Norfolk Naval Base, Eagle Union
8:00 AM
Restaurant
At the dine table where hot food was often served, Anchorage sat waiting, her feet swaying gently as she hummed a melodic tune to herself. It was early morning, and like a child eagerly anticipating her meal right out of the kitchen, the scent of the cooking food enveloped her, a delightful aroma for her and the other patrons.
Every morning, Shipgirls and various other personnel frequented this restaurant to dine. Its consistent popularity was a testament to the excellent food and outstanding service it provided.
Lost in her own melodic tune, Anchorage sat happily, radiating an innocent contentment, as if the complex world of politics held no sway over her. In that moment, she was simply there to enjoy her breakfast: bacon and waffles.
The breakfast she had been so eagerly awaiting finally arrived, served to her steaming hot. Her eyes glistened with delight at the sight of the neatly arranged, fragrant food. She picked up her fork, speared a piece of waffle, and began to delightfully dig in.
"Oh, hey, Anchorage, it seems your breakfast is great," a man in a Naval Uniform greeted her warmly, tone gentle. "May I have a seat?" he asked, gesturing to the spot beside her.
Anchorage looked up and saw the Commander, casually asking if he could join her at the table. She was absolutely delighted and readily granted him permission.
"Yes, Commander, you can sit beside me," she said with a bright, welcoming smile.
The Commander took the seat opposite her, a mirroring smile on his face, reflecting the same cheerful energy she exuded that morning.
As he settled down, he couldn't help but notice how happily Anchorage was digging into her food. The bright morning sun seemed to shine even brighter around her, illuminating her smile with each blissful bite of her waffle.
"How are the waffles? Are they really that great?" he asked.
Anchorage paused, her head bobbing in total, unadulterated delight. "Yes, they are! They're absolutely delicious, Commander."
She then picked up another piece of waffle with her fork and extended it towards the Commander's face. "Want to taste it, Commander?" Her tone was innocently childish, perfectly matching her accompanying smile.
The Commander's lips curved into a mirroring smile. "Sure."
He opened his mouth and closed his eyes, eagerly anticipating the sweet piece of waffle to be inserted into his mouth. His mind drifted, imagining something far more delightful, ascending to Cloud-9.
But the sweet taste of waffle was abruptly halted. A damn second passed, and nothing touched his tongue. He felt nothing, his mouth remained open and empty, filled only with anticipation.
He quickly opened his eyes, blinking twice. Anchorage was now motionless, her attention not focused on him, but on something or someone behind him. He saw her expression morph into one of even greater delight than before. He questioned himself why she was that delighted.
"Move."
A woman's voice resonated from behind him. The voice was eerily familiar to Anchorage, yet the tone was distinctly imperceptible as hers. This tone was gruff and serious, starkly contrasting with the joyful and innocent Shipgirl seated in front of him.
( IMAGE )
He slowly turned his head, like a creaking screw, and his view was consumed by the towering silhouette of a woman. She wore a MARPAT Uniform, and her face, now discernable, was unmistakably that of Anchorage.
LPD Anchorage had barged in, her entire aura radiating an intimidating presence, profoundly different from the cheerful Anchorage seated across from him.
He gasped, utterly taken aback by the overwhelming aura she was exerting and the piercing stare she was giving him. Never had he seen LPD Anchorage outside or in any public establishment, yet here she stood, tall and imposing, emanating an unsettling presence.
"He—Hello...?" he stammered, attempting to initiate a conversation, his voice barely a whisper.
"He, he, he... are you joining me and the Commander?" Cruiser Anchorage chimed in, her innocence a stark contrast to the stern demeanor of LPD Anchorage.
LPD Anchorage spoke only a few words, directed solely at him: "Move."
The Commander immediately understood that the word, and its underlying tone, were aimed squarely at him. The deadly aura emanating from her intense stare was profound, causing him to quiver in his seat.
"I—I think I need to excuse myself," he said, shakily getting up from his chair.
Cruiser Anchorage tilted her head in confusion as to why the Commander was leaving so soon. She hadn't even had the chance to feed the piece of waffle on her fork into his eagerly awaiting mouth.
"Commander... you're leaving?" she asked innocently.
"Ye—Yes, I think so," he replied, quickly glancing at his wrist-watch. "I think I'm late for a meeting—see ya!"
He darted off, leaving the restaurant door swaying back and forth after he disappeared with what seemed like the speed of light.
"Oooh... he left," Cruiser Anchorage said, a touch of sadness in her voice at the Commander's abrupt departure.
LPD Anchorage paid no mind to the Commander's hasty escape. Instead, she calmly took the seat where he had once been seated.
Cruiser Anchorage quickly turned her attention to her, shedding her blues over the departed Commander. "Are you here to join Anchorage?"
LPD Anchorage nodded her head, her gaze sweeping left and right, carefully observing the other patrons who had been eyeing the lone Cruiser with what she perceived as perverse intentions.
"It would have been fun if the Commander stayed—oh well, want some waffles?" Cruiser Anchorage asked, raising her fork, which still held the piece of waffle.
"Listen," LPD Anchorage spoke, her tone serious and heavy. Cruiser Anchorage turned, noticing the sudden gravity in her counterpart's voice.
"You need to be careful of the people around you. Some of them might take advantage of your..." she paused, as if merely stating Cruiser Anchorage's childlike nature was akin to dropping a bombshell.
"Listen, your unique nature could easily be taken advantage of by any man. You need to be very careful."
"Anchorage is careful, and Commander is a friend," she replied happily, her innocent demeanor sharply contrasting with her counterpart's serious warning.
LPD Anchorage narrowed her gaze. "A friend...?"
"Yes, Commander is Anchorage's friend."
"Then why are you alone in a place like this?"
Cruiser Anchorage pondered, her index finger pointing at her lower lip as she stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. "Anchorage and friends were here before, and everyone here was friends with Anchorage too."
LPD Anchorage glanced around at the staff working in the restaurant. She noticed that they were indeed friendly towards Cruiser Anchorage, even though she was currently alone in the establishment.
'No one here exudes any harmful intentions towards her,' she mused. 'The waitress knew precisely what she wanted to order, and the one at the door greeted her casually, as if she were just another regular customer.' Her eyes then darted towards the kitchen where the chef cooked, then returned to the counter where the food was served. 'Even the chef handled the food with extreme care.'
Her train of thoughts was abruptly cut off as she saw a piece of waffle being offered to her. She looked up and saw that Cruiser Anchorage was offering her a small piece, a simple, sweet gesture.
"Anchorage thought you might be hungry," she said, followed by her innocent smile.
LPD Anchorage was momentarily caught off-guard by her counterpart's carefree nature and profound innocence. She consciously dismissed her anxious thoughts about Cruiser Anchorage and accepted the offered waffle.
'Maybe I was overreacting about my carefree counterpart,' she thought, opening her mouth for the offered food.
...
Sakura Empire
At the bustling Port of Tokyo Bay, Enterprise-80 and her escort were met with an incredibly warm reception, magnified by the presence of Amagi, who had long been presumed dead by the rest of the Sakura Empire. Her miraculous arrival drew far more attention than merely that of a long-lost friend and family member.
Unlike the heartfelt embraces at Pearl Harbor, the emotions here in Tokyo Bay were even more profound, heartwarming, and boisterous than ever, filling their ears with joyous sounds.
The noise was deafening, but full of emotion—tears of relief, boisterous laughter, and cries of "Amagi-sama!" echoed among the crowd.
Enterprise-80 turned her gaze out of the weeping Sakura Kansen embraced Amagi, bowing repeatedly in reverence. She turns her attention towards a saluting figure.
"At ease," she said, prompting the person to lower their hand.
"How's everything?" she inquired, seeking an immediate report.
"The Sakura Empire withstood the attack," JS Maya reported crisply. "We are currently in a state of repairs. Damage to major facilities was extensive but manageable. Civilian casualties were minimal, thanks to early evacuations."
Enterprise-80 nodded her head, then slowly turned to the man standing beside her. The man in question was clearly a fox-type Kansen, with striking purple hair, a magnificent nine-tailed fox tail, and a physique that spoke of a samurai's build.
"You?" she inquired, inviting him to introduce himself.
JS Izumo remembered his duty to introduce himself before a Kansen of such authority. "DDH-183 JS Izumo of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force," he introduces.
The other woman beside him, possessing distinct dog ears and tails, then introduced herself. "DD-103 JS Yudachi."
"I see... you two were the newcomers mentioned in the report," she mused aloud. "CVN-80 USS Enterprise," she introduced herself in return.
"For today, I will be taking charge of the forces we have here in the Sakura Empire. However, I won't be assuming full command so soon, as I am here for other matters. Izumo."
JS Izumo straightened into a rigid formation upon hearing his name, responding with a sharp "Hai!"
"You will assume command until I formally resume it," she stated directly, seeing no need for a private meeting.
"What?" JS Izumo was clearly confused by being given such a significant role, one he wasn't sure he could handle. "How long until you return to command, Ma'am?"
Enterprise-80 let out a sigh. "I don't know how long, but I have a feeling it won't be that long."
Musashi and other Shipgirls of higher status within the Empire strolled alongside Enterprise-80, as if providing her with a personal tour.
Enterprise-80, however, was not there for a tour or a vacation. She was there to seek help in communicating with the realm of spirits, an art in which the Sakurans were renowned for their mastery. She desperately hoped to gain a better understanding of her own Alter-Ego, a being bathed in ethereal darkness, which she herself had unshackled from its shadowy imprisonment. She was determined to do everything in her power to forge a stronger connection and understanding with this other self, to prevent herself from losing control and lashing out without any restraint on her hidden powers.
Musashi, clad in formal kimono with sword loosely strapped at her waist, stepped forward beside her, spoke. "You never just visit temple, don't you?"
Enterprise-80 slowly turns her head to face her. "I'm here to communicate with the realm of spirits," she admitted. "I opened something within me far darker and powerful. The next operation, I need full control, I don't want to lost control."
Musashi nodded, understanding more than she let on. "Then let us begin," she said. "The temple is prepared." She gestures towards the temple.
JS Maya and JS Izumo watched them pass, as they all headed towards the temple. Manjuu Marines also followed, seemingly there to protect America's valuable assets in a foreign land.
JS Maya then turned to face the escorts who had been left behind, now under their immediate responsibility. And to her utter bad luck, among them were the infamous Residential Drunk Bunny and a new face: a man who bore the same unbothered, nonchalant aura as the Drunk Bunny. To her silent prayers, there were at least two "normal" ones (the LCSs) among the group that could very well be described as abnormal.
JS Izumo observed the troubled expression etched onto JS Maya's face after seeing the "wackos" who had been unceremoniously dumped into their care.
"Is everything alright?" he asked gently.
JS Maya, snapping out of her despairing daze, nodded. "Yeah... everything's alright here... as long as no one starts making trouble," she said, her voice trailing off with a hint of lingering apprehension.
"I'm sure," JS Izumo echoed, his expression utterly blank. He then added, a hint of resignation in his voice, "So long as no one gets drunk, fights a shrine maiden, or tries to hit on the spiritual fox goddess..."
"Having a fight with a shrine maiden won't be one of those major incidents, but duels would certainly be frequent and annoying," JS Maya interjected, speaking as if she were predicting the worst possible outcomes with disheartening accuracy.
"Let's just try our best to make this work," JS Izumo said, a flicker of optimism in his tone.
"Hai!" JS Yudachi cheerfully affirmed, nodding her head as sparkling effects seemed to shimmer all over her. "We can do this!"
With a renewed sense of hope and optimism, JS Izumo faced them, intending to deliver a rousing speech. "As you've just heard, I'm assuming command until Miss Enterprise returns."
"We hear," Zumwalt stated, maintaining his characteristic calm and composed demeanor.
"I hear," Laffey-200 repeated, her voice notably bland and understated.
"We hear it too!" Canberra added, waving her hand with the eager enthusiasm of a student seeking attention.
"Umm... I guess everyone was already briefed about this sudden shift of command,"
JS Izumo uttered, his fox-ears drooping slightly along with his shoulders. He was clearly devastated, realizing he hadn't been able to deliver the impactful speech he had envisioned. He wrote it yesterday in preparation, and for a moment it felt like his speech was being 'Thanos Snap' for a moment.
JS Maya slapped her forehead, a gesture of exasperation at the predictable conduct of the Americans. Their reactions were like an open book, easily read. "Why are they such a pain?" she muttered under her breath.
Laffey-200, bored by standing still in one place and with no immediate source of booze to casually consume, simply walked away from the awkward conversation.
She heads straight at her business and priorities.
"Better find some booze," she mumbled as she casually ambled off.
"Better find something more 'motivational' than this," Zumwalt commented dryly, following Laffey-200 towards some unknown part of the Sakura Empire, Katana held clinched at his hand.
Before Zumwalt had left for escort mission to Sakura Empire, Drew had given him a waning of woman in red. If he was caught by her, he would miss a supply of Monster Energizer. He's carful as to not encounter one – if that would last.
( IMAGE )
Following close behind the two was Laffey-724, her bubbly attitude making her distinct from the other two, who often seemed as though they had just hit a brick wall of indifference.
"Laffey wants to join!" she exclaimed, jumping with joy in her step, causing her bunny ears to flop up and down at her hop.
Left at Tokyo Bay were the two LCSs, Canberra and Cleve-Dude.
"Are we supposed to keep an eye of those two?" Cleve-Dude asked, pointing a finger in the direction the trio had departed.
JS Maya's gaze followed the retreating figures, then returned to Cleve-Dude. "We better be. Zumwalt and Laffey are disasters on their own, and now they're together."
JS Yudachi cut in, her cheerful attitude immediately capturing their attention. "Leave it to me! I'll keep an eye on them!" she declared with a playful salute.
JS Izumo returned her salute. "I'll leave it in your capable hands to keep them out of trouble."
"Roger that!" And with that, JS Yudachi darted off, leaving a small cloud of dust and cherry blossom petals in her wake.
JS Maya and JS Izumo then turned their attention to the two LCSs, who were standing patiently, awaiting further orders.
"So, what now?" asked Canberra, tilting her head.
"Do we get a pamphlet? Or short PowerPoint?" Cleve-Dude added.
"Dismissed," JS Izumo gave the order, which seemed to confuse the two, as if they expected a more elaborate debriefing. It felt like an elementary school meeting other than military ones.
"What? That's all?" Cleve-Dude asked, genuinely surprised. "No PowerPoint presentation? No complicated schedule? Not even complicated wording?"
JS Izumo looked away, bead of sweat drop on his forehead and scratching his cheek, embarrassed. "...That's all...."
Either Cleve-Dude and Canberra were both equally relieved that the meeting had concluded so quickly, and without an overly complicated PowerPoint presentation. They were simply glad it had been that straightforward.
...
Somewhere Else in the Empire Capital
JS Yudachi had finally reached the trio, specifically catching up to the two chaotic Aegis Guided Missile Destroyers. Thanks to her impressive sprinting speed, she had caught them without breaking a sweat.
"I finally caught up to you two!" she declared triumphantly, skedding to a halt on a concrete road.
Laffey-200 and Zumwalt merely made a small turn of their heads, then immediately returned their attention forward, seemingly indifferent to her success in catching them.
"Say," she began, attempting to converse with the two introverts. "What's with the silence? You both look so suspicious with those faces you're making."
*Silence*
"...Okay rude." She pouted.
Both remained unresponsive, her words falling on deaf ears, as they clearly didn't care. However, a small figure spoke up.
"They're always like that," Laffey-724 chirped, her bubbly attitude starkly different from the stoic pair. "Laffey finds it fun! They act like background characters, but they always head straight to boss fight."
"EH?!" JS Yudachi was taken aback by the absurdity of the two. "Are they really like that?"
"Yes," Laffey-724 nodded vigorously.
"One time, they both fought at the Harbor. Neither of them have landed their hits, but the Harbor was turn into ruins. I thought they were sparing that they, actually they were fighting."
JS Yudachi just now relegalized she was in for a fun stroll at the trio. "What kind of a hell I stepped into?" she loudly asked, a sense of dread creeping to her voice.
During their casual stroll—or perhaps more accurately said, they walked aimless until they found something entertaining or something they could indulge in—they stumbled upon the worst possible group they could associate with.
The Takao Sisters and other Sakuran Shipgirls with Katanas sheathed at their hips were casually conversing among themselves about the recent news of Amagi's return. At an intersecting road, the Sakurans took a sharp turn, and glances were exchanged.
Takao immediately noticing the Katana Zumwalt was holding. Its size, and the sheathed blade, seemed considerably larger than any of their own.
"My, my~ a swordsman," Hakuryuu purr, her voice carrying an unmistakable invitation, almost a challenge, for a duel. "Are you one of those Modern Kansens who are said to be proficient with blades?"
Zumwalt abruptly stop in his tracks, his eyes slowly turning to the side, fixing on the person who had spoken. His eyes shot, as it was a red one.
Laffey-200, who had been in the lead, also stopped and turned, her eyes darting at Zumwalt and then to Hakuryuu, who seems to be gleaming at the sight of a Katana.
Hakuryuu had always been the one being more enthusiastic at Katanas, she had a profound love for the curved blade. And more enthusiastic at challenging those who had one on their position.
Laffey-724 happily hopping in tow, bumped into them pausing her advance. She looked up, unaware of the sudden pause in their pace.
"Why we stop?" she asked, rubbing her nose as if it was the first casualty of the unintended collision. She looked-up, eyes darting between the two as if a child asking for answers.
"A challenger..." Laffey-200 murmured, her tone low and measured.
"Yes..." Zumwalt responded in the same understated tone, though his mind reeling.
"Say that's quite a big sword you got there." Hakuryuu said, raising her sheathed Katana horizontally. "I want to know how good you were with the way of the sword." She said with her typical smirk plastered on her face.
It was indeed a challenge, the air momentarily stops as the challenge caught Zumwalt's full attention. The sudden shifts on his demeanor was noticed by the Sakurans as if they were in front of a bulb being switched off.
"Whoa! What's going-on?" JS Yudachi asked as her fur rising at the palpable tension in the air.
"A fight." Laffey-724 said, her voice sounded enthusiastic as she shimmered in excitement.
Takao sensing the danger quickly positioned herself between them, striving to diffuse the escalating tension. Takao felt an unsettling unease about the man, she noticed that his presence, while visible, seemed actively suppressed, and the immense power she sensed either emanated from him directly or from the Katana he held. In short, she was profoundly unsure of the man's true potential, and she was certainly not willing to discover it by the edge of a blade.
"My apologies for my subordinate's misconduct," she said by way of explanation. "She's simply pumped up all the time."
"No need," Zumwalt responded. He turned to face them fully, drawing their complete attention. "She... or neither of you, for that matter not, is no worthy of facing my 'Judgement Blade'." He said, raising his large Katana, held firmly in his left arm, causing its hilt to glint ominously in the light.
The delivery wasn't time properly, it sounded like a total provocation in the ears of the Sakurans. He just wanted to avoid the red one.
"Oh, a strong word," Hakuryuu pressed, her voice laced with challenge, as if she'd finally found someone who could meet her head-on. "Let's see if you can prove your words with ways of the blade."
Takao quickly intervened, her instincts screaming at her to stop the provocation. "Hakuryuu, no! You can't!"
Atago, standing nearby, chimed in, like Hakuryuu she was thrilled at what sword skill he can bring to the table. "Say, we just wanted to know how capable he is with a sword."
"Atago not you too!" Takao screamed.
Chikuma followed, "Nothing bad about that. We just want to know how strong and capable he is, according to Maya's report." A playful smile can be seen playing on her lips.
Unzen nodded, her eyes closed, deep in thought. "Certainly, the reports were unbelievable to read. The only way to truly find out is by way of the sword."
Kii became visibly motivated at the notion of a fight. "Finally, we can clash our blades with someone else's battle prowess!"
The Sakurans were all on board with the idea of dueling the man to confirm the accuracy of the paper report about Zumwalt single-handedly taking on an Orochi Class Massive Siren Warship.
Takao was left utterly speechless by their responses, her heart sinking. All of them wanted to pick a fight with the very last person they shouldn't. She could now predict the future, even without being a professional fortuneteller: everyone was about to eat dirt.
'God damn it! Why are you not listening!' she silently cursed under her breath.
Zumwalt, wanted to follow Drew's warning, but found this interaction entertaining, and the prospect of a duel between swords was certainly enticing.
"A challenge then... let's not placed our hopes that high." He said in a serious undertone. "The Sirens proves their mouths were the one at work – and not their skills and strength."
'Sorry Drew, I must ... duel.' He silently apologizes.
"Certainly you're the kind of guy I could go along with." Hakuryuu said, grinning as if she can see that she would be victorious.
"The Dojo is free." Atago chimed, her tune sounded flirtatious.
"It be a battle between Swordsmanship." Unzen said her voice sounded in anticipation of good battle.
Hakuryuu, Atago, Chikuma, Unzen and Kii were all motivated at facing Zumwalt in a duel between swords and skill, they were eager if the paper exaggerated his achievement of besting Orochi by means of blade and skills.
The news of a Kansen besting Orochi with merely as sword was hard to believe by someone who have witness how powerful Orochi was, now that a single Kansen manage to do it with only a blade was hard to accept.
Laffey-200 wasn't particularly keen on "sword fight nonsense", if there were a shooting range, she'd partake as a means of amusement. But witnessing someone about to be put into the ground was enticing enough to capture her attention.
"Have they not learn their lesson.... How long would they last?" she muttered to herself her tone dry as her expectation with the Sakurans.
'They really doing for it now huh?'
JS Yudachi pressed a call on her phone, reaching out to the one in authority and command. JS Maya's voice sounded on the other end as she received the news of Zumwalt partaking in sword duels with the Sakuran Shipgirls.
"Yeah... it seems we're going to have a chaotic duel," she said in a flat, mirroring undertone. "Please send medics!"
...
Sacred Sakura Tree Temple
Long steps of stone stairs, flanked by towering Torii gates, marked the path. Reaching the end of this seemingly endless ascent, there it stood: The Sacred Sakura Tree Temple. The temple itself was remarkably carved into the very stem of the majestic Sakura Tree, its ancient wood seamlessly integrated into the sacred structure. Pink cherry blossom petals, gently carried by the soft wind, drifted down, catching her attention.
Enterprise-80 was utterly amazed, seeing the sacred temple and the towering Sakura Tree in person for the very first time. To simply explain it, the sight was nothing short of breathtaking.
"Quite a magnificent sight, isn't it?" Musashi remarked, her voice gentle as she slowly appeared behind her, having just reached the top of the stairs herself.
"The Sakura Tree," Amagi spoke, her tone melodic and filled with nostalgia. "It's been a decade since I last saw its true magnificence. How truly wonderful that it still blooms so brightly."
"The Sakura Tree is the very symbol that represents us to the world," Shinano added, her voice soft and somewhat drowsy.
Shinano, as the Shrine Maiden of the Sacred Sakura Tree, was a constant presence around the temple, devotedly receiving prayers and bestowing blessings upon worshipers. For today's special occasion, she was specifically tasked with greeting and guiding distinguished visitors to the temple.
Enterprise-80 turned to face the Shrine Maiden. For the most part, she found it hard to reconcile the notion of her being a Shrine Maiden given her rather provocative clothing with its dramatically drooping shoulders.
"I now truly see why they call this the Land of the Sakura. The Sakura Tree doesn't just represent the land itself, but also those who call it home." Enterprise-80 said, her eyes still gazing at the immensely tall Sakura Tree.
The Fox-Women nodded their heads, clearly touched by her insightful words. However, the swelling warmth within them was abruptly interrupted by another woman's voice. And judging by the figure, it was yet another Fox-Woman, distinctive with her golden hair and nine-tailed fox fur.
Enterprise-80 wasn't particularly surprised by her entry; she had noticed her presence long before she became visible to the others. She also observed that the newcomer appeared a bit frail, seeming to be in a state of recovery, judging by her subtle healing aura.
Yamato stood in her regal kimono, exquisitely embroidered with suns and flames, mirroring her flamboyant nature. The ornaments in her tied hair glinted in the sunlight, and her golden hair and tail fur shimmered brilliantly. Her entire aura and person reflected that of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, her presence a dazzling spectacle, like a miniature sun.
( IMAGE )
[Zumwalt: woman in red... must... avoid.]
"Nee-Sama!!!"
Musashi's voice boomed across the temple grounds after seeing the Fox-Woman gracefully walking towards them at a gentle pace, her wooden shoes clacking softly on the stone slabs.
"Yamato Nee-Sama," Shinano greeted with a gentle, respectful bow.
Amagi tapped into her archives of memory, trying to recall who this Fox-Woman was. Then it clicked. It had been a very long time, and she remembered her from when she was small, along with the other two.
"It's been a while since I witnessed their growth," Amagi mused aloud. "I had truly forgotten their faces, but it seems Yamato-Chan has grown into a fine woman."
"It seems your absence has diverted them in an odd fashion," Enterprise-80 commented, almost like adding a casual observation.
Amagi squinted, noticing the drooping fabric hanging loose on their shoulders. "It seems you're right..." She rubbed her forehead, as if nursing a burgeoning headache. "This is now a common occurrence here at the Sakura Empire."
"Or the Naval Designers are just getting creative lately," Enterprise-80 said, letting the thought hang in the air, open to interpretation.
At the Fox Sisters.
Musashi was worried, as always, when it came to Yamato's recovering health, a concern clearly evident in her surprised reaction.
Shinano, who had allowed Yamato to stroll around the temple and also wanted the one opportunity to meet the one who had awakened the Empire's eyes to its wrong path leading to its own destruction, also wished to express her thanks for the small gesture of help Enterprise-80 gave in allowing her to be healed by their 'Doctor'.
"What did I tell you about staying in bed?! You need to take your rest!" Musashi's concerned voice echoed through the temple, mingling with the steady chanting of the monks.
Yamato wished she could simply tune out the volume, pressing her hands down as if to physically lower the sound. "I'm only here to meet our guest. Besides... the 'Doctor's' prescription said that I need to move and breathe some fresh air. Getting stuck in an enclosed space would hinder my fast recovery. You don't want me to recover quickly, do you?" she said, adding a playful tease at the end.
Musashi, fuming, felt her boilers flare. "No! That's—that's not what I want at all! I want you to heal and take care of yourself. You're still healing!"
Yamato offered a small smile, yet it shone as brightly as the sun. "Listen..." she said, resting her hand gently on Musashi's shoulders. "I'll be fine... I can walk now and I'm no longer bedridden. It's better to stretch my joints. There's no need for you to be worried."
Yamato tilted to her side, casting a glance at the person she had wished to see. A smile bloomed on her face at the sight of her.
"I think I should greet our visitor. I'm a bit late at the harbor, and I should thank my benefactor for healing my sickness."
Musashi found herself helpless, Yamato was already there. She couldn't simply order her to leave in front of everyone. Resigning herself, she let her be and proceeded to introduce her to their guest.
"My apologies for the commotion," Musashi excused, mortified by her own uncharacteristic outburst.
Enterprise-80 nodded, a gesture of understanding. "It's okay, we understand."
Musashi straightened up to properly introduce her older sister to their guest. She coughed, clearing her throat.
"I'm introducing you to my older sister, Yamato. She is currently in a state of recovery, and I must excuse her sudden, uninformed arrival," she said with a bow, her dark-purple fox ears drooping slightly.
Yamato interjected, like an older sister playfully trying to embarrass her younger sibling in front of friends.
"Don't be so formal; you're just introducing me," she said, her tone implying they were longtime friends.
"Sister!" Musashi suddenly shouted, mortified. "We're having a visitor!" she reminded her, emphasizing that this was far from one of their usual informal, casual meetings where Yamato often barged in.
Yamato merely waved her hand dismissively. "Ahh... don't be like that, I'm sure it's fine."
The informal wave of her hand was not new to Enterprise-80, who could easily see the similarity to her own escorts' genuine antics.
Amagi shook her head vigorously, left and right. She couldn't believe that the naughty little Yamato-Chan was still naughty, even now as an adult woman. Time had passed too quickly; she remembered Yamato and her sisters as children, with cheerful smiles as bright as the sun shining in the darkness.
Unbeknownst to the others, Yamato suddenly grabbed Enterprise-80's hand, as if it were a scene plucked from a romance novel, their fingers intertwining.
"Hmm... Odd..." Shinano murmured, struggling to battle her drowsy state. Her fox-senses were fully alert, but her common sense have nowhere to be found.
"What are you doing, Nee-Sama?!" Musashi screamed, her face turning as red as a tomato in total embarrassment at what she witnessed.
Amagi was completely taken aback in shock, her chest dropping with a sound like breaking porcelain, her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-WHAT!?" she gasped, a strangled sound escaping her.
Enterprise-80 was like a statue, completely unmoving. She didn't know how to react.
Holding hands? She and Frigate Belfast did that all the time for no particular occasion, and she had forgotten how to react properly to what was happening, especially as everyone around her seemed utterly surprised.
She had no discernible reaction as she merely stared at their intertwined hands. All she could see around her were the blinking Yamato holding her hand and the shocked expressions of the others.
"What... what are you doing?" she blurted out suddenly, seemingly unaffected by the shocking incident itself.
*Crow croaks, sounding on the background*
Yamato and the other Fox-Women were shocked because Enterprise-80 wasn't affected in the slightest.
'She wasn't surprised at all,' Yamato muttered, slowly letting go of her hand. 'Odd...'
Musashi and Amagi suddenly ran towards her, both looking shocked and alarmed by what she had done a moment ago.
Both Fox-Women loudly questioned why she had momentarily done what she did. It was incredibly informal for someone of her high status, and the person she was holding was more powerful than all of them combined.
"What's your problem? I just wanted to hold her hand. It's so soft to look at," she said, stating her intentions as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, shimmering slightly at her innocent declaration.
"I think we've spent too long introducing ourselves," Enterprise-80 spoke, gradually breaking through the commotion of the Fox-Women. Her tone was stern, a stark contrast to their playful exchanges. "It's better to get to the real reason I came here to the sacred temple of the Sakura Tree."
"Yes, that's right," Musashi recomposed herself, feeling a little embarrassed by her sister's childish antics. "This is your real purpose. My apologies if my sister is like this; I don't know why she's acting like this, even I'm confused myself," she said in a strained undertone.
Yamato perched playfully, her tone a clear tease. "Because you always mention her, day and night, even though I'm right next to you... You never failed to mention her in your stories for a minute. I'm just curious who the person in your story is; I wondered if she was a Woman or a Man, based on the tone of your voice."
Musashi screamed wildly, a high-pitched shriek like a child, her tone like a scraping record. It was truly embarrassing, a feeling akin to being exposed in front of her crush.
Dots of silence punctuated the air in succession as the quiet lingered.
Amagi, not wanting to prolong the embarrassing conversation, gently pushed Enterprise-80 forward towards the temple entry to begin the ritual.
"Maybe we should start moving now, before the conversation gets any more interesting, okay?" she said with a warm smile, subtly conveying her discomfort.
"We... better," Enterprise-80 responded, feeling a similar sense of unease.
Shinano gently poised in front of the door, gesturing for them to enter, the fabric of her kimono sleeves swaying softly.
"Please... follow me," she said, her tone now fully embodying the Shrine Maiden that she was.
Amagi and Enterprise-80 both entered the Sacred Temple, followed by the Fox-Sisters, with no further commotion trailing them. The interior was incredibly spacious; the ceiling soared high, and the tall pillars were painted a vibrant red. Monks devoutly prayed to the huge statues of the Gods and Goddesses of the Sakura Empire.
Shinano guided them towards the sacred interior of the temple where they could begin the ritual. What appeared in front of them through the separate doors was a vast chamber, designed primarily to isolate any rituals performed within it.
Runes were intricately written on the circular floor, and the massive pillars were inscribed with talismans meant to ward off fierce spirits. To the side, several Monks stood ready to perform the ritual, chanting ancient words.
"Do you think all of this would be enough...?" Enterprise-80 asked, a hint of doubt in her voice, wanting reassurance that everything would be okay. She remembered back at the Sakuran Dorm, how the runes on the floor had burned and erased, turning to ash, and the paper talismans had incinerated in terrifying purple flames, rendering everything useless.
That prior ritual at the Dorm was simply meant to ascertain if a connection existed. Yet, the connection had been so strong, something had started burning the runes and enchantments.
"I'm sure," Amagi said, her voice perpetually calm and collected. "These are strong enough to hurt powerful spirits, especially the evil ones."
Her tone was calm, but Amagi couldn't shake off her fear of what might happen next, as usual. The sudden takeover.
Shinano walked near the center and nodded. "The ritual is about to begin. Can you come here now?" she gestured towards the center, inviting Enterprise-80 to step into the middle of the runes.
Enterprise-80 removed her uniform jacket and cap, as well as any items with electrical resistance such as cellphones and other electronics.
A Miko caught them with its bare hands. With a gentle nod, it slowly went to the rear to neatly place the removed items on a shelf.
Enterprise-80 loosened her neckties and unbuttoned her sleeves as she stepped into the middle of the ritual circle.
Like any anime protagonist wanting to reach their inner demon, she sat in the middle of the chamber, legs crossed. She felt strange, as if she could sense a strong connection. She didn't know if it was because she was in such a wide space or because of the abundant incense in the chamber, with so many Old Monks holding them, one by one.
She had a feeling that Code-X, or simply put, her Alter-Ego, was just observing. She gently clenched her fists, bracing herself for what was to come with the ritual.
In the corner of the chamber, next to the giant pillars, Yamato and Amagi both discussed the ritual, both of them feeling the strong energy flow that overflowed from Enterprise-80. It was faint, yet distinctly visible to their senses.
"Do you think this will work?" Amagi asked.
Yamato answered, her tone of voice serious, abandoning her flamboyant character. "I think so."
"You think so?" Amagi pressed.
"Yes, her power is strong, but it is shrouded in darkness. This is exactly why she asked for help. This kind of power needs to be well controlled; this is precisely what she needs. She needs to enter her inner dimension to talk about their differences, their similarities, and their one common goal: the destruction of the Siren race to prevent the destruction of other worlds."
Amagi closed her eyes, bowing her head and nodding. "Yes, I have experienced darkness, but this is truly disgusting... I saw for myself how terrifying it is if let free."
Amagi still remembered the day when Code-X had suddenly taken control of Enterprise-80's body and personality. She could see it clearly, and it was marked in her eyes like a mirror; the reflection was clear. She could see that Enterprise-80 was holding a Deathscythe while she was wrapped in a black robe and possessed black angel wings, her eyes looking like crimson red diamonds drenched in blood.
"I don't know what you experienced that day. I can see why you are afraid and why you want this ritual to be successful," Yamato said.
Amagi's pale face was aghast as she looked at Enterprise-80 closely. She saw death reflected in her eyes.
The ritual began.
The Monks who had gathered around began their chant, the smoke of incense in their hands wafting along with their voices.
Amagi joined Shinano and Musashi in the middle of the chamber. They were separated but faced Enterprise-80.
They also began their chant, slowly lifting their palms around the rune as it glowed, their chants syncing into a melodic choir.
In the middle of the rune, where Enterprise-80 was sitting, as the rune began to glow one by one, she suddenly felt dizzy. She felt as if her whole body was light and lifting. Suddenly, her surroundings shifted to another dark dimension.
The dimension was familiar because she had come from this place before: Code-G's dimension, dark and vast. She saw nothing in front of her, but the foundation where she stood was visible as clear, lit glass. Turning around, she saw the figure she wanted to see.
In the dimly lit darkness of this dimension, perched on a couch, Code-X lay lazily, draped in her black robes. Her head was resting on her outstretched hand, and she seemed to be expecting Enterprise-80's arrival, judging by the curve of her lips.
Code-X lay lazily on the single piece of furniture in a dimension filled with darkness, yet with a dimly lit floor as clear as glass.
"I welcome you to my humble abode," she gestured and greeted, but her tone seemed far from a typical welcoming.
Enterprise-80 only stared at her, meeting her grin.
( IMAGE )