Hello everyone once again onboard
Big thank you goes out to Killroy122496 for his help with the chapter and story in general
I don´t have anything to say other than the usual really so enjoy the chapter everyone ;)
Forgetting the past means not learning for a better future
Chapter 25: The Hunt
Akeno had slightly hesitated before she fired at the last remaining frigate but instead of the dark orange beams only light blue ones hit the ship except of cutting the ship apart and causing it to explode it seemed as if the entire frigate was being electrocuted as blue lightning was jumping all over it.
Onboard the Harekaze most of the crew was watching the unfolding battle sure everyone was relieved that someone saved them but at the same time they started questioning just how a single ship possessed this much power as the lone battle cruiser easily sunk or heavily damaged four of the five frigates before disabling the last one after surviving a massive torpedo and missile barrage.
Shinju knew the flag that this lone battle cruiser had was the one of the Rising Sun fleet but so far she had only heard rumors about this strange fleet but the display of pure power and strength gave her the final push she needed to decide what to do in the near future she just hopped everyone else would agree with her decision.
Onboard the Tsukuba Akeno was breathing heavily as she could barely move due to the exhaustion she felt right now "Damn that is some really scary power but the exhaustion is even worse once you are done" Akeno mumbled completely exhausted as she slumped against the rudder with her back resting against it.
[I need to contact that destroyer before I pass out] Akeno thought as she reached for her headset and hailed the destroyer "This is China Shinju captain of the Harekaze who are you?" was the simple message from the destroyer which caused Akeno to smile a bit "This is battlecruiser Tsukuba I hear you Harekaze to answer you though I came instead of the Graf Spee and it was just in time as well" Akeno replied trying to keep her exhaustion from her voice.
It took a moment before the same girl talked over radio once more "Tsukuba we are thankful for you assistance but it would seem we might need your help to get to our meeting point as our engine just gave up on us" was the simple message but there was a bit of embarrassment in the girls voice for some reason.
Akeno didn't think to long about that before she changed course to pull up right behind the dead in the water Harekaze "Understood Harekaze I will rig up a tow with your ship until you manage to repair your engines" Akeno replied as she got up on unsteady feet to head to the aft of her ship.
It took Akeno and several Harekaze crew members about an hour to rig up the tow before they were finally underway but due to the Tsukuba towing the Harekaze they couldn't move at full speed that also meant that Akeno had to sail out and around the storm as the Harekaze only had its hand pumps at the moment to deal with the water that was getting into the ship.
Akeno had decided to take a nap before she passed out somewhere on her ship and by the time she woke up again the Tsukuba had almost caught up with the rest of the fleet again of course Akeno had to explain what had happened which didn't take all that long and about two hours later the Tsukuba meet up with the rest of the large fleet Akeno however went right back to sleep after she made sure they were heading back home.
The night went by without incident but in the early morning hours Akeno got a call over her satellite phone [Who could that be?] Akeno thought as only a few people knew the number of this phone but the obnoxious thing continued to ring so she picked up.
"Hello who is this?" Akeno asked still waking up.
"Hello Aikara Misariutski-sama I simply wished to inform you that something requires your personal attention at the company" the Voice of an old man answered her.
"I see I will take care of this as soon as possible good day" Akeno replied before hanging up.
Akeno knew that this day would come at some point so she went over to her wardrobe to pack a few formal attires as well as her grandfathers' blade and mantel into a simple duffel bag before she went to find her sister.
Akeno explained what was going on to Shirayuri as soon as she found her "So how long will you be gone?" Shirayuri asked with a thoughtful expression "I really have no idea about that but I hope not too long, I will take my plane and head to Tokyo later today so we can get a few things cleared up with our two new ships before then" Akeno replied and so they did exactly that.
Akeno and Shirayuri talked with Kaida and Shinju about what they wanted to do but only Kaida had an answer to that so far "Me and my crew onboard the Graf Spee wish to become part of the Rising sun Fleet to remove the Blue Mermaids from power as they have become the evil we are supposed to protect others from" Kaida simply said and for the most part Akeno was alright with that while Shirayuri still had her doubts.
As for Shinju and the Harekaze things were a bit more complicated there as the crew was completely exhausted which was understandable given the circumstances but that also meant that they had not decided whether to join the Rising Sun fleet or do something else but they still had about two weeks before the fleet would arrive back home so they still had some time to decide.
Akeno said goodbye to Shirayuri onboard the Akagi and moments later Akeno was sitting in the cockpit of her aircraft with the engines slowly coming to life as the cockpit canopy started closing.
Akeno gave Shirayuri a thumb up before pushing the throttle all the way forward causing the plane to shot forward with an unworldly roar of its engines until Akeno was climbing into the sky nothing other than two vapor trails moving through the blue sky.
Akeno flew at a more leisurely speed than the last time she had been heading towards Tokyo but that of course caused her arrival time to be late in the night which didn't really change anything as she landed on the private airport again and was driven to the mansion with a massive entourage of guards.
Akeno was glad to get some sleep but morning came all to soon as the sun woke her up from her restful slumber "Might as well get an early start on the day" mumbled Akeno as she got up to take a bath before heading to breakfast.
Breakfast was a bit strange as Akeno had never gotten used to the high class life but the meal was filling and tasted good but after the good meal Akeno headed back to her grandfathers study to get changed from her casual clothes to her traditional robes.
Akeno had never been someone for formal attire however she had to admit that the white silver robes looked good and that was before she slung the cape of her grandfather over her right shoulder which caused her right arm to be partially covered leaving her left hand free.
The last thing Akeno did was clasp her grandfathers blade to her belt completing the outfit but before she walked out of the room she closed her eyes breathing deeply she allow her eyes to return to their natural dark ocean blue while her hair stayed the light crimson red.
Akeno gracefully walked down the stone path to the front gate where she was guided to a black limousine that drove off as soon as she got in but it wasn't only the limousine but another six cars drove with them as escorts.
It was such a strange experience to Akeno as the convoy barely even stopped once during the entire drive towards a massive shipyard just outside the city where the convoy was stopped before a gate but it seemed as if the gate guard had no idea why they were here so Akeno took hold of a simple white black Kitsune mask that she placed on the right side of her head.
The guard started arguing with the massive bodyguards that arrived with seven vehicles a few moments ago but the moment the door of the limousine opened the bodyguards visibly tensed up as a beautiful young woman in a white silver robe stepped out of the vehicle but it was the black cape and the blade at her side that caused the guard to grab his radio.
Akeno slowly walked towards the gate of course she noticed at least eight guards step out of the vehicles behind her but she paid them no mind right now "Is there a problem here?" Akeno asked as the guard was feverishly talking with someone over his phone.
One of the bodyguards looked at the guard in his gate house before looking at Akeno again "Aikara Misariutski-sama my apologies we simply seem to have arrived earlier than expected" the bodyguard explained so Akeno turned around and went back to the limousine but just as she got in she heard the guard talk with the bodyguards again.
A few moments later the convoy of seven vehicles drove through the gate towards a large office building where they drove into an underground garage with the six escorts parking in one line behind the limousine with all of the bodyguards getting out of their vehicles.
Akeno waited a bit longer until one of the bodyguards approached the limousine and lightly tapped the window to give a signal, so Akeno got out of the car just in time as an elevator arrived with a group of four men in suits as well as two women wearing suits as well.
Akeno waited until the group of six started to look around the sea of black suited bodyguards until one of them saw Akeno so she decided to walk towards them however when she did the six of them bowed their heads in greeting "It is an honor to have you visit us Aikara Misariutski-sama" the oldest man of the group spoke before standing up straight again with the other five.
Akeno gave them a simple nod of her head "It is my pleasure however there is a reason I am here so if you wouldn't mind skipping the pleasantries we can get straight to business" Akeno replied with a shadow of a smile on her face.
The four men and two women understood what Akeno meant but by now only four bodyguards were still with them in the garage "Of course please right this way" one of the women showed them to the elevator and with the four bodyguards they went up and up and up until they arrived on the top floor of the building.
But instead of a massive office or something like that the top floor looked more like a Luxus suite complete with a bar as well as a complete gaming and TV setup that stood near several couches.
But instead of going to the couches the group walked towards one of the side doors which revealed a simple but still good equipped conference room with a long table that had about twenty chairs around it.
A few moments later Akeno was sitting at the head of the table and the group of six business men and women sat on both sides while the bodyguards waited outside of the door "Now then we better get started on all of this don't we?" the oldest business men spoke up and so they did exactly that.
Akeno was not very surprised that there had been countless offers by other smaller corporations to buy their way into the Misariutski Naval empire but almost every single one had been declined until only the big fish were still trying but that was only part of the meeting as Akeno also had to decide what to do with two older shipyards that were getting to old.
In the end Akeno decided to have the dockyard workers transferred to another shipyard while the old ones were to be demolished after everything useful had been moved to the new dockyard "Well there is only one other thing that we need to discuss with you Aikara Misariutski-sama" one of the women added as she got up and a moment later the room darkened and a projector turned on.
The images displayed were interesting to see as there was a massive shipyard but it seemed as if it was in the process of being dismantled but that wasn't what got Akenos attention no it was the very familiar shape of a massive battleship that rested in the dry dock "This ship was commissioned as soon as it became clear that you would be the next heir to the Misariutski clan" the woman explained.
Akeno listened to everything as the women went into the details of what made this ship so special sure it looked like a bigger and longer version of a Yamato-class battleship but even though the guns per turret were the same that could not be said about the caliber as it had increased from 460mm to 510mm while the secondary armaments had new range finders and fire directors.
Overall it was a more powerful version of a Yamato "Now then this ship is being armed as we speak however it will take at the least another two to three days before it is ready to set sail" one of the younger men explained but that was enough for Akeno.
The rest of the meeting was about more mundane affairs mainly how some of the shipyards were overloaded as to many damaged ship were to be repaired but there just wasn't enough room for all of them to get their repairs done, but there wasn't all that much she could do other than assigning the overloaded shipyards more personnel.
With everything said and done Akeno went back down to the garage of course her bodyguards were already waiting for her and after saying her goodbyes to the CEOs her grandfather assigned to manage the company the convoy of seven vehicles left the garage.
Akeno was exhausted by now even though she had gone through combat training she just wasn't a office person but just as the convoy got onto a highway Akeno noticed that the access ramp was closed behind them right away "That can't be good" Akeno sighed as she sat back down and yet again she just had to be right.
The convoy came to a halt as the entire road was blocked by white police cars and a few moments later several police riot trucks blocked the road behind the convoy as well trapping the seven vehicles in the middle.
Akeno stayed completely relaxed while the six escort vehicles stayed where they were with three vehicles in front of the limousine and two behind it "No one is to leave their vehicle unless I tell them otherwise" Akeno spoke over radio to her bodyguards but why was the police out in force like this.
But so far no one had made any sort of move or anything else they really just stopped them in the middle of the highway but just as Akeno was starting to think about giving someone a call one of the cop cars moved forward a bit and it's megaphone came on "The Passengers of the black limousine are too slowly step out of the vehicle" the simple order was with one simple look told Akeno all she needed.
If she got out of the car her bodyguards would follow suit after all these men had been training most of their life to serve the head of the Misariutski clan and if it became necessary they would lie down their life to protect the clan head.
Akeno took a deep breath before picking up the radio again "To all of you do not get out of your vehicles I will take care of this myself" Akeno warned her voice leaving no room for arguments as she opened the car door and got out.
The early evening air was a bit fresh but it didn't bother Akeno all that much to be honest as she closed the car door and started walking forward until she stood just in front of the front escort vehicle.
There was no one that said a word as the wind blew Akenos hair to the side that is until a man in a black suit walked forward from the police line "You truly are not an easy women to get a hold of you know that?" he asked his accent suggesting that he was American it also lacked any kind of respect "Either way I want to have a little chat with you so come along now so we can get this farce out of the world" he added before turning around.
But as he walked towards a simple grey Mercedes he noticed that the girl was not following him "Tsh what is taking her so long?" he mumbled but instead of moving to his car the girl approached the police blockade there were only a few words exchanged between the girl and one of the officers but whatever she had said to them it must have packed quite the punch as the Police cars started to immediately open up a path while the girl was slowly walking back towards her car.
The moment the girl got into the car the six vehicles speed away with screaming and smoking tires leaving the young man in his suit staring after the tail lights "Do you have any idea who you had us just stop?" asked one of the senior police captains his voice knocking the guy back to his senses.
But before he could say a word he saw the look on the police captains face as well as several of the officers that stood behind him they were not just angry no if he said the wrong thing he might end up on the bottom of the ocean with a new pair of very heavy shoes "We are so lucky she was in a good mood otherwise we all would have lost our jobs right now and just so you know you better pray that no news outlet catches wind of this" the police captain added before walking back to his car.
However by now the young man had recovered enough of his spine to walk right up to his car "What are you even talking about that woman was my ticket to an easy life once I" however he got no further as one of the cops dragged him back to his car only to drop him like a sack of potatoes "Listen your country may be mighty but I will tell you this as a warning. The woman we just stopped was none other than Misariutski Aikara the current head of the Misariutski clan and owner of the Misariutski Corporation" the young officer explained before walking back to his squad car and driving off with all of the other police vehicles.
Akeno had to sigh as she slumped down into the car seat as the convoy drove through the police blockade "Such a stuck up prick who the fuck did he think he is just the usual when dealing with some rich entitled Americans" Akeno growled as she calmed down a bit but not by much so she pressed a button on a remote and a mini bar opened on one side of the vehicle.
It took a bit longer until the convoy arrived at the mansion however by then Akeno had emptied almost two bottles of sake of course when she went to her room to change a hit meal was waiting for her along with a simple letter.
But the color of the letter caused Akeno to rip it open and start reading but by the time she was done with reading the letter her blood was boiling as she dropped the letter only to grab a phone "Prepare ten vehicles for my guards I will join them in a minute" Akeno simply said not even waiting for a response from the other end before hanging up.
Akeno discarded her traditional outfit on the floor instead she put on a black shirt with black shorts over black leggings together with her personal pistol on her belt as well as a black jacket with two dragons on the back one of them a sea blue while the other was a pitch black.
The last thing she added to the outfit was her grandfather's blade that rested over her back as well as a black shawl that went around her neck like that Akeno walked quickly to the entrance of the grounds to find ten vehicles with five men per vehicle and at the front stood a lone black Nissan GTR.
Akeno got into the driver seat of the GTR that roared to life a moment later as it drove down the road with the ten SUVs following the drive wasn't very long as the eleven vehicles arrived at a racetrack.
But what wasn't there was the gate that was smashed to pieces and bent out of shape on the ground causing Akeno to accelerate even more with the SUVs doing the same but four of them stopped at the gate and blocked it off.
Akeno knew what was going on some punks had decided they wanted a genuine race track for their illegal race thankfully the group on teenagers had not been able to get into the garage and steal one of her grandfathers cars.
But even so the moment she saw what looked like the leader of the group she drove right at them before throwing her car into a drift only to come to a complete stop sideways towards them with the remaining six SUVs lining up behind the black Nissan.
The teenagers were confused and slightly scared due to the Nissans entrance but the moment the driver door opened so did the doors of the six SUVs and behind this very hot young girl now stood thirty massive men each of them wearing the same black suit.
But none of the teenagers looked at them no they were all staring at the hottie that stood by the Nissan GTR but the moment she looked at the teen gang leader she slammed the driver door shut before walking forward while the thirty men behind her simply waited.
Tyrone Carsson was your average American teenager but with no family in the US he had been forced to move in with his aunt who lived in Japan the recent years had been good for him as the racing scene in Japan was even more pronounced than in the good old US.
But the moment he saw seven black vehicles pull up near his crew he knew something was up the Nissan GTR was a simple black but the six other cars were simple SUVs but the moment that girl saw him Tyrone knew that he fucked up.
The crowd parted in front of this girl her presence alone causing several teenagers to make a run for it without success but the moment she stood in front of Tyrone he saw it this girl was here for something personal "Well what is a cutie like you doing here on her own?" one of Tyrone's friends asked but no one laughed.
That is until the girl started laughing but that laughter caused hell to freeze over until she stopped "That is of no concern to you what you should be asking is if you feel lucky" Akeno replied slowly approaching the teenager who had asked her.
The moment she was about two meters away something landed in front of his feet causing him to jump backwards in fright but no one laughed as everyone realized what was lying on the ground before him "Who is in charge of your group?" the girl simply asked her eyes seemingly burning a hole into the poor sap until he pointed at Tyrone.
Akeno looked at Tyrone and a moment later she threw the object towards him and out of reflex Tyrone caught it only to realize that he was holding a simple Katana in a wooden scabbard but a moment later he saw the girl draw a terrifying black blue blade from her back pointing it directly at him "Hey now we can talk about this right? No need to cut me up kitty cat" Tyrone tried to defuse the situation only for the girl to fly towards him blade raised and ready to end him.
Tyrone barely managed to get the scabbard he was holding between himself and the girl's blade "The hell!" Tyrone yelled only for the girl to punch him right in the gut causing Tyrone to collapse to the ground gasping for air while the girl slowly approached him her blade pointed towards the ground.
Tyrone knew when he was beaten he was at least that smart but the moment he felt cold metal against his neck he feared for his life "Listen very closely" Akeno hissed into his ear pressing her blade a bit harder into his neck "You and your buddies will pack up your shit before you leave and I will only tell you this once never come back unless you have my permission" Akeno added withdrawing her blade before sheathing it on her back.
Akeno slowly walked towards her Nissan but on the way she passed by the discarded blade [I hate this but it leaves a clear message] Akeno thought as she picked up the blade and approached Tyrone's car "Keep this as a reminder" Akeno simply said as she placed the blade on the car's hood "Because if you come back here again without my personal permission and I learn of this you will rue the day your father knocked up your mother" Akeno added slowly walking towards her car again only for one of the punks to reach for something under his jacket.
Akeno for her part kept moving but the moment the guy aimed his gun even remotely in her direction he heard and saw the thirty men draw their own weapons every single one of them was armed with an assault rifle with a few of them even holding light machine guns and on every single SUV a six barreled minigun aimed at them as well.
To say Tyrone shit his pants was an understatement but somehow he got to his feet before sitting down on his car "Tell me who the hell are you?" Tyrone yelled just as the girl was about to get into her car.
Akeno hid a smile at that as she closed the car door again "Well I know who you are Tyrone Carsson but to think you don't even remember me that really hurts" Akeno replied causing Tyrone to look a bit closer at her.
Tyrone racked his brain as hard as he could but he just couldn't remember where he had seen this girl before but he came up blank causing the girl to sigh "Whatever I will probably visit you at your shop at some point maybe then you will remember" the girl added before she got into her GTR and drove off with the SUVs following her.