Sakura Wars: The 21st Century
By Steve Edward
Chapter 8
Monday, May 16th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Safe House West Side Tokyo – 0200 hours-
One of the participants of the attempted kidnapping was a drinker and had been bar hopping the night before the kidnap attempt against Iris took place. One of his cohorts had to drag him back to the safe house to prevent any further babbling and boasting from taking place.
The man who had overhead the conversation, but not knowing who was really going to be the target or for that matter where decided to play it safe and wait to hear from authorities. The papers should have been screaming of the kidnapping by Sunday evening; but nary a word.
Instead a member of the Imperial Flower Combat Division pays a visit to his dreary part of the world. There was no way to ignore her presence. If Maria was looking for information; and she thought you were ignoring her; the consequences were sever.
After speaking to her in Russian about a possible event; he felt himself being lifted off the floor. The wildness and anger in her eyes squarely focused on him. "Why did you not tell someone, anyone you drunk fool!" the anger seething through her body into her hands.
Captain Yuichi Kayama, taking in the sight of Maria lifting some drunken bastard off the floor did not want to imagine what it would feel like. "Maria, Maria let him down!" As Kayama approached her, trying to prevent her from committing unexplainable bodily harm on the drunk; initially crying from the experience, the drunk at first did not want to talk, but a bottle of imported Kentucky Bourbon smoothed things over and he described what he had heard to Maria in Russian.
Racing back to the Imperial Theater; Yuichi has Maria stop the car and he gets out near the safe house location. Having changed clothing in the back of the car, he now looked like a really down on his luck bum. Having taken the half bottle of cheap whisky in exchange earlier, he dumped the bottle on him self. The resulting stench even forced to Maria to gag.
Now at 0200 hours the forces marshaled into place were ready to storm the house. The forces would be led by the Imperial Flower Division, neither in their Koubus nor in the Esienkleid but on foot, their anger so apparent that even the Moon Division personnel wonder why they were even there.
The hired thugs had failed at the attempt in kidnapping of Iris were nursing their wounds. The American who had interfered with their plans was dead; at least that was the hope of the leader. He had called his contact to inform him of the failure. After a not so friendly conversation that was both blistering and scathing in nature he had sent his second in charge to meet with him.
The house that they were in belonged to a slum lord who for the right price would not ask any questions about who was staying there. Walking back from the kitchen it was he who spotted one of the Moon Division personnel on a nearby roof top and sounded the alarm.
Captain Oogami who had stationed his house raid team gave the orders to move in after someone fired a gunshot at the Moon Division member who was on a nearby roof. With Maria going through the front; Sumire and Kanna literally making their own entrances into the dilapidated house all hell broke loose.
Lachette, stationed to the rear encountered one man fleeing out the back, in a deft display of knifemanship; impales him into a tree. Not a single knife would puncture his skin and unable to get free, he remains stuck to the tree till the raid is over.
Sumire seeking out anyone within ends up killing another minion who tries to shoot her. Launching her long blade into him he dies impaled through and through while hanging from an interior wall.
Kanna, who crashed through the flimsy exterior wall, encounters an individual who takes her on in hand to hand combat. As an expert in Ryukyuu Kirishima style of Karate the sheer power she possess ends up collapsing a support beam that falls and kills her opponent.
Maria followed by Captain's Kayama and Oogami encounter the leader. Refusing to surrender; he charges all three firing his weapon. Maria is forced to shoot and kill.
In the aftermath, the second-in-command of the thugs sees the activity and taking his remaining men leave the area unobserved. Making contact with the man who had hired them; he is instructed to go to another house and there to lay low and await instructions.
Monday, May 16th, 1927 – Shouwa 1 – Imperial Theater – 1500 hours
Admiral John Long, still bedridden listened as Maria described the events that had taken place in the early morning. There were three dead from the raid. Admiral Long pondered the implications of those deaths and wondered if he had not already altered future history. The good news was that one of the hired kidnappers was captured alive and had talked which was why General Yoneda and Deputy Commander Fujieda were there as well.
"After the suspect was detained by Lachette, he was taken to the Moon Division headquarter for interrogation by Captain Kayama. After some persuasive demonstrations he gave us a name." John having paused Maria asked, "What kind of persuasion Maria?"
As John considered the use of physical torture inhumane and unethical; to which he privately recalled interrogation techniques which were used in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000's.
"None that caused physical harm", she replied. Looking towards Lachette; Maria stated, "Lachette carved an apple and he talked." Looking at Lachette, John pondered what did carving an apple have to do with the interrogation? "Who did he name?"
Maria turned back looking at General Yoneda, "He gave the name of Haruyoshi Tanuma."
Looking at each other John and Ikki, they realized the significance of the documents that John had in his possession.
John shifting position addressed General Yoneda; "Ikki it appears that Tanuma may be attempting an overthrow of your government with help from outsiders. The discussion that we had last night regarding the Douglas-Stewart fiasco and Tanuma's involvement appears to be a continuation of his effort."
Yoneda looking at Deputy Commander Fujieda then John; "True, it appears so. He had intensely lobbied for the absorption of the Flower Division into the military and if that was not to be done he wanted the Division dissolved completely." Maria who was shocked at hearing it, "But that would mean we would be dismissed and sent back to our respective countries." John spoke up; "For the adult members of the Flower Division that would be true. For example, you would likely return to the United States, New York perhaps? Since Lachette was from the United States, she would go there too, Kanna would return to Okinawa, Sakura to Sendai, Orihime to Italy, and Kohran to China.
But then there is Iris and Leni. Iris who is from France is not an adult; her parents have signed custody of her over to the parent of the Flower Division, the Elders Institute. Leni too is in the same situation as her legal guardianship is also with the Elders Institute. Iris's parents terrified of her powers would refuse her return as they have signed over parental rights to her. Legal limbo would ensue and both Leni and Iris become wards to Japan's legal system."
John continued, "With both Leni and Iris as wards of the legal system Tanuma could then petition for their custody. With the Flower Division dissolved, and the Elders Institute not wanting to be legal guardians of these young women, the petition would be granted. With no oversight; Tanuma could then do with them as he pleases." The last statement left a bitter aftertaste in John's mouth.
General Yoneda added, "Tanuma's political future was damaged after the Douglas-Stewart debacle. It was only through his own political contacts that he was not prosecuted for his part." John interjecting, "The outsider that Tanuma had shall we say "invited" to Japan, Brent Furlong became the fall guy after being killed by Sakura Shinguji and Captain Ichiro Oogami. Because of Furlong's demise any information directly linking Tanuma to Furlong died with him. At least till now," as John held up the yellowed papers that told the background on Project Wachstum.
Maria; comes to examine the papers, "But would these be enough to put an end to this?" Maria's eyes widening as she read the details. John shaking his head, "No there is not enough there to implicate him; only hearsay and there is the matter of the papers themselves. They are papers recovered by my research team from the year 2009 in Tokyo at the Imperial Army Archives and obviously inadmissible in the first place."
Maria walking to John's bedside; "Surely you know what did happen or will happen?" John looking up, "Maria, I am dealing with a lot of blanks here and I am trying to avoid directly influencing anything that may change history as I know it now. Information on these events was extremely limited and a lot of it deliberately destroyed."
Contemplating his next statement John reflected on his own mission, and addressed everyone present; "I have to thank General Yoneda for believing who I am, I can not stress the importance of why I am here." Turning to Ikki, "On Sunday May 29th of this year general; I will make a humble request to members of the Imperial Flower Division with your permission of course; from the stage of this theater. It will be to ask them to come back with me to the year 2010. I firmly believe that it will be the only way to protect Iris and Leni both from anything that Tanuma may have planned and to save my own world as well."
General Yoneda stood and walked towards the door. Stopping and turning he bowed to Admiral John Long replying, "You sir have my permission." With that he went to make a phone call.
Friday, May 20th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- 1300 hours – Imperial Theater
Having spent two days in bed, and much to the astonishment of the Imperial Army Surgeon who had found him walking if not a bit unsteady in the hallway he was cleared of the bed orders; but admonished to take it slow.
John who had not wanted many to know of his other prior injuries only allowed Sakura Shinguji or Tsubaki Takamura to change the bandages.
Now exploring the Theater complex, he had the company of Kohran Ri, the engineering genius behind many of the innovations made to the German made Esienkleid and the Japanese made Koubu. Entering the simulation training room it was there; the scene of the two mysterious explosions had occurred.
The spiritual energy monitoring equipment had shorted out in spectacular fashion and exploded with out initial explanation. It had since been turned off as there had been no recent need for it to be operating. It was when Kohran turned it on that she began to realize the cause of the events. Admiral John Long.
As Kohran looked at the readouts she turned to him; "It was you that had been causing this!" perplexed at her comments, John looked at the monitoring device that had on its various measuring instruments the names of the members of the Imperial Flower Division personnel. An unlabeled readout, its measurements bouncing into the red caught his attention; "Kohran is that supposed to do that?" as John began backing away he came near a yellow Koubu; which without warning activated in his presence.
Turning to look and aghast, Kohran ran to a nearby control panel but it was too late. The yellow Koubu belonging to Iris stepped out of its storage bay and began to advance on John. Not able to move very well all he could do was stand and wait, remembering a previous encounter with another Koubu.
It stopped and went silent just inches from him; it was as though it wanted to embrace him, its mechanical arms trying to encircle him. Looking up and breathing a sigh of relief; "Kohran are these machines supposed to do this?"
"No they are not supposed to do that!" as Maria followed by Captain Ichiro Oogami descended the stairway.
Turning to Captain Oogami, "Do you suppose he was the cause of the two explosions we had here?" as Maria examined the readings; "Entirely possible as he had been in the area on the date of the first incident," Ichiro getting a chair for John to sit in.
Hearing the sound of more feet running down the stairs, John turned and saw Iris running towards him.
Looking at her Koubu, "Bad machine you are not to follow John or hurt him;" as she came up to him. Maria, noting that the spiritual energy was near that of Sakura's she turned to John.
Chapter 8
"You seem a man of many talents, and causing a Koubu to move is a feat as well." Captain Oogami having been on the phone turns as General Yoneda descends the stairwell.
"Admiral, I see you have met a Koubu," as Ikki joined the group. John getting out the chair aided by Iris; winced in pain as he did so, "Yes I have and I did not even touch it."
John stepping away from the machine, "Though I should say that this is not the first time I have encountered a Koubu or an Esienkleid," Kohran who turned upon hearing that statement; "Admiral where did you find one? And how did you get it to work?"
John walking towards the simulation station turned, "By happenstance the British government recovered a Koubu and an Esienkleid from the European continent, exactly where and under what circumstances I can not say. But they had them in storage for many years. After our demonic outbreak begins my research team found them and the British government turned them over to me. My Chief Engineer of my flagship took both apart and put them back together again to learn what made them work. Ironically, it was by accident that we discovered the spiritual energy connection when the Koubu that we had activated and shall we say began to follow me around inside the warehouse that we had the machine at."
"A female United States Marine Staff Sergeant on my staff was eventually able to control both the Koubu and the Esienkleid for operational testing purposes so we could make the necessary modifications to the Battleship."
Hearing the word "Battleship", Kohran asked; "You have a Battleship that will have these on it?" John, smiling; "Yes Kohran, I do all 57,000 tons of her."
Pausing at Iris's Koubu and placing his hand on it, "These machines will certainly brighten things up considerably;" and with that holding Iris's hand, John ascended the stairway to the theater above.
Kohran turning and looking at the Koubu, "It will make things bright for his ship no? I am happy that he likes the Koubu." Smiling she sets about getting the errant Koubu back into its storage spot.
Sunday, May 22nd, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 1800 hours
Two days had passed, more time for John to heal and explore and learn. Efforts to locate Haruyoshi Tanuma had so far been in vain. Now with the local papers involved naming him as a person of interest wanted for questioning by the police, as a result of a kidnapping attempt against Iris Chateaubriand, the heat had been turned up. But by who; John had a good idea, while silently thanking him. John's involvement had been carefully sanitized. In his part of the incident the account of his participation would be that of a body guard who was shot.
After getting the stitches out earlier in the day; John had set about trying to get his physical fitness back up. Kanna had been a great help, but her style of karate that John did indeed want to study further; was too much for him at the moment.
It was after leaving the gymnasium and passing the stage entrance that he set his mind to what was needed. The Imperial Theater had been designed by John's grandfather, Herbert. John giving him credit amazed with the level of detail that Herbert had put forth, down even to the placement of the acoustic panels. With little need for amplifiers, though there were several systems in place, the interior design and placement of the panels could allow anyone to enjoy a show whether it was in the very front, or as he looked up; into the nose bleed seats.
He had found a gramophone and had placed music for a slow waltz on it to dance and move to. Doing so as he moved around the stage he briefly caught sight of someone in the aisle way. Stopping and walking to see who it was, he encountered Sumire Kanzaki. Looking crossed, "Why are you on the stage?" as she climbed the stairs. Mystified at first, then recalling how Sumire felt about non-actors he proposed an idea, "Sumire perhaps I am not a great actor, poet or other type of entertainer but I am in need to rehabilitate myself. I can not exactly go out in Tokyo any more and as running or walking in place is not my style, so I decided to do some dancing instead. Oh by the way Sumire when was the last time you danced with a man?"
Blushing deeply, Sumire's response was anything but ladylike; "Why you bastard what do you think you take me for? For a bitch do you?" John's coolness prevailed, "No you are not a bitch; but a charming and elegant young woman; of whom I have little chance of holding a candle to." With that he gathered her up and strolled to the gramophone and restarted the music. Unobserved, General Ikki Yoneda sat back in a chair watching the man that would become the commanding officer of Task Group Rose Combat Division as he and Sumire twirled around the stage testing each others limits.
Over the following week it became common to find Admiral John Long dancing on the stage to various waltzes with members of the Flower Troop. Captain Oogami had at one point stepped into the middle of a fight over who would dance with John. It was between Sumire and Kanna. Captain Oogami failing to duck was punched out by both women. John just walking into the stage area itself got to see Captain Oogami; going down for the count
John after picking Ichiro off the stage settled the matter himself, by posting a morning and evening dance sign up sheet for the next day, and then having both chose head or tails by flipping a coin. The winner, Kanna got to dance first, Sumire second, and both got a dressing down Navy style, much to the bemusement of General Ikki Yoneda.
Not leaving the Wind Division girls out of his rehabilitation program, all three Kasumi Fujh, Yuri Sakakibara and Tsubaki Takamura were invited to dance as well. Surprisingly all three were very good dancers, and it was Yuri Sakakibara who broached the subject of the Admiral's marriage status during a dance.
Looking downward, with sadness John replied, "I am a widow Yuri. My wife and my son are both dead that is all I care to say," as they continued to dance. Yuri would not broach the subject again and would only mention it briefly in passing to Captain Oogami and Deputy Commander Fujieda.
One member who John had wanted to dance with just to get the feel of their persona was Leni Milchstrase. While the other members of the Flower Division including Sakura Shinguji spiritual energy was fantastically high, Leni who had for the most part avoid the dancing used the excuse that she was practicing with Orihime Soletta; had been avoiding him, lost that excuse on Friday.
John had sent word that Orihime Soletta was to come to the stage and when she did so was stunned to see the orchestra pit fully occupied and the grand piano in place on the stage. John dressed resplendently in white with gold trimmings stood near the piano. As she approached he gave her the sheet music and nodding to the conductor they warmed up.
Kanna, Sumire and Sakura had located and cornered Leni. Between them, they marched Leni into the theater the resplendent drapes closed, the lights dimmed. As if on cue the curtain was raised and the music began. John to the right on the stage looking directly at Leni motions her to him, hesitant at first but gently urged by Sumire; Leni entered the stage.
"Leni, I am sorry I had to go this route but you left me no choice I hope you will understand," guiding her into position he nodded one last time at the conductor and the German Waltz began.