Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Lollipops were floating everywhere. I couldn't believe it, but I had somehow stumbled into a land that was composed entirely of candy. The sky was a soft, tender pink with cotton candy clouds. The breath I took was filled of aromas of wonderful, sugary treats. I reached out and grabbed a candy bar and slowly brought it to my mouth…
"Raito, wake up." Kira nudged me.
I opened my eyes groggily and lazily turned my head towards Kira.
"Yes, ma'am?" I said sleepily. It was still late at night.
"Sorry to wake you, Private." She said. "I just need to talk to you about some things."
I sat up and cradled my gun closer to me. My helmet was hanging off to the side and my goggles were askew. My entire appearance was a mess.
"What's the matter?" I said.
"I just can't sleep, Zetsumei. I have too much on my mind."
I looked around the line. All the others were asleep in their foxholes, and everyone looked at peace. Kira was hugging her knees, her rifle across her lap and looked very anxious. She hadn't slept a minute all night, it seemed. She refused to make eye contact with me, and stared at her feet, huddled in an agitated mess.
"Tell me a bit about what's wrong, ma'am." I said softly.
"Look at me, Raito. Do I look like the kind of girl that's supposed to be out at war, being shot at?" she said shakily.
Corporal Chigiri was a beautiful woman, she had long flowing black hair and a face that had flawless features, like a gleaming gem. However, her pained expression was almost unbearable to see.
"No, ma'am." I admitted.
"I know what you're wondering, Raito."
I blinked.
"You're wondering how I ended up in the military in a division full of men." She said.
I nodded slowly. What was I supposed to say?
"Well, it's a long story…"she stalled.
"I have time, ma'am." I said.
"Well alright then." She said as she finally made eye contact. "Listen up."
--
I was born in a city in the southern part of the Godai Island. That day was 22 years ago, and up until I was 10, I lived like I was any other normal girl. I loved to read, ever since my early days, and I started writing my first stories ever since I was 8.
Since you were 8? That's very impressive.
Indeed it is. But when I reached the age of 10, my father began training for a military lifestyle and told me that I was to follow my family's footsteps and become a soldier, as all my grandfathers did. Unfortunately, when they were expecting a boy, I was born and they decided to make me a soldier either way. He taught me weapon handling and basic survival skills, made me live off the land for days at a time. I had to struggle and fight for everything I ever wanted or needed, and because of that, it has robbed me of my innocence. If you haven't noticed by now, I'm always bitter and snappy with anyone I talk to.
I knew I was destined to join the military at one point in my life, so I decided to publish at least one story before I was shipped out to war. However, the syndicate turned down my book and my father signed me up for the military before I could get a second chance. I was one of the first women to ever join the military. Everyone frowned upon me, thought I was too weak to do a "man's job", they never thought I would be able to kill a man. I was kept on cleaning and cooking duties for an entire year.
Finally, I was given a chance to head out on the frontlines. My father had heard about me not being on the frontlines and pulled strings to get me assigned to a division heading out to battle. Eventually, he managed to stick me in this division with the rest of you, and here I am. Sitting in a foxhole with a bunch of strangers, revealing my entire past to a kid I met not one week ago.
The worst part about all this is, I don't think I'm cut out for battle, Raito. I saw that guy who got hit in the leg today, and I don't think I can do this. I want to write a book, not take another human being's life. Today I sit with a rifle in my hand, capable of killing someone. How am I supposed to live with myself after this war is over?
--
Kira and I stared at each other for a moment. I couldn't find the right words to say to her, and I never knew that she was this complex. She finally relaxed and leaned back and shut her eyes, ready to get some sleep. Her rifle dropped out of her lap.
"You know, it's a strange thing, Waffuru." She said.
I stared blankly at her.
"I come out here and find so many kids like you who signed up, ready to fight. You all volunteered to die for your country. The funny thing is, you've never volunteered to kill for your country."
She turned away from her rifle and me and said nothing more. I must have stared at her for another hour before being able to sleep again. Thinking about what Kira said, I started to wonder whether joining the military was the right choice. I closed my eyes and took my mind off of it, and said to myself that I'm here, and that's all that matters. That night, I couldn't stop dreaming of what Kira had told me.
--
I woke up the next morning, forgetting where I was. When I saw Kira asleep next to me, I quickly realized I was in the midst of a battlefield. But that was all that came to my mind, nothing about it being right or wrong, it was just where I was. It was also around that time that when I woke up, I realized that my hands were wrapped around Kira's waist. Startled, I pulled my hands away from her and looked around to see if anyone was watching. As I surveyed all the foxholes around me, I sighed with relief to find that everyone was still asleep.
I took my helmet off and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. What was I doing? Was I falling in love with my superior? But then I also realized that Kira fell asleep across from me, facing away and in order for me to have my hands around her, she would have to have rolled all the way to me…. Or she must have intentionally moved.
My hand slid into my pack, digging around for a notebook. The notebook made contact with the tips of my fingers, and I pulled out a thin, yellow journal out of the bag. I grabbed a pen out of the bag and began to write on the first page of the notebook.
--
It's around 0600 hours.
Last night we were deployed to what looks like the edge of a forest. We're all dug in here, waiting for our chance to attack. However, as we sit here, we all think about home.
Kira really reached out to me last night. When she revealed all these things about her past, I couldn't help but relate to her. I remember my parents pressuring me into doing things that I never wanted to do. However, I can't imagine what it must be like to be raised only to follow one certain profession, especially one you don't want to do. She seems so much more approachable now, and even has this gentle, sweet side. It's hard to believe, but I'm beginning to like Corporal Chigiri. I don't know whether to call her Kira or Corporal Chigiri just yet, but I hope I'll get to find out soon. She's sleeping next to me as I write this, and I wonder if someday she'll ever know about these confused feelings I have for her. I gaze upon her now, admiring her beauty and the courage she has to be the only female in an all-male division. The most shocking part about this is, I think I may be falling in lo-
--
"Private Raito!"
"AUUGH!" I yelped. The sudden arrival of Sergeant Kyoukan caught me so off guard, I dropped my notebook and jumped. I quickly scrambled to retrieve it, and slipped it into my bag as Kira began to wake up.
"Nervous in the service there, Raito?"
"No, sir."
Kira got up and grabbed her rifle and climbed out of the foxhole lazily. I did the same.
"Corporal, go round up the rest of them men and have them come back with me to the headquarters. Our CO is arriving today, and I want the men to personally greet him." He said.
"Yes sir." She responded.
I was puzzled. "What's a CO, Kira?"
"Commanding Officer, Zetsumei. He's in charge of this entire company."
As Sergeant Kyoukan walked away, we went down the line, fetching guys from 3rd squad. Most of them were still asleep, but they agreed to come with us nonetheless. I grabbed Houka, Bijon and Aragau and met up with Kira, Dangan and Kutabare at the headquarters. There we saw a tall man, solid in stature. He was our lieutenant.
"Good morning, men." He said.
"Good morning, sir." We all responded.
"I am Lieutenant Bryant, but you can call me Shanks. I hear that nicknames are quite the things with you young soldiers now."
Why did Shanks sound like something out of a strange anime show? He seemed like a aged, but also very gentle man. How he ended up in a profession like this I will never know.
"Why are you called Shanks?" Houka asked.
"Because when I was still a sergeant, an enemy soldier was storming my position. When my weapon jammed and I had no time to grab my sidearm, I quickly went for my combat knife and jammed it right into his skull. I fought the rest of that battle with only my knife."
We all looked at each other. It must have been years ago.
"What's your nickname, son?" he asked Houka.
"Actually, my name is Houka, sir." He responded. The Lieutenant raised his eyebrow.
"I can see that, Private. But I'm asking you for your nickname."
Houka seemed confused.
"But my name isn't Nick, sir."
We all held back chuckles. Houka's lack of intelligence was sadly amusing. Just then, a soldier came in with a map and set it down in front of Lieutenant Bryant. He whispered something into the lieutenant's ear, and promptly left the room. The lieutenant examined the map and a more serious complexion began to creep across his face. He looked up at Sergeant Kyoukan.
"Sergeant, tell all of Charlie Company to ready their defenses. Enemy troops are moving in on our position and are trying to take us by surprise, fortify your positions." He said.
"Yes, sir. You heard the man, let's move out, 3rd squad!" Kyoukan said.
We all dashed out of the tent back to the lines. Bijon sprinted ahead of us and called out to the entire line. As we all got to our foxholes, we kept the warnings coming.
"Everybody ready, enemy movement towards our position! Get ready, move it out, move it out!"
I dove into my foxhole with Kira and we both pointed our guns off in the horizon. There was no movement in the woods off in the distance, but we kept our eyes trained on it. The screams kept moving down the line and everyone found cover in a foxhole or behind a stack of logs or whatever they could hide behind. There was a bunker set up next to us that had rifles pointing out towards the woods on the opposite side.
Sergeants were throwing out orders to their subordinates, and soldiers were scrambling to positions. I surveyed around to find where my squad mates were. Aragau had taken up a position in a makeshift bunker made of logs, and Dangan was next to him. Houka was lying down behind a log, his machine gun deployed and aimed off in the distance a little ways down the line. Bijon and Kutabare were in the bunker and Kira and I were in the foxhole. Sergeant Kyoukan had taken up a position behind a tree.
We were all waiting for the first sign of movement coming from the woods, and we flipped the safety off of our guns. Our weapons were hot, and we now had the power to kill a human being. The first soldiers began to appear off in the distance.
"Hold your fire!" someone called out.
"Hold your fire, 3rd squad!" Kyoukan repeated.
We all tensed up, waiting for the bullets to fly.
"If we die today, then let every drop of blood mark the boundary to Godai territory that the Haisou forces were unable to penetrate!" Kyoukan continued.
I put my finger on the trigger.
"Remember why we fight! Don't show any mercy, because you sure won't be getting any from them!" Kyoukan screamed as he pointed off in the distance.
The soldiers drew closer and closer, and everyone was silent. We waited for the spark to set off the bloody massacre that would ensue. We all stared on towards our enemy, expecting what may possibly be our doom. The order was sent down the line.
"Charlie Company, open fire!"