Là-bas (by Génération Goldman)

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A/N: Hi! It's been a while! I had some problem with computers and phones lately. Plus, I got addicted to playing Mahjong so I forgot I had a FFN account XD. Well… Please enjoy!

Also, this AU takes place in XV century, meaning periods of great discoveries (about year 1400).

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The raging storm was tossing the small ship in all direction. Large waves at the height reaching the highest mountains of Spain could be seen approaching from the horizon. Fear consummated the few people aboard the Spanish Nao ship. While most of them were praying with their last strength, sailors like me couldn't give up. We went already this far so bracing myself, I started to climb and untied the principal veil.

However, it seemed impossible as violent winds wanted to blow anyone stupid enough to climb that high. Holding tough, I found my strength slowly fading away as the wind blew hard, forcefully removing my bandana and allowing my red hair free, blocking my vision. However, I didn't mind that as I reached my hand for the bandana, that little piece of cloth, seemingly valueless but it had a grand meaning to me.

With lot of effort and climbing, I caught it and a smile appeared on my face. It was short-lived though as a wave hit the side of the ship, making me lose balance and falling on the sea. With such powerful storm, there was no hope for someone to save me and I knew that. The only thing left to do was to clutch into the bandana that she has made for me and wait for the Atlantic Ocean to swallow me.

"Honoka…"

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"Say what?" I yelled in surprise as I turned to my fiancée, Maki. The two of us were living at a farm located at the countryside of Spain.

"I said a friend of mine told me she was going to the new world to trade and proposed me to work for her." The red-head replied calmly as she placed a lumber on the field. Being both clad in working dresses, we didn't have to fear dirt. It was mostly like that when working on the field. We were happy cultivating until she brought a stupid thing like that.

"But why did you accept?"

"I thought it was the best occasion for us to get a better life!" She insisted, giving a smile before looking at the sky and untied her hair. She was beautiful with a ponytail but was even better with her untied hair. "Nozomi has been at the Navy for years and now she has decided to quit that life to become a trader. They say that there are lots of good commercial route that have yet to be discovered so she insisted to make me her Bookkeeper."

"But…" I said in a low tone, looking down as I found no argument. We were just living such mediocre life.

Our fathers were sailors and usually brought Maki and I on their voyage. One day, though, as we have left Japan on a trip to Amsterdam to buy glass beads and bring a letter from the Emperor, the ship was attacked by pirates. Luckily, the Spanish Navy has arrived before our ship sunk but it was too late for captain Nishikino and my father—his first mate. A canon shot from the pirate ship has hit the left part of our Flemish Galleon and they were unfortunate enough to be commanding the canons over there.

Following their death, the captain of the Spanish fleet took Maki and I and raised us with his only daughter—Nozomi. Mister Toujou used to be Japanese sailor but he has decided to have a trip around the world and decided to stop in Spain as he got tired of far-navigating. Since there was no way for us to go back to Japan, we had to build our lives here in Spain.

"Honoka…" My fiancée's voice brought me back into real life and she gave me a reassuring smile when I looked up. "I promise you that I will do my best so that we could go back to Japan one day."

"But…"

"If I f do my best," she continued, not letting me finish my word, "I am sure we will success. Sure, you don't doubt Nozomi, right?"

I looked down once again at the words before approaching a dead trunk and sat on it. "I do trust Nozomi's judgment but I can't help but worry." I insisted, watching as she approached me and sat right beside, at my left. "The Caribbean is home for hundreds of pirates and there are storms and hurricanes as well. I fear that I might lose you if I don't do anything."

A hand was placed on my left shoulder and I was brought against her chest. It was a warm feeling I enjoyed and I couldn't accept the fact of not feeling it anymore.

"Just trust in me, Honoka!"

"I know. I do believe in you but…"

There was a moment of silence with only the high autumn sun looking at us. At the horizon were kilometers of grass fields and mountains. The one to break the silence was her. "I might get lost there. There is no point in lying. Every sailor has to take risk. There is always a chance that one would never be able to step back on ground when they step on a ship."

My heart started beating very fast as I feared the worst. "Then, just don't go…" I felt my eyes watering as my chest tightened.

"I took my decision." She started caressing my bangs and it only made me sadder at the thought that there might be a chance it was the last time she did such thing. "However, I will make a vow before departing."

"A vow?"

"Yes! I will make it official before I step on the ship, with Nozomi and everyone as eyewitness.

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I, Nishikino Maki, vow that I will always do my best and will have Kousaka Honoka as my only love…

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"So, that's it…?" My eyes watered as I watched a very high wave going in my direction. "My life flashed in front of my eyes… So, it's the end…?"

There was nothing else I could have done except waiting. It wasn't as if I have given up but I just felt like there was no more hope for me. Honoka was always my hope and the one who has carried our entire dream. I wanted to be reliable for once but got unlucky. If only I could see her one last time…

"Maki!"

A familiar voice…

"Maki; reply me, dammit!"

My eyes opened as I recognized the voice as Nozomi's. She was holding into the railing of the Nao from outside with one hand and the other hand held a rope. At the other end of the rope was a plank attached and it was located few meters from my position.

"Catch the plank! I can't throw it any further."

"Stop taking risk, idiot! If you have time, get in a safe area of the ship instead of risking your life like this!" I yelled at her for being so stupid.

"Stop being a spoiled brat and catch the plank!" She yelled back, something that has never occurred before. "The longer the time you time, the slimmer our chance to survive is so move your ass and let us survives so you could marry Honoka when we get back."

As much as I wanted to counter, she was totally right, so instead of replying, I pumped my cheeks and started to swim in the direction of the roped plank. It was harder than what it seemed as swimming in the middle of the storm was a nightmare. At midway, I wanted to give up as my arms and legs were really tired. However, I made a vow so it helped me. At least I was going to do my best, no matter the result.

Luckily, I was able to catch the plank and Nozomi helped me back on the ship with the rope's help. By that time, I had the bandana attached to my left wrist as to not lose it. Now came the hardest part that required lot of luck; we needed to survive the wave. Before I could do anything though, the captain took me at the center of the ship and attached the two of us with the rope at the center pillar.

I didn't have the chance to do anything as one second after the tied the knots, the wave hit the Nao, creating a superhuman shaking. It was so important I accidentally hit my head against the pillar and lost consciousness.

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"…ki… Ma…"

A familiar voice was echoing from afar and calling for me. I couldn't deny it and found myself approaching the end of the dark tunnel until I felt like I was able to open my eyes. As my vision came back, I was greeted by a crying Honoka and a starry sky in the background.

"Maki…" More tears were in her eyes as she saw that I regained consciousness. Second later, she took me in a bone-breaking hug. "Idiot! I was worried sick!"

I didn't mind the suffocating feeling for the moment as I knew I did something stupid. At least it was over and we were together. However, one minute later, with my fiancée's sobs still echoing, I started wondering how we survived and where are we and how come Honoka was here.

Taking a look around, the completely ravaged Nao was ashore. We were on a very small and deserted island in the middle of a night after the storm. Beside the rest of the Nao was a beautiful Flemish Galleon—I remember it as Mr. Toujou's.

"I see… so, Honoka has followed Mr. Toujou…"

At the other side of the beach were blankets in which corpses were placed at. There were so many dead people that I felt sad. The other sailors were still walking around while others were on emergency boats, trying to look for other survivors.

It was at that moment that Nozomi has approached us. I never saw her this serious before and without giving the chance for me to say anything, she kneeled down and joined the hug. "Thank god! You are finally awake. I was so scared. I didn't know what I would have done if you didn't wake up."

"What are you saying all of sudden, Nozomi?"

"You were unconscious for three days." She explained in between sobs. "Even after the storm, the ship was too damaged to navigate. Fortunately, Father was notified about the powerful storm and found us before the Nao sunk." She really was crying down. It was the first time I saw something like that. "I promised Honoka that I would bring you back no matter what, even if it did cost my life."

"Hey, don't go that far, idiot!"

"But you two are very important to me. Seeing you happy together is the best thing I could wish for."

A sigh escaped my lips as I moved both hands and caressed both girls' head. It seems working as they cried even louder but I knew that was better.

"I didn't know what I would have done… everyone else aboard the Nao… they… they…"

There was no need for me to hear the rest as I guessed everyone else but Nozomi and I died. We were the only survivor of a large merchant ship and despite my logic mind, it made my cry. How were we going to explain that to these people's family?

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Several years has passed since the incident with the Nao. Of course Maki and I took a year of prison for not being able to save more lives. It was a common law in Spanish fleet that when an incident involves lot of death, the Captain and his First Mate/Bookkeeper/Chief Navigator needed a punishment.

Of course, Father has helped reducing our sentence so we managed to get out faster. At our sortie, Honoka was there to welcome us and the three of us has decided to move back to the countryside to work on the field.

One day, as we were talking about nothing in particular, I received a letter from Father, saying that he found a Carrack and wanted me to sail with it. Of course, I was a daughter of the sea and it made me happy to get the occasion to set sail again. I didn't want to involve Maki nor Honoka anymore though.

"I know!" Honoka exclaimed as she heard the news. "I don't want us to get separated anymore so I want to accompany you for that adventure."

"Honoka?"

"I was very scared that day, thinking I might lose Maki and Nozomi. After long thought though, I realized we are daughters of Japan, girls of the sea and nothing can stop us from looking for more horizon. That's why," She gave a good smile, her hands reaching for Maki's and I. "Let us sail together this time!"

The red-head chuckled. "Guess it can't be helped! Be it in pain, sorrow or happiness, let us always be together. If we die, it will be together."

I just smiled at the lovebirds who now shared a stronger bound than before.

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A/N: I became addicted to Uncharted Waters and One Piece.