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Cuttlefish -> RE: In Drydock (4/19/2007 3:28:29 AM)
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June 20, 1942
Location: Kobe
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 24
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Repair the ship and get back in the war.
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Taiki, Riku, and Shiro are walking down a street in Osaka. Riku has lured the other two along with the promise of buying them a good dinner. Riku has every intention of doing just that, as he has plenty of cash. Too much, in fact, for him to feel comfortable walking the streets by himself. He intends to turn most of it into gold for his money belt, a fact he does not intend to reveal to even his good friends.
Ahead is one of the better restaurants in this part of the city. Standing outside are two women. One is an elderly woman with an upright carraige and alert demeanor. The other is a maiden of perhaps seventeen. She is dressed in a modest kimono and is looking about with a bright, eager glance. Even from some distance it is apparent that she is possessed of a delicate beauty, with a kind smile and large, expressive eyes.
The old woman appears to gently chide the younger one, and the girl subsides slightly. As the three sailors approach she lowers her head in genuine modesty. Taiki notices that Riku’s usually springy step is faltering, and gives him a friendly nudge to move him along. They start to detour politely around the two women when the older woman speaks.
“My pardon,” she says, “but would you gentlemen by chance be from the destroyer Hibiki?” The three men come to a stop.
“Yes ma’am, we are,” says the gregarious and friendly Shiro. “Is there something we can do for you?”
“Forgive my rudeness in disturbing you, but we are waiting for my son, who is a shipmate of yours. I wonder if perhaps you have seen him?” She speaks with a bit of a Ryukyan accent. Taiki glances at Riku, expecting him to answer, and is startled to see Riku staring at the young woman. He has the look of a man who has just been stunned by a blow to the head. Riku’s success with women is legendary aboard the ship, and Taiki has never before seen his friend at a loss for words when meeting one. Shiro also glances at Riku, then continues.
“It’s no bother, we are glad to help if we can,” says Shiro. He introduces the three of them. Taiki murmers a polite greeting, but Riku remains rooted to the spot. “Who is your son?”
“I am the widow Rin Shun, and this is my granddaughter Nanami. My son is Chief Petty Officer Shun,” says the old woman. For a moment Taiki stands amazed. It is not possible that the beautiful, delicate young woman in front of him is the daughter of the famously ugly Chief. Riku’s eyes widen in surprise, and Shiro attempts to cover his gasp by pretending to cough.
“We saw him as we were departing,” says Shiro at last. “No doubt he will be along shortly.”
“Many thanks,” says the old woman. Shiro and Taiki take a step, but stop when Riku does not move. Taiki feels the first stirrings of alarm. Riku stirs, and looks as if he is about to speak. Taiki’s alarm changes to true fear when he hears a low sound, rather like a growl, coming from behind.
The three men turn and see the powerful, stocky figure of Shun standing close behind them. Taiki realizes that until this moment he has never seen the Chief truly angry. The most frightening thing about it is that to outward appearances Shun’s face is calm, almost pleasant. But his eyes are blazing and there is a hunched tension in his posture that speaks to Taiki of murderous fury.
“Have these men been bothering you, Mother?” Shun says. His voice sounds like rocks grinding together. The widow Shun shakes her head.
“No, no, they have been the soul of courtesy,” she says. “In fact it is I who bothered them, asking if they had seen you.” Shun disgests this and relaxes slightly. He turns to the three men and somehow manages a smile. It is the most frightening thing Taiki has ever seen.
“I see,” he says. “But I am sure they have business elsewhere and we should not continue to detain them.” This is obviously a command, and even Riku steps quickly as they murmur farewells and depart. By the time they are halfway down the block they are almost running.
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