Chapter 10-Osaka

Inbound to Osaka-Kansai from Tokyo-Haneda on a completely empty chartered JAL 737-800, Shigure was in a civilian disguise consisting of a white long sleeved shirt, black and grey tartan skirt, and black shoes. She marveled at the droning turbofan engine out the oval window as she drank from an ice cold Ramune bottle. A week ago she never could have believed that not only would her rusty hulk would be raised and restored to service, but that she would reunite with her long lost comrades from the Nishimura fleet as well as her younger sister! As she gazed wistfully out the window at the rapidly darkening landscape below full of bright lights, she mused that she still couldn't process how well Japan had recovered from the hellfire of the great war.

A pat on her head snapped her out of her daydream as she looked up at Fusou wearing a black skirt and tights tastefully matched with a thin sky blue sweater. The battleship mused, "Amazing isn't it? I remember when aircraft were made out of wood, canvass and wire! The Admiral says that this magnificent aircraft is unexceptional!"

Shigure nodded moodily, "I keep feeling like this is a cruel dream, and I'll wake up any second at the bottom of that horrible strait once again."

Fusou smiled sadly, "Me as well." She looked over towards the last row in coach where Yuudai sat hunched over a laptop with his weary eyes looking like the world's problems were weighing on his shoulders. He removed his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on, muttering to himself. She noted that he was dressed in a casual but attractive attire consisting of blue jeans, brown boots, red t-shirt, and black leather jacket. She leaned on her hand and gazed at the Ensign while sighing deeply.

Shigure knelt on the chair cushion next to her beloved friend, "Fusou-senpai, Admiral Mizushima is a kind man. Why don't you take a chance and tell him how you feel?"

Fusou utterly failed to conceal her embarrassment, as she sputtered, "W-what feelings, Shigure-chan? The feelings of admiration towards a talented superior?"

The destroyer shook her head with a sympathetic smile, and found it oddly amusing that a battleship that fearlessly faced down suicidal odds in two different lifetimes couldn't come to terms with her own romantic feelings, "You love him don't you?"

"S-s-shigure-chan! I-I..our relationship is purely platonic!" She exhaled miserably, "Plus, I just know that he will surely find other battleships like Kongou-san, Haruna-san, Nagato-san, or Yamato-san more to his liking! They were all gorgeous and graceful battleships that were never seen as unfortunate has-beens!"

Shigure squeezed her friends' arm, "Did the Admiral say any of that?"

"No, but I can feel it. Any streak of good luck I experience is doomed to fail in the end. I just wish Yamashiro could dodge my awful karma this time around!" She hugged her friend gently, crimson eyes downcast, "Oh, what's the use! I can't ever fool you Shigure-chan. You're too clever by half just like your former CO Captain Hara." She released Shigure and stared longingly at Yuudai, "Yamashiro is going to kill me, the Admiral, or both of us when she finds out! I have to know, Shigure-chan. How did you figure it out?"

"Yamashiro-senpai already knows, so it is pointless to fret about it." She gave a wink to her treasured ally, "Besides being completely obvious to everyone Fusou-senpai, I know that look because I've seen it in myself. I love the Admiral too."

Fusou's eyes grew very wide, and then she broke out into a giggle, "I guess we're both into guys with glasses!"

"Don't worry about me, as I'll support you." Shigure smiled hopelessly, "I'm four times his age, but I know he can't help but see me as his little sister." She finished off her drink and got two more soda bottles for Fusou from the air steward. "Take these to him. He's overworking himself, and he needs a break. Plus it will give you an opening."

She nodded with bottles in hand and girded herself for her risky sortie as she whispered, "Fusou sallying forth!"

…

A few hours earlier at the conference in Yokosuka Commodore Montgomery White, the CO from the USS George Washington who had blurted out a modified version of the USS Arizona's rallying cry as he witnessed her resurrection, smirked at Yuudai's question. "Yeah, Petty Officer 2nd Class Bethany Ramirez is our first fleet maiden commander for the USN."

The top JMSDF officer present, Admiral Yamagata, looked mildly annoyed to the Ensign's eyes as he knew that the United States had concealed their assets before the forcible reveal at Pearl Harbor. With his warships sitting on either side Yuudai pressed on as his left hand twitched slightly, "Sir. Commodore White, is she part Abyssal as I am?"

The other U.S. brass looked at each other and White replied sympathetically, "I wish I could answer that question. I know that if I was in your shoes I'd want to know too."

No surprise in the non-answer there. The Ensign was impressed that there was representation from all the countries that had close ties with the U.S. in the region including Taiwan, The Philippines, South Korea, and Australia. He cleared his throat, "Can you tell me how many fleet maidens Miss Ramirez has summoned? I know about the Oklahoma, Arizona, and the Clemson class destroyers that were lost at Point Honda disaster in 1923. I recognized the Delphy, Woodbury and S.P. Lee by their hull numbers."

"I'm sorry son, but that's classified." He smiled warmly, "Still once you're cleared for Top secret status, you'll be placed in the loop."

Admiral Yamagata gave a folder to an aide, who walked it over to Yuudai. The JMSDF official softly noted, "Now that Japan has an Abyssal countermeasure, it's time to launch a counteroffensive. The details are in that folder. We must seize the Abyssal fortress that they established at Udon-shima, and clear the sea lanes back into Tokyo. I fear the entire nation rests its hopes on you Ensign Mizushima, along with your ten steel warriors." He looked at Fusou and Yamashiro and smiled slightly, "Wherever his spirit rests, I'm certain Admiral Nishimura is elated to see his mighty fleet rising to defend our sacred soil once more."

The battleship twins rose and bowed deeply, followed by the destroyer girls. Yamashiro nodded with determination, "We will fight to our last breath, sir!"

Yuudai frowned as he noted his orders. "We're going to need air support for this operation?"

Admiral Yamagata spoke assertively, "Yes, we're sending you, Fusou and Shigure on a side mission to recruit a standard carrier. The remaining fleet maidens, with Yamashiro as a flagship, will serve as our frontline defense Yokosuka for the time being."

Yamashiro looked at her sister with alarm as she realized that they would be separated again, and even worse she'd be alone with the Admiral! She steeled herself and inwardly cursed her misfortune as she knew her responsibilities outweighed even her oversized devotion to her elder sibling. She saluted sternly, "Aye sir! I Yamashiro will discharge her duty to the best of her ability!"

…

"W-would you like a Ramune soda, Admiral?"

"What?" Yuudai snapped out of his dark ruminations on what would happen to his country, his parents, and his precious maidens of steel should he utterly fail. Standing in front of him was Fusou-san with a slight bit of color in her face as she handed over a glass bottle with an embedded marble in the neck. He frankly thought she looked adorable in her civilian attire. He gave a weak smile as he pushed in the marble and took a slug from the bottle. "Have a seat."

"Thanks Admiral." She had a drink herself and fidgeted. "You seem troubled sir."

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Umm, Fusou-san. You know you can call me Yuudai if we're off the clock."

That was an unbelievably forward gesture! She shook her head vigorously, "I…I wouldn't dare, Admiral! It would be too familiar and disrespectful!"

So much for the casual approach, he glumly thought. Crap. Nice job idiot. He stretched out, "Yeah, there's a lot on my plate. I'm that transparent, huh?" He booted up an e-mail exchange between Yuudai and his dad breaking the bad news about the Abe family, and let Fusou read it. Although he knew his father was crushed by the news, he still tried to keep up a brave face to his son indicating that he knew his old friends were at one with the sea and that would be happy in their small role in helping Yuudai become the avenging guardian for Japan. He also asked him to phone his mom the next chance he got.

Fusou looked deflated, "I'm so sorry about your friends, Admiral Mizushima."

The Ensign took another drink, inwardly wishing it was something more potent. "Yeah, as the Americans like to say on occasion, Shit happens." He sighed and powered down the laptop. "Thanks for the interruption, Fusou-san." He smiled, "Shigure sent you on your recon mission, right?"

"Oh!" I keep forgetting how smart the Admiral is too, she mused. "She did. She's a very clever girl."

Yuudai laughed, as the fasten seatbelts chimed as the jet airliner made its final approach to Osaka-Kansai. "My grandfather said that about her too. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have met you all. It like I'm a megafan that got to meet my favorite rock stars!"

Fusou squirmed a bit under his relentless compliments. Why did he see such value in her? She was the worst possible choice to be put on a pedestal! "S-surely, when you summon superior, well designed battleships like Nagato-san, or the perfect Yamato-san you'll see far more worth in their lethal perfection. I'm certain that Yamashiro and I can go back to our rearguard positions as we did in our last lifetime."

Mizushima snapped, "You are the very heart of my armada, Fusou-san! I will never put you or Yamashiro on the sidelines ever again! I'm certain I'll be proud to serve with other fleet maidens, but the only fan posters I have ever had on my wall was you, your sister, and your five comrades!" He frowned, "Don't you see? If I had been an IJN officer during the war, I would have wanted to serve under Admiral Nishimura!"

Fusou blushed mightily and was trapped between conflicting emotions urging her both to kiss the Admiral again as well as restraining herself and letting him find a more worthy partner.

Yuudai flushed red as well, not knowing what to do. There was a vast difference between how girls behaved in video games and how real ones acted! Crap! Had he just been coming onto Fusou?

The thud of the rear wheel trucks hitting the tarmac as well as the reverse thrust from the engines abruptly broke the impasse.

Up in business class, Shigure gently pushed her face into the seat cushion in front of her in utter frustration, and groaned softly. Fusou-senpai and Admiral Mizushima were her idols, but how could they be so dense at the same time?

…

After a Taxi dropped them off at the entrance to a hole in the wall Ramen shop on Route 204 within a few blocks of the docks, Yuudai held the door open for his shipgirls. "Remember our agreement, ladies."

Fusou nodded, "Thanks, M-Mizushima-kun."

Shigure looked equally ill at ease, "Yes Ad-…I mean Mizushima-sama."

He grinned as he saw his friends stumble over his name without the rank attached. "Come on Shigure-san, Fusou-san." He threw open the door and was shocked to see a pair of eyes belonging to a ghostly girl stare back at him cheekily.

"New customers! Welcome to Katsuragi's Ramen! Try the House special, it's yummy!"

He blinked, "Are you the standard carrier Katsuragi?"

The young teen stopped short, and suddenly shrieked! "At last! After 70 years, someone can actually hear me!" No one in the crowded restaurant seemed to even notice the outburst. Katsuragi was a short girl with messy, long black hair tied back with a long white ribbon, impish green eyes, and an elaborate furisode kimono patterned with elaborate tree patterns based on her hull's camouflage colors of brown, light green, pine, and dark green. She yelled as she spun around in tight circles, "Finally, my hard work has been noticed!"

Yuudai waved her over to an empty table. "Have a seat Katsuragi-san."

"Yay! Thanks Admiral!" She bounded over and sat across from Yuudai as Fusou and Shigure took their seats as well. After ordering ramen bowls, the carrier girl took note of her warship companions, "Woah, you're the famous 'Shigure of Sasebo'!"

Shigure shrugged, "I guess. I was more lucky than skilled."

"Yeah, sorry all your friends had to kick the bucket at Surigao."

Fusou's eyebrow twitched, and then she sighed in exasperation. This little carrier was going to be quite the trial to work with, she presumed.

Suddenly Katsuragi realized her gaffe, "Oooh…sorry Fusou-senpai! I'm an idiot! I know I'm a loud motormouth who doesn't think before she speaks. I wish Amagi-nee was still here to gently admonish me."

Fusou managed a charitable smile, "Its okay, Katsuragi-san. I know being alone can drive you stir crazy. I also know what its like to miss your sister. If we can find an artifact from Amagi-san's scrapping, we'll recruit her too, right Ad-I mean Mizushima-kun?"

Yuudai nodded, "Absolutely. It's a pleasure to have an Unryuu-class standard carrier on my team."

"Standard carrier, huh? I was never called that once in my life." The brash girl looked subdued, "Yeah. Except, unlike Unryuu-nee, I never sortied into battle. I was stuck as a glorified AA battery at Kure Naval base, and then I transported thousands of Japanese personnel back to the home islands after the war ended. I'm..I'm not sure if you can use me."

The ramen arrived and Yuudai as his friends slurped up the piping hot noodles in a clear broth. The ensign beamed, "Of course I can use you! The Ministry of Defense is pulling planes from museums from all over the country to supply your airwing. You are absolutely vital to this operation." He paused, "Still I always leave an out. You don't have to accept the assignment. It has to be what you want."

Her eyes blazed, "Oh I'm, in, Admiral! I'm sick of being a ramen café hostess that no one can see! I've always wanted to fight!" She grinned toothily, "Yesss! This is getting me so pumped!"

Shigure and Fusou both giggled at Katsuragi's infectious enthusiasm.

As they finished the owner grumpily came over holding onto a polished ship's wheel like it was made of glass, "Hey kid, you're Mizushima, right? Your taxi to the Hitachi-Zosen factory is here."

Yuudai gently took the wheel and paid his bill. "That's me. Were the settlement terms from the Ministry of Defense acceptable?"

The older gentleman crossed his arms, "I don't care about the damn money! I'm only doing it because my girl will help defend Japan. My father was Katsuragi's final helmsman as a repatriation ship, and I don't want to give up his prized possession to any random asshole!"

Katsuragi's eyes filled with tears as she stood up and saluted, "Master Okuma, I promise not to ever let you or your dad down! I swear!"

"I swear I will treat her with the utmost respect. Can you spare some time, Mister Okuma?"

A few minutes later the group stood next to a rusted out container ship destined for the breakers. Okuma kicked at a rock on the dock, "Are you sure this will work, kid?"

"It will. I have someone that has wanted to meet you for seventy years. His power activated and the ship wrenched apart and reconfigured into the dark shape of a 200 plus meter long carrier with blocky splotches of green, brown, and black adorning its deck and sides. A tiny superstructure formed on the starboard side along with over a dozen antiaircraft sponsons extending off the deck edge. A small teenaged girl burst out of the island and hollered out into the salty night air, "Master Okummaaaaaaaa! I'm freeeeee! Yipeee!"

The old man took a step back and looked shocked at the sight, "What the hell?"

Katsuragi tearfully dashed down the gangplank and flung herself bodily into the Ramen shop owner as her hull immediately dissolved into vapor. "Master Okuma! I can talk! I can talk! Thank you for looking after me! Thank your dad when you see him! Tell him Katsuragi will do him proud as a real standard carrier this time! Thank you!"

Yuudai panted from the exertion as he felt the relentless creep of Argent's taint spread up his arm again. He chuckled wearily, "Tell me Mister Okuma. Is this how you pictured Katsuragi's avatar?"

Okuma looked at a loss for words, but then his expression softened as he gave Katsuragi a joyful bearhug, "She better than I could have imagined! She's so beautiful!"

"Aww shucks! Thanks Master!"

"Ojisan." He beamed as he patted her head.

Katsuragi blushed as she addressed him as she would her grandfather, "Thanks Okuma-ojisan!"

"Don't be a stranger Katsuragi-chan. Come visit your ramen shop anytime!"

"Uh-huh! You got it!"

As the tender farewell was playing out, both Fusou and Shigure beamed and kissed Yuudai's right and left cheek simultaneously to restore his humanity!

Yuudai blinked in surprise and looked at his subordinates, and then laughed sheepishly as he squeezed their hands. Many hands lighten the load, he recalled.