Chapter 6
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Chapter 6: Reconciliation
Pausing in place, Indestructible sighed softly. The British battleship looked down at her hands, hovering over the handle of a door. A door, that supposedly her sisters were behind. She didn't know if that was the truth. She didn't know, but yet, she still paused. Her emotions, despite the talk with Shigure, were still thoroughly mixed on the subject of the Hiei sisters. Despite her first meeting with them being mere hours previously, she loved the girls dearly. Very dearly. But there was the lingering anger and heartbreak, at how they had reacted to her before. And bundling all of it together, was the guilt over how she had treated them. So, it was not an understatement in the slightest that she was unsure how to feel.
Unsure, and hesitating to face her fears. Not very becoming of a battleship, was it?
But then, she wasn't just a battleship, was she? Indestructible clenched the hand that hovered over the handle, the feeling of flesh and bone still somewhat alien. Even now, after several days like this. The girl was just as human as she was a warship now, with all that implied. Especially when it came to emotions. She was feeling them in full force, in a way she truly never had as a warship. Fear being the most prominent...fear that her sisters would be angry with her, and wouldn't accept her apology. It wasn't a logical fear, but even so...
It was drowning he...
"Indestructible-san?" Shigure was by her side in an instant, the little destroyer having seemingly made it a mission to help her through this.
Indestructible didn't know what she had done to deserve such a loyal helper. What was it with Japanese destroyers and wanting to be her friend?
"I'm...fine," the British girl replied, taking in a deep breath, before placing her hand on the door.
Hesitating for a split-second, despite herself, Indestructible felt the soft pressure of Shigure's hand on her own. The destroyer still looked uncomfortable at touching someone, her deep-seated anguish over her survival running deeper than one conversation could ever fix. But there was a determined expression on her pretty face, blue eyes telling the battleship that she wasn't alone in this. With that in mind, they both turned the handle, opening the door.
"Oh!" Fubuki was the first one to notice the opening, green eyes widening, "Indestructible-san! And...Shigure-chan?"
The destroyer's voice trailed off at that point, confusion in her expression. For her part, Shigure shuffled her feet slightly, looking out of place. Indestructible placed a hand on her shoulder, repaying the girl for her own emotional aid. It was only when the destroyer sent her a thankful smile, that the battleship turned back to the room at large.
Her sisters, more specifically.
"On...onee-sama?" Hiei spoke up first, sitting in between Haruna and Kirishima.
"Hey," Indestructible softly replied, unwilling- or perhaps unable -to move from her spot by the door, "Hiei...Haruna...Kirishima, I..."
Sucking in a breath, the battleship squared her shoulders, and bowed in a half-forgotten Japanese style. Her memories of what she should have been like were few and far between, and she probably messed up. But she was determined to do this right, damn it.
"I'm sorry for how I treated you. I was...angry, upset, and not thinking clearly. I shouldn't have snapped at you, my sisters. I hope you can forgive me."
The battleship looked up when she finished saying that, expecting nothing more than an angry look from her sisters. It was how she would have acted, so soon after being told off like that. Told off like that, just for forgetting things in their excitement at meeting their sister for the first time.
"Onee-sama..."
What the British girl didn't, couldn't, expect was for Hiei to jump to her feet, and pull her into another hug. Just as before, tears were wetting her uniform, as Hiei hugged her even more tightly than before. And it wasn't just her. Haruna and Kirishima had joined in, the three Japanese girls squeezing their British sister in a group hug. Indestructible had to struggle to take in a breath from the pressure of three battleships hugging her at once...
But it felt nice, too.
I...I...
"You all...you aren't..."
"How could we be mad with you," Hiei weakly laughed, somehow contriving to squeeze harder, "You're our onee-sama! It was our fault you got angry, and we're sorry. Fubuki-chan told us why you were angry. We..."
"Haruna understands how you feel," the youngest sister continued, "And I'm sorry..."
"We all are," Kirishima confirmed, "We shouldn't have acted like that."
Hiei was the one to finish, teary smile on her face as she looked in her sister's eyes, "We should have asked you how you felt. So it's us that should be sorry, not you!"
"Bu..."
"No, don't apologize onee-sama!" her eldest sister had a serious look now, the look of a 'first of her class' ship, "We can put this behind us and be a family now, right?"
Haruna's smile as she spoke next was soft as everything about that girl, "Haruna...we all know you will return to your home. Can we at least be a family, while you're here, Indestructible onee-sama?"
Indestructible didn't know how to feel about this. Her eyes were wet with tears of her own, as she felt the warmth of her sister's bodies pressed against her. All her worries that they would be angry with her...they were false worries. Shigure had been right, when she had talked about this very thing happening on the way back. She had said that Hiei and her sisters were kind to a fault, and wouldn't hold anything against their sister. They...they loved her, more than anything. More than anything, but how their eldest sibling felt for all her sisters. From Irresistible, to Hiei, to Hood. If she considered them a sister, they had her unconditional love.
It was why the worry of Hiei, Haruna and Kirishima being angry with her had hit the British girl so very hard.
"Thank you..." the British girl whispered softly, to where only her sisters could hear.
Hiei's grin was brilliant, as she squeezed her sister against her chest one last time, "That's what sisters are for, onee-sama!"
It was only after saying that, that the three Japanese battleships pulled away from their British sibling. There was much rubbing of eyes, even Shigure and Fubuki looked a bit teary eyed. Indestructible...she felt at home, for perhaps the first time since she had awoken in Japan. These girls...all of them...they care for her. Her sisters loved her, just as dearly as she loved them. Fubuki and Shigure cared for her as well, perhaps the only friends she had to speak of in this nation. And she valued that, quite a lot.
"Onee-san," Kirishima was the first to speak up after the hug split up, pushing her glasses up as she looked at Hiei, "I believe it is tea time."
"Oh!" Hiei blushed, looking at her elder sister, "I was going to ask about that...onee-sama. I've been having us have tea time, since we woke up like this. So we'd be ready to meet you! I hope we've been doing it right!"
So, that's why Hiei drinks black tea. I...
Indestructible felt her own cheeks heat up, as a small smile crossed her lips, "You didn't have to do that for me, Hiei."
"You're our onee-sama, we'd do anything for you," the Japanese girl replied, with a roll of her blue eyes. The smile on her face removed any bite from it though.
"I should probably go then...I don't want to interrupt your time," Shigure's soft voice served to remind the battleships that two destroyers were with them.
The taller one looked at her feet, clearly still not comfortable around people. Indestructible's heart went out to her, as she detached herself from her sisters, and knelt at the destroyer's level.
"No, you should come with us to..." here, she turned a questioning look on Hiei.
Her sister smiled brightly, "Mamiya. I love to cook, but Kirishima won't let me cook for anyone but us."
"With good reason," the middle Hiei sister pushed her glasses up, the light flashing just right to hide her eyes.
"You wound me!"
As her sisters started to play argue, Indestructible turned back to Shigure, a soft smile on her face, "Don't worry Shigure. I...we may have just met, but I think you are a good friend. I don't mind having you here at all, and I doubt my sisters do either. You worry too much."
Shigure opened her mouth, either to argue or point out that the battleship worried too much herself. Indestructible just held a finger up, silencing whatever the destroyer had been preparing to say.
"I know I worry too much, myself. Still, I want you to be a friend...Lord knows, I probably won't have many here. The same goes for you Fubuki...you're both more than welcome to come along."
Fubuki grinned at the larger girl, "Of course Indestructible-san. I think you're a friend too, so I don't mind coming along. And Shigure-chan doesn't bother me either."
"Thank you..." the other destroyer whispered, a small but genuine smile on her face.
"There's nothing to thank me for," Indestructible's smile was the same one she would use for any girl, who needed comforting. Shigure brightened with that smile, as the battleship pulled herself to her feet.
"So, should we be going?"
Hiei nodded, "Follow me, onee-sama!"
The excitable Japanese fast battleship moved for the door, swinging it open. Hiei looked back at her sisters and the tag-along destroyers, grinning at them, before she waved them forward. Indestructible smiled softly herself, following after the other girl. She could spend time with her family, and enjoy it. And once her other sisters arrived, they could all enjoy it.
Hopefully, it wouldn't be too long before they arrived.
"Man, I forgot how long this trip was. Implacable, how long will it take us to get to Japan?"
"Some time."
"Damn."
Irresistible sighed, as she saw the imposing form of The Rock in the distance. The first landmark along their long trip through the European coast, then the Med, then Suez, then the Indian Ocean, and then Indonesia and the Philippines. Bloody hell, they weren't getting to Japan anytime soon, were they? And this was the short route over sea! There was a reason that ship girls were stationed somewhere and rarely made such long trips. They could pull it off every bit as well as their original hulls could, but that didn't make it fun to sail so far.
Frankly, it would have been easier if they had been stationed in Australia. But the Aussies and Kiwis had their own girls, up to and including two battlecruisers in the form of Australia and New Zealand themselves. Granted, not particularly modern battlecruisers, even compared to herself. But the point remained. Not to mention Sydney and Melbourne.
Suffice to say, there was a reason she and her sister were based out of Britain, not Australia.
"I have never made this trip," Seydlitz spoke up, the scarred girl pushing herself to her limit of 27 knots, "It is quite long, ja?"
"Indeed," Implacable nodded, her ponytail swaying in the breeze, "We haven't made this trip since...1945, correct?"
"Far as I can remember," her elder sibling shrugged, before turning to the German, "Ya sure you can pull this off, 'litz?"
The German put her hands on her shapely hips, her scarred appearance making her look much more fearsome than she actually was, "Of course! Any trip is worth seeing Indestructible again. And there is no need to worry about me, when your best couldn't sink me!"
Irresistible stared at the German glaring at her, before breaking down into giggles again. Even her sister couldn't help but let out a couple quiet laughs. Seydlitz kept up the glare, before slumping with a small flush crossing her cheeks. Bless the girl's heart, but even with the way she looked, she couldn't pull off 'intimidating' if she tried. It was quite cute, actually.
"I needed that," the middle Indestructible sister grinned at the German girl, "Thanks, Seydlitz. Now, I was being serious..."
"Really?" Encounter chimed in, darting past on her patrol route.
"Oi! Get back here you little..." Irresistible glared at the laughing form of the destroyer, her red hair fluttering in the breeze as she zoomed past, "anyway. I know you Jerries didn't build your ships with long legs, unless they were those armored cruisers like Scharnhorst. Ya sure you'll be okay?"
"My legs are not short," Seydlitz lifted up one of said legs, her short skirt- still better than Bismarck -fluttering around the long limb, a dark sock covering it only up to her knee, "right?"
"That...that is not what I..."
The British battlecruiser opened and closed her mouth, wondering how the German girl could possibly be that naive. That just...no girl could be that innocent. Even Seydlitz, with her fangirling about Indestructible. Right? Right?
"I think that was a joke," Implacable spoke up, her voice admirably dry for a warship.
"Oh, you thought I..." Seydlitz blinked wide green eyes innocently.
Once again, Irresistible snapped her mouth shut. Before breaking out into good-natured laughter. Oh, this German was a fun one. This trip might not actually be all that bad, even if it was a long one. At least it wasn't going to be boring, if Seydlitz could duel with words as well as she had with her guns. And considering her guns were tiny for anything other than those stupid pocket battleship abominations the Nazis built- and poor Scharn and Gneisenau for that matter -that was saying something! Certainly more fun to be around that Bismarck. That girl was entirely too serious most of the time, unless 'ole Hood was around.
Speaking of which, the German battlewagon had curved around while Hipper and Emden kept sailing at the front of the formation. Bismarck's glorious blonde hair flared out behind her, as she moved towards the British- and her older cousin -at a steady thirty knots. Her blue eyes were sharp, as the larger girl pulled up alongside the older warships.
"Gibraltar is in range," Bismarck began, nodding at the form of The Rock, "I believe that your Force H should be able to handle the rest of the escort, ja?"
"Should be," Irresistible shrugged, "Ark's not one to be tardy."
"Of this, I am well aware," the German deadpanned, shifting her left leg slightly.
Implacable sent her sister an 'are you serious' look, before turning to Bismarck, "My apologies for my sister."
Bismarck waved it off, "It is not a problem. Still, this is where my squadron must leave you. We have been gone from Brest too long as it is. Good luck, and be careful."
As she said that, the battleship flashed her spotlight's at the other Germans. Those girls spun around, joining their flagship in returning to France. The British girls, and Seydlitz, continued on to Gibraltar. With the Rock in sight, it wasn't a long trip to make either. Nor was it long before their new escort came into view. Fairy Fulmar's swooped over their heads, their tiny little pilots waving down on the sailing warships. Their carrier, the veteran Ark Royal, soon was in range herself. Long brown hair flowed over her back, as a flight of Swordfish scouts warmed their engines on her flight deck. A wide smile was directed at the surface warships, as Ark sent her planes into the air.
Joining her, were HMS Rodney and Nelson, their...unique...silhouettes remaining from their ship days. If only in them being rather...well...top heavy. Forward jutting? There really wasn't a polite way to say 'those girls have rather large fuel tanks' was there?
No, probably not. At least my proportions are better spread out! And I like having these legs.
Irresistible waved at the battlewagons and their carrier counterpart, none of her amusement showing on her face.
"Nice to see you!" she shouted, as the other girls took up formation with her little group.
"You too," Ark smiled back, face a mask of concentration as she listened to her little planes, "Orders are to resupply you in Gibraltar, before the Italians take over escorting you to Suez. Why are you even coming here though?"
The curiosity in the carrier's tone was expected, and very understandable. After all, it was hard to believe that two British battlecruisers were needed in the Pacific now, of all times. A German girl? Even less likely.
It would be Seydlitz, ironically, who answered that question, "Indestructible was summoned in Japan. We're going to bring her back!"
Ark blinked slowly, at the cheerful tone in the German's voice, "Right...well, I don't know what to think about one of our girls being summoned by the Japanese of all people. But why are you going, Jerry?"
"Seydlitz," the battlecruiser corrected her absently, before the now familiar grin was back on her scarred face, "Indestructible is someone I have to meet. She is...how do I say it...the closest thing I have to a...hero? Rival? Something like that, ja. I want to be there when we bring her back!"
As Ark Royal tried to figure out how to react to the strange German battlecruiser, Rodney slid up next to the Indestructible sisters, crossing her arms over her impressive bust, "She is strange."
"Oh yeah," Irresistible nodded in agreement, "But hilarious. At least the trip won't be boring."
Rodney snorted, "No, I don't think it will be. I do believe congratulations are in order though. You must be happy your sister is back, even if you have to go all the way to bloody Japan to get her back."
"You have no idea."
"I agree," Implacable nodded, "It is very nice to have her back. No trip is too much, to get our sister back."
"No argument here," Rodney's eyes slid over to her sister, currently chatting with Electra, "None at all."
With that said, the girls sailed into Gibraltar Harbor, heading for the ship girl's docking berths. There, they could get on land and get some food to resupply. And rest, before continuing on the next leg of this very long journey. But as Implacable had pointed out...nothing was too much, to get back the sister you had lost, so long ago. The Indestructible girls would do anything to bring their sister back home, safe and sound. Anything in their power. Even fighting through what was likely to be multiple Abyssal attacks.
Honestly, pity any Abyssals that got in their way. Those girls didn't have their names for nothing.
"So, onee-sama," Hiei looked over her tea, a smile on her face, "Do you think you can make us tea next time?"
"Me?" Indestructible blinked slowly.
"Yup! Mamiya's is great, but you're British. Your tea would be proper British tea!"
The British girl flushed, as she sipped at her own cup, "I've...I've never made tea before. I know how, from my crew. But I haven't..."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Kirishima smiled at her eldest sibling, "Hiei was the Emperor's ship, and should know how to cook. However..."
The 'Emperor's Ship' turned a glare on her sister, "Kirishima!"
"What?"
Laughter went around the table, even from Hiei herself. Indestructible smiled at that, as they all drank their tea, albeit with Japanese food to go along with it. It was...nice. Even Shigure seemed to have loosened up somewhat, talking softly with Haruna and Fubuki. For her part, the British girl just felt more at ease than she had in a long time. Being able to enjoy tea time with her siblings? This was what she had hoped for, after finding out that Hiei and the others were back. She hadn't expected it, but she wasn't going to complain about getting it either.
And if they wanted her to try her own hand at proper British tea and food? Well, she could do that. She didn't have the slightest clue how to do so, but well, her memories of her crew could help in that regard. And for her sisters, Indestructible would do anything. Even if she'd probably fail a few times. Well, everything was a learning process, right?
"Anyway," the eldest of her sisters turned back to the battleship, "Are you up to it, onee-sama?"
"I can try."
"Good!"
After that, things would probably have gone back to normal conversation. Were it not for one fact...the approach of Admiral Takeda. There was a serious look on the Admiral's aged face, as he dodged around ship girls, heading directly for the table housing the battleships and their destroyer companions. Indestructible was the first to notice the man, sitting up a bit straighter.
"Admiral," she spoke up.
"Indestructible," he nodded back, before turning to the other battleships at the table, "Hiei? I need you and your sisters to sortie at once. Abyssals are hitting one of our convoys."
The previously merry mood collapsed, as the battleships jumped to their feet, the first of their class shouting, "Where?!"
"I can give the details once you're in the water. We have to move quickly."
"Right! I'm sorry, onee-sama. We'll be back as soon as we can!"
Blinking, Indestructible wasn't able to get a word in, before her sisters had spun away, leaving her alone with Shigure and Fubuki.
"Aby...what are they talking about?"
She knew there was an 'enemy'. It was why Japan was so desperate to keep her. It was why the girls were summoned in the first place. But this...this was the first time she had a name, to identify them with. And she didn't like it. Something, deep down inside Indestructible, recoiled away from that title instinctively. Abyssal...there was something wrong, and she didn't know what. Indestructible didn't even know what Abyssals were. And yet...why did she feel a fear, deep inside her, at that name? A fear that made her want to run after her sisters, pull them to her, and never let them go?
What was going on?
While the British girl tried to make sense of her feelings, Fubuki and Shigure shared a look. The two destroyers weren't close, not like the latter's younger sibling was to the 'mother' of Japanese destroyers, if one wanted to call her that. But they had a shared interest...a shared perspective, in the form of one HMS Indestructible.
"Indestructible-san?" Fubuki was the one to speak up, more familiar with the older battleship.
"What are they talking about?" the British girl repeated, turning wide brown eyes on Fubuki, "What...what are my sisters going to fight?"
"Abyssals," Shigure took over, eyes downcast, "The enemy we all fight. I...we...can explain. At least, what we know about them."
Indestructible couldn't shake the feeling she wasn't going to like what they told her...
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(Just don't call them Rodnol and Nelsol where they can hear you.)
