Enterprise stopped talking when she saw Nanami. Where, for Hiei's banquet, she would have been described as beautiful and distinguished, this Nanami was completely different. The fashionista pair had given her a demure, cute look to go with the blue sundress and flats they had picked for her.
One would almost believe it, if it weren't for her eyes. They projected a dominance that no makeup could completely undo. However, for Enterprise, and many of the other girls, this new cute Nanami was an incredible transformation. She went from imperious leader to girl-next-door levels of cute.
Enterprise managed to tear her eyes away from Nanami for a moment and nodded to Nachi and Marblehead who simply gave her thumbs up in return. Nanami missed this, because she was waiting for a response from the group.
She finally received it from Yorktown, "I think that Nanami is right. It's time to leave. Hornet should be just about ready for us in any case." The rest of the group broke from their astonishment when she spoke, and they followed their leader out the door.
The walk, while short, was pleasant for Nanami, who was not used to wearing a dress as casual wear. The feeling of the ocean breeze on more skin than normal brought her peace. And as she focused on the breeze, before she knew it, they were at the park.
Two girls were in the middle of a few grills and were already cooking. One was wearing a similar uniform jacket to Enterprise, but underneath she wore much less. She had a black and yellow bikini top with short, black denim shorts, and a matching cowboy hat. Her blonde hair was put up in twintails.
The other woman had short black hair and lime green eyes. She was also rather lightly dressed, wearing what looked to be a sports shorts and sports bra. They seemed to work well together, but occasionally got in each others' way. That wasn't so bad though.
When they approached, the one with the hat greeted Yorktown, "Hey big sis! Who do ya got with ya?" Yorktown introduced both Amagi and Nachi before allowing Nanami to introduce herself.
"Greetings Hornet, I am Commander Nanami Winters of the Eagle Union Navy. I am the Commander of Azur Lane," Nanami introduced herself, bowing her head slightly in greeting.
"No wonder Enty talks about you so much, you are super cute. Yo! I'm Hornet, youngest of the Yorktown class. And that is Northampton-" Hornet introduced herself and her friend, but was cut off.
"I can introduce myself Hornet, thank you. Hey Commander, I am Northampton, the nameship of the Northampton-class heavy cruisers. I was part of the Doolittle Raid and Midway. Hornet is probably my best friend," Northampton introduced herself after cutting in.
Hornet reacted taken aback, "Probabaly!?" Yorktown and Northampton laughed to the indignation of Hornet.
As they joked, Nanami joined in the mood by teasing Enterprise, "What was that nickname? Enty? I kind of like it." Enterprise turned very red hearing that nickname coming from Nanami's lips.
"O-only my sisters c-call me that..." she managed to stammer before falling silent again.
Nanami raised her eyebrows, and asked with feigned innocence, "So, what about En? Would that work En?" Anyone in the group that hadn't been watching this unfold surely was now, as Enterprise became increasingly flustered.
Amagi watched with a smile. This was what she expected from a strategist. Nanami was just as promising as she thought she would be! Plus Enterprise's blush was absolutely adorable! She decided to help Nanami along.
She leaned over the commander's shoulder and said, "You wouldn't want to disappoint this face now would you En?"
"Eep," the intrepid Commander squeaked. Though Amagi's intention was to rile Enterprise up further, she also got a reaction from Nanami
"Oh, so you can dish out the teasing, but you can't take it? Na-na-mi?" Amagi asked, whispering her name slowly. Nanami felt an involuntary shudder go down her back, but did her best not to let the blush on her face show.
"We are in public at the moment Amagi, please do remember that," she managed to reply coolly, despite how fast her heart was beating.
"Saying it like that Nanami, the others are going to get the wrong idea," Amagi laughed. Nanami turned to her and tilted her head in confusion.
"The wrong idea?" She inquired, and everyone thought the same thing.
How is our Fleet Commander this pure a maiden?
At that moment, Hiei showed up with the rest of the Sakuran contingent, and Essex came forth with the half of the new fleet from the Union forces.
"Good afternoon Hiei, I apologize for leaving so suddenly last night. However we had an emergency situation that required I attend to it," Nanami delivered her apology with a deep bow. It was prudent to get the apology done quickly, though she wanted it known that she left the banquet for good reasons. What happened last night had doubtless cycled through the base already.
Hiei, being her gracious self, waved of the apology, "Please Commander, you do not have to apologize to me for running the Fleet. Many have heard what you did last night in helping one of our own. In fact, your own quick actions may have prevented more severe casualties. And I must say that you look wonderful again today." Nanami smiled Hiei's kind words, but Nanami honestly believed she only did what anyone would. It wasn't an extraordinary feat to her.
Hieie continued, "Well let's start the introductions shall we? Do you want to start Essex, or shall we?"
Amagi leaned in to whisper in Nanami's ear, "Essex was present when building the fleet. She was very helpful with her knowledge of the Union forces." Nanami nodded to Amagi, and noted in her head to thank Essex later.
"Perhaps it would be best to go back and forth? Introducing all ships in a class before switching?" Essex offered, which Hiei accepted and gestured for the Union ships to start. While the introductions were ongoing, Nanami noticed the destroyers lost focus quickly and began playing..some of them played at least
Kalk and Fubuki seeemed more childlike than Ayanami and Laffey. Laffey especially seemed like much more of an adult. That may have been due to the heavy scent of alcohol on the girl who had mechanical bunny ears. Luckily though, it seemed as if the serious Ayanami, or 'Ayaya' as Laffey had accidentally called her, could keep an eye on the other destroyers in the fleet.
Once all the introductions were over, Nanami grabbed Haruna and Marblehead.
"Haruna, Marblehead here is who I was talking about last night. Marblehead, Haruna will be joining us in the gym for sparring and training. Since I am currently injured, I will be limited in how I can approach fights. So you two will mainly be sparring with one another," she explained to the pair.
Marblehead let out a cheer, "I don't have to fight you again Nanami!? Last time I thought I was totally going to die!" Nanami laughed slightly at her antics.
"Now, I never said that. I'll just be limited in our spars. We'll call it an even match since I can't use my arms," Nanami corrected the cruiser. Haruna's eyes meanwhile grew wide.
"You're telling me a human went toe to toe with a cruiser and not only survived, but won? Now I have to fight you Nanami," she cried in excitement. Nanami exchanged a look with Marblehead.
"Be careful what you wish for Haruna," Marblehead laughed, then winced remembering her first sparring match with Nanami. Despite how energetic she was, she was still sore today.
The food seemed just about done, and smelled amazing, but just then a little girl came walking up. Nanami assumed she was a destroyer based on her size. Her uniform was odd. It seemed kind of science fiction inspired. The girl was adorable, her blonde hair in two long twin-tails and had an ahoge that stood up and sparked near the end.. Her eyes were amber and she seemed tired.
"Oh hiya Eldridge! Have you met Nanami? I mean the Commander yet?" Marblehead asked the girl as she noticed her approach. Eldridge stared at Nanami, cocked her head to the side, then shook it.
Nanami took that as her opportunity to speak, "Hello Eldridge I am Nanami Winters, the new commander of Azur Lane. Please call me Nanami." Eldridge righted her head and responded.
"Eldridge is... Cannon-class destroyer escort. Love snacks. Emit sparks," she spoke in a stilted, broken pace. She was a destroyer escort? Those were even smaller than destroyers. No wonder she was so young looking. She seemed very tired to Nanami, but that may just have been her general disposition.
"Come get some grub everyone," Hornet called from the grills, and Nanami waved the to women with her on before turning back to Eldridge.
"Do you want help getting your food?" she asked the young ship-girl. She nodded, and Nanami held out her hand, but the girl held her arms up.
"Nanami, fly," she requested. Nanami saw no reason to deny the request, and reached to pick her up.
"Wait Commander!" she heard too late. Nanami felt intense pain, and was suddenly on the ground, trembling slightly from the electricity that had just coursed through her body. Eldridge looked ready to cry. It was clear she hadn't meant for this, she just wasn't good at controlling her power.
Enterprise was at her side rapidly, "Don't move too fast Nanami, we need to get you to the Infirmary to make sure your heart is okay." Amagi arrived as Enterprise finished speaking.
"Are you * cough cough * Are you okay Nanami?" She asked, clearly having moved as quickly as she could to get over there. Still shaking slightly, she did her best to calm the kitsune with a wave of her hand. Then she reached toward Eldridge and drew her into an embrace despite protests from both Amagi and Enterprise.
"See Eldridge, no need to cry. I am alright. Please do not blame yourself for that. You are a good girl," she consoled the young destroyer escort. Eldridge buried her head in Nanami's chest and caused Nanami a bit of discomfort from a constant light discharge. However, it wasn't that bad.
It seemed as if nobody had given her a way to discharge that electricity for quite some time. Maybe it would be fine if she had a way to constantly discharge it without hurting someone. Nanami would ask the research team to think of something for that.
Once the young ship-girl was calm, she was coaxed away by Yorktown with food, and Nanami's advisers helped her to her feet.
"You have a soft heart Commander. Are you sure you will be able to do that is necessary when the time comes? If not, stand behind me, I will protect you and everyone else," the battleship named Pennsylvania told her. She was the lead ship of her class, and protective of those she saw as weak. Nanami did not like her tone just now.
"Pennsylvania! How dare you say something like that. Do you know the things she-" Enterprise began to dress down Pennsylvania for her improper address of her superior officer when Nanami stopped her with a touch on the shoulder.
"Pennsylvania, I do not think I have ever been accused of having a soft heart. Quite the opposite in fact. But if you do not believe I have the strength to carry us through this war, would you care to have a sparring match with me? I think even with my current injuries I would be able to mop the ring with you," Nanami stated in a rare bout of boastfulness. Those within earshot, which was most of the cookout due to the central location of this disagreement, were stunned. The Commander not only challenged a battleship to a fight, but told her she would manage to easily beat her while injured.
Pennsylvania did not get riled up, but answered calmly, "If you insist, I would be willing to spar with you tomorrow. I would hate to ruin an occasion such as this with our squabble." With her part said, she retreated to her nearby sister, Arizona.
"Let's get you to the Infirmary. Vestal should have a look at your heart after that," Enterprise said, still holding onto Nanami as if she might fall over at any moment. For Nanami's part she had been doing a wonderful job of hiding the fact that her chest had an incredible pain in it. Worse than any she'd ever had.
Leaning into Enterprise a bit more, thankful for the tall woman's support, Nanami managed to get out of sight before she collapsed into Enterprise's arms and her vision went black.
Linebreak
She awoke on the cliff over Puget Sound. This time the battle was gone, but the scars of war were still there. Nature had grown over them, sure, but they were still there. Looking out across the sea she saw that it was early morning, and a heavy fog sat upon the Sound.
She realized she was sleeping against something extremely soft, and turned to discover the tail, or more accurately tails of the giant wolf from before. Her name came to her suddenly.
"Anne. I remembered your name Anne. Just like you asked," She told the wolf, beginning to cry. She was so happy. She remembered Anne, but how did they come to be tied together.
"I am overjoyed, but we have been reunited for years now. Our enemies are gone, and we have returned here for the anniversary of that fateful night so many years ago. So many friends lost, so much pain, but we did it. We smashed Her fleet and ended Her," Anne spoke into her mind. It was her own voice, but clear, proud, and imperious as it should be.
Nanami was confused, "No! I will not let them die! Not again. They have all been through so much. I never want them to experience that pain again!" Anne recoiled slightly at the vehement protestations. Something was wrong with Nanami, it was as if she was still from before they reunited. A sudden realization came to her.
"You're doing that again aren't you. You are not my Nanami, you are another. Hopefully Shinano and Amagi will be able to help you get that under control before it makes you go mad. And if you want to prevent this outcome, do something to prevent it. Manifest your dreams, but before you do, look out into the fog, it may jog your memories," Anne explained relatively vaguely. Her advice made sense, but didn't at the same time. Who was Shinano? Was she talking about the Sakura carrier? As far as Nanami knew she wasn't remade in this life.
Putting those thoughts for later, she looked into the fog as Anne told her. There she saw a massive figure begin to form in the fog, it was a ship of proportions she had never seen. However before she could see it more clearly or ask Anne about it, she felt an incredibly sharp pain in her chest, and she blacked out.
Linebreak
Back in the waking world, Nanami came to in the Infirmary for the second time in two days. At least this time she wasn't hooked up to an IV. She looked around and saw the 4 Takao sisters looking at her with concern. Further down the line Zuikaku watched from Shoukaku's bedside, the curtains now pulled back. Shoukaku herself was asleep again. That worries Nanami, but she still had others to find.
She only had to turn to her other side to find them. Enterprise and Amagi were talking softly a few feet away. With that realization, and remembering she wasn't hooked up to an IV, Nanami got up from the bed, much to the protestations of nearly everyone in the room. She ignored them though, and approached Enterprise and Amagi. They however did not find it amusing and paired to carry her back to her bed until Vestal could arrive.
"Well, I don't know what is wrong, your heart is fine. I would recommend an Xray and MRI, but I know you won't want that with how packed your schedule is coming up. But once things calm down you come to me, or I hunt you down," Vestal warned. Luckily because nothing was wrong, Nanami was able to leave. Unfortunately she had been out long enough that the cookout was pretty much over. Hopefully it had gone without incident after she was gone.
Nanami turned to her advisers,"Well, we have a big day tomorrow. Shall we head home?"
A/N: Thank you all for the support as usual. I really love to hear from you all on what you like and dislike about the fic.
Also I have began to publish my own web novel on Tapas and Webnovel. If you like my writing, check out the links in my profile!
The latest event only played into my already made plans, so yay!
