These are Their Stories - The Fox

by anrandomcitizen

Behind every shipgirl is a real story. Hiroto Tsuyoshi is the son of Sakura royalty. His father is murdered at a young age leaving him to be raised by The Emperor. He would obtain his Academy training and become commander where he would be assigned to the Atago. Her flirtatious nature too much for him to handle at first, eventaully he warms up to her love. These are their stories.

10. Epilogue

This is a work of fiction that follows a shipgirl finding herself in the world. This does not seek to promote anything about war or religion and is just a what if kind of scenario. Any similarity between people, living or dead, are purely coincidental. This is what happens after her story. Yes the perspectives change on purpose.

---

A gentle breeze flows through her long draping raven hair as the sounds of waves crashing against the sides of a steel hull echo into the early morning air. Her own hair was slightly slick thanks to the morning dew which had been accumulating around the ship since she first awoke a few hours before the sun rose. The raven-haired girl flicks her canine-like ears around in the wind as she tries to avoid the wind whipping into her sensitive ears. It blew hard as she stood on top of her second turret, overlooking the bow and staring deeply out into the sea beyond. It was almost like she had been stuck in a trance, a long and beautiful dream of endlessly blue oceans and amazing adventures.

She spreads out her arms and takes in a deep breath of fresh morning air before letting out a longing sigh.

"If only you were here to see it…"

The girl says with melancholy traced along her voice. A memory, a faint and unfaltering past springs to life of a person she once knew. Someone she once loved.

The door to the bridge opens behind her without any force acting upon it, a common trait to these frequent nightmares she had been having. But this time a man whose silhouette was blocked out by the sun stood before her looking down below.

The raven-haired canine tries to call out to him but as if her mouth had been glued shut, she cannot find the words to reach out.

An alarm beeps somewhere deep within the ship, alerting that a possible attack is imminent. But both of them just stand there and stare at each other. The man opens his mouth to speak-

---

"A..o"

" .o"

"Atago!"

"ATAGO!"

The black-haired beauty slowly comes to as she hears her name called out over and over again, each time with increasing strength and desperation. She flutters her beautiful golden eyes open one at a time, cringing at the amount of light that was bleeding into the bland room from the window.

"Atago wake up! We're going to be late!"

A beautiful woman stands over me, draping her long raven hair over my shoulder as I wake up slowly to the sounds of her beautiful voice.

"Ashigara, please just… five more minutes…" I complain aloud to my sister.

She gives me a harsh stare as she strips me of my warm and fuzzy blanket. I groan in despair as a wave of cold air washes over every inch of my exposed skin. Ashigara laughs as she enjoys seeing her older sister in a moment of weakness, contrary to my usual motherly type affection.

"Come on Atago, the United States Admiral is going to be there." Ashigara pleads with me.

"So?" I ask with a moan attached to the end.

"There'll be cute commanders there~" She says with a tease.

She hit my weak point. I lazily get out of bed, turning so that my feet would hit the floor before standing up. Perhaps a little too quickly as a bout of dizziness begins to affect me.

'Huh… that's strange… I've never had that happen before…' I say to myself, shrugging off the strange event as just a lack of sleep.

Ashigara hands me my uniform, a tightly fitted white dress uniform with my ship type, rank, and achievements all proudly stuck to the chest. On a gold bar just above the achievements is my name "Atago", named after the ship that had come before which was sunk in the battle of Leyte Gulf. I try not to think about that person who had come before me as I take a look at myself in the mirror.

My hair is a mess, every strand standing in a different direction like I had been struck by a lightning bolt. I had forgotten to remove my makeup before falling asleep the night before and now, on top of there being an imprint within my pillow of eyeliner, I look like I had just cried my eyes out for hours on end. I quickly fix both of these issues before moving on to my teeth.

Ashigara stands impatiently by the door, tapping her foot to the sound of a tune I faintly recognize. My sister is dressed in all whites just as I was. Head to toe, it was obvious to tell she was an Atago class just by her body. She was almost identical to me, if it weren't for the mole underneath my right eye no one would be able to tell us apart.

I sigh as I finish applying the last of my eyeliner before grabbing my bag and heading towards the door.

"Took you long enough" My sister teases.

I roll my eyes at her. "Like you haven't been the reason for us being late before?"

We both look at each other with a smile plastered across our faces before bursting into laughter. We step out of the room and close the door behind us, locking it before we go.

Ashigara walks ahead of me with a pep in her step, it wasn't often that Union commanders visited the port. The flirtatious young woman hasn't had a commander for years and it's begun to take a toll on her mental health. Ships made for a single purpose. That is what we are.

I clench my head as a quick burst of pain shoots through it.

I watch as up ahead a crowd of commanders and Kansen gather around the entrance to the auditorium. Foreigners from far and wide file in through the large doors with just as exotic-looking Kansen, speaking an entirely different language than the one I had grown accustomed to. I recognize some of my friends as they walk in, standing next to their own commanders and chatting the day away. A ping of sorrow strikes again within my head, a sorrow so powerful the pain causes me to stagger.

"God I hate headaches." I say aloud to no one but myself.

Ashigara turns around just as we approach the crowd, joining the flow and making our way inside. "Did you say something, Atago?" She says curiously, putting a finger to her chin.

I shake my head. "No, I didn't say a word dear sister~" I lie. "Maybe it was your 'Boyfriend' you keep bringing up." I say teasingly, causing my sister to blush beet red.

"H-he just works at a different base. He told me he couldn't be here today." She stampers at me.

I knew it was a lie she made up months ago just to save face in front of her ex but I find myself unable to stop teasing her about it.

"Mmmhmmm~ I still have to meet this elusive boyfriend of yours, I can't imagine how having a commander and a boyfriend at the same time would affect your relationship~" I tease, glancing her over with my piercing golden eyes.

"L-let's get going, all the good commanders may be gone by now." She changes the subject quickly.

I giggle at my flustered sister as I head inside, a black-haired figure briefly filling my memories.

Today is the most important day of the year here on base. Perhaps the entire week could be considered as such. This week is the annual spring coalition exercise between all participating members of the Azur Lane. Kansen from all over the planet attend each and every year to test their strength against member nations. It's a good opportunity to display the capabilities of Kansen and their commanders in a world where we rarely get the chance to do so.

I turn back just before entering the building to see a German Commander speaking to a Kansen from the United States as they sit on a bench overlooking the harbor. The Kansen has her head leaned against him as the commander wraps his arm around her. Together, they peacefully watch as dozens of ships begin docking into the harbor. A warm feeling fills my chest as I imagine what it would be like to have someone like that to share each moment with.

Ashigara quickly snaps me out of my trance by grabbing my hand, dragging me inside of the venue; eliciting a small squeak of surprise from me.

The auditorium is filled with thousands of seats, each decorated in a blue veil to symbolize the united Azur Lane's banner. A grand stage takes up most of the room, standing proudly among the seats like a glistening jewel. Each section of the auditorium has a different banner on the wall behind the seats indicating which faction they belonged to. Each year, there seem to be even more banners as the amount of participating factions increases through the passage of time.

Ashigara and I find the Sakura Empire banner and sit as close to the front as possible. The closer we sit to center stage, the more of a chance a commander may take a fancy to one of us.

Ashigara seems to be far more excited about today's festivities than I am. Once you've done these exercises a few times you're kinda over it. But I wasn't going to rain on my sister's parade. As more Kansen and commanders arrive, the lights begin to dim in the same manner they might at a theatre. As the audience around us turns into a black blur of silhouettes, the center stage lights up brightly.

A small red-haired Kansen steps out onto the stage with a brilliant smile plastered across her face. She walks up to the mic and gives it a couple of taps to ascertain the current condition of the microphone. She picks the corded microphone up off the pod which holds it and begins to speak very loudly into it.

"Gooood morning everyone~!" She shouts into it. A moan of discomfort seems to resonate through all of the Eagle Union section. "I'd like to welcome you all to the 78th annual Azur Lane-"

I don't hear what she says next as my sister begins whispering into my ear. "Hey hey, I'm going to take off with this commander who's been making eyes at me since we sat down." She says as she begins to get up out of her seat.

I give her a devilish smile as I smack her butt playfully, causing the missile cruiser to yelp quietly in embarrassment. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do~" I tell her, lacing my words with a seductive tease.

"That's not saying much sister, I'll be back later~ Don't do anything fun without me!" She says before taking off.

I watch as my sister makes her way down the aisle, picking up a commander from out of the crowd before proceeding out the doors.

"That girl… She reminds me too much of myself." I say quietly.

"And let's give a round of applause to the Sakura Empire for allowing us to use their home port as this year's festival grounds~!" The red-haired Kansen states happily. A small round of clapping follows as the Sakura commanders bow to the rest of the venue.

I cross my legs as I sit, resting a hand on my head as I watch with increasing disinterest at the scene before me.

My mind begins to wander to the dream I had the night before. It felt so… familiar. Yet when I try to think about it all I can remember is the ocean. The sounds of the waves crashing against a hull that did not feel like mine. The wind whips through my raven hair as I stand proudly upon a turret. A person, a nameless face to haunt my nightmares. My mind wants so badly to remember their face. To remember their name.

"Hello there beautiful." A deep and commanding voice comes up beside me.

A tall and masculine commander from the Royal Navy approaches me with a kind smile plastered across his face. "Do you mind if I sit here?" He asks.

Something within me screams not to pick up on his offer, but against my better judgment I ignore it and shake my head. "Be my guest~"

The Royal Navy commander dips his head before sitting in the chair my sister had left open.

"Name's Ast, Ast Ceriuon. What's yours?" He asks as we both continue to ignore the idol-like girl on stage.

"Atago." I state, swallowing the rest of my usual introduction. An action which surprises even myself.

"Atago, what a pretty name. Named after the mountain I assume?"

"The one and only~" I giggle. "I'm impressed you knew there was even a mountain named Atago."

"Oh I only know what I've heard from other shipgirls. But something tells me you aren't like those other girls." He says heartily.

I roll my eyes. It wasn't the best attempt I've heard shot my way, but it wasn't the worst either. Although I certainly didn't want to be stuck in two conversations I couldn't care less about so I humor him. "Your accent is very thick, where are you from? Obviously other than Great Britain."

He chuckles. "Manchester, it hasn't changed all that much in my time oversees stateside though. Glad to hear I've kept the accent at least."

I nod my head in agreement. Finally, the red-haired idol girl seems to be moving off of stage. In her place appears a very old-looking officer of rank. Though I am unable to tell what rank based on appearances alone, he seems to carry himself gently compared to older admirals at least.

He speaks in fluent English, obviously a United States officer.

"Kansen and commanders. It is with great joy that I welcome you here today on the anniversary of the foundation of the Azur Lane. I am also pleased to welcome such legends as the battleship New Jersey-"

The crowd erupts into applause as someone from the crowd stands and bows.

"The Light Cruiser Belfast." Once again, a person stands and the crowd erupts into applause.

"And all others that have left us before their time."

A silence hangs within the room. All ranks and Kansen honor a moment of silence to those who had fallen before us. The pain in my head returns much stronger this time, as if someone had taken a baseball bat and beaten it. I gasp in pain as I hold my forehead in the palm of my hand. Gritting my teeth through the pain, Ast looks to me worriedly.

"Uhm are you alright?" He asks.

I suffer through the pain a moment longer before the burning memory is gone just as quickly as it arrived. I shake my head clear of the pain and nod to him just as the moment of silence ends.

I look up to see the older man's eyes staring directly at me from on top of the stage. A small glimpse of recognition flashes through his eyes as he speaks into the microphone.

"I know you all are ready to begin the festivities so I won't speak for any longer than I'm paid to." He jokes, arising a chuckle from most of the crowd. "I have been alive for longer than most of you and I have seen firsthand just what kind of power we have here today. Kansen are this world's most powerful weapon, but they are not simply just that. They are people. They have feelings and emotions and desires. They are just as human as we are, and in some cases even more so. I witnessed the death of the love of my life as she sank beneath the waves. In that moment, I realized that there was nothing separating humans from these beautiful women other than the steel they control. If I could feel that grief, then I knew they must too."

The man looks directly into my eyes once more, my once nonchalant attitude now pointed directly at the man on stage as he speaks into the microphone.

"And I know many of you have inseparable bonds that even the mightiest of wars could not shake." He pauses. "So I want each and every one of you to enjoy these few weeks to the fullest. You never know when they might just be your last." He says, bowing his head. "I believe the Vice Admiral of the Sakura Empire wished to speak next, so I will hand you off to him." He says, walking away as the crowd gives him a polite clap.

As the man disappears from view, my head bursts out in excruciating pain. I grunt in agony as I clench my head to the palm of my hand. Ast next to me seems confused as he decides to get out of his chair and walk away without a word said.

As the pain subsides, I take the opportunity to excuse myself to the bathroom as the clapping of the auditorium comes to a zenith.

I burst into the women's bathroom a disheveled mess. I had undone my top two uniform buttons in an attempt to help get more air to my lungs as my breathing quickened in panic. I stand over the sink, letting it run for a moment until the water is just right. I splash the ice-cold tap water onto my face, washing off the weaker parts of my makeup in the process.

I look at myself in the mirror, my makeup running down my face and dripping foundation and eyeliner into the sink. My uniform all out of sorts and the exhausted expression nailed to my face was enough to tell a story. But it's a story I can't remember.

Why can't I remember?

The pain in my head returns, each time with increasing agony. I grasp my head and grit my teeth at the sharp pain.

"What is happening to me?!" I exclaim into the bathroom. The echo of the question bounces across the tiled walls until it eventually makes it back to me.

I take a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh as I stare down at the sink where my makeup continues to run off into. I splash my face once more with the ice-cold water and watch as the last remnants of my makeup flow swiftly down the drain.

I stare once again into the mirror and smile. "Still a pretty face~" I tease myself.

Maybe all I need is fresh air, it's not uncommon for Kansen to get headaches after all. At least that's what I tell myself.

I turn off the faucet and fix a strand of my hair in the mirror, nodding to myself as I prepare to head out of the auditorium.

As I exit the building I take a deep breath of fresh air and my senses immediately calm themselves. Even my mind takes a moment on this glorious spring day to relax itself. I look out over the port as I observe my surroundings. A calm had washed over the port in the time Ashigara and I had gone inside and now. It's peaceful.

The scene from my dreams once again pounds itself into my mind, the ocean and the tide. Somewhere in the Pacific. The fresh salty breeze upon the endless expanse of the ocean. The feel of the wind flowing through my hair.

As the scene comes back to me so does the pain. I lean against the stone partition resting against the stairs, trying to keep myself from collapsing to the pain. I attempt to walk down the steps but find myself in increasingly more pain with every step I take. I finally reach the last step and collapse to the ground, leaning my back against the stone partition as my heartbeat begins to increase rapidly. Sweat begins to form above my brow as it feels the entire world is coming down on top of me. My breathing picks up again, taking short bursts of breath as panic begins to course through my body.

This was not just a normal headache.

"Atago! Are you okay!?" A familiar voice reaches out to me, the voice of my sister as she rushes to my side. I can't process anything while my heart is racing and my head is throbbing but as I look up to my sister I see someone different in her. Similar, but not identical. As I focus on that person I find myself calming down. My heart rate begins decreasing and my breathing slowly begins to return to normal. I blink a few times to rid my eyes of the blurry image they were giving me and suddenly the color returns to the world. Out of breath and with a lingering headache, I look towards my sister.

"H-hey Ashigara." Is the only thing I manage to say as I force a smile.

"Hey yourself hot stuff. Are you alright? You looked like you were having a panic attack there." She says, her worried expression enough to know I must have been in quite the state.

"Yeah… Yeah… I'm fine…" I say completely out of breath. Even my dense sister wouldn't be able to ignore the fact that I am obviously not fine.

"Obviously not, you're sitting on the steps of the auditorium completely out of breath and on the brink of consciousness!" She exclaims, offering a hand for me to take.

I carefully take her delicate hand as she helps me off the ground. A faint dizziness impacts my ability to stand on my feet for a fraction of a moment.

"We're taking you to see Akashi." She says harshly. I groan in defiance.

"Sissster I'm fiiinee. Just a little lightheaded. That's all." I say to her.

Ashigara harumphs and gives me a glance over. Tightening up my collar and buttoning up my uniform. Before giving me one more glance over. She sighs in defeat.

"Fine. But go right back to the dorm, you're obviously not well." She says as a command.

This time it's my turn to sigh in defeat. "Alright alright, you win. I'll see you back at the dorm… And thank you, Ashigara." I say, a genuine smile crawling to my face.

Ashigara sighs and chuckles beneath her breath. She smiles towards her big sister as I begin to walk off. "See you later, Atago."

---

The smell of cherry blossoms on the spring winds fills my senses as I walk along the lonely path back to our dorm. Blossoms fall all around me and I try with great care not to crush them underfoot as I walk along the blossom-laid path. As I walk, my mind drifts towards the person who I had seen in my dream. Sometimes I think I can hear a voice. Other times I most certainly cannot. But I have never seen them in anything but silhouette.

A hull I faintly recognize cuts across the ocean towards a small island in the Pacific. An operation is about to commence. But what operation? And why can't I remember it? And if it was an operation, why am I at the helm of another's hull?

Completely lost in thought, I cannot see the path before me as I accidentally run into someone while my eyes are focused on the ground.

Surprised by the contact, I slip and fall on my ass which causes a small pain to shoot through my body. But with my headache, the pain is negligible. The man I ran into on the other hand doesn't seem to be affected as he offers his hand to me, an offer which I gladly take.

For a moment as I lay on the ground, the man remains in silhouette which causes my face to brighten considerably as I feel myself unable to contain the word that spews forth from my mouth.

"Comma-" I am cut short as the man finally comes into light. He's just smaller than I and nearing his deathbed by the looks of it. Whatever I was shouting dies in my mouth as he smiles up to me.

"No one's called me that in a long time…" He says in English, causing me to blush profusely and bow my head deeply in reverence.

"V-vice Admiral! I-I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking!" I say in a panic.

The old man laughs. "I assure you you're quite alright dear. Where are you off to in such a daze?" He asks kindly. This was the same old man who had been up on stage just moments earlier. The one I had not caught the name of.

I rub the back of my neck shyly as I speak. "I haven't been feeling well so I thought going back and resting a little bit might do me some good." I say truthfully.

The Eagle Union man's eyes light up with recognition.

"Headaches? Intolerable pain? Shortness of breath and increased heart rate?" He asks.

I stand silently for a moment, too shocked to utter a word to the wiser man. "Y-yeah..? How did you know?" I ask.

"I saw you from the stage. You looked like you were in distress." He says sagely, looking to me without peeling his gaze. I let out a long and shaky sigh as I wipe welling tears away from my eyes.

The admiral gives me a pat on the shoulder.

"Come. Why don't we sit down for a second." He says kindly, guiding me to a nearby bench underneath a cherry tree. The amount of sunlight hitting the bench is perfect for relaxing on, letting the sun's warmth absorb on my skin like a warm blanket.

"Have you been having dreams lately? Recurring ones that seem like they should be important?" The Vice-Admiral asks of me.

I sit in silent shock, the feeling of a massive weight being lifted off my chest as I break down to him.

"I-I…" I say through the tears welling in my eyes again. "I can see myself on a hull different from my own… standing on a turret and looking out towards the ocean. I can feel the breeze so clearly and smell the salt of the ocean as I rush through it en route to my destination… I'm holding a sword, one I've never seen before and just before my dream ends I turn back and see a person standing there. I can't see their face and… and… I can't remember their name… and every time I think about it I'm filled with such sadness that I…" I can't control the flow of tears from my eyes any longer as I silently sob into my hands, trying desperately not to but cannot help from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of nostalgia being thrown at me.

The Vice-Admiral stares at the ground as the wind scoops up cherry blossoms and tosses them into the wind. He remains silent for a long while, staring at the flowing blossoms.

"A lifetime ago, I lost someone very dear to me. A Kansen. I was her commander during the Second World War. She was lost at the battle of Midway, and honestly, after that, I have never felt more incomplete in my entire life. She was a carrier, beautiful and kind in every way. She embodied what I wish I could have been as a person. But in that war, there were no happy endings. I lost her that day. For what I thought was forever…"

He pauses. Long enough for me to truly process the meaning behind his words. As I wipe away the last of my tears I manage to let out a single question.

"W-what?"

He nods at my confusion.

"It was a spring day when I saw her again. I heard that she was being christened that day and I had to take a look at the ship that bore her name. See if she was anything like how I remembered her… And she was… brilliant and dazzling in every single way. Just how I remembered her. Her white hair, her parted bangs, her brilliant eyes. Everything was the same. But she didn't recognize me. If it wasn't for fate's cruel web I might not have even gotten to know her name. But I did, and soon she began showing the same signs you possess now…"

I cannot believe the words I am hearing even as he is saying them.

"But that means…" I state dumbfoundedly.

He nods in agreement with my unsaid words.

"You are the same ship that sunk in the battle of Leyte Gulf. The IJN Atago who had a story of her own. A life of her own. Her memories are in you somewhere, the hull you've seen is probably the same hull you spent a large part of your previous life upon. The man, your lover. Or perhaps just a commander. But if I know anything about ships and their commanders, it's that one cannot go too long without bonding."

If I hadn't been sitting, I surely would have fainted on the spot at such news. I can't believe it. I almost refuse to believe it. Surely it was just a dream… Surely there's nothing so grand as what the Vice-Admiral is suggesting.

"If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would have been skeptical of my words too. But Yorktown returned to me. My Yorktown, the same one I had commanded all those many years ago. I know it seems impossible, but your wisdom cubes are one in the same. I don't quite understand how it works, but you've been given a second life thanks to the cube that beats in your chest."

"B-but if I'm the same cruiser from back then, why don't I have her memories?" I ask desperately.

The Vice-Admiral seems to slow in his responses as if trying to delicately play his cards.

"Yorktown didn't have her memories either. And I'm afraid I cannot tell you exactly how she got them back. That is a journey you must undertake yourself. Only you have her memories, and however faint they are, the old you is trying desperately to make you remember them. You just have to be listening. That is if you even want to remember at all. You are still you, after all. It is understandable if you just want everything to return to the way it was, we can forget ever having this conversation." The Vice-Admiral states plainly, his aging voice shaking at the end of each sentence.

I take a moment to think about the Vice-Admiral's words to me. Were these dreams and constant headaches truly the result of my previous namesake's desires? And if they are… what does that mean about this current life I'm living? Am I living a lie? Will this part of me cease to exist upon the realization of this truth? Am I truly happy not knowing the life I had lived and the memories of those accompanying it?

The Vice-Admiral senses the struggle within me and nods solemnly to himself. "I think you should meet together with Yorktown. At the very least she will be able to explain these strange side effects better than I can." He says kindly. I turn to meet the gaze of the admiral, gently glancing at the ground before I begin to speak.

"What if I'm not sure about all of this… I mean, our wisdom cubes are great wonders of science but… could it really be housing such a far-fetched proposition as that? In all my years since my commissioning, I've never once felt this… this longing for something. Why now of all times? Why at this anniversary of the creation of the Azur Lane do I suddenly now feel so…. Alone?" I ask, borderline pleading with the Vice-Admiral who simply stares at me as I ramble on about a topic I have no experience in.

"You are an amazing woman, Atago. Any commander would be lucky to have you by their side. But sometimes what we know is hardly all there is to it. Thousands of years ago, humans thought the Earth was flatter than a plank of wood. It wasn't until through the resourcefulness of our great ancestors that we managed to understand and for the most part, agree on the spherical nature of the planet we live on." He stops talking for a moment to allow me to make my own conclusions. "My point being, though it might not make sense now, I believe that with the right teacher, everything will make sense in due time."

I ponder to myself, wracking my brain for any more information I can get out of the dreams I have been having. Left with no alternatives, I take a deep breath in before letting it all back out in one large sigh.

"Tell me what I need to do…" I say.

The Vice-Admiral raises a surprised eyebrow in my direction. "You will need a good teacher to explain what is happening to you. The best one I can recommend is that of my darling Yorktown. Though unfortunately, she couldn't make it this year as she's busy off in the Union…" The Vice-Admiral trails off at the end.

I grab the old man's wrinkled hand and clasp it together with mine. "Please, sir. I have to understand what is happening to me…" I beg him.

The Vice-Admiral nods his head and gently removes his shaky hand from my grasp. "She's stationed at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Just across the bay from Charleston. Once you enter into the bay you can miss her."

I stand up quickly, stretching out my back while raising my hands towards the sky. "Then I'll get my boilers started." I say with a sigh as I finish stretching out my back.

The Vice-Admiral's eyes grow wide with surprise. "You're leaving immediately? During the anniversary festival?" He says with a shroud of alarm in his voice.

"I want to figure out why I've been having these dreams and headaches and fix them as soon as possible. And no offense, Vice-Admiral, but once you've been to one you've been to all of them." I tease politely to the old man. He chuckles heartily before it turns into a coughing fit. He smiles through his wrinkles up at me as he continues to sit on the bench.

"Then who am I to stop you?" He says, causing me to smile broadly in his direction. He gets up from the bench and meets me eye to eye before speaking next. "I hope we will meet again someday, Atago. Though I'm sure Yorktown will tell me all about you upon my return."

"Thank you… for letting me speak to you…" I say shyly holding his gaze.

He nods in acknowledgment. "I have fought through many wars, my dear. I have seen many faces go through the years and even more Kansen than I want to think about." He says, drifting off in deep thought after he finishes his sentence. "But so few with desire such as you. I hope what you find is worth it to you." He says before turning on his heel and making his way back to the auditorium.

I watch distantly as he walks away from our conversation, hopeful that our next conversation may be a bit more lighthearted. As his silhouette becomes smaller and smaller against the backdrop of the port, everything that has happened in the past few hours comes crashing down all at once. My breathing grows heavier as I think of all that must be done in the short time before my departure. And Ashigara, my poor sister, I can't drag her along on this trip. This is something I must do by myself… But I've never left my sister's side before.

I look over to the auditorium building where she is undoubtedly flaunting her Atago class body around trying to woo all of the high-class commanders. The thought brings an affectionate smile to my lips. 'A few weeks isn't all that much time.' I think to myself. 'She'll be fine. After all, she'll have the festival to occupy her time.'

I won't pretend like the thought of leaving my sister behind doesn't tear me up inside. But I know with my present constantly by my side I can never truly learn who I am. Or who I was. I walk back to our shared dorm and unlock the room with the key we had been given upon our commission. I open the door and rapidly begin packing, stuffing each of my uniforms into a decently sized travel bag I carry with me on each embarkment. Along with my uniforms, I place all of my self-care items into a plastic bag before shoving them in as well. By the time I am finished packing, my room looks barren.

I look around at the place I have called home these many years and sigh, glancing over at my sister's bed. 'We really are similar…' I think to myself as I notice that my sister shares almost everything with me now that my half of the room is empty. I close the door and lock it behind me, taking in a deep sigh as I look one last time out at the beautiful port from on top of this hill. At least for a little while. I dig my phone out of my pocket and open the messenger app.

My sister is the only contact saved at the very top of the list for quick and easy access to each other. I tap on her name and stare blankly at the text box, thinking of what I should say to her. My thumb hovers just above the box for a few minutes before finally coming to a decent text. I press send and shove the phone back into my pocket, sending it to silent mode.

"Sorry sister." I say aloud to no one but the wind with a broad smile on my face. Despite the situation, I cannot help but feel oddly glad about this journey, like something deep within me is excited about the opportunity to travel to the United States. Or perhaps more accurately, like something within me is expecting this to answer all of my questions.

I take a deep breath of the Sakura air before letting it out in a deep sigh. With my travel bag slung off my shoulder and a new journey beginning, I finally feel like I'm back doing what I was born to do. I take my first steps towards the port and perhaps new beginnings. Or perhaps old ones as well.

---

After the end of the Second World War, the Sakura Empire's military has been all but non-existent. So to say that the amount of boats anchored just outside of port is astounding is saying the least. I want to say I have never before seen so many vessels in one place but I bite my tongue, thinking desperately to a time I have forgotten. Only Sakura ships are allowed to dock within the port, the clear differences between the gigantic masts of the Eagle Union and Royal Navy compared to the Sakura's meager fleet in comparison is both compelling and a little terrifying.

Knowing that someone out there always has a bigger stick usually is.

I walk down the streets of the port, seeing very few Kansen and even fewer commanding officers walking around the base as the festivities have already begun. The smell of fresh blossoms on the spring air inspires me with confidence as a native of this country. The scent is nostalgic in a way.

As I walk I reflect upon my life so far. What have I really done in the years since my commission..? I crashed into a finishing boat… I felt really bad about that. And participated in countless training exercises but what about in my personal life? 'I…' I think to myself. 'I've always had my sister, but I've never really given it much thought… about who I am…'

I grasp tightly at the straps of my bag hanging loosely off my shoulder, walking against the sea wall towards my vessel. The sounds of the waves crashing against the side of the cement wall calling memories lying dormant within. A vision of sand and a beach pierces through the fog for a fraction of a second before it is gone. The headache that accompanies it I can do without.

Finally, towards the end of the dock, I spot my own ship, lying shyly against the outlines of much bigger vessels. The number 177 is written upon the bow marking my place within the navy's registry. The destroyer Atago, lead ship of the Atago class. And my home for the next few weeks. Not that extended voyages are new to me. I once spent some time in Hawaii under orders from the Azur Lane to participate in drills. That lasted for quite a long time.

The grey paint of the hull bouncing gently in and out of the wake created by the large fleet formation just on the Horizon. I sigh as I leap onto her deck, using my superhuman strength to fling myself over the railing and onto the armored deck. Subconsciously, I miss the feeling of wood beneath my heels.

I put the thought to the side as I walk up into the main tower, tremendously different from the Pagoda style the Empire was so used to making back before the war. As I walk up the mountain of stairs to reach the main control room, I find myself reminiscing about the footsteps of someone above me. Gentle, but heavy all the same. I shake the thought from my head before opening the doors to the control room. It's crowded, but strategically so. I know what every button on every console does and understand how to navigate the complex web of circuitry before me. It's what I was born to do you could say.

Sprawled out across a few of the desks are papers with coffee stains on them, the result of a long night I had spent on my ship a few months ago. I pick up the papers gently and flip through them. Each one contains a piece of my operation. The night I had spent filing these comes back to me as I flip through each one. A tired Atago resting my head within my palm, looking down at the stack of papers before me under a dim and moody light. The night sky twinkled with thousands upon thousands of stars as I flipped through each of these looking for… something… what was I looking for?

I screen through the hundred or so files of paper before finding one I had scribbled over with big bold writing and highlights. My gaze intensifies with curiosity as I look the paper over, unable to recall having ever done this. To my surprise, it's a complete breakdown of the contents of my wisdom cube. The notes off to the side are written in Hiragana, stating strange things like "The contents of your heart." and "Never forget."

I look deeper into the context of the papers and find all there is to know about the formation of Wisdom Cubes. Specifically my wisdom cube. At the bottom, it reads "Though one thing is for certain, this wisdom cube has taken the form of her previous tenant without any of the former's memories or specifications. This is the same result as the other wisdom cubes which we have pulled from the ocean floor. For more information, please see the Imperial record rooms located within the Azur Lane facility of Osaka."

I stand in shock as I read the piece of paper to its finish, glancing back up at the sentence above. With the stamp of the Azur Lane placed upon it, there is no denying its authenticity. I am not who I think I am. I collapse to the floor, letting my body slump against one of the desks lining the room. Pensive shock written across my entire body as I think deeply upon this revelation. The paper detailing everything floats off to the side as I let it go. I shut my eyes and grasp at invisible strings that only I can see throughout the ship, priming her engines as electricity courses through the hull.

Though my eyes are closed, I can feel the heat of the new light caress my eyelids ever so slightly urging them to open. A new resolve courses through my body. I must find this Yorktown and hear everything she has to say. If not for me, then for the me that I've lost.

My engines begin to produce power just as my turbines begin to spin underneath the belly of my hull. The destroyer lunges in the water, quickly breaking free from her moorings and setting sail adrift from the port which confines her. I get back up onto my feet and pensively walk over to the wheel in the center of the room. I grab hold of its smooth exterior and caress the top, leaning down close to scrape off the layer of dust accumulating on the top.

"I'm coming, my dear…" I say so quietly that even I do not recognize them as my own words. The hull of 177 cuts through the water swiftly passing by the massive armada of ships accumulating at the port's entrance. I watch with awe as I pass each one, towering over my meager mast by three or four times. Finally, after passing the ships from the Eagle Union, I reach the open Pacific. A long journey awaits me ahead.

---

The smell of the ocean breeze. The wind whipping through my hair. The bouncing of the hull upon the waves of the Pacific. I stand out on my bow, extending my arms outwards like a sail and standing straight into the path of the wind. The gentle embrace of the ocean lulls me like a siren song to sleep. The rocking of my ship gently washing away every thought that is not pure bliss. The ocean is my home.

The sun glistens upon the water, dancing in rhythm with the waves. Above is a clear blue sky, only occasionally interrupted by a cloud. The rays of sunlight kissing my skin feel like divine beams of radiance tingling the hairs on my neck as the massive ball of fire moves distantly to the west. The ocean's water licks my face as the bow cuts swiftly through the shimmering ocean. My exposed thighs burn from the wind, but that too is a welcome sensation.

The sun behind me begins to turn a shade of orange and pink as it rapidly begins settling across the horizon. The temperature cools as the sun continues to run from the sky, the intense ocean breeze now feeling a little cold. My hair whips through the air like strings on a kite, causing it to periodically blow in front of my face. As I reach to move the strands of hair back to its place, I hear the sound of metal clashing behind me.

I twirl around with a large smile plastered across my face, expecting to see… someone. But as I watch the door to the open cabin creak and smash against the exposed exterior the smile slowly deteriorates from my face. As I stare at my armored deck in a melancholic sadness, the light from the sun finally disappears and is replaced by that of the moon and the stars. I turn back towards the bow of my ship, gazing up at the dazzling stars above. I watch patiently as each of them flicker and flutter. A streaking line of moving stars echoes across the sky, a satellite array. This really is the 21st century.

A streak of light, bright and unmissable, cascades across the starry night. Though it lasts for only a moment, the radiant shooting star brightens the entire ocean with its presence. It leaves just as quickly as it arrives, with a flash of light. The stars reflect in my eyes as they are glued to the night sky. The waves calm as the entire ocean seems to just stand still for a moment. I slow my engines to a crawl, creating a reflective pool of stars beneath me caused by the lack of a wake. My heart yearns for the darkness. Calling out like a lost sailor for someone to take me home. I reach out with my open palm, pawing at the night sky. I grasp stars in my hand, only to open my grasp and find none.

A pain hits my heart as the night breeze begins to pick up. I set my engines back to full ahead before retreating back into my cabin for some warmth. My room is small in comparison to most of the other rooms on the ship. I remove my heels and free myself from the white jacket before sitting down on the edge of my bed, looking at myself in the mirror. Streaks of water smear across my face. I hadn't even noticed I was crying as I dry my tears with my gloves before taking them off and setting them to the side. I collapse sideways onto my bed, my eyes wide open and my mind racing at a thousand miles an hour. My body is completely spent, but my mind refuses to be tired. Soon, I find myself drifting off to sleep. My eyelids grow heavy before shutting.

…

At thirty knots the journey isn't that long. Though the Pacific is wide and desolate, the feeling of home comes naturally throughout the trip as it always has. It is very lonely though. Even on extended exercises, I've always at least had Ashigara to keep my company. Now, I find I keep myself terrible company. I spend most of the day looking over dusty charts I found sitting in a box or exercising out on the deck. Somedays, I don't say a word. But every night, when the stars come out and the ocean turns black, I sit out on my bow and watch the night sky.

I lost count of the days by the time I reach the Panama Canal. I have never gone around the world this way before, so seeing such a feat of human ingenuity is something truly marvelous. As I make my way through the intricate lock system I find myself in awe of the creativity of humans. It's no wonder they were able to make us.

It takes almost over half a day to traverse the locks. The traffic coming through the locks is astounding. When I'm finally across and on the other side, its almost like I had stepped into a different culture. The cool deep dark blues of the Pacific are now the warm and vibrant colors of the Atlantic. It's similar to the water surrounding the island nations I recall having visited. I stand just outside the lock for a moment before collecting my bearings and moving Northward toward the State of South Carolina.

A wave of gentle excitement flows through my veins. This is the first time I've been to the continental United States. It's a strange feeling walking into the den of your former enemies. Though I have never known them as such, even thinking about what waits in store for me is enough to send a shiver down my spine.

…

I pass many islands on the way there, some larger than the others but all of them were rather small when compared to my home country. My first glimpse of the country responsible for the creation of the Eagle Union is through the Virgin Islands. With waters clearer than the type we drink and beaches brighter than even the most beautiful of pearls, this territory of the U.S. is overflowing with beauty and charm. I don't spend very long in the destination of dreams however as the warmer colors of the southern Atlantic begin to turn dark and grey the further North I continue.

Finally, after an entire week at sea, the coast of the continental United States comes into view. I open the GPS on my phone and look out towards the bank of the coast as it loads. The lack of service on the ocean is one of the less pleasing aspects of sea travel. As it finishes loading, the marker says I am just only a few minutes from my destination. Those few minutes were the longest of my life.

A mouth in the coast opens, beckoning my ship towards it. My ship drifts through the mouth slowly, giving way to some of the civilian ferries entering and exiting. The flag of the Azur lane and the Sakura Empire flap violently in the rather strong tailwinds, the ocean breeze flowing to the mainland. The very first thing I notice is how different United States architecture is. As I stand upon my bow and look out over the port city I find myself looking upon all of the empty space available for expansion. Back home, every inch of every city is covered and compact. I clasp myself to the railing, approaching a spot known as Patriot's Point where vaguely familiar ships rest in waiting. Out over in the distance is a destroyer, a submarine, and most grandly, an Aircraft carrier.

I have seen plenty of carriers in my time, but never one from such a bygone era. A sense of nostalgia washes over me as I draw nearer to the behemoth. Its grey hull striking distinctively against the bright green trees and murky waters. The large number 10 has been inscribed onto the island adjacent to the flight deck, marking the ship as the CV-10. I lean over my vessel's railing and watch as I slowly pass by, taking in every small detail about the retired ship. I wonder what her Kansen is like. Many small pleasure vessels gather around to watch as I pull up next to the large aircraft carrier. I wave down to them as they guide me to the docks. The people are oddly friendly here.

A moor specifically for the use of Azur Lane visitors rests some ways away from the aircraft carrier closer to the city. Though it appears not every day a representative of the Sakura Empire attends this quaint port. The dock to which I was guided is dilapidated and hardly has the capabilities to keep my ship docked for longer stays. Not wishing to damage the dock further with the disturbance of my vessel, I drop anchor into the shallow port where it snags into the mud. Though I am some distance away from the dock, I simply jump overboard and click my heels together. My heeled shoes transform rapidly into skates, allowing me to glide upon the water. As I pass by the small vessels that guided me to the dock I wave and smile to them, yelling out in English to be heard "Thank you~!"

A cheer rises from the boats, these people are obviously intoxicated. I smile and roll my eyes, jumping onto dry land where my skates immediately turn back into heels upon contact with the firm ground. Normally, a sailor would find it hard to walk upon land after so long at sea. But a Kansen does not have such a problem to contend with.

I turn my gaze towards the direction of the city, then towards the aircraft carrier. "That has to be Yorktown…" I say to myself. I think back to the conversation with the Vice-Admiral a week prior, 'Though it might not make sense now, I believe that with the right teacher, everything will make sense in due time.' "Here goes nothing." I say, walking towards the deck of the carrier.

…

I walk across the gangway, striding towards Yorktown's open deck. From what I've gathered from the brochure, this is the Essex class carrier Yorktown. Built after the sinking of her original namesake, she rose from the depths of the ocean and was reincarnated as the Yorktown we know her as today. She spent most of her early years sweeping up what was left of the Japanese Empire and touring the Pacific. After which she spent her years in Vietnam before returning back to the States where she was decommissioned 30 years after her maiden voyage.

"She's had far more history than me even if you count the years of my first incarnation… wow that's a weird thing to say." I mutter to myself, looking up from the brochure as I step up onto her flight deck. Cold War-era jets line the runway in a neat and tidy order as multiple groups of tourists listen closely as curators of the ship explain each specification of said aircraft. The wind blows swiftly across her decks, sending my hair flying behind me while I take a panoramic glance around the deck of the carrier.

It reminds me of home. Suddenly I'm hit with an overwhelming urge to check up on how everything is going back at the port. That's when I see her.

Or more so hear her first. Her voice, smoother than the finest silks, instantly captures my attention as I spin my head around towards her island where she's sitting upon a bench, crowded around by little children all vying for her attention.

"Ms. Yorktown! Ms. Yorktown! Can you do the thing again!" One of the littlest ones asks.

"Are you sure? I mean, I've already shown you three times. Won't you get tired of it?" She asks kindly, her motherly demeanor drawing the children to her like a bee to a flower.

"We want to see it again!" They all exclaim out in unison.

The white-haired woman laughs, her chest rising and lowering with each beat. Her beauty paralleled only to the other Kansen who shares her presence.

"Alright alright, but only one more time. It's almost closing time." She says, glancing over at me out of the corner of her eye. She extends her rigging, causing all the children to gasp in response as a variety of planes from prop to jets line up on the miniature runway. They take off to the joy of the children, flipping through the air and performing a trail of acrobatics. Each one expertly handled and dancing across the open blue sky. The children gasp in amazement.

The planes return to the separate runway from which they had taken off. The children all exclaim sadly, "Awww." Yorktown chuckles as she looks out towards the direction of their parents.

"Unfortunately it's time to say goodbye. Thank you for coming to see me again~ I hope you'll keep coming back so we can have even more fun." Her smile lights up the world with its brilliance, a skill I hope I mimic in my own smile.

"Bye-bye, Ms. Yorktown!" The children exclaim as they wave goodbye in her direction while sprinting down the carrier deck toward their parents. I stand silently, watching as she waves back to them.

Though her smile dims, she does not lose it even while turning her attention towards me.

"Well met, I am U.S.S Yorktown, CV-10. Or CV-5. Whichever you prefer~" She says warmly, bowing her head deeply in a traditional Japanese greeting.

Surprised by the overly open greeting, I take a moment to bow. Only after the bow is finished do I introduce myself. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Yorktown. I'm JS Atago, DDG-177."

"Just Yorktown is fine dear. It's not very often I am visited by other Kansen, and much less one from the Sakura Empire." She says, glancing me over pensively.

I nod in understanding. "I know it's very sudden, and you must think I'm crazy but-"

Yorktown interrupts me before I can finish the sentence. "I can tell by looking at you darling. You're scared." She says warmly.

The automatic response comes as a shock to me. I stamper in confusion. "I… uhm... I-" I say, grabbing my arm sheepishly while casting my gaze down at the ground.

Yorktown takes a deep breath. "When did they start, dear?"

I shift my gaze towards the seemingly random lines painted on her flight deck. "Ever since my commissioning. But recently they've grown more vibrant and more like real life. And then my head started hurting and something has felt…"

"Missing?"

I nod my head as Yorktown finishes the thought that I cannot.

The beautiful carrier steps closer to me. The Eagle Union Kansen are a lot taller than those like me.

"What do you see in your dreams..?" She asks me seriously, speaking more in a whisper as people still roam the flight deck.

I gaze off towards the horizon as the sky is painted a beautiful swath of oranges and yellows. Japan is probably just waking up right about now. Memories of a week prior come flooding back as if fed to me on a spoon.

"A woman standing out upon the turret of a ship that isn't mine. Her hair whips back as she sails across a brilliant blue ocean. I can feel the wind whipping past my ears almost as if it's like I'm the one experiencing it. In this dream, I can't tell what is real from what is imagination. But each time it's been the same. An endless expanse of ocean, a dream so vivid I wake up in chills. But this last time before our meeting was… different…" I stumble as the words nearly refuse to leave my mouth. Something within me is choking on the words. "I saw a person. A silhouette standing against the sun. Feelings I don't understand swelled within me when I saw this person, even just as a shadow standing against the harsh rays of the Pacific sun."

Yorktown nods in acknowledgment, a ping of familiarity residing within her own soul.

"And just before I could see who it was, I woke with tears in my eyes…" I finish, letting both of us process the information on the flight deck.

Yorktown smiles warmly at me, her comforting persona extending around me as I suddenly feel tears staining my cheeks. I wipe the tears off of my skin and glance down at them within my hand, proof of my emotions being true.

"I went through something very similar when I first awakened. Though in comparison between us, you took much more time." She begins, already a pit grows in my stomach. "Ever since my commission just before the end of the Second World War, I had been getting dreams. Dreams so vivid I couldn't distinguish between reality and fiction. They continued and continued until I finally was able to see a face. A face then became multiple faces. People I now know as my sisters and my beloved commander. But it took me some time and a little bit of help to understand what was happening to me." She pauses for a moment. "And may be happening to you."

I swallow the lump in my throat as she continues speaking.

"Yes, I am the ship that was sunk at the end of the battle of Midway. But I am also the ship you currently see before you." She motions with her arms to the entirety of the vessel we currently stand on. "Which means, though you might not know it or cannot remember it, you are the same Kansen of the IJN Atago who sank at the battle of Leyte Gulf many many years ago."

Deep down, I had known this truth all along. Or at least since my talk with the Vice-Admiral, so the revelation isn't nearly as much of a shock as one might expect it to be. That being said, I collapse onto the bench that Yorktown had been resting upon earlier in disbelief. I reason with myself, trying to defy all logic, and continue to tell myself that I'm simply me as I've always been. My head throbs in pain as Yorktown approaches the bench, sitting down next to me and rubbing my back gently.

"Take your time, heavens knows my reaction was far worse." She says, trying to lighten the mood by just a smidge.

"How… How can you be so sure… that you're her…" I manage to make out between the splitting pain in my head.

Yorktown strokes a hand through my raven hair, the sensation slowly calming my nerves but does nothing to aid in the headache. "I had a lot of the same questions you have. So I'll start by answering some based on my personal experience." She says kindly. "I know I'm her because I have her memories. I can recall my first commissioning all the way up until now. I don't think like two separate people, I simply think as me."

"B-but what happens to the me that I am right now if I get my memories back?" I stamper through welling tears in my eyes, afraid of everything and tired of feeling this way.

Yorktown uses her quaintly gloved hands to dry the tears in my eyes. "The you who you are now does not disappear. She simply becomes part of a whole again. And I know that sounds scary, but it's almost like finding a long-lost lover again. The two of you rejoice in your reunion and then bond together to form something wonderful. I think the proof is sitting next to you. I can recall everything that happened before my demise at Midway and all the events that preceded my awakening. Everything I feel, I feel from the bottom of my heart. You already have the wisdom cube inside of you. Her memories are your memories. But only if you want them. They will not open up to you if you cannot understand her feelings nor want to. Only once you have come to terms with who you are will you be able to finally understand your purpose in this life."

I turn to look at Yorktown, watching as her snow-white hair glimmers against the orange sky. She smiles warmly like a mother, the brilliant flash almost too blinding to look at directly. "And how do I come to terms with who I am?" I ask.

"That is something only you can find out." She pauses for a moment. "But I will help however I can. As someone who has been through exactly what you're going through, I can help guide you every step of the way. I just need you to take it that extra step."

I nod in thankfulness. "Thank you, Yorktown."

"Don't mention it sweetheart~ Now, it's probably been a very long week for you. Sailing across such a vast amount of water must have taken its toll. Get some rest, we'll begin first thing tomorrow." Yorktown stands up from the bench and watches as I too take a bit longer to rise off the wood.

"For now, a little bit of homework to take with you." The white-haired carrier continues. "I want you to recall what you can about your dream for me tomorrow. And I want you to focus on the person in particular. We need some place to start and the window to your sleeping mind might just be the best place to do so." The carrier winks before opening the door to the island. "I will be in here if you need me. Goodnight, Atago."

I bow deeply to the carrier, my hair draping down and scraping the top of the flight deck as I do so. "Goodnight, Yorktown."

The carrier closes the door behind her just as the sun sets over the horizon, painting the city in a dull black only to be illuminated by the vast network of electricity coursing through the city. So close to the city, the stars hardly shine as I look up at the empty cosmos.

I make my way off of the gangway which retracts behind me, the employee working the stand gives me a wave before I make off for the evening. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

---

The wind howls in the morning, throwing around the nearby trees like toothpicks. The flags violently whip above the flight deck of the U.S.S Yorktown as I stand at the ready. The Museum is closed today, meaning Yorktown and I can focus all of our attention on me. The white-haired carrier looks around at the shaking leaves before turning her gaze towards me.

"I hope you recall what I asked of you yesterday evening." She says, the sun of the morning hanging low in the sky painting a backdrop against the carrier's flight deck.

I slowly recall my dream before the beautiful carrier, pausing every so often to collect my thoughts. "She was- I was standing upon my second turret. I recall three turrets now which is something that has only happened recently, but more importantly in the dream, I'm wielding a sword sheathed in a scabbard attached to my hip. The sting of the ocean's waves caresses my skin and the wind shakes as violently as the trees." The wind dramatically picks up for just a brief moment as I tell my story. "The hull I stand upon feels so familiar but just out of reach, especially as I hear the familiar sound of a metal door opening and hitting the side of my ship. I look up, and only see a black silhouette."

I clench my fist tightly. The sound of the cloth of my gloves tightening echoes through the whipping wind. "I can't. Remember the person's face. No matter how hard I try, it's simply just a black shadow. I've always been adored for my good eyesight… so it's… frustrating that in a place that I control, I cannot even see the face of someone I know…" The frustration building within me comes close to a boil as the answer to this mystery seems no closer than it was before.

Yorktown's calming presence however keeps me cool, watching as she tries to puzzle together a piece for herself. "I think this person you are having trouble identifying may be the person who was once your commander. Very rarely would there be a reason for another person to be on your ship. Though I cannot speak for the relationship you two might have held, but I'm guessing because it's the one thing in your dream you seem to be keeping from yourself. This 'commander' must have meant a lot to the past you…"

I wait for her to continue, but she never does. "Why would… the past me be keeping something so integral of our shared past together from me?" I ask, trying to digest the meaning behind my words as I say them.

"Perhaps she does not feel you ready to learn about this person which meant so much to her. When I was having my own nightmares, my commander always seemed out of focus. Blurry almost. At least to the point he was unrecognizable. But the more I learned about my past self and who I was now, the more I could better see his face. Until one day, he was there…" The white-haired carrier explains.

"Then would that mean I need to understand both myself now and myself back then?" I ask in frustrated confusion.

"That is most likely what it will take to finally unlock the memories being kept from you."

I stand in silence, letting the wind whip past me like an airfoil. Though my mouth does not move, my mind races with possibilities. What can I even do to understand how I felt in a time long since passed? In all likelihood, Yorktown had her previous commander to help her. I simply have… Ashigara?

Yorktown pats me on the shoulder. "We should start on exploring who you are in this moment before trying to unlock the complex mind of who you were. Come, let's begin." Yorktown's white hair flutters wildly in the wind, her words almost drowned out by the sounds of the ferocious gale attacking the flat carrier deck. Yorktown sits down on the deck, crossing her legs together and holding her hands within her lap. I follow in her footsteps, kneeling on the deck instead as the position feels more comfortable.

"Find a position you are comfortable in-" I stop her with a quip of my own, a mischievous smile crawling upon my lips, "Yorktown~ You could have asked first~" I tease, letting a giggle escape my lips. Yorktown breathes a puff of air from her nose in amusement before turning serious. I nod my head and allow her to continue.

"Find a position you are comfortable sitting in, let your hands fall in a comfortable position, and let every muscle in your body relax."

I find her words hard to follow as relaxing upon the hard deck of an aircraft carrier while the wind whips at my skin is a hard endeavor. My raven hair spirals around me as I focus my golden eyes on the Kansen.

"Now, close your eyes and listen to my voice." She continues. I follow her instructions and let my eyes shut. Suddenly the world feels quiet. No longer can I hear nor feel the wild wind viciously whipping against my skin. My vision is darker than the night sky as I feel completely alone. A single voice, echoing through the contents of my mind is all I can hear. "Think of the most relaxing place you could be right now." It says.

A few images flash in rapid succession in my mind. A still picture of an onsen steaming upon the peak of a cold winter's mountain gently floating a thin mist into the night sky above. A bamboo fence surrounding the onsen is only lit by the moon's brilliant light reflecting off the water. Rocks outline the bath while a traditional Japanese Sento lays in the foreground. A small waterfall cascades a small river of water into the hot spring. In the corner, a bamboo rocking fountain sits frozen by time. A perfect still and silent image crafted within my head.

"What does it look like?" She asks.

"It-"

"No, don't tell me. Show me with your thoughts."

I squint my eyes, trying harder to picture this perfect paradise. Slowly things begin moving, the waterfall flows freely into the onsen, sending hot water spittle in its vicinity. The steam and intensity of the heat are portrayed by the haze flowing upwards toward the sky as the heat rises. The bamboo rocking fountain fills to its breaking point just before it spills over.

"What does it sound like?"

Sound fills my head. Growing in intensity with each passing moment. The waterfall sounds like a gentle river flowing through the forest. The ripples it creates sound like a symphony. A distance away, the sound of the bamboo fountain rocking against its base fills the immediate area with a calming rhythm. A gentle breeze blows above the bamboo fence, causing a nearby wind charm to shake gracefully.

"Who is with you?"

Ashigara is the first one that pops into my mind. My nearly identical twin sister sits next to the waterfall, cupping the water in her hands before letting it spill out into the onsen. Next to appear is Yorktown, tying her hair into a nice bun just to my left as she dips a toe into the steaming water. A few more blank silhouettes appear in the hot spring that I can't seem to focus on.

"I want you to think about why you chose this setting."

Why? Well… I don't have the chance to visit the Onsen very much. And I've always wanted to go during the winter time up in the mountains where it's freezing cold all year round. Dipping into the hot springs with weather like that must feel like heaven~ And from on top of the mountain, I can see all of the beautiful world beneath me. It's calm and quiet, away from the bustle of the city.

As I finish the thought, a white-haired woman I have never seen before appears next to a rock, leaning against it like it were a wall. I keep my mind focused on the picture I have been painting and push the thought aside for now.

"Try thinking of a smell you can associate with it."

I smell the crisp air of the mountains surrounding us. The faintest smell of food awaits us once we finish our time within the onsen. The faintest scent of cologne breaks its way through the otherwise overwhelming smell of perfume. Everyone is smelling their best, washing away the day's grime and dirt.

Including two other dark-haired girls who appear. One donning a single long ponytail dipping into the water as she sits closest to me and the other playfully washing the inner thigh of the white-haired woman who appeared earlier.

"Finally, what do you feel?"

I feel… happy. Happier than I was sitting alone within a still image. I am happy to see so many people who mean so much to me. I can feel the hot springs melting all of my stress away and perhaps even a little dizzy from the steam. But a part of me feels detached like I've forgotten something back inside. The sudden and overwhelming urge to get up and walk towards the source causes me to rise from the Onsen without a word. The girls don't seem to notice me leave as I get up from the Onsen with simply a towel wrapped around my chest.

As I walk to the door, my footsteps increase drastically until I'm in a full-blown sprint charging down the wooden hallway to the sliding doors holding the other side of the building from view.

I charge at them before flinging them open.

Only to see something I couldn't control my tears over.

On the other side of the door is a torii gate looking over the beautiful city of Kyoto. But not as I know it, as someone else knew it. My feet step into a stream which is connected by a waterfall flowing freely over the side of the mountain. The leaves on the trees are a beautiful green and the summer heat seems like a distant dream away. Tears run down my cheeks as I look over the stunning view. The sound of water rushing past my bare feet. The smell of a midsummer's dream floats upon the humid air. The air is hard to breathe, but only perhaps because the view is so breathtaking.

A single voice whispers to me. One I thought I had lost forever.

"Atago."

At that moment, I open my eyes.

"Hiroto!"

I am returned to the real world. The winds blowing in from the ocean whipping my hair in every direction as tears flow freely from my eyes. I do nothing to stop them as they flow like a gentle river down my stained cheeks. The white-haired carrier sitting in front of me with her eyes wide open, watching as I cry my tears onto her flight deck.

Yorktown nods her head to me while she waits for my tears to dry. She pulls me into a hug, patting my back and allowing me to cry into her shoulder. My hands grip the cloth of her dress tightly, refusing to let go.

"There there… let it all out…" She says kindly, stroking a hand through my hair as I wail to a cruel world.

…

The last of my tears subside. Though I have difficulty recalling why I was crying them in the first place. Yorktown releases me from her grasp and waits until I am ready to share. I dry the last tears from my eyes with my hand. I take in a deep, albeit shaky, breath. Letting it out with a sigh.

"I saw things." I say, blinking away the last few remaining tears welling in my eyes. "I saw people I didn't recognize. I said names I don't understand. I smelled things I've never smelled before…"

"And what of yourself? What did you learn?" Yorktown asks gently.

I take a moment to collect myself a little more before answering her question. "I enjoy the company of others. My sister means the world to me. I like having a place where I can escape from everything. I don't like the feeling of stress. I enjoy a nice bath. I like pretty-looking things. Mountains are amazing. And I enjoy taking care of others. It brings me my own happiness seeing the happiness of others…"

Yorktown nods. "That means you are kind. Truly so. You are a caregiver. But you also need your own time with just you and maybe your closest friends and family. To that extent, I can understand. But to an even greater one, I hope you can understand yourself even just a little bit more."

I nod solemnly, looking down at the runway on which I kneel.

"You said a name right after you woke up. Do you know who it was?" Yorktown asks me directly.

I shake my head no. "Everything within me is telling me that it was the name of a man who meant… a lot to me. But I can't recall a face nor anything about him."

Yorktown smiles gently. "Then I believe we've found our 'commander'. Though being of a Japanese custom, Hiroto must be his surname."

I shake my head no, swinging it from side to side with little movement. "No, it's his given name. That much I remember."

Yorktown raises an eyebrow. "Then we have more to go on than we did before you came here. We should head into town."

I tilt my head curiously. "Why?"

"There's a library where we can use a computer to access a database of ancestors. Perhaps there is still a member of his family alive. All we have to do is find out what his last name is with a quick search and type it into a database to find any surviving descendants or direct family." Yorktown reasons.

I blink a few times. After everything that's come before this moment, it can't be that simple… can it?

Yorktown rises off of the ground and brushes herself off, extending a hand for me to take. "We're almost there, Atago." My name slides off of her tongue like lightning. Suddenly a name I haven't found all too special sounds like music plucked from the gods. All because of one person.

I take her hand and rise from the carrier deck. The two of us walk off of her flight deck and towards the city where the answer to at least a few of my questions lies in store.

…

I sit down at the library desk in front of a glowing monitor. The search bar blinks with purpose as my hands are paused above the keyboard. All the letters and numbers are in different spots from what I'm used to. I look around at the English lexicon while trying to spell out the name in my head. Yorktown looks over my shoulder, amused by my current lack of American culture proficiency.

I hesitate to even start as doing so may lead me down rabbit holes in which I may not wish to know. But what is an even more terrifying thought is the one where it's a dead end…

The complex emotions swirling within me cause me to hesitate for a moment too long. I swallow my fears and type slowly one of the single most important questions of my entire life.

"Who was the Commander of the IJN Atago."

A brief Wikipedia article appears at the top of the page within a small box, readily available information for me to read without clicking any links. Within it, it says, "Hiroto Tsuyoshi." A small blurb of text is written below the name. To the right of the text, a picture of a man blurred within my vision sits.

"I can't… see him…" I say, squinting at the picture.

Yorktown seems surprised by this. "You can't? But I can see him just fine…" She ponders in her head, touching her index finger to her chin. "Perhaps reading below will help you see him clearer."

I look toward the text below his name, reading it to myself. "Only son of former Prime Minister In*kai Tsuyoshi, he was commander of the IJN Atago from 1941-1944 where he died-" I quickly open a new tab, staring at the blank screen for a moment.

Yorktown looks down at my hesitation, her first glimpse at my other side. My eyes dash along the empty screen, clicking into the search bar and watching the cursor blink with anticipation once again. I type the website Yorktown recommended me into the bar before hitting enter. The link it recommends takes me to a family database where all records of families, both alive and dead, are kept.

I take a deep breath before typing the name I had received into the search hub. The website takes a moment to load, adding to my dread. After a few moments, the website loads and a family tree appears.

It starts at Hiroto and extends down a lineage of descendants. For some reason, I let out a relieved gasp. Tears of happiness begin to well in my eyes as I scroll over each face, the only one blurry to me is the face of the one I searched for. The image next to Hiroto is empty and does not have a name attached to it. Instead in its place is a short blurb saying, "Unknown spouse." My fist clenches into a ball as pure jealousy begins coursing through me. As I look at each of the photos in his lineage though a pulse of calm washes over me.

He only had one offspring. A man named Iritio Tsuyoshi. A man who is currently alive and living in San Francisco. His eyes are as golden as mine, but his hair is greyed and his age is nearing the eighties. Despite this fact, he looks beyond familiar.

Below him, he had 2 offspring. One boy and one girl. The girl is my spitting image if I aged about 30 years. She lives in San Francisco and has been married and divorced three times with no offspring. The boy on the other hand has two offspring. A young girl named Maya and a boy named Kaito. All of them are living out of San Francisco.

Yorktown gives me a pat on the back as she reads the same information as I am.

"I believe you have your next goal."

I look up at her as she stands behind me. "I suppose I do…" I say, staring at the text underneath Hiroto's picture. '19**-1944'. A sinking feeling within my heart causes it to ache.

The two of us leave the library and the city soon afterward. Yorktown walks me to my ship docked at the harbor in silence. The two of us walking into the wind. Finally, as we approach my ship, Yorktown is the first to speak.

"Well, I suppose this is it…" She says solemnly. "I hope you find-" The white-haired aircraft carrier is cut short as my arms wrap around her, pulling the Kansen into a tight hug. Yorktown is taken by surprise at first but soon gently wraps her arms around me as well.

"Thank you. For everything." I say just loud enough to be heard over the wind.

Yorktown smiles as she strokes her hand through my hair. "It was my pleasure."

As the two of us separate I dig my phone out of my pocket. "If you don't mind, I was thinking maybe we could stay in touch?" I say sheepishly.

Yorktown smiles brightly as she pulls out her own phone and we exchange contact information.

"I'll see you at next year's anniversary," Yorktown says playfully.

"That is something I haven't been able to figure out. Why didn't you go this year?" I ask the beautiful carrier.

"Oh… The Vice-Admiral and I got into an argument… both of us said some things to each other that we shouldn't have and…" Yorktown says as she looks down at her feet.

I take the moment to lay a little advice of my own. "The Vice-Admiral looked really down while he was talking about you at the festival," I say, causing Yorktown to lift her head. "He also couldn't stop talking about how amazing you are and how you changed his life. The two of you were made for each other. I'm sure when he gets back after tempers have cooled you'll make up. He loves you so very dearly after all." I say, a king smile donning my features.

Yorktown smiles nostalgically as she thinks about his return. "Thank you, Atago. Hearing that really helps me understand… a lot more than you think."

I kiss the carrier's cheek before backing away with a devious smile plastered across my face. The white-haired Kansen is left speechless.

"Just one last thank you for such a beautiful aircraft carrier~" I tease, giving the carrier a flirtatious wink. Yorktown blushes lightly, playfully hiding a smile behind her hand.

"Get out of here you, you've got a long journey ahead of you." She teases.

"I'll keep in touch~" I say, leaping onto the deck of my ship.

Yorktown giggles as she watches me fly to the deck. "Good luck, Atago~!" She shouts up to me just as my engines hit full reverse. The ship lurges in the water as it slowly makes its way away from the dock. Simultaneously, the anchor pulls itself up from the harbor bed.

"See you later~" I shout from my deck, watching and waving at the white-haired carrier waving back at me. As my ship creeps slowly out of port, I watch as the carrier becomes smaller and smaller within my vision. For the first time in days, it is once again only me and my thoughts against the world. It will take a couple days to reach San Fransisco, but it's convenient that I will already be on the right side of the world if I choose to return home.

I should call my sister… I feel bad for leaving her so suddenly.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, letting its blue rays plaster against my face as I scroll to Ashigara's number. I hit dial and put the phone to my ear. The tone vibrates the phone in my hand several times, but there is no response from my sister. I figure she's probably busy with festival ending.

A clip of Ashigara's voice plays as the dial tone ends. "Heeeyyaa~ I'm probably away on a mission so please leave a message~ I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks~" The receiver beeps to signal the start of the recording.

"Hey, Ashi. It's me. I'm sorry I left so suddenly and… didn't enjoy the festival together like we promised. When I get back I'll promise to make it up to you. I'm heading to San Francisco now so I'll be home shortly. You'll have to tell me all about the festival. Sorry again~" I say before ending the message and sending it to her. I stick the phone back into my pocket curtly. I sigh as I lean over the railing as the coast becomes just a memory.

From here on out, I'm the one responsible for understanding my past on this journey to discover who I really am. The part of me I've lost, and the part of me I am now.

But for now, the ocean awaits.

---

Up ahead lies a beautifully golden bridge spanning the mile wide distance between landmasses while hovering high enough above the water to allow for massive ships to cross under, as was the ports intended purpose. I have heard stories and seen pictures of the famous bridge, but never have I witnessed its beauty before.

The journey to San Francisco was rather dull and filled with a lot of sulking. As I pondered thoughts over in my head, my body felt sad. Drained even. It's hard to explain the feeling of having your mind and body unable to move in tandem with your thoughts.

But as I look out over my railing at the looming city in the distance, I can't help but feel excited about traveling to a new city. Especially one as famous as this. As I approach the port, I notice ships from all backgrounds gathered along the coast. From tiny pleasure vessels to huge military ships, the port had it all. But the most striking feature of the port is one I have become all too familiar with in recent days.

An Essex-class carrier stands proudly off to the side of the San Fransisco bay. With the city painting in the background of her figure, I watch silently as I pass by the Essex-class. My wake rocks nearby ships gently while my ship moves onwards, sailing straight into a much more well-maintained dock than the last one. Throwing my moors over ship, dockhands stand at the ready to receive them. Once my ship is moored, I hop off and onto the concrete, bowing to the dockhands with respect.

As I stand upon dry land for the first time in days, I take in the sights. The sunset dusk dazzles the city in a beautiful golden blur as the city's lights begin to come on one by one. There are far fewer trees than Charleston however this concrete jungle reminds me of home in Osaka. The awe-struck inside me as I look over the horizon at the city of San Francisco makes my hair stand on end. I find myself staring at the beautiful sunset for a moment too long and fail to notice a familiar presence approach me.

"I hate to interrupt ya-" A feminine voice says next to me, causing me to jump slightly. The blonde-haired woman chuckles. "Sorry, did I scare ya? Didn't mean ta."

"S-sorry, I was just so focused on the sunset that I didn't notice you arrive. I swear I'm not usually that jumpy." I respond, trying to calm my racing heart. Something about this woman says I should fear her.

"Ah it's alright, I should have announced my presence sooner. I'm Hornet by the way. Yorktown texted me to come greet ya when you arrived." Ah that's why my body begs me to run. This woman is partially responsible for the retaliation strike against Japan during the Second World War. Something that has clearly left a lasting impact on me even as I can no longer remember the event. "When I saw a destroyer come into port, I sent a scouting plane and sure enough it was a ship waving the Sakura Empire's flag. Welcome to San Francisco~"

"Thank you. Then you must be Yorktown's younger sister?" I ask in confirmation. The yellow aircraft carrier nods her head.

"Darn right. She said you were going through an Awakening, and to help in any way I can. So here I am." Hornet says happily, extending her arms and letting her hardly clad breasts bounce for the world to see.

I pause for a moment, raising an eyebrow towards the carrier. "You went through the same thing your sister did?" I ask curiously.

Hornet's happy-go-lucky expression turns a little more solemn. "I was one of the lucky ones. All of my sisters returned to me. Even I returned to them in a great miracle. We've all had our struggles, especially Enterprise, but we all made it in the end. We recall everything about our past lives and have come to terms with them." She pauses as she looks to the water flowing around in the port. She shakes her head clear of thoughts.

"But enough about me. This is your Journey, is it not? I'm here to help however you need." Hornet says happily.

During my time on my ship, I printed out pictures of the surviving members of Hiroto's family. I take them out and unfold them from my pocket to show to Hornet.

"I need help finding these people, they're important to me… I just don't know why. Can you help me find them?" I ask.

Hornet bends over to look at the images, scratching her chin in pensive thought. "Yeah, I should be able to do that~ After all, what good are scouting planes if you don't use em~" She winks at me with her greenish-golden eyes.

I can't shake the unsettling feeling within me. I have grown up in a world where there has been no reason to fear another ship from the Eagle Union, especially not a Kansen. Having something inside me begging to flee is a sensation I don't particularly like.

Hornet extends her rigging just as a flight of scouting aircraft takes off from her flight decks. I'm half expecting to see propeller aircraft and can't help but feel slightly surprised when modern-aged jets take off from the flight deck and hover around the sky.

"It might take them a moment to find who you're looking for, why don't we go have a few drinks? You know, as girlies~." Hornet asks as the sun finally sets upon the horizon.

'NO!' the voice within me screams.

I smile brightly at the yellow-haired carrier. "I would love to~ Hopefully you know a few good places that serve Sake around here." I tease.

"I think you'll find our variety of East Asian cultures will more than suit your needs." The carrier teases back.

"Thank the Kami, I've missed Japanese cuisine dearly. Not to say anything against American cuisine of course."

"Good because I don't want to hear any slander." She laughs before she finishes the complete sentence.

We laugh together under the night sky, walking with purpose down the crowded streets of San Francisco. The first thing I notice is how much trash is lying around the city. Though Charleston was plenty of a culture shock, seeing such a dirtied city street was something else entirely. Cars pass by us as we take our time walking to a local bar. As we walk, we talk about my visit to her sister. She asked a lot of questions about how Yorktown was doing and if Yorktown was taking care of herself. Being the youngest of the sisters, her personality is far more bubbly than the older ones. From what I've learned, Enterprise seems to be stone-cold serious all the time. Always reminiscent of older times.

Just hearing the name Enterprise strikes fear into my very core.

We finally arrive at the bar where we are greeted very loudly in Japanese. "IRASSHAIMASE". Now that sounds like home. I peel the curtain away as I enter, holding it open for Hornet to follow. A loud cheer echoes across the bar as Hornet shows up, she waves wildly to the occupants.

"Hornet! You're back!" One of them shouts. "Can't believe you haven't visited in so long." Other calls. The chatter of the bar picks up in intensity as everyone tries to greet the carrier by shouting above the others.

"Alright alright, quiet down. You're going to upset Mr. Yamoshida." The golden-haired carrier says, raising a finger to her lips and winking at the patrons. A disgruntled older man captains the kitchen, with his eyes almost closed he cooks food in a bowl, tossing it stir fry style. The only sign that he noticed us was by nodding to Hornet.

Much younger boys man the bar, each spitting images of a younger Mr. Yamoshida. Hornet leads the way and takes a seat at the bar, watching as menus fall onto the desk.

"Oh no, I already know what I want. Atago?" Hornet asks happily.

"Just some Sake for now. Whatever you recommend." I respond with a smile, causing the younger man to blush deeply. Glad to see my charms haven't worn even if my mind feels like it has.

"I'll have a Margarita darling~" Hornet says flirtatiously to the bartender. The boy leaves and prepares our drinks, setting them down in front of us. I take the cup of Sake and sip it gently. It tastes very similar to most of the Sake at home.

Hornet turns to me as she sips a bit more deeply on her Margarita. "So. Where are you on your Awakening?" She asks me straightforwardly.

I hesitate for a moment, looking at my reflection in the Sake. My golden eyes reflect brilliantly upon the still liquid. The mole underneath my right eye a reminder of who I am.

"Memories are starting to come back to me. Unfortunately, they're not the pleasant ones…" I say, casting my gaze over to Hornet for the briefest of moments. "But it's almost like each one needs an event to trigger them. Certainly, I don't have to retrace my entire past life's steps do I?" I ask the carrier.

Hornet sighs. "My memories came back relatively the same way. It only took one major event to remember everything though. And I only know it's everything because I say it's everything… if that makes any sense. Like if it wasn't everything, I wouldn't say everything."

I chuckle. "The more you say 'everything' the more confusing it becomes."

Hornet laughs. "Yeah sorry. You'll know what I mean soon enough."

I sip once more on the Sake. "What was your moment where you remembered everything?" I ask curiously.

"That's hard to admit out loud you know." She chuckles as she too looks longingly into her drink. "I made a journey to the Santa Cruz islands… a special research boat brought me there and allowed me to see my wreck from the monitors on their ship broadcasting a submersible's camera display. It was as I was staring at the twisted and malformed metal, that one of the researchers pointed out, 'And here is where we pulled your wisdom cube out of.' they had cut a hole in the side of my ship and upon looking within that hole did I finally remember everything."

I stare in curiosity at the carrier. "It's likely that the same research vessel also saved you. They specialize in Wisdom cube salvaging. But every Kansen is different when it comes to their true Awakenings. My sister for example she-... She probably wouldn't like me talking about that without her here." Hornet says a little disappointedly.

I giggle at her playful disappointment. I take another sip of my Sake, but as I drink I notice out of the corner of my eye Mr. Yamoshida staring directly at me. I set the drink down and stare back at him as he continues cooking. Hornet looks over to see what I'm staring at as she pinpoints the source as Mr. Yamoshida.

"Everything alright, Mr. Yamoshida?" Hornet asks earnestly, tilting her head.

The old man opens his mouth to speak, and in fluent Japanese, he says, "You aren't related to the Tsuyoshi's are you?" My eyes open wide with surprise. My mouth must be agape because Hornet closes it for me before a fly gets in.

Hornet speaks for me as my mind completely stops working at the coincidence. "I don't know if she's related to them or not, but she is looking for a Mr. Tsuyoshi."

I nod my head to the cook. Mr. Yamoshida raises an eyebrow. "You've got the eyes of a Tsuyoshi. If you're looking for them, I can give you their address. The whole family lives under one roof. A lot cheaper. Rent here is insane." The bar cook writes down a couple of names and numbers on a pad of paper. He rips the page and hands it to me.

"I hope this helps. Tell the old fart we're even now." The old man spits out. I nod to him in thanks. I look down at the note and read the numbers and letters written across it. An address. I get up from my seat and run towards the entrance without saying a word, leaving Hornet behind and alarmed.

"Oh shoot, I should go after her. Here's the pay~!" She slams the money onto the table before getting up to follow me out of the door. "Bye everyone~" She calls before taking off after me.

…

It was not nearby. The address written on the note was several miles away from the port in a part barely even considered San Francisco. But as I approach the house, it seems rather massive. Especially considering its location. A white picket fence stretches out across the lawn which is well-kept and watered. I read the plaque on the side of the mailbox. On it is written one name. "Tsuyoshi".

My heartbeat begins to swell as a sense of overwhelming grief and anguish washes over me. But also a deeply rooted desire to see what is beyond the door. The two urges battle within me until eventually the desire to see this to its conclusion gets the better of me and I walk to the door. Just before I'm about to knock, the yellow-haired carrier swoops in from on top of her jet onto the sidewalk. She brushes off her skin as she lets out a thrilled exhale.

She watches me as I stand at the door, mere moments away from knocking. I look to her. She gives me a thumbs up as she leans against what was once a jet now transformed into a motorcycle. I nod slowly, raising my fist to knock on the door.

I rasp my closed fist against the door three times, waiting to hear a response within. My heartbeat races as I hear footsteps from beyond the thick oak door close nearer and nearer. Finally, before I can have second thoughts, the door opens. On the other side is a teenage girl with raven hair and golden eyes staring at me up and down. "Yes?"

"Hi there~ I was wondering if-" I am cut off before I finish the sentence. The girl gasps with everything she has before running off down the hallway. "GRANDPA!" She trips and falls on the slick hardwood floor as she tries to make a sharp turn before getting back up and continuing her run down the hall. "GRANDPA!" She shouts again, the voice echoing deeper in the house.

I turn back to Hornet and shrug. She finds the interaction funny and begins laughing.

As I peek into their house through the open door, I see the halls decorated in photos and paintings. Each one of the paintings includes… me? And another figure too blurry to see. Or perhaps a figure I am unable to see.

I can hear him before I see him. The sound of a cane hitting the ground sounds closer and closer before eventually an older man hobbles his way into view. His movement is slow, but he otherwise he seems young for his age. His hair streaks silver and his eyes glow a shallow gold, the life he once held within the orbs has been corroded over time.

As he approaches the door, something within me desires to run up and hug him. I repress the desire and allow the old man to finally meet me face to face. I recognize him from the photos I found on the Internet. This man is Iritio.

He stares directly into my golden orbs for an uncomfortable amount of time. He uses his cane to hold himself up to my height, though in his old age he has shrunk much smaller than me. His eyes grow wide in recognition. He takes a photo sitting on a desk and holds it up next to me. As I look over to view the photo I'm surprised to see myself sitting down and smiling for a portrait. A memory washes over me of the moment the photo was taken. But before I can learn anything, the memory is gone.

The old man gasps as he compares me to the photo. In surprised shock, he lowers the photo with tears welling in his eyes. "M-Mom?" He barely manages to call out through his aging vocal cords.

My eyes grow wide and my heart soars. The memory of holding this man in his very first moments of life comes back to me like a tsunami of emotions. He was so tiny and only a newborn. Now he is almost 80. My body acts on its own, bursting into the house and hugging Iritio with everything I have without breaking his fragile back.

I feel my own tears start to well up as I hug him. I let out a powerful gasp before giving in to the urge to let the tears flow like a waterfall. The old man wraps his frail arms around me in a hug, squeezing as tightly as he can.

"T-this isn't a dream, is it? It's really you?" He asks through his own tears. I can't give him an answer immediately, too overcome with relief and happiness to even form words. Hornet watches our embrace with an all-knowing smile plastered on her face.

"Y-yes. Yes it's me Iritio. I'm so sorry…" I let out, though the words don't feel like mine.

He clings to my back as desperately as he can, sobbing into my uniform as he does so. "I-It's alright Mom. I forgive you." He says between sobs. The two of us grasping each other tightly in a mess of emotions. As we embrace, members of the family begin rushing to the door to see what is the matter.

"What's going on-" A middle-aged woman asks. She is quickly silenced by her daughter who has been watching the whole thing unravel. Soon enough, the teenager's father and brother walk into the room wondering the same thing. They are silenced by the two women as the embrace in the entryway continues.

It only takes the rest of the family a moment to realize who I am. With my image plastered across their walls, it would be hard not to understand. As both of our grasps falters, we release each other and take a step back to see what has become of us.

"I-I don't understand… How are you…?" He stampers, hardly able to hold himself up with his cane. "After all these years…"

"I'm sorry Iritio. I've got so much to explain. But first, do you mind introducing me to your family~?" I ask kindly. He turns around with tears running down his wrinkled face. "Everyone. This is my mother. Atago. Atago, this is my family. My son and his wife, Himmel and Yuki Tsuyoshi." He motions to the two other adults in the room. "And their children, Maya and Kaito." The two stand and wave awkwardly, unsure as to how to act.

I bow deeply to all of them. It's almost uncanny how similar my descendants look to me. Maya is simply a teenage version of me. Beautiful in every way with even a similarly placed mole under her eye. Kaito has a mole underneath his opposite eye but looks much like a gender-bent version of myself.

Iritio turns back to face me. "Mom… how are you…? We saw your wreckage… We thought you were dead…"

I take a deep breath in and out, looking each of them in the eyes before speaking next. "It's a long story… Do you mind if my friend sits in and listens? She's helping me out in a place I'm not too familiar with." The group looks over to Hornet who is currently still leaning against her motorcycle. She salutes lazily and lets out a "Yooo." in greeting.

Iritio nods. "Of course she can. Everyone recognizes Hornet when they see her."

Hornet takes this as an invitation to come into the house and sit herself down in the family room. The gathering of people make their way to the room as well. The chairs are aligned in a circle so it makes storytelling far easier. Once everyone is seated I take a deep breath.

"Hello~ My name is Atago. I am the lead ship of the Sakura Empire's Atago class guided-missile cruisers. But you all might know me as the heavy cruiser Atago." I get a lot of blank stares from the peanut gallery. "A little under 20 years ago, I came into this world as the Sakura Empire's most modern destroyer. I had no memories of who I was or the life I knew before. And to an extent, I still don't. But I am that person you knew before. Before coming here today, Iritio, I had no idea I was your mother." Iritio's expression remains the same. "All of the tiny bits and pieces of memory I have of my past life have all come to me within the last week or so. Which is why I come before you today. I need help restoring the part of me I lost all those many years ago. Knowing what I do now, I can see we've all had significant influences on our lives even without being physically present for most of them. Even simply arriving here has helped my memory tremendously, so I appreciate any help you can provide. I know this is a lot to ask of someone you just met but-"

"Mom." Iritio interrupts me. "We understand. At the very least I do. If I had not seen your wreck myself I might have thought you were crazy. But here you are. Standing not even a day older than when you died. The same thing cannot be said for me." Iritio chuckles weakly as he gets up from his chair and hobbles with his cane. "Come with me mom, I have something to show you."

Iritio gets up from the family before walking away from the living room and down the hall. I watch as he slowly makes his way towards the hallway before turning back to the family. I bow deeply to them as I chase after Iritio.

"I told you she wasn't dead! We never found her Wisdom Cube!" Kaito jabs at Maya.

"Alright alright, I'm still in shock at how beautiful she is. Did she really birth a child?" Maya asks.

"Kids, don't talk about your Great Grandma behind her back like that. And besides, I've never seen an old Kansen in my life." Hornet adds in. "Well, I guess I'm pretty old by human standards."

I ignore the conversation and continue down the hallway decorated in Japanese memorabilia. I pause as I look over each photo like I am at an art museum. Each one is different. But a common trait in all of them is a peculiar-looking ship with three bowside turrets and two sternside. I recognize the ship, even in the grainy and colorless photo. A vivid memory comes back to me.

I stand quietly off to the side as an important figure gives a speech. Once the speech is done, the man cuts a ribbon, and the titanic sound of metal skating down a railway blasts next to me. The hull I had seen in the picture rolls off the rails and into the water. A christening.

Just as the jubilation from the crowd dies down, the man bends down to one knee so we are faced eye to eye. His eyes pierce my own, his old and tired face like that of Iritio's. The man holds out a Katana for me to take, speaking as he does so.

"You are bound by this Katana to the Sakura Empire. This Katana is proof of your loyalty to the Empire. I trust that you will gain your honor and bring glory to the Sakura Empire. With this, I put my faith in you that you may be fit to hold the name Atago."

As I grasp onto the katana I am suddenly broken from the illusion. I gently touch the glass holding the photo frame as the rest of the words come to me.

"On my honor, I will bring victory to the Sakura Empire…" I say just underneath my breath before following Iritio's footsteps into his room.

His room is small but filled with small items he's received over the years. Many are purely sentimental. But one in particular stands out. A katana rests sheathed on top of his dresser. His bed is wide enough to fit two people, but the other side of the bed seems firm. As if no one has slept on it in years. Iritio is digging through a drawer, picking up items every so often and holding them in his hand. I watch and wait as he closes the drawer and turns back to me standing in the doorway.

He walks over to me and sighs. "I had given up on seeing you again many many years ago…" He says solemnly. "And now that you're here I'm not quite sure how to react. But I know if you ever came back I would return some things to you…" He says quietly, uncurling his clenched hands and holding out two separate pieces of metal. In one hand he holds a necklace, in the other a pair of rings. It takes all of my will not to burst out in happiness.

I look at both objects, observing each with sentimentality. I look to Iritio.

"What are these?" I ask him.

"We found them lying on the ocean floor with the rest of your wreck. While I don't know the story behind the locket, it has your's and Dad's names on it."

I look at the necklace. It's a two-part necklace, one for each person so that only when they are together do they combine into a single one. On the left side is the name "Atago". On the right, "Hiroto." They form a heart when they are together. Each side is half of a heart alone.

The memory of when the commander bought them for me floods into my head without warning. We were in Tokyo and I had just come back from a long voyage out at sea. I remember my aching heart wishing to see him again. No matter how hard I try, I cannot picture him. I remember all the things we did after I arrived back. We went shopping. I got a revealing Kimono and tried to get him to compliment me. We ate at a fancy place right before the bombing started. The same bombing conducted by the yellow-haired carrier sitting with my family. In between though, I went to go grab something for the two of us. A locket. Each with our names carved into them. The same one I see Iritio holding.

He continues. "These are your wedding rings. We are not sure for certain since there are no pictures of you wearing them, but we believe this one to be yours." He holds up a beautiful ring, etched with dazzling platinum and decorated with a diamond at the very top.

I pick up both of the rings and examine them very closely. Just as before, I am reminded of a memory.

The sound of leaves blowing in the hot summer wind. A rushing waterfall remains just silent enough to understand the rest of the world around me. The smell of heat mixing with foliage. My breath is being taken away by the magnificent view and the lack of oxygen so high up on a mountain. Behind me stands a Torii gate, stationed tall on the midsummer's day. This place reminds me of the place I visited while under Yorktown's dream. I can feel the water lick at my heels as I stare at a blur. He's down on one knee and holding open a box. Inside the box lays a beautiful platinum ring. The same ring I stare at now.

The same place as before. Is that where he proposed? And why is he still blurry?

I feel tears well up in my eyes as words flow from my mouth. But they no longer feel out of place. They feel like me. "I thought I these were gone forever… I can't believe you found them… thank you for returning them to me, Iritio…" I say, smiling through my glistening eyes. Iritio smiles as well, placing his palm upon mine.

"I have one last thing to show you…" He says kindly, walking over to the dresser and grabbing the katana off of its stand. "This was the last thing recovered from your wreckage. They sent it to me after restoring it to its former glory." He holds out the Katana for me to grasp. My body tenses and freezes. Everything within me begins to feel out of place. Suddenly, my head feels as though it is splitting open. My body refuses to cooperate with me as I find myself on the the floor, gasping for air.

"Mom?!" Iritio lets out through scrapped breath.

As I heave on the floor I suddenly recall everything. Every moment I have ever existed. My christening. My missions. My time in the ocean. My ship. My final moments. My sisters. Everything. Everything except the face of the man I loved.

I heave out a final cry as I crawl on the ground, trying to collect my bearings. It's as if I'm finally awake after being asleep for hundreds of years. I cough as if I had just inhaled enough water to fill my body thrice over and I was desperately trying to get rid of it. In this moment I finally no longer feel alone. Like I am complete.

I cough once more before taking a few deep breaths. I try to slow my heartbeat and claw at the feeling of ghost injuries covering my body just as Hornet rushes over to see what is the matter.

"Atago are you alright!?" She looks at the locket and rings in my hand and the extended Katana being held by the confused Iritio. A wave of understanding suddenly washes over her as she looks down at me with a lucrative smile. "Give her some space, Granddad. She's going to need it."

As I collect all of my scattered thoughts, I am suddenly confronted by current reality. I take a few more deep breaths in and out before climbing to my feet with one final sigh. Though on the inside I feel composed, on the outside I'm a sobbing mess. My golden eyes swell with tears and I sniff desperately trying to hold back the waterworks. My face contorts with unimaginable grief as I suddenly wail out in agony.

Everything comes rushing back to me all at once. Every happy moment. Every sad moment. Every pain and every agony in excruciating detail. I grasp the rings and locket to my chest as I keel over in sorrow, my tears falling to the floor. But most of all I cry because I cannot remember the man I loved. When he speaks there is no sound. When I look at him I only see a blur. And when I watch as we slip beneath the waves I remember that I will no longer be able to see him.

Suddenly, as I'm crying I feel a multitude of hands caressing my back lovingly. I look up and through my tears I see my family standing over me, each one of them patting me on the back tenderly.

"Y-you guys." I sob. Grasping all of them in one big bear hug. Hornet smirks as she watches, making her way outside to the family room so as not to interrupt the moment.

"Look at all of you! I birthed a pretty beautiful lineage if I do say so myself." I tease through my tears, the others laugh politely as we embrace. "I'm so sorry I missed all of this… Watching you all grow up… I would give anything to go back and make it right."

Iritio shakes his head. "We've all lived our lives to the fullest in your memory. You have nothing to be sorry about. You've been through more than any of us could imagine…"

Hearing my son's words causes a gentle depression to flow over me as I remember exactly everything that's happened both since I've been gone and leading up to my death. But as my family surrounds me, I couldn't feel happier. As I calm myself and my tears dry, we release each other from the hug. I stand up and try to dry my eyes with the palm of my hand.

I look to the sword Iritio carries and gently take it from his grasp, bowing deeply to my son. I hold the sheathed sword to my side where the sensation feels natural. I take in a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

Iritio nods to me before speaking. "Do you remember anything about dad?" He asks.

A pause of sadness halts me in my tracks as I shake my head no. Iritio nods his head in understanding.

"There is only one person alive who would know any information on dad that would be useful for you…" He says with a long pause proceeding. "The only surviving member of the Takao class. Takao herself."

A fleeting moment of pure joy causes me to shout out loud in exclamation. "Takao is alive!?"

"She is, though we have never personally met, she was also there on the day we found your wreck. Understandably she was a little detached from the whole ordeal so she didn't speak much and spent most of her time on the bow." Iritio explains. "But I overhead that she was returning to Singapore. If you're lucky, you may find her there. She must know all about your time with dad."

I nod to my son in understanding. "If it's alright with you. I think I might stay with my family for a while." I say with a smile and through the water welling within my eyes.

Iritio begins to cry as if he's been waiting to hear those exact words.

"Of course." He says.

---

"Ready to go, Atago?" Hornet asks from outside the door of my family's house. She holds a suitcase which houses all of my items I had received from my family during my brief stay.

I wait at the door as I say goodbyes to my family, the past few days have been some of the most enjoyable in my life. We've gone places, seen sights, and talked about memories.

"One sec, Ms. Hornet." Iritio says as he hobbles over to me. We embrace each other lovingly as mother and son. As we part, Iritio hands me a framed photo and a family picture. I turn them around curiously to examine the contents of each photo. The family photo is a lovely picture of the entirety of my family gathered around for a beautiful shot in front of the beach. Iritio stands in the center with his children standing behind him and the youngest ones sitting before him in the sand.

"Awww, this will never leave my side." I say warmly, grasping onto the photo like it would kill me to let it go.

I flip over the other photo and widen my eyes. Nestled neatly in a frame is a black and white photo of me, all of my sisters, and a blurry Hiroto standing around each other. Takao has a half scowl plastered across her face as I recall we had interrupted the ever serious Takao's training exercises to get the shot at the perfect time. The poor photographer could not get Maya to smile no matter how hard he tried. Chokai leans over Maya playfully, smiling and holding out a peace sign. Hiroto and I stand in the center of my sisters, smiling happily and with love in our eyes. Or at least, my eyes. I'm sure Hiroto is smiling as well.

"T-thank you… How did you get this?" I ask all of them.

"Let's just say I have some friends in Japan." Iritio's eldest says with a wide smile.

"Thank you, so so very much. I already miss you all. I'll make sure to visit plenty from now on~!" I say as everyone gives me one last hug goodbye.

"Don't forget you you still have a job within the Azur Lane, Mom." Iritio teases me.

I roll my eyes. "Like they're gonna stop me from seeing you~" I wink towards my family before turning around and walking towards Hornet.

"Bye Atago!" Maya shouts from behind the adults, trying to wave goodbye to me. "See ya Great-grandma!" Kaito shouts next to his sister. I blow kisses to each of them before waving one last time goodbye.

I walk up to Hornet who leans confidently against her motorcycle. "Ready to go, hot stuff~?" She teases.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I say, hopping onto the back of her bike. I stuff all the extra items they had given me last second in my bag, looking over each of them one last time before zipping the suitcase.

…

Hornet drives me up right against my vessel which bobs gently in port as it always had. The ship reminds me of my sister, Ashigara who I had left behind at the port and still hasn't responded to me. I fear something terrible has happened in my absence. In the grand scheme, I have known Ashigara far longer than I ever knew any of my other sisters. She has become just as much a part of my life as the other three.

As the motorcycle comes to a stop, Hornet undoes her helmet before taking the one she offered me from my open hand. She props up the kick stand as we both hop off of the bike. I extend the handle on my suitcase and set it aside as I sigh towards Hornet. "I guess this is it." I say to her.

"I'm gonna miss ya 'Tago. It was nice having someone I could talk to." She responds, holding a hand on her hip.

"Thank you, for accompanying me in this strange place. I couldn't have made it without you."

Hornet blushes lightly as she tries to dismiss the thought. "Naaah, you would have been fine without me. Yorktown did all the heavy work."

"That doesn't mean her younger sister didn't do just as much." I say with a smile.

Hornet sighs. "Make sure you keep in touch, I'm going to be real mad the next time you visit your family if you never text me." She says playfully.

"I'll make some extra trips here just for you and use my family as an excuse~" I tease.

"Oh come on that's meeeaaan. Throwing your family under the bus so easily."

"I only teaaase~ You know I'd never do that. But I was serious about coming and visiting. Next time, you have to show me everything."

Hornet nods. "I will. See ya later alligator."

I grab my suitcase and launch myself from the dock onto the ship. Before I can even turn around and wave goodbye to Hornet the dock hands are already removing my moors. I wave to the yellow-haired carrier as my moors unleash and I'm free from their bindings.

"Say hello to all the girls of the Sakura Empire for me will ya~!?" Hornet shouts up to me.

"I don't know, that's a pretty tall order. There's so many of them." I shout down to her playfully.

"Think of it as payment for my wonderful experience as a tour guide."

We both laugh as my ship moves away from the port.

We wave to each other for as long as we're in sight. Finally, my ship pulls away and into the harbor. The beautiful early morning sea beckons to me like a sweet aroma. With the sun to my back, I make my way underneath the golden gate bridge and out into the open Pacific. This is where I belong after all.

It's a long trip from San Francisco to Singapore. And even once I arrive there is no guarante Takao is there. My sister… I wonder how she's changed over the years. They've probably not been kind to her… losing all of her sisters and having to live with that for nearly a century. It only makes me want to see her more.

I set my engines to full ahead and drift off into the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

---

My hull bounces against the waves of the unruly Pacific. Mountains of water shoot up from the weight of my bow crashing into the ocean, sending water across the entire deck and onto me as I stand atop the singular turret on my deck. It's much smaller than my old cruiser turrets, but its gyro-stabilized so I don't have to worry about tiring myself out trying to keep stable.

The night sky illuminates my journey. An entire universe expands before my very eyes as I look up to the stars. Just like the humans who had conquered the seas many centuries before me, I am guided by the constellations. They beckon me towards my destination, almost like fate itself if pointing the way I need to go. It has already been a week and I'm nearing the shores of the Philippines. A place I had once laid siege to all those many years ago.

It was recognized by the governing body of the Azur Lane that all Kansen were to be absolved of their crimes except in some extreme cases. Despite this ruling, I can't help but feel a tremendous guilt when I think back to our exploits in the East Asian Sea. We are weapons of war. We were just doing what we were ordered to.

And we paid the ultimate price for it…

War does not determine who is right, only who is left.

As I pensively gaze to the stars I am reminded of the beauty of humans. Though their lives are short and fleeting, they are the most beautiful creatures this world has to offer. They have explored the stars but know so very little about their own place they call home. They push their limits in their short existence. Their love is as boundless as this sea of stars I gaze into. Their compassion extends far beyond even that of gods. Even though they fight and kill each other, they always have hope and the will to make things better for everyone.

We were made in their image, and yet even we fail to compare to them.

"I wonder… if you're watching me Hiroto…" I say, sitting down and staring at the endless expanse of stars above. I gently caress the ring on my finger as I find myself drifting in and out of sleep. The night beckons.

---

When I was last in Singapore, the city-state was known as Syonanto. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was one of the last places I visited before being sunk in Leyte Gulf. I had a whole history lesson about what happened after I sank from Iritio.

Since then, the city has changed significantly. What was once a british colony is now a thriving metropolis filled with buildings that touch the sky and beautiful architecture. I'm almost sure my gps is lying to me as I pull into the harbor. I recall what I had seen just before leaving Japan and noting that it had been the largest gathering of ships I had ever seen. I take back what I said.

The Port of Singapore is massive with a constant flow of traffic moving in and out of it. The amount of ships in the port is truly an astounding number as cargo ships bigger than two aircraft carriers stacked on top of each other patrol the waters with a full load, waiting to take their supplies to China and Japan. Its so packed that I am unable to even make my way into port without first getting in a several mile long line of cargo ships. Finally I approach a permanent dock deep within the port. Multiple tug boats help me align in place. Without their help, there is no way I could have made it into the tight spot allotted to me. I thank the drivers and disembark after making sure my ship is properly tied down.

As I take my first steps into the foreign city, I am reminded just how large the meager city had grown in such a short amount of time. The major trade city is one of the richest in the world, making her a sight to behold up close. Though the main city is a ways away yet, the port is somehow even more lively than San Francisco's. I walk through the crowds of works and dockmates trying to get away from the port and towards the city where a long term investigation awaits me.

"Where are you Takao…" I say beneath my breath. Despite barely surviving Leyte Gulf, her vessel would never sail again. It would later be sunk as a test ship. That made knowing her current location seemingly impossible, but I wasn't going to give up on just that small of a hiccup. I march my way towards the city center, perhaps there is some information I can glean from the locals.

"What I would give for Hornet's planes right now…" I say aloud to myself.

The city is not nearly as far from the port as I expected. The city-state itself is very clumped together which will make narrowing down a certain dog eared Kansen much easier. My own canine ears flick from side to side, listening to every conversation as I walk down a street filled with looming skyscrapers and congested traffic.

The city is bustling with all walks of life. So much so that I find it impossible not to bump into people constantly as I'm distracted by my search. I tower above most of the city's inhabitants. It's obvious I'm starting to attract attention by the looks and whispers in the streets. Though I figure this may work to my advantage. If anyone knows anything about the whereabouts of my sister, they'll probably approach me. We do look similar after all.

Without any luck in the streets I decide now might be the best time to start asking around. Surely such a beautiful woman would turn some heads. I find a local gorcery store that seems to have a decent amount of foot traffic and decide to check it out first. I walk into the store and immediately approach the counter. I attempt to speak in Malay first, "Hello~ I was wondering if you've happened to see a woman that has a similar appearance to me at all? She's my sister." The clerk shakes their head no to which I give an exasperated sigh. "Oh well, thanks anyways~" I say before leaving the store.

This is going to be harder than I thought. If she isn't here, there will be no way for me to know. Suddenly a thought occurs to me. I open up my phone and swipe into a social media app. I guarantee even Takao could not resist the temptation of social media.

I type in the name "Takao" and a surprising amount of results appear in the bar. Everything from fan pages to full detailed histories of each of her battles. Something to tease her with in the future. No luck, that is until I find a user simply under the name "Takao". When I click on their profile, high quality images of Singapore appear with cute little captions to them. Sometimes the account posts quotes and other poetic material. But finally I got the evidence I needed through one of their photos.

"Oh dear sister~ You've gotten sloppy without me~" I tease her through the screen. In one of her few posts, my sister had accidentally left a street sign in the photo with the caption "home sweet home". I quickly input the street into my map and begin walking towards that direction.

"I'm on my way sister."

…

The street in which she photographed ends in a dead end. Surrounded on every side by monolithic apartment complexes, I certainly have my work cut out for me. I ask some of the locals about Takao and they all tell me the same thing. She's almost like an urban legend, only occasionally going outside to get everything she needs before secluding herself up in her apartment. But her beauty is what makes her a legend. Nearly everyone I talked to commented the same thing about me.

Thanks to the help of the local people, I found the specific apartment building she lives in. That being said, I now have to go to each and every door and ask if this is the Takao residence. I walk into the apartment and begin my search.

I knock so much that my hand feels like its going to fall off. Each floor has several dozen rooms, each with their own tenants and stories. After the first few floors I begin to feel a sense of futility. There's a chance she isn't even home and if that's the case then I might miss this opportunity forever. Each floor I climb and every door I knock on the situation looks more and more bleak.

Knock after knock after knock and still no one answering to the name "Takao". Finally, as I reach the final door I prepare myself one final time to knock. I straighten myself out and clear my throat which has become hoarse through all the talking. I rasp on the door, to which it opens part way with a chain lock separating me and the person on the otherside of the door. Many other tenants had done this same thing.

I force a smile and begin my speal from the beginning. "Hi~ I was wondering if someone by the name of Takao lived here?" The voice on the otherside is clearly male. "Sorry, you've got the wrong room." He says before promptly shutting the door. I sigh in defeat. That was hardly the first time someone had been curt with me, but it certainly hurt the most.

I take the elevator back down to the first floor. I have done enough walking for one day. As I exit the building I rest my tired body on the highest step leading up to the apartment complex. I rest my head in my hand as I think about what to do next. It's getting late, I could sleep in my ship but that's a very long walk back the way I came. Right now I just want to fall asleep on these stairs…

"Atago…?"

I know that voice.

My ears twitch up excitedly as my body is slow to catch up. I look up and down at the sidewalk a few steps below me and see a face that matches mine. The woman's raven hair is kept up in a long pony tail that stretches far past her waist. She wears a secretary's uniform with tights reminiscent of her old style and a top that stretches in all the right places. She had been carrying groceries but dropped them upon seeing me.

As I slowly begin to recognize the woman, I notice the perplexed and slightly worried look on her face. This woman is the sister which I lost all those many many years ago.

"A-atago?" She says once more, as if waiting for me to say something to confirm I'm not an apparition.

When I open my mouth I can't think of anything to say. I spent the entire trip across the Pacific wondering what I would say and now that its come to it I can't think of a single word. I realize quickly that it's because tears had begun choking me up at the sight of my younger sister. I hiccup as the waterworks begin.

"T-takao-" I try to get the words to escape my mouth but I'm quickly silenced as my younger sister sprints at me before throwing herself into my arms.

Through the shock I can hear Takao whimpering, trying desperately to keep her tears to herself in public. She sniffs and rubs her watering eyes against my uniform, grasping me so tightly I feel I might pop. She must have gone through so much pain over these past 80 years. Suddenly, it's almost as if my feelings no longer matter.

I stroke a hand through Takao's hair, making sure to get behind her ears as the two of us embrace in a sloppy mess upon the stairs. I can feel Takao's muffled cries on my body, the poor girl writhing as she tries to hold herself up in the strange position she fell into my arms.

"There there~ Atago's here now." I say calmly through my own tears.

Takao takes a single sniff before pulling herself off me, her beautiful features drenched in her own tears. She stares me in the eyes. "I should slap you for leaving me alone all these years." She says, though she can't help but laugh.

"I know… I'm sorry…" Is all I can manage to say in this moment.

Takao tries to stand back up but finds her balance completely off center. She grabs hold of the railing tightly to keep herself balanced. "How are you… what are you… how did you find… I have so many questions…" Takao stampers out in confusion.

"Maybe I can help explain what happened as we get some groceries. I don't think those are good anymore." I say with a smirk on my face, gazing at the market of food lying on the ground.

"Forget that, we're going to my apartment this second." Takao says, recovering from the initial shock of seeing the dead walk again.

She grabs my hand with the strength of a Kansen and drags me inside of the complex. She walks up to a door which hadn't answered my knocking on the second floor. Figures. She releases me as soon as we get past the door which she slams shut behind her. I can feel a familiar aura radiating off of her. She is furious.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? DID YOU JUST LEAVE ME ONLY TO SHOW UP 80 YEARS FOR GOD KNOWS WHAT REASON?! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THESE YEARS HAVE BEEN!? I HAD TO WATCH EVERY SINGLE IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE DIE WHILE CONTINUING THE FIGHT! AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY REWARD WAS?! BEING STRANDED ALL ALONE IN A NATION THAT HATES ME WITHOUT A SINGLE OPTION TO SAIL BACK HOME AND MY VESSEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN! PLEASE. PLEASE! YOU BETTER HAVE ONE HELL OF A FUCKING EXCUSE." Her face is red from yelling as my raven-haired sister grits her teeth. She breathes manually through her mouth in a seething rage. She breaks down crying after she finishes her rant, she crouches down to the floor in silent agony.

"Takao…" Is the only word that escapes my mouth.

She sniffs. "When you and Maya died, it was just Chokai and I. I didn't learn what happened to Chokai until after the war had finished. I was the last one… Even Hiroto was dead. I didn't want to return home after that… So I stayed here even when given the chance to return home. It felt like the best way to cope with the loss of everyone and everything dear to me…"

A twisting agony tugs at my heart watching Takao in so much pain. She's been so strong for so long. She deserves to know everything.

"The last thing I remember after being hit was your voice on the radio. I remember the agony of leaving you all behind to whatever fate await you. It hurt so much more than any physical pain I was in. The waves claimed me instantly. I scarcely recall the feeling of dying. The world turned cold and my vision blurred. I remember seeing the rising sun reflecting off of the ocean's surface as I sank beneath the waves. Then everything fell silent. For a long moment, everything was silent. No thoughts, no breathing, not even the steady pulse of our cubes. The entire world was black." I begin my story with what I remember of my last moments, hoping that Takao will understand that what follows after is the truth. "Then. I woke up. The world I had been thrown into was nothing like the world I had fallen asleep in. Mankind had made it to space, the internet took the world by storm, and globalization is something I can't fathom even now. But I wasn't the Atago you knew before. I was someone entirely different. I had no memories of my past life and the ship I now found myself at the helm of was something out of science fiction novels. Now, instead of the Sakura Empire, I found myself fighting for a combined fighting force known as the Azur Lane. This was my life until almost a month ago when these terrible headaches began influencing my body. Over the past few weeks, I've been around the world on a journey to find myself. That journey led me to re-discovering my past and with it my memories. Then I learned that you were in Singapore and made the long journey to here. I spent the entire trip wondering what I would say to you, but now that I'm here I can't think of anything to say except…"

Tears start flowing out of my eyes like a waterfall. "I'm sorry…" I sniff. "I'm so sorry Takao… This is all my fault. If I had been listening to my hydrophones back then everything might have been different. I'm so so sorry I left you all alone. Things must have been so hard… I-"

"Atago… stop talking…" Takao says as she hugs me tightly, crushing me with her Kansen strength. "Even after everything and the many decades I've been alone. I'm just glad you're alive. Even if I don't understand how or why, the gods have given me my sister back. Right now, in this moment, I have never been happier." She says, letting her tears fall onto my shoulder.

My eyes wince in anticipation of the sting that accompanies the encore of tears. The two of us hug each other for a long moment, making up for lost time. When we finally separate, Takao speaks first. "C-can I get you anything? It must have been a long trip here from…" She pauses as she's not entirely sure where I've come from.

"San Francisco. And I'll just have a water, all this crying has left me parched." I say through the remnants of my tears, laughing as I finish the sentence. Takao laughs in tandem with me, heading into the kitchen as I kneel down before her floor table. There are four pillows decorating the table but only one of them seems to be used. The one facing the tv has indents from years of abuse by Takao's knees.

Takao returns and kneels down on the same pillow, handing me a water as she drinks Sake fresh from the fridge. "San Francisco huh? What part of yourself did you find there?" She says taking a swig from the bottle of Sake. It seems Takao has become somewhat of an alcoholic in my absence.

I blush as I am not sure how to tell her. "My uhm… my family…" I scratch my cheek sheepishly. Takao stops midway through her drink as she stops to stare in shock at me. She clears her throat before speaking.

"I'm sorry… you and… had a… huh…" She says gazing deeply at the scratches on the table.

I nod at her shock. "We did. A single son a few months before I sank. Each one of them looks just as much like you as they do me. They told me you were on the same boat as them when they found my wreck…"

Realization lights up Takao's eyes. "I knew something seemed familiar about them… Then they probably told you I mostly kept my distance." She says, taking another drink for the bottle.

I nod to her, noticing how much she's been drinking.

She sighs as the heavy cruiser recalls the day. "I was invited by the research team. I heard there was a possibility that we'd find your wreck. I guess it was loneliness that drove me back out to that damned place. It was all I could do not to cry or break out into a rage. You have to understand, your death left a deep scar on my heart…" She says sheepishly, hiding her blush by looking away.

I stare at her with a sister's all-knowing smile. "So I see you're in a rather fancy getup, come on tell your sister everything~." I tease, poking my sister's cheek.

"God you're still the same even after all these years." Takao says with a smirk.

"Hey~! I take offense to that. I've gone through a whole lot of changes these past few weeks." I mock offense.

Takao smiles playfully, "I never said it was a bad thing." She lets a pause hold in the air before speaking. "Well, it certainly hasn't been an easy life in Singapore. Especially not for a Kansen of the former Sakura Empire. Without a hull, work was hard to come by at first. But after years and years and years of having nothing better to do, I worked my way up the social and entrepreneurial hierarchy. Today, you stand before the CEO of the Mediterranean Shipping Company. Turns out sub-immortality suits us quite well." Takao says with a smirk, watching as my jaw drops to the floor.

"You're the CEO of one of the world's largest shipping companies?!" I exclaim loudly, maybe a bit too much so as the sound echoes throughout the apartment.

Takao pleads with me. "Quiet down Atago! I've been trying to keep that under wraps."

I quickly cover my mouth apologetically, my eyes darting swiftly in guilt. Takao giggles. "It's fine, I'm sure I can play it off somehow."

I open my mouth to ask one of the thousand questions swirling around in my head but the words don't come out. I spend a few moments trying to wrap my head around the situation. "So… if you're a CEO why are you living out of such a small apartment?" I ask her.

Takao swirls her drink around in the cup, looking longingly at her reflection in the liquid. "You know, I tried getting my own place. It was even big enough to be called a mansion. But it was so lonely… the wide open spaces only reminded me of how alone I was. I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I wanted to show this place off to my sisters. To hear them praise me and shower me with compliments to no end. Hell I wanted Hiroto to see this place too. But every time I woke up, I realized that everyone was gone and I was all alone… so I moved here. The rent is good and no one asks questions. Plus, it's got a killer rooftop pool."

Takao's story creates tears in my eyes, I wipe them away quickly. Enough of those have been shed to last a lifetime.

"Takao…" I say gently. "Do you… remember anything about Hiroto..?"

Takao looks at me confusedly. "I thought you said you got all your memories back?" She asks curiously.

I grab my arm sheepishly and rub it up and down, a habit picked up from my time with Ashigara. "I-I did… I got all of them back except for the ones containing Hiroto… Every time I see his face in my dreams, or in pictures, or my memories it's all… blurry. Like a haze of fog blocking my vision." I stop for a moment to let Takao digest this information. "So far everything has come back to me through the help and memories of those around me. I was thinking… that maybe you could tell me-"

"Atago… did you come to find me just because you thought I had the key to unlocking a memory?" Takao sounds hurt, her golden orbs locking with mine searching for a lie to my answer.

I'm taken aback by the question. "W-what?! No?! I didn't learn you were still alive until my family brought it up to me! I sailed halfway across the world to see you! You're my sister, Takao. No amount of memory fog will ever change that fact. My son told me that you knew Hiroto best apart from me. It wasn't until that very moment when he said your name that I even knew you were still alive. I understand where you're coming from. To you it must seem like your older sister returned from the dead out of thin-air and now she's just using her younger sister to further her own goals. I know it's been hard for you these many many years, so it's alright to feel that way. I won't bring it up until you're ready. We can go shopping~! Now that my sister's a bazillionaire I can get you the cutest-"

Takao sighs heavily. Her thoughts fighting against each other. On the one hand, she loves her sister very much. On the other, if she does tell her older sister there's always the chance that she leaves again…

"Alright, Atago. Where do you want to start?" She says with her eyes closed.

I hesitate for a moment. I truly don't want Takao to think that I'm using her for my own gain, but I also want to remember. Desperately. I look over Takao's facial features and search for signs. I take a deep breath. "From the beginning. Whatever your first meeting with him was…"

Takao opens her eyes as she thinks back to their first meeting. "I can't remember the time of year but Maya and I had just returned to port after a long sortie. I remember having sent you a letter and before we could even step foot upon the port you were already there to greet us."

I chuckle lightly. "I remember that, I hugged you and Maya so hard I almost pulled a muscle."

Takao laughs gently, continuing her story. "It was a little bit after you arrived a dark-haired man wearing a commander's uniform walked down the street and pulled you off of me. That was my first time meeting Hiroto. He was tall by most standards, even perhaps just so slightly taller than you. But the first thing I remember about him was his smile. He wasn't very impressive upon our first meeting, but after seeing his smile I knew immediately why you were falling in love with him."

Takao pauses to take a sip from her sake. In that time, a vivid memory of a toothy grin flashes across my mind briefly. Like taking a screenshot on a phone. As Takao swallows she continues.

"From there, I saw you two slowly start to bond. Every time I would see you there would always be an unspoken passion between the two of you. After every battle, every date, and every moment spent together I saw your love for him grow and blossom. Honestly, I can't believe it took you as long as it did to get married. And a part of me was jealous of what you had. He looked at you like you were his everything. Like his entire world revolved around you. I wanted to feel loved like that… despite how he first appeared, he turned out to be one of the best commanders I've ever known. He knew how to lead and with his determination, we conquered dozens of islands and won an equal amount of battles in a short amount of time."

A picture begins forming in my mind. Special memories shared between the two of us when no one else was looking. I can finally start hearing his voice.

"You would tell me all about your dates. You especially liked to bring up the one where you gave him a silver locket and thought it was so funny how he thought he broke it."

The memory of the date comes back vividly. It was the day of Doolittle's raid over Tokyo. I can finally see him clearly. His eyes flash brilliantly with his wide smile as he holds the locket in his hand. I pull out the locket tucked underneath my uniform, glancing it over with my thumb tenderly as memories of our bond flood back to me.

Takao stares at the metal locket around my neck distantly, acknowledging it to be the same as the one she wore before. "But you would never tell me how he proposed."

And just like that, my image of him is shattered.

"You only ever told me that he proposed to you on top of your namesake mountain. Other than that the memory was taken to your watery grave." she continues.

All of the build-up to this moment just to have an incomplete memory. But the rest is still there. Bits and pieces of moments. Intimate scenes. Playful banter. The feeling of love. Everything starts coming back to me as I feel water caress my cheeks once more.

Takao watches as I collect myself, staring gently at my sunken figure. I take a deep breath in and out, pulling out the picture with Hiroto and all my sisters. There he stands. Clearly as the water of the Bahamas. My tears stain the parchment.

"Finally…" I say though my voice is strained through my tears. "I remember you, darling…"

Takao smiles warmly as I comprehend the memories swarming back to me. I dive at my sister, collapsing on top of her as she lets out a small yelp. As I pin my sister beneath me and my raven hair drapes over my shoulder, I stare into her golden orbs as we both stare for a moment. I wrap my sister in a long and tender hug, holding onto her dearly.

"Thank you, Takao." I manage to make out quietly through my tears. Takao simply just smiles as she streaks a hand through my hair. As we embrace, time seems to escape from us as night begins descending upon the port city. The sunset paints the walls of Takao's apartment orange and casts shadows wherever it can. I finally release Takao from my embrace and wipe the few remaining tears from my eyes.

We both sit up and chuckle to ourselves at the cruel reality of this world.

We sit in a rather comfortable silence. I begin to laugh meekly.

"You know, we don't need to eat… why were you bringing in groceries?" I ask my sister.

"Hey, just because we don't have to doesn't mean it doesn't taste good." She says with a half-drunken smile.

I smile at my sister. "We'll have to get some food tomorrow then so you can show me how good of a cook you've become."

My sister's normally hidden ears perk up slightly after I finish my sentence.

"T-tomorrow? You're not… going back to go back to Japan and finish your memories?" Takao asks.

I smile warmly at the excited canine girl. "Mount Atago isn't going anywhere." I state with a pause. I look down at my feet as a blush rises to my face. "Plus, I came here to be with my sister… why would I leave so early?"

Takao wells tears in her drunken eyes. My sister lunges at me but I quickly dodge out of the way, watching as her drunk body falls against the couch. As soon as her body hits the soft cushions of the couch, Takao is out like a light. The fading sun cascading a beautiful light upon her magnificent skin.

I mellow at my sister. She was so concerned I would be leaving her so soon that the relief she felt was enough to immediately relax her. "Ashigara…" I say aloud to myself, watching as my sister's chest raises and lowers. Something we didn't technically need to do but it felt natural to do all the same. I still haven't heard back from my sister but I saw that she read my message. She must be really upset about leaving her behind… I can't blame her. I miss my sister dearly… I can't image how it must have felt to her having her oldest sister just up and leave.

I look down at Takao. "Oh no…" I say to myself. I did to her exactly what I did to Takao… "I'm the worst…" I say to myself in a defeated sigh. But for now, I need to take care of Takao for a little while. She's been all alone for 80 years…

I cover Takao up with a blanket and place her sleeping head on a pillow. I kiss her forehead gently before finding a nice spot to set up a spare futon. My exhausted body slumps down on the futon, willingly accepting the gentle embrace of the cushioned mattress.

I take one last look at my sister before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

"Goodnight Takao~"

---

"At… Atago… Atago..! ATAGO!"

I startle awake, raising my head off of the side of a metal desk which I had fallen asleep upon. The ground I lay upon is hard and my body is feeling the side effects from sleeping upon such a firm piece of metal.

"Oh shoot sorry, I didn't mean to startle you but I got worried when you weren't waking up." A familiar voice calls out to me. I turn my groggy head to the left as I look upon the visage of my one true love. I yawn into my hand nonchalantly.

"Good morning, Hiroto." I say.

Hiroto smiles. His captivating grin draws a desire to kiss him out of me but I restrain myself..

"It's the afternoon, Atago. You fell asleep a couple of hours ago. You looked so beautiful while you were asleep that I didn't wish to wake you." He says playfully as I rub the dreariness from my eyes.

"Did I? I feel like I was asleep for weeks. I had this crazy dream." I state, unsure whether I should finish my sentence.

The familiar hum of the active machinery around me paints nostalgic colors across the world before me. I grab Hiroto's outstretched hand as he helps me up off the ground. I look out towards the bow of my ship, three turret houses holding two guns each span the bow of my ship. The blue waters of the East Pacific crash against my hull as we race through the water, tearing like a zipper down a jacket through the ocean.

The hum of my engines causes me to let a sigh escape from my lips. It feels like decades since I last heard their hum.

"You looked like you were knocked out cold, you looked so peaceful as you drooled across the entire panel." He teases me.

I playfully push him as he overplays the push by falling further in that direction. "WoOooOAaaH~!" He says as the rocking of the ship carries him back into me. He flashes his devilish smile as we embrace each other.

"Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?" He says, my own teasing has started to rub off on him. Much to my embarrassment.

"You do like every day commander~" I boop his nose playfully.

A light blush flows over his cheeks as we hold each, our faces mere millimeters apart from each other. I can feel his breath on my lips, his gentle and warm embrace coaxing me into falling for him even harder.

Our pair of lips meet with romantic tenderness, each of us only lightly proding at the other. As we part, I hold onto his bottom lip for a moment longer. The message coming across to him loud and clear.

As the two of us stare at each other, Hiroto begins to speak.

"Atago… come to the mountain with me…" He says seriously.

I look at him confusedly. "W-what? What mountain?"

"Mount Atago. To where I proposed to you." He says seriously.

I snicker. "What are you talking about silly~ You haven't proposed to me." I say playfully. But as I stare into his eyes there is not a hint of playfulness behind them.

I slowly release myself from his embrace and back away slowly. "What's going on Hiroto..?" I ask him with fear starting to over take my body. I look down on my hand and find a ring place dupon it. My eyes start to well up with tears as I look back to Hiroto.

"Please Atago. Everything will be clear when you get there." He says, slowly backing away towards the door to the outside.

I pause in confusion as he starts backing away and my whole world starts becoming black. "Wait! Hiroto!" I shout out to him as he disappears into the black cavern opening up beneath me.

"Hiroto! Wait!" I say once more, reaching out my hand as I too being to disappear. The sound of rushing water plagues my ears until it becomes so loud that no other sound can be heard. I reach out my hand into the darkness before the world around me crumbles completely and I too fall into the abyss.

---

"Hiroto!" I shout as I shoot off of the futon. The morning rays shine through the windows of Takao's apartment and kiss my golden eyes. My out stretched hand breaks up the sun just enough so that I can stare at its rays without being blinded.

Takao is already awake by the sounds in the kitchen behind me. I turn around and see Takao standing in an apron cooking breakfast. She looks at me with concern but in understanding she says, "Another night terror..?"

As I calm down my breathing I nod my head in agreement with her question.

"The same one or different..?" She asks, stirring the pan slightly.

I clench my head in pain. "It was the same one… but…" I freeze before I finish my sentence.

"You've gotten one every single night this week sister… I'm worried about you…" Takao says as she hands me a plate with food on it.

"I know… I'm sorry… but this time he said something… something about the place where he proposed…" I say, finishing my thoughts from before.

Takao raises an eyebrow. "Then it sounds like you need to return back to Japan." She states plainly.

I turn to her to voice my protest. "But Takao!"

"No buts. You've already been here a week. That's more than enough time for me to spend with you to satisfy my desires. From the sounds of it, your husband is calling you back to where it all began. I'm not going to be the sister that gets in the way of something this important." She says, munching on her own food in the process.

"But… what about you..?" I ask her out of concern.

"Now that I know you're alive and we've spent time together that will keep me going until the next time we're together." She says with a polite smile, but deep down I know my sister doesn't truly want me to leave.

I stare at my sister intensely, hardly touching the breakfast she made for me. I sigh in defeat. "I'll leave later today. But I'll be back very soon, okay?" I say.

"I know, Atago. I know. Maybe one of these days I'll get a vacation so I can tag along with you." Takao teases, to which I laugh at.

"Ms. CEO. Has a nice ring to it~" I tease her back.

"Just don't go telling everyone back home how amazing your sister is." She gives me a jab.

I laugh. "You know I can't promise that~"

…

Takao drives me to the port in the company's car where I can see the entire city scroll past the tinted windows of the SUV. The bulky United States made car sits very high up on the road. As we pull into the port, Takao grabs my suitcase and stumbles out of the car. I follow along with her as she hands me the suitcase delicately.

We embrace each other tightly, the parting bringing tears to our eyes.

"Thank you for coming back and finding me Atago." Takao says as she fights back desperately to control her own tears.

"I would have scoured the entire world looking for you, Takao." I say, laughing through the welling tears.

Takao looks over to my hull which I had told her driver to drop me off at. "So this is your new ship? It's not quite as majestic as your old one." She says playfully.

"This one could sink the old one in a heartbeat in a battle though." I tease back at her. "But I do have a fondness for the old one. But I suppose that one is sitting at the bottom of the sea."

"Come back soon alright? If you die on me again I'll personally find your wreck and bring you back just so I can slap you." She teases.

"I'll miss you too, Takao~" I say back to her playfully.

I give her a wink before leaping up to deck of the ship. I turn around to see Takao smiling up at me. "Tell everyone I said hi!" She shouts from the dock.

"Come with me and tell them hi yourself!" I shout down to her.

"You know I can't do that!"

"It was worth one last try~ I'll see you really soon Takao, make sure you text me!" I say over the sounds of my engines starting up.

She waves as my ship starts pulling away from the dock. "Bye Atago~! I love you~" Takao shouts.

"Love you too, Takao~!" I shout back before one final time in this grand journey, I set out to sea. I pass the hundreds of ships coming and going from the port before making it out into open Pacific waters.

One last stop on this voyage.

---

Compared to the rest of this never-ending voyage around the world, the shot from Singapore to Osaka is rather quick. Before I know it, the sight of mainland Japan begins to loom on the horizon, draped in the rising sun. The mountain ranges of Japan cast shadows on their far sides as the sun turns the entire sky a pinkish orange. All along the coast a vast swath of cherry blossoms bloom, planted there as a community philanthropy project by the Azur Lane base several decades ago.

If I recall correctly, the idea was that whomever approached the island during the spring would be greeted with an astounding array of the world's most beautiful tree. They had just started blooming when I left, but by now they were starting to lose their petals. Though the fact that they survived this long is quite the achievement.

I watch as the the port leading into Osaka grows nearer. The last time I was here, hundreds of ships blocked the entrance of the port. Now, only vaguely familiar vessels poke their masts above the the land.

All has returned to normal at the port, as it likely had been for several weeks since my departure. A sense of great nostalgia causes me to sigh as I lean over my railing, rapidly approaching the port in anticipation. The Azur Lane port sparkles in the early morning sun, most of the Kansen just now waking up and attending to duties. I have called this place home for many more years than I did in my previous life. But for some reason I still feel like the ocean is my true home. Even after everything, there is nothing like feeling the rocking of the ship against gentle waves in the deep Pacific. Nor the view of the stars at night without any light pollution.

But all my friends are here. Those I have met along the way and my family. Kyoto will always hold a special place in my heart. I look out over the horizon and find way off into the distance a mountain peak. The same one that I call my own, over looking the city of Kyoto. I put the thought aside for now and slowly pull my vessel into port.

Upon reaching the dock, a couple of dock hands quickly tie my boat down and salute me as I arrive. I salute back, looking at the Kansen with a new outlook. I recognize a few of these faces. Some may not even recognize me, but most of them look familiar to me in some way. I hope off the bow of my ship, carrying all my luggage as I land gently onto the dock.

I take a deep breath, thining about all the things that need to be done now that I've returned. I exhale loudly, letting the sigh leave my body slowly. "First…" I say to myself as I look up the hill where the cruiser dorms are located. "My Ashigara…" I say, dragging my luggage behind me as I quickly make my way to our shared dorm.

I can smell it from here. A distinctly unique smell that only two Atago sisters could make after living there for decades. The constantly dim and moody room beckons like a lullaby calling me home. As I walk down the cement sidewalk, I think about what I'm going to say to her as I've been doing this entire trip. Just like with Takao, nothing comes to mind. I can only hope she isn't so angry that she'll be unable to forgive me…

I walk up to our door and pull out my keys, making a loud noise to alert anyone who may be inside to my presence. There has been more than one occasion where we've both regretted not announcing ourselves before.

I slide the key into the lock and turn it gently, letting the door unlock with a small click. I take a deep breath and twist the knob and opening the door into the oh so familiar room. Immediately on the otherside of the door stands my twin sister, Ashigara. Her identical features mirror my own perfectly. As I open my mouth to say something a lightning quick hand slaps across my cheek.

The clapping sound made from the impact echoes across the entire port as my sister slaps me with so much force it would have killed a human. I look to my sister who has tears welling up in her eyes as she holds the pose she struck me with. I use my left hand to touch the tender spot on my cheek where she slapped, I wince in pain as it burns to the touch.

A glint of water plagues my sister's golden eyes as they shine glossy as glass.

"How could you…" She says, gritting her teeth. "After everything we've been through, you don't even have the courtesy to tell me in person." I see her hand ball into a fist in anger.

"Ashigara I-"

"We've been by each other's side since we were born into this world. From the moment I opened my eyes we did everything together, told each other everything, trusted each other with our everything. For 17 years we've been by each others side. So why is it this the one time you couldn't tell me the most important thing…" She says as she sheds her tears on the ground. "We could have done it together you know? Gone to hells know where to do God knows what. It could have been our grand adventure… something to tell our kids about if we can even have them… But this had to be something you did on your own. Leaving your little sister behind while everyone asks, 'Where's Atago? Where's Atago' well I'm sick of hearing your name. Even just speaking to me about it would have been fine, I understand it might have been something you needed to do on your own but after everything we've been through, you couldn't even find it in you to tell your sister why you were going to be gone. I'm sick of hearing your name. I'm sick of looking like you. I'm sick of acting like you. The very thought of being mistaken as you one more time is going to make me vomit. I'm always just Atago's younger sister and never Ashigara. Deep down maybe I'm jealous you got to go on a journey to find your meaning of life. Because for Ashigara, the meaning of life is looking up to her big sister."

The destroyer sobs, burying her head into her hands trying desperately to hold back the flood gate of tears by wiping them away with the palm of her hand. I try to approach her to give her a hug, but she pushes herself off of me. "I-I don't need your comfort." She says in a huff. "I want an apology. For leaving your sister behind while you completely change. I also want to hear one for ditching me during the largest festival of the year after we agreed we'd tour it together."

I stare at my sister. Takao had been left alone for 80 years but seemed otherwise fine. I had been gone for only a month and Ashigara has completely collapsed. I have known my sister for 5 years longer than even Takao, in that time I have never once separated from her. We did everything together, we ate, we slept, we drank, and we enjoyed each other's company. Only now do I realize how much of an impact I've had upon her life.

"Ashigara… You're right… I'm sorry… I should have brought you along on my journey… at the very least I should have told you about it in person before sailing away for so long… I've been thinking about what to say to you the entire trip and even upon returning I cannot think of a better excuse other than that I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you… you… you mean the world to me…" I say, choking on my own tears. The sting of her slap aggravating my emotions. "And hearing how you can't stand the thought of being like me is one of the hardest things I've ever had to process. I'm sorry that I ditched you after I promised we'd partake in the festival together… I'm sorry that you've been feeling this way for a long time… I know I'm in the wrong here…" I say, failing to meet my sister in her eyes.

Ashigara stares at me intensely. I can feel her determined focus burn holes in my skull. She grabs my suitcase with all of my clothing in it but leaves me with my small traveling bag. "Come back once I've cooled down. I can't think properly like this." She says, her teeth gripping together in a seething anger.

I nod my head solemnly, hanging my head as I walk away. I turn around one last time to see my sister before the door slams shut on me. I really messed up this time… With my sword strapped to my side and the small bag upon my shoulder, I walk away from the port and into the city proper.

Osaka has become completely tailored to Kansen over the decades, with a major part of that reason being the main Sakura Empire Azue Lane base stationed mere moments away. The city is bustling with both humans and Kansen as they crowd the busy street in search for a bite to eat for lunch.

Many of the Kansen walk hand in hand with their commanders. I feel an empty grasp in my own hand as a phantom's touch brushes past me. Hiroto and I could never show our affection publicly. I small hint of jealousy enters my heart. I begin to notice ships I never once thought about in this life but were instrumental in my past one.

A white-haired Kitsune stands at attention behind her commander with her set of nine tails flowing in the gentle breeze. Hardly anyone in the old ranks could miss the one proud carrier Kaga. It's almost surreal despite everything to see her walking around without a care in the world. I wonder if she is like me… If she is still looking for that other part of herself.

I open my phone and type in a website selling shinkansen tickets. I quickly book a trip at the closest time I can make it and close my phone with a long sigh. I fiddle with the ring on my finger. Though my husband is dead, I still wear the ring Hirohito gave me. I look past the rising columns of skyscrapers and out towards the mountain standing upon the horizon.

With purpose in my step, I head towards the station.

…

The white train pulls into the station slowly. I sit on an uncomfortable bench waiting for the train that has just arrived. "Now boarding Shinkansen 113 to Kyoto." the grainy voice upon the loudspeaker calls after allowing all the passengers to disembark. The doors hold open as I stare into the cabin. Part of me wishes not to get off of this bench. I should go back and make up with my sister. God knows I've already hurt her enough…

"Ms? Are you coming?" The conductor asks as I continue to stare into the fluorescent cabin.

I get off of the bench with a sigh. "Yes~ I'm coming~" I say with a smile crawling to my face in kindness. The conductor bows as I enter. He follows shortly after me as the doors close behind.

I spot an empty row and make a line for the window seat. I've only been on a shinkansen a handful of times but there's something soothing about the way the world blurs as you cruise past it at unfathomable speeds. I rest my head against the side of my chair as I watch the station grow smaller and smaller before we're swiftly on our way to Kyoto.

Villages dot the landscape, their small communities flashing by faster than I can process them. The beautiful rolling hills filled with green trees contrast beautifully against the open sky. White fluffy clouds paint the blue hues above. Every once in a while there will be a patch of pink as is normal around this time of year. Some of the trees have wilted and shed their colors while others hold on strong against the torrent of spring.

Before I can hardly process the beginning of our journey down the line, it comes to a sudden and abrupt stop as we pull into Kyoto station. The entire trip lasted only a few minutes. "Now arriving at Kyoto." The loudspeaker says as all of the train's inhabitants quickly reach for their items and prepare to disembark. As we pull into the station, I look out at the majesty of my namesake mountain. It's so close to the city it almost seems out of place. A faint memory tugs at my heart strings.

The doors to the station open, and with that a wave of people exit the shinkansen. I slowly gather my items and exit the train. The conductor bows to me before announcing the next stop along their line.

As I exit through the sliding doors, I look out at the culturally rich former capital of Japan. Despite being so close to Osaka, the atmosphere completely changes between the two cities. Where I felt like I stood in before, I now feel like I'm completely out of place among the astonishingly beautiful jewel of Japan.

I take a deep breath and walk out of the station just as the white Shinkansen leaves towards its next destination. Walking out onto the street, I wave down a taxi which pulls up promptly to the curb. The cab driver seems to be on the older side, but you almost can't tell by how happy he appears. "Hello!" He says as I enter into the passenger's seat.

"Hello~ Is it possible you can take me to the base of Mt. Atago?" I ask the happy man.

"Of course!" He says happily, gently taking the taxi out of the parking spot. We pass by the city of Kyoto slowly at first, battling with mild traffic and the twisting winding roads of the old capital. But once we get past the city center we begin making good time.

The driver and I have filled the spaces in-between with mild conversation, usually ending in about two or three sentences. But as we approached the base of the mountain, he says something I wasn't expecting.

"I recognize you. You're Ms. Atago right?" His voice starts to fail him in his old age.

I quickly whip my head around as he finishes his question. "Uhm… yeah? How did you know?" I ask skeptically.

He chuckles lightly. "I met you once. A long long time ago." He sighs as he recalls the memory. "I'd be surprised if you remember me. I looked a whole lot younger back then."

I stare at the old man, trying to ascertain where I know him from. He bows away sheepishly. "H-hey, just because I'm looking at the road doesn't mean I can't see you staring!" He says playfully.

"I'm trying to figure out who you are." I say seriously.

"Haha, it's understandable if you don't recognize me. We only talked a handful of times. But you're quite impossible to miss, especially given how much you look like your sister."

My eyes widen in recognition. "Y-you're Takao's commander!" I shout perhaps a little too loud as he cringes at the noise. "Oh sorry! You're Takao's commander."

The old man laughs as we near the mountain. "I am. Or I was. I was relieved from duty quite some time ago. Now look at me, driving taxis while I wait for my old age to finally catch up with me." The old man laughs sound almost like wheezes.

"I think you look wonderful for someone who is… what, nearly 100?" I tease.

"102. Thank you for the compliment, but my better years are behind me." He chuckles before growing serious. "How is Takao? Is she alright?" He asks.

I stare out as my namesake mountain looms overhead. The taxi comes to a stop at the foot of the mountain. As I do so, I think back to my reunion with Takao.

"She's… doing alright. She's been very lonely these past years… Though she never once mentioned you." I say curiously.

The taxi driver nods in acceptance. "We didn't leave on the best of terms. She partially finds me responsible for your death. Honestly, when I first saw you I thought maybe death had finally come to take me." He laughs weakly. "And deep down, there's been the guilt that maybe I was."

"It wasn't your fault, we all knew the outcome of the war was likely heading in that direction long before we got there. The fact that we happened to die there does nothing to prevent us from dying later." I say, trying to reassure him.

"Regardless, we had a terrible argument and parted ways. I took the first plane back home and haven't seen her since." The old man continues.

I breathe in deeply through my nose before letting out a gentle exhale. "You should come with me next time I go see her. I'm sure she would love nothing more to see you again after all this time…" I say kindly, knowing that there may not be much time for the two of them to make amends.

"That's sweet of you, Atago. But I'm not long for life. Even a trip by plane would be incredibly difficult for a man my age to perform…" He pauses for a moment, reflecting deeply upon his life up until this very moment.

"But I will try. If it's the last thing I do then it will have been worth the effort. I owe it to her to apologize." He says with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

I nod, handing him the information on her location before exiting the taxi with my bag draping down my shoulder. I shut the door and hang into the window. "It was nice to meet you again after all this time." I say with a smile.

The old man pauses. "I won't pretend to know why you're still alive. But I'm glad you are." He nods to me. I nod back to him, a silent understanding passing between us. I dip my head back out of the taxi and wave goodbye as he pulls away. I really hope he is able to make it to Takao…

I turn around and look up at the massive scale of the mountain I must climb. There are no cable cars to the top of the mountain, all travel must be made on foot. Before the mountain lies a Torri gate, expressing the entrance to the mountain and more specifically the Shinto shrine which lies upon the path. At the base of the hill, the path splits into two directions. The main path is relatively well-paved and filled with tourists taking in the sights. The splitting path is more invested into the mountain's nature.

A splitting headache sears through my mind as a memory unfolds before me clearer than the skies above. I can feel my hand being tugged along by my commander. He laughs as I make a joke before we walk down the longer path through all of Mt. Atago's vivid greenery.

Coming back to reality, that greenery is replaced by the beautiful pink hues of the wilting cherry blossoms. I take a deep breath and exhale into the cool spring air. My feet know which way to go even if I do not. I walk down the splitting path, passing by multiple warning signs saying that this path is harder than the one I was leaving off of.

The mountain foliage flanks me on either side, stray branches coming out and snagging at my ankles. I try my best not to rip my stockings, but a single branch snaps at the nylon and tears a hole into the side. "Aw, those were expensive…" I mutter as I press onwards.

Despite the foliage being denser than fog, occasionally the flora opens up and reveals a breathtaking view which increases in awe as I ascend the mountain. The pink blossoms scatter on the ground, masking my steps as my heels dig into the ground with every step.

The further I get along the path, the more memories return to me. I remember climbing this exact path, weaving in and out of fallen logs and low-hanging branches. I remember Hiroto guiding me up the mountain, refusing to let go of my hand even when it might have been easier to. He promises that the view at the top is worth it and that he must show me. I believe him, as I always have.

So I continue despite not knowing what awaits me at the top.

For four hours I climb, the sun had started setting a few hours ago and multiple hikers pass by me as they desperately try to make it down before the dark. My radar will guide me once the sun sets. But I must know what lies in store for me at my destination while the sun is still in the sky.

I hear it. The gentle sound of a small source of water rushing in a cascading torrent. The leaves rustle in the wind as the sky takes great care of the setting sun. I come into a clearing, a small cliff face which holds a singular Torri gate with a shallow river running through it and off the mountain. A wall of stone stands opposite of the gate, blocking the view of the summit. But I hardly cared as I walk into view of the single most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life.

The sky is painted in a pinkish red as it retreats behind the force of the stars. The cherry blossoms of late spring mark the entire area gently in pink foliage. The bending trees almost beckon me to stand in the center where I can overlook all of Kyoto and its glory.

But it's not the Kyoto I know today.

Beneath me is not the sprawling metropolis of skyscrapers and architectural marvels. In its place is a rather primitive society that uses a mixture of candles and electricity to keep their homes powered. What once was a steel-dominant society is now reliant upon wooden houses and partially or unpaved roads. The tallest buildings are castles which tower above the rest of the scenery. My heart starts beating rapidly, I know what is to come but I am unsure if I can face it.

"Atago…" The voice calls out my name from beside me, I almost dare not turn in fear for what I may find.

I turn my head to the left slowly, keeping my eyes looking towards the ground from which the sound came from.

That's when I see his shoes. His clothing, his skin, his chin, his eyes, his face, his hair. And his smile as he stares at me warmly.

Upon recognizing his entire being, water wells up in my eyes as my face contorts in a conflicting mixture of happiness and sadness.

The man I love is standing before me. He extends his hands outward to coax me into a hug, something I immediately leap at the chance to perform. I walk to him at first before rushing into a full-tilt spring upon nearing him. As the tears cloud my vision, I sprint into his arms, weakly falling to the earth as Hiroto holds me up. I cry into his uniform, hiding my messy face from his view.

I can feel him. I can touch him. This isn't a dream…

As the tears stain my cheeks, I quickly look up at the face of my love, only to find my body moves closer to his lips before they clasp with mine. The two of us hold the connection between each other for as long as possible. At this moment, time seems to stop. All matters of relativity cease to exist as I hold this position for all time.

After what feels like all of eternity finishes, our lips part their unending devotion for each other. I can feel the tears swallowing out my golden orbs as we stare attentively into each other's eyes.

I can feel his hand brush against my canine ears as his gentle touch flows smoothly through my raven hair. It feels like an eternity until I next hear his captivating voice spew forth its pleasant vocals.

"You're even more beautiful than I remember…" He says solemnly with a gentle smile covering his own emotions. He streaks a lanky hand through my hair, hitting all the spots he knows send shivers down my spine.

"Commander… Hiroto…" I say, letting the words spill out from my mouth shakily, my voice unable to correct itself in this moment.

The reflection of the sun on the water shimmers through the ripples created by our reunion. "I know… I'm here…" He says, clenching me into an unyielding hug. The two of us stand in the basking warmth of the late evening sun, a churn of unfathomable emotions spewing from the extended contact.

As the hug ends, Hiroto grabs my delicate hand while lacing it firmly with his before turning out to the vast sea of color extending over the cliff side. "What a world we live in, Atago… It was here upon this very cliff that I proposed to you. I wanted so desperately to make you the happiest girl in the world that I simply fell apart when you said yes. I couldn't believe that I was actually going to be marrying the most wonderful woman in the world." He dips his head sadly as he relives the moment.

"I only wish I could have lived longer to see the world in which we loved so dearly."

I choke up on my words as I manage to speak, "I-I'm sorry Hiroto… I wasn't… strong enough. And because of that, I lost the one person who meant more than anything to me…" I say, looking out over the horizon at the setting sun.

Hiroto shakes his head. "It's not your fault Atago. Even if we would have survived the war, managed to escape the world together, and lived our lives together. I am mortal. One day, you still would have had to say goodbye. And no time is enough to satisfy my desire to spend even more of it with you."

Through my tears, I look to him. The once-blurry figure of my dreams now stands before me. My aching heart cries out in agony as he turns to look at me. His piercing eyes focusing into mine.

I sniff, trying desperately to hold back the onslaught of tears. "I-It's not fair! I still want more time to love you! I want to go on picnics in the park! I want to look at old photo albums and tease each other about how young we were! I want to wake up every morning and tease you about your bedhead! I want-" I break down into tears, my knees falling into the cold water as I'm reminded of the cruel reality of the world. "I want you back!" I wail out into the uncaring world. Only silence is my response.

On my shoulder, I feel a reaffirming touch. His warm hands gently rub my shoulder as he leans down to take care of my aching body.

He gently places a finger underneath my chin before turning my head to face his. His gentle smile plastered across his face makes me wish to cry more, but the desire quickly subsides as he begins to speak.

"But I've always been with you, Atago. I never left." he pauses for a moment as my tears continue to flow. "Every time you woke up in the morning and stared into the mirror, I was staring right back. Every time you looked up into the night sky with its endless amount of stars, I was there. I watched you go on this amazing journey across multiple continents. I saw you meet new people and new friends. Even before your voyages, I've been with you. Every moment of every day. I've been by your side. Now and forever."

My already agonized face distorts further as the one I love tells his story.

"Hiroto… you can't tell me this after everything… how am I meant to continue on living…" I meakly say through my tears.

Hiroto pauses before giving the tips of my ears a kiss. "Because you're the strongest, kindest, most caring, and dazzling star in the sky. Even in the vast expanse of nothingness, your life has meaning. It's in the joy you give to others. It's in the way you touch the heart of a random person by being who you are. And it's how you spread love with everyone around you. That is what makes life worth living."

I slowly get up to my own two feet. Facing to him. "What if I want to be selfish… I… I….." The words refuse to come out of my mouth, it's as if I'm betraying everyone by even thinking about it. "I want to see your smile again…" The corners of my mouth slide up to a smile, I close my eyes and tilt my head as water streaks through the seams.

Hiroto shakes his head calmly. "My time in this world is up. But yours has only just begun. I… this is just as hard on me as it is for you, you know… to finally be able to speak with you again… I don't… I don't want things to go back the way they were. I-I want to be able to go eat picnics in the park. I want to-" He is interrupted by his own tears streaking down his cheeks. "I want to look at old photo albums and comment on how dumb we used to be. And I want to wake up every morning with you lying next to me…" Unable to hold his emotions back any longer, Hiroto's tears drip into the river as they flow freely off of his face.

His breathing becomes shaky as everything pauses for a brief moment. "I want to be yours again." He says.

My entire body hurts. But the pain in my heart most of all.

"W-we can! I can stay here forever and we'll always be together!" I say, rising as I speak.

Hiroto looks out towards the horizon. "I don't think that's possible…" The sun appears to be setting after having hovered in place for a good amount of time. The world around us becomes darker and the city below begins to appear more modern.

I look back to Hiroto in desperation. "No please… this can't be the end!" I beg the uncaring world.

Hiroto's lower body suddenly begins to turn into mist and slowly fades away. "It's never the end, Atago…" He says, his tears betraying his own words. "I will always be with you… even if you decide to move on."

I desperately cling to his body as it gradually dissipates. "I won't! Ever!" I say as my body smothers him.

Hiroto smiles kindly. "Eternity is a long time…"

"Then I'll wait for eternity!" I exclaim.

He sniffs his own tears away as his torso is enveloped with mist. "This is it Atago." He says. "Please take care of your sisters for me… find the other two… make our family whole again."

I cannot process the fact that he mentioned my other two sisters as his body nearly leaves my grasp. "I-I'm sorry, Hiroto! I'm sorry you had to fall in love with me!" I cry into his body one final time.

He snickers at my comment. "Atago… my beloved… my everything… I wouldn't change my love for the world…"

"I love you!"

"I love you…"

Finally, his head evaporates just as the sun crosses over the horizon and the world is plunged into darkness. The winds of change sweep the floating mist away as I'm left alone at the top of the mountain.

I sniff the last part of my tears away as I look out towards the moonlit horizon. The city beckons beneath me, now once again a concrete jungle.

I look up to the stars as they reflect in my eyes. A single star shines brightly through the night.

I take a deep breath.

THE END.

---

Would you believe me if I told you I started writing this all the way back when Yorktown II was first released? I accidentally failed to save the original copy which was like halfway done and I lost it when a power outage swept the area. It really hurt my desire to write for a very long time.

I wrote this final epilogue chapter to Atago's story as a way to say goodbye to writing Azur Lane Fanfictions.

I felt I owed it to you all and to myself to write one final chapter to my very first story to show how far I've come as a writer since I was forced into my home during the COVID years.

Looking back on it, I believe I burnt myself out on the genre as a whole. I spent all day reading up on each ship's history before translating it into a script that can be enjoyed by the fandom. And I love this game. I love these girls. But as you can tell I've certainly pushed my limits when writing these.

Firstly, I want to thank Yostar for giving us these wonderful girls. Even if they're just tools to make you money, each one of their personalities is amazing and basing them off of existing ships is something that has helped inspire me in many aspects of my life.

Secondly, I want to thank all of the readers who have and will read my content. You are the reason I have put so much time and effort into making these. Every line, every moment, every tear, every touch was made for you.

Lastly, Thank you for reading all of this. I want to clarify that I will not be giving up writing as a whole, but my career on Azur Lane is over for the foreseeable future. I was going to have another story like "These are their stories" called "The Stories that Never Were" where I went over what I think might have happened if certain ships were introduced during a period of the war. Like the Azuma class or the Hindenburg class. I might still do these in the future.

For those who wished to see the end of Richelieu or any of the future ships, I'm truly sorry.

In order they were going to be:

Ark Royal

Belfast

New Jersey

and Enterprise

I'm sorry for those who wanted to see these stories. I may return to them in the future if the mood hits me.

In the meantime however, my favorite stories I've written in the series from my authorial point of view are:

1. Graf Zeppelin

2. Prinz Eugen

3. Taihou/Atago (I really can't choose)

4. Richelieu

5. Dunkerque

In case anyone is curious, my top five favorite shipgirls of all time are:

1. Taihou

2. Atago

3. Azuma

4. New Jersey

5. Implacable

No I do not have a type…

If you've managed to read this far, then congratulations. I wish you good luck and fair seas in all your future endeavors. And I want to remind you all that the universe is better because you exist in it. Thank you. Goodnight.