Chapter 113 - To My Sunflower (1/2)

They drove towards a belt of trees that had a clear view of the highway. An army truck zoomed past them at the time Shuu had indicated.

Eiji moved the car out onto the road to follow.

His mind reeled through his time with Hinata. The summer festival they had shared. Writing his letter on a bed of sunflowers.

His thoughts wandered over his time as a soldier. Sharing a bunk with Yuri rather than taking a hammock. Stepping onto volatile sand littered with shrapnel and corpses. Hearing gun blasts as the cries of men filled the air with their hopes and honor.  Kei's face. Too much was lost to war. It was time to reclaim somethings back.  No matter what happened to him. He will not let Hinata suffer another day.

He returned his focus to the back of the truck he followed.

The wind swept the truck's back canopy flap momentarily to one side, allowing a fleeting glimpse of the truck's cargo.  His eyes widen with surprise and hope at what he had spied.

He pressed his foot down on the accelerator peddle. The stench of burning gasoline wafted about their noses as he sped past the army truck.

Shuu let out a curse, but saw the set expression on the Eiji's face. Of course. It was the only way.

Eiji overtook the front of the truck to give them a clear distance between them. He sharply turned the wheel. The car skidded about on an angle. He slammed his foot on the brake to make it abruptly stop and create a road barricade.

The truck instinctively screeched to a halt. Stirring a cloud of dirt around the tires.

Eiji fiddled around the glove box for the handgun he had remembered Tyne leaving in there. He got out the car with it. Boldly stomped his way towards the truck's window and fired at it to make it shatter.

The truck driver and passenger cowered behind their arms from the shattering glass. When they stared out to the road they saw Eiji's gun aimed for them.

”OUT!” Eiji shouted his order.

The driver and passenger soldier hesitated a moment before they carefully stepped out to face him on the road.

”Ittōhei Takaki, Eiji!” Eiji shouted out his name and former Imperial Navy rank to the men. ”THE WAR IS OVER! RELEASE THESE PEOPLE!”

He cocked his gun. Facing the men bravely with his determination to shoot if they did not obey his orders.