Disclaimer: I don't own Blue Submarine no. 6. That is all.

Ashes, Ashes

The next morning, Marina noticed something strange.

She remembered falling asleep on the beach but she had woken up safe and sound in her bed. That was definitely odd.

At first, she was confused as to how she had ended up back in her bed but soon remembered all that had transpired the night before.

She felt guilty about what had almost happened and how it would have effected her young friend. I never thought I would say this, but thank goodness Verg was there to stop me.

At the breakfast table, something even stranger happened.

Usually, Verg would take his breakfast and leave without a word but today he actually greeted both the girls and sat down to eat with them and joined in on their conversations. He even seemed to be enjoying himself in their company.

Marina and Amonyushu glanced at each other with surprise. Had Verg been replaced by a friendlier doppelganger in the night? They decided it was best to not look a gift horse in the mouth and just enjoy the peace while it lasted.

Once he was done eating, Verg excused himself and went back to his room.

Feeling that everything was okay, Amonyushu contemplated going and visiting some of her other friends. She hadn't seen them for quite a while because of the fear that if she left the two alone a fight would break out.

"Go visit your friends," Marina told her after listening to Amonyushuu's idea. " I'll be fine. I think he's finally warmed up to me." She motioned her head in the direction of Verg's room. "Besides, if he starts acting like his old self, I'll knock him down a few notches." She added that statement with a wink.

"Try not to hurt him." Amonyushu smiled, walking to the doorway. "He is my brother after all." She then left the house with Marina smiling and waving after her.

Once Amonyushu was out of sight, Marina's smile vanished. What are you playing at, Verg?

She slowly made her way to the chimera's room.

His sudden acceptance of her was puzzling. She wanted to know what had caused that change. Did it have something to do with last night? She wanted answers and she wanted them now.

She knocked cautiously on his door and mentally prepared herself for the worst.

"Come in." Came the muffled reply.

Marina opened the door and walked in to find Verg sitting on the floor with his back to her. She could hear the distinctive sound of metal against stone.

Verg turned in her direction, revealing the source of the sound. He had a sword on his lap and a whet stone in one hand. "Marina?! What brings you here?" He seemed to be in a good mood still but that could quickly change.

"Can we talk?" She asked, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.

"Sure." He pointed to a wooden chair. "You can sit there if you want."

Marina sat down at the indicated spot and waited until she had his full attention.

"So what did you want to talk about?" The shark-man asked as he ran the stone over the sword's blade.

"Well, I want to know why you're acting different today. Does it have something to do with what I told you last night? I didn't think it would effect you that much."

"Yes." He answered. "But not entirely."

"Go on." She coaxed.

After you told me about your loss I felt a sort of kinship with you and.." He paused.

"And?"

Verg refused to look her in the eye. "You would laugh if I told you."

"I promise I won't."

The shark-man hesitated and then said, "You look like my mother."

"I didn't know you had a mother."

"I don't." He told her about his conversation with his Papa. "…And one day, I made the mistake of telling Marcello about her. He laughed at me and said 'What woman in her right mind would want you as her son.' He was right. Who would want me as her son?"

Marina placed her hand on his shoulder. "I would." She smiled warmly.

Verg studied her face, looking for any sign of insincerity but could find none. "You aren't freaked out? I just told you I think of you as my mother. Doesn't that effect you at all?"

"It is a bit strange, to be honest, but I've always been open-minded." She cocked her head. "How old are you anyway? You look the same age as me."

Verg stood up and placed the sword back on the wall. "In human years, I'm nineteen and Amonyushuu is fourteen."

"Wow, I'm only three years older than you."

Verg nodded as he sat down on the bed. "After what Marcello said, I vowed that I would focus solely on gaining Papa's love and respect. I was so obsessed with it that I hurt anyone who threatened to take that away from me."

"It was that important to you?"

"Yes." He said sadly. "I wanted to prove to him that he was right to have me as his chosen son but I never got the chance." Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. "For one moment, I wanted him to look at me without regret in his eyes." They trickled down his face and he made a few snuffling noises. Ashamed, he tried to hide his face from her so she couldn't see his display of weakness.

Marina came over and hugged him. "I'm sorry."

Verg wiped the tears away with the back of his hand and looked at the girl sitting beside him.

He managed a weak smile. Somehow, he felt better telling Marina all of this. "Can I tell you something?" He asked hesitantly.

"Sure, anything." She was elated that Verg seemed to trust her now. "Tell away."

"Do you know the red eyed mutio who goes by the same name?"

"Yes." Marina was curious about this sudden change in subject. "She is a friend of mine."

Verg was even more hesitant now. He fidgeted in his spot before speaking. "I…have…feelings for her. Well, not just feelings, I think I actually love her."

"Mutio?!" Marina was astonished. "Why? You've never shown any interest in her before." She excluded the part she had read in the journal about his childhood for good reason. He had just confided in her and she didn't want to risk him taking it the wrong way and ending their new friendship prematurely.

Verg nodded his head. "Yes, I have but I avoid her out of respect to her. She is different than the others. More unique."

Marina frowned. Was that the only reason why he liked her. She didn't want him to like her just for her unique eye color. "My friend Kino once told me that she came across two that were even more unique than Mutio. I read about them in Zorndyke's journal."

"You must mean Pyra and Indigo. They certainly were unique compared to the others but they were completely devoted to my brother. They weren't exactly friendly to me either."

"I also read about a mutio that was born with orange markings and purple eyes. Wouldn't you have liked her better?"

Verg shook his head. He remembered the female. She was more unique than the others but she acted the same. "Iris was unique too but I'm not just talking about physical traits." He confessed. "Mutio is kind, smart, independent, loving, and brave. I've done terrible things to her but she found the courage to comfort me when I needed it and defy me when she thought I was wrong. I didn't think about it at the time, but I actually find her behavior to be quite honorable. She even saved my life after I helped destroy Marcello's ship."

Marina's next argument came to an abrupt halt on her lips. "Wait a minute, you mean it's true? You helped Blue Six defeat the Pyramid?"

Verg nodded slowly. "I had to. He was going to take away what Papa truly wanted."

She let out a low whistle. "Wow, even though you hated the Blue Six, you sacrificed your ship to help them." She put her hand on his. "That was very noble of you. I'm sure Mutio respects you for that."

He hoped she was right. "She is unlike any other." He looked back down at the floor. "That's why I love her. That's why I will have no other as my mate, if she will have me."

Marina wanted to tell him that Mutio shared his feelings but remembered her promise. "Are you going to tell her how you feel?" She asked.

Verg's brow furrowed in worry. "I wish I could but I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"How she will react? Like I said, I've done terrible, appalling things to her in the past. What if she hates me? She has every right to reject me if I ask her. I'm better off not saying anything." He buried his face in his hands. "Even if she doesn't like me, I want to show her that I've amended my ways. I'm not like I was before."

Marina put a comforting hand on his shoulder. She wanted to help her friends admit their feelings for each other but she would have to be careful. "Look, I understand you were not the most chivalrous guy in the past but if she hated you she wouldn't have come to your aid." She stood up and put her hand on her hips. "Tell you what, I'm going to help you get the girl of your dreams or at least give you the confidence to tell her how you feel about her."

Verg stared at her in disbelief. "You would do that for me?"

"Of course. You are my son after all and Cupid is my middle name. Well, actually, it's Isabelle but that isn't important."

"Have you ever been in a relationship?"

"No, but I have plenty of friends who tell me about theirs."

"This does not bode well."

"Relax, first of all I'd like to know how you plan on showing your affection to her if you two become lovebirds." She was curious as to how a person with a snout could possibly kiss someone and wanted to set him straight if he thought that any kind of violence meant affection.

Verg opened his mouth and poked out a long blue tongue.

Marina's eyes widened in shock and she put her hands out in front of her. That was just unreal. "Whoa, Romeo. Lets not be too hasty. You want to win her over not creep her out."

Verg looked confused. "But that's how Marcello kisses Pyra and Indigo and they seem to like it. Especially, when he's angry. He taught me how to do it too."

"Maybe those nut-jobs like it but you're going to do nothing but intimidate and scare her if you try that now."

Verg looked at the floor with his ears pinned back. Now he knew why his mutios always ran away from him when he tried to kiss them. Apparently, that wasn't the way to go about doing things. What else had he done wrong?

Marina noticed his troubled look and decided to go back to the task at hand. "Okay, lets work on telling her how you feel about her. Do have anything in mind as to what to say?"

Verg nodded. "I do but I don't know if it's good enough."

"I'll be the judge of that. Come on, lets hear it. Pretend I'm Mutio."

Verg raised a brow ridge. "Doesn't that seem a little weird? I just told you I think of you as a parent."

She waved him off. "Don't worry about that right now. Just tell me what you plan on telling her."

He took a deep breath and began, "Mutio, I have something to tell you. First of all, I want to express my gratitude to you for saving my life. The other thing is that I….I don't know what to say."

"Tell her what you like about her." Marina coached.

"Okay." He tried to regain his confidence. "Mutio, when I see your smiling face it feels like everything is right with the world. When your sad, it tears me up inside. I want to be there to comfort you and hold your hand. Day and night I dream of your beautiful and serene face. I dream that someday you will look at me with your lovely ruby orbs with the same love you give your siblings. I'm sorry for all the things I've done to hurt you. I wish I could take it all back. I want you to know that I love you and I would be honored if you chose me as your mate."

Marina stood up and applauded. "Very good. Very poetic and sugary, but next time don't yell out the last sentence."

Verg smiled with relief. That wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. "Marina?"

"Yes?"

"How do human males show their love for a female and let others know that she has chosen a mate? If I ask her to be my mate, I want her to know how much she means to me."

"Well, in most cultures, a wedding ring or engagement ring symbolizes the love that a man has for a woman. It also lets other men know that she has already chosen a husband. Are you planning on giving her one?"

"I wish I could but I don't think any of my rings would fit her."

Marina grabbed his hand and pulled him to the doorway. "Come with me. I bet I can find what you need." She led him to her room and started digging through her trunk.

Verg stared in astonishment. "Amonyushuu told me you had a lot of stuff but I didn't know just how much." He pulled out a dark blue dress and a pair of jeans. Why would you need all this?"

Marina smiled sheepishly. "The original plan was to go from port to port." She pulled out a jewelry box. "See all the sights. You know, like shop and have brunch in New Paris. Go out to dinner and dancing in New Rome, et cetera."

"I see."

She opened the box and showed him the contents. "Take your pick."

"This is very generous of you." He stated as he looked over the rings to find the perfect one.

"No problem. I live to help out my family. Oh, by the way, don't propose to her right off the bat. Get to know her a little better first. You might find it to be just a crush."

"I'll be sure to remember that." He scanned the rings for a few more minutes before picking one up. It was a gold band with an emerald in the center.

Marina glanced at what he picked up and then tried to snatch it from him. Her eyes filled with panic. "Any of them but that one."

"Why?"

She sighed and dropped her arms to her sides. "It was my mother's wedding ring." She explained. "It's all I have left to remember her by."

Verg noticed her look of sorrow and gave back the ring. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

She smiled weakly and shook her head. "Don't be sorry. I should have told you sooner." She looked down at the box and picked up another ring for his inspection. "How about you pick another one."

He scanned the box for another second before his eyes lit up. Perfect.

It was a platinum ring that was shaped like a dolphin. Its body would wrap around the finger to form a circle. Between the beak and tail, was a beautiful sky blue aquamarine.

"I want this one." He held it out for her to see. "I think it would suit her perfectly."

Marina looked down at the ring he had chosen. "This ring has been in my family for generations. I don't think my ancestors would have a problem though. You may keep it if that is the one you want." She grinned up at him with affection in her eyes. "You are my son after all."

Verg felt an overwhelming sense of happiness at her words. He hugged her close to show his gratitude. "Thank you." He whispered.

Mutio tottered up the trail towards the house.

She was going to surprise Marina by showing how good she was getting at walking upright. She smiled, thinking of Marina's reaction at seeing her on the doorstep. Marina would be so proud of her.

She was almost there. She could see the window of Verg's room just ahead. She could see him standing there in the center. Her eyes narrowed.

Verg was talking to someone.

It couldn't be Amonyushuu. She had seen the cat-girl walking on the beach with the cat-boy from the party.

Once she got close enough to the window, she hid behind a nearby tree and watched as Verg talked. Whoever he was talking to was blocked from view by the curtains.

She craned her neck to see who he was talking to and spotted Marina sitting on the bed with a serious expression. Oh no, are they in another fight? Verg please be nice to Marina. She isn't as bad as you think she is. She listened in on the conversation with the hope that it would not escalate.

"-I'm sorry for all the things I've done to hurt you. I wish I could take it all back. I want you to know that I love you and I would be honored if you chose me as your mate."

Mutio gasped at those words. One hand clutched to her chest. Her heart felt like it had just shattered into a million pieces.

She took a step back. Her head shaking in disbelief. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't.

Tears blurred her vision and she began to cry. She didn't want to believe it but she had just seen it with her own eyes.

Verg had just proposed to Marina. The very person that she had trusted.

Not wanting to watch another moment, she turned back in the direction of the beach.

She tried to run but tripped and fell to the ground. She got back up and ran away on all fours with tears of betrayal streaming down her face.

Peeling potatoes was not what Ash Talbot had in mind when he applied for this job. He sat on a wooden stool in the corner of the kitchen with buckets of potatoes surrounding him.

Sukune Tsuji, the chef, would frequently lecture him on the history and importance of the potato. Yesterday, it had been about the cucumber.

Ash would just nod or shake his head and emit the occasional grunt to show he was listening.

How one man could be so obsessed with potatoes or any kind of vegetable was beyond him.

Thankfully, Sukune was interrupted from his rant by another member of the crew.

It was the tomboy, Toko.

"Hey Sukune." She greeted, not noticing the other man in the room. "Have you heard the news? Mayumi and Tetsu are engaged."

"Really?" The chef asked, pulling out a tray of rolls from the oven. "It's about time they got together. But what are they doing here. Shouldn't they be planning their wedding."

Toko shook her head. "That's what I thought. It turns out that Mayumi and Marina were good friends. When she found out Marina had been kidnapped, she wanted to help rescue her."

"I remember Ms. Jameson. She was a nice gal. Full of spunk. It's a shame she got herself kidnapped by those creatures."

Toko nodded.

Ash tuned them out at this point. He didn't care what they had to say. Besides, he had other things on his mind.

His hands twitched as he peeled another potato. Damn, why does this sweater have to be so itchy. He had to fight down the urge to scratch at his neck. If he did, it would make it itch more and then someone would notice.

He couldn't afford to bring attention to himself.

He was lucky enough that the psychic brat hadn't joined the crew on this mission. She would have blown his cover as soon as he stepped on board.

He couldn't be exposed. Not yet. Not until he had gone through with his plans.

He was so lost in thought that his hand slipped and the blade sliced open his thumb. He didn't even flinch as the metal cut into his flesh. He stared silently at the blood as it oozed out of the wound. What a lovely shade of red.

He glanced over at the two crew members to make sure they hadn't noticed then licked the blood trickling down his thumb. He savored the coppery taste.

His thoughts then turned to the reason of their voyage. Marina.

Everyone was hoping she was still alive and that they could save her. What a stubborn girl. Why couldn't she just die with all the rest. Oh well, it had been nice to see how much she'd grown. What a pretty little thing she turned out to be. Yes, a very pretty little thing indeed.

He frowned. He had to admit he had been too hasty when he killed her.

A thought occurred to him and his frown deepened. What if Marina had, by some miracle, actually survived the icy waters and reached shore. What if the chimeras had taken her hostage. If she managed to see him again she would tell everyone that he was the cause of it all. It could ruin everything.

Or maybe not.

Slowly, his frown changed to a devilish smirk. This girl was harder to kill than a cockroach. She just kept coming back. He was starting to feel an obsession for the girl. She had proven herself to be an interesting challenge.

Well, it didn't matter if he had failed again in his attempt to kill her. Try, try again.

This time he would take a different approach.

Oh yes, this time he wouldn't try to kill her right away.

If she had managed to survive…he placed one hand on his boot….he had a bullet in the chamber just for her.