Sun streamed in through past the curtains and into the room illuminating it in a soft amount of light. Chest rising and falling gently, Fubuki slept with a small smile on her face. A smile that grew as her eyes fluttered open and she looked around. As per usual, Kana's body was under hers with the Battleship deep in her own slumber. And on either side of her was Yuudachi and Mutsuki, with Kisaragi behind her sister and spooning said Destroyer.
That, however, was not what was making the "Mother of the Modern Destroyer" smile.
As a matter of fact, what was making Fubuki smile was the fact that she and the other shipgirls were not alone in the bed. In fact, each of the children that they had taken guardianship were also cuddled up to them under the cool sheets. Kasumi, for example, was currently curled up between Fubuki's and Yuudachi's legs, while Fu-Chan was laying on top of Fubuki herself. Slowly, and careful not to wake anyone, Fubuki reached up and gently patted Fu-Chan between the ears which got her a soft mumble as said ears twitched.
But besides that, everyone continued to sleep on. Yes, the presence of the children in the bed meant that there had been no "Fun" the night before. After all, one could claim many things about Fubuki, but "Irresponsible" was not one of them. Hence, the most that happened was kisses and cuddles that got exchanged and that was about it on the part of the shipgirls. Though, considering things, Fubuki suspected some fun might happen in the shower later.
However, that would be later, and right now? As of this second in time there was nowhere else that she wanted to be. There was a part of Fubuki that wished that this moment could continue on forever. No war to fight in or to threaten their lives. Just her and her family laying in bed on a lazy and sunny summer's day. And that was how she saw them, each of them. To her, they were her family, pure and simple.
Yes, she knew that she would never replace the parents of the orphans, and frankly she would feel like slugging someone who claimed such. But, inwardly at least, she had come to see them as her children, each and everyone of them. There was a part of Fubuki, deep down, that was rather amused that despite her claims otherwise... she was a parent now. Each child she would treat as her own and if anyone threatened them? She would utterly destroy them and have no mercy.
Laying there, Fubuki thought back to when she had that realization. Something that happened as a whole during the last legs of the convoy when she had heard, through the wizarding wireless in her radio room, the broadcast of what turned out to be the Tokyo Magical Diet's death rattle. And she was not alone in her reactions to that bit of information as the other Japanese shipgirls, who had all gotten their own Wizarding Wireless sets, all had similar reactions. Then came in the reports of the wireless of various bits of fighting that occurred. Nothing serious, thankfully, but there was still reports of Aurors from the now defunct Tokyo Diet as well as other wizards from there attacking people or groups. Hearing that, right then, Fubuki had nearly frozen.
Never before had she ever wanted to abandon her duty, to race ahead of the convoy and leave it without her.
To rush back to Yokosuka at full speed just to make sure that none of the children that she had taken under her wing were harmed and that each were safe. It had taken every bit of her self-control not to do exactly that. Yet, she had not felt ashamed that she thought that, that she was seriously considering abandoning the convoy. Still, it had taken a few moments, but she stiffened her resolve as she had to be there for Mutsuki and the others. They looked like they wanted to break with the escort around the convoy as well. Instead, she stayed and became their rock.
At the same time, however? Fubuki promised the worst retribution to anyone involved if any of the children under her protection had been harmed. If any were, she would not care if Amaterasu-no-Oomikami appeared before her and told her to stay her hand, she would ignore it and kill each of those involved. In brutal fashion at that. Much to her grim amusement, her crew were somewhat disturbed by her imagining one such case if any of her children were harmed.
Due, mostly, to the idea of taking one of her oxygen torpedoes, activating the engine, and slowly shoving it the rear end first into the mouth of a wizard or witch who harmed the children.
However, much to her relief as well as that of her crew, none of them were harmed and the fighting died out fairly quickly. Much more quickly than she would have thought and even the news of one of those who had been leading the aggressive faction literally losing his head only made her nod. Seeing them standing there at the ramp cheering and waving to their guardians, including her, had made all tension leave her. Rushing up the ramp and dismissing her rigging, the first thing she did was gather them into hugs and tell them that she was glad to see that they were alright.
It had been amusing to note that Daichi and Yoshi were both embarrassed by this, but she did not care. And it did not escape her notice that both boys, while somewhat flustered, enjoyed the affection from her and the others. Standing up, and picking Fu-Chan as well as Natsuki in her arms, Fubuki had let out a relieved sigh. And as she looked at the others, she came to a realization in that moment.
Somehow... she, Fubuki, nameship of her class... had become a parent.
For some odd reason, that did not bother her too much. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact, it made her smile and tear up a little. And the maternal warmth in her chest only made her boilers ache, but in a good way. At the same time, she also swore that if she was going to be a parent, then she would be the best one that she could be, or at least hope to be such.
Once they had given their report to the Admiral with her fairies watching over the kids, Fubuki had taken Yuudachi aside to talk with them. With a blush on her cheeks, she told them what she had realized. Just as she finished, the others had shared a look and shaken their heads before their next words made her blink...
***************************************************************
Eyebrow raised, Yuudachi gave her a look of amusement and snorted, "We knew that already, Poi."
Blinking, Fubuki looked at each of the others to find that they were nodding as well, which made her stare, "Wait, wait... you knew? Already?"
Softly smiling, Kana hummed as she held her hands in front of her, "Hai, Fubuki-Senpai, we knew that you saw them as your children." Shifting a bit with a blush on her cheeks, her smile grew warmer, "It... was good to see."
Running her hand through her hair, the first Modern Destroyer could only shake her head, "I'm not quite sure what to say." Pausing for a moment, she frowned in thought, "But... why didn't you say anything?"
Just walking up to her, Mutsuki had cupped her cheek and smiled, "Because it was something that you needed to figure out yourself, Fubuki-Chan. If we had told you, would you have believed it?" At the headshake from Fubuki, she smiled, "Exactly." Moments later, her fellow Destroyer kissed her, with both of them leaning into the kiss for a few seconds. Pulling back, Mutsuki hummed happily, "And it was amazing to see you act like a parent."
Grin on her face, Yuudachi practically skipped over and threw her arms around her fellow Destroyer's neck, "It really was, Poi. And funny too, since you didn't realize it!" Giggling, she grinned a bit before kissing Fubuki, and doing so hard with at least one wandering hand. When she pulled back, both of them had somewhat swollen lips, though the "Nightmare of Solomon" had an even bigger grin as she waggled her eyebrows, "And seeing you act like a parent is, like, super hot, Poi. Whether it is you acting like a Kaa-San or an Otou-San, both good. Gets my boilers all hot and running."
Arms crossed, Kisaragi nodded a little even as she watched Fubuki flush at what Yuudachi had just admitted to, "She has a point you know, it is pretty hot. Seriously, I had to hold myself back from jumping you."
Placing her face in her hands, Fubuki only groaned, "Not you too..." Then, pulling her hand back, she looked in the direction of where the children were, "Still... I only hope not to mess this up."
Gently, the only Battleship in their group smiled and placed her hand on the Destroyer's shoulder, "I wouldn't worry much, Senpai. You do a great job already and before you realized it. So I can't see you not doing so now."
Only sighing, Fubuki turned and gave her Battleship a kiss, "Thank you..."
***************************************************************************
In the present, the Destroyer felt her lips twitch a bit as Fu-Chan's ears flicked a bit. After all, it was an adorable sight to her. As well, it was one that she felt like she could never get tired of.
Of course, that brought her mind back to the night before...
************************************************************
Yawning a little, the Kitsune rubbed her eyes some, which made Fubuki smile down at her, "A little tired, Fu-Chan?"
Lightly blushing, Fu-Chan looked away and would not meet her eyes, "Hai, Fubuki-San, I, um..." Scuffing her shoe into the ground, she looked up at the young woman who had rescued her from the man that was a tormentor, "I couldn't sleep well last night."
Frowning, the Destroyer crouched down a little to meet her eyes, "You couldn't sleep well?" At the shake of the head, Fubuki's voice became gentle, "Why? Were you scared?"
Once more, Fu-Chan looked away, "Um, no... I wasn't scared. B-but I was really excited. Because today you were going to come home at least. A-and that you were okay."
Much to her surprise, Fubuki gently kissed the top of her head and pulled back with a smile, "I see, though I am sorry that because of me, you didn't get much sleep."
Yawning some, Daichi stretched and gave a shrug, "Well, we were all excited. Besides, we made sure that the house is super clean and everything."
Rapidly nodding, Ayame nodded as she took Mutsuki's hand, "Hai! Daichi-Nii-Chan helped out lots! And so did Yoshi-Nii-Chan! Both of them got up high and moved heavy stuff so that we could make it all squeaky clean!"
Both boys blushed at that and the smiles that they got, blushes that increased as Yuudachi gave both their heads a ruffle, "Good job, Poi. We're proud of you."
That got nods as the two nearly teenage males looked away with the Sarugami shrugging, "Yeah, well... it's sort of our job being the strongest. And it wasn't that big of a deal."
Amused, Fubuki was about to comment on that when she noticed that Fu-Chan gave another yawn. Softly smiling, she picked up the Kitsune and then her close with the Kitsune's head laying against her chest, "There we go, don't want you tripping."
Happily humming, the young Yokai nodded before snuggling into the Destroyer's chest, "Mmm... Fubuki-San? Is it alright if I..."
Gently, Fubuki placed a kiss on her forehead, "Hai, go ahead and get some sleep, I'll carry you home."
Somewhat to her amusement, it was not just Fu-Chan that decided that they needed a nap as Akane and Ayame also decided to take a nap in Mutsuki's arms while Kasumi was on top of Yuudachi's shoulders. Kana, meanwhile, simply carried Yomi with the squirrel Yokai pillowed against her chest. The others simply took hands and the like or walked beside them as they headed home.
When they got home, however, Fubuki and the others got to cooking dinner with some elk steaks that they brought from Canada. Though they did note, when opening the fridge, that there was a chocolate cake. Surprised, Fubuki and the others turned to the children and found them shuffling. Natsuki cleared her throat and blushed some, "Um... we knew that you were coming home. So we asked if Takao-Nee-San could help us bake you a cake. We hope that we did a good job..."
Looking at the cake, Fubuki and the others noted that on top of the chocolate icing, which was uneven, was white icing spelling out 'Welcome home'. A soft smile came to their faces and they thanked the children. When they had some, they found that it had been slightly burned at the bottom. And, sure enough, the icing was uneven.
It was also the best chocolate cake that they had ever had in their opinion as well.
*********************************************************
Closing her eyes, Fubuki just smiled happily as she laid back, completely content and happy with her family, both girlfriends and her children, around her.
