Azur Lane Docks, 1400 hrs
Once the group had reached the docks where the Sakura fleet had arrived, all promptly exited the jeep and made their way over to the new visitors.
Upon noticing Hiryu, Zuikaku immediately ran over.
"Hiryu-senpai! Are you alright?" Zuikaku asked worried as she greeted her senior.
"Zuikaku! I'm fine, but what's happened to you!? And what in Kami's name are you wearing!?" Hiryu replied upon noticing her junior was dressed in flight gear similar to David.
Zuikaku smiled and replied, "It's a long story senpai, but one I'll be happy to tell later. For now though-Wait!" Zuikaku stopped short.
"Senpai, if you're here then…."she stopped again to look around the group.
"…..where is Soryu-senpai?" Zuikaku finished her sentence.
The rabbit-eared Kansen then looked away sadly before she felt tears stinging her eyes, and Zuikaku knew in a moment what it meant.
"…..Senpai….." Zuikaku said upon realization and embraced her comrade.
"Gomen-nee Hiryu-san."She said solemnly.
Hiryu accepted the Crane girl's condolence before replying.
"She's not fallen, but I'm sure the Sirens took her to make those abominations they call Pawns!" she said angrily.
Zuikaku nodded in understanding.
"We'll find her and free her Senpai, I promise!" Zuikaku said firmly.
Nearby, David had been meeting with Mikasa and Shinano along with Admiral Brubaker.
"Admiral, Commander, I am Mikasa of the Sakura esteemed comrade is Shinano. I thank you for saving myself and my comrades from those Sirens that would have meant our demise." Mikasa began.
David nodded and replied, "It's our pleasure ma'am. I'm Commander David Parsons of the Azur Lane Naval Air Forces."
Mikasa nodded before Shinano spoke, "Shikikan, this is our first meeting outside of the dream world. Tell me, has the aircraft exceeded your expectations?"
David smiled and replied, "It most certainly has. And I thank you for your aid as well. Zuikaku and I certainly couldn't have done it without your guidance."
Shinano smiled sleepily and replied, "This one's duty is to protect humanity upon the sea and air, and to do that, it was necessary to guide the Keys toward their destiny. May your endeavors continue to be blessed, and may they bring an end to this conflict."
It was then that Mikasa finally spoke again after taking a good look at Brubaker.
"Travis-san!?" Mikasa exclaimed.
David was taken aback at the Sakura woman calling his commanding officer by his first name.
Brubaker sighed and then chuckled.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to recognize me Mikasa. It's certainly been some time since my days as an exchange officer, hasn't it?" he said in response.
Mikasa then replied, "That it certainly has. Many things have changed since then, and many not for the better."
"Sir?" David asked curiously.
"I'll explain everything later Commander. For now, I believe we need to have your fleet checked out by our medical team. I have Vestal, Akashi, and Perseus here and can tend to your wounded, and I also have some quarters I can offer to you and your fleet for your stay here." Brubaker replied first to David and then turning his attention back to Mikasa.
The Sakura woman nodded and replied, "Arigatou Travis-san. We certainly appreciate your hospitality, and we accept it with much gratitude."
The group was then joined by Zuikaku with Hiryu and Shoukaku in tow.
"Dave-san, I'd like you to meet my senpai. This is Hiryu-san of the Second Carrier Division." Zuikaku said.
Hiryu bowed respectfully before saying, "It is an honor to meet you Shikkikan. Zuikaku has told me much about you in the short time I've been here. I'd also like to extend my gratitude for your aid today against those Sirens. That was quite an impressive display of airmanship from both of you as well!"
David turned to Hiryu and replied, "Thank you Hiryu, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well. And any friend of Z's is a friend of mine as well!"
Hiryu cocked her head and turned to Zuikaku.
"Z?" she asked curiously.
Zuikaku chuckled and blushed before replying, "Ah! It's sort of my nickname now. Dave gave it to me when we were stuck on that island together, and it just kind of stuck!"
"And only our Shikkikan calls you that now Zuikaku-chan….and you get very giddy when he does!" Shoukaku teased her younger sister causing her to blush heavily.
"ONEE-CHAN!?" Zuikaku replied in protest.
The group found themselves in a fit of laughter before Brubaker spoke again.
"Well, there will certainly be much to debrief so I'll need to see Commander Parsons, Zuikaku, Mikasa, and Shinano later this evening. For now however," he turned to Shoukaku.
"Your order was completed just this afternoon. And just in time I'd wager." Brubaker finished his sentence.
Both Crane sisters smiled brightly before Zuikaku grabbed both her sister and Hiryu.
"C'mon Senpai! Shoukaku-nee and I have been working on this for a while!"
"Zuikaku-chan, what is it?" Hiryu asked in confusion.
"ONSEN!" Zuikaku said excitedly.
David chuckled before he turned to Mikasa and Shinano.
"Why don't you both join them? I'm sure you could use some relaxation after all that you've been through." He said.
Both Sakura women bowed and thanked David before following behind the group of carriers towards the recently built onsen.
David then turned his attention back to his commanding officer.
He began with, "I never knew you were an exchange officer sir. Were you in the Sakura Empire before-"
"I was." Brubaker stated with a bit more force than David expected.
Brubaker then sighed and said, "There are a lot of things that need to be said for my time there Commander, and I will be giving you all the details you need tonight during the debrief. For now, I suggest you go and get out of that flight gear."
David, now taken aback, relented and replied "Yes sir."
As he turned and walked towards his ops building he began recalling the words the Admiral had told him the evening he had been promoted.
"If you have things you want to say to one of them….make sure you do so before it's too late…" David recalled his words.
What sort of tragedy had befallen Brubaker in the Sakura Empire? David was sure he didn't need to ask, but what he would learn that night would rock his world to its very core…..
Newly Constructed Onsen, 1500 hrs
As the group of Sakura women undressed and eased themselves into the warm water, all seemed to feel their bodies and minds relax.
Zuikaku admitted to herself that she hadn't felt this sort of fatigued before.
The strenuous training she had been through whilst learning to properly wield her katana had required a different set of muscles as opposed to withstanding the high G environment that was the F-14.
She allowed herself a smile of triumph as these thoughts crossed her mind however, knowing that the fatigue she was feeling was a result of her and David's many exploits together.
This now coupled with the recent events that had saved another group of her comrades made her feel extremely proud.
"Ara Zuikaku, you're smiling awfully big!" Shoukaku teased her sister and snapped her out of her thoughts.
Hiryu chuckled before adding, "She's right Zuikaku. What's on your mind?"
Zuikaku turned bright red in embarrassment before she regained her train of thought.
"AH! Well….I was just thinking about how grateful I am." She began.
Both of her companions cocked their heads in curiosity at the Crane girl's words.
"I mean…I nearly died, and nearly lost Shoukaku-nee only recently. But despite all of that, I was given a second chance and came back even stronger from it all. Now, I've got the ability along side Dave-san to turn the tide of the war and give everyone the future they've all hoped for. One without anymore fighting, and one where we can all live peacefully." She concluded smiling brightly.
Both Shoukaku and Hiryu smiled as well before Shoukaku rubbed her sister's head.
"And I'm very proud of you Zuikaku. You've surpassed your older sister, both in abilities….and in love I'd dare say!" Shoukaku teased.
Zuikaku again went red before Hiryu spoke once more.
"I have to admit Zuikaku, I am rather curious about how you and Shikkikan Parsons came to be together. Could you elaborate?" she asked.
Zuikaku could only smile in response.
"Well I suppose I should start from the beginning…"Zuikaku began.
Shoukaku chuckled as her sister began the tale. This had to have been the thirtieth time she'd heard it, but who was she to deny her sister?
Once Zuikaku had finally finished recalling the events that led up to the present day's events, Hiryu found herself wide eyed.
Other Kansen including Mikasa and Shinano had also drawn near as Zuikaku had been telling her tale, and all were just as impressed.
"This Shikkikan of yours certainly is a noble man Zuikaku, I'm very happy for you!" Mikasa said.
"He certainly sounds like a suitable partner for you Zuikaku. I admit I'm a bit jealous!" Kii agreed.
Hiryu finally spoke again with, "Well I agree with their sentiment. That said, you've changed as well Zuikaku. And I'm not speaking of your modernization."
Zuikaku blinked before Hiryu elaborated.
"You seem more certain of yourself now, whereas before you acted as though you needed to prove yourself. That and you're practically glowing! It's obvious you're in love!" Hiryu finished.
"Senpai…"Zuikaku said with a large blush.
She then ran a hand through her long brown hair and smiled.
"Thank you Senpai. I would agree with your observations. Both about being more sure of myself…..and of being in love." She said in response.
All women present uttered "awws" and cheered for the Crane girl.
Shinano then finally spoke.
"It is just as This One predicted. You and our new Shikkikan would come together to form the Key, so it is only natural that you would fall in love to do so." She said.
Zuikaku nodded in response.
"And you have my thanks for everything Shianano-san. Dave and I will stop the Sirens no matter what!" Zuikaku said.
All smiled and applauded at Zuikaku's words.
However, unbeknownst to her, she would need every ounce of the strength she had gained in order to win the coming battles…..
And that's a wrap for this round of updates! Hope you all have enjoyed what I have so far and stay tuned for a good sized plot twist!
-InfantryGrunt94