Wow, sorry for the dry spell. I had been lacking inspiration, I have some ideas and notes for subsequent chapters and an ending, but it's a bit rough getting to where I can implement them.

Warning: This fanfiction has not been approved for human consumption by the FDA. Do not ingest.

"Chinese"

"Japanese"

"English"

Enjoy

March 15, 2010; 0642 local time; Fukuchiyama, Kyoto prefecture

The Chinese offensive had been stopped on fortifications set up along the mountains on the central parts of Honshu Island. This perimeter was unofficially known as the "Bushi" line. The GDF had managed to stop its retreat and regroup, entrenching itself in the forests and mountains south of Ayabe and Fukuchiyama. The entire battle line stretched over 70 kilometers from the Kosaka Pass in the west to the town of Oi to the northeast. The defenses surrounded Maizuru and the areas nearby, marking the boundary of the area still under Japanese control.

FOB Mercy was built around Momijigaoka hospital. The fortifications were minimal, mostly consisting of trenches and foxholes covering the northern area. Defensive positions near the Hori neighborhood to the east were holding, for the time being. The terrain around the hospital was rough and far enough away from the front lines that enemy artillery was not a problem . . . yet. The forward positions were sufficiently secure that Chinese spotters couldn't get through to call in accurate indirect fire. While this was likely a temporary phenomenon, it gave the men time to recuperate and reorganize.

Keitaro was using this time to get some much needed rest on the driver's seat of an abandoned car in the parking lot. The vehicle was not the most comfortable place to sleep, but it was much better than the ground. Shinji sat next to him dozing in and out of consciousness as well.

As Keitaro's eyes grew heavy once more he heard a knocking on the car windshield. His eyes shot open and he saw the face of Sergeant Takashi. "Rest time is over; we're off to the Hori neighborhood to relieve the remnants of Charlie Company."

Keitaro rubbed his eyes and yawned. "How much longer are they going to put us out on the front?" He asked.

"Until it's done." Takashi said, in a defeated monotone. The sergeant took a drink from his canteen before continuing. "From what I hear, assets from the Tenth division (1) have been moving in from Nagoya. Unless we manage to drive the PLA back into the Sea, it'll easily be another two months at least before we get any substantial rest."

"That is too long." Shinji agreed, yawning and picking up his equipment.

March 15, 2012; 1045 local time; Hinata Sou.

Haruka had called all of the girls into the kitchen; she had received a letter from Keitaro. It was dated three days earlier and the return address was slightly disturbing. The location of the return address was in Fukuchiyama; which had been captured by the PLA last night.

She opened the envelope and read the letter.

To everyone at home,

I'm sorry, but I won't be able to see you all at the end of the month. It is quite likely that I will not be able to see you all until this war is over. Being apart from you all breaks my heart, but knowing that I have the love and support of my family and friends has sustained me through it all.

Know this: no matter what happens, I promise that I will come back. There is nothing that can permanently separate me from the ones I love.

Sincerely,

Keitaro

Haruka opened her mouth, as if to read more, but quickly closed it. "Please tell me there was more." Naru demanded, looking worried.

"The rest was something for me." Haruka said, her face stoic. She was hiding something again, and even Mutsumi could see it.

Shinobu's eyes were welling up; her emotions were fighting each other. On one side was the crushing realization that her Sempai would not be back in a long time (a small voice in her mind nagged her that he might never come back). Fighting this wave of negative emotions was an overwhelming sense of pride, it was HER and the others that kept Keitaro going; without HER, he might not have been able to make it this far.

Rather than voice these concerns, she merely asked Haruka, "Did Sempai say anything about White Day(2)? I mean, we sent him a gift package last month."

"She's right." Naru said, unsure of her true feelings on the matter.

Haruka looked at the letter, there was no mention of White day. "Perhaps he was too busy, Fukuchiyama was still the front lines."

"Ara, maybe this was his gift?" Mutsumi said, pulling out a crudely folded origami dove. The dove was made from white paper and was flattened to fit inside the envelope. On the wings were the characters for "Peace".

"That's it?" Naru asked, masking her concern with disappointment. It was traditional for the man to give something more valuable than what they received on Valentine's Day.

"It is possible that Urashima's true gift is not a tangible one." Motoko said, fingering the hilt of her sword. As she looked down at the weapon, her thoughts began to focus on the Keitaro. She wondered what it was like to be on a true battlefield; to employ one's skill at arms against a true foe, to lay one's life on the line to protect those who you loved. She would have to ask him when he returned.

"What's a tangible, is it good to eat?" Su asked, breaking Motoko out of her thoughts.

"It means that Urashima is giving us something that can't be touched, or eaten." The heir to Shinmei-Ryu explained, her voice showing heavy emotional control. She knew the symbolism behind the gift. "Hachiman. . ." She mouthed quietly.

"Or, he was just lazy." Naru chimed in, half-heartedly.

Mitsune raised an eyebrow. "Y'all don't really believe that, do you?" She asked in a tone that was more serious than usual.

Naru opened her mouth to protest before hanging her head with a defeated sigh. "No."

March 15, 2010; 1304 local time; Hill 27, Hori, Kyoto Prefecture

Keitaro and his platoon were dug in along the forests and hills south of Hori. The roads were obstructed by anything the GDF could find, from crude hedgehogs to wrecked cars and rubble. The roadblock could be charitably called a speed bump, as any sapper detachment, dozer or dedicated armored attack could clear the most of the barriers.

The biggest saving grace of the terrain was that the mountains, forests and hills that covered most of Japan heavily favored defensive tactics. Keitaro and Shinji shared a foxhole previously dug by Charlie Company. The hole was not impressive, but was better than nothing. Camouflage netting was spread over the top, which kept the sun out, but not the rain.

Keitaro wasn't sure what to think of this, on the one hand Japan was fighting on its home turf, however fighting on Japanese soil meant that collateral damage affected only Japan. Keitaro also had mixed feelings about the terrain in general. His limited tactical experience told him that mechanized forces and armored formations on both sides were severely limited. He had seen this defensive advantage capitalized upon during the Chinese offensive to take Ayabe, as enemy tanks and APC's were susceptible to ambush from the mountains and convoys could be boxed in on some of the narrow valleys. Unfortunately, it also limited the GDF's armored capabilities. Tanks had been deployed, but they were usually dug in behind berms and trenches.

The situation was desperate enough in some areas that they had to improvise certain things. "Hillbilly" armored pickup trucks and civilian vehicles were being used in some areas due to a lack of specialized fighting equipment. These ramshackle fighting machines were also used by special detachments of the GDF to go behind enemy lines and conduct ambushes and raids, usually supervised by either a Balaclava-clad member of the Special Operations Group or a "Tanaka". Tanakas were supposedly "military advisors" hired by the government to help train troops. In practice, they often personally accompanied officers who commanded the soldiers going behind enemy lines. Keitaro rarely ever saw them, but from what he saw, they were usually foreigners that spoke Japanese. The one he had met claimed to have once been part of "Special Forces" but refused to elaborate any further.

Keitaro's thoughts were interrupted by Shinji as the younger man asked a question. "Hey Keitaro, what are you going to do when this is over?"

The two-year ronin turned to the teenager, his mind considering the question. "Probably go back to my cram school and try for Tokyo-U, again."

"Todai?" Shinji responded, surprised that someone so old was still trying to get into college. He leaned against the slightly damp wall. "You still haven't gotten into college?"

March 15, 2010; 1429 local time; PLA Headquarters, Maizuru, Occupied Japan

Commander Xiong was frustrated; his offensives were getting less and less effective. The PLA had managed to capture Fukuchiyama and Ayabe, but they still had to pass the mountains before they could get to Osaka. If they managed to capture Osaka, they could disable one of Japan's large shipping ports, oil refineries, and industrial centers. After that, they could close off the island of Shikoku. The island was the home of Howa Machinery (3) and the Browning arms factory. The Chinese commander had intelligence that said both factories were running around the clock, attempting to supply the thousands of conscripts that were being rushed to the front. He knew that the main route between the factories and Honshu was through Osaka.

The Chinese officer sighed. He originally had doubts about this invasion, the experiences of the past month only served to confirm some of his concerns. At least the politicians had allowed him enough autonomy to alter his plans. He would make his way south, bypassing Kyoto to attack Kobe before moving east. He could not deny that capturing Kyoto would be devastating to the morale of the Japanese people, but it would be too difficult to maneuver his troops through the mountains from their current position. If he could hold the GDF at the passes, he could sweep around and attack the rest of the Kansai region, cutting off seaborne supply routes to Kyoto. Additionally, they could capture the Kansai and Kobe airports, denying additional routes of entry for the United States who would inevitably join the fight.

Xiong could read the writing on the wall; the Chairman's ruse could only last so long. He hoped to be dictating surrender terms in Tokyo by the time that the United States was ready to act. However, he had made contingency plans in the event that the United States intervened early, but many of them hinged on the ability of the PLA to take Osaka in less than two months.

More reinforcements and equipment were due in from North Korean staging areas within the next twenty four hours. He needed to keep the pressure on the Japanese. The problem was that they were proving to be tenacious defenders. With every offensive he ordered, he was losing more and gaining less. At least the southern campaign was proceeding well. The southern force had captured the island of Kyushu and was poised to strike Honshu as soon as their reinforcements arrived. The campaign in Hokkaido was fulfilling its purpose adequately as well. Capturing and holding the northernmost island was secondary to tying down the JSDF Northern Army, Japan's largest concentration of military ground assets.

The commander sipped some tea before taking another look at the maps. After staring at them unproductively for a minute or so, he put his face in his hands, his index fingers rubbing the temples. As he worked the skin on his head, a new feeling began to take hold.

"Xingmei. . ." He whispered. "My beloved, I miss you."

March 15, 2010; 1502 local time; Hill 27, Hori, Kyoto Prefecture

"So, the short of it is: My father is an asshole." Shinji said as he took a drink from his canteen. The two of them had been swapping stories to pass the time.

"Can't argue with that." Keitaro agreed as the two of them looked down into the valley. The view was actually quite impressive, with the houses in Hori clustered together, the forested hills, and the river meandering through the valley with fields on either side. Further away, they could see Fukuchiyama; some of the buildings were still burning, sending up pillars of smoke.

As Shinji watched the smoke rise, he began to feel the weight of failure on his chest. This whole war had been a protracted, fighting retreat. Shinji sighed; he couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't be the last time they retreated.

"Do you think we even have a chance to stop the PLA?" The teen asked.

Keitaro blinked, wondering what brought this up. "Of course we do." He said, trying to be reassuring. "We can hold them."

"Can we? We tried to hold them at Maizuru, we tried to hold them all along Route 175, we tried to hold them in Fukuchiyama, and now we're trying to hold them again. I don't think I can take it anymore." Shinji said, clenching his fist.

"Come on, you can't give up." Keitaro responded putting his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "It means they've won. They can shell us, they can shoot at us, and they can charge us with bayonets, but as long as people like you and I are willing to fight on, there is always a chance to stop the PLA."

"You really believe that touchy-feely stuff?" Shinji asked with a hint of derision.

"Of course." The ronin said, "It's one of the reasons I haven't cracked. We can't give up, even in the face of defeat."

"There's a fine line between giving up and accepting the inevitable." Shinji said.

"Maybe, but I refuse to believe that a Chinese victory is inevitable." Keitaro said. "Even if it was, I would still fight if it meant that the ones I love can live in peace for just one more day."

"I guess you're right." Shinji said in a voice that was slightly lacking in sincerity.

"It's going to be fine." Keitaro said before thinking to himself. We can hold them. . .

(1) The Tenth Division of the JSDF is in charge of protecting much of the southern Chubu region, (basically the stretch of Honshu between Kyoto and Kanagawa).

(2) In Japan girls give gifts to the boys in their life on Valentine's Day, White day happens one month later in March. On this day, the boys give gifts to the girls, usually colored white and often more valuable than Valentine's Day gifts.

(3) The Howa Machinery Company is in charge of producing many of the JSDF's individual weapons, notably Japan's main service rifle, the Type 89.