Yokosuka.
"Say, where's Chokai?" asked Ashigara. "Shouldn't she be here by now?"
As if on cue, the spectacled cruiser appeared and sat face down next to Ashigara and Haguro.
"Um, hi, Chokai. What's up?" asked Haguro. At Chokai's shrug, she continued. "Atago and Maya at each other's throats again?"
All Chokai could do was twitch her head.
"If you want, you can spend the night with us again." said Ashigara, patting Chokai's head.
"Yeah, a night away from the bickering should put that smile back on your face." said Haguro.
Chokai abruptly sat up and stared at the two of them with bloodshot eyes. "Think I should boil them in machine oil? Or would that be too painless?"
Haguro blinked. "Okay, maybe a couple of nights."
"This is getting ridiculous." said Ashigara.
"We'd better call in the heavy artillery." replied Haguro as she tried to soothe Chokai.
Later...
"Well? I'm waiting." said Takao, glaring.
"Uh, for what, sis?" asked Maya nervously.
"For starters, why the two of you are only capable of shouting out your disagreements instead of working them out like civilized adults, and why you both feel the need to drag Chokai into them."
Atago and Maya glanced at each other for a moment before the accusations flew.
"She started it, Onee-san!"
"No, it was her!"
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
Takao rolled her eyes as her siblings turned on each other once again. Before she could step in, however, Chokai beat her to it.
"QUIET!" yelled Chokai, causing her sisters to jump back in surprise. "What the Hell is wrong with you two? All either of you do anymore is fight, fight, fight. Nothing else. Day in, day out, the two of you are arguing over the stupidest of things. "Who's better on a bike." Who's better at cooking." NO ONE CARES. You two are sisters for God sake's." she paused, tears beginning to form. "I know my Atago-nee and Maya-nee. They were as close as sisters could be, even in our past lives. Yes, they teased each other, and they argued, but never like this. The two of you might look like them, and sound like them, but you are not them." Atago and Maya went from shocked to hurt, but Chokai continued. "Over the last few months," she said in a low voice. "I watched the two of you, hoping to find some trace of my sisters in either of you, but now I see I was deluding myself. I want my sister's back, and I want the two of you to go back to whatever pit we summoned you from!"
Chokai ran out of the room, quickly followed by Takao, leaving Atago and Maya alone.
The next day...
"How is she?" asked Myoko as she sat down next to her wife and sister-in-law.
"Sleeping, thankfully." said Takao. "Is everything alright?"
"Atago and Maya are outside. If you want, me and Nachi can tell them to leave-,"
"No, I'll talk to them. Just, could you and Nachi stay with her till I get back?"
"Of course."
Takao headed for the door, and it opened to reveal Atago and Maya on the porch. They looked miserable.
"How is she?"
"Is she okay?'
"She's sleeping, and I don't want anyone disturbing her." said Takao, with more of an edge to her voice than she really wanted. Her sister's flinched as if she'd struck them. "Sorry. Look, Atago, Maya, I know the two of you are sorry, but, honestly, I don't think sorry is gonna cut it this time. Chokai brought up a good point yesterday, the two of you never were like this, and I have no idea what the hell happened. From the looks you two are giving me, I guess neither of you do, either."
All her sisters could do was shake their heads in sadness.
"Girls, this has to stop, for good. No more "who's better" or "who's this or that"."
"But, how?" asked Atago.
"Akashi recommended a counselor to me the other day, and I want the two of you to go see her."
"But," began Atago.
"Are you sure," said Maya.
"Yes. Girls, please, if you won't do it for yourselves, do it for Chokai."
The next day..
Atago and Maya looked from the door to each other.
"So, this is it." said Maya.
"Yes, it is."
"For Chokai?"
"For Chokai." said Atago, as she opened the door.
