"Uncle it is Nanami. We need to have a talk, both officially and unofficially," Nanami told the Admiral, her tone grave. He figured he knew what this was about. At least part of it.

"Okay then, I don't have a whole lot of time, but we can get through some of it before I go to my meeting," he explained uncomfortably. The last time he felt this uncomfortable was that time...no, best not to think about that now.

Nanami continued, "First, there are children in my fleet. You have met the Mutsuki-class, how could you possibly think I would be okay with this? You know my feelings on children and war. You of all people know my past best. I have already had one destroyer get seriously injured on my watch due to an ambush by a siren fleet. She is recovering well, but you should have told me to better prepare me."

"I knew that would be a hangup for you Nanami. And I am sorry that I didn't say anything. It's just that I figured you would need to learn this on your own. Learn how powerful those 'children' of yours are. I'll ask if you want a reassignment, but I already know the answer," he began, but was cut off by Nanami.

She answered anyways, "Shove the reassignment Admiral. You know I will defend these girls to my dying breath now that I am here."

"Where is my cool-headed, logical Nanami? I don't think you've ever raised your voice or used words like that," he asked, taken aback.

"I am sorry Uncle. I...do not know what has come over me since I arrived. That is part of the unofficial conversation I wished to have. I have been having sudden influxes of emotions since arriving. Emotions I do not ever remember having before. And the dreams or visions, whatever they are. I saw some things in them...you were there, there were a bunch of scientists, they took something from me...it was horrible," Nanami explained to him the problems she had been having.

Frank silently cursed on the other end of the line. He knew hiding that damn thing on the base was a mistake. It was waking up, and influencing her. Though that shouldn't be possible. They were very thorough in the severing of the link.

"Nanami, discuss this with no one in the Admiralty but myself until I arrive there in 2 months time. They may try to remove you for incompetency or instability if they hear anything about this. I know that is a long time to wait to get answers, but you must. I assure you I will tell you the truth then," Frank began his warning. This served only to frustrate her beyond anything she had ever heard. She could not wait for answers! She needed them now! How dare he hide something form her!

He kept speaking, "And whatever you do. Do not enter the reinforced warehouse. What is there is inside that specific warehouse for a reason. It is dangerous, and could endanger the entire base if not kept inside. More specifically, you would be in grave danger." Nanami's curiosity was piqued as her rage abated slightly. She trusted him. If he said not to open it, she would stay away. For now.

"Oh shit, I have to leave now Nanami, please, for my sake, listen to my warnings. Don't give them any reason to remove you from your position. Goodbye niece, and good luck," he bid her goodbye before she could react.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Nanami screamed in frustration as the line clicked. She needed answers, and she wasn't going to get them for 2 whole months! Meanwhile these emotions spread in her like some sort of disease, invading her every thought, her every action. Was this what it was like for normal people all the time? No wonder they behave illogically so often.

The door clicked open and Enterprise slipped back in. Seeing Nanami in clear despair and disarray, Enterprise didn't know what had happened, or what to do.

Nanami, with tears of frustration, anger, and hurt in her eyes turned to see her adviser there. For a moment she thought about going to the woman, holding on to her as she cried. But that was illogical Nanami. That was emotional Nanami. She would not fall to that monster.

And yet...she took one step, then another, and ultimately her arms were wrapped around Enterprise's waist, her head resting against her chest. Enterprise returned the gesture, hugging Nanami around the shoulders, patting her on the back. They stood like that for only a few short minutes, but to Enterprise it was an eternity well-spent.

"I am sorry Enterprise. That was improper. Please forgive me for doing that without first asking your permission. I am afraid I have grown too familiar with you," Nanami apologized, letting go, and preparing to leave. Enterprise could not find the strength to correct Nanami, so she quietly followed her out the door. They left to the same spot, near the warehouses for the exercises.

Enterprise put them through a long set of 6 on 6 scenarios before cutting all but Nanami, Essex, and Laffey loose.

"Commander, after watching you today and yesterday, I wanted Enterprise to put you through some individual training against Laffey. I analyzed the way you fight, and your movement seems off. If I had to place it, it's like someone used to moving much slower suddenly found speed," Essex explained as Laffey and Nanami separated to far ends of their training area.

Enterprise picked up the explanation, "So Essex recommended a training course on how to properly move in a Rig. You'll be dodging training torpedoes from Laffey. Keep in mind, they will still hurt if they hit you, they just won't explode."

"Risk is noted. Let us begin Laffey."

"Unh? Okay Commander," Laffey sleepily replied, suddenly launching a rapid barrage of torpedoes. Nanami saw the paths they were taking easily, and steered herself deftly. However she only gave each torpedo the barest of room to get by, as if she were saving her momentum. Nanami couldn't explain why she did it that way, just that it was what came naturally to her. Essex saw this and corrected it.

"Commander! Some torpedoes are magnetically detonated! You can't get that close to them," Essex chided. Enterprise smiled, happy to see Essex taking a role like this on.

"Commander, you can't focus only on the torpedoes, that's why you got hit there," Enterprise told her. Halfway through the training they had implemented Laffey's main gun with training rounds. Getting hit by one was like being punched by a professional boxer to Nanami.

Enterprise thought that a single hit would put Nanami down for a little longer, maybe even convince her to stop this foolishness. However she seemed to weather them tremendously well, especially considering she was a human.

"Commander are you ever going to fire back?" Enterprise said. She already knew Nanami could fire while dodging, or at least aim while dodging. After all, that was how she had brought their previous match to a draw. But she needed to be able to do it at all times under intense fire.

"All right, that's enough for the first day Commander," Enterprise stated, ending the drill just as Nanami took yet another hit from one of Laffey's guns. It left yet another ding in her rigging as she had blocked it. Her ability to consistently block incoming rounds with the rigging was impressive, she knew how to protect her vulnerable areas well.

With their exercises over for the day, Enterprise and Nanami said goodbye to Essex and Laffey and headed first to the lab to hand over her rigging for repairs. Then they went on to Nanami's house. As they entered they were met by the smell of pork cutlets and ramen. Though both were ready to eat, they knew they would be scolded if they sat down in their current state.

Nanami let Enterprise take a shower first, so she could put both of their clothes in the wash. Salt water tended to make clothes hard to move in if you didn't wash them in fresh water. Next, she set out some clothes for Enterprise to wear while hers were getting clean. Luckily some of the shirts she bought were extra long for sleeping in, they would even be long on Enterprise. For pants however, Enterprise wouldn't be so lucky. She would be wearing what amounted to very short workout shorts on her.

With that sorted, Nanami entered the bathroom, respectfully averting her gaze as Enterprise left with a towel that was much too small around her midsection. Nanami made a mental note to get larger towels. These were barely enough for a small human, let alone a woman as tall as Enterprise.

Once in the shower, Nanami washed off quickly, though she yearned for a bath, her stomach growled and her hunger and courtesy for the others won out. She decided she could always bathe later if she wanted, maybe Enterprise and Amagi would join her. She flushed with heat at the thought, then shook her head to clear it of the thought as quickly as it appeared.

No, she did not want to make things feel weird with them. Sighing deeply, what did she mean by weird? Everything felt weird to her at this point. She shook her head and finished drying herself off before heading to her room.

When she got into her room, she saw Enterprise in the shirt and shorts and suddenly she couldn't breathe. Enterprise blushed hard under Nanami's intense gaze. Luckily for her, Nanami was just as embarrassed at her actions, and quickly averted her gaze. Enterprise quickly excused herself and Nanami nodded as she left, unable to speak to the carrier.

Even with Enterprise out of the room, Nanami's face didn't stop burning. Ignoring her fast heartbeat, Nanami got dressed in similar clothes to Enterprise. Except hers were made specifically for her, so they were even smaller. A belly shirt and spandex that she would normally wear for a workout. She decided this was the best way to make Enterprise feel comfortable. Making it so she wasn't the one in the most revealing outfit.

Before she headed to the dining room, she changed the laundry. When she arrived at in the dining room, she didn't realize just how self-conscious she would be until Amagi looked her up and down with a sly smile.

"Nanami, that is an interesting choice of outfit for dinner. Don't you think so En?" Amagi lightly teased. Enterprise looked up and stared. She'd seen her Commander in her underclothes before, but this was almost harder on her. Enterprise quickly looked away from the commander when she realized she was staring.

Nanami's face reddened, but she ignored it to sit at the head of the table where Amagi had already set her bowl of ramen. Amagi and Enterprise sat on either side of her, and with a quick table prayer, they began their meal.

"Nanami, I know you said that your call with the Admiralwas going to be difficult, but may I ask how it went?" Amagi asked as they ate. Nanami stiffened up remembering the conversation.

"Poorly," she answered tersely. Sensing she had touched upon a raw nerve, Amagi changed topics.

"I apologize for bringing it up. How were your exercises?" Her question was softer this time. Enterprise exchanged a look with Nanami before the latter smiled.

Nanami replied,"I will only say that Enterprise and Essex are demonic instructors. Anything more would be giving the enemy excessive intelligence." Amagi wasn't dumb though, and had noticed how banged up and disheveled Nanami had looked up on coming home. They were up to something, and it was dangerous to their Commander.

"I'm sure that En would never let our dear Commander do anything untoward that would put her in danger would she?" Amagi directed her piercing gaze at the carrier across the table. Enterprise looked up and met the gaze with a strong stare.

"If she were in danger I would step between her and the threat without a thought for my own safety," Enterprise declared resolutely.

Amagi gleefully smiled, "Oh my, what a declaration En!"

"I-I meant that I would always protect our Commander," Enterprise sputtered a protest. The crafty kitsune saw another opening and pounced.

"Always? My aren't we being forward tonight?" She continued to tease. Nanami sat watching the routine, a little lost. Her head tilted in confusion again. When Amagi and Enterprise saw this, both stopped a moment. It didn't matter how many times she did it, every time it was cute.

With no explanation from either of the women forthcoming, Nanami continued to eat. Then she thought about always being with Enterprise and suddenly her face began to burn. Always having such a dependable, strong, tall, confident woman to protect her. Amagi watched as her Commander's face turned tremendously red, and realized that the teasing had caught up.

Interesting, she thought, a delayed reaction is still a reaction. So she could be properly teased after all. Even knowing that this stoic woman had emotions, Amagi knew they were rarely shown, so this was a treat to her. Enterprise was too caught up in her own embarrassment to notice what was happening.

After dinner ended Nanami yawned, uncharacteristically showing how tired she was.

"Well I think that is the signal that we should be leaving Enterprise. It seems Nanami is quite tired," Amagi commented. Nanami's eyes widened in panic.

"No, you do not have to go. Actually...I was wondering if maybe...you...wanted to...stay the night," she trailed off quietly.

"I'm sorry Nanami, did you ask if we wanted to stay the night?" Amagi asked with a smile. Enterprise perked up at the idea.

Nanami fidgeted with her shirt before forcefully responding, "Yes! Please stay the night! I am not used to having such a large bed...it gets lonely..." With how she suddenly turned demure at the end, Amagi really couldn't refuse.

Still she left the decision with Enterprise, asking,"Well En? What do you think?"

"If she n-needs us so she can s-sleep easier," Enterprise stuttered an excuse to stay.

"If she needs us indeed! I agree, let's stay the night," Amagi laughed before getting up from the table. Nanami moved to help her with the dishes. The whole time, Nanami thought about how she would have to control herself. Luckily it wasn't like the curry that Akagi made. Nothing in the ramen had made her unexpectedly and unbearably warm.

Once everything was taken care of, and the lights were off, they got into Nanami's bed, and much like the first night, it was not long before Nanami fell fast asleep. Just their company was enough to put her heart and mind at ease.


A/N: So, it has been a month, and I apologize deeply for taking so long to get a new chapter out. Things have not been great on my end mentally, so writing fell to the side for a while. Hopefully this is a return to form for me, however I can not guarantee that.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, I greatly appreciate them.