6652. When you go in for a refit, there is no black magic involved.
Yokosuka.
"Is your sister ever on time?" asked Tosa irritably.
"Only for meals." sighed Amagi(BC). "But this is late even by her standards."
"Where could she be?" wondered Atago(BC).
The three Kanmusu were sitting in the docks, waiting for Akashi to return. The four had been summoned with their 1920's era equipment, relegating them to second line duties until a week ago, when the operations had slowed enough to allow the four to go in for a refit.
"I'm here, and I'm ready for the refit." a cheerful voice announced, and all eyes turned to the youngest battlecruiser. Takao(BC) waltzed up to the docks, her robe covered with crosses, rosary beads, and talismans.
"What's with the get-up?" asked Akashi.
"It's to protect me from the black magic."
"Black magic?" Amagi echoed.
"Yes, Tokiwa was telling me all about how Akashi signs deals with the devil in order to carry out refits, so I came prepared." said Takao.
"I swear, I'm gonna weld that cruiser's mouth shut." muttered Akashi. "Takao, tell me something. You've seen my office, right?"
"Yes."
"And the docks? And the storeroom , and the infirmary, right?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Did you, at any point, see anything at all related to devil worshipping?"
"No." said the battlecruiser, realization dawning. "You mean Tokiwa was just-"
"Spouting complete nonsense as usual? Yes." said Akashi. "Now that that's settled, take that bloody robe off, get in the dock, and take this glass of water."
As Takao sat down in her dock, she continued. "That last bit goes for all of you."
The four capital ships complied, and after downing the glass, Amagi noticed two small paper bags in Akashi's hands. "Akashi, what are those?"
"A couple sandwiches for me and Haruna. I'm about to have my lunch break in twenty seconds."
"Twenty seconds?' asked Tosa. 'How? You haven't given us the sedative yet."
"Course I did. It was in the water you all just drank."
As if on cue, all four Kanmusu suddenly slumped back in their docks. After checking to make sure there weren't any reactions, she gave the fairies the go-ahead to start the refits, and turned her attention to Haruna.
"That Tokiwa is certainly something." remarked Haruna from the opposite docks.
"Crazy, paranoid, and cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs is more like it." said Akashi as she handed the battleship her lunch. "Still, might as well send Ooyodo an email to put it on the list. With my luck, she's probably told all the destroyers about my pacts with the devil."
"Probably a good idea."
"Anyways, are the new propellers working?"
"Oh, they're great. Much better than my old set."
"Good. So, how are the kids?"
"The usual. The four of them are working on a project for the science fair."
"Ooh, tell me more."
