Uninhabited Island. Two days past engagement. 0900 hrs.

David grunted as he speared another fish that was to be breakfast for him and his newfound comrade.

Zuikaku was nearby on the shore descaling and preparing the fish David had already caught.

They had both previously agreed to these "chores" of sorts with Zuikaku's obvious injuries preventing her from most strenuous activities.

What was worse was when they had both come up with the idea that Zuikaku try to summon her ship to get them off the island.

She had focused hard and had nearly conjured her ship when David noticed her wound beginning to reopen and bleed.

Zuikaku had cried out in pain and realized it was no use with the injury received from Enterprise.

This had made David worried.

He hoped the wound wouldn't become infected and cause the girl to become even worse.

That was when he'd suggested that he do most of the manual labor and for her to cover most of the lighter work.

She had reluctantly agreed, but made her displeasure known.

Eventually David returned to the small campsite with a fresh catch of four fish and two coconuts.

"Nice catch!" Zuikaku smiled and said upon seeing the fruits of David's labor.

"Thanks. The stuff you've already cooked smells amazing by the way." David replied.

Zuikaku chuckled. "Well, it's probably not as great as my sister's cooking but it's all we've got right now." She said in response.

"Well, at least we've got something." David said as he cut open the coconuts and passed one to Zuikaku.

He felt much better now about his newfound comrade and was glad they now managed to get along and communicate well.

He sipped from the coconut before biting into the cooked fish and smiled pleased.

"Well this is much better than I could have cooked it." He said.

"Thank you! I wish I could cook something a bit more proper, but at least we have something to eat." She said in response.

After the two had eaten a bit Zuikaku spoke again.

"So…I know I haven't exactly said it but…I really want to thank you for saving me. It was just so hard to believe that someone from the Eagle Union would be the one to save me…but its thanks to you that I'm still alive and…I might have a chance to see my sister again." Zuikaku said now with a warm smile.

David couldn't help but smile back.

"You're welcome. Like I said before, I just did what I felt was right at the time and what my conscience would allow." He responded.

This caused Zuikaku to chuckle a bit.

"There you go with that chivalry code again!" she chided.

David laughed before responding, "Well call it whatever you want, but I really just think it's more of a step in the right direction."

"How so?" Zuikaku asked as she cocked her head to the side.

"I mean we have the Sirens threatening humanity as a whole and yet we're fighting each other. It's like they want us to repeat our own history like some kind of sick re-run for their enjoyment or something. I'd say that if we can't help each other out instead of fighting and killing one another how are we any better than them ya know?" David said while absently staring out to sea.

"Sorry, might have said too much…" he said turning his head back to see Zuikaku wide eyed.

"I…I'd never thought about it like that…."she began.

"But you certainly have a good point. I won't lie when I say I've been suspicious of the Sirens from the beginning. Shoukaku-nee has always suspected our senpai's in the First division of being up to something with them, but when you say it like that…I wonder….." she trailed off.

"Do you suspect them of trying to sabotage the Sakura Empire?" David said.

"I don't know. But Akagi and Kaga-senpai are always sneaking off somewhere and they're always talking about some kind of special proj-" she stopped short and covered her mouth upon realizing what she was about to say.

"I'm sorry I can't tell you more than that…" she said.

David nodded and understood.

"But I really do mean it when I say thank you for saving my life. Maybe if there are more people like you in the Eagle Union, the bloodshed can end sooner." She finished.

"Thanks. I really appreciate it Z." David said.

"Z?" Zuikaku cocked her head.

"Just easier to call you that. Do you mind?" David asked.

"N-No I suppose not. I've just never been given a nickname before." She laughed.

"Well you've got one now I guess!" David said.

"What should I call you then?" Zuikaku asked.

"Well my friends all call me Dave or by my call-sign Dusty so either one is fine. David replied.

"Dusty? How'd you get a nick-name like that?" Zuikaku asked.

"I flew crop dusters before the war with the Sirens broke out. Once the guys in the squadron found out it just stuck I guess. Now they NEVER leave me alone about it!" David laughed.

Zuikaku giggled as well.

"I understand! Although it's more derogatory in nature, sometimes Kaga-senpai would call me Turkey as a joke, hence why I can't stand the meat!" she said in response.

"I'm guessing she was referring to the Marianas Turkey Shoot?" David asked.

"How do you know about that!?" Zuikaku asked surprised.

"I'm a bit of a history buff. And for starters, I wouldn't take that girl's insults so harshly either. She can't really say much with how she got taken out at Midway, just saying…" David began.

Zuikaku blinked surprised.

This was the first time anyone besides her sister had defended her against the First Carrier division.

"She was sunk by the Grey Ghost…." She said beginning to clench her fists.

"…..I'll best her one day…." She said beginning to feel anger and disappointment.

"Don't sell yourself short Z." David said snapping her out of her tantrum.

She looked up in confusion to see David and his reassuring smile…the same one from her dream.

"You've got quite a service history too you know. You survived the duration of the war, fought until the bitter end, and certainly went out swinging. If I recall correctly every single one of your planes was shot down at Cape Engano, but you still kept fighting right?" Daivd asked.

Zuikaku nodded solemnly.

"Then don't be so hard on yourself. You're a real fighter, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Not then, and certainly not now." David said smiling.

"But the Grey Ghost…." Zuikaku said and then trailed off.

"I think you're making her more of a legend than she actually is Z." David said.

Zuikaku looked up quickly.

"What do you mean?!" Zuikaku said shocked.

"Well, you only know her as an enemy combatant, I know her as a person." David said.

"But what's that supposed to mean!?" Zuikaku demanded.

"Well, for starters, she's not a demi-god like everyone seems to make her out to be. She actually is pretty normal, but she's really quiet and almost seems forlorn most of the time." David began.

"Forlorn?" Zuikaku asked.

David nodded and responded, "I've seen it before in a lot of the older pilots. It's usually a mask for sadness or depression. I think she still carries a lot of guilt and sadness from before. She lost both of her sisters back then in addition to a lot of other escorts which would have been friends."

Zuikaku thought for a moment before remembering the pain and sadness she had felt upon losing her sister and also of losing Takao and many other friends from before.

"I….I hadn't ever thought of that….but I can understand how she feels. When I lost Shoukaku-nee back then I….I just felt this emptiness…then it slowly turned into an overwhelming anger and rage… and I hardly even recognized myself….it was awful…."she finished her sentence.

David nodded solemnly.

"Maybe you two have more in common than you think." He said.

Zuikaku nodded.

"Maybe, but she still bested me, and I ended up here." She said.

"Well, I got shot down by some crazy fox girl riding on a Siren fighter so you're not alone at least." David said jokingly.

Zuikaku laughed but stopped dead when she realized what David had said.

"Wait, what color hair did the fox girl have!?" Zuikaku asked.

"Brown, I think, why?" David asked.

"Akagi shot you down!?" Zuikaku said incredulously.

"That's who blasted me out of the sky? Oh Jesus…." David said falling on his back.

It took a moment, but the pair then started laughing.

"If this isn't irony at its best, I'm not sure what is!" Zuikaku said.

"Yeah, tell me about it!" David agreed sitting up.

"Well, be it Enterprise or your seniors, I think you ought to give yourself more credit regardless. You fought hard back then and now, and from what I saw from the air you still gave Enty a run for her money. In short, you've got nothing to prove to anyone." David said.

Zuikaku blushed but answered "A-Arigato…."

She quietly admitted to herself that she was beginning to feel more at ease around this pilot for reasons she couldn't explain.

She could no longer see him as an enemy, and it was obvious that he didn't see her as an enemy either.

What was this feeling of warmth and tightness in her chest that she was starting to feel?

Later in the day David and Zuikaku were busy trying to conjure another solution for getting off the island.

"I guess it's obvious that a raft wouldn't be wise since we don't know how far from a mainland we are." Zuikaku said.

"That and we don't know which mainland it would be either." David added.

"Good point. That said, I think there's still something we haven't discussed." Zuikaku said.

"What's that?" David asked.

"If a rescue craft does come it could be from either of our sides. What do you do if it's from the Red Axis or me if it's from the Azur Lane?" Zuikaku asked.

That question hit David hard.

He hadn't thought about that.

He contemplated for a moment and knew it would be a tough decision for both.

"Well, I can promise this much if it's from Azur Lane. You'd get fair treatment including medical attention for your leg and would probably be interned on the base for the remainder of the war. You might be asked questions regarding the Red Axis, but no prisoner of war has ever been tortured by our faction. I'd also follow up and make sure you were alright from time to time as well." David said.

Zuikaku nodded.

"I'm sure I could say the same for Sakura Empire. Iron Blood I don't know about though. I'm sure you would get better treatment since you worked so hard to save me, but I would also do the same for you. Check in on you I mean. "Zuikaku replied.

Both understood.

"Well, I guess that answers that question. We'll just defer to whoever finds us first." David said turning back to the emergency radio.

He had made several attempts to radio for help that day with no luck and he was beginning to worry.

Looking over to Zuikaku's leg he could see it was beginning to swell, and he worried it was infected.

"Z, have you had much pain in your leg recently?" David asked.

Zuikaku winced but replied.

"Yeah a little. Comes in waves though, and its only when I put weight on it." She said.

David had fashioned a makeshift crutch for her out of a bamboo shoot, but he knew it wasn't entirely sufficient.

He then thought of the mountain top.

"Z, I think we need to try to get up that mountain." David said.

Zuikaku winced.

She knew it would be a tall order with her leg.

"This radio doesn't have the greatest range, but reception would be better up higher, and it might be our only chance of alerting search and rescue craft. Do you think you could do it?" David asked.

Zuikaku thought a moment, but then remembered her sister and all of her friends.

"I can do it. Not like I really have any other choice though right?" she said jokingly.

"Now that's the warrior talking!" David said They both smiled.

"Well, we should get an early start in the morning. We both need to be well rested for this." David said.

"Agreed. I'll watch the fire first and wake you in a bit alright?" Zuikaku said.

"Sounds good. Night Z" said David.

"Goodnight Dave." Zuikaku said with a slight hint of red on her cheeks.

The next morning both rose early and gathered what equipment they had for the journey up the mountain.

Before they began David took another look at Zuikaku's leg.

He frowned when he saw the condition wasn't getting any better.

Taking out his medkit he saw they were down to the last syringe of morphine.

Turning to Zuikaku David said, "We've only got one shot of morphine left and your leg is starting to look worse. We've got to get you off this island."

Zuikaku nodded in understanding and confirmed his suspicions when she said, "It's been hurting a lot more since yesterday too."

David frowned.

"Do you still think you can walk?" he asked.

"Yes, just give the morphine to me when I ask for it and I'll deal with it till then." She replied.

David nodded and said, "Alright. Let's just take it slow and take breaks as needed. No need to make it a race, ok?"

Zuikaku nodded and then they both set out.

The mountain had a natural path leading up to the peak which made things easier, but David noted Zuikaku was gradually slowing down.

It was as if every step was torture for her, but she kept pressing on in spite of it.

Finally, she cried out and lost her footing.

As she crumbled to her knees David rushed to her side.

He saw to his horror the wound was bleeding again.

Acting quickly, he used his undershirt as a new dressing before giving her the final shot of morphine.

"We have got to get you off this island Z…." David said desperately.

"Dave…" Zuikaku said weakly.

"Don't worry about walking, I'll carry you the rest of the way." David said.

"N-No! I can wa- AHHH!" she cried out as she tried to stand.

David caught her and said " It's alright Z. Look, we are both getting off this island! One way or another, we are going to make it out of this!" David assured her.

Zuikaku felt her face getting hot, but it wasn't from the pain or the island's heat.

This was different.

"What's this strange feeling?" Zuikaku thought to herself.

David wasted no time in gently lifting the injured carrier onto his back and slowly making his way up the remainder of the peak.

Zuikaku again blushed upon feeling David's hands against her thighs but kept a firm hold around his shoulders as he carried her.

It was grueling and at times and David felt as though he might collapse, but he pressed forward knowing more was at stake.

He still didn't know what had possessed him to save this girl, but he knew what he was doing was right, and he still couldn't shake that look of sorrow and despair he saw upon her face in the dream.

"Maybe I'll tell her about it someday…maybe she'll have the answers." David thought.

It was nearing sunset when the duo made it to the peak.

Dave gingerly set Zuikaku down before collapsing on his back and breathing heavily.

"One word about me being fat and I'll kick you!" Zuikaku joked albeit weakly.

David chuckled once he had caught his breath.

"Well, the verbiage I would have used is top heavy." David shot back.

Zuikaku turned a deep red upon realizing what he meant and covered her breasts.

"H-Hentai! Pervert!" she said while sticking her tongue out.

"I'm just joking Z, calm down!" David laughed.

Zuikaku soon joined in and both took a moment to take in their surroundings.

"Wow…" David marveled as he looked towards the sea.

"Keirei…" Zuikaku agreed in her native tongue.

The sunset was almost perfect had it not been for their situation, but both knew they had bigger problems, and Zuikaku's increased swelling on her leg was chief among them.

David again pulled out his survival radio and turned it on and selected the voice feature.

"Any unit receiving this transmission this is OUTLAW 25." He began.

Met with only static he tried again.

"Any unit receiving this transmission this is OUTLAW 25, please respond if you can hear me."

Again he was met with only static.

David sighed.

"I hope this wasn't all for nothing…." He said frustrated.

Zuikaku then thought of an idea.

"Dave, I can't summon my ship, but maybe I can summon my radio equipment from my rigging." She said.

"Maybe if I can focus enough, I can pair the output to your radio and we might be able to get through to someone." She finished her sentence.

David was ecstatic.

"That might actually work! Do you have enough strength though Z?" David asked.

"No time to worry about that, just give me a second." She said as she focused and two red Sakura petals appeared by her head.

David could faintly hear radio chatter, and then finally Zuikaku placed a hand on the survival radio.

"Give it a try." She said although it was clear to see she was struggling.

"Any station this net, this is OUTLAW 25 on GUARD. In need of assistance, please respond if you can hear me." David spoke into the radio.

He heard static before finally something came through!

"OUTLAW 25 this is CUTLASS 48 receiving loud and clear! Say your position please!" came the response.

David nearly leapt for joy.

"CUTLASS 48, position is a small island with a peak near grid coordinates 369! Have wounded and require immediate MedEvac! Can you assist, over?" David replied.

"OUTLAW 25 , CUTLASS copies! DUSTOFF 45 is on alert will be scrambled to your location. Hang tight and I'll be overhead to provide overwatch and keep you company till they get there!" the radio response came.

"You hear that Z!? They're comin' for us! They're comin for us!" David said ecstatically.

"Yeah…that's….great…." Zuikaku said weakly.

David looked down horrified to see the wound beginning to bleed again.

The energy she used for the radio must have been too much.

"Whoa! Z stay awake! Don't pass out on me now!" David said.

"Dust Off is close and will be here soon!" he said before a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet came screaming over the top of them and popped its chaff and flares which illuminated the now darkening environment.

David responded by firing one of his flares from his flare gun to mark his position for the Hornet's pilot.

"OUTLAW 25 got visual on you. Hang tight, DUSTOFF 45 is 5 mikes out." The Hornet pilot said over the radio.

"Hear that Z? Five more minutes and we're off this island. Just hang in there!" David said reassuringly.

"That's….that's….great! I….Thank…..Thank….you….everything…Dave…" Zuikaku said with her eyes now drooping and her speech becoming incoherent.

"Z?! Zuikaku!" David said desperately.

Finally the UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter approached and David fired a second signal flare to show their position.

Zuikaku had nearly lost consciousness when she felt the rotor wash from the helicopter.

She faded in and out and could feel she was being raised up in a basket of some sorts.

She overheard certain things like "Drain leg." and "Transfusion." Before finally losing consciousness completely.

The last thing she saw before her world went black again was David above her and holding her hand.

"Maybe…maybe this is….the start of something…." She thought as the darkness overtook her.

And that's a wrap on Chapter 4! Hope you guys have enjoyed thus far and thanks once again for all of the positive feedback!

InfantryGrunt94