04/19/2036; Valkyrie; 18:12p.m.
Leaning back against the counter of a cozy kitchen, made entirely of brushed steel, aluminum and concrete, Suzuha looked over the empty packet of curry sauce in her hands. A large pot of rice was actively steaming on the nearby oven range, periodically stirred by Kamiko, and another pan hosted numerous cuts of chicken, sitting warm on the burner as her mother rapidly diced several vegetables with a knife.
Wow. An actual prepared meal! Look at all this! Sure beats the hell out of canned rations and safe house gruel... Pet food is more filling that some of the crap served up in the ghetto. I wonder what this curry stuff tastes like? Anything with actual flavor is fine by me.
Breathing in the scents of freshly cut vegetables, the sharpness of onion and subtle sweetness of potatoes and carrots tickled her nose, luring her up from the counter and over beside Ruka.
"That looks so good."
"Wait until it is all mixed together."
"It'll be hard. Its been over a year since I've had anything with actual vegetables like this."
Pausing her cutting, she looked to Suzuha with momentary disbelief, watching as her braids swung aside as she turned to her with a faint smile.
A year since you've been properly fed... And yet you're more fit than any of us.
"My dear, in our quarters, you will be fed more than adequate servings."
"Thank you."
"We do not go hungry here in Valkyrie. The first priority besides defense of our people, is food and water. The people of Japan have starved under subjugation for far too long for it to remain a problem here."
"You're telling me. Getting fed out there in Yokohama was a rough battle of its own."
Setting down the knife, Ruka's hand slowly lifted to Suzuha's cheek, fingers tucking under her chin.
Oh, your face and your hair... You need a shower, my dear.
"As long as you're in here, you will never need to fight for anything. Asking is all that is needed."
Closing her eyes, comfortable with the soft hand of a mother caressing her face, Suzuha's neck grew warm, reminiscing her own mother's touch.
"I'll remember that."
Opening again as her hand withdrew, she looked over towards Kamiko as her attention went from her mother, to her.
Exchanging a momentary smile, Suzuha set the empty packet aside on the counter, quietly stepping over beside her and looking down into the bubbling pot of rice as it churned with steam energy.
"Hey, Suzu."
"Yeah?"
"...What do people eat out there?"
Vision rising to the young woman beside her, she blinked, slightly humored by the naïve query.
"In the ghetto?"
"Yes. The safe houses."
"Whatever you can find, or catch. It was best to not ask what you were eating sometimes."
Slowly smiling from the raised eyebrows that resulted, Suzuha shrugged.
"Hey. It may be a city but it ain't exactly civilized out there. People take what they can get."
"Sounds dreadful."
"Yeah, but I usually was able to get by. Sometimes you just forget about the hunger... You get used to it after a while."
Slowly stirring the pot of rice, her hand dampening from the rising cloud of steam, Kamiko remained pensive.
"I don't think I ever could."
"Everyone feels that way until it happens to them. But when you're out there on your own, being hunted by the hit squads... Even if you have food, you don't always have the time to stop and eat it."
Gripping the handle of the oven's door, Suzuha flexed her arms with held breath.
That's why you learn to ignore your stomach. Until you're in a safe place like this.
Eyes drifting towards the warm pan of chicken, she blinked when a hand was set upon her shoulder, suddenly realizing Okabe was standing between both girls.
"Rice looks ready."
"What about the sauce?"
"Its ready as well. Go ahead and drain the pot dear. We're about ready to mix everything."
"Do we have an ETA with supper?"
Three heads turned to Ruka standing nearby, as she looked to her partner with an eyebrow quirked.
"It'll be ready when I say so."
"Ten minutes?"
"Maybe less if you set the table."
"Five?"
A humorously exasperated breath left the woman's lungs.
"Patience, Kyouma."
"Alas, that is your forte, and not mine."
"Only because you bring it out of me."
"So you've had plenty of practice, and yet you continue to put up with my antics."
Smiling from her bashful turn of the head, Okabe's hands lifted from both teen's shoulders.
"You know why I do... And not because of our national motivations."
A chuckle left his lungs as he stepped over behind Ruka, tucking his arms around her haunches with utmost care. Setting down the knife in her hand once more, she leaned back into him, twisting back and forth in the comfort of love's embrace.
"How long has it been... Since that late August?"
Her mouth opened with just the hint of a blush, moreso as he nestled his chin into the crook of her neck.
"Twenty six years."
Admiring the gentle, heartfelt elation in Ruka's expression, Suzuha found herself entranced by the undeniable happiness radiating from the couple.
Twenty six years together... Man. Even through war and everything, that's a long chunk of a lifespan, and a long time together.
Stepping aside as Kamiko hauled the pot towards the sink, pouring the rice into a strainer already present, she studied the girl's movements, looking between her and her parents.
Nineteen years ago... She came into the world, without a clue of what she'd be in for. Guess it was the same for me though.
"Hey Suzu, why don't you go ahead and wash up. Once dad sets the table, we should be about ready to eat."
With a turn, Kamiko's hand rose, her finger pointing beyond the dining table.
"...Bathroom is that way. Go straight through the room to the door in the back."
Nodding, Suzuha turned on her heel, stepping around the table and heading down a short concrete hallway, towards a single door that sat ajar. Pushing it open with a peek inside, discovering the square living quarters of Kamiko, a messy bed, sparse wooden furniture and various belongings were scattered on several surfaces and shelves, bringing hints of color to the otherwise stark interior of grey concrete and polished steel.
So this is where you live.
Stepping besides a freestanding table, the rifle that was previously slung onto her back and fired several times a day before, lay on its side on a large green towel, surrounded by tools and small containers of oil and solvent.
Ooh. If she's going to clean her gun... I should go get mine after supper. My poor PM-9 needs loving only a deep cleaning can provide.
Opening the aforementioned second door, the dim interior of a bathroom was illuminated by the soft light from the bedroom, and she looked down to the sink, with a bottle of soap sitting on it. Hesitantly turning one of the handles of the faucet, running water poured out freely, pulling a sharp breath from her lungs as she put her hands under it.
Oh man! Its clean too!
Lathering her fingers with excess soap, she vigorously cleaned many days of grime off her hands and forearms, and then splashed water to her face in a welcoming rush of cool cleanliness, rubbing her eyes and cheeks. Resting her arms onto the edge of the sink, she watched the stream of clear water pour into her hands, running through her fingers.
Who knew we even had creature comforts like this anymore?
Turning off the faucet, she reached for a small towel hanging nearby, drying her face and hands, and then looking up into the mirror before herself. Staring back at the tough young woman, her tired eyes slowly blinked, looking at her oily unkempt hair held in two braids.
I'd kill for a shower, but food comes first. Even if I look and smell like hell.
Sitting at the kitchen table, made of the same brushed and polished metal present in the rest of the home, the three members of the Urushibara family sat with Suzuha, watching with periodic amusement as their guest steadily devoured several portions of the curry and rice meal. Savoring the spicy flavor of the sauce coating the chicken and vegetables, her eyes gleamed with delight as her spoon continued delivering scoops to her mouth.
Ohhhh my god this is the best stuff I've ever had. Ever! I can't even remember the last time I've had my nose and taste buds exploded like this. This is amazing!
"I believe Miss Amane has discovered the ambrosial nature of Rukako's cooking."
Looking up to Okabe's raised eyebrow, his head turned to his partner beside, and the woman smiled as both girls looked to her as well.
"Even in these trying times, a meal should never be plain and tasteless."
"Well this is far from it. I haven't had anything so full of flavor in a long time."
"This is your first meal here, Suzu."
Glancing at Kamiko next to her, she shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe. But this will probably be the best."
Watching Ruka nod with a hint of a blush, Suzuha grinned for a moment.
"Thank you. Please have as much as you wish."
"I dunno. I think I've eaten the most out of anybody here already."
"That's alright. We almost always have left over portions anyway."
"At her rate of consumption, we may have to up our own food supplies like that of our facility."
"Dad!"
"Oh hush. Perhaps when she isn't in a metabolic survival mode, her diet will balance itself again."
"In the meantime, I will summarily approve increased rations for the leadership quarters. For good measure, of course."
"One guest is not going to throw the farms off balance."
"Correct. Though I must state that since miss Amane may be living among us for the time being, we will make other reasonable accommodations in the interim."
"Hey, I can do whatever you need so I won't be a burden to you guys. I promise."
"Nonsense. It is not often that we host a guest in our humble bunker abode. Kamiko, my prodigy, I trust that as friends, you can oblige to sharing your quarters with Suzuha here."
Trading a glance, both girls smiled after hesitant contemplation.
"Of course."
"Excellent. I have no doubt you ladies will find common ground one way or another. Consider yourself an official resident and member of Valkyrie, miss Amane."
Beaming with pride, she nodded in response, and Okabe set his utensil down, putting his fingers together.
I've waited for this moment, misses Amane. Your father Itaru never let me down, and I was right to assume you would have just the same fighting spirit he and Yuki had... It was only a matter of time that you would end up in the very machine we all put into motion.
Watching patiently as her eyes met his with hesitance, distant memories slowly resurfaced, casting years of mental dust aside.
You don't know it, dearest Suzuha, but we've met long before this time. I would consider explaining, but I feel it to be something unnecessary to think about in your youth. Many times I've delved into things far beyond ordinary comprehension as a teenager... And they've led me here. Aging with such worry and paranoia from my discoveries. Aware of strange elements of time and space, alternate world lines and dimensions, past lives... Aware of all these things that could have prevented this future we are in. A future I could have avoided with what I knew. If only I knew the future would lead us here.
A silent, lengthy breath left his nose, and he looked to Ruka, who was passively watching him, already knowing he was deep in thought by his expression.
Long ago, a dramatic shift in world line occurred in the year 2010. Though I didn't have my divergence meter to know, I am certain now that I crossed the one percent boundary. What troubles me to this day, is even after jumping the gap, we still ended up with a SERN-ruled future, bearing the consequences of superpower nations deciding to send everyone headlong into oblivion with them. What events refused to change, even when everything else back in Akihabara unintentionally did? While I am not certain the buildup to our mankind-induced cataclysm had any key events in 2010... Two years later in 2012, after China conquered Vietnam and later Taiwan, several powers united into the Great Communist Federation. And three years later... Yes. Why else would the world go to bat with its destructive arsenal? It was the Cold War all over again, only this time, the powers were less hesitant, utterly bent on forcing their ruling will. Less than thirty years later, history repeated itself in an appalling manner, and we did nothing to alter it. No steps taken to stave off our own destruction. No lessons learned.
Ironic. Humanity simply refuses to let others live as they wish. To be governed as they wish. Everybody fights for what they feel is right, even if that means someone else told them it was right. Everyone wants to protect what they hold dear, even if what they hold dear isn't readily understood by others. For whatever strange reason, just because there's an initial failure to comprehend, it seems to automatically become wrong. Misunderstandings are fueled by apprehension, which in turn, becomes disbelief and defensive hostility. Apply those mannerisms to a collective population and governing body, and you get the former nations of the world, operating with outward paranoia, and putting dangerous radical people in charge, only for them to lead their own people to their slaughter. Exterminating themselves out of arrogance and conflicts of of opinion, and only the handful of survivors realize their mistakes, far too late for there to be any salvageable action.
At least the people responsible for inciting our species' end are gone... Wiped off the earth by their own unholy creation. Now we just have to do the same to the one remaining obstacle, SERN. Perhaps once we rid ourselves of such oppressive rule, we can test our strength to survive, our will to recover, and see if we've learned any lessons from all this. I can't imagine there being much else we can do. We've completely shattered everything we've built up for hundreds of years. If there's no sense of regret from that, then I'm not sure there's anything else we can do for ourselves besides completing our own extinction. Quite frankly, I'm surprised mother earth hasn't gone ahead and done that anyway.
Fading out of his cloud of contemplation, he slowly blinked, heart stirring when he realized Ruka's fingers had settled onto his hand, curling around his knuckles with familiar delicacy and warmth. Vision rising to her gaze, with such soft reverie in her eyes, a smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and he ran this thumb along the side of her fingers.
...But no matter. We're still here, and Valkyrie will still fight to the bitter end. As long as there are people in this world that still have love to share and loved ones to protect, humanity will always fight for what they feel is right. Its just a shame that such a universal part of our psyche, so priceless and worth fighting for, ends up being twisted into a driving force for war.
I suppose that's just part of being human, after all. Driven by what's in our hearts, even if it leads to our ultimate ends.
04/19/2036; Valkyrie; 19:47p.m.
Standing under an endless stream of water falling freely from the nozzle of a shower, Suzuha remained still, captive in the white noise and overwhelming sensation of water coursing down along her bare skin.
Just like heavy rain, but with soap... Shampoo, whatever. After this, I'm gonna feel amazing. No dirt, dust, sweat, oil, blood... Whatever else I probably accumulated out there.
Eyes cautiously opening, thick soaked locks of her brunette hair hung in front of her face, freed from the twin braids they had remained in for over a week.
I'm surprised they didn't throw me in here as soon as they brought me into their home. I must've looked like a stray animal.
Squeezing a large dollop of shampoo into her palm, she stepped just out of the flow of water, smiling with humor as she ran her hands into her hair, vigorously lathering her head.
I think I was a stray. Cause it seems like they adopted me. Along with everyone else in Yokohama, actually. We all marched into open arms. What a wild change from the destroyed squalor we've been surviving in... Shelter, food, protection, and order. Too bad I didn't even know about this place until the other day. Oh well. Destiny probably was shoving me towards this place one way or another. It was hard not to notice that convoy when they were blowing shit up. Anybody with brains realized that someone capable of shooting down SERN's choppers with ease, was probably worthwhile to be around.
Slowly sitting and folding her legs against her bosom, her chin rested on her knees as she closed her eyes again, letting bubbles and soap slowly stream off herself as the haunting echo of rotor blades stirred in her mind.
...Man, I'd love to blow one of those things out of the sky myself. Shooting a gun is one thing, but I bet using a rocket launcher is freaky and awesome.
Her hands slowly slid along her calves, around her ankles, and then her fingertips pushed between her toes with a squeeze, only to withdraw as her arms curled around her legs again.
I wonder what they'll have me do here anyway? I have training from JSDF and staying alive out there, but everybody seems to think I'm important cause of my dad. Especially Okabe. I guess papa Itaru was his best friend back in the day... Him and Ruka seemed to be pretty surprised I showed up. Will they still send me into combat? I wouldn't mind, I guess, but I think I'd be alright with a position here in the bunker. At least I won't get shot at, hanging out underground and all. Can't imagine it would be boring enough to make me want to be shot at... Been dodging lead for two years now. I could use a break. I'm sure somebody would understand, right? Ruka said to ask about anything. I'll ask if I have a choice on what I do around here. If I'm important, maybe I have a little leverage, right?
A long, humid breath left her lungs.
Right. They brought me in here for free. Maybe I shouldn't demand too much... But they are the Urushibara family, in command of Valkyrie in its entirety. And they're the ones that have admitted me into their personal space without hesitation. I must mean something to them for all this to have happened in a couple hours.
Heart beating with a hint of anticipation, a smile lifted the corner of her mouth.
You know what, no matter what they make me do, at least I'll have a purpose, and I'll be protected. And if I keep my sorry butt alive, I can come back home to food and a shower, and from what I can tell so far, a friend. All of that would be worth it. I'll fight for Valkyrie no matter what if doing so allows me to have a slightly normal life again.
Wrapped in the warmth of a thick cotton towel, with another bundled around her hair in an effort to dry it, Suzuha leaned back against the bathroom sink, gently running her fingers from her bare shoulder down to her arm, pleasantly surprised by the smooth glide of her fingers along her skin.
Wowza. Amazing what a good cleaning can do. Went from a nasty survivor to a decent human again. Haven't been in an actual shower since that last assignment in Tokyo with the defense force... God. I actually went that long without anything you could even call normal comforts. That probably defines most of this world we live in. Everybody blew up everything nice a couple years ago, so now we're just making do with what's leftover... SERN, and the survivors everywhere else.
Her eyebrows narrowed for a moment.
Lame. I sure hope they're enjoying the fruits of their warfare. None of us living in Japan are. That's why we all want to kick some ass... We're still alive and we have to put up with SERN's shit. Isn't it enough that they claim control every other landmass besides the Japanese islands? Ugh. They'll get theirs soon enough. Valkyrie will rise and fly like the big badass bird dad said it would... And I'll be one of the claws tearing them to shreds. Man I can't wait! Being a pesky rebel on my own is one thing, but being in the upper ranks of a whole army... Hell yes.
Looking down towards the sink, a folded stack of clean clothing awaited, consisting of plain white undergarments, socks, a black T-shirt, and light grey sweatpants.
Cool. No sign of my old shirt and jeans though... They probably incinerated those tired things. Oh well. I won't complain about standard issue drab if its clean and comfy. I wonder what kind of battle attire they have? Probably confiscated military stuff. Sounded like Valkyrie steals back what SERN's stolen from everyone else.
Looking down at her feet, she squeezed her arm as a familiar ache slowly crept up along her legs.
If anything, new boots would be best of all. Getting tired of taking old ones off of bodies... Especially when I find out they're not even close to my size. For now, I just need to get off my feet.
Head rising to the knob of the door nearby, she looked at the droplets of water present on the polished steel handle.
I wonder what Kamiko is up to anyway? Been pretty quiet out there in her room. I think she was about to clean her gun when I came in here after supper. Still need to get after mine. She's got all the stuff to do it right there too.
Arms rising upward, she vigorously dried her head of hair with her fingers, pulling the towel off and watching as her thick brunette hair dropped, settling around her head in a mess of tangles and locks.
Dropping the towel aside onto the toilet, an impatient breath pushed through her lips.
...Awesome. I hope she doesn't mind if I use her brush.
Ears perking from the bathroom door opening nearby, Kamiko tugged a solvent-soaked cable out of the barrel of her rifle with a grunt of held breath.
"Hey Suzu. Feeling better?"
"Totally. Been too long since I've had the luxury of bathing."
Setting the cable aside, her fingers lifted a rag from the table, wiping oil from the end of the barrel, and then swabbing it around inside the weapon's action, which was locked open.
"I bet."
Stepping over to the table, Suzuha put her hands onto the back of the chair beside her, noticing her machine-pistol sat nearby, laying flat from being unloaded. Looking at the circular drum cartridge sitting beside the narrow magazine of the higher caliber rifle, her hands settled around the grips of her PM-9, lifting it from the green towel.
"I went ahead and brought your gun in here. Sure is an interesting little demon for being Japanese standard issue."
"I had an assault rifle when I served, but I had to abandon it a long time ago."
"I imagine this one is easier to carry."
"Totally. Unlike the Howa eighty-nines, ammo for this thing is way more plentiful out there."
"Did it come with the drum magazine?"
"Yep, and I would never go without it now."
"Interesting. I was inspecting it a bit while you were in the shower... When was the last time its been cleaned?"
Pausing from the following silence, Kamiko slowly set the rag in her hand aside as Suzuha's neck turned red.
"...Probably far too long ago."
"And yet it still works... Please tell me you at least had oil."
"Oh yeah. I lube it up pretty often. Keeps it going."
"Perhaps. But its caked with powder burns and all kinds of grime."
"I know. I did want to give it some love while I was here."
"We'll do just that. Let me finish up with mine."
Bringing the stubby firearm closer to her eyes, she studied the hundreds of etches adorning its sides, with several faint burn marks surrounding the weapon's various openings.
Now its your turn to be clean and functional. Like me.
Sitting in the chair beside Kamiko, Suzuha held the commander's much heavier rifle, pointing it upwards towards the concrete roof as she peeped through the iron sights.
Long range... Reach out and hit your target from far away. Cool.
With a tug on the slide's small handle, the well-lubricated action easily pulled back, only to slam forward with a loud metallic snap as her fingers released it.
"Dang. Whats it like to fire it?"
"It kicks, but you get used to it."
"I remember seeing you shoot it the other day. Didn't look too hard to control."
"Its all in how you brace yourself. You're ex-military, didn't they teach you that?"
"Yeah. But we're both teenage girls. You're kinda slender too."
Mouth curling into a humored smile, Kamiko shook her head ever so slightly, busily disassembling the PM-9.
"So? Not like we're supposed to be prim and proper little ladies in this place. We've both killed enemy soldiers time and again... Women are just as lethal, lest you forget your own past out there."
"Oh I know. Believe me, I've shed enough blood out in the ghetto. I'm sure SERN's well aware of my kill count."
Watching patiently as several sections of the gun were gently set aside onto the towel, the dark insides of the weapon were revealed by the room's light, and both girls blinked in tandem from the oily, grime-caked components.
"Wow. That's a lot of crud."
Peering down into the barrel in her hand, a hesitant breath left the commander's lungs.
"I can't believe it still functioned."
Setting the object aside, she then put her hands together on the table, looking at Suzuha as she leaned over the table with morbid curiosity, rifle still held.
"Hope you're ready to get your hands dirty... Again."
Turning her head towards the dark haired girl, her eyebrow rose from the quip.
"Hey. At least I can wash them again here. Normally I have to wait until it rains."
"Part of the luxury of a government facility."
"Yeah. Not bad for a bunch of bunkers."
"Its not like we can just move out anyway. Everyone learns to accept the lifestyle down here... Cause once you step into the world out there, you pretty much have to leave behind your humanity."
"That's war for you."
"But at least we can return to it at the end of the day. As long as the place hasn't been compromised somehow."
Mulling over the implications of Valkyrie's discovery, Suzuha set the rifle onto the butt of its stock, gently leaning it against the table next to herself.
Everybody's still hiding from SERN. Whether in the ruins, or here underground. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Attention turning to the girl's hands as she twisted a wire brush onto the cleaning cable, she lifted the bottle of solvent from the table, inspecting the small label on it as a distinct scent of industrial cleanser tickled her nose.
"Go ahead and pour a fair amount on all of the internal parts."
"You sure?"
"Don't douse them. A couple drops on each component will do."
Plucking the bottle from her fingers, Kamiko tapped it with her fingers, allowing several drops of the solvent into the barrel.
"Like this."
Handing it back, she fed the cable through the barrel, tugging the wire brush inside, and watching with mild alarm as it worked through the rifling, dragging out several dark clumps of powder and residue.
"Oh my."
Grinning from her remark, Suzuha began dripping the solvent generously onto the various parts.
"Stuff gets dirty out there."
Mouth moving from her countering quip, Kamiko wiped the brush off with a rag.
"Apparently."
Sitting back in the chair, now on the side of the table, Kamiko observed the cleaning operation with approval as Suzuha worked with silent determination, drawn into an isolated zone of concentration. Between held and released breath, the small sounds of metal parts clicking and moving were interspersed with the dragging of brush bristles and swipes of dirty cloth.
Looks like its coming along well... Imagine how much better that gun will fire when you're done. It'll be a vast improvement.
Vision rising upward along her sturdy arms, she studied the girl's freely flowing brunette hair as it spilled over her shoulders, shifting subtly with her occasional movements. Tilting her head slightly, she peeked at her glowing complexion, noticing the reflection from her light amber eyes as they calmly focused on the task below.
Hmm. Now that you've showered, you're prettier than I expected, Suzu. I didn't even know your hair was that long without those braids...
Blinking, realizing she was in unintended state of admiration, Kamiko turned her head away in a discreet blush, trying to hide behind her curly dark hair.
Oh my.
Heart racing in a moment of embarrassment, she closed her eyes.
That was weird. I hope she didn't notice.
"Hey, Kamiko."
Aligning straight again, her eyelids lifted, seeing Suzuha looking directly at her with curiosity.
She did, uhh...
"...Yes?"
"If you don't mind me asking, earlier, when your dad was talking to your mom before supper..."
Chin slowly rising with interest, she exhaled through her nose with relief.
"What about them?"
"Okabe asked how long they've been together, and Ruka said twenty six years."
"That's correct. Ever since the middle of the year twenty-ten."
"That's a crazy long time. How old were they?"
"Late teens. Dad was eighteen I think, and mom was seventeen."
Sitting back in her chair, Suzuha's heart stirred.
"They were our age?"
"Yeah. Dad was in his first year of college and mom was in eleventh grade."
"How did they meet?"
Setting her hands onto her lap, Kamiko chewed her lip in a moment of recollection.
"They had a mutual friend. Several actually. Everybody would visit dad's apartment and goof around, and go on adventures. Mom's best friend was dad's childhood friend, so naturally they were all around each other a lot."
"So they fell in love as friends?"
Nodding, Kamiko smiled.
"Both of them have told me their sides of it. Dad regales a grand tale of intrigue and 'curious circumstances' that led up to him admitting his feelings. I guess he's always been really fond of her, so it was only a matter of time."
"And Ruka?"
Heart beating, Kamiko's eyes closed.
"She was sixteen when she first met him, and after that, she fell so deeply in love with him. The way she describes how handsome he was, and the butterflies she felt when she was around him... Nothing could even compare."
"Love at first sight?"
"Absolutely. Then she turned seventeen, and he asked her out on her birthday."
Suzuha's mouth opened with an exhale of emotion.
"Oh man, what a sweetheart!"
"Yeah. She says that's the most memorable day of her life. Since then, they've been inseparable."
"Obviously. I mean, they survived the third war and ended up here, still together. That's some dedication."
Smiling warmly, Kamiko's fingers intersected, gripping each other.
"Seeing them now, still so happy to be together even in all this mess... It makes me hope I fall in love with somebody like that."
"I bet."
"Nothing can break their bond, and its magnificent. It makes me proud to be their child, honestly."
Watching her close her eyes, head sinking with a blush, Suzuha's index finger rubbed against an oil-soaked part of her gun.
"I'm sure they're just as proud of you."
Sensing the hesitation in her statement, Kamiko peeked upwards again.
"Hey. Your parents feel the same way, Suzu. You've survived this long and found your way into the rebellion your dad spearheaded."
Tilting aside, letting her hair hang freely, her bosom emptied in a sigh.
"I know. I just wish I could see him again. Its been so long, I don't really remember what he looks like."
"You didn't even know his name until a couple hours ago."
"Yeah. Have to thank your dad for that. He didn't even hesitate. Totally blew my mind."
"That's Kyouma for you. He loves throwing surprises at people whenever he can. He's probably the hardest person in the world to understand until you've been around him long enough."
"Like Ruka?"
"Like mom. She knows all his nuances and tricks. That's why she's always so calm around him."
"She's used to it all, huh?"
"Every bit. But she loves it just the same."
"Even after twenty six years."
"Yeah. I don't think she'd have it any other way though."
Laying back against the frame of the bed, pillows pressed between his back and the polished steel, Okabe reclined on the bed in his quarters, slowly turning through an old photo album and smiling occasionally from memories and aches of reminiscence. Head turning from the soft padding of bare feet on a time-faded rug beside him, he looked up to Ruka, marveling the innocent shift of her longer dark hair around her facial features as she sat down onto the messy sheets of the mattress beside him. With a turn, violet and hazel irides met with ease, and hearts throbbed with the familiar spark of romantic enrapture, gazing gently at the others lifelong partner.
"I checked in with utility control on the secure line. Everything's operating as planned with the population influx."
"Excellent. Any mention on living accommodations?"
"They're going to excavate and add twenty units over the course of the next month, but we're far from overcrowded."
"Progress marches on. Anything other matters you need to attend to?"
"None so far."
Extending his hand towards her, she met it without hesitation, pushing her fingers between his as their palms folded together.
"Come rest, my love."
"I intend to."
Lifting her legs onto the bed, she relinquished his hand, tucking herself under the bed sheets and pushing her own pillows back behind herself, finding a position of comfort as Okabe set the album onto the wooden nightstand nearby. Then with a shift of the mattress, he reached down over the edge, lifting up an old, rotund stuffed animal from the floor, and presenting it to Ruka with a turn. Grinning with a breath of laughter, she accepted it, squeezing it tight against herself with a hug of youthfulness, before setting it onto her lap. Waiting patiently as he brought the photo album back onto his lap, she scooted closer to him, pressing her shoulder against his as their digits collected each other again. Turning through the album with his free hand, hearts stirred from the medley of emotional imagery, and a page of Ruka's seventeenth birthday was revealed, with several captures of the couple and their friends in a variety of goofy poses and expressions in the Yanabayashi shrine. Looking to the stuffed Upa sitting in her lap, just the same as in the pictures, sighs seeped from both of them.
"She knew you would like the red and white variant."
"I always liked her Upa too."
"Probably because I hugged it quite often."
Her head lowered onto his shoulder with a hint of bashfulness.
"Maybe."
Turning the page, several more pictures appeared, with both of them sitting together, and one in particular of them caught in a kiss, and their hands squeezed tighter in response.
"You remember what that was like?"
"When I first kissed you that day?"
"Yes."
Lifting her head from his shoulder, she warmly smiled.
"Of course. It was magical."
Turning to him, her vision descended along the goatee on the edge of his cheek, down to his lips.
How could I ever forget?
Watching his mouth part, her eyes rose upwards, only to realize he had been admiring her in just the same manner, as a confident smile adorned his tilting head.
"Would it still be magical now?"
Eyebrows rising, she grinned with a perk of mirth.
"Ohh, let me check and make sure."
Moving together with the ease of familiar motions, their foreheads met with a fleeting pause, and eyes shut as their noses brushed just past each other, lips meeting in the sweet simplicity of a kiss. Leaning upright, their held hands remained together, and their free arms latched around each others sides, holding them together in love's embrace. Mouths parting with just a moment of separation, Ruka's cheeks reddened as a light, giddy laugh issued from inside.
"Yes. Still is."
"Good."
Pressing together again, hands slowly drifted along their backsides, and Okabe's fingers pushed up into her locks of hair, still just as soft as always.
I love you, so much.
But you already know that.
04/19/2036; Valkyrie; 22:09p.m.
Inspecting the clean and freshly oiled gleam of the PM-9, Suzuha's hand pulled the weapon's action open repeatedly, watching with amusement as it slid open and shut with unfamiliar ease.
"...See? That thing is happy and free."
"Oh I can tell. Do you have a target range here? I'm real curious to see how it behaves now."
"We do have a range, but ammunition is limited even with our efforts of reloading."
"Damn."
"Plus you just finished cleaning it. Let it enjoy that for at least a little while."
Rolling her eyes with a smile, she set the machine-pistol onto the green towel on the table, and then rubbed her hands together.
"I know its probably late, but what do you for fun around here?"
Chin rising with interest from her query, Kamiko leaned back on her arms, sitting on her bed.
"What kind of fun?
"I don't know. Is there a place you go or something you can do here?"
Imagining her various wandering travels, far into the expansive depths of the underground facility, she then looked towards a large inconspicuous pane of glass mounted on the concrete wall behind Suzuha.
There is that thing... Probably shouldn't have someone new sneaking around here anyway. I don't need to have mom and dad retrieve their guest after she got put into detainment, and then explain that we were bored.
"Yes. Turn around."
Blinking, Suzuha apprehensively stepped about face.
"On the right side of that little black box, push the button."
Stepping closer, her arm reached out, realizing the box was attached to the massive pane of glass. Eyes rising along the translucent surface, thin lines of circuitry ran horizontally and vertically along all of it, largely hidden against the dull grey of the wall behind.
"...Whoa, what is this thing?"
"Turn it on."
Pushing the button, the glass panel illuminated with an electrically charged wipe across an unseen grid, and then faded into a soft array of changing color as several large icons appeared on what was discovered to be a large digital screen. Hand sinking with unexpected surprise, Suzuha stepped back, propping it against her hip with a growing smile.
"You had something like this the whole time?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me? This looks awesome!"
"Every bedroom in Valkyrie's living quarters has one of these."
"Does it have games?"
"A few. It's meant for creative stimulation, so it mostly has logic puzzles, arithmetic, writing, music generation... My favorite is the painting program."
"Yeah?"
"Its pretty bleak down here and up on the surface. I love filling it with rich colors with the lights off, so it fills the whole room and reflects off the walls."
Blinking as the nearby door shut, and the bedroom went dark with the click of a switch, Suzuha yielded to Kamiko as she approached the screen, reaching out and touching one of the icons, waiting as it expanded and showed several more in a temporary menu. Selecting a visible paintbrush, the screen projected a bright white, with a long spectrum pallet of color and several brush options along the bottom.
"My eyes."
Squinting, Kamiko laughed lightly in agreement.
"Hold on, let me invert the background."
With the press of her finger on a small icon in the corner, the picture faded into black instead.
"There. Go ahead a pick a color and a brush."
With two separate taps on the screen, the cursor changed to suit, and Kamiko began dragging her hand in random patterns on the screen, watching as thick swiping lines of a cool light blue appeared behind her hand.
Mouth opening, Suzuha selected a purple color, and drew several squiggles onto it.
"Oh man."
"See what I mean? I've spent lots of time with this."
Touching a small menu, several unique pattern options appeared, and a rainbow spectrum was chosen.
"Check this out."
Drawing a circle, colors faded through the whole spectrum, resulting in a multicolored trail behind her index finger.
"What! Let me at this thing..."
Grinning as she selected a two-tone green and yellow stripe, and a wide brush, she drew a square spiral, only to expand it larger around the outside, taking up half the screen.
"Can you erase it or do you have to keep drawing over it?"
With a simple tap, the screen faded to black again.
"Ah, thank you."
"Try writing your name."
Tapping onto a darker blue color and a thin brush, her hand rose, pausing in recollection.
Been a while, lets see...
Slowly dragging along the smooth glass, several characters appeared, patiently observed by Kamiko.
阿万音鈴羽
Turning to her friend, Suzuha produced a nod of accomplishment.
"Your turn."
With a dark red chosen, her index finger moved along much quicker, writing out her own name in a flourish.
漆原カミコ
"Done."
"Showing off a little?"
"I would never."
Grinning from her hint of sarcasm, Suzuha selected both colors and drew several stars around their names, pausing as Kamiko countered with several goofy smiley faces.
"I see how it is."
Glancing aside, she drew one with its tongue sticking out, bursting into a giggle from the teen's raised eyebrow, and then countering her tongue being stuck out with her own. Tapping on a save icon quickly, she opened a new file, and the screen went blank again.
"Hold on."
Selecting the rainbow line again, she then held her hands close to the warm glass.
"Go for it."
Dragging their fingertips across the screen in a reckless manner, numerous multicolored squiggles appeared in a haphazard multicolored jumble from several sources of touch input, and Suzuha ran her hands over to Kamiko's side, drawing all over her shapes.
"Serious?"
"Totally."
Laughing, she stepped around the girl, drawing all over her shapes and overlapping them further with differing color, and both girls steadily filled the screen with an eclectic portrait of vibrant nonsense.
Stepping back from their work with a pause, Suzuha then selected the earlier blue, and her arm lowered to the bottom right hand corner, signing it.
アマネ
In a repeat manner as before, Kamiko signed her name on the opposite corner in red, saving the image, and starting another blank canvas.
"We can keep drawing, or try some of the other programs... If you want."
"I'm up for a game if you are."
Closing the painting program, she brought up another menu from the main screen, and a selection of titles adorned the icons, leaving Suzuha at an impasse of decision.
"These all sound so interesting."
"Pick one!"
Looking at the dark haired girl, her finger poked the screen somewhere, and she showed a mischievous grin as the room's color changed in response.
"Advanced trigonometry. Nice choice."
"Wait what?"
Head whirling to the screen, the colorful menu of a boat racing game met her eyes, and she crossed her arms, attempting a serious expression as Kamiko touched a button on the menu with a laugh.
"You would do math, wouldn't you."
"I have, but not so much about triangular geometry."
Watching as a speedboat appeared behind a start line in a river channel, Kamiko gestured towards it.
"Hope you know how to drive."
"Uhh, wait, what are the controls?"
"The arrows and throttle, right there."
Hands hovering over them, Suzuha watched as the boat accelerated, leaving a wake in the water behind, and she hesitantly tapped the arrows, watching the craft shift left and right momentarily.
"You're on level one. Don't worry."
"I'm a fast learner."
"Yeah?"
"You watch. This'll be cake."
Roaring through the river at high speed, going around numerous obstacles and staying neck in neck with several AI opponents, Suzuha's breath was held and released as she remained deftly focused on navigating around them.
"You're half a kilometer from the finish."
Skirting around several explosive barrels floating in the water, one of the AI boats collided into them and exploded into a fireball behind, and a smile steadily increased as the finish line drew near, suddenly whipping across the screen.
"YES! First place baby."
"Nicely done."
"On level twenty. Heck yeah!"
"Now shoot for thirty."
"How many are there?"
"Fifty. I've gotten up to forty seven."
Lips pursing, Suzuha exhaled in defeat.
"You've had plenty of time to practice."
"I know. You're doing well for your first time."
Grunting, Suzuha turned towards the darkness of the room behind.
"What time is it anyway?"
Closing the racing game, Kamiko exhaled.
"Just past one o'clock."
"Do we have a curfew?"
"Not necessarily. Probably should rest though."
"Got commander duties tomorrow?"
"Probably. You might wind up with some responsibility too."
"What makes you say that?"
"You've gotta earn your keep around here somehow."
Stretching with a yawn, Suzuha exhaled from a wave of fatigue setting in.
"Alright. Where am I sleeping?"
Stilling in realization, Kamiko turned, and both girls realized there was only one bed present in the room.
"Well... With me I guess."
"Is that alright?"
Eying Suzuha, and contemplating sharing her bed with someone else, she slowly tilted her head.
Dad would ask this of me anyway... Since we apparently lack a spare bed for guests.
"Should be fine."
"Don't worry, I don't have cooties or snore."
"I'd hope not."
Pressing the power button on the screen, the room faded into darkness upon shutdown, and several small floor lights lit up the corners of the walls with a faint glow, reorienting both of them. Light footsteps moved across the floor, and Suzuha stood beside the bed, touching the sheets as they were pulled back.
A clean, comfy bed. People kill for stuff like this out there.
Listening to the shift of the mattress as Kamiko descended onto it, she waited as the girl settled onto her side.
"Go ahead."
Gently lowering onto it after her whisper, her feet tucked underneath the soft cloth, and she sank into the heavenly, squishy comfort, head flopping onto one of the pillows.
Ohhh my god. I'm gonna pass out and it will be amazing...!
Tugging sheets over both of them, warmth spread between their bodies, laying just apart from each other.
No danger, no weather... Just... Comfy.
Listening to the silent breathing of her newfound friend, settling into sleep in a remarkably short time, Kamiko looked out towards the wall, watching as the night lights slowly turned off, bringing the room into a pitch black void.
This is a first... Somebody else in my bed. Oh well.
Closing her eyes, a long, gentle sigh issued from her lungs.
Goodnight, Suzu. You'll be safe here, under the wings of Valkyrie.