My Precious Cargo ⚔ Volume 2 (An AtsuKage ff) ✔

XXII

Tobio followed Ushijima towards the maze of caves, sending one last glance over to his friends before they disappeared into the darkness. Part way in the caves were lit by torches, the flickering flames casting eerie shadows along the rocky walls. Ushijima didn't say a word, and until Tobio was sure they were quite possibly below the ground, did the Captain even spare him a look.

"I cannot trust you." he stated clearly.

"I know."

"But, even though I am a pirate, I care about the people of my homeland."

Tobio didn't give a reply, sensing there was more Ushijima wanted to tell him.

"I have heard of what your father, King Kageyama, did to Inarizaki's homeland: how he left no building standing nor a person alive to tell the tale. I know about your crewmmates, and I know they have built themselves up to become a strong crew."

"They are."

"But I know nothing about you. I only know that if you are the person the prophecy told our ancestors about, then you can free the ocean of your father's tyranny with the power of the Ocean's Heart."

Now it was Ushijima's turn to stay quiet, and for Tobio to ask his own burning questions. Doing so slowly so as to not concern the pirate, Tobio pulled out his dagger and offered it to Ushijima, its metal gleaming in the firelight. 

"This was my mother's. A friend told me this dagger came from this island, and therefore I have ancestors from Shiratorizawa too."

"These pearls are native to our shores." Ushijima clarified. "It does not mean she is from here." Tobio frowned before asking another question.

"She told me she came from a brilliant city, full of strong and creative people. When she married my father she promised that I would visit her homeland someday, that the song of her people would lead me to where I needed to go."

At the pirate's silence, Tobio took in a breath before singing his mother's song, hoping it was recognisable to Ushijima.

"Go far out to sea dear, into oceans big and bold, find the heart of the great goddess and a chest of pearl and gold. I will guide you dear, let your spirit wander free, for the seven seas are with you-"

"So sing this song to me." Ushijima finished, finally looking back at Tobio. "That song originates from Shiratorizawa. It was used by our ancestors to worship the sea goddess so they could have safe journeys across the sea. There are many versions of the song, but that is truly the original."

"I see."

They talked no further and a while later they reached the end of the caves, nothing but a big expanse of rock with light dappling in from the cracks above, vegetation and the blue sky just visible beyond the grey rock.

"The treasure is here. If you can truly unlock its power then it is yours and the prophecy is fulfilled. If not," Ushijima's eyes turned cold, his voice hard, "then you and the rest of your crew will die."

Unable to find words, Tobio nodded and Ushijima left back into the caves. Looking around he didn't find anything that could resemble a treasure, only rubble and rock, and so he took to searching the expanse, hoping that something would catch his eye. 

He came across a small pool in the ground, its water a strong shade of blue that was peculiar to its surroundings. At the bottom something was glistening, its shape swaying to and fro in the water's reflection. But one thing was certain: it was gleaming gold. 

After removing his hat, boots and sheath, Tobio took in a large breath before diving into the lake, swimming further and further down in the never-ending water. Slowly, the treasure came closer and closer, and his fingers curled around something cold before he pushed himself back up to the surface. 

He spluttered up some water as he hauled himself onto land, the treasure lying cold in his palm. Once he regained his breath he sat up, kneeling by the side of the pool as he looked at the treasure. It was a gold necklace with a blue jewel, one that seemed to glow at its core. The light inside it moved as if it were the waves of an ocean, and Tobio's eyes were captivated with awe.

He could feel a pull towards the treasure from within his chest, one that led to both curiosity and worry. Then, a faint voice began to ring out, but sure enough he was alone when he checked around the rocky expanse. It was a woman's voice, almost like his mother's, and it was coming from the necklace. The tune was that of the song, and as it continued it grew stronger and stronger until it filled his hearing entirely.

Throughout the song he felt a voice instructing him in his head, again one that sounded like his mother's yet it was stronger, almost ancient-sounding. It was telling him to break the treasure, smash the jewel, release the power that was desperate to be free. With a shaking hand he pulled out his dagger and let the necklace rest on a nearby rock. 

With faint breath and white-knuckled hands, Tobio raised the dagger above his head, the voice compelling him more and more. 

"Destroy it, Tobio. Free her power."

He brought his dagger down in a long arc, giving all of his strength with it. The point of his dagger hit the centre of the jewel, and a perfect crack formed down the middle, a bright light bursting out and flooding the room, blue jewels appearing within the rock making the walls sparkle and glow. 

Tobio's vision grew hazy, from both the light and the exhaustion that crept up on him the brighter it seemed to grow. The light merged together, condensing and forming a figure that hovered above the ground, a woman with a billowing dress and glowing blue eyes. 

"Tobio." She spoke, her voice that of a goddess. "You have freed me. Thankyou."

Tobio couldn't speak, his dagger dropping abandoned by his side, a large crack running through its blade. He watched as the woman floated to hover above the water, the light growing more and more blinding. 

"I can now regain my power of the ocean, and will free the sea from suffering and oppression. Thankyou, Tobio..."

The blinding light slowly turned dark, and suddenly his reflection was very close to the water.

"Thankyou for your sacrifice."

His body hit the water, the cold depths pulling him deeper and deeper, the darkness all consuming until his eyes shut and his limbs fell limp, doing nothing to break from the hold dragging him further into its depths. The cold seemed to fill his body, his lungs, and all Tobio could do was breathe in as the light drifted away...