High above the base, several squadrons of dive bombers gently banked through the clouds, making the final turn towards their final target. Above and slightly behind them, their fighter escort kept a close watch on them as an equal number of high-level bombers approached from the opposite direction. The lead dive bomber waggled its wings as a signal to the rest before pushing the nose down into a steep dive. They followed in perfect unison, three dozen D3A Vals screaming towards the target, the HQ complex at the center of the base. At the last moment, they pulled up, having released their imaginary bombs directly on the training point.

Inside the building, Cecilia Sempill involuntarily ducked as the Vals roared past, coming so close they rattled the windows. Neither Hiei nor I looked up from our task, but I smirked as I finished putting my signature on the report I was working on.

"What in the hell was that?!" Cecilia exclaimed, still looking around as if she expected the roof to cave in on us.

"Land attack training," I answered as I stood up from my desk and strolled over to the window. The last Val had just gone by and I waved to it, smiling as the plane waggled its wings in return. "Akagi's putting her carrier divisions through their paces, and she likes to use HQ as the 'target' for her dive bombers and high-level bombers. Speaking of, you should be able to see the B7As returning to her if you look out the other window."

Cecilia darted over to the window, searching the sky for a moment before she spotted the massive formation of gull-winged aircraft gently banking back to their carriers. "Okay, so...why does she pick this building? Isn't it kind of disruptive?"

I smile and shrug. "You get used to it. Besides, it's only for a few seconds, then back to work. And it's her way of saying hello when she's out training. She calls it her 'love bombs'."

My sister stared at me for a moment, perplexed by the contented smile on my face before she slowly shook her head. "Alright. If it makes you two happy, who am I to judge?"

"It does. And speaking of happy," I began, taking advantage of the natural segway into her blossoming relationship, "Did Tosa get you home alright?"

Her smile lit up the room. "She did," she answered happily. "Made sure I got back safe and sound, and we chatted a bit before I went to bed. Not to sound like a broken record, but I had a lot of fun last night, thank you."

Hiei, ever one to read a room, finished the requisition forms she'd been working on and stood. "If you'll excuse me, Commander, I believe I'll go make those inquiries you asked about…"

"Of course," I said, barely able to hide my grin as I gave her a slight bow. I waited for her to leave and shut the door behind her before turning my attention back to Cecilia. "So, you and Tosa seem to be really hitting it off…"

To my surprise, her answer wasn't as positive as I'd expected. "Yeah...I guess…" she muttered hesitantly, her smile fading somewhat. Immediately, I began to worry. Had we all read too much into things? Were we wrong about them?

"Don't sound too sure about that," I began, "You wanna talk about it?"

Cecilia let out a long, loud sigh and began to pace back and forth as she spoke. "I dunno… It's just...I'm having fun with her, but I'm not sure."

"Not sure about what?"

"Everything?" she said with a shrug. "Is what I'm feeling for her real or is this just a rebound, does she feel the same way or is she just being nice, is she even into girls?"

Inwardly, I let out a sigh of relief. "So you do have feelings for her, or at least feel like you might."

Cecilia nodded slowly. "Yeah...yeah I do. She's just...she's just there for me, you know? Maybe she's just being nice because I'm new or her commander's sister, but it feels like I can just rely on her to be my rock." She paused, peering intently at me. "Why are you even asking about this, anyway? Did Tosa say something to you?"

I shook my head and grinned. "Tosa? No. But Akagi, Kaga, and Amagi noticed that when you're with Tosa you get a very...familiar smile."

She stared at me as she tried to understand what I was getting at. "Familiar? What do you-oh. Oh, no…" she moaned as it sank in. "I get the same stupid smile you do?"

"It's uncanny, apparently," I grinned before I realize what she'd just said. "Hey, what do you mean, 'stupid'?"

Ignoring my question, she tilted her head back and groaned loudly. "Argh. Do you think Tosa noticed?"

"I'm sure it hasn't escaped her grasp," I quipped. "She's pretty into you, you know."

Her head snapped back to me, a hopeful expression on her face. "She is?"

"Mhm. She usually keeps to herself, pretty private, but she's gone out of her way to spend time with you You know, you could always ask her if she wants to take things to the next level."

Cecilia sighed and shook her head sadly as she turned away from me, slowly walking towards the window. "What if she says no?"

"Well, it'll be a little awkward, but you're only here for a couple of weeks."

Her next question was subdued, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if she says yes?" She slowly turned back to me, her eyes full of anxiety and fear. "What if she says yes, and there is something between us and I have to leave in a few weeks? I don't think I can take that kind of heartbreak again so soon, Elliot…"

My heart went out to her, and I quickly crossed the room and gave her a comforting hug. "Hey, it'll be okay. If there's a way to make it work, I promise you, all of us will work day and night to find it."

She pushed back away from me as she peered up in confusion. "All of us?"

"Yeah," I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "Me, Akagi, Kaga, Amagi. We're a family now, and if you and Tosa want to be together, we're all gonna make damn sure that happens."

The confusion, anxiety, and concern all melted away, and I thought I saw tears welling up in her eyes before she hugged me tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Anytime," I softly answered. "Hey, I know we haven't...spoken much...since Mom and Dad died, but...regardless of how this thing with Tosa shakes out, I'd like to have you in my life a bit more. And so would Akagi and her sisters."

Cecilia nodded as she stepped back, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. "You know what? I think I'd like that, too."

"Good, good."

There was an awkward pause before Cecila spoke up again. "So...when would be the best time to talk to Tosa, you think?"

I wracked my brain to remember Tosa's schedule for the day and did some quick calculations in my head and said, "Probably about an hour, hour and a half. Should be done with drills and given them time to shower, change, that sort of thing."

"Do you...do you think you could come with me when I talk to her?"

As surprised and flattered as I was, I emphatically shook my head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Confusion and hurt flashed across Cecilia's face. "What? Why?"

"Because I'm her commanding officer, and having me loiter around while you talk to her isn't a good look. I don't want to influence her decision, in either direction." As her face continued to fall, I quickly added, "I'll walk with you to wherever you're meeting her and I'll walk back with you, but I can't be at your side. Except in spirit."

"What if she brings someone, like...Kaga or Amagi?"

"Then I'll draw them off so it's just the two of you."

My sister looked like she'd just swallowed a spoonful of motor oil, but she nodded all the same. "Alright," she said with a resigned sigh.

'It'll be alright," I reassured her. "Once you guys set a time, just come and get me and I'll go with you."

She smiled brightly, some of her confidence restored. "Sure thing!"

The text came one and a half hours later, just as I predicted. Hiei was still out making those "inquiries", and Akagi was supposed to be relieving her right about now, but I had a promise to keep and I couldn't wait any longer. As luck would have it, as I opened the door, I found not Akagi, but rather a surprised-looking Soryu. She blinked owlishly from behind those large glasses as she composed herself.

"Everything okay, Soryu?" I asked as I began to slip my jacket on. "I don't have an appointment for you on my schedule, do I?"

"No sir," she answered with a firm shake of her head. "Akagi had something come up at the last minute and asked me to cover for her while she handled it."

While that should have set off a few warning bells, I was so preoccupied with meeting Cecilia that it didn't register at the time. "Huh. Odd." I shrugged it off and said, "Well, it's just as well in any case, I've got to go handle something real quick. Hold down the fort for me while I'm gone."

Soryu nodded solemnly and stood aside so I could pass. "Aye, sir."

"Thanks," I smiled as I swept past her, hurrying my way to the meeting point at a relatively brisk pace. It didn't take me long to get there, and even less time to find her. Ironically enough, given the rather colorful members of my fleet, Cecilia's normal, everyday dress caused her to stand out around here.

She saw me approaching and waved, and I waved back as I trotted over to her. "There you are," she teased, "Thought you were gonna leave me hanging there."

I grimaced and shrugged. "Sorry," I replied, "There was an issue with Akagi not returning to the office."

Cecilia frowned, her brows furrowing together. "That sounds...odd. Is that odd?"

"For Akagi, yes. Usually, she can't wait to get back to me, but I'm sure it's nothing serious, otherwise, she would have asked for my help. In any case, I'm here now and I'll be here for support if you need it. Have you thought about what you're going to say to her?"

Her head rapidly bobbed up and down as she nodded nervously, her hands smoothing out more of those invisible wrinkles on her sundress. "I'm just going to take the direct approach and tell her I'm interested and ask if she feels the same way and brace myself for whatever her answer is."

I gave her a reassuring smile as I patted her shoulder. "I think we're all in agreement that she does, or at least, hope she does. But either way this goes down, I'll be here for you."

"Thanks," she smiled up at me for a moment, and then gestured towards a couple of dorms. "C'mon, she said she'd meet me there."

As we strolled towards the meeting spot, I spied a row of hedges I could hide behind while waiting for the two of them to talk things over and still get a good, unobtrusive look. I pointed them out to Cecilia and said, "I'll just hang out over there, and when I see you walking back, I'll come meet you, ok?"

My sister looked over at the large hedgerow, nodded, and took a deep breath. "Okay," she said with a long sigh, then turned to me with a forced smile on her face. "Wish me luck!"

"May you find the happiness you seek, Cecilia," I answered and hugged her tightly.

"Ugh, you're starting to sound like them," she teased as she hugged back.

"You're next," I grinned, much to her delight.

"I can only hope, now go on!" she laughed as she shooed me away. Giving her one final wave, I quickly trotted over to the hedges, but as soon as I rounded the corner, someone placed a gloved hand on my mouth and my world was suddenly swallowed up by darkness.

Cecilia glanced over her shoulder one last time, surprised at just how quickly Elliot had managed to disappear. She looked around for another second, and when she didn't see him, simply shrugged and carried on. With some of the girls here who seem to range between eccentric and downright crazy, she understood why he may have perfected the art of suddenly disappearing.

As she rounded the corner, she saw Tosa standing at the meeting spot already. Even from a distance, she could see the kansen looking around, her posture nervous, her tails flicking about. Were those tails as soft and fluffy as Akagi's, Cecilia wondered. How would they feel beneath her fingers, would they tickle her as they roamed her body? Were her ears as sensitive?

She shook her head, trying to clear it of any such distracting, exciting thoughts. There would be time for daydreaming later, she had to focus on the now. While she had some self-doubts about just how true her feelings for Tosa were, her bigger concern was how Tosa felt about her. It wouldn't matter if this was more than a simple rebound if Tosa was simply being polite to her boss's sister.

With every step she took towards the silver-haired kansen, her heart seemed to beat faster and faster. This could go one of two ways. Either Tosa wanted to start a relationship with her or she didn't. Each one had heartbreaking implications. If she rejected her, Cecilia would be alone again, with her heart still suffering from Bill's infidelity. If she accepted it, then things could bloom into something more, something beautiful...and then be forced to end when her two weeks were up. Sure, she would be able to see Tosa if she made a trip up to NYC, but she was sure those would be few and far between. Elliot had been confident that he could help the two of them out, and while she didn't share his confidence, she couldn't deny it either.

"Cecilia!" Tosa exclaimed, startling her out of her reverie and bringing her to a screeching halt just inches in front of the battleship. The kitsune peered searchingly at her, concern hiding just behind that stoic veneer. "Are you okay? You seem a bit distracted."

Cecilia giggled nervously and dismissively waved her hand. "What, me? No, no. Just uh…" her voice trailed off as her eyes met Tosa's stern gaze that cut right through her. She sighed and shook her head, her shoulders slumped. "No, you're right. I am distracted. I've been wondering about...well, us."

"Us?" Tosa repeated calmly.

"Y-yeah," she stammered and began smoothing out the wrinkles from her dress. "Us. I-if there is an us, that is. I mean..it's just...I've been thinking about you a lot, and I feel like there's something between us, maybe more than just good friends...and I was wondering if you felt the same way?"

Before Cecilia could even brace herself, Tosa matter-of-factly answered with "Of course."

It happened so quickly that she didn't even register it at first, still blankly staring at Tosa for a half-second until her brain could process what she'd just said. "O-of course?"

"Yes," Tosa nodded curtly. "You are a fascinating woman, and I enjoy the warmth and energy you bring every time I see you. While I don't yet know if we are truly meant to be together, I want to find out with you."

Her heart swelled with joy and Cecilia lept forward, wrapping her arms around Tosa's neck and kissing her impulsively. Tosa stiffened even further at the surprise but shortly found herself responding in kind, wrapping her arms tightly around Cecilia's waist in a tender embrace…

I struggled briefly in the clutches of my mystery assailant until I caught the familiar scent of Akagi and realized the darkness that was enveloping me was her tails. As soon as I ceased fighting her, she loosened her iron grip on me and spun me around. Her hand was still on my mouth, though and when I shot her a questioning look, she raised her other hand to her lips. I nodded slowly and when she removed her hand, I quietly whispered, "What's going on?"

She answered by way of leaning to the side, revealing Kaga and Amagi hiding next to her behind the hedgerow. "We're here to support Tosa, Shikikan-sama," she smiled as the two other foxes waved happily at me. "She said Cecilia wanted to talk to her, and it sounded important, so we agreed to accompany her and be her support if she needed it. Why are you here?"

"For Cecilia," I said, waving back at Kaga and Amagi. "She asked me to be here, help calm her nerves, and I agreed. This is sort of my idea anyway, so I feel like I should be here in case this doesn't go well."

"Your idea?" Kaga cut in, leaning past Akagi with a concerned expression. "What do you mean?"

"Cecilia had some...doubts, fears, uncertainties about her feelings for Tosa, and she's been debating as to whether or not Tosa felt the same way. So I told her she should ask and find out, one way or another."

Kaga frowned but said nothing. Akagi beamed happily at me and Amagi gave me a slow, sage nod.

"I think that was the correct course of action, Commander," the eldest sibling said, breaking her silence at last. "This could backfire, of course, but with so little time, we don't have the luxury of watching them dance around each other. A little push is good every now and again, don't you agree, Kaga?"

The pointed reference was not lost on the white-haired carrier, who smirked and nodded slowly. "Agreed. Well played, Commander."

"Thank you," I bowed my head to her in return.

"Now if only you were as wise in shogi…"

"One day I'll-" my retort was cut short as Akagi shushed us, tapping me on the shoulder to get my attention. I glanced over at her to find her peering out from the hedges, a broad, almost insane, grin on her face. I followed her ruby gaze to where Cecilia and Tosa were embracing each other. While we couldn't see their faces, and it was somewhat hard to tell body language from this distance, it looked like things were going well. Akagi made a quiet noise of delight when they parted and took one another's hands. Cecilia gestured to where she last saw me, and then Tosa gestured to where I'm guessing she had last seen her sisters, and slowly, they turned, almost in unison, to face the hedgerow we were hiding behind.

"Well, ladies," I quipped, "I think we've been made. Let's go hear the good news." The others nodded in agreement and we filed out from behind the hedges, Amagi pausing to open her umbrella first. Both Cecilia and Tosa were smiling, although Tosa's was her more muted, reserved sort of smile than Cecilia's happy beaming grin.

"Well?" I asked as we approached, although I was certain of the answer. "Don't keep us in suspense."

"It's official," Cecilia happily announced, smiling over at Tosa. "We don't know where this is going to go, or how deep our feelings really go, but we're gonna give it a shot."

"Splendid news," Amagi declared. "I have no doubt that the two of you will find the answers you seek, one way or another."

As the women began to chat happily amongst themselves, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the message I'd just received. "Akagi," I said quietly, but my tone was enough to immediately get her attention.

"Shikikan-sama?" she replied, turning to face me.

"Speaking of answers...Vestal wants to see us."

A/N-Cliffhanger! Is it good news or bad news? Guess we'll have to wait and see. Mikasa's story is coming along well, and I'm pleased to announce that the first chapter will be made available to the public no later than July 12th. Until next time, fair winds and following seas!