The Blue Ocean's Poison

 “They’re done father.” A young girl shouts as she takes out the pan of cookies. Her dark blue eyes light up as she pushes her black hair back, going over. Her father stood over the kitchen counter, examining four empty glasses with purple eyes. He turns over and looks through her, but she doesn’t seem to notice. He puts a hand through his brown and grayish hair in frustration as the phone rings.

 “Dawn, bring it over to the table. I’ll bring the drinks.” He speaks in a gruff tone. She nods as she walks over to her mother and brother.

 “Makoto and Mom. The Cookies are done.” Dawn smiles softly.

 “Hopefully you didn’t burn them.” Makoto gags as Dawn pushes him jokingly. His purple eyes squint as he puts up his long blonde hair.

 “I’m sure they will taste delicious Dawn.” The mom states, her dark blue eyes staring at Dawn’s. The father comes out with the drinks and sets them down.

 “Mizu. You got a call earlier from your sister, she said call her back when you can.” He says as the mom smiles and nods.

 “Thanks.” Mizu eats a cookie as she grabs a drink. She pauses for a second before finally grabbing one. Dawn notices and feels something may be wrong. But she doesn’t say anything.

 They eat in a comfortable silence. Dawn feels a pit in her stomach. Nothing seemed wrong but why did she feel… off?

 Then she got her answer as a small choking sound emerges. Dawn looks up as her mom coughs up blood. She jumps up in panic as Makoto rushes over.

 “Mom?!” He shouts. The father faced contorts in shock as he hurriedly grabbed his phone to call for help. Dawn stood frozen, a statue made of panic. Should she move? Would she just be in the way?

 Makoto moves Mizu’s blonde hair out the way as he tries to help her. Dawn's brain clicks as she moves forward.

 Dawn’s hands shook as she reached out. “Mom. What’s going on?” Her breathing became erratic as she looked around. The father walks over.

“Doctors are coming. Move out of the way.” He says as he checks her pulse. “Mizu are you still there?”

A gruff sound came as a few words left her mouth. Too low for either child to hear but just enough for him. “Hakai... Fuck you bastard.”

A silence passed as Mizu’s eyes dulled. Hakai frowns before looking back at his children. Makoto covers his mouth as tears well up in his eyes. Dawn stares in shock. How had their day turned out like this?

Half an hour later, medical professionals arrived taking Mizu’s body. Hakai walks with them as they talk.

“Mr. Hamasaki, do you think this was a murder? Are you sure?” A doctor asked.

“Positive. Have the Legion open up a case and trial? My wife’s killer will not get away.” He glares as the doctor nods.

Back in the house, Makoto sits quietly as he holds Dawn.

“Let it out Dawn. Father thinks it might have been a setup. If it was, we’ll find her killer. The Legion’s all-seeing eye is never wrong." He tries to comfort her as she nods slowly.

The days pass in silence. No one knows what to say.

Dawn sat in her room and curled up. Covers wrapped her tightly. She had been crying nonstop, but today was the day they visited their mom one last time before her funeral.

Forcing her body up, she slowly gets dressed and walks out of her door. Her father and brother wait for her before they head out.

The car ride there is silent, Dawn looks out the window quietly as she takes in the scenery. She looks over at the empty seat beside her and blinks twice. Was her mom right there? She looks away and then back as her mom stares at her.

“Don’t say anything Dawn. Just listen.” Mizu speaks. Dawn has to force herself to be quiet as she looks around. “I am here technically. I used my last bit of magic before I died to bring this ‘illusion’ to you. They are going to have a trial. You will be blamed for my death. Do not worry, I know you didn’t kill me. When that happens, run until you see the doctor with an umbrella. Don’t ask questions just do what I say and I promise you’ll be safe.”

Dawn didn’t even know what to do. She just slowly watched as Mizu disappeared right in front of her eyes. When she looked back up front, they had arrived and her family was already out of the car as Makoto shouted her name for the tenth time.

“S-sorry.” She hurriedly got out of the car. They walk into the room where Mizu is being held as Dawn notices something out of the corner of her eye. She turns swiftly as she sees the umbrella, hurriedly rushing after it.

“Wait ma’am!” she yells out as Makoto attempts to go after her before he’s stopped by his father.

“Let the girl go. Clearly there is something more important than her mother.” He says bitterly. Makoto, knowing better than to talk back to his father, nodded and followed along.

“Please wait!!” Dawn yelled as the umbrella suddenly stopped. “Ow.” She yelped as she bumped into them, landing on her butt.

“Is there something you need from me young lady?” The person turns to face Dawn. The umbrella covers half her face, but Dawn can still see the Reddish-violet hair peeking out as it frames her dark skin.

“Ah… um…” Dawn is unable to speak. The lady lifts her umbrella revealing black eyes laced with concern.

“Yes?” She asked again.

“M-my mom said to find you.” Dawn stuttered now scared she had the wrong person.

“Did she now? So, you ran after someone you thought was the right person?” She questioned as Dawn flushed hiding her face in embarrassment. “Head off now young lady. Your mom is waiting.”

Dawn looked up to question, but she was gone. “What the?” She looked around and stood. No trace of the lady could be found. She hung her head as she walked back to her brother.

Makoto saw her walking down the hall and waved her over. Dawn made it to the room and saw her mother’s body. It was deathly pale, and cold. Dawn clenched her fists as she thought of her mother’s words.

“We’re leaving now.” Hakai started as he glared at Dawn.

“Can’t we-“

“I said. We’re leaving.” He turned away and began to walk, Makoto sheepishly behind him. Dawn looked back at her mom’s body before following. They walked silently as Dawn thought of the mysterious lady with the umbrella, her father’s sudden hostility, and her mother’s final words to her.

She sat in her room in deafening silence. Everything around her seemed surreal as she curled in on herself. She was lost and confused. Everything around her seemed like it was a lie. Marks stained her skin as she constantly pinched her skin to see if all of this was a dream.

But no. All of this was real. She had to accept that, but even when she did. She had no clue what to do about it. She whimpered and cried. She couldn’t hear anything else but her mother’s final words. They rang in her ears like a siren.

Her brother tried checking on her, but she never answered. Most likely she didn’t even hear him.

Makoto sat on the couch with their father as the man scoffs. “Do not feel sympathy for that girl. The results came in and Mizu was poisoned. Your sister made that food. The whole cookies and tea were her idea. She killed her.”

Makoto gripped the fabric of his pants until his knuckles turned white. He wanted to scream that he was wrong, that he was mistaken. All he could do was hope the All-Seeing eye proved him right.

The days passed in this manner. Makoto couldn’t bear to see Dawn’s face as he was scared his father may be right. Dawn thoughts were clouded by fear, confusion and guilt. Hakai sat peacefully, however, his anger only rose when Makoto would question if Dawn was guilty.

That’s when the day finally arrived. The trial stood before the three, their reactions differing. Makoto stood nervous but hopeful as his father grinned beside him. Dawn was a few steps back covered in sweat. Her breathing hollow as she was curled in on herself.

Makoto noticed, he always knew when his sister was troubled, but he was scared to help. As usual his fear of his father’s actions outweighed his love for his sister.

A loud voice booms outward. It was the Legion, the keepers of this world and enforcers of judgement. No one knew who the members were, just that there are currently seven.

“Welcome to the trial of one, Mizu Hamasaki.” The room paused and everyone present tenses up.

"Watch closely. This is how the world purges its rot." Hakai whispers with a pleased grin on his face. Makoto makes a small nervous sound as he shakes. Behind them Dawn begins to breathe erratically. Her eyes wander looking for all possible escapes.

The room glows as the surroundings shake. The All-Seeing Eye is at work. Everyone stares in awe as their heart rates pick up. Then silence.

“The truth has been revealed. The Murderer of Mizu Hamasaki.” The Legion begins. Dawn backs away shaking. A voice, albeit tiny, rings in her head.

“run.” It says as Dawn continues to back away.

“Is. Dawn.” The verdict has been set as the room stands quietly. Makoto turned around in a fit of anger but before he could say anything Dawn took off.

She ran as fast as her feet could take her, ignoring the shouting and pain around her. She ducks under the guard at the front door and pushes through. Her body tumbles down the steps as she hears feet chasing after her. Her body glows as she sends water bullets at the chasing guards.

‘Water magic: Surging bullets.’

The guards groaned as the bullets shattered their formation. Taking this chance, Dawn bolts running through the field of confused individuals. She runs until her lungs burn, her watery eyes making it hard to see. She hears the guards closing in on her as she slows down, her original boost of adrenaline wearing off.

She stops and pants as she looks over seeing the guards. She puts her hands together and begins to glow brighter. But before she can use her magic once more a hand grabs her, yanking her into an empty alley.

“Who-“ a hand covers her mouth as she looks up. Her eyes widen as she sees the doctor. The guards turn the corner and look around, unable to see the two of them.

“My umbrella is hiding us. Now do be quiet.” She whispers before they sink into the ground. Dawn yelps into the lady’s hand as they drop into the sewers. The doctor grabs her umbrella and begins to walk forward expecting Dawn to follow.

Dawn looks around at the torn down walls and dirty water. With nowhere else to go she follows the doctor further in.

The doctor suddenly stops in front of a wall. As if sensing their presence, a door appears as Dawn jumps back in surprise.

“Come in. Or do you wish for the guards to sniff you out?” At that, Dawn slowly stepped into the door.

Waiting on the other side were five individuals, who all turned as the doctor closed the door.

“Oh? She has finally arrived. Took you long enough,” a lady with hair as black as night said as she stood. She looked around the doctor’s age, and her eyes had strange clocks in them. The brightly colored yellow contrasting the small ticking. “Hi! You’re Dawn right?”

“uh…” Dawn could offer no response as she stood in pure shock at the strangers.

“We’ll introduce ourselves first I suppose. My name is Nia Balogun.” The doctor said as she walked past the energetic woman.

“My name is Miu Azula. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She extended her hand. Dawn quietly shook it as she looked into the woman’s eyes, intrigued by the unique clocks. Dawn notices in the corner a lady with similar black hair. Her pink eyes stare at Dawn before turning away without a word.

“That is Soo-Jin. She isn’t very social.” Miu whispered as Dawn turned back.

“Huh?” Dawn questions as she does a double take. Miu’s eyes are blue? Weren’t they yellow… Dawn doesn’t ask aloud.

“Ugh. It’s already so cramped and we’re inviting someone else?” A girl groaned. Dawn turned toward her and for a second felt like she was staring at a mirror. The only difference between the two was this girl had gray spots on her skin.

“W-who?” Before Dawn can finish the girl is in her face.

“Soo-Hun. Ms. Nia don’t you think we already have too many people in this small hideout? Why add on more?” Soo-Hun scoffed, her face filled to the brim with annoyance.

“I promised her mother I would bring her in. Please ignore Ruby, Dawn. Her words don’t usually match her actions.” Nia left to walk into the kitchen. Soo-Hun, or as Nia referred to her, Ruby crossed her arms as she stomped in the opposite direction.

“H-hi. I’m Satoshi Azula.” A young boy walks over sheepishly. His emerald eyes scrunch in as he smiles. His black hair is in a small ponytail. Dawn paused at the last name looking over at Miu, before concluding they must be mother and son.

“I-it’s nice to meet you.” Dawn stutters out finally meeting someone who isn’t too strange or mysterious. Just then a bright light jumps toward her.

“Hii I’m Celestial. Welcome to The Dragons!” She cheerfully yelled as Dawn slightly shielded her eyes. The girl wore blonde hair matching perfectly with her brown eyes and the glowing chains that adorned her.

Dawn was at a loss for words. These people were weirdos, even by her standards. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the girl’s presence as Nia came back inside, a hot mug in her hand.

“Enough of introductions. Dawn. We are the Dragons…” She speaks sighing at the name Celestial obviously produced. “Like you we were framed for crimes by the Legion. Our goal is to clear our names and prove that they are frauds. So, tell me young lady. Are you in or do I have to erase your memories and kick you out.”

Her glare was penetrating as Dawn shook. She couldn’t speak as those black eyes stared through her.

“Nia. You’re scaring her, quit it.” Miu spoke up, her eyes now an orange color. Dawn at this point figured it had something to do with her magic, after all she couldn’t be that crazy.

“Sorry. Dawn, your answer?” Nia looked away sheepishly, not intending to scare the poor girl.

Dawn thought for a bit, the risk of being on the run and going against the Legion was high but to sit back and let her mother’s real killer get away…

“I’ll join. I want to find the real killer and bring them down.” She declares. Nia nods before smiling.

“Good. Soo-Jin show her to her new room please.” At this, the lady from before who hadn’t spoken a word looked up.

She lifts, her body like a feather as she floated toward Dawn. Her feet were slightly above the floor. Without a word she turns and moves down the hall. Dawn stands in place for a moment before Nia nudges her forward.

“She won’t bite.” She smiles as Dawn nods sheepishly. She walks behind Soo-Jin quietly.

‘She’s floating…’ Dawn mind wanders. “Isn’t that tiring?” She speaks before she can think. Her hand clamps over her mouth. Soo-Jin stops and turns her head slightly before pointing at a door.

“Oh… Is this my room?” Dawn twiddles with her fingers. Soo-Jin pushes open the door revealing a room, a white bed is the only thing that stands in the corner. “Thanks- Huh?”

Soo-Jin is gone by the time Dawn turns. There is silence before a sigh leaves her. She walks into the empty room and just faceplants on the bed. Her body tension immediately relinquishes as she closes her eyes.