《To My Sunflower》


 Chapter 1

    "Today he comes home!" Hinata spoke aloud when reached out his hand to welcome the morning sun."He promised."


    His heart did somersaults at the thought of his beloved Eiji walking through the door of their cosy villa in the settled countryside for real. War was finally at an end after many years of his countries on and off conquests with other countries.Everything that they had fought for will finally come to fruition; a slow, calm life in the meadows, together.


    He swept aside tumbling strands of his flowing, silk black hair; grabbed his treasured yellow ribbon¡ª Eiji had bought him at the summer festival before he left for war¡ªand tied up the long lengths of his hair in a clean bun.His secured the tasuki to his grey casual kimono sleeves and went about preparing their home so it would be a perfect picture when Eiji entered.


    "Oh look Hina-chan, this place brings in a lot of sun like you." Hinata sighed, dreamily, as he remembered Eiji''s voice saying smooth words to send his heart racing.


    He swept the simple cosy sun-room clean so not a spec of dirt was visible under the light from the many window panes facing east.His memories played on the moments where he watched Eiji reading his book (against the large foreign cushion that was a souvenir from his last tour); his intelligent brown eyes absorbing words of another language.Hinata loved the way Eiji''s long fingers tenderly turned pages, his calm full lips not moving whilst his eyes skimmed animatedly.


    Thoughts moved to the first time they met at school.Eiji was his stoic senior who was revered for being the best and the brightest in academics and sports.He was every woman''s dream of a nation''s husband; tall, toned but lean, a handsome face with a gentle smile, calm eyes and cool mannerisms even in the height of danger. He was not a man to lose his demeanour for anything, except the time Hinata had been beaten by some ruffian bullies when they found out he was in love with a man.


    Hinata had been bleeding out on the ground, frustrated at himself for not being able to get up and save Eiji from losing himself to a fight with bullies.He was angry at himself for allowing Eiji to reach that state.The consequence saw Eiji enlist for war by his parents. It had been seven years since.


    Hinata treasured every moment they were able to spend together. Between tours, Eiji had helped him setup a home in the countryside to be away from the city life. Hinata inherited his uncle''s dress shop and their small two-room cottage, which was set against meadows that ran up to the Tengu mountains. It was the man''s lasting gift to the couple, knowing they could never find another place in their world.


    "Eiji''s coming home." Hinata chanted and sung as he swept out the sunroom, dusted down the Butsudan of his uncle, so the shrine was a picture of serenity, love and peace amongst a heady scent of sandalwood and summer flowers.


    "Come on Tama-chan, time to move." He poked at the lazy ginger tabby cat that was reluctant to move from its warm spot before the front door.


    He chuckled when Eiji had brought the cat home.It was a rainy day, Eiji had returned home and saw the cat crying out from under a soaked box dumped to the side of the road.


    "Tama-chan''s like us. Let''s give him a home." Eiji had said that sealed the deal.


    Hinata spoiled the cat in place of Eiji to the point it was dragging its fat belly on the ground when it walked.


    He had finished his housework and tending to the herb and vegetable garden when the sun started to wane in the west.His heart thumped with trepidation.He felt sure today was the day Eiji was coming home.


    The town women had been rejoicing about seeing their husbands home now that the war was finally at an end. They were proud of their men who fought valiantly and were coming home as heroes. Eiji had to be part of those returning men. It was unthinkable for him not to be.


    The sun had long set when Hinata received a curt banging on his door. He ran to open it and saw two soldiers wearing the emblem of Eiji''s unit. They both removed their caps and placed them over their hearts.Hinata''s heart skipped beats when he saw sadness glisten their dark eyes.The men''s faces looked strained with aged wrinkles were permanently etched on the corner of their eyes and foreheads.He gulped when he noticed crude scars peeking out from the high collar of one of them.


    Neither said a word when one of them handed Hinata sealed letter with a gloved hand. Hinata gingerly received it and politely offered tea to which the soldiers declined and went on their way.


    He carefully placed the letter on the low table in the main room and knelt before it in seiza. His mind was a turbulent mess, crudely teasing his hope for his lover''s return. Time ticked slowly and quietly for an hour before he found the courage to pick up the letter.


    The front was official stamped with a government office titles and the back was sealed without any markings.He read the printed kanji for his name and address, meticulously printed at the center.His fingers trembled as he pried the sealed flap open and pulled out another envelop that was hidden within.


    Tears streamed down his cheeks and sides of his neck when this envelop held his name, lovingly written by Eiji''s own handwriting. It was so messy and all over the place, it made his mouth tremble with a smile.More tears flowed from his eyes, when he carefully opened the envelop flap and pulled out a piece of folded floral scented paper. His heart beat rapidly at the sight of dried sunflower petals falling out to land on his lap.


    He sniffed the lush aroma of familiar flowers that was still smelling strong, closing his eyes to imagine the place that Eiji would have been when he had picked them.


    _"Hinata."_ He opened his eyes to a memory of Eiji''s deep, soothing voice calling out his name.


    Slowly, he unfolded Eiji''s letter and read his words to him.


    [My dearest, beloved Hinata,


    I don''t know if our last fight will save our country from losing the war nor if I will live to see this end. Right now, I''m fighting in an island country similar to our own.


    It''s strange to be fighting men who look no different to us and carry the same love for their country in their hearts.There are so many similarities that makes me wonder why we fight. Then I remember our little lover spats and my purpose is renewed.


    Around me, all the men fight with pride for those they love. We know this last fight will be our final hope and end.We will see it through to the end.


    You keep me strong, your love keeps my heart true.I miss your joyfulness, the way you see the beauty in the smallest and simplest things.Those treasured touches only we both know, I feel them in my heart.You are my life, the one that keeps my heart beating and the face that keeps a smile on my face.My beautiful, sweet, pure sunflower.


    I found this meadow when we climbed the mountains. The sun was beaming down on a field of sunflowers. My mind was filled of you. At that moment, the only reason for dying was to make sure you were safe.


    I love you always. Never stop living life, smiling for others and being the beautiful soul that you are.


    You are my sun, my life and the greatest joy in my life.My soul is with you always.


    With all my eternal love,


    Eiji.]


    Hinata''s tears streamed his face as his emotions claimed control. His heart felt like it was breaking, his body trembled with realisation of his loss.


    Slithers of morning and a new day pierced through the cracks of the closed window shuttles, he gingerly rose from when he had been kneeling the whole night. Wobbling, unsteadily to his feet as he felt life prickling back into his numbed legs.


    He pushed open the shutters to reveal a rising sun that would bring another bright and sunny day to the countryside.


    A cosy scent of sunflowers graced his senses and tenderly warmed the love in his heart.


    Eiji kept his promise of coming home.

 Chapter 2 Duties

    Hinata received the official announcement of Eiji''s presumed death via a brief telegram a few days after receiving his letter. The village''s mayor had handed out the grim slips to everyone who had lined up at the school hall near the local shrine. He felt fortunate he had received a letter of his lover''s passing words. The anguish on the women''s faces as they cried over their slips of paper stirred more pain to his heart. Not knowing what their husband''s last thoughts were would be a torture. If Hinata ever saw those visiting soldiers again, he would receive them properly with blessed thank-yous.


    Eiji''s osoushiki occurred a few days later. It was brief since the town priest had a lot to work through. All the old farmers and shop keepers whom he had made good friends with attended the otsuya the night before. They were also drinking for the loss of their sons who fought alongside Eiji at Iwo jima, which was a land far removed from his imagining.


    Hinata frowned with the shame that he hadn''t been able to fight and die with his lover and father. If only he was deemed a man at the time of conscript, he would be also serving his country. His frail heart had made him unfit, and he was turned away. That hurt his pride. The only thing that kept him home was the promise he had made with Eiji to be waiting for him.


    The cosy cottage they were meant to share felt empty. Dead silence lingered around the butsudan holding both his uncle and lover''s images.


    "Not even a proper urn of ashes." Hinata sighed at the sight of the empty urn that had been sitting before Eiji''s image for 49 days.


    A kotsuage couldn''t be performed since there wasn''t a body available. He prayed to Okamisama that Eiji was properly granted into the afterlife. In his heart he hoped this wasn''t necessary. Being presumed dead left a thread of hope of Eiji being alive in him.


    "Nya!" Hinata heard the small cry next to him. He gave the fat tabby a weak smile and tender pat.


    No time for wallowing in grief or speculation. He had the duty to place Eiji''s urn with his family''s ohaka. There was Tama-chan to care for and his uncle''s shop to run. He had to keep going as Eiji had asked for him to do. Sakamoto-san, his shop neighbour, said that his son was returning from Koumi with a delivery for the store. He offered to have his son take him to the family grave site when he made the delivery.


    The Chikafuji ohaka (Hinata''s family grave) was located a few miles outside of Koumi. Eiji had asked to be placed there when he was accepted into Hinata''s family, since he was disgraced from his own.


    Hinata''s tiny village was a decent half a day''s journey to the site by truck.He was curious about Sakamoto-san''s son who was a returned soldier from Okinawa. He may have known Eiji. In his heart, he hoped he did.


    Hinata checked that his navy-white obi was wrapped properly around his slender waist and his grey-green kimono made him an image of a respectful shopkeeper. He rechecked the yellow ribbon around his bun with his princely hand-mirror of painted flowers to a black surface (his mother''s gift to him).


    "Good."


    He heaved out a deep sigh and carefully stowed away the mirror in the wooden chest behind a pair of shoji panel doors, which were painted with a delicate scenery of mejiro perched on winter branches with buds vying for spring.


    He slipped on his getas--neatly paired at the genkan--grabbed his day umbrella and stepped out of the cottage door with Tama-chan following his heels.


    "Now, be a good boy and protect the house," he ordered the cat.


    Tama-chan responded with a hearty yawn and droopy eyes ready for his usual nap.


    Hinata set off down the gravel road for the main village block four miles down, which was four shops, the local school, Shinto shrine and community hall. The biggest of the shops was the dairy-grocery owned by Sakamoto-san and his family. On the grocery''s left was Ishikawa''s wagashi shop-cafe where the old ladies frequented for gossip during the day; it served as a restaurant and bar at night.Hinata''s dress shop was on the grocery''s right. It shared tenancy with Honda''s Bookstore, which Eiji had frequented regularly when he was in the area.


    His thoughts lingered on the moments he saw Eiji having light conversation with Honda-san over a book they both liked. Thinking of those moments made him feel lonelier.


    "Not good to think like this Hina-chan." He shook the thought clear and gazed up to the sun on a calm blue sky.


    The bitter scent from wild blooming shion tainted the air with a sensory reminder of the war''s cursed consequence. Being in the countryside, he was sheltered from the atrocities done to the major cities. It didn''t mean he was unaffected. The memory of the home he fled was still a vivid image.


    His hand instinctively gripped at his collar when he recalled the blaring horns, jarring bangs and shuddering noises of metal raining down on him during last November''s air raid to level his home. It was thanks to Eiji and his father''s military training that they were able to take shelter in the street bunkers and survive the attack. His mother and siblings had relocated to Kure to be with his uncle on her side when their father resumed his post in the war.Eiji had accompanied him to Mimaki Village to succeed his uncle''s business.He felt fortunate they were able to spend a cosy home life togetherbefore Eiji left to honour his orders for Okinawa.The thought of his partner dying alone troubled him. It was a cruel fate that he wished he was able to take in place of his lover.


    "Morning, Hina-san." A polite greeting pulled Hinata from his dark thoughts.


    Hinata''s attention returned to the present and the young teenage girl sidling up next to him like a little sister. Mei-chan was very much like that to him.She was Sakamoto-san''s youngest daughter.They became close when she found out that Eiji was his partner and they were both waiting for their lovers to return from war. She was betrothed--by arrangement--to Ishikawa-san''s son, Kou. It was a dream come true for her as she had been secretly loving her senior for a long time.


    "Um, did you try Ishikawa-san''s new sweet?" She was fidgeting with some of her modest white-blue floral kimono. Her getas were striking up gravel with her shuffle.


    Hinata smiled at the young girl''s attempt for small talk whilst hiding what she really wanted to say to him. Unlike himself, Mei-chan''s fiance had returned to the village. Although, he suspected Kou''s mind was still fighting the lost war as the man didn''t stray to far from the sweet shop''s top floor.


    "No, but I may try later. Also, would you like to see the new fashion that is coming in from Ginza?"


    He asked, but knew she would likely say ''no'' as she wasn''t comfortable wearing what she had deemed ''foreign clothing'', preferring to don kimonos and yukatas in the summer season.


    Mei twirled the dainty strand of her brown hair, which hung down the sides of her youthful, heart-shaped face. Her large dark eyes met Hinata''s cheerful light-brown pair with maidenly innocence and a cordial smile from full lips, which lifted her round, supple cheeks.


    Hinata thought Kou-san would be a strange man not to find Mei-chan attractive. Unless his preference was similar to his own.


    "If it''s that foreign clothing, no thank you, I''ll pass." She declined with a polite bow.


    It was as Hinata had guessed. He promised to inform her when a new shipment of kimonos had arrived.They parted ways when they neared their shops.

 Chapter 3 The Returned Soldier & Ohaka Mairi

    Hinata was almost at the door of his shop when his attention was disrupted by a pair of middle-aged ladies elegantly dressed in a modest komon kimonos and obis to suit the mild autumn weather.


    "Chikafuj-kun, come, come." One of the ladies beckoned with a downward flick of her manicured hand.


    He forced a polite smile and greeted Honda-obasan (as he termed Honda-san''s mother) with a respectful bow. She was one of his regular patrons whose preference were for simplistic komons and elegant accessories. He noticed the young-girl''s daisy hair comb holding up her coarse hair. She had purchased it from him the week before along with other cute items. It made him wonder who were buying books and the price they were paying for them.


    The woman next to Honda-obasan was the quiet and demure wife of Sakamoto-san, who always stood a few steps back and held herself less conspicuous with her downplayed komon of drab gray and little pattern to the fabric. Her hair was practically tied up in a bun with strip of cloth.


    "Ishikawa-san''s son has returned, but he hasn''t left his house. Asako-san said the man went to his room and hasn''t come out. I feel for the poor dear," said Honda-obasan, her eyes peering into his with a hint.


    Hinata''s forced smile widened, seeing where this was heading. "I''m sure he will surface when he is ready."


    "Poor dear. Must have seen a lot and having to deal with those foreign brutes. Someone younger would be a friendlier ear to him."


    Hinata sighed. "Of course, if he is willing to talk to me."


    "If you could talk to him, find out what is bothering him, it would help Asako-san so much. You''re a good boy. Dai-chan would be proud of you." Honda-obasan cheerfully pulled at his cheek like he was a kid.


    Hinata managed to wiggle out of the cheek pull. He made some excuse to return to his shop and breathed out a sigh of relief when he closed the shop door behind him.


    "That obasan." He sighed again.


    "My mother trying to bait you into giving her gossip again?"


    Hinata smoothed down his kimono and stowed his folded umbrella in the blue-white bonsai pattern china pot near the glass panel door where the kanji for his and Honda-san''s shop was professional painted in gold.


    "Honda-san, I''m sure your mother is only concerned for Ishikawa-san''s son," he answered the man who was a perfect image of a stoic gentleman wearing a straightforward necktie between a single button navy vest, which ran the length of his lean torso. His grey long sleeves shirt was properly secured around his wrists with brass cuff links and his matching suit pants was a good match for his long legs.


    He was seated behind the wooden chairman''s desk that served as their shared shop counter.


    The brass shopping till (detailed with an engraved exaggeration of vine leaf patterns) was propped up on one corner of the desk. It was still rung-up with Honda-obasan''s sale. Hinata sighed, wondering what his uncle was thinking when he had paid for the expensive London made till, which was worth more than the shop itself.


    "Of course and I''m sure she''s willing to openly share her concerns with all the other women of the village," Akira Honda commented with an expressionless voice.


    He succeeded the store from his deceased father. This allowed his mother more time to idle with Sakamoto-san at Ishikawa''s sweet store.The three wives of the grocery, book shop and sweet store were all childhood friends as such everyone in the village cheekily nicknamed them the _Three Little Maids From School_, in reference to the satirical American stage play that a visiting theatre troupe from Koumi had performed in the Community Hall onetime.


    "I''ve no doubt she asked you to befriend Ishikawa-san''s son in order to pick his brain about the war," he continued, his attention lowered to the open book he was reading.


    Hinata glanced at the book''s foreign printed text, which he recall Eiji saying was English.It was as alien of a language to him as German. At least with Mandarin he could guess a word or two from the Kanji.


    He frowned.There was no doubt Akira was as much of an academic genius as Eiji, but his assumptions of his mother was disconcerting.


    "She did no such thing.Even if she did, it wouldn''t be appropriate." He closed discussion on the matter with his answer and moved their conversation to safer topics.


    He observed Akira''s mild mannered features as they talked. The man was as handsome as Eiji, with dark almond eyes relaxed behind thin-framed glasses that were balanced on a button nose. A gentle curved jawline supported thin lips and ran an oval outline up to a small set of ears made obvious by his tidy short crop of black hair.


    Akira raised his eyes, so his attention was fully on Hinata. He brushed aside strands of his fine fringe from his brows and readjusted his glasses to gain a better look at his shop partner''s slender face, full lips closed with a demure expression and soft round eyes. Hinata was his perfect image of a Yamato nadeshiko.


    "Are you still pining for Takaki-san?" he calmly asked.


    Hinata sighed and returned his comment with a forced smile. "He''s still alive until I know for sure he isn''t."


    Akira closed his book with a sigh and stood to be next to Hinata. Both of them were hidden behind a rack of precisely hung Japanese clothing and western fashion of trouser-pleated skirts, A-line dresses padded at the shoulders, trousers of practical grey or khaki cotton, shirts and single breasted jackets that could be refitted or easily tailored.


    Hinata cursed his rapid heartbeats when Akira tenderly stroked his cheek. He grabbed his hand before it could move further down his face.If Eiji wasn''t in his heart, there was no doubt he would have accepted Akira''s feelings and they would be dating.As it was--


    "Please, I''ve already told you that it''s no good. My heart belongs to Eiji-san."


    "He''s dead, Chikafuj-kun, otherwise you would not be making a journey to the family Ohaka. I''m here for you right now. Will you not accept me?" Akira''s voiced quivered, betraying desperation to his question.


    "I''m sorry." Hinata sighed with remorse and pulled away to resume his usual shop business.


    Akira heaved with a deep sigh and dropped the matter. He returned to his place behind the desk and opened his book to continue reading.


    A short while later the shop bell jangled to announce an incoming visitor.Hinata gasped when he recognised the soldier who had handed him Eiji''s letter.


    "You!" He accidentally blurted and slapped a hand over his mouth.


    "Yuri-san." Akira acknowledged the man nonchalantly, not moving from his position behind the desk and attention from his book.


    "Yuri-san?Are you Mei-chan''s big brother?" Hinata softly asked the man who was no longer wearing a uniform, but donning a western long sleeved shirt, slacks and boots. His forehead was hidden behind a cap. The crude silver scar was visible, showing its full length down the side of his neck.


    Yuri-san answered with a nod. "My father said I to take you to your family''s Ohaka in Koumi."


    Hinata nodded and suggested that now was a good time. It would clear the air between Akira and himself.Akira had reluctantly agreed to watch over the shop in exchange for dinner. Hinata nodded and picked up his day umbrella.


    Yuri followed Hinata out of the shop, taking note of the man''s slender figure in a kimono.


    _"He''s really Takaki''s wife."_ He thought to himself as he observed the way Hinata walked with a meticulous posture and balletic strides.


    He had seen a lot of women during his time of war, but none of them moved as elegantly as Hinata. Eiji''s romantic yearnings for the man was understandable.


    Yuri drove Hinata to his home in his pick-up truck, so they could gather Eiji''s urn, water pail and offerings.They then travelled along the dirt street, stirring up clouds of soot behind them as they left the village.


    They drove past green pastures, fierce bushy canopy of fiery red, orange, blood-red and yellow maple and plum trees growing proudly along the sides of the bumpy road they travelled over. A few times, Hinata had to hug Eiji''s urn tight to his chest from falling as he suffered Yuri''s maniacal driving from the passenger seat. He wondered if this was how it was travelling in the army.


    Yuri was silent as he drove. Hinata wasn''t keen to break the man''s concentration.His eyes couldn''t help steal glances at the scar on his neck, wondering if Eiji also suffered similar scars since.His heart raced when his mind was flooded with memories containing their life. He stubbornly held to his hope for Eiji being alive despite taking a journey to his grave.


    "We''re almost there." Yuri''s voice broke through Hinata''s thoughts.


    Hinata''s eyes fluttered open to the sight of the sun gently setting behind an irregular outline of the Tengu Mountains.He yawned, not realising he had fallen asleep.


    The truck navigated its way along an off-beaten track to a manicured grave site amongst colourful growing cherry blossom and plum trees. It skidded to a halt before the site with clouds of dust settling over a gravel path.


    "I''ll wait here," Yuri said, leaning back into his seat and lowering his cap over his eyes to get a bit of shut-eye.


    Hinata left the truck with the urn lovingly held in one arm and the offerings and water pain in the other.He performed his abulation at the site''s entrance, and soberly made his way to his family''s Ohaka nestled within an idyllic setting of nettle bush and young pink-white cherry blossom trees.Eiji''s name was freshly etched into the granite tablet holding his uncle''s and other ancestors. He sighed when he saw his name in red next to Eiji''s.


    He shook his mind free from dark thoughts and performed his duties of cleaning the grave and placing his offerings. His hands trembled and tears slipped out of his eyes when he lifted the stone to where his uncle and relative''s urns were.


    The thought of letting Eiji go into the underworld finally hit him.


    He hugged the urn to his chest with his stubbornness of not letting go.This wasn''t right.Eiji was meant to live a life with him; they would grow old and pass on into the underworld together.His heart pounded his chest, stirring blood to his head. Tears stung his eyes and made his cheeks flush as a hot mess.


    "I miss you." He cried over and over, clinging to the urn.


    The sun had long set when he finally let go, carefully placing the urn next to his uncle''s. He sealed the grave and lit some incense, calling his lover''s name in a prayer.


    "Wait for me Eiji-san." Hinata closed his prayer.


    He rose and gingerly made his way back to the pick-up truck.

 Chapter 4 Yuri Sakamoto

    Yuri suggested staying the night as it was too risky to drive through the roads in the dark, so they made themselves comfortable in the pickup truck. Hinata was impressed that his driver was prepared with a blanket and some rations to last the night.


    "Here." Yuri handed Hinata an onigiri seasoned with herbs.


    They ate their rice balls in an awkward silence. Hinata had so many questions circling through his head. How did he know Eiji? When did they meet? When did they realise their home villages were the same? Why was he home and Eiji wasn''t?


    Hinata''s heart skipped a beat with guilt towards the last question. His questions were left unanswered as he drifted into sleep. He woke to the first signs of dawn filtering through the trees.


    The fresh morning dew cooled his cheeks, making him alert for the journey back to the village. He turned to check on his driver and gasped when Yuri wasn''t next to him. He frowned as he shuffled out of the truck and searched around the area for his whereabouts.


    "Morning young man." The site''s priest cordially greeted Hinata.


    "Good morning." Hinata politely returned the greeting with a bow. "By chance did you see another man around here?"


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    The priest nodded and pointed to the graveyard. Hinata bowed with thanks and approached the entrance. He performed his abulation and headed to his family Ohaka, suspecting it was the only place Yuri would want to go.


    He paused a few meters behind Yuri who was standing in prayer. The woody, sweet smell of forgiving incense wafted through the air.


    "Takaki saved my life when our aircraft carrier was fired on at Pearl Harbor. We were techs..." Yuri dropped his conversation with a sigh.


    "You brought his letter to me. Thank you." Hinata softly thanked Yuri with a deep bow.


    Yuri slowly turned with a jerky movement and sighed again at Hinata''s bowing form.


    "He entrusted it to me when I was on the carrier back home. I was assigned to Okinawa and he was given leave to await new orders." He looked to his hands as if they were still holding the letter.


    Hinata straightened with a sigh. He didn''t realise Yuri had been holding on to the letter for so long. Eiji never mentioned it when they had their brief time together before his last assignment.


    "Back then we thought the war was over." Yuri lowered his head and faced Eiji''s name on the Ohaka again.


    "Let''s go home, Sakamoto-san." Hinata gently prompted.


    He frowned at the man''s troubled expression and sigh.


    "Yeah." Yuri sighed. He turned and hobbled away from the grave.


    Hinata''s frown deepen when he realised the unevenness of Yuri''s walk back to the truck. It made him wonder about injuries, but there was no way he would ask such a question. He relaxed his features and made his own way back to the truck.


    Neither spoke in the pickup truck. Yuri drove up the dirt track for their home. They travelled in silence, but Hinata sensed Yuri''s disturbed thoughts from the twitch to his left eye whenever he peered at him from the corner of his eye. The twitching stopped whenever he faced him.


    Hinata took sometime to take in Yuri''s features. His eyes were a perfect almond shape of a rich brown, gently curving towards the crow''s feet lines in the corners. His high cheekbones, thin lips and small chin were drawn out by his triangular outline. Short tufts of wavy black hair had grown through his crew cut to give his impression one of tough and rugged. His fringe wasn''t long enough to hide his frown lines. He was certainly another handsome man whom Hinata could not lend his heart to. Not that Yuri would be interested in him anyway.


    "I didn''t know your family came from the village until we talked on the carrier. See, I left before you got here." Yuri randomly blurted. "Must be Okamisama''s way of keeping us connected."


    Hinata noticed the odd twitch to his hands at the wheel whenever his conversation relapsed back to his time in the war. Yuri''s posture was unusually slanted toward his right side. He cursed at himself for being oblivious to those details earlier.


    "What was Eiji-san like fighting?" Hinata gulped as he braved the question with a weak voice.


    Did he really wanted to know what his lover was like on a field where it was kill or being killed? He gripped the hem of his kimono, bracing himself for the answer.


    Yuri observed Hinata''s expression and form. "He was a brave and honourable soldier."


    Hinata heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed his hands.


    They drove for some time in silence afterwards, the truck moving them through familiar countryside, paddocks and the colourful autumn trees.


    They had passed a farm when the sound of a gunshot made the truck swerve off the road and hit a gutter. It disturbed a flight of birds and unnatural clouds of dirt into the air.


    Hinata''s heart raced with pumped adrenaline. His first reaction was to check on Yuri.


    "Sakamoto-san!" He called out to the man who was unconscious over the wheel.


    He pried Yuri''s head back and gasped when he looked down and saw his right foot and lower leg was almost disconnected from his knee and some of his pants was pushed up to expose the wood. The fake leg area was made of bamboo that had slipped out of the leather straps that was connected to three bamboo pylons and struts cleverly designed to support the fake part of his leg.


    His heart raced at the sight of Yuri''s injury. This was the man''s consequence for fighting a war for his country? He prayed that Eiji hadn''t suffered such injuries. It pained his heart to think on it.


    Yuri stirred back to consciousness with apologises. "Sorry, I lost control of the wheel."


    "It''s okay Sakamoto-san. I''m not hurt and neither are you, although..." Hinata''s voice trailed off when he looked to Yuri''s fake foot.


    Yuri hurriedly reattached his fake leg and pulled his pants down over it . He inhaled and tested the ignition, exhaling when the truck purred to life. He carefully reversed the vehicle and resumed the drive down the dirt road.


    The way home was filled with silent tension and awkwardness. Hinata wanted to reassure Yuri that he was okay with the fake part of his body, but he didn''t want to stir up anymore trauma. So, he held his silence.


    Yuri managed to drive him to his front door without further incident. Their parting was brief with Hinata watching Yuri''s pickup truck trailing clouds of dirt down the road.


    "NYA NYA!" Tama-chan bellowed out a fierce cry as he raced for Hinata with his belly bouncing near the ground.


    "You''re late for dinner," Akira coolly stated as he came up behind the cat to stand before Hinata with arms folded over his chest. "By twelve hours."


    "Very sorry," Hinata apologised with a bow. "It was too late to drive home, so we waited for morning."


    "You spent a night with that man." Akira''s eyes narrowed.


    Hinata frowned with a thought that Akira was being too cocky for his liking.


    "He was my driver."


    Akira sighed, offering Hinata a small smile.


    "Do you have time for breakfast?" Hinata said, to offer Akira a compensation for keeping him waiting on dinner.


    Akira and Tama-chan followed Hinata inside.

 Chapter 5 Another Hinata Comes to Home

    Hinata lapsed into his usual housewife mode as soon as he entered his home. He made sure Akira was comfortable in the main room then worked the kitchen like an experienced chef. Soon the low table before Akira was laden with steaming bowls of rice, miso soup, plates of grilled fish and servings of tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and kobachi (vegetable side dish).


    "I''m always impressed on how well you know my tastes." Akira smiled as he respectfully tucked into the meal.


    Hinata provided Tama-chan his breakfast before getting into this own. They ate with comfortable conversation in between mouthfuls, and had just finished their meal when there was firm knock on the door.


    "Coming!" Hinata reassured the waiting party.


    He scrambled to his feet, quickly checked his image and opened the door. His eyes widen with surprise when he saw the town''s school teacher and mayor standing before him.


    "Watanabe-sensei, Ito-shichou-sama, good morning. To what do I own the pleasure. " Hinato formally addressed the men with a polite bow.


    "Good morning Chikafuj-san," said a distinguished man in a grey kimono, light tabi shocks and getas fit for trudging the gravel roads with ease.


    He readjusted his straw hat, so his aged eyes were visible and Hinata could see the his weathered crows feet to the corners.


    "Watanabe-sensei." Hinata acknowledge the man again.


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    "I hope we haven''t caught you at a bad time," Watanabe-sensei said with his head poking over Hinata''s shoulder to locate the source of the savoury bliss wafting under his nose.


    "Of course not. Please come in side." Hinata politely invited the men in.


    Watanabe-sensei was about to accept the offer, but was held back by a firm hand to his chest from his junior, Akihiko Ito.


    "We do not want to intrude too much on your time, but we do require your assistance." Akihiko cutted in.


    Hinata cocked his head to one side, peering at the man who was only half a decade older and already the town''s mayor.


    Akihiko Ito was indeed an impressionable man in a smart grey business suit and shoes, rivalling Akira in style with his slicked back hair, cool brown eyes behind silver framed glasses on a smooth round face with little lines to suggest he rarely cracked a smile. However, his appeal was far from striking in comparison to Eiji and Akira.


    "What sort of assistance?" Hinata innocently asked.


    The men stepped aside to reveal a woman and young girl. They looked like they had gone through a troublesome journey based on their downcast faces, grimy shirt waister and gingham dresses and worn soles on their Mary Jane''s.


    "Oh my! Please come inside." Hinata ushered the woman and child inside, oblivious to the satisfied looks the town''s mayor and school teacher gave each other.


    "Chikafuj-kun." Akira called out when he entered the hallway near the genkan.


    He frowned when he saw the strange woman and small child standing over the threshold, and Hinata reassuring them it was okay to remove their shoes and feel comfortable.


    "What is the meaning of this Ito-san?" Akira carelessly threw out to his old school rival.


    Akihiko addressed his explanation to Hinata, hiding his satisfaction at Akira''s bothered expression from being ignored.


    "This is Akiyama Hinata and her daughter Miki. They have arrived from Osaka as part of the government evacuation process. We were hoping you could take them in, temporarily of course, until permanent lodgings are sourced."


    Hinata instantly agreed, keen to help another evacuee. His agreement prompted the mayor and teacher''s cordial exit.


    "Chikafuj-kun. Are you sure this is wise idea?" Akira carefully whispered, keeping an eye on the strangers.


    "What are you saying? Of course it''s fine! As an evacuee myself, I understand what it means to loose a home." Hinata hissed in response.


    Akira dropped his arguments and assumed Hinata''s side.


    "Why don''t we become acquainted?" said Hinata, offering the mother and daughter a place to sit in the main room.


    He relieved them from their lone suitcase with a heavy sigh, pushing aside his own similar memories. He placed the suitcase in the guest room that was adjoined to the sunroom, which was still perfectly clean in readiness for Eiji''s return.


    "Eiji would have wanted others to bring joy into this room." He convinced himself with a weak smile.


    Letting the mother and daughter stay felt like the right thing to do. It was something Eiji would not have hesitated on. After all, he brought home Tama-chan and had always complained that their cottage needed more noise when it was too quiet.


    Reaffirming his convictions on the matter, he returned to his new guests who were kneeling in seiza before Aikra.


    Hinata gave Aikra a look of warning before relaxing his expression with a friendly smile towards the woman and child. He sat before them, mirroring their position.


    "I am Chikafuj Hinata." He bowed in greeting. "This serious looking man here is Honda-san."


    "Oh, forgive me to ask, but is there no woman of the house?" The woman bravely asked with a slight quiver to her voice.


    "Chikafuj-kun is the person responsible for domestic affairs of this house." Akira blatantly answered her question.


    His no nonsense response seemed to frighten the small girl, who hugged her mother''s side.


    "Honda-san, aren''t you late in opening the store?" Hinata hinted to Akira through his teeth. "We wouldn''t want to keep our patron''s waiting."


    Akira sighed, realising the cue to leave. He rose to bid his farewell, dragging Hinata to his feet. Hinata reassured them that he would return and saw Akira to the door.


    "I don''t know what that arrogant Ito-san is up to, leaving a woman and child alone with a man." Akira grumbled and was taken back by Hinata''s glare.


    "I wouldn''t dare harm them!" Hinata defended his intentions.


    "That''s not what I meant. What happens if she finds out you prefer men?" Akira argued his point.


    "You cross the line Honda-san! Ito-shichou-sama would not have left them in my care if he felt I would cause them harm! You mind your words!" Hinata scolded Akira.


    Akira abruptly donned his shoes and yanked his jacket off the rack near the door, making it wobble unsteadily. He stormed out of the house.


    Hinata heaved a weary sigh and returned to the woman and child. His tension eased at the sight of Tama-chan lapping up the generous pats the girl was giving him.


    "He''s Tama-chan." He introduced the fat cat to the girl. "Please make yourself at home. I will prepare your rooms, so you can rest. You must be tired from your journey."


    The woman''s face relaxed into a warm smile. "Thank you very much Chikafuj-san. My daughter and I are indebted to you."


    She bowed low, so her nose almost touched the floor.


    "Oh, no, please mention nothing of it! I''m very happy to have people here, but forgive me if I''m not well-prepared." Hinata reassured the woman.


    "No, no, we arrived unexpected. We are very appreciative your hospitality."


    Hinata gestured for them to follow him. He commenced with a brief tour of the cottage and surrounding lands to the meadows.

 Chapter 6 Mimaki Village Rumours

    After the brief tour of the cottage, Hinata left Aiyama-san and Miki-chan to freshen up in their room. Once he was ready for work, he left the house keys and a note on the low table in the main room. He was entrusting strangers to his home with a reaffirmation of his belief in the good nature of people.


    His thoughts ran wild as he walked the usual route to his dress shop. His mind was struggling to form a coherent logic as to why his mayor had left the woman and child in his care. He wouldn''t be honest with himself if he didn''t view their presence awkwardly.


    He realised Akira''s concerns were justifiable. It was a strange move for his mayor, knowing full well he was single-handedly running his home on his own. He frowned with a thought, hoping those men hadn''t brought her over for less honourable reasons. Of course, aside from Akira and Mei-chan, no one was aware of him and Eiji being a couple by an y?shi engumi (family adoption). Even if he did prefer women, it would be a despicable reason to offer someone''s home for the sake of comfort.


    "If Mayor''s intentions were dishonourable." He shook off the bad assumption.


    It wasn''t nice to think of others this way. Besides, he wouldn''t know how to address the question in an ethical and discreet manner. If his mayor realised that Eiji and himself were more than business partners, what would he think of them? Asking on why would likely flip open a can of worms that he didn''t have the strength to deal with.


    His hands trembled nervously at the memory of his old school life, not keen to relive another existence of beatings, being spat on, and viewed as the poisonous beauty who defiled the perfect man. Despite Eiji''s constant reassurance and defence towards his honour and face, it was never enough to stop the way other people hated him nor the paranoia of being ambushed by boys who were ready to pound him into the ground. The treatment from others had made Hinata be a loner back then. He had tried to spare Eiji that painful existence by avoidance and being cold, but it failed. Eiji keep begging him to love him, ignoring the warnings from his father who was the Governor of their former prefecture. Choosing Hinata had tied Eiji''s fate to war and his name renounced from the Takaki family register with exceptions.


    Eiji stayed by his side as much as he could, helping him to restore his faith in people and especially himself.


    _"Hinata. If I don''t return, you must keep going. You''ve come so far in rebuilding a life. Keep living it for me. Please¡ª"_ Eiji had been calm when he said those words before his departure. Hinata felt his desperation for the promise to be fulfilled.


    In truth, Hinata was barely hanging on, doing his best to keep the flow of his daily life going in honour of their promise. To go back to his old ways and isolate himself from others to deal with his grief, would be a dishonour to all the efforts they had achieved together in being able to walk amongst people as normal human beings again.


    Yet the hollow sadness within him wouldn''t go away.


    He stopped his walk as he felt his heart a heavyweight against his chest. His painful heartbeats were making it hard for him to breathe. The pain worsen as Eiji''s face surfaced vividly to his mind.


    He wandered off the main road and down a side path that lead to the back of the village''s shops and away from prying eyes.


    His aimless wander moved him through fields of meter tall autumn-spring foliage and flowers of yellow, purple and blue petals. The warmth of his body was gradually replaced with a numbing cold from the field''s heavy dew. Unable to stand and walk, he fell down and cried out his grief amongst the cover of the stern foliage and morose coloured petals.


    "I''m sorry Eiji-san. I''m sorry. I miss you so much¡ª" He continued to cry out until all his tears were emptied and his head ached with a threat of splitting open.


    Godrays of silver-white daylight broke through the overcast sky, casting gentle warmth to the top of Hinata''s bowed head. He stood and straightened himself up, glancing back towards the distant backs of his and the other shops; spying the stacks of bagged, boxed or crated goods awaiting to be revealed on shelves before the general community.


    He would stick to his decision of moving on from old fears and sadness. For the promise he made with Eiji, he would live with his current pretense.


    He trudged his way back to his shop and approached his back door.


    "Chikafuji-san?"


    Hinata cursed under his breath when heard his name being called out just as he was about to slide open the reinforced bamboo door to his shop''s store room. He quickly smoothed down his image the best he could and turned around to politely greet Mei-chan, but she had seen his teary eyes.


    She placed the box she was carrying down on another and crossed the threshold to enter his store''s area. Her conversation began on the topic of his new house guests, feeling unsure on whether to broach the subject she knew was the reason for his teary eyes.


    Hinata released a few thankful sighs.


    They sat down on a pile of boxes and watertight wooden containers next to his door and made themselves comfortable for a chat.


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    "They seem nice people. Poor things must be tired from their journey, which is why I left them the house to give them time to recollect," he answered on Mei''s questions.


    Mei frowned, not agreeing on his trusting nature. She had over heard the mayor and her father talking about entrusting the strangers to Hinata when their mayor had purchased some bread from the store in the morning. It seemed that the woman and child had arrived with a classroom full of children who became orphaned in a recent air raid attack. She felt sure their mayor was taking an advantage.


    "Are you sure you''re trusting them too much too soon?" She blurted and apologised for speaking her mind.


    Hinata smiled. "If we stop trusting in people, we can never achieve a world without war."


    "Forgive me." Mei deeply apologised again with a bow.


    "It''s okay Mei-chan, I appreciate your concern. I think we need to give others a chance before we decide they aren''t worthy for trust, don''t you think?" He gently pushed his opinion with hope that all the other people of Mimaki Village would be as open to seeing people for who they were before casting stones.


    Mei beamed a friendly and supportive smile towards him. "Hai!"


    An abrupt bang and smash noise drew their attention towards the top floor of Ishikawa-san''s sweet shop. Mei frowned, her left knee nervously moved up and down.


    "I haven''t been able to see Kou-chan since he returned from war." Her voice became small. "It''s been almost two months, and winter is nearly here. I still haven''t seen him."


    Hinata felt for Mei, and decided to do something for her. His instincts were telling him that Mei wouldn''t able to see Kou unless the matter keeping him confined to the top floor of the sweet shop was addressed. It wasn''t the only reason he felt an urge to help the with couple''s union.


    Kou''s hidden presence had caused a lot of the bored locals to share false rumours about him. In one rumour, Kou returned as a madman due to some side effect from a Unit 731 drink secretly given to soldiers to keep them fighting. Other rumours painted him as having undergone a "comfort" existence for his seniors that won him favours for a return and now he was too ashamed to show his face. It seems the locals remembered him as being as beautiful as Hinata.


    The times Hinata had heard the later rumour from local buyers in his shop had made him nervous and uncomfortable. Especially when the buyers made a crude banter about men loving men as unthinkable and not normal. He wasn''t able to say anything on it. Akira had told him to ignore the talk. It made him wonder how Honda-obasan would take the knowledge of her son''s romantic preference towards men.


    Of course, people of the village made sure to only speak the rumours behind each other''s backs. If it wasn''t for Mei taking her regular walk across the family farm to the store, both families would have continued to be oblivious.


    She had passed her neighbour''s cowshed near the border path of her family property and overheard her neighbour''s wife and husband banter over the rumours targeted at Kou and her brother. She scolded the old people for talking badly about others. The neighbours told her parents about her childish rant to ensure her scolding was returned by her father with a slap to her face as interest. Her father warned her against showing a disagreeable form in front of other people in the village. If he ever heard her speak out again to others, he would ship her off to family in Hiroshima who laboured in a factory for a German engineering company. As a good will compensation, Mei was forced to work labour on her neighbour''s land. The wife''s attitude was harsh and unforgiving to her the entire time she had cleaned their shed to satisfy the punishment.


    "Have you talked to his mother recently?" Hinata''s question broke through Mei''s train of thought.


    "She keeps telling me ''not today'' with her usual singsong voice and polite smile. All I can do is wait with hope he would want to see me. He wasn''t in love with me before he left for war. So, what right do I have to barge into his life now?" Mei sighed and shuffled off the box she had been warming. "I must return. I''m hoping your feeling better."


    Hinata returned her farewell and stepped inside his shop.

 Chapter 7 As the Sakura Bloomed

    The remainder of Hinata''s day, following his conversation with Mei-chan, was fortunately uneventful. Although, Akira kept his distance as they worked their businesses. It was just as well there weren''t many customers to walk in on their silent stand-off.


    Hinata closed up the shop and parted ways with the man without saying goodbye. As much as he wanted to apologise for their morning spat, his experience of Akira''s stubborn silence meant his apology wouldn''t be accepted yet.


    The setting sun brushed the evening sky with fierce red, orange and blue streaks over the familiar path and green countryside back to his home. Squawking from a playful school of thrush birds flying along the warm autumn winds caught his attention. He paused his walk and closed his eyes to breathe in the cosy scent of sweet flowers.


    His mind wandered to a day when he saw similar birds fly about falling pure and white cherry blossom flowers on his first day at his middle school in Tokyo.


    He had been running late due to his morning duties at his parent''s shop and found himself dressing on the run with a slice of bread in his mouth for his breakfast. It would''ve been just his luck to find himself locked out of the school''s gates and miss his Entrance Ceremony, thus scoring a black mark on his school record before he had even stepped foot in a classroom. His heart had thumped painfully against his heaving chest when he slid through the closing gates, making school in the nick of time.


    "You almost scored a warning mark on your attendance record." Chuckled a young teacher who was a pristine image in his fresh dark brown suit, spiff trimmed short hair and neat tie that was positioned precisely at the center of his shirt''s spread area.


    Hinata figured the teacher was a newlywed. He had certainly that soothing and happy-go-lucky vibe going on.


    "Well thank you for slowly closing the gate, so I didn''t." Hinata had wryly thanked the teacher.


    "Ohno-sensei, can you lead this almost late comer to where the others are?" said an older teacher with moulted leather patches to the elbow areas of his grey-tweed jacket opened to reveal his slightly crumpled grey shirt.


    The young teacher politely accepted the order with a nod.


    "Come on. Like, ''the butterfly is perfuming,'' let''s get you to your ceremony," Ohno-sensei said with a welcoming smile.


    Hinata followed Ohno-sensei across the unfamiliar classroom blocks and main courtyard to where all new students were lined up out front of the school hall.


    It was a congregation of boys in the standard black no collar jackets and pants; girls in black and white sailor type shirts and A-line pleated skirts. He entered the waiting crowd and mingled with a couple of boys he knew at the back of the line, which slowly inched forward into the hall. The line moved past a row of benches where seniors were pinning ribbons to jackets or shirts.


    His eyes had been transfixed on a graceful dance of rich pink sakura petals moving delicately about the air to fall around Eiji, who had been monotonously pinning ribbons with little enthusiasm and care. His huffing and groans between pinning had made Hinata chuckle with a thought that his senior was cute.


    So when his turn for a ribbon found himself before Eiji who had accidentally pushed the ribbon''s pin too hard near his heart and pricked him, he felt destiny had dealt him a hand. Especially when both their eyes lingered on each as he massaged blood flow back into Eiji''s hands. His heart had been stolen by his senior at that moment, but he realised he was a guy so was intent to do nothing about it.


    Destiny had made sure they were in the same club. Hinata had tried to be just a junior interested in archery, especially when Eiji was treating him like everyone else.


    He was boy. It wasn''t possible for boys to fall in love with each other, right? Over and over his mind had questioned the impossibility of being in love with his senior. When one of his childhood friends had told him that it was wrong for men to love other men in _that_ way, he had convinced himself he was going through a troublesome phase.


    He didn''t want to cause Eiji any trouble, so he relied more on others for archery practice and advice. He would bury his crush and be content to love him from a distance. Especially when it seemed his senior was going through some troubles that was affecting his performance. He wasn''t keen to add more on top.


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    During a training camp they had found themselves sharing an awkward moment of stillness and shortness of breath as they stared into each other''s eyes with longing. His conceit made him think that perchance he could be part of Eiji''s problems.


    Casting aside rights and wrongs and going with his aching heart, he faced Eiji straight after his national win. He had prepared his face for a punch and his heart for a break, but he should have prepared his lips instead.


    "Destiny." Hinata sighed. "You''re too cruel."


    He opened his eyes and continued his way home alone.

 Chapter 8 Aiyama-san

    Hinata woke the melodic chirping of small birds rustling the trees outside. Her eyes gently opened to a simplistic six-tatami mat room. It took her a moment to realise she was sleeping on a futon in a stranger''s home.


    She rolled over onto her back, so she was facing the thatched roof.


    Her thoughts slowly moved into a logical order as she recapped over her journey with Miki. It had been a while since both of them had slept in a room on their own.


    It made her heart race with concern as to why the village''s mayor had left them to the care of a young man. Especially when there was no woman of the house. Her mind had thought on it constantly before she had eventually given up the fight to sleep. She came to the conclusion it was a decision based on space.


    She felt somewhat relieved that the young man seemed a polite and well bred person. At least he was a far better host than most of the women she had come across in their journey around the main land. His intentions appeared to be honourable. Still, he was a man and with no woman in the house that would lead to all sorts of unnecessary attention for both of them. Attention wasn''t something she wanted right now for Miki''s sake.


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    "Mama," Miki groaned as she snuggled further under the blankets.


    Hinata turned her head to greet her daughter lying on the futon next to her.


    "Sleep well my little Sandpiper?" She planted a motherly kiss to her daughter''s small forehead, brushing aside the girl''s fine sandy-brown fringe.


    The girl''s round green-brown eyes squinted open as they readjusted to the bright daylight streaming into the room from the wooden ranma above the doors.


    They had been sleeping since the young man had shown them around his house and prepared the room for them. It was a blessed and welcome relief, since both of them had been travelling in a truck with a classroom full of kids and two of their teachers from Osaka for days.


    Half of the kids were taken into homes in a town called Koumi. Wanting to go as far away from city life as possible, she had chosen to take the journey further into the country with five other kids and their male teacher. Those kids were surrendered to a farm home in the area.


    "I wonder if that kind man is still around," she whispered to her daughter, who responded with a hearty yawn.


    Hinata shuffled out of the futon and began packing away their bedding in the room''s oshiire.


    She padded gingerly down the short narrow passageway and slid open a pair of white-plain shoji doors to the main room. A solemn quiet hung about the space.


    "Mama." Miki entered the room with her small hands still wiping slept from her eyes. "I''m hungry."


    Hinata frowned, wondering if it was okay for her to rummage around the kitchen of someone else''s home. She was answered by the sight of a key and note on the low table. It was from the young man who had granted her permission of making herself at home whilst he wasn''t around. The note made her smile with a hope that there were still good people left in the world.


    She glanced in a better view of the main room, her eyes widened at the aesthetic display of an ikebana perched on the room''s Tokonoma. The local green foliage was a delicate and minimalist arrangement in a white vase. It gave her a feeling of calm and balance.


    "He did this?" she whispered.


    It made her take note of the rest of her surroundings, realising the pristine and precise condition of the table, zabutons cushions, and clutter-free space. She sighed at the peaceful and sober sight of the Kamidana holding two images.


    "Must light some incenses later on." She made a mental note on paying her respects.


    She slid aside the shoji doors that opened into the sunroom. Most of the room was made up of shoji doors that opened out to the engawa verandah. Daylight beaming through the rice paper panels brought to life a perfect sight of comfort and cosiness with its clean tatami mats. Modest coloured zabuton cushions were stacked neatly to one corner, next to a pair of white and blue floral designed square pillows bearing the design of hibiscus flowers.


    Tears welled in her eyes. Cushions like these were the last thing she was prepared to see. She turned her head and noticed the small two-tier bookshelf near the room''s oshiire.


    Her heart thumped nervously at the sight of the foreign text books and literature that was neatly shelved. There was a handful of English titles she recognised as well as some other language books that she fathomed were German. What were these doing here in the countryside?


    "Mama." Miki whined as she tugged at her mother''s sleeve.


    "Sure." Hinata refocused her attention on her daughter.


    She stepped out of the room and closed the doors. They entered the kitchen area to see what they could find to eat.

 Chapter 9 Tadaima

    Hinata expelled a thankful sigh when he entered his home and meticulously paired his getas at the genken, so he was ready to jump into them the next day. His eyes caught the edge of a smaller set of shoes nearby. Of course, Aiyama-san and Miki-chan would still be around.


    "Okaerinasai, Chikafuji-san." Aiyama-san greeted Hinata.


    It took a while for him to register that someone else was welcoming him home.


    "Tadaima." He awkwardly replied and gingerly stepped into the hallway to met her.


    They stood staring at each other. Hinata took note of her soft dimple cheeks, pleasant thin smile, the warmth from her dark round eyes and the gentleness of her face made pretty by her simplistic bob with her fringe trimmed short on her forehead.


    She had changed into a linen-green kormon kimono that made him frown with a though if she was married. Of course, she would have to be travelling with a child. It wasn''t strange for women to be raising their children single-handedly whilst their men fought the war.


    His frown deepened, resurfacing the fact that he wasn''t considered man enough to go to war. One that lead to a lot of the old timers in the village crudely labelling him the okama when they thought he wasn''t in ear-shot. It made him curious to know if this woman thought of him this way as well.


    "Are you hungry? I made dinner with what I could find in the kitchen." Aiyama-san''s was overly courteous.


    Hinata relaxed his frown and faced her with a cordial smile. Now wasn''t the time for testing societal impressions.


    "That would be nice." He followed her into the main room and was about to fuss about the table, but she insisted he take a seat and wait.


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    "Please don''t be polite. Sit how you like, I''ll bring everything to you." She reassured him and hurried off into the kitchen.


    Hinata sat in seiza on a zabuton, feeling strange about the one being served. His heart skipped a beat when he heard a loud bang and thud from the kitchen; he instinctively rose to see what he needed to fix. She re-entered the room, with Miki-chan trailing behind her, carrying a tray of steaming bowls of vegetables and one small bowl of rice garnished with seasoning. It was a simple meal. Considering the strict 1793 calories per day government rationing, it was also one fit for a king.


    He sat back down in crossed leg position, appreciating Aiyama-san''s hard work. His mind fell into an awkward disarray when she began serving him the choice pieces like he usually did for Akira or Eiji. He was being treated as a man of the house. It was a first.


    "Let''s eat." He politely declared that stirred all of them into eating.


    He noticed that Miki-chan''s bowl wasn''t as high as his.


    "You need to eat your vegetables to grow health and strong." He said to the girl as he added to her shortfall. "Then you can be a big girl to help your mother."


    The girl shyly nodded her thanks and tucked into her food with greedy mouthfuls. It was a pleasant sight in Hinata''s eyes and made him sigh with longing, knowing that a child was something he could never have given Eiji.


    "You''re very lucky to have a precious daughter." He said wistfully.


    "Oh, so you''re not married." Aiyama-san carefully prodded.


    Hinata ate a few mouthfuls of his dinner before he solemnly answered with a no. He was grateful when she changed the topic of their conversation to general affairs and questions about the area. He had decided to properly introduce her to Akira and his business the next day, hoping she would be a reliable resource for the store. She seemed happy with this idea.


    The three of them cleaned up and spent a few more hours becoming more familiar with each other before they all turned in for the night.


    Hinata spent some time thinking on what life would''ve been like if he wasn''t in a relationship with Eiji, and was normal like all the other guys. Would he have found himself a nice wife like Aiyama-san and had a child or two? Would he be the Hinata he was today?


    He probably would''ve been seen as a man fit for war despite his heart disorder. How much of a man would he end up being on the battle field?


    Eiji never said about what he faced or did during battle, but he could tell that it had troubled his mind a lot. Sometimes Eiji had woken up shouting madly with fear before eventually realising where he was and returning to sleep. It was those times he was grateful for being a man with the strength to restrain Eiji from harming himself and being able to soothe him back to sleep.


    "War is a troublesome thing." He exhaled into the night before closing his eyes and mind to his reality.

 Chapter 10 Ishikawas Rationing

    Akihiko had toured around the village in the morning, informing the village folk on his tin megaphone about the stricter food rationing the Imperial Government recently mandated to all citizens. This tighter government portion control had one of the elderly village folk grumbling his woes before Rei Ishikawa at his shop.


    "Bah! We eat to 1793 calories a day already! Now we''re told to eat less!" Grumbled an elderly man. "It''s our children who suffer the most!"


    He stood before Rei who was a tall and slightly muscly presence behind his sweet display counter, which creatively displayed a sparse variety of colourful dango, daifuku and wagashi.


    A lot of people came to know Rei as the friendly giant with a sweet tooth, since he was 6-foot-2 and broad in his chest and shoulders. His squarish face, rugged stubble and thick brows completed his manliness.


    "Suzuki-san. This is a time of war and Japan has more people that it can carry. Food needs to be rationed. Think of all our good soldiers fighting the enemy for us. We must face these times with honour and a strong community." Rei gave a manly reminder to the wiry old man whilst handing him an extra piece of dango on-the-house.


    "Aye, that is true." Suzuki-san changed his tune when his stomach was sated with sweet dango. "I''ll be going now."


    Rei politely waved off his elderly customer who hobbled out blissfully through the blue linen noren that was his shop door. He heaved a sigh when he was sure the old man was gone.


    "Rei-san! You shouldn''t spoil people with freebies! They become expectant and take advantage of your good nature!"


    Rei groaned at the heavy scolding he received from his wife at his back. It''s not like he didn''t have an ulterior motive for his generosity. The people were his business, so he had to treat them well. The old man Suzuki had brought a number of sweets from them the day before, so he was providing a bonus to a loyal customer.


    "Asako-chan. It''s customer service. We need to maintain a business." His deep voice answered with a conviction that didn''t sway his wife.


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    Asako was a complete physical contrast to Rei in her modest, stylish, blue kimono. She was petite in build (almost as slender as a teenage girl), modest in her mannerisms and dainty in her looks with smooth pale skin for a woman her age. Her hair was always done up in a traditional bun. Her modesty stopped with her looks. The village people viewed Asako as the Sweet Man''s Sharp Tooth Wife for her occasional cutting words and bluntness.


    "You need to ask for payment next time! We''re not a charity business!" She further scolded with a haughty scoff, firm on her stance that maintaining business didn''t mean giving away precious freebies.


    She dropped her scolding with a weary sigh, feeling exhausted by their repeated arguments and joined him at their shop-display counter. Her eyes wandered over the little amounts of sweets they had to offer.


    Because of the Imperial government''s food rationing mandate, they had to recalculate the lack of ingredients in their recipes. Fortunately, they were able to self-sustain most of their shortfall from their own farm produce. Rice was a major player with their sweets. The government''s strict rationing had made it difficult for them to fulfil on large orders. All their high paying contracts from Nagano towns and villages ended without renewal, so they were forced to rely on the piddly local patronage. They had converted the small store to a tea shop/night bar with a handful of cafe tables and chairs to make up for shortfalls. Half the time the people used their shop as a meeting point for gossip, and rarely bought sweets. It was bleak outlook for their business.


    Shuffling noises of the noren being pushed aside snapped Asako out of her depressive thoughts. She lit up at the sight of her two childhood friends stepping inside.


    "Asako-chan!" Honda-obasan coyly greeted her friend.


    Asako warmly greeted the two woman who sat at the cafe table where most of the daylight shone through the shoji panels. She instantly prepared tea and wagashi on-the-house for them, oblivious of Rei''s groaning about her ''hypocritical reset button'' being pressed.


    "So, what''s on your mind?" Asako''s voice drifted across to the two women seated at the table.


    She sat in one of the seats to join them, leaving any incoming business to Rei.


    "Well..." Honda-obasan started.


    Asako listened animatedly as the woman gossiped feverishly about the young mother and her child living with Hinata between mouthfuls of sweets and tea.


    "I saw her when she was walking with our Mayor. Such a pretty young thing." Honda-obasan said. " I wonder why our Mayor left her in that boy''s care?"


    The talk made Asako ponder the fact with a frown. Why did their mayor leave them to that boys'' care? Surely, he was aware of Daichi Chikafuji''s nephew being of that type. She wasn''t the sort of person to superficially pass judgement on a man, and Hinata was a polite and well bred boy. Yet to leave a family to that boy''s care was poor form. It was just as well the child was a girl.


    "It would be like having two women run the house." Honda-obasan chuckled. "I''m honestly surprised Ito-shichou-sama didn''t invite the woman to his own home. She''s very much his type."


    Asako frowned, not liking the direction this gossip was headed. Despite being young, Ito-shichou-sama was managing the village efficiently.


    "What does Akira-chan think about this? He frequents that boy''s place a lot." Asako tested for her friend''s reaction and smirked at the woman''s sudden silence.


    Their conversation was fortunately disrupted by Watanabe-sensei and five children entering the shop. She was glad that someone had at least given them a decent bath, recognising the displaced kids who had travelled for days in a truck from Osaka. The muddled expression behind their eyes were worrisome, especially the harshness she saw in the two preteen boys standing protectively close to the little ones. She hoped they weren''t going to be a troublesome influence to the local kids.


    "Good morning ladies, Ishikawa-san." Watanabe-sensei''s mouth was stretched with a generous smile.


    He began to introduce the five kids who hovered closely to his side. Asako turned her nose up at the two scrawny preteen boys who had light brown eyes and reddish-brown hair. She had heard of mix-race (nisei) children being sent to Japan from other countries. It made her mad that her government were letting in these ill bred brats whilst good families were barely able to eat a decent meal. These children were the not the type of people her son fought the war for.


    She huffed at the boys and cast her eyes over of the three littler one''s hanging onto the boys'' shirts. They looked normal and probably around the ages of three to five years.


    "Here you go." Rei-san said to the children as he gently handed each child a piece of dango with a friendly smile and gentle pat to each head.


    "D¨­mo arigat¨­gozaimashita." One of the preteen boy''s bowed respectfully to Rei with modest thanks.


    Watanabe-sensei thanked them for their time and ushered the children out of the shop to visit another area on their tour.


    "What is this world coming to that we allow foreign children into our homes?" Honda-obasan voiced Asako''s thought.


    "Hmph. We already have a food shortage as it is, now there''s going to be more people starving." Asako said bitterly as she watched the noren''s swaying slow to a rest.


    The three woman let the experience go with a sigh and turned they conversation to lighter topics. Rei continued to work the shop on his own in the background.

 Chapter 11 Minority

    Kei and his twin brother Rei used their bodies to protect the little ones from old farmer Sat¨­''s belt whippings.


    "Yah ungrateful brats! Yah steal food from meh when I graciously let yah stay in meh home!" The livid old man before them angrily spat out as he lashed at Rei and Kei''s backs with vehemence.


    The twin brothers bit their lips as their backs stung from whipping after whipping until they bled.


    "I''m sorry! It''s not Rei-tan or Kei-tan''s fault." The tiny voice of the little girl pleaded before the angry adult with distraught tears streaking her face. "I was hungry."


    "Nisei brats! Yah make meh sick." Old Man Sat¨­ spat on them and to the floor.


    He stopped his belting with a weary sigh and told the kids to get lost and don''t come back until night fall. If they failed to come back, he''ll sic some dogs on them to track them down; thinking on the extra rations of food he''d lose out on without having the kids around his place. He was able to eat like a king because of them, but they were proving to be a nuisance.


    The little ones helped the twin preteen boys hobble out of the minka farmer house and down the gravel road to a part of the village they had yet to explore.


    They wandered off track and into a field of sunflowers when Rei was showing signs of collapsing. The skin on both the twins was clammy with a cold sweat and festering with pus and blood around the open wounds. Kei''s eyes was glossing over with delirium as infection seeped in.


    "Rei-tan! Kei-tan!" The girl and two young boys cried out as their older twins collapsed to the dirty ground, unconscious.


    The disturbing cries had reached Hinata''s ears when he was tending to the vegetable garden on the other side of the field. Instinctively, he raced for the sound of the children''s sobbing and panicked at the sight of the two young boys bleeding unconsciously to the ground.


    "Little Miss! Can you be brave and go to that house over there to bring back my water can," he gently said to the sobbing girl. "You brave boys, can you go with our princess to protect her? At the house call for a woman there to come."


    The girl and two boys nodded, taking note of the cottage on the other side of the meadows.


    The sight of the backs of the boys'' before him broke Hinata''s heart. It crudely reminded him of the similar scars he carried on his own back from the hateful beatings other boys had given him in his school-days. He checked the boys'' pulses and was relieved to feel regular beats from them. The sight of the infected wounds on their backs concerned him.


    The girl soon returned with Aiyama-san carrying the water can.


    "I saw Mei-chan. She said that you asked her to bring you this." Aiyama-san said, not hiding her shock and worry about the boys'' conditions. "I told the boys to stay with Miki-chan."


    "Can you help me carry them back to the house?" Hinata asked, as he carefully washed the wounds the best he could with the can.


    He gave the little girl a warm smile. "Thank you for being brave and helpful to your brothers. Come."


    Hinata and Aiyama-san carried the boys back to their house, with the girl hurrying after them.


    "Miwa-tan, Shouta-tan!'' Miki-chan excitedly greeted the two young boys she saw hovering around the cottage''s engawa porch.


    "You''re here Miki-chan?!" One of the boys said with sigh of relief.


    "I see you know our guests Miki-chan." Hinata said when he stepped into view with an older boy in his arms.


    He and Aiyama-san laid the boys on the tatami in his room. Hinata spent some time tending to their wounds and wrapping them in a clean bandage.


    Aiyama-san groaned when she realised that the girl''s short hair was full of lice. Luckily the boys'' heads were shaved low, so nits couldn''t stick to them. She made sure everyone had hot baths. When they were cleaned and fed, she had them sit in the main room to undergo an intensive combing and nit-picking session. It made her sigh with a gentle smile, enjoying the bonding session.


    "Mei-chan. We''ll need to cut your hair shorter because of the nits, sorry." She politely said to the young girl, whose dark eyes looked forward with a lost expression.


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    The young girl acknowledged her words with a nod. The young boys stared at Aiyama-san''s motherly face wistfully, praying they could stay with her. She had been very kind and caring towards them during their trip from Osaka, making sure their sickness was gone with her healing skills. So, when they were forced to separate from the truck at their final destination, this had made them distraught. They were relieved to be reunited with her.


    "I wonder if Chikafuji-san''s store has clothes for kids." Aiyama-san mused a loud and greeted Hinata when he entered the room.


    "I''ve made the boys as comfortable as possible. They continue to sleep. I''ll check on them in an hour." He carefully said to Aiyama-san.


    He smiled at the sight of her grooming on the little girl''s hair. His smile dropped with a groan when he realised she was carrying lice.


    "Do you need more hot water?" He asked, but was already toward the kitchen to heat up the kettle over the small square Irori pit that kept the cottage warm as well as acted as the oven to cook the food.


    He made a mental note to wash all their sheets in hot water the next day.


    Hinata and Aiyama-san spent a lot of time making sure the children were comfortable as can be. Night was well and truly in place when a curt banging could be heard from the front entrance way. Hinata had just finished securing the amado around the cottage.


    He opened the door to find the village''s young law enforcer looking pristine in his all black uniform, french style stiff peak cap and white gloved hands. Tanaka-san was fresh out of college and a couple of years younger. Hinata found it strange for a mild-mannered man with a wiry body and mousy features to be stern enough as a law enforcer.


    Tanaka-san was accompanied by a pot-belly middle-aged man with the crankiest and scruffiest face he had every seen. This man was his neighbour Sat¨­-san from the farm on the other side of the sunflower meadows. He was vehemently pointing accusations at Hinata for kidnapping.


    "You''re the one who''s stolen dem kids!" Sat¨­-san accused Hinata.


    "I beg your pardon?!" Hinata spat back to the man with shock.


    "Sat¨­-san, accusing your neighbour for kidnapping is a serious offence. Unless you have some evidence, I will need you to zip your lips." Tanaka-san firmly reprimanded the senior man with a polite voice and smile.


    Hinata was made aware of the man''s looks being misleading.


    "To what do I owe the pleasure for this visit?" He politely asked.


    "I''ve been called to resolve a domestic disturbance between yourself and good neighbour here." Tanaka-san respectfully and blatantly gestured to the grumbling old man.


    "What kind of disturbance? I haven''t seen head or tail of him all day." Hinata glared at his neighbour.


    "Do you have a bunch of extra kids in your house?" Tanaka-san soberly asked.


    Hinata nodded. "Yes, they entered my property distressed and hurt, so I''ve been helping them."


    Tanaka-san''s face was expressionless when he entered the cottage upon Hinata''s invitation.


    "You stay here," he said to Sat¨­-san at the entrance and added a warning of pressing charges with disorderly conduct should he disobey.


    The old man grumbled, but stayed put with smugness when he felt he wasn''t going to be in the wrong.


    Tanaka-san politely asked for Hinata''s story as they entered the main room, taking note of the conversation in his flip-notebook. He there took note of the children''s conditions, Aiyama-san''s statement and then entered Hinata''s room to check the condition of the unconscious boys.


    "What did you do to them?" He asked Hinata with a frown.


    "If you''re implying I hurt these boys, I did not!" Hinata defended himself. "They collapsed to the ground from the wounds on their backs. I cleaned them up and dressed them."


    Tanaka-san carefully expected the skilful bandaging that was keeping the wounds from infection, taking notes as he went. The material showed tell-tale splotches of blood, which he suspected had oozed out of lash wounds. He also noticed that the boys'' faces and limbs were wiped clean with care. They were resting with the aim of recovery. His eyes glanced over Hinata''s clean kimono and obi.


    "I see." He stood to leave, having reached a conclusion of the truth.


    "I''m sorry Tanaka-san, I haven''t offered you tea." Hinata apologised for his lack of manners.


    Tanaka-san gave Hinata a curt smile. "I''m on duty, so I won''t need the tea. Please escort me to the entrance."


    Hinata followed the law enforcer to the entrance where Sat¨­-san was still hovering around.


    "The children are to remain in Chikafuji-san''s care indefinitely, with paperwork transferred over to him." Tanaka-san ordered as he took note of his words in his notebook. "Do you acknowledge these terms Sat¨­-san?"


    "What?! But dem kids be given to me to care for. I get the rations to look after dem!" Sat¨­-san spat out angrily at the young haughty men before him.


    "Are you defying my resolution?" Tanaka-san coolly said that made Sat¨­-san gulp down the rest of his words. "Would you like me to perform a fitness reassessment of your farm''s conditions towards these children''s care?"


    "The boys are in no conditioned to be moved. Chikafuji-san''s home is cleaner and having a woman around the house will speed their recovery."


    "But..." Sat¨­-san began his further protest, but stopped when he copped the authoritative glare from Tanaka-san. "Fine."


    He turned and stomped away from Hinata and the law enforcer.


    "Thank you Tanaka-san." Hinata bowed gratefully to the young man.


    "I don''t like the idea of leaving boys in your care. Given the options, your place is a better fit for their recovery." Tanaka-san''s next words carried a serious undertone. "It would not hurt my conscience to place charges on you for any moral harm done to these boys."


    Hinata frowned at the man''s accusation because of his preferences, but he decided his words towards his honour would be a wasted effort. "Understood."


    He sighed with bitter relief when the village''s law enforcer disappeared into the night.

 Chapter 12 Little Anvil

    Hinata''s life took a busy turn with the makeshift family that came into his management. As busy as it made him running around the house on a lice eradication challenge, it brought a smile to his face. He hoped the fullness of his home wouldn''t leave him as suddenly.


    Kei and Rei recovered consciousness the next day. Their injuries had led them into a fever, so Aiyama-san tended to their health around the clock, leaving Hinata free to manage the business.


    Today, being a Wednesday, was the first alone time Hinata had received in a while. It left him sighing with disinterest at the hems he was sewing on his Singer sewing machine. His sigh deepened when he recalled Eiji''s nickname for the black machine as the Little Anvil with the hammering needle churning out killer outfits rather than killer swords.


    Certainly there was nothing glamorous about material off-cuts littering the compact storeroom floor nor sitting in a tight space before a machine fixed to an ingenious specially made burnished wood table, which released bits of fluff every time he pumped the wrought iron pedal to make the arm of the needle (loaded with thread) move up and down.


    It was another expensive purchase by his late uncle that saw to the family fortune go down the chute. If it wasn''t for his father''s successful tailor business in Tokyo and customer referrals, Hinata felt his late uncle''s business wouldn''t have been around for him to inherit. Both men were keen to ensure the long time family business in the country stayed in the family. It was the reason his father had worked in a famous atelier house before starting his own shop.


    A memory of many handsome men visiting his house when his father was around, and mother wasn''t, made him frown with wonder. Certainly his parents were on good terms with each other. In fact, they were best friends, yet he always felt there was a distance between them. It made him wonder if they were truly in love when they were married or if it was a mutual arrangement, so they could live the life they wanted without the scrutiny of nosy people. His mother was no stranger to men either. When she gave birth to his younger twin brother and sister, his father welcomed them into the family like they were his own. Hinata had suspected otherwise for various reasons.


    He cursed his awful thoughts and flicked over to happier, innocent memories with his parents as his foot moved rhythmically in time with his hands that skilfully pushed material under the needle.


    A lazy smile graced his face when he thought about the time he was six, dressed in summery yukata''s and watching the dazzling colours of fireworks as he held their hands. Innocent times.


    "So, you''ve inherited more children I''ve heard from Tanaka." Akira''s deep voice, coolly broke through Hinata''s memory trip and momentum of his sewing.


    "I like it. It''s nice having the noise around the house." Hinata replied coyly.


    He yelped when Akira yanked him from off the sewing stool, so he was in the man''s arms.


    "I had you all to myself and now these strangers come along and live in your house. I hate it!" Akira complained and pressed his lips to Hinata''s.


    "Honda-san!" Hinata opened his mouth to complain and received a passionate kiss from Akira instead.


    Hinata''s body relaxed as he welcomed the man''s passion for him. It had been a long time since he kissed, he couldn''t resist Akira''s advances. Deep down, he felt his devotion for Eiji''s memory was being overridden with the reality of being alone. Akira was right in front of him, kissing him, and he didn''t mind it at all.


    Their kisses became necking and passionate undressing.


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    "I love you Hinata," Akira whispered in his ear over and over as he nibbled Hinata''s lobes and sucked at his neck.


    Hinata felt compelled to say the same thing, but he didn''t. Instead, he allowed Akira to have more of him, relishing the loving and passionate touches from another man.


    Memories of the first time making love with Eiji surfaced to Hinata''s mind in the thralls of his lovemaking with Akira. The memory made him cry when climaxing and his head a confused mess. His heart pounded rapidly, but with guilt and a feeling he had just dirtied his memories with his late lover. He wanted to believe that Eiji was alive, but a lot of time had passed. Those adamant feelings of his return had faded.


    "Don''t think of him when you''re with me." Akira warned Hinata out of the blue when they were redressing.


    It made Hinata pause from re-wrapping his obi. He closed his eyes and cursed that Akira had seen right through him.


    Tears slipped down his cheeks when he felt Akira''s arms around his waist, pulling him into a tender, loving hug.


    "I understand that your heart will always hold a place for Takaki-san. Can you also hold a place in there for me just as much?" Akira whispered. Desperate words again.


    "What are you saying Honda-san?! Did you think I slept with you because I was lonely?!" Hinata blurted and bit back his words.


    The truth hurt. Hinata hated himself, realising the injustice he had caused to Akira. There was no going back now.


    "Honestly, I''m confused. I will never stop loving Eiji-san." He turned around to face Akira, whose usual cool composure was replaced with a rare sight of tears and eyes filled with desperation. "I love you too. I always did. It''s just that..."


    Akira sighed. "I know. Your devotion to Takaki-san is admirable, but it''s not good to remain in the past. I''ve told you before and I''ll tell you again, I''m here for you now."


    Hinata responded with a weak smile. He carefully removed Akira''s glasses and moved in closer to kiss him.


    A short while later they resumed their respectable images as bookshop owner and clothing shop clerk, just in time to attend to the visitors who entered their shop.

 Chapter 13 Attachmen

    Hinata wasn''t dressed well enough to greet customers, so Akira attended to them on his behalf. When he checked himself in the small wall mirror above the Little Devil sewing machine, resetting his bun and yellow ribbon, and felt he was respectable, he joined Akira.


    Mei and Yuri Sakamoto greeted him with a polite bow. Hinata felt awkward by Yuri''s jerky movements and offered him a seat. Yuri abruptly declined with a scowl.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to offend." Hinata instantly apologised to the grumbling man who copped a whack to the back of his head from Mei.


    "Onii-san! Dont be rude!" She scolded her brother and forced his head in an apologetic bow with her own. "Sorry Chikafuji-san. He didn''t mean to be rude."


    "No, no, please get up. It''s okay. It''s my fault for not being mindful." Hinata politely countered their apologise with his own.


    "So, what do you need?" Akira coolly got down to business.


    Akira and Hinata held in their gasps when Yuri sat in the chair that was earlier offered to him and rolled up his pants that covered his fake foot, so they could see the clear damage that was done to it.


    The supporting leather braces, holding the fake bottom part of his leg, was torn out of the pylons that represented Yuri''s calf. The pylons were bent out of shape and the small strut block that acted as the ankle was absent, leaving the wooden block-foot dangling unsupported by a strip of leather. The attachment was virtually a write-off.


    It looked like he had an accident that made him fall on his leg or use it to stop further damage to the rest of his body.


    "Ot¨­san isn''t good with these sort of fixes. So, I thought maybe you could fix up at least the leather braces," Mei softly said with hope that Hinata would be able to do something.


    Hinata knelt down to take a further look at the leg, which made Yuri flinch uncomfortably.


    "You don''t need to worry Sakamoto-san. I won''t be bothered by this nor will I ever judge you." Hinata looked up to firmly meet the man''s sober brown eyes.


    Yuri acknowledged Hinata''s words with a nod.


    "Can I remove it?" Hinata politely asked and received another nod from the man.


    Yuri gulped awkwardly as he felt Hinata''s gentle fingers remove the prosthetic, taking note of the man''s harden expression and frown as he turned the fake limb over in his hands.


    "Takaki''s wife." He thought as Hinata turned the broken attachment over in front of him.


    Yuri''s mind went back to the memory of when he found out Eiji''s secret by accident. Their squad had been granted some R&R, having arrived to Pearl Harbor earlier than anticipated. There was a lot of partying and letting loose with soldiers from other countries, most who were American. Japan wasn''t at war with them back then. Eiji had been having a pleasant English chat with an American man at a bar upon their arrival. Yuri went his own way.


    He had made the most of the time by having a pretty woman to warm his bed and let him release his stresses from war with merry love making.


    Eiji never took part of any of that sort of activity. Instead he had his drink and chats, shopped for a souvenir to bring home (he was always adamant he was returning home) and spent the remainder of the R&R night back at their bunk at the warship.


    Yuri had returned early and stumbled upon Eiji in a moment of arousal and calling out a name he presumed was his lover''s. He had waited awkwardly outside the sleeping cell for Eiji to finish. When he did, he was shocked to hear the bravest and stoic man he had ever known, crying and telling himself how much he missed his Hinata whom he had vowed to protect from other peoples'' ill intentions.


    Yuri was moved by Eiji''s undying love for his partner that he revealed himself, stirring Eiji into a conversation with him. Eiji had blurted Hinata to be a man through his crying. At first Yuri was shocked and wary, but he quickly assessed that Eiji was honestly devoted to his lover and no one else. Especially when they had been bunk mates for so long and it was the first time learning his mate was gay.


    "Takaki stayed devoted to you." Yuri blurted without showing any remorse that he did.


    This caused a thick silence to drop on everyone in the shop. Hinata paused, still holding the broken prosthetic in his hands.


    Yuri stared at Akira, noticing the man''s tight jaw and glare directed his way.


    "I can help Onii-san back to our shop. If there''s anything you can do." Mei fumbled, with an apologetic voice.


    "Go back to the shop yourself Mei. I''ll wait here until the job is done." Yuri cockily dismissed his sister.


    "Onii-san!" Mei yelled at her brother then instantly apologised to Akira and Hinata for his rudeness.


    Hinata sighed. "Sure, wait here. I can''t guarantee if I''ll be able to do anything."


    "Run along now baby sister." Yuri smugly dismissed his sister who was fuming with rage directed towards him.


    She controlled her anger with a sigh and low bow to Hinata and Akira, then left the shop.


    "Yuri-san, come on, spit out what you want to say to us." Akira coolly challenged the man.


    Yuri leaned back in the chair and stared Akira hard in the eye when he said, "This man is not yours."


    Finishing his declaration with a finger pointed at Hinata and dropping it with a condescending wag.


    Hinata was burning with rage at the man''s audacity.


    "How dare you! Do you want my help or not!" Hinata shouted at Yuri who was looking smugger by the minute.


    "My sister wanted your help. I can live without the thing just fine." Yuri was unperturbed.


    "Then live without it and leave us be." Akira coolly came back at the man.


    Yuri slowly rose from the chair, wobbling unsteadily, but able to stand on one leg before them. He managed to stand for a few seconds before stumbling into Hinata''s arms.


    He was ungraciously dumped back into the chair, heaving for breath and cursing his failed body. Hinata ran to the water pail in the back room and scooped up a cup of water he gave Yuri to drink.


    "I respected Takaki. Understand that." Yuri''s whispered voice was absent of his earlier smugness.


    "Is it okay to close the shop early for the day Honda-san?" Hinata said.


    "Chikafuji-kun," Akira began his protest and stopped, catching the stubborn expression on Hinata''s face. He knew him well enough to know that he was determined to solve a problem on his own. At those times, he couldn''t get through to him until the matter was no longer a matter.


    Akira grabbed his coat off the rack near the door, bag, and stormed out of the shop.


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    Hinata picked up the fake limb and carried it to the shop counter. He locked up the shop, closed the blind over the door and returned to the counter to study the limb''s construction further.


    The attachment really was a broken mess, like the state of his own heart.


    "How well did you know Eiji-san?" Hinata said without taking his attention off the prosthetic.


    "We were bunk mates for months on our tour, so well enough he''d give me his letter for you." Yuri replied.


    "How did you know I was his?" Hinata frowned.


    "Takaki wasn''t the guy who chased skirts. He cried out your name one night. Things sort of clicked." Yuri answered and softened his voice. "I was surprised to find out you were Old Man Dai-chan''s nephew. Talk about six degrees of separation."


    "And this means what?" Hinata stared Yuri in the eye. "So, it gives you a right to judge me."


    Yuri scoffed. "I don''t know you, but I know Takaki. He was a man worthy of respect."


    Hinata went to Yuri and sat down on the ground in seiza before him, his face showing all of his vulnerability and loneliness.


    "There''s not a day, I don''t find my heart beating for Eiji-san to walk through the door of our home."


    Tears slipped down his cheeks as he poured out his heart to Yuri.


    "The season is changing and Eiji-san isn''t home. How am I to cope without him in my life? Isn''t it cruel that I''m left behind."


    Yuri''s heart softened to Hinata''s lament, realising the man was facing his grief alone. He kicked himself for his earlier cruel words and judgement.


    "Sorry. War brings out the worst and most shameful in people. I was hoping that somewhere that strong love Takaki held for you towards the end was still unbreakable."


    Hinata sighed, understanding Yuri''s earlier words and attitude.


    "Nothing is unbreakable Sakamoto-san. We can try to make it better with what we have and continue to hope that it would last longer this time." Hinata calmly responded, feeling his own heart calm with a resolve.


    He had made his decision to be with Akira and was going to honour it. This didn''t mean replacing those treasured memories he had with Eiji. Nothing could ever replace the life and love he had with him. He felt sure of that now.


    "Is that so? Then you think you can make my fake leg better?" Yuri politely asked Hinata.


    Both of them smiled at each other.


    "I''m confident I can." Hinata wiped off his tears.


    He rose and returned to the broken attachment to make it better and fitter for purpose than ever before.

 Chapter 14 Rainfall

    Humidity and rain had hit the village hard. Its downpour had been going solid for the last four days, turning the gardens and surrounding paths into muddy sludge.


    Tama-chan mewed his complaints at the door in the genkan. Obviously frustrated at his outdoor activities being interrupted and being unable to hide from the excitable children that sort him for their play thing.


    "Tama, Tama!" Miki and Mei had called out to the fat cat, doing their best to catch him.


    Tama-chan scurried about the genkan and did a bold down the hallway and into Hinata''s room, which was being used as a room for the twin boys.


    "You being chased by girls again? There, there," Rei soothed the cat that had leaped onto his lap.


    He was sitting on the floor with Kei. A Shogi board was laid out between them with pieces in a game.


    "Tama!" The girls squealed as they entered the bedroom.


    "Knock it off!" Kei growled at the girls. "Can''t you see we''re in a game and the cat doesn''t want to be pestered!"


    The girls began to snivel and cry.


    Kei sighed and cooled his tone of voice. He patted the girls heads with his apologize and showed them a magic trick with one of the Shogi pieces to cheer them up.


    "That''s lame Kei-chan," said Miwa from the door. He had his arms crossed with a mature-man''s look on his face.


    "Oh really? Then how about this!" Kei tricked Miwa by making the same Shogi piece appear to have come out of the boy''s ear.


    Miwa huffed, doing his best not to look impressed.


    "Kei-chan''s magic, cool." Shouta blurted, completely convinced that Kei''s magic was real.


    Rei was calmly stroking Tama-chan into a deep sleep on his lap as he watched the activities. He felt happy in his heart that their life had finally taken a turn for the better. Although, he still felt unsure as to why Hinata was so kind to them. No man had ever been kind to him the way Hinata was. It kept his caution and wits still running at a high since he had his brothers and sisters to protect being the eldest. So far, kindness had always asked for a price from him. In his heart he hoped Hinata would be the first man to prove him wrong.


    The younger kids eventually left the room to play another game elsewhere. Kei and Rei returned to their intense Shogi game.


    "I promoted my pawn. Check." Kei smugly declared his killer move.


    Rei sighed, realizing his loss. "I fold."


    "Hey Rei, what''d you think about Chikafuji-san?" Kei quietly asked his brother.


    Rei frowned, trying to arrive to his conclusion. "Dunno. He''s kind to let us stay here. Doesn''t ask for anything."


    Kei let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah. Kind and not asking for anything. Don''t like the fact we''re owing him."


    "Yeah. Keep your smarts on. When the weather''s better, maybe we see about finding a place of our own," Rei said as he started up a new game.


    "Having fun?" Aiyama-san cordially asked the boys as she poked her head into the room from the doorway.


    "Yeah." Both boys answered with a polite smile.


    "Could you help me with dinner?" She gently asked them, still concerned about their wounds on their backs being raw.


    The boys didn''t show it, but there would be times they felt the pain. So, she wasn''t keen to push them for doing chores more than they were capable of doing.


    "Yeah." Both boys answered again when their mood for Shogi had waned.


    They followed Aiyama-san into the kitchen where the other kids were playing a game with stones on the floor.


    Hinata entered the genkan, letting his presence known with a weary ''I''m home'' greeting.


    "Hina-tan!"Shouta rushed to Hinata. He slammed into him with a bear hug. "Ti-ma"


    "Oomphf," Hinata groaned at the sudden ache to his stomach.


    He brushed it off and cheerfully greeted the young, shaven-head boy who had seemed to taking a liking to him.


    "Aiyama-tan, cooking." The boy said with a smile that was missing a few teeth.


    "Okay. Let''s go and see her." Hinata politely ruffled the boy''s hair as he pulled away from him.


    Hinata joined Aiyama-san and the older boys with meal preparations, taking over with the vegetable dishes and fish dish. Rei took a particular interest in Hinata''s cooking lessons.


    The other kids and Aiyama-san set the table. Hinata sighed, happily, when every sat before the full table and got stuck into their meals.


    "Hey! Miki-chan has more rice than me!" Shouta grumbled.


    "Here." Rei sighed when he gave half his portion to Shouta.


    His sigh became a surprised gasp when Hinata instantly recompensated his loss.


    "You''re still healing." Hinata explained on his generosity.


    Rei thanked the man with a frown.


    Hinata noticed the boy''s hardened expression, but brushed it aside. It wasn''t the right time to probe the boy''s feelings further.


    "No fair. I want Hina-tan''s!" Shouta pouted with his arms crossed.


    "Stop being stupid. Rice is rice." Rei flicked the boy''s forehead, which spurred on further complaints.


    Hinata sighed. "Can I swap the bowls?"


    Rei nodded and swapped his bowl with Shouta''s, which solved that problem.


    The meal ended without further issues. Clean up was down quickly and everyone ended up relaxing in the main room to play their games of Go or Shogi.


    Rei stood before the Kamidana with his attention on Eiji''s image.


    "Good looking. Too bad." He thought.


    He lit an incense stick from the container next to and prayed for the man''s soul.


    "Thank you. My family would be touched to know someone is praying for them." Hinata surprised Rei.


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    "Oh, um, sure." Rei mumbled and returned to the main room where the others were.


    Hinata took to the outside to fasten the panel shutters around the doors and windows.


    The rain was showing no mercy, beating down on his body with fierce pitter-patters. Lightening struck the night sky with a shuddering clap and boom.


    He paused when he was about to re-enter the cottage when he spied a figure standing in the middle of the muddy road between his house and the vague outline of the village shops.


    "Hello?!" His eyes squinted, trying to glimpse more of the figure. It was definitely human and a man from what he could see.


    Lightening struck a few times, showing the man''s approach. Hinata gasped when the man slumped to the ground into a lifeless heap.


    He raced for him and pulled at the unconscious body, turning him around to get a look. The unconscious man looked normal, that is there wasn''t any obvious wounds to cause him to collapse. Hinata suspected otherwise. He positioned the man''s limbs around his body, so he could carry him back to the cottage.

 Chapter 15 Kou Ishikawa

    [Deafening gun fire made his ears ring with an annoying buzz overwhelming his senses. He felt off balanced, but held his gun with the best control he could muster from his sweaty hands.


    "Ishikawa! Run!" Kou heard Yuri''s warning, which followed sounds of a ripping explosion and blinding white flashes that caused searing pain to his eyes.


    "Ugh!" Kou stumbled backwards, his trigger finger accidentally letting bullet rounds into the air to drop smoking hot shells around his body.


    He yelped at the burning pain he felt to his right arm from a bullet shell that had landed on his skin.


    In a mad, blind panic, driven by burning pain he scrambled to his feet and sprinted with every last bit of his breath in his lungs. The sky cracked open, throwing down rain to temper his sprints, so his heavy boots sunk into the sandy terrain he was trying to escape.


    White flashes and burning pain struck his eyes again. He lost complete sense and vision of where he was running. He continued to run. Blind. His body going into a state of shock and numbness.]


    ¡î¡î¡î


    "Mei!" Kou woke up from his nightmare screaming with blind terror contorting his features and his body drenched in cold sweat.


    "Ishikawa-san!" A stranger''s voice tried to sooth his fears with reassuring strokes to his arm and face.


    The hand felt smooth, yet solid and large with long fingers that were slightly calloused to the tips. They were definitely not the hands of his mother.


    "Wh-Who are you? Y-You''re not my mother." Kou gasped, still finding his voice from his breathlessness.


    His hands fumbled about his darkness to form a better picture of those hands and arms connected to them.


    Indistinct light moved about his darkness. He lacked taction to determine what he should be seeing. His hands continued to seek out a form he could feel and make sense of. They came into contact with the arms belonging to the man''s hands he felt earlier.


    They were also smooth with little hair and slender, but not like a woman''s. There was taut muscly to their biceps betraying hidden strength. The smell of freshly cut material lingered about the soft sleeves of a kimono he felt. Smells of cooked vegetables, starch rice and body musk surrounded his senses.


    "You''re a man and I''m in your home?" Kou blurted his discovery. An image was being drawn in his mind has his fingers felt more of the man and immediate surroundings.


    He gasped with surprise when the man pulled his hands forward and felt the fleshy softness of the man''s cheeks, the oval outline of his jawline, round eyes, slender nasal bridge and medium-size ears free from any piercings. The man''s hair was long, smooth as silk and smelt of fresh flowers.


    Kou''s image of him was a beautiful and effeminate man. His heart raced with confusion as to why he was lying on his bed. At least he felt the firmness of a futon mattress and woven wool blanket.


    "I''m not on your bed am I?" Kou gulped nervously.


    "Yes, but don''t worry, I won''t be sleeping in here. Please rest. I will inform your mother."


    The man''s voice carried a soft almost melodic tone that held care and confidence without any quivers or undertones to suggest a hidden intention. He was a genuine kind man.


    Seeing people''s hidden intentions through the tones of their voices was a skill Kou had been able to immediately take advantage of with his given disadvantage.


    "No. Please, don''t tell my mother. If it''s not too much trouble I can sleep here for now and leave when I wake again." Kou asked, banking on the hope the man would agree.


    "If that''s what you want, of course." The man responded with the same tone of voice as before.


    Kou sighed with relief. He didn''t want to trouble his mother more than he already did. She was having a hard enough time trying to come to terms with his blindness as a result from war injury.


    A thought of Mei entered his mind.


    "Instead, it wouldn''t be too much trouble for call for Mei Sakamoto. She''s my fiance."


    "Of course, she''d be more than happy and relieved to see you are well." The man answered with a tighter tones to his voice, betraying excitement.


    "You know Mei?" Kou frowned with worry.


    His heart ached to know who this man was and how he knew Mei. He certainly wasn''t a man he had met before.


    A thought of Eiji Takaki''s envelope flashed to this mind. Yuri had been carrying it in his pocket since his return from Pearl Harbor. He had accompanied Yuri to the house of Eiji''s widow; sensed Yuri hand the letter to a man. They left shortly afterwards. The only memory of the man he had met was the soft almost melodic tones of his voice.


    "You are Takaki''s wife?" Kou innocently blurted and stiffen at the instant silence and sensation of shock he felt from the man.


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    "Hmm. Is it too much to ask what made you wander about in the rain to end up at my house." The man changed the subject with a curt tone to his voice.


    He was angry?


    "I don''t know. I have bad sleep, sometimes." Kou carefully answered.


    Silence ensued with the distinct sound of children playing games or laughing, a woman''s humming, movements of pots and items and the stead beating of rain on the roof.


    "You have a lot of children. Are you married?" Kou blurted his discovery again.


    The man sighed. "No, I''m not married nor do I have children of my own. They are evacuees I''m taking care of.


    "My name is Chikafuj, Hinata." Hinata properly introduced himself.


    "Chikafuj-kun. Oh Dai-chan''s nephew. I heard you came from the big city." Kou innocently shared his knowledge of what he knew of Hinata from his mother''s gossip.


    "Yes, that''s me." Hinata''s voice was calm and void of his earlier anger.


    "Thank you for understanding me Hinata. I can call you Hinata? I feel we''re already friends. Call me Kou." Kou daringly asked Hinata and chuckled at his sigh.


    Hinata relented and gave him the okay. He made an excuse to leave Kou''s side by going to retrieve Mei.


    Kou slumped back down on Hinata''s futon, relishing the fresh scent of lavender from the blankets and sheets. They carried a cosy feeling of warmth and care. He realized he was fortunate that Hinata had stumbled upon him. He frowned with worry that he was sleep walking again.


    Without him realizing, sleep claimed him.


    He woke to the sound of Mei''s voice near his bedside. His heart raced with feelings of wanting to hold her. His regret going to war was never telling Mei how much he loved her, letting her believe she wasn''t anything special to him. Today was going to be the day he changed that view.


    "Mei?" He called out to her, raising his hands to seek out her face.


    "I''m here." Her voice quivered with tears and tones of happiness.


    He smiled with relief that he was still in her heart. His hands felt her face and stroked her moistened cheeks tenderly. The room was filled with silence. The sounds of others being prescent were vague and distant. Hinata was truly a kind man.


    "I love you Mei. Thank you very much for waiting for me." Kou whispered words of love from his heart.


    He his chest became warm like his heart had caught on fire when drops of her tears landed on his hands. He drew her lips towards his in a kiss that led to further passionate touches from both of them.


    "Kou." Mei swooned, speaking his name when his mouth found her pleasure spots along her skin.


    He loved her with his whole being; holding back enough, so they didn''t go all the way. Once they were married he would make sure he pampered her to the best of his abilities. She was his queen. He was keen to make up for all those times he left her doubting his love for her.


    "I''m sorry I was jerk before I went to war," Kou whispered as he held her small body in his arms, relishing her sweet scent.


    "You did leave me doubting." Mei lightly scolded him. Her voice betrayed too much happiness at having her love reciprocated.


    Her happiness became shaky tones of fear. He felt her gaze on his eyes.


    "You don''t need to fear Mei. I was lucky to survive this war with every other part of my body intact. I''ll live the rest of my life not bound to this disability. I''ll find a way for both of us to live a comfortable life." Kou reassured her with cocky confidence and a tender kiss to her forehead.


    "Chikafuj-san said that Honda-san had books that used fingers to read." Mei said.


    Kou frowned, not liking the fact that she had a closeness to Hinata. "How close are you and Hinata?"


    Mei surprised him by bursting with hearty laughter. She was happy beyond measure.


    "Obviously not as close as you and him." She answered with a narky pinch to his arm. "I should be the one jealous here that you''re already on first name bases with Chikafuj-san"


    Kou chuckled and dropped his tension. His thoughts went back to his earlier memories. He was blank between the time he fell asleep in his room to when he woke up to Hinata''s bedroom.


    His heart felt tight and strange feelings plagued his mind, causing twitches to hands. He did his best to calm them down when felt Mei''s concern through the uneven expel of her breath. They were having a happy moment, he didn''t want to spoil it.


    A polite knock on the door broke through his thoughts. Another man called out to them.

 Chapter 16 You Are Civilians Now

    Mei remained in Kou''s arms, keeping her shock and thoughts to herself. She didn''t want to add more worries into his mind. The fact that her brother lost part of a leg and Kou lost his sight made her heart curse the war bitterly. What meaning was all this fighting when people were forced to eat meagre rations and men were returning home with parts of their bodies beyond repair. Those who were blessed to return.


    She snuggled further into Kou''s embrace, flicking aside her bitter feelings and thoughts. One thing she had learned from Hinata''s example was to not keep ill impressions in one''s head. To survive meant to look forward to a better future and see bad moments of the present as stumbling blocks to overcome, grow stronger and be wiser. She was truly grateful and ecstatic to have her love in her arms with reciprocated feelings. Okamisama had blessed them with a chance for a future.


    "You''re happy now," Kou whispered into her small ears.


    "Silly. Of course, I am." She nuzzled his neck, relishing his salty musk.


    Their moment was interrupted with a polite knock on the door. Mei reluctantly pulled out of Kou''s hold, redressed to a presentable image and slid back the shoji door to allow Aiyama-san inside.


    "Sorry to intrude, but your brother is here to pick you both up." Aiyama-san informed them.


    She left the lover''s view as soon as possible to allow them a few more moments together. It was a pointless effort as Yuri soon found his way to them. He was cranky as hell.


    Rain began to beat down on the cottage again, making Yuri''s cursing a lot louder.


    "You fool! I had my Old Lady and your Old Lady blasting my goddamn ears off to find you! Tell me why a cripple should drive out in the rain to look for a blind git!" Yuri spat out.


    Kou heaved a weary sigh, his head feeling heavy and throbbing with an ache all of a sudden.


    Hinata entered the scene to calm Yuri down when he had caught sight of Kou''s semi-naked body and Mei''s slightly dishevelled obi and hair.


    "You bastard!" Yuri hauled Kou to his feet, ready to slug him.


    He was kicked backwards, releasing Kou in the process. His face was slapped and body slammed to the ground by brute force. A strong foot on his chest kept him rooted to the floor.


    "YOU DARE CAUSE A RUCKUS IN MY HOUSE!" Hinata shouted down on Yuri.


    Yuri was unable to hide his shock at Hinata''s livid expression and firm manliness. It clicked as to why he was able to survive on his own without Eiji for so long. He was seeing Hinata as a man for the first time.


    Hinata dropped his anger and hold over Yuri when he saw that he had calmed down.


    "Kou-san and Mei-san are engaged. Why would you be angry about seeing them together?" Hinata calmly asked Yuri.


    "Because not once did he think of Mei when he had his fun on tour." Yuri hissed out a taste of Kou''s dirty dark secret whilst they had been on tour together.


    Kou blushed, his heart pounded nervously causing heat to his cheeks and an ache to his temples.


    Hinata sighed and turned to Kou. "You love Mei-san right?"


    "All my heart. At war, you miss the one you love..." Kou began to explain further, but felt Hinata''s gesture to stop.


    "That''s all there is to it. Mei-san what do you think? Are you willing to give him a chance?" Hinata gently placed the ultimatum to Mei.


    Mei felt hurt and disappointed at Kou for being weak during war, but she also realized he would''ve been doing something before he felt he was going to die. Another mindset she had realized from Hinata and words she had learned from her brother.


    "War brings out the worst and most shameful in people." Mei sighed.


    She faced Kou with a smile and kissed his cheek with reassurance.


    Tears slipped from Kou''s eyes.


    "If alive, do not suffer the disgrace of becoming a prisoner. In death, do not leave behind a name soiled by misdeeds." Yuri''s voice quivered as he recited a passage from the Senjinkun honour code.


    "We made a promise to our country to be worthy, honourable soldiers." His voice trembled.


    Hinata gave Aiyama-san a reassuring look that he had it all sorted. She made sure the kids were doing something else when he closed the door to tend to the three adults in his room.


    Mei and Hinata found themselves between two men who were struggling to hold back their tears as they cried out their pent-up anguish to the floor. They sat in between, their bodies like beacons of hope and reassurance to the men who were still fighting a war in their heads. Their duty to country was dismissed with a stain on their views of life.


    Hinata''s heart beat for Eiji, thinking back to those times he had reassured his lover of his humanity. Eiji had been like these men, near crumbling and on the verge of loosing themselves to their inner demons.


    "You did what your country had asked of you and returned with approval. There is no shame, dishonour or relevance to war on the life you have now. What happened at war, remains at war." Hinata soberly advised the men. "You''re civilians now. Take back the honour the country borrowed from you and reclaim it for yourselves. You owe it to your families and friends whom you have returned to."


    "I''m very glad you didn''t fight the war." Kou smiled.


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    He was able to recompose himself along with Yuri.


    Hinata understood the meaning behind his words.


    "Eiji-san kept telling me that his strength to fight was due to his Hina-chan. Now, I see what he meant." Kou explained further. His voice became gentler with remorse. "I''m sorry about your loss. He was a good man."


    It took every bit of Hinata''s inner strength to hold it together and not let out his bereavement at hearing Kou''s condolences.


    A moment of silence lingered amongst the adults, providing a soothing atmosphere to the earlier feelings.


    Yuri stumbled to his feet with Mei''s assistance. He was wearing a temporary peg attachment whilst Hinata was working on his prosthetic. The peg attachment allowed him to hop around places and drive, but wasn''t going to do him wonders in the long run. He suspected he''d bust a hip from slipping on some steps or a wet floor before too long.


    "I''ll help you up." Hinata offered to Kou when he placed his hand on the man''s shoulder.


    "Thank you." Kou accepted his hand with gratitude.


    The three of them bowed their sincere thanks when they left the cottage.


    Both Hinatas sighed with relief as they debriefed over tea in the main room a short while later.


    The remainder of the night flew by. Earlier torrential rainfall had eased into light showers.

 Chapter 17 Trouble After Rainfall

    Trouble came sudden as soon as the rain cleared up. The sound of a curt knock on Hinata''s door was the first signs. He opened to see the village''s mayor, school teacher and police officer on his door step.


    "Gentlemen." Hinata acknowledged their presence with a puzzled frown.


    His mind began to panic on whether he was meant to send the kids off to school today.


    "The kids are not to start school yet, are they? I was under the impression they had one more week."


    Akihiko sighed. "I''ve been informed that something has happened to one of the towns along the East Coast. What has occurred, we don''t know. I''ve been instructed by the Government to seize any and all rations from households towards an emergency aid."


    "Excuse me? Are you saying all rations are to be surrendered?" Hinata gasped. "What about the children?"


    Akihiko sighed again and faced Tanaka. Tanaka stepped forward with a motion to apprehend Hinata by force.


    "What is the meaning of this?!"


    "If you do not surrender your food willingly, we have authority to take it by will and incarcerate you for insubordination and obstruction of justice." Akihiko soberly warned Hinata. "You will lose all rights to the children in your care."


    Hinata stared at Watanabe-sensei with pleading eyes and frowned at the man''s downcast expression.


    "Hina-tan!" Shouta came up to Hinata and stepped before him, showing the men a brave face.


    "Don''t bully Hina-tan!"


    "Shouta-kun! You mind your manners." Hinata reprimanded the boy.


    Shouta mumbled his apologizes, but didn''t relent on his protection over Hinata and glare towards the men.


    "You entrusted these children and Aiyama-san to my care." Hinata tried to reason with the men one last time.


    "You have five minutes." Akihiko soberly ordered.


    Hinata sighed and faced all the children and Aiyama-san who had been watching the exchange from the genkan and hallway.


    "We''ll round up the food." Aiyama-san declared.


    She hurried the kids back into the cottage to help her gather up their food. Five minutes later, they returned with a large cloth bundle of food items and rice bags.


    "Hope it goes to the right people," she said when he handed over the kitchen''s pantry, not hiding her seething and curt tone to her voice.


    Watanabe-sensei and Tanaka seized the bags. Akihiko tipped his fedora hat. The men went on their way. Hinata closed the door with a troubled sigh.


    War''s ugliness had turned up on his door step. If it was food they would be lacking, he''d find away to give them more. At least they had each other and the house.


    "I''ll see if Akira has anything stored at the shop." He chewed his nail on.


    "We''ll eat bugs! Stag beetles roast up crunchy. Taste like tatos. No worry Hina-tan. I get food, cook for you." Shouta patted Hinata''s hand with an innocent smile.


    Hinata chuckled, thinking it was a nice thing to be a child. He patted the boy''s head and glanced to the other kids who also didn''t look deterred by the lack of food. Of course, they were already experienced on time of going without.


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    "Well let''s round up some juicy ones shall we!" Hinata smiled.


    He began a juicy bug round-up game with the kids in the meadows, relishing the coolness from the tall sunflower stems, leaves and wild grass. The kids were having lots of fun catching big bugs that would be their dinner.


    Aiyama-san laughed merrily, her heart calmed at the strong resilience from the kids. They were truly angels of these hard times. Miki, Mei-chan and herself left the hunt early to gather up vegetables to go with roasted beetles.


    Everybody returned before the day''s pink, orange dusky sky settled into the blackness of night. Hinata and Aiyama-san had all the kids in the kitchen poking the beetles in the pot over the irori pit, making sure they were frying up good. A starchy, potato and a hearty winter vegetables'' aroma wafted about the kitchen as a delicious dinner come into reality.


    The bowls were set on the low table, chopsticks evenly placed before a spot someone would fill. An instant banging on the front door shutter made everyone pause when they were about to take their place before the table.


    "Go ahead and eat." Hinata gestured towards the others.


    He made his way to the front door, unlatching and sliding back the shutter. Akira crossed the threshold into the genkan. Hinata closed up the front door again, expressing the concerns at the man''s flushed face and disheveled image of shirt and waistcoat plastered to his skin. His suit pants and brown loafers were caked in mud, like he had been sprinting through fields to reach his door.


    "Hinata. Gather the kids, we have to leave now." Akira panted with desperation to his voice.


    He barged into the house with his shoes on to gather up things in the rooms. He surprised the kids and Aiyama-san when he pleaded for them to gather their belongs they cared about for a long journey.


    "AKIRA! STOP IT!" Hinata angrily shouted that made the man turn his way. "What is the meaning of barging into my home and bringing your dirty feet inside!"


    Akira surprised him when he raced up to him and pulled him into a desperate hug before the kids and Aiyama-san. "Tanaka said the Kenpei are after you."


    Hinata''s heart froze with fear. Did Akira just say Kenpei? Why?


    "We have no time." Akira''s voice quivered with genuine fear.


    "Aiyama-san, kids, quickly. Take only what we need to survive." Hinata hastily ordered everyone.


    They went about the task, within minutes everyone had reassembled within the main room ready to take flight.


    Hinata scooped up a grumbling Tama-chan and placed the cat in a rucksack with all the dry goods he had gathered. He made sure the cat could poke its head out, but not able to escape from the pack. He carefully placed the rucksack on his back, doing his best to ignore the cats swipes to the nape of its neck.


    "Calm down Tama-chan." Rei coolly tempered the cat with light pats until it felt sleepy.


    "Thank you." Hinata thanked the boy, especially when Tama-chan seemed to accepted its new bed and settle down to sleep.


    Sounds of a storm approach could be heard from the road.


    "We have to go!" Akira lead everyone towards the backdoor that opened out into the meadows barely lit with moonlight.


    They followed his path through the cover of sunflowers, towards the Tengu Mountains in the distance. Running away from the calamitous screech, shuffles and banging towards the front entrance of the cottage door.


    "Make haste!" Akira whispered.


    He bent down to scoop up Miki and carried her in his arms as he increased his sprints. Hinata did the same with Mei, and Aiyama-san with Miwa when the disturbance behind their backs had barged into the cottage.


    Curse shouting, brutal commands and ordering for no-mercy-capturing disturbed the air. Making their sprints harder, so their legs burned with aches.


    They chased Akira''s path into the dense canopy of pine trees and elms running up the mountain side.

 Chapter 18 The Way to Little Tengu

    They followed Akira out of the forest and onto a back highway where Yuri, Kou and Mei was waiting for them in this pickup truck.


    "Hurry!" Yuri called out from the driver''s window.


    "Yuri-san." Hinata whispered with sighed relief.


    He and the other adults helped the kids into the back of the truck. When everyone was in, Yuri zoomed down the road that lead further up the mountains.


    No one said a word during the drive. Aiyama-san drew all the younger ones close to her to keep them warm. The older boys kept to their own pensive huddle.


    Their harden expressions broke Hinata''s heart. He had hoped his place was one where they could be as carefree. In times of war, it was becoming impossible.


    Sun was breaking through the dark skies by the time they reached the mountain range, miles away from the village.


    Hinata frowned when he recognized the rocky dirt road they were driving along. It was one he had taken to his family Ohaka.


    Rather, turning off to the Ohaka site, the truck drove on and further towards the mountains.


    Morning light graced his iced cheeks when the drive took to rocky terrain up a mountain side. He held Mei closer to his side and warm, doing his best to ease her motion sickness. Aiyama-san taught him a skill of rubbing her stomach with a certain motion to ease some of her nausea.


    Hinata did this, closing his eyes to the peaceful sounds of chirping birds, buzzing insects and mews from various small animals.


    Eventually, the truck stopped when it couldn''t drive further. They were in the heart of a forest with a thick canopy of tall trees and their bushy leaves creating a barrier to the burning sun, allowing slithers of daylight to rain down on their heads. Astringent musk, bitter-sweet flowers and wet Earth hit Hinata''s senses when he stumbled out of the truck. He pushed aside his numb ache to make sure the children were okay, helping them down to the ground.


    "Sorry." Yuri mumbled his apologize to everyone, knowing it would''ve been a hard journey out in the cold of the pickup''s open back.


    "No, you helped us." Hinata thanked the man with a bow. He noticed Yuri''s peg leg was askew from the bunching of his pants around that leg.


    "Your prosthetic!" He gasped, remembering the half-made replacement he had sitting on Little Anvil.


    "I have it. Honda-san asked for me to carry it when he was frantically pulling things together in the shop for the journey."


    She helped Kou take a seat on a rock crop next to the older boys. Leaned back into the truck to grab a bag from the floor. She handed Hinata the prosthetic he had been working on for her brother.


    "I''ll do my best to finish this with what I can scrimp." He frowned to Akira. "Honda-san. Where are we?"


    "The last place the Kenpei will look for the time being." Akira soberly answered.


    Hinata sighed. He stowed the prosthetic bag to this satchel with all his other survival items he had haphazardly gathered. His immediate attention was on the kids as they trekked up the rocky, bushy mountain terrain, being careful of not slipping on moss covered rocks and wet patches of dirt around ferns.


    Akira dropped back to help Mei with her hard task of helping both her brother and Kou along the way.


    "Keep going straight through the pillar trees until you see stone steps and image of the Little Tengu." Akira ordered Hinata and Aiyama-san at the frown.


    The older teens ambled ahead to lead the way with confident strides. Hinata''s cheeks were flushed with heat as he felt his body aching all over from carrying the bags and Mei who had grown tired fairly quickly. She ended up hugging his front and dozing off to sleep as he continued to trek.


    The burning midday sun was bearing down on them by the time they cleared through the thick brush and path of trees to reach a pair of little winged children statues perched on stone pillars.


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    They guarded a moss ridden flight of stairs up the mountain. Hinata groaned at the steep and snaky climb he would have to take.

 Chapter 19 A Haven

    Day was easing into night around their tired, aching bodies as they continued the steep climb up the hazardous mountain steps. A glance backwards was more than enough to keep eyes forward and hearts pumping with fears of falling to death.


    The air was lighter, causing breaths to fall short against chests and signs of delirium to show on faces. If they continued their pace, someone was bound to fall.


    "Let''s break." Mei called out, feeling her shoulders strained from having to support her brother''s body with her climb.


    No one disagreed. They all found a dry, cool step to sit on and recuperate.


    Fortunately, Aiyama-san had packed their dinner before they had left. Yuri and Mei had also stolen bread and cooked red beans from their shops. Kou''s father had given him some dango for the trip.


    "Here, " Kou said as he extended his hand from his pockets, holding out green cloudy jellies.


    He smiled when small hands politely accepted his offerings.


    "Thank you," said Kei respectfully. He split the sweet and gave it to the little girls.


    Rei took his piece to share with the younger boys.


    Shouta handed his piece to Hinata with an innocent smile on his face.


    "Please take it." He bowed low with both his hands offering the morsel to the man.


    Hinata blinked with surprise and an expression of feeling touched on his face. The boy''s gesture made Akira frown.


    "I''d like you to enjoy it for me Shouta-kun. Seeing your enjoyment is more filling for me." Hinata politely brushed off the offering, keen for the boy to enjoy it. Young children burned off food quicker than adults, he had come to realize.


    His mind wandered back to a middle-school days memory of when he had offered a sweet (he had saved up to buy) to Eiji. Back then he wasn''t aware that Eiji didn''t fancy sweets. When Eiji had politely rejected the offer by saying that he''d rather watch his enjoyment of eating the sweet instead, Hinata took no offense. In fact, the gesture led to a sprint back to his room and Eiji eating something else on Hinata''s body. They made love the entire night, the sweetness of both Eiji''s kisses and the candy creating a blissful memory.


    "Hinata," Akira whispered with concern. He tenderly swept the stray tear from Hinata''s cheek.


    "Sorry, I found myself lost in thought." Hinata apologized.


    "You don''t make Hina-tan cry, got it!" Shouta growled at Akira, misunderstanding the tear that Hinata had shed.


    "Listen imp. If I make him cry, it''s because he''s feeling pleas..." Akira cursed at the painful jab Hinata gave his side.


    "Don''t you think we should push on. Tama-chan''s getting too comfortable on the step." Hinata forced through his teeth.


    Tama-chan had been gingerly let of the rucksack. Hinata was sure the cat would''ve run off, but the cat sniffed the moss ground until it found a spot where he could curl-up in a ball to snooze near Akira''s feet.


    "Come on you fat cat," Hinata lovely whispered to the ginger tabby as he scooped him up and returned him to his makeshift spot in the rucksack.


    When everyone was set, they resumed the climb up the mountain, well into the heart of night. Torch light to guide their way.


    Akira and Hinata lingered at the back to make sure they could catch someone if they saw they were about to slip and potentially fall.


    The whole time they felt Yuri''s tension and cursing about a being a defective man, and more a burden than help, especially when Mei was supporting him and carrying one of the kids.


    "You don''t have to hold up my arm. I can walk myself." Yuri snapped.


    "And watch you fall down the mountainside? No thanks. I''d rather you swallow that stupid pride of yours and take my shoulder." Mei scolded him.


    Kou chuckled, enjoying Aiyama-san''s hand as she carefully led him up the path.


    Aiyama-san noticed the glare the older Mei was giving her and clicked at what she would be seeing.


    "Let me take Little Mei from you." She hastily swapped her hand for the sleeping child Mei was carrying.


    Mei sighed away the crankiness she had been feeling at the sight of her fiance being nice with other women. "Don''t you dare let go of my hand Kou-san."


    Kou blushed with understanding. "Sorry Mei."


    They walked on with pensive, focused silence until they reached the top of the stairs, which was lit up by glowing Little Tengu boys on stone pedestals either side of the stairway.


    In the formless distance was an outline of a modest Shinto shrine and building beyond a wide Torii. The subtle glow from the hanging lanterns around the shrine and building''s eaves made their triangular roofs peak towards the glowing moon high in the sky. Sounds of gently swaying trees, nestling amongst dry leaves and hooting graced their ears. A soothing cool breeze stroked their tired skin.


    Hinata''s heart slowed with a settled feeling. Akira had led them to a mountain shrine and hopes of a haven.


    Akira had them wait near the Temizuya basin. He entered the building''s porch and disappeared through a shoji door. A short while later he returned with the shrine''s priest.


    Hinata was surprised to see a young man about his age and with a muscly body hinting virility beneath his navy-blue priest kimono. His eyes glossed over the priests features, which was a contrast to Akira''s stoic and smooth looks. The priest''s face was a true man''s with high cheekbones, square jaw and heavy brows, which was the only set of hair on his bald head. He frowned at the over friendliness of the man''s arm around Akira''s shoulders. Who was this guy?


    "Thank you Rocko. I can not express my gratitude enough for your aid, especially at such short notice." Akira warmly thanked the man and yelped the man''s heavy slap to his back.


    "Aki! How many times I tell yah?! It''s Kudo-sensei!" Rocko playfully reminded Akira.


    "Millions of times. Millions of times I fail to take notice." Akira joked.


    Hinata''s frowned deepened.


    "Woah. Yah a looker ain''t yah. Lemme guess, new man." Rocko winked.


    His attention flicked to the tired kids before Hinata could answer. He beamed a welcoming smile at them. "Let''s get yah little ones warm ''en cosy, eh?"


    Everyone filed into the building and gratefully found a spot in the main room, which was clean tatami flooring with unadorned fusuma and white rice paper shoji panel walls. The wooden ranma had carvings of tengu-men flying about the heavens. Moonlight streamed through the ranma to cast the image onto the fusuma. Rocko lit a couple of lanterns in the corners to reveal more of the simple room.


    Hinata noticed a corridor from slits of a partially opened shoji door one of the lanterns had revealed.


    "Nya!" Tama-chan struggled in the rucksack, doing his best to squeeze his fat body through the narrow opening.


    "It''s okay. Let him out." Rocko reassured Hinata.


    Hinata unrestrained the cat, which jumped out of the sack and sniffed around the floors. He gasped when Tama-chan sniffed around Rocko''s crossed legs and hopped onto the burly man''s lap.


    Rocko chuckled. One of his large, heavy hands gently stroked the cat''s back. Tama-chan purred contently to the man''s touches.


    "Small creatures be dah best." Rocko cooed to Tama-chan. He turned his gaze to Hinata, Kou, Yuri then back to Hinata finishing off his observation with a quick look up and down.


    "Didn''t think I see yah again Yuri." Rocko teased the man.


    "Shuddup. Like I had a choice Kudo-tan." Yuri snarled.


    "How''s it going Mei? See yah finally got yah man." Rocko chuckled at Mei''s frown.


    His chuckle eased into a worried sighed at the sight of Kou.


    "Sorry man. Yah want me give blessing?" Rocko asked Kou with genuine concern for his condition.


    "Screw your blessings Rocko. I have my woman and my health. Who needs sight?" Kou answered back.


    Rocko bowed his head to Hinata, Aiyama-san and the kids. "I''m Rocko the resident priest here. And these guys'' childhood friend."


    "Nice to meet you." Hinata spoke for everyone. "Can I ask how you knew we were coming?"


    Rocko beamed a secretive smile. "Small animals are the best."


    Hinata sighed, not understanding the man''s words.


    "Yah all must be tired. I''ll show yah to rooms to sleep in. It get''s drafty here."


    Everyone stood and followed Rocky through a shoji door and down the wooden corridor where a row of fusuma was covered with a mural of realistically painted Tengu-men in white-blue kimono''s flying through puffy clouds and tops of trees.


    Rocko opened some fusuma to reveal small, cosy rooms that people could sleep in.


    "The futons are in the oshiire. Sorry, I haven''t aired them for a while, but can be slept on," he said and further suggested that the girls could sleep in the room near the end. As it was warm with less draft.


    He showed a room the boys could share and one for the men.


    He held back Hinata''s arm when he was about to enter the room with Yuri and Kou.


    "Special request." He winked.


    Hinata sighed and followed the man''s lead into a room where Akira was laying out one double-sized futon.


    "Rocko-san." Hinata gave the man a sober expression.


    "Not happy?"


    "It''s not that. I, well, you seem knowing." He chewed his lip with a frown. Not sure about Rocko''s easy acceptance.


    Rocko leaned in close to Hinata''s ear. "If yah weren''t Aki''s, I''d woo yah. Yah my type."


    Hinata gulped at the man''s hot breath blowing down the side of his neck.


    "That''s enough Rocko!" Akira come to Hinata''s aid, breaking the man''s contact with him.


    "Yeah, yeah." Rocko stepped away. "I''ll leave yahs be."


    Hinata felt his heart racing with nervous tension when Rocko closed the door, leaving him alone with Akira.


    "Sorry. Rocko''s a childhood friend." Akira''s breath warmed the places of Hinata''s skin where Rocko''s breath had touched.


    "He was wild and shameless with girls and guys, so his parents punished him by sending him up the mountain to serve the family shrine until he was aware of his wild ways being wrong. Who knew he''d end up liking it to make it his calling."


    "Like I care to know." Hinata frowned, feeling a sickness stir about his heart.


    Akira broke out with a goofy smile. He was overjoyed at seeing Hinata''s jealously. "You''re jealous."


    "I''m not. It''s just, I''m bothered and tired is all." Hinata brushed off, not wanting to admit that he was jealous.


    Akira wrapped his arms around Hinata. "I''m happy. I''ll make sure no one hurts you."


    Hinata sighed and smiled weakly. Akira lifted his chin so their lips could meet. Hinata accepted Akira''s kiss, allowing their tongues to roam each other''s mouth.


    Akira gently led Hinata down to the futon, moving his mouth down Hinata''s neck to taste his salty sweetness.


    Hinata swooned to Akira''s playful, delicate and tender touches; the man''s fingers unraveled his obi and kimono to release his naked body.


    Akira''s tongue teased Hinata''s nipples to stir a sultry moan from the man.


    "Akira." Hinata moaned, feeling a pleasurable heat overwhelm him and send his member throbbing with desire for more of Akira''s touches.


    Akira attended to Hinata''s throbbing member with his mouth, causing Hinata to burn up with a fever.


    Hinata cried out before he felt a warm release spurt from his member.


    Akira sat up, licking his lips as he removed his remaining clothes and pressed his body to Hinata''s so their skin warmed each other.


    "I love you." His hot breath burned into Hinata''s ears.


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    Akira blew Hinata''s musky scent along the man''s own skin as he kissed places normally hidden by clothes. He felt smug at the thought of his mouth being the one to discover Hinata''s pleasure spots.


    His competitive streak showed at the thought of Eiji holding Hinata. He was not that man''s replacement. Rather, he''d leave his mark all over Hinata, so there was no doubt that he is and would forever be Hinata''s only lover.


    His fingers found their way into Hinata''s hole, increasing Hinata''s moans as they thrusted in and out; moving about to stretch the area.


    "Akira." Hinata arched his back and hips to feel more of Akira''s fingers. His member throbbed madly with an insistent urge to feel Akira''s member inside of him. "Please, I want yours."


    Akira''s face beamed with a gloating smile as he carefully removed his fingers and turned Hinata over onto his back, so they were facing each other.


    "Tell me if it hurts," he said as lifted up Hinata''s hips towards his member. The tip teased Hinata''s opening.


    "Stop teasing me, put it in!" Hinata feverishly panted, aching for Akira''s.


    "As you wish." Akira continued to gloat as he slowly entered his lover, moving at a pace to stir cries and arched movements from him.


    Hinata faced him with sexy eyes, flushed cheeks with strands of unraveled long hair plastered to his skin and moisten lips that let out more sultry moans.


    It was an image that released Akira''s inner beast, making his thrusts harder and faster with an urge to climax into heavenly pleasure with Hinata.


    Over and over Hinata said Akira''s name as they loved each other throughout the night, climaxing into each other''s embrace more than once.

 Chapter 20 Reasons

    A gentle fine morning broke through the night skies, causing rays of daylight to stream through the ranma and grace Hinata''s snoozing face.


    Akira tenderly kissed his forehead and wrapped his arms tighter around Hinata''s waist to draw the man''s head closer to his chest.


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    The sound of Akira''s heart beats stirred Hinata out of sleep with a yawn.


    "Morning my Angel." Akira lovingly kissed Hinata''s cheeks.


    Hinata groaned at the cheesy nickname. "Please. Spare me. A night of making love has reduced your chivalry to school girl pet names."


    Akira chuckled.


    Hinata was unable to hold back his smile at the man''s happiness. His mind was still in a state of having enjoyed his love with Akira to memories of his tender moments with Eiji.


    Was it wrong to still hold on to something of Eiji in his heart? He wanted to feel that Akira was his one for the rest of his life. His soulmate had always been Eiji, who was no longer alive for him.


    "Thank you." Hinata snuggled further into Akira''s embrace.


    His mind wandered to the reason they were up the mountains in a temple habitat.


    "Hey, Akira, why are we here?"


    Streams of daylight became dark and cold by the cover of dark clouds.


    "Tanaka came to me in the shop. Telling me the Kenpeitai were after you. His informant said something about Governor Takaki''s transgressions and hunting down loose ends."


    Hinata gasped. He pulled away from Akira to sit up.


    The thought of Eiji''s father to haunt his life again made his hands shake with a mixture of emotions.


    "Why are Ishikawa and Sakamoto here?" His voice quivered with panic.


    "I don''t know."


    Hinata got up and hastily dressed. His heart racing with the thought of Eiji''s coldhearted father.


    "Hinata." Akira tried to calm Hinata down.


    "Akira. You have no idea what that man was to us! He made our lives hell! My family''s livelihood was destroyed because of him. Even his own failings is causing us trouble! I''m to lose my only place left on this Earth to him again?!" Hinata''s voice quivered.


    "He enlisted his son to war to separate us. Made sure my heart condition was an excuse to dishonor me from fighting by Eiji-san''s side."


    Akira felt thankful for that aspect. He wouldn''t be with his lover otherwise.


    "No one will hurt you. I pledge my life on it." Akira promised Hinata.


    Distraught tears slipped from Hinata''s eyes, he banged his frustration into the wall.


    The shoji door slipped open. Rocko stood on the threshold with a look of warning on his face.


    "I''ve roused the others. Most of dem are ready to run." Rocko soberly updated them.


    He let out a sad sigh and weak smile at his friend. "Aki. I been told Kenpei on dah way."


    Hinata frowned, not understanding where the man was receiving his information.


    "Your peers said this?" He asked.


    Rocko shook his head. "Nah, I be the only one here. Yah have no time."


    They waited for Akira to finish dressing before meeting up with the others in the main room. Rocko said he''d lead them to a secret path down the mountain.


    "When yah come to a fork at the bottom. Take the left to go back to the truck. Take the right to head on towards Koumi."


    Hinata thanked the man as he secured the rucksack carrying Tama-chan to his back.


    The cat quietly stared about the lush green forest with eager eyes. A few times he motioned to jump out of the sack to hunt a bird, but didn''t go through with it. Instead, he continued to watch with curiosity whilst enjoying the sensation of moving without using his legs.


    They followed Rocko''s lead away from the shrine and further up the mountain. Hinata gasp when he heard patterned movements, manly commands, curt catcalls and sounds of crunching from down the mountain.


    "Sounds carry." Rocko confirmed Hinata''s thinking.


    He looked up, noticing the circling pattern of ravens high in the air around the Northern section of the mountain. Their squawking made his ears twitch and face contort with genuine worry.


    "Hurry!" He warned the group.


    They picked up their pace into a made sprint away from the approaching Kenpei.

 Chapter 21 ? Pligh

    They felt the stomping boots moving up the mountain as they sprinted as fast as they could down rocky terrain.


    Little Mei stumbled as she tripped on rocks, grazing her knees on the gravel.


    Hinata scooped her up and carried her to his front as he ran, pushing past the burning pain to his limbs. The fear of vicious men hot on their heels motivated his sprints.


    They entered the cover of high growing fronds and wise old trees towering towards the sky.


    "Not far." Rocko promised.


    He halted in his tracks when he spied the tops of hats in the far distance.


    "Shit." He cursed under his breath and glanced to the skies to see the circling ravens. Their direction was moving towards their south-east. "We go West."


    He led the party through the thick of bush and ferns, where their damp fronds soaked their clothes and skin.


    The kids were doing their best to keep up, but they were tiring fast. They couldn''t keep going at their current rate.


    Hinata made a decision.


    He stopped and turned to Akira who was carrying Miwa and Miki on his back and front.


    "Hinata, don''t you dare!" Akira hissed, keenly aware of the determined expression on Hinata''s face.


    "Rocko-san. Please take Little Mei-chan."


    "Hinata!" Akira''s hiss was louder, making Miwa cry out with fright.


    The sound of the boy''s voice carried through the air, stirring anticipating silence from everyone.


    Hinata''s heart raced with panic at the stomping boots and voices of men headed their way.


    "No time!" Hinata handed over Mei-chan.


    He hastily removed the rucksack and placed it over Rocko''s back, waking up Tama-chan in the process.


    "Protect my family, please." He bowed before the priest.


    "Save yah bows. Do want yah must." Rocko soberly acknowledge Hinata''s bravery with sad eyes.


    "I''m coming too." Akira.


    "No. You are the only one who can carry the kids." Hinata pleaded.


    He tenderly stroked Akira''s cheeks. "Live for me, please."


    Hinata watched his family and friends sprint reluctantly away from him as they followed Rocko''s plight deeper into the forest''s thick cover.


    Eventually he stood alone to brace the stillness of the moment, making his heart beats louder and mind throbbing with fear.


    He turned his thoughts to his time with Eiji and their treasured life together; their happiness at acknowledging each other''s love on their school rooftop and living a married life at their cottage.


    Eiji''s memories mingled in with his time with Akira, their little spats about having the kids in his home, their love making in the shop''s backroom and just recently.


    All the faces of the people his eyes had touched upon during his time at Mimaki Village flashed through his mind. He had been blessed with a second chance to a normal life.


    Tears fell from his eyes with thoughts of injustice. First Eiji was taken by war and now his own life was to play into the hands of it.


    "But, to protect my family is my greatest honour." Hinata declared openly. "Eiji, I''m sorry, I can''t fulfill your promise. I''m sorry."


    He heaved a determined sigh and raced for the approaching disturbance.


    His sprints stopped at a clearing of tall trees where the daylight filtered over the tops of dark fedora hats covering the heads of men wearing black trench coats and uniforms with armbands bearing that an unmistakable trademark of a Kenpei.


    A senior man coolly approached him with a handgun in one black gloved hand.


    Hinata bravely stood his ground, facing the man''s cold smile and glaring eyes beneath the shadowy viser of his fedora.


    The man''s cruel smile widen when he raised the gun before Hinata and pressed the muzzle to his forehead.


    "Round up the others," his grating voice ordered the other men.


    They filed out of the clearing to make good on their orders, leaving Hinata to stand alone with the senior Kenpei.


    Hinata''s thoughts cleared to Eiji''s image back at their middle school entrance ceremony.


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    "I''ll see you soon." He lovingly thought, as the gun''s steel burned his skin.


    He didn''t close his eyes, keeping them fixed on the Kenpei''s emotionless gaze and the gun barrel.


    ---


    Rocko sighed with relief when they reached a giant crop of mossy gray boulders that provided camouflage to a hidden gully and path through the mountains to the other side.


    Akira and Aiyama-san halted at the abnormal sounds of gunfire rupturing the atmosphere in the distance. The noise had disturbed flocks of birds into the skies.


    "Hinata." Akira gasped, his body twitching with an urge to run back.


    "Honour Chikafuji-san''s wishes." Aiyama-san reminded Akira.


    "I promised to protect him."


    "You made a new promise that overrides all others."


    Akira felt the kids to his front and back. He nodded at her words.


    They continued their plight through the boulder''s hidden path.


    ??? END OF HINATA''S POV - A SUNFLOWER''S LAMENT ???

 Chapter 22 The Stranded Stowaway Cat of Iwo Jima

    Eiji spat out his blood to the trampled, defiled ground. His hand clung to the radio he had used to announce his squad''s defeat and the banzai charge of his unit on Iwo Jima''s shores. They couldn''t hold back the overwhelming surge of US Allied Forces.


    His life was swiftly seeping away from him, turning his body numb and unfeeling to all the fiery devastation around him.


    The war was over. He had lost. The honour to live was no longer permissible to him. He would bleed out on the beach, alongside his valiant fallen comrades. Carrying what little honour he had left into the after life.


    "Hina-chan. If only I could see you one last time." He breathed his final words and wishes into the salty sea air.


    The waking sun and flashing gunfire flickered over his droopy eyes, stirring outlines of human shadows around his face.


    "Hinata. Sorry I couldn''t honour our promise," he whispered again.


    _"Who''s Hinata?"_ A foreign voice breathed into his ear with his own language.


    He closed his eyes, not caring to answer. His mind and body drifted into a numbing peace, carrying him away from his troubles and loss.


    ¡ï¡î¡ï


    The sound of slow dripping water stirred Eiji''s mind back to consciousness. He groaned as he opened his eyes, feeling his head throbbing and chest burning with pain. What was going on? Didn''t he die? He wasn''t at the gates of Yomi-no-kuni?


    "Good. Not dead I see." A thick slurry voice clumsily addressed him.


    Eiji frowned, reluctant to move.


    "If you''re wondering whether you''re dead, you''re not." The voice crudely answered his hope. "Sorry pal, but I won''t let you perform seppuku either. You''re gonna live whether you like it or not."


    WHAT?! This foreign voice that could barely articulate Nihongo, dared to dishonour him before he could move his body!


    Eiji pushed past his pain to sit up.


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    "Hey! Easy pal. Don''t be a hero!" The foreigner cursed him. "This isn''t the Samurai period."


    Eiji shook off the hands that tried to steady his shoulders as he heaved into a sitting position. The sight of a makeshift office swam into view.


    Instead of his Rikugun-Ch¨±sa sitting in the office chair and power desk, he saw an American soldier. He clicked his tongue at the sight of this foreigner making himself comfortable with his feet up on the desk that had once held important battle strategies.


    Suddenly a bizarre thought flashed through his mind at how cruel and ironic life was to plant him in this position. He was unable to hold back his laugh, which ended up as a nasty gurgle filled with blood.


    "Man, you of the Yamato Minzoku do like to suffer." The foreigner stated matter-of-factually.


    It both unnerved and made Eiji angry at the fact that this man was flaunting knowledge of his own country back at him.


    "To fight and die with honour for your country is not suffering." Eiji forced his voice to say.


    "I see. Then could you fight and die for love? Is that not honourable enough of a cause?" The man answered with a rhetorical question. His voice was sober and deadly serious, making his Japanese clear.


    Eiji frowned. Who was this man? He spent a few moments in silence, making an observation. The American''s khaki shirt and slacks didn''t hide the muscle tone around his arms and stocky legs. The stiff cotton was heavily stained with grime and blood, his boots were dirtied with dried sand and mud pressed into the sole''s teeth. At least he wasn''t a Nancy Boy. He frowned when his shirt was free from rank insignia.


    He peered at the man''s calm face with deep laugh-lines to his green eyes and corners of his lips. His freckly reddish-pale skin still had supple youth despite weathering the harsh sun for days. Blond stubble covered his square split-chin and his hair was clipped low to his scalp in the usual army style. He deduced the man''s face was the type foreign women would fall in love with and possibly some of his own kind as well. Not his type at all.


    "Checking me out, are we? Are you a homosexual?" The man tested for Eiji''s reaction.


    Eiji hated himself for starting to feel at ease around this stranger. He figured it was because the man was speaking fluently in his language.


    _"Keep your wits Eiji. This man is dangerous."_ He reaffirmed in his head.


    "Observing." Eiji answered in English and held back his chuckle at the man''s fleeting change in expression.


    "Oh, so I can speak in my native tongue. Well, let''s do that since we''re winning this rock and battle." The man crudely rubbed salt into Eiji''s wounded pride.


    "What do you want?" Eiji soberly demanded, forcing himself not to feel the pain in his chest from his heart racing too much.


    "What do I want? Well, I''m a soldier of war like you. Not like I can call my own shots, but I can offer you something of a purpose."


    Eiji responded by spitting blood on the man''s boots, foreseeing where this conversation was heading. He readied himself for the punch to his gut and face that was likely to follow.


    "IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT PRIVATE?!" The man shouted, grabbing Eiji by the collar.


    His rant ended with a weary sigh. He released his hold on Eiji and returned to his place at the power desk.


    Eiji''s frown deepened, confused by the man''s vulnerable expression. This was wrong. His country was falling to men like this?


    "If you''re thinking why your country is losing Iwo Jima. Japan stands alone."


    The man answered on Eiji''s thought. "I''ll be honest, we wouldn''t have been able to set foot on this godforsaken rock otherwise."


    "Why''re you telling me things?" Eiji gasped, not understanding this man''s intentions at all.


    He realised he was in a far worse situation. This man was most definitely dangerous.


    "I can see from your stoic expression, I''m not going to get through to you with hints." The man grabbed the chair and offered it to Eiji.


    Eiji shook his head and slowly rose to feet, so he stood eye to eye with the foreigner. "Never."


    He cursed when the man secured his arms behind his back and forced him out of the lone standing office that overlooked the Nanpo Bunker, and the caves and tunnels surrounding the naval air fields. His heart broke at the human travesty all around him.


    A morose dawn broke over the litter of dead bodies stinking the air with a foul stench of iron and that sickly sweet smell of blood; ruined artillery was smoking, barbed wire barriers were broken and mangled over thousands of corpse piles, busted sand bags and damaged beach littered with hunks of metal and burning shrapnel. His honour as a Japanese man left him as he realised the atrocities of war more deeply than he had ever felt before.


    "Look to the bunkers." The man''s voice was sober, expressionless.


    Eiji forced down his tears and gasped at the fresh clouds of smoke and sporadic flashes around the tunnels and caves. Sounds of rapid gunfire and rush of cries filled with desperate bravado pained his ears. He saw the US armed forces pressing their attacks like clock-work ants going for a complete takeover of the island. His people were being overrun.


    "It won''t be long before we flush your general out, and the rest of his men." The man continued to speak with a sober voice. "It was you who announced your defeat on the beach before the banzai charge wasn''t it?"


    The man peered into Eiji''s surprised eyes. "I was fighting near you when I heard you announce Mount Suribachi taken and the fight lost."


    "It could''ve been anyone." Eiji coolly defended his honour.


    "No. Only an honest and strong man could recognise defeat," the man answered.


    Eiji frowned. Was he praising him? This man was weird.


    "As a reward for your valour, I''ll give you my name."


    "I won''t give you mine." Eiji answered back and flinched at the man''s jarring belly laugh.


    "I was right," said the man once he calmed down. "I''m Tyne Matherson."


    "Lieutenant Matherson! Why is this POW out of confinement?!" A curt American voice shouted at them.


    Eiji wondered if that was actually their normal volume. His eyes narrowed at the mention of Tyne being a lieutenant, although he wasn''t surprised by the fact since only a man of rank could have organisation over facilities that would contain a lone foot soldier.


    "Aah Captain Walsh. Well, this kitty needed some air." Tyne joked.


    Eiji carefully observed the pristine uniform and stripes of the elderly captain whose hardened face was set with many aged wrinkles and frown lines. He almost chuckled at the man''s pot-belly, seems the man was still able to enjoy food and good drink.


    "No funny business Tyne. This foot soldier should go with the other POW." Captain Walsh sternly recommended.


    Tyne dropped his carefree expression and assumed one of serious business. "Captain, I remind you that I _am_ Lieutenant in charge of this section. This POW is useful to me. He stays."


    Eiji''s eyes widened at the gulping movements from the captain''s throat. The elderly officer suddenly showed his age and vulnerability.


    _"These men are fickle."_ Eiji thought.


    "And what about the bunkers?" Captain Walsh asked to change the subject.


    "Continue to drive attacks. Use the flash bombs to smoke them out if you have to."


    Tyne looked at Eiji as he said this. "We''ll gain complete control of this island. They''ll all surrender soon enough."


    Eiji calmed his mind and emotions with a sigh, holding himself with stillness. It was pointless to feel worked up or continue his fight for honour when all around him was failure and devastation. His thoughts rushed to the loving image of Hinata''s gentle smile. Maybe Tyne had a point of fighting on for love. He could continue living renewed with this purpose.


    "Well, put a leash on this wildcat at least." Captain Walsh threw out and left them to attend to some other military business.


    "That might not be a bad idea." Tyne gave Eiji a cocky grin.


    Eiji sighed. "Can''t be helped. Do what you like Mr. America."


    Tyne released another belly laugh. "You say that, yet I get this feisty sarcasm from your voice. I like you even more."


    "You Americans." Eiji groaned.


    Tyne escorted him back into the office that now served as his prison. What greeted them when they stepped inside surprised both of them.


    "Nya! Nya!" A bleary eye black kitten mewed on the desk.


    "I don''t remember seeing cats on this island." Tyne carefully approached the creature, so not to frighten it off.


    "Must''ve stowed away on one of your ships." Eiji soberly commented, keeping his emotions under control.


    He didn''t want to think of Tama-chan in a moment like this. Especially when he realised his advantage. It was hard when the cute kitten was cleaning itself on the desk, unsuspecting of the dangers all around it.


    "If he leaves this room, he won''t live another moment with all this fighting going on," Eiji nonchalantly commented.


    "What makes you so sure? He''s held out for this long." Tyne gently patted the cat''s head, which was purring contently to his touch.


    "There''s no living when the island is being bathed in death. Especially when there are still live mines buried in the beaches." Eiji sighed, cursing internally at the depressing words that escaped his mouth. Hinata would be disappointed at him. He held back the rush of pain at his sides, convincing himself to stay strong and not let on that he was on the verge of collapsing.


    "Well, let''s make an exception. I''ve decided, you will be my interpreter to build peaceful relations. I can''t do it on my own." Tyne coolly threw out, still patting the kitten that was rubbing its body against his hand. "I''ll convince you that we aren''t all vicious monsters."


    "Good luck with that one." Eiji stoically answered back.


    He tensed when the kitten stepped towards him with earnest eyes. He wanted to pat it, but couldn''t with his hands bound behind his back. He flinched when Tyne stepped behind him and released his binds.


    "Why?" His shock briefly flashed on his face before returning to his expressionless demeanour.


    "I told you. You are my interpreter not my POW. I''m sure this kitty would like a pat from you too." Tyne said, matter-of-factually.


    Eiji stared at him for some time, determining the psychology and agendas of this man. He understood why he was a lieutenant; definitely a dangerous man. As such, he had to hold himself carefully. He gingerly raised his hand to the kitten and tenderly patted its head.


    Agendas, political disadvantages, invasions and mass destruction, all that wasn''t the cat''s fault or business. There was no way he could be mean or evil to a harmless third party. The poor thing was in the wrong place.


    The cat appreciated Eiji''s pats with a body rub before yawning and curling itself up in a ball on the desk to sleep.


    "Tama. That will be its name." Tyne threw out, which released a torrent of memories to Eiji''s mind.


    It was just like that time Eiji had stumbled across his ginger tabby in the rain, after returning home from a tiring battle in the Hawaii Islands. If it wasn''t for his Tama-chan and Hinata, he knew he would have lost his way as a man. Was Okamisama giving him another chance?


    His heart raced when Tyne pulled out a faded red strip of cloth and tenderly tied it around Tama''s neck to form a collar.


    "Look, I''m not really going to force you to be my interpreter. If you don''t take on the role, the only other option to you is being a prisoner. Who knows how long you''ll stay in POW camps with all this fighting. You could rot to death. Where''s the honour with that?" Tyne said whilst lavishing the sleeping cat with gentle pats.


    "Don''t you want to make a difference to this war? Forget being Japanese or American, but answer me as a man. Can you uphold the same feelings of honour in rebuilding peace?"


    "Nice words, but I suppose you''d be calling all the shots. If so, there is no partnership. I''m still only taking orders." Eiji stated his piece.


    Silence hung around them, so the only sound within the room was the slow drips of water from the broken pipe in the corner.


    "Three years sitting on a rock. Nothing changes overnight." Tyne broke through the silence speaking Japanese. "We need water to stir the change."


    "You really want this change don''t you?" Eiji frowned, not wanting to believe what his heart was beginning to realise.


    As it was, he couldn''t have any hope of honour back in a prison camp. He was already sick of death and dying. It wouldn''t bring him anywhere closer to his promise with Hinata. Plus being a privileged POW might still help save his country the war. He certainly recognised his unique position.


    "Fine, but don''t blame me if your world peace plans go south." He reluctantly agreed.


    Tyne sealed the deal on their partnership with a genuine smile.

 Chapter 23 Proof of Life

    Eiji was confined to the prison office. Tyne had been called away for his duties, leaving him to care for Tama with his own army''s military rations that was found on site.


    He knew he was both fortunate and cursed to be in his solitary confinement, and there wasn''t much he could do about. The patched up hole in his stomach was seeping again and close to infection. If gunfire or bomb blasts weren''t going to kill him, gangrene would.


    If only he was able to learn something of the enemy that could tip the tables for his country. The room was too far removed from the main fight. He was isolated and too well confined.


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    "If alive, do not suffer the disgrace of becoming a prisoner; in death, do not leave behind a name soiled by misdeeds..." Eiji chanted from the Senjinkun he had memorised. His voice trembled on the words, causing a mess of troubled thoughts in his mind.


    "I''m disgracing both. I don''t understand. Okamisama, please, what''s to become of me?"


    His solace was in comforting Tama whenever her nap was broken by sounds of brutal gunfire and bombings that shook the room. He would hold her trembling body to his chest and gently stroke her to calm her down. He could relax when he saw her body curled up asleep on his lap.


    "It''s okay Tama. It''ll be okay." He would fall asleep as he calmly whispered those reassuring words to her slumbering body with loving pats.


    Time went by with the sounds of war receding in the distance. Tama frequently slept on his lap. He counted time through her nap patterns and had estimated he had been confined for almost twenty days. Eiji was dumbfounded as to why he wasn''t sent to the POW camp. Why keep him confined for so long?


    A few times Tyne returned with their military doctor to redress his wounds. Of course, no one said anything to him when Tama''s litter was cleaned out and more rations were left for them. Eiji gave the rations to Tama, hoping it would help her grow and be strong enough to survive.


    "You have to eat too, you''re loosing body fat." Tyne scolded Eiji when he returned alone and saw he wasn''t eating and moving around the room.


    Eiji chuckled at Tyne''s display of concern. He was a complicated person to try to understand.


    "Tama gets the food because she''s more important than any of us here."


    Tyne sighed and dropped his arguments on the matter.


    "March 16th is tomorrow. It''s likely we''ll have complete control of this island. Regardless, too much blood has been spilt on these shores." Tyne commented absent-mindlessly, his voice lost to his troubled thoughts.


    Eiji finally realised their common ground other than Tama.


    "Continue to rub salt in my dishonour. You won''t even give me the chance to redeem myself."


    "Goddamn it, man! I have! Death is not the only way to reclaim your honour!" Tyne yelled.


    Eiji gasped with concern when Tama was crudely taken from his lap and awoken by Tyne''s abrupt hold on her.


    "Nya! Nya!" The black kitten desperately mewed and struggled under Tyne''s tight hold.


    "Tama is proof of life! Can''t she be your reclaim to honour?!"


    Eiji reached out his hands to Tama''s frightened body, wanting to soothe away her fears.


    Tyne let her go. Tama fled them both to hide under the chair. She was shaking like a leaf.


    Eiji''s arms flopped to his sides. Tears slid down from his eyes as he felt his whole situation a lost, hopeless cause. His mind was a confused mess of honour, dishonour and his longing to be with Hinata. Why would countries war? Soldiers weren''t alien monsters. They were people. Normal, every day, people. Sure he fought for his country, but it was his love for Hinata that kept him fighting on. Otherwise, he would''ve dropped his guns and died a long time ago.


    "I''m tired. I don''t get anything anymore."


    Tyne heaved a weary sigh and slumped down next to Eiji, staring out to Tama with hope that she would return to him.


    "Then tell me your name. Almost a month and I don''t know it."


    "Not telling." Eiji stubbornly answered.


    "Well, I''m relieved to see you haven''t let go of your stubborn streak."


    "Why are you keeping me? I''m no one important. I''m just a radio operator."


    Tyne lowered his eyes to the floor, taking time with his response.


    "It was the sound of your voice. I had hit the beach when I heard you speak in the radio before the charge."


    "Eh?" Eiji stared at him with perplexed frown.


    "I studied languages at college before coming to war. I can tell when a man knows other languages by the sound of his voice. Yours carries a roundness unnatural to a lot of Japanese voices I''ve heard."


    Eiji frowned, not convinced by his bizarre explanation. Nevertheless, there was no point in dissecting the matter further. It did confirm his suspicions on Tyne''s ability to being fluent in Japanese. He realised they had another thing in common. Although, his ability for language was learned by adapting to situations in the field rather than out of a book. He was fortunate he had been able to study properly when he had been living with Hinata.


    "Hinata''s your purpose for fighting isn''t she?"


    The question threw Eiji for a loop. He cursed the obvious expression of surprise on his face. His instincts were telling him to stop slipping up and stay on his guard.


    Tyne sighed and faced Eiji squarely.


    "There''s no shame in fighting this war for a different reason."


    Eiji spat at his face. To think he was starting to believe the hope this man gave him. He realised that he was being taken for a fool the whole time. This man dared to use his lover''s name as an advantage point. Of course, damaged done in war wasn''t all from gunfire and bombings.


    "You do not dictate my honour!"


    Tyne slowly rose to his feet and stared down on Eiji. "One day, you''ll come to see that I wasn''t being mean with my words."


    He left the room.

 Chapter 24 March 16th A Day for Ceasefire

    Tyne returned to Eiji occasionally and briefly to give him updates of America''s winnings; nothing that would be considered meaningful intelligence, but it was enough to show Eiji his place in the war.


    Another form of psychological warfare Eiji had presumed. Especially when it was clear that his country had no recourse for success.


    The foreign forces relentlessly attacked the island with greater firepower, rolling in reinforcements day in and day out. Eiji''s fellow soldiers were being forced deeper into the tunnels and caves towards the north-west. He cringed as he recalled his brief experience in them; those tunnels were dry, stuffy and unforgiving terrain. He was worried his people wouldn''t be able to survive a siege.


    He was finally let out of the office prison by two young US soldiers who threatened to harm Tama if he so much as tried to escape. For Tama''s sake, he complied.


    "Stay with me Tama." He pleaded to the cat in his own language when she was secured within his shirt.


    He held her tight as they stepped outside and headed down a dirt slop towards enemy tents pitched on cleared ground next to their landed planes. Hot gusty winds whipped their skin as they trudged through ash-soil to enter the military camp. The soldier escorts pressed the muzzle of their rifles hard into his sides as he walked their pace towards a large tent set farthest from the air strip.


    He kept his face expressionless and posture strong as he copped vehement and filthy stares from all the foreign soldiers he passed.


    "Bloody Jap! Rot in hell you bastard!" A solider shouted and spat at his face.


    This outburst initiated a frenzy of cat calls and abusive attention that his escorts were not bothering to protect him from. Eiji kept his cool and protection over Tama as the men shoved and punched him, allowing their emotions to override their composure. His only thought was to make sure the innocent kitten wasn''t being hurt.


    "STAND DOWN SOLDIERS! STAND DOWN NOW!" Tyne''s voice bellowed over the frenzied crowd as he pushed his way towards Eiji and dragged him away from the excited mob.


    "ALL OF YOU ARE ON DUTY RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO GEAR UP OR FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION!" He shouted to the men again that dispersed the crowd with a heavy grumble and crude accusations of Tyne being a ''yellow loving bastard''.


    Eiji checked on Tama and sighed when he saw her wide eyes looking back at him from within his shirt. Her body was trembling unharmed. The experience had left her too scared to move.


    "Is Tama okay?" Tyne whispered.


    Eiji nodded.


    Tyne sighed with relief and offered his apologises.


    "What do you expect when dangle bait before sharks?" Eiji growled at Tyne as he reclaimed some of his strength with a few deep breaths.


    He dropped his annoyance with a sigh, ignoring his fresh pains and focused his attention on Tama who was gradually relaxing.


    The men walked in silence to the tent flapping in the acrid winds. Distant sounds of sporadic explosions and rapid firing surrounded them. A stench of gasoline from the roaming G503 off-road jeeps, fresh iron fillings and sweat wafted up Eiji''s nose as he neared the tent''s opening. His heart raced with longing as he looked toward the flashing lights and smoke rising from the high terrain in the distance.


    "This is the POW?" An firm voice intruded on his thoughts.


    "Major Schmidt." Tyne saluted a hardened middle-aged soldier of rank.


    The man''s stiff peak cap bore the insignia of a US army major. He stood out with his pristine khaki uniform button tight over his lean torso. His boots looked way too clean to have suffered some heavy ground. Eiji suspected the man was a recent arrival from a reinforcement convoy.


    "We''ve taken control of the bases, but General Kuribayashi continues to hold out underground. Even with their surprise attacks on us, they''re not able to gain ground. They''re running out of firepower. I don''t see them holding out much longer. Now is the time for a ceasefire negotiation." Tyne soberly reported.


    Major Schimdt coolly sized up Eiji to determine what type of threat he would end up being to them. "I''m taking a risk here Lieutenant. You think these Japs will surrender?"


    He''s conversation was directed to Tyne, but his eyes were dead-set on Eiji. No doubt assessing his reaction.


    "Major, sir, they''ve lost a lot of men and firepower to us. The Japanese are outnumbered and outgunned. They know this. I think it''s worth the shot. We don''t have anything to loose by trying it." Tyne carefully reassured his superior.


    Eiji sighed realising what they wanted from him. Of course terms of surrender were better fed from one of your own. If they didn''t like the message there was no harm in shooting down the messenger for effect.


    "You have ten minutes to gain your general''s surrender." Major Schimdt directed his final words to Eiji. He left the tent to attend other military business.


    Tyne and his armed escorts led Eiji into a jeep, where he was driven to the front-lines. Tama was taken from him by Tyne with his promises of keeping her safe.


    The armed escorts nudged Eiji through the barricades, past medics making do with supplies to bandage damaged soldiers and armed squads fighting his people from sandbag and barbwire barricades. It was a strange feeling watching your own men being fired on from behind enemy lines.


    All eyes cautiously watched Tyne and Eiji''s procession with looks of confusion, vehemence and concern. Neither stopped their approach towards the barbwire blockade and secured entrance to the central tunnels where Eiji suspected a squad of marines from Okinawa were defending with all their might.


    "Itt¨­hei Takai Eiji reporting!" Eiji clearly shouted out his name and rank through the smoke and blaring gunfire. "I''m forced to carry a message for our general!"


    A moment of miraculous silence and stilled gunfire occurred on both sides as Eiji slowly stepped before his comrades, holding back his emotions. He made his presence obvious, so they could see he was a prisoner of war under a pretence of delivering a message from the enemy.


    "What is the meaning of this Takaki?!" Questioned the highest ranking officer on the field.


    Eiji relayed the message to the young sergeant. "The Americans have claimed the bases and secured the outer areas of the island. They have complete control except here. They propose a ceasefire under conditions for our surrender."


    Tears slipped from his eyes as he soberly finished relaying the message. He smiled when every single one of his countrymen raised their guns to resume their fight. If he was shot down at this moment, he felt his honour was restored. At least he told the truth of the situation, so his general could adapt his strategies.


    "Takaki. A prisoner of war can no longer speak for our country. But, you can tell these Americans this, we will never surrender! I speak for our good general and country. JAPAN WILL NEVER SURRENDER!" The young sergeant valiantly answered in place of their general.


    Eiji smiled proudly, knowing this was the answer they were going to give. He bowed low then moved out of the path of fire that had resumed.


    "That''s disappointing." Tyne heaved with a weary sigh.


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    "What do you expect from the country with kamikaze? Japan will valiantly hold out to the end." Eiji reaffirmed.


    "Right now, you should be worried about yourself," Tyne solemnly said. "As of now, I''m no longer responsible for you."


    Eiji laughed. "Yeah, I figured as much. Take me to the POW camp, but I''ll selfishly demand one thing Lieutenant America."


    He surprised Tyne when he bowed low and spoke to him in Japanese. "Please protect Tama and make sure she''s safe as the lone civilian on this island."


    "I''m not a monster Takaki-san. You can count on it.'' Tyne promised.


    Eiji was escorted back to the jeep. It kicked up clouds of ash soil as it drove off for the POW camp near Mount Suribachi.

 Chapter 25 The Tama Miracle

    The jeep carrying Eiji neared the high-fence perimeter that caged his captive fellow soldiers. The vehicle was run off its course by unexpected gunfire and a grenade explosion meters before it.


    Tyne held Tama''s struggling body tight as the jeep swerved into a high mound of ash-soil. He kept his hold on her with all his might, struggling to shake off the fierce ringing in his ear and ignore the scratches she gave his arm.


    "Takaki-san! Private Smith, Abbots!" He called out a roll call through the thick clouds of black soot that concealed the jeep and everyone''s location.


    "Here!" An American voice answered his call.


    "Hai!" Eiji reluctantly answered.


    One voice didn''t respond. Eiji said a quick prayer for his soldier escort who had died next to him from a bullet to his head. He sighed realising the man was a few years younger.


    "Moushiwake gozaimasen," he reverently said to the man, whilst gently pulling his unresponsive eyelids closed.


    "Sir, the camp is ahead, but we''re swerved near a minefield." The young American''s voice betrayed a quiver.


    Tyne''s earache eased; he was able to peer through the settled clouds of soot to see the square one mile section of fenced off space with no fighting occurring on it. The area''s section far-right had a lot of disturbed terrain, vehicle parts and mangled artillery evident of mine explosions. He cast his eyes across the rest of the landscape and realised they had hit one of the main paths back to Mount Suribachi.


    "Probably buried with Hako-Baku-Rai," Eiji said soberly.


    "Then stepping on one has a three second delay," Tyne answered.


    "Good news. At least we won''t be fired on at close range anytime soon." Eiji wryly commented. He looked to his soldier escort. "Do I need to call you something?"


    The American soldier frowned, confused.


    "Private Smith," Tyne answered for the young soldier.


    "Lead the way Private Smith," Eiji said to the soldier in perfectly elocuted English.


    He smirked at the soldier''s deep-set frown.


    Private Smith spent a few seconds saying a reverent farewell to his comrade and pocketing the deceased man''s stripes, dog-tags and letter hidden in his breast pocket. He rechecked and secured his weapons.


    Eiji remained a prisoner of war, but with his hands untied on a threat that they''ll let him wander out into the middle of the minefield and leave him there. He didn''t see the need to die by explosion, so agreed to their terms. Besides, he wasn''t in the mood to fight enemies anymore with his honour already blown to smithereens.


    They took to the uneven terrain on foot and managed to make it to the prison camp thanks to Tama''s cries of warning whenever they were close to a live mine. It seemed she was able to sense the devices. Tyne took her cries seriously, especially when she only cried and tried to scramble free from his hold at certain points then relaxing as soon as their direction changed.


    "This cat is sent from God!" Private Smith concluded with grateful thanks and pats to Tama when they entered the US base camp securing the POW site.


    Eiji glanced around the familiar terrain that he had setup as both a firing and resource point before he went to the beaches. Now it was used as a US reinforcement base and enclosure for prisoners like himself.


    "Take Tama. Keep her safe." Tyne handed the kitten over to Eiji.


    "Why?" Eiji didn''t understand.


    "Because this enclosure is the last place either forces will think on destroying," Tyne soberly answered and secretly shoved a small tin of rations into his pocket. "For Tama. No matter what Takaki-san, she _must_ live. I promised you, now you promise me."


    "For once, I openly acknowledge our common ground," Eiji said.


    Private Smith locked him into the despondent high-fenced area where there was no shelter from the weather or any signs of natural vegetation. It was a section of dirt occupied by men. Eiji stowed Tama under his shirt and was relieved that she fell asleep.


    He gingerly weaved his way through his fellow captives, noting their crestfallen expressions and heads hanging low. The only noises heard or voices expressed was from the Americans stationed outside and explosions and gunfire occurring beyond the escape-proof fence. The Japanese POW held their silence since it was the only thing they could do now.


    "Do my eyes deceive me? Takaki-kun?" An educated voice gingerly called out to Eiji.


    Tears spilled out of Eiji''s eyes when he recognised his old middle school teacher in a blood stained and dirtied uniform showing the insignia of a senior private.


    The teacher of his middle school days was an impressionable new adult fresh out of college, who had loved to quote Haiku poems. He had also been the adviser for his school''s karuta club. Eiji fondly remembered the man being a pristine, wise and soothing presence. It made no sense to see him fighting a crude and bloodthirsty war.


    "Ohno-sensei? Is that really you?" Eiji''s voice trembled, as his mind struggled to hold back thoughts of home. He politely bowed before his old teacher.


    "Takaki-kun. Here I hoped I''d never run into any of my students in this place." Ohno-sensei''s voice was quiet with a mixture of relief and sadness.


    "Yeah." Eiji sighed.


    "Are you still friends with Chikafuji-kun?" Ohno-sensei politely asked, hoping it would lighten the mood.


    "Yeah." Eiji sighed again.


    "That''s good. He was a good boy."


    "Yeah."


    Silent resumed. Eiji''s senses were heightened to the smell of cigarettes being dumped near the fences, used gunpowder and excreted waste mixed with the island''s unmistakable sulphur.


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    After a while, Tama stirred awake with a weak mew that caught Ohno-sensei''s attention.


    "Neko? Impossible!" Ohno-sensei whispered with disbelief.


    Eiji hushed the creature, hoping to avoid more attention. It was difficult when Tama was wanting to stretch her legs.


    What happened next was something Eiji termed a Tama Miracle.


    The black kitten escaped his shirt to land on the area near his legs; as she sniffed the ground around him, she drew in curious onlookers. Eiji panicked, fearing the worst for the cat and the rations he held for her.


    "Neko?" said the bandaged old soldier near him. The man flashed Tama a weak smile.


    Eiji gasped and scrambled for Tama when she sniffed around the old soldier''s bandaged leg.


    "Very sorry," Eiji apologised with a bow as he scooped Tama up in his arms.


    Tama wiggled free and returned to the bandaged old soldier to give his damaged leg a healing lick.


    The old soldier''s smile widen as he gently patted her head, tears glisten in his eyes.


    "Aah, you are just like that little Kuro-chan my daughter brought home many years now." His voice trembled with tears as his mind lapsed into nostalgia.


    Soon other fellow prisoners found their way to Tama to give her some friendly pats. They shared their stories of home, focusing on funny times about their cats, kids and other pets.


    The dreaded silence that Eiji had walked into was replaced with calm nostalgia with Tama drawing out more feel-good stories from all the POW who found their way to give her appreciative pats.


    The final days of Iwo Jima was like this for the POW, with Tama doing her healing rounds and returning to Eiji to eat and sleep. Everyone called her the Maneki Neko, seeing her as Okamisama''s blessings for their way into the afterlife. The prisoners never said it, but they all knew that protecting Tama and keeping her well was their upmost priority. Any food or water a POW had was secretly offered to the kitten with round the clock protection to ensure none of the American''s were aware of her presence.


    "She is truly a messenger from God. To show up on this island where even the birds have left it, bring us hope. Thank you little one." Ohno-sensei had thanked Tama with a pat.


    Tyne returned to the camp on the 26th of March with a proposition for Eiji and Tama.


    "Takaki-san. I wasn''t lying when I said you''d be my interpreter. I have business in Hiroshima that I need your assistance." Tyne carefully laid out for Eiji.


    "I''m not going to betray my country." Eiji firmly stated.


    "Who said about betraying country?" Tyne stated.


    He took some time to gather his thoughts. When he was sure no other ears were listening, he provided a straightforward explanation.


    "I need your help in finding my wife there," Tyne said levelly and added with a careful bow. "Please."


    Eiji frowned, confused and shocked. Did the man just say he wanted him to help him find is wife? What was an American civilian doing in Hiroshima?


    "Um, excuse me? Did you say wife?" Eiji rephrased.


    Tyne nodded. "I have some official orders that takes me to the mainland. I can take a POW asset as a guide."


    "Am I clear this ask is off the record?" Eiji whispered, still dumbfounded.


    "Yes, but your cover as a POW guide won''t be. Takaki-san, surely you realise as a POW you are forfeit from your country. I can gain you entry back inside the mainland under official orders as a US POW asset granted treatment under international conventions."


    Eiji sighed, realising Tyne was right and cursed when he saw it was his only way back to Hinata. Otherwise, who knows where he would be shipped off to. If he ended up in a country like Russia he was doomed.


    "Okay. I accept. Tell me more when we reach the mainland."


    A few hours later Eiji said his farewells to his old teacher, promising to take his letter and well wishes to his wife and child. All the other prisoners wished Eiji continued good fortune and thanked him for bringing Tama.


    "Ohno-sensei, the last of rations. Sorry." Eiji bowed as he handed his old teacher his ration tin.


    "Take care Takaki-kun." Ohno-sensei calmly accepted the parting gift.


    Eiji and Tama were taken into an aircraft carrier as Tyne''s prisoners. They landed on a US escort carrier approaching Okinawa as the cherry blossoms were starting to bloom on the mainland.

 Chapter 26 A Time When the Cherry Blossoms Fell

    Eiji and Tama survived animosity due to being contained within a holding cell on the deck of the US escort carrier headed for Okinawa. His left wrist was loosely bound to a pipe fixture. Otherwise, he was free to move about the cool metal tank, so he could tend to Tama. The metal floor was a soothing relief from the harsh and arid climate of the island. The stench of iron and old mould didn''t bother his senses either.


    The cell was nothing compared to the many days he had suffered the cramped sleeper cells of the cruiser he travelled for the Hawaii Islands at his last tour. Everyone had to rough the North Pacific Ocean to reach the islands by the middle of November 1941. Being jammed between fellow soldiers who hadn''t bathed for days had been no fun at all.


    He chuckled at a lighter memory of when he shared a sleeper cell with a fellow soldier named Yuri Sakamoto and a couple of newbies from Kyoto. There had been more soldiers than space on his ship, so sleepers were over capacity. His bunk partner had complained about the constant pong of foul eggs he had let off under the blanket they shared.


    "Gaah! Tell me you didn''t eat those bean rations Takaki!" Yuri had bitterly cursed whilst shaking out their blanket.


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    Eiji''s devilish chuckle at the memory stirred up the pain from his wound at his stomach, making him cough. As he patted his chest, he felt the stiff paper that was in his pocket. He pulled out Ohno-sensei''s letter for his wife. The stale-yellow face of the envelope''s paper was carefully smoothed out around her name written in the center whilst its edges suffered the most of the scuffs. He returned the tenderly cared for letter respectfully back to his breast pocket.


    This made him remember his letter he had entrusted to Yuri for Hinata, praying the man had delivered it to him.


    Tears welled in his eyes, which he kept from spilling out with a few heavy and uneven sighs. His memories wandered to Hinata''s wifely scolding for him to pack away his books that he left lying around the floor or to stop gobbling his food, so it made him suffer indigestion afterwards.


    "Eiji-san! You eat too fast! You have to chew thirty times before swallowing." Hinata would pout with a huff to signify the end of his scolding. Eiji would soothe his pouts with a tender kiss that led to further foreplay and love making.


    He became aroused as his thoughts lingered on more memories with his lover. His heart raced feverishly as his fingers remembered their feathery touches along Hinata''s maiden-fair skin and the warm and pleasant tingles he felt from Hinata''s kisses.


    "I miss you Hina-chan. Okamisama, I''ll give anything to be with him again." Eiji deeply sighed. "Anything."


    His mind lapsed further into blissful memories of their middle school''s Entrance Ceremony where the crisp pure white and pink cherry blossom petals had lazily drifted through the air, stirred about by mellow winds. They fell about excited youths bracing their first day of new school life. He had been sucked into the duty of welcoming these newbies into the school hall for the ceremony.


    "Ohno-sensei. Wouldn''t Class President Sato be a better fit for the job? I''m likely to stab the kids with my heavy hands." He had moaned and whined to his homeroom teacher with hopes of getting out of it.


    Ohno-sensei had responded with a chuckle and kind reassurance that he was the perfect boy for the job, sealing the deal with a pat to his back.


    "Perfect my ass." Eiji had thought when he sat behind a long table laden with navy ribbons to pin to newbie jackets.


    Black jacket after black jacket he pinned the things with his clumsy fingers near stabbing some poor kids in the chest. Hinata was towards the end of the line. By then his patience and strength had wane underneath the noonday sun. His fingers slipped when he pinned the ribbon to Hinata''s jacket, accidentally pricking his chest.


    "Oops." Was the only words he had said to him at that time.


    Hinata stole his heart when he held both his hands and lightly massaged them.


    "Your hands must be tired Senpai." Hinata''s words and massage had soothed his pains. "I''m okay. Hope your hands are feeling better."


    Eiji''s heart had raced a million miles when he met Hinata''s delicate light-brown eyes, warm smile and a countenance more beautiful than any girl he had ever seen before. When Hinata had moved up the line, and he saw the full length of his lean body in a no collar black uniform, his heart had plummeted with a realisation that his first love was a guy.


    For the first few weeks of his school year, he spent a good amount of time brushing off the infatuation and telling himself he was going through a weird phase of puberty. Especially when he rarely saw Hinata around the grounds. How could he be in love with a guy? Was that even allowed?


    His love troubles plagued him when Hinata joined his school archery club. He had been determined to hide his feelings and be the indifferent senpai. It was difficult when Hinata was an earnest and cheerful guy. There was a good chemistry between them. His love-struck turmoil had impacted on his sports performance, resulting to many clumsy trick shots and out of target landings. Unable to deny the truth of his feelings, he admitted his love. This had brought his sports performance back up in time to secure his second national win for his school. Not long after, Hinata had bet him to the punch on confessing his love for him.


    Tama''s excited cries drew him out of nostalgia. He smiled at her playfulness around their small space. She was running about the pipes that ran up the walls. Eiji saw there were mice passing through the room from cracks in the pipes. The kitten was having a field day.


    "Tama, please tell you''re not a nekomata." Eiji half joked.


    He wasn''t a believer of old wives tales and local myths, but having the cat in the cell with him was making him a believer. Especially when she was taking to the rugged sea journey like a hardy sailor.


    Tyne had left him enough dinner rations and a canteen of water for three days for both of them. Eiji guessed he would need to portion out the luncheon meat for Tama to last five to six. He was content to survive on gum. He made sure the water was given sparingly with most of the quantity to the cat. It helped that she was also able to procure food from the live game the cell had to offer.


    No one else aside from Tyne had visited the cell. This fact made him frown. Surely the enemy would be curious and paranoid that a prisoner of war was on board their ship. Either way, he was grateful for the respite. Plus, it gave time for Tama to move around like a kitten.


    He was able to drift in and out of light sleep, enjoying the sight of Tama chasing her tail or being playful about the cell.

 Chapter 27 Skipping the Iceberg

    Curt banging jolted Eiji from his sleep and made Tama mew with fright.


    "Rise and shine Darling!" A young American solider further roused Eiji awake. He unbound Eiji''s numb wrist and poked his side with the muzzle of a Colt M1917 steel revolver.


    "Seriously?" Eiji groaned apathetically at the soldier in plain English as he rubbed his side area better and rose firmly to his feet.


    He picked up the kitten who had resettled in a tight curl against a pipe. She mewed and wiggled with protest, but was soon calm by his rhythmic pats. He was able to stow her snoozing body under his shirt.


    Although Tyne had promised he would be protected from harm as a POW for a purpose, what was stopping other soldiers from finding out he was there and sneaking in to use him as a venting mechanism before tossing his dead carcass into the Philippine Sea? No matter what happened to him, he couldn''t let anything harm Tama.


    "Cute kitty." The American solider threw out the random comment.


    It made Eiji go stiff with concern and his hold on Tama more protective.


    "Right." He carefully responded. His eyes skirted about the holes in the pipes to see if they would be big enough for her to fit through if needs be.


    The soldier surprised him further when he stowed the gun in the belt-holster against his hip and closed the door, enclosing both of them in the cell.


    "You ain''t going to do anything are you?" The soldier levelly asked.


    "What about you?" Eiji gulped, taking a few steps away from him.


    "It''s too early for a scrimmage. I just wanna chat." The soldier coolly cocked his head to one side to observe Eiji from another angle. "Five minute truce. I promise I won''t do anything to you if you do nothing to me."


    He raised both his hands before him, so Eiji could see the pink flesh of his spongy palms and callouses that were a common sight on experienced gun-hands.


    Eiji frowned, wondering what kind of psychology these American''s were trying on him now.


    "I''m on an enemy vessel in the middle of the Philippine Sea with a cat. There''s probably a few squadrons on board..."


    "Five." The soldier corrected him with a creepy grin.


    "Right." Eiji gulped, concerned that he was balancing a fine act with a crazy man. "I''m not in any position to do a stupid escape attempt."


    His concerns deepened when the soldier stood at ease before him. The soldier''s smile lowered into a businessman''s grin.


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    "You''re the POW who is multilingual." The soldier surprised Eiji by speaking fluently in Japanese. "I must say, your English is bloody good. Better than a lot of the guys on this ship."


    "Geeze, how many more Americans can speak their enemy''s language." Eiji gulped nervously as his eyes darted around the room to further determine Tama''s exit points if a fight were to occur.


    The soldier chuckled. "Definitely two. You''re speaking to one and you certainly owe your skin to the other. On another ship they have a classroom full a fluent speakers breaking your country''s military codes with cereal-prize-box, code breaking toys."


    Eiji sighed, dropping thoughts of Tama''s escape. Now was a time of playing his cards right since it seemed this solider was intent on having his chat and so far didn''t show any signs of wanting to cause harm. At least physically. He was conscious of maintaining his poker face when the soldier kept switching languages on him.


    "Do you understand what I''m saying now?" the soldier asked him in Deutsch.


    Eiji cringed, feeling like he was undergoing the intensive language test for his former junior assistant-engineering job all over again.


    "Yes, yes, that too." He replied in Deutsch with a sigh.


    "Brilliant!" The solider startled Eiji with a jarring clap.


    Eiji studied the solider''s stance and features, taking note of his mousy-brown hair peeking through his khaki peak cap, lean and toned body in the same colour uniform with chevron stripes of a marine corporal sewn on this right shoulder and army boots looking too clean to have suffered some hard ground. The solider was half a head taller than him, which wasn''t very tall; about 5-foot-8. Unlike Tyne''s manly features, his skin was light, a bit pinkish and soft, face slender, slightly effeminate and youthful with bright green eyes, making him appealing and unassuming to both sexes.


    _"Like a Kitsune."_ Eiji concluded his analysis. Not a man to let your guard down that was for sure. _"Yep, a Kitsune-san."_


    For now, all he could do was go at their pace. The first task was making sure he and Tama reached the mainland in one piece, alive. From there he could scope for a break to find his way back to Hinata.


    The door opened to break their bilingual conversation. Tyne stepped into the room with three army packs and bundles in his hands. The door swung to a close behind him.


    "Look lively ladies. We have ten minutes to board the Phantom before the carrier breaks Okinawa waters." Tyne ordered and threw a pack before Eiji''s feet "Before anyone notices you."


    Eiji''s mind ticked madly at the word Phantom. Were they serious?


    Tyne tossed a heavy bundle of material on top of the pack. Eiji carefully placed Tama down to inspect the bundle. He unravelled civilian clothes.


    "Five minutes Takaki-san, if you want to reach the mainland."


    Eiji refocused on dressing as quickly and smartly as he could in the brown victory suit, lightweight white stiff-peak collar shirt and plain brown Oxford lace-ups. He pocketed his teacher''s letter and sighed, realising it had been a long time since he wore civilian clothes. The suit jacket was a bit too broad around his chest, making him feel like a kid wearing that school uniform he had to grown into.


    "Did you rip these off some sad beefcake?" He complained that stirred a chuckle from the Kitsune-san.


    "Nice going Takaki-san. Two minutes." Tyne ignored his question as he checked the time on a brass pocket watch with the seal of a German manufacturer etched on its back face.


    Tyne and the Kitsune-san were also dressed in grey civilian business suits and hats. Eiji clicked on what was going on.


    The door swung wide, startling Tama. Tyne managed to grab her before she was able to bolt out of the cell. He gently stowed her in one of the packs, leaving enough opening so her head could poke out.


    "Lieutenant, Sir! I''m here to take you all to the Phantom, Sir!" A marine in green camouflage gave Tyne a stiff salute.


    _"Too loud."_ Eiji groaned in his head.


    The stink of metal, heavy oil and gunpowder wafted up his nose as he followed the escort out of the cell and down a narrow passageway where the bulkhead sconces were barely lit to guide their way up to the hangar bay.


    A strong slap of the obscure, night sea air whipped Eiji''s skin as he alighted to the dimly lit hangar.


    He followed Tyne and his escorts through light rains that continued to slap their skin as they hurried for the dull unmarked fighter plane that was sitting at the start of the runway.


    As he neared the low-profile plane, he realised it was a twin-jet fighter where the bubble-style canopy was in front of the wings, which were made with split flaps on the folding and fixed sections. It was a plane for stealth and high performance.


    _"We''re definitely sneaking into the country."_ He thought, not surprised considering it was the only way to enter without alerting a siren.


    Yet could they really enter the country undetected?


    He stepped into the passenger area of the cockpit with Tyne and the Kitsune-san squeezed into the chairs either side of him. Both of them were soaked with rain like him. What the hell was the point of them getting dressed?


    "Wear this." Tyne said as he threw Eiji and the Kitsune-san a leather mask and helmet.


    Tyne buckled up and hugged the pack carrying Tama to his chest, making sure she was okay before closing up just enough of the zip so she could breath. The kitten timidly mewed with frightful eyes staring back at him, but she was okay. He soothed her fears through the pack the best he could. He prayed that she was able survive the flight. It had been his main concern, so he had fitted the pack with as much weather and soundproof insulin as possible to keep her snug. Doing so without alerting questions from others.


    Eiji sighed and buckled up, securing the helmet and mask to his head.


    An American pilot, wearing the classic heavy bomber jacket with a different insignia to Tyne''s (Eiji guessed it was from a Navy fleet) on his right breast, entered the driver''s seat. He gave Eiji a narrow, dirty, look from his dark eyes before clicking his tongue and donning his leather helmet.


    "Betta not cause trouble for me Jap." He issued his pilot''s safety check to Eiji before fitting his mask over his mouth.


    He revved up the plane and pulled it out for a take off.


    Eiji stifled a laugh at the irony of having to rely on an enemy stealth vehicle to return to his own country.


    "Destiny''s a bitch." He mumbled.


    His voice was pulled back into this throat when the Phantom jet-plane lifted its nose and zoomed off the carrier''s runaway to take a secret route into Japan''s mainland, away from the approaching fight on Okinawa.

 Chapter 28 Okaerinasai

    The Phantom had landed on a secret carrier in a ''friendlies'' zone of the Tsushima Strait near Izuhara.


    The carrier was unmarked, masquerading as a merchant vehicle for Germans. So, it had been stricken off as a non enemy threat by the Imperial Navy''s register. Eiji was nervous about what else had slipped under the radar and into his country unsuspectingly this way.


    They boarded a commercial sea plane, leaving the carrier with a full cover of German Prosthetic Sales Men for a company called Wiesmen that had sold automotive products in Japan before it faced a trade embago in 1939. US Intelligence had caught on about the company''s recent trade agreement signing with a government funded project based in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki prefectures for medical technologies. It had given the US an opening to take advantage.


    The cognitive dissonance of the Americans pretending to be Germans didn''t sit well with Eiji. He was determined not to make them aware, keeping his concerns to himself and poker face on at all times. All he could do was shadow their work. He prayed that whatever the Americans were planning to do to his country didn''t involve mass genocide to his people. He had to rely on Tyne''s good faith about rebuilding peace and seeing to this war as honourable adversaries as they had been at Iwo Jima.


    His heart thumped with trepidation as he felt a brisk breeze to his skin as soon as he walked off the plane with Tyne and the Kitsune-san, and entered a cleared field somewhere in Hamada-shi, which was apparently a new town. So, it yet had the infrastructure to detect, let alone, deal with enemy/non enemy planes.


    "Sirs, I''ll be taking off," said the pilot from the plane''s cockpit. Tyne acknowledged the goodbye with a wave of his hand.


    The three of them strolled down a cleared path, away from the plane that was driving down a strip of clear field behind them and doing a take off.


    The scent of wild flowers and musk graced Eiji''s senses with a welcome home feeling.


    "I''m home?" His voice croaked, still in disbelief that his feet were touching the mainlands'' soil.


    "Okaerinasai." Tyne soberly whispered to Eiji.


    "How do you know this greeting?" Eiji keep a level tone to his voice, but his heart was pounding with annoyance.


    "I told you, I majored languages. My teachers taught us the basic courtesies." Tyne soberly answered.


    Eiji stared dubiously at the man who was definitely passing off the German business man look with his dried grey suit and Fedora hat. Tyne held a briefcase in one hand and an agitated Tama in a soft handwoven wicker basket in the other. She had fortunately survived the phantom plane trip, although it made her a bit wobbly upon landing and took her time to readjust her senses. Tyne had managed to locate the basket on the carrier ship along with a blanket for her.


    "Okaeri!" Kitsune-san cheerfully repeated the greeting. He added in Deutsch, "Welcome home Takaki-san."


    Eiji cocked his head to one side and faced the man who was grinning at him from ear to ear. Like Tyne, he also looked German in his gray suit and carrying his Weismen Company regulated briefcase.


    "What do I call you?"


    "You haven''t introduced yourself?" Tyne asked, surprised.


    "Good question. Well, for now call me Hans Mueller," said Hans, formerly known as Kitsune-san.


    "Probably for the best. Make sure you call me Karl Weber from now on," said Tyne.


    "Let me guess, I''m still Takaki-san." Eiji sighed, annoyed by this spy game they were playing for their country.


    "Bingo." Hans cheerfully slapped Eiji on the back, ignoring the glare Eiji was giving him.


    "Tama''s still Tama." Tyne drew everyone''s attention to the cute kitty who had finally dozed off in the snug basket. "We''re to meet with our informant who will dummy up some papers for you."


    Eiji tensed at the terms ''dummy up'' and ''informant''. He did his best to push aside his worries by absorbing the scenery of his home country he once thought he''d never see again.


    They continued walking the path across the field towards a main road, which led to a handful of buildings in the distance. The morning sun was beginning to burn down on them with its spring warmth.


    Eiji sighed blissfully at the delicate chirping of birds and the rhythmic humming of crickets. His hunger was making his indigestion aggravate the healed wound at his stomach. He had healed with a nasty scar, and every so often a pinching pain would occur whenever he hadn''t eaten for hours.


    "Ugh." He accidentally let out, drawing Tyne''s attention to him.


    "Here." Tyne paused to hand Tama over to Eiji. He fished through brief case and casually threw him a wrapped piece of bread. "Can''t have you collapsing and causing unwanted attention to blow our cover."


    Eiji frowned as he held Tama tight and ripped open the wrapper with this teeth, gobbling the slices in one go. He sighed with realisation that the bread was his first meal back in the country. It did the trick to stop his stomach ache.


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    He pocketed the wrapper waste as they approached the newly established town.

 Chapter 29 Keis Blended Beauty

    Pink and white cherry blossoms fell about their feet as they entered the remote outskirts of a small neighbourhood.


    Eiji noticed that Tyne and Hans had adjusted the weight of their strides as soon as they entered suburbia. He figured they had been training to be Germans for a very long time.


    They travelled down two gravel streets between a tight-knit of traditional minka houses with triangular thatched roofs, modern day cabins and a two-story western built store at the streets'' end.


    Cherry blossom petals continued their delicate downfall over their procession towards the open bus station. Beyond the station was the sights of green mountains and a dirt road leading out to an unknown highway.


    "Beautiful! These are the famous Sakura I''ve heard so much about." Hans gasped with awe as he giddily allowed the soft, cool petals to drop onto his outstretched hand.


    "And you heard about these from who?" Eiji frowned, wondering why this man knew a lot about his country.


    "Say, don''t you guys have some sort of viewing festival around this time?" Hans cheerfully ignored the probing question, which made Eiji''s frown deepen. "I have it on good authority that the picnic days are particularly amazing."


    "Not here to smell the roses, Hans." Tyne sternly reminded his corporal. "Our instructions are to reach the bus depot and a man named Ito, Kei. He''ll take us to our check point in the Hiroshima region."


    "Right. Work. War. Of course." Hans dropped his chirpiness with a groan.


    "So, this Ito-san, will escort us on a bus?" Eiji asked Tyne.


    "Don''t know. I figure so." Tyne answered.


    "Do we even know what he looks like?" Eiji faced Tyne with raised brows.


    "On a need to know basis. "Tyne answered with a grin.


    Eiji closed his eyes with a sigh and realisation. Well, whatever, he was back in his country now. What''s the worse that could happen?


    They eventually arrived to the depot, which was one clear space for two mini-buses to park and a squarish single story modern hardwood building that was becoming common place for a lot of the new transport depots.


    "Gentlemen, you''re a bit far from the tourist locations," said a young station master as he hurried towards them. He greeted them with a polite voice and bow.


    Eiji noticed the man''s all black uniform, stiff peak cap and white gloved hands was spanking new. His youthful face (probably of twenty years) and cool almost black eyes behind round spectacles was lifted with a customer service smile. His eyes widened when he saw the man''s name tag pinned to his shirt.


    "Guten Tag! Good day young master. Could you please inform us of the next transport to Hiroshima?" Tyne asked the man with German tones to his voice.


    "Aah, you must be the men from the Wiesmen Company!" The young station master acknowledged them with a chirpy voice. "Certainly, come this way please."


    They followed the young station master into the hardwood building and to the two-man counter that had pamphlets neatly displayed on the counter and large map of the Shimane and Hiroshima road routes on the wall behind it.


    The other station master was no where to be seen.


    The young station master closed the solid door behind them and removed his station master hat, so they could see his short black hair. No one moved or said a word until the young man did.


    "Americans. Germans. Japanese." The man sighed with bitterness. "All the same."


    He dropped his customer service smile and faced the men with an honest expression.


    "Let me tell you a story about a young man who was separated from his family because of Pearl Harbor. This man was forced to watch from hiding, his baby sister and mother taken by their own kind for labour camps to god knows where. Just because they had Japanese blood in them." The young man''s voice became bitter every word he spat out to them.


    "I know who you are. Yes, for the love of my family, I''ll help you." The young man eyeballed Tyne. "Know this. My orders don''t dictate my feelings of hate for you Yankee bastards!"


    His eyeballing turned to Eiji. "Nor for the brutal Japanese. You can all go burn in hell!"


    Eiji slowed his breathing to control his surprised reaction. He didn''t pick the young station master for a Nisei at all, which was probably why he was chosen by the American''s as an informant.


    "Ito, Kei." Eiji tested the man''s name.


    "That''s what I''m to be called. Pitiful name isn''t it." Kei scoffed. "Ah, well, this job does come with perks."


    They followed Kei out of the building towards the back of the depot where civilian pushbikes were parked. At the far end was a black beauty Eiji had only seen once in his lifetime.


    "A Buick Roadmaster!" Eiji gasped, wonderstruck by the sight of the black Toyota sedan.


    "Do my eyes deceive? A charcoal fuel tank with mahogany dash, leather upholstery and a front drivetrain pulling speeds of 49.7mph..." His voice carried dreamily around the car body he closely inspected. It trailed off at the strange and curious looks he received from the other men.


    Kei rolled his eyes with a bitter groan.


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    "This is mine. You men so much as scratch this blended beauty, I''ll kill you." Kei warned the men who looked less than impressed than intimidated.


    He frowned at the sight of a black kitten poking its head out of the wicker basket bag that Eiji was carrying. "What''s with the cat? Saving it for dinner?"


    Eiji glared at Kei. "Tama is not dinner!"


    "It''s not coming in the car." Kei declared with a filthy look given to the kitten.


    "Unfortunate. I''ll inform my superiors that our Informant failed to fulfil duty. This will ensure whatever gratuitous the Navy has provided or in lieu of gifting you forfeit." Tyne levelly said to Kei with a customer service smile.


    "I''m not surprised you Americans will resort to extortion or other cowardly threats." Kei accused Tyne.


    They held each other''s eyes in a stand off before Kei broke contact first.


    "Fine. I''m not responsible for any problems this flea bag causes. You better compensate me for damage it does to my car!"


    Tyne took the front passenger seat next to Kei, holding back the smile at Eiji''s goofy giddiness next to Han''s wistful expression that he saw from the rear vision mirror.


    "We''re not all monsters Kei. I hope I can show you that." Tyne soberly said to Kei, who responded with a scoff filled with disbelief.


    "Let me ask you this, Sir, are you a good man or a good monster?" Kei said as he started up the engine and let it hum for a moment to warm up.


    Tyne chose not to answer and accepted Kei''s huff.


    "As I thought." Kei answered for him. "Patriotic bastard. I''m inclined to stab you in your sleep when we reach Hiroshima. No one said I couldn''t."


    Once the engine had warmed up, Kei slowly pulled the car out of the depot''s parking lot and moved it out onto open road for Hiroshima.

 Chapter 30 Hiroshima in April

    Kei drove the men through the country side, stopping off at scenic areas near the mountains to refuel on charcoal chips and wait for the car to warm up to resume the journey for their schedule meeting with Wiesmen''s Operations Manager in the company''s medical engineering factory located at the East End of Hiroshima City.


    Tama was also able to enjoy the countryside rest stops by stretching her legs and foraging the wild growing or ploughed fields the car parked next to for her snacks.


    Eiji had expected her to run off into a farmhouse, field or forest and never look back, even when Kei had tried to chase her off. She always returned to him and the basket bag unperturbed. Deep in his heart he was grateful for her devotion and made it his duty to give her lots of pats and cuddles despite what the other men thought of him for doing it.


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    She was still and quiet in the car, using the time to take her naps.


    Driving in the luxurious black car did turn heads whenever they stirred up dust through drive-by-towns and villages. As soon as people realised the car carried Germans, it seemed to be a plausible excuse for them to continue with their business and leave them be. Especially when they never stopped to break in any of the human habitats along the way.


    Kei grumbled about having to drive stupid soldiers into the city and hoped they''d get lost once he dropped them off the whole time. Regardless of the man''s grumbles he was still driving them and making sure they had adequate rest stops. Eiji was beginning to wonder if the man was all talk in the end.


    It was close to evening when they finally arrived to Hiroshima City. The place was a huge and bustling metropolis like Tokyo, Eiji concluded as he observed the town from the car window. They drove through busy paved roads congested with other vehicles, people on bicycles, human powered sidecars and taxis and new modern bus-like trams that ran on rails through the main streets.


    The car carefully manoeuvred through wide paved streets where the many round street lights and lamps created a pretty picture of glowing archways across the tops of buildings. The place was a thriving hustle of pedestrians in richly dressed springtime kimonos, conservative traditional robes or dark, stylish western suits and wide brim hats. People moved through, around and in and out of blue-white or colourful shop norens. Or around displayed wares and street pedlar carts.


    "Ooh! A Momiji Manju shop I''ve heard so much about!" Hans beamed with delight when they drove past a colourful banner of a sweet''s shop as they turned a corner to drive away from the cosmopolitan bustle, and into more conservative and quieter streets.


    Kei drove them towards a line of industrial buildings and warehouses along the city''s north-east banks of the ¨­ta River.


    Their road trip ended before a western modern building, fashioned with french lattice cornices on white framed windows that ran rows along the building''s grey-brick walls.


    He angled-parked the car out the front of the building''s concrete stone steps, which ran up to the square porch and burnished oakwood double doors.


    They exited the car, breathing in the fresh spring air. Tyne relished the cool breeze coming off the river and the smell of brine mingled with the scent of sweet flowers. A gentle warmth could still be felt from the setting sun that was leaving fine streaks of orange, yellow and azure-blue against a gradual night sky.


    Eiji smiled at the sight of a glistening river against the three-way T-shaped Aioi Bridge that joined East to West and tramlines to the main city.


    "Hiroshima is a beautiful city," Tyne said wistfully in Deutsch.


    "Beautiful evening!" Hans exhaled also in Deutsch.


    Kei clicked his tongue, annoyed, and headed for the building without caring if they were following him.


    Eiji checked on Tama''s condition and felt relieved that she was still sleeping in the bag.


    They approached the oakwood doors, acknowledging the passing well-dressed locals in their western suits with cordial nods and tips of their hats.


    Eiji quickly slicked back his hair and smoothed down his suit, trying his best to look professional for the place, despite his slightly broad jacket.


    He followed the men in Wiesmen''s Headquarters.

 Chapter 31 Visitor Registrations

    Eiji cast his eyes around the glossy dark marble floors and white washed walls of the building''s foyer, which was also reflected in Tama''s as she poked her head out of the bag.


    He followed everyone''s lead to the gold trimmed polished wood security desk positioned at the most welcoming spot on the floor. The desk smelt of freshly applied polish oil and paint like the rest of the building''s newness.


    "Ito-sensei to see Hashimoto-sensei from Prothesis Design and Engineering." Kei formally greeted the two impeccably dressed men in black and white suits, standing behind the desk so their bottom half was hidden. Their holstered guns were clearly visible from their leather belts to their waists.


    "Hmm," said one of them with an expressionless face glanced at the leather bound book that was spread opened before him.


    "Oh, yes, it says you have an appointment right about now." The man apathetically confirmed.


    "The cat will need to be quarantined," said the burlier man with a frown.


    "Guten Tag. I am Doctor Weber." Tyne introduced himself the German way with a stiff bow and snappy voice.


    "This test subject is our successful vaccination test against the Lyssavirus Disease. We are testing its personality effects, allergies and impacts on nerve damaged areas to the body by carrying it around in a wicker basket bag. So far, tests are proving successful, and we are to demonstrate the benefits of our ground breaking prosthesis research to Hashimoto-sensei." Tyne clinically added with a good will gesture of showing the animal''s paperwork.


    The burly man glanced at the documents Tyne pulled out of his briefcase. Satisfied, he provided instructions on where to find Hashimoto-sensei and gave them clearance badges after registration of each member in the open book.


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    Eiji brushed off his questions on Tyne''s counter preparations. He was certainly impressed that the man was able to think so far ahead. Still, to push the future forward in thought was tough. It made him wonder on Tyne''s personal stance to the war. His memories recapped on his conversation with him and his request to find his wife. Nothing more was said when they left Iwo Jima, but Eiji suspected it was a matter of timing. It was the same for him too.


    Thoughts trailed to Hinata as their shoes squeaked along the conservative grey linoleum floors of the white-wall corridor they walked along.


    He stowed his wistful thoughts when they stopped before the grey painted door with a metal name plaque reflecting light over the name of Dr. H. Hashimoto and the acronyms that represented his tertiary credentials.

 Chapter 32 Dr. Hashimoto

    Stepping into the office had made Eiji''s hand squeeze tighter around the wicker basket handle and his other twitch at his side. His heart raced with nervous tension. Thoughts of Kenpei storming inside to rush him out of the room for a torture room played on his mind. He was conscious of not letting this fear show on his face.


    "No, can''t think like that," Eiji said in thought as he shook off the horrid impressions from his mind.


    The Americans wouldn''t have gone to so much effort to bring him into the country only to surrender him. What happens if the secret police found out he was playing sides with the Americans? Who was this Dr. Hashimoto they were seeing? Was he an ally or an enemy they were going to trick? The Kei guy wasn''t also a kenpei spy to weed out traitors? There was a strong possibility he could play for either side being a nisei.


    "Soldiers who trash talk our country will wake up to the kenpei. Pray your soul to leaves your body before they pay attention to you." Eiji remembered Yuri''s warning to some men that had instantly shut down their gossip. It was one word that had guaranteed silence and absolute obedience. The other term was 731.


    "Have faith in good things, Eiji." He constantly chanted Hinata''s voice saying those words in his mind to soothe his fears and nervousness.


    He took in the simple study desk of polished cedar that had no flourish or any importance other than being used for writing. The desk sat at the back of the room where daylight shone through partially opened white venetian blind slats. Behind the desk and around the walls were tall book shelves crammed with medical journals and text books. There were no drips, devices or other machinery present that looked purposed for human experimentation. He felt calmer by this known fact.


    "Hashimoto-sensei." Tyne cordially greeted the middle-aged wiry man wearing round spectacles and white lab coat. He was writing out a paper on the desk.


    Hans closed the door behind them. They stood before the man, waiting for him to acknowledge them.


    Tama made a weak mew that made the middle-aged man rise from his desk, his attention on the black kitten trying to scramble out of the wicker bag that Eiji was holding tight.


    "Neko." The man labelled her with a sigh.


    "The cat is Tama." Tyne soberly declared ownership of her to the man.


    "Pfft. It''s just like you to adopt a stray cat." Hashimoto-sensei warmly greeted Tyne. "Been a long time my friend."


    Eiji''s widened with surprise, but this didn''t allay his fears from being taken by the kenpai.


    Tyne introduced everyone according to their cover identities.


    Hashimoto-sensei''s eyes lingered on Eiji longer than the others, a quizzical frown forming on his forehead.


    "Have we met before?" He asked Eiji.


    Eiji shook his head.


    "The cat needs to stretch its legs." Hashimoto-sensei said.


    Eiji got the hint and released Tama from the bag. She was happy to sniff about the room then clean herself on the floor near a desk leg.


    "I brought the new model specifications the Company is keen to promote," Tyne said as he opened his briefcase on the desk and laid out some official paperwork for Hashimoto-sensei to see.


    The doctor cracked a weak smile. "I see."


    He moved to one of the tall bookshelves and slightly pulled out a combination of books that revealed a small hidden door with a click.


    The bookshelf swung aside to reveal the shallow closet interior with shelves of locked containers and safes. Taking up most of the middle shelf was a civilian brown hard-shell suitcase, which had the top shelves to accommodate around.


    "This arrived within our shipment of prosthetic parts." Hashimoto-sensei said when he carried the suitcase out of the hidden closet, closing the door and placed it on the table next to Tyne''s briefcase.


    Tyne cleared more of the desk area, so the suitcase could be laid flat. He unclasped the latches and opened the case to reveal a radio unit in a foam-shell with attachments packed around it.


    Eiji glanced over a radio unit he had seen enemy soldiers carry on their backs at Iwo Jima. It was far more portable than the boxes he had to carry by hand.


    "This SCR-300 has a battery power to last a full day. Recharge it by solar for half a day to ensure a full days worth." Hashimoto-sensei informed them and scooped up some papers to hand over to Tyne.


    "I have the Company''s reassurance that my family will be safe." The doctor eyed Tyne.


    "An exchange." Tyne said when he handed a set of his own papers from his briefcase to the man.


    Eiji frowned at the sight of the doctor''s teary eyes.


    "Thank you." Hashimoto-sensei whispered.


    "Some credentials for our validation." Hans said to make himself known. Up until now he had been carefully observing their surroundings.


    A tear slipped from the doctor''s eyes when he received Hans'' papers, his hand trembled with what seemed like joy.


    "You have honoured our promise. Although, I never had any doubts you wouldn''t Weber-sensei." Hashimoto-sensei sighed. "I have something else for you."


    Eiji cocked his head to one side when the doctor slipped a piece of paper into Tyne''s hand.


    Tyne''s composure slipped for a second when he read the paper and stowed it in his pocket.


    "Your sales run sheets." Hashimoto-sensei handed data sheets to Tyne and Hans.


    Impatient foot tapping drew his attention to Kei whose boredem was obvious on his face. Eiji suspected the man''s mind was already in the car to dump them somewhere vile and never look back.


    "Sheeze. Don''t we have some pressing appointments to get too doctors?" Kei curtly interrupted further exchanges.


    "Hurried Youth." Hashimoto-sensei groaned.


    "Thank you, Sensei." Tyne respectfully thanked Hashimoto-sensei as he stowed his paperwork in his briefcase and closed it up.


    He smiled at Tama''s peaceful snoozing on the floor.


    "Yes, Ito-sensei, we are heading out." Tyne answered Kei''s question.


    "Let''s go Tama." Eiji whispered to the cat when he scooped her up and placed her protesting body back in the wicker bag.


    He sighed when she lapsed back into sleep.


    "Weber-sensei! One thing." Hashimoto-sensei called to Tyne as they were heading out the door.


    Eiji wondered what the middle-aged doctor whispered into Tyne''s ear. He frowned at the fleeting shock on Tyne''s face before he resumed his business smile.


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    "Take care." Hashimoto-sensei said as he closed the door behind them.


    They exited the building with the brown suitcase.


    "So, that''s my duty done. Now get out of my sight," Kei said as soon as they reached his car, keen to dump them.


    "Don''t think so. New orders." Tyne fished through his briefcase for a piece of paper and flashed in it front of Kei''s eyes.


    "What the f*ck you shitheads playing at!? This is a goddamn f*cking joke!" Kei ranted. "My orders was to take you to Hiroshima and get you a pass in Weisman''s! I''ve done my job!"


    "Ito-sensei. We are at war. Until war is over, no one has done their job." Tyne soberly reprimanded the man, which was a curt reminder for everyone else.


    "You''ll have my sister and mother deported from Japan if I don''t do this?" Kei fretted.


    "Fulfil your orders, that scenario will never happen."


    Kei faced the stern expressions from Tyne and Hans.


    His eyes looked to Eiji with pitty. "See what you''ve tied yourself too?"


    "Fine. Get in the f*cking car you scumbags." Kei conceded as he entered the driver''s seat.


    Eiji heaved a weary sigh as he resumed his spot in the car and found himself sitting next to the radio suitcase, which acted as a partition between himself and Hans.


    "Now that we understand our situation." Tyne gave Kei directions to a Ryokan in the Senda-machi area where they were to meet another allied contact for more orders.

 Chapter 33 Sumiko Inn

    Kei''s Blended Beauty crept behind human-paced rickshaws, cyclists and citizens strolling casually along a strip of paved road towards a crowd of buying or browsing patrons and civil workers in smart navy suits and French style caps the distance a head.


    Unable to drive further, Kei parked the car to the kerb near a sweets shop, which made Hans mouth water at the artistic and scrumptious display of candies from its window. He eagerly stepped out of the car to closely examine the shop''s wares. Eiji thought it was funny seeing a grown man ogling candy like a kid.


    "Just one smidgen?" Hans begged Tyne, batting his eyes bashfully.


    Tyne sighed and flicked his hand for a go.


    "You''re coming with me darling." He teased Kei as he grabbed his arm and forced him through the shop''s blue-white noren strips, ignoring the man''s grumbles and foul protests.


    Tyne and Eiji waited outside the shop, easing curious glances with cordial tips of their hats or a bow.


    "Looking forward to a rest." Tyne spoke in Deutsch, which seemed to further ease the remaining attention on them.


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    Eiji carefully released a sigh of relief, having spotted the dark-navy cap of a policeman across the road behind a gossiping group of ladies in kimonos. He noticed the tip of its visor had been pointed their way before it turned an angle and disappeared. He felt more twitchy standing next to Tyne in his own country than when they were at Iwo Jima or on the US escort carrier.


    Another sigh was released when Hans and Kei returned with pretty brown paper bags smelling of floral scented sweets. Eiji''s eyes glowed at the artistic calligraphy of the shops'' name on the bag that was sealed with a red ribbon.


    "Let''s keep the ribbon for Tama''s collar," Tyne said when he gently patted the cat''s sleepy head from the basket bag.


    "You''re not going to eat them now are you?!" Kei scoffed when he saw Hans fiddle with the ribbon''s knot.


    "I''m not a barbarian Ito-sensei. I know my manners." Hans pouted and stopped his fiddling.


    "Gentlemen," Tyne said to prompt everyone into a walk.


    Eiji kept his cool and a bit of distance when he followed behind Tyne. Hans made sure that his distance wasn''t too wide, so he couldn''t be lost in the bustling crowd they were weaving their way through. Of course, he was still their prisoner of war and valuable asset until deemed otherwise.


    They turned a corner into a wide dirt road where trams travelled up and down on tracks at the road''s center, and moved by civilians in modest kimono''s, western suits and civil service uniforms. Most people ignored them as they went about their business. Some passed glances, but didn''t think more of it. The slight stench of manure from the occasional horse and cart that trotted past would waft up their noses, dulled down by the fresh scent of blooming cherry blossoms.


    Eiji followed Kei''s lead past a couple of run-of-the-mill tea houses, dry goods stores and grocers setup in French-colonial style buildings with figurine cornices and full pane windows so the full view of the store''s inside as visible.


    Their short walk ended at a narrow lane supported a traditional style inn nestled at the center between two dry goods stores of European quality. The inn resembled the types that were built in the Meiji period with the tier-layered triangular shaped roofs that had bell rain-chains hanging off the upturn edges and white panel walls with brown trims. Two freestanding blue-white banner flags, stood on either side of the inn''s double security doors.


    "Sumiko Inn." Eiji mouthed as he read the banner''s kanji.


    He yelped when a group of middle-aged local businessmen staggered out of the doors and into the lane with a happy look on their faces. It seemed they had gotten lucky.


    They politely greeted them with curious looks to Tyne and Hans, but dropped their curiosity when Tyne greeted them with a heavy German accent. Eiji wondered how long the German charade would hold before someone didn''t buy it. They were getting passes for now, and he hoped that would last.


    "Did you ensure our reservation, Ito-sensei?" Tyne checked with Kei.


    "Yeah, yeah. Nishigawa-san said he had a room for us." Kei brushed off Tyne''s concerns.


    Eiji frowned at Kei''s sudden politeness. A shiver ran down his spine with a bad feeling.


    "This isn''t a particular family establishment is it?" Eiji coolly asked and held back his reaction at Kei''s smirk.


    "I''ll tell you this pretty-boy. Stay too long in a bath, have your crack dirtied." Kei snickered.


    Eiji sighed at Kei''s crude advice, he felt it was also fitting.


    They all followed Kei through the security doors and into the guest genkan.

 Chapter 34 Nishigawa Family

    The four men stored their outdoor shoes in pigeonhole shelves at the Inn''s genkan and stepped inside.


    They were instantly greeted by a dolled-up woman in an elaborate red and black cherry blossom kimono. Her face was painted white with pink eye-shadow streaking her lids and black eyeliner skilfully applied near her lashes and brows to make her eyes rounder. Lush lips were painted a fierce red. Her hair was done up in a traditional bun with a beautiful hair comb arrangement of white wisteria dangling down the left side of her head, touching her shoulder.


    "Hinata would be a beautiful Geisha too." Eiji thought as a wanton image of his lover in the same outfit and make-up teased his mind and lower region.


    This made the woman giggle like a school girl and her eyes dart towards his zipper.


    He turned away to hide his embarrassment and keep his cool, casting his eyes about the clean floor boards and shoji panels making a square frame around a central fake pond with red-gold koi swimming about the dark waters. Ferns and native plants gave it a natural decorative border and a feeling of Zen.


    He looked around to the building''s three split levels that ran the same shape around the pond, so the central area was clear all the way up to the skylight that allowed bright rays of daylight to shine down on the pond.


    The upper levels were crowded with beautiful geisha woman in colourful kimono''s and painted faces who were flirting with men, forcefully laughing at passing drunken harassment or swooning in the arms of men who shamelessly made out with them on the edges of the levels'' red wrought iron balcony rails.


    The stench of sweet smelling flowers amongst the unmistakable musk of pheromones released during sex was intoxicating. However, the display of debauchery was an enough turn off for Eiji. The tension from some geisha''s limbs as they submitted, along with their fake moaning, made his heart thump painfully. He sympathised for the women playing the role of lover to these beasts.


    A hurtful memory of his middle-school days with Hinata resurfaced. It was the time they had started going out. He had gone to the back of their school''s gym storage room and saw Hinata suffering sexual violations from the school bully gang. This had infuriated him beyond thinking. His heart was heightened with rage when he learned that Hinata had being suffering the violations for a while in order to protect his honour. He had relentlessly attacked the violators, crippling one and had almost killed most of the others. This rage and mindless fighting ability had convinced his father he was a perfect tool for war.


    His father had enlisted him into the navy to bolster his political campaign. If Eiji survived his naval terms, dumped Hinata and married a respectable woman he could retain the family name and status (ensuing days of wealth and societal high life).


    Eiji spat on his own name and had added in his own condition. If he was going be a disgrace in war, he''d rather carry that disgrace as a Takaki.


    "Takaki-san." Tyne''s voice broke through his thoughts.


    He nodded and followed the party down a strip of hallway and into a spacious guest room lined with tatami mats and fusuma painted with crane birds in flight or amongst rush reeds.


    Eiji let out a sigh. Sounds of a shoji door sliding open made him more alert.


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    "Ito." A manly voice carried Kei''s name across the room.


    Eiji held back his emotions as he quickly assessed the man in a conservative kimono of grey and navy-blue. His face held an impression of harsh life with his sun-touched skin, wrinkles around his forehead and laugh lines to the corners of his thin lips. Light stubble covered his round chin. Mature brown eyes met his with a sense of knowing. The man reminded him of his unfeeling father who was only interested in the bottom line and profit.


    Flanking his sides were two men in black suits without any characteristics to make them stand out, as lackeys should be.


    "Nishigawa-sama." Kei respectfully bowed before the man.


    Eiji''s eyes darted to Tyne and Hans. They were being their usual expressionless selves in these situations, but he knew them well enough by now that their minds would be in a flurry as they made their assessments.


    "Yah gaijin are the fake Germans, aye?" Nishigawa cackled.


    He waved a signal. One of the lackeys closed the door behind them.


    Everyone waited for Nishigawa to make himself comfortable one of the floor cushions at the rectangular low table positioned with his back to the elegant floral ikebana displayed on the Tokonoma, brighten with the choice lighting of the room.


    "Gents. Why don''t yah take a seat. We talk business eh?" He gestured to the other floor cushions along the table.


    Eiji held back Kei with a look, making sure they were both towards the end of the table and furthest from Nishigawa. Kei sighed with understanding, especially when he saw that the lackeys remained standing near the door.


    "No problems. Let''s discuss some matters of interest shall we?" Tyne soberly accepted their host''s invitation for no nonsense business talk.

 Chapter 35 Tamas Fate, Sweets and First Names

    Conversations between Nishigawa and the Americans were cryptic at most times with a few agreeable head nods on paperwork that Tyne and Hans had shown him. The aspects Eiji was able to decipher were "food" and "import goods". He didn''t need to be a genius to realise what business was going on between them.


    It was about an hour when Nishigawa addressed Eiji.


    "Lemme guess Chibi-tan. Yah with these guys as a tagalong." He chuckled, regarding Eiji causally with a quick look up and down.


    Eiji held his stoicism before the man.


    "Dishonourable discharge?" Nishigawa probed for Eiji''s reason to be there.


    A poker silence ensued between the men before it was broken by Eiji with a firm yes.


    "Hey, Weber-san. How about yah give him to meh?" Nishigawa casually threw out the request.


    Tyne faced the man with a businessman''s smile. "He''s my Darling, Nishigawa-san. How about we increase shipment quotas to twenty-five percent, which you can mark-up to your hearts content."


    Nishigawa laughed heartily aloud. "Yah Americans don''t like to lose. Yeh, I''d take that twenty-five percent over a piece of tail."


    Business shortly came to a close when Nishigawa stood to motion his leave. Everyone stood.


    Nishigawa paused next to Eiji, analysing his features and body a lot closer. "Hmm. Shame. I like breakin'' yah pretty-boys the most."


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    He peered closer and stepped back with creepy laughter. "Seems yah already in the fold."


    Eiji frowned, swallowing down his words of outrage and confusion.


    "Enjoy yah time here gentlemen. See madam if yah want food or girls," Nishigawa said when he was at the door. He added last words over his shoulder aimed at Eiji. "Or boys."


    Everyone let out a heavy sigh when they were sure he and his lackeys were gone.


    "Matherson. What the hell?!" Eiji angrily snapped at Tyne, which woke Tama up in the basket bag with a startled mew.


    He grabbed him by the collar and threw him down on the mat with a Judo move he had learned in his naval training. He punched the man''s stomach.


    "WHAT THE HELL?!" He yelled, struggling against Hans hold on his arms.


    He headbutted Hans and elbowed him in the gut hard. His outrage was making him fight the men uncontrollably on the tatami.


    "NYA!" Tama cried, frightened.


    She scrambled out of the bag and sprinted out of the door Kei had opened for her.


    Eiji stopped fighting, his raged turned to fear for Tama. He scrambled to his feet to go after her and was knocked back to the floor by Kei who looked down on him with contempt.


    "Had your fun pretty-boy?" He kept Eiji down by one foot on his chest. "That cat is free to follow her own fate now. Who are you to deny it?"


    Eiji sighed, suddenly exhausted. His heart was breaking for Tama. Kei was right to let her go before she became too involved with their dark and twisted path.


    "Sorry," he whispered, covering his eyes with his arms to hide his pitiful tears that he couldn''t hold back.


    Kei released him and went to rest in the place Nishigawa had been. Hans closed the door and sat down next to Eiji, gently patting the man''s head with sympathetic understanding.


    Tyne turned himself over, so he was lying on his back to face the ceiling. His body was built for punches, but his mind was as delicate as Eiji''s. The image of his beloved wife was the glue keeping him together.


    "Hey Eiji. My wife. Help me find her please." His begged through a trail of tears.


    "Eiji? Shameless American using my first name." Eiji scolded the man halfheartedly. "Fine, Tyne. No more dishonour. I find out your intention is to bring harm to my people, I will shoot you without remorse."


    "I''ll hand you my gun for the job." Tyne added on to the condition.


    "Do not leave behind a name soiled by misdeeds." Hans absentmindedly spoke a segment of the Senjinkun that made Eiji turn his head to him.


    "I translated the Senjinkun for my superiors when I was on a carrier to the country." Hans explained.


    "What''s your real name Hans?" Eiji gave the man a challenging look.


    Hans chuckled. "I think I should tease you a bit, for the headbutt and elbow jab."


    "Whatever." Eiji turned away.


    "Pooty. You''re no fun." Hans''s pouted.


    "Sean. His name is Sean Campbell." Tyne answered, which had a floor cushion thrown at his face.


    "You''re a party pooper, Tyne." Sean (formerly known as Hans) scolded his colleague.


    "Should we go look for Tama?" Tyne asked, changing the subject.


    "Do what? Kei is right to let that cat go." Sean answered with some common sense. "God protect her path."


    "Hey! Wait one f*king moment! I didn''t you give you sh*theads permission to use my first name!" Kei growled at the men.


    His ranting achieved hearty laughter from the three men, which became louder as his ranting increased with theatrical gesticulation.


    "Thanks Kei for stopping me back there," Eiji sincerely thanked Kei once his laughter had calmed.


    Kei stopped his ranting, turning away to hide his embarrassed blushes.


    "Stupid gits." He mumbled.


    Eiji sat up and shuffled to Sean''s sweets bag.


    "Hey, hey, leave the bag or die." Sean scrambled after Eiji to protect his bag of sweets.


    He frowned when Eiji scooped up the bag and held it ransom to his chest.


    "Revenge." Eiji chuckled as he toyed with Sean''s attempts to snatch the bag from him.


    "Throw it to me." Tyne piped up, wanting in on the game.


    Eiji tossed the bag to Tyne, who took over the playful tease. The game ended when the bag broke open on the ground after Eiji had failed to catch it from Tyne''s throw. Delicately wrapped sweets were scattered about the floor.


    "Now you''ve done it." Sean pouted as he picked up the sweets.


    He placed them on the table and gestured for everyone to eat.


    "Oh my. This is heaven!" Sean let out a dreamy sigh at the taste and texture of the soft jelly he had managed to unwrap and pop into his mouth.


    "Are you a kid? You look stupid." Kei insulted the man''s goofy expression.


    "I know you love me." Sean teased Kei, throwing a wrapped sweet at him.


    The sweets went fast down their bellies. Tyne left the room to order food and returned with a couple of Geishas who carried in plates of food and bottles of local sake.


    The men enjoyed the rest of their night like all the other honoured guests of the inn.

 Chapter 36 An Honest Deal

    They had finished eating, changing into the inn''s guest kimonos and having the geisha entertain them into the midnight hour. Tyne had released the geisha to make sure they could enjoy a quiet night''s sleep.


    The silence of night surrounded the four of them.


    Tyne and Eiji stayed awake, their faces illuminated by the powerful moonlight beaming through the shoji ranma. Insomnia had become something a condition reflex for the men from their many nights on sentry duties. They sat next to the brown suitcase that Hashimoto-sensei had handed them the day before. Hans had been carrying it with him at the time they were entering the inn.


    "Be honest, Tyne. What''s the radio for?" Eiji whispered soberly.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Tyne answered. He sighed. "My orders were to infiltrate the country as doctors for Weisman Company to reach Hashimoto-sensei. I would receive the case that will be used for a communication channel back to base."


    "And Kei?" Eiji lowered his voice.


    His eyes gazed on Kei''s face deep with sleep. He was sleeping with his body stretched out over Sean''s like a starfish. It was another reason they weren''t able to sleep, since Sean and Kei were hogging the futons.


    "He''s our guide. As you can see, he has certain connections." Tyne sighed. "If we''re to keep moving in this country, the only way is through a different organization support."


    Eiji sighed, realizing he was right.


    "What about me? You mentioned papers. Were you lying?"


    Tyne flashed him a cocky grin. He shuffled quietly across the floor to bring back his briefcase to where they were sitting, slowly and quietly he flipped its latches to open it. He pulled out a brown envelope and the papers within it.


    Eiji saw his name on a registration paper underneath the moonlight. It looked like the real thing.


    Tyne returned it to the envelope and shoved it underneath his kimono, so it was hidden to his chest.


    "Insurance you won''t run away."


    Eiji sighed. It was to be expected. Their earlier spat and the loss of Tama had left him too exhausted to make a break. Besides, he felt it wasn''t wise to move about the country unregistered. The Kenpei were still controlling the country within the shadows. He didn''t fancy a trip to Japan''s puppet state in China.


    "Okay. Let''s say I help you find your wife, you help me return to mine?" Eiji dealt a deal before Tyne. "I''ll stay by your side to honour this promise."


    Tyne nodded his head and extended his hand. "Deal."


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    Eiji spat on his palm and shook Tyne''s hand, which made his partner chuckle.


    "Custom for custom huh?" Tyne chuckled as he wiped his hand down on his kimono.


    "How about this one?" Eiji joked when he flicked Tyne''s forehead.


    Tyne returned the dekopin, making their voices carry across the room.


    "Whadda heck you kids doing playing with suitcases? Sean groaned awake. He gave them a narky frown.


    "Go back to sleep Love, we''re just chatting." Tyne sarcastically brushed off his question and flashed him a morning smile.


    "Not funny." Sean complained before dropping his head back to his pillow and resuming his sleep next to Kei''s snoring face.


    "That guy has a gossip radar." Eiji stated.


    It was something he had noticed earlier of the man when they were travelling in the car. Whenever an interesting topic was being discussed around Sean whilst his eyes was closed, he would wake up and ask what was going on or summarize the gossip that was spoken. Taking everyone who thought he was asleep by surprise.


    "The reason he''s a corporal. Doesn''t miss a thing." Tyne stated with a slightly louder whisper to bait Sean.


    Eiji and Tyne chuckled when Sean raised a thumbs-up then moved his arm around Kei''s waist to pull him into teddy bear cuddle.


    "Sod." Kei mumbled his curses in his sleep. He didn''t wake.


    Both men were soon snoring loudly.


    This made Tyne and Eiji sigh wistfully. The sight was too cute.


    "We can look for Tama when light comes." Tyne suggested, changing the subject.


    Eiji ran through the idea in his mind. He was worried her plight led her into the hands of the wrong people who would use her as a food source or other devious intentions, which was something high likely considering the place they were staying in.


    "Yeah, I''d like that. I''m still worried about her." Eiji didn''t hide his concern.


    "It''s settled." Tyne yawned.


    They both laid back down on their futons (the parts Kei hadn''t hogged) and closed their eyes to catch as much sleep before then.

 Chapter 37 Bathtime

    Eiji, Tyne and Sean barely slept. Kei was the only one who had plenty, although he was grumbling about being sore around his waist.


    They decided to soak in a bath before leaving the inn. Kei grumbled when he and Eiji were left with the task of carrying their bags like German servant boys.


    "Can''t we ditch this suitcase in the pond." Kei moaned, feeling his arms sore from lugging the heavy radio suitcase.


    "Don''t test my patience with stupid chatter." Sean lectured Kei with a perfect German tone that made his scolding sound like slapstick comedy.


    Kei peered at Sean through eyes oozing bitter sarcasm.


    "Be wary the wind doesn''t change." Tyne joked over his shoulder.


    Kei dropped his expressions and kept his complaints to himself when they walked along a floorboard hallway, passing shoji doors and lots of loud moaning, repeated thumping, devious laughter, sweet talk, oohs and aahs coming from behind them.


    "Why didn''t we keep the Geisha in our rooms?" Kei asked, feeling flushed and aroused by the wanton noises.


    He ogled at a couple of passing young Geisha who teased him for a bit before giggling and resuming their way down the hall for their intended customers. His face lapsed into a dreamy expression as his senses relished the sweet floral scent they had left behind.


    "You complained about getting a good nights sleep?" Sean instantly answered. "If you wanted a good time, you should''ve just said so."


    "I was being sarcastic, you prick!" Kei hissed


    "To wake up in the arms of a beautiful Geisha is bliss." He sighed wistfully.


    "I promise you next time." Sean guaranteed with a cheeky wink.


    Kei gave him a funny look, worried that the promise would lead to something unexpected and unpleasant.


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    "Nah, keep your promise."


    Eiji slid open the doors of the bath''s change rooms, his face hit with heavy clouds of steam gathering within the large all-wood area.


    There were some men washing themselves at the troughs along one side of the change area or entering an oblong bath as big as pond. No women were in sight. By the calm reactions from the men, it seemed a place for them to control their urges and cleanse both their body and minds before stepping back out into the inn''s heady atmosphere.


    The four of them placed their clothes and items on the wall shelves near the door way. They grabbed a wooden pale, scooped clean water from the in-ground well nearby and washed each other''s bodies. Sean found his face slapped a couple of times by Kei when his washing had invaded too much of Kei''s manliness.


    "You''re terrible." Eiji stated matter-of-factually to Sean when they climbed into the large in-ground bath to soak.


    They moved around the edges until they found a spot near the gold-marble lion head at the end, which had warm water streaming out of its open mouth.


    "Hey, Eiji, I''m going to ask you a sensitive question." Sean whispered to Eiji as he sidled up close.


    He cupped his ear over Eiji''s, so the others couldn''t hear his question.


    Eiji''s eyes widened with outrage. His hands instinctively curled into fists and slammed into the man''s gut under the water. It wouldn''t have been enough force to damage, but would''ve given the man a quick taste of pain.


    "You really are..." Eiji shook off his name-calling and shuffled to the other side of the lion''s head to be next to Kei.


    "It''s true right?" Sean said once he had recovered. "I''ve suspected for a while, and then that man said something on it."


    "If it was? What''s it to you?" Eiji growled back, feeling his injustice trigger flipped.


    He hated these bias attitudes. Being in love with a man was no different to loving a woman. In the navy he had been able to disguise the fact his lover was a man. No one thought of him as anyone else other than Eiji Takaki. Now he was at risk of being labelled with a poor taste stereotype that would overshadow his being. He forgot these foreigners were prone for the dramatics.


    "Nothing. Just curious." Sean heaved a weary sigh. He deliberated before he added on very quietly, so only the four of them could hear. "I''m the same."


    Eiji felt his blood rush to his head and not from being in the hot water for too long.


    "Eh? What was that?" Kei innocently asked, missing the point.


    "Nothing." Eiji and Sean answered nonchalantly.


    "Your wound healed well. Cute scar." Tyne pointed the raised scratchy scar lines on the left side of Eiji''s waist; his souvenir from Iwo Jima.


    This sparked a conversation about everyone''s wars scars that were on their backs, fronts, legs and arms.


    "What''s those scars on your back from Kei?" Sean soberly asked Kei when he saw raised criss-cross scar lines on the man''s back.


    "None of you f*king business." Kei snapped.


    Tyne sighed and said he was getting out. Everyone soon followed.

 Chapter 38 Rain

    Rain drenched the ground making the path out of the inn muddy sludge. Eiji had hoped they were able to search the area for Tama, but with the rain coming down hard, it would be difficult. Who knows where she would have fled to?


    Their search within the inn had proved useless with no one saying that they had seen a small kitten running around the place. Even if they did, it was likely no one would tell.


    Eiji held the wicker bag tightly in his arms, determined to keep looking for her despite Tyne''s order to make for Kei''s car.


    His head ducked and dived around holes, box openings or gaps a cat would likely take shelter as they walked through the paved streets. Some mice darted for his face when he was up close to their hiding spot near some crates against a food cart. He was too crestfallen to notice the weird glances some shopkeepers gave him when he passed their stores.


    "I''m sorry." Tyne patted his shoulder with the same feeling of remorse for Tama.


    "Probably for the best. She''s probably found a clueless kid or delinquent to take care of her." Kei brushed off.


    He hurried into the car, stroking the dashboard with a blessing. Nishigawa-sama had been good on making sure his baby was untouched when they were at the inn.


    Eiji sighed, his head downcast in the rain with sadness. Tama was the one that gave them a chance to be something other than enemies. She was their comrade and friend. Tears slipped from his eyes.


    "Eiji." Sean called out to him from within the car.


    He nodded and went to step around the boot for his side of the door. A pitiful mew stopped his hand on the door handle.


    "Nya, nya." The soft mewing became louder.


    Eiji tipped his head to one side, so he could see under the car.


    "Nya!" A little kitten cried out louder towards him.


    Eiji''s heart raced with hope and happiness when he saw the red strip of cloth fastened around the kitten''s neck. It was the same cloth that Tyne had used.


    "Tama!" He cried out, kneeling down to scoop her shivering body into his arms.


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    He hurried into the car and grabbed Tyne''s jacket hanging on the back of the front passenger chair to wipe her body dry.


    "Tama?" Tyne''s voice cracked.


    "Nya!" Tama answered confidently as she shook water droplets all over Eiji and Sean.


    The men cursed and laughed as they fiddled with their clothes to be as dry as possible, drying up Tama and helping her resettle back in the wicker basket bag.


    "Thank you for finding your way back to us." Eiji whispered soothingly to her.


    "Where to now, Boss?" Kei threw the question to Tyne.


    "Let''s head back out to the countryside, so we can make a call." Tyne answered, hiding his happiness.


    Kei started up the car and slowly drove it out of Senda-machi, towards the roads that would take them further south and into the countryside.

 Chapter 39 New Orders

    Their drive eventually took them out to pasteurized fields and clear land of the countryside. Kei drove the car off-road where the rain had eased and into the start of a forest, so he could park it discreetly behind a set of gigantic fir trees.


    Everyone welcomed the rest stop as Kei refilled the tank and Tyne fiddled about with the radio in the suitcase at the back-seat.


    Kei capped the tank and slammed the boot, making Tyne curse aloud. He chuckled when he struck up a cigarette and leaned on the bonnet to appreciate the crisp fresh air and scent of pine.


    He glanced to Eiji and Sean next to him, and offered a stick from his pack with a ''tsk''.


    "Thanks." Eiji smiled as he accepted a cigarette and passed one to Sean.


    The three of them lapsed into their own thoughts as they leaned on the car''s bonnet and smoked.


    "It''s hard to believe we''re at war." Sean sighed.


    "Standing next to you makes it hard to believe." Eiji replied with his wry comment.


    "You''re so much like my Ray." Sean blurted absent-mindedly.


    Eiji frowned, wanting to ask more but puffed on his cigarette instead.


    "I wasn''t trying to be rude back in the bath. Rather, wanting to confirm my hope that I wasn''t the only one." Sean sighed again.


    "I love the person I love for who they are. Not because of being a type of person." Eiji firmly answered to set Sean''s mind straight.


    "That''s kind of what he said. It''s the reason we fell in love." Sean murmured.


    "Kei. Need your help here!" Tyne called out.


    It stirred a lot of groaning and grumbling from Kei. He obeyed and gave his attention to Tyne and the radio.


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    Cigarette smoke lazed about the air around Eiji as Sean shared the story of his love affair with a man named Ray back in Pearl Harbor before the days Japan and the US were at war.


    Ray (whose real name was Ry¨­suke Kominato) was a navy doctor from a ship that was used to carry goods from the islands and nisei children back to the Mainland. Despite the trade embargoes, some food companies were still able to trade goods in and out Japan through Pearl Harbor. Sean had been stationed as an ensign to the place at the time for training. He met Ray during his R&R at a bar.


    "He was alone, smoking his cigarette and drinking scotch. He had a troubled look on his face, it made me curious enough to approach him." Sean recounted the memory with a sigh.


    Eiji listened on as he learned of their developing relationship and the coincidences that saw Sean''s base close to the medical faculty that Ray was training new Nisei medics who would return to the Mainland with the Imperial Navy. They met by fate and made plans to meet up frequently. In a drunken moment they had paid a celebrant to secretly marry them. It had made Sean the happiest man in the world. Both men vowed to be with each other in whatever way they could when the war was over. Within a few hours of holding a marriage certificate, Sean realized he was holding a live grenade in his hands. He destroyed the certificate and hid his ring at the time Japan planes were bombing his fleet. He saw Ray rush onto a warship that would take him back to Japan''s Mainland for good.


    "Let''s be together after this war is over." Sean revoiced the words his lover had said to him at their last meeting.


    "I was given a chance to prove my worth to my country or die trying. Either way, as a lover of men, I have no country once this is all over."


    "Why are you telling me this?" Eiji was shocked and worried at the stakes involved with this conversation.


    "I heard your promise to Tyne. Can I also ask for help to find my Ray?" Sean pleaded with earnest eyes. "I want to see my love one last time, to know he''s safe and well before my life on this Earth ends."


    Eiji frowned. What about him made these men believe he could or would be able to achieve an impossible? Weren''t they awfully trusting. He wasn''t sure what to feel about this kind of respect.


    "You''re being bold, trusting me with this." Eiji gasped, allowing the rest of his cigarette to die out. "What if I rat on you to the Tonarigumi? You''ll be doomed."


    Sean chuckled. "I think you won''t. There''s more risk to you than me don''t you think?"


    Eiji sighed. The man was right. To be honest, he didn''t mind the idea of these men desperate to be reunited with their forbidden Japanese lovers. He had long figured that Tyne''s wife was also Japanese.


    "Fine. Who am I to deny a man''s request to find his love when he gives me the same look as a Tanuki begging for food?" Eiji grumbled his support.


    He yelped at the tight thank you hug Sean gave him.


    "When you F*ggots stop pussyfooting around, need your help." Kei yelled at them.


    He cursed at the firm finger flick Sean gave his forehead.


    "Do you dare use the F-word with me, boy! I''ll cut out your tongue and fry it up for breakfast!" Sean scolded Kei with a voice that meant what he said.


    Kei bulked from the murderous look he saw in Sean''s eyes. He realized his offence.


    "''Kay." He whispered.


    "Can you please stop scaring the hired help Sean. The radio." Tyne groaned as he drew everyone''s attention back to the square backpack device that was surrounded by screw-on attachments, electrical wires, long antenna sticks, battery packs, screws and tubes all over the back-seat.


    "Those screws and tubes shouldn''t be separated from the device." Eiji noted the obvious.


    He pushed everyone out of the way and took over with the assembly, his engineering and radio operator skills being put to good use. Within half an hour he had the device operational.


    "Eiji''s a radio-wiz!" Sean declared excitedly.


    "Shuddup." Eiji coolly acknowledged the man''s praise.


    They all listened to the radio''s crackling and beeping from the knob turns by Tyne''s fingers. Kei was tasked with holding out a set of rabbit ears connected to wire that was fed into one of the radio unit''s socket. Apparently its state-of-the-art technology that allowed a boost for a better signal.


    "Can you move it up a bit?" Tyne called out to Kei.


    Kei groaned as he stood outside next to the door, holding the rabbit ears antenna straight up in the air.


    "That''s it! Hold it there," Tyne said to lock onto the clear signal they had, after a few clicks a voice came online.


    "Matherson. Right on time." A stern voice of a military man greeted Tyne. "Do you have confirmation?"


    "Sir, yes, Sir. I have secured the comic''s latest version from the shop at Weisman. Sir." Tyne immediately answered.


    Everyone waited for the crackling to return with a voice.


    "Good. Report to an asset south of the city and pass them the comic."


    The voice gave Tyne coordinates before clicking off. Checking a map, they realized the coordinates was for an area of land along the coast line south of the city. According to the map it was virtually inhabited; no doubt be troublesome terrain for Kei''s car.


    "Well, at least we won''t need to worry about getting looks from people." Tyne saw the bright side.


    Eiji frowned with a bad feeling. It made sense to find a rendezvous in the middle of nowhere, but it also left them exposed to underhanded attacks. His instincts were telling him that something tragic was about to happen.


    "Do we have weapons?" Eiji soberly asked.


    "You sure about this Eiji?" Tyne warned. "We intend to make this tour without blood shed."


    "Tell that to the gun pointed at your head should that happen." Eiji coolly responded.


    Tyne sighed. "No one gets a weapon, especially you. Don''t forget what you are here, Eiji."


    Eiji hastily packed up the radio upon Tyne''s order and gathered Tama who had finished with her meal and was ready to sleep in the bag.


    The mood was foul when everyone resumed their places in the car. Kei resumed the drive further south to their rendezvous point.

 Chapter 40 Break

    They hung about the car, waiting for the sun to charge up the radio for another day''s use.


    Kei had also stocked up the fuel tank with charcoal chips and mentioned he had to buy another bag from a shipping or transport depot, which were mainly found at large cities. He had enough for what they needed to do and a return to the nearest port at Hiroshima.


    The men lazed about, smoking cigarettes, playing with Tama and enjoying the brief quiet before they had to hit the road.


    Tyne got into a deep and meaningful conversation with Eiji as they leaned on the car bonnet, appreciating the untouched and refreshing view of nature all around them. They shared their pasts.


    "I was a brat who got into a lot of trouble before the war." Tyne scoffed at a revisit of his stupid self.


    "Make that a rich brat." Sean corrected Tyne''s statement with his cigarette dangling off his lip as he joined them.


    Eiji learned that Tyne was the only son to parents who came from wealth. His mother was the daughter of an oil tycoon. His father was the son to the president of a mining corporation. This afforded Tyne a luxurious life with allowances to live how he wanted. It was a reason he was also able to rank up to being a lieutenant at his age.


    "I took up languages on a mere whim and way to impress the ladies." Tyne joked.


    His face lapsed into a serious expression. "It ended up my calling. Like you, I got into a lot of trouble. When voluntary conscripts were being advertised, my parents signed me up."


    Tyne had just finished college with his language''s degree and eagerly agreed to his parents suggestion of being part of the war effort. He was at that age of feeling invulnerable and fed up with his privileged lifestyle. The idea of being a hero of war sounded like fun until he reached his first tour in Hawaii and got a hit of reality.


    "My first assignment in the Peace Corp oversaw Nisei women and children affected by war." His voice and hands trembled at the disturbing memory.


    "I realized how many people not fighting got caught up in line of fire or impacted by the after effects. Lack of the bare essentials was a real thing."


    "War brings out the most shameless and despicable of people." Eiji soberly commented with a long drag from his cigarette. "It also reveals hope in striking contrast."


    Tyne chuckled. "You''re an amazing man. Shame we had to meet as enemies."


    "Bastard. Since when were we enemies." Eiji shoved Tyne off balance, so he knocked into Sean who looked less than impressed.


    "Why aren''t you a brutal, diehard, Japanese?" Sean quizzed Eiji with a frown.


    "Why aren''t you a guns blazing, gung-ho, American?" Eiji coolly answered Sean''s stereotype with his own.


    The three of them burst with laughter at their absurd perspectives of each other.


    "Well, it''s settle that none of us are living up to the expectations of our countries stereotypes." Tyne declared on their behalf.


    "Tell me more of yourself." He prompted Eiji for his story.


    Eiji sighed, raising one of his brows with an expression of, ''really?''


    "Come on. Don''t be a spoil sport." Sean nudged Eiji''s elbow.


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    Eiji sighed again and decided he had nothing to lose any more. Considering he had already lost his original identity and honour.


    "I also come from a similar family background to yourself Tyne. The parents I was born from, well let''s say, they hold a lot of sway." Eiji carefully answered.


    "And your Hinata?" Sean goaded Eiji for more on his man.


    "He''s Chikafuji-san to you." Eiji scolded Sean with a flick to his forehead.


    "Hai, hai, Chikafuji-san. Tell me more. I''m curious."


    "So, Japan''s accepting of same-sex relationships?" Tyne asked out of curiosity.


    Eiji groaned, feeling the uncomfortable situation he was sandwich in.


    "No. It''s not acceptable." Eiji''s voice assumed a dark tone.


    He told them about the sufferings Hinata''s family faced for being supportive of their relationship. Eiji''s father made sure that Hinata''s parents lost their right to operate a business in Tokyo. They lost their livelihoods.


    "Hinata will never see his parents again whilst he carries the shame of what our relationship caused them in his heart. He blames himself for their struggles even though they don''t." Eiji ended his story and cigarette.


    He moved off the bonnet to check on Kei.


    "Have fun swapping your girly stories." Kei sarcastically said to Eiji as he discreetly kept Tama happy with light pats.


    Tama was enjoying the attention on the back seat.


    "You surprise me, you know that." Eiji chuckled at the sight of the man trying his best not to show he cared for Tama.


    "Hey, um, sorry about your man''s situation and all." Kei mumbled his sympathy.


    "Thanks." Eiji enjoyed the silent moment with Kei.


    Both of them appreciated the placid lull.


    "My little sister would be twelve." Kei commented wistfully.


    "When did you last see her?" Eiji asked with a respectful tone.


    "Not long after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Tyne and certain connections, I was able to transfer them to here." Kei finished off his cigarette and moved away to round up the men when he saw the radio gauge was full.

 Chapter 41 Enroute to Kure

    Kei drove them back into Hiroshima where they were able to stock up on coal at a shipping depot in the warehouse district.


    Eiji had been nervous the whole time Kei did business with dubious men in suits who talked-the-talk with brass attitudes, and gave him browsing looks here and there. He held in his emotions when one of them, looking fresh in a plaid brown suit and fedora, causally nodded at Kei''s mention of giving his love to Nishigawa-sama.


    The visit was fortunately quick.


    After another brief stop at a grocer for a restock of food supplies, and allowing Tama to stretch her legs, they were on the road again.


    They journeyed south, taking the roads that followed the coastal train line towards Kure.


    Eiji felt nervous and excited about having the chance to stop there. When he had mentioned to Tyne that his mother in-law lived on the outskirts, Tyne was keen to break their journey and visit her. After they had fulfilled their orders of course. He felt his mind emptying out from all the ways he would greet Hinata''s mother as he watched the countryside rush past him from the car window.


    The others kept their pensive thoughts and the gentle lull of the car''s cosiness.


    "I''m sleepy." Sean yawned and dumped his head on Eiji''s shoulder to use it as a pillow.


    Eiji groaned at the feel of kitty-soft brown hair tickling the sides of his neck. He frowned, wondering if it had grown a bit since their first meeting back on the US escort carrier. His mind ran over how long it had been since their had entered the country. Probably couldn''t be more than a month. It felt like he had been road-tripping with these men for a long time.


    "Hmm. Didn''t mention this before. you smell nice and sweet Eiji." Sean dreamily complimented Eiji, which earned him a whack to his crown and hard shoving to his sides.


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    Sean wrapped his arms around Eiji''s waist, thwarting the man''s attempts to move him away to the other side of the back seat.


    Eiji sighed, dropped his attempts and reluctantly allowed Sean to cuddle him like a teddy bear. The US Corporal was soon sound asleep on his shoulder.


    "Clingy Yank." Eiji grumbled.


    His mind wandered to moments of cuddle time with Hinata. Those memories of having his arms wrapped around the man''s slender waist and taking in his sweet musky scent lulled his mind into sleep.


    BANG!


    Eiji woke with a start and found himself shuffling about the car seat as Kei was doing his best to maintain control of the car that was skidding out of kilter.


    The car screeched as it diverted off onto a muddy track. Fortunately, the weight of mud was able to slow the car''s momentum and speed.


    Kei slammed the brakes to make it stop.


    Eiji''s heart pumped with adrenaline; hands twitched with nerves and tension. He instinctively reached for his gun and realized he had none.


    Sean had done the same and lowered his head into his hands, chanting some nonsense to calm his nerves and sporadic twitches around his arms.


    Tyne had gone still, almost petrified. His hands coiled around a weapon at his hip that didn''t exist.


    Kei panted, feeling his heart racing with panic. He fumbled for the car door, awkwardly opened it and stumbled outside into the muddy track the car''s tyres was lodged in.


    "Shit!" He gulped as he nervously fumbled about his pants pocket for his cigarettes.


    He leaned against the bonnet, taking in heavy drags to calm himself.


    Tyne joined him, doing the same thing.


    Eiji slowed his breathing, remembering his meditation training he had learned during archery days. A short while later, he was able to recollect his thoughts. He looked to Sean who was still mumbling nonsense.


    "Hey." He tapped Sean''s shoulder.


    Sean raised his head. The clarity of his green eyes were murky with vulnerability. His lips trembled and expression was tight with fear.


    "I didn''t want to go to war. I had no choice. I..." Sean mumbled.


    Eiji sighed, recalling a time when Hinata showed the same reactions. He had mumbled nonsensical worries when he had learned of his father''s clientele walking and heavy business losses because of his relationship with Eiji. Back then the thing that made Hinata almost insane with guilt and stress was the one thing that stopped him.


    "Sean. Look at me."


    Sean shook his head. "Ray said I wasn''t fit for war. He knew..."


    "Look at me!" Eiji ordered Sean.


    Sean obeyed, but be he was beyond flustered. His mind had spiralled into a pattern of thoughts, which was digging him deep into an emotional state. He wouldn''t be able to recover from it quickly if Eiji didn''t do something to break the pattern.


    Letting out a sigh and groan, he grabbed Sean''s head and pulled the man into a kiss.


    Their kiss lasted for as long as Sean was able to calm down. It transitioned from a desperate press to a gentle tender feeling.


    Sean pulled away and rested his head on Eiji''s shoulder. His heart had calmed and mind became clear.


    "Thank you Eiji. I feel better now. Although, the kiss was somewhat an unexpected shock therapy treatment. Isn''t it usually a slap across the cheek?"


    "You''re hard headed; didn''t think It would''ve gotten through to you." Eiji joked.


    Sean chuckled. "Just like my Ray."


    "Don''t fall in love with me. I have Hinata." Eiji soberly reminded him.


    "Wouldn''t dream of it. Although, I did like our kiss," Sean said teasingly.


    He yelped at the curt slap Eiji gave his cheek. Now he did the shock treatment.


    "Hey guys!" Tyne said when he tapped on the window to draw their attention to them.


    They stepped out of the car.


    Tama woke from her sleep in the bag and hopped out too. Sniffing in the soft mud ground, smell of trees and musky scents of nature.


    The men took scope of the mud track the car was on. It led into a meadow where child-sized stalks of rye and wild flowers ran wild up to the start of a belt of pine trees that formed a forest.


    Eiji stepped around to the right back tire to where Tyne was standing with a frown towards it, he could see why. The tire was completely flat due to a heavy puncture.


    Kei crouched low to inspect the damage and fished out a mangled rifle bullet. Nature wasn''t responsible for this flat.


    "Not good." Kei gulped as he held up the tiny mangled shell of metal before the men.


    "You don''t think your cover is blown?" Eiji whispered carefully to Tyne.


    Tyne stepped back to glance around the quiet of the surrounding trees and meadow. The stillness unnerved him. A keen reminder they were still at war.


    "I think we should assume it is so to be on the safe side."


    "Or maybe you have enemies Kei?" Sean carefully stated another obvious.


    Kei snarled in response.


    "That''s another likely scenario and probably the better of the two." Tyne agreed. "For now, it seems we''re being observed from afar. We''re going to need to hide the radio before we travel again."


    The men got to work swapping the flat with the spare and mending it the best they could. Tyne grabbed the suitcase from the boot. The men spent some time refitting the back seats carefully, so the radio and its accessories could be hid underneath. They repacked the suit case with food and other travel items. Then pushed the car out of the mud, getting slightly dirty in the process.


    "The tire''s going to need to be replaced. I''ve re-treaded the best I could, but it''s only roadworthy for about a mile." Sean soberly informed Tyne.


    "A mile is good enough if needed." Tyne nodded.


    Kei checked to ensure the engine and other parts of the car was functional before starting it up and carefully moving it out of the track.


    They resumed their journey on the highway, unaware of a black sedan following them at a distance.

 Chapter 42 Futuba Chikafuji

    They were able to drive ten miles along the coastal road towards Kure when the spare tire ran a flat as well.


    After a snap discussion and decision, Kei drove them off route into a small village towards the waters of Hiroshima Bay near an island. Eiji warned them the island held former naval training base.


    It was prudent to find cover, and a way to restock and repair without drawing attention from the Imperial Navy and Tonarigumi. Especially from the party following them, who were yet to reveal themselves.


    Eiji''s mouth lifted in a bitter-sweet smile when he saw the name of the village they had unwittingly found themselves in.


    "I know a place we could seek refuge," he soberly advised the men.


    Plans were quickly made with the decision to hide the car. They concealed the car skilfully within some bushes near a section of road that ended towards a secluded section of woodlands that led down to the sea.


    Kei kissed the bonnet and groaned when they left his Blended Beauty behind and made their way to a small set of minka''s and modern buildings on foot.


    Sean and Tyne ensured they looked and walked the part as German business men with Kei and Eiji following behind has their lackeys.


    Tama poked her head out of the wicker basket bag, curious to the new destination. She stayed within the bag, content to have Eiji carry her about. Especially when he kept feeding her with cat nibbles.


    The men did divert to some bushes to allow Tama to relieve herself. They wondered on whether she''d run and never return. She returned to the bag Eiji carried after she was content and refreshed, settled down and fell sleep.


    The cosy spring weather was also lulling the men into a relaxed state as they followed Eiji''s lead down hill to an earth-stained Minka with a weathered rush mat roof, which was situated furthest from the cluster of the village''s buildings.


    A hit of fish and open sea wafted up their noses as they neared the Minka. The feel of a wet breeze stroked their flushed cheeks that were burning under the spring sun.


    Eiji''s heart raced at the sight of a woman kneeling down on the sandy grass ground before a bed of vegetables. His mind wandered to a memory of Hinata diligently working in the vegetable garden back at their country cottage. His mother in-law''s bent yet meticulous posture and lean body in her modest grey kimono was akin to her natural born son''s.


    The woman gradually sat up when she saw and felt the sun blocked by shadows over her form. Her expression was a mixture of shock and surprise at seeing Eiji smiling cordially before her.


    "Ok¨¡san." He bowed before the woman whose slender face held a demure expression and soft round eyes as Hinata.


    "Eiji-kun." The woman''s voice and full sized lips quivered with tears.


    She carefully stowed her tools in the weed buck next to her and stood to great his bowing body with a motherly hug.


    Her brown eyes studied the strange men behind him; she frowned at the non Japanese in business suits.


    "Eiji-kun, please tell me you aren''t in trouble again." She carefully whispered into his ear, almost scolding.


    Eiji sighed as he pulled out of her hug and faced her with desperation. He nodded.


    She invited the men into the modest minka, ensuring they were seated comfortably around the low table of the small main room, which held enough furnishings for modest comfort and a kamidana holding an image of a stoic middle aged soldier baring chevrons and medals of an Imperial Navy Sergeant.


    Eiji stood and bowed before the kamidana, reverently offering incense with a prayer of deep respect for the imaged man.


    "He was proud to fight beside you." Eiji''s mother said over his shoulder, drawing him back to the low table for tea.


    Once tea was set before the men, Eiji''s mother formally introduced herself.


    "I am Chikafuj Futuba." Futuba coolly addressed the men with a polite bow.


    "It is a pleasure to meet you Chikafuj-san. My name is Karl Weber." Tyne introduced himself using his German cover and extended the introductions to Sean and Kei, also using their cover identities.


    "Doctors?" Futua asked surprised and confused. "Eiji-kun?"


    "Ok¨¡san. I''m sorry to ask, but could we stay here for a few days." Eiji politely asked.


    "Of course! How can I turn away my son in-law?"


    "But, Ojisan would be okay with us?"


    Futuba reassured Eiji''s concerns and moved the conversation to trivial topics that were away from matters of war and work.


    Tyne could see why Eiji was fond of her. If she was a reflection of her natural born son whom Eiji had married to be part of her family, he was keen to met his Hinata.


    "We will compensate for our time here, of course." Tyne respectfully addressed a matter of business over sips of tea.


    Futuba waved off his compensation offer with a polite gesture.


    "You are my guests here Senseis." She countered his offer with a room to rest in.


    The men stood and followed her to a guest room they could share. She profusely apologized for the size and the guest room being only one.


    Sean politely bowed and thanked her for her generous hospitality, which seemed to impress her.


    "I must prepare dinner. Eiji-kun, ensure your guests are comfortable will you?" Futuba said as she left them to his care in the guest room.


    "Wow, your partner''s mother is amazing." Sean expressed his impression of Hinata''s mother when Kei had closed the door.


    "What the f*cking odds we''d breakdown near your Old Lady''s home." Kei exhaled as he stretched himself on a futon Eiji had laid out.


    He cursed when Sean seized an opportunity for a cuddle.


    "Get off me you f*cking faggot!" Kei grumbled and struggled against Sean''s strong hold around his waist.


    Sean bit his exposed collarbone bitterly. "How many times do I have to scold you for saying the F-word?!"


    "What, f*cking?" Kei innocently asked, confused.


    "Ooh so bold. Maybe later." Sean teased him.


    This gave Kei strength to pull out of the hold and off the futon. He stood next to Tyne, keeping his distance from Sean.


    "Men! Please behave yourselves in my mother''s home." Eiji scolded them.


    The conversation was interrupted when the shoji door of the room slid open and two teenagers in black and white school uniforms stormed inside. The teenage boy tackled Eiji to the ground.


    "Eiji-niisan!" The boy finished his tackle with a brotherly hug.


    "Riku, get off him." The teenage girl sighed with her arms folded over her chest, so the white collar of her black-white sailor school uniform crumpled inwards.


    "Keiko, Riku." Eiji fondly acknowledged Hinata''s younger siblings.


    "No. We might not see him again." Riku stubbornly clung to Eiji''s waist, oblivious of the strangers chuckling in the corner.


    "I apologize for my younger brother''s ill form. He has yet to understand TPO." Keiko respectfully bowed before the three men.


    "TPO?" Kei frowned, perplexed.


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    "Time, Place, Opportunity." Sean politely answered.


    Keiko lifted her head with pleasant surprise at his understanding and solid elocuted Japanese.


    "My mother informs me you are German doctors?" Keiko formally spoke.


    Her Keigo stirred a proud smile on Eiji''s face, which ensured him another jealous tackle to the ground from Riku.


    Eiji gulped when he was starring into a face of Hinata''s past. Riku was at a similar age when he had met Hinata, and his features were growing into a similar image of his big brother.


    "Riku, how old are you now?" He asked the boy.


    Riku sighed and got off him. He sat pensively next to Eiji. "Same age when you first came home with Aniki."


    "Say, Eiji-niisan, how''s Aniki?" Riku asked with hope for good news.


    "I don''t know, sorry, I haven''t seen him since I left for war." Eiji sorrowfully answered.


    "You''ll return to Aniki?"


    Eiji held Riku''s earnest stare for a while before carefully answering. "Of course. I''m doing what I can to return to him. These men, I owe them first for saving my life."


    Riku sighed and relaxed into a warm smile. He nodded his head and patted Eiji''s shoulder.


    "Ok¨¡san told us to call you for dinner."


    The men followed the children back to the main room for a family dinner.

 Chapter 43 Are You Still A Soldier?

    Eiji''s family politely offered the men choice spots and pickings at the table of food laid out before them. Eiji frowned, worried Futuba had emptied out their pantry.


    "Ok¨¡san. Are you sure this amount is okay to lay out? Especially since we didn''t turn up with something to offer." He worryingly whispered to his mother in-law and gulped at the stern look she gave him.


    "Baka. You''re family. Since when do family present gifts. Besides, what sort of ill bred host would I be if I only served you scraps," Futuba explained.


    She handed him a bottle of sake. "You have a point. So, have one of your German doctor friends give this to Ojisan when they greet him."


    Eiji nodded and handed Tyne the bottle with instructions that Tyne knowingly understood.


    Their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of another person entering the main room.


    An elderly man stepped into the room. He was rack-thin in his kimono with his stubbly greybeard giving him an image of strength to his wrinkly face and brown eyes. His grey coarse hair was held up in topknot with strands tumbling about his shoulders.


    He paused with shock at his unexpected guests. His shock eased into a warm smile at the sight of Eiji.


    "Haru-ojisama." Eiji respectfully greeted his elder and helped him to the best seat at the table.


    "Aiya. Boy, you make me feel old doing this for me." Haru brushed off Eiji''s fussing as he sat at the spot offered him.


    He looked at Tyne, Sean and Kei with stern scrutiny. Tyne took it as an opportunity to formally introduce them, handing over an unopened bottle of Haru''s favourite sake as their offering.


    This seemed to ease Haru''s concerns a little, knowing the men were familiar with Japanese customs and spoke fluently in their language.


    Everyone ate on Haru''s cue, making sure no morsel was left in a bowl. Futuba and the kids saw to cleaning up, allowing the men time to relax and talk.


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    Eiji stiffened when Haru mentioned his father''s name in their conversation.


    "I see that Misaki Takaki is renewed his term as a Tokyo Governor." Haru tested Eiji for his reaction and chuckled at the man''s obvious tension. "I also see you still have no love for that man."


    Eiji held his silence.


    Haru''s testing conversation turned to the reasons for Tyne and Sean''s presence in Japan. He didn''t seem convinced on their German doctor disguise. Regardless, he was giving them a chance since they were in Eiji''s company. His conversation moved back to Eiji.


    "Does Hina-chan know you''re back in town?"


    Eiji sighed and shook his head. Haru''s tone of voice softened upon seeing the man''s regretful expression.


    At first the idea of Hinata being besotted by a man worried him. He didn''t like the idea originally, since he was of a traditional mindset that believed that sort of love could only be between a man and a woman.


    Hinata and Eiji were the two that changed his mindset when he saw their mutual affection and devotion strengthen as they faced their adversities head on. Especially when Eiji had dropped his schooling to work in a factory and provide for Hinata and his family before his father spitefully enlisted him to war to satisfy his own campaigns.


    Haru knew that the money they were living on was from Eiji and Hinata, although his pride as a man of the house wouldn''t openly acknowledge their generosity.


    He carefully eyed Eiji as he asked, "Are you still a soldier for our country?"


    Eiji sighed and flicked the other men pensive glances before answering with a no. He tried to ignore their set expressions.


    "Well, make yourselves comfortable doctors. Our community needs lots of medical help." Haru ended his scrutiny.


    Eiji sighed, glad his uncle in-law was willing to accept their cover.


    Dinner talks ended when Haru made himself more comfortable on the tatami and fell asleep.


    Keiko and Riku saw them back to their rooms where they innocently gave the men information about their community and change of management within the Tonarigumi. As some of their friends'' parents had recently taken up important roles there. They were unskilled on Eiji''s cues to stay quiet or ignoring his attempts to turn the conversation away to harmless topics.


    He sighed when they left and the four of them were alone in their room.


    "If you use their information to harm my family''s home and neighbourhood, I will haunt you for eternity." Eiji threatened them.


    Tyne laughed off his empty threats. "Like I take that as a threat. You should know me by now that I wouldn''t dream of it."


    "You''re still an American soldier regardless." Eiji carefully whispered.


    "With a Japanese wife, as I''m sure you would''ve guessed by now." Tyne argued his case.


    "If your country asked you for intelligence that led to a bomb drop on our cities, would you give it if you suspected this?" Eiji soberly laid out his concerns.


    Tyne and Sean looked conflicted by Eiji''s question.


    Of course, it had been plaguing their minds. Air raids was one thing, but to drop a bomb on a civilian city didn''t sit well with of them.


    "Honestly, Eiji, I don''t know." Sean looked Eiji in the eye with his answer.


    Tyne sighed and turned away.


    "Webber-sensei." Eiji sarcastically called Tyne by his cover identity.


    "You should know me by now. How could I feel great about something like that?" Tyne angrily answered back.


    "What about you Kei?" Eiji quizzed Kei who had been watching the conversation apathetically.


    "As long as you don''t drop a bomb on me. Like I care." Kei honestly answered.


    Eiji figured this would be that man''s answer, so wasn''t shocked by it.


    Their heart-to-heart conversation was challenged by sudden sounds of sirens stressing their warning of a pending air raid.


    The ground trembled and familiar heavy thuds outside automated the men into soldier mode. They grabbed Tama and raced out of the room to gather the others into an evacuation formation.


    Everyone ran outside for the neighbourhood shelters; the sounds of rapid gunfire with sporadic flashing and raining metal followed their heels. The cover of trees fortunately absorbed most of the shooting, stirring splinters of wood into the air around their sprints. They kept their aim for the underground neighbourhood bunker at the end of the forest path.


    "Hurry Ojisan!" Futuba cried out as the elderly man started to lag behind.


    "Get on my back!" Sean knelt down before the elderly man.


    Haru reluctantly climbed onto Sean''s back and groaned at the man''s sprints that carried him to the shelter and safety before a shower of gunfire could strike their bodies.


    Tyne slammed the bunker''s door closed when the last person entered and it was clear no one else was left behind.

 Chapter 44 Shelter

    Awkward and silence was thick within the bomb shelter, aside from the outside sirens, tremors and sporadic firing passing by.


    Eiji busied his mind in helping a few of the older ladies become comfortable in the boxed-in space his family and a couple of their neighbouring families were crammed into.


    "You okay there?" he whispered to Tyne who was hunched low in a corner next to Sean and Kei.


    The two overgrown foreigners weren''t doing a good job in looking inconspicuous. A few heated whispers went around the room with eyes averted from the men that held their curiosity.


    "Chikafuji-san, who are these men?" An elderly woman bravely asked Futuba.


    Futuba cordially introduced Eiji and the others.


    "Oh my! You don''t look much like the others I would never have guessed." The elderly woman feigned coyness.


    Eiji stifled his groan at the play she was making. "I''m a lucky son to have a great mother."


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    She chuckled behind a papery hand and turned her attention to Tyne, so she could pick at his medical insight. Eiji and Kei shared pensive glances with surprise and relief when Tyne attended to the elderly woman''s questions and care like a real doctor.


    This broke tensions as the other elderly neighbours chipped in with their ailments, which Sean and Tyne attended to like true medical professionals. Even roping in a reluctant Kei to assist with their analysis and interim fixes.


    "At least this makes being stuck in here a lot more lively." Riku yawned with both boredom and tiredness.


    An almighty boom and noisy tremors made everyone fell silent and pause; dust clouds disturbing the surrounding air.


    Eiji felt his heart race and hands twitch with nerves for a trigger. He glanced to the other men and saw their stiff postures and tensed expressions. He''s eyes widened with fear when he saw Tyne''s hands were coiled at his hip like they were reaching for a gun. He discreetly grabbed the man''s hand and shoved it in his pocket before others could see.


    Tyne nodded his head and began to count his breathing. Sean started doing the same thing and even made it a game for some of the younger children who were trembling with obvious confusion and fear.


    The moment eased and the siren''s eventually stopped. After everyone felt sure the raids had passed, they pushed open the shelter door.


    Traces of a new dawn, breaking through the black of night, graced their vision. Along with littered bark and foliage from shredded trees that had crashed the ground surrounding them.


    Well if it was just fallen trees, that was something the people could deal with. Eiji had thought, but the fact that his mother and family were having to cope with this every so often bothered him.


    The others stayed behind to help other families move obstructing trees from paths that led back to other houses. Eiji wanted to ensure his mother and siblings in-law were safely back to their home.


    "Say, Ok¨¡san, how often are these raids?" Eiji asked when they were clear of the shelter and making their way back toward their home.


    "This would be the second." Futuba sighed as she helped a grumbling Haru keep up with their walk, by holding him up.


    Eiji stopped and forced the old man to hop on his back.


    "Bah! I''m not a kid you overgrown monkey." Haru grumbled his insults to Eiji''s offer, but begrudgingly accepted anyway as his bones creaked when he climbed onto Eiji''s back.


    Eiji chuckled at his old man''s grumbles when piggy-backed him towards the house. "You''re light Haru-ojisama, like a kid."


    "Rude youth." Haru sighed with pensive sadness. "We lost Ba-chan last week."


    Futuba explained that she was Haru''s friend and their fellow neighbour who had been caught under gunfire in the last air raid.


    "Oh, sorry." Eiji replied and yelped at the curt whack he felt to the back of his head from Haru''s slap.


    "You fought the front lines, you should know death itself." Haru scolded him. "Bah, she was on her last legs anyway. Everyone dies, Son."


    "Yeah. Everyone should die properly Haru-ojisama. Not in war." Eiji sighed and smiled weakly at the gentle rub Haru gave his head to make it better.


    They safely reached the minka house, which was fortunately still standing in-tact. Sean, Tyne and Kei wasn''t too far behind them as they made their way back inside to (hopefully) have a restful nights sleep.

 Chapter 45 GO Board & Letters

    Tama mewed her complaints as soon as they walked through the front door.


    Eiji picked her up and gave her a cuddle with apologise for leaving her in the dormant, warm pit oven that was the safest part of the house for a cat. It had been a snap decision when the raids were happening. He had tested to ensure the oven was inactive and safely stowed her in with door ajar, so she could breathe.


    She was a clever beast to have been able to push her way through the door and rush out to greet them all covered in soot.


    When everyone returned to the main room, the men gathered about the low table whilst Futuba coaxed the kids into preparations for bed. Of course the teenagers grumbled, keen to stay up for longer to spend more time with Eiji.


    Realising this, Eiji and Tama broke away from Haru and the other men''s serious discussions on fuel chips and vehicles.


    "Hey Riku, you still use Otosan''s Go board." He sneakily said to the kid when Futuba was serving tea.


    Eiji placed Tama near the kids'' bedroom door. She sniffed around his legs as he gathered the board from the cupboard Riku pointed out to him ,which was next to his their room.


    His face relaxed into nostalgic smile at his father in-law''s board that was honourably perched on the top shelf with little items crowding it. He carefully pulled the square yellow board, and pouch of pieces, off the shelf and frowned at the set of letters that fluttered down to the floor with it.


    Tama sniffed curiously at the aged sheets of neatly folded paper near his feet. He carefully placed the board on the ground and picked up the letters. His heart beat crazily at the sight of Hinata''s pristine handwriting on the surfaces.


    "Aniki wrote these when you went to Okinawa." Riku provided insight as he went to claim the board. "You can have them if you want."


    Eiji stared at his brother in-law with shock. Was it really okay? He glanced to the letters that still held a smell of wild flowers from their home in the countryside. It reminded him of his own letters that the had entrusted to Yuri to deliver to Hinata. His yearning to be reunited with his partner was stronger.


    A tear slipped from his eye as he gripped the edge of the paper tighter. One fact made his heart at ease was the fact that Hinata kept in contact with their mother despite his stubborn decision to break away from the family due to the trouble Governor Takaki had caused.


    He sighed and read one of the letters, which told of life at the country side and hopes that all was well. It was brief, polite yet full of unspoken feelings and care that showed on the straight, bold lines of each character stroke. Pen strokes that Eiji was more than familiar with. He held the letters near his heart, trying to feel the words'' connection on the paper.


    "Eiji-niisan?" Riku politely prompted Eiji out of his thoughts and averted his gaze respectfully when he caught the man''s eyes welling with tears. "I''m gonna set up the game."


    Eiji pushed aside his moment of melancholy and forced a smile towards the boy. "Sure. Don''t expect me to go easy on you."


    Keiko entered the hallway after finishing her cleaning duties and joined in with the competitive banter. The three of them established a game that lasted for hours until Futuba entered to give them a mother''s scolding about going past bedtimes.


    Eiji left Tama in Keiko and Riku''s room as she had been curled up in a ball, fast a sleep next to Riku''s head. It was a moment too cute to disturb.


    When he returned to the guest room, he saw that Kei had wasted no time in hogging the middle futon and going into a deep sleep. His body was stretched out on his and half of Sean''s futon that was laid out on the left.


    Tyne sat near the outer Shoji panel in thought. Eiji frowned at the map that Sean was studying next to Tyne.


    "Is that the comic?" His question was whispered low as he found a spot next to him.


    "It''s Hiroshima and the prefectures all the way down to Okinawa." Tyne whispered soberly.


    "A perfect detailing of this country." Sean matched Tyne''s whisper with a sigh. He rolled up the map and shoved it under his shirt at the back in his pants.


    "This makes me nervous." Eiji''s frowned deepened. He pressed his lips together. "Tyne. Your country is honourable?"


    Tyne knew it wasn''t a question carrying any vindication or accusation, but wanting to ease a fear they all shared.


    "It''s my belief, yes, my country is." Tyne carefully answered, matching Eiji''s frown.


    Eiji heaved a sigh filled with worry and closed his eyes.


    Tyne and Sean were good people. They could have vilified him with reminders of his position as a prisoner of war, but they chose to be his friend instead. As dangerous as that was, it was also the most humane way to carry out this relationship and their orders. He had to keep faith in this fact and that they were also only men following orders for their country that they believed in. No different to him when he was in-service, gunning down the enemy before him on the front lines.


    "Okay. You have your orders" Eiji blew out his worries. "For your God and Country."


    He yelped when Sean jumped on him with a bear hug and pulled him down into a cuddle on the futon that had been laid out for Tyne.


    "Sleep with me tonight," Sean whispered into Eiji''s ear that scored him a light fist jab to his gut.


    "I didn''t mean in a perverted way." He groaned with pain and his eyes watering.


    "You hug like a lover. No way in hell." Eiji growled and went to claim Sean''s futon that was furthest from the man, and with Kei as a buffer in the middle.


    "I''ll hug you to sleep, baby." Tyne wryly joked.


    Sean screwed up his nose. "No way in hell you big ogre."


    He made himself comfortable in Tyne''s futon and snuggled close to Kei who was cursing in his sleep about idiot foreigners who couldn''t change a tyre.


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    Tyne chuckled and returned to his pensive mood, keeping watching over his sleeping comrades.

 Chapter 47 Train

    The lucky run had exhausted its course. They had uneventfully secured a bag of fuel chips and was headed back for the car with their suitcase and Tama in tow. Fortunately, Tyne had returned the radio back in the case and had hidden it in the bushes nearby before they headed down the path for assistance.


    They had been taking a route to the bushes to reclaim the suitcase when Kei fortunately spotted the unexpected attention around the car before they were noticed.


    The four men hid behind the cover of bushes in the thick belt of trees nearby, watching men in beige uniforms examining the car. Tyne whispered his doubts on their Wiesmen personae getting them out of trouble. Especially when a new party of men in black suits and overcoats entered the scene. Kenpeitai. Their presence was obviously making the men in the beige uniforms nervous and overly concious of not making the wrong move.


    "We can''t take the car." Tyne whispered the obvious and a look of apology to Kei.


    Kei flicked him a look of, ''I''m not stupid.''


    The men quietly moved away from the scene and back to the boatyard where they hastily paid for a cart ride to the local train station that was manned by women.


    Eiji had learned that all the local men had been recently drafted to Okinawa for the current fight. He had lied, saying he was headed there himself after he had fulfilled his current orders to bring the German doctors to their company in Kure. He explained that the men were making fake limbs for the soldiers in Kagoshima.


    This had fortunately intrigued the station attendants who were more than happy to help a fell soldier doing the honourable duty of escorting medical aid for those on the front lines.


    Eiji stifled his guilt and feelings of dirty dishonour, accepting their help onto a train bound for Kure.


    Unfortunately, they had jumped out of pan and into a fire when Kenpeitai boarded the same train. As the train travelled in motion, they patrolled the aisles on a search. A group stopped before their booth and demanded their papers, causing the surrounding passengers to go quiet and move as far from the men as possible.


    Tyne assessed the situation and compiled by handing over a set of their fake identities.


    The Kenpeitai''s attention was refocused on Eiji''s face.


    "You are Eiji Takaki?" Grunted a man about Eiji''s age with acne scars on his face.


    He let out a sinister chuckled that made the train carriage stifle nervous cries.


    "Of course you are." He handed Eiji his papers with a black gloved hand and added a gesture to get up. "Come with me now."


    Eiji carefully let out a sigh and calmly rose to compile. There was no point in causing a scene that could cause harm to innocent civilians.


    Tyne began to do the same and was curtly ordered to stay put. They only wanted Eiji.


    "It''s okay Sir." Eiji flashed them a weak smile. He moved out of the booth and down the aisle, taking the secret police with him.


    Tyne and Sean shared knowing glances and agreed to an unspoken plan with a nod. They counted to ten then roused Kei out of his seat and moved down the aisle in the direction the Kenpeitai had escorted Eiji out of the carriage. Apologising politely to relived passengers on their way.


    The passed through car doors and saw Eiji being led towards the car vestibule. Tyne knew that Eiji was dead as soon as he stepped out onto the car exit platform beyond.


    Sean glanced about the near empty first class car, looked to the suitcase he carried and Tama held in Tyne''s hand. He whispered a plan to the men.


    "Why should we bother? We have our orders." Kei hissed back with his sound logic.


    "Orders yes, but don''t tell me you don''t feel anything here." Tyne hushed Kei''s question by calling out Kei''s truth of his feelings for Eiji.


    The man did care about him at the end of the day.


    "Fine. This will jeopardise the mission." Kei carefully answered back.


    "Since when did you care about missions." Sean said through gritted teeth. "Besides, these men have your Blended Beauty. I see the only way back to it is to eliminate the obstructions."


    Mentioning on Kei''s car ensured his one hundred percent commitment to the cause.


    Sean quickly recapped on the plan in German like they were talking about tea to deflect unwanted attention.


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    The sight of Eiji''s head was just visible beyond the small car door window, it was soon hidden behind a crowd of black capped heads belonging to the Kenpeitai.


    He had entered the vestibule. It was now or never.


    They retraced their steps back to the other vestibule and stepped onto the open car platform; fierce winds slapping their skin as the train unsuspectingly moved at high speeds along the tracks lining the coast.


    "Go back to our seats and protect our bags." Tyne ordered Kei


    Kei grumbled, but willing held the suitcase, Tama bag and returned to their designated seats.


    Tyne and Sean carefully climbed over the platform rails and on to the fire ladder, making sure their hand and footing didn''t miss a rung. The fierce winds and howling about their bodies was threatening to knock them off their perches.


    They climbed up and crawled onto the top of the train car roof, which was fortunately cool from the astringent sea breeze whipping against the metal despite baking in the approaching noon sun.


    Tyne paused to hand Sean a pistol he had been secretly carrying in the lining of his suit jacket.


    "Don''t miss." He managed to say to his corporal.


    Sean grabbed the small pistol tight in his white glove hand. Like he would. He wasn''t a soldier if he screwed up his target.


    They continued their crawl to the fire ladder of the other side of the car.

 Chapter 48 Rescue

    Eiji''s heart pounded fearfully against his chest as the group of black uniform kenpeitai led him out to the train car vestibule that was void of other kinds of passengers. One of them opened the car door and pushed him towards the small open platform.


    "Hand back the stolen documents. We''ll spare your life."


    Eiji held his outer expressionless reaction. Inside, his mind was a turmoil of confusion and worry. Had they found out about his involvement with Tyne and Sean?


    "Documents? Never seen any." He bravely answered with a cool and calm voice he could muster.


    The kenpei before him released a sinister laugh and surprised him with a kick to his stomach.


    Eiji doubled over, doing his best to hold in the pain and recover quickly for a means to escape.


    The train was whizzing along its unsuspecting course too fast for him to brave a jump. The platform rails were at his waist, too high for a quick leap over. He''d likely have a bullet to his back as soon as he turned around to make a jump. He was cornered as the kenpeitai had planned.


    "Eiji Takaki. I''m rather surprised you would be young. I guess being the Assistant to the Governor of Tokyo has made you a "free man" from this war."


    Now Eiji was well and truly baffled. What had his father done this time? To think his father (once the modest son of a banker) would cause so many problems for his country. In his younger, naive days, he believed his father wanted to help people live a better life. His old man''s corruption showed as he aged; the truth of his being a merciless and diabolical tactician, especially towards his own son.


    "Where are those documents?"


    Eiji faced punches to his face and gut from many brutal hands that forced his body to the floor, but he kept his mouth closed.


    "No?"


    The cold muzzle of a pistol was pressed to Eiji''s forehead. His heart slowed dangerously as his mind flashed through all his memories and thoughts with Hinata.


    "Die then."


    Eiji closed his eyes as the gun fired.


    His eyes opened when rapid rounds were landing targets with thuds, curses and sudden drops to the ground. The kenpeitai before him were lifeless heaps at his feet.


    "Miss me Honey." Sean beamed a smile at him with a smoking, hot revolver in his hand.


    He quickly ambled down the side fire ladder and stepped around Eiji to continue his firing inside, eliminating the remaining enemy threats. This forced a silence and sudden stop of the train''s motion.


    Tyne caught Eiji as he stumbled forward from the train''s jerky stop.


    "Let''s go." He ordered as he aided Eiji off the train with Sean following behind him.


    "Tama! Kei!" Eiji managed to say as he landed onto the tracks into a run.


    "On their way." Tyne said over his shoulder.


    The three men ran into the thick cover of forest where the faint smell of the sea lingered about the air.


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    Eiji sighed when he glanced towards the left and saw Kei running a head of him with a suitcase in one hand and Tama in her bag in the other.

 Chapter 49 In the Middle of Nowhere

    They had been escaping the train scene for hours without pause for breath, determined to garner a distance and find somewhere safe to hide.


    It was Tama who caused the men to pause for breath when she managed to wiggle free from the jerky wicker basket bag, Kei had been lugging about at his run.


    She sprinted ahead and disappeared into the thick of woods. Eiji''s heart skipped a beat when he felt sure this time she wasn''t coming back. Where she chose to be, he hoped would make her safe and happy.


    He skidded to a stop, kicking up dirt and fallen leaves around his boots.


    "Tama."


    He sighed when he saw her tiny head sniffing around an old maple; its branches holding up weathered red leaves (size of a child''s hand) the best it could amongst a canopy of tall evergreen tree neighbours that created a dense formation around it, causing a resistance to its access to the sun.


    A fierce wind slapped their faces, stirring an overpowering hit of wet soil and bitter-sweet foliage to their noses. There was also a stillness and the lulling peace akin to a pause before a storm hit.


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    "Let''s rest. My legs are almost numb." Sean panted as he came up next to Eiji.


    He called Tyne and Kei over to them.


    "I think we''re safe for the time being," Tyne said as he quickly scouted their surrounds of quiet nature.


    Once their plight had time for pause, Eiji''s mind was flooded with questions.


    Was the kenpeitai the ones that caused their flat?


    What had his father done?


    Why did they think he was part of his father''s scheme?


    Why did they mistake him as someone else?


    It almost seemed that, although there was a connection to his father (and whatever his diabolic scheme was), they didn''t factor the connection that he was his son. Rather, they mistook him as being a trusted employee gone rogue.


    "Hey, Tyne, about those forged papers and my identity. Where''d they come from?" Eiji stoically asked.


    "Kei, where did you source them?" Tyne diverted the question to Kei who let out a heavy sigh.


    "What does it matter where I f''cking got them? You asked for papers, I got them!" Kei brushed off the question.


    "Kei, darling. An answer to a simple question is polite manners." Sean cosied up to Kei and punished the man with a forced kiss.


    "What the f''ck you, freaking faggot!" Kei scrambled out of Sean''s deadly hold and to a safe distance, feeling shaken that his lips had touched another man''s.


    "Answer the question or face brutality that rhymes with grape. I''m not a pretty face when it comes to sadism." Sean coldly demanded with an unnerving tone of voice that even made Eiji''s spine feel the shivers.


    Kei paused, weighing up his options and the truth of Sean''s threats. His eyes lingered on the man''s experienced gun hands. Those gloved hands had effortless shot down a carriage of kenpeitai.


    "I made a deal with one of the Harigawa, a family of Nishigawa-gumi. Did some favours for their Kaikei in return for the papers." Kei sighed. "They were able to forge the foreign brutes since, well, they''re foreigners. No trace. Not many have seen them."


    Kei carefully approached Eiji. "You were a challenge. How many Eiji Takaki''s weren''t fighting or dead? Forged papers of our kind aren''t easy to pass off to the trained spotters. The answer came when one of my friend''s informants was dead in the pool of his own blood. A victim to a Harigawa transaction. His name was your own."


    Eiji groaned. "I''m not going to even ask why the informant died."


    "Since he''s dead, meant he probably double dealt with the Family and whoever."


    "What the f''ck were you thinking?!" Tyne threatened Kei by the collar. "I asked for low key papers. This is what you give me? Now we have the military police on our backs!"


    "YOU ASKED FOR PAPERS! I got them. You don''t get to be f''cking choosy when war''s on!" Kei shouted angrily.


    Tyne released him, suddenly worn down.


    "You spout your bullshit, go about being good soldiers, patriotism and shit. You guys are what''s wrong with this f''cking world!" Kei turned his voice to Eiji.


    "A cockroach or a bird. Not going to tell you which one will still be doing its f''cking business after the war''s totalled everything!"


    Eiji sighed, feeling a headache to his temples. "So, I hold the identity of a double agent who has earned the wrath of the kenpeitai. Just f''cking great!"


    "This places a damper to our orders." Sean calmly noted. "The fact that we were being tailed for another reason is the positive to this."


    "It also means we''re being scrutinised everywhere we go now." Tyne sighed.


    "Ditch this git. You''ve got your orders. You don''t need him." Kei offered his solution to the matter.


    "You think you can ditch me. You''ll find yourself ditched first." Eiji threatened Kei.


    "I didn''t mean to put a bullet to your head, faggot-brains. I meant, you go and let those f''cking power hungry police chase you."


    "Oh! A diversion to throw off the scent." Sean mused. His chirpy self returned to peck Kei on the cheek.


    "I was being nice!" Kei begged, pulling away to a safe distance whilst vigorously rubbing Sean''s cooties off his face.


    "Won''t work after the train situation. No, we continue with our current plans." Tyne finalised the situation.


    "Then, we need to be extra careful. Firstly, need to know where we are." Sean glanced about the thick forest surrounding them.


    "Hey, Kei, can I have a cigarette?" Eiji coolly asked.


    Kei grumbled and groaned. He fished out his Lucky Strike packet, handed a stick to the man and lit it whilst it was propped between Eiji''s lips. He soon found himself lighting up one for everyone this way. His version of a truce to bury hatchets.


    The four men leaned against the trunk of the maple where Tama slept, calmly, in a ball amongst sturdy tree roots. They assumed a relaxed moment of strategic thought amongst cigarette smoke and nature.

 Chapter 50 The Long Trek Back

    The men agreed that the obvious first course of action was to find out where they were.


    So, they re-bagged Tama (who was happy to curl up in her wicker bag space to sleep) and assumed the arduous trek through the forest.


    They traversed deeper into the damp, shadowy quiet of the woods. Their shoes making soft crunches on the uneven terrain, which gave rhythm to their train of thoughts.


    Eiji frowned with a concern when their upward hiking along a fire trail seemed to take them further away from civilisation. Where were they going?


    Everyone had agreed to follow Kei''s lead given his experience of the region. His constant checking of the sun''s position did give the other men reassurance. That was until his expression of self-assurance betrayed a fluster. He looked lost.


    "Kei. You do know where your going?" Eiji huffed.


    He stopped to catch his breath, feeling slightly dizzy from the thin air and bruises to his stomach from the kenpeitai''s kicks.


    "F''cker." Kei grumbled. He also stopped to catch his breath and take stock of their surroundings.


    Tyne saw it an opportunity to have a proper rest and re-assess their plans.


    The four men sat on a mossy rock crop underneath a tall gathering of uninspiring maple, ash and sakura trees. Brooding in their spots beneath thick rays of sunlight.


    Eiji was impressed that the war couldn''t spoil the forest''s stolid presence. Man-made cities and towns were being levelled, yet forests and mountains (steeped with the spirit of ages) stood firm against the onslaughts of war. He took some comfort in seeing that. A hope that traditions of old were not all lost.


    "You guys have no faith. I know what I''m doing." Kei defended his leadership through the forest.


    "Really? Then where are we?" Tyne questioned Kei with one brow raised.


    "How the hell should I know?" Kei answered back. He ducked to avoid the Sean''s swipe to his head. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    "Look you f''ckers! I''m right, this region still be around Kure. I''m sure of it. Meaning, we could be somewhere near Nikoucho." Kei snapped, contradictory to his last statement.


    He dropped his defensive attitude with a sigh and a scratch of his head. "I think."


    "It''s beautiful." Eiji expelled his awe at the soulful wonder of nature surrounding them.


    Tyne pulled out the map and carefully laid it out across a set of dry rocks before them.


    "So, where''s that on the map Kei?"


    Kei sighed and studied the map''s surface for sometime before picking up a dry pebble and plonking it in the middle between the Eiji''s family village and the dot that marked Kure.


    Their unexpected train stop had taken them further away from their intended drop point just outside of Kure City. They had inadvertently back-tracked. It made sense to Eiji, given the proximity from the train they had fled.


    "Maybe you do know your stuff." Eiji blurted to Kei and laughed at the man''s pouting.


    After a some serious discussion, they traced a path back to Eiji''s family village and Kei''s car. They needed to be on the road and reach their drop off point. It was obvious to all they were nowhere near that point. To make it to the drop-off, at the time they were allocated for the hand-off, they needed the car. Once on the road, they could keep track of their bearings and reclaim the distance and time they had lost.


    "By my watch and sun''s position, I''d say we have forty two hundred hours to make the hand-off." Tyne reminded his team. "We have to get to that car and have it on the road by at least sun down."


    "What happens if kenpei are still guarding it?" Eiji threw in his piece of reality.


    "Then we handle them. Quickly and quietly. Painlessly if possible." Sean answered.


    Eiji sighed. He was seriously sick of death and destruction. "I''d rather we''d sneak the car away from them, somehow."


    "I share your sentiment." Tyne reassured Eiji. "Let''s try to avoid a repeat of the train saga okay?"


    "If they shoot first?" Sean frowned.


    "We dodge and run as a first option." Tyne faced his corporal. "No heroics. Remember where we are."


    "On enemy grounds as spies for our country." Sean reminded his superior.


    "Pricks." Kei grumbled his curses.


    "That too." Tyne sighed. "I haven''t forgotten."


    He faced Kei and Eiji. "You both shouldn''t either. You aren''t civilians of this country, but US informants."


    "That''s uncalled for. Have I''ve shown signs of dishonouring our agreement?!" Eiji snapped at Tyne.


    "Not yet." Tyne smoothly answered back.


    "Why''d you save me?" Eiji changed the topic with his question directed to both Sean and Tyne. "You could''ve left me to die. I wasn''t more important than Kei for this job."


    Neither answered. Sean lowered his eyes to his feet.


    "No answer?"


    "Do I honestly need to tell you?" Tyne averted his gaze.


    "Friends don''t leave friends behind to gunfire." Sean released the truth of his feelings for Eiji.


    Eiji felt embarrassed and relieved.


    "We have a plan. Let''s get going." Tyne closed matters and gathered everyone up for the long trek back to Kei''s blended beauty.

 Chapter 51 Kei Ito

    They walked for hours, following a direction of the sun with focus towards their destination.


    After a while, Tyne declared they should take a break when he noticed Eiji holding his stomach to keep walking. They decided to break against a rock crop beneath the shade of tall maples.


    Eiji''s mind began to wonder on the story of his companions. He wondered on Kei''s story that led him to being an American informant.


    "Hey, Kei. What''s your story?" Eiji blurted and avoided the look of daggers Kei threw his way.


    "I know your name''s Ito, Kei. You have a mother and sister, and suffered some."


    "I didn''t just suffer some. My family got the shits cause of you pricks."


    Eiji''s heart almost broke at the hefty consequence Kei, his mother and sister suffered because of his Japanese blood after Pearl Harbor struck.


    His family were living in Detroit at the time. Already they had a hard time fitting in with their Asian looks. Before the Pearl Harbor attacks, they were able to pass of as Chinese except his mother who was a white American.


    "Every time my mother dragged us down the street. People thought we were her slave kids." Kei spat at the ground. "She stopped explaining the truth after a policeman wanted to take her in to get her head checked."


    Then poverty in his area made it impossible to nab a meal. So, Kei stole a loaf of bread.


    "I was ten and nimble. Got away with cut-pursing, until a local gang runner saw me when he was on his way for a pick-up."


    The runner saw potential with Kei''s instincts and street smarts, so offered him protection as a member of the local gang.


    "Steely trained me to steal with honour. Pfft. Like what the f''ck is that anyway." Kei sighed. "Still, can''t complain. Those were happy days. My mum and sister got food. Taylor, my sister, was too young to understand. She was just happy to eat. Mum never said anything, but I think she knew."


    By the time Kei had reached the age of 16 years, he became of the same level as a Kyodai of a local Asian gang. Running extortion rings and protection rackets around the poorer Asian populated areas. He didn''t get familial tattoos to his skin since his gang operated as an independent association to a family. So, he used this clean skin as his advantage of being an informant between strongholds.


    "A run in with the Ohara family made me face my true heritage." Kei laughed bitterly.


    We sat enthralled by Kei''s story of how he almost bled out on a bloody battlefield that was actually a car manufacturing warehouse on a shipping docks.


    "There was a scuffle with our car theft gang and another of some other unit. Our family faced off with one of the Nishigawa''s. Turns out it was a f''cking territory claim between two related oyabun''s." Kei fell silent. His face paled. "F''cking half-brothers."


    He skipped over the rest of his gang life.


    "Obviously, I lived. A few years later, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor whilst my gang''s arses got handed to us. People narked on anyone with an Asian face as Japanese."


    The incident had happened in the Hawaii Islands, but all Japanese half-cast''s were facing the consequences of Pearl Harbor all across the United States not long afterwards.


    "My sister and I were nabbed by the local pigs. Right out of our f''cking home. Four gits had to break down the door."


    Kei left his hiding spot to stop an assault on his sister with a bat. Eiji realised that Kei didn''t let his sister and mother be taken away (as he first had mentioned back at the bus depot), he had done his best to save them and was taken himself to protect them.


    He suffered a few punches, before they were thrown into a truck with other Nisei like cattle. His mother joined them, which earned both scorn and sympathy from the other victims jammed into the truck.


    "Stupid woman. Could''ve got it easy. No one saw her as a Jap." Kei sighed and lit up another cigarette.


    He turned his talking to puffing, leaving the men hanging in silence.


    "Come on Kei, darling, finish the story." Sean goaded Kei.


    "Why? Can''t you use your f''cking imagination for the rest?!" Kei argued.


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    "How''d you end up here?" Eiji soberly asked his question.


    Kei sighed, saying it was the only way to save his family.


    His mother received the harshest treatment when they first arrived to the desert internment (a.k.a labour) camp they had travelled the long roads to reach.


    They were dumped in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles of barbwire, sand, hot winds, rocks, bugs, predatory animals and soldiers with guns and god-complexes.


    Various generations of mixed American-Japanese were doing their best to cope with starvation, sickness, no amenities and racial slurs from the guards and others.


    "You can say I was in my element. Stole a few meals from the guards to share around, like f''cking Robin Hood. Got a hero status." Kei chuckled. "Don''t matter. Got people off my mum and Taylor''s backs after that."


    Eventually the lack of everything transitioned into everyday life. Fortunately, Kei''s family was spared most pain and trauma because of his connections.


    Kei had befriended an old Nishigawa-gumi general who had also been taken to protect his children. The general had recognised Kei from the battle back at the warehouse. They made a pact. He bribed a few guards to be runners for the general''s contacts. The general recruited muscle and loyalty from others imprisoned.


    Within the three years they were living the camps, Kei became both feared and revered. Running a Nishigawa gang unit that had all the guards in its pocket after he had killed an egotistical bastard of a guard leader. He ensured single mothers and their brats were treated well. Anyone who abused them, the frail or elderly, Kei shot in the head. On sight. No excuses. No one had ideas of taking advantage of the weak and innocent afterwards. There was no other authority to bear down on them.


    "Then a military jeep with a big wig navy officer drives dust into our shit hole." Kei groans. "I listened to an ''on-the-books'' offer. Took a deal to give my family a shot at that famous ''American Dream''. You know the rest."


    Eiji smiled and patted Kei''s back with understanding. You could say he was a survivor of circumstance, but his heart always did the honourable in the end.


    "F''ck off." Kei grumbled to Eiji. His face relaxed into a thankful smile.


    "So, what''s your story?" Kei passed the question to Sean.

 Chapter 52 Sean Campbell

    Sean flashed a cheesy smile to Kei. "We''re both from the Motor City."


    His face lapsed into a dreamy memory. "Nothing like the aroma of smelting steel and the cool taste of a soda pop from Mick''s Diner. My old man used to take me for soda pop and a hot dog on my birthdays to that place."


    Sean sighed despondently. "The last time we celebrated my birthday was when I was sixteen. That was the last time my old man had a son."


    Eiji and the others listened at the good upbringing Sean had.


    He was the son of a working class, god fearing, family. His father was an engineer for a car manufacture, bringing home enough money for living despite the hard times of recession.


    His mother was a good housewife and respected member of the community. She was part of the PTA, played piano for their church choir and was part of a neighbourhood network of mothers who met up every Tuesday to play cards and gossip over who''s-who.


    Every Sunday they never missed a minute of attending their church gatherings. All the families in their small town, on the out skirts of the city and its smelting steelworks, were god fearing Irish Catholics.


    They respected and listened to the resident priest who was a husband of a picture perfect wife with her white gloved hands and modest grey-white dresses and heels. They had yet to grace their family with brats.


    "She was young with great fashion sense despite the combination of grey and white she chose to pull off. A lot of men fancied the look of her. Some were even bold to pass flirts at her. She''d bat her eyes and feign Little Miss Innocent." Sean scoffed. "She''d give me the eye every so often when I attended church."


    "Hah! She had the eyes for you." Tyne disrupted Sean''s narrative.


    "Yeah. Unfortunately." Sean sighed.


    At first, he felt the attention should be seen as a mark towards manhood. It was only normal for woman to be attracted to men and vice versa.


    She wasn''t the only female paying him particular attention. It seemed, his look was the type women liked.


    "Why wouldn''t they love a hunk with a gorgeous baby face, bright green eyes and skilful hands." Sean chuckled and wiggled his fingers over Kei''s neck.


    "Get bent you freak." Kei groaned.


    "You love me and you know it." Sean wrapped an arm around Kei''s shoulder.


    Kei sighed and let Sean do what he wanted.


    "Did anything happen between you and her?" Eiji asked to bring Sean''s attention back to his story.


    "Yes, no, kind of." Sean screwed up his nose at the thought. "Well, after a number of subtle hints, she asked me out."


    "But she was married?!" Eiji gasped.


    "That was my reaction." Sean chuckled. "She had hired me to mow her lawn a few weeks prior to declaring her intentions. So, I went to her house to reject her offer and quit my job."


    Sean sighed when he mentioned that his plans were going well until her younger brother entered the house.


    He was a couple of years older than him, and had just returned from his training for the war. He was granted a week leave before his unit was to be shipped off to Europe.


    "I was smitten. I still remember him in his army uniform smelling of fresh linen." Sean dreamily recounted his first meeting with the man.


    Her brother was clean-shaven with a neat crop of kitten-soft blond hair, bright blue eyes and chiselled manly features.


    "We played a game of cards over moonshine. For hours, I pretended not to ogle at his face over my winning hands. He went his way none the wise, leaving me behind to deal with a dilemma." Sean expelled a weary sigh, again.


    "I had no idea what to do or think. The church taught us that only men make love to women."


    Sean theatrically added. "Other ideas be a sin for the devil''s favour!"


    When he had confided his turmoil to his mother for guidance, he naturally received a heavy handed response. She dragged him (as soon as he left his bath) into a broom closet and locked him in as punishment and means to drive out the devil from him.


    For days, she prayed and repeatedly banged her head against the closet door as penance for birthing the devil''s child, who was shivering naked in the locked closet and hearing nothing but heavy, rhythmic banging from the other side of the door. If it wasn''t the banging, it was his mother''s wailing prayers or the sound of his own breathing.


    People who came to look for him were sent away with a lie that he had run off with a girl.


    When his father discovered him naked and delirious to resemble a corpse, he called their priest to perform an exorcism on him. In his father''s eyes, his mother was doing the right thing after he found out the evil that befell their son.


    Neither recognized a truth of their actions; that they were willing to kill their own son just because he was sexually attracted to men. No. The Sean they had raised, laughed and shared birthdays with over soda pop and hot dogs, was taken over by the devil! They faced a monster that carried the image of their son.


    "I was eventually freed by our priest when he felt that his exorcism had worked on me." He scoffed bitterly at the memory.


    Sean complied with the charade, too exhausted, beaten and starved to complain.


    He was freed from that _closet_, but forced to live a lie that drove him to enlisting for the navy. Believing that fighting a noble war would grant him the right to be a human being again. His parents also agreed with the decision.


    "I absorbed my training, focusing on the will of God to help me fight an approaching war." Sean soberly continued.


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    His focus and dedication earned him stripes and respects from his squad members. He was soon elevated to a rank within his five years of training.


    "I realized my aptitude for languages when I studied code breaking."


    As he rose to rank, he felt his soul plummet to the darkest depths of hatred.


    The enemy was everyone not American, and he wasn''t shy to declare this. His attitude earned him more favours and a further elevation of rank. His versatile nature, task-focus mindset and approachable appeal assigned him to a role in a counter intelligence unit as a German pretender.


    "For months I learned to be a German doctor. Even earned a medical practitioner''s certificate."


    Sean closed his eyes, reliving a painful memory. "Just before I earned my right to practice medicine, I failed a surgery that cost an innocent man''s life."


    The man was an American civilian who was treated at Sean''s navy hospital for appendectomy. Sean hadn''t slept for days, doing back to back treatments. It was his first operation, which ended up a botch job after he had cut too much into the abdominal wall to cause a mass haemorrhage. The man died from blood loss on the operating table.


    He faced a court martial and was acquitted from malpractice and manslaughter. The judge had concluded that the death as the victim''s risk towards surgery and nothing more. As the victim was of poor origins, his family wasn''t able to appeal against a judge''s decision in a military court.


    "I was trained to view people objectively." Sean removed his arm from Kei, and shuffled slightly away to be at a distance.


    "I visited that man''s grave and saw his mother and young children crying over their loss. Not a penny left to them. It was the moment I realized my whole life and outlook was wrong. I had to change."


    He wholehearted accepted his medic post for Pearl Harbor not long afterwards.


    "If my hands could save more good lives as a doctor and take away bad lives of our enemies, I could redeem my humanity. I had thought." He released an uneven breath.


    "I''m not proud of the person I was, but meeting Ray gave me a chance to be a man again. A decent person. Even though I don''t deserve the chance." Sean smiled at the thought of his lover.


    "Somehow, we both knew what we were at first sight." He lowered his eyes, downcast.


    A moment of heavy silence lingered around the men.


    "Okamisama may not show his hand, but he does want the best for us. It''s up to us to seek out our happiness and meaning of life." Eiji broke the silence to console Sean.


    "Does he?" Sean''s eyes glistened with pent-up tears and lingering hope. "My mother was convinced I was a monster. Is your Okamisama also kind to monsters? Does your god give monsters a second chance?"


    Eiji frowned and flicked Sean''s forehead. "Feels like the head of man to me."


    "Hinata''s father once said to me, _''a man''s path is laid with wrong doings to make right. They''ll question your existence. It''s those times you need to listen to the answers your heart gives you, for they''ll always be your truth''._ You''re such a man who''s faced-down the demons of right and wrong doings to realize your truths."


    Sean smiled weakly. "Redemption is possible?"


    "We''re all sinners before our gods eyes. We fight our wars, declare hate for each other. Yet, I, who should be your enemy, stands by you because we''re both guided by our hearts. We''ve faced who we are and chose to see and learn from our mistakes. What''s the path of God anyway, if not seeing the demons within ourselves and deciding to overcome them for a greater good and happiness." Eiji reassured Sean. "Don''t be afraid to see your good self."


    Sean bellowed with a hearty chuckle, feeling a weight lift from his heart, mind and soul.


    "Thank you, Eiji-sama. As love''s comrades, you''re always and ever my friend." Sean smiled warmly to Eiji.


    "Gah! You sound like a couple of prissy nuns. Next, you''ll be preaching the Lamb of God gaveth our daily bread shit!" Kei added to the conversation.


    "You''re my friend too." Sean hugged Kei.


    He laughed when Kei shook himself free from his hug and shoved him to the ground.


    "Can God add cheese and ham to the bread slices? What I wouldn''t give for a sandwich right now." Tyne added with a timely tummy grumble.


    "What''s your story Tyne?" Eiji passed the question to Tyne.

 Chapter 53 Tyne Matherson

    Tyne was surprised by Sean and Kei''s forwardness. It was unexpected.


    From the reports he had read on Sean''s profile, he knew of his parent''s mistreatment (noted in a psychological examination) and had read on the court martial that led to where he was today. It was the first time Sean had spoken aloud of those personal troubles. He was also aware of Kei''s gang background and his family''s demise. The reason why he pushed for Kei''s recruitment to his superiors when his profile was put to the table.


    For Kei and Sean to trust them with their stories warmed his heart.


    "What''s your story Tyne?" Eiji asked him again.


    The other men waited patiently, with intense gazes on his face, for his story. Another chance leap of faith to trust.


    "What can I say that you don''t already know?"


    "How''d you meet your wife?" Eiji asked to get the ball rolling.


    "At a luau on my arrival." Tyne lapsed into a pleasant memory of meeting his wife.


    He was fresh off the boat at Pearl Harbor. It was evening with the sun streaking the sky a vibrant orange, green and blue. The weather was mild and cosy. The crisp sea air, smell of fresh fish, fruits and all that was island life was a welcome to him. He felt too much at ease and had to be reminded that he was an army medic for his country.


    He accepted his lei from the welcoming local and headed straight to his infirmary at the army barracks for his duties. The infirmary was an initial bliss after having to bunk on an escort carrier with other men who reeked like off pork.


    "I was a newly graduated medic back then, for an army medical unit working with the Peace Corps. My infirmary was close enough to the Japanese navy hospital." Tyne lapsed further into his memories.


    "Because my unit were full of good boys, we were granted some R&R."


    Tyne took advantage of the night life.


    "Now that I think about it. I do remember seeing you at Mad Louis''s one night," Tyne said to Sean.


    "Probably. There wasn''t any other bar to drink a decent beer." Sean shrugged and prompted Tyne to carry on with his story.


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    Tyne found his way to a luau with others from his unit. He shared a table that was next to his wife''s.


    She had been too busy serving drinks to the senior nurses and doctors at her table to notice Tyne. Until she accidentally bumped into him and spilt a drink on his uniform.


    "It was on purpose. Couldn''t see any other way to get her attention." Tyne chuckled. "To this day, I''ve never told her."


    "Your wife''s Japanese?" Eiji asked to confirm.


    "Should be obvious by now." Tyne answered.


    Eiji nodded and waited for Tyne to continue.


    "She was wearing her nurses uniform that bore the insignia of an Imperial Navy unit. I''d never seen a woman so lithe and pretty as a picture before. More beautiful than a Geisha."


    Kei sat up to pay attention to this detail. "Did she have a nice rack, set of pins? Have a picture do you?"


    "Not telling!" Tyne snapped at Kei.


    "Hog." Kei mumbled and slunk back down.


    "I helped her calm down and gave her an excuse to take a break. We spent the whole night talking, whilst her table excused themselves to find other fun."


    Then he had a weird fruit drink that made his body go into shock from an allergic reaction.


    "I recovered the next morning on a sick bed, but too weak to move and stuck on a drip. My wife was nursing me back to health. She had saved my life by keeping my airways clear and organizing me into a jeep for her hospital."


    Tyne was treated at the nearest medical facility that happened to belong to the Imperial Navy. Japan wasn''t at war with America at the time, so this occurrence was a rare occasional thing.


    "I treasured those days I spent recovering by her side. I learned why she was able to speak English. She taught me basic Japanese. We exchanged names and promises to meet when I was well." Tyne stared dreamily in the distance. "Hinata Aiyama. That''s my wife''s name. Aiyama-san."


    "Wait! Your wife''s name is Hinata?!" Eiji blurted.


    Tyne nodded.


    Eiji felt a weird emotion sweep over his heart. They both had lovers named Hinata. Was their meeting coincidence or providence? He had consoled Sean early with his views of Okamisama, but this common connection was uncanny. Almost to show proof of his convictions that Okamisama was indeed watching over them.


    Tyne continued his story.


    He had run-ins with his wife on occasion when he went about his duty. They''d sneak glances and plans to meet at Mad Louis''s or some other private place to be alone.


    "She was unsure of my intentions at first. A woman''s instinct as well as cultural. I carefully courted her for two months, reassuring her that my heart was hers. I was learning Japanese to the point of being a fluent speaking five-year-old. She was impressed I had mastered the basic manners." Tyne chuckled.


    Towards the end of their third month of dating, they were married in a shotgun ceremony. And fortunate to experience a brief honeymoon weekend.


    A month later, Pearl Harbor was attacked by enemy planes. Tyne was frantically trying to save his unit''s lives after they had been gun down before him in an air raid.


    He wasn''t sure what was going on other than his infirmary was being destroyed along with the barracks. By his quick thinking and training, he was able to organize a makeshift infirmary at a nearby church, which was out of range from enemy fire.


    A lot of the critically injured were rushed to the new infirmary for continued treatment. He worked in survival mode. Focused on saving and healing as many of the injured as possible. Word was spread. Soldiers and civilians were being rushed into his infirmary for treatment.


    There were too many pouring in.


    He felt frustrated by his struggles to save lives and maintain order over his infirmary. There were more civilians injured than soldiers who needed treatment. Many woman and children were heavily wounded with shrapnel still burning into their skin even after he had managed to remove most of the shards from their limbs and other body parts.


    "It was an unending chaos. I was running out of supplies and more people were being rushed in for life-threatening inflictions." Tyne gulped.


    His face lapsed into a sober expression. "I couldn''t cope. All the other capable medics and nurses were about to collapse themselves. Constant cries of pain and agony... We couldn''t stop lives from being lost."


    Then he heard the cause and what was going on at other places of the island through inbound soldiers. His heart feared the worst for his wife.


    Japan had attacked an American base. An intent that was a declaration of war. They had done so by claiming the lives of most of the island. At least, the US marine forces and some of the army units stationed there.


    "It didn''t make sense. I didn''t understand what Japan had to gain from attacking our forces. Didn''t they know the blood ties that existed between our nations?" Tyne whispered unevenly.


    He had no other option but continue with his duty. The people in his infirmary were his priority. Day and night he worked tirelessly, until a few weeks later he was free to take a break. He focused on finding out what happened to his wife.


    "I had to be careful who to ask." Tyne sighed.


    "How did you learn she was sent back?" Eiji asked.


    Tyne called in a favour with one of the majors he had treated to be part of an operation focused on medical aid to Japanese-American internment camps. He was useful because of his ability to speak basic Japanese. A skill he further developed during his duties.


    "I was hoping to either find her at one of those camps or learn she had boarded a ship bound for Japan. In the meantime, I was doing my best for my patients. Everyone in my infirmary was treated well, but outside my walls I knew it was a different story."


    Tyne learned of the names of Nisei who were smuggled onto Japanese ships for escort into Hiroshima. The information happened his way through a dead informant. He recognized his wife''s name on the list the informant carried.


    "It''s a common name." Eiji noted. "You were taking a risk for a chance?"


    "It wasn''t a common name on that island. I knew it was her and suspected she found passage on those ships," Tyne answered.


    Eiji frowned. He felt something weird about the scenario, like it was almost as if his wife had made the decision to be away from Tyne. Was it to save him from being marked as a traitor by his own? Or another reason? How much were these stumble upon coincidences by the hands of fate?


    "My orders led me to this mission and here I am." Tyne finished off his story.


    "That confirms it. We''re all boring." Sean joked.


    The men let out a chuckle at the ironic comment.


    "We need to get moving," Tyne said when he checked the position of the sun towards the west.


    They resumed their trek along their destined path.

 Chapter 54 Return to the Family Home

    Their trek in the forest led them on to a dirt road, which ran through a couple of weathered old wooden minka''s with tatty thatched roofs that had shredded bits of straw dangling off the eaves.  As they neared the buildings, they saw that the shredded bits were connected to holes caused by bullets. Likely from the air raid that had occurred the night before.


    Kei approached one of the elderly villagers who was tending to his garden, which was more mud and weeds than crops of healthy growing vegetables.  The holes were vegetables should be growing were left to bare.


    The elderly villager was a sprightly old man who was suspicious of them at first. When he learned of them being doctors, his attitude had lifted to an expression of being his lucky day.


    Kei made a deal to receive directions. The old man offered them water and a moment to rest whilst he gave them the needed directions and a brief history his town. Sean provided medical consultation, as part of their deal, to which the old man was grateful.


    Tama leaped onto the old man''s lap when he managed to sit in his chair. This made the man chuckle and relax into a moment of dreamy conversation. He voice carried stories of old, which the men felt it was impolite to not hear.


    They were eventually free to go.  Although, their ears felt a bit raw from having to listen to his waffle about the time when the shogun ruled.


    The whole time, Eiji was amused by Kei''s reaction.  A few times he had to stifle his chuckles behind the back of his hand when he saw Kei flinch or gasp at moments of the man''s telling.


    Kei, who always acted tough and cursed a lot, listened like a little kid. His keen interest seemed to have given the old man another reason to smile.


    Tama eventually decided to find another spot to rest. The old man sighed when she hopped off his lap and resumed her place back in the basket bag. He commented on her being a nekomata a few times with a cheeky grin.


    They politely took their leave and resumed their journey up the dirt road towards distant evergreen hills flanking their right and the horizon line of what they hoped was towards the sea on their left.


    The air was humid with crickets and birds making a near deafening racket, unsuspecting of the men walking through their territory.


    "Shuddup." Kei grumbled without looking at the men behind his back as they trudged the rocky dirt road in the direction the old man had given them.


    "I didn''t say anything." Sean smirked.


    "Why are you laughing?" Kei snapped back at him.


    "Me? Laugh? You must be dreaming." Sean dramatically feigned innocence.


    "Aah, you have to admit, his stories of Okita-san are the bees knees." Tyne exhaled deeply with awe. "That Mumyo-ken technique the old man spun is something to be desired."


    "We do have a tradition steeped with honour." Eiji proudly commented.


    "Yeah." Sean sighed.


    The men fell to a deep silence.  Eiji''s comments had brought their minds back to their reality.


    They walked through paths of nature that led them downwards towards the smell of wet Earth, pine and faint traces of the sea air.  Kei''s keen sense of direction seemed to be moving them into the right direction.  The man truly was a walking map.


    "You''re like a map." Eiji blurted his thought aloud to Kei.


    "I have to be. Otherwise, I''d be dead long ago." Kei stated the obvious.


    Eiji nodded. It made sense considering his gang life. To avoid an ambush or escape a fight, it was important to know the area. Kei had obviously acquired the skill of scoping terrain and memorizing locations as a means to survival.


    The sun was waning into the night sky when they had eventually reached Eiji''s family village and a distant sight of his family''s home.


    Eiji''s heart raced with panicked when he saw a group of men in army-grey uniforms surrounding his mother at the entrance.  They were able to hide behind the cover of bushes and tall trees before anyone had noticed them.


    His worry became paramount when Riku appeared to support his mother and was firmly pushed back by the men who he guessed where part of the neighbourhood watch.


    "Riku!" he whispered, twitching with the urge to rush to the scene and protect his family.


    Tyne held him back. "You go there, it could do more harm than good!"


    Eiji''s face contorted with anger when the men''s threats and his mother''s whimpers were carried by the wind to his ears. His whole body tensed when Riku was pushed to the ground again. This time by a punch to the stomach.


    "Tyne. My family!" He begged in low whisper.


    "You go there, they could die! Do you want to kill them?" Tyne carefully whispered his reasons. "Wait a moment. Let''s see what happens next."


    Eiji nodded his head, acknowledging Tyne''s logic. They waited and watched the scene unfold. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    A few more threats and warnings were exchanged by the men before they turned and made their way down the path that led back towards the distant outlines of other minka houses and the roof tops of the boat sheds near the docks.


    They waited for a while, watching Riku and Futuba go back inside. When they felt the coast was clear, they stealthily made their way towards the back door of the family home.

 Chapter 55 ★ To Evade the Tonarigumi

    Futuba greeted Eiji with both a firm hug and angry curse.


    "What is going on Eiji-kun?"  She calmly asked him when she had calmed down and everyone was seated in the main room.


    Eiji glanced towards Sean and Tyne who both sighed and lied that they had been singled out by the secret police because they were foreigners, despite having valid papers that clearly showed their line of work and purpose as prosthetic specialists for Wiesmen.


    This plausible explanation was accepted by Futuba and Haru, who nodded their heads with understanding.


    "Yes, that would make sense. I don''t know what is happening with the war, but I fear it is making men desperate." Haru sighed. His voice croaking with disappointment. "Tonarigumi are seeing anyone doing something not normal as being spies."


    Eiji gulped with concern. "They thought you were harbouring spies?"


    Haru nodded, eying him carefully. "Because of your doctor friends being here."


    Eiji stood to leave. They couldn''t stay there any longer than necessary.


    "If us being here is going to cause you trouble, we have to go."


    "Nonsense!" Haru snapped at him. "I know you''re in trouble, but we''re your family. Whatever trouble you''re in Eiji, you can trust us."


    Eiji sat back down. "No. I... I''m fine. The last thing I want to bring you is trouble."


    He held back tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He wouldn''t forgive himself if any wrong doing happened to the family he loved because of him.


    Haru sighed again.


    He explained that not long after they had left, the whole village was being searched for spies by the secret police and tonarigumi.


    It seemed the sight of Tyne and Sean had spread words of suspicion to the local authorities who had alerted the imperial navy stationed nearby.


    Everyone had undergone questioning and were cleared.


    They kept questioning and visiting Futuba and Haru, probing for their guilt. The final straw was when they threatened to incarcerate her for potentially harbouring secrets against their country. Treason.


    Riku was in the main room and rushed to his mother''s defence that saw one of the guards knock him to the ground with a punch.


    Of course, the threats were empty as a means to extort information through fear. Since their reactions and responses were consistently innocent, they were left alone.


    However, no doubt kept on watch just in case.


    Eiji cursed at himself for bringing them more trouble. Regardless of intention.  Just being in the house was going to bring guards on their doorstep again.


    Tyne stood to leave.


    "Apologize Chikafuji-san, sama, but we should be on our way. I will not want to cause you further trouble."  He bowed before Futuba and Haru.


    Both nodded their heads with understanding. Everyone rose to see the men off at the back door.


    "Wait!" Futuba said to Eiji.


    He watched her hurry away down the hallway and shortly returned carrying something in her hand.


    "When you see Hinata again. Give him this and tell him he always has a home here." Futuba tenderly handed Eiji an intricately designed hair comb.


    It was the missing half to the one Hinata always wore in his hair.


    A tear slipped from his eyes to land on the shiny dark surface of painted love birds snuggling innocently on a delicately painted cherry blossom branch.  This was Futuba''s treasured comb and the last loving memory of her husband she deeply respected and cared for.


    "And you too Eiji-kun. You''re home is here too." Futuba reassured the man she was proud to call her son. Even if he wasn''t born from her womb.


    "Where''re you going?" Riku questioned Tyne with shrewd eyes.


    "We came to retrieve our car." Tyne answered matter-of-factly.


    "The car in the bushes. You won''t get to it. The tonarigumi have it watched on shifts."  Riku stated a fact. "I saw them keeping note when I was coming and going from school."


    "Why?" Kei gasped.


    "Cause it''s a car. It looks fancy and it''s in the bushes." Riku stated an obvious.  "Anyone with that sort of thing has to be high up and bound to go back to it."


    Kei groaned. Tyne and Sean looked troubled.


    "I''ll get you to it, Eiji-niisan." Riku proudly declared. "This time of night the shifts are thin."


    "No Riku! Absolutely not!" Eiji protested. "I''ve caused you enough trouble."


    "Yeah! You have." Riku manly stood before Eiji.


    His stubborn determination reminded Eiji of Hinata.


    "I''ll make it right. You''ll get to your car, leave this place, do whatever you have to do to get back to Aniki." Riku ticked off. "Then you tell that fool to come home."


    Eiji smiled weakly when he saw tears well in Riku''s eyes. Of course, he missed his big brother.


    "I''m coming too." Keiko declared, dressed and ready to go.


    "No! Both of you stay here!" Eiji snapped at his siblings in-law. "There''s a curfew, you''ll be both be arrested! It''s not safe. I''m not fighting a war for you to get caught in the firing line!"


    "Riku, Keiko, listen to your big brother." Haru croakily called out to the gung-ho youngest. "He''s fought battles to know wisdom."


    "Ojisan. I have to do this." Riku faced Eiji.


    "When you left the first time for war I was too young to know why. You told me to be brave and look after mum. Then Aniki was gone when we moved from our old home."


    Riku explained at his anger and rage at not understanding why the men he looked up to went off to die, and he was left behind to pick up their slack. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    He kept wanting to hate his father and elder brothers for not being around to help him fight off bullies or defend their family from thieves or mean people. He couldn''t. Especially when their mother was able to make him understand why they weren''t there. Eiji and Hinata were young boys who had to be men quickly.


    "I understand now Eiji-niisan. You, dad and Aniki sacrifice so much for us and our home here. I want to sacrifice something for you. Let me do this." Riku waited earnestly for Eiji''s answer.


    Eiji heaved a weary sigh. "As long as it isn''t your life. Don''t let mother carry that burden."


    "Riku. Keiko." Futuba said, her eyes weary with tears.


    Her children were strong, stubborn creatures who was cursed that trait from her side of the family.


    "It''ll be okay mother. We''ll return. I guarantee it and no one will be the wiser." Keiko gently reassured her.


    "That''s true. I''d be worried with Keiko wasn''t with Riku. Who else can get him out of trouble and safely home?" Haru chuckled.


    "Ojiisan!" Riku frowned, not impressed with his family''s lack of confidence for his safe return without Keiko''s aid.


    "You''re that good?" Eiji flashed Keiko a lopsided smile.


    "Someone''s had to keep this family away from trouble." Keiko stoically confirmed. "I''ve been acquiring some information from my friends whose fathers are part of the tonarigumi. Small pieces that I''ve been able to formulate a picture."


    Keiko explained that the timing of their visit, and car, had coincided with information she had pieced  from various conversations.


    The night before their arrival, there had been a coded message transmitted on the tonarigumi''s radio airways. It was suspected to be transmitted in error by the enemy, and so they were intent on decoding it to glean inside information for the navy. Their attempt to intercept caused their radio signal to go silent and be out of action for a few hours. It was restored just before the air raids had attacked them that night.


    Sean was fascinated at her ability to decode patterns and events from stringing together pieces of gossip and harmless materials. Her mind was an astounding wonder. He suddenly felt a desire to meet Eiji''s lover, for it seemed he held a similar mind.


    "Hey Eiji, can we take her with us?" Sean carefully whispered into Eiji''s ear.


    He yelped at the harsh pitch Eiji gave to his lobe.


    "Something the matter?" Keiko innocently asked.


    "He was saying rude things." Eiji frowned at Sean.


    Sounds of a siren being blown brought everyone''s mind to present matters and tensions to rise.


    "Another air raid?"


    They were answered with sounds of shattering gunfire.


    Instinctively the family picked up their essentials packed near the door and ran towards the shelter.


    This time, Eiji and the other men (along with Riku and Keiko) took the path that would lead back to the car.  Whilst Haru and Futuba fled to the safety of the bomb shelter.

 Chapter 56 Burn Rubber

    They sprinted in silence, following Riku''s lead who was ensuring they kept to the shadows and cover of trees. Avoiding contact and raining bullets.


    Shredded bark and twigs flew about the air and ground. Gunfire from above had unearthed soil to create timely dust cover for their plight. Albeit dangerous. Smoke and the stench of iron made breathing harder, but they pushed on. Determined not to fail and die.


    They reached the sight of the car and saw a group of men loitering nearby to keep a distant guard.


    "This is where you go back to mother and uncle," Eiji said to Riku with a steely gaze.


    Riku was about to protest, but was held back by Keiko who had noticed a change in Eiji''s demeanour.


    She held them back to the safety of shadows and observed the veteran soldiers discuss a plan.


    Tyne discreetly handed Eiji his guns who pocketed them without the kids being the wiser.


    Eiji stealthily moved around the guards on duty towards the beach. When he felt there was enough convincing distance, he created a racket with rocks and gunfire that made the guards think that there was an oncoming assault from the coast.


    The men fled their posts after deliberation, leaving the car unattended.


    Kei popped the boot and poured the bag of chips (he had retrieved nearby) to fill the tank.


    Tyne set Tama into the back seat with him. Sean nabbed the front.


    Eiji returned to his siblings.


    "Nice work Eiji-niisan." Keiko approved of the diversion tactic.


    "Take care of mother and uncle. Stay out of trouble." Was Eiji''s parting words to them.


    "That''s my job." Keiko reassured Eiji.


    Kei started up the car.


    On cue, a fresh patrol noticed them as they had entered to take their posts.


    Shouts and curses were rushing for them.


    "Quickly! Go." Eiji urged his siblings with his heart pumping with fears for their capture.


    Riku and Keiko sprinted their way back towards the shelter, disappearing into the shadows.


    "Let''s go!" Kei called out to Eiji as he drove the car up to him. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    Tyne swung the door wide.


    Eiji jumped in and slammed the door.


    Kei drove circles around the rushing guards who were doing their best to stop the car with random rock throws or their bodies.


    The patrol''s efforts were futile. Unable to stop the car from kicking up dust to their faces and burning rubber to speed up the hill.


    It entered the main road and was soon out of sight.

 Chapter 57 The Drop Poin

    The drove for hours in silent thought through pastoral country roads. Snaking their way down through cleared dirt roads amongst lush green trees, cultivated fields and wild growing flowers keeping to their sides of the kerb. Darkness transitioned into a drab blue sky where crows flew their formations through thinning clouds and a glaring sun.


    Tyne wound down a portion of his passenger window, so he could feel a rush of nature''s air to his cheeks. He closed his eyes to savour the sweet-bitter scent of himawari and iris wafting up his nose, and other hints of an onset summer.


    Eiji''s mind was preoccupied with concerns for his family''s safety.  He hoped that Riku and Keiko were able to reach the shelter without detection, and that this family would be able to live their life like they did before his arrival. Somehow, he feared that his presence caused a change to their lives regardless. And for the worse.


    "They''ll be fine, Eiji." Tyne voiced his reassurance to thoughts he suspected Eiji was thinking based on the man''s frown. Although, he had no certainty to back his statement.


    "I pray so." Eiji sighed.


    Sean huffed and expelled an uneven sigh. Clearly something bothered him.


    Kei flicked the man sideways glances to be sure he wasn''t going to receive a surprise attack from him when he was driving.  Instead, Sean leaned his head on his window. His eyes and thoughts lost to the scenery outside.


    Tama made a soft mew and ambled out the bag to settle herself on Eiji''s lap.  She resumed her deep sleep, lulled by the motion of the car.  Eiji tenderly patted her dark fur and frowned when it felt less sleek that her usual smooth coat. He hoped she wasn''t ill.


    "Is she okay?" Tyne asked.


    The question drew Sean''s mind back to the car.  He glanced at the men and Tama in the backseat through the rear vision mirror.


    "I think so." Eiji chewed his lip.


    Tyne inspected her fur, claws and teeth, ignoring her squirms and mews. They were clean, milky white and looked solid.  He was no vet, but he suspected cats would show similar symptoms to humans if they were sick.


    Despite being on the go, they had ensured to allow Tama stretch time in between. She got the best of every meal they shared. Most of the choice pieces of fish or meat came from Kei despite his complaints about her existence.


    "She looks fine." Tyne stroked Tama''s head when she resettled onto Eiji''s lap to sleep.


    Sean blew a sigh of relief and chuckled when he caught Kei''s worried expression.


    "What?" Kei snapped. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    "Nothing." Sean smirked and turned his gaze back to the evergreen vista out his window.


    They resumed their pensive silence as Kei drove them further inland, slowing down every so often to check a sign and make sure they were progressing to their drop off point.


    It was pitch black night when their travels ended at the entrance of a derelict cabin subtly lit by red lanterns.


    Kei shivered at the sight of them, hoping they were to ward away evil spirits. He gulped at the malicious undertone the lanterns cast around the cabin''s weathered wood and shoji doors almost off their hinges and runners.


    He switched off the car.  Tama was left in the car to wait for them with a slit of window down to ensure she had air. He frowned at her agitation and skittish behaviour when he moved closer to the cabin. She had her paws pressed against the glass as if trying to push her way out.


    "Tama is acting strange," Eiji whispered low to Tyne.


    "I know. Like that time back at Iwo Jima," Tyne cautiously answered. "Stay alert."


    They cautiously approached the cabin''s low creaky porch, keeping eye out for danger. Eiji gripped the guns he still had in his pockets, preparing himself to flick the safety and fire rounds if that was needed. He hoped the drop was a hand off and run.


    The porch''s steps were almost impossible to see in the dark. Before they were able to step foot on the first rung, the main door creaked to an open and fell off the hinges to the ground.


    A young Japanese business man, in a pristine dark suit and fedora hat, boldly approached them with cocky strides and stopped a few steps at the top of the porch.  It has hard to tell more of his features from the sparse light. Obviously that was the intention.


    "Stop there soldiers." The man ordered with a heavy American accent.


    Tyne gave everyone a gesture to obey.


    "Lieutenant Matherson, I presume." The man dropped Tyne''s name and rank to reaffirm they had reached the right contact point.


    Tyne confirmed by pulling out the resealed map from the back of his pants and handed it to the man.


    The man received the map with a gloved hand. He took a quick check to validate its authenticity and nodded his head.


    "Your superiors will be in contact with you." He turned and went back inside the cabin before they could ask more questions.


    Sean rushed after the man, he found himself inside an empty shell of a building. The man was gone like a ghost.


    "Damn spooks!" He cursed under his breath.


    There was no point in hanging around. The men decided to return to the car and find a safe place to rest for the night


    Eiji sighed when he saw that Tama cleaning herself on the back chair. He shuffled in next to her and allowed her to climb onto his lap. Tyne resumed his spot at the backseat after having to play paper-sissors-rock with Sean for it. As both men were keen to pet Tama.


    "Eiji. you sit in the front for a change." Sean grumbled to Eiji from the front passenger seat.


    Eiji flashed him a no-go smile.


    "What the f''ck is wrong about being next to me. I don''t have cooties." Kei snapped at Sean.


    "Tama lets me pet her." Sean answered. "If I pet you, I''ll have my hand bitten off."


    "Don''t you forget that," Kei said as he started up the car.


    "Where to now? Should we head closer to Kure City or back towards Hiroshima." Kei skewed his head around from the driver''s seat as the car purred, warming up.


    "Anywhere close, dry and won''t draw attention. I need to use the radio," Tyne said.


    Kei thought for a moment. His face light up with a chuckle when the perfect rest stop came to mind. By his sense of direction and calculations. He figured he wasn''t too far from some "friends" he could drop in on.


    "Your happy face is creepy." Sean gulped, worried that Kei was up to no good.


    "Relax. I know just the place for all of us to rest and have a good time."


    He crunched the gears into drive and headed back to the main road for the destination he had in mind.

 Chapter 58 Swing Time

    "I should''ve known." Eiji groaned when they stepped inside a thriving inn, which was situated in the middle of nowhere along a strip of coast closer towards Kure City.


    One side of the inn had some of the fusuma and wall panels removed to allow a picturesque sight of shimmering moonlight amongst a black blanket of sea.


    They were able to hear rhythmic sounds of the tide moving in and away from the shoreline. A gentle cool breeze stirred through the heady thick atmosphere of the inn''s party.


    "Welcome!" Greeted a middle-aged woman wearing a modest green-white kimono that seemed to be the working uniform of the ladies in the house.


    At least, those who didn''t have to entertain men as being Geisha.  Naturally, Kei found his way to where two Geisha were on a low-rise platform at the back of the room, performing an elegant dance to a crude number before a rowdy crowd of drunken men in traditional attire.


    Eiji tensed when he caught sight of traditional tattoos to arms and legs of some of them.


    "Tyne. I''m not sure we should be here." He discreetly whispered into Tyne''s ear.


    "Second that. I''ve noticed some of the quieter heavy hitters in the corner keeping watch of us."


    "What is Kei thinking sending us here?" Sean entered the conversation with his whispered contribution towards their concerns.


    "Let''s see what happens. He wouldn''t have brought us here if he felt it wasn''t place we could rest," Tyne said to reassure his men, and himself.


    "Gentlemen. You''re a long way from your country?" A slick voice called out to them in broken Deutsch.


    Eiji, Tyne and Sean faced a smooth and slender looking gentleman in a bone herring suit, expensive black loafers and slicked back hair.  He was a handsome young Japanese man, except for the clear straight scar line that ran down his left cheek and side of his neck. And probably about the same age as Tyne judging from his confident mannerisms and wrinkles to his forehead.


    Eiji sighed at the man''s assumption of Tyne and Sean being German.


    "They''re with meh Ricky!" Kei drunkenly rose a glass to the man with a young Geisha giggling under his arm. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    "You don''t waste time Kei-chan." Ricky smirked at Kei.


    Kei gave him a happy gesture with his hands and approached his companions.  "Yah can trust to Ricky. He''ll get you what pleasaaah yah need."


    Sean sighed, not liking this stupid drunken side of Kei.  But whatever.


    The scrutiny from the eagle-eye watch dogs in the corner had relaxed when Ricky assumed their host and invited them to a private booth and low table, which had a clear view of the ocean (or the blackness of it) and crisp feel of its breeze from the opened shoji doors.  Subtly lit lanterns created a soothing ambience around the room, promoting a feeling of relaxation and coziness. A dangerous place.


    "My name is Harigawa, Rui. You can call me Ricky if it makes you feel at ease." Ricky warmly greeted the men seated at the table before him.


    They were certainly handsome specimens. The way they held themselves suggested they were more than your average civilian.


    A serving girl politely entered upon Ricky''s permission. Everyone patiently waited for her to finish serving sake and kaiseki consisting of sampled boiled fish, rice, small buns and artistic sweet cakes.  Sean was unable to hold back his glee at the sight of the cakes.


    "Please gentlemen, indulge." Ricky permitted the men.


    Sean eagerly sampled the sweet cakes and gave a goofy expression of enjoyment, which seemed to have pleased Ricky.


    Conversations were light and innocent until the meal was over. Ricky''s expression and customer service smile eased into one of a sober businessman. Tyne, Sean and Eiji were more than prepared to discuss any arrangements they had to meet in being there.


    "Kei-chan. Tell me what brings you all here." Ricky addressed his question to Kei with his eyes fixed on Tyne and Sean.


    "Dem be those doctors for Wiesmen.Yah know." Kei hiccuped, looking about his arm for the Geisha who was no longer by his side.


    "Aah really? So you''re the Americans. Well, I don''t know if it''s an honour or if I should shoot you." Ricky chuckled.


    Eiji sat up with surprise. His mind went back to a conversation they had with Kei and his papers.


    "Shocked I see?" Ricky''s chuckle eased into a smug grin. "Don''t worry. I won''t shoot you. At least not yet."


    "Bah. Don''t be an a-hole Ricky. Dem be solid." Kei slurred as he rudely downed a cup of sake.


    "Kei-chan. If I didn''t love you, I''d shoot you for your foul manners." Ricky scoffed with an expression of clear distaste at Kei''s drunken boldness at the table.


    "Yeah, yeah, yah love me. I ain''t going to f''ck yah, though, cause yah know I like boobs." Kei came back at Ricky. "BOOBS!"


    Ricky sighed and rolled his eyes. "Like I would go after a wiry ape four-eyes."


    Eiji dared pensive glances to Tyne and Sean who seemed to be unperturbed by the bizarre reaction from their host and Kei.


    "You, on the other hand, you''re handsome." Ricky boldly addressed Eiji. "I guess you go after boobs as well."


    This caused Kei to blurt out crude laughter. "Yeah and pigs have wings."


    He got up with a pretence, and drunken crude declaration, of finding a pair of boobs to rest his head on for the night.


    "Boss, give me money." Kei held out his outstretched hand to Tyne.


    Tyne sighed, not seeing any other option considering he was their driver and it probably would make them look bad in front of Ricky if he didn''t seem to care for the man''s good time.


    "Don''t go overboard." Tyne handed him a wad of yen.


    "Imma go all out, prissy." Kei gave an evil chuckle as he drunkenly left the booth to find the girl of his dreams for the night.


    "So that''s Kei when he''s having a _really_ good time." Eiji groaned.


    "Fun man isn''t he?" Ricky coyly addressed Eiji with wink. "So, by Kei-chan''s reaction, your preferences are similar to mine."


    Eiji tensed, feeling uncomfortable with the attention.


    "He''s an acquired taste." Sean butted in on the conversation. "Haven''t you wanted to expand your palette?"


    "With your looks, I''d consider a nibble." Ricky eyed Sean, appreciating his looks.


    His eyes lingered on Tyne and reached a conclusion. "I can tell you''re on team boobs."


    "Thank you." Tyne answered.


    The men finished their meal with civil conversation, skirting around questions they really wanted to ask and have answered.


    They allowed a few of the Geisha to entertain them before deciding to split off for their own entertainment.


    Sean accompanied Ricky in a private room for the rest of the night.  Eiji felt both grateful for Sean''s rescue and concerned on the type of romping he would have to experience.  He and Tyne had a task to do before they could call it a night.


    They returned to the car for the suitcase and Tama. As they were making their way towards their assigned room at the quieter wing of the inn, they passed Kei who gave them a winners grin as he closed the door to his room with two beautiful Geisha under his arms.


    Eiji rolled his eyes and continued to follow Tyne to the room. It was as private a place as possible. A location that Ricky and Kei were able to organize for them whilst they were mingling and getting merry.


    They both focused in setting up communications back to base, with Eiji keeping watch and caution for intrusion.


    Tyne was eventually able to reach a signal. Another American voice eventually answered their call.

 Chapter 59 Ground Control to Major Schmid

    After a bit of fiddling around with the antenna and walking about the room to gain the clearest signal. The radio revealed life from the other side of the handpiece receiver. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    "Yes?"


    Tyne swallowed his nerves and soberly reported into the radio with his name and rank.


    There was a pause before another voice responded.


    "Lieutenant Matherson. I take it you have proceeded with the comic drop." The deep voice crackled through the clunky receiver in Tyne''s hands.


    Eiji had assumed the role of human aerial with his arm holding up the antenna to the roof, so he looked like a beanpole with the thin antenna wires tangled about his arm.


    "Affirmative, Major Schmidt. We await further orders." Tyne frowned, not liking the man''s tone of indifference.


    He felt a distance and intention to be cut off.


    "Major Schmidt?" Tyne called into the handpiece when silence and crackling sounds felt longer than they should be between their responses.


    "Tyne. Assume your covers and play your roles. We''ll provide further instructions as needed." Major Schmidt provided his orders.


    "And when will that be?" Tyne was careful not to display concern in his voice.


    "Continue with your covers. That it is all."


    The conversation ended with a click and continuous tone.


    Tyne turned a dial on the radio to turn off the signal and sound.


    "Not to sound paranoid, but I think you got shafted." Eiji blurted his hasty conclusion on the conversation when he was unravelling the wires from his arm.


    Sounds of approaching chatter and movements outside near their room, made them conscious of their surroundings. They quickly repacked the radio into the suitcase and hid it in the closet to be out of sight.


    Throughout the entire conversation. Tama had been out hunting live game. Eiji heard her mew from the outside shoji and let her in. She returned to assume a warm cosy spot next to Eiji''s futon for the night.  He sighed with a smile and gently stroked her cool fur, giving her warm and comfort to help her ease into sleep.


    Tyne heaved a weary sigh when he undressed out of his suit for the complimentary yukata the maids had left on their futons for them.


    Eiji eyed the various silver-white and pinkish scar lines and nicks around his torso and back. His body was toned with little fat, broad in the shoulders and showing many freckles and sunspots from weathering days in harsh sunlight.  His skin didn''t hold the tattoo''s of his army unit. He suspected that medics never received any, which was probably another reason why he and Sean were picked for the task.


    "Can you stop checking me out. It''s creepy." Tyne groaned and gave Eiji an evil eye.


    "Okay. Let''s get this out of the way." Eiji soberly declared when he removed his own shirt and pants to don his yukata. "I''m in a loving relationship with a man. That doesn''t mean I''ll jump any man."


    Tyne sighed and apologized. He stretched out on his futon, relishing the moment to rest.


    "I knew about Sean from a report. What his parents did to him was insane," he whispered as he stared up to the wooden ceiling.


    His eyes followed the mellow shadows and subdued light that strayed into the room from the outside lanterns hanging above the shoji panels.


    "If someone like me was to live in your country."


    "I think you''d be dead or forced to be with a woman." Tyne answered. "I''m not sure, as I''m not like that. From Sean''s case and others I''ve read. I think that''s not too far from being a reality."


    "A man loving another man isn''t accepted anywhere it seems." Eiji sighed.


    "We can''t deny that it doesn''t happen. Sean, you and even that Ricky guy is proof of that," Tyne answered.


    "What do you think? Am I wrong for loving a man? Would you think differently of me if you found out my lover was a girl?"


    Tyne took some time to think of his answer.


    "No. When I found out your lover was a man, you didn''t change from the man I had stumbled over at Iwo Jima." Tyne soberly concluded on the matter. "You''re Eiji Takaki because of who you want to be. Not because of whom you choose to love."


    Eiji smiled, feeling somewhat relieved and in admiration of Tyne''s conclusion.


    "Thank you, Tyne."


    They fell asleep to lighter conversations and speculation on the type of good time Sean and Kei were having.


    Outside their room, a maid removed her ear from the wall. Content on what she had confirmed from the unexpected strangers in the room. She stealthily made her way down the hall and continued with her cover identity.

 Chapter 60 Spooks

    Tyne, Eiji and Tama were ready to go at the crack of dawn.


    The inn was quieter and lacking the festive vibe from the night before. Rather it carried an air of being a place to conduct serious business.


    So it was, when they saw Sean, Ricky and Kei already seated at a table with a few black suited heavy hitters standing behind Ricky''s back. On the other side of the table next to Sean was a young local maid with her hands bound behind her back. Her head was hanging low. From between strands of her long-hanging hair, she didn''t look pretty due to the number the men had done on her face.


    "Harigawa-san. Think about who she represents. You do this. It may spark a territorial war if what Kei said is true. There''s already one war going on. Do you want to make it two?" Sean calmly and carefully voiced his reason towards a conversation Eiji and Tyne were yet to be privy on. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    "Gentlemen. Why don''t you take a seat." Ricky diverted his response to acknowledge Eiji and Tyne who soberly made their way to the two cushions next to Sean.


    "You should be aware of yourselves. She was spying on you, was she not?" Ricky returned to Sean''s question.


    Tyne and Eiji gave Ricky the same surprised expression.  Ricky raised his brows with realization they were probably good soldiers or doctors, but not good with espionage games. Except for Sean.


    "Well, Kei, your car is full and ready for your leave." He soberly closed doors on further conversation he would have with the men. "I suggest you leave now for your businesses, gentlemen."


    Sean tensed, but let out a sigh. He faced the woman with concern, but realising her fate was out of his hands.


    "It was fun. Thank you for the good time." Sean rose to leave, giving Ricky and his men a respectful bow. And a cocky wink to Ricky as his parting gift of thanks.


    The other three reluctantly followed suit, pulling Eiji away before he could open his mouth and change the decision of their exit.


    As Eiji braved a glance back to the woman, he saw the men stand around her and Ricky looking ready to interrogate her.


    "What''s going on, Sean?" Eiji hurried after Sean''s fast pace. His shoes kicking up gravel and dirt towards the car parked before them.


    "Not here Eiji. Just get in the car." Sean warned him.


    They kept to their silence. Even when they entered the car and Kei drove them up the inn''s dirt road and onto the main highway bound for Hiroshima.


    It was only when Sean felt they weren''t being followed and at a safe distance from the inn that he began to fill in Eiji and Tyne.


    Tyne''s face paled with worry and anger at himself for being so careless. For it seemed they had a kunoichi spy, planted by a rival "family", on their door step the whole night. This spy was also working for the imperial navy.


    It was Sean who noticed her when he momentarily left his "good time" with Ricky to call a girl for drinks. His keen sense of people''s quirk made him question her proximity to the room Tyne and Eiji slept in. Her posture was too upright to be of a common maid.


    A moment of quick thinking.  He had returned to the room with an excuse and physical apology that pleased Ricky. Then shared his discovery of the girl.


    Ricky had called the maid over on pretence of ordering drinks. Keeping note of the quirks Sean had mentioned. Convinced that Sean was telling a truth, he let her go and called it early with his time with the man.


    Both men had dressed for business. Ricky left the room to issue an immediate order to his men. They had caught the woman before she was able to flee the inn by boat hidden on the shoreline.


    Sean stayed out at the main (public) area of the inn to keep watch of activity and ensure no one else was going to loiter around Kei and Tyne''s rooms to do worse than spy.


    Ricky was able to get what he needed from the woman from her twitches to negative questioning techniques. It was a win-win discovery.  Since Ricky had uncovered a plot against the family and an instant opportunity. Sean had sweetened the pot for their safe exit.


    "Kei. That''s enough involvement with those families." Tyne issued his directive. "We''ve done what we''ve asked, but we can''t do anymore. It''ll be too dangerous."


    "Does that mean I get to ditch you?" Kei eagerly asked.

 Chapter 61 Reroute to Saka

    "You''re happy this morning." Tyne gave a different answer.


    Kei was unable to hide his  ''I got lucky'' grin.


    "Those two women gave you a night to remember, huh?" He chuckled.


    "They were gifted beauties." Kei sighed dreamily.


    "Are you sure they were women?" Sean tested for Kei''s reaction and laughed when the man predictably delivered with his usual ranting.


    Eiji felt relieved that they were reacting normally, and Tyne had placed his foot down on interacting further with those families.


    Tama gave him a light rub on his elbow as she pawed Sean''s lap and snuggled down to sleep.


    Sean''s face lapsed into a goofy grin at being in the back seat to pet the cat to sleep. When his head was bowed low and tilted to one side, Eiji saw many kiss marks all over and trailing down his neck.


    "Hey, um, thanks for back there when Ricky was flirting with me," he whispered to Sean out of Kei''s earshot.


    "Nah. I wanted to relieve a load, and he was a willing participant. That''s all there was too it." Sean nonchalantly brushed off.


    "But I don''t think I could''ve turned down his invitation without causing problems." Eiji sighed.


    Sean understood what troubled Eiji''s mind. He''d never tell him that was the reason he had jumped in. It wouldn''t be fair on him.


    The car became stuffy. Winding the window down had only let in more hot air.


    Eiji removed his jacket. In doing so, felt the stiff crisp paper in his breast pocket. Ohno-sensei''s letter.  He wondered how far away his wife''s address was.


    He pulled it out and studied the address on the envelope with a frown.


    "Hey, Kei, do you know where Saka village is in Koyaura?"


    Kei frowned. "Why?"


    "Is it in the region?" Eiji persisted.


    "Koyaura is. I think. New place a few 100 miles out from where your folks are." Kei groaned with smirk. "Don''t think you want to go there."


    "Why?"


    "By my memory of the bus depot maps. There''s a military training base nearby."


    "What''s in Saka?" Tyne asked, with his head skewed around the front passenger seat.


    "Ohno-sensei''s wife. I have his letter for her." Eiji soberly answered.


    Tyne frowned, perplexed.


    "He was my school teacher and also a fellow prisoner back at Iwo Jima." Eiji further explained.


    Tyne''s frown eased with understanding.


    "Okay." He nodded. "Kei,  is it possible to reach that place?"


    Kei grumbled and groaned.  He checked the upcoming road sign almost hanging off its post. Taking a guess and, going by the photogenic memory of the map in his head, he eventually turned the car off the first pike towards roads that led to the coast and the Koyaura region.


    It was evening by the time they had managed to find the village after a few stops and checks with passing locals. Fortunately, no one was hot on their trail or paying them particular attention. In fact, the area seemed a bit lax with patrols and security. Maybe it was because of its proximity to the training bases.


    The thing that did draw attention was Kei''s car. It kicked up sand and dirt to draw a stop near the bus depot.   A few elderly locals whispered conclusions to each other, but no one was interested enough to approach the men ambling out of the car. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    Tyne frowned at the sickly sight of some of the kids and elderly walking down the streets or working in the small dirt fields.


    At the end of the road, towards the shore,  was a modern tin warehouse building that had food crates stacked up high against its walls with the imperial military seal stamped on it. A lot of locals were moving in and out of the building to pack and carry out food goods that were army rations.


    "I doubt the workers get much cut of the food." Sean soberly commented, based on the gaunt sight of the locals.


    They made their way to the bus depot building to seek directions to the address on the letter. An elderly man collapsed to the road not far from them.


    Sean and Tyne rushed to the scene to examine his condition. He was feverish with shortness in his breath and eyes glossing over. They suspected heart failure aided by the sweltering onset heat. It was aggravating his condition.


    "Sir. We''re going to loosen some of your clothing and carry you to shade," Tyne said to the man in his German accent.


    Tyne lifted the man, who was light as a child, and carried him to the shade of two tall evergreen trees near the depot.


    Eiji was able to procure some water from within the customer service counter of the depot.


    "Ot¨­san!" A flustered woman rushed up to the wiry old man, who was breathing a lot better thanks to the treatment he was receiving.


    The woman was slender and pretty with her hair in a bun and simplistic flowers on her drab grey and green kimono. She carried a distinct mole on the upper-right side of her lip.


    Eiji frowned trying to recall where he had seen her before. He decided to take an educated guess.


    "Ohno-san?"


    The woman was taken aback by the stranger''s use her name.


    "I''m Takaki, Eiji. Your husband was my middle school teacher." Eiji bowed politely before her.


    She paused, trying to think back. Her expression of shock cleared to one of knowing and surprise.


    "Oh my! Let me look at you." She appraised Eiji. "So you are."


    "Mizuki. What happened?" The elderly man whispered with a coarse voice.


    "You passed out, again. These men helped you."


    Mizuki offered the men tea back at her home not far from the depot.


    Tyne and Sean assisted her father back to the house.

 Chapter 62 - The Letter

    The house was positioned on a low rise and stilts to keep flood waters from affecting it during the rainy season. It was about six tatami mates in breadth and width with opened shoji panels and doors to allow in the warm evening breeze. There weren''t any decorations or much space. A few of the lighting fixtures were dangling off chains or hooks. Some of the shoji doors had water stained rice paper panels. Only the main doors had some of the paper replaced.


    Mizuki offered them a place at her low table in the main room. She disappeared into an alcove to make tea.


    Tyne helped the old man to a cushion at the coolest and comfortable spot of the house.


    Sounds of the main door sliding open, drew their attention to the newcomer.


    A gaunt, wiry boy, entered the room. He looked no older than twelve years of age.  His head was shaved to the scalp as a means to deter lice. His singlet, shorts and sandals were heavily stained or threadbare. Like he had been wearing the same clothes every day.


    Tyne noticed some hard callouses on his knuckles, soles and cracked skin around his joints. Symptoms from spending days working out in the elements.


    Eiji frowned at the purplish mark around his eye and on his bare arm. They looked recent.


    "Hello." Sean greeted the boy in his German accent.


    The boy screamed for his mother who came rushing into the room.


    "Strangers!" He pointed his finger at them.


    "It''s okay Natsuo-chan. They helped grandfather." Mizuki reassured her son.


    She poured tea for her guests. Her eyes lingered on the bruises to the boy''s eyes and arm. She sighed and gave her attention to her father.


    Sean carefully eyed the boy''s deep bruises. He concluded that a hard slap with something like a hand fan was the cause,  based on the angle of the wounds. He had also concluded that the boy''s eye would puff up like a bee sting within the hour.  It needed to be cooled with ice. A quick glance around the humid house made him realize it was likely a tall order.


    Further conversation was interrupted by an abrupt horn blow.  Mizuki hurried to her feet and began placing her shoes on at the genkan.


    "Please accept my apologize. I must start my shift." She bowed before the men. "Natsuo will care for you in my place."


    She issued a few instructions to Natsuo who acknowledged them with a dutiful nod. Turned and left the house.


    "Ah that Mizuki." The old man grumbled when he came around. "She''s a good girl."


    Tyne nodded his head.


    "Do you go to school?" Eiji innocently asked Natuso.


    Natuso, frowned perplexed. "Bah. School''s for rich folk. I work hard."


    He sat proudly before the men.


    "Everyone works hard to eat. I do my duty for country to give food for mum and grandpa."


    "All the children work?" Eiji soberly asked, doing his best to keep his eyes away from the bruise.


    "We work hard for country. No need for school." Natsuo proudly answered.


    Eiji gulped, unsure on whether to give Mizuki the letter.


    "Some were given the honour to work in the factories. To make food rations for our soldiers. The others were sent away." The old man added with a bit pride to his voice.


    "Sent away? To where?" Eiji blurted.


    "You''re so ignorant. They were  sent away ." Kei answered.


    "Those kids were trouble." The old man justified with his croaky voice. "The ones, like our Natsuo-kun, work hard to make rations for our soldiers. That''s pride we can give."


    "How much food do you receive in return?" Tyne quietly asked.


    "What our government allows. But we keep below the quota." The old man proudly answered again. "Unlike some of the soft city folk."


    Tyne was amazed at their stout hearts beneath their fragile exterior.


    Natsuo was doing his best not to feel pain, but eventually he wasn''t able to withstand it.


    "Do you mind if I take a look?" Sean offered to Natsuo, whilst waiting for the old man''s acknowledgement.


    "Hmm. You did help me back there." The old man rubbed at his chin. "The boy needs a look."


    Sean bowed and carefully observed Natsuo''s arm and eye. Making sure not to aggravate either.


    "Did someone give this too you?"


    Natsuo''s earlier confidence was replaced with both fear and anger. A mixed expression, which showed that he wanted to deny the truth of his inflictions, but wasn''t able to cope with the pain.


    Sean pulled out an unused handkerchief from his pants pocket and soaked up some of his cooled tea with it.  He wrung out the excess back into the cup. Then began dabbing the bruise around the boy''s eye.


    "Keep this over your eye until the pain is better." Sean advised the boy. "If the cloth is dry, soak it in tea again, like I did."


    He told Natsuo that he could do the same for this arm.


    Natsuo''s face showed a wonder struck expression for the first time. He was showing his age.


    "That''s like what mother does." He piped up.


    The old man frowned, wondering who the foreign men before him were.  They weren''t the enemy, were they? No. They spoke that fancy accent and looked similar to some of the other foreigners he once saw at the army base.  He wondered if they were doctors.


    "You doctors?"


    Tyne nodded. "Introductions are in order."


    He formally introduced himself and the others. Sighing with relief when the old man and Natsuo accepted their covers without further questions.


    The men learned that the old man was named Daisuke Ohno. He was Ohno-sensei''s father and only other living relative apart from Mizuki and Natsuo.


    "You''re here for the base?" Daisuke calmly asked.


    "No." Tyne answered and gave a plausible reason for being there.


    Daisuke gave Natsuo some instructions that would see the boy leave the house. When the boy was out of earshot, he continued the conversation with the men.


    "You have my son''s letter?"


    Daisuke eyed Eiji suspiciously. How was it possible he could hold his son''s letter? If he hadn''t been fighting alongside him?


    "I was stationed near Makurazaki at the time. Our meeting was brief. He must''ve realized it was his chance since I stayed on the mainland." Eiji lied.


    He held his breath for the man''s response.


    "So it was fate''s hand." Daisuke sighed. "Aye. I thank you."


    Eiji sighed and handed over his teacher''s letter to Daisuke.


    Natsuo returned from completing his errand.


    The men rose, seeing this as a sign for their departure. They bowed their apologizes to leave before Daisuke.


    "You''re not staying the night?" The boy looked sad to see them go.


    The men politely said their farewells like he was the man of the house. This gave Natsuo a sense of self worth and pride.


    They made their way back to the car. A tonarigumi officer was waiting for them before the hood.


    "In a hurry to leave sensei?"


    Eiji cordially greeted the upstart young man in his spiffy new khaki uniform and stiff peak cap.


    "We need to have a chat." The young officer stoically demanded.


    Eiji flicked a glance towards Kei and Sean next to him. Both held their best poker faces.

 Chapter 63 - Hinata-A Freerun

    Hinata panted for breath as she followed Roko''s lead out of the forest towards the truck. It was near the road to the main highway for Koumi.


    She felt her back aching from having to carry Miki. She had reclaimed her child back from Akira when she saw his body sag under the children''s weight. Added with the loss of Chikafuji-san.


    Her own heart felt a sliver of relief at the sounds of calm nature gracing their ears. She didn''t feel the presence of the secret police still hot on their heels.  Chikafuji-san''s sacrifice pained her heart. He was a good man. Why did all good men have to suffer the most?


    "Yah be safe if you keep going through the gully path. I make sure to lead dem kempei further away. Yah can get to the truck." Roko informed the ragged bunch of adults and kids.


    He felt  satisfaction at seeing them safely out of the mountain forest in one piece. His friends came good with their directions.


    "Where''s Hina-chan?" Shouta yawn as he woke.


    He wiggled off Mei''s back.


    The boy glanced around. His face contorted with panic at not seeing his Hina-chan in the group.


    "Where''s Hina-chan?!" He asked the adults and older brothers with desperate earnest.


    "We have to keep going Shouta." Rei calmly approached the younger boy who was going into a state of panic.


    "I want Hina-chan!" Shouta raised his voice to stir birds in the air and apprehension from everyone the group.


    His voice was stopped with a stinging slap to his cheek from Kei''s hand.


    "Chikafuji-san isn''t here! He sacrificed himself to save us. Don''t let him down!" Kei gave it to Shouta straight.


    This calmed his little brother down.


    The group resumed their run out of the forest and to the pick up the truck where Yuri was able to climb up behind the wheel.


    "Damn. My foots busted. I can''t drive." Yuri frowned, frustrated.


    "Here. I finished it off."


    Roko handed Yuri the shiny new prosthetic foot that Chikafuji had designed and almost completed.


    "Didn''t need to do much. That guy''s given yah a tool for free running."


    Yuri was amazed at the fluid and intuitive design made of smooth bamboo.


    The fake foot was supported by a triangle of three small springs, hammered into the underside of the shapely bamboo wooden lower calf and topside of the ankle. No chance of these snapping off. At the top of the prosthetic piece was a padded leather brace and adjustable belt to align it to the natural part of his leg. Chikafuji had ensured the underlay was soft, so it felt like his own skin. He had even managed to shape the foot so it could fit into shoes.


    His heart felt a weight of loss at the realization of Chikafuji not being with them. He fitted the prosthetic to the natural part of his leg, and tested the movement against the trucks pedals. His loss deepened where he felt the easy responsiveness from the piece.


    The world had lost another untapped genius.


    "Let''s go," he said when he closed the driver''s door.


    Roko helped the others into the back; he returned to Yuri''s window and leaned on the edge. He looked at the fuel gauge with a frown.


    "Yah should have enough for Koumi. Drive them safe." Roko.


    "Hinata?" Akira called out from the back.


    "I''ll find him. Take care of his body." Roko sighed with a reassuring smile.


    Yuri stirred the pickup truck to life.


    Akira kept his eyes on Roko''s receding figure as the truck moved them towards a road bound for Koumi.

 Chapter 64 - Hinata-C Water Dripping

    [Warning:  The following chapter contains mature themes of violence and torture that may be disturbing to some readers. I''ve ensured to write only what is necessary to set the scene. Some details may still cause a stir.  Please be aware as/if you choose to read on.]


    ------


    Hinata groaned to consciousness and instantly panicked when his senses returned to him.


    He found himself in a cave of the forest. Bound to tree roots protruding out of rock walls with iron chains.


    His kimono had been removed, so he was hanging naked in suspension naked. Water was dripping down his body to leave puddles at his dangling feet.


    "Good. Awake."


    A sinister cackle grated through his ears to make him shiver. He blinked in the silhouette of a soldier standing at the entrance. Daylight burned at his back with an intense glare.


    The man stepped in further towards him.


    Hinata saw  the secret police officer who had held a gun to his forehead. Instead of shooting his brains out as threatened, he had shot at the birds in the air then knocked him unconscious.


    "There''s this form of torture where we lock prisoners in a dry room for days with no water or food. Just heat and bugs to crawl all over their bodies. Then we return to trickle water on their backs."


    He cackled louder with laughter. "They beg and squirm for the water that itches their back."


    Hinata gulped, not about to give away his emotions. The man faced him, so he could see ugly scars on his cheeks and the madness in his dark eyes.


    His laughter near deafened his ears. "Oh, but they can''t. They can''t!"


    Hinata forced a deadpan expression. Not wanting to give the madman any leeway to his psyche.


    "Your friends are dead. We caught them at the foot of the hills." The man soberly declared once his laughter had subsided.


    He waited for Hinata to take the bait.


    "Scum." He groaned when he realized Hinata wasn''t going to crack as easily as he thought he would.


    He unclipped a whip from his belt, released its length and commenced with slashes to Hinata''s chest and groin.


    Cutting hot pain surged through Hinata''s body. He did his best to hold in the pain and not let the man show how much of it he was feeling.


    "You''re brave now, let''s see after a few rounds how you go." The man continued to crack his whip and lash at Hinata''s skin to draw blood from deep, stinging cuts.


    The water''s dripping over the wounds made the stinging prominent. Tears welled in Hinata''s eyes as he copped the excruciating pain.


    Whip-crack!


    "Tell me where the documents are!"


    Hinata whimpered and shook his head.


    Whip-crack!


    "TELL ME!"


    Hinata cried out from the pain.


    The man held back his whip and stood over Hinata with a sickly grin.


    "Where''s your filthy lover?"


    Hinata reactively frowned with perplexity.


    The man was under the belief that he was Eiji father''s lover? Hinata wanted to spit out the foul assumption and internally cursed at his involuntary reaction.


    "Interesting. I wonder how much you truly know." The man mused. "Nah. You''re playing dumb."


    He cracked his whip and recommenced with the harsh whipping, cutting down to Hinata''s member to make it throb with pain.


    "Where is Eiji Takaki?!" The man continued to drill into Hinata on each maddening whiplash.


    "Where is that traitor?!"


    The man repeatedly asked for Eiji''s whereabouts and some documents that he had apparently stolen. Constantly striking his body with rounds of whiplashes until he was no longer able to feel anything except throbbing numbness. Blood blurred his vision.


    "He died fighting the war." His whimper was almost incomprehensible.


    The man bellowed with mad laughter. "You continue to play dumb. Oh, I enjoy seeing you break under my whip!"


    Hinata''s heart burned with detest for Eiji''s father. An emotion that gave him an inner strength to withstand the man''s further assaults.


    "I''m telling you the truth."


    "LIAR!" The man yelled as he raised his arm to administer one damaging whiplash to Hinata''s head.


    Sounds of gunfire exploded behind the man''s back.


    It was followed with a dull thud and unnatural silence.


    Hinata tried to shake off the instant ringing to his ears and onset delirium. His body was in too much pain to move. His vision was almost shot to pieces. It wouldn''t be long until he bled to death.


    Outlines of another man entered his vision. He felt shadows moving around him and gravity push his body towards the ground.


    Rather than landing on the stone like a heap of flesh. He fell into a pair of strong arms.  He was scooped up and carried out into daylight.

 Chapter 65 - My Heart Thrives for You in the Withering Wind

    Icy winds whipped at Eiji''s cheeks. As he ploughed his way through torrential rain and winds. Along paved streets of modern building blocks, which overpowered modest traditional minkas.


    "You don''t have to Eiji-san." Hinata fretted nervously. "You were straight before."


    He hid half his face beneath the high collar of his heavy winter coat.  He pulled his school cap further over his brows. An attempt shield his face from the fierce winds and hide his embarrassment.


    "Hina-chan." Eiji stopped to take a breather and glimpse at his lover''s beautiful dark doe-like eyes touched by winter''s kiss.


    Hinata''s smooth skin glistened delicately from the rain. To Eiji, his effeminate countenance was the image of a regal princess who held the grace of a goddess. He was more than any person could be to him. Hinata held both his heart and soul.


    "This is our time to be together. Just us." He held Hinata''s gloved hands with earnest and reassurance. "Make no mistake. I want you to make me a man. No one else."


    Hinata felt his breath stolen at that moment. His heart raced a thousand miles at once. Was it wrong to feel that he was the luckiest person alive?  The stoic, athletic, dark and handsome man, who all the girls dreamed about, was pressing for his love.


    "Me too." Hinata smiled.


    They resumed their arduous trekking through the wind and rain for Harajuku Station.  Rather than head down the newish concrete stairwell for a train. They continued walking down a crowded street, passing various patrons of wealth in traditional kimonos, modern day suits and other fashions of the era.


    As they continued towards a row of traditional houses (with their usual sloped roofs and dangling silver rain chains off the edges), the patrons became a pattern of couples.


    Men and woman strolled by them in a dreamy state. Holding hands or hugging their lover''s arms for warmth and protection.


    Hinata and Eiji received a few sidewards glances as the passed, but no one was curious enough to stop them.


    They turned into a narrow lane where wooden signs were staked out front to announce the name of shops and places to stay.


    Eiji purposely led Hinata to an inconspicuous inn with a sign that said, "Just the Place".


    The front panel door had delicate image of love birds nestling on a branch painted on the surface.


    They entered the inn and made their way to the middle age woman behind a narrow burnished oak desk, which was placed at one corner.


    "Yamada-san." Eiji politely bowed before the woman.


    She was slender and still beautiful with youth for her age in her modest green and blue kimono. Her hair was held up in a clean bun, so her face was clearly visible.


    "Oh my! Takaki-kun. I''m glad you decided to visit." Yamada-san warmly greeted Eiji. "Your mother is selfish to keep you away."


    "You know I''m her trump card. Revealed at the most opportunist moment." Eiji smoothly responded as he played the woman''s game of pleasantries.


    The woman giggled like a school girl behind a paper fan, with dainty spring flowers painted on the ribs and leafs.


    She closed her fan and gave her attention to Hinata''s face, when he pulled down his collar and removed his hat.


    His hair had grown back from his shaven look. It was kept in a short, clean style with some of his fringe delicately sweeping across his smooth forehead.


    Yamada-san found herself mesmerized by his big, dark, round eyes, which held a maiden innocence not many woman could claim.


    In her mind, there was no doubt. Hinata was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. A beauty that would rival the princess herself.


    In particular, overshadow Yua Takaki. Eiji''s mother. A proud narcissist, who made sure that all other woman more beautiful than her were given an ugly existence.


    This boy was in danger just standing next to Eiji.


    "Takaki-kun. Are you sure about this?" Yamada-san dropped the fake pleasantries and showed a genuine expression of concern.  The boy was playing with fire.


    Eiji sighed. He understood all to well the woman''s concern.  For the first time in his life. He found someone worthy to look up to. How lucky was he to have this man return his feelings.


    She was right. They were taking a risking by visiting Yamada-san''s inn as patrons.


    If their parents found out about him and Hinata; he dreaded to think what they would do to them.


    He wished he had understanding parents like Hinata''s. They had found out about their relationship and was accepting. Although, giving them plenty words of caution and warnings. Reminding them that not everyone will see their relationship as normal and give encouragement. In fact, they''d likely be threatened and face abuse.


    "I''m not sure. But." Eiji sighed.


    Yamada-san sighed. As a woman who once felt the stirrings of forbidden love, who was she to deny these young love birds a moment of happiness.


    She grabbed a key to one of the royal suites and handed Eiji the key.


    "Take the room on the top floor. The door at the end." A warm smile lit up her face as she pressed the key, lovingly, into Eiji''s gloved hands. "Take as long as you want. I won''t charge you thing."


    "What? No, I can pay!" Eiji began to protest.


    "It''s my gift to you. Take any good opportunity you can. Takaki-kun." She reassured him and tenderly stroked his cheek like a mother would give her son.


    "You''re a good boy. I sometimes wonder how you came to be from those two. Of all people in the world. You deserve a moment of bliss."


    Eiji nodded, accepting her well meaning gift.


    He led Hinata up a flight of wounding polished wooden stairs until they reached the top floor.


    They entered the room at the end of the hall way and found themselves in a luxurious room.


    The place was spotless with neutral-green tatami mats shining underneath the filtered daylight from the ranma, which was carved of birds and flowers.


    All the shoji and fusuma panels were painted with delicate cherry blossoms and many love birds flying in pairs, nestling or snuggling against each other.


    A flower Kad¨­ gave a regal aesthetic to the room.  It was truly a bedroom for a wealthy man to lay his head.


    Two futons were laid out, side by side, with a pair off kimonos to ease into.


    Neither Eiji nor Hinata slipped into those kimonos. As soon as they removed their uniforms, they were exploring each other''s bodies.


    Hinata sighed and moaned. Releasing his inhibitions as Eiji''s mouth explored every inch of his body.


    "Please Eiji-san." He begged for Eiji to hold him.


    Eiji thrusted into Hinata with all his passion and love for him.  There was no other person who could make him feel like a man.  A person of worth and decency.


    "I love you Hina-chan." Eiji continued to whisper deep into Hinata''s ear as he spurted his seeds of love into him.


    "I love you." He panted, feeling his energies spent. None of his passion for Hinata had waned.


    "I love you too Eiji-san." Hinata whispered back.


    He lovingly kissed Eiji''s mouth. They both relaxed into a loving kiss. Allowing their hearts a moment to beat as one and feel the same bliss.


    Eiji pulled Hinata close to him into a cuddle. Hinata was unable to stop his smiles at having his head resting against Eiji''s naked chest. He loved the sound of his heart beats pounding against his ear.


    "My heart thrives for you in the withering wind." Eiji whispered his love poetry to Hinata.


    "Spare me the poetry please." Hinata grimaced.


    "It''s true. No matter how cold or dark life becomes. I can always see the sun with you by my side." Eiji kissed tenderly into Hinata''s ears. "Never leave me."


    "You too, Eiji-san. I don''t want to live the rest of my life without you." Hinata responded to Eiji''s kiss and declaration of live with his own.


    Their passion rekindled their energies. They resumed further connection and exploration of their bodies.


    Hinata felt confident. Whatever tomorrow brought him, he could face and overcome the worst with Eiji by his side.


    They shared their warmth and souls through the night.  As the outside world weathered the winter solace.

 Chapter 66 - Hinata-C Angel of Courage

    "When I was in middle school, I was in love with another student. A boy. Eiji Takaki." Hinata smiled weakly. "He loved me."


    A coughing fit overcame Hinata.


    Rocko rushed for some water near a pale by his side. He eased some into Hinata''s mouth.


    "Yah don''t have to tell me." He reassured Hinata.


    "No. I want to tell you." Hinata said when he felt well enough to speak. "I have to."


    Rocko listened, with an uneasy heart, as Hinata recounted the problems he and his family had suffered.


    It was before his time at the countryside. One particular part of the man''s grief-stricken story was during his final year of middle school. He was fifteen years old.


    "I wasn''t able to finish middle school, because of the gang bullying." Hinata soberly said.


    He had been an instant bully target when others found out about his love for a boy. Especially when this boy was popular and a highly respected person in the community.


    Eiji wasn''t seen as the problem. A lot of kids had believed Hinata was using his beauty to trick him into submission. Or that Hinata had somehow cast an enchantment over Eiji.


    "Kids would wait around the back gates for me after school. They''d drag me into the back of the gym. Then they''d beat on me." Hinata sighed. "I''m no stranger to beatings."


    Rocko signed, having noticed a lot of faded scars all over Hinata''s body. Especially his back and buttocks area.  His heart felt heavy with sorry when he continued to listen.


    Boys would string Hinata up on a pole, naked, with the pretence of punishing him as a beguiling witch. Repeatedly he was whipped, punched and abused. The abusers never attacked Hinata''s face, or visible areas of his body, to ensure questions wouldn''t be raised with teachers.


    "Every time, Eiji-san would rush in to save me." Hinata sighed. "That made matters worse."


    Both Eiji and Hinata had dropped out of their schools. Unable to suffer the many times Eiji had to rush in to save Hinata from beatings. Especially when it had impacted on his attendance to his new senior school life.


    Eiji had begged Hinata''s parents to let him live with them. So he could help Hinata heal from the abuse. He had secured a job as a shipping junior clerk using the reputation of his parents. This caused a new problem for Hinata and his household. Having to deal with Eiji''s family.


    "Eiji-san''s mother dedicated her gossip to spreading poisonous lies about my mother." Hinata gritted his teeth.


    Gradually Hinata''s family lost standing in the community, because of the slander Eiji''s parents had stirred amongst wealthy social circles.


    The final blow was when Eiji''s father had secured a high position in the Minister of Commerce''s office. His first misdeed was to place a legal ban Hinata''s father''s business. Falsifying the man''s dealings with the Yakuza.


    Hinata''s family business went bankrupt in a span of a year. This caused Hinata''s father to enlist for war. As a means to reclaim the family honour.


    "We had to rely on the good nature of others. Other victims to Eiji-san''s family." Hinata cried.


    Despite their troubles. Hinata and Eiji clung to each other with hope that their tribulations led to a better life.


    Then a further call for soldiers, to fight the war, came. Eiji was forced to enlist. He was eighteen years old. He had struck a deal with his father. If he did a four-year term in the navy, his parents would leave Hinata and his family alone.


    Eiji''s father used Eiji''s enlistment, as part of his political campaign, to secure his seat at the Diet.  Eventually his position of Tokyo Governor.


    "They did leave us alone." Hinata scoffed. "I guess bomb drops on Tokyo gave them a different distraction."


    Rocko smiled warmly at Hinata.


    Despite the man''s many scars, his skin was still smooth and beautiful. Made more obvious by his resilience to the dark side of human nature.


    The man had suffered and yet his soul remained pure. In fact, his soul had forged a steadfast light to be a beacon of strength and hope for others.


    People could try with all their might to hurt Hinata, but his heart was too generous and strong to allow the damages to settle. No wonder this Eiji was drawn to him. Hinata was a courageous angel.


    Rocko felt it was his duty to ensure Hinata was healed both in body and soul.  This soul''s light mustn''t wane.


    "Yah be a courageous angel, ya know." He tenderly acknowledged Hinata.


    Hinata chuckled at the corny reference the man gave him. "Courageous angel. Please."


    Rocko faced Hinata with all seriousness. "That''s nothing to joke about. Yah an angel ''cause your suffering has given yah courage.  Yah give hope and courage to others who need to find their way."


    He reminded Hinata of the hope he gave those kids by taking them into his home. He was a good and honourable man.


    "Are they safe?" Hinata''s mind wandered to his makeshift family.


    "Yeah. They be fine. Yuri''s taken them to a cabin.  It''s somewhere safe." Rocko reassured him.


    He finished redressing Hinata''s wounds and dressed him a clean yukata.


    Hinata felt his head heavy with pain and body aching. Rocko gave him some medicine that sent him into another dreamless sleep.

 Chapter 67 - Hinata-C Resolve

    Hinata spent most of his days recovering on futon. At the center of a simple room of about six tatami mats in length and breadth. After a while, he realized it was the same room he had shared his love with Akira.


    After some time, he was able to move around.


    He sat, crossed-leg, on the mats before a pleasant view of green forests and bushes beyond the opened shoji doors and wide porch.


    Knotwood bushes, bamboo clumps and evergreen trees swayed against a breeze. The air was mild and humid. Signs of a stubborn rainy season in autumn.


    "Damn." He winced at the stabbing pain to the side of his stomach when he moved forward.


    Rocko had been administering strong medicine to ease the pain and expedite healing.


    The drawback was when the medication had waned. The pain was felt ten times as worse than before. It did make him wonder on the fake leg he had remade for Yuri. He hoped the man had received it and was able to use it.


    Then there was Kou''s blindness. Those men had lost parts of themselves to war. Yet they continue with life to the best of their abilities. Although, he felt certain they continued to face their demons in their dreams. Kou''s fitful sleep at his house was evidence of this.  Now with their plight from the secret police.


    "War brings too much suffering." Hinata sighed.


    He may not have been a soldier fighting for his country, but he suffered and fought the same war in his own way. War spared no one.


    Time in solitude, and more talks with Rocko, gave him further reasons for reflection. Especially on his relationship with Akira.


    All the justifications, reasons and feelings in his heart led to the same conclusion. He was doing Akira an injustice by staying by his side.


    Yes he loved him. He couldn''t continue to act on his love the way he did with Eiji. He still felt confused and unable to shake his loneliness. Maybe it was too soon. Either way, Akira deserved more than he could give.


    "I have to say goodbye to us." He spoke aloud.


    "Aki will understand. After he throws a few tanties." Rocko added from the doorway to surprise Hinata.


    "He won''t like it." Hinata added.


    "Yeah. But if he loves yah, he''ll let yah go." Rocko kindly reassured him.


    Hinata smiled with onset tears in his eyes. "I''m cruel."


    "Nah. A kind heart knows, leading love with a broken heart is cruel. Yah still grieving for yah loss."


    Hinata peered at Rocko''s rugged face, which carried fine lines of wisdom across his forehead.


    "How''d you know I was talking about breaking up with Honda-san?"


    "Yah face tells me. After what yah told me about yah Takaki-san. Yah still love him too much. It''s too soon for yah." Rocko soberly answered. Hinata''s expression held the same confusion, and love-lost look, from many people who had stumbled upon his shrine.


    Hinata nodded with understanding and resolve.


    Rocko helped him stand and dress, so he could leave the room for dinner.


    About a week or so had passed, when Hinata felt well enough to leave.


    Rocko led Hinata back to the foot of the mountains.


    He handed him a week''s worth of medicine, clean bandages and instructions.


    Hinata bowed with heartfelt thanks and respects.


    "I''ve sent word to Miko-san. He''ll be able around to take you the safe house in the evening." Rocko said before leaving.


    Hinata was left alone at the Chikafuji family grave site. He paid his respects to his family tomb; sitting in seiza before the grave stone. His finger lovingly felt around Eiji''s name.


    "I''m sorry Eiji-san. I wanted to let you go, but I can''t. Now, people are in trouble because of us. I need to save them."


    He breathed in the aroma of scion and chrysanthemums. Their powerful scents had awakened his resolve. Rocko''s term for him made him wonder if he truly  was more to others.  It was a good feeling to think he could be someone else''s strength.


    "I know you would''ve tried to stop me Eiji-san." Hinata chuckled at the thought of Eiji rushing in to save him from trouble.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll honour our promise. I''ll live long. I''ll make you proud of me from wherever you''re watching."


    Hinata rose with a clear heart for the first time since learning of Eiji''s death. His heart desire was for the safety and happiness of his new family.

 Chapter 69 - Short Thank You Gift Bonus - Sean Campbells Love

    OMG. I''m blown away by the support I continue to receive for this story.  I hope this thank you gift is received well. It''s a Haiku (I hope). A reflection of Sean Campbell''s love for his Ray.


    There is an image that goes with this Haiku. Image is pinned on my twitter account. Should be the first post you see.  You''ll need to manually type the address in brackets to your browser: [https://twitter.com/Veronica8Write]


    --- Sean Campbell''s Love ---


    Tender-hearted form


    A picturesque stone embrace


    above the branches

 Chapter 68 - Hinata-C The Pick Up

    Rika arrived to the graveyard site at dusk to pick up Hinata. She gasped at the man''s unsightly image.


    Hinata was dressed in a navy-blue kimono to give shape to his slender form. It was a loan from the temple. Rocko had done his best to clean and dress his wounds.


    However, the bruises to his collar bone were obvious between the folds. His left cheek still showed a slight yellowing from the bruise he had almost healed from. His dark silky hair was tied up, showing unevenness of its long tufts. She wondered if his hair had suffered hacking or pulling during his torture.


    Rocko''s raven had delivered a note to her shrine near the Koumi mountains. By permission of her elder, she had read of Hinata''s torture and the description of his condition.


    The details made her squeamish. To see the sight of this man''s beatings. If what Rocko wrote about him being kind and generous of heart was true. It was clear this abuse was an injustice.


    "I''m Saito, Rika. I received word from Rocko-san to pick you up." Rika bowed politely before the man.


    Hinata regarded the tiny woman in billowing red hakama pants and crisp white kimono robe. Her long, dark hair was smoothed back off her face and held up by red-white ribbon. He nodded his head with understanding. Miko-san was a term.


    "It''s an honour, Saito-san." Hinata cordially returned the greeting. "I hope I''m not compromising your own position with your shrine."


    Rika smiled. It did place her at odds with her shrine''s priest. However, her elder had insisted that she make good on Rocko''s request. Especially when she was the only one at her shrine who could drive. Her head priest had reluctantly agreed to grant her permission for the leave. The price was an added task for her to do on her way for him.


    "Rocko has always been a great help to us. We''re returning a favour to him. So, please don''t mind."


    Hinata followed her to a parked truck, which was similar to Yuri''s.


    "Shrine maidens learn how to drive?" He said with awe.


    "No. I''m an exception. My father taught me when he lost his leg at war. It was before I entered the shrine. I have no brothers." Rika sighed.


    It was a common question to ask. Especially from a man.


    "I''m sorry Saito-san. I mean no disrespect. I''m amazed by your skill." Hinata apologized.


    Rika sighed again. Rocko was right. By the power of her shrine maiden skills, she saw Hinata''s aura as a pure and strong light. Rare for an adult to maintain without spiritual training. Especially after the amount of abuse he had received. She wondered if he had a history of mikos in his family line.


    She helped Hinata recover from the sudden coughing fit that came upon him. She suspected that the polite bowing was aggravating the wounds to his stomach.


    "No need for formalities, Chikafuji-san." She helped Hinata stand. "Let''s get you in the truck."


    Hinata did his best not to be a heavy weight for Rika, when she helped him up into the passenger seat.  The consequence was feeling a bout of sharp pains to his sides.  He held his tongue. Not wanting to give her further reasons to worry.


    She climbed into the driver''s seat. Started up the engines and set the gears to drive.


    "You don''t mind if we make a quick stop. I have an errand for our shrine priest." She asked when they had entered the main road.


    "No. Please do what you need." Hinata reassured her.


    He glanced at the back window to the lorry''s carriage. His brows creased into a frown at the sight of many grain and food sacks, he hadn''t noticed before.  It was certainly an amount to feed a few families.  Was she going to surrender these to the local authorities?


    His felt worried. But he refused to believe that Rocko would deliver him to another problem.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t place you in harms way." Riko said without checking for Hinata''s expression. The energies of suspicion he gave off, had said enough.


    "This is a delivery my shrine''s priest asked me to make on the way."


    Hinata focused on his breathing to calm his worries. He stared to the bright rays of daylight slicing through the sombre storm clouds. Gradually breaking them down to allow a blue sky.


    The truck sped down new roads bound for the Koumi outskirts.

 Chapter 72 - ? Yellow Ribbon ?

    Hinata kept silent company as Rika drove the dirt roads up a mountain side. His attention caught the fleeting sight of yellow flowers along the road side. He felt the faded yellow ribbon tied to his hair.  A promise he had made with Eiji surfaced to his mind.


    It was made during summer the year before.


    They had settled into their new home in Mimaki about the time the local shrine was holding a summer festival.


    A lot of families had gathered to celebrate and enjoy a treasured moment before their men left for war.


    A lasting scent of morning glory was carried on warm winds, which gently stirred through a milling crowd of young children tugging their mothers kimono''s for treats, or running around carefree between elegant women in bright floral kimono''s, charming men in manly yukata''s or dressed in their uniforms ready for war.


    Swaying high in the warm night air were strings of festive coloured lanterns. Running rows along many box stalls.


    The lanterns formed a procession towards the steps of the main worship area where offerings were given.


    Hinata and Eiji had given their offerings together and placed their ema with Okamisama.


    The mood was light, pleasant and comfortable as they strolled through the crowds to see each stall that were either selling food, trinkets or fun with side-show games.


    It was sweetened with children''s laughter or young love being treasured or discovered with fervent gestures, hand holding or cuddles.


    Hinata experienced euphoria as he strolled side-by-side with Eiji in matching blue yukata''s, with the clacking of their geta''s making the same rhythm along the pavement.


    They had played some of the games, shared yakisoba on a step beneath the waxing moonlight, and scooped for goldfish. A skill Eiji mastered.


    Hinata carried his bag of orange goldfish with care to make sure it would stay alive. The bag had been sealed with a bright yellow ribbon for that extra touch.


    "Hina-chan. Come." Eiji had said when he led Hinata away from the main activity.


    They had wandered out of the shrine grounds and entered the sunflower meadows that ran into the fields of their backyard.


    "Where we''re going?" Hinata frowned, concerned they were going to lose their way amongst the tall stalks that concealed their presence from the moonlight.


    Eiji held Hinata''s hand tighter as they continued their trek closer towards their home.


    He led them up a path to a discreet clearing in the woods, where the moon beamed brightly over a rock crop that they could sit on.


    They sat on the rocks, snuggling close to each other.


    The sky was clear and high above the trees with the warm breeze playing through their hair.


    Hinata frowned when he realized that his own hair had grown almost past his shoulders.


    "Oh dear. I need a cut." He examined his long tufts.


    "Your hair is beautiful. I like it long." Eiji dreamily ran his fingers through Hinata''s hair. Drawing him into a tender kiss.


    Hinata swooned and eased into Eiji''s embrace. If only this moment could last forever. They both knew that tomorrow was another day close to when Eiji had to return to war.


    Hinata didn''t understand why. Eiji had finished his term with the navy, and with honours. Why re-enlist?


    "Why do you have to go back to war?" Hinata whispered to Eiji''s chest.


    "We need the money. Japan needs soldiers." Eiji''s voice was deep and heavy against Hinata''s ears.


    "Please don''t go Eiji-san. You don''t have to."


    Hinata lifted his face to met Eiji''s eyes.


    "My Hinata. My beautiful Hina-chan." Eiji answered. He gave the rest of his answer with kisses.


    Their kisses deepened into a moment of intense passion as they made love beneath the moonlight. Absorbing each other''s heat and energy to move as one. The winds'' warmth had stroked and enveloped their naked skin like the soft touch of a down blanket.


    Something had plopped the ground.


    Hinata had panicked when he felt his feet wet and saw that the bag of goldfish had fallen to the ground. It had smashed open. The poor fish was exposed to air and struggling to breathe.


    "Oh no! Eiji-san! We have to do something."


    Hinata hastily redressed and searched the area for water. They were too far inland and away from a brook or stream. The water had rapidly absorbed into the soild. The fish''s frantic flapping had slowed. It became still.


    Hinata dropped on all fours over the small creature. Tears fell from his eyes, dropping on the orange scales of the fish''s lifeless body.  He let out his tears with hope that his water could revive it. It wasn''t moving. Its colour was already fading.


    A horrible feeling came upon Hinata''s heart. A fear that Eiji might not be able to return from war.


    "Don''t go Eiji-san. I beg you." Hinata''s voice quivered.


    Eiji sighed. He calmly redressed and helped Hinata sit back down on the rock.


    "I''ll bury it. We''ll say a pray to Okamisama for its safe journey to the underworld."


    He picked up a stick, dug a hole and buried the tiny fish that was well and truly on its path to the after life.


    They said a heartfelt pray to their god for the fish''s safe journey to a happier place.


    Eiji bent down and picked up the yellow ribbon that had been lying haphazardly near the broken bag. He didn''t know what he could say that could reassure Hinata of his safe return. His last return was more luck than surviving by skill.


    "Eiji-san. WIll you make me a promise that you''ll come home?" Hinata whispered.


    Eiji stared at the ribbon with a determined heart. No matter what. He had to return to Hinata. What was the point of fighting the war if he couldn''t return home to the one he loved?


    He resumed his spot next to Hinata with the ribbon laid out across his lap. Hinata rested his head to his shoulder. A moment of silent thought came between them.


    "I know. Let this ribbon be my promise to you." Eiji said.


    He cleaned and dried the ribbon on his yukata then had Hinata sit up.


    "Wrap this ribbon in your hair every day." He said as he tenderly gathered Hinata''s silk strands in his hands and tied the ribbon to his hair.  "When I return to you, I''ll untie it from your hair. Then you''ll know that I am home."


    Tears welled in Hinata''s eyes as he felt Eiji''s touch from the ribbon within his hair.


    "I''ll take that promise." He sealed the promise with a kiss.


    With their promises set beneath the moonlight, they made their way back to their home.


    Eiji held Hinata all night, repeatedly binding his promise to the ribbon.

 Chapter 74 - ☆ Bibliography ☆

    I''ll be listing some resources that has helped me write this story and draw me closer toward the Japanese culture.


    ¡î War References ¡î


    [Battle of Iwo Jima] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima


    [Imperial Japanese Army] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Army


    [Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki:] https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945


    [Kokura Bypassed By a Bomb] https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/07/world/kokura-japan-bypassed-by-a-bomb.html


    [Instruments of Surrender 02/09/1945] https://www.archivesfoundation.org/documents/japanese-instrument-surrender-1945/


    [Battle of Okinawa] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa


    [Senjinkun] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Rescript_to_Soldiers_and_Sailors | https://www.revolvy.com/page/Senjinkun-military-code | http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-372598481/view?partId=nla.obj-372600941#page/n7/mode/1up


    ¡î General References ¡î


    [The Mikado:] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mikado#Musical_numbers


    [The Art & History of the Kimono:] http://blog.peruvianconnection.com/fashion-trends/the-art-history-of-the-kimono/


    [Japanese Funeral Rituals:] https://www.quora.com/How-is-a-Japanese-funeral-conducted-if-the-body-of-the-deceased-cant-be-found


    [Masako and Spam Musubi:] https://p47koji.com/2012/05/15/masako-and-spam/


    [Japanese Honorifics] https://ppjapanese.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/japanese-honorifics/


    [Toyoda G1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_G1


    [The Butterfly Poem] https://allpoetry.com/The-butterfly

 Chapter 70 - Hinata-C Kominato-sensei

    Hinata and Rika entered a small village that was the foot of a mountain. Near the exit ramp of a main highway.


    Hinata frowned when saw that a lot of military vehicles and trucks were parked before the local shrine and large minka. As they need the minka house, he could see it was a local inn. Rika parked the car around the back of the inn. And way from the army jeeps.


    "Are you able to help me carry these into the inn?" She asked.


    Hinata nodded and lifted a few sacks from the lorry. He followed her around the corner. His heart raced when they passed a group of men in army uniforms.


    "Don''t make eye contact." He chanted in his head.


    The group watched them pass, sharing some chatter and snap observations. No one approached them.


    Hinata expelled a sigh of relief when they entered the inn''s storage room where a worker was waiting for them.


    He was suave in an Oxford brown suit and white doctor''s coat. A strange appearance for an innkeeper or worker.


    "Saito-san! Thank god!" The man sighed with relief. "I don''t know how long these people can last without food."


    Hinata tilted his head to one side, perplexed.


    "Do you work here?" He blurted.


    The man peered at Hinata, formulating an assessment of him.


    "Oh. You also need medical aid." He concluded based on the mild scars of Hinata''s bruises and his poorly stance.


    "That he does. Although, he''s almost healed on his own."Rika answered for Hinata.


    She commenced with introductions. "Chikafuji-san. Meet Kominato, Ry¨­suke sensei. An army doctor."


    "Army doctor?" Hinata asked.


    "I travel the country with wounded soldiers from my unit. Those who were able to return from war." Ry¨­suke soberly confirmed.


    Hinata peered at the young debonair doctor who was too stylish for war. His wavy dark hair was smoothed back from his clean shaven singular face. And his western suit was of high quality despite discreet and faded blood stains near the cuffs and hems. His light almond eyes held a wisdom he suspected was a consequence of seeing too much war.  It made him wonder.


    "Did you serve at Iwo Jima?" He timidly asked.


    Ry¨­suke sighed. "No. I served at the base in Kokura. My orders were to maintain the health of the returned solders back to their homes.  A lot of my unit served in Kadena, flown back when..."


    His voice trailed off to another sigh.


    "You''re not a soldier?" Ry¨­suke asked.


    Hinata didn''t carry the same war-torn expressions most of his patients did. Yet the man looked like he had suffered a similar fate.


    "No."


    Rika brought their attention back to the food sacks, which Hinata continued to help her stack against a shelf that had a lot of medical supplies within reach.


    He learned that the inn had been repurposed as a medical unit for the injured return soldiers and some refugees who had managed to escape attacks along the East Coast.


    The owner was a lonely old man who had died of heart failure due to starvation. Beforehand, he had surrendered the inn to Riko''s shrine with a wish that it be a place of refuge for others. His last honourable act as a man.


    The shrine''s priests realized the need for a makeshift hospital in the area when it became a regular stop point for a lot of travelling vehicles carrying weak and sick refugees. The closet medical facility was miles away.


    "The military hasn''t confiscated the food?" Hinata asked Rika with a deep frown.


    "They have." Rika said with a hushed tone. "These are the sacks that some of the army veterans could knock-off the trucks bound for the big cities I was told."


    Hinata understood, realizing the risk her shrine was taking in stealing food for starving locals.


    "We need to bring health back to the sick and old." Rika added with a determined whispered. "Call it treason. I refuse to see people starve to death before me."


    Hinata smiled. He could see why Rocko was her friend. She was an admirable woman.


    "Isn''t Kominato-sensei also breaking rules?"


    "Guess. I feel he sees his duty as a doctor first." Rika said matter-of-factually "He''s a good man. We''re lucky to have him while he''s here."


    "He''ll move on?"


    "Yeah. He has other men to see to their homes." Rika sighed with disappointment.


    Hinata wondered if Ry¨­suke himself had a home to return to. He nodded and focused on helping Rika and Ry¨­suke administer of the food to people crammed around the inn.


    It was late in the afternoon when Rika and Hinata resumed their journey to the place where Rika said his family would be according Rocko''s instructions.

 Chapter 71 - Hinata-C Somber Evenfall

    The drive to the safe house was quiet.


    Hinata felt a stillness within himself as he thought of Akira and the things he would say to end their relationship.


    It was because he loved him that he had to set him free.  He could already picture their argument and Akira''s words trying to dissuade him.  It had to be done.


    Overwhelming light poured through the front windscreen as they neared the top where the house was.


    Hinata squinted and blinked to readjust his vision to the light. His eyes widen. They reflected the sight of fire against the blackness of night.


    "Rika." His voice croaked as they ambled out of the lorry.


    A slowness of his pulse. Short breaths filled with fear. He coughed at the stench of charcoal. Struggling against the heavy feeling of smoke filling up his lungs.


    Unable to feel his feet at the sight of the supposed safe house burning into ash.


    Strange wooing noises and deep cry overwhelmed his hearing. The sky crackled and boomed over his head. Rain fell to douse the fires. Nature''s miraculous timing.


    "Honda-san! Aiyama-san!" Hinata realized his feet when the burning was quelled by the torrential rain. "Ishigawa-san!"


    Hinata sprinted through the steaming remains of the log cabin. Pressing through the beating rain that made his kimono heavy with his runs.


    He frantically called out for his family. Feeling apprehensive when no one was answering to his calls.


    "Hin... ata. You''re alive." A weak voice cried out from a clearing of burnt tree corpses and soil that was stained with more than water.


    "Honda-san!" Hinata scrambled to Akira''s side. "No! Wh... I don''t..."


    He struggled with his words at the sight of Akira bleeding out on the ground from a gash wound to his stomach.


    "We, we were spotted." Akira spat blood to the ground. "They found us. One kempei was wounded. One I thought shot you."


    Tears streamed down Hinata''s eyes. He held Akira, balancing him on his lap as he unwrapped his obi to bandage his wound. He was able to secure the wound from further damage.


    "G... Guns. They... came." Akira gurgled. "I made sure Yuri could take them... away."


    Hinata held the man tight to his bosom. "Can you walk?"


    "You''re s... safe. I''m happy." Akira''s hand tenderly caressed Hinata''s cheeks. His eyes were glazed with delirium. "I love you."


    "Save your breath and walk." Hinata said as he and Rika helped Akira stand.


    They carefully assisted him back to the lorry and into the passenger seat.  Hinata administered the painkillers, that Rocko had given him, to Akira. Riko passed him cloth that he could use to dry Akira and keep the wound from seeping.


    The wound had fortunately stopped bleeding. Akira was clammy with a fever. He needed proper medical attention before he went into a cold shock.


    Hinata hastily dried himself the best he could and wrapped his arms around Akira to keep him warm with his body heat.


    "He should survive until we reach Kominato-sensei." Rika said. "He must''ve fall asleep."


    Hinata started talking about anything that would keep Akira awake.


    She set the lorry into motion and drove down the roads back to the makeshift hospital.

 Chapter 73 - Hinata-A Running from the Fire

    Sombre evenfall to an orange darkness from fires that crackled, hissed and spat flames from the burning cabin.


    Hinata''s heart raced. Her body tensed with fear and relief the further Yuri drove them away from fire.


    She had seen the secret police''s approach as abnormal twinkles of sunlight moving up the path earlier. It didn''t take her long to determine the danger and stir up the others into action. She was relieved when Yuri had already packed their things in the truck. He had somehow received warning from Rocko.


    The children naturally reacted with confusion. But they were used to having to pick up and go that it didn''t take them long to settle in the truck.


    Their timing was slightly off when they came head on with a group of secret police. Yuri drove abrupt circles to dodge the gunfire on them from the bushes and cover of trees.


    Akira had jumped out of the truck to lead the police away from them, granting them time for an escape.


    "Honda-san." Hinata sighed, feeling the loss of another great man.


    "He''ll be fine. He''s a fast runner despite his poor eyes." Yuri soberly said.


    "I hope so." She sighed again.


    Too many good people were being sacrificed to this war. Why?


    Her heart stirred another image of a man to her mind. The man she yearned for, but would never see again because of war.


    "Did you loose someone to war too?" Yuri bravely asked Hinata who sat in passenger seat with Miki, Mei, Shouta and Miwa between them.


    She checked the cover of the blanket that were over the kids, making sure they were warm.


    Hinata glanced to the window. Feeling the urge to curl her hands into fists.


    She wondered how many loved ones did Yuri take away under the pretence of honour? No. That was wrong thinking. He had been a solider doing his orders for his country. He was not to blame for losses. Those who gave the orders were.


    "I did." She gazed to formless darkness outside her window.


    A tear escaped her eye, making a slow trail down her cheek.


    "Was he a soldier?" Yuri continued to probe, carefully.


    "He was a navy doctor." She answered monotonously.


    "A good man then." Yuri sighed with sorrow. "Another good man lost to this war."


    Hinata glanced to Yuri. Her heart sensed his internal war scars and the pain he''d always carry.


    She inwardly cursed her stupid moment of self-centredness and felt she had no right to judge those who fought the front lines. Yuri was a good and kind man at heart.


    "I hate war." She cursed under her breath.


    "I love life. You focus on that too. Miki-chan needs a mother who focuses on living." Yuri answered back with serious expression.


    More tears slipped from her eyes as her heart persistently stirred memories of her husband''s face. Of cool green eyes etched with deep laugh-lines, square split-chin and always a cocky, knowing expression. His blond hair would shine underneath the sunlight as he''d lend down to kiss her.


    "He would''ve loved Miki." She sighed. "You''re right. I need to keep living for the children."


    Yuri gulped down his words and understanding.


    Slithers of sunlight broke through the darkness as they neared the mountains near Rocko''s shrine.


    A raven crossed paths in front of the windscreen to catch Yuri''s sight. He realized it was flying with a tiny scroll of paper tied to its neck.


    He eased the truck off the road, following the birds flight into a safe clearing. A man was standing in the distance.


    He stopped the car and ambled out towards him.


    "Rocko!" Mei cried out when she jumped out of the back of the truck.


    She reached Rocko before Yuri did.


    Rocko looked like he had been running the entire night. His navy kimono was torn, muddied and unevenly tied. His face was pale.


    Hinata ambled out of the truck to observe the arm wound that Rocko was holding with this good hand.


    "Let me look." She calmly demanded.


    Rocko removed his hand.


    She saw material crusted over a circular laceration typical of a gunshot graze. It wasn''t a deep wound, but left unattended would allow infection and gangrene.


    The women helped Rocko to the truck, where Hinata tended to his wound to the best of her skill. She was able to haphazardly clean, dry and dress it with what they had on them. It would suffice until they reached a medical facility.


    She suspected that was another dilemma. As by now a lot of the medical units would be under military control.


    "Dun yah worry about me. Gotta get to my master''s shrine further down the valley. He''ll make sure I can heal up fast. These kids be safe." Rocko reassured Hinata.


    "And Honda-san?" Hinata gulped, knowing her answer already.


    "He''ll be fine. There''re other problems we need to be safe from."


    The raven swooped down to Rocko''s shoulder and bowed its head. He gingerly untied the slip of paper that had been held around its neck with fine red string. He read it with a sigh. Removed seeds from his pocket to feed the bird. Then sent it on its way with whispered blessings.


    "We have to hurry. Dem secret police are nearby."


    Hinata helped Rocko into her spot of the passenger seat, next to the little kids.


    She climbed into the back with Mei and the others. Snuggling next to the twins to keep them warm as Yuri restarted the car and drove down near paths to safety.

 Chapter 81 - Eiji Goodbye Run

    Kei noticed they had a car tailing them when he turned onto the isolated dirt roads towards the north of Hiroshima City.


    "Looks like we have a tail." Kei bit his lip as his eyes darted to the tiny vehicle barely noticeable in the rear vision mirror.


    Tyne titled his head, so he could see what Kei saw in the mirror from his view in the back-seat.


    "What''s the condition of the car?" He wanted to triage their chances of an outrun.


    "Tank''s half empty." Kei soberly reported.


    "Then try to ditch them through the forest paths," Sean said.


    He nudged Tyne closer to the back window, so he could lean forward to point at the upcoming side road that seemed to be cutting into a dense forest.


    Kei glimpsed Sean''s finger targetting the road. He nodded and increased speed to do a sharp turn onto the dirt road. He turned off on to a wide fire trail that was heading downwards to another main road.


    Sean dared a glance at the back window, to see if they were being followed. He sighed with relief when there was no one behind them.


    "Looks like we lost them."


    Eiji wasn''t convinced. He held his composure in the front passenger seat with his mind reeling on plans and strategies should they be run off the road.


    Tama had woken to the abrupt change of pace and leaped on to Sean lap into a trembling ball. He calmed her with pats.


    Kei skilfully drove them onto the main road. The car entered the lanes at a calmer pace, and avoiding pulled carts or carriages with ease.


    The way before them was eventually quiet and void of other vehicles and signs of life. Kei had managed to work out where they were, after noticing a few village signs from passing farm houses and minkas on the sides.


    "SHIT!" He swore when a car swerved at them from the other side of the road, causing them to go into a fierce spin.


    He dropped the gear and speed, eased back on the brakes to control the spin into a mad wobble. He was able to rebalance the car and continue the drive forward.


    The offending car had regained speed to over take them. It did a sharp turn a few meters up the road to block their path.


    Kei slammed the brakes. The car''s screeching provoked a flock of birds into the air from nearby trees. The smell of burnt rubber wafted about their noses as they skidded to an abrupt stop.


    "KEI!" Tyne yelped as his head banged Kei''s when his body was jolted forward.


    Eiji had instinctively slammed his arm on Kei''s chest to stop his upper body from smashing onto the windshield and driving wheel.  He had been wearing his seatbelt, which had stopped him from going through the windshield himself. An extra safety measure to withstand Kei''s mad driving. The consequence was a jarring pain to his forearm. He checked for broken bones and still felt feeling in his fingers. Seems the most he''d suffer later was a nasty bruise.


    Sean had held Tama tightly that he suffered claw marks from where she had dug into his legs to stop herself from flying.


    Outside, thick dust clouds hovered around them. When the dust had settled, from the view of the window, they saw two officers step out of the other car.


    Eiji gulped at the sight of an all black uniform bearing the metal emblem belonging to a kenpei officer. His mind panicked at the sight of Ren in his khaki uniform. Ren''s expression was void of pleasantries and cordialness


    What was he doing there?


    "Step out of the car!" The kenpei shouted when he stopped a few paces away from the driver''s door.


    Eiji glanced to Ren standing behind the officer. He suspected the man was angry and confused behind his poker face expression.


    Kei felt his blood boil when the kenpei pulled out a government issued handgun and aimed it to his head from the other side of the driver''s window.


    "GET... OUT!"


    Kei glared into the kenpei''s narrowed dark eyes and common Japanese features. The shade from the man''s stiff peak cap, accentuated the sobriety to his expression. He sensed the man''s mad intent from the twitches to the corner of the man''s mouth.


    His eyes darted to the steady black gloved finger, which hovered a fraction of a move away from pulling back the trigger that would lodge a bullet into his brain.


    He sighed and carefully unlocked the door to open it, stepping out with his hands raised.


    The kenpei stepped back with his gun raised higher. Not giving Kei an inch to make a break or attack.


    The other men reluctantly stepped out of the car.  Sean set Tama to the ground on the other side of them. At least one of them had a chance for a getaway should there be gunfire and bodies dropping to the ground.


    She sniffed the dirt ground to gather her bearings and found shelter underneath the car, slightly frightened by the heighten energies coming from the humans.


    "Officer Takahashi-san. What is the meaning of this?" Tyne calmly asked his question to Ren with his hands in the air.


    He stood next to Kei with Eiji on the other side of him. Sean held his place closer towards the tank to hide Tama from view. They all had their hands raised in the air.


    "My question to you Weber-sensei." Ren answered, not giving away his expression. "Officer Yamamoto-san told me what you did on the train."


    Tyne sighed. "What do you intend to do officers?"


    The kenpei lifted his gun and re-aimed it on Ren''s head. "Takahashi-kun."  He fired the trigger.


    "TAKAHASHI!" Eiji wailed as Ren''s body dropped to the ground.  His heart raced with anxiety at seeing the man lifeless near his feet. "WHY?!"


    "Because you were careless." The kenpei relaxed his hold on his weapon and hoistered it.


    "The trail you made that I had to cover.  I should shoot you all myself." His voice relaxed into an American accent.


    Sean recalled the spy they had handed the map to. "You were our contact back at the drop zone. You''ve been following us this whole time?"


    "Major Schmidt''s orders."


    "Why kill Takahashi-san?!" Tyne gritted his teeth.


    "You''re a terrible agent." The kenpei officer smirked, wagging a condescending finger before his face. "A weak bastard for a lieutenant."


    "How close was he to finding out about us?" Sean soberly asked.


    "He was always digging for the truth of you, according to our asset." The kenpei officer winked at Sean.


    "Asset?" Tyne gulped, his mind circling back to facts and landed on a likely candidate. "Suzuki-san."


    The kenpei nodded. "She had heard about the train attack from her associates. Your timing to the village was too coincidental."


    Eiji cupped his hand over his mouth, holding back his urge to vomit. He caused all of this. Ren would still be alive if he hadn''t wanted to make a detour to deliver his teacher''s letter.


    "It''s okay. Throw up. A Jap faggot don''t have guts to be a man." The kenpei crudely acknowledged Eiji''s condition.


    "Mutherf''cker!" Kei dropped his hands to swing a punch at the kenpei officer.


    The kenpei was able to skillful side-step around Kei''s hand-to-hand combat tactics. He landed a near-deadly punch to Kei''s stomach. Kei fell back into Sean''s arms.


    The officer did a swift round-house kick to push Kei and Sean onto the car. They both landed to the ground, groaning from pain.


    "What some whoopass too, Pussy?" The kenpei cackled maniacally.


    Tyne observed the tightness of the man''s muscles beneath his suit jacket and the broadness of his shoulders.  Likely a trained US marine before becoming a spook.


    "What are your orders?" He stood firmly before the man, not willing to show any weakness.


    "Good solider." The kenpei smirked. "You''re to deliver another comic to Dr. Hashimoto at Wiesmen''s office in the Higashi district. It''s near the Oto River. The drop off has to happen at 08:00 on July 21st. You''ll face consequences if you fail your mission. Treason would be the least of your problems."


    Tyne received the sealed map from the kenpei.


    "I''ll take back the radio too." The kenpei issued another order.


    Tyne heaved a sigh. After a moment of thought, he calmly went to the bonnet to pop the hood and retrieve the suitcase.


    "No more mistakes. I won''t be around to keep your life free and lovely. And a message from the Major, ''It has been a pleasure soldiers. Don''t betray your country no matter what''." The kenpei smirked as he claimed the suitcase from Tyne and strolled back to his car.


    He got in and cockily drove off. Leaving Ren''s body for them to clean off the road.


    Eiji knelt down over Ren with apologises. If Ren was an enemy soldier during honorable battle he could justify the death.  Ren was a civilian officer for Japan. A good man who he came to see as a friend.


    "I''m sorry Eiji," Sean said to console him.


    "This is my doing. My crime for being a traitor to my country." Eiji swallowed back his tears, feeling his resolve for his next actions. "His death is on my hands."


    "No. Wrong. You didn''t pull the trigger." Tyne tried to reason with Eiji.


    "If we didn''t detour to Ohno-sensei''s village, Takahashi-san would still be alive!" Eiji shouted. "He died because of me!"


    "For godsakes Eiji. YOU ARE A SOLDIER!" Tyne yelled.


    "FOR JAPAN!" Eiji shouted back. " I was a soldier for Japan! This is f''cked up!"


    Eiji went to the passenger seat to grab his jacket.  He glanced at Tama who was starring at him from underneath the car.  He knelt down to give her a farewell pat.


    "Look after them." He gently whispered to her.


    "What''d you think your doing?!" Sean pulled him up and spun him about to face him.


    Eiji answered by slamming a punch to his stomach.


    "What I should''ve done as soon as I got here!" Eiji spat back. "I can''t..."


    He turned and sprinted into the thick of underbush and dense canopies of the trees.


    Sean held in the pain. He faced the direction Eiji had taken. He and Kei motioned to go after him when Tyne shocked them into a stop with an abrupt round of gunfire from his handguns that he had retrieved from the bonnet''s hiddent compartment.


    "We have to deal with Takahashi-san''s body first." He said, drawing their attention back to Ren who had lost a deal of color from his skin due to the loss of blood that had left a shallow puddle around his body.


    Sean and Kei reluctantly retraced their steps back to Tyne. The three men commenced with the gruesome task of disposing Ren''s body.

 Chapter 82 - Eiji Stumbling Over a Truth

    Eiji rested his head on his arm, which was propped up against his side of the bus window. He started out to random pasteurized land and low growing forests that whizzed by. His mind replayed events of the night before, which had led him to his solitary bus ride towards Hiroshima City.


    The day before he had sprinted from Tyne and the others. Running a distance through the wild growing forests in a random direction with Ren''s image plaguing his thoughts; continuously reviving brief moments of their rival archery matches and the drinking session at the inn with vividness.


    He had killed in his country''s name. But the death of a civilian because of him, hurt. Especially when Ren was a good man. The image of his face, and knowledge of his life, made Eiji''s heart slow drastically. Monster. Traitor. He was not a man worthy for Hinata''s love.


    "Hinata."


    Eiji raised his head and eased back into his chair, looking up to the bus''s curvaceous metal roof. He closed his eyes to play out more of the night before.


    -


    Despite his right arm inflamed with agony from heavy bruises he had received from stopping Kei''s impact to the windshield, he had pushed on through the chilling dense forest.


    The air was thinner, but also heavy with an unnerving silence and overwhelming stench of musk. Yet there was barely activity amongst the bushes. The only animals during the waning evening were distant outlines of tanuki foraging about for food.


    He was alone to suffer whatever karmic fate Okamisama deemed he should suffer.


    So he kept running, stumbling, wandering and moving deeper into the forest.  Immersing himself into the depths of a pitch black ambience.


    "I''m a monster." His voice had spilled out to an unsympathetic darkness. Tears made crude streak marks down his dirt stained cheeks.


    He cursed aloud when his run was stopped by a trip over a boulder.


    He tumbled pitifully down a rocky slop to stop before a bigger rock crop.  When he was able to peel himself off the ground, he made out a shape from the rocks beneath the moonlight. The shape was a raised arm holding a spear towards the moon.  As he was able to define more of the shape, he realized the arm was connected to a statue of Bishamonten.


    He gulped at the glaring frown and scowling lips from the carved face. So this was where he''d be judged before Okamisama, beneath the glaring image of Japan''s god of war.


    "I''ll accept my punishment." He cried, wishing his hands held a tantou blade.


    Yet a tantou was for honourable men. He was not one of those, so it was fitting he didn''t.


    "Young man?" A papery voice called out to him from Bishamonten''s image.


    Eiji stiffened to the sound of the voice.


    "Okamisama?" he whimpered.


    Light flashed before his eyes, causing them to sting and blink madly.


    "Oh dear." The papery voice sighed with a tone of understanding.


    Eiji felt his head lifted and water trickle into his open mouth.  The water''s taste was oddly tangy and sweet. Yet it was refreshing and invigorating, granting him a temporary relief from his pains.


    "Are you able to stand young man?"


    Eiji nodded and wobbled to his feet, shying away from the hands that wanted to assist him.


    He was able to make a face to the voice. His heart raced at the sight of an elderly priest in a kimono and  umanori hakama with a straw utility belt supporting small pouches and a gourd.  His head was shaven like a Buddhist monk.  He held up the torch he was carrying to reveal more of his aged face, etched with many wisdom lines across his round forehead and sides of his wide mouth.


    "Follow me." He beckoned to Eiji with a weak, inviting smile.


    Eiji bowed his head and followed the elderly priest''s sprightly trail down a path through the bush. It connected to a cleared moonstone footpath between god''s entrance, illuminated by lanterns hanging from tall stakes either side of the path.


    He gazed up to the tall hashira poles and entrance face looming over him; absorbing the images of a hefty and stolid Bishamonten carved all over the surfaces. They depicted the god''s moments of rest amongst lotus flowers, conch shells or his majestic image mounted on a snow lion. His crown and body armour was covered with images of luxurious jewels. A reminder of the luck power the god of war and wealth could curse or bless on a man.


    He felt sure Bishamonten would only grant him the foulest of luck for having an innocent man die.  There was no honourable reason to justify Ren''s death.


    Eiji was led to the Temizuya stone basin to wash away his worldly filthy. Yet he felt no amount of shrine water could purify his soul for his wrong doings.


    "Come." The elderly priest bade Eiji when they finished their ablutions.


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t go further." Eiji bowed with his apologies before the sight of the subduely lit pristine shrine the priest was beckoning him towards.


    "Why?"


    "I killed a man." Eiji''s voice trembled. A rush of tears flowed from his bowed head.  "I''ve killed many men."


    The priest sighed. He observed Eiji''s bowed form for sometime before speaking again.


    "You regret the deaths you caused."


    Eiji nodded.


    "Are you a soldier?"


    Eiji stiffened at the question.  His mind rushed with thoughts of rights and wrongs, the senjinkun code that ensured he could mentally fight for his country and the truths he tried to believe in to justify his betrayal.


    "I see." The priest sighed again.  "Still. Come. Only our god is the one to judge your doings."


    Eiji slowly rose and meekly followed the priest up the porch, removing his shoes to step into the causal room of the shrine.


    The priest had him rest before a low table, where a young miko girl was called to attend to his arm with warm cloth dipped in healing water. He sat unresponsive to the care he was receiving, allowing her to clean his bare skin and place food before him.


    He didn''t touch the food.


    "Eat and wake up to another day."


    Eiji glanced to the simple arrangement of rice and dried fish. It was god''s food. He wasn''t worthy to touch it.


    "There''s a story of how a starving man prayed to Bishamonten for help. Soon after, a woman paid him a visit..." The priest began to tell a tale.


    Eiji listened absent-mindedly to the priest''s retelling of a fable about the Starving Man.


    The starving man was given a bowl of rice as an answer to his prayers. The rice would be replenished in the bowl whenever he ate some of the rice. After a while the rice bowl stopped refilling and the bowl sat empty. When he prayed again, he was visited by the woman who was actually Bishamonten. He was given a task to deliver a letter to a person who turned out to be an ogre. The man received a bag of rice as payment for the delivery. Like the bowl, the rice bag continuously replenished. Soon a local governor came to know about the rice bag and demanded custody of it. Not wanting to go against the local authority, the man handed it over.  The bag stopped replenishing as soon as it had left the man''s hands. It was returned to him, where the powers of the bags abundance was restored.


    "There are times we''re starving men for various reasons. If we ask, we are given the abundance we need to survive. Other people lacking fulfilment lust after other''s wealth. Their greed causes a starving man to be starving again. This is when the starving man finds himself lost, confused, bitter and believing his troubled life is a punishment. I believe the ogre represents a reflection of our self-hate and punishment. When the starving man handed over the letter. He obeyed his heart''s desire to give up his reasons for his self-punishment, self-hate and why he was starving. Only then was he able to receive the help he needed. Now one can take away another man''s blessings, which Okamisama has granted him."


    Eiji faced the priest. "But I''m responsible for death."


    The priest''s eyes peered into his with sobriety and wisdom touched by doing god''s work.


    "Then work at being a man responsible for life. Japan''s war won''t be happening forever. I see a new age budding."


    The priest''s eyes welled with tears. "When war''s end comes, Japan needs men who''ll care for new life. War has scarred our country, left many hearts shaken."


    He pressed his palm to Eiji''s heart. "Here beats the heart of a good man. God''s soldier. Okamisama has led you here to know that you are good man who people will need in days to come."


    "Can I truly be forgiven?" Eiji''s voice trembled through his tears.


    "The lives you''ve taken will one day face you with their answers. If Okamisama has led you here, means you still have a chance. Live by god''s grace. Do good by others and pay penance that way." The priest''s face warmed with a forgiving smile.


    Eiji wailed out all his suffering, pains, guilt, fears and grief before Bishamonten''s priest. Until he had no more tears to shed and his head ached.


    "Hai."


    "Good. Now make a promise to live to be the best man you can be to yourself and to others." The priest firmly instructed Eiji. "You can reclaim honour for all those that have lost theirs and can no longer make that claim."


    Eiji slowly lifted his head and nodded. He slowly shuffled before Bishamonten''s image enshrined in lotus flowers on a dais near the back wall. He bowed with his prayers for his forgiveness and pledging to the vows the priest had asked of him.


    When he had finished his prayers and vows, he ate the food before him. Feeling his heart and stomach full. The young miko shortly returned to take him to a room he could rest for the night.


    The next morning, he ate another meal and was escorted to the nearest village by the miko.  She left him at the bus stop with enough yen to travel to Hiroshima City.


    He still felt troubled, but was able to step onto the bus with a clear head and renewed purpose for his life.


    "Ren. I will honour your life. I promise." Eiji whispered to himself as he opened his eyes to see the outskirts of Hiroshima breaking through the line of trees.


    The bus descended towards a distant view of the barrack roof tops near the shores of Kaita Bay waters.

 Chapter 83 - Eiji POV Comic Zone

    Kei, Sean and Tyne had managed to drag Ren''s body into the thick of the forest, where they found the ideal spot to hide him within the hollow of a fallen tree trunk.


    "We need to give him a proper burial." Tyne swallowed back his shame at seeing Ren''s body stuffed inside the trunk.


    "Don''t they cremate bodies here?" Sean sniffled.


    "Yeah. We''d cause a bushfire if we do it here." Kei frowned.


    "It''ll buy us time to avoid patrols. We need a safe distance from here." Tyne noted.


    "F''ck! I hate this. Can''t we just put some tinder around him and let nature do its thing?" Kei grumbled.


    "Leave Ren''s body to rot or be eaten by bears? He was a good man! He needs a proper send off." Tyne snapped back, holding in his sadness.


    Sean and Kei sighed with bowed heads. They stopped talking and looked for tinder that would make a decent fire around the trunk.


    Tyne ripped off Ren''s officer badge.


    "Why''re you taking that?" Sean gasped with concern. "If we get caught with it, our cover is blown!"


    "When this is over. Don''t you think his family should know why he died?"


    "Yes. No. We can''t leave any opening for further trouble." Sean frowned. "Sticking to our orders and plans is honouring Ren''s death. Let''s make sure he didn''t die for nothing."


    "What the f''ck are you saying?! The guy died because you''re f''cking Americans!" Kei snapped angrily at the men. "F''cking hell! Hurry up. Light this shit! Give the man a f''cking godly send off and be on our way. Pussies!"


    The men finished their pyre around the log. Kei flicked a flame from his lighter on the driest kindling, which sparked a fire to other kindle batches.


    Within minutes a roaring fire was burning around Ren''s log.


    Tyne said a prayer for Ren''s soul to reach the man''s heavens. Sean whispered his fond farewells. Kei turned and power walked through the dense bush for the car.


    The eventually piled into the car, disturbing Tama from her sleep on the back seat. Sean assumed the front. Kei revved up the engines. The car sped down the road to escape the fire and wrong doings.


    They drove the entire night in silence. Sean kept check on Tyne from the rear vision mirror, frowning at Ren''s badge being turned over in his hands.


    It was dawn when Kei slowed the car towards a main town of higashi-ku region. His heart raced when he glimpsed a sight of Eiji stepping off a bus at the town''s bus depot.


    "Kei!" Sean cursed when he found himself crudely woken by an abrupt jolt.


    He felt wide awake at the sight of Eiji''s image drawing closer.


    Eiji crossed the road and turned into a quieter section of street, which faded out into bushland.  He stopped and turned when he heard a car behind him.


    Kei stopped the car before Eiji''s image. Its headlights showing Eiji''s dishevelled clothes. Sean noticed a bandage around his arm.


    "Get in," Kei said when he wound down his window and poked his head out.


    Eiji sighed, nodded his head and entered the back seat.


    Tama got up and did a turn on the seat, rubbing her body happily against his thigh when he closed the door.


    " Mata omenikakarete, ureshiku omoimasu ," Tyne said with a weak smile.


    " Hai ." Eiji returned Tyne''s smile.


    "Let''s go." Kei turned the car around and resumed the drive to their destination.


    They arrived to Wiesmen''s warehouse office, which was a tall brick building and factory on the banks of the Ota river with a glimpse of the river mouth that eventually led into the Enko River.


    Fierce red and orange of evening light streaked a darkening sky, as they parked in the visitor bays before the building.


    The fleeting daylight threw a dissipating twinkle on the river''s still surface. Creating a lulling ambiance.


    Eiji decided to wait in the car with Tama. Tyne decided it was for the best given his condition.


    The others tidied themselves up and entered the building, leaving Eiji in the back-seat. Tama was happy to have her pats and attention from him.


    "I''m sorry Tama. I won''t leave you again." Eiji cooed near her ears.


    She purred happily on his lap.


    Eiji closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion catching up to him. He woke when the others returned to the car.


    Kei started up the engines and casually drove them down the roads towards the Hiroshima''s city center.

 Chapter 84 - Eiji POV The Calm (pt1)

    They drove to an out-of-the way minka, which was recently abandoned. It was as small traditional cottage nestled beneath a shady canopy of plum trees, mellow purple hydrangea bushes and moist green foliage dulled by the setting sun. The distant view of the Enka River waters was barely visible over the fading horizon.


    "Dr. Hashimoto said this will be the place we can rest until time."


    "Until time? Oh, the drop off day." Eiji mumbled when Kei parked the car before the minka''s wide front porch.


    The earlier visit was a courtesy to announce their arrival. Dr. Hashimoto given them access to the vacant company lodgings where they could wait out for the time.


    "What''s the date anyway?"


    "July 10th. Going by the calendar hanging on the office''s reception wall. We have eleven days to keep out of harms way." Tyne soberly answered.


    "How we''re going to know?"


    Tyne showed Eiji his German watch where the tiny date panel on the clock face was showing the correct number. It had stopped working a while back when the radio was in their care. It seemed to be functioning again.


    "It''s working."


    "Yeah."


    "Just as well."


    Tyne sighed, feeling exhausted and his body aching for sleep.


    They ambled out of the car and casually stepped onto the porch to inspect the simple cottage. Kei noticed that there was some oil in the hanging and pole lanterns. He focused on the task of lighting a few to make more of the cottage''s form visible.


    Sean rummaged around the kitchen area to inspect the pantry cupboards and ground floor ice box. Empty. Of course. He returned to the main room and slumped down on a cushion next to Eiji at the chabudai low table. Eiji was staring blankly at a ranma carved pattern of flowers.


    "Ouch!" Eiji yelped at the unexpected dull whack to this gut.


    "We''re even." Sean pouted. He wrapped his arms around Eiji''s waist and rested his head on his chest. "You broke my heart."


    "Sorry." Eiji sighed. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall.


    Cricket droning. Comfortable heat. Sweet floral scents and moist soil. They calmed his apprehensions, so his body lapsed into a gentle sleep with Sean snoring against his chest.


    Tyne sighed at the sight of Eiji and Sean sleeping in the main room. His brows raised when Kei walked past him with a blanket, and he tucked it around the men.


    "You''re such a mother hen." Tyne chuckled.


    "Shuddup." Kei snapped back. He sighed and faced Eiji''s sleeping face. "Least I can do. The guy saved my life."


    Tyne decided to inspect the cottage to determine it''s safety. There weren''t many entrances as the shoji doors were fixed wall panels except the front porch area. One side of the back area had amados permanently fitted. He suspected the cottage was modified this way to withstand harsh weather. Fortunately.


    He checked the in-built closet for futons and smiled when saw there was enough for all of them. With Kei''s aid, he set the main room into a bedroom.


    The four of them were soon deep in their minds with sleep.


    They woke the next morning naturally. The mellow chirping, a crisp morning breeze and welcoming daylight from the ranma invigorated their senses and energies.


    Eiji stretched out his arms and groaned at the sudden cramp he felt from his bruised forearm. Sean groggily grabbed at his arm and began carefully massaging around the wounded area to ensure blood circulation.


    "Didn''t hurt?" he asked.


    Eiji shook his head.


    He ungracefully dropped Eiji''s arm and flicked his forehead.


    "I said I was sorry!" Eiji snapped at the sudden dekopin.


    "Not enough. You punched me in the stomach and ran off!" Sean childishly snapped back.


    Eiji lowered his head.


    Sean sighed. "I''m not mad. I was scared I wouldn''t see you again."


    "Why?"


    Sean scoffed. "Seriously Eiji. Am I even your friend?"


    Eiji faced him with friendly smile. "Idiot!"


    He returned the finger flick gesture to Sean''s forehead.


    "Should we leave you faggots alone?" Kei wryly said from the other side of the room as he was moving the chabudai back in place after he had packed away his and Tyne''s futons.


    "What did I say about using that disgusting F word?!" Sean snapped back at Kei and tackled him to the ground.


    Tyne stepped around their play fight to sit next to Eiji.


    "I am glad to see you again. Sorry about..." Tyne sighed away the rest of his apology. "How''s the arm?"


    Eiji inspected his forearm. He unwrapped the badge to take a look at the yellowing bruise. It was surprisingly healing fast. He suspected it was due to the medicine he had taken at the shrine.


    "It''s healing well." Tyne noted with a tone of surprise. "Who treated it?"


    Eiji paused before explaining his sprints through the forest and moment at Bishamonten''s shrine. Obviously not disclosing his vows, prayers and matters that were only between him and Okamisama. He gulped at the sudden drop of color from Tyne''s cheeks.


    "Japan''s god of war?" Tyne''s voice went weak.


    "You know about Bishamonten?" Eiji asked, both surprised and impressed.


    "Through my university lessons." He nodded. "One of the seven gods of luck."


    He faced Eiji, staring him square in the eye. "O''Bishamonten''s priest allowed you into the shrine?"


    Eiji sense a tone of insistence to his words. Was he also asking for forgiveness?


    "Yeah."


    Tyne sighed with relief. His hand fiddled about his pocket, but resurfaced empty.


    "How much was the US willing to know about their enemy?" Eiji asked. An effort to change the subject.


    "Not a lot. To be honest, my field was considered controversial because it was too focused on learning about other cultures." Tyne chuckled. "My professors were constantly fighting with the school board to keep it running."


    "I figure they don''t they run it now." Eiji suspected.


    "There was a lot of talk about shutting down the program just before I enlisted. I''m glad I got the chance to be part of it before it happened."


    Tyne sighed. "I suspect when the war is over, we''ll all be wondering what we had been fighting."


    "Too busy rebuilding to think philosophical." Eiji scoffed.


    "True." Tyne nodded his head.


    Eiji changed the subject to ask about Ren. This caused the three men to face him with grim expressions.

 Chapter 85 - Eiji POV The Calm (pt2)

    "We cremated him." Tyne soberly answered.


    Eiji nodded. It was the best thing they could do, given the situation. He gulped at the thought of how they would''ve cremated him.


    "It didn''t cause a forest fire did it?"


    Neither answered, but busied themselves with menial chores. Eiji groaned with a hope that the local fire crews were able to put out any drastic flames before they reached towns. Fortunately, they had been miles from one.


    "I''m gonna get some food," Kei said to change the subject. Also feeling his stomach''s complaints.


    "I''ll join you." Sean piped up.


    Everyone agreed to go out and see what food they could find.


    Fortunately the small village they had stumbled upon had an inn and local grocery where they were able to savoury a meal from their dwindling funds, which Tyne kept track of.


    Sean constantly grumbled about how they could''ve eaten more, but someone was being too loose with women and giving away their wads of cash.


    Kei shrugged his shoulders with a cheeky smirk on the fact.


    They were able to procure some staples that the small shop was able to sell. A lot of it was cheap alcohol, tin fish and beans of a small quantity. It was enough for a light meal.


    Eiji sighed at the lack of patronage the poor shopkeeper had attracted. Aside of themselves, there was only one other elderly lady in the story who spent more time gossiping with the shopkeeper than looking at wares to buy.


    There wasn''t much eavesdropped gossip they didn''t already know about the war effort. The locals weren''t keen to talk to them. So they returned to the cottage in the early afternoon.


    The noisy drone of cicadas on heat drowned out any complaints they would''ve felt from their bodies as the stripped down to undershirts and slacks to cope with the sudden heat wave.


    A cooling breeze from the distant river, offered some relief to their skin, as they sat on the porch to enjoy the early sun set.


    "Here." Tyne offered Eiji a swig from the sake bottle they had picked up in town.


    Eiji took a hearty gulp and passed the bottle to Sean who did the same.


    Kei passed around cigarettes. The men lazed about, drinking and smoking away the afternoon.


    "I like days like this." Kei absentmindedly noted. "Reminds me of my brat days on the docks near Jefferson Ave."


    Sean''s face eased into a wide smile. "I remember my parents taking me to Chinatown for dumplings. Good ole times."


    "Flat beer. Cold hot dogs watching the Tigers." Kei added.


    "You watched baseball?" Sean blurted with surprise.


    "All men watch baseball, prissy." Kei grumbled and dodged Sean''s piss-weak punch to his arm.


    "Babe Ruth''s called shot." Tyne chuckled. "Guess you can be cocky when you''re a winner."


    Eiji shrugged his shoulders, not really listening to the talk of western sports. His hand continuously stroked Tama''s back, who was purring contently with her body stretched out next to him.


    "What sports do you guys cheer on?" Sean asked Eiji.


    "Sumo wrestling is our national sport." Eiji casually answered.


    "You do archery. Did any pro comps?"


    "Only in school. I won nationals." Eiji stoically noted his achievement.


    "Figures. You were able to show that Takahashi guy a thing or too." Kei blurted.


    Everyone fell silent at the reminder of the man they had cremated.


    "Anyway. Let''s get dinner happening." Tyne instantly changed he subject.


    They entered the cottage to make a meal, eat it and laze about to play cards on the low table,  which Kei had bought at the shops.


    Sean goaded Kei into spilling more stories of his past, whilst knocking out his plays with his winning hands.


    Kei cursed and snapped every time he had to remove a piece of clothing when he lost.


    "You''ll be butt naked if you keep losing." Eiji smirked behind his cards.


    "Shuddup!" Kei growled. Feeling weird at his naked chest exposed to them.


    They continued to play their poker game, although Tyne was having a hard time keeping a serious face whenever Kei kept losing.


    "F''ckers!" Kei cursed when he lost three straight rounds, and was down to his briefs. "I f''cking fold!"


    He stood before Sean who was appraising his toned and lean body with a roving eye.


    "Gimme my clothes." He demanded Sean.


    Sean coyly held to Kei''s clothes to his chest, making Kei feel weird at his sniffing of his shirt.


    "Ugh. Disgusting." Kei regurgitated. He turned and fled the room.


    "Come back Kei! I"m only joking!" Sean called out, laughing.


    Kei shortly returned wearing a dull blue yukata he had found in the closet.


    "Looks good on you." Eiji cordially noted.


    "Stinks of moth balls." Kei complained.


    Kei started sharing a story of how he was a teen brat. He and his sister had chased off one of his mother''s ex-boyfriends by pretending to be ghosts. It was Halloween. They had been practising ghost noises for weeks.


    The ex-boyfriend had entered their unit to hear spooky sounds from the drain pipes. Kei and sister had some of the objects tied to strings and around poles, so they could pull down on them to raise the objects. Under semi-darkness, it actually looked like a ghost was doing it.


    He bolted out their door and never returned. It seemed he had a phobia for ghosts and all things supernatural. Hearing those noises and seeing the floating objects made him believe that her ex-husband was around to haunt them.


    "You''re serious?" Eiji raised his brows at the absurd reason to break up with someone.


    "No shit! The f''cker almost wet his pants when Taylor started howling like a banshee. The pussy!" Kei laughed.


    "Devil child." Sean smirked.


    "Yeah. Good times." Kei sighed.


    The mood quieted to a moment of reflection as the affects of the cheap sake began to dull their senses.


    "I remember when I was still a good boy. My best friend was aiming for our high school''s ace cheerleader..." Sean started telling his tale.


    The ace cheerleader was already dating the school''s quarterback. His friend was only an average player on the team, and held a lot of respect for the team''s star player.  Sean, on the other hand, found the quarterback a beefcake with no brains. Especially when he was bullying other kids to do his homework or other stuff for him. He was both a jock and jerk. It seemed the ace cheerleader was only tolerant of him because of his team star status. She seemed slightly uncomfortable when they were together, but the quarterback didn''t notice. Obviously.  Of course, Sean wanted to give his friend and the jerk''s victims some justice and fighting chance.


    So, at one of the kissing booth events, during their school carnival, Sean convinced the ace cheerleader to swap places behind the secret wall that only showed lips through a hole. The other person on the other side weren''t able to see who the pair of lips belonged to. He had her boyfriend kiss him instead.


    "It was meant to be a prank, I was going to use it to dissuade the cheerleader and jerk from dating. My prank worked better than expected." Sean chuckled.


    "He liked the kiss so much, he dumped the cheerleader and spent rest of his school days eying all the girls lips to find the person who had driven him crazy with a kiss. The amount of face-slapping and punches he got from other members of his team was priceless. A lot of girls avoided him like the plague afterwards!" He rolled about the floor with laughter.


    "Tsk. The poor man was doomed by Sean." Tyne groaned, slamming a palm to his forehead.


    "Should''ve known back then that I had that magic touch on men." Sean cackled, teasing Kei that earned a light whack on his shoulders.


    "Keep away, pervert!" Kei shivered.


    "Whadya about you? What''s your girly story to share?" Kei asked Tyne.


    Tyne told them about a time he was trying to woo a girl during his high school days. Being from rich parents, he attended a private all boys school that was neighbours with the affiliated girl school. Sometimes he would see the girl he liked during shared gym sessions. As the schools shared the same sports field.


    "She was a hard case. The most difficult flower to try to impress. She had both beauty and an academic record to prove her intelligence."


    Tyne was like a lot of the guys in his school, queuing for her attention.  So one day he decided to do something out of the ordinary. Her house wasn''t far from his. It was a box mansion on a picturesque street.  He had scoped her room to be on a top floor balcony. One night, he climbed up the tall tree next to her balcony.  He stood at her bedroom window, wearing his best Sunday suit, and started crooning a ballad beneath the moonlight, with a bouquet of roses in his hand.


    Instead of receiving the adoration from his love interest, he had received the attention from her older brother. Who at first was angry by the disturbance, until he caught a good look at him.


    "He listened to me sing the whole night, putting in requests whilst crunching his fists." Tyne gulped.


    "Her parents eventually came to the window to call me into the house and give me a stern lecture. It was so embarrassing, I felt like dying.  The next day, her brother asked me to give him a kiss, saying he liked my serenading very much . I ran and stopped trying to woo her."


    Sean and Eiji burst with laughter.


    Tama''s yawning caught their attention. The men felt the same sleepiness as the sake was, well and truly, dulling their bodies into a comfortable lull.


    Eiji dragged the table out of the way to make space on the mats. Soon the men were snoring in their cosy spots, on the ground with sleep.

 Chapter 86 - Eiji POV The Calm (pt3)

    They woke with hangovers and half the day gone. Sean relished the rare luxury of being able to peacefully sleep-in during the war.


    When he groggily sat up, he saw Eiji''s futon empty. He scrambled out of bed and got up to look for him.


    Eiji was sitting on the front porch, patting Tama near his legs.


    They were enjoying the view of a calm river sprinkled with mellow daylight. It ran alongside a lush bank of wild green grass, yellowing weeds and various daisy clusters that swayed with the breeze. Small creatures were tiny movements amongst the grass.


    Tama had her head and ears perked up with interest, but she wasn''t showing signs of budging from the pats Eiji lavished on her.


    The cicadas'' rhythmic droning soothed their heart rates in a calming pace. A moist breeze stroked their skin (and fur), warming their bodies.


    "So, what''s next?" Eiji asked Sean, keeping his eyes towards the river view.


    Sean sighed as he sat next to Eiji.


    "After the drop?"


    "Yes. What''s after that?"


    Sean shrugged his shoulders. It was obvious from that kenpei spy that they were on their own after this task. This fact made him slightly nervous.


    Eiji glanced to Sean. His words were deep and serious. "Your country is planning to drop a bomb on mine. It''s obvious with all these detailed maps being placed into US hands."


    "No. We don''t know that Eiji. It''s likely another air strike or ground invasion." Sean instantly defended his country''s honour.


    Eiji thought back to the information they had gathered from Keiko and the locals at Saka. His heart raced with both fear and confirmation at the sight of Nagasaki and Kyushu Islands regions on the map he had peeked at while Tyne was asleep.


    "Then why is the US interested in knowing more about certain areas." Eiji''s eyes glistened with tears that he held back.


    Sean sighed deeply. "We''re at a time of war Eiji. It''s only natural to know more about your enemy.


    "Is that what my friendship is to you? Knowing more about the enemy." Eiji responded coldly.


    He yelped at the sudden pain to his good arm.


    Sean frowned. His face showing obvious distress to Eiji''s accusation.


    "You can never be my enemy."


    Eiji gulped. He resumed his gaze out to the pleasant view of the Enko River. Feeling his heart race erratically, as his mind lapsed into an inner turmoil.


    Tama nipped his hand when she felt his pat was too rough. She hopped off the porch and went to forage in the fields.


    "I honestly don''t know." Sean lowered his head towards his dangling feet.


    "If my country was going to drop a bomb. No. We''re soldiers. Not butchers. No soldier wants to harm a civilian. What''s the point of fighting?" He convinced himself.


    Tyne sighed from the eaves of the opened shoji door after hearing their speculation of the map''s purpose.


    "One thing is for certain. US is planning an assault on the mainland," he said when he entered the conversation.


    Sean and Eiji turned about to faced him. Tyne shuffled onto the spot next to Eiji.


    "The map is another detailed version of Japan. It''s a topological map. Perfect to know what places an air strike would be effective." Tyne soberly commented.


    He elaborated to reassure Eiji that the places circled in red, on the map, were isolated regions.


    Eiji frowned. "Can I see the map?"


    Tyne paused before getting up and going inside to retrieve the large brown envelope next to his futon.


    He returned and sat back down next to Eiji.


    Eiji studied the map that Tyne had stretched out before him. There were circles on places where a few military bases and weapons facilities were located. None of the civilian cities had been circled.


    "They''re targeting military bases." Eiji confirmed.


    "So it seems."


    "No cities or other non-military places." Eiji noted, his eyes lingering on the major cities near the circled military bases.


    "Yeah." Tyne answered again.


    Eiji sighed and handed the map back to Tyne, who resealed it in the brown envelope.


    "Have you ever thought about where your wife would be should a bomb drop?" He threw out the comment.


    Tyne flinched. Of course, he had prayed she was nowhere near, or in, those circled areas. Eiji asking him the question made his mind swarm with worries.


    "And your Ray, Sean. What would you do if you found out that..." Eiji soberly turned the question to Sean and yelped when he was pushed off the porch.


    He cursed when he landed hard on the ground.


    "Stop it!" Sean shouted.


    "Why?! You hand over that map to Uncle Sam. Next day a bomb drops on places they circled.  What does that make you?!" Eiji shouted back.


    "How dare you?!" Sean jumped off the porch to face Eiji. "You f''cking righteous prick!"


    "Righteous prick?! Who''s the f''cking prisoner of war here?!" Eiji stood to face Sean. "If I''m a righteous prick! Dropping a bomb on civilian soil will make you all f''cking murderers!"


    Sean swung a punch at Eiji, landing it on his chest. Eiji retaliated with a kick to stomach. The men fought out their anger.


    Kei stormed up to Tyne with questions and received his answer when he saw the brown envelope in Tyne''s hands.


    "Are we really going to hand over the comic?" Kei chewed his lip as he watched Sean and Eiji fight.


    Tyne gulped. His hand gripped the envelope tighter.


    "Yeah. Like we have a f''cking choice." Kei sighed and did an ear-piercing wolf whistle that momentarily jarred everyone''s eardrums, and stopped Sean and Eiji''s fight.


    "Oi! Pussies! Stop fighting over something you can''t control. Whatever Uncle Sam wants to do with that comic, got nothing to do with you !" Kei shouted over them.


    Sean and Eiji gave each other a sober look before breaking away to brush down their clothes.


    "It''s not that simple Kei." Eiji grumbled.


    "Mutherf''cker! You stupid?! It''s simple, cause you''re following f''cking orders. Uncle Sam''s the one to pay the price for whatever that f''cker wants to do."


    Eiji nodded with understanding. Kei was right. They were still soldiers obeying orders for their countries.


    "Sorry Sean." Eiji bowed his head.


    "Baka." Sean grumbled.


    Tyne stood and walked back inside.


    Eiji grumbled about going for a walk. He entered the cottage for his jacket and shoes, shortly returning to the porch to take a walk through the wild grass.


    He headed for the river bank.

 Chapter 87 - Eiji POV Eventide

    The days after the fight was a sober period. The men lapsed into time of reflection. Keeping their words to a minimum and minds to themselves.


    They had been too preoccupied with the sudden downpour of heavy rain, slashing against the cottage from fierce winds. Causing the amado to tremble on their hinges.


    Tama had decided to stick to the comfiest spot on Kei''s futon, which was closet to the driest corner of the main room.  Despite Kei''s grumbling, he allowed her to claim her space and slept around her.


    They had decided not to bother packing away the futons, since they spent most of the waiting time sleeping off their worries.


    Eventually the rain cleared a day prior to the drop.


    Sean convinced everyone to take a drive into town for some air and stretching of the legs. Kei didn''t argue, seeing the need to stock up on charcoal chips.


    They entered the small village near the river banks. Kei managed to find a source of chips for his car at the general store. Eiji decided to take Tama for a walk.


    She followed him down the paths toward the river banks, where one-man paddle boats were moored along a grainy shore.


    He smiled at her happy frolicking amongst the tall growing weeds and daisies. Her butterfly chases made him chuckle.


    His heart plummeted with worry when he saw a squad of Imperial Army recruits headed in their direction.  He quickly approached Tama and scooped her up into his arms, ignoring her protests. She was soon calm under his pats.


    The army recruits stomped their boots in a synchronise march, with their rifles slung over their right shoulder at the routine 320-degree angle.  He moved to one side, further towards the cover of tall grass and bushes to allow them to pass.


    They passed him with little thought. Carrying the same solemn expressions that was common for men focused on fighting the war.


    He hurried back to the general store where the car was parked and saw Kei having a friendly chat with the store owner.  Tyne and Sean were waiting inside the vehicle.


    The soldiers marched passed the store, giving Kei and the car a keen eye. They kept walking. Obviously, intent to reach their assigned destination.


    Eiji entered the front passenger seat with Tama, who ambled to the back to be nestled between Tyne and Sean.


    When Kei had driven them closer to the cottage, he spoke on the information he had gathered from the store owner.


    "Those troops are the local kids being set to the front lines of Okinawa."


    Eiji frowned. They seemed young and probably the same age he was when he had enlisted.


    "It seems they were called to fight." Kei added that made Eiji sit up with surprise.


    "Conscripts?"


    "Yeah. Probably got caught stealing food or being at the wrong place-time. Easy resource for the war. The bastards."


    Eiji eased back into the seat, thinking about his time at Iwo Jima. If Tyne hadn''t peeled him off the ground and pulled him into that office. Back then, he would''ve died.


    "You don''t think much when you aim to pull the trigger." He soberly noted.


    "It''s when you fire you go, oh, shit." Kei chuckled.


    "Then you worry about how much honour to your country you can justify to an enemy soldier''s death." Sean added his perspective from the back seat.


    "Grab your fallen comrades letters or dog tags. Hope to god your honourable deed of paying respects to the man''s widow would be enough to justify the lives your hands had taken." Tyne soberly noted.


    "Eiji. I''ve been thinking. You''re right." Tyne met Eiji''s gaze from the revision mirror. "Let''s make sure this map isn''t going to be used to harm innocent lives."


    "What''re you''re saying Tyne? You''re not planning to do treason?" Sean gulped.


    "No. Just going to be sure," Tyne said.


    "Being sure means having to question orders. How is that not treason?" Sean began to argue.


    Tyne faced Sean, staring him in the eye. "Then tell me what your conscience says. If this map, is indeed used to harm innocent civilians. Are you going to obey orders knowing that''s the reason?"


    "Tyne! Listen to yourself! This talk is the path to treason!" Sean snapped desperately at him. "Think of Eiji and Kei! You cross that path, we''ll all be executed. Kei''s family will be given a death sentence in a prison camp!"


    "I am thinking of them! You forget who''s in charge here! Who''s responsible for all of you!" Tyne yelled that caused a troubled silence to follow.


    Sean chewed his lip.


    "I''m only going to dig around to know a bit more. No one is going to be doing treason." Tyne said to reassure Sean. "I can''t pretend to be blind and ignore my instincts that says something isn''t right."


    "How''d you plan on doing that?" Eiji asked.


    "Let''s visit our good doctor a bit earlier than the drop. Maybe he knows more than he lets on."


    The men returned to the cottage to gather their things and pack up the place. Kei refilled the tank and checked the engine.


    Dusk had  settled when they made the long drive back to Weisman''s office. They arrived as the workers were filing out to leave for home at the end of a work day.


    They staked out the office from the car park until they saw a be-spectacle wiry man, in a tweed brown suit and fedora hat, stepping down the front steps.


    Night was high in the sky by then. The noise during the day became a mysterious quiet at night. The place was void of people or activity in the area. Even from the river.


    "Hashimoto-sensei." Tyne greeted him from the other end of the car park.


    Hashimoto-sensei turned around with a momentary expression of shock. His expression changed to a nervous smile beneath the nearby street lamps.


    "Oh. Um, Weber-sensei, I didn''t expect you be here." His voice trembled with nervous. "Aren''t you a day early?"


    Eiji eyes narrowed. He glanced around the vacant dockside and car park. Kei met his eyes with a look that said, "trouble."


    "What''s wrong Sensei?" Sean carefully asked the doctor.


    Hashimoto-sensei held his brief case close to his chest. A reaction that made Tyne and Sean''s body tense for action. Eiji and Kei flicked each other pensive glances.


    Something was definitely wrong.


    "Hashimoto-sensei." A slick voice called out from the other end of the car park.


    "Oh excuse me." Hashimoto-sensei nervously bowed and hurried towards the voice.


    His screams made Tyne and Sean run towards him.


    They skidded to a halt at the sight of three secret police officers standing over Hashimoto-sensei''s unconscious body. Crumpled to a heap on the ground.


    "You must be the good German doctors," the slick voice said again.


    They faced the pudgy face of a young kenpei, whose broad shoulders and chest held the badges and stripes of a senior rank. His other two lackeys were of a similar build and solemness.


    Tyne stepped forward with a gesture to present his papers. The officer grabbed his arms and locked it into a judo move. Tyne was able to free himself, only to find his body pushed to the ground with a gun pressed to his temples.  The other officers held guns before Sean and Eiji''s heads.


    "Yeah. Good doctors." The senior officer scoffed with sarcasm.


    He whacked Tyne with the hilt of his gun to knock him out.  The others were threatened to kneel to the ground with their hands to the back of their heads.


    Sean gave Kei and Eiji a look that said to comply.


    When the officers were able to secure their hands. They unsheathed batons from their belts and whacked them to unconsciousness.


    The last thing Eiji heard, before he had passed out, was a wolf whistle and other stomping boots headed their way.

 Chapter 88 - 8.6 White Petals Fall (Pt.1)

    Tyne woke groggily to the sounds of slow dripping water. He sighed. His mind going back to the first time he had spoken to Eiji in that office.


    "What would our superior do, knowing you were a traitor to our country?" A familiar American accent spoke over his head.


    "You?" Tyne''s voice came out as a dry whisper.


    He yelped when his head was yanked back by a belt straightened under his chin.


    "This is the third time! The third f''king time!"  The American scolded him.


    Tears squeezed out of Tyne''s eyes. His head was burning up from the pressure pushing at his temples.


    The belt loosened around his neck. His head flopped forward. He involuntary coughed and gasped for air.


    "Lieutenant Matherson. Do you even realise what you were about to cause?" The American sighed.


    Tyne glanced about the dingy warehouse cell he quickly determined he was in. The stench of iron and musk overpowered his senses. He was kneeling on moistened concrete, which held a faint scent of river brine.  He analysed he was still somewhere near the riverside.


    "What happened to the secret policemen?"


    "I shot them. Wasn''t hard. They weren''t expecting one of their own to turn on them." The American solemnly answered.


    "What do you want from me?"


    A moment of heavy silence lingered between them before the American made his move.


    Tyne rubbed feeling back into his hands when he felt they were free from their binds.


    "You''re to follow orders, but I''ll take the map."


    Tyne peered into the American''s eyes. "What happened to Hashimoto-sensei?


    "Dead." The man flatly answered. "He was trying to have his cake and eat it too."


    He heaved a cocky sigh. "I should thank you for your timely arrival actually. We would''ve lost the intel otherwise."


    Tyne groaned. His heart felt heavy.


    "And now?"


    "Play doctor. You''ll know your next orders when you see me again." The American advised and warned him.


    Tyne nodded and stumbled to his feet.  He followed the American spy out of the warehouse cell and building, where he saw Eiji and the others waiting for him.


    They looked worse for wear as well.


    He glanced around the abandoned factory they had been holed up in. Most of the square-pane windows were broken with shattered glass near the sills.  The river bank was on one side. An empty car lot was on the other where Tyne approached the others.


    "Remember your orders men." The American called out.


    Tyne turned to thank the man, and sighed when he was no longer present near the factory''s entrance.


    "Spooks." He grumbled.


    No one said a word when Tyne rejoined them. They followed down the car lot and out of the factory area towards a horizon of tall buildings near the mouth of the Enko and Ota River. Kei assumed the lead when he had figured out their location and way back to the car.


    They arrived to the Blended Beauty towards the start of the afternoon. A few people gave them strange glances and a wide berth when they walked past. Obviously, their dirtied suits, creased fedora hats and smudges on their cheeks and bare hands made them appear a ghastly sight to the well-to-do locals and workers at Wiesmen.


    No one spoke when Kei unlocked the car, and they ambled inside.  Fortunately, Tama had been sleeping underneath the car, near the back tyre. She had had to fend for herself the last few nights.


    She woke and let out an angry protest at having been abandoned.  Eiji gave her a weak smile when he gathered her up and placed her gently in the middle of the back seat.  She was still mewing her complaints when Tyne shuffled in next to her, and Sean fastened the front passenger seat belt over him then slammed his door.


    She settled when Kei fed her pieces of dried fish from a bag in the glove box. Eiji calmed her further with his soothing pats.


    "Do we go back to the cottage?" Kei asked for a direction.


    "Yeah. Our orders are to be doctors. Let''s debrief and then head back to Wiesmen HQ." Tyne sighed. He winced at the stinging cut to his lip and throbbing lump on the back of his head.


    Kei drove them away from the river and back to the riverside cottage.


    They spent some days and nights healing from their wounds that they had suffered by the actual secret policemen.


    Eiji told the others about his experience, which was similar to Tyne''s. Yet he had suffered some punches to his stomach that aggravated his gunshot wound from Iwo Jima. He was still trying to cope with random shots of bile going up his throat to make him cough.


    Kei had joked that a cigarette would kill that cough. He was shocked when Eiji took to his advice and it had worked.


    Sean had also faced hefty punches with bruises to his limbs and back. Their spy handler had stepped in to the eliminate the attackers before any proper damage had been dealt.


    Kei''s experience was the same. He was given some words from their ''spy friend'' that unnerved him. But no one was able to get that out of him.


    Before they realised it, they were waking up to the first week of August. Judging by the hanging wall calendar pinned to a beam inside the general store.


    Tyne figured they were ready to head back to the city and work their covers until new orders where given them.


    Kei did a quick stop at the shops to buy more treats for Tama (ignoring Sean and Eiji''s teasing about being a softy) and another bag of fuel chips.


    He had a quick banter with the kind elderly shop keeper, noticing the calendar showing August 6th and a Monday.


    "Bloody, f''cking Monday." He groaned when he returned to his car.


    "You''re complaining about something again?" Sean smirked, from the front passenger seat.


    "I hate Monday''s" Kei grumbled when he started up the car.


    "I''m sure Monday''s hate you." Sean joked.


    "Figures." Kei sighed when he pulled out and on to the road.


    He drove them towards the main city.

 Chapter 89 - Eiji POV 8.6 White Petals Fall (Pt.2)

    The drive had been uneventful and the day turning out mildly humid but sunny. They relished the cooling breeze from the car''s wound down windows as they drove. Even Tama was enjoying the whip of wind to her cheeks as she sat on Tyne.


    They passed through quaint countryside, going by locals who were focused on their own business and making their own way down the roadsides on foot or carry carts. The quaintness became a bustle of other vehicles, buses and horse drawn carts as they neared the distant vista of Hiroshima City''s tall buildings from the view of the Enko River.


    Kei cursed abruptly when the car began to shudder, and he had to pull over to one side near a field of wild flowers and tall grasses.


    The car shuddered to a complete stop.


    "Out of fuel?" Tyne listlessly commented.


    Kei sighed and got out to check for damage.  He lit up cigarette whilst popping the boot.


    A snarl screwed up his lips when he saw that the radiator was smoking. He''d need to wait until it was cool to top up the water.


    Eiji went to the bonnet to get some water and returned to Kei with an empty water container.


    "Guess we need to find water." Sean sighed.


    The four men starred at the line of river in the distance, figuring there might be a connecting brook or stream nearby.


    So they went on foot, through the tall grass and fields near a belt of trees, to look for a water source.


    Tama frolicked in the grass, pouncing and playing with insects as she followed the men.


    Eiji and Tyne stayed close to her as they leisurely strolled through the calm and cosy bushland. The mellow warmth from the sun and lulling insect drones, eased some of their earlier tensions and worries.


    "Hey Eiji. You''re my friend no matter what happens between our countries." Tyne blurted.


    "Save your girly moment." Eiji joked and laughed when Kei freaked out at seeing a dead spider in Tama''s mouth.


    "Tama! Get that thing out of your f''cking mouth!" He cursed when he picked her up to shake the dead spider out of her stubborn mouth.


    She instantly let the dead insect go when he replaced it with a dried fish from his pocket. Kei sighed and gave her a warm smile. He flicked Sean a rude finger at the sight of the man''s smirk and fawning eyes.


    "You don''t scare me with your tough boy act." Sean laughed as he hurried to catch up to him and tease him some more.


    They eventually found a small brook to fill up the water container.


    Once the container was filled, they headed back to the car using the same route through the calming and mellow grass lands.


    Eiji looked to the bright blue sky, relishing the cosy day. Tyne sighed dreamily at the tiny vista of Hiroshima City visible along the river horizon.


    Their car was nearby.


    White.


    A blinding white; a flash from heaven.


    Sean looked up to Kei''s back. His eyes widened as Tama flew for him.


    "Kei." His voice carried his friend''s name.


    He reached out his arm to pull him back from the oncoming whiteness.


    "Kei!" His voice was snuffed out by a deafening roar.


    The ground quaked.


    It went stilled.


    A dead silence.


    A heat was melting the world around him.


    White flashes burned his sight until he was seeing black.


    Hot winds claimed one word from his mouth before he lost consciousness.


    Kei.

 Chapter 90 - Eiji POV Black Rain (Pt.1)

    Eiji stumbled groggily to his feet. His ears buzzed with an unnatural drone, pressing into his temples with bearable pain.


    An astringent stink of an unexplainable kind overpowered his senses that caused him to wobble on the spot.


    He felt feverish from the sudden rush of hot and cold chills over his body. He hugged his arms to retain his heat. He glanced about to check on the others.


    Tyne was sprawled on the ground near his feet. Unharmed on the surface and unconscious.


    "Kei!" Sean wailed on the other side of him.


    He crouched low, hugging to the good part of his damaged arm. He was shivering; skin clammy and his body going through irregular spasms.


    Eiji stood and stared at him. His mind still processing the fact.


    "Sean!" He dropped to his knees before him when he realized the damage.


    "No... Kei... Find him!" Sean pleaded. His face streaked with tears and soot.


    "Your arm?" Eiji gasped at the sight of Sean''s forearm pustulating and blistering.  His shirt had been burned into his skin, so it was impossible to remove the material without causing further damage.


    "For¡­get me. Kei!" Sean pleaded. "Please!"


    Eiji nodded and stood to check the fields behind them.


    His heart paused; breath suspended in his throat as he saw burnt fields levelled and still smoking.  The ground was unnaturally desecrated into soot and ash. Warped and misshapen tree corpses ran down towards Hiroshima City.


    His heart resumed an uneven pace, along with a shortness of breath at the sight of the city.


    "It can''t be." He gasped at the smoking, almost indistinct distant view of what should be Hiroshima.


    It was gone?  No! That was impossible!


    "Eiji?" Tyne groaned as he stirred to consciousness and wobbled to his feet.


    "Sean!" He reacted to the sight of the man''s third degree burns that was still burning by the pustulation of the exposed skin area.


    "KEI!" Sean continued to cry pitifully and in pain.


    Tyne frowned, confused. His heart raced erratically, unsure what was going on. He stood to see what was keeping Eiji rooted in place.


    His eyes widened at a sight that shouldn''t be possible.


    Where was the city?


    Eiji moved towards the destroyed area, his voice weakly calling out Kei''s name as he shuffled forward.


    His steps picked up the pace when he felt a determination to find his friend.


    "KEI!" He shouted out to the semi-iodized atmosphere, where the air was snowing bleached particles around them.


    Silence answered his call.


    His heart pounded against his chest. He couldn''t deny the truth of his realization. Kei had been behind them and still within those fields that were now ashened grounds.


    He wept into his hands, feeling his immediate loss.


    Droplets of black rain fell to his shoulders.


    "Eiji. We need to move!" Tyne grabbed his arm to haul him into motion.


    He did the same for Sean and motivated their bodies into a run for their car that was, miraculously, unharmed and still parked to the undamaged side of the road.


    Tama saw them and let out a hearty meow when she came out of her hiding spot behind the back wheel.


    She ambled into the driver''s seat when Tyne opened the door for everyone.  It was fortunate that Kei never locked his car, and more so when he had the habit of leaving the keys underneath the sun visor.


    The three men and their cat sort shelter in Kei''s Blended Beauty, as black rains fell to further taint the world around them.


    Neither expressed a word as they fought their internal battles of what could be a truth verses what they wanted to believe.


    Kei wasn''t gone? No. He was right behind them, holding Tama. He was cursing about her being a freeloader fleabag whilst feeding her dried fish from his pocket. He was still there with them!


    "Kei?" Tyne glanced to the driver''s seat. His heart sank at the sight of Tama cleaning herself in the spot Kei should be.


    He choked back his tears when he was unable to deny the truth that was persistently played out in his mind. Still confused on what had happened. One thing was certain. A split moment of white; the world had changed. Kei was gone.


    The rain fell for some time.

 Chapter 91 - Eiji POV Black Rain (Pt.2)

    _"Not possible."_


    Eiji''s mind cycled through reasons to justify what he was still processing as his truth. His memory lingered on Kei handing over yen to an impoverished young mother to give her a chance to a good life. Kei Ito was a man who respected life and fought against injustice in his own way. The unlikely good guy that others needed. It was impossible to see a world without him.


    _"I''m the one the world could do without."_


    He cried, feeling his heart torn with guilt; wanting to believe Kei wasn''t dead verses his deep-rooted relief of being alive. Yet what had he narrowly escaped? What had happened? No. His eyes may have processed an exaggeration of the truth.


    _"Maybe he''s alive! He ran off confused and injured!"_


    His heart raced with a hope that was the truth. Kei was alive and had somehow fled to safety in a mad panic.


    "He might be alive!" He blurted aloud and felt a mad shaking from his shoulders.


    "Eiji!" Tyne called out to him from the back-seat of the car.


    Eiji stirred awake from his spot in the front passenger seat. It seems he had been sleeping when the black rains were falling. Tama also stirred awake with a hearty yawn.


    "Tyne. When the rain stops, we have to look for Kei." Eiji''s words were a despondent whisper.


    "It''s no use. Nothing else survived the blast." Tyne soberly answered.


    "Blast! That''s what you''re calling it!" Eiji angrily snapped back. "A bomb levelled the ground to ash! Your country dropped a bomb on mine!"


    Tyne gasped and kept his words to himself. His expression was of shock and distress.


    "We don''t know that." Sean soberly attempted to add more reasoning to the conversation.


    "What else is there Sean?!" Eiji persisted.


    "There''s no reason for them to drop a bomb on civilians!" He snapped back with his eyes pleading for Eiji to accept his reasoning.


    "Then what was it?!"


    "It could''ve come from a factory explosion." Tyne added to the pool of logical reasons.


    Eiji slowly exhaled to calm his emotions and closed his eyes to set those reasons to be a belief.


    "Okay. Then let''s look for Kei when the rain stops."


    He opened his eyes and saw both men nodding with understanding.


    The rain eventually stopped to allow some of the natural sun to return to the sky.  The men ambled out of the car and slowly returned to the scene to find Kei.


    There was nothing to find amongst the tree corpses and burnt grounds, which ran on for miles.


    Regardless, they kept searching and calling out Kei''s name. Their hope ran wild when they heard a man groaning, within the shelter of a tree cluster at the undamaged side of the road.


    He wasn''t Kei, but an elderly man who had taken shelter from the black rains. Half his body was severely burnt with his clothes melted into his skin. He was struggling with delirium and fever.


    Tyne''s doctor instincts compelled him to do what he could to ease the man''s pain. The elderly man expressed his thanks before he gently closed eyes and became permanently still.


    Tears rained from Tyne''s eyes as he realized this man''s burns were abnormal from those he had treated during Pearl Harbor attacks and his time at Iwo Jima. Even air raids weren''t capable to have a man burn and still keep burning to melt his flesh.


    No civilian should die this way.


    A fear nagged at his heart. What if Eiji was right? What if...?


    His heart felt like breaking, as his mind recalled the maps he had handed over to his countryman. What if this man''s dead was caused by US retaliation in the form of a bomb drop?


    "No." He gasped.


    They weren''t fighting to cause massive harm to civilians. The war between the US and Japan were being fought by enlisted soldiers. It was civil. It was justified. It was...


    "Tyne. Kei is gone. This man is gone. If you can''t believe this. Look at my arm." Sean soberly noted. "What if the cause was because of something we did?"


    "No. Nothing our country has could''ve caused all this." Tyne reasoned.  Nodding his head as he set this truth for himself. "It has to be some complicated accident."


    "Nothing my country has could''ve caused this too." Eiji returned his reason to negate Tyne''s. "Who else is attacking my country?"


    "Speculations." Tyne brushed off Eiji''s words. "Let''s go to the city to find out the truth."


    "What about this man?" Eiji looked to the dead on the ground.


    Tyne said a reverent prayer for the man.


    They stood and returned to the car. Sean treated his own wound with a makeshift sling made from one of his shirts.


    Eiji assumed Kei''s role as their driver with Tama as his co-pilot.  He drove them as close to the city as he could before the roads were obstructed with fallen trees, debris and damaged ground.


    He parked the car to a discreet side of the road.


    They ambled out and assumed the way forward on foot. All their recently set truths and justifications were unravelling as they saw more of the massive devastation. More burnt out corpses that were once sturdy buildings, ways of life and strong growing forms of nature, which had previously withstood aeons. Gone in a split moment of white.


    "Oh my god!" Sean gasped and dropped to his knees when they approached one of the former bridges of the Enka River.


    Floating upstream was a crimson river of many dead bodies, young and old. Civilians. The smell was incomprehensible and unpleasant.


    "Please! God. This wasn''t caused by us!" He begged, pressing on his damaged arm to feel the pain.  "Ray! Please, God. Take my life. Not Ray''s!"


    "No. We don''t know that. We don''t know if there''s more dead. Let''s keep going. Let''s find the truth." Tyne persisted through his own tear shedding.


    He stubbornly refused to see that the city was destroyed beyond this level of devastation. It had to be natural. It had to be something not caused by his kind. His Hinata and Sean''s Ray weren''t part of the same statistic as Kei and what they were seeing.


    "We need to properly treat your arm," Tyne said as he turned his gaze to Sean''s arm.


    "Who cares about me?! Look at the river! Tyne..." Sean snapped. His emotions got the better of him. "What if the entire city is destroyed, Ray was there?! What if it was us that destroyed everyone?! Oh God, no!"


    "Pussies! Stop fucking around and be doctors!" Eiji snapped the men out of their moment. "That''s what Kei would say. Let''s do what he would''ve said."


    Tama rubbed Eiji''s ankle and relaxed when he picked her up to give her a cuddle.


    Tyne smiled through his tears. Of course, they were doctors in need.


    "Yeah. Let''s go where people need help."


    Sean expelled a weary sigh. Eiji was right. Now wasn''t the time for crying and worrying about ''what-ifs'' when there were people in need of medical attention.  He could cope with his pain, knowing that he was relieving others.


    The men returned to the car and back-tracked to find a way closer to the epicentre where they could help as many people as possible.

 Chapter 95 - ? Blended Beauty and the Beast ?

    Tama skidded clumsily about the cool floorboards as she sprinted down the corridor from her humans.


    She dodged the many feet, which tried to shoo her off or retracted from their spots with a moment of fright. And found her way into a steamy kitchen where the smells of soup, cooked meat and spices were teasing her taste buds for food.


    "Shoo, fleabag beast!" A burly pot-belly cook shouted at her as he started kicking her out of an open door.


    She fled through a door opening made by an unsuspecting maid when she was carrying a tray of dirty dishes inside.


    "Ugh!" The maid screamed as she tottered on the spot, balancing the wobbly bowls and cups from smashing to the floor.


    Tama didn''t stop to check the end result of the maid''s balancing act. She fled and weaved through more feet openings, down a worker''s dingy and semi-dark corridor and ended up outside near a garbage area of sacks and broken baskets.


    The pebble and dirt ground was damp from light rain. She shivered, feeling an instant hit of cold to her fur.


    A curt bang, made her flinch and instinctively take cover behind a set of sacks in the garbage pile. She shuffled further into the dark and dry shelter the sack space created for her, watching the scene of two humans happening before her.


    "Useless child!" A tall fat man, in a grey kimono and scarred face, slapped a tiny young girl in the face to send her falling to the ground near the garbage pile.


    "Stay with the rubbish! It better be sorted by the time I''m back!" The man''s heavy voice scolded the child.


    He went back inside. Making a loud thud from slamming the sliding door behind him.


    The girl sat on the sacks that Tama to shelter under.


    Tama saw her skinny ankles had dark patches or ring marks with yellowish stains. Her bare feet in were being drenched by a sudden downpour of rain. The edges of her kimono was sagging with the weight of water.


    That small human would get wet!


    "I''m sorry mother. I''ll try to do better." Tama heard the girl say with a shaky voice.


    She cocked her head to one side, feeling a sad emotion from her.


    Her instincts to soothe the child made her step out of the cosy space and stand before the girl''s feet.


    The girl reacted with mild surprise when she saw Tama looking up at her.


    "Are you hungry?" She politely asked Tama, wiping at her eyes.


    Tama peered at the girl, trying to see her face better. It was hard to see it in the rain. She recognised her smell to be sweet and flowery. The girl''s pats to her head was gentle. She seemed kind.


    "I only have this." The girl sighed wistfully as she held out a piece of dried fish to Tama.


    Tama looked at the fish and to the misty sight of the girl''s face. She ate the fish, feeling full afterwards.


    This prompted her to clean her paws. Although, it didn''t make much different as the rain fell on her fur to make her feel heavier. She dashed back into the dry cosy space as the rain fell harder.


    The girl sighed and started talking about her life before.


    She was the youngest of her litter. Her father had left for that place called war and had never returned. Her mother was left on her own to raise the family, but ended up owing a lot of money to debt collectors. So the young girl was given to this brothel place to pay for a debt. Her older brothers were made to work for another place to pay another debt.


    Tama didn''t understand the girl''s story. Rather, her talking made her fall asleep.


    The girl smiled when she saw Tama sleeping. Feeling better about herself, she started doing her chores in the torrential rain.


    Fierce lightening and thunder jolted Tama awake. She realised it was night and the little girl was gone.


    Rain started pouring into her dry space to soak her fur. She sprinted blindly down many alley ways and roads. Desperate to flee to a drier shelter. Avoiding other walking humans and groups of alley-cats hissing at her approach.


    One beefy tomcat chased after her when she entered its territory near a set of food sacks before an open door. It stopped its chase when she had turned a corner.


    She entered a wide street where there were lots of humans rushing about to bring in their wares from outside tables and close up for the night.


    She took shelter beneath an open crate that was lying on its side against a shop wall.


    Before her were two young boys staring at a shop display of sweets piled up on a plate. They were skinny, like the girl, and not moving despite being drenched by the rain.


    "I''m hungry Kaz-tan," the smaller boy said as he rubbed at his eyes and held the shirt hem of the taller boy.


    "Come on Yuki-chan. No point in wishing for things we can''t eat." The taller boy sighed.


    Tama saw the shop door slightly ajar due to a small box on the ground that kept it open.


    Instinctively, she dashed through the opening, leaped up to the display shelf, nabbed one of the wrapped sweets in her mouth then ambled back down to the ground and dashed out of the shop.


    She stood before the smaller boy''s feet and gently placed the wrapped sweet on his foot.


    The smaller boy flinched with surprise at the sight of her. His surprise turned to glee when he picked up the sweet that he had been eying earlier.


    "Arigato!" The taller boy thanked Tama with a grateful pat.


    "What''re you kids doing?! A burly voice shouted from within the shop.


    The boys fled the scene, causing Tama to do the same.


    Tama ran blindly in the torrential rain to seek shelter. She was chased away from choice spots by other cats and humans. Eventually her sprints took her back to the main road of the city.


    She was growing tired from all the running and being startled by lightening, which would make the city momentarily bright with flashes. She saw her refuge in the distance ahead during one of the flashes. It was that cosy shelter her humans called a car.


    There were other cats hiding underneath her car.


    "NYA, NYA!" She rushed at the other cats to shoo them away from her belonging.


    She extracted her claws and fiercely swiped at the others for her possession. Adrenaline and determination saw to her success, as the other cats hissed then turned tail to flee the scene. She felt smug by her win, but exhausted.


    Lightening flashes showed her a dry spot against one of the tyres close to the raised curb, which was free from a storm drain. She settled into a comfy position against it and eventually fell asleep.


    She awoke to a bustle of bangs, voices and shuffling of feet. It was a new day, but still a rainy one. Her dry spot was suddenly filling up with water to soak her body.


    "Tama!" She heard a familiar voice say.


    Familiar shoes appeared before her view underneath the car.


    "Nya, nya." Her soft mewing became louder as she tried to get the attention of what she hoped were her humans.


    A head came before her. She rose on all fours and shook her tail excitedly as she saw the face of her human called Eiji.


    "Nya!" She bellowed towards him and enjoyed the pats he gave her when he had picked her up.


    All her other humans were happy to see her too. It was nice to be loved.


    She allowed her fur to be dried and was happy to be back in her cosy basket bed, and inside the car.


    Her heart eased to a calm pace when the car purred into motion. She was soon fast asleep.

 Chapter 92 - Hinatas POV Return to the Family

    "Hinata." Akira weakly called out to Hinata through a loving smile.


    Hinata returned his smile, holding back his tears and gripping the man''s limp hand tight.


    The truck had been driving non-stop throughout the night, down country roads towards Nagano''s main city. Kominato-sensei had been patching up, monitoring vitals and ensuring injured patients like Akira were comfortable as can be.


    Hinata took over basic duties to allow the good doctor to sleep in the corner of the truck.


    "Kominato-sensei is a good man," Akira whispered through gulps.


    "Ssh. You don''t need to speak." Hinata tenderly wiped Akira''s brow with a clean cloth.


    He checked in Akira''s stomach wound beneath his bandage. It had stopped bleeding, but was still forming pus. He sighed at the sight of some of the wound forming a scab. It was healing, but slowly. The good doctor was able to give him some painkillers.


    However, that was another problem to deal with. The medicine box, that Ry¨­suke had hastily grabbed when they were escaping had only enough medicine to last a few days.


    Hinata hoped that where they were being driven to a hospital, where Akira could be properly treated.


    "I love you." Akira whispered.


    Hinata answered his love declaration with a weak smile.


    "You''re awake. Good." Ry¨­suke yawned as he rolled his shoulders and shuffled out of his napping spot to check on Akira''s vitals.


    He took notes in his pocket book and attended to the young boy, elderly couple and older woman who were also being treated for injuries that left them immobile.


    Hinata followed Ry¨­suke''s instructions, helping him with the re-bandaging, wiping down and checks.


    Eventually the drive slowed to a stop. Hinata helped Ry¨­suke and their driver unlatch the back door. Pulling it down into a ramp, so they could amble out.


    Hinata and Ry¨­suke helped everyone into an old school hall that was recently repurposed as a medical ward. It was part of a small town, which was not far from Mimaki. A lot of locals from nearby villages were being treated at the makeshift hospital.


    They returned to the truck to carry Akira, by stretcher, into the main ward.


    His heart skipped beats at the rows of cots with so many ill and wounded.


    Wasn''t the war over? Why were there so many people hurt?


    "Over there." Ry¨­suke pointed to a free cot at the far end near a display wall of names.


    Hinata sighed. They were probably former student graduates who had left for the war and never returned. Although, in his heart, he hoped a lot of them did as Yuri and Kou had.


    Ry¨­suke did his rounds on other patience when he saw to Akira being settled. Hinata stayed by Akira''s side, tending to his wound to keep it dry and clean.


    Akira forced himself to stay awake, so he could be with Hinata as long as possible. Hinata never left him.


    "Are you okay?" Akira whispered. His voice was crackly because of his dry throat.


    "You''re more important right now." Hinata finger flicked Akira''s forehead then eased the pain with a tender kiss.


    "I''m serious Hinata. That man didn''t hurt you." Akira persisted and cursed when he tried to sit up and couldn''t.


    "I''m fine. Please rest." Hinata brushed off Akira''s concerns.


    He continued his duty as Akira''s nurse aid until Akira had finally closed his eyes to sleep.


    "Honda-san." He sighed as he tenderly kissed his cheek.


    He rose from the man''s bedside and went to help tend to others.


    "Hina-tan?" A young voice trembled with tones of hope to his voice.


    Tears welled in Hinata''s eyes when he saw Shouta enter the far end of ward with Kei.


    "Hina-tan!" Shouta bellowed, which startled some of the patients and scored him angry reactions from others.


    Shouta didn''t care. He ran for Hinata and slammed into him with a hug.


    "Hina-tan!" He cried happily into Hinata''s kimono.


    "Shouta-kun." Hinata gently patted the boy''s head. A happy tear slipped his eye.


    "Chikafuji-san." Aiyama-san smiled with relief upon seeing Hinata.


    Hinata coolly approached her with relief and happiness on his face. "Is the others here too?"


    "Yes. Everyone, except Honda-san." Aiyama-san sighed.


    Hinata drew her attention to the cot at the back wall.


    "Honda-san!" Aiyama-san gasped.


    She hurried to Akira''s side.


    "He''s healing, thanks to Kominato-sensei."


    "The others are in the kitchen ward. Go see them. I''ll tend to Honda-san after I help Shouta-kun take some medicine." Aiyama-san volunteered to give Hinata a chance to find and catch up with the others.


    Shouta wasn''t willing to let go of Hinata''s kimono, so Aiyama-san suggested Hinata take him with him.


    Hinata helped Shouta take his spoonful of cold medicine, which was being spread out across many people in the ward. It seems a spoonful was also only given to kid''s Shouta''s age and the very sick.


    They walked an old school corridor of white walls and dark floors, and turned into a large kitchen hall where many people were gathered to recuperate from having to tend to their ill or catch up on light gossip.


    Huddled in a group, at the far corner of the room, was his family.


    "Hina-tan." Shouta said to draw Hinata out of his thoughts.


    Hinata smiled when he went to see his family.


    Kei and Rei glanced at each other. Nodded their heads. Rose to their feet and bowed respectfully to Hinata when he stood before the group.


    "Good to see you back." Rei soberly greeted Hinata, holding back his relief at seeing the man standing before them.


    Hinata nodded.  He chuckled with happiness when the younger kids rushed at him with hugs and happiness at seeing him back. He laughed when he tumbled to the ground with the kids climbing all over him.


    "You''re here." Mei-san noted Hinata''s presence with a happy tear to her eye. "Great."


    Yuri nodded his head at the sight of Hinata, who was still on the ground accepting the younger kids'' cuddles.


    "Thank God." Kou let out with a heavy sigh of relief. "Welcome back Hinata."


    Hinata managed to sit up and properly acknowledge the adults.


    Aiyama-san entered the room, hugging a small sack to her bosom. She discreetly opened the sack, away from the prying eyes of strangers. She had the children grab some fruit and dried fish. There wasn''t much, but it was enough to stop the children''s bellies from grumbling for the time being.


    "Here." Aiyama-san said as she handed a piece of dried fish to him.


    Hinata looked at the dried fish, to the others who were slowly savouring their piece and back to Aiyama-san.


    She gave him a stern look.  Hinata nodded and thanked her for the food.


    A smile brightened Hinata''s face at sharing a brief meal with his family and friends.


    If felt good to be together again.

 Chapter 93 - Hinatas POV About a Traitors Documents

    Hinata followed his family out of the kitchen hall after their meal.


    "Don''t worry. We''re not far from this place." Aiyama-san reassured Hinata when she saw him glancing back towards the ward where Akira rested.


    Hinata sighed and prompted her to lead the way.


    Kei''s eyes were fixated to Hinata''s lean back. He wondered on how many injuries the man had suffered for them. And how he could be still walking around.


    "Are you hurt?" He coolly asked, which caused Hinata to pause and turn around.


    "I''m fine, but I''m happy to see you''re well."


    Kei frowned. He glanced to Hinata''s hands, slightly trembling at his sides. He relaxed his frown with a sigh. Adults were a funny bunch.


    "I''ll help the kids," he said to end their conversation.


    Hinata scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders.


    "Hina-tan!" Shouta came up to him with his arms outstretched.


    Hinata''s eyes welled with tears at the sight of his yellow ribbon. He hadn''t realized it was gone. He felt his full hair bun and realized the texture of harsh cotton. Of course, Rocko had bundled his hair up in a practical piece of cloth.


    "Wibbon."


    Memories of Eiji flooded his mind as he tenderly removed the ribbon from Shouta''s tiny hands.


    "Thank you." He gratefully patted the boy''s head.


    Shouta bowed and hurried out of the hospital to catch up to the other kids, who were already walking down a dirt path where wild flowers and grass ran up towards formidable mountains. Small creatures rummaged through the grasses and dashed away from them when they drew near. The mellow chirping of sparrows and field birds added to the ambience of refuge.


    He stepped out further and stood beneath soothing sunlight with his ribbon fluttering about his fingers. The uplifting and purifying scent of nadeshiko boosted some of his stale energies. He felt his spirits also lifted at the sight of the children and his friends again.


    "Friends." Hinata heaved a grateful sigh. It was a nice feeling to be welcomed amongst others.


    His mind lingered on a sober fact. He was still a problem to them. It would break his heart beyond repair if someone else was hurt like Akira.


    "Akira." He sighed again and gazed to the cloudy white skies.


    His heart was set and not going back. He re-styled his hair it into a top-knot bun with the yellow ribbon. Long strands of his back length flowing over his shoulders and about the edges of his face. His heart eased into a calmer pace.


    He caught up to Mei-san who was guiding Kou by the arm. Although, he suspected it was to reassure herself of his existence and never let him go.


    They formed a pleasant conversation about general things until they reached a weathered minka near the edges of a foot-hill.   Despite the mould growing on the straw roof and some moist stains on the beams, wide porch floorboards and shoji door frames, the place promised a sturdy comfort.


    Hinata didn''t mind the astringent musk and smell of Earth from within the main room. It was as good place to stay until they could figure out what exactly was going on.


    "Who owns this place?" He asked Yuri.


    Yuri shrugged his shoulders and said Tanaka-san had offered it to them.


    "Officer Tanaka-san?" Hinata frowned, perplexed.


    He had always thought that officer had been born and raised in Mimaki. Upon further information from Yuri, it seemed the village they were seeking refuge was the man''s original hometown. Once Akira and the Mayor''s too when they were young boys.


    "Strange. The school Honda left behind is now being a hospital ward for him." Yuri sighed.


    "Mama!" Miki-chan called out from the front door.


    Hinata panicked when he saw her rush to Aiyama-san''s side in the main room.  He went to see what was making the young girl nervous and saw Shuu Tanaka enter. The young officer looked exhausted and pale.


    "You''re alive." Shuu smiled at Hinata before him.


    "Tanaka-san!" Hinata promptly assisted Shuu out of his shoes and onto the best cushion of the house.


    "Are you okay?" Shuu soberly directed his question to Hinata.


    Hinata peered at Shuu''s expressionless face. He was still in his policeman''s uniform, which should some signs of a scuffle from the dirt stains and smudges on his sleeves and pants. His gloves were no longer pristine and white.


    "What happened?" Hinata sat before Shuu in seiza.


    He waited for Shuu to speak.


    "My question to you." Shuu stared earnestly into Hinata''s eyes. "Why does the Kenpeitei believe you are a traitor?"


    Hinata gasped, frowning at the absurdity. Shap pain jabbed at his ribs and stomach. A reminder of the torture he had suffered for no reason.


    "I honestly don''t know. Only, that the man I ran away from seems to have done something wrong."


    Shuu peered into Hinata''s eyes for a while, not allowing the man to drop his stare until he felt he had seen the truth from them.


    "I believe you." He sighed. "I''ve been monitoring you since your arrival in the village. Not once have you ever done anything to cause a problem to someone else."


    He stared into Hinata''s eyes again. "These so-called documents that the Kenpei are after seem to be plans to an instrument that will either help Japan finally win or loose the war."


    Shuu soberly explained that he had over heard the mayor talking to one of the kenpei in his officer about Hinata. The kenpei officer had mentioned that an intern called Eiji Takaki had stolen the documents on Governor Takaki''s instruction. Or he was a decoy whilst the real documents were being handed over to the enemy.


    "How do they think Governor Takaki is involved?" Hinata frowned. He wasn''t understanding the reasons for the implications.


    "Because he was the last person to hold them. He was meant to deliver them to the Diet for vetting, but instead delivered something else unthinkable," Shuu said.


    He further explained that it seemed the documents needed to be in the hands of the Emperor by the first week of September.


    "The Kenpei knew all this?  Seems strange to be privy to such details." Hinata wasn''t convinced.


    Shuu chuckled. "If law enforcement was more organized that officer wouldn''t be. To be honest, I''m no longer surprised. Seeing so many displaced people. Something''s happened on the East Coast, but no one knows what. It seems everyone is desperate to survive."


    Hinata still wasn''t convinced and clear on why he and his family had to suffer.


    "Why me?"


    Shuu flashed him a cocky grin. "It seems the Governor had you on his list of family. You were listed next to Takaki-san."


    He leaned closer to Hinata. "He''s Takaki''s father, isn''t he?"


    Hinata felt his face heat up. His heart race with rage. "He''s nothing to us!"


    Shuu''s eyes widened with surprise. The fierce tone of Hinata''s voice caught everyone by surprise.


    "That man. I..." Hinata expelled a heavy breath. He clenched his fists against his thighs.


    "I understand. I apologize for your suffering." Shuu softened his tone. He lowered his eyes to the table before him.


    "Are you hurt?" Hinata went to check on the man and had his hand knocked away.


    "Sorry. I''m struggling to come to terms with your..." Shuu stopped himself before he said words that would discriminate Hinata. The man had suffered enough.


    "I''ll tend to him." Aiyama-san said as she shuffled next to Hinata with a medicine kit.


    Shuu smiled and relaxed under her care.


    Hinata rose and headed to the genkan.


    "Where''re you going?" Rei asked from the kitchen doorway adjacent.


    "To see Honda-san." Hinata answered over his shoulder when he shuffled into his getas.


    "Nya!"


    Hinata''s face lit up with happiness at the sight of his fat and cranky looking ginger tabby cat.


    He gave the cat some loving pats and a tummy rub, apologizing for leaving him again when he left the house for the hospital.

 Chapter 94 - Hinatas POV Refugee Outskirts

    Yuri caught up to Hinata not far from outside Tanaka''s minka.


    Hinata sighed at Yuri''s fluid steps. It looked like his makeshift prosthetic was working well. He had managed to design a fake foot from using a wooden shoe tree, a leather belt, buckles and straps. He was glad his tailoring skills were of use to Yuri. It hadn''t taken him long to make, which was just as well.


    "You seem to be walking better now." He commented to Yuri''s confident strides.


    "Thanks to you." Yuri flashed him a lopsided smile. "Have to were boots, but I can run with this."


    Yuri caught up to Hinata not far from outside Tanaka''s minka.


    Hinata sighed at Yuri''s fluid steps. It looked like his makeshift prosthetic was working well. He had managed to design a fake foot from using a wooden shoe tree, leather belt, clothes rack parts, buckles and straps. Using the original to model from to the best of his abilities. He was glad his tailoring skills were of use to Yuri. It hadn''t taken him long to make, which was just as well.  Yet he also doubted that the foot device would last long. He simply didn''t have enough time to make it long-term quality.


    "You seem to be walking better now." He commented to Yuri''s confident strides.


    "Thanks to you." Yuri flashed him a lopsided smile. "Have to were boots, but I can run with this."


    Hinata nodded. They turned their conversation to other topics.


    "Don''t think you''re the only one being targeted by the secret police." Yuri dropped his tone to almost a hush whisper when they entered the old school-hospital area.


    He led Hinata away from the main crowds, towards a discreet corner at the back of one of the classrooms that acted as a recovery room.


    Hinata yelped with surprise when Yuri hugged him and patted his head with a hearty thanks.


    "I''m sorry if I annoyed you earlier. Takaki always warned me about being reactive," Yuri said when he pulled out of the hug.


    "Early?" Hinata cocked his head to one side, perplexed.


    Yuri shook his head. "Never mind."


    He returned to their earlier conversation about the secret police targeting others. It seemed the entire village had been raided shortly after their plight.  They were looking for deserters, traitors and spies as deemed by government mandates. Somehow, they were under an impression and orders to raid remote villages and towns in the countryside for them.


    "From Tanaka. It seems the secret police are on a mad rush to clean up the country." Yuri scoffed. "It''s just to save face in my view."


    He eased himself onto one of the long benches near two tall maple trees. Hinata joined him. They stared at the view of the recovery ward windows.


    "Was it bad?" Hinata soberly asked.


    He was itching to know what fighting the war was like. What Eiji would''ve gone through before he had died.


    "Fighting?" Yuri peered at Hinata''s calmed face.


    The distancing sunlight revealed some of the fine stress lines across the man''s forehead. His soft brown eyes held a natural hardness a lot of veterans carried. The man hadn''t fought the front lines, but it was clear he had lived through similar experiences.


    He sighed. "When you''re marching with your squad, you''re fighting for your country."


    His eyes lowered towards the line of ants marching towards a crack int the ground. One of the ants had strayed from the line to forage a crumb near Hinata''s big toe.


    Yuri''s thoughts turned to Eiji''s stoic face. That man never gave up his love for Hinata. Even when he felt sure that being sent to Iwo Jima was going to be his death. His only regret was not being able to share another meal with the man he loved.


    "Facing the enemy on your own. The only thoughts are those we may never see again."


    Hinata studied Yuri''s expression with silence. He heaved a deep sigh.


    Abrupt shouting and curses from a distance interrupted their conversation.


    They saw an amputee veteran in a heated argument with Ry¨­suke, who was doing his best to calm the distressed man.


    "Why can''t I get a limb from this damn place?!" The amputee veteran yelled out as he struggled to stand with the aid of two teenage boys.


    The boys were mumbling apologize and excuses to Ry¨­suke for the veteran''s behavior. Doing their best to support him at the same time.


    Hinata instinctively approached Ry¨­suke and the veteran. He was worried about Akira''s rest, who wasn''t too far away from the disturbance.


    "Is something wrong?" He approached Ry¨­suke, who tried to hold back his expression of relief from Hinata''s timely intrusion.


    He felt Yuri next to him.


    "I''m sorry, Nakamura-san.  We simply don''t have prosthetic replacements here. Generally, I''d order some from our Wiesmen store in Hiroshima, but nothing is getting through to that place."  Ry¨­suke calmly apologized.


    "Prosthetic?" Hinata pensively asked.


    "Fake limbs to compensate for those that were lost during the war." Ry¨­suke answered. "The company I have an account with is not answering my telegrams. I can''t get through to any of my contacts on the East Coast."


    "How I''m to walk without one?!" The amputee veteran continued his rant with tears slipping down his puffy eyes.


    The young boys were doing their best to calm their battle-worn father.  The man was beyond distraught and falling into post traumatic depression. Especially with one of his legs lacking a part.


    Hinata observed the man''s solid figure and uneven stance, which was supported by the boy''s assistance. The amputee veteran was able to hide his condition beneath his kimono. Wearing one was obviously making it a challenge for him to walk.


    "I might be able to help," Hinata said that caused the boys and men to fall silent.


    "Do you mind if I examine your limb?"


    The amputee veteran muttered incomprehensive words. Taken aback by Hinata''s sudden aid. He wondered on the beautiful young man who was willing to examine his failed leg.


    "I''m a tailor. I did a fake foot for Yuri." Hinata stated his credentials to the man and pointed to Yuri''s boot.


    Yuri sighed. He carefully removed his shoe to show the men the fake foot that Hinata had made.


    "You made this?" Ry¨­suke knelt down to study Yuri''s makeshift prosthetic enthusiastically.


    He ignored Yuri''s grumbles about doctor''s who shouldn''t be perverts.


    "Amazing! I''ve never seen such an ingenious device outside medical practices." Ry¨­suke rose to acknowledge Hinata''s skill.


    The amputee veteran dropped to one knee and bowed gratefully to Hinata.


    "Please! Oh, please! I''ll give you food rations if you make me one." He pleaded.


    Hinata frowned. He glanced to the young boys who looked worried enough as it was.


    "Forget your rations. I''ll make it because it''ll help your sons," Hinata said. "I''m assuming this man is your father?"


    The boys politely acknowledged the fact with head nods.


    "He just got back the other day. The limb that the army gave him broke from the long journey." One of the teenage boys said softly.


    Hinata smiled to the boys. "I will need some materials. Are you able to help with these?"


    Both boys'' eyes lit up with delight.


    "Hai!" They answered excitedly.

 Chapter 96 - Hinatas POV Something to Live For

    Hinata felt docile from the sake he had shared with Ry¨­suke. Both men only drank enough to feel relaxed. Ry¨­suke returned to his doctor duties as soon as he packed away the bottle.


    Hinata made his way to Akira''s side. Kneeling close to the man''s sleeping form in his cot.


    Soft rays of light graced Akira''s shallow cheeks. His lips were twitching in his sleep. His complexion was pale and clammy. He tenderly wiped his skin clean with a damp cloth.


    He sighed when he saw the fresh bandage Ry¨­suke had wrapped around his stomach.


    Earlier, when they were in the office, Ry¨­suke had deduced Akira''s wound was deep due to the type of knife that was used to stab him. He had managed to surgically seal the wound, but he wasn''t sure if he was able to stop long term damages.


    Without saying further, Ry¨­suke had hinted that Akira was hanging on to his fleeting life. The chance of full recovery was one in a million.


    "Akira." Hinata whispered the man''s name.


    He flinched when Akira''s eyes fluttered open.


    "Hinata." Akira weakly acknowledged Hinata. His lips twitching with a smile. "Did you say my name?"


    Hinata noted the hope to his voice. He nodded.


    Akira sighed, which caused him to cough.  Hinata assisted water from a cup into his parched mouth.


    "Thanks." Akira sighed as he laid back to stare up to the thatched ceiling.


    Sunlight was streaming through flower pattern cuts in the wooden ranma. He faced Hinata again. His lips stretched with a loving smile at the arrangement of shadows, depicting flowers, cast on the wall behind his lover.


    "Beautiful Angel." He muttered.


    His heart raced with a fear that Hinata may no longer be within his reach. No one would.


    "Hinata. Listen. Whatever happens to me. Don''t blame yourself." Akira forced himself to say aloud and clearly. "I don''t blame you for anything."


    "What are you saying?" Hinata tensed. He frowned, not liking the words Akira was saying. They were too final.


    "You''re going to get better and give me a hug when you do," he said to give Akira some motivation for his recovery.


    Despite what Rocko had advised him to do. He wasn''t going to ditch Akira now. He''d be the man''s something to live for.


    He glanced about the recovery ward. Checking the bedsides and patients to ensure no one was paying them attention. He leaned towards Akira and tenderly kissed his lips.


    Ry¨­suke blinked with surprise when he stumbled upon their moment, as he was rising from the bedside of the patient nearby. He glanced about and realized no one else had seen their kiss. So Hinata was like him? He found the fact interesting.


    Unaware, Hinata gave Akira more doting words to ensure the man''s zest for recovery. He rose with reassurances of his return then left the ward and hospital to check on the others back at the house.


    Aiyama-san and Miki were headed his way down the dirt track that led to the hospital, and village shops not far beyond it.


    "Hina-chan!" Miki cried out as she slammed into Hinata''s waist with her hug. Almost pulling down one part of his kimono.


    Hinata chuckled and straightened up his kimono when Aiyama-san had managed to pry her off him.


    "Sorry about that. She''s happy to see you." Aiyama-san apologized.


    "It''s okay. I''m happy to see you both as well." Hinata patted the girl''s head fondly.


    He asked how the others were and was given a brief run down.


    As they were talking, Rei and Kei went racing past them. With Nakamura-san''s boys trailing behind. Seems they were hurrying somewhere to play a game of ball. Judging by the round object being carried underneath Rei''s arm.


    Hinata smiled at the sight them being kids.


    "You did a good thing for Nakamura-san. And the twins." Aiyama-san casually noted as she watched the young boys turn a corner and disappear from their sight.


    "Were you headed back?" She changed he subject.


    Hinata nodded. He asked of her destination and added to the list of shopping they were intending to bring back to the house.


    Aiyama-san and Miki continued their walk. Hinata returned to the house and was crankily greeted by Tama-chan.


    He spent some time on the porch, patting the fat ginger tabby cat. Lavishing lots of scratches to its exposed belly and strokes on its back.


    "You''ve been a good boy through all this." He praised his cat. "Thank you for sticking around."


    Tama-chan sat up and stared at Hinata''s face, before it turned to its own paws and began cleaning itself.


    Hinata sighed and made his way inside the house, greeting Yuri when he was removing his shoes at the genken.


    Yuri surprised him when he forcefully grabbed his arm and dragged him down the hallway to a spare room.


    "Sleep." Yuri commanded Hinata as he pointed to a freshly made futon in the room''s center.


    Hinata attempted to reassure his alertness with a hearty yawn. Of course, Yuri wasn''t convinced. He continued to gesture to the bed.


    Getting the hint. Hinata gratefully accepted the gesture. Yuri left him alone in the room.


    Hinata eased in between the crisp, clean sheets and blanket. He laid himself down, relishing the cozy warmth from daylight that streamed into the room through ranma and shoji panels. Feeling assured by the lively noises being made around other areas of the house.


    His eyes fluttered to a close and mind eased into sleep.

 Chapter 97 - Hinatas POV Harbinger of Trouble

    Hinata woke at the crack of a new day. He had slept through the night. His mind was still waking up when Kou entered his room.


    "Oh. Good. Awake sleepy head." Kou gracefully knelt before Hinata.


    Hinata stared at him with sleep ridden eyes. He felt awake when Kou''s large hand reached out for his face.


    "Can I?" Kou asked, his hand hovering within reach of Hinata''s nose.


    Hinata nodded. Kou''s hand moved to his nose and over his face. Feeling the contours of his cheeks, jawline and ears.


    "You truly are a beautiful man." Kou noted. "I wanted to see if you were doing okay actually."


    "I am." Hinata let out with awe. "I don''t think I''m beautiful. For you to be able to sense where I am and find my face is amazing."


    Kou smiled. "It''s a skill learned from war. There were times I had to move without seeing in trenches and tunnels. Having no sight is not a hindrance to me."


    His voice drifted into a troubled sigh.  Hinata frowned when he noticed twitching to Kou''s hand when he lowered it back down to his side.


    "War''s a terrible thing." Hinata soberly commented.


    "Indeed." Kou added. "Terrible thing."


    Hinata gulped at the tear that escaped one of Kou''s eyes.


    "I''m sorry Ishikawa-san." Hinata began to apologize.


    "Kou." Kou frowned and finger flicked Hinata''s forehead. "How many times I have to tell you that. My father is Ishikawa-san."


    Hinata stared at Kou''s pouting expression and burst with laughter.  He looked childish.


    "Okay, Kou-san." Hinata relaxed into a warm smile.


    Kou sighed. "Guess that''ll do."


    Mei-san politely knocked on the door and entered at Hinata''s permission. Hinata warmly greeted Kou''s woman. He almost giggled at this fact. The idea of Mei''s love being reciprocated was adorable. He internally prayed for many blessed days they would share together.


    "Together." Hinata wistfully sighed as his thoughts went to Eiji''s face then Akira''s.


    The men he loved had suffered because of him. Eiji was dead. Now Akira might be. All because of him. He was to blame. He didn''t deserve the kindness of people.


    "Listen. Do you mind giving me a moment alone while I dress?" Hinata asked the couple.


    Mei escorted Kou out of the room. Hinata laid back down on his futon. His mind slipped into darker thoughts with an urge to secretly leave the place, so he could avoid bringing further trouble to others.


    "I''m a harbinger of trouble." Hinata declared of himself.


    It wasn''t a new self perception. He had been doing his best to a provider and supporter for others.  To give them a good and wholesome life during these hard times. At one stage, he honestly believed he could. Especially after Rocko''s words to him.


    With Akira fighting for his life from a knife wound that happened because of him. Kou, Yuri, Mei, Hinata and the children''s plight from the secret police were because of him.  Now his own village was being made to suffer more than they should. All because of him.


    "Akira needs to get better." He sat up with a decision. "Please, Okamisama. Make him run again."


    He dressed and left the house for the hospital.  Shouta cheerfully greeted him with Miwa.  They were cradling something within their shirts. Food no doubt. The insect kind.


    He smiled feeling his heart lighter at the sight of them. The boys hurried inside the house.


    He continued his journey and place by Akira''s side when he entered the main ward. His heart raced with worry when Akira was sleeping and wasn''t showing signs of waking.


    Ry¨­suke saw Hinata enter. He frowned at the man''s agitated expression and stirring of Akira.  He went over to him.


    "Chikafuji-san," Ry¨­suke said. His eyes widened with understanding.


    He checked for Akira''s pulse and took vital readings. They weren''t looking good and had dropped since his last check about half an hour ago.


    "Get me that compress on that table." Ry¨­suke calmly ordered Hinata.


    Hinata responded with a shocked expression on Akira''s paling face.


    "Chikafuji-san!" Ry¨­suke snapped at Hinata to bring him around.


    Hinata nodded and did what Ry¨­suke had asked of him.


    Ry¨­suke routinely went about pumping Akira''s chest with efforts to keep his heart operating, whilst cushioning his wound to lessen impacts from his hand compressions. He persisted in working on keeping Akira breathing and heart beating. The man wasn''t responding. His beats were becoming faint and irregular murmurs. His breaths were weak and shallow.


    "Come on!" Ry¨­suke cried out as he desperately struggled to keep the man alive.


    He was losing him.

 Chapter 98 - Hinatas POV Fade Out of a Bright Light

    Ry¨­suke''s mind lapsed into a memory of being a medic on the front lines during Pearl Harbor attacks and reasons that led him to pumping Akira''s heart for beats.


    His country had just air-raided American fleets. His training on the island became a reality when his squad had faced casualties and orders for regrouping onto the carriers. His instincts took over as he became a medical machine. Living and breathing on sheer will for the sake of his people and the island''s people. He forwent his own safety to ensure the medical aid and attention of soldiers and civilians impacted on the ground; before he was ordered onto a carrier back to the mainland.


    It was only when the carrier broke through Japanese waters that he was able to think for himself. His grief for Sean had hit him hard, but he didn''t express it for fears it would lead to questions from others.


    He had lost Sean to the war under the flag of his country''s enemy. The man he loved was a dead enemy corpsman. Two taboos that shouldn''t happen during wartime. So Ry¨­suke made a promise to himself. He would make up for his loss of love, the shame of bedding an enemy and those he couldn''t save. By dedicating his life to saving others and bettering medical science. He would be a better human for others.


    It was a reason he had volunteered for the refugee escort runs from the east coast major cities to the country. His journey had landed him at Nagano where he accepted duties as a medic, doing rounds across the prefecture with army recruiters as an examiner for conscripted and enlisted recruits.  Before their encampment was attacked by secret police, and he haphazardly found himself as the resident doctor for the small village. And all other remote communities that were desperate for medical aid.


    He recognized expressions behind Hinata''s eyes similar to those he held. He wasn''t going to let another good man lost to war. He''d do his damnedest to save the life of the man''s love.


    Akira groaned to consciousness. Ry¨­suke sighed with relief.


    "Hinata?" Akira weakly whispered.


    Hinata gripped his hand. He gave him a loving smile.


    "My... beautiful Hina... Are we have pork stew for dinner? Pork stew. You''re everyone''s strength.. Hinata. I... love...Be strong... Hinata." Akira''s words ended in a slur.


    His eyes fluttered to a close again. The hand that Hinata held went limp.


    Ry¨­suke felt his blood rise with panic when he recognized the man was having a stroke.


    He checked his heart rate and breath. Both were extremely weak. His reactions saw him compress onto Akira''s heart again and forcing air into his mouth.


    He tirelessly worked at reviving the man. Akira wasn''t coming around. His skin was going cold.


    "Akira?" Hinata''s eyes welled with tears.


    Ry¨­suke continued his pumping and force-feeding of air despite knowing that Akira would never respond to them.


    Hinata could see. The good doctor''s efforts was a wasted one.


    "NO!" Ry¨­suke yelled out before forcing another round of air into Akira''s lifeless mouth.


    "Stop it! He''s gone!" Hinata cried and pulled Ry¨­suke off him.


    "He''s gone." Hinata cried again.


    Ry¨­suke slumped to the ground. His whole being feeling defeated. What good was a doctor who couldn''t save lives?


    "You did your best Kominato-sensei. Thank you for doing your best." Hinata bowed before Ry¨­suke then lowered himself over Akira''s lifeless form.


    "The blame is all mine. His life lost is my doing." Hinata soberly declared through his tears. "Akira died because of me. I..."


    Hinata rose and raced out of the hospital. He ran through the fields and sprinted blindly across meadows leading back to Mimaki Village.

 Chapter 105 - Volume Reconstruction Changes

    On the weekend of 18/04/20 1. This story will be undergoing major volume reconstruction to reflect the new Table of Content listed below.


    From - [Current ToC Order]


    Volume 1 : A Sunflower''s Lament [Hinata''s POV]


    Volume 2 : A Sunflower''s Heart Returned [Eiji''s POV]


    Volume 3 : Shadows of Sunflowers [Eiji''s POV]


    Volume 4 : Darkside of Sunflowers [Hinatas'' POV]


    Volume 5 : To My Sunflower


    Volume 6 : Thank You Readers for Appreciation - Specials


    Volume 7 : Author Extras [Non Story Notes]


    To - [New ToC Order]


    Volume 1 : A Sunflower''s Lament [Hinata''s POV]


    Volume 2 : Darkside of Sunflowers [Hinatas'' POV]


    Volume 3 : To My Sunflower [Hinata''s POV]


    Volume 4 : A Sunflower''s Heart Returned [Eiji''s POV]


    Volume 5 : Shadows of Sunflowers [Eiji''s POV]


    Volume 6 : To My Sunflower [Eji''s POV]


    Volume 7 : To My Sunflower


    Volume 8 : Thank You Readers for Appreciation - Specials


    Volume 9 : Author Extras [Non Story Notes]


    --Why Am I doing this?--


    For better reading experience and unfolding of both character perspectives. Each character perspective can be read as a standalone when lumped in a downward flow.


    As stated in the author notes. Originally this story was aimed at being a novella at less than 60K worth of words. Now that it''s doubled this amount in words, it needs to be in a better order.


    -- As Reader, What Should I Expect? --


    1: You''ll likely see chapters you''ve read appear in your notification again as unread chapters. I recommend turning notifications off for this book whilst it''s undergoing the changes. See instructions below*.


    2: The position of where you were up to would''ve likely changed. Example: if you were reading Hinata''s POV at Chapter 98. It may now be Chapter 52.


    3: Spam notification alerts for the story. Sorry, I''m unable to avoid this since it''s hardcoded in the system to occur.  I recommend turning notifications off for this book whilst it''s undergoing the changes. See instructions below*.


    4: The new order may have chapters further down the list that you''ve already read.  You''ll need to refer to the new table of contents on the book page or chapter menu''s to locate the chapter you were upto once the new ToC is in place.


    5: Likely chance the volume has chapters you''ve already read.  Refer to the new ToC to locate the chapters you still need to read.


    *[How to turn notifications off:


    On App: click the three dots on the book icon in your library page.  On the menu that appears, tap the radio blue button next to "Updates Notifications" to turn it off.


    On Web:  there doesn''t appear to be an option turn off notifications by book page. However, the odds of mass notification alerts from the book to your inbox should be low. ]


    -- How Will This Work? --


    I''ll be doing a big bang approach on this change to reduce the impact. As I have to unpublish all posts and repost into their new order.


    A communication chapter will be posted to advise when the change is about to commence.  Another will be posted to advise of change completion.


    -- When Will This Happen? --


    As soon as the story is finished, which I aim for two weeks time from the 12th of April. I''ve scheduled this change (with myself XD) to occur on the weekend of the 18th April.  If the story isn''t finished by the 12th, the change will be pushed out.


    Apologize in advance for the confusion. Reach out to me if you noticed anything strange during the change and after.


    Kind Regards,


    Veronica


    If the book isn''t finished by the 12th, the change will be pushed out.

 Chapter 99 - Hinata-C POV Faded Yellow Ribbon

    Akira was gone.


    The loss made his heart thump with an unbearable ache.  His mind reeled with thoughts of telling his mother. Her tears would further break his heart.


    He dropped to his knees on a soil patch,  beneath the shady canopy of an aged old wisteria tree. Disturbing a cluster of fall-red leaves with his body. His long hair had come undone. Straggly tufts tumbled about his head to hide his ugly face. The ground''s moisture was soaking through his kimono to make his skin go cold.


    His heart slowed into an irregular rhythm. A numbing pain overwhelmed his body. His mind became a clutter of garbage thoughts, agitated by mixed emotions. Sweat made his skin clammy and unbearable.


    Colors faded from his vision. Soon the world around him was a blur. His mind couldn''t cope with the pain. He lost consciousness.


    --


    "Chikafuji-san!"


    Hinata groaned as stirred to consciousness.  Yuri''s voice was frantic as he kept calling out his name.


    "Sakamoto-san?" He weakly asked.


    "Thank god!" Yuri bellowed with a sigh of relief.


    "Baka! Tell me why a cripple, blind man and woman should be carrying a fool of man back to his home!"  Yuri''s sigh of relief became hearty scolding.


    Hinata looked about, confused. He glanced in his surroundings and saw that he was lying on his futon in his room.


    "Hina-tan!" Shouta cried as he dived on Hinata.


    The boy sobbed into his chest.


    "I thawt you dead again!" He continued to cry as his arms squeezed Hinata''s waist tighter. His small, skinny, body trembled like a shaking leaf.


    "He was worried about you." Rei said coolly from the doorway with Kei next to him.


    Hinata shuffled into a sitting position with Shouta still clinging to him.


    Miki, Miwa and Mei-chan poked their heads around, from behind the twin''s backs. Their eyes lit up with joy at seeing Hinata awake.  They dived on him the same way Shouta did. Hugging him tight so he almost stumbled back down.


    "Kids! Get off him!" Mei-san scolded the children. She managed to pry them off him.


    "He needs to rest!"


    Hinata wistfully sighed when she ushered the reluctant kids from the room, with Rei and Kei closing the shoji door behind them.


    He was alone with Yuri again.


    "Aki''s gone." Yuri''s voice was level. Stating a fact.


    He peered into Hinata''s eyes, who was trying to avoid them.


    "You''re not to blame."


    Hinata bowed his head low. "Who is if not me?"


    "That secret policeman that stabbed him is."


    Hinata flew into a fit and outburst. Arguing his point against Yuri''s fact.  He was to blame because the kenpeitai wouldn''t have been looking for them if it wasn''t for him.


    "Do you think I''m a traitor?" He blurted. "I must be for the secret police to hunt me."


    "No." Yuri instantly answered. "Hell, no! That thought is stupid when all you''ve ever done is work your shop and live your life."


    Hinata raised his head to meet his eyes. "I don''t understand. Why?"


    Tears rained down his eyes again. Yuri sighed. He tenderly pulled Hinata into a hug with understanding of a different meaning.


    "War. That''s why."


    "It''s over."


    "Soldiers fighting, maybe. The country is facing a new war, I figure."


    Yuri''s voice was deep and firm to Hinata''s ear pressed to his chest.


    "New war?" Hinata gulped and squeezed his eyes closed. "No more."


    "Not that kind. Guns are over. To rebuild and restart is what we need to face now. Japan''s new war is with itself. We have to find a new way to live."


    Hinata sighed, understanding his words.


    Both men allowed a moment to still their grief, so they could stand and continue on with the rest of their day.


    Hinata left his room and entered the kitchen, where Aiyama-san was poking wood at the clay stove to keep the steaming pot, on the hot plate, boiling. Savory fish and herb smells wafted up his nose.


    Mei-san was shelling beans and stalks on the ground nearby, with the help of the two young girls, who were doing their best not to make a mess or waste any of the beans with their clumsy fingers. Mei-san was a good and patient teacher. Giving them as much help to make the girls feel useful and beam with pride.


    "Chikafuji-san." Shuu called out Hinata''s name from the main room''s doorway.


    Hinata slowly turned and acknowledged him with a nod. The men assumed a conversation at the family table in the room.


    "I heard about Honda-san." Shuu gritted his teeth. Holding back his emotions.


    He had known Akira since their middle school days.  Of all the students they shared lessons with, the last person he thought would die during the war was him.


    Akira couldn''t join the army due to his weak lungs. His condition had improved when he was an adult, but it still wasn''t good enough to pass an army medical.  Not that Akira had minded, since he could resume his book-worm lifestyle and manage the family shop.


    Then Hinata and Eiji had entered the village to cause a stir with the locals. Two handsome young men, randomly popping up into town. Shuu had noticed Akira''s eyes longing for Hinata as soon as he saw him. It was likely no one, but Mei and Yuri, had noticed the man''s interest. Since they were the only ones, aside from himself, that knew was ''of that kind''.


    Was it coincidence or god''s hand that placed Hinata in the village for Akira''s care? The man that lead to Akira''s demise.


    By Hinata''s distraught expression, it''s obvious he was genuinely grieving and in shock. Of course, he had never intended to bring harm, let alone death, to Akira.


    The man had lost both his partners to war. From what he had gathered from Yuri and the others, both of those loses were connected to a prominent Tokyo man. It seems the actions of that man, living on the other side of the country, somehow caused a ripple effect to Hinata''s life.


    According to Kou. Rocko believed Hinata was akin to angel who would undergo harsh tests to prove his virtue. His mind recalled his past meetings and observations of Hinata. It was hard for him not to believe Rocko''s words. Despite all odds being against him, Hinata still managed to stand strong. Aki''s death would likely chip away a large chunk of his personal strength.


    "Honda lived the life he had wanted." Shuu solemnly stated of Akira. "Sacrificing himself so his family could live. He died honorably."


    "He didn''t need to die at all," Hinata said.


    "We all die, Chikafuji-san. It''s how we die that matters." Shuu held Hinata''s eyes. "And who we die for."


    He gave Hinata his earnest advice. "I don''t think Honda would have wanted his lover to be dwelling on his death and forget about the times of his life."


    Hinata''s eyes widened with surprise.  No wonder Shuu was the village''s policeman. He didn''t miss a thing.


    "Then what do you think I should do?"


    "Keep living for those who still need you. These kids, women and men rely on you. I''m sure Honda would want you to focus on them." Shuu heaved a deep sigh, finishing off his spiel.


    Hinata closed his eyes. Thinking on his last moments with Akira and the words he had said to him. There wasn''t a single word that was condemning him for his injuries. Instead, Akira seemed to be saying goodbye.


    Tears slipped down his eyes. "I miss him."


    "As we all do." Shuu sighed again. "In respect for those gone. Let''s not forget their life and live it for them."


    Hinata wiped away his tears and nodded his head, giving Shuu a weak smile.


    "Hai."


    The main room was soon noisy and boisterous when the others entered.


    Hinata found himself surrounded by kids, men and women who laid out a feast for a king onto the table. That is, as much as four bowls of beans, fish soup and cooked wild growing vegetables could fill any way.


    Aiyama-san filled up a small bowl for Hinata and ordered him to eat.


    "Only for Hina-tan!" Shouta labeled Hinata''s bowl. He gave the other kids a stern look.


    "Thank you." Hinata gave the boy a thankful smile, and patted his head fondly.


    Everyone settled around the table to share the family meal. The moment eased most of Hinata''s grieving heart.

 Chapter 100 - Hinata-C POV Days of Pearl Harbor

    Shuu fell asleep at the table as soon as the meal was over. Aiyama-san had mentioned on the man''s stomach bruises at his sides.


    "Seems he had been kicked and punched in an interrogation." She frowned. Her eyes lingered on the young policeman''s sleeping face.


    "Why would the secret police do that?" Hinata copied her frown. "I don''t understand. The war is over. They were never like this when it was occurring."


    Aiyama-san faced him. "Do you know why they thought you were holding traitor documents?"


    Hinata shook his head baffled.


    "Then they must be acting on orders of desperation. Something worse than air raids happened to the Ch¨±goku area. I''ve heard on the radio at the hospital." She sighed wistfully. "A lot of American soldiers seem to occupy that place too."


    "The enemy?" Hinata gasped. "They''re still here?"


    Aiyama-san''s frown deepened. "They''re _not_ the enemy anymore. At least, not what the news reporters are saying. Still, so much uncertainty."


    Hinata raised his brows, perplexed by the short tones to her voice. Was she angry with him?


    "I''m sorry Aiyama-san. I didn''t mean to offend."


    Aiyama-san sighed and relaxed into an expression of apology.


    "Would you like to go for a light walk?" She offered him.


    Hinata nodded.


    They rose and eventually left the house for a stroll around the block. However, they didn''t go as far as the hospital. Hinata found himself unwilling to move further. It was too soon for him.


    So they returned to the house and sat on the front porch to talk. Relishing the warm autumn breeze that stroked their skin. The bugs were staying away from them,  keeping their buzzing and flitters around lanterns near the upward eaves of the roof''s corners.


    "About earlier. It''s I who should apologize." Aiyama-san bowed before Hinata.


    "No. Why?"


    Aiyama-san explained on why she seemed to be short with earlier. Hinata''s eyes widened with surprise when he avidly listened to her tale.


    She was once a nurse for the Imperial Navy. Trained at Hiroshima''s navy base to be stationed on a cruiser that was planned to leave Japanese waters for an unknown location and purpose. The year had entered 1940, when she had completed her training to become a qualified navy nurse for her assignment.


    "At the time, no one, except the higher ups, knew where my squad was destined." She sighed and continued her story.


    Her destination ended up being a place called Pearl Harbor, and her orders were to oversee the Japanese second generation on the island. Those who were being drafted for the Imperial Navy.


    "I felt lucky that my assignment was away from front lines. It was a good job and the people were wonderful." Her face relaxed into a fond smile.


    "I met my husband at a bar there." She dreamily recounted the moment she was wooed by a soldier of a nearby facility "At first I was weary of his smooth smile. He won me over eventually."


    They were married within a month of meeting each other.


    Just over half a year into their newlywed life,  new Imperial Navy cruise ships had docked near the island''s shores. She was excited to be able to catch up on what was happening to her hometown from sailors of one of the cruisers, who had been given some free time to stretch their legs on land whilst awaiting further orders.


    Her expression instantly changed to one of pain.


    "It happened so fast. Those sailors from home were ordered back to their ships. Not long after, the island was attacked by our own forces."


    Tears fell from her eyes as she recalled the screaming, panic and rapid gunfire that was tearing through the island. Heat. Confusion. Stench of blood. It had overwhelmed her.


    Her only thought was to find her husband. She never had the chance. Her superior had found her and dragged her back onto a small boat that took her to one of the destroyers named Ushio.


    "There was so many injured sailors and crewmen.  The ship was taking heavy gunfire. I honestly thought we were going to sink." Her voice trembled.


    She spoke on. The ship had, somehow, survived an onslaught. Her days out at sea was days without thinking and feeling. Patching up wounds. Sterilizing and maintaining equipment the best she could. Crying for the dead. None of the sailors were in the mood to take advantage of the few women on board. Especially when these women were the only ones capable of keeping them sane, patched up and as much alive as they could be.


    "I got terrible sea sickness that showed signs of a flu. My superior got angry with me when he realized I had been sick around patients."


    He had her isolated in a holding cell to contain what was perceived as a virus. She was released closer towards Japan''s shores. When it was evident that something else had been making her feel sick.


    "Miki was born in the ship''s infirmary. Not long after the ship had docked into Yokosuka."


    She had been dismissed from duty due to her baby. Having no relatives in the Yokohama area. She decided to return Hiroshima, and started making the long and arduous journey.  Raising Miki on the go.


    "Fortunately, the Woman Associations of different places saw value with my skills."


    She was able to get by being a community nurse. And keep moving from town to town. Staying a few months when the need for medical attention was required. Then moving on when she felt it was time to go.


    However, she never made it back to Hiroshima, and her family home.


    She had arrived to the prefecture around the time of when the American planes were causing air raids on Kure City.


    One of the locals, from her school days, believed that their unexpected meeting had been providence; God giving him a duty to tell her about her family home, which had been torn down and her family''s land reclaimed by the navy.


    "He told me that my parent''s had relocated to my mother''s family in K¨­da. So I went there." Her eyes welled with tears as she explained on.


    When she and Miki had eventually arrived to her mother''s family farm. She was given the truth of her parents'' demise. They had died in an air raid at Kure, before they could catch their bus. Overwhelmed with grief. She realized she couldn''t stay there.


    "There was an evacuation bus passing through, which was headed to Nagano. I felt I had to get as far away as possible. So we took the bus. Eventually we arrived to Mimaki." She finished her story with an uneven sigh and tears slipping from her eyes.


    War had taken family she loved too. Hinata gave her a warm smile.


    He turned to the stars sparkling high in the sky. The night was young.


    "I''m glad you''re here.  Let''s make a promise to each other. For the lives no longer, we''ll live them into our old ages. I think Tanaka-san is right when he said Honda-san would''ve wanted that for us." He faced her. "I''m sure your husband and parent''s would''ve wanted that too. For you and Miki-chan to be healthy and happy in a good, long, life."


    Aiyama-san''s lips trembled when she responded with a smile.


    "I think I''ve cried enough." Hinata soberly declared.


    "Me too." She agreed.


    They both rose and returned to the house.

 Chapter 101 - Hinata-C POV Misjustice

    The stillness and silence of the next morning was disturbed by an abrupt banging on the door. Fortunately, most of the house was up and ready to brace the day. The women had finished laying out breakfast.


    Shuu went to the answer the door. A while later, Kou''s father entered the room.


    "Ishikawa-san!" Mei hastily made room for him at the table.


    The burly sweet-shop maker gratefully eased down at the choice spot, cleared for him.  He nodded his thanks to Aiyama-san when she placed a full bowl of food and drink before him.


    "Father?" Kou called out to him from the other side of the room.


    Rei-san wistfully stared at his son. He saw the kids hovering, tentatively from the far doorway behind him. Those kids he had given a sweet. That time seemed so long ago. They looked well despite their circumstances.


    He sighed despondently.


    "The village is taken." Shuu commented from the other side of the table, next to Hinata.


    Rei-san nodded. "Of course Kou''s mother refused to leave."


    He scrunched up his face with a frown. "We aren''t criminals! We didn''t do anything wrong!"


    Hinata''s heart sunk. He moved from his place to bow in dogeza before the man. "Please, Ishikawa-san! Would you tell me everything?"


    Kou''s father held his silence for a moment before he expelled a weary sigh and elaborated on events and the reason for his visit.


    The kenpeitai had stormed into the village on the day Akira had warned Hinata to leave. They never left. As it seemed they were hunting a traitor who held documents pertaining to national security.  They questioned everyone. Drilling locals for anything that could be considered a lead.


    Nothing was turning up.


    "Then you were gone with all the kids."  Rei-san''s voice was firm.


    Hinata gasped. Horrified to realize that by fleeing his home with his family, it gave confirmation to the kenpeitai''s cause.


    "Oh god." His voice trembled. "I''m sorry! I..."


    "Father. Chikafuji-san has done nothing wrong! He''s been protecting us. The secret police are chasing us for phantom reasons!"


    "Phantom reasons." Rei-san gritted his teeth. "They''ve taken your mother, your parents Yuri-kun and Honda-san into custody."


    Hinata sat up to face Rei-san. "Why?"


    "Because of you." The man bluntly answered.


    Shock and aches attacked Hinata''s body.  He held to the pain. He had to make this right.


    He rose with a firm conviction of doing the right thing.


    "Chikafuji-san!" Aiyama-san called out to him. "Sit down!"


    "I have to make this right."


    "You''ll do that by thinking straight." She scolded him. Her voice causing the room to lapse into silence.


    She ensured the room remained calm and logical with her next words.


    "Hospitals are source of information, since there are always people coming and going there. I''ll go there to find more details, and..." She didn''t finish, but didn''t need too.


    "I''ll come back with you, Ishikawa-san. We''ll need to formulate a plan before we enter." Shuu said that seemed to ease Rei-san''s expression.


    "Mei-chan and Kou-chan will stay here with the children. It''s safer for them. They''ve been through enough." Aiyama-san laid out her final order that saw no objection.


    "Chikafuji-san and me will get an escape plan in order. And arrange for Akira''s return when the coast is clear." Yuri sighed.


    Rei-san frowned, perplexed. "Where''s Honda''s son?"


    Everyone gave him sorrowful stares.


    He lowered his eyes, feeling a mother''s loss. "How?"


    "Kenpei. When we were fleeing from their raid. He saved us." Mei-san informed him.


    "His mother isn''t going to take this well."


    "Right now. It''s about saving her and Mother from those kenpeitei. I think they''ve gone crazy," Kou said to bring his father''s mind back to present matters.


    "I''ll also come with your Tanaka-san. I may be blind, but I was a soldier who moved through the dark." He confidently offered his services.


    "If you''re sure." Shuu wasn''t going to turn the man down.


    He had been observing how Kou coped with everyday life. He moved so well around the house, it was hard to imagine he had no sight.


    "I am." Kou flashed him a cocky smile.


    Further orders and instructions were discussed and agreed until everyone was clear on the plan.


    "Don''t worry Chikafuji-san." Aiyama-san patted his shoulder.


    "Thank you. You don''t have to do this, but I''m grateful." Hinata smiled at her wise and kind face.


    She finger-flicked his forehead. "Baka! We''re family help each other out."


    Rei-san reminded everyone to eat before the food was cold. The kids were called into the room. The table was over crowded with hungry bellies being filled. A short while later, it was cleared.


    Everyone went about to complete their tasks to their purpose of saving the locals of Mimaki from a misjustice.

 Chapter 106 - Demise

    Sean and Tyne instinctively assumed their roles as doctors. Eiji followed their orders and watched the men tend to the fallen like machines.


    He learned of the little girl''s name. She called herself Himari.


    "Papa. You gave me that name silly." She had said with a huff.


    Eiji had responded with a weak smile and gentle pat on her head to soothe her pout.  He asked around the shrine for her true identity, but no one knew who she was. The priest had suspected that she was a visitor to the city.


    "She''s probably an orphan now." He had concluded of the girl''s demise with a weary sigh. "They''ll be lots more orphans now."


    So Eiji decided he''d continue to be her father for the time being. Fortunately, the girl found some normality through Tama''s company.  He was glad to see that Himari was good at making friends with other kids. She and Tama found themselves being entertainment for the visiting children.


    Tyne and Sean constantly worked day and night. Patching up wounds the best they could with what they had.


    They were given a private room at the shrine to share.  Their compensation for their tireless work.


    Where one of the shrine''s problem was being addressed with wounded getting medical aid. Another wasn''t. Food was almost non existent. A lot of people''s conditions were taking a longer time for recover due to lack of sustenance and proper medical facilities.


    Fortunately, Sean and Tyne were experienced in treating patients with a lot less. They were able to triage conditions for the highest recovery rate possible and readjust their practices to suit the environment.


    Eiji''s mind lingered on another problem. Sean''s arm. The man was still fighting a mild fever. He had stepped into the doctor role under Sean''s instructions, but he was no match for the man''s skill and experience.


    One night, Sean declared he couldn''t cope with the burning pain anymore.  No matter what he did to treat his arm, it kept burning like it did on the first day.


    "I have to cut it off."


    "Are you sure?" Eiji asked as he stared at the open wounds on Sean''s forearm.


    His own eyes gave him the answer. The arm''s skin was red-raw, blackened and oozing with pus. The imprint of his shirt was still showing on the surface of what was left of his skin.


    "It''s going gangrene. We''ll most definitely need to amputate." Tyne sighed.


    "Do it." Sean looked to Tyne with weepy eyes. His face was pasty and skin clammy with fever. "This piece of arm that couldn''t save Kei. I want it gone."


    His voice was drifting. Tyne checked his eyes for dilation.


    "We don''t have much time."


    Eiji followed Tyne''s instructions for their makeshift operation on Sean''s arm. Working tirelessly throughout the night.


    In the morning, Sean was able to recover some of his strength whilst functioning with one and half of an arm.


    He ignored Tyne''s order to rest another day before returning to work. Eiji compensated for Sean''s lack as they continued to work to heal others. Sean was able to cope with some medicine that was purchased at black market prices. Tyne held on to the medicine to ensure Sean didn''t overdose.


    A week had passed with their new routine. Sean was able to cope with his wound without regular medication. His amputated arm was still weepy with pus. So he kept it wrapped, unable to replace the bandages due to the shortage they had. The most he could do was keep the dressing dry.


    On one of their routine days, they were confronted by a familiar face in an Imperial officer''s suit. He stood before Eiji who was attending to wounded on the tatami mats of the shrine''s large community building.


    "So this is where the good doctor''s end up."


    Eiji faced the man that had killed Ren in cold blood. The American spy.


    "What do you want?" Eiji almost spat his question to the man''s polished boots.


    The man observed him for sometime. He glanced around the makeshift medical clinic that was reminiscent of a battle field infirmary.


    "Good doctors. You''re wanted for duty." The man called out across the room to get Tyne and Sean''s attention.


    The room fell quiet. All eyes were on the Imperial officer.  Tyne closed his eyes to still his will. He finished bandaging the boy he had be attending. Then rose to face the officer.


    "Can we step outside?" He calmly asked and received a nod of approval.


    Tyne gave a look to Sean who was already headed towards them. Eiji rose to do the same but was ordered to stay by the officer.


    "Not you."


    Eiji watched as the American''s made their exit.


    "The Imperial Army wants the doctors?" The shrine''s priest came up to him.


    "So it seems. A lot of soldiers might be wounded," he said.


    The priest nodded. Eiji resumed his duties, tending to wounds in place of the doctors with his best ability.


    An hour had past when the officer left.  Tyne called Eiji and Sean back to their room, so they could have a private talk. Eiji listened with mixed feelings at Tyne''s decided course of action.


    "The spy is going to set up a radio communication with the major." Tyne shared his order to Eiji. "He wasn''t sure, but he has a strong reason to think another bomb might drop. Regardless of reasons, we need to be present."


    "You''re going to follow orders like a good solider." Sean vehemently swallowed his spit at the thought.


    "Like we have a choice. We''re US Marine''s, Sean." Tyne reminded his peer.


    "Corpsmen. Tyne." Sean corrected his comrade. "Our job is to help people."


    "Wrong. Our job is to help US Marine soldiers, and follow the orders of our superiors." Tyne answered back with a fact.


    Sean gasped, exasperated. "Even if it meant another f''cking bomb on a civilian city? Cause that''s what we did here Tyne! WE DROPPED A FUCKING BOMB!"


    Tears spilled from his eyes. "Kei''s dead. So many civilians, dead. Why? So we could win a war?"


    "We still don''t know that. And we certainly don''t know if another bomb is going to drop. That spy could''ve heard wrong."


    "Bullshit, Tyne. You know in your heart, that somehow, we''re responsible. It''s just like us to do a second round for effect."


    "What are you going to do? You''re still soldiers for your country." Eiji calmly entered the conversation with his question and fact.


    "What''s there to do? We play the good solider and follow orders." Sean come to his conclusion despite his detest for it.


    Tyne''s next piece of information caused Eiji and Sean to go quiet.


    "Eiji. According to our spy friend, my superiors plan to hand you over to your government as a double agent. They''ll deny all fact that you were from Iwo Jima and under POW protection."


    Eiji''s heart skipped a beat. His mind went blank. After all that he had gone through.


    "They''ll make Eiji a scapegoat for Hiroshima." Sean felt his anger swell within his heart.


    "More or less. Our good spy was able to warn us of this much."


    "I won''t allow that." Sean snapped. "I won''t!"


    "No. You''ll obey your orders like a good soldier." Tyne answered back.


    Sean flew into livid rant. "No, I won''t! Tyne. Our actions took my f''cking arm! It took Kei¡­"


    "WE''RE AT WAR! YOU''LL FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS!" Tyne snapped back. "Everyone dies eventually."


    Sean and Tyne held each other''s gaze in a stand off. Sean was the one to back down first.


    "I want to find Ray. I have to find him."


    "You don''t think I don''t want to find Hinata?" Tyne''s voice was suddenly weak with tears. "To know if she was here. I can''t bear if she was¡­ If I¡­"


    "You didn''t kill her." Eiji coolly stated "You''re both following orders. Take comfort in that."


    "I can''t. Kei''s dead. I can''t." Sean''s voice quivered. "This is f''cked up."


    "Listen, Sean. We have one shot at making sure Eiji doesn''t suffer without facing a court martial. Another order and favor from our spy friend."


    He laid out his plan. Tyne and Eiji would head out that night to locate an informant for their new orders near Nagasaki.  Sean had to return to their spy friend for his call with the major.


    They gathered Himari and Tama, and snuck out of their room whilst all others were sleeping. Eiji carried a sleeping Himari swaddled in a blanket. Tyne held Tama in her basket bag, who had her head poking out with curiosity.


    They had crept across the courtyard when Tama mewed at the sight of a rat scampering across their path. Her crying woke Himari who made some noise in response.


    "Who''s there?" They heard a man call out from within the shrine.


    Eiji''s heart raced with panic as he ran out of the shrine area in a blind run with Tyne and Sean sprinting behind him.


    They kept running towards the darker paths away from the city center, and in the direction of where they had parked the Blended Beauty.


    By the luck, they had eventually found the car as the sun was breaking through the sky. By then Himari was wide awake and content to be carried in Eiji''s arms.


    Eiji unlocked the door and made sure Himari and Tama were comfortable in the back seat.


    "Don''t get dead," Sean said as he stood before Tyne and Eiji. "Whatever happens. Make sure Eiji isn''t used as a scapegoat."


    "Here." Tyne handed Sean some cash, medicine and the last of Kei''s cigarette''s he had retrieved from the glove box.


    "I''m serious. Please don''t. Just..." Sean sighed. He smiled and gave Tyne a salute with his good arm. "Until we meet again."


    Tyne saluted in response then entered the front passenger seat.


    "Your arm will be okay?" Eiji frowned at the man''s half arm still bundled up in a bandage and sling.


    "Baka." Sean finger flicked his forehead with his good arm. "See? I can still do that. I''ll be fine."


    Eiji nodded and assumed the driver''s seat. He started up the car and eased it out onto the road.


    Sean watched them drive off before making his way back toward the city on foot.

 Chapter 107 - New Dawn

    They drove throughout the day. Taking quick breaks for Himari and Tama''s benefit. Eiji took the roads that were void of patrol stops. He had luck on his side as he navigated the unfamiliar areas, and was able to follow sparse signs towards Nagasaki.


    Tyne had suggested they follow the train line whenever their direction was unclear. Eventually they saw a sign that indicated they had entered the Kyushu region.


    Himari was enjoying the back seat with Tama, unaware of the men''s dilemma with their conscience as they followed to their haphazard orders.


    Eiji was grateful they had Himari who was able to keep their minds sane with her innocent talk about the sweets she had with her mother and sharing watermelon with her friends. She still believed that Eiji was her father and wouldn''t hear the otherwise. Eiji was happy to play along with her assumption.


    "What do you think this informant will do?" He asked Tyne when his mind was mulling over serious matters.


    Tyne sighed. "For starters. You''ll be somewhere else with Himari and Tama. Let''s find a safe point first before the meeting."


    "Okay."


    They drove towards an uninteresting village for directions on where they could purchase fuel chips. After picking some up, and what treats and toys were available, they drove on until they reached the water.


    Tyne had also been able to purchase a map from a local store they had passed. He studied the map he had spread out on the car''s bonnet as they parked at a small clearing, behind a set of trees near the main road.


    Himari was having fun chasing Tama about wild fields with Eiji keeping watch of her.


    "About five miles down the road is the place that spy man had told us to go." Tyne muttered to himself.


    "Himari! Don''t wander too far." Eiji called out to her.


    The girl giggled and nodded her head as she happily picked wild flowers. Tama ran about the fields with zest and sprinted back to Eiji. Himari followed and climbed back into the backseat of the car. She played with the dolls Eiji had bought her earlier.


    Eiji sighed with relief and returned to his attention to Tyne.


    "We have to reach this place by o''six hundred hours and find this man." Tyne noted further.


    "What details did you get from our spy friend?" Eiji asked.


    "The person we''re looking for is a staff member of Wiesmen. They''ll be starting their shift in the Nagasaki office around this time. At the Secretarial Department." Tyne checked his watch. He gathered the map.


    They were on the road again, nearing the coastal view of Nagasaki.


    Himari began crying hysterically for no apparent reason, which caused Eiji to take a detour to a small town about fifty miles from the city.


    Tyne took her vitals, checking her temperature and noticed her breathing labored. "She has a fever."


    Himari was crying deliriously for her mother and not taking the water Eiji was trying to feed her.


    "How much time do we have?" Eiji fretted.


    "We need medicine for Himari." Tyne checked his watch again, noting the time was ticking closer to the scheduled meeting. "We won''t make the drop if we divert off the road again."


    He frowned, feeling concerned that Himari wasn''t going to recover as quickly as a normal child would if she didn''t receive some medicine to ease her fever.


    "There''s a town further back with a general store. Let''s go there for medicine."


    "But that means we''ll be late." Eiji had figured out the consequence of their diversion.


    "Rather late than face another innocent civilian face death under my watch," Tyne solemnly answered.


    Eiji sighed and nodded. "Okay."


    He started up the car and did a turn back to the town with the general store.


    They arrived to the story by mid morning and was able to buy medicine to ease Himari''s fever. Tyne sat in the backseat, to keep care for her whilst giving her something of a parental attention that she needed.


    It was well past the meeting time when they were nearing the city again. There weren''t many vehicles and horse and carts on the road at the time. The air was damp and slightly oppressive with steam coming off the roads.


    Tama begin fretting around the front seat, mewing with a weak voice and went to cower on the floor for a strange, unknown reason.


    This caused Eiji to divert off the road again.  He drove them to edge of woods, about some ten miles from the city''s coast line.


    As he was about get out of the car when the ground began to quake. White flashes momentarily blinded his eyes.


    The windows shook, but didn''t break.


    Tyne held to Himari to keep her calm. Fortunately, she was still delirious with fever to be aware of the unexpected quake.


    The flashes and quakes stopped suddenly.


    Eiji held his breath. His mind reeling from recent memories of the time Kei was taken by the same white flash.


    "Tyne." He found his voice to call out the man''s name.


    Tyne was still holding Himari, who was sleeping on his lap. Tears streamed down his cheeks.


    "I''m sorry, Eiji. I''m sorry." His voice quivered as his tears kept falling.


    Eiji leaned back into his chair, feeling his own tears pushing against his eyes for release. They fell when the black rains pounded the car''s roof to pollute the outside.


    By now, his mind had no doubt that the flashes and black rain were purposed.  His heart felt broken at thoughts of people at Nagasaki receiving the same fate as Hiroshima.


    The men cried out their grief and anguish at what they had come to realize.  Their tears stopped when the black rains had cleared. Tyne made a decision to find his wife.


    "Eiji. Let''s seek out our loved ones."


    Eiji paused. His mind was a jumble of thoughts stirred around by mixed emotions. If Tyne didn''t check into his superiors. Would that mark him off as dead or a deserter?


    "That would make you a deserter."


    Tyne stared out to a distorted image of the countryside due to the slick coating from the black rains.


    "Then I''ll be a deserter." He closed his eyes, releasing a troubled sigh. Major Schmidt''s warning surfaced to his mind.


    Eiji nodded his head. He started up the car and backtracked to roads that would lead them furthest from the trouble. Towards a hope of being reunited with their lovers.

 Chapter 108 - Sean’s New Orders

    Sean eventually found his way to the spy by noon. Following the directions the man had given him.


    The spy was waiting for him at an abandoned shell of a building with a familiar suitcase in his hand. He was dressed in his Imperial officer''s uniform.


    "How''s the arm?" The spy causally noted Sean''s half arm, held up by a bandage sling.


    "I''ll live," Sean said. He was able to function thanks to the medicine Tyne had given him earlier.


    "That''s great." The spy pulled out his gun and fired at Sean.


    Sean''s acute instincts saved him from bullets finding their way into this body.


    He sprinted around flying chips of wood and brick. Taking cover behind broken walls.  His senses were heightened. An intense focus to hone in on the spy that wanted to kill him.


    The spy paused. A moment to reload his handgun.


    "Come on Corpsman. You know by now that we can''t let you live."


    Sean slowed his breathing. He calmed his heart. Timed his breath to the footsteps and movement that wasn''t his own.


    The spy sensed a heavy breath. The energy of another person in proximity. Around the corner. Behind the wall. He felt certain that was where Sean was seeking cover. He aimed his gun at the likely spot. It was pointed at air. A heavy blow to his head knocked him unconscious to the ground.


    Sean sighed over the spy''s unconscious body. He quickly retrieved his handgun, wallet and the suitcase.


    He ran to the river side, holding back his urge to throw up as he threw the gun into the water. It sank between body parts. He then sprinted to a modern hardwood building on a hill, which he had scoped earlier on his way to the meeting. The place was hidden around a bend. Sheltered from view by a cluster of other damaged buildings and walls. Its view of the river and roads towards the city gave him a vantage point to see any incoming trouble.


    He hobbled to the building''s back room, where he was able to take shelter in undamaged space. The adrenaline rush had left him panting for breath and drained of energy. The sun''s beams along the walls made the air hot and stuffy.


    Sean ignored his discomfort. He unclasped the suitcase and began to assemble the radio.


    His instincts had warned him of a double cross. Especially when the man was parading too comfortably in an Imperial uniform.  The spy was great at being a spook, but terrible in keeping his quirks in check. That was a fortune miscalculation on Sean''s part who had a keen insight of body language.


    "Shit, Tyne. You owe me." He grumbled as he gulped down a handful of pills to keep his pain in check.


    His mind ticked over a plan that he could sell to his superiors. He was worried about Tyne and Eiji. By now, he suspected the men were driving into a trap.


    A few nobs and buttons were pushed. Sean held the handpiece to his ear. After a while, the radio hissed and cackled to life. He waited for a response. Another voice broke through the speaker of the handpiece''s receiver.


    "Anders. Has the package been delivered?"


    Sean gritted his teeth. He slow breaths to keep his wits.


    "Sir. Anders failed. The package is still fair game." He answered coolly into the mouthpiece.


    A pause was felt from the crackling of the line''s heavy static.


    "Identify yourself." A deep voice broke through the static.


    "Forgotten about me already. I''m offended." Sean half joked.


    "Corpsman Campbell." The voice was level, but Sean detected tones of surprise.


    "Sir."


    There was more static noises before the voiced returned.


    "Seeing as Anders has failed. You are to carry out his next orders."


    Sean laughed into the mouthpiece.


    "Corpsman Campbell!"


    "Sir. In all due respect. There is nothing here for your orders to take shape."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The city is destroyed. It''s all gone." Sean''s voice drifted into sadness. "All of it."


    "City? You mean the enemy''s military bases are destroyed." The voice eagerly asked and waited for confirmation.


    "Sir. There are no enemy bases. Just a city full of civilians that''s now filling a river with body parts," Sean said through gritted teeth. "It''s all gone. Levelled into ash. Women, children, elderly. No soldiers. All civilians. Dead."


    Heavy silence followed again. Sean felt certain the call was going to be disconnected. The voice returned.


    "Your orders are to remain at Hiroshima. An occupation force will arrive in three days time. You''re to meet me there at O''twelve hundred and provide your report."


    Sean closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. "Major Schmidt. Sir. I won''t leave this place. By your orders. May I have permission to continue my cover as a German doctor?"


    "That is permitted. Do what you must before our meeting." Major Schmidt agreed before he ended the call.


    Sean sighed as he hung up the call. "Well at least he didn''t ask about Tyne."


    His heart prayed that Tyne and Eiji were still alive wherever they had ended up.


    "Stay safe and well."


    He carefully packed up the radio and hid the suitcase under a rubble of building debris where he felt no one was going stumble upon.


    A new determination entered his heart. He headed back into the epicenter where he could provide his doctor services to people in need.

 Chapter 109 - Ground Zero

    Sean sought refuge at an undamaged school. It was repurposed as a shelter and infirmary for the wounded. People were distrustful of his intentions at first glance. When they saw his arm in a sling and skills as a doctor. He was instantly placed in a position of importance as he worked with other nurses and doctors who had survived the blast.


    He had bound his arm to his bound so it was less of a hindrance. He had to rely on the hands of nurses to follow his orders for certain surgeries. Fortunately, the medical staff working around the clock with him were experienced.


    It was around the last days of August when he saw the US Occupation drive their tanks and jeeps into what would''ve been streets of the town.


    One of the jeeps stopped before the school.


    Sean clicked his tongue at the sight of US Marines parade the school grounds in their pristine khaki-gray uniforms. A squad headed up the steps of the school''s hall.  Obviously Nisei from their mixed Japanese-American features.


    The soldiers slowly toured the place, civilly talking to staff and patients who were weary of them. Then they approached Sean who greeted them in as the German doctor he was pretending to be. One of them noticed his arm and asked what had caused it.


    Sean smiled and sarcastically joked that it became the meal of a rabid dog. Of course, the soldiers were aware of his sarcasm. They ignored his slights and nationality, moving on to other people to survey. Sean suspected they had been ordered to provide a detail of the bomb''s effects. As he was more than convinced by now that a bomb was what had destroyed the city.


    He left his doctor''s duty and refuge behind the following day.  Making his way to where the occupation had pitched their tents at the epicenter on destroyed ground. He was dressed as an innocent civilian in a brown tweed suit, which made his skin itch beneath the autumn sun.


    Many hungry civilians were queuing before the white tents he passed. An uneasy feeling pained his heart at the sight of soldiers handing out their left overs. Some even half-eaten bowls of rubbish.


    "War brings out the worst, doesn''t."


    He calmed his anger. Turned and made his way to the pristine white tents, which were pitched furthest from the crowds. He strolled past US personnel in the standard khaki uniforms; avoiding the civilian lines for the encampment beyond.


    "Halt, civilian!" A solider called out to him when he was close to the makeshift gates that acted as a blockade from the civilian riff-raft.


    "You''re not Japanese."


    Sean half laughed at the soldier''s observation. "Isn''t it obvious by my kitty, soft brown hair and cute brown eyes."


    "A wise-guy, huh?" The soldier clicked his teeth, annoyed by Sean''s response that made him oblivious to Sean''s American accent.


    "Whatever your business is Civilian. It''s not here. Turn around. Go back to where you came from."


    "Happily do so. If you''re so kind as to pass on a message to Major Schmidt. Corpsman Campbell was here and told to leave. I''ll be on my way." Sean cheerfully responded to the soldier with a flourished bow. He turned to leave.


    "Wait!" Another soldier called out to him. "Corpsman Campbell. The Major has been expecting you."


    Sean groaned with disappointment.  He turned and faced the other soldier, who was also sporting a crisp fresh uniform and rank stripes of a sergeant.


    He followed his escort into the compound, ignoring the fleeting looks and curious glances from other soldiers he passed. Some of them held strong Japanese features. Those second generation who had decided to be Americans. He wondered what they thought about seeing the state of the country they could''ve been part of.


    It was all irrelevant as of now. The war had reached a conclusion despite whatever the final verdict was declared.


    A few soldiers keenly watched his approach to the tent at the far end of the encampment. No one approached him, seeing that he was being escorted.


    Sean waited outside the tent''s entrance on orders of his escort. He gave a few of the handsome soldiers a wink and cheesy grin, which earned him scornful reactions.


    "You''re to go inside." His escort gave him the permission to enter.


    Sean''s assumed a moment to calm his heart and ignore the throbbing to his amputated arm as he coolly entered the tent.


    He stood before a middle aged man in a spiffy new khaki uniform of a high ranking officer. His stiff peak cap held the emblems of a commanding officer.


    "Corpsman Campbell." The man acknowledged Sean.


    Sean gave the man a half hearted salute, not caring if it would put in the stocks for a week.


    "I''ll ignore your poor form due to your injury." The man clicked his tongue as he leaned on the table that had maps laid out across its surface.


    Sean observed the crowfeet lines around the man''s small gray eyes. Many wrinkles creased his forehead, laughlines and neck. The man was old, likely because of the war. He held his stance, not willing to give the man reason to punish him.


    "Your report."


    "Do you want the unabridged truth or a sugar coated story?" Sean smirked.


    "The truth."


    Sean told his story. A version of the truth that would ensure Eiji retained his protective rights and Tyne granted an honorable discharge.


    It was early evening when he was ordered to remain on camp. He would continue his duty under the orders of a US Marine who was assigned to photograph the effects of the war.


    He found his way to his assigned tent where a fresh squad of marines were playing a game of cards or leisurely resting on their cots.


    "You''re the man that I met at the gates." One of the privates recognized Sean.


    "Corpsman." Sean solemnly corrected the soldier.


    "Take a seat Corpsman." One of the soldiers offered Sean with a gesture to his cot.


    "Thank you for the offer, but no. I''d rather stand." Sean firmly declined that man''s offer, holding back his anger. "My. It must be nice to lounge around and casually play cards."


    "Why you?!" The soldier began to argue, feeling offended by Sean.


    "DO YOU EVEN SEE WHAT''S AROUND YOU?!" Sean shouted with a voice that caused the men to pause. "Women, children, civilians. All dead. Sure, you may think, they''re not my wife or child, brother or sister, but they could''ve been."


    A tear escaped Sean''s eye. "The river is a sea of dead. Even you would not have missed that."


    The men backed down. No longer in the mood for fun.


    "Were you there?" One of the younger soldiers timidly asked him. He held features of a Japanese.


    "White." Sean answered him.


    More tears fell as Kei''s face graced his mind.


    "Everything was taken by moment of white." He lowered his eyes.


    The tent held a heavy moment of silence. It was broken by a newcomer.


    "Privates. What''s going on here?"


    "Joe. Um, this is the new member of the squad." The younger soldier introduced Sean.


    Sean solemnly greeted the man as he wiped tears from his eyes with his one good arm.


    "Yes. I can see." Joe''s voice was level, but held a curiosity.  "Right. Let''s get some shut eye."


    Sean reluctantly laid on his assigned cot, feeling turbulent emotions that kept his mind awake the entire night.


    The next morning he was given a fresh uniform to wear, bearing the official stripes and badges of a corpsman. His orders were to follow Joe around the city, who would capture the effects. He made sure to lead Joe to the places that held the most devastation and impact.


    The man never showed his emotions on his face. Sean suspected that even the strongest and hardiest person would feel sorrow for what they were seeing. There was nothing to show off as a victory. Who would feel joyful at seeing a part of the world laying as a wasteland and in pieces.


    As Joe toured Hiroshima with Sean, he was given context of the effects. He was determined to capture every part of the city until he ran out of film rolls.


    Eventually, Sean was relieved from his duty and given an honorable dismissal. Joe was given orders to carry onto Nagasaki.


    This made Sean think of Tyne and Eiji. He didn''t want to go back to America. Not until he had learned of what happened to them.  And especially when Japan was in desperate need of doctors.


    He requested his right to decline, selling a compelling case to Major Schmidt of his benefits to remain in Japan as part of a medical convoy. Despite being a man of one and a half arms, the major agreed and gave him new orders to be part of a peace keeping convoy that would take him to Nagasaki then other regions around Japan.


    Sean left Hiroshima with a medic team for Nagasaki. He prayed in his heart that Eiji and Tyne hadn''t fulfilled their orders.


    "Please be alive," he whispered as his convoy truck drove the dirty roads out of town.

 Chapter 110 - Return to Mimaki

    The drive toward the north-west side of Japan felt like they had entered a different age. The vibrant red, yellow and orange foliage, amongst the deep green mountains and fields, were unspoiled. This world was too picturesque for a time of war.


    Eiji had been driving them on clear country roads, where chances for police patrols were far less. They were able to stop for breaks without attracting attention.


    Fortunately Himari had recovered from her fever as soon as they left the Kyushu region. Tyne cared for her and taught her card games at the backseat.


    Eiji his eyes forward. Always watching the road ahead for trouble.


    "Snap!" Himari laughed, devilishly, as she swept aside her winning cards from the played pile.


    "Well done," Tyne said proudly as he ruffled her hair.


    She flashed him a hearty grin, showing off her milk teeth and the gaps where some were missing.


    Kids were resilient creatures. Eiji was grateful for it. Especially when she was being taken away from the place that might have been her hometown.


    Day and night they drove. Breaking. Regathering fuel and what food was available for purchase.


    Despite the sudden change to her life. Himari was content and showing a childlike happiness being in their care. Tyne was relieved to see her health faring well. She never mentioned on her mother. Whenever the subject was broached, the girl turned inward and instinctively changed the subject. So she was resilient, but not oblivious.  Eiji had figured that one day, Himari would be a woman who would want to seek out an understanding to her family''s death. It was a day he hoped he would never see.


    They drove aimlessly. Eiji constantly mulled over the purpose of finding Tyne''s wife. He had promised the man he would do so, but had no idea where to begin. Tyne made a suggestion to head towards Mimaki when they were discussion starting points.


    "Are you sure?  Don''t you want to find your wife?" Eiji solemnly asked Tyne.


    "You know I do. We know where your partner is. So let''s go to him. I owe you that much." Tyne reassured Eiji with a cocky grin.


    Eiji realized it was a long time since he had seen it.


    They drove with a set destination in mind. Passing through barely touched mountain roads and terrain that the Blended Beauty was able to handle.


    Eiji''s mind was a whirlwind of happiness and anxiousness at the thought of seeing Hinata again. What was he doing? Was he still over feeding Tama-chan? He pictured Hinata leisurely tending to their plants in their herb garden. His lover''s face smeared with dirt from his hard work, and long hair plastered to the sides of cheeks and neck dripping with sweat. Arousal warmed his body at the thought of his lover''s welcome home. It was just as well Tyne and Himari were asleep in the backseat.


    Tama made a small noisy to bring his mind back to his present situation. She had made herself comfortable on the first passenger seat like the queen cat that she was.


    Common mountain ranges, trees and natural scenery whizzed passed them as he entered familiar terrain belonging to the Nagano prefecture.


    "Hinata." He spoke his lover''s name as the morning sun rose over a mountain range.


    His fond thoughts of home were interrupted by an unexpected checkpoint. He slowed the car. His heart raced at the sight of those gray or black uniforms belonging to the secret police. What were they doing there?


    "No. It can''t be!" His mind panicked on the thought that maybe he had stirred trouble for Hinata.


    Those kenpeitai back on the train believed he held documents that his father were using to betray their country. Could it be that they had also come after Hinata? But why? The only connection Hinata had to that man had been him.


    Eiji prayed that they weren''t looking for him. He had to reach Hinata.


    He slowed the car at the checkpoint and calmed his mind with neutral thoughts to keep his cool.


    A kenpei causally approached his side and tapped on the glass. Eiji wound down the window to allow the man to address him.


    "Name and registration."


    "Here." Tyne handed Eiji their papers. He passed them on to the police officer.


    The officer glanced through and pocketed their papers.


    "Drive to the first village you see. If you don''t. Well shoot you on site."


    "Excuse me?" Eiji frowned.


    "Unless you won''t to be shot now." The kenpei cackled with eyes begging for a reason to test his guns that were holstered at his hip.


    Eiji nodded and wound up the window. He slowly drove the car passed the blockade towards the direction they were ordered to go.


    "Are we going there?" Tyne asked.


    "It''s our destination." Eiji levelly answered.


    He felt anxious and concerned for Hinata. Why was the secret police in control of Mimaki?


    "The secret police are in Mimaki?" Tyne gasped. "This isn''t good Eiji."


    "I know. Something doesn''t feel right." Eiji bit his lip as he continued to drive them through dirt roads that led back to his home.


    The state of his home village left him gasping with outrage. This wasn''t right. It should be here!


    The village was void of locals. It was overrun by secret police vehicles and personnel. Shops were closed. Goods were being seized into loaded trucks. It was a place being readied for war.


    He parked his car before Honda''s Bookstore and got out. His heart sank when the shop was closed like the others.  Through the window, he spied thick dusty around the till and on the benches. The placed looked like no one had been inside for days.


    "Hinata!" He cried out as he turned and sprinted down the road for his home.


    "Please be there!" His heart ached and mind pleaded as he neared the entrance of his cottage.


    He sank to his knees before a kicked in door and many shoji panels torn off their hinges.  His mind was going blank at the thought of Hinata being lost to him.


    "Takaki-san?" A voice called out to him with shock and surprise.


    Eiji turned to see Yuri hiding behind some bushes. "Sakamoto?"


    "Hurry!" Yuri called out to him to draw him into the bush.


    Eiji instinctively followed to hide with Yuri before a secret police patrol had spotted him.


    "You''re supposed to be dead." Yuri coolly noted of Eiji crouching in the flesh before him.


    "What''s going on?" Eiji asked, baffled.


    "Kenpeitai was chasing us. Anyone who was connected to your father." Yuri solemnly explained.


    Color drained from Eiji''s face. His father was the crux of his torment again. "You know about him?"


    Yuri gave him a wry smile. "Yeah."


    "Where''s everyone else?"


    "Not here." Yuri answered. He gestured for Eiji to follow him when the coast was clear.


    "There''re others with me. I have to go back to them," Eiji said as he bolted for the way back to the car.


    He saw two kenpeitai questioning Tyne. Himari was timidly watching from the backseat of the car. She had Tama on her lap.


    "TYNE!" Eiji shouted when one of the kenpei pulled out a gun.


    Tyne skillfully disarmed the man. He dived back into the car to start up the engine.


    "Stay seated!" He called out to Himari who timidly nodded as she held to Tama.


    He reversed and drove towards Eiji, avoiding the shouting and gunfire aimed his way.


    The car skidded to a halt. Eiji and Yuri got into the backseat.


    "It''s okay." Eiji reassured Himari who was understandably scared.


    The car sped down the road.

 Chapter 111 - Blame Me

    Yuri directed them to a farmhouse a few miles out from the village. It was hidden within a forest at the foothills of the Tengu mountain range.


    The place was a refuge for a few of the locals. All of them were shocked to see Eiji walking out of the car and stepping onto the front porch.


    "You''re alive?" Asako''s voice quivered with a mixture of emotions as she flung the door wide.


    Straggly tufts of dark and gray hair escaped her tight bun. Her cheeks were slightly sunken and her complexion pasty. It was clear she hadn''t slept well for days. She rushed at Eiji with fists raised and pounded his chest in an outrage.


    "It''s your fault this is happening to us! You''re the one those brutes want!  We suffer cause of you! You were dead. You should''ve stayed dead!"


    "Stop it Asako!" Rei-san wrapped his strong arms around the small waist of his raging wife.  He managed to pull her off Eiji who stood shocked and confused.


    "The poor boy''s not to blame!"


    Eiji noticed the woman had a cut to her lip and some other discolored markings from bruising. What had the people suffered because of him?


    "Are you to blame?" Shuu approached them from within the safe house. "The kenpeitai believe you''re a traitor to our country."


    His eyes lingered on Tyne who stood behind Eiji. They noticed the little girl cowering at Tyne''s side.


    "What did you do Takaki?" He grilled Eiji further.


    Eiji didn''t hide his distress.  Even here the effects of war had spoiled the one place he had hoped would be his haven. His home.


    "He valiantly fought for his country is what he did. I dragged him home." Tyne answered for Eiji.


    "If you want to hate someone. Hate me. I am your enemy." He didn''t disguise his American accent as he stepped boldly before the battered adults.


    "My son died cause of this stupid war! Cause of your kind!" Honda-obasan screamed as she hysterically entered the porch from the inside. Going for Tyne at a dead run.


    Himari yelped when she stumbled backwards due to the brute force from Honda-obasan''s body slam on Tyne. The woman knocked him down.


    "Himari!" Eiji went to tend to the child.


    He checked her body and sighed with relief when he saw that she was alright. Although the fall and experience had left her spooked.


    "I''m sorry," he whispered to her.


    "Enough!" Shuu''s voice carried across the veranda. "It''s evident that Takaki has know idea what''s going on. So how can he be at blame?"


    He stepped before Tyne and extended a hand towards him. Tyne hesitated before accepting the hand that helped him back up.


    "You''re an American?"


    The women gasped, horrified.


    "Right now, I wish I wasn''t." Tyne answered honestly.


    "Even you must''ve seen things that broke your heart." Shuu sighed.


    He gestured for everyone to go inside where they could have a civil conversation.


    At the main table, everyone kept a cool head.


    Eiji''s heart sank with sadness and fear as he listened to what had happened to the village. More importantly what Hinata had suffered.


    "Where is he?" He swallowed an uneasy breath.


    "He surrendered himself to the kenpeitai from what I''ve heard."


    "Where will they take him?"


    Shuu gave him the facts. Hinata was likely bound for their prison encampment near Koumi City. Where a lot of the prisoners either faced interrogation, a firing squad, conscription or transfer China.


    Eiji was troubled by the thought of Hinata being lost to him.


    "How do I get to him?


    He persisted with his question until he felt sure that Shuu gave him appropriate directions.

 Chapter 112 - A Timeless Moment of Hope

    Himari was scared to be left behind with the strange adults. But she bravely promised Eiji that she would be a good girl and look after Tama whilst they were gone.


    Eiji and Tyne carefully drove towards the outskirts of Koumi City with Shuu guiding them on roads he was certain had no kenpei presence. It was the way he had taken to ensure the escape and refuge of Kou, Yuri''s and Akira''s parents.


    Unfortunately, a lot of the locals had been incarcerated in trucks that were destined for the prison encampment. Eiji had promised Shuu to save those locals and bring some sense back to town.


    They drove behind the Shuu''s family cottage.


    Mei and Aiyama-san had seen their approaching vehicle. They hastily gathered their bags and had the kids sneak out of the secret escape hole at the back room. Shuu intercepted them on the porch before they could make a break.


    "It''s only us." He reassured the women.


    The woman followed him around to where the car was parked on the grass.


    Aiyama-san''s eyes felt they were betraying her when a foreigner stepped out of the passenger side of the car.


    "It''s not possible." She gasped, hoping her words were a lie.


    The man had yet to see her. Unaware of her eyes tracing his masculine jawline and body contours that were familiar to her. Tears welled in her eyes with a prayer that those familiar features were real.


    "Tyne." The name instinctively came out of her mouth.


    Tyne paused. His heart pounded with hope at the voice he had just heard.


    "God. Please. Let the voice be real," he whispered as he slowly turned to face a woman in a kimono standing on the porch.


    Tears dripped from his eyes as he watched her tentatively approach him.


    "Are you real?" Aiyama-san stepped closer towards him.


    Time slowed to a stillness and peace. The sunlight made clear of her image. Memories of the woman he loved soothed his troubled mind.


    The others stepped back to make room for them. Looking on with curiosity.


    Tyne lips quivered with tears, unable to speak the name of his lover. Least her image faded from him.


    The both stopped a few meters before each other. Wanting each other to be real, but scared to reach out to one another in case their touch dispelled their images like a dream.


    Tyne took the plunge. He raced for her with all his might. Aiyama-san laughed as he flew into his outstretched arms that were solid and real.


    "Oh, God. Thank you!" She cried.


    Tyne looked on her lovely face through tears of joy. She was in his arms. His beautiful and brilliant Hinata.


    "Tyne?" Eiji drew his attention away for the moment.


    Tyne gave Eiji a teary confirmation. "My wife."


    Eiji nodded with understanding and happiness for him.  Shuu sighed. He couldn''t hate the foreign man for that moment.


    "We have to hurry.  The information I had gathered from Mimaki had indicated a final truck convoy was going to pass through here about now. We can follow it back to where the others are," Shuu said.


    Eiji looked to Tyne who was still hugging his woman.


    "Tyne. I''m going to get my Hinata back. Stay here." Eiji cockily called out to him. It was obvious Tyne wasn''t going to go anywhere.


    He ambled back into the car with Shuu.

 Chapter 113 - To My Sunflower

    They drove towards a belt of trees that had a clear view of the highway. An army truck zoomed past them at the time Shuu had indicated.


    Eiji moved the car out onto the road to follow.


    His mind reeled through his time with Hinata. The summer festival they had shared. Writing his letter on a bed of sunflowers.


    His thoughts wandered over his time as a soldier. Sharing a bunk with Yuri rather than taking a hammock. Stepping onto volatile sand littered with shrapnel and corpses. Hearing gun blasts as the cries of men filled the air with their hopes and honor.  Kei''s face. Too much was lost to war. It was time to reclaim somethings back.  No matter what happened to him. He will not let Hinata suffer another day.


    He returned his focus to the back of the truck he followed.


    The wind swept the truck''s back canopy flap momentarily to one side, allowing a fleeting glimpse of the truck''s cargo.  His eyes widen with surprise and hope at what he had spied.


    He pressed his foot down on the accelerator peddle. The stench of burning gasoline wafted about their noses as he sped past the army truck.


    Shuu let out a curse, but saw the set expression on the Eiji''s face. Of course. It was the only way.


    Eiji overtook the front of the truck to give them a clear distance between them. He sharply turned the wheel. The car skidded about on an angle. He slammed his foot on the brake to make it abruptly stop and create a road barricade.


    The truck instinctively screeched to a halt. Stirring a cloud of dirt around the tires.


    Eiji fiddled around the glove box for the handgun he had remembered Tyne leaving in there. He got out the car with it. Boldly stomped his way towards the truck''s window and fired at it to make it shatter.


    The truck driver and passenger cowered behind their arms from the shattering glass. When they stared out to the road they saw Eiji''s gun aimed for them.


    "OUT!" Eiji shouted his order.


    The driver and passenger soldier hesitated a moment before they carefully stepped out to face him on the road.


    "Itt¨­hei Takaki, Eiji!" Eiji shouted out his name and former Imperial Navy rank to the men. "THE WAR IS OVER! RELEASE THESE PEOPLE!"


    He cocked his gun. Facing the men bravely with his determination to shoot if they did not obey his orders.


    The soldiers regarded him for a while before they nodded with understanding and went to the back of the truck. A short while later, the soldiers returned to stand before Eiji.


    "Get in your truck and go!" Eiji issued his final order. His gun still raised with unwavering stillness.


    The soldiers obeyed. The truck kicked up a cloud of dirt as it reversed and drove away from him.


    Eiji''s heart raced with hope as he returned the handgun to safety and lowered it.


    "Takaki!" Shuu called out to Eiji. His finger was pointed to the crowd of civilians wandering towards them.


    They recognized Mimaki''s locals.


    Tears streamed down Eiji''s cheeks as he saw the one person he had longed for all this time.


    "Eiji-san." Hinata cried with hope. "Oh, please, let it be you!"


    Eiji lips quivered uncontrollably. He faced him with tears streaming down his cheeks.


    "Tadaima." He managed to say.


    Hinata raced for Eiji with all his might.


    A bitter scent of scion was overpowered by a lasting sweetness of sunflowers. The scent flowed around them as they fiercely embraced each other with kisses.


    "Okari." Hinata''s voice quivered through his tears when he pulled away for air. He was reluctant to be free from Eiji''s arms.


    Eiji''s heart raced with all the love he felt in the world when he saw the yellow ribbon tied in Hinata''s hair. His fingers tenderly played with the knots to untie it.


    "My beautiful, sweet, Sunflower. I''m home."


    The ribbon sailed on a mellow breeze as Eiji and Hinata lost themselves within their timeless kiss.

 Chapter 118 - ? The War is Over. Lets Be Together ?

    It had been half a year since Sean had lost half of his arm. He had arrived to Nagasaki City in a similar state as Hiroshima. And it was months before he was able to leave for another town or city in need.


    Fortunately, he was able to compensate his arm loss with a fake bamboo attachment and hook that he had designed himself. It was a crude and horrid looking piece, but it allowed him to function in his duties.  When his medical team was more or less established in Nagasaki, he signed on for new convoys around the country.


    He was working at a Kobe hospital, when one of the Wiesmen doctors had mentioned on an ingenious prosthetic that was manufactured out at the Nagano countryside. They were expensive, but revered for allowing fluid movement and easy fitting into clothing.  Most were being deployed to veteran patients at Koumi City Hospital; under a sponsored pilot project.


    The mention of the prefecture and city brought his memory back to Eiji''s talk about his Hinata and the place they were from. If Eiji had survived Nagasaki, he would have likely returned to his hometown. His desire to know if Tyne and Eiji had survived was rekindled within him.


    So he had applied for an assignment in the area.  But his assignment wasn''t approved until autumn of the post war year, when a new occupation convoy was made available.


    He was eventually sent to Koumi hospital, where he was able to set an appointment for his prosthetic design for a time not long after his arrival.


    His new team gave him was a small welcome and expression of appreciation on his first day. Shortly afterwards, he had his appointment. It was at one of the examination offices on the other side of the hospital.


    Sean made his way down corridors of sterile white walls, polished floors that made squeaky noises every time the soles of his boots struck them; passing many patients waiting in the wings.


    He stopped before a plain wood door with a nameplate that clearly indicated he was at the right place. This section of corridor was quiet and mellow from the late afternoon sun, which streamed through the hospital''s large windows.


    He knocked on the door then patiently waited.


    "Yes. Come in." A deep yet soft male voice called out from the other side of the door.


    Sean stepped inside. His mouth was momentarily speechless at the sight of the man''s beauty.


    The prosthetics designer was an elegant picture in a simple gray kimono with his long dark hair held up with a blue ribbon. He stood to take a good look at Sean, especially his amputated arm.


    "Please take a seat," he said eventually, gesturing to a waiting chair near one side of a writing table that filled up half of the room''s space.


    Sean sat on the waiting chair, in awe of the man''s delicate hands making graceful movements around his arms as they took measurements.


    "I''m Sean." He nervously blurted his name.


    "Is that supposed to be a flirt? Because I''m a man." The prosthetics designer answered, unimpressed.


    Sean chuckled and introduced himself again. "I''m Sean. The one who failed at flirting with a man."


    The prosthetics designer frowned. Clearly not impressed.


    "Americans. I applaud your good use of our language. Your manners are atrocious. Here we go by our family names. It''s not polite to call a person you''ve just met by their first name." The prosthetics designer corrected him.


    "I know. Honorifics and surnames are so British. I''m an American." Sean lightly joked and yelped at the unexpected pinch to his skin.


    "Sorry." The prosthetics designer apologized, but by the tone of his voice he wasn''t.


    "So what do I call you?" Sean prompted for the man''s name.


    "Chikafuji, Hinata. Chikafuji-san to you." Hinata cordially answered with an austere tone to his voice.


    "Nice to meet you, Chikafuji-san. I guess, by your traditions, you can call me Campbell-san."


    Hinata paused with a frown. Somehow that sounded wrong. "On second thoughts. Maybe I should call you be your first name."


    "Oh, but flirting with a man." Sean teased Hinata. Flashing him a lopsided grin.


    Hinata gave him a wry look.


    "It''s okay, Chikafuji-san. Call me whatever makes you feel comfortable."


    Sean lapsed into silence as he watched Hinata work.


    Hinata diligently measured his arms and scribbled in his note book for sometime before he felt satisfied he had a solid design.


    "I''ll pass these designs to Kominato-sensei, who will organize the manufacturing with our Weismen contact."


    Sean''s heart raced with a memory of the man he loved.


    "Campbell-san. Are you okay?" Hinata asked as he noticed Sean''s face pale.


    Sean snapped out of his moment with a civil smile that warmed his youthful face and brown eyes.


    "Do you have an idea of when the piece will be ready?"


    "You''ll need to speak with Kominato-sensei about this," Hinata answered the question. "You can ask for him at reception."


    Sean nodded and left the examination room.


    He cordially gave polite nods to the curious locals, who were obviously uncertain about the American marine corpsman causally parading about their hospital corridors.


    "All in good time." He sighed to himself.


    For now, he made sure not to deviate from his intended destination of the reception desk.


    "Hello." He called out to the nurse seated at the large desk near the center of the main reception area.


    She had been focused on her register book before lifting her gaze to greet him.


    "Oh. Do I need to speak English?" The nurse began to fret with uncertainty on how she was going to communicate with the foreign man before her.


    "I speak Japanese just fine." Sean reassured her in the native language. "I''m looking for Kominato-sensei about my arm."


    The nurse nodded her head. She gave him instructions that led him further down the corridor and into another ward area. He eventually found the doctor he had been seeking in another small examination room.


    His heart raced with hope when he closed the door behind him upon permission to enter.


    Was god showing him mercy after all?  He wasn''t sure whether to believe it.  So many months he had searched hospital corridors for the face of his lover with crestfallen hope. He prayed in his heart that he wasn''t seeing a figment of his imagination.


    The doctor had yet to pay attention to Sean who was standing before the examination room''s door. He was seated on a chair before a writing desk with a few medical journals piled to one corner.


    Sean''s eyes traced the lean and solid outline of the doctor''s body in his white lab coat. The man''s dark hair was stylishly short and slicked back to reveal the soft angle of his jawline and long eyelashes. His lush lips were relaxed as his dark eyes were focused on the papers he was writing into.


    It was just like his Ray to be absorbed in his work and not pay heed to a person standing behind him. Although, Ray was always aware of others around him like he had a third pair of eyes at the back of his head.


    "I won''t be long." The doctor said without turning his gaze away from his papers.


    "Ray?" Sean bravely called out his lover''s name with hope.


    The doctor''s writing hand paused in mid air. He turned and faced Sean with a troubled expression.


    "Are you real?" A tear slipped down his cheek.


    "My question to you." Sean replied with his own tears falling from his eyes.


    "Sean." Ry¨­suke''s voice trembled with the name of his lover.


    He stood to face him. His hand tentatively hovered near Sean''s cheek. Hesitant to touch him, least his image fade like a sand castle being washed out to sea.


    Sean smiled. He tenderly grabbed Ry¨­suke''s hand and placed it on his wet cheek.


    Tears fell from Ry¨­suke''s eyes as he drew closer to Sean. "I missed you."


    "I''m home," Sean replied.


    The men passionately embraced, delving deep into each other with kisses and touches they hadn''t experienced for years.


    "The war is over. Let''s be together," Sean whispered into Ry¨­suke''s ear.


    Ry¨­suke swooned in Sean''s embrace. He smiled and firmly answered with a yes.


    "For as along as we live."


    The rest of their words were spoken with kisses.

 Chapter 121 - ?*-TMS Final Bow of Thanks-*?

    TMS is now well and truly ended.


    Thank you Islinda for giving this story a chance for a contract. I hope it proves well for Webnovel.


    To all TMS regular readers and supporters. I won''t name you individually to respect your anonymity.  With my deepest respect, thank you for your time, interaction and support.  A story can be written.  It''s only when it''s read that it becomes a tale.


    And I won''t forget those from Tapread and Wattpad who gave Hinata and Eiji''s drama a chance when it was there.  I''ve been blessed.


    Here is an omake about its own small journey to close the curtains.


    ---WPC #46 - To My Sunflower''s Journey---


    A moment of nostalgia as I look back to the contest that helped me form the concept for this story. Otherwise, I would''ve never written it.


    ---[[Writing Prompts Contest #46:Fall in Love with a Soldier


    "Believe it or not, the only way we kept in touch was through letters. We would write to each other about our days, about our lives. They were all innocent letters, but they were amazing because it gave me an insight into how simple a person he was."


    What it feels like loving a soldier?


    "When you fall in love with a soldier, you fall in love with your country; when you fall in love with a soldier, nothing is set in stone on your end. Plans can and will change at the drop of a hat and planning ahead is impossible.


    Though all that is true, so is when you fall in love with a soldier, you''ve found the best there is.


    When you fall in love with a soldier, you''ve found someone who not only loves you more than his own life but loves his country more than his own life as well.


    When you fall in love with a soldier, a kiss is worth a million dollars, and no expensive gift can compare.


    When you fall in love with a soldier, you''ve fallen in love with someone who appreciates having a bed, running water and warm food.


    When you fall in love with a soldier, you''ve fallen in love with not who you''ve prayed for, but someone so much more.


    Thank you, God, for letting me fall in love with my soldier."


    (Emily Richeson)https://forum.webnovel.com/d/18335-writing-prompts-contests-45-46]]---


    The winner of my prompt was a book that is now on hiatus. No other entries qualified. At the time I didn''t realize that having votes was the rank qualifier. So my book was instantly disqualified.


    Despite not making it past the car park, so to speak, I kept this story going. I had moved it to Wattpad and continued to post chapters there.


    I entered it into a Wattpad community award, and had eventually won the award for Historical Fiction, but never received the prize for it. ????


    That''s okay. Knowing that my writing was enough to be a winner in a judge''s eyes was cool. It won over some quality stories as well. That was a prize enough for me.


    After some time, I started posting the story to Tapread where it picked up read interest there. Then I got a ping from Islinda who liked the lone chapter I had left on the book page.


    This story has been a blast to write. I''m proud of what I''ve been able to achieve with it. I have no regrets of what I leave behind, as I have given my best shot.


    ??


    Arigat¨­gozaimashita.


    Until next time. Take care.?