"What if she doesn't want to see us...?" Mutsuki asked in a fearful voice. The four destroyers accompanying her and her sister merely shook their heads in response to the statement for what seemed like the 30th time in the last thirty minutes.

It was now August 9th. Two days after the Fleet had returned from Sortie. And Mutsuki and Kisaragi were heading for the docks.

No, the two were not injured. They did not need to be repaired or spend time within the docks for any reason.

No, their goal was something far different.

They were going to talk with one freshly repaired Pennsylvania Class Battleship.

Or, that had been the goal before the two got cold feet.

Originally, the two had meant to go and talk with Arizona. To apologize for making her take the hit. But they weren't sure how she would react.

They weren't sure if she would be angry.

An angry American was not something the two Japanese destroyers wanted anything to do with.

Especially an angry American Battleship.

The United States had had many fearsome Battleships back during the war.

The one that had ripped Kirishima apart in the dead of night, the U.S.S. Washington.

The old girl that had bore witness to the end of the war better than anyone else, the U.S.S. Missouri.

The ship that seemed to be close to unsinkable, the U.S.S. South Dakota.

But among those most well known was Arizona. And she hadn't even fired a shot.

No, Arizona had become well known for another reason.

She had become a martyr.

A martyr whose sinking had served as a warning siren. A siren that sounded around the world, letting the powers that be know that the sleeping giant had been awoken.

And it was angry.

Pearl Harbor had served Japan's enemies better than it had their own goals. It had brought the one major neutral power, the one everyone had been keeping an eye on, into the war. And with it, the firepower they yielded.

And Arizona had taken a hit quite similar to the ones that had sunk her so long ago.

Because of their lack of observation.

At least, that's what they told themselves.

So, they had forsaken the idea, instead planning to forget the subject.

That was before their fellow destroyers learned of their plan.

"Mutsuki-chan, you can't think like that, poi! Arizona-San would never do that!" Yuudachi replied. Shigure offered a nod her own.

"Mhm. Arizona-San is not going to be upset. She had to know what would happen when she moved the two of you out of the way." Shigure reasoned. Shirayuki gave a confident nod in agreement with the statement.

"You worry too much, Mutsuki-chan. Arizona-San is too nice to be angry over something so little...." She reasoned.

"But she could've been sunk! She could've lost her life because of what she did..." Mutsuki replied.

"Arizona-San is a Battleship. Battleships are smart. We look up to the Battleships for a reason, Mutsuki-chan. And it is not because they make bad choices.... Although, Arizona-San is quite.... different from the Battleships of our own country...." Fubuki said.

"Even if they throw themselves into the fire?" Kisaragi asked, her own uncertain expression evident. Yuudachi just laughed.

"Isn't that what Americans are known for, poi?" The blonde destroyer asked. Kisaragi just smiled softly.

Eventually, the group of six destroyers reached the docks, Mutsuki and Kisaragi hesitating when it came to actually entering the building itself.

Whether it be the prospect of facing the American Battleship or the shock of seeing her naked again, they weren't sure. But they hesitated.

They hesitated all the way until Yuudachi pushed the two through the door with a mighty "Poi" thrown in.

The six destroyers found themselves watching a freshly repaired Arizona, almost fully dressed. She was brushing her strawberry blonde locks, looking in the mirror as she did so. Glancing in the mirror, she found the six watching her.

"Yes?" Came the question as the American Battleship turned from the mirror, her brown eyes now watching the six in a curious silence. When none of the them spoke, she asked again. "Can I help you six?"

After a few more seconds of relative quiet, it was Fubuki who finally broke the silence.

"Ah... Arizona-San.... Kisaragi-chan and Mutsuki-chan had something they wanted to say....." She said quietly. Arizona rose a brow as she turned her gaze to the two, watching as the destroyers tried to meet her gaze.

"Hmmm? And what might that be?" Arizona asked, finished with brushing her hair. She began to put it into a ponytail as she watched the two.

"Ummm.... We want to apologize for getting you so hurt Arizona-San...." Kisaragi said slowly, looking up at the American Battleship. Arizona had paused at what she was doing, letting what Kisaragi was saying sink in, before she continued.

"We... We didn't mean to make you do that.... We didn't mean for you to get so hurt...." Mutsuki added. Arizona merely watched in response before giving one nod, her hair now in a tight ponytail. After a moment, she spoke.

"Is that all? Because the way I see it, you two aren't at fault here..." Arizona responded. The six destroyers looked up at the battleship, in both confusion and surprise.

"What...? But we..." But Kisaragi found herself stopped as Arizona raised her hand.

"YOU didn't do anything. Neither of you did. What happened to me, the damage I sustained, that's all on me. It was my choice to push you out of the way. It was my choice to willingly take the damage. You two aren't at fault for that." Arizona replied as she sat down on one of the benches there, looking at the six eye level. The two still looked unsure.

"But it's our fault we didn't see-" But once again, she was cut off as Arizona shook her head.

"No, again, not your fault. You didn't see the bombers? How were you supposed to if you didn't know they were there? You didn't see them, I didn't see them. No one saw them until it was too late..." Arizona reasoned. Yuudachi's brow knit in confusion as she looked at the battleship.

"But, Arizona-San, if you didn't see them then how did you know, poi?" The destroyer asked. Arizona thought about that a moment before giving a shrug.

"I'm... Not exactly sure. I just... Knew... If that makes sense... Like there was this feeling at the back of my mind...." Arizona explained. The destroyers considered what the Battleship had just said before Kisaragi shook her head.

"But even still, Arizona-San. There was no reason for you to do what you did...." Kisaragi insisted. Arizona shook her head as she sat there, watching the two.

"There was though. And that reason was you two. I had a chance, so I took it. I had a much better chance of surviving those bombs than you two did, and so I took a chance. Glad it payed off. In my opinion, one severely injured Battleship and two uninjured Destroyers is a much better option than vice versa. If it had gone that way, we might not even be having this conversation." Arizona explained as she began to put her boots on. "Just because I'm American and we were once at war doesn't mean I'm gonna let you girls sink if I can help it."

"Oh... Okay.... Uh, thank you Arizona-San... From all of us..." Kisaragi said after a moment. Arizona merely gave a nod as she continued to tie her boots. As she did so, Mutsuki and Fubuki noticed the tablet sitting next to Arizona.

"Arizona-San? What's that?" Fubuki asked, looking at the tablet.

"Hm? Oh that? It's an electronic tablet. I'm reading about the past right now. In the middle of the rise of Germany actually...." Arizona explained. But the six destroyers froze at the sudden realization.

Arizona was reading about the past.

Arizona was reading about the War.

Arizona was reading about them.

Before the Battleship could react, Mutsuki snatched the tablet from the bench, hugging it close to her body. Arizona looked up in confusion, her gaze landing on the violet haired destroyer.

"Uhh? Mutsuki, what are you doing?" Arizona asked. Mutsuki shook her head, mumbling something to herself. Tears began to line the destroyer's eyes as she shook her head.

"What was that? Mutsuki, what is going on?" Arizona asked in confusion, looking at the smaller girl. Mutsuki only shook her head, the tears still in her eyes.

"You won't like us anymore...." Mutsuki muttered in a hurt, broken tone as the dams broke and the young destroyer began to cry.

They hadn't meant for it to happen. The battleships that is. They hadn't meant to leave something that informative and detailed out where the younger classes could get to it. But they had, and the next thing they knew, they had a handful of inconsolable destroyers, Mutsuki among those worst affected.

It had taken weeks for the destroyer to come to terms with what she had read. It had taken weeks for her to accept that those things had been done.

The things that had been done.

By her own country.

The battleships had been lucky that the Akatsuki sisters had not been among those that had read it.

Mutsuki was afraid. Here, she had finally made a good friend among the Americans. A person that represented the very country that they had been at war for what had seemed like forever. And that was all gonna end if she read what this tablet contained.

She tried to break the tablet. She willed it to break. She squeezed with all her might, but she couldn't. She couldn't and she was going to lose a friend.

Mutsuki only cried harder.

She cried. And cried. And cried, her sobs echoing through the docks like a siren's wail.

"Mutsuki..." Came the calm, gentle voice. But she ignored it.

"Mutsuki..." It came again. Once again, it fell on deaf ears.

"Mutsuki, listen to me...." It came for a third time. And Mutsuki finally looked up. And found herself surprised.

She was no longer standing in front of the battleship, like she had been moments prior. Instead, she was within the Battleship's embrace, Arizona's arms encircling the girl like a shield, protecting her from harm. And above, was Arizona gazing down at the teary eyed destroyer.

"I think I know what this is about..." Arizona said in a tone that the destroyers had not heard the American girl use before. It was calm, and gentle, like that of a mother comforting her young. "Are you afraid of what is on this tablet?" She asked. Mutsuki only offered a small nod in response. "And because of this, you're afraid of what I might read? Right?"

Mutsuki only nodded.

"You're afraid that because of what I read, it would affect how I see you. Is this right?" Arizona asked. Mutsuki gave a nod, a new round of tears threatening to start. Arizona just smiled a soft smile, releasing the destroyer from her grasp as she used her thumbs to wipe the tears from the destroyer's tear stained cheeks.

"I see. Mutsuki, I'm going to make a promise to you right now...." Arizona said, removing the tablet from Mutsuki's shaking grasp. Laying the piece of technology on the bench next to her, she took the destroyer's hands within her own.

"I am promising you this. Each and every one of you." Arizona said, her tone still that of before. Her eyes darted between the six destroyers. "I promise you, no matter what I read on this tablet, it will not change how I think of you. Any of you."

Arizona's gaze came to rest on Mutsuki again, her brown eyes watching the girl battle the second round of tears that she fought so hard to restrain. "From the way you reacted, I'm guessing it must of shaken you up pretty badly the first time you learned of it. But that doesn't change one simple thing. It's the past."

"But...." Mutsuki offered weakly, but Arizona shook her head.

"The past will not dictate what I think of you in the present. The past will not decide how I look at you. The past will have no say in how I greet you. That's not how this is going to work. This tablet will have no say in any of that. I will treat you based on what I see in you. What I see in your actions." Arizona replied, once again using her thumbs to dry what little tears remained on the destroyer's cheeks.

"R-really...?" Mutsuki asked after a moment. Arizona gave her a nod in return.

"Really."

The room sat silent for a moment before Mutsuki suddenly hugged the battleship, an action that caught Arizona off guard for a moment. Eventually the battleship returned the gesture.

"Thank you Arizona-San...." The destroyer said. Arizona gave a nod as her eyes wandered to the other five destroyers in the room, each in their own various states of dismay.

"You five need a hug too?" Arizona asked, widening her arms as she awaited. It was soon answered with a yes as Arizona found herself struggling to remain on the bench at the sudden charge of destroyers.

Arizona laughed as she hugged the six, a gesture which was answered with laughter and giggles all around.
-------------------------------------

"Secretary...?" She asked.

Her Admiral gave a nod in response.

"Mhm. I thought it might fit you better than the other girls. You're more calm and more careful than the other six." Anya explained.

The Admiral and Captain's office was currently playing host to three various people.

Anya, who was currently standing in front of her desk, watching the ship girl in front of her.

Sofia, who was watching the two carefully, while low key playing a round of chess on her laptop.

And one very curious Langley, who was looking at her Admiral in confusion.

"What does that even mean?" Langley asked.

"Basically, all it would really mean is that you would help us around here from time to time, whether it be acting as an Advisor or help managing papers that find their way to our desks...." Anya explained.

"You'd hold the same position that Mutsu does with Ishigara." Sofia added from the side, looking up from her laptop as she did so. Langley gave a small nod in response, thinking it over for a moment.

"Does this mean I would no longer be able to sortie with the others?" Langley asked, to which Anya shook her head.

"No, you'd still have the ability to Sortie if you wish. Plus, at a time when we have so few of the fleet, it'd be a disadvantage for us to hold any of you to base. No, if you still wish to Sortie, that's your choice." Anya said. Langley gave a small nod as she thought about it for a moment.

"I'd be delighted Admiral...." Langley answered after a moment, a smile adorning her lips as she did. Anya gave a nod in return, sitting on the edge of her desk as she did so.

"Alright. Well right now, there isn't much to do in terms of work. So for right now, you're free to do whatever. Actually, Langley, I had wanted to ask. How's it going with Houshou?"

Langley gave her Admiral a questioning glance. "Um, I do not understand the question...." To which Anya merely smiled.

"Are the two of you getting... Cozy enough?" The blonde woman asked. Langley merely stared for a moment before rapidly shaking her head, a light blush breaking out across her face.

"No no no no no no. Admiral, I wouldn't possibly think of it." Langley reasoned. Anya simply smiled, shaking her head.

"You sure? Because I mean, from the day you've come through, you and Houshou have been at eachother's side pretty much twenty four seven. If that's not comfort, I don't know what is...."

"Admiral, I couldn't possibly-" but found herself stopped mid sentence as Anya rose a hand.

"Langley, I'm going to be straight with you here. We, Humanity that is, have no right to call you girls back from your rest. You've all earned it. You. Houshou. Every ship girl on base, whether they be Japanese or American, deserved her rest. Calling you girls to serve yet again in the place of us isn't fair to you. So, in this case, if you should decide that you wish to become more..... comfortable with another, Houshou included, then you won't find Ishigara, the Captain, or myself objecting." The American Admiral stated. Langley let the woman's words sink for a moment before her face went bright red, now sudden finding interest in her shoes.

"Ah... Understood Admiral...." Langley said after a moment.

"Langley." Anya said. The carrier looked up at her Admiral, somewhat hesitantly.

"I didn't bring this up to embarrass you. Let me make that clear, that was not the plan. I brought it up to you so you could know you had the choice, if you so choose to do so. I'm not trying to push you in either direction. Whether you choose to use that ability is completely up to you." The Admiral restated. Langley offered a nod, this one a little more gentler than the last.

"I see... Thank you admiral...." Langley responded. Anya gave a nod as the door opened, admitting Arizona inside.

"Admiral?" Arizona asked. Anya beckoned the Battleship forward as she gave a nod to Langley. Carrier in question left the room, leaving the three alone. Anya turned her gaze to Arizona, immediately taking notice to the tablet within her grasp.

"So how goes the history lesson?" Anya asked, watching as Arizona approached.

"Certainly.... Informing to say the least. It's strange to read about it all, especially since I was around back then.. Yet look at me now." The battleship mused. Anya gave a nod as she questioned.

"Where are you in your readings?"

"Circa 1934-1935." The battleship answered. Anya gave a nod as she took a look at her computer, confirming the time.

"According to my clock, your repairs were done close to an Hour ago. Any reason for the delay?" Anya asked. Arizona gave a nod.

"Aye.... There were some.... Fears that the destroyers held about me reading on the past... Mutsuki specifically...." Arizona explained. Anya gave a small nod, her eyes softening momentarily. "Admiral... She was quite shaken up at the idea... How bad is it...?"

Anya gave a sigh in response. "Some of it is... Well, some of it's darker than other areas, that's for sure... Really, you just need to read it for yourself, make your own decisions on the subject...." Anya said before giving a shake of the head.

"Anyways, so you calmed their fears I'm assuming?" To which Arizona gave a nod. "Anything else?" The admiral asked. Arizona gave a small chuckle.

"They may have... promised me a snack.. And I didn't want to be rude or anything... Especially since I hadn't eaten anything in almost two days during repair....." Arizona slowly faded off as Anya laughed, nodding her head in understanding.

"Fair enough... Fair enough... Anyways, I think it about time we get to what we called you in for." Anya said as she walked to the other side of her desk, digging around in a drawer for a moment before she produced a small box.

Putting it on her desk, she pulled a small object, silver in color. She gave it a once over for a moment before gesturing Arizona forward, causing the battleship to raise an open hand to receive the item.

When Anya removed her hand, Arizona found herself looking at two silver bars. Small, rectangular in shape, giving off a shine. They almost looked like her Ensign......

Then it dawned on her.

"I'm being promoted?" Arizona asked incredulously.

"Lieutenant Junior Grade." Anya said with a nod. "I would say it's a fitting change...."

"But I literally just got the rank of Ensign.... Can I even be promoted that fast....?" The battleship asked.

"Not under normal circumstances, no. But nothing about this base is what you might call normal...." Anya reasoned. Arizona merely laughed, giving a nod.

"I think the builders that laid down Naka are rolling in their graves right about now with how many times she says Kawaii in an hour long period...." To which Anya simply laughed.

"And, we wanted at least one of you girls to hold some sort of leadership above the rest. Before the Sortie, it was down to between you and Enterprise. Not saying she won't get a promotion in the future, but you're who we decided on for right now..."

"So... This is really happening... I'm being promoted just like that?" Arizona asked for clarification. Anya gave a nod.

"It's already happened. The only thing left now is for you to accept that it's happened. And with that-" but Anya was cut off as her desk phone began to ring, alerting her to an incoming call. The American Admiral scowled a moment before looking down at the device, checking the caller I.D.

"Who in the hell.... Oh, Jesus Christ.... Give me a moment Arizona, I've got a pest that needs to be dealt with..."

"Is that who I think it is?" Sofia asked from the side, her attention no longer on her game as she stared at the Admiral with apt attention. Albeit amused Attention, if the wide grin on her face meant anything. Anya gave a nod of the head before pushing the answer button, leaning on her desk as she spoke.

"What do you want?" Anya asked, her tone letting the person know from the start that the Admiral was not amused with their sudden interruption. To Arizona's surprise however, the person on the other end merely laughed, revealing that of a woman if the sultry, collected laugh was anything to go on.

"Oh my, you've only been away from the states for a small while and you've already become quite the little savage..." The woman said with a chuckle, the action only seeming to infuriate Anya.

"Cynthia! What the hell do you want?" Anya fired back, finally giving a name to the voice. Person in question merely laughed.

"What's got you so worked up? I just felt like I should check in on you... Since, you know, I haven't done so yet. You've been over in Japan for nearly a month and I have had yet to hear anything from you." The one now known as Cynthia reasoned. Anya gave a sigh as Arizona looked on confusion.

Seeing this, Sofia got up from her seat and grabbed the family picture off of Anya's desk. Walking up to Arizona, she showed her the picture, pointing out one person individually. Arizona gave a nod as she studied the person in the photo.

Blonde hair, much like Anya's own. But where Anya's eye were a dark, emerald in color, Cynthia's seemed to be dominated by a deep blue. She was a few inches taller than Anya, the two of them seeming to enjoy themselves in the picture if the smiles were anything to go on.

"Sorry, but I got busy.... I imagine Hayfield told you exactly what I'm up to over here...." Anya reasoned.

"He did indeed. Working with the Ship Girls is a serious position.... So... You got any Triple B's yet?" Cynthia asked, her voice holding a certain amused tone. Anya sighed before she asked.

"I'm almost afraid to ask... But what is a Triple B exactly...?" Anya asked slowly. Cynthia gave a laugh before she answered.

"Oh? You don't know? Perhaps I overestimated you then." Cynthia answered with a laugh. Anya let out a long, drawn sigh from her lips.

"Of course you did....." Anya said, her voice near the definition of deadpanned. "You know, I could call your CO and let him know exactly what this conversation entails...." She said. Cynthia merely laughed.

"You could, but I know you won't. You're my little sister after all." She mused. Anya gave a sigh.

"Only by three years. And if I'm your little sister, then why does my pay grade laugh at yours?" Anya asked, a small smirk coming to her face.

"Really? You're dropping to that comeback? I thought you had more class than that... I guess I was wrong..." Cynthia responded with a fake hurt tone. But it served her purpose apparently, Arizona mused, as she watched her Admiral become quite livid.

"Oh! Me!? I have no class!? That's rich coming from the sheet jumper of the family! Who knows who you'll be with-" But Anya found herself stopped as the phone made another noise. After looking down at the phone, she gave a sigh. "Cynthia... Did you give out the number you used to call me?" Anya asked slowly.

"Why of course! Mom and Dad can get a hold of you any time they want. But us little guys, your siblings, don't always have that ability... So if I come across a vital piece of info like I did so, I am obligated to share it..." Cynthia responded. Anya gave a sigh as she hit the conference button, admitting the third person into the call.

"Hello?" Anya asked.

"Hello Anya. It's good to hear from you." The voice stated. Anya gave a nod, her tone far different than the one she had greeted Cynthia with.

"You too Daisy. If I may ask, why did you call me?" Anya asked. Arizona looked back to Sofia for help. Nodding, Sofia held up the picture yet again, pointing out the third blonde woman in the photo.

Daisy, the oldest daughter of the family, shared the same blonde hair that her two younger sisters also had. But where their eyes were like jewels in some light, hers were a simple dark brown in color. Height was taller than Anya's. Not by much, but it was.

"I had wanted to call you to warn you. I have my suspicions that the scandal waiting to happen that is our sister may be planning-"

"Too late~" Cynthia responded in a sing song tone. Daisy gave a sigh from her end as the middle sister made herself known.

"Yeah... I was gonna tell you... But she beat me to it..." Anya gave a sigh. Daisy grumbled in response.

"Cynthia, you really shouldn't be bothering Anya. Her job is quite important if you hadn't noticed." Daisy scolded. Cynthia scoffed in response, Anya having no doubt that her older sister had thrown in an eye roll for effect.

"Oh yes, my mistake! How easy it is to forget that four years ago, we lost millions of lives!" Cynthia responded.

"Christ Cynthia...." Anya muttered from behind her desk. But before the three sisters could metaphorically rip into eachother any further, Anya's phone made another noise.

"Oh this should be good..." Anya reasoned, looking down at her phone once again. But Arizona noticed, that upon reading the caller I.D., her features seemed to soften dramatically compared to what she had presented for her sisters. And for good reason too.

Pressing a button once again, Anya smiled as she answered.

"And what can I do for you today?" She asked. A laugh sounded from the other end.

"Hey Little sis. I thought I might check up on ya. See how things are going over there in Japan." The voice sounded off, deep in sound and seeming to be filled with a certain kind of respect. Anya gave a nod.

"I'd say it's going alright. It's certainly...." Anya faded off as her gaze traveled to Arizona. "It's certainly an experience...." The American Admiral mused. The voice gave a good hearted laugh in response. As he did so, Arizona looked to Sofia yet again.

Once again, she did so, pointing to the man standing in between Daisy and Cynthia, his arms around their shoulders, a wide smile on his face. A military style haircut, black in color gave difference from his sister's blonde color. His eyes were the same color as Anya's, a stunning green in appearance. He was the tallest of the six siblings if Arizona was to say anything for sure.

"That's good." The voice sounded off again. "Just wanted to make sure you were alright. I had heard Sofia was out there with you, right?" He asked. Anya gave a nod.

"Yeah, Greg, she is. She and Arizona are standing directly in front of me." Anya informed him. Greg made a noise of surprise as Cynthia spoke in an excited manner.

"What!? Arizona? As in Battleship 39, the U.S.S. Arizona?!" The third oldest sibling asked in an excited manner. Anya sighed as she answered.

"Mhm. She's the one...." Anya answered. Cynthia practically squealed in excitement, her previous tone of voice all but forgotten. Daisy sighed.

"Geez Cynth. Maybe go a little easier on my ears next time. Or at least give warning...." To which Greg made a noise of agreement. But Cynthia wasn't listening to them.

"Arizona?! I can't freaking believe it! Who else did you get?!" Cynthia asked in an excited manner. Anya shook her head.

"Not saying. And don't you tell anyone about what you heard. This is suppose to remain secret until we can figure out when we want to reveal them to the public." Anya said. Cynthia made a noise of disappointment.

"No fun. But yeah, I got you. My lips are sealed. As long as I get to meet them at least once in the future." To which Anya shook her head.

"No. Not you. My girls aren't becoming another one of your conquests, Cynthia." Anya responded. But the silence coming from Cynthia's end made Anya suddenly nervous.

"Oh~? Your girls~? It sounds to me like you've become quite the mother... Even if you haven't had a single dicking in your lifetime, little sister....." Cynthia said, her voice the sound of pure amusement.

Silence. Silence is what followed Cynthia's statement as Arizona watched her Admiral carefully. Anya had her face held in one of her hands as she stood there. A few moments later, Greg spoke.

"Cynthia. Really?" Was all he offered, his voice clear to hear that he was not amused at his younger sister's statement.

"Well, I-" Cynthia began, but was cut off as Anya slammed her hand on the end call button.

"Arizona. Captain. You're dismissed. I'll see you both at dinner...." Anya said slowly. Her tone was a mix match of emotions, whether she was furious or about to break down from something else, Arizona wasn't sure. Mostly because her hand still blocked her face.

"Aye." With a nod, the Captain placed the picture back on Anya's desk as she ushered Arizona and herself out of the office.
-------------------------------------

"The Admiral's siblings.... Are certainly something...." Arizona reasoned as she walked along side the Captain. Sofia only offered a nod.

"Yeah, that call would've gone about a million different directions if her younger brothers, Hank and Danny had joined in." The Captain offered in response. Arizona looked at the uniformed officer.

"You sound like you know from experience..." Arizona reasoned. Sofia gave a nod as the two walked on.

"Indeed. That's because I do. When Anya and myself were still in the Naval Academy, we spent most of our breaks with her Family. And I still keep up with most of them." Sofia answered. Arizona rose a brow at this.

"Wait? Her Family? Why not your own?" The battleship asked to which Sofia just chuckled.

"My family? Yeah, no. I'm a bit of an oddity among mine. My family isn't like Anya's who you can trace their military service all the way back to the Revolutionary War. My family is nothing but a mix-match group of criminals. A drug charge here. A murder charge over there." Sofia said. Arizona looked surprised.

"You don't seem like that at all...." Arizona reasoned. Sofia gave a nod as she looked up at the battleship, her dark brown hair blowing in the slight breeze as she did so.

"Don't seem like it. And I'm not. Not anymore." Sofia responded. Arizona gave a small nod.

"So you were at one point?" The battleship asked. Sofia gave a nod.

"Yeah. Growing up, I was doing all kinds of stupid shit. Breaking into cars. Getting into fights. Stealing, drinking. All that and more. Luckily, I was somehow smart enough to stay away from a tattoo parlor. Who knows what would've come from that. At one point, I knew the inside of a Police Car better than my own room..." Sofia explained. Arizona gave a nod.

"Your parents? Siblings?" Arizona asked. Sofia only bit back a small, dry laugh.

"My mom was as high as a kite most of the time, her veins pumping whatever substance she got a hold of that day. My dad was too drunk to see straight on most days, and on the days he wasn't... All he knew was anger. Towards his wife. Towards his kids. My brother rolled with the local gang, waving a gun around in the air because he was 'Cool'. And my sister... My sister was doing her own thing, but I'm pretty sure that included a different guy in her bed each night... For a fee of course... Yep, it seemed my course was set, destined to follow in one of the four paths before me. Or something far worse." Sofia reasoned. Arizona simply nodded.

"What changed?" Asked the Battleship.

"I almost died. I know that sounds cliche, but that's really what happened. It was the eve of my eighteenth birthday. The people I called friends and myself were planning to rob a house in our neighborhood. The owner was an older man, didn't look capable of doing any harm to us if we got caught. And he apparently had this really nice gun. So we took the chance, decided to go for it."

"Well... Long story short, that day ended with me on my back, staring down the barrel of the gun we had come to steal. The old harmless looking guy ended up being an old grizzled Army veteran. And he took his second amendment quite seriously. And from the look on his face, I could tell that gun was loaded. All he had to do was pull the trigger. But he didn't...."

"He didn't shoot?"

"Nope. All he gave in response was the obligatory "Get Out" and just went back to his book. With me still there. He could've killed me. All he needed to do was shoot. But he didn't, and I was free to go. And so I did. But that day hit me like a brick. Snapped me back into reality by making me face the fact that the next person who pointed a gun at me probably wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. And I took it to heart. The very next day, I packed up and left. Left my family and friends behind, no doubt in my mind." Sofia told her. Arizona gave a nod.

"So where did you go?" She asked. Sofia gave a nod.

"Well, while my parents might be absolute despicable people, their families weren't. Their parents, their siblings. They all had their heads on straight, made something out of themselves. So imagine my grandparent's surprise when I, a eighteen year old girl, showed up on their doorstep three states away, claiming I wanted to change." Sofia reasoned. Arizona gave a small laugh.

"They take it well?" She asked. Sofia gave a nod.

"Quite. Whether they were overjoyed at the fact that they could actually see one of their grandkids whenever they wanted or the fact that at least one of us decided to break away from our parent's grasp, I don't know. But they accepted me with open arms. And that's all I needed. Within a year, I was able to graduate high school. Got myself a job, a car. Actually did something right for once."

"Did you ever go back to thank the veteran...?" Arizona asked. Sofia nodded.

"I did actually. I was all kinds of nervous about it, but I did. Went back to thank him and all that stuff. I was too late though. Between the time I had left and returned, he had moved away. And because of the fact that he didn't talk with many people, the neighbors couldn't give me much to go on. So I returned to my grandparent's place, with no way to figure out where he went. So I focused on my next step."

"And that was?"

"Making something of myself. And that came in the form of Applying to the Naval Academy when I was nineteen. Now imagine my surprise when I was actually able to get in. When the entry dates came around, that's when I met Anya. A military daughter through and through, her parents some big name military officers. Well... We didn't exactly get off on the right foot...."

"You didn't?"

"No, we didn't. Our backgrounds were too different, and we knew that. She, born and raised for military service. And she took pride in that. And I, some former criminal only recently changed. Still trying to get my feet under me. We were complete opposites." Sofia said.

"So what changed?" Arizona asked.

"Truthfully? Everything yet nothing at all. As the first months there went on, we got to figure each other out. What made each other tick. By the first break, we were great friends. And she, the first friend I'd ever had that hadn't done something illegal in the name of fun."

"Sounds like quite the match, despite how different." Arizona reasoned. Sofia gave a nod.

"Indeed it was. But then the first winter break came about and she suggested that I go with her, home to her family since she knew my family wasn't an option. It was... Quite the plane ride, trying to quell my nerves... From the way she had made them sound, her family didn't put up with any foolishness...." Sofia said. Arizona gave a nod.

"How'd it go?" Arizona asked. Sofia laughed.

"Half of her family are a bunch of dorks. Cynthia and her younger brothers specifically. Lovable dorks, but dorks still. But imagine my surprise when we walk in, and sitting at the dining table was the very Army Veteran that had a gun pointed at me not even three years prior." Sofia explained. Arizona looked surprised.

"He was there?" She asked. Sofia gave a nod.

"Army Captain Roy J. Johnson. Anya's grandfather. My new friend's grandfather was the very person that had put me where I was. And I had no idea." Sofia said with a light laugh. Arizona gave a smile of her own.

"How'd he react to that?" The battleship asked. Sofia chuckled.

"He took one look at me and just laughed. It wasn't a laugh to be mean. Just a laugh. Most likely at the change of events. But after that, everything went pretty well. I got to know them and they got to know me, background and all. After that, it sailed pretty smoothly." To which Arizona chuckled.

"Sounds like the two of you were dating, if you don't mind me saying." Arizona mused. Sofia shook her head, a smile coming to her lips.

"A lot of people thought that. We even got a talk from her parents about it, saying how they support us in our relationship. But in reality, we love each other more like sisters than anything else. No romantics or anything like that. I was the one Anya could talk to about anything if she needed, not having to worry about her family if she didn't need to. And in return, she was the watchful eye peering over my shoulder, the one that had been missing during my childhood. And no, before you ask, I have never considered such a relationship with her. Never even crossed my mind." Sofia said. Arizona gave a nod.

"So what happened to your family? If you don't mind me asking..." Arizona spoke.

"According to my cousin, my dad is apparently getting help for his problem. He's showing promise, but I don't know if I'm ready to face him yet. My mother has been in and out of rehab over the past years, but there's not much hope for her. My brother is in Prison for six or seven accounts of first degree murder. And my sister.... No one knows what happened to her..."

"Happened?" Asked Arizona. Sofia nodded.

"Happened." Sofia clarified. "According to my father, she left the house one day and never came back. That was six, maybe seven years ago. Whether something happened to her or she got sick of the way she was living her life, no one knows. But one thing's certain. No one can find her. Even Anya's parents have called in favors where they could for me, trying to get a clue of where she is or what happened. But it's almost like when she walked out of that house, she stopped existing." Sofia answered. Arizona nodded as the two walked on.

"Does it bug you? Not knowing what happened to her?" The battleship asked. Sofia gave a slow nod.

"Yeah, it does. It bugs me a lot, knowing that there are too many possibilities. She could be six feet under in a field somewhere or I could have nieces and nephews I don't know about and here I am having no idea. Yeah, it bugs me. But at this point, the best I can do is hope she's happy with whatever she's up to." Sofia said with a sigh. Arizona gave a small nod.

"Well, hope is something have when nothing else is possible..." Arizona reasoned. Sofia gave a nod as she stopped walking.

"Indeed. Well Arizona, I'll see you at dinner. I need to head back and make sure the Admiral isn't planning to murder her sister in cold blood." Sofia said with a chuckle. Arizona gave a nod.

"Aye." The battleship responded.
-------------------------------------

Soon enough, 7:30 P.M. Rolled around on Yokosuka Naval Base.

Dinner.

Arizona currently found herself making her way towards the Mess, intent on making up for the past day's meals she had missed because of Repair.

Soon enough walking into the Mess Hall, her tablet safe within her room, she looked around for a moment. And soon found her seat. But not at the American Table.

The American set table that had been present for the first days of their arrival was now nothing but a mere memory. The seven American ships girls now sat with various members of the Japanese fleet, the tables the groups now occupied hosting a mix of the National foods.

Bristol and Ellyson made themselves home at a table along with some of the Japanese destroyers, Yuudachi specifically.

Atlanta made a spot for herself with Tenryuu, Tatsuta, and the kids.

The three American carriers ate with members of their own type. Or, two is more correct. Langley now joined Houshou and Mamiya in the Cafe.

And Arizona?

The American Battleship had a place among those of the Japanese, Ise and Mustu insisting on it. Nagato and Hyuga seemed to enjoy her presence as well, even if it wasn't easy to see all the time. Yamato and Musashi usually made a note to check up on the American as well when getting their food.

Another change that had occurred is that the three Officers in charge of the girls began to eat in the Mess as well, having a table of their own, sometimes joined by a few of the girls. Arizona found today was no different, albeit her Admiral seemed a little quieter than normal.

With a chuckle, she headed for her table, Ise clearly waving her over. With that, the American made her way over there.

"Well if it isn't the hero herself." Ise mused as Arizona sat down. The blonde battleship merely shook her head.

"Don't know if hero is the right word. More like insane if anything." Arizona reasoned. Ise shook her head.

"No, seriously. From all of us, thank you. The Base was quiet enough after we lost Fusou and Yamashiro. No need to repeat that if we can help it. Especially when it deals with two girls like them. Losing those two would be pretty hard on all of us." Ise explained. Arizona only offered a brief nod in response, looking over at the two destroyers who were in some sort of discussion with Bristol and Ellyson. She looked back to Ise as she began to stack her plate with food.

"Indeed." Hyuga began. "When we arrived to your fleet's aid, it was clear to see that you had taken quite a few hits. I was unaware of just what hits you had taken. And for whom, on top of that." Hyuga reasoned. Nagato gave a nod as she looked at the American.

"Whether or not you want to accept it Arizona, you've changed how some of these girls see Americans. In some eyes, your country has gone from enemy to possible ally. Nothing for sure just yet though...." Nagato said as she put a new bite of rice into her mouth. Arizona shrugged as she bit into her burger, her tastebuds savoring the flavor that they had been denied over the last few days. After she had swallowed the bite she had taken, she spoke.

"We'll see how long that outlook lasts when more of our girls arrive..." Arizona mused. The other four battleships only nodded in return, each taking Arizona's words into consideration.