Note: This was written in response to the whole "Kei-Death-and-Isobu-Angst" prompt Lang got this past summer. Because I'm a fluff master at heart and every Tailed Beast needs a hug.

I recommend pulling up the original song and translated lyrics of Mermaid Melody's Legend of Mermaid for the whole impact of this drabble-turned-small story. Because this is going into the Lighter and Softer The Sea and Stars universe. :p

Sparkle 30: A Turtle in the Sea

Despite my seeing a lot of the Canon Narutoverse beyond that of my reincarnation buddy, Kei, I didn't know much about Isobu. Aside from his sealing into Yagura and the whole mishap with Canon Rin, I didn't have much else on him, unlike say, Kurama or Shukaku. Perhaps it was a fault of Kishimoto for not expanding on that part of the story, or really the whole Japanese work industry in general when it came to manga. After all, people in Japan were known to die from overworking before. Still, the whole question mark situation about Isobu would be the same and would remain unchanged if I didn't do something about it.

Hisako, naturally, didn't approve of my thought process.

Tomoko-chan, he's a giant Tailed Beast and you're a civilian girl who's lucky to have powerful ninja on her side, plus a chakra ability that's been extinct for years. Why do you want to interact with him?

To make a difference. And to at least jumpstart Friendship when Naruto hasn't come around as a Hero yet.

My Nobody immediately went silent at that.

Still, despite my resolve, I had no real way of contacting him. Sure, I could ask Kei, but considering the rumors I heard when it came to the last time she let someone in her head?

Not exactly a great idea to consider…

It was why one day, I just sat at the piano when no one else was around, singing Legend of Mermaid all the while as a way of expressing my thoughts.

By now, it was probably a song no one in my Narutoverse would recognize. Kei and Obito might, but aside from that, no one from the old world was really into Mermaid Melody like I — like Vy was. No one was really invested in the tale of mermaids trying to interact with the surface world and save their brethren from sea demons through the power of music. But those mermaids did something for me. For Vy.

They proved, at least, that love, whether platonic or romantic, meant something to people. Even in spite of selfishness and dark thoughts.

So, I sang all the while in the quiet environment of the cafe, not even having to think for the lyrics to come up to the tip of my tongue. My heart and mind would always know the route needed to return to the seven seas.

I wasn't expecting Kei to sneak up on me, or just sit down next to me on the piano bench, interrupting with a quiet call of my nickname. Thankfully, I had just finished a verse, so I could stop and stare.

Kei scratched the back of her head before meeting my gaze with a sheepish look. "Quote from Isobu. 'What seven seas are you singing about, and why are you assuming there is a shining future.'" She frowned as her gaze went elsewhere, almost as if she was spacing for a moment before she turned back to me. "Sorry about him. Being rude, I mean. I didn't exactly know the song."

Hisako let out a loud shriek in response, Oblivion Keyblade clanking against the library tile in my head. ISOBU? Asking about your stuff?! Did a planet blow up or something!?

Hisako. Shush for a moment, please.

My Nobody subsided with a loud huff. If you say so.

I can do so, Hisako. It's okay.

Outwardly, I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "It's part of the song, those seven seas. Same thing with the shining future part. And…" Well, there wasn't any better way of putting this, so I activated the nearest privacy seal on the piano before continuing. "Well, it's a song from Vy's time. When the world could have seven seas. Legend of Mermaid, it's called."

"Huh," Kei said softly, but I could tell without even needing to be a chakra sensor that I threw her for a loop. She didn't know. Of course. Mermaid Melody was an offbeat anime, even for the early 2000s, so not a lot of people except those who really lurked on YouTube a lot saw the show. "And, you were singing it because—"

"Because I felt like it and it still means something to me?"

Kei paused again, and she glanced to the side before turning back to me. "Is that it?"

Of course she caught on. "I was thinking of Isobu-san in the process too?" My voice cracked with the admission.

Another pause. "Isobu just asked, 'Why.'" Kei said finally, and her solemn tone delivered everything.

Isobu was listening to me.

I just smiled again, in spite of the sweat building up in my palms. "Because everyone deserves a little something and that song was the only thing I could think of that resembled the sea. Aside from, well, Lugia."

And I don't know how else I can talk to him without possibly insulting him by accident. Humanity wronged the Tailed Beasts enough already, and a small song is the least I can do.

Kei gave me an incredulous stare. Then, she whipped her head to the side for a single second, signaling another spacing. Once the moment was over, and I had time to wipe my hands on my kimono skirt, she turned back to me with that same sheepish smile. "Could you sing it again? All of it this time?"

My heart jumped a meter high in my ribs as I nodded, almost too eagerly. "I wouldn't say no."

Singing about the paradise of the seven seas and the treasure island past the shortcut, this time at least, seemed to do something. If I closed my eyes and thought about it, I could've sworn I heard a soft, neutral rumble in the air.

It was enough for me.