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

Signed: Benji Himura.

Pre-story author notes:

This story is an altered universe for Sakura Taisen. As it will be told on the story it is a game being played. At least that is the very beginning of the story. Things might take odd turns as the story develops. But so far one thing is for sure. Ogami Ichiro won’t be the leader of the hanagumi and I am not sure if he will appear on this story. Kyougi means game in Japanese the title of this story is Sakura Taisen the Game. But it isn’t based on the real Sakura Taisen game. All the characters on this fic taking out the characters of the Sakura Taisen world belong to me and are based on my friends, family, classmates and teachers. Some of them where romanticized or changed by request of the person who the character is based on. Some characters are imaginary but still based on someone that I know. Unless you have my authorization you can’t use any of them.

Observation: During a song (text inside) is the back voice.

“Text” Talked or thought sentences.

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

:Text: Messages show in an electronic screen.

Chapter two: Adaptation

Reni isn’t a happy woman now. She feared that someone slipped to Isabella that she were demoted before she was fully healed. But she was so content with the change in Meiko behavior that she forgot to warn the brunette to not tell her. And for the past half hour she is talking with an angry silver haired teen and calming a crying brunette who was sorry for telling.

“Why I wasn’t even informed about a new player?” Yukyo asks angry. “As I said there wasn’t need to you know. You are hurt and he was being hunted and we weren’t sure that he would make it. None of the others did.” Reni replies. “Besides you seem to be forgetting that I am the commander of this unit. And I decide when or if I should tell you anything or order to people inform you of anything.”

Yukyo frowns and is about to respond. “I ordered to not be told because you would get worked up and might ending doing something stupid and getting hurt again. And his position as the new taisho of the Ikazuchigumi is immutable until I say otherwise or he quits. And since he killed and a person that he cared died for him to get here he won’t quit.” Reni cuts in. “I placed him in the command because I believe that he is better to lead the unit. And I am expecting you to cooperate with him. He is a good leader and strategist. He is very versatile and he managed to make Meiko leave the room and begin to lose her fears. I think that you could at least try following his leadership.”

Yukyo looks offended. “You are telling me that I am not a good leader, strategist or versatile?” she asks. “You are a good leader and strategist. Your versatility leaves a lot to be desired.” Reni answers. “You can think in the middle of a savage hunt against you of buying raw cow leather to make you a fire proof cloak? Or how use a cooked potato to copy a stamp in a document that you have so you can make a forgery closer to the original? Or how to use finger paint to change the color of your escape vehicle? And I am only naming some of the things that he did.”

Yukyo mouth is slack open. “And I am not counting in using knowledge of something that is not even close of combat to make extremely strong armors that made him nearly invulnerable to melee attacks. And weapons made of the same material that is light, razor sharp and undetectable by metal detectors since is made of resin.” Reni says. “I think that he can give much to the team. He already gave important things for us. As the rescue of Sanae and making Meiko accept her powers.”

“He can’t be that good! He can’t be better than I am! I trained for years!” Yukyo says. “You are better than him in piloting, and in your fencing. But he has the skills that we gave him. He doesn’t need the card anymore. And he is polishing his skills to make them better. Mixing them with his own ways to fight. Learn with him and teach him. Both of you can grow strong just by doing that.” Reni says.

Yukyo stays in silence. “I am doing this for your safety and from everyone else’s too.” Reni adds. “He will do the impossible in order to protect everyone. You did a very good job, no one is denying that. But he can do a better one. And it will be much better if you helped him. I won’t be able to face your mother if you die. As I won’t be able to face any of my friends if I let one of they daughters die.”

After those words Reni leaves. Meiko follows her. Both leaving the silver haired Tachibana to think over what was said.

Benji and Sachiko end the spar and move away chatting. Benji is happy that he got along with the Kanzaki girl. Even though costed him to make her a scale mail for her too. “So get a t-shirt that fits you well and meet me in my room.” Benji says. “I will call Saki and ask her if there is a room that I can use to work with that. And you will be helping me.”

She nods. As long she gets a nearly invulnerable resin mail she will even help him to make it. After setting everything up Benji and Sachiko moves to an unused small depot on the first underground level and they begin to work after adjusting the things on the balconies there.

And after one hour Sachiko is holding the polished and drilled transparent resin disks that will become her mail. Benji shows her how to work and they begin to sew them together. And after two more hours the mail is already sewed on the shirt and Sachiko is trying. “It kind of rubs my breasts in a weird way.” She says. “As I said I am a man. I don’t have breasts so I don’t know how to fix it. It is loose, but not hanging. It should be comfortable.” Benji says

“It is comfortable but is weighing over my breasts and feels odd when I move.” She replies. Benji gets up and he is holding a string. “Let me try one thing.” He says. “Raise your arms a bit.” She does and Benji passes the string around her chest. He is behind her. “Put them down.” She does and Benji pulls the string a bit lifting the mail under her breasts. He ties it. “Now try it.” He says.

She nods and moves. “Hey feels much better.” She says. “Lacked support.” Benji says. “Next time bring a bra too.” She blushes madly and nods. Benji adjusts the mail to give the support and it is over. Sachiko is shinning with happiness at her mail. “It is so light.” She says dancing a bit. “I have jackets heavier than this.”

Benji cleans up while she gets used to the mail. At the lunch she already babbled to the others that she has a mail and soon Benji sees himself forced to make more. But he does make the girls help him. Especially Sachiko. Hours later all the girls leave the workshop with content smiles on them faces.

Benji finishes cleaning up by himself wondering how he will get along with the girls who are still away including the Tachibana. Actually especially the Tachibana since she was the former leader. It is quite late and Benji is tired. Is easily seen on his face now that the girls left and he don’t need to hide it anymore. He moves to his room wanting to get some well deserved sleep in order to rest and adjust to the time zone.

In his room Benji goes straight to the kitchen and gulps down half box of orange juice with some slices of a cold microwave pizza. He yawns and moves to his bedroom, but before reaching his destination someone knocks on his door. Benji curses in Portuguese bellow a whisper and putting on his casual mask opens the door. “What you want Saki? Is late.” Benji says to the brunette.

“Well you and the girls have a training section scheduled now. So you have to train.” She replies “It seems that no one warned you but we train at the night sometimes.” Benji sighs and the nurse drags him away. “You will train in a virtual environment created to simulate any possible combat situations with realistic holograms, sound effects and real obstacles.” Saki explains while taking him to the training room. “The holograms even emit spirit energy so you can rely on your sixth sense.” They arrive in the training room.

And Benji is shoved in a room by the nurse. “Today training is solo combat against multiple enemies.” Reni says from the control room by speakers. “I know that you have lots of experience in that kind of combat. But the girls’ don’t. So we needed some demonstration for them to see how different it is from one to one combat and combat in a koubu.”

“And I don’t get any weapons?” Benji asks wanting to end things fast. “Well we didn’t know what you would like to use.” Reni replies. “Just get me one spear like mine.” Benji says frustrated. In a couple of minutes a hi tech looking spear is handed to him by a girl from the Kazegumi. “That spear will be recording your motions and passing to us too.” Reni says. “We will begin the simulation now.”

Benji nods, soon he blank room changes to a hotel lobby with all the needed furniture and many werewolves. “All the furniture are real, the floor of the room rises to emulate the show furniture. We placed werewolves because it will be less frightening for the staff and the girls than showing you killing humans.” Reni tells him. “Now that I explained this the simulation will begin.”

And after her words the werewolves charge at Benji. With a swift move Benji slashes two werewolves before moving out from his position. Everyone looks with interest as he fight, and by Reni orders the level of the combat is raised gradually. After ten minutes Benji is still fighting since just keep appearing more and more werewolves.

“His movements aren’t all that good.” Sachiko says seeing him fighting and getting hits. Saki notices the expression on Benji’s face. She moves to a screen and sees that the girl in charge of it is chatting with another one. Her eyes went wide seeing the alerts in the screen being ignored and muted by the girl. “Abort section now!” Saki shouts. One of the girls obeys and it stops.

Benji stops moving and is breathing in hard and ragged breaths. Saki runs to the training room. “Turn on the sprinklers! He needs to cool down now!” she shouts holding him and seeing the temperature of his body. And she is obeyed. She squeezes his chest making his breath slower preventing from hyperventilating. “Slow breaths.” She says to him. “Let your body cool off with the air.”

Reni looks at the screen of the girl that Saki saw. Her face shows her surprise and anger. “Your actions almost killed him.” Reni says to the girl that just saw what was on her screen. “You were supposed to tell us if his life signs got in dangerous levels before the alarms rang. You muted them and went chat. If Saki haven’t saw he would be over exhausted and overheated. And he would die. One more degree would have killed him. You are suspended and confined to your quarters until a suitable punishment is decided.”

The girl sulks down and moves away. Benji passed out on Saki arms. “Get a stretcher here.” She says to the command room. Soon two nurses arrived and help her to put him there. Ten minutes later he is on the infirmary with an IV. “Why he got like this? I mean he fought for much longer before coming here.” Reni asks to Saki.

“We overlooked the fact that before he was on his own time zone, with his sleep in day, with out being tired. And when tired his fights weren’t this long.” Saki replies. The girls are hearing her explanation. “He was looking so normal that we forgot that he just arrived here have just few days. There is a full twelve hours difference of the time zones. On our days are his nights. And when he is sleeping his body isn’t getting much rest since he is used to think that it is day. And until he gets used to the time zone he won’t rest well. And we also forgot that the last days were filled with activity for him. Not mentioning the week before the travel and the travel itself. He got one month of stress that caught up with him now.”

There is a bipping sound and Saki picks a thermometer. “Since he overdid his body will rest until fully recovered. And he got a fever.” She adds seeing the numbers on the display. “It is my fault.” Reni says. “I forgot that. And I oversaw all the work that he has done around here and how it would tire him.”

Saki nods. “We all did. Benji was taking lots of caffeine to be able to keep up with us. That is why the stress wasn’t showing up.” Saki says. “It will take long for him recover?” Meiko asks worried. “The fever will be gone most likely tomorrow. He will sleep until he recovers his energy. Taking out that he will feel sore he won’t have any problems.” Saki answers. “Okay girls you all go sleep too. I think that one case of fatigue is enough.” Reni says. The girls nod and move away. Saki sighs and moves few strands of Benji’s hair from his face. “Well it is working as I planned, you know it would take too long to them trust you if you let everything move on its natural flow. So I am speeding things up a bit. Don’t worry you will be back on your feet and healthy in a short while after all someone like you can’t stay on the bed for too long.” She says to the unconscious man. “Your hair is growing longer too. Memory card effect?”

Tokyo October forth 20XX

Saki looks at a now long haired Benji. “I guess that I overdid when I agreed in fighting him on the training room only to exhaust him.” Saki mutters sipping some coffee. “Well it was great that he unleashed attacks like those but I slowed down his healing. I must be getting old to seeing that as a solution.”

In her office Reni is filling some reports to finish the full transfer of Benji to Japan and getting everything official. She stops and stretches. Her back pops loudly. “I am getting too tense after he showed up and came here. Too much work piled up.” Reni mutters reaching under her desk to her mini bar, she picks a can of soda and drinks it. “I hate paperwork. I wonder how the manager and the vice-commanders dealt with it.”

“Because someone had to do it.” A feminine voice replies to Reni’s complain. “Kaede-san?!” Reni says surprised. “Last time that I checked it was me.” she replies with a smile and a playful tone. Kaede is wearing a black skirt suit. “What bring you here ma’am?” Reni asks recomposing herself. “Don’t be formal Reni. This is a social visit.” Kaede replies. “Well I also came to slip you the information that the council isn’t happy because Sasaki were killed. Even being a traitor. It was their man inside and on the command here.”

Reni sighs. “Thank you for the information. It was unavoidable and it wasn’t my order that got him killed. But the player actions. And I won’t be accepting personal indicated by them or orders conflicting with the well being of my subordinates.” Reni replies. “They placed a mole in my base and that costed us uncountable yens, personal and equipment. Not counting the lives of innocents and players.”

“I know that Reni. It was luck that this new commander was good enough to survive and kill him.” Kaede says sitting in front of Reni. “We will be supporting the autonomy of the Teikoku Kagekidan.” Reni nods understanding. “It was luck for us.” Reni agrees. “If he died we would have much trouble not only dealing with Sasaki but in combat.”

Kaede nods. “How is he dealing with everything?” Kaede asks accepting a cut of tea from Reni. “So far well. He had some harsh moments with Sachiko and Shoko but they are getting along well. Shoko is curious to see Benji doing what he called ‘gambiarra’ and Shizue spoke highly of them to her so she is very curious.” Reni replies. “But by a mistake of one of the girls’ in charge of the virtual training, mine and Saki’s he is on the infirmary with a high fever. We overlooked the stress that he went through with being hunt, faking things for his family, adapting to a new time zone, getting along with everyone, and the list goes on of so large.”

Kaede smiles sympathetically. “I understand that you overlooked things. But no one is perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. And you forgot about those because he managed to make Meiko leave her isolation.” Kaede says in a motherly tone. “You heard?” Reni asks surprised. “Yes. Yoneda too. He is very glad that she is finally accepting to live with out fear.” Kaede answers. Reni nods with a small smile still happy over it. “And I also heard that the girls are worried over his health so he is doing well in getting along with them.”

Reni nods again. “He is working hard over that.” She comments. “Too hard and still he acts naturally not forcing them to like him. Still they are beginning to like him.”

“Well that is good. So when the others return it will be easier to everyone.” Kaede says. “And Yukyo how she took it?” Reni sighs. “Badly. I had to give her a long lecture over the benefits and why he is the leader and why I haven’t told her anything about it. She took worse than Maria. Well at least from what I heard.” Reni answers Kaede question.

Tokyo October fifth 20XX

Benji sits on the bed and stretches. “Well everything is normal.” Saki says handing to him some of his clothes. Benji walks to a curtain and dresses up. “How is everything?” Benji asks. “Fine. The girls are teaching Meiko how to use her powers and pilot a koubu.” Saki replies. Benji leaves the curtain putting on a t-shirt. “And when the other girls will arrive?” Benji asks. “Around January maybe a bit later.” Saki replies. “But in case of an emergency we can summon them back earlier.”

Benji nods understanding. “Okay. Now I am hungry.” He says picking an elastic band on Saki’s table and tying his long black hair. “And I need to dye my hair brown again.” “Well we go have lunch and after it I help you dying your hair.” She replies and they walk away.

Tokyo October tenth 20XX

Yukyo returns from the medical center, she is greeted warmly by the Ikazuchigumi girls. She allows herself few minutes of the warm greeting before questioning where the man is. As well where Reni and Saki are too. With sly smiles that Yukyo misses they lead the silver haired girl to the roof of the living quarters of the Ikazuchigumi. The covered area has many chairs and tables set with drinks and foods. Benji is by a large grill taking care of the roasting meat. Reni and Saki are filling a large cooler with many soft drinks.

“What is going on?” Yukyo asks for the others. “Well it is a welcome home party to you.” Sanae answers. “It was the manager idea.” Yukyo looks at Reni. “She gave the idea?” she asks to be certain. “Yes. It seems that she was in one similar like this when fetching Benji and she liked. And since you came out of the hospital is a good way to celebrate.” Sanae replies.

Yukyo glares at Benji who pretends not to notice it. He continues to place few pieces of meat on metal spikes and placing half meter above the embers on a rack. The party goes well, even thought Yukyo makes sure to stay far from Benji. Most of the girls even the two women there sing on a karaoke machine. Benji who is working on the barbecue doesn’t sing and Yukyo don’t get close or let herself to be convinced to sing. When noticing that Yukyo isn’t going to at least try to be polite and introduce herself to Benji and Benji is using the fact of working on the grill to not to there and introduce himself to Yukyo, Reni moves to them and introduce them to the other.

“Nice to meet you.” Benji says in a polite tone after Reni said his name to Yukyo and did the same with the girl. “I don’t think so.” Yukyo replies in an acid tone. Reni glares at Yukyo. “Show some education Yukyo. You weren’t raised like that.” Reni scolds the teen. “I can’t see how he can replace me. Look at him!” Yukyo says harshly to Reni pointing to Benji. “He doesn’t give a simple sign of being the threat to an enemy as you said that he was! I don’t see why I should respect him!”

Before anyone can react Benji gives a very strong kick on the back of the Tachibana girl knees. She begins to fall over her back. And she can only see Benji’s elbow connecting on her chest before she touches the ground with a massive impact that take the little air that she had on her lungs away. And before she can draw a breath or react she feels a strong pressure of Benji’s right foot over her throat choking her. On his right hand is one of the metal spikes and is hovering over her wide open right eye.

A heavy silence hangs over the roof. “You have two minutes of life if Benji decides to just choke you like he is doing with his foot.” Saki says in a cold tone kneeling besides Yukyo side. “Or he can just drive that spike through your eye and skull just like this!” she adds snapping her fingers. “Benji was acting as a nice person and not as a threat because he is a nice person. He is a threat for his enemies. As you can notice now.”

Yukyo tries to struggle but the pressure is too strong and she is feeling faint. “Saki have you made your point?” Benji asks to the nurse. “Yes. You can stop acting now.” She replies. Benji removes the spike from Yukyo’s eye level and removes his foot from her throat. The Tachibana girl coughs and chokes while trying to breath. She holds her sore neck.

“This was a warning from me and Reni.” Saki says to Yukyo. “Benji was against such extreme measures. But you are hard headed and if you disobey him in the field you will die and maybe kill someone. If you decide to go against him on the field just say now and I will tell him to kill you now to save the others from your actions. You don’t have to like him. Just respect him and obey him. If you hate him I hope that one day you will realize your mistakes.”

The others stare to the scene surprised. “Yukyo I hope that you come to understand why we did this. Even if you don’t you will obey him in combat. If you show to be rebellious I will remove you from the Ikazuchigumi. There won’t be second chances. We will feel the lack of you in combat. But mutinies won’t be tolerated.” Reni says while Saki rubs a balsam on Yukyo’s neck. On the blue eyed teen eyes fear and anger are clearly visible. “It is your first time facing death that closely.” Saki says gently applying the medicine on her. “He faced it uncountable times before. You froze in fear and didn’t react when he attacked. He didn’t when he faced death. That is why he is your new Taisho.”

Yukyo looks with anger to Saki. “Don’t even try saying that if you were ready you would react. It is a lie and you know it. You weren’t ready for a surprise attack and you weren’t ready to do something to prevent death to come to you. And even if you were waiting for an attack it wouldn’t change a thing. You never fought someone who wanted to kill you. And all the times that you fought in real conditions you were protected by your koubu. You can’t win against someone who faced death with out protection.” Saki cuts before Yukyo can speak. “If you don’t learn with love, you will learn with pain. He learned through pain but he is willing to teach all of you. Is up to you learn with pain or love. Either way you will learn.”

Meiko looks to the door where Benji left. “Why you made him to that?” She asks to Saki. “Because Yukyo won’t accept anything else. You know her. And Benji thinks that the best would give her time to adapt to everything. But we don’t have time and we can’t risk any one you if she decides to throw a tantrum on the battle.” Saki replies finishing applying the medicine on Yukyo. “I think that it could been solved in other way.” Meiko says moving after Benji.

Tokyo October eleventh 20XX

Benji is on his workshop making a teeth set for one of the workers of the base. Benji’s professional pride wouldn’t allow him to leave the old man of the armory with such lame work on his mouth. After taking molds from the man Benji is now placing teeth of the same color of the man teeth on a red wax block over a model covered with a resin base. Benji is with his MP3 player and he works humming El Hazard opening theme Illusion.

One hour later Benji tracks down the man. “Here it is.” Benji says handing to him his brand new prosthesis. “See if it is fitting well. And then say ‘trinta e tres.” The man nods and put on the prosthesis and munches a bit and says the requested words. The prosthesis is firm on its place. “You remove it after you eat and brush it well so you won’t end with an infection.” Benji advices to the man. He nods with a smile and walk away. Benji walks away with a pleased smile and humming.

He moves to his daily training with the koubu. And when he is about to leave he sees a reasonably long line of people by his work shop. They surround him and shower him with request to repair or make new prosthesis. Saki chuckle seeing the scene. She already called the dentist of the base. And after half an hour all the requesters are waiting they turn on the dentist chair so Benji and the dentist can take the molds. After two hours and three kilos of alginate and plaster, Benji leaves the dentist office loaded with the dry molds each with a name tag.

“I was dead right in coming to Japan after graduating. Work wouldn’t be lacking.” He mutters annoyed. He arrives on his workshop and places the molds on a table and separates them in types. He requests for more materials for work and begins to work on them, inwardly happy in using his knowledge far of the battle field.

Two hours later Meiko walks inside Benji’s workshop, after look all over the base, studios and apartments for him. She sees Benji leaned over his work balcony with a half made wax denture on his left hand and one of his work tools on the right hand. “Benji-taisho I think that you should take a break.” Meiko says in a meek tone. Benji sighs placing the items down and stretching.

He turns to her on his office chair and removes the earphones. “You don’t need to call me Benji-taisho.” Benji says with a smile. “I like to.” She replies handing to him a soda can. He takes the soda and she sits on an empty corner of a table near him. “Why you are working so hard on those?” She asks curious before sipping her own soda can. Benji pops open the can and looks at it with out replying.

“It is lots of hard work and you don’t need to do it. You are the leader of the defense force and you are going to be an actor.” Meiko says picking up a plaster model. “When I fixed Takasugi’s prosthesis was my professional pride that couldn’t leave it as it was.” Benji replies in a tone of voice with a hint of sadness and loneliness. Maiko misses those, Benji sips his soda. “I studied for one year and a half to make prosthesis and his was bad, since I had time I decided to make a new one for him. After all I had material to spare.”

Outside the workshop Saki, Reni and Yukyo were about to enter when Benji began speaking, they stopped by his words. Reni and Saki noticed his tone. “I had teeth here that I could use. I had plaster and utility wax. I have mountains of resin so I could do a small work.” Benji continues picking up the model that he were working and looking at it.

“You are right, I have no need to be doing this. I am getting well paid to protect the city. I don’t like acting. But I understand why everyone does so.” Benji says. “Because helps to increase our spirit energy.” Meiko says interrupting him. “That isn’t the full reason.” Benji replies. “Only part of it. I don’t know your mother. I just know her from the animes, which is the same that I know Maria. But I am sure that for Maria and Reni they must feel in the same way that I do. Feels good using my skills in something that isn’t combat.”

Meiko stays in silence unsure of what to say. Reni nods with a small smile on her lips. ‘You are very right Benji.’ She thinks. “I am doing this because I know that this will do some good to the person who will use it and I will see it. And this won’t kill anyone, this won’t harm someone. It is a very good feeling using my skills in someplace other than behind an aim or a sword hilt.” Benji says placing the model back on its place. “That is why everyone who fights on the defense force act. So they can do something other than fighting.”

Meiko looks at him in silence. Benji finishes his soda. “One of my teachers said to me that when making a denture to a fully toothless person you give back to that person a smile, you take years from they faces and give back to them they self-esteem that they lost. He said that was more than making money by selling to that person the denture, but giving to that person something really important that she lost.” He says in a sad and wistful tone. “This might sound silly. But I know that everyone who will be using a prosthesis that I made, will have more reasons to smile fully, with out reasons to hide a smile or don’t smiling at all.”

‘You are right again Benji, some people didn’t smiled here because they was afraid of letting others see the prosthesis or of them falling. You noticed why some people here were kind of unfriendly.’ Reni thinks with her smile getting broader.

A gentle chime goes off. “Well I have to get back to work. And I think that is about time for you to train.” Benji says to Meiko, now on a casual tone. “You are right! I am getting late.” Meiko says looking at the time. “Thanks for the soda.” Benji says. “You are welcome Benji-taisho!” she replies running through the door. Reni, Yukyo and Saki moved away when the chime went off. Yukyo can deny but Benji’s words struck few chords inside her.

Two hours later Benji is still working, now in a metal core implant for a ceramic jacket. A young girl with waist long black hair enters on the workshop. “Sumimasen. I am here to deliver the lunch.” She says in a shy tone. “Put on an empty spot on the table.” Benji replies while turning off the blowtorch and letting the spinner go making the melted alloy flow inside the mold with wax to make the metal core.

He turns to her with his face covered with sooth and white dust. She is wearing a similar uniform than Shizue’s but instead of green hers is yellow. “Thank you for the meal and sorry for the trouble.” Benji says to her dusting himself a bit to remove the excess of the dirt. “It is my work sir!” she replies blushing. “Is the only thing that I do around the base.”

Benji washes his hand and face on a sink. “And that is important. Without a food supply an army will lose the war.” Benji says. “Don’t think badly over it.” She blushes even more at his words. He looks at her face. “You seem oddly familiar.” He says moving a bit closer. “You are related to someone who appeared on the Sakura Taisen animes or games?”

She blushes even more. “Yes. Kitaoji Hanabi is my mother.” She answers him. “I am Kitaoji Akiho. Junior member of the defense force staff.” She bows formally while introducing herself.

Benji recalls that Saki told him that the juniors were used to fill gaps in the shows and with many minors’ works around the base as cooking, working with the Kazegumi, data checking, among many others petty tasks. Most used to sharpen the juniors’ skills and the spirit energy of those who possess it in small levels, before they are selected to one of the main units. And none of them actually made to the Ikazuchigumi. Most managed to get to the Kazegumi and Tsukigumi, some to the Yumegumi.

“Well I guess that answer my questions over the Paris Kagekidan.” Benji says with a smile. “But why you are a junior here and not there?” Akiho squirms a bit. “All the trainees are send to Tokyo to train. And there aren’t many trainees so it would be too expensive to all the Kagekidans to have training grounds for us.” She answers. “I understand. But why you aren’t on the Ikazuchigumi? You are daughter of a member of a flower division.” Benji asks.

“I don’t have a very developed spirit energy. So I became a junior in hope to increase the little that I have.” She replies shyly. “But I don’t understand the why of most of our trainings and why we are chosen to deal with the cooking and the cafeteria.” Benji doesn’t know the answer. “I think that is to make you all work as a team. Learning how to work with others under stress. And cooking for a base is stressing. But also helps you to develop your reflexes and focus. You need to pay attention to the meal that you are preparing.” He says after thinking over the information.

Akiho thinks over his words and they made some sense. “You should eat before it gets cold.” She says with a blush. “And what it is?” Benji asks moving to the table. “Okonomiyaki” she replies cheerfully. “Ugh.” Benji groans. “Anything wrong?” she asks. “I hate Okonomiyaki.” Benji replies. “It is not your fault I should have told that I wanted something when I called.” Akiho drops a bit. “Well let’s do this. I am sure that you haven’t eaten anything yet. Why you don’t eat it and when you are done you go pick up something else for me?” Benji says to her. “But I can’t. I am on duty and it is not proper.” She replies blushing deeply.

“You say to your monitor that I told you to wait so you could take another order from me and I suggested it so it doesn’t matter the proper.” Benji says in a firm but gentle tone. “Hai.” She says understanding and she moves to sit down and eat the food. A short while later she finished and they are chatting. “What I can get you now?” she asks with a smile. Benji smiles back. “Well get me three large steaks, fries, some pasta and a large bottle of Fanta orange.” He replies. “Hai! I will be back when it is done.” She says after writing down his request and she moves away after trading a good bye.

Twelve hours later, Benji is still on his workshop. Yukyo peeks through the door and sees Benji who seems to have fallen in sleep over the balcony. “He must have fallen in sleep suddenly, he just shoved the things away with his arms.” She mutters seeing how his arms had pushed the materials over the table. “Why he is working that hard? It can’t be only because those stupid reasons.”

She can see over the industrial stove a pan with boiling water. Benji fell in sleep in the middle of the process of making the last pair of dentures. “Those reasons aren’t stupid.” Saki whispers behind the Tachibana girl. She jumps surprised and turns around and sees Reni there too. “He is right when he guessed the why of the acting and why your mother and I did it.” Reni says to Yukyo. “In a different way we do the same thing. You mother and our friends made people smile by acting and giving them dreams. Benji does that by giving to them ways to smile and pride to smile.”

Meiko who was following them enter on the workshop. “Benji-taisho you should go to the bed.” She says gently shaking him. Benji groans a bit and wake. “What?” he asks sleepy. “It is three in the morning and you fell in sleep on your balcony, you should go back to your room.” Meiko says to him. Benji picks an egg timer and looks at it. “I do so in fifteen minutes… half hour.” Benji replies before yawning. “The last one is finishing polymerizing and after that I just need to polish and it will be ready to be placed on the patient mouth. So I can deliver everything on the morning.”

He places the timer down and stretches popping his spine back in place. “I will stay here to make sure that you will go there.” Meiko says leaning on the balcony. “You know Yukyo that he didn’t needed to work like this and that he could take longer. But he wants to give those back to everyone soon, so they can be able to smile, eat and talk with out problems.” Reni says to the silver haired teen.

“Benji studded for do this. He trained and worked to do that. I think that he is also using this as a way to remind of the life that he had before we stumbled on his life and everything turned as it did.” Saki says. “It gives him a sense of comfort and ease doing familiar things.” Yukyo looks confused to Saki. “It doesn’t matter how much adapted he seems to be, he is still trying to get a hang of the idea that no matter how much he tries his life changed in drastic ways too fast and too drastic in a very short time.” She continues.

“You and everyone else had a lifetime to adjust to this and you girls all knew about this. He didn’t.” Reni adds. “Until a while ago Benji lived a normal life that the most troublesome decision of his life was related in which carrier to take. And now he kills and fight for protect the imperial capital.”

Inside the workshop Benji take the metal case with the pressed denture from the pan and carefully removes the denture from inside. He cools it off with cool water and begins to remove any rough edges and polish it. Meiko looks at the process with curiosity from a safe distance. When Benji finishes polishing he washes to remove the polishing powders and places the denture on a small bag tagged with the name of the future owner. “Done now?” she asks. “Yes.” Benji replies yawning. “I can clean up later.”

They leave the workshop, the peeping trio is no where in sight. Benji and Meiko moves to the elevator. Reni and Yukyo enter on the workshop seeing the dirty floor. Yukyo looks at the table full of prosthesis ready to be delivered. “Implants, metal cores, ceramic crowns, removable partial prosthesis, removable total prosthesis, bridges, roots and one orthodontic braces?” Yukyo mutters seeing the prosthesis on the table on the respective plaster model named, bagged and ready to deliver and use.

“All those in a day of intense work. He only left for the restroom.” Reni says to Yukyo, while picking up an implant. “He used teeth that he brought from Brazil and when those ran out or it wasn’t of the right shape or color he crafted the tooth or teeth by himself with resin of the color of the person teeth, so it wouldn’t show on he or she mouth.”

“And why having all that work to make it vanish on the person mouth? Doing that his work won’t be known.” Yukyo says as an actress who knows that the best way to be known is being seem. “In prosthesis the important is to make it natural, in a way that no one will know that is a prosthesis. The dentist would know and also the patient. And they would talk to others that his work is so good that no one would notice it. That would make him famous. The prosthesis needs to be pretty, functional, strong, esthetically pleasant and vanish among the natural ones. Those are the requests for a good prosthesis.” Reni replies with something that she heard from Benji.

“Just wait after everyone got this on they mouths I am sure that we won’t even know that they once used prosthesis and we will think that is natural teeth only.” Reni says. Yukyo listen half heartily

Tokyo October twelfth 20XX

Benji wakes much later than the usual and moves to his workshop. With help from Meiko he moves all the prosthesis to the dentist office to be given to the owners. Meiko is confused while Benji and the dentist chat in odontologic terms discussing over small adjusts on the prosthesis of one patient. After four long hours the last patient leaves with a new implant that vanished on his mouth.

Benji and Meiko leave the office and they have lunch with the others. Yukyo is in silence but the others are chatting over the people who are now friendlier they don’t know why but they can tell that people are smiling more often. Three people know the why but stay quiet. Yukyo glares at Benji when seeing Akiho chatting with him while she places extras pieces of meat on his plate while she serves him with a smile and a hint of a blush.

Benji leaves the cafeteria after the lunch, still with his lab coat. “Benji, the commander asked to you go to her office now.” Shizue says walking to the prosthetic. “Okay.” He replies with a sigh. He puts his hands on his pockets and walks to Reni’s office. He knows that whatever it is won’t be something nice to him.

End of the chapter two: