Chapter 26
o7
Taihō hugged at her knees as she settled into the dark corner of her new room. She was always accustomed to dark places as her mind was in one almost 24/7 since she'd arrived at the Joint Base. Almost always, as for a while, she had nearly found happiness. But her ability to screw things up for herself was second to none.
Her shoulder hadn't fully healed from the incident just yet, jolting as she brushed up against the rough concrete wall.
"Pathetic…" she mumbled into her knees, for a Phoenix to get burned…
"What was I thinking?" but she forgot, at the time she wasn't at all.
o7
Earlier that week…
The Shipgirls and Manjuu caught in the Armored Carrier's path all stepped aside, giving her a wide berth, as she skipped along the base's edge towards the docks. There, Taihō saw her quarry, the key to her masterplan, none other than the baby of the Brooklyn class sisters. Just as she'd expected, the little bluenette scurrying to and fro with crates of supplies in her arms.
Taihō was still a little apprehensive, getting close to the youngest Brooklyn with no one else around, still brought chills to her spine. But she would do anything, for the sake of her Shikikan.
"Y-yo! Helena-san!" She stammered out from the start of the pier, "h-hard at work I see!"
"Yup! Got a lot to do today!" The Cruiser shouted back, as she hoisted yet another crate into her arms.
"Honolulu-Senpai told me that you could use a hand." Taiho said cheerily as she hurried to Helena's side.
"she would…" Helena pouted, "b-but i-if you don't want to, you don't have to-"
"Nonsense!" Taihō said, breaking from her happy tone, before switching back near instantly, "of course I'd be happy to lend a hand~" she said, wrestling the crate from the Cruiser's arms.
"T-thanks…" maybe it was because she still wasn't used to Taihō's aggressiveness just yet, but she chose to ignore the gnawing feeling from her SG Radar, "i-if you really don't mind… you think you can help me set these up over there?" She said, pointing to the far side of the docks.
An awkward air hung around the two girls as they quietly made their way around, with only their footsteps adding to the seaside ambiance of shorebirds and crashing waves.
"S-so why're you working so hard?" Taihō spoke, unable to bear the silence any longer, "y-your sister isn't due in for another week?"
The Cruiser's pace slowed slightly as she hugged at the crate in her arms, "gotta get the place all nice and tidy~ Brooklyn's a very particular girl from what I hear. Y'know, all the small details and stuff."
Despite the girl's cheery tone, Taihō could hear, even slightly, the hesitancy in her voice. This Brooklyn sounds like a real piece of work, Taihō thought. She had heard the story from Honolulu a while back, so she had at least some idea of what the name ship of the Brooklyn class was like.
"From what I hear…" Taihō parroted with indignance, "she's your sister? Is she not?"
"Y-yeah w-well… she's… Brooklyn's always… so…" Helena tried her best to keep her cheery facade, "we don't talk much… so I don't really know myself…"
Taihō quietly seethed as she watched Helena's shoulders droop, everything Lulu-senpai said was true!
"To demand so much from you, despite not even saying a single word to you for how many years?!"
"N-no!" Helena shot out quickly, "i-its not like that! I'm doing this because I want to… so she's not-"
"To keep yourself beholden to someone who doesn't even look your way!" Taihō scolded as she stomped her foot, her own words striking herself unexpectedly.
Helena kept her head down, like she was scolded for the first time in a long time. Taihō grumbled to herself, realizing she might have taken things too far.
"S-sorry I-I didn't mean to-"
"No," Helena shook her head, "it's alright… "maybe you're right… but still…"
Maybe it was something that ran in the family, but the smile on Helena's face made the Armored Carrier take a step back as her heart filled with an unexpected warmth.
"She's my sister… I love her…" she said with reddened cheeks before scurrying off with her face buried in her crate.
"W-wait!" Taihō tried to reach out, but the Cruiser was already halfway down the pier, "Look out!"
In her rush, Helena's foot caught on a rope left on the ground. With a crash, the Cruiser's face skidded along the slick concrete.
"O-oh my God!" Taihō rushed over, "a-are you alright?!"
Helena groaned, her butt stuck straight up in the air, but she held her crate steady high above her head, its contents still firmly inside. Slowly she sat upright before sticking her tongue out at Taihō, like she really was a blundering klutz, "I'm alright…"
"Are you sure?" Taihō winced as she noticed the red streak on the girl's forehead. She knew first hand just how hard Helena's head was, and the Cruiser was supposed to be the less armored one of the two. "St. Louis-senpai is probably gonna freak if she sees that ," Taihō pointed above the girl's eyes.
"..." Helena whined as she rubbed at her forehead, "is it that bad?" She said, a single stream of blood trailed between her eyes.
"Uhh… you should probably go see Vestal," Taihō helped the girl off the floor.
"Geez…" Helena pouted, "but I've got so much to do here still…"
"Just forget about that right now!" Taihō scolded again.
Despite how capable and well mannered Taihō now knows Helena to be, she truly is a stubborn girl. But Taihō was no better in that regard.
"I-I'll handle things here…" The Carrier said, looking away, "so hurry and get that taken care of."
"Y-you'd do that? B-but I'd feel bad-"
"No buts!" She cut off, "and I'd already said I'd do it."
Helena mulled over her decision before finally nodding, "okay…"
Setting her crate down, she takes one last look at Taihō, "Y-you sure?"
"Yes!" The Carrier said exasperated.
"And I still need to finish cleaning out Brooklyn's room too…" the Cruiser mumbled to herself.
"I said go alrea-" Taihō stopped herself as she caught the girl's words, "w-wait, Brooklyn's room?" she asked, almost frantically. This was it! The final piece to achieve her goal.
"Yeah…" Helena sighed, "it's being used for storage right now and I really wanted to get it ready."
"S-say what," Taihō grabbed at Helena's hands. Her eyes crazed, her breath heavy, "I'll help you out with that later too! In fact, tell me where it is and I'll get started without you!"
"Uhh…" Helena never knew what to do whenever Taihō got like this, unlike Honolulu who always seemed able to get the Carrier to calm down, "i-if you want, should be the room just at the beginning of our hall…"
"Really now~" Taihō started to laugh, "I'll take care of things, so run along now~"
"T-thanks," Helena nervously smiled as she cupped her little radar before leaving for the middle of the base.
Her creepy laughter didn't let up, even after watching the Cruiser disappear from view.
o7
Despite being alone on the docks, Taihō felt a level of unease. Like something or someone was watching her, lurking below the surface. She had made a promise to at least clean this place up and things were going smoothly until just now. She scanned the area all around herself, but not a single soul, aside from a few Manjuu, we're anywhere near. She had to act fast if her plan was to succeed.
"That insect doesn't deserve him."
With a flash, a giant, ornate fan flickered behind her. A brilliant white, adorned with a gold that shimmered in the sunlight and a crimson red that lined its edges. The flight deck of her ship its face. The ephemeral outline of an aircraft appeared on its surface, flickering like a flame.
Stretching out her arm towards the horizon, the flame shot forth, high into the sky before taking shape into that of a dive bomber. Its rare, inverted V-12 roared to life before rolling over, ready and prepped for a bombing run. A small black object detached from the belly of the plane, landing in the palms of Taihō's hands.
The faint sound of air bubbling up to the surface of the water put the Carrier on edge as she snapped her neck in the direction of the noise.
"W-who's there?!" She shouted, shoving what she had just caught in her chest, as her riggings dissipated from view.
With soft splats, she could hear wet feet moving closer from behind. Please God, don't let it be-
"BOO!"
Taihō knew it was coming, but that didn't stop the color draining from her skin, "A-A-ALBACORE!" Like an elephant spotting a mouse, the Carrier leapt into the air.
"W-w-what the hell are you doing h-here?!" Taihō said, precariously balanced atop a crate.
The little bikini clad submarine couldn't contain her laughter as she rolled around on the floor, "I gotchu sooo~ good!" She managed to squeeze out between her fits.
"I-I'm glad you're enjoying this!" She said with a huff before carefully stepping back down onto the ground, "C-can you please go away now?"
"Awww~" Albacore rolled onto her stomach, swinging her feet back and forth. With her cheeks resting on her palms she gave Taihō a mighty pout, "but I wanna play~"
"..." Taihō grumbled to herself, "w-well, I'm not here to play your stupid games! Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Yeah, I did see that…" the little submarine shot back up to her feet, "so what was that little airshow all about?"
"Y-you saw that?" Taihō's eye twitched as she stretched the tendons in her fingers, ready to silence her if she had to, "o-oh~ y'know… felt a little creaking on my wing spars. Had to do a little test…. To see if everything was okay! Okay?"
"Hmm… I guess that makes sense," Albacore nodded.
"Why're you even here?" Taihō hugged herself, still on guard.
"I was helping Helena clean up the harbor floor… When I saw my golden opportunity to strike!" The submarine held her hands in the air as she halfway lunged at Taihō.
"S-s-stop that!" The Carrier flinched, "if you're done helping out, would you please kindly leave!" Taihō's voice sounded almost desperate.
"And leave you all alone~" Albacore teased between her laughing fits, "besides, it's a lot of work for just one ship!"
"..." Taihō grinded at her teeth, "well, whatever! Just don't get in my way."
"Yay!" The little submarine bounced.
o7
30 min later…
"Hey! Taihō!"
The Carrier's brow twitched as the little cretin called out her name for the umpteenth time.
"You wouldn't believe this really awesome reef I saw the other day!"
Like some kind of tiny chihuahua, Albacore was right on Taihō's heels, yapping away no matter how much the Carrier tried to ignore her.
"There were these really cool fish too!" The submarine enthused, "they had giant fins and everything!"
Taihō continued to pay the girl no heed as she wrapped her seventh mooring line neatly around its post.
"I'd love to take you there sometime!" She laughed, "I bet you'd really like it!"
Taihō had spent the better part of a century below the waves and was currently too fond of the surface to ever return in any capacity.
"Earth to Taihō~"
All she wanted to do was clean in peace so she could move on to the next phase, but some cosmic force had to throw a large submarine shaped wrench in the cogs of her master plan.
"Houston, we have a problem… contact with the alien life form known as Taihō is proving unsuccessful…"
"What?!" The Carrier snapped around.
"So that one got you!" The submarine laughed once again, "I thought you'd never turn around!"
"There's a whole other side that needs to be done! So why don't you go over there!"
"But we could get a whole lot more done if we work together!" Albacore said, puffing out her tiny chest in defiance.
"I'm the one doing all the heavy lifting…" Taihō scoffed.
"That's cause you won't let me!" Albacore cut in front of the Carrier as she attempted to lift a crate of garbage. Her tiny frame struggled to even get a grip on the box as she shakily lifted it into the air, "see! I could do it too-" just then, she nearly toppled backwards before finding her footing.
"See? I got this!" The submarine said with a strained smile.
With an overwhelming feeling of deja-vu, Taihō held her breath as Albacore took off up the pier.
In her rush, with most of her view blocked by the crate, Albacore couldn't see the loose mooring lines in her path. Weightless was the next feeling to come into her head right beside the pain of stubbing her toe on something hard.
"Ah crap…" The submarine cursed as she braced herself for a crash, but a quick arm had wrapped around her waist, catching her before disaster.
"This is exactly why…" Taihō grumbled as she helped her regain her balance, "please don't give us more work because you decide to hurt yourself."
"Helena's at least quick enough to prevent its contents from spilling over," she continued as she snatched the crate from Albacore's arms, "but you are far too careless to even attempt that."
"With you so prone to running into things, I thought you would've learned by now…" Taihō switched to a slightly softer tone after she had noticed the submarine's shoulders droop.
"T-thanks…" Albacore fiddled with her thumbs in embarrassment.
"J-just watch where you're going!" Taihō spat, "...a-and fix up those ropes so no one else trips again!"
"Yes ma'am!" She stood up straight in a mock salute, her carefree smile returning shortly after.
o7
With a clunk, the last of the garbage crates was loaded onto a Manjuu's golf cart pickup.
"We did it!" Albacore jumped for a high-five, but Taihō just stared apprehensively back at her.
"Aww~ c'mon~" the submarine whined,"don't leave me hangin'!" She stood on her tiptoes, straining to reach her hands any higher,
Reluctantly, Taihō brought her own hands up to Albacore's level. With a slap, her palms stung before a pair of tiny hands wrapped themselves around her own.
Albacore's smile was greater than she had ever seen it before. Even the ones from her many successful "pranks" couldn't compare.
"Yay," Taihō cheered flatly, "we did it~ woo…"
"Hehe!" Albacore swung their arms excitedly, "this is the first time we ever did something together!"
"W-well, d-don't get used to it!" She shot back, but she didn't pull her hand away from hers.
"Helena'll be happy she don't gotta worry 'bout this spot anymore!"
Shit… Taihō cursed in her mind. She had gotten so caught up with cleaning and entertaining a submarine that she had lost track of time. With a quick glance at the sky, the sun was much further along from when she had started. If she wanted to deliver her "package," she would have to get a move on before Helena gets back. That girl had a sense to her that Taihō still had trouble believing in, but she had no doubt in her mind that Helena would pose a significant threat if she were to be discovered.
"Say…" Taihō squeezed at Albacore's hands, "Someone's gotta tell her what a good job they did. So why dontcha sit here and wait for Helena to come back!"
"I guess I could…"
"Thanks~" Taihō did her best to smile as she pats Albacore on her head, "so I'll get going now…"
The submarine stood dumbfounded as Taihō disappeared up the docks.
o7
With a click, the emergency door at the back of the Eagle Union dorm's west wing swung open, letting sunlight into the empty, dimly lit hallway. Nothing could get in between herself and what she wanted, locked doors especially. Placing her pick back into her hair, Taihō peaked inside, but not a single soul was in sight, only the swirlings of dust from the rarely used hallway. Despite the large number of Shipgirls on base, there was still an abundance of space left to accommodate any new arrivals.
With so many active Shipgirls out on patrols, navigating the normally crowded corridors was a trivial task. Snaking along the walls, Taihō peaked around the corner just as Denver and Columbia both exited their room. With a steady breath, none were the wiser to the bright red Carrier hiding in the shadows.
"Beginning of the hall, she said…" Taihō scanned the doors to each room. Surely enough, the first and only door to not have a wall plaque with a name was right where Helena said it was.
"Locked," Taihō jiggled at its handle as she hoped things would be easier, "but no matter…" she laughed to herself as its security measure fell quickly to the Armored Carrier's deft hands.
Totes and supply crates were the first thing Taihō saw as she cracked the door open, stacked nearly to the ceiling on the far end of the suite. The path to at least one bedroom looked to be cleared out already but the job had yet to be finished.
Taihō searched the room, lifting the furniture in search of the perfect place to hide her little "present." As she lifted one side of the mattress into the air, an idea finally came to her.
Her creepy laughter filled the dusty room as she dug into her cleavage. From their depths she pulled out her "present." A small but highly potent high explosive 500kg bomb, courtesy of one of her D4Y dive bombers. Even in its miniature state, it still packed the same punch.
"She just needs to lay her pretty little blonde head down on her pillow, and it'd be sweet dreams forever!" Her laughter deepened, "then there'll be no one left but me to stand next to Shikikan!"
The little bomb nestled nicely between the wooden bed slats.
All those times back in the Sakura Empire… she growled in her mind as she fiddled with the contact fuse.
An inept insect has no right to stand by Shikikan's side… just a few pounds of pressure at the head of the bed should be all it takes.
She'd be gone from the picture for good…
Her heart raced as she carefully placed the mattress back down.
"From the picture…" she whispered to herself as she clutched at the fabric by her chest to calm her nerves. But the photograph she had spent so much time staring at came back into her head.
"Gone…" Taihō whispered again as Brooklyn's image faded from that picture in her memories, replaced by one of herself as she attempted to place herself in that empty space. The smiles she tried to surround herself with, faded Twisted into a darkened contorted mess, the sister's faces became uncomfortable to recall as one by one, they too faded from view.
W-wait… she reached out, but Helena's and St. Louis's hands faded into a cloudy mist.
N-no… she panicked, as she scrambled for Honolulu's hand. Her heart sank into her stomach as Honolulu turned away, "d-dont…" she called, tears falling from her eyes, but the Cruiser's outline faded into the darkness slowly consuming her mind.
"Senpai… don't go…" She whimpered as her strength left her legs, collapsing onto her knees with a thud.
It was exactly what she wanted, to be the sole person by Shikikan's side, but as she couldn't even bear to look him in the eyes, she wondered if it was worth it.
She felt his hand on her shoulder for the slightest moment before he too faded away, leaving her all alone.
"Taihō~" a familiar voice rang through the darkness, "earth to Taihō~"
Her eyes blinked back to reality, like she was lost in a trance, but the ache in her heart hurt just as much now as it did in her mind.
"Oh thank the lord!" The voice laughed in relief, "thought I lost you for good there."
"W-what… who?" Taihō wiped at her lids as her senses slowly came back to her. A pair of emerald eyes greeted her, framed in long blonde hair.
"You good?" She asked, taking a step back, "you looked… really out of it."
In an instant, Taihō's heartache was replaced by sheer panic, "A-A-Albacore?!" She exclaimed, crashing backwards into a stack of crates, "w-what are you doing here?!"
The little submarine let out a nervous laugh as she twiddled her thumbs. While she still found her reactions hilarious, it felt wrong after what she just witnessed, "I was going to prank you~ but I found you staring off into nothing. It was some demons you were fighting off from the sound of it…"
Her back still pressed against the clutter trying to keep as much distance between her and the submarine as possible, "It's none of your concern!" She spat.
"Okay~ Okay~ no need to get your panties in a twist. I got bored waiting for Helena, so I wanted to see if you still need a hand cleaning up!"
"W-while I appreciate your offer…" the Carrier relaxed as she got up to her feet, "but I can do this just fine on my-"
"-Oh crap," Albacore interrupted. With a creak, the stack of crates teetered. And soon, like dominoes, crashed down on another stack until the entire suite filled with the cacophony of chaos.
The two shipgirls stood in awe, powerless to stop what they had set in motion.
Another bout of panic hit Taihō as the crates near the bed started to topple. She knew the sensitivity of the fuse she had just set and it was already too late to stop it.
"A-Albacore! G-get down!" The Carrier leapt onto Albacore, hugging her tightly to her chest. With a flash of light, a great shockwave thundered through their bodies, shaking them down to their core as the ceiling came crashing down over them.
o7
Present day…
Taihō flinched again as she touched the burn mark on her shoulder. It hadn't been since the war with the Sirens she had any wound as heavy as this.
"So pathetic…" she said quietly, "I really am the worst…"
"Wholly pathetic. I agree," an irritating, condescending voice said as the viewing slit to her door slid open.
Taihō immediately sat up as she retreated further into the corner, "what are you doing here?" She said back with venom, "go away!"
"As much as I'd love to gawk at your… humiliating circumstance," Akagi covered her mouth as she laughed, "it wouldn't look good on me if they kept you in here too long."
"Then I'm better off staying," Taihō turned away as she hugged at her knees.
"Oh, believe me! I'd have thrown away the key if I could." Akagi jingled the keychain through the tiny view slot before unlocking the cell.
"But your little friends keep pestering me. How's she doing , or, i-is she alright?" She continued, mocking the other girl's voices, "and frankly, it's all getting too annoying."
Taihō squinted as light poured in, past Akagi's silhouette.
"Hurry up now, I don't have all day!" Akagi clapped as her tails flared up in a display of dominance.
But the Armored Carrier didn't respond as she just hugged at her knees even tighter.
With a click of her tongue, Akagi stormed into the cell. "For the love of-" she grabbed Taihō's arm, forcibly lifting her off the bed, "you're insufferable!"
"I could say the same," Taihō said as she glared into Akagi's eyes.
The two Carriers stared each other down before Akagi finally relented, "Can you move under your own power, or do I have to drag you?" she asked, but Taihō stayed silent.
"Well, whatever." Akagi lets go, dropping the younger Carrier forcibly back down on the bed. "Follow me if you want, but this cell is closing back up again if you don't." she said behind herself as she turned for the door.
Akagi hummed in satisfaction as another pair of footsteps followed her down the hall. As combative as Taihō always was, she always fell in line eventually.
"Shikikan's proxy arrived on base earlier this week," Akagi said, filling the dead air between them.
So Brooklyn's already here… Taihō mulled in her head, her gut once again heavy with guilt. I really am pathetic…
o7
Back after the explosion…
Taihō could barely hear the panicked voices past the ringing in her ears as she fought against the slabs of thick concrete pressed down against the fan of her riggings. She felt movement between her breasts as Albacore wiggled her way to semi-fresh air.
Peeking down, she could see the little submarine's lips moving frantically but she could not make out what she was shouting.
"T-Taihō! Taihō!"
She thought she could hear her name as the ringing started to fade.
"Taihō! Y-you alright?!" Albacore said as the Carrier finally started to react to her calls.
"Yeah…" she grunted as she strained to push the slabs off her back.
"There they are!" Honolulu's panicked voice rang through the destroyed room as Cleveland and her sisters rushed to the shifting rubble.
With a mighty grunt, Taihō had emerged from the twisted and fiery debris with Albacore still firmly in her arms. Her riggings flared out, throwing the last of the rubble off of them before dissipating into a stream of cubes.
Just like a phoenix… Honolulu stared in awe before the Carrier collapsed back down, blood pouring from a wound on her shoulder.
o7
"If only your little plan succeeded…" Akagi grumbled to herself, "I'd have two thorns in my side gotten rid of. First and foremost, you, but no~ instead, I had to be talked down to by that insufferable Wales and that…that… harlot Brooklyn is still running around, reeking of my Shikikan!"
" You're Shikikan?!" Taihō said back incredulously.
"Oh~ so you can talk," she glanced behind herself at her junior through the corner of her eye, "but you heard what I said."
"Get real you old hag!" Taihō spat, "like there's anyway Shikikan could stand your stench of wet dog!"
Akagi stopped dead in her tracks. Her hands clenched into fists as a vein or two popped in her forehead. "For both our sakes…" the older Carrier let out a long breath, "I'll ignore what I just heard."
"Heh," Taihō snickered, taking it as her win.
"Don't push your luck, brat ." Akagi glared back. "And you just had to grow a conscience! All you had to do was shut up and not say a single word and everything would've been labeled as an accident. But now, there's a bright Taihō colored stain on our name."
Taihō tried to retreat into her shoulders. She knew the incident report would make its way into Shikikan's hands. But it didn't sit right with her as Honolulu and everyone all rushed to her aid, not knowing what she had intended to do with that bomb.
The shocked look on Honolulu's face as she told her the truth will forever scar her mind. She didn't deserve her sympathies, not after what she tried to do.
"You really thought you could run from the consequences by hiding in a cell?" Akagi scolded, "you're lucky that's all Wales decided to do. She could've easily discharged you and shipped you to the middle of nowhere, as much as I would've liked to have seen that. But alas, your little submarine friend vouched very loudly for you."
"Albacore…" Taihō clutched at her chest, that feeling of guilt flooding back inside of her.
As the Carriers stepped into the sun, Akagi turned to Taihō one last time, "oh and, before I forget, do you have anything nice to wear? I'd say you could just go in those prison rags, but that'd look bad on me too."
"For what?" She narrowed her eyes, still suspicious of her Senpai from the 1st Carrier Division.
Akagi seethed as she answered,
"That harlott is throwing a little party tonight. So, show your face or not. I don't care either way."
Taihō got a face full of Akagi's tails as she turned away, slapping at her one by one before leaving with a wave.
"Bitch…" she said under her breath.
"I heard that~" Akagi's ears twitched atop her head before disappearing around the corner, not even bothering to turn around
o7
Taihō quietly tiptoed into the hallway near her room. The last thing she wanted was to rouse her nosey neighbors to her return, but the bang of their sliding door caught the Armored Carrier in the act.
"Welcome back!" Shoukaku smiled.
"..." Taihō grumbled.
"Taihō's back?!" another irritating voice called from further inside.
The Armored Carrier turned pale as tiny footsteps hurriedly stomped closer to the door. She knew what was about to round that corner but the head of Blonde that came rushing directly at her still put her into a state of near cardiac arrest.
"A-A-Alba-!" She nearly got out before all the air was knocked out of her lungs.
"Taihō~" the little submarine cried as she rammed the top of her head into the Carrier's gut.
"She's been here all morning waiting for you," Shokaku giggled.
"I-I thought they were gunna put you away forever!" Albacore hugged tightly around Taihō's waist.
"Stop overreacting!" Taihō said, unwilling to shove the girl away, despite how much she wanted to. Maybe it was because of the real tears staining at her shirt that made her feel that way.
"Learned your lesson?" Zuikaku said as she joined them by the door.
Did she? Taihō asked in her mind as she stroked at the Submarine's long hair. She was so close to taking this girl's life or that of someone else unfortunate enough to stumble into her hastily made boobytrap. Hell, Taihō nearly took herself out with that bomb.
"Really though, what the hell were you thinking?" Zuikaku shook her head.
"Not clearly!" Taihō snapped, "clearly…"
"Zui…" Shoukaku scolded, "I already told you, we weren't going to interrogate her. She's done her time, and I'm sure it was enough to reflect on her actions. Right?"
"Right," Taihō kowtowed herself by the two sisters' feet, "and I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused."
"..." Zuikaku nearly stumbled backwards, unable to believe what she was seeing.
"My~" Shoukaku knelt beside the prostrated Carrier, "you've caused us no trouble, Taihō-chan~" she said as she stroked at the girl's hair, "I think you should say that to another pair of sisters."
Taihō sat up slowly, crossing an arm under her chest, "I-I plan on it…" she said quietly, still unable to look Shoukaku in the eyes.
"Good," The older Carrier smiled before wrapping her arms around Taihō's neck. "But it's really nice to have you back, things get really boring when you're not around."
"See!" Albacore pointed, "that's what I've always said!"
"S-shut up!" Taihō snapped around, "y-you're ruining this…" she said as she buried her face back into Shoukaku's shoulder.
"Hehe…" Albacore laughed quietly, "my bad~"
Shoukaku too quietly shared her laugh as she continued to stroke at the back of Taihō's head.
o7
At the party, Taihō kept along the edge scanning the crowd for those familiar red twin-tails.
"Not gonna mingle?" Albacore bumped at the Carrier's side before taking a sip from whatever blue cocktail the manjuu were serving.
"Not in the mood."
"You're just shy~" the submarine teased, "that's it!"
"Shut up!" Taiho snapped in her direction, "and you probably shouldn't be drinking that stuff…"
"A little coolant never hurt no ship~" she waved her hand dismissively, "but you see her yet?"
"..." Taihō scanned the partygoers again but shook her head.
"Late to their own party," Albacore laughed, watching the Carrier's features closely. Taihō had begun biting at her thumb as she hugged herself tightly. "Nervous?" The submarine nudged more gently at her side.
"W-why would I be?!" She forced her arms to her sides, "how ridiculous!"
"Relax~" Albacore plopped her butt up on the little brick fence, kicking at the air in her usual carefree way, "maybe she's over the whole, you trying to blow up her sister thing? While she could totally hold a mean grudge…" Albacore realized how bad she was at this whole encouraging words spiel as she saw Taihō's shoulders tense once again, "I-I mean-" she tried to course correct, but a hand at her face told her to stop.
"It's okay," Taihō rubbed at her temple, "even if she is mad at me…" she wouldn't blame her, "I still wanna say what I have to say…"
No sooner had she said that, the Carrier spotted the top of a pair of red twin-tails as they bobbed their way through the far side of the party.
"Well go get 'er!" Albacore hopped down from her perch, slapping at Taihō's butt with a laugh.
"..." Recovering from the sudden shock, she glared daggers at the scurrying submarine, "w-why you!"
"Hehe! Tell me how it went later~" Albacore waved back before disappearing into the sea of Shipgirls ahead of them.
"That little…" Taihō grumbled to herself as she tried to rub away the sting. With a deep breath, she pushed her way through the crowd, cursing that little submarine once again for giving her the push she needed to take those first steps.
She bowed and smiled, offering a quick sorry to each girl she bumped into as she made her way deeper. As she got closer, those twin tails looked more wrong with each step, but she trudged on anyway.
Senpai… she strained, just within arms reach now. "L-Lulu senpai!" She broke through to her target as she fell by her feet, "I-I'm sorry! Y-you don't have to forgive me, b-but I-"
"Ohdio…" an unfamiliar voice let out.
Taihō's heart sank as she lifted her head.
"I-I'm afraid you have me mistaken…" the girl said, an almost spitting image of the Eagle Union Cruiser.
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she clutched angrily at the ground.
"Ciao Bella~" the second in command of the Sardegna Empire knelt before the Carrier, cupping at her chin to get a good look into her deep eyes, "no need to feel upset. I will gladly accept your heartfelt apology on this "Lulu's" behalf.
Taihō's spine tingled as the Sardegna Battleship took her hand.
"You are far too stunning to be on the floor. Let me help you," the woman said before she attempted to place a kiss atop her hand.
"I can help myself!" Taihō shot up, headbutting Littorio square in the face, before storming off back into the crowd.
o7
*pfft* Zara tried to contain her laughter as Littorio stumbled upward clutching at her nose, "serves you right…"
Almost unfazed, she wiped at the blood "what a woman…" she said with an amused smile, watching the Sakura Empire Carrier retreat.
o7
A waltz had started, cutting Taihō off from a direct route through the party.
A pang of envy for the girl's lost in their partners eyes as they danced. She recognized a few, most notably, the former Vichy Flagship. Taihō always saw her as the type to keep a distance from these kinds of events, but there she was, hand in hand, step in step with another girl. Even as they clumsily danced, stumbling over each other, Taihō could swear she saw happiness in both their features.
She pictured herself in their shoes, lost in the arms of a partner of her own. She tried to picture her Shikikan, but the image was blurry. Only a flickering outline appeared in her mind, shorter and softer. Like that of-
"Senpai…" Taihō's heart fluttered as she finally caught sight of the busty Eagle Union Cruiser. On the other side of the venue, seated amongst her sister's.
Taihō wanted to run, bowling over anyone in her way, but her legs refused to comply. Her anxiety clawed back into her chest as she wrestled with what she was going to say to her. An apology was owed and at the start of the night, she was damned sure she would give one, but as she stood, frozen in the same spot for what felt like an eternity, she began to have second thoughts.
Could she even face Albacore again after putting on that brave face? Fact of the matter is, she was terrified. If Honolulu didn't want anything to do with her after what she did…
" Please, anything but that…" her voice trembled as she fought away the darkness encroaching on her mind.
The crash of cymbals and the blaring of horns came as an abrupt change to the soundtrack of her depression. Her head shot back up just in time to catch Brooklyn and some unknown girl exploding onto the dancefloor.
In a flurry of spins and footwork, Taihō was once again lost in their intimacy. Did she get it wrong? Was all her ugly vitriol misplaced? Was Shikikan not the subject of Brooklyn's desire? Because in this moment, as the bombastic mamba came to a close, the only thing that existed to that Eagle Union Cruiser, was the girl she had in her arms.
Taihō clutched at her face as she began to break out into laughter. "It was for nothing…"
o7
Taihō hid in the crowd just outside of view from the table of Brooklyns. She had finally found the strength in her legs to bring her to this point, but there seemed to be one last hurdle. The mood and temperament amongst the sisters was off. There was an almost visual layer of tension that could stop even Yamato's 18" Armor Piercing rounds.
She couldn't quite pick up what was said, but she had an idea as Brooklyn and that girl lifted their hands from below the table. Interlocked like a pair of lovers and the glint on their fingers put all doubt out of anyone's mind.
"Y-you can't be serious!"
She could see her Senpai's frustrations as it oozed out from her trembling fists.
"Lulu… I-"
"Save it!"
A slap echoed throughout the party as Honolulu swatted Brooklyn's hand away.
The Shipgirls nearest to the commotion all turned to watch, blocking Taihō's view. As she jostled for a spot, Honolulu came barreling by, bumping into her shoulder.
There was a deep turmoil behind Honolulu's eyes that seemed to spill over the moment she locked her gaze with Taihō's. Tears formed at her lids before she turned to run off.
"S-senpai! W-wait!" Taihō reached out, but she was already out of reach.
The images that tormented her before the blast, of Honolulu fading away before her very eyes replayed in her mind. It was all coming true…
Those red twin-tails pushed past the crowd before she disappeared.
The girl's around Taihō all shared uncomfortable looks as they bore witnesses to the awkward turn of events.
Something about them infuriated the Armored Carrier, she didn't need their pity, nor did Honolulu. What do they know?! She balled up her fists as a fire was reignited within her.
In a sprint, she traced the path Honolulu had carved. Where did she go?! She finally pushed to the edge of the party grounds to where she lost track of her.
"Fuck it!" She let out loudly as her riggings took form. A flight of Reppu's roared from her flight deck as they soared into the night sky. With a flash, the fighter sparked, transforming into the burning talismans of the Sakura Empire.
With one condition of her release being the disuse of any and all of her Kansen abilities until further notice, she'd get into serious trouble for this. But she didn't care as she gave chase to her fighters.
o7
The thumping music from the party could hardly be felt where Honolulu found herself. Carried to a secluded lookout point by her exhausted legs, she ran until she couldn't any longer. With a frustrated groan, she collapsed onto the railing, resting her head against it as she looked out over the whole Joint Base.
Always, when she thought things were going so well… Losing Helena was the catalyst for the turmoil she and her sisters faced. No one ever quite recovered from that blow. Bismarck's revival program was supposed to be a turning point, bringing back every single Shipgirl lost during the war, but things couldn't have gone smoothly for Helena's turn. Honolulu cursed whatever God made her little sister suffer so much, and for what? That was the day she felt she lost Brooklyn too.
From that point on, buried in her work as a diplomat and part time politician, Honolulu and the rest of her sisters saw Brooklyn less and less as the months went by, and before any of them knew it, there was a distance between them that never existed before. Everyone struggled during that time, despite trying their damndest to not let it show, but the scar from Helena's passing never fully healed for any of them. And just when that scar was supposed to be mended, it was torn right back open as they all laid their tear-ridden eyes on their dearest little sister, only for Helena to look back at them, nervous and frightened, like she was surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar environment.
The shock almost broke Honolulu, but she was sure, for Brooklyn, it well and truly did.
"Everyone processes things differently…" was what St. Louis said to Honolulu, quietly out of earshot from Helena. During a period where they really felt Brooklyn's absence. A time when even her voice could've lit their dark path ahead, but she was nowhere to be found.
She had hoped that her sister's words were true that Brooklyn would come back to them in time and they could start acting like the family they used to be.
With time, that hope grew. Helena got better, surpassing her old self in many regards. There was almost a semblance of normalcy returning to their daily lives, with Brooklyn's absence the only glaring omission. And with every passing day, Honolulu held out that same hope. That Brooklyn would show up in their port one day. Then that day finally came. But along with Brooklyn, came an interloper, looking to drive her way into their family.
"..." Honolulu groaned, matching the creak of the wooden fence as she put all her weight into it, burying her face in her arms.
She knew that girl didn't deserve her ire, Val had truly done nothing wrong. She seemed to have won over Helena, St. Louis appears to enjoy her company, and Brooklyn…
Honolulu couldn't recall the last time she had seen her name ship smiling and laughing as much as she has now. But that happiness seemed more directed towards Val.
"..." Honolulu groaned again as she lifted her head. The lights from the party flashed, bouncing off the Dormitory walls in the distance. Just as her eyes settled on the sight, another flickering light descended from right above her. Like paper fluttering in the wind, the fiery ephemeral talisman slowly came into focus as it came to a stop, right by the tip of her nose. And with a poof, it disappeared into a puff of flame.
"T-there you are!" a ragged, out of breath voice followed after.
Honolulu jumped from her perch on the fence as she snapped around. Barely standing with sweat dripped off the girl's brow, Taihō bent over, using her legs as support as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Taihō…" Honolulu quickly rubbed at her eyes, attempting to hide any trace of her previous tears, but the Armored Carrier took notice, taking a deep breath before stepping towards her.
Honolulu's heart beat hard against her chest as Taiho approached. It's not like Honolulu didn't want to see her, but the last time she did, Taihō confessed to planting a bomb under Brooklyn's bed.
At the time, Honolulu was furious and left without saying a word, not even stopping by to visit her cell.
The Cruiser clutched at her chest, I'm no better than Brooklyn… the thought echoed in her head.
"S-Senpai… I…" Taihō stumbled forward as Honolulu caught the Carrier in her arms.
Both girls collapsed to the floor as Taihō wrapped her arms tightly around Honolulu's waist.
"I'm sorry!" the Carrier said into Honolulu's chest, "if you don't want anything to do with me anymore…"
Taihō hugged tighter, nervous and scared, but a kiss atop her head dispelled all of it. A strained giggle left Honolulu's lips as she stroked circles around her back.
"It's fine…" Honolulu said. She had always found Taihō's earnestness so refreshing. "Right now, I'm kinda wishing you went through with it…" she halfway joked, but as Taihō lifted her head with a fiery determination in her eyes she had to quickly shut that line of thought down, "d-don't actually do it… okay?" she said aloud, just in case it wasn't clear.
"H-hai…"
Honolulu felt all the remaining tension leave Taihō's body as she sunk deeper into her own.
The two sat on the cold dirt, shoulder to shoulder, with the whole of the Joint Base as their backdrop. The soundtrack of distant chirping frogs and the faded thumping of party music played over the quiet peace the two girls had found as they silently gazed upwards at the stars.
Honolulu hugged tightly around the Carrier's arm as she nestled a little deeper into her side. Taihō's heart fluttered at the contact, overjoyed that her bid for forgiveness was accepted, but at the same time, a level of unease and nervousness settled in her chest.
"S-senpai?" Taihō gently nudged at the Cruiser as she whined back, "ready to head back?"
"Not yet…" Honolulu said quietly as she buried her face into Taihō's shoulder.
"Y-your sisters are probably worried about-"
"Not yet!" Honolulu said louder as she tightened her hold.
The little outburst startled the Carrier but she sat still as Honolulu let out her pent up feelings.
"She waited four years…" she said, muffled into Taihō's arm, "so she can wait a little more."
o7
With a sigh, Brooklyn rubbed at her temple as she made her way down the quiet path towards the dorms. Despite the party still going strong, she had to make her escape from the massive mob of Shipgirls, all looking for answers to the commotion Cleveland had stirred up. Words of congratulations, lots of probing questions, from mildly to highly intrusive, but Brooklyn couldn't blame them as she could clearly see the genuine curiosity in most of their eyes.
"You look tired," Val let out a strained laugh, "cause I'm too, after that…"
The two walked side-by-side, hand-in-hand, no longer concerned with the covertness of their relationship. The secret was out. Blushes and curious glances were shared among the girl's they had passed along the path. It felt so freeing to finally be open about the love they share, but despite all that, the scathing words Honolulu left Brooklyn with before she ran off, still stung at her heart.
She saw this coming, even mentally preparing herself for this eventual reveal, but as things played out in real time, Brooklyn didn't realize just how much it would hurt. Could she have done more to smooth things over? While she couldn't take back the last four years of inaction, she had at least hoped this visit would have eeked out just an ounce of understanding. But maybe she was too hasty.
The hand in her own tightened with a reassuring squeeze, like Val could sense her growing anxiety.
"Sure it didn't go as you planned," Val rested her head on Brooklyn's shoulder as their paces slowed, "but it's alright if we stumble, because-"
"-we gotta take it one step at a time," Brooklyn finished for her fiance. Words she's heard so many times, Words that have pulled her from the depths even more so as she replayed them in her mind.
"I'm sure you'll get through to her…" Val said, "I've seen the love you and your sisters share, it's far too strong to ever shatter."
"Not like I didn't try…" Brooklyn joked, disparaging herself.
"Even if it takes me my lifetime, I'll get her to at least tolerate me." Val spoke, "because I know how much she means to you."
"You'll get me to do what?" Honolulu's voice called from further up the dimly lit path.
Despite each other's words of encouragement, both Brooklyn and Val froze on the spot as two twin tailed silhouettes emerged from the darkness.
To say Brooklyn was surprised was an understatement, she hadn't expected to run into her sister so soon, let alone hand in hand with a peculiar Sakura Empire Carrier.
"I-I… uhh… w-what I meant was-" her fiancé's hand at her chest stopped Val.
"Lulu," her sister's name, left her lips firmly. "You're upset with me ," Brooklyn said almost pleading, "so please, don't take it out on Val."
"I-I know!" Honolulu cried out, biting her bottom lip to stop its quivering, "I know…" she whimpered as she tried to fight back tears from her already swollen eyes.
Brooklyn hesitated, she wanted to reach out and console her sister, but what right did she have to do so? The murderous glare Taihō was giving off didn't seem to help things either, but she shook it off, as she chose to step forward.
Wordlessly, Brooklyn wrapped her arms gently around her sister's head. Honolulu didn't offer any resistance as she was brought down to rest against her sister's breast. Brooklyn's heart beat into Honolulu's ear as the warmth from their contact worked to soothe the turmoil in the younger Cruiser's own.
"You're such a jerk," Honolulu said as tears fell past her tightly shut lids
"I know…"
"A really big jerk…"
"I am." Brooklyn placed a kiss atop her sister's head as she felt her tears soak through her shirt.
Hesitantly, Honolulu finally returned her sister's embrace. "I'm sorry," she said as another round of tears stained Brooklyn's uniform.
"Me too."
Val and Taihō shared awkward glances as the sister's reconciled, the latter finally dropping her death glare.
"S-so your Brooklyn's betrothed…" Taihō asked quietly as she moved to give the two sisters space.
"T-that's one way to put it, yeah…" Val nervously chuckled, still apprehensive of the girl staring them down so intently just moments before.
"…" The Carrier grumbled to herself, as her guilt crept its way back into her gut. If she was successful, she would've had the blood of an innocent civilian on her hands. While many were caught in the crossfire of the previous war, Taihō, like many others, took it upon themselves to never be complacent in those acts ever again. Shipgirls were one thing, but a human life is a precious, temporary thing. Unlike themselves, humans don't get second chances.
"Y-you don't look angry anymore…" Val regretted saying that immediately.
"Hah?!" Taihō instinctively scoffed. She wanted to say something back but stopped when Val flinched for her response, "but no, I'm not." She said back more calmly, "no reason to be, since Lulu-senpai isn't anymore."
"..." Val hummed to herself, "so you're close to Honolulu?"
"C-close?" The Carrier blushed at the thought, "why did you have to make it sound so-"
"It's a beautiful thing…" Val cut in, "to be close enough to someone to get mad on their behalf."
"O-of course! She's my Senpai!"
Taihō's declaration made even Val blush at the sheer possessiveness.
"I'd raze this place to the ground if she demands it!"
Val cringed in her mind as she second guessed if it was a good idea to encourage this girl.
"S-senpai?!" Taihō let out as Honolulu emerged into the light her and Val stood under. Like someone hit a switch in the Carrier's brain, she reverted back to a more calm state. Honolulu looked redder in the face as she rejoined Taihō's side, notably avoiding her gaze. She may have overheard their conversation on the way back.
Brooklyn wasn't too far behind as she re-took Val's hand. There was a slight puffiness to both sister's eyes that brought a weird sensation of relief to Val's heart. Hopefully a sign of their emotional discourse finally washed away.
An awkward air hung around the girl's as they fidgeted under the streetlamp, waiting for the other to say something first.
"Y-you guys heading back to the party?" Brooklyn was the first to break the silence.
"N-no," Honolulu shook her head, "we were just hoping we'd run into you. How 'bout you guys? Leaving early?"
"Yeah," Brooklyn chuckled, "after the commotion Cleveland stirred up, things got a bit too hectic."
"So you're running away…" Honolulu took one last jab at her sister.
"A temporary retreat more like. I'd rather deal with the curious horde when they're all… slightly less intoxicated."
The younger Cruiser giggled, much to her annoyance as she still hadn't decided if she wanted to still be angry or not.
"We were heading back to the room…" Brooklyn said quietly, "to pack our stuff…"
"W-wait…" Honolulu felt her heart sink, "you're leaving?"
"Just down the hall," Brooklyn clarified with a smile, "They fixed my room the other day so I figured I could give you your space back.
Taihō coughed as she failed to swallow the lump of guilt stuck in her throat.
"N-no!" Honolulu let out quickly, "i-it's fine… If you guys stay…" she looked away in embarrassment.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I don't mind…"
Brooklyn couldn't help but smile as hugged her sister once more.
"B-Brooke…" Honolulu tried to squirm but gave up quickly.
o7
A pair of metal bunny ears stuck out from a line of bushes, a little ways away from where Brooklyn and Honolulu shared their moment. "Can you hear anything, Helena?" She whispered through her mask as she twiddled with her bright pastel braid.
"Y-yeah, what're they sayin'?" Phoenix clambered over her sisters as she tried for a better look.
"Shh!" Helena hushed harshly, "I can't hear a thing!" She fought against her sister's as they jostled for space in the cramped hedges. She came to a dead stop as she felt two soft but heavy mounds resting on top of her head.
"You don't need to hear to see they've made up~" St. Louis sang happily as she stuck her head out from the bushes.
"L-Louis~" Helena whined, "they'll see you!"
"And you girl's were so worried~" St. Louis teased.
"H-hey!" Phoenix let out as she too stood from the bush, "you were the one who wanted to follow them!"
"Guys~ not so loud, they'll hear us!" Boise pulled them back down, just in time to not get caught as Brooklyn and Honolulu walked passed on their way back to the dorms.
o7
Later that night at the Sakura Empire Dorms.
Taihō rolled over in her futon for the hundredth time. Sleep was nowhere in sight as her mind still processed her brief time at the party and especially what transpired after. She hugged tightly at her pillow, squeezing it against her body, but it couldn't come close to how soft and warm her real Senpai was. What she would give to feel that level of comfort even one more time, like all her troubles washed away as she nestled her head in Honolulu's bosom.
A knock at her door roused her from her restlessness.
"T-Taihō?"
Her Senpai's voice ripped her free from her covers, as the Eagle Union Cruiser's unmistakable silhouette shone through the slightly opaque door, backlit by the moon's dim glow. She rubbed at her lids as if she couldn't believe her own eyes.
"Hey~ uhh… you still awake?" Honolulu whispered.
"Y-yeah! O-one sec!" Taiho answered as she scrambled for the door.
Honolulu waited patiently, overhearing a couple of thuds and a loud crash before the door slid open.
"Senpai!" a disheveled Taihō greeted looking slightly out of breath.
"S-sorry for coming so late…" Honolulu twirled at her hair as she peeked over the Carrier's shoulder at the overturned and spilled tea tray by the foot of the futon, "I didn't mean to wake you…"
"N-no! Not at all!" Taihō let out, before forcing herself back into a whisper, "I-I had a little trouble sleeping."
"You too?" Honolulu let out a sarcastic scoff, moreso at herself as she hugged tightly at her own body, "m-mind if I come in?"
"P-please do!" Taihō stepped aside, shutting the door behind Honolulu.
"Thanks…"
"W-would you like some tea?" Taihō offered, completely forgetting most of it was now staining her tatami.
"It's alright…" Honolulu knelt down as she began to wipe away the mess with the hem of her oversized T-shirt.
"S-senpai?! What're you doing? You're getting yourself all dirty!"
"Huh… oh…" Honolulu stopped once she realized what she was doing. She hugged at her knees as she buried her face in them, "s-sorry…"
"It's fine…" Taihō sighed before fetching a towel from her closet. As she patted at the mess she glanced over at Honolulu who had been quiet this whole time. Something must be bothering her, that much was obvious, but when Taihō parted ways with Honolulu and her sister earlier, things seemed to have been progressing smoothly.
"S-senpai?" She asked, placing the overturned pot back onto its tray, "everything alright?"
"..." the young Brooklyn groaned into her knees before slowly lifting her head, "mind if I stay with you… f-for the night?" She said quietly, hurriedly turning away to hide her reddening cheeks.
"..." Taihō blinked deliberately, "o-of course!"
"Thanks…" her reply was even quieter.
Taihō frantically scanned her room as she realized she only had a single futon. She couldn't let her Senpai sleep on such a filthy thing, especially since she hasn't washed it since before her time in the slammer.
"I-I don't have any extra bedding- "
"It's fine," Honolulu curled up on the spot as she hugged at herself for warmth, "I'll just sleep here."
"But you'll catch a cold!"
"What am I? Human or something?" Honolulu tried to joke as turned away from Taihō, "I said it's fine, so… Goodnight."
Taihō rapidly looked between Honolulu and her futon, on one side she couldn't let her stay like that and on the other, she didn't want to argue with her Senpai. Reluctantly, she slipped under her covers. The room became quiet, except for the light rustling of clothes and skin as both girls tried to settle in.
If she couldn't sleep before, Taiho really couldn't sleep now. Peeking from her covers, she could clearly make out Honolulu, bathed in the dim moonlight, as she lay uncovered in the middle of her room.
"S-senpai… " Taiho quietly called, but she got no response back despite seeing her shoulders jump ever so slightly, "you'll really get sick like that…." The Light Cruiser continued to ignore her.
"Lulu, Please!" She let out almost desperately.
"..." Honolulu finally stirred as she slowly lifted her head, "if it'll get you to stop whining…" she said, looking away as she brushed her hair behind her ears.
Was it elation Taihō felt as she lifted her covers to invite the older Cruiser in or was it nervousness? As Honolulu got up to slowly crawl over, Taihō couldn't help but feel she had done something wrong. Honolulu felt the same exact way as she slowly approached Taihō who looked as if she was inviting her for a "cuddle"
Both girls' faces were flushed, hoping the dim light would be enough to hide their nervousness, but they could clearly make it out on each other's face as Honolulu carefully slid in next to Taihō.
The deed was done, too late to take it back now, Taihō thought as she gulped down the knot in her throat, lowering her covers over the both of them.
"Thanks…" she whispered, their noses not even inches apart. Honolulu hurriedly turned over, unable to bear her growing embarrassment.
Finally able to drop the stony expression she held she let out the breath she was holding. Honolulu's crimson hair draped down her nape, free from its usual Twin-tails. It was a rare sight for the Sakura Empire Carrier, one that she took in full. The scent of her strawberry shampoo in such close proximity was short circuiting things in Taihō's brain as she pressed her face against the back of Honolulu's neck.
"..." Honolulu gasped, "d-did you just?"
"You smell nice…" Taihō giggled.
"T-thats!" Honolulu let out before calming down, "geez… just warn me first…"
"sorry…"
Minutes passed like hours as the two lay still, again too nervous to move.
"Say? Earlier?" Honolulu spoke up, "you called me Lulu… no Senpai either…"
"...I-I didn't mean to-" Taihō shot up.
"You don't have to y'know," Honolulu giggled as she rolled over to her back, looking up at the Carrier.
"I-I dunno…"
"It's fine~" she waved her hand dismissively.
"But!"
"..." Honolulu groaned at her objection, taking a handful of Taihō's covers to her own nose.
"S-senpai!" it was Taihō's turn to be flustered as Honolulu peeked up at her with a mischievous look on her brow, "i-its dirty! D-don't do that!"
"Just so we're even~" she stuck her tongue out before going to take a whiff.
"W-wait! Don't!" Taihō cried as she lunged, ripping the Cruiser's hands free from her covers.
With a thump, Honolulu's arms were pinned to either side of her head as the covers fell by their feet. Honolulu stared up in shock as Taihō's hair cascaded down, tickling at her nose. A cold draft blew up the length of her body as Honolulu slowly looked down, tears starting to form in her eyes.
Taihō traced Honolulu's gaze, down past her oversized shirt that had ridden up, revealing one of her twin peaks in all their glory. She found it hard to pry her eyes off at the sight as they rose and fell with each short breath.
"I-I-I didn't mean to! I-I swear!" Taihō tried to get off, but she stumbled, her knee pressed up between Honolulu's legs as if some cosmic force conspired to make the situation worse.
Honolulu let out a surprised moan at the sudden contact. Both girls stared at each other, faces redder than the underside of their hulls.
Even if Taihō wanted to get up now, she couldn't, as Honolulu had intertwined their fingers. Her grip was soft but firm as if pleading for the Carrier to not let go.
"S-senpai?" Taihō said breathlessly at her half-lidded eyes. She had hoped for an answer, but Honolulu slowly shut her eyes the rest of the way before slowly turning her head to the side. The Cruiser's neck enraptured Taihō, as the dim moonlight glistened off her supple skin. All thoughts flew from Taihō's mind as she zeroed in on her target of fixation.
Honolulu trembled as Taihō's breasts pressed up between her own. Hot shaky breaths tickled at her nape sending shivers up her body. The tip of Taihō's nose brushed along her skin so faintly, with a gentleness she had not known from the Sakura Empire Carrier.
Oh God, Honolulu trembled, is this really happening? She lay there as Taihō set upon her neck with a light kiss. Another moan escaped from her lips as she squeezed tighter at the Carrier's hands.
How did it even come to this? Honolulu cursed Brooklyn and Val for putting her in this… situation. Sure she gave them her blessing, even letting them stay in her suite, but did they have to be so… loud. She left, wanting to cool her head, and found herself at Taihō's doorstep moments later, but still, how did it come to this?
"Senpai…" Taihō said into her ear as a shiver shot up her spine. She dragged each syllable, dripping with an almost uncontrolled sensuality.
Fuck it! She didn't care anymore as her ability to think straight ebbed away with each kiss at her nape, but suddenly Taihō retreated. Honolulu could see Taihō's features clearly as the Carrier hovered over her. The way the moon glinted off her chest as her kimono fell past her shoulder from her short labored breaths.
"T-Taihō… " her voice came out ragged, nearly pleading as her body burned.
As if to answer, the Carrier drew in, their eyes locked as Honolulu held her breath.
The sudden rolling of Taihō's door put an abrupt stop to Taihō's advance.
"I heard you shouting a second ago, is everything alri-?" Shōkaku's voice trailed off as she froze stiffly at the doorway.
Two heavily panting, sweaty, and half naked girls, their bodies tangled like two pieces of some puzzle. Both stared back at the older white haired Carrier with a mixture of shock and shame plastered On their faces.
"Ara~" Shōkaku let out guiltily, "I'll knock next time!"
Both girls flinched as the door slammed shut. Shōkaku's normal dainty little footsteps stomped with long strides against the porch.
"Shōkaku-nee~" Zuikaku could be heard faintly in the distance, "what's going on?"
"Oh~ nothing to be concerned about, so hurry along now and let's get back to sleep." the older Crane sister giggled nervously before shutting the door to their room.
The two shipgirls' faces were engulfed in a fierce blush as they slowly turned back to each other. Like the gears in their heads finally started to turn as they realized what they had almost done. And to Shōkaku's poor eyes, what they were actively doing.
Taihō hurriedly rolled herself off Honolulu as both stared up silently at the ceiling.
"I-I'm gonna go to sleep now!" Taihō shouted before she turned her back on Honolulu, pulling her covers up over her head.
"Y-yeah…" Honolulu said, still in a daze as she quietly did the same. She lay there on her side, she rubbed her thighs together in a vain attempt to quell the heat that still lingered. As she shut her eyes, Honolulu couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
o7
Several Destroyers had their heads down, wallowing in self pity as they struggled to lift their forks into their mouths. And in the center, Wichita, despite being in a similar state, towered over the rest of the smaller girls. Laffey, however, looked completely unfazed as she poked at a barely conscious Javelin.
That's what they get for trying to keep up with Laffey , Biloxi laughed to herself as she spotted Brooklyn and her sisters already seated in the cafeteria.
"So~" Biloxi nudged St. Louis's side as she slid next to her, "how'd last night go? She whispered as the older Cruiser sighed.
"Better than expected to be honest…" she said as she glanced at her sister's at the table.
Despite her optimistic words, Biloxi could easily pick up on the slight uncertainty in her voice. Sure enough, on one end of their table, Brooklyn and Val seemed pretty lively for such an early hour of the day. They looked great in fact, practically glowing, as they spoon fed each other with not a single care in the world.
"They seem to be doing alright…" Biloxi silently gestured to the two love birds, openly flaunting their relationship, "so who're you worried about now?"
The older Cruiser didn't answer, but Biloxi traced her gaze towards Honolulu still on the food line. She looked like shit , to put it politely. Not quite to the Destroyers or Wichita's level, no. This seemed like something else entirely. The bags under her eyes were a dead giveaway.
"I'm taking it, she's still mad?"
"Huh? Oh… Lulu?" St. Louis's brow furrowed as she rocked her head side to side, struggling to make sense of something, "no… it can't be. I saw them make up last night, we all did. But come to think of it, in the morning..."
"Hmm?" Biloxi hummed with curiosity.
"I ran into her outside. She was still in her pj's and it looked like she was coming back from somewhere… She seemed pretty tired then too.
"Maybe she went out for a walk, y'know, to clear her head? Can't be easy processing-" Biloxi silently gestured to the lovey dovey couple once more, "-that."
"Perhaps…" St. Louis giggled.
With a plonk, Honolulu dropped her tray onto the table, doing the same with her butt as she plopped in next to Helena.
"Mornin'~" the youngest Brooklyn said with a smile.
"Mornin'..." Honolulu strained to smile back through her tired eyes as she tried to match her sister's energy.
"Wow Lulu!" Phoenix snorted, "you look like shit!"
"Phoenix~!" Boise chastised as pulled at her sister's arm.
"What?! It's true!"
"Gee, thanks," Honolulu grumbled as she stirred at her cereal, "morning to you to…"
"You feelin' alright?" Helena dipped her head low into Honolulu's periphery.
"Yeah~" she stroked at the top of her little sister's head, before briefly side-eying Brooklyn and Val at the head of the table, "just didn't get much sleep last night."
"A-ano!" Taihō's voice called out timidly from behind. Most of the eyes in the cafeteria were now trained on the fidgeting Carrier.
"T-Taihō?!" Honolulu's voice cracked slightly as she fiddled with her hat in a vain attempt to hide her flushed cheeks.
"Pardon my interrupting…" She quickly approached Brooklyn before diving into a steep bow. "I'm sorry about your room!"
"My room? So that was you…" Brooklyn let out an exasperated sigh.
"H-hai…" Taihō flinched, waiting for some form of repercussion, but a gentle hand on her shoulder was all she got. As she lifted her head, Brooklyn's smile greeted her.
"Was anyone seriously injured?"
"No!" Albacore yelled from below the table as Taihō's face turned white as a sheet, "she protected me!" she yelled again before popping up between the both of them,
"I-Is that so?" Brooklyn chuckled past her surprise, "well then… I can't see any reason to be mad."
"R-really?" Taihō said in disbelief.
"Really," Brooklyn offered out her hand, "So, how about we start from scratch? So incidents like this could be avoided in the future."
"H-Hai!" The Carrier let out in relief, giving Brooklyn's hand a firm shake.
"Good! Now that that's settled, why don't you and Albacore grab a seat and join us?"
"..." Honolulu silently panicked, immediately shooting a glare at her sister.
"Yeah! Come sit!" Helena scooted over, slapping at the formerly occupied space.
"Helena~" Honolulu quietly whined as her heart started to beat faster as Taihō looked her way for the first time since last night.
Taihō hesitated for a second before slapping at her cheeks.
Stupid stupid! Honolulu panicked silently yet again as Taihō slowly approached the seat next to hers.
"W-would you mind?" Taihō said quietly.
Don't act all bashful now?! Honolulu shouted at the Carrier in her mind as her stoney facade started to crumble.
"N-no, not at all~" she said through a faltering tried to calm her heart as their shoulders brushed, jostling for space on the cramped bench. Lost in a daze, Honolulu could hardly concentrate on her food or conversation.
"I-is it really alright if I sit with you guys?" Taihō said in a small voice.
"I don't mind!" Phoenix shrugged from the other side of the table, " 'sides, Brooklyn here had it coming." She joked, punching at her sister's arm, earning her a kick to her shin below the table.
Boise shook her head quietly, unable to find any disagreement.
"I don't see why not," St. Louis said with a giggle.
"Well, if you do try anything," Helena smiled as she cupped her SG Radar, but it did little to comfort the Carrier as that same foreboding aura, from her first encounter with with the youngest Brooklyn, reached out like tendrils, coiling around her chest in an almost suffocating fashion. "-I'll know~"
"Hiee-" Taihō quietly shrieked, just as Albacore plopped down on her lap. For the first time since she'd known the little nuisance of a Submarine, her presence brought comfort to her frightened mind.
"I'll make sure to put a stop to her if she ever gets too crazy!" Albacore proudly declared before swiping a fork full of the Carrier's pancakes.
"I'll be sure to take you up on that," Helena teased with a laugh.
"I-I-It won't happen again!" Taihō cried out at the newly formed alliance.
Wiping away at her tears, the Carrier turned towards Honolulu, expecting her senpai to say something, just as her sister's had. But she just turned away quickly, trying to hide her face.
"Sorry about last night…"
Honolulu's heart nearly stopped at the sudden whisper, Taihō's lips so close as her breath tickled at her ear.
Honolulu jolted as her knee impacted the underside of the table.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Helena said, concerned as all her sister's turned towards the sudden disturbance. Honolulu's face matched the color of her hair as she quickly buried her face into her arm.
"A-all good~" Honolulu tried to laugh, "Leg fell asleep 'n all~"
Though no one was convinced, they all accepted her explanation and resumed their meal.
"I don't know what came over me…" Taihō whispered again as Honolulu's body jolted once more.
The Cruiser peeked from her arm, silently pleading for her to stop.
"I just couldn't help myself…" Taihō clearly not getting the message..
Honolulu shot upwards from her seat, "n-not here!" She whispered way louder than intended. Her face couldn't possibly get any redder than it already was as everyone's eyes were on her once more.
"I-I-I mean… I uhh…" She stumbled with her words before turning to Taihō, "mind if we talk…" she tugged at the corner of the Carrier's sleeve, "somewhere else…"
"S-sure!" She slid Albacore off her lap before stumbling after Honolulu.
"Ufufufu~" St. Louis hid another giggle behind her fingers.
"What?" Biloxi nudged at the busty Cruiser next to her.
"Oh, just thought things might get interesting around here soon~." she sang as the rest of her sisters laughed along.
o7
"How right you are~" Tester said from atop her perch on a nearby building.
"So you see her?!" a crazed Purifier clung to her partner.
"Our objective has been sighted~" she slowly caressed Purifier's arm, "so just just relax for now…"
"Awww man~"
"Let's let them enjoy themselves for now… we could make contact with The Anomaly at our leisure." Tester scratched under her Partner's chin, pacifying her restlessness, 'I have a plan, that way, we could kill two birds with one stone, or so the humans say. In the meantime why don't we do the same and enjoy ourselves~"
"OoOo~" Purifier purred, "maybe you're onto something~" their laughter went unneeded as the Shipgirls in the courtyard below were none the wiser to their presence.
o7o7
Well, sorry for the longer than normal wait. Things have been crazy at work and home these last couple months, between big changes at my job and a couple of emergency room visits (not for myself luckily, or unluckily?) I've hardly had the time to work on this chapter. Couple that with this chapter turning into my longest one so far and suddenly a couple of months went by just like that.
Honestly though, this probably could've been several smaller chapters, but I really wanted to end this arc at least and not let it drag on too long (I could probably make an entire separate fic about Honolulu and Taiho) so I can turn my focus on another relationship and potential pairings.
If you guys have any suggestions who you'd wanna see the spotlight on, please let me know. I have a few set pieces planned but a lot of stuff in between I'm just having fun with.
So~ until next time!