Happy New Year everyone! May all you, who are writers, have successful stories in the upcoming year. And you, dear readers, be more considerate of us, or try it yourselves! ;)

Chapter 25 – Requiem

"Hey, mom?" Toshiro asked his mother, sitting on the ground under the familiar sakura tree.

"What is it, Toshiro?"

"You think I should be nicer towards Kye?"

"Why would you have to be?"

"Dunno… I'm so snarky and cynical when we talk… You think that means something?"

"That only means that you're a hundred and ten percent man, heehee… I would probably do the same in your place."

"You would?"

"Yes. You can't just let her dominate you just because she's infinitely more powerful, right?"

Toshiro looked suspiciously at his mother.

"But seriously, maybe try to be a little nicer… I know that you're heart is aching for Yoshika, but you don't have to lash out on that blonde, right? And she didn't do anything to you as such?"

"I suppose… I'll at least try to be nicer."

"Ah, Toshiro, wedding invitations!"

"Laaaater… Maybe when Yoshika's reachable, I'll give her your propositions…"

"Oh okay…"

Toshiro opened his eyes.

"So, Yukilein, what's the time?"

"Don't you call me that, T-twerp."

"Fussy McFuss… Can I have the time already?"

"Five AM."

"Whoa. This calls for jogging!"

"Oh you'd better, or you'll rust over."

"Nothing like motivation from the dead morning… Yeah, if only Yoshika was here, I could call this home… I wonder if Kye is waiting behind my door just to join me on a morning jog…"

"Guess…"

"Urrrggghhh…"

Toshiro removed his underwear and just like that, he waltzed out of his room, but he was surprised that instead of Alissa he saw somebody familiar, popping a leather belt.

"Well hello there, Toshiro," Elizabeth said. "Wanted to jump on Kye? Shame…"

"You won't dare to even touch me wrong in my world," Toshiro said confidently.

"Even if that's the case, I would still smack your ass," she smirked and disappeared.

"Sheesh… Kye, what the fuck was that?" he asked out loud.

"Fun?" she replied with a question of her own as she appeared before him. "Go and get dressed, we're not in the Garden of Eden."

"Harassing me in my own universe, for sucks sake…" he muttered.

Toshiro returned to his room and after a minute, he returned dressed properly.

"Better," Alissa said. "Let's go running."

They ran out of the main building and started doing laps on the enormous runway.

"How I missed jogging…"

"You could have just roughed it and jogged in Neue Karlsland."

"Uhuh… Wonder how the people would react to me running covered in flames… Naked and in flames… Hmm…"

"There you go with your perverted delusions."

"Yeah, that would probably backfire on me harder than that cannon yesterday… I have a reputation to upkeep… And it's not like I'm an exhibitionist, right?"

"Why did I come here…?" Alissa sighed.

"Hey, you've come here, accept the fine print. I had to deal with the peculiarities of you and your universe with a stern face."

"I really should have taken that Generalleutnant rank… or higher."

"Good luck disciplining me in private, hah!"

She raised her eyebrow at him. "Do you want me to trample over your manhood?"

Toshiro sighed.

"Besides, fuck private time. I would make you work like a True Soldier of Karlsland in public!"

"Oh don't start that notion… I've had enough of Helma and now Trude has turned totally docile towards me, so spare me that… Now that I'm a Generalmajor, I can't help not to give a fuck about anything."

"Oh you do… You do…"

"Kye… Don't tread on those grounds, or I swear to all the gods, that I will smack you…"

"I'm just stating the obvious, Toshiro. You hide it, but your whole existence is crying after Yoshika."

"Kye…"

"Okay, okay… I'll back down because I'm the smarter one."

"Pffff… That argument is as smart as "Treat me with respect because I'm your mother.""

"Now you've intrigued me, Toshiro. Why shouldn't a mother or father inherently earn your respect?"

"Because respect has to be earned. My mother has my uttermost respect for bringing me up herself, despite all the hardships she had to endure. The fact that she sacrificed herself only solidified it. My father has my respect, because he died in the line of duty, trying to improve the chances of humanity against the Neuroi. If, on the other hand, my father was a gambling alcoholic, I would loathe him. If he would beat mom, I would loathe him. If mom was beating me, I would loathe her. It's as simple as that."

"I see. A bit pragmatic, but correct."

"Are we jogging or engaging in a philosophical dispute? Come on…"

"Afraid of using that brain of yours?"

"I only have one, no sense in tarnishing it too early, heheh…"

"If I was so careless like you…"

"… you would have a better life, heheh."

"That's not what I had in mind, but whatever," Alissa sighed and they continued.

After the almost two-hour long jog, they took a shower and went to the dining hall. Erica was observing them with a snide smile the moment they entered.

"Oh look… Toshiro, maybe I should report to Yoshika of your little infidelity, huh?"

"Erica… You're forgetting one tiny little detail…"

"And that would be?"

"Before anything would occur, I would be lying on the floor in spasms of pain…"

"Aaaaaaah… Yuki would give you hell, right?"

"Pretty much."

"I'm forgetting about that devilish snake…" Erica muttered.

"Hello, Toshiro," Heidemarie said.

"Hi, Heidi. Anything to report?"

"Nothing unusual. You've slept a just sleep, heehee…"

"My, my… Toshiro already turned you over?" Minna asked.

"You could say so…" Heidemarie blushed.

"Heh, good. No reason to be awkward around him. Toshiro, guess what you're transportation method will be."

"I'm all ears."

"My trusty bike."

Toshiro looked at Minna as if she said that he's going to walk there on his knees.

"Really? A bike…"

"Hey, Sint-Truiden is like only two and a half kilometers from here, no need for you to take a car if you're just sightseeing, right?"

"I suppose so… I bet we're low on gas, right?"

"Actually, we don't even have a car, heheh…"

"We don't have a car? Was für ein saftladen (What a dump)…"

"Well, we have one, only it's defunct…"

"For crying out loud… Okay, I'll repair it, but after the trip, okay? Trude, I'm starving!"

"A big fat wurst, coming especially for you!"

"He… Heheh… Maybe Alissa would also like a big fat wurst?"

"Gahahahahaha!" Trude laughed out loud.

The only thing Alissa did was hitting her face with an open palm in a sign of disdain.

After breakfast, Toshiro took his wallet from his room, and Minna and Trude led him to the first hangar. He could see Strikers from various countries fastened in their Launch Units. He also saw an Opel Blitz LKW in mint condition.

"So these are the Strikers of the NJG1 4th Division?"

"Yes," Minna answered. "And this is the truck in question."

"You know what… I'll check just one thing… Find me a clean cloth somebody?"

"Jawohl!" Trude yelled and started running around the hangar.

"Heheh… Trudy is in full couscon mode…" Erica sighed.

"Couscon? What kind of perversion is that?"

"Basically she loves you. As a cousin of course."

"Ah. The same way she loves Chris?"

"Yeah."

"What have I brought upon myself…"

"Heehee…"

"Here, Toshiro!" Trude cheered as she gave him a rather clean rag.

"Thanks, cousin dearest."

"Heehee…" Trude almost melted in glee.

"Wait a second, did you just giggle?!" Erica shouted.

"Yeah, why are you asking?"

Erica only crossed herself in response with closed eyes and her head bowed slightly.

"What was that supposed to mean, Hartmann?!"

Ignoring the two, Toshiro placed the rag under the cabin of the Blitz and squirmed below. He found what he was looking for, an enormous fuel tanks embedded into the floor under the seats, just above the driveshaft. Toshiro just tapped the tank with the tip of his finger, hearing an empty noise.

He emerged from under the car with a disgruntled face.

"What is it?" Minna asked. "Something serious?"

"Who declared the car to be broken?"

"Me," Erica admitted.

"Erica, my dearest ersatz sister… Do you know what makes a car engine go vroom?"

"Ummm… The accelerator?"

"Petrol you dumbass! The tank is emptier than Eila's skull when she sees Sanya!"

Dead silence befell the gathered. Trude instantaneously slapped Erica on the back of her head, which she accepted without protests.

"I'll get me some jerry cans, I'll buy some gas in town… I hope these guys around here kindly accept the pound?"

"Yes, sure," Minna said. "Speaking of which… You probably got a raise, right?"

"Indeed."

"You have it good… Erica, jerry cans, now."

"Okaaaay…" the blonde haired Karlslander moaned.

"So, where's that bike of yours, Minna?"

"Ah, I hid it on the trunk of the Blitz. I'll…"

"No, I'll get it…" Toshiro said.

He jumped to the back of the truck and pulled the bike off it.

"Yeah, same bike as back then… And it's in pristine condition."

"I take pride in my bike," Minna said proudly.

"Here, Toshiro…" Erica brought him two jerry cans and a leather belt.

"Oh, I should spank you now?"

"No, stupid! It's to tie the cans together!" she protested.

"Heheheh…"

Toshiro took the two cans and tied them in a way that they would jam themselves against the trunk of the bike.

"So, it seems I'm ready… I have my wallet… Where do I get out of this base?"

"Take a left at the end of the runway. There's a visible dirt road, leading you straight to the city."

"Thanks for the directions, I'll be going."

"Have a safe trip!" Trude cheered.

"Heheh, I'll try not to start a war…"

Toshiro took the bike between his legs and he went off.

Riding through the dirt road, he only saw pines. And more pines. But after some time, he finally saw a small city.

No wonder I didn't know there's a city…

The sign on the right side of the road confirmed that he was indeed heading for Sint-Truiden. He entered the town from the south. Toshiro pedaled along the serene streets of the small town, receiving some friendly nods of the people walking around on this Saturday morning. A faint familiar smell wafted towards his nose, and Toshiro tracked down the source.

He found a kiosk with the sign Friterie Guillaume and so he stopped at it, leaning the bike over the kiosk. A middle-aged man with dark hair, not particularly paying attention, asked him, "What can I help you with?"

"Um… Do you by chance have fries here?"

"Well, duh, this is a damn friterie…" the man said and looked up. "Whoa fuck! A General! Is Guillaume in trouble?"

"Assuming you're Guillaume, you can only get out of it by serving me the best fries you have."

"Of course sir! Coming right away sir!"

"Do you have anything else besides fries? I think I smell cinnamon faintly…"

"Ah, I'm the best stroopwafel maker in town!"

"Stroopwafel? Wuzzat?"

"You don't know what a stroopwafel is? Where did you live the past give or take twenty years?"

"Seventeen of them I lived in Fuso…"

"Well, that explains a lot… You'll see, General. I'll give you one on the house."

"If I like it, I'll pay for it. Have some Cola?"

"Of course!"

"Then fries, Cola and a stroopwafel. Oh, and can my fries have some ketchup?"

"Of course, coming right away!"

Toshiro leaned back on the kiosk and waited. He didn't even make himself comfortable, and the man already gave him something. It was a round waffle with a grill pattern, looking crispy from the heat applied to it. Toshiro looked closer and saw that the waffle was indeed two waffles, and some filling between them.

"So this is a stroopwafel… Well, let's see…"

Toshiro took the treat and gave a nibble.

"Good!"

"Hahaha! Nobody can resist Guillaume's stroopwafels! And here are the fries!"

"Fast!"

"Fries are traditional to Belgica, we have to know how to make them quick, hahaha! Okay, now pay up, General, and I'll give you the Cola."

"How much?"

"I hope you don't have Karls Marken..."

"Britannian pounds."

"Ah, that will be six pence then."

Toshiro dug out a six-pence coin and gave it to Guillaume. He reached under the counter and pulled out a frosty bottle of Cola.

"Takeout or will you eat while leaning back on the kiosk?"

"Second option."

"Then I'll keep the Cola cool."

"Thanks."

Toshiro ate his fries while dipping them in the ketchup.

"Say… General… Aren't you…"

"Aren't I who?"

"You look like that guy from the newspaper… Edelwiess or something…"

"It's Edelweiss," he smiled.

"Ah, so it is you! What's a big shot like you doing here, all alone, on a rickety bike with jerry cans attached to it?"

"I won't just change my habits just because I got promoted, right?"

"I suppose a man has to stand up to his principles… So, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to procure some gas for a truck, we're flat out."

"There's a Shell station a few hundred meters away…"

Guillaume proceeded to explain how to get there.

"Ah, thanks for the info. Well, the fries were good, now fork that Cola over."

"Yeah…"

Toshiro caught the bottle that was thrown at him and drank the content in one go. He gave back the bottle and said, "Time to go."

"Be sure to buy some fruit in the marketplace. Sint-Truiden is known for its fruit."

"If I bump into it, I'll surely do it."

"Oh you will…"

Toshiro took the bike and rode off towards the gas station. He saw the characteristic black and white clam shell from a proverbial mile. When he drove into the station, an employee greeted him.

"Ah, a General? What can I help you with?"

"I need these two jerry cans filled."

"Hmmm… That would be about the amount that I can fill up for the military…"

"The amounts of gas you can sell is controlled?"

"Yes sir. We are a backwater, so we rarely get gas deliveries, and to add insult to injury, the government placed strict regulations on how much gas can be sold. But don't worry, General, we have enough to fill you up."

"I would be glad."

Toshiro undid the belt holding the two cans together and gave them to the employee. He went with both of them to the petrol pump and slowly, swing after swing he filled the two containers. Then, with a bit of effort, he approached Toshiro with the now filled jerry cans and told him the amount he has to pay. Toshiro paid without a word and parted with the guy.

On the way back, Toshiro saw the marketplace. He decided to walk through the stalls while holding the bike by his side. He picked a random stand and approached it.

"I heard the fruits in Sint-Truiden are the best."

"Indeed," a middle-aged woman answered. "What can I help you with?"

"Hmmm… I would like a few pears, apples and some of those sweet cherries but… I don't have a way to carry them…"

"I can sell you these cotton bags… They have ears, so you can hang them on the handlebar."

"Okay, I can do that."

The woman gave him what he requested and distributed the fruit in such a way that it wouldn't throw him off balance. He paid and carried on back to the base.

After pedaling on half a kilometer into the forest, he leaned the bike against the tree and decided to take a nap.

He felt as he was poked in the chest. He opened his eyes, and saw a pair of silver peepers, staring at him.

"And what are you doing here?"

"The girls told me to retrieve you, dingus."

"Huuurrrrrrrrmmmm…" Toshiro stretched himself. "What time is it?"

"Half past twelve."

"Woah… No wonder they were worried…" Toshiro said and stood up quickly. "And… Why are you carrying your sword on your back?"

"A girl has to protect herself, of course."

"As if looking at the Neuroi wouldn't make them asplode… Compared to your world Neuroi, these aren't even pushovers. They're statists."

"But the others don't know that, do they? It's a good enough excuse. I feel weird not carrying it around."

"Yeah, yeah," Toshiro grabbed the bike by the handlebar and started walking alongside Alissa.

"It is true, though. But if I was reckless with my full mortal power here, the world lines could shift and you might end up with Class 10 Neuroi of your own."

"Yeaaaah… I forgot your existence here is a threat to space-time singularity itself…"

"And that's why you could cut me some slack already."

"Meh… I can give you an apple at most."

"Well, if you want…"

Toshiro rummaged through the bags and threw Alissa a big golden apple.

"Oh? A Golden Delicious?"

"That's what the lady selling these told me… Supposedly they're from Liberion. Very sweet."

"Hehe, I love these." Alissa giggled and took a bite. "Mhhhmmmm… Dewishush…"

"Hey, a True Soldier of Karlsland doesn't talk with his mouth full."

Alissa shrugged and continued eating the apple. Toshiro sighed. Suddenly, he felt that something was moving towards him. He diluted time and saw the apple core flying towards him. He cut it in half and assumed his previous position.

"Bastard…"

"Nope, royal blood, heheheh... But now you won't get another apple till we get to the base, because I see you're bored."

"Am I now? I just wanted to lighten up the mood a tad, Mr. Grumpowitz."

"Oh sure, throw apple cores at me for shits and giggles… Fuck it, time to move a bit faster…"

Toshiro jumped on the bike and rushed forward. It didn't take Alissa three seconds and she was already on his back.

"Oh no you don't! The bike might break!"

"Then pedal faster, hahaha!"

"Full speed ahead!" he roared.

Empowered by the Sacred Flame, Toshiro zipped forward, achieving a triple digit speed before stopping into the hangar.

"Haha! That was fun!"

"Yeah… I just hope Minna didn't see us, or she'll throw a fit… And get the fuck off my back already!"

"Ah, whoops!" she said and jumped onto the ground. "Can I help you with anything?"

"You can fuel the truck and see if it's working."

"Kay."

Alissa untied the jerry cans and proceeded with filling the tank of the truck, and Toshiro placed the bike on its back in the meantime.

"And?" Toshiro asked with the bags of fruit in his hands.

"Wait a second…" Alissa said and the engine started.

After a few seconds of perfect service, it shut down.

"It works," Alissa said.

"Then you deserve dinner, heheh…"

"Oh your Grace, you shouldn't be so graceful towards me…"

"You're giving me a headache…"

They went on to the dining hall, and the first one they met was Minna.

"I saw it," she said with a cold voice.

"Heheheh…" Both Toshiro and Alissa laughed dryly.

"I bring gifts!" Toshiro shouted after a few seconds.

Erica approached him with the speed of a racecar and looked into the bags.

"Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh… Fruit…"

"Fruit is good for you, Hartmann," Trude said in her usual tone.

"But it's nothing like sweets…"

"Take one of these apples, and believe, sinner!" Toshiro shouted like a preacher.

"Oh okay…" Erica said with an awkward expression.

She picked out one of the apples, wiped it off her uniform and took a bite. At an instant, her eyes opened wide.

"Goood! Toshiro, how can an apple be so sweet?!"

"A proper cultivar, good fertilizing et cetera… Pure nature, Erica."

"But the apples I usually ate were sour… Maybe it's because I got them from Trude…"

"Don't try to blame me for everything bad in this world! And come back here, dinner will be served!"

"Ugh…"

Toshiro approached the table and placed the bags on it.

"That's all for you gals. If you like it, then maybe one of us can drive to town and purchase these in bulk."

"Good idea, Toshiro. An apple a day and such," Minna said with a smile.

They all ate dinner and topped it off with some fruit for dessert. Suddenly, Heidi's animal features popped up and her antenna appeared. Everyone looked tensely at her.

"I've received a very weak communique… A Neuroi was spotted hovering over Köln."

"And what should we do about it?" Toshiro asked.

"We should destroy it obviously."

"I'm volunteering," Alissa said.

"Hey, if you're in, I'm in!" Toshiro shouted. "I think the two of us will be enough."

"Are you sure, Toshiro?" Minna asked.

"Yeah. If we don't return in an hour, you can send backup."

"Forty minutes."

"You know what… Half an hour should be enough. We both have jets after all."

"Okay then. You two have half an hour, and then we go in."

"Jawohl!" Alissa shouted and saluted.

"What she said." Toshiro smiled wryly and the two ran out of the building.

As they prepared their gear, Alissa asked, "So, what kind of overkill guns are you taking?"

"One Neuroi so… I'm on the fence here… Go only with a sword or take the MG with me…"

"Take the MG just in case, I'll do the same."

"If you say so…"

Toshiro took his ammo pack and the MG 151, while Alissa took the robust looking MG FF with the top-mounted drum.

"Don't suppose you'll carry the ammo for me?"

"Carry your own damn ammo!"

"Was worth a try," Alissa sighed and started strapping drums to the sling of her sword.

In the meantime, Toshiro jumped into his Striker and started warming up the engine.

"Hey, hey! Not so fast you sneaky bastard! We're doing this fair and square!"

"Did I sign up for a competition? I just wanted to warm up the engines, sheesh…"

"I know that you want to rush into battle, guns blazing and poof, over. Give me a bit of entertainment…"

"Okay, okay… We'll both travel together, at the same speed. Let's say… A thousand?"

"Fine by me."

"Then hop into your Striker already…"

"Damn clips…" she muttered as she strapped on the last drum and jumped into her Striker.

"We're making history now, you know? But sadly, you're not a part of this world…"

"You mean two jet Strikers flying at the same time? Yeah, from what I know, that hasn't happen yet… But you'll worry about the historical value of this flight later. Ready?"

"Ready. Off we go!" Toshiro roared and they jumped forward in the screech of the jets.

They needed only slightly over five minutes to reach the devastated city upon the Rhine. Many buildings were devastated, most damaged, only a few left intact. The only building that stood out was the Cologne Cathedral, over which Toshiro spotted something.

"Kye, is that the…"

"Shit, stop!"

Toshiro and Alissa stopped violently.

"What is it?"

"I shouldn't even be telling you this, but… that's not a normal Neuroi."

"You have my ear…"

"In some timelines, where the witches got too strong, the Neuroi sent Probes into the regions they thought were most dangerous for them to attack."

"Probes?"

"I'll give you an example. In one timeline, there was a very powerful unit, which by sheer luck, obtained advanced technology way ahead of the Second Neuroi War. They decimated the Neuroi, so the Neuroi sent a Probe. It was of course destroyed in a blink of an eye, because it's rather mediocre in terms of defense and firepower. But listen… The next day, the Neuroi sent thousands of middle sized Neuroi towards that unit. You can imagine the carnage that occurred…"

"So if we destroy it just poof like that, the Neuroi will know that something's way too fishy over here, and send a whole armada at Sint-Truiden for example?"

"Precisely, Toshiro."

"Then how are we to dispose of it?"

"Look at it closely."

Toshiro looked at the barrel shaped Neuroi hovering over the Cathedral.

"Do you see a light in front of it?"

"That red blinking thing?"

"Yes. The light symbolizes the threat level it has assessed, with red and blinking being the highest. If you were to kill it right now, you would have to destroy a legion of Neuroi tomorrow. Yellow is so-so, it's basically the guard force of a Hive. Green is good stuff, although it's still nothing to laugh at."

"So the Neuroi will undertake action nevertheless?"

"Yes. And now, tell me why the light is red and blinking now?"

"Hmmm… Maybe because it detected us two?"

"Most likely it's about you. The Neuroi know about you as a Chosen, so… Well, you know it anyway, right?"

"Yeah, they have a hard-on for me… So we do what? Fool it that we're the worst pair of magic users since ancient times but we have to destroy it anyway?"

"We have to. That thing is a high-yield bomb. It parked over the Cathedral, and if we don't destroy it in twenty four hours, it will detonate, razing the building to the ground."

"Shit… Well, let's go then…"

They went towards the Neuroi with an anemic speed. The Neuroi shot at them, but they shielded themselves instead of dodging, feigning that the beams had far greater impact on them than they really had. Then, they started shooting all over the place, sometimes even shooting the Cathedrals roof. The light on the Neuroi slowly turned yellow.

"This is taking too long, Kye. We only have five more minutes until the cavalry comes, and that damn thing only turned yellow five minutes ago."

"Damn! Three more minutes, Toshiro. If it doesn't turn green by then, split it in half with your sword while diluting time as much as you can."

"Okay!"

They started totally ignoring the Neuroi, just flying around it. After three minutes passed, Toshiro sighed.

"I guess I have to do it… That son of a bitch won't go green no matter what…"

"No choice. Go!"

Toshiro diluted the time flow and summoned Aganaimaru. He flew forward and cut the Neuroi in one go. It didn't explode. It just dissolved into a whirlwind of flakes as usual.

"…..ro..ou….ay…ea..e..."

"Kye, did you hear the same on the radio?"

"A few syllables mixed with static?"

"Yeah."

"Yup."

"Maybe the flakes are interrupting us as usual?"

"Possibly. You remember what happened in my world when a witch entered a hive, right?"

"It's the same!"

"Yeah, but we're missing a hive. I'm not saying it's related, but definitely keep it in mind."

They saw Erica and Trude incoming towards them. The two stopped before Toshiro and Alissa.

"You killed them all before us?" Trude asked. "Bother…"

"Heheh… Less work for us…" Erica said with a sly smile. "So, how many did you kill?"

"One," Toshiro said straightforwardly.

"You needed over half an hour to kill ONE Neuroi?!" Trude shouted in disbelief and placed her hand on Toshiro's forehead. "Hmmm… Temperature normal…"

"Hey, stop or I'll do a rectal exam on you, Trudy."

"Gaah! No way!"

"Kidding… Well anywho, the Neuroi was a bitch to track down, and it was rather small and agile…" Toshiro lied as if he had the lines written already.

Trude sighed and said, "Oh well, let's go back…"

They went into a line formation and went back to the base. Before Toshiro could go to the office to write a report, Toshiro asked Alissa on the side, "What do we do now?"

"The nature of the Probe is secret, Toshiro. We can expect a rather big Neuroi attack tomorrow, but we can go full out, so don't worry."

"Okay, got it. Now I'll go write that report…"

Toshiro went to the office. He saw Minna pondering behind the desk.

"Why the long face, Minna?"

"The Neuroi never got this far… They never crossed the Rhine…"

"Really?" he asked surprised.

"Yes… But maybe that's a single one..."

"It was a single one."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm… Maybe a marauder… Or a scout…"

"Can I write a report?"

"Yeah, yeah… I'll go ponder about it somewhere else…"

"You can stay if you want, I'm not throwing you out…"

"Oh, thanks…"

Toshiro took a chair from the side of the room and sat before Minna. She gave him the stationery and pen and he wrote a report. After stamping it with his seal, he gave it to Minna.

"My, my… Generalmajor Toshiro Lucas von Edelweiss…" she giggled.

"Heh… So, what have you pondered out?"

"We'll wait till tomorrow. Then we'll see."

"Um… Did Shizuka give a report?"

"No… But you can try to listen to it in the radio room on the top floor."

"Okay, will do."

Toshiro went out of the office and went to the top floor. After some searching he found the well-equipped radio room. He sat in a chair, put on the headphones and turned on the apparatus.

He listened to the radio the whole time until supper. He could only hear static. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Toshiro turned around and saw Alissa.

"Supper, Toshiro."

"Okay…"

"I'll jump in for you if you want."

"Can you do that?"

"Yeah, go eat. I'll go after you return."

"Thanks…"

Toshiro went to the dining hall and put on an indifferent face.

"Anything?" Minna asked.

"Only static."

"Sorry to hear… Maybe she forgot? Or they're radio is busted…"

"Maybe… Let's not talk about it…"

They ate in silence. Toshiro returned to the radio room.

"Anything, Kye?"

"Old McDonald had a farm… and on that farm he had some static," she said with a sigh, not even trying to sound funny.

"But there should be some chatter… I know this is the damn back end of civilization, but there should be at least some other interference… Change to a civilian station."

"Okay… Nothing… Nothing..." Alissa repeated a few more times after turning the knobs. "Nothing, Toshiro. The comms are dead."

"So the Neuroi are jamming us on purpose… Well, no way we're going to get Shizuka… I'm going to my room…"

Toshiro went to his room, but instead of lying on the bed, he walked around the room nervously. After he made the twentieth lap, Alissa came in.

"Toshiro, try to sleep."

"But Kye… There will be a Neuroi attack tomorrow, and I don't know where my fiancé is or what her status is…" Toshiro said and resumed his walking around.

"Hmm. You reminded me someone now. With that walking with your hands behind your back with your right arm twitching nervously."

"Oh?"

She did an ancient Romagnan salute and shouted, "Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Führer!"

"Heheheh… To think he's just a painter and photographer in this world…"

Suddenly, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bed. She made him sit beside her forcefully and hugged all of a sudden.

"Kye, what…"

"You always hug people when they're in need of consolation. Now it's time somebody hugged you. Toshiro, I promise you that Yoshika will be okay. Go to sleep, you need your energy for tomorrow."

"But…"

"Don't worry too much. She has a bodyguard. And she can always run away."

Toshiro suddenly hugged her back.

"Thank you, Kye…"

Alissa pushed him back and said, "It's not the time to try to apologize to me, Toshiro. There are key memories locked in your head, and I won't accept an apology until you gain a full scope of the situation. If anybody should apologize, it's me. I'm partially to blame myself for tampering with the third most powerful force in the universe."

"Hmm? Not the fourth?"

"Fourth?

"You, death, taxes, and something else, haha…"

"Heh… No, I don't consider myself a destructive force, those times are long gone. The force I'm talking about is the male ego, Toshiro. Zen… Zalen… All pride males, driven by their desires… All piss mad because I was the better one. But I actually like our little ongoing feud…"

"You do?"

"Yes, I do… It brings a fresh air in my life… Someone who actually doesn't give a cold fuck and just lets his gums flap whatever his brain delivers… Not bothering that I'm a Five-Star… Nor that I'm the Goddess of the Seven Stars."

"So you say I don't have to change?"

"You don't have to."

"Well, have a hug anyway." Toshiro said and squeezed her tighter.

"Mmm!" she mumbled with a warm smile.

"Um… Excuse me…"

The both turned towards the door immediately.

"Oh, hi, Heidi." Toshiro said nervously.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything…"

"In theory yes but… What brings you here at this hour?"

"I received a very distorted message. From what I could decipher and fill in the blanks, Sergeant Shizuka is in some village in the Lorraine province."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I don't know more, sorry…"

"And where is the Lorraine province?"

"The second one from the east in Gallia. It borders with Belgica, Karlsland and Luxembourg."

Toshiro brought up a map in his head and looked at the place she mentioned.

"Okay… I think I get it…"

"Then… Good night…"

"Hey, Heidi, come here."

"Humm?"

"Come here, you deserve a hug."

"M-M-Me? A h-h-h-hug from you?"

"Yeah. Alissa deserved one for cheering me up, and now you too."

"Oh… Umm…" Heidemarie slowly approached Toshiro and Alissa sitting on the bed.

"Come on… Right between us…"

Heidemarie slowly and jittery sat on the bed.

Both Alissa and Toshiro hugged her from both sides.

"Oh… Oh…. How nice… Wow… It feels so… Warm… Heehee…"

"It seems Heidi is melting, heheh…" Toshiro said.

"Too many feelings for one go…" Alissa said.

"Okay, Heidi. Get your act together and go on a patrol. Be thorough today."

"Yes sir. Okay. I understand." She said and quickly ran out of the room.

"And what are you looking at? Shoo! I have to get my beauty sleep!"

"Give a man a finger and he'll eat your whole arm…" Alissa sighed and went out, closing the door behind her.

Toshiro laid down on the bed in good spirits.

At least I know where they are… There may be a medium-scale Neuroi attack bound in tomorrow, but fuck this shit, I'll just go berserk with Kye and obliterate the fuckers… Sleepy time…

The next chapter marks the end of Toshiro X. Thus, I already announce it today - there will be a one-week break afterwards, so I can edit stuff for the next story. Sorry I have to pull such a move after an almost four month break but... ask Doran Maya about the details!

Speaking of which, the epilogue to CWB should come out sometime later today.

If you feel like it, please leave a review. However, I have only one request – if you want to leave something the size of a short story, please consider discussing your points over PM. If you want to leave an anonymous review, I respect your decision to do so, but if you sign in, I can actually discuss anything with you, dear reader. Thanks for reading, and I hope the next chapter will also garner your attention!