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

XXIV

When Tobio woke up he felt a dull throbbing in his head. It took him a moment to open his eyes, and another to blink away the bright light seeping into his surroundings. He felt something soft between his fingertips and around him, his head warm and cushioned. He wasn't in the cave anymore, but this also wasn't the ship.

He waited for his headache to settle before trying out his limbs, and it was like pulling them out of a deep sleep. He worked his way down his body, stretching and untensing his neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and ankles until he felt like he could move. 

Looking around, he noticed he was in a bedroom of sorts. The bedding was pale blue and soft, a blanket just reaching his chin. The walls were plain but a mirror, dresser and drawers decorated them. To his left was a latticed window through which he could see the sea. It was calm, peaceful, and the breeze greeted him with a hello.

The best sight was in front of the window, where Atsumu was sitting by his bedside asleep. His chin rested against his chest and his hat had fallen to the floor. He looked peaceful, but Tobio could see the dark circles under his eyes; he frowned, not wanting to be the cause of anymore suffering.

With what limited strength he had, he reached out a hand so his fingers brushed against Atsumu's, and he watched as the Captain frowned before his eyes opened with slow blinks. The look of exhaustion was placed with pure euphoria once he realised Tobio was awake, and suddenly all the Prince could see was a mess of blond hair in his eyes.

"Yer awake." Atsumu whispered, as if talking any louder would break what may be a dream. "Yer finally awake, baby."

Tobio smiled and basked in Atsumu's warmth before the pirate pulled away to help him sit up.

"What happened?" he asked after soothing his parched throat with a glass of water.

"You were gone forever, and so Ushijima and I went after you. I found yer drowning in the water and the goddess appeared and I made her bring you back-"

"I died?" Tobio interrupted, voice strained. 

"Almost." Atsumu replied grimly. "But she saw the mess I was, crying all over the place like a wee baby, and she woke you up. Yer had a lot of water in yer lungs and you passed out on me, so I ran out and Shiratorizawa brought us here to treat ya."

"Here? Where is here?"

"Shiratorizawa's home, or more like mansion. We made sure you were breathing and uninjured, then we had to warm you up because yer were so cold. You've been asleep for a week. But I'm so glad yer awake, I was so worried."

Tobio hummed, not really knowing how to respond, but luckily Atsumu understood and the blond went to get him some food before helping him clean and into fresh clothes. He felt better after moving around, but still leaned into Atsumu's side as the older male helped him down the stairs.

He could hear lots of loud voices coming from a pair of closed doors, and Atsumu faked annoyance before pushing them open. Instantly, all conversation, or arguing more likely, ceased, and Tobio noticed that it wasn't just Inarizaki and Shiratorizawa that were here, but Karasuno and Seijoh too.

"Tobs, yer awake!" Suna ran over to him and pulled him in a tight hug, the rest of Inarizaki following quickly behind. 

"I'm okay." he assured them as he leaned into Kita's headpat.

"Tobio-kun you worried us all so much, ya brat!" Oikawa hugged him next, muttering about how irresponsible Tobio is and how stupid he is. But the worry was still evident in his tone, and so the Prince made sure to return the hug as best he could manage.

"It seems you found the treasure before us." Daichi declared once they had all sat down with drinks and food, everyone's spirits and smiles lighter. "Congratulations."

"How did you know we were here?" Tobio asked, sighing with content at the soothing aroma of the jasmine tea in his palms. 

"The merchant Sakusa informed us where you were heading, and so we all made chase hoping to get here first." Iwaizumi explained. 

"But when we get here we find out the treasure has been found, the sea goddess freed, and you unconscious in bed." Suga finished. 

"How long have you been here?"

"Four days."

"And you didn't leave once you knew the hunt was over?" Tobio was confused as to why the crews weren't already focused on a new adventure.

"We wanted to make sure the seas were safe to sail again, and who better to ask than you." Daichi stated. "Besides, some people here were worried about you, even if they won't admit it."

"Oh."

It felt nice, he decided, that these people cared about him. They didn't know each other well, and so their concern for him was welcomed warmly. It surprised him that they all stayed this long, especially when there were new opportunities out on the ocean now the goddess was set free.

"But tell us, Tobio, what happened with the treasure and the goddess?"

So Tobio told them everything he could remember, from his ancestors to the jewel to the goddess' words. The pirates' faces shifted from wonder and awe to confusion and anger to complete bewilderment. 

"And then she just disappeared?" 

"Aye. Vanished." Atsumu replied. 

"What do you think she will do now?" Osamu asked. "Will she take down King Kageyama's reign and set the nation free again?"

"I don't know." Atsumu stated, and everyone followed his gaze to look at Tobio whose eyes were set on the horizon beyond, almost glowing and shifting as if they held the ocean within them. "But I think we'll find out soon. It's a pirate's life, eh?"

The End