Chapter 21 – Before the trip

When Toshiro entered the tent, Shirley was already opening her eyes.

"Gwaaaaaaah… Morning, Toshiro."

"Hello, Shirley. Are you comfortable with that little rascal sleeping on you each night?"

"Yeeeah… I don't mind her… There's a mutual benefit for it - we both heat each other in the night. And her boob urges get quenched…" Saying that, Shirley stroked the head of Francesca, who purred like a cat. "Where were you by the way?"

"Oh, I'm holding to my tradition of morning jogging. Want to join me?"

"Nooooo… I'm half-dead even now, and it's what, past six?"

"Yeah. I sort of don't see you running to be honest…"

"Huh? What do you mean? Remember when we ran to the hangar from the beach?"

"I don't mean your speed, that's that, but… you are kind of distracting while running…"

"I don't know what…" She paused for a second and looked at him with her eyes squinted. "Oh you… perv you!"

"Huh, whaaaat…" Francesca raised her head in confusion. "Oh, good morning you two… What's up?"

"Morning, Francesca. We were just discussing the physics of Shirley's boobs."

"Oh! A very good topic indeed, heehee!"

"You two will be the death of me someday…" Shirley sighed and slammed her head back down on her pillow.

"Anyway, Shirley, remember what we were talking about at dinner yesterday?"

"Ummm… Ah, yes, my motorcycle! I'll get it ready after breakfast, okay?"

"Sure, thanks, I'll even help you."

"You think you can do it?"

"Are you underestimating me? An engine is an engine. I've been taught to service air-cooled, water-cooled, petrol, diesel and electric engines. And you already saw what I did to your magic engine, right?"

"Then why don't you do it yourself…" Shirley puffed her cheeks.

"I want you to have something to do, besides of lying on the bed and listening to the radio. I can lift the ban off the dirty work for you, if you so please…"

Shirley looked at Francesca, and Francesca looked back at Shirley. They both nodded to each other and Shirley said, "Please do, because, to be honest, we are dying of boredom right now… Earlier we didn't want to do the chores, because we were forced, but now that we have our freedom, we have nothing to do, and Lucchini and me came to a conclusion that we want to help the girls here… And frankly speaking, the dung from Marseille's cow is starting to give of a rather strong aroma now…"

"And I stood up for you so you won't have to do this shit… Well okay, you can do whatever you like; just don't go AWOL from the base, okay?"

"We promise!" They both said in unison.

"Good… I wouldn't want to court martial you two… So, let's go to the dining tent and wait for breakfast, huh?"

"Can't we just stay here and listen to the radio?" Shirley asked.

"We could… But turn down the volume, people are sleeping, and the tent's fabric isn't exactly soundproof…"

"Roger!"

Shirley ran up to the radio, turned down the volume to about ten percent and turned it on. They listened to it, until Toshiro heard a sound of knocking on wood outside. The sound repeated itself a few times, after which Mami went in.

"Hey, no sense in hanging that piece of wood if nobody answers!"

"What piece of wood?" Toshiro asked surprised.

"The same one that Kei has, stupid. You copied that from her?"

"Huh?"

Mami looked at Toshiro as if he was an idiot.

"Seriously, are you stoned or what? There's the same piece of wood like at Kei's tent, dangling at your tents entrance."

"First I heard of it…"

"Cousin… Did you perhaps get on Kei's good side?"

"Mmmmmyeeaah…" Toshiro answered.

"Huh? When was that? During supper, she still looked at you as if you were some rapist in chains, and I doubt you met her in the morning so… No way! Oh no! You didn't!"

"Mami, what are you implying, cousin dearest? That I went and…" Toshiro trusted his right fist forward under his left forearm. "Yuki would probably render me unconscious before I would get horny, hah!"

"I confirm I would do exactly that." Yuki said through Toshiro.

Mami got a bit creeped off, but she regained her composure quickly.

"I'm still not used to that Yuki of yours, especially after that little fallout we had, hehe… But anyway, what happened then, Toshiro?"

"Two deathstalker scorpions attacked her in the bed, I saved her, something apparently broke in her and now she's 'normal'. She even gave me this an hour ago or so." Toshiro showed the pantry key to everyone and hid it afterwards.

"Woah! Now that's something! Thanks for saving her, cousin; Kei really means something to me…" She paused and looked at Toshiro. "But not in the way you could think!"

"I wouldn't have anything against it, Mami. Really, we had a pair of… alternative sexuality… in the 501st, fine with us… Right, Shirley, Francesca?"

"Yeah, it didn't bother us that Eila and Sanya were being a bit too affectionate with each other, heh…" Shirley answered a bit flustered.

Mami was already red as a summer sunset, but she somehow didn't explode or run away yet.

Toshiro approached her, kneeled before her and patted Mami on the head.

"If you have any problems, you can always come to me. If I won't help you, Shirley or Francesca can, they eat three daily meals coming from you, right guys?"

"Sure, sure…" Shirley muttered. "But we haven't been officially acquainted yet if I remember correctly. Well, Lucchini got to grab her breasts, but that hardly counts…"

Mami put a smile on her face and went to the two. She extended her hand and said, "Mami Inagaki, pleased to meet you."

"Charlotte E. Yeager, but I prefer Shirley. Charlotte makes me think of some grandma sitting on a porch in the middle of the bayou…"

Mami giggled slightly at that remark. Francesca got of her bed and said, "Francesca Lucchini, pleased to meet you… again, heehee."

"Maybe I should grope you now in exchange?"

"WAAAAH!" Francesca shouted and jumped behind Shirley.

The rest had a brief laugh from Francesca's reaction.

"You are really a neat bunch." Mami said while laughing. "But anyway, come on, breakfast will be soon. Today I decided to do - hold tight - Schnitzel with mashed potatoes and Sauerkraut!"

The mouths of Toshiro, Shirley and Francesca opened wide as they started drooling uncontrollably.

"Judging by your reactions, I would guess you'll like it…" Mami said with a wry smile.

"For the time I spent in the transport plane, I only had beef jerky and fucking crackers…" Toshiro said.

"And you didn't exactly treat us like royalty because of the lack of higher quality supplies…" Shirley muttered.

"I'm sorry, but what was I supposed to do with only potatoes and carrots? Everyone got the same food, so you weren't treated differently." Mami responded calmly.

"Shiiiiirleeeey, I want to eaaat!" Francesca shouted childishly.

"Okay, okay, we're going."

The four of them exited the tent, and everyone looked at the piece of wood hanging at the entrance. It was an exact copy of the one which hung at Keiko's tent. After looking at it, they went to the dining tent.

All the witches were sitting at the tables, except for Raisa, who was standing at the kitchen table and slamming the beef with a tenderizer. The magnificent scent of fried meat was filling the whole tent, much to the pleasure of the gathered.

"Mami, for crying out loud, what took you so long?! I had to tenderize all the beef myself!"

"Ugh, I'm sorry, Rai… I had a little conversation with Toshiro and the girls…"

"Well, whatever… Help me here, or Kingdom Come will greet us before we eat..."

Mami rushed to help Raisa, and Toshiro with his companions took seats.

Francesca and Shirley sat on the end with Matilda, and Toshiro took a spot between Keiko and Tina.

"How's life, girls?" Toshiro asked.

"Fine on my end, nothing to complain about. Well, actually, I need somebody to clean the cow's pen, and since you banned the two doing it usually…" Tina answered.

"Don't worry, Marseille, we can do it for you, for old times' sake, hehehehe… But it will cost ya…" Shirley said with a wry smile.

"Oh really now? What's your price?"

"I've heard from reliable sources that you are stockpiling chocolate and coffee, the good sort. Give us one bar and one packet respectively, and we'll shovel shit for you today."

"Only one day? That is a robbery in broad daylight! Three times!"

"Two and I won't go lower! And I already know that Matilda won't touch that dung for whatever riches of this world, right, Matilda?"

Matilda nodded affirmatively.

"Mistress would have to give me twice what the two here want, I know my worth."

With a disgruntled voice and after a heavy sigh, Tina said, "Okay… A bar of chocolate and pack of coffee for two times of shit flinging…"

Francesca and Shirley high-fived, and then Keiko asked Toshiro, "Hey, Toshiro, how do you like your new decoration on the tent?"

"Simple and functional, just the way I like. Thanks, Keiko."

"No problem, I have a few spares just in case, and since you are a big figure here, I assumed you don't like to be disturbed out of the blue."

"Would you see how many times my door was knocked in the Folkestone castle, dear gods… I would probably have scuffmarks on it by the end of the year, if not for the fact I broke the aforementioned door with a soldier, heh…"

"Huh, scuffmarks? And how did you break it?"

"Well, you see, because of my good nature and helpful disposition, the girls always asked me for advice on various problems." Toshiro turned his head to the rest. "Oh, and while I remember: all of you can come to me if you have a problem. I will be glad to help if it's not anything impossible." He turned his head back to Keiko. "About the door… You see, there was a coup de d'état of our base, maybe you've heard of it?"

"Hmmm… Ah yes, some Maloney guy. There was a big article in the newspaper. So, what was it about?" Keiko asked.

"I snuck back into the base, and got into my room through the skylight. However, a guard was standing just before my door in the corridor, so I pierced it with my fists, grabbed the guard and yanked him inside the room."

"Impressive…" Tina said with appreciation.

"Hey, don't cut in!" Keiko shouted.

"Okay, okay…"

"So anyway…" Toshiro said. "I'm going to Tobruk, and I'm willing to take orders for whatever I can acquire there. Just remember that I only have a sidecar as a storage compartment, so unless you fit me with a backpack, I have rather limited space."

"I already told you what I want." Keiko said and winked.

"Hey, Major, I would like you to get me apple tobacco." Tina said.

"Huh? You smoke, Tina?"

"Well, I must admit that if I won't take a puff from my shisha, I can't sleep at night. But I'm not a chain smoker, don't worry. I know that I must keep my body fit for combat."

"Fair enough… Anyone else want something?"

"Get me a good whetstone and an even better meat cleaver, cousin."

"You want to slaughter Tina's cow?" Toshiro said with a demonic smile.

"Yes." Mami said with an emotionless monotone voice, with her eyes losing all their color.

"HEY! Nobody will touch Heidi when I'm around!" Tina protested aloud.

"Guhehehehe, I have you there, Marseille… But seriously, get me those if you can, chopping up slabs of meat with bones is heavy as it is with this crap knife of mine."

"Will do, Mami. Next? Matilda? Want something?"

"I don't think I need worldly possessions… Although… If you could get me some good books, I would be grateful."

"You know what? I will get a metric assload of books, since I also need something to read. Anybody else need something?"

"Ummmm… Major… If you could get me a good comb… Mine broke…" Furuko asked shyly.

"Only a comb? Nothing flashier?"

"No…"

"Well okay. And you, Raisa, need anything in particular?"

"No, I don't think so… Oh, wait, if you could get me a deck of cards…"

"Cards? I can't believe there are no cards here…"

"I can explain... Some time ago, we played strip poker amongst us, and the girls plotted against me, stripping me right to my birthday suit… So I got pissed off, and destroyed all card decks in the base… I also instated a ban, which I lifted a few days ago, but nobody got to buy a new deck…" Keiko confessed.

"The fuck… Well, anyway, since you all placed your orders… It's time to pay up!" Toshiro said confidently and extended his hand.

They all looked at him as is they were small kittens.

"Are you all fucking kidding me? You are ALL broke?!"

"Well, not all, but… All of us chipped in to pay for the goods in the transport you brought and… heheh… payday will be in a few days so…" Keiko explained.

"Uggggghhh… Good that I'm a walking money sack right now… Fine, I will pay for all of you, but if you forget to reimburse me… Well, let's say that strip poker as an excuse won't be needed…. He…he…he…"

They all looked with terror at him, and immediately nodded their heads violently.

"Good. Now, Raisa, Mami, how is it going?"

"A few minutes, and we're go!"

After said few minutes, breakfast was served. Everyone was in gastronomic heaven right now, and Francesca even got small seconds.

"Well, I'm full." Toshiro said. "Thank you for the meal, Mami, Raisa. Now I have to go with Shirley and prepare the motorcycle."

"Oh, wait a second." Keiko said. "Here's the key for the padlock, we had the motorcycle chained down…" She said and threw him a small key. "And uhm… we drained the gasoline, and buried in a canister in the corner of the shed under a crate with 7.62 ammunition…"

"You really wanted for the two to stay, huh?" Toshiro asked with a dry voice.

"He…Heh…"

"Thanks for the heads up. Now, Shirley, let's go."

The two of them, with Francesca tagging along, went to the large shed in which Strikers, weapons and various hardware was stored. He saw his cannon lying on a few crates, his Striker on a wooden rack and the MG hanging on its strap, together with the FFG.

Shirley's motorcycle was indeed chained down to concrete blocks, which a witch without Super Strength powers wouldn't even budge.

"My poor R75… Chained down like some beast…" Shirley said almost crying.

Toshiro approached the chains, found the padlock and opened it with the key, releasing the motorcycle from its shackles.

Shirley immediately grabbed the handlebar and pushed it outside the shed.

"AAAARGH! It's so dirty! Toshiro, throw me a rag, so I can at least get the dust off."

Toshiro found a rag that wasn't dirty from oil and threw it to Shirley. She grabbed it midair and started cleaning the motorcycle.

"Now to dig up that fuel can…" Toshiro muttered.

"Oh, I can do that!" Francesca said lively. "Just show me where to dig!"

Toshiro looked around, and saw the place mentioned by Keiko: a corner, in which a crate with 7.62 ammunition was standing alone.

"Come here, Francesca." He said while lifting the crate. "Dig here, but I'll have to find you…"

She ran up to the spot and started digging a hole with her bare hands.

What enthusiasm…

After not more than a minute, she pulled out the fuel can, and raised it triumphantly over her head.

"Ta da!"

"Heh, not bad, Francesca. Now gimme, I want to fill the fuel tank."

"Nu-uh…" She pouted and embraced the can.

"Oh? You want to do it by yourself?"

"Yes! Shirley always let me when we were traveling!"

"As you wish."

She ran off to Shirley and said, "Hey, Shirley! I got some gas!"

"Good job, Lucchini! How much?"

Francesca shook the canister with a concentrated expression and answered, "Half full."

"Pssshh, we could make a trip to Egypt with so much juice! Okay, pour it in."

Francesca unscrewed the fuel cap, poured the gasoline into the tanks and screwed the cap back on.

"Good… Okay, I think you are ready to go, Toshiro. Want to have a test ride to the center of the base?"

"Of course I want!"

"Then come over here, I have to show you all the stuff."

Toshiro neared himself to the motorcycle and Shirley started showing him all the necessary levers and thingamajigs.

"So here's the kickstarter… The clutch… Gear change is here… Choke there… I think you know how to accelerate, break and change gears, right?"

"I know how to drive a Rikuo Type 97, which is basically a licensed and improved copy of the Harley-Davidson Road King with sidecar attached."

"Well, not bad! Okay, fire it up and give us a ride!"

"Yaaaay, ride!"

Toshiro shifted the gear into neutral, enabled the choke, unfolded the kickstarter lever and hammered it hard with his foot. The 745cc twin cylinder engine rumbled and went into idle like a charm.

"See, Toshiro? That how a machine repays you for treating it correctly."

He jumped on the motorcycle, with Francesca positioning herself in the sidecar, and Shirley sitting behind him, and grabbing him in the waist from behind.

Gods, Shirley… Why do you have to have to cling to me like that…

Toshiro turned off the choke, shifted into first gear and cranked the accelerator to the max. Although they were fully loaded, it took not more than half minute to arrive at the base center.

"Weeeee! Once more!" Francesca cheered.

"Not now, Lucchini, Toshiro has to go to the city."

"Awkay…" The little Romagnan answered with a disappointed look.

"Oh, wait a second, Toshiro, I have to give you something." Shirley said and went into their tent, with Francesca following her.

"I see that you are ready?" Keiko's voice was heard from behind him.

He turned his head back, and saw Keiko with a big backpack.

"This is for you, so you can buy as much stuff as you can." She said and threw him the backpack.

"Thanks!"

Shirley ran out of the tent with something in her hand.

"Here, my Halcyon Mark 4 Racing Special goggles. Don't lose them, or scratch them, or I will maim you! These are not produced anymore!"

Toshiro took the goggles, and put them on.

"Don't worry, Shirley, I'll treat them as my own. So… Bye now, see you later!"

Toshiro revved the engine and went off in the direction of Tobruk.

And if you want to praise/rant about my story, please leave a signed review, so we can continue via PM's. Seriously, I don't bite. Unless provoked :]