To My Sunflower

They woke with hangovers and half the day gone. Sean relished the rare luxury of being able to peacefully sleep-in during the war.

When he groggily sat up, he saw Eiji's futon empty. He scrambled out of bed and got up to look for him.

Eiji was sitting on the front porch, patting Tama near his legs.

They were enjoying the view of a calm river sprinkled with mellow daylight. It ran alongside a lush bank of wild green grass, yellowing weeds and various daisy clusters that swayed with the breeze. Small creatures were tiny movements amongst the grass.

Tama had her head and ears perked up with interest, but she wasn't showing signs of budging from the pats Eiji lavished on her.

The cicadas' rhythmic droning soothed their heart rates in a calming pace. A moist breeze stroked their skin (and fur), warming their bodies.

"So, what's next?" Eiji asked Sean, keeping his eyes towards the river view.

Sean sighed as he sat next to Eiji.

"After the drop?"

"Yes. What's after that?"

Sean shrugged his shoulders. It was obvious from that kenpei spy that they were on their own after this task. This fact made him slightly nervous.

Eiji glanced to Sean. His words were deep and serious. "Your country is planning to drop a bomb on mine. It's obvious with all these detailed maps being placed into US hands."

"No. We don't know that Eiji. It's likely another air strike or ground invasion." Sean instantly defended his country's honour.

Eiji thought back to the information they had gathered from Keiko and the locals at Saka. His heart raced with both fear and confirmation at the sight of Nagasaki and Kyushu Islands regions on the map he had peeked at while Tyne was asleep.

"Then why is the US interested in knowing more about certain areas." Eiji's eyes glistened with tears that he held back.

Sean sighed deeply. "We're at a time of war Eiji. It's only natural to know more about your enemy.

"Is that what my friendship is to you? Knowing more about the enemy." Eiji responded coldly.

He yelped at the sudden pain to his good arm.

Sean frowned. His face showing obvious distress to Eiji's accusation.

"You can never be my enemy."

Eiji gulped. He resumed his gaze out to the pleasant view of the Enko River. Feeling his heart race erratically, as his mind lapsed into an inner turmoil.

Tama nipped his hand when she felt his pat was too rough. She hopped off the porch and went to forage in the fields.

"I honestly don't know." Sean lowered his head towards his dangling feet.

"If my country was going to drop a bomb. No. We're soldiers. Not butchers. No soldier wants to harm a civilian. What's the point of fighting?" He convinced himself.

Tyne sighed from the eaves of the opened shoji door after hearing their speculation of the map's purpose.

"One thing is for certain. US is planning an assault on the mainland," he said when he entered the conversation.

Sean and Eiji turned about to faced him. Tyne shuffled onto the spot next to Eiji.

"The map is another detailed version of Japan. It's a topological map. Perfect to know what places an air strike would be effective." Tyne soberly commented.

He elaborated to reassure Eiji that the places circled in red, on the map, were isolated regions.

Eiji frowned. "Can I see the map?"

Tyne paused before getting up and going inside to retrieve the large brown envelope next to his futon.

He returned and sat back down next to Eiji.

Eiji studied the map that Tyne had stretched out before him. There were circles on places where a few military bases and weapons facilities were located. None of the civilian cities had been circled.

"They're targeting military bases." Eiji confirmed.

"So it seems."

"No cities or other non-military places." Eiji noted, his eyes lingering on the major cities near the circled military bases.

"Yeah." Tyne answered again.

Eiji sighed and handed the map back to Tyne, who resealed it in the brown envelope.

"Have you ever thought about where your wife would be should a bomb drop?" He threw out the comment.

Tyne flinched. Of course, he had prayed she was nowhere near, or in, those circled areas. Eiji asking him the question made his mind swarm with worries. 

"And your Ray, Sean. What would you do if you found out that..." Eiji soberly turned the question to Sean and yelped when he was pushed off the porch. 

He cursed when he landed hard on the ground.

"Stop it!" Sean shouted. 

"Why?! You hand over that map to Uncle Sam. Next day a bomb drops on places they circled.  What does that make you?!" Eiji shouted back. 

"How dare you?!" Sean jumped off the porch to face Eiji. "You f'cking righteous prick!"

"Righteous prick?! Who's the f'cking prisoner of war here?!" Eiji stood to face Sean. "If I'm a righteous prick! Dropping a bomb on civilian soil will make you all f'cking murderers!" 

Sean swung a punch at Eiji, landing it on his chest. Eiji retaliated with a kick to stomach. The men fought out their anger. 

Kei stormed up to Tyne with questions and received his answer when he saw the brown envelope in Tyne's hands.  

"Are we really going to hand over the comic?" Kei chewed his lip as he watched Sean and Eiji fight.

Tyne gulped. His hand gripped the envelope tighter. 

"Yeah. Like we have a f'cking choice." Kei sighed and did an ear-piercing wolf whistle that momentarily jarred everyone's eardrums, and stopped Sean and Eiji's fight.

"Oi! Pussies! Stop fighting over something you can't control. Whatever Uncle Sam wants to do with that comic, got nothing to do with you !" Kei shouted over them.

Sean and Eiji gave each other a sober look before breaking away to brush down their clothes.

"It's not that simple Kei." Eiji grumbled.

"Mutherf'cker! You stupid?! It's simple, cause you're following f'cking orders. Uncle Sam's the one to pay the price for whatever that f'cker wants to do." 

Eiji nodded with understanding. Kei was right. They were still soldiers obeying orders for their countries. 

"Sorry Sean." Eiji bowed his head.

"Baka." Sean grumbled. 

Tyne stood and walked back inside. 

Eiji grumbled about going for a walk. He entered the cottage for his jacket and shoes, shortly returning to the porch to take a walk through the wild grass.

He headed for the river bank.