There was an explosion to the starboard side. The crew of the ship was thrown off their posts. Guns were damaged. Men were dying. A girl, with long black hair and a standard sailor uniform, dashed to the place of the explosion. There was blood dripping down one arm. The girl arrived at the scene of the explosion. Her eyes widened. She walked over to one particular body.

The girl fell to her knees as tears began to stream out of her eyes. She gently shook the body, hoping that it would move. But it didn't.

"No..." the girl whispered. She felt her body collapse.

"No..."

"NO!"

Mikasa jerked awake. Her face was covered in tears and sweat. Her breathing began to slow down as she realised that it was all a dream. She looked at the clock next to her. The clock read 7:00 AM. She got out of her bed and immediately went to the bathroom.

The cold water from the shower felt cool on her face. She just stood there, letting the water wash all her ill thoughts away.

Once dried, she brushed her short, white hair until she was content with how she looked. Then she got dressed. Today was a weekend, so she just dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.

As she walked out of the bathroom she recognized a figure walking towards her.

"Oh, good morning, Akagi-san!" Mikasa greeted cheerfully. The Aircraft carrier returned a gentle smile.

"Good morning Mikasa," replied Akagi. "Why are you up so early?" Mikasa giggled nervously.

"Heh heh, just a nightmare, that's all," Mikasa replied. Akagi's expression darkened.

"Same one as usual?" she asked. Mikasa nodded.

"It's fine," she said. "I'm used to it now."

"Don't stress yourself," said Akagi. Then she thought of an idea.

"Oh yeah," she said. "The Akatsukis are going to the airport to pick up one of their siblings. Why don't you go with them? It's a lot better than staying here." Mikasa thought for a bit before nodding in agreement.

"Okay," she said. As Mikasa was about to walk out the door, however, Akagi stopped her.

"Don't forget to do your homework, okay?" Mikasa chuckled.

"Yes, yes, I know. But it's a Saturday, take a break from teaching."

The Akatsuki sisters were a very energetic bunch. The eldest of them, Akatsuki, constantly had to remind everyone that she was a proper lady, not a little girl. Then there was Inazuma, who was rather shy and was the more... moe of the group. Then there was Ikazuchi, who always wanted to be depended on and also seemed like she had consumed too much sugar for a year.

The group had arrived at the airport to pick up their fourth sister, Hibiki. Said person was walking out of the terminal building now.

"Hey, Hibiki!" said Ikazuchi. "Did you have fun in Russia?" Hibiki nodded.

"Da," she said. "I met a lot of my old friends while I was there." Mikasa's ears perked up at this.

"Did you see Aurora, by any chance?" Mikasa asked. Hibiki nodded again.

"Da."

"How is she?"

"She's fine. The Russian government is putting her back in "active" service again so they steamed her towards a restoration dock." Hibiki sighed. "She won't be in the public eye for a few months."

"Is it possible for me to call her?" Mikasa asked. Hibiki shook her head.

"Niet," she said. "She just got a new phone but I forgot to ask her number." Mikasa's smile faded away.

"Oh..."

When Mikasa arrived back at Yokosuka Naval Base, she took a moment to observe herself. She could no longer sail as she had before, for her hull had been secured to the base via concrete. Her guns were all replicas. All the originals were removed after World War II. There was no one to command her actions. Her admiral passed away long ago.

And the boy she loved would never return...

She felt a slight tickling sensation, something that she was used to. She looked over at her hull and found a young toddler trying to traverse one of her tertiary guns. Mikasa smiled at the sight. A peaceful world. She liked it.

Mikasa entered her room and sat down on her chair with a flop. It was a rather tiring walk, having to carry most of Hibiki's baggage with her. She switched on her PC and found a nice surprise waiting for her. It was an email. The sender's name was Nishiya Arimoto. Mikasa immediately opened the email and fluttered when she saw the contents.

There was not much in terms of content, but then she saw the line she wanted to see.

"World of Warships Beta Access Code..."

Mikasa smiled as she used the code to finally download the game she had been waiting for. She immediately began to grind down the Japanese Battleship line. Mikasa was surprised with how the bots in the game acted. This was the first time she was rammed to death by an AI. Still, she had to smile when finally made it to tier five.

Mikasa saw something in the matchmaking that she didn't expect.

"10thPanzerdivision"

Mikasa chuckled. Looks like this account was from World of Tanks. This 10th person was using a St. Louis, Tier III American Cruiser. Mikasa herself was using the Kawachi, Tier III Japanese Battleship. Suddenly, a wild enemy Myogi class Battleship appeared. The Myogi was Tier IV. Mikasa turned to port in order to bear the maximum number of guns on the enemy.

But the enemy got their guns pointed at her first.

The volley never came.

Instead, a volley from a different direction struck the enemy Myogi. The ship burst into flames. Two out of its three main turrets were crippled. The Myogi fired at Mikasa's Kawachi with its last remaining main turret before using a repair kit to put out the flames and repair the turrets.

By this time, Mikasa's Kawachi managed to turn all available guns towards the enemy battleship. She double-clicked her mouse, causing a volley to fire from four of her six 14 inch double turrets.

Most of these shots struck home.

Mikasa got a satisfying feeling when she saw that she had managed to penetrate the citadel of the enemy warship.

The whole entire time, a certain St. Louis was focusing as much fire as it could on the enemy Myogi. Broadside after broadside of High Explosive shells rained down on the poor battleship. Every time he repaired one thing, the St. Louis would cripple something else, then cripple whatever was just repaired. Simultaneously, Mikasa's Kawachi fired volley after volley of Armor Piercing. The Myogi's HP didn't last, and it finally exploded in a massive cloud of fire and smoke.

After that, Mikasa went on to sink two more cruisers while the St. Louis managed to humiliate another battleship and sink the enemy's Langley-class Aircraft Carrier.

Akagi peaked into Mikasa's room that night. Mikasa was sleeping on her desk, her homework finished, her PC turned off, and her phone clutched in her hand. Akagi got a little curious, and decided to take a look at what Mikasa had been doing on her phone.

Mikasa: Hey.

Nishiya: Yo.

Mikasa: Thanks for the Beta code. I had a blast.

Nishiya: I know. You completely wrecked that one Myogi.

Mikasa: Wait, how did you know?

Nishiya: I was right? Lol

Nishiya: I was in the St. Louis.

Mikasa: That was you?

Nishiya: Yup.

Mikasa: Oh.

Mikasa: Anyway, I had a good time. See u on Monday!

Nishiya: Bye.

Akagi put down the phone and smiled gently at Mikasa's sleeping face. It looked like she might have gotten over it after all.

... Or has she?

Author's notes: I. Hate. Finals! And even as I say that I get a decent grade on my Programming Final.

...Dafuq?

Considering I made this whole chapter during Study Hall, I'm surprised that I actually finished this chapter before the school year is over. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Please review. It motivates to write more.

And yes, Russia is here as well. Kolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkol...

Russia: Become one with Russia, da?

Karl: HELL NO!