Earlier, outside of Bismarck's flashback

Hiei's POV

What on earth is happening with her? She, one of the most determined ones felt that she will go mad. She just couldn't control her mind. She couldn't even focus on her duty fully. Each time the student council held a meeting she put up her stoic mask but meanwhile a storm was raging inside her. She couldn't understand it. What's wrong with her? She ran analysis after analysis but everything was okay with her system. She wasn't malfunctioning. Then what is this?

Thoughts were constantly torturing Hiei in the last days. She tried to concentrate on her job and squash away everything else but her mind always got troubled again. She felt like her head is going to blow up.

Whenever she was alone she walked up and down on her ship restlessly. Though she wasn't in need of breathing she was sighing heavily during these times and grabbing her own shoulders.

"You are the student council president and the flagship of the First Oriental Fleet! You cannot act like this!"

But she couldn't help it. If it keeps up it'll affect her missions in the end. It made her angry that she didn't understand herself. During meetings she often bursted out, especially at Ashigara until the point that the heavy cruiser barely dared to speak to her. One time after they unsuccessfully tried to chase down the I-401 Hiei grabbed the papers before her and threw them toward Ashigara, yelling: "IDIOT!". They didn't hit her but the cruiser thought it would be better to rush out of the student council room. Her sisters were just sitting there completely frozen. Even Myoko had to admit that her president looked very scary as she was standing there and snarling after Ashigara.

"Is something wrong President?" asked Nachi timidly. She regretted it instantly as Hiei slowly turned her head back and looked at her with those fire-breathing eyes. The battleship then turned away and left the scene while yelling: "Go back to patrol all of you! Don't try to bother me!" The three remaining cruisers changed worried looks. They never saw her like this.

Hiei left the communication system and sailed away from her council. She sailed away from all the Fog ships in the vicinity. She wanted to be alone. Everything was annoying her. Or did she want to speak with somebody? To lighten the pressure on her chest? Because at that moment she felt as if an anaconda was wrapped around her. She didn't have a biological heart. But her chest was shaking violently inside.

Why does she have problems like these at all? She is a member of the Fleet of Fog. She shall not forget her purpose.

What happened to her? And when? Wait a second! All of this started when… All of this started after the battle at the Galapagos Islands! She has these problems since she fought Bismarck and Heinrich! What did that rebellious battleship and that damn human do to her?

Hiei tried to evoke her memories from that day as she sailed on. In mean time dark clouds started to gather in the sky and the wind got stronger too. She remembered as she, Myoko and Nachi were waiting for Bismarck south from the islands. After she learnt what happened to Ashigara and Haguro she contacted Bismarck. She said that she wanted to meet her captain, that Heinrich. She walked to Isla Watson and waited for him to arrive. She was watching the sea on the beach when a male voice called her name. She turned around and saw him. In that moment… What happened? Looking back she remembered that she felt back then as if a little lightning struck her on the head. Why? It was because she saw a human for the first time face to face and he was a European with an unusual look for her, that's the only possible explanation.

After that he offered his hand. She looked at it then raised her own and touched his. He had a really definite, strong handshake. For a second Hiei felt that someone is stronger than her, at least in terms of human physical abilities.

Then they spoke with each other. She asked him about his motivations, intentions and his relationship with Bismarck. He told her something strange about that "love" thing. Ridiculous! What does it mean at all? Definitely it was something that makes any Fog ship to forget who she really is. Therefore it would be the best to stay away from even the analyzing of the word. Heinrich told her about it what he could but she couldn't understand it.

And! In what style did he talk with her at all? As if they were equal! He told her what he thought. He just wasn't afraid of her. He dared to look directly into her eyes with his glistening blue eyes which were penetrating her very soul. With those cool looking blue… What? Why did she think this now? Cool? "Don't think stupid things!" Hiei slapped her own face weakly.

Then he made it clear that he and Bismarck will never surrender to her even if they die. That they wouldn't mind dying if they are together. Insane! No normal, logical creature would say anything like this, right? But again: what a dedicated voice he had while he said this! Obviously he was serious. Very serious. Anyhow, Hiei had to admit that it was respectable from him to stand by his principles so strongly.

"Did I now praise him?"

And then the battle happened between them. Hiei thought they managed to sink Bismarck only to find out that she survived that terrible bombardment. Heinrich came out from the cover of the bridge with that so resolute look on his face. Again Hiei saw the burning fire in his eyes as he looked at her from the distance. He ordered Bismarck to fire and they disabled her, Myoko and Nachi and escaped. The student council members reorganized themselves and decided to go back to the West Pacific. And since then… Hiei had no peace.

Since then she's been trying to figure out what is wrong with her. Which was the moment what caused her all this trouble? When she got defeated by Bismarck? Was she angry because of that? Or because someone didn't cringe before her? Maybe when Bismarck cold-shouldered her?

Then she realized: Heinrich. Every thread led to him. Each time Hiei called up her memories he infiltrated into all of her thoughts. Why? Why is she thinking about him? Why did he have so big impact on her? She didn't know but wherever she looked she saw his face before her. It haunted her in every second. That determined face with those blue eyes flaming like a welding torch and the well combed dark blonde hair. That face which looked at her bravely without fear even in the lethal danger.

Why? Why can't she let him go? Why is she thinking about him anyway so much? It wasn't like the case of Chihaya Gunzo. He was an enemy commander for her who shall be destroyed by her. Just like Heinrich Wenzel. But Heinrich was different for some reason. She knew he was her enemy as well but… She was somehow more interested in the person behind the enemy. What makes that young European human man so special?

Hiei's mind didn't even register her thoughts. She thought he is brave, dedicated, strong and… handsome. What?! Holy… He's going to drive her crazy!

As she was thinking like this she became more and more confused. In mean time the night fell and it started to rain heavily but Hiei didn't care that she was getting wet. She just let the water fall all over her mental model. She didn't mind it. She just wanted to do something. Something that will let off the steam from her chest. She wanted to scream. She wanted to… talk with somebody. But with whom? She didn't want to talk about it to her council. Musashi was the last person she wanted to know about all of this. No, she will think that she is weak and unsuitable for her role. What about other ships? None of them was close enough to her. Except maybe her sisters. But her two little sisters, Haruna and Kirishima switched sides and her only older sister, Kongo has disappeared.

Kongo… Where are you? Why did you go away? Of course, that's the fault of the I–401 as well!

She must interact with humans like that submarine did. That's exactly why she shouldn't think about Heinrich. Hiei tried her best but she couldn't help it. She was so deep into her thoughts that she almost run ashore. Ah, the Midway Atoll. It was now deserted, the humans have evacuated it. The different types of buildings stood abandoned and unlit that dark, rainy night. Hiei stopped her ship. She stared for a few second into the darkness, and then she created reddish pink platforms and walked ashore.

She couldn't bare it anymore, she begun to run in the rain on the shore then between the palm trees. She stopped before the monument of the Japanese sailors and airmen who died during the Battle of Midway in 1942.

"Kongo! Speak to me!" screamed Hiei at the top of her non-existent lungs. But she got no response. Slowly she got calmer a little bit. She walked up and down between the trees and bushes all alone. She will talk to herself. Maybe it's a stupid thing, but maybe it will be better after that.

"Kongo. Admiralty Code. Musashi. Everyone." started Hiei. "You know me. You know who I am. You know I'm a dedicated member of the Fleet of Fog. I'm not weak. I'm committed. There is no weakness in the way I do my duty. You know I'm so much better and determined than the simple, average ships of the Fleet. Tell me then please! Tell me, why I see him everywhere? Why I see that brave face of his? Why do I feel my body burning when I think about his sparkling eyes? I'm trying to throw my thoughts away, but it's useless. There is no day or night when I don't think about him and how he fights. I'm unable to control myself! I'm afraid that I will sin against the Fog! It cannot be my fault right? Nobody can blame me! All of this is happening because of him! Help me! Please help, or tell me something! What should I do? Sink him to the bottom of the sea together with his "lover"! Say something encouraging to me! Give me the power to destroy him! Or… or… make him side with me!"

Side with him? With a human?

She just couldn't believe that she said all of this. It's crazy. And now? What will be now? There was she standing in the rain with lowered head helplessly.

"Interesting thoughts Hiei. You're such a problematic little sister sometimes." said a familiar voice.

"What?" asked Hiei. "Kongo-sama?" In the next moment she found herself in the concept communication system. She looked around. There was Kongo sitting at the table with a cup of tea in her hand like she used to. But she has changed. Her hair was different, her outfit was different and her face was different. It was like her face came to life. You could see expressions on it.

"Good evening Hiei. I've been listening to you. Like I said: it was really interesting." Kongo said calmly.

"Kongo…" whispered Hiei. "Where were you? Where are you now?"

"Sadly, I can't tell it to you. But you could tell me what is bothering you. I'm looking forward to it."

"…"

"Is there something wrong?"

"How… Why did you leave?"

"I have my own reasons. Who knows? Maybe we'll meet in the close future. I will explain it then. So? What's up with that human that tantalizing you?"

Hiei was silent again for a bit. She started to walk around without saying a word.

"I… don't know."

"I think you do."

Hiei grabbed her shoulders again and looked away. "Since the moment I saw him… Since I saw how he fights… I just can't forget it."

"More?"

"Since I saw him… He has completely occupied my mind. I'm thinking about him day and night. I feel like… I want to meet him again. I want him to be close to me. To be by my side. Why is that?" asked Hiei now turning to her sister who was sure she saw uncertainty in her eyes.

Kongo placed back the cup on the table leisurely. "Don't you have any idea?" she asked. Hiei didn't reply. She just stared at Kongo who could read from her face. She had one but that's… impossible! "Maybe it's passion what you feel?" asked Kongo. "Or maybe attraction?"

Hiei shook her head dead slowly. "No…" she whispered.

"Aren't you now lying to yourself?"

Hiei quickly turned around and left the communication system without saying anything. She returned to her ship. When she was back she leaned on the railing. She looked like as if she had nausea. No, it's just cannot be. Or… can it? She was hesitating while watching the waving ocean.

She took everything into account. What she's been feeling, what was told to her… And finally the moment came when she couldn't deny it anymore. She straightened. Madness. She'll do it. For the first time in her life she'll listen to her hidden feelings instead of her logic.

Hiei started her engines and turned to the southeast. Toward the distant South America and Cape Horn.

"Myoko." she called the heavy cruiser.

"President? What happened? Where are you?" asked Myoko.

"Never mind it. I'm currently at Midway. I've heard about strange activity east from Hawai'i. I'm going there so I won't be available for a bit." improvised Hiei a little lye.

"Don't you want us to go with you?"

"Stay right where you are Myoko and wait until I return that's an order." commanded Hiei and finished the conversation. She sailed forward in the storm. "Heinrich Wenzel. Meet the abyss. Or be mine! Mine alone!"