Epilogue — Realized Dreams

The sky was clear and the wind was good.

It was the sort of wind that's just strong enough to push sails forward and fill young hearts with a sense of adventure. Sumire beamed at it from where she stood at the helm of her ship, bobbing in the Kojin City port, letting it blow through her chestnut hair. She'd been waiting for this day her entire life.

Today was the maiden voyage of the Motley.

Almost as proud as she was excited, Sumire took a deep breath and trotted down to the deck. Senren was waiting for her, wearing his own eager grin.

“How goes it, quartermaster?” Sumire asked cheerfully, playfully punching him in the shoulder. Senren chuckled.

“Everything looks well,” he said. “Our supplies are secured and most of our luggage has been loaded. I'm not as well versed in boatsmanship as you, but I think your lessons taught me enough to confidently assess the ship's safety.”

“Perfect,” Sumire praised. “We're almost ready to set sail! Nimue and the others should be here any minute for the finishing touches.”

“Oi, Sumi! Got yer sea legs yet? Ahaha!”

“Big sister! Look!”

Speak of the devil — a sweet voice and boisterous laughter announced the arrival of Nimue and Uncle Nanami. The Koi Yokai darted up onto the ship from the dock, still faster than the old pirate and his cane despite carrying a small fish tank full of water.

“What do you think, Sumi-nee?” Nimue asked, trying to gesture to her outfit. She had apparently traded her old, traditional kimono in for shorts, boots, and a more modern top that showed off the patterns on her skin. Even her long hair was pulled up into a high ponytail.

“Do I look like a real adventurer now?”

“Heheh, you look awesome,” Sumire chuckled, patting Nimue's head.

“I agree, it suits you,” Senren added.

“Can't believe ya actually did it, Sumi,” Nanami praised his dear niece once he caught up to them on the deck. “Ya found a way to sail the Motley with such a miniscule crew. An’ with an ol’ artifact! Haha!”

“What, did ya point me in that direction thinkin’ I'd fail?” Sumire's question was only half rhetorical, but Nanami merely laughed in response.

“I'm proud o’ ya, kid,” he said, clapping her on the shoulder. “Ya stopped at nothin’ to make yer dreams come true. You'll make a fine pirate, Sumire.”

Sumire didn't know what to say. Hearing that meant the world to her, so much that it left her at a loss for words. Luckily, a sharp whistle saved her from needing to respond.

“Hey! Don't sail off just yet!”

Sumire's face lit up as her gaze fell upon none other than Nezu Mikon-Tsubame. She was waving energetically to them from the port, a somewhat elated looking Jimmu standing by her side. Too excited to walk, the pirate raced down onto the dock and launched herself Nezu in a tight hug.

“Nezu! I missed you so much!”

“W-wait, Sumire!” Jimmu pleaded as Nezu nearly fell over, careful not to drop the bundle of cloth in her arms. “Please, be careful! Miss Healer could get injured—”

“And you!” Sumire ignored the Wani's protests, giving him a hug tight enough to open old wounds. “I’m so glad you're okay! I was afraid we'd never see you again!”

“Ack— Yes, well… I told you I would make it home,” Jimmu struggled to speak, gasping for air when the pirate finally released him.

“We cannot thank you enough for all the supplies your family provided,” Senren joined them, followed by Nimue and her fishtank. In it, Samael, Nishiki, and Tomoya were swimming about — at least until they locked eyes with Jimmu.

“Ah, it was nothing!” Nezu brushed it off kindly. “What good is an adventure with sick and hungry crewmates? Besides, I have an even better surprise that you should be thanking me for instead.”

Bemused, the pirates looked at Nezu curiously. Except for Nimue, who had instead joined the staring contest with Jimmu. Nevertheless, beneath their anticipated gazes, Nezu unfurled the cloth in her arms to reveal a large black flag. Upon it was a heptagonal gemstone with a koi fish curled around it, apparently hand sewn into the fabric.

“Every good pirate ship needs one of these, right? I thought this design represented you guys perfectly.”

“My gods, Nezu… it's amazing!” Sumire touched the fabric with reverence, as if it was a fragile relic. It even drew the attention of Nimue back from her Yokai socialization.

“It's like me…” she said, shifting the tank in her arms to gently touch the koi on the flag.

“It's beautiful, Nezu. Thank you,” Senren offered his rare, friendly smile before getting everyone back on track. “Looks like all that's left is to hoist it up and set sail before the weather no longer favors us.”

Although reluctant to leave her friends once more, nothing compared to the exhilaration Sumire felt to finally be embarking on her first voyage as a pirate captain. Together with Senren and Nimue, she ventured into the hold of the Motley and approached the altar where the Koi Tear rested.

“Using the Koi Tear in this way should be rather simple,” Nimue explained as she poured her three koi friends into the aquarium Senren built for them. “You just need to pour your energy into it, and direct that energy in a cycle around the orb. The combination of Sumi-nee’s Lightning energy and Senren's Water energy should soon create a magnetic field that can push us through the seas.”

“You know, you're incredibly smart for someone who's lived alone all these years,” Senren remarked as he got into position.

“Alright. Here goes…” with a deep breath, Sumire began steadily sending her Lightning energy into the Koi Tear. As she did so, the violet hue in the orb grew stronger and stronger.

Senren then followed her lead, his Water energy strengthening the cyan hue. Before long, the orb emitted an invisible pulse that traveled far enough to surround the entire ship.

“There it is. You can stop now,” Nimue informed them. Once Sumire relinquished her output, she admired the Koi Tear as violet and cyan energy cycled around it like a gyroscope.

Then the ship began to move.

Immediately, Sumire rushed out onto the deck. There she found the most beautiful sights she could ever have imagined.

The Motley was setting sail, crawling out of port with amethyst hues on the wavecrests beneath it. Her friends — no, her family — Nezu, Jimmu, and Nanami waved and shouted their farewells. The tears of happiness they shed matched the ones trailing down Sumire's own face as she waved back to them.

This was it.
The beginning of her life as a pirate.

She would go on many adventures all across the world outside the Yamato Isles.

But in the end, they would always lead her back home, to the loved ones waiting for her return.