Chapter 6 – Into the Ashes They Burn

After a few hours, the world outside the truck went dark. The only thing Toshiro could see outside were the two cones of light produced by the headlights of the GMC truck the three of them were riding.

"Uwaaaaaah…" Yoshika yawned.

"What is it, Miyafuji? Tired?"

"Yes ma'am…" She responded with a groggy voice.

"I suppose you can turn in for the night… Good night, Miyafuji."

"Good night, Ms. Sakamoto…" She said and looked around with sleepy eyes. "Oh… But I don't know where to lie down…"

"Huddle up on the seat and put your head on my lap." Toshiro said while patting his lap.

"Oh, can I?" She asked while blushing slightly.

"Sure, be my guest."

She gave off a little smile, placed her hands on his lap, then her head on her hands.

"Good night, Toshiro…"

"Good night, Yoshika."

He felt as she gradually loosened up, until only her slowly moving chest was a sign that she was alive.

"Now, Toshiro, focus on navigating." Mio said silently with a light smile on her face.

"Yeah, sure… Take a left on the next intersection…"

An hour later, it was still pitch black. Toshiro saw that the next piece of road before him was more or less straight, so he put down the map for a while. He looked down on Yoshika sleeping soundly on his lap.

"Uhm… Toshiro…"

"Oh look, the prodigal snake returns… Where were you all this time?"

"Looking for answers, and good news and bad news."

"Let's hear the good news."

"You will be able to use Aganaimaru again."

"Nice. So the bad news is…"

"Well, you won't be able to do it soon… At least a month or so…"

"What happened?"

"Because you overpowered it, turning the Aganaimaru into Oblivion Lost, the physical appearance of the sword was destroyed."

"But I remember that…"

"Yes, just before you passed out, the sword was still whole. But since it has its own dimension, I cannot monitor it constantly."

"That would explain why you didn't have a hint… So what now? Do I have to read 'Blacksmithing: The Definitive Collection' and rebuild the sword or what?"

"The souls of the miko priestesses that formed Aganaimaru have to recover their spiritual energy after such a galactic scale surge of power. Then you will be able to call upon the sword once again."

"So for the next month it's back to good ol' conventional weaponry?"

"It seems so… "

"Ehhhh… Oh well, you can't have everything…"

"Heheh… Oh, you are navigating in the darkness? Need some help?"

"Well, yeah, my eyes hurt like a bitch already… Wait, why are you so friendly now?"

"Oh… Well… The answer lies on your lap…"

"Right… I see… By the way, can I relay the info to Mio?"

"I think you should."

"Okay, thanks."

Toshiro blinked and the world around him got more colorful and sharper, and the outside was lit almost as if it was daylight.

Now that's better…

"Hey, Mio…" Toshiro whispered. "Yuki finally gave word."

"And?"

"No swordplay for a month it seems…" He sighed.

"What's going on?"

"It seems Aganaimaru shattered after the battle with the Ziggurat. It will take a month or so to regenerate."

"Hmmm… Unfortunate… You would be a true juggernaut with those sword techniques… Oh well, you'll have to pardon that cannon and MG of yours."

"It seems so… Although I have an idea…"

"Oh do you?"

"You could always lend me your sword…"

"Are you for real?!" Mio shouted.

"Huuhhh… What's happening…?" Yoshika murmured with a groggy voice.

"Ssshh… Go to sleep, it's all right…" Toshiro said while stroking her head.

"Mkaaay…" She yawned and went back to sleep.

"I would punch you right now, but it would probably wake Yoshika up…"

"Sorry, sorry… But you know how absurd your request is?"

"Heh, April Fools." He said and stuck his tongue out.

"What… Oh right, today is April 1st already… Oh you…"

"I know that your sword is like your left and right hand now, Mio. I saw how you dodged the beams back then, and it was both reckless and stunning. I don't think I could pull something like that off without using time slowing… Was that a new Striker? Left turn."

"Yes, the Shiden-Kai. I requested it to be as agile as possible."

"So you've now assumed that offence is the best defense?"

"Hey, you paved the way for suicidal attacks, heheh…"

"I'm simply concerned, Mio…"

She sighed and gave in.

"I know… I know how you and the girls feel about me… I know my own limits, and that I'm mortal… But I also know that things have to be done." She paused a bit, and looked him deeply in the eyes. "Toshiro, knowing that, let's fuck."

Toshiro started choking silently hearing that.

"April Fools." She said and stuck her tongue out.

"You sometimes do resemble a human being, Mio…"

"Dick…"

"Heheheh… There's a boar with piglets ahead, slow down."

He felt as the truck slowed down, and indeed, a boar with piglets crossing the road soon came into the light of the headlights.

"Impressive, Toshiro."

"Courtesy of Yuki."

Mio waited for the animals to pass from one part of the forest to the other, and drove on.

A few hours later, the orange speck of the Sun appeared over the horizon.

"Okay, take a left and you will reach your destination."

"I wonder if there will be such a machine that will navigate people to a precise place."

"Who knows, Mio…? But it will probably be more annoying than me, heheh…"

They ended up in a wide road amongst trees. A gate with a guard booth was before them, and behind it, Toshiro saw a big and wide castle.

"Wake up Miyafuji."

Toshiro started tickling her slightly under her right armpit. She started squirming and giggling, and after Toshiro stopped, she opened her eyes and said, "Oh, morning, Toshiro."

"Morning, sunshine."

"And what about me, Miyafuji?"

"Good morning, Miss Sakamoto."

"That's better. Sit up straight, so the guard won't bitch on."

"Okay."

She stretched out her arms and sat up straight.

A girl in a green uniform, with fox ears and a foxtail, greyish hair and glasses, wielding a Ho-103 MG came out of the guard booth, and stood firmly before the gate, giving them a halt gesture.

Mio stopped the truck just before her. The witch approached the truck from the driver's side. She saluted and said "2nd Lieutenant Amaki Suwa, please state your business."

"Major Mio Sakamoto, we have supplies for your unit."

"I see. Please let me see your papers."

"Ugh… I don't have any… Forgot to take them from Fuso…"

"Neither do I…" Yoshika said silently.

"Oh, Yoshika Miyafuji? Hello there."

"Do we know each other?"

"You already forgot me? After I made such an entrance?"

"Oh… Oh! You delivered me that letter! I remember you now!"

"Haha, good. But who's that Colonel in the middle?"

Toshiro pulled out his papers, and passed them on to the guard. She nodded while reading them and gave them back.

"I suppose you can vouch for your underlings, Colonel?"

"Of course I can, Lieutenant."

"Then please, you can continue." She pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to Mio. It was a map of the base. "Please drive along this road, and then take a right, through the gate, and you will arrive in the hangar."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

Amaki opened the gate, and Mio drove into the base.

"Underlings for fucks sake…" Mio mumbled.

"Problem, Mio? You should have taken your papers, heheheh."

"Can it, Toshiro… She treated me like some Private!"

"I can issue you both temporary ID's when we get back, but you should phone over to Fuso to get the real deal."

"Whatever…" She mumbled.

Mio drove the truck as she was instructed; they arrived before a small hangar. A troop of Romagnan soldiers was waiting for them, and one of the soldiers gave directions to turn around and back up. Toshiro saw a light brown haired witch an IFN officer uniform amongst the soldiers.

When Mio stopped maneuvering, the soldiers started unloading the cargo.

"Come on you two, let's meet Junko."

She got out, and Toshiro went behind her, while Yoshika used the other door to get out.

The witch approached them and saluted. The three have saluted back, and she started speaking.

"Captain Junko Takei. I didn't expect Mio to come with such… entourage, Colonel…"

"Toshiro Edelweiss." Toshiro introduced himself. "I actually don't know why I'm here, but Mio wanted me to come, so I'm here, heheh…"

"And who's that nice girl behind you, Colonel?"

"S-Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji. Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

"Oh my, what good manners." She turned to Mio. "Glad to see you again, Mio."

"Likewise, Junko. Long time no see."

"I have to thank you for the supplies you brought, those are a true lifesaver." Junko said.

"Um, excuse me; can I take a look around the hangar?" Yoshika interrupted.

"Sure, Miyafuji."

"Thank you!" She said and ran off inside the hangar.

"I remember your voice, Captain." Toshiro said suddenly. "The cold and lifeless voice back then… "Operation Trajanus… has failed…" you said back then if I remember correctly."

"So you've listened to the radio communication, Colonel?"

"Not quite… I had to listen to a recording, since I was in a coma since 3 days before the operation…"

"While we're at it…" Mio interrupted. "I've read the reports about Operation Trajanus. Is that all true, Junko?"

"Yes… We thought we could communicate with the Neuroi… I went as the emissary so to speak, and a humanoid Neuroi flew to greet me. Then, the Neuroi was suddenly annihilated by a beam from the sky. A moment later, the nearby hive also was zapped, and the Super Hive appeared… Then I spoke those words… My unit barely survived the onslaught, because the Neuroi swarmed us in hundreds, and there were some that we've never seen before… They came back more ferocious than ever… It was the darkest day of our unit…" Takei made a pause and sighed. "That being said, why don't you eat breakfast with us?"

"I could eat something gladly, Junko. But I wonder if my supervisor agrees…" Mio said with sarcasm seeping through her teeth.

"Oh don't be so grumpy about that girl on guard duty, Mio… She just asked you for your papers, and it was your and yours alone fault you don't have them."

"Humpf…" She pouted.

"Ah well, Amaki can be a little strict when it's her turn to guard the gate… So, Colonel, what about that breakfast?"

"Call me Toshiro, and I'll gladly come." He said with a smile.

"Okay then, Toshiro, let's go."

"Yoooooshika, come on! We're going for breakfast!" Toshiro shouted.

"Cooomiing!" She shouted back and in a few seconds appeared before them. "What's for breakfast?" She asked.

"I have no idea what the Fire Twins will cook up today…"

Fire… Twins… Rings a bell…

They followed Junko inside of the castle. It was in a state far better than theirs in Pescara, comparable to the Britannian base. They were lead into a big dining room, where a handful of girls were sitting at the table, and two girls were bustling around in the kitchen, turned around to them with their backs. A radio was playing some slow music. The eyes of the present wandered in their direction. Most of the girls had some bandages on them, some even had casts.

The girls in the kitchen have something familiar in them…

"Everyone, these people brought us some vital supplies. As gratitude, I invited them for breakfast. Please welcome them warmly."

"Yes ma'am." The witches responded.

"Col… I mean Toshiro; do you want me to introduce the girls to you?"

"Of course, Junko, I would be glad to know the names of the people that fought the new Neuroi threat so bravely."

"Hmmm… You sure know your way around words…" Junko pointed out a witch in a tan uniform with a blue shirt under it, honest blue eyes and a storm of chestnut hair. "That's 2nd Lieutenant Patricia Shade from Britannia."

"Pleased to meet you, Colonel."

Next was a witch dark brown hair, fearsome yellow eyes, a dark dirty-blue uniform and a short light blue dress under it.

"1st Lieutenant Angela Salas Larrazabal from Hispania."

"Hello." She said coldly.

The next one pointed out was a witch with a dark brown flight jacket, black hair, blue eyes, a tan shirt, green tie and a rather loose attitude at first glance.

"Captain Dominica S. Gentile from Liberion."

"Yo." She said with an indifferent voice.

Next in line was a short girl with dark, short cut hair, dark eyes, a green Fuso army uniform and a small smile on her face.

"2nd Lieutenant Nishiki Nakajima from Fuso."

"Good morning." She said politely.

Next one up was a girls with a cheeky smile, long light brown locks, a dark uniform with a red shirt peeking from under it.

"1st Lieutenant Fernandia Malvezzi from Romagna."

"Hello, Colonel."

Another girl dressed in the same outfit, but with light blonde hair was up next.

"Technical Sergeant Martina Crespi, also from Romagna."

A third witch in the same uniform, but with black hair was sitting beside the two.

"2nd Lieutenant Luciana Mazzei, also Romagna. On a sidenote, the three I mentioned are in a clique called Pantaloni Rossi."

"Panta what?"

"The Red Pants. The names comes from the fact that they wear red panties, which you can't see now, because they are sitting..." She answered with a small blush.

"Fair enough… And who's that shy, bob cut blonde girl, presuming from Liberion?"

"Oh, that's Captain Jane T. Godfrey, and indeed she's from Liberion."

"H-h-hello!"

"Nice team you've got here, Junko. The Neuroi must have been reaaaaaaaaally aggressive to defeat you. And the two in the kitchen?"

"Oh, those are our Fire Twins, Staff Sergeants Anne-Marie Moore and Karen-Ophelia Moore."

"Say what?!" Toshiro almost shouted and focused his eyes on the two in the kitchen.

"Yuki, is that really them?"

"Yup, that's their aura, and they look somewhat like back then…"

"But they changed a lot! They have bob cuts instead of long hair, and… oh gods, Red Pants uniforms, hah!"

"Hey, Toshiro, today is the first of April, right?"

"Yeah, and?"

"It's their birthday."

"No way! Oh right! I entered a birthdate for one of them in a form myself! Crap, I have no presents…"

"So the two managed to get here, huh? Haha!" Mio stated.

"Toshiro, are those the two orphans from back then?" Yoshika asked.

"Yup. That's them. Wait a second, I'll go greet them in my way." Toshiro said.

He went through the room, being observed curiously by everyone. When he approached the kitchen counter he said, "Hey, when can I get some grub? I'm starving!"

The girls got startled a bit, but turned around quickly. They looked at Toshiro, and covered their mouth is the same moment.

"Hi girls." Toshiro said softly.

Not waiting for an invitation, the two jumped over the counter and pinned down Toshiro to the floor.

"Mister Toshirooooo! You came to visit us!" One of them cheered.

"Oh, and you are a Colonel now!" The second one shouted.

"And you have such nice hair!" The first one cheered again.

"But… We thought you were…"

"What's the commotion?" A sudden firm voice filled the room.

The girls immediately stood in attention, and Toshiro twisted his head while still on the floor. He saw a witch with long, dark brown hair, green eyes, and rather frivolously worn Red Pants uniform.

"N-Nothing, Major Doglio!" One of the twins shouted.

"Just an old friend!" The second one added.

Toshiro started getting up, and just as he did it, the witch was before him.

"Major Federica Nicoletta Doglio from Romagna, I'm the Commander of this establishment."

"Colonel Toshiro Edelweiss, Grand Supervisor of the 501st JFW."

A murmur passed around the gathered witches.

"Hoho… Such a person visiting our unit? What's the occasion?"

"We brought some supplies, that's all and…"

The music in the radio was interrupted, and changed to a news program.

"This is BBC London, and you are now listening to the news.

Breaking news from Neue Karlsland. The Emperor, Frederick IV has announced that his deceased nephew, Toshiro Akayama, is in fact amongst the living, after he mysteriously disappeared in October 1944. The Emperor did not release any information about the four months of absence of his nephew, but he did however state, that he is now serving in the Karlslander Wehrmacht at the rank of Colonel as Toshiro Edelweiss, and was given the title of 'The Hero of Karlsland'. He is currently said to be the Grand Supervisor of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing stationed in Pescara, Romagna, after being the Supervisor of the 31st Joint Fighter Squadron, where he managed to vanquish the biggest yet witnessed land Neuroi at Halfaya Pass. Toshiro Edelweiss, the only known wizard in military service, supposedly changed his surname to honor his father, the late Lucas Edelweiss, a scientist who helped Ichiro Miyafuji develop new generation Strikers, and who perished in the same accident as he did.

This was BBC London, and you were listening to the news."

Music was now playing on the radio, but the room itself was almost submerged in silence.

"So anyway…" Toshiro broke the silence. "The girls have their birthday today so…" Toshiro quickly turned around to the twins. "Happy birthday you two."

"Oh, thanks… Your Grace?"

"Cut the crap, I have a bastard lineage…"

"Thanks anyway…" The second twin said.

"I don't have any presents with me, because I didn't think I would bump into you two here…"

"Don't worry, Mister Toshiro, your wishes are just about enough."

"Girls, I think something is burning…" Junko said from behind Toshiro.

"Waaah!" They both shouted and ran away to the kitchen.

Toshiro turned around, and saw the girls were still looking at him silently. He sighed and started talking.

"I see that you have a problem now, right?"

He received some nods.

"Just call me Toshiro, and don't treat me like I'm gods know who. Nine months ago I was a simple mechanic in the IFN, working for minimum wage, and now I'm up to my ears in some propaganda-political-whatever shit. If you prick me, I bleed. If you hit me, I hit you back so hard you'll die of starvation mid-flight, heheh… So, can I eat some goddamn breakfast with you guys?"

The girls looked amongst each other, and then focused on their Commander. She gave off a slight nod.

"YEAH!" The girls all shouted.

Toshiro was seated between Yoshika and Mio, who were between Junko and Federica. The Fire Twins were running around and giving out food.

Before they all started eating, Happy Birthday was sung for the twins, making their faces red from embarrassment.

"By the way, what's with all the fancy food, especially the hard boiled eggs?" Toshiro asked sometime during the meal.

"It's Easter, Toshiro." Junko answered.

"Really? Damn, I totally forgot… Wonder if the girls at the base are celebrating…"

"We celebrated Easter each year. Even Sanya joined in, although Orthodox Easter is two weeks apart." Mio said.

"Then I don't have to worry…."

After the meal, Toshiro asked Junko "Why Fire Twins?"

"You know of their magic, right? They told me about how the 501st has hosted them…"

"Yeah, pyrokinesis, but they never showed it to me. I can't blame them though…"

"It would be better if you'd see it by yourself… Hey, Fire Twins! Can you give your old friend a demonstration?"

"Sure!" They both cheered.

"Then off you go, but to do it in the middle of the runway."

"Okay!"

"Oh, oh, can I come too?" Yoshika asked.

"I don't see anyone holding you up… Come on."

Doglio's middle name is non-canon, just an FYI.

And if you want to praise/rant about my story, please leave a signed review, so we can continue via PM's. Seriously, I don't bite. Unless provoked :]