Vice Admiral Takeaki POV
'Knock, knock.'
"Come in."
"Sir, here's my final report on the action at Okinawa."
"Thank you, Fuso. Get some rest you look dead on your feet."
"There are more important- Fuso. Don't make me make it an order."
…"Sir." She saluted and I returned it. I stared at the paper in front of me for a moment. I knew what it said, Fuso had personally told me what happened at Okinawa. I opened the report and skimmed through it before I set it aside. The one thing that really stood out were those... demons, that's what she called them. According to Fuso three of them were present at Okinawa and they're not to be underestimated.
"So they do have a chain of command."
What confuses me is why now? Why show themselves at Okinawa? I've read dozens of reports all across the globe and none mention an abyssal leader type. Maybe... maybe they see us as a legitimate threat now or, more likely, they see the Kanmusu as threats. It wouldn't surprise me if that's true. Modern weapons had little effect on them and suddenly we had Kanmusu who are, in many aspects, better.
It's safe to say the abyssal fleet has leaders and they're worried. What that means for us, I can't say.
Ise POV
"Ehhhhh. W-What? What happened?"
"Hey. Hey, hey, hey."
"I passed out?"
"Hey."
"That explains why I'm in the repair baths, also explains why I'm so sore."
I groaned and tried to make myself confrontable while the bath and my crew went to work. Contrary to popular belief the baths themselves do not repair us. What they do is give our crew the materials necessary to quickly and efficiently repair us. Surprisingly the damage I took is almost fully repaired, just how long have I been here?
"How long was I out?"
"Four and a half days."
I opened my eyes and saw Fuso standing at the end of the bath. She made her way over, "I'm surprised you're awake. Akashi said you would be out for two more days."
I sat up, "How's the fleet?"
"They're... fine. They've been worrying themselves to death over you."
"Fuso." I could tell by her voice she wasn't telling me everything.
She breathed deeply, "We lost four. Isuzu, Hishi, Kamikaze... and Shirayuki."
"She didn't make it," I breathed.
"They got ambushed by a submarine. Shirayuki pushed Miyuki away took the hit for her."
"And... how is Miyuki?"
"She won't talk to anyone. Not even her sisters can get her to talk," she whispered.
"What about... the others?"
She took a deep breath and exhaled, "Hishi was killed when they were ambushed. Crazy little destroyer charged the abyssals without a care in the world bought time for the detachment to escape. Last time they saw her she was trying to beat one of the abyssals to death. Kamikaze was covering our retreat when she was killed. She was cussing them out even as she went down. Isuzu... she was helping her sister when the battlecruisers caught her. She pushed Natori into Tenryu's arms and charged them. I can still hear Natori screaming over the radio for her to come back." She shut her eyes... and tears ran down her cheeks.
I quietly rose out of the bath and pulled her into a hug. She finally broke and started crying into my shoulder.
"I-I knew it could happen. Even thought I was prepared but..." she whispered.
"Fuso, nothing can prepare for the loss of a friend."
"They were more than just friends... they were family."
"I know." I rested my head on her shoulder and let the tears run freely.
We stayed like that for a few minutes silently offering comfort to each other. She pulled away from me, "You haven't asked but, Furutaka and Karukaya made it back."
The ice around my heart melted, "Oh, thank god," I sagged in relief.
She wiped away her tears, "Yeah, I was relieved to hear that as well."
"How did, this going to sound horrible, but how did Furutaka survive? Kako said she got hit by a torpedo and she is a cruiser."
"Luck. That torpedo detonated early and that saved her. It was by a razer's edge through."
"And Kaga?"
"She left for Yokosuka three hours ago. Apparently, her damage wasn't as bad as expected."
"Hmm." I sat back down, "Anyone else I should know about?"
"Nothing life-threatening. Most of the fleet is physically ready for combat." It didn't escape me how she worded that.
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
Akashi stood in the doorway with a plate of food. My cooks decided it was time to make their voice heard and my stomach growled. I winced in pain and silently encouraged my crew to get them to "SHUT UP!"
Akashi burst out laughing and I could have sworn I saw Fuso smile. "I said that out loud didn't I."
"Yes," Akashi giggled, "Here, this should shut them up."
"Oh ha, ha very funny," I grumbled.
"I need to tell the girls you're awake." Fuso spun on her heel and headed toward the door. Before she got through it I called out. "Fuso, thanks for rescuing me." She nodded and then she was gone.
After a solid five minutes of inhaling my food, my cooks were... annoyed but they weren't chopping at the bit for food. It didn't taste very good but it restoked me fairly quickly. "So dock, when am I free to go?"
She smirked, "Tomorrow all of your repairs will be done and you'll be free to go. I do need to talk with you but that can wait till tomorrow. Until then, get some rest doctor's orders." With that, she left leaving me to mull over what she wanted to talk about. I moved the plate aside and leaned my head back intending to rest a little longer.
Asagiri POV
The atmosphere in the mess is bleak. It's practically silent with the only noise being the AC unit. Its madding and no one knows how to break it
When we first got back it was the opposite. Destroyers hugged sisters as soon as they got out of the water the cruisers did the same. Other Kanmusu rushed out to greet us and we embraced each other. Many of us had tears in our eyes not of sadness but of joy that we survived. It felt like five-thousand tons lifted from my shoulders when I found out my sisters were okay. From there the atmosphere and the base's moral slowly declined. We made it back yes, but all of us were suffering through the same pain.
It was foolish but we prayed we all made it back that all of us survived that engagement. When Fuso called us into the war room our hopes were dashed when she announced four sisters who did not make it back. I just stood there, frozen in place with the rest of the fleet. I didn't know any of them for very long. Sure Kamikaze was in the same taskforce with me but I'd only known her for five days. It was only when we arrived at Sasebo that I really started to know her. She was my friend for three days, my best friend, my sister-in-arms, and now she's gone.
I hate to admit it but the other deaths didn't hit me, at least, not at first. I was so focused on the fact that Kamikaze was dead I didn't really pay attention to anything else. It was only when I arrived at my quarters that I realized, three more sisters were dead. I broke down crying right in the middle of the room. Uranami and Shinonome found me there. They wrapped me in a hug and we mourned the loss of four bright souls who died far too early.
After that, no one recovered. Most of us are still trying to come to terms that we lost four. Four more than we should have. We've dealt with it in different ways. Some are just going through the motions, others have completely shut down and a few have turned their sadness into anger that they are eager to unleash on the abyssals. Fuso and the admiral have let those few, six in total, go out on missions. It may be foolish but I can see why they would. It gives them a way to unleash their anger and to cope in their own way.
"Can I have your attention."
Fuso's strong voice brought me out of my thoughts. She stood at the front of the mess with her hands behind her back. It looked like she had ordered the cooks to leave leaving just us in the mess. "I have news to share with you. I have received an update on Ise's, Furutaka's, and Karukaya's conditions. They are expected to make a full recovery and Ise will be released tomorrow."
I could feel the tension in my body disappear and I sighed in relief.
"Figured I would tell you all that personally. We needed some good news. And I have one more thing to tell you. Celebrate their lives." With that, she spun on her heel and left.
"Celebrate their lives."
"She's right. Isuzu, Hishi, Kamikaze, Shirayuki they wouldn't want to see us like this. They would have wanted us to throw a party to celebrate them."
"Throw a party. That's not a bad idea."
"We'd need everyone though. So until Furutaka and Karukaya are strong enough it will have to wait."
It seemed that Fuso's small speech had cut through the dark clouds that seemed to hover over our heads. As the entire mess slowly came to life she also managed to pump some life back into the fleet. We'll need a little more time but this is a huge step in the right direction.
Ise POV
The next day I made my way to Akashi's repair room. The few girls I passed gave me a small smile or nodded. It wasn't much but their eyes told me all I needed to know. I had made it to the door when Aoi practically teleported to me and wrapped me in a hug. "I'm glad you're okay." She pulled away and beamed at me.
I tapped her nose, "Of course I'm okay. Did you think a battleship like me wouldn't be okay?"
"Of course not! I was just nervous, we all were." She looked at me with those big light pink eyes. I smiled, "You didn't have to worry about me Aoi, but thanks."
She tilted her head, "But I didn't do anything."
"No, but you wanted me to recover. That's all you needed to do."
"Ah, I was wondering when you would get her Ise." Akashi opened the door to let me in. "This won't take but a minute."
"I thought you were released?"
"She is. I just need to talk to her about something."
"Oh."
"I'll see you later Aoi."
"Bye Ise!"
I walked in and the first thought is, 'This is temporary.' The room is nothing like Akashi's one in Yokosuka. There are no singular repair baths or anything really. The whole room just has a rushed feeling to it. "Wow, they really just gave you the basics didn't they."
She sighed. "Unfortunately. I've heard they're building a permeant one here like at Yokosuka. I don't know when it's going to be complete or who is going to be stationed here."
"So, you're going back to Yokosuka?"
"Yep. I leave in four days. You gonna miss me," she teased.
"Nope," I said popping the p. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I may have found a reason for why your memories are so drawn out."
"Really," I asked, surprised.
"Yeah. There have been a few cases where a girl's memories have dragged on. Usually because of a extremely traumatic event when they were a ship. The longest one I've heard of is USS Arizona but even then it only took her a month to remember."
"Arizona?"
"Her, magazine detonated during the attack on Peral Harbor," she shifted unconformably.
I lowered my eyes, "Yeah... I can see how that could be traumatic. A lot more traumatic then my sinking I'm sure."
There was a short pause.
"Have you had any more visions?"
"Just one. My sister and I were taking supplies to the survivors of the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923. Speaking of my sister has she been summoned?"
"I don't think so. If she has she would have contacted you," she pointed out.
"Yeah, good point."
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"Its fine. I just really want to see her."
"Well, I have good news. Karukaya is awake and should be able to rejoin the fleet in two days."
"That's good to hear. What about Furutaka?"
She sighed, "She hasn't woken up and I don't know when she will. Until she does I don't know when she will be strong enough to rejoin the fleet."
"Well, I guess that makes me the leader of the task force," I said nervously.
"She trusted you to lead them into battle. I have no doubt you'll make her proud."
"Thanks. Now if that's all I'm going to say 'hi' to Karukaya."
She waved me off, "You're free to go."
It didn't take long to find the destroyer repair baths. I carefully opened the door and my heart melted. Fuyo and Sanae had Karukaya wrapped in a bear hug one that she had no problem returning. I just watched with a smile.
"Ise!"
"Wh-"
I stumbled slightly when Fuyo slammed into me and Sanae followed a second later. I chuckled and wrapped my arms around them. "Its good to see you girls." The tried to nuzzle further into my stomach, "We're glad you're okay."
A throat was cleared and I looked up to see Karukaya pouting adorably at us. "As much as I love this cuddle session we have left someone out." They titled their heads at me and I nodded in Karukaya's direction.
"OH!" Fuyo bolted toward her and helped her out of the bath. "Fuyo I told you I can walk just fine."
"I know. I just don't want you to strain yourself."
"I'm fine sis, but thanks." She pulled away... and launched herself at me.
"KARUKAYA! What did I just say!?"
She laughed and nuzzled into my neck. "I'm glad you're okay."
She pulled her head back and I kissed her softly on the forehead. Her sisters joined in and the three of them wrapped me in a hug.
"Promise us you won't do something like that again," she whispered.
I sighed, "You know I can't make that promise."
She tightened her grip, "I know."
