Bismarck left the Bering Sea by leaving behind the Aleut Islands. They've decided not to anchor down in Alaska or in Canada but try to disappear again in the open Pacific Ocean. As they got further south the climate became warmer and warmer. Heinrich was glad that he doesn't have to wear a coat all the time and that he and Bismarck could go out again to the deck. No other Fog ship showed up after the last battle. Our friends could cheer again.
They've spent much time standing at the railing of the superstructure watching the sea, the sunrise and sunset with albatrosses and seagulls singing over them. Sometimes they even saw a blowing whale or a group of dolphins.
They were happy together. They felt that they became a part of each other and nothing and nobody can ever cut the bound between them.
Nights when they weren't outside looking at the beautiful shining of the Moon and the stars they were in the saloon having fun. Bismarck became an expert of the organ and she always played with passion. On the other hand Heinrich taught her various types of songs or he sang for her while playing the guitar.
Other times they just talked. They talked about many things, their past, their feelings, their thoughts and other stuff what they didn't discuss earlier.
One time they've had much to talk about because the next day will be the first anniversary of their first meeting. It was good but also sad for both of them to face that day. Exactly a year ago they found love even without their knowledge at first, but they also had reason to mourn. The same day Bismarck lost her little sister Tirpitz and Heinrich saw hundreds of his comrades dying in the North Sea.
At first they didn't want to mention these things but the weak fake smiles betrayed them and both of them could figure out the other's thoughts.
In the morning of the day in question they couldn't hold it back anymore. Right after they woke up and got dressed Bismarck rushed to Heinrich and hugged him tightly.
"Im sorry! I'm sorry!" she repeated in a sorrowful voice. "I know I was a monster back then. You have the right to hate me for what I've done to your friends."
"Don't say that Bismarck." Heinrich smoothed her back. "I hate the old Bismarck but she is gone now. This here standing before me is the new Bismarck and I love her with all my heart." he said wiping away a small teardrop from her eye.
"But what if the old Bismarck is still inside me?"
"There is good and bad inside all of us. The question is which one we choose. That one will characterize us."
"Then I promise to you Kapitän that I'll try to listen to the good inside me. And I prove that I'm not like my past self."
"You already proved me that Bismarck. You are the best thing ever happened to me after a long time. And please accept my condolences because of Tirpitz."
"I still miss her." said Bismarck avoiding eye contact.
"And you always will. But she'll always be with you as long as you remember her."
The battleship nodded. "Go out to the fresh air, shall we?"
"I'm in." replied Heinrich.
They went outside and walked into the bow. They looked out into the infinity. There was no land, no shore, no cities, no reefs, no ships just water and water. Heinrich looked at Bismarck. Holy God she was so elegant and beautiful as she stood there holding into the flagpole her hair flying in the air like a flag.
"What do you want from the future?" he asked.
"How do you mean?"
"Just as I said: What do you want from the future Bismarck?"
"Oh, I don't want anything special."
"You must have some wishes."
"…"
"What do you wish?"
"I… I don't know what the future brings." said Bismarck turning to him. "But whatever happens, my only wish is that you stay by my side Heinrich."
He took her hand.
"Remember? Wherever you go I go there too."
"I go where you want to go."
"Bismarck, we are a team. I care about your opinions and wishes. Where do YOU want to go?"
She was thinking.
"I don't belong anywhere. I have nowhere to go. For me home is where you are."
"Then listen to this one: if this war and madness ever ends I'll take you back to Germany and you'll have a forever loving home. I'm sorry that I can't promise it to you."
"Fair enough. And know this: if you're with me I wouldn't mind cruising the seas forever. From islands to islands, from bays to bays, from shores to shores."
"And what would you do if something happens to me?"
"Then I… I… I don't know. Nothing comes to my mind." replied Bismarck and embraced him again. "Please dear, take care of yourself!"
"I'll try my best." Heinrich replied with a faint smile patting her nape. "I can promise you something else: I'll stay with you until my last dying breath!"
"Same here. It would be better being dead than losing you."
"But hey, let's talk about something more happier." said Heinrich holding her at arm's length.
"You have a point." replied Bismarck now smiling, leaning over and giving him a kiss.
Hiei's POV
"You really don't have any idea where did she go?"
"She passed to the south that's all I know." replied Ashigara from thousands of kilometers away.
"Are you sure you want to go alone president?" asked Myoko who accompanied Ashigara along with her other sisters. "Remember what happened with Ashigara."
"I have far more firepower than her wasted squadron together. I can handle it." Hiei didn't know but Ashigara pouted hearing this. "You search the Aleut Islands and the Alaskan shoreline 'till the Canadian border. That's your task now."
"Understood."
"Listen to the sounds Nachi, not too many ships in these waters have three engines you'll easily recognize her."
"Roger president." the green haired mental model replied politely.
"What's the point of looking after her here? She's surely far away now. This will be so boring." said Haguro in a sleepy voice leaning on the railing of her compass platform.
"You'll not be bored if I visit you I promise." said Hiei in her usual hard tone. "Now go!"
The fast battleship looked on a map on one of her screens. She received the news about Bismarck when she was sailing near Midway. Taking the renegade battleship's estimated speed and course into account she might be south of the Gulf of Alaska. Pretty long distance. She increased her speed to get there as soon as she can. For some reason she didn't want to inform the American Fog fleet. She wanted to hunt on her own.
Bismarck and Heinrich's POV
Bismarck stopped at an abandoned part of Vancouver Island. They needed to resupply their food and decided to visit the city of Victoria.
"It's been a while since I last saw trees." said Heinrich as he looked around from the deck. The rocky hills of the islands were all covered with green woods. Summer was beautiful there. The air was pretty warm, the Sun was shining and the island was full of beautiful spots and animals.
They took one of the small motorboats of the ship to get to Victoria. They got around the southern tip of the island and they arrived to the port of Victoria through the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Heinrich placed the loop of the mooring lines around the bollards and they stepped ashore. After about half an hour of wandering they found a marketplace full of booths.
"Great, I think we'll find everything we need here." said Heinrich. "Get some bread first."
They walked up and down in the crowd buying different types of food, meat, fish, fruits etc.
At some point Bismarck noticed a booth full of items of humans' everyday life. It looked interesting.
"Say Heinrich. Can I go there for a minute?" pointed Bismarck toward there.
"Sure thing. I go and get some other stuff. Meet here okay?"
"Okay, I'll be here." said Bismarck and went to the booth. From closer she saw the text on the plat: Antiques. There were a lot of old things from paintings, old books and cutleries to the gramophone. She walked back and forth studying the objects. She liked many of them, they were elegant. Then she noticed something. It was a thin silver necklace with a small crucifix on it. A minute later it was in her hand inside a paper bag. She went to the meeting point and waited for Heinrich who showed up soon.
The next moment was really awkward because both of them held out a small bag in the same time saying: "Here you are!"
"What?"
"What?"
"Ehm… You first." said Heinrich.
"Okay… So… I got it for you." said Bismarck and handed the necklace over.
Heinrich stared at it.
"Oh. You shouldn't have…"
"But it makes me happy." said Bismarck. "Now your turn."
"Alright. I brought this for you." said Heinrich raising the bad in his hand. Bismarck found a pair of clip on earrings inside it. They were round azure stones with golden frame.
"Very nice."
"Then try them on if you want."
"Now?" asked Bismarck.
"Why not?"
"If you say so." she said and placed the jewelries on her ears. "What do you think?"
"Well, looks like I was wrong?"
"Why?"
"I thought it was impossible for you to be even more beautiful but it happened." he smiled.
Bismarck rolled her eyes while smiling too. "And I thought you can't tell me more embarrassing things. Now put on that necklace!"
"Yes ma'am!" said Heinrich and the silver crucifix was soon hanging from his neck. "You know this was a kind gesture. Danke Bismarck."
"And you were kind again too Kapitän. Danke!" replied Bismarck hugging him.
"We have everything we needed. Can we go?"
"Sure." said Bismarck and the pair walked back to the harbor hand in hand.
It was already evening when they got back to the ship.
"How fried fish with fried potato sounds to you for dinner?" asked Heinrich.
"I like the idea. However…"
"However?"
"I know that white wine matches for fish, and this is the first anniversary of our first meeting but… as we also lost people we love what if we… don't drink tonight?" asked Bismarck.
"I've wanted to suggest this too earlier."
"Well, looks like I can read in your mind."
"It's not the first time."
An hour later they sat down to eat. Well not immediately. Heinrich asked Bismarck to commemorate his comrades and Tirpitz with silence for one minute. Bismarck didn't really understand the point in this activity but she also lowered her head and remained quiet for a minute. After that they sat down this time for real.
They didn't talk too much in the first few minutes. Finally Bismarck spoke up.
"Heinrich I… I'm sorry."
"We've already discussed it Bismarck. I told you that…"
"Yes I know, but even if I changed it was me who killed your fellows. I have to live with this burden until my last day. I wish I could do more than saying sorry."
"That's all I need." he said. Bismarck looked at him in confusion. "I know that your apology is honest. I curse this so called Admiralty Code and the Fog ships who did all those terrible things to my world and my kind. But I made my peace with you. All I need is a conscientious Bismarck who was able to move forward and helped ME to move forward. Thank you Bismarck!"
The mental model didn't reply immediately.
"I'm really sorry Heinrich you know… I think you are a good man. I don't know if the same applies to me."
"It does I can tell you."
"If it does it's because of you. Thank you Heinrich! For opening my eyes. And for being here for me."
"Like I said before: I'll always be here with you. Only death can separate me from you."
"But I won't let it happen! I'd prefer to die instead! How about you?"
"I could give my life for you Bismarck."
"As I see we think the same way. But still, try to make sure that nothing like that happens."
"I'd prefer that too."
After all the dishes were in the dishwasher they headed to the cabin to sleep. Tomorrow they'll leave the shore again and sail the high seas. After they entered the cabin Heinrich was about to go and take a shower but Bismarck spoke up again.
"Heinrich?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you really think that I'm beautiful?" she asked sitting on the edge of the top of the table.
Heinrich stopped and stared at her directly in the eye. They were like statues for about half a minute.
"I've never seen a girl more beautiful than you." he stated in the most honest voice he had.
Bismarck bit her lower lip. He never told that to her like this. And hearing this was very pleasant. She stood up and stopped before him. She dragged one of her hands slowly up his arm while she placed the other on the back of his neck.
"Well. I'm glad." she said in a really sexy way leaning closer. "Other people could think the same. But my whole beauty if for your eyes only." Bismarck said and kissed him eagerly. Heinrich returned it without thinking and he felt her pushing him backwards until his legs hit the edge of the bed and he fell back on it dragging her down with him.
"Kapitän, I request permission for a night battle." she said with a seductive smile while she undid the upper bottom of his shirt.
"Permission granted." he replied smoothing her at an "interesting" place under the back of her waist.
They kissed again. In the end neither of them got much sleep that night.