"Man, why did you guys have to drag me along, I'm not even going on the fishing trip." Tristan grumbled as we walked inside the mall.
"Oh quit your whining we need you to help carry things." I replied.
"Well Tristan, if you hadn't opened up your big mouth, maybe you would have gotten out of going." Tèa replied.
"Relax would yah, soon it'll all be over." Joey said.
"Thank you Joey." I said, pretending to whine.
Joey draped his arm around my shoulder and smiled. I gently slid my arm around his waist. I glanced over at Tèa and Yugi. Yugi smiled shyly and slipped his hand into Tèa's hand. She blushed and smiled back. Was wondering when those two would start getting together. I thought out loud. They look so cute, just like us…We rounded the mall corner and saw the store we had been searching for. "Oh these suites look so cool!" I exclaimed, looking at the manikins, modeling the newest fashions. Tèa and I stared dreamy eyed at the racks of different bathing suites, wondering which ones we should try on first.
"This is where we take off and sneak over to the video arcade." Joey whispered.
"I'm with you man, we'll catch up with them later." Tristan replied.
"Guys, I really don't think we should…" Yugi started to say, before Joey and Tristan dragged him away from the store. Tèa and I didn't pay any attention to them, as we had started our search for the perfect bathing suit.
I tried on lots of different kinds of bathing suits until I found one that was just perfect. I smiled as I modeled it in front of the mirror. It was a sky blue string bikini with a cute looking chibi dolphin on the middle of each. It has stitching up the middle like on Mai's shirt. The bottom was shorts that have matching wave patterns. It gave the effect that the dolphins had jumped out of the water.
Tèa came out of the changing room wearing a cool bikini too. It was lilac with a yin yang on each side and instead of having shorts for a bottom like me; she had a sort of skirt/short thing going on. A skort, I remembered is what it was called.
"Wow, you look really great Tèa." I said.
"So do you." Tèa smiled. We went back to the changing room and changed back into our regular clothes. We looked around the store for other accessories. "We need beach towels." Tèa pointed out. We looked at the back wall of the store, where the towels were hung. I chose a killer whale under water in a kelp forest towel. Tèa chose a cute fairy towel with pretty fairies in a forest on it. "Wow, you really like the ocean don't you?" Tèa asked me, as I tried on some flippers and a mask with a snorkel.
"Oh I've loved the sea ever since I was born; I share a special bond with it and all its creatures." I replied.
"That's almost just like what Mako said to us." Tèa replied. "You two have a lot in common."
"Yeah, I guess we do. I can't wait to meet him." I said. The mask, snorkel and flippers were a perfect fit. So along with my towel and bathing suit, I brought them to the counter. I grimaced at the price for everything but paid it all. I only had a small amount of money left.
Everything was packaged and placed in bags. "Hmm, wonder where the guys went." Tèa commented.
"That's right! Where did they go?!" I said. "They were supposed to help us!" I answered angrily.
"Let's go find them, and if I know Joey, he's probably at the arcade." Tèa said. We angrily marched down to the video arcade.
Sure enough, there was Joey and Tristan, playing air hockey. Yugi watched from the sidelines.
"Hey guys, watcha doin?" I asked calmly but with an evil smile on my face.
"Oh hey, I'm just kicken Tristan's butt at air hockey." Joey answered.
"Your demented Joey, I'm the one who's winning." Tristan replied.
Then they both all of a sudden realized that we had caught them. "It was his idea!" Joey and Tristan both shouted, pointing at each other.
Tèa and I grinned evilly, shoved the bags into their arms and grabbed the two of them by the ear and dragged them out.
"So you guys thought you could get away with sneaking off!" I exclaimed.
"These guys would do anything to get out of shopping!" Tèa cried.
"Come on just one more game!" Joey groaned.
"Owe, Tèa come on that hurts!" Tristan cried out.
Yugi sighed and muttered something about telling them so. Tèa and I reluctantly released Joey and Tristan. They sighed, and rubbed their ears as they carried our bags. "I'm sorry about that girls, I know we were supposed to help you out." Yugi apologized.
I didn't answer. I was too busy staring into the window of the kimono shop we had just passed. I didn't notice that everyone else had gone on ahead without me. I had kept my eyes glued to the one special kimono that was in the window. It was dark blue with cherry blossom flowers decorating it. It was made of satin and had elegant looking black dolphins on the sleeves. It was so perfect. But so expensive. I sighed. It would be another week before I would get the rest of the money to pay for it.
"Yo! Earth ta Jade, earth ta Jade!" Joey said, waving his hand in front of my face. I didn't even blink.
"That blue kimono is so beautiful." I sighed and smiled.
Joey stared at it too, and then looked at me. "Bet you would look really gorgeous in that." Joey smirked. I blushed and we continued walking through the mall. I took Joey's hand in mine as we headed out to the parking lot.
"Thanks for helping us carry the bags guys!" Tèa and I said and smiled innocently.
"No problem." Joey and Tristan sighed, sweat dropping. Yugi laughed and put his hand behind his head.
I dropped off Tristan, Joey, and Tèa before heading home to the Moto apartment. I put my bags away and started to cook dinner. Meat pie with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. After I put the pie in the oven, I got to thinking. "Hey Yugi, think I should make a pie for tomorrow's dessert?" I asked him. "Blueberry pie is wicked good."
"That would be a nice dessert to have." Yugi said and smiled. "We are probably going to eat what we catch so it's a nice back up plan too."
I laughed. "Always come prepared." I commented and starting making the other pie. It baked in the oven as we ate the dinner. I couldn't wait for tomorrow to come. As I lay in the darkness, the hammock rocked back in forth. "Mako, he's so cool." I said out loud. The episode where he had dueled Yugi was one of my favorites. I laughed when I remembered Joey and Tristan yelling feeding frenzy! I sighed and was glad that Mako had found his father and was happy. I yawned, and promptly fell asleep.
I awoke to the sound of light tapping on the door. "Time to get up Jade!" Yugi called from the other side of the door. I groaned, and took my pillow and placed it tightly over my head, attempting to drown out the sound. Man, did I need more sleep. I could hear the door creak as Yugi crept inside. He
approached the hammock and gently shook me. In one fast movement, I grabbed Yugi and pulled him onto the hammock beside me. He looked shaken and startled as he looked at me.
"Is my breakfast ready yet Yugi?" I teased. Yugi smiled and laughed. I gently hit him with the pillow, got up, yawned and stretched out. "Ok, I'm up, I'm up." I said. "Be down in a minute." I said as Yugi was going out the door. After he had closed it, I promptly fell back into the hammock.
"Jaaaade…" Yugi called, throwing a pillow at me. I smiled and rolled my eyes. Yugi left to go get ready himself, while I changed into my bathing, got a bag for my gear and my towel, and carefully packed the blueberry pie. I then began cooking the pancakes for the hurried breakfast we were having. Joey and Tèa came inside and had towels wrapped around their necks. I looked at Joey and sighed. He does have nice muscles. I thought to myself. He was wearing a green bathing suit with black dragons all over it.
"I really like your bathing suit Joey." I said and blushed. I saw that Joey was blushing, grinning widely and staring at me.
"I like yours too, oh yeah!" He answered. I snapped a finger in front of his face.
"Uh, my eyes are up here Joey." I pointed out. Joey snapped out of it and grinned embarrassingly. I hurried to finish the dishes. Joey just kept snickering and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh brother." Tèa sighed.
"Ready to go?" Yugi asked and smiled. He was wearing a dark blue bathing suit.
I wondered how his hair would hold up after being wet. I then wondered how he got his hair to stay up like that at all. "Hey Yugi, how do you get your hair to stay up like that?" I asked out loud as we were walking out the door.
"Well, my Millenium puzzle contains mystical powers that help it stay up." Yugi answered.
I tilted my head to the side and stared at him. "Extra strength hair gel huh?" I said.
"Yeah, and lots of it." Yugi answered, blushing and rubbing the back of his neck. Everyone laughed as we got into the limo and drove toward the dock.
"Hey, that's a cool necklace Jade, I didn't notice it before." Tèa said. "Where did you get it?"
Shoot, I forgot about the Millennium key. "Uh, got it as a gift." I answered. "Oh look, here we are here." I said, thankful that we were finally there, and that the subject would get changed. We got our stuff out and began walking on the dock. We looked at lots of boats, of every shape and size, searching for "The Hammerhead."
I was getting more nervous by the step, hoping that Mako and I would get along. I thought he was the coolest minor character on the show and wanted so much for him to like me. Finally, we came upon it. The ship was medium but still really big, had a cool looking hammerhead shark painted on the side near the name. It had a huge motor with tall masts and fishing nets and poles littered the boat all over. There was a large zodiac on the boat, I suppose it acted as a lifeboat.
And there he was, Mako, sitting down, mending his fishing nets. His harpoon was laid against the side. I loved his blue spiky hair that made me think of King Triton or Neptune or some other ocean deity. and he was even wearing a cool white and blue wave pattern bandana. I personally loved it when guys wore bandanas. He was wearing his cool ragged jean shorts and had no shirt on. I gazed at his buffed muscled body and blushed. I reminded myself that I'm with Joey as we walked nearer toward the boat.
"Well well well my friends, it has been quite a while since we have last met!" Mako exclaimed as he put a bridging ladder between the boat and the dock so we could board.
"Yo Mako, how's it goin?" Joey asked and waved.
"It sure has Mako, how are you?" Yugi smiled, walking aboard.
"I am very happy Yugi, the sea is sparkling and wonderful this fine day. A perfect day for fishing hahaha!" Mako answered, laughing heartily.
"Hey Mako, how's the fishing been?" Tèa asked, stepping aboard too. Joey and I stepped aboard and that's when I realized just how tall Mako is. He was a head taller than Joey and about a head and a half taller than I.
"The fish are plentiful Tèa and many good catches have been made hahaha!" Mako answered. Then he looked at Joey and noticed me for the first time. "I see you've brought one of the bottom feeders with you Yugi, but where is the other one and who might this lovely mermaid be?"
I blushed as Joey answered him. "Listen up freaky fish guy, this little mermaid, is my new girl Jade."
"I told you before not to call me a freaky fish guy!" Mako cried, getting face to face with Joey.
"Uh, Tristan couldn't come; he said his aunt was visiting him." Tèa said nervously watching the two.
I got in between them and smiled, trying to make peace. "I'm Jade; it's really nice to meet you Mako. I've always wanted to meet some one with the same love for the ocean that I have." I told him.
Mako and Joey stopped glaring at each other and turned to me. "Yes the ocean is a mighty force that commands respect. It is nice to find someone who appreciates its many gifts and wonders. It is an honor to meet you Jade." Mako said, taking my small hand into his larger tough callused hand and shaking it. I looked into his fathomless green eyes and he looked into my brown ones. I instantly felt a connection between us. Then, I snapped out of it when I saw that Joey was growing red and frowning. Tèa and Yugi sneaked below deck, to put our stuff away, looking like they were trying to avoid a war or something.
"Looks like you have some competition Joey." I heard Tèa mutter before disappearing below deck.
"Uh, you have a really nice boat Mako; ever see any dolphins when you're fishing?" I asked, frantically trying to change the subject.
Mako went back to finishing fixing his nets. "Dolphins are a fisherman's best friend. The dolphins and I often work together in harmony catching fish and sharing the spoils." Mako answered, smiling. "We may see some today." I grinned widely and clapped my hands. Mako seemed amused and looked at my bathing suit. "You seem to love dolphins very much." He commented.
"Yeah, they are my favorite; I was even called the Dolphin Queen in high school because I can draw dolphins very good." I answered as Mako began pulling up the anchor and starting the engine.
"Hahaha I'll have to test your skill when we stop."
Mako said and winked.
I saw that Joey had sat down at the back of the boat, folded his arms across
his chest and grew redder by the second. Fine, I thought. If he
wants to be a baby over nothing, then fine with me.
I smirked and answered. "Believe me Mako, I won't disappoint you."
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew that we will get along just fine!" Mako said. He walked up to the steering wheel and eased the boat out of the harbor. I walked over and stood beside him as Tèa and Yugi came back on deck. I smiled and breathed in the fragrant ocean air, feeling the wind whip past my face. We passed other boats heading out to see and they waved and honked their horns, knowing Mako and saying hello.
"Wow Mako, you sure know a lot of other sailors." Yugi commented.
"Well my friend, when you're an experienced fisherman like me, you tend to know a lot of other boats and fishermen." Mako smiled.
"Must be exciting, living on the ocean, seeing dolphins every day, watching the beautiful sunsets." I said dreamily.
"The sea is the grandest of all masters on earth." Mako answered. Then, I saw his gaze soften. "But it can be lonely at times in its vastness." His statement made me wonder if he felt lonely, fishing by himself day after day, taking care of his sick father. I remembered in the episode he appeared that he used to love going out on the boat with his father, I could see how he would miss that. "Forgive me my friends, I did not mean to be so serious." Mako laughed.
"It's ok Mako, don't apologize." Tèa said.
I looked over at Joey and was alarmed to see that he was green in the face and was hanging halfway over the deck, puking. "Looks like that bottom feeding eel couldn't stomach his breakfast." Mako commented.
I ran over to Joey and began rubbing his back tenderly. "It's ok Joey, its ok." I kept whispering over and over to him.
"I don't understand it Yugi, he wasn't seasick when we were on the boat to the duelist kingdom." Tèa pointed out.
"That was a much larger boat Tèa, on this one you can feel all the bumps and waves and things, on the other one, it was almost completely calm." Yugi answered.
"Yes, the sea can be a place of violent waves and punishing storms, but can be cool, light and calm." Mako agreed.
I sat down and gently laid Joey's head on my lap. I rubbed his back over and over again, comforting him as best as I could. I love the ocean and no such sea sickness affected me. Tèa and Yugi began to look almost as quesy as Joey was. Mako seemed amused; I decided to try to help. "Just don't think about it, sometimes, sea sickness is all in your head. If you think about pleasant nice things, than the waves won't seem so bad." I told them.
"How soon till we stop Mako?" Tèa asked.
"A way more out to sea, your in for a treat today, I'm taking you to the best fishing spot I know." Mako answered. "We should catch many fish there and have plenty to spare."
Joey groaned and covered his mouth. "Guess I shouldna had that breakfast burrito before comin here huh." He murmured. Joey got up the strength to at least sit up. He put a hand to his stomach and leaned against my chest. I gently caressed his head and ran my fingers through his hair. He sighed and smiled weakly, it was apparently helping.
"What a sense of compassion." I heard Mako mutter to himself. I blushed, guess he had the same blush effect Joey had on me.
Then I raised an eyebrow, thinking of some mischief. "Hey Joey, want to not be sick anymore? Just get your mind off of it." I said.
Joey looked at me and said, "Oh yeah, how am I supposed ta do that?"
I grinned mischievously and took out my blue feather pen.
Joey's eyes widened with surprise as he scrambled to his feet. His sea sickness forgotten. "Oh no, not that!" He grinned and began running away. "Anything but that torture!"
"Come on Joey what's the matter?" I asked innocently running after him, brandishing the feather like a weapon. Everyone laughed as I chased Joey around the boat until he tripped over a piece of rope and fell on his face.
He sat up and looked at me fearfully, but with a smile on his face. I looked from Joey to the feather, shrugged and put it back in my pocket. Joey breathed a sigh of relief. Then I grinned evilly, sat down beside him and began mercilessly poking him on the sides.
"Alrihihihihhihihhight! I heeheheheh feel betta ok!" Joey protested, laughing and squirming like crazy. "Cmon heheeheh pleeheehehehese!!?" I took out my feather pen again and gently brushed it under his chin teasingly.
"I'm glad you do." I told him. And put the feather away.
"Thanks." He said and smiled.
Yugi and Tèa smiled to each other.
I saw Mako was laughing. I walked up to him and smiled. "Would you like to take the wheel?" He asked me. Yugi, Tèa and Joey gathered around the steering wheel too.
I was taken aback. "Me? Steer the boat?" I asked. Mako nodded. "Well, ok." I agreed. Mako stood aside and I put my hands on the steering wheel. I grinned nervously, having never before steered a boat like that.
"Hey Mako, how's about letting me try steerin?" Joey asked. He mimed steering the boat and pulling on the horn. "That would be so cool!"
"I wouldn't Mako, with his luck, he'd probably hit the first rock he'd see." Tèa commented.
"I would not!" Joey protested, sulking.
Mako ignored them all. "Relax your grip, be at one with the boat, trust it." Mako told me. "Here." He said. Mako placed his hands on top of mine and I instantly loosened my grip and relaxed. I smiled at Mako who smiled right back at me. "You're a natural." He said to me. I blushed, seemed to be doing a lot of that today.
"So how bout it Mako?" Joey shouted. "Yah gonna let me have a turn?"
"Do you have water in your head? You'd probably crash into the first rock you'd see!" Mako exclaimed.
"Awe come on, how hard could it be?" Joey scoffed. He bumped me out of the way and began wildly turning the wheel back and forth. The ship rocked violently throwing us all to one side.
"Grrrrr, hold the wheel steady!" Mako grunted.
"Whoa how cool is this?!" Joey exclaimed, completely oblivious as to what was going on.
"Joey stop turning the wheel!" Tèa cried.
"Hold the wheel straight Joey!" Yugi yelled.
Mako crawled over and took the wheel back. Instantly we all sighed in relief as the boat stopped the violent rocking.
"Uh, sorry." Joey blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Smooth move Joey." Yugi commented.
I grinned; Joey always had a knack for causing chaos. Soon the air of normalcy was back. I wanted to break the silence that had settled itself in so I began singing the theme to "Spirit Stallion of the Cimmeron."
"Here I am, this is me
There's no where else on earth I'd rather be
Here I am- Just me and you
And tonight we make our dreams come true
It's a new world, it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day, it's a new plan
I've been waiting for you
Here I am."
How Ironic. I thought to myself. A new world and a new start.
"I have that soundtrack, it was a wonderful movie." Mako commented. He put the cd into player he had and the song began playing. I felt the rush of emotion as the song was playing, "I've been waiting for you, here I am." Sounded just like me with Joey. "Your voice is like the wonderful siren singing of the mermaids." Mako told me.
"Oh yeah, well I think ya sing just like…. Ah what's that bird's name? A nice singen crow!" Joey exclaimed, smirking as if proud of himself. I tilted my head sideways and looked at him. Crows, as cool as they are, don't sing, they caw.
"I think you mean nightingale genius!" Tèa muttered.
Joey smacked his forehead. "That's right Tèa, I mean nightenquail!" Joey laughed.
We all face faulted. Then, Mako stopped the boat. We were in some sort of cove near an island. "This is where the mighty sea will give us her bounty of fish!" Mako exclaimed.
"Yeah were finally here!" Joey and I shouted. Yugi and Tèa began cheering too.
"Be quiet or you'll scare away the fish!" Mako yelled, glaring at us.
"Sorry, we're sorry." We all answered in hushed whispers.
"Don't be sorry just get out the poles my friends." Mako answered. Everyone chose a fishing pole, baited the hook with a piece of hotdog and casted out. I, instead, got out a piece of paper and began drawing that dolphin I promised Mako.
"We will catch plenty my friends and have a good fish dinner!" Mako said and laughed. He reeled in his line and held up a rather large fish!
"Wow Mako, that's wicked awesome!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah, what a really big fish!" Yugi agreed.
"Big deal, I could catch a bigga one!" Joey scoffed. He glared at his pole and began wildly casting it and reeling it in as fast as he could!
"Joey slow down your gonna hook someone!" Tèa cried out.
"Back off I know what I'm doin." Joey replied. Then his pole bent downward. "I got one!" He cried out and began reeling it in like crazy. "Man, this one's tough its gotta be a sea monsta or sometin!" Joey cried, grinning widely. Joey was then promptly pulled into the water.
I quickly got on my flippers and mask and dived in after him.
Joey came sputtering up and sulking. He was holding an extremely old rotting boot at the end of his line, the reward for all his wasted effort.
"Stupid boot." Joey muttered. Yugi reeled the boot the rest of the way in.
"I take litter out of the mighty sea whenever I see it." Mako told us. "If I ever catch the scum who do that to the wonderful ocean I would make them pay dearly for their crimes."
I nodded, brushing a piece of seaweed out of my hair. "I would too Mako, I love the sea too much to idly stand by while people destroy it." I answered.
Mako's eyes shined as he smiled at me. I blushed again, darn my blushing. I'm with Joey, I'm with Joey, I'm with Joey! I mentally reminded myself.
I saw that Joey was still pouting and swam over to him and gave him hug from behind. "It's ok Joey, you'll catch a big fish." I said. "Don't make me cheer you up." I teased and began poking up and down his ribs.
"Alright that's it! I'm gonna getcha now!" Joey laughed and began swimming after me. I smiled and glided through the water just inches out of his grasp. The flippers propelled me through the water effortlessly. "No fair, you got those swamp monsta things they makes yah faster!" Joey exclaimed.
I raised one of my flippers in the air and adjusted my mask so that it rested on my head instead of over my eyes. "Their called flippers or fins Joey." I pointed out. I saw that he was tired and gave him my hand. I towed Joey back to the boat.
"Are you two done scaring all the fish away?" Tèa muttered as we both climbed back on board.
"Sorry, guess I got carried away." I said, taking off my flippers and mask.
"Hey I've got one!" Yugi cried. His pole was bent in half and he was pulling and reeling it in hard. "Uh… a little help guys, this fish is really strong!" Yugi cried. Tèa grabbed him around the waist and pulled with all her might.
"Sheesh Yugi what did you catch an alligator?" She muttered.
My eyes widened as I actually saw what Yugi had on his line. "Not an alligator, but another age old predator." I muttered. Yugi had a three foot long white tip reef shark on his line!
Yugi and Tèa gasped in horror, while Mako sprang into action. He dived into the water, took the struggling shark in his arms and as gently as he could, removed the hook from its jaws. The shark swam off, a little disoriented, but otherwise fine.
"That was a fine catch my friend." Mako smiled. "I am pleased to see that more was caught than just an old boot."
Joey stared at him dumbstruck. "Whad yah do that for Mako we could've eaten that!" Joey exclaimed.
Mako ignored him because right then I walked over. "Are you alright Mako? A shark's skin is like sandpaper, I hope you didn't get hurt." I said, looking him over and checking for any cuts he had.
Mako laughed. "I've had to free many a shark that has accidentally been caught in my nets." Mako explained. "As a result, my skin's been toughened up just like the sharks armored body is hahaha!" He flexed his muscles showing me that indeed not a scratch was on him. I smiled and sighed in relief.
"Oh yeah, well just check out these bad boys!" Joey smirked and began flexing his muscles. I sweatdropped as Joey and Mako began flexing right in front of Tèa, Yugi and I. Even though Joey did have pretty nice muscles, he could not compare with Mako, who probably worked hard every day to fish.
"Oh brother." Tèa muttered. "What is this, a macho male contest?"
"You think they'll start arm wrestling next?" I wondered.
Joey and Mako stopped glaring at each other and turned to me. "Great idea!" They shouted, sat down and began arm wrestling.
I slapped my hand over my head as Yugi and Tèa both covered my mouth. Great, just give them ideas. no fair I want do overs!" and the "I won you spineless jelly fish and you know it!" I excitedly began reeling in my line. "I've got one!" I smiled, distracting Joey and Mako from their arm wrestling.
"Alright! Reel it in Jade and we'll be havin fish for lunch!" Joey exclaimed standing to my left.
Mako stood to my right and placed his hand on my shoulder, nodding and encouraging me to pull. I caught a huge fish and added it to the cooler where Mako had put the fish he caught earlier. After that, everyone seemed to catch fish after fish, until we had enough to make a nice fish lunch. Mako started up the stove and soon we were all feasting on the fish we had caught.
"Now we can eat our fill!" Mako exclaimed.
"Feeding frenzy!" Joey cried and began shoveling fish into his mouth as fast as he possibly could. All of a sudden his face turned blue and he began coughing and choking. Mako slapped him across the back and Joey spit out the bit of fish that had been caught.
"Thanks buddy, man that was close." Joey smiled.
"Your welcome." Mako smiled.
Wow, food can make all rivalry stand aside for a moment. I thought to myself.
"Joey can never control himself when it comes to food." Tèa muttered.
"This is really good Mako, you've outdone yourself." Yugi commented.
"Hahaha thank you my friend!" Mako exclaimed.
Anyone ready for dessert?" I asked and got out the pie I had baked the day before.
"This is delicious, I salute you my friend, you are an excellent cook!" Mako said with his mouth full of blueberries.
"You should come over some time for dinner at our house; she cooks a lot more than just pies." Yugi smiled.
"Maybe I will." Mako agreed. He smiled as he saw the picture of the dolphin I had drawn earlier. "You are a true artist of the seven seas." He complimented me. I blushed yet again.
Joey burped. I could tell he liked it too. After lunch was cleared up, Mako steered the boat out of the cove and onward we went.
"Where are we going now Mako?" Tèa asked.
"To deeper water my friends, where the big fish are." Mako answered. "I will fill my nets and sell the fish at the markets tomorrow upon our return.
I leaned over the side of the boat and felt the spray gently hit my face. I then heard many whoosh noises. Dolphins were surfing on the wake the bow of the boat was making. Bow riding! I yelled in delight for everyone to come see. They were at least 15 bottlenose dolphins in the pod and I could even see a calf and its mother!
"This is so awesome, finally dolphins!" I cried out loud for joy.
"They are so cute!" Tèa smiled.
"And graceful, look how they just fly through the water like that." Yugi sighed.
Joey folded his arms across his chest. "Big deal over some stupid big fish." Joey muttered.
Big mistake, never say that in front of me. I thought to myself. "Big mistake Joey, never say that in front of me!" I exclaimed. "Dolphins are mammals and they are intelligent!" Joey face faulted as a dolphin smacked its tail against the water, drenching him all over.
"Guess I should think before I speak." Joey muttered.
"That would be really cool Joey." Tèa answered.
The dolphins swam out ahead of the boat some ways and began jumping up. Mako grinned and let down his nets all around them.
"What are you doing Mako? Your not going to try to net them are you?" I asked in a paniced voice. I remember seeing so many pictures in books of dolphins caught in nets and drowned.
"I am doing no such thing." Mako answered. "The dolphins and I are old friends; they herd the fish into my nets, eat their fill, then jump out themselves. We work together." Mako explained to me. I sighed with relief and watched as the dolphins fed and jumped safely over the net. Then, I was horrified when I saw that the baby dolphin I had seen earlier get caught in the net! I rushed to get my mask and flippers. The dolphin was young and must not have learned enough yet to jump over the net.
"Mako there's a dolphin caught in the net!" Tèa shouted.
"Weve got to get it out or it'll drown!" Yugi cried. Mako got out a knife, and prepared to dive into the water. I was already in the water, swimming as fast as I could to the panic stricken dolphin. I could hear its mother whistling and clicking in despair as she desperately tried to free her baby. I approached the trapped dolphin and noted it was a female. I looked around and saw that the whole pod was spy hoping, watching me. She wasn't as badly tangled as I had first feared. I calmly stroked her soft rubbery back, calming her with gentle words and singing. I held her up to breath, with some help from the mother who eyed me, with pleading eyes, as if begging me to help. I told the little dolphin that I was there to help and to calm down and try not to struggle. The little dolphin calmed down almost immediately and relaxed as I untangled her from the net. I was amazed at how she didn't struggle at all and how she had understood me. I reminded myself that this was anime and that the animals often listened and understood what was going on.
"There you go, your free now." I told the little dolphin, unraveling the last of the net from around her fluke. She squeaked with joy and jumped beside her mother. I sighed with relief and began to swim back when the mother and baby dolphin swam up to me. I timidly reached out my hand and the dolphins let me pet them gently. The baby nuzzled me in the cheek and squeaked. The mother turned slightly so that her dorsal fin was right in front of me. I held onto it and she quickly towed me back to the boat. It was a thrilling experience, like riding on a torpedo. Her baby swam beside us, keeping pace.
Then, when I was safely to the boat, the pod disappeared as mysteriously as it had come. "Way ta go Jade!" I heard Joey shout.
"Yeah, you saved the dolphin!" Tèa exclaimed.
"You were very brave." Yugi commented.
Mako pulled me up into the boat and looked deeply into my eyes. "You truly are the dolphin queen." He said softly, still holding my hands in his. "I usually cut dolphins and sharks out of my nets, yet you did it with your bare hands." I smiled and nodded.
Our gaze was broken as Joey slipped my towel around me. "Great job Jade, I'm proud of yah!" He grinned and hugged me from behind and spun me around. I rolled my eyes and giggled. We all then proceeded to help Mako draw in his nets and load the fish into the freezers he kept.
"A mighty fine catch hahaha!" Mako commented and laughed. By then it was dark outside and everyone decided to go below deck. I sighed and stayed outside, gazing at the stars above the calm sea. Mako came from below deck with a box in his hand. He sat down beside me and we sat in silence, just enjoying the calm ocean and the star filled sky above.
"Something up Mako?" I asked him.
Even in the twilight, I could tell he was blushing. "I have something here for you." He stammered. I looked over at the box he held in his hands.
"What is it Mako?" I asked him. He handed the box to me.
"It is something only royalty, such as a queen should own." Mako told me. "Like you, dolphin queen."
"Awe, that's so sweet." I said, opening the box. I gasped at what was inside. It was a silver tiara, with sapphires and diamonds set on it. "Oh Mako it's beautiful but I can't accept this." I said, admiring the beautiful tiara.
"Please take it, I want you to have it." Mako insisted. I recovered it from a wreck I was exploring."
"If you have treasure like that, why do you still fish? I mean couldn't you sell it and make big money?" I asked him.
Mako shook his head. "The ocean is the life for me, I couldn't ask for anything more. I think it is for you too." He showed me a special camera that could be used above water and below. I saw some of the footage he had taken. To put it bluntly, it stank. The camera was shaky and the footage didn't seem too great. "I'm not too good with the camera, I just can't seem to hold it right and I was wondering if you would try your hand at it tomorrow." Mako asked me. "It's too dangerous tonight; sharks tend to stalk these waters. The sea hides powerful and dangerous creatures."
"Sure, maybe if we are lucky, the dolphins will come back and I can film them."
Mako laughed. "They seemed to have formed a special bond with you." He said. I'm not sure if he muttered, "And so have I." but I thought he did. "I'm sure you'd be wonderful at it. He added.
"Thank you." I said. He smiled and placed the tiara on my head, as if crowning me.
"Please, I insist that you keep it." Mako said to me. "If anything, keep it to remember me by."
"Alright." I answered. "I will." I got up and was about to go below to go to bed when Mako called back to me.
"I meant what I said to you before, about the ocean being the life for you. Would it not please you to live sailing the seven seas, seeing dolphins every day, swimming with them, fishing, traveling the oceans?"
I sighed sadly and nodded. "Yes Mako, that would make me happier than anything." I told him.
"Then why do you not fulfill your dream. Why not sail with me on the mighty ocean you love so much." He inquired, looking at me with pleading eyes.
I sighed and looked away from him. "Because there is something else that ties me to the land that I love so much." I told him. He looked like he was about to say something else, so I quickly said what I was going to say, "I'm going to bed now Mako, Joey's probably wondering where I am." And with that, I went below deck. I had a lot of thinking to do