Here is the first chapter of Kantai Collection: Cursed Luck. Hope you enjoy!
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Fire. Death. Destruction.
The sight of the once beautiful Okinawa Base, which held the prestigious Officer Academy, was burning. The buildings were all burned away and crumbling from the fires of cannon fire. The lush greenery had all but vanished by the flames. Nothing was alive. Nothing was moving. All but one.
He wanted to run but he stood frozen in place, his bag on the ground and a single piece of paper in his breast pocket. He hoped everything was just a bad dream and hoped he would wake up from this bad dream. He closed his eyes wishing everything to be gone.
His hopes betrayed him as he opened his eyes once again to find the dorm he once stayed burning. The smell of flesh entered his nose as his stomach lurched before vomiting its contents. The sound of cannon fire sound of in the distance.
He turned around and watched the seas, now soaked with blood and fire as several grayish looking things moved in the seas. Many of them looked disfigured, some looked like fish while others had more humanoid figures. However they were disgusting to look at with some even glowing in red or yellow.
The boy dropped to his knees, fear and shock written all over his face. He clenched his fists before punching the ground, anger and tears dripping down from his face. He looked up to see this abomination of a fleet leaving the area. He punched the ground once again as his knuckles bled.
"Fuck this you know… We can't… win… We can't win… We can't win! WE CAN'T WIN!"
The boy's screams were all that was heard when a surveillance ship that came to check the damage picked him up…
Yokosuka Naval Base – Kaito POV
"Ensign Hamazaki! Are you awake?" a voice called out as the door was knocked on continuously, each time increasing in ferocity. A small groan escaped the boy's lips as groggily woke up from his slumber. He growled quietly to himself before pushing himself out of the bed and making his way towards the door.
He swung it open as his narrowed at the figure in front of him. The figure, a woman with black hair tied into a ponytail and with glass flinched at his angry demeanor as her body froze. He watched her until rubbing his sleep left eye with one hand.
"What?" the boy asked as she snapped out of her frozen state. She inhaled a short breath to compose herself before looking at him.
"E-Ensign Hamazaki Kaito. Fleet Admiral Yoshimura is requesting your presence in his office…" the girl answered with a slight stutter as the boy, Kaito stopped his movement before staring at her intently. She flinched and fidgeted, uncomfortable at his eyes staring into her. Finally sighing he turned slightly and waved with his right hand.
"Tell him I will be there in 10." Kaito answered as the girl nodded and bolted off into the distance, wanting to get away from him as quickly as possible with Kaito watching her go. Kaito sighed once again before closing the door to his room as he made his way towards the small sink and mirror on one corner of the wall. He plugged the sinkhole and began to pour some hot water into the sink before looking at himself in the mirror.
He currently wore a pair of shorts and gray tank top. He had short deep blue hair, reminding many of the ocean and its waters. The hair is stylized with spiky bangs in the front that flows towards the left side with bits of hair on the left spiking outward, somewhat looking like a crashing wave while his eyes were a soft and delicate chocolate brown. His body was slim, slightly toned and slightly muscular to attract the ladies. Sadly he wasn't able to attract any especially after the incident. His body shuddered at remembering it before splashing hot water onto his face, to try to forget his thoughts.
He grabbed the towel hanging close by and wiped his face dry before turning around to stare at his uniform. The uniform jacket and trousers were white in color with the buttons were bronze in color. It was complete with a cap, a white cap with bronze sakura or cherry blossom badge in the center. Although he didn't mind the uniform, he had preferred if the color was less bright since stains were hard to rub off from the uniform.
Shaking his head, he went over to his uniform and pulled out a new formal shirt he had ready from behind his jacket and quickly got dressed. He walked back to the mirror to adjust himself before grabbing his hat and walking out. He closed the door behind when he heard small whispers as he looked over his left side to see some glares and fearful glances from other officers, females and males alike.
Twitching his eyes in annoyance and sighing, he turned around and began to make his way towards the Admiral's office, which was a couple minutes walk from the dorms.
Maybe I should have said I would be there in fifteen… Oh well, I just hope he won't be pissed at me. Kaito mused to himself as he slowly increased his pace. He opened the door to the dorm as cool breeze hit him. He smiled quietly to himself at the smell of the sea as he could hear the seagulls squawk in the distance.
He had always loved the sea and oceans, finding peace and harmony from it as well as helping him forget his problems. However now it was a bit different. Although he still loved the oceans, the horrible memories were not pleasant and not helping him easy the pain. Images of a burning sea and abominations floating and drifting in the ocean entered his mind.
Shaking his head to himself as he continued to push forward since today he was finally able to forget his troubles. Today was the day he would leave the Navy.
His parents were both Navy admirals thus it had been natural for him to pursue this as his career. However because of this pressure caused by his parents and the false belief by his fellow students that he would become an admiral without the need to study, he was mistreated and constantly bullied. He didn't like it, in fact he hated how it caused trouble in his life. He couldn't take all that pressure and now add with the fact of the 'Incident'; he just couldn't take it anymore.
He wanted to leave. He had to leave. Otherwise he will forever hate the oceans when he had sworn to love it as a child.
Sighing and thinking about the reasons Admiral Yoshimura called for him, he pushed forward. He walked past several trees as he glanced over at the harbor to see the large docks and facilities hard at work while he noticed several figures skidding on the ocean. All of them were wearing heavy backpacks with canons strapped onto them.
They were Kanmusu or Fleet Girls, special girls who possess souls and spirits of historical naval vessels of the past and wears special mechanized outfits. From the little information he had gathered, they were accidently found by Japanese scientists who sent this information around the world before the Abyssal Fleet severed the intercontinental communication permanently and pushed them off the oceans.
The Abyssal Fleet… The enemy of Mankind and the abominations he experienced. They suddenly appeared from the depths of the ocean and attacked humans, pushing them out of the seas causing communication between nations to become impossible. Conventional weapons also didn't work against them. The only thing that worked against them was the Kanmusu. Some say that the Abyssal Fleet and the Kanmusu are two sides of the same coin but whatever the case may be, thanks to them, Mankind can now go on the offensive.
He watched the girls leave the harbor for their regular patrol duty before turning back to the front. None of that now mattered to him since he was going to leave this place forever. Before he could increase his pace, something caught his eyes.
He stopped his walk as he turned his eyes between a small alley between two buildings. He noticed a young girl wearing a short school blouse, black pleated skirt with two small white stripes on the bottom, long dark socks and brown shoes. She had brown hair with the back of her hair curled upwards with a red clip, forming a small ponytail and light brown eyes.
Her eyes were darting in fear as surrounding her were three naval officers, all of them had a smug look as they stared at the girl.
Narrowing his eyes, Kaito made his way towards the three of them as their voices entered his ear.
"Dude, are you sure this is alright?"
"Hehehe. It's fine right? We have this pretty girl here with us… Let's have our fun."
Kaito narrowed his eyes further at their intent as the girl noticed another man coming as she turned her attention to his direction.
"Oi. What the hell are you three idiots doing?" Kaito called out as the three of them spun around to find Kaito walking towards them while sizing them up as they clicked their tongues in annoyance.
"Who the hell are you? Get lost since you are disturbing- ugh!" one officer tried to speak but was interrupted with a fist in his stomach as he bent forward before dropping to his knees. The other two men widened their eyes in shock as they stared at Kaito. Suddenly one of them recognized him as he began to cower back in fear.
"Oi… We better get out of here! That's Hamazaki Kaito, the one people call 'Davy Jones'."
Kaito twitched his eyes at the name as he glared at the remaining two men who flinched at his eyes.
Davy Jones or Davy Jones's locker is an idiom for the bottom of the sea and for the final resting place for sailors. It was a name considered a bad omen or luck among sailors and that nickname was placed on him as way to show that he was cursed.
Kaito pointed behind him with his thumb and serious expression.
"Grab your friend and get lost. I don't want to see your faces in front of her again." Kaito explained as the two nodded their heads before grabbing their friend, carrying him out of the alley. Kaito sighed as he relaxed himself before turning back to check on the girl to see that she had disappeared. Kaito glanced around in all directions for a second before sighing as he walked out of the alley.
Probably got scared of me… Oh well better go before I will be really late. Kaito thought as he pushed himself forward towards the Headquarters, wondering why he was called out on his last day on the job. Little did he know that the girl he had saved hid in a corner, her hand clenching her chest with her face slightly red.
Headquarters
Kaito gulped down some spit as he stood in front of the Fleet Admiral's office. A slight nervous drip of sweat dropped from his chin. He fished out his phone to check the time to see that he was already 10 minutes late when he told the Fleet Admiral he would come in 10. He fearfully lifted his before knocking on the door twice in quick succession. A silence erupted from the room as Kaito waited nervously for a reply, hoping the Fleet Admiral won't be mad.
"Come in."
A voice called from the inside as Kaito exhaled a quick breath and adjusted himself to look presentable before entering the room. He entered the room and quickly flung his hand up near his head and saluted.
"Ensign Hamazaki Kaito, reporting sir!" Kaito called out as he looked straight at an old man sitting in front of him on his chair with a gray beard and almost white hair. Standing near him was the same woman who went to wake Kaito up as she stiffened at his sight. The Fleet Admiral, Yoshimura smiled slightly at the sight of Kaito.
"At ease Kaito. Let me finish listening to her report before we talk. Sit in this chair while you wait and if you like, you can grab some coffee from the corner." Yoshimura said as he pointed to the corner before turning back to the woman who began to continue her report. Kaito, taking up on his offer, walk over to the coffee machine to prepare himself for a hot drink.
He hadn't eaten breakfast so this would help solve that problem slightly. He grabbed a paper cup and began to pour some coffee into it before taking a sip of it and made his way towards the chair. He glanced around the room as various paintings of ships and photos of young men smiling with Fleet Admiral littered the walls. Shelves lined one side as books and medals filled the spaces.
Kaito sat on the chair and sipped the coffee as he waited patiently for Yoshimura to finish. He was nodding his head at every little bit of detail his assistant was giving him while his assistant was keeping her attention on Kaito for any suspicious movement.
Deciding to ignore her stares, Kaito took another sip before staring out the window, which had a view of the beautiful ocean as it gleamed from the sunlight that reflected off it. He watched wave after wave move through the waters peacefully. He had wished that the Abyssal Fleet never appeared since then he would be able to relax and take a swim in the ocean that was taken away from them.
"-… That is all to report, sir."
"Good work, Murayama-kun. You may leave us" Yoshimura said as his assistant saluted before leaving the room with one last glance at Kaito. Kaito took a final sip of his coffee and crushed the paper cup. He looked behind him to see the trash can before turning back to the front and throwing the cup towards the trash.
Yoshimura watched it fly with a smile as the assistant watched it hit the rim before dropping into the trash. The assistant widened her eyes as Kaito smirked to himself before looking up at the Fleet Admiral. The assistant snapped out her shock before hurrying out of the door.
"Hoh… Impressive. It really seems like you have his blood. He would only be able to that on a lucky day." Yoshimura mused as Kaito twitched his eyes at the mention of 'his blood'. Being the Fleet Admiral, he naturally knew many of the personal including his father. Kaito didn't really like his parents due to always being away from home and their military like attitude due to being Admirals. Deciding to ignore the Fleet Admiral's comment, he continued the conversation forward.
"From me it would be an unlucky day... Anyway, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about, Fleet Admiral?"
"No need to be so stiff, my boy. I have known you since you were very young. Just call me how you call me in private." Yoshimura said with a smile as Kaito nodded his head. Yoshimura and his father were very close, as his father had worked under him on various occasions in the past. As such, Yoshimura had somewhat became his grandfather since he never met his real grandfather. He always liked Yoshimura since while his parents were away, Yoshimura would often visit him and they would talk about the ocean or visit aquariums together.
"…Understood, Yoshimura-jiji. So what is it?"
"…I heard you are wanting to leave the Navy… Is it because of the 'Okinawa Flames Incident'?" Yoshimura asked as Kaito froze before looking away.
The Okinawa Flames Incident. Six months ago, Okinawa Base, one of the strongest of bases in the Japanese Naval Forces or JNF was attacked by a large Abyssal Fleet, the largest the Japanese Navy as ever seen. Because of the attack, Okinawa was completely ravaged and everything was destroyed. No survivors were found except one.
Kaito tightened his grip on his fists as Yoshimura looked on with a slight worry before sighing and standing up out his chair, turning to the window and looking out.
"There was nothing you could have done in that situation Kaito. You don't have to blame yourself…"
"I don't understand Yoshimura-jiji… Why did I have to survive…? There were others who had better qualifications like Admiral Nakamura… Yet why did I…" Kaito angrily said as his body shook slightly while his eyes narrowing to hold back his tears. Yoshimura glanced over his shoulder without a change in expression before turning back around and grabbing a file placed on his table and throwing it in closer to him.
Kaito snapped out of his state as he looked at the file before glancing up. Seeing Yoshimura motioning him, he took the file and opened it. Inside contained several images of an island with a base like facilities on it. Kaito narrowed his eyes at the name. Shinkai-jima or Deep Sea Island.
"As you know, ever since the appearance of the Abyssal Fleet, there has been unexplained rises of islands from out of the sea. This is one of those islands, located in between Okidaitou-jima, Iwo Jima and Okinotori-shima, the southernmost island and base of the JNF. We have recently finished constructing a base there two months ago and you will be station there as the one in charge of the base." Yoshimura explained as Kaito's head spun up at his explanation. He closed the file and placed it on the table.
"I'm sorry but you do know that I am leaving the Navy today. That is why I can't-"
"You're request to leave has been denied." Yoshimura interrupted as Kaito shot out of his chair and slammed both his hands on the table.
"What!? You can't be serious Yoshimura-jiji!"
"I'm sorry Kaito. We are short handed so we can't afford to lose anyone."
Great… So much for that… Kaito thought in his mind as he slumped back down to his chair. He had thought finally that he would be able to get out of all this and not live through a hell like that again. He sighed deeply as Yoshimura looked on with concern.
"I understand how you feel but we need someone of your skill set for a base like this. Don't worry… It's not going to be a forward attack base, more like a support base and also a base to defend nearby supply lines." Yoshimura explained again with a small smile as Kaito looked at him with a slight depressed look. Suddenly something in his words caught his attention.
"Umm… Yoshimura-san, I'm still an Ensign. I can't possibly take command of a supply base…"
"Ah, that is not a problem. Hamazaki Kaito, I hereby use my authority to promote you from Ensign to Lieutenant Commander." Yoshimura announced as Kaito widened his eyes. He had never heard of someone getting a 3 rank promotion in his life. Seeing no way to escape from all this, he sighed heavily and grabbed the file once again before looking up with a more determined look, earning a mental smile of Yoshimura as his face straightened as if getting onto business.
"So it's like a stop point for supply vessels heading to Okinotori-shima correct?"
"Correct. The supply ships will drop of some resources for you but you will be getting a steady supply from the island especially fuel. However you can always find more when you do expeditions."
"And you said something about skill set earlier. What did you mean by that? I mean, I did poorly at the… Academy you know."
"Kaito, I have known you for a long time and seen you grow. Numbers from the Academy mean nothing to me. You have abilities of an experience officer with a level head and the ability to think on your feet. Plus you becoming an officer of a Kanmusu means you have to think outside of the box." Yoshimura explained carefully as Kaito nodded his head in understanding before his mind froze and his eyes fluttered.
Did he just say… Kanmusu…!?
"Umm… Fleet Admiral? What do you mean by Kanmusu?" Kaito fearfully asked, addressing Yoshimura formally as Yoshimura smiled.
"Hmm? Oh since you will be in charge of a base, you will be give a Kanmusu to help you plus the base is capable of constructing more by using resources."
"You must be joking…"
"You will be fine Kaito. They won't cause so much problems and I'm sure you can develop a trusting relationship with them… Kaito, before she comes, I need to tell you a little bit about the one you are getting assigned." Yoshimura said, as his tone was serious but slightly sad. Kaito watched him quietly as he waited several minutes for him to speak.
"This girl has problems developing relationships. She is somewhat shy and timid so it might take sometime for her to warm up to you. However I'm sure you can do it so please take care of her." Yoshimura said with a slight bow as Kaito nodded his head. Once he had finished, a quiet knock erupted as Kaito stood up out his chair and turned to face the door.
"Enter" Yoshimura said with a slightly raised voice. The doorknob turned as in walked a small young girl; she was slightly stiff from nervousness. She closed the door before taking two a step in front of the two of them. Kaito widened his eyes slightly as she watched her speak.
"M-My name is I-Inazuma, fourth ship of the Akatsuki-class Destroyers. Ple-Pleased to meet you nanodesu." the girl, Inazuma introduced herself before saluting quickly then proceed to bow. She then looked at the Fleet Admiral before looking at the other person as she widened her eyes at him. It was the blue haired boy, the same one that saved her from that gang of three in the alleyway. Her heart rate increased slightly as it seemed like the boy recognized her.
" " You are…" "
The two them talked at the same time as they pointed towards each other. The two of them stopped in mid sentence as Inazuma turned away with a small blush on her cheeks while Kaito rubbed the back of his head.
"Oh? You know her?"
"Ye-Yes, sir… I met her a couple minutes ago by accident…" Kaito replied, trying not to make a scene or give too much detail at what happened as Yoshimura nodded his head slowly, suspicious of the two of them. He shook his head before coughing into his fist.
"Anyway, she will be your first ship. Now, you have about 20 minutes before the supply ship leaves for the base with it arriving tomorrow morning." Yoshimura announced as Kaito spun around with wide eyes.
"20 minutes!? You are kidding me! I'm not even ready to leave yet! Shit! If you will excuse me, Fleet Admiral! Inazuma! I am Hamazaki Kaito! I look forward in working with you!" Kaito said in a rush as he saluted the two of them before smiling at Inazuma. He grabbed the file and bolted out the door, leaving it hanging open. Inazuma turned to watch her commander bolt out the door as she stared at the door before turning back to the Fleet Admiral after hearing him chuckle.
"Amusing guy isn't he?" Yoshimura inquired as Inazuma nodded her head before turning back to the door that he forgot to close. The Fleet Admiral watched her for a couple seconds before speaking up once again.
"There are some scary rumors around about him but he isn't like that at all. I hope you will be able to look past that… Now you should start heading towards the ship."
"Ye-Yes Fleet Admiral. Th-Thank you for everything. Goodbye nanodesu."
"Goodbye, young one" Yoshimura said as Inazuma quietly left the room and closed the door behind her. Yoshimura spun his chair around as he stared at the ocean. He smiled at himself at making the right choice of having Inazuma with Kaito.
"I'm expecting a lot of things from you Kaito… Don't fail me." Yoshimura muttered as he watched a seagull fly into the distance.
And here you go! First chapter of another new story. This chapter introduces Kaito, his terrifying past and his first ship, Inazuma. Let's see what dangerous awaits for the two of them.
I will be adding more ships so if you want to suggest some then please write them in the reviews.
Also I found a... pretty gruesome niconico video so for those of you who have an account then maybe you might want to take a look(Also will have this posted on my profile):
.jp/watch/sm26149159
Honestly this video is really interesting but at the same time, a little depressing... I almost cried... If the anime was a bit more like this then holy shit... Seriously watch it but prepare yourself...
Anyway hope this interests some of you guys. Next update is my Highschool DxD fic, Life of a Warrior. We have that Loki battle that you guys wanted to see ;) Anyway see you guys next time! :)