Ran knelt next to a heavily bandaged Chen, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Murasa stood tentatively in the doorframe, unsure if she should approach.
"I... I'm sorry this happened to you... You were just a bystander, caught up in something that wasn't your fault..." Ran choked, beginning to sob harder.
Murasa decided to kneel next to her, saying a silent prayer. She couldn't begin to imagine what the shikigami was going through. The only thing she had to compare the situation to was watching her own family weep over her bloated, waterlogged body. Even then, she was an outside party. Not actually involved.
"If it's any consolation, Ms. Ran, one of my crew members... They can heal her, if you wanted them to?" she finally said in a whisper quiet voice.
Ran turned to her, her face still wet with fresh tears.
"T-they can? But... She's so..." her voice caught, unable to express the thought.
"Yes, they can. I can go get them now, if you want?"
She nodded solemnly, and Murasa hastened back to her crew. She opened the door a hair, motioned Josuke over, and closed it behind them.
"So, um... Did you need something, 'Cap? I don't mind helping, but you gotta tell me what you need, first." he said.
Murasa said nothing, grabbed his wrist, and practically dragged him to where Ran was. She looked expectantly back and forth between him and Chen.
"You want me to heal her?"
She nodded in the affirmative, and within the blink of an eye, Chen was stirring. Ran looked absolutely overjoyed.
"I cannot thank you enough for this, ship phantom. If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask." she said.
"Well, I did wanna ask about Yukari... That is, if you're comfortable with that. I can understand why you wouldn't be." said Murasa, with a pause. "Oh, and Josuke, you can go back to the others, if you like."
He flashed a quick thumbs up, and slinked out of the room.
"Ah. I can do that. Let me know if I get too choked up, okay? Thinking about it, even now, it hurts." said Ran.
"I'll be sure to. I only have one burning question, and I'll leave you to tend to Chen. Do you... Do you remember anyone that that person asked you about?"
Ran inhaled a sharp gulp of air, her memories clearly overwhelmingly distinct. Her face darkened, and she practically hissed.
"...That immortal girl. With the white hair and red clothes. From the Bamboo Forest of The Lost. She's the only one I remember."
"Hmm... I think I know who you're talking about. For a person wearing red and white, she's not very lucky." Murasa said, trying to lighten the mood.
"True indeed. I'm sorry that I cannot remember anyone else, though, if I do, I'll be sure to send word out." Ran flatly replied.
Murasa stood and bowed to the shikigami. Even at her worst, Ran had commandeered the utmost amount of respect, especially after what she'd been through.
"Thank you for your time, Lady Ran. I wish well for both you and Lady Chen."
"And I wish the same for you and yours, ship phantom."
Murasa left almost as quietly as she had came in, and attempted to slip into the main room similarly. However, the ruckus inside was too much. Jonathan and Joseph were both holding cups filled to the brim with water, but turned upside down. The rest of the family stood alongside the 3 new humans, chanting furiously.
"I'm not giving up that easily, grandfather! You may as well throw in the towel now!" challenged Joseph.
"While your petty taunts are quite amusing, they mean nothing to me! I shall win this contest, and you will enjoy a slice of humble pie!" retorted Jonathan.
Murasa leaned against the doorframe, trying to stifle back a laugh. Joseph's arm was shaking like a madman, and the water looked about ready to spill. Everyone held their breath, and the water fell onto the carpet with a satisfying sploosh. An enormous roar sounded as Jonathan grinned from ear to ear. Joseph, on the contrary, looked devastated. Murasa couldn't hold back her laughter anymore, and collapsed onto the floor in a fit of giggles. 12 pairs of eyes were drawn to her almost immediately. She wiped away the tears forming in her eyes, and stood back up, once more using the doorframe for support.
"Sorry for the intrusion, everyone. It's just... That was absolutely hilarious! I've never seen a face that funny in my life!" she said, in-between aftershocks of laughter.
"At least one of us can find this situation funny." huffed Joseph.
"Don't be such a sore loser, dude. Jonathan won, fair and square." Jolyne jokingly snapped.
"Of course I did." Jonathan boasted. "Unlike him, I am serious about my training."
The closeness of this family gave Murasa a warm, foreign feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was something that she had never really felt before, even with her own parents. Whatever it was, she enjoyed it immensely. Somehow, some of her bitterness towards humans had melted away, and in its place, this new feeling was left, shining radiantly. Apparently, Murasa's steadily creeping grin wasn't left unnoticed, as she felt a hand tap her lightly on her shoulder.
"Are you feeling alright, miss? Your eyes are all glossed over. You didn't lose too much oxygen from laughing too hard, did you?" said Erina.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. Just a little... Sentimental, is all." Murasa bashfully replied.
She smiled warmly, and that feeling washed over Murasa again. It wasn't often she got asked questions like that, and especially not so sincerely.
"That's wonderful. How did things go with the fox woman?"
"Pretty good. I've got our next destination all planned out."
"Oh, do tell! Don't leave us in the dark, it's less fun that way." said Joseph.
"We're heading for the Bamboo Forest of the Lost next. Supposedly, someone got kidnapped around there. We're on the lookout for someone with red clothes and white hair."
"Red clothes and white hair, you say? Sounds like that girl Ms. Keine wouldn't stop talking about." Josuke said with an air of slight annoyance. "What was her name again?"
"Fudgywarah no Mokou, or something crazy like that." remarked Jolyne.
"Wait, Mokou, you said? Now I definitely know who we're looking for." said Murasa.
"All the better, then. How soon will our departure be? I do want to say goodbye to Robert and the others before I leave." said Jonathan.
"No need for goodbyes. We're taking them with us. Many hands make light work."
Jonathan's face brightened so much, Murasa could swear she could see his spirits lift out of his body. The 3 people in question also looked quite pleased about this turn of events.
"Now that that's cleared up, we've gotta go. Did anyone see where Yuyuko disappeared to? I wanted to thank her."
"She went to go sleep, I think. That, or to get that miko girl to get some rest. I don't blame them. I could use a nap myself." said Gappy.
"It can't be helped, I guess. We can't waste a second. And I know you all aren't too keen on going back up those stairs. So, let's get moving."
And with her crew plus some newcomers in tow, she set off once more, somewhat excited about sailing with them.