A/N: Hey there, this is my first Kancolle fanfic! Some things you should know before you proceed:

- The timeline of this fic is loosely based on real historical events, focusing on younger Kaga and Akagi in the beginning of their careers as aircraft carriers, and taking place in a time where fleet girls were first born to the world, long before the current war against the Abyssals

- I decided to try this out of the silly ideas that suddenly came to my head lol, but updates for this fic will be quite slow because of all the stuff that I have to do

- This fic will contain the Akagi x Kaga pairing. A rather important disclaimer is that, in its very core, Disassembled is a romance fic. Much of the story would center and be built around the romance of our two main protagonists, so if you dislike the romance genre, this might not be the fic for you.

- Most of the chapters in this story is very SFW. The only M-rated scene so far is in Chapter 18: Temptation in The Water.

- I hope you enjoy reading it!

Summary: Tosa-class battleship Kaga had a brilliant career ahead of her, if not for her twisted relationship with fate. Stripped from her cannons, family, identity, and pride, she was finally assigned to the 1st Carrier Division, which led to her meeting with Akagi, another converted aircraft carrier with deep scars of her own.

Disassembled

Prologue: Washington Naval Treaty

Why am I always played by fate?

All I've ever been promised to is a place to belong, but it is also the same thing that I have been denied to all my life.

Even before I was living.

"When you grow up, Kaga, you will become a really, really strong battleship, the third ship of the Eight-Eight fleet! Nothing can ever stand in your way!"

I was a child back then, and my sister's excited rambles were far more interesting than the boring routines that come with ship construction. We were built in different shipyards, but the Navy allowed sister ships to meet as requested. We yearned for the day when we could finally launch ourselves onto the waves of the majestic blue sea, when it would welcome us with endless streams of that amazing salty air, and when we could watch a shell from our cannon hit the enemy for the very first time. At that time, sortieing simply seemed magical in our minds. We were young, and hopelessly naive. We were created to be a part of the Eight-Eight fleet, where we would become the core of the Navy along with the other elite first-class battleships and battlecruisers. Soon enough, Tosa's stories and fantasies had become a part of my life.

A part of the life that I dreamt of.

But not of reality.

Before we could even participate in battle, we experienced first hand the terribly cruel nature of fate.

We are weapons, we are built to be weapons, and we will always be weapons.

Our fate is decided by the people who only think of us in this way.

We hadn't even touched a drop of that rich great sea...and in an instant, something called a treaty had declared us useless.

The Eight-Eight fleet was no more.

There was no apology.

There was no regret.

They didn't even show any signs of pity when telling two young fleet girls that their whole lives were over, and at that time we looked exactly like ordinary humans in their teenage years.

It was that easy.

Who wouldn't laugh at the story of two sister ships who were born only to die...?

Who wouldn't laugh at the story of two battleships who were destroyed before they could even see a single battle...?

Tosa wasn't able to accept this at first, but one day she just became quiet all of a sudden.

I don't know if it was my hopelessness that finally rubbed off on her.

While waiting for us to be scrapped, I realized that I was grateful that I could die with the sister that I love most in the world.

Maybe this isn't so bad after all, is the bitter encouragement I said to myself to make this whole situation a bit more bearable.

So this is all that I get from my short life, to be written down in history as that scrapped Tosa-class battleship.

"Maybe they will change their minds," Tosa would say in a small voice, "Maybe we can survive."

I gave her a look. I'm not exactly a pessimist, but let's be realistic here.

"They can't build battleships like us anymore," I reminded her.

"But they still build other things," she replied hopefully while playing with her ponytail, "Ships are still the power of the Navy. If they are not allowed to build big battleships anymore, they'll find something to replace battleships."

"So you mean we should become those ships instead?"

Tosa scowled. "Don't use that fake tone on me. I don't even need to look at you to know that you think I'm being silly."

"No, it's just..." I hesitated, "Just look at you, Nee-san. You look just like a completed battleship. Compared to me... I look like a ship that's ready be mangled. If they decide to save us... they would probably only choose you and leave me."

"Kaga," Tosa gave me a long sigh before ruffling my messy hair, "By this point I don't know what's possible and what's not anymore."

When Tosa and I were finally used to the idea that we were going to be scrapped, to the point that she could make a joke about it, unexpected news threatened to ruin our lives all over again.

And it was given during a lax atmosphere in our admiral's office, that you would never guess the horror that the conversation brought. Sometimes I still have nightmares about it to this day.

"I specifically arrange this meeting because I have really good news for both of you," the admiral cheerfully began, "Battlecruiser Amagi was damaged beyond feasible repair in that recent earthquake. As you all know she was one of the two ships of the Eight-Eight fleet that were supposed to be converted into aircraft carriers, which unfortunately they can not continue for this particular ship. Fortunately, this is where you come in! We're allowed to send one of you as a substitute for the battlecruiser."

"Only one of us?" Tosa asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Only one of you," the admiral repeated, "Will be converted into an aircraft carrier! And you will be working in the 1st Carrier Division with our first standard carrier and future flagship, Akagi, who is currently still under construction. It is a great honor for a soon-to-be-scrapped ship like you. Carriers are the future of naval battle, my friends! In no time you will see yourself being regarded as a bigger war hero than even battleships."

I could feel my head spin and my heart turn cold.

So this is finally it.

The painful realization that I could not die with Tosa no matter what.

Not in the battlefield, not in the shipyard.

One of us had to die, and one of us had to keep going, while at the same time bearing the burden of the other.

And in my mind, they would definitely choose Tosa over me.

My hand started to shake.

"...And if only one of us will become a carrier," Tosa said coldly, "Why do you feel the need to tell both of us, I wonder?"

"Now, now, you two seem really close, clearly neither of you would want to miss out the big announcement that your sister will become a carrier, would you...?" the admiral gave out a short laugh, "You should be grateful that we still find some use for old scraps like you. The conversion into a carrier requires an elaborate and lengthy process that you can't possibly understand, and we're still learning as we go. You can imagine the budget that comes with a remodelling of such caliber. Therefore, we have decided that a less complete battleship would be a safer choice. You will become our third aircraft carrier and second standard aircraft carrier. Congratulations, Kaga. Welcome to the 1st Carrier Division."

The officials around us politely clapped their hands.

But for me it didn't feel like a celebration at all.

More like a funeral.

These horrible, wretched people were half-heartedly clapping their hands in celebration of a funeral.

Tosa's funeral.

"Come on, cheer up already."

"No."

"They've explained their reason."

"It's a lame-ass reason."

"Kaga..."

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Nee-san, I don't want to become a carrier!" I lashed out, finally losing it, "This whole thing is bullshit! 'Become a battleship, Kaga', fine, 'you can't be a battleship, Kaga', fine, and all of a sudden, 'you're going to be an aircraft carrier now Kaga, say good bye to your miserably unlucky sister and be grateful that you only live because you're so incomplete that we save more money saving you than your sister. Oh and say hello to our glorious 1st Carrier Division flagship Aogi-sama or whatever her name is!'"

"It's Akagi."

"Right. Whatever," I huffed, "You seem really calm about this, Nee-san..."

"I'm surprised, myself, but I guess I have come to accept it," Tosa said with a smile, "Besides, I'm glad that it's you who's chosen."

I shot my sister an angry glare. "What the hell are you talking about, Nee-san? You're going to be scrapped, you know...? Or worse, being used as a torpedo practice target or something. There won't be second chances anymore, and I don't want that! You deserve to live too!"

"Hey, listen to me," Tosa said, putting her hands on my shoulder, "It is clear that you're prepared for something big, Kaga."

My eyes found my feet. "But... Nee-san..."

"Not with me, no," Tosa shook her head, her tone of voice more serious than ever, "No, Kaga, don't you see? You don't belong with me. We will probably never cross paths ever again. You are given the chance to make a fresh start. You are walking the path to something grand, something better. You will accomplish great things in the future. I believe in you."

It was useless to hide my watery eyes anymore when a tear started to roll down my cheek.

Can I really accomplish all that, when I'm all alone...?

Can I really make my sister proud, when I can't call myself a Tosa-class battleship anymore...?

Can I really bear such a heavy burden for my existence, when two other fleet girls have to sacrifice their future so I can regain mine...?

"...It won't matter if you're no longer there to see it," I choked out.

"Someday, you'll find a place where you truly belong. I'm sure of it," she said, "Live your life to the full, Kaga."

A sad smile flashed on Tosa's tired face as she ruffled my hair lovingly. I wished she would just stop doing it. It was making my eyes more watery than ever, and I hated crying.

As I was busy blinking back my tears, Tosa reached for her ponytail and pulled off her blue-colored hairtie.

"Hey, Kaga," she handed it to me, "This is for you."

"What?"

"I won't need it anymore. I don't think I would ever fight in the battlefield for the rest of my life," she said with a grin, "Take this with you. So I can be with you when you're out there fighting. You have to work hard for my share too, okay...?"

I couldn't bear it any longer.

I cried my eyes out like a baby when Tosa carefully tied my hair back.

I cried so loud, I guessed the whole base could hear me bawling.

Once she was done, I had a small ponytail at the left side of my head.

Tosa ruffled my hair again, before she scooped me in her arms and bid me farewell.

I regret that I didn't hug her tighter... as it was the last hug that I received from the only sister I ever had.

1921

Tosa-class battleships Tosa and Kaga were launched as a part of the Eight-Eight fleet program

1922

Tosa and Kaga were canceled under the terms of Washington Naval Treaty. Both of the ships were scheduled to be scrapped.

The construction of the two Amagi-class battlecruisers for the Eight-Eight fleet program, Amagi and Akagi, were also halted under the terms of the treaty. Amagi and Akagi were selected to be converted into fleet carriers.

1923

The Great Kanto Earthquake wrecked Amagi so extensively that she had to be scrapped.

Kaga was selected instead to be converted into an aircraft carrier alongside Amagi's sister ship Akagi.

1924

Tosa was used in experiments to test her armor scheme against gunfire, bombs, mines, and torpedoes.

After the tests were concluded, she was scuttled and sunk.