Before you move to the story, you must read this. I know that this story comes from my idea. I also realize that I can't urge all of you to like my fic. I do hope and appreciate your critiques, but, please, I beg all of you to say them politely...I'mquite surethat no one expects reviews with rude and impolite words...
Actually, I hate putting that warning, but, after an incident, I felt that I must do that…Please forgive me…
Ohohohohohohohoho…Third chapter is up!
Here, you'll whose child each children is. And, in the end, you'll get a pretty nice bonus. Well, there's nothing more I can say. Please R&r…
Disclaimers : I don't own Sakura Taisen and its' characters, but I do own Edelweiss, Suiren, Delphine, Cattleya, Meigui, Kikyou, Momoko, Himawari, Bill, Sayaka, Tanpopo, Satsuki, Kurogumo, Rin, Micheru, Haruna, Shohan, and also Shiruku. Benji Himura belongs to my friend, Benji Himura. I've got his permission to use his character.
Endless Wings
Chapter Three : Imagination and Reality
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 8, 1950
Sumire's Office
"Oh, you," Sumire said, as she clung to her door to see who was coming.
"Yes," Momoko answered, "it's me."
Sumire, not even raised her head from the pile of reports she was working with, just nodded slightly.
Silence filled the luxurious office for a while, before Momoko, with all her courage, decided to speak. "I'm quite upset with you," she admitted.
"It's up to you," Sumire replied, seemed not caring for the words Momoko had said, "you can say anything you want. I've done all I can do for you. Is there anything else I must have done?"
"Yes," Momoko answered. Her voice quivered.
This time, Sumire stood up and walked towards Momoko. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, STD!" she scolded the girl.
"I AM YOUR DAUGHTER!" Momoko answered, tears falling on her slight-tanned cheeks.
All of a sudden, Sumire raised her hand and slapped Momoko.
The teen uttered a cry of pain and fell down on her side. Sobbing, she stood up and looked into Sumire's eyes.
"Fine," she said, "fine. It's enough, Mom. All my love for you had gone by now."
She turned back and walked towards the door, leaving Sumire's office.
Sumire closed the door and leant against it. Tears fell down from her closed eyes, forming a stream on her cheeks.
"It's alright, girl," she whispered, " you may hate me."
Kanna's Office
Taking a deep breath, Himawari collected all her courage and walked into Kanna's office.
"Hi," Kanna greeted her daughter, "long time no see."
Her voice was so dry.
Trying hard to restrain her tears, Himawari nodded and smiled. "Yeah," she muttered, didn't know what else to say.
The older redhead stood up and walked towards the younger. "Do you want something from me?" she boldly asked.
Hearing those words, Himawari knew, her mother surely didn't want to meet her. "Sorry for bothering you," she said, her voice quivering. "I'll go out now." Crying, she rushed out and slipped away from Kanna's eyes.
Kanna walked casually and closed the door. "Hell," she said, "I think I'm good enough to be a heartless devil."
The next second, she couldn't keep it more, and started to sob.
Tokyo Railway Station, April 8, 1950
As she stepped her feet down from the train, Suiren started to feel nervous, very nervous.
"This is such a big station," she whispered, "I'm afraid we'll be lost here."
Although she seemed not nervous, actually, Edelweiss was more nervous than Suiren. She'd never seen such a big crowd before, and, since she was older than Suiren, she was in charge for their safety. She knew, had anything bad happened, she wouldn't be able to do anything.
"Just keep calm," she told Suiren, betraying her own fright and worry, "and never move on your own. We must move together."
Suiren nodded, and Edelweiss could feel the younger girl shifting closer to her. Suiren always believed what the older girl said.
"I think we'd better wait outside," Edelweiss said, "it's getting so crowded here, and I'm sure, soon, it will be more and more crowded."
Suiren nodded, and both young women, holding their belongings, got out of the huge, crowded railway station.
"Now, what else should we do?" Suiren asked, almost whispering.
"Just wait here," Edelweiss answered, "they might be late."
As the young blonde finished her sentence, a luxurious, new car, entered the station's yard. It stopped exactly in front of the two Sendai girls, and the driver's door opened. Its driver, a tanned young woman in an army uniform and sunglasses, got out and closed the door, half-slamming it.
"Hurry up," she said, "put your things in the trunk, and get into the car."
Despite her curiosity and confusion, Edelweiss lifted her suitcase and her big box up. "Come on, Suiren," she whispered, "quick."
Tokyo Hotel, April 8, 1950
Suite 923
Maria looked at her wristwatch. "I think she's late," she told Sakura.
"I'm not surprised," Sakura replied, sighing, "this is the hundredth time."
"I guess we should buy her an alarm," Maria said, "she sleeps everywhere and anytime."
Sakura chuckled. "You remember the last time Ichirou caught her sleeping?" she asked.
"I certainly do," Maria answered, smiling.
"And, you know what happened after that? Drinking a pot of coffee even couldn't keep her awake," Sakura continued, half-laughing.
"Poor girl," Maria commented, "I think she should learn how to rest effectively in such busy days."
"I also think the same," Sakura said, grabbing the ringing telephone and received the call. "Shinguji Sakura, Executive Secretary for Teikoku Kagekidan speaking."
"This is Micheru, Madam," a woman spoke, "Rin has just entered the hotel. She brought those girls."
Sakura's lips formed a relieved smile. "Thanks. We'll wait for them."
Third Floor Corridor
"I'm very sorry," Rin apologized, this time for the tenth time, "you two must be very surprised."
"It's alright," Edelweiss accepted, "I can understand your reason. I would have done the same if I were you."
"By the way," Suiren suddenly said, "Miss Asakawa. Who did you mean by 'the special people'?"
"Well," Rin answered, "it's a surprise. You'll know it later. Oh, and, please call me Rin. Miss Asakawa seems so formal."
Suite 923
"Come on," Sakura invited, "take your seats."
Awkwardly, Edelweiss and Suiren sat down and looked at their mothers. It was the first time the four women sat together in the last ten years.
"Having a nice trip?" Maria asked the girls.
"Yes," Edeweiss answered.
"We had a wonderful time on the train," Suiren added.
"We're sorry that your fathers and your sisters can't join us here," Sakura apologized.
"That's alright," Edelweiss quickly replied, clinging at the disappointed Suiren, "we can understand that they're so busy these days."
The phone rang again. Sighing, Sakura stood up to receive the call.
"Shinguji Sakura speaking," she said.
Her face turned serious, and, the other women could see her nodded. "I understand, "she answered, "we'll get there soon."
She put the telephone back and turned to Maria and the girls. "Maria," she called her friend, "I think we have an important job to do now. It's urgent."
"Not this time," Maria muttered.
Tokyo-Hanayashiki Way, April 8, 1950
"I'm very glad they've finished them. I think it will be better if we can set everything as soon as we can," Sakura gave her opinion.
"I agree," Maria replied. She paused for a while. "But," she continued, "I'm very concerned about the energy level. Do you think those youngsters can take control of them?"
"That's it," Sakura said, "I think all of us still don't know."
Maria clung at their driver. "Micheru," she called the young woman, "what do you think of those new Koubus?"
"Well," the tall brunette answered, "they're so powerful. The one I tested spent a lot of my energy."
"Maybe they'll need some adjustments later," Sakura analyzed, "we can't assume that all of them share the same level of spirit power."
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 8, 1950
Main Hall
"Welcome to Daitekoku Gekijou," two young women in black skirts and white blazers greeted.
Edelweiss and Suiren stopped and bowed.
Rin giggled. "I think you don't need to be so polite," she told the Sendai girls, "they're my friends. The raven-haired one on the right is Shiruku, and the brunette on the left is Haruna. They're both Secretarial Staffs, just like Micheru and me."
Haruna and Shiruku smiled and waved their hands. "Hi!" Haruna greeted, "you must be Edelweiss and Suiren from Sendai. Nice to meet you."
Edelweiss and Suiren smiled back. "Nice to meet you too," Edelweiss answered, representing herself and Suiren.
Rin shifted towards Shiruku and whispered right on her ear. "Where is Shohan?" she asked.
"She's accompanying those Yokohama girls on a short tour over this building," Shiruku answered, "they've just woke up from their naps."
"Ah," a woman's voice was heard, "they're all here."
The Sendai girls and also the three Secretarial Staffs turned to the voice, and they saw a blonde girl there, wearing the same outfit as Shiruku and Haruna. Next to her, stood Himawari and Momoko.
"That's Shohan," Rin informed Edelweiss and Suiren, "and the girls next to her are your teammates from Yokohama."
"Well," Shohan said, looking at all the girls, "I guess we can leave all four of you here, so you can talk freely."
Rin, Shiruku, and Haruna nodded, and, they followed Shohan out of the main hall.
"Well," Rin slapped Edelweiss and Suiren's shoulders as she passed by them, "just relax, and enjoy your time together."
Osaka-Tokyo Way, April 8, 1950
Looking at the photograph she kept inside her diary, Meigui formed a bitter smile on her lips.
'Papa,' she muttered in her heart, 'I don't even know where you are now. Are you still watching at me? Do you still recognize me?'
She took a deep breath, and, a drop of tear moved down her right cheek.
"Meigui," Kikyou called her.
The Italian-Chinese raised her head and looked at her cousin. "What's up, Kikyou?" she asked, trying not to sound sad.
"Don't lie," Kikyou whispered, "I saw you cry just now."
Meigui smiled. "Just a sentimental memorial cry," she explained.
The next second, Kikyou hugged her cousin, and, both of them burst into tears.
They cried for the fathers they didn't have anymore, and for the mothers they had, but seemed far, far away from their eyes and hearts.
Pacific Ocean, April 8, 1950
Standing on her knees, Delphine covered her cousin with a blanket.
Caressing the sleeping girl's cheek, the silver-haired girl began to smile. "Don't be afraid," she whispered, "Cattya. You'll always have me."
She stood up, throwing her glance outside the small window, having a wonderful view of Pacific Ocean for a while.
'You'll always have me, Cattya. Even when I don't have you anymore, you'll still have me.'
Hanayashiki Headquarter, April 8, 1950
"So, she is completed," Maria restated.
Kouran nodded. "Yes," she said.
Maria threw her glance at the yellow Koubu standing next to them. "She's the last one, right?" she asked.
"For this series, yes, " Kouran answered.
"Have they had her tested?" the half-Russian asked again.
The Chinese shook her head. "That's why," she said, "I brought Sayaka with me. She's the one who hasn't got the turn to be a test pilot."
Sayaka walked casually towards the two Hanagumi women. Her slender, firm figure, was wrapped up in a black, tight pilot outfit.
"I think I'm ready," she told them, grinning.
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 8, 1950
Secretarial Office
"Asakawa Rin, Secretarial Staff for Teikoku Kagekidan speaking," Rin said, holding the phone with the help of her cheek and her shoulder.
"Rin. This is Oogami. How are the new girls getting on?"
Rin stopped typing. "Quite well, Manager," she answered, "they made friends soon after they met. Now, they're out for a dinner. Haruna and Shohan are with them."
"That's really good," the Manager replied, "please take control of everything until I or the others come back."
"Alright, Sir," Rin promised.
"Thank you."
The call was ended.
Sighing, Rin placed her fingers on her typewriter's keypads and continued her work. She had just finished another sentence, when the phone rang again.
"Stop it!" she cursed, picking the telephone up to answer the call. "Asakawa Rin, Secretarial Staff for Teikoku Kagekidan, speaking."
"Can I talk to your Commander? It's urgent."
With a sullen face, Rin grinned. "I'm sorry, but he's out now," she apologized.
"How about his vice or his secretary?"
"They're out too," Rin answered, started to be annoyed.
"And the other Senior Staffs?"
"All of them are out," Rin answered again, feeling that she would soon explode due to annoyance.
"Then, who's in charge now?"
"Me," Rin gave a short answer.
"Listen. This is urgent. An attack has just happened."
Shocked, the black-haired temporary leader stood up. "But, our detectors haven't caught anything!" she said, almost shouting.
"Yes, but, there was surely an attack. You must send someone to stop it."
"Alright," Rin took a deep breath, gaining back her self-control, "where does it happen?"
"Near Tokyo Harbor."
"We'll clear it up immediately," Rin replied. She put the phone back and stood up.
"Shiruku," she called the other girl, "be quick. Get into your Koubu, and don't ask me anything for now. I'll tell you on our way to our destination."
Way to Tokyo Harbor, April 8, 1950
Haruna parked the car on the side of the road. "You four," she commanded, "please stay here. We'll be back soon."
"But, what had happened?" Momoko asked in a high tone.
"We'll explain it later," Shohan answered, filling her handgun with the bullets kept inside the dashboard's drawer. "Let's go, Haruna."
They jumped out of the car and slammed the door. Running, they headed towards the huge creatures damaging the buildings around them.
"Well," Shohan said, "this night is surely unforgettable."
"Yeah," Haruna answered, "I think it is."
"No! Please release my child!" someone uttered a begging cry.
Both young women looked up, and, they saw that one of the creatures was holding a little boy. It lifted the poor child high into the air, and brought him to its mouth, ready to munch and swallow him.
With a quick movement, Haruna released her handgun and shot the creature.
The wounded creature uttered a piercing cry. The boy slipped from its grip and fell towards his mother, who, immediately, caught him and brought him with her.
Haruna gave the creature another shoot, and it disappeared into the sky.
"That's good, little sister," Shohan commented, "but you ignite the others."
Haruna looked around, and she saw the other creatures looking at her. Their yellow eyes turned red, and they started hissing.
Suddenly, one of them smashed Haruna with its long tail. The girl fell upon the road and rolled several times upon the rough substance. Blood dripped from an open wound on her left shoulder.
"Geez," she muttered, standing up and ignoring the pain she felt, "they're stronger than I think."
"Watch out!" Shohan screamed, shooting another creature that was moving towards the recovering Haruna.
"Thanks!" Haruna said, leaping to her right side to avoid another tail-smash addressed to her legs. She lifted her right arm and released one of her remaining bullets to the nearest creature. It hit its head and killed it.
"You're welcome!" Shohan cried, busy shooting some other creatures. 'Damn,' she thought, 'I wish I had brought more bullets with me. There won't be enough bullets to finish those std things.'
A noise filled the air. Two aircrafts appeared on the sky upon the girls and the rest of the creatures. They moved lower, and changed their forms. They were Koubus.
"Rin! Shiruku!" Haruna shouted a relieved cry.
The two female-typed Koubus landed, and their wings disappeared. One of them pulled her shining saber and started slashing the creatures.
The other one lowered down her right arm to Haruna, letting the wounded girl climbing. Then, she lowered down her left arm, and let Shohan climbed. The cockpit opened, and, her pilot, Shiruku, got out and climbed to her top.
"Why don't you stay inside and use your bayonet?" Shohan complained.
"It's being repaired," Shiruku answered, unreleasing her handgun, "and now, my Koubu is out of weapon. I can't use the arms either. The power boosts are being updated."
"Then, why you ride her?" Shohan complained more.
"For transportation," Shiruku explained, "there is nothing faster than Koubus for now."
"Well," Shohan commented, shooting a few creatures on her left, "you really should have to stop asking Ma'am Kouran for updates."
Shiruku didn't answer. She was busy with some creatures which were heading towards them.
The raven-haired's eyes widened, as she realized something.
"This is no use!" she told her friends, "for each we kill, a new one will appear!"
As the sentence finished, a dark-blue light appeared on the top of the nearest building. It flew quickly to the creatures, pierced some of them, and disappeared.
The creatures moaned, and they disappeared. This time, no new creatures came to replace them.
Before Shiruku, Haruna, Rin, and Shohan could react, another light, a purple one, . Unlike the blue light, it was twirling. It hit some of the creatures, and, like the first creatures, they disappeared.
A red light followed, hit some of the creatures, and made them disappeared.
And, just a few milliseconds after it, a pink light broke through the ground.
On the emptied ground, stood four figures. Rin lighted up her emergency light to see who they are. As she recognized them, she got pale.
"I…I can't believe this," she muttered.
To be continued…
Well, who these heroes/heroines were? And what kind of power they had? Find the answer in Chapter Four : Rain and Storm. I think this update will take a rather long time, since I must go on a vacation for ten days...Sorry for making you waiting...
Special thanks to Benji Himura for his review and permission. Thanks to my friend Kanna's Man, SilverBlue Dragon, Greyhound Master, and also Kazuar, for their reviews. All the best for you, and also for all of my readers...
HaruNatsu
#Bonus : Diary of Secretarial Staffs#
Prologue : Recruitment ( 1945 )
"You don't need to push yourself too hard, Okasama," Tanpopo lectured Sakura, "now, you've ruined your own health."
Sakura smiled and caressed her sixteen-years-old daughter's hair. "It's just an ordinary fever," she calmed the teen, "I'll recover soon."
"Do you think this is ordinary?" Tanpopo asked, looking at the pile of medicines on the bedside table. "I think you really need some rest, Okasama."
Someone entered the room and closed the door. It was Oogami Ichirou, the General, the Commander, the Manager, Sakura's husband, and Tanpopo's father.
"I have good news for both of you," he said, sitting beside Sakura on their bed.
"What's that?" Sakura asked, smiling.
"I've found some girls to help you," the middle-aged man answered.
"Finally," Tanpopo sighed. She threw a relieved glance to her father.
"But, my job is a difficult one," Sakura said, "I'm afraid they can't do it."
"Don't worry," Oogami calmed his wife, "we'll train them." He pulled a paper out of his pocket. "Want to see their profiles?" he offered.
Although, honestly, she still couldn't agree with this idea, Sakura nodded and received the paper. She unfolded it, and started to read.
"Their parents have been told," Oogami added, "and they all agreed."
Tbc…
