"Dear commander~"

The busty carrier waves as she runs towards me and wraps me in a hug. Her plump features squeeze into my side as I try to keep my rising blush from breaking surface.

"Are you almost ready? Dear~ Commander~"

I thought Taihou was seductive before... Her ball outfit was far beyond what I possibly can handle. Her sexy red dress drapes along the floor as she walks. The straps holding her dress up get lost somewhere around her shoulders as she allows me to take the view in. I thought her previous attire was revealing, this took it to a whole different level of seductive.

Her garters were desperately trying to hold up her killer thigh highs as she flaunts her assets around. She was clad in crimson red high heels that looked like a pain to walk in and wore a red choker. On Top of her head was a golden leaf tiara which was far different from her Phoenix.

My mouth had been dropped open as I eye her, the indication of lust on her sweet lips as I slowly felt a warmth pass through my own body.

"My commander~ That look in your eyes… You know it's safe for you to attack me when no one's around~" Her sadistic grin bearing her true nature.

I gulp down my lust as I desperately try and turn away from her drop dead gorgeous body without hurting her feelings. My shy head movements only made Taihou thirst for me more.

"It's alright commander~ Go on. Feel them. Feel Taihou's love for you~" She grabs my right arm with superhuman strength and places it on her gigantic chest. Taihou moans seductively as I play with it just a tiny bit.

I rip my hand away, realizing what I was doing. Taihou groans in disappointment. "Is Taihou's body not suitable for you, my commander?"

"N-n-no. You have a perfect body Taihou. I… I wish I could but I can't. It's against my duty and my honor to court a Kansen."

"You don't have to court me, commander. I will take care of you even if you decide not to partake in me~"

"Come on, we're going to be late for the gala."

Taihou wraps her arms around my right arm and leans her head into my shoulder. "Alright Commander, but this is my night. I get to do whatever I want, okay?"

"Just so long as you're not doing anything illegal."

"Great! Let's get going!"

Taihou almost drags me along with her as she takes the lead, forcing me to comply with her inhuman strength. Shipgirls really were amazing. I had never seen so much raw strength before.

…

The Gala was full of people. Almost everyone at the port had shown up tonight, including the mildly injured who wore bandages in exposed locations. I saw far more women there than I thought I would for a military ball celebrating the commision of the Sakura's newest aircraft carrier.

It was a direct contrast to her launch, with so many people there it was a wonder how the place had not erupted into loud chatter as everyone kept a dignified aura around them. Taihou does not seem pleased with the amount of Kansen that were present as her expression turns dark and she clings to me possessively.

"My Commander, you just stole a look at another girl, didn't you?" Her sadistic smile heightened by her dark expression. I felt a chill roll down my spine as I imagined what would happen if I responded truthfully to her question.

"Why would I need to look at another woman if I already have you?"

"Precisely, my commander~ You don't need anyone but me."

Taihou desperately clings to me to avoid interaction with as many people as possible. Apparently it had slipped her mind that this was a gala all about her as people try to walk up to her and congratulate her. Taihou tries to hide behind me every opportunity she can to avoid social interaction.

That was something I had not thought about, Taihou was very quiet and cold around others. Her examining stare was enough to warn off a large number of captains and Kansen, but it did not stop all of them. Whenever one would try to talk to me of either race, Taihou would stare daggers at them the entire time.

Something I also noticed about the event was how distant the captains and the commanders were. There were very few captains talking with Kansen and vice versa. They mostly remained in little cliques on opposite sides of the room. That was not to say there weren't any talks between captains and Kansen. A very pretty looking one with long white hair and a kind and calm aura talks sweetly with one of her commanders, as if she had known him her entire life.

She was the opposite of Taihou in everything except for her body. Something Taihou took immediate notice of.

"Perhaps I should pluck out my dear commander's eyes if he continues to stare so lecherously at another…"

"Sorry, I was just noticing how Kansen and captain don't seem to play well together…"

"That is because they don't have Taihou's feelings for their commander~" Taihou squeezes my arm. To everyone else, it seemed like she was just shy and hid behind her commander like a lot of destroyers did. I knew better. She was trying to seduce me and it was beginning to work. A whole week of seduction had really lowered my defensive barrier I had put between myself and the temptatious carrier.

"I have a feeling it has more to do with honor."

"You captains and your 'honor'. I just wish my commander would accept Taihou's love for him~"

"Not here Taihou. We can talk about it later."

"Hmmph. You always say that."

"I promise I'll treat you tonight if you behave yourself."

"Commander~ I will gladly restrain myself for you."

"Perfect, now everyone wants to talk to you. Why don't you say hi?"

Taihou pauses for a second. She stares intently at the ground. "I don't want to speak with anyone who isn't my commander."

She was kind of cute when she acted shy. The look on her face is less so.

"Alright, but I need to speak with my peers. You can either follow along or stay here."

"I will come! I will come, commander!" Taihou says desperately, using her strength to keep herself close against me. Whenever I would try to separate us, she would do this exact same thing. I've been having a rising suspicion that she hates being alone.

Taihou basically has herself draped across my shoulder as I approach the white haired Kansen and her commander. I try to get his attention by coughing.

"Commander, what a surprise." He says trying to keep his obvious disapproval of Taihou's current condition to himself.

"I know, I'm sorry. She just won't release me." Taihou grabs me possessively.

"I understand, all Kansen have their own attributes that make them… special. What can I do for you."

"Well, I was wondering if you could have Shokaku train Taihou. Having an experienced aircraft carrier would be beneficial when trying to train."

"Hmm. Indeed it would. But I'm afraid Shokaku is-"

He is cut off by the white haired aircraft carrier. "I can do it commander! I cannot turn down a newbie carrier when she needs help!"

"But Shokaku-"

"No buts, commander. When do you need me, Taihou's commander?"

I hear Taihou mumble something beneath her breath, something in agreement with what she had said.

"After the weekend, though only if it's okay with you, commander."

Shokaku looks at her commander with pleading eyes. He tries to avoid her piercing gaze up at him as he lets out a loud sigh. "Fine. But there will be no live ammunition. I cannot risk another training accident."

"Understood. Thank you for your acceptance."

"I would refrain from grabbing onto your commander like that, unless you wish him to end up court martialed and yourself scrapped." He speaks to Taihou.

The sexily clad Taihou slowly lets go of my arm in disappointment and looks towards the ground in shame. I feel a twinge of anger as Shokaku's commander threatens her.

"I would appreciate it if you treated my ship with more respect. She may be a weapon but this weapon could kick both of our asses if she wanted."

"I meant no disrespect, commander. However, until she proves herself I refuse to see her as an equal. I would also be careful not to let her stay too close, commander."

"I can certainly try, thank you for your time." I walk away with Taihou giving the ground a dark look.

I take Taihou over to the side where a record has been playing since we arrived. I do not recognize the song but it had gotten a few people to take the floor and start dancing. For an uptight military gathering, there sure was a lot of Kanse dancing with their commanders.

I look over at Taihou who still has her head pointed towards the ground. "Are you alright, Taihou. Don't let what he said get to you."

"Y-you stood up for me, my commander…"

"Don't think anything of it. Anyone else would have done the same."

Taihou's seductive dress shifts a little as she tries to reposition it on her shoulders after it had fallen. She squeezes me tightly in a hug as I feel her warmth rise up along me. The way she looked up at me with intense passion made me want to partake in her lips right in front of everyone.

"That's the thing commander, no one else would have. To them I'm just a weapon of war. While that's fine and all, I want to have something special too. You are so kind to me. You always have been…"

I look out the window and out into the pitch black abyss of outside. I look back into Taihou's crimson eyes which plead me to love her and only her. An overwhelming heat grows in my chest as I fear my rapid heartbeat may be audible to everyone around. Taihou bites her lip and tries to lock lips with mine. It pains me dearly to grab her hand and lead her out onto the dance floor.

Taihou is upset but agrees to my ultimatum. I grab her right hand and place it in my left hand with my opposite hand reaching around her waist. She was much more thin than I thought she was underneath her red dress. However the moment her waist met her thighs was a glorious sensation on my hands as they unconsciously try and grasp some part of the armored carrier.

As the music heightens I take the armored carrier and begin to waltz with her. A small blush climbing to her face as she attempts to dance in heels. Her clumsiness was quite charming as for once it was her with a deep blush on her face as suddenly all eyes were on us. This party was about her after all. It was impossible to remove my gaze from her stunning dress and beautiful eyes.

While the music plays, the talking subsides as now the entire hall was void of noise as we dance. Taihou eventually finds her footing and giggles a little under her breath as she begins to get it. She soon begins to outshine myself with her own presence on the floor, taking up all of the spotlight.

I didn't believe in love at first sight, however she was so lovely that night I wish I could have kissed her right there.

The music stops and Taihou takes in a deep breath as she stares back into my own eyes with her crimson red chroma. The crowd around us erupts into applause at Taihou's performance. She is later approached by a crowd of Kansen from all different backgrounds. From the smallest of destroyers, to the largest of battleships. Taihou seems overwhelmed which prompts me to step in and save her, but for the first time I had ever seen her do so, she bursts into laughter as all of the little destroyers beg her to teach them.

I smile and turn myself around and let her bond with her Kansen friends. I grab two glasses of champagne, figuring Taihou would be around later.

It was the first time I had been alone with just my thoughts in over a week. It felt lonely, like I had back in my days at the academy. In just a few days, Taihou had changed all of that. She always talks of my kindness but fails to acknowledge her own. I chuckle to myself.

"What's so funny, my commander?" Taihou teases.

I turn to her with a small smile and hand her one of my champagne glasses which she generously accepts. She takes her time with the champagne as if defining the taste in her mouth. She swallows it seductively with an extra lick on her lips after each sip to further enhance her hotness.

"Oh commander, won't you take me home if I drink too much~?"

I look around in hesitation.

"Why don't we go for a stroll somewhere more private."

"Oh my commander~" She licks her lips once more. "If you truly want me that badly then you only have to say it~"

I silently ignore her tease and take her outside and onto the beach just next to the gala in the deep dark moonlight. She seems to struggle walking in the sand with her heels, something I didn't think about at the time.

"Look, Taihou. I appreciate your feelings for me, I really do. I wholeheartedly want to reciprocate those feelings but…"

"You can't… Because of that code."

I nod my head silently as we look over at the dark abyss of water.

"Then I will have to destroy anything and everything that keeps me and my commander apart!"

"Taihou, no. There isn't anything we can do. But what that commander said is right. If you flirt too hard in public, someone might come and find us and report us to the CKR, that would spell disaster for both you and me…"

"I-I understand. I-I will not allow my feelings for you to interrupt such an important endeavor such as this." Her face says she is truly sorry, but she is also unhappy for she could never truly be with 'her dearest'. I too felt a twinge of sadness as I felt my own happiness leave.

"Hey, I did promise you a reward if you behaved yourself. What do you say we go get a drink on our own?"

"I would like that very much commander." Taihou states, trying to keep her promise.

We walk along in the sand, talking to ourselves. I had no idea Taihou was such a great listener. The entire time I spoke of what my life was like on the farm and in the academy she just nodded her head in agreement or understanding. We both walk at the same pace and stay far enough away from the ocean to avoid getting our fancy clothes dirtied by the water. Though Taihou's beautiful red dress dragged on the ground, it did not manage to absorb any unwanted debris from the beach. Taihou laughs as I finish my story and then proceeds to tell me one of hers. Though she was young, she has a fair share of them. She talks about how I was the only one to show up on the day of her launch to see her off into the harbor. For the first time I had known her, she strays away from me as a topic in general.

She talks about her non-existent sisters and how she wished dearly for at least one sister to spend time with. She talks about the problems with other's she has had over the years and the strained construction process of her hull which floats silently in the waters to their South. She giggles as I respond quickly to one of her comments with a quick comment of my own.

Finally, we reach the restaurant Taihou wants to take me to. I can't call it a restaurant because it did not actually serve food, it only served the highest of sake, wines, and spirits the Sakura Empire had to offer. Taihou excitedly sits in the open chair next to me and eyes the many different types of alcohol around them.

"That one. I've heard it's the best." Taihou says with a smile.

I had a bad feeling about this.

"Of course, Ma'am. And for the commander?"

"I'll have whatever she's having so we don't have to buy more than one bottle."

"Of course, sir."

They pull out a bottle of liquor marked "Phoenix Tears" with a large glitter red and yellow teardrop on the front of the bottle. They open it for us and pour each of us a glass, leaving the bottle at the table as they exit with a bow. Taihou takes the first drink.

She slowly downes the first glass as if challenging me to take her eyes off of her. She was still finding her own little ways to be seductive around me, always making sure my eyes never wander to anyone else other than her.

I take my own sip and almost attempt to drown it all in one go as the sweet concoction touches the tip of my lips. The smirk on Taihou's face tells me she knew this would be my reaction.

It was a dark red liquid, almost the color of blood and it reeked of alcohol. Almost like that stuff the people from the Northern Parliament were drinking all the time. But the taste was divine.

"How is it, m-... Commander?" She stops herself right before her line as a waiter passes by.

"It's great. You really know your stuff, huh?"

"I made sure to find the best of the best for my… uhm…"

I nod my head in understanding. This was much harder for her than it was for me. The Armored carrier blushes as she tries to come up with an answer. It was either the alcohol or her drop dead gergeousness but my mind had already begun wandering places it shouldn't. I decide one more and that's it.

Taihou was already draining the bottle, her face getting more and more hammered with each sip. A small grin on her face was the only thing that proved she was not out yet.

"Commander~ I love y-" I cut her off with my hand and look desperately around the room as Taihou muffles into my hand. Taihou uses her strength to remove my hand from her face and begins sucking on my fingers lightly. One by one.

A shot of lust goes through my body as she delicately enjoys each one. She expertly gives a show of skill with her mouth unparalleled to anything I had seen before. Her suction and use of her tongue were just enough to give a great amount of pleasure to my body.

Taihou lets go of my hand with a sigh as I dry my hand off with the table cloth napkin.

"We should go, we're both starting to feel the effects of so much drinking."

Taihou jumps up and grabs my arm affectionately, caressing my muscles with her tender hands. I look around but decide anyone here would not care even if they knew she was a shipgirl. I allow her to partake in my arm the rest of the trip back.

I hadn't noticed Taihou had stolen a single glass of the "tears" until I had laid her down in my bed on the Taihou. Taihou sits up expectantly as I too ponder what to do next.

That is when Taihou does something so seductive that I feel my entire body start to beg to partake in her.

Taihou pours some of the drink onto her obscene breasts with a seductive lick, allowing the thick liquid to pour down her womanhood. I kneel down before her as he eyes light up with joy. I slowly reach out my hands to grab her breasts.

"Yess, that's it, my Commander, give all of your love and attention to Taihou alone… And I shall reward you with pleasure beyond your imagination~" She grabs my pants.

Suddenly, I gain a sense of clarity through the intense influence of the alcohol.

"T-Taihou… I can't…"

"Don't worry, my commander. No one will see nor hear us from here~" She forces me down onto the bed and straddles herself over me.

"I promise to give my Commander the most special of services~" She whispers into my ear.

The tightness in my pants was unbearable. Something Taihou takes immediate notice of with a large smirk.

"Come commander, let's indulge ourselves in intense pleasure~"

Taihou has been in a particularly happy mood for a while. There have been two days where she had not bothered to follow me everywhere nor indulged herself in my personal business. Part of me misses it, the other is relieved to finally be free of her constant attempts to court martial me.

She would spend most of the day standing on her flight deck breathing in deeply the smells of spring.

I walk up to her with a letter in my hand. I had already read its contents and was hoping this would not upset her.

"Ah! Dear commander! My commander~ What brings you up here on this finest of days." Her lustful eyes full of adoration and love as I approach her. I hoped deeply that this would not make that disappear.

"Hey Taihou. I have a letter for you…"

"A letter for me? I am so used to looking through Commander's letters but now this is one for me?"

"My what now?"

Taihou grabs the letter from me and reads it out loud to the spring breeze. "Dear Commander," Taihou shivers in disgust. "I am sorry to inform you that our training operations will have to wait until a different date." Her voice continually gets darker the further she reads. "Our task force has been assigned to participate in a retrofit in Tokyo effective immediately. I do hope we are able to schedule another free time when you and your Kansen are available. Sincerest regards…"

Taihou is silent by the end of the letter. She looks out over the expansive blue ocean and throws the letter out into the sea. It leaves her hands and slices through the air. Taihou summons her rigging and uses one of her batteries to destroy the letter with pinpoint accuracy. I jump at the sound of guns ringing out across the quiet port.

Taihou looked furious. I knew how much she was looking forward to this as her first real experience to bond and train with another Kansen. Her trust had been betrayed again and she was looking to find the first person to blame it on.

Her crimson eyes fall onto me, standing still despite every bone in my body telling me to flee. Taihou sighs and returns her ringing back into her cube. Her rigging was quite different from what I imagined. I was expecting a flight deck to extend from her hip like the others, but I should have expected something different. Her rigging formed a brilliant white and gold ogi fan that hovered behind her.

This became of second importance when she spoke.

"I was really looking forward to this commander…"

"I know. I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do." I try to console her.

"It's not your fault, my commander. There is nothing you can do to make me mad anyways. Except lust after another woman."

I saw that one coming.

"We can do training by ourselves. Come here, don't give me that sad face. I hate seeing you with that on."

Taihou walks across the deck towards my open arms as she collapses into them. She was really looking forward to this. Her hot body presses against mine as she enjoys my hug for as long as she can.

"If you ever do this with another woman, I'm going to have to punish you, my commander~"

I can't tell if that was a threat or a promise. Either way, it was not something I wanted to find out. I slowly let her go so that we could get started.

"Alright, let's start with some sea trials."

…

That was a bad idea.

"Taihou! Slow down! Your engines are going to overheat!" I shout down to her from the bridge as master alarms blare at me. Taihou does not seem to care, her hull cuts through the ocean at speeds I was unsure she could reach. She stands confidently against the wind at the bow of her deck, I watch as her twin tails flap in the wind violently as her kimono gives me a full view of her naked body every couple of seconds.

"Why aren't you wearing anything underneath?!"

"Because I'm always ready to receive you, commander~"

"Oh now you respond!"

Taihou does slow down and her master alarms slowly turn off. Speed, check. Stability, check. Firepower, check. The only thing left remaining was her ability to take off aircraft. That was the most worrying aspect about this brief campaign into friendly waters to train.

"Alright, Taihou. Bring up your planes. Let's see how well you do."

Taihou turns her carrier into the wind and continues to sail in the direction to launch her planes most effectively. I was impressed I did not even have to tell her to do that. All three elevators open up with multiple aircraft on them as Taihou begins prepping her aircraft. We were only going to test launching and recovery so there was no ordinance used during this training exercise.

"Well done, I'm impressed with your capabilities so far."

"Thank you commander~"

"Now let's see how well you can take off from your launchers first."

"Okay~"

Taihou moves two of her planes seemingly with her mind to her two launchers at the bow of her flight deck.

"Ready at your command, my commander."

"Launch!"

Taihou launches her two planes with little to no difficulty. The two beautiful planes takeoff into the sky and climb to just a couple thousand feet. The two fighters circle the carrier in a dance, Taihou showing off her skills which I can't help but chuckle at. She wanted to be praised by me.

She lands the two planes on her cables without a problem. I clap to congratulate her.

"Well done. That was beautiful!"

"You're too kind, my dearest commander~"

"Alright, now the true test. Let's see how you can take off without your launchers."

"That's almost easier than taking them off with launchers!" Taihou boasts. I give her a quick headpat which she takes too much pleasure in.

As if invigorated by a new power source, Taihou activates all her planes at once with a renewed vigor. The sound of dozens of Mitsubishi engines was music to my ears. When they have all started up I look to Taihou and nod, not willing to shout above all the noise.

Taihou nods in return and her planes immediately purge forward and off of the flight deck. The lead plane goes up successfully, before dipping back down into the water where it explodes with a loud bang. I twinge at the sound but quickly find myself watching another one fall into the water. Then Another one. And then another one.

"Stop!" I shout to taihou who is unable to stop in time as she sends another one out into the cold blue ocean.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh.

"You can't take off without your launchers?"

"I-it's my first time…"

"You didn't seem to have a problem with that that nigh-"

I cut myself off before both of us get more red.

"A-anyways, we're going to have to fix this. As a mass produced carrier commander, I know how to take planes off of the runway. Perhaps that will help with this."

It does not. Another airplane is sent to its doom like off an assembly line of death.

An Idea comes to mind as I watch the 5th one go over the edge. Risky, suicidal, and insane. But I believe that it would work.

I walk up to one of the Zeros and sit myself in the pilot seat. I turn to Taihou.

"C-commander? What are you doing?"

"You are going to make this Zero fly. If you don't, I will crash into the ocean and die trying. I am placing my life into your hands, Taihou."

"B-but commander! I'm not ready!"

"No better time than the present, Taihou."

I close the canopy and give her a thumbs up. Mouthing the words 'You can do it!' to her. Taihou nervously begins moving my aircraft into position. She silently prays to the Sakura gods to give her strength. Suddenly, the Zero lurges forward and I roll across the runway. I too mutter a prayer to give her strength and also apologize for anything I had ever done.

I watch the tower pass as the Zero accelerates off of the ground. I hold onto the stick which causes the Zero to swerve slightly. Taihou panics as I quickly begin to lose altitude. I suddenly realize I am going to dive into the ocean at breakneck speeds. A fate which I would likely not survive.

Taihou exerts all of her willpower to keep the zero flying just as I am about to crash into the water. My left wing dips slightly into the water but the front end of the zero flies up and true. I shout out in jubilation.

"Yes! You did it!"

She can't hear me, but I like to believe she could feel the spirit behind it. Taihou takes me up and levels me out at about 2 thousand feet where we both finally take a deep breath. I open my canopy and shout out down to her.

"Well done! You did it!"

Taihou begins bringing me down and lands me perfectly on the runway where the zero comes to a halt just in time. I take a deep breath before hoping out of the zero and run to greet her with a large hug. I raise the armored carrier above the ground and spin her around laughing, causing her to laugh as well.

"Ah yes! You did it! I'm so proud of you!"

"Ahhehe, p-put me down commander!"

I set her down and give her a quick but passionate kiss on her perfect lips. Taihou looks surprised for a moment but then launches herself at me. She tackles me to the flight deck where we proceed to makeout for the next half an hour after my near death experience…