[Dawn and Dusk] Day 790 and 880: A Future With My Wives

(After she passed, the hospital handled her death record and gave the body to the soldiers she employed. They were the ones who were going to ride her back home. But before they did that, they brought her back to her second home first. Our house. It was there that we said our goodbyes to her.)

They had decided to hold her funeral in the house. Her casket was brought into the living room that day as the sun shined through all of the opened windows.

Yoko, Aika, Rei, Tsukiakari, Izanami, the Shoku Twins, and Osamu all stood before Isabella's open casket. She was dressed in a black gown and looked so incredibly peaceful, as if she were only sleeping. The picture of her and her brother remained clenched in her balled hands. Yoko, Rei, Omagatoki, and even Akatsuki cried before the casket, their hearts breaking for their departed friend.

As a gift, Yoko placed her best sword in the casket, one that was made by her father and served her for years. To her, Isabella deserved it much more. Keeping with her promise to let her hold onto it forever, Izanami placed the book she made for Isabella in the casket. Aika and Rei tearfully placed bundles of roses besides Isabella's body. Yoko and Tsukiakari held Omagatoki and Akatsuki up so they could wave goodbye to Isabella. And finally, Osamu gave her his magatama necklace as a parting gift.

"Bye bye, Izzy..." Omagatoki wept.

"Please rest well." Akatsuki cried.

There were about a dozen soldiers in the house, all wearing the iconic USMC Blue Dress. When in the house, they all took their caps off and held them at their chests out of respect for the dead and the grieving. One of them walked up to the group.

"We're very sorry for your loss." the soldier said.

"Thank you. I know it probably hurts you too." Osamu responded, shaking hands with the man.

"She was a bold and brave girl. Her brother was a friend to a few of us, and we always considered her to be one of us. With that, we wanted to give her a proper send off." the soldier explained. "Right now, it's about time for us to take her back home. We'll be flying out of here by plane. With her gone, I think this is the last time you'll ever see us here again. We don't have a reason to come back."

"We understand. Can we ride with you to the airport?" Yoko said, sniffling.

The soldier nodded. "Of course you may."

After everyone had left something with Isabella, the soldiers closed the casket. They draped the American flag over the lid, giving Isabella her final salute. The pallbearers then carried her casket out of the house and loaded it up into their black hearse. The hearse was only one vehicle in a convoy of six.

One of the soldiers opened the passenger door to a separate vehicle, inviting Osamu and the others to hop inside for the ride.

(It felt like the longest ride to the airport. I'm sure you could imagine how much it hurt inside to hear everyone crying like they did. Especially Yoko and Rei...)

When they got to the airport, a transport plane was already waiting on the strip for them. The soldiers carried the casket out of the truck and onto the plane, then the vehicles themselves followed.

"We can keep one out so I can ride you guys back home, if you'd like." the soldier offered.

"Oh, no. Please, don't worry. Izanami can take us home.” Tsukiakari assured. "We'll be all right."

"All right. Well, this is goodbye." the soldier said, standing firm as he saluted Osamu and the girls. "It was an honor. Good luck, and just remember that this too shall pass."

"Thank you. Take her home, safe and sound." Osamu said.

Everyone shook hands with the solider, and he saluted them farewell. With everything and everyone loaded onto the plane, it made its way down the runway and took off, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the distance. Not one of them took their eyes off of that plane. They watched until it disappeared into the deep blue sky.

(And that was it. Isabella was gracefully and honorably sent back to the United States. Along with her was a piece of our hearts. It took us all a while just to have the strength to carry on with our days. But once again, I thought of the Shoku Twins and how, even though they were sad too, they still held their hands and let time carry forward. Perhaps Yoko had the same thought. That's why, in the spring, she made up her mind. We were going to take a little vacation away from the house.)

With the cold days of Winter at an end, Spring came with sunshine, breeze, and budding flowers. The snow that caked the streets began to thaw, causing the roads to shimmer against the sunlight. That shining day, Tsukiakari, Aika, and Rei helped Osamu, Yoko, and Izanami carry out their last few boxes of possessions outside.

"I can't believe you guys are leaving! Maybe I should move close to you! You're going to Hokkaido, right?" Aika asked.

Yoko nodded. "Yep, we'll be vacationing there for a little while. I'll admit that you put the idea in my head. I found a nice area, away from all the city noise and scenery. There are a few more properties around where we're going, so you should move out there sometime! We could be neighbors!"

"Sometime? Hell, I'll probably move along with you in a couple of months." Aika said.

"What about me?" Rei asked.

Aika shrugged and smiled. "Wanna move with me? I don't mind having a roommate."

"Sure, why the hell not. Admittedly, I've gotten attached to this group we have. At least Tsukiakari is still here." Rei said.

"Huh? Oh, no. I'm moving with them. I'm Yoko's girlfriend, after all." Tsukiakari clarified.

"What?! You too?!" Rei recoiled, saddened beyond belief.

Aika patted Rei's head to cheer her up. "Don't worry, I'll start planning right away."

"Is that everything? You didn't leave anything inside, right?" Tsukiakari asked Osamu.

"Nothing that we're supposed to take to the new house. We're still leaving some of our furniture and whatnot here so we can go back and forth if we need to. Plus, when we get back, we can get new stuff to replace what we took to Hokkaido."

"Besides for just a few dishes and furniture, we're pretty much taking everything with us." Yoko said.

Yoko patted her back pocket to feel for the keys to the house, noticing they were missing. "Oh, crap. I think the keys are in there."

"Good going, Scatterbrains." Osamu teased.

"It's not my fault, we had to move a lot of stuff!" Yoko hissed.

"Well? Let's go in and find them." Tsukiakari said.

Everyone went back in the house and searched all the rooms. Turns out, the keys were in the master bathroom, resting on the bedside table.

"Oh, that's right! I left them here when I went to go pee. My bad." Yoko said.

"Is that everything, then?"

Yoko looked around and checked off every object in her mind. "Yeah. That's everything."

With so much of their belonging packed away in boxes, the house looked and felt way different than it ever did. Rooms they thought were small seemed larger. With a lot of the furniture gone, some of the rooms even had an echo to them. Even though they weren't getting rid of the house, it did feel like they were leaving a precious chapter of their lives behind.

They all stood in awe and looked around at the house, their hearts sinking as they thought about how much everything had changed.

"The place feels so much bigger now, doesn't it?" Tsukiakari asked.

"Yeah. This place means a lot to me." Yoko said. "I'm glad we all stayed here together. Like time itself, we'll all move forward."

"I'm really gonna miss this place..." Izanami said.

"Don't worry about a thing. We'll come back soon." Osamu assured. "Yoko's name plaque still remains on the front of it, after all."

"Yeah! And besides, aren't you guys getting married?" Rei asked. "Married life in a peaceful Hokkaido neighborhood sounds pretty leisurely, doesn't it?"

"Well...uhmm..." Yoko squirmed. "Osamu, should I tell them?"

"Huh?! You haven't told them yet?" Osamu recoiled.

Aika crossed her arms. "Told us what?"

"What is it?" Rei questioned further.

Yoko wrapped her arms around Osamu and smiled. "The paperwork is already done! Osamu and I are officially married! All that's left is the rings and ceremony!"

"Way to go, you told them." Osamu chuckled.

Aika and Rei erupted into thunderous cheers and hollers, giving hugs to Osamu, Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari.

"Wow, Osamu! Congratulations, you landed a hottie!" Rei commended.

"Thank you very much!" Osamu sang.

"Oo! So? When can we expect to see some babies?" Aika teased.

"As soon as we get settled in!" Yoko declared.

"That soon?!" Osamu recoiled.

Yoko nodded. "Yes! And I want twenty-four of them!"

Yoko directed a sly wink at Osamu. She was seriously holding on to her declaration from the very first night of Osamu's return. With everything set, Aika and Rei were prepared to see Osamu, Tsukiakari, Izanami, and Yoko off. They made their way back outside, locking the door to the house. All of their boxes sat on the sidewalk. They wouldn't need movers or a moving truck, since Izanami would be able to take them to their second house in an instant.

"Oh! Hang on a second!" Osamu said.

"What is it?" Yoko asked.

"I've got something I need to do before we leave." Osamu answered. "I'll be quick! I'm just going to go to the bowling alley."

"Well, all right, but hurry it up, will you?" Tsukiakari said.

"Thanks! Be right back!" Osamu shouted as he ran off.

(I had nearly forgotten about it, but there was just one loose end I needed to resolve before I left with the girls.)

Osamu stopped to lean against the wall as he approached the abandoned bowling alley, realizing it was probably a mistake to sprint all the way there. He took a few deep breaths and stood up straight. He needed all of the confidence he could muster. Stepping over the broken glass at the entrance, Osamu proceeded towards the lanes. The sun beamed through the row of colored windows to the left, washing the entire alley in a rainbow of radiating colors.

He looked all around but didn't see what he was looking for. He pulled out his phone and checked the notes he had written on his phone, as well as the time.

"Damn, did I miss her? Where could she be?"

Osamu returned outside, feeling very stupid for having ran all the way to the bowling alley. He looked to the left and right of the empty street before checking his phone again.

"Supposedly she comes to the bowling alley periodically."

Screaming suddenly echoed from the distance. It was coming from the direction of the convenience store. Osamu immediately rushed down the road without much of a thought. He was convinced that the person he was looking for and the sudden commotion down the street were connected. Sweat dripped down his forehead and neck as he ran. His silver peace sign necklace bounced off of his chest while strands of his hair stuck to his face.

Several people rushed out of the convenience store entrance, screaming for help. Something awful was happening inside.

"Gun! He's got a gun!" someone shouted as they ran.

Osamu stepped right inside, crouching behind the candy bar shelf. Several more men and women lied on the floor with their hands above their heads. The store was filled with the enraged screams of an armed robber, a masked, black-clad man holding a revolver to the cashier's head.

"Hurry up, or I'll shoot one of these people!" the man shouted.

"I already told you, I'm trying! The cash register is busted!" the cashier cried.

"You have ten seconds to get it open or I'll blow your brains out!"

Osamu nearly shrieked in fright as someone tapped his shoulder. He turned his head and met eyes with a very peculiar, young woman. She held her bandaged hand over his mouth, preventing him from crying out. Her arms and legs were hidden beneath white bandages, from the tips of her slender fingers all the way past the sleeves of her black haori.

She pressed her erect index finger against her lip, signaling Osamu to remain silent as she removed her hand from his mouth. Her head was partially bandaged, covering her left eye. Her long, wavy, chestnut colored hair reached down to her wrists. The light shining through the store's front windows enwreathed the outer strands of her voluminous hair in a veil of bright light.

"We can take him down. I'll need your help though." the girl said.

"Are you crazy? He has a gun!" Osamu whispered.

"We've got something stronger than that. Just wait for my signal."

Osamu watched in horror as the girl stood up, marching right towards the armed robber. This mystery woman was going to get herself killed. While the young woman approached the robber from behind, Osamu made his way around the side of the store floor, hiding behind boxes and shelves.

"My good sir!" the young woman called out, drawing the robber's attention. She now had his gun pointed at squarely at her.

"Who the hell are you? Get on the ground!"

The girl put her hands up and took a single step closer. "I mean you no harm. You really don't look like you're having a very good day, sir."

The robber fired his gun, the bullet smashing through one of the windows behind her. "The next one's going between your eyes! Get on the god damned floor!"

"I'm not having a very good day, either. This season is hell for my allergies. I was hoping to come here to get some nasal medication, but, well, you're robbing the place. Cashier, do we have any allergy medicine left?"

"Y-yes, we do!" the cashier answered.

"You move a god damned muscle and I'll kill you!" the robber screamed.

"Please, can you just let him toss me my medicine?" the girl begged.

The robber's eyes darted back and forth. He grabbed the box of medicine himself and tossed it over to her. "There, you got your meds, now get on the fucking floor!"

The girl did as she was told and dropped down to her knees, her hands still raised. "Thank you, sir. You're a good man."

"The cash register! Now!"

The cashier finally managed to get it open. He backed away from the counter and let the robber grab whatever he wanted. Osamu peeked around the corner of the shelf, catching a glimpse of the thief up close. His heart bludgeoned itself against his ribs as he thought of what to do next.

All of a sudden, the girl threw the box of allergy medicine at the thief's head. The girl was absolutely insane. There was just no way she wasn't. Osamu couldn't believe one person was capable of putting themselves in so much danger. He knew it must've been the 'signal' she told him about.

The robber spun around and aimed his gun at her, prompting Osamu to charge in. He came rushing in like a football player, tackling the robber to the ground and knocking the gun out of his hand. One he was disarmed, the cashier, as well as some of the people previously lying on the floor, rushed in to apprehend him. One of the civilians confiscated the gun, leaving the robber with no chance to fight everyone off.

Osamu was suddenly pulled backwards by his collar. The girl plucked him from the crowd of citizens piling on the robber.

"Let's go. I'd rather not be here when the police show up." she said.

"Hey! Hold on a second!" Osamu cried.

The girl took him by the hand and ran off with him. The police sirens were already blaring from the distance and closing in on the convenience store. The girl led him through alleys and corridors, in between houses and crevices to avoid being seen on the main street. Once they were back in the neighborhood, the girl continued running until they reached the abandoned bowling alley. The two ran inside, stopping before the row of colored glass to catch their breaths.

Osamu bent over forwards, winded from the sprint. The girl rubbed his back as she let out an amused chuckle.

"You okay, Osamu? Sorry about all of that."

Osamu stood up, his eyes widened in shock. "You...know my name?"

"You were looking for me, weren't you?" the girl asked. "I knew you would someday."

"Then you're..."

The girl extended her hand towards Osamu. "Lucrezia. A pleasure."

Osamu nervously shook hands with Lucrezia. "Yeah...I can't exactly say it's a pleasure meeting you. You made this doll of me, didn't you?"

Osamu took out the knit voodoo doll of himself from his left pocket, showing it to Lucrezia.

"Like I said, I knew you'd try to find me someday. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, Osamu. To be honest, I do as well."

"Just...who are you? How are you capable of making a doll like this that actually works?"

Lucrezia spun around and cradled her chin between her thumb and index finger. "Hmm. Well, you did lay siege to Heaven and all. I suppose I should let you in on this."

"Let me in on what, exactly?"

Lucrezia spun back around with a devious smile on her face. "Gods aren't the only ones with special powers around here, you know. Far from it. Osamu, you haven't heard of the Exorcist Program before, have you?"

"Exorcist? No, I can't say that I have."

"Seriously? You got involved in that huge incident with Tsukiakari and Bishamon without knowing about the exorcists? You realized you could've easily been killed, right? And I don't mean by Bishamon."

"Will you just tell me, already? What is this exorcist crap?" Osamu shouted.

Lucrezia put her fists on her hip and sighed. "You boys are always so boorish. Basically, we're Heaven's police officers. The normal police department handles crimes like the one we just witnessed. Exorcists, on the other hand, handle supernatural problems, much like the incident that took place over a year ago with Tsukiakari. Actually, it was after that incident that I heard about you. You're quite the celebrity amongst us exorcists. You've got some balls for a mortal."

"So, Heaven has its own law enforcement? You're one of them?"

Lucrezia nodded. "Precisely. See, I was tasked with watching over that friend of yours, Aika, after she had her memory wiped. It was just to make sure there were no weird side effects from her revival. Through her, I met your other friend, Rei, who was a complete and utter downer, by the way. Rei begged me for a way to get back at some boy she despised, but ensured me she had no intent to kill him. I wasn't even going to entertain the idea until I heard her say your name. Once she said the words 'Osamu Ashikaga', I gladly made her that doll. I figured that you'd try and look for me soon after that."

"So that's what happened? Some exorcist made this doll of me? How exactly did you do it? Did you get samples of my blood or my hair?" Osamu questioned.

"Oh, please." Lucrezia scoffed. "I'm an exorcist, not a witch. Making that doll required no such thing."

"I wondered how Aika ended up getting involved with the Shoku Twins." Osamu said. "If this exorcist thing is for real, it would make sense how that happened."

"Of course. She met them through me." Lucrezia admitted.

"Are you still watching Aika?" Osamu asked.

"No, she's already made her recovery. My responsibility to watch her ended a little less than a year ago."

Osamu sighed and plopped down on one of the seats in front of the colored glass. "I was hoping to get an answer about this doll. I did, but I also ended up having way more questions about things I don't know about."

"Regardless, I must thank you for your actions back at that convenience store. I expected nothing less of the man who laid siege to Heaven. You're quite brave, aren't you?"

"Not at all. I was just scared out of my mind and didn't know what else to do." Osamu said. "You weren't so bad yourself. You kept calm even with a gun pointed at your face."

"I've faced worse." Lucrezia snickered. "As an exorcist, you end up fighting all sorts of vile creatures and demons. Things that people thought only exist in fantasies and nightmares. We have to fight those every so often."

"Really? Is that...is that why you're all bandaged up?" Osamu asked.

"Something like that." Lucrezia said as she broke her eye contact with Osamu. "You don't seem very shocked to hear that spirits and ghosts exist."

"Of course not. I've known for years now, ever since I met Izanami. Though, I've never actually encountered a ghost before."

"Good. If I were you, Osamu, I wouldn't get involved with the supernatural any further. That's a dangerous path for a normal human being to walk."

"You say that like you aren't a normal human being." Osamu said.

"Most exorcists aren't. Some of us are descendants of gods. I myself am a descendant of the late Raijin."

"Raijin?! The god of lightning and storms?" Osamu recoiled.

"Out of all the things I've said so far, that's the one that shocks you the most, huh? Oh! I made a pun!" Lucrezia snickered, a little proud of herself for that joke.

"So, uhh...can you, like...shoot lightning out of your fingertips or something?"

"I'm not a Sith lord, Osamu."

"Well, where exactly am I supposed to draw the line when we're talking about ghosts and exorcists?!"

"That's a fair point. I suppose this is quite a lot to take in."

Osamu's phone rang in his pocket, and he suddenly remembered he left Izanami and the others standing there outside the house. He fumbled for his phone and answered, stepping away from Lucrezia for a moment.

"Crap, I'm sorry, Gekko. I'm on my way back now. All right, bye."

Osamu sighed as he hung up and slid his phone back into his pocket. Lucrezia sauntered over to him, surmising that they were out of time to talk.

"Gotta jet, huh?" Lucrezia asked.

"Yeah, I'm leaving for Hokkaido today. The girls and I are going to vacation there for the rest of spring, maybe summer."

"Sounds fun! Consider yourself lucky, Osamu. Most people don't get to take vacations. Thank you again for your help during that robbery. I could've easily done it without you."

"Gee..thanks.." Osamu grumbled.

"I'm kidding, of course. Say, why don't we exchange numbers? If you happen to run into any more trouble, you could give me a call."

(That might actually not be a bad idea. Given my luck with life so far, I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up in another supernatural snafu of sorts. If this girl is really an exorcist, I'd have one more person to count on if I ever get wrapped up in a bad situation.)

"Sure, here." Osamu said.

The two whipped out their phones and traded contact info. Osamu had to stifle his laughter as he laid eyes on Lucrezia's neon pink flip phone, complete with a Sailor Moon chain strap.

"I like that show too." Osamu teased.

"Hmm? Oh. That was an insult. I suppose we're even now, yes?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." Osamu said.

With Lucrezia's number and email address saved, Osamu slipped his phone back into his pocket. The two shook hands once more and marched back outside, closing the doors of the abandoned bowling alley behind them.

"If you need any help, you know who to call." Lucrezia said. "That said, try to stay out of trouble, all right? No more incidents like that one with Tsukiakari."

"Well, I'll try. That's as much as I can promise you. I should be fine, though." Osamu assured.

Lucrezia smiled "Have a fun trip to Hokkaido. No hard feelings about the doll, right?"

"That depends, actually. Can you destroy it? I'd rather not have it existing...like, at all."

"Without killing you?"

"Obviously!"

"Very well, I can do that for you. Consider it a token of my appreciation, a sign of my goodwill."

Osamu handed over the doll, finally free of its voodoo torture. He never wanted to be stabbed with a needle again through his foot or his abdomen. The sooner that accursed doll could be disposed of, the better.

"We'll meet again, Osamu Ashikaga."

"Yeah. See you around, Lucrezia."

Finally, the question of who created the doll was resolved. Although, Osamu did indeed leave with more questions than answers. Exorcists, some assignment to watch over Aika, and him being famous among said exorcists? It seemed there was so much more to the supernatural world than just gods and heaven.

Still, it seemed this Lucrezia wasn't a foe or a villain of any kind. Having her number handy provided Osamu with a bit of comfort, knowing he had an exorcist to call upon if things got hairy again.

"All right, time to go."

Osamu ran down the street as fast as he could. An hour an a half it took him to go through all of that. Once again, judging by his own luck, Osamu was very glad to have accepted Lucrezia's number. He made it back to Izanami and the others, who sat down on the sidewalk, awaiting his return.

"About damn time!" Yoko said. "Is an hour and a half what you call 'real quick'?"

"Sorry, guys! I got a little held up, but everything's handled now." Osamu wheezed, catching his breath. Today was by far the most exercise he had gotten in a while.

"Osamu!"

Everyone turned their eyes to Omagatoki and Akatsuki as shuffled towards them. The twins came to see Osamu and the others off as well. Suddenly, it became a blessing that Osamu's errand took longer than usual.

"Omagatoki! You look cute as always!" Osamu sang.

Omagatoki's puffy eyes glistened with tears, and even Akatsuki's frequent blinking indicated she was holding back from crying. Osamu brought both of the pale twins in for a hug, patting their heads as he pulled away.

"Hey, come on. Don't give me those looks." Osamu said. "I promise, we'll be back soon all right? If anything, Izanami can just teleport you right to us whenever she comes around. It's not 'Goodbye'. It's more like 'See you later'. Okay?

Omagatoki nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Okay..."

"We'll miss you sorely, Osamu." Akatsuki lamented.

Osamu kissed them both on their cheeks and stood up. "I know. I'll miss you too."

Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari gave their farewell hugs to the Shoku Twins as Osamu hugged Rei and Aika.

"Thank you both for everything. You were a huge help." Osamu said.

Aika gave him a jovial thumbs-up. "No problem! That's what friends are for!"

"What she said." Rei added.

"Well then, goodbye for now." Osamu said.

"Goodbye for now!" Aika sang.

"Bye bye!" Rei cried.

"Are we all ready?" Izanami asked.

Tsukiakari nodded. "Ready!"

"Absolutely ready!" Yoko cheered.

Determined to see what life had in store for him, Osamu pumped his fist in the air. "Ready as I'll ever be!"

"All right, on the count of three!" Izanami said. "One, two three!"

Izanami, the few boxes, and the others disappeared, teleporting away to their new home. Their new home was nestled between a row of grassy hillocks in the peaceful, Hokkaido countryside There were flowers and hills of green for miles. There was a decently sized town not too far away, so they could still get their usual supplies and groceries. The house was essentially a large, two story cottage, its front yard adorned with a colorful arrangement of lilies and shrubs.

As soon as they arrived, Osamu and the girls worked on getting the boxes and furniture inside. They left the front door open as they each brought in one large box at a time. Osamu set up their living room to the left of the entrance while Tsukiakari put their pots, dishes, and utensils away in the kitchen to the right. Izanami carried personal belongings and clothing upstairs to the master bedroom.

"Whew! It's all done." Osamu said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Yoko smiled at Osamu. "No. It's just beginning."

The first day in that house was dedicated to the unpacking and making the house into a new home. Like they always did, Osamu, Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari all slept in the same bed that night. The moon and stars were bright over the land, but the starry expanse space was especially visible from their second home, since the Hokkaido countryside lacked the light pollution of Kyoto.

The four slept peacefully and awoke peacefully...except for our hero, Osamu. He woke up with Yoko sitting beside him in bed, a smile splashed across her blushing face.

"Hey, what's up?" Osamu asked.

Yoko held up an opened envelope bearing Isabella's signature, as well as some badly drawn doodles of hearts and smiley faces.

"We haven't gotten around to reading this, you know? I think it's about time we opened it." Yoko said.

Osamu sat up and ran his hands through his hair. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. No reason not to."

Osamu nodded. "All right. Open it up."

Yoko slipped her fingers beneath the fold of the mouth of the envelope, taking care to open it without tearing it up. She took out the sheets of paper enclosed within and began reading it to herself. They had avoided the very occasion, reading the letter Isabella left for them. Just seeing her signature on the envelope used to fill them all with an immense heartache. Osamu closed his eyes, giving Yoko the quietude needed to read what could've only been a solemn and heartfelt letter from a girl who knew her time was short.

However, much to his confusion, Yoko erupted into laughter.

"Oh man, that's just like her!" Yoko chuckled.

"Heh?! What is it! Let me see!" Osamu said.

Yoko gave Osamu the letter, and as he read the words, he understood very well why Yoko found it to be so funny.

(Isabella didn't leave us with any sorrowful words of parting. She left us with a rather straightforward message. Want to know what it said? It went like this.)

"To my dearest friends: Though I'll be gone, don't think that I'm not watching!"

"Yoko, I expect you to safeguard everyone and protect the home like a wife! You're the first defense, the AN/VLQ-6 Missile Countermeasure Device of the household!"

"Osamu, remember what I told you. You're the glue that holds us all together, so don't you dare buckle when things get tough! You're the Slat Amor, taking the heavy blows for all of us and protecting us as a collective! I expect great things from you, and great stories to come when we meet again!"

"Izanami, you're as gentle as the recoil from an AR-15 modified with a foregrip and heavy barrel for compensation! You keep the group accurate, focused, and ready for anything. You're the heart of us all, the thing that drives us to march into difficult territory!"

"Tsu Tsu, you'll always be my culinary war buddy! Though you'll have to fight without me from now on, I still expect you to fill the bellies of our dear friends with the taste of love! Conquer those onions, great commander! Assault those potatoes, and liberate that beef! You provide the smell and feeling of home. It just wouldn't be the same without you."

"Aika, just as your name implies, you're the Love Song of it all! You're our anthem, you steel our hearts for danger and soothe our worries! You're the first aid kit for whenever we're hurt, and you're the medic that tends to our wounds until we get better! You're a fantastic friend, and I trust you to take care of everyone! Keep on making that rockin' music!"

"To the adorable Shoku Twins, you're Osamu's light and joy, and perhaps the joy of the whole house! You two are absolute bundles of love! You're the pictures of home and loved ones that this group of soldiers keeps in their pockets whenever they go off to battle! You begin good days and end bad ones! Please, remain the diligent and responsible girls you are."

"And Rei, just as I've said before, you can do anything! You're the most versatile weapon of all, and you're only just starting to unlock your hidden potential! You can be as cold as a suppressed bullet, or as intense as a HEAT round, or as fantastic to behold as a two-thousand pound JDAM! Aika especially needs you to function, Rei. So keep being the amazing woman you are!"

"To all of you, I wish you a happy farewell, and a beautiful life ahead filled with even more beautiful memories. It's time for me to put down my pen and go. So, until we meet again, farewell and goodbye! With all the love in the world, Isabella Bailey."

Osamu too succumbed to a fit of laughter. He was expecting some heart-wrenching note filled with sincere confessions and desperate, dying requests. Instead, Isabella left them with something so encapsulating of one of her biggest character traits; Her gun-loving, hot-blooded Americanism.

"Man, that is just like her. She was always big on her weapons!" Osamu chuckled.

Osamu put the letter down as he laughed. Yoko stood from his bedside and extended her hand out to him, as if she were going to take him somewhere far, far away. The morning sun shined on her body and bright blue eyes like a heavenly light that singled her out from everyone else in the world.

"So, my love..." Yoko began, the morning wind fluttering her hair in every direction.

"What do you want for breakfast?"