The Eighth Sea

[GatoTechno]

"Oh hi!" Daphne looks at Yami with red eyes. "You did it! You defeated that evil man! You're so brave!"


Her voice quivers at each word as she tried her best to sound cheery. She walks up to Yami to offer him a big, tight hug.


"I owe you so much! You both saved and avenged my entire crew! You're my hero!" she says as she sniffles.


Daphne refuses to show too much sad emotion around Yami. She doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for her. Instead, Daphne always wants people to know her by a smile she always has on her face, no matter what. It is hard work, since it's apparent how upset Daphne is by her shaking body. No matter what she does, her body continues to shake.

 

[YamiKitsune]

Yami's expression goes somber as he softly puts his hand on her back. "Miss Daphne, there's no need to hide it."


"I understand you're upset, anyone would be, I don't know why you're trying to hide it. But it's not healthy...tell me miss, now that you've fully recovered, what happened out there?"

 

[GatoTechno]

"Oh no, I'm not hiding any feelings," Daphne smiles as she wipes her eyes. "I'm just...so confused right now."


She laughed awkwardly, taking a step back to give a bit of space between them. For about five minutes, Daphne thinks about the question Yami asked. Daphne finds it hard to put it in good words.


"With those pirates? I don't really remember," she sniffles. "They must have known what kind of merchants we were since they signaled us out. I'm guessing they were watching and following us for a while to wait for the perfect chance. Then, they just attacked us, killed everyone off, stole the loot, and then sunk my home...but I was drifting in the seas at that point...just waiting to see if I'll life or die."

 

[YamiKitsune]

"Your home, you say...?" Yami thinks for a moment. "So that means, you have no where to go, that ship WAS your home..."

 

[GatoTechno]

Daphne nods slowly.


"I'm...pretty much homeless now," she shrugs as her eyes look at the floor. "I never had a home on land. I have no where to go."


She sits on the edge of the bed on her hands, her feet tapping against the floors idly. Exhaling slowly, Daphne looks up at Yami with a worried smile.


"I guess once you land in port I'll have to find something to do with my life. Maybe I can serve drinks at the tavern at first. Make a few coins to rent a small room and then figure out what's next?"


The question was to both Yami and herself as Daphne has no idea what to do now. All her skills she learned throughout her life focused on the ship. She isn't really meant to work on land.

 

[YamiKitsune]

He rubbed his neck as he sighed.


"Well uh...thing about that is, we aren't gonna be at land for a long time. Hell, even if we were, I'm not one to just abandon a young lady like yourself like that." He grabs a cup of tea, handing it to her as he sits next to her. "Tell me, miss, have you ever heard of 'The Eighth sea'?"

 

[GatoTechno]

Staring into the tea, Daphne sighs softly. A part of her wants to be left on land after everything that happened to her the last three days. Being even on a new ship at this moment feels...wrong? She shakes her head, knocking that thought out her mind. Of course her former Captain would want her to sail again. He would want her to find a new crew and live her life where she's suppose to live, at sea.


She takes a quick sip, tilting her head at Yami.


"The Eight sea? Yes, I heard of that myth...that legend. Even my Captain had talked about it briefly. Seems like that's THE story all sailors talk about," Daphne replies. "Why do you ask?"

 

[YamiKitsune]

He smirks as he puts his hat on and, taking out a map and rolling it out, showing it to her. "Those X's one the map? That's where we've been already, or rather, that's where my father has been already." He points to the only spot on the map without an X. "The Eighth sea, if anywhere, must be here. I asked if you've heard of it, simply because...that's our destination."

 

[GatoTechno]

"You're trying to find the Eight Sea?" she nearly topples her tea over. "And it might be there? Listen, as a navigator I can assure you that the Eighth Sea is only a myth."


Looking at the map, her eyes read over it. It's amazing how traveled Yami and his ship are. They basically went to all seven seas in what must have taken years. Though, it did seem like they routes they took aren't the most efficient.


"Are you trying to find it to prove it exists?" Daphne asks.

 

[YamiKitsune]

He shakes his head. "I know it exists...my dad believed it exists hard enough to try to find it for my mother. We're not trying to prove anything, we're not in it for the riches..." His fists clench.


"I'm in it to prove my father was right. That he wasn't insane." He points to the map. "Everyone's already searched all of these area's, but from the research I've done, you can't simply skim over each sea hoping to find a heaping pile of gold. No, there's something you need to do...and it's at this location."


He goes to his desk, pulling out a chest from under it, and opening it, revealing an unfinished flute. "This is the 'Flute of Athena' it's said that if you play the notes written on the back of that map, in that area, 'riches beyond the imagination of any mortal being.' I have no way of knowing for sure, but that sure as hell sounds like the eighth sea."

 

[GatoTechno]

Daphne awes at the unfinished flute, pretty amazed by what it can do. Every sailor has at least gave it a thought to find the Eighth Sea. Some even gave it a chance to search for it, but all came up with empty stories. This...this is very promising.


"Does that thing even work?" Daphne asks, pointing to the flute. "Do you know how to play it?"


She isn't very musically talented, but Daphne always enjoyed a good song or two. This flute looks at if it hasn't been played in decades and Daphne wonders if it can even make one note without a whistling sound.


"Who was your father? Is he famous? I'm sure I've heard of him?"

 

[GatoTechno]

((Double posted accidentally. Sorry about that.))

 

[YamiKitsune]

"Well it doesn't work in this state! It's broken...it was broken the last time it was used to reveal the eighth sea." He puts it away as he goes somber for a moment. "And right now...my father's name is of no importance. Sorry miss Daphne, it'll be a while before you see land again...but I promise, me and my crew will keep you safe until then."

 

[GatoTechno]

"It's too bad I don't know how to fix it...or who can fix it..." Daphne says, scrunching her face. "This is still almost unbelievable...but I believe! Oh what an adventure this will be!"


She briefly forgets about her own issues as she dreams of this incredible adventure life has given her. Maybe this is what she needs to slowly move on from the fact her former ship and crew are now gone. An adventure is always the answer to any problems.


Though, Daphne still feels a bit guilty for moving on so fast. And, a part of her did feel like going on land to grieve. It's been months since she last set her foot on dirt. It's been months since she's taken a real bath. But, there is nothing she can do now. She's at least a temporary member of this new crew.


"What's next then?" she asks.

 

[YamiKitsune]

"We're searching for the pieces of the flute, I know of someone who has one, and I know there is one other pieces lost at sea somewhere...we're looking for a ship with blood red sails, the captain of that ship, Xyra Kitsune, is my fathers brother...and he has that piece. After we obtain it from him, we search for the last remaining piece..."

 

[GatoTechno]

Blood red sails...nope....not familiar. Daphne sits back on the bed, wishing she did take the time throughout her life to notice the colors of sails.


"Wait, where does this leave me?" Daphne speaks up, remembering herself. "I know I'm stuck along for the journey. But, what am I suppose to do? I feel like...you know...unwanted cargo."


No one would want to have an unknown person along for this adventure. Daphne knew she was lucky that Yami seemed like one of the good captains of the sea. But, that still leaves her without a purpose. What about the rest of Yami's crew? How would they feel about her being on the ship? Daphne knew she isn't part of the crew and doubted they would welcome her with open arms.


"..never mind. You have better things to worry about than me. Like, trying to find your uncle out at sea. If it helps, I didn't see any ships at this part of the sea before my ship was attacked. Yours was the first ship I've seen in a week."

 

[YamiKitsune]

"Where does this leave you? Hell, your part of us now! ...I mean, well, until we get you to land at least. Hell, a fresh new face is just what people need around here, everyone's pretty sick of seeing the same faces already." He holds out his hand. "Come, let me introduce you."

 

[GatoTechno]

She quickly covers her face with her hands and shakes her head.


"Oh not like this! I must look terrible!" she says. "Let me freshen up. I have a feeling I must look like one of the undead..."


Daphne finds herself a mirror and begins to make herself look decent. There is no way to hide the heavy bags under her eyes. All she can really do is comb her hair with her fingers to take out all the tangled knots she's gotten from floating at sea. After a few shorts minutes, she still didn't look much better than before.


"Guess a smile will have to do," she says, hurrying back to grab Yami's hand. "How's this smile?"


A wide smile spreads across her face.

 

[YamiKitsune]

He shakes his head, chuckling. " You look fine, come." He leads her outside where the crew is waiting. They smile and crowd around her and Yami, asking such questions like "Are you okay now?" or "You must be terrified, is there anyway I can help you?" Yami holds up his hand. "Mates, for the time being, miss Daphne is one of us. I expect you all to welcome here with open arms and hearts, and to treat her as one of your own, because until we reach land, that is what she is."

 

[GatoTechno]

All Daphne did is smile, nod her head a little bit, and casually laughed as the crew asked her some questions. She's surprise how helpful the crew is being to her. Most are very skeptical of newcomers, especially those that were found in the open sea like her. It is a welcoming Daphne grows to love and already feels like one of the crew.


She stands next to Yami, facing the entire crew.


"It's very nice to meet you all. I also want to thank all of you for taking on the pirates that attacked my former ship. You all have my deepest appreciation. I have no way to pay you all back...I am in your debt," Daphne announces.

 

[YamiKitsune]

William bows, pushing his glasses up to his eyes as he stands up again. "Lady Daphne, there's no 'debts' on this ship. We are all equal to each other, and so on...though there are a few of us that still owe a few others some money from a poker game..." One of the crew members steps back slowly. Yami stands on top of the box. Smirking confidently. Now, mates, we continue onward due north towards Desilo Island, where we-" Some of the ocean water splashed onto Yami and he yelps and jumps off, hiding behind the stern" Some crew mates laugh as William sighs. "Captain, if there's only one thing you didn't inherit from your father, it's your love of the sea, I've never seen a pirate so afraid of the ocean." Yami blushes and points his sword at William. "Shut up! I'm not afraid of the ocean...I'm just being safe is all..."

 

[GatoTechno]

Daphne makes her way to the rail of the ship to look at the sea. She exhales slowly, enjoying the sea breeze against her face. They are off to Desilo Island. A place only Daphne has passed by on past voyages.


She looks back in time to see Yami jump at the splashing water, covering her mouth with her hand to hide a laugh. This will be a fun crew to spend time with until their adventures end.


"Would anyone like to give me a tour of the ship?" Daphne turns to face the crew. "Would like to know where everything is so I can settle in well...and...maybe can find my own room here?"


Daphne is grateful that Yami shared his room with her in her time of need. But, with her being almost better, she felt it would be for the best if she had a room to call her own. She isn't picky. She didn't mind sharing a room with a couple of people. Just, as long as she has her own bed.

 

[YamiKitsune]

"William, would you?" Yami asks as William nods. "Certainly, captain. It'd be my pleasure." William approaches Daphne and bows. "It's not exactly the biggest ship in the world, but there's plenty of space around here. So, shall we begin?"

 

[GatoTechno]

Daphne smiles and nods to William.


"Lead the way, William," Daphne says. "This will be the fastest tour ever then! And easy for me to remember where everything is since this is a small ship."


Crossing her arms, she stands next to William and takes in another breath of salty ocean air. For some reason, this ship is kind of feeling like a second home already. It did make Daphne feel a bit guilty since it felt like she was abandoning her former ship.

 

[YamiKitsune]

William shows her the ships exterior and interior, the cabins are each roomy enough for four people, so they have two sets of bunk beds each, The kitchen is rather large, with a man and a women both working on the next meal, and the main dining hall is a large room with a long table in the middle, a red carpet under the table, which has already been set for dinner.


"Now, we have multiple rooms with some free beds, but if you prefer to be alone, there is one room that has yet to be occupied." He says as he leads her to the room.