Our Bonds

The air was filled with smoke, dust, and the smell of gunpowder. When the smoke cleared, the damage was as I thought. Gangut had destroyed the door, the surrounding wall and my desk. Zuihou actually nailed my desk to the wall and barricaded the door. The shock wave from Gangut's gun fire shattered the windows behind her as well. Akashi and the fairies are going to freak out at the sight of this.

"Admiral, are you alright?" (Agano)

"Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you, Yamashiro."

"Your welcome." (Yamashiro)

Gangut wore a satisfied expression on her face,

"I always wanted to try that. Shouting out special moves like that fire katana-wielding man is so cool! Maybe I should do that in battle too." (Gangut)

"You watch too much anime! And I didn't say you could fire in an enclosed area!"

I will have Ooyodo lecture her later. She will probably lecture me too. I ought to put her in the brig for rash act, but at least she did help me out.

I heard a loud scream the second Gangut fired. Don't tell me, Zuihou got hit?! I quickly rushed into my office,

"Zuihou!"

On the floor sat Zuihou, wincing in pain,

"Ow... Why did you fire in the corridor?" (Zuihou)

She doesn't seem to be visibly injured. Maybe she just got blown back from the blast. Even though it's just a training round, it can still create a shickwave to knockback a shipgirl, especially if it's of battleship caliber. Even so, I'm relieved that she is fine.

"Zuihou..."

"Ad-admiral..." (Zuihou)

She seems wary of me though. That stings a little...

"You look alright." (Gangut)

Gangut walked in from behind,

"Good. Now for the next part. Comrade Grozny, Comrade Pamiat Merkuva!" (Gangut)

"да" <Yes> (Grozny)

"Вот" <Here> (Pamiat)

Pamiat and Grozny suddenly appeared form behind me.

"When did they show up?" (Suzuya)

"Talk her to the доки <docks>" (Gangut)

"понял!" <Understood> (Pamiat and Grozny)

Pamiat and Grozny did a salute before walking towards Zuihou and grabbing her by the arms.

"Wait! What are you- Let go!" (Zuihou)

"Hehe. Come on. Let's go." (Pamiat)

"Move out~" (Grozny)

"Eh? Where are you taking me?" (Zuihou)

"Wait. What are you two going to do?"

Gangut wrapped her arm around my neck and applied some weight. Damn! She is heavy!

"Come on. Comrade Admiral. You are coming too." (Gangut)

"Huh?! Wait. Let go of me this instance!"

"Hahaha! This is going to be interesting!" (Gangut)

"At least let me walk on my own."

"What is going on?" (Shigure)

"Who knows..." (Yamashiro)

"Oh well. Have a fun trip~" (Suzuya)

"You guys! Don't just stand there! Oi! Be gentle with me!"

"Don't be so rough with Admiral-san!" (Yuudachi)

Despite my protest, and my order, Gangut dragged me all the way to her destination. She let go of me when we finally reached the docks.

Eh? What? Why?

As I try to figure what her plan, I heard some shouting from inside,

"I can take them off myself! Hyah! Where do you think you touching me?!" (Zuihou)

"Ooh~ I didn't your outfit was this soft." (Pamiat)

"I just need pull this and it will drop, right?" (Grozny)

"Wait. Don't pull- Kyah!"

"Oh~ Pink." (Grozny)

They are obviously stripping her...

"Let's wait for a while. Even though we strive to be equal, a girl still need their privacy. Though I'm sure you have seen her body countless times." (Gangut)

That goes without saying.

"Gangut, what are you planning and why are you doing this?"

Aside from her training, she usually doesn't go out of her way to do such things.

"I will explain later. As for your second question, our little herald of dawn asked us for help last night. She says she can't bear seeing you two like this." (Gangut)

"Herald of dawn?"

"Why, Comrade Avrora, of course. She was the one the signalled the start of a revolution. If it weren't for her, our country would have remained stagnant.That's why she our herald of dawn." (Gangut)

Is she talking about the Russian Revolution? The one where the Bolsheviks took over? I didn't Avrora was from that timeline. Somehow, Gangut had this proud look on her face. As if she is happy about something.

There was more shouting and struggling from inside the docks, before Grozny and Pamiat finally came out. They look a little tired, as if Zuihou put up a good fight.

"Haah... The chicken is in finally in the water. Comrade Gangut." (Pamiat)

Pfft. She called Zuihou a chicken. Why is that funny?

"Good job. Comrade Admiral, it's your turn." (Gangut)

"What do you mean it's my turn? You haven't told me your plan yet!"

"It's pretty simple. Get n.a.k.e.d, bath together and make up with each other." (Gangut)

"Huh?!"

What kind of plan is that? What is going on inside her head when she thought that out?

"The way you stare at me kind of hurts... Isn't this what you Japanese do all the time? Bonding while n.a.k.e.d? Once you take of your shell, you are all equal. Just like the Soviet Union!" (Gangut)

"The concept isn't wrong, but why did..."

Hang on. Gangut is kind of right. This is our tradition. Even before the Meiji restoration, Japanese people, men and women, often bath together and form relationsh.i.p.s, be it personal or for business. And since they have already set the stage for me, might as well go for it. And I didn't bath yesterday so I'm feeling kind of sticky.

"That's a great idea. Ah, but what if-"

"Don't worry. I will personally stand guard here. No one comes in, no one goes out. At least until the both of you make up with each other." (Gangut)

Ah, she read my mind. The last part is a little concerning though.

"Alright. Thank you, you three."

"Don't thank us. Thank Avrora. She is the one that suggested this." (Gangut)

Avrora is really getting herself involved in this. I wonder what is she planning. Oh well, I will thank her later.

"Have fun." (Grozny)

"Make sure you two make up." (Pamiat)

I entered the changing area of the docks. It's been a while since I entered this place. Not since Grand Admiral Hasake's group repaired the place. I heard there are quite a few upgrades. In the changing area, there are now six massage chairs, compared to one from before, and a refrigerator with three kinds of milk. This is merely a simple increase I'm quantity. Maybe the inside has more to offer.

I chose a locker to store my clothes in. No, I should wash them. They should probably be dried by the time I'm finished. I picked a locker to store my wallet, phone and hat. I just noticed there is no key hole, let alone a key. Eh? How am I supposed to keep my stuff? Why the key hole is supposed to be, there is instead a black screen. Oh, I just noticed the sticker on the locker.

"Scan your thumb on the scanner."

Cool. A biometric system. So I can just scan my thumb and the locker will be mine for the time being. It must have been slightly confusing for the girls at the start. Apart from computers and the game consoles in the entertainment room, they aren't that good with technology.

I stripped down and toss my uniform into a washing machine. There are six of them, with one being in use. I'm guessing Zuihou is using one. There was a message on the control panel,

"Key in your locker number."

What for? Is it going to put my uniform into that locker? It would be awesome if it did. Anyway, lets just go along with it. Just key in the settings and locker number... There. That should do it. The rumbling and splashing sounds of water coming from within means it has started to do its work. All of these new upgrades are pretty awesome. I wonder what can I find in the bathing area.

Oops. I got a little side-tracked. I better get going.

....I haven't stepped in with Zuihou and I'm already nervous! What should I say to her? What if she runs away from me as soon as I enter? What if we end up breaking up for real? I can't bear to take any more mental damage.

I know I shouldn't focus on all this but I can't help it. Maybe I should ask for advice...

"Gangut? You there?"

"Yea- Wait, you haven't gone in yet?!" (Gangut)

"What should I do? I'm afraid things will end up badly."

"Don't let those dark thoughts fill your head. Once you are consumed, it's over. Get in there and face each other. Who knows, maybe your girlfriend has already cooled her head while inside. Don't worry too much. If it's you, things will go smoothly. If it didn't, while... Lets not think about that." (Gangut)

Right. I shouldn't think negatively. Right now, I need to do my best to talk to her. The North Union has provide me a chance to face her properly, albeit it's a little unorthodex but it's still better than nothing. I need to settle this properly. It will be fine.

"Thank you, Gangut."

"No problem. Now get in there or I will come and throw you in myself!" (Ganagut)

"I'l go now!"

She is serious about coming in while I'm exposed.

All right. Lets do this. I opened the sliding door and enter the baths.