Blemish of Amour

「This is a piece of his past」

A piece about that persona, the persona bearing the mark of Amour.

In all kind of various stories, sundry kind of main player used their hidden power. Whether it was inner talent, borrowed strength, or any other source of power in order to turn the tide to their favor.

Sometimes the sources of those power have ridiculous origins, but there're also some with obvious one such as the feelings or emotion that reside in every being who holds the concept of emotion.

Although this one sounds like another cliché, but there's no doubt... if this source of power is one of a kind that is often used and owned by majority of these players.

What we're talking is about... "Love".

A feeling that is way more than disgusting, but at the same time people continue to defend it despite how abstract the meaning behind every of its actions, and another source of origin for that persona bearing the mark of Amour.

Love or compassion, everyone has experienced it at least once, no matter how fruitful nor how miserable those feelings may turn out to be. Especially for a human like him.

A child of man is not a heartless tools and neither a cold machine.

They tried to find the meaning within their life, so that later their lives will not completely sunk within emptiness. That emotion which has been gifted for them, is just another prove if they could reach it.

There's one time this thought passed by within the young fool's head.

And yet...

"... Your father will no longer return, he died for this country and as a hero. Never he forget about his family as his death draw near, be proud of him."

For some parents, maybe the meaning of love can be seen in their own child. A baby who's born from the bond between these two people, and thanks to this bond as well, the child has arrived in this rotten world with a very pure soul.

At that time, once again the world had found the presence of a caliph who was about to set his foot on the face of the earth.

However an extremely unfortunate thing happened, a misfortune leading that pure soul to slowly matured, and made him discover the truth about how weak he's when one trying to change the world.

"Your mother is no longer sane, its eating away her mind from inside and due to her sickness she'll gone in a few month. My condolence, we have done everything we could. Please sign in here and then we could proceed to... send her more peacefully."

Heroes shed their blood for their homeland, while their partners slowly wither away with regret, leaving a naive and young soul who're unable to do anything other than to chose a decision that destroys the soul's meaning of "Love".

In a war, many innocent people fell as a victims. Within a fight, various egos and minds of peoples will knock each other out for a dominant position.

Meanwhile, in the era of change or what people called as golden age, all those terrible memories slowly disappeared replaced with cheers of people who have achieved victory. That's what people used to think.

"Bro... what'll we do now?"

Statues, monuments and tombstones scattered around, few feet beneath are what remains of a once deceased parents. While other people celebrate the joy of victory, there are also some who celebrate it with the sorrow of loss.

"You're not alone." (Zeimachi)

You're not alone, a lot of people say those thing.

As if trying to calm the soul of his younger brother that is experiencing a storm in a sea of ​​indecision, there he stood out to be a pillar he could depend to. There's no need to be afraid, there's no need to be hesitant.

In this world where he chose to move on, the young soul reached maturity by shedding his childish side.

Throw everything away about friendship, buried everything regarding your dream, seal every emotion inside, burn every memories that you had, destroy all the things that you love, rot and wither that's what better for you.

This thought once plagued inside the young fool's mind back then.

❛...❜

Even so... even though he admits that in a world full of rottenness and lies that he lives in, there isn't anything worth fighting for. There is still a side of him that wants to walk the path he once believed in.

❛... So you chose that path? Alright, I'll keep this side warm.❜

Such was his origin.

-------------------

>>> Fast Forward >>>

「Azur Lane academy, Eagle Union's infirmary」

Ever since Sakura Zeimachi lost his consciousness, as well as the incident where some of the ship girls went to extremes to get the attention of their commander... several days had passed.

During the few days that had passed while still in a coma, Sakura Zeimachi had been spending his time in the Eagle Union dormitory's medical bed. Although to many he appears to be sleeping, but he is actually fighting the other persona within him.

'Is that all you want to say?' (Sakura Zeimachi)

❛Of course not, but if we're taking much of our time in here... those girls will become more worried about you.❜「Persona bearing the mark of Amour」

'... Never have I thought for Loli-man to cahooting with you.'

❛Many things change, especially those you don't know and forgot. Now then, let's settle it in one move, that Observer's body will become cold the longer we battling in here.❜

Each of them had armed their themselves with a weapon they believed in, there's not even a glimpse of hesitation within their movement.

'... The bane of creation...'

❛Magadachi.❜

A Feather emits a shimmering light capable of piercing even the thickest of defenses, confronting a blade that has protected the land from foreign invaders.

But of course, as he spent his time to once again "Talk" with his other persona regarding what he'll do from here on out, those ship girls didn't stood idlily as they awaited for the awakening of their now unconscious commander.

The decision regarding the ship maidens who has intercepted Sakura Zeimachi was temporarily postponed until the man woke up, and preparations regarding the celebration planned by Queen Elizabeth inevitably had to be delayed due to the chaotic conditions within the port.

"Whaaaaat!??"『Queen Elizabeth』

"Hieee!"『Dido』

While the flat and blonde queen squawking around about her proclaimed servant, some other ship girl albeit temporarily they've decided for a cease fire in order to regain the balance as what things should be.

"Not mine fault, it's just... m-my hand got slipped and it accidently..."『Deutschland』

"You little! You're the one who threw those paralyzes and sleeping shots at milord weren't you?! Even though all you need is to suppress him! And you as well!"『Yamashiro』

"... Affirmation, master has created an unknown pattern as he evade. This pattern was unregistered inside Gascogne's battle plan which made two out of four intended trajectory can't be fully corrected before it got launched."『Gascogne』

"I didn't like how you say that, say it again and I'll correct it for you." 『Deutschland』

Although they're not very close with each other, at least they know about what they should and what they shouldn't. Because if were that not the case, maybe they'll continue to punch each other in that place.

"Cease."『Hakuryuu』

"Stop it right now."『Enterprise?』

"Hey, sorry to butt in you all. But let me ask one thing... that Observer, what should we do about her? Though she's very much dead alike and all, but then again... is it fine to keep her in here?"『Hornet』

With a reluctant face, Hornet shifted their attention to the Observer's body which looked very much like a doll after having nothing controlling it anymore. Leaning against the wall with minimal clothing and messy hair, the state of her body can provoke happy misunderstandings.

"*Poke*... It was my dear order, better wait till he explain it."『#1』

But it can't be helped, even though the persona bearing mark of Amour was indeed tasked to bring back the Siren's vessel, but he didn't got asked more after that.

That's why he left immediately after he brought it to Sakura Zeimachi's side, and entered the Chamber of Mind to talk with him after a long time. This left those ship girls can't decided whether to obliterated that Siren's vessel or not, since the last word they heard was "My other half."

"Other half..."『Enterprise?』

After that.

For the past few days, Vestal had been checking as usual how the only patient currently remaining in the medical room was doing. She also felt how ironic it was that right after the girls woke up, it was his turn to fall into a coma instead.

"... E-Excuse me! I've brought a new sheet!"『Hamman』

"Me as well~"『Nicholas』

There were some who hoped that the commander would not be disturbed so that he would recover quickly.

"Haaah~ Here I thought something smelly, but looks like the smell of freedom is just so sharp for my nose."『Akagi』

"Is it? *Sniff-sniff* ... Maybe I should get a shower after this. More importantly, I can't let you in if you're going to create another mess."『Baltimore』

There're those who wished that the commander would be brought to their place because they believed that would be better.

"(Whisper) Ten kids."『Portland』

"Onee-chan, these days... is there something bothering you? Dazing around like that."『Indianapolis』

"Indy-chan... Ehehe being worried about big sis, how cute my lil Indy is~"『Portland』

And there's some who barely know about this "commander" since they know nothing beside his side in their dream.

Words and news scattered everywhere both about the chaos that occurred. Thanks to some reliable ship girl journalists, all of this was able to happen which made some news regarding the whereabouts of their new comatosed commander has became known to several other ship girls.

"Unforgivable..."『Roon』

"You disgusting pineapple eater."『Trieste』

And yeah... they're not the warm and softie kind. Looks like Sakura Zeimachi's ordeal will keep rolling as long as he stay being a commander.

As days passed and another storm brew, Sakura Zeimachi has reached a conclusion with his other side and finally accepted his older teaching. Even way before he became infatuated for Fu Hua, he's not such a boy without a principle.

When those older teachings had returned to his mind, body and soul. He once again regained something he had lost. An old treasure that was once buried and abandoned, a sense of joy that unfortunately still clashes with the sense of hatred that Sengoku brought.

❛About that little Hylia, please don't lash out on her. She had her own circumstances for following us.❜

'I didn't, beside... whether she want to follow me or not is her choice.'

❛Even though you said it like that, asking a young girl like her "What kind of flower are you?" straight outta nowhere is just...❜

'Cera... she told me if that girl is a "Blossomed flower", but she need to know... what kind of flower she is. Else she'll wilt without knowing her worth.'

Once again, he need some time to stabilize it. Fortunately this persona is a very gentle one which made it easier for him to work it out.

Along with a pair of gauntlets, cobalt colored cloak and one empty scabbard that slowly disappeared within his sight, Sakura Zeimachi bids his farewell to that persona who will once again return to guard「the Void」along with「Feathers」and the other forgotten memories resided within.

❛Take good care of them. Be it those girls, little Hylia and this blade as well...❜

'Sure I will.'

❛And one more thing...❜

'... What else?'

❛I'm glad you chose not to leave this path, old man and Ummaya will be proud of you.❜

'... Good bye.'

And after he concluded if he's now good enough to go, finally...

"... *Sigh*..." (Sakura Zeimachi)

Finally he opened his eyes, with a new upbringing for reembarking his old wounds. Together with another kit befitting for the ultimate defender of his homeland, he'll once again continue to fight for the thing he once loved... just like how sanguineous he was.

"Zzzzz... zzzzz... h-hmm? Zei?" (Hylia)

"It's still night, you can go back to sleep." (Sakura Zeimachi)

Slightly surprised by someone resting her head on his forearm, Sakura Zeimachi rubbed her messy hair and told the feasty haired girl to go back to sleep. It seems she accidentally fell asleep while being a guard watching over Sakura Zeimachi.

As Hylia rubbed her sleepy eyes, Sakura Zeimachi looked to the right and left of his bed which made the man noticed an unnatural bump hidden beneath the blanket.

"Nyehehe... ehe... zzzzz..."『San Diego』

As he let his hand to guide him, he once again rubbed the first bump where he could heard a sheepish laugh from a red haired ship girl.

"... Sensei... Zzzzz."『Anchorage』

It didn't take long for him to move at the second bump, and as he do the same as to what he just did he found another ship girl hidden beneath.

Right after he woke up, two young girls were already on the same bed as him. If he really is a true man then what is he waiting for, the meal has been served and now he just need to dine eat however he will.

"... *Sigh*... Lia, get up here. You'll hurt your back if you sleep on a chair like that." (Sakura Zeimachi)

"Hn, alright." (Hylia)

Alas, despite the amount of fortune he just got, Sakura Zeimachi who was tired of all the inner chatter, calmly chose to return to his pillow while also called Hylia to sleep on the bed so her back wouldn't hurt when morning arrived.

"... Hylia-san, there's an empty bed right there..." (Sakura Zeimachi)

"... Zzzz..." (Hylia)

"... Let's just back to sleep." (Sakura Zeimachi)

Too late to tell the true meaning of what he meant, Sakura Zeimachi started covering the two ship girls' bodies with blankets and went back to his sleep with Hylia who was already sound asleep beside him.

"Shut it, Loliman." (Sakura Zeimachi)

They asleep until the morning arrives.