Legends

Chapter 60: An Ear to Bend

Naval Base Sasebo was always an exciting place to be stationed. For the Japanese ships, every two months brought the return of their American counterparts as the West Coast fleet brought new supplies into the country. Three of the Iowa's were leading this convoy, missing just the namesake ship as Iowa had still chosen to remain in Bremerton while her overworked rig was given a much-needed tune up. That is whenever Vestal could coral her long enough to start the work. Iowa was a difficult patient even at the best of times.

Wisconsin still had her eldest sister on her mind as New Jersey and Musashi stepped onto the dock as one, dismissing their rigging in near unison. Missouri hung back next to Wisconsin. She still was not talking to their sister but at least she wasn't asking Wisconsin to act as a relay between them anymore.

The mess hall was naturally the first place all of them went. As New Jersey and Musashi found their own table, Missouri found another nearby and sat down. "Do you want me to hang around?" Wisconsin asked.

"No, I'll be fine." Missouri replied. Wisconsin's smile told her she wasn't entirely believed but fortunately the younger didn't argue and left to find her own seat.

Missouri was left alone for a few minutes and that was just fine with her. She buried her head in her hands.

"Mind if I sit down?"

Missouri lowered her hands, taking a second to wipe her eyes before nodding. The other shipgirl sat across from her. Missouri had seen her only briefly once before when trying to physically keep Wisconsin from accosting the girl. She wore a white shirt, red skirt and mismatched socks. Her hair was red with a purple tinge and part of it was pulled back in a long ponytail. The Imperial chrysanthemum around her collar left no doubt as to who it was. Missouri knew even without needing her ship senses.

"You seem troubled." Yamato said. She didn't have a plate in front of her which was just fine with Missouri. The American doubted she could tolerate seeing a glutton worse than her at the moment.

"Just some minor arguments." Missouri replied as she picked at her food. Her bunkers were nearly empty and constantly reminding her of their status but she just wasn't in the mood to pick up that fork.

"Missouri," Yamato leaned forward. "You know I did virtually nothing that entire war. I sat in that goddamned lagoon for a year straight. Despite my breed, I barely know how to fight. To be honest, I find battle almost as distasteful as sitting idle. But there is one thing I got very good at. See, sitting idle for so long allowed me the opportunity to hear the other ships who were fighting. I could hear their stories. And listen to their concerns."

Missouri sighed. "New Jersey and I, had a disagreement."

"A disagreement or a fight?"

"Very well, a fight." Missouri sighed again. "She thinks I am a hero, going down the way I did. But I lost my entire crew, unlike Wisky. Wisky's the real hero. I got angry, I couldn't take it anymore and I-" She closed her eyes, clenching her fists. "What would you know about being a hero Big J? You went down with a bunch of civies!" "I said some things." She rasped. "Things I can't take back and now I-"

Missouri stilled when Yamato grasped her trembling hands in her own. When she looked up, the Japanese battleship's purple eyes were soft with compassion and a touch of empathy. "Do you remember," She took a shuddering breath. "When I sortied?"

"Yes." Missouri replied quietly. "We were ordered to the staging point to wait for you but instead, we had to sit there and listen to the carriers brag as they tore you to pieces."

Yamato winced at the memory. "I took nearly all my crew with me. Only a handful made it out alive. And as bad as that was, that was not even the worst part." She looked the American square in the eye and the steeliness in that gaze was enough to make Missouri pay attention. "The worst part was we failed in an objective we never had a chance at achieving. It made all those lives worthless and that includes my own. But you. You went down for a reason worth dying for. Worth defending. And in the end, Hawaii was saved. You succeeded where I failed. Never forget that."

Missouri swallowed back the lump in her throat. "Thank you Yamato." She rasped.

The Japanese battleship smiled and let her go, leaning back. "My pleasure Missouri. Now please, eat that plate before I take it from you." She asked and with a slight chuckle, Missouri obliged her request.