Chapter 17 – Moving time

Toshiro found himself in Amaterasu's Realm, under the ever-blooming cherry tree. His mother was sitting there in a traditional manner and looking at the mountains in the distance.

"Hi, Mom."

"Oh, hi, Toshiro!" Akiko cheered surprised. "You haven't visited me for so long!"

"Sorry, but… I'm so damn busy I don't have energy to do these jumps to Amaterasu's Realm while I'm asleep… Speaking of which, where is she?"

"Toshiro, Toshiro…" she shook her head while smiling. "It's October…"

"And?"

"Oh… I forgot you've renounced religion after your father's death notice came in… Didn't see this happening, huh?"

"Heheh, not in a million years… So, what's so special about October?"

"Do you know what this month was called in the olden days?"

"Kannazuki… The Month without Gods… Now I get it…"

"Yes, Toshiro. Ami and all the rest, with the notable exception of Ebisu, are gathered in the Izumo-taisha. But it's the middle of October, and you've only noticed it, heehee…"

"Kye and Livy are keeping me afloat with my needs to converse with supernatural beings, heheh… And sorry, but Ami doesn't quite cut it when it comes to divine power, does she?"

"The way this universe is constructed forbids it… What a bother," Akiko sighed.

"Indeed, what a drag… And Mio bailed out of the sixsome at the last minute…"

"Geez, I wonder who you got that randyness after, because it sure as hell ain't my side of the family tree!" Akiko pulled his right cheek.

"Maybe it was my grandpa, heheh… The former Kaiser that is."

"Oh, Emperor Thunderloins…? Yeah, that's a possibility…"

"You're not sad that I'm not visiting you more often?"

"I have a whole eternity before me, my dear son. A month or two without you visiting, compared to eternity is but a trifle. And you're too bothered with Yoshika anyway…"

"True, true… Now that I have her under my wings, I have to work even harder. But she could pull her own weight with good results, I'm sure of that. The progress she's making is mind-blowing, and the Kikka really brought out her combat efficiency to a historical high. I can, with all consequences, say that she's probably the strongest witch in this world right now."

"Such a nice daughter-in-law I'll have… You're making me proud, Toshiro."

"Only a shame she probably won't see you until after she dies herself..."

"A shame indeed…" she sighed. "But it seems I'll have two daughter-in-laws…"

"Eh… So you know already?"

Livy appeared behind Akiko and said, "I have told your dear mother, Master. Please forgive me…"

"You told Mom? Now that's a little weird… Unless…"

"Yes, Toshiro, she wanted me to accept this bizarre relationship. She was very convincing."

"I hope she wasn't convincing you in unorthodox ways…" Toshiro mumbled. "And I don't mean service!"

"No, Master, I promised I won't use my powers as an Elder God around you, and that also encompasses your mother. I used reason, and well… Maybe a bit of schmaltzy drama, heehee…"

"If you're fancied by such a powerful being, my dear son, I can only clap my hands together and say, "Have at it!""

"You have qualities I didn't know of, Mom…" Toshiro smiled. "Who would guess that such a yamato nadeshiko would accept such behavior?"

"If this comes out beneficial for you, Toshiro, I really can't oppose it," she smiled herself. "And you don't want to make a girl sad, right?"

Toshiro looked at Livy, who was squirming around behind Akiko.

"Livy, what would happen if I made you sad?"

"I… I would have to keep it inside me… I can't outright defy you, Master…"

"I see… And if I made you mad? Furious even?"

"Even Elder Gods have feelings, Master, especially those that have been reborn as mortals. Such emotions are understandable, but as I said, I cannot defy you. If I hurt you, then that would mean that I have failed as your servant…"

"So it would be best if I didn't piss you off," Toshiro snickered nervously. "Not that it would happen, I think…"

"He's a sucker for behaving well towards women, I brought him up well, Livy," Akiko giggled.

"Mooooom!" Toshiro shouted, but seeing Livy giggle too, he just sighed deeply. "Mom, what would you say if Livy brought you back to life?"

Both of them stopped giggling, and looked at Toshiro, Akiko being surprised, and Livy tensed up greatly.

"What do you mean, Toshiro? I thought it would be impossible…"

"It's possible," Toshiro interrupted. "Livy is an Elder God. Reviving a mere mortal is something she can do with her eyes closed."

"But Master…"

"Shush, Livy."

"Understood…" She responded meekly.

Akiko looked first at Livy, and then at Toshiro. She took a deep breath and said, "No, Toshiro, I'm already at peace. I died for a reason, and I don't want to take that back. You have all the right to call me selfish, but this is what I think about the whole situation. I know that you would like me to live, but… You're already an adult man, my son… You are on your way to marriage, and who knows, probably leading a whole country. The afterlife isn't that scary as you think it might seem… Ami is always talking with me if I'm lonely, Livy here promised to do the same from now on… And sometimes some guests come here, so I'm really okay. Living again would only mean I would have to get old, wrinkly, perpetually weaker, sicklier… I died in my prime, so to speak, and that's how I want the people to remember me… And I don't want you to see your mother die in a hospital bed…"

"A second funeral would be probably too much for me…" Toshiro said softly. "I think the one who gave me my intelligence is you…"

"Who knows…" Akiko smiled.

"Yeah… Livy, even not knowing all of that, would you do it for me?"

"If that would be your wish, Master… My power is yours to use, but not to abuse."

"I see… Well then, time for me to go."

"Oh right, you have a busy day ahead of you I believe," Akiko said.

"Yeah, it's moving day today, a Sunday to boot. Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Toshiro."

He woke up at a rather late hour for him, at the time Yoshika usually wakes up to make breakfast. He looked at his fiancé, and saw she was still sleeping.

Is she really sleeping? Naaah… She's breathing too fast...

Toshiro moved his lips towards Yoshika's left ear, and had blown gently.

"Waaaaaaaah!" Yoshika screamed. "I didn't expect that!"

"What did you expect? Me going into your pants from the dead morning?"

"Kind of…" She pouted. "Sakamoto bailed on us, and the rest just abandoned ship even quicker after that…"

"Guess everyone wanted a piece of Mio… And this would have been the biggest orgy in the history of this unit… Snap."

"I guess the reason was the fact that she couldn't open up to me…" Yoshika sighed. "I don't blame her to be honest… It would be VERY awkward for her to just let herself being kissed and fingered by me, when she still hasn't fully acknowledged me yet… Toshiro, I'm jealous…"

"Because Mio is going along so well with me?"

"Yes…"

"Blame it on our different genders and the strong first impression."

"But I've healed Micchan in front of her…"

"And I almost killed her as if she was a bug. That's a whole lot different in her book…"

"I suppose so… So, Toshiro… Last meal in Sint-Truiden?"

"I'll be glad to help you with it. Say… Will you need me when we move to Frankfurt?"

"Hmmm… Fourteen people, compared to fifteen in the morning now… I'll see how the kitchen is organized and stuff, okay?"

"Okay, Sweetie."

They went to the kitchen and saw Lynne already waiting for them with coffee.

"Did we need so much time to get ready?" Yoshika asked.

"Heheh… Yes… I have prepared coffee for us."

"Thank you, Lynnie," Toshiro said. "Everything packed for leaving?"

"Yes, Perrine too."

"Good. I don't want to stall the transport plane unnecessarily."

After drinking their coffee, they began making breakfast fit for a king, or at least his heir.

The girls started slowly crawling to the dining room, as yesterday, there was a little soiree, and some were a bit tired.

"Girls, you look like you have the urge to hit the showers…" Toshiro said with a smirk on his face.

"Toshirooo… Why the fuck did I agree to drink undiluted…" Shirley moaned.

"Dunno… I'm fine, right, Yoshika?"

"You sure were fine in bed, heheh…"

"You're alcohol immune anyway, you lucky bastard…" Mio murmured.

"That doesn't change the fact that you need a shower, Mio."

"Meeeercyyy…" Trude moaned. "At least let us eat…"

"Okay, so be it. But afterwards, I'll personally see to it that all of you who were drinking will undergo the usual hangover treatment."

"Yeeeah…" The poor, hung-over souls moaned.

The girls were served breakfast, and afterwards, Toshiro started gathering the bathers.

"Okaaay… Francesca, Yoshika, Perrine, Lynne, Shizuka, and Hanna, you'll help me get these drunkards under the showers."

"Roger!"

"Okay, ladies, to the showers, march!" Toshiro commanded.

The penal company was led to the showers, but the girls, except for Mio, were hesitant.

"What are you looking at?" Toshiro asked.

"You…" Erica mumbled.

"You all drank too much, so you deserve a refreshment. Now, go under the shower peacefully, or I'll use… coercive measures…"

"Such as?"

"Such as…" Toshiro summoned Aganaimaru. "…this for example. Yoshika, care to join me?"

"Nah… I think one all-cutting sword is enough to get the girls under the freezing water. But I could be wrong…"

"Well then…" Toshiro split Aganaimaru into two identical swords. "Woah! Aganaimaru now doesn't change size during dual wielding?!"

"You didn't know that?" Mio asked amused.

"How the hell should I know, since I don't have occasions to use two swords at a time?"

"Oh right… Okay you lousy bunch! Let's take that shower and a hot bath afterwards!"

"Hey, look who you're talking to, Little Mio," Adolfine said.

"Yeah…" Minna mumbled.

Toshiro ground the edges of the two swords against each other, making an unpleasant noise and a shower of monochromatic sparks.

"I can repeat that if you want, but I guess your ears won't like it…"

"Animal…" Erica mumbled.

"Sadist…" Adolfine said.

"Torturer…" Minna muttered.

All of the girls went under the cold shower, and despite them pleading and begging, they were held there for a full minute. Afterward, they rushed to the hot bath as if their life depended on it.

"Feeling better?" Toshiro asked with a devilish grin.

"Get the fuck out already!" The girls shouted in accord.

Toshiro only raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and went out of the room.

"Heehee… That will teach them to drink too much…" Yoshika giggled by his side.

"If only it worked that way…" he sighed deeply. "Oh, why are you the only one with me?"

"Ovular solidarity I guess…" Yoshika shrugged.

"So… We have a few hours left… What should we do now, my zebra-haired fiancé?"

"I really don't know… I'm not in the mood for some pounding…"

"Me neither…"

"Let's just wait a bit in the dining room…"

"Yeah..."

The two went to the dining room and sat at a table.

"What's your take on our unit moving, Yoshika?"

"We'll now be a frontline combat unit in the middle of the enemy territory. I guess that means more action, heh… But I'm a bit concerned…"

"About what, Sweetie?"

"How are we gonna get supplies? I mean, the closest settlement in which we could procure is in Gallia I guess?"

"I see that that noggin of yours is being put to good use," Toshiro patted her on said body part. "My guess is that we will have to phone Gallia or Romagna and request an air supply transport. That in turn means, that everything that has to be procured ASAP, will have to be done so with the help of Strikers. So remember, Yoshika – if the pantry will start looking windy so to speak, yell as loud as you can, so I can push a requisition to the right spot."

"Okay, understood."

They waited a bit, and the whole lot returned to the dining hall, dripping wet and angry.

"And why are you looking like cats that got kicked in the ass into a monsoon?"

"Because you fucking forgot our towels, imbecile!" Adolfine yelled furiously.

"Whoops… Okay, everyone hold hands so you form a nice chain. I'll dry you all at once."

The girls looked a bit surprised at each other, but they quickly joined hands and formed a human chain. Mio was the first link, so Toshiro grabbed her hand.

"Okay… So many people at once… I think I'll go with so much…"

"Toshiro, what are you mumbling on about?" Minna asked with eyebrows furled.

Suddenly, everyone in the chain glowed for a second and the girls were bone dry.

"Perfect!" Toshiro cheered.

The girls checked their hair and uniforms, but they only nodded in admiration for Toshiro's drying skills.

"I see that everyone is content, so a quick reminder. By 1130, all personal baggage is to be lumped before the second hangar in an orderly manner. If you leave anything, you will have to make nice eyes towards Adolfine, so she sends somebody with it towards Frankfurt, so be absolutely and positively sure you've taken everything. When the plane lands, we move all the baggage, and all equipment of our unit inside the plane, sans the Strikers. The Strikers we mount and we take the weaponry necessary for us, since we'll be guarding the plane and, by chance, our new base is in range of the Ingolstadt Hive. Afterwards, we'll see. Everything clear?"

"Roger!" The girls shouted.

"So now, go and triple check your luggage, tidy your rooms, return any books to the library, and we'll meet here, in the dining room, to kill some time. Thanks to the kindness of the 506th A-Unit, we don't have to go on patrol this morning, because they are guarding the now empty base themselves. Okay, everyone dismissed, I also have stuff to do. Yoshika, pack our bags. Trude, pull out everything concerning our unit from the archive. Minna, I'll go with you and help you with terminating our presence in the office."

"Roger!"

Minna and Adolfine followed Toshiro to the office. He sat behind the desk and said, "Please, be seated ladies."

The two sat on randomly picked chairs.

"So, Minna, what paperwork should I do right now?"

"Oh, just some minor things, I'll gladly help you with it."

"Thanks. Adi, I guess you'll be the sole proprietor of this office in slightly over two hours, right?"

"Heheh, dead on track… But I'll miss you…"

"I'll miss you too… But fuck, our sixsome didn't come to fruition…"

"Yeah, that sucks. But don't worry, because if you plan a foursome and give me a 24 hour heads up, I might join in…"

"You would fly to us in Frankfurt just to have a fuck?" Minna asked. "How irresponsible…"

"It's called paid leave, Minna, and you should use some up. Especially now that you have been promoted and have a few more days added."

"But not just to get banged, sheesh… Although, I have to admit that my leave is piling up like mad… I probably have a month worth of free time waiting to be used…"

"Heheh… I've been diligent, and I only have three days to spare…" Adi said.

"I wonder how it looks on my side…" Toshiro said.

"Last time I've checked, you're dry." Adolfine said.

"Really? When did I burn all my free time?"

"July 8th till August 2nd, Toshiro."

"So that wasn't a complimentary leave?!"

"Nope. You may be the Kaiser's nephew, but ordnung muss sein."

"Crap… But I should have gotten some time after getting my promotion!"

"Not that you desperately need to use it up…" Minna mumbled. "You are the commander of the 501st now, thus, you have to keep command."

"I can always appoint you as my stand-in, Minna," Toshiro said with a smile on his face.

"Snap… But what could you possibly need a paid leave for anyway?" Minna asked.

"Dunno to be honest. But it's good to know my possibilities… Now, paperwork, ladies."

"Finally you're talking sense… Now, you need to…"

As Minna explained everything, Toshiro slowly did the paperwork. Midway, Mio came in and just took a seat with a beat expression.

"Why is it that I'm such a powerful witch, yet my head is so soft…?" She moaned.

Adolfine scuttled over, patted her on the back, and said, "Things in nature have to be balanced, Mio."

"Maybe… Ugh, now I remembered my first contact with alcohol…"

"Oh, you never told us about that," Minna said surprised.

"I suppose I can tell your lot… But repeat this to anybody, and you're toast!"

"We'll keep our mouths shut, Mio," Toshiro snickered.

"Okay then… So when we were in the port city of Urajio, that's in Manchuria, I had the occasion to taste some cider. I chugged down a whole pint sized bottle in one go, and according to my friends, I went loose… I started running through the whole damn city, shouting that I will be the very best witch in the world, that is until I finally passed out… You can imagine what I felt when the girls told me about this after I woke up…"

"You were ashamed as a western nun when entering a mixed bath in Fuso," Adolfine said.

"Bah, nail on the head!" Mio laughed. "But sheesh, this really sucks… And now this buffoon is literally smirking his face off, knowing he has immunity to alcohol!"

"Guilty as charged," Toshiro chuckled. "But you know, you don't have to drink with us on every occasion, you can sit it out."

"I suppose you're right…" Mio sighed and stood up. "Thanks for everything."

After she exited, Minna asked, "Thanks for what exactly?"

"Sharing the load that dropped off her back?" Adolfine asked.

"Maybe… Toshiro, don't dawdle."

"Yeah…"

Just as he finished, Trude came in with a stack of papers, which almost didn't fit through the door.

"Mein Gott… Did I write down all that?!" Toshiro asked terrified.

"Yup, cousin…" Trude huffed and slammed the stack down on the desk.

Toshiro muttered something unintelligibly and planted the paperwork he just did on the pile.

"We need to bind this, and get it to the new base unscathed," Toshiro said. "Anyone got an idea what could we tie it down with?"

"Maybe there's some rope in the hangar?" Minna asked. "Shirley could get it, as she's probably there."

"Very good idea," Toshiro said and approached the PA panel. "Shirley! Or anyone for that matter… If I could get a three meter piece of rope and two clean rags of the same size delivered to the office, I would be happy."

"I hope there will be an archive somewhere in the new base…" Trude said.

"If not, we'll make one." Toshiro shrugged. "Now, we wait…"

Ten minutes later, Shirley arrived inside of the office with the required supplies.

"Did you visit the local rope-maker and a tailor to get those?" Trude asked.

"I was busy with something else, not to mention you could use your magic to make one, Toshiro," Shirley rebuked.

"Thanks anyway, Shirley," he said and wrapped the papers with the rags and tied them down tightly with the rope. "Done. Much better."

"Oh, so that's what you needed it for… I thought that maybe you wanted to practice some kinky S&M with Yoshika…"

"Don't project your own fantasies on me…" Toshiro mumbled.

"I am not!"

Adolfine wiggled her eyebrows towards Shirley, and the latter scrammed faster than anyone could notice.

"Adolfine… Why did Shirley run away as if Asmodeus himself chased her with a pitchfork?"

"Ah… Well… We had a close encounter…" Adolfine answered flustered.

Trude and Toshiro tilted their heads, but Minna only giggled.

"Whatever…" Toshiro sighed. "Remember to take all the papers from here, Trude. I'll go to my room and take a nap or something…"

"Will do!"

Toshiro went on to his room and found Yoshika lying on the bed.

"Oh would you look at that… Yoshika slacking off in the middle of the day? Unheard of!"

"Oh, Toshiro… Heh… Well, if Sakamoto isn't trying to murder me, and if the others don't want anything from me, then why should I force myself into doing anything unnecessary just to keep my hands busy?"

"But you should train, you know… Ah, wait, it's a Sunday…"

"Heehee… Stupid Toshiro… Did you finish your errands?"

"Yup."

"Come on then, let's simply lie down together…"

"That's an offer I can't refuse," he smiled. "Want to add Livy?"

"Sure, why not," Yoshika said, and Livy appeared immediately.

"Master, please take the center position."

Toshiro squeezed himself between the two, and was embraced by them.

"This is paradise…" he sighed and closed his eyes.

"Wake up, sleepy head. It's time to move from this fortress."

Toshiro opened his eyes, only to see Yoshika opening hers.

"Heehee… Only two seconds late."

"You really have a sixth sense regarding me…"

"That's mostly Kuji, and partially my womanly intuition. Well, time for us. Get the bags and let's go."

"And why am I to get the bags, hmm?"

"Oh you! Don't make me give you a lecture about feminism, womanly rights, savoir vivre, and simple damn courtesy!"

"Okay, okay… No need to get your cooch in a knot because I was joking a bit…"

"Heehee… I was joking too, Toshiro. But it would be nice if you'd carry my bag…" Yoshika looked at him with puppy eyes.

"Stop with the eyes, geez… I'll take it, don't worry. It's not like you're carrying lead bars in it, right?"

"Nah."

He turned his head to the side, seeing an amused Livy looking at him joyfully.

"There's always something fun going between you and the Mistress, Master."

"Yeaaah… I hope it won't get dull a few years into our marriage…"

"Spit that out, Toshiro!" Yoshika poked him in the ribs. "I'll make sure we'll have fun even if we have a hundred years!"

"Oh, I'll help too!" Livy cheered.

"That's reassuring," he smiled. "Okay, Livy, time for you to go for now, we have business to attend to."

"Of course, Master," she said politely as she disappeared.

Toshiro took her bag, and hoisted the chest on his shoulder.

"Time for us," he said and went out of the room with Yoshika following him.

Once they exited the building, he saw that most of the girls were there already, as was their luggage. Toshiro put his and Yoshika's on the pile and asked, "Where are our two frigid lovers?"

"Behind ya," Shirley said.

Toshiro looked around and saw Sanya and Eila running at their direction.

"Okay, I see. Trude, time to move the trolleys we prepared yesterday."

"Verstanden," she answered.

They went into the hangar and pushed trolleys with ammo to the runway. Afterwards, Toshiro fetched his prized possessions in form of the 88 and 128, and placed them alongside the trolleys.

"Finished… The Ju 290 from the Sicily HQ should be here any minute," he said. "Everyone quadruple checked their baggage and rooms? I really don't want to bother Adolfine… Oh, where is she by the way?"

As if on command, she exited the main building, accompanied by the rest of the NJG, and the whole bunch ran towards them. Adolfine stopped before the 501st, with the four behind them.

"Time to say goodbye," she said with a smile. "It was nice to be with your unit for over a month, Toshiro. But you know, good things don't last…"

"You can always drop by us, it's only like… two hundred and fifty kilometers, almost nothing. Especially when the Wehrmacht FINALLY realizes that the XF-2 is essential for the war effort."

"Oh sure! If I get a jet myself, I'll be visiting you every second day, hahaha!"

"Apage, Satanas!" Toshiro yelled and made a cross with his fingers, making the girls around laugh, Adolfine included.

"Yeah, I'll do the same! Shirley, you won't hide from me!" Georgina shouted.

"Come at me, sis! I still have the better motorcycle!" Shirley shouted back, but then her face paled, and she looked at Adolfine with empty eyes.

"What is it, Shirley?" She asked.

"Um… Urrrrrmm… Can I take the KS750 with me?"

"Oh, riiiiight…" Adolfine said with a sly smile. "I forgot about this small issue… Well, I suppose I can transfer the motorcycle to the 501st officially…"

"Yaaaaay!" Shirley cheered and hugged Adolfine.

"Hahaha! Okay, let me go! Get the motorcycle here already."

"Affirmative!" Shirley shouted and disappeared.

"She really should use that only in combat…" Mio mumbled from behind Toshiro.

"Thank you for… de-awkwardizing me a bit, Toshiro…" Hanna said. "I appreciate it. That and the training from last week."

"For the training, you should thank Lynne, not me."

"Oh… Thank you, Lynne…"

"Heehee… No problem, Hanna," The Britannian responded with a bright smile.

"Hey, Sigi, Karla." Toshiro said.

"Yeah?" The two answered with roguish smiles.

"Be good to Adolfine, or I'll return to bust your asses.

"Don't worry, we'll be good," Karla said.

"The last thing we would want is a punishment for you…" Siegfriede mumbled.

"Hahaha!" Toshiro laughed and looked before him closely. "Ah, I see the plane! Trude, we'll do the moving again."

"Okay, cousin dearest!"

They waited for the plane to lend and taxi to the hangar. The loading ramp opened and a familiar face descended it. But only about a meter, because he soon saw somebody familiar, and he ran back inside the plane.

"Who was that?" Yoshika asked.

"Capitano Corleone, heheheh…" Toshiro laughed. "He had a rough first encounter with Mio in Sicily…"

"Oh… That guy…"

"Get out you coward!" Mio yelled. "Your family heirloom is safe as long you keep your slimy hands to yourself!"

The girls looked surprised at Mio, but soon the Captain went down the loading ramp, stiff like a board.

"G-Good day!" He said as he saluted. "I-I'm here to supervise the o-operation."

"Not needed!" Mio shouted. "Get back in the pilots cabin and don't even bother poking your head out!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!" The Captain cried and ran away.

"Shit, Mio… You really hold your grudges…" Toshiro said amazed.

"Hahaha! You have to keep a man on a tight leash! Speaking of which, you should start loading the plane, Toshiro."

"Ah, yes. Come on, Trudy."

"Coming!"

The two made haste and loaded all the equipment onto the plane.

"Girls, to your Strikers." Toshiro commanded. "We have to protect this bird."

"Roger!" They all responded and ran to the hangar.

Toshiro followed them into the hangar and he mounted his own Striker. As he loaded all the other cannons he had, he only took his MG with him. The whole unit raised into the air over the runway.

The plane taxied to the other end of the runway and lifted off after gaining enough speed. The 501st formed around it as they discussed it yesterday, with Mio, Toshiro, and Yoshika in the dead front of the plane.

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