Haru:
Ninth Moon
AUTHOR'S NOTES: How was that homage to the almighty chibis of the Super Robot Taisen Sagas?! ^~^ YAY! Anyway...Kai's dad goes visiting, and both father and son get to deal with somewhat "domestic" issues; the 3 former Imperial Capital Defense Corps members get to do some rather strained and very emotional reminiscing; the enigma that is "Sophia" and the -Light Relic- Edelweiss; Lei gets a letter from his twin sister Mao; and Yuri's Wolfborg, delivered via DHL express! Hmm. Are they planning to revive Asato Tsuzuki?! R/R PLEASE~~~!!!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bey Blade, Sakura Taisen, and Asato Tsuzuki + his 12 original Shikigami; as they're owned by their respective authors. The OC's, some terminologies, and some factions-bent-on-world-domination are mine, though. So no SUING~~~!!!
Althaea
***these are taken from the top secret files collected by the Imperial Capital Defense by their operatives living in England
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______
"Project Sophia"
In Line with the Specifics of the
Rosicrucian Society
Name: Whitaker, Althaea Elisabeth Marguerite Sullivan
Country of Origin: England
Nationality: English
Birthplace: Alden House, Lancashire, England
Age: 14
Height: 150 cm
Weight: 41 kg
Blood Type: O
Birthday: March 3
Skills: Summoning Aetheria, Light Aetheria, Seraph Aetheria, Psychic Aetheria
EP: ???
APR: ???
Affiliation: Team Axis
Status: Aether Knight (Light)
-Eden Absolute-: 97.87%
Eden Infinity Synch: 100%
Edelweiss
Pilot: Althaea Elisabeth Marguerite Sullivan-Whitaker
Height: 14.2 m
Base Weight: 4.9 tons
Equipped: 5.2 tons
Mahannon Crystal Reaction: 100%
Sub Aether Generator Torque: 520
Main Steam Generator Coefficient: 3.4
Kyrieans Barrier Life: 10.33 hours
Frame Durability: 252
Reaction Time: 0.01
Aether Induction: 92
Speed (Ground): 312 km/h
Speed (Air): 902 km/h
Weapon: Psychic Aetheria, Seraphim Animum Light Phasers (SEALERS), Pulse Rods, double rods
Armor: Base Malakh Armor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
______
Project Sophia
Key to Eternal Life. It is not known if the person in question, though, holds the Holy Grail...most Grail experts point out it was in the possession of Joseph of Arimathea, if the Arthurian legends are to be believed in the location of the chalice which Christ had supposedly used during the Last Supper.
11/13 - the day is gloomy. Tomb location confirmed. Awaiting further instructions.
12/24 - unsealed the Gate of Gaea.
01/02 - unsealed the Gate of Eden.
02/03 - unsealed Caelestis.
02/27 - unsealed Gate of Spheres. Seraphim most uncooperative.
03/03 - unsealed Tomb of Metatron.
Gate of Gaea
Gate leading from outside of the Carpathian Mountains to the entrance of the crypt. Sealed by massive stone doors on which is written several passages in Latin, it is guarded by several traps along the way, which leads to the Path of the Goddess Earth, bearer of sin and oblivion.
Gate of Eden
Gate found at the end of the Path of the Goddess Earth to the second entrance of the crypt (which is the Gate of Eden itself). Found within it is the Hall of the Goddess Sky, protector of the divine and truth. It has 12 gates, corresponding to the Biblical passages in Revelations, upon which the 12 angels stand guard. A beautiful stained glass-lit passageway leads from this hall to another passage within.
Caelestis
"Heaven" in a Latin sense. Protected by DEUS, it is a beautiful marble sanctuary wherein the fabled Fountain of Youth was found, its sparkling waters cascading over its many marble terraced steps. As with the Gate of Gaea, it was closed on its 4 sides by massive stone doors with Latin passages...doors that undoubtedly lead to the hidden sanctuaries of this magnificent mausoleum.
Gate of Spheres
A very huge room in which the Relics were unearthed from 300 years of fitful slumber. Protected by SEALERS, it is a circular room with a very brilliant star map carved upon the ceiling, moved by an extraordinary and very brilliant system of gears timed as to move in accordance with the heavens. The room is divided into 9 concentric circles, much like in Atlantean fashion, which move in accordance with the star map located above, unsealing doors to pass through and sealing doors you can't go back to. Christian Rosenkreuz really protected his sister very well.
Tomb of Metatron
The innermost sanctuary of this very intricate and trap-riddled mausoleum, it is where the immortal Sophia Rosenkreuz was entombed in order to preserve her unsullied purity and innocence when her older brother died. It is hexagonal in nature, and very huge; bound by several stained-glass "windows" on each side and lighted by a stained glass ceiling from above. The entire room is made of a cream colored marble, and soft colored marble flooring. The Tomb itself is sealed by means of the Wings of Metatron himself, sealing its most precious treasure from the sullied hands of "sinners".
Sophia Rosenkreuz
(1602 - ???)
Younger sister to Christian Rosenkreuz, she lived a life of utmost purity. As her brother turned to the more mystical side of the Christian faith (and she was a young novice nun), she devoted her life to the Cross, and many "divine interventions" were attributed to her. Her hand sought by many in marriage, she sought to remain pure as the Bride of Christ. It was said before her older brother died, she wished for heaven on earth so that none would disturb her peace. Rosenkreuz took it to himself and created the Tomb of Metatron, in which he had his younger sister posthumously sealed before he left this world.
Relics
It is not known where they were created, or for what reason they were created, but they had been around for quite a very long time already, and were entombed along with their Keeper. It is also known for a fact that they share a striking similarity to the ancient Sigils unearthed in Shantung Province, China, and were perfected by means of their generous patron of the Hiwatari Heavy Industries, Mr. Souichiro Hiwatari. It is from these ancient Sigils that the current Sigils were based, and created.
Incarnation
For the record...when the Tomb was opened, it was already empty. There was a worldwide search for Sophia's reincarnation, as she had doomed herself to remain on this planet until the time of heaven's judgment should come to cleanse the world. Althaea Elisabeth Marguerite Sullivan-Whitaker was the reincarnation, shown by her reaction to the Kyrieans Barrier and the Mahannon Crystals, which were very frightening, to say the least. She was taken by good will of her parents and bound to the Wings of Metatron on her 5th birthday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______
CASE # 139 - 870003
Examiner: Dr. Keiko Ogura Attention: Imperial Capital
Assisting Examiners: Dr. Itsuki Takizawa Defense Command
Dr. Eisuke Nomura
Date Examined: 03-15-1919
Time: 1700 hours
Please note that this report is certified true and correct.
Patient in a very deep coma; bruises to shoulder blades, back, lower arms, lower thighs and legs very prominent, as physical evidence in relation to a very prolonged amount of physical torture was found. Vital signs very faint; patient alive, but just. Reaction to the Kyrieans Effect most outstanding; as with reaction to -Nirvana- Crystals, reaction is very frightening, to say the least. Awaiting further instructions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a very tense atmosphere in the room, Takao swore he could cut it off cleanly with a knife. Yuri, Kenichiro, Lei, Max, and Takao looked from Kai to the man then back to Kai and back to the man again.
"Uh..." Max ventured.
"Well...? Do you have anything to say for yourself, Father?" Kai said again.
Mr. Daichi Hiwatari frowned, then looked at his son, with a steely expression in his dark brown eyes. "Kai."
"..." Kai frowned. "What are you doing here at the Kagekidan...? I thought you said so yourself that you're NEVER coming back to this place, after Mother died...?"
"It is none of your business. Besides, I am here for Daitenji and Mizuhara." Mr. Hiwatari looked around the room and found the rest of the Kagekidan troupe looking curiously over at him. He let out a short laugh. "Isn't it funny. Back all together again. A very INTERESTING deja vu...don't you think so, Kai?"
"..." Kai's brows furrowed even deeper.
"If your older brother were HERE, I shudder to think what he would say to you."
Kai's red brown eyes flashed. "I have NO older BROTHER~~~!!!" he growled.
"The last time I checked, he still was with the Imperialists..." Mr. Hiwatari said softly, glaring at his son.
"..."
"If it weren't for HIM, you wouldn't be able to be here at the Kagekidan in the first PLACE~~~"
"Hiwatari."
Both father and son looked towards the doorway and found Daitenji-kacho standing there, frowning slightly.
"Daitenji..." Mr. Hiwatari turned to look at him, his eyes little slits of pure hatred. "What was that ABOUT~~~?! Almost razing what's LEFT of the Imperial Capital to the GROUND...what were you THINKING~~~?! And taking those abominations on a free for all, to BOOT~~~!!! You think you can do anything you want here at the Kagekidan, just because the Emperor's senior advisers trusted you on this so much as to give you full rein over EVERYTHING~~~"
"Hiwatari!" Daitenji-kacho calls out again. "This is not the place for such outburst! If you want to have a piece of me and Judy, there's the office." The grandfatherly old man looked over at the other cadets, who were still looking at them with wide eyes, with the exception of Kai, who was seething and had his eyes cast down to the floor, clenching his fists tightly. "Sorry about this embarrassing display, children...you may as well continue with your rehearsals."
Both Daitenji-kacho and Mr. Hiwatari left the rehearsal hall without another word. Lei looked over at Kai, whose bangs had thrown his eyes into shadow.
He slowly walked over to where he was, his amber gold eyes thoroughly worried. "Kai..." he began. "I..."
"Shut UP~~~!!!" Kai looked up, then glared at Lei. "You don't know ANYTHING about me, so just SHUT UP~~~!!!"
"Hey Kai, aren't you being a little too harsh...?" Max said. "Come on, Kai. We're all in this, together..."
"I don't want ANY of you going near me. You HEAR~~~?! ANYBODY~~~!!!" With that, Kai threw his script down to the floor and stalked away from the rehearsal hall, almost flinging a startled maid down the steps in the process. Lei's eyes went wide. "Kai..."
"Forget it. He's just the biggest jerk there is." Takao sighed. "Kai's got his own skeletons in the closet, so to speak, and all we could do for now is just wait until he simmers down."
"We can't wait for him, we've got the play to worry about." Yuri shook his head. "Oh well. I just hope he simmers down before curtain call or something. Queen Titania can't really deliver her spiels if her husband's out, having a temper tantrum."
"He will. He just has to deal with his 'ghosts' for now, and he'll be perfectly fine." Max nodded. "So, how did those aerial leaps go over again...?"
"And here I was thinking that you could've acted more like the respectable man you once WERE, Hiwatari. What the hell are you thinking?" Dr. Mizuhara was glaring at Mr. Hiwatari. "You could've saved yourself a LOT of embarrassment by not taunting your son in font of his teammates like a childish 5 year-old, and yet, you went with it, anyway. Wasn't suffering for Saya's sake enough...?"
"If he wasn't HERE then Saya could've been still ALIVE," Mr. Hiwatari growled. "It's his fault why she went crazy like that."
"Am I really listening to Daichi Hiwatari?!" Dr. Mizuhara was shaking her head. "That person who was responsible for curbing that -Nirvana Meltdown- 4 years AGO?!"
"It's Kai's fault. It's HIS FAULT~~~!!!"
"Stop it, the both of you. This is not the time for bickering about petty disputes." Daitenji-kacho sat down at the table, looking at both Dr. Mizuhara and Mr. Hiwatari with a steely eye of the great General he once was, all traces of his grandfatherly attitude gone. "A crisis is at hand, and as the Axis operative was just so glad to point out, the Imperial Capital Defense is crumbling. Now, will you set aside your feelings of a wrathful father for a moment and act like a former Imperial Capital Defense Corps commander, would?"
"The key word is 'former'." Mr. Hiwatari shook his head. "I have no idea why I'm back here, in the first place."
"You cowardly traitor," Dr. Mizuhara muttered.
"That's enough, Judy." Daitenji-kacho looked at the both of them, his eyes becoming steelier (OO;;). "You have come of your own free will, Daichi, and I am glad that not all those irresponsible oafs sitting in the Ministry of Defense are deaf. However~~~"
"I am here on Ministry of Defense business," Mr. Hiwatari cut in.
There was absolute silence for a couple of seconds.
"How could you turn your back against what we have so sorely worked hard for the past 4 years?" Dr. Mizuhara said softly, looking at Mr. Hiwatari with a very revolted look on her face. "Have you forgotten your duties...?"
"My duties as of this moment lie with the interests of the Chrysanthemum Throne's heir, himself, and I am NOT going to go on with this masquerade filled with fools," Mr. Hiwatari answered coldly. "And as one of my duties, I have been tasked with the honorable job of dismissing the present foolish administrative staff by the end of the next full moon, and have them replaced by respectable, knowledgeable people who certainly know what they're dealing with here."
"Dismiss...?" Daitenji-kacho asked, his face expressionless.
"Yes, that's it. The Ministry of Defense is in an uproar, and they want to focus Japan's energies into fostering diplomatic ties with the surrounding nations...this war is just a mad man's folly, and they want to go on with the ideals of world peace without resorting to these maudlin shenanigans."
"Remove the people behind the Kagekidan...?" Dr. Mizuhara was appalled. "Are you INSANE? Are they going to turn a blind EYE against what's HAPPENING out THERE?!"
"The only ones who are BLIND are you and Daitenji, and those foolish people who still think you could salvage Japan's imperial glory by means of wars against non-entities," Mr. Hiwatari continued. "I suggest you better start pulling your tentacles off the Emperor's senior advisers."
"So you think those people who would seat themselves pretty at the helm of the Kagekidan would win their own war against Team Axis? You have been blinded! And to the Ministry of Defense's R and D Department who would mass produce these Sigils for the sake of just strengthening their illusions of lofty GRANDEUR~~~!!!" Dr. Mizuhara's closed fists were shaking in anger. "What happened to YOU?! Why are you throwing your duties AWAY?! We vowed to stick together through thick and thin, devoted our lives to protecting the innocent with our BLADES, and here you go just throwing that bond all AWAY?! If that were the case, Fei just died for NOTHING~~~!!!"
"We were all idealistic, but the situation has gotten way out of hand," Mr. Hiwatari replied. "Who would want to let freaks loose to defend the imperial capital, anyway? It's because of our differences that people shunned us for what we ARE, and it's because of our differences that people would want to make us pawns in their deadly game of deceit and pain and hatred! They almost had us executed for putting the ENTIRE Japanese race in danger, by Tsuzuki's -Nirvana Cross- and by summoning all his -Shikigami-! And when I curbed that...what did I get...?! What did we GET?! NOTHING~~~!!! We believed that we could truly save everyone from being enslaved by Axis...but where has it gotten us? Only ridicule from the Imperialists, one dead, one missing, and still another one INSANE~~~!!! Imperialists branding us for being the insane people that we are who think they could get away with just everything just because Daitenji happened to be a childhood friend of 4 of the Emperor's most trusted and senior advisers~~~"
"Are you finished, Daichi?" Daitenji-kacho stood up, then looked at Mr. Hiwatari, his eyes gone very cold. "If it means forsaking your duties as one of those who have vowed to protect the Imperial Capital from any threat, protect the heir of the Chrysanthemum Throne from any threat...then, you have truly forgotten who you are, Hiwatari. I regret to say that you have become one whom I do not recognize anymore."
"Fine then. The news that will reach the ears of those who seat themselves prettily in the higher alcoves or whatever beyond the comprehension of us mortal men, will be your promise of retirement, as with the rest of your staff, at the end of the next full moon." Mr. Hiwatari sniffed. "It is also their will that they would want to hear about your 'breakthrough plan' of harboring a Russian in the employ of the Kagekidan, when you fully know that Russia by now is embroiled in its own turmoil as a possible cradle of that dreadful communism ideal which we peace-loving citizens and the Emperor of Japan himself totally abhor. And that girl whom you 'rescued' from her fate, knowing full well that she is the enemy, and a very dangerous one at that. An Axis operative." He bows a little too stiffly. "Good day."
He leaves the room. Dr. Mizuhara was very angry, and Daitenji-kacho was just quiet. The grandfatherly man sighed.
"Well...it seems that it's us against the world now, Judy." Daitenji-kacho shook his head. "Buddha help us all."
The rehearsals had stopped lunch time, and Daitenji-kacho (who looked unusually drained and pale) told them that they have their afternoon off, for there would be a lot of things that would be going on later. Max was talking with his mother, Takao and Kenichiro went to the hangar to outfit Dragoon with the new prototype engine (-Nirvana Obsolete-), Yuri had locked himself up in his room to write his mentor a letter, while Kai was still nowhere to be found. Max reckoned that he'd be showing up sometime next week, considering it wasn't next month yet. But Lei was worried.
***I've never seen someone so angry before...but, I guess I have to trust Takao and Max on this one. I don't know Kai that well yet, and besides, he's been biting at me every chance he gets.*** Lei sighed. ***Oh, well.***
He was walking listlessly down the hallways of the Imperial Opera House when a maid went up to him and handed him a long brown air mail (or ship mail...?! ^^;;) envelope. Lei turned it over and found out that it had come from Mao.
He tore the top edge of the envelope neatly then pulled out quite a thick sheaf of oyster white specialty paper, the kind they use for doing calligraphy. He sees Mao's neat and flowing Chinese script marching up and down the folded sheaf of papers and began to read.
"Hey Lei...
It's been a long time since I wrote you a letter last, but then again Mama reminded me that I wrote you a letter on your birthday (OUR birthday) many months ago. Thanks for the cute little hina you sent me, I've been doing all sorts of things with it the last couple of months, and Mama agrees they're just the handsomest set of hina she has ever seen, and that's saying something! Oh, and Bao sends his regards, he's missing how you always try to throttle him every time he gets to those steamed fish dumplings Mama always sets out for you during tea.
The White Tiger Village is still as ho-hum as always, and Mama reckons it's time for ME to get married. What's up with THAT~~~?! Grandfather's been looking through all the worthy candidates streaming into our house for the past couple of days (make that the past 2 years ever since I/we turned 13!) and of course, I turned them all down, I STILL want to enjoy my life being as carefree and as "wild" as the older people in our village brand me, a hoyden of a proper White Tiger Village maiden. Isn't that just SO contradicting? I do not want to get married yet, but I guess just saying that phrase to Grandfather would instantly set him rolling to his own grave. Hey! It's NOT as if I'm going to BE an old maid by the time I/we reach 20!
As for other things...well, Mama could verily say that I am ready to be any man's wife. I mean, I can cook, I can manage the household properly...but then again, Aunt Wei is mourning the fact that I still run out with the rest of the boys in the village, just because there aren't enough maidens to hang out with. Besides, hanging out with boys is way so much FUN! I just don't get it why all Mama's and Papa's sisters and aunts and female cousins have those long faces on when I tell them I caught a really big fish by the river edge with Rai and Bao and Keiki and Gao. Is it wrong to catch FISH~~~?!
These rants could go on and on. Anyway, enough of that. What have you been up to, lately? Aunt Wei reckons that you must be doing something real important right now, because you haven't written any letters ever since you sent that hina set ages ago. I understand. But Mama's getting real worried lately. She just broke a glass encased picture of you a while ago---you know, you were wearing that really ridiculous outfit that you call yourself a stuffed undercooked prawn or something---anyway, Mama got really terrified and she started calling on Byakko and every single bodhisattva she could. I got a little scared, too. Remember? Mama broke that glass encased picture of Papa too the day before he died.
Hey, at least when you DO die, you'd at least pay me a visit! I miss you terribly, Lei-chan, and Bao's fish dumpling antics only make it so much worse.
Please write back as soonest!
Love,
Mao."
"..." Lei smiled fondly. Yes, he sure missed his mother's fish dumplings, and Bao's crazy antics...and all of his childhood friends so much, especially his younger twin sister, Mao. If there was just some way that he could see all of them again, but...duty calls, and he has to remain here as the soldier he was to the Imperial Capital Defense. Oh...but he sure missed them! Well, he's going to write them a REAL long letter, and he's going to tell Mao about all the things he's been up to lately, and his newfound friends as well. He's also going to tell her about the part he got for the upcoming play, and Daitenji-kacho, and Dr. Mizuhara...
CRASH.
Lei looked up, coming out of his reverie, startled. He saw a young girl struggling to get up from the floor, her small pale hands groping the smooth marble flooring as if she was looking for some hidden palm holds (^^;;), faintly gasping for air. But her hands were cut from the broken ceramic shards, and there was blood all over the floor.
Several maids came running, but Lei got to her before any of them could, stuffing Mao's letter into the envelope and putting it inside his jacket and he got down to his knees and reached out to help her.
"Eden...save me...death bringer...thorn bearer..."
"?" Lei held her by her arm. "Miss..."
"Light's bane...shadow chaser...Eden...save...me..." The young girl's eyes widened then she looked over at Lei, her startling ice silver eyes filled with tears. "Ewin...help me...!"
"What...what are you..."
"Damn it, Kon, what did you do to HER?"
Lei looked up. The maids blinked, then got out of the way as Kai walked towards them, his face having a look of shock as he hurried towards the still baffled Chinese young man.
"I was...she is..."
Kai got down to his knees beside Lei then looked over at the young girl, who was now sobbing faintly as her seeming ragged condition would allow. "Are you alright...?" he asked in perfect, accent-less English. "What happened...?"
"Light's bane...sorrow...please...help me..."
Dr. Mizuhara came running a few seconds later, Max at her heels. The maids were whispering among themselves as they stood in a huddle quite a few steps off, and Dr. Mizuhara's bright blue eyes softened upon seeing the young girl.
"What are you doing out of your room...? You still have to rest." Dr. Mizuhara nodded, then got down on her knees beside Kai. "Come on. That's a good girl..."
"..." The young girl shook her head then started crying hysterically, to which she clutched at Lei tighter. Dr. Mizuhara frowned slightly, then looked at the maids nearest her. "Please, I need to speak to Daitenji-kacho at once. Tell him to meet me at the hospital ward."
"Yes, Mizuhara-hakase!" With that, the maids ran off.
"And please see to it that you prepare a room as soonest when Daitenji-kacho should call for it. I'll take her back to the hospital ward."
"Yes, Mizuhara-hakase!" the other maids replied.
"Good." Dr. Mizuhara looked at the still crying young girl, who was still clutching Lei so tightly her pale knuckles turned even more white. "Althaea...could you stand up if Lei helps you...?"
The young girl didn't reply, but she didn't protest either when Lei helped her up, Max just staring at her and Kai frowning even more.
"Kai. Could you please see to it that the hangar is secure...? And the Relic, as well. Report back with the rest of the other Kagekidan members as soon as you've done that."
"Yes, Mizuhara-hakase." With that, Kai left without another word.
Max looked at his mother. "Mom...?"
"..." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "OK, let's get her back to her room, Lei. Max, come with me."
"But...but that's CRUEL~~~!!!" Takao's eyes were wide. "She can't...she CAN'T be bound to that...THING...like THAT~~~!!!"
"Yes, it is cruel, and sad to say, we really can't do anything about that for now, Takao," Daitenji-kacho said quietly a few minutes later. "Once you're used to that kind of abuse, you'll just keep looking for it all the time."
"I don't think having those curved chains burrowing deep inside my flesh is my kind of hobby," Yuri said, blinking. "It's hard enough spending a graduation 'ceremony' lying down on rusty old springs for beds while tailing those Axis operatives, let alone spend 9 years torturing yourself with those chains hanging you up like some horrid travesty of a roasting chicken in a rotisserie."
"Quite true. But those Axis operatives aren't your...usual villains." Daitenji-kacho's eyes were sad. "Subjecting that poor young girl into 9 years of torture would be beyond anybody's comprehension...but those crooked Knights believe that she must torture herself in order to gain more power."
"Power for what, Daitenji-kacho?" Kenichiro asked. "Why does she have to gain more power...?"
"You saw what happened in that battlefield," Dr. Mizuhara said, addressing Takao, Kai, Max, and Lei. Her bright blue eyes were unusually steely. "What did you see...?"
"Well, there was a lot of flashing light and not much else," Takao answered, thinking.
"Idiot. She was MEANING the actual battle," Kai muttered.
"WHA~~~?! Hiwatari, what are you trying to get AT~~~"
"She controlled all aether and chi waves according to her will," Max replied. "It was...horrible. I mean, she was turning our innate aether abilities against us, and...suffice it to say, I don't want to experience anything like THAT ever again."
"Yes, I thought Dranzer was getting barbequed," Takao said, nodding. "Too bad it didn't push through."
SD Kai gave him a swift stomp to his feet, and SD Takao's eyes became wobbly.
"..." Dr. Mizuhara turned deadly serious. "Would you believe me if I told you that wasn't her REAL power, yet...?"
"!" Kenichiro was surprised. "You mean to say, Mizuhara-hakase~~~"
"Just think. If that girl were to fully utilize THAT power, we could all be buried 6 feet below right now," Kai said again. "It's a good thing she was still at a loss when we faced her...I shudder to think what could've happened if she managed to raze all of the Imperial Capital to the ground all by herself."
"Her powers..." Yuri began.
"Yes. Daitenji-kacho and I believe, that her true powers are still lying within her, waiting to be awakened. Whoever sent her on that suicide mission must be either totally crazy or totally devious as to put us all in a bind. We can't risk having the Ministry of Defense get their hands on HER, not with what's been going on nowadays...you can't tell who works for the Imperial Capital or who doesn't, anymore. If other factions should get hold of her, they might use her powers for their own evil gains, and in so doing, unwittingly help Team Axis fulfill their dreams of the utter enslavement of the entire human race. Or...she may be a blessing in disguise. But if she's really that important and powerful, the Team Axis would waste no time in order to bring her back to the shadows with them, again. If that happens, then all hell would break loose. And of course, we wouldn't want THAT to happen. That's what the Kagekidan is for." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "I trust you all in this?"
"Yes, Mom, you know you can count on me," Max answered. He blinked. "Oops, sorry. What I meant was...yes, you can count on me, Mizuhara-hakase."
"And I," Takao put in.
"And I," Yuri said, nodding.
"I am with you all the way, Mizuhara-hakase," Kenichiro added.
"My loyalty lies with the Kagekidan, and forever it shall remain steadfast," Kai said.
"I truly believe in what we're all fighting for here, and I will remain loyal to the Kagekidan until I breathe my very last," Lei replied, his amber gold eyes narrowing and turning serious.
"..." Daitenji-kacho slowly nodded. "I trust you are not following orders by blind faith alone...? For the road ahead, in ridding this world of Team Axis in order to bring peace to those who wish it...would be fraught with danger. I don't want you to waste your lives for such a hollow cause...you are too young."
"..." Takao grinned. "Hey, Daitenji-kacho. We survived Kagekidan training, you can be VERY sure we'll still follow you to the ends of the world. And besides, we're doing this because we all believe in what we're all fighting for, as Lei said earlier. To that, I swear on my blade. And you can never get surer than that."
"..." Daitenji-kacho nodded again, giving them all a very grandfatherly smile. "Yes. I believe we still have hope left. And I all thank you. All those 4 years weren't in vain."
"Of course it ISN'T~~~!!!" Max grinned. "Hey, I didn't act 4 years as a lamp post for nothing! Yeah, we'll ALL get through this YET~~~!!!"
All of them cheered, and Dr. Mizuhara and Daitenji-kacho laughed.
Sometimes the gift of laughter in these very trying times is the best gift anybody could give, and they were proof of that.
The Kagekidan will prevail.
"..." Kenichiro was wide-eyed. "Gee. You said it was HUGE but I have no inkling that it's THAT huge."
Yuri gave a goofy grin. "They used 7 cranes just to get it on board, and Daitenji-kacho said the ship had to reschedule those other shipments that were SUPPOSED to come on board along with my Sigil on another ship in fear that my Sigil ship would sink with all that baggage. Suffice it to say, I'm very glad it's already here!"
"Armor's basic -Sigil Guard-. Height: 16.7 meters, weight: 8.2 tons, Steam Engine Output: 16,770 kg, Anpsychic Synch Ratio: 98.652 %, -Nirvana- Crystal Synch: 96.783%. Armaments: Zweilanzer double aether pistols, Grengast shotgun, a couple of derringers..." Kenichiro's mouth was a small O. "Wolfborg's an AWESOME Sigil, if I do say so myself. Best for long range attacks. Wow, those Axis operatives wouldn't know what hit THEM...."
Wolfborg towered over them, standing right beside Driger. It was a gray blue in color, with several ice blue projections located upon its shoulder guards, its many aether-powered firearms slung in a stylized holster about its waist and behind its back.
"Just a few meters more, it would knock the Imperial Opera House down right around our ears," Takao said, nodding.
"Oh yeah," Max agreed.
"..." Lei looked at Kenichiro, who was still gaping at Wolfborg towering above them. "Hey Kenichiro, what's the tallest Sigil locked within this hangar, anyway?"
"Let's see." Kenichiro blinked. "In descending order, that would be Stallorn, Aerheil, Falcrest, Geistall, Dyrnwynn, Brigid. These were the Imperial Capital Defense Corps' Sigils. Then, in our case...Wolfborg, Dranzer, Dragoon, Driger, Draciel, and Dreschel. Stallorn and the rest of the ICDC's Sigils are already kept in the lower hangar...our Sigils are located in the upper hangar."
"...I see."
"Hey, where's Kai?" Takao asked suddenly.
"He's hanging out with Mizuhara-hakase and Daitenji-kacho at the lower hangar," Yuri replied. "Falcrest was reacting to the Relic."
"?" Takao blinked. "Is that good or bad?"
"Bad. The last time Falcrest reacted, Asato Tsuzuki tried to take his life." Max was quiet. "I wonder what's going on right now...?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AUTHOR'S NOTES: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Why did Falcrest react to Edelweiss...? HMM. Stay tuned for THAT chappie~~~!!!