Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Yumi - 24

Few things could settle Yumi's mind like being in the water. Feeling the indecisive pull of the current, the chill and warmth passing through, the way sunlight catches little pieces of sediment that make the surrounding water look filled with starry glitter. She's reminded of when she was very young and Jin took her down to the beach and let her play in the water for the first time to show her how to swim. Jin told her the ocean seems to have a mind of its own and uses its overwhelming power to keep us out, but really it's only the moon challenging us to give in to let it carry us on a dance of time. In her youth, Yumi danced into the waves thinking that was what the moon wanted. Only to have her legs swept out from under her and thrown back to shore in a fit of laughter. Once she took Jin's hand and let the waves pass without fighting back, she could make it through the breaking waves and learned how to swim in deeper waters. It's one of the only times mother and I really got to play... All the other kids in the village seemed to spend every day that way... I was always training... always studying... I didn't have time for playing with friends... But that's okay... Because now I know the moon just wants us to breathe and the dragon will go home... And... wait, is that Sapha running on water?

Yumi floats to the surface and peeks out to confirm that, yes indeed, Sapha is running over to her as if the ocean were just another floor. She's not even causing a splash with each step. Did the tail hit my head? I'm not sure what makes less sense... Sapha defying the laws of physics... or defying her laws of not caring about me...

Despite Yumi's disbelief over the sight, Sapha reaches her and holds you a hand. Yumi treads water, a throbbing pain in her side making it difficult. "How are you doing that? Are you like... some sort of goddess?"

"Goddess of fancyass hovering boots, enchanted long before any of us were around. Never leave a trace. A convenient side effect: I can't fall into water. Now get back on the damn boat before that thing comes back to eat your dramatic ass." Sapha shakes her hand, impatiently waiting for Yumi to take hold.

Yumi giggles, "You came to my rescue so quick. Didn't think I'd see you react so urgently to my demise." She winks with a strained kick to stay above water. "Guess you really do care."

"I care that my way of getting paid after all this got battered off the ship hard enough to shatter a ribcage. If I was really that distraught over you, we'd be getting eaten right now. Stop failing at flirting and take my fucking hand before I let you drown, clearly you're hurt."

Yumi smiles with playful suspicion, holding out her hand with a mild glow in her irises. "Whatever you say, I still saw the look in your eyes when you jumped."

"Shut. Up." Sapha pulls Yumi up out of the water, catching her under the knees to carry her back cradled with a strained grunt. "How are you so fucking heavy? You don't look that much bigger than me."

Yumi is shocked out of her clear relishing of being held close. "H...Hey! I am not heavy! You're just tiny... not my fault..."

"Calm the fuck down, I think the dragon went back to the depths. Let's keep it there. I think it's that katana on your back, how are you carrying that thing around all the time?"

Yumi nuzzles back into Sapha's shoulder, prompting an eye roll as she keeps walking. "I have to, it was my sensei's... I promised to avenge her with it when I find Saito."

"We're not going to run into him until we at least get back to the capital. Shouldn't you probably give yourself a break from it? No wonder you whine so much."

"When have I whined?"

"Whenever I ignore you."

"That's all the time..."

Sapha looks down with an expectant glare.

Yumi cowers slightly more into Sapha's shoulder. "I... just want to know you better..."