Sakura Dormitories, the next morning.
Musashi yawned as she slowly woke up, as she gently rubbed her eyes she looked down at her bedfellows: Kaga, The Commander and Shinano lay in that order, with Kaga laying her head on the battleship's bosom, wearing only her blue underwear and using the older kitsune's tails as a blanket. Musashi quietly chuckled seeing Kaga's smile in her sleep and carefully placed a pillow under her head as she slipped out from under her, she also threw a blanket over her to make sure she wasn't disturbed.
Musashi watched over the still sleeping Commander and Shinano, as she quietly prepared for the day. Her sister was lay partway on top of the man, she'd completely wrapped him up in her tails, to the point only his head was visible just above her giant breasts. The fox woman also had her arm around his waist just under the tails. The Commander meanwhile just had one hand on Shinano's hip, with the other somewhere beneath the two of them.
As Musashi prepared a bath in the en-suite, she heard a small moan from the bed. She looked over to see the Commander stirring and yawning. He opened his eyes and sighed happily, feeling a fluffy sensation all over his body, looking down he saw his partner's tails all effectively cocooning him in a soft, warm prison. He then gasped a little seeing Shinano's huge bare melons, less than an inch from his face.
It was warm, comfortable and Shinano was very sexy pressing up to him like this; The Commander knew if he didn't work up some will power or if Shinano didn't wake up that he'd be stuck there. He was about to push some tails off him when Musashi spoke up.
"You prefer to leave my sister's embrace?" She chuckled quietly, watching him struggle a little. The Commander blushed, feeling a little guilty about wanting to leave the bed with Shinano sleep cuddling him. He scooted back so he could angle his head upwards and leave Shinano's sleeping head on his shoulder. He glanced over at a clock on the night stand, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Wow...I'm normally awake sooner than this, I guess I was more tired than I thought." The Commander admitted. Musashi smiled and kneeled on the end of the bed.
"Your life seems needlessly rushed Commander, do you schedule enough breaks for yourself?" The purple fox woman asked with a motherly tone. The Commander looked away as he thought about his reply.
"I guess not, wow...I feel so much better after...last night." The officer flushed a deeper colour remembering his night of passion, he looked down at Shinano napping on him, stroking her animal ear with a smile and gaining a quiet moan from her. "I feel like a complete moron for resisting this for so long." He added, keeping up the stroking.
"Humans are so strange, creating a social system where sating natural needs is shamed, then acting surprised when their bodies and minds are damaged by ignoring them; It would be fascinating if it wasn't so sad." Musashi mused. The Commander raised an eyebrow listening to her talk.
"What do you mean?" He asked her confused. Musashi looked back with a sultry smile, making the Commander a little nervous.
"Commander perhaps you should rethink how you view relationships while you're here in Azur Lane, as you've probably experienced already, kansen have a more... straightforward and polyamorous approach to love and intimacy compared to humans. Why do you think Akagi and Kaga were OK sharing you with us?" Musashi explained.
"Akagi usually comes off as very possessive of me, how did you convince her?" The Commander pointed out. Musashi just chuckled at him.
"Akagi and others like her are the exception, not the rule, but even she wouldn't mind you...copulating with other kansen, if it meant you were happy and healthy." Musashi replied. The Commander went wide eyed at her blunt remark and shook his head as a shudder went through his body.
"Don't just say that! Its still so weird hearing it said so causally!" The Commander hissed out, trying not to wake Shinano and Kaga. Musashi just smirked playfully, it seemed she had a hidden enjoyment for teasing others in this area despite her otherwise mature demeanour. However the smirk vanished and became a more serious frown.
"Commander, you're only one male, constantly surrounded by literally hundreds of women who want you, if you want to keep any semblance of sanity, you need to let loose more, otherwise an outburst like yesterday could happen to someone less...deserving of such anger." Musashi warned him ominously.
The Commander sighed as he realised Musashi was right about that last part. He was lucky this time it was Nico who set him off as opposed to one of the kansen, especially one of the younger ones, that wouldn't have gone down well at all. Musashi leaned over and lifted the Commander's head by cupping his chin reassuringly, looking into his melancholy eyes with a smile.
"We all know you respect us Commander, that doesn't mean you can't have fun with a willing woman occasionally, trust me it will heal your soul and calm your body if you allow your feelings to be vented in a positive way." Musashi told him with a coy wink. She then gently brushed Shinano's tails off the Commander's body, making him shiver from the lack of warmth. "My sister won't awaken for a while, so I better help you escape." She chuckled, she then helped the Commander place a pillow under Shinano's head.
"I hope she wakes up before I need to leave, I want to thank her for...last night." The Commander stated with a blush.
"From what I could hear, I think she'll want to thank you too~" Musashi teased, making the Commander yelp and flush a deeper colour. "But in all seriousness, the fact you think like that means you don't need to worry, you're such a kind soul my child." The super-battleship added. "While we wait for those two to wake up, come take a bath with me, you must have worked up a sweat last night~"
The Commander nervously laughed as Musashi skilfully dangled the night's events over him as she took him to the bathroom.
U.S.S. Dominatus.
Akagi yawned as she awoke, since she hadn't packed anything for the transfer she had simply slept in the nude, thankful for all nine tails that she'd used as a blanket, since the normal one made her itch. After she put on her kimono, she headed out her room and to the mess hall. She smiled thinking back to the other day she saved a pilot. Akagi entered the mess hall and all the crewmen cheered seeing her.
"Fuck yeah fox!"
"Damn great flying miss Nine tails!"
"Whoo foxy hero!"
Akagi laughed as she was pulled into the cheering crowd, all the crew patting her shoulders and back. She was a little uncomfortable with all the attention and blushed, but it didn't detract from her warm feelings from the crew accepting her.
"Come on boys, I uh...need to get my food haha." Akagi laughed out. The crowd released her thankfully and the line at the kitchen parted to let her go first. The head cook looked up at her and grinned.
"You need the good stuff foxy, boys break out the Commodore's chicken for everyone's favourite fox!" He yelled to the back.
"Commodore's Chicken? I uh...I don't need that...hehe." Akagi replied bashfully, rubbing the back of her head.
"Oh don't be modest, a man is alive today because of you lady, you ship-girls are OK in my book, screw what that asshole Nico says about you!" The head chef replied. "Besides he's done nothing but complain about my cooking since coming on board, he doesn't deserve it and I don't want to waste it, its the least I can do for a hero." He added as he plated the food.
"Heh heh..." Was all Akagi could say looking down at the fried chicken on her plate. After a second she picked up the tray, thanked the chef and turned to face the rest of the mess hall. As she walked around looking for somewhere to sit, a hand rested on her shoulder. Looking round she came face to face with a smiling and decorated fighter pilot.
"Its about time we met foxy, Captain 'Firelance' Casey of Falcon squadron." The airman introduced himself.
"I'm Akagi, was that your guy up there I saved?" The kitsune asked as Firelance led her to a table.
"Yep and he's damn grateful for it, he'd come thank you himself, but the medics want to keep him for observation, 'smoke inhalation' or something." The captain explained.
The two of them sat down with two other pilots, Akagi assumed they were the other members of Falcon squadron, both men looked at her but seemed to have mixed reactions. One of them instantly grinned and waved at her, while the other frowned and looked down at their food
"Second lieutenant Benjamin 'Bolt' Vincent, its such an honour to finally see you miss..." the happier of the two trailed off.
"Its Akagi, glad to make your day uh...Bolt? Sorry i'm not used to nicknames like that." The fox girl replied, not clear on how their call-signs worked.
"Yeah 'Bolt' works just fine, only the top brass call us by our real names." The Lieutenant joked. He then elbowed his frowning wingman who was still eating his food. "This is First Lieutenant John 'Ballista' Fowler, he's not much a talker, don't take it personally." Bolt added. Ballista shoved Bolt back, making him laugh before simply returning to his food.
"Who's the man I saved the other day?" Akagi asked, curious about the last man's call-sign.
"That was Second Lieutenant Max 'Madman' Keter. He really was mad for thinking that jet was safe." Firelance joked.
"We're all mad for thinking kansen are trustworthy." Ballista spoke up in a low tone. Akagi and the other two pilots looked over at him in shock as Ballista glanced up from his food. "Did you two forget about that invincible battleship that almost tore this boat in half? If she stopped a second sooner we would all be dead!" He added angrily.
"Geez Ballista, Captain Jackson said she was just scaring us off, AND she apologized to him. We weren't even damaged." Bolt pointed out.
"Oh she scared us alright, I still have nightmares about that ship, our missiles didn't even tickle her." Ballista argued.
"You didn't really expect to hurt her right? The Captain kept saying we wouldn't do anything, I'm more concerned about the Commodore getting us all killed by pissing all of those super women off. No offence Akagi." Firelance said to the fox woman.
"None taken, my Commander told us all to be careful dealing with humans because of the power difference between us and humans, although its almost like Commodore Nico WANTS us to use excessive force from how some of those PT boat crews act." Akagi explained.
The air captain narrowed his eyes at the mention of PT boats. "I did over hear one of their captains say he'd just run over one of you if he saw a kansen on the water, he and his crew then came back soaking wet, saying one of you capsized his boat just by kicking it." He and Bolt then laughed at that story and Akagi giggled a little too.
"Fuck this." Ballista just left his food on the table and walked away, much to the confusion of the other three.
"Huh, guess he wasn't hungry." Bolt stated with a shrug. Akagi was about to reply when someone yelled: "OFFICER ON DECK!" All the crew, including Akagi then stood to attention, then her mood darkened upon hearing Nico's smug tone.
"At ease." He simply called out, and everyone sat back down. Nico looked around with a neutral expression until he saw Akagi, eating HIS chicken. "Oh you bitch..." He muttered as he stalked over to her table. The rest of the mess hall was slowly becoming aware of what the Commodore had seen, and then fascinated by the potential conflict between their highest ranking CO and their local kansen.
Akagi pretended to not notice Nico as she polished off the chicken, despite her seat facing the direction Nico was walking from. Once he was standing over her, she finally looked up while sucking on her finger.
"Can I help you Commodore~?" The kitsune asked in a sickly sweet voice.
"That...was MY meal fox, just what do you think you're doing?" Nico asked in a low tone. Captain Firelance and Bolt both shifted away from the pair, fearing an altercation between the two. Akagi just smiled and stood up.
"Why are you surprised I stole your chicken? I am part fox remember?" Akagi teased with a smirk. The crew all went wide eyed at Akagi's comment, pretty much everyone had 'oh no she didn't!' faces.
The Commodore just sighed in irritation. "Just...come down to the lab, I'll deal with your bullshit later." He ordered. Akagi shrugged and walked out the mess hall with Nico and some guards. He knew Akagi couldn't really be punished, since the normal means to do so wouldn't work on her. So he just threw out the idea of doing so while he led her through the ship.
"You're probably wondering why I even wanted a kansen on board, aren't you fox?" Nico asked the kitsune. Akagi's smile faded as she frowned in annoyance.
"My name is Akagi." She corrected in a clipped tone, while she knew the crew called her that out of endearment, she wasn't going to let Nico tarnish that word as an insult.
"Whatever, I know Captain Jackson has most likely blabbed about this already, but I assume you know about Project: 'Water pounder' right?" Nico told her. Akagi was already suspicious of why the Commodore wanted her, but hearing it had something to do with that project dialled up her concern to eleven. Putting her best confused face she asked:
"Water pounder? What's that?" The fox woman asked, trying to act like she hadn't heard of it. Nico looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"Huh, guess he does know when to keep his mouth shut." Nico stated, impressed. Akagi smiled internally seeing Nico fall for her ruse. "You'll see it in action soon enough, for now however we need your help with some...calibrations." The Commodore told her. Before Akagi could ask what that meant he then declared: "Ah we're here."
Nico led her to a reinforced double door with a code lock. He was about to enter the code before looking over his shoulder at a curious Akagi.
"Do you mind?" He asked her expectantly. The fox woman frowned but turned away as Nico punched in the code for the door. The console beeped in acceptance and the door hissed as it opened. Inside was a large room, covered in laboratory equipment and machine parts. Scientists walked around in the middle of various tasks, using clipboards and computers to do God knows what.
In the middle of the room was what looked like a black wet suit on a metal stand, looking closer Akagi realised the stand was actually an exoskeleton attached to the back of the suit. A young scientist next to the suit was using a computer screen next to it, working with a code running across it.
"Professor Cameron, tell me you have good news." Nico told him. The scientist wheeled around, a little flustered by Nico's arrival and floundered into a salute position.
"Uh...yes sir! The power issues have been corrected, we should be ready for trials by tomorrow!" The professor replied. Cameron then got a surprised look on his face seeing Akagi and gasped. "A kansen?! Here?! Oh my god I've always wanted to see one up close!" He yelled running up to the kitsune.
Nico sighed watching the scientist dance around the fox woman, Akagi herself was just confused and slightly uncomfortable with this man looking over her like an experiment. He grabbed of her arms and eyed her bicep. "Incredibly physical strength, yet muscle mass is irrelevant." Then he cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Your eyes look normal, but is it true you have telescopic vision?"
Before he could do or say anything more, Akagi shoved him away with a look of irritation. "Stop it." She commanded in a dangerous tone. The professor immediately held his hands up in surrender, but still smiled kindly.
"My apologises miss fox, I got carried away. Its just...I've read the reports but...to see one of you like this is...well amazing!" Cameron admitted a little breathlessly. He then looked over at Nico's annoyed face and Akagi noticed he deflated somewhat. "Sir...do we really need to do this? We don't even know if will work." The scientist then told Nico.
The Commodore furrowed his brow before pointing at Cameron. "We literally pay you to find that fact out egghead! Now get on with it!" He ordered harshly. The professor sighed and went over to a nearby console. Nico nodded to his guards and they stepped away from Akagi, who was looking around with some puzzlement. She then looked above her, seeing mechanical arms whirred into life as Cameron operated the console.
"What's going on...what are you doing?!" The kitsune yelled watching the arms move towards her. Cameron looked up from the console at her and sighed sadly. "Its ready sir...on your go." He announced regretfully. Akagi's face went as white as a sheet, and her eyes as wide as moons, watching black electricity arc between the two robot arms on the ceiling. "It can't be...no...NO!"
She had just turned around to run back through the door as Nico yelled: "Do it!"
The arms suddenly fired bolts of black lightning at Akagi, she couldn't even scream as the electricity coursed through her muscles, causing them to spasm out of her control in agony, knocking her to the ground. Her body kept jerking and shaking as the lightning was poured over her, finally, and one could say mercifully, Akagi passed out from the pain.
One of the guards gave Nico a thumbs up and the Commodore made a cutting motion across his neck to Cameron; Who quickly shut off the arms.
"Finally, something that actually works against these ship bitches." Nico declared with a chuckle. He then turned to his guards and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. "Get her on the table, the nerds are gonna want her secured before they play around with her." He ordered grinning at Cameron. The scientist sighed as he walked away from the console to prepare.
The double doors closed behind them as the guards carried an unconscious Akagi deeper into the lab.