Chapter 54/Final Chapter – Ai no Hanabi
"So, Toshiro, we are nearing Fuso already, and you still didn't tell why you snatched us out of the blue on an airboat. We could have just taken a ship, you know?" Mio asked.
"I told you already, it's a secret. Well, the core of it is a secret; the façade is that I wanted to attend to the Tanabata festival with Yoshika."
"Oh, really? Awwwww, Toshiroooo…" Yoshika said and hugged him. "I wonder what are you planning…?"
"You'll see, my little Orihime."
"Bleh…" Mio showed her disapproval for the mushy scene.
"Herr Oberst, we are nearing the Yokosuka Naval Base." The PA system announced. "It's about 1500 local time.
"Thanks for the info." Toshiro responded back. "So, we are almost home. Well, at least the home of you two." Toshiro said to the girls.
"Your home is where your heart is, Toshiro." Yoshika said. "And your heart is by my side, right?"
"Of course."
They felt that the airboat banked to the left and started descending. It touched down on the water and slowly went forward, courtesy of the laws of physics.
"So here we are, Yoshika." Toshiro said. "Home sweet home."
"I can't wait to meet mom and granny!" She cheered. "Although they might be mad that I'm now magic-less…"
"We'll see, Yoshika. Come on, let's go."
Toshiro opened the door, and the pilot that was outside already laid a gangplank down so they could cross. The girls grabbed their bags and went first, with Toshiro simply jumping over to the pier, carrying his trunk on his shoulder.
"Ahhhh… The sea air of Fuso… Wonderful…" Mio said. "Well, let's go, I want to treat you all to some takoyaki."
"Really? Yay!" Yoshika cheered. "But one thing bothers me… There's nobody here…"
"Yes… It's a tad unnerving… But on the other hand, we didn't exactly announce our arrival, right?" Mio asked.
They went forward, and they saw a black scout car driving in their direction.
Uh boy… I'm not in the IFN anymore… Mio? Or maybe… Ooooooh… Finally!
"I wonder what this is about…" Mio muttered.
The scout car drove up, and the driver got out. He stood before the three in attention, saluted and said, "Please, I have the order to transport the three of you to the main square of the base."
"Oh? And what if we refuse?" Toshiro joked.
"Uh… Then… Please, sir, I just want to obey my orders!"
"Okay, okay… Hop in the back, you two, I'll ride shotgun as usual." Toshiro said.
"Why do you always ride shotgun, Toshiro?" Mio asked
"Look at me; I'm a meter ninety five tall…"
Mio looked at him, then at the rear seats of the car."
"Valid argument…" She mumbled.
After driving a few hundred meters, they got site of the main square. There was a small crowd of people gathered before a tribune, held back by a cordon of MP's.
"Wow, so many people!" Yoshika shouted. "I wonder what's happening?"
"Don't look at me, Miyafuji, I know nothing." Mio said.
"And I can only guess…" Toshiro answered.
The car stopped a few meters before the side of the tribune. Toshiro could see the people standing on it, the base commander and his former boss-of-all-bosses, Marshal Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
"Colonel Edelweiss, Major Sakamoto, Sergeant Miyafuji, please leave your luggage here for me to handle, and step on the tribune." The driver said.
They did as they were told, with Toshiro walking first, and Yoshika last. He looked at the crowd, and spotted a lot of familiar faces. The gate guard, his fellow radio men, the mechanics. A row of journalists was in just before the MP cordon.
"Yoshiiiikaaa!" A female voice rang across the air.
Toshiro looked at the source of the sound, and saw Sayaka waving her hand above her head, with Grandma by her side.
"Mom!" Yoshika shouted and also waved her hand.
"Heeey, Yooooshikaaaaa!" Another familiar voice sounded and both Toshiro and Yoshika spotted a certain girl and her grandfather.
"Miiiicchaaaan!" Yoshika cheered.
The three approached Yamamoto and the commander, and saluted them. After receiving a return salute, they stood down.
"We meet again, Colonel." Yamamoto said.
"Indeed, Marshal Admiral. So what is this all about? Who is the lucky one?"
"Every one of you." He said with a wide smile. "But let's not get ahead of the schedule… Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji, step forward."
"Yes sir!" She said and stepped forward.
"Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji, for your contributions to the war against Neuroi, especially for destroying the Hive above Venezia, in the name of the Emperor, I promote you to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, effective immediately."
Yoshika's eyes grew wide, and her mouth opened involuntarily, but she regained composure and shouted, "Yes sir! Thank you!"
"That's not all, Lieutenant…" Yamamoto raised his hand, and seemingly out of nowhere, his assistant came beside him with a small wooden box.
He opened the box, and to everyone could see the reward. On a blue-green ribbon with white stripe near the edges, hung the Order of the Golden Kite, 3rd Class. It depicted a golden kite standing on an eight-pointed star with 32 red enameled rays. Under the kite were two blue enameled ancient samurai shields, crossed under two yellow enameled samurai swords with silver hilts. There was also a green enameled halberd with white trappings with red banners depicting the mitsudomoe symbol on both sides.
"Lieutenant Yoshika Miyafuji, wear this award, the Order of the Golden Kite with pride and honor, so every man and woman knows of your valorous deeds."
"Yes sir!" Yoshika shouted close to tears as Yamamoto was pinning the order on her chest.
The Admiral stood aside, so the journalists could take photographs. The assistant disappeared again, much to Toshiro's surprise.
Yoshika walked up to Toshiro and cheered, "Look, Toshiro!"
"I see, sunshine…" He said and stroked her head.
"Major Mio Sakamoto, please step forward." The commander said.
"Yes sir!"
Mio took a step forward, and again, the assistant appeared unexpectedly with another box.
It was a badge suspended on a white ribbon with two gold stripes near the borders. The badge itself was a gilt double Maltese cross with white enameled rays representing Kusanagi, the sword of Emperors. There was also a blue disc in the center, bearing an eight-pointed silver star, representing the Yata Mirror, which Toshiro knew just too well, surrounded by a wreath with red-enameled dots representing the Yasakani no Magatama, the jade jewel of Amaterasu, which Toshiro also saw every now and then.
There was also a diploma for the order, which Yamamoto started to read out.
"By the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial,
We confer the Second Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure upon Major Mio Sakamoto, a citizen of the Fuso Empire and a Major in the Imperial Fuso Navy, and invest her with the insignia of the same class of the Order of the Double Rays of the Sunlit Moon, in expression of the good will which we entertain towards her.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the Grand Seal of the Empire to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Tokio, this seventh day of the seventh month of the twentieth year of Shōwa, corresponding to the 2,605th year from the accession to the throne of Emperor Jimmu."
After the order was pinned on Sakamoto's chest, she shouted, "Banzai!" and saluted energetically. The shutters of the cameras started clacking for a few seconds, and Mio stepped back to Toshiro and Yoshika.
"I have never even dreamt of such an honor…" Mio said silently. "It's so unreal…"
"Colonel Toshiro Edelweiss, please step forward."
Toshiro stepped forward, to the clacker of the camera shutters.
"Colonel Edelweiss, before I present you with your order, I want to make an announcement. In the name of the whole Navy, I, Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-chief, now before you, apologize for how the Navy has treated you. First we have wasted your potential, and then we were too hasty to declare you dead. Please, forgive me, and the whole Navy."
This shocked Toshiro alone, but the next gesture of Yamamoto shocked him even more. He took off his cap, kneeled before him and bowed at his feet. The crowd murmured, and the sound of the shutters sounded like a storm brewing.
"Please say something." The commander murmured nervously.
Toshiro cleared his throat and said, "Please, arise, Marshal Admiral. I never bore ill will against the IFN, or against you. What happened was fate having its course. Please, don't cower before me, it doesn't suit a man of your rank and position."
Toshiro extended his hand to Yamamoto, who was now kneeling. He grabbed his hand, and pulled himself up.
"Thank you, Colonel. This means a lot to the bilateral relations of Fuso and Karlsland. Now, let's proceed with the decoration."
This time, Toshiro saw the assistant coming on the scene. The Admiral pulled out the order from the box, and Toshiro had to control himself not to squeal like a schoolgirl.
A white sash with red stripes on both edges, was suspending the Order of the Sunlit Moon. It was a gilt eight-pointed badge with white enameled rays, bearing a central black enameled eclipsed sun. The badge was suspended by three enameled paulownia leaves.
"I, Isoroku Yamamoto, in the name of the Emperor, present to you the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sunlit Moon. Let this be a sign of the never-ending friendship between the empires of Fuso and Karlsland, and a good omen for our future relationship. Let everyone remember this day, as a day of happiness."
The sash was put on his left shoulder, and Toshiro silently saluted in the direction of the crowd, giving the journalists a perfect photo shoot opportunity.
After a minute, Yamamoto said, "You all are free now, the driver will now drive you to the exit."
"Thank you, Marshal Admiral, but we'll walk. Right, girls?"
"Yup." Mio said.
"Yes, I want to go to mom and Micchan!" Yoshika cheered.
"Hah… Be it as it may. Have a nice day, Colonel."
"You too, Marshal Admiral."
Toshiro went back for everyone's luggage, which he decided to carry alone, and they all went to meet Sayaka, Grandma and Micchan. The crowd just separated before them, allowing them passage.
"Mooom!" Yoshika ran up to Sayaka and almost knocked her of her feet with a hug.
"Oh, my cute Yoshika… Finally back…" She said. "Good that you are alive."
"You're not mad that I broke my magic abilities?"
"I am a bit mad… You lost your great gift… But I'd rather have a magic-less daughter, than a tombstone near the temple… Come on, you will tell me everything at dinner you three."
"Me too, Sayaka?" Mio asked.
"Yes, you too, Mio."
"Sayaka? When did you get to first names?" Toshiro asked surprised.
"After you went to Africa, I visited Miyafuji to see how she's doing a few times, and we got along…" Mio answered a bit shyly.
"Don't be so modest, Mio, you visited every day, until you went to train." Sayaka said.
Mio blushed slightly, but Grandma bailed her out of the predicament.
"Come on you all, I want to eat and my back is hurting."
"Yes, mother." Sayaka said.
"I'll be going my way, Yoshika." Michiko said. "It's good to have you back!"
"Oh, but Micchan, let's eat together!"
"No, no... This is time for your closest family!" Michiko lectured her with a wise tone. "Right, Grandpa?"
"Yes, yes…" The old man nodded. "Come on, Michiko."
"Bye, Yoshika! Let's meet tomorrow!"
"Sure!" Yoshika cheered.
"Let's go you all." Toshiro said with a smile and they went off.
It came to Yoshika's attention that the streets of Yokosuka looked a bit different than usual. Colorful decorations were hanging from the trees and across the streets.
"Yoshika, it's the 7th of July today, it's Tanabata." Sayaka answered.
"Oh, right! Toshiro said something… But it's today already!"
"You got here just in time. We got word that you were coming back, so we are already prepared. We will start preparing late afternoon." Sayaka said.
They arrived at the Miyafuji clinic, and Yoshika promptly ran into the kitchen. Sayaka soon followed suit, and the sound of chopped up food filled the house. Toshiro placed their luggage in Yoshika's room, and he returned to the living room, where Mio and Grandma sat.
"So, sonny, now that you're such a big shot, why don't you marry my granddaughter?" She said without beating around the bush.
"In due time grandma. But first I have to propose, you know. I'm planning to do it sometime soon."
"Just don't take too long. Now that Yoshika is famous, people could try to conquer her behind your back."
"Pffff, haha! They would get their balls busted immediately!" Toshiro laughed aloud. "And not only by me, Yoshika got really feisty lately."
After a few minutes, Yoshika brought an aperitif – pickled octopus, which garnered the praise of Mio and Toshiro. Then the feast itself began. Yoshika and Sayaka had outdone themselves, making ten dishes, and each one was as good as the other.
When the food stuffs were thinned out, Sayaka asked, "So, Toshiro, how are your endeavors in the direction of making me some grandchildren?"
Toshiro and Yoshika spat out the rice they had in their mouths simultaneously.
"My, my… Something must be on…" Sayaka said with a wry smile.
"This is not something to be discussed at dinner…" Toshiro mumbled.
"Uuuuh, very good food. Thank you for the meal, Sayaka but now I have to go." Mio said standing up from the table.
Toshiro grabbed her hand, and with a peaceful smile said, "Please, Mio, go to the festival with us."
"Um… But you know I don't like these things…" She mumbled.
"I guarantee you, it will be worth it." He shot a wink at her.
"But I don't have a yukata on me…"
"Don't worry, I thought about that." Sayaka said. "Let's all go to the festival, like a big family."
"Please, Miss Sakamoto, let's go together!" Yoshika begged with puppy eyes.
"Oh, okay… But don't tell me to do weird dances or something…"
"Heehee, yay!" Yoshika cheered.
"Thank you, Mio. This means a lot to me…" Toshiro said with an enigmatic smile.
Everyone procrastinated a bit after dinner, and then Sayaka gathered all the girls (and Grandma) in Yoshika's room, saying, "Toshiro, don't you dare to peek into the room!"
I just hope they will not open my chest…
After a few minutes, Toshiro heard the sliding door open, and the ladies went into the living room.
Yoshika was wearing a pink yukata in white floral patterns, and she was beaming with happiness. Mio on the other hand had a navy blue one, with black flowers, and she had a rather fussy face. Sayaka had a plain yellow yukata, and Grandma chose a plain green one.
All of them wore Zōri sandals, and white tabi socks.
Toshiro gave of a loud whistle of approval seeing this display of beauty.
"Well now… I have to take this easy or I'll get a heat stroke, heheheh…"
"You flatterer you…" Sayaka giggled. "Okay, we left a yukata for you in the room. Get dressed and we can slowly go the festival grounds.
"Where is it held by the way?"
"They rearranged the fields where your old house was, Toshiro. Now there's a flat terrain there, and they will make a park in the future."
"At least it's not going to waste… Okay, time to get dressed."
Toshiro went into Yoshika's room, and saw a crimson male yukata in black diamond patterns, lying on his chest, along with a pair of Zōri besides it.
He decided to dress the old-fashioned way, not using magic. After he was clad in his new yukata, he opened the chest. His hand wandered to the bottom of the chest, and he pulled out a small rectangular box, and hid it in the yukata's sleeve pocket.
"So, Toshiro… Ready to do this?"
"I'm nervous, Yuki…"
"You, the vanquisher of the Warlock and that Pyramid thingie, the Hero of Karlsand and the Star of Romagna are nervous? Pfahahaha! But I understand you… Don't fail me, Toshiro."
"I hope I won't…"
He got out of the room, and Yoshika almost melted down on the floor once she saw him.
"You look so beautiful, Toshiro!" She cheered.
"It looks even better on you than I imagined…" Sayaka said. "Let's go."
The sun started slowly setting as they exited the Miyafuji Clinic. This unusually colorful group garnered the curious looks of the other festivalgoers. Toshiro could hear the people whispering.
"Look how colorful…"
"Isn't that the Emperors nephew?"
"Is that…"
"What a weird bunch…"
"Sayaka, did you choose such colorful yukatas on purpose?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes. I wanted for every one of us to look different."
"Oh, okay. Nice choice by the way."
"Thank you, heehee…"
"Stop giggling like some bobby soxer…" Grandma scolded her.
They arrived at the festival grounds when the sun was almost behind the horizon. There were many stands with food, games and various merchandise. The whole terrain was lit by electrically powered colorful paper lanterns.
"Wooooaaaah… Just like old times…" Yoshika said amazed.
"Yes… Like old times…" Toshiro sighed.
"What is it, Toshiro? You were so happy go lucky, and now you are sulking?" Sayaka asked.
"I just remembered how I was here the last time… Mother was still alive…"
"Oh Toshiro…" Yoshika hugged him.
"No need to hug me, Yoshika. Let's go have some fun."
And they had fun. Toshiro was the money machine for this little escapade, but that didn't matter to him. Everyone could eat what they want, or buy what they want. Toshiro caught Yoshika a gold fish, and he bought her a tengu mask. At one time, Yoshika almost flipped from happiness when she saw a stand selling Ramune. Toshiro gave her a bottle, but she shook it so hard, that after pressing the marble sealing the bottle, it squirted off straight in her face. Needless to say, laughs were had, and Sayaka had a tissue handy. There was a bon dance going on, but Mio refused with a deadly glint in her eyes. To their surprise, Michiko was singing the Yokosuka Obon song from the tribune, with the usual "Asore!" and "Ayosho!" interjections.
For a brief moment, Yoshika parted from the fray. Toshiro saw that she went to a small artificial bamboo thicket, on which people tied pieces of tanzaku paper with their wishes. Yoshika pulled out a piece of paper, and tied it down to one of the bamboos. She ran back to Toshiro, who asked, "What did you wish for, Yoshika?"
"Won't tell, or it won't fulfill itself."
"Okay then, so be it."
Then, a man announced from the tribune, that the fireworks show will start in a few minutes on the farther part of the festival grounds. They all went there. It was a nice and flat plaza covered with grass. The colorful quintet positioned themselves a few meters apart from the main crowd.
"I so want to watch the fireworks!" Yoshika cheered. "Nothing will distract me!"
"Yoshika… There could be one thing…"
Yoshika turned her head to Toshiro, and saw that he started kneeling. He took her hand, and started one of the most important speeches in his life.
"Yoshika… I… I had a speech prepared for this occasion… I wanted to tell you how much I love you, and how this love changed my life… But my mind is a blank slate right now, so I want you to do the talking… Just tell me one word…"
Toshiro pulled out the small box out of his sleeve.
Just as he opened it, the first firework whistled through the air. It exploded in a blue star shape, lighting up the content of the box. It was a platinum engagement ring, with a five-carat diamond, the Lost Treasure of Nobunaga.
"Oh my! Please, everyone, look here!" Sayaka shouted ecstatically to the crowd.
A few people started turning around, muttering something, but it started a chain reaction, in the result of which at least half of the people gathered was now looking at the unfolding event.
Another firework flew up in the air and exploded, lighting up Yoshika's face in an orange hue. He could see that tears were streaking down her face like two small waterfalls.
"Say yes, damn you!" Sayaka hurried her.
Yoshika lunged forward at Toshiro, and from the top of her lungs, she shouted.
"YES!"
Their lips connected in the most passionate kiss they would muster up to this time. Toshiro felt as his tears streamed down his cheeks. He heard that the people were whispering amongst each other, but Mio cut it short.
"Hey, what are you whispering about?! Let's hear it for the newly engaged, Toshiro Edelweiss and Yoshika Miyafuji!"
Mio, to the surprise of everyone, started clapping. After a short wave of new murmuring, the people also started clapping. It turned into a thunderous roar, as all the people around were congratulating the young pair, in the multi colored lights of the exploding fireworks.
Orihime and Hikoboshi have reunited once again on the seventh day of the seventh month… And this is now the day, in which our relationship advanced to a new level. From now, I no longer can talk about Yoshika per ubiquitous girlfriend, only in a more straightforward manner – fiancé. Our relationship endured through right and wrong, all since our encounter before the Akagi. Our relationship started seriously on a rooftop, and we went through hell a few times.
'Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.'
Woooooh… That was a long ride, huh? First, some notes on the chapter.
Since it seems that in the SW universe, Fuso doesn't use the Rising Sun imagery, thus I redid the Order of the Rising Sun to the Order of the Sunlit Moon, since the moon-on-sun is the thing Fuso uses.
Next thing, all people that are fans of tokusatsu shows probably smirked while looking at the colors of the yukatas, amirite? To clear it up a bit, google 'Power Rangers'.
What else… Ah, the title of the chapter means "Fireworks of love".
Cue credits!
Doran Maya – for still putting up with me and my over-fillerish writing style and valiantly pointing out errors
Seiko1979 – just because
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If somebody feels omitted, I'm sorry, but I hate writing such long AN's. :P
So… Guess it's the end, huh? Lol no, July 4th should be circled red in your calendars (and not only cuz it's a holiday in the US) ! Toshiro will return with vengeance… and a big damn surprise towards the end :3