Shogo: Life After Death
The prequel to Shogo: Mobile Armour Division and Shogo: The Aftermath, 
By Hamish Paul Wilson.
Edited by Graham L. Wilson.
http://www.blood-wiki.org/Shogo/Expanded-Canon/

Thanks to Monolith Productions for the Shogo game and characters.

	Commander Sanjuro Makabe was walking back to his quarters after a long day. It had been a year since the disaster that had afflicted him, and he was still not quite over it. However it no longer crippled him as it once did, especially now that he had other things on his mind. Sanjuro reached his quarters and walked inside. Kathryn, who was viewing websites on Sanjuro's computer, turned and smiled at him. “Hi sweetie” she greeted affectionately as she got up and embraced Sanjuro. She still felt a bit guilty; Kura's death still seemed like yesterday. Still, Kathryn knew that her sister would of wanted her and Sanjuro to be happy, and it was not like she was really wronging the dead by doing what she was doing.

	“What were you viewing?” Sanjuro inquired, breaking her train of thought.

	“Just some future missions” she replied. “It would appear that they still do not have much in mind for you.” Sanjuro frowned. He was still under suspicion for Kura, Toshiro, and Baku's deaths, and while he was of course never confirmed to be guilty of them, the doubt surrounding him was still enough to ensure he was not ordered on that many missions, particularly high profile ones. Seeing the look on Sanjuro's face, Kathryn tried to console him with a kiss.

	“To think Kura took this for granted” Kathryn thought, partly jokingly and partly sadly. She still greatly missed her sister, as anyone would for their sibling. Sanjuro was the only one she could confide in; her father was a military man who was trained to hide his feelings. Her mother had died in combat, and she had no other relations left. After they exchanged their kiss, Sanjuro rested on the bed. He had done menial labour today, guarding a remote kato mining facility where he had spent more time helping the workers than fighting. He thought about all the better things he could be doing. Kathryn accompanied him on the bed, placing her head on Sanjuro's shoulder. Sanjuro just rested and thought, stroking Kathryn's long hair gently.


	He had not realized that he had fallen asleep, and it was around midnight that he awoke again. Kathryn had changed into her nightwear and was sleeping beside him. She had a grimace on her face; she was obviously having a bad dream. Sanjuro kissed her on the forehead. Something in her subconscious must have known, as she let out a little smile. Sanjuro spent a little while just staring at his girlfriend. She was beautiful; Sanjuro had always thought that she was. Yet he had chosen Kura; why did he choose her? Maybe because of her attitude in life. Kura had always wanted to be a soldier, not letting anything get in her way. Sanjuro was an orphan and always fought for what he wanted; he was determined to make something of himself.

	Kathryn had always been more emotional, and less determined. She never wanted a fight, and never wanted to hurt anyone. In some ways she was more like Sanjuro's brother Toshiro. It was true however that he needed someone caring now, after his tragedy. He decided he better go back to sleep, and put his head back on his pillow.


	Sanjuro woke up next morning by a soft push on his chest. He opened his eyes, and 
saw Kathryn standing over him. She was already dressed in her day clothes. “Wake up Sanjuro” she commanded. “Just because you have no work today does not mean that I don't!” When they were all together, Sanjuro, Toshiro, Kura, Kathryn, and Baku always ate their meals together. Kathryn and Sanjuro always made a habit of continuing this tradition, even with the persistent sense of empty seats. Knowing how much it meant to her, Sanjuro reluctantly got up and the two headed for the mess hall.

	After breakfast Sanjuro had no idea what he was going to do for the rest of the day. He never liked too much free time, as he always wanted something to do. He retired to his quarters and mostly used his computer for the rest of the day. Around noon he decided to go to Communications and take Kathryn out for lunch. He was greeted warmly by Kathryn when he reached Communications, but was surprised when Admiral Nathaniel Akkaraju suddenly walked into the room, and seemed a little embarrassed to have entered when Kathryn was embracing Sanjuro. He had never showed any objection to their relationship, but never felt comfortable when they showed their affection in front of him. Sensing this, Sanjuro stood up straight and saluted.

	“Hello sir” Sanjuro said with an air of respect.
	
	“I have been looking for you Commander” the Admiral replied. “High Command has accepted my recommendation to attempt to take out 'Gabriel', the Fallen's new leader. I am considering choosing you for the mission.” Sanjuro was surprised by this statement; he had never quite known for sure what the Admiral's thoughts were about the allegations against him.

	“I would preform the mission with all my capacity, sir!” Sanjuro responded earnestly. The Admiral simply nodded and walked away, leaving Sanjuro wondering what he was really thinking of. The two then returned to the mess.

	“Don't worry, father will choose you” Kathryn said over the cafeteria table. She knew how much this mission would mean to Sanjuro if he got it. “If it helps, I know you are the best man for the job” she added affectionately. Sanjuro smiled; maybe his troubles were clearing after all.


	Kathryn did not get off work until late that evening, and when she did come home, she came in with a look of stress on her face. Apparently she had spent hours trying to navigate a group of soldiers through Avernus, and they had failed miserably when it came to following her directions. She took some comfort in Sanjuro's arms, and then prepared for bed. When she went into the wardrobe to look for her nightwear, she spotted a small envelope in one of Sanjuro's shirts pockets. She decided to have a look:

Dear Sanjuro

I can not wait until I can see you again. I do not see why Father insists we visit Earth once a year; I would much rather stay on the Leviathan with you. Hope you had an uneventful time on your mission.

I will be glad to see you again soon.

With love, Kura Akkaraju

	Kathryn noticed Sanjuro peering to see what she was doing, and so she quickly pocketed the letter. She then changed and went to bed. That letter had conjured up memories. She deduced that that letter must have been from three years ago. She remembered the trip, and she did not like what thoughts came into to her mind...

	Kura and Kathryn never particularly enjoyed their visits to Earth, but their father always insisted they must visit their “home country” as he put it. It was a rather hot summer day at their father’s Tokyo estate, and Kathryn had decided to go out into the courtyard of the house. She took out a little picture of Sanjuro she kept with her, and spent a little while staring at it. She thought what life would be like if she took Kura's place as Sanjuro's girlfriend. She closed her eyes and imagined. She liked Toshiro and Baku, but never in a romantic sense. Toshiro and Baku always seemed so distant, even to people they knew well.

	She heard footsteps behind her and quickly hid the photograph in her pocket. Maybe it was the heat, her jealousy, or just her mood at the time, but she suddenly did not want to have anything to do with her sister. “Leave me alone” she grumbled as Kura approached.

	“What's your problem?” Kura asked, more surprised than angry.

	“I don't want to to talk to you, spoiled little bitch” Kathryn hissed.

	Kura stood for a secound even more surprised. ”Spoiled? What the hell?!” she shouted, now angererd. Kathryn, who had not intended to say that last part simply ran off to her room, and cried away the afternoon.

	”Are you okay?” Sanjuro asked as he put his hand on Kathryn's forhead, checking if she was sick. ”You have an awful look on your face.” Kathryn, who was now pulled out of her remiscenes, responded with a long kiss. She felt comfort knowing that Sanjuro was now her's. Then she felt guilty again for snatching away her sister's boyfriend. Sanjuro still looked worried when they had finished their kiss, but Kathryn stated that she mearly had a bad dream. She cuddled up to Sanjuro, and tried to get some sleep.


	This time Sanjuro was the first awake. Kathryn woke up and immediatly jumped out of bed; it was 10:30 in the morning! She then rememberd that she did in fact have shore leave today. She got up, changed, and headed for the mess hall. She met up with Sanjuro there. ”Feeling better this morning?” he asked as Kathryn seated herself on the chair opposite from him. Kathryn nodded and procceded to eat breakfast. She then stopped and looked at Sanjuro for a minute. Sanjuro stared back at her. Kathryn blushed. ”I love you” she commented, more to break the tension than anything else. Sanjuro responded with a warm smile. They had sufferd through so much. Hopefully the future would be kind, and happiness will come again. Until then, they at least had each other.

THE END

April 14, 2008

Review read and cleaned up on September 16, 2014.