I don't own Tank Girl or Azumanga Daioh.
Chiyo-chan slept soundly on the hard bunk. Sakaki-san leaned against it, her gaze shifting helplessly from the ceiling to the floor. For the first time since the war had begun, Sakaki-san was at a loss.
Looking around, Chiyo-chan sighed. The very last costume party before the war really started. The Mihama family was very wealthy; until Chiyo-chan knew the full situation about the water, she felt no need to stay away from her well-off lifestyle, despite her disapproval of it. Besides, if she left she would never become a doctor; the training was far too expensive for the lower classes. There were no soldiers present; only 'military officials'. There were rebel sympathisers scattered amongst the predominantly Alpha crowd.
Chiyo-chan wore a long silk gown of pale blue. It rustled pleasantly when she moved. Already several men had asked for a dance with the lovely teenager, and again Chiyo-chan sighed. They were all rich Alpha pretty-boys.
"Excuse me, Ms Mihama," someone greeted softly. Turning, Chiyo-chan faced the speaker. He was tall, over six feet in height, with soft dark eyes. Dark hair was gently encouraged back from his pale face, and fell in a long ponytail down his back. He wore a loose silk black shirt with sleeves cuffed at the wrists, and long straight black trousers. Dressed very fashionably except for his hard-wearing black boots, Chiyo-chan smiled.
"Yes, sir?" Chiyo-chan replied, her voice soft, putting in place her cutest smile. For once her red hair wasn't in pigtails; it was delicately curled and pulled away from her small face before bobbing at her shoulders.
"May I dance with you?" he asked, holding out a slender hand. He didn't smile.
"Of course," Chiyo-chan extended her hand and the two glided onto the floor filled with swirling couples clad in western-style luxury.
Gracefully Chiyo-chan and the stranger danced to the first song, Chiyo-chan looking into his eyes every so often and finding an unexpected depth behind them. He never took his eyes from her.
"What brings you to such a gathering, sir?" Chiyo-chan asked. He smiled for the first time, his eyes lighting up.
"Rebels aren't much in the mood for parties right now. I felt like a dance with a beautiful girl." The man shrugged, his shirt pulling tight across his large frame.
"You are a rebel, then" Chiyo-chan declared. "I thought so."
"What gave me away?" the man asked, chuckling softly.
"Your shoes," Chiyo-chan admitted. "No self-respecting Alpha Class member would be caught dead in a pair like that."
"Very true! Ah, I should have thought of that," the man shook his head. "Oh well, nothing for it. Why are you here, Ms Mihama? I know that you lose faith in your world of opulence more and more each day."
Chiyo-chan was taken aback by the man's directness. "I, I don't know," she stumbled, blushing.
"I apologise, Ms Mihama." The man paused as the song ended. "Would you care to take a turn about the grounds? The blossoms are quite lovely in the lamplight."
Chiyo-chan placed a hand on his extended arm. "Why, yes, sir."
Together the two walked into the cooler air outside, and Chiyo-chan breathed in deeply. Looking at the range of exotic flowers she smiled. "I can't understand where the water comes from to douse these beautiful things," Chiyo-chan mused as the stranger slid his hand into Chiyo-chan's own. She smiled as she continued, "especially when there has been no rain for months at a time."
"Many things will become clear, dear Ms Mihama," the stranger said softly, looking to the cold sky.
"You know something," Chiyo-chan stated, looking up at him.
"Perhaps," the man gave a half-smile. Suddenly he turned to face Chiyo-chan and held her face between two long hands. His eyes were wide. "Please, Ms Mihama, you must leave this party. You must. Do no ask questions; take my car and go."
Chiyo-chan frowned. "Don't ask questions? What kind of stupid command is that to give a stranger!" Chiyo-chan exclaimed, irate.
"It is important! I couldn't tell you anything anyway, even if I wanted to." The stranger looked at her, pleading with his beautiful deep eyes.
"My parents; I want them to get away too." Chiyo-chan said after a second's thought. "I want my parents to live through this - whatever attack you have planned."
The stranger nodded. "It has been taken care of. Your mother felt ill; a drop of slight, very slight poison." Chiyo-chan became panicked. "Very slight!" the man emphasised. "Your father took her to a rebel hospital on the edge of Tokyo. He doesn't know it's under rebel control; my driver assured him it's the best hospital in the city. They know the antidote; your mother will be fine. And alive."
Chiyo-chan's eyes became misty. "You've thought of everything." she smiled.
"I'll protect you," the man smiled. "I'll save you. I always have; I see no reason to stop now." Gently he kissed Chiyo-chan, his soft mouth meeting hers perfectly.
Suddenly there was shouting and screams from inside; Chiyo-chan looked back in alarm. The man grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the house.
"Chiyo-chan, come on!" he said as she lingered. "We need to leave now!"
After a moment Chiyo-chan followed the man, lifting her skirts with her free hand as he clutched her other. A car was parked at the edge of the garden where it faced the road. Tanks, jeeps and armed men and women swarmed the place, all running inside to the party.
"Get in!" the stranger said as he leapt into the front driver's seat. Chiyo-chan hauled open the door and closed it quickly, her skirts catching in the seal. She didn't bother to fix it as the man threw the car into gear and sped away from the party. The sound of gunshots followed them as they fled.
"I'll take you to your parents. From there, my assistant will get you to a safe-house I have organised and you must stay there for at least a month. Afterwards, you cannot be 'Mihama' any longer. It isn't safe. You will be Takana, and flee to America." The man kept his eyes on the road as Merchant security cars flew past.
"America?" Chiyo-chan whispered.
"Tokyo is only the beginning for the rebel movement. No where in Japan is safe for Alpha class. I'm sorry, but you can't stay in the country." The man sighed and set his jaw.
Lights from outside flashed past; Chiyo-chan stared numbly. Leave her home? He said she had no choice. Did she believe him?
"I'll never see you again, will I?" Chiyo-chan stated, remembering the brief kiss. Without being able to explain a thing, she wanted to this man again, very badly.
"I don't know." The man replied honestly. "You may find me again, some day. But please, Chiyo-chan, please, just keep safe. All I could ever want from you is your promise that you will be careful."
"I can only try," Chiyo-chan said softly, her eyes on the man's shadowed face. Slowly, his eyes still on the road, the man gently smoothed her hair. Chiyo-chan put her small hand on his.
Looking at the stranger Chiyo-chan saw a hint of something else as a certain expression came across his face. Frowning, Chiyo-chan wondered.
"Ow," Chiyo-chan mumbled, trying to sit up. Her head was throbbing, and she struggled to blink away the memories of her last night in Tokyo as Chiyo-chan Mihama. The memories of the man who saved her life were pushed away once again. Not one person from the Alpha class or Merchant army had escaped that party come massacre.
"What is it?" Sakaki-san asked instantly, turning to face the younger woman.
"That stupid gas gave me a screaming headache," Chiyo-chan replied weakly. "My head hurts."
Sakaki-san smiled. "It will pass very soon."
Outside footsteps could be heard walking along the cold floor outside. Sakaki-san stood up smoothly and positioned herself on the blind side of the door, back to the wall, face turned. The light caught her face oddly; frowning, Chiyo-chan wondered, and not for the first time.
The footsteps continued past, and Sakaki-san relaxed. Chiyo-chan shook her head to clear it.
"Merchant prison," Chiyo-chan muttered. She lifted her hand to undo her armour, but struggled. Looking to Sakaki-san, she asked, "can you help me?"
Sakaki-san snapped out of her thoughts. Seeing what Chiyo-chan meant she nodded, lifting the heavy armour from Chiyo-chan's small frame.
"Why bring us here? They usually kill rebels on sight." Chiyo-chan shook her head. "I just don't understand." Sakaki-san lifted the last piece of armour from the smaller woman and walked to the other side of the completely grey three metres square cell.
"I wouldn't let them kill you." Sakaki-san muttered. "They want me, but I wouldn't let them kill you or leave you. I'm afraid I may have just dragged you into this further, and I'm sorry."
Chiyo-chan took a deep breath, realising that she could die very soon, and announced, "after you went through all that trouble to get me out of the country."