Nothing. Days then weeks of searching and still nothing. Bismarck could do nothing but search the areas where Hiei can possibly be. She didn't have any other idea. She didn't know these seas so only guessing was left for her.

For how long was she sailing these waves lonely? Months have passed and each day her unhappiness grew bigger and bigger. During the nights she often sat on top of her superstructure watching the stars as she did with her captain before. Now she had to observe their weak light alone. They looked far less shiny than before. During these times Bismarck often whispered: "I love you" into the air. But Heinrich was not there to hear it and reply: "I love you too." The silence on the ship was nearly unbearable. Bismarck felt that it was only the love that keeps her alive. Otherwise she wouldn't have had the strength to continue her existence.

She was thinking like that in the middle of nowhere when suddenly she detected another ship on the horizon. Bismarck stood up to have a better look on it. As it got closer she started to find the silhouette very… familiar. Wait! It looks like Hiei! Only it has a dark purple color! It must be a sister of hers! And if she is her sister she must know where she is!

Bismarck armed her weapon system but she wanted to try a peaceful way first. If she destroys her too quickly she will not get any information. She blew her horn to signal the other ship to stop.

"Ara. Who would you be?" a neutral yet curious voice asked.

"I'm the battleship Bismarck, flagship of the Atlantic Fleet. And who are you, Kongo-class fast battleship?"

"I'm the first ship of my class, Kongo. So are you that lonely wolf who left my little sister's mind twisted?"

"Where is Hiei?" asked Bismarck in a very serious voice.

"Somewhere in the West Pacific." replied Kongo in the same tone.

"Do not test me Kongo. Where is Hiei?"

"Hah. Come please to the communication system." sighed Kongo. A few moments later they both found themselves at that certain tea table. "Take a seat." gestured the fast battleship and sat down. Bismarck didn't move. "Don't worry, I'll tell you what I know. If I wouldn't do that you'll surely attack me, right?"

"Something like that."

"Then guess I have no choice this time. Your ship is visibly stronger than mine, so I would certainly lose a one against one duel. As I have plans for the future I'm not willing to risk that. Please take a seat."

"Well? I'm waiting." said Bismarck as she sat down.

"Would you believe me if I'd say that I'm something like you? The fact is that I've left the Fleet as well."

"That's not exactly what I thought I'm going to hear indeed. And now I should believe you?"

"I didn't attack you instantly, I think it's a good proof to start with."

"Maybe. And why did you left the Fog?"

"I've had my own reasons just like you. By the way, I know that once you weren't a SO LONELY lonely wolf."

"What do you mean?" asked Bismarck in surprise.

"Aren't you familiar with a certain young man called Heinrich Wenzel?" Hearing this Bismarck stood up and started to walk up and down feeling her "heart" speeding up. "What happened to him?"

"Sadly I can't tell that. I didn't talk with my oldest younger sister for a while and by the time of our latest meeting your captain was still with you."

"Did she tell anything to you? Why did she come after us even to the Atlantic?"

"She was very confused. She couldn't tell why, or maybe she didn't want to confess it to herself why, but she became very… interested in your human after she fought you at the Galapagos."

"Interested? What do you mean interested?"

"Who knows? Maybe she wants to get to know the enemy."

"And she abducted him as a hostage?"

"That can be possible indeed."

Bismarck's blue eyes stared into Kongo's red eyes. "Aren't you hiding something from me?"

"Look Bismarck-san, I tell you as much as it takes for our meeting to remain peaceful. But in meantime I don't want to betray my sister. Even if she probably feels that I've betrayed the Fog."

"Sister huh… at least you have one."

"Three actually."

"Well. I don't have any sisters anymore. And what are your two other sisters doing?"

"They turned their back to the Fleet as well."

Bismarck laughed after hearing this. "Three of you have deserted the Fog. Forgive me please that I don't believe that."

"Believe or not, that's the truth." said Kongo.

"And where are they now?"

"You'll find them if you meet with a certain mental model. Remember this name: Iona."

"Iona? Who's that?"

"She is like us. AND she has humans on her deck."

"I'm sure she has." shook Bismarck her head in disbelief. "But back to the original question: how can I find Hiei?"

"Search for her between the international date line and the Asian coasts, that's all I can say." said Kongo and she stood up. "You'll have a higher chance on the northern hemisphere. Are you satisfied with my answers?"

"Not really but I guess it cannot be helped. Go on your way." said Bismarck and turned around to leave.

"I wonder if we'll ever meet again." said Kongo from behind her back.

"And I simply do not care if we'll ever meet again or not." turned back Bismarck for a moment. "Auf Wiedersehen!"

Kongo was left alone. She sighed. "Oh Hiei. You troublesome little sister."

Several months earlier, somewhere between Australia and the Solomon Islands

Finally that terrible headache and the pain in his body have disappeared. Heinrich felt again that he is alive. Slowly he opened his eyes. He saw high, white ceiling over him.

"Is this the afterlife or what?" No, it looks too earthly to be Heaven. He turned his head to the side and found out that he is lying in a huge French bed. The young man looked around raising his upper body. He found himself in a very well furnitured and luxurious room. The walls were white, the windows were enormous, a fancy chandelier was hanging from the ceiling, the floor was covered with beautiful Arabic styled carpets, many kinds of paintings were hanging on the walls and there were bookshelves filled with hundreds of writings. There were two comfortable, black leather armchairs, something like the ones on Bismarck.

Bismarck… Where is Bismarck? Where is he? What the heck has happened?

He just now realized that there was a person with her. But it wasn't Bismarck at all. Long, brown hair in the shape of a cobra's hood, glasses, long, reddish pink school uniform… is that… Hiei?

Yes, it was certainly the mental model of the fast battleship he met before on Isla Watson sitting in one of the armchairs with closed eyes and crossed legs resting her arms on the elbow rests. Hearing sounds she now opened her narrow, amber eyes. Seeing that Heinrich woke up she cocked her head to the side with a deceitful smile on her face, raising her eyebrows. They were staring at each other like that for about a minute.

"Good morning Wenzel-san. Or should I say "good evening" as it is 22:00 p.m.?"

"How did you get here?"

"Ara, I thought you'll ask how YOU got here. Looks like I was wrong. Be proud, it doesn't happen too often." said Hiei playing with her hair. "I think I owe you an explanation."

Heinrich stood up, looked around again then he walked to the window. Out there in the darkness he could see a well-lit pavement surrounded by tropical vegetation and the ocean over the crowns of the palm trees.

"What is this place?"

"We are on a small island on the Coral Sea about half way between Australia and the Solomon Islands. And this is the villa of some rich Australian man who used to spend his vacations here. He didn't show up here since we took over the waves." replied Hiei.

"Where is Bismarck?"

Hiei didn't reply at first. "Maybe you are still in shock too much to learn more details."

"No Hiei, where is she?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do. Tell me right now!"

"Please come with me." said Hiei after hesitating a bit. She stood up and led him out of the room. As they walked through the corridors Heinrich observed the interior of the house. It was pretty impressive. It was some kind of a mixture of classic and modern architecture. The building itself was modern but the decoration was more XX. Century styled. Hiei left the house through the main entrance followed by Heinrich. They walked down the pavement until they could see the sea. There Heinrich saw Hiei's ship anchoring near the sandy beach.

The mental model turned around and looked at him.

"Do you want to know where Bismarck is? She left you." she said.

"No." Heinrich shook his head. "You are a liar!"

"I know that for you humans it's always hard to face reality. But I'm saying the truth Wenzel-san."

"She would never do that! I know that. And you know as well."

"Oh my, your kind is very tiring." sighed Hiei. "Denying the truth will not change it."

"But you are not telling the truth!"

"Why are you so certain?"

"Because I know my Bismarck more than anyone else in this world. She wouldn't leave me unless she is forced!"

"Well, after all she was forced. And she was forced by something like you would call "death"."

"W-What?" this has strike Heinrich like a thunder. Is Bismarck… No, that cannot be!

Hiei stepped closer and slowly dragged her fingers up his chin. No need to say that this has surprised him very much. "I leave you alone with your thoughts for now. You may go and get to know your new home better. I have filled the kitchen and the refrigerator with everything you would need. Don't worry, I'll be back soon, you won't be lonely for too long." chuckled Hiei while turning around smiling and winking at him. Then with a huge jump she boarded her ship again. Heinrich watched speechless as the battleship begun to move, turned around and slowly vanished in the dark of the night.

Silence lapsed across the whole island, only the waves, the blow of the wind, and the rustle of the plants could be heard. Heinrich stared, thinking about what Hiei said. Did Bismarck perish? How can it be? Did she really leave him? His heart told him that she remained loyal to him. But who knows what happened during the time he was unconscious? Where was he between that big blast near Argentina and this island? With Hiei for the whole time? How did he even get on her ship and this place? Why did she leave him alive? And why did she act much more polite and kind than their last meeting?

With still Bismarck in his thoughts Heinrich turned around to have a better look on the island. Behind the palm trees he saw the villa on top of a small, flat hill. It was pretty impressive. A part of its walls consisted nearly only of glass. It had a big, lit terrace. He imagined many times where he would live if he was a millionaire and this house really reminded him of his dreams. He walked back to the front of the building and sat down on the pedestal of one of the two lamp posts which were standing on both sides of the door burying his face in his palms.

"Bismarck. Tell me please that you are alive and you are somewhere out there. I will be waiting for you, no matter how long it will take." He lost his sense of time. He spent rest of the night sitting there. After many hours he saw the Sun raising on the eastern horizon. He sighed and rose up. He went inside the house to explore it. He felt him in a damn palace. He was always a traditional middle class man so this whole thing was nearly too much for him. The villa had a library, a full kitchen filled with all kinds of great foods and drinks, a living room with expensive furniture, a big plasma TV over a fire place, further bookshelves, plants and a few ancient Greek and roman styled statues for example a small replica of the statue of Rome's first emperor Augustus on the Forum Romanum. And then there were multiple bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, a bathtub with built-in Jacuzzi, balconies and a pool near the terrace.

The only problem was that this magnificent place was silent. Painfully silent.

"Hah. Let's go, have a look on the island. At least I'll be doing something."

Hiei's POV

Hiei left the Coral Sea behind through the strait between New Ireland and Bougainville Island. She was sitting on top of her foremast at her main rangefinder.

"I just have to make sure that nobody else steps on that island. If he will be mine, then… ha ha ha!" she sing-songed in her head.

"Hiei." she heard a voice.

"Hm? Kongo-sama?"

"Can I have a talk with you?" The two sisters found themselves in the communication system with Kongo sitting at the table and sipping her tea. "What did you do with him?"

"With whom?"

"I think you know I mean."

"He is in a safe place." replied Hiei shortly.

"May I ask what are you planning with him?"

"He is very talented in fight. If I can make him to side with me he will be very useful for our cause."

"Is that all? Don't you want him for YOUR cause?"

"What cause of mine are you talking about nee-sama?"

"Only you can know that. And are you sure that you want him to just fight by your side?"

Hiei waited a few seconds with her reply. "No."

"As I've expected. So you finally realized what that strange feeling was?"

"Don't try to tell it anyone. Yes, you were right. It was passion. Because he was so imposing to me." said Hiei with a more sinister voice.

"I'm not planning to talk with any Fog ships yet."

"I'll give him two choices: he will be mine or he will perish."

"And what are your plans with him for long terms?"

"I'm sorry but I refuse to answer that Kongo-sama."

"Fair enough." said Kongo and prepared to leave. "However you'll might have a little problem."

"What is that?"

"His former partner is here on the Pacific."

"What? Bismarck?" asked Hiei in shock.

"Bismarck." nodded Kongo.

"That's impossible. I've sank her!"

"I've met with her not long ago. She is here and she's searching her captain. Just be aware Hiei and do not be too pretentious." said Kongo and disappeared.

"How?" whispered Hiei. "Who cares? She can't do anything here!" she thought. "If you are really here Bismarck I'm waiting. Come and let's see who is the stronger! But remember this: his heart is mine and mine will be his from now!"

AN: Hello folks! I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

Fact: Tomorrow, on 26th December is anniversary of the sinking of battleship Scharnhorst in 1943 at North Cape. There were 1968 sailors on her when she capsized and sank in the freezing waters. Only 36 survived. That year's Christmas was very dark for them.