We'll here is the next chapter. I don't own School Rumble; it's property of Jin Kobayashi. If anyone sees similarities between my story and the games Red Alert 2 or World in Conflict it's because they helped inspire my story. Hope ya'll enjoy.

Updated January 9, 2008: If I get this done in a timely matter I may be able to get chapter 8 up tonight too.


Chapter 7: The Sky is Falling

"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate

The bombs always hit the ground"

Murphy's Laws of Combat

0928 Hours; May 19th, 2010; main concourse of Gimhae International Airport; Pusan, Republic of Korea

'Dear Yakumo-san,' wrote Harima:

'How are you? I'm okay here in Korea. I think we'll be finished soon and get to go home for a few days. Today we're helping with the evac a little. It's a little scary out here because it's so quiet; it makes me wonder when the enemy will come. I hope your well.

Harima

PS I'm sending you my manuscript with this letter.'

Harima folded his letter and placed it in a mail bag that would hopeful be put on a plane to Japan, he didn't write how bad it was really as to not scare her. Thousands of people were gathering at the main terminal of Gimhae International Airport to board planes to North America and Europe. Because it was believe that the war will come to Japan and Japan had limited land space so it was decided to send the refugees across the Pacific and even the Atlantic.

They watched the people of Pusan come in to escape the war. Some like Mai looked prepared for the war, but most didn't. Most of them looked scared and worried; some looked resigned to their fates as though they didn't expect any more than the worse. An air of fear and weariness hung over the whole terminal.

"Yo, Kenji," Harima turned to face Hanai. "Yo, Haruki."

They walked together down the terminal; they were to patrol the gates and waiting areas to make sure that panic didn't turn into riots.

"It is me or do these people seem not to like us?" asked Harima, noticing that some of refugees were glaring at them and most were avoiding them (1).

Hanai only shrugged since he didn't know the answer either. He watched a British Airways plane pull into one of the gate; many civilian airlines were contracted to help with the evacuation. They walked over to the gate that the plane was pulling into because fights often broke out as people tried to get on planes. Some AROK soldiers joined them which helped because neither Hanai nor Harima could speak Korean.

Some hours later Hanai and Harima went back to the hanger that 5th squad had been sleeping in for the past few days. To their surprise Mai was still there.

"Mai-chan, weren't you leaving?" asked Hanai.

She smiled up at them and said, "I'm waiting for the flights to Japan."

"But they won't arrive until 1500 hours, you really want to wait that long?"

She gave a sad smile, "I'm sure that if anyone in my family survived, they'll be there."

Neither Harima nor Hanai could think of a response, so they just sat down. Harima decided to check on the HMMWV and make sure it was working okay. Hanai decided to practice sure material arts. Mai quietly watched the skies for US or Japanese planes to Japan.

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1200 Hours; May 18th, 2010; The Hague; Brussels, Belgium

"I guess we should be grateful that nuclear missiles aren't flying around," said British Prime Minister Donald Hackett.

"That would be because the Soviets and the Americans would blast China and North Korea into oblivion if nukes started going off," spat French President Francis Marquis.

"What are the Soviets doing?" asked German Chancellor Anne Strömvall, placing a slight hostile emphasis on the word 'Soviets'.

They all turned to face President Crane; she cleared her throat and said, "Premier Bolotnikov hasn't taken a position on the war yet. He was moved air/missile defense frigates to Vladivostok and Sakhalin from the White Sea and Baltic Sea bases. He increased maritime patrols and air patrols as well as digging in his troops nearest the China, Korea, and Japan. It all appears to be defensive; my generals say that his forces are ill equipped for a large scale offensive operation."

"Will he join the war?" asked Hackett.

"He may. The Soviets feel very uncomfortable about a war on their doorstep."

"This war is getting very complicated," said groaned Chancellor Strömvall.

"We may need to send more soldiers," said Canadian Prime Minister Harold de Lac.

"My nations people are not going to like that at all," said Marquis.

"Nor mine," said Strömvall.

"Because of the refugees, my people and the Americans are calling for increased military action," said de Lac. "Plus we do a lot of business with Japan and they're under threat of invasion so support in no shortness."

"True, I have the support of the Congress, Senate, military, and the people, but I can't afford to be reckless or they'll all think it's going to be another Iraq," said Crane darkly. "In any case I intend to send more ships and planes over. With little land mass between the nations of Japan and Korea I doubt more land troops are going to be need."

"True," said Chancellor Strömvall, "but you may want send heavy weapons to counter the heavy Chinese tanks."

"Yes, that sound like a good idea," said President Crane trying to whip her exhaustion from her eyes. She was hoping that they could stop the Chinese and North Koreans soon before the war grew larger.

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1509 Hours; May 19th, 2010; Hanger D-5, Gimhae International Airport; Pusan, South Korea

"Why can't I get on one of those planes," whined Mai as she stared at a group of Boeing 757s and 747s pulling into the gates across the tarmac.

"Because they're evacuating wounded civilians and soldiers first," said Asou. The first planes for Japan had arrived, but Mai couldn't get on one yet.

Mai decided to spend her time by cleaning her gun. "They might not let you take that on a plane," said Yamako.

"Oh, they won't fine it. My aunt told me how to conceal a weapon," Mai said in that matter of fact tone of hers when she talked about the war.

"Okay… so Yamako how long are you sticking around," asked Kaoji trying to change the subject.

"Don't know. I'm really a chopper gunner, so I don't really belong here," he said with a shrug.

"Mmnn… to bad, you a useful rifleman," said Asou.

"Arigato, Sergeant Asou."

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1515 Hours; May 19th, 2010; A USAF AWACS, 9,000m above sea level; Pusan, South Korea

9,000m above the sea level was a US Air Force Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS (2) patrolling over Pusan and providing command and control to NATO air operations.

"I'm telling you the Sox got a shot at the for the division title this year," said one of the radar technician in English.

"Yeah right," said a communication officer rolling his eyes.

"Look, Boston has a put a good team together this year and… what the fuck?"

"What?" asked the communication officer, seeing his friend shift subjects from baseball to his actual job.

"I'm got multiple contacts. Uhh… they are large, traveling at 600 knots, course heading vector 235 from vector 015, altitude 7,500m. Judging by all that I think they're bombers with a small fighter escort," inferred the radar technician examining his screens. "… wait, I got an ID. They're KPAF (Korean People's Air Force) Tu-95 Bears (3) and MiG-21 Fishbeds."

"Right," said the communication officer leaping into action. "USS Truman and Washington, this is AWACS Sky Spy we have incoming Bears heading for Pusan from the north. Scramble fighters at once."

"This is the Truman flight control, scrambling fighters. Keep us posted Sky Spy."

"This is the Washington flight control, sending interceptors; we'll turn over our pilots to you once they're in the air."

"Rodger, Spy Eye out. Bobby, do you know where those Bears are headed to?" asked the communication officer.

"I'm not sure… holy shit, I think they're bound for the evacuation at Gimhae!" said Bobby.

"Fuck!" the communication officer pressed some buttons, "hello? Gimhae? This is AWACS Sky Spy, you have group of Bears a headed your way. Abort the evacuations and get your people underground now!"

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1527 Hours; May 19th, 2010; Hanger D-5, Gimhae International Airpart; Pusan, Republic of Korea

An air raid siren rang across the airport, loud, long, and frightening.

"What's going on?" asked Asou, sensing panic in the air.

Kaoji turned on his radio and made a call, "WHAT!?! Holy… yeah I understand," he switched the radio off and turned to Asou, "Sir, all flights have been aborted. We've got bombers inbound."

"Shit," Asou whispered, "Okay, Harima start up the HMMWV, we're getting out of here."

Kitsumori, Yamako, Shimazu, Rumune, and Kaoji started throwing their gear into the HMMWV. Hanai grabbed Mai with one hand and her backpack with the other and almost tossed her into the back of the HMMWV. Harima fiddled with the keys, and had trouble putting them into the ignition with his hands shaking.

Once Harima had the engine started and everyone was in, he raced out of the hanger.

Kitsumori looked out of the back to see black dots in the sky approaching the airport. "Hurry Kenji! I think I see bombs falling!" yelled Kitsumori.

Indeed, soon a high pitched whistling was heard followed by a sound like rolling thunder. Harima was just realizing they couldn't out run the bombs.

'Think Kenji, think of these bombs as cops and you're on your motorcycle. What to do… wait that's it!' Harima thought. He saw an alley between two concrete buildings; it wasn't much, but it just might work. He wheeled right, almost losing control of the HMMWV, and sped into the alley.

"Cover your heads!" Harima screamed.

The ground was shaking harder and the roaring din of death was approaching. Soon waves of bombs were falling around them; it was like the sky was falling and raining fire and steel on the earth. After a few horrifying seconds that felt like days, it was over. Slowly they raised their heads and saw the building on their right had been leveled; the one on their right was barely standing.

"Kenji," Hanai said in a shaky voice, "I don't know weather to kill you or thank you."

"We'll worry about it later, we're all alive. Let's check out the airport," said Asou hoarsely.

Harima drove around what looked like a wasteland of hell. The runways, tarmacs, and taxiways were full of craters, most of the buildings were either burning or completely destroyed, and smoke and haze filled the air. The only sound was the roaring fires and the distant sound of the bombers prop engines.

They approached the main terminal which took a huge beating from the carpet bombing runs. Slowly they dismounted and entered the terminal. They were greeted by a scene of carnage; mangled bodies, missing limbs, stay arms, severed heads, pools and smatterings of blood, and looks of panic and shock on those who still had recognizable faces. Harima stood in horror, shaking at the sight of dismembered bodies. Kitsumori stumbled to a corner and vomited. Kaoji fell to his knees. They others felt like everything was in slow motion and stared. Behind them, Mai silently wept and approach one of the corpses.

"Mai… don't," Yamako feebly tried to say, to keep her from seeing the terrifying scene before them.

"Th… th… this man…," she said between sobs, "is… my… uncle… and I think… this is my aunt… and cousins." She fell to her knees and held her hands over her uncle as though she wanted to embrace him one last time.

No one could say anything. No one knew what to say. What could you say to a girl who had just lost any hope of being reunited with her family? Plus, she'd been their source of hope and confidence. Despite Mai's age, she been so strong that they feed from her will to survive. Seeing her cry made them feel so weak and feeble.

"Hello?" called a voice from around a corner.

"Who's there?" called Asou. A captain fallowed by a female lieutenant and a squad of soldiers came around the corner.

"Who are you?" asked Asou.

"I'm Captain Nara Tsubaki Dogwood Leader; this is 1st Lieutenant Zakito Karin, Dogwood 1-2. And you Corporal?"

"I'm technically a Sergeant, sir. I'm Sergeant Asou Hiroyoshi, Echo 5-1. This is… uh… sort of my squad… and 2nd platoon of Company E."

"Mmmnn… didn't I talk to you before?" asked Captain Nara looking like he was trying to remember something.

"I think so, sir. We're a squad whose chopper crashed and was cut off from their unit."

He nodded in recognition, "Hai, I remember you now… your CO didn't make it through the air raid, so I'm taking charge of your company for now."

"I understand, sir. What are our orders," asked Asou.

"You have transport?" asked Captain Nara, he and his lieutenant seemed to be the only ones who were calm and collective.

"One HMMWV, sir."

"I want you to fall back to the bridge. The KPA are preparing a larger assault and Major Daijin doesn't think a heap of rubble is worth protecting. Also I want you to take some wounded with you."

"Hai!" Asou said saluting.

"Captain?" Hanai spoke up noticing that the captain's blue hair looked familiar.

"Hai, Private?"

"Do you have any relatives in Yagami High School?" Hanai asked.

The captains eyes opened in surprise, "You know my nephew Kentaro?"

"Me, Harima, and Sergeant Asou were classmates of his, sir," said Hanai.

"Is he here too?" asked the captain, showing signs of nervousness for the first time.

"No sir, he joined the Air Self-Defense Forces. He's still in Japan… I think."

Captain Nara sighed in relief, "Thank god. Well… get moving."

"Sir," they responded. Harima picked Mai up and carried her in his arms to the HMMWV. She leaned her head against his chest. He placed her into the back between Hanai and Asou. Hanai placed the spare helmet on her head and wrapped his jacket around her on as a gesture to show she was safe.

A couple of Dogwood Company soldiers place a man on stretcher and helped two walking wounded into the trunk of the HMMWV. As soon as they were in, Harima started the HMMWV and drove to the Nakdong Bridge.

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1600 Hours; May 19th, 2010; Office of General Yuri Polikov; Soviet Pacific Command; Vladivostok, Russia; Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic

"Comrade General Polikov?" asked a Soviet major in Russian.

"Yes?" said Polikov looking up from his paperwork.

"I have word from the situation at the South Korean port of Pusan," said the major handing a file to his commander.

"Thank you, please make your report," said General Polikov accepting the file.

"Yes Comrade General. NATO is speeding up the evacuation as much as possible so they do not have to engage the People's Liberation Army and there heavily armed force. Chinese Premier Lao Zhang is calling for us to take action."

Polikov gave a snort of contempt, "He can't be serious. We are the Arm Forces of the the glorious Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic; we have orders to protect our motherland. I have orders from Glorious Comrade Premier Nikolay Bolotnikov to defend Vladivostok and Sakhalin. I will not move the 4th Red Army or the 4th Red Air Force or the 7th Red Fleet just because they can't handle a war they started, those yellow jackasses are on their own."

The major opened his mouth and then closed it. "You wanted to say something major?"

"Well… uh Comrade General this would be against our traditional enemies the Americans," the major reasoned.

General Polikov glared at his subordinate, "You don't understand. This war is not our concern. I will not waste my men and resources."

General Polikov stood up and looked out his window. He had a nice view of the navel yard at Vladivostok. For a few second he watched a Slava Class cruiser pull into a dock. "Besides…"

The major looked up when his superior spoke. "… I don't want to see another war."

The major quietly left the room once he realized his commander was brooding in past memories of past wars.

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2000 Hours; May 19th, 2010; the Tsukamoto Residence, Yagami; Kanagawa Prefecture, Japanese Federation

Yakumo sat in front of the TV with her sister watching The Three Who Got Slashed (4), their favorite samurai show. Once the end credits started to roll Yakumo immediately changed the channel to the news.

"And now for our top story," said a reporter. A picture of an airport on fire appeared next to the news anchor man, "Gimhae International Airport was being used to evacuate South Koreans soldiers and civilians. During the evacuation 24 North Korean heavy bombers carpet bombed Gimhae International Airport. Fortunately, most of the civilians had been taken away on earlier flights, but large unconfirmed numbers of soldiers and civilians have been killed. We now go to Yoko on the scene."

The scene changed to a subway station with a woman holding a microphone standing in front of it in the screens center. "Yoko here, I'm currently at the 27th Infantry Battalion HQ. Currently the death toll at Gimhae is estimated at 324 civilians, 207 South Korean soldiers, and 165 Japanese soldiers." She walked up a staircase to the street surface. A big military car (5) pulled up next to the subway entrance.

Her eyes widen when she saw who got out of the car. Harima, Hanai, and Asou with a group of other people leap out of the car. She saw them help bleeding men out of the back, but to her relief Harima didn't seem to be hurt. His uniform did look a little burned however and she could see dirt, grim, and dried blood on him too.

Next, Harima carried a small girl out of the car and started to carry her into small restaurant by the station entrance. The reporter followed them inside where they were setting up some places to sleep.

"Ano, sumimasen (excuse me), but were you just at Gimhae?" asked the reporter. They all looked at her, but it didn't really seem like they were seeing her; they eyes all seemed to penetrate her and see things miles beyond. Slowly they nodded.

"I see, and what happened?"

One man that Yakumo remember meeting before, but couldn't remember his name said flatly, "They bombed us."

"Hai, but what happened?"

"They bombed us. There isn't anything else to say," said another man that Yakumo didn't recognize, but looked order than other men. Out of the corner of the screen Yakumo could see Hanai and Harima tucking the little girl into a blanket. She was surprised at Harima's gentleness in the way he treated her and even more surprised that he and Hanai weren't fighting. The reporter continued to asked questions, but no one gave an answer that seemed to satisfy her.

"Well, it seems they don't want to talk about what happen. This Yoko, live from Pusan, Republic of Korea."

Yakumo smiled, "He's alive." Her happiness was marred by the look of distance horror. She wondered what he had seen that day.

"Harima-kun will be fine," said Tenma. "He's a strong person. He'll be back soon enough."

Yakumo smile at her sister's attempt to cheer her up, "Arigato, Nee-san."


"War is hell", according to Major General William T. Sherman and he's right. I doubt I can convey the true horror of war and violence, but maybe I have gotten something across. Please review.

Updated January 9, 2010: Okay, I don't think chapter 8 will be up today, but I promise it will be tomorrow.

Respectfully

J. H. Kamiya

Appendix

1. During World War II Japan occupied Korea. The occupation was brutal and cruel, and to my understanding both North and South Korea holds a grudge against the Japan. Japan has done much to change that though and many prime ministers have said things that pissed off the Koreans and reopening old wounds.

2. AWACS or Airborne early Warning And Control System, us a type of plane equipped with powerful radar and monitoring devices. They were first created by the United States to replace the radar towers along the US coastline that watched for warships and warplanes. AWACS are not as adept at monitoring ground movements as they are at monitoring surfaces ships or planes. The E-3 Sentry is used in the USAF and a variation are used by the rest of NATO including the RAF, French Air Force, and Luftwaffe. The pilots and technicians total about 20 crewmen. It's Russian counter-part is the Beriev A-50, known by its NATO reporting name the 'Mainstay'.

3. As far as I know, the People's (North) Korean Air Force does not have any heavy bombers in service like the Tupolev Tu-95, known by its NATO reporting name as the 'Bear'. That's real life, this is my story.

4. 'The Three Who Got Slashed' is a fictional feudal age Japan samurai TV drama that Tenma, Yakumo, and Harima all enjoyed watching in the actual episodes of School Rumble. The translations for the shows name vary, the 'official' translation used by Funimation when they produced the English dubbed version of School Rumble is 'The Three for the Kill', but I first saw School Rumble in its unofficial fan subbed version's name for the show which I used in my story.

5. Keep in mind that Yakumo probably doesn't know what a HMMWV is and to her it would be some military car.