CHAPTER 4 - THE BEGINNING (4)

At present, two o'clock in the morning, Kay stares at the sky, dark but covered with light from the lamp. Removing the darkness of the Azur Lane.

He thought deeply, perhaps exhausted after being forced to speak to a very energetic girl from Eagle Union, Cleveland at the cafeteria. It's not that he hates her, it's just too hard for Kay to understand her.

Well, looking at the positive side, at least some girls are going to think that Kay is easy to talk to instead of an unfriendly guy, and doesn't care about them. After all, he's still trying to talk to Cleveland.

"Energetic girls are really hard for me to handle, but that girl is different," Kay said. "I have already seen her, fighting and protecting her friends."

"Well, since I agreed to support them, at least I need to fulfill that promise," Kay said.

While eating at a cafeteria with Belfast, Wales invites Kay to visit her comrades in the Azur Lane, hoping they'll learn and know Kay a little more. Kay, however, immediately dismissed the idea.

"Can I know why, commander?" asked Wales.

"The timing isn't perfect," Kay responded. "We 're still at war right now, particularly against Crimson Axis or whatever."

Kay said they had to force the Sakura Empire to retreat from this battle. The enemies are still nearby, so they can destroy their base.

"Our main objective is to protect Azur Lane and force them to withdraw," Kay said. "Looking at our strength, I think it's ideal."

Wales smiled and acknowledged that. Considering their strength right now, it is very fortunate that their base is still standing. While she doesn't know what Kay 's plan is to support them, at least she can see some hope from Kay 's words.

"I understand, Commander," Wales said. "Our reinforcements will arrive in three days, and it will definitely help the commander to force them to withdraw."

"I can only give you tactical plans to support you," Kay said. "It's up to you if you manage to meet my standards and meet my expectations."

Kay is walking away from Wales, leaving her stranded. While Kay won't help them directly, he's still trying to support them by guiding them through strategy planning.

"It is because of my agreement with Wiseman," Kay said.

******************************************

"I told them to rest today," Kay said. "So, why should I push myself to inspect the base?"

It's three o'clock in the morning, almost every girl in Azur Lane is sleeping. Although, some of them might have woken up to patrol the base. Kay told them to rest today because he said that no enemy will attack the base for at least three days.

Kay walks and walks nonstop. Right now, he's in a park full of gorgeous flowers and scenery. The base is scary at night, but the moon is showing the beauty of the Azur Lane. Kay is really amazed.

Then he's sitting on the bench, trying to rest for a while. He's trying to close his eyes, trying to do some self-reflection.

He heard a voice a few minutes later. It's Belfast and the Enterprise.

"What are you doing here, Master?" Belfast asked.

She seems really upset towards Kay. It's probably because she feels Kay is pushing himself and still awake. They've got a big day tomorrow, and they need their leader to have enough rest.

"I enjoy the scenery here. It's pretty beautiful," Kay said.

"It's three o'clock in the morning, Commander," Enterprise said. "You ought to sleep right now."

"You 're supposed to call the day, Master," Belfast said. "Some girls are already patrolling the base, so there's no need for Master to do that."

It's a good idea for Belfast to go to Kay's room to check him out, only to see him vanish from his bed. She asks Enterprise to follow her finds Kay after that.

"It's too dangerous for you to be alone right now, Commander," said Enterprise. "We need you a hundred times stronger than us, but being too reckless will kill you."

Enterprise looks at Kay, she knew her commander was much stronger than all of the shipgirls here. She recognized that, but that doesn't mean that Kay can just do whatever he likes.

"Well, I 'm sorry about that," Kay said. "But right now, I'm not alone."

Belfast and Enterprise are being puzzled. They don't understand the meaning of Kay 's word until Kay says another word.

"Is that right, you there," Kay said. "You who are hiding in the bush."

The Enterprise and Belfast were stunned. Right now, there's an enemy at the base, even though their alarm is off.

"Considering I 'm asking them to rest this night, I'm pretty sure you 're an outsider," Kay said. "You've been trailing me for a few hours, and don't think I've never realized that."

Kay is staring at the bush. And if there's nothing in it, Kay can sense her presence.

"How about you to show up right now," Kay asked. However, the intruder is still motionless, leaving Kay with no option. He take out his sword and aim at the bush.

She reveals herself before he attempts to attack the intruder. A young girl with black hair, wearing a mask with one eye open, Akatsuki.

"Sakura Empire Shipgirl, Akatsuki!" Enterprise said. Instead she raised her bow to Akatsuki.

"What are you doing here?" Enterprise asked. "Isn't that morning are not enough for you?"

Akatsuki doesn't say anything, then she throws a smoke grenade at Kay.

Boommm....

Fog surrounding their position, making it is hard for them to see Akatsuki. Akatsuki doesn't leaves this chances to waste and trying to run. Althougt this smoke is thick, Kay, however, can easily clear the fog by slashing it.

"Belfast and Enterprise! Catch her!" Kay asked. "Don't let her escape".

"Roger that", said Belfast and Enterprise.

********************************************

"Got you! "The Enterprise said. "Restrain yourself or I'm going to use some force to stop you."

Since she failed to run away from Enterprise and Belfast, Akatsuki is now on Enterprise 's grip. She's trying to use some force to get away, but Enterprise is much stronger than her.

"It's pointless, give it up," Belfast said.

When she realized that her effort was futile, she stopped moving. Instead she says something to Belfast and Enterprise.

"You probably got me," said Akatsuki. "However, there's someone with me, and she already know this. She probably managed to get away from here and told Akagi.

Belfast and Enterprise are quite shocked by this. After winning the battle, they are too lenient and have not been able to predict this situation. They were also told by their commander to get some rest today, which would make them forget this probability to occur.

"We 're making a huge mistake," Enterprise said. "Our commander failed to predict this."

"No," said Belfast. "Master has already worked out this circumstance. That's why he's right here with us............."

Belfast and Enterprise are trying to look around, hoping they'll find Kay in this darkness. Yet their effort is futile. They 're unable to see Kay.

"Don't tell me that he was captured," Enterprise asked. Then she looks at Akatsuki and asks her a few questions.

"She 's probably managed to capture your lovely commander," Akatsuki said. "She's probably going straight to Akagi. And the next day, your base will be gone."

"That's not going to happen."

Enterprise, Belfast and Akatsuki are looking at the direction of the voice. It's Kay, and it looks like he's carrying somebody.

"Master!" Belfast said. "Are you all right?"

"Tch," Akatsuki said. "Well, at least Kirishima has managed to get away."

"You mean this girl?" Kay asked. "The girl I'm still carrying here. I found her hiding near the base and she seems very suspicious."

All the girls were shocked. They 're looking at the girls Kay still carries. It sure does feel like Kirishima. It's Kirishima, in fact.

"But, how?" Akatsuki asked. "There's no way for you to find her immediately, particularly if you're still new here."

"Don't think that way, little girl," Kay said. "I'm already senses your presence when you're here. It's just that I 'm waiting for the perfect time to catch you. Well, it is easier for me to catch her since she is not moving".

15 minutes earlier, Kay saw a girl hiding in a bush. That girl's got the horns that make Kay interested.

"Well, you've got some kind of special appearance compared to the other girls here," Kay said. "Let's just grab her and take her to Enterprise. I hope I don't make any mistake."

So he's going to catch Kirishima instantly.

Then Kay goes to Akatsuki and touches her. Lightning can be seen through his arm and flow to Akatsuki, leaving her unable to move.

"What are you doing," Akatsuki asked. "I can't move anything."

"Just a quick paralyzing," Kay said. "It's too difficult if you start running away. Don't worry, it's not going to hurt you."

Then he's looking at Belfast and the Enterprise.

"Take them now and lock them somewhere in the base," Kay said. "I'm going to call a day because I'm really tired right now."

Enterprise and Belfast heard and nodded to Kay. They've got a lot of questions, but they can wait next time.

"Well, if you think about this, Wales is probably going to be angry at me," Kay asked.

Belfast and Enterprise are beginning to laugh at Kay.

"Yeah, she's going to be mad at you", responded Enterprise and Belfast.

******************************************

"Why didn't you tell me about your plan, Commander?" Wales asked angrily. She looks really mad at Kay because he didn't tell her that the enemy was coming yesterday. "You lied to us about that, too. Luckily, Enterprise and Belfast are close to you. What's going to happen to us if you get caught?" +

Yes, she looks really mad at Kay.

"Oh, I didn't lie to you," Kay said. "I did tell you that no one would attack us, but I didn't say that any one would come here to spy on us. Well, looking at our circumstances, it's pretty obvious if an unknown man suddenly come here and helping Azur Lane",

Although, Wales and Kay are arguing with each other, Enterprise and Cleveland are only quietly staring at them, they don't want to interrupt them nor stopping them.

"That's enough for you two," Belfast said, putting an end to the arguments. "Madam Wales, I'm pretty sure Master has his own plans to help us out. That's why he's already there to capture the girls from the Sakura Empire. Enterprise and I'm only helping him a little bit.

Wales is looking at Belfast and releasing a big sigh.

"If you said that, I'm going to accept that," Wales said. "But, just this time, Commander. Please let us help you next time. We knew that you were much stronger than us, but still. We 're scared if anything bad happens to you, Commander.

"Well, I'm so sorry about that, Wales. It's not going to happen again, "Kay said." And thank you, Belfast for...."..

Before Kay wants to say something to Belfast. Belfast suddenly touches his face, staring close to him. Kay could hear Belfast's breaths. Now he's staring directly at Belfast. Enterprise, Cleveland and Wales are very surprised at Belfast.

"Ermm, what are you doing, Belfast?" Kay asked. He tried to get away but Belfast did not allow it.

"I've already said that, but it doesn't mean I'm going to forgive you, Master," Belfast said. "Bad master needs some punishment. Then, she is smiling at Kay.

*********************************

A few days later, after receiving some punishment from Belfast, there is a meeting that all the leaders of Azur Lane are coming and listening to their commander.

At first, they think it's going to be an introductory meeting because they still don't know much about Kay, but the air around the meeting is pretty serious. Kay's aura is too terrifying for them to look at Kay.

"It looks like everybody here," Wales said. "You should start right now, Commander."

Kay looks around him, saw all the ladies, looking very beautiful and gorgeous. Even a man is going to fall in love with them, but he's not coming here to do so. He has a duty of his own.

"I want to try something before I proceed," Kay said. Then he'll take something out of his pocket and show it.

"What's that, Master?" said Belfast.

"It's a smartphone," Kay said. "By using this, I'll receive some data when I capture a picture of you. However, it doesn't work as I intended."

Belfast doesn't seem to understand that. Literally, all the girls don't understand and tilt their heads.

"Ok, let me show you," Kay said as he was taking a picture of Belfast.

"This smartphone should give me some information about Belfast, but there's nothing that can help me in particular," Kay said. "Well, some information is given to me, but it doesn't help me a lot."

"How, then?" Wales said.

"I mean, there's no need to give Belfast three sizes," Kay said. "Well, if you ask me, it's pretty impressive.

All of the girls were suddenly blushed at Kay, particularly Belfast. Then she grabbed Kay 's face again.

"Well, at least this smartphone told me about your name and your faction," Kay said. "It's more than enough, I think."

Kay said that, but Belfast was still touching his face, poking him.

"You should ignore Belfast for a bit," Kay said. "I need to tell you something important."

The room is getting serious again. All the girls are listening to Kay carefully.

"We will launch an attack against Sakura Empire", said Kay. "Now, listen carefully".