In the thrashing waves, an isolated piece of broken wood floats, four figures gripping it tightly as ocean spray cuts into their skin when the waves aren't smothering them.
Mukuro doesn't let go of Daemon's hand for a second because he's not risking the man getting lost in the storm. Byakuran looks like he's one strong wave away from just going under and Skull is curled protectively over his arm. Reborn had popped it back into place when he checked everyone else for injuries right after the ship sunk but it must still hurt.
For a very long time it's just the four of them and while they try to find the others -well, Skull tries because the circus performer is adamant that the rest survived- no one is seen for a very long time. By some miracle they actually get slammed together in the storm, first Verde, Lal and Colonnello and then Fon with Reborn.
They use any rope they can find to lash the broken wood pieces together because if someone drifts too far in this storm they won't be found again. They spend the night clinging desperately and taking wave after wave crashing down onto their heads.
The sky clears in time to show a picturesque sunrise with a vibrant rainbow stretching over the horizon.
Everyone is too tired to give a shit about scenery.
It's not hot in the water despite the sun bearing down on them, in fact quite a few seem to be shivering, still cold from the night before. Their so called 'raft' is a large piece of the deck with two ropes connecting a broken door and another curved part of the ship's hull.
At this point they've discarded any dead weight, which means shoes and jackets, the clothes piled up on the rafts. However, some still carry weaponry. Mukuro can see the two army lieutenant-generals, Lal and Colonnello, are still armed with swords and daggers at their belt, along with maybe Reborn hiding a gun although it would be useless with wet powder.
Byakuran looks like too much of a spoilt noble to lug around weaponry, although so is Mukuro and Daemon and yet the two brothers each carry a small dagger at their ankles. Fon, by the information Mukuro has gathered on him, doesn't need a weapon. On the other hand, Skull and Verde just aren't the type.
Around a few hours past mid-day the ocean has calmed to soft curves instead of anything resembling waves. Reborn is finally able take care of the smaller injuries the rest have accumulated before turning his medical expertise on himself, which sparks a rather loud argument that only stops when the man is forced onto the largest wooden piece.
"You're an asshole," Colonnello grumbles, floating on his back with one hand holding onto the hull.
Reborn, laid out on his back on top of the largest portion, says nothing. Lal is watching him like a hawk from her spot near his hip to make sure he stays on the raft and doesn't move at all.
"When did you know?" Colonnello continues in annoyance. "Wait, of course you knew from the start, you're a fucking doctor."
Reborn sighs and throws an arm across his eyes to block out the sun. "I found him, didn't I?"
Fon gives a half-hearted wave, flopped over the door on his stomach because Reborn needs to watch him for secondary drowning.
"Yeah, and I'm glad," Colonnello snaps. "But you couldn't have mentioned a broken foot?"
"Shut up already," Byakuran huffs in irritation, grimacing at the noise because yes, Reborn is absolutely certain the noble does in fact have a concussion, get up on the damn wood Byakuran. "What are you, his mother?" He shifts around on the hull piece next to Verde, being careful to not bump the bandaged thigh of the scientist.
"No, I'm his friend. Which is why I'm so concerned." Colonnello scowls.
Reborn struggles not to roll his eyes. "It's already done, so save your energy and shut up."
"It's not done because you're going to do something ridiculous like that again." Colonnello looks to Lal for back up but she seems to be ignoring him.
Silence descends for a few moments and Mukuro just floats there on his back, a rope from the hull loosely tied to his belt and his arm linked with his brother's. He glances over and has to pinch Daemon because the man seems to be going to sleep.
He ignores the glare and instead worries about Chrome. The ship is due in port about five days from now so she shouldn't be concerned just yet, although being in the smuggling business means you always need to be wary.
Admittedly their family is made up of nobles and they really could have anything they wanted, so playing smuggler when they get bored isn't exactly necessary. Mukuro barely remembers how it started in the first place, but right now Mukuro and Daemon take the sea routes while Chrome and Fran run the land business.
Thanks to that sudden storm Mukuro is going to need another ship which wouldn't be so bad if he didn't also lose the precious cargo. Well, not exactly precious, but belonging to pirates so Mukuro is also going to have to dodge them when they come to collect.
"Oh my god," Skull blurts out with a bark of laughter. He was on his back with a piece of rope loosely wound around his wrist to keep him anchored to the deck piece but soon flips upright and stares off into the distance.
Mukuro glances up and a heartbeat later everyone is dissolving into amusement. Reborn lifts his arm away from his face and lets his head loll sideways. He freezes and then tries to push himself up. Lal immediately plants a hand on his chest and shoves him down again even as she snickers quietly.
"Is that my hat?" Reborn says slowly.
A small dot of black bobs up and down with every wave, slowly washing closer from the current. It's a black fedora with a band of orange.
"It's like a chronic disease," Verde chuckles. "You'll never escape it."
"Do you think it'll float into his hand if we leave it?" Fon wonders with a smile.
The hat suddenly flies up and the arc of its fall carries it straight to Reborn. He snatches it out of the air and they all stare at the magic hat dripping water down Reborn's arm.
"What the actual fuck just happened?" Lal demands, pushing away from Reborn warily until she's a few meters away and has to start treading water because she wasn't holding onto the wood anymore.
The rest follow her lead and even Reborn looks like he's going to throw the hat away from him for a brief second. He looks to the spot where it was thrown and narrows his eyes as something flickers under the water.
"It didn't jump, you idiots," Mukuro speaks up, holding onto the raft now after untying the rope at his belt, evidently seeing the same thing as Reborn.
"Well I'm assuming a fish didn't throw it either," Byakuran mutters, cautiously looking down into the water.
"It might be Kyouya," Fon murmurs. He shrugs at the looks they give him and explains. "It's not really his name, it's just the first thing he said –or sung I suppose- to me. I've probably butchered the pronunciation so badly."
"Okay," Skull says with an understanding tone. "I understood none of that."
Fon swims out towards the point and waves a dismissive hand at them when they try to pull him back. "I just want to check something."
Before anyone can mention what a bad idea that sounds like, he disappears into the ocean.