"Uggh...my head...it hurts so much... how much did I drink yesterday?" Is what John was thinking to himself through a very clouded head as he began to wake up. The rays of the sun had hit the man's face, which woke him up from his alcohol induced slumber. As the man was getting his bearings and his vision was becoming more clear, he could feel a weight on his stomach and could see an object, but it was too blurry at first to tell what it was. When his vision had cleared up more, he noticed the object was a little girl, his daughter Tsubaki was kneeling on his stomach and looking at straight at him, "Morning Papa." The half-KANSEN said to the man when she noticed he was more awake. "Morning sweetheart." John groggily replied to his daughter.
John took a few moments to make sure his head was as clear as it was before speaking to his daughter again, "Tsubaki, where am I? And where is your mother?" John still couldn't make heads or tails of where he was due to the alcohol he had yesterday. He tried to remember what happened, but he could only draw a blank. John decided it was best to ask his daughter. "You are at home, Papa, Mama's making breakfast. Mama told me to come and wake you up." The half-KANSEN replied. When Tsubaki told the man where he was, he looked around. He noticed that he was in his living room and was lying down on the couch. John realised that the white-crane must have helped him home last night and put him on the couch, the man could imagine that his wife probably wasn't too happy with the state he must have ended up in last night.
John knew Shoukaku was more than likely going to give him a hell of a lecture when he saw her, If she was making breakfast right now then trying to avoid seeing her would only make the lecture he would receive worse. The man decided it was best to see his wife as soon as possible, John ushered Tsubaki to get off his stomach, and the little girl did so. Using the arm of the couch, he got to his feet. He did feel dizzy when he stood up straight but managed to stay vertical. John and Tsubaki then walked towards the kitchen, where they could hear Shoukaku preparing breakfast. Once John had reached the kitchen, he could see his wife was making breakfast but couldn't tell what it was as she had her back turned to him. Tsubaki simply got into a chair and then called out to her mother, "Me and Papa are here, Mama." The half-KANSEN called out to Shoukaku.
Hearing her daughters voice, the KANSEN turned around and could see John and Tsubaki were in the kitchen. Shoukaku looked at John. The cheeks on her face were puffed out, and she didn't look happy to see him. "Oh boy, Shoukaku definitely isn't happy about something. What did I do yesterday? I bet I did something stupid." Is what John was thinking to himself while under his wife's gaze. The man tried to think what it was he had done but had a feeling Shoukaku was going to tell him anyway. "Erm...good morning darling. Lovely day isn't it? You look radiant today." John tried the charm offensive in hopes of buttering up the KANSEN. He figured if he sweet talked her, Shoukaku would take it easier on him, and her lecture would be much less painful.
The KANSEN, however, only looked more annoyed at the man, "Don't try that with me John, it isn't going to work. Do you remember what you did yesterday when you got drunk?" The white-crane asked her husband if he remembered what it was that had gotten her so annoyed with him. The man simply scratched the back of his head and replied rather sheepishly that he didn't remember. "Well, yesterday you got so drunk that when Zuikaku returned home with Tsubaki, you started serenading her, thinking she was me. You then kept telling her how much you loved me, then you started sobbing like a child and hugging her. I don't mind you getting drunk, especially with what has happened recently. It's been stressful for us all, I can understand. But can you please not do that with my sister? And don't you ever do something like that in front on Tsubaki ever again." Shoukaku told John what he did yesterday while he was drunk and reprimanded him for his behaviour.
John groaned at what he did, and Tsubaki started giggling, "Papa was really funny yesterday." The little girl commented upon seeing her fathers reaction. While John was embarrassed by what he did, at least he didn't do anything that upset his daughter. Tsubaki saw the humour in it. "I'm sorry Shoukaku, I promise the next time I see Zuikaku I'll apologise to her. I bet she feels just as embarrassed as I am." John promised the white-crane that he would apologise to her sister when he saw her next. He could imagine things would be awkward between the two of them and needed to clear things up. Satisfied that her husband would sort out his mess, the white-crane told him to sit down and wait for breakfast to be ready. The man did so, and together with his daughter, the pair waited until Shoukaku had finished making breakfast. Once the crane was finished, a plate of a traditional Sakura Empire breakfast was put in front of him and then Tsubaki. Shoukaku also put down a glass of water next to John so he could rehydrate from yesterday. Shoukaku then put down a plate for herself, and the family began eating.
When all three had finished, the white-crane told her husband to get himself a shower and clean himself up. She also explained what their plans were for the day, Tsubaki wasn't at school today, so the white-crane wanted the three of them to spend time together as a family. "John, when you are done, I want the three of us to go down to the beach together. It's been a while since we have done something alone, and let's face it. We need a break after everything that has happened recently." John listened to what the white-crane said and agreed with the idea. He also knew that objecting it would be a bad idea at the moment. The man had already annoyed his wife enough with his antics yesterday and didn't want to push her buttons further. John then left to shower and to get himself ready to head towards the beach.
One hour later, after John and his family had finished getting themselves ready, the trio was at the beach. It was a hot day, the sun was glaring down at their location, and the sea was calm. Gentle waves were hitting the sand, and many KANSEN had decided to come to the beach as well. John, Shoukaku, and Tsubaki were currently under a parasol a good distance away from the other shipgirls. The man had now sobered up somewhat from earlier and was now currently putting sun block on Shoukaku's back, the white-crane had already put sun block on Tsubaki who was now playing at the edge of the water. "There we are, that's the last bit of sunblock you need, Shoukaku." The man informed his wife when he was finished. "Thank you, John." Shoukaku replied.
John and Shoukaku continued to sit under the parasol while keeping an eye on Tsubaki, both could see the happiness of the half-KANSEN as she was splashing around in the water, "You know Shoukaku, I couldn't be more happier than I am now. And I imagine Tsubaki is the same. To think, we could have lost you, all because of Akagi. She could have taken our happiness away. She had no right to do that. I'm not sure sending her on a mission to find the other Tsubaki was my best idea, but I'm willing to give her a chance to redeem herself. I just hope Amagi and the rest who went with her can keep Akagi under control." John pondered out loud to his wife. The white-crane turned to look at John, She could see the look of apprehension on his face. The KANSEN could tell her husband was having second thoughts about sending Akagi away, "What's done is done John. I don't like it either, but we can't change it now. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive her. Even if Akagi succeeds, I'll never be able to lower my guard around her. Taihou, however...I think I'll be able to forgive her eventually. She still loves you and was only looking out for you. It's just going to take some time." Shoukaku told her husband her thoughts on both Akagi and Taihou.
John could understand Shoukaku's feelings. He himself didn't think he would ever be able to trust Akagi ever again. The kitsune had damaged his trust forever and was never going to be able to win it back. He did forgive Taihou, and he also knew that the phoenix still loved him and would do anything to protect him. He also knew that when and if Akagi returned, Taihou would more than likely seek vengeance for her manipulation. He would turn a blind eye to that when it happened, John knew that it would be unprofessional but sometimes just like what he saw in training and when he was stationed on other bases the grunts would normally dish out their own punishment to those who screwed up. Taihou getting payback on Akagi would be what the kitsune deserved. He just hoped the phoenix wouldn't kill her when the time came.
For now, the man just wanted to spend time with his family, Shoukaku was still here. The white-crane had not become another Yorktown. He couldn't lose another woman he loved. John instinctively kissed Shoukaku, the white-crane was caught off guard by the gesture of affection, but she did enjoy it. "What was that for, John?" Shoukaku asked. "Just showing my wife how much I love her. Or does she need more proof?" John said to the KANSEN. "Oh I don't know. I might need more proof. If my loving husband is willing to show me the enthusiasm that he did with my sister, i might be convinced." Shoukaku replied in a slightly flirtatious tone. John was more than happy to oblige with the KANSEN. The man lovingly cupped Shoukaku's face and then brought his lips to hers in a deep kiss. The white-crane returned the kiss with just as much affection as he did. The two were in their own world for a few seconds until a shout brought them back to the present, "Ew! Mama and Papa are being lovey-dovey again!"
Tsubaki had brought the pair out of their kiss, and they could see their daughter, who was covering her eyes. The little girl had caught the two kissing each other. The white-crane and the man were embarrassed being caught by Tsubaki and tried to maintain their composure in front of the half-KANSEN, but the blushes on the faces of both of them weren't going away. John let out a coughing noise before speaking to his daughter, "Trust me, Tsubaki, one day you will find someone who you will be lovey-dovey with, just like me and your mother." John told his daughter she would find someone who she would care about one day just like he cared about Shoukaku next to him. The little girl retched in reply to her father, Tsubaki didn't like the idea. This caused the man and white-crane to chuckle. They knew when their daughter was older, she would find someone who she cared about just like they cared about each other.
Shoukaku then got up from underneath the parasol and decided to play with her daughter. The little girl and the crane decided to run towards the sea and began splashing each other with water as the gentle waves landed on the beach. John looked on from his position and simply smiled at mother and daughter having fun with each other. "I hope we can find the other Tsubaki. She deserves to have many days like this. I need to let Zuikaku META know about Akagi. She may not be my Tsubaki, but she is still my daughter. She deserves peace just like everyone else. I promise you, wherever you are, Tsubaki...we will find you." John thought about the Tsubaki that was the niece of Zuikaku META while looking at his own family. He believed the other Tsubaki deserved to enjoy life just like his own daughter. He promised he would do whatever it took to find her. Wherever she was, he would not rest until she was safe and sound. He had taken the first steps to find her and would need to inform the META crane at the earliest opportunity. For now, however, John wanted to enjoy this moment of peace with his loved ones. He knew that this peace could be shattered at any moment...
Many timelines away far from the peace and tranquillity John was having, a young girl had woken up from a long slumber. Looking around, all the girl could see was dark metal towers, metal flooring, and the air around her felt cold. This girl was the niece of Zuikaku META. It was her Tsubaki. The alternate Tsubaki felt frightened when looking around at her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was being taken by the bad people she and her aunt had been trying to avoid for the last few years. "Auntie...where are you...I'm scared." The young girl tried calling out for her aunt Zuikaku but received no reply. Tsubaki looked around again and could see no bad people. She knew she had to try to escape. If the bad people found her again, she knew they would hurt her. She knew she had to escape to try to find her aunt. Gathering her courage, the alternate Tsubaki got to her feet and began walking around the metal towers in hopes of not being found and to find an escape route.
The air around the half-KANSEN was freezing, the young girl was shivering as she was walking around looking for an exit. Tsubaki was shivering from both fear and how cold it was, but the half-KANSEN knew she had to be as quiet as possible. Any loud noise would give her position away, and any bad people would immediately find her. Tsubaki then heard footsteps coming towards her. The young girl immediately tried looking for somewhere to hide. The only place she could find was behind one of the dark metal towers. Tsubaki quickly and quietly hid behind one of the towers. The footsteps got closer. They carried on getting closer until they came to a stop. Tsubaki was too afraid to move. The half-KANSEN knew whoever was there was very close by. One movement, and they would know exactly where she was. The alternate Tsubaki was shivering more and more, but no matter how much she tried, the young girl couldn't control it. She still hadn't heard any movement from her hiding spot, Tsubaki thought she had been found. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the footsteps were heard again. This time, they began to get quieter. Whoever it was, they were moving away.
Tsubaki waited until she was certain it was safe to come out. Once she was sure it was safe, the young girl looked around from her hiding spot. Seeing nobody around the alternate Tsubaki carried on looking for an exit, the half-KANSEN being as careful as she could so she wouldn't be found. Tsubaki carried on walking and hiding, the young girl kept hearing footsteps and seeing bad people before they could spot her. It was a deadly game of cat and mouse as the half-KANSEN kept trying to find an exit. Eventually, the girl came across a pair of doors on one of the metal towers, "Is that an exit? Is that where Auntie Zuikaku is? Auntie Zuikaku can protect me! We can escape!" is what the young girl was thinking as she saw the doors. The young girl believed it was an exit or where her aunt was. Either prospect was good enough for her.
The alternate Tsubaki ran towards the doors and tried to open them. Her fear from earlier had been overtaken by excitement and a chance of getting out of here. The girl tried opening the doors, but they were shut tight. No matter what she did, Tsubaki could not open them. After several attempts, the half-KANSEN gave up on trying to open the doors. She knew she had to look for another exit. The young girl turned around, when she did her fear from earlier returned ten-fold. Standing before her was a menacing blue woman. This woman was one of the bad people. Standing before Tsubaki was one of the most dangerous Sirens in existence, Predator. The half-KANSEN was routed to the spot upon seeing the blue woman, fear had completely taken over her. Predator had a menacing grin on her face, like her namesake it was the grin of a Predator that had caught its prey. "Well, I see our guest has been looking around unescorted. Were you trying to escape little one?" the Siren asked the young girl.
Tsubaki couldn't answer. She knew no matter what she said, the bad person in front of her would definitely hurt her. The half-KANSEN was praying for her Aunt Zuikaku to show up and save her like she had done so many times in the past. But the crane didn't arrive, Zuikaku wasn't here. Tsubaki began to shake and shiver even more, fear of dying was written all over the girl, she believed she would be joining her parents. Predator had no intention of hurting the girl but took pleasure in seeing her fear. She couldn't harm this girl. If she did, it would destroy the alliance with who she had built with who was behind the doors. Predator originally wanted this girl to be a weapon to destroy humanity. The Siren thought that only one version of this girl existed. But after discovering not one but two other versions of this child existed, the Siren knew that this one could be used to strengthen the alliance she had. One of the other versions of this girl was deceased, but one more still existed, that one would suffice to become a weapon.
"Well, it matters not if you were trying to escape, girl. I know someone who has been dying to see you. Now, come with me. Don't even try to run. You have no chance of escape." The Siren told the half-KANSEN to come with her. Tsubaki knew she didn't have a choice. She was going with this person whether she liked it or not. Predator turned Tsubaki around to face the doors. The Siren put her hand on the doors and they immediately opened up. Once the doors opened, the half-KANSEN was immediately hit by a bright white light. She instinctively shielded her eyes to stop herself from going blind. Once her eyes adjusted to the white light, Tsubaki could see a room. It looked like someone lived here. Standing in the centre of the room was someone in a black kimono and had long white hair, whoever this was the half-KANSEN had a feeling she had seen them before, something was very familiar about them.
Tsubaki didn't have time to think who it was. Predator pushed her inside the room. The room was very different from outside. It had a warm, comforting feeling as opposed to the coldness outside. Predator then decided to speak when Tsubaki was inside, and they were both closer to whoever was standing in the middle of the room, "Here is your daughter as promised. I have brought her back like you desired, I trust our alliance to destroy humanity will continue?" the Siren asked the individual. The individual then turned around to face the Siren and Tsubaki. When the half-KANSEN saw who it was, she couldn't believe it. The alternate Tsubaki thought she was in a dream. This person looked different than from what she remembered. She had deathly pale skin, red eyes, a burn mark was on the left side of her face, and one of her arms was metal. The young girl, however, could tell who this person was exactly the person was no matter what the differences were.
This person was someone who she thought had died alongside her father years ago, "Ma..ma?" Tsubaki choked out. Tears were falling rapidly from the alternate Tsubaki's eyes. She thought her mother had died. Standing before the young girl was Shoukaku, but it wasn't the Shoukaku that she knew. It was a Shoukaku that was from a completely different timeline, one where her own daughter had been killed by humans. And she had become a META just like her aunt. Tsubaki didn't know this however, she thought it was her own mother. "Ma..ma, Mama!" the young girl shouted as she began to run towards Shoukaku META. The META crane could see Tsubaki coming and embraced the young girl when she reached her. "Mama! Mama! I've missed you so much, Mama! I love you so much!" The alternate Tsubaki was saying as she was crying in Shoukaku META's black kimono. The META was rubbing the girls head to comfort her. The KANSEN was crying too. Shoukaku META had thought she had lost her daughter forever, but Predator had kept her promise. The Siren had brought her daughter back, and she wasn't going to lose her a second time. "Don't worry, Tsubaki, you are safe now. I promise no one will ever hurt you again." The META crane whispered to the crying half-KANSEN.
Predator was feeling like a third wheel looking at the scene in front of her. She thought it best to return later. No doubt the META crane would want to spend time with what she thought was the daughter she had lost. Predator left the two on their own. For now, her next step was to think of a plan on how to get the other Tsubaki from the other timeline she had discovered. The Siren had a perfect idea who could help. A certain scientist that she was acquainted with would be the perfect person to begin the next step of her plan. The Siren opened a portal, a stepped inside, ready to see the scientist known as Borys Kowalski once again..