Chapter 23 – You again?!
Toshiro opened his eyes slowly. He was in the interior of the plane's toilet, sitting on the can.
Well, that was one hell of a trip… And what a humoresque way of dropping me off, haha… Very fucking funny, Kaylie. Yeah, I'm back to my world, Aya, and I promise that I WILL do everything for you and your mother to be born!
"Herr Generalmajor, will you be finishing soon?" Udo's muffled voice came to Toshiro's ears from behind the toilet door.
"Maybe, what's the rush?" Toshiro asked.
"Well… Uh… It seems my bowels are preparing a revolution…" The crewman whispered.
"Ah, if you say it that way…" Toshiro smirked to himself.
Toshiro stood up and flushed pro forma. He unlatched the door and exited the toilet saying, "All yours!"
"Thank you!" Udo shouted and ran into the small room, "Uh… Pardon but… it's surprisingly…. Not-smelly here…"
"My shit doesn't stink, I'm royalty, remember?" He mused.
"Hahahahaha…oooohh…" Udo bent in half and closed the door.
The sounds that happened after that were rather vividly influencing Toshiro's imagination.
Ugh, I don't want to hear this…
Toshiro opened the door to the cockpit and entered.
"Udo must have a really nice obstruction…" Toshiro sighed.
"I told him not to eat that burrito… So, Herr Generalmajor, will you sign those pictures of yours for our girls?"
"Autographs? Sure, as long as you're not submitting them in bulk, haha!"
"Here they are, Herr Generalmajor…"
Toshiro approached and took two pictures and a Magic Marker. It was his most up-to-date picture, with his General insignia. He gave two flashy autographs and gave the pictures back to the co-pilot.
"Thank you. Our girls will be squealing when their Papa's will give them these, heheh…"
"Putting the smiles on people's faces one at a time…" Toshiro smiled himself. "So, when are we going to arrive in Belgica?"
"Still about five hours left and we'll be in Gibraltar. We'll refuel quickly and make the last jump towards Belgica," Fritz quickly explained.
"So if my math ain't off, we'll be there around 0700?"
"More or less. I just hope Udo won't spend the rest of the flight on the can…"
"If worse comes to worst, maybe I could replace him?" Toshiro asked.
"With all due respect, I don't think you've had a pilot's course…" Fritz mumbled.
"Well, I didn't but… some say I'm a fast learner," Toshiro smirked.
"Well, if Udo doesn't appear here in half an hour, then I can start teaching you, Herr Generalmajor. In the meantime, please take a seat."
"Ah, don't mind if I do…"
Toshiro sat on Udo's seat and he observed all the instruments. After a few minutes he already knew where everything was.
"Poor Udo…" Fritz sighed.
"I'll go check on him…" Toshiro said as he stood up.
He walked out of the cockpit without closing the door behind him and standing before the toilet he said, "Hey, Udo."
"Whaaaaaaa…" The pilot moaned.
"Still on the shitter?"
"Yeees…"
"Guess I'll have to replace you?"
"Please… If that wouldn't inconvenience you…"
"No problem, Udo. For all the flights I had with you, you deserve some relief especially that your bowel doesn't want to cooperate with you."
"Thanks…" Udo moaned.
Toshiro returned to the cockpit.
"You probably heard everything…"
"Yeaaah… Okay, Herr Generalmajor… Put on the headphones, take that notebook and let's go…"
After a crash course, Toshiro was the temporary co-pilot. He was mainly in charge of maintaining a straight flight path and asking Udo in fixed intervals whether he's still on this mortal coil. The sun had already risen over Europe, and so, Toshiro saw the cliffs of Gibraltar and the outline of the well-known port.
At one point, Fritz asked, "Nice ring, Herr Generalmajor, is that platinum?"
Toshiro raised an eyebrow and looked on his hands, noticing a translucent ring with dark stars shining inside and a white zigzag pattern going across it. He diluted time almost on instinct, and looked at it carefully.
"Yuki, what the hell?"
"Looks like a platinum ring to me. When did you get it?"
"I don't know, do you? Wait, platinum? It's not platinum, it looks like glass!"
"It's platinum, you bum. Are you blind?"
"It's… ah, whatever…"
"Yeah, it's platinum," Toshiro replied after resuming a normal time flow.
"You higher ups sure have it nice…" He sighed
Once Fritz landed, he said, "Okay, I'll be in charge of refueling… If only…"
"Uuuuuuugh… Foooooood…" Udo moaned from the door suddenly.
"Ah, Udo, you're well again?" Fritz asked.
"I'm hardly well… Water… Food…"
"I'll remove myself from the cockpit then." Toshiro said.
"Udo, eat the crackers from our supply, anything else could be bad."
"Okay…"
Toshiro went out of the cockpit, went to his original chair and laid back on it. He observed Fritz bustling around both inside and outside. After the ramp closed behind him, he said, "We're ready for the last jump."
"Have at it…"
After no more than an hour, the plane finally approached to land, which Fritz confirmed through the intercom. Toshiro changed his pants to a short sleeved version, since he could get into engagements any time, and because it was still summer in Belgica. The plane landed softly and Toshiro felt that it taxied, but he couldn't actually see it, since the plane had no windows. The engines went into idle, and the ramp started opening.
"Please find somebody to help you with unloading, Herr Generalmajor," Fritz said out of the cockpit, "Everything is a bit… Heavy…"
"Don't worry, I have a candidate for this."
The ramp opened to its fullest and Toshiro went down it. He saw a welcome committee waiting for him. From left to right those were Minna, Erica, Trude, a silver haired girl with glasses in a Karlslander Luftwaffe uniform and somebody very familiar.
"What the fuck is she doing here?!"
"Dunno…"
"After she promised she wouldn't meddle… I'll have a word with her…"
Toshiro's face was unchanged visibly when he saw the silver-eyed blonde-haired woman in a Karlslander uniform, but in his mind he made such a grimace that everyone would fall dead.
"Brooooooooo!" Erica cheered and ran into his open arms.
The rest of them approached him.
"Hey, they told us somebody would be visiting but YOU?!" Trude voiced her surprise.
"I knew it… I had a feeling you'd come…" Minna said with satisfaction. "Welcome back, Toshiro."
"Why don't you introduce the two girls with you?" Toshiro asked.
"This is Major Heidemarie W. Schnaufer," Minna said while pointing out at the silver haired witch.
Toshiro now saw that she has red eyes, just like Mami and him.
"Uh… Well… We've talked on the phone…" Heidemarie said shyly after she approached Toshiro, "Pleased to meet you in person, Herr Generalmajor…"
"Likewise, Heidemarie. Now, who is the blonde beauty?" Toshiro said with venom figuratively seeping from his words.
"Leutnant Alissa Maya, pleased to meet you personally, Herr Generalmajor," the blonde said and extended her hand to him.
Toshiro squeezed it, and they shook their hands so hard that the sound of breaking bones could almost be heard.
"Also pleased to meet you, Alissa… Ah, Trudy, could you help and get my gear out of the plane? I also have supplies for you guys."
"Of course! Maya, help me with this."
"Coming!" Alissa cheered and joined Trude.
"Who is that?" Toshiro played dumb.
"She got here yesterday. She's eighteen from what I could tell from the papers."
Yesterday?! Oh wait a second… Ugh… Meddling to the umpteenth power…
"Anyway, Toshiro, what brings you to this backwater?" Minna asked.
"Ah, well, I believe there's a super important operation being prepared, so I was sent here in preparation of that," he replied.
"What have you brought for me?" Erica asked eagerly.
"Patience… I brought something for everyone. Not the most imaginative gifts, but hey, straight from Neue Karlsland. And I have a little revelation… Heheheh…" He snickered.
"Oh? Can you give me a hint?" Minna asked.
"It's concerning Trude. But I won't give a peep until that plane gets out of sight and we sit down for breakfast or something. I was flying for 12 hours straight…"
"Then you could help the two. That whole Alissa is strong, but another pair of arms will probably help the process…"
"You want me, the Erzherzog von Pommern, the heir to the throne and a Generalmajor to lug around my own gear?" Toshiro asked in a jesting manner.
"Yes, heehee…" Minna giggled.
"And you're damn right!"
Toshiro rushed to the girls in the plane. He saw that Alissa was lugging around his two cannons on her shoulders and the MG 151/20/3 strapped on her back.
"Fucking show-off…" Toshiro mumbled as he passed her.
She stuck out her tongue slightly, which Trude didn't see.
Trude was pushing the trolley with supplies and his chest. Toshiro decided to get the Launch Unit with his new Striker. After they all left the plane, the ramp started to close.
"So, Toshiro, I see that you have some nice stuff with you… Um… Can I squeeze off a few rounds, for old times' sake?" Trude asked.
"Sure you can, but the big cannon has a brutal recoil."
"Ah… What about the smaller one?" Trude didn't miss a beat.
"I think you can manage."
"Yes!" She pumped her fist into the air.
"Herr Generalmajor, what about me?" Alissa asked innocently.
"You don't get squat until after I've had a personal conversation with you…"
"Okaaaay…" Alissa sighed.
I really… really… really just want to smack her…
They passed along the main building, a squareish fortress with a total of twelve AA mounts to guard it. From what Toshiro could see, the defenders of this place didn't fuck around, as the AA guns were the dreadful 12.8 cm NaK 40 Zwilling double guns. On top of the building there was an array of radio antennas, probably good enough to catch radio waves from all around the world. Trude and Alissa led him to the hangar to the right side of the building. It wasn't something special, a rather normal hangar. Toshiro could see all their Strikers in their Launch Units at the far end, as well as a map hanging on the wall behind them.
"Trude, tell me something?" Toshiro asked.
"Hmm?"
"Are we the only ones here?"
"Yeah. Heidi's unit has been temporarily sent on leave a few days ago. All of the members scattered across Europe, some even went to Neue Karlsland or Liberion."
"Ah... Sucks… But you're all managing?"
"Yeah, sure. Leutnant Maya has been a nice help since she appeared here yesterday."
"Oh, I bet she was…" Toshiro mumbled. "Ah, I can plug in my Launch Unit here?"
"Yes." Trude said.
Toshiro positioned the Launch Unit accordingly, dropped it down from its transport wheels and he connected the big 380 volt plug into it.
"So… Show me that Striker!"
Toshiro looked around him. He saw Erica, Minna and Heidi going towards them. He waited for them to come closer and he pulled off the canvas from the Striker.
"Whoa! A full turbojet?!" Trude shouted, shocked.
"Yup. The XF-1. Codename Edelweiss, heheh…"
"And it's safe?" Erica asked with furled brows.
"Pretty much the safest yet. Ursula, Helma and I have personally fine-tuned it."
"Ooooh, how is Helma?" Trude asked.
"Still an exemplar…" Toshiro sighed.
Erica shuddered visibly.
Toshiro looked around and saw Alissa still holding his cannons.
"Leutnant, please, come here with those cannons.
"Kay."
Alissa approached Toshiro and he unraveled the canvas that was protecting the guns.
"An 88 and a 128," Toshiro said. "But maybe I'll worry about presenting the rest of the gear to you all after we've eaten… Leutnant, place the cannons in some safe spot near my Striker. Use your head."
"Yeah…"
"It's "Jawohl, Herr Generalmajor," damn you…" He grunted.
"Jawohl, Herr Generalmajor, damn you," Alissa repeated with a wry grin.
"You seem to get along with Alissa nicely," Minna noticed. "You sure you didn't see her prior to today?"
"Maybe in another life… Well anyways, come on; lead me to the dining room here."
Toshiro went to the stack of supplies and picked off his chest from there.
"You know what? You can all go forward, I'll have a chat with the Leutnant here…"
"Just don't try to flirt with her, Toshiro, heehee…" Minna giggled and the group moved on.
With his chest on his shoulder, Toshiro approached Alissa. He slammed the chest on the floor, sat on it and patted the spot beside him. Confidently, she sat on that spot. Toshiro threw his left arm around her.
"Kye… Give me a good reason to not be pissed off… You promised me you wouldn't meddle anymore, and yet, you're here playing mortal, and that pisses me off double fold. I liked your mortal incarnation, because of the simple fact I could associate with her. You I cannot do that with, especially after all the shit you've put me through that was irrelevant to my quest."
"You should remember that I'm both of them now, right?
"Don't dodge the question."
"My, my," Alissa feigned innocence. "A lowly mortal is giving me an order. Me! The most powerful being in existence!"
"Yeah, yeah, Miss Primordial Goddess. Now come on, answer my question."
"You don't believe that I came here without proper means do you? As for your question, I just wanted to follow you along in your daily life."
"But you're omni-versatile, you might as well flick your pinkie, and you would know how my grand-to-the-20th-power-children would live."
"That's true but…" She took a deep breath before starting. "I wanted to live like a mortal for a few days. I did exist as both the mortal Kye Miyafuji and the Goddess Kye Akari in my world, but I mean I want to live like a mortal in a world I don't control. It's damn boring, you know? I know everything… I know what has happened, is happening, and will happen. I even know the possibilities that would have happened if choices or actions went differently, be them in the past, present, or future. To say there are millions of possible timelines is a gross understatement. Knowing everything, being able to do anything… it gets boring. I want to live without all that for a little while. And this world still has its last battle against the Neuroi, so it should be fun. The days in my world are simply dull and boring now…"
"But at least you have attained world peace, right? The witches don't lose their powers, right? They don't even need damn Strikers now… Do you really want all of this to return?"
"The hardships I had to endure as the mortal Kye Miyafuji, both before and during the Second Neuroi War, the Third Neuroi War that occurred in the first timeline in 2012, and what Yoshika and the girls went through to overcome it all… in my world… No, I wouldn't want that again, nor would I allow it. I also wouldn't change it. Things happen for a reason. Your world is no different."
"What are you saying?"
""The brightest of lights cast the darkest of shadows."" Alissa quoted. "There is a strong meaning in that phrase, though that isn't the only way to say it. Think of Yin and Yang, the representation of the metaphysical Darkness and Light. The war you are taking part in right now is comparable to the dark. Within each half of Yin and Yang are small parts of their opposites. The war could be correlated to darkness, but within that darkness is light. What is that light?" She gave him a wink as she asked her question.
Toshiro chuckled. "Yeah. By the way, can you give me a tip on when the war in this world will end?"
"I could."
"I'm all ears."
"That's not something you should know. I'm not bound by the same rules as normal gods and goddesses, so I very well could tell you when and how it ends, but out of respect for the Allgod that created your universe, I won't say."
"Okay…"
"But I suppose if it gives you a little peace of mind… it wouldn't hurt if at least I tell you that it'll work out. Now come on, let's eat. My mortal body requires sustenance after all." As if on cue, her stomach growled. "Heehee…"
"You and your shenanigans… I hope you're not planning to stay too long?"
"I'll disappear sooner than you'd think. Now come ooon!"
"Get my chest, you're of lower rank than me, heheh…"
She raised her eyebrow at him. "So lazy, but fine… I have to keep my cover intact…"
Toshiro stood up and Alissa took the chest from the floor. She didn't have trouble picking it up, but did notice that it was notably heavier than usual chests.
"What the hell do you keep in here? Lead bricks?"
"Close but no. Come on, Kye, lead the way."
"Don't want to drop this off somewhere?"
"Nope, I have presents for the girls inside. And a little paper that I want to show Trude, heheheh…"
"Ooooh, that one… I want to see that."
"By the way, Kye. This ring on my left hand," he put up his left hand up in before her. "What is it?"
Alissa smiled and replied, "That's a memento from the simulation, Toshiro."
"Pfff…" he snorted and tried to pull it off, but it wouldn't budge a millimeter. "Hey, what the…"
"It's bound to you, Toshiro. It's a very special ring, that you have to keep by your side. To answer another of your questions, yes, only you and some special people can see its true form. For the rest it's just a simple platinum ring with one groove going through it."
"I hope it won't be a bother…"
"No, it's adapting to your body, so you won't feel it on you, and it's breathable."
"Kay then… Let's go to the main building then."
They went out of the hangar and went inside the main building. The walls were painted teal, and from what Toshiro could see from the outside and on the diagram on the wall, the building had two layers, and ten floors, four on the first, and six on the second layer, with the second layer being smaller than the first one. On level one, there was the mess hall combined with the kitchen, to which they were going. Toshiro went in after Alissa.
Once he went inside, he looked around carefully. It was decorated with taste, with the two longer walls having paintings hanging on them. The left shorter wall had two enormous windows on it, and a fireplace between them. Above the fireplace, a large portrait of the current Kaiser found its honorable place. The right wall had the entrance to the kitchen and an at least three meter long kitchen counter. The middle of the room was occupied by a modest rug, with a long table placed on it, and surrounded by eight chairs, but with a lot of free space between them.
"Yo, Uncle!" Toshiro cheered as he saw the portrait, making everyone laugh. "I see there's a lot of space here, could fit more people then there are chairs.
"If there's need, we can get the extension and additional chairs from the storage, Herr Generalmajor," Heidi explained.
"Fast thinking, Heidemarie."
Surprisingly, the sandwiches were already finished and they were waiting for him, as Trude ran out of the kitchen with a whole platter of them.
"Come on, bro! I want to eat already!" Erica shouted.
"Shut up, Hartmann! Toshiro is a different league now!" Trude yelled at her friend.
"But Trudy, he's still Toshiro…" Erica mumbled.
"Yeah. Trudy… I'm still Toshiro, don't need to lash out on poor Erica."
"But she was a mess for the past month… Oh I want to cry…" Trude hid her face in her hands theatrically.
"There, there…" Erica patted Trude on the back.
"And now she's cheering me up…" Trude moaned.
Toshiro looked at Alissa, who immediately placed the chest on the floor. Toshiro approached it and lifted the lid.
"Hey, Trudy."
"Whaaaat…"
"I have something to cheer you up."
"Oh? What could cheer me up right now…?"
Toshiro took out the few beers he had in the chest with an audible clang.
"Krombacher, only the best for my good Trudy." He said triumphantly.
Trude's face lit up immediately, but she soon slumped down back on the table and mumbled, "But we're on duty…"
Toshiro furled his eyebrows and shouted, "Catch!"
He threw the first bottle at Trude, which she almost didn't catch. He threw the rest in rapid succession, making Trude do all sorts of acrobatic figures.
"Toshiro… What the hell?!" She shouted.
"At least get them in a cooler or something. It's winter in Neue Karlsland, but summer in Europe."
"Ah, that's where you're going at… Then pardon everyone, I'll be in the kitchen for a second." She said with a sly smile.
"Now, Minna… In the same spirit, I've got you something more… refined…" He said and threw a half-litre, green flat bottle at Minna.
She caught it with ease, and after reading the label, she said, "Ooooooh… Thank you… Thirty years old! Ain't that something…?"
"I got four more." Toshiro said with a sly smile, to which Minna could only muster a shocked expression.
"Oh, what about me, bro?!"
"Oh the good Erica… What do I have for Erica…? Hmmm… Ah, I know!"
Toshiro pulled out a small bag and threw it at Erica. She caught it midair and opened it.
"Weeeee! Sweeeeeets! Oh! Lindt chocolate! Thanks bro!" Erica cheered.
Toshiro looked at the curiously looking Heidemarie and he said, "Oh… Crap… I don't have anything for you, Heidemarie... Sorry…"
"Oh… No, please… Don't worry about me… We were not acquainted properly… I didn't even expect anything…"
"Well, for a second I thought you did…" He shrugged.
"She did though."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious…"
And then, something happened that could only be explained by a divine intervention. Erica put her hand in the bag, pulled out a bar of chocolate and gave it to Heidemarie.
"Here, Heidi. From Toshiro to you."
"Oh but… I don't know what to say… Um…"
"A thank you would be enough… You could of course give bro a smooch but…"
Heidemarie's cheeks were already redder than a fresh plucked and washed beat.
"T-T-Thank you… Herr Generalmajor…"
"Heheh…" Toshiro laughed dryly.
"So, I'm finished, let's eat," Trude said as she returned from the kitchen.
"Not quite, Trudy."
"Toshiro, why are you calling me Trudy all the time now? Did you hit yourself on the head or what?"
"I have my reasons…" Toshiro said and pulled out a folded piece of paper from the chest.
He approached Trude and gave it to her.
"What is it?"
"Read it carefully."
Trude carefully unfolded the piece of paper, and she turned is around a hundred and eighty degrees. Erica peeked over.
"A family tree?" she asked. "But… Why is Trudy and Chris here?"
"Use that noggin of yours to decipher it."
Trude lowered the paper slowly with her jaw dropped.
"Cat got your tongue, cousin Trudy?"
"But… How… Wha…"
"This is totally legit, Trudy," Toshiro said. "I got it from Uncle, and you won't argue with him, right?"
"Yeeeaah… I won't… But…"
"Want to know something else?" she was cut off quickly.
"Don't tell me we have some kind of step-relative we didn't know about…"
"No, no… But when I marry Yoshika that will mean…"
"Impossible! Yoshika would be my family!" Trude shouted with passion. "Toshiro, marry her now!"
Alissa quietly snickered at Trude's response. Only Toshiro noticed, though he elected not to hold back himself. "Bahahahaha, not so fast, cousin…"
Trude twitched and shuddered.
"Oooooh… Feels weird when you call me cousin…"
"Speaking of Yoshika, she should arrive in Pas-de-Calais soon." Minna said.
"Oh? You know that and I don't?!"
"We were told to monitor her path closely, since she's… well, important…" Minna answered slightly abash.
"I see… Well, let's eat, damn it!"
After breakfast, Heidemarie, who Toshiro heard humming a familiar tune, suddenly spoke up.
"Um, Herr Generalmajor…"
"What is it, Heidemarie?"
"We don't have a room good enough for your standards so… I thought I would give you mine…"
"Seriously?" Toshiro asked intrigued.
"Y-Yes… Someone of your status should sleep in a good bed…"
"Heh… I understand your concerns, but no, I'll take whatever is left for me."
"But…"
"Don't argue with me. You're the commander of the NJG1's 4th Division, and you have to keep up some standards. I'm just a guest here."
"Ah… Okay…"
"But Heidi, I believe I saw a nice bed in the storeroom on the top floor…" Trude chimed in.
"Hmmm… Ah yes, that's my spare… I bought one just in case… Then, Herr Generalmajor, will you accept this one?" Heidemarie asked with hope in her voice.
"Sure, why not."
"Okay! I'll move the bed for you, cousin!" Trude cheered and ran out.
"My, she's energetic today..." Heidemarie said.
"Trude is a real family person," Minna said. "Now that she has a new cousin, she'll probably be running laps around Toshiro."
Toshiro yawned slightly.
"Ah, it seems that bed will be needed soon…" Heidemarie said shyly.
"Well, it's what, two in the morning in Neue Karlsland now… If it's not a problem, I would like to go to sleep for now…"
"I see no problems… You, Minna?"
"Not at all. Come on, Toshiro, let's show you your room."
"Leeeeuuutnaaant…" Toshiro said with a melodic voice.
"Yeah, yeah…" Alissa mumbled and took Toshiro's chest on her shoulder.
They went to the third floor and Heidemarie started explaining.
"The first room is mine, and the second one is Minna's. The third room is Erica's and Trude's. The fourth is Alissa's. The three next rooms are my squad's, so yours will be the eighth, Herr Generalmajor."
"But there are still six rooms left, impressive."
"This fortress was built for a bigger unit." Heidemarie said.
"Well okay, let's go to that room number eight." Toshiro said, stopping short as he saw that a double bunk metal bed flew out of the room with a clamor.
"Ah, I see Trudy is in business…" Erica said with a wry smile.
They all approached the room and saw Trude running around the room frantically. It was a small room, fit for just two people, with a closet and a nightstand. As he noticed, just as all the rooms on this floor, the door had a porthole with frosted glass to let the light from the corridor in.
"Here ya go, Toshiro!" Trude cheered.
"Thanks, Trude. Now, shoo, I want to sleep."
"Awwwww… But you just returned…" She said disappointed.
"Timezones, Trude…"
"Yeah… Good… day, heh…"
"Yeah…"
Alissa entered the room and placed the chest up against the wall.
"Thanks. Maybe we'll talk later."
"Meh…" Alissa shrugged and went out of the room.
"Hey, Minna, get your booze!" Toshiro shouted after opening the chest.
"Ah, you've mentioned you have more…" Minna said.
Toshiro pulled out the remaining four bottles and gave them to Minna.
"Just don't drink them all up at one time, heheh…"
"Maybe I'll take a swig with you in the evening." Minna winked and closed the door as she went out.
Hmmm… Well, time to sleep…
Toshiro flopped on the bed and in a few minutes, he drifted off.
"Hey… Hey…" a voice woke him up; or rather, it was the poking.
Toshiro opened his eyes and saw the blonde Leutnant.
"It's you… What's up, Kye?"
"You should get up. Everyone is waiting with dinner for you."
"Dawwww… Okay, I'll get up… And… By the way… How much do you know of the song Die Wacht am Rhein?"
"All of it, duh."
"Good." Toshiro said.
"What, you want to have a sing along during dinner?"
"Why not? I like singing patriotic songs."
"You've heard Heidemarie humming, right?"
"Yup, heh…"
"You really do have to get on the good side of each girl you meet, huh?"
"Yup."
"You're hopeless."
"Friendship beyond awkwardness, Kye…" he shrugged.
"Just like Doran."
"Whatever… Good that you didn't bring him too."
"I heard that, Bucko."
"Heh… Toshiro TV is broadcasting with full strength again, I gather from this?"
"4K and Dolby 7.1, Bro!"
"I don't know what you said, but you probably didn't insult me…"
They went to the dining room, where the girls were waiting for him already.
"Finally, you're here!" Erica shouted. "I was starving already!"
"Oh can it…" Toshiro sighed. "You know well that you could have started without me."
"Trudy wouldn't let me…" Erica pouted.
"Heheh… Before we begin… How much do all of you know of the song Die Wacht am Rhein?"
"I believe I know the first three and last one…" Trude said.
"All of them." Minna said.
"I think I know the last three…" Erica mumbled.
Toshiro looked at Heidemarie.
"Well… I know all of them…"
"And Alissa here also knows all…" Toshiro said. "Let's have a sing along then."
"Nooooooooow?" Erica moaned.
"No, stupid, after we've eaten."
"Ah, okay!"
They all ate, and Toshiro soon said, "Heidemarie, why don't you begin?"
"Um… Me? Buuuut…"
"Come on, Heidi, I know you can do it!" Erica motivated her.
"You think so? Okay then…"
Heidemarie took a deep breath and started singing.
Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall, (The cry resounds like thunder's peal,)
wie Schwertgeklirr und Wogenprall: (Like crashing waves and clang of steel:)
Zum Rhein, zum Rhein, zum karlsländer Rhein, (The Rhine, the Rhine, our Karlslander Rhine,)
wer will des Stromes Hüter sein? (Who will defend our stream, divine?)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Beautiful, Heidemarie! Now it's my turn!" Toshiro cheered.
Durch Hunderttausend zuckt es schnell, (They stand, a hundred thousand strong,)
und aller Augen blitzen hell; (Quick to avenge their country's wrong,)
der Karslander, bieder, fromm und stark, (With filial love their bosoms swell)
beschützt die heil'ge Landesmark. (They shall guard the sacred landmark well.)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Haha, nice singing as usual!" Trude cheered. "I guess it's my turn!"
Er blickt hinauf in Himmelsau'n, (He casts his eyes to heaven's blue,)
wo Heldenväter niederschau'n, (From where past heroes hold the view,)
und schwört mit stolzer Kampfeslust: (And swears pugnaciously the oath,)
Du Rhein bleibst karlsländisch wie meine Brust! (You Rhine and I, stay Karlslander, both.)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"My, my… Trude can sing, heehee… But let the pro amaze you!" Minna shouted.
Solang ein Tropfen Blut noch glüht, (While still remains one breath of life,)
noch eine Faust den Degen zieht, (While still one fist can draw a knife,)
und noch ein Arm die Büchse spannt, (One gun still fired with one hand,)
betritt kein Feind hier deinen Strand! (No foe will stand on this Rhine sand.)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Wah, that was something!" Erica cheered. "My turn!"
Und ob mein Herz im Tode bricht, (Should my heart not survive this stand,)
wirst du doch drum ein Welscher nicht. (You'll never fall in foreign hand,)
Reich, wie an Wasser deine Flut, (Much, as your waters without end,)
ist Karlsland ja an Heldenblut! (Have we our heroes' blood to spend.)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Oberleutnant, that was nice." Alissa said. "I guess it's my turn."
Der Schwur erschallt, die Woge rinnt (The oath resounds, on rolls the wave,)
die Fahnen flattern hoch im Wind: (The banners fly high, proud, and brave,)
Am Rhein, am Rhein, am karlsländischen Rhein (The Rhine, the Rhine, the Karlslander Rhine)
wir alle wollen Hüter sein. (We all shall stand to hold the line!)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Impressive voice…" Toshiro said. "Now, last stanza, everyone!"
So führe uns, du bist bewährt; (So lead us with your tried command,)
In Gottvertrau'n greif' zu dem Schwert! (With trust in God, take sword in hand,)
Hoch Friedrich! Nieder mit der Brut! (Hail Frederick! Down with all that brood!)
Und tilg' die Schmach mit Feindesblut! (Repay our shame with the foes blood!)
Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein, (dear fatherland, no fear be thine,)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein! (Firm and True stands the Watch, the Watch at the Rhine!)
"Whew…" Toshiro sighed. "Fun, wasn't it?"
"Yes… It was fun…" Heidemarie admitted with rosy cheeks.
"Encore!" Erica cheered.
"Please no…" Alissa mumbled.
"So, what do you guys do after dinner?"
"I'm usually doing paperwork, Trude does some exercises, Erica is Erica, Heidemarie takes a nap before her night patrol, and Alissa…"
"I usually prefer jogging, if it's possible."
"Well, you see how it is, Toshiro. Pick one," Minna said.
"What, so I can take a nap with Heidemarie?" Toshiro said with a cheeky smile.
"I… I wouldn't mind…" Heidemarie said.
"No, no, that's off limits." Minna said. "You're best choice would be paperwork, you have to get on how everything works around here."
"Then okay, paperwork it is. Sorry, rest of you." Toshiro shrugged.
He followed Minna to the third floor. In the room just near the stairwell, there was an office. A bit narrow, but it had the usual equipment of Minna's office's, namely a window, a desk before it, a few bookshelves and something new, a table with a map."
"This is the kingdom of Heidi and me." Minna said. "If you want, we could scour the storeroom for an additional desk or something."
"Nah, not now…" Toshiro said and took a chair. "Let's get on with the paperwork."
"Yes, let's."
They worked until it was dark, and stopped after Erica and the others came for them.
"So, how was it, cousin?" Trude asked.
"Just like the good old days in Romagna…" Toshiro said in a dreamy voice. "Heidemarie is still sleeping?" Toshiro asked.
"Yeah, she'll be sleeping for the next hour or so." Trude said.
"Good to know… How was jogging, Alissa?" Toshiro asked.
"Doable. The atmosphere around here is really nice, since all the forests around provide clean air."
"Good for you."
They ate supper and Toshiro asked an important question.
"Where's the bath here?"
"First floor, third door left from the entrance." Minna explained. "The army of Belgica didn't skimp any money, so the bath is as big as the one we had in Britannia."
"Then I'll be using it right now, if nobody has anything against it."
"Hey, why don't we all take a bath, like good old days?" Erica asked.
"Why not…" Trude said.
"If we have to…" Minna said.
"I'll pass. I've already gone in," Alissa said.
"Spoilsport…" Toshiro mumbled. "Okay, Alissa is dismissed, and we're going for a dip!"
After getting his bath supplies, Toshiro entered the room with the bath. After taking a shower, he immersed himself in the hot waters of the bath.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh… So good… Just like the old days indeed…
Erica soon ran into the bath and hugged herself against Toshiro's arm.
"Heehee, I can take a bath with my favorite bro!" she mused.
"Have any plans for tomorrow, sis?" he asked.
"No… What do you want to do?"
"You'll get to know tomorrow."
"Awkay…" Erica pouted and swam away.
Trude came in steadfast and entered the water.
"Cousin, I want a backrub." Trude said with a straight face.
"Erica can do it…" Toshiro muttered.
"Erica doesn't have your big and strong hands, come on!"
"Hurrrgh… Okay... Bend over."
"You'd wish! I'm your cousin now!" Trude yelled at him with a red face.
"Heheheh… Good that we only kissed that one time, huh?"
"Don't start that topic…" She mumbled. "Giving me that backrub or not?"
"Yeah… Come on, I won't bite…"
Trude backed up to him, and he started massaging her back.
"Ooooooh… Yes… I missed this… Minna or Erica can kiss your feet in this matter…"
"Well sorry for not having the hands the size of hams." Minna pouted all of a sudden.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean it so…" Trude apologized.
Minna entered the water and said, "I'll accept your apology only when Toshiro accepts to give me a foot rub."
"A footrub? Is that your new fetish or what?" Toshiro asked while still rubbing Trude's back.
"I just wanted to try it out…"
"Okay, get in line… While we're at it, Erica, want something rubbed?"
"Rub my breasts so they'll get bigger!" She said eagerly.
"What breasts?" Toshiro answered with a sly smile.
"Meanie!" Erica shouted and started poking Toshiro in the ribs.
"Hey, Hartmann! Don't interrupt Toshiro or I'll smack you!"
"Nobody likes me anymore…" Erica pouted and swam away into the corner.
"Okay, I think I had enough." Trude said. "Hop in, Minna."
"Ah, thanks."
"Hmm… How are we going to do this?" Toshiro said.
"Umm… Ah, that little step, come on, I'll sit on it."
"Good idea."
They positioned themselves accordingly and Toshiro started rubbing her right foot.
"Mmmmmhmmm… Amazing… This feels nice…" Minna said while groaning slightly.
"Minna, please… It doesn't suit a soldier of Karlsland to give off such erotic noises…" Trude said with red cheeks.
"Prude," Minna said in the same way as Trude's name was pronounced.
"Oh you! If you weren't my superior, I would drown you!"
"Heehee, but I am. Now, Toshiro, second foot please…"
"What did I do in my past life to deserve this…?"
"I'm guessing you were a perv." Erica said.
After the bathing ended, the girls went to their rooms. Toshiro also went to his room, trying to adjust to the time zone. But of course, what is a night without adventure?
For those of you wondering about the following – who the fuck are Kaylie, Alissa or Aya, where the fuck did Toshiro get the ring, and where the fuck was he transported from – there's one answer: read Doran Maya's Legendary Witches 3.
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