Authors note: Been a while and that's on me. This chapter update was commissioned by Steaders via my Ko-fi. Hope you enjoy!
The act of spying on someone was a simple thing. One merely needed to watch a person from a distance and follow them without being seen. Dreadfully droll, it did not require much real effort, especially with the advent of recording devices, camera's, phones, mobile data storage and other similar modern conveniences.
Spying was easy.
Infiltration was not.
Infiltration meant sneaking into and acting as someone who was supposed to belong in a certain place. It required understanding cultures, their clothing, their language, as well as small intrinsic details that would be overlooked by others and would make their presence obvious, instead of merely another of the normal people who were supposed to be in a place. Acting as a spy while infiltrating a place was even harder as one needed to both look the part of one who was supposed to be in a place, but also needed to be able to move around and find what they were looking for.
Luckily, Sheffield was the best of the whole Royal Maid Corps at both spying and infiltration. It was something that had just come naturally to her, as natural as holding a pistol in hand.
As natural as pulling the trigger on those who needed to disappear for the Royal Navy's future.
Climbing up out of the small single person speed boat, a stealth variant of Royal Design with a silent engine and sleek profile, Sheffield pulled it into a secluded area of rocks and quickly broke area of the rock itself, burying the vessel in stone and earth to hide it before she took out some clothing she had prepared to make herself blend in. It was simple clothing, but it would be sufficient for her to hide in plain sight while looking for both Agincourt, and anything else of note that could answer Azur Lane's Questions about why the Crimson Axis would so suddenly declare war upon them.
Once dressed and ready with her weapons hidden properly under her skirt, Sheffield stepped away from the rocks and climbed onto the dock itself to begin her search.
The small supply docks she landed near seemed empty, but as she carefully made her way up them towards what appeared like stairs, she could hear some noise ahead of her and slowed her pace.
"- still can't believe it."
"I know, I didn't expect it at all."
"I'm more angry that we weren't told."
"Yeah, its scary to think about."
Sheffield looked around the corner of a building to find two small young girls talking while moving some boxes. They both were young, easily as young as some union destroyers looked, but what grabbed Sheffields attention most was the fact that their clothing looked a bit different than the information she had to work with made it out to be. The clothing had more detail, as well as higher quality.
It seemed the information in the royal database was a few years out of date.
Sheffield scowled as she moved behind the building and tucked herself into the shadows before looking down at the clothes she was wearing.
"These shall not do at all," she muttered to herself as she instantly realized that her priorities needed to change.
With a sigh she glanced around the corner of the building again to find the two little ones heading up the stairway, and slowly headed up after them, arriving in the main city itself. Buildings of wood and paper, streets of cut stone and brick. Nearly every home seemed to have a tree in its front or back, and small amount of pink petals drifted through the air, visible even in the early morning darkness. Slipping behind the nearest building she found that the alleyways were very narrow but also empty, and from them sh could see into the rear yards of most of the homes. Most were gardens with tee's, small ponds, strange areas of combed gravel and the like, but some also appeared to have lines for drying clothes.
She didn't personally like the idea, but such a simple dislike did not matter when the mission was the priority, so she looked as carefully as she could for any garments that would make an appropriate cover outfit.
Luckily it seemed that there was a well noticed pattern among the garments she could see, and after an hour or so she had found enough pieces of clothing that she could make a much better costume to hide her identity. Hurrying down the alleyway with the morning sun starting to glow on the horizon, Sheffield found herself stopping as she noticed a mask hanging off a shrine in a yard, as well a piece of furry leather hanging off a different drying rack. Her mind quickly considered her options and swiped these as well before she crept back out of the alleyway and back down to the supply dock and the small alcove where her ship was hidden. Once there she began looking over the clothes and making decisions, and after a few minutes she was re-clothed in her new disguise.
From what she understood of Sakuran culture her new disguise was similar to a priestess outfit, with a short red skirt, and a red and white top with detached sleeves. It showed off her stomach, but it would keep hr out of particular note to most people so it was fine. The only other thing to do was to turn the fluffy pie e of leather into a facsimile of ears, as it was obvious to her now from seeing the girls earlier, that Sakuran ship girls had animal ears, so she needed fake ones. Luckily Sheffield was skilled in craftsmanship and managed to make a decent facsimile of ears that she attached to a thin hairband and hid under the layers of her hair.
[image of Sheffield's disguise is visible on the Ao3 entry.]
Properly prepared more than she was upon her arrival Sheffield headed back out up the docks and onto the roads of the main island, just as many Sakuran shipgirls appeared to be waking up and leaving their homes to begin their days.
It became immediately clear to Sheffield that choosing to have fake ears was definitely a good idea, and it seemed the mask she was wearing made people less likely to look at her for some reason.
Which was fine by her because now she could look for Agincourt and save her from whatever torment she was being put under without being worried about being caught easily.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"This . . . is. . . torture," Aggy gasped out as she knelt on the ground, sweat dripping off her head and hair to the grass below.
"You are exaggerating,"
Aggy looked up at the one who spoke, The shipgirl called Key, or something like that, and could only scowl at her. She was tall, with long dark hair, a large chest, long smooth legs, and clothing that showed it all off. The big thing was the Sakuran sword she held in one hand, despite the fact it was nearly as tall as she was.
"What?"
"You, know what," Aggy gasped out. "What, is the point of this?" Aggy asked as she glanced to the sword lying on the grass near her. Sakuran Swords looked so weird.
"Weren't you listening? Lady Shinano told me to test you, so I am."
"By beating me up with a sword? That's called prisoner abuse!" Aggy retorted angrily as she leaned back and sat on the grass, before looking around.
The garden they were in was a massive thing of manicured plants and tree's, gravel pads and smooth stone walkways. Fountains dotted the area as well, and Aggy would have to admit that it was very nice if she was asked. The fact she was being made to wield a demented curved blade without any kind of swordplay knowledge though was annoying, and it pissed her off how nonchalant the black haired woman was about it.
"It's not abuse, I haven't even taken my blade out of it's sheathe," the black haired woman said with a sigh. "I'm supposed to be testing you to see if we can learn anything and teach you about being a Kansen."
"And beating me with a stick is supposed to do that somehow?"
"No, it's to figure out what kind of a Kansen you might be."
"And how is that supposed to work?"
"Well, I think its pretty certain you wont have a sword, so I'm guessing you will probably not be a battleship."
Aggy stared at her for a second before letting out an annoyed groan. "That white hair has sword, right?"
"Lady Shinano is her name."
"She had sword, right?" Aggy pressed.
"Yes."
"Is she a battleship?"
"Well, no, she's an aircraft Carrier."
"Okay, and what of that horned bitch that captured me?"
"What was her name?"
"I think it was , , , ,namu? Ayu? Something like that?"
" . . .Ayanami?"
"Maybe? She had a huge slab of metal as a sword."
"Yeah that's Ayanami."
"Is she a battleship?"
"No, she's a Destroyer."
"Is she really?"
"Yes."
"Even though she uses a sword? After all, your saying is she used a sword she must be a battleship, right?"
Ther black haired woman was silent fopr a moment as she seemed to cvonsider the idea. " . . .We may be going about this wrong."
"There is no we in this!" Aggy groaned as she climbed up to her feet and kicked the sword on the ground away from her. "I don't know anything about living as a ship girl, if that is even possible, so why would you start with trying to beat me up when you could just ask who my mother is? Or were you just looking for a reason to beat me up because I don't automatically respect you animals when I have no reason to in the first place?"
"I wasn't try int to beat you up, I just figured it would be fastest to see if you have any sort of natural skill is all,"
"Well congrats, I don't!" Aggy snapped.
"Look, I get you don't trust us but-"
"You are right, I don't!" Aggy said as she spun to face the woman. "Your kind kidnapped me and start a war, you all act surprised about it but don't even act like it is a bad thing, and then you white haired boss decided to declare she's going to just, get me home and end the war. It's all a load of bloody shite, and you are all full of it if you think I'm going to just suddenly become all friendly with you people!" Aggy yelled before kicking the sword toward the woman, causing it to spin through the air and embed point first into the ground near her.
"Hey Kii, before you start teaching Agincourt, Lady-"
"Aggy!" Aggy yelled as she turned to see the blonde Ship girl with horns and a very almost union style of dress step into the garden, looking very surprised.
In fact she looked so surprised she glanced at Aggy, then at Kii, then back again a few times. "I'm totes late to tell you not to try to sword fight her, huh?"
"You bloody think!?" Aggy asked sarcastically, making both of the woman flinch a bit.
"Sorry Kii, we talked about it after you dragged her off, but it'd prob be best if I hang with her. That cool?"
"That, is likely for the best, Kumano" kii said as she looked at Aggy, gave a nod that almost seemed sorry, and then picked up the sword out of the ground and began looking it over as if it was a piece of damaged jewelry.
"C'mon, we can talk about this in my room and tell you things" Kumano said as she strolled up to Aggy and grabbed her hand before dragging her off in a less forceful, but still very direct way.
Dragged out of the garden and back into the main building they went down a hall, turned down another, and right into a room that, as soon as the door was closed behind her and she could look around, surprised Louise by how utterly normal it was.
Aside from the door being the same Sakuran sliding doors, the room did not look like she expected a Sakuran room. There was a desk by the window, a wardrobe, a normal bed with a frame, and even a full length mirror. A large carpet sat on the floor with a low table on it, and the room was much warmer and brighter than she expected it to be. In fact it felt downright comfortable.
"Take a load off and sit wherever while I make us some tea," Kumano said as she went over to the desk and opened a drawer only to pull out what looked like a mobile stove top and a kettle and began setting them up.
"Um, okay?"
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything silly like challenge you to a fight," Kumano said with an energetic smile as she pulled out a canteen of water and poured it into the kettle. "We'll just talk about some stuff and see what you know. And I can answer any questions you might have. Sound good?"
"Uh, I guess," Aggy said a she looked around the room warily. "So, where did this come from from?"
"Watcha mean?"
"Is this some trick to confuse me, or lull me into a false sense of security?"
"Oh that," Kumano mumbled as she stepped away from the desk and sat down on the side of the bed with a smile. "No, just Kii dragged you out so fast that Chiyoda could comment that maybe she wouldn't be the best person to teach you anything since she always think training is the be all end all, stuff like that. Chitose said I should do it, so I came to gecha."
" . . . Yeah, I don't believe that," Aggy stated.
Kumano, much to Aggy;'s surprise, merely shrugged. "That's fine."
"What?"
"It's fine," Kumano said with another shrug, before smiling slightly towards Aggy. "I totes get it, like, your not here by choice, and everyone keeps making these decisions for you. Plus you just found what you might be, right? totes confusing I bet, so I get it, you just want answers instead of everybody making promises you can't know if they'll keep or not, right?"
" . . . Y- yes?"
"Then that's cool, I can tell ya what you want to know, and you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to," Kumano said just as the kettle began to whistle. "Ooh, tea time!"
Aggy watched Kumano get up and step back over to the desk, clicking off the burner while taking out a stoneware teapot that was a deep green color and pouring water in it.
"Do you prefer green tea or black?"
"uh, I haven't really had-"
"Green then!" Kumano said as she began spooning bits of leaf into the pot before coming over and sitting down at the table and placing the pot and a pair of small green cups on the table. "It'll be ready in a few minutes. Just have ta let it steep."
" O . . .kay, why are you bring so, accommodating," Aggy asked, little more than just a bit weirded out by what was going on.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you, you literally seem utterly uncaring about anything I've called you people!" Aggy exclaimed. "You, are acting all friendly instead of wary like that other one was, and you haven't once complained about how I refer to you people!"
Kumano looked at Aggy for a second before smiling. "Well, I did say I understand, and I'm not gonna hate someone just because of the situation they are in," Kumano said as she reached over and picked up the teapot, carefully pouring it into the two cups before placing it down. "Besides, I've always wanted a friend from the Union!"
Aggy blinked and stared at Kumano, unable to even reply for a moment as she tried to understand what was going on. " . . . . . wha . . .what?"
"I mean, wouldn't it be totes rad if everybody could just be friends and hang with each other instead of having all this stupid faction stuff and wars? We could share cultures, fashion, make friends, and like, wouldn't that be Tote's better than angrily hiding away from each other and not understanding one another while, apparently, declaring war on them? Like, war sucks, right?"
"You . . . . . are you actually a Union ship girl in hiding?"
Kumano looked at Aggy for a second and let out a laugh. "Ha, no, I'm Sakuran for sure, I just really like Union culture and like, fashion and stuff," Kumano said as she slid one of the teacups across to Aggy. "Honestly, I've always wanted to go to the Union sand make friends, it's why working for Lady Shinano is so nice?"
"How, is that even related?"
Kumano smiled. "I don't have to worry about anyone questioning my likes, and I don't need to worry about getting pulled into all the politics on the mainland. There is a lot of it between the main fleets, and about where the Sakura empire should stand and I just kinda like hate it, like, it'd be so much better to just become friends in the first place."
"You, really sound like someone from the union," Aggy said in a suddenly sad tone as she looked down, finding the tea before her smelling strange. Hesitantly she picked up the cup ans brought it to herb lips. "It . . . doesn't taste like much, does it?"
"No, not really," Kumano admitted with a smile as she got up and walked over to the small closet and came back with a paid of what looked like soda bottles. Though they did not look like any soda Aggy knew. "Here."
"I'm, not much one for soda,"
"It's Sakuran Oxycola," Kumano said with a grin and she smacked the top, cujasing it to open with a hissing noise before taking a swig. "Ah, that's good. "Wait, can you drink Oxy since you are Half shipgirl?"
Aggy froze up. "What did you just say?"
"Can you drink-"
"No, the other thing. What did you call me?"
"Uh, half ship girl?" Kumano asked carefully. "Is that bad? Do you not want to be called that?"
"I just. . . . . . it, sort of feels, nice," Aggy admitted with a slight smile as she reached over to the oxycola bottle and picked it up, trying to figure out how to open it.
"Here, let me help ya," Kumano said as she offered a hand, gently taking the bottle from Aggy and smacking it open with a deft strike. "Our oxycola bottle are made like human Ramune, so they can be a bit difficult. Here."
Aggy took the bottle and took a drink. Just like the first time, it tasted wonderful, not like soda at all, and with a sort of a lemony taste.
"So, do you mind if I ask why it is nice to be called a half ship girl?"
"I . . . . only found out about that fact a little bit ago, and a few people have just, assumed I would be a ship girl completely, whether it changed things for me or not, they didn't care. I guess, the way you said it was just nice. Without enmity or animosity."
"oh, yeah I'm not gonna make fun of someone for who they or what they look like, that'd just be uncool,"
" I . . . I see. . . . . you'd fit in fine in the Union."
"Really?" Kumano asked, perking up a bit. "I only know a bit from radio and television, what is it really like in the Union anyway?"
"Well . . . "
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Wait, you mean you all Didn't decide that Kumano should-" Kii began to say as she and Suzutsuki walked down the halls toward everyone's rooms.
"No, we never had a talk like that. She excused herself a few minutes after you dragged Agincourt off and Kongou left to call her sisters.
"Okay, but, why would she-" Kii asked before stopping, hearing voices coming from the room ahead of them. They shared a look before creeping up to the door to Kumano's door and slit it open just enough to peer through with one eye each to find Kumano and Agincourt talking at a table like friends would about random things, seemingly union culture, and fashion.
The two of them stepped away from the door and silently walked down the hall away from kumano's room before Kii spoke up. "Okay, maybe Kumano is the best person to teach her things."
"Except she wasn't, and Lady shinano asked you to teach her things that she should know as a Ship girl."
"Well . . . . I think for now it is fine. We'll see what she learns from Kumano, and Lady Shinano can choose if it is a problem at lunch.
"Hmm, and, what do you think of Lady Shinano's plan?"
"For returning her to Azur lane and ending the war?"
"Yes."
Kii closed her eyes in thought for a moment. "I serve Lady Shinano first, and the empire Second, but I do feel bad for Kongou."
"For Kongou?"
"Yes. It is clear that Lady Shinano feels she would be best to bring Agincourt home because of her origin, and not her feelings about it."
"Ah, yes, I can see that. It does make sense, though."
"It does, but it is still a bit . . . "
"You do not need to say it."
"Hmm, then I won't."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So . . . uh, what is it like?"
Kumano looked to Aggy wand tilted her head a bit. What is what like?"
"Having uh, horns," Aggy asked awkwardly.
Kumano smiled. "Can't say, I've never not had them."
"Oh right, sorry that was-"
"Nah I'm Totes kidding it's easy to talk about," Kumano said with a laugh. "All Sakuran Ship girls have something about us a bit different. Most have animal traits of some form, but some of us have Youkai traits instead, like my Horns of an Oni's," Kumano said with a smile as she reached up and poked one of the horns. "They get a bit in the way of combing my hair and having some hairstyles, but I don't really have feeling in them aside from around the base, and they don't weigh much of anything so they aren't much of an issue. "Honestly I hear other girls complain about their ears and tails far more often. We all have to take turns just helping Lady Shinano keep her tails properly maintained and brushed because there are so many and they are so big."
"They are excessively fluffy," Aggy grudgingly admitted.
"Heh, touched them have you?" Kumano asked with a smile. "That's a gift a lot of girl dream of. Kitsune tails are the epitome of softness."
"That, is creepy,"
"How is it creepy?"
"Tails are connected, right?" Aggy asked.
"Well duh,"
"So essentially you are saying that dozens of Saskuran Shipgirls want to fondle each others rears," Aggy suggested with a smirk.
"What? No, that doesn't even make-"
"Where are tails located?"
" . . . . . . . . Gawd is that what it sounds like to someone outside the empire?" Kumano asked in horrified realization.
"Yeah, kind of sounds like you like fondling each others rumps," Aggy said with a smirk as she took a swig of oxycola and then scowled at it. "I guess liking this stuff cements what I am, huh?"
"Well a part of you at least, humans can't stand the stuff, it's like poison to them," Kumano said as she took a drink. "I've heard Union cola is the same for us, is it?"
"I, don't know. I can't stand the stuff," Aggy said with a shiver as she was reminded of the taste of soda. "So, I must ask, why do so many of you seem to have swords when you have cannons? Isn't that kind of missing the point?"
"Well, no one uses them if they have their vessel full sized," Kumano began with a smile. "It's sort of a cultural thing honestly. Don't the royals use swords too?"
"Um, I think? Maybe?"
"You don't know?"
"I've met like, five of them at best and lived in the Union for all my life before being dragged here," Aggy said before grinning at Kumano vindictively. "And I've only seen one fight, and it was to stop that horned bitch from kidnapping me."
"Ugh, your not going to drop that are you?" Kumano said with a smirk. "Who was it that defended you from Ayanami anyway? How did they fight her?"
"Why?"
"Ayanami is known to be one of the most skilled with a blade in the Empire. There are few that can block her strikes and even Kii and Takao have had trouble in spars with her due to her blades size," Kumano said with a shrug. "I'm curious."
" . .. It was Elizabeth, and she used a, cane I guess?"
"Elizabeth?" Kumano asked before her face paled a bit. "Wait, do you mean, Queen Elizabeth? The Leader of the Royals?"
"Yeah."
"Wow, why would the Royal Queen be defending you?" kumano asked before adding. "No offence, it just seems a bit, like, odd."
Aggy let out a sigh. "She was apologizing to me."
"The un-moving Queen of the Royals, was apologizing to you, in person?" Kumano asked in surprise. "Wow, I cant imagine Lady Nagato doing that in private."
"She has, very direct ideas on me that the Commander, myself and m- my mother, were against. She was apologizing to me about getting ahead of herself, but also was telling me how she still thought she was in the right," Aggy said in annoyance at remembering it.
"Huh, so Ayanami beat up a regent huh?"
"I guess. She almost let me get away though," Aggy said with a smirk. "The queen deftly blocked that horned bitch's oversized sword with a mere cane . . . . or maybe it was a sceptre."
"Wow, that impressive, though I guess it shouldn't be surprising when the Queen Elizabeth Class is concerned."
"What do you mean by that?" Aggy asked, finding thew way Kumano said ikt to be a bit strange.
"Do you not know the stories of the Siren war?" Kumano asked curiously. "Even in the empire it's told about how the Second of the Queen Elizabeth Class went and solo'd like, three dozen humanoid Sirens herself in one battle. Highest confirmed number of sword kills in a single battle in the whole war."
"Wait, really?" Aggy asked in surprise. She had never heard anything like that in school. In fact, there hadn't been much detail about the Siren War in school, or about individuals, now that she thought about it. People learned more about ship girls in the Union from their extracurricular work.
"Yeah . . . now that I think about it, you kind of look a bit like her."
"She's . . . my mom," Aggy admitted hesitantly.
Kumano stared at her like she had seen a ghost. "Wait, really?"
"Yes."
"You, aren't making it up?"
"No, why would I?"
"Oh, oh Kami's," Kumano exclaimed in surprise as she grinned. "Ayanami is going to get ruined if she encounters her."
"You're going to warn her, aren't you?" Aggy asked in a worried tone.
Kumano simply smirked. "Nope! In fact, I don't think Lady Shinano would even pass it on considering what she wants to do," Kumano stated before chuckling. "I wonder if Akagi would have risked kidnapping you if she knew who your mother was? That would be tote's like asking to get shaved by a rusty sword."
Aggy stared at Kumano for a second in disbelief. "Okay, I have to ask, do most of you not-"
A sudden knock on the door cut Aggy off as she flinched and looked to the door on reflex.
"Yeah?" Kumano asked simply, making the door open and revealing Kii standing in the doorway. "Lunch has been made and Lady Shinano is requesting us all to be present."
"Oh wow, that time already?" Kumano said as she got up from the low table with a smile at Aggy, who did not look like she was looking forward to it.. "C'mon, Suzutsuki's lunches are great!"
"It's not the food I'm worried about," Aggy replied with a sigh as she got up.
Both Kii and Kumano looked confused but didn't ask as the three of them left Kumano's room and headed into the dining room.
They appeared to be the last to arrive, and to Aggy it was like no one had moved. All the other were sitting exactly where they had been before, the only real difference was that the food on the table was different, and Kongou didn't look annoyed.
"Welcome, I hope this meal, is to your liking," Shinano said as Aggy sat down, her gaze then turning to Kumano. "I hear, that you have taken, Kii's efforts, upon yourself."
"Uh, oh, yeah," Kumano replied haphazardly, earning a slight nod of Shinano's head.
Whatever that was supposed to mean.
"And, what have you, taught her?"
"Well . . . nothing really yet aside from some minor things, but it's more important she be comfy," Kumano said with a shrug and a smile. "Besides, better she have a friend than be taught how to fall over repeatedly."
"Fall over?" Chioyoda asked as she looked to Kii.
"I figured the best way to start would be to see if some sparring would trigger any abilities," Kii explained before looking to Kumano. "And then you came over and tricked me out of teaching her."
"Yes, cause wailing on me with a sword teaches me anything except you are a muscle brain," Aggy muttered, making many look at her and then Kii.
"It, is fine," Shinano said as she gave a nod, and everyone began passing food around the table, bowls being filled with rice and soup, and what looked like fried fish being placed around. "What, have you learned?"
Aggy accepted a bowl of rice from Kumano before realizing that Shinano was speaking to her. "Uh, you are all tail obsessed perverts for one."
Everyone but Kumano and Shinano seemed horrified, leading Kumano to speak up. "Uh we've also figured out that is she is a Kansen, she's probably be a battleship."
"A battleship?" Kongou spoke up in what sounded like surprise, or perhaps minor insult. "How do you figure?"
"Well, her mom is one, so it would make sense, right?" Kumano said, making Aggy glance to her in sudden worry.
"And, who is her, mother?" Shinano asked slowly.
"A battleship," Kumano answered before flashing Aggy a Grin. "If she wants to tell it she can, but I'm not going to reveal things about her family if she doesn't want to."
Shinano looked to Aggy, her expression unchanging. "Would you, be wiling to share, that we might help you, learn, and get home?"
"And how would knowing who my mother is help me leave?" Aggy asked seriously. "All I can think of it being is good blackmail and hostage information to give to that whore fox who kidnapped me."
"Informing Akagi of, anything, would not help, our intent," Shinano said slowly as she gently picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Merely, knowing your, lineage, would make it easier, to teach you."
"And it could tell us just how much trouble Akagi will have made the empire," Chitose added with a slight smirk.
Aggy looked around the table, seeing nods of agreement and smnall smirks here and there. "Okay, so, do none of you like the fox bitch then?"
"Akagi receives much praise and respect from many due to her rank and skills," Chiyoda began to say. "however, she actively voices her opinions, and many who do not relish the idea of war and combat find her, abrasive."
"So she's arrogant?" Aggy asked.
"No," Kii said instantly. "Akagi is a very skilled warrior and tactician who has won many battle's for the Empire during the War. She is not arrogant, or at least has not been in the past." Kii then shook her head and grinned. "Though, if your mother is a Battleship, that gives us a place to start off with and teach you!"
"I'm not picking up a stupid sword again," Aggy said in sudden worry as she leaned back, away from Kii.
"but doesn't your mom use a-" Kumano began to say before suddenly becoming very quiet. "S-sorry."
"It's fine, you didn't mean it," Aggy said as she could see everyone but Shinano's interest was piqued. On one hand, if she told them who her mother was, it could endanger her or Azur lane if they were not on her side. On the other hand, it could also help her by making them wary, or by making that bitch that caught her afraid if the information somehow reached her. Aggy thought about it for a few seconds more before letting out a resigned sigh. "My m- Mother is the Royal Navy's Warspite."
The entire room seemed to freeze. No one moved, no one twitched, and even Shinano's tails seemed to freeze in place. The only moment of any kind was Kongou dropping her chopsticks to her plate, and some rice falling out of Suzutsuki's onto her lap.
"You, you mean to say, that, THE Warsapite, is your mother?" Suzutsuki asked, seemingly first to get over the apparent shock.
"Yes, is that bad?"
"Less, bad and more, surprising," chiyoda said in a strange, almost worried sounding tone.
"Why?"
"Warspite was part of the First Royal Fleet during the war, the most effective one against the Sirens during the entire war. The most kills, the most successful operations," Suzutsuki explained. "It is said that she never once missed with her cannons, and that her sword likely killed almost a hundred sirens. "
"Some say that the war was won by Warspite, Bismark and Enterprise essentially due to how many Sirens they each defeated during the war," Kii added with a tone that sounded like extreme respect.
Aggy on the other hand, merely felt awkward. "I suddenly realize that the Union school system doesn't teach us enough about the Siren War."
"You, did not know, these things?" Shinano asked simply.
"I know of some major figures, but not really anything else," Aggy admitted with a sigh. "Schools seem to gloss over the Siren War claiming that little is known about them so we should be happy it was won."
Everyone seemed to stare at Aggy in disbelief, with Kongou speaking up first. "You mean to say the Union doesn't teach about the Siren War?"
"It is taught, but mostly about it's effects and the like, not the whole thing."
"That doesn't seem right at all," Chitose mumbled before sitting up straighter and looking to Shinano. "Lady Shinano, may I make a suggestion?" Shinano simply lazily nodded to her in response. "If Agin- sorry, Aggy, needs to learn about being a Kansen, and our history, they can be done one after another. Perhaps, the morning, afternoon and evenings can be split in her being taught these, and simply having some modicum of freedom here in the manor while a plan is properly conceived?"
"That, is a good plan," Shinano said as she looked to Aggy. "Do you, have issue with this?"
"Not like I get a say in what you decide to do to me," Aggy simply replied.
"You do, but, this does answer," Shinano said as she took a cup of tea and gently sipped. "While we plan, you can be taught and, speak with Kumano, Chiyoda and Chitose about whatever, you should know of Kansen, and History. Kii can teach you, of Battleship abilities, and knowledge."
"Okay, and how long will it take you to make this plan? Always a few days more?" Aggy suggested slyly.
"Perhaps, but it will, depend upon, when an opening arrives," Shinano said with a nod. "For now, let us enjoy this meal, and tend to ourselves afterwords."
Aggy could tell that Shinano's words were meant to be an end to the discussion, so she grudging ate the meal and slowly joined in on the conversations that popped up during it.
Wondering how long it would be until she left this place, and how her feelings would be at that time.