[FIC] Class Act (part 8)
Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:58 am
It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, highlighting the beauty of the mountains and the cozy setting of the sprawling Inn. A crisp chill wind was invigorating, carrying on t the scent of flowers. The class was up and about, their belongings all packed away, eager to eat the food brought back from various convenience stores. The bus was idling, with Miss Okibasu at the wheel. There was no sign of the hired bus driver---he had left a note and hitch-hiked home.
Impromptu games of soccer and Keep Away broke out as the students waited to board the bus. Everyone was waiting for Sousuke.
The guys and gals from Jindai High were not the only early birds. Repair crews were busy, fixing up the damage to the pool area and the residential wing vacated by the class. The main-line contractors lent a hand, ready to begin the finishing touches on those area.
Sousuke was meeting with Mr. Tojifura. The list of damages was significant, even if it were small by the young Sergeant’s standards.
Walking with the manager to his office, Sousuke found himself in the middle of a small but potentially dangerous confrontation. Stepping out of the way of a long train of luggage carts, he found himself staring up into the eyes of an irate Sachiya Morishita. The fight promoter had a wide swath of gauze wrapped around his neck.
“Y-Y-You!” Mr. Morishita found himself somewhat at a loss for words. “I will have my satisfaction.” Seeing Mr. Tojifura, the taller man grabbed hold of his kimono. “THIS is the boy that soiled the reputation of the Yokizunas. THIS is the boy who besmirched the reputation of this fine Inn. I demand that he be handed over to the police. Immediately, if not sooner.
Mr. Tojifura scratched his head for a moment. Seemingly ignoring the other man, he walked around a scraggly indoor bamboo plant, looking it up and down. In a blinding otion, he pulled his katana out of its sheath and used it to trim and shape the bamboo. After clapping his hands and asking one of the bellhops to clean up the mess, he turned to Mr. Morishita. “Sir, I had considered calling the police last night, but refrained.”
“W-W-Why?” Mr. Morishita’s hand went to his neck.
“Because Sir, I believe in second chances.” Mr. Tojifura spoke in a calm and quiet voice.
“This…ruffian…does not deserve any such consideration. He lay hands on three great champions. He injured me.” As he spoke, the promoter noted that his three large guest had now joined him. “These men you see are not the common visitors you usually serve here. They are legends.”
“It was for that reason that I did not call the authorities. I did not wish to see such great men hauled away in handcuffs.” Mr. Tojifura bowed to Mr. Kashiwoda, Mr. Mahmud, and Mr. Yilmaz.
“WHAT! THEM???” Spittle flew from Mr. Morishita’s mouth.
“Yes. There were numerous witnesses to their behavior. I am also aware of the identity of the man who initiated the entire fracas.” Mr. Tojifura’s eyes went hard as he stared at the fight promoter. “As it turns out, each of you is still alive. I have reason to believe that things could have turned out much differently had Mr. Sagara not exercised commendable restraint. Perhaps you should all count your blessings and let the matter rest.”
“We will NOT…” Mr. Morishita stopped when a large hand grasped his shoulder.
“We have no fault with you, honored manager.” The Yokizuna nodded to Mr. Tojifura. “There is nothing to be gained from argument. Could you please have our limousines summoned. We will be taking our morning repast.”
“Certainly.” Mr. Tojifura honored the Sumo with a bow. He called over a concierge. “Summon the limousines for our most honored guests. Be quick about it.”
The Yokizuna turned to Sousuke. “You and I have a score to settle. Sagara. I shall certainly remember that name.” With that, he joined the two other fighters and headed into the lounge area.
After the confrontation was diffused, Sousuke joined the manager in his office. “I am always glad when my guests find their time at the Inn to be memorable. I take it that you have many memories to take home with you?”
“Yes, that is true.” Sousuke was very good at collecting memories. This stay had been the rule, not the exception.
“Usually however, the Inn and its staff are not left with so many remembrances. I must say that I doubt there will be another stay like yours. That is not an entirely bad thing.” Mr. Tojifura’s expression was neutral.
“I understand, Sir. It was not our intention to cause such damages. We all appreciate the fine service of the Inn and staff.”
“Yet, damages there are. Considerable work must be done, before the renovations can restart.”
“My apologies, Sir. I am ready and willing to assume all responsibility!” Sousuke bowed his head.
“Good. Very good. The debt is huge. We should begin at once.” Mr. Tojifura handed Sousuke a bucket of lead soldiers. “The date is 1281. Kublai Khan, now emperor of China, is sending a great fleet against Japan. The invaders have gunpowder bombs, ‘fire-sticks,’ and wave after wave of archers. The Hojo have built a great wall to hold back the invaders. This time, there shall be no hurricane to sink the Chinese fleet. This is the defining moment for the Kamakura bakufu. It rests in your hands.”
“Sir!” Sousuke began setting up his defenses.
************************************************************
The windows on the bus were open. The students let out a great crescendo of cheers when Sousuke walked outside, weapons bag over his shoulder. There were a fair number of raspberries mixed in, seeing that they had all been waiting for two hours.
Kaname was moved to leave the bus. In front of the entire class, she dressed Sousuke down. “Where have you been, Sousuke. Everyone has been waiting for you. This is very inconsiderate.”
“You tell him, Chidori” one girl yelled out, echoed by others. Once again, Sousuke was confused by the protean nature of the female gender.
“Were you tipping all the serving girls, Sagara?” The rugby player’s shouted innuendo had the whole male population in an uproar.
“We had a large debt. My services saw to it that our debt is resolved.” Sousuke did not elucidate. Kaname knew that Sousuke’s actions most likely had nothing to do with seving girls. That didn’t stop her from stamping her foot when all the boys cheered.
“Well, you still have a debt to your class Sousuke. And a pledge, I hope you remember. No fighting. No weapons.” Kaname had practically been shouting. Her voice carried across the front of the Inn.
“I gave my word, Chidori.”
As Sousuke headed for the bus stairs, he heard Kaname gasp. He felt a large hand on his shoulder.
“Sagara. It seems that my limousine is delayed by traffic. It has not done much to improve my disposition. But, it seems to have provided me with a wonderful opportunity. The gods must be smiling down on me today.” Taiho Kashiwado chuckled. “Is what the little girl said true? No fighting? No weapons?” He turned to Mr. Mahmud and Mr. Yilmaz and relayed the news.
“It is true. I have given my word. I follow the orders of my Teacher and my Class Representative.” Sousuke’s voice was dead calm.
“Then, this will be the perfect time to punish you for the stain you put on my honor. Not to mention the indignity you did to my…person. If you live, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that our debt is paid.” The Sumo’s laughter drowned out the engine of the bus.
“You’d hit someone who couldn’t hit back?” Kaname was red in the face. “How can you stand there and even pretend to talk about honor?!”
“Women should be seen and not heard!” The Yokozuna shoved Kaname towards the bus, knocking her to the ground.
Sousuke’s face went blank. His eyes burned with a rising fury. Both hands twitched as he took a step towards the huge man. Bowing his head is resignation, he stopped. He had given his word.
“Ho ho ho ho ho. Does this little strumpet mean something to you, Sagara. How very marvelous. She will get a front row seat to your match with me. Maybe afterwards, she would like to spend some time with me.” He grinned and pulled up his pants. It was an automatic gesture. He grimaced in pain. “Better yet, as a generous man, I would be willing to share her with my comrades.”
“I speak only for myself, Kashiwoda.” Mr. Mahmud spoke quickly after the Sumo’s crude inference. “I want nothing to do with your game. Having considered my own actions, I have no score to settle with Mr. Sagara.”
“The same holds true for me,” Mr. Yilmaz said. The bodyguards all looked at one another. By silent agreement, they were not going to get involved either. Mr. Morishita was inside on the phone.
“Get on the bus, Chidori.” Sousuke stepped between Kaname and the Sumo. “Hurry. I shall shield you.”
“Sousuke…” Kaname looked worried. She didn’t move.
“Run, Kaname!” Kyouko yelled out. A large number of boys and girls seconded her suggestion.
“But….” Kaname moved slowly, looking at Sousuke and his approaching foe.
“Go NOW, Kaname!” Sousuke grabbed her roughly around the waist and tossed her onto the bus stairs. Moments later, he was pulled backward, then thrown forward against the bus. A loud Clanggggggg echoed inside.
The students stared in rapt fascination. There friend was being assaulted, but there was absolutely nothing they could do. Miss Okibasu sated down the stairs, but caught the Yokozuna’s attention.
“I presume you are the teacher. If you try to pass by me, I shall stop you.” The sound of Mr. Kashiwado’s voice sent chills up the spine of everyone in earshot. “If you call the authorities, I shall start on your other students. With my connections, no charge will stick, no matter what I do. You should count yourself fortunate that I practice admirable restraint!” Miss Okibasu sank down to sit on the stairs, trying to think of a solution.
Sousuke began staggering away from the bus, wanting to lead the large man away from his classmates. When he and the Sumo were far enough away, he shouted. “Teacher, get the bus out of here!” It would have been a good suggestion, had the limousines not arrived at that moment, blocking the path of the bus. Miss Okibasu blew the horn repeatedly, but the other drivers were of the belief that they had the right of way.
“A noble act. Worthy of a hero. Of course, we both know the fate that many Japanese heroes have met.” Mr. Kashiwoda began stamping his feet. “I applaud your courage, Sagara. You could just have run. Very brave, but very stupid! Aren’t you going to say anything? A final request, perhaps?”
“I would honorably request that you shut up.” Sousuke scowled, his face filled with obvious contempt. “I do not see or hear you. You are not alive to me.” He braced himself for what he knew would follow.
“Insolent DOG!!!” The Sumo began his Tachiai, the initial charge. His anger grew when his opponent performed the equivalent of a Henka, side-stepping the rush. “Do NOT postpone the inevitable. Things will only go worse for you.”
“The ground shakes, but I see no reason for it. Perhaps it is my stomach. It would have been wise to eat breakfast this morning.” Looking away from his opponent, Sousuke patted his belly.
“BASTARD!” The Yokozuna swung with a mighty Harite, watching with disbelief as Sousuke dodged again. He followed with a remarkably fast Inashi, the slap to the side sending Sousuke face down into the grass. “It has begun!” he bellowed in an elephantine voice.
Sousuke, coughing and retching, brought himself up to his knees. Grabbed by his belt, he found himself flung upward by means of a powerful Yotsu-zumo throw. The subsequent impact with the ground injured his shoulder and had him seeing stars.
“You see now the fate of ALL who stand against me. You may beg for mercy if you wish, but you would have more success petitioning the very forces of Nature!” His laughter floated on the breeze with some wayward leaves.
Sousuke pulled himself to his feet. “I have received worse beatings from the street whores of Kabul. Yet, even they did not call as much attention to themselves as you do.” He spat out some blood. “They had far more honor!” Motion caught his eye. Kaname!!! She was running in his direction. The weapons bag was in her arms.
“You will DIE for that insult, little boy!” Mr. Kashiwoda charged Sousuke and pushed him hard to the ground. “First, I will return a favor.” His massive foot shot downward, headed for Sousuke’s groin. He missed, his aim thrown off. He had been struck in the back of the head by a heavy object.
“Sousuke! I give you the order. It’s OK to fight back, any way you choose.” Kaname unzipped the bag and looked towards Sousuke for instructions. She should have moved out of harms way.
“BITCH!” The Sumo slapped Kaname to the side of the head. “When I finish with him, I will---”
“Be in great pain.” Sousuke spoke from the ground beneath the Sumo. He had taken his pistol out of the weapons bag. Looking upward, he saw the look of surprise on the Yokozuna’s face. How could the injured boy move so fast? The sound of a gunshot echoed throughout the surrounding hills. A flock of cranes took flight.
Sousuke had shot the huge man in the same spot he shot him before. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” He turned his attention to Kaname. “Are you OK? Here, I will assist you.”
“Sousuke, I took too long, I’m sorry….” Kaname was wobbly on her feet, almost falling as she tried to walk.
“It is not a problem, Miss Chidori” Sousuke said, taking Kaname up into his arms, the weapons bag on his shoulder. “As long as you are safe.”
************************************************************
As the bus rumbled across the Okayama Prefecture, passing by Japanese red pines and through areas growing rice, rush, and various fruits, Ren, Maya, Ryo, and Kyouko were comforting Kaname. Her jaw was sore and her cheek slightly swollen, but she had no severe injuries after her strike by the angry Sumo wrestler. Sousuke ministered to himself, despite the fact that more than half of the girls on the bus offered to help.
The knowledge of Sousuke’s pledge was universal. A few boys holding grudges first thought that a golden opportunity had fallen into their laps. But, when Kaname temporarily turned Sousuke loose, the small cabal of boys gave up their dreams of a vendetta. Who could tell when their blue-haired Class Rep might let her dog off the chain again. Of course, if any great opportunity presented itself….
Despite having waited two hours for Sousuke to finish his miniatures march with the Hensai Inn’s manager, they were all ahead of schedule. Their tour was arranged for late morning, leaving them time to explore a number of the agricultural areas or scenic wildlife parks. Shinji, nearly jumping out through a bus window, suggested another possibility. They were going to pass by a large secluded Mitsubishi military manufacturing plant. The facilities, once a subject of heated political debates, produced the Type 96 Arm Slave along with other weapons systems. They provided short tours for select groups. With his father’s connections, Shinji was sure he could get them all in.
Understandably, the girls wanted nothing to do with the idea. It was a boy thing. The guys, on the other hand, suddenly had something hat made the long trip worthwhile. One by one they approached Miss Okibasu on their knees, begging. Looking over at Sousuke, she gave in. To prevent an uprising by the girls, she said that they would stay no longer than one hour, and would then head on over to the Korakuen Gardens, thought to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in all of Japan.
They were in luck. Not only did Shinji’s father’s name gain them entrance, but staff members were available for a tour. Better yet, a group of JSDF AS pilots were down for a seminar, and to exam some new improvements added by the design staff. They would be available to describe their exploits and add an experienced soldier’s point of view.
The smelting plant, molding areas, and sheet metal facilities were huge noisy hives of activity. The rough construction areas and coarse painting rooms were less hectic, but even more interesting. Best of all were the fine assembly room and the indoor machine test rigs. Close to drooling, Shinji and the other boys watched tethered Type 96s running, leaping, rolling, and mock shooting. The girls were bored. Furthermore, some resented the boys’ behavior. It looked as if they thought the big stupid machines were more interesting than them.
The tour personnel were efficient and honest. The strenghths and weakness of the Type 96 were both discussed. The pilots, on the other hand, were somewhat more biased.
“Hello boys and girls---especially girls---I am Capt. Tsujitani Kappei. With me are Sgts. Narita Kumiko, Ueda Houko, and Ogata Toshiyuki. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have. After that, while we return to our masterful training sessions, the tour guides will take you over to the indoor arena for a short demonstration of combat.
The girls, sighing at the appearance of the dashing men in uniform, suddenly took interest in the factory tour. The monopolized the questions, much to the joy of the preening and bragging pilots. Kaname was very much irritated. She had no interest in macho military morons. Sousuke had made her allergic to the type, and he was simply a high school otaku.
“Why don’t you ask any questions, Sousuke. I would have thought this was right up your alley. Look at Shinji, I think he has kangaroo blood.” Sure enough, Shinji was jumping up and down waving his arms. Finally he managed to ask his own question.
“There is no need, Kaname. There is likely nothing they could tell me that I do not already know. I would merely be wasting everybody’s time.” Sousuke had said it loud enough to be heard of the clamor of love-struck girls. That meant that it could be heard by the JSDF pilots as well as Kaname.
“Woah, little buddy. I’ll get back to the second part of your question later." Sgt. Kumiko said to Shinji. "It seems we have an expert in our midst." He waved towards Sousuke. “Why don’t you step up front, son. Perhaps we can teach this group of fine ladies something by asking you questions."
The girls all turned angry stares at Sousuke. The boys were happy because the girls were pissed. Miss Okibasu gave Sousuke a ‘remember, no trouble’ look.
“It is not a problem. I would be glad to help you with anything I can.”
“Ohhhh. Help us. I see. Cant’t pass up an opportunity like that, can we?” The sergeant clearly had Sousuke pegged as the type who memorized every journal and manual available to the general public. It was simple to embarrass know-it-alls like that.
“OK. I’ll start. Ley’s try some history, first. What was the first model of Arm Slave produced by Japan, and why did it go out of service so quickly?”
“The X-1. It was discontinued because of political matters.” Sousuke sounded rather certain.
“Wrong.” Captain Kappei said. “The correct answer is the Type 92. It was discontinued due to new power plant technology purchased from the British. X-1? Any of you boys hear of the X-1?” All four men shook their heads.
A number of girls stuck their tongues out at Sousuke. The rugby squad was happy to see Sousuke knocked off the top of the mountain.
“The Type 92 was the first indigenous AS produced by Japan. The X-1 was the name the JSDF gave to the American M4 when it was built on our shores under reciprocal license. The program was scrapped because of arguments over sensitive technologies. The JSDF was unwilling to share.”
“The young man is correct” a whizened old technician on the tour crew admitted quietly. “I worked on the X-1 in Osaka.”
Some of the girls looked at one another. It didn’t matter. Who cared about what Sousuke said? The soldiers were men, not boys.
"In any case, that's ancient history, not something a pilot in todays’ army needs to know. Ueda, you ask our new Sensai a question.”
“No prob. What is the power to weight ratio of the Type 96, and how does that compare to the modern AS models of other nations?” He slapped hands with his Captain.
Sousuke gave the correct answer.
“Very good, but I got you! The RK 92 has a WORSE P.W.R. than our machine.” Sgt. Houko had a big grin.
“That was true until six months ago,” Sousuke replied. “The current retro-fit engine, produced at the Chelybinsk Tractor Factory, and sold to India as part of technology assistance program, results in the statistics I mentioned.”
“He’s right. I read that!” Shinji turned a worshipful ook on Sousuke. Seeing the glares from the pilots, he crouched down and backed into the crowd.
“Here. I have one for you. In the latest International Arm Slave Quarterly, what four mechas were listed ahead of the Type 96?” SGT. Tokiyuki asked a question the boy couldn’t possibly answer. That journal was not available to anyone without proper military clearence.
“I do not find that publication to be accurate.” Sousuke’s answer brought big smiles. There was no way a boy would have access to the Quarterly. “There are more than four Arm Slaves that I would choose before the Type 96. They are, in no particular order, the M9, M6, Chinese Ty-Phung, Israeli Gibbor, and the Russian RK-96. A modified RK-92 would be its equal on flat ground and superior in rocky terrain.”
“Nah, that’s bullshit!” Sgt. Tokiyushi was not impressed. “No way anyone in an RK-92 is going to beat me in my machine, and Chinese A.S.s are nothing but hype. What the Hell is an M9? There ain’t no such animal!” His fellow pilots tried to calm him down. There was no reason to get so heated over something a teenage boy had to say.
Sousuke admonished himself. He'd better take his time with his answers. The pilots couldn't be expected to know about the Mithril A.S.. If they did, someone might want to do a check on a highschool student with too much information for his own good.
Miss Okibasu looked at her watch. The girls were growing restless. They did not care much for the usual male 'Mine is bigger than yours' stuff. The guys, however, thrived on turf battles.
“My turn. Let's see if I can think of a fun one, since you seem to know your stuff.” Sgt. Kumiko scratched at his chin. “Alright. Good enough. During a terrorist attack on the Nagasaki Arms factory last month, a pilot in a single Type 96 surprised and defeated three RK-92s smuggled aboard a Liberian freighter. If it wasn’t for the pilot of the Japanese craft, sensitive plans would have been stolen and passed off to some shadowy characters. What strategy, and which superior characteristic of the Type 96, made that victory possible?” The battle had been covered in a number of military and civilian publications. Inaccurately.
“I do not wish to offend.” Sousuke did not always do well in social situations, but he had a clear understanding of military pride. “The only advantages that earlier model of Type 96 had was skid resistant footing on the wet surfaces, and a ground-based reserve of ammunition. Review of the films showed that the JSDF pilot made a number of unfortunate mistakes and would have been taken out quickly under normal battlefield conditions.”
“Hold on there.” Sgt. Kumiko said, somewhat perturbed. “Be a bit more careful in what you say. That wasn’t any Sunday morning anime. That was real combat.”
“I am aware of that fact. One RK-92 fired its missile at the same moment a weakened area of wharf collapsed. It was trapped. The errant shot severely damaged one of its fellows. Another RK-92 had a catastrophic weapons failure, but still managed to tackle its opponent before rising again and being shot from point blank range by the retreating JSDF machine. All three enemy machines were apparently destroyed remotely, likely as a means to obliterate all signs of the perpetrating group’s identity. The descriptions of the battle were beautified. The Type 96 was fighting for its political life at the time.”
"How did he know that?" Shinji asked, slack-jawed. He thought he had collected every possible artcle and newspaper clipping avilable.
There was an angry response from the soldiers, but before they had a chance at a rebuttal, the tour guide started to move everyone on to the indoor arena to watch the military technicians test their handiwork in a mock battle. No one noticed that Sousuke did not accompany them.
Sgt. Kumiko had Sousuke firmly by the arm. The young Mithril operative did nothing to resist, the result of his pledge to kaname and Miss Okibasu. “I don’t suggest you ever spread that nonsense again!” He pulled Sousuke close, face to face. “It was the Captain here who piloted that A.S., and he is a dyed-in-the-wool hero! No school boy should talk the Captain down. EVER. Are we clear?”
“I merely stated the truth. I had no intention to smear anyone’s good name. If asked, I will tell the truth. The confrontation was won through luck, not skill.”
“What the Hell do YOU know about skill, you little shit?” Sgt. Tokiyushi had spent years listening to his parents belittle his career. He was not about to have some snot-nosed kid put down his commanding officer. “You think maybe that you could take us down? This ain’t models or video games we’re talking about. This ain’t no sand box play!”
“Yes.”
“WHAT did you say?” Sgt. Tokiyushi couldn’t belive his ears.
“I answered in the affirmative.”
“That’s easy to say, asshole. There’s no way for us to prove you wrong. I hate f@cking lousy civilians who look down on us. If we gave you a gun and sent you to defend this nation against terrorists, you’d probably just crap in your diaper!” Sgt. Tokiyushi looked capable of committing murder at that moment. His fellow soldiers no longer tried to calm him down. Things had gotten personal.
“Perhaps there is a way, Sgt.” Captain Kappei called his three subordinates into a huddle. After some heated discussion, he walked back over to Sousuke. “How would you like a chance behind the controls of a real Arm Slave, young man? Feel up to some combat?” They knew that any boy alive would like a chance to try out a mecha, but doubted any would be foolish enough to go into mock combat with a veteran.
“I would have no problem with that, Sir. But, I am not allowed.” Sousuke kept an even tone. There was no hint of fear in his voice.
“Oh. Of course. Your mother probably told you to resolve fights peacefully. It couldn’t possibly because you’re scared pissless!”
“No. I swore to my teacher and class representative that I would not use weapons again on this trip, and would not do any fighting without their permission.”
“Well, it’s not a problem, then!” Sgt. Houko said with a Cheshire Cat look. “It’s a competition. Play acting. Right? And the A.S. is a machine, not a weapon. The cannons are all loaded with paintballs, so can be considered really big toys. You wouldn’t be breaking any promises.” He was certain Sousuke was just trying to make excuses. What did he mean about not using weapons ‘again’?
“Then it would be acceptable on those terms. Unfortunately, as the Teacher mentioned, our time here is limited. It would take too long to go through full start-up procedures and have a match.”
“Ahhhh, yes. But if that could be fixed, you’d agree?” Capt. Kappei was ready for the next excuse.
“I would agree to the competition. But only if we begin immediately."
They showed Sousuke to a small electric people mover, joined him, and drove outside. “The machines are all prepped and running, ready for our scheduled session. Too bad your friends can’t see a real fight!” Sgt. Houko said. “Then again, THIS won’t be a real fight.” He laughed.
“You should give yourself more credit, Sgt.” Sousuke’s face was devoid of any signs of humor.
“Enjoy your fifteen seconds in the sun, kid. After that, you can run back to the other boys and girls.” Sgt. Houko frowned. Sousuke’s special charm was working on yet another acquaintance.
When they stopped by the row of Type 96s, their hatches open and inviting, Capt. Kappei escorted Sousuke to one of the craft. “So, who do you want to fight?”
“Any or all is fine. In sequence or all at once.” Sousuke spoke without a shred of rancor or pride.
All four soldiers laughed. “You do have a fire in your belly, don’t you son? What’s your name?” Captain Kappei smiled crookedly.
“Yeh, better make certain we write it down, in case they can’t identify his remains at the Hospital” Sgt. Tokiyushi wanted to go first in the worse way.
“Sagara. Sousuke Sagara.”
“Well, Sagara Sousuke Sagara, why don’t you climb up into the pilot seat. I will run you through procedures.” Sgt, Houko was a qualified instructor.
“I thank you, but it is not required.” Sousuke jumped, pulled himself up, then swung neatly into the seat. While one hand buckled the harness, the other hit the hatch control lever. The soldiers had to duck out of the way. Toggling the external speaker, Sousuke spoke. “System idling well. All joints now unlocking. Secondary systems are on-line. Venting will commence.” Large jets of compressed air blew fumes out of the engine enclosure. “Checking Melee weapon.” A huge hand grasped a large mock Anti-Armor dagger made of synthetics. “Balance off, but acceptable. Primary weapons check.” The hand replaced the blade and grasped a released cannon. “Satisfactory. Sagara, ready. Awaiting battle terms.”
“If that don’t beat all.” Sgt. Kumiko said, the only one who wasn’t momentarily tongue tied.
“I’m UP!!!” Sgt. Tokiyushi cried, breaking out of his brief trance. He ran to his machine.
“Your call, Sagara.” Capt. Kappei stood waiting while the other two sergeants started towards their Arm Slaves. Soon, three more machines were venting. “I will referee. One kill shot takes a machine out of battle. Three crippling shots do the same. A fatal dagger strike, too. Understood?”
“Affirmative. I will take on all who wish to fight.”
“The field is yours, young man. Fighting will commence at the sound of the siren.” The captain moved over to a control panel. “The hay bails are out of bounds. This will be like a Sumo match.”
“Understood.” Sumo was not Sousuke’s favorite word.
Arms and legs in place, Sousuke moved towards the best site on the field, putting his weak side behind a stack of barrels. As the machine walked, he unscrewed a panel and turned off the switch that controlled the engine governor. Not a wise move in prolonged combat, perhaps. But, in a quick battle, the extra power might prove advantageous.
“SAGARA, I’M COMING!!!” Sgt. Tokiyushi’s amplified voice roared across the outdoor test area.
“It is not a problem” Sousuke said to himself.
The siren went off.
Sousuke’s first move was totally unsuspected. The barrels were not to give him partial cover. They were a launch pad. His first leap took him to the top of the stack. Pushing off from there, he somersaulted his machine while twisting in mid-air. Three red paintball splotches ran up along the side of one opponent. A good start.
Landing, he jumped the machine immediately, not seeing the yellow, green, and blue paint marks appear on the spot he just left. Before landing, he threw his cannon high in the air. Taking out the Anti-Armor dagger, brought it down over the pilot compartment of an uninjured A.S.
“Kill, Sagara. Kumiko out.”
Holding the A.S. in front of him as a shield, Sosuke caught the spinning cannon. Paint balls splattered all over the shielding mecha. Firing as he pushed the other machine along, Sousuke put three more hits on the ‘injured’ Type 96. The extra power had made that move possible.
“Kill, Sagara. Houko out.”
“I’M NOT THAT EASY, SAGARA” Sgt. Tokiyushi had backed quickly out of Sousuke field of vision.
Running to the best vantage point, Sousuke fell afoul of an old instructor’s trick. Never count an enemy out until you have proof. One of the downed Arm Slaves had stuck its leg out, tripping Sousuke’s machine. It wasn’t a fair move, but it was the type that showed a pilot’s true mettle.
A veteran of many battles, Sousuke had faced this situation before. The first time had almost cost him his life. His first response was to tuck in his gun so it wouldn’t be knocked free. Only a brief moment later he extended the other arm to the appropriate length and angle, causing the Type 96 to do a neat handspring and land unsteadily on both legs. He knew he was only partly in control of his movement---momentum cannot be erased on a whim.
“Where would I strike from? THINK!!!” Plowing into a stack of large metal crates, he fired a spread pattern at an opening between two large cranes. “Yes!”
Sgt. Tokiyushi’s machine jumped out of concealment, only to take one hit to the lateral torso and one to the left leg. He was very skilled. Seeing Sousuke’s gun angle, he correctly guessed the danger headed his way. Before rolling behind another stack of crates, he fired off three shots, putting two of them on the left leg of Sousuke’s machine near the knee joint.
“Sagara, turn off power to the left leg.” In real combat, the mechanical limb would have been rendered inoperative.
Sousuke complied. He was in a bad spot now. It would be necessary to take calculated risks. Putting all weapons away, he used a style of movement he had come across once by accident. His ArmSlave hobbled forward with surprising speed, moving like a three-legged dog. Spring push spring push spring. Ducking behind a fueling arm, he saw that his action had caught his opponnet off guard. He was in easy range now. Sousuke could not afford to miss. He threw the huge dagger, then fell back into cover.
The young soldier’s aim was true.
“Tokiyushi, gun dropped but functional.”
“NO!” Sgt. Tokiyushi’s voice was defiant. “THE ANGLE WAS INSUFFICIENT.”
“Drop it, or be disqualified.”
Sousuke used his adversary’s hesitation to his advantage. Pushing out of his place of concealment, he fired as his machine fell towards the ground. A number of shots blossomed on the front of the other A.S.
“Kill, Sagara. Contest over.”
When the craft were all parked, Sousuke was surrounded by the other men. He was unable to judge their intentions. They knew about his pledge. Sgt. Tokiyuushi raised a beefy arm over his head and moved quickly, giving Sousuke a hearty slap on the back.
“Sorry I was such f@cker, Sagara. I hope you won’t hold it against me. I can’t argue against the skill I saw. Shit, I haven’t been toasted that quick since training camp.” Sgt. Tokiyushi shook Sousuke’s hand.
“Yeh, you got some skills, kid. I wish to Hell I knew why, but I’m not gonna pry. Sorry about that trip. I wanted to see what you were made of. Damn good stuff, it turns out.” Sgt. Houko gave him a thumbs up then mussed his hair.
“All I can say is I’m glad the Major wasn’t here to see it. He’d kick our asses for doing a slack job, then write us down for a week of extensive practice. Just our secret, OK?” Sgt. Kumiko laughed as he shook Sousuke’s hand.
“We’d better get you back to your class, Mister Sagara. But, we probably have time. That match went fast. Too damn fast. I won’t ask any questions either. But, if you ever want a career in the military, look us up. Maybe you’ll end up in the JSDF some day.” Capt. Kappei said.
"Time will tell, Sir."
************************************************************
Kaname felt it was Fate that brought her to the Korakuen Gardens---after all, the name came from a Chinese saying that mean ’First worry, then enjoy.’ That’s what life was like with Sousuke around, but with too much of the former and too little of the latter.
She had to admit to herself that Sousuke was doing very well this morning. He had taken a beating until she gave him permission to fight the Yokozuna. Other than being Mr. Otaku Know-It-All at the Mitsubishi plant, he had managed to avoid any confrontations. At the gardens, he had been keeping the boys in line, shepherding them through the rebuilt Okayama Castle and around the various shrine, tea house, and pond areas.
The rugby team and some other boys with a score to settle through Sousuke into one of the koi ponds. He broke the surface of the water gasping for air, a speckled koi balanced on his head and water lillies draped over his shoulders like fancy military epaulettes. He won back some of the boys’ good will by telling Miss Okibasu that he had been clumsy. The teacher was acting way too concerned about Sousuke for Kaname’s liking. Paying too much attention to them and not looking where she was going, she bumped into a man leaning over to smell some flowers.
The fancy dressed man, wearing a rakish outfit, rolled down an embankment. Enraged, and covered with flower petals, he stormed back up the hill and confronted a contrite Kaname. Yelling furiously, his reaction seemed greatly out of proportion. The bottle of sake in his pocket may have had something to do with that.
The man demanded an apology and got one. He asked Kaname to brush off his clothes and she did. Unfortunately for him, he overstepped his bounds. Rebuffed at his request for a kiss, he made an effort to grope her. When her anger overtook her shock and fear, Kaname clobbered the well-dressed pervert and sent him through the back wall of a small shrine, down a rocky path, over a delicate wooden sculpture, and into laps of two woman reclining on a small bench. Bench, women, and pervert tumbled out of sight.
“Chidori, are you OK?” Sousuke and Miss Okibasu had seen the latter half of the incident.
“Yes, Sousuke. No thanks to you.” Kaname turned her back to Sousuke.
“I must ask you pardon, but I have been instructed not to enter into conflicts.” Sousuke was merely stating the truth.
“I’m so very fortunate that you are good at following the rules at my expense. Do you have any idea what he was trying to do?” Kaname now faced Sousuke, her chest heaving in anger.
“Kaname?”
“He was trying to grope me!” Kaname had said that louder than she intended. Everyone turned to look at her.
“Grope?” Sousuke looked as if her were asked to solve a problem in Quantum Physics.
“PUT HANDS ON MY BREASTS!” Kaname was merely exasperated with the male gender. Her shout to Sousuke mistakenly sounded like an order.
Sousuke gently put a hand on each of Kaname’s breasts. “Now what?” He asked, swallowing and sweating.
“TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF ME, YOU PERVERT!!!” Kaname slugged him hard across the head with the halisen. Three times.
“But, Kaname…”
“DON’T YOU 'BUT, KANAME' ME, YOU MILITARY MALCONTENT MOLESTER!!!” Kaname picked up a nearby flower urn and broke it over Sousuke’s head.
The boys all did as one might expect. The girls started whispering together. Sousuke lay stretched out on the ground, his ears ringing. Groups of passersby stared on in amazement.
Miss Okibasu came over and kneeled by Sousuke, cradling his head in her lap. “Are you OK, Mr. Sagara. Should we send for a doctor. Do you need any attention.” She tore off part of her slip to dab at the blood on his brow.
Kaname’s tide of emotions turned again. From where she stood, that damn otaku was getting far too much attention. How dare Sousuke fondle her then turn his attention to some other woman!
Maya, Ren, and Ryo moved quickly to intercept Kaname. Hanging on to her halisen arm, they were swung forward, tripped over Sousuke’s prone form, and flew out into a lotus pond. Ren came up with snails on her head. Maya resurfaced wearing a necklace of water weeds. Ryo screeched, trying to get a frog out of her skirt. Kyouko took some great candid shots for the school magazine.
A strolling police officer saw everything that happened to Sousuke, breaking into a jog to reach the sight of trouble. “Young lady, I would like to have a word with you!” Everyone stepped away as the man walked over to Kaname. “If the young man wants to press charges, or the curators of this park wish to seek recompense for damages, I will need to take you down to the precinct.”
“B-B-But…it’s all a misundersatnding…I’m NOT some wacko…” Kaname was suddenly very worried.
“There she is. You got her officer. Good!” A dirt-covered man and two soil-dripping women staggered up to the pliceman. “She struck me and knocked me down the hill onto these two ladies. We may have all incurred serious injuries.” The women nodded their heads.
“Not some wacko…I see…” The policeman had a rather dubious look on his face.
“He tried to molest me!” Kaname stated, pointing at the man. “He DID grope me!” She pointed at Sousuke.
The bedraggled man gave Sousuke a big thumbs up. Seeing the officer look over at him, he tried to put on a face of innocence and unprompted abuse.
The man and two women wanted to press charges. Miss Okibasu acted as a mediator. Sousuke came up with the suggestion that kept Kaname off of the police data base.
“I do not wish to press charges. Neither should the man, as I was witness to his behavior. It is, however, a shame that such fine pottery was destroyed and the wild life was disturbed. I propose that we make Miss Chidori promise to refrain from violent outbursts, and pledge to set her halisen aside for the remainder of the trip.”
The police officer acquiesced. Before leaving, he had one last thing to say to Kaname. “You should be thankful that you have someone looking out for your better interests like that young man. From now on, try to keep a calm and rational head like him.”
************************************************************
End of part 8
Impromptu games of soccer and Keep Away broke out as the students waited to board the bus. Everyone was waiting for Sousuke.
The guys and gals from Jindai High were not the only early birds. Repair crews were busy, fixing up the damage to the pool area and the residential wing vacated by the class. The main-line contractors lent a hand, ready to begin the finishing touches on those area.
Sousuke was meeting with Mr. Tojifura. The list of damages was significant, even if it were small by the young Sergeant’s standards.
Walking with the manager to his office, Sousuke found himself in the middle of a small but potentially dangerous confrontation. Stepping out of the way of a long train of luggage carts, he found himself staring up into the eyes of an irate Sachiya Morishita. The fight promoter had a wide swath of gauze wrapped around his neck.
“Y-Y-You!” Mr. Morishita found himself somewhat at a loss for words. “I will have my satisfaction.” Seeing Mr. Tojifura, the taller man grabbed hold of his kimono. “THIS is the boy that soiled the reputation of the Yokizunas. THIS is the boy who besmirched the reputation of this fine Inn. I demand that he be handed over to the police. Immediately, if not sooner.
Mr. Tojifura scratched his head for a moment. Seemingly ignoring the other man, he walked around a scraggly indoor bamboo plant, looking it up and down. In a blinding otion, he pulled his katana out of its sheath and used it to trim and shape the bamboo. After clapping his hands and asking one of the bellhops to clean up the mess, he turned to Mr. Morishita. “Sir, I had considered calling the police last night, but refrained.”
“W-W-Why?” Mr. Morishita’s hand went to his neck.
“Because Sir, I believe in second chances.” Mr. Tojifura spoke in a calm and quiet voice.
“This…ruffian…does not deserve any such consideration. He lay hands on three great champions. He injured me.” As he spoke, the promoter noted that his three large guest had now joined him. “These men you see are not the common visitors you usually serve here. They are legends.”
“It was for that reason that I did not call the authorities. I did not wish to see such great men hauled away in handcuffs.” Mr. Tojifura bowed to Mr. Kashiwoda, Mr. Mahmud, and Mr. Yilmaz.
“WHAT! THEM???” Spittle flew from Mr. Morishita’s mouth.
“Yes. There were numerous witnesses to their behavior. I am also aware of the identity of the man who initiated the entire fracas.” Mr. Tojifura’s eyes went hard as he stared at the fight promoter. “As it turns out, each of you is still alive. I have reason to believe that things could have turned out much differently had Mr. Sagara not exercised commendable restraint. Perhaps you should all count your blessings and let the matter rest.”
“We will NOT…” Mr. Morishita stopped when a large hand grasped his shoulder.
“We have no fault with you, honored manager.” The Yokizuna nodded to Mr. Tojifura. “There is nothing to be gained from argument. Could you please have our limousines summoned. We will be taking our morning repast.”
“Certainly.” Mr. Tojifura honored the Sumo with a bow. He called over a concierge. “Summon the limousines for our most honored guests. Be quick about it.”
The Yokizuna turned to Sousuke. “You and I have a score to settle. Sagara. I shall certainly remember that name.” With that, he joined the two other fighters and headed into the lounge area.
After the confrontation was diffused, Sousuke joined the manager in his office. “I am always glad when my guests find their time at the Inn to be memorable. I take it that you have many memories to take home with you?”
“Yes, that is true.” Sousuke was very good at collecting memories. This stay had been the rule, not the exception.
“Usually however, the Inn and its staff are not left with so many remembrances. I must say that I doubt there will be another stay like yours. That is not an entirely bad thing.” Mr. Tojifura’s expression was neutral.
“I understand, Sir. It was not our intention to cause such damages. We all appreciate the fine service of the Inn and staff.”
“Yet, damages there are. Considerable work must be done, before the renovations can restart.”
“My apologies, Sir. I am ready and willing to assume all responsibility!” Sousuke bowed his head.
“Good. Very good. The debt is huge. We should begin at once.” Mr. Tojifura handed Sousuke a bucket of lead soldiers. “The date is 1281. Kublai Khan, now emperor of China, is sending a great fleet against Japan. The invaders have gunpowder bombs, ‘fire-sticks,’ and wave after wave of archers. The Hojo have built a great wall to hold back the invaders. This time, there shall be no hurricane to sink the Chinese fleet. This is the defining moment for the Kamakura bakufu. It rests in your hands.”
“Sir!” Sousuke began setting up his defenses.
************************************************************
The windows on the bus were open. The students let out a great crescendo of cheers when Sousuke walked outside, weapons bag over his shoulder. There were a fair number of raspberries mixed in, seeing that they had all been waiting for two hours.
Kaname was moved to leave the bus. In front of the entire class, she dressed Sousuke down. “Where have you been, Sousuke. Everyone has been waiting for you. This is very inconsiderate.”
“You tell him, Chidori” one girl yelled out, echoed by others. Once again, Sousuke was confused by the protean nature of the female gender.
“Were you tipping all the serving girls, Sagara?” The rugby player’s shouted innuendo had the whole male population in an uproar.
“We had a large debt. My services saw to it that our debt is resolved.” Sousuke did not elucidate. Kaname knew that Sousuke’s actions most likely had nothing to do with seving girls. That didn’t stop her from stamping her foot when all the boys cheered.
“Well, you still have a debt to your class Sousuke. And a pledge, I hope you remember. No fighting. No weapons.” Kaname had practically been shouting. Her voice carried across the front of the Inn.
“I gave my word, Chidori.”
As Sousuke headed for the bus stairs, he heard Kaname gasp. He felt a large hand on his shoulder.
“Sagara. It seems that my limousine is delayed by traffic. It has not done much to improve my disposition. But, it seems to have provided me with a wonderful opportunity. The gods must be smiling down on me today.” Taiho Kashiwado chuckled. “Is what the little girl said true? No fighting? No weapons?” He turned to Mr. Mahmud and Mr. Yilmaz and relayed the news.
“It is true. I have given my word. I follow the orders of my Teacher and my Class Representative.” Sousuke’s voice was dead calm.
“Then, this will be the perfect time to punish you for the stain you put on my honor. Not to mention the indignity you did to my…person. If you live, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that our debt is paid.” The Sumo’s laughter drowned out the engine of the bus.
“You’d hit someone who couldn’t hit back?” Kaname was red in the face. “How can you stand there and even pretend to talk about honor?!”
“Women should be seen and not heard!” The Yokozuna shoved Kaname towards the bus, knocking her to the ground.
Sousuke’s face went blank. His eyes burned with a rising fury. Both hands twitched as he took a step towards the huge man. Bowing his head is resignation, he stopped. He had given his word.
“Ho ho ho ho ho. Does this little strumpet mean something to you, Sagara. How very marvelous. She will get a front row seat to your match with me. Maybe afterwards, she would like to spend some time with me.” He grinned and pulled up his pants. It was an automatic gesture. He grimaced in pain. “Better yet, as a generous man, I would be willing to share her with my comrades.”
“I speak only for myself, Kashiwoda.” Mr. Mahmud spoke quickly after the Sumo’s crude inference. “I want nothing to do with your game. Having considered my own actions, I have no score to settle with Mr. Sagara.”
“The same holds true for me,” Mr. Yilmaz said. The bodyguards all looked at one another. By silent agreement, they were not going to get involved either. Mr. Morishita was inside on the phone.
“Get on the bus, Chidori.” Sousuke stepped between Kaname and the Sumo. “Hurry. I shall shield you.”
“Sousuke…” Kaname looked worried. She didn’t move.
“Run, Kaname!” Kyouko yelled out. A large number of boys and girls seconded her suggestion.
“But….” Kaname moved slowly, looking at Sousuke and his approaching foe.
“Go NOW, Kaname!” Sousuke grabbed her roughly around the waist and tossed her onto the bus stairs. Moments later, he was pulled backward, then thrown forward against the bus. A loud Clanggggggg echoed inside.
The students stared in rapt fascination. There friend was being assaulted, but there was absolutely nothing they could do. Miss Okibasu sated down the stairs, but caught the Yokozuna’s attention.
“I presume you are the teacher. If you try to pass by me, I shall stop you.” The sound of Mr. Kashiwado’s voice sent chills up the spine of everyone in earshot. “If you call the authorities, I shall start on your other students. With my connections, no charge will stick, no matter what I do. You should count yourself fortunate that I practice admirable restraint!” Miss Okibasu sank down to sit on the stairs, trying to think of a solution.
Sousuke began staggering away from the bus, wanting to lead the large man away from his classmates. When he and the Sumo were far enough away, he shouted. “Teacher, get the bus out of here!” It would have been a good suggestion, had the limousines not arrived at that moment, blocking the path of the bus. Miss Okibasu blew the horn repeatedly, but the other drivers were of the belief that they had the right of way.
“A noble act. Worthy of a hero. Of course, we both know the fate that many Japanese heroes have met.” Mr. Kashiwoda began stamping his feet. “I applaud your courage, Sagara. You could just have run. Very brave, but very stupid! Aren’t you going to say anything? A final request, perhaps?”
“I would honorably request that you shut up.” Sousuke scowled, his face filled with obvious contempt. “I do not see or hear you. You are not alive to me.” He braced himself for what he knew would follow.
“Insolent DOG!!!” The Sumo began his Tachiai, the initial charge. His anger grew when his opponent performed the equivalent of a Henka, side-stepping the rush. “Do NOT postpone the inevitable. Things will only go worse for you.”
“The ground shakes, but I see no reason for it. Perhaps it is my stomach. It would have been wise to eat breakfast this morning.” Looking away from his opponent, Sousuke patted his belly.
“BASTARD!” The Yokozuna swung with a mighty Harite, watching with disbelief as Sousuke dodged again. He followed with a remarkably fast Inashi, the slap to the side sending Sousuke face down into the grass. “It has begun!” he bellowed in an elephantine voice.
Sousuke, coughing and retching, brought himself up to his knees. Grabbed by his belt, he found himself flung upward by means of a powerful Yotsu-zumo throw. The subsequent impact with the ground injured his shoulder and had him seeing stars.
“You see now the fate of ALL who stand against me. You may beg for mercy if you wish, but you would have more success petitioning the very forces of Nature!” His laughter floated on the breeze with some wayward leaves.
Sousuke pulled himself to his feet. “I have received worse beatings from the street whores of Kabul. Yet, even they did not call as much attention to themselves as you do.” He spat out some blood. “They had far more honor!” Motion caught his eye. Kaname!!! She was running in his direction. The weapons bag was in her arms.
“You will DIE for that insult, little boy!” Mr. Kashiwoda charged Sousuke and pushed him hard to the ground. “First, I will return a favor.” His massive foot shot downward, headed for Sousuke’s groin. He missed, his aim thrown off. He had been struck in the back of the head by a heavy object.
“Sousuke! I give you the order. It’s OK to fight back, any way you choose.” Kaname unzipped the bag and looked towards Sousuke for instructions. She should have moved out of harms way.
“BITCH!” The Sumo slapped Kaname to the side of the head. “When I finish with him, I will---”
“Be in great pain.” Sousuke spoke from the ground beneath the Sumo. He had taken his pistol out of the weapons bag. Looking upward, he saw the look of surprise on the Yokozuna’s face. How could the injured boy move so fast? The sound of a gunshot echoed throughout the surrounding hills. A flock of cranes took flight.
Sousuke had shot the huge man in the same spot he shot him before. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” He turned his attention to Kaname. “Are you OK? Here, I will assist you.”
“Sousuke, I took too long, I’m sorry….” Kaname was wobbly on her feet, almost falling as she tried to walk.
“It is not a problem, Miss Chidori” Sousuke said, taking Kaname up into his arms, the weapons bag on his shoulder. “As long as you are safe.”
************************************************************
As the bus rumbled across the Okayama Prefecture, passing by Japanese red pines and through areas growing rice, rush, and various fruits, Ren, Maya, Ryo, and Kyouko were comforting Kaname. Her jaw was sore and her cheek slightly swollen, but she had no severe injuries after her strike by the angry Sumo wrestler. Sousuke ministered to himself, despite the fact that more than half of the girls on the bus offered to help.
The knowledge of Sousuke’s pledge was universal. A few boys holding grudges first thought that a golden opportunity had fallen into their laps. But, when Kaname temporarily turned Sousuke loose, the small cabal of boys gave up their dreams of a vendetta. Who could tell when their blue-haired Class Rep might let her dog off the chain again. Of course, if any great opportunity presented itself….
Despite having waited two hours for Sousuke to finish his miniatures march with the Hensai Inn’s manager, they were all ahead of schedule. Their tour was arranged for late morning, leaving them time to explore a number of the agricultural areas or scenic wildlife parks. Shinji, nearly jumping out through a bus window, suggested another possibility. They were going to pass by a large secluded Mitsubishi military manufacturing plant. The facilities, once a subject of heated political debates, produced the Type 96 Arm Slave along with other weapons systems. They provided short tours for select groups. With his father’s connections, Shinji was sure he could get them all in.
Understandably, the girls wanted nothing to do with the idea. It was a boy thing. The guys, on the other hand, suddenly had something hat made the long trip worthwhile. One by one they approached Miss Okibasu on their knees, begging. Looking over at Sousuke, she gave in. To prevent an uprising by the girls, she said that they would stay no longer than one hour, and would then head on over to the Korakuen Gardens, thought to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in all of Japan.
They were in luck. Not only did Shinji’s father’s name gain them entrance, but staff members were available for a tour. Better yet, a group of JSDF AS pilots were down for a seminar, and to exam some new improvements added by the design staff. They would be available to describe their exploits and add an experienced soldier’s point of view.
The smelting plant, molding areas, and sheet metal facilities were huge noisy hives of activity. The rough construction areas and coarse painting rooms were less hectic, but even more interesting. Best of all were the fine assembly room and the indoor machine test rigs. Close to drooling, Shinji and the other boys watched tethered Type 96s running, leaping, rolling, and mock shooting. The girls were bored. Furthermore, some resented the boys’ behavior. It looked as if they thought the big stupid machines were more interesting than them.
The tour personnel were efficient and honest. The strenghths and weakness of the Type 96 were both discussed. The pilots, on the other hand, were somewhat more biased.
“Hello boys and girls---especially girls---I am Capt. Tsujitani Kappei. With me are Sgts. Narita Kumiko, Ueda Houko, and Ogata Toshiyuki. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have. After that, while we return to our masterful training sessions, the tour guides will take you over to the indoor arena for a short demonstration of combat.
The girls, sighing at the appearance of the dashing men in uniform, suddenly took interest in the factory tour. The monopolized the questions, much to the joy of the preening and bragging pilots. Kaname was very much irritated. She had no interest in macho military morons. Sousuke had made her allergic to the type, and he was simply a high school otaku.
“Why don’t you ask any questions, Sousuke. I would have thought this was right up your alley. Look at Shinji, I think he has kangaroo blood.” Sure enough, Shinji was jumping up and down waving his arms. Finally he managed to ask his own question.
“There is no need, Kaname. There is likely nothing they could tell me that I do not already know. I would merely be wasting everybody’s time.” Sousuke had said it loud enough to be heard of the clamor of love-struck girls. That meant that it could be heard by the JSDF pilots as well as Kaname.
“Woah, little buddy. I’ll get back to the second part of your question later." Sgt. Kumiko said to Shinji. "It seems we have an expert in our midst." He waved towards Sousuke. “Why don’t you step up front, son. Perhaps we can teach this group of fine ladies something by asking you questions."
The girls all turned angry stares at Sousuke. The boys were happy because the girls were pissed. Miss Okibasu gave Sousuke a ‘remember, no trouble’ look.
“It is not a problem. I would be glad to help you with anything I can.”
“Ohhhh. Help us. I see. Cant’t pass up an opportunity like that, can we?” The sergeant clearly had Sousuke pegged as the type who memorized every journal and manual available to the general public. It was simple to embarrass know-it-alls like that.
“OK. I’ll start. Ley’s try some history, first. What was the first model of Arm Slave produced by Japan, and why did it go out of service so quickly?”
“The X-1. It was discontinued because of political matters.” Sousuke sounded rather certain.
“Wrong.” Captain Kappei said. “The correct answer is the Type 92. It was discontinued due to new power plant technology purchased from the British. X-1? Any of you boys hear of the X-1?” All four men shook their heads.
A number of girls stuck their tongues out at Sousuke. The rugby squad was happy to see Sousuke knocked off the top of the mountain.
“The Type 92 was the first indigenous AS produced by Japan. The X-1 was the name the JSDF gave to the American M4 when it was built on our shores under reciprocal license. The program was scrapped because of arguments over sensitive technologies. The JSDF was unwilling to share.”
“The young man is correct” a whizened old technician on the tour crew admitted quietly. “I worked on the X-1 in Osaka.”
Some of the girls looked at one another. It didn’t matter. Who cared about what Sousuke said? The soldiers were men, not boys.
"In any case, that's ancient history, not something a pilot in todays’ army needs to know. Ueda, you ask our new Sensai a question.”
“No prob. What is the power to weight ratio of the Type 96, and how does that compare to the modern AS models of other nations?” He slapped hands with his Captain.
Sousuke gave the correct answer.
“Very good, but I got you! The RK 92 has a WORSE P.W.R. than our machine.” Sgt. Houko had a big grin.
“That was true until six months ago,” Sousuke replied. “The current retro-fit engine, produced at the Chelybinsk Tractor Factory, and sold to India as part of technology assistance program, results in the statistics I mentioned.”
“He’s right. I read that!” Shinji turned a worshipful ook on Sousuke. Seeing the glares from the pilots, he crouched down and backed into the crowd.
“Here. I have one for you. In the latest International Arm Slave Quarterly, what four mechas were listed ahead of the Type 96?” SGT. Tokiyuki asked a question the boy couldn’t possibly answer. That journal was not available to anyone without proper military clearence.
“I do not find that publication to be accurate.” Sousuke’s answer brought big smiles. There was no way a boy would have access to the Quarterly. “There are more than four Arm Slaves that I would choose before the Type 96. They are, in no particular order, the M9, M6, Chinese Ty-Phung, Israeli Gibbor, and the Russian RK-96. A modified RK-92 would be its equal on flat ground and superior in rocky terrain.”
“Nah, that’s bullshit!” Sgt. Tokiyushi was not impressed. “No way anyone in an RK-92 is going to beat me in my machine, and Chinese A.S.s are nothing but hype. What the Hell is an M9? There ain’t no such animal!” His fellow pilots tried to calm him down. There was no reason to get so heated over something a teenage boy had to say.
Sousuke admonished himself. He'd better take his time with his answers. The pilots couldn't be expected to know about the Mithril A.S.. If they did, someone might want to do a check on a highschool student with too much information for his own good.
Miss Okibasu looked at her watch. The girls were growing restless. They did not care much for the usual male 'Mine is bigger than yours' stuff. The guys, however, thrived on turf battles.
“My turn. Let's see if I can think of a fun one, since you seem to know your stuff.” Sgt. Kumiko scratched at his chin. “Alright. Good enough. During a terrorist attack on the Nagasaki Arms factory last month, a pilot in a single Type 96 surprised and defeated three RK-92s smuggled aboard a Liberian freighter. If it wasn’t for the pilot of the Japanese craft, sensitive plans would have been stolen and passed off to some shadowy characters. What strategy, and which superior characteristic of the Type 96, made that victory possible?” The battle had been covered in a number of military and civilian publications. Inaccurately.
“I do not wish to offend.” Sousuke did not always do well in social situations, but he had a clear understanding of military pride. “The only advantages that earlier model of Type 96 had was skid resistant footing on the wet surfaces, and a ground-based reserve of ammunition. Review of the films showed that the JSDF pilot made a number of unfortunate mistakes and would have been taken out quickly under normal battlefield conditions.”
“Hold on there.” Sgt. Kumiko said, somewhat perturbed. “Be a bit more careful in what you say. That wasn’t any Sunday morning anime. That was real combat.”
“I am aware of that fact. One RK-92 fired its missile at the same moment a weakened area of wharf collapsed. It was trapped. The errant shot severely damaged one of its fellows. Another RK-92 had a catastrophic weapons failure, but still managed to tackle its opponent before rising again and being shot from point blank range by the retreating JSDF machine. All three enemy machines were apparently destroyed remotely, likely as a means to obliterate all signs of the perpetrating group’s identity. The descriptions of the battle were beautified. The Type 96 was fighting for its political life at the time.”
"How did he know that?" Shinji asked, slack-jawed. He thought he had collected every possible artcle and newspaper clipping avilable.
There was an angry response from the soldiers, but before they had a chance at a rebuttal, the tour guide started to move everyone on to the indoor arena to watch the military technicians test their handiwork in a mock battle. No one noticed that Sousuke did not accompany them.
Sgt. Kumiko had Sousuke firmly by the arm. The young Mithril operative did nothing to resist, the result of his pledge to kaname and Miss Okibasu. “I don’t suggest you ever spread that nonsense again!” He pulled Sousuke close, face to face. “It was the Captain here who piloted that A.S., and he is a dyed-in-the-wool hero! No school boy should talk the Captain down. EVER. Are we clear?”
“I merely stated the truth. I had no intention to smear anyone’s good name. If asked, I will tell the truth. The confrontation was won through luck, not skill.”
“What the Hell do YOU know about skill, you little shit?” Sgt. Tokiyushi had spent years listening to his parents belittle his career. He was not about to have some snot-nosed kid put down his commanding officer. “You think maybe that you could take us down? This ain’t models or video games we’re talking about. This ain’t no sand box play!”
“Yes.”
“WHAT did you say?” Sgt. Tokiyushi couldn’t belive his ears.
“I answered in the affirmative.”
“That’s easy to say, asshole. There’s no way for us to prove you wrong. I hate f@cking lousy civilians who look down on us. If we gave you a gun and sent you to defend this nation against terrorists, you’d probably just crap in your diaper!” Sgt. Tokiyushi looked capable of committing murder at that moment. His fellow soldiers no longer tried to calm him down. Things had gotten personal.
“Perhaps there is a way, Sgt.” Captain Kappei called his three subordinates into a huddle. After some heated discussion, he walked back over to Sousuke. “How would you like a chance behind the controls of a real Arm Slave, young man? Feel up to some combat?” They knew that any boy alive would like a chance to try out a mecha, but doubted any would be foolish enough to go into mock combat with a veteran.
“I would have no problem with that, Sir. But, I am not allowed.” Sousuke kept an even tone. There was no hint of fear in his voice.
“Oh. Of course. Your mother probably told you to resolve fights peacefully. It couldn’t possibly because you’re scared pissless!”
“No. I swore to my teacher and class representative that I would not use weapons again on this trip, and would not do any fighting without their permission.”
“Well, it’s not a problem, then!” Sgt. Houko said with a Cheshire Cat look. “It’s a competition. Play acting. Right? And the A.S. is a machine, not a weapon. The cannons are all loaded with paintballs, so can be considered really big toys. You wouldn’t be breaking any promises.” He was certain Sousuke was just trying to make excuses. What did he mean about not using weapons ‘again’?
“Then it would be acceptable on those terms. Unfortunately, as the Teacher mentioned, our time here is limited. It would take too long to go through full start-up procedures and have a match.”
“Ahhhh, yes. But if that could be fixed, you’d agree?” Capt. Kappei was ready for the next excuse.
“I would agree to the competition. But only if we begin immediately."
They showed Sousuke to a small electric people mover, joined him, and drove outside. “The machines are all prepped and running, ready for our scheduled session. Too bad your friends can’t see a real fight!” Sgt. Houko said. “Then again, THIS won’t be a real fight.” He laughed.
“You should give yourself more credit, Sgt.” Sousuke’s face was devoid of any signs of humor.
“Enjoy your fifteen seconds in the sun, kid. After that, you can run back to the other boys and girls.” Sgt. Houko frowned. Sousuke’s special charm was working on yet another acquaintance.
When they stopped by the row of Type 96s, their hatches open and inviting, Capt. Kappei escorted Sousuke to one of the craft. “So, who do you want to fight?”
“Any or all is fine. In sequence or all at once.” Sousuke spoke without a shred of rancor or pride.
All four soldiers laughed. “You do have a fire in your belly, don’t you son? What’s your name?” Captain Kappei smiled crookedly.
“Yeh, better make certain we write it down, in case they can’t identify his remains at the Hospital” Sgt. Tokiyushi wanted to go first in the worse way.
“Sagara. Sousuke Sagara.”
“Well, Sagara Sousuke Sagara, why don’t you climb up into the pilot seat. I will run you through procedures.” Sgt, Houko was a qualified instructor.
“I thank you, but it is not required.” Sousuke jumped, pulled himself up, then swung neatly into the seat. While one hand buckled the harness, the other hit the hatch control lever. The soldiers had to duck out of the way. Toggling the external speaker, Sousuke spoke. “System idling well. All joints now unlocking. Secondary systems are on-line. Venting will commence.” Large jets of compressed air blew fumes out of the engine enclosure. “Checking Melee weapon.” A huge hand grasped a large mock Anti-Armor dagger made of synthetics. “Balance off, but acceptable. Primary weapons check.” The hand replaced the blade and grasped a released cannon. “Satisfactory. Sagara, ready. Awaiting battle terms.”
“If that don’t beat all.” Sgt. Kumiko said, the only one who wasn’t momentarily tongue tied.
“I’m UP!!!” Sgt. Tokiyushi cried, breaking out of his brief trance. He ran to his machine.
“Your call, Sagara.” Capt. Kappei stood waiting while the other two sergeants started towards their Arm Slaves. Soon, three more machines were venting. “I will referee. One kill shot takes a machine out of battle. Three crippling shots do the same. A fatal dagger strike, too. Understood?”
“Affirmative. I will take on all who wish to fight.”
“The field is yours, young man. Fighting will commence at the sound of the siren.” The captain moved over to a control panel. “The hay bails are out of bounds. This will be like a Sumo match.”
“Understood.” Sumo was not Sousuke’s favorite word.
Arms and legs in place, Sousuke moved towards the best site on the field, putting his weak side behind a stack of barrels. As the machine walked, he unscrewed a panel and turned off the switch that controlled the engine governor. Not a wise move in prolonged combat, perhaps. But, in a quick battle, the extra power might prove advantageous.
“SAGARA, I’M COMING!!!” Sgt. Tokiyushi’s amplified voice roared across the outdoor test area.
“It is not a problem” Sousuke said to himself.
The siren went off.
Sousuke’s first move was totally unsuspected. The barrels were not to give him partial cover. They were a launch pad. His first leap took him to the top of the stack. Pushing off from there, he somersaulted his machine while twisting in mid-air. Three red paintball splotches ran up along the side of one opponent. A good start.
Landing, he jumped the machine immediately, not seeing the yellow, green, and blue paint marks appear on the spot he just left. Before landing, he threw his cannon high in the air. Taking out the Anti-Armor dagger, brought it down over the pilot compartment of an uninjured A.S.
“Kill, Sagara. Kumiko out.”
Holding the A.S. in front of him as a shield, Sosuke caught the spinning cannon. Paint balls splattered all over the shielding mecha. Firing as he pushed the other machine along, Sousuke put three more hits on the ‘injured’ Type 96. The extra power had made that move possible.
“Kill, Sagara. Houko out.”
“I’M NOT THAT EASY, SAGARA” Sgt. Tokiyushi had backed quickly out of Sousuke field of vision.
Running to the best vantage point, Sousuke fell afoul of an old instructor’s trick. Never count an enemy out until you have proof. One of the downed Arm Slaves had stuck its leg out, tripping Sousuke’s machine. It wasn’t a fair move, but it was the type that showed a pilot’s true mettle.
A veteran of many battles, Sousuke had faced this situation before. The first time had almost cost him his life. His first response was to tuck in his gun so it wouldn’t be knocked free. Only a brief moment later he extended the other arm to the appropriate length and angle, causing the Type 96 to do a neat handspring and land unsteadily on both legs. He knew he was only partly in control of his movement---momentum cannot be erased on a whim.
“Where would I strike from? THINK!!!” Plowing into a stack of large metal crates, he fired a spread pattern at an opening between two large cranes. “Yes!”
Sgt. Tokiyushi’s machine jumped out of concealment, only to take one hit to the lateral torso and one to the left leg. He was very skilled. Seeing Sousuke’s gun angle, he correctly guessed the danger headed his way. Before rolling behind another stack of crates, he fired off three shots, putting two of them on the left leg of Sousuke’s machine near the knee joint.
“Sagara, turn off power to the left leg.” In real combat, the mechanical limb would have been rendered inoperative.
Sousuke complied. He was in a bad spot now. It would be necessary to take calculated risks. Putting all weapons away, he used a style of movement he had come across once by accident. His ArmSlave hobbled forward with surprising speed, moving like a three-legged dog. Spring push spring push spring. Ducking behind a fueling arm, he saw that his action had caught his opponnet off guard. He was in easy range now. Sousuke could not afford to miss. He threw the huge dagger, then fell back into cover.
The young soldier’s aim was true.
“Tokiyushi, gun dropped but functional.”
“NO!” Sgt. Tokiyushi’s voice was defiant. “THE ANGLE WAS INSUFFICIENT.”
“Drop it, or be disqualified.”
Sousuke used his adversary’s hesitation to his advantage. Pushing out of his place of concealment, he fired as his machine fell towards the ground. A number of shots blossomed on the front of the other A.S.
“Kill, Sagara. Contest over.”
When the craft were all parked, Sousuke was surrounded by the other men. He was unable to judge their intentions. They knew about his pledge. Sgt. Tokiyuushi raised a beefy arm over his head and moved quickly, giving Sousuke a hearty slap on the back.
“Sorry I was such f@cker, Sagara. I hope you won’t hold it against me. I can’t argue against the skill I saw. Shit, I haven’t been toasted that quick since training camp.” Sgt. Tokiyushi shook Sousuke’s hand.
“Yeh, you got some skills, kid. I wish to Hell I knew why, but I’m not gonna pry. Sorry about that trip. I wanted to see what you were made of. Damn good stuff, it turns out.” Sgt. Houko gave him a thumbs up then mussed his hair.
“All I can say is I’m glad the Major wasn’t here to see it. He’d kick our asses for doing a slack job, then write us down for a week of extensive practice. Just our secret, OK?” Sgt. Kumiko laughed as he shook Sousuke’s hand.
“We’d better get you back to your class, Mister Sagara. But, we probably have time. That match went fast. Too damn fast. I won’t ask any questions either. But, if you ever want a career in the military, look us up. Maybe you’ll end up in the JSDF some day.” Capt. Kappei said.
"Time will tell, Sir."
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Kaname felt it was Fate that brought her to the Korakuen Gardens---after all, the name came from a Chinese saying that mean ’First worry, then enjoy.’ That’s what life was like with Sousuke around, but with too much of the former and too little of the latter.
She had to admit to herself that Sousuke was doing very well this morning. He had taken a beating until she gave him permission to fight the Yokozuna. Other than being Mr. Otaku Know-It-All at the Mitsubishi plant, he had managed to avoid any confrontations. At the gardens, he had been keeping the boys in line, shepherding them through the rebuilt Okayama Castle and around the various shrine, tea house, and pond areas.
The rugby team and some other boys with a score to settle through Sousuke into one of the koi ponds. He broke the surface of the water gasping for air, a speckled koi balanced on his head and water lillies draped over his shoulders like fancy military epaulettes. He won back some of the boys’ good will by telling Miss Okibasu that he had been clumsy. The teacher was acting way too concerned about Sousuke for Kaname’s liking. Paying too much attention to them and not looking where she was going, she bumped into a man leaning over to smell some flowers.
The fancy dressed man, wearing a rakish outfit, rolled down an embankment. Enraged, and covered with flower petals, he stormed back up the hill and confronted a contrite Kaname. Yelling furiously, his reaction seemed greatly out of proportion. The bottle of sake in his pocket may have had something to do with that.
The man demanded an apology and got one. He asked Kaname to brush off his clothes and she did. Unfortunately for him, he overstepped his bounds. Rebuffed at his request for a kiss, he made an effort to grope her. When her anger overtook her shock and fear, Kaname clobbered the well-dressed pervert and sent him through the back wall of a small shrine, down a rocky path, over a delicate wooden sculpture, and into laps of two woman reclining on a small bench. Bench, women, and pervert tumbled out of sight.
“Chidori, are you OK?” Sousuke and Miss Okibasu had seen the latter half of the incident.
“Yes, Sousuke. No thanks to you.” Kaname turned her back to Sousuke.
“I must ask you pardon, but I have been instructed not to enter into conflicts.” Sousuke was merely stating the truth.
“I’m so very fortunate that you are good at following the rules at my expense. Do you have any idea what he was trying to do?” Kaname now faced Sousuke, her chest heaving in anger.
“Kaname?”
“He was trying to grope me!” Kaname had said that louder than she intended. Everyone turned to look at her.
“Grope?” Sousuke looked as if her were asked to solve a problem in Quantum Physics.
“PUT HANDS ON MY BREASTS!” Kaname was merely exasperated with the male gender. Her shout to Sousuke mistakenly sounded like an order.
Sousuke gently put a hand on each of Kaname’s breasts. “Now what?” He asked, swallowing and sweating.
“TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF ME, YOU PERVERT!!!” Kaname slugged him hard across the head with the halisen. Three times.
“But, Kaname…”
“DON’T YOU 'BUT, KANAME' ME, YOU MILITARY MALCONTENT MOLESTER!!!” Kaname picked up a nearby flower urn and broke it over Sousuke’s head.
The boys all did as one might expect. The girls started whispering together. Sousuke lay stretched out on the ground, his ears ringing. Groups of passersby stared on in amazement.
Miss Okibasu came over and kneeled by Sousuke, cradling his head in her lap. “Are you OK, Mr. Sagara. Should we send for a doctor. Do you need any attention.” She tore off part of her slip to dab at the blood on his brow.
Kaname’s tide of emotions turned again. From where she stood, that damn otaku was getting far too much attention. How dare Sousuke fondle her then turn his attention to some other woman!
Maya, Ren, and Ryo moved quickly to intercept Kaname. Hanging on to her halisen arm, they were swung forward, tripped over Sousuke’s prone form, and flew out into a lotus pond. Ren came up with snails on her head. Maya resurfaced wearing a necklace of water weeds. Ryo screeched, trying to get a frog out of her skirt. Kyouko took some great candid shots for the school magazine.
A strolling police officer saw everything that happened to Sousuke, breaking into a jog to reach the sight of trouble. “Young lady, I would like to have a word with you!” Everyone stepped away as the man walked over to Kaname. “If the young man wants to press charges, or the curators of this park wish to seek recompense for damages, I will need to take you down to the precinct.”
“B-B-But…it’s all a misundersatnding…I’m NOT some wacko…” Kaname was suddenly very worried.
“There she is. You got her officer. Good!” A dirt-covered man and two soil-dripping women staggered up to the pliceman. “She struck me and knocked me down the hill onto these two ladies. We may have all incurred serious injuries.” The women nodded their heads.
“Not some wacko…I see…” The policeman had a rather dubious look on his face.
“He tried to molest me!” Kaname stated, pointing at the man. “He DID grope me!” She pointed at Sousuke.
The bedraggled man gave Sousuke a big thumbs up. Seeing the officer look over at him, he tried to put on a face of innocence and unprompted abuse.
The man and two women wanted to press charges. Miss Okibasu acted as a mediator. Sousuke came up with the suggestion that kept Kaname off of the police data base.
“I do not wish to press charges. Neither should the man, as I was witness to his behavior. It is, however, a shame that such fine pottery was destroyed and the wild life was disturbed. I propose that we make Miss Chidori promise to refrain from violent outbursts, and pledge to set her halisen aside for the remainder of the trip.”
The police officer acquiesced. Before leaving, he had one last thing to say to Kaname. “You should be thankful that you have someone looking out for your better interests like that young man. From now on, try to keep a calm and rational head like him.”
************************************************************
End of part 8
Too bad I'd get
