5453. Crash a wedding, it's your funeral.
Yokosuka.
"Atago, can I open my eyes yet?" asked Takao impatiently.
"Nope."
"Can you at least take the blindfold off? I'll keep my eyes closed."
"You promise?"
"I promise." Takao said emphatically.
"Answer's still no, sis, and honestly, you are a terrible liar. Have you learned nothing from me?"
"But I wanna see." Takao pouted.
"Relax, I'm almost done."
Yokosuka chapel
"Ok, from the top. Myoko, you're up." said Ashigara.
Myoko stood up and took her place at the altar beside Ashigara.
"Alright, Nachi, Haguro, start walking. Sosuke, music."
As the room filled with "Here comes the Bride", Haguro walked down the rows escorted by Nachi. Ashigara glanced back towards her older sister. "Myoko, remember, keep calm, smile. You're about to marry the love of you're life, focus on her and her only."
Myoko nodded, and it looked like this time everything was going to be fine, but just then Myoko went to hold Haguro, and while she was doing that, she tripped and toppled over, taking Haguro with her.
Glancing at the tangled mass of heavy cruiser, Ashigara sighed. "Here we go again. Myoko, we have got to do something about these wedding jitters. Preferably before Haguro gets a concussion."
"How though?" asked Myoko. "I've tried smiling, deep breaths, thinking good thoughts and simply focusing on Tak-Haguro, and nothing's working. Hell, if I'm this bad at practice, how bad will I be at the actual wedding?"
"With that kind of attitude, horrible." said Haguro. "Look, let's rethink this. okay, right now, you're imagining me as Takao, right?"
"Yes."
"Then don't. At least, not yet. Right now, just view me as me." at Myoko's confused expression, she continued. "Look, if you can hold onto my hands for five minutes after I walk down the aisle a couple times, you can do it with Takao once. The trouble is you aren't relaxing, so for right now, don't see this as you getting married, just see this as you holding your sister's hand. Alright?"
Myoko nodded, and everyone resumed their places.
Cruiser dorms
"Atago, can I see now. Please?" pleaded Takao.
"Soon."
"But you said that half an hour ago."
"Patience is a virtue." Atago said in a sing-song voice. "And done!"
"Yes, now I can take this off!"
"Not yet, I want Maya and Chokai to see this. Be right back."
Takao heard the door open and close behind. She was about to give into the temptation to peak when the door opened again, followed quickly by two gasps.
"Oh, my." Maya stuttered.
"It's beautiful." said Chokai in wonder.
"Now, sis, close your eyes while I remove the blindfold." Takao closed her eyes and felt Atago's hands gently grip the blindfold, pulling it off. "Okay, now open your eyes."
Takao's mouth dropped to the floor. Her dress had a classic V-neck, with and elegant mix of satin and lace forming a wave pattern from top,
"Well, do you like it, sis?" asked Atago hesitantly.
Without speaking, Takao turned around and gripped Atago in a fierce hug. "Thank, you thank you, thank you, thank yo-..."
"Can't breathe!" coughed Atago.
"Oh, sorry." said Takao sheepishly.
The chapel, the next afternoon.
"Final pre-wedding checklist." said Ashigara.
"Guests?" asked Atago
"Check. Chaplain?"
"Check. Reception?"
"Check. Bridesmaids?"
"Yep." said Atago smugly.
Ashigara looked at her hesitantly. "What did you do?"
"Nothing, I just got Nachi and Maya in dresses."
"How did you do that?!"
"Let's just say that I deployed the one force on the planet no Kanmusu can resist." said Atago with a grin. Seeing that Ashigara was still confused, she added. "I had Chokai and Haguro give the puppy dog eyes. You should have seen how fast Maya melted."
"Why did I never think of that?"
Atago simply shrugged. "Anything else on the list?"
"Oh, yeah, security?"
"Covered."
"Good."
Outside the chapel.
"Come on, just let me in. It's not like I'll do anything." pleaded Iku.
"Iku, stop playing dumb. It's you. You're always doing anything." groaned Kamikaze.
"Aww, you're no fun. Look, I'll make a deal. You distract Takao, and I'll take some pictures. What do you say?"
"No."
"Ah, well. If you won't let me in, I guess I'll let myself in."
"I think not." said Kamikaze, blocking her path.
"I've sunk a carrier. An old destroyer like you is nothing." said Iku, glaring.
"You're right. I alone couldn't stop you. But, funny thing is, I'm not alone."
Iku felt movement behind her, and she turned to find herself surrounded by an even dozen other destroyers. "Atago and Ashigara promised ice cream and bedtime stories to whoever volunteered. Girls, get her!"
Before Iku could escape, they were on her, and the world went black.
Meanwhile, in the chapel.
The small room filled with "Here comes the Bride" once more, and Myoko was stunned when Takao walked in, escorted by Atago. They made their way to the altar, and Takao took Myoko's hand.
"You look amazing, saihai," said Myoko.
"So do you, love." replied Takao.
The base chaplain began his speech, the vows were taken, and the line that marked the beginning of a lifetime of happiness for countless others around the world was uttered.
"You may kiss the bride."
Tears flowed freely in that room as Myoko and Takao kissed, and the chapel was filled with rousing applause as the couple made their way to the reception.
Later that night, at the reception.
"Not that I disapprove, but, Kamikaze?"
"Yes, Ashigara?"
"What did you do to Iku?"
"Oh, that."
The harbor.
Iku had dreamt of her being in chains before. That part, she was alright with. Being chained by a bunch of destroyers and left dangling in the middle of the harbor, however, wasn't.
"Well, I don't see how this could get any worse."
Then, the shark arrived.