A/N: Disclaimers and such...
This is fiction. For those who have never read any of the stories connected to this, I tried to make this whole AU as believable as possible. As a Navy brat, I feel it's important to at least make it 'look' authentic enough.
Some things of course probably couldn't happen or don't exist in real life, but it's for the excitement and progression of the story, so I humbly ask for your understanding.
Thank you!
Also...Many months ago, I read various fics containing several interpretations of Tokio's character. And I'm under the impression that it takes a special kind of woman to marry a man like Saitou, so hopefully, I won't fall into any stereotypical patterns.
CHAPTER 1
Eleven years ago...
Several miles off the coast of San Diego, California...
From his position towards the back of the amphibious assault ship, Lieutenant Hajime Saitou focused his eyes in the distance. They had left San Diego just a little over an hour ago.
It was routine. Several times a year, at least one ship for a whole week would have the job of carting around nearly seventy-five Navy families for a day long tour at sea. It was their way of conducting some PR. The more familiar the families became with Navy careers, the higher the morale.
He settled in a metal chair, adjusting his dark sunglasses over his amber eyes. He hated what had been dubbed 'Family Days'. Too many damn kids running around, poking into things, getting into accidents.
Ah well. Things could be worse.
Reaching into the left breast pocket of his khaki uniform, he pulled out a cigarette and after placing it between his lips, reached for his lighter. He shielded the flame from the wind as he lit before closing the lid of his lighter and tucking the item away. Saitou blew out a thin stream of smoke before staring out over the ocean again.
Family Day.
He sure as hell didn't belong here. If it hadn't been for his XO, his executive officer, he wouldn't even be on this damn ship. Not that he had a problem with ships.
Well, he did. Sea life wasn't for him. He'd only been in the Navy for seven years, but even then, he'd lived on nearly every type of craft that belonged to a standard fleet. Half a year at sea, half a year on land.
It was a way of life.
He blew out another trail of smoke before leaning back in his chair.
Volunteer work wasn't what he had in mind to do on a Saturday like this one. There were plenty of other ways a man could spend his time. But the Navy insisted on building strong relationships with family members and the community. Personnel were strong, but with family supporting their chosen careers, they were stronger.
Or so the pencil-pushing higher ups liked to think.
Which was why the commanding officer of the entire San Diego Navy region arranged for Family Week in the first place.
He shook his head, remembering the conversation he had on Tuesday morning when he had come in to work.
"This Saturday is the beginning of Summer Family Week," Commander Troy Shepard announced after Saitou had entered his office. "And I think you should be on the USS Richardson when it goes out."
"Why?"
"It'd be good experience for you. Almost all Navy personnel working out of 32nd try to help out in some way, shape or form," Shepard announced. "Family Week's important."
"To those with family," Saitou responded pointedly.
The XO rolled his eyes. "So what if you don't have family?" Shepard countered. "Volunteering is still important. The Navy isn't just about a career. It's about forming ties to the communities and people that support us. Any CO will gladly share his experiences when it comes to educating the community about what we do. And a good amount of the men who've made CO have taken some time aside to increase awareness. If you ever plan on becoming a commanding officer, it takes more than just having an outstanding career record and moving up in rank."
That had been the convincing factor for Saitou. Truth was, he did plan to become a commanding officer someday. And he already knew that it took more than just being good at his job. He had to be the best.
Being the best wasn't just being the best in your career. A good CO was the best at everything.
And that included dealing with families. Whether your own or someone else's.
He grimaced. At twenty-eight, he hadn't really thought about settling down. Too much traveling made it difficult to form relationships. Sure, lots of people managed it, but they differed than him since other Navy men made a conscious effort to find a woman and start a family.
One reason was because the enlisted men wanted to reap the benefits. More people to support, more allowance was given. Another reason…the officers married to move up in rank. While headquarters in DC decided how many promotions could be given, COs in the region would decide who would receive those promotions. Married men were better candidates – showed stability.
He glanced at his watch before extinguishing his cigarette. Time to check in with the XO and give the kids a small tour. Thank goodness Family Week only happened four times a year. And he was usually gone for at least three of those.
Saitou made his way towards the XO's office, his features schooled in a frown as he walked through the narrow hallways, ducking as he made his way through doors. When he reached a large wooden door, he knocked twice, waiting for permission to enter.
A call came through the door and Saitou pushed the door open and stepped into the small quarters. Medals hung from the walls, complemented by photographs of different Navy ships. His military training in place, Saitou stood at attention, waiting for the higher ranking officer to address him.
The XO studied him as he rose from his chair at his desk, his black hair smoothed away from his features, with several gray at the temples. He was a thin man, several inches shorter than Saitou's six-foot-two.
"I was told that you came here reluctantly," the XO stated.
Saitou remained quiet, silently cursing Commander Troy Shepard for talking too much and putting words in his mouth.
"Well?" the XO prompted.
"Kids and I don't mix," Saitou stated flatly.
"Well, you're going to have to make it mix some time," the XO responded, his features indicating his displeasure at Saitou's response. "There's a group of five children who were interested in seeing the surface weapons. Who better to show them than you?"
A buzzing sound entered the office. The XO pushed a button down on his phone.
"Yes?"
"Commander Takagi, the captain requests your presence on the bridge."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Commander Takagi released the button before turning to Saitou. "Try to enjoy yourself, Lieutenant. Children grow on you the more you're around them."
Saitou studied him carefully. "All children?"
The other man cleared his throat. "You're dismissed."
Once out of the office, Saitou rolled his eyes and headed to another floor of the ship to begin his volunteer work…
0-0-
"You hated kids?" Tsuyoshi asked, his dark eyes wide with shock.
Saitou leaned back in his seat. "I never said that."
"But the XO thought you did. So did Uncle Matsu," Tsuyoshi pointed out, referring to their mother's older brother.
Matsu Takagi, now a retired Navy captain, had made it a point to share all his sea duty stories to his nephews. Interestingly enough, he'd left this particular one out. It was as if he knew that it was one his sister and brother-in-law would like to share on their own.
Tsutomu frowned, his pale eyes, exactly like his father's, narrowing slightly. "So what? I don't like some kids."
Tsuyoshi turned to his older brother, his jaw dropping in surprise. "That's mean!"
Saitou glanced to his right, seeing his youngest straining in his chair, reaching for a crayon that had fallen into the booth. He retrieved the item for him and Tatsuo happily began to draw away on his paper kids' menu.
"So what happened, Uncle?" Rin asked, interrupting Tsutomu and Tsuyoshi's arguments...
0-0-
Saitou had given the grand tour of the control room that displayed all the weapon schematics. And he'd shown them the actual weapons themselves, up close and personal. Nothing with live fire, of course. There were a lot of questions and he hadn't really been in the mood to answer. So he had answered about half of them and the other half he answered vaguely, which discouraged more questions.
At least for about a minute. Until another kid got curious and asked something like why people get hurt when they're hit by missiles.
Once he was done, he brought the children back to the bridge and walked to his previous smoking spot. The ship was scheduled to dock in San Diego in about two hours.
Good.
He couldn't wait to get home, take a shower, and go around town doing things he should be doing.
Saitou quickly lit up another cigarette, his eyes trailing back towards the direction they had come from as he sat in the same metal chair he had occupied earlier.
Kids.
They weren't all bad. But some could just be plain obnoxious. He could remember the horror on some parents' faces as their children started mouthing off like they owned the place. He never understood why some parents would let their children get so out of control. What ever happened to respecting elders?
As the sea breeze picked up, he frowned, realizing that he should have brought his jacket out.
Then Saitou glanced up to study the cloud formations above his head.
San Diego weather was pleasant this time of year – the sky was a bright blue with only thin trails of clouds.
His frown deepening, he carefully got up and walked towards the rail of the ship, looking down at the murky waters below.
The ship's speed had increased.
Saitou peered up at the bridge, and from his vantage point he could see through the bridge's window, two men, the captain and someone he didn't know engaged in discussion. And not a nice one, judging by the body language. And in the background, the XO speaking just as adamantly. The stranger immediately brought up his hand and held it towards the others.
A...gun?
Saitou immediately pressed himself up against the metal wall, before peering around it to see the captain jerk and quickly fall to the floor, away from view.
The XO immediately brought his hands to his head in shock.
The captain had just been shot.
At that moment, a burly man dressed in civilian clothes made his way just outside the bridge, patrolling on the small catwalk surrounding the control center of the ship.
A male voice immediately came over loud speaker.
"Attention, crew and guests of the USS Richardson. You're under a new chain of command. You do as my men say, and no one gets hurt."
Saitou tossed his cigarette aside, his eyes narrowing to slits.
He'd be lucky...hell...the whole damn crew and their visitors would be lucky if they got back to San Diego at all.
0-0-
"So some guys were fighting in front of Uncle Matsu?" Tsuyoshi asked. "What were they fighting about?"
"I couldn't hear it," Saitou stated.
"So that's it?" Tsuyoshi asked, leaning forward in the booth. "You saw the captain yelling with somebody? He didn't tell him to go away?"
A wry smile came to Saitou's features. "I don't think he was in a position to be ordering people to go away."
"So did you find out why they were arguing?" Tsutomu asked.
"I'm getting to that," Saitou responded patiently.
"Where's Auntie in this story?" Rin asked.
To which Saitou replied, after a sip of his coffee, "I'm getting to that, too." He cleared his throat. "So…I decided to head back to the bridge..."
A/N again: Heh. And yes, Saitou's story is going to be severely censored due to sex and violence. (grins)