Disclaimer: The Sakura Wars series and its' characters is a product of Sunrise and is owned by its respective owners. I only own my OC and any koubu ideas I make.
This story is partially inspired by Meanjojo's own Sakura Wars story, In an Era of Blooming Flowers, Pretty Sure I'm Not One of Them, but with my own twist on things hopefully of which will be obvious along the way.
Well except hopefully just the beginning…
Sakura Wars: Sparks of Courage
Prologue – Part 1 – Welcome to the Capital… Kind of?
You know growing up, I was a big anime guy. Old or new I always gave it a chance.
I was really into the fad of the whole original characters and self inserts that were the rage at the time. Isekai, we called them.
I love mecha most of all. Gundam, Macross, SRW, you name it I was either a fan or heard of it. A friend even got me into building my own Gunpla and mech kits. Ah, those were the days…
But sometimes life gets in the way of fun things like that. That thing was deployment for me.
And right now… I'm not in the greatest position in the world. As an old man wearing a grey suit, navy blue vest, and green tie stares me down as another; a woman in a blue pants suit and similarly colored shirt and skirt holds a gun to the back of my head.
For others they'd typically panic, but when you're a fully trained member of the JSDF's Ground Forces, it's a typical training day.
My name's Hiroshi Yamada…
And this is my story as the new addition to the Imperial Grand Theater and the Flower Division fighting against Demons bent on world destruction.
Sounds fun right?
But I guess we all have to start at the beginning…
(A Few Hours Ago…)
"Mmm… my aching head. What was that before?" As I got up I could feel cold metal touching my face and hands as I nursed my head after the blackout I suddenly had.
I was on leave and finally just gotten home to visit my family who happened to be visiting near the base I was stationed.
We had dinner, talked, had fun and finally I decided to hit the hay for the day. But this sleep felt way different.
So as I put in my earbuds to my MP3 on my old nightstand. I awoke to feel a slight discomfort as I began to realize my surroundings.
The hard metal floor was an immediate discomfort, my neck cracking as I tried to move it. As I looked around it was dark and a bit cool, but not cold.
The feeling reminded me somehow of a garage or warehouse of some kind. I walked around deciding to try and find my bearings.
As I continued to walk along, I felt something that felt like a switch of some kind. Flipping it a large light turned on and my assumptions were correct when I turned on the light and I was greeted with the sight of what seemed to be… pods?
As I was just about to continue my investigation into the area, I then heard a click come from behind me.
"Don't move." A female voice with some authority demanded. I froze at the voice's command making sure not to move.
"Hands in the air… slowly." She said as I relented. I then heard the clicking of heels as I felt the steel being put against the back of my head.
As I stayed in place, I began to feel a hand patting me down everywhere around my body. I can feel as they take things from my pockets and confiscate them from me.
"Now without looking at me turn and face the opposite direction." I do as she's told and turn towards where she used to be.
As we did so she led me to an elevator, and during that she must've gotten behind me as she ordered me, "Press the button labeled F1."
I did so as I felt the car activate and sends us up.
We continue on until we come upon and office door and the woman announces herself, "Commander, I found an intruder in the Underground Hangar."
"What did you say? Come in now." The old, but steady voice replies. Pushing me with the gun, I open the door to where I'm finally handcuffed and brought to my knees.
As I look up I see an old man, with a straight look. Despite the large sake bottle beside him there's no appearance of drunkenness on his face in fact it's stoic; one a general on the field of battle has as the war is raging.
Finally the woman from before enters my view, I finally recognize both of the people I was looking at.
The woman in her stunning blue combination is Ayame Fujieda. The Vice-Commander of the Imperial Combat Revue and the men, her boss is the Ikki Yoneda, Commander of the Imperial Combat Revue.
Both of them veterans of the Kouma War of years past. The same Kouma War from the mecha series I played as a kid…
Sakura Wars.
I was in Sakura Wars…
"Who are you and who do you work for?" Yoneda's voice takes me out of me short-lived thoughts. As he asked me I could see him going through my items such as my wallet, some leftover tools I had, and… my MP3 player!
Well unfortunately given my position, lying to this man is going to do me any good so just being honest is the best way to go.
"My name is Yamada Hiroshi; I'm a Staff Sergeant of the JSDF's 4th Engineer Brigade." I simply answered.
My answer in fact seemed to stump the two military brass in front of me. I suspect they weren't expecting their intruder to be some kind of service person.
But Yoneda seemed to recover quickly, "Then we'll have to ensure your identity is what it is. But that's an issue we'll have to take up later. For now, we have much bigger issues to tackle. Such as your stowing away in our underground facilities."
"I assure you… sir. I didn't go down there of my own volition." I replied.
"I would assumed you'd answer like that… How old are you son?" Yoneda asks me.
"I'm 22, sir."
He then seemed to signal to Ayame to whisper to her, as they silently talked to each other about whatever they were talking about with my situation.
Ayame at one point seemed to give me a pointed look, but then went back to talking to Yoneda and then after a few more minutes of deliberation he made a decision.
"Here's how this is going to go… Staff Sergeant." I could just hear the emphasis in his voice. "For now you'll be under my custody until we can formally figure out what to do with you." After saying that he fished through the drawers in his desk and took out a few papers.
"By all means I should turn you over to my superiors on the charge of being a potential spy. But seeing as given the circumstances and the fact you didn't exactly have much to spy on, there's some wiggle room here."
I nodded as he continued, "But you were still in an restricted area you shouldn't have been. But if you follow what I say I think we can make a win-win scenario for the both of us." For the first time Yoneda seemed to relax a bit as he pulled out a cup and poured some sake into it.
As he drank I finally had the chance to take in all of what was going on. I was sitting in the General Manager's office of the Grant Imperial Theater. Said manager was Ikki Yoneda, and as secondary confirmation the woman beside him only added to where I was.
I was in an alternate version of 1900s steampunk Japan from well-known and famous handheld game that grew to be popular in the 1990s and even the early 2000s. And that Yamada was just caught in the middle of the underground hangar where the Koubu of the Imperial Combat Revue were supposed to be stationed.
As well as a bullet train and airship. The circumstances of his appearance notwithstanding, there was absolutely nothing to explain how or why he was here. Despite all of the scenarios he tried to go through in that moment nothing seemed to make sense.
"Are you alright there my boy? You seemed jittery for a moment?" Yoneda said as he rustled through papers.
"No, I was just… thinking to myself." I replied.
"I see. Here Ayame, explain things to him." Yoneda said as he handed Fujieda the papers he had gathered.
First, she undid my handcuffs, and I was allowed up and sat down on a sofa where Ayame began, "I'm sure we wouldn't have to teach what a theater is. This Grand Imperial Theater serves two purposes. One, as a front for the military hardware you stumbled upon. And finally two, to produce shows in order to keep the people happy and their spirits up given the times we live in."
She then showed me a stack of papers as she continued, "These papers here acknowledge that you will make a contractual agreement with the Grand Imperial Theater as an employee here and that Yoneda will be able to give you just compensation for what work you complete here."
"I'd highly recommend that you sign it my boy. If you don't you'll simply be in one room day in and day out under constant surveillance until my friends became curious that they decide to come and say 'Hello.'" Yoneda said.
Essentially a veiled way of saying: "If you work for me, you're safe. But if you don't, then I can't help you."
Damn that man is good…
"What tasks would I exactly be doing?" I inquired.
"Typical tasks associated with running a theater depending on where we need you. Ticket punching, prop clean-up, custodial duties, etc." Ayame answered.
"And I'm assuming this agreement would mean I would live here on the premises of the Theater?" I asked.
"But of course, you would be under my watch so that would be my job. Don't worry I'll eventually get around to telling the other employees here about your employment with us so they're not taken by surprise at a new face" Yoneda simply replied.
Well it's better then nothing, and there's nothing else I couldn't even think of what to do in this situation. I don't know the land or the people so really from the very beginning as I said this was; Check and mate for me.
With that I signed all the requisite papers and Ayame gave them to Yoneda to file away. With a smile he turned to me and gave me several what appeared to be manuals and a set of keys.
"Okay, you're all set. This key is to the room on the second floor, just find the room number. Also, for future reference, let's keep the real reason you're here on a need-to-know basis, for now you'll not access the underground facilities unless supervised by the select personnel I trust to go down there."
"Got it." I simply replied with a nod to go along.
"Tomorrow morning look for a young lady named Tsubaki. She works the front desk in the lobby of the theater, your first task we'll be to assist her in her duties. Good luck." With that Yoneda turns around and looks out the window as the sunset begins to approach.
With that I take my leave and head outside leaving the old commander and his vice-commander alone.
"Commander Yoneda, are you sure about this? Sure he has not seen what is to be housed in the underground hangar, but still…" Ayame stopped as Yoneda raised a hand.
"Let's just watch things for now Ayame. He is a military man, or at least this ID of his purports him to be. So for now, let's just see where the chips fall. He may be useful in the future… you never know." Yoneda said with a sly smile.
Ayame still unsure simply nodded as she trusted in his judgement.
And so that's how my story began…
My story as a member of the Grand Imperial Theater and the Flower Division.
(Now the OP Begins!)
Opening Instrumental – (As the opening riff begins sakura blossoms fall as they reveal a shot of Tokyo as the title card begins to manifest.)
(Sakura Wars: Sparks of Courage)
Instrumental (cont'd) - (As the scene transitions we're introduced to the girls of the Imperial Grand Theater; as an outline of three bullets reveals Maria's stoic look; three test tubes show the smiling Kohran, three stars reveal Sumire Kanzaki with her graceful smile, several toys reveal a happy Iris, a flowing headband reveals Kanna, and finally a large sakura emblem reveals a proud Sakura Shinguji.)
Hikisaita yami ga hoe furueru teito ni – (The scene changes to a shot of scattering blossoms just as Sakura draws her sword, as one blossom switches scenes to Maria in the snow as she draws her revolver and fires.)
Ai no uta takaraka ni odorideru senshi-tachi – (The flash changes to a stage light as we see Sumire Kanzaki dance gracefully as her kimono flows gracefully with her.)
Kokoro made koutetsu ni busou suru otome – (The scene transfers to a peaceful shot of Tokyo Tower, but then underneath Crimson Miroku appears as several explosions rock the nearby area.)
Aku wo kechirashite seigi wo shimesu no da – (The scene changes once more, but this time to a more peaceful moment in Ueno Park as our hero, Hiroshi catches Sakura as she almost falls into a boat with him.)
(Hashire!) Kousoku no Teikoku Kageki-Dan – (The scene goes next to a show being played by the Flower Division in their uniforms as sing and dance to the OP in sync.)
Unare Shougeki no Teikoku Kageki-Dan – (With one last flurry as they all look towards the audience as they pose and finish. Which then changes to a shot of the girls posing they prepare to launch in their Koubu.)
Machi no hi ga kiehatete obieru teito ni – (A solemn scene is then as both Ogami and Yamada stand with looks of resolve in a sea of dark blue in their uniforms as birds fly by them as the birds continue showing off a district in Tokyo.)
Niji no iro someagete odorideru senshi-tachi – (The scene changes as it shows the various Flower Division members doing various things; Hiroshi playing the piano, Iris with her toys, Maria reading, Kanna eating with help from Yuri, Kasumi, and Tsubaki; Kohran riding her bike, Sakura and Sumire arguing, and Ogami looking into the distance just as the sky turns red.)
Akatsuki ni gekijou wo terashidasu otome – (Were then shown a scene of Sakura and Hiroshi once more walking through Ueno, but then scene shifts as it shows Sakura at one point in despair, but then shifts to her getting her uniform prepared.)
Aku wo horoboshite seigi wo shimesu no da – (And then finally just as the night approaches, a passing rail car passes as Aoi Satan stands on the other side, the light revealing his face; Sakura confronts him as the two clash and she seems to push him back; Aoi however still smiling as if playing with her. Above, the other members of the Demon Council; Setsuna, Miroku and Rasetsu all appear.)
Hashire (Hashire!) kousoku no Teikoku Kagekidan – (A battle then breaks out as Sakura, Iris, Kohran, Sumire and Kana engage a large horde of demons with their Koubu.)
Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagekidan – (On another side, both Ogami and Hiroshi engage another group of demons in their own respective Koubu as Ogami uses his twin swords and Hiroshi, his spear.)
Yume wa yomigaeru Teikoku Kagekidan – (You then get a shot of all the members of the Flower Division as their all wearing their respective uniforms as they one at a time.)
Warera aratanaru Teikoku Kagekidan – (The Flower Division go to face Tenkai, but as Ogami charges the powerful demon he's caught by Tenkai; but a barrage of machine gun fire from Sakura frees his machine as he looks to see the others arriving to help.)
(Repeat)
Hashire (Hashire!) kousoku no Teikoku Kagekidan – (The scene then changes to an earlier battle on the streets as the Flower Division engage the demons without their machines; Sakura engages Aoi again this time in a more pitched duel much to the demon's annoyance. Kanna punches the ground so hard demons go flying, Iris blasts away some with her psychic powers.)
Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagekidan – (With the others Kohran uses explosives, just as Maria fires on Aoi to distract him; he sees them and cuts them down tiring of the nuisances around him he reveals his trump card, a large Demon fused with his own dark machine.)
Yume wa yomigaeru Teikoku Kagekidan – (The shot changes one last time as the Flower Division in response board their Koubu as they fight through the crowd of demons to get to Aoi Satan working together to defeat them all.)
Warera aratanaru Teikoku Kagekidan – (With the last of the demons out of their way, the Flower Division finally have a straight shot to Aoi as he looks down upon them; then in unison all of the Imperial Combat Troupe launch themselves at Satan as a huge light engulfs him once more revealing the title card of the story.)
(Sakura Wars: Sparks of Courage)
AN#1 – Welcome to first prologue chapter of my new Sakura Wars story, Sparks of Courage; about a young combat engineer of the JSDF being sent to the world of the original Sakura Wars from 1996.
What will happen here in the 1920s steampunk Japan and out hero? Tune in next time to find out!
AN#2 – As with every story please review, favorite and follow. All your support and constructive criticism is what helps me grow and learn in my writing! Hope you enjoyed the custom OP as well!
Author of Mystery, out!
Later!