"Oh wow..."
Nanami wasn't sure who said that, but the entire room was silent until Mutsuki and Kisaragi came running up to her.
"Miss Nanami is really pretty," Mutsuki complimented cheerfully.
"...Really pretty," Kisaragi agreed. Nanami leaned over to give both of them a hug. As she did she heard an odd sound from the group in front of her, but she ignored it. The rest of the destroyers ran up to her praising her like their leader.
"..be so honest," Nanami heard the tail end of something Mikasa said. She looked up to see who Mikasa was talking to, but she had not moved from where she was previously.
"Well, with that said, we need to start on makeup and hair," Amagi chimed. She grabbed both Nanami and Enterprise and moved them to another room in front of a pair of vanities. Here Shoukaku and Akagi moved in, ready to help with the makeup on both. However, first something had to be done.
"Enterprise, as dashing as you are in your hat, you really must remove it," Amagi told her teasingly. Nanami looked over and saw Enterprise sheepishly take off the hat and hand it over.
Amagi assured her, "Don't worry, I'll keep it safe in my room along with your uniforms." Nanami however was more interested in just how short she was compared to Enterprise. You could really tell when they sat next to one another like this.
"I'm not sure I can make Nanami more beautiful, but I will try," Akagi said as she began her work. It took some time for all of it to be done, but when they finished, Nanami was stunned by her own reflection. She didn't think she had the ability to look like this. Her hair was in a very elaborate bun, and her makeup accentuated her angled face, leaning into her intense stare. The lipstick and eyeshadow were chosen to complement her eye color as well.
Enterprise meanwhile was completely different. Her hair was very similar to her usual style, but it was brushed out differently, leaving it with a gorgeous layered look. Her makeup was minimal, highlighting her naturally gorgeous face.
With makeup and hair done, Amagi and Mikasa put her and Enterprise through a crash etiquette course in Sakuran dining. Nanami knew all of it, but it was a nice refresher for her. Enterprise meanwhile seemed a little overwhelmed by many of the rules.
By this point Nanami was so tired she was ready for a nap, and Enterprise's arm was at just the right level...then she decided better. She could make it to the banquet.
And that is just what she did. Hours later the banquet had started. Amagi, Enterprise and Nanami had waited until the party was started to enter. This meant that they would be the center of attention, which Nanami was not exactly thrilled about, but she accepted it. She would be the center anyways because the reason for the banquet was to introduce her to the faction.
As they entered, the conversation died slightly, then picked up rapidly.
"Isn't that Eagle Union's Enterprise?"
"The Grey Ghost is here?"
"Who is that in the middle? The short one."
"Another Union girl?"
"She looks Sakuran..."
"She's beautiful."
"Look at her eyes!"
"Is that the Commander?"
"If that's the Commander, I'm ready to fight for her."
"Kirishima..."
"Tch...pests."
Nanami picked out only bits and pieces, but what she did hear nearly made her smile. Though she was positive that last bit that she managed to hear was from Akagi. Despite this, and being between Amagi and Enterprise, she managed to maintain her naturally imperious, dignified air.
Suddenly yet another tall woman came up to the three of them with a gentle, welcoming smile on her face. She had golden eyes, and small white horns that poked through her long black hair. Everything about her was inviting. This had to be the host, Hiei.
"Welcome Amagi, I am pleased you could make it. I think I may know who they are, but would you introduce your companions?" the woman requested.
"Good evening Hiei, I am always ready to come to one of your banquets. The tall woman with the silver hair is none other than Eagle Union's Enterprise. And this is Nanami Winters, Commander of the Azur Lane Joint Fleet," Amagi introduced them to Hiei. Enterprise nodded to Hiei, while Nanami gave her a smile.
"Pleased to meet you Enterprise, Commander. I am Hiei, second ship of the Kongou-class of battleships. I hope you enjoy the banquet we put on tonight," Hiei returned the introduction. Before they could reply, another woman came up next to Hiei. Her short lavender hair was put up in a carefree ponytail. Two pairs of black horns sprouted up from the hair on the sides of her head. Her eyes, a darker purple shone as they took looked Nanami up and down.
"Kirirshima, youngest and fastest of the Kongou-class fast battleships. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Kirishima introduced herself with a deep bow to Nanami alone. Nanami looked to Hiei and raised an eyebrow at the blushing older sister. She decided to teach a lesson in her personality.
Hooking a finger under Kirishima's chin she forced her up, "Kirishima...a pleasure to meet you. This is Enterprise, and I am Nanami Winters. Your commanding officer. Next time learn more about your prey before you go hunting dear." When she finished the introduction she was only an inch from Kirishima's face before she slowly pushed the battleship away. She then turned to Hiei as the room was whisper quiet.
"Thank you for putting on this banquet Hiei. I am sure that we will enjoy it," Nanami thanked Hiei before turning and looking around the room. The girls were just starting to go back to their conversations when she found Akagi, Kaga, Misaka, Shoukaku, and one other woman at a table. There were three more seats there, so she assumed they were being saved for Amagi, Enterprise, and herself.
"Shall we join our friends?" She asked the other two, both of whom were still red from the Kirishima incident. Her question elicited nods from them, and so she began walking to their table. As they approached the table, she returned stares with slight nods. She noticed when they got closer that the Mutsuki destroyers were at the table next to theirs, so she took a short detour.
"Nanami!" the group cheered, getting up from their seats to give her hugs. She asked each in turn if they were having fun, to which they all said yes. While the others went back to their seats, Mutsuki and Kisaragi lingered.
"What is wrong dears?" She asked the two inseparable destroyers.
Mutsuki was the one to speak, "Can we sit with you Nanami?" Smiling softly at the pair, Nanami tried to figure out how to tell them they couldn't fit anyone else.
"I'm sorry, there just is not space at the table for more chairs," She let them down easy. When she saw their crestfallen faces, she decided to do something.
"You can sit on my lap though, if that is okay with you," she told them. Kisaragi's face in particular lit up at that, and they followed her back to the table. When they arrived, there was a small scene playing out.
"G-G-Grey Ghost! We must have a rematch!" the mystery girl at the table exclaimed. Nanami was interested, the woman standing beside Shoukaku. Her extremely long brown hair was tied in a high ponytail with red ribbons and a white lotus ornament. Her eyes were yellow and the dress she wore depicted several cranes.
"Excuse me, but why are you shouting at Enterprise?" Nanami asked as she approached with her destroyers in tow.
The woman turned to Nanami and replied, "We have a score that needs to be settled! I can't just sit and break bread with her yet!" Nanami looked at a non-plussed Entterprise, then to Shoukaku who was smiling as if she knew what was about to happen.
"You will stop this foolishness. We are all allies here, and we will all sit down to enjoy the banquet together as allies," Nanami ordered the woman. The woman turned to look at her again, with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Who are you to order me to do anything?" she asked. Nanami did not get a chance to respond.
Shoukaku giggled, "Hehehe. Zuikaku, my dear sister, that is our Commander." Hearing this, Zuikaku froze in place.
"Shoukaku! You let me say that to her," she cried before turning back to Nanami.
She apologized, "I am deeply sorry Commander, please give me any punishment you see fit."
"We are at a banquet, I will not be punishing you Zuikaku. As for introductions, I am Nanami Winters, Eagle Union Commander and head of the Azur Lane Combined Fleet. It is nice to meet you," She introduced herself in a slightly grander manner than usual.
"Thank you for your leniency Commander. I am Zuikaku, younger of the Shoukaku-class carriers. Without my sister I would be lost, so keep her safe Commander," Zuikaku responded.
"I will do my best. Now, let us sit, and talk. This is supposed to be a relaxed environment after all," Nanami suggested to the penitent crane sister. She was just about to sit down when she was approached by Kawakaze, Lady Nagato's bodyguard.
"Miss Nanami, Lady Nagato humbly requests for you to visit her for a short chat. I am here to guide you to her," Kawakaze told Nanami with far more gravitas than Nanami thought she was capable of. She was clearly being on her best behavior.
Nanami accepted then apologized to the group, "I would be happy to attend Lady Nagato. I am sorry everyone. It seems my presence has been requested by Lady Nagato. I will do my best to be back soon. Girls you can have my seat or go back to your table until I am back." Kisaragi and Mutsuki immediately sat in the chair together, between Enterprise and Misaka. Enterprise meanwhile looked almost pitiful while staring at Nanami's back as she left.
Nanami followed Kawakaze across the room to Lady Nagato's table. Sitting with her were Kirishima, and five girls she did not know. However she had to address Lady Nagato before any introductions were to occur.
Bowing slightly in deference to the spiritual leader, "Good evening Lady Nagato. I am glad to see you looking well." Lady Nagato bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"Thank you Nanami, you look wonderful in your kimono. I am happy we are able to have our conversation now. I got the confirmation this afternoon that the paperwork was finished for my personnel requests. Thank you for managing that for me," Nagato returned the greeting. Nanami shook her head slightly.
"It was nothing. I had the help of some wonderful women, including Takao, and Amagi. With that said, I only recognize a few faces here, some more than others," Nanami said with a side-glance to Kirishima that made her look away.
"Ah, yes, introductions are in order. This is Mutsu, my younger sister, and the one who will take over the miko duties while I am back in the Empire," Nagato introduced the young lady beside her. Looking at the girl, Nanami could not doubt this was Nagato's sister. She looked almost identical, if a bit younger with shorter hair. Even their eyes were the same vibrant gold.
"A pleasure to meet you Lady Mutsu. I am Commander Nanami Winters, head of the Azur Lane Joint Fleet," Nanami greeted the younger Nagato sibling with a bow of her head.
"You're the Commander? What is the Joint Fleet? How did you -" Mutsu began asking questions in a rapid fire manner before she was cut off.
"Mutsu... I am sorry Nanami, she has always been exceptio- owww bit my tongue...ex-cep-tion-ally curious," Nagato stumbled on a word, and it was the first time Nanami realized she was just another little girl. And she had so much weight on her shoulders.
Even when she is in the Empire, I will have to check in on her. I do not want her to have a break down from the stress of her position, Nanami once again made a mental note. Her mental notes were useful, because they were impeccable and she rarely if ever forgot.
As she thought, the girl next to Mutsu began her introduction, "I am Fusou, eldest of the Fusou-class battleships. This is my sister, Yamashiro. We help take care of the shrine and pray to the gods every day. It is an honor to meet you milady."
Looking at the pair, Nanami realized girl wasn't proper, at least not for the older one. Fusou was rather mature, with medium-length black hair in an over-the-shoulder low ponytail. She had cat-ears, and her eyes were a deep midnight-blue.
Meanwhile, Yamashiro was very similar, but looked younger. Her black hair was chopped short in a style that framed her face cutely. Her ears were a little rounder, and she had a white cat-mask ornament in her hair. Her eyes were a deep blood-red.
Smiling softly to the pair, Nanami said, "I am pleased to meet you Fusou and Yamashiro. Please, in informal situations, call me Nanami." She would have corrected them to calling her Commander in a work environment, but it definitely seemed like that wasn't possible to correct. Fusou shook her head in disagreement.
"Milady, that is not possible. We could never be informal with one of your station," she insisted. Acquiescing to their quirk, Nanami simply nodded. Next to them was Kirishima who looked away as soon as Nanami's eyes passed over her to settle on the other two women she had not met yet.
"I am Kongou, nameship of the Fast Battleships, Flagship of the 7th combined fleet, and the final Sakuran dreadnought to be laid down outside of the Empire. I will be the guiding light that leads your fleet to victory Commander," Kongou introduced herself in a rather intense fashion.
Is Hiei the only normal Kongou sister? Nanami mused as the next woman began her introduction.
"I'm the youngest Kongou-class, Haruna. I like to fight with my fists. You seem pretty handy yourself Nanami. If what you did to Big Sis Kirishima is anything to go by," Haruna presented with her own quiet intensity. Nanami smiled at the girl's honesty.
Between the two of them Kongou was the easiest to pick out. She had long blonde hair and aqua-marine eyes, and her style was very reminiscent of the Royal Union officers she had met, including her saber. On top of her head she wore a cap with horns, seemingly to cover for the fact that she didn't have them naturally like her sisters.
Haruna had light-brown hair put up into relatively short twintails by red ribbons. Her double white horns jutted up from the sides of her head. The fact that she likes to her fists to fight gave her an idea.
"Pleased to meet both of you. Haruna, you said you like to fight with your fists? Would you like to join myself and an Eagle Union cruiser named Marblehead for kickboxing? We meet early in the morning on Saturdays, but we could always use more members of our workout," she asked the Battleship to join them, because it seemed right up her alley.
Haruna's eyes lit up with a competitive fire as she replied, "That would be awesome Nanami!"
"With the introductions done, will you not sit a short time and talk with us Nanami?" Nagato asked politely. It was a request, but it felt more like an order.
"I would love to my Lady. However, when the food is brought out, I must leave I am afraid. There is a pair of destroyers that are looking forward to eating with me, and I never want to disappoint Mutsuki and Kisaragi," She admitted, eliciting a few smiles from the women at the table.
"That is most understandable Nanami. The Mutsuki-class are quite adorable," Nagato responded with a faint trace of a smile. Nanami noted that, even with how small it was, it was noticeably sad.
They sat and chatted for a short while, and while most of it was learning about the intricacies of the Sakuran Fleet, Nagato also had some advice for Nanami.
"In my absence, while Amagi will be my representative, Akagi will be the Sakuran Flagship. Keep an eye on her for me. She is rather prone to overreaching, and is extremely aggressive in battle," Nagato instructed.
Nanami bowed her head and replied, "I assure you I will keep her close, and I will do my utmost to rein in her self-destructive tendencies." Nagato let her shoulders sag ever so slightly, as if a huge weight had just been handed off. Again Nanami realized the weight that rested on the shoulders of this girl was far more than someone her age should carry. Nobody should need to carry the hopes of an entire people on their own.
A small commotion made Nanami turn around, and she noticed that the food had been brought out.
"Lady Nagato, would you like a visit at the shrine tomorrow morning?" Nanami asked the Sakuran leader. Nagato looked at her curiously before replying.
"It would be a pleasant surprise Nanami. Do you have something further you wish to discuss?" she asked the Commander.
Nanami smiled and nodded, "I do, and it is a topic best spoken of in private."
"Ah. If that is the case, I would gladly receive your visit tomorrow morning. Does eight work?" The miko offered a time.
"That would be perfect, thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me once more Lady Nagato. Now, by your leave, I must return to my companions for dinner," Nanami requested to leave. She did not have to, but she was being considerate of Lady Nagato's place in the Sakuran power structure.
"Please do, you know you do not need my leave. I appreciate you asking for it though. Have a good evening Nanami," Nagato responded. Standing up, Nanami gave her a bow, and left. Though Kawakaze seemed to find it necessary to escort her back across the floor to her table. She arrived just as the food did, and she scooped up the destroyers before sitting down with them on her lap.
"I am sorry I left for so long. Lady Nagato and I had several matters to discuss. Additionally I met with the Fusou sisters, Lady Mutsu, as well as Kongou and Haruna. Thank you all for being so understanding," Nanami apologized to her group of dining companions. When she looked to Enterprise, she saw palpable relief on her face, which made her wonder what had happened.
Then again, she was sitting at a table with two women whom she sank previously, and another that she exchanged blows with on more than one occasion. This had to be terribly awkward for her. She decided she would have to make it up to Enterprise later.
As they sat and ate, they chatted. Nanami made sure that the picky Mutsuki ate her vegetables by promising her that she could have sweets on top of dessert. Kisaragi meanwhile at without any fuss. She realized at that moment she would have to buy some sweets for the girls. Keep some of them at home for when the group stopped by.
As she was making a mental list of other things she needed, like house slippers, she felt her phone buzz from the little purse she carried with the Kimono. She pulled the phone out and recognized the number.
"Commander, we have eyes on another Siren fleet."
A/N: Well, I lied. Here is a fresh chapter for the third day in a row, and it is the longest chapter to date as well. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews.
I also apologize, as I do not have an editor for these. Any mistakes are because I edit as I go and do quick once overs before publishing. But seeing as this is not my actual job right now...
I have a couple questions to ask. How would you feel about a side series for more fluffy day to day moments? And a series for any potential M rated content that will be faded to black here.
