Karneval: Voyage to Rimhakka
Voyage to Rimhakka
Author's Note: Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer! Every bit of Shishi & Ranji's past in this story is purely fan-made-speculation, as there is no canonical background for either of them yet. Also, this chapter is full of fan service, and… Um, you may never look at that scene from Manga Chapter 54 the same way again. For an alternate version of how this chapter could have happened, copy the following link and clear out the spaces: archive of our own works /2110137 The alternate version of this chapter is an AO3 exclusive.
Chapter 10: The Hot Spring and Princess Aysu Under The Moonlight
Yogi, Jiki, and Yotaka made their way up the cliffs, each carrying one of the others with them.
"Nai will be alright by himself won't he?" Yogi asked as he sat Shishi down.
"It won't be the first time he's been left in charge of that crew," Gareki answered confidently, as Yotaka set him down.
"Yeah, but…" Yogi quietly worried, remembering the disturbance in the galley, "It'll be the first time he's been left alone with them since I've been on board."
Gareki gave the blonde a gentle nudge in the side with his good arm. "I'm telling you the damned animal will be just fine, he's tougher than he looks," he said assuringly. Yogi gave a quiet smile and nodded. "Now, which one of these was the spring?"
"Why exactly are we looking for a spring?" Jiki asked.
"How often have you guys come to Merumerai?" Yogi asked.
"Too many times to keep track of," Yotaka answered.
"At least once or twice a year for the last eight years," Ranji answered, "Sometimes more often than that."
"Well, that explains the irritation on King Nereus's face when I spoke on your behalf," Yogi observed, "But really, you've been here that many times and none of you know about the spring?"
The others shook their heads. "Never knew one was here," Gareki answered.
Yogi smiled and waved for them to enter the cave with him. He put his hand in the first spring the water was warm, but when he looked, he saw a swarm of small creatures beginning to swim around in the water. They were small and turtle like, but at the same time almost looked like four-legged octopi. Yogi remembered what the Merking had said and quickly pulled out his hand. "Nope, not that one," he said, "Must be this one over here." He stood up and walked to the other spring across from it. He held up his hands, to reveal the scratches from the crow's nest. "I didn't even know I had gotten these until I reached the Merking's palace," he admitted, "But I THINK I know how I got them." He smiled. "Now, if this is the right spring, just watch." He knelt down and dipped his hand into the spring, holding it in the warm water for a moment, when he pulled his hand back out, every single scratch was gone. "This spring has healing properties. I admit, I wanted Gareki sent back to Karasuna for his own safety, but when I reached the underwater palace, I remembered the spring was here and asked permission to use it. A swim in it today, and maybe tomorrow, and Gareki will be fully healed, and then the rest of us can stop carrying him on our shoulders everywhere." He winked and gave a playful giggle as he added this last part.
Gareki gave a teasing smirk. "You'd miss it!" he accused, enjoying the faint blush rushing across the blonde's face.
Ranji glanced toward Jiki and Shishi with a look that seemed to say, "I told you so!" The other two tried to ignore him.
"So why bring the rest of us up here?" Yotaka asked.
"The four of you are Gareki's commanding officers, and you did have a hard time on your hands getting the crew to shore with the Merfolk chasing them. A single dip in the spring now will revitalize you and then you can all go back down and keep an eye on the crew until Gareki's ready. I'll bring him back down myself when it's time, and you guys can send Nai up if he thinks he needs it after you all get back."
"And you give your word that once we leave the two of you up here there's nothing to worry about?" Yotaka asked.
Yogi sighed, closed his hands together behind his back and moved closer to Yotaka. "My dear sir, you keep confusing me for a rival pirate," he said calmly, "I am nothing of the sort. I am a prince, and I am nothing without my word of honor. Captain Gareki can be in no safer hands than mine." The others tried their best not to laugh as this statement both literally and figuratively ruffled Yotaka's feathers. Yogi smiled, "I don't blame you for worrying about your brother, though. I have my sisters to think about as well, after all."
"I like this idea," Ranji said, "It's been a long time since any of us have had a hot spring, and I like the idea of one that can cure you."
"It's said it can cure any ailment," Yogi said, approaching Gareki, but looking over his shoulder to Ranji.
"Can it cure Ranji's cross dressing?" Jiki teased.
"HEY!?" Ranji and Shishi both snapped.
"Only if he wants it to, which it doesn't sound like he does," Yogi answered with a giggle. "Here, Gareki, do you need some help getting your shirt off around that bandage on your arm?" he offered.
Gareki quietly pulled away. "No, thank you," he answered, "I can manage on my own." He started unbuttoning the white button down. "I realize I've been injured, but I'm sick and tired of all of you treating me like an invalid. I hope this damned spring does what you say it does so I can get back to giving orders, rather than being babied every time I turn around."
"Alright, have it your way," Yogi said, turning away from him. Gareki's eyes quietly shifted in Yogi's direction as he began to take off his shirt. He smiled as the blonde began to remove his own clothes first.
"What are you doing now?" Yotaka asked, more curious than anything, when he noticed the prince was getting undressed.
Yogi turned and faced them, his chest now bare for all to see. Ranji blushed and couldn't help himself. "Whoa…! I KNEW he had some muscle on that scrawny looking frame of his!" the cross dresser exclaimed excitedly. Yogi blushed.
"Ran!" Shishi and Gareki both scolded. Ranji could almost swear he'd heard a hint of jealousy in both their voices. Rather than call them out however, he simply turned his head away with a quiet giggle.
Gareki's eyes darted back toward Yogi. "Great, Ranji, now I think he's feeling self conscious," Gareki said, taking note of the look on Yogi's face.
"A self conscious royal?" Jiki observed, "Congratulations, Ranji, that's not an easy task for commoners to pull off."
Yogi cleared his throat and tossed his shirt to the side, placing his hands on his hips, he took a deep breath, determined not to let this group of teenagers intimidate him any further. "To answer your question, Yotaka, what I was planning on doing was proving that the spring is completely safe, by going in first, since I'm well aware of how little you trust me," he explained.
Yotaka smiled and crossed his arms. "Alright then," the first mate nodded.
Yogi nodded and began to take off his pants. He knew they were all watching him now, he could feel their eyes scaling him up and down. He tried to ignore the sensation of being watched, but it wasn't easy to do. "How can someone so skinny looking have so many muscles?" Ranji and Gareki both commented. Yogi closed his eyes and his face turned bright red. THIS was why he and his father had agreed he needed to start dressing and bathing himself at the age of fifteen, rather than letting the servants do it any more.
"Now we're all making him uncomfortable," Shishi said with a chuckle.
Yogi attempted to shake it off. He closed his eyes and took a running jump into the water, splashing a small wave of it outside the small pool. He popped back to the surface and shook his head, splashing water in every direction. "Seriously?" Jiki chuckled. "For a twenty-one-year old prince, you certainly don't act your age."
"Pft, where's the fun in that?" Yogi replied, leaning against the edge. "I'll worry with rules and regulations when I get back home. Right now, I need the chance to enjoy myself a little."
Gareki smiled. He was happy to see Yogi in such a good mood again. Maybe the spring really does work? He looked over to the others. "I think Prince Yogi has more than proven the waters to be safe," he said. "Ranji, come give me a hand with my hair for a moment. It's not as easy to manage with my arm in a sling."
The shirt had been no problem, the hair however, he needed two hands for that. "How are we fixing it, Captain? Top knot?" Ranji asked, pulling some hair ties out of a skirt pocket.
"That'll work just fine," Gareki answered.
"No problem," the cross dresser replied. He slid two hair ties around his wrists and tossed one to Yotaka. There was no need to toss one to Jiki and Shishi as their hair was already very short, and since Yogi's hair was already soaked and hugging the frame of his face, there wasn't much point in offering one to him, either. Ranji swept Gareki's hair up into a samurai-style top knot and tied it off tight. "There we go, Captain, all ready," he giggled, giving Gareki a gentle push toward the hot spring. He then used the head band in his hair to sweep his long black locks into an easily manageable ponytail, which he used the extra hair tie to secure into place.
Yogi's eyes widened a little as Ranji began to strip. "Well, what do you know, Ranji really is a guy after all," the prince thought, blushing slightly.
"Hey, you'd better not be looking at Shishi's claim," Gareki teased, quietly, sliding up next to him at the far edge of the spring.
"I'm just amazed someone so girlishly pretty really is a guy," Yogi admitted, "Why? Is Shishi the jealous type?"
"Not particularly," Gareki answered.
Yogi smirked, "Well, then what? Are you?" Yogi quickly changed the subject before either of them could start another argument. "What's the story between those two anyway?"
"They're both orphans," Gareki answered, sliding into a sitting position and leaning the back of his head against the edge of the spring. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the warm water against his bare flesh. It had a soothing property that he could almost instantly feel working. He opened his eyes, knowing good and well that answer wasn't sufficient enough. "They both knew their parents until they were five years old. Both born in Kafka, they were already peasants. Ranji's so much that they dressed him as a girl, in his mother's old clothes from when she was a kid, and sent him out to beg in the streets. Shishi's family was a little better off than that, but still had to struggle. When they were both five, a Varuga tore through the town, the two kids found themselves huddled in a derelict building together while their parents were attacked and eaten. Shishi, being the kid he was, actually thought Ranji was a girl. He promised Ranji he'd never let 'her' be alone, that the two of them could take care of each other. They avoided orphanages and begged and stole for food for years after that. When you're with someone in those conditions for so long, you tend start caring for them. Of course, they both had relationships with other people, and Ranji never gave Shishi a reason to suspect 'she' wasn't what he thought. Finally, ten years later, Shishi decided he wanted to share his bed with 'her'. Of course, he was mortified to learn the 'woman of his dreams' was actually a man, and they bickered over why Ranji didn't tell him sooner. When Ranji answered it was because he was afraid Shishi would leave if he knew… Well, as you can see, Ran never had to worry about that. Neither is extremely jealous when it comes to the other fooling around, they get a little twinge of it here and there, but they both know they'll always have each other. However, they are both VERY protective of one another. Ranji bosses Shishi around and slaps him about every now and then to keep him in line, should he need it, but woe to anyone else who touches him."
Yogi watched Shishi and Ranji as they began to playfully splash one another with the water from the spring. Seeing them act so carefree and happy, one never would have guessed they had such a past.
"So, what's your deal?" Gareki asked, snapping Yogi out of his thoughts.
"Huh?" Yogi blinked and looked at Gareki.
"You've been in a bad mood ever since you stormed out of the cabin this morning," Gareki observed. "What's got you so pissy?"
"I told you to drop it," Yogi sighed, looking away. "I wouldn't discuss it on the shore when it was just the two of us, what makes you think I want talk about it in front of everyone else?"
Gareki nodded, "Alright, when everyone else goes back down tonight, then?"
"No promises," Yogi answered.
Gareki fell silent for a moment, watching Yogi's quiet movements, each one a subtle hint; a bite or lick of the lower lip, a passing, yet quickly adverted glance. The prince was horrible at hiding his emotions. Gareki already knew he was the cause of whatever was weighing on the gorgeous blonde, but since he didn't know exactly what it was, he didn't know how to fix it. He gave a quiet sigh, then reached over and splashed Yogi. "You're no fun like this, you know," Gareki chided.
Yogi shook his head, slinging the water off his face and hair, having been taken off guard. He coughed out a breath of air, then turned to face Gareki. Clearly the young captain was already feeling much better, as his injured left arm was the only arm he could have used to land such a perfect splash of water in the prince's face at the angle they were sitting. He smiled and splashed Gareki back. "It looks like someone's already feeling better?" Yogi chuckled.
The six of them spent the afternoon enjoying themselves in the warm waters of the spring. The warmth of the waters was calming and soothing, and though they all had a tendency to rough house a little, they felt greatly rejuvenated when they climbed out of the spring. Gareki and Yogi both tried not to be obvious as they watched one another climb out of the water. Yogi's fair skin was flawless, and seemed to shimmer as the water droplets ran down his back. Gareki inwardly cursed himself for thinking so overly poetic about it all. Meanwhile, Yogi was thinking the same things about Gareki.
"He's simply gorgeous!" they each thought to themselves about the other.
Yogi redressed fully, while Gareki did a sloppy job of slipping the white button up back on, not bothering to button it back closed. They saw their four companions off, assuring them they'd regroup with them in a day or two.
They found a spot that looked comfortable enough and settled down. Gareki figured out a way to build a small fire to keep them warm for the night. Yogi was looking forward to a night under the stars.
There was only one problem. They had no food source, unless they wanted to eat one of those weird turtle creatures in the other spring, or risk trying to catch one of the crabs they saw scuttling about with seaweed trying to build their nests. "Didn't think ahead that far, did you?" Gareki asked, "Meanwhile, they're probably all down there feeding on Tarunero and Landmarl."
"Ok, I admit it, I didn't think that far ahead," Yogi grumbled. "I can go and try to catch us a couple of those turtles from the other spring," he offered, his violet eyes darting back toward the cave.
"If you'd like," Gareki nodded, "I'd offer to help, or do it for you, but…"
Yogi shook his head. "No, really, it's fine," he said as he stood up. "You still need at least tonight to rest." Yogi held out his hand and one of his epees appeared in it. "I'm sure I'll be just fine," he said with a smile and a soft chuckle.
Gareki nodded, a soft smile sweeping across his own features. He'd be lying if he said he didn't love seeing Yogi's smile. He was beginning to think he understood what he'd done or said to upset the blonde.
Yogi had disappeared into the cave, gone for a good ten minutes. Suddenly, Gareki got the sensation that he wasn't alone. He began to glance around, expecting to find Sohrab spying from behind a rock. There was someone else, alright, but not the person he'd expected.
A beautiful, melodic feminine voice filled the air, first starting as a gentle hum. It was an old sea song, but sung by none other than Princess Aysu herself. The princess, walked out, allowing Gareki to see her, but acting as though she did not see him. The Mermaid Princess was already quite beautiful to behold while in the underwater palace, but her beauty was magnified by the light of the full moon as it beamed down on her wavy hair and ivory skin. The white silk gown she had wrapped around herself was see through and it and her hair both wavered in the wind as she sang.
One morning very early, In the pleasant month of May
As I walked out to take the air, All nature being gay;
The moon had not yet veiled her face, But through the trees did shine
As I wandered forth to take the air On the banks of Brandywine.
Her voice was almost haunting, clear and crystal, nearly fragile like a bell. Gareki tried not to listen, he knew all too well how dangerous a song from a Mermaid could be. But the princess's voice was captivating, and she seemed almost the figure of a dream or vision; an untouchable goddess, just as he'd always pictured Tsubaki. She was carrying a large piece of coral, tucked under one of her arms, it was almost shaped like a bowl.
At such an early hour
I was surprised to see
A lovely maid with downcast eyes
Upon those banks so gay
I modestly saluted her, She knew not my design
And requested her sweet company
On the banks of Brandywine.
"I pray, young man, be civil,
My company forsake
For in my real opinion
I think you are a rake,
My love's a valiant sailor,
He's now gone to the Main
While comfortless I wander
On the banks of Brandywine.
She turned and faced Gareki with a quiet smile, seeing he was by himself she nodded at him and slowly approached, continuing her song.
"My dear, why do you thus
Give up to melancholy cries?
I pray give up your weeping,
And dry those lovely eyes,
Her eyes locked with the young sailor's as she came closer, a smile gracing her face as she sang the words "lovely eyes".
For sailors in each port, my dear,
They do a mistress find
He will leave you to wander
On the banks of Brandywine."
"O leave me, sir, do leave me!
Why do you me torment?
My Henry's wont to see me,
Therefore I am content.
Why do you thus torment me,
And cruelly combine
To fill my heart with horror
On the banks of Brandywine?"
She knelt down in front of Gareki, her pearly eyes staying locked with his own two midnight pools. She sat the coral bowl on the ground, to reveal it full of meats, fish, and fruits brought from the Merfolk's own storage rooms.
"I wish not to afflict your mind,
But rather for to ease
Such dreadful apprehensions,
They soon your heart will seize.
Your love, my dear, in wedlock bands,
Another one has joined."
She swooned into my arms
On the banks of Brandywine.
Swooned was a good word for it. Without the Nai to counter the Mermaid's song, Gareki had become completely entranced. Princess Aysu knew that as long as she sang, she was in no danger of Gareki making any movement against her, and should Yogi return, he too would be caught in the spell. She leaned forward and gently pushed her lips to the young seafarer's. He gave no struggle against her. His eyes closed and he allowed the kiss. Somehow, the Mermaid Princess continued to hum her melody, without loosing a single instance of passion from their locked lips. She appeared the tender age twenty, but was closer to a hundred, allowing her plenty of time to become a skilled seductress. Slowly, she pulled from the kiss, guiding Gareki back to the ground. A hand gently raking over his already exposed chest. She continued her song, as her fingers gently explored his torso.
The lofty hills and craggy rocks
Reechoed back her strains;
The pleasant groves and rural shades
Were witness to her pains.
"How often has he promised me
In Hymen's chains to join!
Now I'm a maid forsaken
On the banks of Brandywine."
She stopped singing and began to hum once more. "Do I frighten you, youngling?" she giggled. Even her speech sounded as though she were singing. She continued to hum, knowing her song was all that held the raven haired captain spell bound. His head was clouded in a fog from its power, but even as he could not refuse her, she saw a sensation of disquietedness within his eyes, as though she did not yet have him fully entranced.
Gareki closed his eyes and took a slow breath of air. "No, my lady," he answered, "You do not frighten me in the least."
"Then why, when I have the rest of you under such control, do your eyes resist?" she asked, her humming continuing. She leaned down and placed another kiss upon his lips. She smiled and giggled as she pulled away, this time. "Ah, I see… It's not your eyes that are resisting, but your heart." She smiled softly at him, her own eyes full of understanding. "You've already pledged it to another, but they are unaware." She drew back and completed her song.
"O no, my dear, that ne'er shall be.
Behold your Henry now!
I clasp you to my bosom, love,
I've not forgot our vow.
It's now I know you're true, my dear,
She giggled as she sang this line, and playfully tapped Gareki's nose with her forefinger.
In Hymen's chains we'll join
And bless the happy morn we met
On the banks of Brandywine."
With that, the song was done, there was no more humming. Gareki closed his eyes, taking in the salt-sea air on the night time breeze. A sudden shriek from within the cave snapped him from the trance quicker than he should have been. He fell breathless for just a moment as the sound registered in his mind. "Yogi!" he gasped. He looked up at her wide eyed, but she made no move to stop him. Gareki scrambled to his feet and ran into the cave.
"Ah, I see," the princess giggled. She stood and brushed her hands over her knees. "Very interesting, I shall have to report this to my father." With that, she turned and left, once more humming the tune, though this time, there was no power behind it.
Gareki rushed into the cave where the two springs were, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Yogi, who had taken off his shirt and pants, possibly to prevent them from getting wet incase of an accident, had fallen into the spring with the turtles, and they were all over him. One had crawled onto his back and locked itself in place between his shoulders and around his arms, preventing movement. Two were wrapped tightly around his legs. Two others were going for lower, more sensitive areas. Gareki's face flushed bright at the scene before him. Their hold on the prince was so strong he could just barely keep his head above the waters. Yogi's eyes widened and he let out another shriek as he felt a tentacled flipper slip inside his underwear.
"Yogi!" Gareki exclaimed, reaching in and grabbing hold of the prince. He quickly pulled the blonde out of the water and made every endeavor to remove the creatures as quickly as possible, throwing them across the cave. Some splashed back into the water, others landed on their backs and got carried away by the crabs. Gareki felt Yogi's hands tug at his shirt. They were both out of breath. Gareki from the effort it took to pull Yogi from the water and from prying the creatures off of him, and Yogi from struggling to get away from them before they completely sucked him under as the ones that had hold of his legs had been slowly moving further and further toward the center of the pool, where it was deepest. "Now I see what King Nereus meant when he said they were of a curious nature," Gareki gasped, subconsciously wrapping his arms around the prince. "Yogi, are you alright?"
Yogi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He nodded. "I'm alright… I… I'll be fine, just give me a moment to catch my breath." He heaved a sigh and shook his head. "Oh, I'll never eat Merumerain Turtle Soup again," he lamented.
Gareki tried not to laugh. He slowly stood up and pulled Yogi to his feet along with him. "Come on, let's get you out by the fire so you can dry off." Holding Yogi's wrist with one hand and scooping up his clothes with the other, Gareki lead the prince out of the cave under the light of the fire, Gareki could see white spots on Yogi's back and arms where the creatures had a tight grip. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Yogi nodded. "I'll be alright. You pulled me out before they could…" He shook his head. "I don't even want to think what could have just happened."
They were both aware of two possibilities, either Yogi would have been fully violated by those things, or drug under the water and drowned like the Merfolk do adversaries they deem unworthy of mating with. In either case, it was understandable why Yogi wouldn't want to imagine the outcome.
Gareki knelt down and gently tussled a hand through soaked golden locks. "I would never let anything like that happen," he said.
Yogi smiled. "Thank you." Gareki nodded. Before another word could be said, Yogi's eyes landed on the coral bowl full of food. "Huh…? Where did that come from?"
Gareki followed Yogi's gaze and sighed when he saw what the prince was looking at. It served as a reminder that Yogi's plight had saved Gareki from a similar fate. "Princess Aysu brought it," he said, standing up and looking around. There was no sign of the Mermaid Princess. He couldn't hear her humming or singing either.
"Eh…!?" Yogi exclaimed, jumping to his feet and snatching up his pants. "The princess was up here!?" His face turned bright red and Gareki couldn't help but laugh.
"She was, but she left when we heard you scream," Gareki assured him. "Go ahead and put your pants back on at least, incase she comes back, and then we can eat, but right now, the only person you'd be hiding yourself from is me."
Author's End Note: Again, Author's notes at the end of a chapter aren't common for me, especially after a chapter ends on a note like this, but two things I felt worth mentioning. 1. I accidentally wrote Yogi as yogi at one point and expected my spell check to either flag it or correct it. It didn't do either, so I had to correct it myself, but not before looking up the meaning of "yogi". yo·gi (yogis) or yo-gin (yogins) [n - South Asia] 1-yoga practitioner: somebody who has mastered yoga 2-student of guru: a guru or other spiritual teacher of religion. And 2. This is the first, but NOT the last sea shanty you shall receive in this story, though I'm trying to avoid using any that mention real world countries.