On 24th December all the JSF, confederate and IMAF commanders signed the treaty of the capitulation. After that most of the IMAF members left the occupied JSF HQ where the negotiations were held and left the rest for the two original sides.
The meeting room was filled with representatives. One and a half year ago in that exact room the JSF leadership was treating the boys' schools with contempt. Now the boys were the ones who told this defeated leadership what to do.
It was Kyousuke in the chair. "Ladies and gentleman. We came here today to bring peace to a troubled sport of Japan. I declare in advance that the purpose of this conference is not to find scapegoats. We want peace not vengeance. However we will prosecute those who are responsible for such dishonorable acts as the tear gas attacks on our forces. We shall discuss the future relationship of the Confederacy of Independent High Schools and the Japan Sensha-Do Federation later; today we will be talking about more urgent topics. First: if the members of the girls' teams leave their tanks behind, all of them can return home forthwith, they will not have to face any blame or retaliation. Secondly, all federal tank and facility will be under our control until we are sure that giving them back is not a threat to us. Thirdly…"
The session lasted all day. They agreed about the duration of the occupation, that the JSF army was now disbanded and that all the girls can go home the next day.
It was late in the evening when Kiyoshi exited the building and headed for his quarters in Shinjuku.
"Evening Kiyoshi-san." he heard a voice from behind when he stepped down the stairs. The commanding general turned around.
"Ah Darjeeling-san. Good evening." Kiyoshi bowed his head to St. Gloriana's commander who was walking down the stairs. He couldn't help but notice the grace in her motion and gait. Somehow it has escaped his attention so far. But now as he saw it… He had to realize how elegant and dignified she really was.
"Thank you for being so large-hearted with us. Even if I spent the last few weeks in Yokohama… I couldn't feel myself at home. Finally, I can return to my parents' house. I can reunite with them and my younger sister thanks to you."
"Oh please. It's really nothing. We don't want to be your enemy anymore. It's a sign of reconciliation from us. "
"You're a very humble man aren't you?" asked Darjeeling.
"Well. What do you say?"
"You ARE a humble man. And I like that." said Darjeeling with a faint smile.
"I'm glad I made a good impression." thanked Kiyoshi the praise. "Any if I may say so: I think I also like the person that YOU are. "
"Really? What's in me that you like?"
"What could I say? It's hard to tell. It's just… your aura has… It emits positive waves." replied Kiyoshi.
"Like in Kelly's Heroes?" joked Darjeeling.
"Exactly." nodded Kiyoshi smiling.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"And now?" asked Kiyoshi.
"I thought I'll go back to the Sakura Hotel, have a warm bath and continue relaxing. And you?"
"I'm accommodated in Shinjuku so I'm going there."
"Say… Will you pass the Sakura Hotel on your way there?"
"Yes I will. Why?"
"Don't you want to… accompany me there?" asked Darjeeling shyly. "But if I'm too intrusive…"
"It would be lovely." said Kiyoshi.
"Really? Thank you." smiled again Darjeeling and the two went on their way. It was a dark and cold December night, only the streetlights, the stars and the Christmas decorations gave light. They were quiet for a long time. It was until Kiyoshi suddenly stopped. "What is it Kiyoshi-san?"
"Do you hear that?" the Landsknecht student asked. Darjeeling listened and now she could hear it too. She heard distant singing. The quiet chords were flying over the roofs and between the streets. It was coming from the outer parts of Tokyo where the IMAF forces were now stationed.
"O du fröhliche, o du selige,
gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!"
The german Christmas song was followed by many others in many languages as the Europeans, North and South Americans and Africans celebrated Holy Night far from their homes.
Kiyoshi and Darjeeling were standing there on the empty street in the snow, listening to the carols.
"Merry Christmas Kiyoshi-san."
"Frohe Weihnachten Darjeeling-san." How awkward it was. Two formerly enemy commanders were now standing together in the snow, peacefully listening to Christmas songs. "Do you believe in any god or gods?"
"I can't say that I'm too religious. But sometimes I murmur a prayer. I did it many times in the past year." replied Darjeeling. "What about you?"
"I do not practice my religion often either. Anyway, I'm a catholic." said Kiyoshi.
"Oh. What it is like?"
"Interesting. Miho-san asked me the same thing exactly 365 days ago near Niigata. I say now what I said to her back then: it's not stranger than being a shintoist."
"I see."
"God, this is my second Christmas without my family."
"The same here. A year ago I was somewhere between Shizuoka and Nagoya on the battlefield. At least I've got a warm scarf and some cookies from my parents." recollected Darjeeling.
"I've also got a scarf from my father. And fruit cake from my mother."
"You must have very kind parents."
"So do you."
"Who knows? Maybe someday I can meet them." said Darjeeling.
"I'm sure they would like you." assured her Kiyoshi.
"Thanks for this supposition."
"Your welcome. Well, we are here." said Kiyoshi when they arrived to the main entrance of the Sakura Hotel.
"Thank you again Kiyoshi-san for talking with me. It really feels good."
"Anytime Darjeeling-san. If you ever need to talk, feel free to come to me."
"And many thanks for being so kind. Uhm…"
"What is it Darjeeling-san?"
"Can I get another hug?" asked the young girl timidly. "Sorry, now I really…" But before she could finish the sentence her companion wordlessly spread his arms. Darjeeling didn't hesitate; she stepped closer and folded her own arms around him. For her it felt incredibly good to lean against his chest, rest her head on his shoulder and feel his hand on her back and on her nape. After a very long time she felt warm and secure. She stepped back only after an entire minute. "Arigato Kiyoshi-san. Really, you are TOO kind."
"Would it be better if I'd be some rude nurd?"
"No. Not at all. Stay who you are, okay?"
"Yes ma'am!" saluted Kiyoshi and smiled.
"Then… good night." bowed slightly Darjeeling.
"Good night." said Kiyoshi and walked away. But after a few steps he turned around for a minute. "Darjeeling-san."
"Yes?" turned back Darjeeling standing before the door.
"This new hairstyle really suits you well." said Kiyoshi then went on his way without waiting for the answer.
Darjeeling was left there together with her thoughts. She didn't know what to think but she knew that her face was heating up. She then entered the Hotel and went up to the room she shared with Pekoe.
"Welcome back Darjeeling-sama! Mmm… Did something good happen?" asked the orange haired loader when she saw her commander's face.
"Yes Pekoe-san. Actually, it can be said." said Darjeeling with a mysterious smile.
Two weeks later
The peace conference kept going until the middle of January. The JSF had to renounce all the boys' schools and its former properties on their territories. Furthermore it had to recognize the Confederacy of Independent High Schools as an independent sport association on its own.
The former federal leadership was almost completely replaced. Hayakawa Agano became the new director, the woman the boys uniformly voted for during that certain conference in the last days of their JSF membership.
One day they got news that the IMAF has accepted their request and recognized them as a member. No human words could possibly describe their happiness when they learned this.
And finally the day came. The day when the peace treaty was signed. Everyone gathered together in the conference room of the JSF headquarters one more time. The stout document was placed on the director's table. One by one all the federal and confederate representatives wrote their names on it. Hayakawa was the last to sign it. In the very moment her pen left the paper the Sensha-Do war was officially over.
Out there the tanks of the boys' schools fired a mighty salvo to celebrate victory.
As the IMAF tankers had no more work to do in Japan it was time for them to their own countries.
Under the command of Gustav the german teams gathered together in Tokyo to go back to Niigata from where they will be shipped back to Russia and the Trans-Siberian Railway.
"Everyone will be ready within an hour Gustav." said Gertrud.
"Danke Gertrud. Tell me when we are good to go." replied Gustav.
"Verstanden. Fuh. This was… trying."
"I must agree on that. I think I don't have to tell you how tired I am."
"The same here. Do you know what I'm going to do in the very moment I get home?"
"I'm curious."
"I'll take a nice hot bath, then fall into my bed and sleep for at least 48 hours."
"I see you know how to live."
"Nein mein lieber Kommandant. Say this after I had a delicious lunch of steak, potato, meet salad, Vanillekipferl and a glass of Rhenish Riesling." said the vice-commander girl.
"You're right. I'll say it after you ate and drank all of this. And after you got rid of the calories." grinned Gustav.
"Hey!"
"Forget it." smiled the commander. "For now go and check the guys please."
"Of course." pouted Gertrud and left.
"I'm a bit evil, aren't I?" thought Gustav. Then he wanted to go back to his Königstiger but a voice stopped him.
"Gustav!"
"Hello Klara. How are you today?" It was the russian vice-commander who walked up to him.
"Spasibo, I'm fine. So… you're leaving?" she asked with audible disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah, my good old Hamburg is waiting for me. You?"
"I'll stay a bit longer. But I'll go home as well. I-I just wanted to ask…" Klara wrung her hands and shifted her weight from one leg to the other.
"Yes?"
"Can we somehow keep in touch?"
"Sure, I'd like that too." nodded Gustav making her face to brighten up.
"Great! Then I'll try to improve my german language skills."
"Viel Glück! Who knows? Maybe I'll get to learn a little russian."
"Удaчи teбe!"
"Uhm…?"
"Good luck to you!"
"Oh I see."
"…"
"…"
"Then… Have a nice trip!" said Klara and offered her hand. Gustav shook it but he felt something between their palms. When he pulled his hand back and looked down he saw that it was a small piece of paper. He looked back at Klara but she just simply smiled, winked and left.
Gustav turned back to the note that was folded in half. He opened it and saw a phone number and a house number in Novosibirsk. Now it was he who smiled. "Don't worry. I'll use this." he thought.
"Kommandant! Everything is ready!" reported Gertrud.
"Let's go home then."
Anton's POV
The Austrian tankers were gathering in Yokohama. To Anton's surprise someone came to visit him before he leaves.
"Maho! Have you come this far from Kumamoto?"
"I had to wave goodbye personally. I owe you a million thanks." said Maho, now dressed in her school uniform. It seemed like an eternity since she last wore it.
"Oh, I just did what everyone else would have done." said Anton.
"Still, it was you who saved me and my crew. And I cannot be grateful enough."
"It was my pleasure Maho. I wish you all the best."
"Arigato Anton-san. Say... May I ask where do you live?"
"In Vienna."
"Oh, I always wanted to see it."
"It's not impossible."
"I know. Vienna. I'll keep it in mind." smiled Maho causing Anton to feel as if butterflies were flapping with their wings in his stomach.
"What on earth is this I feel?" he thought. "Well… it's time for me to go now."
"Sayonara Anton-san!" Maho bowed ceremonially and with a bit of delay Anton returned the gesture.
"Auf Wiedersehen Fräulein Nishizumi!" And with that he climbed up to his Tiger I to lead his comrades on the long way back to Europe.
Gustav's POV
Like the way there, the way back lasted for seven days but somehow it seemed shorter this time. After Moscow it took another day to reach Berlin from where Hamburg was only about an hour and a half by train.
It was so unbelievable for Gustav that he was back in his home city again. He felt as if all the buildings around him greeted him as an old friend. He said goodbye to his fellows and walked home. It was dark out there when he arrived to his house in the suburb.
He sighed when he stepped before the door then ringed the bell. A few seconds later Hans Giertler's eyes went wide when he saw his son standing in the door.
"Good evening dad." said Gustav kindly.
"Agnes come!" Hans shouted and in the meantime he embraced Gustav. Agnes reacted the same way and hugged her child tightly as well.
"What happened mom?" someone asked from behind. Greta walked into the ante-room and forgot to close her mouth when she saw her brother.
"I'm home little sister. I told you." smiled Gustav.
"Gustav!" Greta yelled and run to him. Gustav knelt down so she could snake her arms around his neck and hug him. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too Greta. I missed you too." said Gustav returning the hug.
"Do you still have my drawing?"
"How could I ever lose it? I looked at it each day. It always gave me strength."
"Hurray, I'm so happy!"
"Go inside everyone, do not let the cold in." said Agnes to her family. They totally forgot that the door was still wide open. "What can I do for you son?" she asked as they went to the living room.
"Please mom, you don't have to…"
"I'd like to. Coffee, tea, anything?"
"Well. I'll accept a cup of tea." said Gustav and Agnes gladly went to make it. After a few minutes she came back with the hot drink. "Here you are."
"Danke." thanked Gustav and took the cup.
"Your grandfather will be so relieved." said Hans. "He barely slept ever since you left."
"My first thing in the morning will be to visit him."
"What was it like Gustav?" asked Greta.
"Greta. Your brother must be very exhausted. It's very late anyway, you should be in bed by now." said Agnes.
"This is a special occasion. Nothing will happen if she stays up just a bit longer." said Gustav. "I can tell you a little."
"I'd really like to! Please mom! Please dad!"
"Oh, alright." sighed indulgently Agnes.
"So, right after we arrived to Vladivostok…" And Gustav began to tell his family about his adventures in the magical, mythical, exotic Far East. But he decided to tell them later about a certain blond, slavic girl.
No, it's still not the last one!