Temptations in the Depths

Timothy, his friends, and his allies finally prevented Chiaki's execution.

And ever since that day, two days passed, and everyone left la Cadena de Narón at its destruction.

They returned to Sennecroft Holm due to multiple ships available at la Cadena de Narón's shore and allowed everyone who fought to rest and be treated by Ayuka.

Chiaki sat up from her bed and looked at her scorched ankle. "I think it's healthy now. Thank you, Ayuka." Chiaki jumped on her feet and tried moving her foot, learning that it got recovered.

"Don't mention it. It wasn't much. Oh, by the way, Chiaki. Phoebe and others wanted to meet you. Especially Phoebe. I heard you've known each other ever since you were younger. I think you should catch up with her before she leaves." Ayuka explained, waiting for Chiaki to nod. "Leave? Where are they going?"

Ayuka gently tapped her cheek with her finger, "If I recall correctly, I think she's planning to reunite with the Sea Wolves Pirates, and others, like Bruno and Bow, are returning to their homelands. I'm pretty sure the empress and her soldiers needed to leave in a rush to help the people in Harventona Park. So, I don't think you'll see her this time."

Ayuka stood up from her chair and followed Chiaki outside.

As they exited, in an instant, they saw Timothy, Kou, and Yumiko sitting in front of a fortune teller. "Come on, hurry up and pick one!" Yumiko squeaked impatiently, but Timothy seemed unfazed.

The woman in front of him placed ten cards on the desk, turned upside down. "Select one." She claimed as Timothy grabbed a card and flipped it.

"Loss..." Timothy blinked in confusion and listened to the woman, "Be on the lookout for coming events; They cast their shadows beforehand." Timothy, Kou, and Yumiko were confused, and none knew what it meant. "Erm... what does that mean?" But the woman answered not. Instead, she remained silent, wearing her turban. "You know... I'd be grateful if I knew the answer, but "loss" doesn't sound good. Think you'll be alright, Tim?"

Timothy shrugged his shoulders, and sighed, "To be honest, it doesn't feel new. I've already dealt with multiple losses." Timothy stood up and looked behind him, "Oi! Chiaki! Ayuka! Wanna hear your fortune?" He questioned, pointing his fingers at the desk.

Ayuka and Chiaki looked at each other. But then they returned their looks to Timothy. "I think I'll pass..." Ayuka claimed, placing her hand on her chest. "Aw, come on! Don't be such a mood-breaker. Go give it a shot. I gotta go speak to Phoebe anyway." Timothy claimed, walking toward them as Yumiko and Kou tried to hear their fortune as well.

The fortune-teller spoke in the background to them while Timothy stretched. "I don't need to know my fortune. It's probably a ruse."

Timothy acted dumb and shrugged his arms, "Fine... Anyway, Chiaki. Since your wounds have healed, how about we go say hello to Phoebe." Chiaki looked at him, then at Ayuka, and agreed with a nod, "Yeah, sure."

The two left Ayuka behind as Kou and Yumiko followed them right after.

Ayuka observed them for a few seconds but then looked at the fortune-teller. She approached her and sat on the chair. She was greeted with tarot cards and picked one of them.

The next moment, she read it.

"It begins but has no end, yet ends all that begins." Ayuka became bewildered. "What? That's not even a fortune." She complained, but the woman hid any emotions. "The greatest risk is not taking one. Two years from now, you'll understand..." The woman explained and left Ayuka in the dark.

Ayuka continued looking into the tarot card until the fortune-teller removed it from her view. "It begins but has no end, yet ends all that begins? Jeez, fortune-tellers these days. It's probably some clumsy mistake. I don't even know why I bothered trying." She hopped on her feet and walked away from the desk.

-

Timothy and Chiaki, accompanied by Kou and Yumiko found Phoebe in front of the dock, looking at the ship on which Bruno and the others prepared to leave. "Phoebe, are you sure you don't want to come with us? Using a dingy won't be the easiest way to return to the Sea Wolves pirates."

She gently flapped with her palm, "Don't worry! I've been traveling by myself for a few weeks now. I'll contact my captain after I leave Sennecroft Holm. They'll come to pick me up for sure." Phoebe chuckled and stood up, keeping her hands on her hips.

"Well, don't say we didn't want to help you! I hope you return to the crew safely!" Kira called, waving high up in the air, and spotted Timothy and the others behind Phoebe.

"Look! It's that big-boobed ponytail girl!" Shouted Kira, pointing at Ayuka's chest. Ayuka, who followed Timothy and the others, became frustrated. "What is your problem?! Learn some manners, Kira!"

Timothy and everyone else listened to their argument in silence. "Looks like you're ready to go, Chiaki." Phoebe chuckled, covering Kira's vision from a distance.

"I haven't seen you in person for years. I can't believe my eyes that I finally see you again. You've grown up so much, and uh... so did your body." Phoebe claimed, awkward and looking at Chiaki's physique.

"Tell me," She rushed in front of Chiaki and nearly pressed her face into her nose, "What do you do to make your chest grow so much for such a little body of yours?" Chiaki's eyes blinked in silence as she didn't comprehend Phoebe's reaction.

Her eyes became unimpressed and bored, "Why do you ask me that?"

Phoebe straightened up and grabbed her own chest, squeezing it together, "Because I'm a grown-up, and I can't make myself look stunning!"

Chiaki slowly backed away from her, leaving Phoebe in silence. "Boy, there's a kid here! Can we not talk about the female body?" Kou wondered, uncomfortable, as everyone looked at him in unison.

"W-What? Stop looking at me like that!"

They called out to him, "So you finally admit it! You're kiddo!" They busted Kou and made him freeze on the spot as sweat trickled down his forehead. "T-That's not what I meant! I-I... never mind..." He surrendered, looking down at the floor. "I'm only 17, so I'm not an adult either," Chiaki explained calmly.

"Well, I hope the world government comes and restrains Phoebe. Because I don't think it's appropriate to compliment a 17-year-old about their chest." Kou looked to the side, complaining with a low attitude.

"Anyway... I wanted to say I'm just happy I finally saw you again, Chiaki." Phoebe answered. "But that's not why you wanted to talk to me, right?" Chiaki wondered, curious and relaxed.

"No! I just wanted to say! That we're ready to take you back onto the Sea Wolves pirates crew! Everyone's been eager to see you after all these years!" Phoebe laughed, pumped and excited.

"What?!" Chiaki asked, astonished, "I know, right? So, cool! So, when you're ready! Get ready to dress up! Cause we're going-!" But Chiaki immediately interrupted her, "No, I'm not coming with you!" Her voice resonated and startled Phoebe. "Huh? Y-You're not? B-But we-"

"I'm... I'm sorry, Phoebe. But I don't want to come with you. I don't want to return to the Sea Wolves pirates. I want to stay with Tim and the others," Chiaki seemed determined.

"I want to sail across the sea with them, and I... I want to learn how to fight and study more about soul-linking. If I manage to do so, I will finally be able to help. I want to fight with them so that I'm able to take on any challenge possible. And the best way to do so..." She took a deep breath.

"It's to stay a part of their crew and link my soul with Tim. If I can utilize our power, I'll finally do what my mother asked of me. I know soul-linking isn't just conversing with the heart I linked with. But it can enhance, heal and copy their ability. Of course, as long as Tim agrees." She looked at Timothy, proud and courageous.

"Chiaki... Are you saying..." She nodded with confidence, "Yes. I want to be with you and become your secondhand. I want to become somebody who can help you. I don't want to be useless. So, if I stay with you, then I believe... I can finally be the vessel, strong enough and brave enough. Somebody you can rely on and someone who can support you in battle." She explained, keeping her palm on her chest.

"I... What about your brother? He's alive. Don't you want to go with him?" Timothy asked stuttering in his words. "My brother? Blythe? No, I don't want to be with him. Please, understand, he's still my family, but I will never forgive him for what he did to Elian's father. I still love him like a sibling, but it's not what I want. Besides, you said you'll let me sail the sea with you. So, please. Would you let me stay by your side, Tim? I don't want to be the girl I was five years ago, avoiding you and hiding my secrets. I want to tell you everything and introduce you to my life."

Timothy seemed surprised, "You... You don't need to learn how to fight. You were never meant to fight..." But Chiaki denied it and inhaled. "I know, and I know that I don't need to learn how to fight. But it's not about what I know. It's about what I wish to achieve. So, if you're planning to split up with the crew for two years, then let me come with you. If we find somebody who can teach me about soul-linking, how I can connect to your heart more efficiently, and learn the forbidden techniques, I'll be more than happy with what I achieved."

Timothy scratched the back of his hair. "I never saw you as a fighter but a girl who couldn't really do much in battle." Suddenly, Chiaki's cheeks puffed and she became ticked. "That's what I meant, dummy!" She shouted, terrifying Timothy to the point of making him feel uncomfortable. "At least you're honest." She called, crossing her arms.

"Okay, okay! I gotcha! We'll go together so that we can both become stronger. As long as Phoebe doesn't mind."

Luckily, Phoebe smiled after they looked at her, "Honestly, I don't really mind. If she wants to stay with you and be a member of the white-haired pirates, let her be. I'll tell my captain, and I'm sure he'll understand."

"Thanks, Phoebe!" Chiaki called with a smile while Timothy began thinking. "White-haired pirates? You know, I'm starting to dislike the name the world government gave us. So, how about we change that name after we reunite at Winterpeak Island?" As he claimed so, the rest of his crew arrived. "That sounds great," Kyora called, waving from the distance.

"I think a new name would be more suitable." Ralphie called, standing next to Kyora, "You're acting different, Ralphie." Yumiko called, but suddenly, Ralphie's heart began pumping faster and he shouted, "Ayuka-swan! Yumiko-cupcake! Kyora-princess! How about a romantic eve with all three of you before departing?!" He swirled on the floor and danced his way toward Yumiko and Ayuka.

Ayuka and Yumiko became unimpressed, "I should've stayed silent."

Timothy smiled, looking at Chiaki. "Well... Chiaki. I guess you're really a part of the crew now. But let's make sure to stay good friends."

Chiaki nodded and excitedly hopped on her feet, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She surprised everyone. A once calm and composed girl revealed her true personality. "You know... I think I like you a lot more when you're actually yourself and not worrying too much about your identity." Timothy laughed, seeing her jump and down.

Phoebe grabbed her bag and leaned on her shoulder. "All right then. Tim, his friends, I'll be off now. If you ever find yourself in trouble, contact the Sea Wolves pirates. We'll come to your aid as soon as possible. Consider us allies." Timothy and Phobe exchanged eyes and shared a handshake.

"Thanks for everything, Phoebe." She looked at his hand but slapped it away and startled him. "Come here!" She instantly wrapped her arm around his shoulders and squeezed him against her. "No need to be so formal around me! We're friends, not just allies!" She laughed and finally let him go.

"Now... Make sure you surprise me the next time we meet, Chiaki." Phoebe grinned. "Of course. The next time you see me, I'll be an altogether different person!" Chiaki promised and shared a hug with Phoebe.

"Good for you. Now, better run. Don't wanna get caught in a storm or something."

They nodded, and everyone observed Phoebe leave the area and climbed into the boat. She placed the bag next to her and grabbed the oars, preparing to paddle away.

The sky began darkening, turning to night slowly as the sun fell. "Goodbye, Phoebe!" They waved to her and observed her paddling into the distance, looking behind them one more time. "Ciao!" She raised her arm, waving back to them, and finally sailed into the distance.

Bruno, Kira, and Luca looked at her from their ship with a smile. "Oh, Yumiko," Luca called, Yumiko looking at him, "Bow's waiting for you at the mountain. He's ready to leave when you are."

She smiled, nodding. "Thanks for telling me. I'll meet with him the moment I can. I'm sure I'll be able to learn the last forbidden technique of inspection."

""I'm sure you will. You managed to learn how to migrate and enchant, so there's no doubt you'll learn how to inspect your opponent as well." Yumiko proudly nodded and showed Luca a thumbs up.

"Right... Time to go, you two. Let's go back to Craftsman Island and see how Leandre's doing. He's probably worried sick about us." Added Bruno, receiving nods from Kira and Luca until they finally greeted their allies goodbye and sailed into the distance with a new road ahead of them.

Ralphie reached into his pockets and dragged out a letter. "Tim... This is for you. Blythe gave it to me but didn't want to say goodbye because he feels horrible for what he did." Timothy grabbed the letter and opened it.

He read it quietly "Take my younger sister to these coordinates as soon as you leave Sennecroft Holm. He should be able to help. I appreciate you helping my sister. Blythe." After putting the letter in his pocket, Timothy turned to face Chiaki before ducking behind a building.

From the corner, Blythe gave him a serene glance. Everyone readied themselves to depart in search of their preferred location and reconvene at Winterpeak Island two years later.

To be continued...