Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 5: Jaegerkin

a bit of Slice of life that came to me.

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Narvik Harbour:

a casual observer might be confused by the sight of a Young woman in what looked like a modified royal navy uniform stuffing entire shipping pallets into the inside Pockets of her jacket.
those more familiar With the coming and goings of the convoys would recognize DS Hestmanden loading up for another trip.
sitting next to the loading docks, KNM Eidsvold was keeping her Company while Hestmanden was filling her holds.

"hey, Eidsvold, did you hear Haruna got herself a girlfriend who is a tea set?"
seeing the look on the pre dreadnoughts face, hestmanden continiued
"Yeah, surprised me too. well, i suppose i shouldnt be, because... well, we are ships. but i didnt even know there were Things like tsukogami? i think they were called.
anyway.
the English destroyers told me about it, how a hundred years of love and use would bring Things to life. and it got me thinking.
am i a ship girl, or a tsukogami of a ship?
boggles the mind it does"
Hestmanden finished.
Eidsvold looked thoughtful at that, before asking:
"how would you know?"

"well." hestmanden explained. "while i was on loan to the royal navy for the WARs, and they gave me this spiffy uniform, i feel i was never really a navy ship.
i was a cargo ship for 50 years, then spent another 20 as a salvage ship. poor U-843, killed the same day as the Peace came...
and after languishing in dock for about 10 years, i was lovingly restored by men and women who poured their love and effort into making me New again.
30 years of effort just for me.
which takes me over that magical line of a hundred years."
she paused as Eidsvold gave her a side hug.
"I sent emails to a few of the experts, see if any of them know what i am.
because i have no Clue"

"Dont worry horsey, doesnt matter what you are, you are one of us"
Eidsvold reassured the smaller woman.
"now, finish up loading. we need to get a hearty meal into you before you head off again"

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Oslofjorden:

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, just the right amount of Wind, and a lovely temperature.
once more, the alotted day had come, and the oslo pack of torpedodoggies was unleashed upon the fjord to go play hide and seek among the islands and coves.
and the Coastal forts were put on alert.

Harald checked the rigging of his little sailboat, Fram XV.
satisfied that all was well, he turned to his two Companions for the day
KNM Harald Haarfagre and KNM Tordenskjold were as always ready to keep him Company as he indulged his love of the sea.
the king sat back as his hand took a firm hold of the guide rope.
"well ladies, shall we?" he asked them With a smile.

the two sisterships glanced at each other With a smile. happy to indulge their king and grampa
"after you my lord" they answered as one, as the Three of them left the marina for a day of leasurely worship of the sea

------

Narvik is a major export hub for a lot of norway and swedens iron, steel and aluminium Production. metals that are at a Premium in the current ongoing war effort.
convoys are likely making regular Calls there.
and yes, rose potter has left poor Hestmanden With a little Identity crisis.
as for his majesty king Harald, well, the man has been an enthusiastic sailor for about 60 years, and has won several international competitions.
he participated as the Norwegian representative in sailing in the Olympics Three times, and was the world champion in 1987.
i don't see him giving up his passion for the sea just because demons are attacking.

jgkitarel said:
Okay, now that is awesome. Rather than do a normal summoning, His Majesty calls upon his people's pre-Christian traditions, and they answer. And is Majesty using the ashes of the KNM Fridtjof Nansen, a man who had fallen in battle, with a sigle request, a final duty. To request to those Einherjar in Valhalla who represent Norway's Navy, to come back. To fight against a new foe. One who is trying to end the world. To fight Ragnarök. And they answered.​

thank you. in the end, i didnt name the captain of the Fridtjof Nansen. and showed the end of the engagement from the perspective the infantry ambush, as i didnt feel up to portraying the horror Movie plot the man was subjected to.
heading out to Discover what is killing the Fishing boats, and finding a strange albino woman standing over the sinking wreck of a small Fishing boat.
the initial salvos, the cat and mouse Chase and realization the woman is playing With them.
the feeling of helplessness as the tragically undergunned top of the line brand New frigate fails to do any damage.
the hopelessness and desperation that as he sheds sweat blood and tears to keep the Nansen running just a little longer untill he can get to the ambush site, and hope that it will be enough, while his ship burns under his feet.
and the end, as the KNM fridtjof Nansen is mortally wounded, and plowes into the shallows as the bridge is riddled With shrapnel from the shredded bow.
the Words failed to do him justice, so i left his tale to the imagination of you all. feeling you will know his bravery.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Watching has her escorts formed up, Wanko slowly nodded before turning to where Harbor Demon stood watching. "I shall... entrust this place... to you for... a few days while... I visit Little Sister... And Little Brother."

Slowly bowing her head some, Harbor Demon nodded. "I shall make... sure that everything... is still here... when you return... My Lady." She then tilted her head some. "But what shall... I do with... the human prisoners...?"

In reply though, Wanko only shrugged some. "Continue to treat them... as we have. I have sentenced them... for their crimes of... being graverobbers. The Australians are... also here with... observers to see... how we treat those... we have caught... breaking apart shipwrecks." She then snorted some. "Though since it... was an Australian ship... they were using explosives on... to get steel, the Australians... have little issue... with leaving them in our care."

Head tilted to the side, Harbor Demon only gave a nod before letting out a sigh. "I remember when... we simple killed such... people when we caught them. Things have... changed quite a bit."

Only humming, Wanko looked over at the structures in the lagoon around her. The original modified oil rig had been joined by structures that resembled the British Maunsell Army Forts. It had not even been a year since the signing of the treaty, but the Australians had kept their word. Though they had been happy to be paid in resources that Supprin had gathered form the seafloor, they had already been prepared. And now, Wanko's fleet and Supprin's own slowly growing one had what amounted to a home of sorts. Even from where she stood, Wanko could see wind turbines and the like that provided power.

Then her gaze turned to one structure in particular, separate from the others and she could see a Re-Class standing on the roof of while keeping a watch. The place where her fleet kept those who were caught "Salvaging" warship and other wrecks in her area of the sea. All of which she had a trial for and then sentenced to time. But also had human and shipgirl observers to keep an eye on them as well as a test.

So far, outside of diplomatic complaints about keeping "Citizens" in prison for no reason, there were no real problems.

Part of Wanko was still amused that sometimes it fell to her own Abyssals to keep things settled. It seemed that the Australian observers sometimes took very low views of some of the salvagers who had decided to recover steel from RAN shipwrecks, including those sunk in Blood Week. Low views that in one case, a relative of someone who died on one of those ships, tried to show personally.

Just shaking that off, Wanko turned as Regina came up with a small smile and a salute. "We're ready to head for the Australian coast, Lady Wanko. The RAN shipgirls will accompany us until we reach the airport and our flight for Japan."

That was something else that Wanko was surprised by and thankful for. With the treaty, Australia allowed them to use some of their aircraft for trips between her territory and Japan to visit Hoppou and Harry. "Very well, inform... them that it... will be a few minutes... before we leave." She then frowned thoughtfully. "Are you ready... for your other... mission if we receive... permission?"

Much to Wanko's amusement, Regina pulled her scarf up to try and hide the blush on her face. But Regina still nodded some and from the visible dimples she was smiling. Suddenly, Revina popped into view from nowhere and slung an arm across her sister's shoulders and caused her to jump and eep. "Heh, of course she is, Boss Lady. She gets to spend a lot of time with, and maybe share a room with-Oof!"

Her face now near luminescent, Regina's elbow embedded itself in Revina's stomach. "S-stop that!"

Despite the pain, Revina only snickered at it before standing up and placing her hands behind her head. "So, Boss Lady... Think that I might get permission to visit Hoggywartsy? Because I heard that the Twins are staying there and I want to make sure that they have a fun time... Maybe even give them a party of sorts!"

Extremely amused, and considering it as it would get Revina out of her hair, Wanko nodded some. "Perhaps I... shall do ask." For a moment the image of a massive man with a large beard was in her face, and Wanko felt her own cheeks heat up some. "And maybe I'll... accompany you... as well." At the growing smirk on Revina's face, the Abyssal Princess performed a preemptive strike by bringing her hand down in a chop onto Revina's face. "Stop that."

Giggling as Revina pouted and rubbed her head, Regina turned back to the structures in the lagoon as the sun set only to gasp some. "Oh wow... it's so very pretty..."

With a blink, Wanko turned and then smiled a bit at seeing different colored lights come on that were fastened to the structures. Here and there she could see Abyssals on walkways going about their business and Wanko found herself smiling. Yes, things had changed greatly for her fleet.

And she was happy for it.
____________________________________________________________________________

"'LLLASKA!"

Blinking, the Large Cruiser (Large Cruiser, not Battlecruiser) furrowed her eyebrows at the sight of one of her three sisters on the screen. "Guam?" The confusion was mostly due to the odd dress that Guam was wearing. The red velvet and white fur that lined it stood out against her dark, tanned skin. "Oh! You're in a Christmas play? When is it?"

A pout on her face, Guam huffed a bit as she sat in her chair at the other side of the screen before crossing her arms. "'Laska! I'm not in a play."

Head tilting to the side, Alaska frowned a bit as her sister adjusted the Santa hat on her head. "Oh. But why are you dressed up as Missus Claus?"

Suddenly, Guam perked up some. "Oh! It's a dress that I got for Christmas!" With that, Guam stood up and did a small twirl which caused Alaska to notice that the skirt was rather short. "I asked Nevada what I should get and she said this. And it shows off my shafts and stern, I think."

Somewhat thoughtful, Alaska could only nod a bit. It was a shame as she wanted to give her sister a hug, but she was too far away. After all, she looked adorable! "I think so too."

Then the Large Cruiser frowned a bit. "I don't know why she said that it would make for a really good present if I wore it though." Guam then scratched her head and sat down. "She said that she was going to get something like it herself... and I think an elf costume? But then she said that she might be naughty and I don't really understand that. Why would you be naughty on Christmas! Then Santa wouldn't come and bring you all sorts of presents."

Rapidly nodding on her end, Alaska shuddered a bit. "Like Legos and Hot Wheels! You wouldn't get those for being bad, I think." Frowning, she shook her head. "Well, um, I think that Cameron might get them for me anyways, but I'm not sure. Maybe?"

Also confused, Guam considered that before shaking her head. "Anyways, hopefully my gifts for you get through! And that they come in time for Christmas."

With a giggle, Alaska smiled at her. "And I hope that mine get through as well! And I hope that your boyfriend likes your outfit too. Hopefully he doesn't jump around when he sees your present."

That got giggles from her sister and the two talked for some time. Shortly after the two cut off the chat, Atago walked in to see a thoughtful look on Alaska's face. "Is something wrong, Alaska?"

Getting up, Alaska turned to her friend and hummed a bit at the expression on the other Cruiser's face. It was adorable and she wanted to hug her, though by the time that thought had entered her mind she was already moving across the room and throwing her arms around her friend. "'Tago!"

Simply patting Alaska's head as the other shipgirl currently had her face buried in her bust, Atago smilied. "Alaska, you seem happy." Nodding, Alaska looked up at her and then told Atago all about what her sister had and the Japanese shipgirl hummed in thought. "Your sister's boyfriend is that... Jumper fellow on the forum, right?"

Nodding, Alaska almost purred as she got headpats. "Yup! Guam really likes him and I like the games he writes." Then she perked up some. "Oh! I really liked my sister's dress and I was wondering if I could have one too! I mean, I know that it's late and everything but-"

Atago had an odd, teasing smile on her face. One which Alaska liked. "Just let me do some work and I'll make one up. That way you can give Cameron a nice present. And I think that I still got one for myself somewhere around too..."

Brightly smiling, Alaska let Atago guide her out of the room. Her friend always helped out after all and was so awesome at times. Which made her want to hug her as she was also very cuddly.

Something that her body had already moved to do to the giggling Cruiser as the thought crossed her mind.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

I can see Taffy 3. I really can.

... You know, every time I write one of these snippets, they seem to get longer. Maybe I should start splitting them in half or something. Also, no direct appearances by Tanya in this one.
Evening Falls

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"Three more kilometers," Mutsu said, not looking away from the road. Nagato, who had either been dozing or faking it, opened her eyes slowly and yawned. Normally, her sister would have been chauffeured to the airport by a government something-or-other. This time, though, Mutsu had asked very nicely and she had a good track record of not doing stupid things, so Admiral Goto had been nice enough to permit it—or at least talk whoever was higher up on the paygrade into it.

"The next few days are going to be pretty crazy, aren't they," Nagato said, stretching her arms out. "Wish I could do more to help." Mutsu laughed.

"Don't be silly," she admonished. Eyes on the road, eyes on the road. "We've gotten by without you before. We'll be fine this time too. Although…" she trailed off. A captured Abyssal battleship. Rebuilding from a sneak attack that had created a blind spot to sneak through. A Natural-Born whose parents were inevitably going to be on base today or tomorrow— "Ushio's parents cannot meet Hiei."

"I hadn't thought of that, actually. What—"

"But if it happens, we can deal with it," Mutsu cut her off. "Admiral Goto is competent, and Hiei will listen to Kongou. Have a little faith." Nagato sighed and shrugged, leaning back in her seat.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just a bit nervous is all. London is so much farther away than Juno."

"And yet, you'll still be the Big Bad Nagato, and we'll still get dinner on time." Mutsu said, and Nagato cracked a smile. Good. Not much longer, so… "Now then. I know Kongou gave you the ins and outs regarding the Brits, but I've got one last piece of advice for you."

"Oh, really?" Nagato said, sitting up straight with her hands in her lap. "I'm listening, go ahead."

Mutsu took a deep breath, and gripped the steering wheel. "Be careful," she said seriously, her voice full of authority. "If you can't be careful—"

"No, no, I'm stopping you right there," Nagato groaned. She flopped back into her seat, palming her face with a comically final motion that seemed out of place on the normally serious battleship. Mutsu grinned.

"Well you can't blame me for making sure," she said, shrugging. Eyes stay on the road. "You're my sister, if something happened—"

"Mutsu," Nagato said firmly. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend. I don't have time for that sort of commitment." She looked at the back of Mutsu's head with a gaze so piercing that Mutsu could feel it pushing against her physically.

"Say no more," Mutsu said. "I am reassured."

"Good."

The airport drew closer in the windshield, signaling Nagato's encroaching departure. The two of them sat together in silence until Mutsu pulled the car to a stop outside the terminal and reached over to the passenger's side to embrace her sister. Then she got out to help Nagato with her luggage.
-----

Admiral Goto sat at his desk, resting his chin on the backs of his hands. He sighed deeply. Doctor Unagi, a tall, gaunt man with close-cropped black hair sat across from him stoically. He brought his own hands up in a gesture that was half shrug, half "what you gonna do."

"I don't know what to tell you," he said. "I've examined her thoroughly. Aside from never walking again—I made sure that part was correct by the way, and it is—she's the picture of health." He gripped the arms of his chair and shifted back in his seat. "The only way I could venture to explain her evident catatonia is psychiatric, not my forte at all."

The door opened, and Ooyodo walked in, holding a small sheaf of papers. "Admiral," she said coolly, "I have the requisition forms you asked for."

"Thank you, Ooyodo," Goto replied. "You can just leave them to me." Ooyodo nodded, and handed the papers to him. Doctor Unagi cocked his head curiously, looking at Ooyodo, and then back at the Admiral.

"Well now," he said, his voice carrying a slightly impressed undercurrent. As far as Goto had seen, he wasn't the type to show thoughts or feelings through his body language. "I can't say that has anything to do with the matter at hand." Goto smirked good-naturedly.

"There's more going on here than a captive Abyssal, Doctor," he said, examining one of the pages. "Even one who… hey, wait a minute. Ooyodo, stop for a second." Ooyodo stopped at the door obediently. "Tanya responded when you were talking with Hiei about Doctor Norihara, didn't she?"

"That's not a name I'm familiar with," Unagi noted. "Who would…" he trailed off, turning to look at Ooyodo. The cruiser stood rigid at the door, her neck (and probably her face) flushed and a tea-kettle-like noise rising from her lungs. "… Miss Ooyodo?" The cruised turned, and smiled tightly.

"I'm quite alright, thank you," she said. "It's just… Hiei. I'm sure now she's going to pop out of the ceiling and… I don't know," she said, flapping her arms, "talk about how science is invalid because it can't make Pokémon real and make a pest out of herself—"

"Ooyodo," Goto said, and she dropped her arms. "She responded when she realized Doctor Norihara was the one who examined her, right?" Ooyodo paused, glancing aside before looking forward.

"I believe that was the reason, yes," she confirmed. "Admiral, if you are suggesting bringing her back and putting her in a room with the Abyssal to see if that makes it talk to us, I must advise against it."

"I'm not an idiot, Ooyodo," he replied gently, motioning for her to calm down. "It was just a passing thought. If you were right, and Tanya were taking an active interest in her… Well, we'll have to step carefully."

"Yes sir," Ooyodo replied. She slid the door open and walked out of the room. Then the door slid shut behind her. Unagi looked at the door for a moment after, before turning back to Goto.

"Whoever this Hiei girl is, I like her already," he said. Goto laughed.
-----

Ushio was getting tired of all the silence she was being treated with. It was a weird mix of respect and discomfort, which just made her feel even more uncomfortable. Umi had treated her like everything was normal, but Umi had left hours ago, gone to the hospital with Mamiya to talk to Sensei and see what was to be done next. Or if there was something to be done next. After the fight, no one was entirely sure what was supposed to be going on. Chisaki had dragged Yae and Ichika away to look for new clothes to replace their changes and pajamas, considering that their old ones had probably been destroyed when the station caught fire.

"—ahead!" she heard Miya whisper. Ushio turned and looked over her shoulder to see her standing next to Miko. The two were only a few meters away, standing behind an armchair that sat in a corner off to the side. Saki, the final member of their little band, was probably bumming around the kitchen trying to keep her hands occupied.

"I don't know," Miko replied. "Maybe this is a bad idea. What if she doesn't want us to pry?"

"… Yes?" Ushio asked, and the two 'eeped' and jumped, rattling the chair. Usually, they were more confident—this day must have taken a lot out of them. The three stood in place, looking back and forth at each other and gradually, gradually Ushio began feeling more and more awkward with each passing moment.

"Hoshikawa-san and Kitamura-san are pretty late, aren't they?" Miko said finally, speaking so fast that it seemed she would trip over her words. "Usually the prez is a lot better about getting things done."

"Well, it-it's been a long day," Ushio admitted. "And I think that things must be rather hectic over at the hospital. What with the attack and everything."

"Of course," Miko agreed with a rapid-fire nod. "That must be what's going on." Their subject of conversation expended, silence once again descended on the three again. Ushio liked quiet as much as the next person, but this was less of a comfortable separation and more a smothering blanket that she was stifling under. Maybe she could come up with something else to talk about? But then, she never came up with anything—that was always Umi, inserting her into others' lives without so much as a by-your-leave.

"You stammered again," Miya said quietly, so sudden that Ushio almost missed it.

"Y-yes?" Ushio asked, her voice catching once again. She stammered sometimes, that was just her being… her.

"It's just…" Miya said, draping herself over the back of the chair. "You're a Shipgirl now. You fought Abyssals last night. I would have thought that you'd be… Well, that you'd have less trouble with us now." Her voice became sullen, and she looked down at the cushions grumpily.

"That... That's just in movies, Seo-san," Ushio said. Her own words didn't help—guilt began to build up in her stomach and she looked down at her feet.

"What was it like?" Miko asked. Ushio looked back up to see that she had her hands clasped low in front of her and she was looking intensely at her. Guilt began washing away, worry taking its place. When fixed with so determined a gaze, often she felt like she was about to burn to ash and blow away in the wind.

"The fight?" Ushio said.

"Yes," Miko confirmed, nodding frantically. Ushio wanted to draw back and roll into a ball somewhere. Miko could be intense, but she had never directed that intensity at her.

The fight, she thought. It had been a fast, frantic brawl rather than the sort of glorious naval battles that Shipgirls were supposed to engage in. She had been… She had…

"I wasn't thinking when the fighting started," she admitted, gripping her skirt. "All I knew was that if I did nothing, Sensei was going to die. And then maybe you all would too. And I… Oh my gosh, I was scared. I was terrified—but I couldn't let anyone get killed. I just… couldn't." Her grip tightened, and she could feel her shoulders begin to shake. She was distantly aware of the chair being pushed aside, and of Miko and Miya stepping forward. "I'm alright, seriously," she reassured them. "It's just… I wasn't thinking of how scary it was at the time. Just that it was going to hurt people, and that wasn't happening on my watch."

There was a knock at the door. The three turned and looked at it, not certain if it was fortunate to have cut things off at that moment, or simply turning things awkward again. Then the door was pushed open, and Umi and Mamiya were walking in, followed by a woman with an eyepatch who wait, Ushio knew that face. That was Tenryuu. She was kind of famous... and after this morning, meeting Kongou and Nagato however briefly, Ushio was feeling just a little bit desensitized to the whole thing.

"We're baaack!" Umi crowed. "Did anyone miss me?"

"No!" Miko and Miya chorused, Saki joining in from the kitchen. THAT joke had started when they had entered the club not long into the year—Yae had burst into the room asking who had missed her, only to receive the sarcastic answer from Kino-sempai who had been doing paperwork for the student council with them. Ever since then, asking if you were missed would net you a negative answer.

And Ushio laughed. She couldn't help it. It was simply such an everyday thing, in the middle of the madness that her life seemed to be falling into, that the tired old joke was somehow infused with a new life.

"Glad to see you're feeling better," Tenryuu said casually, as if she weren't legend to the girls there in the room. She closed the door behind her, and removed her shoes. "Fubuki was still a little worried that you were gonna break down or something after she left." Ushio blinked, wondering what she—what any of them would say, but before anything could be said, Umi suddenly gripped her by the shoulders.

"She knows Sensei!" the girl hissed, trying to shake Ushio. Instead, she just ended up shoving herself back and forth comically. "She's a Natural-Born, like you, and she went to school with Sensei, and she's the one who set this up it's awesome!" Over Umi's shoulder, she could see Mamiya looking around the room.

"Where is everyone else?" she asked. "I know I heard Tohda-san in the kitchen, but…"

"Clothes shopping," Saki said, poking her head out of the kitchen. "Said our old togs were probably ash by now, and we need new ones." She took a whiff of her own sleeve and wrinkled her nose. "She's probably right." Mamiya groaned and held a hand to her forehead.

"Someone will have to go get them…" she grumbled.

"Don't worry," Tenryuu said. "I've got a pretty good idea where they've gone—Probably gonna need your help, though, since I don't know what they look like…"

And then someone else knocked at the door. Ushio shrugged Umi's hands off—suddenly, she could do that now. Superpowers were nice—and walked over to the door, pushing it open. In front of her stood a serious looking woman.

"Nachi," Tenryuu greeted her, nodding respectfully. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for Ushio," Nachi replied, returning the gesture. Ushio felt herself wince involuntarily. "I'm sorry, are you still not comfortable being called that?" Nachi asked, in a gentler tone. She leaned down to look Ushio more closely in the eye. Ushio shook her head.

"It's okay," she said, trying to be as truthful as possible and not feeling it in the slightest. "I'm just not used to it is all."

"The Admiral asked me to go over some of the legal technicalities with Nagawa-san," Nachi continued, as if the exchange seconds ago hadn't happened. "Just to make sure she's able to think things through before her parents arrive."

"Hey, hey," Tenryuu replied, stepping down into the engawa. Mamiya looked after her a moment, then scurried after her, sitting herself down and fumbling with her shoes. "That doesn't sound right. Shouldn't we talk to her parents about options first?"

"Normally, the Natural-Born hasn't already awakened herself," Nachi said. "It's not a unique case, but it's a bit unusual in the middle of a day that's already pretty crazy."

"I'm sorry," Ushio said, bowing.

"Don't—why are you apologizing? It's not your fault!"
-----

"I'm sorry, I'm drawing a blank on this Ami," Ikazuchi groused, looking at the worksheet in front of her. The two were sitting in the cafeteria, the table before them a mess of papers and two coffee mugs whose sides were brown for all the spills they had experienced. Inazuma looked over her shoulder, and reached out with a pencil.

"You're doing it wrong, nanodesu," her sister admonished her. "You don't put dominant and recessive genes on the separate axes, you put one parent across the Y and one across the X." Ikazuchi erased her diagram, rewrote it, and found that it still meant approximately "fish" to her.

"Nope, still don't get it." She said. Inazuma sighed, and lay her pencil down.

"I know you snuck off somewhere, nanodesu," she said. "Where did you go, nanodesu?"

"I didn't sneak off," Ikazuchi said, rewriting the diagram again. "What gave you that idea?"

"I couldn't find you anywhere for an hour, nanodesu," Inazuma replied in a tone that was probably supposed to be deadpan, but only came across as attempted, half-backed smugness. "Also, I overheard some radio chatter a little while later."

"Ah. That." Ikazuchi said. Darn it, but Ami was the one person she could never hide things from. She suspected it came from sharing a birthday. They knew each other's tells, how they would buckle under pressure or react when they had a plan formed. She bit the tip of her pencil, scrutinizing her worksheet more closely. "I was—"

"Hey chibis, what ya up to?" Hiei said, sticking her head over Ikazuchi's shoulder. Behind her, Haruna was quietly shrieking for her to stop doing that and eat her dinner.

"Science!" Ikazuchi grinned. "You wanna join us?"

"Nah, I'll pass," Hiei said derisively, pushing an imaginary pair of glasses up the bridge of her nose. "You know as well as I do that if science cannot make Digimon real it is meaningless—hey, do you hear that?" she added, casting about nervously. "Sounds like someone screaming."

"Is that Ooyodo?" Kirishima asked. Hiei turned to face her, only for Kirishima to grab her by the back of her shirt and force her down into her seat. Hiei tried to pull free, only for Kirishima to plant her hand firmly on her shoulder and lean, forcing her to sit. Ikazuchi looked over her shoulder at the struggle, and then turned to face her sister.

"She's not wrong, you know," she said, shrugging only one shoulder. "About science." I'll tell you later

"Akiiii," whined Inazumi, crouching down and glaring at her. You'd better.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 21: S0ngD0g13

Jaw in Tokyo, or, 'the Dogs and the Ducky'...
...................................

Jaw yawned and sipped his coffee as he wandered through Akihabara, window-shopping. Two of the minesweepers, Palisade and the newly-summoned Barrier, were with him. After the recent 'incident' and the Awakening of Ushio, two minesweepers was the minimum escort he and Kaylee were allowed off-base with, So Sayeth Dad.

The wiry teen was checking his bank account on his cellphone and weighing the pro/cons of buying a new RC plane when he heard a girlish sniffle nearby. He pocketed his phone and followed the sound, the dogs at his heels, until he saw the girl in question, huddled against a wall in the mouth of an alleyway.

"You okay, Miss?" Jaw asked gently, stepping forward as Palisade and Barrier stood guard. The girl startled, and the next thing he knew, Jaw was staring straight down the bore of what a detached part of his mind ID'd as a 4"/65 Type 98 Dual-Purpose. Merciful Mother o' Mares, from this close it looks like I could walk down the bore with my hat on, and room to spare...

The Type 98 suddenly vanished as the Shipgirl started to apologize. "I'm so sorry! I didn't-" Jaw held up a hand to stop her.

"No harm, no foul, Little Miss; that was pretty-much all on me for startling you," he said as he breathed deeply to calm his racing heart. "I oughtn't startle girls like that, anyhow."

The Destroyer-Girl looked up at him quizzically. "Who are you, Mister?"

Jaw knelt so they were eye-to-eye and smiled gently. "I'm James. James A.W. McAmis, at your service, but my friends call me Jaw. My dad's the Lead Trainer and Handler for the Minesweepers, down in Kure. What's your name, Little Miss?"

"I'm Akizuki."

Jaw smiled. "That's a right pretty name; means 'Autumn Moon', right?" She nodded, and Jaw continued. "How come you're out here all by yourself, Miss Akizuki? I thought Destroyers all travelled in groups?"

The lost Ducky sniffled again. "I was shopping with my sisters and Shinano-san, but there was a crowd and I got separated and my radio won't work and I can't find them..." Jaw folded her in a hug and rubbed her back, just like he'd done for his younger cousins back in the States when they had a nightmare or a bad day and needed a cry.

"Here, now, Little One, I'm here; you ain't alone, and we'll get you back to your sisters just you wait an' see. You got my word on that, Miss Akizuki, swore on my family-name." He held her until her sniffles stopped, then used the black bandana from his pocket to dry her eyes.

The pair stood, and Jaw whistled. Barrier and Palisade trotted into the alley and promptly started sniffing Akizuki and licking her face before Jaw made them sit. "Here's our escorts, Miss Akizuki." He pointed to the Walker Hound on the left. "This here is Admirable-Class Minesweeper AM-270, USS Palisade." He petted Palisade, and then Barrier. "This lively pup here is our newest," he said as the Bluetick Hound gave an enthusiastic tail-wag, "Admirable-Class AM-150, USS Barrier."

"They're pretty..." Akizuki said as she reached out and gave Barrier a soft head-pat. "So, how are we going to find the others? My radio still won't work..."

"Akihabara's got so many electronics, I'd bet money that's what's interfering with your radio," Jaw said. "My cellphone still works, though. You know if Shinano has a cell?" They left the alley and Jaw whistled again. "Barrier, Palisade; Escort." The hounds fell into formation with Akizuki and Jaw as they walked up the street.

Akizuki nodded. "I think so, but I don't know her number..."

Jaw chuckled. "That's easily-handled." He pulled his phone out and dialed a number. "Hey, Zuikaku, I need a favor. Yes, I realize it's lunchtime, and I wouldn't interrupt your meal for just anything, I'll have you know. That was one damn time, Turkey. And besides, the paint all washed out, right? Listen, I'm up in Akihabara right now and found a stray Destroyer; got split up from her Division and all the interference has her radio on the blink. You know if Shinano's got a cellphone? Okay, roger that." He fished around in his backpack until he found a pen and a crumpled PX receipt. "Send it." He wrote the number down. "Thanks a bunch, Zuikaku; you ain't half-bad for a gobblin'-bird." He laughed as Zuikaku hung up on him. When he turned around, Akizuki was trying her best not to laugh. "Yup, Zui's good people. I've got Shinano's cellphone number right here; lemme give her a call."

He started to dial, only to hear his phone beep its 'low-battery' tone. "Blast; it's nearly outta juice," he said. He looked around until he spotted a cellphone shop just up the way. "Ah, there's a store there; can you wait with Palisade and Barrier while I step in and get a fresh battery, Akizuki. I won't be but a minute."

"Sure, Jaw. I can wait," replied the Destroyer-Girl. While he was inside the store, Akizuki petted Barrier, giggling when the friendly Bluetick leaned against her side.

James watched through the window as he paid for his purchases; after it was all paid for, he looked at his phone, still fully-charged, and dialed Shinano. "Miss Shinano? This is James McAmis. No, the one dating Houshou's my dad. Yup, I'm the one Dad calls 'Jaw'. Listen, I found one of your Destroyers out here in Akihabara, and- Yes, she's with me. She's just outside the shop I'm in, waiting with two minesweepers. Near as I can tell, there was just too much electronic clutter and it interfered with her radio. I'm in an electronics store at present; I faked a low-battery so I could step in here right quick. I'm buyin' her a cellphone of her own, and I'll program your number in. No, it ain't any trouble, really. After? I figured a late lunch, and y'all could meet us there. I'll text you the address. Okay. Like I said, it ain't any trouble, Shinano; she's a sweetheart, an' Lord knows I'm a softie when I see a girl in trouble. I'll see you there. Bye." He hung up and walked outside. Akizuki was giggling as she hugged Barrier.

"I called Shinano, Akizuki; she said she'd meet up with us at our next stop."

"Where are we going?"

Jaw scratched his belly through his tee-shirt. "Dunno 'bout you, but I'm feelin' sorta peckish." He saw the curious look in her eyes. "Means I'm a bit hungry. You like soba?"

As the pair walked, escorted by the hounds, Akizuki jogged ahead with Barrier and Jaw pulled out the phone he'd bought and turned it on. It wasn't a very fancy model, just a good, solid LG identical to the ones he and his dad carried. Once he got it activated, Jaw programmed in Shinano's number, and then his own. He snapped a waterproof Otter-Box case the color of autumn leaves around the phone and hung two little fobs from the corner. One was a yellow rubber-ducky, and the other was a Bluetick Hound in an orange-and-white jersey.

When they arrived at the soba restaurant, Akizuki came back to Jaw. "Are you going to call Shinano-san?"

Jaw grinned and shook his head. "I got a better idea, Miss Akizuki. How 'bout you call her on your phone?" He handed her the phone he'd bought. "It's yours, free an' clear. Call it an early Christmas present from a friend."

When Shinano and the other Duckies arrived, Akizuki was still hugging Jaw...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slowly, Shinano's eyes fluttered open and she blinked a bit. Then a small blush came to her face as she disentangled herself from the cuddlepile she had found herself due to the slumber party at Nagato's apartment to welcome Harry back. All without waking anyone. A skill the Carrier had gained from long experience before she made her way towards the bathroom. Once she had come out though, she glanced around Nagato's apartment to find that no one was awake and placed one hand on her stomach. 'No one would mind if I had a small snack, right? I mean, Nagato-San did say that we could have some food if we wanted...'

With another glance around, Shinano bit her lip before standing on her tip toes and making her way across to the kitchen. Reaching the fridge, she opened it slowly as to not make a noise and looked inside before squeeing. "Gingerbread squares!" Gasping, she held a hand against her mouth and looked around with wide eyes.

Not hearing any noises, she grinned sheepishly. "Shhh, I have to be quiet." Pulling out the tray, she took a plate and put several of the icing covered squares onto them before putting the tray back. Then she grabbed a tall glass and filled it with the egg nog that was inside before giggling to herself. 'I'm being very naughty...' Yet again, she looked around before closing the door and taking a bite out of one of the squares. "Mmm..."

It was so damn good in her mouth.

Finishing it off, she was about to bite into another one when she noticed that the porch door was ajar a bit and frowned as she went over her memories. Quickly going through her logbook, Shinano realized that it was shut when they went to bed and frowned to herself before leaving her plate and glass behind. Walking over quietly to the door, she bit her lip nervously before taking a quiet breath and reaching for the curtains and pulling them away.

Once she did though, she blinked at the sight that met her. Mainly that of Harry in a blanket just staring out at the darkened base. "Harry-Chan? What are you doing out here?"

Jumping a bit, Harry turned and stared at her with wide eyes. "Shinano-Chan? You're awake? How... why...?"

Simply frowning, Shinano adjusted her glasses ome. "I, um, had to go to the bathroom." When Harry cocked his head to the side, she tilted her own head. "Uh, is something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

With a slow blink, Harry pointed at her lips though his own were twitching in a smile. "Why would you have icing and eggnog on your lips then?"

Blushing brightly, Shinano gave a small eep before looking away before trying to lick away the evidence. "I, um, was a bit hungry too. B-but your Kaa-San did say that I could eat some after all earlier."

Rather amused, Harry was just barely able to hold in some snickers as he nodded. "Hai, Mum did say that I guess. Though I don't think that she meant this... But at least you didn't eat some of Mamiya's candy cane ice cream that Mum got."

That got him a scandlized look from Shinano. "I would never eat that! Hamakaze-Chan, Isokaze-Chan, and Yukikaze-Chan wanted to share that tomorrow... um, today, with Urakaze-Chan." Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes a bit at her friend. "You didn't answer my question, Harry-Chan. What are you doing up and out here?"

Now it was Harry's turn to blush and he looked down some. "I couldn't sleep and wanted to think."

For several moments, Shinano looked at him before nodding. "Oh." To Harry's confusion, she ducked back into the apartment. Just as he was about to look, she returned but this time with her plate of gingerbread squares and glass of eggnog. Setting them on the small patio table, Shinano motioned for Harry to get up. "Um, Harry-Chan? Could you stand up for a moment?"

Confused, Harry only shrugged before doing so. "Sure, I guess?" Once Shinano was sitting in his vacated chair, he frowned. "Um, Shinano-Chan? What are you-"

Before he could go any further though, the Carrier easily picked him up and put him into her lap with a smile. Moments later, she wrapped her fuzzy, onesie covered arms around him and pulled him close. "Any better, Harry-Chan? It is a bit cold out..."

Shifting a bit on her lap, Harry leaned back until his head was against her fuel tanks and then nodded. "Yeah, I'm a lot warmer now, Shinano-Chan. Thank you."

Only getting a nod from her, he blinked as the Carrier looked down at him with a worried expression on her face. "So why couldn't you sleep, Harry-Chan? I mean, I know that Hibiki-Chan told me that you slept a bit earlier, but..."

Looking down again, Harry took a deep breath. "I just had a lot to think about what with the Chamber and everything. Worried about my friends. And I've also been wondering about Hermione. Especially with the accident we had..."

As she remembered what he had told them about what happened with the Polyjuice, and had shown them the pictures, Shinano nodded. It made sense after all that he would be worried about things. Tightening the hug a bit, Shinano shook her head which made the fake cat ears on the hood of her onsie flop around. "I don't think that you need to worry much, Harry-Chan. After all, your friends are being taken care of back at Hogwarts, right? And, um, you said that those shipgirls there are following them around, right? So they're perfectly alright."

Still frowning, Harry shook his head. "I guess..."

Then Shinano placed her chin on the top of his head. "And they sent that stuff that Hanna sent them from Germany to send to us. Um, what was it called? Stolen?"

Giggling, Harry shook his head at her. "No, it's called 'Stollen'. Prinz Eugen and Hanna made it and sent to to Ron so they could send it to me." With a hum, he smiled a bit. "It's pretty good actually."

Unknown to Harry, it had gotten exactly the reaction that Shinano had wanted. Mainly getting Harry to smile a bit. "Hai, Stollen. And I am looking forward to trying some... But that means that they're okay since they sent it today."

Slowly nodding, Harry frowned a bit and looked back. "But what about Hermione? She's stuck there after all."

Head tilting to the side, Shinano frowned for a moment before nodding. "Is she? Stuck there I mean...?" After some thought, Harry nodded, giving her the point. Then Shinano went in for the kill. "So you don't need to worry about anything, Harry-Chan. Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift, and that is why we call it the present."

There was a bemused look on Harry's face as he looked up at Shinano who had a serious expression on her face. One which disappeared with his next words. "Isn't that what the turtle in the movie with the kung fu panda says?"

Biting her lip, Shinano's cheeks pinkened a bit and she looked to the side. "Nooo... I think that you are mistaken, Harry-Chan. Um, I am a Yamato after all and we are very wise. So you should listen to me when I say to stop worrying about stuff like you were."

Even though he was amused both by what she had said and how she was acting, Harry slowly nodded in agreement. "Yeah... I guess so. Thanks, Shinano-Chan." Not saying anything, Shinano reached over and grabbed her plate before holding it in front of him. At her smile, Harry took one of the gingerbread squares and looked out over the base. It may be December, but it wasn't super cold. Especially not with the two arms wrapped around him securly or the warm body holding him close. Looking up at the sky, Harry let out a breath. "It's really beautiful out, Shinano-Chan."

Partway to reaching for her glass as Harry took a bite of gingerbread, Shinano stopped and looked up. High above them, stars twinkled visible in the night sky due to the city and the base having non-essential lights being off. Lips curling, Shinano shifted a bit before nodding, "Yeah... it really is." Holding her glass out, she waited until Harry took a sip and put it back. "Do you want to sit out here for a bit?"

With a blink, Harry looked up at her. "You... don't mind?" At the shake of her head, Harry smiled. "I think that I might like to do that."

For the next hour, the two of them simply sat there in the patio chair looking up at the stars. Both of them didn't talk much as they shared the plate of treats and the eggnog. But neither of them really needed to. Harry was happy to have Shinano there just holding him and Shinano was happy doing that. Eventually though, they were finished and walked in. Quickly rinsing the glass, they put it and the plate into the sink.

Then they re-entered the room with the cuddlepile and Harry waited until Shinano laid back down before joining her. Mainly by sleeping on top of her in his usual position with his head pillowed by her chest. After they settled in, Harry yawned a bit before looking up at one of his oldest, and closest friends. "Um, Shinano-Chan?"

Blinking her now eyeglass-less eyes, Shinano nodded some. "Hai, Harry-Chan? What is it?"

If there was anything that she expected, it was not Harry craning his head up to give her a kiss on the cheek, unknown to him just missing the corner of her lips. "Thank you. I really needed that."

Her cheeks feeling nearly on fire, Shinano only nodded for several seconds before she felt she could trust herself. "Y-you're welcome, Harry-Chan. I'm glad to have helped."

A final smile on his lips, Harry gave another nod before snuggling in and soon falling asleep. He was soon joined by a happy Shinano with said Carrier dreaming of Harry, as an Admiral, standing on her Bridge while she stood beside him. Proud and strong as both a Yamato and a Fleet Carrier.

Needless to say, it really was a nice dream.

 

[darthcourt10]

Panaka

S0ngD0g13 said:
I could see talking being worse, depending on the delivery.

I mean, a friendly, warm smile and a tone of voice as light as talking about the weather or the sports scores, while explaining in graphic, explicit detail what that Re-Class wants to do to you for desecrating a war-grave for money...

Would be pretty f-in' disturbing, right?​

With Hr.Ms De Ruyter standing behind her nodding in agreement.

hmmm, that just generated a snippet:

------------****-----

As the obviously insane Abyssal talked about what she was going to do to the salvagers, they turned to the young western woman in a naval uniform that had been quietly watching. Begging her to keep them safe. They didn't like the answer from the blue eyed, blonde, and tanned beauty.

"I'm His Majesty's Ship De Ruyter. I was sunk in the Java Sea, in battle against the Japanese, early in 1942."

Several of the captured Salvagers went quiet. They had been part of the crew that had been working on the wrecks in the Java sea and now under the hate filled cold blue eyes they felt a chill race down their spines. They tried to shush their compatriots.

De Ryuter continued like she hadn't noticed.
"That was MY hull you and those like you destroyed. That was the final resting place of MY crew you violated."

"Those were the hulls of MY family,"

"The hulls of MY friends,"

"The hulls of MY Companions"

She looked at the now very quiet salvagers, wel... pirates really.

"So tell me. Why should I protect you? Why shouldn't I ask Java and the others to join us, and do to you exactly what my new friend here just described she would do?"

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

I have returned! Don't hate me for it.

I'm not entirely satisfied with the final segment here, but I have a feeling that I could spend all week writing and rewriting those few paragraphs and end up making literally no progress. Thus.
Waking Early

-----
Around the time she had her third younger sibling, Tohda Saki had learned that in order to get any amount of time to herself in the face of an ever-increasing legion of siblings, she would have to be the first to get up, and the last in bed. She had managed to keep this up until her last year of elementary school, when she spent the entire first trimester passing out in random classes. Her parents rearranged her sleep schedule and her grades improved, but she had become far too used to rising early to ever truly stop.

She wasn't surprised to be one of the first members of the Tracking Club to wake, when the sky was still red with the rising sun, but the fact that it was Namiko who had woken before her was a bit more worrisome. Given the effect that the last two days had had on her clubmate, it was a very real possibility that she hadn't slept at all, just spent the entire night sitting at the table. While Namiko had said that she feeling fine, Saki had a feeling that she still was having trouble with the various issues that she was staring right in the face.

"Morning, Nagawa," she said, snapping the destroyer-girl out of her reverie. Namiko's head snapped around it might have been spring loaded. "Is this early for you, or do you like to rise with the sun same as me?" Saki walked into the kitchen, and began checking cupboards. Earlier yesterday morning, she had tracked down Yokosuka's market, and set about purchasing food supplies. Nijima-sensei had assured her that the cupboards would be stocked, but Saki still liked to have slightly more control over what she was working with.

"No, I-I'm usually up later," Namiko replied. She looked down at her hands, clasped on the table in front of her. "I've just… I've had a lot to think about, and—Oh, I slept! I really did! It's just…" she slumped dejectedly, grimace poorly disguised as a smile. "It wasn't…"

"You didn't sleep well," Saki finished for her, and Namiko bowed her head. "Well, that's not good. You can't make a good decision on a half a night's sleep." She hefted a bag of potatoes and set them down on the kitchen counter. "Do you think that the girls will appreciate having croquettes for breakfast?"

"Yes?" Namiko said. "I mean, we do that at my house… That is… home… Ah, I mean…" she looked at Saki intently, her eyes furrowed slightly in suspicion. "You're not acting like I'm any different."

"You don't want me to?" Saki asked, and Namiko shook her head frantically. "I was a little confused at first, but then you helped me out with dinner." Flour, where was the flour? She opened the next cupboard and dragged the offending ingredient out. "You're still Nagawa-san, just like everyone's been telling you. Still doing everything you can to help out. That just brought it home to me."

Confusion took form on Namiko's face. "Help out?" she asked, as if she needed it confirmed. "Am I really that helpful?" Saki chuckled, and set the pan she had finally found down on the stove.

"Nagawa," she said, "You've been helping Ichika-san with the Logbook since she started it." (The paper copy of all the information the Tracking Club had dug up over the year.) "Mamiya has you help with Club records so often that you might as well be the Club Secretary instead of Chisaki. Last night, you helped me with the hamburger."

"If you need me to," Namiko said, raising her hand impulsively. Almost as suddenly, she lowered it. "I mean… if you…" Saki laughed again, and walked over to the table. Planting her right hand on her hip and her left on the table, she leaned over and looked Namiko directly in the eye.

"See that?" she asked. "That. Right there. If you don't know just how helpful you've been all this time… Well, you must not have been paying attention to your own actions." She reached over, and placed her hand over Namiko's own.

"Nagawa-san," Saki said in her best Understanding Older Sister Voice. "You're good people, one of the best I know at any rate. Whatever you choose to do, it'll be the best choice you can make. I guarantee it."

Namiko looked at her cautiously, before letting out a breath Saki hadn't noticed she'd been holding. Saki, feeling her duty to some extent had been done, returned to the kitchen. After a few seconds, while she was rooting around for a knife to peel the potatoes with, Namiko said "Thanks, Tohda-san." Saki smiled, and set about peeling.


-----

The two shipgirls were the only ones in the room. There were probably more behind the curtain, but the two in the room with her were the only ones she need concern herself with. She had made sure this time, discretely checking behind and around her. She remembered them, they were the last two things she'd seen that night, after the battleship had destroyed her weapons and before unconsciousness had claimed her. She wasn't certain, but she thought that they might be the ones who had ruined her legs. Fat chance of ever matching them without her legs—but then again, she didn't need to.

"What have they got us doing this for, again?" one of them asked, drifting first closer, then farther. "It almost seems like punishment detail. Why are we the ones feeding Tanya?" Feeding? Food? Her stomach protested quietly. Was that what the tube that the other was carrying was for? She didn't care about the name that they were calling her by—she could be Tanya if they wanted. All that really mattered was the chance she was waiting for. More than names, more than food. She breathed as deep as she dared, and began to focus.

"I guess we're just the Science girls, Yuubari," the other laughed, shaking the tube. She heard a swishing noise from it, as if it were full of liquid. "Let's see, I think we're going to need her head propped up? I've honestly never done this before. Do you think that you could—"

"Say no more," the first—Yuubari—replied, stepping towards her. The other began to walk around the table, presumably so that she wouldn't have to reach around her companion. They were approaching fast—she would have to choose one. The one named Yuubari would do, she decided, and prepared herself. "Actually, let me double-check. I really doubt we should be playing with her head if she's got a spine injury."

And then Yuubari was standing next to her, reaching out towards her head, placing one hand on the table, as she began to speak. Her attention was off her for a second.

She only needed half.

Her hand clamped around Yuubari's wrist. She heard a clattering sound that was probably the meal they had prepared for her, and before she could breathe the two had deployed their rigging, the second had leapt away to a safer distance. Maybe her offensive abilities were low? She looked up into Yuubari's eyes, and saw steel cold determination.

She opened her mouth and spoke.
-----

"Nori… Hara…" the Abyssal spoke. Her voice, one that normally would have sounded husky, cracked and rasped painfully. "Where… Is… Nori… Hara…"

"Call Teitoku," Kongou said, watching from behind the curtain. She clenched her fists. "Call Teitoku now. This is bad. God, this is bad. Call him, call him, call him!"

"Already on it," Mutsu said. Kongou could hear her voice in a curious double-tone, indicating that the other battleship was using her radio. "Ooyodo. Priority message, repeat, priority message—" She ignored the rest. She was already sweeping the curtain aside and heading in to support Yuubari.
-----

"It's a no go," Ichiro said, throwing the house phone down in disgust. "The station got blown up in the attack." It was times like this that he really wished his family owned a car.

"That can't be the only line that goes through there," his mother said, frantically stuffing clothes and toiletries into a backpack. For Namiko, probably. While she hadn't told him what was going on, his younger sister was apparently going to need those. "Check again."

"It's the only line that will get us there by the afternoon," Ichiro replied. "And I did check. Twice."

"Check it again!" she commanded. Ichiro was almost ready to start shouting. Packing, checking trains, and for what? He had no idea what was going on!

"Hey!"

The two looked up to see Nagawa Daichi , his father, walk in to the room at a slowing jog. "I called Wakatsuki, he'll give us a ride. Hurry things up!" Mom almost literally threw herself into his arms.

"Man, Namiko," Ichiro grumbled under his breath, "You'd better not be in the hospital or something."
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyebrows furrowing, Harry turned to stare at the three Duckies who were beside him. "Wait... Jersey and Aunt Arizona got into a fight? About tacos of all things?"

Slowly nodding, Hatsuzuki nodded with a small frown on her face. "Hai, Harry-Chan. It was odd..." Rubbing her belly, she frowned some. "I did like tacos though."

Beside her, both her sisters smiled with sighs. "Tacos are really, really good."

Lips twitching at the three's reaction, Harry held back from snickering. He still could not understand how or why, but them and food always made him smile. Well, that and wanting to stuff them all with as much food as possible... Something that they enjoyed having done despite their protestations to the contrary as Harry did doing so. "So... what happened?"

Frowning, Teruzuki placed her finger on her chin and looked up at the sky in thought. "Well... they were talking about when one should have tacos. Arizona-Sama stated that they should have them on Tuesday while Jersey stated that it should happen on Friday."

That caused Harry to blink and frown a bit as he shook his head some in confusion. "Tuesday, I can understand. Aliteration and all that, but why Friday?"

Only shrugging, Akizuki glanced at her sisters and shook her head. "Something about how having it on Friday meant that it was a sign that the weekend was here and as a reward for a long week of working. Arizona-Sama stated that Tuesday was the proper day for it and that it was a reward and a promise for those working through the week. Also, um, that aliteration thing that you said."

Teruzuki nodded some with a frown. "Yeah, they kept going on about it and everything. Until finally, Arizona-Sama declared that Jersey was unamerican and a heretic if she ate tacos on a Friday. I think that they were both into their drinks at that point..."

Raising an eyebrow, Harry frowned some. "What about Thursday?"

All three Akizuki sisters gave him a look at that before they spoke as one. "Thursdays are for pancakes." Licking their lips, they had small stars in their eyes. "Wonderful... fluffy... pancakes..."

Yet again, Harry had to hold back from laughing. Instead, he slowed down enough and gave all three of them hugs. "I really missed you girls, a lot."

Blushing some, the three Destroyers hugged him as Teruzuki nodded. "We missed you too, Harry-Chan. You always made us the best food, though, um, Jane-San is just as good..."

Instead of annoyance, Harry laughed at that and nodded. "Yeah, Jane really is a good cook. I actually passed her along some recipes and stuff with her doing the same for me..." He then frowned a bit. "How did she react to the whole thing by the way?"

Hatsuzuki shrugged a bit with an odd look on her face. "She declared it the Shipgirl Civil War I think... I was sort of confused when she stated that Arizona was Captain America and Jersey was Tony Stark. I don't really get it..."

With a frown, Harry shrugged his shoulders a bit. "I don't get it either. Must be an American thing or something." Suddenly, Harry perked up a bit and then reached into his pocket. "I got something for all of you."
Looking between themselves, the three Duckies frowned as Akizuki leaned forward. "What did you get?"

Simply reaching into a pocket, Harry pulled out three boxes and handed them to the Destroyers whose eyes got wide. "Pan-paka-pan! Giant candy canes from Britain! Just for you."

The three Duckies all stared in awe at the, to them, massive candy canes in the boxes. Swallowing nervously, and to get rid of the drool that threatened to escape, Teruzuki pointed at herself and then her sisters. "A-are you sure, Harry-Chan? I... I mean this should go to Light Cruisers and such, right?"

In reply, Harry gave them a look and shook his head. "No, you deserve them! I heard about what you did during the whole Battle of Iwo Jima and when I saw them in Diagon... I just had to get them for you."

Moments later, he found himself being squished by all three Destroyers as they hugged him at the same time with happy sounds. "Thank you, thank you, Harry-Chan!"

Only shrugging, Harry smiled brightly as all three opened their boxes before pulling out their candy canes and happily licking them. It made him happy to see three of his friends so happy with such a simple thing.

It wouldn't stop him from trying to stuff them on Christmas with as many treats as he could though.
__________________________________________________________________________

Walking into the Submarine Pens a few minutes later, the group of four paused at the extremely odd sight that met them. The Duckies stopped licking their candy canes with them in their mouths as they tilted their heads. Mainly because right in front of them was Maruyu, in her usual Christmas get up, in a stance with a knife in one hand. But that was not what caught their attention and made them stare.

No, that had to do with the crab in front of her with a knife in one of it's pincers.

Even for Yokosuka this was an odd sight as the two traded slashes and danced around each other. Blinking, Harry tilted his head. "Poi?"

Having caught sight of him, the crab raised it's pincer and made a move towards him which made Harry back up some. At the same time, all three Akizuki sisters were about to move to defend him when Maruyu rushed forward. "NO! YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HARRY-CHAN! CRAB BATTLE!"

Suddenly whipping around, the crab's knife hit Maruyu's with a ding as off to the side, the other Submarines cheered. "GO MARUYU-CHAN! SHOW THAT CRAB WHO'S THE BIG BOSS AROUND HERE!"

Moments later, Akizuki lifted Harry onto her shoulders and then quickly ran past the two combatants, followed by her sisters. All of them still having their candy canes in their mouths as they did so with Maruyu running interference. Reaching the others, Harry hopped off Akizuki's shoulders and gave her a quick hug. "Thanks, Akizuki-Chan." After getting a smile that was around her candy cane, Harry turned towards Iku who was pumping her fist and cheering. "Um, what is going on here?"

There was an odd look on Taigei's face as she frowned a bit. "Um, I think that the crab must have somehow gotten in here. And I had put down a knife while cooking some breakfast and when I went back to clean it once we were done... the crab had it and was brandishing it around."

Just staring at her for a moment, Harry then gestured at Maruyu who theatrically jumped back from the crab's slash. "But... What is going on with Maruyu-Chan then?"

Grinning, Iku shook her head. "Maruyu-Chan charged into battle against it and have been fighting it for about fifteen minutes now. GO MARUYU-CHAN, GO!"

Even though he was still confused by what was going on, Harry shrugged and turned back to the "Battle" going on between Maruyu and the crab. He did note that RO was recording the whole thing for some odd reason. When Harry looked around though, he blinked and frowned. "Um, where's Harder? I thought that she was staying here?"

In reply, Ryuuhou shook her head. "Harder-San went off last night somewhere to sleep... said that she had better places."

Flipping her hair over her shoulder after jumping with a cheer, Imuya turned to Harry. "Yeah, Harder-Chan doesn't stay with us. She stays over in Naka-San's room whenever she's in Yokosuka."

That caused Harry to furrow his eyebrows some in confusion. "She stays in Naka-Nee's room? Really?" At the nods, he frowned. "Why?"

With a glance at RO, who nodded, Imuya leaned in. "Let's say that something happened back in the States and Harder likes sleeping where she feels safe. And for some reason, she feels really safe under Naka's bed." At the raising eyebrows from Harry, she shrugged. "Don't ask me, I don't understand it myself. But apparently whatever happened, Naka got involved and she got some punishment or something over it. But Harder-Chan just feels safe around her when sleeping under her bed."

Beside Imuya, Shioi nodded some with a frown on her own face. "Yeah, Naka-San doesn't seem to mind it much though. Not even when she wakes up to find that Harder-Chan snuck in during the night."

After a few moments, Harry finally shrugged it off and turned back to the fight before grinning a bit. "Maruyu-Chan! Don't Believe in yourself! Believe in the me that believes in you!"

Glancing at him, Maruyu winked before going back to her fight.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

I hope not. Also, I liked the Civil War joke, though I'm a little puzzled about New Jersey being Tony Stark.

And once again, I do the thing.
Getting Going

-----

"Where is Norihara. Damn," Goto swore. He paced around his desk, hands shoved deep into his pockets muttering under his breath. "Looks like you were right, Ooyodo. She was taking an interest." Stopping behind his desk, he slammed his hands down on it.

Ooyodo bowed, her expression grim. "I'm not any happier about it than you are, sir," she said. Eying Kongou, she asked "Did you get her to say why at least?" The way that Kongou, unusually serious, shrugged did absolutely nothing to encourage Goto.

"She told us why, but it wasn't exactly coherent," she admitted. "As far as I can understand, she has some sort of question that she wants answered."

"And she thinks that a civilian doctor can answer it?" Ooyodo replied skeptically.

"Like I said, she wasn't all that coherent," Kongou said. "Her explanation was literally "want her to tell me why." Wouldn't say why what, or why how. The way she was talking, I don't think she really understands what she's asking herself." She frowned, bringing a hand to her chin. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted," Goto bit out, lowering himself into his chair. Kongou nodded respectfully to him and spoke.

"I don't think she would harm the doctor," she explained. "I think that, whatever it is, it's a question that Tanya herself has for her. And…" Kongou steeled herself. She didn't seem to think that this would go over very well. "… I think we should let them meet."

"What?" Ooyodo snapped, rounding on her. "Are you insane? How in the world could that EVER—"

"Ooyodo," the Admiral cut her off. Ooyodo grit her teeth, but subsided, standing at rigid attention. "Kongou. Explain."

"I'm afraid it's just a gut feeling," she said apologetically. "But I think that this is a crossroads, and letting them speak could be the difference between an Abyssal who would actually willingly cooperate with us, or an Invalid who just lets herself waste away to nothingness." She shrugged again. "It's not a lot to go off of, I know, but I think that it might be worth it."

Goto slumped back in his seat, rubbing his eyelids. "A gut feeling," he echoed. "Well that's just great. That's… really."

"Admiral, you can't—" Ooyodo attempted, but Goto waved her off once more.

"I've been working with you for a while, Kongou," he said to the battleship. "And I've learned to trust you. But you start asking for something like this, knowingly putting a civilian in a room with an Abyssal that already tried to kill her… Ooyodo?"

"Yes sir?" his secretary asked, stepping forward.

"See if you can't clear my schedule for today," he ordered. "This is… I'm going to have to think about this."
-----

"So," Mamiya said, putting her chopsticks down and looking over everyone at the table. "Our schedule for today." Ushio lowered her own chopsticks, giving her Club President a look of confusion. Were they really going forward with this? Even after everything that had happened? "When we met with Sensei and Tenryuu, she said that it had been set up so that we could take a tour of the naval base here at Yokosuka."

"And what, that's still gonna happen?" Yae said skeptically. "I don't think that, with the city recovering from an Abyssal attack, they'll be really open to a bunch of schoolgirls running around oohing and ah-ing?" It made sense, Ushio thought, but at the same time, they seemed to be far too used to this kind of thing happening for it to be much of an issue. From what she'd seen, at least.

Mamiya folded her hands in her lap. "A problem that we brought up when we met Sensei," she replied, her lips quirking into a smile. "And apparently, not enough of a problem to prevent our plans from becoming a reality."

"Yeah!" Umi cut in enthusiastically. Because she was directly to Ushio's left, this caused her to jump away. "Tenryuu just looked at us, and said—" she crossed her arms, screwed one of her eyes shut, and smiled cockily, speaking in a slightly deeper voice. "'Kid, this is not the first time this has happened.' Like that. So it's something that they've done before, and everyone's good enough with it that us going will be just fine!"

"Are you sure?" asked Ichika, leaning forward. "Going by what I heard, the Abyssals hit an area of the city that they don't normally get to. Are we sure that they will still be willing to let us take the tour?" Feeling somewhat self-conscious, Ushio raised her hand. The girls turned to look at her, and the silence in the room shifted to the same.

"Sorry, but… When I was in the base yesterday morning?" she said, feeling everyone's eyes were on her on multiple levels. "Everything seemed to be fine. None of the people I saw… seemed… to be…" she trailed off. "I mean… That is…" Ushio began to lean back. Everyone remained silent for a few seconds more, then Mamiya took the opportunity to regain everyone's attention.

"In any case," she said, drawing everyone's gaze away from Ushio. She gave the president a brief, thankful look. "Miss Tenryuu told us to wait for someone from the base to arrive and escort us there. If they've had to cancel, I suppose that they'll tell us."

And then someone knocked at the door. "I'll get it," Saki said, pushing her seat out and standing. Ushio watched her walk away from the table. "Just put your dishes in the sink, I'll get them later." Saki's practical mindset was one that was an endless source of amusement for the Tracking Club, but Ushio had found herself increasingly thankful for it over the past thirty-six hours. Maybe it came from having as large a family as she did?

And then the door slid open, and she heard a familiar voice say "Heya! We're gonna be your escort!" Her head snapped around to see Ikazuchi walk into the room, followed by three other girls of her approximate age. One shared her hair and eye colors, while another had long black hair and the fourth white. Which meant that this was the entirety of Destroyer Division Six. Why was it that all four members were needed to take them to the Base? Did the other three simply tag along?

"There, what did I tell you Ami?" Ikazuchi continued smugly, gesturing to everyone in the room with a wave. "Much better than Matsuhiro, right?" Inazuma fixed her sister with a flat look.

"You scared him up a tree, which you proceeded to sit at the bottom of for an hour," she admonished. "I'd say that his reaction was more than a little justified, nanodesu."

"He wrote 'bakemono' on your painting, he deserved it," Ikazuchi replied blasely.

"And I told you, the painting wasn't that important, nanodesu!" Inazuma insisted. Seemingly ignoring them, Hibiki removed her shoes and walked into the dining room.

"We need to be there by ten," she said quietly, scanning the room. "Is that alright?" There was a moment of stunned silence by everyone in the room, aside from the arguing sisters and Akatsuki, who was now loudly insisting that the argument was "not ladylike!" Then there was a flurry of assent, and Ushio decided that she might as well add her voice to the others.

"Yes!"

"Of course!"

"We'd love to!"

Hibiki nodded. "Khorosho," she said simply, and began to walk back towards her sisters. When Ushio raised her hand, like a frightened schoolgirl (which she technically was), the white-haired destroyer stopped by her seat.

"Excuse me," Ushio said. "But they…"

"What's with them?" Hibiki replied. She considered it for a moment, and then said "Solidarity, I guess."

Ushio nodded slowly. "Oh," she said. They were arguing to show that they were Natural-Borns to the other members of the club? And to show support for her? That was…

"For the last time," Ikazuchi howled, "The mayonnaise was NOT! MY! FAULT!"

Seeming a little unlikely.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyes opening, Naka sighed and stretched in her bed before flopping back. For several minutes she just looked at the ceiling of her room before glancing at her clock and nodding to herself. "Time to wake up, I guess." Throwing her sheets to the side, the Light Cruiser swung her legs over the side of her bed and stood up. Before she got too far though, she leaned down and looked under her bed. "Harder-Chan, it's time to get up."

As mutters and mumbles came from under her bed, Naka walked over to her dresser and stretched again before grabbing the remote there. Pressing a button, she sighed as some J-Pop played and bounced on the balls of her feet as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Behind her, Harder stuck her head out from where she had been under Naka's bed and raised an eyebrow as she spotted the time. "Huh, kind of late in the day."

Tossing her shirt to the side, and not bothered in the least by Harder being there, Naka shrugged. "Wanted to get some extra sleep for tonight." Her pajama pants soon joined her shirt and she started to dig into her drawers. "After all, the Christmas party is tonight."

With a frown, Harder pulled herself the rest of the way out from under the bed before pulling the futon and blankets there out as well. "Oh yeah, that is tonight, isn't it? Almost forgot about it."

Slowly blinking, Naka turned and frowned at the Submarine before placing her hands on her hips. "Seriously, Harder-Chan? You forgot about the Christmas party? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve after all."

A grimace on her face, Harder grumbled a bit as she ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Usually Christmas parties are done, ya know, on Christmas?"

Rolling her eyes, Naka snorted some and shook her head. "Okay, yes? And your point? We're going to have the shipgirl ones on Christmas Day. Tonight is... the more public one."

On Harder's face was a look of disgust. "Ugh, don't remind me. Going to be brown nosers left and right. Ass kissers and politicians. I still don't understand how you can stand them."

In reply, Naka only shook her head a bit and chuckled. "Idol of the Fleet here, I got to be able to stand that bunch. Especially in the name of PR. And if I want to make my goal a reality, might as well get used to it." There was a similar look of disgust on her face to Harder's. "Especially with some of them."

For several moments there was silence before Harder coughed into one hand. "Uh, Naka?" Getting a hum as Naka was in thought about something, the American gestured with one hand at her friend. "Ya do realize that you are pretty much naked there, right?"

All the Light Cruiser did was shrug as she ticked off on one hand. "Yes, and? One, we're both women. Two, military life so nothing new. And three..." Naka slowly strode forward until she was right in front of Harder. "It's not something that you haven't seen before with how often you're here sleeping under my bed or when we're in the docks." Wagging a finger at her, Naka smirked and winked. "Besides, there are those out there who would love to have such a view."

Softly snorting, Harder put one finger in her ear and waggled it around. "Don't see why-" Before she could get much further, Naka's hand shot out and the Submarine jumped. "Eep! Motherfucker! What the everloving fuck, Naka!?"

With a smirk on her face, Naka only shrugged and walked towards the bathroom. "Consider it payment for what you were about to say." Grabbing her change of clothes off the dresser, she strutted into the bathroom, though not before winking at Harder who was still rubbing her behind through her pajama pants. "Besides, those torpedo tubes give you an incredible ass. Not my fault you know."

Face red, Harder glared at the bathroom as the water turned on. "Jesus fucking Christ, you lewd Traffic Cone. And people might wonder if we are in a relationship when you go and do shit like that, you perverted Jap."

Laughter answered her from inside the bathroom before Naka spoke up. "Nah, it might do more with how whenever you're here, you're staying in my quarters. Not that I really mind much, it's been a bit lonely since Sendai has been stationed in the US and Jinstuu is down in Sasebo."

A frown on her face, Harder sighed a bit and then laid back on the bed. "Yeah, I guess so. And you know why I stay here."

Inside the shower, Naka sighed a bit and shook her head. "I still don't understand why you feel safe in my room to sleep. And especially why you might feel safe under my bed."

On said bed, Harder just gazed up at the ceiling in thought before grunting. "You know why, Naka. You were the one who went after that fucking bastard that put fake depth charges in my bed back in San Diego first. I seriously did not even consider why I kept finding them until you noticed them when you came by to talk to me about setting up another underwater concert."

Silence descended on the room for a little bit until Naka's voice drifted out of the bathroom, a soft tone to it. "I know, and what that fuck did was wrong. He was happy that the MPs showed up to throw him in the brig after I was done with him. Didn't have to physically harm him after all..." Moments passed before she sighed. "I never asked before, but did you ever find out why he did that?"

Frowning, Harder sighed. "Yeah, turns out that his ship sank during Blood Week. Also didn't like the fact that us shipgirls were fighting instead of him, felt like we were taking his revenge for his buddies away from him. Add in that he apparently got in shit once when I... requisitioned some supplies that he wouldn't give up when I asked for them..."

Unknown to Harder, Naka grimaced a bit. "You guys really don't need to do that anymore, you know that. If someone gives you a hard time, you could always go to someone else or whatever."

Harder just shrugged. "Bad habit. You know how things were back in the War. Habits form and you get used to it... But yeah, that was his excuse apparently."

Somewhat to Harder's bemusement, a scornful scoff came from his friend. "That's no excuse for what he did. Neither was him claiming to me that it was all a joke and they weren't real anyways. Didn't seem to think it was all a joke when I got through with him. You do not fuck with my friends."

Lips twitching, Harder chuckled some. "I think that he figured that bit out pretty quickly. Was happy getting arrested, discharged, and sent to prison for his stunt rather then deal with you." Her expression becoming saddened, Harder shook her head. "Still, for a fellow USN service member to do that... You know, I just want to feel safe when I sleep somewhere."

Quietly, Naka stared ahead before nodding. "Yeah, I can understand that." Shaking it off, she decided to change the subject. "Anyways, I'm betting that you're hungry."

Thankful for the subject change, Harder shrugged. "A little bit. But I'm not about to eat that instant ramen shit you got here in your quarters, especially not for breakfast... or brunch or whatever it would be now. Hell if I know."

Chuckling, Naka grinned a bit. "Hey, don't diss the instant ramen. Especially mine as I only get the best!"

On Harder's face was a deadpan expression. "The best shit is still shit, Naka. Ain't nothing going to change that."

Just more chuckles greeted that answer before Naka pushed a hand out from behind the shower curtain and wagged it at Harder, though the Submarine could barely see it. "It's not shit." Pulling it back, Naka hummed for a moment. "Anyways, if you want something while you're waiting for your turn, there's always the vending machines downstairs. There's probably something in them."

Snorting, Harder rolled her eyes. "That would not surprise me in the slightest. Seriously, you Japanese are damn wierd with what you put into them. Fucking fried chicken and fries, that get heated before being given to you. Where the ever loving hell did you bunch come up with that idea."

Just snickering, Naka shook her head. "Hey, it's a good idea when one wants a quick and hot meal. And it's not like we can always head over to the mess hall for something. Besides, it's not the oddest thing in a vending machine."

While rolling her eyes, Harder sighed. "Yeah, that would go to the fucking panties one I saw with shipgirls on them. Who the fuck thought that one was a good idea?"

Naka groaned inside the bathroom. "Don't remind of that, please. You would not believe how pissed off I was about that one. Not to mention Goto and the others when they found out. If I knew, I would hang them up and shoot them or just use torpedoes on them for such a idiotic idea. And that was just me, you do not want to know what some of the others in the PR department wanted to do."

That got a bark of laughter from Harder as she shook her head. "No, I don't think that I do. PR people are scary as fuck when they want to be."

Giggles drifted through the air before Naka's voice spoke up. "Really now? Does that include little ol' me, Harder-Chan?"

An amused expression on her face, Harder's answer only caused the Light Cruiser to laugh. "Especially you, Traffic Cone."

Once she got her laughter under control, Naka shook her head. "And don't you forget it! Now go and get yourself something to munch on. Money is in the jar as usual."

Eyes glancing at said jar, Harder raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Naka? I mean, that is your money after all."

More laughs met her and Harder could almost imagine Naka shaking her head. "Yes, I'm sure, Harder-Chan. Just go and pick something out for me as well since I'm going to be waiting until you're done as well."

Getting confirmation, Naka only listened as she heard the door open and shut before softly singing along to the music still playing from her radio while she continued her shower.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Really, I'd just be fine with Naka and Harder staying friends. Their relationship is fine without shipping entering the equation.

And these seem to pretty short lately. Who knows how long that will last after I get going... And then I realize that Houshou's in this snip, and I don't know how long she's supposed to have been in Kure for. Considering that it's this late... I'll take the leap.
Work Smarter

-----

"Good morning, Admiral," Houshou said with a bright smile, standing opposite Goto's side of the table. "It's a little early in the day, but would you like to get your usual?" Oh, how Goto would have loved that. As it was, he waved her off reluctantly.

"Tempting," he admitted, "but no. Just get me a glass of milk, please."

One thing that Goto had learned early on during his time at Yokosuka was that Houshou's pub was a very good place to go if you needed to think. If he wanted to do so, however, he had to time his arrival carefully to avoid the meal rushes or simply crowded periods. It had taken him a week to get them down, but he considered the time to have been well-spent. Especially on days like this.

"Now that's unusual," Houshou said, cocking her head to one side in one of her mother-bird gestures. "You're in here at an odd time, asking for something distinctly nonalcoholic… Is there something you'd like to talk about?" Goto looked her square in the eyes, and she gave him a coy smile. He shrugged. The way things were, he definitely wouldn't mind a sounding board. And there was no one else in the pub right now.

"Why not," he said, leaning back and crossing his arms comfortably. "But first, how about that milk?" Houshou nodded and walked briskly to the counter. As she tracked down the milk, Goto took a moment to get his thoughts in order. When Houshou planted a tall glass in front of him and took a seat by his side, he took a long sip of milk and started.

"Do you remember the Ta-class Abyssal that we have in Akashi's workshop?" he asked. Houshou put a finger to her chin in a classically thoughtful gesture.

"Yes, the girls have been calling her Tanya, haven't they?" she said, frowning. "Did something change in the situation?" Goto brought up his hands in what Hiei would have called a "double face palm," bless her.

"Well, yesterday, Hiei and Ooyodo were supposed to get a civilian specialist to take a look at her spinal injuries, before Doctor Unagi arrived," he explained. Houshou looked attentively at him, and he continued. "The thing is, Hiei didn't think, and grabbed a general practitioner."
-----

"… Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of faith in Kongou," Goto finished. "It's just… Even if she's right, this isn't the kind of decision to make lightly." He swallowed the last of the milk, and slammed the glass down. "So. Thoughts? How does this sound to you?" Houshou rubbed her forehead. This did seem a very frustrating decision. No wonder he had come to her asking for advice.

"Well," she said, contemplatively. "I don't think it would be impossible to meet her halfway. Have someone on standby—Kaga, perhaps? She's reliable—in the room when the two meet." She looked at Goto, who had a thoughtful look of his own. Maybe this would be the zeitgeist he needed to answer his problem.

"That sounds like it might work," he admitted, tapping a finger against his arm. "Still, that still means that Doctor Norihara would be in a room with an Abyssal, which is a lot closer than I would be comfortable with." Houshou smiled. That was Admiral Goto for you, working hard to keep everyone safe. "And it couldn't happen on a better day." Now that, Houshou had a better understanding of.

"The new Natural-Born?" she asked, and Goto nodded, beginning to lose himself in thought. "I would like to meet her. She seems to be an admirable enough person, from what I hear. Though…" she added, leaning back, "Trying to fistfight an Abyssal above her weight class is not the best of ideas." Goto was silent, ideas spinning in his head.

SLAM

Goto and Houshou turned to watch as the girls of Desdiv 6 walked in, followed by a gaggle of schoolgirls. "Now this," Ikazuchi said, continuing the parade spiel that she had written in the week before the group had arrived. Houshou had seen her practicing during her off hours. "Is Houshou's drinking hole. I personally like the food here better than the cafeteria, but Mom's a little iffy about it, since Houshou serves alcohol here."

"Hello, girls," Goto said, waving. Houshou could see the destroyers stiffen—oh, the schoolgirl in back, the one with the black hair, now she looked more familiar than she ought to. And here she is now, she thought, and waved herself. Ushio stepped back nervously, apparently not appreciating the added attention. A little shy, it seemed.

"A-Admiral!" Ikazuchi exclaimed, standing at attention and saluting. Goto smiled and gestured for her to calm down. "Just taking the tour group around!"

"So I see," he replied, nodding. "Well, carry on—oh, wait." Ikazuchi and Akatsuki stiffened, as if struck by lightning. "Akashi's workshop is off-limits. Try to steer clear if you can."

"Sir!" the Desdiv girls chorused. When the two above-mentioned said it with a sigh of relief, Inazuma fixed them with an indignant glare that Houshou couldn't help but chuckle at. Whatever mischief the girls had been up to, Goto was a bit preoccupied to deal with it. They had probably argued, she speculated. Argued and ended up breaking something of moderate importance. But where would they have been to do that…?

Oh well. There was someone here that she had been waiting to meet, in any case. And even before that...

"Before you leave, would any of you like something to drink?" she asked, standing and stepping forward. "It's only polite to offer—On the house," she added, watching one of the girls, one with short brown hair tied back into twin ponytails and skin tanned from the outdoors, begin to ruffle through her pockets conspicuously. Said girl then straightened, looking so much more cheerful that that Houshou found herself fighting off laughter. One of the girls stepped forward. She had blond—died, or a foreign ancestor?—hair bobbed around her ears and a serious countenance. Unless Houshou missed her guess, she was probably the club's president.

"If that would be alright?" she said, bowing deeply. Houshou turned to look at Goto, who shrugged good-naturedly, a motion that, in this context, meant "why not?" The girls stepped in to the small building, looking around at the tables that the women who were probably their idols spent their evenings at.

"Do you have soda?" the girl who had been going through her pockets asked enthusiastically.

"Not for you they don't," another, this one with braided red hair that fell down to the small of her back, deadpanned. The other girls giggled, and the first pouted. Goto looked over the group, then sighed and placed a handful of hundred-yen coins on the table. Houshou silently wished him luck with his decision.

As the girls bantered back and forth, Houshou let her eyes trail back to Ushio. The girl's eyes snapped up to look at her, and Houshou immediately put on a motherly smile. Ushio's posture straightened slightly, and she smiled hesitantly back.

She seemed a good girl to Houshou. Definitely one that she wouldn't mind getting to know better.

Looking back at the other girls, they seemed to be staring now with a childlike mix of joy and awe. Going by Hibiki's raised eyebrow (that might as well have been a smirk for the quiet girl), she had just explained to them who Houshou was. Really now. She wasn't one of the Big Seven, but she had made a few public appearances herself, hadn't she?
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 22: S0ngD0g13

Inspired by NotHimAgain 's last snippet...
.......................................

James and Kaylee jogged up to the door of Houshou's cafe, nodding politely to Admiral Goto as they passed the officer. When they stepped into the building, the first thing they saw was a tour-group, escorted (as had become common; Tenryuu's girls were natural tour-guides) by DesDiv 6, staring (as was equally-common; Houshou was Japan's first Aircraft Carrier) in awe at the Carrier behind the counter.

"Hey, Miz Houshou," called Kaylee as she headed for a corner table. "How ya is?" The teen sat down and hung her kepi on the back of her chair.

"It's 'How are you', Kaylee Virginia," said Houshou half-chidingly. "I swear, you sound more and more like this scoundrel every day." She nodded toward James, then blushed when he grinned and kissed her cheek, eliciting giggles from the school group.

"A scoundrel I might well be, Houshou, but I'm your scoundrel," James commented lightly. "This the latest bunch to take the tour?"

"It is. The young ladies of Destroyer Division Six are showing them around. Boys and Girls, this is James McAmis, a very dear friend of mine from Kure. He works with the minesweepers there. The young lady at the corner table is his niece, Kaylee..." Houshou looked closer at her and smiled slightly. "I believe Aki-Chan and Ami-Chan aren't the only Natural-Borns here. When did you Awaken, Kaylee?"

Kaylee shivered slightly and her hand dropped to caress the butt of her airsoft Navy in nervous habit. "Woke up bout two nights ago, Miz Houshou, though the 'how' of it's a story for another day."

Kaylee stood, slipped her kepi on, and stood a little straighter. "Kaylee V. McAmis, also CSS Virginia, at your humble service, Girls." Her rigging manifested, her stack rising over her shoulder and her hull's broadsides appearing around her. A group of her Fairies emerged and ran the Stars and Bars up. They they turned to face the others and saluted before vanishing back belowdecks.

Kaylee dismissed her rigging and smiled at the kids. "So, how're y'all liking your tour so far?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Soles of her feet clipping against the flagstones under her feet, Graf frowned slightly and glanced at the time before shaking her head. A glance to the side though caused her to sigh while also smiling at the sight of Aquila bargaining with a merchant here in the magical quarter of Rome. Even where she was, the German could see influences from the Ancient Romans everywhere she looked. 'Hmm... we should be heading out for our flight in four hours...'

After all, it was the first time that Graf was going to see her parents in about a year.

Which made her shake her head as she thought back to how it became a tradition for Aquila to come and share Christmas with Graf's family. Something that the German Carrier's parents welcomed as the Italian often lightened things up and some of Graf's younger relatives adored her. However... there were times that Graf rolled her eyes at her girlfriend. Such as at the moment when she was arguing over the price of a bottle of wine.

Deciding to walk ahead some, Graf barely made it more then a few strides before she came to a stop in front of a magical pet store. For a moment, she just stared and then frowned in thought. With a glance back at Aquila, Graf shook her head. 'Sofia will be at that for a while...'

Hence, several minutes later, Aquila was frowning as she looked around for Graf. "Where is she...?"

An amused voice behind her caused the Carrier to jump a bit. "Where is who?" Twisting around, Aquila noticed that Roma was behind her. Granted, the Battleship was in what amounted as casual wear for her and wore different glasses. Something that sometimes amused Aquila. It was then that Roma glanced around and frowned. "Wait, where is Graf? Normally, she's right here with you...?"

Chuckling weakly, Aquila shook her head. "Scusa, scusa! I was caught up in this wonderful wine I found and..." Grinning sheepishly, Aquila scratched her cheek. "It seems that I've lost track of her."

Only rolling her eyes, Roma frowned a bit as she looked around. "Hmm... I doubt that. Signorina Henrietta would not go far from you." She then raised an eyebrow as she spotted something and began to walk towards it. "And I do believe that I have found her."

While they walked beside one another, Aquila raised her eyebrow. "If I may, why are you here, Roma? After all, I was not aware that you would be here."

Glancing at her, Roma had a small smile on her face. "Normally you would be correct. But I thought that I may find something here for Libeccio. She heard about these animated stuff animals in Britain and I believe that I may find some here." Coming to the front of the pet store, Roma frowned and adjusted her glasses. "Well now..."

Beside her, Aquila blinked for a moment in disbelief. Rubbing her eyes, she opened them but the sight was still there as she frowned some. "Um... Henrietta? What... that..."

A smirk on her face, Graf looked over her shoulder and pointed at the cage in front of her. "I thought that it would be self evident, Sofia." Looking up at the owner, she cleared her throat. "You will have to excuse both myself and my friend. But may I ask where this wonderful creature came from?"

Frowning, the owner soon shook it off. "It comes from an island out at sea called Isola Morgana. According to legend, some say that Vulcan called the island home when away from his forges. So great was the protection, that it is said that the Sorceress Morgana traveled there to hide until her death after she failed in her bid to take over England. And it was there that she created the Fata Morgana spell to lure sailors to their deaths."

Just humming, Graf nodded. "A truly lovely woman, Morgana in such a case." Reaching out with one finger, she smiled a bit at the sounds from inside the cage. "Still, rather cute in it's own way I suppose. And these live on this island?"

Quickly nodding, the owner of the pet store puffed himself up. "They do, Signorina. In fact, it is the only place that they're found though I have heard that some other wizards and witches have set them up on other private islands."

Pinching her nose, Aquila sighed a bit. "What are you thinking, Henrietta? We can't get a pet."

In answer, Graf shook her head with an amused look in her eye. "Ja, I know that. But it was not us that I was thinking of." At the confusion, her smirk became a small grin. "After all, a certain daughter of Ryoko would be quite glad to get it."

Looking back at the cage and then at Graf, Aquila ignored the amused look on Roma's face. "No, Henrietta. She would kill you."

All that did though was make Graf grin more as she gestured at the large dog sized elephant in the cage. "But should not an elephant lady have an elephant? If not this Christmas, perhaps the next." As the tiny elephant gave a trumpet, Graf nodded as she cupped her chin as if in thought. "Or perhaps for her... birthday."

That simply made Aquila sigh.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Big Brother! Big Brother!"

"Harry-Onii-San! Harry-Onii-San!"

Blinking, Harry turned towards the counter to where he could see Natsumi's younger sisters as well as Hoppou jumping and trying to grab his attention. He turned and was about to say something when Harder shook her head. "You go and take care of your sister, kiddo. After all, you got time before your stuff's ready." Looking at the massive crockpot, she snorted some. "Especially the Christmas punch."

Harry only shrugged at that as he cleaned his hands to the Submarine's approval. "Well, I have been mulling taking a small break. And it needs to stay in there for the night to get some real punch to it."

In reply, Harder rolled her eyes and flicked his ear. "Yeah, yeah. Enough with the puns, though I am looking forward to mulled punch. Heard some good things about it... shame that you can't do the same with wine."

Chuckling, Harry dried his hands and shook his head. "Well, I think that Taigei-Chan and the others will be taking care of that. Be back as soon as I deal with Hoppou and the twins."

Only nodding as Harry walked off, Harder turned towards Naka who had a camera on her shoulder. "Now, tonight we're making a nice glazed gammon with thanks to Louisiana who got the meat." The camera shifted over to the Battleship who was making a Yule Log, Louisiana giving a nod and a smile. "For some, this might be pretty tough. But I'm a fu-freaking United States Navy Submarine, the USS Harder, and if there's one thing us Submarines of the United States Navy know how to do? It's cook, and do it damn well if I do say myself... Now, some of you might think that it's ham, but it really is not the same thing..."

Lips twitching as he listened to Harder continue to explain, Harry finally reached the counter and looked down at his sister and Natsumi's there. "Yes, Hoppou? I'm guessing that you want something?"

With a blink, Hoppou gestured at the two girls beside her with a quick nod. "Hoppou, Asuka, and Rei are hungry, Big Brother. Want treats like cookies!"

Beside her, Asuka nodded rapidly with a large grin that reminded Harry of a fox. "Yeah! Hoppou-Chan said that your cookies were the best! And that you always made up a lot of treats just for Christmas and you wouldn't mind giving us some!"

Eyes wide, Rei had a similar grin to her sister. "Lots of cookies please! We're really, really hungry!" Rubbing her belly, she gave Harry her best puppy dog eyes. "Please, Harry-Onii-San! Before we waste away from cookie withdrawal!"

Really amused by this point, Harry could only shake his head with a chuckle. Most guys might be affected by the three adorable looks being directed at him, but Harry had grown up among Destroyers. And these three, while trying, had nothing compared to that one time he had teamed up with DesDiv6 in animal onsies to get something from his Mum... 'Good times, good times...' Shaking it off along with the memory of the bloody nose Nagato had some how gotten, as well as Mutsu grabbing at her chest, Harry hummed a bit. "So you bunch want some cookies?"

Bouncing on their feet, the three nodded. "YES PLEASE!"

With a hum, Harry looked at the clock and smirked. 'Let's see... it is an hour after lunch, so there's plenty of time for them not to ruin dinner. But...' Then a thought occurred to him and he grinned some. 'Oh, that's a wonderful idea...' Clearing his throat, Harry looked down at the three. "Okay, I think that I got plenty of cookies for you. And some eggnog to wash that all down with as well." Staring to fill plates with cookies, he winked. "But after this, I think that Haru-San stated that she needed help with setting up decorations at her home."

All three looked at him with wide eyes before slowly grinning. Meanwhile, Haru felt a shiver run up her back as she pulled out a box of decorations that she had forgotten to put up in her home. 'I wonder what that was all about...'

Seeing the raised eyebrow from her aunt due to her cackling, Natsumi grinned and shrugged. "No idea why I felt like laughing, Oba-Chan. Anyways, I'm heading out to help Harry-Chan."

Haru, still with a frown on her face, nodded. "Sure, go ahead and help him..." Eyebrows furrowing, she shook her head. 'Why do I have a feeling of doom...?'

 

[darthcourt10]

Vent Xekart

Do you know what its time for? Torturing Percy Weasley again!

============
It seemed to be an ordinary morning in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Slytherins were scheming and plotting the downfall of their enemies both present and future as they ate breakfast, The Ravenclaws were having a discussion about the laws of the wizarding world following the revelation of Sirius Black's innocence, the Hufflepuffs likewise were having the same discussion but rather on moral grounds rather than logical ones, and lastly the Gryffindors were talking about more trivial subjects as they were the first to find out about Sirius Black's innocence because of their very own housemate; Harry Potter.

Among the number was Percy Weasley, who had come out of the study to actually eat in the Great Hall after being pressured by his mother to take a (brief) break from his workload. He sighed to himself, as much as he loved his mother he couldn't help but think about how she still coddled him even though he was one year away from adulthood. Still, he thought his mother had the right idea in that he had been cooped up in the study for far too long, and he hadn't really interacted with anyone save for his younger siblings and a few trouble-makers in his own house as head-boy. When he came down, he was greeted by raised eyebrows from the twins, a curious look from Ginny, and an oddly confused look by Ron. He quickly informed them of their mother's demands much to the twins amusement, gave Harry his congratulations for managing to vindicate Sirius Black and catch the long-thought-dead Peter Pettigrew before settling down for breakfast.

Once again, it seemed to be an ordinary morning in Hogwarts but said monotony was interrupted when a familiar Re-class appeared behind the twins and hugged the two from behind with a toothy grin.

"Hey, Wazzup?" Revina asked, looking in between the partially terrified twins whom regardless gave a polite synchronized answer of: "We're doing alright, how about you?"

Revina grinned again before answering.

"Oh, I'm doing okay but the main reason I'm here is because of your older brother." She said, pointing at the eldest redhead. Slightly bemused, he gave questioning look to the abyssal, pointing himself to confirm her thoughts before she quickly nodded. He sighed, and he inwardly wondered if the feeling he had right now was the same one the twins had when the abyssal terrorized the daylights out of them.

"Uh, what can I do for you Revina?" Percy asked, somewhat nervously.

She quickly pranced to the seat across from her, accidentally pushing a students head into their meal as she reached forward.

"Good question! But its not exactly what you can do for me but what you can do for three lovely ladies!"

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Three lovely ladies? Whom are you referring to?"

Revina didn't answer that time, she just pulled back, darted towards the entrance of the Great Hall before she pulled a boombox of all things out from behind her back, hoisted it over her shoulder and then hit the play button.

Immediately, everyone's attention was garnered at the sound of masculine lyric-less chanting followed by a string of hip-hop.

As the song began, the doors to the Great Hall slammed open, revealing a sight that led to most of the male students turning red in the face while the female students looked utterly scandalized. It was three different shipgirls, more specifically the Egyptian Shipgirl Amisi, the Japanese Secretary Shipgirl Ooyodo, and the Abyssal Supply Depot Princess. But that was not what caught everyone's attention the most, it was the pose they were in as the clothing they wore.

Amisi was posing up front with her right hand in front of her face, left arm crossed underneath her right, and her right leg in front of her left, standing confidently with a small grin on her face. She wore golden armored sandals that went up to her knees, a skimpy two-piece swimsuit with a loincloth in front of the bottom piece and her hair flowing down over the top piece, and to top it all off she wore a golden ankh necklace and tiara atop her head. Ooyodo was on the left, wearing an equally skimpy two piece bikini only with sarong with her bottom piece while her top piece had breast-plating and shoulder plating, her usual headband and glasses were replaced with ones that were a deep maroon color, and finally she had a pair of shiny red slippers. She was standing on her right foot, her left having pulled back with the bottom of it pointing behind her, her arms were pointing down with her hands splayed open, while her head was tilted to the right with her eyes pointing forward and her face had an oddly serious expression with small blush on her features. As for Suppurin, she was squatting, her head was forward facing and she had a slightly embarrassed-looking expression on her face while her lower arms crossed across her chest and below her chin. She was wearing silver-colored ankle-high boots, with her stripped stocks visible above them, much like Ooyodo and Amisi she was wearing a skimpy swimsuit but with her braided hair wrapped around her neck in a very above the top and a sarong for her bottom, and finally, her two massively oversized gloves were replaced as well as her glasses were replaced with bright white ones.

Needless to say there were various reactions among the Gryffindors.

Hermione looked utterly scandalized and aghast with her mouth dropped open.

Ron had a blush on his face before he turned around in his seat to face away from the sight of the shipgirls in their lewd outfits.

Harry started snickering and had to put his head down into his arms to cover up his laughter.

Ginny was oddly split between whether or not to smack her eldest brother on the back of the head on behalf of their mother or to just sit and observe what happens.

The twins, being incredibly amused turn their grinning faces towards an incredibly flustered Percy. The prominent thought inside of his mind was: 'Holy Shit. What in the name of Merlin on fucking rollerskates is this?!"

He scrambled out of his seat planning on heading back to the study and locking himself inside so as to protect himself but when he stood up, all three girls were suddenly behind him.

"Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm!" Hummed Amisi as she wrapped her arms around the head boy's neck, "Our glorious prince, Percy Weasley..."

The boy in question gulped as his face turned red.

"We are honored to be in your presence once more..."

Ooyodo smirked, leaning to the right side of the ginger's face, "It has truly been too long, my lord." she then gave the boy's earlobe a quick nibble sending shivers up and down his spine.

Suppurin came closer, also grinning at the seventeen-year old, "My well-oiled chest quivers at your voice!"

Then she grabbed ahold of his left arm while Ooyodo grabbed his right.

"Well then, as much as we'd like to stay we must depart with our prince..." There was aroused snickering between all three girls, as Percy quickly glanced for help from his younger siblings who were either unwilling or too amused to assist him, "After all we live to serve him and all of his needs...especially the most important one of all!"

They then darted out of the great hall with Percy in their arms as he suddenly screamed out to the rest of the school; "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!"
============
Percy Weasley awoke with a scream, out of breath and covered in sweat as he looked around only to find himself in his bedroom in the burrow.

Seeing that he was still in one piece, he sighed to himself in relief.

"What an awful nightmare..."

"Tell us about the nightmare, my lord~." Came a familiar feminine voice, and quickly he looked down to find that he wasn't alone in his bed as Amisi, Ooyodo, and Suppurin were there with predatory grins and were also stark naked just as he was.

He screamed.
============
I love it when a snippet comes together!

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And here we go again! Let's go!
Good Talk

-----

Nijima Saeko's husband, a man who spoke with a Kansai dialect, called his wife at about mid-morning. Since Yumeno was in the room, and because Mrs. Nijima was in no condition to handle a phone, the doctor helped her out with it. Going by their conversation, he had turned the care of their children over to a family friend and was now on the road. He had also, going by her reaction after she asked the question, completely forgotten to inform anyone at his place of work that he wouldn't be there that day.

Yumeno wasn't sure how, but that in turn somehow reminded her of the way that yesterday morning had been utterly derailed by a captive Abyssal. She wasn't sure whether or not it was considered classified, but then again, a Captive Abyssal. That was the sort of thing that got classified. Doctor Misaki had gotten there soon after she had finished her checkup, and she had returned to the hospital. He had been back as well not long after.

She wished she could be angry, when he explained his reasons. The Abyssal—Tanya—had needed help, and he had been the only one able to provide it at that time. But even so, the Abyssals had done so much to so many, and caused so much harm. She wanted to call him out for refusing to care for a patient… but no matter how she felt, she couldn't.

"Doctor Norihara?" a voice cut through her musings, and she looked down at her patient. "I'm done on the phone," Mrs. Nijima said, "you can hang up." Yumeno smiled and did so, putting Tanya from her mind. Yesterday was yesterday, today was today. She had work to do, and there would be time for looking back on her unusual day later.

But still, she hoped that the government doctor had been able to help Tanya.
-----

She felt a tickle, then a burning sensation at the back of her sinuses. Clamping her jaw shut, she held her breath until the urge to sneeze had passed her over. The two Shipgirls standing guard over her glanced down at her, then eyed each other cautiously. She honestly couldn't see any reason why they would be so worried. While a crippled, weaponless Abyssal could be a threat if she really, really, really, really really wanted to, the fact remained that she was crippled and weaponless, and neither of the battleships standing there shared her afflictions.

"Do you think someone's thinking about her?" asked the one, turning back to face her with a slightly more interested look on her face. She almost sneezed because someone had called her to mind? That had to be the most ridiculous thing she had heard in her life. Sneezes were caused by irritations in the nasal cavities or, on rare occasions, yokai. She thought. The Re-class she had spoken with had not been entirely clear on the subject.

But if someone was thinking of her… She wondered if it was Norihara. If they were bringing her over right now.

She sincerely hoped they were, because she wasn't sure she could escape the way that she was right now.

"You and I both know that sneezes are caused by irritation in the nasal cavities," the other girl said flatly. She looked around the room as if searching for anything she could look at that wasn't her or the other Shipgirl.

"And sometimes yokai, Yamashiro, don't forget them," the first girl admonished. Yamashiro huffed and looked up at the ceiling. Given what she could see of her expression, the battleship was wishing that the roof would fall on her compatriot and she wouldn't have to deal with her anymore.

-----

"I beg your pardon," Houshou said, and Ushio looked up at the bartender carrier. She smiled down at her, and held out a mug. "You wanted the hot chocolate with no whipped cream, didn't you?" Ushio nodded, accepted the steaming drink from her, and took a small sip—Oh wow. This was amazing. If she were to remain at Yokosuka, Ushio decided, she would definitely have to learn to make this.

"So," the carrier said. Ushio blinked. She wasn't going away? "What do you think of Yokosuka thus far?" Ushio scanned the rest of the club, and realized that they were all in various stages of finishing their drinks. Of course she had chosen the one with the longest prep time, she thought, watching as Yae's… conversation with Inazuma began to turn into an imitation of that morning's episode of Kamen Rider, complete with sound effects.

"It's… very nice, I think," she said, doing her best to call to mind the best points of her time there so far. "Everyone has been very kind to us."

"That's been good to hear," Houshou replied, leaning forward. "Especially considering how chaotic your time here has been so far." Ushio stopped herself from falling off the back of her stool. Of course, every other Shipgirl that she met had heard of her already, several even knowing her by name. It made too much sense for Houshou to be aware of her as well. Ushio wasn't sure how she felt about it. Everyone here was nice, but having a complete stranger appear and greet her by name tended to be a bit of an unnerving experience.

"Heheh, yeah…" she laughed nervously. "Chaotic is a good word for it."

"Have you put any thought into what you are going to do?" Houshou's voice now carried a serious edge that Ushio recognized from when her mother was asking if she had done her homework. Ushio almost laughed at the comparison—deciding where her life was supposed to go was so much more important than a worksheet or two. And ironically…

She looked over at Saki who looked back in return, as if feeling her gaze. "Yes, actually," she replied, letting a little bit of a smile slip out. "I think I know what I want to do."

"And you're sure it's your decision?" Houshou asked. Ushio snapped back to look at her, confusion whirling up within her. Her own decision? What was that supposed to mean? "Did you decide for yourself? You're sure that you weren't lead to that choice by someone who wanted you to take it?" Ushio ducked her head down, looking into her hot chocolate. That… That was actually something she hadn't thought of happening. And yet… had it happened before?

Umi, however well-meaning her friend was, had an unnerving tendency to act without considering what her actions meant to others—one day, she had simply run up and announced that she was signing the both of them up for the Kanmusu Tracking Club. Ushio had gone along with her because she needed to join a club, but had it really been the choice she wanted to make? But then, you couldn't force anyone to do something they truly weren't willing to do… but had she simply outsourced her decision making?

She looked back over at Saki, who looked back at her. Now her classmate's face was slightly confused. Probably wondering why she kept looking at her, then looking away.

Ushio felt the worry begin to fade from her stomach. She wasn't as familiar with Saki so much as she was Umi, but if there was anything that she knew about the other girl…

"Tohda-san wouldn't do anything like that," she said, confidence welling within her. "I know she wouldn't." Houshou nodded, giving the girl a look of her own.

"You're certain?" she asked again. Ushio nodded assuredly. "Very well then. I'll take your word for it, if you are. Now," she continued, clapping her hands and speaking cheerfully. "Enough of that. Drink up, Miss Ushio!" Ushio thought to correct her, but turning her attention to the hot chocolate easily distracted her.

Yep. She definitely needed to learn how to make this.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking along the old tunnel, Harry blinked a bit before he turned to Rose. "Um, are we nearly there, Rose?"

Glancing at a marking on the wall, the tsukumogami nodded and tapped it. "We are, Master. It's not too much further until we reach the spot." Her hands clapping together, she gave him a bright smile as Haruna stopped a few steps ahead. "Hopefully you'll like what we've done."

A smile on her face, Haruna nodded while her fairies stood on her shoulders with lanterns. "Hai, Rose-Chan and Haruna worked hard on this. Junyou-San also helped us with it."

Eyes widening some, Harry stared at her. "Really? Junyou-Oba helped you?"

Softly giggling, Rose shook her head. "She did as a matter of fact, Master. She cast some of the needed spells for what we're doing after all. Also, Miss Junyou also placed up protections to keep certain beings from... getting to what we made."

Guessing what sort of things she was talking about as they continued to walk down the tunnel, Harry frowned and nodded. Currently, they were walking along one of the many tunnels under the base dug back during World War Two. The section that they were in was rather off the beaten path and in front of them and behind, there was pure darkness with the only lights coming from Haruna's lanterns. Here and there, Harry could see half worn kanji as well as hiragana and katakana. A younger him had tried to read such examples in other sections of the tunnels.

To this day, he still winced at the memory of what some of those messages were about.

Quickly shaking off such thoughts, Harry turned towards Rose while making sure that he kept an eye out where he was walking. "Well, if Junyou-Oba helped, then things should be safe. She's pretty good at that sort of thing."

Through the gloom, a door appeared which Harry could tell was much newer then the rest. In fact, it looked a lot like a bulkhead to a ship which Haruna was now turning the lock for. Around it though were various ofuda stuck to the wall and which Harry could tell were glowing. Beside him, Rose waited as Haruna turned the door to open it. "Well, yes, she seems to be. But... she did ask that we give her a bottle of at least some of what is down here. Maybe more if possible, Master. Miss Junyou was quite interested."

Amused, Harry shook his head as Haruna opened the door fully and stepped inside. Moments later, she stuck her hand out and waved for them to follow. "Well, I don't mind giving her something. Just keep the first bottle for me, I got plans for it."

While Harry stepped through the door, Haruna tilted her head to the side with a confused expression on her face. "What do you mean, Harry-Chan? Haruna thinks that you are a bit young for that."

Looking around the room, Harry felt his eyebrows raise at all the barrels around. "Um, actually? I was thinking that once it's done to give the first bottle to the Shrine as an offering. You know, because we're all still here?"

Finger against her chin, Rose frowned some but nodded. "I can see that, Master. A bit odd, but not too much I suppose." Striding forward, she came to one barrel in particular and tapped it with a nod. "In which case, this is likely the best one that you can use, Master."

Simply blinking, Harry walked up and examined said barrel. "Um... what's so special about this one? I mean, it's perry, right?"

Only shaking her head, Rose giggled some. "Not quite, Master. You see, some of your family's recipes for perry, cider, and jerkum were quite specific. In this case, the perry needs to be aged in a barrel that contained twenty year old firewhiskey for at least eight months. Haruna and myself managed to get three barrels and will be aging the other two for the full three years.

Eyebrows furrowing, Harry frowned a moment and looked at the other barrels. "Wait, you said that there's cider here? And jerkum as well?"

Slowly, Haruna nodded some as she walked up to one of the other barrels. "Hai, Nagato-San explained to Haruna and Rose-Chan that one of the ways that Harry-Chan's family made money was through the sale of cider, jerkum, and perry. Haruna never knew that!"

Frowning, Harry slowly nodded. 'Never knew that...'

With a bright smile, Haruna spun around a bit. "So Haruna and Rose-Chan decided to try some of each. That way we can learn and Junyou-San has been watching over us. She says that Haruna and Rose-Chan are doing just fine though, so next year we can make even more."

Rose then pointed at one of the ofuda on the inside of the door. "Miss Junyou also put up the ofuda there, Master. They're to keep mold and bacteria away so that the drinks do not spoil or go bad. Apparently the Potter family had such things in their cellar.

All Harry did though was nod and smile as he looked around. After all, even though he couldn't help much, there was a small part of him that felt good. Like maybe something of his old family was becoming part of his new one.
_____________________________________________________________

Just stepping off the military truck, Wanko blinked as she heard footsteps rapidly approaching her. Turning, she gave a small smile as Harry rushed towards her and crouched down. "WANKO!"

As he threw his arms around her neck, the Abyssal closed her eyes and let out a sigh as she felt the warmth from his hug surround her. "It is... very nice to see... you as well... Little Brother." Hearing slower footsteps, Wanko blinked as she looked up to see a sleepy Hoppou walking towards her. "Little Sister?"

Yawning widely, Hoppou stumbled the last little bit and then snuggled into Wanko's arms. "Big Sister, Hoppou is super happy to see you!" Then she yawned again and her eyelids dropped. "But Hoppou is really tired..."

Only tilting her head, Wanko turned to Harry who had an smirk on his face before he ruffled Hoppou's hair. "Hoppou is just coming down from a sugar rush, Wanko."

A snort caught Wanko's attention as a snickering Natsumi walked up. "And due to helping Oba-Chan with decorating our house for Christmas with the Twins." There was a twinkle in Natsumi's eyes. "Though I think that Oba-Chan is even more tired then they are."

Humming, Harry smirked a bit. "She did say that she's going to get Zuikaku-Oba back for feeding them a bunch of treats though. Honestly, I don't know what she was thinking doing that and suggesting that they go and help decorate somewhere."

In reply, Natsumi rolled her eyes and gave Harry a knowing look. "Oh yes, because Zuikaku-San did that just before she left to head back to Kure. Couldn't possibly have been anyone else who filled them with sugar and let them loose."

There was a twinkle in Harry's eyes as he shrugged. "Well, Zuikaku-Oba did cause some trouble. Like calling me a shrimp."

Just the same, Natsumi only seemed to become more amused at that and rolled her eyes in reply. "Right, was this before or after you called her 'Aunt Turkey'?"

Scoffing, the black haired boy shook his head. "Before, Natsumi-Chan. You know that. Besides, Kaga-Oba also saw her giving them the treats as well."

Expression becoming deadpan, Natsumi gave Harry a look as he grinned back at her. "Right, Kaga-San saw her do it. Hmm..."

With a shrug, Harry spotted Regina hop off the back of the truck followed by Supprin. "Yup! And that was what the kids told her as well. So it must be true coming from so many sources." Before Natsumi could reply though, Harry was already running and then hugged Regina with a smile. "Regina! You're here again!"

Blushing, Regina softly smiled down at Harry before hugging him back even as she felt her cheeks heat up. "W-well, it is Christmas. And Christmas is a time to, um, be with those that you care about."

Head tilting back, Harry smiled at her. "Well, that's great actually. Because I care about you, Regina. And it's going to be so awesome to have you here for Christmas and everything."

Quickly glancing at Wanko who gave a short nod, Regina smiled back and gave him a warmer smile. "Depending on how things go, I may be around for a bit longer. We'll see though."

Not long after though, Revina launched herself from the truck to glomp Harry before going a mile a minute about various things. Like if she could go to Hogwarts and see the Weasley Twins because she had some great ideas. Or getting Supprin there as well and so on.

And Harry was really, really tempted to help her.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 23: S0ngD0g13

Another Tale (or Tail) of Dog and Ducky, or, Story-Time with Jaw...
..........................................

Jaw McAmis drove onto base at Yokosuka a couple days before Christmas in his Lancer, with Barrier riding shotgun, tongue lolling out. He had a few days off, and the teen had decided to make a trip to Yokosuka and visit with Akizuki. He hadn't seen the Destroyer-Girl in a while, and ever since the time he found her lost in Akihabara, they'd gotten to be fairly-good friends. In all honesty, Jaw saw the lead-ship of the Akizuki-Class as something of a little sister, and she'd admitted to seeing Jaw as a big-brother...

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

Akizuki was coming off the range after a training session with her sisters and the other Destroyers, when her cellphone rang. She knew immediately who it was; Jaw was the only number in her contacts list with that ringtone.

Da-da-da, da da da da...

She answered the phone with a smile. "Moshi moshi!"

Jaw's voice chuckled warmly over the phone. "How many times do I gotta tell you, Little Sis; I don't speak that much Moon-Rune. How ya been, Akizuki?"

She giggled. "At least one time more, Jaw. And I'm doin' right well," she replied, mimicking his lingering East-Tennessee accent. "How are you? And how's Barrier?"

"Barrier's doing well; been missing you, though. As for me, I'm feelin' sorta peckish. You feel like grabbing a bite, my treat? In fact, my treat for you and all the girls with you; y'all look like your bellies and backbones are rubbing blisters on one another."

"You're here? On-base?"

"Two points off your starboard bow."

Akizuki turned and looked, seeing her friend sitting atop the hood of his car waving, and Barrier with him. The girls flocked up the hill...

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

After the group had decided on takeaway for lunch, they all found themselves just off the grounds of the Shrine, relaxing and eating. Jaw got caught up on the latest RumInt from Yoko' and Sasebo (because the Tin-Can Mafia was like the Shipgirl equivalent of the Marine Corps Lance Corporal Underground, and always had the best word on who was doing what) while he polished off his Shrimp Lo Mein. Then Jaw caught the girls up on the latest goings-on at Kure (because it was only right-and-proper and According to the Rules, that he pay info back in kind), including the latest Shipping Sitrep for Houshou and his dad.

Then, the Formalities having been observed, Akizuki pulled out a goban and set it up; she and Jaw had been playing a game by text-message for four days and the Ducky was eager to continue. Neither player were particularly-skilled, but it gave them something to occupy their hands while the real fun began.

"Tell a story?"

Jaw settled in, took a long pull from his soda, and grinned, absently noting a pair of foxes nearby in the edge of the trees. "Alright, Lil Sis. I've got a pair of stories, interconnected. I learned them from Dad when I wasn't but knee-high to a short flea. Now, back when Dad was my age, one his favorite relatives was his Great-Uncle , Robert Malone. Rob never had much formal schooling, but he was an absolute wizard when it came to training dogs. It's him and his younger brother, my Great-Granddaddy Cecil, who taught my dad how to train dogs. Cecil trained bird-dogs, Pointers and Setters, while Rob's passion was his foxhounds. That's the first part of the first story, the tale of how Dad came to learn the second story."

Jaw sipped his soda again and continued. "You wouldn't know just on first acquaintance, but Dad's always had a love of classic literature. When he was just a Freshman in High School, Dad was rehearsing lines for a play he was in, as part of his school's Drama Club, and Rob commented that Shakespeare never talked about anything that interested him; the play Dad was rehearsing was A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dad told my Twice-Great-Uncle that the Bard of Avon actually did mention things he'd appreciate, and quoted him, from memory, a passage from toward the end of the play where Theseus, the Duke of Athens, is bragging to his intended, Hippolyta, about his hunting-dogs:

My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
So flewed, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells,
Each under each. A cry more tunable
Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly...

Dad told me Uncle Rob laughed out loud and swore right then that 'Billy Shakespeare musta been a bawl-mouth man'."

"A 'bawl-mouth man'?" asked Ikazuchi. "What's that mean?"

Akizuki answered for Jaw, explaining, just he'd explained to her, the difference between bawl-mouthed hounds and chop-mouthed ones.

Jaw picked up the thread again. "After that, Dad would take care to remember it, if he happened to find an old myth or legend about hounds, so he could tell Uncle Rob. Hence, how Dad learned this, the second story; the Tale of Laelaps." He cleared his throat and began to tell the tale...

"A long time ago, in Greece, there was a Queen named Procris. She was every bit of her a Queen, graceful as a deer, strong and passionate as a lioness, and along with her husband, Cephalus, she was kind and just.

Now, it so happened that Procris enjoyed hunting, as did her husband. But where Procris thought her actions through with care, Cephalus was prone to acting without thinking first, especially when he was excited or nervous.

The story goes that one day Procris and her husband were out hunting, and the hound they were hunting with brought a female deer, a hind, to bay. Procris saw the dog leap at the hind, and she saw the hind's fawn nearby. Procris killed her husband's own hound to protect that mama deer and her baby.

That night, Procris was visited by Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, who told her that the hind and fawn the Queen had defended were two of Artemis' handmaidens in disguise, and that for her honor in defending the pair, and to replace the hound she'd killed, Procris would be given a hound from the Goddess' own kennels.

That hound was named 'Laelaps', and as if being from the personal kennels of the Deity of Hunting wasn't proof enough of how good Laelaps was, Artemis told Procris that no matter what the game, Laelaps would always catch it. Laelaps was the Hound that Could Not Be Escaped.

Now, it so happened that a neighboring kingdom, Teumessia, allied to Procris' and Cephalus' own, had offended in some manner the God Dionysus, who turned a massive she-fox loose there as revenge against the Teumessians. Dionysus knew, as everyone in that time knew, that foxes were cunning creatures, difficult to catch. The God of Wine and Revelry knew the Teumessian Fox would cause trouble enough to draw hunters, so he set a spell on the Fox, such that the Fox would evade all hunters and hounds. It was the Fox that Could Not Be Caught."

The foxes by the woodline drew nearer as if listening intently...

"Cephalus begged his wife to let him borrow Laelaps to hunt the Fox, and at long last she relented. Cephalus set the Inescapable Hound on the trail of the Uncatchable Fox, and followed on horseback.

The Fox ran through creeks and streams to mask its scent, but the Hound stayed right behind it. The Fox doubled back along its own trail, but the Hound stayed right behind it. The Fox changed shape, as Foxes sometimes do, first becoming a darting rabbit, then a bounding deer, then a swift horse and then a soaring bird, but never did Laelaps waver from the Fox's trail.

Laelaps tried to speed up and catch her quarry, but the Fox evaded her. She tried to cut the corners where her prey turned and catch the Fox that way, but the Fox evaded her. No matter what Laelaps did, the Fox evaded her..."

"What happened then?" asked Teruzuki.

Jaw saw the time and wrapped the tale up. "The chase would have lasted All Eternity, as the Hound was Inescapable and the Fox Uncatchable, but that Zeus the Greek God of the Skies and of Lightning and Thunder, took pity on both creatures and turned them into stars, which he set in the Heavens as constellations. To this day, you can look up at night and see Canis Major, the Great Dog, Laelaps, as she chases Canis Minor, the Small Dog, the Teumessian Fox, across the night sky..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Having gone to Yokosuka, Wokyuu had left behind an empty island as her birds had migrated for the winter. As it was, the WO class had often visited Yokosuka and was right now enjoying Christmas Eve with Hoppou and the others. What she had not known though was that her island would not be empty long as Haruna made landfall on it with Rose perched on one shoulder. Once Haruna was out of the water, Rose glanced around and then gave a sharp nod before hopping down. "Very good, now let's do this quickly so that it shall be a lovely surprise for Wokyuu when she returns."

Simply smiling as she followed her girlfriend, Haruna hummed. "Haruna thinks that Wokyuu-Chan will enjoy her gift a lot. And it will be nice to see Wokyuu-Chan's face when we show her."

With a giggle, Rose nodded and walked up the path. "Oh yes! I think that will be the best part of it all." It did not take the two long to reach either the hatchway to Wokyuu's home or to enter it. Upon entering the bedroom area though, Rose frowned and shook her head at the box and the small cot. A cot that looked about ready to fall apart. "That is certainly not what someone should be sleeping in."

A frown on her face, Haruna looked around at the room and shook her head. "Haruna thinks that it is a good thing that we are bringing Wokyuu-Chan's presents and setting it up. And we need to thank Hoppou-San for helping us pick things out!"

Taking off her uniform coat, Rose hummed as she placed it onto a hook. "Quite. Now then, we should get to work as we do not have all day." By the time she turned, Haruna already had a box set up on the floor and was opening it. "Well, it should go quick, I would think."

Several minutes later though, Haruna was scratching her head as she looked over the instructions in her hand. "Rose-Chan? Haruna... doesn't understand these instructions? In fact, Haruna thought that this was easily assembly?"

On Rose's face was a similar look as she tilted the instructions to the side. "As a matter of fact, Haruna, that was what I was told as well. But... these are quite complicated." Eyebrows furrowing, she shook her head with a sigh. "Quite a bit more complicated then what I was expecting from what the salesman stated.."

Just frowning, Haruna grimaced a bit as she flipped through the instructions again. "Um, well... I think these are the Chinese instructions..."

Now blinking herself, Rose looked up and frowned as she went digging in the box. "Odd, I have Spanish instructions. Whatever would I do with Spanish instructions? Now where are the English ones... or the Japanese ones? Either would be rather useful at the moment."

Digging around, she smiled as she pulled another sheet out. When she looked at it though, her face fell with Haruna looking over her shoulder. Then the shipgirl gave her girlfriend a confused look. "Korean?"

Pinching her nose, Rose nodded as she could feel a small bit of frustration bubble up. "These do seem to be the Korean instructions, yes. Are there any others?"

With another few moments of digging around, Haruna pulled out another sheet. "Um, Haruna found another set but... Haruna recognizes these as being in German..."

Roughly an hour later, Rose was frowning as she squinted at the instructions in her hand. "Haruna, have you found the... D Screw yet? We need another for the frame it would seem."

Head inside the box, Haruna could be heard moving around. Moments later, Haruna popped her head out and began to look around. "Haruna cannot. Where is that screw, Rose-Chan? It's not with the rest of the screws like it should be..." Moving her hand along the bags of screws, nuts, and bolts, the Kongou shook her head. "... Rose-Chan? Haruna thinks that we might be missing pieces..."

In reply, Rose sighed and held one hand to her face. "Oh, bother."

Only huffing a bit, Haruna crossed her arms against her chest and glared down at the pieces of the bed. "Rose-Chan?" Getting a hum, she continued. "Haruna thinks that this is not so very easy assembly at all."

Sighing, Rose shook her head in confusion as she scratched her cheek in thought. "No, I think much the same, Haruna. Why ever call it easy assembly if it's not though?"

Haruna had no answer for that.

Eventually though, the two did finally finish the bed frame and place the mattress into it. With a nod, Rose smiled up at Haruna before gigging a bit. At her girlfriend's look, Rose whipped out a cloth and gave the end a lick before wiping it along one cheek. "You have some dust on you, Haruna. Here, let me clean that off."

Giggling, Haruna leaned into it and, as Rose pulled it away, gave her a kiss. When she was finished, the Battleship could only smile brightly at the star struck look on Rose's face. The moment was ruined though as her stomach growled and she smiled sheepishly at the tsukumogami's laughter, though it did make her happy to hear it. Especially after all the frustration they had just gone through for their friend. "Haruna thinks that it is time to break for lunch, Rose-Chan."

While humming, Rose nodded some before pulling out the pocket watch Haruna had gotten her for the previous Christmas and checking it. "Yes, it does seem to be getting on for lunch time, I suppose. A good thing that we have brought ourselves some food as we expected to stay for a bit..." With a frown, she shook her head as she gazed at the bed. "Though not quite this long."

Slowly nodding, Haruna frowned as well. "Haruna agrees, that was not fun at all." She then turned towards the other boxes for the bedroom set and a table for Wokyuu. "And Haruna is not looking forward to the rest as it means we might be here for a while."

Just grimacing, Rose shook her head. "Quite. I believe that if it was possible, I would have a few words for those who believe that this is easy assembly."

Lips twitching, Haruna barely held back a giggle as Rose huffed before shrugging. "At least with on bit done, it should be easier for Rose-Chan and Haruna to do the rest? Because we know how to do it."

After some thought, the tsukumogami slowly nodded. "I suppose that you are right, Haruna. We do know how to do things now after all so it should go much faster..." However, another later, Rose's voice could be heard raising. "WHY IS THIS IN MORE PIECES THEN THE BED!? AND IS THIS WRITTEN IN SWEDISH!?

"AH! HARUNA FOUND THE OTHER INSTRUCTIONS, ROSE-CHAN! AND... THEY'RE WRITTEN IN ARABIC!?"

"OH FOR..."
_____________________________________________________________________

Watching as the tired looking, and more then a little disheveled Rose and Haruna left the cafeteria after a very late dinner, Harry only shook his head. 'I wonder what happened to those two?' At remembering the annoyed and frustrated expressions on their faces though, Harry soon shook off his curiosity. 'Well, I'm sure that it was not that huge of an issue.'

Simply shaking his head, Harry turned back to the sink and was washing his hands when Haida came up with several pails in her hand. "Uh, Harry? You wouldn't happen to have some room in your fridge would you? I could use it as I know only you go into it."

More then a little confused as to why she would need somewhere that only he accesses, he nodded some and gestured at the fridge. "Um, go ahead. I think that I got plenty of room at the bottom though." As Haida opened the door and grinned at the space, Harry became more curious about the pails. "Why do you need to use it anyways?"

The Canadian Destoyer looked over and grinned even more. "Because I need a place to store the moose milk over night until tomorrow's party. It's our contribution after all since it's a Canadian drink for such events."

Looking down into the pails, Harry felt his eyebrows raise at the creamy liquid inside. "Moose milk? That's... not actual milk from, you know, a moose?"

Softly snickering, Haida shook her head with an amused look. "No, it's not actual moose milk, Harry. It's just called that because... Well, if you drink enough, it hits you like a moose would if you tried to milk it."

It was then that Harry's nose caught a familiar smell and he raised his eyebrows. "Is that alcohol?"

For several moments, the two gazed at each other before Haida coughed. "Yes, there's alcohol in it which is why I need to put it somewhere that the younger Destroyers won't get to it. And also so that no kids do either..." Then she placed her hand on Harry's shoulder and gave him a serious look. "Harry? I like you, and since you want to go into the Navy I'll give you a piece of advice if you ever end up in Canada. If we offer moosemilk to you, have a single drink, no more."

Glancing down at what he now knew was an alcoholic drink, Harry frowned a bit. "Um, okay? Why?"

Now grinning once more, Haida snickered. "Because one of the favorite things we like to do is to give someone from another military several glasses. They don't realize what is in it before they're too drunk to really care all that much. Trust me, it's hilarious to see happen. Heck, we nailed Jersey this one time and she was staggering around after a while..." Haida then frowned. "Grant you, she then grabbed hold of Professor Crowning who was there, declared that she loved him and was sorry for all the shit she put him through... and then promptly tried to suck out his lungs through his mouth. Got it all on tape too."

Eyes wide, Harry stared down at the drink in some awe before shaking his head. "Okay, I'll only have one glass then... But what is in it?"

Hemming and hawing, Haida tilted her head back and forth before shrugging, "Not going to tell you everything that is in it. You can obviously see the stick of cinnamon in it." Looking down, Harry could see it floating there. "But... I use a bottle of Navy rum."

That caused Harry to stare at her. "Navy rum... doesn't that start at 95 proof?"

If anything, that made Haida grin. "Why yes, yes it does. One bottle of navy rum... Lamb's, of course, one for each bucket. Of course, after that, I use some vodka, some brandy, some moonshine... And some other stuff. Trust me, it's an amazing drink..."

Before, Harry was in awe. But now he couldn't wait to see what would happen. "Haida? Would it be okay if I took pictures? Do you mind?"

The grin on Haida's face could not get any wider as she shook her head. "Of course I don't mind! In fact, I recommend it."

Moments later, there was a similar grin on Harry's face and the two quickly placed the pails in the fridge to sit until the party the next night.

 

[darthcourt10]

SkyeFire

Harry Leferts said:
Before, Harry was in awe. But now he couldn't wait to see what would happen. "Haida? Would it be okay if I took pictures?"

The grin on Haida's face could not get any wider as she shook her head. "Of course not! In fact, I recommend it."​

I think Harry either needs to ask "do you mind?", or Haida needs to answer "Of course!"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

And now, from Pun Theatre:

Jane hung up the phone and dusted her hands with a self-satisfied air. "Well, that's all arranged for November -- Harry will come stay with us for the holiday and help me cook." She cocked her head. "Oh! And we'll also be having Zuikaku for Thanksgiving."

Her father's spit-take wasted enough coffee to trigger an Ooyodo Rant about waste, had the Command Cruiser been present. Jinstuu-mama sloooowly keeled over from her seat on the couch as she gradually lost her battle against the giggles, and Ari-mama simply... stood stock still and turned a deeper and deeper shade of red.

Mutsu-mama hid a smirk by shaking her head mock-primly in Jane's direction. "Jane, dear... word choice."

Jane blinked at her, innocence personified. "Good word choice? Or bad word choice?"

Mutsu-mama took a moment to pat her still-coughing fiancee on the back. "That depends on the effect you're going for, dear."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

And now, a Omake from the Evil League of Evil:

Percy thought about his decision quite carefully. He really did. The fact that he could do so in under 2.3 seconds was simply proof that he could make careful, rational, considered decisions without dithering, unlike Certain Unorganized Persons.

"Well, Revina," he said, "it's like this. I think the twins are both quite smitten with you. But they're too shy to admit it, even to themselves. And, despite what irrepressible rogues they are, the idea of both of them being smitten with the same girl, well... it's holding them back, I think."

Revina grinned in a way that should have been frightening, but just made Percy feel... satisfied. "Oh, that's no trouble! There's plenty of me to go around!"

Percy nodded firmly. "I agree entirely! You're just the woman to keep my little brothers from getting into more trouble than they can handle. And I would feel so much better if you took them in hand and, ah, burned off their excess energy, so to speak?"

Revina snapped to and threw him a salute. "You got it, Admiral Admirable! I'll keep 'em so tired out they can't get up to any mischief! At least, not without me!"

Percy blinked at where Revina had been. "...did someone teach her Apparation?"

A pale hand touched his left shoulder. He turned to see Supprin, whose normal pallor was turning a rosy pink. "Are... are you sure you're not an Abyssal Admiral? Because that... that was..." Oddly, she seemed to be getting short of breath.

Someone else touched his other shoulder, and he turned to see Ooyodo, who was even pinker than Supprin. "Now I understand," the light cruiser said huskily, a strange febrile light in her eyes, "what Jintsuu sees in Darth Vader."

"Indeed," purred an accented voice from directly behind Percy's head, before a pair of tanned arms slipped around him tightly. "Seeing such... ruthless decisivness from one's Pharoah is always... stimulating."

I may, Percy thought with numbed calm, have been just a bit hasty this time....

 

[darthcourt10]

Shaithan

Duty

The choppy waters of the North Sea churned under icy winds, showing once again that she was a harsh mistress to those daring to brave her waves.

A small battlegroup of Russian, German and British girls followed a patrol route, looking for trouble and checking on islands that might attract abyssal presence.

Their patrol had been going on for days, ever since they had started their patrol in Arkhangelsk, braving the White Sea, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.

"Why exactly do we have to do this in winter?" Tashkent complained. Her dangerously short uniform was complemented by a big scarf, mittens and an Ushanka, leading to a very odd picture. There was a good reason that Shimakaze and Tashkent were often compared when fashion sense was involved. Both adored clothing with as little wind resistance as possibly feasible.

Royal Oak gave Tashkent a long-suffering glance. "Because winter is a great time for Abyssals to set up a base in areas where we can't immediately react. And potentially finding an abyssal base on Svalbard because we neglected patrols there would be disastrous," she explained, for what felt like the millionth time.

"Comrade speedy one," Gangut spoke up, "calm yourself," she advised.

Tashkent pouted. "But we'll be out on the seas for Christmas," she complained. "I don't think Grandfather Frost can reach us out at sea!" she said with a pout.

Gangut laughed. "Speedy one, of course he can reach us," she reassured the destroyer, giving the preening destroyer an affectionate headpat.

Tashkent nodded. "You're right, comrade Slow One," she said, earning a twisted ear.

Tirpitz sighed. Christmas tended to lead to odd patrol compositions, there were not a whole lot of grumpy girls that actually disliked the practice. So you had unhappy girls like Tashkent, who were out here due to bad luck, old girls like Gangut who didn't care about Christmas one way or another and there were grumps like her, who actually disliked Christmas and cherished every opportunity to get away. It also ensured that there was less likelyhood of hearing Bismarck and Hood working on making G3s or H39s a reality. Or some unholy combination of the two. Next to her, Royal Oak snickered.

"Cheer up, it's the season for cheer and joy," Royal Oak exclaimed.

And that was the reason why she hated patrols not completely comprised of people who either actively disliked or at least didn't care about christmas. The ones that tried to spread christmas cheer. "Humbug," she grumbled. "Just once, an end of year patrol without overly cheerful people would be great," she muttered lowly.

Royal Oak looked at her sourly compatriot, debating whether she should poke her some more, before deciding to let her be. People had their quirks, she didn't want people to poke her quirks, so she shouldn't do it to others.

Gangut smirked when Tashkent sauntered over to Tirpitz. She had a fondness for destroyers, wishing to be a good rolemodel for them, but there was a point at which she needed reprieve. And seeing a German get bugged never got old. Judging by her grin, Royal Oak felt the same.

"Say, what's christmas like in Germany?" Tashkent asked with shining eyes.

Tirpitz shrugged. "Don't really know, I've always been at sea during that time," she confessed.

"And your presents?" Tashkent wanted to know. "How can Grandfather Frost bring you presents if you're not there?" she asked with wide eyes.

Tirpitz shrugged. "Grandfather Frost? Santa Claus? All those other holiday spirits? I doubt they exist," she stated matter-of-factly. "And presents, well, I prefer money anyway, makes it easier to buy the stuff I want instead of getting either something I asked for or where the other guessed and hoped I'd like it," she laid out.

Tashkent's eyes widened. "You don't believe in Grandfather Frost. Or this Santa Claus? And what about the military tracking him? Don't you believe them either?" she wanted to know.

Tirpitz grinned. "Yes," she stated succinctly. "It's a big show put up for kids," she added. "First of all, these gifting spirits would need to visit ten thousands of houses each second to be able to bring gifts to everyone. Also, a sled is highly unlikely, we're looking at a fleet's worth of container ships to haul everything," she explained.

Gangut cleared her throat. "Comrade Speedy One, I think Tirpitz is the wrong person to talk about this," she said softly.

Tashkent nodded and gave Tirpitz a wave. Privately she felt a bit sad, there was no wonder in Tirpitz's words, only facts. Then she grinned. "Hey, Oakie!" she shouted, speeding over to the third battleship. Said battleship twitched fiercely at the mangling of her name.

Gangut gave the taller battleship a sidelong glance. "Never home for christmas, huh?" she mused. "That's some serious dedication to evading family get-togethers," she added.

Tirpitz shrugged. "I see them often enough during the year, there is no reason to go crazy about some holiday or another," she gave back. "Also, last time I came back before New Years, I walked in on my sister and Hood. It's a miracle those two haven't spawned a successor class by now," she added with a shudder. "And finally, someone has to patrol, we were lucky that we didn't lose the Azores back in the early days to not patroling," she concluded.

Gangut raised a brow. "Oh, I didn't know about that," she stated.

Tirpitz nodded. "This was early in the war, Blood Week still fresh in everyone's minds, the whole," she began. "Now, shipgirls at that point in time were barely understood, Abyssals even less. Back then, the US Navy couldn't hide how much they hurt, much less smaller navies. So, we had shipgirls and christmas came around. Most everyone figured these days to be sacrosanct or some such stupidity, anyway, no one considered the possibility of an abyssal assault. To my shame, I didn't, either," she admitted.

"And what has this to do with the Azores?" Gangut wanted to know.

Tirpitz wanted to say something, but by focussing on her story, she missed a wave and ate a lot of salt water. "Fuck," she grumbled while Gangut chortled.

"Eyes ahead, comrade dour one," Gangut said with a good-natured grin.

Tirpitz gave a half-hearted glare, before relenting. "Anyway, the Azores. This was quite early, and Schwesterchen was not yet ready to allow Hood to sortie anywhere that was not a kiddie pool. You should have seen her fuss over Hood when she ran into that Re-class. Anyway, I decided I had had to deal with this overprotectiveness long enough, asked for leave, took some money and booked the next flight to the Azores. Some others had the same idea, meaning, by chance there were four aircraft carriers and six battleships, as well as an assortment of destroyers and cruisers there. Which was just as well, we had barely begun to unpack when reports of an abyssal battlegroup heading straight to the Azores were transmitted by some cvilian ship a few hours out. They didn't make it, but they gave us advanced warning," she continued her tale.

Gangut seemed impressed. "That's a mighty battlefleet," she stated slowly, lighting up her pipe. "And your enemies?" she wanted to know.

Tirpitz grimaced. "Mind you, this was an invasion fleet, they had eight Wo-class carriers, twelve Ta-class battleships and quite a few other ships. All in all, we were outnumbered almost two to one," she laid out. "We were really lucky that it was a Yorktown-class family holiday. Enterprise becomes damn scary when she wants to protect her sisters. The battleships on the other hand were a mess. Richelieu, Barham, Giulio Cesare, North Carolina, Tennessee and I. The cruisers and destroyers were equally eclectic, everything from WWI relics to late-war boats. So, there we are, all geared up for lazing on the beach and suddenly we have to defend the islands. Hell, no one actually was sure who should be the impromptu flagship. Let's just say, it was less of a coordinated, heroic defense and more of a mad scramble to figure out how to somehow make this work. We were lucky that the abyssals hadn't been expecting shipgirl resistance," she continued, lost in thought.

"To be quite honest, I still think Enterprise would have been the better choice for flagship, but no, it had to be a battleship. Then again, with how chaotic everything was, North Carolina did her duty quite well," Tirpitz mused. "Still, how much of a mess? Tennessee sunk three destroyers by ramming them," she said, laughing. "Barham and Richelieu on the other hand, now that was a spat. They were more concerned with guarding against the other instead of the abyssals. The Yorktown sisters thankfully dominated the sky, and the cruisers and destroyers finally got into a fight more confusing than Guadalcanal. At least those armored cruiser girls on our side were able to really hurt their heavy cruisers," she continued with a grin.

Gangut frowned. "You said it was a mess, though?" she asked, quite puzzled.

Tirpitz nodded. "Oh, make no misconception, getting out of this mess alive was more down to luck instead of skill. Well, okay, one skill was involved, the ability to judge when to bravely run away. During the battle pretty much everyone at one point or another bravely turned her tail and fled, some girls had to beach themselves to avoid sinking, there were quite a few close calls," she laid out.

"And what did you do?" Royal Oak asked curiously from behind the two girls.

Tashkent was sailing circles around them, laughing, especially at the shocked face Gangut made.

Tirpitz grinned. "I was mostly busy tangling with the Tas. Close quarter fighting and all that. Got my first torpedo kill back then," she remembered wistfully. "On the other hand, I ate quite a few shots, too, most of which on the belt. Let's just say that this would hurt for days to come," she recollected. "Honestly, it was the carriers that finally broke up the fighting at sea, Enterprise went pretty much berserk when it looked like a few of the destroyers were making a run for them. Especially after one took a few potshots at Wasp. 'Permission to exist in these seas: DENIED!' and all that," Tirpitz recalleig bed with a fond smile. "Afterwards she fussed over her sisters, completely ignoring the shells she herself had taken, it took all three of her sisters to get her to relax," she told the others.

Royal Oak laughed. "Yeah, I remember that, Barham told me about cuddle piles and that back then Enterprise needed much contact with her sisters, afraid of losing them," she recalled. "I didn't believe her about cuddle piles until I saw my first one," she admitted.

Tirpitz shrugged. "I personally don't see the appeal," she admitted. "Sleeping in a massive pile? Nah, I like to have much space for myself," she added with a smirk.

"Spoken like the true Lonely Queen of the North," Gangut laughed.

Tashkent pulled at Tirpitz's sleeve. "So, did you get presents for your heroic defense?" she wanted to know.

Tirpitz grimaced. "Not exactly. There were orders and such, but overall, it was more punishment. PR and such. Thankfully, by the time anyone had selected 'Let's make the most of the good press we got from this defense!' I had already left the island and was on my way back home," she said with a chuckle. "And seeing that I came home via Paris and took the train afterwards, they couldn't intercept me and drag me into that PR mess," she added, chuckling some more.

Gangut laughed heartily. "Truly a good choice, I had the misfortune of running into journalists once. I was very tempted to send them to the Gulag, this bunch of roaches," she said with a grimace.

Royal Oak looked up. "Scum or Daily Fail?" she wanted to know.

Gangut looked puzzled. "Excuse me?" she gave back.

Royal Oak shook her head. "Right, I wanted to know if it was the Sun or the Daily Mail," she explained.

Gangut grimaced. "Those and others," she admitted.

Royal Oak shuddered. "Trust me, I understand fully," she admitted before muttering curses aimed at both papers under her breath.

Tashkent had slowed down considerably, looking at the night sky. "Do you think we'll run into enemies?" she asked out of the blue.

Tirpitz sailed up to her. "Maybe, maybe not. But patrol is not about running into enemies, it's about reaffirming that friends are save," she said slowly, watching her fairies remove ice crust from her upper deck and upper works. "We're out here so others can celebrate, it's an important thing to do," she said slowly, headpatting the preening Russian destroyer. With a grin, Tirpitz rummaged through her storage until she found it. "Come, let's have some mead for the evening. Leifsdottir gave that one to me," she said with a grin, procuring four small drinking horns and filling them with mead before handing them out.

Each girl carefully took her horn, watching the sea so it wouldn't get to spoil the mead.

Royal Oak cleared her throat, ready for a toast. "To Guardians near and far, guarding their friends from whichever may trouble them," she said solemnly, raising her horn.

"To Guardians," the other three chorussed, before drinking in amiable silence, sailing further into the night.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 1: Itsune "What do we do with a Drunk Shipgirl Early In The Morning"

smxsonic said:
What do you do with a drunken Shipgirl, What do you do with a drunken Shipgirl, What do you do with a Drunken Shipgirl Early in the morning?

Is it ever mentioned just how resistant to alchohol Shipgirls are? Like I'm assuming it takes 3 times as much to do a ship girl than a human.
-+-+-+-+-​

Call her up to report for sortie!
Call her up to report for sortie!
Call her up to report for sortie!
Early in the morning!

Push her in to an Ice cold Shower
Push her in to an Ice cold Shower
Push her in to an Ice cold Shower
Early in the morning!

and it's

Yeah! Hey! Up she rises!
Yeah! Hey! Up she rises!
Yeah! Hey! Up she rises!
Early in the Morning!

Then it's

Dash to the mess to get Her Coffee!
Dash to the mess to get Her Coffee!
Dash to the mess to get Her Coffee!
Early in the Morning.

Send Her to Dock with out her Skirt on!
Send Her to Dock with out her Skirt on!
Send Her to Dock with out her Skirt on!
Early in the Morning!

Yo!

Yeah, Hey, Up she Rises!
Yeah, Hey, Up she Rises!
Yeah, Hey, Up she Rises!

Early in the Morning!
--
Shipgirls can get drunk, but tend to burn through it quickly, because their boilers treat it as a Fuel.

edit: Switched Verses around....

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

We're going to be heading out soon, so I can't put as much time into this as I would like. Tanya isn't in here this time, sorry.
Sudden Shift

-----
Kongou hopped up from the water, banishing her rigging with a thought. Her thoughts were primarily focused on lunch, how to procure it, and how to eat it with Teitoku—wait, no. Teitoku was thinking very hard right now. He had chosen to take a day to decide, and at the end of the day he would give his answer. If Teitoku was out of the question… it was always pleasant speaking with Houshou over a meal, but noon was when the carrier's pub hit its busy period, so that was more or less out of the question. Behind her, she heard Mutsu, then Amagiri climb up onto the wooden floor.

Amagiri stumbled as she touched down. The destroyer girl had taken a hit or two in the skirmish, not enough to really bust her up, but she was definitely looking a little punch-drunk. Mutsu reached out to steady her, but Amagiri pushed her hand away and steadied herself. Kongou sighed, and turned to face her.

"Amagiri," she said, face and posture carefully composed, "Head over to the baths."

"But I'm fine!" Amagiri insisted. She then killed her own argument by tripping over her feet again and tumbling to the floor. "I'm shipshaaaape! Owie."

"Not from where I'm standing," Kongou replied, lifting the girl to her feet. "I'm taking you to the baths, now." She leaned down, picked Amagiri's glasses, and slid them back onto her face. She felt breath on her ear as Mutsu leaned over her shoulder.

"You can walk on your own power," the other shipgirl suggested, "Or she can carry you. Like a baby, even!" These last words were punctuated by a beatific smile. Amagiri pouted. Then she stumbled again.

"Amagiri," Kongou coaxed, raising a hand. "How many fingers am I holding up?" Amagiri scrutinized her hand before fiddling with her own fingers, counting on them.

"Fingers are on your hand, so… all of them?" she suggested. Kongou facepalmed. It was difficult to fault her logic, but at the same time just made her want to get the girl into the baths as soon as she possibly could. Mutsu giggling in her ear did nothing to calm her irritation. She tucked Amagiri under her arm and stood.

"Baths. Now. Right."
-----

"And here we have the docks!" Ikazuchi continued. "From here, we go out to battle the might of the Abyssal fleet!" She posed in front of the doors to the building, raising her hands in a dramatic "gaze-upon-the-awesomeness" pose.

"She's really hamming it up, isn't she?" Ushio heard Hibiki whisper next to her. She looked over to see the white-haired destroyer leaning over to her sisters discretely. Inazuma nodded her agreement.

"I think that talk about Kamen Rider got her riled up, just a little," she admitted. Ushio compared what she had seen of Ikazuchi before and after they had stopped at Houshou's pub, but she couldn't really tell if there was a difference or not. The only real difference that she noted in her behavior was when she had calmed her the previous day. But then, these were her sisters, weren't they? Perhaps, for Ikazuchi, this was hammy?

The doors opened, and the tour group stumbled back before Kongou and Mutsu. The two battleships were dressed as Ushio had seen them yesterday morning. As the surprise wore away, Ushio realized that Kongou had a third shipgirl tucked under her arm—a flailing girl with dark hair and glasses, who felt confusingly familiar. Ushio hadn't met her yet, had she? In this lifetime?

"Hello, girls!" Kongou said cheerfully. "You're that tour group, aren't you!" Ushio felt Umi grip her arm, and turned to see her friend was bouncing in place. She turned to look over at Yae, and realized that Chisaki had discretely placed her foot on top of the more excitable girl to prevent any… outbursts. Ah, right—Kongou was pretty much Chisaki's idol.

"Hi Kongou!" Akatsuki replied. "How were things out there?" Chisaki seemed to balk, as if unable to believe that this little child was addressing Kongou with such familiarity. Ushio smiled, thankful that her classmate wasn't looking her way. She had only met Kongou once, but given that she had been treated with that same familiarity, it wasn't hard to tell that the battleship didn't mind at all.

"Just a little skirmish, nothing to worry about," Kongou replied. "Amagiri here just took a hit or two, so I'm getting her down to the baths…"

Kongou's voice faded away from Ushio's senses. In that moment, all that she could hear was Amagiri. And all she could think was…

Ushio dropped to her knees, hands raised to her head. She could feel the air rushing in and out of her body, faster and faster, boilers shrieking, mechanical objects that she could and couldn't name spinning into overdrive. She felt Umi's hands on her shoulders, saw Saki's concerned face before she was pushed aside by Ichika, heard Inazuma crying out above everything else and people running, she couldn't tell if it was towards or away. And then, a new voice, one that she had never heard in her life and held dearer to her than so, so many others, cut through.

"Sister?"

Horrified, she lifted her head to meet Amagiri's eyes, pleading silently. The destroyer girl had gotten free of Kongou, and was stumbling towards her. "Ushio? It's really you, isn't it? I-It's me! Amagiri!" she said excitedly, gesturing to herself. She tripped, and righted herself. "It's your sister! You remember me, don't you?" Please, Ushio pleaded silently, don't. All the dread, all the confusion that she had left behind was beginning to reform in her stomach. She stood, and backed away.

Kongou's hand descended on Amagiri's shoulder. "You're scaring her," she said gently. Amagiri turned to look at her with the stunned expression of someone who was looking at an alien for the first time.

"Kongou, it's Ushio," she pleaded. "It's her!"

"Yes it is," Kongou said, "and you need to get to the baths. We'll talk when you're there." She sounded so much like an aunt trying to explain that no, the family's beloved dog wasn't going to come back. She shot Ushio an apologetic glance, and guided Amagiri away, likely in the direction of the baths. Ushio didn't know how to get there from here. Slowly, slowly, Ushio felt aware of everyone's eyes on her. She tried to stand (when had she fallen down again?), but found that the strength had left her legs.

"Oh dear," Mutsu said apologetically, rubbing her neck. "That could have gone much better. Maybe you girls would like to sit down somewhere for a little bit?" In the silence that followed, no one mentioned that they had just come from Houshou's. At the same time, no one seemed to think that it mattered.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Taking an offered plate, Tanaka chuckled a bit. "Well, hopefully you all enjoyed your breakfast." Gently sliding it into the sink, he hummed a bit as he started to wash though he glanced at the nearby stove. "Not often I get to cook."

A bright blush on her face, Akebono huffed a bit before turning away. "It was okay, I guess you shitty Captain. Maybe a bit better then the usual shit you cook."

Lips twitching, Tanaka hummed a bit as he took a plate from Kasumi. "Glad to hear it actually." Hearing something, the Captain looked up and raised an eyebrow as he saw I-351 leaning against the counter. "Yes?"

In reply, the Submarine placed one finger against her lips with a hum. "Well..." She then leaned further forward. Of course, this had the action of squishing her swimsuit covered chest against the countertop with a squish sound. "Being as it's Christmas and all, we've given you some gifts, but you haven't given us any..." Her tongue flicked out and there was a rather perverted grin on her face. "Or are you waiting until we're away from prying eyes, Captain~?"

Simply giving her an amused look, Tanaka was about to say something when Kasumi slammed her hands down and growled. "YOU DAMN LEWDMARINE! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!"

Beside her, Akebono snarled as she nodded. "Yeah, you shitty excuse for a Sub! And get those big lumps of fat off the counter! Argh, now we got to disinfect it because it's covered in your shittiness!"

However, that only amused I-351 who stood up and groped herself. "Ara, are you jealous?" Grinning, she her hands shot forward. "How about we se-"

Just as she was about to grab Akebono, a spoon shot out and smacked her in the hand as Tanaka sighed. "Can you not for today?" Ignoring the groan and the mutters of liking it rough, he shook his head. "As to your presents... they're not here."

That caused both Destroyers to perk up with Kasumi blushing lightly. "You got us presents?"

With a hum, Tanaka nodded. "I did as a matter of fact. And I think that you might like them." Raising an eyebrow at them, he snorted some. "What? Did you think that I wouldn't? Come on, when have I forgotten to get my girls anything?"

If anything though, that caused both Destroyers to blush even more as they looked away with Akebono stuttering. "Y-yeah, you might be a shitty Captain, but I will give you that." She then huffed some. "But they are usually shitty presents, especially with how shitty you are!"

Out of nowhere, Settsu popped up in a outfit similar to Akebono's, which was far too small for her, as she blushed some and twiddled her fingers. "Um, you really shouldn't say such things, Akebono-Chan. L-listen to your Ushio-Nee-San."

Chest expanding outwards, Akebono had pure fury in her eyes as right before she verbally exploded. "YOU ARE NOT MY NEE-SAN, YOU DAMN PERVERTED SHITTY BATTLESHIP! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU GO AND PRETEND TO BE HER!? YOU ARE A FUCKING SHITTY BATTLESHIP, NOT A DESTROYER! GET OUT OF THAT FUCKING OUTFIT RIGHT NOW!"

As Akebono continued, Tanaka only shook her head as Amycus raised her head from the table and sighed. "I was seriously sent from the USN to deal with this crap. Ugh, they must really think that I'm useless." Placing her head back onto the table, she let out a grunt. "Fuck, not that they're really all that wrong."

Meanwhile, in the center of the storm, Tanaka could only shake his head in bemusement. Especially when I-352 and I-371 showed up with the first in an elf costume that was far too tight and the second in a reindeer costume. Tanaka did not react much besides a raised eyebrow before turning to the Destroyer beside him that he passed a plate to. "Thanks for helping me by drying, Michishio-San."

Puffing out her cheeks, the Destroyer snorted as she looked away. "Yeah, yeah. Not like you could get much work done without us." A grumpy frown on her face, she grumbled a bit. "And it's not like I wanted to or like helping you or anything... Just want to get this over and done with."

That only got a chuckle from the Captain which made the blush on Michishio darken. Several minutes later found the group outside near a rather new part of the tiny base. Weeks earlier, they had all watched a concrete structure get built and then covered with soil to hide it. Now they gathered in front of a large steel door. Clearing his throat, Tanaka brought out an odd remote and clicked a button which made the shuttered door rise upwards while also turning the lights on inside.

Once the door was finally open, all the shipgirls just gaped at what was inside. As it turned out, it was a garage with a few cars here and there. But there were smaller vehicles that looked like miniature cars themselves. All of them had cardboard with names taped into place with the smaller vehicles having the names of the Destroyers. "Here you girls go."

Utter silence met him before Kasumi turned and stared at him. "W-what... what is this?"

Hands in his pockets as he tried to keep them warm, Tanaka shrugged some. "These? These are the vehicles you girls can use to head into Kushio when you got free time. Settsu-San? Amycus? You both have drivers licenses so you get the cars just like the older looking shipgirls."

Raising her hand, Michishio waited for a moment. "But some of those have our names on them! What the hell!?"

Now chuckling, Tanaka shook his head. "Those are electric bicycles actually. Enclosed and such..." At their looks, he rubbed his head sheepishly. "I came across DesDiv6 using some like them back in Yokosuka during the Treaty Signing and ordered them. You girls all deserve some freedom after all and I know that I can trust you with it. Besides, you don't want to spend all your time on base as you can use them to go into town."

Just hanging her head, Akebono took a deep breath as her bangs covered her eyes. "Why...? Why do this?"

With a blink, Tanaka tilted his head back some. "Well, you girls always seem kind of sad being stuck on base. Besides..." A smile crossed his face then before he placed his hands on Akebono's head. "You're my shipgirls and it's my job to take care of you."

Unknown to him, that caused Akebono to freeze as a memory came to her.
______________________________________________________________

Eyes wide, Kasumi tried to keep her fellow Destroyer afloat. The Admiral that they were serving under had sent them out on patrol, despite warnings that there might be Abyssals of Cruiser strength out and about. Instead of sending Cruisers, he just sent the two Destroyers out rather then risk his own Capital Shipgirls over the protestations of several Officers including a Captain Tanaka.

It had ended with both girls taking major damage from a Heavy Cruiser and two Light Cruisers before they managed to escape.

And now it seemed that Akebono was going to sink as her legs slipped more and more into the water despite Kasumi's efforts. "Dammit, Akebono-Chan! Don't you dare sink on me! Do you hear me!? Don't you damn well sink you bitch!"

Chuckling weakly, Akebono looked up best that she could with one eyes swollen shut and covered in blood. Even now, she could feel the life slipping out along with the blood and oil. A cough escape her as she shook her head. "K-Kasumi-Chan... just... just let go... You need to... reach the land." Blinking, she felt the water reach her waist. "S-smack... the shitty... Teitoku for me..."

Only shaking her head, Kasumi didn't pay much attention to their surroundings which made them miss a sound. "I'm not! We'll both slap that bitch of an Taitoku! Just hold on for a little bit longer, Akebono-Chan! We'll reach land soon enough! You just need to hold on!"

However, slowly, the hand that Kasumi was holding slid out as a powerful gale swept by. Eyes closing, Akebono felt the water slowly cover her head as Kasumi screamed. 'What lies at the bottom of the sea...'

With her hand free, she began to sink downwards only to hear a splash above. Then something grabbed hold of her around her waist and tied a chain around her middle. Before she blacked out, she felt herself being pulled upwards. Sometime later, she regained consciousness to Kasumi shouting something. "Captain Tanaka! We're out of bandages!"

Eyes cracking open, Akebono recognized that she was in one of the JMSDF "Super Stallions" with Tanaka above her soaking wet. 'Wait... what is he doing here? It's... too dangerous and why is he wet...'

From out of sight, one of the pilots spoke up. "Uh, Sir? Teitoku really wants to talk to you. He's rather angry with you disobeying an order to return to base..."

Tanaka only grinned some, though was no glee there. "Yeah, well... Teitoku's an asshole. But tell him that we're returning now as we found them." Then he cut off whatever else the pilot was about to say. "As I said when I had you lift off, all the blame is on me. You were following my orders, got it?" Getting a grunt, Tanaka then turned to Kasumi who was also bandaged. "Kasumi-San, give me the bandage scissors right now!'

Unsure, Kasumi finally blinked and nodded. "U-uh, right. Here!" Handing them over, she frowned a bit. "But what are you going to do since we don't... That's your uniform!"

Snorting, Tanaka shook his head as he shrugged off his uniform and then began to cut it into strips. "Yes, and? It's fabric and can be used as bandages. Not give me a hand!"

Unable to stay awake much longer, Akebono slipped back into unconsciousness. Much later, Akebono had run away from the docks to see Tanaka being escorted by military police and she stopped them. "Why!? Why did you do that, you shitty Captain!?"

All the Captain did was shrug some with an odd smile before placing his hand on her head. "Because, Akebono-San. You're one of my shipgirls and it's my job to take care of you. No matter what."

Tears in her eyes, she watched as he got escorted away...
_____________________________________________________________________________

In the present day, Akebono's shoulder shook as she remembered that day when he spoke the same words. If anything, the sight of him being escorted away because he defied orders to save her had only soured her view of her superiors even more. The fact that someone had leaked why he was out there did not help, nor did the fact that the Admiral who nearly sunk her was quietly transferred out and replaced by Admiral Shimada. Someone helped her and was then punished.

Needless to say, her attitude only worsened alongside Kasumi's.

Eventually, it was too much when she declared Shimada to be a "Shitty Admiral" to a news crew and she was transferred to a base for "Problematic" shipgirls that the JMSDF wanted out of the public eye alongside Kasumi. A base newly built at Kushiro in Hokkaido. Pissed off, both of them had arrived there ready to let it rip only to stop in shock as Tanaka greeted them as their new superior Officer.

As it turned out, he was given the "Shittiest" posting possible by some of the higher ups. Not able to get rid of him as he was a "Hero" for what he had done, they stuck him there hoping that dealing with problem shipgirls would drive him out of the JMSDF. Instead, he laughed and took it as a challenge. One that he met and beat as all of them were loyal to him.

Now, Akebono grabbed Tanaka in a hug as she sniffled. "Y-you shitty, shitty Captain. Damn you and your shitty gifts."

Wincing a bit, Tanaka chuckled and continued to rub her head only for the breath to be driven from him as the others joined in on the hug. "Yeah, I'm pretty shitty as an Officer, I guess. Or else I wouldn't be here. You know what though?" Getting head shakes, he continued with a grin. "I like being a shitty Captain in that case..."

Only sniffling, Akebono nodded. "Yeah, glad you know that." Internally though, she was smiling. 'And you're our shitty Captain...'

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Well, here we are again. No Tanya again this time, but I don't feel like there's much I can do with her while Goto is making his decision. Be warned, this one is another long one. And without further ado...
Running Hot

-----

Namiko sat on the bench trembling, her elbows resting on her knees and her head in her hands. Umi sat by her side, her hand resting on her shoulder. She was speaking quietly, but Saki was fairly certain that she was trying her best to reassure her friend. All around her, the other members of the tracking club were standing in place, pacing agitatedly, or talking quietly under their breaths. Saki noticed that Mamiya in particular was talking to Ichika in quiet, hurried tones. Off to one side, Desdiv 6 were doing the same: standing in a circle, glancing worriedly at their tour group.

Finally, Saki turned to the battleship who stood among them. True, she had felt a sense of exultation upon meeting Mutsu and Kongou, but that feeling had died almost immediately when Namiko collapsed. Now that the terror of the moment was gone and her head was clear again, she was consciously pushing the thrill of being in the presence of a woman who was more or less a national hero aside. However amazing it was to be in her presence, Namiko's condition took priority beyond even Yamato herself descending from the heavens to the sounds of angel's trumpets and offering everyone present crab cakes and breadsticks.

"So," Saki said, her voice feeling slightly foreign to her own throat, "Sisters? What did she mean by that?" Mutsu turned to look at her, a look of relief on her face for a split second that seemed to thank Saki for breaking the silence. Around them, everyone else was turning to look at them. Ichika opened her mouth, but Mamiya waved her off and she subsided, turning her attention wholly to Mutsu. The battleship composed herself, and spoke.

"I'm afraid the relationship is a little complicated," she admitted. "As Ushio, Nagawa-san and Amagiri are both members of the Ayanami class of destroyers—sister ships, if you would." She raised a hand to forestall any questions.

"The problem with being sister ships is that, for different girls, the relationship has different meanings. For Nagato and myself, for example?" She smiled wistfully, turning her gaze up to the sky before returning it to Saki. "We consider ourselves to be blood sisters, with all meaning and connotation that the relationship carries. For other girls I could name, it simply means being less closely related—not immediate family, but still a relationship of great meaning. Some girls simply disregard the question of being related altogether in favor of other close relationships. In any case, the relationship is still one of great emotional closeness." As she spoke, Mutsu ticked her list off on her fingers. "Amagiri is one of the ones who considers sister ships to be family. And Nagawa-san…"

"Nagawa-san is having a rough time as it is," Saki finished. Mutsu nodded tiredly.

"A bit of a simplified explanation, but that is essentially what's happening," she agreed. "On some level, Nagawa-san probably recognizes Amagiri as someone who she is emotionally close to. However, never having met her before in this life, as well as everything else that she's trying to deal with, would probably make it difficult for her to make sense of the relationship she feels that she is supposed to have with her. At least…" Mutsu turned to look at Desdiv 6. Akatsuki and Hibiki also turned to look at their sisters, who glanced at each other before Ikazuchi shrugged and Inazuma nodded apologetically.

"That sounds about right, nanodesu," she said. "Suddenly recognizing someone you've never seen before as your sister on an emotional level rather than a mental level... It's disorienting, nanodesu." Ikazuchi stepped forward, picking up from her sister.

"To say the least," she confirmed, nodding seriously. "Hibiki and Akatsuki are our sisters, and if you'd say they aren't I'd punch your lights out, but… seeing them for the first time and knowing on every level that they were our sisters was a little bit of a punch to the gut."

"Huh," Saki said, stepping back and looking at Namiko and Umi again. She had younger brothers and sisters, but going by what Mutsu was describing? This was something different on a scale that she couldn't quite imagine. And that was the problem—Umi, Mamiya, even Saki herself couldn't understand what Namiko was going through because the experience was so beyond them. All that they could do…

"Hey, Kaichou," she said aloud, "Why don't you guys go on ahead? I'll stay behind with them. That sound good?" Mamiya looked at her briefly in confusion, then clarity, and stepped quickly over to Ikazuchi. The two of them spoke in whispers for a minute before Mamiya looked up.

"That sounds good," she agreed, nodding. Saki smiled gratefully, and walked over toward Namiko. Behind her, she heard Ikazuchi reviewing their route with Akatsuki before Mutsu spoke again.

"Don't bother. I'd be happy to help—Kongou and I are somewhat at fault in this whole affair ourselves." Saki turned to look at the battleship again. She was smiling with a gentle, apologetic look in her eyes that reminded Saki of her own older sister who was now in art school. "You said you were going through the barracks, and then swinging past the training grounds?"

"Yeah, I mean…" Ikazuchi trailed off. "This tour is kind of our job, we can't just—"

"I don't mind," Mutsu repeated. "I ought to be doing something here, right?"
-----

Getting Amagiri to the baths had not been as much of a struggle as Kongou had expected. The destroyer seemed lost and confused more than anything, as if her sister ship's apparent rejection had stripped the fight from her body. The only real challenge had been getting the poor girl to walk in a straight line. Once they had arrived, Kongou had helped her undress and then walked her into the baths. It had been a little bit of a surprise to find Akagi there as well—it seemed a Re-class early in the morning had gotten a lucky hit in. Fortunately, that meant that the Amagiri was in good hands, Kongou contemplated, stepping out the door. And then…

Ah, of course. Two other girls stood in front of the bathhouse, betrayal radiating from their bodies in such measure that Kongou felt like she could reach out and touch the emotion. It appeared Amagiri had started radioing as she walked.

"Why did nobody tell us?" Ayanami demanded, arms crossed. She was probably trying to make herself look strong and determined, Kongou thought, but all it did was make it look like she was trying to hold herself together. "Why didn't we know?"

"I can't speak for everyone else," Kongou admitted—and she was legitimately surprised that no one had told them, quite the failure on the part of the grapevine, "but why I didn't say anything? It's been a crazy couple of days—for us, and for her."

"She's our sister!" Oboro said, fists clenched and voice pitched just short of out and out crying, and Kongou felt her heart breaking. What came next was not going to be pleasant to say, that much was certain.

"And she only realized that a few minutes ago," Kongou replied. She tried to keep her voice soothing, but it came out of her mouth harshly and she cursed herself for not keeping it together when the destroyers in front of her needed her to so badly. "She is learning that she is more than the person she grew up as, that she can't go back to what was once her normal life. And she's only learning it because she had to put herself between an Abyssal battleship and her teacher, her friends, people she saw no other choice but to protect. To her, she's being punished for doing the right thing. Jumping out like this," she swung her arm wide, gesturing back the way that she had come, "is not going to help her. All it will do is make her more confused."

"But…" Oboro attempted, tears shining unshed in her eyes. "But… she's our sister," she repeated lamely. Kongou stepped forward, leaned down, wrapped her arms around her.

"I know," she said, this time managing a comforting tone, "believe me I know. And that is why, for her sake, you can't force this on her. I promise, someday I promise, you will be able to greet her as your sister, and be greeted as the same. But for now?" She pulled away slightly, to look the quietly sobbing destroyer in the eyes. "For now, you need to let her settle in to life as it is for her now, because she isn't ready yet." Looking to the side, she saw Ayanami's façade crumble, and reached out, pulling her into the hug as well.

"Hey there, sis! Free hugs day?"

Kongou looked up to fix Hiei with a glare. "For the love of all things holy, Hiei… READ THE MOOD!"

-----

Her sister… and at the same time, not her sister… How? Why did she want so badly to reach out to her, who she had never known before? Ushio had heard Mutsu speak, heard the explanation, but at the same time she just couldn't put her feelings together. She felt Umi's hand on her left shoulder, squeezing as best she could, but the anchor it provided was so little as to barely grip at all.

"Don't worry," Umi said, "It's going to be alright. Everything is going to be okay, you'll see!" On her right, Saki said nothing. She just sat and held Ushio's hand in her own. She was vaguely aware of Mutsu standing off to one side, watching over them quietly.

None of it made her feel any better.

How could she feel that way about someone who she had never seen before? What inside her had recognized Amagiri (another pang of sorrow and love) as her sister?

"It'll be alright," Umi said again. Saki heaved a sudden, great, sigh. Releasing Ushio's hand, she gave her a brief, affectionate hug, then stood.

"Hoshikawa-san," she said, "could we talk for a moment?" Umi gave her an incredulous look.

"What are you saying?" she asked. "Nagawa-san needs us here! We have to—"

"I'm fine," Ushio heard herself say. "I'm perfectly fine. Go on." She felt Umi's eyes boring into her disbelievingly, and she raised a hand to brush her hand from her shoulder. "Just go. Mutsu's here anyways, it'll be okay." Umi's look turned to one of distress, but the girl stood anyways, and trailed after Saki as the redhead stepped around the corner. After a moment, Ushio heard Mutsu walk over, and felt her brush up against her as she sat beside her.

"So," Mutsu said gently. "How are you really feeling?" The pain in Ushio's stomach flared up again, doubling her over. Heat traveled from her chest up to her face and into her eyes. She saw tiny patches of earth turn wet with tears—hers? She was crying?

"Why…" she attempted, but the knot beginning to form in her throat strangled her words before she could get them out. She hiccupped and tried again. "Why…" the knot tightened, stopping her again. She inhaled deeply, held it for a brief moment.

"Why is this happening to me?!?"
-----

"Tohda-san!" Umi snapped, trailing after her classmate, "What are you doing? Nagawa-san… Nagawa-san is hurting! We have to—" Saki stopped, and Umi slammed into her, stumbling back.

"We have to do what?" Saki demanded. "Hold her hand? Baby her? Telling her that this—" she spread her arms and turned back to Umi. The look on her face was one of thinly-veiled rage and grief, building into frustration and Umi had to stop herself from falling, she had never seen Saki so emotional. "—is going to go away tomorrow? Because that will. Not. Help her."

"We need—We need to be there for her!" Umi replied, stuttering. "We need to help her! She's our friend!" What was Saki saying? She wasn't that close to Namiko! Umi had stood by her all this time, she wasn't going to stop now.

"How, Hoshikawa-san?" Saki asked. "How are you going to help her with this? We can't… carry her through this! That's not what standing by her means, not this time!" Anger heated into burning wrath in Umi's chest. What did Saki know about standing by anything?

"Are you kidding me?" Umi demanded, grabbing Saki by the shoulders and pulling her in face to face. "Namiko is shy! She's fearful! She can't take something like this, you've seen her! We're her friends! We need to protect her!"

"And how," Saki ground out evenly, "do you propose we protect her from this?"

"How? We—" Umi stopped. Guide her away from the things that were hurting her? How? Namiko was a Shipgirl now, she couldn't be guided away from what she was. Take her mind off of it? That wouldn't work, this wasn't something that would go away if she distracted Namiko with the latest TV drama. Stand in front of her, take the pain onto herself? She couldn't understand Namiko in the face of her newly discovered sister. How could she ever feel her pain? What could she do?

What could she do?

She staggered away from Saki, staring her in the eyes with growing shock… fear? Why would she feel fear? Saki formed her hands into fists, tightening them until her knuckles turned white and Saki could almost hear them crack.

"What Nagawa-san is going through," Saki continued, stepping forward as Umi continued to back away. "Is not something that we can take on ourselves. She—and only she—is the only one who can go through this." She stepped around Umi, grinding the balls of her feet into the ground. "And whatever else—going through life the way you would have her do it, with you shielding her from every sorrow, every choice that she might ever need to make?" Umi turned to watch as she continued walking. "If she goes through life like that, then she will never receive the strength that she needs to live." Saki paused, looking balefully over her shoulder at Umi. "That kind of protection. Will never. Benefit. Namiko." Then she resumed walking away.

As Umi watched her leave, anger, pain, emotions that she hadn't known had left her, came rushing back in. She was hurting Namiko? How? She would never hurt Namiko! She would show Saki. She knew what was best for her friend. She would prove that she knew. She…

She would protect Namiko.
-----

As Mutsu watched, the Tohda girl stepped back around the corner. She looked over her and Ushio, taking in her friend's hunched-over, sobbing form and the arm that Mutsu had placed over her shoulders. Tohda raised a hand to her forehead and massaged it, which turned into gripping the upper half of her face so tightly that Mutsu feared she would tear herself open.

"Damn it," She hissed.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 24: S0ngD0g13

Christmas in Kure...
....................................

Christmas Morning dawned bright at the McAmis house in Kure, and James McAmis snored softly on his couch; the party the night before had ran long, and he'd given up his bed to Houshou. The dog-trainer yawned and rolled upright, wincing softly as his right shoulder twinged.

James stepped lightly over Jaw, who'd crashed on the floor, and Zuikaku, who'd originally fallen asleep in the recliner across the room, but had apparently drifted in the night and run aground on top of James' son. He peeked into Jaw's bedroom and saw Shoukaku and CarDiv 2 sprawled across the bed. Kaylee was in her own room, snoring like a chainsaw and drooling on her teddy-bear, Rupert.

James poked his head into his own room and saw Houshou fast asleep, a look of serene calm on the Carrier's face.

After all that was done, James made his way on quiet feet into the kitchen, and started breakfast. First came two pots of coffee, one Military-Strength, and the other Shipgirl-Strength; next was water for tea.

He pulled down two of his cast-iron skillets and melted butter in one, then set a batch of pre-cut frozen biscuits in the butter while he preheated the oven. In the second, deep-dish, skillet, James started browning ground sausage. A batch of rice went into his rice-cooker, and when the biscuits had soaked up the butter, they went in the oven...

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

One by one, the sleepers awoke (Zuikaku and Jaw both blushing madly) and found their way to the kitchen, drawn by the smell of breakfast. "Eat up, y'all," said James. "There's coffee or tea, rice, biscuits, sawmill gravy, fried country ham, bacon, and eggs both scrambled and fried over-medium. There's also honey and blackberry jelly if you want something sweet." James smiled as his family and guests dug in, sipping from a blue enameled-tin coffee cup filled with coffee. After the rest had filled their plates, he filled his own.

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

Everyone's bellies were full, and the dishes were in the sink. The time had come to open gifts, and the group crowded round the tree.

Jaw went first, handing his gift to Shoukaku. When she opened it, her eyes brightened, seeing the brushes and paints inside the box. "I saw you looking at the nose-art on some of my planes, Shou', so I figured I'd get you your own paints, and a little extra. Turn the palette over." When Shoukaku did, she saw a seventy-percent-off voucher for the RC shop in Tokyo that Jaw got his models from.

"Thank you, Jaw," said Shoukaku as she hugged him.

The teen handed a similarly-sized box to Zuikaku. She lifted an eyebrow at the turkey-print wrapping-paper, but opened the box, withdrawing...

"An RC remote?"

Jaw smiled and held up a hand. "It goes to the plane I got you. Lemme go grab it." He darted into his room and retrieved the plane.

It was a Messerschmidt-262, painted not only in IJN colors, but in the livery of Zuikaku's own fighter-group. On the nose was painted a growling, Thompson-wielding turkey and the name 'Game Bird'.

"Now, before you flatten me over the wrapping-paper or the nose-art, let me explain, Zui'." Jaw took a breath. "The nose-art's a play on words. When a person or creature's called 'game', like 'that terrier-pup is sure game,' or 'the girl I like is a fighter; game as a pitbull, she is', it means they're tenacious, stubborn, that they don't quit no matter the odds. Zuikaku, you're always gonna have that 'Turkey' nickname, but you're also a helluva fighter, no matter what Kaga says. I mean, you faced Enterprise how many times? So, you're the 'Game Bird'."

Zuikaku's eye twitched twice. "That... You... It's... Gah! Dammit all, Jaw, you obnoxious shit-biscuit! How can you be such an ass and yet so nice?!" She was smiling, though.

Jaw laughed and commented, "I'd like to think I'm more than just a nice ass, Turkey." He ducked Zuikaku's slap and took Houshou's. "Sorry..."

Houshou smiled when Jaw gave her a custom-painted Me-262 of her own, the nose-art a tasteful imitation of an old-school Varga Girl with the name 'Hot Mama'. Then Houshou gave out her gifts, scarves for the other Carriers, and an RC A5M for Jaw, who blushed and thanked her. Next, she gave Kaylee the Confederate-Gray greatcoat she'd embroidered with crossed-arrows and crossed-pistols; Kaylee hugged her, grinning from ear-to-ear. "James, I noticed you were looking at some cowboy-hats last time we went shopping..." She handed him the hat-box. "So I got you this."

James pulled out a pristine black felt Stetson (and it was a Stetson, and not a knock-off), with a hat-band made of cloth strips, green and white, braided together. "This band... Marine Service A's and..."

Houshou grinned. "IJN Officers' Whites. The green strips are from a Service-A blouse donated by McCoy, and the Whites are from one of my Fairies." Left entirely unsaid was that the Officer Fairy who'd donated said Whites was one of her former Captains...

James grinned and put the hat on. "How do I look?"

Kaylee laughed aloud and replied, "Damn-Dashing, Uncle James!"

Kaylee flipped a pair of gift-cards to her cousin and uncle, then handed Houshou her gift. "Thank you for the needlepoint lessons, Miz Houshou; I put'em to good use."

Houshou opened the box and withdrew a sky-blue obi sash, embroidered along its length with spread-winged, soaring phoenixes. "Oh, Kaylee... Thank you very kindly; it's quite beautiful." The Mother of Carriers hugged the Natural-Born Ironclad tight.

James smiled and snapped a photo, and then he gathered his gifts to give. "Jaw, you wanted a new stereo for your car; here you go, Son. And Kaylee, here's your gift."

Kaylee took the envelope and opened it, shaking out a folded document and a set of keys. "This is..."

"McCoy got tapped to go back Stateside, for a slot at Quantico. He couldn't take his LaSalle so he sold it to me. You need a proper ride, so just sign the title there and my Jeep is your Jeep." James quickly started turning blue when Kaylee hugged him a bit too tight.

When she'd released him, and he'd gotten his wind back, James handed Houshou her gift.

Houshou unwrapped the box and saw the jeweler's logo, her eyes widening. When she opened it, inside lay a ring of gold big enough to fit around her neck, worked around the outside with sinuous Celtic knotwork and capped on one end with a gleaming orange topaz, and on the other with a ruby that shone in the light. "James..."

He smiled. "I got a good deal since the jeweler used to be in my unit. It's a torc. You were launched in November and commissioned in December, so I had it capped with topaz and ruby, your birthstones. I hope I didn't overstep?"

Houshou smiled, her eyes bright, and lifted her hair. "Help me with it, James?" James helped her with the torc, and Houshou kissed him gently, yet warmly. "I love it, James."

The other Carriers' eyes were misty, though Zuikaku murmured about 'damn dust...'

Jaw's eyes were wet as well, and Kaylee's, though not just because of the romance. Jaw thought to himself, The stones are different, and the gold is new-cleaned, but I'll swallow my B-17 whole if that's not the same torc Dad said his Granddad brought back from Europe after the War and gave to Great-Grandma Lucy...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 25: S0ngDog13

First, Barricade, I'm sorry to hear about your mother's fall, and I hope she recovers in short-order; she, and you, are in my thoughts.

Now, another bit of Kure Goodness!

Kaylee McAmis: A Soul in Iron Clad
............................................

Kaylee braced her feet against the gunwale of the sailing-dory she sat in, rested her elbows on her up-raised knees, and let out a breath as she took up the trigger slack until...

KER-RACK!!

The Spencer rifle recoiled hard into her shoulder, and the glass fishing float she'd taken aim at burst into glittering fragments a hundred yards away.

"Good shot!" called her shooting partner, the heavy-set Shipgirl who was the Ironclad Ram Azuma, though she most-often went by 'Kotetsu', or in brief moments of nostalgia by the name her builders had originally intended for her, CSS Stonewall. "Good shot, Miss Kaylee! But can you hit another? Say, the hundred-fifty?"

Kaylee grinned and nodded. "Easy shot," she replied. The teen thumbed the rifle's hammer back to half-cock, worked the lever to chamber a fresh cartridge from the magazine, and brought the hammer back to full-cock as she sighted in on the target float.

The first indication of trouble was when a shell screamed just over Kotetsu's head and burst a hundred yards behind Kaylee's dory. A sleek, black-carapaced Abyssal broke cover from a distant fogbank, the wind whipping her hair under the ragged blue kepi she wore. A second shell lashed out and burst short.

"Shit!" screamed Kaylee as she jerked the starter-cord on her boat's outboard and gunned the throttle. Kotetsu swung broadside between the dory and the Abyssal, her starboard 70-pounder Armstrong hurling a shell back at the eldritch horror attacking them.

Kaylee started to make for shore, only to have shells splashing down around her every time she tried to flee. She dialed her phone, the first number she could find in her contacts, and howled into the Bluetooth headset. "Jaw?! Jaw I need help! Yes, you dolt, that's God-Damn cannon-fire you hear! There's a fucking Abyssal taking shots at me an' Kotetsu! We're six miles due south of base!"

Kaylee looked up abruptly when she heard Kotetsu cry out in pain; she'd fallen to one knee on the water's surface. "Stonewall!"

The shipgirl looked back, her face taut with pain. "Go, Kaylee! My steering-gear's wrecked; I'll hold her off though and buy you time!" As she spoke, she laboriously turned bow-on to the Abyssal, who was closing in and recognizable to her now. "You missed me back during the War, Kearsarge; I ain't runnin' now..."

Kaylee watched as Kotetsu brought her massive 300-pounder bow-gun to bear and fired. The shell screamed straight and true, only for the charging Abyssal Sloop-of-War to slip sideways and let it pass her by before replying with a hail of shot and shell that bent Kotetsu's casemate and knocked out the gun.

"Jaw!" Kaylee shouted, "Kotetsu's hurt bad!"

"Kaylee, run!" shouted Kotetsu.

"I ain't leavin' you!" the teen snapped. "Jaw, get here quick; I'm bout to pull a Taffy! Kotetsu, toss me your crew's sidearms!"

After the pistols were handed over, Kaylee throttled forward and charged, a wild, shrieking Rebel Yell on her lips and a Smith & Wesson No. 2 Army in her hand. "You want a fight, you termite-infested blue-belly?!" she yelled, firing at Kearsarge's eyes. "Now you've got one, you up-gunned Damn-Yankee Garbage Scow!" Another trio of shots rang out as Kaylee chased splashes and closed in. She dropped the empty revolver and took up a fresh one. "You've bought the whole fuckin' packet! I'm Kaylee Virginia McAmis, daughter of Eric and Crystal McAmis, granddaughter of James Aubrey Wilson McAmis and George Cecil Malone, and you ain't killin' me or mine, not today or any day! You hear me?!" Kaylee circled and dodged, hurling abuse and pistol-shots at her foe in withering volleys. "So come on, Kearsarge! Gimme your best shot! You wouldn't make a crotch-cricket in Alabama's petticoat, you hear me!?!" Kaylee picked up her last pistol and grinned a hysterical, wide-eyed slasher-smile, and laughed long and loud before she turned her dory's bow toward the Abyssal.

"WHOOO-EEEE! I'm a snappin' snarlin' she-wolf from outta the Tennessee Hills! Run, ya cow'rd if ya can!" She hurled her little dory straight toward Kearsarge, firing all the way, until a shell burst just ahead of her and Kaylee was lost in the smoke and flame...

Only to reemerge atop the water, her kepi low over her eyes as the newly-Awakened CSS Virginia turned broadside-on well-within her range and opened fire with every gun that would bear...

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

Ten minutes later, when Jaw. James, two of the Yuugumo sisters, and every hound in the minesweeper kennels arrived, they found Kaylee, huffing and puffing and looking like she'd been dragged through a knot-hole by her heels, slowly trying to keep her balance as she towed Kotetsu behind her, cursing her low freeboard the whole while...

"The Hell took y'all so long? Party's already over; y'all missed it."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 26: S0ngD0g13

Taffy 3's Reaction to Virginia's Awakening...
............................................

"I'm telling you, Hoel," said Sammy as the pair walked toward the Mess for breakfast, "it's true. I heard it from White, who heard it from Akizuki, who had it from Naganami and Makinami, who were there for the aftermath!"

"What's true?" asked Heermann as she paused between bites of pancakes.

Hoel shook her head. "Some bit of scuttlebutt from Japan, about a Natural-Born Awakening in Epic Badass Fashion. But this one's obviously grown in the telling; there's no way it's all true."

Heermann shrugged. "One way to find out. Grab Johnston and I'll get a copy of the AAR."

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

A half-hour later, the members of Taffy 3 were clustered around a printed copy of the After-Action Report and a laptop. "Go on, read it, Hoel," said Sammy.

Hoel read aloud, "AAR, Date, To/From Boring, ah-hah! Events: Kaylee McAmis (Age 15), had accompanied Shipgirl JDS Azuma (Ironclad Ram, formerly IJN Kotetsu, formerly CSS Stonewall, formerly-) Lord, she served under a buncha names and flags. Anyway, it says here they'd gone out six miles south of Kure into the Inland Sea to shoot targets."

"Okay, then what?" asked Johnston.

Hoel cleared her throat and read on. "Boring, boring, Technical... They were engaged by a single Abyssal, identified as Mohican-Class Sloop-of-War USS Kearsarge. Azuma turned broadside to shield Kaylee and her boat, a twenty-three-foot wooden Grand-Banks Sailing/Power Dory, and opened fire with her starboard pivot-gun."

"Pivot-gun?" asked Sammy. "Not 'guns'?"

Heermann looked Azuma up on Wikipedia. "According to Wikipedia she only carries three guns, not counting a Gatling-gun. Two 70-pounder Armstrong rifles pivot-mounted on her aft broadsides, and a single forward 300-pounder Armstrong in a casemate over her bow. Her top-speed is 10.5 knots."

"Slow..." muttered the others.

Hoel took up the thread again. "Gunfire, gunfire... Kaylee called her cousin, who called his dad... Oh, her uncle's the one who trains the minesweepers at Kure; he's dating Houshou, according to White. Anyway, her uncle grabbed two Destroyers, all the minesweepers, and a Boston Whaler, and they hauled ass to help. Meanwhile, she was still on the phone with her cousin, and Azuma's forward gun and steering-gear were damaged by gunfire; Azuma yelled at Kaylee to run, and Kaylee refused."

Johnston's head perked up, the feathers of her headdress quivering. "She stayed?"

Hoel whistled low. "More than that; she fought. The exact text says 'Miss McAmis demanded, and was provided, the sidearms of Azuma's crew (predominantly Smith & Wesson No. 2 Army Revolvers, 36 in total), informed her cousin to hurry up as she was 'about to pull a Taffy', and then charged the Abyssal under power from her dory's outboard motor, hurling defiance at Kearsarge while emptying pistol after pistol at her'."

Heermann checked two Wikipedia articles and gaped. "Okay, that's pretty Epic... Kearsarge carried two 11" Dahlgren Smoothbores, four 32-pounder guns, and a 30-pounder Parrott Rifle. Kaylee had three dozen pistols, most of which were only .32-caliber!"

The quartet read through the transcripts of Kaylee's 'defiance', and laughed at most of it, including the mention of how Kearsarge "wouldn't make a crotch-cricket in Alabama's petticoat".

Hoel was unable to continue due to her rising awe, so Heermann read. "Having expended all but one revolver, Miss McAmis turned and charged directly at Kearsarge, by all appearances intending to ram, until a shell (most-probably a 32-pounder) burst just ahead of her dory, destroying it. However, Miss McAmis Awakened as a Shipgirl in that instant, and when she had emerged from the smoke at point-blank range, CSS Virginia (Casemate Ironclad) was able to bring her own broadsides into play and destroy the Abyssal Kearsarge by overwhelming volume of fire."

Johnston and the others were wide-eyed. Heermann read on and chuckled. "It says here that the rescue flotilla arrived ten minutes after the fight ended and found her attempting to tow Azuma back to port. Her greeting to them was 'The Hell took you so long? The party's already over; y'all missed it'."

Johnston looked at Hoel, who looked at Heermann, who looked at Sammy, who looked (smugly) at Hoel and then at Johnston. The feathered leader of the Taffies grinned. "She's a Taffy?"

The others nodded. "She's a Taffy!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Holding the warm mug in her hands, Regina turned away from the door that Rose had just left through to see Harry watch Wanko place a bracelet on her wrist that he had gotten her. Each bead of polished stone, roughly the size of marbles, glinting in the light. A warm smile on her face, Wanko pulled him close. "Thank you, Little Brother... I like it. It is very... very pretty."

Simply returning the hug, Harry grinned a bit. "Glad that you liked it, Big Sister."

Once they separated, Harry grabbed another box and then brought it over to Regina who gave him a surprised look. "I-is this for me? Really?"

Nodding, Harry grinned a bit. "Yup! I made it myself just for you." As she gently looked it over, he raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Well? Go on and open it, Regina."

A small blush on her face, Regina tore open the wrapping paper before opening the box. For several moments, she stared down at the object inside before reaching in and taking it out. "I... it's so pretty, Harry..."

With his grin now even bigger, Harry shrugged. "It's called a barrette. You use it to keep the hair out of your eyes." Looking down at the polished steel barret with black, shiny gems that were shaped like roses, Harry shrugged. "Here, let me show you."

Still blushing, Regina leaned forward as Harry took her hood and pulled it back to reveal her silver, messy hair. Gently, Harry moved some of her hair and then clipped it into place. Blinking her red eyes, Regina looked at him with a shy smile. "How does it look?"

Head tilting to the side, Harry gave her a thumbs up. "Looks great on you, Regina!" He then dug into the present and pulled out a black bow that had a magnet on it. "And this is for your tail."

Much to Nagato's amusement, said tail seemed to blush before moving forward to allow Harry to place the bow on it's "Head" before he nodded. Looking at her tail, Regina blinked a bit before smiling some. "It does look rather nice on you."

Quickly nodding, Harry smiled some as the tail nuzzled him with him scratching it under it's chin. "Yeah, it really looks good on you." Getting to his feet though, he held out a hand to Regina. "Come on, I want to show you in the mirror."

Taking his hand, Regina got to her feet and followed him out of the room before coming to a full length mirror by the door. At seeing herself though, Regina's eyes widened some and she blushed while playing with some of her hair. The barrette kept some of her hair out of her eyes in the reflection. 'It... it really is pretty...' A soft smile on her face, she turned and gave Harry a hug. "Thank you, Harry." Pausing for a moment, Regina steeled her expression and then kissed him on the head. "I-it really is very pretty."

Snickers made her turn to see Revina grinning up at her. Just as the other Re-Class was about to say something, Hoppou began to spray her with her bottle. "No, that is too silly."

Before Revina could jerk much away, Wanko's hand came down on the Re-Class' head. "Yes, don't... do that. Or... else I will... not let you... go to Hogwarts... with Supprin and... Ooyodo later."

Pouting, Revina crossed her arms and grumbled a bit. Looking between her and Regina, who was twiddling her fingers shyly, Harry tilted his head and said the one thing he could. "Poi?"
__________________________________________________________________

A smile on her face, Rose looked over from her comfortable place in Haruna's lap to Goto. Said Admiral, of course, had Kongou in his lap as the two gathered up their presents and opened them. Head tilted to the side, Rose giggled some. "My word, did you stay over last night?"

There was a bemused look on Haruna's face as the Battleship answered before either Kongou or Goto got the chance. "No, he did not, Rose-Chan. Instead, Onee-Sama stayed over at his place last night."

Sputtering some, Kongou gave Haruna a disbelieving look. "Haruna-Chan!"

However, she froze some at the throat being cleared and turned to see the image of Kirishima on the one of the two laptops open in front of her. On it, Kirishima adjusted her glasses with a small frown as the light reflected off it. "Teitoku, am I to understand that Kongou-Onee-Sama spent the night at your home?" Much to Kongou's horror, Kirishima then took off her glasses and gave Goto a look. "I trust that nothing untoward to Onee-Sama happened?"

Even as a squawk came from Kongou, Goto had a straight expression on his face as he remembered what had happened. And how Kongou had given him an, in her words, "Early Christmas Present." Internally, the image of red underwear trimmed in fur caused him to grin. "I promise you, Kirishima-San, I did nothing untoward in regards to Kongou-Chan."

On the other screen, Hiei gained a smirk and rubbed her chin. "You did nothing untoward, hmm? But did Onee-Sama do anything untoward to you I wonder... Fufufufu."

If Kongou was red before, now she was luminescent. "HIEI-CHAN!" Turning towards Goto, the flustered Battleship twitched a bit. "Aren't you going to say anything!?"

Upon Goto's face there was an expression of deep thought. Finally though, he shrugged. "Nope!"

At the continued sounds from Kongou, Rose smiled and shook her head. 'What a wonderful family this is. I quite like them.' Moments later though, she blinked as Haruna handed her a gift. "Is this for me, Haruna?"

Slowly nodding, Haruna gave her waist a small squeeze. "Hai, it is, Rose-Chan. Haruna made it specifically for you."

A soft smile on her face, Rose nodded some as she began to open the gift. "Thank you, Haruna. I am sure that it is wonder... ful..."

Confused as to why Rose had trailed off, Kongou leaned to the side to better see. "Doilys, Dess! Lace ones as well!" Then the Battleship frowned as she tapped her chin. 'But why would that cause her to freeze? Doilys are part of any tea set after all.'

Meanwhile, Rose swallowed even as she now blushed deeply. Glancing up, she noted Haruna looking at her with a smile. "Does Rose-Chan like Haruna's Doilys?"

Even though she was pleased, Rose only nodded some. "Oh, yes, I like them, Haruna. Very much so, I am just... surprised is all." Internally though, she was more then a little flustered. 'I wonder if Haruna understands what this is to me...'

Her eyes twinking, Haruna smile grew some. "Haruna is happy then that Rose-Chan likes them." Leaning down, she smirked a bit. "Haruna cannot wait to see them used with Rose-Chan's tea set."

Those words caused Rose to widen her eyes before her blush deepened a touch. 'Well... that answers my question I do suppose...' Clearing her throat and ignoring the small grin on Haruna's face, the tsukumogami reached over and grabbed a package beside her before handing it to Goto. "Here, this is for you, Goto."

Gratefully taking it, Goto made short work of the paper even with the Battleship on his lap. Unfolding the navy blue item, he gave a grin as he chuckled. "A greatcoat, thank you Rose-San."

As her blush was finally dying down, Rose nodded. "You are very much welcome, Goto. Hopefully it keeps you warm when it gets chilly and damp around here."

Humming, Kongou leaned over and whispered into her boyfriend's ears with a smirk. "I cannot help but look forward to seeing you standing in it. Especially with how close I am to summoning my hull. Perhaps, you'll stand upon my bridge and-eep!"

Just pulling his fingers away from where he had pinched her on the thigh, Goto smirked right back at her. "And I think that we shall leave that there, hmm?"

Softly snickering at the pout on Kongou's face, Hiei soon turned her attention onto Rose. "Hey! Rose-Chan! Open the present from the rest of us!"

Blinking, Rose glanced around until she found it being held in front of her by Kongou. "We all went in on it, Dess. Hopefully you'll like the meaning."

More then a little confused, Rose took it with a small frown. 'It feels like... clothes?' Opening it, her eyes then widened some as she lifted it out before a grin split her face. "An outfit just like yours! And a headband as well, but..." Rose gasped some as she turned and regarded Kongou, Kirishima, and Hiei through suddenly tear filled eyes. "D-does this mean what I think?"

With a small smile, Kirishima adjusted her glasses . "It does, as a matter of fact."

Extremely happy about the gift, and the meaning behind it, Rose gave a sniffle. "O-oh my... I did not expect this. Thank you all for the kind gift, I shall treasure it. M-my, I... I think that I am being a bit emotional right now." Taking out a napkin from her pocket, Rose dabbed at her eyes as she gave a brilliant smile. "But now I do not know if my gift to each of you will be as good."

Confused, Kongou shared a look with her other sisters before they looked around in their separate places. Eventually, they found the gifts from Rose and as one opened them only to frown at what looked like a quilt inside. Once more glancing at the tsukumogami, they unfolded the quilts, their eyes widening.

And then they gasped and began to get tears in their eyes as they saw the quilts fully.

Shakingly, Kongou held her hand against her mouth as she examined it more closely. It was not a thick quilt, but it was the picture on it that caused the reaction from all of them. The quilt had the picture of all four Kongou sisters as ships sailing in formation on the sea. Slowly, Kongou lowered her hand before she spoke with a voice thick with emotion. "Rose-Chan... this is... Thank you. Thank you so much for this."

Blushing, Rose twiddled her fingers some before nodding as the other two Kongous gave their opinions which was much the same as their eldest sister. "You are very welcome. I made one for Haruna as well, but... I had a different present as well for her."

With that, she reached over and handed Haruna a small box which the Battleship opened with trembling hands. Seeing a pink, metal heart shaped locket with a silver anchor, Haruna turned to Rose who smiled shyly and gestured for her to open it. When she did so, Haruna's boilers sputtered. It was obvious that it was one of those lockets that had multiple pictures inside. But there, at the very front, was a portrait of all four Kongou sisters taken just the previous year. Haruna was at the front of the picture with the others surrounding her. "R-Rose-Chan... this is..."

A smile on her face, Rose nodded some. "I remember that you and your sisters took those pictures last year. And how each of you had a different one with each on in the center. This way, you can wear them close to your heart." Cheeks flushing, Rose looked down. "And, the locket is made from a special kind of gold known as, well... Rose gold."

Leaning to get a better view, Kongou gasped happily as she knew what this meant to her sister. "O-oh, Haruna-Chan. That is so beautiful."

However, Haruna could only stare at the locket before turning to Rose and cupping her cheek. Before the tea set could do much more then blink, she drew their faces together in a rather heated kiss. Pulling away, Haruna could only smile at the starry eyed look in her girlfriend's eyes before shifting her off her lap. "Haruna needs Rose-Chan to wait here for a moment. Haruna had a gift that she was going to wait to give once Haruna was alone with Rose-Chan. Her real gift, but Haruna cannot wait."

Once Rose was able to think after the kiss she was given, she noticed that Kongou was now giving her a look. "I... What does she mean by real gift?"

Smirking a bit, the British born returnee shook her head. "Haruna-Chan it seems played like Rose-Chan did and got two gifts. And I think that I have an idea as to what is the second, Dess."

Before Rose could say anything, Haruna returned and held out a wrapped object. "Here, Rose-Chan, Haruna made this. It's also for Rose-Chan's tea set as Haruna noticed she didn't have one."

Intrigued, Rose unwrapped it and blinked at the steel chest that was there. Opening it, she blinked again as she realized that the way it was designed was to hold a tea set inside. Hand running along the steel, Rose frowned. 'But why does it feel like...' Her eyes then widened and her face shot up to look at a blushing Haruna. "Haruna... is this...? Is this made from what I think...?"

Haruna slowly nodded. "When Haruna was salvaged after Haruna sank, pieces of... of Haruna were left behind in the seabed. Haruna got help from Haru-San and Ryuujou-San to use divination to find those pieces and then..." With a deep breath, the Battleship continued. "Haruna used those pieces to make a chest to hold Rose-Chan's tea set in when not in use. That way, it is safe as a piece of Haruna is protecting her." Slowly lifting her head, Haruna stared into Rose's shocked face with a glistening in her eyes. "Always."

Moments later, she found her arms full of crying tsukumogami as Rose kissed every part of her face. "O-oh, Haruna! Haruna, I love you, I love you so very much." Planting one kiss on Haruna's lips, Rose muttered around it. "And I always know that you'll protect me."

As the two fell back to the floor, a happy Kongou only sighed. 'I am so happy!' Leaning against Goto, she felt her face hurt from the smile on her face. 'Myself and my sisters have all found, or are finding love. Thanks to the Kami who have allowed us to come back...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking into the mess hall, Harry glanced at the Christmas trees in one corner and frowned. 'Huh... the monkeys are playing Jingle Bells, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer and...' He blinked for a moment. 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer? That's a new one.' Quickly shaking it off, Harry turned and waved as he spotted the Akatsuki Sisters walking around in elf costumes. Like the year before, they had various pitchers on their heads. "Inazuma-Chan! Akatsuki-Chan! Ikazuchi-Chan! Hibiki-Chan!"

All four turned and their expressions lightened up as they walked over with Verniy in the lead. "Harry-Chan." Reaching him, she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas."

With a blink, Ikazuchi leaned over to Inazuma and sighed as she whispered. "She's still a kissing fiend, I see."

However, and without her expression changing, Inazuma elbowed her sister in the side. "Stop that." Turning towards Harry, she watched as Akatsuki placed a pitcher of mulled punch onto Harry's head. "Merry Christmas, Harry-Chan. Here, we got your presents!"

Eyes lighting up, Harry took the offered gifts and opened them one by one while thanking them. He did blink though at Verniy's which were leather gloves with half the fingers cut off. More then that, they felt slightly heavier then normal. "Um, Hibiki-Chan?"

Glancing around, Verniy leaned in and coughed. "That is to protect you, Harry-Chan." At his confused look, she shook her head. "It's a weighted knuckle glove, Harry-Chan. There's powdered steel in the knuckles and back of the fingers. So that it'll hurt you less if you need to punch something."

His eyes widening, Harry turned them over, but it was Inazuma who spoke up. "Uh, I hate to ask... But is that even legal for him? I mean, it's cool and all that, but still..."

Lips curling upwards, Verniy nodded. "Da, they are legal, I checked."

A smile on his face, Harry gently hugged her so as to not disturb the pitchers on their heads. "Thank you, Hibiki-Chan." Reaching into the expanded bag at his side, he pulled out his own gifts and handed them to DesDiv6 except for Verniy. "Here you girls go."

Opening hers, Akatsuki gave a gasp of joy. "Wow! Look at these leather gloves! They're so soft and lady-like!"

Beside her, Inazuma and Ikazuchi grinned as they felt their new silk scarves. "Hwawawawa! This is so cool, Harry-Chan! Silk scarves, Nanodesu!"

With a nod, Harry smiled back at her. "Yup! I found a spell that could gather up silk from spider webs and use it. There was all kinds of webs during the fall that I was using." Then to their surprise he became nervous and slowly pulled out a long gift. "Um, Hibiki-Chan? I just want you to know that I found this in the storage at my family's property before I found out about your Kai Ni and, um, I thought that you would like it."

Slowly, Verniy took it with a nod and a curious look in her eyes. Tearing off the paper, she furrowed her eyebrows at the polished wood box. Part of her recognized it as being similar to the one that her mother kept Waterline in when on base and not carrying it around. Opening it though, Verniy's eyes widened in surprise. "Harry-Chan... is this..."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Harry chuckled as he nodded slightly. "Um, yes? It's a Shashka, Hibiki-Chan."

Gently, Hibiki removed the scabbarded blade from the box before handing the now empty container to Ikazuchi. Unnnoticed by her, several people had noticed and were now watching as she slid the blade out a touch to examine. For some odd reason, she could feel a deep thrum in the blade. One that stated that it wanted to be used and to protect it's owner.'

Unknown to her, thousands of miles away in the Russian wild, an old looking woman narrowed her eyes and looked east in the pre-dawn light. Briefly, she touched her cheek and ran one crooked, clawed finger down a scar that ran down it before smiling. "How very strange that now that blade has reappeared, hmm? And after all these centuries. Interesting... And here I thought that it was lost after that man's great nephew stole it and went west. Heh... Such a shame that it never became a legend after he used it to rescue his sister from me. But perhaps this time it shall."

Shaking her head, the woman gave a cackle and walked back into her house. Minutes later, said house rose up on chicken legs and headed northeast. After all, there was a group of troublesome wizards that just did not get the hint to leave her alone to her own business. A bothersome issue that she needed dealt with.

Back in Japan, Verniy blinked and felt a shiver run down her back before shrugging it off. Reaching up, she plucked the pitcher on her head off and handed it to Inazuma who backed up as her sister fully freed the sword from the sheath it had been in. With plenty of room around her, Verniy took a deep breath before letting it out and going into motion. As she moved, the blade in her hands sliced through the air and sang as the light flashed from it. Various people had their eyebrows raising as the white haired Destroyer became a blur until she finally slowed and then stopped. "Very nice..." Walking over to the table, she took a napkin and dropped it on the sword's blade.

And then nodded as the napkin was sliced in half.

Sheathing it, she adjusted her belt and slid the sword in before turning back to Harry with a bright smile on her face. "Harry-Chan... thank you. It's perfect."

Now relaxing some, Harry smiled back at her. "Well, that's good to hear. Anyways, um, it's goblin steel so it won't break and from what I read, it absorbs that which can make it stronger. So I guess that it'll only get stronger from here on. Oh! And it's name is 'Zhar-ptitsa', so it's like it was made for you, Hibiki-Chan."

Unable to help herself, Verniy blushed some as she glanced down at the blade while Tenryuu walked over. Coming to a stop close by Harry, Tenryuu smiled down at him with a chuckle. "Well, I suppose that you got it for her since I got my sword, Tatsuta has her glaive, while Ami and Aki have their anchors." Frowning a moment later, she hummed a bit. "So what does the name mean?"

Grinning, Harry looked up at her best that he could without toppling the pitcher of punch on his head. "It means 'Firebird'. Like I said, it's perfect for Hibiki-Chan!"

Arms waving in the air, Inazuma had a bright smile on her face. "Hwawawawa! Oh my Kami, Hibiki-Chan! Harry-Chan's right, that is perfect for you!

Silent, Verniy took a deep breath before she walked over with a smile on her face. Then she pulled Harry into a hug and kissed him on the cheek though Tenryuu raised an eyebrow at how close it was to his mouth. "Da, it is." Tightening the hug, Verniy smiled as she placed her cheek against his. "Thank you, Harry-Chan."

Even though for some odd reason her hug was making him feel a bit odd, Harry mentally shrugged it off and hugged her back. After all it was similar to other odd feelings he had gotten around his female friends recently. "I'm glad that you liked it, Hibiki-Chan. Really, really happy."

That only made Verniy smile happily at him.
______________________________________________________________________________

Walking in, Natsumi blinked as she scanned the room. Part of her did note though that as soon as they spotted Hoppou, her younger sisters ran off. However, just the same, it did not take long for Natsumi to spot her target and walk over. "Harry-Chan! Harry-Chan, over here!" A smile on his face, Harry turned and waved at her before moving through the crowd. Part of the kitsune was amused that her friend had a partially empty pitcher of punch on his head. It did not help matters that he was easily able to maneuver his way through the crowd without disturbing said pitcher. 'I wonder how Harry-Chan and the Akatsuki sisters do that...'

Upon reaching her, Harry gave her a hug which she returned. "Merry Christmas, Natsumi-Chan. Hopefully your day is going great."

As she smiled back, Natsumi only nodded. "Hai, my day is actually going well." With another glance around her expression became nervous. "Anyways, we should probably get out of the way. You know, so that no one will bump into us."

Only nodding after a moment of thought, Harry shrugged a bit. "Sure, how about right over there?"

Glancing in the direction given, Natsumi relaxed some as it was sort of out of the way. "Sure, that looks good. Come on."

Just being dragged along, Harry chuckled some before he noticed something. "Wait, where's Haru-San and your parents?"

There was a sheepish look on Natsumi's face as she weakly chuckled. "Oba-Chan is still recovering from the other day. And, um... they were hanging back to talk about something." Some redness rose in her cheeks as she remembered a bit she had managed to catch. 'About the two of us...' Shaking that off, Natsumi shrugged a bit. "Guess that we'll just have to exchange our gifts without them being here."

Frowning some, Harry gave her a knowing look. "Yes... I suppose that we should." Only shaking his head, he pointed at the pitcher on his head and hummed. "Want some mulled punch? It's still pretty fresh."

With a blink, Natsumi looked up at said punch and then licked her lips some. "Sure, I'll have some punch." She watched as he poured some into a cup as she looked around with a small frown. "Wait a second... where are the Submarines?"

His pouring finished, Harry placed the pitcher back onto his head and handed the cup to Natsumi. "They're out doing a surprise training patrol with the Ha-101s that got summoned recently. But I'll be meeting them later to give them their presents and vice versa." Scratching his cheek, he frowned a bit. "Hopefully they like them."

Sipping her drink, Natsumi shook her head before giving a snort. "Harry-Chan, I am sure that they'll love your presents. I know that I always do." The two simply chatted with each other as Natsumi sipped her drink. Finally, she was finished with it and tossed it into a nearby garbage bin. "Ten points!"

Unable to help himself, Harry snickered at his friend before shaking his head slightly. "And still reigning champion, Ono Natsumi-Chan!"

A large grin on her face, Natsumi winked at him before snickering back. "And don't you forget it." Calming down, she glanced around before leaning in. "Anyways, we should be exchanging gifts now."

Before Harry could say anything though, Haru's voice spoke up from beside them. "Oh my, Natsumi-Chan. Wanting to exchange gifts without your family here." Horrified, Natsumi turned to see her aunt tutting before the older kitsune turned to her sister. "The young are so impatient, aren't they Nee-Chan?"

If Natsumi could in her human disguise, she would have flatted her ears at the amused look in her mother's eyes. But on her face was a mock look of disappointment as she shook her head. "A sad fact, it would seem... Unless there was another reason that our dear Natsumi-Chan was in such a rush..."

All Natsumi could do was wince as one thought went through her head. 'Busted.'

Highly amused, Haru turned to Harry and gave him a small bow. "Good morning, Harry-Chan. And Merry Christmas."

Bowing back slightly, Harry grinned up at her. "Merry Christmas, Haru-San, Sakuya-San." He then looked around. "Um, where is Kensuke-San and Taichi-San?"

There was a small smile on Sakuya's face as she shook her head. "My husband and son are currently trying to round up my youngest two, I believe. But in the meantime, I think that you have gifts to exchange."

While Harry dug into his bag, Natsumi gave her mother a pleading look. But all she got back was a smirk from both her mother and aunt. Thankfully for Natsumi though, Harry pulled out a box and handed it to Haru who took it gratefully. Opening it, she smiled a bit at what was inside. "A wizarding heater! It has been a while since I saw such a thing."

Looking into the box, Natsumi frowned and blinked at what looked like a sealed vase in it. Near the neck there was what looked like holes that were currently shuttered. "What is that, Oba-Chan?"

In reply, Haru raised an finger and nodded. "It's a space heater of sorts common in magical households, Natsumi-Chan. You open the vents and it expells warm, heated air into the room. Not quite central heating, but one of these should warm quite a bit of our home." Placing it back into the box, Haru gave Harry a one armed hug. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Sakuya opened her own gift and raised an eyebrow as she looked at it. "Reynard the Fox? A rather... interesting gift."

Shrugging, Harry chuckled some as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, Natsumi-Chan stated that you were a writer. She also said that you liked kitsune stories, so... it's a book I found based on even older stories."

A smirk crossed Sakuya's face at that as she shared a look with Haru. "I see. Thank you then, Harry-San. I am sure that I'll find it interesting."

Harry kept smiling as he reached into his bag and then pulled out another box which he handed to Natsumi. "Here you go, Natsumi-Chan. This is your gift."

Even though she was blushing some, Natsumi took the present gratefully and quickly opened it. However, she found herself confused and, if she was honest with herself, somewhat disappointed with what she found inside. "Ribbons?"

Not having really taken much note of her disappointment, Harry nodded. "Yeah, hair ribbons. You know how Mikos have ribbons in their hair?"

Glancing at him, Natsumi nodded and so missed the slightly widened eyes her aunt had. "Yeah? I mean, I am a Miko, Harry-Chan."

Before Harry could say anything though, Haru just snorted. "Miko in training."

Ignoring how Natsumi was giving Haru a look now, Harry smiled a bit. "Right, anyways I made those ribbons myself." Natsumi was about to say something when Harry contnued and any reply she had simply died. "Took a bit to get all the unicorn tail hairs for them though."

Utter silence met him as Sakuya looked from him to the ribbons and back. She could note now that while some seemed white, others were golden and a few silver. "Unicorn tail hairs? Woven together into ribbons?"

Only nodding, Harry smiled up at her. "Hai! I gathered them myself for the most part." He then scratched his head. "According to Hagrid, there's always far too much for Ollivander to use in his wands. And he only uses the ones from the oldest members of the herd too, so the others were available. I got a bunch from various ones including the younger members, which is why some are gold."

Right then was when Harry noticed how quiet all three females had gotten and blinked as Natsumi stared down at the hair ribbons. Then she spoke in a very quiet voice. "... Oh." When he didn't get any more of a reaction for almost a minute, Harry was about to say something when Natsumi handed the box to her aunt. "Oba-Chan, hold onto this for me for a moment."

Gently nodding, Haru did so as she looked down at the ribbons. "I will."

Looking between them, Harry realized that Sakuya had grabbed the pitcher of juice and was now holding it right before Natsumi grabbed him in a hug that drove the breath from his lungs. Then she closed her eyes and sniffled a bit. "Thank you, Harry-Chan." With a smile on her face, she turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek which made them both blush. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, a silent conversation was going on between Haru and Sakuya as the two shook their heads at the children in front of them.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

All of a sudden, I'm imagining the Japanese magical government discovering Natsumi's family and trying to force them onto a preserve, only to get the stinkeye from their friends. The Nagato family, and the gang at Yokosuka, and the allied Abyssals.

In other news, I thought this snippet would be longer.
Post Fight

-----

They were sitting by the training area, watching Wakaba arc between obstacles and bullseye targets when the girls that they'd left behind caught up to them. Mamiya pulled herself to her feet and turned to face them. Then she stopped. Tohda and Hoshikawa were walking on either side of Nagawa with staccato gaits that Mamiya feared indicated anger. By the way that Hoshikawa was specifically Not Looking at Tohda, it seemed likely that they had had a disagreement. Nagawa's head was lowered slightly, and from where Mamiya was standing it seemed that her eyes were rimmed red—she must have been crying she reasoned, especially with the way she had broken down upon seeing her sister. Mutsu followed a few feet behind, looking worriedly over the three of them.

So Hoshikawa and Tohda had argued, Mamiya reasoned, and Mutsu had been unable to prevent them… and they had stopped when Nagawa began to cry? That seemed a likely explanation. But what could the two of them have argued about? Despite being Clubmates, the two didn't associate very often. Perhaps they had disagreed on Nagawa's treatment? Tohda was the second of eight children, soon to be nine, so she probably had ideas about how to better help Nagawa in her time of need. Hoshikawa, being more familiar with Nagawa, must have rejected her suggestions. But then why would Tohda become so heated? The occasional sarcastic comment aside, Tohda was not one to lose her temper. Hoshikawa must have been rude in her rejection.

But then, why did neither listen to Mutsu? She was a figure that the both of them respected, was she not? Perhaps they had left the area to have their discussion somewhere else? But what caused Nagawa to cry? Mamiya clenched her teeth in frustration. She didn't have the full picture, and without it she lacked the ability to make sense of the situation as a whole.

"What's up?" Hoshikawa asked, catching Mamiya's attention. She hid it well, but Mamiya caught the hints of venom in her voice. There had definitely been an argument, a bad one. Beyond that, however, she simply could not make sense of things. In any case, she saw no reason not to answer her question.

"After we arrived here, our tour guides saw fit to rest and wait for you to catch up," she said, nodding towards the Destroyer Division 6 girls. The only one who noticed was Inazuma, who smiled and waved in return. She then turned her attention back to the same object as the other three girls—Wakaba, who sent up a gout of water with her latest turn. Mutsu frowned and stepped towards the water.

"Wakaba!" she called out, waving. The destroyer girl slowed to a stop and nearly pirouetted on the water to face her. Around them, the other members of the Tracking Club looked up at the new arrivals. "Lean into the turns a little less, and spread your outside leg more. Don't try to push off of the water like that!" Wakaba spun back towards the next post in the water, and jetted forward once more. Leaning to her right slightly, she spread her left leg out, brought her right leg in, and arced gently around the post. Pulling to a stop, she looked back pensively, as if not entirely satisfied with the turn. Nonetheless, she turned back to Mutsu and gave a thumbs-up. She then resumed skating around. Mutsu sighed, and turned to the Destroyer Division 6 girls.

"There you go," she said, smiling slightly. Mamiya recalled a similar expression on her aunt after she had been dragged onto her first rollercoaster. "Ushio and her two friends, as ordered." Akatsuki, the black-haired one, stamped forward to face the battleship directly.

"Just as ordered?" she squeaked. "Just look at them! They look—ow! Hey!" Hibiki lowered the hand that she had just slapped Akatsuki on the back of the head with. Silently, she shook her head at her sister, who subsided however sulkily. A movement in the corner of Mamiya's eye caught her attention, and she turned towards Tohda. Nothing, it seemed. Had she made some sort of grateful gesture to the destroyer?

Wait. Would Ashida show similar impropriety? Mamiya looked over her shoulder at the suntanned girl, but fortunately, she was just looking between Tohda and Hoshikawa nervously.
-----

Mutsu wasn't sure, but walking the three girls back to the rest of their Tour Group had been one of the most nerve-wracking experiences in the past week—and she had been physically present when Tanya had made her demand. Part of it was the certainty that the two girls had fought. Although Tohda Saki at least tried to keep herself composed, the girl named Hoshikawa made no attempt to hide the emotions that seemed to be coursing through her. She wanted to grab the both of them, shake them, demand to know what they were thinking even after seeing their friend's condition, but whatever she felt, it didn't seem like it would do any good.

So they had walked through the barracks like that, with the object of their rivalry separating them. Mutsu had discretely radioed Kongou to see if she could help, but her friend turned out to be trying to console some of the Ayanami girls. With no help forthcoming, the four of them had continued to the training area thus.

And after a closely prevented outburst from Akatsuki, the whole thing had nearly been ripped open again. That, Mutsu decided, was not something that could be allowed to happen.

"Say girls," she said brightly, looking at the four of them. "Could I have a moment of your time?" They looked amongst themselves, then Inazuma stepped forward. "No, all of you. This is important."

The Desdiv 6 girls shared looks again, then Ikazuchi turned back to the club president. "Hey, make sure nobody leaves without us. Ya hear?" The girl nodded.

"Say what needs to said," she replied. "We will wait." Ikazuchi nodded curtly, and the four destroyers turned to follow Mutsu.

Mutsu lead them away toward the barracks, Ikazuchi casting concerned glances back over her shoulder towards where they left their charges. Finally, as they entered the building, she shut the door behind them.

"Okay, what's going on here?" Ikazuchi demanded. "Why were those two fighting?"

"I don't know," Mutsu replied. "Miss Tohda asked Miss Hoshikawa to follow her away. A little while later, Miss Tohda came back, and they've been like that since. Now listen—" she continued, cutting the destroyers off. "I know that this project is one that you've been preparing for over a week, but you need to be careful around those two."

"We can tell that, Mutsu," Inazuma said.

"Yes, Akatsuki just proved that," Mutsu said flatly. Akatsuki had the good grace to look ashamed. "Allow me to reiterate. Those two girls? They are going to be a minefield. So give them space."
-----

Whatever it was that Mutsu had told Desdiv 6, the result didn't change how uncomfortable the rest of the tour ended up being. Saki and Umi's mutual anger was so palpable that their proximity to Ushio had left her squirming uncomfortably the entire walk through.

And they were sitting at her sides now, in the mess hall where the tour had ended so that the girls could eat lunch. The fact that Akagi was eating there was admittedly a bonus—the Tracking Club got to watch in awe as the carrier demolished a plate wider than the table and taller than any two of them put together. If only in had mitigated the anger she was feeling from her friends.

Though, looking back, before Umi had returned… Saki hadn't looked or sounded angry. In Ushio's eyes, she had seemed sadder than anything.

Wonderful. Now she felt even more confused.

And helpless. The feeling in her stomach was definitely one of helplessness. Saki and Umi were her friends! There had to be something—anything—that she could do for them. But all that she could really tell about their argument was that their disagreement had been (she bit back a feeling of self-loathing) about her.

Oh, look. Yae and Ikazuchi were mock-fighting on top of one of the tables. Ushio couldn't feel any amusement from it.
-----

The food here, she thought, was awful.

She had heard the humans and the Shipgirls talk, arguing about what to feed her and if it would make her ill. Fools—Abyssals were made of stronger stuff than that. Anything a Shipgirl could eat an Abyssal could.

The one cruiser had discussed it with Norihara.

When? When would she meet her again? When would she receive her answer? Where was Norihara? Was she thinking of her? Looking out at the sky, wondering about the sudden change in her morning, like nothing that would ever happen again? Or was she simply treating the humans, having already forgotten? That possibility brought an odd feeling of sorrow. She shook off the feeling, and scanned the room, taking in the guards—still the same battleships—Yamashiro and Haruna. Tables had been moved around. The ceiling was the same, silver color.

By the depths, she was bored. Maybe she should just take a nap?
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?