By popular demand, a sequel to Affection Aggression! And by popular, I mean two people asked me for this. And by demand, I mean respectful questioning.
There was little more that Kaga liked than being part of a successful mission. The satisfaction of seeing her planes hit a target, the roar of the explosion rising into the sky, a job well done. The mission at MI island had been the most important of the war thus far, and it had been a resounding success. The months since had seen victory after victory for the girls of Truk Island and the Kadokawa Naval Base.
The only thing Kaga liked more than being part of a successful mission was going home from said mission. Seeing the naval base come into view, the thought of soft couches and warm beds. She, along with the rest of the girls from the strike force, sailed into the docks, their rigs leaving them, and went their separate ways. Another successful mission.
Kaga left the darkness of the hangar and stepped back out into the midday sun when she was done, and as expected Zuikaku was there. She never outright waited for Kaga to return, but yet she was always somehow nearby when Kaga returned. She thought she was sly like that, and Kaga let her think that she really was. That Kaga hadn't noticed how Zuikaku lingered.
"Hey there" Zuikaku said. "How'd the mission go? Is everyone alright?"
"Yes. The mission was a convincing victory. The Abyssals really did not have a chance. I need to see the Admiral now, to give him and Secretary Ship Nagato the report. I should be free afterwards" Kaga said.
Zuikaku tried to hide her glee, and she was even pretty good at it. She nodded and stopped walking, and Kaga stopped as well. "OK! Go see the Admiral and the Secretary Ship, and I'll be back at the dorm when you're done, alright?" Zuikaku said.
"That'll be good, I'll see you then."
"Bye!"
Zuikaku took off for the dorms and Kaga proceeded to the administration building. When she arrived there were some other fleetgirls milling around, talking, but few noticed Kaga. She passed by them and ascended the stairs to the second floor, where the offices were.
As she neared the Admiral's office Kaga ran into Shoukaku, who looked like she'd just come from the office. "Oh, hello Kaga-san. Back from a mission? I do hope all the girls are alright."
"Yes. We suffered no losses or hits, even. The Abyssals are being handily driven back on every front. I'm just here to report" Kaga said.
Shoukaku bowed. "I'm happy to hear that no one was hurt. Was Zuikaku-nee on the mission? Have you seen her?"
"She was not, but I did. She was by the docks when we returned. She's back at the dorms, if you need to see her" Kaga said, and Shoukaku shook her head.
"Mm. I've been ordered to sail for Truk, as part of an upcoming mission. Destroyer Division Six escorting."
Kaga nodded. "You're in good hands, then. I'll let you be on your way, then."
Shoukaku did not leave, however. She stayed her feet, fidgeting, and Kaga raised a brow at her. "Forgive me, Kaga-san, it is not my place to intrude, but... I can't help but notice how much time Zuikaku-nee has been spending with you lately. Normally this would not bother me, but she always goes out when you're on a mission. You said she was waiting by the docks when you came back?"
"Not exactly waiting, necessarily, but yes she was nearby. She is always somehow nearby when I come back. You know I helped train her over the spring, and she's come a long way. You should be proud" Kaga said, and Shoukaku nodded.
"I am, but I still worry. I know I shouldn't. Zuikaku-nee's a very talented woman, and a very strong fighter. Still..." Shoukaku trailed off, and took a step closer to Kaga, standing right by her side. "If she's ever hurt, there will be a reckoning. I'll track down the perpetrator, and kill them" she whispered, and walked away. Kaga watched her go, and Shoukaku's true intent dawned on her. She smirked, Shoukaku's dedication having reminded her of Akagi, and she headed for the Admiral's office.
Once the operation's report had been made and the details discussed Kaga had been dismissed, and she made her way back through the now sparsely populated admin building and out into the afternoon sun. She made a beeline straight for the Carriers Dorm, the building clearly marked by its ensign; a gleaming gold chrysanthemum flanked by a pair of gold Mitsubishi A6M2's, soaring into the sky. The other dorms were marked by similar ensigns; a pair of 16-inch batteries for the battleships, a pair of torpedoes for the destroyers, et cetera.
Kaga pushed the door to the dorm open and stepped inside. The room she shared with Akagi was on the third floor, but her destination was on the second. She ascended the steps and was about to head straight for the door when she saw Akagi coming down the stairs. Her sister brightened up when she saw her, and Kaga smiled back.
"Hello Kaga, did your mission go well?" Akagi asked.
Kaga nodded. "Yes, thank you. I just came back from reporting to the Admiral and Nagato-san. I take it you're on your way to Mamiya-san's?"
"Mmm, that's right. It's just about lunch time for me, so I'm looking forward to it. Zuikaku-san was here earlier, if you wanted to train with her, but she left. Said she had something she needed to do" Akagi said.
Kaga's expression did not change, but internally she was concerned. Zuikaku was supposed to be here, and now she wasn't. She had no idea what Zuikaku possibly needed to do, but it must've been important if she had rushed off before Kaga had come.
"I see" was all Kaga had to say, and Akagi looked at her.
"Her training's come along very well, you should be happy. It makes me very glad to know you two get along so well now, and that Zuikaku-san's become such a dependable and hard-working woman. She truly is a fleet carrier now, the pride of the Admiral. That she's able to perform so reliably now is a relief, knowing that she can back you up and protect you when you two are on a mission together" Akagi said with a smile, and Kaga turned away. When she turned back Akagi was suddenly much closer to her, her expression still cheery. "After all, if any harm ever came to you, then the person responsible would drown in a storm of bombs and fire. My Aichi's would blacken their skies and they'd spend their final moments in the cold darkness."
Akagi smiled, her eyes closed, and walked away. Kaga watched her go, and Akagi's true intent dawned on her. She smirked and decided to go into Zuikaku's dorm anyway, to wait for her return.
Maybe an hour later Kaga was still in Zuikaku's room, reading and drinking tea, when the door opened and in stepped Zuikaku. She looked relieved to see Kaga and shut the door behind her, and rushed over to Kaga. She dropped onto her knees and embraced Kaga, and Kaga returned the hug.
"Hey, good to see you! Sorry I was out. Hope I didn't make you wait too long" Zuikaku said, and Kaga shook her head.
"Not at all. I'm glad you're back now. How are you?" Kaga asked.
"Great!" Zuikaku said. She sat next to Kaga, their thighs and shoulders touching, and relaxed. "I heard from some of the other girls just how well your mission went. You coulda told me you were the MVP!"
Kaga frowned and looked away. "I was hardly deserving of it, when all the girls did such hard work" Kaga protested, but Zuikaku was having none of it.
"Nonsense. If you did good, then you did good! You should let yourself be praised, since you deserve it" Zuikaku said.
Kaga cocked a brow and looked at her. "Oh? You're going to praise me now? I won't allow it, especially if you try to pat my head."
"Fine. Then you can pat mine!" Zuikaku said. She turned and lied back, her head on Kaga's lap, and looked up at Kaga, who stared down at her. Kaga sighed quietly and started stroking Zuikaku's head, and Zuikaku grinned.
"And what is it that you did that makes you deserving of such praise?" Kaga asked.
Zuikaku's grin broke into a wide smile and she sat up. "Wait here" she said, and she rushed out of the room. Kaga picked up her tea and began drinking again while she waited, the bright midday sun bathing her in its light. She brushed herself off and felt one of Zuikaku's hairs become tangled in her fingers. She studied the long lock of hair and carefully set it down next to her tea set.
Zuikaku rushed back into the room holding a tall white box, and sat down right next to Kaga, their bodies touching again. She set the box down on the table next to Kaga's tea and put her hands in her lap. "Open it!" Zuikaku said, and Kaga picked the box open. It opened rather readily, and she reached inside.
What came out was a stunningly bright chrysanthemum flower, its bold yellow petals glistening in the light. There was something else, however. Something that made Kaga gasp. Wrapped around the stem were two thin metal wires, spiraling up and up the stem and above the flower. At the end of these two wires were two A6M2's, one green and one white. One with Kaga's markings, and one with Zuikaku's. The two planes were frozen midflight, passing each other, and the wires they were attached to had been folded underneath them into a heart shape.
Kaga was speechless, and when she looked at Zuikaku she suddenly felt her girlfriend pressing her lips to hers. Her nose filled with Zuikaku's scent, and she set the flower down to wrap her arms around Zuikaku. They broke the kiss after a moment and Kaga picked the flower back up. There was an empty vase on the table, which Zuikaku picked up. She held it up and Kaga placed the flower into the vase, and Zuikaku placed her hands on Kaga's.
"I love you."
Kaga smiled. "And I love you."
Kaga stood, pulled Zuikaku to her feet, and together they sat on Zuikaku's bed, looking at the flower. Kaga wrapped an arm around Zuikaku, and Zuikaku did the same. "It's very beautiful. Did you make it yourself?"
Zuikaku nodded. "I had Yuubari-san make and paint the Zero's, and the wires were easy to come by. Took me a while to wrap the two wires around the stem without damaging it, but I'm happy with how it came out. Do you like it?"
"Mm. Yes. Difficult to believe it's already been a year, isn't it?" Kaga asked, and Zuikaku nodded.
"Yeah. But I wouldn't change it. Here's to another year, yeah?" Zuikaku said.
Kaga nodded. "And another year after that. And after that" she said with a smile. Zuikaku put her head on Kaga's shoulder, and Kaga rubbed her hand up and down Zuikaku's arm.
"Think our sisters know? Should we tell them?" Zuikaku asked.
Kaga thought about what Shoukaku and Akagi had told her earlier and smiled. She thought about lying, about telling Zuikaku there was no way anyone else knew, but she was no liar. Plus, the truth would be funnier. "Oh they know" she said, and Zuikaku perked up.
"Ehhh? Have you told them?" she said, and Kaga shook her head. Her free hand grasped onto one of Zuikaku's, and Zuikaku blushed.
"Not at all. But they know. You can't hide anything from a fleet carrier, after all. Not with all the recon planes we carry" Kaga said with a smirk, and Zuikaku rolled her eyes.
"Geez, I never knew you were such a dork" Zuikaku said, and Kaga dragged her down until they were lying on their sides, facing each other. Kaga put a hand to Zuikaku's warm cheek and stroked, and Zuikaku grasped her hand.
"I love you too" was all Kaga had to say, and Zuikaku smiled.