A Certain Lady Part 10

By Old Iron

"Is she always like this?" Iku had a look of apprehension as she resignedly followed Battleship Arizona through row after row of clothing. Security hadn't saved her, but they had managed to convince her American captor to let her move under her own power. Thankfully without fanfare or complication.

"Not really. Not this bad at least." Albacore walked alongside the beleaguered Japanese submarine with her hands laced behind her head. On occasion she would eye a rather cute article and catalogue it for later. She had a paycheck and easy access to decent supply lines now. No need to steal these despite the temptation to do so. And shopping was quite fun. "Most of the time she just grumbles and moves on."

"So how did poor Iku get dragged away from her fun?" She crossed her arms under her tremendous bustline. "It shouldn't be any American ship's problem what I wear when I'm not on the clock. Hmph."

The pouting expression would have been cute on almost anyone except I-19. But with her current choice of attire and rather dangerous hull, it came off as more erotic than anything else.

"I told you, she's... really old fashioned. Kinda like those old..." Albacore held a hand out and made a rolling gesture with it. "Um, I can't think of it. Ah... I suppose a battle-axe or a cranky mother-in-law?"

"Like those old biddies in bad romantic comedies?" Iku glanced upwards as she drew circles with a finger.

"Exactly!" Albacore grinned and snapped her finger at the Japanese girl. She might have the utmost respect for her superiors, Arizona in particular, but she was not above having some innocent fun at their expense.

Both submarines giggled, either intentionally ignoring the battleship or simply enjoying a moment of kinship. Likely both.

Arizona frowned as she continued leading the pack. Honestly, if they intended to talk about her in such a manner they could at least wait until she was out of earshot. She was under no illusions that her peculiarities were more tolerated than anything else. Or poked fun at. Usually poked fun at.

By Lieutenant Hiei.

And the Lieutenant Commander.

"If you two are intent on continuing your conversation, I will fetch some items for you to try out. However they will be chosen at my discretion." If she were a more humor laden warship, the end of her words might have been spoken with a grin. But sadly her magazines were completely bereft of that particular ammunition.

"I'm actually curious what you'll choose, if you don't mind me saying Lieutenant." Albacore was genuinely interested. She had a pretty good idea, but she'd never seen Arizona go so far to dress someone up like she was intent on doing to Iku.

"Hmm... Iku's not really happy about this, but she's curious too." Her bubbly tone was joined by a teasing grin and a smoky gaze. "Iku wants to know what the legendary Arizona thinks will look good and proper on this poor, innocent submarine who doesn't know any better~"

Albacore tried to hide her snort of laughter as Arizona's eye twitched. That response sounded so much like Mutsu it was almost too much. Even the lilt at the end was close to being a dead-ringer. If only she'd had a camera ready. It would have been perfect.

"Continue laughing, Albacore, and I might find something suitable for you as well. Perhaps then the Admiral might not have to purchase so many spare pairs of pants." Arizona turned and marched off, her crimson hair bobbing about. She didn't have to witness it to know Albacore had placed a death grip on her pants and wasfavoring a rather unpleasant expression. Oh, she would still pick something out. That much was a given. But she'd grant Albacore the same leeway she usually did and choose an article that was more in line with the sub's tastes. Not scandalous, but more... decent at least.

"So... you got into Admiral Richardson's pants? Fufu~ Even Kongou hasn't gotten that far with Admiral Goto." There was a mild tone of wonder in Iku's voice as she teased Albacore. She grinned. "Well, there's no proof at least." And if there had been any to find, then she sure as can be would have found it.

"I just happen to like wearing the Admiral's pants. He's my Admiral and I like having something close by. It just so happens to be his pants." She crossed her arms over her chest and walked over to a rack of blouses. They weren't exactly sized for her, but Jane might like them. They were closer to the girl's size after all.

"Fufufu~ If that's what helps you sleep at night. Or do you wear them to bed too? Tucked away and fast asleep, wrapped up in your Admiral's warm embrace and his musky scent. Knowing tha-ow!" Iku winced as Albacore delivered the most stereotypical chop to the forehead possible. Okay, she deserved that. But the expression on Albacore's face had been priceless. All flustered and cute.

"First off: I'm a subthief, not a lewdmarine. Secondly... He's more like my dad. If I had a dad. I think. We don't have that weird tension stuff going on and I sure don't make doe eyes at him. And Jane treats me like I'm her sister or something." When it came to deciding roles in the family, as she couldn't really think of any other term that didn't involve fleet in some capacity, Jane didn't take very long at all. It probably helped that she looked more like a teenager than an adult. The littlest Richardson treated her with a lot more familiarity than she did with the battleships or Jintsuu.

"You know, that wouldn't sto-wait! No! I'll be good!" Iku laughed as she frantically waved her hands in front of her, trying to ward off the now irate Gato-class. She did not want to test the Mark 14's success rate. Especially not at a mall.

"Hmph. Lewd." Albacore lowered her fist and turned to pick a rather nice looking green blouse off the rack. Way too small, but the design was nice. Maybe there was something larger. She held it in front of Iku to get an idea of size. ...Much larger. "Are you always that... flirty?"

"Hmm~? Maybe a lighter green?" Iku wasn't really fond of colors that didn't really pop out. Not unless she really wanted to dress to impress or had to pull out the formal wear. "I just like attention."

"And acting like that is how you chose to get it? Come on! I've read the reports. You're one of, if notthe best scout in the Pacific theater. You found Northern Princess! You shouldn't need to do that."

"I'll always be lewd. I like it like that. But I also get really, really lonely out there." She swapped out the blouse for one with a bright blue coloring that matched her hair, eliciting a grin and a thumbs up from Albacore. "United States Navy doctrine is really effective, but it's also really lonely. I'm used to being attached to a surface group. My sniper's soul doesn't burn brightly enough to keep me warm on patrol."

"Huh..." Albacore paused as she thought about Iku's confession. "I guess no one ever thought about that. It's normal for me. So you act extra lewd to get all the attention you can to make up for it?"

"Mhm. And Iku is slightly worried at how well Albie is opening her up. Iku's virtue may be in danger!" She gasped mockingly while striking a blatantly provocative pose.

"What virtue!?" Albacore laughed as she threw a shirt at the lewdmarine of lewdmarines.

"Oh no! Iku's not so good at solo action. Save me, Arizona! Iku needs your mighty hands to subdue this repressed submarine!" Iku pointed behind Albacore to a woman who bore not one single likeness to the American battleship. It did however, succeed in making Albacore go slightly pale and turn around to check.

"Why you..." Albacore rounded on Iku when it became quite clear that Arizona was nowhere to be seen. "I'll repress you!" Iku didn't have a chance to defend herself as she was soon set upon by a wrathful Gato-class.

"Help, help, I'm being repressed!"

"...What are you doing?"

Arizona's icy voice brought both laughing submarines to a halt faster than the eye could see. They craned their necks to look up at the furious expression on the battleship's face. And was she ever.

"Um... We..."

"Iku can explain!" Iku tried to scramble to her feet, but only managed to stumble about and grasp at the nearest source of support. There was the rushing sound of fabric followed by a pained yelp as she she fell back to the floor.

"Lieutenant? That's..."

"Oh my~"

Arizona stood there, arms full of clothes and her dress skirt handily pulled down around her ankles. The waistline held fast by I-19's firm grip.

"A-Antifouling red, ma'am?"

"Those are battle panties!"

"SINK!"