Editing Memories of a Stone Wall (section)

===Act XIV: The Cursed Island===
:>We stared at one another, none of us could conceal our shock.
:>I stood up.
:>We'd better go after him.
:>Why bother?
:>Stop.
:>Turn.
:>Stare at Kitsuki-san.
:>Let the fool go. He's just going to be a liability like that.
:>What if he gets hurt, or lost?
:>He can take care of himself, Ishigaki-san. This may surprise you, but you do not have to keep putting yourself in harms way deliberately to protect us.
:>I was about to retort when Toshiro caught my eye.
:>He gave the barest nod of his head in the direction Monkey ran off.
:>I headed off after him.
:>Mantis-san started to follow me but I waved him off.
:>Keep an eye on those two for me.
:>We'll meet back at the ship.
:>Alright.
:>I took off.
:>Toshiro was right, again.
:>Something was wrong.
:>Monkey was not that temperamental.
:>Neither was Kitsuki-san.
:>He tried to hide it with some logic, but I could see he was angry with Monkey.
:>We all were of course, but we were going to go after him anyway.
:>I was beginning to think Mantis-san was a prophet.
:>Every time he said something would not be a problem, it turned out to a very big problem.
:>I suspected this island really was cursed.
:>I pulled out the finger of jade I always wore.
:>It wasn't blackening. So there was no taint around for it to absorb.
:>Good news there then.
:>But it meant something else was going on.
:>When the taint begins to warp a person's mind, they themselves never seem to notice.
:>If Toshiro and I were right, if this island was cursed and affecting our minds, if Kitsuki-san was already suffering the effects, then he may not even realize what is going on.
:>Which meant that figuring out what, exactly, was going on was going to be up to Toshiro, or Naomi.
:>Naomi.
:>I stopped dead in my tracks.
:>She was alone. With a bunch of sailors. On a cursed island which warped the minds of those on it.
:>I took a deep breath.
:>Double checked to make sure I was going in more or less the right direction
:>And ran for the boat as fast as I could.

:>Kitsuki-san was right, after all.
:>Monkey had more than his fair share of luck.
:>Luck can be a skill too.
:>Monkey would be fine.
:>Naomi, on the other hand, would not harm a fly. I had only ever seen her attack the walking dead and immortal spirits.
:>She would not risk killing those Mantis, no matter what.
:>It's possible she wouldn't even risk hurting them.
:>She needed me far more than Monkey.
:>And besides, with her water magic she could track him down easily.
:>I was in no way worried about the curse affecting her.
:>Though her body was sickly, I knew she could strong willed at times.
:>There was just no way my Hana-chan would be anything other than an Honorable, compassionate woman.
:>No way.
:>Though we had moved slowly because of Toshiro's limp and the difficulty of seeing in the mist, we had still been gone for a long time.
:>Hours, I knew. Though I had lost track of time beyond that.
:>I ran at the pace I had been trained to, one I knew I could maintain for some time and still be fresh and ready when I got where I was going.
:>Still, I worried about how long it would take me to get back.
:>I focused on my breathing, quieted my mind, and ran.
:>I have no idea how long I ran, but I finally reached the boat.
:>And I saw a large circle of water, standing upright. A wall keeping out a large clump of sailors who were hacking ineffectually at it.
:>I didn't break my stride.
:>Instead I bent low, taking one in the side with my shoulder.
:>I straightened as I impacted him, tossing him up over my back.
:>Brandishing my tetsubo I roared.
:>GET THE HELL BACK! ALL OF YOU! GET BACK!
:>Taken off guard by my sudden appearance, they did.
:>I took stock of the situation.
:>There were a dozen sailors, counting the one I had already hit, menacing Naomi, who I was sure was inside the wall of water behind me.
:>I could see the bodies of several more lying on the beach.
:>I could see several more poking their heads up from on the boat. Looked like the boat had become a makeshift fortress.

:>The sailors recovered their courage quickly enough, and came at me.
:>I backed up until my back was almost pressed against the water, keeping them from getting around behind me.
:>Their numbers worked against them, with my back covered only five could reach me at once.
:>Sure, only five.
:>Encouraged by their advantage, the first wave came at me, telegraphing their charge with Kiai.
:>I caught two blows on the haft of my tetsubo
:>A third was stopped by my armor.
:>Two got through
:>The first thing to bear in mind when outnumbered is to limit the number of attackers you must face at any one time.
:>The second thing to bear in mind is it's better to injure two than to kill one.
:>The last is the most difficult. You must never let them see your nervousness. Be confident. Act as though it is YOU who has the upper hand.
:>Convince them that to attack you means their own destruction, and you weaken their spirit.
:>Weaken their spirit, and you have already won.
:>Their reckless audacity allowed them to wound me, now they paid for it.
:>I swung my Tetsubo in a wide arc, catching two of them. I took full advantage of my weapon's weight to bowl them both over.
:>Even though they both picked themselves back up, that moment when their friends wondered if they were dead was a small wound to their spirit.
:>It was now a simple question. Which would give out first? Their bodies, their spirit, or me?
:>Again they came, and my world was more a storm of kama, tonfa, and jo.
:>A blow to my leg pushed me down to one knee, I felt something pop.
:>These sailors were all burly, and could hit hard.
:>But I was a Crab, I was the mountain, and I would not be moved.
:>I focused myself, remembering a kata I had performed for years at the dojo.
:>I forced myself to wait, and respond at the last moment. The movements taught by my sensei would ensure that my own attacks created no gaps in my armor, and my enemies would find it even more difficult to wound me.

:>As I rose up from my knee I used the momentum to bring my tetsubo up into the chin of the man who brought me down.
:>With a crunch the spikes on my iron club pierced into his bone, and as I followed through his jaw tore free from his face.
:>He gurgled piteously, bare chest awash with blood, before falling to the ground dead.
:>The two I had injured fell back, clutching their wounds, unwilling to risk a similar fate.
:>Three more stepped in, eager for vengeance.
:>But my sensei's teachings proved true, as their attacks found nothing by Kaiu steel.
:>I swung overhand and slow at one of the fresh ones, as he raised his kama to deflect my blow I changed my weapons course and broke his arm.
:>Then pulled my weapon straight back, slamming the pommel into the nose of another, and sending him to the ground in a daze.
:>ENOUGH! Get away from him you fools! We can't afford any more losses!
:>They picked up their comrade, and began to fall back away from me.
:>Glancing between me and the boat.
:>Then they ran off into the mist.
:>With a sploosh the water fell at last.
:>Naomi was in there. Clutching the navigator.
:>I knelt down next to them.
:>Naomi's hair was a mess, her kimono torn off of one shoulder.
:>And very fresh, vivid bruise was on her cheek.
:>The navigator was dead, a single wound pierced into their forehead.
:>I nodded to myself as I made up my mind.
:>Curse or no curse, I was going to kill them all.
:>Naomi forestalled the commencement of my rampage by throwing her arms around me in a desperate hug.
:>I cradled my wife, her touch cooling my rage from a rolling boil to a gentle simmer.
:>The intrusive sound of footsteps approaching threatened to reignite it's flame though.
:>Um, Ishigaki-sama?
:>It was the carpenter.
:>Do, do you have any idea what's going on?
:>Some of the others started getting more and more foul tempered, then a fight broke out over I don't even know what.
:>When the navigator tried to get the men back under control...
:>He looked at the body.

:>I was just about to ask the carpenter why he allowed whatever had happened to my wife to happen to her.
:>I thought I should at least give him a chance to convince me not to kill him.
:>But Naomi spoke first.
:>Mantis-san, can you not see that my husband and I are having a moment together?
:>Please, go away.
:>She smiled sweetly.
:>Exactly the way I remember her mother doing when she was furious.
:>I tried to push away, to get a better look at her, but Naomi tightened her grip.
:>Water is the element of clarity.
:>It is also the element of strength.
:>Naomi, though she stood all of five feet tall, was a still a water tensai.
:>And I found I could not break her grip.
:>Well.
:>This is embarrassing.
:>I didn't know whether the carpenter had seen Naomi do something earlier, or had just known people who smiled like that.
:>Either way, he knew to leave us well enough alone.
:>He returned to the ship.
:>Thank you!
:>Still with that smile, still sweet.
:>Now then, where were we?
:>Oh, yes.
:>She began undoing the laces of my armor.
:>Naomi? What-
:>It has been to long, my husband. I need your warmth, your strength now.
:>Everyone has gone mad, it seems.
:>I fear we will never leave this place.
:>Here? NOW?!
:>Why not? We once made love in the snow. Let us do so on the beach as the waves lap at our flesh!
:>Naomi could be bold, at times, when we were alone together.
:>This was something completely different.
:>The curse was affecting her as well.
:>So it didn't JUST make you belligerent and prone to violence.
:>It also made you pretty damn horny.
:>Or at the very least, beholden to your most immediate impulses and desires.
:>The result of this was that my wife, seeking comfort after an ordeal, was now trying to rape me.
:>My wife. Was Trying. To rape me.
:>And with the bond she shared with the water kami making her unimaginably strong, I was not certain I could stop her without hurting her.
:>I was glad none of my friends were here to see this as I desperately thought of a way to kill the mood.

:>Naomi, they can all see us.
:>Hmm?
:>She pulled my head to her chest, looking over my shoulder.
:>I suppose you have a point, Ishigaki-kun.
:>My body is for you and you alone, and yours is only for me.
:>Pooh.
:>Well, there was one small ray of hope.
:>She may have become possessive, jealous and impulsive, but there were parts of Naomi that were unchanged.
:>Her insistence of formal language, being unfailingly polite, and-
:>Ishigaki-kun! You're hurt! Why did you not say something?
:>She quickly set to work on my injuries.
:>She was still compassionate as ever.
:>Even under attack, she hadn't hurt anyone.
:>Just used a spell to keep them at bay.
:>You're hurt too Naomi.
:>Your cheek.
:>She raise a hand up to her face.
:>Oh.
:>While she healed her own injury I straightened up her kimono.
:>Naomi, this island. I think it really is cursed.
:>Yes, I had begun to suspect this as well.
:>Monkey is missing.
:>What?
:>He got very angry, and ran off.
:>That is very unlike him.
:>Good, good. She could see the strangeness in others then, if not herself.
:>Which means I could still count on Kitsuki-san figuring out what was going on. Now I just had to hope he could still work with Toshiro to figure all this out.
:>I hoped Toshiro was still resisting the effect of the curse.
:>Anger a temperamental bushi and you might get your head cut off.
:>Anger a temperamental shugenja and you might get your whole village burned down.
:>I can't track very well in this mist. Can you use your magic to find him?
:>We HAVE to get off this island, as quickly as possible. Daiko and Tetsute need us.
:>THAT got her to focus.
:>Yes, I can.
:>She did so.
:>I scooped her up onto my back.
:>Just tell me which way to go.
:>Ishigaki-kun!
:>I cut her off before she could protest further.
:>Let me spoil my beautiful wife, please?
:>Very well. head that way.
:>She pointed.
:>I ran carrying her.
:>A soft whisper from her sped my legs, lengthened my stride.
:>And prayed that my friends weren't getting any worse.

:>Guided by Naomi, I raced along the interior of the island, hunting for Monkey.
:>She was so small and light, I barely felt her weight on my back.
:>I wondered what sort of state Monkey would be in when we found him.
:>The curse brought out your baser desires and impulses, it seemed. 
:>And Naomi, the frail flower clinging to me, was beloved by all of us.
:>It wouldn't be much of a stretch, to my mind, for them to try and force themselves on her.
:>Well, good thing Naomi was a water tensai.
:>I could beat any one of them near to death and she could fix it.
:>Besides, Monkey deserved a good thrashing for being so weak as to fall victim to the curse.
:>We wouldn't even be in this mess if not for him being a jinx anyway.
:>I tripped on some lose rocks, went down to my knees, hard.
:>Are you okay, Naomi?
:>That'll teach me to not pay attention to what I'm doing.
:>Worry about beating the Monkey after I've found him.
:>I am unharmed, let me see your knees Ishigaki-kun.
:>It's alright Naomi, I'm-
:>I shook my head to clear it as my vision tunneled.
:>Fine, really.
:>Then what was THAT just now?
:>I don't know. I guess I may have been awake for a while now? It's easy to lose track of time here.
:>It is.
:>She produced a scroll, and called forth some mists of her own.
:>As I breathed in the vapors I felt refreshed, like I'd had a full nights sleep.
:>She sagged against me, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.
:>Naomi?
:>I have just used quite a bit of magic today. It is no great concern, I assure you Ishigaki. 
:>I was seriously going to spank the shit out of that Monkey when I got my hands on him, for doing this to us.
:>I chuckled at the thought that he would think I was the one cursed, since you don't notice the changes in yourself, just others.
:>I scooped Naomi up and we set off again.
:>We found Monkey.
:>He was sprawled out, asleep. 
:>So I woke him up.
:>With a good kick to the ribs.
:>ISHIGAKI!
:>Naomi looked shocked.

:>Uwaggha!
:>Monkey scrambled to his feet, pulled his wakizashi from his obi.
:>ISHIGAKI! What the hell 'r ya doin?
:>Monkey looked pissed.
:>Waking you up.
:>Oh that does it. I am sick of you thinking your so much stronger than all of us!
:>I'm taking you down a peg, here and now!
:>He put away his wakizashi, and pulled a tanto.
:>Monkey surprised me. He knew how to fight dirty.
:>He got in close, inside my range. Stamped on my foot to keep me from backing up.
:>He grabbed at my Do, trying to pull me off balance and onto his blade.
:>Kobo Ichi-Kai, the unarmed martial art of the Crab Clan, prepares its students to deal with grapples.
:>It teaches the best way to keep one from grabbing you is to strike them.
:>I did as sensei instructed, and slammed my kabuto into Monkey's face.
:>He staggered back and fell.
:>But it was a trick. One I fell for.
:>At the last moment he went down to only one knee, and slashed at the back of my leg with his tanto.
:>I felt warm blood flow.
:>Then I felt ice cold water splash down on top of me.
:>And Monkey.
:>WHAT DO YOU TWO THINK YOU ARE DOING?
:>I looked at Naomi who was staring aghast at the both of us.
:>My blood was still up, the fighting instincts instilled in me roared for retribution.
:>I forced the thought down. It was just the curse that made them both do unreasonable things. Monkey was my friend.
:>And I would fall on my own sword before I hurt Naomi.
:>I glanced at Monkey.
:>He was shaking with fury, glaring at me and my wife in turn.
:>I prepared to end him if he went after her.
:>But he just whined at her instead.
:>Naomi, he started it!
:>Monkey-san, this Island does have a curse on it!
:>What?
:>She told him what happened with the Mantis.
:>I told him about Kitsuki-san falling prey to it.
:>Even Ishigaki-kun is feeling it now! We must find everyone and get off this island, before it's too late!
:>Well, I wasn't REALLY under the effects of the curse, but Monkey would think he was the only sane one among us.

:>So that little white lie didn't hurt anyone, and it served to dispel the Monkey's anger.
:>So I decided not to correct Naomi.
:>There would be plenty of time to discipline her later, when we finished what she had started on the beach.
:>Monkey eyed me warily.
:>Okay, you're gonna use your magic to find the others then?
:>But how do we leave quickly? Won't we need a crew, and a boat that doesn't leak?
:>Kenzan has both.
:>Oh, I see what your getting at.
:>Wait, you still think he's on this island? What about the curse?
:>We're still able to work together. so it's not making us completely lose our senses, just bringing out bad personality traits.
:>At this point, given how the curse worked and how everyone had a short temper, it was just easier to speak of it as though we were all affected.
:>I hoped that Toshiro, at least still had his wits about him.
:>Hah! I guess that's why Naomi-sama doesn't seem affected. She doesn't have any of those!
:>You really are a lucky bastard to get such a fine wife, you know that Ishigaki-san?
:>Yeah. And I'd kill anyone that made a move on her. Even without a curse making me more irritable.
:>The Mantis sailors still had their sense of self preservation. Let's hope Monkey did too.
:>We're going to settle this one day, Ishigaki.
:>But getting off the island comes first.
:>Agreed.
:>I scooped Naomi up and she guided us to the others.
:>They are all together right now.
:>Thank the fortunes.
:>Some are hurt, though.
:>Oh great. I braced myself for whatever the hell happened with them.
:>When we found them, they were inside a cave.
:>Clear on the other side of the Island.
:>I locked eyes with Toshiro first. Searching for signs of madness.
:>I saw none.
:>I cast my eyes quickly at Naomi, letting him know she was feeling it as well.
:>He sighed.
:>And looked back at the others.
:>Kitsuki-san was wrapped in bloody bandages around his side.
:>Mantis-san was unconscious.
:>We found Kenzan's boat. He was going to rush in blind and alone.

:>Monkey whispered quietly.
:>I'm sorry Naomi. I didn't really believe you at first, but I played along cuz I didn't wanna die on this island and I can't sail a ship alone.
:>But this is just too much. There really is a curse.
:>Kitsuki-san coughed.
:>Yes, and I think Toshiro and I know what it is.
:>He explained as Naomi tended to his wound.
:>Look, up there.
:>We did. Characters I did not recognize were carved into the wall. They were very faded with age, almost impossible to make out.
:>As I looked further down the wall, the characters became sloppier and sloppier, until they were just crude drawings.
:>The last picture showed a trident. lines emanating from it, and people with snake like tails, fins and webbed fingers were all around it.
:>A great snake coiled protectively around the last picture.
:>Wat.
:>Have you ever heard of the Ningyo?
:>Nope.
:>Naomi was the one who answered.
:>They were one of the ancient races that ruled the world before the time of man, before the Kami fell.
:>A great cataclysm befell their race, and they were driven mad, nearly feral.
:>The kami here... they are so sad. The water still remembers, even after all this time.
:>Naomi was running her fingers along the carvings, tears streaming down her face openly.
:>Water is ever changing, it is adaptable. It has no shape of its own, but takes the shape of its container.
:>For the water kami here to still bear this pain...
:>Naomi threw herself against me and sobbed openly.
:>Her strong bond with the kami of water meant she could sense them quite keenly, sometimes even when she wasn't trying to.
:>Sometimes they even clamored for her attention.
:>Just as the Kami of water gave her strength so to did they give her clarity, she would say.
:>Now the kami of water were sharing a very sad story with her.
:>Kitsuki-san picked up where Naomi left off.
:>I'm just guessing here but I suspect some of the Ningyo came here.

:>Toshiro spoke up.
:>My guess is that the Ningyo tried to seal their curse in the trident.
:>I don't think it turned out like they'd hoped.
:>So if we stay here long enough we're all going to go feral, like the Ningyo?
:>Toshiro nodded gravely.
:>Alright, so what about that big damn snake? Is that the Orochi?
:>Naomi sniffled and nodded.
:>Yes, that makes sense.
:>The Ningyo made a pact with the Orochi. The king of the Orochi placed a second curse on the Ningyo, to protect them.
:>Huh?
:>Ningyo are immortal. They will live forever with their madness.
:>However, they will not die of old age. They can still be killed.
:>And if one consumes the flesh of a Ningyo, one gains their immortality. The curse laid by the king of the Orochi gave dire retribution upon any who would do so.
:>How do you know so much about Ningyo, Naomi?
:>They are beings of Water, Ishigaki-kun. As a water tensai it is my business to know such things.
:>So this Orochi is still protecting this tribe of ningyo?
:>Yes, Orochi take their pacts very seriously.
:>Alright hang on.
:>You're telling me that Kenzan is able to use this trident to call up and dismiss the mist, and the mist is what carries the curse.
:>He uses the mist to attack other boats
:>Manages to keep group of near feral pirates under control
:>And does all this while evading the wrath of a giant pissed off snake?!
:>And THIS is the guy the Mantis pissed off?
:>I cupped my face in both hands.
:>Mantis-san was truly gifted when it came to finding challenges for us all.

:>Naomi knelt down by Mantis-san
:>I put my hands on his shoulders, just in case he thrashed about when he came to.
:>Toshiro and Kitsuki-san went around the corner, out of sight.
:>Naomi worked her magic, healing Mantis-san's wounds.
:>He did indeed begin to thrash.
:>I put my down right in front of his so I was the only thing he could see.
:>Oi, Oi! Relax!
:>Ishigaki-san?
:>I pulled back a bit.
:>He glanced down.
:>Naomi-sama?
:>I am almost done.
:>Monkey poked his head into Mantis-san's field of view.
:>I'm here too!
:>Wonderful.
:>Naomi finished healing Mantis-san's wounds, and sagged wearily against me.
:>How much more do you even have, Naomi?
:>She replied softly.
:>One. To get us past the rocks.
:>Mantis-san looked back and forth between the three of us.
:>What's been going on?
:>You know this place really is cursed?
:>Yeah, Toshi.
:>It's the curse of the Ningyo
:>What?
:>I cut him off before he could give us his version of events.
:>Toshiro and Kitsuki-san were just around the corner waiting for us to reason Mantis-san into a state where they could rejoin us without it starting a massive brawl.
:>But if Mantis-san told us his version, which would undoubtedly lay all the blame on them, they would probably come out and start arguing.
:>It was going to be quite the challenge for me to keep all these lunatics in check.
:>Monkey showed Mantis-san the carvings as Naomi recounted the story.
:>Holy shit.
:>Yeah, so we're all on edge things can get ugly pretty quickly.
:>Monkey piped up.
:>Ishigaki and I fought too, like you guys.
:>Mantis-san picked his jaw up off the floor.
:>Really?
:>Yeah. We're gonna finish it, but first we need to get off this damned island.
:>Yeah, yeah you're right. I don't want to end up a feral madman wandering this place till I die.
:>So we are in agreement then? All grievances are tabled until we're away from this damn mist?
:>Mantis-san took deep breath, composed himself and nodded.
:>Toshiro and Kitsuki-san took their cue to rejoined us.

:>Mantis-san looked at me sharply.
:>After.
:>I said.
:>After
:>He agreed.
:>Kitsuki-san rubbed at his side
:>We do have much to discuss. But, yes. After.
:>So our plan was to get off this cursed Island, make it to the Isles of Spice and Silk, and then kill each other.
:>Which was still better then killing each other now and going mad alone on this damned rock.
:>Kitsuki-san spoke up again
:>I would like to know just how Kenzan manages to protect himself and his crew from this curse
:>Mantis-san shook his head.
:>Pirates don't live very long. Just like bandits, the get killed in fights all the time. Combine that with the dangers of being a sailor and I doubt any of them live long enough to feel it's full effects.
:>Toshiro nodded.
:>We're proof enough that a common goal can give focus. If we can work together I imagine a pack of water bandits can as well.
:>What about Kenzan himself?
:>I said it before, but I'll graciously repeat myself for the sake of Mantis-san, since he was resting.
:>It's just a guess, but I think the Ningyo that came to this island tried to seal up their curse into the trident. It didn't quite work the way they intended, which is why the mist comes from the trident and carries the curse.
:>Perhaps then, it did work somewhat.
:>And the one who bears the trident IS protected from it.
:>Monkey spoke up.
:>Wait, hold on.
:>I thought the trident summoned the mist?
:>So couldn't Kenzan just dispel it to keep himself and his crew safe.
:>Kitsuki-san took over at this point.
:>This island has been shrouded in mist for as long as any human can remember. last time I checked, Orochi do not have hands, so it could not wield the trident.
:>So I suspect the mist leaks out from the trident constantly.
:>I nodded along. We were making assumptions, but so far it was plausible.
:>The trident's wielder was protected from the curse, and could suppress the mist, at least temporarily.
:>Monkey scratched his head.
:>So what does he do when he's asleep?

:>I mean, a bunch of bloodthirsty temperamental pirates? Wouldn't one just shank him and take the trident for themselves?
:>I looked around, just to make sure I wasn't the only one taken aback every time Monkey says something insightful.
:>I was not. Kitsuki-san in particular, was taking it hard that Monkey noticed something he had overlooked.
:>I wasn't very good at reading people, but I was fairly certain Kitsuki-san was considering which one of us he should ask to be his second.
:>It was Naomi who answered Monkey.
:>He must hide it someplace after they reach the island.
:>So long as he goes on raids frequently, he would be able to stave of the curse without clinging to the trident all the time.
:>It was quite the tightrope to be walking. But Nemuranai that bear curses are like that.
:>So, if he doesn't have the trident now, we could use the mist to ambush him?
:>Yeah.
:>Um. Mantis-san.
:>Naomi is almost spent.
:>I heard.
:>And the curse got into the other Mantis'.
:>I had not heard that.
:>There's been a lot to talk about.
:>There has. Go on then. How bad is it?
:>The crew turned on each other, and the Navigator is dead.
:>...
:>GOD DAMN IT!
:>He grabbed the front of my armor.
:>Why the hell didn't you say so sooner?!
:>I brought my hands up between his, broke his grip.
:>THIS is why!
:>We stood there glaring at each other, waiting for the other to make a move.
:>Naomi took my hand.
:>Kitsuki-san spoke.
:>So, will we need to find the trident in order to suppress the mist, so that you can navigate clear of the rocks, Mantis-san.
:>He broke eye contact first. My win then.
:>Yeah, Yeah we will. Kenzan would know all the safe ways through, but he'd keep that in his head.
:>He's like you Kitsuki-san. Never forgets a damn thing.
:>Kitsuki-san nodded.
:>So then, beat him up and get him to tell us where it is?
:>I felt a dampness on my foot.
:>I looked down. There was water under me.
:>There hadn't been, before.
:>And I had not moved.
:>I looked out of the mouth of the cave we were in.

:>The beach outside was rapidly vanishing, being swallowed up by the sea.
:>Hey! I think we need to get out of here.
:>The others looked outside when I pointed.
:>Oh shit, this cave must be underwater at high tide!
:>We all looked at each other.
:>The carvings.
:>Well, now we know where the damn trident is.
:>We'd been sitting on top of it this whole time
:>We scrambled to get out above the tide.
:>Naomi refused to allow me to carry her.
:>Get Toshiro-san, Ishigaki-kun. His leg. We need him to help deliver our babies.
:>I was elated that Naomi wanted more children.
:>I was disturbed she needed such a cold reason to want me to help Toshiro.
:>C'mon gimpy, up you go.
:>He climbed on my back.
:>Then smacked me in the back with his tetsubo, as though I were a horse.
:>So even Toshiro had succumbed. I really was the only sane one left.
:>I made a note to beat him later for that. But not too severely. Naomi was right, we needed him.
:>Not just for our future children, but for her medicine as well.
:>We ran trying to race the tide.
:>It is not an easy thing to do.
:>The water was well up to my knees at one point.
:>I worried for Naomi, but I did not need to.
:>She was ahead of me, proving yet again that water was her element.
:>Kitsuki-san floundered, however.
:>Mantis-san snagged him, pulling him along.
:>I heard Mantis-san tell Kitsuki-san: You owe me one now.
:>Of course Mantis-san would think to pursue his grudge by placing Kitsuki-san in his debt.
:>We managed to avoid being overtaken completely by the tide.
:>Wet and tired we flopped down.
:>Hey.
:>Where the hell is Monkey?