Chapter 36 – Wings of Freedom

My little ruse was one hundred percent successful. Yes, I'm sort of pissed off that Eila somewhat forced Yoshika into some vagina mashing. Yes, I'm pissed off that she actually succumbed into it. But who am I to restrain Yoshika's desires? I have brought this upon her and myself, probing her every day before my birthday… But this is actually interesting – Yoshika is bisexual. I don't know if that's a fad or something more permanent, but I guess I have to monitor her more carefully, or maybe Sanya will go at her… Speaking of which…

He slowly tried to get out of bed, but Yoshika lying naked on him successfully held him up.

"Toshirooo… It's five in the morning… Where are you going…" She moaned.

"I want to see Sanya beating Eila to a pulp."

"Why would she… Oh, I remember now… I'm sorry again, Toshiro…"

"Oh hush already… At least I learned something about you, heheheh…"

"Heh… Yeaaah… I sort of have this fancy for boobs… I didn't know I would go that far though…"

"So, are you joining me now?"

"Will you go spy on Sanya and Eila? That's mean, you know… You spied on me yesterday…"

"You went into the hangar yourself, I was there just checking the paint on the racecar. And I followed you and Eila only because I remembered one event from Britannia…"

"Huh?"

"I once walked into Eila's and Sanya's room while the former was… hmm… maybe massaging would be a good word…"

"Oh…"

"So, going?"

"I have this urge to see this… Come on!"

"Let's get dressed, for the love of Izanami…"

"Heehee…"

After they got dressed, Toshiro led Yoshika near Eila's room. He positioned her behind the corner, and he himself cloaked himself by the wall opposite of the room's door. Just in time, because Sanya was coming, a bit sleepy, but surely going forward. Suddenly, the door opened, and Eila ran up to her lover.

"Oh, good morning…" Sanya said.

"Eheheh, good morning, Sanya…"

"It's unusual for you to greet me at this time of the day… Did something bad happen…?"

Eila froze immediately and said, "Let's talk inside the room…"

"I don't like this…"

They disappeared into the room, and Toshiro scuttled near the door to hear better.

"Sanya… I have something to confess…" He heard Eila from behind the door.

"What happened?"

"You see… That massage I promised Yoshika yesterday… It ended up not being a massage…"

"I don't understand…"

"Yoshika and I… Went a bit further…"

Silence was the only thing present now. Toshiro imagined that Sanya is piercing Eila with a fiery stare now.

"I cheated on you, Sanya! Please forgive me!" Eila shouted suddenly.

More silence. Then, footsteps were heard inside, and a sound Toshiro knew well was also heard. After that, a thud was heard, and Eila said, "S-Sanya… I didn't knew you…"

"Of all the girls you had to cheat on me with… but Yoshika?! Our best friend, and Toshiro's girlfriend! Have you no shame!? Couldn't you wait only three incomplete months till my fifteenth birthday?! Were you that randy?!"

Silence after the storm. Eila was probably looking like a beat up dog at Sanya right now.

"I'm severely disappointed at you, Eila… Forget about snuggling for the next week. And pray I won't extend that punishment… Does Toshiro know already?"

"He actually caught us red-handed… And I wouldn't be so sure to say that he isn't spying on us right now…"

"Huh?"

"He followed us to our room back then…"

"Toshiro… If you're behind that door right now, please, reveal yourself…"

Crap…

Toshiro uncloaked himself, and waved to Yoshika, who was peeking over the corner. She silently ran up to him and asked, "What is it?"

"The shitstorm brewing there… Let's go inside, my cover is somewhat blown already…"

"Yikes…"

Toshiro opened the door, and entered the room, with Yoshika following him. Eila was sitting on the floor, with a big purple bruise around her left eye. Sanya was rubbing her right hand slightly as she said, "So Eila was right… Toshiro, Yoshika – I have to apologize you profusely for what my stupid girlfriend did yesterday, it won't happen again."

"I sort of expected you giving me the same treatment as Eila, heheh…" Yoshika laughed dryly.

"You are the victim here, Yoshika. Although I believe you had some pleasure from it… But that's not important right now. Toshiro, did you assign a punishment to Eila?"

"This was her punishment – confessing to you. She tried really hard to shut me up, but I was adamant about it. What would you do after she told you about yesterday in… let's say a year?"

"Hmmm…" Sanya pondered. "I would gouge her eyes out, simple."

Eila and Yoshika shuddered at her words.

"I'm kidding, but it would probably end with two bruises. Speaking of which – Yoshika, could you heal that one? I don't want Eila to parade with a bruise like that. I would prefer that all of this is kept under a lid for the time being. Can I have that promise from you all?"

Yoshika and Toshiro exchanged looks, and they nodded affirmatively.

"Thank you." Sanya said.

Yoshika approached Eila, and quickly healed her bruise. She heard a silent "Thanks".

"Sanya, I didn't knew you had it in you…" Toshiro carefully asked.

"Me hitting Eila? Toshiro, remember that the timid people are the most unpredictable when they cross the line. Blame it on my Slavic spirit…"

"Heh… Well, I guess we should leave your company for now…" Toshiro said.

"Yes, please. I still have some morals to knock into Eila's empty perverted head."

Toshiro and Yoshika exited the room.

"You know what… I'll go to my room now…" Yoshika said.

"Just don't molest Lynne."

"Why would you say tha… Oh, I see… Heehee… Nah, Lynne is too pure for me to defile her…"

"So you were actually considering it?" Toshiro raised an eyebrow.

"Ah… Well… Uwaaaaaah… I'm sleepy, till later!" Yoshika quickly ran away from Toshiro.

What did I get myself into… I guess I can run around a bit…

Toshiro went on his almost-daily jogging session until it was breakfast time. During breakfast, Eila looked as if nothing happened. Minna didn't look as if she suspected anything either, so Toshiro peacefully ate his bacon and eggs.

"Okay, the usual three – training time." Mio said.

"I'm not exempted?" Yoshika asked.

"The hell you would be? We're doing normal physical exercise today. It's your flying abilities that are defunct, not your legs, Miyafuji. Maybe some honest training will make your magic somewhat tamer."

"Eheheh, stupid me… Should I get a sword?"

"No, not today."

"Awwww… But why? I had a day's rest…"

"Not enough, especially with your unexplainable condition."

"Okay… I'm coming…"

The four exited the room.

"Hmmm… I forgot about the balance…" Minna mumbled. "Oh well, we'll do it after dinner…"

The girls looked at Minna a bit surprised.

"Don't mind me, girls. You'll get to know what I meant in due time."

"Hey, Toshiro, let's finish the paintjob!" Shirley shouted.

"Well, the paint should be dry-ish now… Will I even be helpful?"

"You can watch and keep Lucchini from messing anything up."

"Sounds good enough."

"Heeeey!" Francesca protested.

"Sorry, I'm not used to the new-and-improved Lucchini, heh… Let's go, Toshiro, I just have to fetch something from my room. You can go ahead."

"Kay."

Toshiro did as he was told, but Shirley caught up to him before he even got close to the hangar. She had a tube with her, and a scraper with rubberized tip.

"Decals?"

"You bet! I spent the whole evening tracing them!"

Toshiro noticed that she had a band aid on her left index finger.

"I see…"

"Ah, that…" She flustered. "Lucchini bumped into me…"

"Why didn't you fetch Yoshika?"

"You know how fast that little squirt ran for a band aid when she saw blood flowing from my finger? She could do a hundred meters in nine flat!"

"Hahaha! So, what designs did you prepare?"

"It's a secret!"

They approached the car, and Shirley touched the paintwork.

"Dry already. It's probably because of the relatively high temperature and good air circulation. All the better! Now watch and learn."

After an hour of watching Shirley placing the decals with meticulous precision, the end result was impressive.

The bonnet had 'Glamorous Shirley' written on both sides and two parallel white stripes were running through it from the front till the windscreen. Both the doors had their national flags, names and a decal of their own written over them, with Shirley above Toshiro to denote she's the driver. Shirley's decal was a Playboy rabbit, and Toshiro's, what was easy to imagine, a single edelweiss.

Under their names, big, colored decals from the race organizer were placed. The most prominent feature was of course the number – 13 in their case.

"I hope you're not superstitious, Toshiro?"

"Nope."

"Good, me neither."

"Nice work with the decals, but I believe there's a dominating theme here…"

"And that would be?"

"You."

"Eheheh… Well, I've always liked to put my name on my things…"

"Good that you didn't put a decal with your name on me while you still had an occasion…"

"Hah! You would probably rip it off with a piece of your skin and let Yoshika heal it!"

"Good retort! Good, hahah!"

"Pffff… I'm bored… The race is tomorrow…"

"Me too… I'll go to the radar room… Might as well be bored while doing something useful…"

"I think I'll just tinker around with the engine and see if everything is okay…"

"Do we have supplies for the race by the way?"

"Does the bear shit in the woods? Of course! Tires with rims and fuel aplenty!"

"My poor wallet… Ah well, time to go. Just don't break anything!"

"Yes sir!"

Toshiro went to the radar room and he did his shift half-asleep. When it was about to end, he received a call.

"Colonel Edelweiss…" He mumbled.

"It has been a long time, my former compatriot."

"Captain Sugita?"

"Correct, Colonel. We are now equally ranked, so let's skip the formalities. I'm Jinzaburo."

"Toshiro. So, what do you want, Jinzaburo?"

"I'm currently the captain of the Yamato, the pride of the IFN, and I'm leading a small fleet heading for Romagna as backup."

"The Yamato? Woooow…"

"An appropriate reaction, indeed, hahah! It's an honor be the captain of this mighty vessel!"

"So you're only giving us a heads up? No call for help or anything else?"

"No, no… Just a friendly shout-out, for old times' sake. You can visit us if you want, we will give you our current position."

"When I'm ready, I'll visit you, Jinzaburo."

"Don't dawdle though, we'll be in port by tomorrow. How is your current assignment? I heard you're a supervisor now."

"Ah yes… Basically I do a ton of paperwork…"

"Ahaha! It was good to talk with an old acquaintance, Toshiro. Have a good day."

"And a good day to you too, Jinzaburo."

I suppose I can tell Minna about this…

Toshiro went out of the room, and passed by Shirley.

"Decided to do your job, Shirley?"

"Yeah, bored dead… Might as well take example from you…"

"Good girl."

Toshiro entered the office, where Minna was strangely lying on Toshiro's desk, with only a bra covering her upper body.

"Oh, it's you…" She mumbled.

"Why are you on my desk?"

"Because my back hurts… The cold granite is relieving my pain…"

"Oh, okay then, go on…"

"I'm finished anyway... So, what's on?" She said while dressing herself.

"Captain Sugita phoned over. They're arriving in Romagna with the Yamato."

"The Yamato? Good! That ship's really something! I wish the Kriegsmarine had such a vessel…"

"We are too poor to build such a behemoth…"

"True… But looking at your desk…" Minna looked carnivorously at the said piece of furniture.

"Hey, maybe a good man donated it…"

"Maybe… Care to help me with some paperwork?"

"What now…?" He mumbled.

"The usual."

"Oh whatever…" Toshiro sighed.

Papers were written, signatures were given, and Francesca called them in for dinner. Apparently she and Yoshika joined forces, and made dinner together. Sanya and Eila sat beside each other, as if what happened during the last eighteen hours was void. Satiating himself with the divine food he was given, Toshiro announced, "Girls, special briefing in the aula, now. No questions asked."

They mumbled around, but started eating up and moving out. Toshiro ran first, and stood before the entrance, giving out copies of the balance. After everyone took their places, he started talking.

"What I gave you, is the balance of our unit. Let's go through it point by point."

Half an hour later, Toshiro finished. It seems that Erica and Francesca weren't particularly interested, as they were sleeping.

"So to sum up, Minna and I have a proposition for you. Minna?"

"We decided to spend some of our saving on miscellaneous items. We're going on a shopping trip in three days to Pescara, all of us, except for… Erica and me."

"Huh, why can't I go?" Erica woke up.

"You have another task planned for that day I believe…"

"I don't know what… Oh… Okay, I remembered now… But why aren't you going?"

"Someone has to look over this place… And by the way, Toshiro received a call today… Captain Sugita of the IFN is approaching Romagna on the biggest ship ever built – the Yamato."

"Ah, so it's finally coming?" Mio asked with a spark in her eyes.

"Yes, Mio." Toshiro confirmed.

"The Yamato?" Yoshika said. "I saw it!"

"You did?" Lynne asked.

"It was docked in Fuso for a few days. It's sooooooo huge!" She expanded her arms as much as physically possible.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Toshiro picked it up immediately.

"Colonel Edelweiss."

"I'm sorry for calling again, Toshiro, but I would like to recall upon that invitation…"

"What happened?"

"I have to request your presence post-haste. There was an explosion in the Yamato's sickbay, and a dozen men are now wounded, some heavily. I need you to dispatch a medic, preferably your good friend, Sergeant Miyafuji. We are approaching Romagna from the south-west, azimuth 168, about three hundred kilometers from your base."

"I understand… I will do what I can."

"Thank you in advance."

He hooked the phone and said.

"There was an explosion on Yamato. The captain wants us to dispatch a medic immediately."

"Oh my…" Minna gasped. "But…"

"I will go! I can't fight, but I can somehow fly and heal!" Yoshika shouted.

"I can also go! I can apply bandages to people!" Lynne joined her.

"I just knew they'd say that…" Perrine said with her princess tone.

"Yoshika, are you sure you can manage this?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes! Half and half make one, remember?" Yoshika recalled upon her first combat situation in Britannia.

"Heh… Yes… Okay then, I'm lifting your flight ban, but only under the condition I go with you. Gear up, we're leaving! The rest on standby!"

"Roger!" Everyone shouted.

The three ran into the hangar as if carried by the wind.

"Lynne, Yoshika, take your weapons just in case!"

"Will you be taking yours?"

"Yes. I have a new ammo type to test if shit comes raining down."

Toshiro ran up to the pile with new ammo, wrapped two belts around his body and loaded one into the MG. The tips of the bullets were coated in orange phosphorus.

"Toshiro, why not take that ammo rack thingie of yours?" Yoshika asked.

"It's bothersome. Besides, remember the Akagi? This setup also worked"

"Ah yes… This brings back memories…"

"Yoshika, remember to concentrate, and let Kuji help you on the flight."

"I will try my best."

"Good girl!"

They mounted the Strikers and flew off.

Toshiro paced the girls and himself to 300 km/h, so that Yoshika wouldn't have to strain too much with keeping her magic at bay. Despite that, her engine sputtered a few times here and there.

"Yoshika, are you doing okay?" Lynne asked concerned.

"Yes, yes. I just have to concentrate myself, or I'll have to use Toshiro as my lift, heheh…"

"Very funny…" Toshiro mumbled. "Look girls, there's the fleet."

The three of them looked forward, and saw the majestic Yamato being supported by other humongous ships.

"So big…" Lynne gasped in wonder.

"I see you and your friends, Toshiro." Sugita's voice came from the transponder.

"And we see your fleet, Jinzaburo. Where should we land?"

"Directly on the Yamato's aft. There's a lift to the hangar there."

Toshiro looked closer, and saw that they could indeed pull off such a landing.

"Thank you. Approaching for landing."

"We are landing on the ship?" Yoshika asked. "Looks difficult…"

"We have about 30-40 meters of makeshift runway, a piece of cake."

"Okay, I trust you."

"Me too." Lynne said.

They all slowly approached from the port side of the Yamato. Toshiro touched down firs, followed by Lynne and Yoshika. A flight deck attendant was waving them in with red flags to the lift, on which Launch Units were present. Toshiro noticed that the lift has a railing, connecting it to the two aircraft catapults on the stern. The docked into the Launch Units, and the lift slowly lowered them down into the hangar. The first thing that Toshiro saw, were three Mitsubishi F1M and four Aichi E13A long-range reconnaissance seaplanes. The second thing was somebody familiar. That somebody cringed when he saw Yoshika and Toshiro, but his professional side probably took over.

"Welcome on the Yamato, Colonel…"

"Would you look at that… I hope you won't be telling me to buzz off today?"

"No sir… Please, let's forget about that incident, there's no time."

"Lead the way then."

"Toshiro, who's that?" Yoshika whispered.

"Remember when the Akagi was attacked and you were healing one guy? This sanitary told you to buz off back then, but I forced some manners into him."

"Really? I must have been too busy healing..."

Toshiro sighed and they continued walking. After wandering through countless corridors, they arrived at the sick bay. It was a rather small room, and the wounded occupied every square inch.

"Please follow me further.

The three followed their guide to a man that looked like he's with one foot in the grave. He was covered with bloody bandages on his whole body, and was breathing shallowly.

"This man sustained the worse injuries. He had an open abdominal wound, but we managed to stitch him together. Alas, with the equipment here, he's a goner anyway…"

"I understand." Yoshika said and started her healing magic. "Lynne, get some fresh bandages."

"Okay."

Lynne ran to a cabinet, and pulled out some bandages.

"Change the man's bandages when I stop healing him."

"Okay."

After a moment, Yoshika stopped.

"Done."

"Truly amazing…" The sanitary said.

"Who's next? Yoshika asked.

"The man next to him."

"Understood."

Thus began Yoshika's healing marathon, during which she healed eleven men. While healing the twelfth, the sanitary said, "So this is the healing power of Miyafuji which everyone talks about… Amazing…"

"Yes… She helped me escape death a few times already…"

"Yoshika, are you okay? You've already healed so many people…" Lynne asked with concern resounding in her small voice.

"Nah, I'm totally fine. I can keep going on like that for a while." Yoshika answered carefree.

To think she would almost pass out after healing a cut back in Britannia, and now she healed a dozen men, and she's only slightly out of breath… Damn…

"Next one?" Yoshika asked.

"There are no more. This is the last casualty." The sanitary said,

"No more already…"

"Yes. Thanks to your help, everyone is going to be okay. I cannot thank you enough!" He shouted and pulled of his cap.

"Isn't this great, Yoshika?" Lynne cheered.

"Yes!"

The idyllic setting would soon turn into a nightmare, as the alarm went off.

"Neuroi?!" Toshiro asked.

As to confirm his words, the PA system announced the following.

"Battle stations, every man on his position! This is not a drill! Neuroi spotted on azimuth 320!"

"Let's go!" Yoshika shouted

"Yes!" Lynne answered and the girls ran away.

"Hey, hey, wait for me!" Toshiro shouted and ran after them, at the same time contacting with the base.

"Minna, Mio, can you hear me?!"

"Yes! We know already, sending reinforcements right now!" Minna responded.

"Roger!"

They ran back to the hangar. The whole ship suddenly rumbled, and Lynne fell on the ground.

"Lynne, are you okay?" Yoshika asked while pulling her up.

"Yes, I'm okay… That was so loud…"

"Nine 460 mm cannons, six 155 mm cannons, twenty-four 127 mm cannons and a fuckton of peashooters. They probably fired a full load…" Toshiro thought out aloud.

After arriving at the hangar, they saw that the Launch Units were moved inside the hangar.

"Yoshika, Lynne, get into the Strikers, I'll move the Launch Units."

"Okay!" The responded.

But Toshiro decided to watch for the time being. Lynne's Spitfire started immediately and she was ready for launch. Yoshika's 'Zeke' however started sputtering from the start and died.

"Cruiser Takao damaged!" The PA system announced.

Yoshika started huffing and puffing, but to no avail.

"Aaaaaaaawwww…" Yoshika moaned.

"Yoshika, i'm going in first. Toshiro, please stay with Yoshika for a bit." Lynne said.

"I can't let you go alone, Lynne."

"I'll be fine, Toshiro."

"As you wish. Go."

Lynne nodded and flew out, not waiting for Toshiro to move the Launch Unit.

"Wait! Lynne! Waaaaaaait!" Yoshika shouted. "Toshiro, let's go outside, I have to see how Lynne's doing!"

Toshiro took his gun and ammo, and passed Yoshika's gun to her.

"Let's go then."

They ran up to the top deck, and saw the enemy, a big Zeppelin shaped Neuroi, being actively combated by Lynne.

"Lynne!" Yoshika shouted and started shooting at the Neuroi.

Might as well…

Toshiro pulled the cocking lever, and started shooting at the enemy in tune with Yoshika. Yoshika's 12.7 mm ball rounds ripped away small holes from the Neuroi, but it wasn't much effective. Toshiro's 20 mm HEI-T rounds would make a nice light display in the night, but it was mid-afternoon right now. Each hit made twice a big damage as Yoshika, and causing small bits of the Neuroi to go ablaze. However without knowledge of the core's whereabouts, Toshiro decided to stop firing after expending one tape.

"Yoshika, stop, this is futile… We need Mio to look for the core…"

"But I have to help Lynne…"

"I know…"

Then, Toshiro saw as Lynne shield was hit, and she almost lost her balance.

"Mother fucker!" Toshiro shouted and summoned Aganaimaru. "Reppuzan!"

He swung his sword and unleashed a furious attack. It cut the Neuroi in half, but just after one half got disconnected from the other, it got pulled back, and the 'wound' was healed.

"Fuck my life… Without a core hit, I can fling Reppuzans all day…"

"Please… Captain… I can only buy you little time!" Lynne shouted through the transponder.

"Lynne…" Yoshika said silently and ran back the way they came here.

Toshiro ran after her. She jumped into the Wotan, and hastily tried to run it, but she seemingly forgot how to start it.

"Yoshika, what are you doing! With your small frame, it'll be dangerous for you to fly the Wotan! And I wouldn't let you go into battle just like that without preparing!"

"But Lynne… Lynne…"

Tears started streaking down Yoshika's little face. She got out of the Striker and stumbled. Toshiro ran up to her and caught her mid-air. She clung unto him.

"Why is this happening, Toshiro… Why…"

"There, there…" Toshiro stroke her head, trying to calm her.

"I'm sorry, Father… I can't keep my promise… I can't fly anymore! I can't protect anyone anymore!" She wailed.

"The Neuroi will pay dearly for making you cry… That's decided…"

"Sssh, Toshiro." Yoshika calmed down suddenly. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"My father! I hear dad's voice!"

"Impossible! You'r father is…"

"Shush!"

A door opened in the hangar's floor behind them. Shrouded in steam, a Launch Unit complete with Striker slid out. Yoshika and Toshiro approached it with reverence.

"What the…" Toshiro mumbled.

"A Striker Unit…"

"I've never seen such a Striker model… Yoshika, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Oh yes! Let's do it!"

"Hop in, I just spotted something…"

Toshiro ran to a plane, and pulled off a rag that was on its wing. He tied it around his face.

"Hahaha! I remember!" Yoshika laughed.

Toshiro moved behind Yoshika's new Striker's Launch Unit, and pushed it to the lift. Then he mounted his Striker, and tiptoed to the control panel. The lift started moving up.

"Remember the result last time?"

"Yes. You demolished the Neuroi because I hesitated."

"I hope it will be better this time."

"Me too! But Toshiro, don't you need a launch unit?"

"Pfeh… Wait a moment and you'll see."

"Heehee…"

Toshiro started his engine, and quickly changed the flight mode. The jet stream started crashing against the metal lift with slight force.

"I seeeeee…"

"You use the catapult, I'll be a bit flashier."

"Kay."

The lift finally stopped.

"Colonel, is that you? Hahaha! This brings back memories! But… No, that Striker is a prototype, it hasn't been tested yet!" Sugita said through the transponder.

"My previous Striker was a prototype. My current Striker is an even bigger prototype. Yoshika will manage somehow."

"Godspeed, Toshiro."

"Ready, Yoshika?"

"Ready!"

Yoshika revved up the engines of her new Striker. It was louder than the previous one, but still couldn't hold a candle to the Akuma.

"Go!"

Yoshika detached from the Launch Unit, and flew up the catapult, and up to the air. Toshiro hammered his Striker's engine, and flared straight up like a bottle rocket. He then started flying behind Yoshika, who was considerably faster than before.

"Yoshika, you're fast now!"

"Really? But that's irrelevant now, we have to save Lynne!"

"Right!"

After a few seconds, they saw that Lynne got another shot in the shield. It shattered before her, and she started falling to the sea.

"Lynne!" Both Yoshika and Toshiro shouted.

They flew under Lynne and caught her in the nick of time.

"Y-Yoshika! Toshiro!" Lynne cheered.

"I'm sorry we took so long, Lynne…" Yoshika said. "Toshiro, please hold her…" She said with a mysterious smile. "Give me my sword…"

"Our sword, Yoshika." He corrected her. "What do you intend to do?"

"Rain divine justice on that abomination… And to think that I was once mesmerized by one of them…"

Toshiro shrugged, and gave her Aganaimaru, which quickly changed into Yumemaru in Yoshika's hands.

Yoshika turned back to the Neuroi.

"How dare you… HOW DARE YOU ATTACK LYNNE!" Yoshika roared like a wild animal.

The Neuroi shot a big beam at Yoshika, but a shield the size of a barn protected her. She darted forward. The acceleration of her new Striker was unparalleled to any production Striker ever made. Even a vapor cone formed before her, but no bang was heard now. Yumemaru's blade started to glow blue, and Yoshika roared yet again as she was flying straight for the Neuroi.

"UNYOU!"

She pierced through the Neuroi like a hot knife through butter. The Neuroi then exploded into thousands of white crystalline flakes, with Yoshika in the middle.

Note to self – never piss of Yoshika.

"Toshiro, let me go." Lynne said silently.

"Okay."

Lynne flew up to Yoshika, who already dispelled Yumemaru. The both hugged as if they didn't see each other for ten years. Toshiro looked around, and saw the reinforcements finally coming from the north-west – Erica, Perrine, Trude and Mio.

"Too late y'all." Toshiro said to Mio once she flew up to him.

"What just happened, Toshiro? How did she get hold of the Shinden anyway?"

"Shinden?"

"The Kyūshū J7W1 Shinden. It was still being built when I was in Fuso…"

"It sort of slid out of the hangars floor in the Yamato…"

"Really… And how did she kill the Neuroi?"

"Cloud Spark."

"How the fuck…"

"I don't know…" Toshiro outright lied.

"Ah well… It may have been a fluke…Time for us to go back."

"Yeah… I bet Yoshika any Lynne are pooped now."

"And you look like a spring flower, hah!"

"Only shot a belt of my new ammo and swung a Reppuzan, nothing to be tired from, heheh…"

"Yet again, I have to thank you and Miyafuji, Toshiro…" Sugita said through the transponder. "Thank you very much."

"And what about Lynne? She stalled the sucker for quite some time…"

"Ah yes… Thank you two, Master Sergeant Bishop. And while we are at the topic of thanking, the Shinden is now the property of the 501st. It was initially to be transported by land after we dock, but… Toshiro, could you fly by the brig and take the documentation from me?"

"Sure thing."

Toshiro flew by the well windowed brig, from which Sugita was looking out. He carefully hovered to him, which was easy thanks to the properties of the jet engine.

"Maybe I will send you another bottle of sake, what do you think?"

"Ah now… That sake bottle turned out a bit… dangerous for my life…"

"Then maybe… Supplies for you unit?"

"With utmost pleasure, Jinzaburo." Toshiro said and flew back to Mio with a fat bundle of documents.

"I see you'll have a few night worth of reading, huh?"

"Heh… Well anyway, we will get some supplies."

"I just hope it won't be those rotten beans again…" Perrine mumbled, to which everyone started laughing.

The sun was slowly setting, so Toshiro decided to wrap it up.

"Mio, no praise for Yoshika and Lynne?"

"I praised them while you were getting the papers."

"Is that true?" Toshiro asked the aforementioned.

Lynne and Yoshika nodded.

"Okay then, let's go back. You deserve some rest, and I apologize to our backup, for dragging you out."

"Better safe than sorry." Trude said. "And Minna sent us out a second before you contacted her, heheh…"

"Don't laugh just yet… Remember what a True Soldier of Karlsland has to do after battle?"

"Rest?" Erica asked innocently.

"Reports…" Trude sighed. "But hah, I almost didn't participate!"

"Lucky you… Ah, then you can write them up! Good job volunteering, Trude!"

"Wha… Who… Ugh, whatever…" Trude agreed discontented.

"Everyone, return to base!" Toshiro shouted.

"Affirmative!" The girls shouted.

Toshiro flew up to Yoshika and Lynne and said, "Good job you two. Yoshika, I want to talk with you afterwards."

"Okay!" She answered with a radiant smile.

The whole group landed in the bases hangar. The sky outside was already bloody orange. After stowing away their equipment, everyone wanted to go their way.

"Hey, Toshiro, come on, we have to write those reports." Trude hurried him.

"Wait a moment, I want to talk to Yoshika a bit."

"Okay, but don't make me wait too much, I'm already pissed off you forced me into this…"

"Two minutes, that will be all I take."

Toshiro swiftly grabbed Yoshika and ran away with her out of the hangar.

"Oooh, you must have something important to talk about…"

"Yoshika… How did you perform the Cloud Spark?"

"I… I just thought about it, and bam, done. I was reaaaaaally pissed off at the Neuroi…"

"Bad idea, Yoshika. This means that most likely the sword performed the technique for you."

"Huh?" Yoshika tilted her head with a cutesy smile on her face.

"Don't try to play dumb, Yoshika. This is a really dangerous matter. Magic swords can grant wishes of power to their wielders, but it comes with a hefty price tag. They only see the energy expenditure needed for the technique to be performed, not taking your current condition into account. You were lucky, Yoshika. You only settled for a Cloud Spark. But if you wanted to do a Reppuzan, or gods forbid, the thought of doing a Shin Reppuzan would linger in the back of your head, then it would probably outright kill you. Well, it would kill you, if it wasn't Yumemaru. Amaterasu told me that this sword, in whatever form, has a 'breaker' of sorts, and the maximum it can take from you is your ability to use magic. Do you understand me, Yoshika?"

Yoshika looked at him with a serious look and said, "Yes…"

"Remember this, Yoshika – your own strength is far better that strength gained through magic swords or artefacts. I forbid you to perform whatever sword technique unless you do on your own accord. Or if your life is in danger, then I permit you to do a NORMAL Reppuzan. Seeing how your magic potential rose over the course of time, I think that doing a Reppuzan at your top disposition wouldn't be a threat. Train hard, Yoshika, and you will be able to do a Cloud Spark, and then maybe one day, a Reppuzan through your own strength… Hey, don't yawn when I'm giving you an epic speech!"

"Uwwah… Sorry... But I'm tired… You know, Cloud Spark…"

"Okay you little rug rat… Go and rest, Lynne is probably half dead herself. Don't bother getting up and molesting me in the middle of the night."

"Heehee, okay, I'll be selfish and rest on my own. Can you carry me back?"

"Sure, sure…"

Toshiro grabbed her and zipped back to the hangar, where a sleepy Lynne and slightly irritated Perrine were waiting.

"Don't snatch Yoshika away like that, I want to know what happened in the battle!" Perrine pouted.

"Yeah, yeah… She's all yours."

Toshiro went on to the office, were Minna and Trude were waiting.

"Let's begin, Mädels (ladies)."

It took them until sunset to finish the reports. Trude was excused, and Minna proposed, "Let's look at that new Striker, okay?"

"Sure."

They went down to the hangar, and saw Mio standing before said Striker.

"So this is the new Fuso unit?" Minna asked.

"Yes, the Kyūshū Hikōki Kaisha Kabushikigaisha J7W1 'Shinden', 'The Magnificent Lightning'. I've heard they ran into a roadblock during production, but thanks to blueprints from Dr. Miyafuji, they aparently managed to complete it." Mio explained.

"Blueprints?" Toshiro asked.

"Ah, yes, I didn't tell you both. The reason why Miyafuji saw me leaving Fuso, was because she got a letter from her father with blueprints inside. She went inside the base, and wandered up to the radio room. She apparently heard Lynne calling for help, at least that's what I heard while standing in the doorway. I took the blueprints from her, and threw her out from the base. Of course she didn't know why I treated her so harsh, because I didn't tell her that she was sacked from the military. But that stubborn dink captured a Striker and just flew behind me... But you know that already..."

"So that's what happened. Well, the Striker looks like custom build for Yoshika, right, Toshiro?"

"Pretty much."

"Incredible... Her old Striker just couldn't cope with her magic power... Toshiro, you have immense magic power, why didn't your Strikers malfunction like that?"

"High capacity engines and top of the line experimental parts. They were simply overkill to put it simply. Plus, my engines had the limiter disabled."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. It was put into 'pass-through' mode, because apparently they couldn't build a limiter fit for me, heheh… So I have to exercise caution, and that's probably why I have my FFG – I have to monitor my Striker's parameters by hand. A production Striker is simply made to last, a balance between reliability, speed and maneuverability."

"Now she'll probably be able to reach her full combat potential..." Mio mumbled

"She might not be a rookie anymore, Mio." Minna said with a smile.

"Damn it… Damn it to hell… I didn't expect her to evolve so fast…"

"Toshiro, news flash – Kuji analyzed why Yoshika had such an upgrade to her magic potential over the night."

"Why?"

"Apparently, when Kuji helped her focus during sword training, it triggered her magic system to rebuild itself. You know, a similar way you gain muscles gain in strength."

"So her magic system was damaged during training? And that's why she was so weak?"

"Yes."

"I'll kill that fucking mutt…"

"It's actually a good thing. Now she's even stronger than ever, and has even bigger potential. Toshiro, if Yoshika had the training and recklessness you have, she could match or even top you in terms of power."

"Daaaamn… So I can let her train with the sword whenever she likes now?"

"Yup. There are no contradictions to it now."

"Should Mio know about this?"

"Yes, tell her, but only her. The rest of the rabble can bite my white scaly ass for all I care."

"Time for supper, methinks?" Toshiro said.

"Ah, yes, it's about time." Minna said, "Coming, Mio?"

"Yeah…"

Lynne and Yoshika weren't present at supper. From what Perrine told, the two just slumped down in their beds and are sleeping. After supper, Toshiro nabbed Mio behind the dorm.

"Hey, Toshiro, getting randy thoughts? I'm not in the mood for horseplay…"

"Because of Yoshika?"

"Yes, because of Miyafuji."

Toshiro relayed what Yuki told him.

"Really?"

"Really. You can do sword training with her all you want. And please, teach her Unyou."

"But she did it on her own today…"

"That was probably a rage induced fluke. If you'd seen her before her assault, daaaaaaamn girl, she almost looked like I felt when someone insulted my mother."

"Haha! Yeah… Emotions could play a part in that attack… Did you write a report?"

"Yup, it's in the office now."

"Good. I'll read it tomorrow before breakfast, if you allow it of course."

"Be my guest, just don't mess up my papers."

"Have a good night, Toshiro, although I reckon you'll study the docs of the Shinden, right?"

"As if you'd read my mind! Hah! Good night, Mio."

Toshiro went to his room. He made himself a bath, and afterwards he started reading the docs he was given.

"Toshiro, its 2300, go to sleep. Tomorrows also a day."

"Okay, Yuki. Thanks for caring about me, heheh…"

"If it weren't for me, you'd forget how to breathe, hah!"

Toshiro laid the papers on his nightstand and went on a visit to dreamland.

Obscure Attack on Titan reference!

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 :]