Butterflies and Dragons
Or,
The Long Road to Rio
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
Chapter 1:
I Am Yours
In the few days following the success of Operation MI, the Naval District on Etajima, located south of Hiroshima City in the heart of the Chugoku region, was relatively quiet, save for the numerous drills and class sessions amongst its talented shipgirls, known around the world as the KanMusu, or Fleet Girls. It was a rough, almost costly undertaking by the fleet to defeat Midway Hime, but once it was done, the morale back at home base improved significantly.
But no one at the time realized that a select few of the KanMusu would be called on to take part in a unique mission that would require them to take on the role of civilians. In fact, before the announcement would be made on April 1, 2015 at 0700 JST, only the Admiral, Kensuke Tanaka, who earned plaudits from the JMSDF for his success, was aware of the impending news. His secretary ships Nagato and Mutsu would not be debriefed on this either until 0700.
Two hours prior to the debriefing, Akagi was sleeping like a baby after downing another mountain full of curry washed down with a rich chocolate milkshake as tall as a computer from the newly-renamed "Mamiya's Bar." The reason it was renamed was that it would attract tourists who have come to sample the house recipe curry developed by Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Akatsuki and Hibiki, as well as the world-famous parfait that now came in three different sizes and was even used for a competitive eating challenge whose first edition would be held on Tanabata 2015. As Akagi was sleeping, her partner Kaga had her face snuggled between her voluptuous breasts, purring like a cat, sighing like an angel.
They both were, and their instituted pajamas were a bit disheveled as they were in a long embrace for the longest time, their collective sweat dripping on the tatami, their underwear saturated with their love. It was so amazing for them that they couldn't almost breathe at times.
"Akagi," Kaga sighed, "why are you such...perfection...haaaahhh..."
"Because, Kaga," she whispered, "you make me feel perfect. I'll never let you go..."
"I love you..."
"And I love you too..." As the two of them began to kiss, a knock on the door. Akagi got up as Kaga continued to sleep, fixing herself. She opened the door. "Fubuki?"
"Good morning, Akagi-sempai!" she said. She was in her trademark yelllow sweater and blue shorts. Thanks to her second remodel, her hair was black and her eyes were green.
"Fubuki, good morning. We were making ourselves comfortable, do you need something?"
"The commander just told me before I went on my run that you, Kaga, Souryuu and Hiryuu need to report to him at 0700 today for a special announcement. He gave me further details but told me to withhold them until I join in the session with Nagato and Mutsu."
"Is it serious?"
"Confidential for now, Akagi-sempai, but make sure to get prepared before you report to the Commander, okay?"
"All right."
"Thanks, Akagi-sempai, gotta run now, see you later!" And off she went.
She waved her off. "Have a good run."
"She would make a good distance runner, huh, Akagi?" asked Kaga, heading over to her partner, watching Fubuki run out the door.
"The Kenyans would be challenged, maybe the Ethiopians, too," she replied.
"Shall we head down to Mamiya's to get breakfast?"
"Let's get changing and wash up, yes." Fubuki would be running 10 laps around the campus before heading to the docking for a quick cooldown bath and then reporting to the Admiral's headquarters.
Admiral Tanaka looked at his watch, Nagato and Mutsu at his side. "Hmmm, at this rate they might be arriving a little bit late," Admiral said, doing the Gendou pose.
"I'm sure they will be here soon, Admiral," Nagato said, composed as well.
Mutsu heard footsteps. "Ah, that might be them," she said. A few knocks. "Come on in," she said in her sultry voice.
Akagi, Kaga, Souryuu and Hiryuu all walked in a straight line before approaching the admiral and giving a salute.
"Carrier Division One, Akagi!"
"Carrier Division One, Kaga!"
"Carrier Division Two, Souryuu!"
"Carrier Division Two, Hiryuu!"
"REPORTING FOR DUTY!" they all chorused.
"Very nice, but where is my baby?" asked the Admiral.
The four carrier girls gave way, revealing Fubuki in her second remodeled outfit, stepping forward. "Special Destroyer Fubuki here! Thank you very much, Commander!"
"Have a seat, all of you," the Admiral said as Nagato and Mutsu provided chairs for the five girls. "All right, let's get into it. First off, I want to personally congratulate you all for a job well done in destroying Abyssal Base MI last week. Fubuki, as my flagship, you did an extraordinary job and you earned your second upgrade. Treasure it."
"Thank you, Admiral!" said the four carriers.
"Thank you, Commander!" Fubuki added.
"Now then, the reason I am here talking with you is that you will be doing a special mission that has never been done before by any members of our current fleet. Nagato will explain," said the Admiral.
"Akagi, Kaga, Souryuu, Hiryuu," Nagato said, "A delegation representing the Japanese Olympic Committee was at the Naval District last week scouting the four of you for your archery abilities. The Admiral had been in contact with the delegation members about having the four of you represent Japan for an important sporting event in Denmark this summer."
"A sporting event in Denmark?" Kaga asked.
"Ladies," said Mutsu, "you have been called to represent Japan at the 2015 World Archery Championships after the original female delegation chose to withdraw. This was prearranged with the Admiral, the JMSDF and the JOC."
"World Archery Championships!?" exclaimed the five of them.
Fubuki was a mixed bag of emotions. "Akagi-sempai, are we all...? Commander, are we..."
"I will explain further," said Admiral Tanaka. "Because of this, you have been temporarily decommissioned from service and will assume the identities of civilians until at least the World Archery Championships, which take place from July 26 through August 2. If you are selected to represent this country at the 2016 Summer Olympics, your duration of being decommissioned will be extended until that time."
"But all I've done so far is be a shipgirl, fighting Abyssals and being of use to the military," Akagi said.
"Remove the equipment, the turrets, everything that makes you a Fleet Girl, and you are essentially just a regular Japanese woman," the Admiral explained. "I want you to experience civilian life and understand that there's more to it than being a weapon. You are archers competing in the name of peace and unity, something that we embrace here at this Naval District."
"I think it will be an experience that you will never forget," added Mutsu.
"We are processing your identification cards that give you civilian names. Akagi, Kaga, Souryuu and Hiryuu, you family name will be based on the admiral of your World War II ship counterpart. But as for you, Fubuki, since you are my flagship...you will assume my family name."
"Fubuki Tanaka...oh Commander, you are so silly," Fubuki giggled.
The Admiral patted her on the head and chuckled. "You've matured a lot, and as a result, I am designating you as their personal companion. You will assume the duties of wingman, middleman, liaison, agent, and any other duties that makes your their personal representative."
"Eh, Commander? Is it going to be a lot of work?"
"Just listen to what they want you to do so that they are able to do their job these next several months. You already have Akagi as your mentor, so, as always, you need to listen to what she has to say and do it. Shouldn't be difficult, right?"
Fubuki looked at her wedding band, then turned to the Admiral. "Right, I'll do my best."
"Splendid. The four of you," he said, "I want you to crush the competition and ensure that we win the gold medal in women's archery. Now, if anything happens, I will send out other Fleet Girls to assist. Shoukaku and Zuikaku will now assume the roles of the primary carriers at this Naval District, with Ryuujou and Junyou backing them up."
"When are we going to leave the District? And where are we going to stay?" asked Hiryuu.
"Tomorrow, at 0800 JST, you will be given a sending off. You will then head to Hiroshima, where a bullet train will be sending you to Tokyo, where two people will be awaiting you. They have been selected to be your coaches and advisors. They are aware of your skills and abilities and they won't need to do too much to help you refine them. They've also won medals themselves but are currently university students doing this as part of their coursework."
"So they're not that much older than us?" Souryuu said.
"They're your peers and they are archers themselves," said the Admiral. "When you get to Tokyo Station, you will meet them. They are beautiful looking, too."
"Really?" Fubuki asked, a creepy smile on her face.
"Snap out of it, Fubuki," Akagi said, giving her a light karate chop.
"Ah! Sorry, Akagi-sempai!"
"You're going to enjoy this experience and people will get to know who you are. One final note, if things really get bad while you are competing, I will give you clearance to take to action. But it must be a sea-based incident. The JMSDF is collaborating with Denmark's Forsvaret, the Danish Defence, for a contingency plan that will allow a number of our KanMusu to arrive on the scene to provide assistance. We don't believe that the Abyssals will attack in European waters but we are not taking any chances."
"Looking good," Akagi said.
"That is all from us. We here at the Naval District will miss you."
"Good luck in Europe this summer, girls," Nagato said.
"Make sure you sweep the medals, too," Mutsu added, winking while putting a finger to her mouth.
"Dismissed!" said the Admiral. The five girls stood up, saluted, and then left the room in a single-file line. But before Fubuki could leave the room, the Admiral called him over. "Fubuki, come over here."
"Commander?" she asked, coming close to the Admiral.
"Let me see your ring."
"Okay..."
She held her hand with the ring out. The Admiral held it and kissed it, causing Fubuki to blush. "Fubuki, you mean everything to me. I want you to be safe and do your best protecting everyone that you are with. You are an extension of me, you are married to me, I don't want to lose you. Please, do not let me down. I don't know what's going to happen to me if I lose the one thing in my life that gives it meaning. Okay?"
Tears fell out of her happy eyes. "I love you, Commander. I'll do everything you say and I'll never leave you. I promise."
"And Fubuki..."
"Yes?"
"You're going to become a civilian, and since you're my wife, you can call me Ken."
"Ken...kun?"
A wide smile. "That works."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, Ken-kun! Thanks a lot!" A hug and a kiss, and Fubuki took off.
"See you later..." Admiral Tanaka reclined in his chair, covering his eyes with his peaked cap.
"You really do love her, don't you?" Nagato said, a smile on her face.
"When they are married, it shows," Mutsu replied, giggling.
The Admiral sighed. "Fubuki needs to know that life is more than just being a weapon. Nagato, Mutsu: you're people too, and in a perfect world, you're appreciating what civilians in Japan go through every day. Sometimes there are good things, and sometimes there are bad things. I hope that one day you will experience it for yourself and know that there is a world out there waiting to be enjoyed."
"I would imagine so," Nagato said, the three of them looking out the window to the bright sun rising over the ocean. "I would imagine so." Admiral Tanaka responded by putting on his shades and taking a swig of sake in approval.
END CHAPTER 1