Even so far to the south, December was a cold month on Raiushima. Cold wind blew across the leaden ocean, hitting the evergreen forest covering the island's slopes. Even though ice and snow rarely visited this place, the chill kept most shipgirls in their quarters, unless their assignments required otherwise - or had some other, important business to attend.

Three shipgirls climbing the gravel path uphill belonged to the latter group; clad in long, thick coats, with scarves covering their faces, they walked slowly in silence. Furious gale tried to snatch boxes they carried, rippled their hair and lashed the loose ends of their clothing - but they advanced relentlessly, all the way to their destination; a small clearing deep in the forest, barely large enough to house a stone stele and a bench. Without the sun to illuminate the golden kanji carved on its surface, the dark monument gave out an ominous, solemn aura.

Three shipgirls stepped inside the clearing and began unpacking the boxes. The first to enter the improvised shrine - clad in blue coat, with a side ponytail - took out a bottle of cleaning liquid and a bunch of rags. Wasting no time, she proceeded to wash the stele, scrubbing patches of moss, stains and bruises that appeared on its surface since the last clearing.

The second, her long hair in complete mess due to merciless wind striking from all sides, started working on the kanji. Matted by weather, the letters regained their shine inch after inch - and soon the inscription regained its glamour, the meticulously calligraphed letters forming two names:

Battleship Tosa
1921 - 1925

Battlecruiser Amagi
Stillborn

The third girl - much younger than the two, but at the same time so similar she could have been taken for their sister - laid out flowers and lampions, arranging them in an ornamental pattern at the stele's base.

The trio worked together in silence, following a plan they established a long time ago. All movements synchronized, taking care of the monument as if it was their most precious thing in the world.

And at least to Kaga, it was.

She straightened up once the last blemish got wiped out, the dark grey stone as clean and pristine as it used to be the day the stele was erected almost a year ago. For a hundredth time she reexamined every fine detail, checked every place for some imperfection that could have survived to taint the shrine. And to her great joy, there was none left.

She smiled, a gentle curve rising the corners of her mouth.

"I am so happy to see you like that"

She looked to her side. Akagi was beaming, flexing her wrist after finishing polishing the final, especially intricate kanji. Even in the heart of cold winter, that radiant smile brought warmth into Kaga's heart.

"I-we own that to them" she turned her eyes back on the stele. Hidden safely inside their lampions, the fires flickered lively, their warm light emphasizing the flowers' vibrant colours. Her heart started beating a bit stronger. An irritating sensation gathered in the corner of her eye, as a single tear made its way outside. She quickly wiped it out.

"Kaga-san" a child's voice came from below, as a small hand tugged on her coat. "Can you tell me more about aunt Tosa? And aunt Amagi?"

Aunt.

For some reason, that single word shook Kaga more than it should. An iron vice gripped her throat, new tears grew in her eyes. Luckily, Akagi was there to come to aid.

"Tosa and Amagi are our sisters" she grabbed Kasuga Maru's hand and led her to the bench. "Tosa was Kaga's and Amagi was mine"

"That I know" the small carrier nodded eagerly, her curious eyes fixated on Akagi's face. "But why do they have a shrine here? Did they sink? Can't Akashi-san summon them? Or are they Abyssals now, like I used to be?"

A sad smile crossed Akagi's face, as her eyes went glassy.

"N-no" she swallowed a sudden wave of tears and carried on. "Amagi… onee-san never came to be. She never had the previous life we all share. Her hull never touched water. There was an earthquake, one that killed thousands of drylanders. One powerful enough to kill a warship..."

She threw those words out quickly, afraid her throat would just close, trapping the rest of the story. Kasuga Maru looked up at her, childish fascination and hunger for more burning in her big eyes.

Kaga turned back from the stele, her face and voice calm and serene - but eyes foggy, unable to focus on Akagi or Kasuga Maru.

"The Fleet Command back then decided never to complete Tosa nee-sama" she spoke silently, but her voice clear enough to pierce the wind's howl. "Her hull was launched, but never finished. There was never a crew onboard her. She never fought in the Old War. So there is nothing for Akashi-san to summon. She is just… a memory"

Silence fell upon the small clearing. Her chin started shivering, as her mined finished analyzing the story she just heard - and soon the first sob came and evolved into a cascade of sorrowful tears. Akagi shuffled closer to the small carrier, locking her in a comforting, motherly embrace. Kaga also followed suit, squeezing herself in the narrow space remaining on the bench.

"T-this is unfair!" Kasuga Maru manage to blurt between her sobs. "Why can't she be here among us?! Like Souryuu and Hiryuu?!"

"Because we have to accept the world as it is…" Akagi hugged the other two tight, the wind outside unable to penetrate the sanctuary of their embrace "...and as long as we all are here together, they live on. In our memories. And dreams. That is why Kaga built this shrine - so that their memory can live on. Especially today, when Tosa-san would celebrate her birthday"

"R-right…" Kasuga Maru wiped out tears, smearing them all around her face. With the corner of her wide sleeve, Akagi gently dabbed it dry.

"As long as we come here, Amagi and Tosa will be a part of our… family" She smiled at Kaga, but the other carrier's gaze did not register that - she was looking at the stele, her mind somewhere far away.

They sat in silent communion for a longer while, before gathering their things and returning to Carrier District.

The night came quickly, the tempest intensifying with every passing hour. Shortly before dusk first raindrops fell on the base, and a distant thunder announced the coming of a rare winter storm.

Akagi checked on Kasuga Maru before turning off the light; the carrier was sleeping tight, only the tip of her head sticking out from underneath the thick, fluffy quilt. She gently slid the door close, making sure not to disturb the kid's sleep.

Kaga was in their bedroom, sipping the cup of before bed tea. The subtle aroma filled the room, making their sanctuary against the storm and war raging outside even more cozy and intimate.

"Why you didn't tell her...?" asked Kaga as Akagi sat down in front of her. "About the earthquake being the only reason I am here? If it wasn't for Amagi's damage, I-"

"Kaga, please, no ifs" Akagi reached across the tea table's width, grabbing her partner's free hand. "If you hadn't been here, nobody would have had the courage to stand up against Nagato-san during that battle. Kasuga Maru would have been killed like every Abyssal we faced. If Amagi-san was here, our fleet would be different. Everything would be different. And I don't want to delve on this. You are here. I am here. Kasuga Maru is here. It's all that matters. And I can't even express how grateful I am the things are the way they are"

She squeezed Kaga's hand tight, feeling her warmth with every inch of her skin. Something flickered inside Kaga's eyes, a disturbance beneath those pools' serene surface.

"And I thank you too" the other carrier put her cup down, laying the freed hand atop Akagi's.