BATTLE 16. FINAL BATTLE! BLOOMING EDELWEISS AND THE WILLS OF IRON

"I was born in the name of Ryukou,

I was living in a fucking life, a devil in the body of a man. My name sown the seeds terror into my enemies and even to the ones I'd loved. But now, I had friends. They'd taught me many things, thus giving me a reason to live on.

I'd joined Senshado first to find wealth. And I'd realized that I had something more precious than wealth. It led me to go on and accept my responsibility as the commander of crew Minotaur and my entire Naha Academy. I must go on, I must live to be a person that my friends hoped me to be.

My name is Ryukou Kurogane, and this is the last of my diary before the final battle against Edelweiss Academy. And from that day, I will be reborn..."

...

The final morning,

Kurogane woke up earlier than everyday though usually he was one of the earliest waking up. He couldn't sleep well due to this day is the day which judge whether who shall rise or fall. Naha Academy or Edelweiss Academy? There were only two could know the answer, himself and Luther Guderian. No time to lose, Kurogane quickly gets dressed before going down for breakfast.

"Good morning, Onii-chan!"

Kurogane was shocked when seeing that even Ruko woke up far more earlier than him and preparing the breakfasts for both of them. "I thought you were still on the bed!" said Kurogane, his sister smiled.

"I want to see my brother in that final battle so that's why I woke up early to make your breakfast!"

Kurogane sighs though he felt somewhat happy when seeing this. Sitting down to the table, his favorite dishes were ready hot and tasty and now to be eaten is the objective for commander Minotaur. Having a small taste to judge if Ruko's cooking could have been improved, Kurogane nodded.

"Not bad! At least you are better than the last time you'd cooked for me!"

"I'm so glad that you are like it, Onii-chan!" Ruko smiled happily "I have more of it if you are still hungry!"

Kurogane nodded while chewing, he didn't want to lose the taste of the food by answering. Joining the breakfast with her brother, Ruko loved to watch Kurogane forever though the time wasn't allowed her to do so. Only a few days left to stay at Naha since her school break was going to the end. After more couples of minutes, Kurogane ended up his last bowl and his phone rang.

"Are you ready now, Kuro-kun?" it was Miho who calling him.

Kurogane smirked.

"Let's get the show on the road!"

"I will be with you anytime!" the commander of Oarai said "Whatever the thing might be I'm still loving you, my dear Shogun!"

Commander Minotaur felt much appreciated with that praise from his girlfriend, it shall be a boost to his morale to lead this battle to victory. When the call ended, he stood up talking to Ruko.

"Let's go. We could be late when going to the battlefield at this time!"

"No we won't!" the little sister shook her head smiling.

KREECH!

And suddenly, Kurogane heard the familiar noise at the front of his house. It was the Tiger Minotaur with all the faces inside. "We are waiting your orders, Kuro-kun!" said the crew and that was enough for Kurogane giving a real happy smile for as the thank for everything they made for him. Stepping to his usual position, he clearly commanded.

"LET'S ROLL OUT!"

Hajime pressed on the pedal and the tank mightily roared its engine, rolling to the battlefield with Ruko saying goodbye at the front gate, she will soon at loft with Miho, too.

...

The battlefield today was crowded with fans and schools to spectate such a great match between two candidates for the male Senshado championship: Naha Academy and Edelweiss Academy. The stalls selling Senshado-related merchandises were filled with people who were both looking and buying things they chose. At the rendezvous point, the Tiger Minotaur arrived just in time Kitagawa was checking the team before the final countdown. Having seen Kurogane, he asked.

"Are you serious, Ryukou?"

Kurogane shrugged.

"I'm always serious in my decisions! And what do we have here?"

VROOM!

Then from behind he heard the engine, it was the Anko's Panzer IV which now coated with Schurzen. Miho was on top of the turret, she said.

"My crew is ready for your command, Kuro-kun!"

"Good!" commander Minotaur nodded before facing Kitagawa "And are our boys, too?"

That face...Kitagawa could see Kurogane was in the extreme serious mood even this could be a battle for his life, too. Usually with such disciplined manners, the Vice didn't need to respect his commander but not this time, he saluted Ryukou with the most respectful stance.

"Lead us to victory, commander!"

So everyone was now at the top of their morale, eh? Nothing much more worrying than trouble at the homefront but since he was seeing everyone's spirit Kurogane can now weigh less for this finale. Checking the plans and the force for the last time, as commander of Naha Academy Senshado team he said a few words to his crews who were eager for battle.

"This is it, comrades! Today is the day we have waited for too long. Today, we shall fight against the strongest academy of the World's male Senshado. People said Edelweiss Academy is strong, but at Okinawa we shall let it become history. We have no strong tanks, no elite crews or a good commander, either. What we have is the will to fight, the will to die, and the will to triumph which is overflowing in our hearts! No doubt! This day, is the day we shall bury the tanks of the Edelweiss and its glory into oblivion, we shall show any elitists of the females that we man made the tanks, we master it not only them! The girls from Oarai who join this battle and shall fight side by side with us, your contributions shall strengthen our alliance further. Together, we shall build a new Senshado, a new place where both boys and girls shall stand and fight under the flag of unity, equality and liberty! There shall be no more discriminations, no more boys or girls being the dominant in Senshado! EVERYONE, FOR NAHA, FOR OARAI AND FOR OUR FUTURE, STAND WITH ME!"

"AYE!"

The crews responded with overpowering cheers which might awe everyone who wasn't part of Naha Academy or Oarai High School even from miles away due to Kurogane's speech was now live on the flat-screen. The people of Naha who watching this battle feeling excited, boosting their encouragement to the crews from the only academy of Okinawa in this final match. At the same time, Luther and his crews saw Kurogane having his speech, he thought that the Japanese crews must be too low of morale which led their commander having some kind of encouragement like that. Also at the far side of the battle, not even Mountbatten but Patton, Chen, Romanov and even Maho with her mother Shiho were here to watch this finals. After the final check-ups passed, Kurogane got into his tank with his crew was waiting. Ken and Soujirou were watching him, also Nihou and Hajime were waiting to hear his voice. Before the countdown going to zero, he left his final words.

"From this day, I shall be reborn..."

Also, Luther was talking to his crews just like Kurogane, but shorter.

"If there is a flower that blooming under the fire it shall be a strong flower. And Edelweiss is the one of it!"

"BATTLE STARTS!"

The judges finally announced the battle about to begin and the tanks rolled out. Leading his squad into the battle, Kurogane saw Kitagawa and Miho were deploying theirs into the planned positions. The Maus from Kuromorimine was now in the battle and acting as the mobile bunker with Kurogane commanding next to it. Since the Minotaur was now the flag in this Flag Hunter match, Kurogane knew why Maho had offered him this huge beast. In the tactical map, Kurogane's path was the shortest for the front slap against the Edelweiss Germans so a good shield is a must if he's wanting to see victory and the Maus - though it was lacking of mobility but it's also the best shield that Kurogane can partially rely on. Also, that beast had a flag with the same color just like the Minotaur's and its height shall rise that thing higher, higher. With a couple of Panthers covering the Maus, Kurogane hid his remaining team consisting of SU-100s', Tigers, few Sherman Fireflies and Panzer IIs' stuffed with fuel tanks attached on every sides of their hulls where it could attachable. Hiding in the cover for observation, Kurogane saw the movement of Edelweiss Academy at nearly 3 kilometers from his position. Three Maus tanks, they were mobilizing slowly under the cover of seven Panthers, three Tigers, four King Tigers and three StuG IVs'. This looked like it could be impenetrable with the others but not Kurogane as he smirked. On the radio, Miho reported.

"Our shock team are ready, Kuro-kun!"

The commander from Oarai was in charge of her entire team from Oarai with some more boys giving her extra hands, including five Panzer IIs' attached with fuel tanks just like at Kurogane's side and three ISU-152s'. Spectating the hostiles via her scope, Hana reported.

"They're now at 2.3 kilometers left!"

Miho reported that to Kurogane and she quickly got a response.

"Let them get closer! When they are at 1.5, call me!"

"Got it!"

But, Kurogane felt his head hurt again. "Not again...?" he groaned as the blood clot in his brain might not in mood to stay calm now. But the battlefield needing him and he must be with it in every second. Kept watching that advance, Kurogane received the report that Kitagawa had deployed his ambush safely in the planned grave for Edelweiss Academy and now the Germans were at 1.6 kilometers left. 1.5...and now he ordered.

"Banzai!"

Following the command, the Panzer IIs' quickly rolled out into the flanks of Edelweiss Academy, using their own little size as the advantage from being spotted too soon. Having marked some Panthers at the front and a Tiger, he commanded the destroyers.

"Fire!"

BANG! BANG!

The SU-100s' fired their first shots into the Edelweiss' formation. They didn't penetrate but got the German tanks attracted to the gunfire. However since they were recently too far away so they kept marching on under the fire of Naha tank destroyers leading by Kurogane.

At the same time in the opposite frontline, Luther heard the report that his front being attacked by the Japanese but he didn't think it's necessary to retaliate. Instead, he was looking for something more precious than that bait.

With another of his flank marching into another direction, its mission was simple, the Japanese light tanks being used as Kamikaze. Just as what he expected, those were trying to sneak in behind the flank of Edelweiss Academy. But unfortunately the Germans didn't have a chance to engage on since they have been spotted by those suicide tanks. Having received the report, though he has been surprised about that deployment but at least he didn't lose any tanks to the Edelweiss. Those formation stood as the warning to any attempts from Naha Academy if they want to perform a suicide combat, and would it be impenetrable? This was unanswered since Miho has gone from her previous position.

"Commander Nishizumi," she received the report from the Panzer IIs' "At least four Panthers and three Tiger IIs' in sight. If we proceed this could be a suicide match."

Miho knew that situation, with such case the Germans must using the elastic defence with three Maus might be the fake schwerpunkt (Note: German for tactical points) to attract the firepower from Naha Academy while their true intention were using the Blitzkrieg to push into the flanks then separate and paralyze the entire front of the Japanese. The main line of the Edelweiss kept advancing and she had to decide now. Attack or not? But first, Kurogane must be known about this situation, so she reported.

"Kuro-kun, our team spotted there are a point of defense on our path. What's your order?"

She hoped that Kurogane could reconsider his act so Naha Academy would gain the upper hand against those hostiles. But, what Kurogane answered back was.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!"

It was meaning "Attack! Attack! Attack!". Was Kuro-kun serious? Attacking that stronghold was so risky and Naha Academy could inflict unnecessary casualties. But then, she saw the reason why Kurogane commanded to attack.

BANG! BOOM!

He ordered Kitagawa to secretly drawing some heavy firepower to flank the Edelweiss while those Germans were busy watching Miho's side. Having looked at the incoming T-34-85s' and IS-2s', the German commander had no choice but to prepare the defense against those. "Now! Send some fire to them!" said Kurogane and Miho did what he ordered by sending few Panzer IIs' into the battle. With their agility though stuffed with fuel barrels, those Kamikaze tanks charged swiftly into the formation of Edelweiss Academy, even the firepower from the Panthers couldn't provide enough suppression due to they were being distracted at both sides. The light tanks of Naha Academy approached in the gaps between the hostiles then dropped the fuel barrels down before quickly running away, a few of those were leaking out on the grass. In Hana's sight, she carefully pressed the trigger right after Miho ordered to do so.

BAM! WHOOSH! KABOOM!

The Anko's Panzer IV fired a HE shell which acted as the igniter to the fuel on the ground, setting it afire and some barrels got exploded, thus splashing their ablaze petroleum on the Edelweiss' tanks' hulls. Being hit by surprise attack, the Germans didn't prepare for such tactic so they're quickly distracted, heat and smoke lost their focus for the attacking flank of Naha Academy. Having taken that advantage, Miho appeared with her team from Oarai to assist the boys on the Russian tanks under combat. Being attacked at both sides, the Germans tried escaping but there was a problem, their engines were overheated too fast due to the fire below their tracks, their bottoms and around them, even the crews inside could feel that it might melt even the steel beasts into heaps of slags. Having reached the safe distance to prevent the fire spreading close, Naha-Oarai Alliance started raining death down to the Edelweiss' tanks, few survivors got out of the flame, but they were hit soon before they could return to their commander. But strangely, Luther acted nothing though having received this news, he was instead waiting for the main chess piece that Kurogane would throw into this game not that mere pawn. Though his attack was successful, but Kurogane didn't feel right at the moment since the Edelweiss was still hiding its strength. The Germans must be using the Blitzkrieg but problem was how to identify their schwerpunkt that they shall focus their attacks onto that position.

"COMMANDER!" he suddenly received an urgent report from a panicked commander "We are under attack by the Edelweiss!"

At the position which Naha was under attack, a regiment of Edelweiss' tanks were attacking the defense line with the fastest speed they could deploy safely. So they were performing Blitzkrieg with the advance of Panzer IIIs', Tiger IIs', Jagdpanthers and Panthers to up against the boys from Naha with only a handful of Panthers, Panzer IVs' and SU-100s' defending this place. Not only one, but another spearhead was coming, too. With Guderian at the back of the line commanding his attack, he was now pushing Naha Academy one more step into the passive. Without wavering, Kurogane sent another card into this play. Quickly, Kitagawa sent a part of his reserve team into combat which partially surprised the Germans thus slowing them down for a while. Nonstop, Naha Academy had a few more surprises with the Kamikaze Panzer IIs' which swiftly charged into the flanks of the the tanks destroyers with the untrainable turrets and dropped the fuel tanks just in time before leaving without taking any damages. That former experience was still painful and the crews from Edelweiss Academy kept pushing forward to pass the possible fire could be break out but they weren't faster than the HE shells from Naha Academy, which resulted into another inferno got broken out. With all efforts, the German tanks tried breaking through but there was another problem that the burning grass formed black smoke which followed the visions and vents to get inside the tanks, and confusing the crews who couldn't concentrate properly due their serious eyesores. One wing got slowed down, Kitagawa focused firing on the remaining Edelweiss wing which was still pushing pretty fast while the frontal defense of Naha Academy was doing a tactical withdrawal after they have left few barrels of gasoline at their previous position. Having seen that booby trap, the wing commander of Edelweiss created a gap on his planned spearhead to avoid those dangerous barrels. But,

BANG! BAM!

The Oarai's StuG III knocked out one Edelweiss' Jagdpanther at the rear while the M3 Lee and Hetzer used their main gun to mow some hostiles down before quickly retreating for the advancing Kamikaze Panzer IIs' with both carrying or not carrying the fuel load anymore which being used to distract the firepower from the Germans. Quickly, the Naha's light tanks crossed into the gaps, dropping the barrels down and, igniting them by their auto-cannons and using the size of the hostiles to cover from the flame before safely getting away with minor casualties. Taking that momentum, Miho ordered her team coming into close combat while Kitagawa giving them covering fire and the previously withdrawn defense was now returned into the fight with the blitzing stance. Having received the grievous news, before Luther could give a proper response he's just got another one.

"Commander! Naha team incoming!"

On the top of his cupola, he saw the formation of Naha medium and light tanks marching with full speed to commence the attack. The T-34-85s' and the Panthers carved the path for the following Kamikaze Panzer IIs' while the tank destroyers were doing the short work from behind under the command of Kurogane, he's also sent the only Maus into battle with the ranged support from the SU-100s' and ISU-152s'. "What, he's crazy?" Luther questioned himself while his wing was defending against the approaching hostiles. Observing the battle from his cupola, Kurogane smirked with another card to be played.

The Naha formation of tanks was approaching swiftly towards the guns trying to pin them down. At the minimum distance to prevent further unnecessary casualties, the frontal assault tanks turned back, leaving the space for the Panzer IIs' with fuel barrels charging forward at max speed. And also, no more "Drop 'n' Run" but instead the light tanks chose the real Kamikaze just as the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy did during World War 2. BANG! KABOOM! The explosions shocked the nearby Edelweiss crews while their tanks were both covered in the flaming ground, blazing gasoline and even the wrecked Panzer IIs' formed the burning blockade those they wouldn't get out or the support crews won't be in time to get them out of this real hellhole. With their heights and armors, three Maus were still standing and firing with all their efforts to mow down the attack and giving some cover for the teammates falling back. But not yet, Naha Academy also threw its Maus into advancing while the tank destroyers armed with guns which were capable of penetrating those hostile behemoths - giving the covering fire. Having observed the battle via his binoculars, Kurogane didn't see any sign of Luther anymore though he was there on his flag Tiger II's cupola minutes ago. Suddenly, the commander Minotaur coughed and blood was now on the palm of his hand, also there was a little drip on his mouth. "Damn it!" Kurogane moaned, he had no choices left but to advance the attack. Once and for all, this victory or his life, or both?

But Luther didn't let his defense in vain that easily with a massive reinforcement which far away from the fire have got their covering fire behind the Edelweiss tanks which barely escaped from that inferno. The tanks from Naha took the chance before their hostiles could reorganize and received a heavy counterattack back, with a nearly half of the spearhead was knocked out in action. Calling them to regroup with the Maus, Kurogane used that hulking size to cover the teammates while the Panzer IIs' shall do their burning job. But no more surprise, the Germans under Luther's command was now focused their firepower towards the light tanks carrying the fuel barrels and a little sluggish caused a major problem since most of them was being hit before impact, few of them even got a premature ignition which caused the flame barricading against Naha Academy itself. But with no fear since Kurogane was still behind them, the Maus spearhead keeping up the pace to cross the fire while the Panzer IIs' shaking off in order to secure the remaining fuel barrels to be ignited. The hostile Maus tried their best to take down the enemy's counterpart but they didn't penetrate and so did the Naha behemoth. But Kurogane was not alone at his attack since Miho and Kitagawa's forces were here just in time. The Oarai's Hetzer once again used their special backstabbing trick to have a short work against the heavier but more sluggish Edelweiss tanks. Not to strike face to face but the girls made some time for some more serious firepower from Naha could be deployed entirely, ISU-152s' with their BL-10 guns. Under Kitagawa's command, the tank destroyers opened fire at the distance which literally penetrable to the Maus. Two bounced off but one hit, knocking one Edelweiss Maus in the process. But there were two more of them and the loss only increased their ferocious resistance against the Naha incoming tanks. At the final distance, it was time to perform Kamikaze again, Kurogane quickly left the battle, leaving it for the Maus with only a few medium tanks to block the pursuers whenever they're capable of chasing down the Tiger Minotaur which carrying the real flag. Having seen the flying "flag" on the Naha Maus, the Edelweiss increased their firing velocity without the worry about accuracy anymore. It was enough for the Panzer IIs' closing the gaps at the flanks of the Germans and their fuel barrels completed their mission.

BOOM!

Kurogane from afar could see the smoke flying high from the spot that he left so did as Miho with her allies retreated safely though the Hetzer unfortunately didn't make it and on the screen the fans were both excited and terrified with two academies were closing the gaps for melee combat inside that frying pan. Using its weight, the Maus crew tried crushing the fuel barrels on the ground which not yet detonated to spill the gas out, thus adding more fire. Even though this was the suicide mission, but the Naha spearhead accepted this fate, the crews cheered.

"FOR RYUKOU SHOGUN!" (Translation: "For General Ryukou!")

"FOR RYUKOU SHOGUN!" repeated by them once again. "Ryukou Shogun?" the fans didn't get it who was Ryukou Shogun except Ruko who's also watching her brother in battle via the screen. With that spirit, the Naha spearhead continued their combat until the Maus had to pop the white flag out. Since the Edelweiss crews were looking for the victory for them for having knocked out that flag Maus, they're then realized that the flag on top of that behemoth...was fake? The surviving crews reported to Luther that news and he nodded in silence, for real he was pissed off by Kurogane's trick. Only one conclusion, that Ryukou was the real flag tank, he gave an order.

"Regroup and mobilize into the urban! We shall but the end of their miserable resistance once and for all!"

"Ja, Kommandeur!" answered the surviving tanks. The last Edelweiss Maus tried rolling after the fire extinguished but it's engine was overheated and it wasn't capable of continuing the battle anymore also its other teammates who survived but the fire caused grievous damages to their modules and even the most fortunate ones also needed much time patching themselves up.

During that time, Kurogane and his wing made the appearance inside the urban area, also Miho with her team was here. Counting his surviving teammates left, though the strongest point of Edelweiss Academy became burning wrecks with most of their heavy tanks were out of action but in exchange a part of his team lost for this Kamikaze tactic. But at the bright side, he'd preserved the precious firepower to up against the Germans at the upper hand and now with the burning plain they wouldn't advance since the scare of the Kamikaze Panzer IIs' were still haunting the crews with their tanks. Luther might have been thought that he was safe from those fire attacks but not, since Kurogane also prepared the ultimate fire trick inside this abandoned urban. While he was planning the new steps, Kurogane felt his headache came back, even worse than before. Touching his mouth, he found blood bleeding from his nose at an alarming rate. He knew this might be the end of his life but the crew mustn't know about this until this battle ended in triumph for Naha Academy. Wiping out the blood, he ordered his team to be prepared for the final step. Looking to Kurogane via her scope, Hana said to Miho.

"I don't wanna say, but Miho-san, Kurogane-san's life is withering!"

"Kuro-kun..." she felt worried to Kurogane, if what Hana said was true then he must be nearly the limits. If this battle going on, his brain might be...

After minutes reorganizing the team during advance, Luther made it to the urban where Naha Academy must be hiding inside there. It was too quiet but the Edelweiss commander believed to his intuition that Ryukou was here, waiting for him to come. Getting tired of this guerrilla warfare, Guderian taunted.

"I know you are hearing me, Ryukou. Do you have yourself honor to command the tanks? I was looking for a fair and square battle against you and what did you bring to me instead? Nothing! You'd fought like a rat and burned the pride of the tanks with your nasty tricks. You maybe win this day, but you will never win this entire war. As the great grandson of Heinz Guderian, I challenge you for a real battle like a real man!"

Those words was eavesdropped by Nihou easily with his frequency tapping skill. The entire crew Minotaur looked at its commander who had calmly listened this from the scratch. Smirking, Kurogane called Nihou.

"Connect my voice to Guderian!"

"On it."

Luther's headset got the signal from the strange frequency, with Ryukou talking to him.

"Welcome to the pit, Guderian! Hölle erwartet sie!" (Translation: "Hell awaits you!")

Luther was shocked when receiving this message. Right after that, Kurogane ordered.

"Attack!"

The remaining Kamikaze Panzer IIs' which under command of Kitagawa, the ones who didn't join the previous killzone charged out from the corners around the Edelweiss formation. They were waiting for that moment too long and now, everything was just as what Kurogane answered to Luther.

BANG! BOOM!

Few Tiger IIs' and Jagdpanthers got hit, fuel bathed on their hulls and started burning. The Panzer IIs' had no more something called second wind, their mission was to use their wrecks to form the blockade corralling the Edelweiss tanks for the rest of their team gunning those down one by one with heavier guns. Right after the explosions made by fuel and gasoline, Naha and Oarai tanks left their cover and raining death down to Germans. But Luther reserved another card for this kind of situation with the third wind of Tigers and Panthers trying to carve the path for their commander who's the real flag tank. Appearing along with his teammates, the Tiger Minotaur fired multiple accurate shots thanked to Ken, Kurogane and Soujirou in loading and aiming. The newcomers used their weights to push the burning Panzer IIs' out, opening the path for their teammates to fall back before regroup. But soon, their efforts were wasted by the appearance of Miho and her team. Having no fear for that ambush, Luther ordered.

"Push through the girls!"

The Edelweiss charged through the Oarai tanks and the Char B1 was knocked out by the overwhelming force of the hostiles. Like a cornered rat, the Germans fought with the best efforts as they could which caused casualties to both Oarai and Naha. Unfortunately for Luther, Kurogane had another card from the outside with Kitagawa commanding the ISU-152 under the cover of few IS-2s' closing the gap between two sides while Miho and her team falling back into safety though the Type 89 I-Go and the Type 3 Chi-Nu were killed in action. To protect their flag tank, the Germans charged into close combat to cover Luther's Tiger II running away with few Panthers around him. But soon, Kurogane was here with his cannon trained towards Guderian.

BANG!

Luckily, one Panther was just into sacrificing itself to cover the flag. Luther and his teammates retaliated but Kurogane fell back safely behind the building blocks. Following up, the Germans were once again being ambushed by the Naha SU-100s' and T-34s'. With his loyal teammates defending him by their tanks, Luther ran further deep into the urban to with only a handful of tanks left. The last reinforcement was coming for help but it might take much time to be here.

BOOM!

But then, another shot knocked one of his bodyguard Panther out of action and it was the Minotaur who fired that shot. Enraged, Luther shouted.

"FIRE! TEAR THAT BASTARD INTO PIECES!"

Not so fast, the Tiger (P) from Oarai was here for help, with both 8.8cm guns firing at the same time which partly suppressed the Edelweiss bodyguards. Fortunately for Luther, his final line of reinforcement arrived with the fresh tanks and crews. In that moment he'd thought the tide could have been changed, Kurogane whispered.

"Not so fast..."

Because Ryukou was smarter when reserving the Kamikaze Panzer IIs', he was now used them for the final Kamikaze attack right to the flanks of the advancing Edelweiss reinforcement. Thus with Kitagawa's line rolling into the battle, though with this rate of casualties they wouldn't make it triumphant but they could buy as much as possible time to knock the flag tank out once and for all. Everything just as the plan, Luther chose to flight, and Kurogane got the honor to chase that flag tank down on his Minotaur bearing the flag, too. During the observation, he found his nose kept bleeding and a few drops was sighted on his cupola. It's hardly to breath more but he had to try, things were getting to the end now.

The battle against the overwhelming reinforcement attracted the people to the screens so as did the chase between two flag tanks. With the increasing casualties, Kitagawa chose the last stand to cover Ryukou while Miho and her team tried the best to reserve their manpower for the final shot which might be used against Luther. Having received the report that Kurogane and Luther got inside the apartment compound, the Vice of Naha Academy blocked the entrance with his teammates and the Tiger (P). Just in time those Edelweiss tanks were coming to save their commander in peril.

"FOR RYUKOU SHOGUN!" shouted by the Naha tank crews once again, just as the other wings fighting against the hostile Germans at around the corner of this urban.

On the square inside this compound, Kurogane stopped at one corner opposing Luther. Let the explosions outside kept roaring, he asked.

"So that's your honor like you'd said before?"

Luther realized what Ryukou said meaning. It was all the setup for this final battle, a duel between flag and flag to end this match. Smirking, Luther accepted.

"Then let's get this over with!"

Then both got themselves into combat. Having circled rounds to rounds, the Edelweiss Tiger II fired first which hit the left side of the Minotaur's turret, which shocked Ken inside by low voltage of electricity as the battle mechanics. Couldn't leave the tank having no loader, Kurogane quickly loaded a HE shell into the gun which being fired by Soujirou later on. It didn't penetrate but caused a minor damage to the front of the Tiger II, buying some time for the Minotaur to speed up for a better chance. Passing through blocks by blocks, both tanks exchanged their firepower while the Naha's blockade was making the last stand to prevent some more unfriendly guests into that challenge and Edelweiss tanks were trying hard to penetrate that defense in order to save their flag from being knocked out.

Back to the duel, both tanks got hit but weren't enough to be counted as knocked out. Having inflicted many surges of electrical shocks, Kurogane started wearing down, his headache going worse and he began to lose his vision. "Damn..." groaned himself, but he had no other choices but to keep the battle going on until that Tiger II was down. While Ken was trying to load the shell, Soujirou looked back to Kurogane, he saw his friend's nose bleeding even worse but not so long since commander Minotaur stood up for the observation again though some drops of blood were down to turret's floor. "Kuro-kun..." he started worrying about Kurogane's state, if these things keep going on, his best friend could be the history.

"FIRE!"

Shouted by Kurogane, then the Minotaur fired towards the target. It hit the fuel tank which set Luther's tank afire but it has been extinguished soon before some serious damages could be dealt with. Having ordered Ken to load a HEAT shell, Kurogane talked to Soujirou.

"Save your shot. We shall lead that flag for our final trick!"

"But, Kuro-kun." the gunner pointed to his commander "You're bleeding badly!"

"I know!" Kurogane groaned, he felt his strength was losing pretty damn fast "We shall put an end to this fight, just this shot!"

Then he turned to Hajime, asking.

"Can we use the Tiger for a drift?"

The driver replied.

"Yes, but it will only take a short turn and surely our tracks will turn into pieces all over the ground!"

"Then so be it," Kurogane concluded to his final decision. Just in time Luther's Tiger II was going back to the place where he began the duel with Ryukou. Closing tight to the apartment blocks, the Minotaur evaded one shot from Luther, getting closer before the ultimate trick. Suddenly, Hajime braked the left track to let the tank drifting to the right.

KREECH! KRAANG!

Both the tracks of the Minotaur were tore apart due to that short drift but in exchange the Tiger Minotaur was now behind the weakest of Luther's tank before his turret could face its gun right into Kurogane who staring towards its commander.

BANG! KABOOM!

The Tiger opened fire, leading to the double explosions occurred later on. The fans paused at that heartbreaking moment and Ruko was hoping that her brother could be okay. When the smoke faded just right after Kitagawa's ISU-152 had no choices left but surrender due to the damages and out of ammo though he valiantly completed the blockade mission while Miho was inside in order to give Kurogane some covering fire. The Edelweiss Tiger II bearing the flag popped another tiny white one out from the turret with its rear was pierced and burned by the previous hit. And there was no doubt anymore, the result was.

"FLAG TANK OF EDELWEISS ACADEMY KNOCKED OUT! NAHA ACADEMY. VICTORIOUS!"

The fans on the lofts along with the crews from Naha and Oarai broke into joy after that announcement. With Kurogane, he felt relieved after this stressing battle though his headache was killing him at the moment. The crew Minotaur got outside of the tank which has been grievously damaged by this battle but at least everyone did the best to bring the final victory for Naha Academy with the score of two-one.

"We did it!" Ken felt he could be crazy with this result "GUYS, WE'RE REALLY DID IT!"

"You're amazing, Kurogane-san!" Nihou cheered "We'd beaten Edelweiss Academy!"

"Thanks to you being with us, we'd made ourselves this masterpiece though having some flaws!"

"Kuro-kun, don't you see? We're won! Kuro-kun?"

Soujirou looked there was something wrong to Kurogane since the commander Minotaur seemed terrible. Of course he was, the blood clot inside his brain was pounding so hard like it's about to explode. Trying to restrain the pain, Kurogane turned to his friends with a smile.

"Thanks for being with me, friends! Without you guys, I will probably never make it!"

Just in time Luther with his crew coming in, he cheered for his opponent's victory.

"I'm sorry for saying such words to you during the battle. But I have to admit that you'd surprised me, Ryukou! Your skills and your teammates, they'd brought you this victory!"

Kurogane shrugged.

"Not for me, but for my entire academy and my ally who joined this battle alongside with me!"

Both commanders gave each other the handshake, Luther said.

"I hope after this, we shall have more chances next time."

"We shall." commander Minotaur nodded.

But, right after his hand left Luther's, he suffered a short-term blackout along with extreme fatigue which the legs didn't help him standing firm. Kneeling down to the ground under the surprised eyes of his friends, Kurogane saw numerous drops of blood coming out from his nostrils so as he couldn't breath properly anymore. "Damn..." he moaned, with his crew urged.

"Kuro-kun, you're now at the critical. We must bring you to the hospital quick!"

Those pains, they made Kurogane's brain feeling like it was covered with blood and numerous kind of fluids of his body. Taking out a can of coffee, he tried looking for a painkiller via his favorite drink.

"You know, guys?" he turned to his friends, trying to smile "In this life, you are, my dearest..."

Before Kurogane could complete his sentence, Soujirou, Ken, Nihou, Hajime, Luther, his crewmen and everyone watching this scene were shocked when seeing Kurogane's nose spitted out blood, lots of it, then he fell down to the ground with his eyes opened widely and his can of coffee spilling out just as his blood.

"KURO-KUN!"

Shouted Soujirou as he quickly raised his friend's head to have a quick check on Kurogane's status later while Luther ordered his men to call the ambulance. Kurogane's vital signs still were, but too weak and dying so fast, without help he wouldn't able to make it which made Soujirou got panicked. "WHERE'S THE DAMN AMBULANCE?" the Minotaur gunner lost his usual patience but fortunately the thing he asking for was here with the paramedics strapped the dying Kurogane in the stretcher. With the entire crew was inside, the vehicle quickly rolled out of this battlefield via the shortcut returning to Naha hospital for a possible surgical emergency. Having seen that, Ruko quickly left the loft to find a taxi going to the hospital while Miho used her Panzer IV followed that ambulance. At this time Kurogane might need their appearance, not only them but every of his true friends.

...

Minutes later and the ambulance arrived the hospital with the paramedics taking the extensive care for Kurogane from head to toe. One of them reported to his peers about the dying status of the patient which raised the worry between the crewmen higher. When Kurogane was inside the operating room, doctor Takeda who had been informed about this situation long ago, got inside with his surgical teammates who were at their specific duties right inside the room. The ECG showed the dying vital signs of Kurogane but this was nonsense if giving up right now, so doctor Takeda started the operation while his patient's friends were waiting outside.

At the same time deep inside Kurogane's subconsciousness, he found himself lying on the snow at the nowhere but looked familiar to Siberia. Why he was here? Wasn't he fell into the ground after the final battle ended at Naha? His head hurt no more, he hadn't even felt a little throb inside his head. This world was getting crazier then Kurogane had imagined, but he had to keep moving to find a possible shelter inside this enormous ice cube. The snowstorm was getting worse, his vision was losing badly under this kind of environment and even his feet was freezing inside these snow. During the walk, he suddenly stopped, his eyes staring towards someone not so far in front of him...

"Draco..."

It was the wanderer who's only existed inside Kurogane's mind, once again he was here. Clapping his hands, Draco cheered.

"Congratulations, Steele! You have won the final battle, and also you have killed yourself!"

Kurogane smirked.

"And does this is the Hell I'm looking for?"

Draco walked towards Kurogane, answering what the commander asked.

"No! You are neither in the Hell nor Heaven. You are just in your own mind, the prison which you got your deepest of your ass inside this ice cube!"

"That is, mine?" Kurogane frowned.

"Don't acting so naive like that, Steele!" Draco walked around commander Minotaur "This ice cube was one of your creation which resulted to the choice you made in the past. I'd thought that since you're holding your most important piece of your soul inside this then you must always bearing it by your side!"

"Then what so important to me?" Kurogane smirked "You were a mind reader, weren't you?"

"Yeah, I know!" Draco nodded "And I'm also knew that you're playing dumb with me from the scratch but since it was one of your habits then I'm just fulfilling your desire."

"And why did you lead me here?"

"No, I didn't! You led yourself here and I'm only found you wandering inside this stormy ice cube. You're just looking for the thing you'd put it inside this place for too long but another half of you refused it! Do you wanna see another of you?"

"Another of me?" Kurogane surprised.

Without answering, Draco blinked away and after seconds he was at the far side of this snowfield, leaving the glowing footsteps on the snow for Kurogane to follow. Having spent time walking, he found himself standing before a huge icy lake with a big withered tree on the isle at the middle of this lake. The footsteps which Draco left just ended in front of that tree, Kurogane found there was something glowing next to his feet. Then he started digging the snow by his bare hands and found a small box which looked familiar to him.

"This..."

Whoosh...

Suddenly, a strange shadow just snatched that box out from Kurogane's hand and stopped on the icy floor of the lake. "Draco?" commander Minotaur thought, but he later changed his mind when looking to the culprit...it was another him, but with the crooked eyes showing more devilish to the original who was standing besides the tree. That copy of Kurogane greeted.

"Welcome to my tomb, the original!"

"So you are the thing that I'd tried to hide, huh?" the real Kurogane asked.

"Wrong, idiot!" the evil copy arrogantly grinned "You were trying to hide this inside my place. And now as the trespasser you are coming here only to seek the thing you'd sacked for long!"

"You are just another of me, then you are better hand it back to me before I could get you rid out of your existence!"

"You're threatening me?" the evil Kurogane played being horrified, but then he laughed out loud which echoed the entire snowfield "Oh man, look at this! The another copy of me was just threatening me that he might kill me if I don't hand that thing to him!"

"What are you talking about?" the real one kept his patience enduring.

"What am I?" that evil side smirked, his hand drew out the Katana which identical to the real Kurogane's blade "Simple, I will cut your heart off and consume your soul. After that I shall be you, the another original!"

"You're just a crazy son of a bitch!" Kurogane shrugged with a slight smirk "Do you think that by killing me you will be another of mine?"

"Then let the swords do our words, will ya?"

Having finished his saying, the evil Kurogane dashed towards the original and gave a slash straight forward. KRAANG! The impact echoed this iced lake as the evil one saw the real Kurogane blocked his strike by his original black Katana. Shaken off from the struggle, Kurogane slid on the ice approaching his evil copy and giving few blows. But since that guy was the copy of him, all of his strikes were deflected thus giving his evil side more dangerous chances. Having blocked many hits, Kurogane gave a low sweep which forced the copy jumping off the ice. "Sucker!" the evil one shouted as he drew a pistol out from his jacket, intended to kill the original in surprise blow. BANG! Luckily that Kurogane dodged the bullet, also deflected another one by his sword. While his right hand was behind, commander Minotaur drew his pistol out and quickly gave that copy of him few shots but that man dodged just as what he did previously. Looking to Kurogane, the evil copy laughed.

"Well, well. Just look at you now, my holier-than-thou original! You were just doing the things I did recently though your mouth just babbled that I was nothing to you!"

...

At the reality, the operation was still going on with doctor Takeda focused on solving the consequences caused by the eruption of Kurogane's blood clot while the other doctors strictly checking the vital signs of the patient. Outside the room, Miho and her crew were here and she only saw the crew Minotaur sitting outside and desperately waiting for the result. Just in time Ruko was also here and she asked Soujirou.

"Where's Onii-chan, Soujirou-san?"

"The doctors were still operating." Soujirou answered, he tried to be as patient as he could "How can he...how can Kuro-kun being defeated that too easy?"

Hours has passed, and the operation was still going on. Everyone was exhausted by waiting since their fatigue from the previous battle against Edelweiss Academy wasn't sweep away because of this. But a little later, the occupied sign faded its light, meaning that the doctors finished the operation. Gathering before the doors, both crew Minotaur and crew Anko with Ruko saw Kurogane with his head got bandaged and breathing via support. Following back to the room which commander Minotaur had left, everyone was now partially relieved that Kurogane was still alive and he's just resting from the stressing operation but how would he recover was just a miracle, said by the doctor. Ruko was sitting close to her brother, holding his hand tight like she never did that in her entire life. The commander of the alliance was still breathing weak, only a miracle might get him up right now.

At the same time inside Kurogane's subconsciousness, the fight was enduring with both sides didn't even mention how long has it passed. Having dodged one strike from his evil side, the original countered with a slash to the abdomen, following that block was a combo of slashes into multiple directions with the highest strength and speed as he could to take this persistent enemy down to his feet. But with his agility, the evil Kurogane evaded them all and took a devious chance by having stabbed his sword deep into the original's stomach. Being injured, the original one shook off, he could feel the pain from his wound and blood was bleeding on the icy floor.

"So, I got one, and you nil! How many more like this shall you endure, my original? You're better give up to accept the destiny you'd deserved to be!"

Such pathetic taunt, though the wound was hurting but it made the original Kurogane laughed. The evil side thought that his opponent was in the desperate situation and waiting for a possible surrender so the original shall accept his destiny to be killed and consumed.

"You're such a pathetic one deluded with madness as what made your brain. Surrender, never have a definition of it in the code of a Samourai!"

"You're just lasting your suffering longer then." the evil side smirked "But if it was your choice, then I'm really appreciated to see your slow but painful death, instead!"

The bleeding wound was draining the original Kurogane's strength and stamina quickly, plus with this cold weather, he might soon become a lifeless body on the bloody ice before his evil copy deal a coup d' grace. Having knelt one leg down, the evil side was watching his original dying by blood loss, with that he shall have less work to do if he want to consume the real Kurogane.

...

Back to the reality, the ECG showed the vital signs of Kurogane but they're all weak though stable. Everyone worried about the worst could happen but at least it was better than while their friend inside the operating room. Nihou turned the TV on with the lowest volume to not disturb his resting commander and saw Kitagawa talking to the news reporter about the previous incident and claimed that he shall take the flag of championship instead Ryukou since he was the vice commander in charge of this battle. They had to accept that without Kurogane's appearance, if he live, he shall have another day taking that honor. The atmosphere was so stressing, just looked at Ruko, she couldn't relax since her brother was still not in the good shape after the operation. Having thought for something relieving solution, Soujirou said.

"I know we are all worrying for Kuro-kun, but just look at this."

"Look at what?" Ken asked with a sigh - his unusual way.

"Look at us!" Soujirou answered "Didn't Kuro-kun hope for a day that we could be here and then we made it with everyone he's caring for? Though he didn't think about this situation but at least we helped him fulfilling his wish."

"But how can he feel that his wish came true like this?" Hajime tried to hide his desperation inside his cool face "He's still lying on the bed and we don't even know he shall live or not."

"He shall be!" Soujirou stressed "He who denied death for many times then how this pitiful wound can defeat him? He used to have the will to live on even at the worst of his life and now he had too. He can feel us here, here with him to pass this darkest hour." then he walked to Kurogane, talking to his brother on the bed "You hear me, right? You hear me, Kuro-kun. Of course you are hearing, I know you are! If you are hearing what I am saying, just do something, a little act to us. Please, Kuro-kun!" but Kurogane stayed silent, only the weak breaths and the ECG were the answer to Soujirou. "Please!"

He shouted to his blood brother later on which surprised everyone since it was the first time they could see Soujirou being so worried and impatient like this. "Please stop, Soujirou-san!" Ruko said to Soujirou since he could disturb her brother. Having breathed deeply, the gunner went back to his seat with Ken patting him.

"You're right, bro! Whatever Kuro is now he's still be with us. Until his last breath we must together put a trust on him!"

"But how?" Yukari asked.

Standing up, looks like Ken found a way to pump his friends out from this despair.

"If Kuro used to have a will to overcome his death many times then why don't we together put our hope for him to pass this? Come on, I know we can do it! If Kuro wake up, it won't be a good thing showing him such mournful faces!"

Putting a hope on Kurogane's will, it's just looked like some kind of placebo but in this case, every chance to help commander Minotaur was precious and when no one didn't have another good idea then they must try Ken's suggestion first. Gradually, everyone inside the room started sending their will to support Kurogane's in order to overcome his death at this moment. But then, Ruko found her brother's ECG going into the turbulence.

"Call the doctor!" she ordered everyone behind to call the doctor for help and Soujirou saw her face. It was just like Kurogane as usual.

The doctor with nurses went inside to check on the patient's status. Seeing the turbulent vital signs, the doctor ordered the required medications as soon as possible also with a defibrillator in case for a possible cardiac arrest.

...

While the hospital was intensifying its efforts to save Kurogane, the original was now losing in the fight against his own evil side. The wound kept bleeding down to the ice, exhausting him second to second until another of his knee down on the ice surface. The evil Kurogane had been waiting for that moment and he now just walking towards the original without any resistance. While the original couldn't hold his sword high anymore, easy for the evil one who grabbed his hair up, wanting to see that dying face before killing him. Putting his sword next to the original's throat, evil Kurogane asked.

"Any last words?"

The real one smirked.

"I just want to know why do you want to consume me?"

"Because." the evil side grinned "I want to be the most powerful swordsman in the world. But unfortunately I didn't have the thing you have. The thing that shall lead me to become the true master of Kenjutsu!"

"So what do you think I'm arsing, huh?"

"We're both knew about it. You have Sensei's book of the ultimate Kenjutsu."

"A book?" Kurogane suddenly laughed out loud after a tiny cough.

"What's so funny?" his evil side surprised.

"Your stupid made me funny..." the original spitted out some blood to clear his voice "There's no such thing called the book of the ultimate Kenjutsu. But since you'd claimed that you are another of mine and you said those words, that made me funny at all."

"Don't play dumb with me!" the evil groaned, his sword pressed tighter to the original's neck "You have that book, I know it!"

"Your claim just once again showed that you're a stupid." the original Kurogane smirked "There's no such book ever exist. Your miserable greed blinded you and that's what you called yourself, a Samourai?"

"You..." the evil one grinned furiously.

...

Back to the reality, Kurogane's vital signs were stressed and dying which made everyone inside the room worried and the most must be Ruko, Soujirou and Miho. The ECG was flatlining, so the doctor ordered the defibrillator. Pressing the pads on the patient's chest, he shook his body once but the status was still going worse. For another time, the doctor gave Kurogane another shock but his heartbeats were just pounding for a second then the returned to the flatlining state. Suddenly before the doctor trying the third, Soujirou left his seat and gave a strong punch deep into Kurogane's heart which surprised everyone. The friends were trying to calm him down while the doctor asking why he hit Kurogane and received an answer from that panicked gunner - who was both angry because of his actions being stopped.

"I'M TRYING TO HELP HIM WAKE UP! HOW HE CAN BE DEFEATED THAT EASILY AFTER MANY TIMES FACING THE DEATH! LET ME GO, I HAVE TO HELP HIM! LEMME GO!"

He broke free from Hajime's restrain and intended to punch Kurogane another one but fortunately Ken was faster than him. With a punch into his belly, Soujirou passed out for a while, at this time though Ken was sorry about that but he had to do what he must for the doctor saving commander Minotaur. But then,...

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEEPPPPPP...

After the struggle, the ECG has finally shown a completely flatline.

During that inside the subconscious, the original Kurogane explained to his evil side about something called "ultimate Kenjutsu".

"If you want an answer about where is the ultimate Kenjutsu then you were wasting your time to find a thing which never exist. Your thirst of power plagued you, made you to become a blind powermonger who didn't know about one fact."

"What fact?" the dark Kurogane was losing his patience.

The original one knew there was still a chance for him to defeat his own dark side. The Draco's scales which only appear inside such subconscious state. Yes, it's the miracle for Kurogane, a second wind for him...

KLAANG!

Suddenly, the original's sword swung towards the dark Kurogane's one, deflecting it off his neck. Having thrusted his left elbow straight to the dark one's face, Kurogane left not a single chance for his enemy to counter by having a quick slash into the abdomen, the black blade went through swiftly and the dark himself coughed up blood.

At the hospital, both crews Anko and Minotaur were shocked with that scene which Kurogane's face being covered in the white blanket while the doctor was writing down the report.

"Time of death, 17:12 P.M. Cause of death, cardiac arrest..."

He then ordered the nurse to unplug the life support in order to transfer Kurogane's body down to the morgue. Suddenly, Ruko rushed to her brother's bed with tears after, stopping the ones who trying to carry him away.

"MY BROTHER IS NOT DEAD!" she angrily said "I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH HIM!"

The crews after that shocking moment were now broke into tears, having thought that Kurogane finally met the end of his life. With the nurses trying to get Ruko out of the bed, the girl defied with such ferocious, just as her brother when he was alive. Though his tears were jerking all over his face by the loss of his blood brother, Soujirou tried soothing Ruko.

"Ruko-chan, don't. Your brother is no more! Please, let the nurses take him down to the morgue and so we can have him back home later!"

"NO!" Ruko rejected "ONII-CHAN DIDN'T DIE, I CAN FEEL IT!" then she grabbed Kurogane's unmoving hand "PLEASE, ONII-CHAN! IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE, PLEASE GRAB MY HAND!"

Her defiance just made the friends' hearts more throbbing with the loss of their friend who was also their commander. Holding Ruko inside his arms, Soujirou pleaded.

"Please, Ruko-chan. We must let Kuro-kun go! He's no more with us. No more...!"

But by having said the words "no more" made Soujirou weaker and weaker that he couldn't hold the girl anymore. However no ones didn't know about the place where Kurogane's subconscious was still intact. The evil side was now down before the original and his life will be decided by now.

"Your hunger for power killed you, my dark side!" the original said "If you have known about this sooner then we won't find ourselves in such matter!"

"You seek to kill me now?" moaned the evil Kurogane "You shall kill yourself, too!"

"No!" smirked the true one "Instead. I will be reborn!"

"Reborn?" the dark side laughed out loud at his final moment "You shall never have something called "reborn" in this world. You're born to be a warrior and a part of me will still be inside you after my death. Your act shall help nothing to get you out of this desperation! Only power..." he coughed in black blood "...will solve everything!"

"But now," the real Kurogane smiled "I had things which beyond the power you was seeking for. My friends, my sister, my love. They're the power for me to live on and fulfill my destiny!"

The dark side was now near the brink of his end, but still threw into the original's face with a despise manner.

"You humans, such the mentals!"

The real one concluded.

"And that mentality gave me power!"

He then stabbed deep into the dark side's heart, killing him immediately which his body later turned into the black fog and being swept away by the wind of this snowfield. The fight was over, yet Kurogane received another from his healed wound, he returned to his work finding the thing the dark side had stolen from him. Not so far but back to the withered tree, the box was staying there like nothing had just happened. Opening it, Kurogane surprised to see something which being hidden at this place for so long. It was a piece of glowing transparent puzzle which reflected his own self but only much younger than. It was him, Kurogane remembered it. It was his true soul which being buried deep inside this snowfield, a young, yet innocent and compassionate boy before everything ended up to be nowadays. Later, that piece of puzzle went into a wind that brought life to the place it's flowing through. The small wind blew away the blizzard, melted the ice and snow and put an end on this coldness and brought back the warm air, the clear blue sky, the silent lake with the once withered tree but now reborn with the new sakura blooms were overflowing on its barks. While Kurogane was still confused with such a surprising change just in the blink of his eye, Draco returned behind him, saying.

"This is your last piece of your soul, Steele. A small, but without it you won't fulfill your destiny."

Kurogane turned back, smirking.

"Why do you care much about my soul?"

"Because you will need it." Draco answered "As your patron, my job is to watch your back and guide you whenever you need it."

"I didn't know that I will need your help some time?" Kurogane gave a short sigh.

"Just like everyday when I meet you, a lone wolf like me when I was alive. But don't lie yourself when I was here, reading your mind like a book. Remember what you said to your dark side?"

Kurogane never forget to what he said to his evil copy before ending off that battle. No time to lose arguing with Ryukou left, Draco concluded.

"This lake connects between this world and the reality. By looking on the water, it shall reflect what the world is happening. Why don't you have a shot?"

Commander Minotaur looked down to the water. He saw his body was being covered in the small white sheet while his crew, crew Anko were crying and Ruko was defending against the doctor and nurses who were trying to do something. Realized what has just happening to him, but before a question could be made, Draco asked.

"Choose, Steele. This place or your world? Whatever you choose, it shall lead you to the end you shall face. And choose carefully as you won't find a second chance anymore!"

Seeing Ruko's grip was losing against the nurses, Kurogane made a swift decision. Then he dived into the water, which led him...falling from sky with Draco's voice was still echoing in his ear.

"So you chose. That day shall come and we shall meet again at the place where you shall be. Farewell, Steele! When your destiny was fulfilled, we shall meet again."

Falling closer and closer to the ground, commander Minotaur saw his vision went brighter and brighter until the total white.

After her long struggle, Ruko finally lost her hands off her brother's body. With tears, she had to admit the harsh truth that her brother was no more, yet she leaned into Soujirou crying. While using his body to comfort his late friend's little sister, the gunner saw Kurogane's fingers moving. Not a joke, they were moving once again and again which led him calling the doctor.

"Doctor, stop! I saw Kuro-kun's fingers are moving!"

"What?"

The doctor surprised, not only him but the nurses, Ruko, Miho and the crew members were all surprised with what Soujirou said. Before everyone's witness, those fingers on the left moved again, that was the sign for hope which Ruko quickly grabbed that hand, saying with her tears of joy.

"Onii-chan! I knew you're still alive! I always knew that you're still alive!"

That palm of hand was warm again, yet its fingers kept moving. Quickly, the doctor called the nurses to resume the resuscitation with the ECG's cords plugged back onto Kurogane's body with the sheet being removed. The vital signs went back which led everyone having a strong hope that their commander was alive. Just in time doctor Takeda came inside, he looked swiftly to the report and soon took charge of his patient with the required medications as the support. While doctor Takeda was taking the right to treat Kurogane, Miho and her friends - even the crew Minotaur - joined with Ruko to give their friend in need the strength of hope to pass this.

"He's still alive!" Soujirou smiled "You shall alive, Kuro-kun!"

...

Days later,

The news of victory had spread to the entire Okinawa as the townspeople cheered Naha Academy for their finest efforts in their finest hours under the command of Ryukou Kurogane - a commander who united the girls from Oarai High School back into his cause and led his teammates to the first victory of this alliance even he might exchange this for his own life. Newspapers praised him with his crews who fought that battle as the heroes and Kitagawa was having a busy day for a speech in front of the news reporters and fans while Kawachi was boasting his team's feat in making the last stand against Luther's reinforcements for crew Minotaur taken the chance to gun down Guderian in the stressful duel.

What about Kurogane, he was still inside the hospital for the doctors taking care of him. Miho with her crew was coming here to visit him with presents and the nurse allowed them to visit since crew Minotaur was here sooner. Having arrived before the room which so much noises coming out, they saw Kurogane himself welcomed them in which made commander Anko surprised.

"Why do you leave your bed, Kuro-kun? Doctor said that you mustn't move around so much before a complete recovery."

He didn't answer but instead guided the girls looking to the bed which he supposed to be staying on it. His crew was playing cards, and weird thing was, only Soujirou had the clean face while the others marked with numerous black ink drawings. Having thrown his deck to the bed, Ken groaned.

"Argh! Why I always lose before him in my favorite game?"

Looking to the loader who was taking his punishment as he lost the game, Kurogane explained.

"I knew that Soujirou always wins in those betting games so that's why I didn't join but instead, I let the others in!"

Though it was a little messy and noisy but that has brought so much fun to forget that dreadful moment. Having seen the girls in, the boys quickly rushed into finding for a towel to clean up their embarrassing marks on their faces. Soon, everything went back to its own order and after minutes spending together between two crews, the members of both went out, leaving only their commanders left inside. Miho was sitting next to Kurogane on the bed, he said.

"You look great, today!"

The girl smiled.

"It's the first time you're telling that to me like this!"

"Am I?" Kurogane shrugged "Since the others might hearing me saying such sweet words and that never suit to my style as usual."

"No." Miho leans to her lover's body, enjoying that warmth "It's really you, as what me and Ruko-san always looking for."

Remembered one thing he must do, Kurogane grabbed the girl's hand and wear something into her ring finger which made her surprised.

"Kuro-kun, this is..." Miho was so surprised with that.

"It's just the reserved." Kurogane smiled "We shall have a long way to go before that day but. You gave me another reason to live on along with Ruko and friends!"

Telling about Ruko, Miho remembered she told her this was the day she departing back to Kyoto Academy as her break has been over. And now she told Kurogane.

"Kuro-kun, Ruko said that it's the time..."

"Oh, I got it!" the commander Minotaur interrupted her "Come on!"

Then he led the girl down to the car park where his Kawasaki was parking here and then he left the hospital with full throttle to the port, hoping that the ship was staying still. And accidentally, both crews Anko and Minotaur saw their commanders crossing their eyes which later made a tail following Kurogane and Miho.

About Ruko, she was going to the port with her luggage, hoping that her brother will be fine after all. She wished there was more chances for her to tell Kurogane something but it was too late, she must going back to Kyoto Academy for her study now and that made her feeling somewhat regret for didn't say it sooner. However, Kurogane was here before his sister going aboard, he called.

"Didn't you say that you have something to tell me before going back to Kyoto?"

Ruko turned back and saw Kurogane though his head was still wrapping with bandages. Having dropped her luggage, the girl rushed into her brother's hug with joy that he made it before the ship leaving the port.

"Thank you for being here, Onii-chan!"

"How can I forget this is the day we have to say goodbye for you to return to Kyoto?" smiled Kurogane.

Then, he took someone out from his pocket, giving it to Ruko. It was a small present which commander Minotaur explained.

"Soujirou advised me buying this for you. It's not my intend to do so!"

Ruko was so happy to take though a small but precious gift made by her brother. Kurogane continued.

"Return to Naha anytime when you are free. And another, I want to tell you."

He then wrapped Ruko with his arms, gently whispered to her ear.

"I forgive you for everything after those years! I'd been so selfish when trying to keep you being with me forever. I had ruined my image in your heart and that's the reason why you had left me."

Such warmth, Ruko hoped that might everlasting into her even at Kyoto Academy and now she can feel it. Forgiveness from her brother gave her the firewood to keep that flame warming her during the time far away from Naha. In exchange, she kissed Kurogane, saying to him.

"I'm always love you, Onii-chan!"

The ship blew its whistle, telling that it was the time to go and also, both crews were here with the help of their tanks. Leaving Ruko out, commander Minotaur let his sister going aboard. From the deck, Ruko waved her hand goodbye to Naha, to her brother with his friends and the ship departed. Looking to it disappearing far under the horizon, Kurogane whispered.

"Be strong, Ruko-chan."

"Kuro-kun!"

Soujirou called him, turning back there were friends waiting for him, for his next command. Miho, Soujirou, Ken, Hajime, Nihou, Hana, Yukari, Mako, Saori and everyone put a trust on Kurogane, they will be at commander's side whenever he need them.

"Friends." Kurogane smiled, his rare natural smiles to his friends will soon replace the usual smirks "Brothers. Comrades. Thank you for everything!"

The crews joined the cause by cheering. Stepping back to place he deserved to be - the commander's seat, Kurogane commanded.

"LET'S GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD!"

And both the Tiger and Panzer IV rolled out. Inside Naha Academy's yard, there was a conference where the alliance with Oarai to honor their triumph at the final battle against Edelweiss Academy, thus taking the first flag of championship as the starting of the unity between the male and female Senshado which attracted people from not only Okinawa but the entire Japan who want to see a new face of Senshado which was born at this alliance.

"My name is Ryukou Kurogane,

From this day, I was reborn and realized something which I never had before. I'm not alone with my cause. I had friends, comrades, the ones who shall stand by my side to see another world we shall together build. A world which Senshado will be a sport of equality, a world which is worthy to live, to fight and to find our own way to master everything we prefer, not only Senshado.

Our ancestors carved that path by their own blood, and now I had realized my destiny, the reason why I was born on this world. That Senshado shall unite under one flag, the flag of liberty, equality and fraternity. But above all, it's the flag of unity.

SENSHADO-KA (TANKERY PRACTITIONERS) FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, UNITE!"

P/S: This was the end of Tanks Academy aka. Sensha Gakuen. Thank you for everything! The next season 2 will be released in the middle of 2015.

Let's get the show on the road!