Minna-san, konnichiwa! Well, Arion-san said I could go back to my wacky self during the disclaimers! And expect the return of my oh-so-lovely muses!

Disclaimer: I, Yoru no Angel, do not own Sakura Taisen and come to think of it, Arion Wong-san doesn't either…if we did then we'd be two very rich (and happy) people, ne?

4. Isaac

By Yoru no Angel

The sun overhead shone down onto the back of his neck. His long chestnut brown bangs fell into his eyes as he shovelled some hay out from under the hooves of a tall, handsome looking horse. The horse whinnied, throwing his head up in a disapproving look at the young man.

"Easy there boy…" The young man said with hearty chuckle, "You'll have a clean stable soon enough…"

Shovel after shovel, the grimy hay was finally removed from the feet of the animal. The horse scraped at the ground with his hoof in appreciation. The young man brushed his sweaty hair from out of his sight, patting the horse on his hindquarter.

"There's a good lad…" He said cheerfully, "Nice to have a tidy stable for once, isn't it? Now, what can we do about that grimy old mane of yours? Not to mention, your hooves could do with a bit of a polishing…honestly, what has your owner been doing with you?"

 The brown haired man frowned in disapproval.

 "Not to worry, of course. Isaac's here to save the day…"

The man named Isaac took half an hour to rid the horse's mane and hooves of all the dirt. He stood back, surveying the tall animal with a hint of satisfaction in his sparkling green eyes.

"Ah yes…that's it, you look as handsome as the prince of England himself…" Isaac said, gently stroking the horse's deep brown mane.

"See you're speaking with the horses again, I keep on telling you to go out there and find yourself a lady…"

With a swish of his long chestnut brown hair, Isaac took a fleeting glance over his shoulder; his eyes widened in disbelief and his mouth drooped open slightly.

"…Is that really you Evans?" He uttered, his voice filled with incredulity, "Blimey old chap! How long has it been since I've seen your sorry hide around this lot…?" He gave a hearty laugh as his brunette haired friend clapped him on the back.

"Isaac! Good to finally see you again!" Evans said with an equally booming chuckle, "What has it been? Ten, twelve months? I see you've kept busy with the horses then…"

"Of course, with an owner like you, I expected nothing less then perfect grooming each and every day for each and every horse…" The chestnut brown haired man muttered with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Now, now, if it weren't for me you'd still be searching the streets of London for a few pennies some unfortunate bloke had dropped, just to get you through the week…" Evans said, shaking his head in disappointment, "Who would've thought, a son of a noble ending up as a horse trainer and stableman…and to think those siblings of yours wouldn't give you so much as a penny…"

A loud bang! echoed throughout the stable. Isaac had dropped a few horseshoes deliberately to cease his friend's speaking. The young man clearly didn't want to be reminded of his misfortunate past.

Evans sighed, "There, there Isaac old chap…" He clapped his friend round the shoulder, steering him out of the stable and towards the main house, "You must be starved! Please, come up to the house for a little tea. Marge and the kids will be happy to see you again…"

"Oh and…" Evans added. The brunette man stopped walking; he stared gravely at his friend, "…A woman is waiting for you, inside. A funny looking one, Lauranna something-or-other…she demanded I take you up to see her…"

Isaac stared in utter disbelief.

"I don't like her, mark my words she's up to something, something terribly strange…"

---

The young twenty-one year old stared straight into the cold blue eyes of the blonde woman seated in one of the armchairs in front of him. She promptly rose to her feet, rasing her right hand into a firm salute, "Isaac Williams, I presume?"

He nodded respectfully at the woman, his own arm moving up into a salute, "Yes," He replied simply, not taking his eyes off her.

"So this is what happened to the noble Isaac Williams…" She murmured softly, taking seat once more. She invited him to sit in the chair besides her, "Excuse my discourtesy, I am Colonel Lauranna Dornen, I came here from Germany."

"Certainly travelled a distance, haven't you?" Isaac said, "What has brought such a lady all over to England?"

"My, my…" Lauranna said gently, the corners of her mouth turning upwards into a barely visible smirk, "Want to get to the point quickly, don't you, Mr. Williams?"

"I am just trying to get this meeting underway, Miss Dornen," Isaac relied courteously, flicking a piece of brown hair from his eyes, "Surely you have much better things to do than speak with riffraff like one such as myself…"

Lauranna's expression didn't falter, "Fine then. You, Isaac Williams, are the newest recruit for an elite defence force assembled in Germany…" She said bluntly.

"What type of defence force?" Isaac enquired.

"One similar to the Royal Aquatic Defence Force situated in London. You and your teammates all posses a unique power often known as spirit energy thus you are allowed to pilot gigantic steam driven machine called 'Koubu' in Japanese or in plain English, Spirit Armor…" Lauranna paused for a moment she saw Isaac remained unfazed.

"You do not seem at all shocked…"

"I accept…" The younger man said defiantly, his expression hard and stern.

"If you do this, it will affect your whole future…"

"I do not care. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, a chance to finally begin life over once more…" Isaac said simply. His green eyes still gazed into Lauranna's cold blue ones.

"It is agreed then," The blonde woman said, rising up into a standing position, "I expect you on board the next ship bound for Germany Mr. Williams, good day…"

Just as Lauranna passed him, Isaac swore he saw her smirk.

---

The next day, the young chestnut brown haired man acknowledged as Isaac Williams was aboard the next Germany bound ship. He often felt himself lost in his thoughts for this journey reminded him of the time when he served in the war, travelling from country to country like that; the reality only just hit him then, he would be battling for the life of his country once more.

He remembered how he had received a distinction after serving in that one war. He could clearly visualize the looks of utmost envy on his own brother's faces after he returned home once he found out their father was dead. They all wanted that same respect, to be a hero of his country.

But because of that one distinction, he was disowned from the family; by the same people he called his brothers and kicked out onto the cold street of London, penniless. As much as he would like to forget that, Isaac's misfortunate past would always remain in his mind, no matter how hard he would try to forget it.

The twenty-one-year old practically owed his life to his friend Evans, if it wasn't for him, he probably wouldn't have been there today.

A sigh escaped his throat and he momentarily glanced down. There was a photograph of a young woman with long ebony black hair sitting near his shoe. Her appearance made the corners of his mouth slowly turn upward into a smile so he bent down and picked it up. He glanced at it for a while before pocketing it.

'I wonder who she is…? She is very pretty…with such a kind appearance. Maybe one of the other passengers lost this photograph…I'll ask them later…"

As Isaac became buried yet even deeper into his thoughts, another young man came out sprinting from the opposite direction of the deck.

Isaac barely had time to look up.

Crash!!

The chestnut brown haired man landed on the ship's deck with a thud, gently massaging his newly acquired lump on the side of his head. He took a short look at the man he had just collided with just as he began to rise to his feet.

The man had an oriental look about him. 'Must be Japanese…' Isaac said to himself, giving the man another once over. He looked to have been about his age, around twenty or twenty-one; Isaac offered his hand out to the other man, he accepted seeming most obliged.

"I'm sorry…" The man said in near-perfect English. His dark eyebrows were together in an apologetic look as he brushed his hair back with his hand, "I wasn't looking where I was going…I was looking for-"

Isaac gave him a smile, holding out the photograph of the young woman, "This?" He enquired.

"Thank goodness!" The other man exclaimed out of pure bliss. He gratefully accepted the photograph; he began to stare fondly at it before he could realize his actions, "I thought I'd lost her…" He uttered in a dreamy voice.

"Her…?" Isaac repeated with an arched eyebrow.

The Japanese man promptly turned the shade of a beetroot, he hastily stuffed the photograph back into his pocket, "Er…sorry again. She's…the woman in the picture, she's just a friend…"

The English man did not look convinced, "So…what is your name? It would be courteous to introduce ourselves after a meeting such as that, eh?"

"Oh…My name is Ichirou Oogami…" The spiky haired man said politely. He extended his hand and Isaac shook it with a nod.

"Oogami, eh? Thought you were Japanese. By the way, my name is Isaac Williams, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Oogami…" Isaac said.

Moments later, much to their astonishment, the two men found they had much more in common than they assumed. Although Isaac was headed for Germany and Oogami was on his journey back to his home country after a year in Brazil, they both were part of a secret organization to do with the recent demon attacks.

Isaac cocked his head to the side, glancing curiously at the man besides him. Oogami, as he had just learned, was actually the captain of an all-girl assault group acknowledged as Hanagumi or Flower Division. He certainly didn't look it though; Isaac wondered if he would remain the same man he always was regardless of his occupation.

"So…" The Englishman began, "Is that woman, the one in the photograph, is she one of the recruits?"

Oogami instantaneously fell into a dream-like trance, "…Yes…" He replied in a faraway voice.

Isaac shook his head and folded his arms across his chest; any person in their right mind would see that this man was completely head-over-heels for that young woman in the photograph concealed in his pocket.

"Oi…Oogami!"

The Japanese man was pulled from his reverie. A faint blush formed on his cheeks, "Er…sorry, I've been doing that a lot lately…"

"Is it because of that young woman? She is a very pretty lady after all…"

"You're telling me…" Oogami sighed, a wistful look appearing in his eyes, "Sakura is the kindest, loveliest person to ever grace this earth, and I really don't know what I'd do with out her…"

"Ah…so it was because of her…Sakura, is it?" Isaac said with a tilted eyebrow.

But Oogami was too lost in thought to reply; he allowed a yearning sigh to escape his throat.

"You really do love her, don't you?"

"Of course…"

"Does she know?"

The Hanagumi commander felt his eyebrows contract into a frown, he murmured something about wanting to tell her, but he left too soon for that opportunity.

"…I wonder if Sakura has changed since then…" Oogami thought out loud, "It has been a year…who knows what has happened…?"

"If it was meant to be, then it was meant to be…" The man with the long chestnut brown hair said informatively; he smiled at the shorter man.

"I don't even know why I just told you that, I barely even know you…"

"It was comforting though, wasn't it?"

Isaac chuckled.

---

It was a few days before Isaac arrived in Germany. He had already bid the young man named Oogami goodbye, just before he parted Oogami had given the brown haired man what he called a Kinematron number. He was sure that if Isaac were involved with the demons, he would receive the communication device used among the assault groups.

Isaac felt a little more reassured by this notion as he stepped off a streetcar to the street below. Now he could speak to a more experienced troop if he ever had some sort of problem or so he hoped.

The young man gaped in awe at the gigantic theatre-like building. He couldn't believe it, the headquarters was a theatre? He blinked off his astonishment, making an uncertain move for the door.

The Englishman entered the building and he looked around curiously. He still felt a little weird about this…

"You…YOU!" A shrill voice echoed throughout the many corridors, "How many times have I told you, stir my tea in a clockwise direction!"

Isaac tilted his head to the side curiously, seeming to listen closely to the direction of the voice.

"It's the same any direction! Bloody hell woman; get that through your thick skull! Don't you agree Katty?" A younger sounding male's voice retorted

A crash of chairs followed the voice and a cool sounding female spoke next, "McPherson, I have told you many, many times. Do. Not. Call. Me. That."

"Hey, hey…I was joking Katrina! Anyway, you do know you can call me Thomas…or Tom…it's easier, it only has one syllable…Tom, now say it with me-!!"

"Mr. McPherson…" The sharp voice demanded again, "If you do not remember, you were going to make me a cup of tea…"

"Honestly Abby if you can't see, I'm in a little tight spot here!!"

Isaac suddenly spotted the door on the left. It was open just a little bit but it seemed that's where the source of voices were, he walked over and peered cautiously inside.

At the table a red-headed woman who must've been at least seventeen or eighteen years old was seated with her arms folded across her chest as she stared murderously at the fifteen year old trapped in the death-grip of a dark haired woman who was just as cheerful as the red-head.

Isaac cleared his throat.

Everybody stopped.

"Um, excuse me…where do I find Colonel Lauranna Dornen?" He asked politely.

"Oh! So you must be Isaac Williams…" The golden-blonde haired fifteen-year-old said quickly, "The new recruit, right?" He glanced warily at his captor as he spoke. The black-haired woman never fazed and she gripped at his collar even tighter.

"Oh come on Katrina! I'm sorry! Really!" He begged.

The woman called Katrina dropped the teenager from her hold but it didn't change her expression; her brown eyes were cold with fury, "I'm warning you McPherson, this isn't kindergarten anymore, this is a war. There is no time for playing around…"

Katrina took no time to leave; a few seconds later she stalked passed Isaac and disappeared down the hall.

The redhead cleared her throat and looked expectantly at the fifteen-year-old, "Well?"

"Well what?" He shot back.

"Oh never mind!" She snapped irritably, she stood up, heading towards the door. On the way, she stepped on her own dress and nearly went flying. But to her great luck, Isaac quick reflexes saved her meeting the floor.

"…T-Thank you…" She uttered, her face tinted red as she stared dreamily into the young man's eyes, "M-Mr. Williams….

"You're welcome, so long as you're alright…" Isaac flashed her a handsome smile and added, "So, what is your name…?"

"A-Abigail Sinclair…"

This time the fifteen years old coughed, "Oh come off it you two…"

Abigail left with her nose turned up in disgust and the golden blonde haired boy brushed his long hair over his shoulder, "Honestly…" He muttered, shaking his head.

"By the way, my name is Thomas McPherson…" He added, inclining his head to the older man. A couple of minutes later, he left the room too.

Isaac dragged a hand through his hair, gazing around in confusion. It was going to be a very long day.

--End of Isaac's chapter!--

Endnotes:

[1] Isaac Williams created by Yoru no Angel

[2] Oogami Ichirou, the captain of the Hanagumi. Travelled to Brazil for a year after the Kuronosukai was defeated. He can speak English in this fic ^^

[3] Shinguuji Sakura, one of the Hanagumi recruits.

[4] The Sakura and Oogami coupling, my absolute favourite ^o^

[5] Kinematron, the forms of communication between the various assault groups.

[6] Abigail Sinclair, one of the Anti-Demon Division recruits. Her chapter to come soon.

[7] Evans, Abigail created by Yoru no Angel.

---Anti-Demon Divison Character Profile---

Name: Isaac Williams

Age: 21

Nationality: English

Rank: Koubu Pilot

Previous Occupation: Soldier of the Royal Army

Height: 196cm

Weight: 83kg

Preferred Weapon: A double bladed sword

Koubu Color: Calm Azure