61

Accuracy

Captain Oga chewed on his bottom lip. The map said they were sailing in the right direction, but they hadn't seen land for a good three weeks. His crew may have been loyal, and not as bright as the stars overhead, but it was still a matter of time before they mutiny. Oga checked the maps again, trying to forget that he was on his last candlestick, and should have been making it last. Food rations were dwindling too.

The map seemed straightforward enough. The map maker was well-renowned and trusted. Did Oga get lost? He was a natural to water, like a fish. No, it had to be here.

Leaving his cabin, the worried captain relieved the nightman from his post. "But, sir," the young man started, eyes glistening with admiration, "you need your rest. We're about to make land."

"Yes. Good lad, you've earned your shut eye. Now, go on with you."

"Aye, cap'n!"

The young man scurried back under the ship to find his fraying hammock, happy to sleep a few more hours.

Oga let out a sigh, at least they wouldn't mutiny for a few days more. Well, Oga squared his shoulders, if he was going down a good captain, then he may as well figure out how to set the ship on its correct course, so the crew can float home in the right direction. Oga gazed up at the stars, true north should've been...

"It's an irritating way to be summoned. A loud, lumbering ship creaking over head, in the wrong direction of land, of course, only to find Captain Idiot at the helm."

"Furuichi! Boy, am I glad to see you again. I knew that stupid map was wrong!"

The silver siren hoisted himself up to the deck with ease, contrary to popular belief, sirens had impeccable upper body strength. "Correction, you didn't know it was wrong, or just realized it was by looking at the stars."

Captain Oga merely laughed, setting the ship back on course. It may not be the fated treasure island they set out to find, but it would be a good place to replenish supplies. If the crew wanted to set out to sea with the Captain again, then he'd better find an accurate map. Oga swore that when he made it back to Boca he was going to throttle that map maker.

"Were you singing earlier?"
Furuichi looked sharply at the raven headed captain with a deep scowl. "Perish the thought. I'm not the imbecile!"

"You must have been."

"Now, why do you think that?"

Furuichi had curled his scaly body to anchor around one of the ship's posts. The moonlight highlighted the beautiful grey colored scales and the scowl across the siren's features. Oga savored the image because he knew where this conversation would lead, where it always led. "Because I always seem to find my way back to you."

Furuichi's face burned, and he sputtered. "Why must you always say things like that?" The siren hissed and spat like a feral before diving back into the dark waters of the sea. The captain's heart panged in his chest, but he'd never regret saying those words. Never stopped hoping that one day they could be together, that maybe Posidon or whatever god would sympathize with the hopeless love between man and siren.

Furuichi gave a good slap at the side of the ship with his powerful tail. Swimming back down into the comfortable depths of the waters, the siren was glad that tears tasted as salty as the sea. The siren pressed a hand to his lips. When they were young and foolish, Furuichi allowed Oga to kiss him. Little did Furuichi know his own curse. The small black spot sitting on his left hip was a constant reminder of the sin he committed against the human he loved so much.