Author's Note:
So this popped into my head and I couldn't get it to go away. So I leave it here with you all instead.

On that note, if you have a scenario or little thing you'd like to see me write about, let me know. Specify which Ship Girls and what's going on. And I'll give it my best shot.

And yes, I am aware that this chapter is not as long as the usual.
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She was not scared.

She was a proud American Ship Girl!

She was not afraid.

She was a destroyer of the United States Navy!

She was not startled easily.

She had a service to be proud of!

She would not give.

She was a ship girl with nerves of steel!

That's what the orange eyed destroyer told herself anyways as she tucked her head under the covers in the dark of the room she shared with three others.

Bristol poked her head above the blankets briefly before ducking back under, her movements going seemingly unnoticed by her sleeping ship sister.

This had become a problem earlier that day, when Hatsuharu had had the fabulous idea of telling Ghost Stories.

Well, before they knew it, every destroyer on base was crammed into the Japanese Destroyer's room. Included were the two American Destroyers, who happily accepted the invite.

Well, soon enough, 17 destroyers and 1 Light Cruiser occupied the room, Tenryuu not leaving to chance that her girls may hear something Nightmare worthy. And partly the same for Bristol and Ellyson, considering the fact that the two reminded her so much of the Akatsuki girls.

Well, eventually things got rolling, the group each taking a turn, each girl telling her own Ghost Story.

There was Amatsukaze and her telling of the Legend of the Flying Dutchman and its immortal captain, Davy Jones. A good place to start for sure.

There was Harusame and her story of the Haunted Hotel, those who dared to stay only to end up raving mad as a result. Some fear was thrown around to be sure.

There was Shigure and her telling of the mysterious woods, so dense and foggy, it was said that if you walked in, you never walked out.

There was Inazuma and her telling of the Lost City. The story of a whole settlement who just mysteriously vanished, the residents never to be heard from again.

There was Murakumo and her story of vanishing waters. A patch of ocean so mysterious and frightening, legend told that even if you went over it, you'd still succumb to it's dangerous properties, never to be heard from again.

Eventually, 17 stories had been told. And in turn, 17 destroyers had equally frightened each other, some more than others.

After so, 17 gazes turned to the Light Cruiser in the room, waiting expectantly for her share her story of horror.

Tenryuu stayed silent a moment, taking the time to look at each and every destroyer. After which, she had let a small smirk upon her lips.

Being a non destroyer type, she knew which stuff was and wasn't withheld from the destroyers. What stuff would get her killed by the larger classed girls for even uttering a word of, especially after what had happened a while back.

She knew the best and worst stuff.

She knew where to aim and take fire.

And so she did.

It was her job after all. To show those younger why she was so cool.

She told them a story that had no rival.

She told them of a ship that had no better.

She spoke the Legend of the Ghost.

The Grey Ghost.

She spoke of the ship that seemed to be everywhere and yet nowhere at all. She spoke of the old girl's ability to strike you down on a whim.

She spoke of it's desire to send each and everyone of them to the bottom. She spoke of it's will to do so out of hatred. Out of wrath. Out of fun.

She told of its ability to vanish on a whim, the only evidence that it had ever been there was the faint hum of the engines of the army of planes it controlled as it sailed into the distance.

She spoke of its liking of sending ships to the bottom. She spoke of the love it held for destroying everything. She spoke of how it especially liked targeting destroyers.

She spoke of its power to be unsinkable. She spoke of the way that its laugh echoed through the air when you thought you had bested it, only to see it raise from the depths time and time again.

She spoke about the marred and scratched gray color of its body, the last thing you saw before it sent you under.

She had spoken of the Ghost.

And in turn?

She had 17 sufficiently terrified destroyers in front of her. Sure, she had stretched the truth a bit much. And heavens help her should the girl of the name find out about this. But it was done, the story told. Tenryuu was feeling quite pleased with herself at the moment.

That had been hours ago, and Bristol had been sure it wouldn't affect her. That she would not fear the Ghost like so many had done before. That she would not fall victim to a simple story.

That was simply not the case.

She was terrified, every small noise, each simple sound furthering the destroyer's sleepless night in minutes.

She took another peek out from under the bed's blankets, willing the Ghost not to find her. And just as quickly, she ducked back under, not willing to take any more time than she needed to.

The Ghost would not find her.

The Ghost can not find her. 

The Ghost might find her.

The Ghost would find her.

The Ghost had found her.

Bristol suddenly jerked out from under her blankets, looking around wildly, ready to beat the hell out of whatever other worldly being that dared take a step into her room. But she only found that there was nothing there.

For the hundredth time that night.

Bristol stayed sitting up in her bed that she shared with Ellyson. Who in turn, was sound asleep, not even a slight tremor within her sleep.

Bristol's jet black hair was a tangled mess, her orange eyes struggling to stay open. Her sleep attire, a basic dark blue shirt and shorts, were soaked with a cold sweat. But her mind would not allow her rest, not when she was unsafe. Not when she was potentially the Ghost's next victim.

The Ghost liked destroyers. And that she was. It would get her. It would claim her. The Ghost would be her undoing.

She wasn't safe. Not here.

Bristol suddenly smiled brightly.

She wasn't safe. Not here.

Here being the keyword in that statement.

The Gleaves Class destroyer suddenly bolted out of bed, a new destination at the forefront of her mind.

Slowly and carefully, the destroyer opened the door to the bedroom, quietly slipping into the dark hallway and on her way.
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The bedside lamp flicked on.

Bristol instinctively froze.

The occupant of the lone bed in the room let out a tired yawn as they sat up, their exhausted gaze not taking long to find Bristol.

Bristol stared right back.

The two sat in this silence for a moment, the one in the bed looking less than amused at the change in events.

Eventually, the second person spoke.

"Bristol..." Anya sighed. "What are you doing?" The American Admiral asked as she propped herself up on one arm, looking down at the destroyer.

Destroyer in question merely looked back up at the woman, her orange eyes the very symbol of hope.

"I was... I am.... I....." Bristol faded off as she struggled under the watchful gaze of her Admiral. The small destroyer's hands played with her fingers as Bristol tried to answer.

Anya watched the destroyer, her instincts already beginning to decipher what Bristol wanted. What Bristol was here for.

She knew what it was. She knew it well.

It had been her at one point. So very long ago.

Bristol was afraid.

She wanted to feel safe.

That's all she wanted.

Bristol was a warship. A proud being of the most powerful Navy on Earth. A girl that embodied the very essence of the free.

But she was also a child.

A scared child.

"Bristol....." Anya spoke, causing the dark haired Destroyer to look up at the woman. "Do you want to sleep in my bed tonight?" She asked softly, her tired tone not holding up against that of the kind one replacing it.

The incandescent smile that suddenly made itself home upon Bristol's face could've put even a nuclear reactor to shame.

"R-really...?" The destroyer asked. Anya only offered a nod in response, the black shirt and shorts she had chosen for sleeping wear that night moving briefly with her movements.

Bristol hesitated momentarily before clambering her way up onto the bed, an action that elicited a small laugh from Anya. Peeling back the comforter, Anya allowed the destroyer to slip herself under the blankets. Bristol took no time snuggling herself to Anya, an action that was answered with another small laugh.

Looking down at the destroyer, Anya voiced her question.

"So, Bristol, may I ask what brings you here...?" She asked. Bristol gave a small nod.

"A ghost story....." She answered.

"Oh? A ghost story? What kind of ghost story could've made such a brave destroyer so afraid?" She asked, leaning over and clicking the lamp off before settling back down into bed.

"It was a serious Ghost story. One about the Grey Ghost....." Bristol answered, her voice quivering.

Anya kept her face neutral as she fought back the urge to laugh at the turn of events. Here, she had one of her destroyers. One of her fearless warriors. Her most hyperactive of the bunch, scared to her wits of a ghost story. A legend that focused on one of her friends. But Apparently Bristol did not know that small detail.

Anya would not reveal that to her though. Not yet. Not tonight.

"Ah, I see.... Who told you this scary story?" Anya asked, her tone remaining soft, despite the exhaustion that wanted her to do nothing but sleep. But she pressed on.

"Tenryuu did, Admiral... She's the one who told me the story...." Bristol responded. Anya nodded as she rested her head against the pillows.

"Ah... I see... Well, focus on sleep now. I assure you, the Ghost will not get you. They won't dare. Not while I'm protecting you." Anya replied. She felt Bristol give a nod as the small destroyer snuggled up to the woman, the only indication of it being the noise that was made as the sheets were ruffled during the movement.

"Yes Admiral. Goodnight." She responded.

Anya laid awake, listening to the small girl's soft breathing as the destroyer began to settle down.

Eventually, those soft breaths turned to small, childlike snores giving the sign that the hyperactive had once again found sleep's embrace.

The American Admiral gave a smile as she closed her eyes as well, sleep soon embracing her as well.
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The Next Morning.

The Japanese Kanmusu sleeping quarters building shook to its very foundation.

Tenryuu suddenly awoke, looking around briefly confused before rubbing her eyes.

Before she could attempt to sleep further, the wall mounted phone suddenly awoke, ringing with ferocity.

Tatsuta gave a yawn as she watched her sister rise to answer the phone, soon speaking into it.

"Hello...?" Tenryuu answered groggily. She suddenly straightened up as she heard the voice. "Admiral?"

Tatsuta watched as her sister held a conversation with their Admiral on the other end of the line. She watched as Tenryuu began to look more and more panicked.

"You didn't tell her where our room was, right.........?" Tenryuu slowly asked.

As if on cue, another shake made the building quiver in fear as some force made its way through the building.

Some angry force.

Tatsuta watched as Tenryuu suddenly slapped the phone back into the holder, ending the call as she launched herself into a frenzy of getting herself dressed as quickly as humanly possible.

"Tenryuu...?" Tatsuta spoke from her own bed, watching as her sister rushed around the room in a flurry.

Eventually, Tenryuu turned to Tatsuta.

"Do not tell anyone where I've gone!" Tenryuu said before turning to the door and throwing it open in one quick motion.

She slowly and carefully poked her head out from the safety of their room, peering down the hallway to the left.

Tatsuta watched as Tenryuu's eyes grew wide with fear.

"OH SHIT!"

Tenryuu bolted to the right, down the hallway as she quickly as possible.

And from the left?

Tatsuta watched as an inhuman blur shot past her door, its speed the stuff of legend.

Its rage, only matched in that of the gods.

Its fury, like that of an erupting volcano.

A blur that looked strangely like a certain blonde American Admiral.

Tatsuta shrugged. Wasn't her problem.

The younger of the two light cruisers let her head fall back to her pillow as her older sister's panicked cries echoed through the halls of the Kanmusu dorm building.

Tatsuta only smiled before sleep took her again.