Alex sat on the flagstone walk in front of the house. Her vantage at the gate allowed her to peer up and down the lane. Birds chirped in the late morning sun as bees carried about their business in the garden. Asuka's summer vegetable patch looked about ready for harvest.
"Where did you get that cigarette?" Misa asked as she sat beside Alex.
"House next door," Alex waved her hand. "Since no one lives there yet, I thought I would help myself."
"I didn't know you smoked."
"I don't really," Alex said, exhaling a cloud of tobacco smoke. "Only when I'm angry or nervous."
"Anything to do with...what happened?" Misa asked.
Alex wrapped her free hand around her lover. "Yes."
"Do you think any less of me because of it?" Misa wondered.
Alex let her mouth fall open. Misa blushed and looked down the lane. "You have been rather distant this past two weeks. I was worried you - you didn't love me any more."
"I do love you," Alex said. "More than anyone or anything. I'm just angry at the men who did this and frustrated that I couldn't be there to..."
Misa fixed her gaze on Alex.
"To save me? she finished the statement.
Alex clenched her teeth. "That I couldn't be there to protect you."
Misa turned her gaze to the flagstone walk they sat upon. "When this is finally over, will you stop smoking?"
Alex gazed at the slowly burning ember as she considered her answer. "Do you want me to quit?"
Misa leaned in close to peck Alex's cheek. "I won't tell you to quit, but I would rather you didn't smoke."
Alex smiled, puffed the last centimeter then stubbed the butt on the pavement. "As you wish, my lady."
"I'm getting bored," Misa said as she stretched luxuriously. "I feel cooped up. Let's go for a walk."
"I'm down for that," Alex said. "Where to?"
"How about down to the boat launch?"
Both girls turned to see Sergeant Major Blake rounding the corner.
"Sergeant Major, what brings you by?" Alex asked. "Any news of Shaun - er, Sergeant Phillips?"
"They had a bit of a scrape, but nothing serious," Blake said. "And before you get excited, he is just fine. The advance column he and the others were to meet up with are en route and he should be back in a few days."
The clatter of a pot on stone signaled the arrival of another guest. Everyone turned to see Asuka standing on the stoop, her eyes alight and her hand over her mouth.
"Is it true?" she asked as she hurriedly approached the impromptu gathering. "Is he okay? Is he coming home?"
Blake smiled and bowed politely. "Yes, missus. He just needs to finish up a last bit of business, then catch the next transport here."
Asuka sank to her knees and wept openly. Alex and Misa were by her sides in a heartbeat, offering congratulations. Blake stood by and waited patiently.
Having cried herself out, Asuka stood and bowed to Blake. "Forgive my horrible manners, Sergeant Major. Please come inside for tea."
Blake bowed once again. "I am afraid I shall have to decline at this time, Mrs. Phillips. However, I would like to extend an invitation of my own."
Asuka cocked her head. "For what?"
"Captain McElroy wants to carry out the sentencing today on Miss Kinoshita's attackers," Blake said. "There is a berth for all of you if you want it."
Alex perked up as Misa slumped to her side. Asuka glanced at her girls and frowned slightly.
"Is marooning really a fitting punishment?" She asked. "While I do not condone the seeking of revenge, it seems they are receiving a lighter sentence than befits the crime."
Blake struggled to suppress a smile. "It would seem the Captain shares your view on the matter. However, I am not at liberty to discuss the matter in public."
"Then, please come inside," Asuka insisted. "I will prepare tea."
Blake glanced at his watch. "Not enough time for that, I'm afraid," he said. "There's just enough for you to pack a few days travel kit and run to the pier."
"Why pack a bag?" Alex asked.
"Now or never, Miss Schweiger," Blake replied cryptically.
Alex and Misa shared a glance and a nod, then set off at a run into the house. Blake turned to Asuka.
"Will you be joining us today, missus?"
"I think I had best remain here, in case Shaun tries to get word through," she said.
"I understand," Blake said. "I will look after your girls as if they are my own. I swear on my very soul."
Asuka looked Blake in the eye. "Have you children of your own, Sergeant Major?"
Blake cast his eyes to the walk. "Once, a lifetime ago."
Asuka was about to open her mouth when she was interrupted by the sounds of the girls dashing down the walk towards her. Alex had slipped into her ACU pants, bound her chest once again under the open button-front shirt and slung her pack over her shoulder. Misa carried the bokken and jo staff as well as their hats. Blake regarded them closely.
"You are aware, Miss Schweiger, that you look like a yakuza?"
Misa laughed aloud for the first time in days. Asuka hugged them both tightly and kissed them good luck.
"Weren't these men s'posed to be flown outta here?" Alex asked as the group followed the prisoners up the gangway. "Why are we on a boat?"
"Once we are out to sea," Sergeant White said, a wicked smile on his lips. "Patience."
The prisoners were taken below and locked into a cabin.
Alex cocked an eyebrow at White. He just smiled back, then turned to stare over the bow. Misa stayed close to Alex, holding her tightly.
"We are heading south, aren't we?" Misa asked.
"Indeed we are," Sergeant Pegg answered. "Captain McElroy's orders."
"Wasn't the sentence to be marooned on Kyushu?" Alex asked.
"Publicly, yes," Blake said. "In hindsight, it put these men too close to rescue and there was still the risk they would end up in another refugee convoy. No, we are to put these men where there is no chance of that."
"Where?" Alex asked, curiosity gnawing her stomach.
"Come sunrise, you will know."
The sun sank low over the ocean as the converted cabin cruiser idled into view of a large, once heavily populated landmass.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Blake announced softly. "Welcome to the former Republic of China."
The morning sun glinted off the calm sea. Blake roused his Marines before waking the girls. He saw to their breakfast of fruit and biscuits before waking the prisoners. White and Pegg marched them on deck then stood them at the gunwale.
[Right, off you go,] Blake ordered the prisoners.
Shinagawa turned pale, Chiba struggled against White and Pegg while Majima seemed resigned to his fate.
[Don't make us shoot you,] White said. [Where is all that bravado from before? Gone away, has it?]
Shinagawa reluctantly climbed onto the pier and immediately turned back to the boat. Alex sat on the upper deck watching the commotion as several undead shuffled out of earshot in the marina.
[March,] White ordered as he leveled his rifle at Shinagawa. [Or, I shoot you right here.]
[I would rather die quickly,] Shinagawa said, sinking to his knees. [On everything you hold holy, don't leave us here.]
[Oh no, laddie, not quickly. I'll just shoot you in the leg and leave you here.] Blake said, his own anger barely restrained.
Pegg laid a hand on Blake's shoulder. "Keep it closed up, Sar Major. Time enough after this business is done."
Alex joined Misa in the wheelhouse. Misa clutched at Alex and held close to her.
"Why?" Misa cried softly. "Why does it hurt so much?"
Alex could say nothing. Instead she wrapped her arms protectively around Misa.
[You've made your point,] Majima called to the wheelhouse. [If this is the lesson to be learned about order and discipline, we have learned it.]
Alex felt Misa tense. He body shook as she fought her tears.
Alex looked down on Majima. [I told you at the trial I would kill you. Any last words, say 'em.]
Majima puffed. [I regret nothing, not even having your little bed warmer.]
A short scuffle broke out on the lower deck as Pegg wrestled Chiba to the deck while White slipped a zip tie around his wrists. "Stupid twat!"
Pegg stood Chiba upright then dragged Majima onto his feet. They were marched onto the pier, rifles at their backs. Blake turned to Misa and unholstered his pistol.
"Would you care to ring the dinner bell, Miss Kinoshita?" he said as he offered her the pistol.
Misa looked at it long and hard.
"What should I do?" Misa asked Alex. "Should I?"
"I can't tell you what to do," Alex said softly. "This has to be your decision."
Misa took the pistol and felt the weight of it in her hand. She looked over to Alex. "Will you hate me if I do this?"
Alex stared at the deck. "Will you feel better if you do? Is there a chance you will regret it?"
"Regret doing it, or not doing it?" Misa wondered. "A week ago, I would have demanded to shoot these men myself. Now, I think it's enough to know they can't harm me or anyone else ever again." Misa smiled, then turned to face Blake and returned his pistol. "You may put that away, Sergeant Major. I have no need for that any longer."
Alex took her lover in her arms and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you no matter what."
Blake holstered his pistol and bowed deeply. "As you wish, Miss Kinoshita." He then called below. "Cast off all lines."
The lines were cast off and the boat drifted into the harbor. Noticing this, the castaways started shouting, pleading for leniency and begged not to be left behind. Misa gazed impassively down upon them.
[How does it feel?] Misa taunted from her vantage in the wheelhouse. [Power is so fleeting, isn't it? Once you were strong, now you beg for your life.]
"Look at that," Alex pointed up the pier. "Those men did the job for you."
Everyone in the wheelhouse turned to see a sizable gathering of corpses make their shambling way toward the source of the shouting.
Misa buried her head in Alex's chest and clasped her hands to her ears as the shouting gave way to screams of pain and despair as they were torn apart.
A/N: This chapter is presented to jm1681 who never relents in his demands to see the body. And, as always, The State wishes to thank Draco38 and jm1681 for their tireless efforts in editing and the actual creation of this chapter.