Haru:

Seventh Moon

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I am so genki today! ^o^ ^o^ ^o^ I guess it has something to do with Max's Pocky. Anyway, I'm back for another installment of this Bey Blade-Sakura Wars-Yami No Matsuei saga. I have introduced Team Axis, and YES they're all GIRLS! Who were those frigging knights, anyway?! OO;; Up in this installment, Yuri gets a briefing, Dr. Mizuhara goes reminiscing, Team Hoshi having dinner...and Lei gets a welcoming present! R/R PLEASE!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bey Blade, Sakura Wars, and Asato Tsuzuki plus his 12 original Shikigami. They are owned by their respective authors. But the OC's, new Shikigami and terminologies are mine, though. SO NO SUING~~~!!!

Judy

Name: Mizuhara, Judith Frances Seymour

Country of Origin: America

Nationality: American

Birthplace: Holly Acres, West Virginia

Age: 32

Height: 166 cm

Weight: 51 kg

Blood Type: O

Birthday: August 18

Skills: Fencing, Sigil Tech, Aurora Cross

PRN: 0010 - 000 - 002

EP: 548

APR: 100%

Test Results: 100%

Affiliation: Imperial Capital Defense Corps

Status: Light Knight

"Ah! Yuri!" Daitenji-kacho smiled in a grandfatherly manner as he looked up from the papers he was perusing and saw Yuri come in after Kai. "It's really good to see you! Was your 'flight' well?"

"It went without a hitch, Daitenji-kacho. Thank you for worrying."

"Your Sigil would be arriving sometime tomorrow, once my people get past through customs. I think they've finally managed to convince them that we really can't afford to start the musical without another Dryad statue prop more." Daitenji-kacho stood up. "Well now that you're here...I take it that you've already met your other teammates?"

"Yes, sir." Yuri gestured to Kai, who looked none the more cheerful. "He was gracious enough to introduce me, somewhat."

"That's Kai Hiwatari for you." Daitenji-kacho nodded. "OK then, now the introductions are over, I guess we have to start." He clears his throat. "You DO know why you were sent here, Yuri?"

"Well...I heard the Kagekidan was one thespian short, so here I am," Yuri said with a small smile.

Kai went and closed the door before others could hear them.

"Well, there's that...and the fact that our rival company is on the move again." Daitenji-kacho nodded again. "The last 4 years have been quite uneventful and one-sided somewhat, and they've been stealing the show on the European front. But there is no need to worry; our company in Germany is doing everything it can in order to stop the rise of those fiends. So...the stage is quiet for now, and we're still missing Oberon, and the Emperor is quite delighted with the way things are going here in the Imperial Opera House." He looks over at Yuri. "Well then?"

"It must be, or else you wouldn't have to recruit all those other thespians for nothing. I understand the Emperor is going to watch." Yuri nodded, his expression going serious. "As for other matters...the Russian company had been down and out these past couple of months, now those dogs are out a-sniffing."

"And yes, they've gone to Germany before they could actually pounce on them." Daitenji-kacho clasped his hands on top of his desk. "As for our own battlefront...we've been preparing for the worst these last 4 years, and we say we're ready. They're ready to strike again...I could sense it. All the props and costumes are in place, and we only need an affirmation from the general manager before we could go on ahead. Kai Hiwatari is the one in charge of all the productions over here, and I am just here to guide you all. Any questions, please feel free to ask him."

"I understand."

There was a knock on the door, and the 3 of them turned to look. It was Asako. "Daitenji-kacho, everything's all set, and dinner's ready."

"Yes, thank you, Suzuhara-kun." Daitenji-kacho grinned. "Well then. Shall we eat?"

Dr. Judy Mizuhara was looking through the thick sheaf of papers inside the small brown folder she was holding when there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in."

The door opens, and her secretary poked her head in. "Ministry of Defense on line 3, ma'am."

"Yes, thanks, Yuuzaki-san." Dr. Mizuhara grabbed the unwieldy looking phone on her astonishingly clear desk, punched the blinking red light, then put the receiver to her ear. "Mizuhara."

Dr. Mizuhara listened, her lips pursed tightly, then she gave a curt little nod. "Yes, I understand. I had them delivered..."

She paused again, and now a frown was forming on her lips. "Yes. YES. I'll get to it right away. Alright. Good day."

Dr. Mizuhara put the phone down, shaking her head in disbelief. "Mass production...they must be mad! These are not toys...what the hell are they thinking OF anyway?! They were ballistic during 'THAT' incident 4 years ago, and now they want MASS PRODUCTION?! I thought they said they don't want anything to do with IT...what on EARTH is Hiwatari saying to THEM anyway?!"

She sighed, then held her hand to her head, her fingers trying to smooth over the headache that was starting to ache dully after that telephone call. She hasn't enough decent sleep these last few weeks, the problems concerning Team Axis were on the rise again, and since she was in charge of the Imperial Capital Defense intelligence network, she was required to go through those hellish nights wherein one fatal mistake could lead to the loss of thousands of lives. She didn't want another Armageddon to happen again...but the way those idiots populating the Ministry of Defense are behaving, she was sure they're heading towards that direction, if she doesn't act fast. She has to have a chat with Daitenji.

Dr. Mizuhara pushed her glasses up her nose, then looked over at the picture frames which stood near the edge of her table. Black and white photographs of Max with his pet Akita, Marley; her husband out fishing somewhere down Okinawa; Max with his Sigil playset; Max wearing his Kagekidan graduation uniform a year ago. She reached out to touch that picture frame, lovingly tracing Max's face with a finger.

***Max...***

"..." Dr. Mizuhara smiled a bit. Yes. That was her private little name, all her own.

Growing up in Western Virginia as a little girl was hard. Yes, she had rolling fields to play on or trot on with her horse, Shelby; apples and oranges and lemons and pears and peaches all for her picking during fruit season; cousins to play chase with...and they were never out of love and warmth. Meredith Seymour raised her with all the tender love and warmth a mother could possibly give, and Judith Frances Seymour, as she was known then, couldn't have asked for more; blessed and contented she was in her mother's arms, whenever her mother would tell her bedtime stories or made her chocolate cake which she was never able to replicate for all its moistness and creamy consistency.

Her mother named her after her favorite aunts, who were liberal minded and went to exotic places she only heard of as tall tales from their Church ministry missionaries: India, Egypt, China, Siam. She would sit there, mystified at all the peoples they've encountered and their strange customs; a far cry from their simple life at their rolling Holly Acres farm. She wanted to be able to go to those places someday, and she'll tell Maximillian all about it when she comes home.

Maximillian Christopher was the son of their cook in Holly Acres, and they were best friends. Her father, Abraham Seymour, didn't approve of it, while Meredith let her have her own way in choosing her own friends. He wanted to become a doctor, and he was so intelligent and clever it was him who inspired Judith to become what she was today. They shared secrets and problems and worries that 8 year-olds usually have, and he was the one who listened to all her stories outside Holly Acres whenever her mother and her go visiting other relatives in Oregon. He was the one who christened her Judy, and she was the one who christened him Max.

Unfortunately, Maximillian died of leukemia before he could even become a doctor. He was only 10.

It was just the start of many mishaps that would eternally scar her forever. Her older brother Gregory died in a freak train mishap on his way home for the holidays back from West Point a year later. Meredith, receiving a telegram that her Aunt Frances was ill in India, went and was to contract the malaria that eventually killed her aunt that year she went to India and her in 1900. Her father forbade her to go to Japan where her mother's Aunt Judith was stationed as a nurse in the foreign settlement in Nagasaki, for fear of those "peasants" might corrupt the innocence and the "civilized ways" of his daughter, as she was the only family she had left, the year after. But she was never to be dissuaded, and so, her father grudgingly allowed her to come to Japan, this strange land which she had no idea would permanently become her home and where she would meet her husband.

She met Tetsuji Mizuhara during one of those errands her Great Aunt Judith sent her to do. His father owned the Western goods shop located up front the foreign settlement, and Yuuji Mizuhara was among few of the Japanese she knew who commanded perfect English, having been educated by some Christian missionaries since he was 6 years old, and had a chance to study in England before pests and fires ruined their rice fields in the provinces and he had to go back home to help with the family business. His Western goods shop was the largest and most complete in terms of inventory unlike other shops, and to 14 year-old Judith, it was like home away from home. His youngest son Tetsuji worked for the conscript army as a Captain; at age 19, he was one of the youngest to have ever attained that status in so short a time.

The first time she met Tetsuji, she thought he looked like a toy bear. They saw each other quite often, every time Judith comes this way after school (she was going to that sort of finishing school her Great Aunt had recommended, after her father "unknowingly" cut off her monthly allowance). She didn't see him again after she was accepted into the Imperial Capital Defense Corps and was studying at the same time at Daitenji's expense (she was like a granddaughter to him) as a fledgling Sigil Tech at the age of 16. That time around, her feelings sparked up towards the gentle young man, who unknowingly had been in love with her the day she first met him, and they got married 2 years after. Max was born to them a year after.

Tetsuji is still working for the Imperial Conscript Army up to now, where he had now risen to a general, the youngest ever to attain that status. Their son Max is a cadet at the elite Kagekidan, a superb tactician and weapons specialist. He was the best of both worlds; inheriting his mother's brains and gift for brilliant tactics and understanding weaponry and his father's kind and gentle personality with a lavish dose of hyperactivity, traits which endeared Tetsuji to her all those years ago.

Would it all be gone for nothing?

A fierce determination sprung up in Dr. Mizuhara's breast as she firmly shook her head and reached out for the phone.

She had to tell Daitenji.

"Alright, who's for the STEAK~~~~?!" SD Takao was licking his lips in satisfaction as one of the maids set before him his own platter of well-done steak with creamy herbed mashed potatoes served with a dollop of rich gravy on top, along with buttered vegetables on the side and generous serving of wild spiced rice. "WOW~~~!!! Some TIMES I'm really glad you're half-American Max, or else we'd be stuck eating all those grilled fish for the rest of our lives."

"But fish is good for the body, Takao-senpai," Kenichiro told him as he regarded his cousin with an almost scandalized look. "I don't think Aunt Tsutsuji would even get to enter this dining hall as soon as she sniffs all this fat and butter and grease."

"I don't CARE! I mean, it's real nice to eat something DIFFERENT for a change," Takao answered. He looks over at the cook, who was patiently awaiting for their approval. "This looks REAL good! So, we're to eat Chinese cuisine tomorrow?"

"Absolutely, Master Takao."

Lei was staring at the steak in front of him when Max blinked at him. "Eh Lei, anything wrong? I could ask the cook to prepare something more substantial for you..."

"No, it's fine. It's best I get accustomed." Lei picked up his knife and fork and started cutting up the steak.

"We're having Chinese cuisine tomorrow," Takao told him over mouthfuls of steak and rice. "Then Russian cuisine, then back to Japanese again. Daitenji-kacho has this idea for a different cuisine everyday fosters brotherhood among us cadets from different countries and makes us stronger. I say it's really GREAT."

"Knowing you Kinogu, you would EAT anything as long as it stays STILL in one place for a VERY long time," Kai muttered from a seat across Takao's. "I think that's why you agreed to the Kagekidan in the first place."

"Oh, shut up, Kai," Takao growled.

Kenichiro had been cutting up his steak as precisely as any surgeon did on the operating table, while Yuri did the steak as if he had eaten steak all his life and sure acted like one, his fingers going through the motions as if they were all automatically programmed to do. Kai noted this with particular interest.

After the steak dinner, they had some dessert. Max offered to whip up some concoctions for the newcomers once the ice cream flavors and all the toppings and garnishing and what-nots were put on the table before them, after the maids cleared out their plates. Takao instantly put together a towering creation made of dark chocolate and creamy vanilla ice-cream loaded with lots of nuts and dribbled with strawberry sauce and chocolate syrup and several candied maraschino cherries.

"This is my Takao Deluxe," Takao told Lei as he put bite-size pieces of tiny marshmallows shaped into Sigils about the 6 scoop ice cream behemoth and sprinkled it with more bright candy. "Kai's grandfather has perfected those chillers that ensure an even cold temperature throughout the contraption, courtesy of their research and development team of megalocosmic proportions. It's where we keep those meats and dessert items fresh. We have chillers reserved for each purpose. I really hate to say this, but without Kai, I guess I wouldn't be enjoying this kind of dessert straight from the States."

"You've imported this dessert from the States?" Lei asked, his eyes wide.

"Well, yes, but once the cook should get the hang of making this kind of dessert, then I guess we'll be making our own. I know, it's quite a gross mismanagement of war funds, but trust Kai's grandfather to give only the best what the Hiwatari Heavy Industries has to offer. He believes in the Kagekidan, and he gives his all-out support for the cause, even if there are deaf ears up in the Ministry of Defense who wouldn't even give a damn about what we're really headed toward to. He believes in the value of all work and no play makes Kai a dumb boy all DAY."

Kai took a dainty bite of the slice of triple chocolate cake on his gold trimmed saucer by means of a dessert fork. "I think it's all work and no play makes Takao an irritable childish PRAT all DAY."

"I am NOT a childish PRAT!" Takao fumed, a pulsing gargantuan twitch on his forehead as he turned into an SD fire breathing ogre, his eyes devilish little slits.

"Yes you ARE," SD Kai said, still unconcernedly chewing on the bit of cake he put inside his mouth, his mouth closed as was proper.

"Am NOT!" SD ogre Takao yelled.

Lei looked positively alarmed, then looked over at Max, who was concentrating on pouring peanut butter in nice swirls about the peanut brittle ice cream by means of a silver gravy boat filled with the garnishing. "Are they really always like this?" he asked in a panicky voice.

"Yep, they always have a go at each other ever since they first met," Max told him as he put down the gravy boat and prodded a peanut butter swirl to drape itself more artistically about a Sigil marshmallow by means of a spoon. "I thought a year would suffice to make them stop throttling each others' throats, but I guess I was wrong."

"You got into Kagekidan last year?" Lei asked him.

"Oh, yes. We all practically started at the same time. The Sigils came early this year, and prior to that, we've only been doing test drives in the War Room for practice. Nothing beats the real thing, though. I tell you, once you get into that cockpit, you have absolutely no idea when all hell would be breaking loose." Max nodded. "There were a couple of Axis spies who infiltrated the Hiwatari Heavy Industries Sigil Underground Laboratories 2 weeks ago, and that's when Kai learned that he could Rave. Daitenji-kacho got pretty shaken after that, and said that he wouldn't be too surprised if that was an inside job. The Imperial Capital Defense isn't exactly having a very rosy relationship with the Ministry of Defense right now, but a former Imperial Capital Defense Corps at its helm...I guess you never know."

"Gee..." Lei bit his lip. "I heard about the attack on Hiwatari Heavy Industries...Dr. Mizuhara was really mad."

"I know. It's really hard for Mom, she's in charge of the training and learning facilities of the entire Imperial Capital Defense in its satellite headquarters at Kyouto, not to mention, the intelligence gathering, and she always has the Ministry of Defense operatives breathing down her neck. If we lose Hiwatari's backing, then we'll be left utterly defenseless once those Axis fiends come knocking on our door. But...Mr. Souichiro Hiwatari isn't to be disheartened by that attack...it only deepened his resolve to help us even more. Which is a really good thing. Now, he's got his scientists down into researching para-psyche engines to improve the Sigils' chi output. We're talking about instantaneous Raves here, Lei. I don't think those Axis spies would be too eager to pounce on us ever again." Max grinned. "I've decided to name this Driger the Frosty Tiger. Well? What do you think?"

Lei blinked. A somewhat cute cat made of vanilla ice cream was grinning at him, with green stripes and gold trimmings, and marshmallow spheres, dribbled all over with white chocolate shavings, crushed lime flavored candy sprinkles, and creamy white chocolate sauce. There were tiny Driger Sigil marshmallows scattered below, along with equally tiny marshmallow glaives and marshmallow wushu swords.

"Sorry if it turned out into some sort of a tabby cat," Max apologized. He peered at his handiwork closely. "Hmm, I wouldn't be surprised if Kai calls this Driger the Grinning Cheshire Cat, but he had been quiet ever since I whipped him up a Dranzer Flaming Strawberry Delight. It looked like a cross between a turkey and a chicken, and it had Takao crack up weeks on end. Suffice it to say, he took it all out on the pink flamingos, and I've been hiding what I had saved from his infernal rage ever since."

"It looks nice." Lei smiled at him. "Thanks, Max."

"And here's yours, Yuri." Max pushed him a concoction made of many brilliant slivers of frosted ice blue candy stuck on what looked like a vanilla puppy, and several swirly looking ice blue and white round marshmallows, blueberry sauce, and tiny Wolfborg Sigil marshmallows were scattered below. "Forgive me if this looks like a porcupine with a bad hair day, or a puppy skewered by evil glass shards."

"It's fine," Yuri said with interest. He looks at Max in amazement. "Are you SURE you're not going into Hotel and Restaurant Management or anything if this war would EVER end?"

"Nope, handling Sigils are just FINE." Max turned SD, as he dipped his spoon into his own peanut butter concoction. "Let's EAT!"

Lei got into his own room by the end of the hallway right across Max's, and right beside Yuri's. The 4 of them bid goodnight to each other; Daitenji-kacho had asked Kai and Takao to stay behind regarding some matters. Kenichiro told him that the two of them were on patrol duty that night at the Hiwatari Heavy Industries compound, a fact that wasn't agreeable to either one of them. He further told him that they take turns in watching the compound ever since the Axis infiltration, what more now that they are developing those para-psyche engines.

"-Nirvana Obsolete-," Max said, nodding. "Don't ask me why it's called THAT, but I guess whoever named it chose that name because it kinda sounded awesome. Anyway, see you guys tomorrow. Goodnight!"

Lei entered his room, and closed and locked it behind him. He switched on the light. The steam powered generators of this entire facility were really remarkable; even if the science of transporting electricity was still at its quite infantile stages here in Japan, they all have running water powered by steam generator water pumps, electric lights all around, Kenichiro was even telling him that Hiwatari Heavy Industries was planning to put up a central steam powered heater in case winters become extremely harsh in mild weathered Tokyo, even improvement of the existing hangar facility where their Sigils were kept, by means of adding more steam powered computers, a 24 hour Sigil maintenance dugout, and installation of pressure alarms. And this entire facility looks like a completely harmless Imperial Opera House, to boot. Now who could say they're really soldiers of a top secret military facility in Imperial Japan?

All his things were there, and Lei was surprised to see a box on top of his bed. He then sat down on his bed and opened it.

Inside was a faded red bandanna on which was embroidered the yin/yang symbol.

Your father had left me this. He wishes for you to have it. Fei had always said that this was his lucky charm.

"..." Lei smiled.

***Yes, Father. Thank you. I'll keep this always.***

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Now the plot THICKENS! Darn, wonder what's going to happen to both Kai and Takao?! Let's just pray they won't chase each other around the Hiwatari Heavy Industries compound. But then again, these two are like fire and ice. We all shouldn't get our hopes way up. ^^;; Now, time for some ACTING LESSONS~~~!!! ^o^