Chapter 13

Night had fallen over the city of Tokyo Japan. Most people have returned home to eat and sleep in preparation for the next days activities, several stayed late at work for rushed projects or from strict bosses. Four people, however, were staying out for a very illegitimate, yet very necessary, reason. The Japanese Sensha Do Federation had recently been receiving backlash over the Yearlong Sensha Do match on Tomodachi Island against the Americans from their own sports affiliation in regard to Sensha Do. Tankery they called it. A blasphemous adaptation of a cultural and honorable sport. Or at least that was what Shiho had once thought.

Shiho Nishizumi was the Chairperson of the Pro League Committee for the Federation, the spokesperson for the Traditionalists Party within the Organization, and the head of the Nishizumi Style of Sensha Do within the school of Kuromorimine. However with the recent backlash received from the game, mostly form the parents of the children, Shiho has taken a more open look of things in regard to the game as a whole. The entire reason for the game, dismantlement of American Tankery, no longer held the sway it once did over her and her tune had changed when two people came forward with valuable information regarding corruption within the Federation and attempts of interference with the Yearlong match itself.

Shiho herself, along side Ami Chono, Member of the Strengthening Committee, member of the Moderate Party within the Federation and official referee for the High School League, lay prone outside of the District office for maritime transportation. These offices were where the files of supplies were logged that were being sent to the Island for the students there. Also inside, were the paper copies of the business dealings of the one corrupt Gokushu Kisuragi, manager of the dockyards where the supplies ship from Japan that takes the supply to the Island.

Shiho sighed quietly as she saw two security guards inside the entryway, another one in one of the offices, two more on the second floor, and she was sure there were at least another two somewhere else in the building. She looked to her left and silently gazed at the third member of their little party. Her 'former' husband Tsuneo Matsuda. Former being a bit of a stretch. She and Tsuneo never officially annulled their marriage so in the eyes of the law they were still married. Shiho had just one day took her two girls and returned to her mothers house, in the cold rain basically begging to be let in. It had nothing to do with Tsuneo mind you, he was an amazing father to Miho and Maho, and he was an amazing lover to Shiho, Chie Nishizumi, Shiho's mother, on the other hand was a vile manipulative person who's words felt like poison dripping into ones ear. Shiho fell for that poison and left her husband, but he never blamed her for it. His understanding of her mother, and his ability to stand up to her, was one of the things Shiho fell in love with him for. He freed her from that villainess's yoke and gave her the love he felt she deserved. And she left him for it.

Shiho mentally slapped herself for staring for so long and tried to put down the blush that appeared on her face. She was well informed that she still loved the man, but her famed Nishizumi pride stopped her from admitting it. The only reason she was her with him right now, at least the reason she told herself, was to expose the corruption within the workings of the Federations partners.

"I cant believe you cajoled me into this nonsense." Spoke the fourth person in their retinue. Renta Tsuji. A cunning wordsmith in his own right with an eye for administration. He was a member of the MEXT School Carriers Department. The organization that owned and maintained the carrier ships that the Schools were based on. Surprisingly it was Renta who went to Tsuneo with the information of the corruption and the two came to Shiho together. Shiho was always surprised when she remembered that the two had been friends once.

"Come on Renta, you scored the information on Kisuragi so you should help bag the info." Tsuneo said in a hushed tone.

"My skills are in administration, not infiltration." Renta hissed. Though Tsuneo had a rebuttal.

"That's a lie and you know it. You were the one that came up with our infiltration plans to peek on the girls volleyball team back in high school." Tsuneo said nonchalantly giving the bespectacled man minor heart palpitation.

"You bastard, we swore secrecy on that!" Renta hissed. Shiho raised an eyebrow at the revelation not really sure what to think, but then chose to ignore it. High School boys were High School boys and She and Tsuneo went to different high schools so nothing to worry about there.

"I'm surprised you of all people would be into that Renta?" Ami Chono spoke up, a small grin on her lips.

"I was young, ignorant, and impressionable Ami. Case in point the man next to me." Renta said motioning to Tsuneo, who chuckled to himself.

"Focus everyone, there are at least seven guards inside, max is ten. We need to find a way to slip inside, find, and grab the files necessary to expose Kisuragi's corruption." Shiho said.

"Security is tighter then it should be. Nothing of real value in these offices, besides some papers providing information about said illicit corruption." Ami said pointing out the facts.

"We may need to come back another night, its fairly really in the evening and the guards would be vigilant at this time. I say we rest tonight and come back late morning the next night." Tsuneo said presenting an option.

"It might be better. Plus this will give us another day to go over the layout and plan accordingly." Ami said. Shiho wanted to rebuttal and settle this now, but she knew that Tsuneo had a point. This early in the night the guards would be focused, later on however, they would be sluggish and tired. Yes, tomorrow night would be better for this.

"Alright, lets fall back. Tomorrow night we'll get the papers." Shiho said moving back before standing and going back to the car. Ami followed behind her, then Renta while Tsuneo brought up the rear. "Lets hope we find some credible information. I don't know what Kisuragi's doing but I don't think it's good."

Rukuriri sighed as she gazed out into the morning sunrise, the wind blew through her hair as she leaned against the guardrail. The island had seemed to finally have some semblance of peace and tranquility, though she knew this was only because she was in Homedale and not Hoja City. She sighed again. Thoughts of her friends back in that horrible city, the anxious tension that plagued St. Gloriana scared her, but what scared her the most was Davis Brown. He had gone nuts. Hopefully things would be better once they found a way to talk him down and take a breath. Or maybe two breaths.

Noise from behind her drew Rukuriri's attention. Behind her, coming out from the bedroom, was Andrew. He smiled when he saw her and leaned right next to her watching the sunrise. Rukuriri laid her head on his shoulder, she breathed in a deep breath and sighed a third time, more content with his presence then being by herself.

"You doing ok?" Andrew asked her as he rested his head on hers.

"I am now." She said. She didn't want to move. Didn't want to talk, didn't want to worry. All she wanted was to be next to him, he who gave her peace and love.

"Commander Moose called me. He said he has information about something regarding certain events that happened during our time here on the island." Andrew said causing Rukuriri to look up at him in question. "Information regarding exactly how and why a certain Churchill shot my friend."

Rukuriri's eyes widened and rose her head from him. She looked into his eyes and saw confusion and curiosity. He still didn't know the answers but maybe this could help them formulate an idea to get the others to listen. Maybe it could help end the whole conflict for good.

"What else?" She asked with a slight quiver in her voice. Her hope was strong at this point, and she wanted to know more.

"Moose said Colonel Abernathy is bringing us the information as a whole. We'll be seeing him later today." Andrew said.

Rukuriri remembered back in Hoja, she and her friends, her tank crew, got into an argument about the Davis's obsession. She was the only one who thought they could still reason with him. The others were less enthusiastic about that and just wanted him gone. Away from Hoja so they could finally rest and sleep more than six hours a day. another reason why Rukuriri was so glad to have gotten more than eight last night.

"So we have a chance to make both Mr. Davis and Ms. Darjeeling sit down and talk?" she asked.

"Maybe, but I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. Something may go wrong, and if it does Davis will be to far gone to accept anything other than total victory or a strict word of warning from Coach." Andrew said. Rukuriri suddenly felt less hopeful at the prospect of her friends seeing the light on the situation.

"How have things come out this way?" She asked as she leaned against the guardrail, contemplating the argument she had with her friends not long ago.

"I don't know, but what I do know is that while things are getting out of hand, I'll stay besides you. Just like I promised I would when we came here to Homedale." Andrew said placing a reassuring hand around her shoulders. Rukuriri's eyes were saddened but she smiled a loving smile she only saved for him.

"Oh Andy, I love you." She says.

"I love you to Riri." Andrew says back while he moves in and kisses her straight on her lips.