Akamatsuverse The Wheel Turns......
- Thread starter David Alan Abramczyk
- Start date
Point of history: (since some of you insisted on long posts about Star Wars)
The Type 99 rifle wasn't common enough to be fielded everywhere. It was still under production at the start of the war in the Pacific Theater in 1941. Most soldiers were armed with 6.5 Arisaka rifles at that point, a long, heavy, clunky, gutless rifle. The character was killed by a bayonet rather than the rifle shot itself from the rather weak 6.5 mm round (I've seen them btw, its puny-small, verging on criminal for hunting anything but small game) thats something to consider.
That said, the Type 99 is a better choice as an actual rifle. Perhaps it jammed, or perhaps the Japanese soldier ran out of ammo and charged with the Bayonet. Shinobu would find the Type 38 very comfortable to fire, but the Type 99 very uncomfortable, likely to knock her on her butt like a .30-06 would. That has certain comic value. As this is an Early Type 99, it will be safe for her to handle, since late Type 99's were not finished properly and were covered in hand ripping spalls (think thorns of steel) all down the barrel. Those were the 1943-45 produced rifles. Running out of ammo with a Type 99 is quite reasonable as errors in supply were part of the reason the Japanese lost the Pacific Theatre. So use the Type 99 and make up the excuse about ammo when you write that scene. Just make sure the model includes a bayonet.
As for comments on the K98 Mauser, the Enfield, and the Garand I've fired each of them. The K98 Mauser is the best of them. Its accurate, sturdy, well made, and shoots a powerful round with considerable reach. The 8x57mm cartridge has the same power as the .30-06 of the time, and when loaded with 170 grains at the JS pressures, is the same power as a .30-06 today. Its still very popular in Europe for hunting and Safari trips, though it is too small for lion.
The Enfield has a nice working bolt BUT the sharp edged metal butt-plate really hurts the shoulder. This story uses a military-spec rifle and that butt is great for cracking heads, particularly in the Short Magazine Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine, which was standard issue there during the war. Downside is that metal plate hurts the shoulder a lot and most people would hesistate to fire it or flinch and miss. Poor design decision, imho. Do NOT buy modern Enfield rifles from India. They're very poorly made and vary a bit on their tolerances, according to my shooting friends.
The Garand is a fun rifle. Its gas action so the recoil is lower than either of the other rifles, but the op rod yanks back on firing can break your fingers real easy. Loading it is another issue. It takes 8-round "clips" and you can't add rounds while one is still in there, which is why the M14 was made after the war, and chambered in a shorter round, the .308 Winchester. Its also accurate and has good peep sights which are useful out to 200 yards. The downside of the Garand is its weight. Its 10.2 lbs (around 4.8 kg). It also requires a fair bit of cleaning and even a speck of grit in the loading mechanism will stop it dead. If you shoot too powerful a round through it, the op-rod can bend, stopping it dead. Most the garands available right now are either collectors items or returned loaner rifles, to places like Denmark or Holland during WW2. Most of them aren't in that great a condition. I'm pretty amazed at how well the Garand did in the Pacific Theatre. Its powerful enough for the job, but the risk of dirt seems high.
The Type 99 rifle wasn't common enough to be fielded everywhere. It was still under production at the start of the war in the Pacific Theater in 1941. Most soldiers were armed with 6.5 Arisaka rifles at that point, a long, heavy, clunky, gutless rifle. The character was killed by a bayonet rather than the rifle shot itself from the rather weak 6.5 mm round (I've seen them btw, its puny-small, verging on criminal for hunting anything but small game) thats something to consider.
That said, the Type 99 is a better choice as an actual rifle. Perhaps it jammed, or perhaps the Japanese soldier ran out of ammo and charged with the Bayonet. Shinobu would find the Type 38 very comfortable to fire, but the Type 99 very uncomfortable, likely to knock her on her butt like a .30-06 would. That has certain comic value. As this is an Early Type 99, it will be safe for her to handle, since late Type 99's were not finished properly and were covered in hand ripping spalls (think thorns of steel) all down the barrel. Those were the 1943-45 produced rifles. Running out of ammo with a Type 99 is quite reasonable as errors in supply were part of the reason the Japanese lost the Pacific Theatre. So use the Type 99 and make up the excuse about ammo when you write that scene. Just make sure the model includes a bayonet.
As for comments on the K98 Mauser, the Enfield, and the Garand I've fired each of them. The K98 Mauser is the best of them. Its accurate, sturdy, well made, and shoots a powerful round with considerable reach. The 8x57mm cartridge has the same power as the .30-06 of the time, and when loaded with 170 grains at the JS pressures, is the same power as a .30-06 today. Its still very popular in Europe for hunting and Safari trips, though it is too small for lion.
The Enfield has a nice working bolt BUT the sharp edged metal butt-plate really hurts the shoulder. This story uses a military-spec rifle and that butt is great for cracking heads, particularly in the Short Magazine Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine, which was standard issue there during the war. Downside is that metal plate hurts the shoulder a lot and most people would hesistate to fire it or flinch and miss. Poor design decision, imho. Do NOT buy modern Enfield rifles from India. They're very poorly made and vary a bit on their tolerances, according to my shooting friends.
The Garand is a fun rifle. Its gas action so the recoil is lower than either of the other rifles, but the op rod yanks back on firing can break your fingers real easy. Loading it is another issue. It takes 8-round "clips" and you can't add rounds while one is still in there, which is why the M14 was made after the war, and chambered in a shorter round, the .308 Winchester. Its also accurate and has good peep sights which are useful out to 200 yards. The downside of the Garand is its weight. Its 10.2 lbs (around 4.8 kg). It also requires a fair bit of cleaning and even a speck of grit in the loading mechanism will stop it dead. If you shoot too powerful a round through it, the op-rod can bend, stopping it dead. Most the garands available right now are either collectors items or returned loaner rifles, to places like Denmark or Holland during WW2. Most of them aren't in that great a condition. I'm pretty amazed at how well the Garand did in the Pacific Theatre. Its powerful enough for the job, but the risk of dirt seems high.
It belonged to one of the Hinata Sou tenant's grandparent who fought in the war. When the finally identified its owner, and since the said owner was a really highly decorated officer in the Japanese army, they decided to send it to the family of the owner, rather than put it in a museum.
And so it got sent to the Hinata Sou. As you know, Shinobu handles the mail most of the time. Then a particularly large parcel falls into her lap and....well...gun-wielding superchick is born.
It can start off a stupid little arguement between Donald and the said tenant.
"YOUR GRANDPAPPY KILLED MY GRANDPAPPY!"
"OH YEAH?! WELL, YOUR GRANDPAPPY MADE SURE I COULDN'T HAVE COUSINS!"
Or something like that....
And so it got sent to the Hinata Sou. As you know, Shinobu handles the mail most of the time. Then a particularly large parcel falls into her lap and....well...gun-wielding superchick is born.
It can start off a stupid little arguement between Donald and the said tenant.
"YOUR GRANDPAPPY KILLED MY GRANDPAPPY!"
"OH YEAH?! WELL, YOUR GRANDPAPPY MADE SURE I COULDN'T HAVE COUSINS!"
Or something like that....
Okay.... I'll try that then....
Disclaimer: I don't own "Love Hina", so there.
Chapter 4: "Stand by to repel boarders!"
=====================================================
A week had passed since the mysterious Donald Johannsen had entered the lives of the tenants of the Hinata-Sou, and things were still a little tense. Something had to give, but when it did, it came from a most unlikely source.
Early on Saturday morning, Shinobu was preparing breakfast as usual when there was a knock on the door. When she opened the door, she saw the postman was carrying a long, thin object wrapped in many layers of brown paper. Strangely, there were a couple of police officers accompanying him.
"Can... Can I help you?" the young cook asked nervously, for a moment fearing that Naru and Motoko had brought them here to arrest her sempai. The two officers introduced themselves, and then said something that suprised the young teen. They asked for Naru, saying that there was a.... a sensitive package for her.
Once Shinobu had roused the tan-haired woman, the postman got the signature for his registered delivery, and handed the package over. The two police officers stayed, and began to discuss the mysterious package with Naru as she unwrapped whatever it was.
Keitaro was walking down the stairs, yawning and scratching the back of his head as Naru took the final layer of paper off. He was about to say "Good Morning" to everyone when he screamed, and fled back up the stairs. It was understandable, really, seeing as Naru was now holding a sleek, powerful-looking bolt-action rifle in her hands, with a wickedly sharp sword bayonet on the table.
Naru looked at the police officers. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
"A mass grave in the Burmese jungle. Looked like a company of IJA soldiers were ambushed by 'Chindits' and wiped out. We've spent the last few years DNA testing the bodies. We regret to say, Miss Narusegawa, that one of the bodies was that of your Great-Uncle. We found him still clutching this rifle in death."
=====================================================
Breakfast was an interesting affair, as Keitaro tried to stay as far away from Naru as possible, as she was still cradling that rifle in her lap. Motoko for her part kept casting glances at the gun, with a poker-face. Su seemingly hoovered up her plate then bounded up to her room to work on her new invention.
The tension suddenly broke when the telephone rang. Motoko rose and answered it.
"Moshi Moshi?"
A moment later, she squeaked in suprise.
"S-s-s-s-s-sister!"
At this, everyone present stopped what they were doing, and began to listen, as the usually stoic kendo student seemed to turn into a pale, quivering jelly as her sister spoke to her.
'I didn't know Motoko had a sister.' Keitaro thought to himself, as Motoko hung up, and almost ran out of the kitchen. "Mo-Motoko?" he called out after her.
=====================================================
Meanwhile, at the train station in Tokyo.....
A pair of young men, one tall and moderately good-looking, the other short and chubby, were standing on the train for Hinata, when they saw an absolutely gorgeous woman dressed in a hakama and gi embark at the other door of the coach, a broad-brimmed straw hat shading her eyes and a great bird perched on her shoulder.
"Do you see what I see, Haitani?" Shirai Kimiaki asked, his eyes bulging slightly and a slight trickle of drool running from the corner of his mouth. "She's an absolute babe..."
Haitani nodded, wide eyed as they approached the gorgeous woman, who was looking at the station board. Shirai cleared his throat.
"Excuse me miss, but is there any thing we can help you with?" he asked gallantly. The woman smirked at them both, and looked them both in the eyes. In that moment, Shirai and Haitani both experienced what could be called 'eep', that moment when a small woodland creature suddenly walks into a predators' line of sight. The journey to Hinata was very, very quiet for Shirai and Haitani.
Tsuruko Aoyama smiled to herself. It would be good to see Motoko, and if her information was right, an old ally of the Shinmeiryu, again.
=====================================================
Back at the Hinata-sou, everything was relatively normal, well, as normal as it ever got around those parts. Kitsune lay on the couch in front of the TV, drinking a can of cold sake from the fridge and watching the horse racing from Aintree in Great Britain; Shinobu was working on her homework from school; Su was inventing, apparently something to do with Tama-chan; and Keitaro and Naru were studying for the next round of tests with Mutsumi. The only one acting out of character was Motoko. She was on the roof, stressing out in a major way.
'My sister is coming to visit me! But why? Is it because she thinks it's time for me to take over our family school? But I'm not ready!'
These thoughts ran around and around in her head like a hamster in a wheel, going faster and faster. She didn't even sense the change in the air as a familiar presence made its way up the steps.
=====================================================
Donald Johannsen made his way around the Hinata-sou, a serious expression welded to his face. Over one shoulder, he carried escoteric equipment that was, while not as advanced as some of the devices that Su created as a matter of course, was still several ranks above top-of-the-range. Amongst them, suprisingly, was a normal video camera and a tripod. Reaching the clearing he had found, he began to set up the equipment. Switching on the video camera, he cleared his throat.
"This is Papa-Mike-zero-seven, reporting from 'H-Zone'." he then said the date and time, before continuing.
"I am commencing study of the phenomenon I discovered approximately seven days ago. I will made hourly reports on progress on my experiments." he announced, before he switched off the camera and picked up something from his spread of equipment.
=====================================================
At about 11:30, Shinobu walked back down to the kitchen to make lunch. Kitsune was now asleep in the common room, with a contented smile on her face. Entering the kitchen, Shinobu saw Narus' rifle leaning against the table, waiting for Naru to mount it somewhere. As she walked past, it slid down and clattered onto the floor, the bolt popping open and springing back into the fully open position. Sighing, Shinobu bent down and picked up the rifle.
=====================================================
(Authors' Note: If you've seen episode 25, the effect is similar to what happened to Naru when the Hina Blade possessed her.)
=====================================================
Tsuruko was walking up the long staircase that lead to the Hinata-sou when suddenly she sensed a great darkness descend on the building. Recognising the taint as that of a demon, she broke out into a run. Bursting into the common room, she saw tendrils of jet-black fire wrap themselves around Shinobu, encasing her in darkness. As fast as they had appeared though, the flames vanished. The apparition that appeared was not a Shinobu everyone at the apartments would recognise. The figure holding the rifle looked closer to 18 or 19, and was loading the rifle in her hands. The possessed woman locked the bolt back into place, before aiming at the sleeping Kitsune and started to pull the trigger back.
=====================================================
Motoko had also sensed the demonic presence, and was this very moment leaping over the bannisters, her sword in her hand. She gaped at the double sight of Shinobu aiming that rifle, which was obviously the source of the demonic presence, and also her sister, Tsuruko moving in with feline grace to strike Shinobu.
Tsuruko sprang fowards, and kicked Shinobu back, sending her out the door, and the bullet she'd fired into the sky. The sound of the shot roused everyone to see what the matter was. Unfortunately for Keitaro, he came to see the cause of the ruckus just as the bird that the flying bullet had hit crashed down on his head.
=====================================================
Donald heard the shot, and his senses flared. Grabbing his hat, he ran back towards the Hinata-sou, his Walther PPK in one hand, and a heavy Napoleonic-era sabre in the other. He slid in the dust around the corner, and his jaw dropped at what he saw.
"My word.... That's something you don't see everyday."
The possessed Shinobu jerkily turned, and a frightening, echoing laugh escaped her lips. She sighted down the rifle straight at Donalds' throat, and fired again, before swinging around and using the rifle butt to hit Tsuruko in the stomach as she charged in.
Barely dodging the round, the English naval officer dived behind cover.
'What the hell is going on here? And what can be done to stop it?' he thought.
=====================================================
Shinobu was scared. She'd been trapped in this nightmare for who knew how long. She was in a hospital, and was swathed in bandages. Distant gunfire could be heard from her bed, but it was getting closer. Suddenly, the doors into the ward burst open-
=====================================================
All of a sudden, Donald started to feel a bit queasy. His eyes glazed over, and something pulled him into a bright light-
=====================================================
The residents of the Hinata-sou, as well as Tsuruko, gaped as Donald suddenly broke from cover, and began to run towards Shinobu, holding his sword high, and shouting "Cry God, for Harry, England, and Saint George!"
Before any one could cry out or move, he'd grabbed Shinobu, and wrenched one of her hands off the cursed rifle.......
=====================================================
The soldier sneered at Shinobu as she lay in the hospital bed, and draw his rifle back to stab her with the bayonet. The rifle flashed towards her-
"LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU MONSTER!"
-But suddenly a fist punched the soldier in the face, throwing him clear across the ward, rifle still in hand.
"Take my hand, child! Quickly, there is not much time..." the voice said urgently. Shinobu grabbed the hand of her saviour, and the hospital ward faded like smoke. Shinobu looked up at her rescuer and blinked in suprise.
"Johannsen-sama?"
It looked like Donald, but he was older, more self-assured, and also had a beard and moustache. He looked down and smiled slightly.
"Yes, and no, Miss Maehara. If you must have a name, call me 'The One Who Was', ok?"
Shinobu swallowed, and nodded. The being who called himself 'The One Who Was' looked around them. "Let us get out of here, all right?"
=====================================================
Motoko and Tsuruko both watched in shock as Donald and Shinobus' ki both fought against the dark force dwelling in the rifle. Suddenly, Donald shouted to the two Shinmei students.
"Motoko, Tsuruko, you have to seal the spirit in this rifle! Quickly, there's not much not time!" The two women paused for a second, unsure if they could do so.
"Damn it, this is no time for arsing about, you two! Seal the damned rifle!!" he roared, his voice carrying for nearly a mile in all directions.
Tsuruko and Motoko nodded to each other, and took a deep breath. "OUGI ZANGAN KEN NI NO TACHI!!!" they both cried, and sent two waves of ki energy towards Donald and Shinobu.
*BOOOOOOOMMM!*
=====================================================
As the dust cleared, everyone saw Donald slowly rise to his feet. He was covered in dust, and some soot, but his eyes, and his teeth, shone with triumph as he lifted Shinobu, who was now back to normal. "Good show, chaps." he said.
"Hey Naru, look at that rifle of yours!" Su suddenly said, pointing. The rifle had landed with the bayonet and barrel partly buried in the ground. Now, rust raced across the mechanism and the wood rotted before their eyes. Within moments, the weapon was rotted through, proved by when Kitsune gently touched the trigger guard with the toe of her shoe, making it disintegrate.
"Wow. Talk about Dorian Gray..." Keitaro mentioned.
=====================================================
It was now Five past Twelve, and almost everyone was sitting in the common room. Douglas had carried Shinobu up to her room and laid her out on her futon, and was now standing against the wall, a glass of English beer in his hand.
"Well, I suppose you want to know what that was, right?" Motoko asked, as Donald noisily took a sip from his glass.
"That was a Tsukumogami, an artifact spirit. But I've never seen one in a firearm before, and certainly not a spirit that corrupt and dark...."
"I saw something like that once, in Southampton..." Donald remarked, taking another noisy sip of his beer. He paused for a moment. "Oh, yeh, I nearly forgot...." he remarked, downing the last of his beer. He put the glass down on the table, and nodded to Tsuruko.
"When you got the time, we need to talk." he said, then walked out.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Love Hina", so there.
Chapter 4: "Stand by to repel boarders!"
=====================================================
A week had passed since the mysterious Donald Johannsen had entered the lives of the tenants of the Hinata-Sou, and things were still a little tense. Something had to give, but when it did, it came from a most unlikely source.
Early on Saturday morning, Shinobu was preparing breakfast as usual when there was a knock on the door. When she opened the door, she saw the postman was carrying a long, thin object wrapped in many layers of brown paper. Strangely, there were a couple of police officers accompanying him.
"Can... Can I help you?" the young cook asked nervously, for a moment fearing that Naru and Motoko had brought them here to arrest her sempai. The two officers introduced themselves, and then said something that suprised the young teen. They asked for Naru, saying that there was a.... a sensitive package for her.
Once Shinobu had roused the tan-haired woman, the postman got the signature for his registered delivery, and handed the package over. The two police officers stayed, and began to discuss the mysterious package with Naru as she unwrapped whatever it was.
Keitaro was walking down the stairs, yawning and scratching the back of his head as Naru took the final layer of paper off. He was about to say "Good Morning" to everyone when he screamed, and fled back up the stairs. It was understandable, really, seeing as Naru was now holding a sleek, powerful-looking bolt-action rifle in her hands, with a wickedly sharp sword bayonet on the table.
Naru looked at the police officers. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
"A mass grave in the Burmese jungle. Looked like a company of IJA soldiers were ambushed by 'Chindits' and wiped out. We've spent the last few years DNA testing the bodies. We regret to say, Miss Narusegawa, that one of the bodies was that of your Great-Uncle. We found him still clutching this rifle in death."
=====================================================
Breakfast was an interesting affair, as Keitaro tried to stay as far away from Naru as possible, as she was still cradling that rifle in her lap. Motoko for her part kept casting glances at the gun, with a poker-face. Su seemingly hoovered up her plate then bounded up to her room to work on her new invention.
The tension suddenly broke when the telephone rang. Motoko rose and answered it.
"Moshi Moshi?"
A moment later, she squeaked in suprise.
"S-s-s-s-s-sister!"
At this, everyone present stopped what they were doing, and began to listen, as the usually stoic kendo student seemed to turn into a pale, quivering jelly as her sister spoke to her.
'I didn't know Motoko had a sister.' Keitaro thought to himself, as Motoko hung up, and almost ran out of the kitchen. "Mo-Motoko?" he called out after her.
=====================================================
Meanwhile, at the train station in Tokyo.....
A pair of young men, one tall and moderately good-looking, the other short and chubby, were standing on the train for Hinata, when they saw an absolutely gorgeous woman dressed in a hakama and gi embark at the other door of the coach, a broad-brimmed straw hat shading her eyes and a great bird perched on her shoulder.
"Do you see what I see, Haitani?" Shirai Kimiaki asked, his eyes bulging slightly and a slight trickle of drool running from the corner of his mouth. "She's an absolute babe..."
Haitani nodded, wide eyed as they approached the gorgeous woman, who was looking at the station board. Shirai cleared his throat.
"Excuse me miss, but is there any thing we can help you with?" he asked gallantly. The woman smirked at them both, and looked them both in the eyes. In that moment, Shirai and Haitani both experienced what could be called 'eep', that moment when a small woodland creature suddenly walks into a predators' line of sight. The journey to Hinata was very, very quiet for Shirai and Haitani.
Tsuruko Aoyama smiled to herself. It would be good to see Motoko, and if her information was right, an old ally of the Shinmeiryu, again.
=====================================================
Back at the Hinata-sou, everything was relatively normal, well, as normal as it ever got around those parts. Kitsune lay on the couch in front of the TV, drinking a can of cold sake from the fridge and watching the horse racing from Aintree in Great Britain; Shinobu was working on her homework from school; Su was inventing, apparently something to do with Tama-chan; and Keitaro and Naru were studying for the next round of tests with Mutsumi. The only one acting out of character was Motoko. She was on the roof, stressing out in a major way.
'My sister is coming to visit me! But why? Is it because she thinks it's time for me to take over our family school? But I'm not ready!'
These thoughts ran around and around in her head like a hamster in a wheel, going faster and faster. She didn't even sense the change in the air as a familiar presence made its way up the steps.
=====================================================
Donald Johannsen made his way around the Hinata-sou, a serious expression welded to his face. Over one shoulder, he carried escoteric equipment that was, while not as advanced as some of the devices that Su created as a matter of course, was still several ranks above top-of-the-range. Amongst them, suprisingly, was a normal video camera and a tripod. Reaching the clearing he had found, he began to set up the equipment. Switching on the video camera, he cleared his throat.
"This is Papa-Mike-zero-seven, reporting from 'H-Zone'." he then said the date and time, before continuing.
"I am commencing study of the phenomenon I discovered approximately seven days ago. I will made hourly reports on progress on my experiments." he announced, before he switched off the camera and picked up something from his spread of equipment.
=====================================================
At about 11:30, Shinobu walked back down to the kitchen to make lunch. Kitsune was now asleep in the common room, with a contented smile on her face. Entering the kitchen, Shinobu saw Narus' rifle leaning against the table, waiting for Naru to mount it somewhere. As she walked past, it slid down and clattered onto the floor, the bolt popping open and springing back into the fully open position. Sighing, Shinobu bent down and picked up the rifle.
=====================================================
(Authors' Note: If you've seen episode 25, the effect is similar to what happened to Naru when the Hina Blade possessed her.)
=====================================================
Tsuruko was walking up the long staircase that lead to the Hinata-sou when suddenly she sensed a great darkness descend on the building. Recognising the taint as that of a demon, she broke out into a run. Bursting into the common room, she saw tendrils of jet-black fire wrap themselves around Shinobu, encasing her in darkness. As fast as they had appeared though, the flames vanished. The apparition that appeared was not a Shinobu everyone at the apartments would recognise. The figure holding the rifle looked closer to 18 or 19, and was loading the rifle in her hands. The possessed woman locked the bolt back into place, before aiming at the sleeping Kitsune and started to pull the trigger back.
=====================================================
Motoko had also sensed the demonic presence, and was this very moment leaping over the bannisters, her sword in her hand. She gaped at the double sight of Shinobu aiming that rifle, which was obviously the source of the demonic presence, and also her sister, Tsuruko moving in with feline grace to strike Shinobu.
Tsuruko sprang fowards, and kicked Shinobu back, sending her out the door, and the bullet she'd fired into the sky. The sound of the shot roused everyone to see what the matter was. Unfortunately for Keitaro, he came to see the cause of the ruckus just as the bird that the flying bullet had hit crashed down on his head.
=====================================================
Donald heard the shot, and his senses flared. Grabbing his hat, he ran back towards the Hinata-sou, his Walther PPK in one hand, and a heavy Napoleonic-era sabre in the other. He slid in the dust around the corner, and his jaw dropped at what he saw.
"My word.... That's something you don't see everyday."
The possessed Shinobu jerkily turned, and a frightening, echoing laugh escaped her lips. She sighted down the rifle straight at Donalds' throat, and fired again, before swinging around and using the rifle butt to hit Tsuruko in the stomach as she charged in.
Barely dodging the round, the English naval officer dived behind cover.
'What the hell is going on here? And what can be done to stop it?' he thought.
=====================================================
Shinobu was scared. She'd been trapped in this nightmare for who knew how long. She was in a hospital, and was swathed in bandages. Distant gunfire could be heard from her bed, but it was getting closer. Suddenly, the doors into the ward burst open-
=====================================================
All of a sudden, Donald started to feel a bit queasy. His eyes glazed over, and something pulled him into a bright light-
=====================================================
The residents of the Hinata-sou, as well as Tsuruko, gaped as Donald suddenly broke from cover, and began to run towards Shinobu, holding his sword high, and shouting "Cry God, for Harry, England, and Saint George!"
Before any one could cry out or move, he'd grabbed Shinobu, and wrenched one of her hands off the cursed rifle.......
=====================================================
The soldier sneered at Shinobu as she lay in the hospital bed, and draw his rifle back to stab her with the bayonet. The rifle flashed towards her-
"LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU MONSTER!"
-But suddenly a fist punched the soldier in the face, throwing him clear across the ward, rifle still in hand.
"Take my hand, child! Quickly, there is not much time..." the voice said urgently. Shinobu grabbed the hand of her saviour, and the hospital ward faded like smoke. Shinobu looked up at her rescuer and blinked in suprise.
"Johannsen-sama?"
It looked like Donald, but he was older, more self-assured, and also had a beard and moustache. He looked down and smiled slightly.
"Yes, and no, Miss Maehara. If you must have a name, call me 'The One Who Was', ok?"
Shinobu swallowed, and nodded. The being who called himself 'The One Who Was' looked around them. "Let us get out of here, all right?"
=====================================================
Motoko and Tsuruko both watched in shock as Donald and Shinobus' ki both fought against the dark force dwelling in the rifle. Suddenly, Donald shouted to the two Shinmei students.
"Motoko, Tsuruko, you have to seal the spirit in this rifle! Quickly, there's not much not time!" The two women paused for a second, unsure if they could do so.
"Damn it, this is no time for arsing about, you two! Seal the damned rifle!!" he roared, his voice carrying for nearly a mile in all directions.
Tsuruko and Motoko nodded to each other, and took a deep breath. "OUGI ZANGAN KEN NI NO TACHI!!!" they both cried, and sent two waves of ki energy towards Donald and Shinobu.
*BOOOOOOOMMM!*
=====================================================
As the dust cleared, everyone saw Donald slowly rise to his feet. He was covered in dust, and some soot, but his eyes, and his teeth, shone with triumph as he lifted Shinobu, who was now back to normal. "Good show, chaps." he said.
"Hey Naru, look at that rifle of yours!" Su suddenly said, pointing. The rifle had landed with the bayonet and barrel partly buried in the ground. Now, rust raced across the mechanism and the wood rotted before their eyes. Within moments, the weapon was rotted through, proved by when Kitsune gently touched the trigger guard with the toe of her shoe, making it disintegrate.
"Wow. Talk about Dorian Gray..." Keitaro mentioned.
=====================================================
It was now Five past Twelve, and almost everyone was sitting in the common room. Douglas had carried Shinobu up to her room and laid her out on her futon, and was now standing against the wall, a glass of English beer in his hand.
"Well, I suppose you want to know what that was, right?" Motoko asked, as Donald noisily took a sip from his glass.
"That was a Tsukumogami, an artifact spirit. But I've never seen one in a firearm before, and certainly not a spirit that corrupt and dark...."
"I saw something like that once, in Southampton..." Donald remarked, taking another noisy sip of his beer. He paused for a moment. "Oh, yeh, I nearly forgot...." he remarked, downing the last of his beer. He put the glass down on the table, and nodded to Tsuruko.
"When you got the time, we need to talk." he said, then walked out.
Nice so far.
Naru's Granduncle? I was expecting Mitsune's grandfather, to be honest. haha, but I must admit, Naru with a type99 complete with bayonet is one heck of an image. When will Shinobu get it?
And introducing Tsuruko at this point is almost perfect. Though I have no idea what a samurai could do against a WWII rifle, really. But knowing Tsuruko, it'd be something quite spectacular.
Shirai and Haitani? Haha, I see you remembered them. Most fanfic writers forget all about them. It's another phenomenon I listed under the mind of a LH fanfic writer.
Naru's Granduncle? I was expecting Mitsune's grandfather, to be honest. haha, but I must admit, Naru with a type99 complete with bayonet is one heck of an image. When will Shinobu get it?
And introducing Tsuruko at this point is almost perfect. Though I have no idea what a samurai could do against a WWII rifle, really. But knowing Tsuruko, it'd be something quite spectacular.
Shirai and Haitani? Haha, I see you remembered them. Most fanfic writers forget all about them. It's another phenomenon I listed under the mind of a LH fanfic writer.
depends on the government and the time frame. germany and america gethered up their weapons for the most part and sold them wholesale or scrapped them. britain stockpiled a lot and scrapped a lot. Japan scrapped all of theirs and enforces extremely harsh gun control laws. It takes a ridiculous effort to get even a tiny shotgun suitable for birding there, and that's really the only gun private citizens are allowed to own. That's part of the reason for the american stereotype of everyone owning guns. because the last three generations of Japanese have really only seen guns in movies and in the hands and holsters of american soldiers.
If any government were to issue the weapon of a fallen soldier to his family, they would do so after removing the firing pin and likely sealing the breach, rendering the gun at most a very pretty club. I've never heard of this being done, at least not since feudal times, when they would return a warrior on his shield with his family sword. But this is an anime fic, so realism isn't that important.
If any government were to issue the weapon of a fallen soldier to his family, they would do so after removing the firing pin and likely sealing the breach, rendering the gun at most a very pretty club. I've never heard of this being done, at least not since feudal times, when they would return a warrior on his shield with his family sword. But this is an anime fic, so realism isn't that important.
On to Chapter 5!
This chapter will shine a light on the past of Donald Hansen (To give him his English name).
What lies behind green eyes:
Shortly after Tsuruko had walked out of the Hinata-sou after Donald, Su bounced out of her room, full of beans as always. Within a few moments, she was hammering on Narus' door.
"Hey Naru, I found out something about Keitaros' friend!" she grinned happily. Naru, who had been studying dilligently before, suddenly wrenched her door open, an unpleasantly eager expression on her face.
"What? What have you found, Su?" she asked, as she went to fetch Motoko. A few minutes later, they were crowded around Su's computer. The tanned girl opened up some files, and the two suspicious women were confronted by the history of Donald Hansen, as the files called him.
The first file was of his birth certificate, and stated that he'd been born in 1970, in Bexhill-on-Sea, a township on the South Coast of England. Next was several school reports, stating that Donald had been an average, but likeable, student at his Comprehensive School.
Things became interesting, though, when they looked at a record dated March 1987. According to this, he'd won a scholarship to Bristol University through the Royal Navy, to study electronics. Passing out with a degree in electronics engineering in late 1990, he joined the RN Officers Training Course, and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in mid-1991. The next few years were spent in warships as an Engineer, eventually reaching Chief Engineer on HMS Malborough. After HMS Malborough....
"That is strange..." Motoko said, and Naru had to agree. Where as the previous files were full and complete, the next file merely said "Assigned to HMS Kilburn (See files "SOU-250696/[P]m" and "KIL-Omega-Red-15[PM-007]")."
When they opened the next file, their eyebrows rose again. It was a Royal Navy psychiatric report dated sometime in early 1998, and seemed to imply that Hansen may be not in full possession of his faculties, and reccomended that he recieve a medical discharge.
After these reports, the more recent files were positively mundane, showing an application for employment at a Scottish trade school, then a series of referrals, leading to an offer of a role as an assistant lecturer in the Electronics Department at the Hinata University, a plane ticket, and a note about some wrangling over his sword at Customs.
Naru and Motoko looked at each other, then looked at Su, as if to say "Is this all?" Su nodded happily, and said "Yes, that is everything I found out about him. Why did you want to know?" The two high schoolers didn't answer, instead thanking the young girl and scampering off, hoping to see if they could blackmail Donald.
=====================================================
Tsuruko made her way to where Donald was waiting for her. They exchanged a few muted words, and then he lead her to the clearing. When they arrived, she noticed all the equipment, and glanced at Donald, who nodded.
"Well, you know us lads from HMS Kilburn, always studying things beyond the ken of mortal man." he remarked, shrugging one shoulder and flashing a small smile. "Any how, shall we continue?"
=====================================================
Naru made her way down to Harukas' Teashop with her study notes under her arm and a thoughtful expression on her face. She hadn't been able to find the Englishman yet, and Motoko had suggested waiting to find more evidence, a suggestion to which Naru grudgingly accepted. As she walked inside, the radio was quietly playing a song that Naru had sung during her short career as a pop idol, and Haruka was mopping down the countertop with an old rag. "Hi there Haruka." Naru called out, as she walked over. Haruka merely nodded, and stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray. "What brings you down here, Naru?"
"It's nothing. I just wanted to get away from that baka for a while and study in peace." Naru replied sniffily. "Besides....." the Tokyo U applicant trailed off, not sure about how to put this.
Haruka raised her eyebrow. "Something else on your mind, Naru?" Naru looked up, but Harukas' face gave nothing away.
"It's Keitaros' friend, Donald. There's something fishy about him I don't trust." Naru admitted finally. Haruka paused momentarily in her mopping, and by the door, a certain woman with ash-blond hair pricked up her ears in interest.
"Why's that, Naru? In the week he's been coming here, he's been nothing but a perfect gentleman." Haruka commented.
"That's just it! No one can be that nice, especially one of that pervert Keitaros' friends!" Naru fumed, building up a good head of steam. "Not only that, but he's not right in the head! I saw it in his files!"
Kitsune gasped softly to herself as she heard this. 'I knew you had your issues with him, Naru, but that's just downright mean.' the fox woman thought. What happened next made everyone jump. Haruka darted forwards and grabbed Naru. Bringing her up nose to nose, the older woman glared with fury into the younger womans' eyes.
"Now listen to me, Narusegawa," she hissed, her eyes narrowed in controlled rage. "If I were you, I'd get any thoughts of hurting Johannsen-san out of your head. What he is, and what he does, is none of your damned business, clear?"
Naru gulped and nodded in fear, then squeaked as Haruka unceremoniously dropped her. Unnoticed by either of them, Kitsune silently made her way outside and up towards the Hinata-sou.
A few minutes later, Naru was mooching around outside the Apartments, her attempt at studying forgotten as she thought over what had happened since that mysterious, and apparently dangerous, Englishman had arrived. So wrapped up was she, that she didn't see the man in question and Motokos' sister walk past, going the other way with sober expressions on their faces.
Eventually, Naru found herself in a clearing, where there was a rockface and the remains of a campsite. Curious, she began to poke around.
=====================================================
Kitsune found Donald rubbing his chin as he stood at the top of the long staircase, looking out over the city to the sea. With a foxy smile, she sneaked up behind him and pressed herself up against him, silently giggling as he nearly jumped out of his skin and went as red as a tomato.
"Hey there, stud." she said breathily, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"M-m-m-m--m-m-m-Miss Konno!" Donald stammered madly, going even redder. "What on Earth are you doing?"
"Well, I just happened to around, and you looked so lonely and all, I thought I'd try and cheer you up." she said, winking at the flustered Englishman.
Donalds' eyes flickered backwards and forwards, looking about five seconds away from a full-blown panic attack. It wasn't that he disliked Miss Konno, quite the reverse, he felt that there was something..... reassuring about her. It was just the last time anyone had got this close to him, he'd ended up in hospital for nearly a month.
"Er, er, er.... Forgive me, Miss Konno, but, er....." Donald mumbled, extracting himself from Kitsunes' grasp. "I must be going. I've been meaning to explore the town since I arrived here."
"Well then," Kitsune beamed, not missing a beat. "Allow me to be your tour guide, and please, call me 'Kitsune'!"
She grabbed him by the arm and almost dragged him away, ignoring his protestations.
=====================================================
In a corner of Donalds' mind not awash with indignation, something caught his attention.
'That's odd.... Miss Konnos' hand is touching my wrist, yet my allergy hasn't flared up....'
Suddenly the rest of his brain caught up with this.
'WHAT?! I'm not flaring up?! How could this be?' his mind thundered to itself, as the rest of him was lead into the town without a complaint by Mitsune "Kitsune" Konno.
======================================================
Naru studied the paper on the boards with curiousity, before touching it.
"Ouch!" she suddenly said, as what felt like a spark of static electricity struck her hand. Shaking her hand, she walked away, mumbling to herself.
Another tiny piece of the paper now came away from the planks.....
This chapter will shine a light on the past of Donald Hansen (To give him his English name).
What lies behind green eyes:
Shortly after Tsuruko had walked out of the Hinata-sou after Donald, Su bounced out of her room, full of beans as always. Within a few moments, she was hammering on Narus' door.
"Hey Naru, I found out something about Keitaros' friend!" she grinned happily. Naru, who had been studying dilligently before, suddenly wrenched her door open, an unpleasantly eager expression on her face.
"What? What have you found, Su?" she asked, as she went to fetch Motoko. A few minutes later, they were crowded around Su's computer. The tanned girl opened up some files, and the two suspicious women were confronted by the history of Donald Hansen, as the files called him.
The first file was of his birth certificate, and stated that he'd been born in 1970, in Bexhill-on-Sea, a township on the South Coast of England. Next was several school reports, stating that Donald had been an average, but likeable, student at his Comprehensive School.
Things became interesting, though, when they looked at a record dated March 1987. According to this, he'd won a scholarship to Bristol University through the Royal Navy, to study electronics. Passing out with a degree in electronics engineering in late 1990, he joined the RN Officers Training Course, and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in mid-1991. The next few years were spent in warships as an Engineer, eventually reaching Chief Engineer on HMS Malborough. After HMS Malborough....
"That is strange..." Motoko said, and Naru had to agree. Where as the previous files were full and complete, the next file merely said "Assigned to HMS Kilburn (See files "SOU-250696/[P]m" and "KIL-Omega-Red-15[PM-007]")."
When they opened the next file, their eyebrows rose again. It was a Royal Navy psychiatric report dated sometime in early 1998, and seemed to imply that Hansen may be not in full possession of his faculties, and reccomended that he recieve a medical discharge.
After these reports, the more recent files were positively mundane, showing an application for employment at a Scottish trade school, then a series of referrals, leading to an offer of a role as an assistant lecturer in the Electronics Department at the Hinata University, a plane ticket, and a note about some wrangling over his sword at Customs.
Naru and Motoko looked at each other, then looked at Su, as if to say "Is this all?" Su nodded happily, and said "Yes, that is everything I found out about him. Why did you want to know?" The two high schoolers didn't answer, instead thanking the young girl and scampering off, hoping to see if they could blackmail Donald.
=====================================================
Tsuruko made her way to where Donald was waiting for her. They exchanged a few muted words, and then he lead her to the clearing. When they arrived, she noticed all the equipment, and glanced at Donald, who nodded.
"Well, you know us lads from HMS Kilburn, always studying things beyond the ken of mortal man." he remarked, shrugging one shoulder and flashing a small smile. "Any how, shall we continue?"
=====================================================
Naru made her way down to Harukas' Teashop with her study notes under her arm and a thoughtful expression on her face. She hadn't been able to find the Englishman yet, and Motoko had suggested waiting to find more evidence, a suggestion to which Naru grudgingly accepted. As she walked inside, the radio was quietly playing a song that Naru had sung during her short career as a pop idol, and Haruka was mopping down the countertop with an old rag. "Hi there Haruka." Naru called out, as she walked over. Haruka merely nodded, and stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray. "What brings you down here, Naru?"
"It's nothing. I just wanted to get away from that baka for a while and study in peace." Naru replied sniffily. "Besides....." the Tokyo U applicant trailed off, not sure about how to put this.
Haruka raised her eyebrow. "Something else on your mind, Naru?" Naru looked up, but Harukas' face gave nothing away.
"It's Keitaros' friend, Donald. There's something fishy about him I don't trust." Naru admitted finally. Haruka paused momentarily in her mopping, and by the door, a certain woman with ash-blond hair pricked up her ears in interest.
"Why's that, Naru? In the week he's been coming here, he's been nothing but a perfect gentleman." Haruka commented.
"That's just it! No one can be that nice, especially one of that pervert Keitaros' friends!" Naru fumed, building up a good head of steam. "Not only that, but he's not right in the head! I saw it in his files!"
Kitsune gasped softly to herself as she heard this. 'I knew you had your issues with him, Naru, but that's just downright mean.' the fox woman thought. What happened next made everyone jump. Haruka darted forwards and grabbed Naru. Bringing her up nose to nose, the older woman glared with fury into the younger womans' eyes.
"Now listen to me, Narusegawa," she hissed, her eyes narrowed in controlled rage. "If I were you, I'd get any thoughts of hurting Johannsen-san out of your head. What he is, and what he does, is none of your damned business, clear?"
Naru gulped and nodded in fear, then squeaked as Haruka unceremoniously dropped her. Unnoticed by either of them, Kitsune silently made her way outside and up towards the Hinata-sou.
A few minutes later, Naru was mooching around outside the Apartments, her attempt at studying forgotten as she thought over what had happened since that mysterious, and apparently dangerous, Englishman had arrived. So wrapped up was she, that she didn't see the man in question and Motokos' sister walk past, going the other way with sober expressions on their faces.
Eventually, Naru found herself in a clearing, where there was a rockface and the remains of a campsite. Curious, she began to poke around.
=====================================================
Kitsune found Donald rubbing his chin as he stood at the top of the long staircase, looking out over the city to the sea. With a foxy smile, she sneaked up behind him and pressed herself up against him, silently giggling as he nearly jumped out of his skin and went as red as a tomato.
"Hey there, stud." she said breathily, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"M-m-m-m--m-m-m-Miss Konno!" Donald stammered madly, going even redder. "What on Earth are you doing?"
"Well, I just happened to around, and you looked so lonely and all, I thought I'd try and cheer you up." she said, winking at the flustered Englishman.
Donalds' eyes flickered backwards and forwards, looking about five seconds away from a full-blown panic attack. It wasn't that he disliked Miss Konno, quite the reverse, he felt that there was something..... reassuring about her. It was just the last time anyone had got this close to him, he'd ended up in hospital for nearly a month.
"Er, er, er.... Forgive me, Miss Konno, but, er....." Donald mumbled, extracting himself from Kitsunes' grasp. "I must be going. I've been meaning to explore the town since I arrived here."
"Well then," Kitsune beamed, not missing a beat. "Allow me to be your tour guide, and please, call me 'Kitsune'!"
She grabbed him by the arm and almost dragged him away, ignoring his protestations.
=====================================================
In a corner of Donalds' mind not awash with indignation, something caught his attention.
'That's odd.... Miss Konnos' hand is touching my wrist, yet my allergy hasn't flared up....'
Suddenly the rest of his brain caught up with this.
'WHAT?! I'm not flaring up?! How could this be?' his mind thundered to itself, as the rest of him was lead into the town without a complaint by Mitsune "Kitsune" Konno.
======================================================
Naru studied the paper on the boards with curiousity, before touching it.
"Ouch!" she suddenly said, as what felt like a spark of static electricity struck her hand. Shaking her hand, she walked away, mumbling to herself.
Another tiny piece of the paper now came away from the planks.....
