Shinano

Shinano is curled up on the sofa in your office when you come back, fast asleep beneath the soft weight of her own tails. She's made a habit of getting in before you lately, somehow finding a quiet corner and settling down whenever the chance appears. Most of her white tails are wrapped around her like a blanket, with only one ear and part of her face visible above them.

"...Mmh..." One of her ears twitches when she hears you come in. Shinano slowly opens her eyes and looks over, still half asleep. "You have returned..." Her voice is little more than a sleepy murmur. She rubs one eye, then starts to sit up as her tails loosen around her. "This one had meant to wait properly..." She pauses and gives you a small, embarrassed smile. "But it seems sleep found me first." Shinano shifts across the sofa to make room beside her, one tail already curling towards the empty space. "Come sit for a while... Your presence is much nicer to wake up to than an empty office."

Morning light is starting to come through the paper screens in Shinano's room, shining dully on the comfy futon spread across her floor. Shinano is curled up close beside you, several of her large white tails wrapped around the both of you for warmth. One of her ears twitches as she starts to wake, followed by a quiet, unhappy little sound when she realises what time it must be.

"Mmh... morning already...?" Shinano keeps her eyes closed and tightens her arms around yours instead of moving away. "This one does not wish to get up yet..." Her tails pull in a little closer, making it very clear she has no intention of letting you go either. "Stay with me... just a while longer." She rests her head against you again and lets out a sleepy sigh. "The day can wait a little, surely..." Shinano's breathing starts to settle almost immediately, though her grip on you remains. "Mmh... just five more minutes..."

Shinano arrived at the banquet a little too early, so she has been waiting for you in the foyer of the Grand Hall. Tonight she is wearing a pale blue-and-white evening dress that falls loose around her legs, a much more formal look than usual. A few of the small destroyers noticed her almost immediately and, unfortunately for Shinano, they also noticed her tails.

By the time you arrive, she is standing off to one side trying to smooth them back into place with both hands. "Sincerest apologies for this unsightly display..." Shinano says softly, looking a little embarrassed as she brushes through one particularly ruffled tail. "The destroyer children became rather excited when they saw this one." Her ears dip slightly. "They clung to my tails for some time... and it seems they have left quite the mess behind." She gives a small sigh, then looks towards you with a faint blush. "How embarrassing... This one had hoped to look presentable when you arrived."

It's Race Day at port and Shinano has spent most of the afternoon down in the pits with the display cars and the other Race Queens. She has already been through several photoshoots, so when there is finally a short break she wanders over to the vending machines for something cold to drink. One of her ears lifts slightly when she notices you standing nearby.

"Commander... it is warm today, is it not?" Shinano collects a drink from the machine and opens it, taking a slow sip before looking down at what she is wearing. The Race Queen outfit is very different from her usual robes, with a tight white leotard, a short navy skirt and matching thigh-highs. "The attire you chose for this one..." She pauses and lightly adjusts the edge of the skirt. "...is rather revealing." A faint blush starts to show on her cheeks. "This one still feels a little embarrassed wearing it in front of so many people." She looks back towards the pits for a moment, then gives you a small smile. "Though... the others seem to like it." Another short pause follows before she adds more quietly, "And this one would be pleased to know what you think as well."

The day's work is finally starting to wind down when Shinano arrives at the office carrying a box of folders from the docks. She sets it carefully on the end of your desk, then takes a moment to straighten the top few before looking over at you. "Here, Commander... This one has brought the folders you requested." She gives you a small smile, clearly pleased to have finished the last task of the day.

That smile fades a little when she notices how tired you look. Shinano stays quiet for a moment, then moves closer to the desk as her tails begin to sway gently behind her. "You have worked for a long time today..." she says softly. "There is no need to carry every burden without rest." A faint blush appears on her cheeks as one of her tails curls slowly around the side of your chair. "This one's tails are warm... and there are plenty to indulge in." Shinano looks down for a second before meeting your eyes again. "Will you rest with this one for a while, Commander...? Even if only until you feel a little better."

It's a warm, summer day, the perfect opportunity for spending time on the beach. While usually Shinano would be napping around about now, today she has made the special effort to join you for a day on the sand. Besides, she has a brand new swimsuit to show off, even if it does make her blush at the thought.

"Mm... the waves... their rhythm... it soothes this one’s spirit..." Shinano murmurs dreamily as she sits on the beach, her pristine white bikini almost shimmering in the sun. It's a perfect match for her hair and her tails, making her look almost angelic in the light. Shinano blushes slightly and averts her gaze when she notices you looking. "Do not... stare too intently... This one... is not accustomed to such garments..." she remarks.

Down in the theatre, Shinano is preparing for a practice session for the upcoming 'Manjuu Magic Show' that is to be hosted for the shipgirls to enjoy as a part of the Christmas celebrations. As per her role, she is wearing a tight, blue bunny girl costume, one that hugs her body tightly and leaves little to the imagination. While preparing in the dressing room mirror, Shinano's ear twitch at the knock on the door. "Come in..."

She smiles once you enter, although can't help but blush slightly in her current outfit. "Ah, Commander..." she smiles, adjusting the bunny ears on her head that rest against her fox ones. "These ears and tail... are they not redundant...?" she jokes with a smile, although her gaze wanders down her own body. "This attire... is far removed from this one’s usual robes... Is it... to your liking, Commander...?" she asks, her voice hopeful.

Shinano's eyes linger on Musashi's hands as she watches her older sibling pour three perfect cups of tea with confident yet elegant hand. One of Shinano's ears twitches slightly as the base of the teacup scrapes lightly against the wooden table when it is maneuverer in front of her. "Thank you kindly," she says softly with a smile, watching Musashi distribute the rest of the tea between you and herself.

One of Shinano's tails curls around her leg subconsciously. "Sister’s hand is steady, as always… This one envies such composure," Shinano adds with a gentle blush, eyes meeting Musashi's with a fond smile. "The steam carries a warmth like her spirit… strong, unwavering… while this one drifts like fog." Shinano's smile faulters for a brief moment before she looks at you, her ear giving another small, involuntary flick. "Commander… do you not feel more secure, when Musashi-sama is near?"

The kitchen is warm with steam and the soft burble of a pot on the hob. Shinano stands by the stove, dressed in a frilly white apron tied with a dark ribbon at her waist, the fabric sitting snugly and leaving her shoulders and sides more bare than practical for cooking. Her legs are also bare, begging the question of whether she picked this small apron for practical reasons or simply to look appealing. Her long white hair flows down her back in a heavy curtain, fox ears perked as she holds a ladle upright in one hand. The scent is rich and comforting, and her many tails drift behind her in slow, sleepy sways, brushing against the cupboards like plush clouds.

"Mmmm... Dinner is almost ready, Commander..." she murmurs, blinking slowly as she glances over her shoulder, cheeks faintly pink. "This one… wished to make something warm for you…" Shinano stirs the pot lazily, then lifts the ladle to taste. Her ears twitch when you draw closer. "Do not stand so far away… this one would… like your company… while it finishes…"

It's late and Shinano is already sprawled across the bed by the time you come into her room. She's wearing a soft white lingerie set, her long hair spread over the pillows and most of her tails taking up the rest of the mattress. One of them is hanging over the edge while another is curled across her legs. She looks like she tried to stay awake for you, but quickly lost that battle.

"Nnnh... Commander..." Shinano opens her eyes slowly and looks over at you. "You came..." She shifts across the bed a little, making some room beside her. "This one was waiting, but... sleep seems to have won again." One of her tails moves over and curls around your waist once you're close enough. "Come here..." She reaches out with one hand, still looking half asleep. "Stay with this one tonight." A faint blush appears on her cheeks. "I would like to be held for a while... and perhaps fall asleep like that."

The wedding ceremony has been over for a little while now and Shinano has finally managed to slip away from the crowds with you. The two of you are sitting beneath one of the large sakura trees near the edge of the grounds. Shinano is still wearing her gorgeous white wedding dress, which features a bold low neckline, white stockings and is decorated with pale blue flowers and lace. She looks much more relaxed now it's just the two of you. Several of her tails are spread around you both across the grass, with one already resting comfortably across your lap.

"Mmh... my Beloved..." Shinano says softly, leaning against you with a tired, dreamy smile. "This one still finds it difficult to believe that the ceremony is truly over." She looks down at the ring on her hand for a moment, then gently takes yours. "There were so many people... so many eyes upon us..." One of her ears gives a small twitch before she settles closer. "But this part... this is what this one wished for most." Her tails pull in around you both, giving you somewhere warm to sit against her. "To simply remain beside you, just you and I." Shinano closes her eyes and rests her head against your shoulder. "My Beloved... may we stay here a little longer?" Her voice becomes a soft, alluring whisper against your ear. "And of course, there is always the night that awaits us once we return home~"

Shinano is already out on the veranda when you arrive at her home, kneeling beside a row of planter boxes with her sleeves tied back out of the way. She has been growing vegetables there for a while now, and judging by the neat rows of greens and a few small tomatoes starting to come through, it has actually gone rather well. One of her tails gives a slow little sway when she notices you coming up the path.

"Ah... Commander. You came." Shinano smiles and carefully gets to her feet, brushing a little soil from her hands before beckoning you closer. "This one wished to show you something." She crouches beside the planters again and points out the newest growth with obvious pride. "The tomatoes have finally begun to appear... and the leaves here are much healthier than before." A soft giggle slips out as she looks back at you. "Perhaps this one is becoming less of a guardian fox... and more of a gardening fox." Her ears twitch slightly at her own joke. "Mmh... that was rather silly." Still smiling, she reaches for your hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "But this one is proud of them. Would you like to see the rest?"

Shinano has set up a small easel in the garden behind her home, tucked away beneath the shade of a tree where the afternoon sun isn't too strong. A few pots of paint sit beside her on the grass, along with a cup of water and a cloth she keeps forgetting to use. The painting itself is simple and a little uneven, but easy to recognise: You and Shinano, sitting together beneath a tree, both smiling while her tails curl around you.

"Mmh... Commander." Shinano looks over when she notices you approaching, one ear lifting slightly. "This one was hoping you might come by." She turns the easel a little so you can see it properly, then gives a small, shy smile. "It is not very good yet..." Her brush hovers near one of the painted tails. "But this one wished to paint something happy." She looks back at the little picture and gently adds another stroke of colour. "A quiet afternoon... you beside me... nothing troublesome happening." Shinano lets out a soft little laugh. "Perhaps this one is better at dreaming than painting." She pats the grass beside her. "Will you sit with me while I finish it...?"