Amaya: What do you mean?
Mokoto: We’re taking you ladies home.
Amaya: I don’t think so!
Keiji: What do you mean?
Amaya: You did not kidnap me, drag me out to your boat, then cause a diamond to start growing out of my hand just to take me home!
Mokoto: Then what do you want?
Amaya: I want to go with you to the second realm.
All Three Guys: WHAT!?!
Amaya: You heard me.
Takara: I wanna come too!
Yume: Me too!
Akio and Mokoto turned to Keiji with red faces and burning eyes.
Akio: KEIJI…
Mokoto: YOU SAID THAT ONCE WE WERE DONE WITH THEM, WE’D NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN!
Keiji: I never knew they’d want to come!
Mokoto cleared his throat and turned back to the three girls.
Mokoto: Sorry, ladies. We just don’t have room on our boat for you three.
Yume: But there are three of you and four decent-sized rooms.
Keiji: Erm… But why would you three want to come along anyway? I mean, it’s just a stupid treasure…
Takara: Treasure? You mean like crowns and jewelry and gold and silver....!
Amaya: Um, I've been living in a shack for seven years and you think I'm going to pass up an opportunity to be the richest woman in the world? I don't think so!
Takara: ...and Rubies and sapphires and amethysts and emeralds and pearls...!
Yume: I've been waiting for an excuse to get out of that palace for years. I think...I think this is what I've been waiting for.
Takara: ...And diamonds and platinum and jade and...!
Keiji: Okay! We see your points. But I still have to say that we just can’t bring you along.
Amaya: Why not?
Akio: Women on a ship. It’s bad luck. Yeah...that's it...
Amaya: WHAT THE HELL KIND OF A REASON IS THAT!?!
Takara: JUST BECAUSE WE’RE GIRLS!?!
Yume: MY MUM USED TO SAIL ON BOATS ALL THE TIME! NOTHING EVER HAPPENED!
Keiji: That’s not why, but the bottom line is: we’re not bringing you.
Amaya: Oh yeah?
She looked over to Akio, who still clutched the map in his skinny little arms. Without thinking, she lifted her arm and caused the map to fly away from him and into her own hand. Everyone in the room just stared silently. Even Amaya herself was clueless to what had just happened.
Yume: The p-powers?
Amaya: Guess so…
She shook her head and snapped herself out of her clueless trance.
Amaya: Let us stay or I tear this up.
Mokoto: You wouldn’t.
Amaya: Would I?
She opened the map and took the corner of it into both hands and began to slowly rip the edge…
Keiji: Gah! No! Stop! YOU CAN COME!
Mokoto: Oh, Keiji…
He groaned to his friend as he hung his head.
Keiji: Well, did you really want her to tear up the map!?
Mokoto: There could’ve been some other arrangement!
Keiji: Like what?!
Akio: (Wow…Takara looks so beautiful wearing that dress…Now if only I could see what was under it…)
Takara’s eyes widened and her face grew red. Instinctively, she slapped the blonde man on the face for his remark.
Akio: Oi! What’d I do!?!
Takara: Want to see what’s under my dress, do you!?!
Akio: I said that out loud?!
The four others all shook their heads.
Keiji: I didn’t hear anything…
Takara: So you’re saying I just read his thoughts?
Amaya: Um…I think so…
Takara: THAT’S SO COOL! OH MY GOSH!
She clapped her hands together with glee, amused at her newfound ability.
Keiji: Anyway… LIKE WHAT?!
Mokoto: Oh I don’t know. But you could’ve thought of something!
Amaya: Too late. You said we could come.
Mokoto: You can’t come.
Amaya: A promise is a promise.
Mokoto: WE NEVER PROMISED ANYTHING!
Keiji: Calm down, calm down. Maybe there’s an upside to this…
Takara: Um, yeah! You’re surrounded by three beautiful women!
Keiji: Other than that…
He looked to see five pairs of eyes on him, all glaring at his last statement.
Keiji: Err… Um, I meant that they could do chores and stuff while we man the boat…
Takara: Um, I don’t do chores.
Amaya: I lived in a shack. There were no chores to do.
Yume: Um…we had servants, you see… I didn’t have to…
Keiji: It is not that hard to learn how to do chores, kay!?
Yume: But we can still stay?
Keiji: Yes.
Takara: Yay! Adventuring to the second realm to get us some treasure! I feel like such a pirate! Should I get an eye patch?
Akio: Oh Hell no!
Takara: Oh okay.
Keiji: Well, first thing’s first. Names.
Takara: Ooh! Me first! I’m Takara Mizu. I live at in Sakura Grove in Hitomi. My birthday is…
Mokoto: He said names, not life-stories.
Takara: Oh. Right.
She giggled and twirled the end of one of her golden ponytails around the end of her finger.
Amaya: Amaya Tachikawa. Nice to meet you all...Most of you.
She glared at Mokoto.
Yume: I’m…
Mokoto: Princess Yume Akina Katori. Youngest child of His Highness Daisuke Botan Katori. We already know. And it's an honor to be meeting you.
Yume: Oh…Well I was just going to say Yume but okay…
Mokoto: Mokoto Ryoku.
He nodded modestly.
Akio: Akio Sasuga. It’s a pleasure…
He took Takara’s hand into his own and kissed it softly. She just pulled it back with a raised eyebrow and a nearly-scared expression. He smiled conceitedly back to her, and all he got in reply was a fake laugh.
Keiji: I’m Keiji Taiyou, captain of this fine vessel.
He smiled as he exaggerated his egotism.
Keiji: Welcome to the Horizon, ladies. Well, now that our introductions are over and done with… GET OUT OF MY ROOM!
Takara gave a salute as she led the parade of girls out into the hall.
Takara: Yes, sir, Cap’n sir!
Amaya: Right away, sir.
Yume: Leaving!
Keiji rubbed his forehead after the door slammed shut and the three were out of earshot.
Keiji: Oh…We are so royally screwed.
Akio: Um, speaking of royally… How exactly do you plan on getting that navy ship away from us?
The blonde boy winced as he pointed out the window to a royal navy ship out in the distance.
Keiji: Oh…crap. Um, well…we…erm…
Akio: Such confident words from a very celebrated captain.
Keiji: Shut up! Ugh… Wait a sec… Amaya! Give us back our map!
Amaya: Your map!?!
Her booming voice was muffled through the wooden door.
Amaya: I don’t believe the diamonds were in your wrists! Did I miss something!?
Keiji: Ugh. May we please have your map?
Amaya: Well since you’re asking so politely…The three girls paraded back into the room behind Amaya, who handed the map back to Keiji with a mocking smile.
Keiji: Thank you.
All Three Girls: You’re welcome.
Akio: You can leave, now.
Amaya: No way!
Takara: Nuh-uh!
Yume: No!
Mokoto: Why not?
Takara: We wanna see the map too!
Keiji pointed the map towards himself and smirked conceitedly.
Keiji: Captain’s eyes only.
Amaya: Those boneheads get to see it!
Akio: Hey!
Keiji groaned.
Keiji: Ugh…fine. Just for the sake of time, though.
He laid the map down on the bed and began to unroll it slowly, for it was old, ripped, torn and battered. He was afraid to accidentally tear it in half.
Keiji: Ah, yes…
He placed his finger by Hitomi, where the dotted trail began. He then traced the trail along the seas, passing by two more islands: Tsuuro and Taiho, then into a structure marked as a cave.
Keiji: So the entrance to the second realm is through the cave, I presume?
Mokoto: Guess so.
Keiji: And since there is where the path ends, I’m guessing that’s where the treasure is?
Mokoto: Why are you asking me? I’m not the map!
Keiji: Well that’s what I think. Anyway… Now we just need to find a way to get away from the soldiers.
He took a look out the window to see the ship, which was not closer or further away than it was the last time he checked.
Keiji: Well, they appear to be moving at about the same speed as us. If we could just lose them somehow… Ah. Tsuuro. That would be perfect. Their navy would have to be completely moronic to sail in there…
Yume: Tsuuro? My mother used to tell me stories about that place. She said it was a pirate hideout.
Keiji: Ah, so you know of it?
Yume: Yes. She also says that anyone caught trespassing will be killed on the spot.
Takara: GAHH! I AIN’T GOING THERE!
Mokoto: You’re the one that wants to come. We could always turn the boat around…
Takara: Oh…fine.
She whimpered and gave Mokoto a hesitant look.
Takara: But how are we going to avoid the whole dying part?
Keiji: Well I have an old friend that lives there now. He can probably tell everyone else to spare us. As for the navy… Well, there’s kind of a silent agreement between the island and everyone else. No one tries to make the pirates leave the island, and no one gets killed.
Mokoto: So you think your little plan'll work?
Keiji: Course it’ll work! Good old Hiro owes me anyway, and I’m pretty sure those soldiers’ll never set foot on that island.
Akio: Okay…so… Set a course for Tsuuro?
Keiji: Yes. Um…let’s get to the deck. Ladies, have a nice rest.
The six of them filed out of Keiji’s room, the boys turning left to head to the deck, the girls standing in the center of the hall with confused looks on their faces.
Yume: Where are we supposed to…?
Keiji: Spare room’s the second one on the left.
Yume: Ah. I see…
They all turned and entered the room, Yume’s eyes meeting Keiji’s once more before she closed the door behind her. Keiji just looked behind him, seeing if she was looking at something else, but he saw nothing. With a shrug, he made his way to the deck.
-PREVIEW!-
Mikona: Puu! I'm here to help Starlite give a preview for her next chapter!
Looks like their voyage has started! The girls are discovering their powers, and the boys are trying to get used to having women on the boat. It's gonna take some getting used to... sweatdrop
Next time on Beyond the Horizon: "GAHH! I'M SO SORRY!"
Mikona can't wait!
Mikona: Puu! I'm here to help Starlite give a preview for her next chapter!
Looks like their voyage has started! The girls are discovering their powers, and the boys are trying to get used to having women on the boat. It's gonna take some getting used to... sweatdrop
Next time on Beyond the Horizon: "GAHH! I'M SO SORRY!"
Mikona can't wait!
Hope you liked the chapter! Don't forget to comment...yadda yadda... Okay so I've got my next pic for ya! Yume! To answer your question before it is asked: Why is she wearing ballet slippers? Because they're fun to draw! There you go. Yeah I need to really get someone to draw these better. sweatdrop Anyway, here ya go:
