Twelve Days to Gate Closure

The JSDF military encampment in the Special Region was not the only area abuzz with activity. So was the refugee village surrounding the Alnus hill.

A year had passed, and it was continuing to bustle and expand under the watchful eye of its protectors, now much closer to a full-fledge town or village than a simple encampment. People were starting to talk about naming it, especially now that it was about to be given away by the JSDF as a gift to the people of the world.

And curiously enough the name 'Youji Itami' was coming up a lot as well in casual discussion.

Oh not as a city name, most of the inhabitants that that was both in bad taste and otherwise unpleasant to the ear. But it seemed that, upon learning he and select others were remaining behind, were interested in bringing them more fully into the fold. No longer the distant protectors and occasional customers at their establishments, some were interested in making Itami their village mayor.

The good ex-captain wasn't quite sure just how serious they were... until Delilah cornered him with a clipboard.

Eyeing it, he felt a chill wash over him. "Is... this...?!"

"Signatures," she explained. "We found out how you Japanese do things and decided to follow that. Everyone whose signed here wants you to be our elected community leader."

"But I don't know anything about politics!" he protested, trying to offer the clipboard back.

She pushed it gently against his chest.

"Neither do we," she reminded him. "We don't need someone who talks a lot and bores us to death. Just someone who can settle disputes and do the right thing. And even... well... for all your faults..." she eyed him up and down, her ears twitching. "... we know you'd never do anything that wasn't in the interest of the community. So there."

Apparently accepting their argument as over the bunny bar maid turned and hopped off, anxious to get back to work. No longer a mere serving wench, she now owned the establishment, and was interested in expanding business if things went well. With more land becoming available thanks to the JSDF's withdrawl, that looked like a distinct possibility.

"Unbelievable," Itami muttered. "The world's gone completely mad..."

Seven Days to Gate Closure

Only a week remaining until the prophesized closing of the Gate, and the end of the link between Japan and the Special Region.

By now most of the JSDF personnel had withdrawn from the region, and all that remained was a small contingent of soldiers to ensure nothing unwanted followed them through to the other side. The Ginza Incident was still fresh in the minds of many Japanese people, and no one had any desire for the Gate to close with marauders and bandits with decidedly medieval mindsets on their side once the Gate closed. To say nothing of the horrifying possibility of dragons loose in the Japanese countryside.

That said, they were allowing select, thoroughly screened, individuals to come and live in Japan.

While hardly a common occurrence, even the DIET recognized the value such individuals had brought to their country and could continue to do so. The Wizard Cato El Altestan, for one, with his wealth of knowledge on the subjects of magic, was being paid a very generous salary for his research on the other side of the Gate. Naturally, the other United Nations were equally anxious to get a hold of an actual, real life wizard, and were making attempts to bribe, kidnap, or otherwise bring him to their countries in lieu of Japan. But the Land of the Rising Sun was not going to make it easy for them.

A few others were being selected, mostly scholars from Lindon, a historian from the Empire, and perhaps most surprising of all was the young elven couple.

And one other.

It had been negotiated by treaty that neither the Empire nor the country of Japan would use the Gate as a sort of dumping ground for undesirable elements from their respective nations. Criminals captured by either side who were from a particular realm were returned to their respective nation to face judgement and punishment according to the laws of their homelands. The one exception to this had been a most unusual case.

Tyuule of the Bunny Warriors.

Many years following the collapse of the old Empire and the devastation of the capitol, after she had been freed and allowed to return to what remained of her people, she had come forward with a confession. Without any reservation she had laid bare the facts of her crimes, including inciting a war with the 'Green Men' and egging Prince Zorzal on to easily the most stupid of his decisions to continue it. The list of her crimes against both Empire and Japan were numerous, but in the end, the greater fault had been declared against the Land of the Rising Sun, and Empress Pina, anxious to rid herself of a very dangerous threat to her rule, had handed Tyuule over to Japan.

She would be confined in Maximum Security for the duration of her entire life, with zero possibility of patrol or escape.

Six Days to Gate Closure

However, the numbers going through the Gate who were not natural Japanese citizens was exceedingly small. Scarcely more than a dozen or so. Itami saw them each off personally. And he was about to return to his barracks for some packing of his own when he glanced back and saw a commotion at the Gates. People were coming through, being released back into the Special Region.

Lots of people. That was unusual.

He jogged over, curious as to what was going. The private at the guard post saluted as he approached.

"What's going on here?" Itami asked. They should have been withdrawing, not... whatever this was.

"Civilians coming through the Gate," the soldier on duty reported.

"Civilians?!"

A nod confirmed his inquiry. "Apparently once the Japanese public learned about the Gates closing and that the government was authorizing deportation to the Special Region, more than a few of them signed up to be part of it. Papers have been processing for weeks now."

"But they can't... how will... what...?" he sputtered, his mind back-firing and eventually dying as he saw some of the people coming through. Most of them were kids. Young people fresh out of college (or near enough) with no idea what they were getting into. Sure, he saw some middle-aged folk as well, a few obvious married couples, but they were bringing their kids along as well. He was also pretty sure he just spotted Kuriyabashi's sister amongst the crowd, looking decidedly confused until her sibling found her. How the heck had this happened?

Itami was about to march right up to them and demand answers when he caught sight of a familiar face.

Risa Aoi.

Known in certain circles as Itami's ex-wife.

If he'd just crashed his mental 'car' with the arrival of civilians, then seeing her gave him the psychic equivalent of a ten car pile-up. She was dressed for travel, warm clothes and a backpack, as well the shoulder bag he recognized as containing her artists supplies.

"Risa?!" he gasped. "What're you doing here?!" he demanded, after finally making his way to her side.

Adjusting her glasses, she explained, "I'm here to... uh... well..."

"Well...?" he repeated.

"Uhm, Itami... well... I kinda got evicted and I was hoping I could... find accommodations with you for a while?"

"Are you NUTS?!" he asked, not caring how his voice carried. "Risa this is another world! And one we don't have a permanent connection to any longer! You'll be cut off from Japan forever if you stay here! You turn around right now and you march right back through that Gate and...!"

"And what?!" she demanded, glaring up at him from behind her spectacles. "Say goodbye to you forever?"

That brought him up short, and he spluttered incoherently for a few moments.

"Look I know it's not going to be easy here but my artwork is really popular in the Empire... and I've gotten a bit of inspiration thanks to your last few visits, so I figured I'd get even more here. So... I'm staying. I guess if I can't stay with you I'll just... find somewhere else to shack up for a while."

Her tone made it abundantly clear of her intentions. And Itami was more than well aware of just how popular a single woman would be as a roommate here on the other side, and not with the most savory of individuals. If not as a roommate, then as an indentured servant. Even with all the reforms Empress Pina had been pushing out over the years, the Empire was still very much a brutal, misogynistic, violent place. And that was within its borders, outside could be even worse depending on where you went.

Someone had to take Risa in until she was back on her feet. But why oh why did it have to be him? Itami sighed, slapping his hand over his forehead as he felt a wicked headache come on, and slumped to the ground.

This was just not his day.

Last Day 'til Gate Closure

Sunset, or near enough.

The region was painted an ominous red glow, the skies like blood in a way that made Rory's soul sing. It also did wonders to highlight the devastation surrounding Alnus hill. Even two full years after the battle, there were still ample signs of carnage and bloodshed. All of it radiating outwards from the Gate, the singular cause of everything.

Itami stood before its massive doors, peering up at it. The JSDF was gone, the area was all but deserted save for a handful of watchful eyes. Those who were curious to see the end of an age. And perhaps learn more about the Gate and what it meant. How it had been constructed, by whom, and for why. Rory Mercury told them of Hardy, the God of the Underworld, who used it as a plaything, but surely there had to be a more scientific explanation for all of this. A more reasonable, rational explanation.

But damned if Itami could think of one. It simply was.

And soon, it wouldn't be.

Finally, the massive doors began to close, and there was a low, ominous rumble in the ground. Itami instantly though back to the Ginza Incident. There was that same feeling here, that otherworldly power at work, and even without the translated Prophecy they'd know this was the end. But they'd had more than enough time to prepare, which was more than some could say, and they were ready.

As the Gate closed, Itami came to attention, lifting up his hand to his brow, and saluted. Saying farewell to the country of his birth, the world of his origin, the place he'd called home for the last three and a half decades.

Though his face remained forward, he spotted out of the corner of his eye Tuka raising her hand to do the same thing, mimicking as she was wont to do. And then it seemed Lelei was doing the same, and then Rory, and even Yao.

On his other side, his subordinates were likewise saluting, saying their farewells, and Itami felt a swell of pride in his chest. Whatever the future would bring, he was sure he could handle it as long as they were together. They weren't just a military unit anymore, they were a family.

The doors finally shut with an ominous boom, and as they watched, the Gate vanished. Not all at once, like a pop or a blink, but slowly fading away like a dissolve, becoming more and more translucent until they could see the mountain range on the other side. And then, they could not see the Gate at all. It was gone for good.

The Gate was closed.

And it was time to great ready... for the next day.

Authors Notes:
Please review if enjoyed.

No plans for a sequel or continuation at this time. While I might enjoy reading about a story where Itami became the new ruler of the Special Region with his cohorts and subordinates, or else goes into farming with his personal harem, I simply don't think I have it in me to write such a thing.

I debated the possibility of Tyuule's trial being a chapter unto itself, but ultimately couldn't bring myself to do it.