April 10th 1912
It was crisp early morning of April in the coast of The Great Britain. The area around the docks, however, were buzzing with busy people going to their ways. That was of course normal in the docks but that day there was something even more in the air. The waiting expectations, anticipation and excitement. That day was the day that the already legendary ship, RMS Titanic, was leaving to its maiden voyage.
That was also the reason why the Matsuno sextuplets had arrived there. For past months they had all managed to get jobs and they had actually worked hard. They had accepted and took whatever they had find to earn as much as possible before the spring. It hasn't been easy though. Especially Osomatsu has been a pain in the ass for everyone since it was impossible for him to stay motivated on working for long. However, with threats they had managed to keep him earning money and not spending it all away. Choromatsu with the assistance of Karamatsu and Todomatsu had written down all their earnings and essential purchases they had made. The same trio had been determined to work well in order to achieve their object. Once getting jobs, Jyushimatsu and Ichimatsu has been doing them without much complain.
They had packed the small fortune they had and things they couldn't take with them they had sold and given to the neighbours and friends. They were wearing their best clothes since they wanted to be on their best when boarding such a fine ship. Also they were nervous about the inspections that were mandatory when boarding.
All the passengers would be checked for louse and other parasites. That was worrying because they had had occasions when Ichimatsu had brought fleas to their home because he spend a lot of time with stray cats. They had checked him almost two months before their leave, then again month before and after that weekly. Others had been checked as well during the last week.
The brothers were also bit worried about Jyushimatsu's and Ichimatsu's behavior. If Jyushimatsu did something really strange that weirded people out or if Ichimatsu looked too dark and murderous they might get banned from the ship in the name of safety. Brothers had talked about that issue together and made the two of them vow that they would behave well. The inspections would wait them also when arriving to America and they would need to act well then too. Also they didn't want to have any troubles while on the ship. Luckily six of them would have their own room so they could have their peace when they needed it.
Luckily all of them passed the health inspections even though it had been very stressful for all of them. But all that mattered to them was that they had all passed.
Now all of the Matsunos were standing in a long line, waiting to get on board. The excitement and nervousness in between of them could almost be touched. Osomatsu was really excited. This was going to be legendary. He couldn't wait to go hunt for gold. He talked to his brothers going through his great big plan again.
Karamatsu wore his best cool guy expression but actually he was feeling nervous and the others could see it. Of course he was excited too but he was worried how everything would turn out in the end. All the adventure that was waiting ahead of them made his heart almost burst out of excitement.
Choromatsu was pale and sweating. He still hated the idea but there was no turning his brothers's heads. So many things could go wrong and he just could feel the same excitement his brothers felt. Now the best thing he could do was to make sure that all of them would act properly, not do anything stupid and be safe.
Ichimatsu looked kind of bad. Dark aura loomed around him and he eyed nervously around himself. He was really happy to see Jyushimatsu so happy and he was excited to leave this pathetic country behind. But he was feeling really bad surrounded by all these people. He felt like he wanted to scream and run away but he needed to keep himself in check. For Jyushimatsu if nothing else.
Jyushimatsu was over the moon. He was so excited and so happy. He would see baseball! He would keep telling that to everyone. Jyushimatsu was also interested and excited everything around himself. For the first time in their lives they were in so big docks and they had never seen ships like the ones now were around them. And they were going into one! It was amazing!
Todomatsu was really excited for everything that was about to come. He tried to look the best he could and leave a good impression on everyone. Although Asian looking sextuplets already were enough to caught people's eyes. Not that that was necessary the positive attention Todomatsu sought. While waiting in the line he chatted with the others and eyed discreetly other passengers to know if there were people he definitely wanted to approach on board.
"How long do we need to wait? I mean, I'm fine but Jyushimatsu-niisan will soon crash with someone or jump to the sea," Todomatsu said to the others. They had been waiting for quite a while already and the line seemed to continue for hundreds of meters.
"Don't worry. They only now started to take people in so it will take maybe an hour or half," Choromatsu answered trying to sound like he was in control of the situation.
"Heh, I also think the faster we get in the better. I don't want to see you all this nervous," Karamatsu said and hold his fingers on his chin. "Don't worry dear brothers, soon we will all be riding the great waves towards the land where the Sun sets. We will all-"
"Shut up Shittymatsu or I swear I'll gut you!" Ichimatsu shouted. He was really stressed up and his eyes looked mad. He pulled his coat's collar up again to hide better behind them.
"Ichimatsu-niisan, please try to stay calm…" Totty said quietly and glanced around if anyone was staring at them.
"Ichi, Ichi, relax!" Osomatsu said. "Once we get in you can have the whole room to calm yourself. At least I'm going to explore the ship!" he said with a grin.
"Me too! Me too!" Jyushimatsu shouted. "Do you think we can go to the bow? Can we go everywhere?"
"No, we absolutely can't go everywhere!" Choromatsu said hastily. "Jyushimatsu, you need to remember to always be careful. If you don't know, if you are allowed to do something or not, always ask us. And do everything the way the staff tells you."
"Okay! I understand, Choromatsu-niisan!" Jyushimatsu said happily and went to cling to Ichimatsu trying to radiate his positive energy to him.
"I want to party the whole time! I have my bottle with me," Osomatsu told the others.
"Yes, Osomatsu, we all know that already," Totty said and rolled his eyes.
"Everyone, just please, behave like adults," Choromatsu sighed. He was getting a headache.
Osomatsu spread his arms to stop his brothers behind him. "Here goes!" he said and ceremoniously stepped on to the ship. He took a deep breath and jumped around to see his brothers. "Oh my god, I can't believe we are here!" he shouted excitedly and laughed.
Karamatsu shined. "Truly my brother! This is a marvelous day for us. Who could have known that one day we, Matsuno brothers, would start a journey of their lives to go and-" Ichimatsu pushed Karamatsu who fell flat on the floor of the ship.
Ichimatsu stepped over Karamatsu. "I'm not going to start my journey listening to your shit," he growled.
"Now everybody on board! We are blocking the way!" Choromatsu said and pushed Totty and Jyushimatsu inside. Totty stepped on board gracefully, enjoying the moment and Jyushimatsu leap to Osomatsu's neck hugging him.
"Yay! America!" the second youngest shouted happily.
Finally Choromatsu stepped in apologizing to the people behind them. Six of them started walking down the hallway.
"So where is our room? I want to get away from all these people," Ichimatsu said still feeling as bad as earlier.
"Don't know, don't care," Osomatsu said. "Now I just want to go see outside as we are leaving England. Who wants to come to the deck with me?"
"ME ME ME ME!" Jyushimatsu shouted and started jumping around the eldest.
"I would never miss it," Karamatsu answered.
"Of course!" Totty said and Choromatsu nodded smiling a little.
Ichimatsu looked the brothers around himself and sighed worn out. "Yeah, I guess I have to."
After some time brothers had pushed their way through the masses to get relatively good spot close to the rail so that they were able to see when the ship would leave the country. They had to wait again surrounded by masses of other excited people and Jyushimatsu had been given the task to take care of Ichimatsu. Jyushimatsu had taken his task seriously so he kept close to the third youngest and keeping him focused on himself and interesting things they could see but not the people around themselves.
After some more waiting it finally became mid-day and the ship was ready to leave. Everyone of them, leave for Choromatsu and Ichimatsu, cheered as the engines turn on and the ship started to move. However, Ichimatsu smiled wider than usual and you could see the glimmer in his eyes. Choromatsu wasn't doing that well.
When the ship jerked to move Choromatsu suddenly felt like he couldn't breath or swallow. His breathing got fast and shallow and he stared in front of him not seeing anything as he was too focused on the fact that he couldn't breath. He looked around trying to find a way away from there but there were too many people making it almost impossible to leave.
It took minute or two before Todomatsu turned to look at Choromatsu expecting to see the other one nervous but excited as well. What he wasn't expecting was Choromatsu grapping his shirt from the chest on the verge of tears.
"Choromatsu-niisan? What's wrong?!" Totty asked with widened eyes. That got brothers's attention and they all turned to look at the third oldest.
"Choromatsu!" Karamatsu shouted as he took a gentle hold on his shoulders. "What is it?!" he asked worry written all over his face.
Choromatsu gasped for breath. "I- I can't- breath... " He locked his eyes with Karamatsu's. "Oh g- god! I c- can't breath!" he said as tears started to fall down his cheeks.
"Shhh, shhhh. It's okay," Karamatsu said now holding Choro in tight hug and petting his head. "It's okay, you're just too stressed but it will be fine. I'll take you to our room," he said and lifted Choromatsu up on bridal style to which Choromatsu let out a surprised yelp. Karamatsu shared a meaningful look with his brothers that he would take care of him and left pushing through the people.
"Will Choromatsu-niisan be okay?" Jyushimatsu asked worried.
"Mmm, don't worry. He will be okay," Ichimatsu said quietly. He was not new to panic attacks. Choromatsu would be fine.
"Yeah, don't worry. Karamatsu will take care of him," Osomatsu said grinning but something was missing from it. You could tell that he was concerned. "Anyway, look! Everyone is waving us off!" Osomatsu said and started to wave to the people watching the ship leave from the dock.
"Goodbye!" Jyushimatsu shouted and started waving frantically and Totty joined him while Ichimatsu looked their doings smiling a little.
After some time rest of the brothers came to their room were Karamatsu was with Choromatsu. The other had mostly calmed down by now. He was laying on a bed while Karamatsu was petting his hair and talking to him in calming manner.
"Choromatsu-niisan! Are you okay?" Jyushimatsu asked while all of them eyed him worriedly.
"Yeah. I'm fine," Choromatsu answered and sat up. "Sorry for that. I- I guess that I only now really realized that we are actually doing this and there's no turning back anymore."
"Ah, don't worry little bro. It'll be fine!" Osomatsu said smiling. "So this is where we are gonna live these few days," he said exmining their room. It was very simple. It only had three bunk beds and a closet.
"I guess so," Totty said. "Do you know when we are gonna get some food? I'm hungry."
"Me too! I hope it's something good," Osomatsu said.
"We just got on board. It will take a while," Karamatsu told them. That's why I took bread and cheese with me," he said and started to rummage through his pack taking said food out.
"Aaah Karamatsu! You're the best!" Oso said.
An hour or so later they went to explore the deck better. Ichimatsu and Choromatsu had stayed behind needing their own time and space. Rest of them went to the deck walking around, or running in case of Jyushimatsu. He rushed around looking at everything with wide shining eyes while Karamatsu ran after him making sure that he wouldn't fall overboard or something similar. Osomatsu looked excitedly around after the two of them and Totty was more calmer as he walked after them paying attention to their fellow travelers.
"Jyushimatsu! Stop!" Karamatsu shouted and finally got a grip on his shirt.
"Huh? What is it niisan?" Jyushimatsu asked when he was about to start climbing up a wall to go to another deck.
"We can't go there! It's for other people. Not us!" Kara tried to explain.
"We can't go? Why?" the second youngest asked confused. He really wanted to go.
"My sweet brother, it's for first class passengers. We are third class and not allowed to go there," Karamatsu took a deep breath closing his eyes and opening them again to look at Jyushimatsu who was not clinging on the wall anymore. "Jyushimatsu. Please, promise me that you won't go there. We would got into a trouble. We can't get into trouble or we might not be able to go see baseball. Do you understand me?" Karamatsu asked patiently.
Jyushimatsu looked down before returning Karamatsu's look again. "I understand. I promise."
Karamatsu smiled at him caringly. "Thank you!" he said as he ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Man… it would be interesting to see what it's like in their side," Osomatsu wondered out loud.
Finally it was time to eat. It was dinner time and Matsunos went to have their meal for third class. However, they did not expect what there was waiting for them. The tables were filled with rice soup, boiled potatoes, roast beef, brown gravy, fresh bread, cabin biscuits, sweet corn, plum pudding, sweet sauce and fruits.
The brothers stared at the full tables in utter disbileif.
"Holy fuck!" Osomatsu laughed.
"Can- can we eat just anything?" Karamatsu stammered.
"I'm not sure. I think so," Choromatsu said glancing around unsure.
"Waaah! Is it okay?" Jyushimatsu asked with the widest smile while Jyushimatsu stared unable to say anything.
"Oh my god…" Totty breathed.
"Out of the way!" Osomatsu said as he pushed through his brothers towards the food and rest followed close behind him.
Matsunos filled their plates the best they could and ate like it was their last meal stuffing food to their mouths hardly having time to breath. At that moment they were all feeling blissful. They had eaten this well last time Christmas two years ago and of course even then the food wasn't as good.
When they were finally done, they went to their room to lay on their beds, feeling like they would throw up from eating too much. All of them curled happily to their beds. I would be fine on the ship. Heck, it was way too luxurious for people like them.
The next three days they spent enjoying their time on the ship. Everyone's favourite activity was eating the ship's delicious foods.
There were many other things the brothers enjoyed doing on the ship. During evenings they liked to go to the areas where people gathered to socialize with each other. Especially they liked to go there to drink. Osomatsu drank as much as he could and played card with other people. Choromatsu had banned playing for money and honestly Osomatsu didn't have any so he just played for fun. Karamatsu or Todomatsu occasionally joined him.
Karamatsu enjoyed dancing with Jyushimatsu. The second youngest was so hyper that Kara couldn't really keep up with him so he mostly focused on finding his Karamatsu girl. Hitting on women was unsuccessful as always but Karamatsu didn't let it to get to him. Jyushimatsu made some people weirded out by him at first but soon they learned to like seeing the always happy man.
Todomatsu was focusing on talking with people and making new contacts. He wasn't anymore successful with women than Karamatsu even if he got some nice conversations with them. However, from his talks with different people he managed to get useful information related to the new country they were moving and the life in there as well as job hunting. Todomatsu didn't forget to have fun as well.
Ichimatsu stayed mostly out of the sight. He joined the others and drank his drink but didn't go to the centre of the room where all the action was happening. Mostly he just eyed everyone suspiciously emitting his dark aura of uneasiness.
Choromatsu was also having hard time to relax. He was doing better now and was quite enjoying their journey but when ever going out with everyone, especially in big masses, he knew that the situation could escalate so quickly to worse if his brothers misbehaved.
During days many of them also liked to bother people outside on the deck, have attempts to pick up girls and get into argument. Luckily nothing too bad had happened and none of them had actually got into a fight yet. Though it might be only a matter of time, Choromatsu thought.
In the beginning of their journey they had spent a lot of time exploring the ship. The long corridors where they were allowed to be were kind of boring and easy to get lost at. That's why none of the brothers were too happy when Jyushimatsu wanted to play hide and seek there. The deck was really nice and they liked to hang out there. They ocean air was exciting and it made Karamatsu more poetic and painful than ever which irritated the others. When they were at the bow or stern or otherwise close to the railings of the ship, the more responsible brothers were always worried over them, especially Jyushimatsu, that they would fall to the ocean. Other worrying thing was that someone got mad to another and threw them overboard.
The bets were that it would be Ichi who threw Kara to the ocean.