Welcome back everyone! Sorry this has taken a bit longer to ger out to you all, but as the summer time is finally here, you can imagine how the uptick in flying has been! While I'm certainly glad for the extra flying, sometimes I think I just need to take a solid two weeks off and relax! Aside fromt that however, chapter 10 is now live and I have an idea or two for a Memorial Day Special. It likely won't be out on Memorial Day as I'll be flying that day, but be on the lookout for it if I'm able to make it happen. On that note, please enjoy chapter 10, and take a moment to reflect this year on the every day things we take for granted because of those men and women who served on all sides during the Second World War.
1400 hrs, Admiral Brubaker's office.
David and Zuikaku once again found themselves seated in the Admiral's office accompanied by Akashi, Vestal, Shoukaku, Prince of Wales, and Enterprise.
Once all had been seated with copies of the proposed flight plan in hand, the Admiral began the briefing.
"Good afternoon everyone, obviously we are all here today to discuss the specifics of the test flight of the F-14 that Commander Parsons and Zuikaku have been able to conjure." He began.
All nodded in agreement.
"As such, there are a few minor details I'd like to discuss before we begin. First up, the fact that this F-14 is unlike any other we've ever had in service. It will need a new designation. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Brubaker asked.
All pondered for a moment but then David spoke up.
"I'd like to suggest we keep the 'Tomcat' designation but add the 'Zulu' character after the 14. Hence the full designation would be F-14Z Tomcat. The Z would be in honor of Zuikaku and the 'Tomcat' would still have a part of the Eagle Union in it as well." David said.
Zuikaku smiled and said, "I second that recommendation."
Everyone else remained silent.
"Well that takes care of the first order of business. Secondly, Zuikaku?" Brubaker said turning to Zuikaku.
"Hai?" Zuikaku replied.
"As you'll be riding in the back of the Tomcat you'll be conducting the duties of the Radar Intercept Officer or RIO for short. All RIO's or Naval Flight Officers are commissioned officers you understand. For that reason, I've given you a field commission of Lieutenant in the Eagle Union Navy. This rank of course comes with equal responsibility, but I'm sure you'll handle it well." Brubaker finished before sliding a pair of silver Lieutenant's bars and gold Naval Flight Officer wings over to Zuikaku.
She smiled in return and replied, "Thank you Admiral. I accept these with humility and will do my due diligence as a RIO and support Dave-san!" she said.
Shoukaku giggled a bit at her sister's enthusiasm which made Zuikaku blush.
"Finally, there is the last matter. For an F-14 crew to be fully qualified, they will need to make several CAT Shots and deck landings. Obviously these will be accomplished on board Zuikaku's new hull, but I've asked both Shoukaku and Enterprise to aid with and serve as deck crew and Landing Signal Officers during these operations. Shoukaku obviously being Zuikaku's sister, has requested to aid in the launch and recovery, and Enterprise as the most senior carrier in the fleet here will serve as the LSO. Any questions before we move on to the flight plan?" Brubaker asked.
All shook their heads before Enterprise spoke.
"I'll be grading your landings carefully Commander, but you've got a solid back-seater that I'm sure will take care of you up there." Enterprise said with a smirk towards David and Zuikaku.
"You should expect nothing less from us, Enterprise!" Zuikaku responded with a determined smile.
"Excellent. The flight will be conducted at 0800 tomorrow morning and will cover all basic flight maneuvers to include air to air scenarios, ground attack scenarios, and carrier takeoffs and landings. Once these are complete, the Tomcat and Zuikaku's new hull will be designated as fit for combat. Any questions?" Brubaker asked.
"I do have one sir." David asked.
"Proceed Commander." Brubaker responded.
"Callsign for the Tomcat?" he asked.
"The callsign is your discretion Commander. I'll leave it up to you." Brubaker responded.
"And one more thing as well, I'll need a list of the Kansen you'll be requesting for your task force as well as the pilots for the support group. You can present these to me in the morning before the test flight." Brubaker finished his sentence.
"Yes sir." David responded.
" Excellent. With that you all are released from duty until 0800 tomorrow morning. Get some rest as we will all need it." Brubaker said as he stood.
All saluted the Admiral as he left and David and Zuikaku looked once again to one another.
"Say Z, since we got the rest of the afternoon and evening off and all…." David began.
"Hai, Dave-san?" Zuikaku asked.
"What do you say I finally take you on a proper date? I mean we've been so busy we haven't really had time for that sort of thing. I thought it might be nice to finally do some couple things, if you want that is." David suggested.
Zuikaku, with cheeks flushed, smiled brightly.
"I'd love to Dave. I was hoping we'd have some time for that as well…" she said with a shy smile.
David smiled in return.
"Well, I think I know just the place then. Want to head down to the beach for a bit and then get dinner afterwards?" he asked.
"Hai! It's a date!" Zuikaku responded.
Unbeknownst to the couple however was the brewing storm in the Sakura Empire…..
Sakura Empire, Shortly following the Rescue Operation. Nagato's Headquarters.
Nagato, along with her sister Mutsu and Kawakaze sat silently analyzing the recent events.
She had to admit she was perplexed at why the Fifth Carrier Division had revolted against the Empire.
Stranger still was how Zuikaku, who had been previously thought dead, had somehow re-appeared and spirited away her sister Shoukaku with the aid of the Eagle Union.
These thoughts swirled in her mind but even more disturbing were the reports of some of the other girls.
Multiple Sakura Kansen had claimed to witness the First Carrier Division conspiring with a Siren shortly after the battle inside the Sanctuary.
Though Nagato knew of Project Orochi, she had been kept mostly in the dark of the full extent of the Siren's involvement with the project.
She then turned to her trusted attendant Kawakaze.
"Kawakaze-chan, please summon Akagi and Kaga-san here at once. I would like to have a word with them regarding the Project Orochi." She said.
"As you command, Flagship Nagato." Kawakaze responded before summoning the First Division.
Unbeknownst to them however, were the events that had transpired only moments before…..
Sanctuary, Several hours after Rescue Operation…
As Akagi and Kaga re-entered the Sanctuary they were met with the smug and disapproving look of Observer Alpha atop the Orochi.
"My, my Akagi, what a disappointing turn of events. You lost our sacrifice, and now what are we to do?" the Siren woman taunted.
But as these words entered Akagi's ears, something began to stir in her mind.
Thoughts of deception, lies, and false promises that had driven her to commit these most heinous acts.
She gripped her forehead in pain before she finally came to her senses.
"This….this wasn't what you had promised!" she snarled angrily at the Siren woman.
She recalled the empty words that the Siren had given her with the promise of re-unification with her lost sister Amagi.
The Siren had whispered these promises into her ears, and she recalled feeling a very strange sensation wash over her.
Almost as if she were moving on someone else's wishes, and if her body were not her own.
"I….I gave you mind blindly!" she said finally realizing what had been done, memories of nearly sacrificing one of her own coming to the forefront of her memory.
She gritted her teeth and yelled defiantly at the Siren.
"I will hear no more of your lies! I- AHHH!" she was cut off as the Siren lifted her into the air with her tentacles.
"Akagi-nee Sama!" Kaga yelled as she tried to help but was captured by another Siren with tenacles as well.
"I don't think you understand my dear Akagi, you can't just back out of this now! We are in far too deep now just to let it all go. You're going to finish this with us whether you want to or not!" The Siren woman said as she whispered into the Kitsune's ear again.
Unseen was the faint black mist emanating from the Siren's mouth which permeated into Akagi and Kaga's ears and nostrils turning their eyes a lifeless color.
"You will do as we say. And you will finish what you started." The Siren said to Akagi.
"I…will….finish…what…I...started." Akagi said emotionlessly.
"Good girl. Now, go and make the rest of your friends see things our way." The Siren finished before releasing the Kitsune's who now had been hypnotized by the Sirens.
Observer then turned to her comrades that were beginning to materialize out of a portal located on the Orochi.
"It would seem we'll need to move up our schedule. I've given our little Kitsunes some programming to begin rounding up as many of the Sakura Kansen as possible. We'll need as many Pawns as possible for this to work." She said evilly.
Sakura Empire, Nagato's Headquarters.
Nagato waited patiently for the First Carrier Division to arrive.
Also with her now were the Second Carrier Division's Soryu and Hiryu whom she had been questioning as well.
Both had agreed that the behavior of the First Division had been suspicious and were concerned for their comrades.
Eventually the Kitsune sisters entered and bowed low to Nagato.
"Welcome Akagi, Kaga. Do you know why I have summoned you here?" Nagato began.
Akagi stepped forward and replied, "I am assuming it has to do with our recent failure to apprehend those two traitors from our Fifth Division? I assure you Lady Nagato, that this will not happen again!"
Nagato shook her head.
"While the defection of Shoukaku and Zuikaku to the Azur Lane is most disturbing, I have called you here for something that is much more disturbing than that." Nagato explained.
"That being?" Akagi asked.
"A great multitude of accusations that you and Kaga are conspiring with the Sirens." Nagato said pointedly.
"You would accuse us of such treachery!?" Kaga said now getting angry.
"Our only goal has been and always will be to assure absolute and complete victory for the Sakura Empire. Does it matter how this is accomplished?" Akagi asked.
"As a matter of fact, it does. The Siren technology, while advantageous to us in the beginning, has now become far too dangerous to trust. We will no longer be relying upon their technology lest we lose ourselves to the same enemy we swore to destroy." Nagato proclaimed.
Akagi, for her part, then grinned evilly.
"That's what you think, you misguided little fool!" she said darkly.
It was then that her rigging materialized and she stood defiantly with balls of fire in her hands, eyes as red and fiery as the balls in her hands.
Kaga had also stood and manifested her own rigging with her own blue eyes glowing hot as the blue flames she held in her own hands.
"Project Orochi was designed to give the Sakura Empire the most complete and righteous victory, and we will see that victory accomplished! And if you stand in our way…."Akagi laughed as she let her words hang.
Kawakaze moved in front of Nagato with her katana drawn and both Nagato and Mutsu summoned their own rigging.
"Akagi, I command you to stand down! I am the flag ship of the Combined Fleet and will not allow you to harm any of our own for your selfish pursuits!" Nagato threatened training her guns on the Kitsune.
"Oh, it isn't me you need be concerned about!" Akagi laughed as she placed her hand on her cheek.
Nagato was confused a moment before she felt tentacles wrapping themselves around her body.
Mutsu and Kawakaze were both ensnared as well and all realized they had been captured.
All struggled in vain to get loose but it was clear it was no use.
"Nice work Akagi, with these girls as templates we should have some very powerful Pawns rather soon!" Observer said as she eyed Nagato.
"I would sooner fall upon my own sword than be a science project for your kind!" Nagato spat defiantly.
"We shall see little one." Observer said mockingly.
Unseen however was the Second Carrier Division that had slipped out after Akagi and Kaga's arrival.
Both had witnessed the capture of Nagato and her party and sprinted to sound the alarm.
Soryu headed for the radio room and Hiryu went to warn the other high ranking Kansen, Mikasa and Shinano among them.
"General quarters, General quarters! Sirens have infiltrated the base! I say again, Sirens have infiltrated the base! All personnel to arms!" Soryu said as she managed to sound the base's alert system.
All around the base, fighting had begun to break out with Sirens coming out of the Sanctuary to engage the Sakura Empire Kansen and capture as many as possible.
Soryu then found herself with problems of her own as she felt herself being ensnared in another Siren's tenacles.
"You're not going anywhere little rabbit!" it taunted.
Soryu quickly drew her katana but no sooner than she had sliced through her attacker's snare than she found herself surrounded by more Sirens.
Soryu fought bravely but eventually was disarmed and captured.
She could only hope her sister Hiryu had managed to make it to the remote temple where Shinano and Mikasa resided in order to warn them and hopefully allow some Kansen to escape…
Secluded Temple, Sakura Empire…
Shinano woke with a start and gasped for breath.
"It….It has begun.." she said suddenly.
"Shinano-san what's wrong?" said a very concerned Kii as she entered the white haired Kitsune's room.
"Where is Mikasa Dai-senpai?" Shinano asked suddenly.
"I am here Shinano. What is the matter?" said the older battleship as she knelt by the door.
"The prophecy….it has begun!" she said slightly worried.
All froze.
Shinano had spoken of a dream she witnessed in which Sirens had invaded the Empire and taken many Kansen as prisoners to be used in creating Pawns.
Their fears were confirmed when a very distraught and out of breath Hiryu burst into the temple.
"Mikasa-Dai-senpai!" she called out.
"Hiryu-san, what is it?" Miaksa asked.
"Sirens! In the base!" she said.
All present knew it was time.
"We will withdraw immediately. We must protect the Dreamer at all costs!" Mikasa stated.
"All forces mobilize! We leave now! Hiryu, you're with us." She ordered.
Though it broke the carrier to leave without her sister, she obediently followed her senior to the temple's wharf.
The host of Kansen that guarded Shinano then summoned their rigging and escaped into the night.
Once they had enough distance between them and the temple, Mikasa withdrew a detonator and pressed a button causing the temple to explode.
"Our home shall not be sullied by those abominations!" she declared.
"Where do we go now Senpai?" Hiryu asked.
"To the place of New Beginnings…" Shinano answered.
Hiryu looked confused.
"We follow Shinano. She knows the way." Mikasa explained.
With that, the host of Kansen followed the Dreamer into the night hoping that they would find help wherever this place of New Beginnings would be.
As Hiryu followed, she glanced over her shoulder once more to see a massive Siren ship leaving the Sanctuary.
Pointing this out to the others quickly, she was appalled when she saw both Akagi and Kaga standing atop the ship.
"Senpais….what have you done?!" she asked in horror.
Mikasa then gave the order to increase speed and retreat.
All Kansen followed suit, and began to pray for the help that Shinano had promised would be in the Place of New Beginnings…..
That Same afternoon, Azur Lane Base, Beach 1500 hrs
Shortly after the briefing David and Zuikaku had parted ways to go and change. David, now dressed in his swim trunks and with a beach umbrella and cooler in hand, had agreed to meet Zuikaku down near the beach.
He found a good spot and set to getting the umbrella set up.
He had just finished when he heard his name being called.
"Dave-san?" said Zuikaku.
As David looked up, he felt as if he'd lost his ability to speak.
His girlfriend now stood before him in a red string bikini that had some black feather accents near the top.
To say she looked stunning would have been an understatement.
"Ah…D-Does it look weird Dave-san? I just bought it from Akashi not long ago, and so I was worried it might not look right…" she said with a blush.
David finally able to speak replied, "N-No! It's not that at all Z! You look beautiful! I was honestly so amazed at how good it looked on you I didn't know what to say…" David replied sheepishly and with a blush of his own.
"Y-You really like it?!" Zuikaku said cheerfully.
"I really do." David replied.
Zuikaku now smiled and laughed a bit.
"Arigatou Dave-san. That means a lot coming from you." She replied.
"Well, I know my girlfriend and I also know my girlfriend would look good in anything!" David said flirtatiously.
"Shizukai nishiro Dave! You're gonna make me blush even worse than I already am!" Zuikaku said whilst playfully smacking David on the chest.
Both laughed before pulling the other into an embrace.
"I'm really glad we finally got a chance to spend some time together though." Zuikaku admitted.
"Me too Z. Besides, I think with how crazy it's been for the two of us lately we could both use some down time." David replied.
With that the two set down some towels and took some time to relax and enjoy the sun.
David had to admit that despite the gorgeous scenery that the beach offered he found it hard to tear his eyes away from Zuikaku.
He had always found her to be beautiful, but somehow now that they were together, she just seemed to be even more gorgeous.
Zuikaku eventually caught on to David's gaze and blushed deep red.
"Ogle a girl in her swimsuit why don't ya Dave!" she teased.
David chuckled.
"I don't mean to stare Z, but I just think you look beautiful. I really mean that too, and not just on the outside. You have a beautiful heart and mind too ya know." Dave spoke his feelings.
"Dave-san…."Zuikaku felt herself getting red but smiled.
She then simply moved closer to her lover and kissed him passionately.
"Anata wa suki yo, Dave-san. Do you know what that means?" Zuikaku replied.
David simply smiled and kissed her back.
"It means I love you too Z." he replied.
Both kissed again and admitted that they simply felt like love-sick teenagers in moments like this.
Both realized however, that it was moments like these that they were fighting for and would continue to fight for.
The two remained lost in each other's gaze until they heard the shutter of a camera going off.
Both blinked before turning to see the destroyer Gridley with her camera in hand.
"Oh, don't mind me Commander, keep going! This'll be a great scoop!"she said as she snapped another picture.
Both blushed deep red.
"Gridley, how long have you been there?" David asked now annoyed.
"Long enough to see you both playing sucky-face and staring lovingly into the other's eyes!" Gridley replied with a smirk.
Both Zuikaku and David were now livid.
"Well, gotta go lovebirds! Plenty more scoops to catch!" the destroyer said before running headlong into Lexington dressed in a white bikini.
"B-Big sis Lexington!?" she said incredulously.
"Hello Gridley, let's go have a chat about respecting other's privacy shall we?" the pink haired woman said with a VERY dark aura.
"Y-You're not still mad about those pics I posted to Juustagram are you?!" she asked now getting scared.
Lexington's only response was to radiate an even more sinister aura.
"WHAA!? FORGET I EVEN MENTIONED IT!" She said flailing and trying to get away.
David and Zuikaku blinked before hearing someone else giggling.
Both turned their heads to see Shouaku dressed in a simple black bikini walking towards them.
"Ara, well seems Lexington-san was able to spare you both some embarrassing photographs!" she said with a chuckle.
David sighed.
"That girl has been nothing but trouble ever since she learned how to use a camera!" he declared.
"Well, I hope Lexington-san teaches her a lesson. She totally spoiled the mood…" Zuikaku said with a pout.
Shoukaku again giggled.
"Don't be so hard on her Onee-chan. I'm sure she was just having fun." She replied.
"I'm sorry to intrude on your date but Lexington-san and I had planned to come down to enjoy the beach as well when we caught Gridley-san in the act and decided we had better step in." Shoukaku explained.
"Well glad you did, that definitely wouldn't have ended well for anyone!" David said now realizing he probably wouldn't have been able to stop Zuikaku from taking matters into her own hands!
Lexington returned after a few moments with Gridley who had quite a pitiful expression on her face.
"Now Gridley, didn't you have something you wanted to say to Commander Parsons and Zuikaku?" Lexington said.
"Yeah, hehe, sorry about spying on you two and taking those photos. The ole ha-" She stopped short upon seeing Lexington's sinister aura again.
"I-I mean the GORGEOOUS idol Lexington confiscated my camera and will be returning it to me once I've proven I can be trusted with it again…" Gridley said now visibly shaking.
Lexington's smirk remained but said, "Thank you Gridley. Run along now."
That was all the invitation Gridley needed to bolt from the area.
"Well Commander that solves that issue. I'm sorry your date was interrupted but we'll be going on our way now." Lexington said.
"Please enjoy the remainder of you date Onee-chan and remember to use protection!" Shoukaku teased her sister.
"ONEE-CHAN!?" Zuikaku protested whilst blushing bright red.
The two carriers giggled as they departed but both David and Zuikaku were still red as tomatoes.
"Uhhh your sister definitely has a great sense of humor!" David said trying to lighten the mood.
"Ah hahaha, well that she certainly does Dave-san but I wish she wouldn't say things like that so boldly." Zuikaku responded.
Both were silent for a few moments.
"D-Dave-san…" Zuikaku said looking down.
"Yeah?" David asked.
"I-If….If we were to do something like what Shoukaku-nee suggested….I…I wouldn't mind…." Zuikaku said timidly.
David was taken aback. This was the first time Zuikaku had been this bold with him, and he couldn't lie that those thoughts had crossed his mind more than once especially after seeing her in her bikini.
But he knew it wasn't about just that and took both of Zuikaku's hands in his own as he looked her in the eyes.
"I know I wouldn't either Z. But we don't have to force ourselves into that so soon ya' know? It'll happen when the time is right for both of us." He reassured his girlfriend.
Zuikaku couldn't help but smile at her boyfriend's understanding.
"Hai, I think you're right Dave. Thank you for being so respectful of me as well…."she said before trailing off and pulling her lover into an embrace.
"….you certainly know how to make a girl's heart melt…" she said into his chest.
David responded by stroking her hair and replying with, "I only know how to make one certain girl's heart do that." He kissed the top of Zuikaku's head as she finished his sentence.
Both spent a while longer enjoying the sun and the water before David looked at the time and smiled pleasantly.
"Getting hungry Z?" he asked.
"Hai, I could certainly eat." She replied.
"Well then let's go change and head over to the plaza. I called in a favor for our dinner tonight!" David said.
Soon after both had changed, the couple made their way over to a small bistro in the plaza area of the base.
David smiled as he saw the head of blonde hair and red uniform that was waiting for them by the entrance.
"Hey there George. Thanks for coming through on such short notice!" he greeted the Royal Navy battleship.
"But of course Commander! After the way you aided me in eluding that blasted peasant on more than one occasion, this is certainly the least I could do!" said King George V.
"And welcome to my bistro Zuikaku! I hope you will find the cuisine here to your liking. While I don't always have the opportunity to keep it open, I find that it adds to the exclusivity of it when I am able to open it between sorties!" George said proudly as she greeted Zuikaku.
The Crane girl smiled in response and bowed.
"Thank you George-san. I'm certainly grateful for having me and Dave-san tonight." She replied.
"But of course! Please take a seat over there and I will have a server out with some appetizers and drinks shortly." George replied before pointing to an outdoor table with two chairs positioned at both ends.
As the couple sat down David couldn't help but find the scene perfect as the sun was just setting and the plaza's lights were all coming to life.
David again smiled at his lover as she sat down.
"So, what did George-san mean when she said you helped her elude a 'peasant'?" Zuikaku asked.
David chuckled.
"Oh, well you remember Caveman right?" David asked.
Zuikaku nodded.
"Well, he's been adamant in pursuing her for a while. One day he just couldn't take no for an answer and took to following her all over the port. She passed by me on the way to the chow hall and I helped her make a quick escape. I still feel bad about it since Caveman is one of my closest friends, but I think the guy needs to take a hint and move on already!" David laughed.
Zuikaku laughed as well before their server appeared and set a bottle of sake and several small platters of sushi before them.
Zuikaku's eyes lit up.
"I asked George to prepare a meal that was similar to Sakura Empire dishes for us. I hope you don't mind?" David said.
Zuikaku felt tears welling in her eyes before she shook her head.
"Not at all Dave-san. You thought of me and what I would like and that means more than you'll ever know." She said with a genuine smile.
The two each shared a toast with a round of sake before they nibbled on the sushi.
Eventually the main course of tempura and tonkatsu was served and Zuikaku was again thrilled at a meal that she hadn't partook of since she had left her homeland.
As the two ate Zuikaku thought of something they hadn't discussed since the briefing earlier.
"Dave-san, have you given any more thought as to who you'd ask to be part of our task force?" she asked.
David thought a moment, but then replied.
"I had actually, but I did want your input as well. Want to hear who I've got in mind?" he asked.
Zuikaku nodded.
"Well, we've obviously got you and your sister supplemented by Atago and Takao. That's a fair amount of firepower there, but what we need now is at least one to two battleships, two destroyers, and one to two light cruisers." David said.
Zuikaku agreed.
"I think we should certainly have some destroyers and cruisers with good AA capabilities. Atago and Takao-san are good, but they're more set up for torpedo work than anti-air." Zuikaku said.
"Well in that case, I was thinking of asking Cleveland and Brooklyn to join. They're two of the best light cruisers in the port and darn good at AA Not only that, but they're also good friends of mine so that might help in convincing them to join." David replied.
"What about destroyers?" Zuikaku asked.
"Do you remember Laffey and Javelin?" David asked.
"Hai, they were the two that I spoke with after we flew correct?" Zuikaku replied.
"Yup, they're both solid hitters, and both already know us so I think we'd be good with them." David said.
"And as for battleships?" Zuikaku asked.
David hesitated a moment.
He knew the girl in mind had a complicated past with Sakura carriers, but he knew moving forward without her would be difficult.
"You seem hesitant Dave-san. Who is it you had in mind?" Zuikaku asked.
David sighed.
"She's someone who has a bit of a complicated past with Sakura aircraft carriers, so I don't know if she'd be on board. Does the name Arizona ring a bell?" David asked.
As Zuikaku heard that name her heart sank.
She knew all too well what had befallen her on the morning of December 7th, 1941.
"She's one of the most heavy hitting battleships we've got plus her skills somehow allow her to keep her vanguard healed up, and for the engagements we'll be getting into, a lot of times out of range of support, we'll need her." David said.
"But I'm not sure how to convince her if she's against the idea." He added.
Zuikaku nodded but replied, "I would understand if she did not wish to work with us Dave. What me and the Kido Butai did to her that morning….it….it was awful….." she said with tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
David reached over and placed his hand over hers.
"I've had to live with what we did for so long now, but I want to make things right. I'll request her help personally Dave. I want to at least try!" she said in response.
David smiled.
"Thank you Z, and just know that you don't have to live with that. That was all in the past, and we're all on the same side now, right?" he said before coming over and kneeling beside his lover.
"That, and you've got me now as well. Someone from the Eagle Union, and someone who loves you very much." David said while cupping the side of Zuikaku's face.
Zuikaku for her part could only kiss her lover in response.
"And you've got me Dave-san. A Kansen from the Sakura Empire, and someone who loves you very much." She replied before kissing her lover once more.
They then heard a haughty fit of laughter.
Both looked up to see George V doubled over with a tray of mochi in her hand.
"I certainly apologize if I've interrupted a moment. But dessert is served! Hand made mochi by yours truly!" she said as she set the try on the table.
Both David and Zuikaku blushed before thanking the Royal Navy girl and took their seats again.
Both agreed to keep the conversation light for the rest of the night, and upon finishing their dinner and bidding George thanks and farewell, they decided to end their date with a quiet walk along the beach.
Both held each other's hands as they listened to the waves upon the shore, and the full moon made for a beautiful backdrop.
David then turned to his lover and spoke from the heart.
"Z….I know I may not have said it before, but I'm…..I'm truly happy to have met you and to have you here with me now." David said.
Zuikaku smiled and cupped David's face with her hands.
"I feel the same way Dave-san. From the moment I met you on that island, I knew there was something special about you. Little did I know at the time how special you'd become to me. Aishteru, Dave-san." Zuikaku finished before kissing her lover once more.
The two spent a little more time together on the beach before bidding each other goodnight.
Both knew of the upcoming test flight in the morning, but both also knew that it was nights like tonight that would keep them fighting for that brighter future together.
