Chie: Only one thing before we'll start with the epilogue. The song I hid in the last chapter was "October" by Evanescence as The Squabbit cleverly found out. So here's your price, Squa-chan! –gives Squabbit a cookie and hugs tightly-
Now, enjoy the last moments of SAF! –bows-
Epilogue – Tables turned
SAF-troops undergoing big changes
Published in the issue 28 of the Aera-magazine
Colonel Hidaka Sesshoumaru has yesterday resigned from his position. Colonel Hidaka worked as the high commander as well as the leading trainer of SAF (Special Attack Force) which is the legendary special-squad who only accepts the best of the best. He remained in his position of a trainer for whole ten years and was praised in his work. Colonel Hidaka was even called "the young genius". This is why his sudden resignation is so unfortunate for the SAF-troops. Such a man as colonel Hidaka is hard to replace.
SAF-troops will now fall into the command of captain Minakawa Suikotsu, at least for a time being. Therefore the position of an assisting trainer as well as the second-in-command officer has now opened. However, Minakawa says he has already asked someone to take up this honoured position but refused to tell the presentee's name.
Colonel Hidaka was heavily injured on the SAF-troops' legendary Korea-mission.
"He took the bullets for us", captain Minakawa confessed as we asked a statement from him.
In fact colonel didn't only take bullets, he also lost his left arm while saving one cadet's life.
"He's a great man", Minakawa says with a smile. "We'll miss him."
Yamada Totosai, Minister of Defence, handed out a first class medal of honour to colonel Hidaka last Friday. The minister told that Hidaka earned the medal because of his brave will to protect his trainees.
Another news concerning the legendary SAF-troops is that for the first time in the history a woman has successfully completed SAF-training, which is proclaimed to be the hardest military-training available in whole Japan. Higurashi Kagome was promoted lieutenant because of the great loyalty and bravery she displayed during the Korea-crisis (For a full reportage about the Korea-crisis, please see issues 25 and 26). She also received a second-class medal of honour from the Minister of Defence.
"I don't deny I didn't feel suspicious when I first heard about a woman coming into our troops. But lieutenant Higurashi turned out to be an excellent cadet. Now I surely will welcome with open arms any woman willing to come into our troops", tells captain Minakawa.
There has not yet been any official confirmation to colonel Hidaka's and lieutenant Higurashi's rumoured engagement, but we'll be waiting…
By Onishi Yura
Colonel Hidaka Sesshoumaru, the former trainer of the famous SAF-troops, was standing in front of a full-length-mirror. His upper body was bare as he was critically studying the stub that was the only thing remaining of his completely burned and later amputated left arm. His beautiful left arm, which now was forever gone...
And he had been left-handed too! Now he had to learn everything from the start, learn how to write with his right hand, heck, he even had to learn how to eat. How humiliating was that?! And besides, who would want a man with only one arm?
His mind reminded him at this point that there in fact was one semi-naked woman lying on his bed at the very moment. But because Sesshoumaru wanted to wallow in self-pity, he just ignored his mind's remarks.
The worst thing was the looks he received. He hated the pity, glimmering in the eye of beholder. It made him somehow feel low. He loathed the pity, therefore he did not want any of it. He hated to be pitied, hated to be looked down upon, hated to be seen as a disabled person. He didn't want to be thought as 'that one-armed man'. He didn't feel so sad for losing his arm, it made him feel irritate. Being one-armed was a kind of humiliation to him… it was a huge blow to his shield of pride he was so famous of. Because of losing his arm he had lost his job as well.
His mind made a comeback, reminding him that in fact it had been his own idea to resign and that everyone had begged him to stay saying that losing a limb wasn't such a big deal.
But because Sesshoumaru's mood already was nicely angsty and self-loathing, he once again ignored that little voice of reason. No matter how calm his mask was, under the surface he still had not accepted the losing of a limb. Everyone else were in the belief that having only one arm did not bother Sesshoumaru at all.
Nobody knew the truth. Nobody.
Save for the only one who was able to see through him.
"Sesshoumaru", that person called his name out softly.
He turned to look at her over his shoulder.
"It's already late. Quit brooding over your arm and come to bed."
'This Sesshoumaru does not brood', he objected in his thoughts but said nothing. He walked across the room and lay down onto the bed.
After a few moments of silence she spoke again.
"I decided to accept the job. I hate to be separated from you and Rin-chan, but on the other hand this is also something I really want to do."
"I'm not going to stop you", Sesshoumaru said quietly. "Besides you'll be taking over the assisting role. I'm certain that you'll be allowed to come home fairly often."
"But will you be okay with this, really? Staying at home looking after Rin-chan while I'm at work – "
"Kagome, don't worry about me, you know I can handle it."
"Yes, I know, but.."
"If this is something you want to do, who am I to stop you?"
"If anyone could stop me from doing what I want, that would be you, Sesshoumaru."
"Oh, I highly doubt that. You didn't listen to me even when I was your superior. I told you to go, and you decided to drag me through cross-fire."
She let out a little laugh, which twinkled merrily in the spacious room.
"Then, I'll let them know tomorrow."
"You do that."
Sesshoumaru reached to switch off the light on the side table and breathed out calmly in the surrounding darkness. His wife's warm body soon snuggled up close to him and smiling to himself in the dark he wrapped his arm around her small form.
The new cadets of SAF troops were standing in the middle of the training field, looking curiously around. They had been told to wait there for their trainer to arrive. There was a lot speculating going on about what kind of a trainer they would have. They were now in the elite group. It was certain that the person to train them would be extremely strict and demanding.
A few women soldiers were standing among them.
Someone snorted arrogantly that what would women be doing around here, these were the elite troops.
Another cadet then told him that a woman had actually already undergone the SAF-training and that she had showed extreme bravery and saved the life of her trainer.
The cadet only grunted, muttering something about the army which was becoming too soft nowadays.
"Hi mom!"
"Why hello sweetheart! Is Rin-chan at home yet?"
"No, Nee-san is still at school."
"I see. How was your day?"
Smiling to myself I listened as the five-year old boy told me everything about his day. Absentmindedly I rolled the pencil in my hand and leaned back on my seat.
"Oh, and daddy told me we're going to visit grandpa tomorrow!"
"That's right", I gave a little laugh. "Katsuo-san has invited us for a dinner. Uncle Inuyasha and Aunt Kikyo will be coming too."
"Waii! It'll be fun!"
I laughed again.
"Certainly."
"Mom?" his voice was suddenly all serious.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Daddy says he wants to talk to you."
"Alright. Bye. Be a good boy and see you tomorrow."
"Bye!"
And then his deep velvety voice took over.
"Good day, Kagome."
"Hello, Sesshoumaru."
My lips melted into a smile, into the same expression a girl always has when her love calls her.
"How has it been?"
"Everything's fine... Save that I miss you every second."
"I miss you too."
His voice no longer was cold or nonchalant. Now it was warm and expressive.
"Have the kids been good?"
"Better than ever."
"I'm glad."
"I heard the newbies are coming in today."
"Yeah, that's correct."
"I suppose you should go then."
"Yes... I should."
"Good luck."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
".. I'll see you tomorrow, then. Bye, I love you."
"I'll see you, Goodbye."
I hung up and set the cell phone onto my desk. I should have gone already a while ago, they were waiting. I just had wanted to hear his voice before I went.
The murmur among the new cadets suddenly ended. Jaws dropped and faces paled.
This was not what they had been expecting. Not at all.
Their trainer turned out to be a pretty young woman with long jet-black hair and blue eyes. She was awfully short as well.
What startled them the most, however, was the kind smile she had on her face.
"All cadets, attention!"
Her voice was sweet too.
However, they all obeyed like good little cadets should.
"Welcome the SAF troops. I am Lieutenant Hidaka Kagome and I am your assisting trainer as well as the second-in-command of the SAF-troops. Now before I'll give you into the good care of captain Minakawa Suikotsu I'd like to tell you a few words about a thing called team-work..."
THE END
Chie: Yes. That was the all of it.
The title of this epilogue is a hint towards my next upcoming fanfic, surprisingly names "Tables turned" as well. WHAT A COINICIDENCE:O
Also, the person who guessed from the beginning that it'd all end up like this in the end, have a COOKIE! –Evil giggle- I really love how their roles got reversed. Waii ♥ Damn I'm a genius xD
However, sadly and for now, it's a good bye. I'll be back soon enough though, so no worries
THANK YOU for all of my readers, reviewers, raters and fans. ♥ Love you all! HUGS!
Chiera
Ps. I really hope you'll check out my fic Tables Turned when I get it up. Because I'm going to give my everything for that fic. –bows respectfully-
The Dah: My humble thanks as well. I'm sorry that sometimes my betaing takes so long, but what can you do? My life has gotten so hectic lately. L But all in all I'm happy how this fic went. Awfully cute and sugary at times, but still so very sad and angsty. Just the mixture I love. :P