Mutsuki stood by the cliff and looked out at the horizon. Standing by Mamiya, she stared through the light of the setting sun, waiting to catch a glimpse of the returning fleet. But although she knew that she wanted all her comrades to return to base safe and sound, she knew that there was one person in her heart who she wanted back more than anything else. Since she accepted that Kisagari had died, she had been the only person on her mind. 'Fubuki,' she whispered to herself. She looked down at the treacherous sea from the cliff high above. Presently, it appeared calm and at peace, but Mutsuki now knew forever that this was a facade, that storm or no storm the sea could at any opportune moment decide to open up and snatch whoever it wanted and drag them down to their depths, indiscriminate of their situation, of whether or not anyone held them close to heart of loved them. This had happened to Kisagari, and Mutsuki stood there now praying it did not happen to her love. 'You better come back to me~' she continued.
"Mutsuki."
Mutsuki looked up the older woman. "Are you feeling okay? You're not anxious, are you?"
Mutsuki shook her head. "No, I'm good really." Mustuki knew herself that she was lying a little bit. Of course, like anybody else in this situation she felt some sort of nervousness. But for the most part, Mutsuki was feeling optimistic. She just believe, or rather felt, that her darling Fubuki would return home safe. 'After all,' she assured herself, 'she's escorting Akagi-senpai, so she's going to remain diligent and tactical. And more importantly, Yuudachi is with her. She'll make sure she's safe!'
And she didn't have to wait long to see her faith rewarded. For just at that moment where she decided to believe that Fubuki would come back to her alive and well, they came in from out of the horizon. It was the returning fleet. There they were. Coming out of blue of the sea came the returning victorious fleet. The orange light of dusk reflected brightly and blindingly off of their armor and guns as they sailed into the harbor, as the feeling of pride radiated off of their faces. And in the front row sailed in her darling Fubuki.
"Mutsuki! Wait up! I'm not as fast as you!" Mamiya cried out after the enamored ship, but it was no use. Her senses were turned to one task - getting to the dock. She got there in record time as Mamiya crept up from behind. They stood at the gate and Mutsuki waited impatiently as it crept open. After an hour or so it finally did, and standing there was everybody, and Fubuki.
"Mutsuki-chan!" Fubuki called out to her alongside Yuudachi as they crawled out of the boathouse. But Mutsuki did not reply immediately. She couldn't hold it in her anymore, and she leapt on Fubuki in a hug as a smile overwhelmed her face.
"Fubuki-chan!" Mutsuki said as she wrapped her in her hug. It was all she could bring herself to say at this moment. She was damp from sweat and smelt of the brine of the sea, but Mutsuki would rather have this smell than any perform. But for Fubuki, after a day long with battle and a day of being tossed on the high sea, Mutsuki did smell as good as she looked, like a perfume onto herself. As she accepted the warmth of her friend's embrace, she realized that Mutsuki had been the most beautiful thing she's seen all day.
"Mutsuki-chan!" she whispered as she accepted the hug.
However, Yuudachi pouted as she was forced to watch her two closest friends hug without her. . "Mmmmm!" she grumbled irritatedly. "What about me, poi!?" she exclaimed as she leapt on her friends and enwrapped them in her own hug.
"Yuudach-chan!" they both said cheerily as the trio fell onto the ground below. Mutsuki continued to smile, "I'm so glad to have both of you back."
That evening, while everybody was celebrating at Mamiya's (she was buying rounds for all the ship girls in honor of the great victory), Fubuki returned to her room after meeting back up with the Admiral. Since Mobile Unit 5 had been disbanded, Fubuki had returned to her old living quarters, and nothing could have made her happier. After all, this is the room where she first met Mutsuki and then Yuudachi. Well, technically she first met Mutuski in the hallway outside the Admiral's office, and then met Yuudachi here, 'but who's keeping track?' Fubuki laughed to herself. It did her spirit wonders to know that she would be sleeping in the same lodgings as her two best friends in the world again. She went to the window and slid it open, a sea breeze slapping her across the face as she did so. As she looked out the window she could hear the sound of music playing and the sound of people making a raucous from Mamiya's cafe. "Boy, even from this distance, I can hear them," she said to herself, as she looked out over the twilight sea. While Fubuki did want to go an group up with her shipmates, there was something about watching the last line of sunlight ducking below the ocean over the horizon that just captivated her.
She sighed, "The sea is beautiful," she said, as she rested her weary head on her arm and gazed out at the natural beauty of the sea, the smell of the salty air and the seabreeze filling the room as she continued to gaze out of the open window. The sound of the breaking waves crashing against the sound was the only music she now heard.
She wasn't sure how long she was doing this for, but it must have been about a minute or two before she was disturbed by the sound of the door sliding open behind her. "I thought this is where I would find you," she heard the all too familiar voice.
"Mutsuki-chan," Fubuki said, "Hello." Now that Fubuki had some time to reflect on it, Mutsuki had the sweetest voice that she had ever heard now that she thought about it. It wasn't so strange now, in hindsight, to see how obvious it was that she would fall in love with her.
"What are you doing, Fubuki-chan?" she asked in her gentle tone. "You should be down with everybody celebrating the big victory~"
"Yeah, I know," she scratched the back of her head, "I don't know, I just felt like being alone for awhile, you know?"
Mutsuki nodded, "I understand. Do you want me to leave~?" she asked.
"Oh, no!" Fubuki shook her head immediately, "I didn't mean it like that, Mutsuki-chan! I'd love for you to stay."
Mutsuki nodded as she entered. Mutsuki did her best to hide her wide grin. She couldn't help it; Fubuki's immediate acceptance overwhelmed her with joy. She went over to the window and sat alongside her friend, and the two watched the sea do its spellbinding dance for awhile.
"It really is beautiful, isn't it?" Fubuki asked her friend. Mutsuki looked at Fubuki from the side of her eye. She watched as her ponytail fluttered a little bit in the breeze over her bare neck, and how the moonlight reflected off of her eyes and hair. She nodded, "Sure is," she said. She remembered her thought earlier today, about the treachery of the ocean, but she didn't share this thought with her friend. Presently, it seemed as if the sea couldn't do anyone any sort of harm. It brought Fubuki, and Yuudachi, back to her safe and sound, and now it was providing her with this beautiful moment, and an opportunity. The sea does take away, but it also provides, a fact that many people, including Mutsuki herself, sometimes takes for granted. So, for this moment, Mutsuki decided to forgive and make her peace with the sea.
Fubuki herself; however, in all her naive optimism, did not take this fact for granted. She experienced herself today in the field of battle the providing nature of the sea.
"I'm so glad I finally got to be in the same fleet as Akagi-senpai today!" Fubuki clapped her hands, "and I got to fight with everyone and we won. What a day! Every dream I ever had came true at once!"
Mutsuki smiled and said, "My dream came true, too."
"Oh? What do you mean, Mutsuki?" Fubuki asked.
Mutsuki shrugged, "That you came back to me alive…"
"Oh," Fubuki said as she glanced at her. Mutsuki felt a little nervous, "…and Yuudachi-chan, too! I'm so glad both of you came back alright."
"Well, of course we did!" Fubuki exclaimed proudly. "We're both professional military! Ha ha!" She mimed shooting a gun with her hand. "There's no need to worry."
"Yeah," Mutsuki laughed, "Entirely because of Yuudachi, I'm sure."
"Eh?" Fubuki exclaimed. "What are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything, Fubuki-chan, I'm directly stating that you are reckless and that Yuudachi-chan definitely kept you safe out there."
Fubuki pouted, "Buuu~ I can take care of myself, Mutsuki-chan!"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure. Excuse me if I don't believe you, Miss Bumbles-In!"
"Buuuu…" the young destroyer pouted again, "That was the last me! Fubuki 2.0 is all about strategy!" Fubuki said as she punched the air.
"Well, we'll see!" Mutsuki said. "I will admit that you're remodeling did play a big part in the battle. I'm sure you couldn't have done the job without it!"
Fubuki nodded. "Yes, I'm feeling much stronger now and faster." As she said this, Fubuki went over to the mirror in the room, hanging off of one of the closet doors. Mutsuki followed up close behind her.
"Ahh," she groaned, "I really do wish I could've looked more mature like Yuudachi-chan did, though. I'll never look womanly enough for Akagi-senpai!"
Mutsuki went up beside her. "I think you look fine the way you are, Fubuki-chan. I really am glad you didn't change much. You look cute."
"Really?" Fubuki asked her. Mutuski nodded nervously. They both shared a blush as they continued to check out the destroyer's reflection. "Thanks Mutsuki-chan!" she replied, "I think you're cute, too."
"Ahhh," Mutsuki sighed, "Do you really think so, Fubuki-chan?" Fubuki nodded, "Of course! The cutest ship in the whole world! The real idol of the fleet, heh heh," the destroyer chuckled, " and don't tell Naka I said that!"
Mutsuki laughed. "Yeah, she'd kill both you and me out of sheer jealousy!"
"I'd rather face a hundred abyssals!" Fubuki joked. They both laughed again. As Fubuki turned herself back towards her reflection, leaving Mutsuki to mull over her issue. Mutsuki really noticed for the first time the way Fubuki's ponytail exposed the back of her smooth neck. Now, with the moonlight shining in and the smell of salt in the air, the sound of a distant party in the background and the two of them alone together - she looked at her friend's neck a little lustily. She decided subconsciously that this was the proper venue to reveal herself.
"Still, couldn't my outfit at least have changed color noticeably? I mean, what kind of unlockable is this! It really makes me look really lame-" she pouted. But Fubuki wouldn't be pouting for long.
"Fubuki-chan~" Fubuki heard her friend softly whisper her name. She turned around, "Yes, Mutsuki-chan, what is … it?" Fubuki was slightly taken aback by the intimate way in which Mutsuki snuggled in towards her. She grasped her shoulder gently with one hand and with her free one she caressed her cheek and her chin.
"Fubuki-chan," she whispered again, her eyes looking away from her and towards the floor. "I know you really like Akagi-senpai-" her eyes looked back at her, "but I just have to do this-" And without another word, Mutsuki leaned in slowly and planted a delicate, but loving and intimate kiss on Fubuki's lips. Fubuki's eyes widened as she understood the context of the affair immediately. It was clearly more than a kiss from a friend. There was too much passion and intimacy from it for that. No, it was a kiss from a lover.
"Mutsuki-chan," she asked, "what was that for?" she still asked rather coyly. Fubuki knew now that it was because she just had to hear Mutsuki say it herself.
Mutsuki smiled softly as she whispered, "ust welcoming home the returning hero~" Misinterpreting her friend's question for a rejection, she eased up a bit on her intimate caressing, and prepared to lean away. But Fubuki stopped her from doing so.
"Well, in that case-" Fubuki said, cutting herself off with her own kiss on Mutsuki's lips. Fubuki added afterwards, "For my own hero!" She smiled. Mutsuki's eyes glistened as some moonlight bounced off of her dewy eyes. Without any thought for anything else, the two girls kissed again - longer and more passionate than before. They each moaned in pleasure as they lightly bit each other's lip and played around with each other's tongues.
Mutsuki swelled up with the passion and pinned Fubuki down on top of the bottom bunk as the two continued their private romantic moment. "Fubuki-chan," Mutsuki stopped the kiss for a moment. "I love you," she whispered to her in the dusklit room.
"I love you, too, Mutsuki-chan!" Fubuki replied.
The two said no more. Not soon after, Fubuki was groaning in pleasure again as Mutsuki proceeded to kiss her neck and chest.
"Oh, uhhh-" Fubuki mumbled to herself. "That feels ... good, Mutsuki-chan…" Fubuki said.
Mutsuki smiled, happy that she was the source of her love's ecstasy. Happy that Fubuki knew it was her, and that she wasn't thinking of Akagi-senpai or Kongou or anyone else. Happy that, after all this time, it was finally just the two of them alone in a bedroom.
"Fubuki," Mutsuki stopped and whispered to her, "Can I take off your shirt?" Fubuki nodded slowly, as Mutsuki proceeded to slowly unbutton her blouse. Fubuki's shirt was completely unbuttoned, and Mutsuki was about to help her take it off. As she unbuttoned her shirt, Mutsuki looked back up at her love's face. She could read pleasure in her face, but there was also a nervousness. Her lips twitched as the conflicting emotions raged inside her. Mutsuki chuckled softly to herself as Fubuji reminded herself of a time recent past, when the situation was reversed, when Kisagari was doing the same to her.
Mutsuki decided it was her obligation to play the same role that Kisagari had played with her, the part of the comforter as well as the lover. "Are you okay, Fubuki-chan~?" she asked her in an even softer, gentler tone than was usual.
Fubuki quivered as she replied. "I'm… I'm a bit nervous, Mutsuki-chan… I've never done this before."
"It's okay," Mutsuki kissed. She continued, "I'm here for you." She kissed her again. Fubuki received it fully. "If you want," Mutsuki said as she leaned back out, "we don't have to do this yet, if it makes you too uncomfortable."
Fubuki sighed. Mutsuki's tone had helped ease her up a bit. She could tell looking into her eyes and from her tone of voice that she was being serious, that there was no pressure, that she was free to make her decision. And she made her decision. Smiling softly now, she said, "No, it's alright, Mutsuki-chan. I want to."
"Are you sure, Fubuki?"
"Yes," she said, "I'm sure. I love you."
"I love you, too," Mutsuki replied again. She could say that as many times as was necessary. She loved the way those words felt leaving her mouth.
The two of them kissed again, and with Fubuki more loosened up, Mutsuki began to work again on her shirt. One after one, she unfastened each button, kissing Fubuki on the neck while she did so. With the last button done, Mutsuki sat up again. "Are you ready to take it off?"
Fubuki smiled as she blushed. "I can't believe we're actually doing this," she chuckled. Mutsuki chuckled, too. Fubuki raised her arms and Mutsuki moved to slide the garment off of her. But then the door slide wide open.
"What's going on, poi!" The two were so enraptured in their moment of intimacy that they failed to hear the sound of Yuudachi coming into the room.
"Yuudach-chan!" They both squealed in embarrassment as they immediately parted from each other. Fubuki, as red as a tomato now, concealed her chest quickly with her hands to prevent Yuudachi from seeing, and fumbled to re-button her shirt up as fast as possible.
Mutsuki backed away a little bit. "Wha-what are you doing back here?" she asked her.
Yuudachi grimaced. "I can't believe this, poi!" she exclaimed as she pointed at them accusingly. "My two best friends … getting intimate with each other, poi!"
TO BE CONTINUED...