Soaring Phoenix

It pains a mother to see her child in pain.

I realize that Akagi and Kaga are adopted. But they had both lost their sisters so recently, and they were so little. Kaga had put on a strong face... And I don't think she has ever let herself mourn properly, out of fear that the thoughts of Might Have Been would destroyer her. As much as she spouts the party line about Honor and Duty and Strength, a mother knows. And Akagi... Akagi...

"Wasn't he wonderful Hosho? That armada of Wo-Classes didn't know what hit 'em! I felt like I was Mikasa at Tsushima today!"

She was happy. For the first time since Kanto, she was truly happy. And the cause of that happiness...

The young man did not look up from where his forehead was pressed to the floor. "Please, all I ask is the chance to take Miss Akagi to the festival tonight."

He was a good man. A genuine man. One with morals, personal honor, and felt no need to prove that he was actually born with a penis. Unlike an unfortunately large number of pre-teen boys in fully grown bodies. And so I let the two court each other, keeping their rendezvous secret from the Admiral in charge of us at that time. Fraternization they would call it. It would have ruined his career, and his prospects for further employment no doubt. Such bravery in the pursuit was admirable. And Akagi adored him, and he clearly adored her too. And so when he fell in the line of Duty, Akagi was in such pain... And I was in pain too, to see her so hurt.

And then... Weeks later...

"H-hosho? I... I need to tell... Show you something. You and... The Admiral. It's something that... Something that I've kept secret for a few m-months now. Please... Please don't... P-pl-please don't... Be m-ma-mad... Please..."

How could I be mad? She had been in love. They were young. An indiscretion it no doubt was, but it was not an evil thing. And new life... Life is precious, and innocent in its forging, like freshly fallen snow. However, the miracle taking form in Akagi's belly changed so many things. For starters, I could not see her as my child anymore. Oh don't look at me like that. If you are old enough to conceive a child, you are old enough to face the realities of that choice. Akagi was no longer a child, but a woman in her own right... But she was still my little Akagi... But I had to step back... Let her make her own decisions... Even though it hurt me in the action.

Kongo had been a blessing during those last three months. It's easy to write off her breezy and flighty persona for foolishness, but that foolishness hides a brilliant mind, one all to aware of the dangers of despair in War. We could not erase the pain as Akagi made the painful, but ultimately correct, choice to send the little one away, for her own safety to an orphanage far inland, where she could be loved, away from the dangers of the sea. No, we could not erase the pain of separation... But we could help shoulder the burden. And we have helped, in our own ways - in secret ways, like silk hiding steel - to strengthen her. Prepare the way should... Should the little one come calling.

And she has come. I am sure of it. I did not ask what name Akagi had written on the birth certificate. And she has not volunteered. I could have easily found out any time I wished to though. After all, she keeps that document in a manila envelope under the tatami mats as if that isn't the most obvious hiding spot in the world. But as I said earlier, Akagi is both my child, and yet no longer my child. I can no longer simply ignore her right to privacy, much as it pains me to see her in pain.

But when a little Natural Born destroyer girl named Fubuki arrived from the back country, an orphan with no living relatives... Well... It could still be a coincidence... After all, there are many ship girls that took the "long route" back to service. First there was Enterprise in the American Navy. Prinz Eugen in Germany. Our own Naka oddly enough started out as a genuine Idol. And then there's Tenryuu the professional babysitter, and most famously there is Musashi the... The probably former AV actor (Yamato, bless her heart, has handled her younger sister's former career choice with grace). Fubuki would be in good company.

But that doesn't explain the shocked, frightened, expression Akagi had on first seeing her. Or the fact that her sweet little face resembles a certain captain's so strongly. And then there's her little hobby, one she keeps even from her little friends Mutsuki and Yuudachi.

"Oh? Genealogy records? Service documents?"

The little destroyer starts at my voice, quickly trying to cover up her materials as if caught in something naughty.

"Em, uhhh... Y-you see... I-I'm sorry Hosho-san."

"It's nothing Fubuki. I'm simply curious is all."

"W-well... Back... Back home... I had heard that... That Mom and Dad... That is, my human birth parents were, were in the navy and... Well... Uh... I've always wondered about... Who they were. P-please don't tell anyone? It's kind of... Personal."

Yes. Yes it is.

"I see... Well, so long as you put everything away when you're done, I see no reason to stop you. Now, how about I make you one of my special parfaits?"

The destroyer blinks in surprise, and tries to weasel out of the gift. It's cute in a way.

"Tut-tut-tut! I insist. I've heard you have been working so hard in training. And then a personal little quest on top of that? You deserve a treat. It's on the house. Don't worry, it'll be our little secret."

Is it favoritism? Perhaps. But can you blame me? After all...

Every child deserves to be dotted on by their grandmother...

This story is a collaborative effort between myself, Mashadarof402, lt_agn02, and Lord K. This Chapter was written by me.