Disclaimer: See chapters one through ten.
Thanks to. . .
Otaku Pitcher: The last chapter was different? Hmm. . .I suppose it was a little bit different from my normal writing style. I don't know if I really have a writing style. Thanks for noticing. Tasuki wins occasionally. Well. . .never recently but it will happen someday. Maybe. Well. . .probably.
mini: You reread them when I send them to you, right? I guess that's good enough. Guinea pig. And I'll update my other stories when I get to it. You know I've been working on Destiny but it just hasn't been working for me. I type fast enough too. :P
Author's Note: Sorry this took a little longer to get up than normal. I had a busy weekend. I wanted to warn you in advance. While this is a rather long chapter, it's kind of lacks a little in the importance to plot category. It's still important but it's just a fun little chapter. I promise that it will be at least somewhat humorous! Just look at the title. . .it has to be somewhat amusing with a title like that, right? I'll shut up now.
'. . .' = Yume's thoughts
Chapter 13: I Hate Boats!
I stood on a huge boat waiting for the others to board. Tamahome and Tasuki were arguing about one thing or another, like usual. I may have only been here for a few days but I was beginning to see what these people's personalities were like. I wasn't really listening to the fight, although I probably would have enjoyed it more if I did, but I don't think that Tasuki really liked boats or water. I didn't either. Well, I loved the ocean but I think boats are kind of boring. There's not much to do on them. I sighed. The morning seemed to fly by as I was getting ready but now it seems to have slowed to an almost insufferable pace. I looked back at the fight. Tamahome was about to throw Tasuki into the water and Tasuki looked like he was about to cry. As amusing as the fight is, I decided to put an end to it. The sooner everyone gets on this boat, the sooner everyone gets off the boat, (if that makes any sense). I reached into my bag and pulled out my camera along with something else. I didn't take out the camera to solve the problem; I just wanted to take a picture. It was the other item that would save the day, so to speak. "Hey everyone! Come here for a second!" I called down to them. The group stopped what they were doing and gave me a blank stare except for Nuriko who just sent me a "hell no" look. Miaka spotted the camera and figured out was I going to do.
"Everybody get in close together! Yume is going to take a picture!" she exclaimed. Naturally, they listened to her. "Can you take an extra picture for me?" she asked as they got in formation.
"Sure. I was going to take one for Hotohori too so he'll have something to remind him of you guys," I replied. I set up to take the picture and was just about to when Tasuki asked if I was going to get in. "Someone has to take the picture and I'm the only one besides Miaka who actually knows how to use a camera and Miaka has to be in the picture. It's not like I'm really one of your group. You guys probably don't even want me in the picture."
"Well, on this trip you are part of the group, you know. It can't be that hard to use that thing. Teach someone else how to do it," Chichiri suggested.
I decided against teaching someone else how to do it; I didn't want to risk anything happening to my camera. I just put it on timer mode instead and got in the picture next to Miaka. I set it so it would take three copies: one copy for myself, one for Miaka, and one for Hotohori (since he couldn't go). Once that was done, Tasuki resumed his stand against water. I pulled him to the side and showed him the other thing I took out of my bag. "What are you going to do with that? I thought we agreed that you wouldn't show anyone that picture," he panicked. I allowed an evil expression to appear on my face.
"I said that I might not show anyone but if you don't get on the boat right now, I'll show the whole group," I threatened. He looked really angry and tried to grab the picture. I flicked it in front of his face once before turning around. "No grabbing of the picture, Tasuki." I darted on board the ship and waited to make eye contact with him before saying, "Hey everyone! Come look at this! It's really funny." Tasuki glared at me for a second and then ran onto the ship, too blinded by anger to worry about his fear of water. Everyone, (minus Nuriko), came over to see what was going on. "Tasuki got on the boat! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find somewhere to hide!"
"Oh no you don't!" Tasuki yelled. Fortunately for me, the group was in his way so he couldn't run after me right away, giving me some time to find a suitable hiding place.
I ran into the inner part of the ship, where they were keeping Shiriko. They didn't want him running all over the ship so they insisted that I keep him down there. 'I should be safe here. Shiriko wouldn't won't let anyone hurt me.' I put my bag down and settled down next to my dog. "I'm sorry they have to keep you down here Shiriko. I'll stay with you for awhile so you won't be lonely," I said to him. I sat there happily for a while, escaping my fate, until Tama the cat walked in. "Hey Tama. What are you doing here?" I asked the cat. He just meowed and pulled out a huge bright red sign with an arrow on it and pointed it at me. I heard footsteps. "Traitor!" I whispered as I crawled into the far corner behind some boxes. I forgot my bag but I didn't have time to retrieve it. 'Damn it! Now he will definitely know that I'm down here!'
"So she's in here. I should have known that she'd be near Shiriko. Well there's her stuff so I guess I can give you your reward," a low growly voice said. I heard Tama meow happily and smelt fish. 'He'd trade me in for one measly fish? Is that all I'm worth to him?' "Now get out of here Tama!" The cat meowed one last time and I heard the quiet pitter-patter of padded cat feet. I couldn't see anything so I had to trust on my hearing. "So Shiriko, where's your owner today?" 'Shiriko wouldn't trade me in. He loves me too much.' Shiriko just growled at the intruder. "Damn dog! I'll never figure out why she likes you so much." 'If I didn't know better, I'd think he was jealous of a dog!' I heard him move around the small room. "Ok Yume. I know you're in here so just come out quietly and we can get this over with," the voice said. I crouched behind the boxes even more.
"Tasuki, would you leave her alone already? You've been searching this boat for over an hour by now! I don't know what she did but harassing her dog isn't going to help. All that's going to do is make the dog hate you even more, which isn't going to win you any points with Yume. Give it up already, you know!" another voice said from the doorway. 'I'll have to thank Chichiri later!'
"I am not harassing Shiriko!" Tasuki denied. I heard Shiriko etch closer to him. "Oh come on Shiriko! Leave me alone!"
"Shiriko!" I whispered quietly. Shiriko obediently walked to the boxes and sat down. "Good boy!" It was only then that I realized I had just given myself away. 'I'm so stupid.'
"So that's where you've been hiding! Thanks a lot Shiriko! You pointed me right to her!" Tasuki exclaimed, walking towards the boxes. Shiriko snarled at him and I backed into the corner even more, if that was even possible. 'Please let me disappear. Please let me disappear. Please, please, please let me disappear!'
"Come on Tasuki. Let's go before Shiriko rips your arm off," Chichiri ordered. 'Thank you Chichiri! I love you! You're the best!' my mind yelled.
"Fine. But I'll get you later, Yume." They left and I crawled out of the corner.
"I hate boats. There's no place to hide and nothing to do," I complained. I examined my "room" and searched for other hiding places. None were nearly as good. 'But he knows about the good one! Wait! I know! I'll just change the room around!' I began to rearrange the boxes into a more comfortable arrangement. I made sure that there were plenty of places to hide as well. "Now that that's done, I'll go up to the top deck. I need some fresh air and there's always a chance that no one will bother me." I grabbed my CD player and changed the CD to Godsmack's "Awake." I wanted to block out the world and this was one of the perfect CDs to do that with. I put on my headphones and left my sanctuary to face the "real" world.
No one was around when I got on deck but I didn't mind. I found a little secluded spot and sat down. It was nice just to sit and watch the ocean or whatever body of water we were traveling on. I didn't even know where we are so how could I know what body of water we were on? The music was surprisingly peaceful and I found myself in an almost tranquil state. Sadly, I knew that these moods never lasted. Someone or something always came by and disturbed me. I sighed and got rid of the thought. No sense in ruining the mood.
Miraculously, no one bothered me for quite some time. And when they actually did, it was just to tell me that dinner was done and to show me to my "official" room. I was to share one with Miaka but I didn't really mind. It wasn't like I was going to spend much time in there anyway.
The next morning, the sky was perfectly blue and the "body of water" was perfect for sailing. Unfortunately, Tasuki had developed a case of seasickness so there was no one for me to "play" with. I moped around the boat, bored out of my mind. 'Now I remember why I hate boats so much! They're the most boring thing in the world.' "What's wrong, Yume? You look so bored," a voice said. I recognized the voice as Miaka's.
"That's because I am," I answered, unenthusiastically. "Boats are boring."
"Why don't you go pay Tasuki a visit?" Miaka suggested, that obnoxious "I know something you don't know" twinkle in her eyes.
"Because I really don't want puke on me and I'm sure that if I go around him, I'll probably get more than just a little on me," I replied, annoyed. I was getting sick of her.
"I'm sure he wouldn't puke on you," she said, putting an annoyed stress on the word "you." I had enough. I didn't need her suggestive comments about Tasuki and me. I was mad enough already.
"Look, Miaka. Whatever it is that you know or think you know, I don't honestly care. I know that you're hinting at something but I doubt I'll agree or like it so you can stop now," I snapped. I got up and left. I wanted to be alone and since that was obviously not gonna happen here, I'd just find somewhere else to mope. On my little boat "tour," I found a nice spot where no one was. Or so I thought. I heard a rather disgusting sound, like someone puking. "Yea, that's real clean," I yelled on impulse.
The noise stopped for a second. "It's not like I can help it! You think I wanna puke my brains out?" The noise resumed.
I walked towards the source of my discomfort and found Tasuki leaning over the rail. "Sorry 'bout that Tasuki. I heard somewhere that rubbing your back helps cure seasickness. Want we to do that?" I asked. He nodded and I proceeded to rub his back. After a few minutes of back rubbing, he stopped throwing up, for now anyway.
"Thanks, Yume," he said. He still looked pale and I feared that this temporary relief was not going to last.
"No problem," I replied. I leaned against the rail, allowing a cool breeze to blow behind me. It was a welcome relief not so much from the heat but from the smell.
"No really. Thanks for staying here and helping me. Most people would have ignored me." 'This isn't like Tasuki. He's never this thankful. Why is he being so nice? Maybe it's a seasickness induced kinda niceness,' I thought.
"Really, Tasuki. Don't worry about it," I replied. I looked at the ocean and sky. Some dark storm clouds had started to appear in the sky and the water was a lot rougher. Something told me that the nice weather wasn't going to last much longer and I had a feeling that nature wasn't what was causing this. Tasuki hadn't completely gotten over his seasickness so I couldn't move him just yet but I had a feeling that a storm was coming.
Author's Note:
Smack: That was more of a filler chapter but it was important in its own little way. ( It seems like Tasuki and Yume actually have something in common: they both hate boats!
Tasuki: Ugh! Why'd you have to make us go on a boat, Smack? I hate boats.
Smack: I know but I had to. It'll be over soon, don't worry.
Tasuki: ::reeling:: It better be. . .
Smack: ::sweat drops:: Well. . .I'll just give you the preview of the next chapter now, ok?
"Don't move, Yume. I'll go get help," Tasuki declared. I could have slapped myself but I didn't want to let go of the railing. He could have helped me himself!
Smack: Yea. . .that's the best I could come up with for that next chapter. I forgot how short I made that chapter. I'll have to fix that. . . ::continues to mumble about random things that she has messed up on (long list)::
Thanks to. . .
Otaku Pitcher: The last chapter was different? Hmm. . .I suppose it was a little bit different from my normal writing style. I don't know if I really have a writing style. Thanks for noticing. Tasuki wins occasionally. Well. . .never recently but it will happen someday. Maybe. Well. . .probably.
mini: You reread them when I send them to you, right? I guess that's good enough. Guinea pig. And I'll update my other stories when I get to it. You know I've been working on Destiny but it just hasn't been working for me. I type fast enough too. :P
Author's Note: Sorry this took a little longer to get up than normal. I had a busy weekend. I wanted to warn you in advance. While this is a rather long chapter, it's kind of lacks a little in the importance to plot category. It's still important but it's just a fun little chapter. I promise that it will be at least somewhat humorous! Just look at the title. . .it has to be somewhat amusing with a title like that, right? I'll shut up now.
'. . .' = Yume's thoughts
Chapter 13: I Hate Boats!
I stood on a huge boat waiting for the others to board. Tamahome and Tasuki were arguing about one thing or another, like usual. I may have only been here for a few days but I was beginning to see what these people's personalities were like. I wasn't really listening to the fight, although I probably would have enjoyed it more if I did, but I don't think that Tasuki really liked boats or water. I didn't either. Well, I loved the ocean but I think boats are kind of boring. There's not much to do on them. I sighed. The morning seemed to fly by as I was getting ready but now it seems to have slowed to an almost insufferable pace. I looked back at the fight. Tamahome was about to throw Tasuki into the water and Tasuki looked like he was about to cry. As amusing as the fight is, I decided to put an end to it. The sooner everyone gets on this boat, the sooner everyone gets off the boat, (if that makes any sense). I reached into my bag and pulled out my camera along with something else. I didn't take out the camera to solve the problem; I just wanted to take a picture. It was the other item that would save the day, so to speak. "Hey everyone! Come here for a second!" I called down to them. The group stopped what they were doing and gave me a blank stare except for Nuriko who just sent me a "hell no" look. Miaka spotted the camera and figured out was I going to do.
"Everybody get in close together! Yume is going to take a picture!" she exclaimed. Naturally, they listened to her. "Can you take an extra picture for me?" she asked as they got in formation.
"Sure. I was going to take one for Hotohori too so he'll have something to remind him of you guys," I replied. I set up to take the picture and was just about to when Tasuki asked if I was going to get in. "Someone has to take the picture and I'm the only one besides Miaka who actually knows how to use a camera and Miaka has to be in the picture. It's not like I'm really one of your group. You guys probably don't even want me in the picture."
"Well, on this trip you are part of the group, you know. It can't be that hard to use that thing. Teach someone else how to do it," Chichiri suggested.
I decided against teaching someone else how to do it; I didn't want to risk anything happening to my camera. I just put it on timer mode instead and got in the picture next to Miaka. I set it so it would take three copies: one copy for myself, one for Miaka, and one for Hotohori (since he couldn't go). Once that was done, Tasuki resumed his stand against water. I pulled him to the side and showed him the other thing I took out of my bag. "What are you going to do with that? I thought we agreed that you wouldn't show anyone that picture," he panicked. I allowed an evil expression to appear on my face.
"I said that I might not show anyone but if you don't get on the boat right now, I'll show the whole group," I threatened. He looked really angry and tried to grab the picture. I flicked it in front of his face once before turning around. "No grabbing of the picture, Tasuki." I darted on board the ship and waited to make eye contact with him before saying, "Hey everyone! Come look at this! It's really funny." Tasuki glared at me for a second and then ran onto the ship, too blinded by anger to worry about his fear of water. Everyone, (minus Nuriko), came over to see what was going on. "Tasuki got on the boat! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find somewhere to hide!"
"Oh no you don't!" Tasuki yelled. Fortunately for me, the group was in his way so he couldn't run after me right away, giving me some time to find a suitable hiding place.
I ran into the inner part of the ship, where they were keeping Shiriko. They didn't want him running all over the ship so they insisted that I keep him down there. 'I should be safe here. Shiriko wouldn't won't let anyone hurt me.' I put my bag down and settled down next to my dog. "I'm sorry they have to keep you down here Shiriko. I'll stay with you for awhile so you won't be lonely," I said to him. I sat there happily for a while, escaping my fate, until Tama the cat walked in. "Hey Tama. What are you doing here?" I asked the cat. He just meowed and pulled out a huge bright red sign with an arrow on it and pointed it at me. I heard footsteps. "Traitor!" I whispered as I crawled into the far corner behind some boxes. I forgot my bag but I didn't have time to retrieve it. 'Damn it! Now he will definitely know that I'm down here!'
"So she's in here. I should have known that she'd be near Shiriko. Well there's her stuff so I guess I can give you your reward," a low growly voice said. I heard Tama meow happily and smelt fish. 'He'd trade me in for one measly fish? Is that all I'm worth to him?' "Now get out of here Tama!" The cat meowed one last time and I heard the quiet pitter-patter of padded cat feet. I couldn't see anything so I had to trust on my hearing. "So Shiriko, where's your owner today?" 'Shiriko wouldn't trade me in. He loves me too much.' Shiriko just growled at the intruder. "Damn dog! I'll never figure out why she likes you so much." 'If I didn't know better, I'd think he was jealous of a dog!' I heard him move around the small room. "Ok Yume. I know you're in here so just come out quietly and we can get this over with," the voice said. I crouched behind the boxes even more.
"Tasuki, would you leave her alone already? You've been searching this boat for over an hour by now! I don't know what she did but harassing her dog isn't going to help. All that's going to do is make the dog hate you even more, which isn't going to win you any points with Yume. Give it up already, you know!" another voice said from the doorway. 'I'll have to thank Chichiri later!'
"I am not harassing Shiriko!" Tasuki denied. I heard Shiriko etch closer to him. "Oh come on Shiriko! Leave me alone!"
"Shiriko!" I whispered quietly. Shiriko obediently walked to the boxes and sat down. "Good boy!" It was only then that I realized I had just given myself away. 'I'm so stupid.'
"So that's where you've been hiding! Thanks a lot Shiriko! You pointed me right to her!" Tasuki exclaimed, walking towards the boxes. Shiriko snarled at him and I backed into the corner even more, if that was even possible. 'Please let me disappear. Please let me disappear. Please, please, please let me disappear!'
"Come on Tasuki. Let's go before Shiriko rips your arm off," Chichiri ordered. 'Thank you Chichiri! I love you! You're the best!' my mind yelled.
"Fine. But I'll get you later, Yume." They left and I crawled out of the corner.
"I hate boats. There's no place to hide and nothing to do," I complained. I examined my "room" and searched for other hiding places. None were nearly as good. 'But he knows about the good one! Wait! I know! I'll just change the room around!' I began to rearrange the boxes into a more comfortable arrangement. I made sure that there were plenty of places to hide as well. "Now that that's done, I'll go up to the top deck. I need some fresh air and there's always a chance that no one will bother me." I grabbed my CD player and changed the CD to Godsmack's "Awake." I wanted to block out the world and this was one of the perfect CDs to do that with. I put on my headphones and left my sanctuary to face the "real" world.
No one was around when I got on deck but I didn't mind. I found a little secluded spot and sat down. It was nice just to sit and watch the ocean or whatever body of water we were traveling on. I didn't even know where we are so how could I know what body of water we were on? The music was surprisingly peaceful and I found myself in an almost tranquil state. Sadly, I knew that these moods never lasted. Someone or something always came by and disturbed me. I sighed and got rid of the thought. No sense in ruining the mood.
Miraculously, no one bothered me for quite some time. And when they actually did, it was just to tell me that dinner was done and to show me to my "official" room. I was to share one with Miaka but I didn't really mind. It wasn't like I was going to spend much time in there anyway.
The next morning, the sky was perfectly blue and the "body of water" was perfect for sailing. Unfortunately, Tasuki had developed a case of seasickness so there was no one for me to "play" with. I moped around the boat, bored out of my mind. 'Now I remember why I hate boats so much! They're the most boring thing in the world.' "What's wrong, Yume? You look so bored," a voice said. I recognized the voice as Miaka's.
"That's because I am," I answered, unenthusiastically. "Boats are boring."
"Why don't you go pay Tasuki a visit?" Miaka suggested, that obnoxious "I know something you don't know" twinkle in her eyes.
"Because I really don't want puke on me and I'm sure that if I go around him, I'll probably get more than just a little on me," I replied, annoyed. I was getting sick of her.
"I'm sure he wouldn't puke on you," she said, putting an annoyed stress on the word "you." I had enough. I didn't need her suggestive comments about Tasuki and me. I was mad enough already.
"Look, Miaka. Whatever it is that you know or think you know, I don't honestly care. I know that you're hinting at something but I doubt I'll agree or like it so you can stop now," I snapped. I got up and left. I wanted to be alone and since that was obviously not gonna happen here, I'd just find somewhere else to mope. On my little boat "tour," I found a nice spot where no one was. Or so I thought. I heard a rather disgusting sound, like someone puking. "Yea, that's real clean," I yelled on impulse.
The noise stopped for a second. "It's not like I can help it! You think I wanna puke my brains out?" The noise resumed.
I walked towards the source of my discomfort and found Tasuki leaning over the rail. "Sorry 'bout that Tasuki. I heard somewhere that rubbing your back helps cure seasickness. Want we to do that?" I asked. He nodded and I proceeded to rub his back. After a few minutes of back rubbing, he stopped throwing up, for now anyway.
"Thanks, Yume," he said. He still looked pale and I feared that this temporary relief was not going to last.
"No problem," I replied. I leaned against the rail, allowing a cool breeze to blow behind me. It was a welcome relief not so much from the heat but from the smell.
"No really. Thanks for staying here and helping me. Most people would have ignored me." 'This isn't like Tasuki. He's never this thankful. Why is he being so nice? Maybe it's a seasickness induced kinda niceness,' I thought.
"Really, Tasuki. Don't worry about it," I replied. I looked at the ocean and sky. Some dark storm clouds had started to appear in the sky and the water was a lot rougher. Something told me that the nice weather wasn't going to last much longer and I had a feeling that nature wasn't what was causing this. Tasuki hadn't completely gotten over his seasickness so I couldn't move him just yet but I had a feeling that a storm was coming.
Author's Note:
Smack: That was more of a filler chapter but it was important in its own little way. ( It seems like Tasuki and Yume actually have something in common: they both hate boats!
Tasuki: Ugh! Why'd you have to make us go on a boat, Smack? I hate boats.
Smack: I know but I had to. It'll be over soon, don't worry.
Tasuki: ::reeling:: It better be. . .
Smack: ::sweat drops:: Well. . .I'll just give you the preview of the next chapter now, ok?
"Don't move, Yume. I'll go get help," Tasuki declared. I could have slapped myself but I didn't want to let go of the railing. He could have helped me himself!
Smack: Yea. . .that's the best I could come up with for that next chapter. I forgot how short I made that chapter. I'll have to fix that. . . ::continues to mumble about random things that she has messed up on (long list)::