This is a work of fiction that follows real historical events. This does not seek to promote anything about war and is just a what if kind of scenario. Any similarity between people, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Some aspects have been changed to form a better story.
These are their stories…
I met her during a dark time for the Sakura Empire. After our initial success with our stunning victories, we had quickly fallen behind. The Eagle Union was achieving major victory after major victory. Even our small victories in Guadalcanal now seem to be great losses as they approach closer and closer to our shores.
Patriotism was at an all time low. I had been the only one there to see the magnificent aircraft carrier off.
My name is Teramoto Kiyoshi. I am just a simple farmer that joined the military academy and passed with perfect scores in all locations. I spent all my time studying so I rarely spent my days with friends or colleagues. Because of this, I became sort of a loner. Not because I wanted to be but because that is just how it ended up happening.
Despite this, I truly wished to be friends with someone. Anyone.
I look around at the empty dock that housed the Sakura Empire's newest and most advanced carrier. Perhaps even the most advanced carrier in the world.
I did not know until that very moment just what the word beauty meant.
A black haired woman stands on top of her unfinished flight deck looking at the ground in shame. I had not taken my eyes off of her just as she seemed so solely focused on the ground.
She looks up and meets me in the eye. She seems to already be sick of the world and was unhappy with the position she had been put in. Her raven black hair swaying slightly in the spring breeze as sakura petals flow down from the mountains filled with Sakura trees.
Her red eyes hunger for something. Lust? Power? Love?
She eyes me carefully as if examining my worthiness to be in her presence. She then looks around her and sees the empty port. She hangs her head again in shame.
I wave at her with the Silver Axe in my hand. She looks up, her massive breasts bouncing with every action she takes.
I take the axe and throw it to the beautiful woman standing on top of the aircraft carrier. She catches it without exerting much effort. She looks at me then to the axe.
"You're in charge of your own destiny!" I shout up at her.
A bright flush comes to her face as she hides her face within her bangs. An airplane, originating seemingly from thin air cuts through the red streamer. Her hull slides across the port into the water. The woman on top smiling at me all the way down, a direct contradiction to the dark expression she wore earlier.
"Thank you, dear commander!" She shouts at me, making my heart skip a beat.
I didn't believe in love at first sight. But this was the closest thing to it…
"Good morning, Kiyoshi."
"Good morning, my Emperor." I rarely meet with the emperor. I was either in serious trouble or about to be praised beyond my imagination.
"Please. Have a seat."
I sit down in the seat across from his desk. Pictures of his family adorn the mahogany table with a small lamp on my left. A stack of papers pile high above the lamp on my right as the Emperor receives more and more things to clear as the war begins to turn towards the worse.
"What are your thoughts on the current condition of the war? I am genuinely curious. As one of our top students, your opinion is highly valuable."
I was surprised. The Emperor was asking for my opinion on the subject of the war. There was no higher honor.
"I believe that we need to shift our focus from naval engagements to Aerial combat. As a naval officer, I suggest that we continue to build aircraft carriers and modernize our current ones. It is imperative that we have aerial superiority. Iron Blood made the fatal mistake of losing air superiority over the English Channel. In relation to our situation, we need to defend air bases and carriers as if they were our battleships.'
"I understand where you are coming from. However we are incapable of keeping up with the production capabilities of the Eagle Union. We cannot replace losses as quickly as the Eagle Union can."
"Indeed. Though our weapons are far more advanced than the Eagle Union's."
"Our advantages in shipbuilding and plane building have greatly been reduced thanks to the invention of radar. We have lost many battles because they have more information thanks to their radar."
"Then I recommend we use radar of our own. We have captured many vessels with such radar, we can reverse engineer it to fit on our own warships."
"And that is why you're the best of the best commander. You have an answer for everything. Though I was not aware of such ships within our possession."
"One of our many prizes from the East Indies campaign."
"I see. We shall adapt them into our arsenal immediately. Now onto more serious matters."
"What is it that you wish to talk about?"
The Emperor stands in front of the massive windows overlooking the Tokyo skyline. The beautiful sakura trees blow just before the majestic mount Fuji with her amazing snow capped peak. It was a beautiful day outside as the sun shines above the small packet of clouds that had formed just outside, blowing swiftly in the wind.
"You are the last fleet carrier specialized commander left in the entirety of the Sakura Empire. With the exceptions of Shokaku and Zuikaku who are currently the last carriers in the pacific. However, as you know, we have commissioned our newest aircraft carrier which you have just recently christened."
"I think I see where you're going with this."
"Precisely why I chose you for this position. Effective immediately, you shall be commander of the IJN Taihou. Her Kansen will be waiting for you in Kobe. Here is the paperwork and your new uniform."
He hands me the two things as I watch the stack of papers grow higher in my hands.
"We all expect great things from you commander. Do your duty to the Sakura Empire well."
"You can count on me, my Emperor."
"Good, you will report back to the airstrip immediately where a transport plane is waiting for you. I wish you good luck, commander."
I bow deeply to my Emperor and slowly make my way towards the back of the room, closing the doors behind me.
"Who says there is no such thing as fate?" I say to myself with a smile.
"Do you need me to show you her hull sir?"
"No, I will be fine. I know where she is."
"Okay, is there anything else you need for the time being?"
"I should be alright, thank you."
We stand silently on the warm tarmac as I walk straight towards the port in anticipation and excitement. My first real Kansen carrier! What an experience it would be! I walk past the airport with my guide still following slightly behind me. I turn around to tell him off.
"I am perfectly fine without your assistance."
"Fine. Fine. Just a warning, she has an… extreme character. Almost as if she hates the entire world and is going to make you suffer for creating her."
"I understand. Just please stop following me, it makes me nervous."
"Of course, sir."
He backs away as requested, leaving just myself to find the carrier in the harbor. I couldn't have been that hard, she is the largest carrier in the world after all.
The port was full of ships. None being constructed however and all under repairs. Some are in worse shape than others. Walking around, I could truly see just how desperate the situation was becoming with not only destroyers undergoing heavy repairs, but cruisers and battleships as well.
Out on the horizon, covered in Sakura petals, is the largest warship I have ever seen. Her length was beyond that of even Yamato class battleships. Her height was impressive all on her own without even a comparison against her. Her main aspect which I noticed immediately were the armored decks. The armor made her look invincible against the lightly armored destroyers and cruisers which were in dock with her.
I had seen the Yamato, and even she didn't compare to the stunning beauty of the armored carrier. The first armored carrier of the Sakura navy. What a beautiful sight.
My gaze focuses on the hull of the Taihou as I walk around the port, making my way closer to her. My boyish infatuation with her obvious by the gleam in my eye. It hadn't been but a year since I had last seen her but it felt like a lifetime. I was there when she launched. I had been the only one. Something inside of me already felt a kinship with the boat, even if I had only ever said a single sentence to her.
The Sakura Imperial seal sets right on her bow, marking her brilliantly as a Sakura vessel. I could feel the forces within me struggle not to burst out in a sudden sprint as my chest tightens up. The butterflies in my stomach were not helping the situation either.
The sun gleams off of her metallic hull, partially blinding me for a moment. Soon, her bridge blocks out the rising sun and a rush of cool air follows with the shadows. I look towards the docks where a bridge connecting the Carrier and the port meet. The small walkways barely enough for one person to climb through on.
I test my footing on the bridge and feel it wobble slightly. I gulp lightly. I take a deep breath and cross it, ignoring the swaying it causes as I walk unevenly. Finally, I had reached the flight deck of the ship. The deck did not seem out of the ordinary for a carrier but when i went down to feel her deck I was proven oh so very wrong. It was not wood, it was some kind of latex cover that I could feel the strength emanating off of. Beyond the exterior is thick steel. She was beautiful. I feel like I could see the entire world up here.
The Sakura petals sweep the deck and roll along with the wind, scooping up and blowing them to the west.
I had not spotted the Kansen. She may not even be on ship. They did have lives outside of war, or so I had heard. I actually knew very little about Kansen, the Academy did not lecture me very long on the subject.
"Taihou?" I call into the bridge.
There was no one there. I decided to walk through the ship and get a handle on what I was looking at.
The ship was long, it took far longer to tour her than I thought.
By the time I was done, the sun was already beginning to set back down as noon just passes. I feel a rumble in my stomach. I look around in embarrassment out of habit but only see empty halls and empty rooms.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I was alone, or at least I thought I was before I heard clanging from the Engine room. My head turns so fast I could almost hear a snap. I heard what sounded to be a curse but could not understand it with the echo in the hallway.
I slowly creep closer to the engine room, pulling out my hand pistol. There was a high chance this was either a saboteur or a thief looking to get their hands on a rare part. I carefully step into the engine room and make a quick look around.
It is dimly lit, only half of the lights are being used as I quietly step into the eerie silence of the engine room. Another sound, almost the same one as before comes from down the hall. A more feminine voice calls out this time.
"Shit!"
I quietly make my way down the staircase and into the main boiler room where a dark silhouette huddles over something. The massive boilers next to me dwarf even the room itself as it seems too big to even fit in it. They were not active, they were silently waiting.
I take ever more quiet steps towards the silhouette who seems to be infatuated with a small trinket in their hands. I try to peer over their shoulder to get a clear view of what it was but it was far too dark to see.
I pull back the hammer of my gun and aim the gun towards the dark shadow.
"What are you doing?"
The figure jumps and lets out a surprised, "Eek!"
They make no further noises.
"What are you doing."
They turn around with their hands behind their back. The body of a woman is clearly identifiable through the silhouette.
"Come, into the light."
"Y-Yes…"
The woman walks forward but trips on a wrench as she gets closer.
"Watch out!"
She does make a sound as she falls into my arms and knocks me to the ground. She weighed much heavier than I thought she would. I could see it coming though and prepare a non-traumatic landing on the hard steel floor.
Something squishy and heavy had fallen on me. Knowing it was a woman, I shouldn't have to guess what they were, but they were huge. In the light, I could finally see who I was talking to. A beautiful black haired beauty with red eyes deeper than crimson. Her skin was pale and warm to the touch and she wore an extremely revealing Kimono and what I could only assume to be thigh high boots.
I blush extremely at the sight of her and she seems to be blushing just as hard back at me.
"It's you…" We both say at the same time.
Both of our eyes are locked on each other as a circling heat of passion enters the air. Suddenly, I wanted to taste her beautiful lips without even knowing her. A growing heat on the other end of the equation reciprocates those feelings as she closes her eyes and kisses me. I had never received such a sweet invitation before. My surprise was immediately replaced by the urge to kiss her back as I lay on the floor.
The black haired woman acts surprised to see me react back but does not state her protest. Our kiss only becomes more passionate as our tongues fight in each other's mouths. We already knew we were compatible. Suddenly, a thought comes into my mind. I push her off of me with a pained gasp.
The woman giggles as she wipes her lip free from the drool.
"Oh commander~ My Commander~ How terrific it is to see you again~" She says seductively.
"It's good to see you too, Taihou. But please don't do that again."
"What do you mean? Why?"
"As your commanding officer I-"
"You're my commanding officer!? I am unworthy to have you but promise to take very good care of you-"
"Taihou, listen to me. You know the rules. I'll let it slide this time but we can't do that again."
"But, Taihou's love for you is throbbing! I need to indulge myself more in you!"
"Why? We haven't even known each other for more than a couple of sentences."
"Because you were the only one to show up on my launching day. It was then and there that I pledged to myself to always be in love with you~ I have thought nothing other than this moment for my entire life~" Taihou attempts to kiss me again but I stop her with my hand.
"Article 32, passage 3a. There are to be no relations between Kansen and their commanding officers both emotional and physical." I tell her. The passion in her eyes does not leave her.
"Come on commander, that's a dumb rule. I know plenty of ships who have broken that rule~ I know you want to indulge in me too~" She accents her body's features. Taihou definitely knew hot hot her body was. Every inch of her curves tempts me to stray from my honor as I try to focus on her deep red eyes.
"What are you working on?" I ask, quickly trying to change the subject.
This seems to work.
"Oh! It's nothing. I just had a small pipe leak in the boiler room so I tried to fix it. No big deal."
"A pipe leak huh? And you fixed it all by yourself?"
"I did! Give me your praise~ Shower me with compliments~! Reward me!"
"Stop right there, Taihou. You did a wonderful job on…"
I look at the piece she was trying to replace. It had been bent out of shape and had what I assumed even more holes in it than when she started. A bandage had been surrounded by a white towel as a fix to the problem.
I look silently at the proud carrier who boasted her large breasts as she waits for more compliments.
"Um… perhaps we should let a repair team handle this."
Taihou changes her expression rapidly.
"No!" She shouts.
I am taken aback by her sudden forcefulness in the situation. She really did not like what I had said as her crimson eyes flash with fury and hatred. If I didn't say something fast, she might have killed me or damaged the ship.
"Okay! Okay! No repair teams. But perhaps you can let me work on it. I know a little but about repairs."
That seemed to be a satisfactory answer for Taihou. "Alright, but does commander think that my own repairs were not satisfactory."
She quickly changes attitudes again by shyly poking her two fingers together with a sullen head. It reminded me of when I first met her. I am quite a bit taller than her but that is not to say she is short, compared to most Sakura women she was a behemoth in size. I see her sullen features and give her a light pat on the head, instantly turning her mood back around.
"Oh, commander does want to give me affection~ I will adore you forever~"
It was a far cry from where she needed to be but it was better. As I attempt to fix the damaged pipe, I silently curse myself for saying such things to her. Here is an amazing woman, basically throwing herself at me, and I am not man enough to return those affections. Placing the blame on a stupid code instead. However, despite my earlier attempts to get her off from me she still rubs her body against my in a desperate attempt to feel my warmth.
She sniffs my hair and sighs before making her way further and further down. I feel her tickle my back with her nose which sends a shiver down my spine. Before she can go any lower, I quickly finish.
"There we go, all done!" I shout just in time.
"As expected of my commander~" She says affectionately as she clings to my arm. I notice a small object on her head that I had never noticed before. It was a peculiar golden head of a bird. In my language, Taihou means "Great Phoenix" which is what I could assume the ornament attached to her head was. I try to grab it and see if it was an object which could be removed by Taihou stops me.
"Well, commander~ If you want to touch me you could always just ask. Taihou would always be willing to give her body and soul to you~"
"I just wanted to know if that thing on your head was a part of you or not."
"Oh no, it is not. I can take it off wherever I want, see?" She gives me an example by removing it from her head.
"That's impressive. Anything else I should know?"
"I think we'll get to know each other very personally while you're my commander~"
"Well why don't we start by finding a place to eat. I don't know about you but I'm starving."
Taihou giggles. "Don't you know, my commander. Taihou does not need to eat anything. Although, if you're offering~"
She grabs my arm and laces her breasts between it, sandwiching my right arm in between them. I blush hardly as Taihou rubs her scent onto me. She definitely had an interesting personality.
"You can't act like this Taihou. You have to remember the rule."
"I can act perfectly normal when we're outside, commander. But Taihou will always attack you with her love when we are alone~"
"Wonderful. Shall we get going then? Do you know any good places around here? I just arrived earlier today."
"Yes indeed, commander~ There is this restaurant in the city that serves the most divine noodles!"
"Fantastic, lead the way then."
"Of course! Just as soon as I find my way back up…" The two of us look at each other and then at the never ending expanses of hallways.
"Do you know where your elevators are?"
"Oh yes! Follow me, my commander! I will show you my most important features~"
I had no idea what she is talking about, but if she is saying something suggestive then I was afraid I wouldn't be able to say no.
…
"These are my enclosed hangars, commander~ What do you think of them~"
Her hangars were completely enclosed. Dozens upon hundreds of planes line sher insides, ready to be launched at a moment's notice. It was the second most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The walls were completely covered in thick steel and the elevator shafts were capable of carrying two planes up at a time. The sheer efficiency and protection this hangar allowed was almost more breathtaking than the ships itself.
"It's amazing! Spectacular! It's more beautiful than Tokyo itself!"
"Teehee. Thank you commander. Your compliments make me blush~"
I look back at her confused. I didn't understand.
"When you compliment my ship, you compliment me as well. My hull is a part of Taihou extended into a physical existence."
"O-Oh, well it's still magnificent to stare at."
"Yes, give me more my commander~"
"We should probably get going. They might not be serving lunch if we wait any longer."
"Yes we should."
Taihou stretches out her right hand towards the elevator shaft and concentrates seriously for a moment. Slowly, the elevator shaft comes down and hits the floor with a silent thud. It was like getting a brand new car.
Taihou stopped focusing long enough to grasp my hand and led me onto the elevator. I happily accept, her hands are small and light. They are also soft and make me want to grasp on for longer after she lets go, my infatuation with the elevator shaft suddenly becoming second compared to Taihou's warm hands.
Taihou begins to focus on the elevator once more and this time raises her hand as if commanding the platform to rise with it. We instantly start moving up as I take an extra step to avoid falling. Before I know it, we are rising past the hangars and beyond onto her flight deck. The smell of Sakura petals once again fills my senses.
Taihou stops focusing once again after the elevator snaps into place.
"Come on commander~ We can't be late!" The phoenix skips across her flight deck and onto the port. I laugh as I quickly follow behind her.
"Commander! Did you hear the news! They are going to be hosting a gala event in celebration of my commissioning!"
The Great Phoenix barges into my office, announcing her presence as I read over files.
"Really? That's great! When is it?"
"Oh… I don't know I was too excited so I just left…"
"That's alright Taihou, I'll figure it out. For now you should find a dress you want to wear."
"Won't you be coming too, commander?"
"I'm afraid I can't, I have too much paperwork to do."
Taihou seems both sad and a little bit disappointed. I can hear my own heart wail as her seductive face turns sad. Taihou then seems to come up with an idea.
"Why don't I help you, commander! I could be useful to you, help you finish your tasks, and spend even more time with you~"
"That sounds wonderful Taihou. But I'm afraid your presence would only distract me."
Her sad face returns. "Oh I see. You don't want to spend time with me… Taihou understands. I will be alone in my ship then…"
"Wait, Taihou. I just meant I couldn't take my eyes off of you is all. It wouldn't be able to get anything done." I try not to get embarrassed by my own sentence by cannot help but find a warm glow coming to my cheeks.
Taihou perks back up, flaunting her sexy body at me in a display of lust after suddenly gaining all of her confidence back.
"Oh commander~ I could definitely arrange it so that my body does not distract you so. I would do anything for my commander~"
That did anything but give me reassurance. However, Taihou was adorable as she begged me to let her work beside me. I couldn't help but give into her demands. Her reaction was sweet enough to kill me.
"Thank you so much commander! What should I start with! Would you like me to organize documents? Sign some papers? Clean your ears? Pleasure you? I'll do anything you want me to, my commander~"
"You can start by organizing my papers first. We'll see if you can handle that and then slowly work our way up."
"Oh commander~ Referring to my struggles with 'our' struggles. You're going to make me want to eat you even more~" Taihou suggestively sits on my desk, flashing her plump thighs at me as she takes a stack of papers from the pile and begins organizing them in her own special way.
By the end of the day, we had doubled my production capabilities. As so, we had cleared up a day for me to take off to celebrate with her. Taihou's system of organizing things is far better than I had expected. She kept the more important documents in a pile and the less important ones in a separate one off to the side. Ones that could be easily dealt with later. Despite her clumsy and often lustful nature, she made a fantastic secretary.
"Well done today Taihou, I believe we may have made a day where I can join you in the festivities."
"Yay! But we need to go shopping to get you a nice suit too, commander! We must work harder everyday together from now on!"
"That's the spirit. I also found out what day the gala is."
"Oh please do tell."
"In a week's time, however, they want you training immediately after that. They don't leave much room for dilly dallying."
"I suppose that is to be expected. But with my commander watching me train, I feel I could pull the moon from the sky if you wanted it, commander~"
"I hope you are that passionate in your combat as you are for me."
"If it's to fight for you, I could do anything!"
I give the armored carrier a quick pet on the head to prevent it from getting too serious as Taihou was obviously hoping it was. This was going to be hard. Trying to keep such an attractive Kansen away from doing the one thing that as a man I cannot refuse is extremely difficult and I'm not sure how long I was going to last. This had only been the first day and I was already finding it difficult not to touch her or kiss her. What would it be like in a week's time or even a month's time?
I dare not think of the answer as I follow the beautiful Kansen as we walk back under the bright starry sky.
"Good morning commander~ You sure are up early today~"
I woke up to a beautiful woman laying on me, burying her head in my left shoulder as she shifts her body to completely cover me in her lewd fragrance.
"Gah! Taihou! What are you doing in my room?!"
"I'm sorry commander~ I tried, I really tried my hardest to stay away from you for the night but you have to understand. Taihou had dreamed of yesterday for all of her life. She could not stay away while her commander slept."
She slides her leg right above my crotch. This sends chills up my spine as she tries to seduce me. If she wanted to, she could hold me down and not even give me a choice, but she didn't and I think that was almost as hot as her moves on me. Almost. Part of me wishes she would do it already. The other part of me knows that is treason, a word thrown around harshly these days.
"Well as long as you know I can't do any of those sorts of things, I guess it's alright."
"Yay! Thank you my commander~ I shall sleep with you every night from now on!"
"Woah, woah. I didn't say-"
"Shhh commander~ Taihou will promise to make it up for you in our work today~"
"Well as long as you do that…"
I try to find any excuse for her not to leave my bed, even if I knew it was wrong. I could not say no to her even if I wanted to. In a way, she had me tied around her finger.
She gives me a quick kiss on my neck before breaking a way and sitting on top of me.
"So what are we going to do today commander?"
"I'll go around inspecting Taihou's seaworthiness so that we can immediately begin sea trials after the gala. After that we can go get lunch and it'll be back to the office for me."
"I can help with all of that! Please take me with you commander! I promise to be a good girl~"
"Alright, you can come. But no flirting while I'm working, okay?"
"Okay~"
She was not able to keep her promise.
Hello, yes I'm back already with a new "These are their stories" series. I chose the IJN Taihou as the next ship I will be covering as she has a shorter and sweeter service history than the Atago which physically drained my spirits as I continued to read up on her history. As in the nature with Taihou's laid back service history, this will mostly be a romance story instead of adventure and battle story. I promise to give you a story with much more action next time to make up for it.