"Well now, this is exciting for a business trip, isn't it?" Meioshi commented with a feline grin, watching the caravan be surrounded by grandiose ships. These were awfully well-off pirates. Didn't seem like they needed the money.
"Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will be okay?" Ohta asked, leaning over the ship's side.
"... My Ohta," Meioshi called, towering over the boy. "Why are you not with the emperor for school?"
Ohta turned around to see an angered Meioshi grinning at him wickedly and laughed nervously, but, ultimately, he stowed away on Meioshi's boat to be with her properly. Hasumi got to go with Liuxian! Why couldn't he go, too? No other child got to have special privileges when it came to his Mama Mei-Mei! If one child got to leave, he was leaving, too! He at least let his grandmother know first, though. He wasn't a total delinquent, and he promised to bring her gifts as an apology for worrying her. His school training was different from the others. He would be learning the same topics as other children his age like arithmetic, writing, economics, and the like, but his grandmother was going to teach him how to run a school effectively and efficiently. Like his Mama Mei-Mei, he required more personalized classes and a very particular mentor. After all, Meioshi learned much in domestics, but she advanced herself through the help of others who recognized that she was going for something more. That's what Ohta wanted to do: to raise other girls like her. He had to know a bit of everything to tame a wild child like his mother. Speaking of which, she was still towering over him with a wooden slipper in her hand.
"This was more fun!" Ohta replied. "It's your own fault, Mama Mei-Mei."
"What?" Meioshi responded, growling under her breath and tightening her grip on her shoe.
"You told me you left class often as a girl. You learned more about the world by coupling outside play with indoor activities. Since I intend to have girls like you in my classes when I'm a teacher, it's better for me to figure out why you left class so much. Ne?" Ohta asked with a cute wink and light blush.
Mischievous cat! Meioshi thought, feeling her heart skip a beat. He wanted to be the teachers that she had when he was ready? That's such a sweet thing. However, that didn't give him the excuse to stowaway on a random ship to have an adventure!
"If that's the case, my Ohta, it would also do you well to learn the consequences I had to endure for leaving WOULDN'T IT!?" Meioshi roared, spanking Ohta on his bum with a samurai move that catapulted him to the safety of some cushions and Nakasone's arms.
"OUCHIE!" Ohta yelped.
"Pay our darling no mind. She's very flattered by your words," Nakasone reassured, making Ohta smile as he rubbed the sore spot on his butt. "Besides, those pirates aren't after Lord Sesshomaru. Too bad, honestly. They have all the money and treasure on the trade ships."
"Sah! They're after the doctor... AGAIN!" Ohta complained. "Does she not know what a normal, calm, peaceful day is!?"
"Not this time, little one," Nakasone said, smiling mischievously at...
Meioshi's boat rocked violently as the pirates boarded her family ship. Except..., these pirates definitely didn't look like traditional, low-class men. In fact, they wore armored coats and helmets from either stiffened leather or iron. Their armor was scaled like a traditional warrior's scaled or lamellar armor, but it wasn't made from typical leather or regular materials. At least..., not totally. Meioshi continued to observe the men, preparing for a confrontation, but she took notice to the style of armor and came to one distinct conclusion. The men's armor set resembled the Dujeong-gap, which meant the caravan must be entering the kingdom of Goryeo, and the navy has decided to greet them first. In order to enter one of the smaller veins of transport within the Maritime Silk Road, you had to cross the Sea of Mangi and embark on the peninsula of Goryeo to either resupply or change direction to one of the major veins of the international trade. Emperor Kunimatsu was going to school in Goryeo for a few weeks, so his ship ought to be turning into the kingdom's docks along with his guards. Meioshi's ship was positioned behind the caravan to guard them from trailing enemy attacks... like this one. So, these pirates were specifically going for her ship as Ohta just griped about because the emperor's ship and the tradesmen's vessels were just fine.
Surrounded by wind and water, Meioshi unsheathed her old sword from the trafficking island to prepare for battle. Kirameku Ha didn't unsheathe his sword fully, but he did push it out to analyze the movement of the magical waters. They were being controlled by someone. A strong, feminine voice gave an order in another language to make the men stand down and from behind the warriors came a gorgeous, petite woman dressed in a long court skirt of fine deep green silk and a pink, floral print jacket at the top that sinched at her upper waist and was bound by a sash made of wind and water. Her skirt was flowing like the elements themselves! Kirameku Ha sheathed his sword when he saw the woman and became still, but he wasn't tense or nervous. If anything, he was just curious. The woman's hair was tied in a bun at the back with ornate jade bobby pins holding it all together in her Cheopjin meori style.
'Naneun dangsin-ui woteo deulaegon-ui him-eul neukkil su issseubnida. Ileum-eul malhaseyo, seon-won yeoleobun.'
No one moved for a solid couple of minutes until Jaken finally spoke up. "I have no idea what you just said, lady, but WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TRESPASSING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S FINE VESSELS!?"
"Jaken. Not the time," Meioshi reprimanded, narrowing her eyes. She was proud of his newfound confidence in combat, though. Maybe those lessons were meaningful to him in other ways.
"Hmph! Olaen chinguleul ij-eusyeossnayo, gongjunim?" Kirameku Ha asked quite eloquently.
"Grandpa Kira! You know what she's saying?" Ohta asked surprised by the elder's fluency in this other language.
"Kira?" the woman questioned, taking a step forward with a sudden hopeful expression.
"I am Kirameku Ha, Princess Gongsim. Stop teasing everyone. You can speak our language just fine," Kirameku Ha reprimanded, watching the princess gasp.
Gongsim covered her mouth with widened eyes as she looked at Kirameku Ha. Tears escaped her eyes so suddenly that she wasn't prepared for them to sprout red algae leaves once they hit the ship floor. She walked up to him with cautious steps, observed his height and body, and looked into his eyes. She hesitantly reached up to touch his face and felt his pronounced jawline. Stubble was there in the same places once before. His skin was warm underneath her hands. Pressing a hand on his chest, she used magic to go straight through his clothes and touch the tattoo that stretched across his right breast and led to the entire shoulder. It was still there. She then used another type of magic to make Kirameku Ha young again. He let out a gasp from the amount of power ripping through him so quickly and noticed that his bones weren't nearly as stiff as before. When he looked at himself, he saw the youthfulness and tightness of his skin.
"This is the second time someone has made me young again," Kirameku Ha remarked, raising a brow. "I don't know why. I like being old."
"Maybe so, but you definitely don't like when you pull a muscle," Meioshi mentioned, smiling toothily.
"Oh, no, I definitely hate that," Kirameku Ha said, eyes widening to show emphasis of his hatred.
"Kirameku Ha, what are you doing on this ship? Where is the Kairyu vessel?" Gongsim asked, gently directing his face and eyes to her to focus.
"Ha! We haven't set sail in years. I am old now, Princess Gongsim," Kirameku Ha answered. "You hardly recognized me."
"I can make you young again, Kirameku Ha. You don't have to grow older and... leave me. Why didn't you stay with me?" Gongsim asked sweetly, looking at Kirameku Ha with sadness in her eyes. "You would not have to worry about age or injury."
"My parents were not gods, princess. You will not have to worry about such things for many years, this is true, but I regret nothing in my fewer years of life. I was poor for a time, weak for a time, emotional for twice as long, fruitful, and now I am at peace. Fulfillment does not come from experiencing the grandest adventures in life. It has come from overcoming the lowest points you face in life, I find. I would have learned none of that if I had not aged, made mistakes, been challenged in ways war cannot. Staying with you robs me of the wisdom, peace, and gentleness I obtained," Kirameku Ha explained.
"... Only my mother is a goddess," Gongsim said, gripping Kirameku's shirt with anger.
"Mine were human," Kirameku Ha replied, wrapping his arms around Gongsim's waist. Unfazed by her anger. He seemed to be used to it.
"Your powers aren't human! You are mighty like the sea dragon you and your army represent!" Gongsim argued, stirring up power that was shaking the boat.
"And you have become quite fearsome, princess," Kirameku Ha complimented with a soft smile. "Are you truly a pirate, Gongsim?"
"No. I am a holy warrior like you now," Gongsim replied, blushing. She was a lovely girl with that glassy skin. "Surely the gods can give you some measure of immortality like me. You served them well, yes?"
"I still serve them. I am my little niece's guardian there," Kirameku Ha said, nodding to Meioshi who waved cutely at the smaller woman. "She is tall, no?"
"She is the daughter of the Kairyu. You are all giants," Gongsim said, cuddling into Kirameku Ha's chest and smiling at Meioshi. "She is a pretty giant!"
"She attracts some odd men, don't you know?" Kirameku Ha joked, making Meioshi produce an interesting face. "One of them is on the ship ahead of us. We are guarding the young emperor on his way to school in your country. We can speak at your temple if that is more suitable for you, princess."
"Not the temple, the altar!" Gongsim argued, stomping her small foot childishly. "I wanted to marry you, Kirameku Ha! To be with you! I was chosen to become a shaman, yes, but I trained to be your wife and protect our home. What reward must I give you to make you reconsider, my darling?"
"I seek none, princess. Do you like being a shaman?" Kirameku Ha asked, releasing Gongsim from his arms to speak more firmly.
"It has its benefits, I suppose, but - "
"Do you like being a shaman, Gongsim?" Kirameku Ha asked, lowering his body to meet her eyes.
"... Yes, very much so," Gongsim answered.
"That's the reward I seek then," Kirameku Ha replied, smiling and standing straight. "I did not make you happy, Gongsim. Your work was ordained by the gods, and it fulfills you. Whether our paths ever crossed again or not, you were happiest spreading the teachings of the higher powers to others. Marriage to me could not possibly give you that success and purpose you were craving."
"... You don't understand women at all!" Gongsim argued with a cute pout. "Work alone doesn't fulfill me, you fool!"
"Oh? What about having an army of your own? You tried to keep us those years ago," Kirameku Ha said jokingly. "You have no need for us salty, old men now."
"I didn't care about the whole of your army! I cared about you! Now take your clothes off and meet me at the temple!" Gongsim ordered, stomping her foot again.
Meioshi's eyes widened at that before she made another interesting face and responded, "I'm sorry, what?"
"Madame, there are children here," Ohta said, eyes also widening from the demand of such a petite lady.
"What am I listening to right now!?" Jaken yipped, flinching.
Nakasone merely snickered behind her fan, making Kirameku Ha snap his head around to glare at her, and barked, "Don't entertain this!"
"It looks like you've still got it, old friend," Nakasone remarked, hiding behind her fan to silently laugh at Kirameku Ha.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Kirameku Ha barked with an interesting face.
"We're meeting mother for dinner! And I said TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF!" Gongsim ordered with sharpened teeth.
"Woman, I am not desecrating a temple with nudity!" Kirameku Ha argued.
I mean, I would, but that's just me, Meioshi thought. She did have pilgrimage sites that she frequented, after all.
"My powers will make your clothes stick to you and pull your flesh apart. Drop your pants!" Gongsim ordered, stomping her foot.
"I refuse!" Kirameku Ha argued. Such innuendo from a young lady. A princess, no less!
"A youngster chasing after promises only your body can offer? Must be nice," Nakasone joked, hiding behind her fan again to escape Kirameku Ha's glare.
"In a chest! Off this boat!" Kirameku Ha threatened with sharpened teeth and a forked tongue.
"Guards, escort the guests to their proper rooms. Kirameku Ha, we're late for dinner now!" Gongsim yelled, undoing her sash and wrapping it tightly around Kirameku Ha's arms.
Abruptly, Gongsim summoned a maelstrom that engulfed Meioshi's ship and rocked it violently again. The currents from both the winds and waters were enough to throw everyone overboard, but, much to everyone's surprise, Jaken shoved Nintojo into the deck of the ship and yelled out, "Nintojo flames!"
"Jaken, wait!" Meioshi tried.
Unfortunately, each element mixed together to create too much force for anyone to hold on. Emperor Kunimatsu saw the danger from his own ship and leapt off in a hurry. Sesshomaru heard the calls to stop the boy, but he surprised his lordship greatly. Kunimatsu crossed his arms over his chest, summoned a bit of power into the talisman bracelet Meioshi must have granted him, and summoned a royal scepter stylized into a spear into his hands. Shooting a holy arrowhead of power into the maelstrom, his young highness redirected the elemental forces in such a way that formed a stony, coral wall in the waters. Gongsim gasped from the use of such power and turned to the emperor with evident shock. Undeterred, however, she plunged the ship into the portal to her mother's den and spotted a glimmering piece on Meioshi's person before the crew was fully enveloped in dark waters.
All Sesshomaru heard before the waters turned flat again was...
"Lord Sesshomaru, help!"
"Meioshi!" Kunimatsu called, worry and fear in his voice. "Kirameku Ha!"