Whaleshipping (Ryouta Kajiki x the aquarium lady)

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((well that's a random one that I missed. The aquarium lady is that woman that he took over for at the aquarium with the orca during Battle City. I'm going to call her Aya.))

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The sun was setting and the aquarium was now closing. Ryouta sat on the railing of the orca tank, kicking his legs back and forth lazily. The orca swam somewhere beneath him. It seemed relaxed for now, although it had been pretty irritable earlier; Ryouta could tell.

He heard the sound of her footsteps before she called out to him.

"Kajiki-san?"

He looked over his shoulder. It was the woman from earlier; the orca trainer. She had her sweater drawn around her shoulders, and still looked a bit feverish.

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"I wanted to make sure you knew how to feed him...he's very picky."

She reached the railing and leaned against it on her elbows. For a moment, they were just quiet.

"Thank you for doing this today," she whispered. "If the show hadn't run...I might have lost my job."

"No problem," Ryouta said, shrugging. "He's a fine animal. Friendlier than most orcas I've met."

"You've met a lot?"

"Well, no. Just two or three out in the ocean. They're bullies."

She laughed softly. Another silence drew out between them.

"I'm Aya, by the way," she said. "Aya Kamishiro. I never did introduce myself."

"Please to meet ya, Aya-san."

She smiled and dropped her eyes down to the pool. A moment later the orca surfaced in front of them, making a face that was almost like a grin. Aya smiled and reached down to pat the orca on the nose.

"He really is much more friendly than the usual orca," Ryouta said.

"I know," Aya said. "At least...he's always been with me, and he seems to like you. Don't you, Sharky?"

The orca made a noise and then went back underwater. Her smile turned sad.

"I know his old trainer wasn't particularly nice. He sued the aquarium after he got bit...orcas aren't made to live lives like this. I wish I could send him back to the ocean."

Ryouta looked across at her, surprised.

"Really?" he said.

"Of course. In fact, if he hadn't be raised in captivity and I knew he could take care of himself...well, I might sue the aquarium myself and try to get them to send him back where he belongs...this isn't the kind of life for a creature like him. He deserves the whole ocean...but I can't give that to him."

"So even though you don't agree with this..."

She smiled up at Ryouta.

"Someone's got to stay here and be his friend," she said. "I know most trainers won't do that for him."

She looked back down at the water. Then she closed her eyes and sighed.

"Do you know where we keep his fish? He'll be hungry now."

"Sure, I helped you feed him this morning."

"Thank you, again, Kajiki-san."

"Call me Ryouta. I'll finish up here, you go finish resting so you can get better, and then you can be here for Sharky like you should be!"

She smiled as he hopped down from the railing and hopped off towards the fish cooler.

"Ryouta!" she called after him.

He paused and glanced over his shoulder.

"Hm?"

Her cheeks were a bit red, but that could have been the fever.

"How long are you going to stay in Domino?"

"Huh? Um...not sure yet. Couple more weeks, at least."

She bit her lip for a moment shyly.

"Are you free on Wednesday, then? Want to get a coffee, or something?"

Ryouta blinked, confused for a moment. Then he smiled.

"Sure, if you're feeling better," he said. "You can tell me more about Sharky!"

She ducked her head, cheeks a bit redder.

"Great. I'll see you then...I guess?"

He nodded.

"Yep! Now go sit down or something, I have an orca to feed."

She laughed and nodded, and he heard her footsteps disappear back through the gate as he busied himself with the fish cooler. He brought the fish back over to the edge of the aquarium. Sharky's head popped up almost immediately, mouth open wide as though he just wanted it thrown in there.

"Nuh-uh, buddy, I'm not spoon feeding you," Ryouta laughed.

He tossed the fish for him anyway and Sharky caught it. Ryouta patted the orca's head and glanced back towards the place where Aya had disappeared.

"What do you think, Sharky?" he whispered. "Should I stick around a while longer?"

It could have just been because he was eating, but Sharky bumped his head into Ryouta's hand. Ryouta laughed.

"Okay. I think I will then."

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A/N: Weird one. Anyone notice my spin-off reference Easter egg in there? :D Back to your regularly scheduled update next time with Watchshipping (Jonouchi x Priestess Isis).