A/N: Kudos to Little Donkey for the beta! Enjoy the chapter, everyone!

Chapter 1: Aircraft Carrier Akagi

The earthquake that saved my life while at the same time ended the life of another caused a tremendous damage to the naval base where I would be converted. Because of that, although I was already commissioned to become an aircraft carrier, the conversion didn't start until two years later.

During those two years that I spent alone, I got used to the quiet life I had. I didn't talk to anyone unless necessary, and I never really allowed my emotions to show. Not many people paid attention to me, but from time to time someone would leave a message that they looked forward to the day they could call me "aircraft carrier Kaga". I hated that term at first. But I guessed it grew on me after some time, and their excitement was contagious.

I would never forget how they just left my sister to die, but Tosa was right.

I had to make her death, and that other ship's, Amagi's, completely worthwhile.

I didn't recognize myself when I looked into the mirror. As a general rule, I have to wear a blue hakama-like skirt, black thigh-high socks, and a blue cloth covered by a white long-sleeved gi, whose sleeves only reach my elbows once I tie them up with a blue sash that goes under my armpits and over my shoulders, crosses my back and is knotted at the front on the left side. Then there are other equipments like the chest protector, the three-fingered gloves with a purple ribbon on the wrist, and of course, the bow and the quiver. Sometimes I wonder what these garish colors possibly mean, but they only said it was to signify my standing as the second converted carrier of the treaty.

I still remembered the first time I touched that bow and felt the hard steel of the triple flight decks on my arm. It all felt so foreign to me. All this time Tosa and I had been fantasizing about firing 41cm cannons on our backs. Launching an aircraft was something I had never imagined before.

But I wanted to know.

I wanted to feel it.

I would launch as many planes as I could if I had to.

I would become the face of the Navy's aircraft carriers.

But at that time, the face that most people associated with the Navy's aircraft carriers was the first standard carrier, Akagi.

As far as I know she hadn't really done anything remarkable, but the Navy had really high hopes for her.

I don't really know why but there's just something about how people said to me, "Kaga, you would be the perfect partner for Akagi."

To be honest I wasn't really interested in the idea, but I couldn't deny that it piqued my curiosity.

Was it because I was the only other standard carrier? Was it because we seemed to be made to be partners, since we were created for the same fleet, and converted for the same treaty? Was it because of our personalities? Were we similar to each other? By how much? What did she think about the news that there would be another fleet carrier that could possibly become her partner? Was she happy? Curious? Interested? Or all three?

Was fighting alongside Akagi, in the 1st Carrier Division, really a place where I could belong...?

As the days went by, the possibility that I could be the partner or the consort of the 1st Carrier Division flagship became much more acceptable to me. Desirable, even. Fate had somehow put me on the side of this valuable ship. If that was the way I could redeem myself, then I would gladly accept it. Before I knew it, this aircraft carrier "Akagi" had stolen a special place in my heart although I had never even met her. Her image, her persona, and her stunning beauty when she sails on the seas were all created in my mind from various stories and praise from others. This carrier... she shouldered the future and hope of the Navy. If the place that was destined for me was by her side, then it would be an honor for me to support her as the pride of the Navy.

I didn't really understand why I felt this way, but Akagi's presence in my mind gave me comfort. The comfort that that even I had a place to belong.

I'm not a Tosa-class battleship.

I'm not the third ship of the Eight-Eight fleet.

I'm a Kaga-class aircraft carrier.

I'm in the 1st Carrier Division.

Future pride of the Navy.

And just like that, I felt joy for the first time ever since my days with my sister.

Around a year after my conversion began, I was joined in the factory by another fleet girl, a battlecruiser of the Kongou-class named Haruna. She was also undergoing major conversion, and I was grateful that it was her, because I probably wouldn't be able to stand having to live under the same roof for a long time with anyone else. Haruna has long, dark hair and hazel eyes, and she was generally nice, polite, and a little naive. Although she was afraid of me at first, she gradually warmed up to me and we could have small conversations from time to time, usually about our birthplace, since we were built at the same yard. Well, I preferred only having her around, but ever since Haruna's conversion began, her eldest sister, Kongou, who happened to be in the same base as us, sometimes came and ruined my peaceful moment every time.

"Hey! Kaga! How are you today? Did your conversion go well? Do you feel like a carrier now? Like, do you feel like mounting some planes on your back?"

"Kongou-onee-sama, maybe you should leave Kaga-san alone for today. She seems tired," Haruna suggested, but there was no stopping Kongou when she wanted to do something.

"That's nonsense! Nonsense! She should feel thrilled to be converted! I myself can't wait until the day I will be converted into a battleship!" Kongou said, flicking her long brown hair proudly, "Hey, hey, Kaga! How did it feel to be a battleship?"

I really wanted to just leave that place right then and there.

I was trying my best to forget about my past, and here she came reminding me of it again.

My memories with Tosa still hurt me everytime I remembered them.

Haruna seemed troubled that I apparently felt disturbed by this, so I tried diverting the topic instead.

"How does it feel to be a battlecruiser then?" I asked.

As expected, Kongou started rambling about her battles, and although it made me a little jealous that both of them were older and more experienced than me, seeing Haruna giving me an apologetic smile was enough to calm me down as I listened.

After some time, Haruna told me about how the treaty also changed her and her sisters' lives. The Navy were focusing on increasing the power of their existing battleships and battlecruisers, since they couldn't build new ones anymore. She admitted that she was anxious about their future. Talking with her sometimes made me wonder if this conversion was worth it, but I never voiced out my worry to her.

Occasionally, she would ask me a question that she didn't seem to want the answer to, as if she just said it for the sake of asking.

"Kaga-san...do you think we can find our place in the Navy someday?"

I stared at her dejected face for the longest time. At that moment, I was thankful that at the very least, I still had a place that I wanted to be.

I was placed for several sea trials fresh from my conversion and after that, I was allowed to join the combined fleet. When my sea trials were still underway, to my surprise, another aircraft carrier came to my base for her fitting-out, the newest carrier of the Navy. She is a light carrier, and just with one look I already knew that she is quite different from me. For one thing, she is so small that I didn't know she is an aircraft carrier at first. She also has a different plane launching system. Funnily enough, like her name, "Prancing Dragon", Ryuujou is a carrier with really high spirits and vigor. She speaks in a Kansai accent, and whenever the twin-tailed girl had a break from her fitting-out, I sometimes saw her frisking about with the smaller fleet girls around the base in her characteristic red coat. She caught my interest because I had never met another carrier before, let alone one that was specifically built to be a carrier. Clearly, Ryuujou is a chatterbox and I didn't exactly know how to handle someone like her.

"You're a fleet carrier! I've never seen a fleet carrier before! You look so strong!"

"...Um, thanks. Nice to meet you."

"What's your name? I'm Light Carrier Ryuujou, first ship of the Ryuujou-class light carrier."

"Kaga, first ship of the Kaga-class aircraft carrier."

"Oh Gawd, so you're Kaga! I thought you're Akagi."

"Aka...you know Akagi?"

"Our first standard carrier? Yeah, I heard. And you're the second. I wish I could be as strong as you. I'll try my best so I won't lose to you!"

"You praise too much. I have never even gone into battle."

"Seems like they value you guys too much to let you go into battle. Guess it would be awhile until either of you show any action in the battlefield, huh? I heard they are planning to put Akagi through a refit."

"They do?"

"It doesn't hurt to be more careful! I heard aircraft carriers will be the next big thing anyway."

Before Ryuujou's fitting-out was finished, I finally became an official member of the 1st Carrier Division, and like she said, Akagi was about to be temporarily pulled out of active service for a refit. The admiral thought it was a good idea to move me to my seniors' base before I started my service, probably so that I could learn a thing or two from them. At that time the other aircraft carriers in the division were Akagi and Houshou, the first carrier in the Navy and possibly the first aircraft carrier in the world. Needless to say, I was nervous as heck, but I didn't think that the admiral could tell.

The admiral first introduced me to Houshou and left me to her care. To this day, she is still the kindest, most soft-spoken woman I know. Although she is just a light carrier, the Navy has learned many things from her as the oldest aircraft carrier. She has an air of maturity around her, and she seems to be loved and respected by everyone. Compared to the pink kimono she was wearing, my clothes still looked new and clean. It was a little embarrassing to me, since it really showed my inexperience. Even so, her black hakama still looked pretty and neat, and her long ponytail gave her an inspiring sense of youth.

Houshou politely bowed to me when we met, causing me to frantically return it and knock my head against the admiral's waist, therefore violating rule number 1 of How To Not Make A Terrible First Impression In Front Of Your Senior.

Houshou only smiled when the admiral scolded me and I hurriedly picked up my bow from the floor. I wanted to just sink into a hole in the ground. I walked alongside Houshou, hoping that I could make a better impression in front of Akagi. It was my first time meeting my seniors and I just had to foul up. I hated that I just had to act like a gangling teenager now of all times.

"So you are Kaga? I hope you can enjoy your time here in this base. You've never trained with other carriers before, have you?"

I shook my head and her smile grew wider. "I heard you were converted from a battleship, so I guess you would get along well with Akagi. She was also a member of the Eight-Eight fleet. Both of you even have the same triple deck design!"

"Do you think so...?" I blurted out as my heart made a little jump at the mention of her name.

The palm of Houshou's hand touched my head. "You can practice with us. We can teach you things that you can only learn from other carriers."

Houshou then told me that Akagi was having a practice session and I could watch her if I wanted.

Straightening my back, I agreed to her offer and followed her to the training grounds. I was beyond excited, although I didn't let it show on my face. I was a newbie who was going to meet the 1st Carrier Division flagship, so I'd better act like it.

However, there might be no need to do that, because she looked so much better than I imagined that it stunned me on the spot.

The way her velvet dark hair fell on her shoulders and down to her white cloth and red pleated skirt.

The way her soft eyes hardened when aiming for a single target.

The way she smoothly released her arrows without any unnecessary movement, and the way her body seemed to shine under the sunlight every time she did it.

She was young, probably around my age... and she was beautiful, so amazingly beautiful that I couldn't look away.

It gave me the desire to watch her launch her aircrafts like that on the open seas.

I want to fight alongside this person.

By the time I realized that I was staring too much, Houshou had already spoken.

"Akagi, we're sorry to interrupt your training," she called out, "But Kaga has arrived. Do you remember her? She was the other ship that was converted for the treaty."

Akagi turned around while putting her arrow back to her quiver.

That was when our eyes met for the first time.

I didn't know if I looked at her the wrong way or she realized that I had been staring.

But I couldn't see even the smallest trace of excitement or happiness in her expression when she studied me.

In fact, there was something that frightened me there, something that looked a lot like pure, undiluted hatred.

My whole body tensed.

I could see the strands of her hair being swayed in the wind when she opened her mouth and said, "So you're the one they chose to replace Amagi-nee."

Her voice was strong, confident, filled with pride. The voice of the future hope of the Navy.

But I noticed that there was too much pride in that tone.

I couldn't answer, those accusing eyes were too much for me, so I searched the floor for something I could stare instead.

Houshou didn't seem pleased. "...Akagi, you've promised to behave," she said.

Akagi glared rudely at her.

"Akagi..."

"How can I...?" she replied with a snap, "How can I when they put my sister aside, and use her parts for this inferior ship just because they didn't have enough money!"

"You drop that attitude right now, young lady!"

The sudden rise in Houshou's voice made me flinch, but Akagi didn't seem unfazed at all. She was clearly fuming with indignation.

"Right, Houshou-san, because you don't know how that feels, do you? You don't know how it feels to have your sister be taken away from you, and suddenly be replaced by a complete stranger...! Don't pretend like you know that!" she cried as she turned back and ran past me.

"Akagi, come back here...!" Houshou called out angrily.

"I will never..." she shouted back with a shaky voice, "...ever accept that carrier...as a replacement of Amagi-nee...! !"

And with that she stormed back to the building, tears flowing down her cheeks.

She didn't even look at me twice.

I kept myself silent during the whole ordeal, clenching my bow hard just so I could direct my mind elsewhere.

But Akagi's voice kept coming back to my head.

After a few moments, Houshou said to me, "...I'm sorry, she isn't usually like this. It's been eight years, but she doesn't seem to be able to let it go."

Eight years.

Eight years that I spent searching for a place to belong.

But also the same eight years Akagi spent mourning over her dead sister, suppressing her growing anger toward the Navy and me.

"Kaga-san...do you think we can find our place in the Navy someday...?"

When I thought there was finally a place for me, when I thought that I was given a second chance, I was rejected again.

The hopes that I had for my new life were dashed in an instant.

I didn't really...have anything left in this world other than being an aircraft carrier.

This was the only place left where I could belong, where I could find my dreams.

Where I could be happy.

I want to fight alongside this person.

And even that, was no longer something that I deserved.

Akagi's rejection hurt.

I didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did.

With her words my whole excitement about joining the 1st Carrier Division dissipated completely. I wasn't exactly forgiving of her.

For the rest of the day I holed up in the guest room, and it was nearly midnight when Houshou came knocking at my door.

"Kaga, are you there...?"

I didn't really feel like talking, but I didn't want to worry her. She had been nothing but kind to me during my stay.

"Yes."

"Can I come in...?"

I hesitated, but I thought it was rude to just send her away. I gave her the okay and she carefully opened the door.

I didn't raise my head, but I could hear her making a shuffling sound as she sat down next to me.

"You have to come to the meeting tomorrow," she said.

"And why should I?" I asked, regretting that it came out harsher than I intended.

"Starting from tomorrow, Akagi is being put out of active service for her refit," Houshou explained, "And you have probably heard of this before you came here, but you are our only other standard carrier. You're going to temporarily replace her as the 1st Carrier Division flagship."

It happened again.

A stroke of luck put a completely inexperienced aircraft carrier as a flagship, although they probably wouldn't send me to difficult missions.

I didn't know if fate hated me or loved me; I couldn't tell what it was doing.

But I was still far too bitter to be overjoyed by this news.

"Please forget it, Houshou-san," I said, burying my face in my arms, "Didn't she say that I'm an inferior ship...?"

"Kaga, please. I'm not asking you to forgive Akagi's behavior this morning..." Houshou-san said to me, "...But will you give me a chance to explain...?"

I didn't answer her, but after some time I gave her a curt nod.

"I want you to know that for that girl, her sisters were everything that she ever had. She would use every opportunity that the Navy offered during their construction to spend time with those three: Amagi, Atago, and Takao," she continued, "They were a rowdy bunch, those girls. Akagi, the crybaby, was adored and loved by all her sisters, especially Amagi, who kept spoiling her. Then the treaty happened, and both Atago and Takao were planned to be scrapped. They were not allowed to move out of their bases and meet Akagi anymore until the plans were finalized. Little Akagi was devastated. She couldn't stop crying for a while, and Amagi never left her side, trying to cheer her up with everything that she could. Amagi assured her that they should make Atago and Takao proud by becoming strong aircraft carriers. After some time, little by little, Akagi recovered from her grief and started to see this in a more positive light. Amagi became Akagi's whole world, as she was the only one that Akagi had left. Even more so when they were chosen to be partners once they were converted into carriers. They would often talk about Amagi, the name ship, becoming the flagship, the pride of the 1st Carrier Division, and Akagi becoming her consort. Right when Akagi thought her future could be perfect, that was also when she lost everything."

"...Tosa was my world too," I said, but Houshou is more patient with me than anyone I know.

"I'm not saying that her love for Amagi is bigger than yours for your sister. I'm not asking you to understand. But you have to know how the circumstances are for Akagi," she explained, "She didn't get the chance to say good bye to Amagi before she died. I was there when the news reached her. It broke her apart. It all happened so fast that before she could even finish crying, the officials had called her to tell her that Amagi's life was forfeit. She stood there in tears as they happily told her she was clearly the luckier ship because she survived the earthquake, and they were so hopeful that she would be the one to set the Carrier division on its feet. They said they would appoint her 1st Carrier Division flagship when her conversion was finished, and that one of the Tosa-class battleships would be sent to replace her sister. They wouldn't listen to her when she begged them to spare Amagi's life. They only told her they didn't need a half-dead ship that could not be converted into a carrier. Amagi was already as good as gone. I couldn't do anything back then, I couldn't even put my hand on her shaking shoulders. When that meeting was over, she looked so weak and her eyes were completely hollow. It pained me to watch how, all of a sudden, such a huge responsibility was placed on those small, frail shoulders of a girl who just lost the only family she had left. Before she knew it, she was the only surviving member of the family that she loved so dearly. But I still am just a ship of the Navy, so I said to her that if she didn't learn to stand on her own two feet and become stronger, her sisters would be disappointed of her. She then told me that she would make it her goal to never let her enemies die near land like her sisters, because she would sink all of them into the sea. And that was the last time anyone saw her cry."

I looked up at her and found her gazing at me. "Until today, that is," she added, "Seeing you might have reminded her to all that pain she had eight years ago. Because after she was made flagship, Akagi started training like mad. Amagi's death broke her, and she never really put those pieces back together again. Everywhere she went, people were too amazed by her skills and pride to find out and how and why she could be that good without ever participating in any battle. She took her new status so seriously that it made me regret planting the idea in her head."

I remembered how perfect her stance was when she shot her arrows.

She wouldn't have any difficulty launching planes even in a less suitable weather.

It was obviously the result of hours and hours of nonstop training.

Akagi and I were converted aircraft carriers; we were not used to launching planes and therefore needed a lot of practice. I had to go through a long trial process before I could launch my planes correctly, and even then I still had many flaws.

But that girl was able to perfect her skills in such a short time during my conversion.

Compared to her, I still had a long way to go.

She wasn't lying when she said I was inferior.

She could tell just from looking at me and the differences in our design, although she was probably still imperfect herself.

She was just that good.

No wonder she was deeply disappointed in me.

It was obviously galling for her. She probably thought I wasn't worthy enough to become her consort, or that I was a frigging failure whose life didn't deserve to be traded with her sister's.

"Kaga," Houshou suddenly said, "...Do you want to sortie with Akagi...?"

I gritted my teeth. From Houshou's story, I understood that Akagi was not that much different from myself. Played by fate, time and time again, until there was absolutely nothing left. It should not be that difficult to strike a friendship with her, shouldn't it? Did I even want to be her friend? Then why did her rejection hurt so much...?

"Why do you ask that...?" I said to Houshou.

"Well, you didn't look upset, but anyone could've guessed you were because you've been skipping lunch and dinner so far."

I must look confused because she added, "From my experience with Akagi, there's no way a carrier like you would miss a single meal if you're in a good mood."

"I'm not the same as her," I said, completely out of spite.

"You'll see," Houshou said with a small shrug, "You were made with similar designs after all, and you are both former members of the Eight Eight fleet who, by pure stroke of luck, are both here right now because of the treaty. People would definitely associate you with each other."

"But I don't want to," I lied, "And she doesn't want to..."

"I don't know, Kaga, sometimes this world just works in mysterious ways," Houshou told me, "Maybe one day, you can find out the reason you are suddenly given this strange connection with a fleet girl that you never knew."

The meeting the next day was short and concise. It was as Houshou had said: I was placed in the 1st Carrier Division to function as the new flagship and Akagi was temporarily put out of service for her refit. They also added that this position was active immediately, so if the 1st Carrier Division was needed to go into battle, then I would depart as flagship.

I didn't say anything and only nodded my head. They probably wouldn't send a ship like me into a real battle anyway.

The higher ups obviously looked surprised at my lack of enthusiasm, but I didn't care. I saluted them and went out as quickly as I could. I could feel Houshou's eyes on my back as I scurried out of the room. The less honor I felt from this new unexpected status, the better. I should just go back to my room and get to bed. The last thing that I wanted to happen was meeting Akagi. She would definitely be delighted to see this terrible ship they made to replace her position, I thought.

I let out a long sigh as I walked to the end of the corridor and leaned my back against a vending machine. The low hum of the machine seemed to echo my mind perfectly. Its cool door felt refreshing against my sweaty back. I was thirsty all of a sudden. I turned around and leaned down to check the drinks inside the machine.

I was about to choose a bottle of green tea when my finger was interrupted by that of someone else's.

"...Let me pay that for you."

I almost jumped in fright.

Akagi, the long-haired beauty, was standing next to me. I must have been too absorbed in choosing my drink to be so unbelievably blind of my surroundings. I opened my mouth to interrupt her, but she has pressed the button and inserted her money.

I was probably too surprised to make a sound, because she picked up the bottle from the machine and looked at me like she was going to laugh.

"Look at your face," she said with a faint smile, "...Don't worry, I'm not here to yell at you if that's what you're thinking."

That made me relax a bit. Wait, why was I afraid of her? I'm a former battleship, I could take her in a fistfight.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. Houshou-san gave me a fair amount of scolding last night for getting fresh with you. It was terribly rude and immature of me to yell at you like that," Akagi said, slightly evading my eyes.

Houshou-san...so that's why she came to my room so late last night huh... I thought.

I couldn't help but be amazed that although her apology sounded genuine, Akagi's pride still shone from her tone of voice.

"We're going to work together as fellow fleet carriers," Akagi said, holding out her hand, "So it's best that we get along better from now on. Would you please forgive my rudeness and work as my comrade in the Navy?"

I glanced at her hand before taking a look at her face.

This girl was strange.

Everything in her voice and expression sounded sincere and professional.

Too sincere and professional.

That meant that I could never find out what she was really thinking, and she sounded fulsome in my ears.

She might be more complicated than what she showed on the surface, and I didn't like what that could possibly imply.

At that time, though, I dismissed my thoughts and prompted to take this chance to make peace with her.

I shook her hand and said confidently to her, "Nice to meet you, fellow fleet carrier. I'm Kaga, former second ship of the Tosa-class battleships and first ship of the Kaga-class aircraft carrier."

"I'm Akagi, former second ship of the Amagi-class battlecruisers and first ship of the Akagi-class aircraft carrier," she replied with equal fervor, "I hope we can work together as comrades, Aircraft Carrier Kaga."

I stared deeply into her eyes, trying to read her mind... but I could find nothing.

Nothing but a girl who was so broken, she didn't have anything left inside.

"...I feel the same, Aircraft Carrier Akagi."

1920-1921

The construction of four Amagi-class battlecruisers: Amagi, Akagi, Atago, and Takao began as a part of the Eight-Eight fleet program.

1922

All construction was halted under the terms of Washington Naval Treaty. Amagi and Akagi were selected to be converted into fleet carriers.

The world's first aircraft carrier, Houshou, was completed.

1923

After the Great Kanto Earthquake caused significant damage to Amagi that rendered her unusable, Kaga was selected as her replacement.

Akagi's conversion began in Kure Naval Arsenal.

1924

Kongou-class battlecruiser Kongou was docked at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal to undergo modifications.

The damaged Amagi was stricken from the navy list and sold for scrapping.

Her incomplete sisters Atago and Takao were both broken up for scrap.

1925

Kaga's conversion began in Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.

1926

Kongou-class battlecruiser Haruna's conversion into a battleship began in Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.

1927

Akagi's conversion was completed and she was commisioned to join the Combined Fleet.

1928

Akagi and Houshou were assigned to the 1st Carrier Division, with Akagi as the flagship.

Kaga's conversion was completed.

1929

Kaga joined the Combined Fleet.

1931

IJN's fourth carrier, Ryuujou, was towed to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for fitting-out.

Kaga was assigned to the 1st Carrier Division. As Akagi was put out of active service for a refit, Kaga became the flagship of the 1st Carrier Division.

A/N: And that is all for the first chapter. A little trivia that the names "Amagi", "Atago", and "Takao" would be reused later on for an Unryuu-class aircraft carrier and two heavy cruisers, all of whom are already made into Kanmusu. Sometimes I wonder if Akagi is reminded of her unfinished sisters when she hears their names. I hope you enjoy this chapter! R&R~