"All ships, report! Any sign of further enemy vessels?" asked Mogami.
"We have no visual contact with any Abyssal ship!" radioed Fubuki from the destroyer screen.
"Our radar screens are clear!" reported Haruna.
"The reconnaissance planes see nothing!" added Hiryu.
Around the Japanese shipgirls the ocean was littered with burning and sinking wrecks of countless Abyssal warships. The battle raged all day, the last enemy ship was sunk just when the Sun also sank below the horizon.
The battle was a win, yet they had to pay a serious price; many of the shipgirls got heavily damaged. The fleet was weakened significantly for a while; the battleships especially were in a bad state, most of them had to be docked.
Kirishima was among the lucky few, she didn't receive any big damage other than the wound on her shoulder; and therefore, she remained operational, she only needed about a day in the docks.
She was standing there, grabbing her shoulder and looked around. She was glad and proud of their victory as always, and yet it was somehow different than any time before. Because her pride was mixed with anxiety.
"Is he alright?" she was constantly asking herself. She knew the status of her own fleet, but she knew nothing about the American shipgirls and Task Force 99. During the battle she heard that they encountered the enemy's carrier fleet. Did they manage to handle them? Is everyone safe?
But Kirishima got no answers for her questions and this fact troubled her very much.
"Should I ask them?"
"What Haruna?" asked Kirishima her sister.
"Would you like me to ask them?" asked again Haruna.
"Who?"
"Kirishima, please do not pretend yourself. Whom do you think?"
"Yes. Yes please..." nodded Kirishima worriedly, eager to know what happened to their western allies.
"Battleship Haruna calling Task Force 99!" Haruna said in English into the radio. "Does anyone hear me?"
"Haruna, New Orleans! Haruna, New Orleans!" the voice of the American heavy cruiser sounded from the radio.
"New Orleans, Haruna! May I ask you about your casualties?" asked Haruna.
"Most of our shipgirls are still operational, we only received moderate damage. As for the regular ships the destroyer Paul Hamilton took mild damage; the O'Kane and Milius look worse however."
"What happened to the Milius?" frowned Haruna.
"She was hit by a bomb just below her bridge, the crew reported seven wounded sailors, the captain is among them. That's all I know by now."
Haruna let out a deep breath hearing this. "Thank you New Orleans-san. Haruna over."
"What did she say?" asked Kirishima, deeply worried by the reaction of her sister.
"We'd better get home quickly to find it out."
"Haruna please, don't stretch my nerves further. Find out what?"
"Their bridge took a hit, and they have multiple wounded."
Though her shoulder ached, Kirishima sailed over to Haruna and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Just tell me." she said, feeling her heart speed racing in her chest. "Is he among them?"
"I don't know." Haruna's voice was compassionate yet calm. She knew that in this situation it was the most important thing to remain composed to do not scare her younger sister even more. "Let's get back to base now."
A few minutes later the Japanese shipgirls made a full turn and headed back to their harbor at Shimoshima Island. Kirishima didn't even notice but she was praying silently all the way for the safe return of a certain young man.
X
"All engines stop!" commanded Ryan and the Milius stopped at her mooring site, her crew and the personnel on shore tying her to the pier.
The front of the proud destroyer's superstructure was in a bad state, the bridge's front windows all broke out, and the steel got damaged as well together with some equipments.
But all of this was nothing compared to the shock the crew went through. Most of them were new recruits, young men and women who had this romanticized picture of war and battle in their heads, and now they suddenly got slapped on the face by the harsh reality.
They just realized how vulnerable they were against the Abyssals. Many of them were injured, some of them very badly, and their very captain, their commander was barely alive. Let's just say that this wasn't at all what they expected from their first battle.
Japanese medics rushed to the Milius to take the seriously wounded to the base's military hospital. Captain Reed was the first one they laid on a gurney and hurried with him to the surgeons while they were trying to stabilize him.
Ryan was thankful to Heaven that he could walk down from the ship on his own legs, and he was well other than a deeper, bleeding cut on his eyebrow.
After anchoring down, he did all his duties as commander, he made a report, ceased the alert and asked the base's repair crews to tow the Milius to the docks for repairs.
Sending everyone on their way he was now alone on the pier. But he needed a quiet, lonely place immediately. He started walking, but before long he noticed that he was almost running. He soon found himself among the warehouses, and now he was on a completely deserted street.
Ryan stopped, leaned back and rested his back against the wall of one of the buildings, where none of his crew could see him, then he let out the biggest exhale of his life. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and that was when he realized that his hands were shaking like crazy. In fact, his entire body was slightly trembling; and his heart was about to jump out of the cage of his ribs.
He almost vomited as all the stress left him, and oh boy, there was a lot of stress accumulated in him. He knew exactly that no training could really prepare him for the very first battle, but what happened went beyond everything he imagined before.
Shaking he reached inside the pocket of his jacket and took out the rosary his grandfather gave to him. His mind was in a turmoil as he was staring at the small crucifix in his hand. He and most of the crew got away with the battle quite well, yes. But why did some of them have to get life-threateningly wounded, including Reed, the captain himself? They are human beings too, not worse or better than any of the others? Then why? Why? Why?
"Ryan!" he heard a worried, yet relieved voice yelling out his name. A very familiar voice.
He turned there and instantly felt a bit better. It was Kirishima running toward him.
"God, what happened to you?" asked the Japanese woman, scared by the blood on his head.
"I was right." said Ryan weakly, still trembling. "It wasn't like the movies." he said, staring down.
He heard Kirishima stepping closer to him after a few seconds, then he felt two, gentle arms folding around him and when Ryan looked up, Kirishima hugged him tightly.
"Uhm... Kirishima?"
"It's okay. I understand." said the fast-battleship gently.
The feeling was unimaginably calming. Ryan slowly raised his arms and returned the hug. Feeling her against him, he felt that he's step by step going back to normal. "Thank you... Thank you." he sighed.
"It was your first time, there's nothing for you to be ashamed of." assured him Kirishima.
Ryan knew that she was likely right. But he also knew that he couldn't act weak or just show the tiniest sign of weakness. He couldn't afford it.
Still hugging her, Ryan felt something warm under his palm. He looked there, and he noticed the wounds and bruises on her shoulder, caused by the Abyssal shells. "Jesus Kirishima, are you alright?!"
"Oh, it's nothing."
"No, it's absolutely not!"
"Believe me, this happen more often than you think." stated Kirishima, but right after she said this, she hissed painfully, shutting her eyes and grabbing her bleeding shoulder.
"Whether it happens often or not, we're going to your docks right now." said Ryan firmly, in a tone that left no room for argument.
"B-But what about your head?"
"I'm in a far better state than you, so don't argue with me Kirishima please, we are going to your docks right now." said Ryan firmly and gently grabbed her arm which instantly made Kirishima's face to heat up.
"You didn't answer my question." said Ryan as they were walking on the quay. "What happened to you?"
"Just a simple shell. Not a big deal." answered Kirishima. "Soooo. I've heard your bridge was struck by a bomb. I'm guessing that's when you got that scar."
"I was lucky. I could lie down in time. Some of us wasn't so lucky, including Captain Reed." replied Ryan.
"Is it bad?" asked Kirishima.
"I'm afraid so. They took him to the hospital. I hope your surgeons work well.
"Don't worry, they'll surely help him." calmed him Kirishima. "Maybe he'll be already well when your ship is ready to sail again."
"I pray you are right Kirishima. Really... What about your friends?"
"They all came back. With minor or major damages but they came back."
"Your sisters?"
"Haruna was hit too, but nothing too serious. Kongo onee-sama and Hiei are alright. And..."
"And?"
"I appreciate you're asking."
"It's all natural Kirishima. They are important to you, and therefore for me too." said Ryan.
He didn't know how much Kirishima was touched by this. "You are a kind guy Ryan. Thank you." smiled Kirishima at him.
Right in the next moment the sirens screamed across the base.
"Oh my God, what now?" looked around Ryan.
"There!" pointed Kirishima at the skies.
Up there, they noticed about ten Abyssal bombers circling over the harbor.
"A few of them must have slipped through us!"
"Come on, we have to get to our ports!" Kirishima urged Ryan.
"What are you talking about, you cannot fight yet!" protested Ryan.
"It's okay, I can handle them."
"But..."
"Ryan, trust me please." said Kirishima. "I can do it."
As Ryan looked at Kirishima, at first, he couldn't get over the fact that she was badly injured. But when he looked into her eyes, he saw nothing but pure determination and strength. He felt that under the seemingly fragile skin, this girl is full of power and bravery.
"Okay." he sighed. "Let's go!"
As they were running together, they could already hear the explosions as some of the planes already released their bombs and the payloads exploded at the Japanese ports. Meanwhile, the smoke of AA shells appeared in the air; some shipgirls who were still at sea opened fire at the attackers.
"Watch out!" Ryan yelled and when Kirishima looked up again, she saw one of the bombers speeding right toward them, ready to drop its deadly weapons. Like this? Will it end like this right here?
But just before the plane could finish them off, it suddenly disappeared in a ball of fire. Where did that come from?
"You'd better get to somewhere safer!" someone shouted from the sea, and when Kirishima and Ryan turned there, they saw North Carolina with her guns looking upwards.
"Nice timing NC!" waved Ryan to her.
"Accept my gratitude North Carolina-san!" bowed slightly Kirishima.
North Carolina simply nodded without saying anything else, before she sailed away to continue the fight.
"She's always been this tight-lipped." commented Ryan. "Come on, hurry up!"
"You two know each other?" asked Kirishima as they continued running.
"Yeah, kind of." replied Ryan.
They were now close to their destination but had to hide behind a pile of boxes close to Mamiya's café, for the bombing became so intense that it was practically impossible to walk around and stay in one piece in that part of the base.
"Kirishima! Kirishima!" shouted someone from the direction of Mamiya's café. It was none other than Hiei, hiding behind door jamb of the entrance.
"Hiei-neesan!" waved back Kirishima. "We have to get to the depos!"
"I'm going first! Follow me!" yelled the older sister and came out from her cover.
"No, wait!" screamed Kirishima. She saw one of the black aircrafts releasing its bombs right over her sister.
However, a second later two strong hands grabbed Hiei from behind and quickly pulled her back inside the building.
The bombs hit the ground and exploded, covering the café with a mixture of shrapnel, dust and rubble.
"Hiei!" Kirishima was about to run there, but Ryan held her back.
"No, it's too dangerous!"
"But she's there!" protested Kirishima, trying to free herself, but her companion was too strong.
"And can you help her if you get hit?!"
For their luck however, a minute later the last bomber was shot down, and the sirens sounded "all clear".
Kirishima was immediately at the door of the café and to her horror, she saw Hiei lying on the ground, covered with dust, together with... Together with...
"James-san!"
Dazed, Hiei slowly raised her head; there was still tingle in her ears. She was on the floor and... And James was lying on her, protecting her with his body. "A-Ano..."
"Are you okay?" James asked friendly, but the look on his face betrayed that he was worried for her.
What could have Hiei said? She was relentlessly hostile to the Americans who came with Task Force 99 in every second of every day, despising them. And now one of them, an American saved her life.
"Are you okay?" repeated Kirishima James' question, kneeling down to Hiei.
"Y-Yes. I think so..." stuttered Hiei. "Why did you save me?" she turned to James.
"Because that was the right thing to do Hiei." replied the Milius' gunnery officer. "I'm sure you would have done it for me too."
Hiei didn't say a thing, she was just staring down. "Would I have done it?" she asked herself. "Uhm... Thanks." she muttered, not even looking at him.
"Anytime." nodded James. "Man, shouldn't you visit a doctor already?" he asked from Ryan.
"I told him the same thing." said Kirishima. "But..."
"But I'm not going anywhere until you're not in your docks." stated Ryan.
"You'd better go with him, he's not going to leave you alone. Trust me, I know him." gave James an advice to Kirishima.
"Indeed." said Ryan. "Are you two going to be fine?"
"Don't worry mate, being dirty is not the worst thing that ever happened to me." said James.
"They are... right." said Hiei as if she was struggling to form the words. "Heal yourself Kirishima, all I need is a shower. Go with him. What?"
"It's nothing." smiled Kirishima. "Oh my, is the ice melting?"
"Go and take care of yourselves!" said James. "Can I help you somehow Hiei?"
"What... Hmpf! Of course not! I go and clean myself!" Hiei found her old self again and stormed away.
"I think she likes you." chuckled Kirishima.
"Huh. If only." let out James a breath.
"Just a tip. She likes chocolate." winked Kirishima.
"Ehm. Okay. I note it."
"We may go Ryan."
And with that Ryan and Kirishima continued their way. Outside it turned out that the attack of the Abyssal planes couldn't cause significant damage to the naval district. One of the dry docks fell out of action for a while, and some of the strategic buildings were damaged, but nothing too serious.
Finally, the two were standing at the door of the docks of the Japanese shipgirls.
"Hm. Looks different than our docks." noted Ryan.
"Well, it is a bit different than the case of the regular ships." said Kirishima.
"How much?"
"Well... I'd better explain it later."
"I see. Then. Go ahead and heal yourself. It suits you better when you are well." smiled Ryan.
"And you should go and have that wound treated, it doesn't look good. Clean away all that blood."
"Yes ma'am!" saluted Ryan jokingly.
Without saying anything, Kirishima stepped to him once again and hugged him, and Ryan wasn't idle to return the gesture.
"I'll look for you later." he said, holding her close.
"I'll be waiting for that." smiled Kirishima, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Take care!" said Ryan when they finally released each other.
"Take care Ryan!" And Kirishima entered the steamy rooms of the docks.
X
"Confess yourself to him finally." said Haruna as the two sisters were bathing in the hot water.
"Haruna, it's..." tried Kirishima to say something but her sister raised her hand and silenced her.
"Do you want to tell a lie to me now?"
"Of course not!"
"Then?"
"Ah... How? How should I do it?"
"First of all, don't be scared; it's obvious that he likes you too. Just ask him if he wants to go to somewhere with you." said Haruna, sprinkling water on herself.
"Shouldn't I wait until he asks me?" asked Kirishima. "Don't get me wrong, I'd like to do it, but wouldn't it be too much?"
"Come on, it's totally okay! Surely, he'll be more than happy to say yes."
Haruna was talking about exactly what Kirishima would have wanted to do. But doing it was another story. How? How should she go to him? How should she ask him?
Honestly, all these questions and feelings were much more terrifying than an entire Abyssal task force.
But she knew one thing: She wanted to do it. But how? How?
Hey everybody, what's going on? It's been a while, eh? Sorry, I'm quite busy right now, I'm in my last semester of BA on the university, I'm writing my thesis, etc. Anyway, here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks to: "Unsc .a.i ctn15569 Sherman", thanks for the Follow!
As always, if you like what you read, feel free to leave a Follow, a Favorite and a Review!