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Years prior on the same little balcony, soon after he first arrived to Kokoro's apartment, Iceburg sat with one leg crossed over his knee. He was engrossed in an old, heavy, hardcover book that told about the island and its history. Kokoro had given him free reign over her small library and he'd nearly lost himself poring over the knowledge before him. When he realized the sun was nearly hidden by the horizon, he set the hardcover down atop the stack of other books he'd brought out with him and looked out across the city.

Water 7...

He found he enjoyed the way things were designed. The buildings were interesting - many of the nearby ones were tall and lean with rounded rooftops. Everything was built atop of the old city; now entirely submerged and hardly visible if one wasn't looking closely for it. There were docks, waterways, bridges and stairs all around and it built up to an extravagant fountain at the tip of the city. For once, water looked peaceful and beautiful to him; it brought comfort instead of fear. It was like an aquatic labyrinth; a magic city that you'd be happy to be lost in for the rest of your days.

He jumped when the door burst open and clacked against the wall behind him but smiled widely when he saw it was Kokoro.

She put her hand to her heart and let out a deep breath of relief.

"What's wrong?" He cocked his head to the side as he spoke.

"Lord I was worried! I couldn't find you."

"Well, I'm rather sorry about that. I've been out here reading..."

"You're too quiet! I was caught up with cleaning and didn't even hear you come out. I thought you were gone, maybe something happened." She stepped out beside him.

"I'm sorry."

She laughed and set a hand on his shoulder.

"No need to apologize at all, dear. I just can't help but worry." She nodded at the table "Enjoying the books, are you?"

He nodded excitedly and looked down at the stack.

"I've learned a lot already from them. Thank you again."

She smiled.

"Now then, I came to tell you that Tom's here. He says he's got some things to talk about. Let's see what he's come up with, eh?"

He jumped up, took the stack of books and followed her back inside.

"Iceburg!" Tom's booming voice greeted him as he entered the small apartment.

"It's lovely to see you again, sir." He quickly put the books back onto the shelf and hurried back to Kokoro's side. He was surprised by how the place had changed while he'd been out on the balcony reading. She had worked quickly to get the place in a comfortable, welcoming order.

"I've got news - both bad and good I suppose!"

"Oh?"

Iceburg realized he felt awkward as he stood - he was still very unsure of how to stand without feeling so dainty and feminine so he took a seat. He silently cursed himself, now more awkward than before as he shuffled about. He crossed then uncrossed his legs several times before finally settling with both legs firmly planted on the ground. He sighed as he imagined how ridiculous he looked but no one seemed to take notice.

"You can't go to the public school here."

He smiled lightly. He had been so focussed on his appearance he hadn't braced himself for what the news could've been - he was glad it wasn't something about Giroux or the others.

"That's unfortunate, but I don't mind really. As far as bad news goes I believe...I'd say that's quite tame."

Tom laughed; Kokoro looked annoyed about it but questioned him calmly.

"Why not then, what was the problem Tom? Let's hear it."

"The school is operated by the city and apparently because of that you need to have proper documentation to attend. Since we have no identification for you, or even a registry for ourselves- HAH - you're not allowed. Even if we did, in order to start anew I think it's better not to use anything to do with your old identity."

Kokoro sighed.

"Are you sure there's no way?"

He nodded firmly.

"There'll be no attending public school in Water 7."

"That's too bad...we'll figure something out, I'm sure." She set a hand on Iceburg's shoulder.

"Now, now, don't be so glum! I didn't let that stop me! I didn't spend all day doing nothing. I told you both I'd get it figured out, and I have! With a DON! You'll still be going to school."

"Tom! I swear, if you're dealing with any criminals - using false IDs or something of the likes, I won't forgive it! I think we've been alienated from the town enough for one lifetime!"

Tom answered her with a loud laugh.

"If you're interested, it's settled - there's a boys' private school uptown that doesn't actually require formal identification. Heh. All it takes is a bit of money."

Kokoro made a sound of disbelief.

"A LOT of money, Tom. How on earth are we going to manage that!?"

He only laughed again, before turning back to the teen.

"There's no problem! Don't listen to her. Never listen to her when she gets worrying like this." He gave a quick wink and Iceburg couldn't help but smile in return. "We'll have to get you signed up soon though - if you're interested. It's nearly the end of the semester after all!"

He nodded slowly in reply.

"I think it's best. Safest."

"Then it's settled!"

Kokoro sighed.

"We'll get it figured out tomorrow then. For now, it's almost time to eat. Will you be joining us for dinner, Tom?"

"Nah, there's something that's been on my mind all day that I have to go tend to down at the scrap yard!"

Kokoro gave him an odd look, the turned her attention to Iceburg.

"Well, go wash up for dinner then. It'll be bed soon after we eat! Big day tomorrow, right?"

After he was out of the room, she crossed her arms and stared intensely at Tom.

"Tom...I have to know. How on earth are we going to manage a thing like this?"

He grinned.

"I said it's settled didn't I?"

"But what of the money!?"

"What of it?"

He smiled innocently at her and it took all her power not to smack him - to keep her voice hushed.

"How could it possibly be 'settled' Tom!? I'm serious, you have to tell me what your plan is here because here's no way we could ever just afford to send that child to that school unless..." she stumbled over her words and stared at him in utter disbelief. "Unless you...you..."

Tom laughed louder and longer than he had in many years. He wiped a tear away and held his sides.

"Unless...No...there's no way. You wouldn't - not after all that work and all that searching."

"Unless what!?"

"Unless you sold the Adam's Wood."

He shrugged with a somewhat sheepish grin on his face.

"I sold the Adam's wood."

Her jaw nearly hit the floor for how casual he stated such a severe thing.

"Tom!?" Her voice rose but it wasn't quite a question.

"Kokoro..."

"I mean, of course there was still a long ways to go before you had enough to do a proper ship again like the Oro Jackson, but still - "

"Well I see it as a perfectly worthy investment regardless."

"How do you mean!? Of course I want the child to have the best start possible, but private school? We've lived nearly in squalor for all of these years spending and using as little as possible, always putting money away into the safe for when the day came...and now? He's obviously already very well educated and would do just as well-"

"Kokoro." When he repeated her name he did so softly; she quieted herself and listened. "With this, he's going to have the best start possible. I already promised him I'd do whatever I could - whatever it takes. Not only will he be kept far away from the eyes of suspicion and the danger that would follow... It'll open up doors for him - opportunities someone like me could only imagine! So when the time comes I won't be there to guide him anymore, well - " his eyes shone "he will have formal recognition from a proper school. He'll have the opportunity to be a respectable person - do what he wants to do. Be who he wants to be. Sure, he'll be a shipwright when we're through but it'll be up to him whether he pursues that or not."

"But - "

"No. I don't need the Adam's wood. I've no use for it yet anyways."

Kokoro only stared at him with a look of confusion., which caused him to laugh loudly.

"I feel like...no, I know - it will be quite some time before another crew comes along who'll need such a sturdy ship. When that time comes - " he narrowed his eyes and grinned "I want him to be ready for it. He'll build that ship, and he'll do it with a don!"

Kokoro smiled and went about setting the dinner table.

"You're really something else, Tom...you never cease to surprise and amaze me."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing then?" He looked somewhat guilty as he asked.

"A good thing, I think. I suppose time will tell." She laughed as she looked to him "Either way, I'm proud. I may be shocked, yes, and perhaps a bit confused...but I've learned to try not to wonder so much about the things you do. It'll be fine, whatever happens."

"Exactly! That's the spirit! It'll be fine." He patted her shoulder as he headed to the door "I'm out of here then. I really have to get back to the scrap yard now...tell Iceburg good night for me! The money for school and anything else you guys will need for the next while is in your purse."

She nodded.

"Good night, Tom. Thank you."

When the next day came and it was time to register, Iceburg felt surprisingly calm and prepared. He walked for a long distance with Kokoro across the city to the school that would be his home for nearly two years; the old ivy and moss covered stone building that read "Water 7 Boys Academy". It unsettled him at first, how it reminded him of his old home, but he pressed on.

They welcomed him eagerly.

"A fine young gentleman.", "A most wonderful son", "such a stunning example of fine mannerisms."

The words of Kokoro and the school staff as he was introduced one by one left him feeling absolutely euphoric. Not one person seemed to question his identity. Students smiled pleasantly at him as they passed without a single remark. Plenty of the boys had long hair just as he did and he even saw a few that were definitely wearing makeup.

The school accepted the payment and before he knew it, he had a file of his own opened with identification all issued on the spot. They surprised him with a blinding flash as they took his photo, but it was exciting at the same time. Any other time he'd had his photo taken he'd been awkwardly posed, heavily make-upped and dressed like a living doll, unable to move and hardly able to breathe. He thought back to those photos that hung in the halls of his old home and what he remembered was what appeared to be a corpse. A smile falsely decorating empty, sad eyes.

He stared down at the paperwork. Just like that, he was an official citizen of Water 7. His eyes shone as he scanned over the details: Male, 14 years of age, D.O.B - January 3rd, Hair - Violet, Eyes - Brown, Height - 5'4...

"Is everything in order then? That all looks right?"

"It looks wonderful, thank you, sir."

The picture of him came as a bit of a shock. He didn't look as masculine as he'd imagined, but wildly different than he used to. His eyes were full of life and the uniform seemed to suit him well. He was fine with looking androgynous over looking like a girl. He smiled up at Kokoro, who looked as though she might cry.

The councillor he'd been working with shook their hands.

"I do believe you'll fit in here rather well here. It should all go rather smoothly from here."

And so it did. At first.

The boys he had classes with were all so soft-spoken and polite; some even had voices that were lighter than his. They conversed intelligently and respectfully about topics that interested Iceburg. He quickly found himself able to join in and add his input on subjects he was familiar with. They welcomed him into conversation gladly and listened to his thoughts on all sorts of matters. Many were dainty and well-groomed, but there were some obvious rebels; punks who's unbreakable sprits shone through the simple black and red uniforms with messy hair, accessories and other little ways of expressing themselves.

He was pleasantly surprised, as there'd only been a couple of boys he'd met that ever acted as proper as this lot - one being his own brother. He frowned at the thought and turned his head away from his dinner and the others.

His own brother; for the fleeting time he knew him before he went on with his studies and began to change...

Feeling ill and unable to finish his meal, he decided to return to the dormitory he was assigned and lay down for awhile. A lot had happened over the years and he needed time to process it all.

That was where the smooth sailing ended, and rough waters arose; where he met Dylin.

Iceburg found that his bed, surprisingly, was the only one occupied in the dim, baroque room.

He cleared his throat at the figure slumped haphazardly across his bunk. The person was puffing on a hand rolled cigarette and reading several newspapers that were strewn across the blankets. He attempted to speak calmly and clearly despite his shaky body and even shakier emotions.

"Excuse me - I'm not sure we've met, but I'm new here and... unfortunately I'm sure that bunk was assigned to me." He pointed a shaky finger at the lower bunk of one of three bunkbeds.

The older looking boy looked up and blinked at him a few times, before he grinned widely. He brushed medium length black hair back from his broad, chiseled face before he took another long inhale from his cigarette.

"Well, unfortunately I'm sure this is...a Boy's School, little girl."

He blew out an enormous cloud of smoke into his face and let out a slow, mocking laugh.