Enterprise was in her office, simply running through her paper work from maintaining Azur lane HQ. She looked across her desk and sighed at the mountain of paperwork she had yet to read through. But ever the workaholic carrier she was, Enterprise kept her head glued to her desk. Her door swung open as Belfast walked in with a tray of tea, an annoyed look on her face.
"Enterprise this is the fifth day in a row I've seen you like this, are you sure you need to do all this now?" She asked, concern plastered on her face as she placed down the tray.
"Belfast, when I took up the mantle of commanding the combined Azur lane/Red Axis fleet, I meant it. That means plenty of work naturally." Enterprise replied without looking up from the table. "Thanks for the tea by the way." She added, noticing the mug. Belfast sighed, coming around the table and placing a hand on top of the carrier's own hand. Enterprise stopped for a moment and looked up at her maid's worried expression.
"Enty...you need a break, everyone has noticed how run down you are, your eyes have bags under them, your hair is frazzling, and if I may speak frankly; you're far too tense." Belfast admitted, poking Enterprise in her bicep. The carrier gasped quietly and flinched as she did.
"I...I see." Enterprise reluctantly agreed. "But what about my work? Most of this needs doing by the end of today." She stated, gesturing to the paperwork. Belfast rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"I told you it would be wise to appoint a secretary ship, you can't be in here 24/7." Enterprise was about to speak when Belfast held up her hand. "No you can't pick me, I still have my duties as a maid to perform." She added with a smile. Enterprise groaned and banged her head on the desk.
"Why did I agree to this? I should have just let Akagi take charge..." She muttered. Belfast's smiled instantly vanished as a look of shock appeared on her face.
"Akag-?! That's not funny Enterprise! The entire port would just turn into a shrine for Amagi within a matter of days." She semi-joked.
"Yeah I guess, maybe we should find Hornet, she could be secretory for a while." The carrier suggested.
"And be accused of nepotism by the Crimson Axis? Not a good idea." Belfast reminded her.
"OK...then someone from Crimson Axis then?"
"Better idea, though perhaps someone everyone is comfortable with, yet also capable of said role..."
Both women put their hands on their chins as they thought about who to appoint, then Belfast had an idea. "We can kill two birds with one stone, come with me." The maid then led a confused Enterprise out of the office.
Later on.
After organising things with Nagato and a few other Sakura kansen, Belfast took Enterprise to the Yamato sisters' estate home, carrying with her a small amount of luggage. The carrier was very confused as to why they were here, and a little worried about being in the territory of her ex-enemies. As they headed up the pathway to the doors, Musashi and Haguro were just leaving. They saw the pair walking towards them and Musashi smiled.
"Greetings Miss Belfast, and Miss Enterprise, I'm glad I could be of assistance." The fox woman stated.
"We're most grateful lady Musashi, is lady Shinano ready as well?" Belfast asked, earning a raised eyebrow from Enterprise.
"Uh...what does Shinano have to do with this?" She asked confused. Belfast just looked back at her with a Cheshire cat grin. Before turning back to Musashi.
"I hope you don't mind waiting a few more minutes, I'll gladly assist you with your luggage when my business here is concluded." Belfast asked her politely. Musashi bowed slightly before replying.
"Of course, take as long as you need, my sister awaits your arrival." She responded. With that, the two allied ships walked on towards the huge estate of the Yamato sisters. Even Enterprise was impressed with the sheer scale and beauty of the place, the kitsune sisters definitely kept a well maintained home that was for sure. They got to the door, and it opened before either of them could knock. A Sakura destroyer, clad in red and black clothes stood on the other side of the door, looking a little puzzled.
"Um...Lady Shinano is expecting you miss Enterprise." She announced, as Belfast set down the suitcase and bag she was carrying.
"This is as far as I can take you Enterprise, Shinano will take care of you for the next few days." The maid told her. Enterprise went wide eyed at her words.
"Wait...you're not staying?" She asked as the destroyer girl took the bags inside.
"I'm needed back at base, I'm not just YOUR maid Enty." Belfast reminded her firmly. But with a softer tone she added: "You'll be fine, this isn't a mission or a fight for your life, let Shinano help you Enty, it may get a little intimate knowing how these kitsune kansen operate, but don't worry about it, it'll help you relax." Belfast bowed a little before turning to walk away. "When I return, you'll be a better person, goodbye Enty."
Belfast then walked out the door, heading back with Musashi. Leaving Enterprise alone with the short destroyer girl. Feeling a little awkward, the carrier tried to talk with her. "Um...where is Lady Shinano miss...?" She trailed off no knowing the girl's name.
"Uh...Hatsuzuki miss Gre- I mean Enterprise!" The girl quickly corrected herself as she walked away. "Lady Shinano is this way." Hatsuzuki stated hastily, pointing down the hallway. "Please take off your shoes first."
Enterprise raised an eyebrow, but did take off her boots as a show of respect. After putting the boots away, she followed Hatsuzuki deeper into the estate. They found Shinano on a zubuton cushion next to a short table, gently sipping a steaming mug of tea. The kitsune's eyes were closed as she sipped, and as she placed the cup back down, she let loose a slow sigh.
"Ooh~ Greetings Enterprise~ this one is glad you arrived~" She announced in a breathy voice with her eyes still closed. The American carrier was surprised she could tell she was there with her eyes closed. "Hatsuzuki, thank you for bringing our guest, you may take the night off." The fox woman announced. The destroyer bowed quietly, before leaving.
"You...could tell it was me?" Enterprise asked, as she walked over. Shinano smiled and gestured to the empty zubuton opposite her, her eyes still closed.
"As a dream walker, I have enhanced empathy and perception of those around me, for example..." Shinano opened her deep blue eyes, and Enterprise quietly gasped, feeling like the kitsune was somehow peering into her very being. "...the anxiety in your breath, the stress in your mind, and the tension in your body...this one can feel it all." Shinano calmly explained.
The silver fox woman then poured some tea into a cup in front of Enterprise. "Please...drink, it will settle your nerves." She gently commanded. Not wanting to be rude, the American girl took the cup and took a sip. She caught Shinano watching her with a small smile on her face, she wondered why for a second, but then she got her answer: The tension in her muscles seemed to spontaneously fade slightly. Enterprise quickly put down the mug, a little shocked at the new feelings. She looked down at her hands, which started to feel a little numb.
"W-what...is in this drink?" Enterprise stuttered, on the verge of freaking out. Shinano gently held Enterprise's shaking hands, even without her empathy power she could tell the American was rattled by more than just the drink.
"Its just a mild muscle relaxant, I thought you might need it to loosen up your body, it might feel strange at first, but it will help you." Shinano softly told her. "Just breathe with me, and we'll get that negativity out of you~" Shinano started breathing in and out deeply and slowly, and Enterprise reluctantly, followed her movement, she managed to calm down a little and decompress her body somewhat. After a few minutes, Enterprise could feel her hands fully again, as she got used to her more relaxed state, prompting Shinano to return to her seat.
"Um...thank you...this felt... nice...once I got used to it." Enterprise admitted. Shinano smiled, and took another sip of her tea before replying.
"Mmm...I can feel you're still a little tense, do you want to talk about it?" The fox woman asked. With some of her initial negative feelings fading away, Enterprise plucked up the courage to speak up about what was bothering her, staring at her cup of tea as she talked.
"Well...ever since I was voted in to be Azur lane's Commander, I've started to think I'm not really up for it." The American carrier confessed. "I mean I don't have much leadership experience to begin with, my sister Hornet is better used to leading people, I meanwhile have always just done my own thing, I'm not against working with others, I can do that...leading them...well..."
She trailed off, looking aside as she thought about what she said. Shinano looked on sympathetically. "You worry about letting others down don't you? Belfast especially I sense." The fox woman answered for her, Enterprise gasped hearing the maid's name. Shinano frowned a little, and the American woman could feel the kitsune's gaze boring into her soul. "You feel the eyes of the others on you, you believe they're waiting for you to fail, to find an excuse to pull you from your position of power." Shinano blinked, and Enterprise noticed her eyes were glowing a light blue, she panted as she felt locked in place by an intense pressure from the kitsune, feeling her presence within the deepest recesses of her mind.
"Your heart yearns for another, yet you lack the confidence to pursue her, your anxiety and guilt gnaw at you constantly over every decision, so you push yourself to the brink of collapse in a futile attempt to compensate. Pain...so much pain...but all self inflicted...why?" Enterprise clutched the sides of her head, trying to block out the fox woman, the emotions being dragged out by the kitsune's powers threatening to overwhelm her.
"Stop it! Please stop!" Enterprise suddenly shouted, almost knocking over the table as she banged her hands down. Shinano calmly blinked again, her eyes returning to normal. "Don't...please don't do that...it hurts..." Enterprise told her with a breaking voice, a tear leaked from her eye as she made eye contact with the fox, who seem unphased by the outburst, but her gaze remained soft and kind.
"I apologize for bringing these emotions out of you, but fear not Enterprise; this is good, your mind is following your body, cleansing itself of negative energies, but for this to occur, you must allow these feelings to flow properly." Shinano explained, she shifted her zubuton so she was sitting next to Enterprise, who was starting to sob some more due to the triggered emotions.
"Its not just the stress of command that is threatening to consume you is it? You love Belfast don't you Enterprise, but you believe you're not enough for her, why is that?" She asked, putting a hand over the American girl's own. Enterprise wiped her eyes with her free hand before replying.
"She...shes done so much for me...saved my life several times, but not just directly; if not for her, Zuikaku would have killed me during the Red axis war. I also think she saved me from... myself...if I hadn't changed as much as I have...I would have been a wreck on the sea floor eventually, she helped me care again, about myself, Azur lane, humanity, everything...I owe her so much...the thought of disappointing her is...is..."
She couldn't finish before her voice started breaking again, and she started to cry some more. Shinano didn't say anything, she just embraced Enterprise in a warm, friendly hug, rubbing her back to calm her down. The American girl hugged her back, grateful to have someone close to her, even if it was just a friend of a friend. Yet she blushed feeling the kitsune's impressive rack in her face.
"You have nothing to fear Enterprise, all these things are products of your own mind, you have the power to overcome them, Belfast believes you can do this, and so do I." Shinano encouraged kindly. Enterprise pulled back confused, still processing what Shinano said. "You won't disappoint her, she wants to be with you, she's waiting for you to conquer your fear and worries, to show her you're ready to be with her properly." She added with a smile.
"S-she told you that?" Enterprise asked, pulling back, Shinano smiled and shook her head.
"Not directly, come, let us take a soak in the bath, its time for the more physical side of this therapy." Shinano announced, getting up and heading to the bathroom.
"P-physical?" Enterprise repeated inquisitively. Shinano chuckled quietly at the American's nervous reaction.
"Nothing sexual, I promise, but it will be somewhat intimate; You can say no." Shinano assured her gently. Enterprise was quiet for a moment, thinking about what to do, before looking up and nodding her head.
"I...I can do it..." Enterprise replied. With that, both women went into the bathroom and Shinano started the bath. As they waited for the bath to fill, Shinano started stripping down, making Enterprise blush as this beautiful fox woman took off her kimono. Realising she was accidentally perving on her, Enterprise started taking her own clothes off, trying to avoid looking at her bath partner.
After a few minutes, the two of them entered the bathtub. Shinano sighing with relief at how warm it was, Enterprise entered more tentatively, dipping in her foot before hissing a little at the heat of the water, before slowly slipping in her leg, giving off an uncharacteristic moan of pleasure.
"Wow...this...this is amazing~" she panted out, hugging herself as she lowered her whole body, moaning a little louder than she meant to. Shinano smiled, scooting closer as Enterprise was distracted.
"I knew you'd like this, I presume you've never been in a tub like this before?" The kitsune asked. Enterprise blushed deeper at how lewd she must have sounded, before looking away embarrassed.
"W-well...no...I normally take showers." Enterprise admitted, turning away to hide her vulnerable areas. Shinano just giggled and hugged the American woman while her back was turned. Enterprise yelped with the action, before feeling the fox woman purr quietly on her shoulder. "W-what are you...doing...oh~" The vibration from the purring seemed to further ease and relieve Enterprise's body, melting away any lingering tension.
"Mmmm...is this to your liking Enterprise? I can sense you relaxing under this~" The kitsune pointed out, with an unusually mischievous tone for the normally placid fox woman, she rubbed and caressed Enterprise's shoulders and upper back, working to further relieve her tension. Enterprise didn't care that they were literally skin to skin now, Shinano's warm, soft body touching her, along with the hot waters in the bath, created a wonderful relaxing aura for the American carrier.
"F-feels...nice~" Enterprise admitted, panting slowly and deeply as Shinano massaged her. She fought the urge to moan again, wanting to stay somewhat dignified.
"You have a beautiful body Enterprise, all this tension will fade with time and care, just allow your feelings to surface naturally, don't bottle them up~" Shinano explained, her fingers slowly running over the carrier's back, expertly working out all the kinks and knots in her muscles. The American couldn't hold back, and moaned out again, though quieter than before. Shinano smiled hearing her do that. They kept this up for a few minutes before Enterprise had a thought.
"Wait...may I...do you next?" She asked, innocently looking over her shoulder. The fox woman was pleasantly surprised by this and nodded to her.
"Of course, be sure to get my ears and tails, they're quite sensitive~" Shinano agreed, turning to lean on the edge of the tub with her back to Enterprise, the American woman's cheeks tinged pink once more seeing the attractive fox expose herself like this, but she plucked up the courage, and carefully touched the kitsune's ear. Shinano quietly sighed, feeling like an itch she'd had behind the ear was being scratched. She purred a little under Enterprise's touch, causing her body to vibrate a little.
The American carrier felt a little calmer as she touched the fox, a sense of happiness and peace she rarely got to feel washed through her body as she felt the vibrating fur under her fingers. Gently tracing the edges of Shinano's ears with one hand, her other hand caressed the kitsune's back, making its way down to her tails, Enterprise discovered that despite being soaked in the bathwater, Shinano's fluffy tails were somehow bone dry once raised out of the water, looking closer she saw the water droplets were blob-like, and somehow bounced on the fluff of the tail; it seemed Shinano's fur had hydrophobic properties, preventing them from ever getting wet.
"Amazing...how are you doing that?" Enterprise asked, as Shinano's tail slid through her hand.
"That? Oooh...this one has the power to repel water at will, all kitsune kansen can do this; it helps us to properly maintain our fluffy touch we're famous for~" The fox woman explained. "Speaking of fluffy, may I show you something?" Shinano then stood out of the bath, using her tails to wipe away any stray water, leaving her nearly immaculately clean and dry. She then picked up a piece of clothing from a basket before turning back to Enterprise.
"If I may be so bold; I'd like to ask you wear this yukata for your stay here, you may find it more comfortable compared to your uniform." The kitsune told Enterprise, letting the outfit unfold to show her. The yukata was white, with short sleeves and a short skirt.
Enterprise blushed at how revealing it would be if she wore it, but since she was already naked, she figured she didn't have much to lose. She got out the tub and was about to reach for the towel when Shinano stopped her, putting down the yukata.
"Allow me, please." She then enveloped Enterprise in her tails, earning a gasp, and then giggles from her. Coils of fluffy fur wrapped around her legs, arms and torso, brushing off the water and lightly tickling the American girl. But they slowed down after a minute, acting more like a soft massage, chasing away any lingering feelings of doubt and anxiety for Enterprise. With Enterprise warm and dry, the American kansen then put on the yukata. Shinano had been correct, it was much more comfortable and had much more airflow compared to her restrictive uniform.
Shinano gave a yawn, and headed for a futon back in the living room, putting on a blue bikini. "This one requires her rest for now, care to join me Enterprise? You must be tired from your journey, and I would appreciate the warmth~" She asked cheekily. Enterprise blushed since Shinano was still naked, but smiled at the suggestion.
"I am feeling drowsy, though I have never had company in sleep before...I..." Before Enterprise could finish, Shinano pulled her closer with a tail, gently hushing her.
"Its OK, this one will keep you safe, both in this world, and in the realm of dreams~" Shinano assured her. "Whatever feelings for me, Belfast, or being the Commander, I will be here to guide you from fear, to acceptance. Come, I can sense your desire to be wrapped in my tails~" She added mischievously, tugging a red-faced Enterprise to the futon with her.
They both lay on the large bed-like futon together, with Shinano wrapping an arm around the slightly shorter Enterprise, keeping her close and snug as she fell asleep. Her silver tails draped over the pair of them, covering the American girl in a blanket of cosy fur from head to toe. Enterprise no longer felt nervous or tense, between Shinano's cute body vibrating sleep purring, and the cosy warmth of those numerous fluffy tails that near constantly caressed her, she was soon out like light.
Enterprise felt entirely at peace, and with Shinano keeping her nightmares, both real, imagined, and/or literal at bay, she was going to stay that way for a long time.