high_seas | No ghost dinosaurs, we promise

Entry tags:

No ghost dinosaurs, we promise

Who: The crew of the Katabami
Where: Monsuta
When: October 1 - mid-October-ish
What: General crew log for prehistoric hijinks
Warnings: Kodachi and dinosaurs in the same place
Style: Any
Status: Open to whoever's in the area

After visiting so many civilized, fairly normal islands, it's time for the brave crew of the Katabami to go bother more giant animals on Monsuta.

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[She glanced toward the captain, her brows knit in thought. She'd always told people that whenever their crew members left, they'd likely come back because it seemed to always be the case. She certainly hoped that Anji would, but Ranma . . . ]

I'm just thinking about Anji-san.

[She'd leave Ranma for later discussion.]

His world . . . it's a hostile place, and I'm wondering if he's alright. I hope he comes back soon. He wouldn't have vanished this long without telling us his whereabouts, so Davy Jones must've sent him back.

Aye, it's likely that's the case if he's been gone this long without word.

[He pats her kindly on the head.]

I'm sure he'll be just fine if he's gone home. He seems the sort to make the most of things wherever he is, so I wouldn't worry too much over him.

[He's fairly certain they won't be seeing anyone who's disappeared any time soon. Some crews have had people disappear and return, but it's not something he's ever seen himself. Truly, there were a few faces he never wanted to see again, but also a few he misses terribly.]

[Kodachi nodded once. If Anji had evaded capture for that long, then he was likely to do it again.]

[As for the topic of Ranma . . .]

[She let out a long sigh.]

I'm certain that he returned to Nerima as well.

[She didn't want to say his name. She'd said it so long with the honorific to denote how besotted she was with him, but ever since that incident at Eternal Bliss . . . she'd been trying to wean herself off of him, and she had been successful in small steps, but she supposed that this was the final blow.]

He said he'd get married to her. I suppose it really is over . . .

Aye, most likely.

[No sense in sugar coating it, dangerous though that may be. Why is it that he seems to find himself surrounded by people with more or less this same problem? It's a bit strange, when you really think on it.]

You're young yet, though, and I suppose it must seem as if the world is ending, but you've plenty of time ahead of you to find something or someone new for yourself.

It certainly felt like it was for a while, and I still feel sad, but . . .

I do feel a little bit better.

[She sighed once again and stared out pensively into the sea. Did people ever really forget the first person they truly loved? For all that some might insist that Kodachi's feelings for Ranma were mere infatuation, that simply wasn't true. He was like a knight-in-shining armor when he caught her from the rooftop, and it changed entire mindset with regards to people - that people could be kind and caring after all. (Even if he was the reason that she hit her head and fell off the roof to begin with, which she was unaware of. Whoops.)]

I think I've cried all of my tears out.

[She gave Motochika a small smile.]

[He smiles back, though it's partly out of relief. He's not exactly the best at dealing with teenage girls, so he breathes a little easier knowing she's not going to start into hysterics any time soon.]

Then it's time to get moving forward, isn't it? No sense in letting him drag you down when he isn't even here.

[He sort of pities the poor boy if he ever returns, especially if he does go back and marry his fiancee.]

[Yes, Motochika! Enjoy one of the rare moments in which Kodachi wasn't throwing another of her fits!]

You're right, but . . . I think I need more time to truly leave him and his foolishness behind.

[She let out a derisive sniff, her hands tightening on the banister. Oh, she wasn't done being angry and sad - not by a long shot. At least it just wasn't enough to drive her to raze an entire city.]

[He patted her on the back. Needing time was fine, as long as his ship stayed intact during that time.]

Of course, lass. Take all the time you need, just don't dwell on it. I have my hands full enough with Mitsunari.

[Not that he wouldn't give her his full attention if she needed it, but the point still stands.]

[She'll give him a heads-up if she ever plans to destroy things. Yep.]

Mitsunari-san? Is something wrong with him? . . . As per usual?

[She was distracted for a while as she blinked at the captain.]

Nothing more than there ever is. That's a cautionary tale there, lass, of what happens to someone when they put too much of themselves into following someone that doesn't deserve it. I wouldn't say it's love in his case, not of the romantic sort, at least, but it isn't so different.

[He sighs. He's been doing all he can for him, but until he starts trying to meet him halfway, no progress is ever going to be made.]

[Kodachi didn't want to talk about history because she was wary of changing up things that shouldn't be - and somehow erasing Japan and her existence as she knew it - so she chose her words carefully.]

Do you mean his loyalty to Hideyoshi?

Aye, that. And now with Hideyoshi gone, he can't see a life for himself past his revenge. He's even said he wants to use his wish to return himself to Hideyoshi.

[He shakes his head.]

Even though it isn't as if the big gorilla wouldn't fall to someone sooner or later. No one but his own followers really cared about that philosophy of his, not that Mitsunari would be too keen on hearing that.

[Kodachi let out a sigh. It was so difficult to hear about historical accounts as though they were happening at present - which, of course, they were for people like Mitsunari and Motochika.]

I understand a single-minded loyalty to someone you admire.

[She crooked a small smile.]

I just hope that Mitsunari-san can see that there are people who care about what he does and do not want to see him suffer.

[However, Sekigahara was also in the history books, and Mitsunari's determination to see the Toyotomi government survive was what led to his end. This, once again, made her sad - it was different now that she knew him and he wasn't just a name in books.]

It's my hope that he'll see that as well.

[He drooped a little. There'd been no lack of trying on his part, but he was never certain just how much of it had gotten through to Mitsunari. The man was exceptionally difficult.]

He, and you, mind you [He nudged Kodachi's shoulder.] need to remember that there are other people who care about you, even if you've decided to focus all of your own energy on someone else.

[Kodachi was surprised, and she nudged him back with a smile.]

Thank you, Motochika-san. ♥ It's nice to feel it. My brother was all I had back in Nerima, and even if he made certain to take care of me, I suppose he needs taking care of too - so he never truly watched over me like you do. I think he didn't know how.

[She thought that she and her brother had been alright all of these years with just the two of them as a family, but she saw now how important it was to have someone wiser watching over her.]

[Kodachi leaned into Motochika and laid a head on his shoulder.]

Don't worry, we'll get to Mitsunari-san yet!

Aye, that we will.

[Whether Mitsunari liked it or not.]

It's a captain's duty to look out for his crew and a man's duty to look out for his friends. You can all count on me for that.

[Even if you're a bit mentally unstable. In fact, for that very reason, he'd let Kodachi lean on him as much as she liked.]

[Kodachi nodded happily.]

But who looks after you when you need it? Of course, I would offer to, but is that enough?

[Motochika was momentarily dumbfounded. He wasn't sure if anyone had ever asked him that question, though a large part of that had to do with how much his crew back home fussed over him. He generally couldn't have a quiet moment to himself without hearing the lot of them whispering behind his back trying to figure out if he needed them for something. Things were much, much different here.]

I...er...well...that is...I'm sure that would be fine...

[She blinked at him. She hadn't known that his crew back in Japan was so enamored of him and had answered his every call and beckon. It must've been different to have two hostile crew members by the name of Ragna and Mitsunari, one Kodachi who basically did whatever she wanted, and one Xun Yu who wasn't beholden of him.]

Why the stuttering?

I'm not stuttering!

[Just a little defensive, apparently.]

It just isn't a question I've given much thought to is all.

[He didn't get flustered often, but Kodachi had managed it this time.]

It's alright - Kodachi will take care of you!

[She threw her arms around him and laughed like a madwoman.]

[WHY DOES THIS NO LONGER SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA?!]

I...er...appreciate it...

[And he would stand there stock still until she detached, just in case she decided to go even further off the deep end.]

Hopefully it won't be necessary...

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No ghost dinosaurs, we promise

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