Tears of the Sea

Chapter 10

  After a little while, everyone gathered in the fancy underwater dining room for dinner.

“What kind of seafood do you think they're going to serve us?” Megumi whispered.

“Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that I’m hungry enough to eat a whale.” Sanosuke stated. Just then, several fish men came out carrying large dishes. After placing them all on the table, they pulled off the lids to reveal the dishes.

“Wow!” Megumi squealed as she looked through all the different sea food entrees. There were dishes she never even seen before. Than again, that was to be expected.

“My friends, we are all eternally grateful for you returning our Sango to us. I only wish we could do more than offer you this meal. Please, help yourselves to your hearts content.” Queen Yumi stated with a smile. Sanosuke looked around.

“Oh man, how do you even choose where to start?”

“How about this one?” Miroku stated as he reach towards a dish that looked like it contained some kind of crab cakes. Taking a single cake, Miroku took a bite.

“Whoa, this is unbelievable! I’ve never tasted anything with so much flavor in a single bite! It's delicious!” With that, Megumi and Sanosuke started filling their plates.

“Holy cow!”

“This really is delicious! Hey! Sanosuke! Eat your own!” Megumi slapped his hand angrily as he tried to take one of her crab cakes. Miroku tried another fish dish that reminded him of sushi.

“This one's really good too. What is it?” He asked Sango who was sitting next to him.

“That’s a special dish made from a sand shark. It's one of my fathers favorite.”

“A sand shark? Do you hunt them or something?”

“Actually, we hunt several sea life forms. Sand shark is one of the most difficult to catch because they’re difficult to find.”

“That makes sense. Which one is your favorite?” Smiling, Sango pointed to a dish in front of her.

“This is called coral curry. It's a mixture of seaweed and a few different types of fish. I know it's relatively simple compared to some of our other dishes, but I’ve always liked the simple things best.” Smiling, Miroku took a bite.

“I would have to say I do too.” Sango found herself blushing. On the other side of the table, King Makoto and Queen Yumi were watching them. They couldn’t help but smile seeing as how their daughter looked so happy. After dinner, Ayame and Suzume played with Shippo as he chased them around the room. Sanosuke and Megumi were spending their time checking out the royal treasury as they were completely fascinated at some of the relics.

“Oh wow, look as this one Sanosuke. It reminds me of that old flower vase we found at the bottom of the reef three years ago.” Megumi stated as she held up a little vase with purple flowers painted on it.

“Nah, that other one was a lot bigger. The flowers are right though.” He then held up a sword.

“Now this is my kind of find. It reminds me of that sword Miroku found on that ship.”

“Yeah you’re right. It looks like the same craftsmanship and everything. By the way, where is Miroku?”

“Last time I saw him he was going somewhere with Sango.” Megumi sighed.

“I should have guessed. Where else would he be?” Meanwhile, Sango was giving Miroku the full tour of her land. He stared in amazement as Sango took him to an underwater volcano.

“We call this Mount Scarlet. Sometimes when it erupts, the entire mountain gets engulfed in a sea of red and orange flames creating a beautiful light.”

“Whoa, I can't begin to imagined.”

“It erupts only a few times a year and it can be very difficult to determine when it does. But it never does any harm to the surrounding lands. My father once told me and my sisters that this is where he asked our mother to marry him. It was right when the entire mountain was overflowing in a sea of red and orange flames. Even the top of the mountain was throwing more colors into the air. It was like the land itself was setting the theme for my father and mother to become one.” As the two of them admired the scenery, they watched as a few fish bravely swam right over the top of the mountain. As soon as they made it across, the mountain spewed a few small flames into the air sending the frightened fish on their way in a hurry. Sango and Miroku couldn’t help but laugh. Then, Sango formed a sad look on her face.

“Miroku.”

“Yes?”

“If I asked you to, would you promise that you’d come back here someday? That seaweed I gave you will only last until morning. If I promised to bring you some more of it, would you promise me you’d come back?” Miroku smiled as he took hold of her hand.

“Of course I would.” Sango smiled as she found herself blushing.

“I thought I'd find you two here.” They spun around as a voice appeared from behind them.

“Father?”

“I’m sorry, Sango, but I fear it's time for you to take your friends back to the surface. That seaweed will not last much longer.” Sango formed a sad look on her face.

“Yes, I understand Father. I shall go get the others.” Sango quickly swam back towards the castle. King Makoto swam up next to Miroku.

“I assume my daughter informed you that this is where I asked her mother for her hand?”

“Yes she did.” King Makoto closed his eyes.

“I will admit, when my daughter first told me about you, I was a little uneasy. Past experience has taught me that humans can be unpredictable. I was afraid you were the same and would someday turn and betray her.” Miroku formed a surprised look on his face.

“But now, having met you in person, I see you are not that kind of human. I see you have a clear mind and a pure heart that does not betray those around you, and I see your friends are also that way. Having my daughter bring you here has set my mind and heart greatly at ease.” Turning towards him, he held out his hand.

“I fully trust that, in the future, you will continue to be a good friend to my daughter.” Smiling, Miroku shook his hand.

“Of course.” After saying goodbye and promising to come back someday, Sango led them all back to the surface. By the time they made it back to the boat, the sky was pitch black.

“I sure hope you’ve got those lights fixed up Sanosuke.” Megumi said as she dried her hair out.

“What are you talking about? The lights have always worked perfectly.” He stated as he headed for the controls. Shippo shook himself dry as he rolled along the floor. Miroku took his time getting back in the boat.

“I’m really glad I got to see your home and meet your family. It was really amazing.”

“I’m glad you think so. I hope to see you again soon.”

“Don’t worry. I promised, right. I will be back.” Just then, Sango gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“I'll be waiting.” She said as she swam back under. Miroku placed his hand on his cheek and smiled.

“Hey, Miroku! Hurry up will ya! I want to get back before the early morning traffic at the docks starts.”

“Yeah, I know! I’m coming!” After Miroku was in the boat, Sanosuke turned on the engine to take them home. As they sailed away, something caught Megumi's eye.

“Look! There she is!” Looking out, Sango was waving goodbye to them. Raising their hands high, they all waved back.

“I'll see you soon, Sango.” As she watched them disappear into the night, Sango smiled.

“I'll be waiting.”