Chapter 39 – Beach antics

Hmm… Sure feels nice to have Yoshika back in gear, heheh… And she looks so nice, clinging to my body in sleep… All naked… It almost makes me not wanting to tease her… NOT!

Toshiro's finger started slowly wandering up Yoshika's body, from her thigh, past her left buttock, up through her left side. When his finger was nearing her left breast, Yoshika shuddered slightly and murmured, "And what happened to "good morning dear"?"

"I somehow forgot it, reminiscing last night…"

"Oh… Heehee…" She said with her eyes still closed.

She pulled herself up a bit, kissed him in the cheek and said, "Sleep, Toshiro… You don't have to jog… Your body is in peak condition anyway…"

"Awww, but Yoshika…"

"Hold me you dumbo, I want to be with you…"

"Oh okay… Just today…"

"And whenever I feel like it..."

"And whenever you feel like it…" Toshiro corrected himself with a smile.

"Cover me with a blanket, its cold…" Yoshika mumbled.

Toshiro covered her with a blanket, and she tucked herself into it and Toshiro alike.

"Good night, I'll wake you up when I'll be going to the kitchen…"

"Good night, sweetie…"

Good morning more like it… Oh well, if it's so simple to please Yoshika, then I'll do it. And she's right – a one rest from jogging won't harm me. Hah! But we're going to the beach! Swimming ahoy! Trude will have a field day with me, heheheh… But okay, I'll take a nap. With such a sweet and warm hugging pillow, it will be a chinch to fall asleep.

"Toshiroooo… Wake up time…" Yoshika said with a melodic voice, pulling his cheek gently.

"Hhhhhhmmmmmmrrrrr… Okaaay…" Toshiro stretched himself across the whole bed.

He opened his eyes, and saw that Yoshika was already dressed.

"Catch!" She shouted while suddenly throwing his uniform at him.

Toshiro didn't dodge, so everything fell on his face.

"Heeeeey, Toshiro, no fun…" Yoshika pouted. "By the way, why do you wear the same uniform all the time? You have other ones too…"

"Ask the others why they use their same clothes over and over again. My uniform is actually fashionable if you look at it from that angle."

"Care to explain?"

"The black material contrasts with my pure white hair, and underlines my crimson red eyes. And the uniforms of the Heer are… bleh, Feldgrau… Minna knew what she did giving me a Luftwaffe uniform."

"Hmmm… Now when I think about it… You really do look sexy in that uniform… And I feel somewhat respectful towards you…"

"Ah, so if I'd be in my uniform while in bed, you'd be on the bottom more often?"

"Hahahahahaha!" Yoshika laughed suddenly. "Oh… Ohohoho… Toshiro… You know why I prefer to be on top?"

"Why?"

"Cause you'd smush me! You're about fifty kilograms heavier, and over forty centimeters higher!"

Not for long I hope… Kuji, go for it!

"It's bad enough I have to put up with that schlong of yours…"

"I can go and circumcise myself. Maybe that will help a bit…"

"No way!" Yoshika protested.

"My, my, Yoshika, I didn't know you knew such words…" Toshiro feigned shock.

"I want to be a doctor you know… Whatever now, come on, you'll help me make breakfast."

"Okay, but let me dress myself…"

"You know whaaaat… I want to button your shirt…" Yoshika said with a faint blush.

"Tired of doing it the other way around?" Toshiro asked with a smirk.

"Hah, you bet!"

After a few minutes of horseplay, Toshiro and Yoshika finally wandered to the dorm's kitchen. Lynne was already waiting for them.

"Hi, Lynne!" Yoshika greeted her energetically.

Lynne, somewhat out of character, simply puffed her cheeks angrily.

"Oh, what is it?" Yoshika asked.

"You slept at Toshiro's room again… I don't even want to know if you did it…"

"But what's wrong with that?" Toshiro asked. "Even my uncle approves…"

"I… I…" Lynne's cheeks almost went ablaze. "I'm used having Yoshika in the room when I'm sleeping…"

"Does is have some sexual subtext?" Toshiro asked just like that.

"NO! Uhm, sorry, that was too loud… It's just… Have you ever had a teddy bear to sleep with?"

"Nope."

"I did." Yoshika answered.

"Was it hard for you to stop sleeping with it?"

"Well, yes… It took me a few months to get rid of the impulse to search around for it during the night… Wait, Lynne, do you say I'm like a teddy bear to you?"

"Ahemmm… Uhhh… More like a night light… I just feel safer with you around…"

"Dawwwww, Lynne… You're so sweet… Okay, I promise to try to return from my nightly escapades, okay?"

"Okay…"

"But you have to understand that Toshiro is now my object of affection, and that it could be difficult for me to return sometimes…"

"Don't go into details, please… I understand…" Lynne squirmed around. "So, Toshiro… Will you be helping us with breakfast?"

"Yeah… Yoshika asked me, so I'm here."

"How nice of you… Go fetch everything for a light breakfast, I don't want us to drown, heehee…"

"Yes ma'am!"

As breakfast was being prepared, the steady stream of witches flew into the dining room. The most surprising participant of breakfast was Sanya.

"Sanya, you're up right now? What happened?" Toshiro asked while giving out food.

"We took turns on night patrol with Eila so we can go to the beach together. Eila will wake up in two hours or so, so if it's not a bother…"

"Nah, we need the air and water to warm up a bit anyway. Ten will be a good time to start our little trip. But you two didn't tell me anything about your little… swap…"

"They told me, Toshiro. I think that's enough, right?" Minna asked.

"Meh, okay, I'm fine with that. And let me guess – it was after I went out with Yoshika?"

"Yes."

"Seriously, Sanya, I don't bite. But whatever, case closed for now, let's eat."

After satisfying their stomachs, everyone went their way. Toshiro however, was silently following Perrine to her room. Until she approached her room, she had no clue that she was tailed, but then she looked back.

"Waaah! What are you doing sneaking up on me, Toshiro?!"

"You know what I want, Perrine…"

Perrine furled her eyebrows, looked around hastily and said, "Okay, come on in quickly, I'll show you…"

Toshiro quickly went into her room, and the door was closed behind him

"You're really nosy and persistent, but I suppose I owe you some explanation… Especially since you helped me so many times…"

Perrine approached the cupboard, and opened the lowest drawer. She pulled out something and turned around. A rapier in a bluish sheath was lying on her hands.

"So this is what you were hiding? Why the hassle?"

"This is my family heirloom, Toshiro… It's a precious gift, both in terms of sentimental and monetary value… I… I didn't want it to be damaged or something…" Perrine said while looking to the side.

"I somehow feel you aren't telling me the whole truth… Have I ever let you down, Perrine?"

"No… But… I'll tell you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, okay… Don't force yourself if you don't want to…"

"Thanks for being so considerate… Want to have a go at my rapier?"

"Really?"

"Yes… I think you aren't a clumsy clunker like your girlfriend sometimes is, so you won't damage it, won't you?"

"I'll try my best, heheh…"

"Here…" She said and passed the blade on to him.

He unsheathed it and weighed in in his hand.

"It has a very good balance, nigh perfect… I would say it's about two grams off to the top of the blade…"

Toshiro made a few cuts and prods on the side and sheathed the rapier back.

"It is a really good blade, Perrine. I'm surprised you're not using it in combat."

"How can a gentle flower like me use such a beautiful blade in such a brutish way?! Humpf!" Perrine puffed her cheeks.

"Gentle flower my ass…" Toshiro said and threw the blade on her bed. "Remember to be ready for ten, or Mio will be angry." Toshiro teased her.

"Oh, the Major… Well, I suppose I have to do my best…" Perrine said while holding her face. "Okay, shoo now, I have to prepare myself."

"Everyone is shooing me away recently… I hope you'll dazzle everyone with your swimsuit, heheh…"

"Oh go already, pervert!"

Toshiro went out of the room, and pondered on what to do. Thus, he went up to his room and read the docs for Yoshika's Striker a bit, finally finishing the arduous task.

Now I know everything! Dunno why the fuck did I read this stuff actually, but I could probably fix it with pliers and copper wire now, heh…

Toshiro changed into his swimming trunks, and put his keys in the waterproof bag, just in case.

He ran down to the junction, and saw Mio and Minna were there.

"Ah, Toshiro!" Mio shouted. "Prepared already?"

"Sure thing."

"So, maybe for old times' sake, you could pull out the dummy Strikers out of the storage?"

"Are you kidding me? Why don't the girls do it on their own? They could use more muscle on those straws they call arms."

"Oh come on, Toshiro…" Minna started rubbing against him. "The poor girls will have their exercise today, Mio and I can guarantee you that…"

"Are you stalling me off for some reason?"

"Yes…" Minna admitted.

"And that would be?"

"I want everyone to assemble in one place, that's all…"

"You want me to get a nosebleed from all the beauty gathered in one place? Or induce a surprise boner maybe?"

"Both would be nice, hahahaha!" Mio laughed aloud.

"Oh, whatever, at least follow me, I want some company…"

The trio went down to the supply room, and after a bit of rummaging, Toshiro had three pairs of dummy Strikers tied together with straps on both of his shoulders.

"Say, Toshiro… We're near the wine cellar…" Minna said seductively.

"After we come back, Minna. Swimming, tanning and alcohol don't go well together."

"Oh okay… Come on, let's go to the girls. And by the way, Mio, I'm disappointed…"

"At what?"

"You didn't buy a new swimsuit…"

"I'm not here to please you, you perv… Spoiler alert – Miyafuji also didn't bother, from what I know."

"Aw crap…"

After a few minutes, they were before the common room door. Toshiro dumped the Strikers, and went in, and as predicted, he almost got a nosebleed from the raw beauty he saw. Shirley was sitting with Francesca on her lap, with the latter sporting a new lime bikini with two horizontal white stripes, both on top and bottom of the upper part, which was by the way supported by one white strap, and one on the upper part of the bottoms.

Sanya, with a rather meager black bikini with a small red ribbon on her bandeau's top, sat near Eila, who in term had a Malibu blue tank top and black shorts with a belt matching the top.

Erica had an bright gray one-piece swimsuit with a Luftwaffe insignia on her chest, and Trude sitting beside her, had a swimsuit that was mostly camo green, but had dune black sides, and of course a white Luftwaffe eagle on her voluptuous chest.

Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine were huddled up against the wall.

Oh bother… Yoshika really didn't but a new swimsuit… Fuck… But whatever, heheh… I see her naked for enough time to have a better overview of her body…

Lynne had an azalea pink swimsuit, with white straps, and Perrine had a cranberry colored bikini, with a sporty top and low cut bottom.

The girls immediately looked at him, lustrating him from top to bottom. The stares wouldn't end until Toshiro said, "Are you all going to burn holes in my body for the whole day, or are we going out?"

"Beach!" Francesca cheered.

"BEACH!" Erica shouted.

"Everyone, let's go." Minna commanded. "Yoshika, Lynne, Perrine – you follow Mio and me. The rest can do whatever they like. Toshiro, you know what you have to do, right?"

"Yeah, yeah…"

Before the screaming rabble would run past him, Toshiro quickly exited the room and lifted up the Strikers. Soon, Erica ran out tugging Trude by the arm, closely followed by Shirley and Francesca. Eila and Sanya were slowly making their way, while the Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine obediently followed Mio and Minna. He tagged on to the last group.

Approaching the beach, Toshiro would see the girls were frolicking in the sand or water, with Eila and Sanya just sitting there with their legs pulled up against their chests. Toshiro walked up to the small cliff, and placed the Strikers there.

"Thank you, Toshiro!" Minna said with a smile. "Now go do whatever you want, and leave the girls to us."

"Kay…" He said and looked at Yoshika. "Tough luck, Yoshika…"

"I'll manage…" She mumbled.

Toshiro had a sense of déjà vu as he was diving off the cliff, but that didn't bother him. He swam up to Trude, who began doing her rounds in the water.

"So, Trude… How's the water?"

"Good. Ideal temperature for swimming! Care to join me?"

"Of course! Us Karlslanders have to keep together, right?"

"Haha! Hey, Hartmann! Stop doggy paddling and use a proper swimming style!"

"But I don't wanna!"

"Do it or I'll ban you from eating sweets entirely!"

Erica furled her eyebrows and switched to a breaststroke.

"Happy?!"

"Of course! Now join us."

Erica probably said some profanities, but everything was muted by the water covering her mouth.

For the next hour, the three of them swam circles before the beach. When Trude let her guard down, Erica dived and scooted off. Toshiro just shrugged it off, and went on for another hour. He saw that in the meantime the three trainees were being made to do the drill over and over again – crawl up on the cliff, put the Striker on, dive, emerge – rinse and repeat.

Toshiro ditched Trude, and swam up to Mio and Minna, who were overseeing the training from the bottom of the cliff.

"Not too much training for one day?" He asked.

"They still have some power left, I can see it in their eyes!" Mio shouted with passion.

"Ah, fuck it… I'll just go get some tan. Minna, why don't you come with me? You're standing here with Mio like a scarecrow."

"I don't know… Should I, Mio?"

"Go if you like, you look a bit pale to be honest."

"Okay, I'm going."

Toshiro jumped out of the water beside Minna, and the both went on to the sand.

"Where should we lie down?" She asked.

"Wherever… Afraid of sand?"

"Oh you, don't mock me!" She said and simply slumped down where she stood. "Satisfied?"

"Very." He said and lied down beside her. "Time to sleep."

"Yuki, wake me up when I'm frying on one side, okay?"

"I'll wake you up just a wee bit sooner, okay?"

"Heheh…"

Poking in the face woke him up. He couldn't move his limbs right now, so he opened his eyes a bit scared. He saw that his body was covered in a massive sand mound.

"Hardy har har… Who was the wise guy?"

"We!" A choir of voices sounded from the side.

He saw Trude, Erica and Shirley grinning at him shamelessly.

"Francesca wasn't with you? I'm shocked!"

"She went fishing in the rocky area an hour ago."

"And an hour ago would be…"

"Two hours since you started napping."

"So I slept three hours in the sun?"

"Well, you were turning on your own. Seems Yuki had something to do with it." Shirley explained.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then go fetch her for me, I believe she would want to see this." Toshiro said.

"Kay. Maybe I could also fetch Yoshika?"

"Why not…"

Shirley ran away to the south part of the beach, beyond the cliff.

"You should be ashamed, Trude… Playing a prank on your superior officer…"

"Don't you try to trick me again…"

"HAB ACHT!" Toshiro yelled suddenly.

Trude snapped into attention before his words even faded into thin air.

"Works every time… For your despicable deed, I sentence you to… Hmmm… You know what? I'll be lenient today, Trude."

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!"

"At ease… Heh…"

"I hate you sometimes, Toshiro…" Trude hissed.

"Heeey, everyone! I can't find the girls!" Shirley shouted running in from the south.

"What happened, Shirley?" Toshiro heard from his other side.

He turned his head over and saw Minna standing there with Mio.

"I can't find Lucchini, nor the three that had training."

"We have to investigate this…" Minna murmured. "Toshiro, you're a good swimmer, you have to come with us."

"I would even if you didn't ask." Toshiro said and rose up from the sand like a mummy from a cheap horror novella, destroying the mound he was buried under.

"Awwww… So much work to naught…" Erica muttered.

"You said rocky place over there?" Toshiro asked Shirley, pointing out to the south.

"Yup. I didn't find them there though. I just found something weird…"

"Let's go anyway, I have ways of finding people… Eila, Sanya – you both coming?"

"Huh? Do we have to?" Eila asked.

"You don't."

"Then we won't."

Toshiro sighed and the search party went on. The arrived at a place where there was a small opening in the wall. There was also a stack of opened chests and a mound of seaweed lying beside them.

"Is that the weird stuff you found?" Toshiro asked.

"Yup. All empty."

"What do you think, Minna?"

"They might have found a treasure while diving here. Judging by the level of complication of the containers, and by the construction of this one…" Minna picked up a small chest, opened like a gutted fish. "…they most probably found a map or something."

"Pirate treasure?" Trude asked. "Horseshit…"

"You never know, Trude… The Mediterranean was a very busy sea in the days… Well anyway, time to look for the girls. Let me concentrate…"

Toshiro concentrated all his magic and started looking through the rocks.

"Too thick, Toshiro. Even I have my limitations. You can look through multiple layers of walls, because the mortar is of lesser density than the material they bond."

"Today I learned… I'll have to take a dunk, that hole in the wall looks suspicious…"

"I think I feel a faint present through that crack… Wait a second… Hold your hands aside of your temples so the light going into your eyes will be reduced."

"Like so?"

"Okay, okay… I'll enhance your vision a bit… There! You see!"

"Awfully bright but yeah, I see…"

"Okay, girls, I'll be diving now."

"Shouldn't we assist you?" Erica asked.

"I have to find a path first, then I can let you go."

"Kay, go for it!"

Toshiro did a dolphin dive into the water. Already he could see passage. He swap forward and emerged after thirty meters.

"Wooooow…" He gasped silently. "Pretty…"

He saw hundreds of small lights flickering on the roof of the grotto he found himself in.

The light passing through that small crack in the wall above the water must cause caustics, and thus reflect upwards… The distance to the roof is fairly big for such a small amount of light, so one can only see small dots… Fascinating…

Toshiro looked further into the grotto, and saw two passageways near each other.

Yoshika and the others took one of them, that's sure. I doubt they would split up, those scaredy cats…

Toshiro dived and returned to the rest.

"So, what is it?" Minna asked.

"There's an underwater grotto there. Don't worry, a chain smoker with pneumothorax and tuberculosis could hold his breath for long enough to reach it."

"Then we're going." Mio said. "Everyone, dive!"

"Roger!"

Mio and the rest joined Toshiro, which now also submerged himself. He pointed out the direction and swam forward. He emerged first, and got out on the rock floor.

"Wooooooooooooow…" He could hear the collective gasp of the rest.

"Not bad, huh?" Toshiro asked.

"So pretty…" Shirley said.

"Let's investigate, we don't have time for sightseeing." Mio said.

They went ashore, and Minna asked Toshiro, "So, where'd they go?"

Trude looked around and saw wet footsteps ending just before the fork.

"It seems we'll have to split…" She said.

"Too risky. We'll try… right, okay, Toshiro?" Minna asked.

"Sure, right it is."

They ventured on through the cave. It turned out to be a rather long corridor, somehow dimly lit. After the initial few meters, the solid rock wall gave way to stone walls embedded into the cave, with pillars every now and then.

"Boy, they are surely doing a run for their money those girls…" Erica grumbled.

"But exploring like this is fun!" Shirley said.

"We're not here to have fun, Elwyn." Trude berated her.

"This looks like a man-made cave." Mio pondered.

"From what Galland told me, this place is the ruins of an old witch community." Minna explained. "Maybe this cave is part of it."

"Ancient history at our doorsteps… Who would've thought…" Toshiro said.

After some time they wandered up to something similar to an oversized fireplace with an enormous vase on top of it.

"Wow, that's one impressive pot…" Minna said.

"Our predecessors must have made it." Mio said proudly. "It's incredible."

"It really is." Minna said.

"I feel a faint scent from the pot…"

"What is it, Yuki?"

"Wine."

"Few hundred year old wine? Damn, want!"

"Hey, girls…"

"What is it?" Minna asked.

"Yuki told me that…"

Suddenly, something made a sound. Toshiro looked in the direction of it, and saw that Erica leaned against something.

"Erica… Methinks you leaned against a pressure plate…" Toshiro said.

"A what?"

"Look out, everyone, something bad might happen…"

Then, Mio shouted, "Watch out!"

She pushed Minna into Toshiro's arm, and the big vase landed on Mio with a loud bang, spilling crimson liquid around.

"Major!" Shirley and Trude shouted.

Minna screamed, looking at her stained hand.

"Wh-What is this?" She asked with panic in her eyes.

"Girls, don't panic, it's just…"

It was too late for reasoning. Trude powered up her magic, and smashed the pot to bits.

Hundreds of liters of few hundred year old wine… Gone… I want to cry…

"You did it!" Shirley shouted as Mio emerged from the red tidal wave of wine, sitting like as if she was meditating, with her head hung low.

Minna ran up to her and asked, "Mio, are you okay?! Say something!"

"Hold on a second…" Trude said and started sniffing her hand. "What's this smell…"

"I wanted to tell you the whole fucking time, but you are such hotheads… That was all wine, Yuki felt it. You all just wasted about… well, a cubic meter of ancient wine…"

"Oh crap… What a waste..." Minna said. "Mio… Are you okay?"

Mio suddenly raised her hands with a wild shout.

"BANZAAAAAAI!"

Her cheeks were flaming red, and she looked a bit woozy. And she indeed seemed to doze off.

"Huh?! Uh… Mio? Are you all right?" Minna asked.

"After guzzling down so much wine, she's probably out till Friday, heheh…" Toshiro said with a smug face.

Mio then opened her eyes, and looked at Minna.

"I'm awkay, Minna… I'm shuper dewper!"

She leaned over and gave Minna a kiss. Minna's eyes opened wide, and one could literally hear as Mio's tongue was in work.

"M-Major?" Shirley asked stumped.

"W-w-w-w-w…" Trude couldn't complete a single word.

Minna fell down on the floor. Mio then looked at Toshiro, and pounced at him. Before he could even react, she gave him the same treatment as she did Minna.

Oh crap… Mio's tongues is swirling like a kitchen mixer… She tastes like wine, smells like wine, sea salt and sweat… And a bit of… azalea…

Mio detached herself with a pop, and ran away with a wicked cackle. Toshiro must have looked like he saw a ghost, because Shirley asked, "Hey, T-man… Are you okay?"

"Ahem… Um, I'm fine… And I told you not to call me that. Crap, Mio going crazy is the last thing we need…"

He approached Minna and gently smacked her on the cheek a bit.

"Out…"

He took her on his back and said, "After Mio, we can't let her run around this no man's land like that…"

"Roger!" Trude said.

They ran after Mio relentlessly, but Toshiro was at handicap carrying Minna.

"Will this cave never eeeeend…" Erica moaned.

"I think I see light!" Toshiro shouted.

He ran through a doorway into the light, and saw an enormous room. He once saw a drawing of a similar room – the drawing of how the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens could have looked like. He saw Perrine, Lynne, Francesca and Yoshika stand beside something that could be an enormous throne. There was some beheaded statue kneeling before said throne.

"You girls will have a looooot of explaining to do…" Toshiro said with disappointment.

"Toshiro, we found a treasure map and…" Francesca tried to explain herself but she was interrupted by Yoshika.

"Please, Francesca, let me do it… You see, Toshiro, Francesca saw a treasure chest on the sea floor, and we all dived to retrieve it. The one to retrieve it was Perrine, but she gave us a nice scare, because her head was tangled up in some kelp. After clearing that misunderstanding, Francesca picked open the lock on the chest, and there was another chest inside, and so on… I believe there's a toy from Orussia… Matrioshka dolls! Well, anyway, we finally wound up with a puzzle box, that had a map inside. Perrine knowing Latin could decipher it. Venturing through the grotto, we landed up here. See that statue? When Francesca was toying around with a sword and shield she found, the statue came to life. But Perrine fended it off, piercing it with the sword and charging a Tonnerre through it. And then we finally found the treasure… Somewhat… The treasure appears to be a herb garden… With Miss Mio sleeping drunk in it…"

Toshiro and the others looked at Yoshika, processing the information.

"Perrine? Is there anything that could explain the fact that you destroyed an ancient statue and led the others here, causing us to be worried sick?"

"Yes…" Perrine mumbled. "I wanted to tell it to you tomorrow, but might as well today… Remember the school in Gallia I told you about?"

"Yes." Toshiro answered.

"There was a bridge leading to it… It got destroyed… I was dead broke at the time already, so I couldn't spend anything on the renovation… That's why I wanted to find the treasure so badly… That's why I wanted to hide my rapier – because I wanted to sell it…"

"Daawwww… Perrine… Did you forget I was Mister Moneybags? I could have gave you five thousand lire off the bat, and a ten if you gave me time to go to Pescara."

"You… You would really do it?"

"Well, duh! I liberated Gallia, right? Thus, I somehow took responsibility over the future of the country. First thing tomorrow, I'm going to Pescara with you."

"Thank you…" Perrine's face was flooded with tears as she hugged Toshiro.

"Maybe the girls will also chip in, right?" Toshiro asked.

"Of course I will!" Shirley said.

"Ditto!" Francesca cheered.

"Count me in!" Trude shouted.

"And me!" Erica cheered.

"And me…" Lynne said humbly.

"And…"

"I'll pay for you, Yoshika." Toshiro interrupted her. "You send the money to Sayaka."

"Okay!" She shouted, but she lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "Perrine, you can let go already…"

"Oh, right, sorry!" Perrine quickly let go of Toshiro. "Let me show you the herb garden."

"Why is the herb garden marked on the treasure map?" Shirley asked.

"Spices and herb were sometimes worth their weight in gold, or even better." Toshiro explained. "Salt from Groß Salze in Southeast Karlsland, near Krakau, was worth so much in the 13th century. But I veered off a bit. Come on, lead us there, Perrine. We have to pick up Mio anyway."

The group ventured forward through the large chamber, and got into a smaller but higher one. The herb garden had a central circular small plaza inside, surrounded by a small moat, to which water was going flowing in through a small culvert. The herbs were on a three-layer terrace going outwards from the center circle. The room itself looked like it had at least ten levels, with crossings on some, and the sun shining brightly through a hole in the ceiling.

"So beautiful…" Trude gasped.

Toshiro was also amazed, but he quickly approached Mio. She was snoring in the middle of the room like grizzly bear in his cave.

"Well, at least I know that she's alive now… Let's see what's growing here… Cloves, bay leaves, oregano, saffron, pepper… Shit… Perrine would fetch enough money to build a castle, not only a shoddy bridge in the middle ages… Even now saffron is a bit pricey…"

"T-man! T-man!"

"For fucks sake, not you to!"

"Heheh, couldn't resist… I sense that there's a doorway somewhere on the upper levels!"

"How'd you know that? Echolocation?"

"Yup!"

"Good girl. At least we won't have to go back the way we came in."

"So, everyone looked around enough?" Toshiro asked.

The girls nodded to him.

"Then let's go up, Yuki detected a doorway somewhere up yonder."

"Buuuuuh… First a cave, then stairs…" Erica moaned.

"You want to go all the way back and swim?" Toshiro asked.

"No…"

"Then come on up. Trudy, hoist Mio along."

"Sure thing…"

They found a door on the third top-most level. It was shut by an iron latch. Holding Minna on his back with one hand, he tried to open the latch with as little force as possible. With it being stubborn, he just kicked the damn thing off the door.

"Not bad…" Trude said.

Toshiro had to use the Sacred Flame in the next corridor, because it was pitch dark.

"Mmmmmmhhhhmm…" Minna purred on his back. "It's so warm…"

"Returning to the living, Minna?"

"Yes… Am I on your back now?"

"Yes."

"Let me down, I think I can walk."

Toshiro stop and let Minna off.

"Where's Mio."

"I have her." Trude said.

"Is she okay?"

"Besides being drunk as a skunk? Fine I guess…" Toshiro said.

"Where are we now?"

"Were in some corridor. We're trying to find an alternate exit."

"Going back all the way would be… bad… Okay, let's venture on…"

The slowly moved on forward, and Toshiro ended up before another door.

"Hmmm… It has a big ass turning wheel… I'll turn it…"

Toshiro grabbed the wheel, and turned it without putting in much force. He pulled the door back, and saw that on the other side it's covered with planks. After looking inside the room the door led to, he was nicely surprised.

"Girls, I think I know where we are."

"Where?" Minna asked.

"The wine cellar."

"No way!" Trude shouted.

"Way. I recognize the wine racks and bottles… I actually knew that there's some kind of secret passageway here, but I forgot to check it out, heheh… I simply forgot, given the fact that I visit this place once in a blue moon. Maybe we should get a bottle while we're here?"

"No." Minna said with a firm voice.

"Hahahaha! Come on everyone, let's get out."

"What about the secret door?" Yoshika asked.

"Leave it open."

"Okay."

Toshiro went up to the front door, and opened it with the key he took with him. He let everyone out, and closed the door. They all went out to the hangar. The sun was already slowly setting.

"Good that we did the paperwork yesterday…" Minna said.

"Yeah… Heh..." Toshiro laughed dryly.

"501st, do you read me? Answer." Toshiro suddenly heard in his transponder.

"I read you. Identify yourself."

"Ah, good. I have been trying to reach you for ten minutes already. I'm a courier for the Gallian branch of the Witch Airmail Company."

"I'm sorry. Please, land."

"What is it?" Minna asked.

"A courier. You can all go, it's starting to get chilly. Place Mio in the common room and open the window so she'll sober up."

"Roger." They all answered.

Toshiro went up the runway, and saw a witch landing. From all he could tell, she had a standard Gallian uniform, and long silver hair. She taxied up to Toshiro, visibly flustered.

"A-Are you Toshiro Edelweiss?" She asked shyly.

"The one and only."

"P-p-please sign this!" She gave him a pen and a clipboard with a sheet of paper attached. "Here and h-here!" She showed him the dotted lines.

Toshiro gave his signatures, and gave the two items back to the courier. She in turn pulled out two letters from her bag, and gave it to them saying, "Please."

"Thank you."

"G-good bye!"

She immediately revved up the engines and flew off.

Weird girl…

Toshiro looked at the first envelope. It was clearly addressed to him. The second one however was addressed to 'Big Sis Perrine from the 501st'.

Big Sis… Perrine didn't tell me about her family… She probably doesn't have sibling, no fucking way, judging by her attitude… Meh, I'll give it to her later, now to see what's this all about…

He opened the envelope with the letter addressed to him, and started reading.

Dear Colonel Edelweiss,

We, the people of the Maltese Republic, are writing to you, in a matter of grave importance. After the Neuroi appeared in Venezia, they attacked our home country. They forced us out of the land of our forefathers. The armies of both Venezia and Romagna are both powerless against this foe.

We beg of you, Colonel. Please consider an operation to liberate Malta. We will reimburse you accordingly, or, if you prefer, your whole unit. We can't stand this shame any longer.

The People of Malta

The fuck… They think we are some kind of mercenaries? But Malta… Malta is a rock south of Sicily… Ah, whatever, I'll ask Minna tomorrow. Or maybe later today… Whatever…

Toshiro went on to his room, and changed to his everyday clothes. He stuffed both the letters in his pockets, and went to the dorm. He peeked into the dining room. Yoshika and Lynne were already preparing supper. He then went to the common room, where he saw Mio sleeping soundly, using Trude's lap as a pillow.

"Hmmm… This is interesting…" Toshiro whispered.

"Yeah… Right… She overpowered me in sleep, somehow…"

"Heh…"

"Mwwwwuuuuh… What are you two whispering about…" Mio mumbled suddenly.

"About the demographics in Amazonia."

"Oooooh… My head… What happened…"

"You want the abridged version?"

"Yes, please…"

"A vase with wine fell on you, you got drunk, kissed both Minna and me, with a whole lot of tongue I might add, ran away, we chased you, you fell down asleep."

"Shit… I'm sorry, Toshiro…"

"Apologize to Yoshika, not me…"

"Yeah…. Yeah… Is the sun setting already or…"

"Yes it is."

"Damn… Trude, help me sober up a bit, I don't want to go to bed hammered…"

Trude looked at Mio, then at Toshiro. He gave off a devilish smile, to which Trude did the same.

Poor Mio…

"Ah, wait, I'll take that…" Toshiro disarmed Mio swiftly.

"Why… Oh… You're going to use THAT method?"

"Yup." Trude and Toshiro both answered.

"I will take the challenge… Hick…"

Trude took Mio and dragged her off under the shower. Toshiro in the meantime sat on the couch and looked at Reppumaru.

You son of a bitch cleaver… I would snap you in half if it were dependent of me…

Toshiro just leaned back, and dozed off.

Oh fuck! Are Eila and Sanya still… Crap!

Toshiro ran out of the dorm and to the beach. The two lovebirds were still sitting there like nothing mattered. But instead of their usual pale skin, he saw red everywhere.

"Um, girls, I wouldn't want to impose anything on you but…"

"Toshiro, please, get us under a cold shower…" Eila said.

"Please…" Sanya chimed in.

The two extended their sunburned hand to him. Toshiro extended his and said, "Grab my hands, I doubt you two can ride piggyback now."

Both of them grabbed one of his arms each, and Toshiro moved with them to the showers. While he was entering the building, he passed besides Trude and the obviously better looking Mio. He left them in the showers and asked, "Will I be needed?"

"No, thanks." Eila answered for both of them.

Toshiro went on to the dining room. Supper was served, and everyone ate aplenty. Toshiro approached Perrine and gave her the letter.

"Oh? Who is this from?"

"I have a hunch, but dunno to be honest. Have a good night or something."

"Good night, Toshiro. Thanks for everything."

"Now where can Minna be…"

"She's at the beach."

"That was fast…"

"Hey, Toshiro, what'cha up to?" Yoshika asked. "Because I have an idea you know…"

"I'm going to Minna. Want to go with me?"

"Why not…"

They went on through the dark evening to the beach. They saw Minna hunched on the sand, just like Eila or Sanya. As they drew closer, they hear that Minna was sobbing. Yoshika and Toshiro looked at each other, but both were clueless. They approached Minna directly, and she tried to cover her emotions, but Toshiro said, "What's the matter, Minna? Don't say it's about Mio…"

"Mio was actually… nice… but… It's about Kurt…"

"Kurt? What about him? I thought you were over that…"

"Still not it seems… You know what day it is today?"

"Monday the 4th of June?"

"Oh right, I didn't tell you… Today is Kurt's fourth death anniversary…" Minna said and burst out into tears.

Toshiro looked over Yoshka, which nodded to him, and they both embraced her.

"Don't worry, Minna… Everything will be okay someday…" Yoshika said.

"Remember, Minna – too much attention given to the dead makes the living feel worse."

Toshiro started stroking Minna's head. She cried on for a few minutes, and she finally said, "Thank you… Thank you, the two of you…"

She freed her arms and embraced them both.

"Without the two of you, I would probably have a really shitty night…"

She stood up.

"Where are you going, Minna?" Toshiro asked.

"Back to my room. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything…"

"You know what… Here… This will divert your thought train to another track."

"But it's open… And for you…"

"Don't read it now, do it in your room. Good night."

"Good night, Toshiro. Good night, Yoshika."

"Good night, Minna."

"So, what was the idea?" Toshiro asked.

"Let's go to your room…"

"I'm all ears…"

FYI Groß Salze is now called Wieliczka

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 :]