Gaijin Teitoku Chapter 31: The Next Step, a kantai collection fanfic

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One.

First off, I'm sorry this took so long to get out. Real life has a nasty habit of getting in the way. Second of all, I'm sorry say that we've come to the end of this adventure. It's been a helluva ride, but there is hope yet.

Thanks to Krugger, UnitedOsprey1991, Generalfeldmarschall, Tekketsu1220, Iowa-chan, Darth-Vulturnus, brtk136, pyeknu, and a Guest for reviewing Chapter 29, and a huge thanks to EVERYONE who was kind enough to write a review for this fic...I'm glad you all enjoyed it!

Chapter Thirty: The Next Step

June rolled around, and with its arrival came the final preparations for the third wedding to be held at the Naval Base. For his part, Mancini was thankful the wedding was almost here, for Ashigara had become the Bridezilla of all Bridezillas. He, on the other hand, had known his place from the start; his role was to nod a lot and write checks. The attendance for this wedding would be much lighter than the previous two ceremonies; the majority of the non-Japanese kanmusu were unable to make it due to still getting things settled in their own countries. Goya and Imuya would be the only two Japanese shipgirls not in attendance; they did, however, send their best wishes.

Now here he was, standing at the same altar Avers and Blaskewicz had stood at, watching as the wedding procession made their way down the aisle. First up was Kamikaze, acting as flower girl. Ashigara had chosen her due to their previous service together in Malaysia, and the destroyer – deeply honored by being asked to join the wedding party – was taking her role very seriously. This didn't stop her from smiling and waving when she saw her three sister ships, however.

Next came Mancini's mother, who was being escorted by his grandfather. Giuseppe Mancini was quite proud at having been asked to participate in his grandson's wedding, even in this small capacity; he'd dug out his Regia Marina dress uniform for the occasion. Following them came Myoko escorted by Mancini Sr.; Ashigara had been quite pleased that her fiancé and his father had made peace with each other, and now seemed to be building a close relationship.

Mancini smiled nervously at the U.S. Navy Catholic chaplain, who'd come over from Yokosuka to perform the ceremony. The Mancini family's own priest, Father DiGiorgio, had refused to fly to Japan to officiate, and the Training Officer inwardly cringed when he remembered that conversation with his family…

"Gino!" his Great-Aunt Rosa's sharp voice called out as Mancini opened the Skype conversation. The family matriarch pushed Mancini Sr. aside and, ignoring the glower he gave her, gave Mancini a glower of her own. "I talked to Father DiGiorgio this afternoon, and he refuses to perform the ceremony for you and your bride. Why is this?"

Off-screen, Ashigara blushed and Mancini flashed her a grin, causing the cruiser to smack his arm. "Well, Ashi's not exactly Catholic, and she doesn't eat fish on Fridays…that's curry day here."

"Bah!" Rosa dismissed Mancini's excuses. "She can be baptized if she wants, and you know Father DiGiorgio doesn't hold to the 'eat fish on Fridays' rule! Have you seen that man lately? He never met a pastry he didn't like! It's a wonder he can still fit in his cassock!"

"He'd fit right in over here…Akagi would love him," Mancini muttered to Ashigara, who giggled and nodded.

"Are you having pre-marital sex? Is that the reason?" Rosa snapped, ignoring the off-screen shouts of admonishment from his parents. Ashigara's blush deepened as Mancini remained silent.

"Well?!" Rosa implored her grand-nephew for an answer.

The impasse was broken by Giuseppe's voice off-screen.

"My grandson is a sailor and a virile young man with a molto bello fiancée, Rosa," the elderly man replied. "As his generation says, 'you do the math'."

That had pretty much ended the conversation, as Rosa had begun yelling at Mancini in Italian, which didn't do much good as Mancini didn't speak the language, and also because he was laughing so hard he'd fallen out of his seat. Rosa had sided with Father DiGiorgio, and was one of the few Mancinis not in attendance.

Nachi was next down the aisle, escorted by Avers. Mancini knew his Commanding Officer didn't mind escorting one of the bride's sisters; the Fleet Admiral seemed to be thankful he hadn't been asked to officiate like he'd done for the Tenryu-Blaskewicz affair. Mancini hid a smirk as Avers paused to wipe his brow before he and Nachi started their walk; the June heat and a heavy formal dress uniform didn't really mix. Nachi steadfastly ignored the looks she was getting from some of Mancini's U.S. Navy friends; her mission today was to be there for her sister, not try and snag a husband of her own.

"Heyyy…Teitoku-des!" came a shout from near the front as the pair neared their place. Avers rolled his eyes and waved briefly at Kongo – who was bouncing in her seat trying to get her husband to notice her – and her sisters.

Following them came Haguro and Blaskewicz in their respective capacities of Maid of Honor and Best Man. Ashigara had chosen Haguro for her Maid of Honor due to their close service together in Malaysia in the same vein as her and Kamikaze, and Mancini had asked Blaskewicz to be his Best Man as the two officers had become good friends.

The traditional Bridal March sounded and everyone rose to their feet as Ashigara made her way up the aisle alone. Like Kongo and Tenryu's dresses, hers was shoulder-less, and she wore long white gloves that extended past her elbows. To Mancini's surprise, her radar headgear – something she rarely went without - had been replaced by a large white rose which – in addition to holding her veil – had two small loops of pearls hanging down from it, the pearls that hung from the rose matching the simple string around her neck. Several more of the large white roses were fastened to the waist of her dress, holding a surrounding skirt and train combination that made her dress seem about three times wider than it actually was.

Mancini wasn't really a romantic guy, but he knew for a fact his bride-to-be was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Man, did I luck out, he thought.

Ashigara reached the end of the aisle and came to a stop beside Mancini.

"Hi," she murmured just loud enough for him to hear.

Mancini grinned at her. "You look…wow," he whispered back, then leaned in. "As beautiful as that dress is on you, I'm really looking forward to seeing if it comes with matching lingerie."

"One word," the heavy cruiser grinned in return, "Bordelle."

"Urk…" Mancini's brain short-circuited upon hearing the name of the most-expensive lingerie company in the world. Expensive, most definitely, his brain told him once it rebooted. And worth every penny? You bet your sweet ass!

Standing nearby, Avers watched as his Training Officer held a brief conversation with the bride that left a vacant smile on his face; he was apparently told something quite to his liking, for he looked to be one step away from drooling like a gormless idiot. He rolled his eyes and cleared his throat delicately, which was enough to draw Mancini out of his stupor.

"Oh, right…" Mancini muttered, causing Blaskewicz to snicker and Ashigara to grin at him. Avers rolled his eyes when he heard Kongo and her sisters giggle.

Mancini turned to the chaplain and nodded. "You can start now, Padre."

The chaplain nodded and addressed the group. "We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two hearts. In this ceremony today, we will witness the joining of Louis and Ashigara in marriage. If there is anyone present who has just cause why this couple should not be united, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Ashigara turned to the audience with a look that promised swift, violent and gruesome retribution if anyone made so much as a peep. She was so close to finally getting herself a husband that if anyone were to interrupt them now Akashi would get the opportunity to see how a repair bucket worked on someone who'd had an 8-inch gun unceremoniously shoved somewhere extremely uncomfortable.

After a moment of complete silence, the chaplain continued.

"Who gives this woman to be married today?"

"We do," Nachi, Haguro, and Myoko chorused, the trio sharing a watery smile with their bride sister.

"Louis and Ashigara," the chaplain addressed the bride and groom, "you have come together today so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of God and this community. Christ abundantly blesses your love…He strengthens you so that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity, and so, in the presence of this community, today we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love, and are finalizing it with their wedding today. Romance is fun," here Mancini grinned, Ashigara blushed, and Avers willed himself to ignore the shout of "Yes!" from the audience in a very familiar voice, "but true love is something far more, and it is their desire to love each other for life that we are celebrating here today."

"A good marriage must be created," the chaplain continued. "In marriage, the 'little' things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together to face the world. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways."

Avers again had to ignore his wife's giggle and mutters of "Teitoku…" from the audience as he forcibly tamped down thoughts of his wife's ways of 'demonstrating gratitude', all of which he found to be a lot of fun.

"It is having the capacity to forgive and forget," the chaplain continued. "It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner. 1st Corinthians says, 'Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."

"The couple will now recite their vows," the chaplain announced. "Ashigara, please repeat after me: I, Ashigara of the Myoko class,"

"I, Ashigara of the Myoko class," the heavy cruiser responded, her eyes never leaving Mancini's.

"take you, Louis Giancarlo Mancini, to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love."

"I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

"I will trust you and honor you."

"I will laugh with you and cry with you."

"I will love you faithfully."

"Through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy,"

"whatever may come, I will always be there."

"As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep."

The chaplain turned to Mancini. "Admiral, please repeat after me: I, Louis Giancarlo Mancini,"

"I, Louis Giancarlo Mancini," the Training Officer didn't look too pleased at having to say his full name, and Ashigara was grinning as he spoke.

"take you, Ashigara of the Myoko class, to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one true love."

"I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

"I will trust you and honor you."

"I will laugh with you and cry with you."

"I will love you faithfully."

"Through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy,"

"whatever may come, I will always be there."

"As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep."

The chaplain turned and addressed the audience. "Let us pray for peace, happiness, and joy in everyone's life, both here and at home, and around the world."

"Amen," Harder, Albacore, Blaskewicz, and Avers replied, while the Mancini family responded, "Lord, hear our prayer."

"Oops," Harder muttered, causing Minazuki to giggle beside him. Avers cringed at the unintentional mix-up.

"Sorry, Padre!" Blaskewicz whispered. Avers face-palmed while Ashigara grinned, Mancini snickered, and Tenryu, Tatsuta, and DesDiv 6 giggled.

The chaplain, for his part, merely took it in stride and nodded. "Let us pray for the new additions to our families, that God looks over them, and that they are always surrounded by love and caring."

"Lord, hear our prayer." Everyone managed to say the correct response the second time around.

"Sweet…did it right that time! Go me!" Blaskewicz whispered to himself. Avers groaned silently and a fresh round of giggles started.

"Let us pray for those in our lives who are sick and healing…may their road to recovery be blessed."

"Lord, hear our prayer," the audience responded.

"Let us pray for those who have traveled this road with us, but could not join us here today. We know that those people are close to us in spirit."

"Lord, hear our prayer."

"Let us pause for a moment to add our own special intentions," the chaplain finished.

"Lord, hear our prayer," the audience responded a final time, and after a few moments of silence the chaplain continued speaking.

"Louis and Ashigara, I would ask that you always treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to every relationship at one time or another…focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and happiness."

The chaplain turned to Ashigara. "Ashigara, do you take Louis to be your husband?"

"I do," the heavy cruiser replied, smiling at Mancini.

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore?"

"I do," Ashigara replied, her eyes never leaving Mancini's.

"Louis," the chaplain turned to Mancini, "do you take Ashigara to be your wife?"

"I do," Mancini responded.

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore?"

"I do," Mancini replied without moving his gaze off his bride.

The chaplain spoke to the audience. "The Book of John, Chapter Four says, 'Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love has been brought to full expression through us."

The chaplain turned to Mancini. "Do you have the rings?"

Mancini turned to Blaskewicz, who handed him a pair of simple gold bands. He grinned as he showed them to Ashigara. "They're made from coins from your gold," he stated, and Ashigara smiled widely at the mention of some of the coins she'd been carrying when she was sunk in 1945 going for such a purpose.

"The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love," the chaplain stated. "Love freely given has no beginning and no end…no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken."

He turned to Ashigara. "Please repeat after me: I, Ashigara of the Myoko-class,"

"I, Ashigara of the Myoko-class,"

"take thee, Louis Giancarlo Mancini, to be my husband."

"To have and to hold, in sickness and in health,"

"for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow,"

"and I promise my love to you."

"Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Ashigara slid the ring onto Mancini's finger.

The chaplain turned to Mancini. "Louis, please repeat after me: I, Louis Giancarlo Mancini,"

"I, Louis Giancarlo Mancini,"

"take thee, Ashigara of the Myoko class, to be my wife."

"To have and to hold, in sickness and in health,"

"for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow,"

"and I promise my love to you."

"Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Mancini slid the ring onto Ashigara's finger, and the heavy cruiser choked back tears. In the audience, Mancini's mother didn't hold her tears back, and wept openly at the sight.

"Lord, bless and consecrate this groom and bride in their love for each other," the chaplain requested. "May these rings be a symbol of their true faith in each other, and always remind them of their love through the Christ to God."

"Bless their marriage, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together. We don't know what lies ahead, for the road turns and bends, but help them to make the best of whatever comes their way. Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met."

As everyone had their eyes closed in prayer, no one saw the bride blush scarlet and the groom smirk at this choice of words.

"Help them to realize that nothing or no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people, including themselves. Help them to respect each other's likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams, and fears even though they may not always understand them. Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Help them to realize that no matter what happens to them, they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good. Help them to create for their children," again, unseen by anyone, a wide smile spread over Ashigara's face, "a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives. But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children's children forever. Amen."

"Amen," the audience echoed.

"To make your relationship work will take love," the chaplain continued. "This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today. It will take trust, to know, that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other. It will take dedication, to stay open to one another and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you have both pledged to today."

"My dear friends," the chaplain addressed the audience, "let us turn to the Lord and pray that he will bless Louis and Ashigara as we unite them in true marriage today. Father, you have made the union of husband and wife so holy as it symbolizes the marriage of two humans through Christ to God. Look with love upon Louis and Ashigara. Fill them both with love for each other, both honoring and respecting each other, and always seeing their love as a gift to be treasured. May the commitment which they are making be sacred not only for today but for the rest of their lives. We ask this blessing for them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"Amen," the audience echoed.

The chaplain turned to Ashigara and Mancini and smiled. "By the power vested in me by the United States Navy Corps of Chaplains, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Ashigara launched herself at Mancini and seemed to be attempting to surgically attach her lips to those of her new husband as the audience rose to its feet and cheered.

"Admiral, you may kiss the bride," the chaplain stated unnecessarily, then turned to the cheering audience and announced, "I would like to introduce the…" he glanced down at the bride and groom, who had yet to come up for air, "very happy couple."

His introduction went unheard by the bride and groom, nor did they hear the congratulations from the audience or the bridal party; their sole focus was on each other.

Several hours later, Avers gazed out over the now-empty parade ground. The sounds of celebration from the reception at Hosho's restaurant drifted toward him on the light evening breeze and he looked upwards to the stars appreciating the view. He wondered if any of them were up there right now, watching…Togo, Yamamoto, Koga, Toyoda, Ozawa, Kondo, Tanaka, Ugaki, Yamaguchi…what would their thoughts have been on the daily chaos that was the naval base? And what would they have thought about today's ceremony?

The entire naval base had seen Mancini and Ashigara off on their honeymoon a few hours ago, after the couple had been subjected to numerous toasts and danced to "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" by Enrique Iglesias and the late Whitney Houston; the couple were flying to England as a nod to when Ashigara attended the Coronation Review in 1937, followed by a week visiting the shipgirls in Germany. Avers smiled as he remembered seeing Iku and a six-month-pregnant Aiya dancing earlier. The entire naval base was on tenterhooks waiting for the first shipgirl baby to be born, and there was a running pool as to who would be next shipgirl mommy.

"Heyy…" the voice of his wife purred as she came up beside him, nuzzling his arm as she did so. Avers instinctively raised his arm and drew Kongo into his embrace, causing the fast battleship to emit a happy noise and snuggle closer.

"Looking at the stars, Teitoku-des?" Kongo asked.

Avers nodded. "Just wondering what all the past Admirals might have thought about today's ceremony and the chaos that passes for normal around here."

"Why not ask one?" Kongo asked, causing Avers to glance down at her.

"How?" the Fleet Admiral replied. "I don't think there is a single Imperial Navy flag officer left with us now."

A movement on Kongo's shoulder drew his vision to that spot, and he was surprised to see two of Kongo's faeries staring back at him, both saluting. Upon closer inspection, he could see both were wearing Imperial Japanese Navy Vice Admiral uniforms.

"Are these members of your…crew?" he asked, uncertain as to what the pair were. He'd never asked about the inner workings of a shipgirl, figuring it was wiser not to try and understand the specifications of Sparkly Magical Shipgirl BS.

"Yes!" Kongo nodded. "When a shipgirl returns, anyone who was part of her final crew returns as one of her faeries."

"Vice Admiral Suzuki Yoshio and Vice Admiral Shimazaki Toshio," Avers murmured as the two faeries nodded. "I'm honored."

Suzuki emitted a long stream of 'desu's, while Shimazaki nodded intermittently, adding a few 'desu's of his own. When Suzuki was finished, Avers glanced up at Kongo for translation.

The fast battleship smiled. "My Admirals say they are honored to meet you as well, Teitoku-des, and they are pleased that I have found someone who treats me like a lady should be treated."

Suzuki emitted another long stream of 'desu's. Kongo translated, "He says that any of our former crewmembers would be honored to offer advice any time you desire."

"Thank you," Avers returned the salute from the two faeries as they crawled back inside the shoulder of Kongo's dress before the fast battleship snuggled up to him again. Avers leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his wife's silky hair as Kongo sighed happily.

"You all right, sweetheart?" Avers glanced down at his wife.

Kongo nodded. "I'm perfectly happy, Teitoku-des…just thinking of all the changes that will be coming over the next year."

Avers was about to inquire as to what she meant, but then it dawned on him. "You mean Ashigara and Mancini settling in to married life, Blaskewicz and Tenryu riding herd on their bunch of kids, and Iku and Aiya's impending arrival?"

Kongo nodded. "Among other things, Dess."

A feeling of nervousness came over Avers. "What other changes are there?"

"The new personnel, Dess," Kongo replied.

"You mean Kamoi, Taiyo, Shimushu, Kunashiri, and Etorofu?" Avers listed the newest summons, but was surprised when his wife shook her head.

"Then what new personnel are you referring to?" He asked before a thought occurred to him. "Did Harder get Minazuki pregnant? I hope not, for his sake…Nagara and Natori'll kill him."

Kongo giggled. "No, Teitoku-des! Harder-kun is an honorable young man…he'd do right by Minazuki-chan if that happened, and you know that."

Avers nodded, knowing Kongo was right; the American submarine practically worshipped the blue-haired Japanese destroyer, and vice-versa. He was about to ask his wife to clarify what she meant when Kongo smiled widely and moved his hands from around her waist up to her stomach.

"I have a surprise for you, Teitoku-des," she murmured, and Avers' last coherent thought before he lost himself in kissing his beautiful wife senseless was how he could now hear the faint sounds of ship construction emanating from Kongo's abdomen, and a brief – very brief – moment of worry about how many windows would be shattered from the sonic-level screams that would be emitted from the three aunts-to-be when the couple told them.

A couple days from now, that is…there was celebrating to be done first.

THE END

Once again, a HUGE thanks to EVERYONE who commented and / or supported me along this ride, and I hope you're looking forward to more from me in the future!

READ & REVIEW!

Oh, and remember how I said there is hope? Well, here you go.

In the words of the anime...

SEQUEL CONFIRMED!