When Amagi, Enterprise, and Nanami reached Nanami's house, she realized they would be going back to their dorms that night, not staying there.
"Good evening you two. I am sorry that I ended up cutting your time at the cookout so short. I really have not had great luck recently have I?" Nanami apologized to her trustworthy advisers. Amagi and Enterprise both shook their heads
"No you haven't Nanami. You need to get some sleep for tomorrow's busy day. Perhaps things will begin looking up then." Amagi encouraged her.
Enterprise added, "And if they don't we are still beside you to make things better when they go wrong."
Nanami smiled just a bit, and for Enterprise and Amagi that was enough to know she would be able to bounce back from recent events. With how rare her shows of emotion were, any positive emoting was good.
"Thank you both. Good night," Nanami said before entering the house. Once inside he immediately began the bath and spent time relaxing before going to bed. However once in bed, she found she couldn't sleep. She spent a couple hours tossing and turning. The bed felt too big for herself, and she found herself longing for the Amagi's softness, and Enterprise's arms around her.
Maybe they could...do just...a...little more, she thought with a sigh as her hand wandered south.
At that moment Nanami's eyes shot open and her face burned as she realized what she was about to do.
Just what the hell am I thinking? I do not need this type of a distraction right now. I need to cool off, she berated herself before she decided to jump into a cold shower. Though she only meant to stay there for a short time, she was there for over half an hour trying to cool down. It was nearly futile, but ultimately she succeeded in her mission.
However by that point she was so wide-awake that she just decided to put on her uniform and head into the office to get some work done. She made her way to the office quickly, and found it empty, as expected. She turned the radio in the room on, just in case a mayday call came in. This way she wouldn't have to wait for a report from the Comms room to get to her, she could act on it right away.
She sat down at the desk to stare at all the paperwork that required her approval. Requests for purchases, commission requests from the outside that would bolster their financing, incident reports, the list went on an on. Seeing all the work, she cracked her neck and began working.
It wasn't long before she became frustrated, as she had to work slowly with the injuries to her arm and hand. After several hours of this, she decided to shift gears, as she was getting relatively nothing done. Nanami realized she would have to rely upon Essex and Takao to help her get things done.
Instead, she sorted the work by what she could do via simply filing, and things that needed a lot of writing work. Once that was done, she managed to file away the paperwork that needed it. At that time, it was still early morning, and sleep was finally hitting her, so she took off her uniform jacket and laid down on the couch.
Luckily this was significantly smaller than her bed.
Can I just sleep? Why am I always fighting to return to sleep? Let me dream...let me leave this place, she thought as she finally drifted off to sleep.
A couple hours later the door to the office opened, and Enterprise entered. At first glance she noticed something was off, but couldn't tell what. Then she realized that Nanami was sleeping on one of the couches in the sitting area of the office.
She's shivering, Enterprise realized and decided to fix that problem by taking her own jacket off and placing on the Commander as a blanket. Its long length would serve that application well, especially for the much shorter Nanami.
She was just finishing placing the jacket on her, when Nanami lashed out at what would be throat level on an average person. Instead what she got was a handful of Enterprise's breasts. When she realized what she felt wasn't what she intended, Nanami's subconscious finally woke her. She opened her eyes to see a panicking Enterprise in her lewd grasp.
Immediately she let go, and began apologizing profusely, "I am so very sorry Enterprise. Please forgive my sleep induced actions. I do not know how I can make it up to you. Please issue a formal complaint with the Admiralty over my actions if necessary." Enterprise took a second to reboot, but began panicking again trying to reassure Nanami.
"N-n-no! You were asleep, you didn't know what you were doing. It's my fault. You looked cold, so I put my jacket on you, and I disturbed you," She admitted to Nanami. Nanami had been so focused on what she had done that she hadn't noticed the jacket. This made her feel even worse.
All of this happened because Enterprise...cared...No! We had this conversation already tonight. But...No, no conversation, her thoughts trailed off, before she corrected them. Her mind was seemingly in a fight with itself, and ultimately her self-control and professional mind won out, despite the overwhelming blush on her face.
"Again, I apologize, but I thank you for caring enough for my health to give me your jacket. However, what about your health? It would not do for the current on call Quick Reaction Fleet Flagship to fall ill from the cold in this office. Speaking of which, where is that thermostat," Nanami once more apologized to Enterprise, but then she admonished Enterprise. She needed to keep a degree of professional distance, and this helped. Standing up, she handed Enterprise's jacket back to her, and fixed the thermostat.
With that done, they sat in awkward silence for a short while before Essex entered and stopped in her tracks. She was not expecting both of them to be here. Maybe one, or the other, but not both, and not in this kind of atmosphere. Just what had happened before she got here?
"Good morning Commander, Enterprise. Have you been here long?" Essex asked once she recovered. Nanami and Enterprise both shook their heads, wanting to put as much distance between the Event and themselves as possible. This just made them look more guilty.
"* ahem * Good Morning Essex. No, we haven't been here particularly long. Just enough to get the paperwork on my desk sorted, and a few of the easier things done. With all these bandages on my hands I am afraid I will be rather useless with most paperwork for a while," Nanami managed to recover faster than Enterprise, and even came up with a good cover. Not that they needed a cover story.
Essex's eyes sparkled, "Don't worry Commander, I will give you 110% in getting the paperwork done. I swear I will do great, just you watch Enterprise." Nanami smiled at the fact she directed part of it at Enterprise. Hero worship never really does go away, no matter what you want to call it. At the same time the door opened and Takao walked in.
"Good morning Commander, Enterprise, Essex. What is this about paperwork?" She asked, a hint of worry in her voice. It made sense to Nanami. This girl was a fighter, and she couldn't fight paperwork. So Nanami saved her.
"Essex, will you be fine with the paperwork on your own for the day? I have need of Takao. I will be seeing off a Sakuran VIP and greeting the advance forces of the Royal Navy. Until then, you two can work on them together," Nanami asked for Essex's cooperation, explaining the circumstances that required it. Though she didn't need to do that. Essex was ready the moment she was asked to do something. She was certainly dedicated to learning how to run the fleet properly.
Takao on the other hand turned extremely red when she heard the Commander needed her, and her mind took off without waiting for context to that statement.
When she came back, Nanami was talking to her, "-we need to get this paperwork done. I am hoping we can accomplish most of it before we go to see off our VIP. Unfortunately, as I told Essex, I am not in a condition to be particularly helpful." Takao nodded along to the explanation and then sat and began her work in earnest. Which is when Amagi entered with Akagi and Kaga.
"Good morning Commander." "Good morning Commander." "Good morning my dear Commander!" One of the trio's greetings was different, and Nanami knew exactly who. Akagi came bounding forth and hugged tight to her side.
"Commander, you've been neglecting me to spend time with other girls," she sang, and Nanami felt a chill run down her spine. This was the power of this woman. A truly terrifying prospect was, she could probably get way worse.
Nanami handled this in the best way she knew how, and leaned over to whispered as quietly as possible, "I am sorry you feel that way Akagi. How about tonight you come over and we have another bath, just the two of us? Maybe we can have some dinner too." Her suggestion was luckily only heard by Akagi who looked up at her with sparkling eyes.
"I'll do the cooking," she whispered back and went bounding off, dragging Kaga behind her. Her whisper sent a shiver down Nanami's spine, and she wasn't sure if it was fear or something else.
"Well..anyway. Good Morning Amagi. I feel I may have unleashed a monster," Nanami admitted.
Amagi laughed, "Commander, you unleashed that monster the moment you didn't say no the first time she clung to you. Now it's time for you to pay your dues. And though I did not catch it, I am pretty sure you encouraged her further with whatever you told her. I can't help you now." Nanami sighed resignedly. Amagi was right as always. This was her fault and her fight as a result.
"Ignoring that, Amagi I do need your assistance with something. Could you walk with me?" Nanami asked the kitsune. She assented wordlessly, and they began to walk.
"I did not tell you, but I had a dream about Puget Sound, more specifically a second dream about Puget Sound. The first was nearly a recreation of the battle as I remember it. The second though...took place well after we beat the Sirens apparently." Nanami explained. Amagi began to look concerned.
The Commander continued, "We had lost a lot of people in the war. And I would write the dream off, but someone in the dream that I trust told me that I was doing 'that' again, and I wasn't 'their' Nanami. That I needed to find Shinano and yourself and learn how to control whatever was happening." Hearing the name Shinano associated with the dreams immediately sent alarms off to Amagi. She was a closely guarded secret..not even the Commander should have known about her.
"Nanami, please don't speak of her in the company of anyone outside of the top echelons of the girls of the Sakura Forces. She is incredibly important. So let's put her aside for now and speak about this thing you are doing," Amagi pleaded with Nanami. Nanami simply nodded and waited for Amagi to continue.
Pulling the Commander into an empty room, Amagi said, "That thing you are doing may be Dreamwalking. Especially if you have experienced multiple realities of the same place. Remember, if you saw things you did not like, that doesn't have to be our reality. That is but one of many dreams of the future. But if you found something you liked, grasp that dream and make it reality. Very few of us have that power."
"Why is Anne in every one of these realities then? Would that make her a constant?" Nanami questioned and Amagi nodded.
"Yes, putting aside whoever this Anne is, if she exists in all realities, she is constant. That could mean you and her are tightly bound," Amagi explained. Nanami furrowed her brow.
"I would say that sounds too magical, but you exist, and I believe nothing can possibly be more magical," Nanami said with a straight face. She did not understand what happened next.
Amagi blushed at her words and answered, "Either you do that on purpose, or you really must learn to phrase things better Nanami." The Commander's head tilted to the side in confusion, much as it always did. Suddenly an evil thought crossed Amagi's mind.
"Paw!" she demanded, placing a hand out. Nanami's arm twitched, and Amagi's eyes gleamed. Now she knew it would work.
"I said paw," she repeated herself. Nanami hesitantly raised a closed hand towards Amagi's hand, but stopped, confused as to what was happening.
"Paw," the kitsune reiterated for a final, forceful time, and Nanami obliged, placing her closed hand on Amagi's open one.
Amagi cheerfully exclaimed, "Good Girl Nanami!" She then reached out and started patting Nanami's head, much to the latter's enjoyment.
"I am not a canine," she protested, but her pleased smile and slight wiggle gave away just how much she was enjoying this treatment from Amagi. As revenge Nanami reached out to touch Amagi's ears and she got a response she wasn't prepared for.
"Anh! Nanami please...gentle. Ears...mmnh...are sensitive," Amagi let out a soft moan, and Nanami's smile turned mischievous.
"That was a cute sound, shall we see if you can make any othres?" Nanami teased, rubbing Amagi's ears in a new way.
"Nanami...Time and...Ahhhh...place," Amagi managed to gasp out. Nanami smiled again, and let go, to which Amagi unintentionally moved closer to Nanami, as if chasing the thing that gave her that pleasure.
Nanami replied, "Well, now we are even. Perhaps it is time to head back? The others might get suspicious we have been gone so long. And we have to meet Lady Nagato before she leaves." Amagi, now making herself more composed and presentable, nodded. They needed to get back and pick up Takao and Enterprise.
When they arrived at the office, after being greeted by the those still there, a voice came over the radio.
"This is HMS Belfast of the Royal Navy to Azur Lane Headquarters," a calm and confident person spoke. Nanami walked over to the radio, and pressed a button to show Comms that she would take this one.
"This is Commander Nanami Winters, CO of Azur Lane. It is good to hear from the advanced team. Please continue HMS Belfast," Nanami replied to the cruiser on the other end.
Belfast's voice came across the radio again, "Likewise it is good to hear from you Commander. Out current location is just West of the outlying island chain around Mu, and making good time." Everyone in the room became a little more alert at the mention of the islands.
"Advanced Team, keep your eyes peeled around those islands. We have a Siren fleet operating in the area, and the head Siren has been crafty. She ambushed one of our Quick Response Fleets two days ago around those islands," Nanami advised.
Belfast returned an affirmative, " We will do that Commander. We look forward to meeting you, Advance Team out."
"Fair winds and following seas Advance Team. Commander Winters out," Nanami replied with a rather superstitious saying among sailors. It was both a way to say goodbye, and a wish for luck on the tides.
Nanami was ready to go meet Nagato, but she checked the desk and noticed the large pile of sheets Takao and Essex had already managed to prepare for her to sign. She checked the time once more and decided she could finish a few of these, but she got sleepy very quickly.
Her lack of sleep was definitely catching up. If only she could sleep, and maybe even Dreamwalk like Amagi called it. Anne had warned her about it, but if it meant she could get information and knowledge from Anne, it was worth the risk. As she began drifting, Amagi saved her.
"Commander, it seems it is time for us to go met with Lady Nagato," she reminded Nanami. Looking at the clock, the Commander nodded. Takao and Enterprise stood to follow.
"Essex, thank you for holding down the fort. Keep us updated if the Advance team calls," Nanami thanked the carrier, giving her a small hug from behind before leaving.
They reached the moorings quickly, coming across Lady Nagato's escort fleet, the Lady herself in the middle.
"Lady Nagato, I am pleased to have caught up to you before you left. However, I must apologize for missing our scheduled meeting yesterday. After the events of two nights ago, things got rather hectic, and I am ashamed to admit I forgot to send anyone to cancel. Please find it in your heart to forgive me," Nanami greeted the miko with an apology.
Nagato held a hand up and replied, "I am simply glad to see you are not wounded too severely. Your actions that night deserve a commendation, as do Shoukaku's for guiding them through the ambush with minimal casualties. Perhaps I will raise the matter with the admiralty of the Imperial Sakura Navy when I arrive."
"Please Lady Nagato, your words are flattering, however I do not think I am worthy of them. Shoukaku most certainly is though. She was able to hold them together despite the potential for it to be much worse," Nanami humbly thanked her.
"I must be off now. I wish you safety and luck in running the Fleet, for all of our fates rest upon your success," Nagato bid ominously before turning and leaving with her massive rigging.
They watched the escort fleet leave, and as they reached the horizon, another fleet was appearing. Nanami looked to the 3 girls with her. Takao stood off to the side, slightly away from Nanami, but within swords-reach. She was acting as Nanami's guard, which did not surprise the Commander, and in fact was not a bad idea if any of their partner nations came with poor intentions.. Enterprise and Amagi were at Nanami's side as always, and that let her heart rest a little easier.
"Looks like the Advance Team is almost here. Ready to meet the Royal Navy?"
A/N: Thank you all for the support once more. I am still dealing with back issues, and I just bought a snake, so my life is rather hectic. I am doing my best to get you these chapters on time and with quality!
Sorry for teasing you all this chapter. Soon (TM).
Elsys is the name of my snake and she is an Orange Dream Yellow Belly Ball Python! We had planned on getting another snake, but this one is the one that caught our eyes!
