There will be a chapter 8. Before, this should be the last chapter but when I upload it, it's cut and the rest won't show up so I cut this chapter into two with chapter 8 as the last.
The next chapters are the most dramatic of all and there will be lots of crying.
The theme song of this fanfiction (not chapter) is 'Leaving song' by the band, Stephen Speaks. I made this song the theme song because of Ichiro Ohgami's departure and death. It sort of brings out the real essence of this story. I would strongly recommend you to listen to it while reading this chapter and chapter 8 to achieve the full emotional and dramatic experience they give.
Opening
"Sir, we have found all the men." Akagi spoke to Admiral Sato as he took the naval ensign flag which used to hang proudly on the Harusame's mast.
"Are there survivors?"
"No sir, there were no survivors. All one hundred thirty three men are dead sir. Twelve medics, eight officers and one hundred thirteen men."
"Arigatou for retrieving their bodies. We will prepare for their funeral once you arrive."
"Hai. Akagi-taichou, over and out."
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Chapter 7: Perdition (Best we ever had)
"What's wrong with Iris? She suddenly burst out of the room." Sakura asked as the Hanagumi tried comforting Iris from the outside of her door.
Maria knocked "Iris, open up." she continued to knock "Iris."
Iris didn't answer. She just stared blankly at her bed, wrapping Jean-paul in her arms. She pretended not to hear the others' knocks and voices outside her room.
"Maybe we should leave her alone. She will come out sooner or later." Sumire spoke as Maria started to give up knocking on the door.
Kanna then walked towards the dining room as she spoke, "Lets eat dinner already. I'll bring up Iris' food."
The girls then proceeded to the dining room and started eating dinner.
Iris stared at the open window, regretting herself for not stopping her beloved oniichan from going. A small gust of wind entered her room and carried a letter to her bed. She looked at it and realized it was the letter she was about to give to him. She cried more when she remembered it.
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Admiral Sato went out his office and looked at the workers typing letters to the families of the deceased sailors. He watched as constant monotonous sounds of typing filled the place followed by constant clings. A worker went to him, carrying a small pile of papers.
"Sir, these are the finished letters of the first seventy four men. Shall we wait until all the letters are finished before we deliver them?"
"Hai." Admiral Sato stared at the letters on his hands and went to his office. He shuffled through the papers, reading the names of the men. He rested until the phone on his office rang. He reached for the receiver and answered, "Hello?"
"Admiral Sato, what's the battle report? Anything new going on?"
Admiral Sato recognized the voice and replied, "Ah, Yoneda-shirei, I am pleased to inform you that Tenkai is gone."
Yoneda couldn't contain his excitement and replied with a more cheerful tone, "That's great! What's happening now to our two ships? Are they en route back here?"
Admiral Sato couldn't answer his question for he thought that if Yoneda found out, he might get a heart attack.
"Hello?"
"Ah, hai?" Admiral Sato replied, eating his words.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Anyway, I'm gonna be over there in a few minutes to check on the status of the ships and maybe congratulate them. Bye." and Yoneda hung up.
Admiral Sato slowly returned the receiver on the phone. "Well," he thought. "He has to know about it. He's the shirei anyway."
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After the dinner, the Hanagumi decided to go back to Iris and help her with any problem she has. Like before, Iris didn't answer.
"Come on out Iris." Kohran called from outside the door.
"Your dinner's here Iris, come on out and eat!" Kanna added while carrying a tray of Iris' dinner.
"Well, I better go. It's getting late." Sakura spoke.
Kohran then replied after her futile efforts at knocking on Iris' door. "Okay, Sakura-han. See ya next time."
"All right, bye minna-san! Good night!" As Sakura turned, Sumire stopped her.
"Sakura-san,"
"Hai?"
"I've been wondering, don't you ever feel lonely when chuu'i's not with you?"
"Iie I don't. Even if I'm there alone, I always feel Ichiro by my side so I don't feel lonely. He promised that he'll come back and I trust him." then, Sakura smiled and went out the front door.
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Admiral Sato opened the door of the steam car and Yoneda stepped out, followed by Ayame. He saluted and the three of them went inside the headquarters.
As Yoneda stepped inside, the men saluted him and he asked, "How are the ships? I'm pleased that we defeated Tenkai."
"Sir, the Maya is returning home. ETA, nine-thirty am tomorrow."
"Why only the Maya? Did the Harusame have to do something? If they did, Ichiro should have told us so we know."
The staff fell silent and didn't show any emotion as Yoneda continued to speak.
Ayame started to become suspicious of the silence in the room.
Admiral Sato went to the filing cabinet and took out a piece of paper. He went over to Yoneda and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"It's a letter. You have to read it."
Yoneda gingerely took the paper and read its contents. He gasped and looked at Admiral Sato. "Hey, I didn't know you can pull of such a good joke as this!"
Admiral Sato just stared at the ground with an emotionless face.
"Oh, no!" Yoneda thought and he was immediately thrown into sadness.
Ayame took the paper and read it, letting out a gasp. "Ichiro-kun." Her hands began to tremble and she dropped the paper.
Admiral Sato picked up the paper and put it on the desk in front of Yoneda. "We have letters for the other sailors' families and we plan to give it to them after we are finished typing all the other letters."
"Did they find any survivors?"
"Iie, they found no one."
"Demo there must be some men they left out!"
"None, Yoneda-shirei. They counted all one hundred thirty three men dead."
Yoneda gloomily replied, "I-I'll just go back home. I don't feel so well."
Ayame stood up and helped Yoneda back to the steam car. The two were silent during the drive back to the Teigeki, not letting Kasumi hear about it. Yoneda clutched the letter so hard that it tore.
"I just can't believe it!" Yoneda exclaimed as they went in the manager's office. "He would always pull out of anything! Why not now?"
"We trusted him that he would always come back."
"Ichiro..."
Ayame held back a few tears "How are we going to tell the girls about it? If we keep it from them, they would be suspicious."
"We'll let the Admiral tell them. He'll give a letter to Sakura. I just don't want to see them cry when we tell them."
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Sakura sat and rested on the wooden chair on the balcony of their apartment. She inhaled a big gulp of air. "Ichiro, please come back, it has been three days now. You're the only one who can help our dilemma with Iris who locked herself up in her room for some reason." Sakura relaxed on the chair, falling asleep almost instantly.
Just then, she heard a faint unpleasant noise. She got up her chair and peeped down from their balcony. She saw a black steam car coming which had the Navy's insignia on the side, hood and the roof. Since Ichiro is the only sailor in the whole apartment, Sakura immediately ran down and waited for it to come. As it came, she expected to see her beloved Ichiro step out and give her a hug but instead, two high-ranking officials came out.
"Mrs. Shinguuji, I presume?"
"Hai."
The navy official took out an envelope from his coat and handed it to Sakura. It had the navy insignia on it.
Sakura took the envelope and opened it, fearing the worst. Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper. She removed the seal and unfolded the paper. She then began to read its contents.
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Dear Mrs. Shinguuji,
We would like to apologize to you for the untimely death of your husband. We understand your close relation with Shinguuji Ichiro-chuu'i and this letter we sent to you expresses our heartfelt sorrow for his loss. He was placed on a naval unit whose dangerous duty is to place himself and his men to risk their lives to protect Teito. He served for its defense against the great evil Tenkai brought with him and he sacrificed his life and his men's life to defeat Tenkai as a sign of great love for you, his friends, family, relatives and the citizens of Teito. No words of ours could ever relieve the pain of a loss so overwhelming.
Your husband is a good man. He always kept his men happy and he made them closer to each other even at the hardest of times. He is the bond which held them all together. He was a fine sailor and he firmly believed that love, trust and understanding can conquer anything and overcome whatever stands in his way.
We would like you to accept our sincere condolences for you, your family, friends and relatives and we hope that this consolation which may be found in the gratitude of our city may ease the pain of your lost loved one. We pray to god to relieve some of the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of your loved, lost.
He died 5:45 pm last night. His body and all the other men's bodies will arrive in Yokohama harbor at 9:30 am if you want to see him.
Condolences,
Sato Utsumi
Admiral, Imperial Navy
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Sakura slowly kneeled down to the floor. She looked up at the two men, refusing to believe what she just read.
"Gomen nasai, Mrs. Shinguuji." The two men then left after comforting Sakura for a while.
Sakura ran to the Teigeki, still refusing to believe what was written on the letter. Her tears fell as she ran, leaving a trail.
Kasumi opened the door, "Ah, Sakura-san! How're you? I didn't know you were coming."
Sakura didn't care about Kasumi's greeting. She hustled towards Yoneda-shihainin's office.
"Sakura-san!" Kasumi called out to her as Sakura ran to the second floor.
Sakura opened the door without knocking. "Shihainin!" Sakura cried, holding up her letter, "Is this true!?"
Yoneda didn't answer her or look up to her. His facial expression seemed to speak for her. Sakura saw almost the same letter she had on his desk but it's addressed to him. A tear slid down Yoneda's eye as he looked at Kayama and Ichiro's pictures.
Sakura looked at Ayame. Her back was turned and she was facing the window, weeping. "Oh no!" she thought and she fell on her knees and buried her face into the letter and she sobbed loudly.
Yoneda looked at Sakura and he went over to her, trying to comfort her. Ayame, too, forced herself to stop weeping and she helped comfort Sakura.
Kasumi stopped in front of the manager's office when she heard sobbing. "Sakura-san?" she thought. Kasumi knocked and Ayame let her in. She saw Sakura kneeling on the floor with Yoneda kneeling beside her as she sobbed. "Sakura-san, what's the matter?"
Sakura didn't answer and instead, she just calmed down but her tears continued falling.
"Sakura-san, is there anything I can help you with?" Kasumi helped Sakura and they both went out of the office.
Sakura just shook her head and kept it down.
"Yo! Sakura! Didn't know you were here!" Kanna cheerfully went over to the two, "What's with the face, Sakura? It has never been like that."
Sakura forced a smile.
"Iris still hasn't come out of her room yet. We still don't know what's wrong with her. We were already planning on breaking down the door but Iris might get shocked at our violence and she might think we're mad at her."
Sakura finally looked at Kanna "Maybe because Iris had already found out."
"Found out about what?"
Kasumi then spoke to her, "Sakura-san, tell us, what's the matter?"
Sakura didn't look at her and tears began to fall again.
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"Sir, transmission from Akagi-taichou."
Admiral Sato went over and took the radio. "Hai, Akagi-taichou?"
"Admiral, we're near Japan. We'll be there in about an hour. Can you please notify the morgue of our arrival?"
"Hai."
"Arigatou. Over and out."
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"Shihainin, Admiral Sato just called. He said we better get dressed. Ichiro-kun and Kayama-kun will be arriving."
"You're right Ayame, I'll get ready. I think we better give the morgue their naval uniforms for their funeral. Do you have them?"
"I only have Ichiro-kun's uniform. I will contact Tsukigumi and ask for Kayama-kun's."
"Please do so."
Ayame went to the phone and dialed the Tsukigumi's secret number.
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"Sakura, why are you crying? What's the matter?" Kanna's loud voice was heard by Maria and she went out to the lobby. There she saw Sakura crying and Kanna and Kasumi comforting her.
"Sakura?" Maria went over and knelt down. "Why, Sakura? Please tell us."
Sakura didn't answer and she slowly handed Maria the paper, looking away.
Maria then felt uneasy as she saw the navy's insignia on the paper.
Kanna and Kasumi huddled close to Maria to read it. The two were shocked at its contents. Kasumi stared to cry while Maria and Kanna didn't say anything.
Maria just stared at the paper while Kanna went to the second floor to tell the others the news.
The first one to come down is Sumire. "Kanna-san, you and your big stupid jokes! Why would anyone want to believe you?" Sumire then saw Kasumi and Sakura crying and Maria staring at the paper as she went down the steps. Sumire started to get nervous. "Maria-san?"
Maria looked at Sumire with tears on her eyes. "Sumire"
Sumire knew it was bad because it's the first time she saw Maria cry in her whole life. "It's true then?"
Maria nodded and held up the paper.
Sumire didn't want to read its contents. She didn't want to read that Ichiro is already dead but she knew deep down that it is true.
Kohran was on her way back to her room when she saw Sumire sitting down in one corner, her face was covered with her arms which are resting on her knees. Kohran could see tears dripping. "Sumire-han?"
Sumire wiped her tears on her arms and looked at Kohran. "Koran, its nothing, really. I just remembered something sad."
"Well, okay then. Cheer up Sumire-han." Kohran then continued to walk towards the room but as she went past Sumire she felt a slight tug on her dress. She looked at it and saw two hands which are attached to Sumire. Sumire was pleading to Kohran for something by the look on her eyes, "Sumire-han?"
"Oh, Kohran! Chuu'i's dead! He's dead!" then she started crying.
Startled, she replied "What do you mean Ichiro-han's dead!? He promised us!"
"And he broke it! Read the letter Maria-san is holding! That will prove to you that he's dead!" then she let go and sobbed.
Kohran continued to walk towards her room. as she walked, she saw Maria staring at a letter with dried up tears on her cheeks. "No, it's not true. It will never happen. They were just acting. It's not true!" she broke into a run and closed the door on her room, her back turned against it. Then, she heard a door close. She opened hers and peeped. She saw Yoneda and Ayame walking towards the stairs. She followed them and listened to what they were saying.
"Shihainin, Admiral Sato said Kayama-kun and Ichiro-kun's bodies are almost there. We better hurry up." Ayame spoke, carrying a naval uniform in a hanger.
"Hai. Do you have Kayama's uniform?"
"Hai. Tsukigumi will bring it to the docks."
Kohran stopped, mortified. 'bodies'? "Could it mean, no! It's not true! It's not true!" Kohran started to believe it and she ran back in her room.
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Ayame and Yoneda stepped out of the steam car and they saw over thirty morgue cars. As they went to the dock, they saw many people there waiting for the Maya to arrive. Admiral Sato was there, contacting Akagi with the radio. The people's voices grew louder and they were forced to look at the sea. There it was, a black figure slowly appearing on the horizon followed by four more figures. As they came closer, two more figures appeared.
Yoneda and Ayame watched as the figure became clearer. Yes, it was the Maya. People anxiously waited for it to dock and see their loved ones once again. As the ship came closer to the harbor, they could see men waving at them and they could see that the ship was full of holes and melted metal due to Tenkai's assault on it.
Other people who haven't found out about the Harusame's fate began to wonder why it isn't here. Only the cries of the Harusame's crew's families answered for them. As the ship docked, people cheered. The ramp was placed down and sailors ran to their families, reuniting with their loved ones once again.
Yoneda and Ayame watched as sailors told the people to clear a path. As the people did so, the sailors went aboard the other six docked ships and brought down stretchers with bodies covered in white cloth. They were the Harusame's crew. The families went closer to the bodies and looked for their loved ones.
Akagi placed a hand on Yoneda and Ayame's shoulder. "The two are in my ship." then, he gestured for them to follow him. The three waited outside the ship as bodies were being taken down. They too, were in stretchers and covered in white cloth. Akagi went over and looked at each body being taken down to look for Kayama and Ichiro's. When he found Kayama, he called Yoneda and Ayame to come closer to see him. His face was pale and lifeless. There were all sorts of wounds on his face. They nodded and the men continued to carry Kayama to the morgue car. Tsukigumi commandoes followed their taichou as he was brought to the morgue.
"Is Ichiro-kun's body still there?" Ayame asked.
Akagi replied "Hai. You will know if it is him."
The three waited for over five minutes until they saw a body being brought in a stretcher, covered in white cloth. The only difference is that the body had a katana on either side. The markings on the hilt is the same as the markings on the hilt of Ichiro's katana. They went closer and pulled down the cloth up to the neck. It is Ichiro. His face was as pale and as white as Kayama's. There were numerous lacerations and his hair is not spiky anymore. Oddly enough, his face was contorted to a small smile. They looked at him for a while and Ayame nodded at the men and they brought him to the morgue car.
But before they could put the body inside the car, a voice was heard. "Shihainin!"
They turned to see the Kazegumi followed by the Hanagumi. Iris finally came out of her room and she was with them. Yoneda was dissapointed that the girls came but he couldn't do anything about it, they were already there. The most logical thing he did was to point at Ichiro's body which is still lying on the stretcher behind the morgue car. The sailors presumed that the girls are Ichiro's friends, family or relatives so they just let them be.
The girls slowly went towards him. The familiar katanas beside him made them feel even worse for only Ichiro handles that kind of blade. They just stared at it for a while until Kanna finally pulled down the cloth. Time had stopped for it was true. He is dead. Perdition beset them as the man they cared for is there, on a situation which is for them, impossible to happen. Tears dripped on the body as they mourned their taichou and friend.
Sakura couldn't hold her grief and wrapped her arms around him, crying even louder. "Ichiro, Ichiro! NO!! Ichiro, why?! Why, Ichiro, why?! You promised! You promised! YOU PROMISED!" His body, even if it is dead still radiated some warmth into Sakura, telling her that he loves her and cares for her even at his death. The warmth then faded and it was replaced with coldness.
"Oniichan is a liar! He is a liar! He breaks promises! Why did you do it oniichan?!! You said you'll never leave us!! WAAAAAH!!!" Iris ran beside Sakura and clutched Ichiro's cold, dead hands. "We love you oniichan." and she cried even louder.
The others couldn't contain their tears but they tried to comfort each other especially Sakura and Iris. Sakura kissed him one last time and stood up, followed by the others who kissed him on the forehead. The men returned the cloth over his body and placed him in the morgue car.
"I never thought I'd see this day come." Tsubaki finally spoke, wiping some of her tears.
The others watched as the morgue car left towards the morgue.
Yoneda didn't look at them the whole time. He called Ayame and both followed the car towards the morgue.
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The girls couldn't eat that afternoon. The loss of Ichiro was too much to bear especially for Sakura who cried and cried until she fainted. Their energy and determination to perform the play had dissipated along with Ichiro. They didn't rehearse for the play that day.
Whenever Maria would tell them that they should start to rehearse, that event would always resurface on their minds:
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
It was a warm summer night. Ayame went to the salon were Sumire was sipping her tea. "Ah, Sumire." she handed her the script of their next play.
"Romeo and Juliet?"
"Hai. It is a very dramatic romance story."
Sumire started to read the script.
Kohran then came in followed by the others. "Ah, Sumire-han, you're here early. Ayame-han called us for the script of the next play."
"It's Romeo and Juliet."
"Waah! That's a beautiful story! I can't wait!"
"It's good for your new love life with taichou eh, Sakura?" Kanna teased, elbowing Sakura.
Sakura just blushed "Well, um, maybe just a little. We're already happy together."
"Okay now, I'll give you time to read the script then I'll assign the roles." Ayame then handed out the scripts. "Be back here after about... ten minutes." the girls slowly went to the dining table, reading their scripts.
Ichiro had finished filing some papers without the help of Kasumi, Yuri and Tsubaki who were busy with the props and stage arrangement. He went to the dining room to get a drink of water and saw the girls reading their scripts. He kissed Sakura on the cheek and she smiled. As he kissed her, he caught a glimpse of the title written on her script. "Oooh, Romeo and Juliet?"
"Hai. It's our next play." She replied as he kissed her again.
"I love that. Romeo and Juliet is my favorite english literature. To see that as the next play is like a dream come true."
Maria looked at him "Then we will try our best to make it the best play ever. Right, minna?"
Everyone nodded and exclaimed "Hai!"
"You can count on us taichou!" Kanna grinned, raising her fist.
"Ya Ichiro-han, it will be the best Romeo and Juliet play ever!" Kohran added
"Iris will do her best for oniichan because Iris loves her oniichan!"
"Arigatou. I look forward to it! I will watch every part of it from beginning to end."
"You better, especially if it's my part." Sumire replied.
"Ichiro, you'll never forget it. We promise." Sakura spoke with a warm smile which helped remove some of Ichiro's stress away.
He smiled and left.
~~~~~end of flashback~~~~~
The girls lost more of their strength to rehearse for the play and they didn't rehearse at all. They started to regret themselves for the times they were being mean to Ichiro and now they can't apologize to him anymore.
( to be continued )
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Please R&R. Please?
The next chapters are the most dramatic of all and there will be lots of crying.
The theme song of this fanfiction (not chapter) is 'Leaving song' by the band, Stephen Speaks. I made this song the theme song because of Ichiro Ohgami's departure and death. It sort of brings out the real essence of this story. I would strongly recommend you to listen to it while reading this chapter and chapter 8 to achieve the full emotional and dramatic experience they give.
Opening
"Sir, we have found all the men." Akagi spoke to Admiral Sato as he took the naval ensign flag which used to hang proudly on the Harusame's mast.
"Are there survivors?"
"No sir, there were no survivors. All one hundred thirty three men are dead sir. Twelve medics, eight officers and one hundred thirteen men."
"Arigatou for retrieving their bodies. We will prepare for their funeral once you arrive."
"Hai. Akagi-taichou, over and out."
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Chapter 7: Perdition (Best we ever had)
"What's wrong with Iris? She suddenly burst out of the room." Sakura asked as the Hanagumi tried comforting Iris from the outside of her door.
Maria knocked "Iris, open up." she continued to knock "Iris."
Iris didn't answer. She just stared blankly at her bed, wrapping Jean-paul in her arms. She pretended not to hear the others' knocks and voices outside her room.
"Maybe we should leave her alone. She will come out sooner or later." Sumire spoke as Maria started to give up knocking on the door.
Kanna then walked towards the dining room as she spoke, "Lets eat dinner already. I'll bring up Iris' food."
The girls then proceeded to the dining room and started eating dinner.
Iris stared at the open window, regretting herself for not stopping her beloved oniichan from going. A small gust of wind entered her room and carried a letter to her bed. She looked at it and realized it was the letter she was about to give to him. She cried more when she remembered it.
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Admiral Sato went out his office and looked at the workers typing letters to the families of the deceased sailors. He watched as constant monotonous sounds of typing filled the place followed by constant clings. A worker went to him, carrying a small pile of papers.
"Sir, these are the finished letters of the first seventy four men. Shall we wait until all the letters are finished before we deliver them?"
"Hai." Admiral Sato stared at the letters on his hands and went to his office. He shuffled through the papers, reading the names of the men. He rested until the phone on his office rang. He reached for the receiver and answered, "Hello?"
"Admiral Sato, what's the battle report? Anything new going on?"
Admiral Sato recognized the voice and replied, "Ah, Yoneda-shirei, I am pleased to inform you that Tenkai is gone."
Yoneda couldn't contain his excitement and replied with a more cheerful tone, "That's great! What's happening now to our two ships? Are they en route back here?"
Admiral Sato couldn't answer his question for he thought that if Yoneda found out, he might get a heart attack.
"Hello?"
"Ah, hai?" Admiral Sato replied, eating his words.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Anyway, I'm gonna be over there in a few minutes to check on the status of the ships and maybe congratulate them. Bye." and Yoneda hung up.
Admiral Sato slowly returned the receiver on the phone. "Well," he thought. "He has to know about it. He's the shirei anyway."
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After the dinner, the Hanagumi decided to go back to Iris and help her with any problem she has. Like before, Iris didn't answer.
"Come on out Iris." Kohran called from outside the door.
"Your dinner's here Iris, come on out and eat!" Kanna added while carrying a tray of Iris' dinner.
"Well, I better go. It's getting late." Sakura spoke.
Kohran then replied after her futile efforts at knocking on Iris' door. "Okay, Sakura-han. See ya next time."
"All right, bye minna-san! Good night!" As Sakura turned, Sumire stopped her.
"Sakura-san,"
"Hai?"
"I've been wondering, don't you ever feel lonely when chuu'i's not with you?"
"Iie I don't. Even if I'm there alone, I always feel Ichiro by my side so I don't feel lonely. He promised that he'll come back and I trust him." then, Sakura smiled and went out the front door.
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Admiral Sato opened the door of the steam car and Yoneda stepped out, followed by Ayame. He saluted and the three of them went inside the headquarters.
As Yoneda stepped inside, the men saluted him and he asked, "How are the ships? I'm pleased that we defeated Tenkai."
"Sir, the Maya is returning home. ETA, nine-thirty am tomorrow."
"Why only the Maya? Did the Harusame have to do something? If they did, Ichiro should have told us so we know."
The staff fell silent and didn't show any emotion as Yoneda continued to speak.
Ayame started to become suspicious of the silence in the room.
Admiral Sato went to the filing cabinet and took out a piece of paper. He went over to Yoneda and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"It's a letter. You have to read it."
Yoneda gingerely took the paper and read its contents. He gasped and looked at Admiral Sato. "Hey, I didn't know you can pull of such a good joke as this!"
Admiral Sato just stared at the ground with an emotionless face.
"Oh, no!" Yoneda thought and he was immediately thrown into sadness.
Ayame took the paper and read it, letting out a gasp. "Ichiro-kun." Her hands began to tremble and she dropped the paper.
Admiral Sato picked up the paper and put it on the desk in front of Yoneda. "We have letters for the other sailors' families and we plan to give it to them after we are finished typing all the other letters."
"Did they find any survivors?"
"Iie, they found no one."
"Demo there must be some men they left out!"
"None, Yoneda-shirei. They counted all one hundred thirty three men dead."
Yoneda gloomily replied, "I-I'll just go back home. I don't feel so well."
Ayame stood up and helped Yoneda back to the steam car. The two were silent during the drive back to the Teigeki, not letting Kasumi hear about it. Yoneda clutched the letter so hard that it tore.
"I just can't believe it!" Yoneda exclaimed as they went in the manager's office. "He would always pull out of anything! Why not now?"
"We trusted him that he would always come back."
"Ichiro..."
Ayame held back a few tears "How are we going to tell the girls about it? If we keep it from them, they would be suspicious."
"We'll let the Admiral tell them. He'll give a letter to Sakura. I just don't want to see them cry when we tell them."
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Sakura sat and rested on the wooden chair on the balcony of their apartment. She inhaled a big gulp of air. "Ichiro, please come back, it has been three days now. You're the only one who can help our dilemma with Iris who locked herself up in her room for some reason." Sakura relaxed on the chair, falling asleep almost instantly.
Just then, she heard a faint unpleasant noise. She got up her chair and peeped down from their balcony. She saw a black steam car coming which had the Navy's insignia on the side, hood and the roof. Since Ichiro is the only sailor in the whole apartment, Sakura immediately ran down and waited for it to come. As it came, she expected to see her beloved Ichiro step out and give her a hug but instead, two high-ranking officials came out.
"Mrs. Shinguuji, I presume?"
"Hai."
The navy official took out an envelope from his coat and handed it to Sakura. It had the navy insignia on it.
Sakura took the envelope and opened it, fearing the worst. Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper. She removed the seal and unfolded the paper. She then began to read its contents.
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Dear Mrs. Shinguuji,
We would like to apologize to you for the untimely death of your husband. We understand your close relation with Shinguuji Ichiro-chuu'i and this letter we sent to you expresses our heartfelt sorrow for his loss. He was placed on a naval unit whose dangerous duty is to place himself and his men to risk their lives to protect Teito. He served for its defense against the great evil Tenkai brought with him and he sacrificed his life and his men's life to defeat Tenkai as a sign of great love for you, his friends, family, relatives and the citizens of Teito. No words of ours could ever relieve the pain of a loss so overwhelming.
Your husband is a good man. He always kept his men happy and he made them closer to each other even at the hardest of times. He is the bond which held them all together. He was a fine sailor and he firmly believed that love, trust and understanding can conquer anything and overcome whatever stands in his way.
We would like you to accept our sincere condolences for you, your family, friends and relatives and we hope that this consolation which may be found in the gratitude of our city may ease the pain of your lost loved one. We pray to god to relieve some of the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of your loved, lost.
He died 5:45 pm last night. His body and all the other men's bodies will arrive in Yokohama harbor at 9:30 am if you want to see him.
Condolences,
Sato Utsumi
Admiral, Imperial Navy
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Sakura slowly kneeled down to the floor. She looked up at the two men, refusing to believe what she just read.
"Gomen nasai, Mrs. Shinguuji." The two men then left after comforting Sakura for a while.
Sakura ran to the Teigeki, still refusing to believe what was written on the letter. Her tears fell as she ran, leaving a trail.
Kasumi opened the door, "Ah, Sakura-san! How're you? I didn't know you were coming."
Sakura didn't care about Kasumi's greeting. She hustled towards Yoneda-shihainin's office.
"Sakura-san!" Kasumi called out to her as Sakura ran to the second floor.
Sakura opened the door without knocking. "Shihainin!" Sakura cried, holding up her letter, "Is this true!?"
Yoneda didn't answer her or look up to her. His facial expression seemed to speak for her. Sakura saw almost the same letter she had on his desk but it's addressed to him. A tear slid down Yoneda's eye as he looked at Kayama and Ichiro's pictures.
Sakura looked at Ayame. Her back was turned and she was facing the window, weeping. "Oh no!" she thought and she fell on her knees and buried her face into the letter and she sobbed loudly.
Yoneda looked at Sakura and he went over to her, trying to comfort her. Ayame, too, forced herself to stop weeping and she helped comfort Sakura.
Kasumi stopped in front of the manager's office when she heard sobbing. "Sakura-san?" she thought. Kasumi knocked and Ayame let her in. She saw Sakura kneeling on the floor with Yoneda kneeling beside her as she sobbed. "Sakura-san, what's the matter?"
Sakura didn't answer and instead, she just calmed down but her tears continued falling.
"Sakura-san, is there anything I can help you with?" Kasumi helped Sakura and they both went out of the office.
Sakura just shook her head and kept it down.
"Yo! Sakura! Didn't know you were here!" Kanna cheerfully went over to the two, "What's with the face, Sakura? It has never been like that."
Sakura forced a smile.
"Iris still hasn't come out of her room yet. We still don't know what's wrong with her. We were already planning on breaking down the door but Iris might get shocked at our violence and she might think we're mad at her."
Sakura finally looked at Kanna "Maybe because Iris had already found out."
"Found out about what?"
Kasumi then spoke to her, "Sakura-san, tell us, what's the matter?"
Sakura didn't look at her and tears began to fall again.
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"Sir, transmission from Akagi-taichou."
Admiral Sato went over and took the radio. "Hai, Akagi-taichou?"
"Admiral, we're near Japan. We'll be there in about an hour. Can you please notify the morgue of our arrival?"
"Hai."
"Arigatou. Over and out."
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"Shihainin, Admiral Sato just called. He said we better get dressed. Ichiro-kun and Kayama-kun will be arriving."
"You're right Ayame, I'll get ready. I think we better give the morgue their naval uniforms for their funeral. Do you have them?"
"I only have Ichiro-kun's uniform. I will contact Tsukigumi and ask for Kayama-kun's."
"Please do so."
Ayame went to the phone and dialed the Tsukigumi's secret number.
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"Sakura, why are you crying? What's the matter?" Kanna's loud voice was heard by Maria and she went out to the lobby. There she saw Sakura crying and Kanna and Kasumi comforting her.
"Sakura?" Maria went over and knelt down. "Why, Sakura? Please tell us."
Sakura didn't answer and she slowly handed Maria the paper, looking away.
Maria then felt uneasy as she saw the navy's insignia on the paper.
Kanna and Kasumi huddled close to Maria to read it. The two were shocked at its contents. Kasumi stared to cry while Maria and Kanna didn't say anything.
Maria just stared at the paper while Kanna went to the second floor to tell the others the news.
The first one to come down is Sumire. "Kanna-san, you and your big stupid jokes! Why would anyone want to believe you?" Sumire then saw Kasumi and Sakura crying and Maria staring at the paper as she went down the steps. Sumire started to get nervous. "Maria-san?"
Maria looked at Sumire with tears on her eyes. "Sumire"
Sumire knew it was bad because it's the first time she saw Maria cry in her whole life. "It's true then?"
Maria nodded and held up the paper.
Sumire didn't want to read its contents. She didn't want to read that Ichiro is already dead but she knew deep down that it is true.
Kohran was on her way back to her room when she saw Sumire sitting down in one corner, her face was covered with her arms which are resting on her knees. Kohran could see tears dripping. "Sumire-han?"
Sumire wiped her tears on her arms and looked at Kohran. "Koran, its nothing, really. I just remembered something sad."
"Well, okay then. Cheer up Sumire-han." Kohran then continued to walk towards the room but as she went past Sumire she felt a slight tug on her dress. She looked at it and saw two hands which are attached to Sumire. Sumire was pleading to Kohran for something by the look on her eyes, "Sumire-han?"
"Oh, Kohran! Chuu'i's dead! He's dead!" then she started crying.
Startled, she replied "What do you mean Ichiro-han's dead!? He promised us!"
"And he broke it! Read the letter Maria-san is holding! That will prove to you that he's dead!" then she let go and sobbed.
Kohran continued to walk towards her room. as she walked, she saw Maria staring at a letter with dried up tears on her cheeks. "No, it's not true. It will never happen. They were just acting. It's not true!" she broke into a run and closed the door on her room, her back turned against it. Then, she heard a door close. She opened hers and peeped. She saw Yoneda and Ayame walking towards the stairs. She followed them and listened to what they were saying.
"Shihainin, Admiral Sato said Kayama-kun and Ichiro-kun's bodies are almost there. We better hurry up." Ayame spoke, carrying a naval uniform in a hanger.
"Hai. Do you have Kayama's uniform?"
"Hai. Tsukigumi will bring it to the docks."
Kohran stopped, mortified. 'bodies'? "Could it mean, no! It's not true! It's not true!" Kohran started to believe it and she ran back in her room.
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Ayame and Yoneda stepped out of the steam car and they saw over thirty morgue cars. As they went to the dock, they saw many people there waiting for the Maya to arrive. Admiral Sato was there, contacting Akagi with the radio. The people's voices grew louder and they were forced to look at the sea. There it was, a black figure slowly appearing on the horizon followed by four more figures. As they came closer, two more figures appeared.
Yoneda and Ayame watched as the figure became clearer. Yes, it was the Maya. People anxiously waited for it to dock and see their loved ones once again. As the ship came closer to the harbor, they could see men waving at them and they could see that the ship was full of holes and melted metal due to Tenkai's assault on it.
Other people who haven't found out about the Harusame's fate began to wonder why it isn't here. Only the cries of the Harusame's crew's families answered for them. As the ship docked, people cheered. The ramp was placed down and sailors ran to their families, reuniting with their loved ones once again.
Yoneda and Ayame watched as sailors told the people to clear a path. As the people did so, the sailors went aboard the other six docked ships and brought down stretchers with bodies covered in white cloth. They were the Harusame's crew. The families went closer to the bodies and looked for their loved ones.
Akagi placed a hand on Yoneda and Ayame's shoulder. "The two are in my ship." then, he gestured for them to follow him. The three waited outside the ship as bodies were being taken down. They too, were in stretchers and covered in white cloth. Akagi went over and looked at each body being taken down to look for Kayama and Ichiro's. When he found Kayama, he called Yoneda and Ayame to come closer to see him. His face was pale and lifeless. There were all sorts of wounds on his face. They nodded and the men continued to carry Kayama to the morgue car. Tsukigumi commandoes followed their taichou as he was brought to the morgue.
"Is Ichiro-kun's body still there?" Ayame asked.
Akagi replied "Hai. You will know if it is him."
The three waited for over five minutes until they saw a body being brought in a stretcher, covered in white cloth. The only difference is that the body had a katana on either side. The markings on the hilt is the same as the markings on the hilt of Ichiro's katana. They went closer and pulled down the cloth up to the neck. It is Ichiro. His face was as pale and as white as Kayama's. There were numerous lacerations and his hair is not spiky anymore. Oddly enough, his face was contorted to a small smile. They looked at him for a while and Ayame nodded at the men and they brought him to the morgue car.
But before they could put the body inside the car, a voice was heard. "Shihainin!"
They turned to see the Kazegumi followed by the Hanagumi. Iris finally came out of her room and she was with them. Yoneda was dissapointed that the girls came but he couldn't do anything about it, they were already there. The most logical thing he did was to point at Ichiro's body which is still lying on the stretcher behind the morgue car. The sailors presumed that the girls are Ichiro's friends, family or relatives so they just let them be.
The girls slowly went towards him. The familiar katanas beside him made them feel even worse for only Ichiro handles that kind of blade. They just stared at it for a while until Kanna finally pulled down the cloth. Time had stopped for it was true. He is dead. Perdition beset them as the man they cared for is there, on a situation which is for them, impossible to happen. Tears dripped on the body as they mourned their taichou and friend.
Sakura couldn't hold her grief and wrapped her arms around him, crying even louder. "Ichiro, Ichiro! NO!! Ichiro, why?! Why, Ichiro, why?! You promised! You promised! YOU PROMISED!" His body, even if it is dead still radiated some warmth into Sakura, telling her that he loves her and cares for her even at his death. The warmth then faded and it was replaced with coldness.
"Oniichan is a liar! He is a liar! He breaks promises! Why did you do it oniichan?!! You said you'll never leave us!! WAAAAAH!!!" Iris ran beside Sakura and clutched Ichiro's cold, dead hands. "We love you oniichan." and she cried even louder.
The others couldn't contain their tears but they tried to comfort each other especially Sakura and Iris. Sakura kissed him one last time and stood up, followed by the others who kissed him on the forehead. The men returned the cloth over his body and placed him in the morgue car.
"I never thought I'd see this day come." Tsubaki finally spoke, wiping some of her tears.
The others watched as the morgue car left towards the morgue.
Yoneda didn't look at them the whole time. He called Ayame and both followed the car towards the morgue.
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The girls couldn't eat that afternoon. The loss of Ichiro was too much to bear especially for Sakura who cried and cried until she fainted. Their energy and determination to perform the play had dissipated along with Ichiro. They didn't rehearse for the play that day.
Whenever Maria would tell them that they should start to rehearse, that event would always resurface on their minds:
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
It was a warm summer night. Ayame went to the salon were Sumire was sipping her tea. "Ah, Sumire." she handed her the script of their next play.
"Romeo and Juliet?"
"Hai. It is a very dramatic romance story."
Sumire started to read the script.
Kohran then came in followed by the others. "Ah, Sumire-han, you're here early. Ayame-han called us for the script of the next play."
"It's Romeo and Juliet."
"Waah! That's a beautiful story! I can't wait!"
"It's good for your new love life with taichou eh, Sakura?" Kanna teased, elbowing Sakura.
Sakura just blushed "Well, um, maybe just a little. We're already happy together."
"Okay now, I'll give you time to read the script then I'll assign the roles." Ayame then handed out the scripts. "Be back here after about... ten minutes." the girls slowly went to the dining table, reading their scripts.
Ichiro had finished filing some papers without the help of Kasumi, Yuri and Tsubaki who were busy with the props and stage arrangement. He went to the dining room to get a drink of water and saw the girls reading their scripts. He kissed Sakura on the cheek and she smiled. As he kissed her, he caught a glimpse of the title written on her script. "Oooh, Romeo and Juliet?"
"Hai. It's our next play." She replied as he kissed her again.
"I love that. Romeo and Juliet is my favorite english literature. To see that as the next play is like a dream come true."
Maria looked at him "Then we will try our best to make it the best play ever. Right, minna?"
Everyone nodded and exclaimed "Hai!"
"You can count on us taichou!" Kanna grinned, raising her fist.
"Ya Ichiro-han, it will be the best Romeo and Juliet play ever!" Kohran added
"Iris will do her best for oniichan because Iris loves her oniichan!"
"Arigatou. I look forward to it! I will watch every part of it from beginning to end."
"You better, especially if it's my part." Sumire replied.
"Ichiro, you'll never forget it. We promise." Sakura spoke with a warm smile which helped remove some of Ichiro's stress away.
He smiled and left.
~~~~~end of flashback~~~~~
The girls lost more of their strength to rehearse for the play and they didn't rehearse at all. They started to regret themselves for the times they were being mean to Ichiro and now they can't apologize to him anymore.
( to be continued )
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Please R&R. Please?
