Really, in its own way it was quite amazing.
In spite of the looming moon, in spite of the great storm, the lighting and the ice from the sky.
The people on the shore still insisted upon fighting with all that they got.
Standing in the heavy rain with their big cannons, firing upon ships approaching shore, Hiyatakas voice was so loud it could even be heard over the wind. "FIIREEEEE! DO NOT LET THEM COME ANY CLOSER! SINK THOSE SHIPS! ATTACK!"
Fujimoto wrinkled his nose in disgust as he held his dear goddess in his arms. "I'm sorry Granmammare, it looks like we wont be able to just go out to the shore." He commented. "I must find somewhere else to return you."
"I understand." Granmammare told still having her arms wrapped around Fujimotos neck.
"The cliff-side, no ships can come in there." Fujimoto told. "You'll be able to slip back into the ocean and avoid the fire, you need to swim away from here quickly ones you are back." He told.
Granmammare smiled up at Fujimoto, touching his cheek with a weak hand. "Always so worried for my well being." She commented.
"Of course I am." Fujimoto told. "I don't know what I would do if you got hurt." He told. "I.." he cleared his throat. "Come on, no time to waste!" he stated walking right behind all of the cannons and all of the fighting people, whom were all far to busy to even notice.
They didn't notice as Fujimoto moved Granmammare to his back and grabbed the cliff side to start climbling, the odd picture of the transparent red haired goddess on the back of a red haired man went compleately unnoticed.
That was until the man of the battle turned his head and saw, Hiyataka saw it, the man climbing the cliff with the goddess and Hiyataka dropped his sword at ones the moment he realised that this young man, whom he recognised at ones in spite of the strange appearance, in spite of the fact that he was commanding the rain and wind not to harm him and the sea goddess was holding unto him. "FUJIMOTO" Hiyataka yelled.
"Father?" Tasue asked and then followed Hiyatakas eyes, his own eyes widening by the sight. "FUJI!" he exclaimed.
Hiyataka didn't take more notice then that though as he threw away anything he had had in his hands, the battle in front of him compleately forgotten as he ran for his youngest son. "FUJIMOTOOO!" he yelled.
Also Odan had finally noticed from the regiment he was fighting with. "FATHER!" he gasped as he saw his father running for the cliff, frantically his eyes ran from the approaching ships to his father and brother running towards his youngest brother, then bit together facing the ships. "It's okay father, go get Fujimoto back, I'll hold these forces for you." He told out in the air before he raised his voice. "MY FATHER IS ON A IMPORTANT MISSION! NOW LISTEN TO ME!" he yelled. "GO TO THE WEST WEST! THE FLAG SHIP! DO NOT LET IT ENTER!"
"FUJIMOTO!"
Wide-eyed Fujimoto blinked as he looked down from where he was climbing and saw two men, crawling up towards him, his so called father and the middle brother. "What are they doing here?" he hissed.
"Fujimoto dear." Granmammare spoke from his back in a weak voice.
"Don't worrie, I wont let them harm you, not again." Fujimoto told as he turned around looking angrily at the two men, whom was defying both storm and rain to climb after him, both soaked to the bone. "Turn back." He hissed at them.
"Fuji!" Tatsue gasped horriefied as he barely managed to hold on the stony cliffside, due to the great wind and icing rain hammering down on him, it seemed ridicoules that the much thinner Fujimoto was such a rock against these wild forces of nature now. "What are you doing?!"
"You should know that." Fujimoto hissed back in a threatening tone. "I gave you a choice, any of you could have acted, listened, but you didn't! You all chose to be pig headed! SO STAND BACK!" he hissed raising his arm and the water around them moved on his command, ramming into the two men after him as if it was a water bomb sending them downwards again, and Fujimoto didn't waste time before he turned around and continued his climb.
He reached the opening and wrestled Granmammare in front, holding her in bridal style as he ran for the opening just above the ocean.
The two other men just managing to come through as well as they saw Fujimoto standing there, with the goddess of Mercy in his arms above the ocean surface, anger shining in his eyes as clear as the thunder right behind him and the wind grabbing his soaked flaming red hair, whirling it around in the wind.
"Fujimoto!" Hiyataka gasped holding out a hand. "My son! Please!"
"Don't think you have the right to address me as your son." Fujimoto hissed back at him. "Goodbye." He then told.
Tatsues eyes widened. "What do you mean?" he asked, just as Fujimoto turned towards the ocean, taking just one step backward and Tasue suddenly realised what the young man intended to do. "No wait." He asked. "FUJI WAIT!" he yelled.
But it was to late, Fujimoto with his dear goddess in his arms, took three running steps and then he jumped, the long way down in the ocean, with goddess and everything else.
Hiyataka screamed as he ran for the cliff surface reaching out his arms. "FUJIMOTOOOO!" he yelled hopelessly reaching down and would have fallen over and down to, if it wasn't for Tatsue whom grabbed him and pulled him back.
"FATHER! You can't jump in after him!" Tatsue exclaimed. "The waters will kill you! If not the storm then the ships just on the other side of these stones!"
"LET ME GO TATSUE!" Hiyataka roared. "I would do the same for any of the three of you! Without you three, I don't have anything! FUJIMOTO!" he yelled. "FUJIMOTO!"
Suddenly, the wild water beneath them began to shine, a warm glow of light seemed to emerge from the suddenly calm surface and with it a warm bobbling laughter, before suddenly the goddess of mercy herself broke the surface and jumped up like a dolphin made of light, jumping in a elegant bow before falling down into the water again.
The two men gaped by the sight as they scrambled to the cliff, then as they looked up they saw it, the clouds parting and revealing the blue sky behind, the sunlight, the rain seizing and the thunder stopping, the moon drifting back.
"Father.." Tatsue breathed. "Do you see this? It's…"
Hiyataka though closed his eyes, squinted them together. "All I see, is no Fujimoto." He told. "Where is he?" he asked.
"But father, this is beautiful." Tatsue gaped looking at the shimmers of light, lifting it all, he could definitely sense the goddess of mercy playing with the waves, seeing her light all around the place, not just yellow but a multitude of colours all across the waters, spreading out warmth and life. "It's… magnificent." He swallowed. "Is this what Fujimoto always saw?" he asked wondering. "It's no wonder he wants to protect it so much."
"Stolen." Hiyataka cried covering his tear filled with his hands. "She finally did it, stole him."
Tatsue swallowed. "Father I don't mean to interrupt but, Bushidas fleet." He told wide-eyed turning to the shores where one young man was standing in front leading the attack, they could just barely skim the battle over the cliffs blocking the view.
"Odan." Hiyataka suddenly realised. "Why is he leading the attack?"
"I think.. he's just doing what he thinks you would have wanted." Tatsue commented. "Like he always does, that's just how he is."
"Don't he realise he could get killed like that?!" Hiyataka exclaimed horrified and ran for the opening in the cliffs, almost jumped all the way down to the beach Tatsue barely following.
It was like seeing something in slowmotion, the other ships closing in, Odan there in the front.
Bullets flying left and right. Odan stood steadfast, but it was a loosing battle it was only a question of time.
"No." Hiyataka breathed. "Not my son! NOT MY SON!" he exclaimed.
Just as a huge cannon was aimed towards Odan and his regiment, the fuse was slowly burning down, and then the bang, that was sure to end Odans life for good.
Or would have if it wasn't because of the ocean itself suddenly rising up stopping that bullet.
Wide-eyed Hiyataka witnessed it, as the ocean rose up and swallowed all of the ships, the people, it even reached Hiyataka and Tatsue whom both gasped for air as the water covered them, lifted their arms to shield themselves from the massive wave taking all of them, squinted their eyes and then…
Then there was nothing.
Hiyataka squinted his eyes close, terriefied of all the water around him, was this the punishment the ocean itself had bestoved upon him?
That he should loose everything he had ever loved and life to remember what he had lost?
Then suddenly a light hand touched Hiyatakas shoulder. "Father.." a quiet voice spoke.
Hiyatakas eyes opened wide and he looked at Tatsue still standing right next to him, entirely okay, and speaking in spite of them all having been swallowed by water.
Then suddenly Hiyataka realised, he was dry, around him was water but he was dry, around him stood all the people whom had been swallowed up.
Both his own men and Bushidas, Odan was a foot in front of him also quite well, gaping as he looked in front of him.
Hiyataka followed his oldest sons eyes and his own mouth dropped open as well.
Because there stood a young man, with wild red hair, wide open shocked eyes and holding out his hand, as if he himself had just demanded the ocean to do this trick.
And at ones Hiyataka knew, that is exactly what had happened, Fujimoto had turned his head, realised what was happening and had saved all of them, by stopping this battle by himself.
Right by Fujimotos side stood Granmammare herself, smiling warmly at them, she was beautiful, it was hard to imagine a more beautiful creature than her here in her right enviroment, because all around them there was glistening fish and plants, corals and mussles, a grant kingdom, a forest of light.
Just like Fujimoto had said.
All the people down there could only gape as they gobsmacked looked at this wonder all around them, it was to amazing for words, vibrant and shimmering, alive.
Fujimoto took a breath as he stood back. "The goddess of Mercy wishes mercy upon you human kind." He then told. "That is why you are all going to be returned to the surface in a moment." He spoke.
All people were wide-eyed looking at him, not daring to speak a word.
"Mercy is her very nature, but don't be fooled, I'm not so kind." Fujimoto told. "From today, I'll be this oceans protector." He told. "Maybe Granmammare doesn't anger easily, but I certainly will." He stated. "Leave these oceans alone!" he demanded swinging a demanding hand as he frowned sternly. "You can sail on them in peace, fish for food, swim and enjoy yourself by the surface. But if I see another battle un top of these waves, curse the man whom pulled the trigger!" he hissed. "This is my warning to human kind!" he stated in a hiss. "I'll keep my end of the bargain as long as you keep yours! No more fighting!" he stated.
And suddenly the water filled up, obscuring Hiyatakas vision, he tried to reach for his youngest son, but the young man stood steadfast, moving longer and longer away, away from vision and away from reach.
Until suddenly, Hiyataka was back on the beach sourrounded by all the other people, both his own men and Bushidas, mixed and mingled.
Everything around them on the beach was downright serene and peaceful, you would never have been able to guess that just a little while ago, everything was obscured by the dark storm.
Hiyataka lifted his hand towards the ocean, a shaking hand, then it dropped as he closed his eyes looking down.
Bushida his rivalling lord as well was looking around, swallowing. "Men." He then spoke quietly. "We will retrieve, no one wishes to anger the spirits, it's bad luck." He stated. "And not just ordinary bad luck, bad luck that'll last for generations and will be passed on from parent to child. Immortal spirits can hold eternal grudges, nothing is worth that."
And all the men nodded, quietly following him unto their ships.
Hiyataka just let them, he didn't ask one single man to fire though this would have been a golden opportunity.
Odan was stunned quiet as he looked out at the ocean, still with as wide open eyes and slightly opened mouth.
They had all seen it now, seen the kingdom that resided beneath the waves.
Fujimotos ever praising words hadn't served it justice at all, no words could.. And they had all seen it, it could not be unseen.
Now they were all, simply aware.
"Fuji.." Tatsue spoke to the ocean. "I know you can hear us if you choose to listen. I don't know if you do listen though." He sighed. "I just want to say.. I think I understand." He then commented. "I can see why you would want to dedicate yourself to protect that kingdom of yours, it's a noble cause." He stated. "I guess that's it." He commented.
Odan swallowed. "This time he wont return, isn't that so?" he asked.
"Yes." Tatsue breathed. "He made his choice."
Hiyataka hissed as his fists tightened and he squinted his eyes closed.
Then Tatsue turned around and walked away.
"Hey where are you going?" Odan asked. "I think our father need our support right now."
Tatsue shook his head. "Sorry, I just need to think. I will be seeing you later." He then told, leaving his father and oldest brother behind.
It was a weird atmosphere that followed, the hours after and the days.
Fujimoto was gone, if you thought about it the old Fujimoto they had known was long gone and had been for a while.
Yet he wasn't dead, he was awfully close, just beneath the waves right outside the window where you could always see the ocean.
It didn't stop Hiyataka from grieving though, and Odan was worried for his older father, as always standing strongly by his side.
For the first time since the ford had been build, there was no attacks, it was downright peace.
The word of the angered spirits had spread and people were afraid of attacking, instead they had merely peacefully asked for permission to sail through, which had been granted on the promise that they did not attack.
It was an arrangement that benefited everybody.
And that was when, a few weeks after the incident where everything had sang serene peace that Tatsue stepped up and faced his older brother and his father.
"Father, Brother." Tatsue nodded at both of them. "I need to talk to you."
"Yes my son." Hiyataka addressed him, with lighter puzzled eyes.
"Lately, I've been thinking quite a lot, and I made up my mind." Tatsue hesitated. "I'm going to leave this foretress." He told.
And the eyes nearly bulged out of Odans eyes. "Wha-WHAT?!" he asked. "Why?" he asked. "Is this because of what happened with Fujimoto?! You know we only wanted the best for him, no one wanted to hurt him!"
"Of course you didn't, we all love Fujimoto." Tatsue told, empathising on. 'Love.' Instead of. 'Loved.' "To be honest though, I don't understand why you two are mourning, personally I'm happy for him."
Odans eyes widened and Hiyataka looked deeply confused as he blinked at Tatsue.
"I don't think anything could have stopped Fujimoto from joining with the ocean." Tatsue then commented. "We could at least have parted on good terms, but he still would have gone, didn't you see the look in his eyes as he stood with the goddess in his arms defying both us and nature itself? He would do anything to protect her, he loves her." He told. "And if you just noticed how that spirit would always look so warmly at him, it's obvious he is dear to her, she will also do what she can to protect him. Their love is mutual. Now how rare is it that anyone get to have such strong love?" he asked. "Shouldn't we be happy for Fuji?" he asked. "He made his own choice, and it's a happy one. That's what I realised." He commented as he swallowed. "All my life, while I grew up, the future seemed so simple to me." He commented. "Father would take care of us and lord the oceans, then when father grew old Odan would take over and take care of all of us, and that's how it would be forever." He told closing his eyes laying a hand over his chest as he spoke. "How-ever, in that life, I have let other people take my decisions for me, I have yet to lead my own life where I am to take my own choices and find my own happiness." He told. "Father, Brother." He told as he looked up at them. "I hope you both know, that I love you with all that I got, if you ever need me you just need to call. How-ever, I feel that it's time, I must leave if I am to make my own life." He told.
Odan looked deeply confused, but Hiyataka closed his eyes as he lightly shook his head. "I see." He commented. "I understand." He sighed.
"Really?" Tatsue asked.
"Yes." Hiyataka then told opened his eyes. "I've also been thinking, and I have also realised, how wrong I've been." He told. "I'm no longer sad that Fujimoto has gone, I want him to happy, I see now he wouldn't have been here, but she will bring him much happiness. How-ever, that he is going to spend eternity hating me and hating human kind." He told clinching his fist. "That's what I regret, I've brought him pain, a pain he will now carry for the span of an immortal spirit. Hate is never soothing, it only brings pain, I learned that to." He told looking at Tatsue meeting his sons eyes. "When you become a parent, anything but your children's happiness stop mattering." He told. "I hope you will learn that for yourself one day, please tell me what you'll need for your travel, it'll be yours, and remember that the doors to this fortress will always be open to you."
A smile tugged in Tatsues lip, and then he smiled warmly as he ran up and embraced his father, in a way he hadn't done since he was a child.
Hiyataka as well smiled as he returned the hug. "It's not easy ones you realise your children are proud, wise adults whom has outgrown you in so many ways." He commented in a sigh. "I'm a fool to think any of you even need my protection."
"Oh don't say that father." Tatsue smiled at him stepping back, though still holding his fathers arms. "You were always such an inspiration to me! I just wanted to be strong like you!" he told.
And Odan laid a hand on his fathers shoulder. "I've always known my place, and I haven't changed my mind." He told. "It's here at this fortress. Father when you are unable I will protect it, also I'll protect Fujis new domain and make sure no one is dumb enough to start a fight un top of his waters. From now on we'll be looking for only peaceful solutions." He told.
Tatsue nodded as he smiled. "I'm going to explore the land further away from the ocean." He told. "Perhaps there are people there interested in working with us, we can make this fortress grow the other direction to! By protecting farmers and working with them."
Hiyataka smiled. "Seems that even though we'll all move on we'll continue working together." He told.
"Always father." Tatsue told.
"Indeed." Odan nodded. "Fuji himself proved it, even though we move to new places, we'll always protect each other. There is no way Fuji would really let any harm come to us, he proved that by saving my life."
Hiyataka nodded. "Yes." He told. "That is entirely correct. I hope one day he'll find it in his heart to forgive his old fool of a father."
"He will." Tatsue then stated softly. "He just needs time, I'm certain of it."
"Hopefully not an eternity." Odan rolled his eyes. "That would be just like him, he was always stubborn as a mule."
And Tatsue smirked as he chuckled. "That's true, he is." He laughed. "He's just as stubborn as you brother dear!" he laughed.
And Odans eyes widened. "Wha-What?!" he splurted.
And Hiyataka laughed loudly, his booming signature laughter. "HAHAHAHA!" he laughed. "I'm afraid you both got that from me! HAHA!" he stated. "Proud sailors of the ocean!"
Odan blinked at his father, then he smirked. "Well maybe then." He commented.
"Oh god." Tatsue commented grabbing his hair. "This ocean is going to be protected by a sea wizard as stubborn and proud as that. He's going to scare the life out of any trespasser!" he commented.
And even Odan had to chuckle by that thought. "Indeed." He commented. "Why don't we drink a glass?" he then asked. "For Fuji."
And the others both nodded picking up each their glass as they exclaimed. "FOR FUJI!"
"The most stubborn protector of the oceans ever." Tatsue commented taking a sip and the other two smirked, barely containing their laugh.