Chapter 19 - When in Rome…
They briefly stopped in Pescara to swap the money at the bank. Toshiro simply went past the manager, and straight to the teller. Having his money sack a bit more full than before, he returned to the truck, ready for the rest of the trip which encompassed an over 200 kilometer long drive along the picturesque landscapes of Romagna.
While they were on a rather straight piece of road without the need to make turns, Toshiro asked, "Hey, Shirley, what's in the duffle bag, if I may ask?"
"My personal emergency survival kit!" Shirley responded proudly.
"May I take a peek?"
"Sure!"
Toshiro opened the bag and he started pulling out items.
"A first aid box… Good thinking, Shirley."
"You never know when you'll cut yourself or something."
"Toilet paper…"
"You never know when nature calls."
"Two flasks with…" Toshiro uncorked the flasks and smelled the content. "Water?"
"You never know when you'll get thirsty."
"Military crackers…"
"You never know when you'll get hungry."
"A roll of money…"
"You never know when you'll have to buy something."
"Spare panties…" Toshiro asked embarrassed.
"You never know…" Shirley answered with a red face.
Toshiro then pulled out something that made his eyes sparkle. It was a thirty-centimeter long and nine-centimeter wide double-edged blade with a D-shaped grip. It looked old, but the blade was sharp as a razor.
"A Bowie knife?"
"I got it from my uncle… It was made in 1864 for the Confederate army… And you never know, heheh…"
"So it's more a keepsake than a serious weapon?"
"Yeah… But the next thing you'll pull out a more serious backup measure."
Toshiro pulled out a holster with a five mag ammo pouch tied to it with a piece of string. He pulled out the weapon from the holster, and he simply had to whistle. It was a Colt M1911A1 pistol with a wooden grips colored scarlet red. The metal parts of the weapon were finished with a gloss black paint, but that wasn't enough. All the marking on the slide were inexistent, replaced with a gold engraved Charlotte.
"Shirley…"
"Heheh… I got this from my old man… He wanted his little daughter to have a gun worthy her, so this is what I got…"
"Magnificent… It's probably worth more than the earrings I gave to Erica… Did you even shoot it?"
"Not even once. But I maintain it weekly, so when the time comes… I also have a portable gun cleaning kit in the bag, heheh…"
Toshiro pulled out the last item from the bag, and it was indeed a small box with gun conservation equipment.
"Well, you surely are prepared…"
Toshiro took the gun in his left hand, and the Bowie knife in his right. He placed his left hand over the right hand, so that it rested on the wrist. He looked down the sights and said, "Oh Shirley… It's good that we don't fight this war between people… Maybe we couldn't be friends that way…"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Amaterasu showed me visions from an Earth parallel to ours… Want to hear about it? I warn you though, it's rather depressing…"
"I'm all ears, Toshiro."
And Toshiro told her what he saw. A world in which this worlds Kaisers photograph became the Reichskanzler of Karlsland, called Germany in the other world. A world in which magic is only humbug, and nobody heard of Neuroi. On September 1st, 1939, the same day as the Second Neuroi War began, he invaded a country lying between the rivers Oder and Bug called Poland.
Seventeen days later, the counterpart of the Orussian Empire, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics led by Joseph Stalin, an outcome of a communist revolution, took the country from the east. The unfulfilled painter then conquered the rest of Europe and a part of Africa. The last bastions of freedom were Helvetia, called Switzerland there, and Britannia, called England.
Liberion, there America, didn't interfere, until on the 7th December 1941, the Empire of Japan, the Fuso Empire counterpart attacked the port in Pearl Harbor, crippling the American Navy. Now they had a war to fight.
The war raged on, and Hitler betrayed the leader of the USSR, attacking his country. After a victorious march, the Wehrmacht was finally stopped before Moscow. The counteroffensive began, ending the nine hundred day siege of Leningrad, known here as St. Petersburg, and leading to the most decisive urban battle in the war, the Battle of Stalingrad, the counterpart of Volgograd. Later, the biggest battle of tanks took place under Kursk. The Wehrmacht was now on the defensive. In the meanwhile, the Americans were fighting through the Pacific islands, plowing a way to Japan.
On 6th July, 1944, the Day of Days, the biggest beach landing began in Normandy, officially beginning America's war with Germany. After being defeated in Africa, Germany was under attack from three sides. The war in Europe raged on until May 9, 1945 when a single Russian soldier waved the flag of the USSR over the building of the German parliament, the Reichstag.
However, the conflict in the Pacific was still at full force. Russia prepared to invade Japan through the Kuril Islands, but America was faster than them. On August 6, they unleashed a weapon of ultimate destruction, a bomb utilizing the power of atoms. The town of Hiroshima was destroyed completely. But the Japanese military was still reluctant to sign a peace treaty after that show of force, so on the 9th, the town of Nagasaki shared a similar fate. After a power struggle in the military, on August 15, for the first time in history, the Japanese emperor Hirohito addressed his subjects in the Gyokuon-hōsō, the Jewel Voice Broadcast,reading out the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War. After commencing the preparations, on September 2nd, the foreign affairs minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on board of the USS Missouri before General Richard K. Sutherland.
Toshiro also told her about all the atrocities that the Japanese committed in China, the horror of the Holocaust in Europe, and the horrible murders done in the Soviet lagers.
He could see that Shirley's face was pale, and she gripped the wheel so hard that her knuckles were white.
"Shirley, I would like you to keep this knowledge to yourself…"
"Y-yes… O-o-okay…"
"Hmm… Should I hug you, Shirley?"
"Y-yes please…"
Toshiro scuttled to her and gave her a warm hug. He felt that Shirley is loosening up and calming down.
After a few minutes Shirley sighed and asked, "How can humans be so cruel to themselves…?"
"Human nature is tainted by violence, Shirley. We should consider the Neuroi as a mixed blessing, because if not for them, our world would be the same as that parallel world…"
"I guess you are right…" Shirley sighed again. "This road really goes on straight for some time, right?"
"Yeah, why are you asking?"
"I modded the engine of this truck in secret, and I wanted to test it…"
"You did? I didn't notice shit. When did you do it?"
"After you did that run with the spuds."
"I really didn't notice…"
"Heheh… So, can I?"
"Sure, go!"
"Aw yis!" She shouted with enthusiasm and the trucks diesel engine roared.
The truck shot forward like a racecar, pressing Toshiro in the couch.
"Holy shit, Shirley!"
"Ahahaha! It's alive!"
The road ahead went up a small hill, which the truck scaled quickly, and they jumped a few meters forward.
"Woooohoooo!" Shirley shouted. "Toshiro, what's the road ahead?"
Toshiro quickly checked the map.
"There's a U-shaped bend going along the mountain wall."
"How much space between the road parts?"
Toshiro quickly calculated the distance, and told it to Shirley.
"Enough! Full speed ahead!"
"Shirley, I don't like this one bit!"
"Trust me, this will be fun!"
They were nearing the crevice with a dangerous speed.
"Shirley…"
"Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge!"
They flew up on a bump just before the fall, and jumped over the crevice.
"WOOOOOO!" Shirley shouted in pure joy.
"Not bad…" Toshiro said. "Not bad… But let's stop and see how the girls managed to cope with this…"
"Sure, sure…"
They stopped on a field road. Shirley kept the engine running, and Toshiro jumped out and went to the back.
"How are you doing, girls?"
"Super! Once more!" Francesca cheered.
"Toshiro… Help…" Yoshika whimpered. "That was scary…"
"Awwww… Okay you two, come on with me to the cabin."
"Yay!" Francesca cheered again and ran to Shirley.
Toshiro grabbed Yoshika's hand and said, "Come on, you'll help me navigate."
"Okay." Yoshika brought up a smile on her face.
He escorted Yoshika to the truck, and let her in first.
"Hmmm… There's no more space for me…" He muttered.
"I… I can sit on your lap, Toshiro." Yoshika said.
"Marvelous idea!"
Toshiro grabbed Yoshika, sat down on her place, and placed her on his lap.
"There. How do you feel?"
Yoshika squiggled a bit and said, "Okay."
"Good to hear. Francesca, anything noteworthy of seeing along the way?"
"Not particularly… We have to wait until Roma to see the good stuff."
And so, they waited until the Eternal City appeared in view, passing a few small towns on the way.
"Yay! Roma!" Francesca cheered. "Oh, by the way, the name of the road we are riding on is Via Tiburtina. It's older than coal, heehee…"
"Nice to know…" Toshiro said. "Yoshika, peel your eyes out, or you might miss something. Francesca, guide us so we will look at some nice stuff along the way to a good store."
"Okay! But for now we only have to drive straight."
They drove into Rome, and Francesca showed a few things worthy of looking at. After Shirley made a corner at one street, they saw it.
"The Flavian Amphitheater… It looks so big in reality…" Toshiro gasped.
"Isn't it, huh? The Coliseum is the pride of Rome!" Francesca said proudly.
"It's beautiful, but a little damaged…" Yoshika said.
"Because it's old like crap, Yoshika. I wonder if you know what went on here in ancient times…"
"No. Tell me!"
"Hey, Toshiro, don't try to scare off Yoshika!" Francesca protested aloud.
"Nescire autem quid antequam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum, Francesca."
"What does that mean?" Yoshika asked tilting her head.
"To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. But I have another good quote for you, 'Study the past if you would define the future.'"
"Who said that?"
"Confucius."
"Hmmm… Wise words… But if it's so gruesome, than maybe you could tell it to me after the trip, okay?"
"Okay, Yoshika… Francesca, please resume."
They drove down south and made a turn west.
"Look to the right, that's the Circus Maximus!" Francesca cheered.
They looked right, and saw a ruin complex on a small hill.
"Let me guess, it was a circus in olden times?" Toshiro asked with a smirk.
"Heehee, yes! The biggest one in Romagna, and maybe the whole world!"
"A shame we can't go back in time and see it in its full glory…" Yoshika said with a sad voice.
"Sorry, Yoshika, time travel is taboo." Toshiro said.
"But it is possible?"
"Yeah. However going back even a minute could rip apart the fabric of space-time, so that's a rather risky business…"
"Eheheheh… Then maybe we should forget about it…"
They drove on a few hundred meters, and a large river appeared on their left side.
"This is the river Tiber! Somewhere around here, the legendary founders of Roma, Romulus and Remus were abandoned, and later found by a wolf. See that island there? It's called Isola Tiberina."
They all nodded, acknowledging Francesca's words. Shirley drove on, and Toshiro saw a magnificent fortress with an angel atop.
"Francesca, what is that building?"
"That? That's the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was a fortress, a residence of popes and all that stuff. The bridge connecting it is called Ponte Sant'Angelo."
"Impressive… That angel figure atop reminds me of the one in our base…"
"Heehee, that's Archangel Michael. The one on top of our base, I don't know… Shirley, take a turn right, I know a very good shop there."
"Sure."
They drove into a street with many shops, and Francesca told Shirley to park by one. It was a cozy shop with beni miscelanei written on the glass windows. The goods on the display were literally screaming BUY ME.
"Hey, Lucchini, take my bag, okay?" Shirley said.
"Sure!"
"Come on, Yoshika, let's get out."
Toshiro opened the door and let out Yoshika. He climbed out just after her, and he followed the girls into the shop.
Just as he saw from the street, the shop was abundant with all kinds of goods, from A to Z.
"Marco!" Francesca shouted.
"Mamma Mia! Francesca!" The clerk shouted back. "Back in Romagna I see?"
"Yes! And I brought my friends with me!"
"Hoho! And some nice friends to boot! I didn't know you were friends with the Kaisers nephew?"
"Heehee, I always find the best things!"
"Ha!" The man extended his hand and introduced himself. "Marco Polo, the owner of this shop."
"Toshiro Edelweiss. I guess you get a lot of remarks about that name, huh?"
"Well, no wonder, Marco Polo was a great adventurer after all! Please, feel free to browse the goods."
"Thank you. Hey, Francesca, can you hold the money for me?"
"Sure!"
Toshiro went to Shirley, who picked up a radio, a brown Sparton Model 10.
"Hey, Toshiro, good choice?"
"From what I know it's a good radio. Bag it."
Toshiro went to the shelf with alcohol, and looked around. His eyes were draw by a red label, one liter bottle of transparent liquid. He picked up the bottle and read the label silently.
"Stolichnaya… Hmmm… I'll ask that Marco guy…"
Toshiro approached the store owner and asked, "Is this any good?"
'Yes, yes! This is a new brand from Orussia! Top quality, the Oruskis sure know how to distill their alcohol!"
"Okay then, I'll take it. Mind if I leave it here?"
"Not a bit!"
Toshiro placed the bottle on the counter, and looked around for a flask. He found a simple aluminum hipflask, around 250 ml of capacity. He also placed that on the counter. Surprisingly, he also found sweets, packed in one-kilogram bags. Toshiro took five of them, and placed them on the counter. Yoshika approached him with two bags of seeds, a tin with black tea and a pillow.
"Did I do well, Toshiro?"
"Perfect! Place it with the rest of the stuff and let's find a dress for Chris."
Yoshika placed the goods near the stack, and they approached a rack with frilly dresses.
"Hey, Yoshika, you know what? Pick one for yourself; I'm in a spending mood."
"Oh, can I?!"
"Yes, have at it."
"Yay!"
Yoshika started browsing through the dresses, and pulled out a green one. After placing it before her she asked, "How is it?"
"Looks nice." Shirley suddenly said. "A perfect fit for you, Yoshika."
"Oh… Heehee… Now I should find something for Barkhorn…" Yoshika mumbled and pulled out a pink dress.
"That? For Barkhorn?" Shirley chuckled.
Toshiro looked at the dress, then at Shirley, and then his mind showed him a picture of Trude in a pink dress.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA!" Both Shirley and Toshiro laughed out loud at the same time.
Toshiro turned around, still laughing like mad, and saw that Francesca ran out of the shop. He looked out of the window, and saw that she ran up to two men in black suits, with dark glasses, holding a girl with red hair, and kicked them into the ground. After a few seconds she ran off with the girl.
What the fuck was that about? I guess I should investigate it…
Toshiro gave inconspicuously approached Marco and whispered.
"Here, ten pounds. If the girls get over the budget, just bill the 501st." He placed the note on the counter. "I have to investigate something…"
"Discretion is my middle name…" He said and took the money swiftly but covertly.
Yoshika and Shirley were busy quarrelling about the dress, so Toshiro slipped out of the store. He approached the two men, one was bulky, and the other one was a skinny guy.
"Two mobsters beat up by a thirteen year old girl… Shame…"
"We are not the mafia…" The skinny guy slowly stood up from the cobblestone, his nose bleeding slightly.
He helped the bulky guy stand up and said, "We are bodyguards."
"Oh? You sure look like Mafiosi…"
"But we aren't. Did you see the red haired girl?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow, that girl, Maria Pier di Romagna, is to obtain the title of Duchess of Romagna… We wanted her to return to the palace, because she ran away."
"Holy shit… I will kill Francesca…"
"Do you know that girl that curb stomped us?"
"Ensign Francesca Lucchini… Dear gods, what has she gotten into… I promise I will get her back in one piece."
"Please do, Colonnello…"
"Toshiro Edelweiss."
"Who?!" The bulky guy suddenly spoke. "You are the… nephew of the Kaiser?!"
"Heheh… Yeah…"
"Please, return Her Grace Maria, and the Duchy of Romagna will be forever grateful."
"More like 'you won't bear a grudge'…"
"Well, if you put it that way, Colonnello…" The slim guy said. "Should we help you search for her?"
"No need. I will get her back before sundown."
"Good luck, Colonnello. That subordinate of yours looked like she knows her way around."
"Because she does, she was born and spent most of her childhood in Rome… I will discipline her accordingly."
Toshiro took a high jump on the roof, and scanned the vicinity. He saw Francesca's magic signature moving to the north, where the castle they saw earlier was. Toshiro ran on the roofs and saw the two with his naked eye as they were crossing the bridge. After they crossed the bridge, they slipped into the castle gardens through an unattended gate.
Clever… Very clever…
Toshiro ran up to the gate, and turning on invisibility, he slowly crept through the gardens. Francesca's magical signature was pulsating clearly, and he saw her and Maria around a fountain.
He extended his hand, and listened to them.
"Um… Maria... Heh… I think I need to go the girls' room…" She said while rummaging Shirley's bag. "Could you wait for me for a few minutes? I think it's a number two…"
"A number two?" Maria asked tilting her head.
"The bigger caliber…" Francesca squirmed.
"Ah, you mean you want to defecate yourself?"
"Yes… Please wait, okay?"
"Okay…"
Francesca ran away looking for a bush, and Toshiro approached Maria. She wore a light blue dress, and her long red hair complimented her beautiful young face. He placed his still invisible hand on her lips. Maria almost jumped up, and Toshiro revealed himself.
"You don't have to fear me, Your Grace. I'm here to take you back to your bodyguards."
The shock was wiped of her face, and sadness replaced it. Toshiro took his hand back and Maria spoke.
"Please don't take me back just yet… This is the last day I could spend amongst the commoners…"
"But Your Grace… You bodyguards are worried about you. This could turn into a scandal if you get lost or hurt."
"I will take the responsibility for my actions. So please, don't take me back, Mr. Edelweiss."
"So you recognized me?"
"Yes. Even a bird in a golden cage like me has the latest news. Especially if it's about aristocracy, heehee…"
"Well, I'm a bastard, so my blood is rather red, heheh… Well okay… I think I can leave you in Francesca's hands, since she can fend for herself, and since she has that bag with herself… But I will monitor you, okay?"
"Okay."
"You don't know me, you didn't see me…" Toshiro said while fading into the background.
"Heehee…"
Just as he finished, Francesca ran out of the bushes.
"I'm ready, Maria! Let's go!" She cheered and grabbed Maria's hand. "Onwards!"
She pulled the future Duchess by the hand and they ran off to the south.
I hope I did the right thing… Maybe I should return to Yoshika and Shirley.
And so he did it. The girls were just boarding the truck with all the good they bought.
"Oh, Toshiro!" Yoshika shouted. "Did you see Lucchini?"
"Nope." Toshiro lied. "What happened?"
"She disappeared somewhere…"
"Hmmm… We should look for her then. You two look around in the truck, I'll run around the town on foot."
"Oh okay…" Yoshika mumbled. "But I thought you would stay with me for a while…
"Yoshika… We will have the whole life for us, don't pout about a few hours, okay?"
"Well okay…"
She boarded the truck with Shirley and they went off. Toshiro slowly went off to the east. The cobblestone streets of Rome were bustling with people walking around, living their lives. After half some time, Toshiro saw a piano on the sidewalk. He approached it, and inspected it. The insides were intact, the outside had a few scuffs here and there.
"I see that you are interested?" He heard an old ladies voice by his side.
"I would be interested, if the price is fair, and somebody transports it to where I live."
"I can organize transportation if it's in the country. You look a bit foreign to me…"
"I'm half-Karlslander and half-Fusojin, so maybe because of that?"
"Yes, yes… So, how much would you give an old lady for this piano?"
"Ten pounds." Toshiro said with a cheeky smile.
"Do you want to give me a heart attack and take the piano?"
"Okay then… Thirty."
"Close, but no cigar, sonny."
"Fifty, and not a goddamn penny more…" Toshiro grumbled.
"Sold. Now sonny, pay up, and tell me where to ship this piece of furniture?"
"The base of the 501st JFW near Pescara…" Toshiro said while pulling the money out of his wallet.
The lady stopped his hand and said, "Forty pounds then. If this will ease the duty of the girls there, I might as well step down on the price a bit."
"Thank you." Toshiro said with a smile, giving the money to the old lady.
"You will get it till the end of the month, hopefully."
"No rush, really. Anyway, I'm off."
"Goodbye, sonny."
Toshiro picked up the pace, and found the two. They snuck into the Coliseum, and he followed them inside. The floor was destroyed there, revealing the ruins of the basement. He eyed the two while they were running around and playing hide and seek. After some time they exited the ruins and went forth. It took them some time, but they ventured to some kind of stone face. Francesca put her arm inside, and pulled it out, seemingly handless. Maria panicked for a few seconds, and then Francesca slid her hand out of her sleeve. They had a nice laugh, and ventured on.
The rebellious duo wandered up on a plaza with an enormous fountain, leading to some nice and big stair. He saw the two buying ice cream, but suddenly, a bunch of kids approached them. Francesca pondered a bit, and ordered more ice, flashing the contents of the money bag to the ice cream man. The whole lot then went up the stairs and onwards. Toshiro followed them silently. They entered a clothing store, and exited it with new clothes. Francesca only bought a straw hat, but judging by the brand name on the store, Toshiro thought that it cost more than a good whisky. The rabble continued their trip, and entered a restaurant. Toshiro squirmed, thinking about the money Francesca was burning through right now. After they all exited, the kids went their own way.
Meh… I should return to Yoshika, she's being awful fussy…
He found the two before the Pantheon.
"Oh, Toshiro! Did you find that rascal?" Shirley asked.
"Nope. Finding her is like nailing jelly to a kitten covered in grease."
"Urrrgh… I will kill her… She took my money…"
"We still have Toshiro's change…" Yoshika said.
"Oh right… Say, Toshiro, care to treat us in that café behind you?"
Toshiro looked around and saw a middle class café.
"Meh, come on."
They took a seat, and Toshiro ordered three teas and cake. Before the order could be realized, another man approached the table.
"Pardon me, but are you Toshiro Edelweiss?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Please, could we talk in private?"
"If it's important… Sorry girls, I will return in a few minutes."
"Awwwww…" Yoshika moaned.
Toshiro followed the man, taking a good look at him. He had a grey suit, and expensive looking glasses. He was a civil servant or banker type. They sat at a remote location, and the man pulled out two items, a small box and a letter.
"These two items were deposited in the First National Bank of Helvetia by your late mother, Akiko Akayama, and were to be delivered upon her death to her child."
"Huh? Really? Took you long enough though…"
"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Edelweiss. There was a mix-up with papers back then, that's why it took so long."
"Better late than never… Okay, gimme…"
"First you have to sign a form, stating that you received the items." He said while pulling out a piece of paper and pen.
"Yeah, yeah…" Toshiro drew his John Hancock on the paper.
"Thank you…" He said and gave the two items to Toshiro.
He opened the box, and wasn't quite sure what he saw.
"Is that platinum…? And that rock… wheeew…"
"Indeed." The man said with a faint smile.
"Well, let's see what dear mother wrote to from behind the grave…"
Toshiro opened the letter and started reading.
Dear son or daughter,
If you've received this letter, I am surely dead. I'm sorry that I probably didn't tell you about this little gift I left behind, but I did it on purpose. What you see before you is the Lost Treasure of Nobunaga. It was made by a Jesuit jeweler with the help of a witch. Yes, it's a bit ironic. Anyway, it's probably the first item made from platinum in the history of mankind. Your ancestor, Rinko Miyafune, stole it from Nobunaga as compensation for what he did to her. From then on, it was handed over to the women in our bloodline, and it finally wandered on to me. I deposited it in a bank in Helvetia, so I wouldn't be tempted to do something stupid with it. Now, dear child, you'll bear this trinket with you. Be wise governing it, as were your ancestors.
You loving mother,
Akiko
"Hmmm… Thank you for bringing me this… It really means a lot to me…" Toshiro said while holding his tear glands at bay. "I guess you were on the way to Pescara, right?"
"Yes, that is correct. So since our business is now concluded, I bid you farewell, Mr. Edelweiss."
"Farewell."
The man went his way, and Toshiro returned to the girls.
"Toshiro, who was that?" Shirley asked while poking her cake lifelessly with a fork."
"Oh, some guy…" Toshiro shrugged her off. "Say, that cake looks delicious!"
"It is!" Yoshika cheered. "But Shirley seems to lost appetite."
"I'm worried about Lucchini…" She mumbled.
Toshiro and Yoshika exchanged looks, and Yoshika shoved a piece of cake into Shirley's mouth.
"Wudda… GOOD!"
"Don't worry, Shirley, Lucchini is a native, she'll manage." Yoshika said. "Eat up or it will go to waste."
"Well yeah..." Shirley sighed and started eating.
Yoshika looked at Toshiro, as if she wanted something. Toshiro looked at her, not having a single clue. Yoshika started swinging the fork slightly. Toshiro was still oblivious.
"Oh get a hint you idiot… She wants you to feed her…"
"Oh really?"
"Really. Do it."
Toshiro took his fork, picked up a piece of cake with it and said, "Yoshika, say 'Aaaah'"
A bright smile appeared on her face and she said "Aaaaaaah…"
Aaaaaah yourself, heheh…
Toshiro placed the piece of cake in her mouth, which seemed to make Yoshika the happiest girl on earth. After she chewed it down she said, "My turn!"
Toshiro shook his head and opened his mouth. Yoshika flew the airplane into the hangar, and Toshiro felt a sweet strawberry flavor.
"Mhhmmm, good! And I was fed by my girlfriend, I can die happy!"
"Oh shush!" Yoshika shouted and forced another piece of cake in his mouth.
Suddenly they heard air raid sirens going off.
"Ah crap, such a good cake going to waste…" Shirley said.
"Toshiro, are the Neuroi attacking?"
"Probably…"
"I have to locate Francesca now…"
"I believe I feel her to the west, go higher ground."
Toshiro dashed across the plaza and jumped on the roof of the Pantheon. He looked at the west, and saw a faint pulse on a high altitude.
"I see her but... Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes, Toshiro. They are on the top of the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican."
"Impressive knowledge, Yuki."
"I know this and that…"
Toshiro jumped down to the girls and shouted, "Francesca is in the Vatican, let's go, I'll drive!"
They jumped into the truck and Toshiro drove off with violent wheel-spin.
"Yuki, if you know the layout of Rome, guide me."
"Sure, sure…"
Yuki guided him up to the road running along the Tiber. He saw the bridge that led to the Vatican, and was approaching it with vicious speed.
"Yoshika, you'd better hold tight now…"
"Huh? WhyyyYYYYYYAAAAAHHH!"
Toshiro flicked the clutch and accelerator, and helping a bit with the handbrake, he put the truck into a perfect drift. He felt as Yoshika's fingernails dug deep into his arm.
"Ouch, Yoshika…"
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
"Nah, I deserved it…"
"Toshiro, those are some sick driving skills. I wouldn't dare to pull of such a stunt myself." Shirley said in admiration.
"You think I drove around cones while learning to drive? Please, my instructor was a petrol head down to an 'I'."
Toshiro powered through the bridge, and soon he drove onto the Piazza di San Pietro.
"Look, it's Lucchini!" Yoshika shouted. "And the Neuroi!"
Toshiro saw Francesca and Maria on a view terrace up on the basilica. The Neuroi was seen above it, a plump olive shape, with small wings. He did a 180 spin and drove up backwards before the basilica.
"Everyone out, let's get everything out of the back!" Toshiro commanded.
The girls jumped out with him, and in a matter of seconds, they cleared the back of the truck of the Strikers and goods they bought. During that, Toshiro noticed that the girls bought a few bags of rice and two bags of potatoes. Toshiro climbed up, and pushed the Launch Unit down on the ground. He gave it a nudge so it would be closer to the basilica, and he ran the internal power generator.
"Francesca!" Toshiro shouted.
"Coooomiiing!" Francesca shouted as she slid down the roof, and jumped down into her Striker.
She revved up the engine fiercely, and started vertically like a rocket in a cloud of smoke.
"Come on, Shirley, now you!" Toshiro said while mounting the Striker in the Launch Unit.
"All right!" She shouted and jumped into it, following Francesca.
Toshiro mounted Yoshika's Striker and said, "Be careful, Yoshika."
"I won't disappoint you, Toshiro."
"I hope, because I won't be participating."
"Oh, why?"
"I feel that this is Francesca's fight, not mine. See that red haired girl on the basilica?"
"Yes, what about her?"
"Impress her, and we might have some good times ahead of us." Toshiro said with a mysterious smile.
"I don't know what you are going at, but I trust you."
Yoshika flew off into the fray, and Toshiro, taking his MG as a precaution, jumped up to the top of the basilica besides Maria.
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Edelweiss. I didn't know Francesca was a witch…"
"She is, and a very good one to that. She will fight for her homeland with all her might, Your Grace."
"I see… Ummm… Can we skip the honorifics? I'm Maria."
"Toshiro. I waited for this moment, heh…"
"Heehee…"
"So, how was it? You grand day off?"
"Grandiose! I had so much fun! But alas, no such things from tomorrow…"
"That's why you should cherish the memory of this day to your last breath, Maria."
"I will, Toshiro. If Francesca shoots the Neuroi down, I will compensate you."
"Nah, you don't have to…"
"I doubt that the money she had was hers, right?"
"Yes… Did she spend it all?"
"To the last centesimo. She was about to use the money from the bag, but I discouraged her."
"Phew, thanks. Shirley would kill the both of us… You know, my girlfriend is also fighting up there…"
"Oh? Who is it?"
"The one in the white sailor dress. Her name is Yoshika Miyafuji, she's fifteen."
"How romantic… You two are in one unit…"
"Yeah… But military regulations are quite strict, so we can't sleep in one bed."
"Maybe one day I'll experience love myself… But now I have to devote myself to my people. Be sure to tune in on the broadcast tomorrow at ten."
"I surely will. Now, let's look closely at what the girls are doing…"
The three were scrambling around the Neuroi, shooting it from all sides. Shirley and Yoshika did a pincer attack, which failed miserably. Yoshika and Francesca then started an upward rush. The Neuroi shot at Yoshika with its whole arsenal of beams, but Yoshika pulled up a shield and powered upwards. While the Neuroi was focused on Yoshika, Francesca pulled up a row of multiple shield, and charged upwards like a berserker. She pierced the Neuroi, destroying its core at subsonic speed.
"Beautiful…" Maria said when the Neuroi exploded into a shower of flakes.
"That's the only thing beautiful in Neuroi, their death. Well, it seems I didn't have to use my gun after all…"
"Ummm… May I hold it for a while?"
"I doubt you have the muscle to do it, Maria."
"Then let me just touch it."
"Be my guest."
Maria approached the gun, and stroked it across the whole length.
"The cold steel… Something that can kill both Neuroi and people…"
"Maaaariaaaa!" Francesca shouted from above.
She flew in, and was surprised to see Toshiro.
"Huh, Toshiro? What are you doing with Maria?"
"Talking."
"Oh, kay. Can I abduct her for a few seconds?"
"Meh, whatever."
Francesca flew up to Maria and yanked her up to the sky, with the latter giving off a brief shriek.
"Oh that Franie… Well, anyway, Yuki… Locate the two bozo's for me, kay?"
"Sure, sure… I know you are a bit wonky with life force detection…"
"Heheh… Maybe if I had a few more weeks…"
Toshiro scanned Rome from south to east, and found the two riding a car across the bridge to the Vatican, basked in the orange light of the slowly setting sun.
"Good… But I'll meddle just a bit more…"
Toshiro jumped down the basilica and rushed to the bridge. He jumped straight before the black Fiat 518 L, making them brake fiercely.
He approached the skinny guy, which was the driver now. They both had bandages on their heads.
"So, Colonnello, did you find Maria?"
"Pretty much yes. If you would look into the sky…"
The two exited the car immediately, and looked up into the sky.
"Madre puttana! She will get the Duchess killed!" The skinny guy shouted.
"Now, now… Maria is grateful for what Francesca did; please don't judge them too harshly…"
"But…"
"No buts. Wait a while behind the basilica until we drive off. I'll tell Maria that you guys are waiting for her."
"Well okay… I suppose we should avoid that brat…" The driver sighed, and Toshiro went back to the girls.
Yoshika and Shirley already got out of their Strikers, and they looked up into the sky after Francesca.
"Toshiro, do you know who that girl is?" Yoshika asked.
"Maybe some acquaintance?"
"Maybe… Why don't we start packing already?"
"Yeah, good idea."
Toshiro packed all the stuff that they threw out of the back of the truck in preparation for battle, including the Launch Unit. After a few minute, Francesca finally descended upon them with Maria in her hands.
"Thank you for the flight, Francesca." Maria said. "I probably should be going home, it's getting dark."
"Oh, then we will escort you back!" Francesca proposed.
"No way, Francesca." Toshiro strongly opposed. "Maria can take care of her own, right?" Toshiro winked.
"Ah, yes, of course!" She said with an understanding smile. "Please, could you let me go now?"
"Oh, of course."
Francesca let go of Maria, and went off to stow her Striker. Toshiro approached Maria and whispered, "Your bodyguards are waiting behind the basilica."
"Thank you." She whispered back.
"Hey, Toshiro, come on, we have to go already!" Shirley shouted.
Toshiro turned around and saw that she was leaning out of the drivers' cabin through the window.
"Okay, coming!" Toshiro shouted back. "Farewell, Duchess."
"Heehee, farewell, bastard nephew."
Toshiro climbed into the truck, and place Yoshika on his lap yet again.
"I hope you won't have anything against sitting on my lap for the next few hours?"
"Not a bit…" Yoshika said silently and gently embraced him.
Toshiro returned the embrace and he stroked her head gently. He saw that Francesca crawled on Shirley's lap and peered out of the truck.
"Bye, Maria! Arrivederci!"
Oooof… So this ended… But now I have to do what's expected.
After Francesca returned to her place, Toshiro asked her, "Hey, Francesca, could you give me back my money bag?"
"Eheheheheheheh…" She gave of a long dry laugh, scratching her head slowly. "I blew everything on food and stuff…"
"Oy vey… Seriously, Francesca, I know you had a good time and all, but that was so much money that we could buy supplies for half a year…"
"I'm sowwy…" She said with her head hung low.
"Sowwy won't cut it… I'll leave your punishment to Minna."
"Okay…"
"I hope you didn't use my emergency stash, huh?" Shirley asked.
"No, Maria wouldn't let me…"
"What a smart girl…"
They returned to the base around midnight. After unloading all the stuff on the floor, Toshiro placed Francesca's launch unit on its place, and powered it on.
"Okay, let's move the rice and potatoes to the pantry. The rest should be stored until tomorrow in the truck for now."
They placed the various goods in the trucks cabin, and in strength of four, went to the dorm. They quietly placed the supplies in the pantry, and Francesca parted ways with Toshiro along with Shirley.
"So… We are alone now…" Yoshika said shyly.
"Well, if you weren't so shy about your… body… I would probably ravage you in the pantry…"
"Oh stop… Let's just kiss for goodnight and go to sleep…"
"You are making it sound as if it was a chore…" Toshiro pouted.
"I'll give you a chore to remember!" She shouted and pounced on him.
Toshiro lost his balance and fell on the ground. Yoshika embraced his chest with her thighs tightly, grabbed his head with both hands and kissed him.
Oh shit… Yoshika is using her tongue… Oh damn, she must be like some kind of sexual berserker on a chain, waiting for it to break!
When they stopped, Yoshika asked, "Was that a chore to you?"
"No… It was like a reward for a good days work… Yoshika, how the hell did you learn to kiss like that?!"
"Remember when Ursula talked with me one-on-one in Britannia?"
"Yes? Did she teach you such lewd love techniques?"
"Yes… But not only related to kissing… Heehee…"
"Ohoho… I think I should thank her when I have the opportunity."
"You should. But now, let's go to sleep, I… uwaaaaaaaah… I'm sleepy…"
"Then get off of me, stupid…"
"Heehee…"
Yoshika got off Toshiro, and went in the direction of her room. Toshiro went out of the dorm, and went to the castle, to spend another night in solitude.
Serious Sam reference ahoy!
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