Chapter 23: At The Door Part 1
At some point in the afternoon, after the harsh conversation between the two Eagle Union sisters, Enterprise leaned on a wall within the medical wing of the Sakura Empire.
She didn't know how long she had been eyeing the room down the hallway. Remorse and stubbornness plagued her like an angel and devil on her shoulders budding heads, stifling her progress to make a move.
With a deep sigh, she found a break in her endless loop of troubled thoughts and knew what she had to do. She approached the door quietly. That's when she heard laughter that sounded like her sister resonating through the other end.
She steeled her nerves and opened the door, expecting only the worse that her current mindset would allow.
The room fell silent, and she stood there like a statue with her bruises and injuries in plain sight.
In the room, Hornet had been sitting on the bed and her mystery guest was the older crane sister, Shoukaku. They had been lost in a world of joy that from the viewpoint of the archer, appeared to only hold two as occupants. Anyone implemented into their world would only dilute what unknown magical bond they had exuded at that moment. Nevertheless, she had already ruined it.
"Sis..." Hornet's words came as surprised and cautious. Her green eyes tried to hide under the shadow of her yellow and black hat with hints of shyness also thrown in. The archer didn't blame her considering the argument they had hours before.
Enterprise remained quiet with an evasive look, knowing full well that she felt like an intruder. In honesty, she expected the worst, almost anticipating that it was her vile twin being the one laughing with her younger sister. It took her now to think it through that it was a delusional conclusion that it couldn't realistically happen.
Shoukaku, for some reason, looked startled with a face close to worry. It was only for a second before she masked whatever emotions she had prior with a friendly smile. "I... should be going. Hornet, take it easy. And keep that hat on. Trying to ask around until stumbling into Akagi and finding out she had it was like fate." She coughed to hide her odd expression that formed on the corners of her mouth. In the next second, the silver-haired woman donned a proud smirk.
The blonde's face genuinely smiled before she masked it with a melancholy acceptance.
Shoukaku glanced at Enterprise briefly and hurriedly stepped out.
"Did I disturb something?" She asked softly with a distant and sad tone to her voice.
"Huh? No-no. I mean—that depends. Are you here to argue again?" Stated the blonde with a stern look.
A wave of unsavory words forced themselves against Enterprise's throat, yet she held them back. "That's not... no, I don't feel like arguing or raging. I'm tapped out at the moment," she said tiredly and honestly.
Hornet relaxed her iron demeanor and looked at her sister with more acceptance. "Good, pull up a seat." She ordered which the white-haired archer quietly did.
Once she sat down, the room grew heavy with silence. "Umm... they told me you were here. Did you fall ill all of a sudden?"
Hornet witnessed the look of concern and fear from her sister; a reminder to not give her a hard time. "No, they patched me up earlier and gave me some grub to eat, but they wanted to admit me into the medical wing again for night observation. I'll be free to go first thing in the morning. I told them about the drifting mist, and they told me that those who find themselves escaping it feel spontaneous motion sickness and headaches from breathing in the mist. I don't know, I feel fine, and they say nothing severe comes from it." She had another reason as to why she didn't fight them on their decision and that was the awkward moment that would happen once she returned to Takao and Atago's place. After the black-haired heavy cruiser said that she should distance herself from Alt before she gets hurt, she decided that she needed room away from their place.
"That sounds wise. A place like that is an unknown and even though it's a minor precaution, it's not one to overlook," said Enterprise.
Hornet placed her arms behind her head, emanating a carefree aura about her. "Pfft, for the time being, I'm grounded as my ship is pretty much salvage scrap."
"Were you planning on leaving if it was operational?" Asked Enterprise with a burning curiosity.
Hornet turned aside and bit her lip, coming to the realization that she let her mouth move on its own. "No, unless there are major operations involved, I'm in no rush to go back to base... is that a problem?" She stated with a hard gaze at her sister.
Enterprise furrowed her brows and her hand tiredly flexed. "I just... I worry about you. That is all," she said with held-back frustration.
"And I worry about you, so I guess we reached an impasse," said the blonde.
A defeated sigh came from the mouth of the archer. "Hornet, you've always been so straightforward with your feelings... that's something I wish I could have learned a long time ago. Even now, I have a lot of growing pains in that front."
Hornet looked down, feeling more ashamed of herself after hearing such insight and honesty from her sister.
Enterprise stood up and hid her face with her hat. "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. It's not your fault for having such an open and accepting heart. For what it's worth, I haven't been feeling like myself recently..."
Hornet remained silent yet her attention was fully devoted to her sister as her face grew concerned.
"...yes, I was mad about many things. Her attacking our home... attacking Grimm... I was filled with so much rage. Rage that overflowed onto others that were merely trying to help out." Cleveland came to mind as being the most severe case that her anger created, and she knew she needed to make it right with her friend.
"It's normal to feel angry, sis," said Hornet hoping to make her sister feel slightly better.
It didn't work and Enterprise held her hand out. "I get that, but this feels different. I can't really explain it fully. When I get angry like that, my mind feels like it's being pulled toward something else and suddenly, I tap into this rage and bitterness that... I can almost drown in it. It feels horrible, like if the world is fighting to snuff me out." It was hard for her to talk about those insecurities, yet she did feel somewhat better.
A sense of dread and anxiety washed over the blonde after hearing those words. As her mind raced to come up with a conclusion as to why her sister had been feeling destructively angry, the image of Alt flashed in her mind. The way she glares, the jagged fierceness to her words, and the way she fights like a demon that throws caution to the wind. When her sister, Enterprise, attacked Alt, those qualities had shined through like a lighthouse light.
"Please rest, sister. I'll be going now," spoke the archer.
"Ent..." She desperately wanted to talk to her sister about Alt and how she was actually a good person. However, it might be rubbing salt on the proverbial wound if she talked about how great Alt was at this time. "...get some rest also, please."
Enterprise smiled yet it did not hold. She stepped out of the room, leaving her sister alone with her thoughts.
(Alt)
Rain poured down endlessly from a sky devoid of sun. One would assume that it was night. However, no stars shimmered. Nothing but an endless black expansion of void to complement the rain that was born from no clouds.
A figure emerged from the water, completely beaten and drenched like a sewer rat. That said figure was the white-haired tormented doppelganger. She coughed violently, forcing the water out of her mouth. She struggled to stand up but two grave wounds, one on her left leg and the other on her left arm caused her to succumb to her pain.
Vacant purple eyes desperately search for shelter through the darkness. She turned behind her to the only light source around; a floating graveyard of burning ships in the distance.
She released a triumphant sound of relief knowing that the battle had been won. Her body gave out on her and dropped carelessly onto the rocky ground beneath her.
That was when sounds of water parted as if someone was advancing out from it. She struggled to cock her head in the direction of the noise and her blood ran cold when the sight of a woman in white emerged from the water, brandishing a deadly sword.
Only an angered and troubled sound produced from the archer who was too weak to move. She stared up at the unimaginable survivor with fear and hate.
The woman dressed in white with white hair proceeded to slowly skewer her blade into the chest of the injured woman.
Alt bit her lip, causing it to bleed. She refused to give her assailant the satisfaction of her screams.
Light from the wreckage behind them illuminated the face of her assailant and blue eyes met with her purple eyes. Along with a wicked and contorted smile that would have fit a Siren better.
"Go on. Do it!" She defiantly shouted through her pain as the white-haired Sakura drove the blade deep and finally dragged out the horrible cry of agony from Alt.
Her reality shifted and she felt an urgent pair of hands shaking her.
"Hey, are you okay? E-2, speak to me!" Alt's eyes shot wide awake, trying to find understanding in her surroundings. A frenzy state of drenched sweat shined across her face. She panicked and heavy breathing poured out. The black tank top she wore under the rigging up to this point had been heavily drenched in her sleep. Purple eyes connected with warm orange-colored eyes.
"It was just a dream," came the soothing words of Takao.
The morning had come with sunlight shining through a window cell and birds chirping in the distance.
Alt gazed at her, perplexed and somewhat still far off as she hadn't woken up fully. "Dream..." she touched her chest and could feel immediate fading pain, however upon her applying pressure on it, it was gone, and she wondered if it was only in her mind.
"Grrr, what's wrong with you two?!" Outside the cell room, Akagi was berating the sisters in charge of Alt's confinement. "When a prisoner is thrashing around in her sleep, you notify someone immediately! And you don't distract yourself with card games!" She said while pointing to an ongoing game near a table that had looked like it had been going on for some time. The stern and infuriated words of the fox woman filled the chamber of the old prison.
Alt looked toward the direction of the noise, seeing Hyuuga and Ise while they looked at Akagi with gritted teeth.
"She didn't look like she was in danger. Besides, shouldn't you feel some sort of justice for what she did to you and Takao? You know… that whole groping and stuff," replied Hyuuga.
"That is irrelevant and in the past. Do I hold you two in distaste when I found you both drunk like an Oni on our last festival when you were both charged with showing the Dragon Empery around? Good grief, the amount of apology that Nagato had to do."
"Grrr, curse you for bringing that old news back up," said Hyuuga, shame hitting her like a ton of torpedoes.
Ise, sounding gentler and more forthcoming, spoke. "So, you don't hold it over our heads?"
The aircraft carrier folded her arms. "That's up to you two. If you're charged with watching over her, you then must be diligently observant. You're lucky that Takao and I arrived here when she started to convulse violently."
Not caring if her action might reach the ears of Nagato and finding it as a perfect excuse, she proceeded to push them out of the old prison chamber with them still arguing in protest. She then walked over to where Takao was with the prisoner. "H-hey, can you stand?"
Alt stared at her blankly, "Yeah..."
A smile appeared on Akagi's face. "Excellent, Takao, get towels and reserve a bath at once."
"Eh?!" Came the replies of both the ponytail woman and injured archer.
(Sometime later)
How did she get herself in this situation? Events had moved too fast from that point onward and she was now in a secluded bath with the ally fox woman that helped her rescue her sister. It was just like that time with Takao's sister who loomed over her while washing her hair without pause. Why did she allow herself in this situation again but with less resistance than the first time? She asked herself that question continuously and found no answer.
At least Akagi seized the time to make sure all her bandages and wounds were covered up accordingly to not get ruined. That was commendable enough.
A wonderfully scented liquid smeared across her hair until it started gathering suds. "Hmmm, I can wash myself," she said half-brooding.
A chuckle sounded from the fox woman. "My... are you sure? You seem less like yourself and quite docile ever since you woke up. I figured I would have received some physical pushback instead of just glares that didn't feel like their heart were in them," she said with a teasing hum to her voice.
Alt remained quiet with a hidden expression of shyness. "I'm all tapped out on rage or even anger at the moment," she said with honesty.
The Sakura woman closed her mouth after hearing such sincerity. "I see. No matter," she felt bad now for teasing her.
"You were able to remove my rigging..." stated Alt with purple eyes looking back at the omni-tailed woman.
Akagi gave her a raised eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I? Nagato has no reason to suspect me, her most trusted advisor. And I doubt she's cruel enough to keep you locked in that thing until it starts collecting moss.
Alt pensively replayed those words. "Is that so? She's done with me, isn't she?"
"You give her too little credit. When her eyes land on someone she's interested in, it's hard for her to let it go. That's just one of the qualities that remind me how young she is. Can't you tell how hard she is trying to connect with you?"
"You Sakura girls are such a weird bunch," she started to compare the realistic versions of them to the data programs found in her dark sea and a cynical laugh came out of her throat. "You are all too lax."
Akagi laughed with a sincere nod. When the mood had died down, she focused on more pressing matters. "What did you dream?" She asked softly.
The archer grew quiet and pondered on her nightmare. "It doesn't matter. It was just another day in my life of hell in the Siren's constructed world."
Akagi did not need to probe as the archer, maybe needing to make sense of things, confided in her about what Tester had told her in the drifting mist.
"... they used me like a battery using my death and murders to farm data and energy for some plan they called... Orochi."
"You poor thing..." Akagi, in her wildest dreams, would never have known that using the black mental cube's energy had created so much personal suffering for a sentient being, whether she was flesh and blood or ones and zeroes at that time was irrelevant. She silently held herself back from wanting to vomit from her disgraceful past.
"Don't pity me, I hate that," stated the archer with a sharp look back at the other woman.
"Anyone in that position would have mentally broken down a long time ago."
"Maybe that's why they wiped my memory with every resurrection... pfft, doesn't matter now since it's all coming back to me like a flood." In a situation that could only be described as poor timing, Akagi had dumped a bucket of water over the archer's head to wash away the soap from her hair.
"We've been in here for a while, they might suspect something," she said with a heavily stricken face of pure sadness.
Alt had a hard time processing the sudden brash action from the woman that was further clouded in mystery at the fact that she grew troubled from then on.
A few minutes went by, and the fox woman threw the doors open to the outside world. The sun beamed down on the roof shade connected to the door, and in front of Akagi was Takao who had been waiting outside. "Did anyone come?" She asked the black-haired swordswoman.
"No, it's rather early for citizens to be up and about. Those who are, have kept their distance and turned the other way. But I did see Ise and Hyuuga. They've been following us in the shadows but seem to have given up once they knew we were taking her for a bath."
The dark brown-haired carrier mulled it over if any of the citizens would report this unofficial day trip for the prisoner, but they wouldn't know any better and think this is all business. As for the sisters, they could report it to Nagato, but she was ready if they did. She was always one step ahead after all. "Oh... maybe the fear of the prisoner pouncing on them inside the bath severed any form of motivation they had to follow us," said Akagi flatly.
"What was that?" The injured archer moved closer to them, now dressed in a new outfit that was composed of a black sweatshirt and white pants. She made a sour face when she noticed the five pink petals in a circular formation that was part of the pink symbol of the Sakura Empire. It was hard to miss it as it rested on the right side of her chest.
A synchronized chuckle of content resonated from the other two women.
"I hope you don't mind the bagginess of that top. You'll thank me later when you're warm at nights when it drops in temperature," said Akagi proudly.
"I like it. A set of old workout gear from the local dojo will do nicely compared to the worn-out tank top and sweatpants the Eagle Union dressed you in," pridefully smiled Takao.
Alt couldn't be mad, even if she tried. Just looking at Takao smiling with her bruised face elicited only a mild grumble. She then gazed at what she had in her hands. "That rigging, is it really necessary? My ship is more banged up than it was when I used it to escape."
"Sorry, I know you came back to help Kaga but you should wear it until they tow your ship away from here," stated the heavy cruiser.
She had no comment on that matter. In honesty, she had no plans for after she resolved her debt with the fox woman, aside from killing Enterprise. They placed the rigging back on her with her making no expression at all.
Just then, the hurried stomps of someone on a mission could be heard from all three.
Akagi was the first to respond with startled widened eyes at the approaching figure. "Takao, your sister…"
The black-haired woman turned rapidly around. Thanks to Takao providing cover, Akagi quickly produced a pair of handcuffs that she used to cuff the prisoner. She did make sure that the right cuff didn't press down on her injured hand too much. This was all for show and to throw off Atago so she wouldn't think they were being too casual.
Alt made a startled sound but understood how necessary it needed to be.
"Sister! Where on earth have you been?" Atago looked perplexed when she gazed at the other two that were underneath the shade and who they were. Her eyes landed on Alt and a suppressed snarl came out from her. "What's the meaning of this?! Did you forget that this witch hurt you?"
Takao sighed and pretended to give her sister a hard disapproving stare. "I haven't forgotten it. Personal grudges aside, we cannot neglect basic hygiene and care for her person."
Akagi moved past them with the prisoner and looked back at Takao. "Thanks again for helping me bathe her. It wasn't your responsibility anymore just like it isn't mine, however, I'm just not that kind of person to conduct my research with the smell of the sea invading my nose." Her comment earned her a silent gritted expression with an off set of blush from the white-haired woman.
Takao suppressed a laugh with only the corners of her mouth slightly lifting.
"I'll be heading out with her, so feel free to catch up later. Oh, and Atago. I heard the commotion you made with Hornet yesterday. It seems you and your sister have quite the topic of conversation." She said with a sly smile, knowing full well that she just threw Takao into a long upcoming conversation with her sister.
Once they were away from the Takao-class sisters, Alt made her opinions known. "What was that about back there? We agreed that she shouldn't say anything about our situation."
Akagi turned the doppelganger around and removed the restraints she placed on her. "Good grief, I haven't forgotten. Maybe we were jumping the gun saying that she shouldn't explain things to her. An explanation is warranted... within reason. Plus, I like to cover my tracks, and an occupied Atago is a peaceful day indeed," she said while looking up at the sky with a relaxed expression.
"I don't much care for her, but I don't think Takao is ready to fabricate some weak explanation on why she shouldn't give me the time of day," said the archer.
"Oh, I thought that too, but she can be a good liar when she's driven enough. I expect the conversation to go about as Atago proclaiming that she was standing up for her sister. Alas, Takao will chime in saying that she can take care of her affairs, telling her that she shouldn't get mad on her behalf. Then they will argue, with Atago saying that she's her sister and that her getting mad is par for the course and not some 'on her behalf' kind of thing. Takao will then probably appeal to her emotions about trust and forgiveness, however, while Atago might fold like the older sister she tries to be, she'll still hate you knowing that you don't deserve her sister's benevolence." Once she was finished, she elegantly twirled to face the prisoner before her with a delighted smile.
Alt hated to admit it, but she was taken aback by the clairvoyant-like mind of the Sakura carrier. "Your deviousness truly has no limits."
Akagi stared at her, a feeling of guilt and shame washing over her. The woman in front of her looked incredibly beaten and docile—not even taking her bruises into account. She looked thin and the smell of the sea had not even diminished from the thorough cleaning she received. But despite all that, there was a quality about her that reignited her smile.
"What are you doing?" Alt held her breath as the fox woman leaned dangerously close to her with an air of inquisitiveness. "Your hair... really doesn't stop giving off that sea salt smell. But the rest of you smells like flowers. Put those two together and you almost give off a heavenly combination of flowers and rain."
Alt's face betrayed her as her cheeks gained a blush and her heart started to beat faster from the kind compliment.
Akagi then laughed. "Hmm, kidding, kidding, my dear. I know I'm 'barking up the wrong tree.' I couldn't help it. Please do take that as a compliment and don't get angry with me." Akagi continued her pace, unknown to her how much she shook the emotions of the archer.
Alt frowned, but she wasn't angry. Internally, she only had one thought: that this woman was dangerous to her heart.
(Enterprise)
She had been staying at the local Sakura Inn, making sure that she kept her presence to a minimum after the display of brutality she had shown the other day.
When she awoke from her comfortable bed, her mind replayed that moment, and a mixed bag of emotions came with it. Anger, frustration, content, and pride. It was best to stuff them back into the depth of her mind until she was sounder of mind to go through them with more logic than emotion. Emotions were truly a hassle in the end, yet she already lived long enough without them.
A few minutes went by, and she found herself deep into a phone call. "Ah, I see... I'm overjoyed that Grimm is doing good," she said into her phone. Chatter filled her ears from the device as she silently swallowed a pain pill into her mouth. "Huh... I don't sound happy?" She replied with the words used by the other person at the end. "I am though. I'm just a bit short on emotions at the moment. A lot has happened, and I should focus on just getting through the day," she said through the phone.
More chatter followed and she took that time to place the ice pack she had back on her bruised face. She was glad that this wasn't a video call or else a certain medical ship on the other line would give her an ear full. The last thing Vestal wanted to hear was that she gained an additional injury on her hand and a battered face because of her recklessness.
"Thank you, Vestal, for everything, and... thank you for putting up with me." There was a sense of understanding when the medical ship had heard that Enterprise had taken off once it was known that Hornet had been captured.
"I'm fine," she lied. "... I didn't overdo it," she lied again. "Yeah, I might stay here a bit. My ship did get damaged substantially and there's no reason for an escort fleet to lug a dire-looking ship across the ocean. Umm... no one has contacted you, right?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Do keep me updated on Grimm." She hung up quickly. Her voice had remained docile but her deathly grip on her phone was something she couldn't control.
Through her tense nerves, it was around this time that a new emotion crept up and overpowered her seething anger and self-hate. An emotion that felt so foreign. Her tense nerves seized, and a red blush filled her already burning face along with her heart beating rapidly. "W-what?!"
Her head felt light, and her body felt warm all of a sudden. This feeling was like nothing she ever experienced, and the only thing she could put on it as a descriptor was that she felt praised and flattered, which sadly didn't do it justice. Not relenting on trying to understand this emotion, she searched her memories to times she felt remotely close to this feeling. That was when images of Belfast and Zuikaku graced her mind.
A consecutive knock pulled her out of her mind and her frightened eyes landed on the door.
"Enty! Enty... I know you're in there, please... open up."
"Z-Zui?" She panicked and lifted herself from the bed to make a mad dash to the bathroom.
The door clicked a few times. "Ah! A thousand apologies in advance, but I'm going in!" The door opened and Zuikaku came through. Just when she did, the bathroom door slammed tightly.
"How did you get in my room?" Asked the injured woman through the other side of the door.
A sweatdrop formed on the Sakura carrier's face while nervously connecting her fingers together. "Well... the innkeeper... or the one in charge at the moment, is susceptible to small lies. I kind of told her I had an urgent message from the Eagle Union for you and since that story of you beating up the look-alike spread like wildfire, I told her that you might be passed out in your room from the fight. She cried out in terror and told me to come and check up on you."
A sound of wild disapproval sounded from the bathroom. "Where is the privacy in this place? You girls are too lax if it's that simple to get a key to a room."
Zuikaku puffed her cheeks. "I mean, if I was an Iron Blood or another had been asking around, she would probably go with them to the room. The Sakura Empire has always been known for common courtesy and decency. We all know each other well and have a good judge of character."
"Hmm, Zui, I'm not in the mood to see anyone," replied the sorrowful words of Zuikaku's crush.
"Now hold on! Please, Enty, I'm worried about you. Don't shut me out... I don't hold it over your head for what you did," she said while pressing her face to the bathroom door.
"You should, my sister does, and I can only wonder what the girls here think of the Grey Ghost now," she said with a cynical tone.
"Most of them are probably cautious of you but none of them hate you. They know what she did to Takao as that too spread like wildfire, and how she caused panic in our home. And… she kinda had it coming with that insufferable attitude she drags around with her." Her heart grew still when she heard cries from the other end of the door.
"Zui... I don't know what's happening to me," she said with a quiver in her voice. She heard movement and the door was no longer locked. No, that wasn't accurate, this particular bathroom door didn't have a lock, meaning that Enterprise had been holding the door against her body.
The brown-haired carrier went in and laid eyes on the woman she loved dearly, now broken and crying non-stop.
Her bandaged right arm, her wounded left hand, and her bruised face had all proceeded to tear down this strong woman physically and mentally.
The younger crane held her tears back and slowly crouched next to the broken woman. She held onto her chin gingerly, feeling how hot it was against her fingers.
Their eyes connected and what Enterprise saw was an adorable and caring smile that warmed her entire body. "It's okay to cry," softly said Zuikaku with a teary and smiling face.
(Alt)
A good distance away from the Sakura Inn, the doppelganger and Akagi had been making their journey to an undisclosed location. "Hmm..." The omni-tailed carrier looked troubled that prompted Alt in asking what was wrong.
The six-tailed carrier turned around with a hand on her chin. "I wish to talk to you freely like an equal, but it's incredibly disrespectful to grab your attention without a proper name."
The doppelganger looked shocked and scoffed at how small an issue that was. "They've been calling me, E-2. Just go with that," she said dryly.
The dark brown-haired woman gave her a disapproving face. "That's your prisoner name. While they might see you as such, you have become more to me than just that."
A blush grew on Alt's face and forced her mind to deviate from the unknown emotion that gave her weird feelings in her stomach. "I see... you flatter me."
Akagi couldn't help her nature and she smirked. "Oh, have I wooed you with my charm?"
That line brought Alt back and her defenses came back up. "Khh... no, stop making this hard. Just call me, Alt." She subconsciously turned slightly away and distracted herself by rubbing her wounded left hand with her bandaged arm.
"Alt?" Asked the fox woman, looking quite intrigued.
She berated herself mentally as to why she said that, but she dug herself in this hole. "A name, given to me by my sister."
The red-eyed woman beamed happily. "Oh, I see. Then Alt, are you ready to uphold your end of our deal?"
"Yes," plainly spoke the doppelganger.
"Then we have reached our destination," explained Akagi with her hands behind her back.
Alt looked bemused and scanned the area around them. They were far away from the main roads yet still nowhere near the large trees that hid the research building they took her a while back. All she could tell that stood out was that there were large bushes next to them.
Beyond the wall of bushes, a solitary gazebo stood near the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean of the land of the rising sun.
There was someone already there that had been perched on one of the wooden beams. Alt noticed this woman from back then, the one with the red streak on her silver hair.
"Ah, guten tag! What took you so long? Miss Kaga has been restless," she said with an unreadable face.
Across from this woman, known as Prinz Eugen, a portable bed adorned with traditional Sakura sheets and aesthetics had an occupant sleeping. This woman had white hair and fox ears on top of her head.
Akagi widened to this hopeful news. "Eugen, has she moved in her sleep!?"
Her unreadable face grew into a frown. "Not quite. Her eyes have been moving left and right inside her close eyelids," she said somberly.
"Oh..."
Detaching herself from her sympathetic feelings toward her friend, she sized up the doppelganger. "My, you look like a new woman dressed rather cozy in those clothes, despite the beach-side brawl injuries from that story that's going around."
Akagi pulled herself out of her despair and calmly walked forward. "Alt, Prinz Eugen but I'm sure you were acquainted before," she said while remembering the first time she showed the doppelganger her sister's condition.
The silver and twin-tailed-haired woman grew a doting expression. "We have, this is just formalities at this point. Alt... what a unique name."
The pseudo-eagle union narrowed her eyes at her. "Last time I checked we weren't friends," she said sternly.
Prinz Eugen faltered, and worry shined across her face.
That was when Alt let out a disgruntled sound. "However, it would seem you had a hand in my escape. I thank you for that and you can call me by that."
"Well, you sure know how to keep someone on their toes," smiled the heavy cruiser cheekily.
The short-haired carrier glanced over to the sleeping Sakura carrier and her heart tightened when she remembered her nightmare. "Akagi, can I ask you what kind of person your sister is?"
The six-tailed woman curiously accepted the question. "She's... very diligent. Work and finding opportunities to prove herself has always been her priorities. She's the ideal embodiment of the strong always prevailing."
"I see..." said Alt flatly, feeling unchanged by what she heard.
Sensing disapproval, Akagi dug deep and took a deep breath before speaking again. "But that's not all of her. Deep down there's a softness to her that she tries to bury from the world. I think... she does that because she believes that she too is weak. I can see you and her hit it off. Although, she doesn't like Enterprise's face much."
That resonated a chuckle from the short-haired carrier that caught the other women off guard. She then touched her bruised face. "You're right, we would hit it off."
"Pfft, beautiful how things tend to come full circle," remarked Prinz Eugen.
Alt approached the sleeping woman in her sights. There was no mistake, she was the one that she dreamt about last night. Her anxiety raised slightly but she controlled it after applying that the visages in her nightmares do not necessarily connect with their real-life counterparts. She sat down on a chair and began to think.
Eugen and Akagi remained silent behind her, curious to see what will happen. Seconds turned to minutes and the two looked restless, especially Akagi.
"What's going on?" the Sakura carrier spoke out of concern, knowing that agitation that clawed from her heart wouldn't solve anything. She then noticed how tensed Alt was as her left hand was bawled up despite its wound and her eyes wavered.
"Khh... I'm trying my best, but I can't seem to activate those eyes."
"Your eyes?" They both asked.
"The cursed Siren eyes that allow them to manipulate, communicate, analyze, and process the world around them," spoke the doppelganger in a monotone voice. With her memories restored, she could say she had an overwhelming amount of experience to back up her statement.
"Hmm, that's always been a great topic of discussion for the Iron Blood that's always remained on the realm of theory. That's quite reassuring and fascinating that their eyes truly are the key to their abilities. Hmm, I wonder if Bismarck will stop tinkering with their rigging and set forth on getting herself a fresh pair of Siren eyes for her to take apart? Nah, no doubt she'll ask me for that favor when it relates to fieldwork," rambled Eugen wildly to herself.
Alt ignored what she said and forced herself to activate them. Last night, she wore herself out on that worn-out pillow while gazing at her reflection. She wished she had something to show for her efforts.
A hand landed on her shoulder that ceased her tensing. The dark brown-haired carrier looked at her with lowered eyes. "It's okay. Please don't force yourself. It's on me for asking you so early especially after all that you've been going through."
Alt shut her eyes in frustration. "I'm able to do it. When I needed my eagle, I was able to call upon him. Why... why can't I do it now?" She forced herself to get angry, but there was no spark to ignite her furnace of anger.
Eugen placed a hand on her chin. "Hmm, this is just a theory, but Sirens' eyes are swayed by their owner's emotions."
"Huh? Emotions..." uttered Akagi. It was then that her mind started to formulate what the Iron Blood was getting at.
"Yes, for them priding themselves as machines and higher beings, they do have human-like qualities like anger and sadistic tendencies. Like how they find joy in manipulating and creating despair for others. They are not completely devoid of emotion."
"That's right," said the Sakura carrier as her mind was going a million miles.
Even Alt acknowledged that theory. "When I fought Tester... those eyes of hers became harsher and brighter when she grew angry. All the times I was able to activate them, I thought about Enterprise, my resolve to escape, and... Hornet."
The red-eyed woman grunted from hitting a dead end. "That sounds too simple and whimsical for it to work like that. Alt, pardon my bluntness, but you've always been angry, and your eyes have never—"
"We can't rule it out because of that statement. She never accepted herself as a Siren and maybe that's why it never manifested so consistently. A mental block to protect herself, wouldn't you say? Proclaimed the red and gray uniform woman.
"So, what, I should just willingly accept myself as a Siren?" Smoldered the doppelganger with a wavering sternness to her eyes.
Prinz Eugen flicked her hair at how difficult the twin of Enterprise was being. "I think internally, you already at least acknowledge that it's a part of you. We are not saying to embrace it, dear. But we are saying that you should get angry. Let your rage come out."
That caused the doppelganger to exhale tiredly. "It's easier said than done. I feel completely tapped out. Emotionally Lethargic or even apathetic seems to be a good way to put it. Sure, I'm frustrated and upset, but there's no substance or depth in that well of emotion. Grr, it feels like I'm just going through the motions."
Eugen raised an eyebrow. "What... what's she going on about?" She asked Akagi.
"She's been rather docile all day, like a cat who lost the sharpness to her claws," she said with a frown and understanding look to Alt. She didn't have much to go on, but maybe it was a cause of the assault from Enterprise or even that nightmare she had.
The Iron Blood woman rubbed her forehead. "Oh, that's just peachy. Hmm, maybe I should get Bismarck to join this little group of like-minded Siren enthusiasts... that does seem like an enticing way to put it for her..." she rambled once again to herself.
"I don't want more strangers getting involved! I can do this," interjected Alt, yet sounding defeated at the same time.
"If her anger is unusable at the moment, maybe another emotion or maybe stimuli equal to it?" Akagi spoke to herself with it merely being random thought processes that helped her reach other heights of ideas.
It was then that Eugen stopped in her tracks and her eyes opened to the idea she gained from that suggestion. " Yes, perhaps maybe a different means other than anger... is needed," she said slowly, a predator-like aura and tone oozing out of her.
The omni-tailed carrier locked eyes with the smiling Iron Blood. She could see that her eyes harbored a devious look to them.
She grunted in disapproval. "Eugen, are you sure you're not playing with fire with that dangerous thinking? What would Wales think?"
The name of her lover caused her to backpedal for a second, but she bounced back with her means justifying the end goal. "This is purely for the sake of your sister, isn't it?" She said with a sly smile. "Besides, if it backfires then pure anger will be the result, so win win all around, or no?"
Akagi remained silent and she looked to the doppelganger for her opinion.
Alt looked confused by what the Iron Blood had been spouting.
"Alt, Akagi was on to something. Indifference to your emotions is your enemy. If you are out of hate then surely, its partner, love, is up to the task."
"L-Love?!" Cried Alt, jumping out of her seat and staring uneasily at them. It was then that two hands held her by her shoulders.
The Iron Blood gave her a sensual and flirtatious smile that rendered Alt's breath to grow still. The stare of Prinz Eugen made her feel like an insect in a spider's web, completely at her mercy.
"Well, we don't know each other that well so it might be more lust than love. Just do me a favor, don't start falling for me dear because I've already fallen for someone else." She cupped the left cheek of the injured carrier, making sure her soft hand caressed the tender bruised cheek of the archer ever so gingerly.
Alt stood petrified, a foreign… excitement? interest? tension? building up in her chest that she couldn't put down.
Eugen gave her an alluring smile and swift like the wind, she buried her face in the crook of Alt's neck, beginning a motion and series of stimulations that made the doppelganger tense up.
The tiny sensations of bliss washed over the injured doppelganger, stripping away her defenses like the brutal waves of the ocean. Her strength was a thing of the past under the care of this fatal woman.
A salacious moan resonated from the silver-haired woman that vibrated against Alt's neck like music. "Hmm, I always wondered if the Grey Ghost ever had desires that seared her body with pure heat. Marvelous that she has her weak points after all just like the rest of us," she seductively whispered into her ear.
"S-Stop..." struggled the doppelganger, unable to gain her strength because of how these tender and decisive actions upon her skin made her feel like she was inside a super-heated sauna.
"Why?" Moaned the woman that was the source of her otherworldly sensations. "Do not be embarrassed for what your body naturally urges. To desire is to live after all." She took a firm grip on her prey's backside, causing Alt to gasp, all the while the tender kisses on her neck became more intense.
Alt, had never known this possibility that her body could form. Not in that dark sea world or in this blighted real world did she ever fathom a pleasure like this.
"Hmm, this rigging keeps me from feeling what my curiosity always imagined. However, there are other locations." Her left hand caressed further down the metal rigging of Alt until she reached her trembling legs.
Alt grunted feverishly and struggled to look down to see what that fatal woman was doing to her.
"My dear Alty, experience what it feels like to be a woman," she purred while tenderly brushing the worn hair of her prey.
The doppelganger's mind grew numb from the overflow of foreign sensation that she never felt before in her life. Her breath grew heavy and a surge of something raw and intrinsic began to claw from within her.
Eugen seized her assault on the neck of the archer as she prepared to take it up another level. She paused when she briefly saw a flicker of yellow escape the vacant purple pools within Alt's eyes. "You are close. Forgive me for being your first," she whispered naughty-like and as Alt was pulling herself away with a vacant stare, their lips connected.
The sensation from between her thighs and the carnal pleasure from the woman's soft and warm mouth shattered her into nothingness. It was as if her whole universe zoomed out and quickly zoomed back in.
Her eyes fired wide, a radiating yellow emanating from them. She tapped into an unknown well of pure emotion and found the strength she had been searching for. "Enough!" She forced herself away from the Iron Blood and gasped once she was finally able to stand on her own. It was then that she noticed that her face had produced sweat that fell from her chin and onto the ground. "N-no more..." she wanted to say she felt violated but that was only a half-truth.
The sensation and connection she felt with the other woman was nothing less than otherworldly and that shook her to her very being. Illogical displeasure from moving away made her almost hate herself for being too frightened to venture more.
"Akagi, it worked," replied the heavy cruiser with a breathless tone to her words and a content smile on her face.
To say that Akagi was shocked during that feverish moment was an understatement. It was more like she was petrified to that of a statue. She swallowed hard and knew that this topic would arise again later. "Alt, your eyes are glowing!"
The doppelganger let it sink in and allowed herself to bask in this feeling that had her heart pumping.
"Goodness, our roles have been reversed. Now you are the one with a predator-like gaze," commented Eugen with a fake shy and pleased smile. She sensually gave her a wink and finger kiss gesture to her brief intimate partner.
The pseudo-eagle union swallowed hard and hesitantly looked away from the Iron Blood. There was too much to unpack in what she felt, so she decided on focusing on the end goal of the forced intimacy. "Akagi... I'm ready. I... I need you to open her eyes for me." Her cheeks were still stained red and that wild look in her eyes hadn't diminished yet. She felt flushed and unfulfilled when she detached herself from the other woman, but she needed to stop thinking that way.
Akagi pushed open her sister's eyelids, being able to see the vacant eyes of her sister shift left and right. "What now?" She asked hectically, afraid that the window of opportunity might slip from their grasp.
"I don't know. But something is telling me that I must form a connection with her." Their eyes became the center of both of their respected visions and Alt grew quiet, her yellow eyes growing steady along with the rest of her body.
"Alt?" The Sakura carrier went up to her and waved her hand across her face.
"Hmm, the lights are on, but no one is home, Akagi. The only thing to do now is to wait." She slid a finger down Alt's chin, all the way to the rigging on her chest. Once she got there, she pushed her gently onto an ultimately rough landing onto the chair.
Akagi let her sound of protest be heard. "Enough, haven't you already exerted this poor girl's heart already?" Declared the omni-tailed carrier.
"Akagi... it's really been that long for you, hasn't it? You used to play and tease with the heart of your sister as well."
The Sakura carrier frowned. "Not like this, and I admit... I had unresolved issues back then that I'm still working through."
Eugen relaxed and let go of the armrest that was part of the chair. "Okay, I'm sorry. Hey, it worked, it worked. We'll celebrate with delicious dangos—all four of us when she comes back. It'll be my treat."
Akagi folded her arms with a reduced pout. "You're all heart," she said mockingly.
A small smile formed on the Iron Blood's face, until being overshadowed by guilt when her mind thought of Wales. "I guess I have a long way to go until I'm able to be an honest woman."
(Enterprise- A while early)
Enterprise and Zuikaku had moved to the bed for a better place to talk compared to the floor of a bathroom.
The white-haired carrier laid with her knees close to her chest while her head looked away from the younger crane sister.
Zuikaku had steadied her heart and had laid next to her on the bed. Her actions were purely to put the injured woman into a relaxed state of mind by trying to be casual. It did have some effect on the Eagle Union carrier who started to open up more by the crane's presence on the bed. They ended up talking things through and the first order of discussion was Hornet.
"... so yeah, she was the one that saved my sister and brought her back. Now, my sister... well, I guess she feels indebted to her," she said with a gloomy tone to her voice.
"Enty, I worry about your sister and the path she's going down."
"Hornet is a big girl. No amount of talking will move her once she sets her mind on something. I'll only be pushing her away if I tried. She needs to realize how her efforts are in vain by herself. I'd rather be there as a backup like always when it comes crashing down on her." There was this stone-cold conviction from the injured woman that, while did not intend to proactively cause trouble, its passive nature would lead Hornet coming back to her. That's how little faith she believed in her wicked twin.
"I see," she didn't agree with this cynical and passive tactic from Enterprise. However, she did agree that Hornet was persistent when it came to what she wanted.
Zuikaku then remembered the concerning words that the other had said when she saw her on the bathroom floor. "Enty... we need to talk about what happened yesterday. I agree that something is off, maybe it's all the stress and fright from Hornet getting kidnapped."
The injured woman admired her positive words, but it wasn't enough. "No... something is seriously off with me. My emotions feel vindictive and raw. You weren't there but I pushed one of my best friends into a window when all she was trying to do was calm me down. I was this close to fighting you all because you were all in the way, and I finally snapped when I saw her. Why... why do I feel like the villain, and she rescuing my sister paints her as the hero?" Stern and cold eyes reflected across the purple eyes of the Eagle Union.
Zuikaku got up from the bed and placed her hands on her hips. "I don't trust her, Enty, but I don't have a good reason as to why she would rescue your sister. Maybe there's more to her than meets the eye," she said with reservations to her statement.
"I refuse to trust her. If she's trying to pull the wool over everyone's head so be it. That day at sea when we encountered her wasn't the first time I saw her."
"W-what?! Enty, what do you mean?"
Remembering brought her an ease of mind that made her smile slightly. "It's alright. My resolve is steadfast, but I need to calm my mind from those emotions. Even if my sister betrays me for her." Her face was then pulled upward when two hands cupped her cheeks and forced her to look at the brown-haired carrier. Enterprise paused in breath with how close she was to the other woman.
"Enough! Your sister would never do that. She loves you so much. She came with us because she wanted to keep watch that that faker didn't hurt herself. Don't lose faith in her, Enty. Just like I haven't lost faith in you. You are kind and amazing compared to that pale imitation of you."
The strong gaze and determined words resonated with the emotionally tired carrier. "Do you think so?" Her expression looked on the verge of emotionally breaking and hope was all that was keeping her together.
The brunette gave her an energetic grin. "Yes, to all of it. And Hornet, she's definitely confused right now, but she'll come around."
"Thank you, Zui. I'm so happy to have a friend like you, I need that more than ever right now." Without thought, the white-haired carrier covered the hands of the cranes.
Zuikaku could feel the loving affection that caused her blush to ignite. She quickly pulled her hands away like when someone gets shocked.
The injured woman looked confused about the sudden detachment that prompted her to stand up. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
An apologetic and reserved expression shadowed the crane's face, and she couldn't face her to give her an honest answer. Internally, she had reached her limits, and this was the first genuine time in a while that they had been able to converse face to face, and alone after she and the others returned home. She thought back to the wonderful sisterly night when she and Shoukaku had shrimp tempura. And she expressed herself like an open book to her sister about everything that had been plaguing her. It was that night, that she told her about the feelings she had for the Grey Ghost. Her sister was surprised yet gave her blessing to be with the one she loved under the condition that she was strong enough to tell her.
The words of friendship were agonizingly hot to her now, and she hated that. Her thoughts grew darker when she visualized Belfast always being there for the archer, worming her way into her heart day by day. This was her chance; she couldn't stomach being labeled as just a friend. Was she ready to throw her chips in and bet it all to try and open the eyes of the injured carrier to her love? Yes. That response was lightning fast, and she was ready to show the injured archer how 'not alone' she truly was. "I am strong," she silently boosted herself mentally.
"Zui, you've been quiet for some time, are you feeling alright?" Around that same time, Enterprise felt a wave of heat assault her, and her breathing started to change. Unknown to both, that reflected effect was happening to Alt by the actions of Prinz Eugen.
This feeling that the eagle union was feeling, was the same as before when Zuikaku was at the door to her room. All over her body, she grew stimulated with phantom sensations from her neck and thighs. This was not noticed by the crane who had already blocked all distractions to help her gather her speech into words.
"Enty... you see me as a great friend, and I cherish that. B-But that's not enough for me! Maybe one would call this selfish, but I see it as being true to myself. What I feel for you… is greater than friendship!"
Enterprise, foggily stared at her with clueless and accidental apathy, while at the same time holding back unsavory moans that forced against her throat.
Zuikaku was seeing her by the clueless expression only and nothing else. She was so lost in her own moment that she didn't even notice that the injured carrier had started to sweat.
The time had come, her determined heart reached out to Enterprise. She cupped her cheeks, but this time, her expression harbored an aura more intimate. "I love you." A still pause permeated the walls of the room, while both made no motion, only gazing at each other after it was said.
Her face was red and burning hot. Her lower lip quiver slightly and she gazed at the tantalizing lips of the Eagle Union carrier. Completely clearing her mind, she dived forward with purpose and connected her lips with the one she loved.
A startled moan brought Enterprise back from whatever "in between" world she was lost in due to focusing on the foreign emotion and sensation. With the current state of the blushing archer, she couldn't control this unknown urge that pulled at her like a puppet on strings, and their kiss was the proverbial anchor that bounded her to this foreign emotion; fully realizing it before her eyes. The kiss was delectable and addicting to her current state. Whether she was sound of mind remained questionable.
Zuikaku felt like her face would melt from the intense heat it was giving off. Her panicked state of mind suddenly stopped when she felt a hand grab the back of her head and reciprocate the kiss.
Battles. Was this a battle to the swordswoman? She had been in her fair share of battles and this kiss had almost all the properties of a wild dance that could only be found when two opposing forces contested for dominance. Was this what a first kiss was like? Their kiss was both passionate and forceful, leaving the swordswoman losing ground until she collided with the back of a dresser. The kiss grew wild and heated with both reaching into wells of passion that they never knew until they were starving for air. They knew they needed air yet kept going. They were in a state of unbridled passion. In their heated passion, they knocked a lamp from the drawer that prompted the door to open urgently.
A large gasp filled the room that forced them to stop, yet they still left themselves mere inches away from each other. They both collectively sucked in air, their hazy love-induced eyes not fully coming back to reality. The crash of the lamp had just registered with them, and they both came back to reality immediately after comprehending that someone else was now in the room with them.
At the door, Belfast gazed at them with trembling eyes. "I... I'm deeply..." she couldn't, not anymore. Her tears flowed and she raced out of the room.
To be continued…
Well, I hope I was able to do this chapter justice. I mulled it over a bit, and I think I'll be making this story M rated. Almost all of the stories that I've written have been T rated, but I've always been lost on where my romance stories should fall. I don't write explicit lewd scenes because that's a bit out of my writing element. I mostly stick to the romance journey/drama and then acknowledge it with enough detail to convey that type of scene. Like, I guess the classy fades to black, or the line "And then they had sex," is what ultimately boils down to. It's always been my method when writing and maybe down the road I'll give it a try.
Please do let me know how the chapter went and if the story does warrant needing an M rating overall for what is currently written. Of course, violence and language contribute to the rating, and I would say I don't shy away when I must show a gritty scene.
I hope you all look forward to part 2 coming soon! Take care everyone!