Didn't edit this chapter much. I think it sort of pushes forward the story. As the author looking back, I can be like "oh, this was a bit clever" but I'm not sure how good of a chapter this is.
"Am I wrong? Am I right?
Everything is like a dream
You see color I feel blue
Do not know other type of the world"
- "Blue", OLDCODEX
"Dan-kun," Marucho said as Dan prepared to leave. "Tomorrow, let's try something."
"What is it?" The older boy asked.
Marucho pushed some loose strands of hair out of his face, before speaking. "We found our shortened chants,correct? If you managed to summon Drago just by saying his name-which is half of your chant, by the way-then I theorize that half of the summoning chant may be a way to compress the beasts from their original size."
"Eh?" Dan's shortened summoning chant was simple. 'Drago noverem.' is what it was. Marucho's was way more complicated, shorter than his original chant, but still quite long and easy to trip over. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Marucho paused slightly, before continuing. "I'm saying I want to try to summon my beast. I want to test this theory."
"...Now?" Dan asked, unsure if he was comfortable with that.
"Well I refuse to wait any longer." Marucho was using one of his business skills now, Dan could tell. Since Marucho was to inherit the family company, he of course learned from an early age how to do business. Marucho was using the tone of voice an impatient loan shark would use when asking for their money back-serious, slow, and nearly frightening when you hear it.
Dan sighed. "Fine. We'll do it now."
"Very well then. Drago?" Marucho called. The marble looked at the young man.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay with this development?" Marucho wanted to make sure Drago was okay with this before taking part in the summoning. He, like Dan, had no idea what would happen if the two beasts met. Drago managed a nod.
"I am."
"Drago was talking about your theory yesterday when he appeared." Dan said. "That was one of the first things he told me. "I theorize it's because you said half of the summoning chant." I didn't know what that meant though..."
"Well if both of us came to that conclusion, then it should be correct." Marucho grinned. "Now come on. I'll have Kato take us to the pier."
10 minutes later, they were in the car, Marucho's butler Kato driving. Marucho had told Dan and Drago before they left to not speak of the beasts around him, because Kato would report to his father and Marucho did not want them to interfere.
"This situation is mine, and I refuse to allow it to become anyone else's." Marucho whispered, using that loan shark tone. Dan nodded in response, getting the memo.
"Maru-chan," Dan said, calling Marucho by his childhood nickname. "Do you think Alice still has her logs?" Marucho thought it over, before nodding.
"It's a low chance, but I believe so. Alice-chan treasured our friendship. Mar-kun is very controlling, but if Alice wanted them badly, he wouldn't have touched them. It's her happiness before his." Marucho explained. "Although, that's just assuming they're still the same."
"They're still the same. I haven't seen them, but I have a feeling they are." Dan responded, looking at his shaking hands. Why were they shaking? "It's hard to change." Dan and Marucho sat in silence for a few minutes after hearing his words.
Kato pulled the car over to the docks of the (thankfully) empty piers. Dan and Marucho exited the car, and Marucho gave Kato some instructions before the old man left in the car.
"What did you tell him?" Dan asked.
"I told him not to come back until I call for him. And to have the police block off this section of the city." The section by the piers were just old warehouses and cargo ships, but it made Dan shiver at Marucho's family influence.
"Kami, dude." The older boy sighed. "Alright. Let's go ahead and do this."
"Maru-chan-sama-"
"Call me Marucho, Drago." Marucho smiled.
"Marucho-sama. It would be wise to take time to clear your mind and yourself. Preyas is a wild beast to control, and even you had trouble originally with him." The marble advised. "It has been many years, and you need to assert your authority if this theory is not correct and you accidentally summon him in full size." Marucho nodded.
"I understand." He inhaled. Dan patted him on the shoulder.
"Marucho. Dude, I have a weird feeling, but if you do this, something crazy is going to happen. Are you sure?" Dan did have a feeling that made him feel jittery. His legs were shaking now.
"Perhaps it's the feeling of knowing we're going on another adventure." Marucho said, looking toward the setting sun. "Like many years before, we're confronted with the possibility to do something others simply cannot, and that's what is making you anxious. Maybe it's the feeling of nostalgia. Maybe...we're doing something right by doing this. And it feels good." Dan looked at the younger boy in confusion, before grinning.
"I have no idea what you just said, but whatever it meant, we're doing this together. For better or worse." Marucho nodded.
"Good. And Drago. Thanks for opening these possibilities." Marucho walked ahead on the wooden boardwalk towards the edge, and stopped there. He took another breath.
"Umi no vegrande questin na gojiku nami buranda e to kiland he! Usan ni dregn vrok hyung sa redent. Espion tu Preyas teh sandi ka me luan cho!" He yelled. Dan and Drago watched from the distance as nothing happened.
"It didn't work Maru-" Dan suddenly fell over on his knees, eyes bulging as he clasped a hand over his mouth. He felt a powerful feeling of nausea. If he moved even slightly, he felt like he would puke. Dan's head began to throb. He felt disgusting and he hated it.
"Danma-sama?!" Drago called out in worry from the ground (he had fallen from Dan's shoulder when he lurched over.) "Are you okay?"
"Wooooooo~!" An energetic voice shouted. Dan looked up (a big mistake since his stomach decided to empty itself at that moment) and when he recovered, he saw a big reptilian fish man creature. Or at least, the upper body of it. It was standing in the water a distance away.
He knew this had to be Preyas.
"What is this place?" Preyas remarked, looking around. "Looks like Shunny-boy did some redecorating, eh Elfin?" Preyas blinked before realizing whoever he was talking to wasn't there. "Elfin?!"
"Preyas..." Dan heard Marucho whisper in awe, before clearing his throat and speaking louder. "Preyas!" The beast obviously heard him and looked around.
"Eh? Who are ya?" He took notice of them on the docks. "Oh my Wayvern! It's a human!"
"Preyas. I command you to listen to me." Marucho said sternly. "I am your-" What was Marucho to Preyas? "-I am your king and you must listen to me as such!" That really got the beast's attention.
"Listen kid. My king's a short-stuff. Blond hair. Blue eyes. Red glasses. Annoyingly smart." Preyas looked over the boy. "That doesn't seem to be you. Impressive ya managed to summon me though."
Marucho sighed, and dusted off his jacket sleeve. "You play too much, Preyas. It is partially my fault for not introducing myself, but very well. I am Choji Marakura, but you know me as Maru-chan, with the optional 'sama'."
Preyas let out a loud laugh.
"You expect me to believe that?!" He said in between laughs. "Alright listen kid. I'll play along with you bein' my king or whatever, but ya have to send me back okay?" Marucho shook his head.
"I don't recall you being so difficult..." He muttered. "Very well. Dan, are you okay?"
Dan nodded, having stood minutes before. His nausea passed soon after he vomited. "I'm good. Man, that was a disgusting feeling."
"I was so worried, Danma-sama." Drago said from his shoulder.
"Nah it's cool dude." Preyas looked at Dan.
"Oi. Was that just Drago I heard?" He asked the eldest human present.
"Indeed." Drago responded. Preyas made a serious face (which is a rare sight.)
"Holy Core, it is Drago. And if that's Drago, then that must be Danma-sama. And if that's Danma-sama..." Preyas looked at Marucho. "You really are Maru-chan! Man, Maru-chan, you sure did grow a lot!" Marucho let a small smile out.
"I suppose I did."
Preyas looked around. "So this is Earth then? Woooowww! Last time I was here, Maru-chan said we couldn't go swimmin'. Course now we can now, right Maru-chan?" Marucho wearily nodded.
"Of course."
'Does he even realize where he's at?' Dan thought to himself.
"Let's catch some waves then bro! Surfer dudes always get the chicks!" Marucho chose at this moment to begin ignoring his beast.
"Much more urgent matters appear. Such as...you are not in marble form. That poses a huge problem, and it simply cannot be resolved in such a short amount of time." Marucho's face turned grim. "I only curse myself for giving you such a long summoning chant, but nonetheless I cannot change anything."
"Perhaps you should exclude a line in what you think is half of your chant." Dan shrugs. "That was a long ass chant."
"You wanna do what now?" Preyas interrupts.
Marucho ignores him again. "Hm...that seems logical, no? Very well. I shall attempt." And so Marucho repeated his chant again, excluding the final line in what he believed was half of his chant. They waited.
Nothing happened.
"What were you expectin' aga-Woah!" Preyas began to glow a blue light and his form shrunk until it was a small ball shape.
"Yes!" Marucho cheered.
The ball shape, which was hovering above the water, promptly fell down into the sea.
"FUCK!" That was the first time Dan had ever heard Marucho curse. Ever.
"What are you gonna do? I can go in there and get him for you." Dan said, referencing the water. He began to take off his jacket, but was stopped by Marucho extending his arm out in front of him. "Eh?"
"Stop treating me like I'm a child. I am the son of a Yakuza boss, are you aware? This? Is nothing compared to what I've done." Marucho ran his hand through his neatly done hair, messing it up.
"Um...no. I wasn't aware of that fact at all." Dan said, before shrugging. "But whatever floats."
Marucho sighed at his friend, before stripping down to his underwear. He then dived in the water.
Dan watched from the dock, waiting for his friend to surface. He whistled to himself. "Yakuza heir. Woooow."
"Danma-sama? Who are you talking to?" Dan was startled, as he had forgotten that Drago were even there at all.
"Um, no one."
Marucho resurfaced the water, gasping for air. He quickly dove back under, swimming.
"Drago? Why do you call me Danma-sama?" Usually only people like his teachers called him 'Danma', and only obsessed fans (which he surprisingly had a lot of) used the suffix sama for him.
"That's what you told me to call you." Drago's answer was short and informative.
"Alright..." Dan yawned a bit. "Call me Dan from now on, okay."
Drago didn't protest at all. "Okay." His tone sounded...relieved almost. Dan didn't think much of it. Finally Marucho surfaced with his clenched fist raised in the air.
"FOUND HIM!" He shouted. Dan gave him a thumbs up.
"Nice." Dan replied, but Marucho didn't seem to notice nor care. He appeared too happy at the prospect of having his childhood friend in his arms.