When Wadanohara finally came home, she looked about as tired as the last time she went on such a long journey, but she remained upright and beaming as she walking through the door and hung up her Anchor hat on the rack. She was glad to see Samekichi and returned his hug when he pulled her in close. It felt good to be home, but with the news he gave her two weeks ago she was more anxious than usual.
"So, where is he?" She asked once they pulled away, even trying to look behind the shark to see if she could catch a glimpse of their new resident.
"He's coloring in the kitchen, I'll go get him." Samekichi disappeared from her for a moment while Wadanohara removed her boots and left them by the door. To say she was nervous would be an understatement. She was fixing one of her braids before she heard the little pattering of feet and she turned to see a little boy with snow white hair, wearing little cargo shorts and a plain shirt, staring at her with one red and one blue eye.
Wadanohara took a small breath before she hunched down some to look at the boy some feet away with a smile. "Hi, Lucas!" She said, keeping her voice quiet enough to not startle him. Lucas seemed weary of her, staying close to his uncle's side and holding onto his sleeve tightly. But he did give a little wave, slowly inching his way back behind Samekichi. The older nudged him out though, assuring him it was safe as Wadanohara knelt down in front of him, still smiling gently.
"Hi Lucas, I'm your Aunty Wadanohara." With the wordy "Aunty" in front Lucas seemed much more willing to interact, letting her take his hands and hug him and he even returned it, though he had to stand up on his toes for a moment.
"You like staying with us here? Do you like it here, Lucas?" She asked once he pulled back. The boy was playing with one of the many anchors on her dress, and she made sure he didn't poke himself or anything. He was quiet but he eventually nodded.
"Samekichi said you went on an adventure." He quipped, tilting his head to the side and looking at her with more interest in his eyes. "Did you go on an adventure, Aunty Wada?"
"I did go on an adventure! You want me to tell you about it?" The boy eagerly nodded, a grin spreading out on his face that made Wadanohara laugh softly and take his hand to lead him to the couch. She sat down and he clambered up and settled in her lap, looking up expectantly and waiting for her to start.
While the boy's head was filled with Magic and Witches and seagulls who threw slugs at other people, Samekichi watched with a fond smile from where he was leaning against the wall back by the door. The scene unfolding before him was enough to make him think he had died back in the Sea of Death but he had actually gone to some sort of heaven.
But no he was alive and breathing and everyday when he woke up with the little kid curled up against his arm, it made him a little more thankful that he was alive. When he put Lucas to bed again that night, he crept back downstairs where Wadanohara was sitting on the couch reading a book with her drink on the table next to her. She had traded her dress for her night gown and slippers, her long hair down against her shoulders in soft waves. Her entire demeanor screamed fatigue but when she looked up to see him she smiled as if she wasn't tired at all.
The couch sank with the Shark's weight as he sat down with a low sigh, the witch fitting herself against his side and his arms finding their way around her. She hummed as she went back to her book, eyes slowly scanning the page as she spoke.
"He's wonderful, Samekichi. He's absolutely wonderful."
"I had a feeling you'd like the little guy. He's not bad once you get used to him," He chuckled, glancing at her book but finding little intersting so he just combed his fingers through her hair, carefuly not to get anything stuck in his claws like in their early days.
"You know I love children. I'd love him anyway, whether he's our own or not."
She trailed off after that and he stopped his petting to sigh as a familiar subject began to creep up.
"Look, Wada-"
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have even brought it up."
He could hear the catch in her through and he was bringing into another hug before she could even object to it.
"Wadanohara, its fine. I know you've been wanting some for a while now.."
He went back to running his hand through her hair, his other resting against her back gently. "But I don't know how that would even work. I mean-"
"It's fine, Samekichi," The witch sighed, bookmarking her page and setting the book down at the cushion behind her. "I know it wouldn't work and I'm sorry for pushing this onto you so hard." She rest her head on his shoulder, listening to the beat of his heart through his shirt and reminding herself that he had been so lucky to have made it out alive all those years ago.
"You'd be one hell of a mom though."
A smile came to her face at his words, a small laugh after she sighed happily. "I'm glad you think so. I'd like to think so too."
"And you know what else? Lucas already sees you like his second mom."
The witch smiled as she remembed the way the boy's eyes had gotten when she told him about using her magic on 'bad guys.' After her story he had went and grabbed his drawing and showed it to her. Though it was done by a child's hands, she could see Cherryblod and Doloz within those pink and red scribblings.
"He trusts the right people, that much I'm glad of. Have you told Tatsumiya?"
"Yeah, but she hasn't actually seen him yet. I wanted to wait until you were back before taking him to the Princess. She'll go easier on him if you're there."
"My presence shouldn't affect what happens to him one bit, but I appreciate you waiting."
A small yawn escaped her and her eyes drooped, a tired hum echoing from her that had the shark patting her back.
"Heh, You need to get some rest."
"I'm fine, honest."
"Nope, c'mon." Samekichi shifted her more into his lap, hooking one arm under her back and legs and then lifted he rup as he stood. The brunette didn't bother fighting, her head against his shoulder as her eyes closed as he carried her back up to their shared room. Lucas was sound asleep in one of the spare rooms as they walked by.
"Tatsumiya will want to see me in the morning, I can bring Lucas along if you want," She offered once he set her down. He disappeared for a minute to pull back on his pajama bottoms and peel off his shirt before joining her under the covers and pulling her close.
"If you think it's a good idea. I need to get him some more clothes anyone. Where's Dolphi and the others?"
"They all bunked at Fukami's. They insisted on letting me rest but they know there's plenty of room here."
"Well, I'm glad," He snorted, tightening his arms around her and pulling her flushed against him. "I was kinda hoping you'd come back without them."
"Why? Did you have something planned for when I got back?"
Wadanohara could hear the smirk in her familiar's voice as he chuckled.
"You could say that, Wada."
Needless to say, they were both awake for another hour.
"Where're we going, Aunty Wada?" Lucas yawned, rubbing his eye with his free hand. The other was clasped tightly within his aunt's hand as they walked. He was getting kind of tired of all this waking up early.
"We're going to go see the Princess!" Wadanohara said, smiling down at her nephew brightly. She felt a little bad for having to wake him up so early but she knew Tatsumiya couldn't wait to see her and Lucas was something they needed to discuss with Uomi.
At the word, Princess, Lucas perked up a bit more, his imagination running and making him think they were going to save her from a vicious dragon.
"But..we don't have a sword."
Wadanohara raised an eyebrow at his strange responce and he just looked at her with a little frown. "Aunty Wada, Princesses are always locked in castles with dragons! We don't have a sword to fight the dragon!"
Wadanohara paused and then let out a fit of giggles as she realized he thought they were going to go save the Princess like in one of those books Samekichi had gotten him.
"Hehehe! Lucas, honey, not all Princess are locked away in castles. Ours is in one, but she isn't locked there." She pulled him along again, a smile on her face from the child's imagining.
Once inside, Wadanohara lead Lucas up numerous flights of stairs until there were standing just outside Uomi's quarters. There she paused and looked Lucas over, smoothing down his ever so difficult hair some more and straightening out his shirt and shorts. Then she smiled again.
"Princess Uomi is very kind, but you have to be respectful alright, Lucas?"
The young shark nodded, straightening up with his arms at his sides as if his change in posture would help. It did some and she giggled at the effort he was putting forth. With a pull of the sliding doors, she and Lucas stepped into the company of Princess Uomi and one of her best aids, Tatsumiya.
"Wadanohara!" The oarfish beamed at the witch, briskly walking forward and gathering her up in a hug. "You're back so soon! I thought you would be gone longer." She pulled away to smile at the younger woman. "However, while you were gone I've been hearing something rather unus-" Her words were cut off when she caught sight of the boy behind her.
Lucas blinked up at her before giving a wave and smiling. "Hi, Princess!"
Wadanohara laughed again before explaing to the boy, "No, Lucas, this is my dear friend Tatsumiya. Tatsumiya, this is my nephew, Lucas."
"Oh. Hi, Tattoo mayo!"
The witch flushed in embarrassment before looking to her friend with a strained smile. "He hasn't grasped a lot of words yet."
Tatsumiya flicked her eyes between Wadanohara and the young shark before her, settling her gaze back on the witch and asking, "So, it's true? He really is his son?"
"It would appear," Wadanohara said, running a hand through Lucas' hair again. Stubborn thing. "Samekichi's been taking care of him while I was gone."
Tatsumiya looked back down at the boy who was playing with an anchor hanging off of Wadanohara's dress, dangerous but she knew Wada would stop him if she feared he would hurt himself.
"He's very young, so he must have been born shortly before or after..."
"Aunty Wada!" The attention of both woman was stolen from Lucas quick interruption and he gently tugged on his aunt's skirt. "When are we gonna meet the Princess?"
"Right now," Tatsumiya said before Wadanohara could answer. She was smiling down at the boy and offering her hand which he took quickly. "This way, Lucas."
Princess Uomi had been sitting by silently while watching the interactions between the Oarfish and the witch. She blinked slowly as her aid came forward with the young boy clinging to her hand and looking back at her with wide eyes. Yes, he was young. Very young.
And he bore a resemblance to his father that would shock Meikai.
"Ah, so this is the boy whom I've heard so much about," She said when he was just a few feet away. "The rumors are true."
"Princess-" Wadanohara began only to stop when Uomi gently held up her hand.
"No need, Wadanohara. He's no harm and we cannot be angry with what genetics has given him." She turned her attention back to the boy as she stood, her footsteps clicking off the tiled ground. She knelt down again to look at the boy with a fond smile. "Hello, Lucas. It's nice to finally meet you. My name is Uomi."
Uomi had Lucas busy himself once more with crayons and paper while she spoke with her aid and the Sea Witch.
"A charming young boy he is. I fear though because of his looks that the citizens will be fearful of him."
Wadanohara sighed heavily. "Yes, that is something I'm afraid of too. He simply looks too much like his father."
"But we cannot help that now," Tatsumiya said. "Princess, might I recommend we take the boy into some sort of private school system? I am more than willing to tutor him."
The Princess motioned to the witch to her right. "Only if Wadanohara says it is alright. I trust her judgement and considering Lucas is already very dear to her, I won't allow him to be put into anything unless she feels it is best."
"It's alright, Princess," Wadanohara assured her. "Tatsumiya tutored me when I was young, I trust her with Lucas as my father had once trusted her with me."
"Lord Meikai would be proud of who you've become today," The fish princess said, voice soft and eyes holding affection for the younger woman. "It is settled then. Tatsumiya shall become Lucas' tutor in schooling. I trust Samekichi will teach him basic self defence when he gets of age?"
"Yes, Princess."
Uomi nodded, folding her hands together and giving the witch another smile. "It is good to have you back, Wadanohara. Don't be afraid to come and ask for anything should you need help with the boy."
"Thank you, Princess." Wadanohara smiled back just as Lucas came running up with a picture for the royalty.
"I drew you, Uomi! I drew you!"
The fish princess took up the page into her hand, seeing a blob of blue and greys and a small bushel of gold for her crown. She knelt down and hugged the boy tightly and he greatly returned it.
"Thank you, Lucas. I'll be sure to treasure it forever."
