Chapter 1

As the fleet sails back to the naval district, damaged and defeated. In the middle, the destroyer Fubuki looks again at Akagi who's carrying Kaga. Akagi, Fubuki's idol and dear friend, but all Fubuki felt whenever she looked at Akagi now was sadness, guilt, and shame; her mission was simple, to escort and protect Akagi. But as Akagi's flight deck was all but destroyed, her bow's string had been cut, and she was injured, Fubuki couldn't help but feel like she failed her duty. "I'm sorry Akagi, I failed you," Fubuki thought before turning to look forward again.

As the naval district comes into view, everyone remains silent still, until Akagi says, "Ok everyone, anyone who isn't damaged, be ready to help defend the naval district and surrounding seas, anyone who is damaged is to join me and Kaga at the docks understood?"

"Ok, anyone who isn't damaged, join me," said Kongou.

As the fleet splits into two groups, one with Akagi and Kaga and another with Kongou, as Fubuki heads to join Kongou's group, Yuudachi, who already joined Kongou notices something, "Fubuki, no don't you're damaged poi."

As Fubuki sees some slight bruises on her body and some small dents on her main gun, she responds, "I'm ok Yuudachi, I can still fight."

As Kongou turns and sees Fubuki's damage she objects, "even if you are Buki, I'm not gonna allow you to take that chance."

Before Fubuki can object, Akagi joins in, "she's right Fubuki, and besides you can help escort us back to the naval district, understand."

As Fubuki turns to look at Akagi, she relents, "yes ma'am," and heads to join Akagi's group, looking back seeing Kongou talking to the other girls in the group.

As they arrive at the naval district, secretaryship Nagato and Mutsu are waiting at the pier. "Akagi, what is your report? '' Nagato asks her.

"It seems the plan didn't work, when the carrier group arrived and began to attack MI, an abyssal carrier group surprise attacked us from behind, and when the reinforcements arrived another abyssal carrier group was able to do the same attack on them," Akagi said.

Nagato seemed shocked at the news, she then asks, "were there any losses?"

"No," Akagi says, "the rest of us who weren't damaged are currently preparing to defend against a potential abyssal counterattack," she continued.

"That's good," said Mutsu, "at least we didn't lose any strength that could impact future battles," she goes on trying to lighten up the dark mood.

"That's true," Nagato agrees, "but for at least a day or two our strength will be seriously impacted due to the number of damaged ships, and the loss will have a huge detriment on morale for a while." "Akagi," Nagato calls out, "when your repairs at the docks are done, report to me with the full report of the battle."

"Understood," Akagi said compliantly.

While everyone is in the docks recovering from the battle and chatting amongst themselves. Fubuki is just sitting in a corner of the main pool away from everyone else, despondent from all that was going on around her and thinking, "where did we go wrong, where did I go wrong?" "If only I would have protested more adamantly to Akagi's order to stay behind if only I had destroyed more enemy planes so that I could've helped take on the enemy carriers if only I…" Fubuki chastised herself. "Fubuki you ok," Zuikaku asked looking concerned.

"Why," Fubuki asked, "Why am I here, I should be out there helping the others?"

"You know why," Kaga responded.

"I know, but I can still fight, I know I could've done more," Fubuki said frustrated.

"What do you mean," Kaga asked. Fubuki remained silent, Kaga soon realized what Fubuki meant, "you don't need to worry, you were just following orders, you did all you could."

"But still, I could've done more, I could've shot down more abyssal planes, I could've even damaged the abyssal fleet," Fubuki ranted. "This was my first mission after my remodel, I should've been stronger," she continued on.

Kaga is surprised by Fubuki's outburst. "Fubuki almost reminds me of me," she thinks.

"Looks like my repairs are done, I'll see you soon," Fubuki says, standing up and leaving the pool.

"Hey Kaga," Zuikaku calls after Fubuki leaves the building, "could it be possible for a remodel to affect one's mental state?"

"I don't know," Kaga responded. "But I think the expectations Fubuki put on herself after her remodel are certainly demanding," she continues.

"Will she be ok, I've never seen her so despondent before, not even during our short time together as mobile unit five," Zuikaku said.

"I hope so," Kaga said. "I think this is just a side of Fubuki she didn't let anyone see, not even Akagi."

"I think only one person saw this side of her," Akagi interjected, causing Kaga and Zuikaku to look at her in surprise. "Remember the skirmish before operation MI that Fubuki was a part of?"

"The one where Fubuki was trying to use to speed up her remodeling process and almost sank in," Kaga asked.

"Yeah," Akagi confirmed, "I think Mutsuki was the only person to truly see that side of Fubuki, knowing her and what happened she couldn't take what Fubuki was trying to do."

"Is that why they were on the wharf the night after the battle," Kaga questioned.

"Yeah," Akagi answered, "Fubuki was trying to reconcile their friendship, and promised to be more careful."

"Maybe after you report to Nagato, you should probably talk with Fubuki," Kaga suggested. "I think she still feels guilty about the failure of operation MI." Akagi nods her head in agreement, laying back to relax while still undergoing repairs.

As Fubuki walked down the street, she couldn't help but think, "with operation MI over, what will happen next, I wonder what fleet I will be assigned to since mobile unit five is still disbanded?" "Hey Fubuki," a voice calls out, Fubuki perks up upon hearing it. She looks up and sees Mutsuki running to her.

"Hi Mutsuki," she calls out and starts to run up toward her too.

As they embrace each other, Mutsuki asks, "so how was the mission, did you excel as Akagi's escort?"

Upon hearing her question, Fubuki goes pale, as if all joy and emotion have just left her, "no, I… I failed, the operation failed."

"What," Mutsuki says in shock, "what happened?"

"The operation to capture base MI failed, the abyssals were able to outflank us at every turn, thankfully no one was lost," Fubuki said chokingly.

"Well that's good at least," Mutsuki said optimistically.

As Fubuki becomes more gloomy a siren starts blaring before Nagato's voice blasts from the PA system, "Attention light cruisers Sendai, Jintsuu, Naka and destroyers Mutsuki and Fubuki prepare to launch immediately." As they meet with their former torpedo squad 3 members near the launch bay, they hear Nagato over the PA again, "an abyssal counterattack force has been detected, launch and support Kongou the rest of the defense fleet." "Fubuki, what happened during the attack," Sendai asked, "I thought you guys eliminated the enemy fleet?" "I'll explain after this battle," Fubuki answers just as she is about to launch.