super ktkm and ooi adventures 9

I'd normally be excited to be in a battle again, but could you really call it a battle if you aren't firing any torpedoes?  We just stood around shooting some abyssals out of the sky. Boring, but other ships can't go on land, so it was up to us to provide AA fire.  We were under the direction of  Arizona, and for someone who doesn't talk she still did a pretty good job of directing us. It was a nice change, a no nonsense ship after dealing with the likes of the Kongou sisters, or the weird Ise class.  It wasn't much of an attack, after losing the element of surprise they quickly suffered heavy losses and had ceased.

Yuubari has insisted upon us coming back with her, as a celebration.  I didn't mind, I wasn't about to go to bed after I'd finally got to shoot at something.  Yuubari was very enthusiastic about the whole deal, eager to show off her big tv and surround audio system. After we watched the movie and I admitted I had did play some videogames, she begged me to play some gundam fighting game with her.  I wasn't very good at it... but it was fun enough.


- - - -

	“Kitakami! Wake up!”

[nooooooooo]

	“I went and brought back food, it's time to get up and eat.”

What's the point of getting up? It's not like we're going to go on today's expedition.  Just let me stay in bed.  Ooi responds to me silence by ripping off the covers. I guess I have no choice.  I get on some clothes on join Ooi to eat on the small table we have.

	“So Kitakami, what do you want to do today?”
	“I don't want to do anything.”
	“Eh? Well you can't just sit in here all day ..”
	“Ha! Sure I can, it's not like we're needed anywhere! We're not being sortied today, I've had it with all this extra bullshit, there's too many things to worry about. It's much simpler if I just stay away from anyone.”

…

I've probably said too much. Ooi's not looking at me anymore, eyes downcast.  Ugh, I hate mornings.

	“Kitakami...”

The rest of breakfast is silent.

- - -

About an hour later I hear a knock on the door. Ooi's in the bathroom so I guess I'll see who it is before she starts complaining. I open the door. I see who's at the door. I then start to close the door, unfortunately a hand it open.

	“Kitakami-san.” Isokaze opens up the exchange.
	“You have 30 seconds.”
	“As you know, several buildings were destroyed or damaged during yesterday's raid.  Our group is gathering volunteers to help with the reconstruction. Anyone is welcome, would you be interested in helping us?”

Absolutely not, the last thing I want to do is spend the day with a bunch of over-achieving destroyers.

	“Oh, your timing is bad, I already had plans for today.”
	“Is that so? Well we'd also like to talk to Ooi-san.”

I hear the toilet flush, this seems like something Ooi would be right ontop of. Gotta git rid of them fast.

	“Time's up.”

I go to slam the door closed but Murakumo and Hatsuharu are quicker, bracing themselves against the door.  I try and weigh my options, but I think I'm out of luck. I feel Ooi behind me.

	“Oh hello, what's going on?” Ooi says.

Isokaze repeats her sales pitch to Ooi.

	“That would be great to do, wouldn't it Kitakami? You were looking to do, right?”

Not exactly.

	“Sounds like a waste of time, we're just a bunch of unskilled labourers, we'd just get in the way while real equipment does the work.”

	Hatsuharu speaks up “Actually, we had already contacted base engineering. When we informed them of  the idea they were most appreciative of the offer. Transportation will be here in about 20 minutes.”

	“We'll go and get ready then.” Ooi replies.

Murakumo's sneering face is burned into my mind as the group leaves. I'll have to find of a way to get them back.

	“Why did you volunteer us, Ooichi?”
	“It will make the day go by quicker, won't it Kitakami? Plus we'll be able to work together.”

I didn't want to argue, least of all with Ooichi. Hopefully she's right. It will be something to do and I can just forget about everything else.

- - -

We were waiting on the dorm yard for our transportation to come. It seemed like a pretty varied bunch had come out, about 15 other girls were waiting around too.  Not a bad turnout I suppose, at least we wouldn't look out of place.  As far as big names went... Ise, Hyuuga, and Hiei were all here.  A long yellow bus rolled up into the empty parking lot and we all piled on.  Ooi takes the window seat as I sit next to her. Across from us Ise and Hyuuga are particularly chatty.
	“So, Hyuuga.”
	“Yes Ise?”
	“Do you know what was damaged during yesterday's raid?”
	“Oh you know, mostly roads and stuff, but I heard the McDonalds was demolished.”
	“What's a McDonalds?”
	“Well Ise, it's a place you go to when you want to be reminded you could be eating somewhere else.”
	“I don't really understand... Wait! The gym is ok right?!”
	“Pfft, if it wasn't we'd already be out there looking for those bastards who took it down.”


These two.  It feels like they're not 100% all here.

- - -

The bus unloads us at a construction site, there's a bit of a foundation down, and a lot of building material everywhere.  We're broken up into groups to for different tasks. Everyone is given a helmet and a quick safety briefing before we begin. I'm with Ooichi laying down and fitting PVC piping.


- - -

It's a hot day, but the work's not too bad. Ooichi was right in a way, I guess this is better than being bored all day.  Before long it's lunchtime, and we're all gathered up and thanked for our support and each given an hour and a half along with a large cardboard lunchbox.

	“Let's go eat by the water, Kitakami.”
	“Hmm, yeah that sounds fine.”

It's only about a 5 minute walk over to the seaside.  Oh, look.  It's that dog. I didn't even realize she came out to help today.  She's kneeling facing that tree, sounds like she's talking to it.

	“Hey, what the hell are you doing?”

Shigure twitches in surprise before standing up and turn around.

	“H-hello. I was just thanking my friends that no one was killed in yesterday's attack. A stroke of good luck, right?”
	“You're talking to a tree.”
	Shigure's voice becomes quiet. “My friends. I've lost them... or they haven't come back yet.  What else can I do?”
	“It's bad enough we're human sized ships with the firepower to level towns, now you're talking to the foliage? They're going to lock us up even tighter if they see stuff like this.”
	Ooi tugs on my sleeve. “Kitakami... come on, let's just go.”
	“I thought it would be fine out here... It's usually quiet by this part of base. I don't really have anywhere else to go. I didn't mean to cause trouble.”

How troublesome, as expected from a destroyer.  I walk away without saying anything else.  The last thing I want is to be constantly monitored by the military.  We find a place to sit and open our boxes. They're packed with drinks, sandwhiches, drinks, chips, and fruit. Not bad.

	“We should have just left her alone, Kitakami.”
	“What? Do you want them to think we're all mentally unstable?”
	“While she may be lucky, I don't think it extended to those around her. She's alone. I don't think she was doing anything wrong.”
	“Peh.  Worried that she's gonna curse you or something? I thought you were better than that, Ooichi.”
	“Would you really be ok if I wasn't around at all, Kitakami? She doesn't have any of her sister ships for support.”
	“I wouldn't collapse into a pathetic mess like she is.”

Lunch is pretty good, all things considered.  We're refilled and ready to finish off the rest of the day.

- - -

It's 1700 and we've been released for the day, but not before all being thanked for 'Our selfless contributions to the welfare of the entire base population'. Isokaze and her lackeys get an extra round of commendation for 'having facilitated and organized this cooperative event'. Whatever.  Now I have the rest of the evening to laze around and do whatever, exactly how it should be.