanna asks to Benji, they didn't do it last time. "Do we really have to?" Benji asks with a sigh. "It is really embarrassing." 'It is part of our traditions Benji-san." Sumire answered. "Last time we didn't do out of respect of Sakura-san and because your mood was terrible, but I honestly think that this isn't something that we should cast away."
Benji let out a long breath. "Fine." Benji said annoyed. "But I am not going through this alone. Tsu-chan get Nanako down here." "Ah?! Why!" Nanako exclaimed confused. "I didn't help at all today!" "If I am going to embarrass myself doing this so are you." Benji said in a flat tone. "Now get your ass down here so we can get embarrassed together."
"Nnooooooo!" Nanako whined as her koubu is launched, it is clear that Yoneda also wants her to take part of that. "Just bite the bullet and let's get it done." Benji said patting the girl's back when she lands. "I don't like it any more than you do." "But you are forcing me to do it." Nanako whined.
"You are part of the hanagumi now." Benji said casually. "This is part of being on the team." Nanako pouts, but feels happy that she is being included on the team even if just to end the battle. "Okay now." Benji said as the girls gather around them, they all take a deep breath. "Seeeiiiiii-no!" The girls other than Nanako and Reni said. "SHOURI NO POSE!" Benji shouted. "KIME!" The girls shouted back as one.
On the Shogei-maru Yoneda smiles pleased, Benji had put a good amount of spirit when calling the pose and the girls responded with as much, even Nanako who is clearly embarrassed, but it was good, Yoneda saw the team coming together again, and for him that is all that matters, this time they had scored a good victory.
…
Sumire remains sited on her koubu even though mostly everyone left and sighs tiredly, a soft knock on the hatch startles her. "Who is it?" Sumire asked surprised. "Me." Benji answered from the other side. "Why you are still there?" Sumire let out a tired breath. "Back away a little, I will open the hatch." Sumire replied, Benji does so.
Benji moves near of the cockpit once the hatch is open. "My hip is hurting." Sumire admitted shyly. "After everything, fighting like this put a lot of strain there, I don't think that I have enough strength on my hips to walk right now." Benji nods understanding and leans on the cockpit. "Come on hold on my neck." Benji said. "What?" Sumire asks embarrassed.
"Hold on my neck, I will carry you to your room." Benji answered. "I won't leave you there, it will strain you even more." Sumire nods shyly and holds on Benji's neck, Benji wraps his left arm around her waist and gently pulls Sumire from the cockpit, then he moves a little and hooks his right arm under her knees.
"This is so embarrassing." Sumire whispered with her face against his shoulder. "Now don't complain about it." Benji said while walking down the stairs. "This is preferential treatment." Sumire says nothing, being carried like a princess is really embarrassing, yet she keeps her arms tight around Benji's neck.
"Ah sorry!" Nanako exclaimed when seeing the two like that coming out of the hangar. "Don't run." Benji said in a serious tone. Nanako obeys but is really embarrassed. "Before you turn this misunderstanding into a big problem I will explain what is going on."
Nanako nods a little uncomfortable. "Sumire is experiencing some cramps." Benji said in a serious tone. "You must be more familiar with the cause of this than I am, if you catch my meaning." Nanako blushes but understands as well, Benji just told her that Sumire was having her period and wasn't feeling well, and got cramps bad enough that she needed to be carried out of her koubu.
"I am sorry for misunderstanding the situation!" Nanako apologized with a deep bow. "Don't worry about that." Benji replied. "Now I will get Sumire back to her room so she can rest." Nanako nods and sees Benji off. "You know, if she asks around she will learn that I am nowhere close of my period." Sumire whispered embarrassed.
"If she asks around." Benji replied. "I am pretty sure that she won't, plus it is the best excuse that I could come up with, if you have a better one I am all ears." Sumire blushes and remains quiet, she had to admit that the excuse was good, but she knew better than anyone else that her period is rather mild and that she doesn't get that kind of cramps.
Nanako in the other hand is utterly impressed with Sumire, she just saw her being carried out of her koubu unable to walk on her own, but during the battle she couldn't even tell that Sumire was suffering from anything, that strengthened her resolve of becoming the best member of the hanagumi that she could be.
Benji lie Sumire on her bed gently, then he undoes her belt and open her jacket. "Better?" Benji asks to her. "Yeah." Sumire answered tiredly while Benji puts her belt on the footrest of the bed. "Okay now shoes." Benji said while lifting Sumire's ankle. Sumire let Benji take care of her without complains, after everything she just gave up and allow herself to enjoy the preferential treatment knowing that is just for the day, Benji sets Sumire's boots next to the bed.
"Now you stay there and rest." Benji said to her. "I will get you an ice pack and Saki's medicine." "Thank you." Sumire replied, while fearing the medicine she also knew how effective it is and prefers the medicine than being unable to move as she is. Benji leaves the room and closes the door behind him.
"Why you left the snake's room?" Kanna asks confused. "Sumire isn't feeling well." Benji answered. "I had to carry her here because she was too weak to walk after the battle." "I guess that fighting worn her off." Kanna commented. "She was bad in the morning too, what she has anyway?"
"Some bad cramps." Benji answered. "I don't know the details so I won't ask, do me a favor and get me an ice pack okay?" "Sure thing." Kanna replied. "Should I give it straight to you or take it directly to the snake?" "Give back to me." Benji answered. "Sumire feels terrible for being ill and thinks that she is burdening everyone, so less people taking care of her better."
Kanna nods understanding, she can relate to Sumire's feelings. "Anyway I will go get some of Saki's medicine for her." Benji added. "So Sumire will back on her feet soon." Kanna sees Benji off. 'Still he hasn't even bothered to change out of the uniform.' She thinks seeing him walking away on the red jacket that once was hers. 'He definitely is thinking more about us than on himself, he took the role well.'
…
Benji stretches tiredly, his red jacket slung over his left shoulder. "I suppose that is about time for me to change out of this outfit." Benji commented holding at his uniform shirt. "Benji-senpai." Nanako called him as he moved to his bedroom. "Yes?" Benji asks turning to him.
"The manager asked you to go to his office." Nanako answered. Benji sighs and hands her his jacket. "Hold on that for me." Benji replied. "Ah…okay…" Nanako replied taking the red jacket. Benji runs his right hand on his hair while moving to Yoneda's office.
"What you need me old man?" Benji asks once inside the room. "Is about your koubu." Yoneda answered. "We need to end the design." "It can't wait until I change out of this?" Benji asks tugging at his uniform. "Why are you with it anyway?" Yoneda asks curious.
"Sumire isn't feeling well and I was taking care of her." Benji answered. "I just gave her some medicine and was going to change when Nanako told me about your request." "Well since you are here let's not waste time and just get this done." Yoneda replied. "Besides isn't bad seeing you like that. Where is the jacket anyway?" "I left with Nanako." Benji answered. "I had it off when you called and I just didn't want to wear it or carry it around."
…
Two hours had passed until Benji and Yoneda finished the last details of his koubu's weaponry, which greatly affects the parts used to upgrade Kanna's old koubu to its new form. Benji sighs and moves to the dinning hall to drink something. "It is true that Sumire-san isn't well?" Orihime asks to Benji when seeing him. "I gave her some medicine and now she sleeping it off." Benji answered to the brunette.
"Are you sure that she isn't pretending to be worse than she is?" Orihime asks seriously. "She seemed okay before the battle." It was a reasonable doubt Benji admitted that, but he has to protect his second. "Sumire wasn't on her best shape, she felt better and wanted to do as much of her normal routine as she could." Benji answered in a serious tone. "I am sure that if we didn't had the battle with the kokkikai Sumire would still be fine, but it happened, now you aren't all to well and then have to fight, is only natural that you will get worse right?"
Orihime nodded agreeing she hadn't considered that side of the story. "That is what happened to Sumire, she was so bad that I had to take her out of her koubu and carry her to her room." Benji continued. "Sumire is my second, I have no reason to doubt her, she is no child, she knows her responsibilities and duties, she wouldn't just pretend illness to skip work or get my attention, if she says that she is hurting, then she is hurting. Sumire wanted to work, I was the one who told her to rest."
"I know, it is just too odd." Orihime said. "She was fine yesterday." "Sometimes you are fine now and just a short while later you aren't." Benji replied. "Once I was back home reading, I was feeling fine, then I started to feel really bad, to the point where you feel like dying, when I went to bed I had a long night filled with fever induced hallucinations, after that I was down in bed feeling horrible for two and a half weeks because of illness."
Orihime is impressed, Benji is pretty strong, to something take him down like that must be really serious. "Anyway, I gave Sumire some of Saki's special medicine and now she sleeping a bit." Benji said in a level tone. "Just let her rest, she had a really rough day."
"It is just that you are defending her a lot, doing a lot of stuff to cover up for her." Orihime said dejectedly. "She is my friend, you worry about your friends and take care of them when they need." Benji replied. "If it was you or anyone else I would be doing the same thing." "I know." Orihime said. "It just feels different." "You are imagining thing." Benji commented. "Now let me get myself some tea so I can get out of these clothes." Orihime nods and sees Benji off.
Benji finds Wakana in the kitchen preparing something, checking his watch tells him that is almost three o'clock. "The snack?" Benji asks while moving to the fridge. "Well I thought that after fighting and skipping lunch everyone needed something more filling." Wakana answered. "Especially you and Kanna-san who eat more than everyone else."
"I can't deny that." Benji answered filling his glass, actually a large beer mug, with his cold tea. Wakana looks at him in amazement as he downs the entire thing in one smooth swing. Benji let out a satisfied sigh at the coolness and moisture. "What is the snack today?" Benji asked while moving to wash his glass, otherwise ants or worse cockroaches could appear.
"It is Orihime-san's suggestion." Wakana answered. "Something name panini." Benji looks at the bread in a basket next to Wakana and the grill that she is heating. "Ah!" Benji exclaimed understanding. "Pressed bread!" "You know it?" Wakana asked confused.
"It might be a spin off, but back in Brazil, we use old bread, a day or two old, we use a frying pan and a other pan to press it on the frying pan toasting the bread and crushing it until flat and thin." Benji answered. "We made it just crushing it with butter or we filled it with something and then crush it making a hot sandwich."
"It is just what Orihime-san told me to do." Wakana said with a chuckle. "Well she told me that she had no idea of how to press the bread, but thanks to you now I know how to do it." "Okay you do like this." Benji said filling his mug with water and decided to make one to Wakana to see.
…
"You are still wearing that?!" Orihime exclaimed surprised when seeing Benji sited on his seat on the table still on his uniform, in front of him was his share of the meal, a glass of tea and a jar of tea. "I ended helping Wakana making the snack." Benji replied with a sigh.
The hanagumi arrives and no one really say anything about Benji being in his uniform. "Benji-senpai." Nanako said offering to Benji his jacket, which she has been carrying around since Benji left with her. "Thank you." Benji replied. "I ended doing a lot of other stuff."
"You are welcome Benji-senpai." Nanako replied with a smile. "I don't really mind it." Benji puts the jacket on the chair's backrest and they get ready to eat. "Isn't Sumire-san coming?" Wakana asks to them. "She is sleeping." Benji answered. "I told you that she isn't feeling all that well, save her portion and I will take it to her later." Wakana nods and takes Sumire's plate to the kitchen.
"This is a bit different from what I expected." Orihime commented after trying one of her sandwiches. "Benji-san helped me to make them." Wakana said with a smile. "So I used the technique that he and his family use to make it." "Your family does Panini?" Orihime asks to Benji surprised.
"We call it differently." Benji answered after drinking a sip of tea to wash down some of his own sandwiches. "We crush the bread with some butter in a hot frying pan using a different pan half filled with water, if we are making the sandwich version we add the filling along the way. We do that to use old bread from one day or two old."
"I am surprised that in Brazil you do even that." Orihime commented impressed. "I told you before that Brazil have plenty of influences from different countries." Benji replied casually. "I didn't even make the connection between what we did to Panini until today." "Cultural differences." Orihime said with an understanding nod.
"Yeah." Benji agreed. "God I would kill for some mortadella…" "You know even that!" Orihime exclaimed surprised. "Is there anything Italian that you don't know?" "I am not sure." Benji replied. "But yes I am familiar with mortadella, I love the stuff, I grew eating it thinly sliced in my sandwiches."
"God, are you sure that you aren't Italian?" Orihime asks to Benji. "I am pretty sure." Benji answered. "Why that Orihime-neechan?" Iris asks curious. "You see Iris-chan, most people eat mortadella cut into cubes, but that kills the flavor." Orihime explained. "True Italians savor it in thin slices since it preserves the flavor, cutting into cubes you might get too much fat, but slices you get just the right amount."
"I thought that only Bolognese people were that picky." Benji commented recalling something that he watched when a teen. "Okay are you doing this just to provoke me?!" Orihime exclaimed looking straight at Benji's eyes, Benji could see a great deal of passion there and he is pretty sure that isn't about mortadella, but what he is saying is making her excited over something, maybe him.
"Now, now Orihime Benji wouldn't say things like that just to rub you off in the wrong way." Kanna said trying to keep the peace of the meal. "He is not rubbing me in the wrong way!" Orihime exclaimed. "He is doing it very right!"
"Benji-san it might be better hold whatever you are going to say next." Wakana said worried that whatever Benji says next might make Orihime say or do something that she will regret it very much. Benji closes his mouth and saves the comment about gelato ice cream, he just knew that saying something about them would get Orihime to pounce on him.
…
Benji enters on Sumire's room after knocking a few times and hearing her sleepy response. "Hungry?" Benji asks while crossing the door. "Not really." Sumire answered looking at him. "Why you are still on your uniform?" "A lot of stuff happened and I couldn't change." Benji answered with a wry smile, his jacket now tied around his waist.
"How are you feeling?" Benji asks placing the tray with food and tea on her nightstand. "Better than before, the cramps passed, but I am tired." Sumire answered while sitting up. "Just keep sleeping." Benji replied. "But eat something first, you haven't eaten anything since your late breakfast, and that was very light."
Sumire nods and reaches to the plate, Benji makes sure that Sumire at least finishes one of the sandwiches, but surprisingly Sumire ate all three that he brought. "I was hungrier than I thought." Sumire said after finishing her tea, she already sounded better than before. "You need something else?" Benji asks her.
Sumire blushes, while she does, she doesn't feel comfortable in telling him that. "Well is something private." Sumire answered. "I am sure that I don't need help for that." "Okay." Benji replied. "I will take these down and you do what you need to and get back here to rest." "Okay." Sumire said with a smile.
"Now getting out of this uniform!" Benji exclaimed once placing the used dishes on the kitchen. "Oh no…" Benji said seeing Kaede looking at him with an apologetic look on her face. "No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!" Benji backs away from Kaede, he just know that whatever she has to say isn't good.
"I am really sorry Benji-san." Kaede said honestly. "But this isn't something that can wait, there is an alert of fallen." "But we just fought the kokkikai!" Benji exclaimed. "It has to be a mistake! I am all worn!" Kaede smiled sympathetically Benji laughs in disbelief. (God I must have threw a rock in the cross.) Benji said dejectedly.
…
"Are you okay Himura?" Kayama asks to Benji noticing how Benji's hands are shaking. "Hell no." Benji answered clenching his fists. "I had a long day and it is not even five o'clock, I am tired." "Sir we are here." The tsukigumi driver tells them. "Ready or not." Benji said stepping out of the car.
Kayama watches as Benji clips the sword on his back in the clip holder that he made. "I would feel so much better if I had more armor." Benji said while adjusting his jacket, on his belt there was a short sword sheathed as well a dagger, on his right thigh a pistol, on the left holsters inside the carrier.
Kayama shows Benji the building where the fallen are, a large store as usual, Benji takes a deep breath and enters on the store. "The cleaner is in." Kayama says through a radio. "Understood." Kasumi's voice replied.
'God I am even more scared than usual.' Benji thinks with the pistol in hands, inside the crowded store the pistol was best suited than his sword. 'I wonder if is because I had sex with Sumire, maybe I might be afraid that it is connected to a last man's meal or something.'
Outside they could hear the shots, not the despaired shots of someone terrified, but single shots, precise and accurate, with no waste of ammo for the kill, and Kayama knew that Benji have to use his ammo sparingly, he has only five magazines counting the one in the pistol, and it was just a double stack nine millimeters, and in that store which earlier was so full that amounts to next to nothing.
Benji reloads the pistol and fires at a incoming fallen, he hates dealing with them, while horrifying isn't that what bothers him, is the fact that disregarding the broken and darkened skin, wounds and blood they are still very human like, just now he shot what just earlier in that day was a fairly beautiful woman, before that a young boy.
Continuing his grim task Benji kills another approaching fallen. Yoneda monitors the situation in silence, he hated the fallen as much as Benji does, they were innocent citizens of Teito, they don't deserve become demons and being killed like that, yet it was all that they could do for them.
Kayama, Yoneda and everyone else is shocked when seeing Benji running out of the store as if chased by the devil himself, then they realize why when a huge wolf like creature smashes through the door as if it wasn't even there. Benji adjust his footing the best that he can and slashes hard with his sword.
The attack hits on the creature's muzzle making it roar in pain and back away a few meters, that grants Benji enough time to get his footing and attack again, Benji barely avoids being hit by a massive paw full of claws, the strike scores the attacking leg cleaving it neatly.
The creature roars and stands on its hind legs. "Oh crap…" Benji exclaimed quickly holding the sword on his side with both hands pointing the tip to the creature's chest just before the creature falls on top of him. Benji uses all his strength to move the blade cutting open the chest as much as he can, the creature cries and then lies unmoving.
"A little help!" Benji shouted, the creature is heavy and is crushing him. "Hurry!" Kayama shouts to his men, if the creature is as heavy as it is big Benji might be really hurt. It takes twenty men to push it from Benji, Benji coughs and chokes while trying to breath, his clothes covered on the creature's blood.
"Are you injured?" Kayama asks seriously. "Let me catch my breath and I answer that." Benji answered, he wasn't going to stand up at any moment soon. It takes a couple of minutes for him to sit up. "I don't think that I am hurt." Benji said once recovered. "Other than a few bruises on my back."
Noticing the likely sources Kayama nods understanding. "So you think that is clear?" Kayama asks seriously. "I think that you should run!" Benji shouts hearing the sound of charging from inside the store. "Shit my sword!" Benji shouts realizing that his sword is still very much nailed on the creature.
A much bigger creature of the same type that he just killed smashes its way out of the building. Benji fires at the creature's face with his pistol, the creature roars in pain at the shots and one of them actually hits one of its eyes. Benji holsters the pistol and races to the sword, but the blade is stuck into the creature. "Oh no…" Benji murmured as not even his full strength can remove it.
"Watch out!" Kayama shouts to Benji. Benji jumps away but isn't enough to avoid the attack, but instead of being bitten in half Benji is tackled by the creature's nose in the back, Benji crashes on the road stunned with the strike. "Shoot! Shoot!" Kayama orders to his men, they have to at least buy Benji enough time to recover his wits.
Benji coughs hard, his head is spinning and he can't tell up from down, he can hardly feel the lightly warm stone of the road pressing on his cheek. Kayama and his men are doing their best, their constant barrage is keeping the creature away from Benji and themselves. Benji shakes his head trying to clear it, blood stings when hitting his eyes, he pushes himself from the ground still a little confused.
Benji's eyes focuses on the creature, he knows that he has to do something, but his body isn't responding all to well yet, it was a major hit, yet Benji stumbles his way to his sword, knowing that if he somehow gets hold of it, he will be able to do something. Benji realizes when trying to pull his sword that his hands have no strength. 'Yet those hands will never hold anything…' Benji thought wryly.
The creature notices Benji, Benji leaps out of the way just in time to avoid being tackled again, Benji pulls something from under his jacket, revealing a long chain, whipping it Benji realizes that his dexterity returned a little, the chain hits on the creature's face making the creature charge at Benji.
Benji jumps and gets the chain right into the creature's mouth, he is yanked by the chain but his grip is strong, Benji falls on top of the creature, Benji wraps his left arm and hand on the chain and grips on it strongly, then he draws the short sword, the beast buckles and throws strongly making nearly impossible for Benji to remain on its back.
However Benji drives the sword on the beast's neck making it howl in pain, Benji pulls the blade and repeats it over and over again. "Himura!" Kayama shouts, but Benji is too busy to react in time. A humanoid wolf creature leaps from the store and lands at the back of the beast, behind Benji.
The man-wolf grabs Benji's head and left shoulder and pulls then away, then it bites Benji's shoulder where it joins on his neck, Benji screams in pain and pulls the dagger from his belt and drives it on the man-wolf's skull, the monster goes limp and falls from the jumping beast.
Benji pulls the pistol and fires several times on the beast's skull until he is out of ammo, then the beast stumbles and fall, Benji falls on the ground holding his wound. Benji coughs at the impact but it is a dry cough, and for him that means a lot, feeling the wound Benji can tell that the chain mail under his jacket was torn, but not badly, the wound wasn't as bad as it could be.
Kayama and another tsukigumi member rush to Benji while others are prying Benji's sword from the first monster. "Ocean boy please tell me that is over…" Benji said in a pained voice. Kayama face sours, Benji was beaten pretty badly, his face covered with blood from a cut on his forehead, his clothes utterly ruined, his jacket torn badly where the man-wolf bit.
"I afraid that it isn't." Kayama replied. "We still need to check the building, for now sit still, we got a medic here, he will take a look on you." The ground trembles and Benji looks at Kayama very pale. "Please tell me that you didn't feel that…" Benji pleaded. "I wish that I could…" Kayama replied as pale as the Brazilian.
The store begins to crack and then break, Benji forces himself to his feet and runs pulling Kayama and the doctor away from there. (Oh god no…) Benji murmured seeing the store falling apart and shifting into a massive monster. "Whatever you said Himura I second…" Kayama whispered in horror, it was far more than what they could deal with right now.
Benji finds a tsukigumi member with his sword, he yanks it out of the man's grip who gladly let it go, Benji clips the sword as the monster still collects itself. "Chain…chain…" Benji looks around frantically, then he sees the chain still on the monster's muzzle, Benji runs to it and frees it. "What are you doing Himura?!" Kayama exclaimed in shock.
"I am as scared shitless as you are." Benji said to Kayama in a firm tone. "But that thing isn't fully formed yet, we might still have a chance of killing it now." "That is insanity." Kayama exclaimed. "I kill demons for a living!" Benji shouted. "How crazy is that?! Now you will help me find my short sword or I have to do it myself?"
"Over here." A tsukigumi member said handing Benji the sword. "Just take it so I can run." Benji takes the sword with a nod and sheathes it. "You know ocean boy." Benji says seeing the creature grow taller. "What?" Kayama asks feeing oddly calm, as if he is so scared that he isn't afraid anymore.
"I totally hate my job right now." Benji answered. "Because if it wasn't for the fact that the girls would look at me so disappointed if they learned that I ran away, I would run away like crazy, I am more scared of their disappointment than of that behemoth. I must be totally crazy."
"I hear you brother." Kayama said putting a hand on Benji's shoulder. "You are totally insane, but at least no one can call you a coward, and if you actually die your grave will be marked as the bravest man of all time." "Then why I feel so scared?" Benji asked nervously. "More I think about it more I want to run and hide."
"Because you are as sane as I am." Kayama answered. "And it is taking me all that I have to stay here and not soil myself, because I know that, that thing can kill me easily. If you make it I buy you dinner." "I will be charging it." Benji said before taking a deep breath. "If I die tell Sumire that I am sorry."
"For what?" Kayama asks confused. "You don't need to know." Benji answered. "She will understand." "What about the others." Kayama asked. "Apologize saying that I couldn't be a good leader." Benji answered steeling himself. "If this don't get me into Valhalla I don't know what else will…" Benji murmured the last part before running towards the monster.
Kayama salutes Benji for his courage, no, for his ability to fend off fear when needed most, then he leaves the area. Inside the command truck things are hectic, the hanagumi is being called, they know that Benji won't be able to kill such monstrosity by himself.
'I so hated Shadow of Colossus…' Benji thought while jumping and grabbing on a piece of wall that composes the monster, Benji climbs on the creature, its outer shell is composed of broken walls, floor, ceiling, racks, very climbable, however the creature moves and tries to shake Benji off. 'Something must be keeping the cohesion, I must find what.'
The hanagumi stares in shock seeing the massive monster in the middle of the city, never mind the carnage on the ground level, such a monster is too attention grabbing. "Is that Benji-senpai?!" Nanako exclaims in horror as her sensors lock on Benji who is climbing on the monster's right arm.
"What?!" Sumire asks in terror, then the monster smashes it left hand on its right arm, Benji who barely avoid the attack by jumping upwards clings into the monster. "Manager?!" Sumire exclaimed demanding an explanation. "He just climbed there!" Yoneda replied. "I have no idea of what he is thinking, but falling from there will certainly kill him."
"If that thing doesn't do it first?!" Kanna exclaimed. "We have to do something." "Attack where it joins on the ground, it seems that Benji's actions are keeping the monster from fully escaping." Yoneda said seriously. "But Benji…" Kanna replied. "Holy god!" Nanako exclaims as Benji jumps from the monster's shoulder and throws the chain on its face, the monster holds its face protectively while Benji swings and lands on top of the monster's hands, Benji climbs quickly just avoiding being launched by the monster.
Debris rain over Teito damaging the buildings and the street in a large area, Iris yelp when something impacts on her koubu sending sparks into the air, it is a long chain, and they just knew that it was Benji's.
Benji had seen the hanagumi, but he is too busy to mind, he looks around frantically, he knew that whatever kept the monster in one piece was up there, then he finds it, a piece of concrete with something on it, a something that is oozing demonic energy. Benji draws his sword and rushes to it.
The slash smashes the concrete making pieces fly, the monster roars and buckles in pain, a second hit fully destroys the piece freeing the evil object, Benji grabs it midair, then the cohesion begins to end. "Oh shit!" Benji shouts running from the head as the hands are starting to fall apart.
"NO!" The hanagumi shout as Benji leaps out of the crumbling monster, he was several stories high, the fall would be deadly. However a someone doesn't want to see Benji die, a little someone very powerful and very blonde. Iris charges her powers and 'grabs' Benji midair.
Benji gasps with the sudden halt. "That wasn't so bad." Benji muttered with his eyes closed, he realizes that he feels pain, but just the pain from his wounds, he opens his eyes and realizes that he is hovering midair and slowly descending, looking around he realizes the source of his smooth descend, Iris, her koubu is glowing with energy.
"I am so going to buy her something after this…" Benji said thanking to heavens that Iris is a powerful telekinetic. His landing spot is surrounded by the hanagumi and Benji just knew that he was in for an earful, and before he even hits the ground with his feet the hanagumi is already scolding him.
"That boy has the devil's luck." Yoneda said with a relieved sigh, everyone in the truck nods agreeing. Now outside their koubus the girls scold Benji severely, more than few of them are crying, Benji felt happy with their concern, but he felt something else. (shit…) Benji murmured feeling dizzy.
"Benji?" Kanna asked confused. "Hold him!" Orihime exclaimed. "He is going to pass out!" Benji indeed pass out, falling over Sumire who holds him gently. "Don't worry…" Sumire whispered softly. "I got you…" Sumire feels Benji's weight over her, he was heavy but she doesn't mind.
Kanna helps her by taking one of Benji's arms and putting over her shoulders. "Here." A tsukigumi member says to them. "We got a stretcher ready." Sumire nods and they take Benji there, Kayama with his mask on takes the item that Benji was holding so tightly, the unknown object that was keeping the monster together.
Kayama takes notice of something that the hanagumi forgot, Benji's sword, which he had lost grip on the sudden halt was nailed on the street a few meters from where he landed, Kayama walks to it and pulls it from there. "Gather his weapons." Kayama tells to his subordinates. "They will be returned."
…
Sumire never hated the position of second of command of the hanagumi as she is hating at that moment, she hated the fact that instead of being in the hospital with the others she had to oversee other important things, never mind that she as everyone had to take the koubus to the carrier and then go to the hospital, Sumire has to overlook the removal of the corpses.
The bright side is that at least her hips aren't hurting anymore and she doesn't feel dead tired thanks to the hours of sleep that she had earlier, but that brings a good deal of sorrow for Sumire, while Benji was out there fighting for his life and Teito, she was lying on her bed reading a novel, and she hates herself for it.
Yoneda watches while Sumire clearly unhappy stays behind to make sure that things are done, even after so long being just a regular member of the hanagumi Sumire could still be a really good commander, he isn't really surprised with that, he saw how well Sumire was working with Benji in the past months.
"Sumire-kun you can go to the hospital." Yoneda says while approaching the girl. "But things aren't done yet." Sumire replied, while she really wants to go, she doesn't want to abandon her duties. "I will be around here, so just go see how Himura is, Kasumi-kun is still around, so have her drive you there." Sumire nods and salutes Yoneda before rushing to find Kasumi.
A short while later the two of them arrive in the military hospital, but only Sumire stays. "I have something to do before coming, watch over him okay?" Kasumi asks to Sumire. "Sure Kasumi." Sumire answered, she knew all too well how it feels to put her duties in front of her feelings.
Sumire finds where Benji is and runs there finding the other members of the hanagumi there. "How is him?" Sumire asks to them. "The doctors say that it is surprising that he is so lightly wounded after everything." Kanna answered seriously. "They say that the worse that he has are bruised ribs, he fainted because blood loss, intense exhaustion and stress."
Sumire sighs in relief. "But he was so bloodied…" Sumire commented. "Actually he only had three bleeding wounds, a cut on his on his forehead, a scrape on his cheek and a bite on his shoulder, none of them really life threatening, but because he forced himself so much the blood came out from the wound in the shoulder." Kanna explained. "If he was resting he wouldn't have lost the amount that he did. They also say that is pretty miraculous that he doesn't have any fractures, supposedly a heavy monster fell on top of him."
"I am pretty content with miracles." Sumire said in relief, she does notice how she softly touches her stomach with her hands. 'I really don't want the father of the child that I am not even sure that I have to die…' Sumire thought relieved. "Your cramps are coming back?" Kanna asks worried.
"Oh?" Sumire notices where her hands are. "No, it is just to make sure that I am fine, I got plenty of rest and drank that horrible concoction that Saki-san calls medicine." "Call it whatever you want but don't deny that it works." Kanna commented teasingly. "What took you so long anyway?"
"I am Benji's second." Sumire answered. "That isn't just a fancy title, I have responsibilities, I had to stay behind to make sure that things were okay." "Being the boss sucks." Kanna commented, Sumire doesn't say anything but inwardly agrees with Kanna, she has mixed feelings about stepping out of the position once Maria returns, she doesn't want the responsibility of the position, but doesn't want to lose the time that she spends with Benji because of it.
Sumire notices a tsukigumi member, normally she would just dismiss it, but he was holding something very important, it was Benji's sword. Sumire walks towards him. "Ah Kanzaki-san, I was looking for you." Kayama says when seeing Sumire. "The general ordered me to deliver these for you."
Sumire nods understanding and takes the sword. "This chain is also part of his possessions." Kayama pointed out offering to her the chain that is now spun in a circle. Sumire takes the chain and then wonders what to do, she notices a couple of hooks on the ends of the chain and hook them together before slinging the chain across her chest, then she places Benji's sword on the chain, discovering with a little surprise that the chain does hold it in place.
Kayama is impressed that Sumire suddenly decided to wear the sword instead of just holding, sure it made sense since the sword in its sheath is very heavy, still Sumire did it very naturally. Kayama responds to Sumire's bow and words and sees her off, Sumire was walking a little funny since the sword is affecting her balance and she is clearly unused to it, yet she makes no sign of removing it from her back.
"Oi snake, why are you wearing that?" Kanna asks surprised when seeing Sumire with Benji's sword. "It was just delivered to me." Sumire answered. "Then I will hold on them until Benji-san can take them back." Kanna nods understanding and decides to not offer to carry the sword as Sumire sounds pretty set into returning it herself, even though the sword is taller than she is.
The girls notice Kasumi pushing Sakura, Saki is walking next to them holding a large bottle of something, the girls just know that it is her special medicine and that Saki will make Benji drink the entire bottle. Now briefed by the doctors Sumire tells to them how Benji is.
Saki defiantly enters on the room where Benji is. "I feel sorry for him." Kanna said seeing Saki pulling something from her pocket. "Yeah." Orihime agreed with a nod. "It isn't bad enough that he fought nearly to death, now he has to drink that evil thing." "As evil as it is, it also heals very well." Sakura pointed out, she drank a lot of it on the past and still drinks a rather large amount of it to help with her pains and aches after exercising. "I just whish that Saki-san could do something about the taste though."
"None of you will stop that woman?" Matsuta asks to the hanagumi. "We know better than get in the way of her healing." Kanna answered. "Besides that stuff works wonders, Sakura here is the best proof that we have." "Well I can't deny that her healing was amazingly fast." Matsuta replied. "But she just forced him awake with smelling salts, the kid banged his head on the ground."
"All done." Saki said in a pleased tone. "Was that really necessary?" Matsuta asked in a serious tone. "Yes, you will see that shortly Benji-san will be back on his feet." Saki answered with a smile. "We just can't having him out of business." "I suppose that this time is as good as any to check on you as well." Matsuta said turning to Sakura.
"But I already did my monthly check up." Sakura replied. "It was less than one week ago." "You did, but I want to check on you again." Matsuta answered. "Just a few x-rays." "Kanna-san you go with Sakura-san." Sumire said to the red head, Kanna nods and follows the doctor while pushing Sakura's chair.
…
Benji holds his head in pain, his wakening was everything but gentle, waking up to smelling salts is bad enough, but having one litter of Saki's medicine shoved down his throat only made it worse, but in the other hand he could feel that he is getting better at each heartbeat, the familiar tingling of his wounds closing on a insanely fast rate is there, he knew that before the hour is passed his wounds would have vanished without even scars.
"Benji-san!" Sumire exclaimed entering on the room startling him. "AH!" Sumire blushes crimson and tries to push her way back, but the other hanagumi girls are pushing her forward. "Wait!" Sumire exclaimed in vain. A series of gasps cuts the air as the girls realize that Benji is only wearing a pair of shorts.
Benji looks around and finds a sheet that he used to cover his body. "Why I have the feeling that visits weren't allowed yet?" Benji asks to them. The girls blush even more at his words. "I kind of brought you some clothes…" Sakura said meekly holding on a brown bag. "Mother thought that it would be a good idea."
Sumire takes the bag from Sakura and gives it to Benji. "Thanks." Benji said to them. "But unless you leave I can't change." Then Benji grins. "Or you girls actually want to see me changing?" He said in a teasingly tone. "Benji-san!" The girls exclaimed in unison while fleeing the room.
'Oh yeah the blushes and shocked expressions on their faces make it all worth it.' Benji thought with a smile, it wasn't so bad to see them so worried about him, plus teasing them was so very much fun, and he is already making a habit out of it. "Well time to get dressed." Benji muttered while standing up from the bed.
Outside the girls hear the sound of something very heavy crashing into things in the room that they just left. "Benji-san!" Sumire shouted racing to the room, in there she finds Benji fallen on the floor, the sheet barely covering his body, not too far from him was the bag with the clothes that Sakura had brought, and around him was an array of fallen medical tools and trays. "What happened?" Sumire asks worried while moving to his side.
"My legs just gave up." Benji answered in a pained voice, he hit the bed, the tray and a lot of stuff when falling down. "I guess that I am not at my best right now." "That is clear." Sumire replied. Kanna moves to them and helps Benji to stand up, with their aid Benji simply wraps the sheet around his waist and puts a shirt on before sitting back in the bed.
"You really shouldn't push yourself just because some odd medicine." Matsuta says to Benji in a serious tone, Sumire, Kanna, Orihime and Nanako are helping to pick up the fallen stuff. "While you came out with surprisingly light wounds after the battle that you have been on, you still took some pretty nasty wounds, you need to rest." And the scolding goes on and on.
…
It takes a couple hours before Benji can actually stand on his on and get dressed, he still felt a bit weak, but he was sure that was the blood loss. Kayama enters on the room silently. "What is wrong ocean boy?" Benji asks to the tsukigumi leader. "Remember that thing that you took from that final monster?" Kayama asks seriously.
"Yeah." Benji replied. "I am pretty sure that is what made it tick." "Worse than that." Kayama said seriously. "It is what turned those people into fallen and monsters, thanks to you we managed to secure it before the curse was all out, we can study it now." "So it means that we can understand the incidents." Benji said with a nod. "It is a good thing." "Now out of curiosity you want to keep your uniform?" Kayama asks to Benji while holding a lacquered box. "I kind of wanted to." Benji answered. "The jacket was once Kanna's, why?" "Well the boys wanted to get pieces of it and make into charms." Kayama answered handing to Benji the box with his uniform. "They think that if they had charms made out of the clothes that you wore in that battle they will also become braver and stronger."
Benji chuckles at that. "I am not a source of courage and strength." Benji commented, then he looks at the hallway, the hanagumi and kazegumi are sited in the chairs outside sleeping, still waiting for him. "You know all too well what drove me forward." "I know, but that still came from you." Kayama replied.
Benji nods and leaves the room, he moves to Sumire and sees that she is still with his chair across her chest and is holding on his sword. Benji gently shake him. "Hey Sumire time to wake up." Benji said in a soft voice. "What?" Sumire murmured sleepily. "I am up, we can go now." Benji replied. Sumire nods and rubs her eyes, Benji moves to wake up the others.
Nanako watches in silence as they are driven back to the theater in three cars, Benji is sited next to Sumire, Orihime is on her other side, Nanako is with Iris on her side in the front, Benji had fallen in sleep and is leaning against Sumire who doesn't seem to mind it at all the fact that Benji is pressing against her body and his head is resting against hers.
"Sumire-senpai you are okay with that?" Nanako asks in a whisper.
"You mean Benji-san leaning on me like this?" Sumire replied in the same way, Nanako nods confirming. "Not at all." Sumire answered. "After everything that he did today for me alone it is the least that I can do, if he is tired enough to sleep like this, then I will let him, besides this isn't too bad either."
"It isn't improper?" Nanako asked worried. "Perhaps." Sumire answered. "But you have to remember that Benji-san and I aren't just two acquaintances or part of a fighting team, I trust on Benji-san with my life, I like to think that we are friends, so a little contact like this isn't a bother."
Nanako nods understanding and remembers Benji telling her that if possible he wants her to be friends with everyone, they aren't just a team but something akin of a family, looking at that light it does seems natural seeing Benji leaning against Sumire, sure Orihime is also dozing off, but she is leaning against the window and not against Sumire.
"Benji-san we are here." Sumire called once they arrived in the theater's garage. Benji wakes up quite fast, contrasting to how he was sleeping. Sumire then wakes Orihime and Nanako wakes Iris.
Benji leaves the car and takes his sword from where he tied it on the roof, he could still remember how Sumire looked when she returned it to him. 'Maybe I am seeing things but I can't stop in thinking her as some sort of blushing bride or wife handing to her fiancée or husband something that he had forgotten.' Benji thought with a small smile. 'Maybe I am still a bit too hung on what we did this morning.'
End of chapter six:
Author explanation corner:
As you guys can likely tell, this chapter is a direct sequel of the previous tone, at this point of the fic I was still trying to keep a small number of pages per chapter, mostly to make for a easier read for you guys, in later chapters I started to make longer chapters in order to cover in each chapter one entire mini arch, and boy there are some monstrous long ones later on, even a behemoth with over 150 pages, but that is on arch 2 Paris.
As this point of the fic I was ending the chapters where I felt that I had a nice mixture of nice cliffhanger, breaking point or scene break, I adopted the large chapter style later on for two reasons, first after buying Sakura Taisen 5, YAY my first official playstation 2 game and it is Sakura Taisen! Support your beloved series whenever you can!
Ahem, back to the explanation, each chapter on a Sakura Taisen game encompasses one mini arch centered in one specific girl of the team, so I took that to the heart and made each chapter a closed mini arch, finishing each mini arch or major plot point during each chapter, of course keeping the day to day interactions that I felt relevant to the story.
Now the second reason is that certain mini arches and plot points just felt wrong to just hack it off and stop in mid chapter, especially when I got a good pace going, I just kept adding until I felt that I reached a good breaking point for the chapter. I am explaining this so you guys won't be caught pants down when suddenly you find yourselves facing a really long chapter.
Well there is a third reason that I started the longer chapters, I like long chapters especially somewhat self contained, meaning you got some resolution at the end of the chapter, I also like long stories, so it shows on my writing. When I was a teen somewhere between my 15 and 17 I discovered a book series called Perry Rhodan, I love that series and in my time the school that had that series, over 400 books, I read them all, each book could be read isolated without any issues, I started reading the series in the 3rd or so cycle, which I think that was on book 200 or so and had no real issue with the background of the series, and each book had roughly 100 pages, each book mostly self containing with few books that were immediate sequels to the stories of the one before, yet they all covered the main plot of the cycle.
So since the third reason is personal preference and not a major plot thing isn't truly listed as a reason for the long chapters. So that more or less stuck with me, so I apologize in advance for the soon to come larger chapters, though I don't remember which chapter I started making longer, than this.
Benji is giving Sumire a bit of a special treatment during this chapter, it would be unnatural for him not to be a bit biased in the morning after of what they did, and Sumire is somewhat more affectionate towards Benji as well, though they are keeping the façade of nothing happened very well.
Nanako wasn't placed in battle right away to protect her, as she is still very nervous and not used fighting alongside the hanagumi, so to avoid accidents she was kept away from the battle.
I also admit being a bit 'mean' with her when forcing her on the victory pose, I like it in the game, but if I was experiencing it I would find somewhat ridiculous, unless pictures were being taken after the battle, since nowhere I read says that pictures are taken I personally assume that they aren't and are just extra CGs for us, but I also leave myself the option to say that are being taken if I feel like having everyone going through their old battle albums.
Back to the main point, since I find the victory pose ridiculous, I would share the pain, so Nanako even not fighting would pose for it, wanting or not, after all isn't like I have a choice on the matter either, so if I suffer through it so will she.
Sumire pos battle: After who knows how many hours during the night, plus a good amount of time in the morning having sex and using muscles never used before and using muscles in ways never used before, it felt natural to have Sumire having a horrible time after the battle.
Going through several reference materials from the game, comparing to the anime and OVAs, an settling with the design from the games, the koubu aren't that easy on the hips, the seat is almost like a motorcycle's seat or saddle, a lot of weight is concentrated on the crotch and hip, after all the bedroom gymnastics, Sumire was bound to feel lots of pain.
So there you have the scene of Sumire lingering on her koubu and Benji carrying her to he room and caring for her afterwards with genuine concern and worry. Sumire did overestimate herself a bit and underestimated the effects of having sex would have on her performance.
Benji's bad luck through the day: That scene was purposeful, from what I gathered on the internet, the there was a lot of pressure on this attack and the following on, so I added on the pressure adding the fallen attack and the colossus type fallen, I will explain the fallen later, now for the pressure.
Well I thought in adding some 'karmic payback' on Benji, the escalation of events building up to the fallen attack, that then has Benji thinking that he is doomed to die since he scored with Sumire, and then there is a fact that I didn't explore with that much depth on this branch, Benji's own psychological wellness.
In Alternative, kind of ironic since I recently played Muv-Luv Alternative, which I have to thank a dear friend of mine in pointing out the game for me, I won't give names, he knows who he is, thanks man, back on track, in the main branch Alternative, I go in more depth on the strain that Benji is suffering.
It gets really easy to forget about it, I did here in Trials, too late to change it now, but think about it, normal guy sent to another world for no clear reason, no clear source, no visible why, thrown into a 'zombie' filled store having to fight for his life, then finding that his number one writing scenario is real and he is facing very real power armors and a large group of armed soldiers all with him on their sights. Not the best for your sanity, right?
Add to that being locked up in a cell, being choked to near death by his number one girl of that setting, more mental stability loss, however in Trials there was both time to deal with the messes, so he didn't suffer that much, but Benji was forced to lead the hanagumi, so he couldn't give himself time to wallow on his misery, he had to be strong, to be the hanagumi's especially Sakura's rock.
So when the new fallen types appear Benji's mental stability took a few hits after barely being recovered and not fully on top of that, plus there is my personal belief that you have to be a touch crazy to deal with demon hunting and still remain mostly sane, I don't known if there are a English equivalent, but here in Brazil we have a saying that roughly translates into this 'Everyone has a little of doctor (of medicine) and madman', and that is healthy.
Benji came to depend of the hanagumi as strongly as the hanagumi came to depend on him, he doesn't want to look bad in front of them and doesn't want to disappoint them, that also added to his decision to pull a Shadow of Colossus on the colossus, though right now I don't remember if I was making a homage when the idea came to me or if I just threw the reference there after the idea came to me.
Sumire lingering on the battle site after the battle: Normally isn't show in the series and I also normally approach it, but there are clean up to do after each and every battle. Later on the story numbers are thrown, casualties, yen in damage, stuff like that, reading the manga and given that the hanagumi fights a defensive battle, it means that there are casualties, civilian casualties after each battle, people die, structures are destroyed, it is unnatural not to.
Since I like to keep a foot, or at least part of it, on realism in my stories, casualties are common place and every attack has a share, people get killed or hurt before the hanagumi arrives on the scene. And the fallen are focused strikes on civilians, the casualty rates on these are huge.
Since Benji is the main anti-fallen fighter he normally stays behind to discuss with Kayama and the tsukigumi, hoping to find evidence to assist in prevent new attacks and saving innocents from being killed, so Sumire remained in the scene to take over that task before Yoneda sent her away.
Saki's medicine: 'Minor spoiler', the medicine originally had darker purposes than just being a almost magical potion, it isn't magic, but alchemy, not the stuff from Full Metal Alchemist, but the 'magic science' precursor of modern science, BUT WITH MAGIC! The darker purpose was taint Benji and give Saki control over him, but I scrapped that idea, still the medicine remains as a major plot device allowing me to beat the crap out of Benji and have ways to heal him fast enough to not get in the way of the story.
