*Kure Naval Terminal*
It's a calm day… the wind was light and the ocean slowly swell's into small waves that gently bathe the shores… The sun comes up with majesty and delight… Yet the Naval Terminal is already frizzling with activity…
"Hey! Get to the south end of the pier and prepare to tow any arriving cargo haulers." – shouted the "Master of the Harbor". This loud but little tug-boat is called "Boss" by everyone, but he does not mind being called that… In fact, one would say he enjoys being called such…
The morning may come slow, but bigger ships arrive to the Kure Naval Terminal in a few moments… Coal-ships, Container Ships, Petrol Tankers and other ships arrived, as the "little army" of tug-boats raced across the harbor to push them or to tow them to their respective piers for them to unload their cargos…
Fairies race across the harbor and through the riggings of their respective ships to make checks, prepare cargo for unloading and maintaining their ship in top shape and also keeping them with company…
Among this confusion, works a little tug-boat by the name of Osaka, and she is a very work-oriented ship-girl. She tows and pushes others to their respective moorings and still finds time to be the "star" of the Naval Terminal, always keeping the atmosphere up-beat and joyful .
"Be carefull, dear! You don't want to age to quick and have to retire just yet." – says from afar an old tanker, as he leaves the terminal to travel the Pacific all the way back to the US.
"Who me? Ah! As if!" – Osaka shrugs off, with a smile and determined tone.
She then sails to the other side of the harbor to assist a Coal Transporter out of the anchorage and to get on the way…
"Thank you! See ya' next month!" – he waves her off, as he leaves the harbor, his fairies running about in his rigging making sure, the Coal Transporter has cleared the entry to the harbor…
"See ya'! Come back any time!" – She waves at him, from the entry of the port…
*a few hours later*
After a few hours, it was about noon, so Osaka had her break, as all the other tug-boats of the Naval Terminal. Osaka comes out of the water, leaving her rigging in her designated anchorage… Without her rigging, she can relax and enjoy a couple of hours of downtime before being called for the afternoon shift…
Osaka's wear is pretty standard: Black shoes, white stockings, with a knee long black skirt and a red short sleeved shirt, while wearing a reflector vest, over the shirt… She has dark brown eyes, and her brown hair is done in two small ponytails to the sides. She wears a cap with the identification of the Naval Terminal to identifier as a civilian ship who works the harbor…
"Ah, finally! A little break. Now I just have to find something to keep me occupied for the next three hours…" – Osaka thought to herself as she walked about the dock, taking off her cap to loosen her hair for a bit…
As if by pure intervention of destiny, she overhears some ruckus coming from the south end of the docks…
"Get out of the way, old geezer! We have to unload this cargo fast!" – One of the dock workers berated a woman, who clearly roamed in the wrong side of the harbor…
"I apologize; I seem to have lost my bearings…"
"Geez, just get out of the way. We are very busy, can you tell?" – asked a young Container ship, annoyed that he couldn't unload his cargo because of the interruption.
Osaka went over and immediately fired off to the dock worker and the Container ship…
"Hey! Leave her alone will ya'!? She's lost, so at least help her out!" – Osaka berated…
"No, no. There's no need, I will be off. I apologize once more for the inconvenience…"
"Yeah. Yeah. Just move already will ya'?" – They pass alongside them as they move the cargo to the warehouse of the dock…
"Jerks…" – Osaka briefly glances at them with an annoyed expression – "Say… Are you lost? Can I help you with anything?" – She turns around and asks the woman…
"Oh, uhm… you see, I uhm…"
The woman seemed lost for words and genuinely confused as to where she was… This gave Osaka a brief moment to look the strange woman over… She is strangely… "Good looking" is what Osaka thought, as though the woman had some age to her, she still had very sweet and beautiful lines to her figure… She wears a black & white shirt with yellow trimming, black fingerless elbow gloves (also with yellow trimming. She also wears a white pleated skirt with black stripe along the brim. Lastly, she wears a black long jacket… She is very tall (taller than Osaka), has long raven like hair (though its color seems to be gradually degrading) and light-red eyes (tough Osaka guesses the color was also fading with age)… Also she has this strange headgear which looks like antennas or communication equipment, as the antennas point slightly back and to the sides… Osaka wonders if she's an old logistics ship or something like that, though the headgear does leave her a bit perplexed… "Looks military…" she thinks…
"So hum… You need directions?" – Osaka asks very bluntly…
"Oh, right! No need, young one. I know my way back to the Northeastern side of the docks." – The woman reply's with a heartwarming smile and says so with a gentle, but determined tone…
"Yup, definitely military…" – Osaka mumbles, as she remembers that the Northeastern side is connected to the Kure Naval Base and it's Military District…
The woman smiles and directs her, a gentle look - "Well, I must be off, but thank you for your kindness, miss."
"Hum… yeah, sure. Any time… I guess…" – Osaka answers a bit confused. The woman begins leaving towards the Northeastern side, until another woman approaches her… This woman wears a white miko uniform and a red skirt. She has long green/grey hair done in twin tails and eyes of the same color. She approaches with an exasperated expression, but letting out traces of worry…
"Where were you!? I searched everywhere for you!? Don't tell me you got lost again?" – She says, though her tone exudes more concern then anger…
"I-I was not lost. I simply went on a little stroll…" – She responds to her, with a determined tone, though she stammers ever so lightly in her statement…
"Tell me the truth, Nagato! Don't play me for a fool!" – The woman berates her, still with worry in her tone.
"N-Nagato!?" – Osaka yells, eyes widen as she begins to recognize the woman that just a second ago seemed bewildered around the harbor… "Nagato… as in, the "Nagato", from the Japanese Navy in the Second World War!?"
"Ugh… Nice of you to announce me around, Zuikaku…" – The woman now known as Nagato speaks with annoyance… "You could at least, speak a bit quieter…"
"Z-Z-Zuikaku!?" – blurts out a bewilder Osaka, recognizing another name… "Hit me, so I know I'm not dreaming!" – She jolts right beside Zuikaku, as she begs for such, all the while her eyes shining like she found a precious treasure once lost…
"W-What!? I'm not gonna hit you! I barely even know you and- Nagato, you loudmouthed idiot! You also gave me away!" – Zuikaku berates her once more, now obviously annoyed…
"Whoop's…" – replies back, with a sly smirk, Nagato who merely shrugs her shoulders…
"H-holly mother of… Z-Zuikaku and… N-Nagato… I… I…" – Osaka stammers for words… and passes out…
"Wuuaahhh!? " – Zuikaku rushed in to grab the smaller ship-girl, barely on time. She holds her in her arms gently, her worried eyes turn to Nagato, who exhibits surprise and worry as well…
"Is… Is she alright?" – Nagato asks…
"She's fine… Just seems to have feinted, I guess…" – Zuikaku says, before directing an angry stare at Nagato – "What the hell, Nagato!?"
"Ahem! I believe you were the one who blew our cover." – Nagato retorts with a serious tone and a piercing stare.
"Oh man… What now? Where not gonna leave her, but we can't ask around for help as well!? What do we do?" – Zuikaku says worriedly, shifting her gaze from Nagato, having been considerably scared from her tone and stare…
"Poor girl…" – Nagato thought… "I guess if everyone knew we are still here, they would probably be in shock as well…" – She declares this time…
"Y-You don't know that! I'm sure some would—"
"Yes, yes. Some would… but others would surely resent us…" – Nagato cuts Zuikaku with this statement…
Zuikaku knew it to be true… Even if some would welcome her home, others would surely call for their arrest… or even death… Nagato of course had the most to fear… "The Shot-Caller" for Pearl Harbor, she saw her rigging destroyed in "Operation Crossroads", if not for a last-minute "friend", she would surely not be among the living… As for Zuikaku, she could relatively feel some safety… Her rigging sunk during the war, and she presumed to have gone down whit it, nobody would be looking into it… Even so, she worries deeply for the last few comrades she has… One such comrade being Nagato...
"Maybe its best we bring her along… That way she can recover." – Nagato concludes…
"Bring a civilian to the Naval District!? That's crazy!? Will get in trouble for this!" – Zuikaku protests.
"If you wish to leave her here…" – Nagato begins with a devious smirk and with a shrug of her shoulders, though in truth she knew what poor Zuikaku would answer…
"Will take her to the Naval Base!" – Zuikaku shoots back immediately…
*a few hours later*
The day is starting to wear out, and the sun is beginning to set… Nagato had volunteered to carry Osaka, but Zuikaku vehemently protested and carried her all the way to the Kure Military Naval District…
"But where are we…" – Zuikaku begins, but never gets to finish…
"My quarters." – Comes the solemn response of the former "Big Seven.
They continue towards Nagato's quarters, as the sun continues to set…
"She will probably wake in a few hours. I hope…" – Zuikaku looks upon Osaka, who still sleeps in her arms. She's a bit nervous and still visible worried.
Nagato sighs and finally speaks up again "You worry yourself to much… You're going to have a breakdown one of these days." – She says to Zuikaku, with a worried look upon her friend…
They reach her quarters and make their way inside. With the care of a mother, Zuikaku gently sets Osaka down on the bed…
"Well… I guess were sharing the couch –" – Zuikaku begins but is instantly cut off by Nagato…
"I'll sleep on the floor. You need to rest properly, Zuikaku." – Nagato says with a solemn tone and a gentle smile.
As each take their resting places, Nagato lays on the floor of her quarters, a pillow to rest her head and a blanket to cover her. She lifts her head one last time to take one last look at her "guest" on her bed, and lastly to look at Zuikaku on the couch. She smiles ever so softly, lays her head on the pillow and let's herself fall asleep…
*Author Note*
(!)[I do not own Kantai Collection or any of their characters. I'm just a fan, making a fanfic.](!)
Hello, I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. So without further ado, I want to clarify something's right off the bat:
1-This is my first time writing/posting of a fanfic so I welcome all criticism and advice as well as feedback (just please don't take wrong whit what I'm about to say: be respectfull and concise if you have a general critic to make, thank you).
2- I first intended to start something with a lot of action/conflict, but ultimately decided to test something different and test something a bit more laid back and more about the go about of some of these characters (their daily routine, more then anything) (again first time, so I wanted to start simple)
3- I plan on making this a small fanfic, but I really want to hear opinions so I'll old off from writing to much ahead without feedback. (Also, this fanfic will have some OC characters alongside Kantai Collection characters)
Thank you (and sorry for the cliffhanger )