Chapter 2

A/N: Hey, thanks for the review tomatojuice, Halfmoonglasses, and Hanjelyka87! I needed the encouragement to see if I should continue or not… If any of you guys read this, please review and tell me what you think! I'm running off to go turn on the anonymous review now, wink wink.!

Anna had forgotten where she was when Simon's voice brought her back to reality for the second time. Not that she had ever known where she was; but after staring off into the beautiful and exotic scenery, she was lost in her imagination. This was something that sometimes happened often; occasionally she would be stuck alone in her house with nothing to do.

"Ah, finally… We're here." Simon informed her, the carriage coming around the corner of a large hill. Anna tried to sit taller as she peered around the thinning forest to see her new home. What she saw surprised her.

At the bottom of the hill was a field that was lined with uniformed people… People who Anna couldn't help but assume were men. They were slightly disorganized, and some men were screaming at them in a circus of languages. After a few moments Anna realized that what they had in their hands were guns… And apparently the Captain wasn't retired at all.

…

"What am I doing here?" Anna asked aloud as she and Simon made their ways down a path towards the crowd of men.

"You are here to help Captain Algren with his Japanese."

"But can't you do that? You are fluent in the language." Anna protested. "I really don't think this is the place for a woman…"

Simon stopped and turned to look at her. "Then you and your father might have thought of that before sending you off." That was the end of that conversation.

"Captain Algren!" Simon called as he and Anna reached the front line of the soldiers, causing one of the yelling men to stop and turn. Anna stopped in her tracks for a moment as she assessed the man that she was supposed to be helping. He was unshaven with a small beard and mustache growing. His dark hair fell close to his shoulders and looked tangled in places. This Captain reminded Anna of the drunks that visited her father every now and then.

The man turned and walked towards the two. "Mr. Graham," He greeted Simon, then looked over at Anna curiously. "Who is this?"

Simon nodded as if he had been about to introduce her. "Ah, this is Anna Harper; Omura ordered you an advanced translator." He explained as a smirk spread across Algren's face.

"I'm sorry… But a woman?" Captain Algren asked, raising an eyebrow. "It just seems a little dangerous."

Anna opened her mouth to answer as Simon answered for her. "I assure you she's the second best there is… She's only surpassed by her father, who happens to be needed." Anna glanced at him, aware that she wasn't the best; as much as she would like to think so.

"Needed?"

"He's the English King's advisor." Simon informed him in a slightly bragging tone. "And a very talented linguist. It seems that the gene was passed down a generation."

Nathan nodded silently, and then turned to look at his 'army'. It would be a long time before he had them ready; translator or not. "I think I would rather have two hundred of you Miss Harper than a thousand of them."

Anna didn't respond for a moment, glancing at Algren. Of course it was a joke; but Anna had no clue what the nature of his statement was.

"Two hundred women. It's pretty bad when your army of a thousand can be beat by two hundred women."

…

Anna sat in her room, her small brown diary close to her as she began to write in it. Its pages were slightly stained and it wasn't in the best of shape, but she would prefer it to an expensive journal. She was writing pages of her feelings about her position… Her protest to being involved in what was destined to be a war. If her father knew about this- but what if he did, and he still sent her into danger? But it would partially be her fault; she would have left without his say-so.

Anna's train of thought was interrupted by quick and heavy footsteps in the hall. She raised her head curiously, cracking the sliding door to see who it was. A few seconds later she poked her head into the hall, noticing a distressed looking Algren making his way forcefully to his room.

"Captain," Anna said softly as he came closer. His room was almost directly across the room from hers. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Algren responded gruffly, approaching his door.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No." Algren answered sharply, slamming the sliding door shut. Anna jumped slightly, now wondering why she even asked.

…

"Ah, Miss Harper! It's due time you're up and ready." Simon greeted her as she made her way down the path. It was early morning, and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. Only a handful of soldiers had shown up from the wake-up call only minutes earlier. "I would like to introduce you to General Hasegawa."

Anna paused, her hair pulled back in a low 'ponytail' that blew lightly in the cool breeze. "Oh, hello." She greeted an elderly looking man with frost colored hair.

"General, This is Anna Harper." Simon informed the older man, who only nodded to her in response. It was a curious thing that this man could actually 'speak' without talking. It was as if she knew exactly what the general was saying even though he had never done anything except a quick tilt of his head. Anna felt a sudden respect for the silent man before her.

…

"Enjoy it so far?" Algren asked as soon as Anna caught up with him. He was currently pacing back and forth in front of the handful of soldiers that had come so far.

Anna glanced over at him. He was her 'boss' now after all. She would have to tread lightly until she knew how he would react to certain situations; which meant not to bring up the night before incase it did turn out to make him angry. "I did… It was a surprising day for me."

Algren nodded, continuing to survey his troops. A small smirk flashed across his face. "I probably didn't help it much." That was his apology. Anna didn't realize until a few minutes later; but by that time almost the entire 'army' had assembled in their slightly sloppy fashion.

"Oi, Capt 'n, top of the mornin' to ye." Another older looking man greeted Algren. He had thick snowy hair that fell into curls, along with a bushy mustache the matched in color. "And, eh, lass."

The smile reappeared on Algren's face as this man spoke to Anna. He took it into his own to introduce her. "Zeb; this is Anna Harper. She's the new translator Omura sent us."

Grant eyed her for a moment, as if it were a joke that she was a woman. "Harper, eh? Name's Grant, Zebulah Grant." The man explained to her, holding out his hand. Anna took it; being shaken vigorously by the rough palm before she was let go. The question of 'new' translator crossed her mind, but she once again thought it best not to ask.

"What do you think about them today, sergeant?" Algren asked, although he sounded amused. Grant looked like he would go crazy; throwing his hands in the air and rolling his eyes.

"Scraggly," Was all he growled before yelling at the men. "You good-for-nothing dogs! Disgraceful!" He roared, as Algren looked over to Anna expectantly.

"Are you going to translate or not?"

Anna blinked. "Actually, I'm just supposed to be helping with your learning Japanese. Mr. Graham said you had someone else who-"

"Shot." Algren stated, looking back over them. A sickening feeling fell into the pit of Anna's stomach and a pang of fear bolted through her. Shot… What was she getting herself into? "He was shot during a routine firing drill. And in no way do I intend to learn Japanese."

Anna paused before looking back out into the crowd of men. If she didn't do a good job and didn't please them, she would probably be sent home. She glanced back at Algren. Maybe home was the safest place for her now. Honestly, she could admit that her father was right about her stubbornness. But then again, the Duke of Brittany was probably awaiting an answer from his proposal… "You no-good dirty dogs, you're disgraceful!" She said uncertainly. Algren tilted back his head and laughed, while wondering if even the soldier closest to them heard her command.

"Miss Harper, let me remind you that we are an army, not a class of kids."

Grant decided to chime in. "Ay, I know ye can be louder than that." He encouraged her, a playful smile behind his curtain of a mustache. "Don't worry about being proper here, Miss. These men wouldn't know either way."

Anna nodded softly as she turned to face the large group of men. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking back to when she used to yell out and run throughout the fields; playing. She would find another child to frolic with while she slipped out of her father's grasp… Although his 'grasp' was actually very loose back then. That was a long time ago. "You no-good, filthy dogs! This is a disgrace! Straight lines!"

Nothing happened.

Anna looked over at the two men, feeling sorry and embarrassed that nothing had happened. Maybe being a woman changed things after all.

The confused troops suddenly started to react as if they were slugs. First the men on the front row; taking a few steps here and there; and in a matter of about thirty seconds they had formed neat rows. A smile of accomplishment spread across Anna's face, as Algren gave her an 'I-told-you-so' glance.

"Tell them that even though you're a woman that they're still to answer to you like they would a sergeant." Algren advised her, receiving a nod in response. "With respect."

"Listen; you will report to me like you would Sergeant Grant. With respect!" Anna shouted, feeling a wave of triumph rush over her; even though she was pretty sure that the last few rows of men could hear nothing that she had said.

…

Drills. One after another, Anna wondered if Algren and Grant would ever take a break from the constant events. Then again, the soldiers needed it; bad. Algren continued to run different firing and accuracy drills, and Grant continued to bark orders at the men. Anna's confidence continued to jump each time she would translate a command and shout it to the fleet. It actually seemed like the men listened to her.

A break for dinner was not established until late that night. They skipped lunch. It was an hour these men could use for training they desperately had to have.

"That was… Eventful." Anna thought aloud. "If I may say so." She added. Although Grant had made it clear that it didn't matter her she acted; Anna couldn't stand to be impolite. She had to uphold her lady-like status, after all.

"Of course," Simon replied, looking down at his bowl of what looked like pig's food. Grant took a large spoonful of his own and shoved it into his mouth.

"Yea, they seemed to know generally what direction to point the guns in." Grant muttered between another spoon of the broth. "Stupid. That's all I have to say about it."

Anna glanced at a few of the men, who immediately turned away as if they had never noticed her. "Ye did warm up to the spot well; quicker than others. Especially considering that ye probably aren't used to screaming yer head off." Grant complimented her as she studied the table of soldiers that continued to peek over at her. The same occurrence happened twice before she spoke.

"Why are they looking over here?" She asked curiously, looking to Simon for the answer. He was the only one who would probably know. Grant shrugged out of the corner of her eyes.

"Miss Harper, you have to understand that these men have just about never seen a European," Simon glanced at Algren, "Or American before. Much less a blonde woman such as yourself." He explained, referring to her fair hair and eye color. "You're exotic to them."

Anna looked back to the same table; and as she did so she wondered if they were showing her respect for a different reason than she thought.