Book One: Schwarzer Wolf

Chapter 30: Calm Before The Storm

-2015, December 25th, 7:50 P.M.-
Primary Kansen Dorms, Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i
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For the entirety of my stay at the port, I never thought it would snow. Especially enough to make Alaska a bit baffled. It was probably thanks to one of the Sakuran ships using some magic or something. That's what most of us thought. It didn't really matter for us. It was Christmas after all.

I was sitting in the dorm lounge by the massive Christmas tree Wisconsin had gotten. It nearly touched the ceiling with the star on it. Preuss said she had gotten it from the Alaskan wilderness. Wouldn't be much of a surprise. Everyone managed to put something on it. From candy canes to ornaments, there was something from someone. Kayl was the one to pick out the star and put it on the tree. She had smiled when she did it, the only time she had smiled since she's gotten back.

"Levi! Where'd you go?"

"I'm right here."

Forge walked over to me from the kitchen. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail, her clothes a simple black shirt and white sweatpants. She held a bowl of cookie dough in one hand and a spoon in the other. Her smile was incomparable to any I'd seen in years.

"Made some cookie dough. Want a bite before I toss it in?"

"Sure."

She handed me the spoon, which I used to get myself a small bite of the dough. The taste was something else. It was a soft yet perfect one. Kayl walked in as I handed the spoon back, Wisconsin behind her. Both wore a sort of Santa outfit. Forge waved at Wisconsin, the latter immediately waving back.

"Kayl looks healthy enough."

"Better than before."

"Think she'll be alright going forward?"

"Yeah, I'm sure she will."

Forge patted my shoulder as a sort of reassurance before vanishing back into the kitchen. Atago and Miyuki walked out from one of the rooms, Miyu wasn't in her normal outfit, instead a kimono of blue and white colors. It was a perfect fit from what I could tell. Atago herself was in her usual kimono. Not a surprise there.

"Th-thanks Atago..."

"Always Miyuki. Just tell me when you need something and I'll handle it."

Miyu nodded as she went over to Kaga, who was also in a kimono. The two hugged before Miyu sat on her lap, Kaga starting to carefully brush her hair. It was an odd sight. The Japanese ships hadn't been here since their attack in the skirmishes. It seemed like none of them had really changed.

Huh....feels weird...

"I agree."

Yoki?

"You remember me?"

I do. Better question, why are you in my head?

"Oh I uh....used a little siren magic....it isn't painful, right?"

I don't feel anything.

"Oh goodie. How have you been?"

I've been alright.

"Yay. Just wanted to say Merry Christmas before I got to base. Turns out the portals are really inconsistent. I won't be long."

Alright. Try and stay safe. No one but me truly knows where your allegiance lays.

"Roger that commander. See you soon and Merry Christmas!"

Merry Christmas Yoki.

--- AU Note ---

Merry Christmas folks and have a wonderful new year! I might get a chapter out before the month ends, no guarantees. Just a bit of brain thought.