Chapter Twelve

Morning came as it so often did, with the gentle but subtle groans of the vessel heaving through the ocean currents, and the always punctual, but ill-timed wake-up call that came in the form of Mutsu pounding on the door. She was a good little sister, but there were times where I thought she could afford to be a bit less diligent without losing face. And speaking of diligence, her beckoning at the door meant I could not ignore daylight any longer. If I tried to ignore her, she would eventually just barge in of her own volition, so as much as I wanted to remain curled beneath the bed sheets, I had no choice but to crawl out and greet her.

"Nagato! Rise and shine, sleepy head!" her voice called out for a second time.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," I shouted back.

Despite knowing better, it still took considerable willpower to get to my feet. Warships were not known to be warm first thing in the morning, especially when you were barefoot on metal floors. I kept my blankets wrapped around me like a shawl as I cracked open the door, but what I saw on the other side was not my little sister. Instead, I saw a familiar visage of a young girl—the one I saw in my dreams. No warm smile or bright eyes greeted me. She was dirtied: caked in oil stains and dried blood. Pained, sorrow-filled eyes pierced my heart as I just stared, frozen in abject silence. Was I having another dream? Were these nightmares set to haunt even my waking moments now?

"Nagato… you promised…"

When the girl spoke, I recoiled with an audible gasp. Only morning fatigue and the weight of the blankets kept me from leaping all the way to the far side of the room. In the next moment, though, I blinked, and the image of the girl was gone from my sight just as suddenly as it had appeared. Now all that stood before me was Mutsu, who was understandably confused as to why her big sister suddenly leapt back in fright.

"Are you okay, sis?" my sister inquired. "Was it the bad dreams again?"

"S… something to that effect," I admitted with some reluctance. One of these days, I was going to have to explain to her what troubled my sleep, but for now I didn't want to burden her with even more worries. Her new sibling gave her enough new responsibilities. "Mayhaps Akashi will have something in her shop that can help me sleep better."

"You should try getting yourself a body pillow. I hear those are really good for fixing sleeping issues." She quickly remembered that she hadn't woken me up to discuss my nighttime habits, punctuated as she clasped her hands together. "Oh! Before I forget, Captain DeWolf and Akagi said they need to speak with you on the bridge, post-haste. Post-haste means really fast, right?"

My ears perked at the news. There was only one reason for them both to be summoning me to the bridge, and it had a lot to do with what we had all been waiting for: we were close enough to our destination to risk radio communication. We've all had our fill of Siren interdictions, but by all accounts, we were close enough that any threat could be met by a full force of kansens. Even the Sirens weren't that reckless with their forces. Well, most of them weren't.

"Then I shall get changed and see them immediately. Thank you for letting me know."

I was just about to shut the door when Mutsu braced it with her hand. "Are you sure you're okay? You look really tired," she said with a distinct lack of her usual carefree tone. "Back when you were the flagship, you always kept everything to yourself. And I accepted that it was partly because it was a lot of important, complicated flagshipy stuff that I wouldn't understand, but you're not the flagship anymore. You're just my sister now, and you can start relying on me when there are things that are troubling you, even if they're really complicated adult stuff."

Once again, I was reminded that my sister was far more than I deserved. I spent so many years being caught up in my own duties that I not only neglected my responsibilities as a sister, but never even took a moment to appreciate how much she had sacrificed to stay at my side through it all. On that day when I went to the docks and markets with Kawakaze, I saw so many young children playing and running about, all smiles and laughter. That was the life that Mutsu should have been living, instead of all the years spent at my side while I watched over the fleets and the sacred tree. She deserved so much more than what I had given her, and yet she had always stayed with me, smiling all the while.

"I guess I am just feeling a bit… overwhelmed," I answered with some reluctance. "When there is more time, I can talk it over with you, but right now, I am needed on the bridge."

"R-right, of course. Duty has to come first," Mutsu said. I could hear the hesitancy in her voice, but that diligence of hers cut both ways. "In that case, how about we talk it over after we get settled in at Azur Lane? Ayanami told me there's a cute little cafe in their market that sells the best cakes around."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Would you relay to Akagi and DeWolf that I will be up as soon as I've made myself presentable?" After all, I couldn't show up on the bridge in my sleepwear, especially when DeWolf was going to be present.

Mutsu's beaming grin returned, much to my relief. "Of course, of course. You'll need to look your best for Captain DeWolf, right?"

"Wha—! He has nothing to do with this! I wasn't thinking that at all!"

I swear I wasn't.

As I didn't want to keep DeWolf or Akagi waiting too long, I got dressed quickly and then hurried to report to the bridge. For the sake of expediency, though, I had neglected to go through all of my usual morning routines, so while I was properly dressed, my hair was still something of a mess as I strode through the corridors. Again, this was a conscious decision for the sake of time, and not because I was being conscious of my sister's earlier teasing. I was neither trying to prove her wrong, nor was DeWolf an influence over my choice to try and comb my hair while en route. This was all about punctuality and proper etiquette. Nothing more.

I arrived at the bridge in short order, although my ears perked at the conversation already going on inside as I approached the entryway. Though there was no intention to eavesdrop, what I heard gave me a moment of pause.

"Come now, captain, there's no reason to be so shy," Akagi's voice echoed from the bridge. Her tone was quite… inviting. The only times I had heard her speak with such a velvety cadence was with her sister Kaga. "You've done so much to help me these few days, it's only fair that I get an opportunity to return the favour in kind."

"I would've thought at best that just made us even for you rescuing us in the first place," DeWolf replied. He sounded nervous, cornered even. I knew from personal experience that Akagi could be very persuasive. "P-plus, I do believe this might be crossing a line regarding regulations of an officer's conduct."

"Oh, but this is a warship of the Sakura Empire. We go by a different set of rules, including on how to be a gracious host."

"This really isn't necessary, Miss Akagi."

"No need to be so formal with me, captain."

Her coquettish giggle served as my cue to step in and make my presence known. Whatever angle Akagi was trying to play with Captain DeWolf, it was for the best if I put a stop to it. No doubt she was still trying to curry favour in order to get at whatever secrets his brother knew, but I couldn't afford to let her personal interests upset our alliance.

I stepped in, feigning ignorance with a vocal announcement. "Apologies for my tardiness," I began, although I had to pause for a moment when I saw the two. DeWolf was sitting in a chair with Akagi just behind him, her hands firmly placed upon his shoulders, and judging by the captain's awkward gaze, he was a little embarrassed to be seen. Despite my original intention to ignore what was transpiring, my curiosity got the better of me. "Akagi, what are you doing to our guest?"

"Ah, Miss Nagato, we were just—" DeWolf began as he tried to get up, but he was promptly forced back down into his seat with no real attempt at subtly on my colleague's part.

"The captain's feeling a little seasick again," Akagi carried on, an innocent and carefree smile across her face that was a stark contrast to the look of the man in her clutches. "I first suggested going to the infirmary, but he was adamant against it. Instead, I offered him a shoulder massage to help take his mind off his discomfort."

"Are you sure this is appropriate behaviour?" I asked her.

"That's what I said," DeWolf quipped.

Unsurprisingly, Akagi was not swayed by our words, and her hands merely continued to trace along the contours of the senior officer's shoulders. "In the Sakura Empire, we believe in deepening social bonds through physical contact. If we're to be working together in the future, it'll be useful to foster a connection early on, wouldn't you agree, Lady Nagato?"

While I was familiar with the concept of skinship, I had an inkling at the back of my mind that Akagi knew she was overstating the importance. She wasn't wrong, technically, but was now really the best time to be indulging in such pursuits? I couldn't tell if she was just being bold or once again plotting some ulterior motive behind her smile. She could just be trying to get back at him for embarrassing her before, when he touched her ears on the flight deck.

"I suppose that is true, but Captain DeWolf should have a say in it."

"Come now, it's just a little innocent shoulder rub," Akagi continued, clearly intent on not letting the captain get a word in. She leaned down until her head was almost resting upon his shoulder, a move which made the officer's face turn an even deeper crimson. "After all, I'm a kansen, so all those silly little rules about fraternization needn't apply. You've worked hard, so let Akagi take care of you for just a short while."

He let out a quiet, defeated sigh. "I guess… it wouldn't hurt," he murmured.

It appeared that even he had his limits when it came to resisting Akagi's assertive charm. In his defense, he lasted a lot longer than most naval officers I've witnessed in the past, with most only getting at best a façade of politeness. If memory served, this was arguably the first time I've seen her actually be so charitable to an officer. That, or she was far better at faking sincerity than I've given her credit. With the captain placated, Akagi's hands set to work, gently kneading into the muscles of shoulder and neck. I half-expected to hear the loud crackle of snapping bone, or even a pained yelp, but those never came. At best, DeWolf took a few deep breaths with only a handful of faint grunts giving any indication that he felt anything at all. I was still surprised to see my colleague going through with this offer, and judging by the curious look of serenity about her, I began to think that she was actually enjoying herself.

"I assume there was a reason I was asked to come here," I finally spoke up, seeing as it was unlikely I was summoned just to watch Akagi get handsy with the captain.

"One of Akagi's air patrols spotted an Eagle Union long range patrol plane a short while ago," Captain DeWolf answered. "Since this is officially your mission, we thought it'd be best for you to make the call."

Before he could continue though, he made a sudden grunt as his expression stiffened up. Judging from Akagi's amused smirk, she was the one responsible for the interruption. "My, my, captain, you're carrying an awful lot of tension in your shoulders," she mused idly. "It's like I'm trying to knead through a lifetime of stress."

"That wouldn't be completely inaccurate," he groaned in response.

"You two enjoy yourselves, I am going to hail the Union plane," I said, realizing I wasn't going to get much help from them at this point. I pulled up a stool, grabbed the radio handset, and set up to broadcast on an open channel. There was still technically the risk of any nearby Sirens triangulating our position from the signal, but it wouldn't take a tactical genius to guess we'd be heading for the nearest Azur Lane naval base. If the Sirens were preparing to strike us again, a radio broadcast wasn't going to change things. "This is Nagato of the Sakura Empire calling any Azur Lane forces in the vicinity, please respond."

Somebody must have been waiting precisely for our call, as it was only a second later that we got our response. "Nagato, this is Enterprise. It's good to finally hear your voice."

There was something oddly calming and reassuring about her voice. Perhaps it was just the sense of relief that we were finally safe after such a perilous journey.

However, before I could even answer, there came a sudden and loud 'ow!' from Captain DeWolf. "Akagi!" he exclaimed. He probably would've jumped out of his seat were he still not being held in place.

The vixen just smiled reassuringly. "My apologies. That was just a… reflex whenever 'her' voice comes around."

"I can still hear you," Enterprise reminded her. "And who just shouted in pain?"

Though I shot a disapproving glare at Akagi for potentially embarrassing us before our Azur Lane allies, she had already turned her attention back to her massage work. "That was Captain James DeWolf. We rescued him and his crew from a Siren attack while en route. I understand he's being transferred to under your command."

"That's correct. Being a kansen, I'm better suited for sorties than sitting behind a desk, especially with our alliance with the Crimson Axis. The admiralty agreed with me when I suggested that a conventional officer be assigned in order to help with the administrative duties," Enterprise explained, all of which matched with what DeWolf had explained to us earlier. "I suppose I owe you a thanks for rescuing him. How are you holding up, Captain?"

"It's been a rough week," he answered. "I'm ready for duty, though."

"Excellent. I've heard a lot of good things about you, DeWolf, especially Iroise Sea. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise."

As it was voice only, Enterprise couldn't see that DeWolf stuck to brief responses because a certain kansen kept tightening her grip on him every time the Unionist spoke up. Somehow, the officer managed to keep it from showing in his voice, but I could see his face tense up every time. I knew Akagi still held some ill-will towards the famed carrier, but I had hoped for improvement in the aftermath of the Orochi Project incident. It seemed that I was wrong.

"Miss Nagato, you mentioned a Siren attack. What's your current status?" Enterprise continued on. "And did you also manage to recover Joseph DeWolf?"

"Yes, we have Dr. DeWolf as well, and to be honest, we are in poor form. We've already encountered Sirens twice, and we were hoping you could dispatch an escort to help see us the rest of the way. There's also new intel I need to discuss with you in person as soon as possible."

To no surprise, her response came without a moment of hesitation. "In that case, I'll sortie personally to rendezvous with you." If our positions had been reversed, there would've been an immediate objection from Kawakaze or Akagi about wasting my time with 'trivial matters' like escort duties. I wonder if Enterprise ever had to deal with that kind of opposition. She was lauded for her bravery and decisiveness, after all. With any luck, I could see first hand what made her such a vaunted leader of kansens.

Once we agreed upon a time and coordinates to meet, Enterprise bid us good luck and closed the channel. The air on the bridge calmed considerably after that, not least of which because I suspected that DeWolf's shoulders couldn't take much more of Akagi's peculiar reflexes. If he were in pain, he did a remarkable job of hiding it from us, although I noticed a visible easing of his shoulders once I put down the radio handset.

"Miss Akagi, please adjust your heading to take us to the designated coordinates," I instructed as I got to my feet. "At our current speed, it should only take a few hours to reach it, correct?"

"Assuming there are no further incidents in my engine rooms."

"Then I will go inform the others of this development. I shall sortie with Mutsu to secure the site ahead of your arrival." While the hard work and expertise of DeWolf's crew had helped keep the carrier afloat and running, I worried she would not be able to withstand another engagement, so it was paramount to prevent any further Siren ambushes. I considered bringing Choshu along as well, in order to introduce her to Enterprise, but I figured the discussions of dimensional doppelgangers could wait until we reached port when everybody could be gathered together. I didn't want to have to explain the situation a dozen times over.

Before I could take my leave, however, DeWolf shot me a skeptical stare. "I hope you're not intending to meet Enterprise looking like that," he remarked, gesturing upwards with a slight tilt of his head. "You look like you just rolled out of bed."

"He's right," Akagi concurred, "your bed hair would put even some of the young destroyers to shame."

"It… it's not that bad," I protested, albeit rather poorly since I had already suspected my rush job that morning had been inadequate. "And obviously I was going to fix it."

Why did Akagi pick now of all times to tease me over my appearance? One could not expect me to be the model of a perfect priestess at every hour of the day. I tried patting down some of the more wayward locks of hair, but the only thing more stubborn than me first thing in the morning was my hair. Just as I was about to storm out in a huff, my fellow kansen beckoned me closer.

"Pull up a chair, Nagato," she invited me before she turned her attention to DeWolf. "Captain, would you be so kind as to help her? She's used to either her sister or the shrine maidens assisting." She pulled out a small comb and handed it to the officer. "And do be careful, she might not be the flagship anymore, but she's still precious to the Sakura Empire."

"Isn't this more something you should handle?" he replied, glancing over his shoulder.

"Except my hands are busy," Akagi replied. She punctuated every word by walking her fingertips up the back of his neck, and ended with a sharp tap to his head and a giggle.

Needless to say, her remarks felt a little patronizing. "I am capable of grooming myself, thank you very much," I shot back as I fought down a growing heat in my face. "There is no need to bother him with this matter. P-plus, I am sure that as a man, he will be less accustomed to matters of hair treatment."

"It's combing hair, not rocket science," DeWolf replied, unmoved by my arguments. "Just sit down already, and think of this as more of that 'skinship' you just talked about."

Had it been Akagi saying that, I would've known for sure that this was just another ploy, but he had his usual stoic and dutiful look about it, as though this were just another task in the daily life of a naval officer. If I ran away, no doubt Akagi would tease me even further, and it probably wouldn't take long for some kind of rumours to spread amongst the Sakuran kansens already stationed at the Azur Lane port. With my self-respect on the line, I swallowed my fears and pulled up a chair, setting myself down facing away from DeWolf.

"B-be sure to be diligent. I don't want to see a hair out of place," I said, burying my anxiety behind a show of force. Sadly, it had the opposite effect on me, as I had to fight down every urge to run. Through my mind came images of a brutish man tearing my hair apart with a ferocity that made Tsushima seem like a polite disagreement. Hairs pulled from their roots, ripped in twain, and unraveled like worn out ropes. My body began to tense as his hands parse through my disheveled tresses. The comb's teeth began to part the strands, and I braced myself for the first pull, which surely would tear it apart like wet tissues. I may have been a kansen, but I was still a girl, and we were delicate flowers!

But then, nothing came of it. His hand supported a length of hair as he gently ran the comb down the length of it. There was barely even a tug. If I hadn't been more attentive, I would've sworn it was Mutsu at work. Every stroke of the comb was meticulously done, settling the rebellious locks and caressing tangled furls into obedience. In retrospect, I wasn't sure what I, a kansen capable of shrugging off battleship-caliber weapons, had to fear from one man with a comb. As my own foolishness fell to the wayside, I was able to relax, if just a little. It was still a little embarrassing, like I was some child being tended to by her parents.

"He's proving to be quite skilled with his hands, isn't he?" Akagi observed.

"Um, y-yes, he is," I answered, still trying my best not to think too much about it.

"It's almost as if he's done this before."

"Just something you pick up, nothing more," DeWolf answered, noncommittal.

"It's like you know your way around a woman." Akagi was clearly trying to probe him for information, though for what reason I couldn't say.

His defenses, however, were well-prepared. "Plenty of women in the navy. People aren't exactly clamoring to join, so recruiters can't afford to be picky."

I tried to ignore the two of them. If Akagi wanted to pester him with questions and suggestions, then she was free to do so, just so long as she left me out of it. I just wanted my hair tidied up so I could leave. Although, if I had to be honest, as the grooming went on, it became rather relaxing. Comforting, almost. It reminded me of the quiet days at the shrine in those rare moments where Mutsu and I were free from our duties. Even though it had only been a few days, I already missed the warm afternoons we'd spend in the courtyard. I missed the scent of Hiei's tea on the breeze, and the way Mutsu would pass the time braiding my hair. It wasn't long before I had almost shut out the entire world and my thoughts drifted away in nostalgia. He wasn't so bad, this Captain DeWolf.

"What in the name of the eight million kami are you people doing in here?" Choshu's voice sounded, which threw me out of my trance with all the subtlety of an oncoming train. I almost fell out of my seat, I was so startled by her sudden appearance. She stood in the nearby doorway, arms crossed and frowning as she regarded the three of us.

"Choshu! T-this isn't what it looks like!" I exclaimed, feeling all the embarrassment come rushing back. While Akagi and DeWolf didn't appear to be bothered, I thought for sure that my counterpart's firm, warrior-centric view would have no room for such luxuries.

"I was told you were radioing Azur Lane, not having a make-over," she replied.

"We already finished our exchange with Miss Enterprise," DeWolf explained. "We're going to rendezvous with her shortly."

"I see, I see," Choshu murmured, nodding to herself. She marched over to me, and gave me a long, scrutinizing stare up and down, then to DeWolf and Akagi. No doubt she would have another quip about how this showed how soft our Sakura Empire was in comparison, which made it a surprise when she just watched in silence.

After a minute of awkward silence, wherein it felt like her eyes were drilling a hole through my skull, DeWolf's hand pull away. "Okay, you're all finished," he announced. As I got up, intent on returning to my room to rest until the appointed time of the rendezvous, I noticed a curious look about Choshu. She stared quite intently at the empty seat with an occasional glance to DeWolf, accompanied by twitching ears and a restless fidgeting. The captain must've noticed this, too, as he sighed and gestured to the chair. "Do you want to go next?" he offered.

"Well, normally I wouldn't," Choshu immediately replied. "I'm a warrior of the Sakura Empire, after all, but since you're offering, and there's nothing better to do at the moment…" Despite her alleged reluctance, she fell into the seat in an instant. "Touch my ears, however, and I will remove your hands. Understood?"

DeWolf just ignored the threat and set to work. I decided to leave them be, if for no other reason than to avoid any further targeting from Akagi. As I departed, I noticed that Choshu had a hint of a smile on her face, something that none of the others could see as she sat facing away from them.

Good to know she had a softer side to her as well.

XXX

It was dark. But it was not because it was the middle of the night or that the ship had lost main power, as such reasons wouldn't have left my heart racing as much as it was. Somehow, I had found myself returning to the waking world with my head stuffed inside a sack. A sack, which judging by the lingering smell, had been used to hold old laundry and hadn't been washed in some time. How I found myself in such a predicament was a complete mystery to me: the last thing I could recall was disembarking the aircraft carrier to meet Enterprise. Now I was back inside; I could hear the faint rumblings of aircraft engines, and the gentle sway of the tide beneath me. Was I back on the Akagi?

Impossible, but there were no other carriers in the region.

"Oh, look. I think she's finally awake."

The voice sounded distant at first, but it was familiar.

"Rise and shine, shortstuff. We need to talk."

It was only after those words that I realized that it was not her that was far, but my own mind. As words came in clearer, so too did all of the strange aches and stiffness that racked my body worse than a morning, afternoon, and evening training session with Akagi. A stiff breeze was liable to topple me over in this state. I couldn't even summon my rigging, I was so utterly bereft of strength. As I continued to wonder what had happened to me, the malodorous sack was finally pulled away.

"Hello, Nagato."

It was Enterprise, although she looked different than how I remembered her. She looked… tired, but not from long hours. Older, yet not due to the passage of time. A coldness lurked behind her pale violet eyes, one that should've invoked a sense of sympathy, but all I could feel was an anger welling up inside of me.

"What is the meaning of this?" I said in a low, bitter growl.

"I thought we could talk, face to face. It's what you wanted, after all."

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but I could see now that we were in a small room, perhaps a former office or workplace. It was bereft of furnishing, save for the chairs we sat in. It was the kind of room I had spent many hours in, and yet it felt suffocating now, like a steel coffin. Enterprise scooted her seat closer out of courtesy, although the grinding steel just grated my ears.

"You know, we haven't really talked before, despite having known of one another for so long. You've studied my tactics, read countless reports on my battles, and I've done the same for you." Her voice was polite and cordial, but I could sense a contempt beneath, fighting to break free. "I thought that after everything, at the very least, I owed you the chance to finally chat."

"And why would you think I'd have anything to say to you right now?" The words jumped from my lips before they even registered in my mind. Once more, it was like they weren't even my own, filled with a disdain that belonged to another.

She let out a tired sigh before suddenly seized me by the face, and forced my eyes to meet with hers. "Don't test my patience, Nagato. I'm giving you the opportunity to surrender before my allies finish bombing your precious little naval yard into the stone age."

"There's nothing of value left at Yokosuka," I growled back. "Only an honourless wretch would bomb a defenseless port."

Whatever goodwill I may have had with Enterprise evaporated in an instant. Her face twisted into rage as her grasp tightened around my jaw. I barely even had time to register the change before she drove her fist into my face with enough force to leave me splayed upon my back.

"Honour? You want to lecture me about honour?" she shouted as she loomed over me. She followed it up with an equally painful kick to the gut that left me curled up in pain. "Where was the honour when you sank Arizona, huh?" She kicked again. "What about Oklahoma? Did she not deserve any? Did Hammann? Hornet?" Every name was delivered with another blow, and I was coughing up blood by the time she pulled me up into a semi-sitting position. "Where was the honour when you sent a submarine after Yorktown?" Her hatred was palpable; if her chest had been a cannon, she would've shot her heart at me. For a brief moment, I thought she would just kill me there and then. "Do any of those names even mean a damn thing to you?"

"You think… you're the only one… who's lost someone in this war?" I replied through gritted teeth and pain.

Her anger began to dissipate, although the cold stare that replaced it was no less troubling. "It seems you need a little reminder," she said in a chilling voice.

Hauling me to my feet, the Union carrier dragged me out of the room, down the corridor, and out onto the flight deck. As I had come to suspect, we were on board the Enterprise, and far off in the distance I could see what remained of the Yokosuka Naval District. A thick layer of fire and smoke enveloped the entire landscape before me, punctuated by the dull thuds of exploding bombs as planes ran rampant over it. Only sporadic golden streaks of tracer fire could be seen from what remained of the beleaguered defenders, but by this point the sky had become so thick with Union airplanes that they may as well have been trying to shoot down the sun. She really was carrying out her threat: she and her allies were leveling not just the entire naval yard, but all the surrounding city as well. It was one thing to discuss it in vague, distant terms, it was another thing altogether to watch your home being obliterated with your own eyes.

Enterprise dragged me all the way to the edge before finally throwing me to the flight deck. Clearly she wasn't worried about me trying to jump ship. And how could I? Even if I wanted to, I couldn't take my eyes away from the devastation being wrought before me. Sorrow and disgust coalesced inside me, turning into an outrage that felt my own and yet I could not contain or control.

"How dare you!" I sneered in a desperate defiance. "This is no battle, this is just a slaughter. There is no honour in this, and yet you carry it out without a second thought! You are no warrior!"

"No, I'm not," she snapped back with cold precision. "I'm a soldier, and my orders are to neutralize the last of the Sakura Empire's navy power stationed at Yokosuka."

"That's me! I'm the only person here that was ever worth fighting, and you know it! The people here… they don't deserve this."

"Deserve? War isn't about who deserves what," Enterprise said before she grabbed the back of my head and forced my gaze back to the burning harbour. "War is about one nation's might pitted against another, putting everything they have and everything they are on the line. Your armies crushed, your cities burning, your people dying… that's what it means to lose a war! If you're not prepared to accept this, then you shouldn't have started this fight."

"The battle is already yours, you don't need to continue this… this massacre!"

"You wanted a glorious war, well… here it is," the Union carrier said as she swept her arms out to the burning horizon, like some artist showing off their latest creation. "Remember, it was by your order that this all started. You can still end it, though, if you just surrender to me."

I stared at her in a brief flash of disbelief, trying to discern what her real angle was, because it couldn't have been what she just said. "Why would that matter? I'm not the flagship anymore! I'm not even in command here. I've no authority to—"

"To hell with authority," she cut me off. "Just forget about the politicians, and the admirals. They're not the ones fighting this war, it's us kansens. So, I am giving you a chance, one kansen to another: surrender to me, and I will tell the bombers to stand down immediately."

Surrender? To her? The thought seemed preposterous, offensive even, for as a warrior of the Sakura Empire, we were taught that it was better to accept death than dishonour. To yield to a foreign invader was unconscionable—it was unheard of in our entire history. There could be no greater shame in the world for one such as I. Even as the winds carried in the ash and smoke of my homeland, I was reminded that a kansen represented the will and spirit of her people: its hopes and dreams, its strength and power, and, most importantly, its resolve. Pride demanded I spit in her face, but wisdom decreed I acknowledge the undeniable truth of my situation.

I sighed. "The fact that I'm here means I'm already beaten, Enterprise. You don't need me to tell you that you've won."

"No, not good enough!" Her response came with a swiftness and certainty that took me by surprise. The anger within her was beginning to bubble its way back to surface. "I want to see you on your knees: down on all fours like an animal with your face buried in the ground. I want to hear you surrender; I want to see you beg for my forgiveness." Her gaze hardened to the point where I was certain her glare could cut through armour. This was not some request being made out of some sense of compassion; she wanted to strip me of the last thing that mattered to a warrior. She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me right up to her face. "I want to hear those words, Nagato," she hissed. "I've carved my way across the Pacific for this moment. Do not dare think to deny me."

"I would rather die than give you the satisfaction," I growled back. It was a paltry show of defiance, but if I could at least deny her one victory, then I could at least be content with myself. I may have been defeated and at her mercy, but I still had my pride and honour. This wasn't about compassion or mercy, it was just another battle for her, and one that I refused to partake in. If I surrendered now, then I wasn't fit to be a kansen of the Sakura Empire. "So if you're done wasting my time, either finish me off, or lock me away. I will not be a part of your twisted games."

I expected another explosion of fury at my defiance—to be struck or shouted at, or at the very least given a fiery, hate-filled glare. Anything would've given me some satisfaction that my defiance meant something. Instead, though, she just let out a long and weary sigh.

"You Sakura Empire girls are all the same," she said, disappointed. Releasing me from her grasp, she strode away, and then gestured to someone further down the flight deck. "Always going on and on about honour and pride, that you would die for your beliefs. But it's been a long war, Nagato. I've had a lot of experience fighting your kind, and there's one thing I've learned: dying for your beliefs is easy, but watching someone else die for them…"

Her gaze shifted off to the side, and my gaze too was drawn to it when I heard an oddly familiar voice cry out, "Nagato, help!"

That's when I saw the pair of Union kansens dragging a prisoner onto the flight deck. At first, I didn't know what was going on, but as they drew closer, I recognized the young girl being brought forth—her diminutive stature, the dark hair that had been cut into the same style as my own. It was the kansen from my dream; the one who sat in my lap as we watched the harbour and dreamed of a future together. She was real? I thought she had just been a figment of my subconscious, a product born from all of my lingering doubts, anxieties, and other issues that would've kept a therapist in business for years. But now she was before me with her uniform in tatters, and caked in oil and ash. I could see the fear in her eyes, that wavering uncertainty that came from helplessness.

"W-whatever they want, don't give it to them, Nagato!" the other prisoner shouted.

"Just be quiet," I hissed back to her.

"Let me put this in real simple terms for you, Nagato," the Union carrier continued as the girl was thrown to the ground next to her. "Surrender to me, or you can watch your friend here die. Then I'll bring out another one, and another. And we'll keep going until either you say the words, or I run out of bodies."

"Y-you wretched—! You seek to test my resolve?" Infuriated, I tried to take a step closer, but one of the guards was alert enough to shove me back. "I will not be cowed by an honourless coward!"

Enterprise was not dissuaded by my insults. If anything, she looked more confident than ever, even taking a gun from one of the guards. "The thing about principles is, they're easy to hold onto when things are going well. But everyone has a breaking point, where desperation kicks in, and you start to decide what really matters to you. Midway was mine, what's yours?" She pressed the gun barrel to the young girl's head. "How much is your honour worth to you, Nagato of the Sakura Empire?"

All of a sudden, I couldn't find any of that fiery spirit that I had just seconds ago. It was as if all of it had never existed to begin with, leaving me fumbling just to keep my footing. "H-hold on a second, sh-she has nothing to do with this!" I stammered. "There's no need for this, she's no threat to you at all. She's not even a real kansen."

"Y-yes I am!" the girl snapped back, choosing the worst possible time to try and show her own defiance. I found myself cursing her stubbornness without even realizing it. "And if my rigging was finished, I'd make you sorry for daring to oppose the Sakura Empire!"

Unsurprisingly, nobody was threatened by the barks of the smallest person present. "She seems to think she counts as one," Enterprise countered, giving me a curious look. "Isn't that kind of insulting to her honour to say otherwise?" Growing impatient, she pressed the gun barrel harder against the girl's head, which buried any rebellious spirit in her beneath a growing, fearful whimper.

It was just as Enterprise said, desperation began to rear itself into my mind as I scrambled for something to cling to. "She's not a kansen! I had her rigging scrapped!" I blurted out without even thinking. For a moment, everyone just fell silent, looks of surprise and confusion all around. Even I was confused by my words. I didn't know the girl, and yet somehow I did; I didn't recall scrapping anyone's riggings, and yet I knew what I said was the truth. Everyone looked to me to elaborate, especially the young kansen whose expression just screamed heartbreak. "I… I had her rigging scrapped so the supplies could be sent to Kure," I continued, feeling all energy drain from me. "Because… because everybody knew Yokosuka wouldn't last against a sustained assault. I figured one destroyer-escort was never going to make a difference, and if she wasn't part of the fighting, then… maybe…"

"B-but Nagato… you promised. You said we'd sortie together," the girl whimpered.

"This was never your war," I replied.

There was nothing left in me. What pride I had left, I just threw overboard. In a way, it was oddly liberating to be freed from those self-imposed restrictions, like a weight had been lifted from my spirit. Slowly, I went down on my knees, and prostrated myself before the Union carrier. "Please, Enterprise," I said, fighting just to keep my voice. "I'm prepared to accept my fate for my part in starting this war, but she is innocent in this. I surrender to you, wholly and unconditionally, but I beg you, show her mercy."

With a sated smile, the hero of the Eagle Union lowered her weapon. "So the empire's Great Fox has a heart, after all. Harder to ignore death when you have to stare the person in the eye, isn't it?" She pressed a finger to her ear. "This is Enterprise to task force thirty-eight: recall all planes and cease operations… yes, I am aware of our orders, but we need to conserve our strength for Kure. We have what we came for."

Just as she promised, the cracks and thuds of ordinance began to taper away before finally falling silent. There would still be the occasional blast of fuels and munitions as fires spread, but the attack had ceased. Whoever was left, if nothing else at least they would be able to escape into the mountains, or regroup with others further inland. It was better this way, I reminded myself. Surely, a kansen's duty was more to their people than to its leaders, and that I did what any reasonable commander would do.

Enterprise's footsteps sounded her approach, and she tapped me with her boot to signal that I could cease my dogeza. "You've got more sense than your superiors. You've prevented a lot of needless deaths together, it's just a pity you can't change everyone's fate." Before I even had a chance to ponder her words, she swung around and took aim at the girl.

A kansen's weapon does terrible things to a human body.

I watched in abject horror, time seemingly slowing to a crawl, as the young girl's lifeless figure collapsed to the ground in a sickening, wet splat. It wasn't the first time I had seen a person die, and yet my heart tightened into a knot. All her life, all of that energy and hopes and dreams, everything that she ever was, now just collecting in a puddle on a weather-beaten flight deck.

"H-how c-could… y-you said—"

"Rigging or not, she's kansen. That means her fate was sealed the moment your military brought her into this world," Enterprise interrupted as she tossed the weapon back to its owner. "And, believe me, when you see what we have planned for you and the others, you'll understand that this was the merciful choice."

Whatever solace she thought those words provided were only ash in my mouth. Only a twisted mind could think a quick death was somehow the merciful option. In the end, she doled out death without a second thought, with no respect or principles. That wasn't a soldier, or even a warrior. She was just a murderer, plain and simple.

Deep inside, something begin to stir, from the darkest recesses of my core, as though my wisdom cube had just awoken from a deep slumber. It wasn't rage or hate, exactly. It was deeper, purer, more primal. It was like a fire, spreading inside of me, burning everything it touched, and left nothing behind but a singular urge.

"I'll kill you…"

Thankfully, Enterprise appeared to be more preoccupied with organizing her fellow kansens in getting her flight deck cleaned up than anything I had to say. "Eh? What'd you say there?" she asked, turning to me.

Where just moments ago, I had barely enough strength just to stand on my own feet, all of a sudden a new surge of vigor flashed through my whole being. Thoughts blurred as this… this fury overrode every rational fiber of my being. Worries about myself, my country, or even what might happen beyond five minutes from now were swallowed up. Only one thing mattered to me now, and as I rose to my feet, fists clenched so tight I could feel trickles of blood beneath my nails, my rigging rematerialized around me.

"I said I'm going to kill you, you monster!"

There was no doubt, no hesitation. I would have my vengeance, even if it meant giving up everything. Surging with this new strength, I trained every gun at my disposal on the now horrified Enterprise, who was no doubt now regretting making me so desperate. She was right, though; when I reached that breaking point, what mattered most became crystal clear, and everything else was just smoke in the blastwave.

"Nagato, wait! Don't!" she shouted, not that I was listening anymore. The whole world drowned out in a furious fusilade of cannon fire, engulfing all that laid before me in smoke and fire. I just kept screaming and firing, not letting up even as my gun barrels began to glow from the heat. She had to pay. They all had to pay!

I likely would've buried the entire harbour in shells had somebody not grabbed my rigging and gave it a violent, desperate shake.

"Sis, stop this! What are you doing?"

It was Mutsu's voice, which sent a jolt through my mind like a lightning bolt. I turned to the source, and sure enough, there was my sister beside me, a look of horror on her face. Why would she look like that? I knew I could get a little fearsome when I unleashed my full might, but I had never seen her look at me as she did, as if she were afraid of me.

"Mutsu? What are you—how did you get here?" However, it only took a moment for me to realize that 'here' was suddenly not what I thought it was. No longer did I stand upon the flight deck of the Enterprise, rather I was in the open sea, my sister beside, and the aircraft carrier, Akagi, trailing a distance behind. "Wh—what's going on?"

All that clarity and certainty I held appeared to have vanished just as quickly as everything else had. How did I get back here? What had happened to me? And why could I smell so much cordite in the air? A sense of cold dread crawled up my spine as I turned back to where the smoke of all my gunfire was beginning to settle. What I saw struck me like a thousand hot splinters—Enterprise, and her escort flotilla, floating amidst a sea of broken steel and oil. All struck down by me…

I felt… sick. The whole world just blurred into a haze in that instant as my heart just dropped into my stomach with enough force to drop me to my knees. I could hear my sister's voice crying out to me, and the radio's ablaze with questions and confusion. But there were no answers to be found, certainly not from me.

I threw up, and then everything went dark.