Chapter Thirty

Thanks to Choshu taking most of the afternoon with her bath, all the captain was interested in for the remainder of our free time was to take a brisk walk around the naval yard, which I had no doubt was just an excuse for him to check in on things around the base. The fact that he detoured along a path that took us near most of the commonly used exercise yards made it all the more obvious, but I refrained from raising any objections. The events in the aftermath of my disastrous time in the bathhouse had left my heart too troubled to speak. One did not always need to fill silence with words, and it appeared that all three of us were in concordance as nary a word was spoken amongst ourselves for the entire length of the walk. However, that did not apply to most of the kansens we encountered along the way, most of whom felt obliged to at least say hello in passing.

"Good afternoon, Captain DeWolf."

The greeting came from none other than Admiral Hipper, whom we encountered while passing near the gunnery range. The serenity of the afternoon air was occasionally interrupted by the thunderclap of artillery, but after several minutes one got so used to it that it barely registered. The diligent Iron Blood senior kansen must have been visiting the range for the same reason as DeWolf was: to check in and see how everyone was coping. She stood at the edge of the dock with a clipboard in one hand, and somehow managed to juggle binoculars and a pen in the other.

"Hello Miss Hipper. Managed to get out of the office, I see," DeWolf said, striking up a casual conversation as he stopped alongside her. He turned his gaze out to the gunnery range, where off in the distance one could make out the silhouettes of several girls from the various factions as they rained devastation on the local fish population.

"You think I'd be chained to that desk all day?" Hipper replied, a hint of offence in her tone. "Unlike a certain someone, I know how to work efficiently and manage my time accordingly."

"Excellent, I'm relieved to hear that the base is in such capable hands while I'm on leave," DeWolf replied.

"I didn't think you were the type to resort to cheap flattery," she scoffed back.

"Just being honest. I wouldn't leave a job this important to just anybody."

I could see the Iron Blood cruiser tense up and quickly turn her head away from the captain. "D-don't think hearing things like that would make me happy," she remarked. "I was just doing my duty and nothing more."

That sounded like something I would say if the captain had heaped praise upon me, although I would have tried to sound less defensive about it. A more polite and refined, 'I am simply fulfilling my duties' would have been my choice, but Admiral Hipper had her reputation for a reason. However, while DeWolf wouldn't be able to see from where he stood, I was a few steps behind the two of them, and could see the faint trace of a smile that Hipper was trying to hide. At least I wasn't the only person who struggled to be honest with their feelings.

"Well, could I at least ask for a little bit of pride and satisfaction in a job well done then?" DeWolf suggested, his whimsical tone suggesting that he didn't need to see the smile to know it was there. "By the way, are you planning to attend the festivities this evening?"

"Isn't that a Royalist event?" Hipper replied, puzzled by the question. "Why would I want to surround myself with those bores? Honestly, their parties would make a funeral look lively."

"Clearly you've never attended a Gaelic wake," the captain murmured under his breath. Undaunted though, he pressed on, since it was his specific request that other factions be allowed to attend. "Listen, Hipper, I know things can still be a little tense between the Iron Bloods and Royal Navy, but you are the senior kansen for your faction, so I would like to have you present as a sign of solidarity if nothing else."

She groaned and rolled her eyes. "Ugh. This is what I get for being so reliable, isn't it?"

"Responsibility comes with a price," I added my support to the captain's arguments. My duties and obligations had controlled most aspects of my life for the majority of my career, so I knew the burden all too well. Even tonight, my participation at this event was due to my station as the secretary ship. "There are worse things in life than attending a party. If nothing else, the food and drink provided should be agreeable to you."

Admiral Hipper made a huff as she folded her arms and fidgeted in her indecision. While it was already an open event for everyone at the base, as per Captain DeWolf's specific instructions, she wasn't the first kansen to express reluctance. The general response we got from most of the kansens we spoke with today was that only those who received a personal invitation from a friend in the Royal Navy had been planning to attend. I wasn't sure if this was because of a specific rule that faction parties were intended for their own people, or if it was just one of those 'traditions' that everyone followed and never bothered to question. I knew many of my fellow Sakurans would be hesitant out of a reluctance to impose on others or appear 'impolite', and I suspect many in the Iron Blood would decline out of pride or their long-standing rivalry with the Royal Navy.

Or perhaps it was just as Choshu and Admiral Hipper had described: the parties were simply too boring to bother with. I have had my share of dull formal gatherings, so I wasn't too concerned.

After a showing of intense internal debate, punctuated by pursed lips and a furrowed brow, Admiral Hipper let out a resigned sigh. "Well, I guess there's no helping it. Just don't get any funny idea: I'm doing this because it's my responsibility as a senior representative for the Iron Blood fleet, not because you invited me."

"Good enough for me," a relieved DeWolf said before patting her on the shoulder. "It's a party so be sure to dress nice."

"W-wait, I have to dress up?" Hipper exclaimed. How this news would've surprised her was beyond me, but perhaps Iron Blood parties were far more casual. DeWolf, however, wasn't too worried about such details, and he continued on with his walk, leaving the heavy cruiser flustered as she called out after him. "Hold on a second, I can't find something nice to wear on such short notice! Captain DeWolf? Captain!"

DeWolf just waved over his shoulder as the three of us departed. Once we were a safe distance away and Hipper's shouts faded under the periodic cannonfire, I spoke up. "Was it appropriate to just leave her like that?"

"What could I do?" DeWolf said with an offered up shrug. "I've spent the last fifteen years wearing almost nothing but what the military provided me. How much fashion sense do you think I'd have?"

"Your opinion is not what's required, sir. You just have to tell her whatever she picks looks good," Choshu advised him, much as I would too. "After all, what girl doesn't like being told they look pretty in their choice of dress?"

The captain just raised an eyebrow. "I'll… uh, keep that in mind when I see her at the party."

His lack of zeal clearly disappointed my counterpart, who just groaned and shook her head. "This is why you're so hopeless with women, sir. You'll never find yourself a wife with that kind of enthusiasm. How woefully typical of a man."

"I wasn't aware my marital status was a matter of concern for anyone."

"On the contrary, it matters a great deal to us," a haughty Choshu replied, spinning about face to wag a finger at the captain. "As our commanding officer, you have absolute authority over us kansens. We need to be able to trust that you will make the right decisions: that you will be fair, compassionate, and dedicated. And what shows that better than the status of your marriage?"

DeWolf had the same befuddled look that had to be adorning my face as well. There was some method to her madness, but the captain summed up my thoughts adequately when he replied, "Wouldn't my years of service be a better indicator?"

Amused, she just cackled and slid up alongside DeWolf, hooking her arm around his. "Nonsense. Your service is commendable, but people join and serve for their own reasons. Who you choose to dedicate your heart to, however, shows the kind of man you are," she explained. With the captain in her grasp, she steered the direction of our walk towards the marketplace. The sight of her clinging to his arm like a doting partner turned more than a few heads from the other kansens. "See how everyone takes notice? People are curious to see who might capture your attention. If you go around acting like you have no interest whatsoever, they might think something is wrong with you, that you have no heart."

"I think you're reading too much into people's idle curiosity," DeWolf said with a resigned sigh. "Plus there's nothing wrong if a person isn't interested in romance."

I was inclined to agree that Choshu was putting more emphasis on a single aspect of the captain's life. While a man's choice in wife did certainly speak to their character, I did not consider it a deciding factor about whether I trusted him or not. He had already earned my trust through his exemplary conduct, and I had observed him long enough to know that he had a heart. It was just wounded, hidden away for safe-keeping, and only daring to venture out in moments of safety and seclusion.

Looking for some support, DeWolf looked to me. "You don't believe in that nonsense, do you Nagato?"

Before I could speak, though, Choshu had other intentions. "She can't be objective. You just had a gift delivered to her this morning, didn't you?"

I froze in the middle of the marketplace sidewalk. Why did she bring that up now? Was that a spur of the moment, or had she been waiting to spring that trap on me during our conversations? I was beginning to think that Choshu just took a perverse pleasure in seeing me squirm. Just mentioning the captain's gift almost made my heart burst out of my chest. I had only just managed to maintain a level of calmness in his presence, and now all of my anxieties were bubbling back to the surface.

"Oh, the package arrived already?" DeWolf asked. "I would've thought Akashi would need a couple more days at least."

How could he speak of it so calmly and in the open? Were westerners so open about their carnal desires that they considered it fair game for casual daytime conversation? It took all of my willpower just to keep my thoughts in order and my heart restrained.

"I-I… uh, y-yes. A package did arrive this morning," I said as I stumbled through my response.

"That's great to hear. I know you've been having a lot of trouble sleeping at night, so I just thought it could help you out," he said, proud of himself. "Be sure to give it a try tonight, and let me know how it feels."

My efforts were very quickly proving to be entirely in vain. He sounded so… proud, so excited to hear about my thoughts after spending a night wearing what could be charitably described as a see-through shower curtain. He was talking about me dressed as salacious as a brothel employee with all the care and candour one would discuss morning breakfast. Just what kind of standard was expected of western officers?

"I'll admit, it was a rather bold choice of gift," Choshu said, a wide and mischievous grin accompanying her words. "When you were picking it out, were you picturing how she'd fit in it?"

Thankfully, DeWolf was too distracted giving Choshu a puzzled look to notice my mental state doing a few backflips at her brazenness. "Uh, I guess so?" he replied, "Hard not to buy something like that without imagining it to a certain extent."

By the gods, I knew it was a likely possibility, but I didn't want to hear confirmation that he envisioned me wearing lingerie. Just what other thoughts danced in his mind? What visions of me wearing almost nothing at all had warmed his desires? Was he thinking of those near-invisible silken robes while I had been resting on his lap? The possibilities and implications were horrifying to behold. My face heated to a boiling point. Any semblance of calm, rational thoughts were rapidly boiling away.

"Hey. I've got an idea," Choshu said as she tugged on DeWolf's sleeve. "Maybe after the party, you could stop by Nagato's quarters and see it for yourself. It's only fair since you paid for it after all."

"I wouldn't want to impose, but I do admit I am a little curious to see it. What do you think?"

He looked at me, and although the rational part of me knew that there had to be some kind of misunderstanding going on, that he couldn't possibly be that brazen, my heart had taken control. A million emotions were clashing inside me, waging a war for dominance over my emotions. My throat shut tighter than a bulkhead door. A flood of garbled thoughts and feelings battered against it, all trying to make their way through. All of my willpower went into trying to keep it all contained, to only allow a thoughtful, deliberate response to emerge. As hamfisted as his words may have been, as the former flagship of the Sakuran Empire's Fourth Combined Fleet, I had to maintain a level of decorum and elegance.

"Y-you… you… pervert!"

And then I slapped him. Hard.

Had any other person been on the receiving end it would have been little more than a loud clap and a red cheek, but with him being a mere human, the results were markedly worse. Were I not so flustered, I might have remembered to restrain myself. Instead, I struck him so hard, DeWolf was sent hurtling several metres back, where he crashed into the same cafe we had eaten our onigiri the day before. Thankfully, it looked as though the patio furniture softened his landing, as well as sent some poor kansen's lunch scattering across the sidewalk.

Choshu walked over to me, barely able to restrain her snickering. "Wow, I knew you'd overreact, but I didn't think you'd go that far."

"D… did I just kill him?"

"Oh, he'll be fine," Choshu said with a dismissive wave. A sense of uncertainty lingered in the air, along with a tense silence, both only breaking momentarily when the table DeWolf landed on collapsed under his weight, scattering even more plates and cutlery. "He'll probably be fine."

By some small grace of the heavens, not only was the captain not seriously injured by my momentary lapse in sanity, but he did not even have me thrown into the brig. Granted, it was some time after the incident before I found anything out as Choshu insisted I make myself scarce and that she would help smooth things over with the captain once he came to his senses. From what was reported to me later on, he was more surprised than anything, although I was prepared to credit that more to his unwillingness to acknowledge an injury. Apparently, between my short stature and how blinded I was by shame and embarrassment, I had struck Captain DeWolf in the chest, not the face as I had intended. If I had, the consequences would surely have been dire. In the end, given how public the incident was, he was more inclined to sweep it under the rug than make an official incident report as to why his secretary ship called him a pervert and then launched him into patio furniture.

He was not the only one who wanted to forget the whole incident.

I spent the remainder of the day hiding in my dorm room, half-expecting the provosts to barge in at any moment. They never came, though, and instead the only visitor I received, around early evening, was Choshu and my sister, whereupon I was given the update as to the captain's condition and the reassurance that I wouldn't be locked away for my foolishness.

"I am… glad to hear that he was not grievously harmed," I remarked, still perched at the far end of my bed with a pillow hugged to my chest for comfort. Though I was relieved to know that the captain wasn't hurt, that did not erase the feelings of guilt and shame. The divine oracle was supposed to be mature and dignified, not throw a fit like a petulant child. Even if the captain was willing to not make an official incident out of it, I may have done irreparable harm to our working relationship. Without the role of ship secretary, what would become of me then? I was still otherwise interned, so I could not train nor sortie with my fellow kansens. At least I would have plenty of time to ruminate on my sins.

Mutsu skipped over and hopped down onto the bed beside me. With a smile and a giggle, she wrapped her arms around me and drew me in close. "Come on, sis, don't be so gloomy. It was just a little accident, that's all."

"Captain DeWolf will surely hate me now," I murmured, hugging the pillow tighter. "Even if he does not, I am unsure what I would say to him now."

Choshu opted to keep her distance while she rummaged through my wardrobe. "You tell him that you're sorry, and then you get back to work. You honestly think you're the first kansen to lose their cool? Hell, I've thrown admirals through walls in my day."

"Your days were different," I reminded her. She had a point, though: Akagi alone had a record for being disagreeable at times, and even the Royal Navy's kansens were known for being set in their ways. I couldn't have been the first kansen to raise a hand against an officer, and it wasn't as though there was an epidemic of violence against senior staff. "Either way, I ruined his leave. A secretary ship who fails in her duties does not deserve the position."

Mutsu giggled and poked my cheek. "You haven't failed. The day's not over yet, after all. We still have a party to go to, remember? We are still going, right?"

"Wh-what? You mean the Royal Navy's party?" A dumb question to ask, but I still had trouble believing it. "Mutsu, you cannot expect me to accompany the captain after what I did?"

"It'd be strange if you didn't," Choshu answered. "You show up with DeWolf and act like everything's fine then you can avoid people whispering and gossiping about a falling out between you two." She finally stepped back from my wardrobe, but now she had a bright-coloured kimono in her hands. Holding it up against herself, she swayed over to the nearby mirror and cooed gleefully at the reflection. "It was a good thing we had the empire send your personal effects. I think this one would look magnificent on me, wouldn't you agree?"

"Perhaps it would still be wiser for me to sit this out. People will talk regardless."

Choshu frowned for a moment, then managed to force something resembling a feigned look of contentment back. "Mutsu, could I have a moment alone with our stubborn sister?"

"Oh? What for? Why can't I know?" Mutsu asked, curious but not offended.

"Please."

"All right, but you better tell me afterwards. And no arguments." Mutsu's reluctance was understandable given how many times I've butted heads with my dimensional counterpart, but she agreed and quietly stepped out.

Softening her expression, Choshu folded the robe over her arm and joined me at the far end of my bed. "Nagato, please. Some of us are looking forward to this party, and I'd really prefer it if you were there with me. I don't know how many other Sakurans will be there, and I'm a little uneasy about spending an evening surrounded by Royalists. Having more familiar faces there would help."

"Captain DeWolf would be able to look after you, as would Mutsu."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You think Mutsu would go if you stayed behind, pouting and whimpering? And DeWolf will be at the epicentre of the entire event. Royalists will flock to him all night long." The veil that was Choshu had lifted for a moment. It was easy to forget that underneath her boisterous charisma, there was a weary warrior trying to heal her soul. Socializing, interacting with her fellow kansens in a peaceful environment–those were essential parts to her recovery so that she didn't have to keep sending Mutsu out every time she wanted to open up. "I still get anxious when I'm near a Union girl. Royalists aren't too much better. I'm worried I might not be… strong enough to keep it together the whole night."

It appeared I had a duty to fulfil for more than one person tonight. If Choshu needed me to be at the party so that she could try to live some semblance of a peaceful existence, then I couldn't allow my own fears to stand in the way of helping others.

I sighed and nodded. "Then it would be best for us to get dressed. They will be expecting us soon."

Thankfully, because some of my personal effects from the empire had been sent over, my sisters and I had options to consider when getting prepared for the evening party. However, since neither Choshu nor I had much fashion sense, we both had to rely on Mutsu for our selections. Many times over the years she's had to pick out what I wore when I presided over ceremonies and festivals, and not just because I was usually too busy memorizing speeches and prayers. I trusted her judgement, even though she would always tell me that I'd look good in anything so long as I smiled more.

The three of us headed to the banquet hall together, all dressed in our kimonos. Though there was still some trepidation in my step, with my sisters alongside me, I felt confident that I could avoid another outburst or meltdown. The outside of the banquet hall had been lit up with huge spotlights, and a massive banner that read 'Welcome Captain!' hung above the doorway. Despite how quickly the event was planned and put together, it was surprising how much the Royal Navy could still accomplish. Through the towering glass windows, we could see plush red velvet streamers, silken-topped tables, and enough gold and silver to make one wonder how the Royal Navy could still afford to pay everyone.

"Ah, Lady Nagato… Mutsu… Miss Choshu! So glad to see you've come." The first face to welcome us wasn't anyone from the Royal Navy, but instead it was Akagi, who must have just arrived as well. Unlike the three of us, she had decided against traditional Sakuran attire, and instead had worn a slender, red evening dress. It was quite revealing with a high cut in the side that exposed her legs, and only a pair of modest ribbons covering her chest. The only thing even resembling our homeland's influence was a silver, sakura-blossom broach that hung from the leather straps across her hip. "I had heard you and the captain had an… incident earlier today. I was worried you might not come tonight."

Though her words were honeyed, her smile was more voracious. Though I had foiled her efforts in the bathhouse, she was clearly still set on her own mission. "It was a minor disagreement," I replied. She wasn't the only person who could take liberties with the truth. "Your dress is quite exquisite. I would have expected a more traditional approach to showcase the aesthetics of our homeland."

"There is a saying, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Plus, I knew you would serve as our cultural ambassador tonight. And may I say, you all look quite radiant tonight, especially you, Mutsu. To borrow from the westerners, it's quite avant garde."

She was referring to how my sister had decided that she didn't want sleeves on her kimono tonight, and had taken a perfectly good blue-toned kimono and sliced the sleeves right off it. It made for a much more slender cut, and while it came off as less formal, it felt fresh and energetic, much like the person wearing it. Combined with how she tied her obi into a large butterfly knot, it made her look as though she had her own golden wings go along with her. In contrast, Choshu adhered to tradition with a modest furisode of pristine white with only trace hints of gold along the edges. It gave an air of clarity and purity as the wide, sweeping sleeves trailed behind her every movement like the wake behind a keel.

"Thanks!" Mutsu said with a grin brighter than any of the nearby spotlights. "Why did you choose to dress like that? Aren't you worried you'll get cold in that?"

Akagi gave a good-natured chuckle as she patted my sister on the head. "Don't worry, I'll have plenty of company to keep me warm tonight. You just be sure to have fun, okay?"

She then headed inside ahead of us, and though we should have followed suit, I found my feet had taken root in protest. Her plan had to be to use that dress to hold the captain's attention tonight. No man would be able to resist such an alluring dress, and her tails today seemed even more voluminous than ever before. They looked like a cloud of warm fluff following in her wake. They were no longer just tails, but a fur-based predator, able to swallow its victims whole.

"There is no hope against such a formidable opponent," I murmured under my breath.

"Hope? Are you two fighting?" Mutsu asked.

"She's worried that Akagi will steal DeWolf from her," Choshu explained, much to my annoyance. She made it sound so selfish when she phrased it as such.

Mutsu's head cocked to one side. "But you look so pretty in yours."

As modest as I normally was, I had to admit that my sister did a superb job tonight in my selection. It was a bit bolder than I would normally have gone with, but that was why I let her choose: she had the courage and confidence to make those decisions. It was a furisode in brilliant shades of red, violets, and orange, creating a sunset-like gradient across its floral pattern. It was also a lot shorter than most kimonos I've worn, but she insisted that I needed to 'show my best features', although I was unsure how showing my legs all the way up to my thighs accomplished that. I was rather short, after all; it wasn't as though I had much leg to show in the first place. She also festooned my hair with ribbons and flowers to complete the summertime aesthetic. Back home in the empire, nobody would disagree that I was the epitome of Sakuran grace and elegance, but we were strangers in a strange land, and I feared I would never win playing by our rules.

"Your choice was excellent, dear sister, but Akagi has… advantages that I do not."

"Oh? What sort of advantages?" Mutsu asked, obviously failing to catch the subtext.

"Y-you know. She's… larger than me." I had no choice. The only way to get the point across and not sully my tongue was to pantomime the carrier's generous proportions.

I feared even that would go over my sister's head, but thankfully her eyes widened and she nodded. "Ohhhh, I see. I didn't think you worried about stuff like that. Everybody says we're adorable just the way we are!"

Choshu rolled her eyes at my sister's naivety. "Yes, but he's a man," she explained, "and we all know men like their women big. Real big."

"Well, I heard that if you rub them every day, they'll grow bigger," Mutsu countered.

Now it was my turn to perform an ocular pirouette. I gestured for them both to follow me as I headed inside before the conversation could get any worse. "Such a story sounds more of the realm of fables and myth than reality. Were the solution so simple, then surely every woman would be so gifted."

It was a short stroll down the corridor before arriving at the banquet hall, whereupon we were greeted to mouth-watering aromas of fresh pastries, succulent meats, sparkling wines, steeped teas, and more. The Royal Navy knew how to throw together a party, that was for certain. The hall was packed from the mahogany-trimmed wall to the brass-frame windows with kansens, and it was reassuring to see far more members of the factions present than I had feared. A number of familiar faces were amongst the crowds, including Hornet, who had ditched her usual hat and cloak for a black and gold evening dress; and King George V herself in the full splendour of a crimson ball gown. Other faces included the carriers Illustrious and her sisters Victorious and Formidable, my fellows of the Big Seven, Rodney and Nelson, and members of the Royal Maid Corps, Belfast and Suffolk.

I couldn't help but notice they were all rather… top-heavy.

"Did they say how long you had to rub them for?"