Previous Chapter: Ghosts - Next Chapter: Interlopers


The sky was clear and the moon bright as Iceburg once again found himself racing through the city, panicked for having lost sight of Franky once again. This time, under the cover of night, he charged through the deserted streets with a much deeper sense of urgency now that he knew for sure it was him. He was alive and he was somewhere nearby; he had to find him.

Before long he was moving along the old routes they used to take through town, but still there was no sign of him. He paused to catch his breath on one of the city's many bridges, wishing that he hadn't run off on him - though he couldn't blame him for doing so after everything. His shoulders dropped.

Where the hell are you now? ...Where have you been all this time?

He scanned the walkways around him, then grimaced as he heard Paulie's voice ring through the silence, followed by Kaku's light laugh. He didn't want to get caught up in any more conversation while he was in the middle of such an ordeal. He turned to slip back across the bridge but stopped again and perked up as he heard a familiar sound from the walkway below where he stood; bare, wet footsteps against the hard ground.

He gripped his hands hard against the railing and pulled himself partway over so he could confirm his hopes. He smiled wistfully as he watched the tall figure move swiftly away from him. He struggled for a moment to find his voice before he softly called out to him, so as not to be heard by any others.

"Franky!"

He hesitated but turned and looked up at the bridge where Iceburg stood gazing down at him. His hood was now limp over his shoulders, blown back from running, and in the vivid moonlight he was perfectly visible. Iceburg only stared hard at him in silence for a moment, taking in his features. His heart fell as he recalled his conversation with Kokoro prior.

It could never be what we'd need it to be. We couldn't just pick up our life where we'd left off.

Franky crossed his arms and waited for what he was going to say. He seemed noticeably upset, almost as if he was afraid of what was to come next.

Paulie's voice rang out and it sounded as though he was just around the corner from where they stood. Iceburg inhaled sharply. Knowing he was beyond pressed for time, he leaned farther over the bridge and pointed towards Shipyard 6 in the distance; towards the scrapyards; towards 'Tom's Workers' old stomping grounds.

"Franky..." His voice wavered and he prayed that he would comply without a fight. "Meet me back at home."

Home. The old warehouse under the bridge. The place still so dear to the both of them; where it all began so long ago.

Twenty years ago...

Much to the dismay of Water 7's inhabitants, it had been storming for days without any sign of letting up. Many of the ships that had the misfortune of travelling the waters around the island in that time were badly damaged, often beyond repair, or lost to the sea. It wasn't Aqua Laguna, but it was certainly bad; whirlpools and riptides appeared in abundance among the fury of the skies making for a terrifying journey. Trade was already terrible with pirates constantly raiding ships, but in those days barely anything made it inland.

On the outskirts of the city nearest to the island's scrapyard was a rundown property that housed a collection of old buildings; large warehouses and an array of smaller structures. From inside the main building, one that was built into the ground and nestled under one of the city's massive stairwells, came a booming laugh.

"TAHAHAHA! Are you trying to tell me that ship is haunted!?" The islands most skilled but also most underappreciated shipwright, Tom, wiped a tear from his eye.

"No, you old fool! I'm just trying to say there's someone still on board that ship! It doesn't have to be a damn ghost!" Kokoro was visibly annoyed that the carefree Fishman, as always, didn't appear to be taking the situation seriously. "When will you realize that there's a time and a place for jokes and laughing!?"

"That ritzy little ship must have only just had its maiden voyage earlier this year! What kind of ghost wanders the decks of such a new ship!?" He clapped his hand on the table and bellowed with more laughter before he returned to eating his dinner.

"WHEN DID I EVER SAY GHOST!?" She whacked him upside the head.

He stared at her with dead serious eyes.

"You've said the word twice now!" and with that he was hollering with laughter again.

She groaned with impatience.

"Listen. I thought I heard footsteps echoing off the ship earlier but I just brushed it off, thought nothing of it...just now I heard it again, and there were definitely things being moved around! I don't go getting drunk off my ass like you do! I wasn't imagining it!"

"Then someone must still be on deck then! It can't be a ghost." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Kokoro shot him a look that could slice through iron as if it were butter as he finished his dinner and stood from the table.

"What the hell do you think I've been trying to say!?" She threatened him with a serving spoon.

"I suppose I'll have to go check it out again then! I was on that ship all evening though with that inspection, and I can't see how anyone would've been able to have been hiding away in there without me noticing! They'd have to be pretty small - small enough to fit in a trunk, a wardrobe or something of the likes anyways…" he paused for a second, and stared off with a blank expression before he spoke again "…imagine that, eh? Those would've been the only places that didn't get looked at..."

"Be careful out there, Tom…you never know with the people of this island. Things just keep getting worse."

He picked up a lantern and his coat from beside the door, along with a basket that held his lunch for the next day. He turned and smiled brightly.

"I'm always careful, aren't I!?" He gave another hearty laugh before he headed through the door that led to the main room of the warehouse, where their customer's boat sat on the waterway.

"No! You're not! And what good is your lunch going to do you right now!? …Tom!"

"Hm. It's gotten pretty cold out here. Throw a couple extra logs on the fire, wouldya? Put the kettle on too. I think tea will be good." With that he gently closed the door, leaving Kokoro to blink in confusion.

She crossed her arms and sighed.

"You impossible man..."

The vast room was dark when the door to the drawing room closed but Tom knew it like the back of his hands. He knew where each piece of furniture sat and where the floor turned into waterway.

He stood and eyed up the ship; he wasn't surprised to see a dim light glowing from inside the cabin. He hopped up on deck with ease and made his way over to the door. When he opened it he found a cold room despite the misleading, warm light that shone from the small lanterns on the wall. There was a cluster of furniture in the far corner with a thin blanket draped over it.

He knelt down and knocked on the floor next to the makeshift shelter. Something moved swiftly from within and he heard a slight gasp. He smiled at the sound of the young voice.

"Now don't worry, I don't mean to scare you or intrude on your space – but I thought it'd be rude of me to not offer you some hospitality as you are technically under my roof."

He waited but no response came - only anxious breaths.

"I'll let you be now, okay? I'm going to leave these things here for you though. I may not have much but I'm always glad to share! Just leave it when you're done, I'll be sure there's no trace of any of it in the morning when they come back, okay? I'll put all this big stuff back too..." he eyed up the structure before him "Heh. Enjoy the rest of your night."

He laid down his coat and basket then walked back out onto the deck. As he was about to jump to the ground he heard a tiny voice sound behind him.

"Thank you…very much, sir."

He turned and saw a small teenager knelt on the deck before him with their head bowed down, wearing only a thin black gown and matching buckled dress shoes. They were shaking in the cold with their pale, white arms and legs exposed.

"Don't mention it, you're more than welcome! Well now, I knew you'd be pretty small…were you really hiding on board all day?"

The petite teen struggled to her feet then nodded.

"Where were you hiding? You sure are good at it!"

"Well…in a chest."

The awkward response made Tom burst out in laughter all over again.

"I KNEW IT! TAHAHA! That's great, I can't even imagine! You're a real piece of work aren't you? Now why don't you go and try to enjoy yourself a bit, okay? I promise the food is good."

A smile shone through momentarily before she nodded with a very serious expression. She wrapped the massive coat around herself like a blanket.

"Thank you, again. I'm sorry for being here without permission, though. You're very kind not to be cross about it."

"No need to thank me at all. However… you're always welcome to come have your meal inside with us if you'd rather! It's much warmer, anyways!"

The young girl, at that point just a pale face with rouged lips and messy, violet hair peeking out from within the coat, looked up at him with glossy brown eyes.

"That would be greatly appreciated, sir. Thank you very much for your kindness. Are you sure it would be okay?"

He grinned down at her.

"You're quite the proper one aren't you!? Let's go then. It's just through the door over there!"

So he helped her off board and headed back across the room with her at his heels, trudging slowly under the weight of the coat.

Kokoro jumped as the door screaked open. Tom walked in and gave a wide smile to his secretary and long time friend. She looked beyond relieved to see him.

"No one was there, eh?"

"Tahahaha! Just your ghost!"

"I NEVER SAID IT WAS A DAMN GHOST! YOU DID!"

Exasperated, Kokoro chucked a tea cup beside Tom's head. It smashed against the wall and he just leaned a large, webbed against the door jamb and roared with laughter. The girl stepped shyly out from behind him and peeked over at Kokoro.

Kokoro's eyes softened at the sight of her. She understood then why he'd brought the things he did out to the boat - why he'd asked of her what he had. It seemed he'd already had a hunch it was a youth that was on board. He'd been right, of course.

She bowed her head to Kokoro and her long hair tumbled over her face.

"I'm very sorry if I frightened you, m'am. Please forgive me. I-I'm not a ghost, I promise."

Tom laughed harder upon hearing it and Kokoro could only smile.

"Heh…who have we here then? Aren't you precious..."

The girl blushed and looked down while Kokoro spoke.

"Now, don't you apologize for a thing...Even if you were a ghost, seeing Tom eat can be much more terrifying than anything else in this world!"

"This is our guest!" Tom laughed as he patted her on the back "Please fix an extra plate from dinner, I don't think my lunch is going to be enough for this one! We've got a hard worker here."

"Of course, why don't you take a seat at the table and I'll get that plate for you? Drink up that milk from the basket in the meantime – you look like you could use it! Lord, you're freezing!"

Kokoro fussed about the young teen as she obediently plopped down and sighed. It seemed like the weight of the world slid off her shoulders as she sank down onto the barrel that served as a chair. Reluctantly, Kokoro left her side but returned quickly and placed a large plate of curry in front of her along with a tea and heavy bread roll. Her eyes widened at the meal before her.

"Let me know if it's too spicy and I'll make you something else! It might be a bit much for you."

She smiled politely up at her.

"I'm sure it's perfect...thank you, though."

Kokoro and Tom exchanged glances as she started in on the plate of food.

"Hey, Tom. Come help me lock things up for the night, would you?"

He nodded, although he knew full well things were already locked up.

"Right! We'll be right back then, please make yourself at home in the meantime. You're welcome to everything here… Stowaway-chan! TAHAHA!" He patted her head then went through the door with Kokoro.

The room was silent after they left other than the quiet scrape of her spoon against the plate. When she finished, the young girl took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, comforted by the peace.

For the moment, she was no longer hungry, cold, or alone - only sore, tired, and a bit afraid of the future. She looked around the cozy living quarters and admired the woodwork all about. It was all very quaint but comforting in a way she wasn't familiar with; nothing like her family's dark, lavish mansion had been. Even on the warmest of days, that house had been cold.

A smile spread across her face as she thought of how lucky she was. She was thankful that the first people she'd made contact with were so kind; it gave her an incredible amount of hope knowing there were such people in the world. She was a bit sad that she'd have to leave them so soon, but she knew it would be okay somehow. For once in her life she felt relief. She'd really made it – she'd almost completely got away from it all; her family, her future, him. As long as she was far away from that boat by morning she was sure she would be in the clear. Even if she had to live life forever on the run, it would be better than what they'd had planned for her. What he'd wanted from her.

She wasn't sure how she'd do it, but she quietly decided to one day find a way to show the cheerful Fishman and the lady she assumed to be his wife gratitude for how they'd treated her without any obligation at all.

Out in the other room, Kokoro stared in disbelief at Tom after hearing his explanation.

"All day, in one of those little chests!? We've had that ship in there since before noon, haven't we!?"

"Yeah, yeah...I know. Terrible eh? Such rough conditions to put oneself through...the poor child has obviously done this for a damn good reason. Imagine! For one to have come to such a resolve so early in life…"

"I can only begin to imagine. I wonder what the story is..." Kokoro shook her head sadly as she spoke.

"Perhaps we'll hear it someday! Well, I'm glad things turned out the way they have."

"Me too...there's some scary people out there, Tom."

Tom looked over at the now-empty ship and sighed.

"I know - and I just don't think I could live with myself if I didn't at least offer something. No one should have to spend their time cold and alone like that. I just want to help."

"Then let's help however we can. Okay?" Kokoro touched his arm and smiled lightly; with that they turned back to the drawing room.

When they were through the door, her hand fluttered to her heart and she sighed softly.

"Oh, Tom…have you ever seen anything so precious?"

In the short time they'd been in the other room discussing the matter at hand, the girl had finished both the curry and Tom's lunch as well as washed the dishes. She was asleep, seated at the table with her head laid in her arms. Her long hair was draped over her snoring face; she looked truly peaceful and content.

"Not quite so." He laughed lightly as he put an arm around Kokoro's shoulder and gave her a squeeze, as if he could read her thoughts.

She felt pained and heavy as she thought of her own infant daughter she had lost years ago. She wondered what she would have looked like now - she would have been around the age that this mysterious little stowaway was.

Tom walked over and patted the girl's head. She startled awake and looked around for a moment, confused. She blushed as she realized she'd fallen asleep.

"I'm so sorry!" She bowed her head. "I didn't mean to fall asleep at your table."

"Nothing to apologize about at all, little one! You must be exhausted. Thank you for cleaning up, by the way! It's incredible how fast you work."

"You're very welcome...thank you again for the meal. It really was delicious."

Tom smiled.

"Kokoro is quite the cook! I'm pretty spoiled, eh!? Now…if you don't mind me asking, why were you stuck on that boat?"

"Well..." she began to wring her hands together "you see, it belongs to my family. It was the only way I could think of to get away from them...Please, please don't tell them you found me!" She was doing her best to choke back tears by the end of the sentence.

Tom laughed, which surprised her.

"In that case, I'll do my best to ensure you never have to see them again."

"...Thank you." She settled back into the seat.

"I can't rightly just send you off into the world alone either though, can I? This town isn't in very good shape and it's hard enough for adults to get along here as it is. Nobody so young should be on their own here. Not many people really want to be alone either, do they? How about we figure something out for you here, with us?"

She stared in disbelief at Tom's smiling face. Tears began to drip down her cheeks.

"Thank you very much for the offer, sir, and I promise I'll never forget it, but… I could never accept such a thing from you! I have no money, no real skills - nothing to offer you in return. It wouldn't feel right when I already owe you so much..." She buried her face in the crook of her arm and cried quietly.

Tom sat across the table and stared solemnly at her before he finally spoke.

"Now, I don't think you owe me a thing... but if it'll make you feel better about it - how about I make a proposition?"

She looked up and stared levelly at him. She tried to read the gleam in his eyes.

"Well…what sort of a proposition?" she sounded nervous as she sat back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You see…I've been a shipwright for years and years now, and lately I've been thinking that I need to find me someone to teach everything I know to. After all, I'm not going to be around forever, and this island needs more good shipwrights! Hah! So what do you think? You wanna be my apprentice?"

"A-apprentice!? I...I'm only fourteen - I didn't even finish the formal schooling I started back at home! I couldn't be an apprentice to anyone..."

"Sure you can! I can teach you everything you need to know. You're young, sure, but that just means you have more time to learn! If you're worried though, you can get a proper education in town too."

"You actually… believe I could do something that - be a shipwright?" She looked at him with incredulity etched on her face.

"Kid…you can do whatever you want. I think you've got a strong mind and a good heart - it's more than a lot of people can say."

She blinked then gave a genuinely happy smile for the first time that night.

"So what do you think? Do you want to work with me to become a great Shipwright, with a DON!?"

"Yes, sir! What can I do to help!?" She leapt up and awaited orders, though she wasn't quite sure what he meant by 'with a don'.

"TAHAHA! You really are something...but there'll be no more work tonight, just rest. I do have something for you though, just wait there."

After a few moments, he returned with a stack of his old clothing.

"These were mine when I was a very, very small boy – I think something here should fit you!"

She looked over what he'd given her – among other articles she found herself quite fond of a pair of red shorts, beige pants and a black t-shirt. She looked triumphant as she dug out a white kerchief from the stack and tied it over her head to pull her long hair out of her face. When she looked at him her eyes were full of tears.

"Thank you so much...I've never had anything like these before."

"You're very welcome! I think that stuff might be a little more comfortable than what you've got on now, eh? You can get changed in that washroom over there." He pointed to a door opposite the one they'd come in. "Anyways, I'm not sure if I've said it yet, but my name is Tom! This is Kokoro. What's your name, son!?"

Both the teenager and Kokoro stared at him with an expression of shock. Kokoro shook her head, astonished that Tom didn't realize she was a girl. The teen, however, slowly smiled and blushed upon hearing the masculine noun used so casually. She dug the toe of her shoe into the floor.

"Well...it's Icelyn, sir." She sounded awkward as she said it, as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. "I suppose."

Tom stared hard for a moment then burst out with his boisterous laughter once again.

"TAHAHAHA! What a name for a boy!"

"Well...I was born in January. I guess that may have something to do with it." She smiled as she spoke and didn't seem bothered, but Kokoro, with eyes ablaze, whacked him upside the head for what was likely the tenth time that night.

"She's a girl, Tom!"

"Huh – what!? Really!? I thought you were just a boy in a nightgown! I'm sorry!" He laughed even harder and wiped tears from his streaming eyes.

Kokoro saw a distressed look cross the teens elfin face as she crossed her arms over her chest again, so she cocked her head and gazed quizzically at her.

"I'm sorry, are you a girl?"

She hesitated.

"Well…I suppose so, yes. I don't mind though." She blushed harder than before then added quietly with a wrinkle in her nose "To be honest, I've never really liked that name."

Tom laughed, as he always did.

"Anyways, whether you're a girl or not doesn't make a difference to me! All I really care about at this moment is you getting some good rest after such a journey!"

"...Really? You'd still want me to work with you...even knowing I'm not a boy?"

"Of course! Why would a thing like that bother me?"

She looked to the side and frowned.

"Women aren't supposed to do work like that, or anything of the sorts... we're supposed to be ladylike."

"What nonsense is that? Who told you that!?" He gave another roar of a laugh.

"Mostly everyone..."

"That's just crazy talk! You do whatever you want here - whatever makes you happy. Hell, and if you want to be a boy - you are! Don't worry about any of that old crap you were taught. However…there is one issue to be addressed."

Their eyes met and hers held much more hope than they had before.

"I understand you don't like your name, but I can't just rightly go around calling you 'apprentice' can I?"

"Well…I suppose you could if you wanted to. What would you rather call me?"

Tom beamed, and ruffled her violet hair again.

"Now, the name you've got right now may not quite suit you right, but I do think the wintery aspect of it does." He thought on it for a moment then smiled widely. "I think Iceburg is good! What do ya' think of that?"

She lit up like the sun.

"I think I like that a lot!"

"Now, go get ready for bed; been a long day for you hasn't it?"

She nodded then ran off to change for bed. When she was out of earshot Kokoro placed her hand on Tom's arm and grinned knowingly at him.

"Since when were you considering taking on an apprentice?" Her voice was sly as she questioned him.

"TAHAHAHA! Oh, since sometime in the last half hour!"

Kokoro leaned her head on his arm and laughed lovingly.

"You're a good man, Tom."

"No…just a man. I do what I have to in order to make things a bit better whenever I can. Doing what's right shouldn't be praised as 'good', it should be the default!" He paused momentarily before he quietly continued. "I feel like that child has been through hell that I can't even imagine. His...I mean, her family is to be picking up the boat around 8am…be sure to have her far away from here by then. Get her registered for school in town - the one closest to your apartment. That will keep her in the clear for a good while. I have a feeling there's going to be issues with that 'family' of hers..."

Kokoro nodded slowly as she thought on it.

"It'll be a bit expensive but we can manage it. I suppose I could go back to staying in that place again, just for awhile. There's room for her after all...in the old nursery. It won't be so lonely with her there. It'll be fine..."

Tom turned and embraced her tightly.

"I hate to ask it. I know how much you can't stand being there after everything... but it would be best in the long run. You'll always have your place here. For tonight…let's make sure she gets some comfortable rest. Early day tomorrow, eh? I'm gonna go get that spare bedroll out of storage."

When Iceburg came back from changing, the beds were laid out in the warm drawing room. There was one in front of Tom's desk - she assumed was his - and another by an empty space across the room. She crawled into the farther one and enveloped herself in the blankets. The warmth and comfort was a complete turnaround from how she'd felt hiding on the ship. Her cramped limbs and back were finally starting to untense. She wiggled deeper into the nest and welcomed the heavy security it provided.

She thought of the name Tom had bestowed upon her with great fondness; it felt like she'd been given the most precious gift possible. She found herself unable to stop smiling for the first time in many years. So quickly she'd been made to feel welcomed, safe. She was blown away by how wonderfully things had turned out. She especially loved how he'd mistaken her for a boy. No one prior had ever understood or accepted when she'd tried to explain that's what she'd rather be, it was always anger or disgust in response; often both. Now there was this Fishman, who didn't mind either way and just treated her like a person regardless.

She was still a bit nervous for what the future held, but also surprisingly confident with Tom and Kokoro on her side. It was a fresh start to a new life that felt full of promise.

"Is everything comfortable for you, dear?" Kokoro smiled warmly down at her from the doorway.

"Very much so. Thank you."

"Good to hear!" Tom beamed and set his hand on Kokoro's shoulder. "Now I've got a few things in here to work on." He motioned to the workroom behind them "I'll be back in before long but holler if you need anything at all. Kokoro's room is right above you, just up those stairs back there. We'll always be close by." He then indicated to a door near the washroom entrance. "Try to sleep well!"

"Thank you, I will."

Now she laid quietly by herself and listened to the sound of hammering from the warehouse. She found it comforting, almost hypnotic. She thought of what it would be like to be a shipwright, grown and strong, creating vast boats with her own hands. She was going to do her best to make Tom proud.

A short while later, out in the main room of the warehouse Tom set down the newly-made name plate beside him. It read "Iceburg". He quickly went about attaching it to the sturdy desk he'd built for the young teen to work at. He grinned without turning around as Kokoro set her hand on his shoulder.

"So...Why Iceburg, Tom? It seems a strange name to give a future shipwright. Icebergs destroy ships, they don't build orfix them!"

"Tahaha! Unskilled and unwary sailors destroy ships, not icebergs! You can't rightly blame the iceberg for being so steadily anchored against the ship…or the ship for being steered into it! With the right crew an iceberg will only alter the course of a ship, not hinder it! Besides…" his eyes gleamed "the thing about icebergs…what you see on the surface is only the tip - a very small preview of what's left to be discovered underneath."

She gave a wide smile. He was a man she couldn't help but love.

"You know, she reminds me of you…Ms. Icefish Mermaid! Back when you were young and proper, unspoilt by my terrible influence! TAHAHA!"

She laughed with him and thought of many years prior, when they'd left Fishman Island to come to Water 7. Many of her family members had been upset with her for ignoring proprieties and leaving with a Fishman, but Tom was her dearest friend who she held great respect for. He had a dream and she believed in it too: that some day both those who come from above and under the surface of the waves could find a way to be able to coexist in harmony. He was sure the different races could love, teach and support one another and create a perfect balance. It could get hard to keep faith some days with how many of the humans, celestial dragons - and even some merfolk - carried on, but she still held strong to that dream of his.

She had been a younger mermaid back then, beautiful, thin and nearly untouched by age. She had only recently gained her legs then, having just turned thirty. She arrived and was almost instantly Water 7s most sought after bachelorette - especially when word went around that she was indeed a mermaid. She'd eventually found someone though, a wonderful, successful human gentleman who she thought hadn't cared about any of that stuff. She winced at the memory how how trusting she had been. It had been her that he was in love with, not her mermaid blood, she'd been sure of it.

She had been so sure.

"Kokoro?"

"Hm?" She looked to Tom and smiled, still somewhat lost in her thoughts.

"…I told you it wasn't a damn ghost!"

She rolled her eyes and smacked him in the back of his head.

He was also a man she couldn't help but hate sometimes.

"Goodnight, you old pain in the ass."

He was left laughing hysterically as she crept away to go check in on Iceburg for the third time that night. She was surprised to see the teen still awake. She looked deep in thought, but looked to Kokoro when she heard the floor creak.

"Hello." Her voice was quiet

"Sorry to startle you...just checking in. Do you need anything?"

She shook her head, looking pensive.

"No, thank you. Ms. K-Kokoro?"

She blinked in surprise at the formality, then smiled.

"Yes?"

"Do you think Mr. Thomas meant what he said? That I...I could be a boy if I wanted? He wouldn't mind?"

She beamed and nodded.

"I'd have to say that Tom means everything he says. He's not usually one to bullshit or hold back. If the people he cares for are happy, he's happy - and it seems he cares a lot for you already! He'd never mind such a thing...is it what you'd want?"

Iceburg looked away and gave a timid nod. There was a short pause before the silence was broken.

"Do you think it's weird? For me to feel that way?"

"Not at all...silly boy."

Iceburg blushed and tried to hide the smile that had appeared.

"Right, so! I'll go let Tom know that's how it is, then I'm off to bed. I think it'll be easier for him, y'know...he seemed to already know you were a boy, didn't he?"

They exchanged smiles, then Kokoro slowly backed out the door.

"Now...Goodnight, Iceburg."