(drip – drip – drip)
Amagi heard liquid dripping as they left, and quickly discovered it came from Nanami's hand. It turned out that Nanami hadn't managed to escape injury when she punched the wall.
"Commander *Cough*, let us stop by the Sakura dorms and I will bind your hand. You will have to see Vestal at the clinic later to make sure nothing is *cough cough* is broken," she implored. Seeing that she had put her adviser in a state of mild distress, Nanami was ashamed. This was not something that Amagi needed with her current state.
"Okay, I will go with you," Nanami assented. With that they slightly changed direction. The Sakura dorms were a decent walk from the warehouse and nearby office. They sat right along the beachfront and many rooms had outer doors that opened toward the ocean.
When they entered the main hall, a group of familiar faces ran right into Nanami.
"owwww," Kisaragi cried from the ground. Concerned for the destroyer's well being, Nanami leaned down and offered her a hand up.
"Are you okay Kisaragi-chan?" she asked gently. Hearing Nanami's voice, Kisaragi's eyes lit up and she took her hand. Nanami did not think though and used her injured hand.
"Ah! M-miss Nanami is...hurt," Kisaragi whimpered. The other destroyers all gathered around her hand, worried about their new friend.
Amagi was the one to calm them, "The commander is fine girls. Could you go get Myoukou? Tell her to bring the medical kit to my room." With their orders, the entire group went running off to find this Myoukou. Amagi headed the opposite direction and, after a short walk through the halls, arrived at her door.
When she opened the door, Nanami entered behind her to find a very comfortably furnished room. Amagi gestured for her to sit at the kotatsu in the middle of the room. Being late-spring the heater wasn't on. After a couple moments Amagi joined her, holding a wet towel.
As she cleaned around the wound, Amagi was extremely gentle, barely holding the hand, and pressing only as hard as necessary to remove the blood stains from her skin. Nanami watched her intently as she worked. She was once more struck by the beauty of Amagi and Akagi, and the ship-girls in general.
"If you continue to stare like that Commander, one might get the wrong idea," Amagi spoke, breaking her from her reverie. Nanami quickly averted her eyes, blushing slightly.
"I apologize if I have maid you ill at ease Amagi," she repented.
Amagi laughed, "Not at all Commander. It was quite flattering after all." Right as she finished wiping the blood stains away, there was a knock at the door. After permitting them to enter, a small gaggle of people came in.
At the head of this group was someone dressed in a black uniform, mismatched length black socks, and a red-band on her arm. Her very fluffy ears matched her black hair, and her eyes, set in a serious expression, were a reddish-amber.
Right behind her was a girl in a blue uniform. She had long black hair that was almost purple, ears atop her head the same color, and light red eyes. She also noticeably carried a sheathed katana. Behind this girl came Kisaragi and Mutsuki. The destroyers pushed past the larger girls and clung to Nanami's sides.
"Please help her Miss Myoukou!" the pair pleaded with the one in black. She looked to from the Commander to Amagi in slight confusion.
"What is this Amagi? I wasn't sure who they were talking about when I heard the name Nanami, but I certainly did not expect an Eagle Union officer," she admitted to Amagi in Sakuran.
"I am Eagle Union Commander Nanami Winters, the new head of Azur Lane. I am in your care," Nanami introduced herself in Sakuran. Myoukou's eyes widened and her cheeks turned red at her misstep.
"I'm sorry Commander. I should have assumed someone in your position could speak Sakuran. I am Myoukou, first of the Myoukou-class heavy cruisers," she introduced, recovering quickly.
The other girl with her chimed in, " I am Ashigara, third ship of the Myoukou-class. From this point forth my sword will cut down your enemies." Nanami smiled a bit at the earnest nature of Ashigara. Like a samurai, she was ready for orders from her daimyo.
"I am pleased to have a warrior such as yourself to call upon. It is a pleasure to meet both of you," Nanami assured the pair. As Myoukou sat to tend to the wound, Amagi stood back up.
"Would everyone like some tea and sweets?" she asked the group.
The destroyers' eyes sparkled, "Sweets?"
"I shall take that as a yes," Amagi laughed in response. It was a light and airy laugh, one that fit her personality far too thoroughly. So thoroughly that Nanami almost missed Myoukou's question from appreciating it.
"How does someone with the name Nanami come to be a Commander with the Eagle Union?" Myoukou inquired as she dabbed the wound with an alcohol covered swab. Nanami knew this would come up eventually. Even though she had already told Amagi she was half-Sakuran, she had not told her how that came to be.
"After the war, the Union occupied the Empire. One base, Yokosuka, became a joint naval base for the remnants of the Empire fleet and the Union forces. My father was stationed there after serving in the Pacific during the war," Nanami explained. She felt bad for the long explanation, but the preface was needed for the ships that may not have seen the end of the war.
She continued, "My father met a fiercely independent woman there, Kawashima Saki, my mother. It took him a year to convince her to date him. And another year to convince her to marry him, which went against her parent's wishes. Then they had my brothers and myself. I was the youngest." As she spoke, Amagi handed out cups of matcha and some mochi to Kisaragi and Mutsuki. Myoukou finished up by wrapping her hand in bandages and looked at her work proudly.
"Yokosuka brings back memories. As a ship I was built there, and that was where I was damaged by the earthquake. Is your mother back in the Union?" Amagi reminisced before asking about Nanami's mother. Nanami had been ready for this to come up.
"No, sadly she was in Yokosuka when the Sirens shattered the defense fleet and leveled the base. As far as I know, she did not make it, not many did," Nanami recounted plainly. Amagi reached across the table and held Nanami's uninjured hand.
"I am * Cough * so sorry for making you remember such things Commander," she consoled the commander.
Nanami stared at their hands for a second before replying, "No, it was not your fault. That was a question bound to come up in a conversation such as this." Then she remembered something her uncle always told her.
"And please, call me Nanami in a more relaxed setting like this," she added. Amagi's face lit up in a sly grin.
"First name basis already Nanami? Shoukaku was right, you do move fast," she teased, bringing her hand up in a gesture of mock shock. Nanami looked to the Myoukou sisters for help, but both were staring into their tea. They knew better than to get between one of the Amagi sisters and their preferred toy. Seeing she wouldn't have any help, Nanami decided to go on the offensive. She grabbed Amagi's hand in both of hers and leaned in, staring heavily into her eyes.
"Of course, how could I not want to be on first name basis with an intelligent beauty such as Amagi," Nanami complimented the strategist. This sudden attack made Amagi blush heavily, and put her on the back foot, something she was not used to.
"C-Commander there are destroyers present," Amagi stuttered slightly as she looked to the side and took her hand back. However, when Nanami looked to her sides, she saw the young destroyers fast asleep. She raised an eyebrow and looked to Myoukou and Ashigara, both of whom were blushing and very interested in their empty cups.
Was what I did so risque? It has been a long time since I lived in Sakura, maybe I've forgotten some social norms, she questioned herself. However she couldn't figure it out before the conversation moved on. They stayed conversing for another half hour before Amagi spoke up.
"Shall we get going then Commander? You said you wanted to visit the shrine today," she reminded. Nanami nodded, but then looked at the destroyers again. She really did not want to disturb them while they were napping. Her concern did not last long though as the two woke up right at that moment.
"Nanami?" Kisaragi asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
The Commander smiled, "I am still here Kisaragi." The little cat-eared destroyer sighed in relief.
"Nanami, are you leaving?" she asked another question of the Commander.
"Yes, but I will be around every day for a long time. I promise I will never leave without saying goodbye to you," Nanami reassured the little one. Mutsuki was attached too, but it seemed she only latched on to Nanami because Kisaragi had. To Nanami it seemed like they were a pair. If you took one, you got the other.
With all of that said, Nanami and the rest of the little impromptu tea party stood up. Myoukou and Ashigara promised to get Mutsuki and Kisaragi reunited with the rest of the destroyer's. Apparently they had been nabbed by someone named Hiei for 'taste-testing'. With all the goodbyes said, Nanami and Amagi left for the Shrine.
Amagi pointed out the buildings that were important, the chow hall, the other dorms, recreation buildings. The commissary and exchange were fairly close to her house, which would make getting what few non-issued items she needed easier.
They only spoke as necessary while walking, preferring the peaceful quiet with one another over needless chatter. Eventually, they reached the path up to the temple. Though the path was short, it was steep, so Nanami offered her arm in assistance to Amagi. The strategist gladly took it, as the short climb always left her with a coughing fit otherwise.
Once they reached the top, they made their way through the rituals of attending the shrine. They payed their respect before the entrance torii gate, and proceeded to the purification trough. There they used the ladles to scoop water on to each of their hands and then wet their lips. As they finished up the purification, Amagi smiled foxily.
"So you have not forgotten your heritage in all your years away from the Empire. You make me so proud Nanami," she teased. Before Nanami could react though, a sword fell into her path, causing her to come to an abrupt stop. She quickly placed herself between Amagi and the assailant, but the calm Sakuran strategist placed her hand on Nanami's shoulder to placate her.
"Who is this Eagle Union officer, and why would you bring her here Amagi?" the woman inquired. Her overall tone was calm, but there was a sternness underlying it. Nanami analyzed the girl a bit better as she stood at the end the blade.
Her white hair was extremely long. While the fur of her ears and tail were mainly white, they had black markings. Her eyes were a clear blue, like untainted water, but with all the fierceness of a typhoon. Her clothes matched her hair, a primarily white top with long flowing sleeves, and a black skirt. Despite her relatively dainty appearance, it was clear from her fierceness that she was a warrior. Amagi snapped her back to reality with her response.
"This is the new Azur Lane Joint Fleet Commander, Nanami Winters. While I admire your dedication to your duty of protecting Lady Nagato, you should not be denying anyone the right to visit this shrine. Nanami is also of Sakuran descent, so this is her heritage as much as it is ours, no matter the nation she served to get here Kawakaze," she admonished the swordswoman. Kawakaze, to her merit, sheathed her sword after she was corrected by Amagi.
She then proceeded to introduce herself, "My apologies Commander. I am Kawakaze, ninth ship of the Shiratsuyu class destroyers. I am Lady Nagato's bodyguard first and foremost."
"You have an important job. Then I shall continue to entrust Lady Nagato's health to you," Nanami conceded. This would hopefully put her in the good graces of the warrior. Now that the interruption was dealt with, the trio proceeded to the main hall together.
After ringing the bell and placing coins in the offering box, they moved to the main shrine to pray. First two bows, two rings of the bell, followed by two claps, then the prayer.
Please guide me to lead these women to victory, and to protect them from pain and suffering as much as possible, she prayed to the god of the shrine. Nanami gave one last bow to complete the prayer. She hoped that she could rise to this job.
They were about to leave when soft footsteps came around the corner. Nanami's eyes widened when she saw a tiny, but holy looking girl surrounded by massive guns. She realized this must be the girl's rigging, but for a girl that size to have rigging like that...this must be Nagato. Her intuition was spot on, as Kawakaze and Amagi both bowed deeply to the miko.
Nanami bowed as well, but not nearly as low as Amagi and Kawakaze.
"Lady Nagato, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Commander Nanami Winters, new head of Azur Lane," she introduced herself succinctly to the holy woman. After a pause where the Nagato seemed to be evaluating her, she responded.
"I am also pleased to meed you Commander. It is not every day one meets a Sakuran-born Eagle Union officer. It is also good that we met now, for in a few more days this would not have been possible. Please walk with me Commander, Amagi," she requested. Nanami nodded and followed, staying just outside of the radius of the cannons on her rigging. Kawakaze rose to follow but was stopped in her tracks by a single motion of Nagato's hand.
Nanami was impressed with the loyalty and respect that she was treated. She was no ordinary miko. As she looked at the girl, Nanami also noted the defining features she had. Long dark brown hair with matching fox years. Whereas the kitsune's ears were shorter and more offset, Lady Nagato's ears were straight and proud, with white tufts protruding from the inside.
However, the thing that bothered Nanami the most were the girl's eyes. Beautifully golden, but there was a heaviness there that someone with her body shouldn't have. A look that one only gets after seeing many horrors. This was the same look that Nanami wanted to prevent in future generations, the same look she had after witnessing the burning of Puget Sound.
"Commander, I shall be leaving for the Sakura Empire on Monday. The Sacred Sakura must be tended to, and I cannot entrust it to anyone else. Worry not. My younger sister, Mutsu, shall be here to take over the role as head miko," she explained to Nanami. Thinking on what this meant, Nanami realized that the spiritual center of the Empire forces would no longer be here. Not only that, but she would be passing through waters that could potentially have Siren fleets roaming them.
"Lady Nagato, this will be a dangerous journey. Do you have an escort force you wish to take?" Nanami questioned as they continued to walk around the shrine grounds.
The little miko responded, "Yes, I understand the potential dangers of the journey, however there is more need for me there than just tending the Sakura. There are factions that wish to separate from Azur Lane over disagreements with the Admiralty's stance on utilizing Siren technology. As for escorts, here is my requested escort force." She handed a small tied scroll to Nanami. Opening it up, Nanami saw the fleet was fairly adequate. Two carriers(Soryuu and Hiryuu), three heavy cruisers(Nachi, Myoukou, Ashigara), and four destoyers(Shiratsuyu-class) would make up the escort.
Nanami handed the scroll to Amagi before speaking, "I would feel a little more comfortable if you took another pair of ships with heavy guns as well. Amagi who would you suggest?" She would not speak on the matter of using Siren technology. It was not her place to question the Admiralty, despite how valuable that tech had already been.
"Kongou and Kirishima would do wonderfully Commander. They are sisters and two of the four Kongou-class Battlecruisers currently here," Amagi suggested as she rolled up the scroll. Nagato thought on it for only a moment.
"This is acceptable. I thank you for worrying about my well-being. Now, let us have some tea," Nagato suggested. Unfortunately, just then Nanami's phone vibrated. She quickly excused herself before she picked it up.
"Commander, an update on the Siren situation. The fleet engaged and sank all Siren vessels. Enterprise, Akagi, and Kaga will provide a more detailed debriefing when they return," Shoukaku informed her. Nanami was impressed with how serious she could be when she wanted.
She was a good choice for the job after all. Besides, Nanami always had to remind herself that playfulness had a place even in the most serious of situations. It kept people from breaking under stress, and lifted spirits.
"Thank you for the update Shoukaku. Please tell Enterprise to bring along the ship that first spotted the enemy as well," Nanami thanked her for the report and ended the call.
First mission debriefing as Commander...
A/N: Thank you all again for your reviews. I appreciate the feedback as always!
If you can not tell, I deeply miss living in Japan.
Thank you to Stuka87 for pointing out an error in Kawakaze's introduction.
