Author's Note- This is an offshoot of M90A4's International Ship Girl Exchange, and done with his permission so I highly suggest if you love humor you should check it out. This will be a slightly more serious take on Ryuujou's time in the International Ship Girl Exchange, but none the less uplifting and funny by the end.
ISE Program Ryuujou
As one of the most experienced light carriers in the ship girl are of the Maritime branch of the Japanese Self Defense Force, ryuujou was a shoe in for the international ship girl exchange program. The second light carrier, and the 6th carrier summoned overall by the JSDF after Houshou and the lauded 1st, and 2nd carrier divisions. She was almost immediately relegated to escort duty protecting the few remaining fishing and merchant fleets struggling to keep Japan and the rest of Asia from starving, and generally falling apart. The current thought in Japan was that the powerful air wings of the 1st, 2nd and recently arrived 5th carrier divisions were key in driving back the abyssals keeping the merchant fleets safe and not the tireless work of the plucky light carrier.
"So tell me again why Ryuujou is being sent to the Americans," the chief representative of the Japanese fishermen organization asked Admiral Yamamoto.
"I've already informed you, that the Americans requested her for their International Ship Girl Exchange program," Admiral Yamamoto replied.
"I know, and I still don't like it," the man replied.
"Look we've already assigned carrier division 2 as a replacement.
"No," the head of the merchant marine replied.
"No," an astonished Yamamoto said recoiling in shock. "Why?"
"Because we don't trust them," the head of the merchant marine replied.
Why not, they're two of our best our best carrier girls and we can't spare divisions 1 or 5," Yamamoto said.
"Because escort duty is beneath them," the head of the fisherman's organization replied. "We would prefer it if you could assign Zuihou to this task.
"Alright, but why Zuihou," Admiral Yamamoto asked.
"Because Ryuujou trained her," the head of the merchant marine said.
"Ok, but I have been informed that Zuikaku has been training her personally," Admiral Yamamoto replied.
"Haha, like that flaming turkey taught little Zuihou anything. I'll take my chances in Macau," the pair laughed before leaving.
"I hate arm chair admirals," Yamamoto groaned happy to see the glorified pencil pushers leave.
Section Break
"Don't you worry, Zuihou I'll be just fine," Ryuujou said hugging the sniffling girl.
"But," Zuihou stammered clutching tightly to her true mentor.
"Hey I'm the invincible RJ remember," Ryuujou boasted.
"That's because you're so tiny," Agano said patting the small light carrier on the head. "You're so small that I bet they think you're a destroyer."
"She is not small," Zuihou shot back glaring at light cruiser.
"Just keep telling yourself that," Terizuki added.
"Don't worry I bet you'll fit right in with the other American jeep carriers," Agano said.
Whatever Ryuujou wanted to do was cut short as a fist impacted the side of Agano's face launching her half way across the bay. "What did I tell you about picking Ryuujou," Ashigara growled.
"Not to," Terizuki gulped.
"Yes we are going to have a long talk about your behavior young lady," Tenryuu said channeling her inner Tatsuta as she smiled sweetly.
"Momma," Terizuki gulped.
"That's so sweet," Tenryuu said. "But it is not going to help you this time," Tenryuu added as Terizuki breathed a sigh of relief. "Hibiki, Akatski do you mind escorting Terizuki to her punishment."
"Stay safe Ryuujou, kick their buts like a real lady," Hibiki and Akatski said before dragging a protesting Terizuki away.
"Thanks," Ryuujou said fighting back a tear.
"You're welcome. Now don't let those jerks get to you," Tenyruu said tilting Ryuujou's head up.
"I won't," Ryuujou said.
"Good, now go knock em dead," Tenryuu said.
"Do you need any more of those…?" Ryuujou asked reaching into her pocket.
"Nope, I'm good, and I figured out how to do that thing on my own," Tenryuu said.
"Really," Ryuujou gasped.
"I am a badass after all," Tenyruu proclaimed.
"Get going kiddo or you are going to miss your escort," Ashigara said pointing to the Canadian ships waiting for her at the mouth of the bay.
"Ok," Ryuujou said sailing off before turning around one last time. "Don't worry Ashigara, I'll put in a good word with any cute American boys for you," Ryuujou called out.
"See Warrior I told you we were getting to escort Ryuujou," Hadia said as the plucky flat top steamed towards them.
"The Ryuujou," Uganda gasped.
"Yup," Hadia said waving to the fast approaching carrier. "Rest easy guys this is going to be a cake walk.
"But we're taking the northern route," Huron stammered.
"Hey RJ," Hadia exclaimed.
"Hadia, I didn't know that you were going to be my escort," Ryuujou said.
"Yup and we are taking the northern route," Hadia said.
"Yes," Ryuujou cheered.
"But that's one of the most dangerous," Huron stammered.
"Was the most dangerous," Warrior said.
"But the abyssal Princess," Uganda said.
"Is a good girl," Ryuujou said. "I've even got a new plane for Hoppo-chan," Ryuujou said holding up a miniature Reppu.
"Awesome, she is going to love it," Hadia said.
"I know," Ryuujou grinned. "Hey do you need a refill," Ryuujou said pulling out a stack of cards.
"Yeah, my last ones were used to shield these guys here," Hadia said pointing to the tankers. "Not that we've been attacked or anything."
"Excellent," Ryuujou said handing over the large cards covered in Japanese lettering as the rest of the confused escorts looked on.
Section Break
Ryuujou was now convinced that the Canadians were good people. Sure they had some oddities, but honestly who didn't. The cargo ships weren't sold on her talismans, and they just about had a heart attack when the loli abyssal princess burst out of the fog arms flailing screaming for Ryuujou. Apparently several of the men passed out when the light carrier girl swept the abyssal into her arms more than happy to see her. Hoppo was even able to make some new friends when she had her doggies get snacks for everyone. Her snacks being some of the largest, Halibut, Salmon, and King crabs, the men had ever seen. They were currently working on a deal to provide candy and toys to Hoppo if she helped them fish. However they couldn't take too much because Ryuujou said that was bad, and Ryuujou was always right.
Ryuujou also had to fight back an ear splitting grin as she gazed at a rudimentary picture scrawled in crayon with her and Hoppo playing on the ocean. Ryuujou could tell the girl tried to scribble out her labeling the Ryuujou on the page as mommy and replacing it with big sister. Nothing could make her day better as she sailed into San Diego Harbor to help train the Americans and maybe come away with a Fubuki style upgrade. Not that she wanted them that big, but it would be nice not to be the butt of the joke anymore.
"Hey I thought we were getting a carrier this time," O'Bannon said rather loudly as Ryuujou sailed past.
"What do think it is," Atlanta asked.
"I dunno even the Akatski sisters were more stacked," Guam added.
"What did Houshou say sticks and stones," Ryuujou chanted to herself struggling to keep her frustration, anger, and tears in check once more.
"Maybe she's one of those ships that used to be operated by the Japanese army," a random ship girl said.
"Naw, I bet she is a freighter," Bunker Hill said puffing her modest chest out with pride.
"You're right, no way she is a carrier with that chest of hers," O'Bannon chuckled.
"It could double as a flight deck if she laid down though," Atlanta joked as the gathered ship girls broke into a heart round of laughter.
"Hey I bet that's the plan, to upgrade some junk freighter into a carrier," O'Bannon added as the tears began to flow down Ryuujou's cheeks.
"Well the admiral is a bit of a loli I chaser at times," Guam said. "She is just the pedo bear's type."
"I am a carrier you jerks. I've put up with it from my fellow countrymen, but I won't take it from you," Ryuujou growled.
"If you say so," O'Bannon chuckled.
"The truth hurts doesn't it," Atlanta cracked patting her on the head.
"I am a light carrier of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force," Ryuujou hissed.
"In your dreams maybe, so are you another freighter coming in for a Q-ship refit," O'Bannon said.
"I am a carrier," Ryuujou growled smacking her hand away.
"Keep telling yourself that honey," Guam said patting her on the head again. "So are you a type E or type A freighter."
"I hate you all," Ryuujou screamed as the dam burst tears flowing like a waterfall down her cheeks.
"Hey Guam," Alaska said sailing up to her.
"Yes," Guam replied.
"Shut the hell up," Alaska roared driving her fist into her younger sister's face with a powerful right hook.
"What the hell was that for," Guam hissed holding her cheek.
"That girl was JSDF light carrier Ryuujou," Alaska growled.
"That Ryuujou," Atlanta gasped the color draining from her face.
"Yes that Ryuujou, the girl who single handedly opened up the Bering sea. I should know since I was there. That ship girl has done more to combat the abyssals than entire fleets. She is the reason that Japan hasn't starved to death as she guards their fishing and transport fleets. She is the reason cross pacific trade is flowing again, and I'll be damned if you bitches mock her and her efforts," Alaska said.
"We didn't..." Atlanta stammered.
"Know, think or both," Alaska growled. "You'd better hope I find her before Enterprise does."
"Why," O'Bannon said visibly trembling under the battle cruisers rage filled glare.
"Because it was Enterprise who requested she come so we could learn from her, and she is rather over protective," Alaska explained.
"But she is a Japanese ship," Guam said.
"You still don't get it, she has vowed not to lose one more ship or ship girl ever again, regardless of where they are from," Alaska said.
"We're boned," O'Bannon stammered looking at Guam and Atlanta.
"Yup we're boned," Atlanta replied as Alaska raced off.
Section break
"Stupid Americans, stupid ISE program, stupid boobs," Ryuujou growled as her head impacted a pair of warm round, soft objects.
"Hello there," a woman's voice said looking down at the mop of brown hair currently sticking out of her chest.
"Sorry," Ryuujou muttered pulling her head back. "It's my fault."
"No I wasn't watching where I was going, and are you alright," the blond haired woman asked.
"I'm fine," Ryuujou said struggling to stem the flow of tears still running down her cheeks.
"And yet your face says otherwise," the woman said placing hand on her shoulder
"It's nothing I was just being stupid," Ryuujou replied trying to pull away.
"Well then, why don't you tell big sister Maggie all about it and I can decide if you were being stupid or not," the woman said leading her to a nearby bench. "Trust me it will make you feel better."
"Ok," Ryuujou hiccupped wiping her face on her sleeve.
"Here," Maggie said handing her a handkerchief.
"Thanks," Ryuujou said blowing her nose.
"Now what seems to be the problem?" Maggie asked.
"Well….. Um….. How much do you know about ship girls?" Ryuujou asked.
"Oh, I work with them every day. See I'm part of the personnel at the local base so I know all about them," Maggie beamed. "And you must be one of those foreign exchange ship girls."
"How did you know," Ryuujou gasped.
"The accent gave it away and we've been preparing for a new arrival," Maggie replied.
"Oh," Ryuujou gaped.
"But do go on," Maggie said.
"Well you see to take part in the exchange program you need to be an experienced ship," Ryuujou explained.
"Really, then you must be famous back home and have all kinds of stories," Maggie said.
"I wish," Ryuujou huffed.
"But said you need to be experienced," Maggie said.
"I am, but..." Ryuujou trailed off.
"But what?" Maggie asked.
"No one gives me any respect. I protect the convoys and fishing fleets that keep the country from starving to death, but do I get any press. No it's all about the strike fleets and I could deal with it, but no I'm not good enough for the first, second, or fifth carrier divisions to even talk to me. Hell even the other light carriers make fun of me. They don't think I can hear them, but I do Zuihou and Houshou are the only nice ones. I even befriended an abyssal princess and got her to reopen her area to shipping and do you know what they did?" Ryuujou cried tears flowing freely down her cheeks once more.
"No," Maggie said softly.
"They said a proper carrier would have destroyed her, but Hoppo isn't like the other she's just a lonely little girl who wanted someone to play with. I couldn't just kill her like that," Ryuujou said wrapping her arms around Maggie.
"Ssshhhh, it will be alright," Maggie said.
"I'm tired of it all. I'm tired of never being good enough. I'm tired of always being thought of as a kid. I'm tired of being called flight deck chest. I thought the Americans would be different, but I was wrong. I know Houshou said sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt me, but names hurt and I can't take it anymore. I was looking for a spot to dump my planes for Enterprise to find," Ryuujou cried.
"Why," Maggie asked.
"Because I know she wanted to learn something from me, the light carrier who is never good enough. My crews could tell her anything she wanted to know, and then I was going to look for a nice kelp forest to scuttle myself in, at least the animals won't make fun of me," Ryuujou wept falling into Maggie's lap.
"You will so no such thing," Maggie said softly yet sternly.
"Why not," Ryuujou said.
"Because you are far greater than you realize, and anyone who doesn't recognize that is a first class idiot," Maggie said softly stroking Ryuujou's hair.
"Really but..." Ryuujou said softly.
"Rest now, and don't worry about finding Enterprise," Maggie said.
"But," Ryuujou protested.
"USN CV-6 Enterprise at your service, and it's not your flight crews I wanted to learn from, but you, the girl that saved me," enterprise said.
"But," Ryuujou stammered.
"It was not the 1st, 2nd, 5th carrier divisions or even my sisters planes that helped that day, but you. You are the one that saved me. The girl that defied all odds launching her entire air wing, an air wing far larger than possible for a light carrier. Who then tanked a shell that no battleship not even the Iowa class could walk away from unscathed. All without a single thought of herself, and her own survival. Now rest and let your big sister help her precious little sister," Enterprise said softly as Ryuujou drifted to sleep.
"Hey, Big E you found her," Alaska said rushing through the park.
"Ssssshhhhhh," Enterprise sounded holding a finger to her lips.
"Is she ok," Alaska asked softly.
"She will be," enterprise replied.
"Will be," Alaska asked.
"I want them in the admiral's office yesterday, and please call my sisters, Ryuujou will need a friendly face when she wakes up," Enterprise said gently brushing a stray lock of Ryuujou's hair.
"Was she..." Alaska said before a sharp look from Enterprise cut her off.
"Right... On it boss," Alaska said rushing away.
"I have a sister," Ryuujou muttered in her sleep a smile on her face.
Section break
O'Bannon, Atlanta, Guam, and Bunker Hill were sweating bullets as they stood before a rather confused admiral. "Now what exactly was it that warranted interrupting my afternoon off," the admiral said. "A very relaxing afternoon off."
"Um, well you see," the girls stammered as the door slammed opened.
"It seems we have a bit of a discipline problem on the base admiral," enterprise said surprisingly calm given the circumstances.
"You know you have my complete trust in handling things when I am not here," the Admiral said as the other breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know, Admiral Nimitz," Enterprise replied.
"Then why am I here?" Admiral Nimitz asked.
"To stop me from going too far in case my rage gets the better of me," Enterprise said struggling to take a deep calming breath.
"Something you wish to tell me girls," Nimitz pressed focusing his glare on the quartet.
"Well we might have made a bad impression on the latest arrival for the ISE program," Atlanta said.
"What exactly did you say to Ryuujou?" Nimitz asked.
"Well she doesn't exactly look like a standard fleet carrier, and we might have made a few inappropriate comments," Guam said.
"What kind of comments?" Nimitz pressed.
"I might have said something about her flat chest," O'Bannon said.
"And I might have called her a freighter," Bunker Hill added.
"Anything else I need to know," the admiral said looking towards Enterprise.
"Despite all she has accomplished Ryuujou has no recognition in her home country, or from her fellow ship girls. She was ecstatic to be able to come to America hoping we would be different, and was crushed when we were not. She has dealt with those kinds of comments from the day she was summoned. When I found her she was on the way to scuttle herself. The girl I personally requested to come was looking for a kelp bed to sink in, because the animals would not make fun of her. I am extremely disappointed and angry right now. The last time I felt such rage was after Pearl Harbor. She is now my little sister and a member of the Yorktown class. You will not look at, speak, pass messages to, or other be within sight of Ryuujou. Do I make myself clear," Enterprise said as her eyes burned with rage before leaving.
The admiral's gaze drifted back to the girls, "It seems I have been a bit lacking on discipline Pennsylvania."
"I agree Admiral Nimitz," Pennsylvania replied.
"I trust that I can leave this matter in your capable hands," Nimitz stated.
"Yes sir," Pennsylvania replied.
"Good, consider yourselves nothing more than raw recruits, If she says jump your answer is how high. This ends when we both think that you have learned how to behave like proper ladies, befitting your status as ship girls of the US navy and not gutter trash not fit for the ghetto." the admiral said ripping the USN patch from their uniforms before leaving.