"Why did this happen?" is what John was asking himself as he was sitting in a chair in the medical bay next to a bed. Laying on the bed was the unconscious body of his wife, Shoukaku. Ever since the white-crane had been brought back from the exercise that the Sakura Empire had been running, the man had not left her side. Zuikaku META was also in the room watching over John and Shoukaku. The META could see that the man was exhausted. She had tried to get him to leave, but the man was as stubborn as she remembered from her timeline. He wasn't going to go anywhere until Shoukaku woke up. Zuikaku META knew that John should be at home with Tsubaki but the man had sent Zuikaku to his home to watch over her and relieve Belfast, no doubt the KANSEN was tired from being woken up so early in the morning and keeping an eye on Tsubaki. John had also told Zuikaku to keep what happened to Shoukaku a secret for the time being, no doubt if the half-KANSEN knew what had happened she would want to be here to see her mother and seeing Shoukaku in this state would without doubt greatly upset the girl.
Looking at Shoukaku, John was terrified of losing her. Despite Vestal telling him that she had been brought back in time and should wake up soon, that didn't ease his worries. John had already lost someone who he had loved before. It was another KANSEN that belonged to the Eagle Union, an aircraft carrier just like Shoukaku, her name was Yorktown. John had lost her years ago. When he was first assigned to the Azur Lane; Yorktown was the first KANSEN who greeted him when he arrived. She became his secretary and helped him with his duties as he was getting accustomed to being in charge of other KANSEN just like herself. It took some time for the two to bond, Yorktown did what she could to get the man to keep his distance from her. She believed herself to be nowhere near good enough for him, that he should look for someone else. Eventually, however, John was able to open her heart, and the two fell in love.
The two were happy, Enterprise and Hornet, who were her sisters, were happy for the pair. John was planning to marry Yorktown, but one day, tragedy struck. Yorktown was sunk by the Sakura Empire, who at this time were enemies of the Azur Lane and hadn't re-joined the organisation yet. This incident devastated John, Enterprise, and Hornet. All of them had lost someone who they all truly cared about. Sometime later, Hornet was destroyed, but thanks to John's quick thinking and remembering what happened to Yorktown, Hornets wisdom cube was retrieved in time, and she was able to be reassembled. Enterprise still had one of her sisters but Yorktown was still lost to the depths. Enterprise and Hornet never held it against John for what happened to Yorktown, but the three could never bring themselves to talk about it. It was simply too painful for them.
Looking at the white-crane in the condition she was in now reminded John too much of Yorktown. He didn't want to lose another woman that he loved. He couldn't bear the thought of going through that again. Zuikaku META was also worried about Shoukaku. She had lost her and John once before. The META was thankful she arrived in time when she did. If she didn't, Taihou would have sunk the white-crane and sent her to the depths of the ocean. She would have lost her sister again, John would have lost her, the past version of herself would have lost her, and most importantly, Tsubaki would have lost her mother. Zuikaku META wanted to begin searching for her Tsubaki with the aid of the Azur Lane but put that on hold for the moment. She wanted to see Shoukaku wake up, Zuikaku META also wanted to find out why Taihou attacked her and nearly sunk her.
"I know Taihou was always obsessed with John, but what caused her to go this far? Neither my sister nor Taihou can tell me about it at the moment. Both are unconscious. John might have an idea, I know it's not the best time to ask right now, but I have to find out. Something must have happened for Taihou to do this." The META wanted to know why this happened, but the two KANSEN who knew were both unable to talk. Zuikaku META decided to ask John even though she knew the man's head was all over the place at the moment, "John, I know now isn't the right time to ask this. But before this happened, did you speak or have anything to do with Taihou? Did you notice anything strange? Anything that you remember can help us find out why this happened." Zuikaku META asked John for any information regarding the phoenix.
John however wasn't in the mood to talk about the armoured carrier, "Zuikaku, I don't want to hear her name at the moment. So please, let's not talk about her." The man replied in a way that told the META that speaking about the phoenix wasn't a good idea at the moment. Zuikaku META decided to drop the subject for now. Trying to talk about Taihou would cause John more distress and anger. Taihou had put his wife in this condition. The mere mention of the armoured carrier would surely remind him of that fact. The two went back into silence, neither were going to leave the room until Shoukaku woke up from her unconsciousness.
In the Sakura Empire building, many KANSEN were enjoying the fact that they had returned from their exercise early. Others, however, were thinking of their two comrades who were currently in the medical bay and the META that had arrived who was the future version of Zuikaku. The fact that a META was here at the Azur Lane had spread to the other factions very quickly. Several KANSEN from other factions came to the Sakura Empire as soon as they found out. They wanted answers as to why she was here and if she was hostile. Nagato and Amagi told the other KANSEN who came that it was currently business of the Sakura Empire. The only thing they told them was that Zuikaku META wasn't an enemy. This answer seemed to satisfy the other KANSEN for now but they did tell Nagato and Amagi that they would be keeping a very close eye on Zuikaku META, if she did turn out to be an enemy they wouldn't sit by and do nothing. They would destroy Zuikaku META if it turned out she was an enemy against the Azur Lane.
One KANSEN who wasn't happy with Zuikaku META showing up was Akagi. Currently, Akagi was in her room stewing over the disaster that was her plan to get rid of Shoukaku. The kitsune was expecting Shoukaku to be at the bottom of the ocean right now. She was also expecting Taihou to be disassembled and destroyed for what she had done to the white-crane. Zuikaku META appearing and saving the day had thrown a wrench in her plan. "That pest! She is still alive! If it wasn't for that META saving her Akagi's plan would have succeeded! Taihou would have destroyed her! And Akagi would have taken her rightful place next to the commander!" Internally, Akagi was irate with what happened, Shoukaku and Taihou were still alive.
As the kitsune thought more about the phoenix, a cold chill went throughout her entire body, "Taihou...when she wakes up...she will talk. She will tell the commander everything. The commander will then look to destroy me! Taihou can't be allowed to talk! I need to get rid of her! She can't be allowed to say anything!" Akagi understood the risk with keeping the armoured alive. She would tell the commander everything that happened between them. The commander would know who was behind this whole mess. Akagi realised the only way to save herself was to destroy the armoured carrier. She could try again in the future to remove Shoukaku from the commanders side. A certain heavy cruiser from Iron Blood would be more than willing to destroy the white-crane. She, too, loved the commander and also hated Shoukaku just as much as Akagi herself did.
That would have to wait for now, however. Akagi knew she had to save herself before she could plan on how to destroy Shoukaku again. "Tonight...Taihou has to die! Akagi will be rid of her tonight!" The kitsune thought to destroy the armoured carrier tonight while nearly everyone else on the base was asleep. It was a desperate measure, but right now was a desperate time. Akagi knew the longer the phoenix was alive, the chances of her confessing everything increased. The KANSEN knew she would be punished for destroying Taihou, but she had an excuse ready if she was caught. Akagi would tell the commander she only did it to avenge Shoukaku. John loved the white-crane, and Akagi knew she could use that to her advantage. The commander wouldn't punish her as harshly if she used his wife as the excuse for killing Taihou. It would be a less severe punishment than if she was found out she was behind everything that happened. With her mind set on her plan, Akagi decided it was best to wait for nightfall...
John was still sitting next to the unconscious Shoukaku. It was starting to become nightfall, and the man was struggling to stay awake. Zuikaku META saw the state the commander was in and decided enough was enough, "John, go home. You can barely stay awake. I'll stay here and watch over Shoukaku. Nothing will happen to her, I promise." The META told the man. "Sorry Zuikaku. But I can't leave... not until I know she is okay." John replied in a very tired tone. Zuikaku wasn't going to let the man make himself ill by staying here, "Listen John. Tsubaki needs you. The last thing she needs is both of her parents in the medical bay. It's also not fair on my past self. So please, go home, get some rest, and be with your daughter. I'll say it again. I promise nothing will happen to Shoukaku." Zuikaku META was much more firm this time. She wasn't going to let John make himself ill.
When John heard his daughters name, he realised the META was right, Tsubaki and Zuikaku didn't need this right now. It wouldn't be fair to either of them. John rose from his seat and then gently kissed the forehead of the unconscious white-crane. He then gave her a quick goodbye and told her he would be back in the morning. John then looked at Zuikaku META and spoke, "Please keep an eye on her...I don't want to lose her." He told the META to keep an eye on Shoukaku. Zuikaku META simply nodded in reply. Knowing that his wife's safety was in the META version of his sister-in-laws hands, John left the room to return home to his daughter and Zuikaku. Once on her own, the META began to think, "There has to be a reason why this happened. Taihou wouldn't just attack my sister for no reason. Something or someone is responsible for this. I've got a feeling that whoever or whatever is behind this isn't going to want Taihou to talk. I'll need to keep an eye on her as well. Whatever happens tonight I'll be ready." Zuikaku META had a feeling someone or something would be paying a visit to the medical bay tonight. She knew she had to be ready for whatever it was...
It was well into the night. Nearly all of the KANSEN at the Azur Lane were asleep at this time. Akagi had been waiting for this time. She had been pretending to be asleep when her two sisters Kaga and Amagi had fallen asleep. Akagi looked at both her sisters and could see they were out cold. Carefully and quietly, the kitsune got out from her futon and crept towards the door of their room. The KANSEN then slowly opened the door and quietly stepped outside and shut it. Akagi then made her way towards the entrance of the Sakura Empire building. She looked around for whoever was on night watch and thankfully couldn't see anyone. The kitsune then made her way outside and towards the medical bay. While walking, Akagi kept looking around to see if there were any other KANSEN about this time of night. The aircraft carrier didn't want to have to explain why she was walking about so late at night. The kitsune kept doing this until she arrived at her destination, Akagi opened the door and gave one last look around before heading inside.
Akagi began walking around the medical bay in search of Taihou, while on her journey towards her destination, she began looking through each room. Looking through one groom caused the kitsune to stop for a moment. Lying unconscious on the bed was her nemesis, the one who in her mind had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to her...it was Shoukaku. Seeing the white-crane filled Akagi with anger, she wanted to destroy her right this second. The kitsune knew, however, that if she did destroy Shoukaku and the commander found out she did it, Akagi would be handing herself a death sentence. John would show her no mercy for killing his wife. "Akagi swears you pest! You will get what's coming to you!" the kitsune thought to herself while looking at the unconscious crane. Shoukaku however wouldn't die tonight, Akagi would talk with Roon once everything had calmed down. The cruiser would gladly tear apart the white-crane once the chance arrived, Akagi could imagine Roon making Shoukaku truly suffer.
This gave the kitsune some pleasure knowing the white-crane would meet a truly horrific end. Akagi gave Shoukaku a scornful look before leaving the room and carrying on her mission of finding Taihou. The kitsune carried on searching until she found Taihou in one of the other rooms. Looking at the phoenix, Akagi could see she had taken heavy damage. She looked worse than Shoukaku. Akagi walked to the end of her bed, "Akagi is sorry, Taihou, nothing personal." She told the unconscious phoenix. Akagi was about to summon her fox fire and destroy Taihou but before she could she could feel a sharp object press against her back and a familiar voice speak, "I should have known you were behind this Akagi. Even in my timeline, you could never accept the fact that John didn't love you. I'm guessing you came here to make sure Taihou couldn't tell John anything. It's a good thing I decided to stay here, now John will know what you have done." The voice told Akagi.
Akagi knew who it was, "My my, Akagi has been caught. I didn't believe it when I was first told. But it seems to be true, isn't that right, Zuikaku? Or should I say...Zuikaku META?"