She gazed into the distance, listening to the water slapping against the ship's wooden hull. The wind in the sails and the sounds of the oars as they excitement in each of the rowers as they prepared.

The cool light spray of water across her face reminded her of school district 22. The smallest school district in Academy City. This school district specialized in developing underground technology for major cities that suffered from major land shortages, going down ten levels.

It was the third level she liked the most. The ceiling had an artificial day and night sky. A forest of trees is used to help process and purify the air. To give the people a sense of normalcy. But it was the long walks along the artificial river with Anastasia she was thinking about right now. Holding her hand, talking about nothing, taking off their shoes, and walking in the shallows. The smell of the water, how the coolness of it clung to her skin. She had claimed the underground city after her battle with the throwback wolf, allowing the wolves and vampires to have their own place.

It had been just over ten days since they had departed the Port. she was on the edge of the bow, hand searching the detailed carving of the howling wolf. She peaked at it with a knowing grin. They, the wolves back on earth, would have loved it.

A small fishing vessel appeared, heading back towards the river port. It had a crew of eight; six were sitting and rowing. The other two waved as the small craft passed. Standing next to Mikoto, Vita yelled, "anything to report?!"

One of the crew, who must have been the captain, yelled, "we caught nothing today! but we will try again tomorrow!"

"And?" Vita asked.

"all is well," she nodded as the boat slowed and drifted past. "That's fine," said Vita, turning around to look at Mikoto. "you know what you're doing?" Mikoto asked.

Vita looked at her quizzically. "what do I mean by that?" she playfully frowned.

Mikoto smiled warmly and patted Vita gently on the shoulder. She knew where this conversation was headed and wasn't about to spoil the moment. "are you going to tell me where we are going? Or are we heading towards the second star to the right and straight on till morning?" She pointed to the sky. "peter pan?"

The wind blew as she turned back to face Vita, whose eyes were wide open with excitement. "Yes," said Vita excitedly, "that is our destination!"

Kea sitting on a bench, arm across the railing, absentmindedly stroking Maka's wild hair as she lay on her lap, glanced up at the clear sky and then back down at Vita. "… Peter Pan?" with a tilt of her head and a little look of confusion.

"It's a story about a lost boy," Mikoto whispered, looking up. She brushed her hair, revealing a calm and beautiful face. Kea blushed.

"Another two days of rowing, and we should be there," Gallum said, approaching them. Her long hair was pulled back and tied into a ponytail, and she was wearing the colors of the house of Mikoto. The black and silver complimented her in every form. The look only a predator would appreciate, and prey would fear with each well-determined stride along the ship's center. She looked every bit like the captain of the vessel.

"she's right," Mikoto whispered. "That she is." Little misaka said. "Gallum looks good in uniform." She chuckled.

"It will be dark soon," Nya yelled, rolling out from underneath the bow. (This is where they used it for storage and sleep. a little modification Vita had thrown in. true Viking longships didn't have storage built in. it was something Vita always swore she'd add.)

Aya was followed by Rae and a few of her guards. "my back hurts!" Rae complained as she stretched. "this is not a pleasure boat! You spoiled little princess!" Gallum yelled. "that's THE spoiled queen to you!" she yelled back. "And I said we could've used my boat, but oh no… miss, I want to show off!" she cracked her back and sighed, "much better."

"she has her own…." Mikoto furrowed her brow and eyed Vita. "AND it's a nice one. Double the size with more rowers and double-decked," Vita sighed, "some of my best work. If I say so myself."

"And you do. Don't you?" Mikoto groaned. "Does your elbow ever hurt from patting yourself on the back?"

"Of course. " Vita blushed.

Aya giggled. Rae rolled her eyes and groaned. Kea snickered, careful not to wake Maka. Gallum glared, looked at Aya, blushed, and smiled. Nya just shook her head, walking towards the stern, adjusting the twin swords at her back.. She tapped each rower on the shoulder as she passed and smiled.

"A few more hours, and we should be at a stopping point," Vita said, holding a rolled-up parchment. She gently tapped against her palm. She handed it to Gallum and nodded, unrolling it. Mikoto craned her neck to look. Gallum grinned, "problem?" she asked. Slowly moving the parchment away.

"Talk about getting cocky!" little misaka said. "no…." Mikoto quickly said, showing a childish pout, "you are the boat's captain, so…."

"yes, I am…." She grinned.

Vita huffed and laughed a little. "seems I have created a monster. When I told her that the captain was in charge, everyone had to do as the captain said."

Gallum bit down on her lip, doing her best not to laugh. Mikoto could see it. Especially when Rae came walking up with her guards. She had what are we going to argue about now look on her face. She stopped, closed enough to breathe against Gallum's skin. And looked at the parchment. Gallum slowly turned away. Rae's stern expression faded, giving way to another face.

"Holy crap!" Little misaka yelled. "Is she trying to use it?"

Mikoto slowly nodded, "I think so…" seeing Rae's eye getting wider, her mouth pouting. She tilted her head and slowly brushed her hair back with her fingers.

CUTE ATTACK.

"Gallum…" she said, slipping her tongue across her mouth, "do you think maybe we could stop somewhere?"

"Why?" Gallum glowered at the smaller Rae.

"That didn't faze her! Good girl" little misaka thinned her eyes and rubbed her chin. She watched the large screen TV hanging near her. She held her hand out, fingers opening and closing as if gripping something. An attractive younger woman, the same as before, walked out of the darkness with a tray in her hands. A large beverage container and curly straw. She was wearing Victorian-age night clothes. It was white and ankle-length with slippers.

"you asked?" the attractive young woman spoke. Little misaka nodded, taking the drink. The attractive young woman silently turned around and walked into the darkness.

Rae fumbled with her fingers, a little uncomfortable, and whispered. "I…" she dropped her chin, eyes looking up, "have to go… you know and…."

Vita leaned close to Mikoto and whispered. "her ship has a few nice bathrooms and has a very nice personal one. And I am talking nice. With a large bath with scented soaps and….."

"And why are we not using that?!" Mikoto grabbed Vita's arm and squeezed. Vita winced, "oh, you know…. politics maybe… or perhaps Gallum and Nya wanted to show off and not spoil the troops or something." she leaned or was pulled closer, "and you didn't intervene? You usually stick your nose where it doesn't belong but choose to….."

"I was thinking they should grow a little….."

"No!" Gallum said. A cold and hot wave rolled over the boat.

"What!" Rae growled and stomped her foot. "I will do it!" she said, rising on the tips of her boots, eyes thinned, letting out a snarling expression. "I will shit on your boat right now. On your feet, if you don't take me to shore so I can… or else!"

"Hello Rae!" little misaka said with a smile. "It's always the quiet ones. "She took a drink.

Gallum rolled up the parchment and handed it to Nya, now sitting on the boat railing, looking out across the water. The breeze blew her long black hair across her face as she held her hand out and took the parchment. Aya sighed, sat against the railing, and shrugged her shoulders. Gallum put her hands on her hips and leaned down just a little to let Rae know she was taller. "I am the captain and…."

"I am the queen and need to go to the bathroom! Don't think I won't do it on your precious boat." She gave a stern nod. "and I am pretty sure the goddess Mikoto…" she blushed, stuttered, "I… I mean, Mikoto would like to have some time to walk around and stretch her legs before she rows tonight. So, if not for me" she crossed her arms, shut her eyes, "then for her…." her face turning red.

"Oh, shit… she pulled out the trump card!" little misaka yelled. Mikoto's eyes darted, "me… I don't," Vita put her hand on Mikoto's arm, taking a cue. "Yes. Yes, I do. I could go… yep… pretty sure…."

"Where's she going to go… there's no shade or bushes or… ooooh, she is not," Mikoto blushed, "she isn't? is she?"

Gallum rolled her eyes and exhaled a deep, annoyed breath, "fine…. head to shore," she ordered. "Little baby"

The longships slipped along the shallow shoreline. Guards leaped into the water. Some readied the rope, threw it out to the guards on the shore, and pulled the ship onto the bank.

Rae laughed as she jumped out of the boat and gracefully landed. She had what looked like toilet paper in her hands as she ran. Her guards followed. Then she stopped and waited. Hand on her hip, foot tapping, and a hurried look.

Mikoto watched and wondered. The guards slowly opened a large folding screen. "Is that a Byobu?" startled slightly. "a Japanese folding screen?" she asked. Vita answered, "that it is."

And is that…. me… why am I naked?!"

"That it is," Vita answered. She shrugged. "the byobu is often decorated with displays of legends and other legendary events. That one is called the arrival."

"That's me…." Mikoto blushed. "NAKED!"

"hmmm… that's us when we arrived and heard the little one chirping.," little misaka said evenly. "We chomped down on those arrogant hunters who said we were ugly… jerks… pretty bloody, if you ask me… put somewhat accurate."

"Shut up!" Mikoto put her hand to her face, hiding her face. "Of all the things that could've gone on it… hey.." she quickly snarled, "did you have anything to do with it."

"Well…" Vita put her finger to her chin and looked nonchalantly up to the sky, "I might have mentioned something or something about….. something…" she shrugged, "but I was so busy I couldn't even think of nothing else but protecting you, my mistress," she smiled.

"liar," Mikoto groaned. She knew better.

Rae grinned as she emerged from behind the screen. She smiled and waved at Mikoto, thinning her eyes at Gallum.

Mikoto and Vita were on the shore talking with Aya and Nya. Kea and Maka were still on the boat. Maka would wake soon. She was most active at night. Really active. She'd jump into the water and swim ahead and around the ships. Often leaping high over them and near silent back into the water. And would often chase, corral, catch, and eat what passed for fish in this realm.

Mikoto looked out to the horizon as she took her seat. She stretched her shoulders, rubbed her hands together, and gripped and felt the weight of the oar. A large pale moon peaked over the horizon. Its reflection shimmered off the waves. In her moment, she listened to the whispers of the coming darkness. The beating of hearts around her, of tired breaths. The others taking their turn at rowing. The water slapped against the hull. The moment when Maka, nearly silent, slipped into the water. Her excited heartbeat, the soft I love you as Kea kissed her. Gallum snickered, Aya playfully scolding her for what she did to Rae. The sound of Nya's hand as it sliced through the air. Signaling the drum to beat.

The first beat of the drum reverberated softly. Deep sad tones. Small vibrations rolled over her skin. She felt the muscles in her shoulders grow taut as she took a deep, cleansing breath, pushed forward, and pulled the oar back to her chest. Another beat and the ship lurched forward. She closed her eyes, feeling the cool night air rolling over the water and her. She lifted the oar, dipped it into the water, and pulled again. Over and over, she did it without breaking her rhythm. It was repetitive and thought-provoking. And calming.

She was in a world of her own. Each breath, heartbeat. Just her. The drums no more than far away echo in her mind. It was here she could remember them.

They're laughing, playfully taunting, smiling faces. She remembered her. She closed her eyes and saw her.

"Anastasia," she whispered.