Chapter 22 – Gods no…

Toshiro woke up and saw a blue sky without a single speck of clouds, peering through the branches of a full blooming sakura tree. He felt as his hair was being stroked gently.

He looked up and saw the gentle face of his second favorite goddess. She was looking at him with her big, golden eyes, and smiling so warmly that Toshiro could melt.

"Amaterasu… Oh damn… Is it November? Did I pass out for such a long time?"

"It's the fourth of November, Toshiro…"

"Two weeks… What… What happened?"

"A rather unfortunate coincidence of the aftermaths of your soul convergence with Yoshika… She forcefully activated the Celestial Order to restore the hand of your Fusojin friend…"

"Activated? Just how?"

"Remember that there's a microscopic bit of Celestial Order in Yoshika right now. Before, it would be impossible to do something like that."

"I see… Will there be some… Lingering aftereffects?"

"You'll be safe for now, Master…" he heard Livy's voice. "Your incapacitation was the only direct consequence."

"Oh, you're here too, Livy?" Toshiro looked around, and saw her sitting right beside him.

"The problem was the fact the Celestial Order was activated forcefully, putting an even bigger strain on your body than normally. It tried to counteract this state, but ultimately fell before Yoshika's willpower, Master."

"Damn it… How could she do this?"

"She wasn't thinking clearly, Toshiro," Amaterasu said. "Her mind was set on "Help Sakamoto" with full force."

"I'll have to talk with her… When can I wake up?"

"In a few hours, it will be late afternoon by then. But now rest, even your soul needs it."

"Okay… Where's Mom?"

"Here," Akiko's melodic voice rang from the other side.

He turned his head on Amaterasu's thigh and said, "Oh, heh… Didn't notice you either…"

"I was silent after all… My poor Toshiro…" she said with a concerned voice.

Toshiro closed his eyes while finding a good position on Amaterasu's thighs and he fell asleep.

He opened his eyes again. The crimson November sky could be seen from a window unfamiliar to Toshiro.

I don't recognize this ceiling… But… This looks like the infirmary… I knew I should've taken a tour around the rooms I haven't visited yet…

Toshiro tried to move but the pain reminded him of what he experienced.

Mmmmhhhmmm… Ouch… But I have to at least lean up…

He focused and using all his willpower, he leaned up.

I feel as if a mammoth freight train hit me going downhill… Damn it to all circles of Dante's hell…

Toshiro heard the door being opened. He looked to the right but a screen blocked his view. After a few seconds, Mio came into his view.

"Oh, you're awake," she said a bit surprised.

"Yeah… But I feel like washed up shit… Could you fill me in on what happened during the last two weeks?"

"Of course… But wait a second…" Mio said and bent over beside his bed.

She picked up a small stool with her right hand and sat on it.

"I see your arm is as good as new…"

"Yes… Yoshika did it…" Mio said a bit ashamed.

"Yoshika? Holy fuck… I must have died and this is at least the Purgatory."

"You're pretty much alive, judging by your sense of humor…. Yes, Toshiro, I finally acknowledged her. She… She saved my life another time… I can't remain oblivious too such benevolence…"

"Technically, she only saved your hand…"

"Yes, yes… But you know what losing my hand, especially my dominant hand, would mean to me, right?"

"Yes… The military would deem you unfit for duty, even for deskwork. And using a sword or MG would also get a bit more complicated, effectively rendering you incapable of fighting…"

"Exactly. Ehh… You know, I didn't want to become a witch, but now I can't live without being one…"

"You didn't? That's somehow understandable, but not coming from you…"

"Yeah… I was greatly influenced by the Fuso Sea Incident… And by both my sensei, and my kendo classmate, Waka. I was a girl like Miyafuji in my childhood – carefree, always laughing… But the war changed me, Toshiro… I had to put up a façade of a strict teacher towards Yoshika, so she wouldn't go soft, waste her potential, or even commit a fatal error in combat… I… I'll tell you something, Toshiro… But please don't tell it to anyone else, okay?"

"Not even Yoshika?"

"Not even."

"Okay…"

"I had the same drive as Yoshika when I was younger. I pursued to be a witch because of one duty I wanted to fulfill – to protect everyone with my power. I trained like my Magan like mad, forcing myself to the brink of exhaustion, because I wanted to protect people…"

"I'm stumped…" Toshiro said after a few seconds of silence. "You should tell this to Yoshika, she'll view you as an even greater friend."

"One day for sure," Mio smiled. "I don't have to hurry, as Yoshika is now my equal, Toshiro, despite the fact we're three ranks apart. I wanted to cut my hair as a sign of atonement for my stubbornness, but…"

"If you did that, I would make it regrow, Mio. You look very mature in that hair, ponytail or not."

"Oh…" Mio blushed. "Well, Perrine grabbed my hand, as I did wanted to do it publicly so…"

"I imagine, heh… So, where's Yoshika now?"

"She's in your room. I think she's got a hard case of depression…"

"Why?"

"She realized she was the one that sucked you dry so hard. The guilt is eating her up like a wildfire…"

"I will talk to her in a few minutes…. But, beside that?"

"Minna took up her duty as the acting commander with me as her deputy. Command praised us for the well-executed operation, but they were deeply concerned about your incapacitation. Minna managed to sweet talk them not to make fuss, but Galland came on their behalf anyway. Besides that, Hattori and Heidi got their Strikers. But you won't believe who also got some."

"Dunno… Really…"

"Perrine and Lynne both got a Gloster Meteor F.4 prototype from the RAF. Now the only ones without jets are our two favorite lesbians…"

"Nice… Oh, so Shizuka also got one?"

"Yes, another Kikka."

"Shame about Sanya and Eila though…"

"Heidi is lending her XF-2 to Sanya for night flights, so that isn't exactly so tragic… And Eila is Eila, she'll manage."

"Any other noteworthy news?"

"The press is shitting bricks because of Ichiro's return."

"As was to be expected… Okay now, time to move my ass it seems."

"Should I help you?" Mio asked with a caring voice.

"I guess you could… I don't know how my body will behave."

Toshiro moved to the side of the bed and pulled his legs down on the floor. He carefully stood up, swaying quite a bit.

"You look okay-ish, but I'll walk by your side."

Toshiro slowly passed Mio but halfway to the door his almost fell. Lucky for him, Mio threw herself under him.

"Oookay there buster, easy does it… I don't mean to disrespect you, but you could use that saya of yours as a walking stick…"

Toshiro sighed and said, "What a bother…"

He summoned the enormous sheath of Aganaimaru and grabbed hold of it.

"The gods must shake their fists at me right now…"

He managed to walk out of the room and before the door of his own room.

"Okay, Mio, thanks. Go back to your duties, and tell the girls I'm back in business."

"Will do, Toshiro," Mio said and went to the common room.

Toshiro entered his room and saw Yoshika lying on her side with her back towards him.

"What is it… I told you I don't…" she froze halfway seeing Toshiro. "To... To… Toshiro…"

Toshiro slowly but surely approached the bed and sat on the edge. Yoshika was kneeling on the bed and moved her hand towards him, but she retracted it quickly with an uneasy face expression.

"I see… You're afraid to touch me now… Afraid you might sap me silly again?"

Yoshika nodded shyly.

"You do know what you have done to me, right?"

Yoshika wanted to nod but silently said, "O-Order…"

"Yes, Yoshika. You somehow manage to activate the power of Celestial Order forcefully. With all consequences…" Toshiro said with a cold voice.

"W-What consequences…"

"Thankfully there were none, besides me being unconscious, but what would happen if it wasn't the case, hmm? I told you that if I use it up more than I should, it could kill me."

Yoshika's lower lip started to tremble.

"I should punish you, and punish you severely. I could ground you. I could confine you to solitary. Or I could simply hit you. Once. Twice. Thrice… In this day and age, a man hitting a woman is perceived as something fairly normal, Yoshika…"

Tears started flowing down Yoshika's face with a steady stream.

"But I guess we will just have to live our lives a bit more intensively to compensate for the lost time…" Toshiro sighed. "You are the only person I'm living for, Yoshika. Maybe you did the right thing… At least Mio now calls you by your given name, and she has her hand working, and can continue her fight…"

He looked at Yoshika again, and saw that her enormous eyes were opened wider than before, and the stream of tears was even more intensive.

"Come on," he said as he spread his arms.

Yoshika immediately threw herself into his embrace.

"I'm so sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

"Ssshh… Sshhh… There, there…" he said with a soft voice as he patted her head.

After Yoshika let it all out she said, "Are you okay, Toshiro?"

"I'm sore like hell…"

"Oh, let me fix it!"

"Just don't use my power, heheh…"

Yoshika extended both her hands and a green aura enveloped her hands. Toshiro's soreness and stiffness faded momentarily.

"Thanks. That worked like a charm. But I guess what I should do is stuff my gut."

"Yes, I'll make a late dinner especially for you! Just wait!"

"I'll go take a breather outside, since I was vegetating in the infirmary for two weeks."

Toshiro and Yoshika went down to the common room, and Toshiro went on to the corridor leading outside. As he was about to open the door, he heard a knock on it.

Huh?

When he opened it, he saw Kye and her two rascals, standing before them in Karlslander uniforms.

"Nope," he said and slammed the door shut.

The knock on the door repeated itself. As he opened it again, he saw the three in black suits, and with each carrying a stack of pamphlets.

"Sir, do you have time to talk about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ?" Kye, presenting a pamphlet, said.

Toshiro slammed the door shut again, but yet again, there was a knock on the door, which he opened again. The three were now in string bikinis, with Kye making a grumpy face, Kaylie striking a sexy pose and matching expression and Layla pouting and looking to the side a bit embarrassed.

"Heheh… Make yourselves decent, and come in," Toshiro said and closed the door again.

After another knock and another opening of the door, they were back to square one.

"Please, come in," Toshiro said with a caustic tone. "I guess the time has finally come…"

"Toshiro, I want to make a limited disclosure about the battle you had in my world, besides leaving the two numbskulls here."

"Okay, whatever. I just hope you redacted the proper parts…"

"Don't worry, I thought about that," she said and pulled out a small square box out of her breast pocket.

"And what would that be?"

"A film projector."

"The technology in your world, damn it…"

The door opened behind him and he could here Minna's voice, "Toshiro? What…. Oh… Look who came back…"

"Heh, hi, Minna."

"And who are those two?" Minna asked.

"My two daughters, Kaylie and Layla," she said while pointing at the two in sequence. "Sergeants."

"Oh, and what are you trying to do with them, hmm?"

"I struck a deal with Toshiro that I would leave the two with him if they misbehave another time. And they did, thus, we are here."

"But why appear here… physically? Why not just poof them here and finished?"

"Because I want to show you all the battle in which Toshiro took part in my world. I guarantee you that it's worth watching."

"But we don't have any movie equipment, and I don't see anything on you…"

Kye waved the film projector before her.

"That little box? Jesus Christ… What kind of technology do you have there?"

"Mind blowing…" Toshiro mumbled. "So I should probably gather everyone in the briefing room?"

"That would be best."

"Okay then…" Toshiro mumbled and approached the PA panel. "Everyone assemble to a special briefing in the briefing room, so I can brief you while I brief you…"

"That didn't make any sense…" Minna said.

"Hello, I have been out cold for two weeks?"

"And Yoshika…"

"Fine," he interrupted Minna. "She's making me dinner right now."

"Ah, good. I thought it would be something serious."

"Let's go all of you…" Toshiro sighed and let the procession through the common room.

"Oh, Toshiro, wha…. Whoa! Kye! And… Wait, which one of you is Kaylie?"

One of the redheads raised her hand.

"Ah, so the other one must be Layla. Hi!"

"Hello, this worlds Yoshika, heh…"

"What are you all doing here? And with Minna to boot?"

"Kye will be showing the girls footage from the battle I participated in. But I guess you don't have to watch it, heh…" Toshiro said.

"Heehee, no, I don't. And I have to make dinner for you, or you'll collapse on me."

"You know what? I'll get back here after Kye rolls the… uh… tape…"

"Okay!" Yoshika cheered.

Toshiro went on with the group to the second floor and he stopped them with a hand sign.

"This will be your room, redheads. And don't even try to open the door using your magic, or I'll bump you such lump that you'll be looking like two headed monsters."

The two gulped audibly.

"Good job, Toshiro," Kye said. "You can pound some humility in those two; just use some common sense to discern between a beating and punishment."

"Suuuuure. By the way, how hard were they hit with locking their powers?"

"They are now perfectly normal mortals, just like you remembered them from my world, adjusted to your power level."

"Eeeeexcelent… Ah, equipment?"

"Contemporary and already in the hangar."

"Good, very good. I already have missions set up for them in my mind…" Toshiro said with a devilish face.

They turned around the corner, walked down the corridor, and opened the door to the briefing room. Surprisingly, all of the girls were inside.

"I hope you didn't have anything to do with this?" Toshiro whispered to Kye.

"I didn't put a finger to it."

The girls looked curiously at the newcomers.

"Would you look who the cat dragged in…" Trude said. "You got some nerve to return here after not saying a proper farewell…"

"Don't worry, Gertrud, I'll give you a proper explanation. Minna, please take a seat."

"Hey, who are you to command Minna, ah?!" Trude stood up in anger.

"Shut up, Trude…" Toshiro mumbled, making Trude sit.

"Thank you, Toshiro. Some of you know me already. My name is Kye Akari, and I'm from another world."

Dead silence was heard in the room.

"Uh, what?" Shirley asked.

"This universe isn't the only one, Shirley."

"How'd you know my name?"

"Because I come from a universe that also has a 501st JFW, the Neuroi and such, but which had some major changes after what happened in Romagna, and some behind the scene things that were majorly different. Before you ask, Toshiro, as he is now, is unique to this world."

"Ah, okay…"

"Did the war end in your world?" Trude asked.

"Yes, and let's say it was a rather happy ending to all. I won't tell more, because… well, that's a veeeery long story. I came here to you to show you a little movie, a compilation from a battle Toshiro has participated in in my world."

"You were in another world, Bro?" Erica asked.

"Yup. I was snatched away from my plane flight, just before I landed in Belgica."

"You really get into the deepest shit sometimes…"

"True that… Okay, Kye, play the movie, introduce the redheads, and do whatever you like else. I have to catch up to fourteen days of fasting."

"Go, you look a bit thin, heh…"

Toshiro exited the room.

Heheheh… The fact that the girls are mortalized makes this errand muuuuch easier…

He descended down to the common room.

"Toshiro, I have some bacon and eggs already!"

"Gimmie!"

Yoshika gave him a plate of bacon that was almost the size of a book, and eggs the size of a steering wheel. He chomped it all down voraciously and shouted, "More!"

"Yeah, yeah, wait a second!"

"No rush, the battle I fought was a month long, heheh… I doubt they'll finish before supper."

"Heehee, you're right."

Next, Toshiro ate Schnitzel mit Kartoffeln und Sauerkraut, and later, some Zwiebelsuppe.

"Oh gods… So damn full…" he said and burped loudly. "Pardon."

"It's almost supper time, and the girls are still there…" Yoshika said.

"Maybe Kye "revealed" herself before them, and now she has to scrape their jaws off the floor?"

"Hahaha!"

They waited for another hour. Toshiro walked out to the corridor and saw the full moon and stars outside.

"Yuki?"

"2035, they're sure taking long…"

"As I said…"

He returned to the common room and saw the girls slowly descending the stairs, looking like a procession of the living dead.

Toshiro approached them and asked, "So, how was it?"

"The things we saw…" Trude mumbled.

"We cannot unsee…" Shirley moaned.

"Heheheh… Okay, Lynne, you snap out of it and help Yoshika. I'll go fetch the key to the guest room. The rest of you, our dear guest included, take your seats."

Toshiro went to the office, opened the key box, and pulled out the guest room key. Once he returned, he saw the girls were all sitting at the table, with the exception of the two redheads, who were sitting on the stairs.

"And why are you two sitting on the stairs like cavemen?"

"No chairs for us," Kaylie said.

"Then fetch them from the broom closet there," Toshiro pointed at the door in on the west wall of the common room.

Suddenly, Kaylie appeared before him with two chairs in her arms.

"Oh would you look at you, all time magic and shit. Use your magic out of combat one more time, and I'll strap you to the antenna on the roof naked."

Kaylie opened her eyes widely.

"You too, Layla. If I see an atom misplaced here, I'll make sure your sister has company on a windy November day outside."

"Absolutely no pranks?" Layla asked.

"Absolutely nothing. Unless I permit it."

"And when will you do that?" Kaylie asked.

"First, tell me when you're leaving."

"As soon as you feel like letting us go…" Layla mumbled.

"Heheheheheh…" Toshiro laughed creepily. "Okay, if you behave tomorrow, I'll let you loose a bit, deal?"

"Deal!" the two cheered in unison.

"But… If I get a word from Kye that one of you peeked into my room while I'm sleeping with Yoshika… Ooooooh… Oooooooh… The horror…"

The two yet again gulped so loud a deaf man would hear it.

"Now, go sit at the table like good girls."

The twins rushed to the table and put their chairs in free spots.

"Since I've eaten, I'll go take a bath," Toshiro said. "Kaylie, think fast!" he shouted and threw the key to her.

"What, hey!" she shouted as the key slammed her on the forehead.

"Ha, so you've listened! Very good!"

Toshiro went to the bath and took a long dip. When he returned, the girls were slowly dispersing.

"And where are you two going?" he asked the twins. "Dishes, now!"

"But…" Kaylie tried to protest.

"Now, Sergeants!" he yelled.

The two twitched and rushed for the sink.

"You sure use an iron rod against them…" Minna said. "Not afraid of… divine retribution?"

"This is their penal colony, not a vacation resort."

"Ah well, good night, Toshiro."

"Night, Minna. Good night, all!"

"Good night!" the girls mused and ran off to the second floor.

Except for Yoshika who asked, "Coming?"

"Go ahead; I have to supervise the two."

"Okay, but don't dawdle. I have to make up for all the days you were out, heehee…"

Aw yeah!

Toshiro approached the counter of the kitchen annex and asked, "So, how do you like it here?"

"Fucking tyrant…" Kaylie mumbled.

"Slave driver…" Layla followed suit.

"Listen, girls… I still like you the same way I liked you back then, nothing really changed. But a punishment is a punishment, so please; don't take it personally, okay?"

"So you aren't doing this out of petty revenge?" Kaylie asked.

"Maybe a little bit, heheh… But seriously, try to act like normal girls of your physical age."

"Well okay… If you insist…" Layla said.

"Good girls. Finish washing the dishes and you can go take a bath. And seriously, don't eavesdrop when I'll be drilling Yoshika."

"As if we didn't probe your mind back then enough to have a few hours of good porn…" Kaylie said with a wild grin.

"Shut up…" Toshiro sighed. "Or I'll really start behaving like a son of a bitch. Want that?"

"Nope," they both exclaimed.

"Good night girls, sleep tight," he said with a soft voice.

"Night!" the two cheered.

Toshiro went to his room and joined Yoshika in the bed.

"So, you said something earlier…"

"You sir, need to wash your ears. Come on, let's fuck!"

"Hoho, you must be really horny!"

"No shit!"

"Oh, but wait… Livy, want to join in too?" Yoshika asked.

Livy appeared and said, "After you, Mistress. If of course the Master permits…"

"Ah, well, I think I'll be able to satisfy the both of you…" Toshiro pondered. "What do you say, Yoshika?"

"I hope you can keep up to your word…"

"Did I ever disappoint you?"

"No!"

This chapter contains references to: Evangelion, (in a rather lampoonish way) the works of Nisio Isin, and a certain meme. Will you find them all, dear reader?

If you feel like it, please leave a review. However, I have only one request – if you want to leave something the size of a short story, please consider discussing your points over PM. If you want to leave an anonymous review, I respect your decision to do so, but if you sign in, I can actually discuss anything with you, dear reader. Thanks for reading, and I hope the next chapter will also garner your attention!