The sorties of free souls

Drizzled rain

"Even if everyone forgets... I will never..." Rain drizzled down on me. January 25th, 1945, I was doing an escort mission, as I've done many times, the crew of Shigure were proud, until the very end. The conscious of I, was on that ship. The Japanese Destroyer, Shigure. Everything was hectic by this time, seeing allies and everyone around me, sink to the deep blue sea. My life was filled with spite,  from what I've seen, it was as if I were made to suffer. A human, but a... a ship? A weapon used for war? I don't want to be that... I never want that. I'd rather be someone who could have a quiet life. But that can't be helped, I don't think, isn't that right...? All the men of the Japanese Destroyer Shigure were working as hard as they could, as always. I thought it was a quiet day, and a quiet escort mission, due from Hong Kong to Signapore, I was torpedoed by a submarine. It was quite the surprise for me, and the crew members. I guess we should have been more prepared... It was our faults, no one's fault, it just happened. The crew members were in a panic, trying to prepare for a counter attack, however, I was too damaged to go on for long. It took all my strength to stay balanced, they could never hear me, but I was yelling as loud as I'd ever. All I could do now was sink, but what I could have done was sink. But I could've sunken slowly, just for anyone to make it out alive, I'd be so happy for even every single crew member to escape. All I could reflect upon on the time, were the ones I cherish, the memories that were executed in my head, the funny things my crew said, and the pride of their ship and nation! That's what really made me love them. They loved me, the same as they loved their nation, and their family. The ship was in such a panic, my face was endlessly out there into the facade of darkness. I was looking up at that rain, near the dark cloud sky. The men, had so many injuries... So much fire, pain and yelling... The ship echoed with sorrow. The sorrow... My sorrow, the painless tears, the mindless mind, and pride... The pride has not been lost...  I can carry everyone, like I have for my career! Ever since I heard those words during this whole wreck... I overheard him, I overheard those inspirations... "I have a family... They're dear to me, I love my wife, so much... And I love..." The man started to wheeze, the glare of shade from my eyes turned towards this man, he had a smile, an awfully painful smile... He was dying, so weak, on the Japanese Destroyer Shigure, that he just loved... "I love my son... He was only a baby, but I could tell he would be just like me. And... Shi... You know me, I love myself..." Arteries, were jammed just into a pole. Blood leaking through, and that man started to spit out blood, but he still had a smile, even while he was dying. "My youth is over, I wonder if my daughter will grow up to be a brilliant lady, someday. I want to know so bad... I know we've had our past arguments, but lets make amends... Escape, enjoy yourself, my name is Shakimeki Tsukata, find my family, and don't forget to tell them that I'm just not with them right now. Remember the words we've heard, no matter how much it rains, it'll be brighter, someday soon. Now go on, and don't steal my wife..." The man didn't cry, he kept his smile, seeing that smile was just strange and foreign to me. How could he smile like that, smile until his death was in front of him? I couldn't understand until it hit me. What he was fighting for, was fighting for a win, and fighting for his family. It made me angry, angry at myself! Angry that I couldn't protect everyone, what about the other crew members on Yamashiro, Fusou, Mogami, and everyone in that escort!? Who could've lost their family, and lives...? The man dropped in cold blood, as the man he was talking to, walked up and closed his dead and open eyelids down. He took the cap off of that man's head, and ran out from the area. I broke down, in tears, painful tears, painful sorrows, pain was everywhere. I'll need to be stronger, on my own! The time flew by fast, yet slowly... By the time I stopped crying in front of that man, and everyone around the area of me, I walked up onto the main deck, to see emptiness. This emptiness, was unsettling, but it made me happy. It ensured me, not everyone was dying, people would make it out. And thankfully... So many did... But those that were unfortunate enough... Did not live... They would be missed. And with a salute, I will be missed. This is the Japanese Destroyer Shigure, sinking, for the pride of her nation. I will now sail adrift, underwater, from the deep blue ocean, I'll be on the same ground of so many others. But also with my friends, Yamashiro, Fusou, Mogami, Michishio, Asagumo, and Yamagumo... The escort mission I absolutely failed, and the mission where I lost my dear friends... My final wish for this day is... For me to not ever be lonely, again... I've learned my lesson...

I wake up, wake up? My conscious is drifting so much right now. I can hear the tinkering of the steel on me. I feel a bit heavy, but I feel refreshed! "AH!" I screamed so much, that was so hot, the flamethrower, that hurt, why was that needed!? I cried in pain, forgetting those moments, and started to run out of the way, only to run into someone's arms! The man had a familiar smile, and nodded his hat, which blocked out his eyes, how mysterious... I didn't care, because behind him were my friends! Fusou, Mogami, Asagumo, Yamagumo, Mischishio and Yamashiro! Oh my god, Yamashiro... I want to cry from this happy pain. There was a rain  in the sky, but it was comfortable and welcoming... As if it were just for me, the drizzles followed me, as the admiral let go, I smiled and ran towards that group who were waiting for me, waiting for my construction! They were all having fun, and laughing! Could it be? Is the war over? I didn't care, my tears were flying out of my eyes, I ran and we all had such a warm and nice group hug! I had the temptation to say it, so I said it... "I'm Shigure, of the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers. Nice to meet you."