Here's the next chapter. Anyone in Germany having problems with the ads? I keep getting ads with viruses in them and FF hasn't responded to my email yet... Hmm. I'm lucky that I have anti-virus.
Lying in his cot, Shin was starring at the ceiling. His shift was going to start in a few hours. Trying to sleep was difficult. The strange white woman was on his mind, and not in a good way. She didn't try to harm him at the dinner, but at the same time, he felt like she entered his mind. He hated not being able to figure out who the woman was. He told himself to thank Nasuti next time for taking time out of her day to look his problem up. He should probably thank Suiko too. People don't just readjust their aim with a weapon on purpose.
Shin sat up. There were too many things on his mind to be lying in bed. Grabbing his uniform and shower things, he headed to the showers.
He was about to shave when someone came running in.
"Mori, we need you at the ships. We just got a large accident in the bay." A sailor called out.
Not wanting to look like a rabid dog, Shin used a towel to rub the cream off. He had another bad feeling about this accident.
Sure enough, there was a large ship in the bay on fire. He was told to get on one of the boats to help with injuries coming from the water. Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, Shin made sure put the under gear on. He felt like he was going to need Suiko.
People were being brought up from the water as an explosion went off.
"There's still people on the ship." Someone called.
By that time, Shin was already in the water ignoring the cold and pain. Without the extra gear, he was going to fit into the openings of the ship. He was going through the compartments with ease, until something grabbed his foot, dragging him down. The strange white woman was there with an evil smirk. She pulled him from the ship and into empty water. Shin's lungs were aching from lack of air. His left hand moved to a pocket, and he called on Suiko. The woman smiled and started to swim south. Taking a chance, he followed.
Another explosion from the ship was heard.
Yayoi was watching everything from a television in a patient's waiting room. When the second explosion went off, she began to worry. She went for the closet phone.
A very tired Seiji picked up, "Moshi moshi."
"Seiji, get to the closest TV you can."
"Yayoi, it's five in the morning. What's going on?"
"Boat accident in the harbor."
Rolling his eye, Seiji told her that he'll meet her at the hospital.
"Holy bat-smokes Batman!" Was Seiji's response to seeing what was happening in the harbor.
"You think Shin's there?" Yayoi asked.
"Knowing him, he's close by or in it."
That evening, Yayoi called the Maritime Agency. She wanted to make sure Shin was fine.
"No ma'am, we have Leading Seaman Mori Shin down as missing."
"Are you sure he's missing?" she begged.
"Yes ma'am. No body was found."
Seiji could tell what the answer was, although he couldn't believe it. Yayoi sat down on a chair with her head in her hands. Their younger sister gave her a hug. The phone went off again.
"Hello." Seiji picked up, "Yeah Shu, he's listed as missing… No, I think something else came up… Listen, my sister's a wreck right now. I'll talk later."
Two o'clock in the morning, Seiji heard the phone again.
"Touma, I swear if you keep calling me in the morning." He threatened.
"I just saw on TV that Fish-boy is missing. Okay, his mom just called me crying and stuff. Shin's messed up this time." Touma responded.
"Yeah, couldn't you have waited a few hours?"
"No, I knew you'd be sleeping now." Touma teased.
"Someone's happy."
"Oh, I'm currently on the beach in hot weather illegally drinking tequila and listening to some rock music. Life's good."
"Is that beach in a library?"
"No, for real. California is a blast. We're rocking out. School's too easy so I can hang out in the sun more often. I'm thinking about bleaching my hair and taking up surfing."
"Ok, I'm going to hang up now." Seiji said, pulling the earphone away. Touma could be heard yelling at him.
The phone rang again.
"Dude, if you and the others are that worried about Shin, go jump in the water and search for Suiko. If he was killed, then the orb should be lying in wait for someone to find it. I don't think he'd disappear without a good reason, right?" Touma said.
"You're right. When it warms up, I'll search for it."
"Super-brain is at it again, dude."
"Dude?"
"Eh, sorry Mr. Proper."
"I don't think he's dead. Shin was talking about voices and things."
"Youja?"
"No, we'd all know. He was hinting to fairy tales."
"Fairy tales, like singing animals and chairs?"
"Touma, you know what I mean."
"Yeah, well my drink is empty. Catch ya later Seiji."
Seiji place the phone down, and went back to bed.
He didn't know where he was, but that the water was warmer, and the islands were green. He stopped on one to grab something to eat, but could only find bananas or fish if he was brave to catch them. It had been a few weeks as well, because he felt like Byauken was on his face. His hair was longer, and with the heat, he was uncomfortable. But the white woman was still heading south, and he had to know what was going on. Placing his helmet on the sand, Shin decided to take in the warmth. If he was heading towards where he was thinking, the water was about to get colder again. He closed his eyes to listen to the waves.
"No time to stop Suiko." The woman spoke right in front of him.
Shin shot up with his trident in his left hand. By then the woman was in the water heading south.
"Can't a guy get some rest on a stranded island?"
He continued his chased southward.
By the time he found land, Shin knew that he had to stop following the woman. Suiko had stopped supporting him with energy, and the sandy beach looked nice enough to sleep on. He let the armor disperse, leaving him in his wet uniform.
Unknown to the warrior of water, an elder woman was walking by. She had seen a lot of strange things in her life, but a man in armor falling asleep on the beach was not normal. Making sure the man was okay, she poked him with her cane.
"Īe hahaoya wa arimasen. Sore wa, shigoto-yō no wa jiki shōsōda." She heard him say.
She then poked him harder, "Dear, the beach is no place to fall asleep."
Shin popped his head up. Turning his head to look at the person waking him, he noticed the woman standing there. Her hair was gray, and she was wearing a light jacket.
Remembering that she spoke English to him, he spoke, "Where am I?"
"Dear, you're outside of Grisbane."
"Grisbane?"
"New Zealand, dear." She added, "I don't know where you came from or what you were wearing before it came off, but you better join me at home for a cup of tea or coffee. You can shower there as well. I have a feeling you have a long story to tell."
Not wanting to argue, Shin agreed. It was an uncomfortable walk for them both.
After taking the long awaited shower, Shin used his fingers to comb his hair and beard. If he was going to spend some awkward time with the older woman, he was at least going to look decent. Outside the washroom door was a set of clothes. He started to feel bad about using the women's things. After getting dressed, he walked out. Along the hall were pictures. He assumed they were her family.
"Here darling, I made you some tea." She said, moving a chair for him, "Now, what's your name?"
"Shin."
"Where are you from Shin?"
"Japan."
"Well that was a long swim."
Shin didn't comment.
"You my call me Maggie." She said, "I hope you didn't mind the clothes. They were my son's."
"You live here alone?"
"Yes. The old man died a few years ago and my children all grew up and moved to the cities." She frowned, "I don't receive many visitors, and certainly no one that washes up on the beach."
"Right, I owe you a long story."
She nodded.
Not going into detail about everything, Shin explained what the older woman had seen. She must have thought he was crazy, but she said not one word except for asking if he needed more tea. When he finished, they both sat in silence.
"Well I suppose I should show you to your room for the night. You're welcome to stay the night, and if you're willing, I have a problem that needs fixed." The older woman said.
"What do you need help with?" Shin asked.
"Oh, the rabbits keep getting into my garden. I've been meaning to find someone to fix it, but I don't have a whole lot of money or a strong back to do it myself."
"I can help in the morning, although, I'm not great at it." Shin stood to fix his chair, "Thank you Maggie."
"Sleep well."
It didn't take long until the woman in white was in his dreams again. She was repeating the same sentence as before. Shin began to question her this time.
Who are you?
You will learn in time Suiko. What I have to offer though, will make you a happier man. Continue south, where the ocean meets the cold desert.
Why can't you tell me now?
What fun would that be?
I've swam many kilometers. I'm tired of following.
Suiko, I will make this time of suffering better. Trust me.
Shin woke in the morning a bit angry. He was starting to think the woman was planning some trick.
Not wanting to wake the kind, elder woman, Shin headed out to the garden to see what he needed to do. Maggie had a wire fence that surrounded the garden and there were several holes under the wire where the rabbits dug through. He understood that his he just filled the holes that the rabbits would dig under again. He just wished that Touma was here to help him out with what to do. Seeing a small shed, Shin walked over to find something to help him with his problem. As he opened the door, a cloud of dust came out. There wasn't much inside but some old tools and more fencing. He assumed that Maggie's husband used the shed the most. Grabbing a shovel and the fencing, he decided to extend the fence down into the dirt.
He spent most of the morning doing that and cleaning the garden up a bit. He didn't mind it; it reminded him of helping his mother when he was young. Of course, cabbages and carrots were different than flowers.
"Shin, dear," he heard Maggie call, "I have lunch ready."
Leaning back, Shin stretched his back.
"Coming." He said, getting some of the dirt off of his hands.
They both ate in silence. They both knew that Shin wasn't going to stay another night. He had a crazy woman to chase after.
After finishing, he stood to take his and Maggie's plate to wash. The elder woman offered to take him back to the beach.
"That's south." She pointed.
"Thank you for everything." Shin bowed his head.
"Please, you made my year. I don't have many visitors anymore." She said, "Be safe, Mr. Shin Mori. You seem to live a dangerous life fighting spirits and ghosts."
Shin nodded, and called him armor back. Soon he was in the water.
He didn't know how long it took him to reach Antarctica. Once he got there, the woman in white sat on the ice, grinning.