And, may I present…Chapter 5!
Well, I think I've put lots of characters here. If you feel confused, you can ask me, better via email. Please R&r…You can give me some critiques, but not rude and impolite ones...
Disclaimer : I don't own Sakura Taisen and its' characters, but I own my characters. Benji Himura belongs to my friend, Benji Himura. I've got his permission to use his character.
Endless Wings
Chapter Five : To be hidden and to be found
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 10, 1950
Main Entrance
Stepping her feet down of the car, Kikyou couldn't help anything but wondering.
"It's quite wonderful, isn't it?" Meigui asked, stretching her arms and legs to ease the stiffness.
"Well…I guess you're right," Kikyou answered, without even moving her glance from the huge, beautiful, luxurious building right in front of her.
Meigui turned to the car. "Let's take our things now," she said.
Both girls walked towards the trunk and took their belongings. As they removed the suitcases and boxes, the car slowly "raised".
"See?" Kikyou said, looking at Meigui, "I've told you that these are too much. I guess we nearly flattened up the car."
"But I need all of these!" Meigui countered her cousin.
Kikyou sighed. "I guess I can't change you," she said, "and now we're here, I think we can easily stuff them into that building. I wish there's enough space for them."
Meigui just grinned. "Ah," the Italian-Chinese said, as she heard the sound of the creaking door, "I guess someone is ready to greet us."
Hanayashiki Headquarter, April 10, 1950
After the night-long talk that was somehow seemed more likely an interrogation, Edelweiss and Suiren were completely exhausted.
"How? How was it?" Himawari whispered in curiosity and tenseness.
Edelweiss shook her head. "I felt like a culprit there," she admitted.
"They kept asking us about every small detail," Suiren added, stretching her cramped legs.
"They?" Momoko asked, wrinkling her forehead.
Suiren nodded.
"I guess Suiren and I have seen all our mentors," Edelweiss told Momoko and Himawari, "all Hanagumi members, minus my Mom and Aunt Sakura were there."
"Have you got the last report about Otousama and Satsuki?" Suiren suddenly asked.
Momoko and Himawari shook their heads. "No one came here after you both left," Himawari said.
"By the way," Momoko burst out, "did they tell you when we can leave? I think I can't stand waiting here anymore."
Edelweiss looked at the brunette girl. "According to those Aunts," she said, almost whispering, "we're not allowed to leave until one of them told us to do."
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 10, 1950
Third Floor, Right Corridor
"This room is yours," Shiruku told Meigui. "And the one across is yours," she turned to Kikyou. "Your belongings are already inside. Enjoy your rest. I'm sorry I can't accompany you. I have lots of jobs pending. I'm now alone here."
"Why? Where are the others?" Meigui spontaneously asked.
"Well, all are out now. Your mothers apologized for not being here on your arrival," Shiruku tried to explain, carefully choosing her words so she wouldn't mess everything up. She looked at the clock, and startled. "I think I must really go back to my desk now," she said, "once again, sorry."
The secretarial staff walked to the stairs and went back to her office upstairs, leaving the girls in the middle of the deserted, long, wide corridor.
"I...I'm afraid, Meigui," Kikyou suddenly whispered.
"Of what? Come on…," Meigui whispered back.
"I strongly feel that this is our last home," Kikyou admitted. Her voice was so soft that it seemed almost inaudible.
Looking at her cousin, Meigui didn't know what to say, and what to do.
Pacific Ocean, April 10, 1950
The Ship's Dining Room
'This is really good, Vinni," Cattleya convinced her cousin, "try this!"
"I can't, Cattya," Delphine refused, "I think I can't eat anything now."
Cattleya wrinkled her forehead. "You must eat, Vinni," she said, emphasizing the words 'must' and 'eat', "you've been like this since we began this trip."
"I'll be alright," Delphine replied, smiling, "I know when I must eat."
"But you skipped the dinner last night!" Cattleya reminded. "And you ate so little on the lunch. Now, I think, you must finish your breakfast."
Delphine looked at her Japanese breakfast set. "I think it's enough," she said.
"Vinni," Cattleya suddenly put her chopsticks, "I know there's something wrong with you. Tell me."
Delphine startled. "No," she said.
"Tell me," Cattleya insisted, "I know there must be something."
"Insomnia," Delphine finally grabbed the first word appeared on her mind.
'How can I tell her that I'm afraid?' the silver-haired girl thought.
Hanayashiki Headquarter, April 10, 1950
Emergency Bedroom
"Leave it to me, Sakura," Oogami told his wife, "I think I can do that alone."
Sakura looked at her husband's face, and slowly gazed down to his right palm. "I don't think you can use that well," she said, pointing at the thickly bandaged palm.
She turned to the twisted left arm. "And that too," she continued.
"But, Sakura, I…," his sentence was cut off by a wet towel rubbed on his face.
Satsuki chuckled at the funny scene. "Come on, Uncle," she said, half-laughing, "be a good boy."
Oogami's face turned red. "Let me do it, Sakura, you…"
Another rub cut him off again.
"Sakura…you can suffocate him," Maria warned, looking at the couple.
"Let me suffocate this stubborn man," Sakura replied, looking at Oogami with annoyance.
"Alright, alright," Oogami said, giving up, let Sakura cleaned his face.
Someone knocked the door five times.
"Come in," Maria shouted.
"W…wait…M…Maria…," Oogami mouthed.
It was too late. Reni had entered the emergency bedroom, carrying some sheets of paper with handwritings on them. The silver-haired paused for a while when he saw Oogami and what he was doing, then turned to close the door.
"Commander," she said, "Maria, and Sakura. Oh, and also you, Satsuki. I've got the result."
"Tell us," Oogami said.
"As we have predicted, the one was Edelweiss," Reni reported.
"And the other one?" Satsuki asked.
Reni took a deep breath. "Satsuki, I must say, you're right. It was Suiren."
Guest Room
Having no other ideas about what they should do, Momoko and Himawari started a karate sparring, while Edelweiss and Suiren watched them.
"Damn! You're pretty good in that!" Himawari grumbled, avoiding Momoko's attack.
"You taught me! That's your own risk," Momoko replied, sending more and more kicks to Himawari.
However, her last kick was a mistake. Himawari could ward it off, and it made her quite unsteady. Not wasting that good chance, Himawari attacked her back. Getting some surprise from the rarely used movement, Momoko avoided it with all her effort. And, unfortunately, her effort made her fell on her back.
Suiren uttered a surprised scream, and it was heard as if she was the one who fell on her back. Edelweiss closed her eyes for a while, but she soon reopened them and looked back at the two Yokohama girls.
"Although I hate to say this, I must admit that you're better than me in this, my dear cousin," the brunette said, getting up and cleaned some dust from her pleated skirt and gypsy-styled blouse. Both girls shook their hands, and embraced in friendship and sisterly love.
Just as they broke their hug up, the door slammed open.
"Girls! What had happened?" Micheru asked them, worrying.
"Nothing. We've just had a karate sparring," Momoko explained briefly.
Micheru sighed. "Next time, I suggest you not to do that here. The noise echoed everywhere."
"We don't know what else to do," Himawari said, scratching her head, "we're getting bored here."
Micheru looked at them, one by one. "You four," she said, "please follow me. The Hanagumi members want to meet all of you."
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 10, 1950
Koubu Hangar
'This room…what is this?'
Keep questioning inside her heart, Soletta Ri Meigui entered the dark, deserted room. Somehow, she felt that she had ever been there before. Slowly walking, entering the room further, she didn't even realize, the door was automatically being closed.
And, when she finally realized that fact, it was too late. The door had fully closed, and absolute darkness had surrounded her.
However, she didn't feel any fright. Humming a song she'd known since she was only a baby girl, she walked casually into the darkness.
Suddenly, the room became extremely bright. Unable to cope with the sudden change, she closed her eyes and placed her hand in front of her face. When she opened her eyes, a big surprise had been waiting for her.
The room was full of panels and mechanical instruments. Each panel had shining buttons and a screen. Interested, she moved to a panel, and began to read the names written under the buttons.
"Open. Release. Launch. What are these?" she asked herself.
The Italian-Chinese smiled. "Yes," she said, "I'll never know 'till I've tried."
She pressed the open button.
"Nothing happened," she said, wrinkling her forehead, "maybe this panel is broken."
Turning around to try the other panels, suddenly, her eyes caught something.
Screaming, the purple-haired girl fell down. Her eyes were closed. She was fainted.
Hanayashiki Headquarter, April 10, 1950
Briefing Room
Standing face-to-face to all Hanagumi women, the girls couldn't say anything. They just looked at their mentors in curiosity, and, somehow, terror.
"You four know what had brought you here?" Maria asked them.
Edelweiss, Momoko, and Himawari shook their heads, while Suiren kept quiet.
Maria looked at Suiren. "You know, Suiren?" she asked.
"N…No," Suiren answered.
Sakura whispered something to Maria, and the blonde nodded. "I guess I'll tell you now," she said, "they are your Koubus."
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 10, 1950
Meigui's Room
Sitting on her bed, looking at Shiruku, Meigui looked so confused.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I don't have any rights to explain, but, I'll tell you, it is called Koubu," Shiruku answered.
"And what is Koubu?"
"I don't have any rights to explain, I tell you," Shiruku answered. "When the Manager and his executive staffs are back, they'll explain what Koubu is."
Meigui looked disappointed. "Can you give me any hints?" she begged.
"Useful and dangerous," Shiruku said, leaving the purple-haired girl alone in her room.
Hanayashiki Headquarter, April 10, 1950
Koubu Maintenance Center
Repair Room No. 1
"No good! The seat is quite too high! She's shorter than what we had estimated. Lower it down," Kouran commanded.
"Alright, Ma'am Kouran!" the middle-aged mechanic replied, saluting the Head Mechanic.
"Do it now. I believe you can do it," Kouran said, walking away to check another three.
"Excuse me, Miss Himura. How old are you?" the mechanic asked.
"Twenty by this year," Edelweiss answered.
"That means you won't grow taller anymore. I think we can set the change into permanent. It's better. The seat won't shift, in case you fall down," the mechanic explained. He looked at Edelweiss. "I'm quite surprised with you, Miss," he continued, tended to be as polite as he could, "compared to your parents, you look small."
Edelweiss threw a small smile. "I'm much shorter than them," she admitted.
"Oh, and your younger sister too. I think she's about your height," the middle-aged man added, entering some instructions into the dark-blue Koubu's memory.
"Yes," Edelweiss answered, feeling her seat automatically lowered down.
"But, I think that's alright," the mechanic quickly added again, "after all, you are just normal. Your parents are tall."
The one hundred-seventy-two-point-five centimeters tall girl smiled to the comment. "I think they're really tall," she said, "but none of their children inherits their height."
Repair Room No.3
"Too heavy?" Kouran asked Suiren.
Suiren shook her head. She threw a nervous smile.
"Just relax," Kouran muttered, setting the arm-controllers of the light pink Koubu, "this is not an exam, Miss."
Suiren giggled a bit, but, quickly, she got back into her nervousness.
"Try this," Kouran told the black-haired pure Japanese, "I think this suits you."
Suiren nodded. She placed her hands over the controllers, and tried to move them.
"I guess that's alright," Kouran said. She turned to the young mechanic next to her. "You must really learn more about Koubus," she reminded the boy, "I think you still can't understand some essential functions."
Repair Room No. 7
"Everything's alright?" Kouran asked, looking inside.
A senior female mechanic smiled to the Head Mechanic. "Just some problems with the pedals," she said, "but I think we've managed that."
Kouran gave the middle-aged woman two thumbs up, and passed by.
"I think we've done, Miss," the mechanic told Momoko.
"Really? Thanks," Momoko replied.
Both of them climbed down and looked at the purple Koubu.
"What do you think of her?" the middle-aged woman suddenly asked.
"I think she's quite pretty," Momoko admitted, "I love her color."
Somehow, the young lady looked thoughtful and sad.
Repair Room No. 9
"Great! I like this!" Himawari claimed as she landed back on the floor.
"Glad you like her," Kouran said, smiling.
Himawari turned to the red Koubu and smiled.
Daitekoku Gekijou, April 10, 1950
Kikyou's Room
"I don't believe that," Kikyou said stubbornly.
"Trust me, Ki!" Meigui begged in despair, "I'm sure about it!"
"Come on, Meigui…Maybe that thing called K-somewhat is just a property for a movie!" Kikyou replied, still unwilling to believe.
"Not that, Ki!" Meigui said, looked very annoyed, "believe my words, this is surely not a theater!"
"Really?" Kikyou asked, started doubting.
Meigui nodded. "Come with me," she said, standing, "I'll prove it."
Kanzaki Heavy Industry, April 10, 1950
"How are you?" Bill asked, worriedly and warmly.
"Fine," the voice across answered, "quite disturbed, but not much. How about you?"
"Yes, as you know, Sayaka really drove me crazy," Bill answered, "and Tanpopo is on her monthly-madness. Since we arrived yesterday afternoon, she kept grumbling and cursing."
The girl laughed. "I'm sorry I can't join you there," she said, "I can imagine how funny it is."
"Like a rough comedy," Bill answered, "you must see this."
"How about the project?" the girl asked.
Bill clung at the almost finished aircraft. "About ninety percent ready," he informed.
"Well, I think I should end this now. I don't want anyone to find me on the phone. Come back soon. I miss you."
The call ended.
With his usual cold expression, Bill put the phone back. He walked out of the room, joining Tanpopo and Sayaka downstairs.
Pacific Ocean, April 10, 1950
Screams were heard, as the big, bat-like creatures landed on the ship's deck. People ran everywhere to save themselves, and some of them even thinking of jumping into the sea.
"Cattya!" Delphine shouted, as she looked around in panic, searching for her cousin. "Cattya!"
A crew of the ship caught the silver-haired girl's hand. "Don't go there, Miss!" he warned, "it's dangerous!"
"Let me go! I must find my cousin!" Delphine shouted at him.
The crew shook his head. He held Delphine's hand tighter and dragged the girl away.
"No! No! Cattya!" Delphine cried. She tried to set herself free, and that was no use. The man was much bigger and stronger than her.
Meanwhile, Cattleya was in a big trouble. Looking desperately at the beasts circling around her, she cried in terror. "Vinni! Vinni! Help me!"
Turning to the source of the cry, Delphine realized, her beloved cousin was in trouble. The half-German bit the crew's hand, making the man moaned and released her hand. Not wasting even a single second, Delphine ran to the deck. Grabbing a metal stick, which was, somehow, laid on the deck's wooden floor, she began to spin it in a super-fast pace and throw it to one of the beasts.
The frightening creature turned to her, and walked towards her. It opened a way for Cattleya to escape. The young blonde girl ran to Delphine, hiding behind her cousin.
"Run, Cattya!" Delphine told the half-French, "Run! Leave this place!"
"No, Vinni!" Cattleya cried. "I don't want to leave you here!"
"I don't want you to be hurt!" Delphine persuaded, "Run!"
"No!" Cattleya answered.
The beast got closer to them. Behind it, the other beasts followed. Screaming, Cattleya held tightly on Delphine's shoulders and closed her eyes.
To be continued…
What will happen to Cattleya and Delphine? What will Meigui and Kikyou discover? Find the answers on chapter 6…
Thanks to Kanna's Man and also SilverBlue Dragon for their reviews, and a special thanks to Benji Himura for his review and permission. Friends, you'vehelped me a lot...
Hope you like this new chapter. If you have something to ask, feel free to email me, or just ask me via review...
HaruNatsu
#Bonus : Diary of Secretarial Staffs#
Tokyo, March 8, 1950
Whoaaa…
Tomorrow is the deadline for giving this diary to Shohan, so, I must write! Alright, alright, girls, sorry, but, I barely have no time to write! Following Ma'am Maria and Ma'am Sakura everywhere really made me busy…Man, I'd turn mad if I were one of them…
Girls, I'm so sorry that I often leave you recently. I hope you can understand. As a junior assistant for the Vice Manager and the Executive Secretary, I must accompany them everywhere they go.
Well, let me share some thoughts with you. Sisters, can you imagine how you feel, if this happens to you? You've given up almost everything to serve. You've worked hard to do your best. And, someone said this to you: 'What you think you've done, useless?'
Don't get it wrong, it didn't happen to me. It happened to Ma'am Maria and Ma'am Sakura, just this afternoon, in a meeting with some boring and snob people claiming themselves as donors who keep this theater alive.
Although they managed to explain what had happened, I know, it was so painful. And, when I saw Ma'am Sakura crying on our way back, I felt stabbed right into my heart.
What did that brxxxless man think? He didn't even know what happened. And, I'm sure, he has never felt how it was like.
I'm sorry for my sentimental thoughts. I just want to share them with you, my sisters. Oh, yeah, Rin, I've filled the tank. Shohan, Haruna, Rin was right. Stop dieting! And, Shiruku, come on, what's our name?
Well, enough for now. Shohan, your turn.
With Love,
Anjou Micheru.
Tbc...
