In the waters of Tokyo Bay, two hulls sat. Two massive spires reached towards the heavens as the flag of Imperial Japan wove high and proud. However, the sight on the deck below was anything but proud.
One one ship, knelt on the bow and chained to the deck by her arms and legs, sat a beautiful black haired woman with long black flowing tails. Her body, while being the picture of beauty and sensuality, was covered from head to toe in bruises of varying intensity. Black eyes and a bruised collarbone marred her beautiful face. Her clothing, consisting of a traditional black and red kimono, was tied at the waist by a thick red rope that held up the scabbard of a singular kitana. Her legs were adorned with torn fishnet leggings that led all the way down to her black painted traditional Geta sandals. Her long black hair was matted, seemingly from being unwashed and left to face the elements, but one simple bath would turn the black matted mess into gorgeous black hair that rivaled the night sky in its darkness and purity. On her head, tilted off to the side was a white and red fox mask, complete with teeth in the snout and adorned with spider lilies. Her eyes, while being a beautiful deep crimson, were glazed over and staring out into the endless ocean. Beneath her, her vessel sat. A large battleship hull with countless guns and radar arrays, paled only in comparison to the three triple-barreled eighteen inch gun batteries that commanded her image. The bow of the vessel had small white markings.
"大和 " The markings read. A simple translation would show that the symbols spelled Yamato.
Next to her, several rows down in the docks, sat a similar ship of similar size and armament. Chained to its deck by her arms and neck, was another Kitsune, her fur the color of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Her face was soft and her cheeks rosy red. Aside from the multiple cuts and open wounds, she was the definition of elegance. Bruises, all fresh and extremely dark, covered her arms and legs. She was clothed in a traditional shrine maiden outfit that consisted of long white robes, stained with blood from the cuts and other various wounds, and a long red dress underneath. Tying the robes were long red ropes that entangled a small golden globe that reflected the light of the sun. On her hip, held up by the ropes, were two full length katana scabbards, the lack of wear indicating that they were hardly used, yet the blades were still missing. Adorning the left side of her head as a mask of a fox face painted pink and white, complete with teeth in the maw and pink spider lilies. Her golden eyes had been marred by a sense of hopelessness and did not hold even a shimmer of hope. As her sister ship next to her, the vessel beneath the pink haired priestess was adorned on the bow with a small white marking.
"武蔵" The markings read. A simple translation would show that the symbols spelled Musashi.
Running about the deck of the Musashi and Yamato were many members of the Wolfpack that once served Observer Zero, a Siren known to beat anyone who disobeyed her rule, something that these men and women adopted as well.
"Musashi. Get up. We just received word from Tester and we need to mobilize to help loosen up Apollyon's assault." One of the Wolfpack members spoke.
Musashi hesitated for a moment, earning her a boot to her stomach.
"Did you hear me, bitch?! Get up and move, before we make you move." The man yelled as several other members of the Wolfpack on the Musashi crowded around the kitsune.
Another moment of hesitation, filled with pain and the clutching of her stomach, led to the surrounding Wolfpack beginning to kick and beat Musashi for her hesitance. Her sharp cries filled the air as she fought with every fiber of her being to keep from passing out.
"What is going on?" Yamato asked, earning herself a slap on the face from the man standing next to her.
"Speak when spoken to, bitch." The man said.
"What is going on over there?" Yamato asked, earning herself another slap to the face.
"A glutton for pain, huh? Fine. Your sister received orders to head south for the Philippines to aid lady Tester against Apollyon. And based on her cries, she didn't comply." The man spoke.
"Let me go instead. My sister… She's not ready for battle. Let me fight in her place. Please. I'll do anything you want, just stop the beating." Yamato begged, her red eyes still deadpanned but looking as willing as possible.
The man huffed.
"Fine. If you're ready to die so quickly, then I won't stop you. Just know, that the moment you disobey or try to resist orders of any kind, I will order the men back here to beat your sister within an inch of her life. And that means ANY order I give, or any of the men on this oversized bomb magnet." The man said as he grabbed Yamato's hair and pulled her to her feet.
"Oi, quit kicking the shrine girl. Yamato has volunteered herself for the suicide mission." The man spoke over the radio. Shortly after, after a few more cries from the pink kitsune, the beating stopped, leaving Musashi bloody and her robes dirty with the soot from the boots of her attackers.
Tears fell down Yamato's cheek as she looked at the man who held her hair in his hand.
"Thank you... Sir." Yamato spoke as the man began to grin a wicked grin.
"That sounds good. The pain. The respect. You better call me sir from now on." The man spoke as he released the Kitsune in his grip.
"Weigh anchor and get this rust bucket moving, bitch." The man spoke.
"Yes… sir." Yamato replied as the ship underneath her shuddered a bit as the engines roared to life.
"Find her. We leave no man behind." Isaac spoke.
"Understood." Odin replied as she turned to Enterprise, who had turned to head for the fleet, joined in tow by Wilhelm, Stefan and their respective teams, along with Bismarck.
"Enterprise." Odin called out.
"Ma'am." Enterprise spoke as she turned, her tear-stained face looking down at her sister's bloody cubes.
"You have located Vestal, no?" Odin asked.
"I have. She's crying…" Enterprise spoke.
"Can you collect her and return her to the fleet? I have to help get Roon back." Odin said.
"I...I will bring her home, Vice Commander." Enterprise said as she headed away from the group.
"Stefan." Odin called out.
Stefan turned to face Odin.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Stefan spoke.
"Odin. Vice Commander of Azur Lane." Odin replied.
"What can I do for you, Odin?" Stefan asked.
"We have just begun our invasion, and cannot spare the troops to escort Enterprise and Vestal. Please use your forces to help escort them safely through the area." Odin requested.
"I understand. Come along men. We will escort the white haired one." Stefan said as he shouldered his rifle.
On the beach, Vestal continued to cry with her face buried in the sand, Her cries of sorrow drowned out only by the sound of the waves lapping at the shore.
"I'm sorry… Miss Enterprise." Vestal cried again as a soft hand graced her shoulder. Vestal refused to move the moment she caught sight of long white hair out of the corner of her eye.
"Vestal." Enterprise spoke softly.
Silence.
"Vestal… please answer me… I don't want to lose you too." Enterprise spoke as she knelt next to the repair ship.
"I killed her. I'm the one that shot and killed Hornet." Vestal admitted, ready to face any punishment.
"I know. Odin confirmed what I already believed. You hardly left my side during the war… I wouldn't expect you to leave me out to dry now." Enterprise spoke softly as she pulled the repair ship into her arms.
"But… you watched her die once… and now… because of me… You had to endure that pain again." Vestal whimpered as Enterprise slowly removed the hat from Vestal's head before ruffling her pink hair.
"And this time, there's a good chance she will return better than before, thanks to you. You took the shot and took down the enemy. That was what was needed. I couldn't kill her, but you were able to give her the relief she needed. I saw it in her eyes as she passed… she saw me, once that cube was broken, and I swear she had a smile seeing that I was okay. You didn't kill her. You saved her, Vestal… You have my thanks… for doing what I could not." Enterprise said as Vestal looked into Enterprise's eyes. Seeing the soft purple of her senior's eyes filled Vestal with a warmth not unlike that of a mother and her child.
Vestal began to cry once more, but her tears were dried quickly by Enterprise, who put the repair ship on her back and carried her back towards the fleet.
"Where is your rifle?" Enterprise asked.
"I… I no longer wish to need it. Harming my friends… for the sake of saving others… is a reality I do not wish to live in anymore. So I gave up my rifle… and threw it to the sea." Vestal admitted as she and Enterprise looked into the sky, seeing the midday sun illuminating the path ahead.
"Hopefully that day comes, Vestal. Hopefully that day comes." Enterprise spoke as they took to the waves.