Chapter - I
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When smoke rises from the seven rings,
The [sic] pinkfish will emerge from the sea,
devouring all the creatures of the land.
The Book of Madai, chapter 10, verse 10
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Tsuyu was the proudest Inkling of Inkopolis—he finally made it! After years of training and countless turf and rank matches, Tsuyu had reached the highest possible rank an Inkling can get—Rank X. Overjoyed, he unfolded once more the letter he recently got, to read it again.
„Dear Tsuyu Aikawa (梅雨 相鮎),
the Inklings of the Grand Jury are pleased that you are now a member of the X-fighters. For this solemn occasion we would love to invite you to our next meeting so that you can participate at our events. You will also undergo our inauguration ceremony with other new X-fighers to become a real member of us.
We are looking forward to seeing you soon,
president of the Grand Jury, Numa Akagawa (沼 赤川)"
Tsuyu had the feeling a silly smile was adorning his face since he got the letter. He was on his way to the meeting, a secret place as far as Tsuyu knew. Nobody but the X-fighters and the Grand Jury knows where the meeting will take place, the whole matter is a bit conspiratorial and kept secret. If you're not a X-fighter it is none of your business.
The familiar scent of the salty sea breezed wistfully through the big town as if it desired to devour the rest of the land as well. As much as Tsuyu loved the scent of the ocean, he also feared it—like every Inkling who is of sound mind. The salty air of the sea was mixed with the scent of food that was sold everywhere, and ink which young Inklings sprayed for fun. Tsuyu was too nervous to eat. At home he was sitting in front of his full fridge and his mother asked if she should make him his favorite breakfast, but Tsuyu declined with thanks. Because of excitement, his stomach felt like someone has made a knot in it.
Further and further Tsuyu followed the directions of his letter, busily cars passed him, Inklings were everywhere, sitting on benches or sidewalks, chatting and showing each other videos on their squidphones. Tsuyu would love to shout at their faces that he made it while they're wasting their day with social networks, but he hold himself back. Not yet.
Bit by bit Tsuyu faltered in his buoyant pace until his boneless legs came to a halt. The summerly heat scorched him, he brushed sweat off his forehead and sighed. Was he really in the right place? Carefully Tsuyu checked the directions to make sure he didn't get lost or take a wrong turn. He just couldn't be right, that's impossible.
Tsuyu was in the Salmonid Quarter. Here live the so called Salmon Runners, a horribly old clan of Inklings who have resided in this place for a terribly long time. They are responsible for procuring Salmonid eggs and pushing Salmonids back into the salty floods, fearlessly and bravely, when they try to get on land. The Salmon Runners are an important part of the Inkling society, that's out of question and their duty for the society Tsuyu lives in is even vital, but no Inkling who wasn't born into the Salmon Runner clan becomes voluntarily one of them! This job is literally hell! These people got their own cemetery for good reasons. If the rumors Tsuyu once heard are true, then the most graves are empty. It's said Salmonids rip Inklings into pieces when they can catch one.
Only a handful of former turf fighters hole up in the Salmonid Quarter and dare to challenge the rough sea. Tsuyu didn't know any Salmon Runner at first hand but sometimes he saw them visiting the city; with this contemptuous face expression and that tired smile, they seem to save for young turf fighters only, working on their career. The Salmon Runners are wearing striking gear: orange colored overalls, green swampers and funny caps on which they tend to tap proudly. Tsuyu shunned them and the Salmon Runners expect that. Their faces are looking all so much the same and all of them prefer a bright orange for their tentacles and most of them have these piercing blood red eyes. They target other Inklings with their look as if they see a Salmonid rather than one of their own kind. The eye color belongs to the things an Inkling cannot change by will and it is no secret that the Salmon Runners prefer to stay with themselves. A sworn society of "warriors" of special kind who served the Inkling society even before the Great Turf War and even long, long time before that. Without underplaying, it is sure that the Salmon Runners have their very own culture, own stores, own gear, own social networks and even an own sense of humour, own proverbs and idiom other Inklings can barely understand—all of which the Salmon Runners can call their own.
And that's exactly where Tsuyu Aikawa was right now—in the Salmonid Quarter, standing on a sidewalk, staring at the dark orange colored house facades and checking the directions over and over. Why the ink do the X-fighters want to meet here?! What business do the X-fighters have with the Salmon Runners?
Tsuyu had a terrible hunch! What if he had been tricked? Maybe someone sent him the wrong letter, or had the inauguration ceremony meant for him to make a fool of himself here? Unhappy, Tsuyu was chewing on his bottom lip, not knowing if he should go on or not, and if not what shall he do then?
"Akagi, look!"
Tsuyu flinched heavily. Too late, he was seen. Well, that was just a question of time until a Salmon Runner notices him—Tsuyu stands out of of this place with his clothes and presence like an Octarian at the Inkopolis Plaza.
Two young Salmon Runners, as old as Tsuyu, ambled casually in an exaggerated manner and with wry smirks on their faces towards him, their hands tucked in baggy trouser pockets and their red eyes analyzing Tsuyu from tentacle to toe.
One of the Salmon Runner had a tentacle hanging sideward over his face and showed provokingly his sharp teeth to Tsuyu.
"Where ye goin', turf fighter? Got lost?"
Tsuyu didn't know what to say and his insecurity amused his counterpart visibly.
"Is our little turf fighter scared? Did mommy and daddy say, ye're good for nuffin' but collecting eggs?" hissed the young Salmon Runner and squinted his eyes to threatening slits.
His lips tightly pressed together Tsuyu shook his head insistently. The last thing he wanted was a fight with a Salmon Runner, he couldn't stand a chance against one, not to talk about two at once.
The other Salmon Runner had seen Tsuyu's letter and gave his friend or relative a little nudge, then pointed at it.
"What's that, Dotani?"
Before Tsuyu could make a single move, the Salmon Runner called Dotani, snapped the letter out of Tsuyu's hand and read it in no time at all.
„X rank, yeah? Got this lately, yeah?"
Tsuyu tried to get his letter back vehemently. "Yes, I did. That's mine, give it back!"
Dotani clicked his tongue and did what Tsuyu wanted. Surprised, he took his letter. Baffled, Tsuyu eyed the two Salmon Runner Akagi and Dotani distrustfully. Dotani passed Tsuyu, the X-fighter looked at him confused. What in the world was that? After a few yards Dotani turned around and waved his hand, showing Tsuyu that he was supposed to follow.
"Coming? Did ye put down roots? Hopp, hopp, we're late, X-fighter. Don't have all day! They won't wait for ye!"
If there was something else, beside all those same looking faces, then it was that annoying dialect the Salmon Runners speak and which caused an uncomfortable sensation on Tsuyu's skin. Insecure, he followed his new company, his head withdrawn between the shoulders, hoping he wasn't about to make a terrible mistake.
