An
Unlimited Parallel Adventures
presentation
-A Story in the New Memories arc-
SAKURA WARS – ALWAYS
by
ARION WONG
(April 9, 2003)
Teito the Imperial City
Luthien of the Inner Sphere
2394
Jason cut a lonely, sad figure as he moped around in the courtyard of the Grand Imperial Theater. He was sitting under the shade of a cherry blossom tree, a spot that he often used for picnics and relaxation with a certain someone whom he missed greatly.
Shinguiji Sakura sighed when she saw the Exodusian by his lonesome.
"Jason-san!" she yelled from a distance. Jason did not appear to hear her. Sakura marched forward to stand before the spaced out man.
"Jason-san!" she called again.
After finally noticing a shadow that fell on him, Jason looked up to see an impatient Sakura.
"...Hm?" Jason dully replied, eyes half-open.
"Jason-san, I called you several times, didn't you hear me?" Sakura asked.
"...Ah, Sakura, what's up?" Jason asked, his eyes lighting up with recognition.
"Jason-san, cheer up!"
Jason sighed, a little embarrassed. "I'm that transparent huh?"
"I recognize the symptoms," Sakura laughed.
"I remember saying –that-," Jason winced.
Sakura grinned, and then she gave him a serious look.
"Maria-san will be back soon," said Sakura.
Maria had left to escort Count Hanakoji to New Yorktown. She had only been gone for two days, and already Jason missed her terribly.
"Yeah, I know," Jason replied, "but I just can't help it. I mean, after what she went through in New Trafford..."
"I think she would be very happy to hear that, Jason-san, but she will probably be angry too."
That caused Jason to sit up a little.
"Angry?"
"Of course! Do you honestly think Maria-san would like it if you mother-hen her? She's fully recovered after all," Sakura explained, referring to Maria's injuries that she suffered in New Trafford.
Jason took a moment to ponder, and then decided Sakura was right. Maria would sooner shoot him than allow herself to be completely nursed about like an invalid. He chuckled at the thought.
"Thanks, Sakura. Anyway, you were looking for me?" Jason asked.
"Weren't you listening to the commander earlier? You're supposed to help us prepare the welcoming party!"
"Party?" Jason asked lamely.
"Jason-san! Oh, you're hopeless," Sakura said exasperatedly.
"Party... oh, party! Ogami's coming back today, right?"
Sakura smiled, and he could see her blushing slightly. He grinned at the sight, recovering to his normal self.
"I guess you can stop cleaning his room now," Jason deadpanned.
He was referring to the fact that Sakura cleaned Ogami's room nearly every day while the young Japanese man was away on a tour of duty for the Imperial Navy.
Sakura started to blush even more, and then suddenly her eyes snapped angrily.
"Don't change the subject! We need you to rearrange the furniture, Jason-san!" she said sternly.
"Hai, hai," Jason said wearily as he got up to his feet slowly. "That's the only thing I'm good for around here," he grumbled.
"Of course! You got very big shoes to fill, Jason-san!" Sakura replied.
"It is times like this that I miss Kanna," Jason muttered.
"I'm going to tell her you said that she's only good for heavy lifting," Sakura threatened mischievously.
"Bah," Jason scoffed, "she won't be back for weeks!"
"Well, that's true... the theater seems so empty now," Sakura said sadly.
It was true, since Kanna had once again left for her home in the southern islands, while Sumire had the unfortunate news of her grandfather suffering a fainting spell. Kohran herself left that very morning, to work at the Hana-Yashiki branch for the time being. Even Ayame-san[i] was absent, being away on a mission related to the theater.
"But, I don't need to wait for her to return, you know," Sakura said, brightening up.
"What?"
"You really didn't pay attention during breakfast, did you?" Sakura asked.
"I, uh, didn't sleep well last night," Jason said sheepishly.
"Kohran said she gave them a kinematron each just before they left," Sakura explained triumphantly.
"What!? Alright, alright, I'll move the furniture! Just don't tell Kanna I said anything," Jason replied hastily. He had no wish of being pummeled into the ground by the karate expert when she returns.
---
After helping with the heavy stuff, Jason was unceremoniously kicked out of the party room. Sakura, Iris and even the Kazegumi trio were adamant in that, citing Jason's relatively poor skills with decorating stuff.
"We'll just spend more time cleaning up the mess you'll make if you're here! Get out!" Yuri had said firmly while pushing him out the door, much to the amusement of the others.
"What, I'm not that bad, am I?" Jason asked righteously.
He was met with blank stares from everybody.
"Jason-san... Please, leave everything to us," Kasumi said gently, delivering the final verbal blow. It stunned Jason long enough for Yuri to push him out completely.
"Hey!" Jason had yelled in protest, only to have the door slammed in his face. "What do you want me to do then?" he asked exasperatedly.
"Wait for Ogami to arrive, dummy!" Yuri's muffled voice replied, accompanied by more giggles from the others.
Jason sighed and did as he was told.
---
As such, Jason found himself loitering around the main entrance by his lonesome. He sat down on the doorsteps of the theater's grand doors. Left with nothing to do but wait, he grabbed a newspaper and began to read it with disinterest. Reading a particular section merely made him even more depressed.
He was despondently thinking when a shadow fell on him.
"Is that any face to greet a friend?"
Jason looked up to see Ogami Ichiro standing before him with a beaming smile.
"Ogami!" Jason called, jumping to his feet. The two men clasped hands loudly, arm-wrestling-like.
"Welcome back, Ogami," Jason greeted, clapping Ogami on the shoulder.
"It's been a while," the Japanese man replied, looking up at the theater. "What's with the glum look?"
"Ah, nothing," Jason said, sheepishly gesturing at the newspaper, "my horoscope says I would have lots of 'interesting' encounters this year. I don't know if that's good or bad."
"You being superstitious? I see there have been some changes while I was gone," Ogami noted.
"Hey, we fought demons!" Jason reminded him. "But if you meant the theater, yeah, there had been some changes but you will get the hang of it. Pretty much everything is the same; you'll see what I mean."
"I hope so."
"Ah, but the bathroom has been changed. No more 'your body is moving on its on accord', young one," Jason said mischievously.
Ogami blushed furiously. "Cut that out!" he yelled, "I just got here and you're already making fun of me."
Jason laughed. "You're still the same as ever, Ogami. And so is everyone. That is what matters, isn't it?"
Ogami smiled and nodded in agreement. The he glanced around the theater. "Seems a little –too- quiet today," he mused aloud.
Jason's good humor faltered a little. "Regrettably, some of our esteemed personages are missing. Sumire, Kanna, Kohran and Maria are all away on their personal businesses."
"So many at once? How did the theater survive[ii]?" Ogami asked in amazement. Jason shrugged.
"We get by... Come on, the others are having a party for you."
---
"Jason you baka![iii]"
Jason reeled back at the chorus from Yuri, Tsubaki and Sakura.
"What? What did I do this time?" he complained.
Yuri placed her hands on her hips. "You're not supposed to bring him in so early! You ruined the surprise!" she said severely.
Jason shared a look of disbelief with Ogami. To the two men, the room was already overly decorated.
Colorful paper strips, several balloons and a large banner proclaiming "Welcome Home Ogami-san!" adorned the walls. An array of party foods was neatly arranged on the heavy table which Jason had moved in earlier. At the centerpiece was a good-sized cake. There was a punch bowl filled with fruit juice, and several bottles of sake as well (no doubt for Yoneda, both men reflected).
"What else is there?" Jason asked in an exaggerated manner.
"Well, er... lots!" Yuri said, for once at lost for words. "Yoneda-shihainin isn't here yet," Tsubaki chipped in.
Jason rolled his eyes, while Ogami laughed. "I already saw him a few days ago, when he came to give me my transfer orders personally," Ogami explained.
"If there's sake, the old man will show up on time," Jason added.
The Kazegumi, Sakura and Iris looked at each other helplessly. Then as one, they smiled, bowed and cheered in unison.
"Welcome home, Ogami-san!"
"Everyone, I'm glad to be back," Ogami replied with a solemn bow of his own. Jason took a step back to give the Japanese man some space. As he predicted, the girls quickly rushed to surround the (much) younger man.
"Good... I'm pretty tired of doing everything. Now –you- can go on doing the stuff –you- used to do," Jason said a wide smile.
"Uh, I'll do my best," Ogami replied reluctantly, causing the girls to burst out in laughter.
"But let me tell you, they missed you too," Jason said, looking pointedly at Sakura. Ogami and Sakura's eyes connected and they turned away, blushing.
"Jason!" they both yelled, embarrassed.
"Hai hai, let's get this party started," Jason said in mock grumble.
"Wait. Actually, there's another reason for this party," Yoneda interjected from the doorway.
"There you are old man. Do you really need another reason to get piss drunk?" Jason asked rhetorically.
"Not really. Aside from Ogami, we do have a new member joining us today," Yoneda answered with a grin.
"Oh?"
"Yes. She's come all the way from Florentina, this is her first time here in the Imperial City so please, try to get along with her," said Yoneda as he went out the door.
"Florentina?" Jason muttered, stroking his chin.
"I wonder what of a person she is," Sakura said excitedly.
"Well, let's try to make her feel as welcome as possible," Ogami replied.
Yoneda returned with a 17-year old girl in tow. She was of average height, with long, raven black hair that curled purposefully at the ends. Her tanned skin contrasted with her green eyes, a sort of exotic Mediterranean mixture.
"Everyone, this is our newest member," Yoneda gestured grandly.
"Ciao! I'm Soletta Orihime," the girl greeted, her Japanese slightly elongated and accented.
"Nice to meet-" Ogami started to say.
"Oh, it's –you-," Jason interrupted derisively.
The Hanagumi gave him various degrees of shocked faces.
"Ah! Fancy meeting you here~!" Orihime exclaimed in mock surprise, confounding the others even more.
"Second brother, you know her?" Iris asked, her eyes as big as saucers.
Jason grimaced. "Yes, we were acquainted in New Trafford."
"What an adventure –that- was," Orihime said.
"Why are you here?" Jason asked bluntly.
"None of your business~!" Orihime snapped.
Jason clapped his forehead. "Ugh, I'm getting a migraine... I'll be out and away," he said, quickly leaving the room and shutting the door before any of them could protest.
Once he was outside Jason looked towards the heavens. "Gah, what did I do to deserve this?"
Then he shook his head and sighed.
"Don't answer that," he muttered. He didn't like the possible answers.
---
Several hours later...
Ogami hesitated before the door to Jason's room. But then he steeled himself and knocked.
"It's me, Ogami. You got a moment?"
Jason chuckled as he opened the door. "You're asking an Exodusian if he has time. Hah! I've got nothing but time, young man. What's up?"
"You missed the party, so I brought you something," Ogami answered, passing him a plateful of various foods.
"Thanks," Jason said gratefully.
"We need to talk," Ogami said, looking up and into his eyes.
Jason was a little taken aback by his deep stare. "What's with that look?" Then, in dread, "Oh god, no..."
"What?" Ogami asked, surprised at the Exodusian's reaction.
"Uh, Ogami, sorry but I don't swing that way. I'm flattered, but you will surely find someone else, maybe a handsome sailor since you're from the Navy and all..."
Ogami's eyes widened. "What the heck are you talking about!?" he asked in horror. "I was going to ask about Orihime-san, that's all!"
Then he saw Jason's evil smile, which exploded into a roaring laughter.
"The look on your face was priceless!"
Ogami threw up his hands in exasperation. "Will you stop joking around!?" he demanded.
Jason straightened up and wiped his tears of laughter away. "Yeah yeah, grab a seat," he said, vaguely gesturing at his room. Ogami did so and took a look around. Several books lay on the table, a large strongbox was at the foot of the bed. Jason's ankle-length, black leather jacket was draped over the window like a curtain, his black boots sitting neatly under it.
Ogami took the only chair and sat down heavily. Noting his depressed look, Jason set the plate down on the table and leaned against the wall.
"Hey, sorry for ruining the party earlier," Jason apologized. Ogami shook his head. Jason took it as an apology accepted.
"About Orihime right?" Jason changed the subject.
"Yes... you said you knew her from New Trafford?"
Jason nodded.
"What happened?" Ogami prodded.
"Well..."
Jason gave Ogami a brief account on what happened in New Trafford. How he and Maria were sent there to escort a girl home, getting involved with a monster hunt, Maria getting wounded and how he and Orihime linked up to kill the said monster. After assuring him that Maria was alright, Ogami breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sounds like a great adventure," Ogami remarked.
Jason grimaced. "No thanks to that girl."
"From what you said, she doesn't seem so bad..."
"Forget it," Jason said dismissively, "more importantly, what happened to –you-? You look quite down."
"It's just that... I don't know what I did wrong, but Orihime-san seems quite angry with me," Ogami answered helplessly. "She actually stormed off the party barely a few minutes after you left."
"Listen, I don't think it's your fault. I remember the first time we met; she seems to dislike Japanese men."
"What? Why?" Ogami asked, mystified.
Jason shrugged. "Beats me. Who can understand women?"
Both men laughed. Then a knock on Jason's door startled them. The two men shared guilty looks.
"Jason-san? Is Ogami-san in there?" Sakura called.
Jason glanced at his watch. "It's time for the night patrol... Hey, here's an idea. Why don't you take Orihime with you? Get Sakura to show you two around... maybe she will feel better once she sees the theater."
Ogami brightened up. "Thanks!"
"Anytime, young grasshopper."
---
The next morning...
"No, I'm leaving and that's final~!"
Jason winced at Orihime's tone as he reached the stage. He had overheard the girls talking loudly as he passed by. To his surprise, Ogami was there as well.
"What's happening here?" Jason demanded in his best authoritarian voice. "Where's Tanaka-san? Isn't there a rehearsal going on?"
Tanaka[iv] was the music director of the Imperial Opera Troupe.
"Umm, Tanaka-san has left for the day..." Ogami said.
"Left? Why?" Jason asked incredulously.
Orihime tossed her hair. "Repeating lines over and over, you call that a rehearsal~? It's absolutely useless~!"
Jason was beginning to see the picture. The normally friendly and jovial Tanaka would have gotten peeved by Orihime's negativity towards Japanese men and could have simply left because of that.
"Orihime-san, how else do we prepare for a consistent performance?" Sakura asked patiently. But despite her smile, one can see the veins that threaten to pop on her forehead.
'Just how does Maria ever keep up with this motley crew?' Jason wondered idly.
Then he did a double take at Ogami. "Why are you so wet?"
"Ahaha... it's just a misunderstanding," Ogami answered sheepishly. He did not explain that Orihime had dumped a glass of water on him in a fit of anger.
The Exodusian sighed. "And what is this business about you leaving?" he grimly asked Orihime.
She pointedly ignored his look. "A run-down place with a bunch of amateurs~! Who wouldn't want to leave?" she said snidely.
"Orihime! That's too much!" Ogami sharply rebuked. Jason placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok, Ogami. She's just a kid."
"What~!?" the Italian yelled indignantly.
Jason shrugged. "Hey, you're the one throwing a tantrum."
"I'm not~!"
"Good. So you'll be doing the rehearsal properly then," Jason smoothly interjected.
"You, you-!" Orihime struggled for words.
Then the alarm sounded. Everyone instantly snapped up in attention. They quickly dispersed, leaving Orihime and Ogami alone.
"What is that~? Where is everyone going~?" Orihime asked, confused by the racket.
"...Orihime, follow me. You'll see that the Hanagumi fights as a team. And I hope you will be part of that team too," Ogami said.
The Italian girl narrowed her eyes, and nodded. "Well, just this once~. I want to make a splash in this city before I leave~!"
---
"Teikoku Kagekidan – Hanagumi, all assembled and accounted for!" Ogami announced.
"Well, even Orihime is here too, not bad," Yoneda replied.
"My, you have such a place down here?" Orihime asked as she looked around the briefing room.
"Didn't you give her a tour yesterday?" Jason whispered.
"Not here. No time," Ogami whispered back.
"Pay attention," Yoneda grumbled. "Now, we don't know who or what is attacking the theater..."
"Hey, what's that?" Jason interrupted, pointing at a purple-colored Koubu. Only, it wasn't a Koubu.
"-That- is my Eisenkleid~," Orihime proclaimed proudly.
"Hoh, so you really are a pilot. But, it doesn't have any weapons..." Jason said doubtfully. Orihime shot him a dirty look, which he pretended not to notice.
"Ahem," Yoneda coughed pointedly. "There will be time for chit-chat later. Now, scattered reports from the Tsukigumi say they..."
This time it was Ogami who chose to interrupt. "Our Koubus look different as well..." he remarked.
"Yeah, ain't it great? They increased the specs in every aspect. But it also needs more power, which is why your uniforms have been modified," Jason explained. It was needless for him to say that an Exodusian like him did not need such changes, thus he was still in his usual long leather jacket.
"Oh, I thought it's just a design change..." Ogami muttered as he looked over himself. Indeed, the new uniforms were more stylish.
"Will you two keep quiet!? We're under direct attack!" Yoneda hollered.
The two men immediately snapped into attention.
"Good. The reports say the attackers are definitely not human. Use extreme caution; there are a lot of civilians in the area..."
"Yoneda-san!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Now what!?" Yoneda demanded in exasperation.
"L-look!" she pointed out to the window.
Orihime's Eisenkleid had powered up and began to move on its own.
"I'll show you how to fight a battle~. I can handle them all by myself, so watch and learn~!" Orihime's voice boomed from the speakers.
"That brat!" Jason swore under his breath.
"Well, at least she's enthusiastic..." Ogami said weakly.
"You'll have to work on her a little more, but she will prove to be an invaluable addition to the Hanagumi," Yoneda said gruffly. "Now get out there and defend the theater!"
"Sir! Yes sir!" Ogami saluted, "Teikoku Kagekidan – Hanagumi! Move out!"
---
Jason found out how Orihime fought in her Eisenkleid.
The Italian girl possessed a high level of spiritual power, if a little wild. Concentrating her energies onto the fingers of her mecha, she was able to fire bolts right up into the sky and then fall back down and seek out the enemies.
'Rain of destruction,' Jason thought to himself.
The first wave of attackers was pretty much decimated by the said rain by the time the Hanagumi got there. Smoldering remains of steam-beasts littered the street.
"Easy victory~!" Orihime drawled cockily.
"Orihime-san, the Hanagumi works as a team," Ogami admonished, "please don't rush into battle all by yourself."
Orihime poured scorn over the tactical band. "Our levels are totally different~! I don't -need- a team to handle such weaklings~!"
Her purple machine merrily dashed off into the midst of the enemies.
"Snotty kid," Jason muttered.
"Somehow, this reminds me of the time -you- went into battle all by yourself, Jason," Ogami remarked slyly. Iris and Sakura giggled.
"What!? That was totally different!" Jason said indignantly.
From within the theater's base, Yoneda sighed loudly and shook his head.
"Those idiots, they think this is a picnic," he growled.
"More enemy units advancing sir," Kasumi reported from her station.
Yoneda nodded grimly. "Raise the wall."
Ogami was startled when thick blocks of steel rose from the ground and completely encircled their theater.
"Sir, what's happening?" Ogami asked.
"Ogami! This is our last line of defense, the Grand Imperial Theater Defensive Wall," Yoneda explained.
"Personally, I prefer calling it the Iron Curtain," Jason's voice interrupted.
"You shut up!" Yoneda yelled, causing the Kazegumi trio to giggle. He silenced them with a glare.
"Ogami, don't worry about the theater, the wall is virtually impenetrable. Stop wasting time and finish off the enemies!"
"Yes sir!"
In short order, the Hanagumi had reached Orihime's position. She had zealously attacked the steam-beasts, and now she found herself surrounded.
"Hang on, Orihime-san!" Iris and Sakura chorused.
"I'm doing fine, no thank you~!" Orihime snapped back. It proved just enough distraction for a steam-beast to find an opening. It charged directly at her exposed back.
Orihime gasped in surprise.
"Look out!"
When the dust cleared, the errant steam-beast laid in pieces. The foot of Ogami's white Koubu stepped purposefully on the remains.
"Orihime! Are you ok?" he asked urgently.
For a while, the Italian girl remained silent, prompting a mass of rising panic. Then, quietly,
"Hmph... to be saved by a Japanese man..."
"Thank goodness, Orihime-san," Sakura breathed a sigh of relief even as she arrived in time to slash an enemy. Jason and Iris brought up the rear. As they drove the steam-beasts back, Ogami took advantage of the lull in battle.
"Orihime-san, do you understand now? In the Hanagumi, no one is alone. We guard each other and we fight for each other. Please, think about it."
Orihime stayed silent and watched as Ogami left her to rejoin the battle.
"...I hate Japanese men," she muttered to herself as she moved her Eisenkleid to join them.
In short order, the enemy were completely wiped out.
"Well Ogami, looks like you haven't lost your touch," Jason commented.
"Hey, isn't it the same for you? When was the last time –you- fought in the Koubu?" Ogami replied.
"Yeah, but I'm... different," Jason parried.
"Suuuuure you are, second brother," Iris giggled.
"Hmph, if this is all the action here, then I'm leaving for sure~!" Orihime interrupted.
"Big talk for someone who needed help back there," Jason muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"What~!?" Orihime exclaimed.
"You heard me," Jason smirked.
"It seems that you forgot that I saved –you- back at New Trafford~!"
"You saved –me-!? Are you out of your mind!?"
"I was the one who fired the last shot, you annoying man~!"
"It was –my- gun in the first place!"
Ogami and the others were beginning to sweat over the rapidly degenerating argument. "Now, come on you two-"
"You keep out of this!" they both yelled, actually causing his Koubu to take a step back away from them.
Then a massive thunder interrupted them. From a crater on the ground, a huge steam-beast appeared. It was three times the size of the ones the Hanagumi had defeated, and a familiar person was standing on the head.
"Aoi Satan!" the Hanagumi gasped.
"It's been a while, so I decided to pay you a visit," he sneered.
"You're supposed to be dead," Jason said sourly.
"Right now I'm not. I'm living on borrowed time, but I'm willing to go any lengths to get my revenge on you," Aoi Satan said. He slowly dematerialized and slipped into the huge steam-beast. Its eyes glowed red as it came alive.
"Who was that unpleasant man~?" Orihime asked.
"His name is Aoi Satan. He's the leader of the Kuronosukai, but we all thought he was killed in the final battle," Ogami explained.
"Hmph! Trust Japanese men to leave things half-done~!" Orihime derided.
"Will you just shut up and move!" Jason hollered. His Koubu roughly shoved Orihime's Eisenkleid. Seconds later a massive shell struck the ground where she was, leaving a crater.
"You insufferable man-" Orihime began.
"Later! We've got to get rid of him first! Again!" Jason interrupted as he maneuvered his Koubu to avoid getting shot at.
Orihime closed her mouth and decided he was right, for once.
Aoi Satan's steam-beast was huge, but lumbering and slow. Add in their experience of fighting Kamui in their previous encounter, the Hanagumi easily defeated it.
"Impossible..." Aoi Satan muttered as he climbed out from the ruins of his machine-monster.
"Give up now, Aoi Satan," Ogami said, pointing a sword at him.
"Give up? And what would I gain from doing that, Ogami Ichiro?" Aoi Satan sneered, leveling his black blade at him in return.
"Yamazaki..." Yoneda called.
The Hanagumi turned to see their commander arriving on foot.
"It's been a while Yoneda... but it is too bad for you to see me like this... I'm ashamed..." Aoi Satan coughed, expelling thick black blood.
"It is still not too late, Yamazaki!" Yoneda yelled.
"Do I... still have a chance? Is it... not too late, even... even for me?" Aoi Satan wondered aloud.
But before anyone could answer him, a black portal appeared behind him. A figure wearing a demonic mask and wielding a shining sword stepped out from the portal.
"As per our agreement... your time is up," the masked man said in a deep, guttural voice.
Yamazaki did not say anything. He bowed his head in resignation.
"From death we resurrected you, to death you will now return," the masked figure chanted. With a smooth motion, he drove his katana right into the back of Aoi Satan.
The Hanagumi gasped in shock at the blatant murder.
"I... it's too late for me, Yoneda... Hate me, hate me so that the evil in your hearts will grow!" Aoi Satan laughed crazily.
Aoi Satan, the former leader of the Kuronosukai, died. His black blade clattered onto the ground. The black aura slowly dissipated, leaving it a normal-looking if battered sword.
"W-who are you!?" Ogami demanded.
"...Call me... the Demon King..." the masked man said simply, and disappeared.
"Well, that looks like a declaration of war to me," Jason said grimly.
"The Demon King... our new enemy..." Ogami mumbled. They could hear Iris sniffing from the communication system.
"...I felt... as if... he's the bringer of death... the god of death..." Sakura said uncertainly.
"No, Death is usually a woman[v]," Jason said off-handedly.
Orihime interrupted before anyone could ask what he meant. "He's just a mask-faced, cowardly joker~. Why think so much~? A victory is a victory~."
"Orihime-san is right. Let's end this with the usual thing, shall we?" Sakura said brightly.
"What usual thing?" Orihime asked.
"Here, let me show you..." Sakura offered.
"Shouri no pose...kime Victory pose... decided!!"
[i] Ayame – Like the TV anime, Ayame did not die at the end of 'Starting Over'.
[ii] Absentees – Yes, I had wondered about this too. How did the theater ever go on with so many people missing at the beginning of ST2? Maybe it was an off-season for theater plays...
[iii] Baka – if you don't know this, then you're a baka... Note, this entire fic is written so that everything is in Japanese otherwise noted, but I just like how this sentence sounds, heh.
[iv] Tanaka – this of course, a reference to Tanaka Houbei, the composer of most (if not all) of the songs and music in Sakura Wars.
[v] Death is usually woman – being an Exodusian, Jason/Arion has numerous near-Death encounters. Death had appeared in many shapes and forms in their meetings. Death is actually quite sick of seeing him...