Send-Off

By the afternoon, the pirates and the sea serpent made their way to the mouth of the river.
Nezu had requested they all meet there, however when they arrived she was still nowhere to be seen. Instead, all they found was a small row boat.

“What the… I don't get it, didn't she want to see us off?” Sumire questioned aloud.

“I agree, it isn't like her to abandon us here,” Senren concurred. “Perhaps we simply arrived before her?”

“It was quite the hike up here,” worry tainted Jimmu's voice. “Do you think something could have happened to her? What if she got hurt or lost… Perhaps I should go back and look for her—”

Suddenly, a jingling sound echoed from the direction they had all come in, drawing everyone's attention. It was a crisp, resonating sound which felt like it could chase away darkness. Although it seemed to amplify through the entire woodlands, just ahead they could see a small parade of people approaching them.

At the helm of the procession was Nezu, donning a rare aura of seriousness and holding her juniper fan. Flanking behind her were two shrine maidens who held juniper staves with large bells at the top, each ringing loudly with every step. Behind each shrine maiden followed a priest holding a parcel. Sumire didn't quite understand what all of it was for, but she somehow found it to be a breathtaking sight.

When the procession finally arrived at the spot where the others were standing, it stopped. Without saying a word, Nezu then gently tapped each of them — on their head, right shoulder, then left shoulder, in that order — and bowed to complete the ritual. The party looked stunned.

“Hah, sorry to catch you all off guard,” Nezu chuckled at her friends’ expressions, returning to a more casual demeanor. “I wanted to perform a traveler's blessing for you guys before sending you off.”

“Ah, it was a ritual!” Jimmu remarked delightedly. “Such an honor…”

“It was beautiful,” Senren gave his own small bow in earnest. “Thank you for the wonderful send-off.”

“Well, I guess this is goodbye, for now,” Sumire didn't like having to say farewell to dear friends, so she wanted to get on with it as quickly as possible. The sooner they said farewell, the sooner they'd get to meet again. “But don't worry, we'll totally be back with that wicked awesome Koi Tear to show you! Then you can take a real trip on the Motley.”

Nezu giggled, smiling brightly despite the urge to cry.
“I'll be looking forward to it, Sumi,” she said. “Although, before you guys set off I’ve prepared a couple of things to give you all for your journey.”

The medicine woman nodded at her subordinates, and the two priests moved forward and placed their parcels into the rowboat. They then retreated back to their positions in the procession.

“These are some rations so you don't get famished, and medical supplies in case you run into trouble,” Nezu explained. “Now, the next thing is for Jimmu.”

Curious, the Wani stepped forward and watched as Nezu rummaged around the bag at her waist. After a moment, she pulled out a piece of red string and a small pair of scissors.

“You do know that you have a home here, right?” Nezu asked as she tied one end of the string tightly around her little finger.

“Ah… Uhm…” Jimmu stammered bashfully. “Yes, if you desire me here.”

“Good! But, just in case you forget…”

She tied the other end of the string around Jimmu’s respective finger, then held it up to show him. It was a bright red bridge between the two, connecting them and illuminating the smile on Nezu's face. Just as their eyes locked, and Jimmu cemented the memory in his mind, Nezu snipped the string.

“There. Now you'll always remember that you have a home to come back to, no matter what.”

“Another ritual… Just for me…” Jimmu muttered. His eyes shimmered and began to tear up as the words of his beloved sank in. “I… I'll never forget… I will always find my way home to you, Nezu!”

Responding to his words with a warm hug, the medicine woman then turned to Senren and Sumire.

“Lastly, I dug up something for you two,” she announced, once again rummaging through her bag. From it, Nezu produced a remarkably old, weathered journal and presented it to them. “This is my ancestor’s journal; it contains all of the information she ever gathered on Prismachromia. I'm entrusting it to you two, Sumire and Senren, in the hopes that its information will help you in your travels. Please use it to overcome any struggles you face with your illness.”

Sumire was absolutely stunned by the gift. She found herself unable to speak or move for a moment, frozen by the sheer weight of Nezu’s gesture and her own gratitude. It wasn't until she felt Senren gently nudge her lower back that Sumire was able to gingerly take the journal into her hands.

“Nezu… Thank you so much…”

“Don't mention it, Sumi,” Nezu chuckled and hugged Sumire tightly. “I just want you guys to be happy and fulfilled in life. Now, hurry up and get on your way!”

Before they had the chance to linger, Nezu ushered the pirates and the sea serpent onto their boat. After perching himself on the stern, Jimmu transformed his legs into his Wani tail and began propelling them away. As they began their grand ascent up the Ryusui River, the friends all waved fervently at each other.

Sumire felt her eyes begin to wet, however as the riverbank shrank away from her view she could see something truly heartaching. Despite the bold, encouraging smile on her face, and the energetic way she waved with both arms, tears were rolling down her cheeks.