Chapter 15: Get Packing
"Hey Dovey," Rust's voice emulated through my cellphone. "You have a mandatory request from my dad. Reed will pick you up after school."
"Can I do this another time? I have to attend my mother's funeral. I'll have time on the weekend to move the products around," I responded calmly. "I'm sure your dad would understand that this is important."
"Listen here, I am going to ask you this once. Get your ass over to the school's gates by 3:30 or you will be taught a lesson on listening to your superiors," he hung up; leaving me in a dilemma as I exited the school bathroom sighing as I left the door with my eyes glued to the floor.
"You okay?" a soft voice reached me, turning to be met face to face with a girl that I recognize as Eveline.
Eveline wore a white T-shirt, light blue denim shorts, and white socks accompanied by black sneakers. Her silky black hair was down with a pink hair clip to keep her hair organized, brown eyes, and olive colored skin. Her reputation in the school is interesting, to say the least best known for being one of the school's smartest and her overwhelming kindness towards everyone.
"Oh, it's you, Eveline," I acknowledged, "Well, I've seen better days."
She let out a light giggle, "You know you can tell me if you have a bad day."
"It's nothing. You wouldn't want to get involved in my rainy day."
"You know… You are always so gloomy and hanging out with Jack. Did he get you in trouble?" her right hand landed on my back, patting it, "I know we don't talk much, but you can talk to me."
"Look, I know you like helping people. But if you get involved, Jack is willing to kick anyone's ass," I warned. "This is for your own safety, Eveline."
"Hmm… Well if you have the need to talk to someone. You have me. I'll give you my phone number if you ever need to talk through text," Eveline offered, digging through her backpack for her phone presumably.
When she pulled out her phone, I was a bit reluctant at first, but who else do I have to turn to in order to talk about this business? My uncle? My sister? Both of them will be in danger if they get involved. Evelin will be too, but if she is really willing to go as far as to help me talk about this business…
"If I tell you this. Can you make me a promise?"
"That is…?"
"Don't talk about this to anyone. Especially Jack," I lightly placed my right hand on her shoulder. "I'm in a bad position between being Jack's quote on quote friend and his jobs at his dad's workplace. If I defy his orders, I might get fired or worse for the time coming."
Eveline's eyes widened at the news, "Oh… Oh no. You really shouldn't have cooperated with him in the first place. Have you heard the rumors about him?"
"No," I simply stated. "What makes him stand out?"
"Well, from word of mouth. I heard his Dad runs one of the few fearsome gangs that walk the downtown area. I have only heard this once and I don't know how reliable this is, but…" Her concern only grew larger. "Apparently Jack had killed one of the staff at his old school before he got transferred here and was bailed with a large sum of money. You really need to leave that man whenever possible."
"I would, but I can't do that without raising some alarms with him always watching me. Even if I asked him, I think that would just put me on the top of his watch list," I took a step backward, retracing my arm back. "You don't need to help me. I know that you like helping people, but you don't need to help everyone you come across."
The school bells went off signifying the return to our classroom. The students came flooding in the halls as I made my way through the dense crowd, all of them cautiously repelled away as they approached me. To be completely honest, this feels nice but something feels off when they all move away. Was it the uncomfortable glaring? Their fearful faces when they see me? I have to stop thinking about this.
The topic kept popping back in my head as I proceeded through the day. As time moved on, it became more and more distracting as the time kept on ticking. Class became increasingly more burdensome to focus o. I just wanted the day to be over as my eyes kept leering at the clock, seeing the hand move closer to the end. My mind focused on going home…
Oh no… Rust…
The school bell blared its tunes through the PA system; all of my classmates left eagerly as my teacher announced the work for the week all while cleaning up his station. Me, I just froze, rhythmically tapping my head.
"Everyone must go. I have a meeting but I will be available after school tomorrow," he announced, specifically to me because I was still sitting ignorant to the fact that the bell had rung.
"Sorry, I'll get out of your hair, Mr. G," I started packing.
"Just be sure to close the door when you leave the room," He told me as he was leaving the room.
"Make the damn decision already," I told myself. "We must make choices in life… Should have added not all of them are good choices or something if he really wanted to be inspirational."
Placing the last of my books, I slung my bag over my shoulders, moving my way from the door to the bustling hall traffic. Again moving through the halls, everyone made way for me creating a chilling creep up my spine as many of them stopped and glared at me. I could hear their soft murmurs, the rumors that they spread of my infamous persona as one of Rust's colleagues.
"Hey! Little Dove," A feminine voice called amongst the crowd.
Spinning on my heel, I made swift surveillance to see my older sister's head popping in and out of the human traffic. I immediately started backtracking towards her, seeing her struggle to push through the crowd.
"Hey sis," I greeted, pulling up beside her as we walked towards the school gates.
"…Little bro, what do you think about mom?" She asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think that mom did a good job at taking care of us?" She bluntly clarified, looking at me.
"I think that she did okay for someone who worked in a dangerous line of work," I lied.
Mom wasn't great, but she tried her best to be a mother. She always puts her line of work over us every time. When she is home, all she does is laze on the couch and spend time on her laptop doing god knows what. She would occasionally trade around a word or two from time to time. Still, she left us for what? To protect people?
"Oh shoot, I forgot my textbook. I'll be right back," She said, beating it for her locker which was a bit ways away.
Finally left to my own devices, I kept my head low as I was vigilant, looking out for Rust. What to do if he found out? Will he really kill me if I defy him?
I shook off my negative thoughts as I approached the empty gates, standing by as I kept dwelling on why my sister said about mom. That was until Rust decided to come and break them.
"You are here early," Rust said.
"Oh… Rust. Yeah listen, can you just let me go to my mother's funeral, and then I can go do your dad's task?"
"Oh yeah, you can," Rust casually stated, "Did you not get the part where I said that you are needed on this?"
"Look, Jack, I need to be there or I might get into serious trouble. I'm already on a thread in terms of my uncle," I stated. "Please, I need to go—"
My words didn't reach him as I was given a haymaker straight to the face followed up by a kick to the gut; knocking the air right of my lungs as I grasped my stomach, falling on my side as I bellowed in pain.
"You don't go, you get beaten to the ground," Rust explained.
"I need to go, meathead. I'm sure you would understand—" He shot his leg into my chest, flipping me onto my back.
"When I tell you to go, you go. Simple as that."
He didn't stop there, as I was bellowing he started stomping on my chest; sending jolts of pain while I tried to shield the hits all while grasping my stomach. Every time I moved to protect myself, he would switch up to stomping my head or kicking my neck when I tried to protect myself. I wanted to cry for help, but his beatings were making it impossible as the pain combined with the struggle to breathe was retraining me from yelling. Even if I did, who would even dare to go toe to toe with the likes of Rust? I was screwed until my savior came.
"Stop this madness!" A familiar voice called.
He stopped when he landed his foot on my chest. I wasn't able to turn towards the voice, but it sounded similar to Eveline's.
"You stay out of this," Rust retorted.
"Security will hear about this if you don't stop. Jack," she threatened.
"Perhaps you would like a pummeling as well, Eveline?"
"Please leave her alone," I said weakly.
He responded with a swift stomp to my chest, silencing me.
"Is she your girlfriend? Ha! To think someone like you would have her by your side," Rust mocked, giving me one last kick this time to the jaw. "Well, I guess you are nex—"
A struggle could be heard beside me. Even though my head was spinning and hard to think, I started praying to god that he wasn't strangling Eveline. My eyes were looking up at the sky, hoping that it wasn't what I was thinking.
"Jack, you really messed up," another voice echoed, a loud thump which sounded like a stuffed duffel bag hitting the ground could be heard. "Whew… Glad I got here on time. You okay Little Dove?"
"Sis," I croaked, still crutching my wounds.
Her steps came closer, picking me up by an arm while steadily pulling me to my feet. "Up you go."
"Thanks, sis," I spoke softly, looking over my shoulder only to stop as my neck wounds made the pain worse. "What did you do to Jack?"
"I just put him in a chokehold, he'll be fine for the time being," she turned towards me with a slight expression of anger. "I don't know what type of beef you had with Jack. But you shouldn't be around him."
"Did he see you take you down," I inquired, hiding my concerns for her safety.
"I don't think so," she said with uncertainty. "I'm just glad that Eveline bought a little time before he did more damage."
"It's nothing really," she humbly said, chuckling nervously.
"Well, thank you Eveline for looking out for me," I said. "Maybe I'll take up on your offer."
"A what now?" My sister asked.
"Nothing," we both replied.
"Today is the day isn't it?" Asked the doctor, both of them are outside of Shikikan's house.
Shikikan is dressed in his commander's uniform with a camping backpack and two rolling suitcases parked on his sides.
"Yup, I can finally leave for the time being. I put the faction leaders in charge of the base for the time being. If they cause any trouble, be sure to contact me, I'll give them some drills for being out of line," Shikikan told the doctor.
"I'm sure they won't cause conflicts with both each other or the team."
"Why exactly are you here? If you are here to talk about last-minute tests, put them on hold. My flight is in three hours and I want to get there early."
"No, I just want you to say bye to you in person," the doctor stated. "And… I need you to pick up something when you arrive. Here is the address."
Corrian dug through her lab pockets and fished out a yellow note that contained the address written in blue ink, handing the slip to his hands.
"Why are you sending the package to me when you can just give it to me now?" Shikikan took the slip out of her hands, examining the address before stuffing it in his pocket protector.
"Oh, you know. Weight fee," she remarked, making the commander a oh I'm dumb gesture.
"Well, I'll be seeing you," Shikikan pulled the trolley handle of his cases to the top. "See you next week."
He left her standing on his front door as she watched over the commander left. Pulling up her phone she typed a message.
He will be there.
Good Work!
Shikikan pushed through the crowd of shipgirls as they said their regards as if he were leaving. Some of them were kind and caring while others were more touchy than the others.
"Shikikan-sama~ Taihou would like to come along to see your home too~," Taihou said, hugging his arm between her breasts.
"No can do, Taihou. I'm the only one going and this is personal business."
The Sakura carrier pouted, tightening her grip on the commander; locking him in place. When he tried to move, he stared at the carrier with an indifferent facial expression.
"Listen Taihou, just be good and stay," Shikikan commanded. "If you do, I'll get you a special gift when I come back, okay?"
"Really?"
He gave her a simple nod; letting him go she responded "Can you promise me that you won't talk to any other girls?"
"Oh please, the only girl that I will be seeing is my older sister."
"You don't mean that dog do you, Shikikan?" An ominous voice echoed to the two of them; turning towards the source stood the only other person who would belittle any girl.
"Akagi…"
"Shikikan doesn't want to be with an old fox like you. Right Shikikan?" Inquired Taihou, violently hugging Shikikan's side making him go off balance for a moment. "Shikikan likes young and beautiful women like myself. Right commander?"
"You damn insect let go of Shikikan right this moment before I remove you from him myself!" Akagi threatened as she lightly clenched her fists, the atmosphere around them grew heavy.
Now I have to defuse this situation. This job just gets better and better.
"Both of you, if you ever fight while I'm gone. The both of you won't be getting any gifts when I come back and you two will be given brutal exercises until I come back. Do I make myself clear?" Shikikan retorted, the two of them now more docile than before as silence filled the air. "Good, good… I better expect good results when I come back."
"Shikikan-sama…" Akagi said shyly.
"Yes?"
"Am I important to you?" The kitsune questioned. "You always seem to be avoiding me even though you promise that you would spend time with me."
"What's this about, Akagi?"
"Just answer the question."
"I…" Deeply sighing, Shikikan came up with an excuse. "I simply don't have the time nor the courage or motivation. I put my family and job first before all else. As for you, you are special to me. All of you are every faction, every worker, every one of you kansens. If I were to live a different life or become a different person, I would spend time with all of you. Right now, I have family matters to put first. Until then, would you please wait for me?"
"If you say you would, then I will wait for your embrace," Akagi replied. "Can't I come with you, Shikian-sama?"
"I'm sorry. But, as I said to Taihou, this is personal. I know that you want to be at my side always to fight for me. This is for your own safety. There is only one Akagi and Taihou after all."
"Are you leaving us, Shikikan?" Questioned Akagi.
"What? No?!"
"It certainly sounds like Shikikan-sama wants to leave Akagi. I know when you are lying you know!" Akagi shouted, stepping closer to him.
"I'm not leaving. What makes you think that?" He asked on the verge of shouting back.
"This is why Shikikan-sama doesn't like spending time with you. You always escalate the situation when it's unnecessary," commented Taihou.
"Why you!" Akagi's temper seemed to be at a boiling point with Taihou still here, still, she seems to keep herself from an all out battle.
"Taihou, please leave us be. This will get even messier if you stay around," Shikikan cautioned the carrier.
"Shikikan-sama, what if she decides to take you away from Taihou? I can't let you out of my sights—"
"Be a good girl and go," He interrupted with a passively threatening tone.
"If that is what you wish, then Taihou will go. Just be sure to yell my name if she causes you trouble, Shikikan~" The carrier took her leave, disappearing from their range of view, leaving the commander and the brown kitsune alone.
"Are you really not leaving us?"
"No. I don't know what kind of rumors you girls are spreading but I'm not leaving. Not now or anytime in the future," He stated.
"But, Ms. Corrian said that you were willing to leave if you got the chance to."
"That woman," he muttered. "No, I'm not leaving. Ever. I've met many good people during my time here; it would be a waste to leave them behind for another job and to leave you behind would be foolish."
"Prove it," the carrier demanded.
"What?"
"Prove that you won't leave us."
"Uh, h-hold on," he stuttered, searching through his bags he brought out a display case with all of his medals. "Open your hand."
The fox woman perplexed, opened up her hands as the commander dropped a star-shaped gold-plated medal in her hands.
"Here is my trust," Shikikan closed her hands. "My Medal of Honor is for you to keep until I come back, is that enough for you—"
"Oh, Shikikan," Akagi walked the remaining distance between them, giving him a tight hug.
Shikikan was a bit surprised by her action as it was very sudden. He didn't protest or push her back but rather embraced her intimate action. Shikikan was reluctant at first but soon returned the favor to the woman in front of him, making the Sakura carrier smile.
"I need to go, Akagi. Please take care of yourself and my trust while I go," Shikikan asked of the carrier.
"Just a bit longer, Shikikan-sama~"
With a silent exhales and slightly shaking his head, he waited patiently for the fox woman to be satisfied. For around five minutes of her embrace (which thankfully nobody saw at least) felt like an hour, Akagi gave her send off to the commander as she watched him leave her sights all while keeping his medal close to her heart.
"I can't thank you enough for doing this Claire," Shikikan gratefully thanked her for driving him to the airport.
"It's nothing, Commander Shikikan. I'm just repaying the favor of getting rid of your friend so quickly," stated Claire. "I probably would have shot him between the eyes if he didn't stop boasting himself."
Shikikan chuckled to himself, reminding him of the days where he had to deal with Monroe's non-stop yapping. "He is always like that. Always."
Picking up his luggage from the Jeep, Claire bid him farewell as she drove back to base. Rolling through the semi-bustling airport, he got himself checked out for his flight which he had around a bit less than an hour to look for souvenirs for his uncle or maybe his sister too. Rolling around with his bags, passing by brightly colored sweet shops, beauty stores, and clothing shops with the occasional recognition given by people who came to sightsee for the summer.
"Oh my god! You are the commander of Azur Lane aren't you!" A rowdy teenage girl acknowledged Shikikan's presence, catching the attention of what he can assume are her parents who were at the waiting center.
"Uh… You got the wrong person," Shikikan pulled down his cap as he tried to avoid the little girl's attention by leaving her behind.
"No I don't. You look just like him," the insistent girl said following as if she were a stray dog.
It didn't take long for one of the parents to notice her rude behavior as her dad came to stop her daughter. "I'm so sorry for her behavior, Admiral."
Hearing the last part made him smile internally, turning towards him he responded. "It's not really a problem. I've dealt with much worse at my job."
"Oh really? It's every man's dream to run your job. You are the one who runs Azur Lane right?" the man inquired.
"Yeah, yeah. The job comes with its perks and the unfortunate nagging of people whenever I go out. It's a tough job really."
"I can only imagine," the man cackled. "Well, I better get going. I can't leave my wife alone. She tends to get antsy and nervous without me. Sarah, do you have anything to say to the Admiral?"
"Yeah, sorry for my indecent behavior. Can I take a picture with you?" The girl asked politely, her aqua blue phone case in her hands.
"Well… sure."
With a single awkward picture, a wave, and a farewell to each other, Shikikan keeps browsing the stores for a good returning gift for his uncle. After a few minutes of browsing, one particular place caught his eye. It was a small booth run by a brown-haired middle-aged man with painted murals and landscapes with most of them on the Azur Lane island and a few of the kansens on display. Currently, the man was eating a sandwich as he observed as people went past his stand. The man must have felt Shikikan's presence because he caught him in the act of leering at him and the stand. Embarrassed, Shikikan immediately turned away from the man and started his path again to look for gifts only to collide with a young man. His physique is slender, his eyes brown, his curly hair also brown. He was wearing a yellow polo shirt, tan cargo shorts, and brown tennis shoes that looked a bit oversized for him.
"Oof," the young man grunted. "I'm so sorry… Wait, you are Commander Shikikan."
"Uh… Yeah…" Shikikan confirmed.
"Oh, man. It must be my lucky day," the young man rejoiced. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Favien. Monroe told me about you."
"Huh… You guys met in the same art school?" Shikikan assumed.
"No, we went to school together and what a coincidence, same art school here," Favien confirmed. "Are you traveling somewhere?"
"I'm visiting home. You?"
"I help run a stand with my dad here in this airport. It's right over there," Favien pointed at the stand with the middle-aged man. "Bit on the small side, but we don't really care. We just do it for fun. You want to see my latest piece?"
"I have some time to spare. Why not?" Shikikan said, following Favien's lead.
"Hey pops, this is the commander and uh… yeah…" he said, awkwardly smiling, his father responding with a single head nod. "…Right, the painting is right here."
He reached inside of the booth and pulled out a large painting canvas with a portrait of Enterprise aiming her bow out on the blue sea.
"What do you think?" Favien asked.
"It's good…" Shikikan complimented. "Could use more detail on the uniform but it's not too far off from the real deal."
"Ah it's nothing," Favien said humbly, poorly hiding his flustered face as he tucked away the portrait.
"Do you know any good places for gifts like souvenirs?" The commander asked.
"Well, there is an entire store dedicated to the Azur Lane Organization, there is a sweet shop that sells some good stuff. Uh…" Favien lidded his eyes momentarily, tapping his head with his index finger; trying to think of other places.
"Gate seven is now boarding," The airport PA system announced.
"Huh, I guess I had less time than I thought. It was nice meeting you, Favien. Tell Monroe that I said hello," Shikikan bidded him farewell, pulling his belongings with him. "I'll be sure to check out the places you mentioned."
"Wait," Favien ordered. "Do you want a painting?"
"It's fine," Shikikan assured him. "My uncle doesn't really like art much. Thanks for the offer, Favien."
After around a couple of hours worth of boredom on a metal tube and blood-clotted knees; the plane finally landed. Leaving the port he was immediately greeted with the bright summer sunlight that he was very familiar with.
Finally home…
"Little Dove," A voice exclaimed.
"Uncle…"
A lanky man wearing a gray T-shirt with a white tiger and navy blue jeans appeared out of the crowd. His black-brown hair was slicked back, his expression seemed a bit enthusiastic with a tinge of irritation to it.
Pushing through the crowd, Shikikan met up with my uncle as he took one of his rolling bags. They started walking through the parking lot chatting aimlessly about how Shikikan has been doing in Azur Lane, how his uncle has been doing, the usual small talk.
"So…" his uncle started. "You became a commander in less than half a war now and everyone calls you Shikikan."
"Yeah, quite unbelievable if you say it that way."
"You have made a few friends right? And they helped you get there?" He kept on interrogating.
"Yes, uncle…" I stated. "I told you about him. Monroe is a bit of a handful but a good friend nonetheless."
"I see…" his uncle said, packing my suitcases into the trunk. "Have you fallen for someone?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me this?" Shikikan questioned aggressively.
"You know exactly why," his uncle answered. "They are god-sent girls. Yet you don't care."
"Yeah, because it's a distraction and unnecessary."
"More like you don't want to be responsible to maintain a stable relationship. Look at Eve," his uncle haphazardly stated, this earned him a deathly glare from Shikikan. "I take it back. Jeez, you never like girls do you?"
"I'm just going to ignore that," Shikikan got in the passenger seat, pulling up the note with the address, he inputted it into the car's GPS. "Uncle, I need you to drive us here. I have to pick something up from a colleague."
"Right…" His uncle said, gazing at the screen, he raised a brow at the destination. "That's an airfield."
"It's whatever. My co-worker said it is important so let's get to it. It's not even that far away from here," Shikikan mentioned calmly.
"Right, let's get going then."
He inserted the key into the ignition, turning it, making the car roar to life. Driving towards the destination in complete silence the entire way. Reaching the airfield, they were instantly greeted by a smiling young man who they can assume worked there.
"Hello," he politely introduced himself. "My name is Connor. I'm guessing you are the commander she spoke of. Are you here on Dr. Corrian's behalf?"
"Yes," Shikikan said in a monotone voice.
"Great, the person she sent is— oh wait she is there," Connor spun around to reveal…
"Oh for the love of god…"
"Hello, Shikikan."
This chapter was a bit difficult to nail down but still pretty decent in my eyes. School will be starting in less than a week so the uploads will be less consistent as I have to prepare for college. I will try to squeeze out the next chapter before it starts. Until then, I'll see you later.