Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 105: S0ngD0g13

Sam Potter smiled a lopsided smile as he began to speak. "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony..." As he spoke, Sam couldn't help but remember another wedding, all those many years ago...

................................................

James stood next to Trish, and they said their vows in front of the Navy Chaplain. James was in a black suit and Trish Feiler wore a pale-green dress. Fifteen years they'd been friends, through thick and thin; three years they'd dated, after the end of Trish's disastrous marriage to Brian, and James' latest girlfriend adding herself to the 'Exes' category...

"... I now pronounce you Man and Wife..."

Sam couldn't help but smile, seeing the love between them...

........................................................

"... Speak now, or forever hold your peace..."

Doug Schanks watched the ceremony, the retired artilleryman remembering back when James had married Trish, and how while no one had spoken at the wedding, plenty was said afterward...

.......................................................

"Uncle Doug, I'm hard-up bad, and I dunno what to do," James said from across the table. "The mechanic says my truck's totaled; we ain't got the money to replace it, not and keep the bills paid. And with the baby on the way? I don't know what to do, Uncle Doug..."

"What about her folks? They won't help?"

"They won't lift a finger; they never cared for Trish 'involving herself' with me, who's an enlisted Marine and poor white-trash to boot."

As James seemed to sink in on himself, Doug reached out with a hand that was thick-set with callous from ten years slinging projectiles and powder-bags in a One-Oh-Five battery alongside the twenty-year-old in front of him's father, and nineteen more afterward working a horse-ranch in Kansas, and shook James once. "PFC McAmis, get a grip; now ain't the time to go internal. Listen, I've got your back, and I'll help how I can..."

.......................................................

"... Do you, James Cecil Michael McAmis, take Houshou to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, to honor and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"I do," James said. In the seats, Boxer couldn't help but remember the day that death had parted James and Trish...

...............................................

"Little Mac? James, is that you?" John walked closer to the rain-soaked figure sitting against the front of the Aces-High Club.

"Let me be, Boxer..."

"Mac, the Hell are you doing sitting out in the rain like this; you'll catch your death of pneumonia, you damn-fool. Come on; I'll buy you a cup of cof--"

"Good. Let me catch my death."

John froze. "What the fuck, James? Seriously, what the Actual Fuck? What's going on, Brother?"

"Trish... Trish passed. This morning, early. I... Boxer I..." John couldn't say anything as he held his friend and let him break down.

John cried too; Patricia McAmis had been a constant in the lives of Second LE Battalion. Whether it was bringing a home-cooked meal to the guys working late, or giving the ones who stayed out too long at the bars a ride home or a place to crash for the night, she was always there for folks.

But God help whoever pissed that woman off; there was a reason her (affectionate) nickname was 'Dragon-Lady'!

"I knew she'd been sick, James, but didn't the docs say it was going into remission?"

"She told us that's what the docs said; truth is they told her it had already spread too far. She... Trish didn't want us worryin' for her. Losin' her... It hurts, John..."

......................................................

"... Do you, Houshou, take James to be your lawful wedded husband..."

As Houshou said, "I do," James felt tears forming in his eyes. When the moment came to say his vows, he faced the woman before him and spoke.

"Houshou, Darlin', I'm normally a lot more eloquent, but there's just somethin' about you that ties me all in knots, that makes this battered, scarred-up man of fifty-four feel like a boy of sixteen. You've got my heart, Houshou, and you've got my love, now and forever. I'll help carry your burdens and I'll help ease your hurts; I'll laugh with you, cry with you, lay down to sleep at night beside you and wake in the mornin' with you. Calm or storm, thick and thin, I'll stand beside you all the way. That's my vow to you, Houshou."

Houshou met his eyes. "James, when you first asked to court me, you called me a Lady; the truth is I never really considered myself anything but a woman and a mother. I dreamed of love; I wished for love, but I was content with the love of my daughters. I was content... but not truly happy. Then I met you, James, and you made this humble mother feel like a queen. You have my heart, and all my love, James, now and forever. I'll laugh and cry with you; I'll sleep and wake with you. I'll help lessen your burdens and I'll help ease your hurts. I'll face calm and storm at your side, come whatever may. This is my vow to you, James McAmis; this is my vow to the Admiral of my Heart."

Sam smiled and continued the ceremony; Kaylee and Kaga produced the rings, and finally, Sam said, "You may kiss the bride." When the pair had kissed, Sam said, "I now present to you Mister James and Missus Houshou McAmis."

......................................................

The reception passed by in a blur; there was music and dancing, food-enough to feed three fleets, and drinks of all varieties. Jaw and Zuikaku were blushing for hours as they were teased for catching the garter and bouquet, respectively.

As the party wound down, Jaw and Zui found themselves sitting in his Ford. "Zui? I... I got some news a few days ago. I got accepted into the school I wanted."

The Carrier tilted her head. "So, why don't you sound happy? Is it not a good school?"

Jaw shook his head. "It's a good school, Turkey... But it's in the States. In Maryland. Zui, come the fall I'll be a Midshipman Fourth-Class at Annapolis."

................................................

In the words of NotHimAgain, what do you think?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Having had a long day, which being April Fool's meant dodging pranks and unleashing his own, Harry had tiredly gone to bed with a smile on his face. Not even Kongou having gone all out after waking up had stopped that smile. Heck, Harry had even sent a prank through the mail with Regina's help which he wondered about what happened when it reached their target.

At Scapa Flow, Wanko sighed as Revina ran around like she was on a sugar rush and poofy pink hair.

Eyes closing, Harry soon drifted off to sleep. All too soon though, he found himself in his dreams. Oddly though, he also opened his eyes and found himself once more drifting in that dark place. He could see the black cord extending from his forehead off into the darkness and a look back let him see where the golden cords were. Usually, Harry was confused or something of a spectator.

Usually, but not this time. Harry was going to do something this time.

Reaching up, Harry grabbed hold of the black cord that extended off into the darkness. As soon as he touched it, he felt a burning pain in his hand. It was not heat though that burned his hand, far from it. Instead, it was a piercing cold that shot through his hand and made him think that his very skin was freezing from it. Briefly, Harry considered letting go.

However, it was then that he remembered what he's been thinking. How two times that one of the golden cords had snapped, soon after some ship that had yet been unbuilt was summoned. And so he held onto it as he felt a flash of warmth shoot through him at the thought of those he cared for and loved. The cord in his hand began to vibrate as if trying to escape, but all Harry did was grit his teeth.

And then he pulled at it.

Not pulling it from his head, no. Something told him that was a bad idea. Instead, he pulled the cord towards him. At the same time, he focused on it and was trying to draw more of whatever it was that came down it.

Meanwhile, in Romania in an isolated part was an old house. Most people who did know of it ignored it. Some out of ignorance and others due to some gold being slipped into their hands. It was a very old house, owned by one of Grindlewald's former followers. One who had ran when his master had fallen and gone into hiding, though not alone.

Because elsewhere in the house were Veela that he had grabbed from a village in Germany as payment for his service. One of them, a young girl being used as a servant was watching through a cracked door. Yes, she might have been punished, but she had heard shouts and spellfire. Looking through the crack, she could see the Master's son collapse in a pile of dust even as he screamed. Then from his dust a shadowy something flew out and hit the Master.

Almost immediately, the old wizard aged further and further and his body seemed to decay as he shouted for the spirit to leave him. The other members of that cruel family were already heading to the door where the servant girl was along with guests. Briefly, the girl felt fear before she remembered what that family and their current guests had put her family through. What they had put her through.

Expression becoming stern, the girl reached up towards the door and hit a hidden latch. Her view of the inside was cut off as a piece of iron slid into place, trapping those inside with whatever it was killing them. Paying no attention to the shouts or pleading or the threats, the girl turned and ran for the servant's quarters in the dungeon. Partway there, she smiled as the collar around her neck went cold and fell away. With that, she knew that the last of the family was now dead and hers and the other Veela were all free.

It did not take them long to escape from the former mansion. The oldest among them remembering where they had come from and leading the others towards there. A destination that they would reach through various means, much to the surprise of Marie, Johann, and Bartholomew at seeing one of the Veela that they knew as a young girl, now much older leading a group to the village.

But in the mansion, the shade of Voldemort howled in pure rage as he felt even the small bits of life he had drained escape him while the last dark wizard fell into ash. It poured out, almost through a drain somewhere else. It was maddening as he did not know where it was going. But whoever was causing it, whatever was doing it, would pay! They would pay!

Harry finally, exhausted by his fight let his grip drop and turned around to look at the golden cords. All of them were glowing brightly. However, a large number were fraying and even as the last bits of whatever Harry had pulled through him reached them, he could see them snap one by one. Blinking, Harry tilted his head some as he swore that for a number he saw a familiar color of orange. One of the larger ones snapped as well and Harry could only tiredly smile.

When he awoke, he did so with a tiredness that he felt. Almost as if he had not slept at all, which meant that he had to wave off the questions for him. Whatever happened though? He wasn't about to try it again, it took far too much out of him.
__________________________________________________________________

Gale let out a sigh as she sipped her tea with a small grimace. It was no substitute for coffee, no matter what Kirishima had claimed. But it was about the only thing that she could drink at the moment. A thought that made her look down at her stomach in with a small scowl. She knew that she was pregnant, various tests in their own way... proved the same thing. And yet...

And her stomach was still as flat as ever.

It seemingly taunted her every time she looked. Especially when she glanced at Wash who most definitely had a baby bump and showed it off. Once, she would have been happy, especially as she was continually eating various things. And the cravings for red meat sometimes drove her mad.

Her friend, Jessica Bowers had once teased her about it. How she should be happy to have such a flat stomach despite how much she was putting away. Once. Then Gale had smacked her upside the head for it and stuck her with Destroyer duty for a week. Bowers had never commented on it again.

Currently though, Gale was walking into Crowning's office and raised an eyebrow as the man was standing in front of what she recognized as the timeline that they had been working on. Popping an iron supplement, the former Yeoman walked up. "You're adding something?"

Glancing back at her, Crowning nodded some. "Yes, I actually got word from some colleagues over in England about a recent discovery... After having gotten off the phone from calming a panicking Jersey."

Eyebrow raising, Gale hummed some. Internally, she was struggling with if she wanted to know or not. Finally, she shrugged. "What happened?"

Not looking at her, Crowning frowned some. "Apparently, Jersey believed that Yokosuka was overrun. With Kongou zombies."

Her other eyebrow joining the first, Gale stared at him. "Kongou... Zombies..."

Feeling the stare, Crowning only nodded. "Yes, as in the name ship. Some sort of virus that caused people to transform into Kongou just by being kissed by them. And according to Jersey, she saw Enterprise get transformed in front of her along with Johnston."

There was silence for several moments before Gale nodded. "Magic?"

Crowning nodded in reply. "Magic." Turning to her, he raised an eyebrow as she popped another iron supplement and told him cravings. After a moment, he shook that off and turned to the timeline. "Hmm..."

For her part, Gale walked up beside him and looked at the timeline that the two had worked out. Mainly about possible Abyssal actions as they tried to backtrack them. One of them drew her eye as it always did with it's question mark: May, 1968, USS Scorpion. It was not the only one with a question mark either. A rather large number of question marks could be seen. One sighting though was by Iowa herself when she was a steel hulled.

As her gaze went further and further back in time, some of the incidents became more vague. The sinking of the USS Maine, ACR-1, was one of those. Even she had been surprised by the report in the Naval Archives talking about an odd creature seen in the area before the explosion. A creature that was not far off from what seemed to be an Abyssal.

Once she reached the Sixth Century on the timeline, there was a single mention of a Cormac Ua Liatháin who supposedly encountered a horde of small, toad-like creatures out in the middle of the Atlantic. Beside the mention were the words "Abyssal Imps" with a question mark. From the description, they did match them which made both Gale and Crowning wonder.

It did not take long, but Gale's eyes were drawn to the end of the timeline and her eyebrows raised. "The Sea Peoples? They were Abyssals?"

Very slowly, Crowning sipped his own coffee before putting it down. There was a considering look on his face as he nodded. "I got word from a friend in Britain. Apparently there was a group of artifacts found by a tomb robber in an Egyptian tomb from around the time of the Bronze Age collapse. They were weapons used by the Sea Peoples when they attacked Egypt, and when they examined them, they were Abyssalized metal, in particular bronze."

Lips turned down into a frown, Gale leaned in towards the picture of a bronze arrowhead. One which looked wrong in some way. Grimacing and taking another sip of tea, while shooting jealous looks at Crowning, Gale shook her head. "The Sea Peoples? They were responsible for the collapse, weren't they?"

Crowning nodded as he examined the timeline. "They were one of the causes, yes. Who and what they were has been a mystery for years. All that was known was that they attacked coastal cities and towns, demolished navies, and wiped out life on islands in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Then the local civilizations collapsed and they vanished with the survivors of their attacks building inland and in mountainous regions."

Still frowning, Gale shook her head. "Why didn't they kill us all off then? They had the chance."

There was silence for several minutes before Crowning let out a sigh. "Now that is the question. But considering how the Abyssals are acting now? Attacking each other as often as they attack us? I wonder if they simply did not turn on each other..."

All Gale did was turn back to the timeline as they both lapsed into thought.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Short Reflection

It was dark by the time Namiko and Saki stepped out the door, Saki carrying the box that held the last of the taiyaki under her arm. The stars that weren't dimmed by streetlights twinkled in a more or less clear sky, and though the streets and sidewalks weren't truly empty, there were many fewer people out than in the day.

Saki looked back up at the sky. She wasn't sure, but something in the back of her mind insisted that someone out there had once claimed that the night sky was an ocean. An ocean, like Ushio. Like Namiko.

An unreachable ocean. Just like Namiko.

She wasn't under any illusions that her connection to Namiko hadn't faded over the years—heck, she had only really bonded with her in pretty much the most traumatic few days of her life. The relationship that Umi shared with her was far deeper, far more meaningful, than Saki's ever would be.

And her bond with Umi… It was a casual one. One that had been born of not being angry at each other and sharing a mutual friend. Outside of a shared interest or Namiko, though, she doubted the two of them had ever really shared a meaningful conversation. It was all about what movies the other had seen lately, or what silly things happened in work, the sorts of things that in the long run vanished into posterity.

It had always been Namiko and Umi. It was always going to be Namiko and Umi. Saki had just been there on the wayside.

A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. Saki stopped cold.

"Don't ever think that," Namiko said quietly, so close to a whisper that she had to strain slightly to hear her voice. "You aren't allowed to think that ever again. You understand?"

Saki looked down at her arms crossed over her stomach. She raised a hand and rested it over Namiko's.

A car passed by, briefly illuminating the scene.

"We should get going," Saki said.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Looking across the table, Kaga was struck for a moment at Harry in a pose with his hands clasped in front of his face. Mainly because he looked exactly like Nagato sometimes did when going over plans. And like his mother, Harry's expression was one of utter seriousness. One could be mistaken for believing that like his mother, what he was dealing with was a matter of life or death. Something that the simpliest mistake could cause all to come to nought.

And if one asked Akagi, that was the truth.

Of course, that also brought Kaga's attention to the other participant in this, well besides her. She was providing moral support for Akagi, it was not like she was extremely amused by the antics. See? Her lips were not even curling the slightest.

Right, anyways, on the screen Jane leaned back in a rather nice leather chair. On her shoulders were various Smols taking notes. Which brought Kaga's attention back to Harry and, yes, sure enough there was Minagato on his shoulder also taking notes. Eyebrow raising, Harry hummed as the light glinted off his glasses manicingly. "Hmm... I see, Akagi-Oba. It is good that you came to us for this."

Nodding with a look of utter seriousness on her face, Jane looked down at her own notes. "It's very good, we're what you could call experts in such after all." Pen tapping against her cheek, the American frowned. "I do have a question for you, Cuz." Getting a nod, Jane continued. "How do you do that thing? Where the lights glint off your glasses?"

Harry shrugged a bit. "I've done a lot of practice just to get this right."

Bemused, Kaga spoke up for the first time in several minutes. "Practice, Harry-Chan? You've practiced having the lights glint off your glasses?"

Eyebrow raising, Harry nodded. "Hai, Kaga-Oba. Doing this..." He tilted his head some and the light reflected off his glasses. "Took a lot of work to get down pat. It was even harder to get the various different ways to convay different emotions."

If anything, that amused Kaga even more. But just as she was about to say something, Akagi cleared her throat. "Ah-hm." Once everyone was looking at her Akagi slammed her hand down. "This is all good and dandy, but we're here to discuss something of grave importance!" Then Akagi tilted her head some. "Though speaking of glasses, I think that Kaga-Chan would look very cute in them."

Both teenagers snickered as Kaga went red in the face and glanced away as Akagi smiled at her. After a few moments, Harry frowned some and looked down at his notes. "Well, this is a bit different."

Jane raised a hand on the other side of the video conference connection. "Not that hard, Cuz. After all, we worked it out for Saratoga and her boyfriend with Alaska's help. And she did thank us..."

Eye drawn to the chibi version of Alaska, Harry only nodded. He remembered that greatly as well as how thankful Alaska had been. Jane then nodded and coughed. It took everything Kaga had not to laugh as Harry pulled a folded up fan from somewhere and brought it down on Akagi's head. "BWAH!?"

Now glaring at the Carrier, Harry huffed a bit. "You should have come to us first, Akagi-Oba! This is the sort of thing that Jane is great at and I'm pretty good at it as well."

Softly snorting, Jane folded her arms against her chest. "I wouldn't say that, Cuz. You're no slouch in this sort of thing... except in one place." Ignoring Harry asking her where that was, Jane frowned. "But now we got to figure this one out."

Looking down at the piece of wallpaper there, Harry raised an eyebrow. "I will admit that the plan you came up with was... Interesting. And I suppose in some small way it could work, but it could have backfired badly." As Akagi grumbled to herself, Harry held up a finger. "Just a question though? Why am I in a tanuki suit?"

The Carrier just looked at him oddly and frowned. "Why are you in a tanuki suit?" When he nodded, her frown deepened. "Why wouldn't you be in a tanuki suit?"

On the screen, Jane opened her mouth and then paused as she thought it over. Then she turned to Harry and shrugged. "She does have a point."

Completely lost, Kaga looked from one to the other and wondered, not for the first time, if she should have come. There were odd conversations and then there was things like what she was witnessing. All three went back and forth about several things until, finally, Akagi groaned and placed her head on the table. "But I wanted them to be able to go on a date among the cherry blossoms! Before the season is over."

Blinking, Harry frowned in thought. "A date among the cherry blossoms, hmm?" He glanced at Jane who had a similar look of thought on her face. On Harry's shoulder, Minagato frowned and closed her eyes as she crossed her arms against her little chest. "That's a bit more difficult."

Slowly, Minagato nodded some with a frown. "Gato."

Upon Jane's shoulders, Minimu paced back and forth. "Muuuuuu~"

From her position on Jane's head, Smolzona shook her head. "Zooona. Zona zona zona."

Harry's eyes suddenly snapped open and he smacked his hand down onto the table. Which caused Snowflake to wake from a start and pop the snot bubble that extended from her nose. Then said Smol fell into Jane's lap. "I got it!" Having spotted what had happened, Harry winced. "Sorry Snowflake."

All he could see was one pudgy hand wave at him from out of view. "'Laska."

Once she had gotten the Smol version of Alaska back onto the desk, Jane turned to her adoptive cousin. It went without saying that she was very interested in what he had come up with. "Go on..."

Much to her surprise, Harry grinned and held up a finger. "Hoppou, Regina, Aeroprin..."

Confused, Kaga looked at Akagi only to find that she was as confused as herself. Then they heard a shout of glee from Jane. "Oh my gosh! That's brilliant, Cuz! That might... no, it will work! But what about..."

Shaking his head, Harry waved a hand. "No, not, that's not a problem. See, all we need is-"

"Cuz! That's amazing! And then we can-"

"Exactly! Of course, once we get that, we need to call-"

"You leave that up to me, I can do that easily. But you need to-"

"I'll do that once we got a time pinned down. Oh! What about-"

As the two went back and forth, Kaga only blinked in utter confusion as they seemed to be having a conversation of some sort. What sort of conversation though, she didn't know. 'I'm being reminded of during the war when we couldn't break the American's codes...'

Leaning towards her partner and friend, Akagi whispered to her as Jane and Harry got more excited. "Um, Kaga? Do you have any idea what they're talking about?"

Slowly, Kaga shook her head. "No, not in the slightest. But... I think that they have a plan of some sort?" Then she tilted her head to the side. "Perhaps."

Finally, Harry turned towards them. "Okay, we got ourselves a plan. It's going to take some work and a little bit of time... But it should work! Which means that we'll get Takumi and Nemo under the sakura for a romantic date!"

Now excited herself, Akagi leaned forward. "You do? Really?" When Harry nodded, she nearly let out a squeal. "Okay, what do we need to do."

With a frown, Jane reached under her table. "Now, Cuz and I have come up with the plan, we got some slides explaining it. Makes it a lot easier to understand."

There was silence for several moments before Akagi raised a finger. "You... made slides? For this?"

Blinking as Akagi got nods from the two teens, Kaga coughed. "You made slides, detailing your plans? In about..." She quickly glanced at her internal clock. "Eight minutes."

Only snorting, Harry shook his head. "Of course not." Just as Kaga was about to say something, he continued. "We actually had it in about four minutes."

Kaga just laid her head upon the table as Akagi nodded as if given some great wisdom of the ages. They were through most of the slides before she raised a hand. "Question."

Pointing at her, Harry nodded some. "Sure, go ahead, Kaga-Oba."

With a deep breath, Kaga let it out. "So from my understanding, this plan, at it's most basic, involves a form of trickery."

Head tilting one way then the other, Jane wagged a hand. "Kiiiind of? But not really."

Then Harry took over for his cousin. "See, no one really blinks an eye at Regina when she goes somewhere else in Japan. Or Hoppou as long as one of us is in the area. And that's where the plan gets brilliant." Motioning with his hands, he nodded. "We state that some Abyssal Princesses might wish to sightsee in the area. Part of the whole trying to get used to each other thing. But we don't have to say which Princesses they are, because everyone will assume either Big Sis, Hoppou, Aeroprin, or perhaps Supprin."

Jane then nodded. "Of course, before the Princesses show up, they would need someone to go and have a look first, right? And said person would need to be given a guide to show them around. We could use someone, and Nemo could be shown around by her boyfriend! But no one would realize that fact!"

When Akagi raised her hand, they nodded which made the Red Castle cough. "I do have another question..." When they motioned for her to continue, she pointed at Harry. "Does it still have Harry-Chan in a tanuki outfit?"

Arms crossed, Jane nodded. "Of course!"

Suddenly beaming, Akagi relaxed. "That's good! I'm in."

Raising a hand, Harry smiled back at her. "Also, Kaga-Oba dressed as a Kitsune."

Jane nodded. "Neither of us know why, but it really fits. And we got the perfect outfit for her."

While Kaga banged her head on the table, Akagi rapidly nodded. "Then I'm defintely in!"

All her fellow Carrier did was sigh.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Biking along with a trailer attached to his bike, Harry blinked and came to a stop as he spotted Rei and Asuka walking alone. "Hey you two, what's going on? Why are you alone this early in the morning?"

With a look to her sister, Asuka shrugged. "Haha-ue and Chichi-ue went to see Hoshi-San, Nii-San is too busy trying to work out some sort of schedule for his band. And Onee-Chan is with Haru-Oba-Chan doing Miko stuff. And we wanted to go exploring!"

Rather bemused, Harry leaned against his handlebars some. "I see, so you two are bored then, is that it?" When they nodded, he chuckled and gestured at the trailer attached to his bike. "Well, you two keep calling me Onii-Chan, so might as well take care of you. Hop on, I got some chores to do."

If anything, he was barely kept from laughing as the two young Kitsune practically jumped onto the small trailer. Once they moved the bucket out of the way, he sent off a quick text to Natsumi to tell her what was going on. The return one got a snicker out of him from the sheer exasperation that was contained in it's few words. Looking over his shoulder, he smiled a bit at the two as they moved the two large buckets out of the way. "Ready?"

Nodding as she sat down, Rei looked around. "Hai, Harry-Onii-Chan!"

Lips twitching, Harry began to get back up to speed. It took a few minutes but soon enough, he was once more going along. As he biked around, he hummed a bit. "Just a question for you two..." He waited a few seconds to get their attention. "But why do you call me Onii-Chan anyways?"

The two little girls blinked and then shared a look. One that Harry caught out of the corner of his eye and had him biting his lip to keep from laughing. Then they turned back to him and Asuka wagged a finger at him. "Because Harry-Onii-Chan is Onii-Chan! That's why!"

Unable to help himself, Harry chuckled a bit. "Ah, I see. Well then, far from me to ask anymore about that."

Meanwhile, Rei opened up one of the buckets and peered inside in confusion. "Um, Harry-Onii-Chan? There's a bunch of stuff in these... What are they for?"

Looking over his shoulder, Harry only smiled a bit. "You'll see~" At their pouts, he laughed some. "Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."

Confused, Asuka looked at Rei who shrugged before they decided to simply enjoy the trip. Not that it took very long for them to reach a spot on the base that was not too far away from where the Shrine was. Like the area around the Shrine, during Blood Week the area had been flattened by the Abyssals. But unlike the area around the Shrine, it was used for a different purpose.

One which the two Kitsune saw as they came upon the area with their eyes widening. Looking at Harry, they looked at him awe. "Gardens!"

With a slow nod, Harry glanced around at various shipgirls at work in the Yokosuka Base Gardens. He had been told that when food rationing happened, rather then rebuild in the area the base had instead cleared out debris and created a bunch of food producing gardens. They did not provide a huge amount of food, but they helped pad out some supplies. As well, it provided some of the shipgirls something to do between sorties. And punishment duty.

No one enjoyed spreading manure or weeding when it was hot and muggy after all.

Oddly, they were extremely popular among the shipgirls and Harry had overheard rumors that they were going to open a second garden. However, the gardens were not his final destination. Giving a wave to Rose who waved back as she worked at her blackcurrant bushes, Harry pulled onto a side path. All too soon, they came to a stop and Harry waved at Mamiya. "Mamiya-Oba! I got the feed!"

A smile on her face, Mamiya nodded some. "I can see that Harry-Chan." Turning towards Asuka and Rei, she smiled a bit more and bowed. "Good morning you two."

Both of them got off the bike trailer and bowed to the shipgirl as they spoke as one. "Good morning, Mamiya-San!"

Softly giggling, Mamiya gave a wink to Harry. "My, how polite. In fact, they remind me of someone... Perhaps a little boy?"

Now grinning himself, Harry winked back at her. "I got no clue who you may be talking about, Mamiya-Oba. None at all." Getting off his bike, he walked over to the trailer and got one of the buckets off. Mamiya walked over and grabbed one which made Harry smile as he took the other. "Shall we show the grand surprise is?"

Just nodding, Mamiya looked at the two curious Kitsune and smiled. She could see their hidden tails wagging rapidly. "Well now, we got two little helpers so we should show them what we're doing. Come along then." Needless to say, the two youngsters followed Harry and Mamiya along until they came to a spot where there were several cages. "And here we go."

Running up, the two stopped at one of the cages and stared inside. It was not too big, about the size of a eighteen wheeler trailer. The frame itself was made out of wood with chicken wire between the wood to form the sides and ceiling. Inside, there were platforms and the like. But that was not what caught their attention.

Inside, going about their business was a bunch of small birds. Eyes widening, Rei clapped her hands together. "Quail!" Turning she looked at Harry and Mamiya who were smiling. "You're raising quail here!"

With a hum, Mamiya nodded as she pulled a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door into the pen. "Its a breed of domesticated Japanese quail to be exact." She looked over her shoulder as Harry followed her followed by an awed Rei and Asuka. "They're bred to be bigger and produce more eggs then normal. Some farmer up in the mountains bred them and introduced them when the government asked for solutions to raising food for the population." What she did not say was that her and others suspected that the farmer in question was a yokai. Especially as according to some agricultural experts, the breed had to have been bred over decades at the least. "Now then, it's time for their breakfast and for us to get some work done."

Putting down the bucket he held, Harry closed the outer door and secured it before Mamiya opened the inner one. Once more picking up the bucket, he chuckled a bit. "Well, let's go feed the hungry guys."

Only nodding as she stepped through the inner door and into the pen itself, Mamiya looked around before frowning. "Hmm... Some of these might be getting to be a bit too old..."

A frown on his face, Harry only nodded as he looked around before getting to the business of feeding the quail. "Maybe? But that sort of thing happens so..." He glanced at Rei and Asuka who were staring at the birds around them. "Probably get them later."

Eyebrow raised, Mamiya followed his gaze and then nodded. "Yes, later." She then smiled a bit at the two. "Would you mind helping Harry-Chan feed them? It helps distract them while I gather their eggs."

Quickly nodding, the two made their way over to Harry and soon enough they were surrounded. As they did so, Rei and Asuka watched as Mamiya brought out a basket and then her fairies began searching the pen for eggs. When they found one, they brought it back to the shipgirl to be placed into the basket. Head tilting to the side, Asuka frowned some and then looked at them. "Aren't the eggs small though? I mean, chicken eggs are bigger."

Chuckling, Harry patted her on the head and nodded. "Hai, the eggs are small. But quail start laying way sooner then chickens do and can lay a lot more for what we can feed them." He then shrugged. "And when they get too old, we can just cook them up."

From where she stood, Mamiya nodded. "My fairies have gotten real good at removing the meat from the bones. And it helped a lot during rationing..." She then pointed to a nearby pen. "Besides, we got some chickens as well for eggs and meat."

Both Kitsune stared at the nearby pen where they could see some chickens walking around. There was a bigger house though then there was for the quail. Licking her lips, Rei shook it off before she heard a lid being popped and found Harry with a smaller bucket in his hands that was inside the larger feed one. Curious as he pulled out a bottle and started sprinkling stuff into the bucker, Rei looked and then winkled her nose some as she pulled back. "Ew! There's worm things in there."

Unable to help himself, Harry snickered some. "Not worms, mealworms." At their looks, he gestured over his shoulder at the quail. "They really like them, and so do the chickens. Besides, I'm sprinkling some vitamins and such on them so that the quail will get them." Walking over to a trough, Harry poured the wiggling mass out and soon the quail had hopped over and began snatching them which made him laugh. "Don't have to tell this bunch that it's breakfast."

That got him giggles from Rei and Asuka as they nodded while around them, the various small birds went about their business.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Whistling, Tanaka made his way across the courtyard before a voice called over to him. Spring was coming to Hokkaido which meant that the weather was improving at Kushiro. All of which meant that Tanaka had decided to take his time and walk from his residence to the main administration building. However... that also meant antics. "Oh, Teitoku~ Would we you mind coming over and giving us a hand?"

Just blinking, the Captain turned and was about to say something in regards to he didn't mind. But when he did see what was going on, he sighed at the sight of his three Submarines stretched out on lawn chairs in the sunlight. Each one of them having a grin as a second one held up a bottle of oil and shook it. "We could use a little help putting on our suntan oil~"

All Tanaka did was look at them, sigh, and then continue to walk towards his office as the other two made motions with their bodies. Motions that would have made a certain American Battleship blow her stack from pure prude rage at them doing that in public. "No girls, just no."

Meanwhile, the window to his office opened up and several moments later, Akebono nearly fell out of said window as she yelled and shook her hand at the Submarines. "YOU SHITTY, BIG BREASTED PERVERTED LEWDMARINES! LEAVE THE SHITTY CAPTAIN ALONE SO THAT HE CAN GET SOME DAMN WORK DONE! AND COVER UP! IT'S APRIL FOR PETE'S SAKE!"

Grinning, I-351 only hummed some as she looked up at the enraged Destroyer. "Oh, but it has been so long since we were able to sunbathe~"

Steam started to come out of Akebono's ears as I-352 rubbed her chest some. "Besides, we don't mind the cold very much. It helps us show off."

Disappearing for a moment, Akebono reappeared with an apple core which she threw with all her strength. "YOU FUCKING SHITTY SLUTTY SUBMARINE!" She gave a sniff as the apple core hit right on target with I-352 yelping. "NOW GO PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!"

With a sniffle, I-352 groaned some. "Ow... My boobie..."

Beside her, I-371 pouted. "Ouchie, that looked like it hurt..." Suddenly, she grinned some and reached over. "Here, let me help you~"

Needless to say, Tanaka decided that he had enough of the weather outside and quickly rushed into the administration building. It was only after the door closed behind him as Akebono's temper exploded that he shook his head with a small smile. Sometimes the antics could only cause him to sigh. At a sound, he turned and raised an eyebrow at Kamoi who was sitting there. "Kamoi-San, didn't expect to see you here."

Only blinking, Kamoi finished chewing whatever she was eating and smiled some. "Teitoku! Quite the nice day out, isn't it?" She sighed a bit and looked out the window. "And it's nice and sunny, which means one can see the mountains."

His eyebrow raising still further, Tanaka frowned and looked in the same direction as she did out the window. And saw the Submarines out on their lounge chairs and past that were the actual mountains. "... Mountains?"

Slowly nodding, Kamoi hummed and nodded some. "Yes, quite the lovely view of them today."

When she nodded though, Tanaka's eyes were drawn to some different mountains and he snapped his head up a moment later. However, he could alsmost swear that there was a gleam in Kamoi's eyes. "I... see."

Moments later, Kamoi raised her bowl with a smile. "I'm having some mefun, want to share, Teitoku?"

Chuckling, he just waved her off. "Perhaps later, but I just had a late lunch." Tanaka then held up a bag in one hand. "And I brought some food for Akebono and Kasumi." Sighing, he shook his head. "Those two forgot to bring some lunch for themselves."

Bemused, Kamoi leaned against her fist and hummed. "I see." Looking up at him, her eyes softened a bit. "You know, Teitoku, you really do take care of those girls. No matter what, you're there for them."

Simply shrugging, Tanaka smiled. "Well, that's my job after all. To take care of them..." The expression on his face softened a little. "Besides... They deserve it after what they have been through. And if I could, I would do more for them or any of you other girls."

Leaning against her fist, Kamoi seemingly stared into his soul before her lips quirked upwards a bit more. "I see." With a sigh, her eyes sparkled a bit. "No wonder then, you make it so easy, Teitoku."

Confused, Tanaka frowned and furrowed his eyebrows some. "Easy? Make what easy?" When she didn't answer, he frowned even more. But instead of asking, the Captain only shook his head. "Anyways, what have I told you? I'm not your Teitoku, I'm just a Captain... Why are you laughing?"

Kamoi grinned a bit before humming. "Why am I laughing indeed, Teitoku? Why am I laughing indeed..."

Not saying anything else, she turned back to the window leaving a very confused Captain who missed a red faced Kasumi dart out of view. Steam leaking from the ears of the Destroyer as she did so while tsun levels rose. Reaching his office, Tanaka only blinked at the sight of a wide eyed Akebono having Kasumi whisper to her. Before he could say anything though, Akebono turned to him and puffed up. "And where have you been, you shitty Captain!?"

Hanging up his jacket, Tanaka merely chuckled some. "Just having some lunch, that's all." Before the tsundere Destroyer could say anything else, he lifted up a bag. "I brought you and Kasumi some, Akebono. There should be enough I think."

Flustered, Akebono eventually just huffed some and took the bento. "I suppose that we will just need to deal with your shitty cooking then, you shitty Captain." Placing the bag onto her own desk, the Destroyer had just opened it when Tanaka called out hers and Kasumi's name. "Yeah? What is it?"

As he let out a sigh and sat down, Tanaka placed his coffee to one side and pulled some paperwork over. There was no rest for the wicked. "Have either of you put in the time yet?"

Extremely confused, Akebono turned and looked at Kasumi who shrugged. Turning back to Tanaka, she frowned some. "Time? Time for what?"

Tanaka looked up and raised an eyebrow at them. "To go and visit your family and enjoy the sakura. Unless they're coming up here when it blooms soon, in which case just let me know and I'll work the schedules so you can go out and enjoy yourself."

Rapidly blinking, Akebono was about to say something when she stopped and looked at him with a narrow gaze. "Haven't decided, you shitty Captain. But I expected you to go and have some time off."

Briefly, Tanaka froze before he shrugged. "I'm pretty good actually. Besides, it's not like I got the time to take off."

Unnoticed by him, both Akebono and Kasumi only shared a look of silent communication between them. The two having the same idea, but not saying anything. After all...

They did have an image to uphold.
_____________________________________________________________

Stretching some, Jane turned and smiled at the person beside her. "Thanks for showing me around some, this place has been amazing!"

With a smile, the young woman beside her only smiled and nodded. "It has been my pleasure, Jane-San." Bringing her pipe to her lips, she took a breath and then let out a stream of smoke. "You have been a most interesting visitor."

If anything though, that made the American girl grin some. "Thanks!" Getting another chuckle, Jane looked over her companion beside her. Said young woman had short, brown hair and gentle blueish green eyes that showed kindness. Of course, her clothes would have attracted looks as the top was a highly modified Miko style which barely contained her bust and a red ribbon encircled her neck. Her middle though had stylized armor complete with parts of a skirt, while below that instead of a skirt she wore hot pants.

Oh, and she also had what looked like raccoon ears on the top of her head with a raccoon tail.

Blowing out another stream of smoke, the young woman raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Is something wrong, Jane-San? You seem distracted."

Quickly shaking her head, Jane giggled some. "Nope! Just that I never thought that I would meet someone like you here really." Frowning, she tapped her chin with one finger. "I wonder if there's others like you around?"

Laughing lightly, the young woman shook her head and smiled. "I think that there is, yes. It has been a while since I spoke to any of the others though, we're not always able to talk with each other." Turning, she looked out at the nearby sea with a small frown. "Though with things how they are..."

Also looking out at the sea, Jane frowned some. "Well... Things are better now with the shipgirls. Like Mutsu-Mama, Ari-Mama, Hiei-Mama, Jinstuu-Mama, Aunt Pennsy, Albie and Archie... And everyone else."

Rather bemused, the young woman hummed in thought. "And wasn't that a surprise? Never have I thought that I would see such wonders even with my age." Head tilting to the side, she smiled a bit more. "I would like to thank you, Jane-San." At her confusion, the woman reached out and gently ruffled Jane's hair. "It has been some time since I have heard tales of castles so far away. Hogwarts sounds like an interesting place."

Grinning, Jane let out some laughter. "It really is! Cuz is really, really lucky to be able to go there."

Head tilted to the side, the young woman raised one eyebrow. "And you're not jealous?"

All Jane did though was shrug. "I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't a bit jealous. But hey? What can you do? Besides... Cuz hasn't let it get between us and I'm not about to either."

Blinking at the answer, the young woman stared and then laughed. "Such wisdom! And from someone so young." Suddenly, she glanced to the side where she could see Jane's family. "And it looks like your family is ready to go and are looking for you."

Just as she was about to say something, Jane's phone rang and she brought it to her ear. "Yes, Daddy? Really? Okay, I'll be right there." Hanging up, she bowed a bit. "Thank you again, it's been really great meeting you. And you've been way better then the guides."

That got another laugh from the woman and she smiled before ruffling Jane's hair again. "Indeed? Well, I suppose that it is to be expected as I do know everything about this place. Now then, until we meet again, Jane-San, I wish you pleasant tidings."

A smile on her face, Jane nodded some before she smiled. "You too, Miss Hirado!" Turning, she began running while waving back. "Bye!"

Chuckling, Hirado shook her head in bemusement as she took another pull of her pipe. "Such an interesting and energetic girl!" Head tilting back, she smiled up at the sky. "And these are such interesting times, myths and legends once more beginning to walk the world..."

With another shake of her head, Hirado turned and began to fade away. The last sight of her that anyone who could have been there would have had was her vanishing into the walls of Hirado Castle, her true body. Further away, Jane smiled as she sound of warm chuckles met her and she could feel a warm wind ruffling her hair as she waved to her family.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 106: S0ngD0g13

Because all of y'all give me such good ideas...
................................................

The first indication that the tramp-freighter Charleston Dancer had that something was wrong, was the fog-bank rolling in, faster than any fog had a right to; the boat was out without escort, smuggling goods by moonlight between Charleston, South Carolina, and the MACUSA enclave on Roanoke Island...

The second indication that things had gone bad was the eldritch three-masted ship that suddenly appeared from the fog and laid alongside; grapples winged out from the ship and boarders crossed, followed by a tall Abyssal dressed in rough-spun sailor's-togs under a gray coat and a gray tweed cap. "Seize the crew and the wireless! No killing!"

The skeleton-crew was overwhelmed in an instant, and the Abyssal cut the flag down from the freighter's mast in one chop of her cutlass. "Papers! Bring me the manifests and any documents! And bring me the crew!"

The Imps scrambled to follow her orders, and the Abyssal pulled a folded newspaper clipping out of her coat. She unfolded it and read the headline, looked into the photographic eyes of the one who'd killed her killer, and snarled...

After the crew of the Charleston Dancer was interrogated and disposed of, and the cargo transferred, the Abyssal stepped off and onto her own hull, and ordered the freighter burned and two red rockets sent up. As the flames roared into the night, other Abyssals emerged from the fog...

"What news? What news, Raider Princess?" asked one Abyssal, her visage wrapped in bandages and her figure garbed in tattered, burned rags.

"The Orient. Them we're seekin' are in the Orient, Jolly. The Blue, the Traitor Gray, and My Killer's White Whale. An' the Traitor's a Traitor twice-over, now; she's flyin' Yankee Colors..."

'Jolly' grimaced, baring her fangs as the smell of charred wood grew thick on the air. "Then it's to the Orient we'll go, Raider. Tusker, signal Blockader Demon to rendezvous with us at Roanoke; we're going to the Far-East."

"Aye, Princess," replied the sloop-of-war on the bandaged Abyssal's other side. "When we arrive, Raider Princess, she's mine to kill; my sister's blood is mine to avenge."

"And I say she's mine to kill, Tuscarora, for stealing my revenge from me! Kearsarge was mine to slay!"

This ain't good... thought the submarine listening behind a sandbar. Two Princesses, two Demons, and if the Abyssals I saw further out were any indication, most of a damned fleet, and they're bout to come a-callin'...

Hunley slipped backward off the bar and began to dive, only to pull up short when she saw just who Blockader Demon was...

If I weren't going to the Orient before, I sure am now...

.......................................................

As an Abyssal flotilla started toward Roanoke Island, a Confederate Sub-Girl headed for shore. After she'd made landfall at Fort Sumpter, Hunley scrambled for the telegraph and started tapping...

TO: CHARLESTON GARRISON

ABYSSAL FLOTILLA SIGHTED-- TWO PRINCESSES CONF.-- TWO DEMONS MIN.-- MULT. ABYSSALS VARIOUS CLASSES-- ALL ABYSSALS ACW CLASSES-- DESTINATION 'ORIENT' INTENTION TARGETED STRIKE-- TARGETS REFERRED TO 'BLUE' & 'TRAITOR GRAY' & 'WHITE WHALE'.

FROM: SUMPTER GARRISON

......................................................

On shore, the Lance Corporal manning the telegraph that ran between the garrison headquarters and the harbor-forts was rapidly transcribing the storm of clicks coming over his headset. Once done, he ripped the page out of his notepad and added it to the 'Important but Non-Critical' pile; the Admiral would see it in the morning...

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Not sure about this one, trying it anyhow.
Some Approval Required

-----

"Let me see if I understand this," Goto says. He is honestly trying his best to be sarcastic, but some days it can be a struggle. He wishes Kongou was here, he'd have an easier time of it then. "You want me to set up a tour of a local town for the Twin Abyssal Princesses, except you don't want me to do that, you want me to use it as an excuse for Nemo to walk around town in broad daylight with her boyfriend. Is that what you're saying?"

"Don't say it like that," Kaga replies, "I'm trying to convince myself that it's not a bad idea."

"You still haven't explained to me why it's not a bad idea," Goto says.

"Because Harry came up with it?" Akagi suggests. It doesn't work quite well enough for Goto, who fixes her with a look.

"I believe that we received a reminder of the fact that Harry is an inveterate prankster not too long ago," he snipes, though the fact that it was Harry's idea is a bit comforting. The kid has a fair success record. "I'd like a better reason than that."

"Because they're young and in love, and young and in love couples should share romantic walks among the cherry blossoms!" Akagi revises her answer.

"Still not good enough."

Kaga heaves a sigh. "In all honesty, it's less likely to end horribly than the exploding Mali plan," she says. Goto considers this, then lets his head sink into his hands. That argument should not make so much sense.

"We're going to begin negotiations with the Twin Abyssal Princesses in earnest in two days," he says. "This is the point in time when we are preparing our points, fact-checking our arguments, and deciding where and how we want to handle our borders. This is something that would honestly lend very little to discussion, except you're just trying to get my approval aren't you, because making contact with Nemo and having her carry the message back to the princesses would make so much more sense, which is where Harry is instead of explaining this plan to me with you."

Akagi applauds.
-----

Takumi and Nemo look at the little Caucasian kid with the glasses.

"I don't know you," Takumi says.
-----

"Yes, we decided that Harry would be ideal for the job," Akagi congratulates Goto, "Kaga can be a bit... intense, and I may have spooked Nemo a little when we first met. Harry is unfamiliar, but he's less threatening."

"Admiral," Kaga says, bringing Goto's attention back to herself. "I've been thinking this over myself, whether or not this would be the smart thing to do. The conclusion that I have come to, after much thought is…" she shrugs. "I can't think of any serious reason we have not to."

Goto nods. "I understand." He looks back and forth between the two carriers. "Okay then. Let's try it."
-----

I think this could be a lot better, but there you go.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Portsmouth - Office of the First Sea Lord.

Lord Admiral Robert Fairbank, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, went over documents that had come just that morning from the Ministry of Intelligence, along with a doctored video file from the same. His attention was distracted by the gentle clatter of a tea set being placed on a side table.

"Robert," came a chiding voice that was both mothering and loving, "it's time for tea."

Fairbank looked at the time - 4:15 sharp. Tea time indeed. The First Sea Lord stepped away from the desk and made for the small table he had set aside for these small meals. Seating across from him was a buxom woman dressed in an attire more appropriate for an Edwardian matron than a modern servicewoman, a clear first sign of being a shipgirl. Her dark chestnut hair done up in a bun, and clothed in a butter yellow dress, and with a build that would have been - tastefully - hailed as the ideal shape of a young woman fit for marriage, there could be no mistaking her for anyone else but Dreadnought - the mother of all battleships. And the First Sea Lord's Secretary... Publicly. Privately, the childless widower and the husbandless mother considered each other something much more intimate. Gently brushing her hand with all the force of a butterfly's wings, Robert took the porcelain tea pot and poured for the both of them.

"How are the girls, mother?"

Dreadnought sighed indulgently as she spread marmalade on a scone.

"Father, there is nothing new thank goodness. Though 'Spitie has run off to visit her investment in Scotland. From what I hear he is shaping up to be a handsome lad. I just pray they don't create a scandal."

"Oh I would not be worried madam," Robert replied, adding his customary two lumps of sugar and cream to his tea, "Warspite is a sensible girl, you've praised her of that yourself. And as she is engaging in Husband Husbandry, she can be certain that young Master Weasley will be nothing less than a perfect Officer and a Gentleman."

The Mother of Battleships snorted as she stirred in a drop of honey into her own spot. "Or a cad. She is as much a child as young Ronald, and just as likely to run off with her passions without thinking."

"Just like her mother then." Fairbank quipped, "or have you forgotten that rainy Sunday afternoon in June three years past?"

The battleship made a show of indignation and playfully slapped his wrist... Though the look she sent to the closed and locked office door was indeed most genuine. Robert felt the fear of discovery was needless. For starters, he had heard enough of the other girls of the navy discussing how the younger dreadnoughts and battle cruisers desired to see their mother married to know they would approve. Furthermore, their apparent age gap was nothing compared to those between his century past predecessors and their own brides. And for the last likely fear she harbored... Well, he was of the Aristocracy. And without the occasional scandal, what was the point of being an Aristocrat? There was an entire joke outlining what was expected of their station after all.

At that the two fell into a comfortable silence as they enjoyed each other's company, playing at the game of secret lovers at the coy and "accidental" brushes as they went about their afternoon tea. But, in God's Good Time, the biscuits and scones were eaten and the tea was gone, and with a regretful contact of the eyes the pair stood up, put away the tea set, and returned to their duties.

"Did you have a chance to look at that footage the Ministry of Intelligence sent you Robert?"

The first Sea Lord nodded, having opened up the same file and paused at the relevant moment. The climax of the Liberation of the Azores, nearly a decade previous now, was the confirmed destruction of the Azores Princess. The act was confirmed via drone footage of the figure confirmed via radio traffic to be the Princess. And the ease of that victory always had Lord Admirl Robert Fairbank on edge, as if there was another shoe that was waiting to drop... Until earlier in the year, when a lone Re-Class Battleship under a flag of parlay opened up diplomatic talks. An instinctive hunch of First Sea Lord Fairbank was that this Re-Class' Princess - the Ancient Atlantic Gateway Princess - and the Azores Princess were one and the same, and that battle years ago was a ruse. So he had the boys in the MI comb through the drone footage, pretty it up a bit, and make dead sure of the figure that the fleet destroyed. Sure enough, judging by the glazed expression on her face, the battered rigging, the fact that she was tied to a repurposed telephone post, and the slits at her throat and her stomach, the figure that the fleet blew to Kingdom Come was already dead when they arrived. Furthermore, analysis of the face was an almost ninety-six percent match to the Maltese Princess, who was confirmed cleared from the Med only a few weeks previous to their attack on the Azores Princess.

"This complicates things I take it." Dreadnought said. It was not a question.

"Indeed," Fairbank answered, one hand gripping his upper jaw so that he was muttering into his palm, "the PM has been stalling until we had a better idea who we were dealing with. No doubt Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will be demanding reparations for all those raids she made in the months she sat on her ill-gotten throne. I hope the Politicians and the revenge-seekers don't bugger this for us. We could really use a Wanko of our own out there in the Central Atlantic."

Dreadnought leaned down, so that her mouth was right next to his ear. She placed a comforting hand on her Admiral's shoulder.

"Steady on love," she whispered, "it's not all bad."

With that she kissed Robert on the cheek before resting her head against her Admiral and Lover's. Fairbank moved his hand to the one his lover had on his shoulder; and for what seemed like an hour the pair stood their, looking at the data, and thinking on what it meant...
------

As far as I know, Dreadnought is a Schrodinger's Shipgirl. And - being the shipper scum that I am - I decided to use her, to give me an in to show another set of thoughts of Warspite's relationship with Ron - that of a fretting but loving mother for her daughter. I hope she came across as wanting what was best for her girl, but also worried about going to far or not far enough. And that her relationship with the First Sea Lord, Lord Admiral Fairbank, felt natural. I have a very specific model I was aiming at.

Harry Leferts said:
Might use it for her Rebuild, much better then how Pacific went and just gave her absolutely massive tits to make a joke out of her being called the "Big E".
Harry Leferts said:
Well... she went from nearly flat chested to being able to having a chest that Iowa would be proud of, let's just say.​

Tragically, that is not the case. That seems to have been a gag drawing. The latest character designs are of a much more modest post-refit bust. Enough to be noticed as to have grown, but still practically flat compared to Iowa.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was not too unusual to see the Submarines all gathered in a group in their area of the base. After all, they were all close to one another. Nor was it unusual to see them gathered while making plans with the mobile blackboard they had. One did need to set out patrol schedules and the like after all!

What would have been unusual was the reason why they were there making plans as Taigei and Ryuuhou worked at making some dinner. Standing in front of the group, Hachi paced with her hands behind her back. "I have some good news for everyone here. We have completed the first stage of the plan. And now, we will move onto the next stage of..." Hand whipping out, Hachi slapped a pointer against the blackboard which had a drawing of Harry on it waving at them. "Operation: Give Happy Ending!"

Slowly, Maruyu raised her hand from where she sat cross legged. "Um, I got a question..." At the nod, she continued. "Does... the name have to sound so lewd? I mean... give happy ending?"

The room was silent as Hachi frowned. "Lewd? What do you..." It struck her then and she blushed some. "I-I-I... that's not what the name means!"

Laying on her stomach and kicking her feet back and forth, RO hummed. "Could have fooled me." A smirk on her face, she reached over and grabbed a salted cracker. "Could have fooled me. After all, a... 'Happy Ending' in a few years is what we're aiming for. And don't tell me none of you have thought or dreamed about it. We are in the bodies of teenaged girls after all with everything that comes with that."

Only turning her head, Imuya coughed. "Uh..."

Not even turning in their direction, Taigei called out. "Remember girls, Harry-Chan is not for lewding." Then she looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Though I suppose that with how old we are physically, it cannot be helped in our heads."

Grinning as her fellow Subs blushed, RO bit down on the cracker. "Not for lewding now. But in a few years?"

Instead of continuing, the German Uboat only munched on her cracker smirk. None of the Submarines were able to look at each other without red faces. And each of them were cursing puberty inside their heads. Ryuuhou sipped some of the food from a dish and then nodded to her Twin. "At least you are not calling it Operation: Ōoku."

Needless to say there were sputters from that which lead to Ryuuhou and Taigei sharing a smile. Meanwhile, Shioi huffed a bit. "Still say that it should be called Operation Fleet Ending."

Taking some pity on Hachi, Iku couched. "How about we move on? It doesn't matter what we call it after all."

With a thankful nod to Iku, Hachi took a deep breath. "Right! Moving on..." She tapped the blackboard. "Now then, Phase One was basically waiting for Phase Two to begin. At the same time, we were going to continue being there for Harry-Chan as we have been."

Looking up from where she was checking something on her phone, Imuya frowned. "Yeah, that's right. What changed? I thought that Phase Two was not for at least two more years?"

Hachi nodded at the question before picking up some chalk and writing on the board. "That was the plan, but as we all know no plan survives first contact with the enemy." There were nods from everyone at that. "Now, two things have changed the time table and moved it up."

On Iku's face there was a thoughtful look before she nodded. "Harry-Chan's shows of affection, right?" At the looks, she waved a hand and blushed. "I heard that Harry-Chan is not just kissing cheeks."

A grin on her cheek, RO nodded. "I can confirm that, Ja. Harry-Chan kissed Regina on the lips in Germany. He's also apparently kissed Shinano-San, and Natsumi-Chan." There were murmurs at that which RO waved off. "But! But, I think that Harry-Chan may do the same to us soon enough. Friendly kisses, yes, but more then expected..."

Blushing deeply, Iku touched her lips with one finger. "O-our first kiss... We might get them soon."

Eyebrows furrowing, Maruyu blinked. "Um, our first kiss with a boy then? I mean... considering Verniy-Chan when she's drunk..."

Sharing a look, the older Submarine girls answered as one. "That does not count."

Rapidly shaking her head, Hachi nodded. "Exactly. Harry-Chan is showing levels of affection that were not expected, though they are welcome." Blushing, she bit her lip. "And, um, I wouldn't mind my first kiss from him to be a friendly one."

As they all muttered to themselves and nodded, Shioi frowned. "That is a good reason for moving forward. You said two reasons though. What's the second?"

Pulling out some folders from her swimsuit, Hachi placed them in front of her fellow Submarines. No one commented on two extra ones. Once they opened them, Hachi nodded. "I discovered that starting in Third Year, students have what is called 'Hogsmeade Weekends'. The student's guardian signs a permission slip allowing for them to leave the school on select weekends of the year and go down to Hogsmeade."

Chewing on the end of her pen, Imuya rapped the paper. "I see... Hogsmeade as in that small village close to Hogwarts?"

Nodding, Hachi smiled. "As a matter of fact? Yes, the very same."

A frown on face, Maruyu hummed. "I remember Harry-Chan talking about them. But I didn't find out if it was one day, or a two day thing. Do they go out for just the one day? Or do they come back at the end of one day and head back the second?"

Only sighing, Hachi shook her head. "That's one question that we need answered. In the end though, it doesn't matter that much. What does matter is that Harry-Chan will spend the day. And my research shows that apparently Hogsmeade Weekends are often used for dates."

Slowly shaking her head, RO sighed. "Harry-Chan will only be thirteen though. That's too young to go on dates."

Much to her surprise, Hachi nodded at that. "And I agree with that! These are not going to be dates, just friendly outings between friends. That is all. No trying to get romantic, no trying to sneak off for alone time. Just friends going out to enjoy the day together." Seeing the looks of disbelief, she rolled her own eyes. "I'm being serious here. Phase Two of the plan is not trying to go out on dates. It's to get Harry-Chan used to the idea of being with one or two of us at a time, but no one specific. Each weekend, one of us, or two if we agree, will head out and spend the Hogsmeade Weekend with Harry-Chan. And each time it will be someone different. At the most there might be hugs or kisses on the cheek, anything else is up to Harry-Chan. We'll do this phase for the next two or three years."

Taigei frowned some as she stirred the food. "And how often are these Hogsmeade Weekends?"

Just humming, Hachi checked her logs. "There's been five and six each year. That's not too bad for scheduling, especially as we'll know weeks ahead. Heck, we can continue when Harry-Chan is home! There's plenty of places to go on an outing in Yokosuka alone."

Pen tapping against her chin, Imuya raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing that you're talking about using the Vanishing Cabinet that Teitoku is getting to go between Britain and here when you talk of going there?" Once Hachi nodded, she frowned. "How are you going to convince Teitoku to let us go? We get time off so a day or two won't be huge. But convincing him to let us use it?"

There was silence for several moments before Maruyu tilted her head. "Well... considering the trouble that Harry-Chan has had? Maybe he'll let us go if only to check up on him? Or keep watch out for anything while he's out of the castle?"

Murmurs could be heard as the various Submarines conversed before they put it to the side. Shioi then spoke up. "There's one problem. What if Harry-Chan doesn't go with one of us? What if he goes with Natsumi-San? Or Shinano-San? Maybe even Verniy-San. Heck, even Regina-San might show up or Hanna-San as well as Lousiana-San. What then?"

Shrugging, Hachi shook her head. "Still works out for the plan. Harry-Chan will get used to taking one of us and spending time with them with it being a different girl each time. In fact, it will work out even better that way. Like I said, for the next few years we're going to do just friendly outings with him. Then once Harry-Chan is fifteen or sixteen, we go to Phase Three of the Operation."

Eyebrow raising, Iku paused before asking the question which she had some idea of the answer for. "And what is Phase Three?"

Her expression serious as she looked at her friend, Hachi took a deep breath. "Actually going out on dates with Harry-Chan. Initiating it may be the toughest part as Harry-Chan... Well, we might need to make him understand that, yes, we are serious about liking him that way. Considering They-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and how they treated him? There might be issues there that we need to be aware of." Grumbles could be heard as saying that they despised Harry's relatives and how they treated him was putting it mildly. "But our best bet is to ease him into it. Gradually go from Phase Two into Phase Three. Which will be much the same as Phase Two, but with the outings being actual dates. Phase Three is also the most important as we have to make sure that nothing happens to force Harry-Chan to choose someone."

Blinking, Maruyu frowned some. "We already knew the outline, but... Why?"

Chewing her lip, the glasses wearing Submarine shook her head. "Because the rest hinges on it going on in that manner as long as possible. We need to get Harry-Chan used to the idea of being with us as a group, and the outings of Phase Two becoming the dating of Phase Three with both going on for years is the easiest way. Phase Three will continue until Harry-Chan chooses someone of his own free will or until he's about nineteen. If we hit that point, then he should be used enough to the idea from dating us all for years that it won't be a huge issue being with us in that manner. But none of us dating him can force him to make a decision until we get to that point. Everything hinges on easing him into it but also allowing him the freedom for it."

This time, it was Ryuuhou who spoke up, the Light Carrier turning to face them with a frown and a raised eyebrow. "That is all fine and dandy, Hachi-Chan. But how are you going to convince the others to go along with your plan? What if they have their own ideas?"

All Hachi did was sigh and shake her head. "Then what happens, will happen. It will be Harry-Chan's decision and we would have given it our best shot. But I don't really see an issue coming from Verniy-San or Shinano-San in regards to it. Regina-San, I can't say as I don't really know her all that well, but... I don't think she would have a problem with it. And Louisiana-San certainly won't."

Snorting, Imuya shook her head. "Considering that she's outright stated that she wants Harry-Chan and Natsumi-San with her? Doubt it. She's about subtle with her feelings as one of her shells to the face."

Iku's voice was utterly dry as she turned to her friend. "She's a Battleship, they don't do subtle."

Lips twitching, Hachi shrugged. "She may be about as sneaky as a brick, but... she might pull it off. Natsumi-San certainly seems like she may be slowly wearing down to the idea anyways, which can only help us. And honestly? Natsumi-San is most likely to get the ring I think other then Shinano-San or Verniy-San. But if we want to be with Harry-Chan, we need to work with them, not against them. And this..." She tapped the blackboard. "Will help as it will also get them used to it as well. It will take years of work for us, and we'll have to go slowly, but at the end will be something that we would enjoy and be happy with, not just those here either."

While Ryuuhou and Taigei brought the food over, there were nods and soon they descended into discussion.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 107: S0ngD0g13

The Headhunter Flotilla: Staging...
................................................

The MACUSA 'enclave' on the south side of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, was in truth little more than a dozen small families too stubborn to move inland after Blood Week, an Owl-Post Office, and three Aurors who were assigned to that backwater for 'reasons'. The Abyssal flotilla lay just offshore, and the two Princesses conferred...

"Speed. We need to hit fast and sudden, grab our man, and fade away sharpish," said the Raider Princess, a faint tinge of Liverpool in her accent.

"Better idea, Raider; we do it subtle and quiet. Blockader, Tusker; send in the Turncoat and have him bring our man out," responded the bandaged Princess that Raider irreverently called 'Jolly'.

The two Demons towed a dinghy forward with a man sitting inside, huddled under a cloak. The dinghy slipped ashore and the man stepped out onto the beach and strode into the seaside town. As he walked, a wand of yew-wood dropped from within one sleeve and a dozen stones were Transfigured into blunt-muzzled mastiffs, which loped on silent feet into the shadows, seeking the Aurors.

The cloaked man entered a house; the windows flared twice with green light before the Turncoat and another man walked out, the latter glass-eyed under Imperius. The pair marched down to the beach and stood as the Abyssals came ashore; there were the two Princesses, the Blockader Demon and 'Tusker', the Raider-Hunter Demon. Arrayed around and behind them were frigates and sloops-of-war, gunboats and ironclads, each thirsting for the slaughter to come, full-forty in number. The bandaged Princess grinned. "Good job, Turncoat... We saw flashes, though; was there trouble?"

"None that wasn't easily-dealt-with, Princess. Our Portkey-Crafter had a family. A wife, and a pretty daughter in her teens."

"I suppose you would have preferred having time to 'play'?" asked Jolly.

"I would have preferred having time to give the daughter to you, Princess, as a tidbit, a token of my love."

"My my, aren't you quite the romantic this evening," purred Jolly with a grin. "You flatter me with such gifts, Claudius; if I had a heart, I'd swear you were trying to win it." Jolly leaned in and kissed the hooded man softly, nipping his lower-lip to draw blood. "Now, to business. Can he make a Portkey while under Imperius?"

"He can," Claudius assured her. "I have him utterly." The coordinates were given and the Portkey made from a length of line. After that was done, Claudius watched with a madman's smile as the other Wizard was given to the Pook-Turtles in the fleet; Louisville and Cincinnati grabbed their victim by the ankles and pulled him like a wishbone...

Raider Princess looked to Claudius. "Did you silence the guards?" When the turncoat Wizard nodded, she smiled with glee. "Into the town, Girls! Eat your fill now, for we'll be on short-rations once we arrive!" The Abyssal fleet swarmed into the Magical community with a wild Rebel Yell, and made the gutters run red beneath the moon...

Just before dawn, they reassembled; each laid a hand on the line, and Jolly spoke the activation-phrase that would send them to the Far East. "Damn the Torpedoes; Full-Speed Ahead."

......................................................

The morning broke early at the Charleston garrison, the NCOIC leafing through the overnight reports before getting ready to wake the Admiral...

The morning at the Charleston garrison was broken by a thunderous bellow of rage...

"SHMUCKATELLI!!!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 108: S0ngD0g13

Headhunter Flotilla: Beach-head...
...............................................

The Abyssal fleet arrived by Portkey just offshore of their destination, and laughs were had by many when Claudius, finding himself no longer on solid ground, plunged into the water. Jolly dragged him up from the sea and draped her waterlogged lover over her shoulder as they steamed toward the island before them.

Once ashore, they began to dig in, imps disembarking with pioneer-tools to begin fortification of their new base. Jolly turned to Raider and spoke. "Set sentries, but do it subtle. Keep them out of sight. Claudius, when you've recovered, set wards then help the imps fortify."

"Aye, Jolly."

"Yes, Princess."

As he set wardstones, Claudius looked around; the island was his, an inheritance from his father, who had in turn inherited it from a distant cousin...

As I recall, there was an Acromantula farm here; strange that the spiders haven't gotten out and gone feral, but I guess they were put down during the evac, or eaten by other Abyssals...

.................................................

Kaylee downed the last of her glass of iced tea to wash down the last bite of her sandwich, looked to where Monitor and Azuma were prepping for patrol, and then took a breath. James had already been out with the minesweepers aboard the new Patrol Tender before, but this patrol would be the first time the ironclad had gone aboard the Polly...

"Nervous, Gray-Back?" asked Monitor. Kaylee nodded. "Why?"

Kaylee nodded toward the Tender. "First time on her; she's named for a girl I knew."

"A friend?"

"I'm still wearing the willow for her, Bluebelly."

"I see."

...................................................

Blockader Demon and Raider-Hunter Demon sailed a patrol around their island, and Blockader looked to Tusker next to her. "Tusker, you have any notion what the plan is? I enjoy a hunt as much as any, but being shanghai'd halfway round the world on the orders of the Burnt Scow and the 'good word' of a traitor doesn't sit right."

Tusker sighed and adjusted her Union-Blue kepi, looking toward the sloop-of-war beside her. "Our prizes are operating from a port too well-defended to assault, and too well-supported to blockade; the plan, such of it that's been told to me, is to fortify this island and draw our quarry into a trap. Of course, that means we'll need bait, and that means scouting and subtlety, Hoose. And we're of the same mind, as regards Weems. I don't trust him; a man who'd turn his coat once would turn it more than once."

"On the bright side, girls," said Raider Princess as she came alongside, "There's like as not going to be plenty o' blood spilt before the end of this cruise, and you both might-well make Princesses yourselves..." Her hand suddenly lashed out like a snake striking and clutched Blockader by the jaw; her grip was tight-enough to make timbers groan and her fingers drew pitch-scented blood as she dragged the terrified sloop closer. "Assumin' you don't keep flappin' your gums about Jolly and get yourself scuttled. Now keep your tongue behind your teeth, afore someone rips it out of your head."

Raider turned to Tusker after flinging Hoose backward and away. "I'm bored, Tusker; I imagine the others are, too. Give us a song, aye?"

"Poor old Stormy's dead and gone;
Stormy-along, Boys, Storm-along John..."

...................................................

The patrol being a quiet one, the ironclads were getting bored. "Hey, Virginia; give us a song to pass the time?"

"Sure."

"Not now for songs of a nation's wrongs,
Nor the groans of starving labor;
Let the rifle ring and the bullet sing,
To the clash of the flashing saber!
There are Irish ranks on the tented banks,
Of Columbia's guarded ocean,
And an iron clank from flank to flank
Tells of armed men in motion..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 109: S0ngD0g13

Talk of Ducky/Grub shipping has inspired me...
...................................................

"Houshou, Darlin', could you come here a minute?" asked James. "Something's come up that requires a Family Meeting."

Houshou stood and came into the kitchen, where Jaw, Zuikaku, Akizuki, Kaylee, and James were waiting; on the table was a laptop with a Skype window open showing Harry. "Yes, James?" she asked her husband, "What seems to be the issue?"

James gestured toward Harry. "Akizuki shared some leftovers from that pot of potato soup the other night with Harry and her sisters. Young Harry here, having tasted of McAmis cooking and Found It Good, is asking for the recipe. That soup's a Family Recipe, passed down from my Granddaddy Malone; as such it's a Family Decision whether or not we give him the recipe."

Houshou nodded mock-solemnly; she was both a mother and a restaurateur, and understood the gravity of such a decision. She turned to the computer. "Harry-kun, I know you enjoy cooking; as a fellow chef, I hope you understand just what it is that you're asking of us."

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't understand, Houshou-oba."

Kaylee crossed her arms. "It's a powerful thing, our Family Cooking; we'd need assurances it wouldn't be used for ought but good." All the while, her eyes were bright with mischief.

"I'm prepared to offer those assurances, Kaylee, and more." He met James' and Houshou's eyes in turn, his face carefully neutral aside from laughing eyes. "In exchange for the McAmis Family Potato-Soup Recipe, I'm willing to give you the recipe for hasenpfeffer, from the Potter Family Cookbook; according to the notations it was my Thrice-Great-Uncle Joachim's mother's recipe. I'm also more than willing to promise to use your soup-recipe only for Good, and Feeding Duckies; never for Evil."

The family conferred quietly, then Houshou nodded, James nodded back, and the huddle broke. James nodded. "We have an accord, Harry. Our Potato-Soup Recipe for your Hasenpfeffer Recipe. Take care of this recipe, Kid, and pass it on down to the next generation of Potters. We'll take care of Joachim's Mother's recipe and pass it down to future family members. Grab a pen and paper." James chuckled as he pulled a well-worn green composition notebook down from above the refrigerator and thumbed It open.

"Now, to start with, you peel and rinse your taters, about two goodly-sized ones per person you're cooking for; cut'em into chunks a bit smaller than you would for mashed potatoes, and put them in a cast-iron pot with enough whole-milk to cover them plus extra. Bring that to a boil, and this is very important, stirring constantly to keep the milk from scalding. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and add diced green-onions and diced ham or roast-beef; leftovers work. Keep stirring and boil until the taters are tender and the soup thickens, then serve with biscuits, cornbread, or rolls. You got all that?"

A trio of rumbling growls echoed through the kitchen, and Kaylee, Zui, and Akizuki blushed. "Sounds like I might need to make another batch, eh?" James said with a grin.

Houshou laughed and nodded. "You do the soup, and I'll put a pan of buckwheat rolls in the oven, James."

"Gotta go, Harry; cookin' to do. Take care."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slithering down the street, Shiromizu looked every inch the noblewoman. Every so often she would nod to one of those living in the town. Oddly, the town looked like a combination of her birth place and the diorama in a jar Harry had made for her.

In fact, a castle just like the one that Harry had made her tank as her home looked down upon the town.

None of this Shiromizu really noticed though as she made her way through the streets. Here and there Yokai and humans would bow to her as they went about their business. In return, Shiromizu bowed back. Everything was peaceful as above them, sakura petals drifted with the air. 'Another lovely spring day...'

Stopping at a dango stand, Shiromizu soon continued her stroll as she munched on the treat. However, she did not get far before a shout caught her attention. "Onee-Chan!"

Moments later, a body impacted hers with two arms throwing themselves around her waist. Nearly dropping the dango, Shiromizu huffed a bit as she turned and looked down with a frown. "Otouto, what have I told you?"

Head tilting to the side, Harry hummed a bit. "Not to?" Then he grinned with fangs glinting in the sunlight. "But you know that you enjoy it."

Rolling her eyes, Shiromizu sighed. "Whatever am I going to do with you, Harry? Honestly..."

His grin widening, he snickered. "Love me?"

Only humming, Shiromizu tapped her chin. "Do I?" At his pout, she smirked and ruffled his hair. "Why yes, yes I do."

If anything, that made him pout more as he pulled away with a small bit of a whine in his voice. "Onee-Chan..."

Now frowning, she tapped him on the head. "Stop that. I don't want you whining, you understand?" When he sighed but nodded, Shiromizu looked him over. Instead of the elaborate kimono like she wore, Harry wore a hoari over his. But like her, instead of legs he had a long, white serpent's body with red markings. Moments later, she held out a stick of dango. "I shouldn't, but here."

Slit pupiled eyes lighting up, Harry took the treat and bit into it. "Thanks!"

Just shaking her head in amusement at her brother's antics, Shiromizu began her journey down the street again. This time though, Harry was slithering alongside her. "And how has your day been, Harry? Productive I hope?"

With a nod, Harry swallowed the bite of dango in his mouth. "Hai! Ryuujou-Sensei is saying that my skill at Onmyoudo is coming along. And I also got to talk a bit with Natsumi-Hime as she was coming back from her Oba-San's training."

A smile on her lips, Shiromizu chuckled. "I see. Well, that does sound like a rather productive day indeed." Reaching out, she wiggled her finger into his side which made the young yokai squeak as he tried to squirm away. "Very productive."

Their day continued as they enjoyed the company of their sibling until everything became fuzzy and blurred. Then Shiromizu blinked in confusion...
__________________________________

And found herself in her usual snake form in her bath. Raising her head a bit, she turned to find a smiling Harry there watching over her as she soaked. "{Had a nice nap in the bath?}"

For several moments, Shiromizu stared at him before giving him her version of a smile. "{Yes, a very nice nap as it turned out. Had a nice dream actually.}"

Eyebrow raising some as she swished some of the cooling water around, Harry nodded. "{A nice dream, huh? How so?}"

Tongue flickering out, Shiromizu considered the question for a few moments before letting out a hissing chuckle. "{Well, I was going down the street with a little brother. Just the two of us, enjoying the warm, spring day. It was... nice.}"

Head tilting to the side, Harry grabbed a hand cloth that he used as a towel for the snake. "{A little brother? Well, that does sound pretty nice I will admit.}" Laying it out, Harry ran one hand along it which made Shiromizu look at him. "{Something that Ryuujou-Oba taught me. Doesn't do much, but it does warm cloth like it was in the dryer for a time. Anyways, come on out of there before the water gets too cold.}"

It was a happy Shiromizu who slithered out of the water and onto the warm, dry towel. Once she was fully on it, Harry wrapped her up and began to gently dry her as she let out small hisses of pleasure. "{That feels so good, Harry. Thank you.}"

With a chuckle, Harry shook his head. "{You're very welcome, Shiromizu. And I'm glad that you enjoyed your bath.}" Unnoticed by Shiromizu though, the black haired boy frowned some and furrowed his eyebrows as he rubbed the top of her head. 'I wonder why there's two bumps above her eyes now? Or a ridge along her back?' After a moment, he shook it off. 'If it keeps up, I'll take her to the vet. Though she's getting pretty big for a rat snake.'

Once he was done drying her off, Shiromizu turned and gave him a smile. "{Thank you, Harry.}" As he answered her back, she internally sighed. 'I wonder how he would react if I told him that to me, he's my little brother?' Then the snake shook her head. 'Probably accept it, but now's not the time. Not until I am sure that I can protect him.'

Holding out his hand, Harry smiled down at Shiromizu not knowing what was going through her head. "Want a ride?"

Just hissing in the odd way that he knew was her laughing, Shiromizu slithered under his sleeve and Harry waited as he could feel her coiling around his arm. Then she made her way up said arm to his shoulder until her head popped out from beneath his collar. "{Thank you, Harry.}" Laying her head against him, she nuzzled a bit. "{Mmm, nothing like nice warmth after a lovely bath on a rainy day.}"

All Harry did was smile at that before grabbing up her the towels and such and placing them in the small bin he used just for her. He would go and hand wash them later on, it was not something he would throw into the washer with normal clothes after all. That done, Harry grabbed her bath and walked over to the bathroom to dump the water out and clean it. "{Well, I would imagine so, Shiromizu.}"

Bobbing her head, Shiromizu watched as he went about his usual business. "{It is extremely good, you can trust me on that.}" Briefly, there was an image in her head of her in her humanoid form washing Harry's back like big sisters did and then him returning the favor. 'A bit of a shame that...'

It wasn't like she had not considered telling Harry the truth. That she was in reality a yokai and she knew that Harry would accept that easily enough. But at the same time, Shiromizu was not afraid to admit that she did worry about afterwards. She did not want to lose what the two of them had after all, the closeness between them. It was far too special to her.

So she simply kept silent for now, enjoying what time she had with her adoptive younger brother.

Granted, sometimes she did wonder, late at night. There were times when Harry was asleep that she would transform and make her way to the window, both here and at Hogwarts. Looking out at the stars and Moon, she would make a prayer to the Kami for her sister, back in her old home. To protect her and make sure that she continued to survive.

And then she would ask for them to look after Harry, someone who had become a little brother to her. After that though, she would continue to stare at the sky, wherever she was and think. Her mind would drift here and there while her imagination worked. It was pretty common for her to dream about being alongside Harry in her real form, the two of them acting like actual siblings. Other times her adoptive older sister was with them, Harry laughing as the two older girls spent time with him.

Which did make her wonder how her sister would react to her "Brother" after all. It was something that she did wonder often enough about. Though knowing her sister as she did? She likely would consider it and then pull him into a hug. Her sister was just like that. And the thought did make her happy after all.

Outside, the rain continued to fall down. A lullaby which made Shiromizu sleepily smile before coiling herself more around Harry and laying her head on his shoulder as he worked. With Harry's humming as he worked, she began to drift off with a small smile on her face, and the thrum of the rain outside along with Harry's heartbeat.

Her final thought before sleep claimed her once more being wondering if she could continue the dream she had in the bath from where she left off...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Hands on the table in deep thought, Nagato frowned some before taking a deep breath. Almost no one was home, Hoppou and Aeroprin were visiting her Destroyers and staying there until the rain let up. Regina was currently over at Shinano's quarters doing whatever those two did when they were together. An image rose up in her mind about the two of them acting shy and cute, such as Shinano showing off teddy bears to Regina.

Quickly, Nagato shook off the image and put it aside for later, she would likely need it along with her hamster and a calendar of kittens.

Letting out her breath, she nodded to herself. "Harry? Could you come here?"

Several moments later, Harry made his way out of his room. "Mum? Is something wrong?" At seeing the expression on her face, his gained a frown. "Mum?"

Only gesturing at the table in front of her, Nagato gave him a smile that she did not feel. "Have a seat, Harry." Once he was seated, she closed her eyes and a familiar fairy appeared in her hand when she sat it down on the table. Said fairy appeared extremely confused at why it was there. "Yamamoto-Teitoku wishes to talk to you about something."

Before Harry or the fairy could do anything, Nagato got up and rapidly made her way out of the apartment. Slowly, Harry turned to the fairy who rapidly blinked and started to look very annoyed. "Um..."

Yamamoto just held up a hand. "Desu."

Then he vanished and Harry scratched his head in confusion. "Okay... I'm missing something." Not even a minute later, he watched as a sheepish and wincing Nagato walked back in with Yamamoto's fairy glaring at her and wagging a hand in her direction. 'Definitely missed something...'

Meanwhile, Nagato winced as Yamamoto gave her a look. "Desu! Desu desu desu desu! Desu desu!"

Hanging her head, Nagato walked back to the table and was about to sit down when she stopped. Before doing anything else, she walked over to the cupboard and opened it. Seconds later, Harry blinked as she brought out a bottle of firewhiskey as well as a bottle of what he recognized as Junyou's special sake and then sat it down. "Mum?"

In reply, Nagato held up a hand. "Just... give me a minute..." As he nodded, the Battleship stared at her adopted son with an internal sigh. 'How did you grow up so much, Harry? And why did it have to be me...? How did I get to this moment?'

Slowly, her mind drifted back to an hour ago...

Nagato stare down at the phone in front of her before dialing a familiar number. There was ringing on the other hand before it was picked up. "{Isoroku Goto here, how can I help you?}"

Clearing her throat, Nagato took a deep breath. "Teitoku? It's Nagato."

Part of Nagato could almost hear him blink at the other end. "{Nagato? Why are you calling? It is your day off... Did something happen?}"

Even though he could not see it, Nagato shook her head. "Nothing happened... well, yet. But I need your assistance on something." She could feel the curiosity on the other end. "Being as you are a man and Harry has reached that age, I was wondering if-"

Suddenly, she was cut off as Goto spoke up. "[Wait, what was that? Sorry, you're breaking up.}"

There was a sound on the other end that Nagato could recognize as paper being crinkled which made her eyelids drop halfway. 'He wouldn't... He would not dare...'

Goto continued on the phone as the paper continued to crinkle. "{Dammit, sorry Nagato, the connection is really bad right now. Look, whatever it is with Harry, I am sure that you can handle it. You are one of the Big Seven after all. Have a good day.}"

A click could be heard as the call disconnected and Nagato stood there as she stared at the handset in disbelief. After nearly a minute, she let out a hiss. "He actually did it..." Quickly redialing, Nagato waited for some time before it was picked up. "Hello?"

Instead of Goto though, another familiar voice was on the other hand. "Hello, Dess! How are things going?}

Eyebrows furrowing, Nagato frowned. "Kongou? What are you doing on the phone? I was calling Teitoku..."

On the other end she could hear a hum before Kongou spoke up. "{Oh, Teitoku left just now. Something about a business trip to Hokkaido for some reason... Or Sasebo, not quite sure. But he asked for me to take any phone calls.}" Nagato could feel her eyebrow twitch at that. "{And so suddenly out of the blue as well, Dess!}"

Growling, Nagato closed her eyes. "That little..."

This time, she could hear the blink on the other end of the phone. "{Is something wrong, Dess? I could lend a hand...}"

Slowly sighing, Nagato rubbed her forehead. "No, it's nothing. Being as he is one of the closest things to a father figure that Harry has, I was thinking that he could have a talk with my son due to... some things."

Almost as soon as she said those words, she knew that she had made a mistake as Kongou gasped. "{Oh! Is it that time already? And you need some help?}"

Nagato blinked as she could hear a crash on the other end and was about to say something when she heard Mikasa speak up. "{Chibi-Kon! I felt a disturbance in the Dess! As if a voice cried out for help from an English Born Mother!}"

Closing her eyes, Nagato could feel a headache as Kongou continued. "{Don't call me that, Dess! And it's Nagato! Apparently our Harry has reached the blooming of his springtime of youth!}"

Oddly, Nagato could hear Mikasa nod. "{Oh! Is that all, Dess? Well, Chibi-Kon, you just tell Nagato-Chan that we can be right over! Harry-Chan needs to be informed about the blooming of his youth in this wonderful springtime that he is enjoying!}"

"..."

Kongou's voice then spoke up. "{Huh... that's odd. It disconnected...}"

Very slowly, Nagato poured herself a measure of the firewhiskey and stared at it as her mind continued to recall things...

Dialing another number, Nagato waited for it to be picked up. "Hello?"

A chuckle could be heard as Ashigara answered the phone. "{Nagato-San? What a pleasant surprise, what can I help you with?}"

Just frowning, Nagato sighed. "Good day, Ashigara-San. Could you put Yonehara-San on? I need to speak to him about something."

Not even a second passed before she could hear Ashigara huff a bit. "{Yonehara-Kun? You actually just missed him.}"

Utter silence came from Nagato as she digested that. When she finally did speak, it was with a single, flat toned word. "What."

In her mind's eye, she could see Ashigara frowning and nodding as she played with the cord of the phone. "{Hai. It was the oddest thing, Teitoku called and he answered. Next thing that I knew, he was rushing out the door stating that he had to be somewhere.}"

Closing her eyes, Nagato growled in her head. 'Teitoku...' She the decided to take a page from Jersey's book and continued the thought. 'You motherfucker.'

At the same time, Ashigara continued. "{What did you need him for? I can take a message.}"

With a grumble, Nagato shook his head. "I was going to ask if he would come over and talk with my son. He's at that age when... you know. I tried Teitoku but he ran, and apparently..."

This time there was a growl on Ashigara's end. "{And he spoke to my boyfriend and the two fucked off? Those two... When they get back, I will be having words with them. Perhaps I will ask Tatsuta-San for some help... Because what is he going to do when we have a son!?}

More snarls, sounding quite like an angry she-wolf followed which made Nagato stare at the phone before Ashigara hung up. "..."

Of course, in her continuing attempts to avoid the highly awkward conversation, Nagato tried contacting her brother in law...

"{You want John, Onee-San? He's not in at the moment... Oddly, he took off after a phone call. Not really all that sure why...}"

Her grip tightening on the phone, Nagato softly growled. "Let me guess... He got a phone call from Goto and had to leave on urgent business..."

Mutsu paused for a moment, but then nodded. "{Hai, that is what happened. How did you know... unless...}"

With a deep breath, Nagato let it out in a hiss. "I was hoping that one of the men in Harry's life would have that talk with him. You know, considering his age..."

To her surprise, anger was apparent in Mutsu's voice as she answered. "{I see... So he's done it again then?}"

It took a moment, but Nagato then remembered the incident regarding him placing Jane with the Battleships when they had a seminar on the facts of life. And Arizona's reaction to that fact afterwards. "... Perhaps mention it to Arizona? I am sure that she would be happy to hear such."

Chuckles came from the phone and Nagato swore there was a dark aura around it. "{Oh, trust me, Onee-San. Arizona is going to be the least of his problems. Now, if you'll excuse me? I need to go and call Jintsuu before talking to Hiei about some things before getting Ari involved.}

With that, the phone hung up with a click that echoed. Nagato stared down at it for several moments before gently placing the headset back into it's cradle. Then she clapped her hands together and performed a prayer for her American Brother-in-Law...

Shudders ran down Nagato's keel at that memory. Yes, she was annoyed at him... Okay, she was pissed off at all three men. But she was not quite pissed off at them for what was going to happen to happen. Yet again, she said a small prayer for John before her mind went to her next attempt.

"{Yo! Matsuda residence.}"

As she softly sighed, Nagato smiled a bit. "Ah, Tenryuu-San? I... need your help. It has to do with Harry-"

Tenryuu spoke up at that moment and cut her off. "{Let me take a wild guess and say that you're going to give him the facts of life shit. And you want me to do it instead of you.}" Getting silence, she groaned. "{Are you serious, Nagato? I had to do it for not just Aki-Chan and Ami-Chan, but also Akatsuki-Chan and Hibiki-Chan. Not to mention Tatsuta! And let me tell you, that was a fun conversation right there.}"

Wincing, Nagato slowly nodded. "Well, yes, I imagine so. But... Harry, and..."

It seemed like the Light Cruiser was almost amused. "{Yes, Harry. Your son, your responsibility. Besides, I'm sure that you will do just fine and I gave you the talk so... Wait, give me a moment...}" Eyebrow raising, Nagato listened as Tenryuu muttered to herself. "{Ami-Chan is in the kitchen with Akatsuki-Chan... Hibiki-Chan is at the table... Tatsuta is at the gym... DAMMIT, AKI-CHAN! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE DOING IN MY BODY!? DID YOU USE SOME OF THAT LEFTOVER POLYJUICE SHIT?!}"

Slowly blinking, Nagato stared at the phone as she could hear a voice just like Tenryuu's in the background giving a whine. "{But Kaa-San! I want to go and have some fun. I'm old enough now, even if I don't look it usually! This way, I can actually go to clubs and stuff! Besides, it's normal for musume to borrow their Kaa-san's clothes!}"

Nagato could hear the growl in Tenryuu's voice. "{Yes, clothes! Not their Kaa-San's fucking form! And speaking of clothes, that's my clubbing outfit! The hell, Aki-Chan!?}"

Huffing, the Battleship just continued to stare. "{Oh come on, Kaa-San! It looks good on you! Besides, what did you expect me to do? Go as Oba-Chan?"

There was a pause before Tenryuu grumbled. "{Okay, you got a point there... But still!}"

Inazuma then spoke up. "{Hawawawa! You're going clubbing, Aki-Chan, as Kaa-San? And without me? How could you, Nanodesu!}"

Before anything else could be said, Akatsuki's voice came over the radio. "{Wha... That's not very lady-like, Ikazuchi-Chan!"

Verniy then grunted. "{Not khorosho.}"

Sputters came from Tenryuu before she groaned. "{Oh for... Dammit, I'll talk with you later, Nagato! And I'm sure that you'll do fine!}"

Moments later, there was a click and Nagato slowly hung up with a disbelieving look on her face at what had just happened..."

With a sigh, Nagato shook off her thoughts before looking back at the shot of firewhiskey. Grimacing, she shook her head and set it aside. She was not going to drink that...

Instead, she took a gulp straight from the bottle.

Setting it down, Nagato let out a sigh. "Harry? We... need to have a talk." At his confusion, she frowned a bit. "You're at an age where you might have noticed things are becoming... Different, about your body. That it might be changing in ways that might be confusing..."

Harry sat there with growing horror as he realized what was happening. And what soon followed rated as one of the most awkward conversations that he ever had. However, then it got worse and it shot to the top of the list near the end of Nagato's conversation with him. Mainly due to one reason...

Both Kongou and Mikasa appeared.

The older of the two opened the window and climbed in from outside, while Kongou herself threw open the door. Mikasa and Kongou then declared that they were there to help him understand his "Springtime of Youth!". Complete with oddly visual phenomena.

Oh, and they brought diagrams and charts with them. Both Nagato and Harry agreed on one thing though.

Worst. And. Most. Awkward. Day. Ever.

And they were never doing this again.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Conversation Again

-----
"E-excuse me, Vir-Virginia-san?" Ushio asked. Kaylee McAmis, also known as the ironclad Virginia, turned to look at her Japanese ally.

"Ushio? You need something?" she asked, turning to face her more fully. Ushio flushed slightly and looked down. She thought maybe that talking about things with Virginia would help her better sort her feelings. Unfortunately, starting out was just making her feel more confused.

"I-it-it's just that you-you had something hap-happen be-be-before you came, and I-I—"

"Breath, girl," Virginia replied. She looked a bit pale, but she smiled and soldiered on. "Way you're stammering, you might as well not be able to talk." Ushio nodded, inhaled deeply, and spoke.

"IwaswonderinghowyoufeltaboutthepeoplewhomadetheincidentandthewayyoufeelnowbecauseI—"

"Okay, now slow down." Ushio stopped the torrent of words, panting heavily. She could feel Virginia scrutinizing her, trying to figure out what was going on in her head. "Is this… about your friend? The one who's in the family way?" Ushio felt her stomach melt down and drip into her feet.

"I went and s-saw her boyfriend," she said, "and I… I don't really know what I, what I was expecting, but what I found…"

"It wasn't what you think," Virginia supplied.

"Yeah," Ushio said. "It kind of was. And I talked to Saki about it, and I kind of get it now, but I still… It's still a lot."

"And you came to me," Virginia continued, "Because of my experience with… men." Her last words sounded awkward, as if she was trying to phrase her thoughts in a way that was unfamiliar to her in some way. Ushio wondered if they were stronger or softer than she was implying. "Look, I can tell you, but I don't think it's gonna help."

"Wh-what? Why?" Ushio could feel panic welling up inside her.

"The experience is different," Virginia explained. "I mean, this Haneoka guy didn't do anything your friend didn't want to by any counts, and he—"

"No, no," Ushio cut her off with a wave of her hand, "I understand, you're right. Sorry, I just… He wasn't what I was expecting."

"Well, what were you expecting?"

"I don't know," Ushio shrugged. An image of a toku villain, cloaked and laughing maniacally, briefly flitted through her head. "Something less… human?"

"Oh," Virginia replied, and her voice seemed a little smaller, like Ushio had said something without saying anything at all.

"I don't know," Ushio admitted, "I was trying to talk to Umi about it the other day, but she's… she's sort of an emotional freight train, she just powers through everything without even trying, and she leaves the rest of us behind her trying to catch up. Saki, she stops and listens, and thinks through what she's going to say, and she's actually pretty easy to talk to once you know her well enough and you don't mind when she's being a little blunt, but Umi… We're close, but she's just dropped back into everyday life and I don't know how to say it anymore."

Virginia gave her a slightly impressed look. "I think," she said slowly, "that's the most I've ever heard you say in one go."

"S-So-Sorry!"

"What're you apologizing for? Look, just talk to her, okay? You won't accomplish anything by just sitting around moppin', understand?"

"Y-yes! Sorry!"
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Standing outside the door, Verniy paused for a few moments before raising her hand and knocking. Almost a minute passed before a tired looking Nagato opened the door and looked down at her. "... Verniy-San? What are you doing here?"

Eyebrows raising at the state of the Battleship, Verniy soon shook it off. "I was wondering if I could and spend some time with Harry-Chan." Giving Nagato another look over, she frowned. "If... that is okay."

After a few moments, Nagato nodded and opened the door. "That... that would be fine, I think. He's currently in his room working on something." It was almost as an afterthought, but Nagato looked at her directly. "Is your Kaa-San free at the moment by the way?"

Confused, Verniy nodded some. "Da, she is. Or at least I think that she is after what happened earlier." She then walked past as Nagato nodded and made her way to Harry's room which was open enough to see Harry moving around. Having seen Nagato head to her own room, the Destroyer frowned some. 'I wonder what that is all about...'

Meanwhile, once Nagato was in her room she walked slumped down against the wall once the door was closed. Pulling out her phone, she dialed a familiar number which she had used many times since adopting Harry. It rang for several minutes before Akatsuki's voice came over the phone. "{Matsuda residence, the elephant lady Akatsuki speaking!}"

For the first time in a few hours, a small smile graced Nagato's face. "It's Nagato, could you ask for your Kaa-San to come to the phone?"

Getting an agreement, Nagato watched as her one of her fairies dragged over a bag. Opening it as she waited, she sighed as she pulled out one of the chocolate covered caramels inside and popped it into her mouth. After what she went through, she was well within her right to treat herself some. Finally, Tenryuu's voice came over the phone. "{Yo, you wanted me? And if it's about giving your kid The Talk, I already told you no. As his Okaa-San, that is your responsibility.}"

Ruefully chuckling, Nagato unrolled another chocolate. "No, it's not about that..." Reaching up, she rubbed the side of her head. "I... gave it to him. It was every bit as awkward as expected."

There was a snort on the other end. "{Congrats, you just passed one of the milestones of being a parent. I'm so...}" For some odd reason at the pause, Nagato had the image of Tenryuu pulling the phone away from her ear and staring at it before putting it back. "{Nagato, I'm going to ask for you to be truthful to me... Are you drunk?}"

Blinking at the odd tone, Nagato slowly nodded before realizing that the other shipgirl could not see it. "Well, not drunk. Perhaps a bit buzzed, but not drunk."

When the next question came from Tenryuu, it was in a complete flat tone that nonetheless made Nagato squirm a bit. "{Why?}"

Not quite sure why she felt embarrassed, or why she knew that she should, Nagato coughed a bit. "I..." Hearing the silence on the other end, she took a deep breath. "I did my research on how to give it. And usually the one doing so has something to drink-" Briefly, she paused and blinked. "What was that?"

Tenryuu groaned a bit. "{That was me hitting my head against the wall. Now, besides the fact that I am going to need to cover up the newest hole there, I need to know some things. Such as how exactly did you give it to him.}" Unknown to Nagato was that there was more, but it was finished inside of Tenryuu's head. 'So that I know how much damage I might need to fix.'

Frowning, Nagato shifted a bit. "Did I do something wrong?"

A sigh could be heard and Nagato could almost imagine Tenryuu rubbing her eyebrow. "{Well, for one thing? You shouldn't be drinking while explaining the facts of life to your kid.}"

Suddenly straightening up, Nagato felt a chill down her spine. "Did... did I mess up? Is Harry going to have issues? I thought that was what you did... After all, you were drinking when you explained to me..."

Once more, Tenryuu sighed. "{Okay, a few things first. I was drinking at the time because we were at the bar and had already had some alcohol up to that point. Secondly, we are both adults, it's perfectly okay to share some drinks while discussing such things when both are adults. Now, I need to know what you told the kid.}"

Despite not wanting to, Nagato went back over what had happened and frowned. "It was mostly what you told me about when we met that time. Some of it, I did not use." Hearing a hum, she frowned. "Mainly the swearing bits."

After a few seconds, there was a snort on the other end. "{Okay, that I don't blame you for. Not everyone has my language skills after all.}"

That made Nagato roll her eyes before she frowned and continued. "I also used what I gathered from a textbook that I got a hold of." Blushing at the memory of what she read as well as grimacing, she shook her head. "That was... mortifying. Never before did I know what a human goes through as they grow older."

Much to her confusion, there as laughter on the other end. "{Yeah, tell me about it. You and a lot of other Summons were lucky not to go through it. I pity the Destroyers though, I mean, they're sort of stuck. Aki-Chan is always going on that she is certain that it is a special hell what with being stuck in the early years for most of a decade and looking at maybe another decade to get out of it."

Wincing at that due to what she had read, Nagato shook her head. "Um, yes? I suppose so..." Coughing, she took another deep breath. "Anyways, I used what I read in the textbook along with what you told me. Harry had a few questions that I couldn't answer, but, um..."

On the other end, Tenryuu snorted. "{That is to be expected, Nagato-San. Trust me on that. But... if you can't answer, and only if you can't, just ring me up and I will see what I can do. I just was not going to give him the basics.}"

Slowly nodding in relief, Nagato sighed. "Thank you..." Then she frowned before shuddering. "Of course, at the end, Kongou-San and Mikasa-San showed up. They thought that... they should explain some things."

Utter silence met her before Tenryuu groaned. "{Oh for fucks sake... Those two doing that again? I thought that they learned their lesson from my last chat with them over that. Looks like we're going to need to have another one. And before you ask, Tatsuta was already picked up by Ashigara and I heard what the two Chucklefucks pulled-}"

Now it was Nagato's turn to snort. "Three. I also called John and he was mysteriously out at the time."

Groaning, Tenryuu let her annoyance seep through. "{Yeah, those three will get what is coming for them, trust me on that. If not from Tatsuta then I will let them know personally. Anyways, if you followed what I said along with a text book? Yeah, that will be good for right now.}"

With a slow nod, Nagato took another chocolate. "Hopefully..." Suddenly, she blinked. "Oh, yes, Verniy-San is over right now."

For several moments, Tenryuu muttered to herself. "{I was wondering where that girl went to... Wait, you said that she's over there right now?}"

Blinking at the nearly disguised glee in Tenryuu's voice, Nagato nodded. "Hai? She's in his room." Moments later, she pulled the phone away from her ear at the cackles. "Um... Am I missing something?"

As her cackles quietened down, Nagato put the phone back against her ear as Tenryuu spoke up. "{Oh, you are. Mainly the perfect time to get some embarrassing blackmail on the Kid and Hibiki-Chan. You just gave him The Talk and now he has a girl with him, alone, in his room. That is pure fucking gold, I hope that you realize. Anything you get, share with me, alright?}"

Not quite sure what was going on, Nagato only nodded. "Um, sure..."
____________________________________________________________

Verniy walked into Harry's room and quietly closed the door until it was only opened a crack. Then, turning around, she regarded Harry. He was seated at his low table doing something there while earphones on his head blocked out sound. For several moments, Verniy watched as he took what looked like Popsicle sticks and cut off the ends. 'I wonder why Harry-Chan is doing that?'

For his part, Harry had not noticed his visitor as his mind raced inside his head. It did not help that the earlier conversation had given him all sorts of images that he did not need. Images that had included some of his oldest friends. Unknown to him, one of those friends was watching him and then walked over before tapping his shoulder. Jumping, Harry turned and boggled at who he found there. "H-Hibiki-Chan?"

Eyebrow raising, Verniy reached over and pulled his earphones from his head. Part of her smiled as she could hear the strains of the song "The Last Unicorn" coming from the speakers. "Da, it is me. Did you expect someone else?" As he blushed while shaking his head, she raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

Quickly waving his hand, Harry turned off his music player. "No, no, nothing is wrong!" He turned in time for Verniy to place a hand against his forehead with a frown. "Um, Hibiki-Chan?"

Frowning, Verniy glanced at him. "You're a bit warm... Are you feeling a bit sick, Harry-Chan?" Humming, she leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his. "Hmm... It feels like you are running a fever."

At this point, it should be said that Harry's face resembled a tomato. It was most certainly not helped by how close Verniy's face was to his. Nor was it helped much by recent memories of the talk he had been a part of or older ones about when Verniy had appeared when Hibiki only became such while drunk. "Um, n-no, I'm not sick..." At her raised eyebrow, he bit his lip. "Mum had a... Talk with me earlier. You know... that one?"

It took only a few moments before Verniy remembered her own experience and felt her face feel like it was on fire. "Ah, I see... um... How bad...?"

Wincing, Harry shrugged. "Mum was more embarrassing and... Kongou-Oba and Mikasa-Oba showed up."

That made Verniy wince in sympathy for her friend. "Da, I can see why you are blushing as well." Both of them couldn't exactly look at each other for nearly a minute, though they did glance at the other. But when they caught them looking, they looked away with an even deeper blush. Finally, Verniy decided to change the subject. "So... what are you doing here?"

More then a little thankful at the change of subject, Harry shrugged some as he looked at his current project. "Not really all that sure at the moment. But I got something of an idea rolling around in my head right now."

Somewhat bemused, Verniy considered that for several moments before leaning into his back. "An idea, Harry-Chan? What sort of idea?"

Feeling her against his back only made Harry's blush worse and he glanced back at her. 'Is she... doing this on purpose?' Not seeing anything but a blush of her own, he shook his head. 'No, of course not.' Turning back to his project, Harry missed the look that Verniy gave him as he tried to concentrate on what was doing. "Well... I've been working on some materials for a while now. Making some small, Lego sized bricks from a real one."

Confused, Verniy looked at him. "Bricks, Harry-Chan? Why would you be making bricks?"

Once more, Harry shrugged in reply. "Not sure... I think that maybe a diorama? Like what I made for Shiromizu?" Both of them looked at said snake which seemed extremely amused for some odd reason. "Something like that anyways. You know how it goes."

After a moment of thought, Verniy nodded. She did indeed know how it went as more then a few shipgirls built models for no apparent reason. "Da, I do know."

Silence once more descended on them as Verniy watched from her position pressed against his back. Her chin on his shoulder as he worked. Eventually though, Harry spoke up. "So... What brought you over?"

Grimacing, Verniy shook her head. "Ikazuchi-Chan got a hold of some leftover Polyjuice. And she used one of Kaa-San's hairs as she wanted to go out clubbing, Kaa-San caught her... and then Inazuma-Chan joined in. She wanted to join Ikazuchi-Chan and was angry when she wasn't invited by her. Then Ikazuchi-Chan brought up her boyfriend..."

Harry blinked at that. "Boyfriend? Do you mean that dragon boy from the wedding?"

Lips twitching, Verniy nodded. "Da, the very same. Inazuma-Chan found out that his father is going to be leaving Saint Brendan's for training involving shipgirl repairs with him going along. And with how Yokosuka is one of the places on possible destinations."

Snickers came from Harry as he grinned. "So Inazuma-Chan is excited then?"

Tone flat, though her eyes sparkled in amusement, Verniy nodded. "Da. That is one word for it... Kaa-San though, is less so." Once Harry's snickers calmed down, she shrugged. "I needed to get away from it, so I came here to spend some time with you."

A blush appeared on her face as Harry gave her a nod and a smile. "Thank you, Hibiki-Chan."

It went without saying that got a smile from Verniy. Unnoticed by either though, they had a watcher in the form of one of Nagato's fairies. One who was recording the whole thing on the phone he held...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 110: S0ngD0g13

Headhunter Flotilla: Baiting, Version 2.0
................................................

Claude Weems looked over the rapidly-expanding fortifications on the island and nodded. Things are progressing nicely; any day now the trap will be ready for the bait...

"Claudius, I take it you've seen how the works have gone up. We're ready; now comes your part. Fetch us in some bait to draw our prey. You still have the Portkey?" said Jolly from behind him.

Weems turned and bowed. "I do, Princess. I also have just the bait in mind... By your leave?"

"Go, and Good Hunting, Claudius. Have fun."

.....................................................

The Wizard appeared on the beach on Roanoke, coiled the Portkey and slid it into a backpack he Transfigured from his cloak, and Apparated to his house in Greeneville. Once there, Claude made himself presentable and headed toward Ottway to pick up the first four pieces of 'bait'...

Over the next twelve hours, Claudius Weems crossed the length and breadth of Greene County, Tennessee, after his quarry, carefully dodging the Aurors he knew were trailing both him and his prey, then bought a Portkey to Memphis and used his dad's old Cleansweep to travel to Hardeman County for more bait. His errands done in Tennessee, and to his knowledge the Aurors none the wiser, Claude used the Portkey to travel back to the island. He reversed the Transfiguration that kept his bait transportable and revived them...

....................................................

That evening, a package appeared on the front porch of the McAmis household in Kure. Charlotte, coming back from hunting in the nearby forest, saw it and called out, "Uncle James, there's a box on the porch!"

James stepped outside and looked at the package. "It's for Kaylee... Odd; no return address... Charlotte, fetch Kaylee right quick, and my phone from off the table by my chair. Somethin' ain't settin' right..."

Charlotte ran to get Kaylee; when the teen emerged with her uncle's phone, James stepped back a few paces while Kaylee slit the box open with her skinning knife. Inside was a melted, pitted lump of gold that bore a cracked opal in a half-destroyed setting, and a DVD marked 'Watch Me'.

"I'm getting a case o' Bushwhack Cramps, Uncle James..." she said, using her dad's old nickname for the sense of bad things about to happen.

"You and me both, Kaylee. Let me grab my laptop and we'll see what it is you're to watch; we can go from there."

The pair went inside and James slid the disc into his computer...

................................................

Claude gazed into the camera, his eyes alight with madness as Tusker filmed him. "Hello, Kaylee. Just in case you've forgotten me, I'm Claude Weems. You did me a hell of an injury before you skipped town, and I'd like to settle that score left between us. Now, I don't expect that you want to face me; after all, you bailed out of Tennessee with your tail between your legs rather than let the law take its course, and ran all the way to Japan of all places. So I figured, the best way to entice a coward to come out of her hole is to make it too costly for her to stay in her hole."

The camera zoomed out from his face to reveal a redheaded girl of eight bound hand-and-foot, on her knees in front of Weems. "Recognize her? I'm sure you recognize your cousin Madison's daughter Samantha, right? Say hi, Sammy."

The girl spat when her gag was removed and bit Claudius Weems in the leg hard-enough to draw blood. Weems backhanded her away savagely, and the gold chain around her neck and its opal pendant, a gift from Kaylee's grandma Samantha to her, shone in the light. The camera panned over other children, other relatives, of Kaylee's. None were older than twelve, and he'd gathered hostages from both ends of Tennessee.

"You have three days to be at these coordinates," Claude snarled before listing the island's latitude and longitude. "If you don't show, or I see any Shipgirls with you newer than 1865, all these brats will get the same as little Samantha here." A wand snapped into his hand and pointed toward the prostrate girl.

"Acidum."

....................................................
A/N: Have edited slightly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 111: S0ngD0g13

Headhunter Flotilla: Plans
.....................................................

"The Fuck do you mean, 'No', Constitution?" snarled Kaylee as she stood in Admiral Richardson's office in Sasebo. Her uncle stood behind her, as did Monitor and Azuma.

On the teleconference screen, Connie frowned. "I mean exactly that, Lieutenant McAmis; No. You will not get involved. None of your friends will get involved. None of your comrades will get involved. No personnel, Human or Shipgirl, of the United States military or the Japanese Self-Defense Force, will be involved in the capture of Claudius Nero Weems." The frigate sighed and clenched her fists. "I understand where you're coming from, Virginia, and were the circumstances not as they are, I would weigh anchor alongside you and fight, but these are orders from on high. This is a MACUSA problem, and we're to let the Aurors deal with it. It is felt," and everyone watching could tell that Constitution was aping someone else's words, "that involving mundane military personnel, or Shipgirls, in this incident, will unduly threaten the integrity of the Statute of Secrecy. It's a foregone conclusion that it's going to fall, but it cannot be allowed to fall yet, and not in this manner. So, orders are to stay out of it and let the Aurors handle Weems. His life is forfeit as a traitor already, Lieutenant; does it especially matter that you be the one to swing the sword?"

Kaylee took a breath, then another, her fists white-knuckled at her sides. "If I refuse? Ma'am?"

"A court-martial. Brig-time. Possibly more."

"So I'm to just sit here with my thumb up my ass and entrust my family's lives to people I've never met and took the measure of? Because 'the Statute has to be maintained'?" Kaylee said, her voice tight. "Ma'am none of those children are Magical to my knowledge; what assurances do we have, do I have, that the MACUSA's and ICW's shooters won't just write my cousins off as collateral damage? After all, they're just No-Maj kids, and the Statute of Secrecy has to be maintained."

"Kaylee Virginia McAmis, you're edging very close to Insubordination with that tone; I'll let that last comment slide because of the situation but mind your tone, Lieutenant."

"That still leaves her question unanswered, Miss Constitution," remarked James. "What assurances do we have that the people going in after Weems will have a care for the hostages?"

Connie sighed. "I cannot give you those assurances, Mister McAmis, because I'm only involved in this as the messenger; I'm not privy to anything more than what I've told you. MACUSA is sending in four teams of Hit-Wizards to deal with Weems, and we're not to interfere. I don't doubt that the ICW is leaning on the American Magicals heavily to deal with this quickly."

Kaylee sighed and flexed her hands. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No, you really don't. I'm sorry, for what it's worth."

"Alright. But, Ma'am, may I make one request?" Constitution nodded and Kaylee met her eyes. "If you've any line of communication to MACUSA, please give them a message from me. I'll play this their way and stay out of it. I'll stay my hand. But if any of my family on that island come to harm that could've been prevented, I will not stay my hand, and their heads will be first to go on the block. Also, Constitution, Admiral Richardson, whatever happens, after this is settled and done, I'll be putting paperwork on the Admiral's desk resigning my commission. I can't in good conscience follow the orders of people who prioritize political expediency over human life, and that's the feeling I'm getting about these orders. I don't blame either of you, so please, don't be offended." She came to Attention and saluted. "Ma'am, Sir, by your leave?"

John Richardson nodded. "Dismissed, Lieutenant." Kaylee dropped her salute, executed a crisp about-face, and exited the office.

"With respect, Sir, Ma'am," said Monitor, "I'm in agreement with Virginia; when her paperwork is submitted, mine will be as well."

....................................................

"Tusker, this... This ain't any sort of right," said Hoose as the Demons patrolled. "War's a cruel thing and we've both seen and done our share of cruelties... But children? Tusker that was beyond the pale, what he did..."

"Agreed. But what are we to do about it, Hoose?"

"Yes, what will you do, Housatonic, Tuscarora?" asked Raider from behind them. "Will you bow to Jolly's whim and the whims of her pet Wizard? Or will you act?"

"If we say what's on our mind, Alabama, what would you do?"

Alabama snorted. "You needn't fear my informing on you; I disagree with the Revenant Princess and her decisions to date, and I'd wager there's others in this fleet who are of the same mind about it."

....................................................

The Hit-Wizards prepped their gear, getting ready for their raid on Weems' island. "Alright, listen up," said the commander. "We'll be travelling by Portkey to these coordinates, ten miles out from the target island, and making the final approach by broom. We hit Weems fast and hard; we do not let him escape. Team One, your job is getting the transport-interdiction wards up; lock that island down tighter than a Goblin's account-books. Teams Two and Three, you're the assaulters; Team Four is overwatch. Remember, Claudius Weems and any accomplices do not leave that island any way but feet-first in a bag."

"Sir? The hostages?" asked a Wizard from Team Three.

"Are secondary. The primary objective is killing Weems. The hostages will be processed after that objective is accomplished. Now get ready; we're moving in ten. And Graves, leave that fucking rifle here. You're a Wizard; act like one."

"Roger that, Sir. Just so you know, though, my contacts in the No-Maj military wanted me to pass on a message. The Shipgirl whose family-members have been taken hostage has agreed to let us handle it, with one caveat; if any of the hostages come to harm we could have prevented, she will, quote, 'not stay her hand, and our heads will be the first to go on the block', end-quote. Just so you know, Sir."

"Noted and taken under advisement, Graves."

'Noted and taken under advisement' indeed. Those kids come to harm and I'll help Kaylee bring fire an' sword on you, you pompous ass... Thought Jackson Graves to himself. Well, I can't take my rifle... He never said a word about a sidearm... He slid a 1911 into a holster under his robes and a sterile .357 snub-nose into his ankle-holster when the commander turned away...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

So... moving on...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Natsumi was practically bouncing where she was sitting by the window to hers and Haru's home. Finally, she jumped and ran for the entranceway much to the amusement of the adults watching. Opening the door, the Kitsune grinned at the sight of Harry pulling up in his bicycle. "Harry-Chan!"

Chuckling, Harry gave her a grin of his own as he nodded at the small trailer hooked up to his bike. "Just let me put this into the garage, Natsumi-Chan."

Quickly putting on her shoes, Natsumi walked out of the door and made her way over. "Sure, I'll just unlock it for you." The "Garage" was just a shipping container that sat just beside the small house that Natsumi and Haru both lived in. Shortly after becoming friends with Harry, and getting a bicycle of her own to make her way around the base, her aunt had gotten one of the wooden crates used for cargo from the base to store it and Harry's own bicycle in. Haru herself also got a bike for herself as sometimes it was quicker and with gas rationing, it helped.

It never ceased to amuse Haru to no end that shortly afterwards, similar ones popped up at other residences on the base.

Reaching the crate, Natsumi unlocked it and opened the doors so that Harry could bring his bike up the ramp and into it. His bicycle and trailer easily fitted into it with Natsumi's and Haru's own bicycles there as well. As he secured it, he glanced towards Natsumi. "So, have you thought about getting one of those electric bicycles? Like what the others have?"

A frown on her face, Natsumi considered the question before shrugging. "Well... I have been thinking about it. Money is a bit of an issue though." Seeing Harry about to say something, she shook her head. "I've taken up doing some of the stuff you used to around the base. Deliveries and such... I never knew how much you actually made doing all that."

Harry smirked a bit and shrugged. "Not many people do. Sure, each bit is not much, but when you save it all up..."

Snorting, the young Miko-in-training shook her head. "Yeah, it's a nice bit of spending money. And I will admit... Part of me would love to see the looks on the faces of some of the girls at school if I showed up in one. Priceless."
With a raised eyebrow, Harry glanced at her. "Not worried about them doing anything to it?"

In reply to that, Natsumi grinned. And it was most certainly not a nice grin either. "Oh, they might. Once, and only once."

Considering what he knew about his friend, Harry felt a shiver run down his back before shaking it off. Even with being her friend for all these years, Harry could only pity anyone who pissed her off. Especially as he had seen some of the 'accidents' that happened to those who did so. Granted, usually they were also those who had picked on him, but still. "Yeah... I pity any of them stupid enough to do so." As she shrugged at that, Harry glanced around as he picked up the boxes that were in his bike's trailer. "Well, at least it stopped raining?"

Just shaking her head, Natsumi groaned at that. "Please, do not remind me of that, Harry-Chan. I really do not need to think about all the problems that I had to go through to make it stop."

That made Harry stop and blink for a moment before he turned to her. "You... had to make it stop? Why?"

Giving him a look, Natsumi sighed and rubbed the side of her head. "Turns out that a Amefuri kozō for some reason decided to visit Yokosuka and stuck around for a few days. Had to convince him to move on with the help of a friend. Oba-Chan was no help whatsoever." Unknown to Harry, said "Friend" was Shiromizu. Granted, Natsumi was still confused about why the yokai had bowed to the snake woman and listened to them once they finally caught him. "Can we talk about something else? I really don't want to think about running through rain soaked streets at night while getting pranked."

When she sneezed though, Harry reached into his coat and pulled out a vial which he shook at her. "Here, try this." As she gave it a look, he shrugged. "Pepper up potion. I made some up a few days ago when it started raining so that I had it on hand if I got the sniffles from the rain. You're not on any medicine, right?"

Only chuckling, Natsumi popped out the cork and gulped it down. "Nope." Blinking as she felt the rush of energy, as well as the steam coming from her ears, she shuddered a bit. "Whoa... That's got some kick."

Snickering, Harry nodded. "Well, it's called Pepper up for a reason after all. Feeling better?"

Head tilting to the side, Natsumi considered it before nodding. "Hai, I think that my sniffles are gone." Handing back the vial, she shook her head. "Your pretty good at this."

A small blush on his face, the black haired wizard shrugged. "Well, I've gotten a lot of practice after all." Seeing the raised eyebrow on his friend's face, he rubbed the back of his neck. "What?"

Bemused, Natsumi gave him a look. "Well, considering how often during the summer you were busy making boil curing potion..."

Grinning back at her, Harry shrugged. "What? It turned out to be popular. Ushio-Nee was really happy that I gave her some via Maruyu-Chan for her friend, Umi. "

Interested, Natsumi closed up the small garage and looked over her shoulder. "Really? What happened?"

Harry thought back and then frowned. "Bug bites, I think... Don't know which one, but it worked to get them down." Then he shook his head as Natsumi took some of the boxes. "But I don't mind making it or other potions. After all, it gives me experience. And some of the notebooks from my biological Mum helps out a lot and makes them a lot easier to make." Glancing around, he then leaned in. "Kisaragi-Nee really likes the skin lotion from one of the books. My biological Mum created it in her Fourth Year to keep her skin soft."

Blinking, Natsumi considered that and then slowly nodded. "I see... Any other potions that you're working on?"

Slowly, the wizard nodded. "Actually, I'm working on Shrinking Solution, it's a Third Year one. From what I read, it's mostly used by farmers to transport livestock as it shrinks them down. One example was a farmer transporting a herd of pigs in his pocket. So give some to a bunch of cows, and it'll shrink them down to calfs about the size of a poodle for a few days. It's apparently how the Dragon Reserves get dragons around as well as food for them."

Opening her mouth, Natsumi was about to say something when she paused and thought it over. "That's... actually pretty useful. You could transport a lot of food that way via aircraft. Does it just work on animals?"

Just grimacing, Harry nodded. "Um, no... There was apparently one wizard who was persecuted by the non-magicals in the village he lived in centuries ago. So on his birthday, he poured it into the village well... And chased the shrunken people around in boots with hobnails in their soles."

That made Natsumi also grimace as she thought about it. "That could not have ended well when it wore off..." Harry's snort and nod was answer enough. As they walked past the small garden and greenhouse they kept, the Kitsune tilted her head towards it. "Speaking of magic ingredients, I have really got to thank Niiyodo-San for the dragon dung she got. Oba-Chan is really happy with the results."

With a look towards the garden, Harry only nodded as he could see the green sprouts coming up already. "Niiyodo-Chan is really proud of that and she should be. I know that Ooyodo-Oba is really happy with it, though it did take some work for customs."

That got him a snort from Natsumi. "I'm sure that it did, though there's not much problems with it." Shaking her head, she sighed. "Pretty sure that a lot of people would love it though here in Japan if it causes gardens to grow like that."

Glancing around, Harry leaned in. "Actually? From what I heard, they're going to be sending some up to Kushiro as well as Kure and Sasebo for the base gardens there. They want to boost the productivity there since it works... Yuubari-Oba proved that with some of her tests." He then tilted his head in thought. "I think there's a Dragon Reservation up in Hokkaido now that I think about it."

On Natsumi's face there was a considering look as she thought it over. Then she glanced at their garden. 'If it really is that great for growing things, and there's a reserve for the lesser dragons in Hokkaido... I can see the government being really interested in it for farming.'

Meanwhile, they entered the home and turned around to slip off their shoes before putting on slippers. Looking around the boxes, Harry blinked at the sight of Haru there. "Haru-San?"

Chuckling, Haru walked over followed by Kensuke and both of them took some of the boxes from the two twelve year olds. "Thank you for coming, Harry-Chan."

All he did was smile back at her. "It's my pleasure, Haru-San. Besides, I've been meaning to drop off what Natsumi-Chan bought while we were in Germany. She wanted me to hold onto it for a bit."

Haru hummed a bit as she looked at her niece who grinned back at her. "I can see that." Giving a small bow to Harry, she gestured with her head for him to follow. "The others are back in the washitsu waiting."

Upon entering the sitting room, Harry smiled as both Rei and Asuka beamed at him. "Harry-Onii-Chan!"

Lips twitching, Harry nodded at them and then bowed a bit to Hoshi. "Good day, Hoshi-San. I hope that you are well?"

Returning it, Hoshi smiled right back at him. "As a matter of fact, I am very well at the moment, thank you. It's lovely to see you as well."

Part of Harry noted that Hoshi's back was to the Tokonoma before he placed that to the back of his mind. Taking off his slippers, he then walked over to an offered Zabuton and sat down. "Thank you." With a glance to Haru who also sat down, Harry reached into his pocket. "As well, I would like to show you a small sign of thanks for helping with Peeves. You went out of your way there simply because I am a friend of Natsumi-Chan."

A chuckle escaping her as she watched Harry pull out a bag, Hoshi smiled. "You don't need to thank me, Harry-San. I would have been happy to do so anyways..." Briefly, her expression darkened. "After all, he's harmed children. That is something unforgivable to one such as I. But thank you..." Hoshi's nose twitched a bit at the smell coming from the bag and she noted that the other members of the family also glanced at the bag in interest and want. 'I wonder what could get that reaction from them? Though it does smell rather good...'

While she grasped the bag and pulled itself to her, Harry shrugged. "I still felt the need to thank you for what you did. So I made some peanut butter cookies for you..." Spotting Rei and Asuka licking their lips, he smiled at them. "And yes, I made enough for everyone else as well."

Reaching out, Harry tapped the container next to him. The black haired boy pretended not to hear the thump of tails at the sight of it, as well as Natsumi shooting the Twins a look. Coughing into one hand with amusement, Haru smiled a bit. "Thank you, Harry-Chan, that should go lovely with some tea." She then turned towards Natsumi and nodded at the boxes. "Shall we see what you brought back from Germany?"

It went without saying that Natsumi's family all enjoyed the sight of the chocolates and some of the treats she brought. Opening one box, Haru's eyes widened as she brought out a carved cuckoo clock. Beside her, Sakuya shook her head. "My word, Natsumi-Chan. That is lovely..."

Unable to help grinning, Natsumi nodded. "I bought that one when we were swung past the Black Forest while heading back from the property belonging to Harry-Chan's family. I just had to get it once I saw the carvings on it."

Also looking at it, Harry smiled at Natsumi. "Not to mention when you heard the tale behind what the carvings are of." At the looks of curiosity, he shook his head. "They're from the fable of the Fox and the Grapes."

Heads tilting to the side, Rei and Asuka blinked as one before speaking at the same time. "The Fox and the Grapes, Harry-Onii-Chan? What's that?"

When Harry glanced at Haru, the Kitsune smiled and nodded. "For a story so short, it does contain some wisdom. Especially for young children."

Simply nodding, Harry turned back to the Twins. "There was once a fox who was walking through some fields when he came upon grapes on a vine. He was a hungry fox and decided that he wanted to eat those grapes, and so began to jump at them. But no matter how much he jumped, or how high, he was unable to reach the grapes. Finally, he stopped and turned away with a huff before walking away. Under his breath, he muttered 'I didn't want any grapes anyways, they're probably sour and unripe!' The moral of the story is that those who speak despairingly of things they cannot achieve would do well to put themselves in the place of the fox and what they want in the place of the grapes!"

Blinking, the two youngsters went through the story in their heads and frowned. Finally, Asuka turned to Harry with a confused look. "Why didn't the fox just knock down the plant? Then he could have gotten the grapes!"

Lightly laughing, Harry shook his head. "Perhaps this fox was not as cunning as you are then? Or there could have been another reason... But the moral still remains."

After a moment, Rei shrugged and turned back to the clock. "Still a silly story." At the snickers, she blinked. "What?"

Reaching over, Harry ruffled their hair before smiling. "Never change."

Needless to say, both kits were confused at the amusement being given to them before they went back to the various things Natsumi brought back. Eventually, Natsumi handed one item to Hoshi. "This is for you, Hoshi-San."

Eyes wide, Hoshi stared at her and then the present. "Natsumi-Chan... you didn't need to get me anything." Her expression softened some as the younger Kitsune gave her a look, which made her smile. "Still, thank you."

Opening it, she brought out the smaller wooden box that was inside and examined it. Taichi leaned over and frowned as he looked it over. "What is it?"

Gently taking it from Hoshi, Natsumi set it down and then turned a key. "It's a singing bird box, just watch." After a few seconds, she flipped the lid and they watched a tiny bird flutter and sing a song while it sat in it's nest. It only lasted a short time before the lid came back down, but Natsumi was smiling. "Well?"

Hands trembling a bit, Hoshi smiled at her. "Thank you, Natsumi-Chan. I'll treasure it always." Several minutes later, once gifts were distributed, Hoshi looked down at the peanut butter cookie in her hand and bit into it. It went without saying that it soon vanished into her mouth entirely. Swallowing, she noted the silence and looked around to find everyone staring at her. What was worse was Haru's and Sakuya's looks of amusement. Coughing into one hand, she gave a smile to Harry. "These cookies are extremely delicious, thank you for making them for me."

Even as Harry shrugged and told her that she was welcome, the older Kitsune was already making plans. Not just to possibly get more, but how she might use this to tease Natsumi...

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

Something less dark?

-----

The Little Carrier That Could, Part I

-----

The Little Carrier was always something of... oddity. Oh, sure, everyone on Little Laughing fleet was odd, one way or another ("Not odd! Special!"), but this Little Carrier was something altogether.

(Well, okay, everyone had their stories, but let me tell about this one. 'Kay?)

For starters, she was... not... born.... as carrier. Some said she was malformed during her... uh, 'construction', some said she was victim of prank gone wrong. Some said she was a, uh, broken Abyssals from another fleet Little Laughing took pity to.

Regardless, she was... not a 'normal' Light Carrier. Her engine was rather weak, her endurance wasn't exactly stellar, although her carrying capacity was... well, not exactly exceptional, but it was quite noticeable.

And she was aware of this. She knows she can't compete with others. She knows her weakness.

She had better-than-normal storage capacity. That's her strength. She can carry things.

Over time, she was accustomed to her job. But sometimes she wonder, how it feels to fight? To be a 'True' Carrier? To be a 'True' Warship?

****

Forgotten planes.

Discarded plans.

Cancelled orders.

Broken dreams.

Spirits of war, gagged and silenced because the Living didn't need them anymore. Because there are better method, stronger, faster weapons.

Or simply because of lull the Living called peace.

Most of them are content. There are some that aren't.

A spirit, build in the image of majestic bird of prey. But its chance never came, by the embers of war that burn too violent, too quickly, they lost the flame altogether.

Such a too common story.

When the Darkness came, threaten The Living, it also claimed, seduced, many of the Lost Spirits. Some was taken with the promise of Glory. Of Blood. Of Pleasure by Pain.

Some of them just want to Fly.

The majestic bird, once a proud spirit, now corrupted. And his chance goes dimmer by the day.

Nobody wants a heavy, resource-intensive, very specialized combat units when some cheaper alternatives are available. They are more fragile? Pah, just summon a new one. Dirt cheap.

The once majestic bird was... unhappy, but it was it's own damn choice, and it should live with it.

But then, the unthinkable happened. Something was notice it.

Someone wants it.

Who is this soul? A cursed soul like it, but why....

But why it is also gentle?

----

This is for now.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 112: S0ngD0g13

Headhunter Flotilla: Violence of Action
........................................................

The MACUSA teams arrived over the sea on brooms, and started moving silently toward the island...

...............................................

Kaylee lunged forward and drove her right fist into the heavy-bag in the base gym, trying to burn off her nerves the only way she knew how...

....................................................

Raider watched as Tusker and Hoose drifted from one group to another, speaking quietly before moving on, until they drifted into position...

"Now!"

The mutineers lashed out suddenly, silencing the ones loyal to Jolly with point-blank broadsides and crushing physical blows.

Raider herself dashed forward and grabbed at Weems; he Apparated away, but in his panicked flight left something of himself behind. The Raider Princess fetched up against the Revenant Princess, distracted by fire from other Abyssals, and wrapped the Abyssal Screw-Frigate in a full-nelson. "Alabama what are you doing?! You traitor!"

"I'm saving your Gods-Damned life, Merrimack!" Raider felt her imps crossing over and boarding the Revenant Princess...

...........................................

The Wizards heard the gunfire well-before they arrived over the island. Their point-man looked through his Omni-oculars and shouted, "Abyssals! Abyssals on the island!"

The commander pulled to a stop. "Retreat! We're pulling back and aborting the mission!"

Graves saw red. "What about the hostages?!"

"They're already dead!"

"You don't know that, you cowardly son of a Scourer!" Graves rolled his broom in and dove, several of the others diving with him.

................................................

The mutineers' fight was winding down by the time the Wizards arrived on-scene. They swooped in just as the last pockets of resistance fell, and as dozens of Blasting, Piercing, and Incendiary spells ripped into the wounded survivors, Jackson Graves rushed to the children. Samantha was leaning against the bars of the cage they'd been placed in, her right arm and side bandaged crudely. "Kids, are you alright?" he asked. "We're here to get you home."

..........................................................

Two pairs of Abyssals sailed away, making the best speed they could...

Raider Princess looked over at the glassy-eyed form of Revenant Princess, sailing with some of Raider's own imps aboard for a prize-crew...

"Someday, Jolly, you'll thank me for this..."

Far to the north, Blockader Demon looked at Raider-Hunter Demon. "Hey, Tusker... Give us a song?"

"The work was hard and the wages low;
Leave'er, Johnny, leave'er..."

.......................................................

Claudius landed with a thump after Apparating, feeling cool wooden boards under his cheek; when he tried to rise, however, he found his right arm gone, splinched in his flight and left behind along with his wand, and he collapsed back to the floor.

Gentle hands turned him over, and Weems saw he was on the floor of an empty restaurant or diner, with four women looking down at him. "Help, please..."

"We will, Mister Weems, we will," said one of the women gently.

How did she know my name?

Claude looked over the bar and saw a framed photo of a couple in wedding-attire... with Kaylee standing by the groom.

The Wizard managed to scramble to his feet and bolted out the back of the cafe and onto the wooded running-trail behind. Carrier Divisions One and Two followed...

What had begun with an arrow...

Was ended with an arrow.

"Akagi, call haha-ue and let her know. Soryuu, call the MPs."

"Hai, Kaga."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Harry opened his eyes and blinked. "Niiyodo-Chan?"

A smile on her face, Niiyodo sat down and made a gesture to Mamiya. Turning back to Harry, she blushed a bit at seeing his attention on her. "Um, sorry for interrupting your thinking..."

However, Harry only shook his head. "You didn't interrupt me at all actually. I was just doing some practicing while waiting for you to arrive is all." Seeing her blink, he raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

On Niiyodo's face was a frown as she glanced around. "You were practicing?" At his nod, her frown deepened more. "Practicing what though?"

With a shrug, Harry scratched his head. "Clearing my mind mostly."

That, if anything, made Niiyodo more curious. "Clearing you mind, Harry-Chan? Why would you be practicing that now?"

For several momants, Harry gathered his thoughts before humming. "It's something that Ryuujou-Oba and Junyou-Oba have been teaching me along with Haru-San." As she was still confused, he shook his head. "Well, it's useful in Onmyoudo. Some divination techniques and Onmyoudo rituals won't work unless you can focus on them to the exclusion of all else. And it takes a lot of meditation for other aspects as well."

Head to the side, Niiyodo considered that for several moments. "I was not aware that Onmyoudo was so involved. That's rather interesting actually... So Junyou-San and Ryuujou-San are good at it?"

Slowly, Harry nodded. "And so is Haru-San. There's other reasons as well for it, such as yokai."

Eyes widening, Niiyodo thanked Mamiya who walked over with parfaits and placed one in front of her and one in front of Harry. "Yokai? It's useful against yokai?" When Harry nodded, she frowned. "How so?"

Just humming as he chewed a bite of his treat, Harry thought over how to answer that. At the same time he was enjoying the parfait. Sure, the House Elves tried, but nothing beat Mamiya in his mind for some of the treats. "Well... you ever heard of Satori?"

Niiyodo furrowed her eyebrows in thought. "I... think that's a mountain yokai?"

Only nodding, Harry swallowed a bite of food. "Pretty much, so is Yamajijii. What marks them as different is that they are hard to fight for one reason..." Tapping the side of his head, Harry continued. "They can read your mind and so know what you are going to do before you do it. So... how do you fight something like that?"

It took only moments, but Niiyodo leaned back. "By not having anything to read... Is that why you're practicing it?"

Gesturing with a spoon, the black haired boy nodded. "One of them anyways, it's a useful skill to have. And it also helps with dealing with possible possessions by hostile yokai as well, makes it hard for them to grip on in a way." Shrugging, he continued. "As someone trained in Onmyoudo, I might end up getting into a situation where I need it."

Thinking it over, Niiyodo frowned slightly. "I suppose so, though hopefully not in a dangerous one."

After smiling at her concern, Harry took another spoonful of his parfait. "So, I got your text. You wanted to speak with me about something?"

Rapidly blinking as she remembered what she was there for, Niiyodo nodded and pulled out her clipboard before sliding it over to Harry. "It's in regards to some of the materials we gathered from Hogwarts. Onee-Sama stated that what happens to the non-steel or non-precious metal ones is up to me. As part of it is your work, I was hoping for your opinion on an idea?"

With a glance at her, Harry looked over what was on the paper and then flipped to the page after. Then he flipped to the next page as his eyes widened some. Finally, the twelve year old set it down and scratched his head. "Well, I'm not sure why you wanted to come to me with this... But it looks pretty good from where I am standing?" Looking at one page in particular, he shook his head. "From this, you want to make pencil sharpeners in the shape of the original hulls of shipgirls."

Just nodding, Niiyodo pointed at one spot in particular. "See? We can use the recovered pewter from some of the cauldrons to make die cast models. Add a pencil sharpener portion and we could sell them at the next Fleet Day. I already talked with Akashi-San and she is willing to help make the molds and something to melt down the pewter to be poured into th molds. Each one would only be a few grams in weight, but..."

Slowly, Harry nodded. "We could get a lot from what we have. And the pewter is something that we really don't need..."

A smile on her face, Niiyodo hummed. "Pewter is also something that we would not get a lot of money back for. Using it for something like this will net us more money then just selling the ingots would." Flipping a page, she pointed at something else. "The copper and brass meanwhile, they could be used to make diecast figurines of shipgirls themselves. Sort of like a tin soldier."

Looking at the picture of a mold which was one of Nagato, Harry stared at it. "Where are you going to get the molds though?"

Now brightly smiling, Niiyodo nodded. "There was a bunch in the PR Department." At his confusion, she shook her head. "They were made way back with the first shipgirls, but got shelved due to the metal that would be used. We can use them for these and sell them at a booth during Fleet Day."

Bemused, Harry leaned against his fist and chuckled which made Niiyodo blush. He noted that she had a happy look on her face though. "Well, this is a pretty neat idea, Niiyodo-Chan. Then again, that's to be expected from you."

If she was only lightly blushing before, this time her face was a deeper red. Hands clenching in her skirt, she looked up at the black haired boy. "R-really? You mean that?"

Harry raised an eyebrow and then nodded at her. "Of course, I mean that. You've done awesome work! Heck, the Easter Egg Hunt went off without a hitch and was a huge success due to you! Ooyodo-Nee was really happy, though that's to be expected as you're just as good as what she could have done."

At this point it must be said that Niiyodo's face looked like a tomato as she stared at Harry. Then her expression softened and she looked down. It always felt like she was trying to live up to her older sister's expectations, and the expectations of those who knew Ooyodo. But Harry was right that her sister was very happy with her, but the fact that Harry often said that he was as well warmed her like nothing else. There was no falsehood in his compliments and neither was he trying to get on her sister's good side. He simply was happy with her, and that was more then enough.

Swallowing, she continued. "Um, Harry-Chan? Any more suggestions?"

For several moments Harry considered the question before snapping his fingers. "Did you get in touch with Naka-Nee by any chance?"

Confused, Niiyodo blinked. "Um, Naka-San? Why her?"

In reply, Harry looked first one way and then the other before leaning forward. "When dealing with PR stuff, it's best to let her know ahead of time. More so when dealing with the rest of the PR department... And if you got her seal of approval, no one will question it."

Thoughtful, Niiyodo slowly nodded. "I never thought about it, but... That makes a lot of sense. Thank you, Harry-Chan."

Simply shrugging, Harry smiled back at her. "You're welcome." Remembering the last time, Harry reached over the table best that he could and ruffled her hair. Briefly, Niiyodo's eyes widened before they closed with a bright smile on her face. "But this is pretty awesome..."

All the Light Cruiser did was happily hum as she enjoyed the headpats. Granted, Harry did wonder why Mamiya seemed amused about it and took a picture, but he was used to such things.
______________________________________________________________

Only a few hours later though found Harry in another meeting. This time though, he was not meeting a Light Cruiser, but rather a Battleship. Haruna as a matter of fact.

Right now though, Harry was blinking as said Battleship sat across from him in Nagato's apartment in Seiza position. Most of his confusion was due to what she had just said to him. "Um... what?"

With a deep breath, Haruna looked right at him and then bowed low enough for her forehead to touch the floor. "Haruna humbly asks for your permission to ask for Rose-Chan's hand in marriage. That is why Haruna wanted to meet you right now."

Slowly blinking, Harry crossed his arms. "That's... what I thought that you said." Frowning, he looked over what he knew and blinked. "Rose is currently at the Docks, right? Working?" Getting a nod from Haruna, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... um... this is unexpected?"

Not lifting her head, Haruna nodded. "Hai, Haruna would expect so."

Looking down at her, Harry glanced to where Nagato was watching in bemusement. 'Wonder why she's smiling?' Turning back to Haruna, he frowned some. "But why ask me? Rose is her own person after all and can do what she wants. You don't need my permission to ask to marry her."

Haruna blinked some before shaking her head though she did not raise it out of the bow. "Hai, Rose-Chan is her own person, and Haruna understands that. But... Harry-Chan is Rose-Chan's family. You're the Head of Rose-Chan's family. So Haruna needs to ask you for permission, it is only right and proper."

As he considered that, Harry looked towards his mother who simply smiled back at him. "Well... I guess?" Giving it some more thought, he coughed into his hand. "In that case, a few questions?"

Licking her lips, Haruna nodded. "Hai! Haruna will answer any questions that you will have.

Now bemused himself, Harry once more rubbed the back of his head. "Well, first one is if you love her and are serious about this. You have been dating a year, so are you sure that you want to ask her to marry you now?"

That was a question that Haruna had considered and her answer came as soon as Harry was done. "Haruna... loves Rose-Chan very much. And no, Haruna does not think that a year is too soon, but Haruna does understand one thing." Raising her head, she looked at Harry straight in the eye. "We are fighting and may one day sink. Haruna... Haruna wants no regrets from either herself or Rose-Chan. To have that time together with Rose-Chan as her wife, that is what Haruna wants more then anything."

Scanning her face, Harry smiled a bit. "Well, that's a pretty good answer. And with how things are we can skip asking if you are able to support her... Um, I think that I'm supposed to ask that, right?" At a glance to his mother who nodded, he turned back to Haruna. "So I think that the next question is normally asking if you would protect Rose to the best of your capabilities. But I think that we know the answer."

All Haruna did was nod. "Hai, Haruna would sink before letting Rose-Chan get harmed. And Haruna would protect her as much as she is able."

Just smiling, Harry nodded before frowning. "I think that's everything that I'm supposed to ask you. So... I give you permission to seek her hand in marriage, Haruna-Oba."

Face lighting up, Haruna bowed once more. "H-Haruna thanks you, Harry-Chan! Haruna thanks you from the bottom of my heart."

Reaching over, Harry placed his hand on Haruna's shoulders. "Even though I know that I don't need to ask it... Just take care of Rose, okay? She's special."

Head raising up, Haruna smiled at him. "Hai, Haruna knows this..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Maes Omake: "Reactions to a pencil sharpener"

RBomber said:
So, in case anyone wondering on roasted chicken with peanut-based sauce:​

For extra foxbait point, replace with rabbit or duck.

SkyeFire said:
Lighthouses...​

Well... lighthouses and lightships. Depending on how young they manifest as... remember your first time discovering what magnifying lenses and sunlight does?

They're their own lightsources.

havefeith said:
I had a thought... What would Maruyu think of fanart of her as a part of "Mogu Gear Solid"? Would she be embarrassed, or would she find it funny? (Just to be clear, I'm not saying I'm going to make it, this was just a hypothetical.)​

Depends. As one of the snakes? Funny/awesome. As Quiet? Definitely embarrassed.

Harry Leferts said:
"From this, you want to make pencil sharpeners in the shape of the original hulls of shipgirls."

Just nodding, Niiyodo pointed at one spot in particular. "See? We can use the recovered pewter from some of the cauldrons to make die cast models. Add a pencil sharpener portion and we could sell them at the next Fleet Day. I already talked with Akashi-San and she is willing to help make the molds and something to melt down the pewter to be poured into the molds. Each one would only be a few grams in weight, but..."

Slowly, Harry nodded. "We could get a lot from what we have. And the pewter is something that we really don't need..."
Harry Leferts said:
For several moments Harry considered the question before snapping his fingers. "Did you get in touch with Naka-Nee by any chance?"

Confused, Niiyodo blinked. "Um, Naka-San? Why her?"

In reply, Harry looked first one way and then the other before leaning forward. "When dealing with PR stuff, it's best to let her know ahead of time. More so when dealing with the rest of the PR department... And if you got her seal of approval, no one will question it."​

*-*-*-*-*
~later~

A slightly uncomfortable Naka: "Well... *cough*... the prototypes are pretty good, and I love the idea, but maybe you could put more thought in the placement of the sharpener?"

Niiyodo: "Placement of the sharpener? What's wrong with it?"

Naka: ". . . because right now, anyone who buys one of those would literally be ramming hard wood up the shaft galleries and screwing until shavings come out the stacks? Especially considering you used your own hull model."

Niiyodo, going beet red: ". . . point. That... hadn't even crossed my mind. Oh..."

Naka: "Are you okay? You just turned white as a sheet."

Niiyodo: "I... might have already given a few of those out to try. To Harry and the Admiral. He said it was comfortable and sharpened very well but was a bit tight. someone please kill me"

Naka: "... so that'd be why Kongou dopeslapped him earlier. I wouldn't worry about it right now... I don't think most humans make the link between hull parts and... parts, or they get it completely wrong."

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

-----

The Little Carrier That Could, Part II

-----

The world is on fire.

The Little Carrier was confused, frightened, but somehow escaped with minimal damage. And several additional passengers.

Her last order, after Leader Wo loaded all planes she could crammed into her, was basically 'find safety first'.

No escort, no guard, no big guns nor heavy ammunition, she had only her wits, using confusion caused by enemies to hide and hopefully escape. Oh, and some Abyssals Scouting Plane, but she had to use them sparingly.

Two of her teammates was gutted by Abyssals torpedoes for letting enemies triangulate their position using their scout plane presence.

Somehow, amidst all confusion, fire, smoke, hulks and blood, she manages to survive into open ocean. But she now wonders, where she could go...?

----

Little Carrier already on the run for several weeks. Months, maybe? She didn't really notice. All she concerned was survival.

And food. Housing lots of hungry, potentially temperamental Abyssals Plane wasn't really easy. Fortunately, sea, years untouched by fishing industries, provide all she could need.

She needs to be careful, though. As tempting as just bomb the school and feast, loud sound on open sea tend to attract... attentions.

She saw, on two occasion, Wo-Class trying to do exactly that... and end up as hulk 2 days later. One by rival group, the other by subgirls. Lesson learned.

Fortunately, some of her more... bestial (not necessarily stupid) are equipped with... appendages to do some old-fashioned fishing.

Now, to find safe hav- is that- is that a To- Class?!?

Ohgodohgodohgoddontspotdontspotmedontspotme-

She spotted me.

----

The Princess was in the bad mood. Her enemies was already scattered to everywhere, and she had to made dedicated task force to hunt all of them. She hated hunting.

But she hated herself even more.

Her sister, her friend, arguably her most precious one... gone. Practically nothing of her, her fleet, could be saved. Nothing-

"Heeeey, Boss Lady, 5th Destroyer Group founds something interesting! Wanna hear it?"

"...Is this... import-"

"Well, something with Hoppou's Fleet ID had transmitting SOS messages. She seems desper- Oh Dear."

"...What."

"Well, whatever is that, she came too close on The Trench, and said Owner had notice her and-"

"The... Closest...."

"...Regina."

"Send... her."

"...Ummm, Boss Lady, are you sure-"

"They are... not... my... allies. Nothing... to lose... there."

"...Message sent."

----

Dammit, that was so close!

The To-Class expect easy meal, and instead got annoyed by several torpedoes from torpedo bomber for it's trouble. Granted, most of them defective, but those annoyed her that much that she loses it. Barely.

All she could get was some broken steel from said 'easy meal' hull and some oil. But she knows her target still alive, if barely. Now, nothing left to do but report-

"You sink her?"

...How this Re-Class can sneak on her?

"...Yeah, what's your problem, Bitch?!?"

She doesn't feel fear. Just annoyed.

"You sank her."

And then, she realizes to her horror, she makes two grave mistake. One: She insulted a Re-Class. Two: Said Re-Class is Elite Ranked.

She didn't live long to regret it, though.

And then the rest of her fleet, when Regina identifies their fleet as one group involved on Aleutian Raid.

Goddess of War awakened, and she demands all of blood as tribute.

****

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Clad in one of his better Kimonos, Harry relaxed some as the Jichinsai ceremony came to an end. Beside him, Haru smiled a bit and tilted her head. "Not something that you have been to that often, Harry-Chan?"

Slowly, Harry shook his head as he glanced at the Himorogi set up with a small, Shinto altar in it. "Well... not really? I've been to one or two though." He watched as the Shinto Priest spoke softly to the MEXT representative. "But it's always something to see."

Lightly laughing, the Kitsune nodded some. "Oh, we're agreed on that, Harry-Chan. Personally, I like it much better then the one time I was I observed a ground breaking ceremony in the United States. Then again... I am sort of a traditionalist in a way." Her gaze then went to a nearby tree and she smiled. "Though I did not expect one participant today."

With a blink, Harry looked in the same direction and snickered a bit as Hedwig observed everything in interest. "I think that it caught Hedwig's eyes and she wanted to see what all the fuss was about."

Her lips twitching, Haru hummed a bit. "Oh, no doubt about that. She is quite intelligent after all... Ah, it looks like it's my turn to go and see Suzuki-San to speak to him."

And with that, the Kitsune walked towards the Priest who greeted her warmly. As she did so, Harry turned at the sigh and smiled. "Hey, Natsumi-Chan. Relaxed now that its all over?"

Only sighing, Natsumi gave a nod before running her hands along her skirt. Unlike her aunt, she was in her Miko outfit having participated in the ceremony. "Hai, that was nerve wracking doing the kusakarihajime and then the part of the ugachizome that was mine. Why Oba-Chan had Suzuki-San have me do it..."

Reaching out, Harry patted her on the shoulder. "Well, I think that you did great actually." There was some displaced air and he coughed to hide his snickers. "And I think that Hedwig agrees."

Natsumi simply blinked and stared at the owl now on her shoulder before turning back to Harry. "Hai, I believe that she does." Then her lips curled upwards into a smile. "Though having her here might help. Owls do bring good luck after all." Spotting her aunt gesturing, she shook her head. "I think that Suzuki-San wants to speak to you as well now, Harry-Chan."

An hour later found an amused Haru watching her neice lay back against the floor. "Really, Natsumi-Chan, it was not that hard. I believe that you've done it before."

Opening one eye, Natsumi glared at her before sighing. "Just for our house though. Not for something like an official building..." With a sigh, she glanced to where her mother was cooing over Hedwig. "That's a lot different."

Shaking her head, Haru hummed. "Not that different, my dear. And Suzuki-San was very impressed with how you conducted yourself. In fact, he asked me if you are considering becoming an actual Priestess when he heard you help me out at the Shrine."

Quickly blinking at that, Natsumi frowned for a moment in thought. "Um... I don't know if I'm cut out for that. Though I'll admit, it does sound sort of interesting." Then she frowned a bit more and looked at Haru. "Are you? A Priestess I mean..."

Just chuckling, Haru nodded as she glanced to where Harry was making some tea. "Hai, though I became one many years ago. And they used a different manner to allow for one to become a Priest or Priestess at that time." Pretending to ignore the slightly wide eyed look on Harry's face, she continued. "But it is your decision as to what you do."

While Natsumi became thoughtful, Harry brought over some tea which Haru took gratefully. As the Kitsune sipped it, Harry scratched his head. "Well, the Jichinsai is now done, I guess that they're going to start work in a few weeks?"

Haru slowly nodded as she thought back. "Hai, they just need to get some things in order and then they'll get started on it. The construction company in question is very good at what they do and will have it done on time and budget I am told."

Scratching his cheek, Harry shook his head. "I'm still surprised with how big a deal is with the stuff my ancestor brought back from Japan is. All I thought was that it would be nice for people to actually see them."

A soft smile on her face, Haru gestured with her hand. "And that, right there, is why it is. What you are allowing me to show is a part of our history, our heritage. That is why people are so interested in it. Something that you have freely allowed back."

In reply to that, Harry just chuckled weakly and rubbed the back of his head.
_______________________________________________________________________
Earlier that morning, the closest thing that the JMSDF had to an expert in Abyssal physiology had arrived on base to examine not just Aeroprin, but also her Destroyers. Said expert was none other then Doctor Norihara herself who was highly interested in what Hoppou had done with the Destroyers. Of course, at first Aeroprin was not sure what to make of the human doctor, but Hoppou had reassured her. After all, Norihara was the one that Nagato had personally asked to be the closest thing to a doctor that Hoppou had.

As she examined one of the Destroyer's avatar on a cot, Norihara smiled a bit to herself. 'Or perhaps I am a family doctor now. After all, these are Hoppou's children... grandchildren?' Pondering the question for a moment, Norihara shrugged it off and continued her work. 'Well, they're still patients no matter what.'

Leaning against one of the cabinets in the makeshift medical area, Akashi watched the human doctor work. The Repair Ship had a great amount of respect for the healers on the human side of things. More then once, she had to ask for advice from them due to shipgirls being both ships and girls at once. And of those, she held Norihara up as a true pioneer along with a certain Army Medic in the US.

It certainly helped that the two humans had worked together on research and had a number of papers published.

However, Norihara was also noted for another thing and that was being an expert in Abyssal physiology. It certainly did not hurt that she was the personal doctor for a Ta class named Tanya. When Hoppou had first been brought in, Norihara was among the first being called to examine her. Of course, right now, Akashi noted her being very interested in the Abyssal Destroyers' avatars. "So... what are your thoughts on them?"

Frowning, Norihara frowned a bit before smiling. "Well, besides them being wonderful little girls?" At the blush on the Destroyer's face, she smiled a bit wider and brought out a large lolipop like the ones she had given the other ones already examined, which the Abyssal happily took. "They're very interesting actually."

More then a little interested, Akashi leaned forward. "Oh? How so?"

Norihara begun making notes on her notepad while considering the question. "Well, for one thing their bodies very closely resemble actual teenaged girls. I would say around the ages of fourteen to fifteen from what I can see. Outside of the cable in their necks, they resemble what I've seen of Abyssal Yo-Class in some aspects."

Eyebrow raising, Akashi thought it over before slowly nodding. "Now that you mention it, I can see where there's a resemblence. Though there is also some with Battleship Symbiotic Demons and Princesses as well."

Slowly nodding, Norihara hummed. "That is true, in particular the umbilical cord. But... There is one thing that I think is of real interest." Knowing that she had Akashi's interest, Norihara walked over to the Destroyer's actual body and poked her head inside it's mouth, completely unafraid. It was yet another reason why all the Repair Ships in Japan and Yuubari had a great amount of respect. Tracing the cord, she shook her head. "Unless I miss my guess, I don't think that they really need them to operate the avatars. Rather the cords themselves were put in as a sort of... limiter."

That made Akashi stand up a bit straighter. "Wait... You think that they don't need them?"

A thoughtful expession on her face, Norihara tilted her head to the side. "Hai, I think that they could be modified not to need them. I can't tell you why Hoppou added the limitation myself, but I think it was more or less to limit panic. If they're like the Symbiotic Battleship type, then they might be able to dismiss their less human attachment, like rigging, and just walk around in human form. But they've been prevented from doing that."

Finger tapping on her thigh, Akashi thought it over before frowning. "Looking at it from a certain angle, it does make some sense... People wouldn't be panicking over infiltrators in that case..."

Before they could go any futher though, they heard the sound of wheels on concrete and turned to find Hoppou wheeling in Tanya who had a look of confusion on her face. Coming to a stop, Hoppou walked around and frowned at Norihara. "Hoppou wants to know why Miss Tanya is still hurt and why Doctor has not fixed her."

Sighing, Norihara turned from the Destroyer and shook her head. "After the battle where we found Tanya, it was discovered that she was... damaged in a way that can't be healed, Hoppou-Chan." At the confusion, she frowned some. "Tanya took a hit to the neck that... I think that the closest description would be that her keel was broken. Injuries like that aren't able to be healed."

Just nodding as best as she could, Tanya gave a smile to Norihara. "Old Princess would not be able to heal keel. Just would have put me down."

Now gasping, Hoppou looked at her before shaking her head and stomping her foot. "That's not right! Hoppou knows that you can be healed! In fact, Hoppou can heal you!"

Freezing, Norihara focused her attention on Hoppou. "Do you mean to tell me that you can heal her? To... to let her walk again, Hoppou-Chan?"

With a blink, Hoppou nodded. "Yup! Hoppou has done it before for her old fleet. Sometimes they got really hurt and Hoppou had to put them together again."

Various emotions warred inside of Norihara as she thought over the offer. Hope, happiness warred with some wariness due to the question of what such an operation would do to Tanya. And, deep down, there were other feelings as well. "I see..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 113: S0ngD0g13

"... What was begun with an arrow...

Was ended with an arrow..."

Michael E. McAmis II, Corporal of Marines, looked up from the manuscript in his hands at his cousin Kaylee. "You want my honest opinion?"

"No, I want you to shove a smokestack up my ass an' roll coal, Mike," replied Kaylee waspishly, her eyes squinted nearly shut even under the shade of her kepi's bill. "Of course I want you to tell me honestly. I wouldn't have asked otherwise."

The muscular Marine sighed. "You're in a fine mood this morning, Kaylee, and I know you well-enough to know you didn't ask me to read over this dreck for my opinion; you already knew it was dreck."

"Yeah, it's dreck. I wrote it in the midst of my last 'scout' out around Spider Island," the hungover ironclad grumped.

Her cousin checked his watch and then looked over the neighborhood; it was empty and quiet around the McAmis household, which was to be expected of five-am in a residential neighborhood. "Fuck it, I'll bite. Kaylee, there's beer in the cooler by your leg; grab one for both of us. You wanna tell me why you bailed out right after the wedding reception, went to Spider Island on liberty (while claiming it was a 'scout'), and threw a three-day drunk?"

"Might be I threw a three-day drunk merely for the pleasure of throwing a three-day drunk, Mike. Drunkenness for it's own sake, if you will."

Mike met his cousin's eyes. "Might be, though I doubt it was. You never struck me as a 'for-the-helluvit' drunk, Cousin. So, I'm at a loss. Why did you toddle off on your own and get roaring shit-faced for three days and nights, Kaylee?"

The gray-coated shipgirl sighed, and her hands shook where she clenched them in her lap. "I'm happy for Houshou and Uncle James, I am. But..."

"But?"

"But it's hard, seein' them so happy, seein' Jaw and Zuikaku so happy, when I..."

Mike nodded. "When you yourself ain't found that one special somebody. You threw a three-day drunk by yourself to keep from showing your envy and ruinin' things."

"Half-right, Mike. I found my special someone, but I lost her," Kaylee said, her head hung low. "There... Mike, Polly was The One, you know? There ain't another in all the world to match her. So," Kaylee paused, her eyes tearing up as she remembered, "so, seein' what coulda been, what Polly an' I shoulda had, it just- I just- Mike I was jealous, an' heartsick with missin' her, an' feelin' empty for the loss o' the one person in the world I loved truly an' completely." She took a shaking breath. "So many times I tried findin' love and failed; I'm damaged goods and I know that, Mike. Then came Polly O'Toole, who loved me in spite of that damage, who I loved with everything I was and am, with nothing held back..."

"Kaylee, you know I love you, right? You're my favorite cousin. So it's purely out of love that I say you're so fuckin' wrong that I don't have the words to do description of it justice."

Kaylee's head came up to face Mike. "You've got scars, Kaylee, true-enough. There's dark, ugly places in your past that I don't doubt even angels fear treading, but you have a kind heart and a loving one; you're anything but 'damaged goods', and anyone who says otherwise needs their fuckin' eyes checked."

He continued, his voice strong. "I don't doubt how strong you loved Polly, nor how strong she loved you; that you two were over the moon for one another was plain to see. But Polly's gone, and the world's a wider place than you'd think; there's another out there for you to find, Kaylee, if you look. I'm not saying to forget Polly; you really think, as in love as they are with each other, that Dad's forgotten Mom now that he's married Houshou? But... Damn it Kaylee, don't just give up on love, for loss of Polly. You'll find your love, in time... Provided you don't give up lookin', nor pickle your liver in sour-mash first. God-a-Mighty, Kaylee, you smell like a dead hog fished out of a mash-tub..."

Kaylee laughed dryly. "You've got the bedside manner of a fuckin' butcher, Mike McAmis, but you mean well and I love you... Thanks, for talkin' with me. Dunno if it helped, but thanks all the same."

"You're family, Kaylee; of course I'll yoke you up when the need arises."

"Far's the story I writ goes, how bad o' dreck is it?"

"I wouldn't use it but for shit-paper, it's that badly-written. How the hell did you even get enough liquor for a three-day drunk? You're sixteen."

"Spider Island's been abandoned since just after Blood Week; the JSDF officially has title to it right now but no one's gave it any thought to amount to much..."

"So you set up a still."

"Still, Hell, Mike. I've got a whole damn homestead built on that island, near-enough."

 

[darthcourt10]

SoulessScotsman

For your consideration...
----------------------------------------------------------------
First Lieutenant Anderson stared impassively forward as Constitution verbally tore into the Battleships Maine as Armored Cruiser Maine helped several colorful individuals clean up a...mess.

What the Mess entailed, however, he was steadfastly ignoring. Or rather, he had been ordered to steadfastly ignore. By looking the other way.

"What in blazes were you girls thinking?! Monster hunting on the coast?! And dragging Crowe with you--" Constitution stopped abruptly and pointed behind Anderson, "Auror Jones, I will punt you into the Gulf if you don't turn around and walk away right now!"

The hurried sound of boots running on rocky beach gave tell to which choice Auror Jones made.

"A skin-walker! A damned Yeahnáglóshii--" Anderson felt an involuntary full-body shudder at the mere mention of the things name, "--of all things! And you dragged Crowe with you! I have never seen such blatant disregard for the safety of fellow servicemen as this!"

"But Grandmaman!" Molly, better known as USS Maine, BB-10, cried, "It was headed towards Bath! What were we supposed to do--"

"Let MACUSA deal with it!" Connie thundered, "Like they, and you, are supposed to!"

"Skin-walkers aren't exactly common on the East Coast, Great-Grandma," Minnie, USS Maine, BB-69, put in, "When one of Ma's fairies recognized the creature for what it was..."

Miranda, USS Maine, ACR-1, put a hand on Connie's shoulder, "Mother, I don't think Admiral Bailey is going to hold their haste against them once he reads the report on skin-walkers."

Constitution took a long, steadying breath, before she leveled a glare at her daughter.

"I'm very much aware what those things are capable of, Miri. And yes, the Admiral likely will be lenient. Which is why I cannot be," she whirled again and snarled, "Auror Jones! If you don't leave him alone, I won't be held responsible for what he'll do to you!"

Anderson tensed ever so slightly.

Just another day as the "Army Liaison" to the USS Constitution and her daughters.

"I'm not paid enough to be a Swabbie-sitter."

 

[darthcourt10]

S0ngD0g13

Jackson Graves grabbed Jones by the collar and pulled him aside, tossing a short 'I got this' wave to Constitution. "Jones, you wouldn't want her mad at you; she's not averse to keelhauling folk if she's pushed."

"And just what would you know, Graves?" Jones snapped, jerking free.

Gravedigger grinned and shrugged. "Better'n to antagonize Ol' Ironsides without cause, for a start. The last poor bastard that tried jammin' Constitution up was me, over her stealin' cable. It ain't end well." His southern accent was on full display.

"All the same we've got a job to do; that No-Maj-" Jones checked up as Graves grabbed his wrist.

"Jones, has Anderson there been facin' the same direction this whole time?"

"Yes, he has."

"He ain't turned around? Not nary a bit?"

"Not once. Your point?"

"Well, if he's been lookin' away this whole time, then he obviously hasn't seen anything he ought not, eh? So put your wand away and go report all's well, Rookie."

After Jones toddled off to make his report, Jackson adjusted his denim jacket and walked over to Anderson. "Nice view, eh?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Jackson Graves, formerly of First o' the Seventy-Fifth. Connie can vouch for me. You ain't see shit?"

"Not a thing."

"Fair'nuff. Have a good one, Soldier. Give my regards to the Lobster Boats, and keep your powder dry."

Graves walked back to his post and shrugged. "Helluva day, bein' MACUSA's 'liaison' to Constitution..."

 

[darthcourt10]

SoulessScotsman

Next bit. Short, but I'm working on building up these characters before I do anything longer.
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When Maine (ACR-1) entered the waiting room for the Admiral's office on the base that had been built into Bath Iron Works, she was utterly unsurprised to see Anderson waiting patiently for her mother.

"Hello, Crowe. I take it Mother is busy?"

The younger man nodded, "Hey, Miss Miranda. Miss Connie's talkin' to Admiral Bailey, but she should be out in a minute or two."

Maine glanced at the holster sitting on the small coffee table in front of him, as well as a thermos, "Don't tell me that she still refuses to carry her sidearm."

"Yes, Ma'am. I've been given strict orders by Admiral Williams, who was ordered by SECNAV, who had it politely suggested to him by POTUS that he get her to reconsider. They even got a Springfield M1911A1 and refurbed it for her. Apparently a 101st vet from WWII donated it. With a message."

Maine let out a bark of laughter, "Oh, she'll love that."

"Of course she will," he agreed, "Or she wont get anymore tea from me."

Maine quickly lost a semblance of humor, "Williams must not be happy."

"No, Ma'am. He was very emphatic that she take it and wear it."

Not even a moment after he finished that statement, Connie came storming out of Bailey's office, face red and set in an extremely agitated glower.

"And take the damn pistol!"

Connie spun on her heel, spat an insult best not repeated, and slammed the door to the Admiral's office.

Lieutenant Anderson rose from his seat and held out both the holstered sidearm and the thermos.

Connie snatched the pistol from him and removed her Service Blue coat to secure the shoulder holster.

Anderson coughed, "Previous owner has a message, Ma'am."

Connie shrugged her coat back on and grunted, grabbing the thermos from him, "Carry on, Lieutenant."

"Message from First Sergeant James MacAndrew, Retired, formerly of the Army 101st Airborne follows as such: Suck it up, Sailor."

Connie's face scrunched up like she'd just bitten into a lemon, "Message received, Lieutenant."

Muffled guffaws of laughter came from Maine as she hunched over the side of a chair.

Connie rolled her eyes, "Laugh it up, Miri. Laugh it up. Just you wait, I have baby pictures your father gave me, and I plan on showing them to Molly and Ari. See who's laughing, then."

"Me!" Maine giggled, still bent over, "I was an adorable baby, Mother, I have nothing to be embarrassed about!"

Connie just grumbled.