Bond of Steel

Dark Ending

A month passed and it was starting to become cold. The trees had lost their leafs which were scattered on the ground, turning the streets and walkways into a mix of brown-yellowish colors.

Jeremy had just gotten a new haircut as he walked down the Main Street with two shopping bags in his hands. It wasn't long until he reached his house and got the key from his pocket.

He unlocked the door and swung it open. He stepped inside and almost lost his balance as he tripped over something.

Shoes.

Shoes?

Jeremy brought the bags into the kitchen and closed the door. He slipped out of his sneakers and looked at the second pair of shoes next to his.

(Those are Mahos... but where is she?) he frowned slightly. He called for her. „Maho?" his call traveled up the staircase.

Soon he heard frantic steps above him, then on the staircase. Maho came running down and jumped towards him. He caught her and almost fell over yet again.

„Welcome Hooome~" she nuzzled her face in his chest. „Hey Maho~" he looked down at her and she looked up to him.

They kissed and she quickly headed into the kitchen. „Aah! You brought groceries!" she began to unpack the bags. Jeremy leaned in the doorway and watched for a bit.

„Something wrong honey?" Maho turned towards him with a rather confused expression. „No, no. Everything's fine..."

„You trailed off, that means something isn't right." she put her hands against her waist and looked at him, wanting to hear an answer.

„We're having a match with Pravda in a few days" he finally spoke. There was a short silence before Maho replied. „What?" A slight tone on anger filled the word.

„Jeremy. My tiger is still in the workshop for a week, how am I supposed to command and participate in battle!?" she raised her voice, causing Jeremy to take a step backwards.

„N-now listen Maho, how about you-„ He tried to calm her down but was cut off. „I won't be able to fight... maybe I should let Erika command... or you... or we'll just decline or-„

„Maho!"

She took a step back and stared at him. „Listen Maho, I'll personally go to the workshop and help to repair your tank."

Maho blinked and looked into his eyes, something was resonating inside of them. Determination. She gulped and nodded. „O-Ok then"

—Timeskip—

The evening came faster than expected, the light snowfall had turned into a heavy blizzard, decreasing the view dramatically. As soon as the sun had vanished behind the hills the match started.

Multiple engines roared and the Kuromorimine team marched forward. The tanks made their way through the thick snow, leaving track marks on the surface.

„I'm gonna open the hatch" Jeremy mentioned as he got up. „Commander it's way to cold and the wind is raging" the gunner stated, causing Jeremy to stop for a second.

„I know" he proceeded to open the hatch and stuck his head out. The wind howled loudly and almost blew his cap and headset off and the snow blinded his vision.

Jeremy took his binoculars and looked through them. Although the snow and the darkness made it hard to tell, a town was in front of them.

„There's a town on 12 O'clock" he spoke into his headset, sitting back down on his seat whilst closing the hatch above him.

„Roger that" Maho replied over the radio. „Tank 12 and 13, head into the town for reconnaissance, tank 14 and 15 will follow as backup."

—Tank15–
„We're following them into town, stay behind the Tiger in front of us"

The tanks rolled into the snowy town, hiding behind buildings and preparing an ambush. Soon multiple engines of the same type roared in the distance.

„Multiple T34s I assume" Jeremy mentioned, listening closely. Suddenly the engines turned off and the only thing they could hear was the raging blizzard.

He opened the hatch again and stood up. He pinched his eyes together to see a bit better in the darkness. Suddenly something bright flew at him with rapid speed.

A splashing sound echoed across the town and Jeremy collapsed down onto the turret floor of his tank. Blood began to flow over the floor, dripping down into the turret rotation mechanism.

—Mahos POV—

"T-this is tank 18! O-Our commander has been killed!" The chattering on the radio quietened immediately.

Maho sat in her seat, starring outside of the small cupola visors, not moving a muscle. She slowly grabbed the headset and began to talk in a lifeless voice.

"The... the match is over... tell Pravda that we'll be retreating..." she let go of her headset and climbed outside, walking to tank 18s position.

As she got closer she recognized the number of the tank and collapsed in the snow. A few moments later Erika was there, comforting her.

"I-I'm sure they must be joking.. T-there is no way..." she hugged Maho, who was kneeling in the snow, sobbing heavily.

A loud horn sounded over the battlefield, indicating that the match was over. Maho and Erika made their way to Tank 18 and peeked inside. Jeremy sat on the floor, leaning against the Ammo storage hatch. He noticed them and slowly look up.

"M-Maho..." his voice was faded, almost just a whisper. Maho dove headfirst down the hatch and hit the ground next to Jeremy. "J-jerem- o-oh my-" she put her hands over her mouth as he look at his upper body.

A large and dark wound had formed itself just above Jeremys left lung. "W-what- h-happened?" She hugged him lightly.

"I-I got unlucky. I should've known..." his voice became a bit clearer. He placed his right hand on the back of her neck, rubbing it slightly. She nuzzled her face on his right shoulder.

"My... it was quiet a journey we h-had... it started with a sleepover..." he wrapped his other arm around her back. "I-I'm sorry my life was cut so short... but accidents happen."

"J-jere- my" she began sobbing again and tightened her embrace. "W-why di-d it h-have to be l-like this?"

"I don't... know. B-but Maho." He grabbed her shoulders. "I-I hope you'll find someone... someone you love... again some day. I'll be watching- from... up there"

She felt his hands sliding down her shoulders. Maho grabbed Jeremys uniform and began shaking him slightly. "J-Jere-my! N-no! S-stay here. S-stay... w-with me..."

She let go of his uniform. Suddenly Maho looked up and saw a gold-ish dust rising out of the commanders hatch of the tank. Finally jeremys hands fell down onto the cold floor of the tank.

—The End—