Happy Easter! (for everyone who cares)

Chapter 31 – The Kaiser goes on

The three went inside of the hangar, unbothered by the rest. Toshiro took the FFG-4 from the Launch Unit, and the cannon from the rack, loading it with a mag full of HE rounds. He jumped into his Striker, and said, "Are you sure you can take the noise, uncle?"

"Don't worry. I may look like an uncle, maybe even a grandpa, but I had my share of military training."

"Oh okay… Starting engines!"

Toshiro started up the engines, letting them warm up with their usual vacuum cleaner like sound.

"It runs almost like the Schwalbe!" Franz shouted through the noise.

"Because it's almost the same, except it has propellers!" Toshiro shouted back.

"We will get to the runway, wait for a bit!"

"Sure!"

Heheheh… Uncle looks funny when he's running…

Toshiro waited for the two to stop, and when Adolfine raised her hand, he started revving up the engines. The rest of the girls noticed what Toshiro was about to do, and hastily moved to make way. Adolfine lowered her hand, and Toshiro shot out of the launch unit as if kicked by an almighty god. He whizzed past Adolfine and Franz, and flew up into the sky.

Now what should I do? I really don't know how to perform a presentation of a Striker… Pfff… Whatever, I'll just fucking push it to the limits.

Toshiro flew further eastwards, about ten kilometers from the base. Then, he turned around, and pressed that button on the FFG. For a few seconds, he was falling down slowly, but then, he punched it. The Striker accelerated with godly speed, passing over the base at the speed of over two thousand kilometers per hour.

"Great job, Toshiro." Adolfine's voice sounded out of the transponder. "How about some target shooting now?"

"I don't believe we have targets in store…"

"Verflucht (Damn)…"

"I can just land and squeeze a round or two on the ground. The bang should be enough to impress uncle."

"You can try…"

Toshiro turned around, and landed. He jumped out of his Striker, and walked towards the runway.

"Toshiro, this is simply mindblowing, to use slang!" Franz cheered.

"Right? I hope you pay your scientists a good amount of money."

"Oh don't worry, they earn more in a week than you do in a month."

Fuck… Maybe I should change professions…

"Come on, uncle, I'll fire once or twice in the air, so you can see how this fares."

"I waited exactly for this."

The three of them went forward. In the middle of the runway, Toshiro said, "Wait here, uncle. The cannon is really loud, there's a shell ejecting, and the gases escaping through the muzzle break are quite dangerous."

"Thank you for the heads up." He said.

Toshiro walked up fifty meters forward, and looked forward through the SZF-14a telescopic sight.

"Hmmm… Nothing to shoot at… Zip, zero, nada, zilch, goose egg, niente, nichts, null."

"Hey, T-man, you have, remember?"

"Oh do I? What do you propose?"

"You can shoot a round, and swing a Rending Gale EX with time slowed down. Fireworks galore!"

"This idea is so absurd it could actually work!"

Toshiro started aiming straight up to the sky and fired. Yuki took over, and slowed down time. She waited for the projectile to reach an optimal height, and then performed a Rending Gale. Just when it connected, the time flow resumed. The empty casing banged on the runway, tumbled and rolled away, still smoking from the burnt propellant.

The projectile exploded midair in an orange fireball with a loud bang.

"Wonderful!" Franz shouted.

"Toshiro, how did you do that?" Adolfine asked.

"See the sword in my hand?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Focus your Magic Eye at the place where the first explosion was, and maybe you'll see it."

"Okay."

Toshiro repeated the procedure with Yuki.

"Ah, I think I saw some sword technique!"

"Good call, Adolfine. Okay, no more shooting, the ammo is scarce."

"Oh come on, we'll send you a new batch. Just shoot off the current mag. It's not that you use the HE shells, right?"

"Well yeah, I prefer the APCBC-HE, since they do a better job."

"Then go, you have three more shots!"

"Haha, jawohl!"

Toshiro shot off the rest of his mag, much to the enjoyment of everyone watching.

"Well, I did my job…" Toshiro said. "Come on, uncle, I have to show you the usable parts of the castle."

"By all means, please."

"Minna, Trude, Shirley, Francesca – show and tell time, come with us! The rest – dismissed!"

The called out were a bit surprised, but Minna quickly understood what was going on, and calmed down her three comrades in misery.

"Don't worry, I know where Toshiro is going at."

Toshiro led this strange procession to the upper part of the castle. They stopped on the floor where the most usable rooms were located. Toshiro then pointed out the archive door.

"Trude, why don't you tell something about this room?"

"Me? Uhhh… Verstanden!" She shouted and opened the door. "This is our bases archive. We already filled the cabinets up quite nicely, despite being here only a month and half or so. I am the main archivist of the base, but Toshiro is my trainee and helps me whenever he can. I must say I'm proud of him, because he works diligently, and is nice eye candy." Trude explained proudly, but she quickly understood what just slipped out of her mouth. "I-I-I-I mean…'

"Please, Trude, let me explain…" Toshiro intervened calmly. "You see, back in Britannia, the archive was a stuffy little room without any ventilation whatsoever, and we had the last month and half of summer when I came, so after some time, the temperature was unbearable. We would undo our uniform if we wanted to work longer, and it seems that Trude has took liking in my naked torso. Now, we have a window that we can open, but for old times' sake, I sometime take off the upper part of my uniform. I found out that Trude's work efficiency increases by about 16% that way."

"Sixteen percent efficiency improvement just by gazing at your abs? Hohohoho!" The Kaiser laughed aloud. "How can I not approve of that? Hohohoho!" He laughed on.

Toshiro saw that Trude was now almost iridescent on her face, but in her eyes, he read a profuse "Thank you". Adolfine gave him a weird look and shook her head.

"For now, I'll omit the next door, and focus on the next one. Minna, since this is half-half your kingdom, why don't you talk about it?"

"My… Of course! This is our office!" Minna started explaining fervently and opened the door. "Please, come in!"

The tour group entered the room.

"This is our little bureaucratic kingdom. The brains of the unit, so to speak, but you should know how the head office works, right, Adolfine?" Minna asked with a wry smile.

"All too well, Minna… Damn it to hell… Oh what I would give to be seven years younger…"

"You don't like working as my advisor, Adolfine?" Franz asked.

"I like the job, Mein Kaiser, but…" She hung her head low. "…it's really a shame I can't help our Vaterland in a more direct way… Well, anyway, Toshiro, you arranged this place quite nicely. But I have a strange feeling that your desk is that aluminum foldable one you used in Africa, right?"

"Yes. I decided to give the sturdy oaken one to Minna, since she is a veteran in managing this unit. A simple matter of respect, Adolfine."

"I understand… But you sir, deserve a desk fitting your rank, achievements, position and social status! I'm sending you a mahogany desk ASAP!"

"On the house?"

"Of course! It's equipment, not miscellanea for recreation! Am I right, Herr Kaiser?"

"Yes, Adolfine, you are right, and I approve of this. I would add a nice chair, so you won't get sore after long hours of doing paperwork."

"Then I also want one for Minna, uncle. We're sharing the workload equally."

"So be it. Now, please show me some other room, offices are all I see daily…"

"Of course, uncle! Please, follow me!"

Toshiro led everyone next door.

"Shirley or Francesca, who wants to present this room?" Toshiro asked.

"Oh, I can do it!" Francesca cheered. "This is the radar-slash-comms room! We sit here on shifts, and await for messages or Neuroi!"

"But why is there nobody here now?"

"Huh? We are here, auntie."

"Are you thick, Francesca…" Adolfine sighed. "I mean why is there nobody here doing a shift?"

"Ummmmm…" Francesca pondered greatly, furrowing her forehead.

"I have a relay set up to my transponder, so the radio transmissions get here. The PA system in the base is state of the art, so if somebody detects a Neuroi, it can be reported within seconds." Toshiro stepped in. "And the three highest ranking members of our units always have transponders with them."

"Well aren't you convenient… I see you're putting that noggin of yours to use…" Adolfine murmured. "So I believe there is only one room left to show, right?"

"Right. Minna, Shirley, Trude and Francesca – you can go now, I'll show nothing you haven't seen already."

"Affirmative." Minna said. "Come on girls, I'll find you something to do."

"Awwwwwww…" Francesca moaned as she went along.

"You probably know how this looks, do you, Adolfine?" Toshiro asked.

"I only saw the project; I didn't have time to look at the finished room."

"I hope that this will be a triumph of reality versus expectations…"

Toshiro opened the door and said, "This, dear uncle, is my room."

Both Adolfine and Franz went inside of the room, nodding and muttering something.

"Yes… Looks better than in the drawings…"

"A standard worthy of me, hoho!" Franz laughed. "Adolfine really spoiled you here."

"Yeaaah… I sometimes feel guilty for having such a spiffy room."

"You don't have to." Adolfine said. "You are a Colonel governing one of the best units in recent history, you deserve such a room."

"Still…"

A hand landed on his shoulder.

"Toshiro, I know that you're a good boy… pardon, a good man, but there's something called hierarchy in the military." Franz said.

"It can't be helped it seems…"

"And you need a little love nest, do you, huh?" Franz gave him a few weak elbows under the ribs with a sly smile.

"Uncle, please…"

"What? We are two grown men; we can talk about such things!"

"Ugh… But regulations…"

"As if you should care! If anyone dares to even look wrong in your way because of your relationship, I'll make sure they'll start the Easter Island Special Recon Group alone."

"Hmmmm…"

"What are you pondering about? You love each other, you plan to marry her, everyone in your unit knows about your relationship. It's not like you are fucking everyone in your unit, right?"

"Right… I guess I don't have anything to be ashamed of… But still, I wouldn't like the press knowing about Yoshika in person yet… But it's weird that they didn't sensationalize the fact that I announced that I have a girlfriend…"

"Nothing a few words to the editors won't do…" Franz said while turning around.

"Thanks, uncle… I appreciate it."

"Tis but a bagatelle… I have to care for my dear nephew; I'm morally indebted to your father… By the way, do you know that there's one more thing that connects me and Lucas?"

"Do tell!"

"We were born on the same day, impossible as it may sound."

"Incredible… And when would that be?"

"August 9, 1889. At least now you don't have an excuse not to send me a card for my birthday, hohoho!"

"Hah, true! By the way, what do you want to do now?"

"To be honest, let me rest a bit in your room. I'm tired after the flight, and it wasn't exactly the Ritz…"

"Be my guest, uncle. What will YOU do then, Adolfine?"

"Oh well… I'll tag along with you probably."

"I'll probably go watch Mio torture the girls."

"That I have to see."

"Okay, then it's final. But first…"

Toshiro walked up to the PA panel and said, "Entrance to my room is now strictly prohibited under penalty worse than death. Have a nice day."

Franz and Adolfine looked at him amazed.

"I know the strengths and weaknesses of all my underlings to such extent, that I can punish them individually with great results. For example, until today, only mentioning about banning the consumption of sweets to Erica is enough for her to do my bidding." Toshiro explained himself.

Adolfine gave off a satisfied smile and said, "If I ever think about parting you from this unit, remember to shoot me, okay?"

"Hahah, okay, I will! Have a pleasant nap, uncle!"

"I hope I will. Now shoo."

Adolfine and Toshiro quickly exited the room. The former yawned silently, giving Toshiro an excuse to pick on her.

"Maybe you should go back? I'm sure uncle won't mind sleeping with such a beautiful woman like you, heheheh…"

Adolfine's cheeks went alit and she said, "Stupid, don't make such jokes… I can just go back to the plane and doze off there."

"Oh come on, don't be a sour grape. I'll just ask one of the girls if you can sleep in their bed. Any preferences?"

"Not exactly…"

"I'll bunk you in Yoshika's bed."

"Okay. Oh, we should stop by the office; I have some stuff to dump onto Minna."

They went down the stairs and into the office. Minna was not there.

"Even better." Adolfine mumbled and approached Minna's desk.

She opened the briefcase, and started pulling out items.

"Let's see… Box… Certificate in a frame… Bonus…"

"Bonus?"

"Fifty pounds as a bonus for her excellent achievement." She waved the envelope before Toshiro.

"Not that I'm against it…"

"Let's see…" Adolfine turned back. "Ah well, that's everything." She closed the briefcase and turned around.

"Let's find Yoshika then. I believe she's on the runway doing rounds now."

"Take me to the wine cellar on the way, okay?"

"Kay."

They went down to the hangar, and to the small wine cellar under it.

"Hmmm… You weren't lying…" Adolfine said upon a brief inspection. "You really are moderate in drinking…"

"You doubted me?"

"Sorry for lumping you into one basket with other men…"

"You should know better…" Toshiro sighed. "Seen everything you wanted?"

"Yes. Wait a second…" Adolfine rummaged through the wine bottles, pulled out two and placed them by the entrance. "We'll have these two for dinner."

"Fine by me."

Their next stop was the runway. Despite the glaring sunlight contrasting with the darkness of the hangar, they both saw three figures running, and one standing aside with something sword-shaped. Once they exited outside, they saw Mio, Perrine, Lynne and Yoshika in full scope. Mio seemed to notice them, as she shouted, "Everyone stop, take five!"

At once, the Lynne and Perrine slopped down on the runway. Yoshika slowly ran up to Toshiro, all sweaty and with a shallow breath.

"Hi… Toshiro…"

"Hi sweetie. I see that you're very diligent today."

"I… I… I want to… perform better…"

"Good for you." Toshiro ruffled up her hair. "Say, can Adolfine crash in your bed for a quick nap?"

Yoshika looked at Adolfine from top to bottom and said, "Sure. I think… it would be… an honor…"

"Thank you, Yoshika." Adolfine said. "You can go lie down by your friend now."

"Okay…"

Mio approached the two as Yoshika trotted away to the other two and dropped down on Lynne.

"I see that you are serious about training, Mio." Adolfine said.

"Already told it to Toshiro, but I can repeat it every time – anime sana in corpore sano, Galland."

"True. How is your shield now?"

Mio pulled up her shield. It was pale and flickering.

"Touch it, if you want."

Adolfine placed her hand on the shield, and it simply went through as if absolutely nothing was there.

"Damn… Mio, please, watch out for yourself." Adolfine said with a gloom look.

"My best defense is offence right now. I have to give 200%, or I WILL be shot down. Truth be told, if it were not for the Reppumaru and the Shiden-Kai, I would probably sit back in Fuso. The two are absolutely crucial for my new combat style now. You didn't see me in combat yet, but Toshiro did."

"And what do you say?" Adolfine asked him.

"Mio's agility is unparalleled amongst witches and that's an undeniable fact, and she can pretty much split the sea using her sword…"

"See? Nothing to be worried about…"

"…however, Mio now has to play in the second line so to speak. She can't be the spearhead of the attack, because of her defunct shields."

"Tough call…" Adolfine muttered. "But since you are a Fuso blockhead, it would just make you sick if you couldn't fight. I won't undertake any actions right now, but please, don't do anything reckless."

Mio put her hand on Adolfine's right shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Adolfine, I won't risk my life needlessly."

"Thanks for the reassurance… Now excuse me, I have to catch some z's…"

Toshiro led Adolfine to Yoshika's and Lynne's shared room. It was a very simple, yet cozy room with visible girlish accents. A bunk bed was in the south east cornet, and Adolfine simply dropped on the bottom bunk like a sack of potatoes.

"Adolfine, at least undress yourself, you'll crumple up your uniform."

"Good idea. Hey, wait a second, do you want to see me in my underwear?"

"The thought hasn't crossed my mind." Toshiro replied honestly.

"Oh well… I might as well…"

Adolfine undressed herself, placing her uniform on the top bunk. Her perfectly shaped body as now clad only in black cotton underwear.

"Classy bra, Adolfine…" Toshiro said.

"I have to take care of my twins. Now if you could leave me, Toshiro. I'm getting a little nervous around you… You know, healthy male and female in one room alone etc."

"Yyyyeaaah… Have a nice nap."

"Thanks."

Toshiro left Adolfine in the room, and he ventured to the dining room, led by a wonderful fragrance. He entered the room, and saw Minna, Shirley, Trude and Eila bustling in the kitchen, and Francesca sitting bored by the table.

"Isn't it a tad too early for dinner you all?" He asked.

"Good food needs time to brew!" Trude said firmly. "You could also help!"

"Go suck a bag of dicks, I'm tired…"

"Tired from what, damn you?"

"I used up so much magic already that even you would drop on the chair and sigh. But nooooooooo, nobody has even seen it, why booother… Sheeesh… What do you want to help you with? Oh, just a heads up - uncle is sleeping in my room, and Adolfine is dozing off in Yoshika's, so don't you damn dare to enter them."

"We have potatoes to peel." Minna said calmly.

"Then why isn't Francesca doing it?"

"Ask her." Shirley said.

"Francescaaaa…"

"I don't wanna…"

"Why don'tcha wanna?"

"I wanted to help cook something, not peel taters…"

"But Shirley said you could burn water if given the occasion, right?"

"I have to try someday, you know…"

"Hmmm… Hey, Minna, is there a free pan?"

"Two even."

Toshiro went and picked up a pan and a spatula. He then went to the pantry, and took two eggs. Upon returning to Francesca, he asked, "Did you make scrambled eggs before?"

"Uhhh… Yeah, I burned it to charcoal…"

"I'll try to teach you how to make some without the need for a fire extinguisher."

Toshiro placed the pan on his right hand, and started heating it up using magic.

"Oh, nice!" Francesca cheered.

He gave her an egg and said, "I trust you know how to break and egg without making an awful mess?"

"Who do you think I am?"

"Yourself."

"Heehee…"

Francesca carefully knocked the egg on the edge of the pan, and placed its content on it perfectly.

"Well, one down." He said and gave her the spatula. "Scramble, carefully."

She grabbed the handle of the frying pan, and carefully mixed the egg on it.

"Very good, Francesca. Hey, eyes on the pan!"

"Oh, what, I got distracted." She said and her eyes returned to observing the pan.

"Focus, Francesca, this is an easy dish. Now run for salt and pepper, gogogogogogo!"

"Wahaaa!" She shouted and ran as fast as she could, bringing salt and pepper shakers.

"Now, check if the lids are tight."

Francesca turned the lids on the shakers slightly to the right and said, "Okay."'

"Now, sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper over the eggs while mixing the eggs."

"How much is a bit."

"A BIT, use that twin tailed head of yours…"

Francesca took both the salt and pepper shakers, and really carefully seasoned the eggs.

"A bit more."

Francesca did add only a microscopic amount of both seasonings.

"Should be okay. Now, you just wait until the eggs are done, I will tell you when. Fetch a towel or something, so I won't make the table dirty or something."

Francesca quickly fetched a towel and placed it before her. After a few seconds Toshiro said, "See the color of the eggs?"

"Yup."

"That's optimal. Get the pan off my hand."

Francesca gently took the pan by the handle, and placed it on the towel. He gave her the spatula and said, "Try it."

Francesca shrugged and took a bit of the eggs.

"Hmmm… I have to say that this is not different than what we had for dinner…" Francesca said carefully.

"Ergo, you succeeded."

"I did?!"

"Yup. And it didn't end in a biohazard, heheh…" He turned around and shouted, "Hey, Eila, do you know what the temperature in hell might be now?"

"How the fuck would I know that? I'm not a theologian…" She replied angrily.

"Now it's probably sub-zero, because Francesca succeeded in preparing an edible meal."

Everyone suddenly stopped doing what they were doing in the kitchen.

"WHAAAAT?!" They all shouted surprised.

"You heard me the first time."

"Impossible!" Trude shouted. "The last time she made something, you could use it to kill Neuroi!"

Francesca puffed her cheeks to that remark.

"But it's true. I only told her what to do, and heated up the frying pan."

"You what?" Trude asked.

"The same way I heat up water."

"Oh... Pardon, it's just a shock that Lucchini made a dish that isn't charcoal or poisonous… Can I taste it?"

"Go ahead…" Francesca pouted.

Trude approached the frying pan with the scrambled eggs, and using the spatula, she took a bite of it.

"Incredible… Good scrambled eggs! Great work, Lucchini!"

"Heehee, thanks…"

"Trude, come back to work." Minna said. "And as for you, Lucchini, we can't let you in the kitchen yet, but I bet Toshiro already has a plan, right?"

"Bah! Of course! Francesca, ask Yoshika if she will take you in as a trainee. You want to show those wisecracks what's what, right?"

"Of course I will! As soon as I see Yoshika, I will ask her… no, I will beg her to teach me the fine arts of cooking!"

"That's the spirit! Now eat up and wash the pan!"

"Weeeeeeh…"

"Oh shush… And get this egg back to the pantry in one piece."

"Okaaaaay…" Francesca moaned and started eating what she conjured up.

"And fetch the potatoes when you've finished."

Francesca moaned again and started eating faster.

Toshiro looked at Minna, and she gave him a silent 'thank you', to which he returned a wink.

Francesca finished her food, scrubbed the pan, and returned with an enormous sack of potatoes, two big buckets, two knives, and a face as sour as she would drink a glass of citric acid instead of lemonade by accident.

"Sit."

She sat beside him on a chair.

"Don't be mad at me, Francesca."

"I'm not mad at you, Toshiro. I'm not even mad at that quartet in the kitchen. I'm mad at me for not trying harder and sooner…"

"Then cheer up, Frannie. You have a bright future ahead of you. Well, after you peel this mound of spuds that is, heheh…"

"Heehee, yeah, let's get this over with!"

They proceeded with the potato peeling, and after a while, they were almost finished. Then, the girls showed up from training.

"Waaaaateeeer…" Perrine moaned. "Hm? What is this smell? Why is there so much of you cooking?"

"We are cooking a dinner worthy of the Kaiser!" Trude said with pride.

"Oh, can I help?" Yoshika asked joyfully.

"No. This is a matter of honor to us Karlslanders!" Trude replied adamantly.

"Then why are Shirley and Eila also cooking?"

"Collateral damage." Minna answered with a roguish smile.

"Yooooshikaaa!" Francesca shouted and ran up to Yoshika. "Please teach me in your ways!"

"Uhhhm, which ways?"

"I want to cook just like you!"

"Too sudden, explain please!"

After Francesca gave her a quick rundown of what she did with Toshiro, Yoshika smiled at the idea. "I see... Well now, Francesca, consider yourself my trainee!"

"Yaaay!" Francesca cheered and hugged Yoshika. "Let's begin now!"

"But we only have two pans free…"

"And I'm tired, although I'm not showing it." Toshiro said. "Heating up a cast iron frying pan to about two hundred degrees Celsius requires an absurd amount of magic, plus I peeled half a quintal of potatoes with Francesca. I could actually use a hot bath right now to regenerate some energy…"

"Oh okaaaay…" Francesca mumbled. "Aaaaand done, the last spud."

"Then it's time for a bath for me. Anyone joining in?" Toshiro asked.

"Oh, I can!" Yoshika cheered.

"Then come on, let's soak away our fatigue!"

They both went to the bath and undressed.

"Mmmmmhhmm… Toshiro, I'll have to cover my eyes, or I'll get randy, heehee."

"Same here, Yoshika, heh…"

They took a shower, and went to the bath.

"Aaaaaaaaah…" Both of them exclaimed when submerging into the water.

"So Francesca wants me to teach her…" Yoshika pondered aloud. "I'll be glad to teach her something."

"Be sure to work on her concentration, and she will be whipping up meals for all of us in no time."

"You think? Maybe I shouldn't do it… I'm jealous already…"

"Jealous of what? Me eating her food instead of yours?"

Yoshika nodded with a pouty face.

"Yoshika, please… Francesca can't hold a candle to you in the big picture…"

"Really?"

"Really. Relax now, I think we have guests."

They both turned around and saw Francesca, Lynne and Perrine, stark naked before the bath.

"Hiya." Toshiro said. "Just go around me if you're afraid, heheh…"

"You gotta be kidding me!" Francesca cheered and jumped right between Yoshika and Toshiro causing a big splash.

"Sure got confident…" Toshiro mumbled.

"Yoshika, how about I grab ya a bit, huh?" Francesca asked.

"If you want me to teach you, no more groping until I let you out from under my wings." Yoshika answered adamantly.

"Aaaaaaaaw! Not even a rub?"

"Nope."

"But I need to grope something…" She moaned and suddenly looked at Lynne. "He… Heheheh… Guhehehehehe! That will do!" She laughed maniacally and jumped to Lynne.

"Waaaaaaah!" Lynne protested as she was being molested.

"Animal…" Perrine sighed.

After applying her gross daily amount of groping, Francesca peacefully returned to bathing, with Perrine and Lynne following her. After a while they all exited the bath, dried themselves off, got clothed and exited.

"So what now, Toshiro?" Yoshika asked.

"Still some time left… I'll go in the office and see if some papers don't need to be filled out. You do whatever you like."

"I can't go to my room, because Galland is there…"

"Yoshika, let's play!" Francesca cheered on. "I always have a game or two!"

"Well okay… I hope it doesn't involve my breasts…"

Toshiro went his way, and wandered to the wine cellar. He took the two wine bottles and went to the office. He looked through all the papers, but didn't find anything of interest.

"Yuki, could you wake me up when the time is ripe?"

"Sure, Toshiro. Rest, you really need it."

"Hey, sleepy head, I think it's time."

Toshiro opened his eyes, and in a second, the PA sounded, "Dinner's ready, everyone."

Dinner's ready huh… I'll go fetch uncle, if he wasn't fetched by Adi yet. Adi… Hah, I'll so fucking irk her with that…

Toshiro stuffed the two wine bottles and stuffed them into his pockets, and he went out of the office, and up to his room. He knocked on the door and asked, "Uncle, dinner's ready."

"Come in and help me, nephew."

Huh?

Toshiro walked in a bit nervous, and saw Franz sitting on the edge of the bed holding his lower back.

"Uncle, did something happen?"

"My damn lumbago acting up… I can't even walk…"

"I can give you a piggyback ride…"

"Hah, that would be something new! It's so absurd that I want to try it!"

"Hahahaha!" Toshiro laughed, but a devilish scheme sprouted in his head. "Saaay, uncle… Want to make it even more absurd?"

"If you managed to drop the jaws of your fellow compatriots, I'm all in."

Toshiro took his trumpet, and summoned his sword. He then backed up to Franz and kneeled.

"Come on my back, uncle."

"Okay…"

The Kaiser crawled on his back slowly but surely.

"I'm on it, what now."

"Take my sword, be careful."

He took the sword from Toshiro, which immediately changed to its rusty basic form.

"The sword changed to some rusty toothpick…"

"For now, it's okay. Hold really tight, uncle."

"Are you planning on jumping from the balcony with me?"

"Of course!"

"Have at it!"

Toshiro ran to the balcony and lunged forward. After a few seconds of falling, he landed gently on the runway.

"Exquisite!"

"Hold tight, uncle, I ain't finished!"

Toshiro quickly dashed up the stairs and across the base premises. Upon using the Hebigan, he could see that everyone was in the dining room already, even Adolfine. He ran into the dorm and slowed down.

"Okay, uncle, now rattle the sword like some cavalry officer!"

When Toshiro was only a few meters from the dining room, he started playing a cavalry charge bugle. When he ran into the dining room, everyone was simply and utterly shocked. But it didn't take long for Shirley to act however.

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed as if she lost her mind, leaned back and fell down on the floor with her chair. "AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The girls looked at her, then at the Kaiser, than at Shirley again, and in less than ten seconds, everyone was laughing, even the usually stuck up Trude. When Adolfine calmed down a bit she asked, "Lumbago?"

"Yes." Franz answered.

"Best laugh I had in a month, Herr Kaiser… I bet Toshiro didn't have to plead long to perform this little exposition, right?"

"I agreed immediately. Okay, Toshiro, put me down on a chair."

Toshiro moved to one of the empty chairs, and let Franz take a seat. He touched the blade in his hands and dispelled it. Afterwards, he looked at the table.

The girls brought out the best china and cutlery, and all the dishes could satiate a man just by its smell alone.

"Herr Gott… All this just because I'm here?" Franz asked.

"We couldn't give you beef jerky and crackers, Herr Kaiser…" Minna pouted.

"Very good work. Whoever put a hand to his feast should consider her or himself officially praised."

Trude and Minna squirmed around in their chairs, while Shirley was still getting hold of herself.

"Um… Excuse me…" Sanya's silent voice sounded in the room. "I don't believe we've met…"

Franz looked at Sanya and said, "Of course we haven't. Kaiser Franz, pleased to meet you."

"Aleksandra Vladimirowna Litvyak or Sanya for short, also pleased to meet you."

"So you are the night conscience of the 501st as some people say?"

"Yes sir. I'm the full time night witch here. Eila helps me sometimes."

"I see… Do you perhaps know of Heidemarie W. Schnaufer?"

"Yes sir. We are friends to be honest. Two years ago, we had high-altitude reconnaissance training here in Romagna, and we even exchanged QSL cards afterwards. I fully acknowledge that she is the best Night Witch in the whole world."

"A fine example of international cooperation. Well then, let's feast!" Franz shouted raising his fork upwards.

"Yes!" Everyone followed suit with a cheerful shout.

They ate, they drank, and they talked. It took them an hour, but it was finally over.

"I'm stuffed…" Francesca moaned and fell flat on the floor.

"Yes… Yes… I will regret this tomorrow…" Franz muttered and stood up. "I would like to thank everybody for your hospitability, and for this magnificent dinner. Sadly, now I must go back to Neue Karlsland. Adolfine, let's go."

"Jawohl." She answered. "Toshiro, want to greet us of?"

Toshiro shrugged. "Why not. Coming."

"Can we go too?" Minna asked.

"Everyone can go if you like." Franz said.

"Everyone, attention! Form a line!" Minna shouted, and the girls listened.

Franz, Adolfine and Toshiro went first, and then Minna with the rest followed. The whole parade went down to the docks, and before the airboat. The Kaiser stopped, and turned around.

"I bid you farewell, 501st. You are a really nice bunch, and I'm glad that you are guarding Romagna. Toshiro, remember what I told you about Yoshika."

"I will, uncle. Hey, Adi?"

"Toshiro… If you call me Adi again even once, I'll wring your innards out…"

"Jeez… Okay… I didn't want anything…"

"Aufwiedersehen, Herr Kaiser!" The Karlslander Trio shouted in unison.

The Kaiser and Adolfine went into the airboat. The gangplank was pulled in, the rope untied, and the door closed. The engines started running, and soon, the BV 222 was only a speck on the sky.

"Whew…" Minna sighed aloud. "He finally left…"

"What, you don't like my uncle?"

"God forbid! But it's just that… we had to control ourselves and it stressed me out…"

"Told ya you should take it more easily… Well anyway, what now? The day is still young."

"We have to do an inventory, and after that some shopping tomorrow, or we will eat crackers and SPAM for tomorrows dinner." Minna said.

"Do it yourself then. I would've given uncle a Schnitzel mit Kartoffeln und Sauerkraut, and he would also be happy, but no… you had to make a damn feast…"

"Toshiro, you are the only one here that is a relative to the Kaiser, the three of us from Karlsland have at least some sense of dignity and respect."

"Are you implying I don't respect my uncle?"

"You really like to mince words… No, Toshiro, it's just that…"

"Okay, okay, I understand… Let's do what we wanted to do… Any volunteers for tomorrow's supply run?"

Shirley and Francesca raised their hands.

"I just knew you two will want to do it. The rest have free for the rest of today. Come on, Minna, let's get this done with."

"Yes, let's."

After some time in the pantry, Toshiro had compiled an exhaustive list of goods to procure, which he then put on paper in the office. Trude had some odds and ends to do at the archive, so Toshiro helped. Afterward, he helped Shirley with the racecar until supper. After supper, Yoshika went with Toshiro to his room.

"Say, Yoshika, why are you here so early in the evening?"

"Oh I just… Wanted you to check something…"

"What is it?"

Yoshika took of her uniform shirt, and the top of the swimsuit underneath.

"I want you to fondle my breasts."

"Huhwhat?"

"You heard me. You never, ever, fondle my titties. Why?"

"I really don't know… Maybe I'm afraid I could do something to them with my large hands?"

"Ugh…"

Yoshika took his hands and placed them on her breasts.

"There. How is it?"

Toshiro moved his hands a bit and said, "Very nice…"

"Now squeeze them."

"Are you sure?"

"But not too hard."

Toshiro squeezed Yoshika's breasts, and she gave off a moan of pleasure.

"Oh yes, that's it… I don't know why but… you squeezing my pairs… I'm wet…"

"Damn it girl, hold yourself!"

"I can't, Toshiro! Let's do it now!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

"MIYAFUJI! DOWN! NOW!" Mio yelled from down the stairs.

"Oh crud…" Yoshika sighed.

"Oh no, Mio won't interfere anymore, I will deal with her."

"Please don't hurt her…"

"I won't."

Toshiro went out of the room, and looked down at Mio.

"Mio… I appreciate your concern for applied military law, but grab that saya of your Reppumaru, and use it to pleasure yourself. Alternatively, go to Eila."

"What the fuck are you spouting on about?!"

"I'm telling you to fuck off and leave us alone. You can train her for all day, but in my room, you have no jurisdiction. IF you want to argue furthermore, first phone my uncle. Goodnight, Mio."

"But…"

"What, Mio…" Toshiro sighed.

"I just want to save her from unwanted pregnancy… Miyafuji has simply too much potential to waste her…"

"Oh, so that's your concern… Don't worry, Mio. Our familiars have all bases covered."

"Really?"

"Really. Sorry for being rude to you."

"Don't sweat it. I suppose I can allow for some relief after a day of hard training…"

"That's the spirit, Mio. Good night, again."

"Good night, Toshiro."

Toshiro returned back to the room, and saw Yoshika looking at him with a glad face.

"I heard everything." She said. "Sakamoto may have a pragmatic motive, but she does care about me…"

"Yes, Yoshika. Mio is only rough towards you for your own good. She really is a nice woman under that layer of rough skin."

"Heehee… Well, anyway… Where did we left off?"

"You said something about doing it now."

"Oh right… Come here!"

"Yes ma'am!"

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 :]