"" Dialogue
'' Thoughts
Disclaimer: I do not own "Strike Witches", so this is just a fan made.
Chapter 16: Ingolstadt: Part III
(feelings)
In the morning
The night was one of longest Lynette had had, she was not even sure if she had slept at all but that did not matter as break of dawn made its way to Munich. Though she wanted to get ready, she could not help but wonder how her roommate was, above her. One thing was for sure, Yoshika had not escaped from the room during the night, or at least that what she hoped. As she was gathering the willpower to check on her, Yoshika just jumped out from her bunk, then she took off her dressing gown.
Noticing that, Lynette hid quickly in the bed blankets, but she could still peek a little, only to notice that Yoshika's ears and tail were out, yet there was something else she could notice, her tail was almost completely white. It had had becoming whiter since the day they moved to the base, but now it had nearly lost its brownish color. She was wondering about the last time she actually looked at it but as she was doing so, Yoshika put on her swimsuit, as well as her shoes and left the room afterwards.
Leaving her thoughts behind, she put on her usual uniform as quickly as possible, and began following her, first outside the base, and then to the river where she dipped, with her clothes still on. Lynette just stayed watching her from behind the bushes that still had leaves on them. There, she saw how she swam and dived in the deepest part of the river. As she was doing so, Lynette could not help it but still stare at her tail and its whiteish fur through the water, still roaming in her thoughts. Not long after that, Yoshika started to get out of the river but before she did so, and to her surprise, Yoshika put out a gigantic shield, above the forest.
Lynette was in awe of its size but that feeling soon became worriedness as she noticed she began panting. But as she was about to rush towards her, Yoshika put away the shield and began steadily walking towards her. She stayed as still as she could, yet she noticed that she was staring at her through the bushes, so she just showed herself up.
"I am ready." Yoshika said, as she continued walking towards her.
"Are you sure? You were…" Lynette said, with a worried tone.
"I feel just fine." Yoshika interrupted her with a sharp tone, as she began heading back to the base.
"Yoshika…" Lynette said, but she continued walking in front of her.
In the hangar, the rest of the Witches were already there, readying themselves to depart. Yoshika just passed in front of them, not even gazing at them, she picked up her Type 99-2.
Meanwhile Lynette just softly greeted the rest of the Witches and most of them answered, but they were more surprised staring at the other recently arrived Witch.
"I'll be staying here in case someone come or call," Mio loudly announced, also side gazing her last recruit.
"Thanks Mio, I'll keep you updated with the rescue's progress," Minna stated. "Everyone's gonna follow my lead or Lieutenant's Clostermann."
"Yes, ma'am," almost the whole group said in unison.
"Do I make myself clear, Flying Officer Juutilainen," Minna addressed her.
"Yes, it is clear enough." Eila shrugged.
"And Flight Lieutenant Miyafuji."
"Yes," Yoshika added, still with the same lost sight.
Minna then beckoned them and thus, nine magic circles appeared, the Witches sortied. Mio went back inside the base.
The day was just as cloudy as yesterday and it seemed the sun would not appear in the whole day, there was no wind making it easier for the Witches to continue flying at a steady pace, and almost an hour later, they could finally see Ingolstadt at the distance as well as the river that made it way through the city.
"It looks way bigger than I expected," Francesca commented.
"Yeah, lots of terrain to cover," Charlotte added, "it's awfully quiet though."
"They're using camouflage, it's an ambush," Eila said.
"I cannot sense any Neuroi nearby," Minna claimed.
"Where you left Sanya?" Erika asked her.
"We-" Eila gulped. "We managed to make it to the other side of the river, and she must be hidden in the buildings near the railroad line."
"Is there something else we need to know?" Minna addressed her.
"The jet was hidden in the fortress we needed to investigate." She stated.
"Anything else."
"Other than that, the Neuroi are in stand-by, nothing else."
"It's going to be difficult to get to the other side of the river with a jet right on our tails." Minna made a pause, "We need to take care of it first, Shirley, Francesca, that's your job."
"Yes, ma'am," both Witches said in unison.
"As for the rest of us, Ingolstadt must be secured in order to advance to Nuremberg, therefore, we need to eliminate every Neuroi from this zone." She stated. "The priority of this is mission to rescue Sanya, but the enemy must still be destroyed if want the rescue mission to be a success, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." The group said in unison.
"After she's rescued, we raid the rest of the city." She took a deep breath. "I know it may not be doable to secure the whole city in a single day but let's cover as much ground as possible."
"Understood," the Witches said in unison as they continued following Minna in V formation, with Eila and Yoshika on each furthest side. They continued doing so for a couple of minutes until they finally made their way to the fortress.
"We have a visual," Minna stated as the group began surrounding it, "now shoot it!" And the group did so. Though, they manage to damage its black armor, it took off quickly, and even blew them away, shooting a few of them in the process.
"Lurk it out of here," Minna commanded, as both Witches began pursuing it, shooting it. Seconds later, the jet stopped dead in its tracks, and now faced both Witches, yet they did not stop and passed near it.
"Catch us if you can," Both Witches said mockingly, slapping their own butts.
Then, the jet began revving up, "It caught the bait," Charlotte gladly said, yet not long after, it blasted through them, creating a gust that blew them away.
"Now, we need to catch it!" Francesca said going to Charlotte side.
"Why I am not surprised," she claimed, as both Witches revved up their strikers, sparks coming out of them and began pursuing it again. "At least it's going outside the city."
At the same time, the ground units dropped their camouflage and begin shooting the rest of the Witches. They began dogging the beams, and taking out as many Neuroi as they could.
"You sure this isn't nest?" Erica questioned as they continued shooting the enemy that started to come out of the buildings nearby the fortress.
"It supposedly is not." Minna began panting, as the group continued their assault. "We need to secure this zone in order to get to the other side."
A couple of minutes later that felt like an eternity to them, the Neuroi finally started to dwell their numbers and only a few units remained that soon were take care off. On the other hand, more units had started to gather on the other side of the river. Then, to everyone's surprise a rocket appeared in the sky and exploded midair after it was shot by a beam.
"That's Sanya," Eila exclaimed, as she began crossing the river.
Noticing that, Minna began following her, "Stay here Eila, we need…" she shouted with the little breath she had, but as she did so, several beams came to both Witches. Eila tried to dodge them all, but soon she was overwhelmed and ended up using a shield and so was Minna who was struggling to contain the beams.
"We must help them!" Perrine exclaimed as the group rushed towards them, and though they began shooting them from the distance, barely any bullets made it there, other than Lynette's and some of them were now using shields as well, yet Erica managed to make her way to Minna's front.
But as she was about to shield her, a cry made its presence in the now maddening battlefield as an enormous shield appeared in front all of them. All Witches turned around to see that Yoshika was using both her hands to maintain the shield, and how several sparks came out of her strikers, even resembling some sort of flame for seconds.
"Just shoot them!" Yoshika screamed, "I'll protect you!" As she began advancing towards the enemy.
Minna felt a heartbeat skipped on her heart, yet her gaze now became one of resolve mixed with regret. "You heard her!" Thus, almost the whole group began shooting them but two Witches who retreated to check on Yoshika, only to stop on their tracks.
"Just continue with the rescue mission, please." She begged them with a fierce yet rueful tone, "I can manage just fine." Both Witches exchanged gazes and did so.
Not long after, they managed to make it to the other side and another rocket appeared in the sky and shared the same fate as the last one. This time though, Eila stayed with the group and continued with their assault.
Most of the Neuroi had been destroyed, so Yoshika dropped her shield and joined the rest of the rest of the Witches. Minna on the other hand, headed to check on her, and realized that she and her swimsuit were bathed in sweat. Yet somehow, she was breathing almost normal unlike her. Still, she continued heading to her, only to stop midair.
"It's Sanya," she loudly said with her hand in the intercom, as the Witches slowed down. "She's telling me that without a Striker Unit, she'll get on our way, she wants us to continue securing the place until it is safe." Minna sighed. "Those are our new orders."
Eila reluctantly continued doing so and so did the rest of the Witches who continued with their assault and not long after both Charlotte and Francesca joined them.
"What now?" Charlotte said, noticing the scattered Witches all around the place.
"Just… continue shooting things down," Erica said with a hint pensiveness in her tone.
"And what about Sanya?" Francesca asked her.
"Actually, those are her orders, to continue shooting things down until this is secure," Erica exclaimed.
"You heard her Francesca, let's go!" Charlotte said as both Witches joined the rest of the group.
Almost an hour passed, and most Ingolstadt's downtown and its midtown had been secured, but still some spread beams still came out of a few places; therefore, the mission had become a depredation, as the Witches were now searching for the enemies in order to fully secure the place.
"You sure you can continue with this?" Erica said now at Minna's side. "We can manage from here."
"I can continue just fine," Minna continued panting, "for a little more," she added with a soft smile, "just look after Yoshika."
"All right," Erica reluctantly said as she continued searching for Neuroi, now nearby Yoshika. Not long after, she could notice that her fly pattern had become sloppier by each minute that passed, but Yoshika continued shooting the enemy as soon as they showed themselves.
At the distance, she could notice that a Neuroi readied itself to attack Yoshika and it seemed that she had not notice it, thus Erica rushed towards it. "Watch out!" Erica exclaimed, yet Yoshika just began losing altitude, not having heard her, and as she, also Lynette and Shizuka were about to catch her and shield her, a rocket took out the Neuroi and another Witch caught her.
Noticing the rocket, Eila rushed towards that same place. On the other hand, the three Witches stopped on their tracks, as Erica rubbed her eyes, not believing what her eyes were seeing. Then, another beam came towards them, and though Gertrud shielded them both, it passed through her shield, still she just barely managed to move out of its way, but it still took a bit of her hair.
"What the!" Erica yelled as she turned around to engage the enemy, but another rocket took it out before the four Witches even realized where it even came from.
"You haven't changed a little Miyafuji," Gertrud said, as Yoshika slowly opened her eyes.
"Commander Barkhorn," Yoshika gulped, trying to regain her breath. "What are you- what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to check how the rescue mission was going," she said with comforting tone, and slowly began descending and to her surprise Yoshika's let go of both Strikers as her ears and tail disappeared just when she was about to land. Still, they did not seem to have sustained any damage. Both Witches gaped worriedly as they slowly headed to both Gertrud and Yoshika.
Gertrud, then put her hand over head as began caressing her short brown hair. "Did your magic…?"
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." Yoshika interrupted her. "I just need to rest," She added, as she tried to get out of her arms. Gertrud just slowly put her on the floor, yet Yoshika struggled to maintain her balance and when she was about to fall, both Gertrud and Sanya caught her.
"I saw everything, there was no need to push yourself that hard Yoshika, not with your health issues. I could have waited here for a couple of days for a progressive a rescue." Sanya exclaimed, as the rest of the Joint Fighter Wing started to gather around the three Witches. "But I cannot do anything but to thank you and everyone for coming to rescue me." Sanya addressed the whole group, with a soft smile yet, a few tears had begun to fall from her green eyes.
"You know it's not like we were worried, we know you were fine on your own," Eila said carefreely, struggling to rush to her, landing near them and so did the rest of the girls who just side gazed her.
"There's no need to thank me," Yoshika said, taking a sit on the floor, cross-legged, trying to regain her breath. "Everyone helped and I- and I got you in this mess," she added with a soft yet tired smile, Sanya then helped her to stand up and so did Gertrud.
"Yeah, and that's the least she could do, I mean I wouldn't have left you if…" Eila was about to said when to her surprise and to Gertrud's, Sanya let go of Yoshika and headed towards Eila with an intense gaze in her eyes, tears still sliding from her face onto the dirt.
Then a slap echoed in the now silent streets of Ingolstadt. "Yoshika can barely stand on her own and you're blaming her, and you knew it was no one's fault, we knew the risks coming here," Sanya snapped to everyone's surprise who just were as still as they could. "I stayed here, voluntarily because I cared about everyone and didn't want any of them to get injured, trying to hustle here recklessly, and the only thing you thought was to rescue me without caring about anything or anyone?"
"Of course I wanted to rescue you, I left you alone," Eila argued back.
"Eila, we belong to the same squad, I'm not more important than anyone else and you should know that." She took a deep breath. "I wanted to be rescued but not at someone else's expense, and you even knew perfectly that I was fine and uninjured and begged you to think things through, but it seems you could not get a hold of yourself."
"I just…" Eila was about to say, yet nothing else was muttered, and the silence took hold of the place again.
"We have done more than enough for today girls, let's go back to the base," Minna stated, deciding to break the silence.
Sanya then went to Lynette side, then she lifted her up and so did Gertrud with Yoshika. Shizuka, on the other hand, picked up the Shinden, yet to her surprise, it was almost untouchable as it was pretty hot to the touch, still she lifted it up as it could not be left there.
Almost an hour later
They arrived back to the base and most Witches went back to their rooms to rest, even Shizuka. Lynette and Perrine decided to take care of the cooking duty. Meanwhile, Mio was not that surprised to see Gertrud as she was expecting her to come after they told her what was happening in Munich, still Minna and Erica accompanied her to the office to discuss what to do next.
Yoshika on the other hand, headed back to her usual spot on the river to have a time for herself and to clear her mind about what happened since yesterday. Lynette and Shizuka wanted to accompany her, but she politely declined the offer.
To her surprise and not long after, someone came and took a sit beside her.
"You sure you feel fine Miyafuji?" Gertrud asked her handed her the glass of lemonade.
"I feel fine, just a little tired," she said, taking a sip. "It's so refreshing, thank you."
"This sure is a nice place," she commented, dipping her feet on the water.
"It's very peaceful." Yoshika sighed. "This is where I came to study when I have time and also- and also to clear my mind."
"Is something troubling you?" Gertrud asked her.
"I- I don't even know now." Yoshika left a breath out.
"Sanya's been rescued unharmed and y'all made lots of progress today securing the city." Gertrud said.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." She said dryly.
"Accidents happen, it's not your fault Sanya was left behind." Gertrud commented.
"It's not just with that, it's…" she sighed, as she laid on the rock, "why do I even bother."
"There was I time I used to just feel like that about everything." She laid next to her. "After Karlsland fell and I failed to protect Chris, I thought I lost everything I had to live for." She made a pause. "I still continued serving but deep inside of me, I just hoped to die in combat so I could I escape from that feeling that haunted me." She chuckled dryly, "Minna and Erica never gave up on me even though I already had."
"I didn't know that" Yoshika said with pensive tone, staring at the sky.
"Yeah, that how I used to feel until a person helped me to finally overcome it."
"Who?" Yoshika wondered with a somewhat curious expression on her face.
"It was you, Yoshika, when you joined the squad, that's when I finally realized that I shouldn't give up me just like the newbie didn't." She opened her arm, "Get here," She beckoned her, and Yoshika reluctantly moved to her arm.
"I know I was not the friendliest person to you and in return you just saved me not caring whether you put your life in danger." Gertrud said, as she began tenderly caressing her short brown hair. "That's when I remembered what I was fighting for, not just to destroy the enemy, or to die trying but to protect those who can't."
"I never give you my thanks for that, but better late than never," Gertrud said, "Thanks for saving me."
"I don't even know what to say." Yoshika said.
"Just continue being yourself and it's noble to want to protect everyone, that's who you are, but as you said once, it simply is not possible to protect everyone." Gertrud brought her close to her chest and hugged her. "As Witches, you should know that every battle fought may be the last, but none would be on vain; that's one of the first things Mio taught you."
"I've forgot about that," Yoshika murmured.
"What I mean is that accidents happen, and you can't blame for yourself for everything that goes wrong. I know it's easier said than done but you got to start somewhere, look after yourself if you want to look after those around you."
"I- try not self-loath."
"Everyone's here for you and you can call me whenever you need me."
"I'll keep that in mind,"
"Though I know it's not that easy to open to Minna, I mean she's your superior after all, she can help you with whatever problems you are facing or with anything actually. That's why I wanted her to stay here, so that she could look after you and after everyone."
"What do you mean?" Yoshika wondered.
"When Minna was training you in Helvetia, Erica and I were taking her place in Berlin." Gertrud made pause. "One day, the notices with the promotions for us arrived, with an extra notice that Minna would be transferred to high command and that I'd take her place, commanding the Strike Witches." She continued. "When we talked with her, she always spoke so highly of you and how hard you trained and gave it you all each single day. She also told us how she was looking forward to fight alongside you to help her to finally liberate our homeland, Karlsland."
"I'm sorry Yoshika, I shouldn't be telling you this, she'll kill me if she knows but you deserved to know it."
"I haven't done anything but disappoint her." Yoshika regretfully said.
"Don't say that, please. It's thanks to you that we're here, in Karlsland." Gertrud brought her to her chest again. "Minna's so proud of you and so am I; it's just that, she's worried about you and everyone is." She heaved a sigh. "She thinks of you as her family, you could say she sees herself even a mother to you and to everyone here and that's why I stepped down. It may be the last time she would be able to fight alongside y'all and I just couldn't let myself to take that from Minna."
"So that's why..." Yoshika added.
"My shield is not working anymore but I didn't know back then," she took a deep breath, "Minna's time running out as well. And though it may be too much to ask, knowing that you're having health issues, but look after her, please." She continued. "She's one of the most experienced Commanders I know and she's doing her best to conserve her magic energy to complete the operation and she's also looking after you, to be sure that you don't overextend yourself."
"I heard that from Lynne and everyone actually," Yoshika stated.
"She knows how capable everyone is and she knows when to ask for their assistance or for yours, and I'm also asking you is… to follow her orders, I know sometimes it's hard to do so, I've been there, but Minna really knows what's best for you."
"I will- I will from now on." Yoshika firmly stated.
"She wants you to take part on the final battle but only if it deems secure enough for you to do so. What I mean is that she's been feeling really worried about you and she even believes that the training she gave you is what you got sick." Gertrud added.
"I wasn't expecting that, I mean she didn't do anything to me." Yoshika said. "I asked to be trained and I feel just fine, almost always."
"I'm not a medic, but after this is over, you should promise me that you'll get yourself check so that you can continue pursuing whatever you want at a hundred percent."
"I also been thinking about that, and I…" She took a deep breath. "I will continue serving until this is over or at least until I can and then I'll continue studying to be a doctor." She made a pause. "I promise you that I'll get myself check to find what's wrong with me and I will do what I can to be sure that she's safe."
"I knew you will do that. Thank you" Gertrud said, yet another voice could be heard in the distance, one she was pretty familiar with.
"Miyafuji, Yoshika!" Erica loudly said, making her way to the river. "There you are, Minna's waiting for you at the infirmary."
"Better get going," Gertrud said, now both were sitting, then Yoshika stood up and began crossing the river. "And think about what we talked."
"I will Commander Barkhorn," Yoshika said posing, in the middle of the river. Not long after, she disappeared into the forest, and now Erica left her shoes behind and began crossing the river, then she took a sit next to her.
"I didn't expect you to come," Erica said.
"It seems I was needed here." Gertrud added. "You've been slacking"
"At least I'm here," she added.
"Is that how things are?" Gertrud chuckled drily. "You know, of all people in the world I thought you will understand why I did what I did but I guess I was wrong."
"Leaving… us? It seems I was wrong too."
"What's that even supposed to mean?" She argued back. "My shield's not even working even more, but it seems you don't give a crap about that either." Her voice crackled, as she began crying. "It seems you want me to get killed But, but I've readied myself several years ago for that possibility, but if I happen to die in combat, I'd leave you behind, I'd leave Chris, Minna, Yoshika and everyone behind and the feeling of losing a loved one is something I'd never like anyone of you to experience." She cleaned her tears. "But if you want me to die, it's fine with me, I'll join you again."
"Don't do that Trude," Erica began crying. "Please I don't want you to die, it's just that I've been selfish just thinking about me."
"I really, I really don't understand what you are talking about," she loudly said.
"I thought," she gulped, "I was everything to you."
"You… you heard what I said back in Hamburg." She turned around to face her. "You are everything to me, but I'll, but I'll be selfish if I took that from Minna, she was for me at my worst and this is the least I can do for her, I simply cannot take that from her. You were supposed to help me and Mio to be sure that she was safe."
"I'm really sorry but you've been with me for a third of my life and I just couldn't grasp the idea that we were going to be separated. I just didn't want to leave you and I didn't want to leave me." She sighed. "That's why I didn't want to come here, and also because I…"
"Because…?" Gertrud wondered, with a questioning expression now.
"And also because I- because I… I love you Trude, I didn't want to be apart from you, even if even we were just friends."
"Now it makes way more sense," Gertrud said as the silence took hold of the place.
"But… it seems- it seems you don't feel the same for me." Erica cleaned her tears, "but at least, can we remain friends? I wouldn't like to lose that." She nervously asked.
Gertrud just hugged her in response. "The thing is, I love you too, I really love you, but I didn't have the courage to tell you before because I didn't know how you'd react," she said now crying.
"We should have done this a long time ago, Trude." Erica said, resting on her shoulder.
"I agree, Erica, I agree" she added, doing the same, now just sobbing.
Meanwhile, on another side of the base.
Three Witches were waiting for Yoshika and not long after she arrived at the infirmary. Though, she was expecting them to there, she was glad that they were there for her and just give me them a soft smile, trying to hide her nervousness. Still, it surprised her a little that Shizuka was not there, but she could understand it as it had been a long morning.
"We need to get you checked Yoshika." Minna stated with firm tone of voice.
"You used a lot a magic today." Perrine said.
"Please Yoshika," Lynnette added with a polite smile but with a worried expression on her sight.
"I understand, I do." She sighed as she went to the gurney and took sit, then she pulled down her swimsuit. The medic then put her stethoscope on her back as Yoshika took deep breath.
"I can't hear nothing abnormal," the medic stated as the whole group sighed in relief, "please lay down." And Yoshika did so as the medic began measuring her pulse and few minutes went by.
"You have a slow pulse rate, it's just above fifty beats per minute," the medic stated as the whole now have concerned looks on her face.
Yoshika gulped worriedly. "But I don't feel dizzy nor tired, well I bit tired but…"
"I understand that you used a lot of magic today." The medic interrupted her.
"She has," Minna broke in, "as I explained you before, we needed to do rescue mission."
"I understand that it was necessary. Nevertheless, while your condition has something to do with your magic usage, it remains a mystery why your heart rate has such large variations when you use magic or when you don't. Have you experienced any issues with your magic?"
"None that I can think of, I mean can control my magic pressure and I can use magic power without any problem, in fact I can use it even I'm really tired, but I try not to overextend myself," she made a pause as the three Witches gave her a quizzically look, "…that much..." She added with a lower tone, "… and I haven't felt warm either."
"It's known that when Witches age, they need to push themselves harder to continue using magic power, which exhaust them and as you know, their heart rate increases in order to compensate for the extra strain in their bodies."
"Yes, it is what happens, Yoshika," Minna said as the three Witches stared at her.
"It's not life threatening of course, if they do not overextend themselves. But in your case, you're still young and your powers might be at their peak, which means your body doesn't need to overwork itself to use magic."
"Now your pulse is below average, which shows that your body didn't strain itself with today's magic usage."
"And?" Yoshika softly asked her.
"I've been researching about it and speaking with colleagues from other Joint Fighter Wings and I'm going to be sincere with you Yoshika, your condition is something that haven't been seen before. A Witch that recovered is something very very far from usual, so I don't really know for now. The only thing that is secure is that you have any issues with your heart, nothing abnormal can be heard in these past days that you came here. The issue lies solely with your magic and how your body reacts when you use it." The medic said as Lynette went to Yoshika's side now.
"What do we need to do now?" Minna asked her.
"You can cover yourself now, Yoshika," the medic added, "she's still stressed, that something that haven't changed and we need to carry further studies with more specialized equipment, this is an infirmary to treat injured Witches and we don't possess such equipment." She took a deep breath. "There are Witches Hospitals in Gallia and Britannia that could carry the analysis she requires."
"I'm going to take Yoshika there, but would she be able to take part on the next part of the operation?" Minna enquired her.
"That is something only you could decide, Group Captain, as for now, she's healthy now and if Yoshika is an important of your squad, she could participate but as I said, it's up to you, group captain." The medic stated, but then to their surprise, Yoshika jumped out from the gurney.
"I will understand whatever decision you take, group captain," Yoshika said, gazing her superior, "I will but I don't really need to know now." Yoshika sighed. "May I leave?"
"You can leave, Yoshika." Minna stated with a pensive voice, and she did so, but Lynette stayed there.
"What are you going to do Group Captain?" Perrine asked her.
"Her analysis could wait until the operation takes place; they will take time to be carried out. Yoshika is feeling healthy, she's healthy." The medic stated.
"I'll decide in a few days," Minna stated.
"I will have her medical history ready, just in case." The medic added.
"Thank you doctor, I'll let you know of my decision," Minna as she left the room, followed by the two Witches.
Meanwhile, in the base.
While Perrine, Minna and Lynette were at the infirmary, Charlotte was asked to call the rest of the Witches to have lunch, but most of them not answered anything and the ones that did, just muttered something unintelligible, half asleep. Eila though, just said that she would eat later, and she did not push that further. She knew that more two Witches were awake and outside the base so she went to look for them where Yoshika told she would find them.
"Barkhorn, Hartmann, lunch is ready." Charlotte said as she made her way to Yoshika's usual spot, yet she stopped on her tracks noticing that both Witches were holding hands and resting into each other and with slightly gleaming faces.
"It seems it's not a good moment," Charlotte said with a somewhat curious look on her face.
"We were about to go back inside, isn't that right Trude?" Erica said.
"Yeah," she added as both Witches began crossing the river towards her, holding hands.
"I'd wash my face if I were you, it's only a suggestion, though." She added, still staring them, raising an eyebrow and the Witches did so with the water of the river.
Later that day
The rest of day went without any issue, and after having lunch, the Witches continued with their usual routine not mentioning anything about what happened earlier that day and that was what they day until the evening. More Witches joined them by the evening and after having it, some most of them went to rest on their rooms and the ones that did not, were just waiting to become a little late so that they could go to rest. Yoshika told her friends that she needed time to think about what happened since a few days ago in her usual spot.
The night had come and as the last one, it was as cloudy as it could get. For Eila though, it was just another night, like the many she had soared the skies accompanied, but this time, she was alone, free of any duty if it could be said. She was dipping her feet on the cold water of the river, still thinking about what she had done, until a noise interrupted her thoughts.
She pulled her tights up, began crossing the river and stopped half-way and took a sit on a rock and continued dipping her feet on the water, and just sighed.
"I'm sorry Miyafuji, I- I shouldn't act the way I did." Eila gulped. "I know you're kind of sick, I'm really sorry, I shouldn't push you that hard," she made a pause. "It's just that when I comes to Sanya, I feel the urgence to protect her and…, and I can act very harshly," Eila murmured but only the somewhat tranquil water flowing could be heard, "I will understand it if you'd not like to speak with me ever again." She began to stand up.
"I'm just happy that you're together, that we are all together again." Yoshika just laid on the rock as Eila took a sit. "And I mean, how could not understand you, I feel the same way about Shizuka."
"You don't feel the same way about Shizuka as I do about Sanya." Eila raised her voice. "That I can assure you."
"How?" Yoshika wondered, sitting again.
"You'd not understand it but that doesn't matter now." Eila sighed. "She's really upset with me."
"I'm sure she'll forgive you, just like Lynne did with me." Yoshika softly said.
"It's not that easy doofus, I mean I screwed up for you and everyone and she knows that," Eila commented.
"Nothing would've happened if I didn't break your Striker," she added. "It's my fault."
"Not really, now that I think things more clearly, Sanya was right, I don't think I could take on them at least not with that many hidden and a jet lurking there or flee with her, for what matters. Even if we had all our strikers working." Eila commented and still dipping her feet on the water. "She knew that if we both got shot down, Minna and Perrine would have the same fate if they came to rescue us."
Eila laid on the rock. "Minna was right on putting her on charge and after I left her behind, I just thought that I- that I failed her, even though she stayed behind, willingly, so that I could ask for help." Eila sighed. "And what I did, I blamed you and I sla-" Eila was about to said, but Yoshika put her hand on hers, over her tights.
"Um, I'm gonna make it up for you, though," Eila said, yet Yoshika just stayed side-watching her. "I mean, talking with Minna."
"I- I sortied willingly I deserve whatever punishment Minna gives me," Yoshika commented.
"It's the least I can do," Eila said, sitting again, putting her other hand over hers.
"If you want to make it up for me," Yoshika said, now holding both her hands and gazing her deeply in the eyes with sparkling eyes "…just ask for Lynne, she just wanted to help me, and she doesn't deserve to be dragged on this." Yoshika added. yet Eila could not help it but blush a little.
"I- I can do that," Eila said, then she unexpectedly shook her head, puzzling Yoshika in the process. "You know I can see why Lynne fell for you and Shizuka too."
"Fell?" Yoshika wondered, "what are you talking about?"
"You're still kind of dense when it comes to people's feelings," Eila added shaking off her hands.
"I still don't get what you're talking about."
"Never mind, I'll speak with Minna tomorrow," Eila said, yet Yoshika just rested her head on her shoulder instead, blushing her again.
"You sure you don't want me to heal you up?" Yoshika wondered.
"I- I-" Eila tried to say but just stumbled.
"You have pretty skin; I'd not like it to be scarred," she modestly commented.
"You're enjoying this," Eila exclaimed, "aren't you?"
"Enjoying what?" Yoshika wondered. "Healing people up? I'm the only who can do that."
"You're kind of cute but very naïve, but I guess it wouldn't hurt," Eila said, then she rolled up clothes and showed her back to the aspiring medic.
"It looks a bit worse than what I expected," Yoshika stated a little surprised, noticing the several small cuts here and there, then her mameshiba ears and tail appeared. Soon after, the water flowing began shining back as she used her healing magic and so did the forest around them.
Eila moaned softly. "I've never been injured before…." She continued moaning, "but- I could get you use to this." She continued. "I mean this sure gives me a nice feeling," She added, trying to contain herself from moaning too loud, yet she could not.
"What the? You got me wrong; I didn't mean that kind of feeling," Eila exclaimed, stopping Yoshika from unhooking her bra with her free hand.
"What are you talking about? I need to heal you up." Yoshika countered, "it's just us girls here."
"Yeah, you're right," she added, still hesitant, as she unhooked her bra, and couple minutes went by, still making the same sounds.
"Weren't you injured in the front?" Yoshika asked her.
"I- I- wasn't." Eila bashfully commented, pulling down her clothes a little.
"All right then," Yoshika wrapped up, "it's done."
"Thanks, Miyafuji." Eila hooked back her bra, "It's- it's pretty late, let's go inside."
A few minutes before, inside the base.
After Gertrud was done with her calls, she and Erica decided to go to sleep, leaving Lynette alone with her thoughts and with a cup of tea in her hand, sitting in the couch with legs crossed. Lots of things had happened these past days, yet she could not help it but think about what happened or rather what happened yesterday morning. She put her cup of tea on the coffee table and picked up the phone. After a few seconds of ringing, she was about to give up until someone answered the phone.
"Hello, sister!?"
"…"
"I'm also I'm happy to hear you."
"…"
"I've been a little busy, that's why I haven't called you before."
"…"
"Everything is going fine here, Ingolstadt's been secured."
"…"
"Thanks goodness, we've all made it safely."
"…"
"She's feeling better, but she needs to visit a hospital for more analysis, and I would like to take her to one in Gallia or Britannia and actually it's about her I want to talk about."
"…"
"You know, it's not easy to confess those things, and I'm still figuring it out."
"…"
"That's not what I called you for but I'm going to try with that."
"…"
"Yeah, I'll make sure of it. But the reason of my call, it's about-, it's about the battle Britannia."
"…"
"I know, it's pretty unexpected but you know there're many unclear details about it."
"…"
"You took part on it; it'd not be that suspicious if you ask about it and you're in Britannia. I don't think I could get an authorization to go there, at least not now."
"…"
"I'll tell you another day, but this is not about me, it's about her, she was giving a dishonorable discharge."
"…"
"I've just learned that I want to know if there's more about it."
"…"
"Just give me a hand with that, and it's an order."
"…"
"…"
"It was just a joke, I swear, and I don't think she'd like that, but I'll make sure to do that to her. If you discover something, just let me know, please."
"…"
"Thank you, bye. I'll call you another day." Lynette wrapped up, she then headed to the kitchen sink to clean the few dishes she used for her tea. Meanwhile, another Witch headed to the room she shared with her superior, now thinking about just what happened.
On the other hand, Lynette then went back to the couch and began wandering in her thoughts, until a Witch she had shared lot of time with, came to her.
"Are you still waiting for Yoshika?" Perrine asked her.
"Yes of course; she told me she needed the fresh air." Lynette said, with a soft smile.
"Do you mind if accompany you?"
"Of course not," Lynette added, then Perrine took a sit next to her and an uncomfortable silence took hold of the room, as Yoshika had not come to the living room for a couple of minutes.
Lynette sighed, "It was not a good call to sortie."
"I know you've realized that before you even sortied." Perrine added, yet Lynette did not mutter anything else. "You're the person Yoshika's trust most, but what is more important now, is that she really needs you. Don't let your feelings steer the way you act on her behalf."
"What are you refe-?" Lynette was about to said when her roommate made her way to the living room. "Yosh-"
Both Witches, stood up and realized and just stood there, realizing who also was behind Yoshika, hiding behind the smaller Witch.
"I'm sorry Lynne," Eila said, bashfully showing herself.
"There's nothing to apologize, at least not to me." Lynette said with a neutral tone.
"She apologized and I did too, we all make mistakes every now and then." Yoshika sighed. "Just don't be mad with each other, please; the last thing I want here is to be the cause of more problems."
"Comrades again?" Eila nervously said, extending her hand.
"Good friends, actually" Lynette said, opening her arms, Eila reluctantly hugged her,
"Yeah, I prefer that," Eila said, realizing that it was friendly, warm, and sincere hug.
"That's…" Yoshika yawned. "…better." Yoshika said now with a polite grin on her face.
"You must be tired, you need to rest," Lynette said, letting go of Eila.
"Yes Miyafuji, Yoshika, you've used a lot of magic today," Eila commented with a hint of shyness in her tone, "thanks again for healing me up."
"No prob," Yoshika said with a cheerful yet tired tone, "and I guess I am a little tired." She rubbed her eyes. "Have a good night, both of you and said good night to Shizuka for me please, Perrine."
"Don't worry about it," Perrine said, taking a sit. "Good night."
"Good night too." Eila said, taking a sit next to her superior.
"Good night," Lynette added as both Witches exited the living room, and headed to their shared bedroom, leaving Perrine with a new companion on the couch.
"I really sorry and I mean it, I shouldn't have said those things to you." Eila nervously said, staring down.
"There's nothing to apologize, we all have our bad days," Perrine said.
"It's just that when it comes to Sanya, I can be a very difficult person to deal with." Eila added, stretching herself.
"I understand you; I do. I've done things I'm not really proud of, because of that very same feeling." Perrine commented, leaving Eila with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I thought it was…" Eila was about to say.
"That ship sailed a long time ago but yours haven't." Perrine interrupted her. "You should confess your feelings to Sanya."
"The heck you're talking about," Eila argued back, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks, "I don't have anything to confess to her." She gulped. "I-I just need to apologize, that's all."
Perrine just gave her a quizzically look. "Everyone knows how you feel about her, at least most of us do."
"I'd not been very subtle, had I?" Eila said, Perrine shook slowly her head in disagreement. "The thing is, Sanya is not very open about her feelings, she was today but not my point," she confessed, "what I mean is that I know she likes to spend time with me, or at least that's what I say to myself, but I don't know if she feels that way about me."
"There's only one way to discover how she feels about you," Perrine added.
"And if she doesn't?" She gulped. "It will ruin our friendship."
"I don't think it would come to that, but then again, I cannot really tell for sure," Perrine said.
"I think I've already ruined that though."
"You haven't you just…"
"Didn't think things through," Eila chimed in, "so much for advising Yoshika." She made a pause. "I'm going to apologize to her in a couple of days, after things quiet down little."
"And after that, what are you going to do?" Perrine wondered.
"Not-a-single-thing." Eila said, stretching herself up.
"Huh?"
"I like how things are now, not now now, but you know what I'm talking about." Eila stated.
"I do." She answered.
"We still have a couple of years to continue serving together, and by that I time I hope to finally have the courage to confess to her." Eila stated, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Are you really sure about that?" Perrine wondered, gazing her. "You may not always be together on the same unit."
"What do you mean?" Eila asked her, staring her back.
"Nothing really," Perrine sighed.
"Well, I've been thinking about it for a few months now, and I am very sure," Eila said, "We're just very close friends, kind of, and well, that's more than enough for me."
"If you're content with that, so be it." Perrine stated.
"If it isn't broken, don't fix it, well now it's kinda broken but I'm gonna deal with it." Eila said.
"If you need help just let me know," Perrine yawned.
"I'll keep it mind and It's pretty late, let's go to our rooms." Eila added, "and thanks again, I needed to vent with someone, but don't go around mention it, okay?"
"Rest assure, I will not." Perrine said as both Witches stood up, "have a good night."
"Good night too." Eila said as both Witches went to their own bedrooms.
As Eila slowly made her way to her room, she could notice that it was just as dark as the night sky was now, her bed was empty as well, but Sanya's was not. She stayed there, watching her roommate for a couple of minutes, noticing how peaceful she seemed to be.
'She's doesn't seem that mad now,' Eila said to her own head, with a soft smile, noticing she was hugging the pillow she gifted her more than a year ago. 'I better go to sleep,' she said to herself, laying on her bed.
Meanwhile on another side of the base.
Both Witches had already put on their usual night clothes, and as Lynette turned off the light, to her surprise Yoshika laid on her bed.
"Is it okay if I sleep with you?" Yoshika said with a cheerful tone.
"I- yeah." she gulped. "You know I don't mind it silly; you can sleep here whenever you want." She crawled to her place.
"Thank you?" Yoshika said, now laying on her side. Lynette on the other hand, laid on her side too, gazing her bedmate's and feeling her pulse increasing, as she reluctantly tried to hug her. To her surprise, Yoshika turned around and ended up with her face just on her chest.
"I'm sorry, I thought you…" Yoshika tried to say, yet Lynette just began stroking her short hair.
"I told you I don't mind it," Lynette said bashfully said. "It's such a nice feeling to cuddle with you."
"It really is," Yoshika commented, putting her hand over waist, and closed her eyes. "I… also feel that way… when you cuddle on me…." She hugged her just a bit tighter. "…but I may not be… that comfy…" She heaved a sigh. "Good night," she crooned.
"Yoshika, you know I don't think about those…" Lynette softly yet firmly said, as she continued stroking her short brown hair. "Um, I mean, I love how you are." She took a deep breath. "And about that, there's something I need to tell you," she said but just soft snores were now heard and felt on her. "But it seems not today," Lynette said, closing her eyes.
Meanwhile on another side of the base, a few minutes before
After being done with the dinner, and with a few calls Gertrud had to make, both Witches from Karlsland were walking towards Erica's room, arm in arm, with the smaller Witch resting her head on the taller Witch.
"I'm so sleepy," Erika yawned.
"It's been a long day," Gertrud commented, "it's only natural that you're tired, actually everyone is," she added, as both stood by the door. "If you're so tired, I could use one of the spare rooms, I don't want to bother you." Gertrud commented, with a hint of nervousness in her tone.
"Why would I be bothered, I mean, we used to sleep on the same bedroom before," Erica commented, opening the door, and then turning on the light. Gertrud, meanwhile, just gaped in surprise, yet she could not help it but blush a little as well.
"Huh? You've cleaned it," Gertrud exclaimed.
"Of course I did," Erica said, "after you know what…" she added, with a lower tone of voice. Then, Erica took off her jacket and blouse, put them on a chair and was now only wearing her black sports bra and white panties. She stayed there watching Gertrud who was just staring at her, still a bit blushed.
"Why are you waiting for? Get ready," Erica exclaimed, resting her head on her arms.
"I don't anything to put on," Gertrud looked away. "I rush to come from Berlin, and I didn't bring anything."
"Oh, please you always sleep butt-naked, what the difference this time, Trude?" Erica playfully said.
"The difference this time, Hartmann, is that I'm gonna share the bed with you," Gertrud commented as serious as she could, yet her redness remained.
"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before but I'm gonna make it more comfortable for you," Erica said teasingly, she took off her sports bra and panties, put them over the rest of her clothes, and walked towards her. "See, now you're not gonna be the only one who'll be naked. Feeling more comfortable?"
"Not even a little." Gertrud gulped.
"It's not like you haven't seen my sexy body before," Erica added, arms behind her head, showing herself off, yet Gertrud was just side gazing her, now completely blushed, then, to her surprise, Erica grabbed her from the coat and began unbuttoning it.
"I- I can do that myself," Gertrud said, as she slowly took off her clothes, then she folded them and put them over several medicine books on the desk.
Meanwhile, Erica was already on the bed, waiting for her, covered in blankets from the waist down. Then, she turned off the light and steadily walked towards her but before she laid on the bed, she gave one quick look to her now bedmate. Though, she tried to show confidence, her body did not help it, as she unconsciously was covering her bits with both her hands.
"It's not like we have all night, you know," Erica said, grabbing her hand, forcing her to lay on the bed, "see nothing happened."
"So far…"
"Do you want to do something?" Erika asked with a surprised with a hint of filthiness in her tone.
"Of course not, this is a military base…" Gertrud as Erica was now watching her with a tired expression. "…and we just got together."
"If you want to take it slowly, it's fine by me," Erica said, now actually lying on the bed. Though, after a couple of minutes, and different positions, she could not get herself to stay still.
"You're uncomfortable," Gertrud said, her head now resting over her own arms.
"I- yeah, I am, I mean." Erica sat on the bed. "How can you even sleep like this? It's too breezy and cold..." Erica commented, as she began passing the hands through her body. "…and down there is even worse," Erica added, while Gertrud was just side gazing her again, feeling the blood rushed to her cheeks, again. Erica though, just laid again but this time, she put both her arm and her leg over Gertrud, hugging her with her whole body. "Now I feel way more comfortable."
"You know, I could never understand how you could be so uninhibited." Gertrud said, feeling Erica's bared body all over her own, with her arm just under her breasts.
"What can I say I'm pretty open," Erica claimed.
"And you still couldn't say anything on Berlin." Gertrud teased her.
"That's different."
"Different?" Gertrud wondered, "how exactly?"
"Because I really love you and I didn't want to ruin of friendship if I told you how I really felt about you." She exclaimed.
"I didn't know either, how you felt about me," Gertrud added.
"I was expecting for you to make the first move after what happened in Hamburg, but you didn't do anything and left me when I moved to Munich," Erica said, "I even started to believe you moved on."
"Erica, how could you even think that?" Gertrud wondered, stroking her short blonde hair. "You know I…"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm know why you did it, it's for Minna." Erica interrupted her, playing with her hand over her stomach. "I understood back then it's just that I was so selfish, just caring about myself and my feelings."
"I meant it when I told you that I can find a way to come back with if you want me to be by your side."
"Don't do that, your shield it's not working anymore," Erica argued back, "we can manage here."
"I don't know… With Eila, Yoshika and now with the operation," she made a pause, "Things are quite thunderous here."
"Minna's gonna deal with that, and I'm going to help her however I can." Erica stated, yet Gertrud just sighed loudly in response.
"You should know that I can take things seriously when the situation calls for it," she added.
"I do, it's just that I'm worried about everyone," Gertrud responded.
"If I'll do it properly, do you think you can be at peace?" Erica countered.
"I guess I could live at peace if I know you're going to take this seriously like a…" Gertrud said, "…proper Karlsland soldier," both bedmates said in unison.
"I will… until things are peaceful as usual," Erica commented.
"Now that sounds more like you."
"You know me pretty well, Trude." Erica stated. "I'll keep you updated, in Berlin?" Erica wondered.
"About that…" She gulped, "yeah, I need to go back, I left pretty unexpectedly, Lieutenant Schnaufer is backing me up there."
"I didn't know that." Erika commented.
"She heard what's happening with Yoshika and Sanya."
"And she told you to come back to check on your little sister."
"Yeah, but I also wanted to check on you," Gertrud claimed, "you know, there has not been single day I didn't think about you."
"I can say the same and I'm glad you're here and that we're together, but you really need to go back," Erica commented with a serious tone.
"Are you kicking me out?" Gertrud questioned her, raising her voice a little.
"I am, I mean I don't want there to be more trouble here with the brasses, and after Nuremberg is freed. I'll go to Berlin so we can be together." She stated.
"Erica…"
"I'm going to continue fighting, you can be sure of that, to Liberate Ostmark then, then we can actually settle down."
"I like how that sounds." Gertrud commented with a tranquil yet happy tone, "I'll be looking forward to that day." She then, bent to kiss her on the cheek, Erica on the other hand, moved her face to do same thing, thus both girls ended kissing on the lips; both noses got on their way, so both separated a quick peek. "We- we need to work on that."
"We gotta train!" She eagerly exclaimed, "Like a proper Karlsland soldier."
"But it would be another day, now we're just a couple who really needs to rest," Gertrud heaved a sigh.
"Have a good night Trude," Erica said, as she rested her head near her chest.
"Same to you, Erika."
The next day
A few hours had passed since the morning had come, and the sun was shining brightly in comparison to previous days, even songbirds could be heard at the distance. As usual both Yoshika and Lynette had already prepared breakfast for the rest of the Witches with now with usual happy demeanors and almost everyone was in the dining hall but two Witches, and though they began eating breakfast, no one else came there.
"Where's Shizuka?" Yoshika asked her superior.
"She's still in our bedroom," Perrine stated, "she said, she will come later."
Hearing that, Yoshika stood up from her place and so did Eila.
"Let me please," Eila said nodding her head, and left the room afterwards, while Yoshika reluctantly took a sit again and continued having breakfast.
"And where's Shirley?" Perrine now asked.
"She woke up pretty early to check something on her Striker," Francesca said, yawning, "I wanted to help her, but I'm still so sleepy."
"I'm gonna look for her." Gertrud said, leaving the room afterwards.
Not long after, Eila was in front of Perrine and Shizuka's room, gathering the courage to knock the door.
"Hattori, you in there." Eila called her loudly, knocking the door.
"Yes, I am but I…"
"Breakfast's ready," Eila interrupted her, "and I have something to tell you," she added, slowly opening the door. To her surprise, Shizuka was looking at herself at the mirror, without anything on. "What in the world are you doing?"
"I was…" Shizuka gulped, hugging herself and covering her breasts in the process and then turning around to face her. Eila still entered the room and took a sit on Perrine's bed.
"Actually, this is your room, and you can do as you please, you don't have anything to explain," Eila said, "um, and I guess this may not be a good moment, but I'm sorry for how I acted towards Yoshika and towards you and towards everyone actually." Eila added, yet Shizuka just continued hugging herself and getting redder by each moment that passed.
"Sanya was rescued, and everyone's here now." Shizuka said, as still as she could. "But everything could've been doing and if you didn't disobey orders."
"It was tough to rescue her, but I see your point." She said, getting more comfortable on the bed. "I guess I wouldn't have blamed anyone else, though."
"Yes," Shizuka added, "but you don't have anything to apologize, just to Yoshika." Shizuka said, nervously.
"I already did that, and she forgave me," Eila commented, noticing that Shizuka was still hugging herself watching her from the distance. "Do you realize I can still see your bits, right?" Eila carefreely said, Shizuka began embarrassingly side-walking and took a sit on her bed and crossed her legs.
"Why don't you, I don't know just get dressed?" Eila wondered, taking a sit, and actually staring at her. "You have a nice bust and it's above average, but I've seen better."
"It's just that I…" She hugged herself tighter.
"What're you hiding in there?" Eila said now with a curious expression on her face, standing up from the bed and heading towards her.
"Nothing, I swear." Shizuka said loudly.
"It's just us girls here, what's the big deal?" Eila said, as she grabbed both her arms and moved them out of her way. "What the!" She exclaimed, "Where did you get burnt like that?" Eila questioned her, noticing that at both sides of her chest until her waist, was red and even smallish blisters had started to appear near her breasts as well as on her hands and arms.
"Why didn't you go to the infirmary?" Eila asked her yet she still could not say anything. "Or why didn't you ask Yoshika to heal you up?"
"It's just that," she sighed, now with her hands in her legs, "it was Yoshika's strikers, I got burnt when I carried them back here yesterday."
"Now that's my fault, she was too tired to fly." Eila sighed loudly. "We need to get you to the checked, that could get infected."
"Please don't!" Shizuka exclaimed, trying to contain herself from crying, "if Yoshika hears about it, she'd blame herself for that and I don't want more of that."
"She'd blame herself if something happens to you." Eila argued back, but Shizuka just looked away. "You may not be able to fly like that, heck I don't think you can out anything on."
"I guess you're right," she confessed.
"I know you'd not like what I'm about to say but we can lie to her," Eila said as Shizuka gave her somewhat worried look. "Just hear me out, just tell her that you wanted to get the sauna ready for her and you slipped into the wood, or I don't know maybe you could say that you tried to cook something."
"That sounds… that sounds believable enough, could you call her please?" Shizuka bashfully said. "I don't want anyone else to see me like this."
"I'm gonna get her now," Eila said as she stood from the bed and was about to leave when Shizuka grabbed from her jacket.
"But before you do that, could you help me to put some…" Shizuka was about to say yet just became redder. "… panties on, my hands are hurting."
"Don't be so prude, it's just us girls, and the sooner I get her, the sooner you can get dressed." Eila said leaving the bedroom afterwards.
Now in the dining hall Eila slowly made her way there, and she could notice that everyone had almost finished with the breakfast, but there still talking about something, and she could notice that also Gertrud had left. She needed to do something though.
"Yoshika, could you come here for a minute?" Eila beckoned her to come, and she did so.
"Did something happen to Shizuka?" She asked her with a questioning look on her face.
"Just… follow me!" Eila grabbed her arm and carried her to Perrine and Shizuka's room. Then, she opened to door only to find a Shizuka, still naked with the addition of panties on her knees. Yoshika just became red as lobster noticing that, yet soon after, her face became one of worriedness noticing her burns.
"What happened to you?" Yoshika rushed towards her, as Shizuka let go of her underwear. "Why didn't you tell me before?" She questioned both girls, staring at Eila.
"Don't look at me, I just find out!" Eila claimed, but Yoshika did not seem too relieved.
"She's telling the truth." Shizuka sighed, heading to her bed. "I was trying to- to get the sauna for ready for you, but I- but I slipped and fell on the wood."
"You didn't need that for me." Yoshika said as her tail and ears appeared, and she began healing her up. "I could've done myself but thanks for the thought." She added with a polite smile, and continued healing for a few minutes, and slowly her skin had started to recover its normal color. Then Shizuka's surprise, Yoshika shivered violently and became red-faced again.
"What are you?!" Yoshika roared, waggling her tail down.
"It's just that your tail is completely white now," Eila said, touching her tail until its base, "and its fluffier," she added, yet Yoshika did not mutter anything else and not long after, the blisters had disappeared and Yoshika and went to check herself on the mirror.
"It has lost its color in just three months," Shizuka said, going to her side.
"It seems so," Yoshika worriedly said, "but I don't feel strange and I- and I- can still use magic just fine."
"You're still growing Yoshika," Eila said, as she also went to her side, "it's not that strange that your body changes as you age."
"I hope that's just it," she said.
"I mean your breasts had grown a little," Eila commented, making Yoshika touch her chest in embarrassment. "But Shizuka still has you beat." She added, making her do the same yet she could notice still naked in the mirror's reflection. "Didn't you want to get dressed so bad, I mean, you're already healed up."
"I- I was about to that." She bashfully said, covering her bits with both her hands as she headed to her chest.
"Let me check you, sometimes I cannot heal people up in just one go," Yoshika added, leaving those thoughts behind.
"You- you should now that." Shizuka extended her arms, as the aspiring medic began checking her upper body. Shizuka on the other hand, was as embarrassed as she could get, noticing that Yoshika staring at her bared chest as well as the rest of her body.
The room became irradiated by her healing magic once again, and Shizuka began moaning softly, then Yoshika continued healing her arms as well as her hands, "there you go," Yoshika happily said, "there shouldn't be any scar."
"Thank you, Yoshika," Shizuka added, as she searched for new clothes in her drawers.
"Hurry up, your breakfast must be cold by now," Eila added, "and no wonder I thought that yesterday, I mean with those sounds..."
"What are you talking about?" Yoshika asked her.
"You'd not understand it." Eila added, yet Shizuka became red again, hearing what she just said.
Meanwhile, a few minutes before, in the hangar
Ten strikers were on their launching platforms, mostly in good shape, and only was being teared apart. Several of its pieces were on the floor and over a smallish table in which Charlotte was sitting with several boxes at her sides with Strikers parts.
"Did you damage it yesterday," Gertrud said, making her way there with a smallish bag on her hand.
"Nah, it's working fine, it's just that my trusty P-51H is finally falling behind," Charlotte said, dropping a few bolts to the floor.
"I told you, the jet strikers are the future," she said, picked them up, handing them to the speedster.
"Heck not!" Charlotte exclaimed, continued tightening the bolts, but after a few seconds, she just stopped halfway through, her Striker still disassembled. "You know, I've been thinking about that, I think I gotta learn to pilot them."
"You know, I can teach you; I may no longer be able to use a shield, but I can still fly just fine," Gertrud added.
"I know you can, I saw you yesterday," Charlotte said, "you're as tough as usual."
"A proper soldier must know how to pilot every kind of unit."
Charlotte then just started at her. "And just as bossy but I gotta thank you for that, you made improve and become a better Witch."
"I'm glad to hear that Liberion and I bet can still kick your butt."
"Why don't we find out now?" Charlotte said, standing with a now a serious look on her face, but then, to Charlotte's surprise, Erica sneakily made their way behind hugged Gertrud from behind and to her side, Gertrud, just lifted her arm and Erica made her way just below it and then, she just hugged and rested her head on the smaller girl.
Charlotte could not help it but smile at the scene. "So, you're finally together," she proudly commented.
"Don't say that aloud." She loudly whispered.
"Why?" Charlotte wondered.
"So, everything was a lie, I'm so deeply hurt," Erica mockingly said, pretending to cry, rubbing her eyes.
"Of course not, I love you Erica, it's just, it's just that fraternization is not allowed."
"No one else is in here," Charlotte loudly said.
"I forgot about that, but no one else should know until at least the operation is over," she stated.
"Like someone need to tell them." She shrugged.
"You told them?" Gertrud loudly said.
"Oh please, we're not Yoshika, the rest knew how you felt about each other." Charlotte commented carefreely, "you don't go crying all night when someone is missing if you don't really love her."
"Huh? I didn't know that." Erica raised an eyebrow.
"Shut up!" Gertrud swore becoming redder of embarrassment.
"Whatever, what matters is that you both are happy couple now…" Charlotte said, now standing a staring both girls. "…and spent the night together all alone."
"Yeah, we did," Erica said with filthiness in her tone, "it was the best night I ever had." She added, as she began touching herself, passing her hands throughout her body.
"We didn't do anything Hartmann," Gertrud said, grabbing her from her jacket, as red as lobster. Charlotte, meanwhile, was enjoying every moment with a wide grin on her face, now staring at Erica.
"Yeah, she's telling the truth," Erica confessed. "But it was a good night actually, I slept very well."
"I can say the same, Erica."
"What a shame, I was expecting for you to…." Charlotte added as Gertrud's ears and tail appeared and readied her fists and becoming even redder of angriness now. "I better shut up now."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, your breakfast must be cold by now," Erica added.
"I better go to eat now." Charlotte cleaned her hands with a clean towel. "This will take a while."
And thus, the trio of Witches made their back to the dining hall, and everyone was there now, now just talking, including Shizuka. So, they took a sit as both Witches began eating their breakfast and a couple minutes passed with now a mostly tranquil yet homey atmosphere.
Then, Gertrud stood up from her place, "I just want to say that I'm happy, glad even that we all together now," she said with a soft smile, "and I'll be looking forward to sharing more moments like this with you guys, whenever I can. And always keep in mind that we're a family here, let's toast for that…" She announced, "with juice." She added with a lower tone.
"A dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless!" Charlotte loudly said, harshly putting her glass down.
"Yeah, you could say that; let's toast to that too," Gertrud added as the group watched the Liberion Witch puzzled.
"Do you realize this is just juice right?" Erica said with somewhat stoic tone.
"Hey! Don't ruin my act!" She loudly complained, "Just, just think it's sugar cane juice, don't you agree Yoshika?"
"Yeah, why not?" Yoshika said, a bit blushed as the group watched her with grins on their faces and most of them just laughed about it. The group continued talking for a bit more, until a loud noise made its way into the dining hall.
Gertrud sighed, standing up from her sit. "That would be mine," she said and so the group headed to the hangar and not long after a plane landed there, and its crewmen began unloading a few large boxes as well as few smallish ones. Then, Gertrud picked one and handed it to Erica.
"This one is for you, open it now, please," she asked her, and Erica did so.
"Chocolate!" Erica beamed. "Thank you Trude!"
"Huh? I thought it was the one with candies." She said as she serious as she could, with a soft smile.
"You also brought candies!? You're a really my…" Erica was about to say as Gertrud became redder. "…hero."
Gertrud just sighed in relief, then she picked a smallish bag, "this one's for you Yoshika."
And so, she began unpacking her present and after she finished, she could not help it but smile.
"A stethoscope!" Yoshika beamed. "It's what a real doctor wears, thank you."
"I know you may not need it just know but keep it until you do, okay?" Gertrud said.
"I will Commander Barkhorn."
"You don't need to call me that, we're friends, just Trude is fine."
"I will, commander," Yoshika cheerfully said.
Then Gertrud's ears and tail appeared, and she took off two covers from the big boxes. "And those two are for you, Eila and Sanya."
And so, both Witches slowly made they were there and began taking off the papers that were covering striker units.
"I know you don't have anything to fly with now, so I spoke with both the Suomus and Orussian brasses and they sent me these two for you," Gertrud stated.
"Thank you," both Witches said, still not gazing at each other.
"Not custom paintjob though," she added.
"I'll take care of that, don't worry about it," Charlotte added.
"And I'll see if I can get to send you a jet, Liberion." Gertrud commented.
"I'll be waiting for it and for you."
"But not here, though, but Minna will tell you," she said, "There are more things for y'all there, but it's getting late, I need to embark now."
"I thought you'll use your striker to go back Trude," Erica commented.
"You'll needed it more than I do," she added, "and I ask for a new one, in Berlin."
Then Charlotte gave a step forward of the group and extending her right hand. "I couldn't say goodbye the last time, captain."
"It's not like you knew I'd step down; I didn't even know actually." She added, grasped her hand.
"And you don't know if I'll be here the next time you visit us." Charlotte added with a serious tone.
"I do know that, but don't say those things." She replied with a serious tone, then she let go of her hand, only to be hugged to be hugged Erica and then whole group gathered around the couple.
"See you around girls and stay safe." She said, as Erika let go of her. "And don't forget what we talked Yoshika."
"I will not commander Barkhorn and thank you again."
"I'll keep you informed of everything, Commander Barkhorn." Mio said, posing.
"You know you don't need to that, right." Gertrud said, with a bored tone.
"For the old times," Mio stated.
"For the old times, indeed." She added, then she climbed the stairs.
"Goodbye," Gertrud as a tear fell from her eyes.
"Bye captain," the Witches said waving her as plane's door closed and not long after it departed and so did the girls, leaving the two commanders alone in the hangar.
"What's with the sugar cane juice?" Mio commented.
Minna sighed, "I don't know but I need to investigate about that."
Author notes:
Trude's arc is not over yet.
And sorry for the late update, but this one turned out to be way way longer than I initially expected but here we are.
And by the way, Lynne was speaking with her sister, Wilma.
And regarding the Erica and Trude's relationship, that's what Humikane tweeted, so it's still canon.
And this is the last note, I'm not sure when the next chapter will come, I haven't even begun to write it, though another guest will appear, I think.
