Hi this is Benji Himura. I am now starting a new fanfic, is a Sakura Taisen story. I don't own Sakura or any of the characters of the series. Some anime or manga characters might show up in the story I also don't own then. I own Benji Himura and others original characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. Anyway enjoy the story.

Signed: Benji Himura.

"Text"= Talked sentences.

'Text' = Thoughts.

-Text- = Sounds effects.

(Text)= Talked sentences in a foreign language as English when everyone else speaks Japanese.

: Text: = Messages show in an electronic screen or written.

Text: something being recalled, flashbacks, scenes being replayed.

Text: a detail found in a location, scene, person, recording and images that originally wasn't there.

Chapter nine: Revelations on top of revelations on top of revelations

Maria stretches lazily and looks at her clock, it was still very early in the morning. 'Why I woke this early?' Maria asked to herself stifling a yawn, then she hears a small sound filtering from the window, curious she looks outside and sees Benji dragging one of the theater's cars, literally pulling the car that is tied to him by some sort of vest and a chain.

"What the hell?" Maria whispered as Benji started to run with the car, and she saw Kasumi on the driver's seat doing nothing more than holding the wheel and the car stable, silently telling her that whatever that was it was already part of the morning routine of the theater. "And is not even four in the morning…"

Maria saw how late Benji went to bed, she was with him during the round in the theater to check that everything was locked shut, then they went to bed almost at one in the morning, and she remembers that Benji was yawning a lot during the rounds and that he complained about being tired earlier.

So she decided to see what would happen next, after dealing with her morning needs and changing into her training clothes Maria watched from the window and it was just five in the morning Benji returns with the car, his clothes and face clearly covered with sweat, and he does fall in his hands and knees when reaching the doorstep.

Kasumi leaves the car and unhooks the chair from the car and from Benji before getting back in the car, Benji stands up and pushes the car all the way inside the garage. Maria leaves her room, she had heard someone leaving her own bedroom as well, but wasn't sure of whom.

Maria finds her answer in the kitchen, Sumire in her own training outfit is setting out some food in the table. "You know about Benji doing that crazy stuff?" Maria asked to Sumire, finding a little odd to see Sumire like that. "And you are helping?" Sumire nodded confirming. "Benji-san didn't had much time to train during the day because we were all busy helping Sakura-san." Sumire explained. "One day I found him training at night, when he should be sleeping, since then I have helped him, making sure that he gets at least a little rest and don't overwork."

"And the car thing?" Maria asked. "Ah that." Sumire replied. "Benji-san started that before Nanako-chan arrived, he said that had no time for subtle approaches, so he started that, in the beginning he crawled with the car, now he is running as if it wasn't there, at least so says Kasumi-san. The distance is also increasing according to her, he is making more kilometers per hour."

Maria is impressed with that, if that was true then Benji's legs and lower body strength increased a lot, as well stamina and upper body strength. "So I make him a meal and take out his supplement and medicine." Sumire added showing Maria the tray over the table. "Two dozes of egg whites, one liter of a shake made of whey and fruits, as well lots of sugar, then the normal stuff."

Maria saw bacon, eggs, a couple sausages and some bread in the tray in a large dish, then she saw something wicked there. "That is the medicine." Sumire explained noticing what Maria noticed. "It is a family recipe from Saki-san, that thing is foul tasting and smelling, and downright scary especially when we add the sugar cube that is next to it, but is also very effective."

"And what it does." Maria asked in disbelief, the fact that Saki produces it doesn't make her any more favorable of the idea of Benji drinking it. "Heals a lot of stuff, removes tiredness, resuming a long list is what is keeping Benji-san able to keep an inhuman training routine." Sumire answered seriously. "Without that stuff his progress would be really small, Sakura-san also drank it when recovering from her surgery, Benji-san drunk it when recovering from the burns and the stab from Oni-ou, it made the healing much, much faster."

Sumire takes the tray to the dinning hall just as Benji crashes on his chair. "I do this every morning and it still kills me." Benji muttered tiredly. "Why I am doing this again?" "Because you are crazy." Sumire replied placing the tray in front of him. "And there are days that you are enjoying this as much as you complain."

"I still get to eat the food that you prepare, that must be a reason too." Benji pointed out. Sumire blushes at that, Benji always made a remark over that, and she always blushes happily. "Just eat it." Sumire said embarrassed. "You still have more to do." Benji nods and starts to eat.

"It is always like that?" Maria asked when Sumire returns to the kitchen. "Pretty much." Sumire answered. "It became routine by now, I wake at four forty five and start making his meal, then I help with his indoors training until six thirty, since breakfast is seven, we have plenty of time to shower and change into our normal clothes."

"What is that indoors training?" Maria asked. "Weight training, combat training and endurance training." Sumire answered. "And on top of all this he still have an entire day ahead of him." Maria said seriously. "Why you let him do this?" "Isn't like I can stop him Maria-san." Sumire replied seriously. "At least when I am here to help and manage it, I can make him slow down, I don't really like it, but by helping Benji-san in few sections of the training I am actually forcing him to hold back. In combat training he has to hold back to not hurt me, and still I can get hurt, luckily recently I haven't, and I suppose that with your arrival I won't be doing this anymore."

"You like doing this?" Maria asked confused, the Sumire that she knew would despise having to wake this early and then make food for Benji and after that train with him. Sumire nodded confirming. "I started to like it along the way." Sumire answered. "Now is part of my routine, as Benji-san's second for this long I got used to following a different routine."

Maria can feel that Sumire have grown fond of being Benji's second and wasn't all that happy in stepping down from the position, but would do it anyway. "Once I get used to the theater again we can discuss what you can still do of this routine." Maria said. "So neither of us will get too much to do." Sumire nodded agreeing, she could live with that, as long she could still be with Benji she could live with that kind of compromise.

…

Maria felt a little odd, she knew that adapting to the theater's new routine would take time, things had changed a lot since she had left for New York, she can see that everyone knew what to do and when to do it, even Nanako. "Things are way different." Maria said to Benji, the play is on place so they could chat without being peeked by the others. "I feel out of place here."

Benji was familiar with that feeling. "It just for a while." Benji commented. "I felt like that when I got here, and later again when I was made leader." "It is just that everyone knows what to do, when to do and in the other hand I am out of the loop." Maria replied. "I can see that everyone, even the new girl got pretty close, honestly I am unsure of how you managed to make everyone bath together."

Benji chuckled at that, it was actually easy. "Sakura needs help to get inside the bath, so she needed someone to carry her." Benji explained casually. "Since there are only two people in the theater strong enough to lift her it is between me and Kanna, even Sakura being okay with me assisting her getting dressed, putting her leg and other stuff she still didn't want me to put her in the bath, so Kanna who felt the same way started to bath with Sakura, so she could take her in and out of the bath, Sumire who was helping Sakura to dress started to take with them, eventually all the girls started to bath together. And there are more benefits than just making everyone closer."

"Like what?" Maria asked curious. "It made Sakura get a little less conscious of her scars, the same with everyone else, they could see Sakura's scars, so they saw, got used to them and now no longer care about them." Benji explained. "Those scars won't be leaving Sakura, she needs to learn to live with them."

Maria nodded understanding, she did snuck glances at Sakura's missing leg and her left leg, it still shocked her to see them, but unlike the others, she didn't had time with Sakura to get used to them. "And there is something that I wanted to discuss with you now that you are back." Benji said in a serious tone. "You were the one who trained Sakura how to sing and get her voice right for the stage, right?"

Maria nodded confirming. "Yes, I was the one who oversaw her training." Maria confirmed. "Why?" "I want you to take over Sakura's rehabilitation training." Benji replied seriously. "Until now I am the one overseeing the brunt of it, but with my koubu here and yesterday's experience I need to train with the dragon slayer otherwise sooner or later I will get struck by the enemy because I am not familiar with it."

Maria nodded understanding, she saw how the koubu reacted to the tremendous momentum of the blade, and there were times that she felt that Benji nearly lost control of the blade and the koubu. "Then I will take over." Maria said with a nod. "Thanks." Benji replied. "I will run it through with you watching so you will know how we are working."

"And how is that working?" Maria asked curious. "Sakura can stand for a little while." Benji answered. "Take a few steps with supports, honestly she is doing well, but I think that the bolts in her bones are hurting her, she is complaining of pain when walking and standing, and I felt her leg a bit and she said that it hurt. I am taking her to the hospital this afternoon for a check up, want to come?" Maria nods yes, she was unable to help in Sakura's recovery, so now she wants to help as much as she can.

…

Matsuta sighs when Benji tells him what Sakura told him as well his own ideas. "I feared as much." Matsuta commented. "You have any idea of how hard it will be removing everything?" "No, but if it is causing her pain and making her unable of having a full recovery then it needs to leave." Benji replied seriously. "What material you people used anyway?"

"The best, steel." Matsuta answered. "Stainless?" Benji asked. Matsuta nod confirming, but Benji was still unsure. "Given the extension of the fractures and the time that we had performing the repairs I suppose that not every bolt were adjusted to its best, but regardless that, the bones are fully aligned and back to their normal shape." Matsuta said.

"Then there isn't a further need to keep the bolts and plates there." Benji pointed out. "Kid that is a very intrusive surgery, any progress that Sakura-san might have made until now will be undone." Matsuta said seriously. "Better than suffering from pain in her leg for the rest of her life." Benji replied in the same way. "She can't even sit properly because of them."

"And you actually want to do this Sakura-san?" Matsuta asks to the girl in question. "Yes." Sakura answered. "I know that it is risky, I might actually lose movements in my leg, but I want to be able to walk even if just a little at time again." Matsuta nodded at that. "I will schedule the procedure, we should have a opening in the end of the next month." He said.

"That far?" Maria asked surprised. "Is the hospital this busy?" Matsuta denies with a nod. "The procedure is delicate, we have a specialist that is away in another military hospital right now, he returns next month, if we are making this we are making it right." Benji could agree with that. "In the meantime we will check on Sakura-san's medical condition twice more, once in three weeks from now and then again a few days before the procedure itself."

After listening to the doctor they leave. "Not that I thought that it would happen right now." Sakura commented while Benji pushes her. "But I thought that would be sooner than that." "At least you can still enjoy the summer vacation with us before the operation." Benji pointed out. "If my schedule is right next month we have our vacation week."

"But what can I do in there?" Sakura asked. "Sunbath, swim, having fun?" Benji asked. "Kanna and I will carry you around, and in salt water you float better than in fresh water. If you don't feel like it, then you can read while basking in the sun." "I guess so." Sakura replied, Maria is impressed how Benji could string how Sakura could still have fun even in her condition.

"By the way Benji-san." Sakura said. "Where you went with Sumire-san this morning?" "To buy some stuff." Benji answered. "It was supposed to be a simple book run, but she then decided that I need more clothes for the summer and dragged me around." Maria chuckled at that, but again it was a little odd to see Sumire actually shopping for others and not herself.

"What you got?" Sakura asked curious. "Surprisingly a lot." Benji said with a sigh. "It seems that after this long being dragged around by Sumire made a few of her favored stores to stock 'special' sizes, meaning clothes on my size and a bit bigger as well." "Given the fact that you are Sumire shopping partner it is only natural." Maria commented. "Sumire always were a good costumer in the stores' opinion, so if she can find clothes for you, it will increase their profit, and in the other hand I also got lucky, if they got your size it means that they must have clothes in my size or ones that can be easily made to fit me as well."

"I suppose so." Benji commented. "But they will be big on you, we might have the same height but I am a male with broad chest and shoulders, it doesn't matter how well you look I men's clothes, you are still a woman." Maria chuckled at that. "As I said easy to make fit." Maria replied. "It is easier to make a big shirt small than a small shirt big."

"But I thought that stores already had sizes for you and Kanna-san." Sakura said while Benji puts the seatbelt on her. "Few articles and not all of them nice." Maria replied. "I still had to have my clothes tailored, or buy men's clothes like Kanna does." Sakura nodded understanding. 'It must be hard being that tall in Japan.' Sakura thought.

…

"You called Kaede?" Benji asked entering on the office after knowing and getting the response. "Yes." Kaede replied. "You remember Yamaguchi-san from that you escorted out of the battle last week?" "Yeah." Benji replied. "What about him?" (HE IS A WHAT?!) Everyone in the theater heard Benji's shout. Kaede covers her ringing ears. "The Navy Cabinet Minister." Kaede repeated herself. "Quite potent lungs that boy has." Yamaguchi said entering on the office. "Too potent." Kaede said with a wry smile.

"I can see from your face that you had no idea of my position." Yamaguchi commented noticing Benji's shocked expression. "Well you are a foreigner outside the formal military forces and still new to Japan, it is only natural that you didn't recognize me, besides I also went there in secret, and as you saw, I also had too much to drink."

Benji groans and holds his head. "Funny lad." Yamaguchi commented to Kaede. "Well we just pulled the carpet from his feet." Kaede replied. "He is still getting his bearings." "Am I in some sort of problem?" Benji asked worried, he had managed to invite himself to drink with Yamaguchi and kind of scolded him for trying to fondle Nanako.

"Not at all." Yamaguchi said with a smile. "You were pretty polite and did prevent me from acting unsightly as well, but more important you did got me out of that restaurant in once piece, besides I had fun before the fire as well, but now I understand that you indeed tend a flower garden."

Kaede looks at the two a little confused. "As I said my job was look out after flowers." Benji commented. "And they can be troublesome at times." Yamaguchi chuckled at that. "You are doing well." Yamaguchi said. "I still can't make my flowers behave." Benji commented moving to the office's door and yanking it open. "WAAHHH!" the hanagumi and kazegumi crash into the office in an avalanche.

Yamaguchi laughs heartily. "But clearly you know them well enough to know when they are misbehaving." Yamaguchi commented. "Heavy…" Iris whimpered as she and Nanako are flattened in the bottom of the pile. "I try to be a step ahead of them." Benji said with a sigh. "But from time to time they still manage to surprise me."

"That is the beauty of flowers." Yamaguchi said with a nod. "And speaking of surprise, teikoku kagekidan, your battle was truly impressive. I take that the one with the massive sword is you right?" Benji nods confirming.

"The enemy known as the Kokkikai, clearly possessing evil power, has begun to assault Teito." Yamaguchi said seriously. "And also these days, when there have again recently been movements of unrest from a group of extremists, I want to avoid any large movements by the military authorities. But...as I run the Imperial Navy, I promise to support the teikoku kagekidan. I also have to admit that I am a fan of the kagekidan, too. I want to see the hanagumi's plays more than anything. From here on as well, in order to be able to see more good plays, I will advise the financial world to resume their support."

"You mean that we won't have to suffer from budget cuts?!" Benji exclaimed surprised. Yamaguchi nodded confirming. "I saw with my eyes the valor and the efficacy of the teikoku kagekidan and I know that other than you there is no other force in the military forces able to destroy this evil." Yamaguchi said seriously.

"Please live a long life, watching this Kanzaki Sumire's performance everyday." Sumire said with a smile and pride in her voice. Iris is jumping excitedly. "Waai!" Iris exclaimed hugging Yamaguchi. "Ojii-chan, I like you!" Yamaguchi smiles happily and chuckles. "Being told that, I am overjoyed." He said to Iris with a smile. "Do your best, young one!" "Y…yes sir!" Iris replied.

"That was good, wasn't it, taisho?" Kanna asked to Benji. "Yeah..." Benji replied. "This is thanks to Sumire and Kohran running wild for us." That is harsh, Benji-han." Kohran said in an offended tone. "Ohh...Benji-san." Sumire said in a hurt tone. "You are mean!" "Yes I am." Benji replied flatly. "And you two are still in punishment time." Kohran and Sumire groan, Yamaguchi chuckled at the scene. "So that is what you mean by wire to tie them in shape." Yamaguchi commented.

Benji nods confirming. "Unless I keep a tight grip on their reins they just run wild." Benji said with a sigh. "Good luck tending your flowers." Yamaguchi said patting Benji's shoulder. "Because I can tell that you will need it." "Thanks." Benji replied. The hanagumi felt that barb, but say nothing, as it seems that Benji and Yamaguchi are in the same page.

…

Benji steps out of the koubu simulator and stretches tiredly, he moves to a calendar and marks July twelfth. "A little over one week since it changed to my koubu's mode." Benji mused. "I don't feel that I am improving thought." "But your score if way better than when it started Benji-han." Kohran said while walking out of the control room. "It is up to sixty seven, you started with thirty two."

"It is just that the simulator feel like is lacking something." Benji commented. "I am not sure of what." 'I wonder if Benji-han is feeling the lack of physical response, the simulator only goes so far in simulating the swings of that sword.' Kohran thought seriously, there was limits to what the computer could process and simulate, as well what the simulator could simulate, the machine had limits.

"I am going to change out of this." Benji said while unbuttoning his jacket. "Okay." Kohran replied seeing Benji off, she has to report the progress to Kaede. Benji spots Maria and Sakura in the training room. "Working hard?" Benji asks after getting their attention by knocking in the doorframe.

"Maria-san is as bad as you." Sakura answered. "Then yes." Benji commented. "I don't like exercising while everyone else is acting." Sakura commented. "I know that you can feel their support." Benji replied. "But we can't help it, we have to make most with our limited time."

Sakura knew that, but it was a little harder to exercise without them being there for her. "And you are training as well?" Maria asked seeing his clothes. Benji nods confirming. "I don't feel like I am progressing though." Benji replied. "But the piloting is getting smoother."

"That is good." Sakura commented. "I am still surprised that you can use that huge sword Benji-san." "Same here." Benji said with a smile. "I by myself would pick something else, but I have to admit that the dragon slayer is moral crashing to the enemy." Maria agreed with that, if she saw Benji in the side with the enemy with that sword she would be scared.

…

Benji felt somewhat uneasy as four men in jumpsuits carry a very large, very coffin like box into the garage, around him is the hanagumi looking curiously at the odd procession. "Ah it is finally here." Kaede said while entering in the room as the four men place the heavy box over an empty tool table.

The heavy and loud sound that the box made when hitting the table and the whine of the solid wood table makes Benji feel even worse. Then a fifth man carrying a thinner and somewhat smaller box, but much taller than himself enters in the room followed by a sixth and a seventh men carrying a box that is two thirds as big as the first one.

Kanna looks at Benji confused as he backpedaled into her. "Benji-san we finally got your anti-fallen equipment ready." Kaede said looking at Benji as two more men enter in the room carrying as box as big as the first box. "One Magnus, one hundred men slayer, one dragon slayer and one set of armor."

"That explains why taisho looks like trying to run away from here." Kanna commented while holding Benji in place. One of the men hand Kaede a crowbar and they all leave. "Do I really have to stay here?" Benji asked dejectedly. "And do I really need that?" "Given your previous wounds I say yes." Kaede answered. "We do as well." The hanagumi said as one.

"Anyway I am curious to see what needed four grown men to carry." Orihime said taking the crowbar and handing to Kanna. "Pry it open." Kanna nods and does so, the girls move around the first box while Kanna opens it. "Is that…" Sumire whispered in shock. "Looks like…" Kanna murmured.

"Dragon slayer?" Kohran asked turning to Kaede who nods confirming. "It is a copy of the sword that Benji-san had when he arrived, however this one is made of steel." Kaede explained. "How much it weights?" Sumire asked surprised, it took four men to carry it. "As much as Reni-kun." Kaede answered. "Thirty eight kilos?!" Kanna exclaimed surprised. "It can't be used!"

"The one that we made first weighted more than twice that." Kaede said seriously. "That one was made of solid steel, this one is made differently, after forged, with the use of machinery the sword was hollowed out as much as possible without losing its strength, then we added a special frame inside the hollow and welded it shut with steel plates, doing that we removed over forty nine kilos."

"Look this is inhuman." Kanna said picking the sword up, she has enough strength to lift it, and perhaps use it, but it is too impractical. "Sure if this thing hits anything is a goner, if hits anything." "Benji-san you could try it a little too." Kaede said to Benji. "I know that you have been working out."

Benji sighs and walks to Kanna. "Careful taisho." Kanna said while handing Benji the sword. "Benji-san why don't you give it a test swing?" Kaede asked. "Girls give him some room." "Look this won't end well." Kanna commented while they do so. Benji takes a deep breath and adjusts his stance while holding the massive sword with both hands.

The girls hurriedly cover their ears knowing what is coming. Benji aims at a tool box and pulls the sword back some more, building steam, then he let out a war cry and slashes as hard as he can. Benji can feel how the heavy blade is forcing his body to move, how it pulls him, how it is skinning his palms, but he holds it firmly and brings it down on the tool box with all his strength.

The tool box flies off badly torn apart, tools, nuts and bolts fly in the air, Benji's stances widen as he adjusts his body to the momentum, the sword smashes into the floor sending concrete bits into the air. The tool box impacts against one of the cars and falls down in a cascade of metal bits.

Benji pulls the sword from the ground while standing upright. "I told you so Kaede." Kanna said as Kaede stares at the damage. "But man that tool box is over, three drawers and everything inside cut, and it almost cleaved the box in two." "Is that thing even sharp?" Maria asks as Benji rests the tip of the sword on the floor. "Not sure." Benji answered. "But the weight of this thing makes up for it, is a pain to hold." Maria winces seeing how the skin in his palms and fingers tore in few places.

"This sword can't be used in real combat conditions." Sumire said seriously, she can see Benji's bloody hands. "I guess so." Kaede said with a sigh. "But in an emergency it might be useful." Benji moves to the box and finds that they also made the harness for the sword, so he puts it on and puts the sword on his back.

"That is downright scary." Orihime commented. "It took four men to carry it here and you just move it single handed without a care. It is like you are swinging Reni around." Benji chuckled at the image, and he isn't the only one to imagine him swinging Reni by the ankle.

"I think that they went with four so it wouldn't be so heavy." Benji commented. "Sakura is heavier than this sword." "I am not!" Sakura said in indignation. "Hai, hai." Benji replied moving to the other box. "So this is the hundred men slayer, over there is the Magnus and that last one is my armor?" Benji asked to Kaede. "Exactly." Kaede replied.

Benji opens the Magnus and grins seeing the menacing looking sword. "I don't know which of the two is worse." Orihime said as Benji holds the sharp looking sword with one hand.

"Kanna you take the armor." Benji says to the red head. "I will get the other slayer and we take it to the training room." "Okay." Kanna replied. "You want help?" Sumire offered. "You could take the harness for the Magnus." Benji replied. "I carry the other one." Maria said taking the hundred men slayer. "It isn't all too heavy."

…

"This thing is missing an arm." Kanna pointed out while looking at Benji's armor that is still in the box. "Left arm to be more accurate." Orihime added. "No, it isn't." Benji replied unbuttoning his cuff and exposing the black crossbow in his arm, then they could see that indeed the black crossbow matched his armor perfectly.

"You are still wearing that all day long?" Sumire asked surprised. "It kinds of kills the purpose of it if I don't." Benji replied casually while unbuttoning his shirt. "What is the purpose?" Nanako asked curious. "To have a firearm with a large amount of bullets with me all the time." Benji answered taking his top shirt out and handing it to Sumire, exposing his long sleeved undershirt. "In a way that doesn't attract attention."

Sumire takes his shirt and holds carefully to not wrinkle it. "But what are you doing anyway?" Sumire asked confused. "If I am going to try that out." Benji said pointing to his armor with a thumb. "I rather not have buttons poking me." "I guess that testing it now is as good as anytime." Maria commented looking at the mostly black armor. "But why the white plates in the sides?"

"There is no way in hell that I will simple become the black swordsman." Benji said in a tense voice. "It is not the first time that you mention that." Maria said seriously. "Just what is a black swordsman?" "It is a who." Benji replied. "It is a legend, you won't hear it from anyone else."

The girls look at Benji curiously, eager to hear what he has to say. "The black swordsman is a man who was raised in the battlefield." Benji said noticing that the hanagumi got in the storytelling mode. "Since childhood he trained to fight using swords bigger than himself since they didn't have swords for children, eventually when he grew up, well after a lot of misfortune I might add, he was still using a sword bigger than he is, the hundred men slayer wields the design that he used through his youth and early adulthood."

"But how you know how his sword looked like if is a legend?" Reni asked, that information doesn't match legendary status. "There are drawings." Benji answered. "After many battles the young man who until then wasn't know as the black swordsman fought alongside his companions, once they rose in status it all came to the ground once he decided to leave the group, the war was over and he knew nothing but fighting, living as nobility wasn't his wish, after a skirmish with the leader of the group who was also his best friend and rival, he left, devastated with the departure of his best friend and best soldier, the leader of the group made a mistake, he slept with the daughter of the king of the land."

"Ah that spells trouble." Orihime said knowing what is brewing. "Yes, he was careless and a maid peeked on them." Benji continues the story. "Once he left he was captured by the king's troops, taken to the dungeon and tortured for one year, the rest of the group were led to a trap, but managed to escape, and the black swordsman, who isn't the black swordsman yet is oblivious to that living in a mountain and training his swordsmanship."

"At least he picked up a good place to train." Kanna commented. "Well after one year he hears that his friends became criminals and are being chased by the army." Benji said. "He finds them during an attack and helps them, there are divided feelings between his close friends, some were happy that he was back, others were mad because he left in the first place and wasn't there when he was needed the most, one especially hurt was this female knight who hated him through the years but ended falling in love for him as her love for the leader was unrequited, since she knows that he would marry the princess to become king, after some trouble they make up, then they went rescue the leader."

"At least they are loyal to their friends." Kohran commented with a nod. "Things get worse from that point." Benji replied. "Once they rescue the leader who is utterly broken because the torture they are chased by the army, this army is led by a demon, they are almost killed by it, but another demon saves them for his own reasons, the leader who realized that he lost everything that he fought to have and the path of his dream becomes even more desperate when he sees his best friend and the lady knight together, you could say that he even lost everything then."

"What happens next?" Sumire asks curious the story is getting interesting. "The leader finds this 'charm' thing that he had for years but lost in the dungeon, that charm summons demons." Benji answered seriously. "And here is where things get really bad, the leader is offered a position among the highest demons, he would become whole and powerful again, able to chase his dream again, in exchange he has to give up for them what he had of more precious, and it was his friends and his army, and he says yes to it."

"How could he do that after what they did for him?!" Orihime exclaimed indignant. "They defied a kingdom for him!" The others agree with Orihime. "As I said things became bad." Benji continued. "Uncountable demons then start to kill and feast on the once powerful army, they all were branded with a cursed seal that attracts demons, they became offerings, some fought, some went crazy, some gave up hope, in the end the lady knight well, I won't detail that now, but I think that the more mature of you will understand that she didn't die but wish that she did, the leader once in his demonic form did it to her."

Everyone other than Iris tense understanding Benji's words, what they meant, Iris in the other hand is confused and even Reni won't explain to her what Benji said. "The black swordsman, was almost getting 'born'." Benji said seriously. "In that demonic feast he fought and tried to save the lady knight, but couldn't, he even cut off his own left arm to try save her without succeeding."

"Then how he became the black swordsman?" Reni asked. "If all his efforts are in vain." "They where rescued by someone." Benji answered. "A knight with a armor shaped as a skeleton and a skull shaped helmet, a skull knight, if you want to call it something, he and the girl were rescued and taken to a member of the army who survived by sheer luck for not being there, they were taken to where the black swordsman trained, there demons couldn't enter because it was land of good aligned spirits. Once he recovered and learned that he would be forever chased by demons and evil spirits until he was consumed by them he decided to fight and kill his once best friend, then he became the black swordsman and acquired the dragon slayer."

The girls are confused with it. "How can a man wield that sword with one hand when you need to use two hands?" Maria asks what is on their minds. "The guy is inhumanly strong." Benji answered. "Plus he got a metal prosthetic arm to replace what he cut, from a little bellow the elbow, with some shady mechanics and magnets he can use the sword, I don't try to understand how he grips or if he grips with the left hand, which is the fake one. The guy is so inhuman that he can easily swing the dragon slayer single handed and cleaves fully armored knights with it."

"And why he gained the name black swordsman?" Orihime asked. "His hair, clothes, armor and to an extent even his sword are black, and he says that he is fighting darkness itself, so he became the black swordsman." Benji explained. "Trust me what I told you right now is just how he became the black swordsman, after that, his life is being fighting demons day and night while chasing for the one who branded him it was then when he gained the name black swordsman, and things only get worse and worse."

"As?" Sumire asked. "He is given a powerful cursed item, something called the berserker's armor." Benji answered. "A what?" Kanna asked confused with the foreign word. "Berserker." Reni said. "A term originated from Celtic and Nordic cultures, are warriors who are wrapped by an unstoppable rage which grants them great strength and resilience, but it also makes them mad to the point where they attack friend and foe alike."

"Exactly." Benji said with a nod. "The berserker armor does that to the one using it, and more, it removes the sense of pain and by that giving the user inhuman strength and reflexes by removing the limits that we have to prevent ourselves from harming ourselves by overdoing things."

"That is horrible." Sumire said with a shiver. "And there is more, if a bone is broken the armor which is magical." Benji continued. "Will release sharp stakes inside your body piercing your flesh to set the body straight and reinforce it so you can keep fighting, all the while you don't feel a thing, but you still are getting badly hurt and bleeding, the legend says that the owner before the black swordsman had his entire body eaten by the stakes, all his bones broke and bleed freely until he died while still fighting."

"It is a demonic armor…" Sakura whispered in horror. "It just gets better." Benji said sarcastically. "If you survive several battles as a berserker you start to lose your senses, taste, sight, hearing, tact, smell, you lose warmth, colors, taste, your fingers tire from shaking."

"Overworking the human body and nervous system is indeed dangerous." Reni said in her usual tone. "Those symptoms are very consistent with extensive nervous damage." "And that is why you are against a black armor and the dragon slayer?" Maria asked. "Just because of a legend?"

"Hey we kill demons for a living, remember?" Benji asked casually. "I give myself the right to be afraid of certain stuff." "Point taken." Maria said, she forgot that demons are too legends, yet they are there fighting them, Benji had the right to be wary of treading a path like that.

"So what happens to the black swordsman?" Kanna asked curious. "He gets his revenge? The demons kill him?" "I never got the end of it." Benji answered. "It was lost, no one knows." "And where you learned such a legend?" Reni asked to Benji, she had a great amount of knowledge on her mind but she never heard of such legend.

"As I said Reni, you won't know it." Benji answered, and Maria realized that wasn't a legend, but something from his world and given the fact that his world has no demons it must be a fictitious story, then again for Benji so was the world that he is now on, so Maria gives Benji the right of being edgy around that idea.

"If you are so wary of the path of the black swordsman why you gave us the design of his swords?" Maria asked seriously. "And why you had a copy of it in the first place?" "That is a very good question." Sumire commented. "Because his arsenal is good." Benji answered. "It is built towards killing demons, plus I find it very agreeable as well, it is in my comfort zone, well other than the swords though."

"The black crossbow came from him?" Kohran asked. "Just the arm mounted idea." Benji answered. "The black swordsman has a repeating crossbow that he can mount on his arm and use it to shoot arrows in a fast pace, the idea is solid." "And with your own idea it becomes doable for a machine gun." Kohran said understanding.

Benji nods while putting on the armor. "I curious about something." Sakura said. "Why three swords?" "The hundred men slayer." Benji replied. "Is more usable, it is like a boosted version of my rebar sword, lighter and easier to use. The Magnus, well it is more menacing, plus it is shorter than the other two, it means that it can be used in smaller places, though not so small."

"I can't deny that." Sakura said looking at the said sword, it indeed looks very dangerous and menacing. "These things were made to face monsters like those wolf things, right?" Sumire asked worried. "I know that against human sized they are effective, but against bigger things they are better, right?"

Benji nods confirming, they were made for things bigger than human sized in mind. "I would still prefer a more normal sized sword for most of the situations." Benji commented. "But against things in the size of wakiji, I take one of those three." "But I could take one a wakiji with my arataka." Sakura pointed out. "And you have a lifetime of training." Benji replied. "I don't." "Point taken." Sakura commented, she had forgotten about that.

…

Benji felt a little disappointed with the training, cutting slash dummies just isn't the same than actual combat, while he tries to move as close as he would in combat with the hundred men slayer and in full armor, Benji still felt it a little lacking. The hanagumi watches from a safe distance.

"I just can't get used to that fighting style." Sakura said lightly annoyed. "It is so crude and basic." "Well it isn't a neat sword style as kendo." Kanna commented. "But isn't the basics used everyday?" "It is just that Benji-san's basics are crude and a little wrong." Sakura replied. "If I could I would teach him the proper basics, but I can't."

"Maybe I can help." Nanako offered meekly. "If is just the basics, I think that I can assist Benji-senpai, I am not too confident in my skills, but I know the basics." "We could have you doing that." Maria commented. "Sure the swords and styles are different, but the basic of fencing is the same everywhere and with every sword."

"Maybe I can build some fighting dummies." Kohran mused. "It will make the training better, yeah moving and fighting training dummies." The girls chuckle uneasy with the idea, but it was also reasonable, training with a opponent that fights back is much better than with dummies.

…

Maria finishes reading the reports of the fallen activities, incidents and discoveries. 'We still know very so little about this.' Maria thought worried while setting the file on top of the others that she finished. "Last one." Maria said with a sight picking up a last folder. "Himura Benji's theory over the fallen. Okay this is odd, but why is in Japanese?"

"He had someone translating that." Maria said with an admonishing nod to herself. "So he came with a theory, and if I am given it, Kaede must agree with it." Maria reads attentively at the file and tenses as she learns more about what Benji thinks. 'A ploy from the enemy to shake the trust of the citizens towards the government and the defense force…' Maria thought in horror. 'It makes sense, we can't predict the attacks, it targets innocent civilians turning them into demons and having them killed by us…the image that it sends is that we can't protect them from turning into demons…'

Maria continues to read. 'Likely to be a multipronged plan, the enemy is undermining the trust of the people to the government, shaking the morale of the defense forces, eliminating inhabitants of the city, tiring the authorities and forcing them to expend resources…' Maria thought, it does sounds like a very well planned military operation. 'And it leaves open a way for a take over of power by a party led by the enemy, using the incapacity of the current power to protect the capital and the citizens, paired with open attacks with the kokkikai, extremist parties as from Keigo who openly despises the current administration, can force their ideals in the uneasy masses, being it in the military or not.'

Maria is impressed with the theory it sounds solid and doable, and if Benji is right it was a blueprint of a coup. 'If Benji is right the fallen are only a small part of the problem.' Maria thought worried. 'Benji said that there are people high in the army are working with the kokkikai, and I think that Benji thinks that Keigo is it.'

Maria finishes reading the file and puts it with the others and leaves her bedroom, it was a little late, but she knew that Benji was likely doing his final rounds. Maria finds Benji near the stage. "What are you doing here Maria?" Benji asked when spotting the blonde. "I want to talk to you about something." Maria answered seriously. "I think that the dinning hall would be a good place for it."

Benji nods and follows Maria, Maria gets a bottle of sake from the kitchen and two glasses. "I was readying about the fallen." Maria said while pouring sake in one glass and offering it to Benji. Benji takes the glass and Maria fills the other one. "I saw your theory."

Benji sighed at that. "I should have guessed that would make you uneasy." Benji commented. "How did you get there?" Maria asked seriously. "Did it happen?" "This fallen thing never happened." Benji answered. "But I thought like this, if I was the enemy what I would do to destroy my enemy."

"So you theorized that." Maria said understanding. Benji nods confirming. "Yes, as it says there, it is very beneficial for the enemy doing things like that." Benji explained. "It is guerrilla warfare, attacking a superior enemy with inferior forces, trying to keep the damage that you suffer the least while the enemy's the most. And it also gives the impression that we can't protect the city and its citizens."

"You believe that the army cabinet minister is involved?" Maria asked seriously. "It isn't an accusation that should be done lightly." Benji nods confirming. "While there is personal prejudice involved, given his radical ideas, how he sees the teikoku kagekidan and how he believes that Japan is being ruined in the current way of doing things, he is very likely to be supporting the enemy." Benji answered seriously. "Or being their leader, I heard that Yamaguchi and Keigo doesn't get along, actually Yamaguchi is a hindrance to Keigo, isn't it convenient that the kokkikai targeted Yamaguchi with determination last time?"

Maria nodded agreeing, it is too much of a coincidence, back then Yamaguchi was a stranger to the hanagumi and didn't support them financially, there was no reason for attacking him, unless underlying motives, Maria sips her drink uneasily. "Until now this theory is only know between us, leaders in the kagekidan." Benji said seriously. "You, me, Kaede and Yoneda. Until we get evidence to back it up, keep it a secret."

Maria nodded to that, she doesn't want to give Keigo reason pursue them openly. "We know surprisingly little about this." Maria said annoyed. "This is horrible, we can't protect innocents from becoming demons." "And that is why is such a horribly effective plan." Benji replied in a level tone, it also bothers him a lot. "We are seeking for clues of how the locations are selected and how the cursed item is delivered there, but so far no luck, and each attack is getting more dangerous than the last."

Maria knew that, she red the reports, at first the attacks were small, but the changes are getting more and more extreme as time passes, she finds hard to believe in what she saw in the video from the last attack, but it was solid evidence.

…

Nanako stretches tiredly, two weeks had passed since the play started and it was still getting a full house every time, she felt happy with the fact that the newspapers weren't saying anything bad about her, there was a few comments about how she was doing very well for a novice actress, but the routine of two plays a day, six days a week, on top of defense force training was very straining.

Still she doesn't complain about it, Nanako saw how harder her senpai are working, Benji trained with insanely large swords on top of extreme methods and hours, Sumire fought and wanted to work even when experiencing cramps severe enough to render her unable to walk, Sakura tried hard to walk again defying the diagnostic of the doctors, and that alone was more than enough reason for Nanako to strive to work hard, to prove to everyone and herself that she belongs to the hanagumi.

Even after participating in one battle with them, twice taking part of the victory pose and being deployed three times in addition in being part of the season's play, Nanako still felt like a stranger in the nest, Nanako watches as Kohran and Maria who had been away for a long time get used to the changed routine and her own presence with ease.

Nanako had noticed how Maria took over her responsibilities as being the second field leader of the hanagumi almost as soon as she got back, Nanako also noticed that Sumire wasn't all that content in being back as just part of the hanagumi, but still stepped down from the position.

Nanako could still remember Benji's words when he was telling her about the theater when he first brought her there. "The theater is experiencing strange times." Benji said in a level tone. "Things changed dramatically for everyone, the team isn't the same anymore, we aren't the same anymore, right now two of us, Maria and Kohran, are away from the theater in official business, which makes things a bit hard for everyone. Your presence is a change that was half expected and not entirely wanted, not because of you, but what you represent, you represent that Sakura isn't part of the hanagumi anymore, and that we are replaceable, while they know that it isn't your fault or dislike you, their hearts feel still a little angry and confused, I spoke to them a lot, so they will be friendly, maybe a little rough in the beginning, but understand that are hard times for the hanagumi right now. I am doing everything in my power so you can feel welcomed and accepted in the team, trust me I am also new on the hanagumi, I know how it feels to be the stranger in the nest."

Yet Nanako had a warm reception and even Sakura who Benji said that was a little uncooperative was there welcoming her, things weren't hard or uncomfortable as she thought that would be, sure there was awkward and troublesome moments, but that was just natural. Nanako somewhat knew why she felt so inadequate to the hanagumi, seeing her senpai, even Sakura bathing everyday, how beautiful they are, Nanako felt that she was nowhere as pretty, smart, strong, funny and interesting as they are.

Nanako spots Benji walking around the city, it was pretty easy to spot him, he towers over everyone else with ease, even being short herself Nanako could see him, plus he was carrying either his rebar sword or the hundred men slayer inside a tube carrier taller than he is.

"Benji-senpai?" Nanako asked while walking towards him. "What are you doing out here?" "Shopping." Benji answered, Nanako notices him holding a bag, not a shopping bag, a paper food bag. "Want a nikuman?" "You are snacking?" Nanako asked surprised. "Something like that." Benji answered, it was more that he was ingesting the extra calories that he is losing with all the heavy sword training, Wakana had increased his portions, but he was still hungry and craving for sustenance.

"Benji-senpai how you do it?" Nanako asked. "Shopping?" Benji answered. "Well it isn't easy, most of times I need someone to read the labels and prices for me." "Not that senpai." Nanako replied. "I mean being new in the hanagumi and being made the squad leader, I am just a regular part of it and I feel stretched in all ways with my duties."

"It isn't easy." Benji said seriously as they walk around the streets of Teito. "While I don't have acting roles I have different responsibilities, as much and some perhaps even more stressing, I also have to keep you girls working fine together, defusing arguments and stuff like that, and I can't show you girls if I am feeling tired or not, confused, anything, so you girls can rely on me."

"Don't you feel like is too much at times?" Nanako asked. "More often than you think." Benji replied. "But that is also my fault, this job requires a lot and I demand myself a lot as well, which is why I feel the strain of the job often." "But how you dealt being new in the team?" Nanako asked.

"Since I first arrived here unable to speak Japanese by the time that I interacted with everyone I wasn't new anymore." Benji answered. "But I also tried to be nice to everyone, you are doing well in that area as well, you bath with everyone, trust me Nanako, that means that you are pretty close with the others, though I heard that you don't chat all that much with everyone."

"I just get nervous." Nanako admitted. "I feel shy seeing my senpai, they are so gorgeous, I don't feel like I belong there with them." "You are pretty attractive yourself." Benji commented. "Nanako you are only fifteen, you are still blooming into maidenhood, you can't compare yourself with them, they are at least three years older than you, well other than Iris and Reni."

"I just can't help it." Nanako murmured. "They are so beautiful." "Yes they are." Benji commented. "Trust me Nanako if I could I would be right there with them, but that isn't proper." Nanako chuckled a bit with his words, she had guessed that as any male Benji would love to bath with them.

"But I still feel like I don't belong in the hanagumi." Nanako said. "I am a hindrance for everyone." Benji smacks the back of her head lightly with his palm. "You aren't a hindrance." Benji said seriously. "But I almost don't do anything in battle and I know that my acting isn't good." Nanako replied rubbing her head. "That is why you keep me away from the enemy isn't it?"

Benji sighs at that, he should have figured that Nanako would have misunderstood his intentions. "Nanako I keep you in the back because you are still nervous about everything." Benji explained. "What you did in the first time that you went to battle?" "I sat in my koubu and watched everyone fight." Nanako answered.

"And in the second time?" Benji asked. "I stayed in the back and helped to escort Yamaguchi-san to safety." Nanako answered. "Then I went to the front when most of the enemies were defeated." "Still you killed two wakiji." Benji pointed out. "How nervous you were in the first time?" "I nearly threw up of so nervous." Nanako answered embarrassed.

"And in the second time?" Benji asked. "A little nervous." Nanako answered. "But not too much." "See?" Benji asked. Nanako denies confused. "See what?" she asked. "You had more time to get used in being part of the hanagumi." Benji answered. "Plus you were once in the battlefield even if you did nothing, that amounted some experience, in the second time that you went to battle, you were a little more used to it."

"But I was still near Sumire-senpai." Nanako replied. "With a reason." Benji said seriously. "Sumire is by far the best pilot of us all, the most experienced, and you while you have a good amount of hours in the simulator you had few in real piloting, so she was there to cover you, in battle we have no room for mistakes, you can get hurt or worse, someone else can get hurt, Sumire was there to make sure if you made a mistake she would cover you up and make sure that you would live to not make it again."

"So you expected me to make mistakes?" Nanako asked a little disappointed. "No." Benji answered. "You have more hours racked up in simulation that I am, if anything you are a better pilot than I am, but in the other hand you are way less confident than I am, so to make sure that everything went okay I paired you with our most experienced member, you have to understand Nanako that I don't want to lose any of you."

Nanako feels embarrassed for doubting Benji, confusing his worry about her safety for lack of faith in her abilities. "Listen Nanako, you have to stop worrying too much about fitting in." Benji said seriously. "Be yourself, don't try to change to please everyone, of course you have to change few things, fixing bad habits and learning to live in this new group, but stay true to yourself. Each and everyone of you girls are unique, so don't try being just like any of them, you will never be able to, so do your best to shine with your own light, so you too will be as bright as they are."

Nanako nodded, maybe Benji was right and she was trying too hard to be accepted to really show her true self to everyone, she saw how everyone accepted each other, even Benji's odd training for himself or his habit of teasing them. "If I do you will stop to tease me so much Benji-senpai?" Nanako asked hopefully.

"Nope." Benji answered casually. "It is how I show my love, plus you are really fun to tease, you reacts so nice to it and panics really well too." "Senpai!" Nanako exclaimed embarrassed, but again she kind of grew to like it, Benji did it to everyone, and since the beginning he did it to her, so she did felt like part of the hanagumi, at least in his eyes.

…

Sumire rinses her mouth in the restroom sink. 'It is getting much more frequent…' She thought while spitting the water. 'I am not sure if I get happy or not with this, if this is morning sickness then I am pregnant, and I have skipped my period once…' Sumire wipes her face clean with a handkerchief and takes a deep breath.

'I will get it some more time.' She says to herself. 'If I miss it next month then I will tell Benji-san…that…I…' Sumire notices her smile in the mirror. 'Why am I so happy?' she asked to herself confused. 'I am happy that I might really be pregnant?' "Sumire-san?" Orihime asked when spotting Sumire in front of the mirror when entering on the restroom.

Sumire turns to Orihime. "Yes?" Sumire asked. "Are you feeling well?" Orihime asked worried. "You left the rehearsal in a hurry, and isn't the first time, recently you have been sick a lot." "I am feeling fine now." Sumire answered honestly. "I might have caught a stomach bug or something."

"Then why were you smiling in front of the mirror?" Orihime asked confused. "I was practicing my smile." Sumire answered. "I don't want to worry Benji-san with this, so don't tell him that I am a bit sick." Orihime nods a little uneasily, there was something on Sumire's smile in the mirror that told her that it wasn't a fake smile, it was a very honest happy smile, with something there that Orihime couldn't put her finger on, something warm and reassuring.

Sumire moves to her bedroom and picks up her phone and dials a number there. "Yes?" Hinako's voice came from the other side. "It is me." Sumire replied. "Please tell me that you have a way of lessening sickness." "Well if is related to that." Hinako said understanding the true meaning of Sumire's words. "Avoid food that is too salty, citruses also help, always keep something in your stomach, so snack and drink a lot."

"Okay, low salt, citrus and keep something in my stomach." Sumire said with a nod, making sure to memorize that. "You told him?" Hinako asked seriously. "Not yet." Sumire answered seriously. "It might be something else, it is too soon to raise the alarms."

"If you say so Sumire-san." Hinako said with a sigh. "How you dealt with it?" Sumire asked. "I took some vacation time when my stomach started to grow." Hinako answered. "So if you are truly expecting, then in a couple of months you should take a time from the acting, you can mask it for a little longer by wearing looser clothes too, but honestly Sumire-san I am more worried about making it official."

"Benji-san has taken care of it." Sumire said in a reassuring tone. "A little lying will be needed but if that comes to happen we have official papers ready, all that I need is to sign it, when I do, it will make it official, but the date will be before it happened, we are using the day that I went visit the state and held there against my will and Benji-san came to get me."

"I suppose that it will do it." Hinako replied. "No ceremony?" "If we hold one, it will be very private away from the eyes of the public." Sumire answered. "I really don't want much exposure on this." Hinako could understand that, the news of her pregnancy leaked, though no one knew that Kanzaki Hinako was Saeki Hina, still because she was high profile her pregnancy wasn't all that easy.

"You thought in names?" Hinako asked, she don't want to end the call soon. "Not yet." Sumire answered. "I want Benji-san involved, so when I am sure and tell him, then we might start picking names, he might want to name the child after someone in his family." "Yeah." Hinako replied. "You think that he will be involved on it?"

"Heavily." Sumire said with a smile that Hinako couldn't see, but she could tell by the tone of Sumire's voice that she was sure of it and happy. "I just have this feeling that he will."

…

Days passed and turned into weeks and August started, Yoneda returned to the theater and is received with the reception that he knew that he would get, and with the hanagumi leaving for their week of summer vacation in that day he would be able to catch up with his work, everyone was excited with the vacation, getting ready for it.

Yoneda looks at Benji in his office. "Make sure to take the kinematron." Yoneda said to him in a serious tone. "I even told Maria to pack hers just in case." Benji replied casually, Yoneda nodded pleased, sometimes Benji thought ahead of him. "When the baragumi is arriving anyway?" Benji asked seriously. "I don't want to be here when they do."

"That is really cold Benji-san." Kaede said in a level tone. "As much as I want to let you skip them." Yoneda said seriously. "I want the girls to relax, so they need to know that there are people here guarding the city while you are out having fun. So bite the bullet for the girls' sake."

Benji nods with a sigh. "Anyway just leave the koubus and the Shogei-maru ready for deployment." Benji said seriously. "I remember that something happen during the vacation, this type of event would be a perfect target for the enemy." Yoneda and Kaede nod agreeing, but they won't cancel the vacation everyone deserves it.

Sometime later Benji leaves the office, the meeting was over, so he could now do whatever he wanted until the time of the departure, that was a little under two hours from then. As he walks around Sumire finds him and smiles. "I was looking for you Benji-san." Sumire said. "Could you come with me to my room?" "Sure." Benji replied and follows her.

Benji doesn't mind when Sumire closes the door behind them. Sumire sits on her bed and gestures to Benji sit in two seat sofa of her room facing her, Benji does so. "Benji-san this is very serious." Sumire said in a level but serious tone. "I missed my period twice now, and for a while I have been sick every day. I am certain that I am pregnant."

Sumire studies Benji's reaction, it wasn't much of a reaction, she was expecting a bit more. "You just confirmed what I was suspecting." Benji said to her. "You just felt different for a while now." "Different?" Sumire asked confused, she was sure that she was acting normally, other than the sickness.

"It is really, really subtle." Benji explained. "You just smile sometimes, not your usual smile, it is more maternal, and there is this shine in your eyes too, deep in your eyes." Sumire blushes at his words, if that was true and not make up, then Benji would have to be looking at her closely to notice that.

"What do we do?" Sumire asked seriously. "For this next week we do nothing." Benji answered. "Everyone is looking forward for this break, I don't want to drop a bombshell on them and ruin the vacation." Sumire agreed with that, she also doesn't want that. Benji stands up and sits next to Sumire.

"After that…well we have to tell everyone." Benji said seriously. "I just am not too sure of what to do…" "You said that you would check on something." Sumire said looking at him, it was rare to see Benji like that, so visibly confused. "What was that?" "Something hatefully dehumanizing." Benji answered. "I had this theory of what the council and the military might have planned for us."

"What?" Sumire asked worried, she doesn't want to kill her child, and that is the only thing that she can think that the military would force them to do. "It is called future generation plan." Benji said in a level tone. "It essentially is a plan where every female of the defense force is forced to bear at least one child with a spiritually strong male, in a concept similar to breeding pure breed horses."

Sumire feels angry at the concept, but she remembers all too well how hard was to find people capable of piloting the koubus, males then are very rare, until that day only two were able, Benji and Ogami, and she doesn't want anything to do with the former leader of the hanagumi, especially his child.

"Why you would want to check on something like that?" Sumire asked seriously. "Because it might be the only way for me to hold my promise to you and Sakura." Benji answered in the same way. "Until now that plan is just a motion, it wasn't passed, mostly because Yoneda and the count Hanakoji are against it, they don't want you girls to become breeding machines for new soldiers, honestly neither do I."

"But that plan allows you to keep multiple families, as long it is with kagekidan members." Sumire said understanding. "Likely getting financial support." "Something like that." Benji replied. "I also don't like it." Sumire said uneasy. "But I can see why you considered it, I also don't want to ruin Sakura-san's life, I know that she is alive because of you, I honestly thought that you would be fathering her children. Benji-san who you love? You have special feelings for whom?"

"I love you all." Benji answered honestly. "I love you, I love Sakura, I love Maria, Kanna, everyone, you might not understand Sumire, but you are all that I have." Sumire felt a little angry but his tone, how he said that they are all that he has dissipated it, she knew that he meant it.

"Explain it to me." Sumire said holding his hand. "Tell me why." "I can't tell you everything." Benji said seriously, gently kissing the back of her hand. "But remember when I came out of that store? The first time that I appeared in front of you?" Sumire nodded confirming, how could she forget that?

"In that day I lost my entire world." Benji said seriously. "All that I had was what I had with me, everything else, my family, friends, everything was gone and I am not sure if I will ever get it back." Looking at his eyes Sumire knew that Benji was telling her the truth, not the details but what matters, and she knew that he meant it, that he had lost all those things that he told them about every now and then, the grandmother that made osushi in special occasions, the brother that he can't stand, his mother, everyone.

"Who else knows?" Sumire asked tenderly, that secret surely was known by someone else. "Yoneda, Kaede and Maria." Benji answered. "Maria was translating everything, remember when she drank too much after I arrived?" Sumire nodded, Maria never told them what she did, now she could understand why Maria drank that much.

"I think that as long we can keep our child and the government has no claim over our child I can accept being one of your wives." Sumire said seriously. "In fact I would be happy in being your wife." Benji smiled at her words. "I told you how I felt about the idea of having you as my wife." Benji replied kissing Sumire.

Sumire purrs happily and kisses Benji back, she had longed for the feel of his lips on hers. Benji breaks the kiss and softly tugs on Sumire's obi. "What are you doing?" Sumire asked a little confused, even being bold Benji wasn't the type of force her to undress. "I kind of wanted to do something." Benji answered a little embarrassed. "Not that, could you take your kimono off?"

Embarrassed with the request Sumire nods, she is curious to know what would make Benji, who normally isn't easily embarrassed, embarrassed. So she takes out her kimono with Benji's help, Sumire stands in front of him on her underwear, a very tasteful and sexy matching white set, embarrassed Sumire stands there.

Benji gently pulls her closer and presses his ear over her stomach and hugs her waist gently, Sumire blushes madly at that, she knew what Benji was doing. 'No wonder he was embarrassed!' Sumire thought while gently hugging his head, tearing up slightly. 'Trying to hear our child…'

They don't know how long they stood like that in silence, Benji knew all too well that it was too soon for the child to be heard, but he wanted to do it, so he keeps his ear pressed softly on Sumire's smooth flat and warm stomach hearing to her heartbeat, just holding her there and listening to the soothing sound of her breathing and heartbeat.

Sumire smiles happily, crying happy tears while holding Benji, she knew that he would be there for them, but that act confirmed her believe and make her incredibly happy and relieved, she doesn't care that she is standing there on her underwear and socks, she was in no hurry to break that hug.

Sumire whimpers softly when Benji pulls his head away, then she moans softly when he kisses her stomach. "You are in a row…" Sumire whispered crying with new happy feelings. Benji gently pulls her to his lap, Sumire sits there, with her arms wrapped around his neck sitting with both legs over his right leg, with his arms still around her waist.

"I love you." Benji said before kissing Sumire, calling forth new tears and a new wave of happiness that she wants to share by kissing him lovingly, they could taste her tears, and that only made that kiss more special. "I love you too." Sumire said once their lips part. "I know that my feelings for you turned into love in the day that you said that you were willing to die with me in my family's house."

Benji kisses Sumire again, how could anyone not fall in love with her. "Benji-san…" Sumire whispered when they break that kiss. "Can we…well…" "Of course we can." Benji whispered kissing her neck softly. "But we have to be quick and quiet, or the others might discover us." Sumire nods agreeing, she just knew that this would be special.

…

Sumire snuggles happily against Benji, she had missed that feeling, but now that she is down from her hormonal high she has a worry. "Benji-san is this safe for our child?" Sumire asked worried, looking up at Benji. "Yes." Benji answered. "Unless there were complications, which you would have told me if you had any, it is safe and advised to have sex during the pregnancy, especially given our different blood types."

"Why that?" Sumire asked confused. "I have read that it helps your immune system to accept the baby, if our child has my blood type, it also prevents related complications, I am not sure of all the details though." "And where you learned that?" Sumire asked surprised, that was a very specific medical knowledge for be something widely known.

"Can't tell you that." Benji replied kissing Sumire's forehead. "Then what I do about wearing a swimsuit?" Sumire asked worried. "It is still too early for you to worry about it." Benji answered. "You can wear anything that you like and no one will be able to tell, your pretty tummy is still flat and smooth." Sumire blushes and feels Benji softly tickling her stomach.

"Now as much I love the feeling of your naked body against my body we need to move on." Benji said in a serious tone. "Put something on." Sumire pouts, more at having to move away from Benji, she wants to bask more in that comfortable feeling of being with him, but she also knew that he was right.

Sumire leaves Benji and fishes her discarded clothes and throw them into a laundry bin inside her closet, then she picks up a clean set of underwear and her usual dress and puts on. 'And she didn't even ask me to leave.' Benji thought idly, enjoying the sight of Sumire dressing up.

"Get my suitcase will you?" Sumire asked with a smile. "So I have an excuse for having you in my room." Benji nods and does so, her suitcase was pretty heavy. "Sumire we are going for a one week vacation." Benji said. "Why so much clothing?" "I am only taking the basic." Sumire replied casually. "A few outfits, some shoes and sandals, a little make up, my toiletry kit."

"A few bricks." Benji said while walking to the door. "Just a couple of books." Sumire corrected. "You are strong Benji-san, you can handle that." Benji says nothing and leaves the room with the suitcase. "So the snake had you carrying her stuff." Kanna said seeing Benji leaving the room with the suitcase. "I swear that she must have packed a chest of drawers here or something." Benji replied as Sumire leaves the room with a grin. "You needed me or something?"

"No." Kanna answered. "We just wondered where you have been." "Sumire asked me to help her with something." Benji explained with a sigh. "Power weightlifting." Kanna chuckled while Sumire looks away embarrassed. "Well since I feel sorry for you I will help you out." Kanna said to Benji while taking Sumire's suitcase. "Yikes, it is heavy."

"Told you so." Benji replied. "Maria wanted to see you." Kanna said. "She is in Sakura's room." Benji nods and moves away, Sumire watches him off and then starts to tell Kanna to be careful with her suitcase.

"Benji-san!" Sakura lightens up when Benji knocks on her room's doorframe. "Kanna said that you wanted to see me." Benji says to Maria. Maria nods confirming. "Yes." Maria replied. "Where have you been?" "Sumire wanted me to help her to close her suitcase and carry it down." Benji answered. "It took me a while to convince her that she had to leave some stuff behind."

"Sounds like Sumire-san." Sakura said with a chuckle. "I see." Maria commented. "But I want to see you, because Sakura is uneasy in going with us." Benji sighed at that. "Haven't we been through this before?" Benji asked. "Two times." Sakura nods embarrassed.

"You are coming with us Sakura, so is Wakana." Benji said seriously. "We won't leave you behind." "But I feel uncomfortable wearing a swimsuit." Sakura replied. "You stand naked in front of everyone every day in the bath." Benji pointed out. "No one of us mind your scars Sakura."

"I am telling her that too." Maria commented. "Sakura this is something that you will have to live with for the rest of your life, you should start getting used to it now." Benji nodded agreeing. "You take the chair that I take Sakura down." Benji says to Maria. "Sometimes we have to push Sakura or she won't budge, lack of a choice is doing well for her."

"I suppose so." Maria commented while Benji slings Sakura over his shoulder and gets Sakura's suitcase as well with his free arm. "Benji-san put me down!" Sakura exclaimed, but she doesn't flail too much either. Making sure that he is holding firmly on Sakura's legs Benji walks out of the room with Maria in tow pushing Sakura's wheelchair.

No one in the theater really minds how Benji is carrying Sakura, it was part of the routine that sometimes he would just do that, it followed Sakura complaining about something silly and he was making a point by being a little more forceful, Sakura pouts while sited in a regular chair by the gift shop, her wheelchair is next to the luggage from everyone, her mother's included.

Benji does a headcount on everyone and nods when seeing everyone there. "Okay we are all ready." Benji said. "I will go get my stuff upstairs and come back." "Okay." Maria replied. Benji returns with a large backpack, contrasting with most of the hanagumi's suitcases, other than him only Kanna weren't using a suitcase.

Benji sets his pack in the pile of luggage and looks outside. "Where is the transport?" Benji asked looking at the street. "Kaede told me that she arranged it." "It is still a bit early." Maria pointed out. "I suppose so." Benji replied, then he claps his hands after checking his watch.

"Okay everyone we have twenty minutes before the due time arrive, so if any of you need to do something, or think that forgot something do it now." Benji says in a serious tone. "You have locked your rooms? Took some time to 'adjust the makeup'?" The girls ponder and Nanako followed by Iris and Kohran race upstairs, Sumire casually walks towards the general area of the toilets, Maria and Kanna do the same, Orihime ponders a little longer and follow them.

"You need to?" Benji asked to Sakura who denies with a nod. "I went a few minutes before you carried me down here." Sakura answered. "I think that I have time to get us a few more snacks." Wakana said walking towards the kitchen. "You two are okay?" Benji asks to Saki and Reni who nod confirming. "What about you?" Sakura asked him.

"I am fine." Benji answered, a few minutes later the hanagumi regroups in entry, Nanako and Iris also moved to the restroom. Kaede finds everyone already waiting in the entrance. "A little eager?" Kaede asked casually. "First vacation in more than six months." Benji answered. "And a chance of seeing the girls in swimsuits? Of course I am eager." And that draws a collective blush from them, even Wakana.

"At least you are being honest." Kaede said with a chuckle. "Your transportation has arrived." "Finally." Benji commented, parked in the front of the theater's steps is a steam bus. "Okay, Kanna let's start loading the luggage." Kanna nods and moves to the luggage pile.

Kaede smiles seeing the duo moving the luggage. "You know I think that Benji-san might the most excited one about this vacation." Kaede commented with a chuckle. "Benji-san did mention that since he came here he had no vacations." Sumire replied. "So this one after so long and so many hardships must mean a lot."

"I think that he is looking forward for us in swimsuits more than the break." Orihime commented. "It is only natural for a healthy and young male, in the peak of his virility and energy to be appreciated and eager to enjoy the bodies of also young, healthy and attractive females." Reni said in her usual tone, it doesn't matter that her words were delivered in a very clinical way, it was still very embarrassing to be reminded of Benji like that, especially for Sumire who unknowingly for everyone had already sampled the said male interests.

…

Benji stretches on his seat in the bus, meeting the baragumi was very disturbing, now that it was over he could relax, he has one week to relax and enjoy some time away from his worries, and the best of it all, the hanagumi girls in swimsuits. Kohran, Iris, Sakura, Orihime, Saki and Wakana are playing cards in the back of the bus, Kanna and Maria are chatting, Reni like himself was looking out of the window, and lastly Sumire was fanning herself.

The mood is light and comfortable, there was still another hour for them to arrive in Atami. Benji lightly drums his fingers on the air. (Oh yeah!) Benji whispered and hums. (End of passion play, crumbling away, I am your source of self-destruction. Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear, leading to your death's construction.)

Maria's ears pick up the whispered song, she had saw the motion of Benji's hands, as playing drums in the air. "Benji-san what are you doing?" Sumire called him, Benji stops mid motion. 'Damn you Sumire…' Maria thought as Benji stops singing. "Just air drumming a song." Benji explained.

"Air drumming?" Kanna asked confused. "What is that?" "It is pretending to play a drum set in air, you don't really have to know how to play though." Benji explained. "Just try to get the rhythm right and match the drums of the song. There is also air guitar and other stuff, is just mocking though."

"And what were you singing anyway?" Sumire asked. "It was eerie." 'And I don't really like how it made me feel…' Sumire thought, unsure if is just because she is sensitive because her pregnancy. "Just something from my homeland." Benji answered. "I guess that I could sing something lighter."

"Please do." Sumire said with a nod, she doesn't want her future husband singing dark songs next to her when she is expecting their child. "I am a dreamer." Benji started to sing after moments of silence, thinking in what to sing. "Where does the light of dawn pour down?"

Benji's voice catches the attention of everyone, it was rare hearing Benji singing openly, so they paid attention to it. "I am a dreamer." Benji sang softly, the hanagumi was surprise with the mixture of English with Japanese in the song, still the way that he is singing conveys a good amount of feeling. "Dimly white, that smile touched me somehow."

"That sunshine doesn't touch this place, this secret place where you can cry all alone." Benji sang, if was easier to do it now than before he learned to speak Japanese. "As if I were screaming, I call out your name, You can't be not here; if only you were here." "So sad…" Sumire whispered tenderly, the song was beautiful but also sad.

"Surely, I will go to that place where the sunshine touches. It can't end like this; we still have promises." Benji continued, not noticing the tears that he managed to make the girls shed. "That far off path, that straight path, you can't be not here; if only you were here." 'Beautiful…' Maria thought with a wistful smile, she doesn't know the song, but it touched her, she just knows that Benji is singing it right.

"Surely, I will go to that place where the sunshine touches. It can't end like this; we still have promises." Benji sang the final verse. "That far off road, that beam of light...because you are here; if only you were here…" "WWWAAAAHHHHH!" Kanna wailed while pouncing on Benji, crying. "TAISHO!"

Kanna sobs while holding on Benji, as he recovers his breath and looks around he realizes that he got everyone crying. "That was a very beautiful song." Sumire said wiping her tears with a handkerchief. "Where you learn those songs anyway?" Orihime asked wiping her own tears away. "I know for sure that isn't something that you picked around here since you joined us."

"That is a secret." Benji replied with a smile, happy that they liked it. "Besides that song is originally sung by a woman, so I think that one of you would make it better than I do, besides you girls sing way better than I do." "You might miss the tune sometimes." Sakura said wiping her tears away. "But you get the feeling of them right."

"Thanks." Benji said to Sakura and then turns down to Kanna. "But how long are you going to be clinging on me Kanna?" Kanna sobs a little and pulls away. "Sorry taisho." Kanna said wiping her tears. "I just couldn't help it…maybe it was just me, but I felt that you were going really far away…"

Maria nods to that, she also felt it, the song spoke of a large distance between two lovers, and that no matter what they couldn't get together. "You could sing something else." Kohran said. "Maybe something not as heart wrenching." Iris, Saki and Wakana nod to that. "Why I have to sing?" Benji asked back. "You girls are the professional singers here."

"That is exactly why." Maria replied teasingly. "We sing a lot already, there is novelty in listening someone else for a change." "I agree with Maria-san." Sumire said with a nod. "Come on Benji-san sing us something, maybe a love song." "Or something from your homeland." Wakana added. "But we won't understand the lyrics." Sakura pointed out. "If is beautiful doesn't matter." Orihime said casually. "Please no more sad songs." Kanna said sniffling. "Make it a happy one."

So being targeted by the hanagumi's eager and expecting eyes Benji ponders in what to sing for them, their requests make hard for him to select a good song, then he recalls one, but Orihime might actually understand the meaning if she understand enough words, then he decides against it as Sumire might misinterpret it if she learns the meaning of it.

The hanagumi waits while Benji ponders and crosses his arms, then he hits his left hand with his closed right hand. "'You know, night is over,' will be the last words that reach my ears…" Benji begins to sing softly, the hanagumi paying very close attention to his words, to the almost lulling way that he is singing. "…so the legend says."

'Why I have this feeling that this isn't a happy romantic song?' Sumire thought while Benji keeps singing. "You know, that cold cheek I am leaving behind? Softly, touch it with your hand and lean close." Maria listens to the song very attentively, intent that once alone with Benji, learn about its origins.

"The moon's light only will watch over me. But now I will be thought of as sleeping forever." Benji continue to sing in the silence of the bus. "You know, morning is coming. This is the final farewell. I am sorry, love wasn't part of the legend, too. When that should happen, I will sing this melody. Turn toward me, faraway, and please receive it."

"The moon's light only will watch over me. But now I will be thought of as sleeping forever." Benji sang seeing how the hanagumi is tearing up again, knowing that he will get an earful afterwards. "'You know, night is over,' will be the last words that reach my ears, so the legend says. You know, this light will never die, it shall be locked with in my eyes, sleeping forever. It shall be locked with in my eyes, sleeping forever…"

"Don't you have any happy songs in your memory?!" Nanako exclaimed wiping her tears away, two sad love songs in a row is too much for her. "Yeah taisho!" Kanna exclaimed wiping her tears with her sleeves. "I asked for a happy song!" "I found it beautiful." Sumire commented dabbing her tears away. "I am not saying that it is bad, but they are so sad!" Kanna exclaimed. "Why always lost love?"

"Well that kind of makes romantic songs more romantic." Benji pointed out. "Yeah it does." Wakana commented with a nod. "You have a pretty nice singing voice Benji-san." "Thank you." Benji replied. "That sounded like a lullaby." Orihime commented, she felt a little silly for crying because two songs, but it wasn't all that bad either, it kind of felt good.

"I think about that one as a lullaby." Benji replied. "But that still doesn't answer how you know songs in Japanese that we never heard about." Sakura pointed out seriously, holding her handkerchief. "These two are really nice songs unlike those other two, where you learned them?"

"Secret." Benji answered with a grin. Sumire looks at Benji who turned back on his seat and is chatting with them. 'You think of that second song as a lullaby…very pretty and soothing.' Sumire thought tenderly. 'It makes me curious if he would sing it for our child…'

Sakura is accusing Benji of being mean while he sticks out his tongue playfully, Maria watched content that everyone is happy, maybe Benji's songs were a touch sad, but still were beautiful and she wanted to hear them again, maybe the original songs, but definitely on his voice.

…

Maria looks at Benji who sighs when seeing the damage in the rented bus, all windows were shattered by the explosion of Kohran's new invent, no one got hurt though. "I am not looking forward for the repair bill." Benji said with a sigh. "At least the windshield is in one piece. Next time we check Kohran to prevent incidents like this."

Maria nods agreeing, Kohran is bowing profusely and apologizing to the driver while Kanna and Wakana are cleaning glass shards from the inside the bus, the explosion made Benji call for a short break to check for any damages that they couldn't see. In the end the bus is still fine and no one is hurt, so the trip continues without any more incidents

Once they arrive in the ryokan in Atami the hanagumi stretches tiredly. "So what we do now?" Orihime asks to Benji. "Let's check in and leave our luggage in our rooms, then we could check the beach for a while." Benji answered. "Sounds good for me." Kanna commented with a smile. "Yay!" Iris exclaimed happily. "Swimming!" With those words the hanagumi enters in the ryokan.

Orihime is surprised to learn that she will have to share a room with almost everyone else, Saki got her own room and so did Benji, everyone else was sharing a large room, but Orihime just accepted it. After getting their swimsuits and towels the girls move to the entrance where they meet Benji.

"Where is Saki?" Benji asked not seeing her there. "She said that she prefer to soak in the hot springs over going to the beach." Kohran answered. "I hope that I am not intruding." Wakana said to Benji. "I don't have many opportunities of visiting the sea." "I don't mind it at all." Benji replied. "And after all that you do for us in the theater there is no way that I would deny you this kind of thing."

Wakana bows thankfully. "I must admit that it is a nice change to see you wearing something other than a kimono." Benji commented, Wakana was wearing a nice and sober dress. "Wearing a kimono in the beach would be too unpractical, I decided to follow Sakura-san's and Sumire-san's lead and wear some western clothes." Wakana replied. "Thank you for your words, I really feel inadequate without a kimono."

"You are looking beautiful." Orihime said to the older woman. "You should wear other things than kimonos more often." "I agree with that." Benji commented. "Now we should get going before it gets too late." The girls nod, Sakura looks at Benji who hands Kanna a bag, then he squats with his back turned to her, Sakura understood what Benji meant and holds on his neck while he holds her thighs.

Reni takes Sakura's chair back to their room. "But the chair?" Sakura asked confused. "The terrain isn't good for your chair." Sumire answered. "It is too rough, it might make you fall or the chair to tumble." Sakura nods a little uncomfortable and keeps her hands holding on the front of Benji's shirt.

When Reni returns the group walks to the beach that isn't too far from there, Kohran assembles a foldable beach chair, Benji's design, and places it on the sand, where Sakura sits once Benji let her stand and helps her to sit. Benji looks around and finds a nice secluded spot not too far from there. "I will build a changing room there." Benji said taking his bag from Kanna and a cloth wrapped long package from Kohran.

"Okay." Kanna replied. "We will be setting the umbrella here." The see Benji walking off to the spot and they all begin setting down the spot, Orihime unfolds and stand a large sheet over the sand, Iris had gathered four rocks twice as big her as fists and puts over the corners of the sheet to prevent it from flying.

Maria and Nanako had carried the cooler with drinks and snacks, and with that they are all set for the day. "Done." Benji said walking to them wearing a pair of surfer's shorts, on his left hand the bag where he stuffed his clothes, in his right hand his shoes. "You girls can change now."

"Then I will take Sakura there." Kanna said, Wakana picks her own bag and Sakura's bag, the other girls pick their own bags and move there, stealing glances from Benji as he sets his bag and shoes nest to the beach umbrella. "It has been a while…" Wakana commented embarrassed.

'I saw it this morning.' Sumire thought with a smile. 'I don't think that I will get tired though.' "Benji-senpai's scars are still visible…" Nanako murmured, she still recalled when she saw him in the shower room once. "After this long taking Saki's medicine I thought that they would be long gone." Kanna commented. No one continues the talk over Benji's scars, they change to a more pleasant conversation as their own swimsuits and the beach.

Benji is a bit surprised in seeing Wakana in a one piece swimsuit, it shows that even at her age her body was still beautiful, then again all the girls are beautiful, what really surprises Benji is that Maria was wearing a gorgeous black bikini, she wasn't the only one as Kanna was wearing a red and blue bikini, Sumire's swimsuit can be classified as a one piece, but was almost as revealing as a bikini, as it exposes her stomach, and a good part of her back, but Benji likes it.

Orihime's swimsuit was bold and stylish, but unlike Sumire's it covered most of her front except a part of her cleavage and exposed most of her back. Kohran was wearing a more masculine one piece swimsuit, that covers everything from her mid thighs to bellow the shoulders.

Iris was wearing a cute one piece swimsuit, Reni a blue with white details school swimsuit, Nanako was surprisingly wearing a similar swimsuit to Reni's, but a pure blue school swimsuit, lastly there was Sakura wearing a white and pink one piece swimsuit. "You are all looking great." Benji says to them in an honest tone, which makes most of the girls glow in a pleasant pink color.

Benji of course took plenty of pictures of them all, he had bought a camera solely for that, the girls were embarrassed but happy to pose, then they all split up and had fun in small groups, Sakura removed her artificial leg and is as Benji once advised her, reading under the beach umbrella, Wakana and Sumire joined Sakura in that, Kanna and Reni are swimming in the water, Iris and Kohran are building a castle in the sand, Maria and Nanako are walking in the waterline, with the water lapping at their ankles.

Having grown in a coastal city Benji was pretty sick of beaches, so he just watches over the hanagumi, which for him is reason alone to go to the beach. "Benji-san are you having fun?" Sakura asked worried, as Benji is doing nothing more than just sit in the sand a few meters behind the spot where they are.

"I am enjoying myself." Benji replied. "I am not here for the beach Sakura, I am here for you." Sakura blushes at his words and isn't the only one, Wakana, Sumire and Orihime who heard them blush as well, knowing that by you he meant all of them. "I am plenty happy in being able to see you girls frolicking happily in the beach."

"It is just that you are sitting so far from everyone else." Sakura commented embarrassed. "You can sit closer of us." "There is plenty of room here." Orihime added patting the sheet. "And I kind of wanted you to do me a favor as well." Sumire added pulling something from her bag, an inflatable mattress. "You could fill this for me?"

"Hai, hai." Benji replied standing up and moving to the sheet. The girls chuckle at his reply, Sumire inwardly knew why of it though, he wouldn't let her fill it when pregnant. "I haven't filled one of these since I was a kid." Benji commented after sitting down next to Sumire and taking the mattress. "I am sure that you will do much better now." Orihime teased.

Benji says nothing and starts to blow air inside Sumire's air mattress, however Benji had to admit that it was much easier now than when he was a kid, after all his exercise Benji's lung strength grew a lot. It takes less than five minutes for Benji finish. "Done." Benji said handing to Sumire the firmly inflated mattress. "Thank you." Sumire replied with a smile taking the mattress and then standing up.

"Don't fall asleep while lying on it." Benji warned as Sumire walks to the water. "I won't." Sumire replied. Wakana can tell that Benji is still worried, but doesn't say anything, she also has her reservations about such a thing. Benji then pulls something from his bag, an inner tube floater.

"Why I have a feeling that you aren't going to be using that yourself?" Orihime asked while Benji fills it. "I brought it so Sakura can get in the water." Benji answered between breaths. "This way she doesn't have to swim and there less drowning risks." "I guessed that you just wouldn't leave me alone." Sakura said in a mock annoyed tone, but she was really happy with his actions and she did want to take a dip. "But since you went through all the trouble of getting it for me, I suppose that I can do it."

Wakana chuckled at Sakura's words. "Perhaps I could also enter in the water." Wakana commented. "But you don't know how to swim." Sakura pointed out. "As long I stay where my feet can reach the ground it should be okay." Wakana commented. Benji makes a mental note of watching Wakana if she does enter in the water.

Benji was actually surprised when Wakana went to the water with him, carrying the inner tube while Benji carries Sakura to the water. "This feels much easier." Sakura said placing her left foot in the water with her arms around Benji's neck, the water reaching bellow her breasts, Wakana has a firm grip on the inner tube as she stays near them. "Still hurts a little though."

Iris and Kanna swim at them. "Glad to see you here." Kanna said to them. "It must be really refreshing after that long in the sand." "Yes it is." Sakura said, she did feel nice and cool inside the cool water. "And I must say that is nice to see you standing." Kanna added. "Even if you have to hold on Benji for support."

Sakura smiled at that, it was nice to stand up after so long, the pain was minimal as the water lessens the strain in her leg. "I am also content with that." Sakura commented. "It has been too long since I last stood without much pain." "I should increase exercises in the pool." Benji commented, he hasn't added many exercises in the pool because he was wary that Sakura could drown.

Two screams cut the air, Benji looks at their direction and sees Orihime cannon balling over Sumire's inflatable mattress from a nearby small cliff, Sumire screams as Orihime lands on top of the mattress. "Kanna hold Sakura, I am worried about that." Benji said to Kanna gently removing Sakura's arms from his neck, Kanna takes Sakura with a nod and Benji dives and swims towards where Sumire was.

Underwater Benji could see the small bubbles rising, as well the mattress floating and Orihime's legs as she swims and holds on it, Sumire wasn't near the surface, so Benji looks bellow and sees her there covering her mouth and nose looking confused. Benji dives deeper and holds on her wrist, he could see Sumire's relief on her eyes.

The duo surfaces and Sumire coughs holding tightly on Benji, Orihime just knew that her prank went bad. Benji saw by Orihime's looks that she was sorry, but he still have to scold her, but that has to wait. "Are you okay Sumire?" Benji asked worried. "I just swallowed some water…" Sumire answered a little hoarse. "I got confused and couldn't tell which way was up…I am fine now…"

Benji nodded in relief, now he could worry about something else. "That was very reckless and dangerous." Benji said in a level tone. "Don't repeat it." Orihime nodded to that. "Want to go back to the shore?" Benji asked to Sumire. "Yes." Sumire answered. "Orihime you bring the mattress, okay? Benji said to the Italian, she nods and swims after the couple.

"Sumire-san are you okay?" Sakura asked worried. "Yes, it was just a scare, I also drank a little water." Sumire answered. "I will lie down a little in the shade. You can use my floater if you want to." "Okay." Sakura replied, she wouldn't refuse the offer, Orihime and Kanna help Sakura into it.

"Orihime you stay close of Sakura." Benji instructed. "And keep an eye on Wakana as well." Orihime nods, she wants to make up for her mistake. "I will stay with them as well." Kanna offered. "Don't swim too far with them." Benji said seriously. "Okay." Kanna replied.

Benji lays Sumire in the sheet once carrying her there. "You are okay?" Benji asked again in a low voice. "Yes." Sumire replied in the same way. "It was more a scare than anything, we are fine." Benji nods and sits next to Sumire, knowing better than leaving her alone.

"How is she?" Maria asked to Benji as Sumire covers her eyes with her right arm. "Just a little shaky." Benji answered. "She got confused and nearly drowned, thankfully I went there fast enough and it wasn't a really bad case of asphyxiation." Maria nodded agreeing, Benji had responded to that very swiftly and if it took more than thirty seconds since Sumire went underwater to when he surfaced with her it was too much.

"You need anything Sumire-senpai?" Nanako offered worried. "Thank you Nanako-chan." Sumire replied. "I am fine, I just want to lie down a little and try to calm myself down, I will be fine in a little while." "Okay." Nanako said with a nod. Maria sits next to Benji in the sheet. Nanako moves to Iris and Kohran to tell them that everything is fine.

…

Back in the ryokan Benji leaves his room and walks out of the ryokan, he found a note there for him, in English from Kayama, as he walks down the road to the beach he finds Kayama waiting for him sitting in a rock on the edge of the road. "While I knew that you would be around why the note?" Benji asked seriously. "I am on a vacation here."

"Trust me I am not here to interrupt you." Kayama answered. "I am here to let you know that so far things are calm, I am with a small operation team in a different inn not too far from here, so let me know if you need our services, other than that we will also enjoy the stay as much as we can, inside the inn though."

Benji nodded at that, if they remain in the inn, so they could have some privacy. "Don't forget to report daily to the theater." Kayama added. "Just for a heads up." Benji nods, while is a pain he would do it, perhaps he should call them when he gets back and let them know that everything is fine.

Ten minutes later Benji had finishes the call and stores the kinematron on his backpack. "You won't bath?" Maria asked to Benji, still fresh from the bath. "I was just finishing a call to the theater." Benji answered with a smile, looking at Maria in a yukata, her hair still lightly damp. 'She is beautiful.' Benji thought. "Plus I don't know which one is the men's side, since I don't want to walk into you girls bathing."

Sounded reasonable, Maria gave him that. "Then I will show you." Maria said to Benji, he nods and stands up, Maria takes him to the men's bath. "There should be a yukata there for you." "Thank you." Benji said to her. "You are welcome." Maria replied with a smile.

'Too bad that you can't come in with me.' Benji thought while sliding open the door. 'Too bad that I can't enter with him.' Maria thought seeing Benji enter in the changing room, she waves his bye before he slides it close. 'Maybe I should ask him how he feels about me.'

A while later Benji is having dinner with everyone, Orihime needed to learn about sashimi and other than Kanna choking for eating too fast nothing happened, until after the dinner when Kohran starts a pillow fight, it was fun but it ends with a broken screen door, and after Benji apologizes with the staff he is scolded by Maria for letting things go out of control.

Benji stretches tiredly while moving to his room, it was a long day and he was tired, but still not sleepy, so he decides to change his route and moves to the garden, it was a nice night, the breeze was cool and the moon was half full. "Benji-san?" Wakana called, it was easy to guess that was him, he was the only one that tall in the ryokan, Benji turns to face Wakana.

"Wakana?" Benji asked. "I thought that you had retired for the night with the others." "I decided to take a little stroll." Wakana answered. "What about you?" "The same." Benji replied. "I wanted to cool down a little." "Mind if I join you?" Wakana asked. "Not at all." Benji replied.

Neither of them noticed a figure following them from the shadows. "You had fun today Benji-san?" Wakana asked. "You were nearly always watching over us." "I had fun." Benji answered with a nod. 'I had some great sex with Sumire this morning, sure learning that I am a father was surprising, but wasn't bad either…' he added to himself with a smile. 'Plus I saw you all in swimsuits and took plenty of pictures, that is a plus too.'

Wakana noticed how Benji smiled, and that makes her decide to ask something that was bothering her. "Benji-san you and Sumire-san are married?" Wakana asked seriously, and that startles Benji. "What make you think that?" Benji asked surprised. "Little things actually." Wakana answered seriously, she knew that she hit on something because she made Benji react like that. "The way that Sumire-san looks at you sometimes, longingly and lovingly, while I have to admit that you seem to be a little more widespread with those looks, Sumire-san is a recipient as well, anyway, she has been sick a lot recently, and there is this shine on her eyes, Benji-san I have been through many weddings and pregnancy announcements to know when a girl is expecting a child, I have visited plenty of pregnant relatives. I can tell that for a while now Sumire-san began to act differently."

Benji sighed at that, he had hoped that only he had noticed it. "What happened?" Wakana asked seriously. "You said that you would take care of Sakura-san." "I did mean it, and I still plan to." Benji answered. "As how it happened I don't know, we don't remember, it was when Nanako arrived, we were making the rounds as usual and had some tea, then the next thing that we remember is waking in bed together."

Wakana says nothing, she doesn't believe that Benji is lying. "So you took responsibility over that." Wakana said understanding. "Yes and no." Benji said seriously. "I fully intend to take responsibility over Sumire and our child, however I also have responsibility to Sakura, so I needed to learn if I could conciliate the two, I know that polygamy is illegal, but there are people above the defense force who wishes to introduce polygamy in the defense force as a tool to ensure a new generation of warriors. While I am resuming what they way into a good light, it is the only way to keep everyone happy."

Wakana wants to protest, but she also knows that Benji has a point, she had seen Sakura return to the theater from a short trip with Benji with a happy glint on her eyes, that she knew that came from being made love to, and that Benji did it knowing how happy Sakura would be to receive his feelings. "You love Sakura-san?" Wakana asked.

"Yes I do." Benji answered. "I also love Sumire, Maria, Kanna, everyone, I know that is not right, that isn't fair, but before I could work out my feelings right things happened, Sakura's accident, Sumire being kidnapped by her own family, everyone showering me with affection, the night with Sumire. Would you believe that I was seriously thinking in dating Maria before all this happened? I had bought a couple of gifts for be just before I left to the fallen attack that cost Sakura's leg, after that I just couldn't do it, those two gifts are hidden in my desk, it felt inappropriate, you had no idea of how close I was of confessing to Maria in the day that she left, she came to speak with me and broke in tears, I really, really wanted to kiss her, tell her that I love her and that everything would be okay, but I was afraid that she would think that I was saying that to get away from Sakura or just to try make her feel better, even worse that I was taking advantage of her."

Wakana doesn't say anything. "When you will tell everyone?" Wakana asked seriously. "I was thinking in first telling Sakura once we get back." Benji answered. "Once the vacation is over, I didn't want to ruin the vacation that we all looked forward to. After I speak with Sakura I would tell everyone else."

Wakana knew why Benji wanted to tell Sakura first, so he could control her reaction, to prevent a very negative reaction in front of everyone else that could influence the others, to protect them all. "I am not looking forward for it." Benji said seriously a little sad and dejectedly. "In any other circumstances, I would be very happy in telling everyone that Sumire and I would be getting married. You must think that I am a horrible man, right?"

Wakana denies with a nod. "I think that you are carrying a heavy burden and that you are honest with your love, or loves." Wakana replied seriously, but honestly. "I can tell from the way that you watch over us, you love us, every one of us, maybe not all of us as lovers, but you care for us, I know that you wouldn't have done what you did without having feelings for her. Maybe you are right, polygamy might be the best, in the past it was common for warriors and priests to have many wives, you certainly are a warrior with powers of a priest, perhaps it is something that should happen. In the past dancing and singing from pure maidens were offered for the gods, I heard that it is why the hanagumi dances and sings, to focus and increase their spirits, then it is natural for shrine maidens to wed the head priest."

"Sometimes you surprise me with your analogies to the past." Benji said to Wakana. "I am trying to accept this situation by recalling the wisdom of our ancestors." Wakana said seriously. "Monogamy is a notion that came form the westerners, and because it is easier to support one family. Above everything even if this plan that you are relying on is passed, Sakura-san would be in the eyes of the public your lover, while Sumire-san is your wife, because she is getting wed to you first."

Benji knew that already, but he couldn't do anything else. "Just make sure that my daughter doesn't do anything stupid when she learns about it." Wakana said seriously. "I intend to." Benji replied. "Benji-san?" Wakana asked. "Hm?" Benji replied. "You think that I am attractive?" Wakana asked surprised Benji.

"You want the honest answer or the proper answer?" Benji asked back. "I wouldn't have asked if I wanted a lie." Wakana replied. "I want the honest one." "Honestly Wakana you are a beautiful woman." Benji said seriously. "You don't look old enough to have a daughter of Sakura's age."

Wakana smiled to that, she doesn't get praised over her looks often, but she had noticed that Benji had looked at her in her swimsuit with an appraising look, and she felt flattered, embarrassed and unsure of herself when he did it, since she was standing next to very beautiful young women.

"I will be honest and say that I also find you very handsome." Wakana said with a blush. "And that today was the first time in years that I saw man's bare chest, before I only saw my husband's. You stirred on me feelings that I thought that were long dormant." Benji feels flattered but embarrassed. "However." Wakana continued. "As much as part of me would enjoy your attentions, I want my daughter to have them, so good night Benji-san."

Benji watches Wakana leaving in silence, a little unsure of what this last interlude meant, then the sound of a broken twig snaps Benji's senses to full alert and he leaps over the source of the sound that was hiding behind a tree.

Orihime couldn't even let out a cry of surprise at the sudden attack, she had barely acknowledged the sound of the snapping twig before Benji was over her, with his hand squeezing tightly on her neck, then she felt the pressure go. "Don't sneak on me like this Orihime!" Benji said startled, he reacted more out of instinct than command.

"Sorry…" Orihime coughed holding her neck. "I…I just…was leaving…" Benji sighed at Orihime. "Why were you eavesdropping?" Benji asked. "I was curious…" Orihime answered sitting on the grass. "I left the room, when I was getting back I saw you and Cherry-san's mother walking, I wondered why….it was true? You meant that?"

Benji nods confirming. "You heard it all?" Benji asked, Orihime nods confirming. "I really didn't mean to…" Orihime apologized. Benji rubs her head gently. "Benji you will be seriously marrying Sumire-san?" Orihime asked worried. "I plan to." Benji answered honestly. "Sumire is carrying my child, I won't leave her alone."

Orihime smiled at his words. "You love me too?" Orihime asked meekly. "Yes." Benji answered, right now, he was past the point of lying. Orihime blushes embarrassed. "I really shouldn't be asking this…" Orihime whispered. "But I can also be your wife?" "I would be happy to." Benji answered. "I thought that we were just friends."

Orihime denies with a nod. "I love you, since the beginning I felt something towards you…" Orihime said looking away embarrassed. "a familiarity…then it grew, and grew, when I saw how you reacted to Cherry-san, how you stood by her when she needed, I fell in love for you, I knew then that I loved you, you looked so strong, so passionate…I knew that you wouldn't abandon me if I needed you…"

Benji kneels and cups Orihime's chin gently, making her look at him, Orihime blushing looks at his eyes and Benji kisses her, Orihime is surprised first, but this was just like something out of the romance novels that she liked to read, kissing under the moonlight like that, so she wraps her arms around his neck lovingly and kisses him back.

Benji breaks the kiss and stares into Orihime's moist eyes, he can see the passion there, the same one that he saw in the past, when he was showing his knowledge of Italian food. "We can end it here." Benji said to her. "Or we can go further." "I want more." Orihime whispered hotly. "I don't want to stop now."

Benji sits next to Orihime and pulls her against him, kissing her again, Orihime sighs in delight, feeling safe in Benji's strong arms, willingly submitting and accepting his passion with hers.

…

Orihime rests against Benji's body tiredly, but satisfied. 'I think that I can understand why Sumire-san seemed so happy this morning…' Orihime thought while basking in the afterglow of their encounter, Benji keeps holding Orihime gently, letting her rest as much as she wants. 'Benji knows what he doing, he knows what feels good, how not to hurt…'

Orihime rests her head in the crook of his neck. "This gets better than this?" Orihime asked in a whisper. "Give it few more times and you will see." Benji answered. "Once you get used to having me inside to the point that is comfortable feels entirely different, it will blow your mind." Orihime smiles in excitement and a little fear, she is already sure that Benji blew her mind tonight, if he is saying that will get better, she can't wait to try it out

Benji feels Orihime's warm breath tickling his neck, the heat of her body pressing against him, skin to skin, as they opened their yukata to expose as much skin as possible, this kind of feelings wasn't something that he would trade for anything. Benji feels Orihime nodding off a little, and kisses her neck. "Don't doze off." Benji said in a gentle tone. "You have to go back to your room."

"Hmmm…" Orihime murmured in sleep filled pleasure. Benji lightly pinches Orihime's nipples snapping the girl away. "That hurts…" Orihime whimpered as Benji lightly kiss the sore spot. "And that feels nice…" "Awake now?" Benji asked. Orihime nodded confirming. "Good, come on we should get back."

Orihime pouts, she wanted to expend the night with Benji, but she knows better than that. Separating herself from Benji makes her whimper softly at the separation, she liked the feelings of being joined to him. "We can do it again?" Orihime asked while adjusting her clothes.

"You mean now or another time?" Benji asked back while standing up. "Both?" Orihime asked tentatively. "I am not of waste opportunities like this." Benji replied. "This time it will be a little different than before, bend over and hold on that tree trunk." Orihime nods and does so, if Benji was telling her to do something then she would, she knows that it will be good.

…

Orihime enters in the bedroom and walks to her futon, she noticed that Wakana was sleeping in her own futon, everyone was there, while feeling happily tired Orihime remembers Benji's words. "Remember princess." Benji said in a serious tone, but Orihime blushes happily as the choice of nickname that he decided to pick for her. "Don't tell anyone what we just did, especially Sumire and Sakura, I will tell them that, if you do things might go badly, so act as nothing happened."

Orihime grunted softly while lying down and covering herself, it would be hard pretend that nothing happened, she could still feel Benji inside her, she knew that he wasn't there, but felt like he was, and there was also his essence that he had filled her up with, she knew that she would have to take a careful bath later, but until then she wants to savor that feeling that make her tingle inside.

Looking at Sumire sleeping peacefully Orihime thinks about her relationship with Benji. 'You are lucky, I wonder how many times you and Benji were together to produce a child between the two of you.' Orihime thought a little jealous, she felt that she had a late start on things, she knew that it wasn't fair, but it was how her heart felt. 'I wonder how you will react to when Benji tells you what happened tonight to you.'

Benji is looking at the moon in the sky from his room. 'Maybe I gave in too easily.' Benji thought reevaluating the events of the night. 'But is so hard to say no when they look at me like that…' Benji could still remember how Orihime asked when telling him that she loves him, he just couldn't resist. 'Telling Sumire this won't be easy…I am not even sure if Sakura will accept the plan and I am already getting myself more lovers… then again if was Kanna or Maria I would do it too…'

Benji sighed at his indecision, he couldn't help it, he loved all of them since before he met them, while Maria was his favorite he also loved everyone else and would be glad in pursue relationships with any them if given chance, and it was as he said to Wakana, too much happened before he could solidify his feelings for any of them in particular.

…

Benji was given a hard choice right after breakfast, the hanagumi split into groups that would do different things during the day, Sumire, Iris, Reni and Wakana would be going at the beach, Kohran, Kanna, Orihime and Sakura wanted to hike in the mountain, Maria, Nanako and Saki would stay in the ryokan to enjoy the hot springs more thoroughly, and he had to pick a group to join.

"I will go to the mountain." Benji finally said to the hanagumi. "This way Kanna and I can take turns in taking Sakura up there, and I am sure that Sakura would feel bad of having Kanna carrying her all the way back and to the mountain to go." Sakura chuckled at that, while she wanted to go she didn't want to overburden her friends.

"Sounds about right." Maria commented. "Then have fun." "You too." Benji replied, the groups separate. "Kanna go get us something to eat and drink while hiking." Benji instructs the red head. "Okay." Kanna replied. "Sakura you have pants that we bought you a while back right?" Benji asked to the brunette. "You brought any?"

Sakura nods confirming. "Okay then, Orihime you help Sakura to put it on." Benji said turning to Orihime. "It will make easier for her to be carried." Orihime nods to that. "I will go get ready." "Okay." Orihime said casually.

Now wearing a shirt and a pair of loose comfortable trousers Sakura is with Orihime waiting on their shared room, when Benji enters in the room Sakura is surprised in seeing him holding a good length of fabric. "Why that?" Orihime asked confused. "A little something to help to carry Sakura." Benji answered casually.

Sakura in the other hand understood what Benji meant. "You don't mean tying me to you back like a baby, do you?" Sakura asked nervously. "I do." Benji replied casually. "It is safer this way."

Kanna sits Sakura in a flat stone after untying her from Benji's back. 'All that car pulling did the trick.' Benji thought while resting, while Sakura wasn't all that heavy they went really far uphill. "Thanks for your hard work." Orihime said offering Benji the bottle of water that they brought from the ryokan.

"Thank you." Benji replied taking the bottle and drinking some water. "There is a river over there." Kohran commented casually. "We can cool down a little there." "Yeah cooling sounds nice." Benji commented. "I take Sakura there." Kanna said picking Sakura up.

Orihime gets the basket with the food and drinks and they move to the edge of the river. It is a clean and rather shallow river with crystal clear water. Kanna its Sakura gently on a stone on the edge of the river, Sakura takes out her shoes and socks before rolling her pant legs up and setting her feet in the water.

Benji crouches next to the edge and scoops some water and washes his face and neck. "I am sorry for this." Sakura said to Benji that sighs in relief with the cold kiss of water on his skin. "You would have more fun if you didn't have to carry me around." Benji lightly splashes Sakura with some water making Sakura squeal in surprise.

"Don't go deciding that I am not having fun on your own." Benji said in a casual tone. "Sorry." Sakura chuckled while wiping her face, Benji didn't throw too much water on her, but if he says that he is enjoying himself then she won't doubt him.

Kanna and Kohran frolic in the water happily, Orihime is casually moving her feet in the water. In the beach Sumire watches over the others, though no one is playing too far in the water she still felt like it was her duty to make sure that everyone was playing safe, mostly because she is unsure of her ability to help if trouble happens.

…

In the afternoon Benji rests inside one of the hot springs, bringing Sakura up and then down the mountain worked him more than he had considered and the warm water is helping to ease his muscles. "This feels good, but it is hardly refreshing…" Benji muttered, he was feeling hot, the water was hot, the day was hot, he felt like he was being boiled.

Looking at the steam rising from the water he remembers something from his past and lifts his hand from the water, it is steaming softly from the water on it. "Man I remember when I would turn off the cold water and let my hand soak as much as I could in the hot water just to see the steam coming out of it." Benji commented with a chuckle. "Iron fist…like a thing of iron…how it was said, focus the chi into his fist until it becomes a thing of iron or something…well I kill demons for a living…maybe is worth the shot…"

Benji closes his eyes and focus on his right fist, trying to push more spirit energy there, and because of that he missed the chattering from the door. "This rotemburo is said to make your skin smooth to the touch." Orihime said excited, hurrying the others. "Let's get in, quickly!" "Orihime-san, you don't have to get so excited." Wakana said casually. "The onsen won't run away."

"Now that I think of it, this rotemburo seems to be mixed bathing." Saki commented. "I wonder if someone isn't in there already." "Ehh, mixed!?" Nanako squealed worried. "Oh no, Saki-san, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Sakura protested. "What if someone is there?!"

"Benji-san!" Sumire exclaimed while opening the door. "Yeah like Benji-san!" Sakura said seriously. "No I mean Benji-san!" Sumire replied pointing to the hot spring. "He is already there!" And that makes most of them scream. "WAH!" Benji exclaimed with his focus breaking, and then the energy on his hand not knowing where to go or what to do tries to escape from where it was compressed in a burst.

"BENJI-SAN!" Sumire shouted worried as the spirit burst, more like small explosion sends more than a small amount of water to the air and makes Benji impact against the edge of the pool. Maria and Sumire rush to Benji, the duo hurriedly grab Benji' arms preventing him from sinking underwater and pull him up.

Benji shakes his head clear of the confusion that it was. "What are you girls doing here?" Benji asked to Maria and Sumire, part of his mind wishing that they weren't wrapped in towels. "We came to bath." Maria answered. "But you were here, and then something happened."

"What were you doing?" Sumire asked worried. "Meditating." Benji answered, it wasn't far from the truth. "Then some screaming broke my concentration." The girls blush at that, it mean that they really were the ones that caused Benji to explode. "But isn't this the men's side?" Benji asked. "What are you girls doing here?"

"Actually this is a mixed pool." Saki pointed out. "Weren't you told that?" "I was told that it was okay to bath here." Benji replied. "The okami said that it was okay for me to enter. She didn't tell me that was mixed." "And since you still can't read much you didn't know what the banner in the door said." Maria said understanding.

"Well since we are already here I suppose that we can as well soak in the pool as well." Saki commented. "What?!" The girls exclaimed as one, embarrassed. "Benji-senpai is already here!" Nanako protested. "This is a mixed bath." Saki replied. "It is perfectly natural that he is here, there is no need for any of us to leave."

"But…" Sakura protested weakly. "Saki-san is correct." Wakana said. "This isn't much different than yesterday in the beach, and mixed bathing is something traditional as well, it shouldn't be frowned upon." "If is a Japanese thing I suppose that I can try it out." Orihime said embarrassed.

'Thank god I brought a towel with me when I came…' Benji thought with a sigh of relief. 'Well I should enjoy this, as any men I would kill for something like this…' one by one the girls enter in the bath, though they don't chat much. 'But I hoped that the mood would be better than this.' Benji added to himself.

"How you find the water Benji-san?" Saki asked to Benji, breaking the silence. "Well at least for me is a little too hot." Benji answered. "At least for a hot day." 'Plus there are different types of hotness to consider.' Benji added to himself. "I suppose that you would find more refreshing a cold bath." Sakura commented recalling that Benji prefers cold beverages.

"So taisho is your first time taking a Japanese bath?" Kanna asked deciding that keeping the conversation going will make things less embarrassing. "In a real hot spring yes, in this trip was the first time." Benji answered with a nod. "But back home, when I was a kid, we had an ofuro back in the beach house, once and a while I bathed there. Haven't done that in years though."

"Sometimes I think that you should detail your heritage for us one of these days." Orihime commented with a sigh. "How mixed up you are anyway?" "A lot." Benji replied casually, he wasn't sure of the finer details of his bloodline himself, he knew the most influential and present ones, but the finer details of where exactly his ancestors came was still shrouded in mystery for him, especially the European decedent parts of his family, in both sides.

"Since you brought it up." Saki said looking at Orihime. "The hanagumi has a rather large number of foreigners, with or without Japanese heritance." Benji knew that Saki had a point with that, with him there was a total of six people in that group, Benji himself is one third Japanese foreigner, Orihime and Maria are one half Japanese foreigners, Reni and Iris are fully foreigners, and Kohran is a foreigner but lived a good part of her life in Japan.

"If I remember it right." Benji commented. "We were gathered for our spirit energy levels, our nationalities aren't important." Maria nodded agreeing with that Ayame traveled a lot to get everyone there. "But you have to admit that there is a fair amount of Japanese descendants here too." Sumire pointed out. "I wonder if this has something that affects the spirit energy levels."

Benji in the other hand knew better, knowing that the brunt of the foreign based kagekidans isn't made of Japanese descendants. "That isn't true." Maria said in a level tone. "Right now there are two more kagekidans that are still in the development process and the candidates for them aren't Japanese, save for few exceptions."

"The hoshigumi had only two Japanese ancestry members." Reni said on her usual tone. "That counting Orihime and leaving out vice-commander Fujieda." "How many members it had anyway?" Benji asked curious. "Pilots four." Reni answered. "There was also more supporting members that I believe that you aren't interested to learn about."

"And why only the two of you came here?" Sumire asked. "I wouldn't complain about more pilots in our side, and knowing that the hoshigumi predates the hanagumi more of you could have been taken by our group since the beginning." "We all have personal reasons." Orihime answered, it was a fair question for Sumire to ask. "The disbandment of the hoshigumi wasn't nice and tore a rift among us, I myself have a personal grudge with the leader of hoshigumi."

'Yeah I remember how Orihime was hostile to Rachette.' Benji thinks recalling of what he knows about the interpersonal dynamics of Sakura Taisen. "Besides what is done is done and the past can't be changed." Benji said in a level tone. "Be happy that Orihime and Reni accepted coming here now."

"You are right." Sumire replied with a nod. "Maybe if we had someone like you in the hoshigumi things would have been different." Orihime said longingly. "Yeah I wondered about that too." Kohran commented. "Why Ayame-han didn't scout you for the hanagumi Benji-han? With your levels of spirit energy you would be for sure scouted even before I was."

And that makes all the girls other than Maria look at him curious, Maria knows about Benji's origins and why he was never scouted before he appeared, because he didn't exist there before that day. "Brazil is a very, very large country." Benji answered in a matter of fact tone.

"The United States of America where Maria lived is also very large." Reni pointed out. "And she was scouted for the defense force." "Well Reni that is true." Maria commented scratching her cheek a little nervous, she knows that she has to back Benji up on this. "But I was living in New York, it a very high profile city, it also has a Japanese embassy there, Benji told me that while living in a capital, it wasn't in the country's capital and that on his city there are no embassies or anything of the such."

"That indeed makes hard for detection." Reni commented, the machines had a limited range and knowing how big Brazil is, it isn't too farfetched that Benji simply slipped by detection, the country is indeed huge. "I have been wondering this for a while." Kohran said making Benji nervous. "Why you were dressed like that when we first saw you Benji-han? And why you had a dragon slayer with you?"

'Just the worse question that any that they could come up with…' Benji thought nervously. 'Well now the worse, but one of the worse…' The hanagumi looks at him curiously, at one point or other they had wondered that themselves. "I was going to a costume party." Benji answered, hoping that the excuse will be believable.

"Where?" Saki asked, not wanting to let the subject drop. "I thought that you couldn't speak Japanese before you arrived and you can't read Japanese to save your life." Maria takes a sharp indrawn breath at that, it was getting clearer and clearer for her that Benji haven't really made up a good story to explain that to them, she can't blame him though, everyone had pretty much forgotten how Benji arrived thanks to the incidents of the past.

"They died in one of the attacks." Benji said building the story as he go. "They were friends of mine, they had a bit of an unusual taste, so the costume party, wanting to please them I went out to make the dragon slayer, when I was getting back I stopped in a store that happened to be infested with the fallen, later I learned that they were killed when their house was demolished over them in an attack shortly afterwards, the rest is know history."

'Oh shit…' Benji thought seeing the tears and shaking from the girls, other than Reni and Maria. 'They bought it.' Maria thinks seeing how Kanna is holding back to not cry. 'I don't believe it they bought it.' "I am sorry for asking Benji-san." Saki apologized. "It is okay, you couldn't have known it." Benji replied with a smile. Benji looks at Maria who nods, she would make sure to back up his story and tell Yoneda and Kaede to do the same.

"Well I am going to step out now." Benji said while standing up. "I have been here for a while. You girls enjoy the bath." "Wait Benji-san!" Sumire exclaimed. "You are leaving because of what we asked?" Sumire just couldn't let Benji go like that. "No." Benji answered. "I am starting to feel dizzy from the heat. I will cool down a little."

"I will step out as well." Maria said standing up. "This is great, but is just too hot." "You could at least wait until I have left and changed." Benji commented while looking at the blonde. "I can perfectly wait outside while you do it." Maria replied. "But the polite would be the other way around." "Hai, hai." Benji muttered in mock annoyance.

The pool remains in silence for a while after they left. "I now feel terrible for asking Benji-han about how he got here." Kohran commented. "I should have known that there was a reason for him not to talk about it." "You didn't know, we didn't know." Sumire said seriously. "Sometimes we just stumble in something without meaning to."

"And I am sure that Benji-san isn't angry because of it." Orihime added. "It was an accident, as he said we couldn't have known it." "I know, but it doesn't make me feel any better about it." Kohran replied.

"That was really close." Benji said to Maria while they walk to his room. "At least your excuse was good enough to make them stop digging for more." Maria replied. "And is believable, you came visit some friends, they died in an attack, you lost everything that you owned except that you had in yourself in that day."

"We need to make sure that Yoneda and Kaede know this." Benji commented. "I will call them and you watch to make sure that no one peeks on me." Maria nods to that, it was the better way to ensure the secrecy of the conversation and preserve the secret of Benji's origins.

…

Sumire softly raps on Benji's room door after everyone retreated for their rooms. Benji opens the door a little confused, since the bath incident the girls were a little less talkative even when they were playing with fireworks after dinner. "Anything wrong Sumire?" Benji asks seeing her there. "You had a nightmare or something?"

"I wish that was that." Sumire replied sadly. "Can I come in?" Benji nods and allows Sumire to enter. "Benji-san I am sorry if we brought up painful memories this afternoon." Sumire said honestly and dejectedly after he closed the door. Benji smiled at her worry, and felt bad that she was so honestly sad because a lie, but he has to keep it up.

Benji lightly kisses Sumire's forehead, surprising her. "It is okay." Benji said holding her gently. "I never told anyone about it, you couldn't have known." Sumire hugs Benji back. "I know but it doesn't make me feel any better." Sumire said pressing her forehead on his chest. "You told me before that we were all that you have, that you have lost everyone and everything that day, I should have stopped Kohran-san."

"Don't worry about it." Benji cooed gently burying his right hand fingers on Sumire's soft hair and caressing her. "It is all right." Sumire doesn't believe that is alright, they had poked in a painful injury of his past, but as Benji comforts her she starts to believe that maybe he values more what he has now than what he lost, and she knew very well that what he has now includes her and the child in her womb.

Sumire just allows herself to melt into the embrace, to be comforted, to let the sadness go away and be replaced by warm, comfortable and soothing love, she was being held by the man who she loves and who is the father of the child that she is bearing, she couldn't be any happier than that.

"Benji-san one day will you tell me more about your past?" Sumire asked seriously. "I know that you have a reason for wanting to keep it a secret, but…but…" Sumire clings tightly on Benji's shirt. "But…I am carrying your child Benji-san…I want to know more about you…your pains…your history…I love you so much…but I know so little about you…of your past…your family…all that I have are bits and pieces that you let us know…"

Benji felt Sumire's body being rocked by a sob, and tears falling on his shirt. "…I haven't told you much about myself either…I know…" Sumire sobbed, Benji kisses Sumire's head softly. "Much more than I told you." Benji said in a gentle tone. "It is hard for me to tell you Sumire, my past isn't as simple as yours, there is something on it that can drive people insane…Maria drank so much because of it, and she is very strong willed, Yoneda felt it hard as well, I tell you and everyone else as much as I can avoiding that as much as I can."

"Benji-san what can be so bad?" Sumire asked looking up at him tearfully. "Did you do something that horrible in the past?" Benji denies with a nod. "My past was rather ordinary." Benji answered. "But as I said there is something on it, that thing is so drastic, so heavy that it just can't be told around carelessly."

"Benji-san I am pregnant with your child, even before that I was willing to die at your side." Sumire said in a serious tone. "What else you need to deem me worth of your past?" "Sumire isn't being worth or not." Benji replied seriously. "It could hurt you badly, Maria nearly killed me when I was questioned and had to talk about my past."

That sounded odd to Sumire, she saw how Maria looked at Benji, she could tell that the blonde cared for him and had feelings for him, but it could be something that Benji knew or told that made Maria act like that, she often doesn't show but the blonde has a temper under her cool self.

"It is just too dangerous for you and everyone else." Benji added, Sumire rests her head on his chest again. 'He is too gentle sometimes…' Sumire thought, while she wanted to know more, she also can tell that he honestly fears for her and don't want to risk telling her because of it. 'He is one of a kind…'

Then remembers how her mother told her to make Benji hers that he wasn't of a known breed of men. 'A caring lover who wants his partner to feel as good as he does, that enjoys knowing that his partner is having pleasure…kind and sensitive…' Sumire thought recalling Benji's traits, all those little things that made him so special for her. 'He can cook, most males can't, most males would downright be angry in being asked to cook or clean, he doesn't…'

"It has something to do with you being unique?" Sumire asked tentatively, and she feels Benji tensing around her, she knew that she was right. "It does…Benji-san what is so dangerous that could breed a man like you? Caring, loving, responsible, sensitive, playful…I don't see how it can be so bad…"

Benji kisses Sumire's forehead and touches her wet cheek. "Sumire I don't want to hurt you." Benji said in a soft tone. "Then tell me…" Sumire replied covering his hand with hers. "We kill demons for a living, what can be worse than that?" Benji frowned a bit, Sumire was using his words against hers.

Sumire felt a little bad, but she wants to know, she needs to know, he is the father of her child, she has to know. "Just one half." Benji said with a sigh. "I will tell you just one half and you have to promise that you won't tell anyone about it, not to your mother, nor Sakura, anyone."

Sumire nods seriously. "I, Kanzaki Sumire, promise to never reveal what you, Himura Benji, is about to tell me, unless you tell me otherwise." Sumire said in a serious tone. "I swear on my life and honor." "If you just said 'I promise you' it would be enough for me." Benji said kissing her forehead. "I want to make the point across." Sumire replied. "Unless you want me, I will never say anything to anyone."

"You might find hard to believe, but all that I will say is truth." Benji said in a serious tone. "I am from almost one hundred years in the future, I was born in Brazil in 1983, lived there my entire life until that day in December that I appeared in that store and was arrested by Maria."

Sumire looks at Benji in disbelief, she is almost telling him to make a more believable lie, but the look on his eyes, she knew that he wasn't lying it was the truth. "How?" Sumire asked confused. "If you were born over fifty eight years from now and lived twenty five years more there, how you are here now? In 1925."

"I don't know." Benji answered honestly. "I was walking by a door to a costume party, one moment I was in the familiar location of it, in the other I was in the middle of a demon infested store fighting for my life."

Sumire holds on Benji a little unsteady, she now understood why Benji was so reluctant to tell her that, and that was only half of his story according to it, half of what could drive people insane, Sumire now understood why Maria would attack Benji back then, what drove her to drink so much, hearing that, finding evidence of his words being truthful, that can drive someone to the edge.

"…I…i…don't know what to say…" Sumire said weakly. "Our child…you…it is dangerous? …you…disappear…?" "I don't know Sumire." Benji answered honestly. "I am certain that our child is safe, that nothing bad will happen to her, but I don't know if one day, at one moment I will be sent back to my time…"

Sumire winces softly feeling Benji's grip on her getting a little too tight as he speaks, she whimpers lightly, but doesn't complain, she knew what he was doing, he was clinging on her, not willing to let go. "That I will lose everything that I have of most precious and beloved again…" Benji said his voice uneasy. "That by the whim of fate I will lose everyone again…"

Sumire holds on Benji tightly, she knew that fear, she is feeling the same thing, and she knew that he was feeling it longer than she was, that since he arrived that fear was a constant companion of his. "I don't want that…" Sumire whispered. "I will do anything in my power to keep you here, with me, with our child, with our friends…"

"Me too Sumire…" Benji whispered back, but knows too well that the wheels of fate stop for no man or woman, no matter how much they wish and fight, in the end fate always has its way, so all that he does is hold on what he has dear tightly, with a frantic and strong grip, so that thing as ethereal and frail as precious wouldn't slide through his fingers like a fistful of sand.

End of chapter nine:

Author explanation corner:

Okay this is the last chapter that I will post on this mass update, it has fewer pages than chapter 8, but in this one a lot happens as well.

Maria is having some trouble to readjust to the theater routine, after all she was forced to leave in a critical juncture when the routine changed drastically, she will get back on the swim of things.

Summer vacation: It happens around that period of time in canon too, so I am sticking to it there, everyone needs a short break to relax.

Sumire and child: For those of you wondering, yes she was pregnant from the very beginning, I am pretty sure that some of you did figure it out, I was laying not that subtle hints for you readers. Sumire's pregnancy is a very important plot point and is thoroughly integrated into the story, that if I removed it I would be better off start a new branch on Trials.

Benji reacted as I think that I would react in that situation, just to make clear, Benji does love Sumire, a lot, however he also has strong feelings towards Maria and Sakura, and he made a oath to Sakura as well, which is a source of concern and drama on Sumire, she feels that she stole Sakura's new chance of happiness.

The revelation scene was a touch sappy and maybe corny for some readers, but I wouldn't change it, I thought that was a rather sweet and romantic scene. For those wondering why Benji reacted so lovingly, remember he is essentially dead to his family and vice versa they are dead to him, he has no family in the Sakura Taisen world, no loved ones and friends.

So when Sumire tells him that she is pregnant, well confirms it to him, Benji was very happy, even unplanned and fruit of a odd accident thanks to who knows what, Sumire is carrying his child, his family, plus at this point Benji is already 'resigned' that he is in love with Sumire, so he is happy that they will be together.

The time since their tryst was spent planning and checking information for the plan that he explained to Sumire in this chapter, yes it kind of horrible and dehumanizing, but let's be honest, the global council that oversees the defense forces would at the very least propose such a plan.

For us readers we know that there are less than 30 young women and girls of hanagumi level spirit energy, the minimal accepted level is Kohran's, the official reported as just enough to activate the koubu, and that is already really up there when compared to normal people.

Look at the first group of OVAs, when those scientists from Kanzaki heavy arms industries are testing the koubu prototype, the guy there was the highest level male in the entire army, and Sumire on her early teens caused the machine to explode of so off charts her power was, and Sumire while one of the highest level members is still behind Iris and maybe Sakura, that not counting Paris and New York that we have no real ways to compare.

Officially we only have 2 living males with enough spirit energy to activate a koubu, Ogami and Shinjiro, that if we discount the possible ones that are dead, as Sakura's father and Yamazaki who became Aoi Satan, so that bring us to a total of four possible males, but two are dead and buried, heck they died twice each.

The council wouldn't allow the bloodlines to thin, each pilot girl is very powerful, if they give birth children from one or both male pilot they are either increasing the potential of the next generation or at least reducing the loss in the next generation, the basis of this idea was a program from Russia or Germany I am not sure, but I think that it was Russia, that had athlete champions marrying each other to create a new generation of champions, it worked, the child of the two champions had better potential and talent than their parents, if I remember right it also worked with very talented and skilled artists (instrument players), so there is a precedent in our world of government selecting the best of the best to ensure a even better following generation.

And that is just for athletes, in Sakura Taisen we are talking about people that go toe to toe with demonic enemies capable to invoking demonic dimensions into the human world. You guys really think that against that level of threat they wouldn't consider a eugenic project like this?

But what about the otome gakuen? You mentioned it on your story and Nanako came from it and there was pilot candidates there, why they would do something that horrible with at least one school full of new hanagumi girls on the making?

Simple my dear readers, the hanagumi, fleur division and hoshigumi are the best of the best, with the hanagumi the most elite of the elite, with a grand total of 3 supernatural wars on their belt by the time of Sakura Taisen 5, that is the events of the first game, the second game and the fourth game, not adding the events of the movie and who knows if there are stray kouma that show up now and then, the movie shows a kouma attack happening and there wasn't a surprise of thought of a new enemy, it felt like pure routine for them.

The pilot girls are the very best, the girls in the school aren't as good, then there are the fact that according to the Sumire OVA, the second series of OVA of the hanagumi and Sakura Taisen 5, the girls/women have a 'expiration' date as pilots, Rachette and Sumire show that their spirit energy is failing, making them unstable pilots, and they are on early to mid twenties.

Yoneda in the OVA tells Sakura that she should try to find a woman's happiness or something like that, roughly telling her that it is okay for her if she wish to get married and having children, back in the 20s people believed that women had a very, very short period of time that they could conceive children, I heard or read somewhere that it was around mid twenties or at thirty, we however know that the period stretches longer going to around forties.

Yoneda said that because he felt that he was robbing the happiness from the hanagumi girls, whom he think as daughters, especially Sakura, therefore he urged her to seek happiness if she so wished to. Now back to my little theory.

I personally find very likely and possible that the defense force as a global organization would push forward a plan as my future generation plan, finding naturally occurring spirit empowered people is extremely difficult and they are very rare, Ayame struggled to get the hanagumi, the fleur division started with only 2 active members, Glycine and Erika, they stumbled on the others during the events of the game by accident, in New York they missed Gemini's potential until rather late in the game, and even there they also started with way less members than they ended with, the team started with Subaru, Saggitta and Rachette as pilots, Diana, Gemini and Ricaritta were found through the game, mostly by accident or dumb luck.

Spirit tracking technology is shown to be either unreliable, as it can't show sleeping potential on people, so it could miss Iris level people, and isn't very ranged, being honest with you guys I have no idea of how in name of heavens Ayame managed to locate Maria, Iris, Kohran and Kanna to get them as hanagumi members, Sakura was a given since Yoneda knew her father, and Ogami was found by a wide spread testing in the navy.

So in the end it falls back to making due with what they have, hence the eugenics plan, we breed the newer generation of koubu pilots from the best ones that we have, which gives a little less than 60 matches from each girl to each male in canon, then add possible extremely talented girls fresh from training school that adds more girls into the mix, and even throwing in not as good spiritually empowered males in the mix it allows to arrange marriages or redo the program again, add in new girls from unrelated families and not related to the male or female donors/parents and you can avoid genetic illnesses while still keeping the benefits of the program, eventually building a sizable pool of candidates even if just half of them show good promise and potential.

Wakana discovering the pregnancy: As stated in the story she has experience in being able to tell by looking, some people to claim to be able to do so even before the pregnant woman knows it herself, in this case Sumire was already pending on the 'I am pregnant' side of the fence even not knowing for sure, making easier for Wakana to notice.

Wakana supporting the polygyny/polygamy: As show in the earlier chapters Wakana is a source of rather uncommon advice to Benji, as mentioned before she is from a different generation and have different standards. However by living in the theater for so long she saw that the feelings are mutual, and that Benji had gotten conflicting responsibilities with his oath to Sakura and what happened to Sumire, both being very important and serious to all parties involved and having equal weight.

So she understands that a monogamic relationship might not work the best in the theater especially as all girls have feelings for Benji and Benji feels the same, and as long they all agreed and accept the terms of the relationship she has no real protests about it, having co-wives would aid Sakura with her own children as well, having as more benefits than drawbacks.

Sure some might say that I am just using this as a excuse to have a harem fic, you guys aren't totally wrong here, originally this story was going to be a monogamous one with Benji gunning for Maria, then having to decide between Maria and Sakura, especially with Sakura crippled, needing him and his promise to care for her, then the Sumire incident came and things became a wonderful mess and became a tangled mess.

As Trials advanced the story shifted to this harem setting, and it is good this way, at least in my opinion, it adds a new depth and whole new troubles, as Benji now has to worry about keeping the secret of his relationship from the public otherwise the scandalous will be huge.

Orihime's feelings: It was hinted through Trials that Orihime was developing feelings towards Benji, and Benji was teasing and seducing her through the story, as Sumire she found his determination to help Sakura attractive and things went on from there. Orihime doesn't show that much but she is quite lonely.

Benji's iron fist: Based on the Marvel's hero Iron fist, when a kid I did what I wrote in the scene, I was young and it was cool back then, and Iron fist was one of my favorite heroes back then, even though I hardly read his stories and he didn't have his own comics here. The concept of how the iron fist technique works sounds very doable and exchangeable with spirit energy, so Benji tested it out in the bath, sure he got distracted and it backfired, but it worked before the hanagumi arrived there.

For those of you wondering why it worked for Benji it is very simple, the first OVA series show Sakura training her cherry blossom attack, the scroll was blank and it was explained that there isn't a real technique and each swordsman of their family style developed their own way of using the technique. It is all about belief, imagination, creativity and spirit potential.

Benji trained for months and had guidance from Maria and the others in how to use his spirit energy on the koubu, which translated into what he did, in Sakura Taisen we see amazing feats, as Sakura leaping at least two stories high with her own legs, slicing bamboo into cups and landing smoothly on the ground, so again, there are a precedence here.

As far as I see it, the only reason that no other member of the hanagumi in canon other than Sakura can't use spirit attacks outside the koubu is because they never tried, trained or wanted to do so, with no need nor desire how would a spirit attack or spirit technique would come forward, necessity is the mother of invention after all, you need you find a way to get it.

Final scene with Sumire: Another scene that I thought that was romantic and like it a lot, might not agree with everyone, Sumire is hormonal so it shows, plus she honestly loves Benji and is with his child, she is very concerned about his well being and his past as she knows so little about it, after all Benji's past is top secret on the defense force and in a strict need to know basis.

Benji is concerned, rightfully in my opinion, that telling others his true past might make them go crazy, he nearly went, Maria nearly went and she went into a drinking binge afterwards, there is also the very real danger of being kidnapped and forced to give out ideas for companies, with rough sketches and ideas of how things worked Benji got Kohran to build a arm mounted machine gun with a magazine system that copies a P90's system, Kohran and the other scientists built the stuff based on a design and some minor engineering details and got a fully functional model that works and works well, imagine if it was less scrupulous people.

In the end Benji gives in and tell Sumire part of his secret, seeing her crying and begging that much just bashed his defenses, again as mentioned in earlier notes, Benji is as dependant of the hanagumi as the hanagumi is of him, and the fear of being taken away is very real and pressing, Benji after all already experienced being torn away from his life before, if happened once it can happen twice.

Well this is it folks, the end of this little update marathon, after two years of drought I hope that you guys enjoy these 'new' chapters, it is around halfway through the first arch of Outcast 2 Alternative World: Trials, also know by me an my friends as Outcast ST2 second generation, the first arch Teito goes until chapter 18 or 19, and the following chapters are at least as big as this one if not longer.

This is Benji Himura wishing you all a good time and hoping that you enjoyed my story so far, sorry for the huge delay in updating, between writer's block, lack of writing mood and stress not much writing was done recently, again thank you all for you time and patience.

Benji Himura 09/09/2012