Chapter 11: An Early Meeting

Sora stepped one foot off of the transport and tapped it on the deck of Fujimoto's odd submarine to see if it was stable. Satisfied, she took the small leap onto the deck. The ship rocked slightly causing her to claw at the air in order to gain her balance and not fall into the water behind her. She then felt a large hand on her back, steadying her. Once she was on an even keel she turned to see who her savior was and noticed Fujimoto standing tall and stiff behind her with a deadpan expression on his face. Sora attempted a smile to thank him and quickly headed onto the submarine. She then tried to walk below deck. However her first step on the highly lacquered deck sent her sliding into the splits. Letting out a surprised yelp, Sora jumped to her feet just as fast as she fell down, her cheeks immediately reddening in embarrassment. Could she be more clumsy; she thought in frustration. Fujimoto, who had just boarded, only looked over his shoulder at her with an eyebrow raised.

"It's slippery." She stated lamely, rubbing off some imaginary dirt on her coat.

"Yes, water tends to have that effect on things." He drawled before climbing the ladder to the helm.

Sora gritted her teeth in annoyance, suppressing the urge to snap at him. She couldn't possibly see how they were going to work together if they couldn't even take a boat ride together. He did not seem so grumpy when she was first introduced to him, she thought, but then again she was the highest authority in the castle at the time and he was not yet her master.

"Oh how the tables have turned," she muttered to herself. Folding her arms across her chest, she sat down on the deck and looked out at the glistening ocean. "So how does this thing work?" She asked, not bothering to glance back at him. "I'm assuming that it will allow us to breathe underwater."

"It will," he answered, not bothering to explain the finer points of the breathing apparatus further. Sora did not press him on the matter, figuring that she only asked in order to strike up polite conversation.

Being discrete, Fujimoto looked down at the girl sitting on the deck. She watched the glassy water, having nothing else to do, yet it seemed to Fujimoto that her mind was constantly working. Her far-off gaze told him that she was in a different world at the moment; one of thought and dream. He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not but at least she had the inclination to think, like Shou. Fujimoto redirected his attention to the submarine controls and pulled some leavers and pressed some pedals in order to get them underway. His home was almost directly below them and the trip would be relatively short.

The engine sprang to life and made a continual purring sound as the boat descended into the water. Sora's heart began to thump in her chest as she felt them begin to sink downwards. She really was not sure how this contraption worked or even if it was suited for an air spirit to travel on. There was only one way to find out, she thought, just be brave. Water then spilled over the deck and onto her legs, climbing higher and higher up her body until finally her head was fully submerged. Sora wished she had taken a breath because she now held very little air in her lungs. Clenching her fists together in order to brace herself, she sucked in what she thought was a nose and mouth-full of sea water. However to her surprise, she found that it was air… or breathable water, more-like. Looking around her, she noticed the submarine was enclosed by a magical bubble that allowed both her and Fujimoto to breathe. Still, her hair and clothes acted just as if it were submerged in water. She knew that that was going to take some time getting used to… and that wearing dresses during her stay was out of the question.

All sorts of little and big sea creatures swam by the boat as they descended; jelly fish, tuna, sharks and other things she could not yet identify. Sora stared at them in awe, never having seen most of these animals before in person. Living in the sky and on land did not allow her to discover what was beneath the ocean. She was amazed by how much was hidden from her beneath the ocean and wished to further explore it. She smiled as a pod of dolphins swam by, and for the first time she felt excited about being there.

"How old are you?" Fujimoto asked ending the silence between them. Sora turned away from the dolphins to look up at him at the helm.

"Eighteen," she replied, somewhat apprehensive about telling him the truth.

He nodded remembering what the others had told him. "So young to be Mistress of the Winds," he mused.

"Does that bother you?" She asked knowing that others had prejudices against the idea. Many of the masters felt like they were being stepped on by her because she was Shou's daughter.

"No, not if you show competence as my pupil," he answered honestly.

Sora nodded accepting this answer. "If you don't mind me asking why did you decide to become my teacher? After all you're not an air master."

"You're wondering what it is that makes me entitled to this job," he said pointedly. "Let me answer by saying you're perfectly aware of the partnership that must be made between air and sea for both to function properly. Without water there would be no clouds to fill the sky, no moisture for fog or marine layer and no rain to cool and nourish the earth; and without air there would be nothing to spread the sands across the shores, no force to make the great currents flow or waves crash along the beach. Without each other, we are lost. Therefore the earth made air and water form a pact to work together in harmony.

"This pact is the partnership I am obligated to form with you and the same with you for me. What I'm trying to get at is that we would have met sooner or later, only now it's not so far down the road as Shou and I thought. Besides, you have completed your training on the elements earth, air, and fire but you have yet to master the most important companion to air: water. This is the matter in which I excel in. You could not have a better teacher than I on the subject which is why I have taken the liberty of adopting you as my apprentice."

Sora felt somewhat embarrassed that she was told so little about this bond. Shou had not prepared her for when he would be gone and already she was running into trouble and complications and this was only day one.

AN: Hey! I know it's been quite a long time since an update but please please let me know what you think. I really like this story and wish to continue it as long as I have your support dear readers :)