"If it takes my life, I will finally find you again."
Leonardo, a sea turtle who has been fascinated with life above shore, would do whatever it takes to make his dream come true. Tired of being reprimanded by his father, and bossed around by his br...
"It's just that I'm concerned for the boy. His restless nature's a huge risk to his wellbeing, Chizu." Usagi's aunt furrowed her brows, letting out a deep sigh in frustration, putting her cup down. She was the only one at the table for breakfast, her patience growing thinner and thinner as time went on. Ever since she had heard the news the other night, auntie couldn't even sleep.
"The boy's young, he has the tendency to be impulsive." Lady Chizu her advisor sternly responded, knowing that the boy's behavior has sparked such distress as she looked up to see the queen's face drastically change. "I'm just happy that he gets to have this opportunity. Not a lot have the chance to do something like this nowadays. Just give it time, your highness."
"Yes, but," Auntie continued, "Going on these voyages now as a part time yokai hunter worries me. I mean, who knows what else this boy will do-"
"Your highness! Your nephew has returned." Auntie jolted up and ran towards the door in excitement, finally getting to see him again. As she opened it, they looked rather soaked, especially Usagi, who had his head wrapped in bandages, having had hit his head previously on his way to shore.
"Oh, thank the gods. Usagi, come and eat. Food has been waiting. Chizu, please ready our tea." "Right away, your majesty." As Chizu went off, Auntie stood up and quickly ran up to them. "Hey, auntie.." Usagi smiled sheepishly. Knowing that he was soaked, his auntie backed away not wanting to get her garments wet. Auntie's expression faltered, looking at her nephew's overall state.
His body felt warm, slightly feverish due to the condition he was in. He was still slightly coughing due to some of the little amounts of sea water still stuck in his throat. Usagi was still a bit damp, but his sandals were torn. Even so, he got changed quickly into a blue yukata to warm up.
"I'm so glad that you're okay. You scared me to death. What happened?" Usagi's smile weakened, looking down upon his overall state. "It's nothing, I may have scraped my head on a few rocks here, but it's fine. It's a little accident!" Auntie took a quick glance behind, seeing that Lady Chizu has returned with the tea. She attempted to grab his arm, but let go. "Goodness me, I'm sorry that your birthday had to end this way." Auntie huffed, cupping the face of her nephew.
Usagi gulped, feeling the bandage on his head. "It's fine, Auntie. Really. I just tripped and hit my head, that's all." He gives a small smile, trying to reassure her. "And I wouldn't have made it out alive if it weren't for someone saving me after all." He grinned off to the side, reminiscing the moment he had. Usagi then snapped his fingers, suddenly getting reminded of what he was about to mention. "Oh that reminds me. Gen, have you checked the coast? Was he there?" "Who?-" he stammered. "I'm afraid we couldn't find anyone there, Usagi. Everywhere, we looked."
"Shit." Usagi muttered discreetly, pushing his hair back. "But, he was real! I swear!—" "—Sit down, Yuichi. You were lucky to have made it to shore before anything else would've happened." Said auntie, cutting off his sentence, inviting him to come sit at the table. She had swiftly returned to her seat, sipping a pint of her tea. His auntie peered at Usagi who was cross armed, tapping his foot rapidly like a time bomb ready to explode. It was clear that his impulse got the best of him.
"But auntie-" he boomed. "Sit down." "But I'm not hungry." "Sit." "I'll check it out myself-" As Usagi tried to walk away, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks as he heard his auntie speak. She slammed her hand on the table to get his attention, standing up. "I'm worried about you. You know that the shipwreck has put a lot of weight on my mind lately."
Auntie's voice is filled to the brim with concern as she mentions the shipwreck, Usagi having to step back to try and say something. His thoughts were all cluttered, and he felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to state the obvious, but knowing his auntie, he wouldn't think she'd take such an answer. "Yeah but," he stopped in the middle of his sentence to see that his auntie's eyes giving him 'that' stare.
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He rolled his eyes, quickly adjusting his tone, crouching over for a second near the table where she was sitting. "Yeah, but, you guys better be lucky I'm still alive." Usagi lowered his head, trying to avoid eye contact. He sighed heavily adjusting his topknot, standing up again, "So I'm going out, finding that guy."
Auntie then walked up to him and grabbed his wrist firmly. "Well, you're not leaving until you feel better." Usagi noticed her grip starting to tighten, and pulled his arm away. "I'll feel better when I find him! Just watch." Usagi gritted his teeth as his auntie scowled. While her dear nephew's back was turned.
He began to walk, only to stop in his tracks once again due to his auntie having had put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you using this boy as an excuse to run off again?" She turned him around, "Risking your life just for sheer adventure."
"Look, sheer adventure is the reason why I do what I do in the first place." Said Usagi, trying to prove his point. His cheeks turned pink for a second, but he immediately snapped out of it. Knowing his auntie, she wasn't going to hold back.
"Only to end up in more shipwrecks." She pursed her lips. His auntie turned around, "How many sunken ships have we witnessed this past couple months, Gen?"
"6, including the one last night, your majesty." Gen replied. "Did you hear that, Yuichi? Did anything ring a bell to you?" Auntie questioned him once more.
"Yeah yeah, I heard it." He scoffed. "Don't you make that face." Auntie held that face of his, directing it towards her. Her eyes widened, "Shipwrecks, hurricanes, the sea gods are against us. Do you understand? Who knows what we've been doing but only in a matter of time, they'll kill us all-"
"That's just ridiculous." "Is it?" "Well, wasn't this your idea? I'll be fine." He let go of his auntie's grip, and threw his bandage on the ground, revealing a scar on his left temple. "Hey, no talking back to me. And go pick that up, young man!" She exclaimed. "Is it clear to you that a deadly shipwreck brought you to us?" his auntie tried to warn him. "You could have died the other day. This has to stop."
"What do you mean? I'll be-" Usagi sneered, only to be cut off again by his auntie. "Shh. Now, no more overseas voyages, no more chasing after people that don't even exist. Your priority is to rest up and recover."
"But what about protecting the people-" "That's not your job. Now, your job is to finish your food and rest." He then sighed, regretting what he had done. "Yes, auntie."
"Very good, now let's go back to the dining area. The food might get cold." As she said that, she redirected him back. Usagi couldn't help but glance at the ocean some more from the windows beside them, only to stop abruptly by his seat.
"Chizu?" "Yes your highness?" "Please wake up Kana. I don't want her to end up like her brother here if you please. You know skipping breakfast isn't a part of her routine." "Right away. Also, please Usagi. Don't make this hard for me."
