Chapter 31: Questions for Skewers

The Crimson Axis Shigure sat on the sand, displeased at her current predicament. I would be unhappy too if someone used lifebuoys to restrain me like some cartoon skit. She looks like a puppy that has been put on timeout. After a short struggle, we managed to separate her from Yamashiro and Fusou. Imuya and Ro-chan provided the lifebuoys to restrain her. Now, we can interrogate her.

"So, why the hell are you here? Where is the rest of your group?! Huh?!" (Yamashiro)

Oh boy. She is pissed.

"Yamashiro, calm down. Screaming at her won't do any good either." (Fusou)

"Nee-sama, you have the right to be angry as well!" (Yamashiro)

"Yuudachi, she is not some animal. Stop poking her with a stick." (Shigure)

"Poi?" (Yuudachi)

"Grrr..." (CA Shigure)

"Nya~ Shaarrr!" (Tina-chan)

Even Tina-chan is here. Why is she snarling at the dog-girl?

I clapped my hands to get their attention,

"All right. That's enough. I will handle things from her."

I approached the dog-girl,

"First off, where is your fleet and your equipment?"

"Hmph!" (CA Shigure)

She turned away. So childish...

Let's see... Maybe we can coax her with some food?

"Shigure, Yuudachi. Go to Mamiyas and get some skewers. 30 of them. I will leave the flavors to you. And get me some plates and dipping sauce."

"Got it." (Shigure)

"Really? Yay! Let's buy wagyu steak poi!" (Yuudachi)

"We are not getting something so expensive." (Shigure)

Nothing to do but wait now.

I sat on the sand, watching the girls frolicking under the hot sun. The captive Shigure is now rolling about on the sand. Is she bored? It has only been five minutes since.

"We are back!" (Yuudachi)

The self proclaimed Nightmare of Solomon announced proudly. There is some sauce around her mouth... And three if the skewers are mixing.

No matter. I placed three skewers on the plate. Two of them are chicken, one looks like beef. I sat the plate down next to me.

"Smells nice."

I glanced at our hostage. Her eyes followed the skewer in my hand as I moved it around. She is even drooling.

All according to plan.

I took a bite,

"Delicious. The meat is so tender. The sauce is great too."

Woah. That is a huge amount of drool.

"Hungry? I will give you this plate if you answer some questions."

"Got it. I will answer! I want to eat!" (CA Shigure)

Eh? That's it? That easy? I was expecting her to put a bit more of fight. If this is what it takes to get information, I'm worried for our enemies.

"Then, first off. Where is your ship and equipment?"

"I parked everything outside those turrets. Then I swam all the way here. The turrets almost got me but as long as I dived under, it didn't react." (CA Shigure)

She swam here?! And she found her fatal flaw in our turrets.

"Er... Where are your buddies? They are here as well, aren't they? Waiting for us to let our guard down before launching a revenge attack."

"No. It's just me. Even Yuudachi and Yukikaze doesn't know I'm here." (CA Shigure)

???

I'm... Huh?

"So, why are you here?"

"To see Fusou and Yamashiro. I miss them so much." (CA Shigure)

"I don't know how they are like, but you do realize these two are ultimately different from the ones you know."

"Yeah, I know. But..." (CA Shigure)

"But what?" (Yamashiro)

"Don't tell me... They're not here anymore?" (Shigure)

"No no no. They are alive and well the last time I saw them. It's just that... They don't remember." (CA Shigure)

"Don't remember what?" (Fusou)

"Everything. Surigao. Leyte Gulf. 1Y3BH. Me... Mogami and Michishio too. None of them remembered. It was as if the first time we are meeting one another." (CA Shigure)

She looked increasingly downcast as she spoke.

I would believe her, if I hadn't known better. Some things don't match up.

"That doesn't make sense. I spoke to Nagato before. She does not have any knowledge of the outcome of the war. Enterprise as well. From what I can derive from. As far as I know, your war was playing out the same way as it happened in ours before coming here."

"They don't but I remember everything. There were some deviations but you're right. Everything that happened so far was how I remembered it. Every battle I participated in. Everyone's fate..." (CA Shigure)

I'm gonna need some time to figure this out. Not now, though. Like I said, their war was the same as ours over 70 years ago. If that's the case, she shouldn't have any memory of it.

I pushed the plate of skewers towards her,

"Sit up straight and straighten your legs."

I pulled the lifebuoys of her,

"What do you think your doing?" (Yamashiro)

"What I promised. Here. Eat up."

I placed another two sticks on her plate.

"Really? Thank you." (CA Shigure)

Just a moment, she looked as though she was about to cry. Now, she is stuffing her face.

"Yamashiro, Fusou, I'll leave her in your care for now. Make sure she doesn't get out of this base."

"We are keeping her? No way. You are out of your mind." (Yamashiro)

"Yamashiro..." (Fusou)

"We have no idea why she is here. She could be a spy sent to find our weak points. You remember what that vixen said, right? She is clearly out to get revenge on us. This mutt may be wearing some kind of communication device or a bug." (Yamashiro)

"Mh nont nav ally o hos hing." (CA Shigure)

"Swallow before you speak."

"I don't have any of those things. You can search me if you want." (CA Shigure)

Yamashiro scratched her head in frustration,

"Argh! Fine. I will take care of her. But if I find one thing potentially dangerous to Nee-sama, I'm sinking her. Hear that, doggy?" (Yamashiro)

"My name is not doggy. It's Shigure. You are so mean, Yamashiro."

"Yeah yeah." (Yamashiro)

"Now with that out of the way,"

"What do mean by 'with that out of the way'?" (Yamashiro)

"Let's just have some fun under the sun today."

"Geez. You just wanted to play, didn't you?" (Zuihou)

"I'm already here and in my trunks. I will have to be an idiot to let this moment go to waste."

"You are so childish sometimes..." (Zuihou)

"What was that?"

"I said you are so childish sometimes." (Zuihou)

I could have sworn I heard Zuihou say something else after that.

Should we play Beach Flags, or volleyball?"

"I want to split a watermelon poi!" (Yuudachi)

"Me too!" (CA Shigure)

"You just ate. Let the food digest and settle first. I am not cleaning up your vomit." (Yamashiro)

As the two banter, at the corner of my eye, I can see Fusou watching and smiling gently.

I guess she might be thinking the same as me.

She won't say it outright, but when it comes to her beloved Destroyer friend, Yamashiro really cares for her.