Chapter Two: The Open Sea:

“Brianna!” Noiz greeted me. “How have you been?” She walked over and threw her arms around me.

“Fine,” I answered. “I’m fine.” She let go of me to stare at me. I raised an eyebrow at her.

“What?” I asked. Noiz put her hand over my head.

“Damn,” she said. “You’ve grown since I last saw you. You were a baby.”

“Yes,” I said. “I grew.”

“So you did,” she said. I peeked over her shoulder. Mosh stood with their luggage at his feet. I haven’t really met the guy. I only heard about him from e-mails.

“Hi,” I said to him with a small wave. He waved back. Strange, I didn’t know Noiz liked younger men, I thought.

“Okay!” my cousin spoke, clapping her hands together. “We better get going now! The boat’s going to leave us if we don’t hurry! Let’s get moving!” She walked ahead of Mosh and me. The mouse boy picked up their luggage and followed behind. I shrugged to myself and followed as well.

I’m going to get tell you now, I have so many people packed in port and I’m from DC. I shouldn’t be surprised since this is Japan, but the sight before me took all words I had.

“Wow!” I mouthed. I looked up when I heard giggling next to me. Noiz had a goofy smile on her face.

“Yes, there are many people here,” I said. My eyes widened when I heard her say that.

“How did…?” I began to ask. Noiz leaned into my face with a smile on hers.

“It’s all over your face, silly,” she said.

“Oh,” I muttered. Noiz patted me on the head and stuck out her tongue.

“Would you like anything to snack on before we board?” she asked. I shook my head.

“Not really,” I replied. “I’m good.”

“You sure?” my cousin asked.

“Yes, I’m okay,” I repeated.

“Alright,” Noiz said, waving it off. A woman’s voice came over the intercom, floating above the chatter around me. I tried in vain to understand what she was saying.

“What did she say?” I whispered to Noiz.

“We’re getting ready to board now,” she said in one breath. “Come on, let’s go!” She grabbed me by the arm and dragged me with her to the big boat. I glanced behind to see Mosh running to keep up with us.

“What?” I asked. “We’re leaving already?”

“Yes!” Noiz shouted. “Now, keep up, okay? It’ll be nightfall by the time the next boat sails into the harbor!”

“Yes!” I shouted. I’m used to pushing through crowds to get from place to place. It’s simple, really. Hang onto the person nearest to you and let them drag you along until you reach wherever you want to go. I didn’t know Noiz had such skinny arms when I grabbed on tight to her.

“Why are your arms so skinny?” I shouted over the crowd boarding the bus.

“Never mind that now!” she shouted back. “Keep moving!” All three of us finally made it on the boat with our luggage. Lucky for us, we got the last three seats. I sat back and breathed out.

“Crap, I can’t remember the last time I ran that fast,” I said aloud. Suddenly, I felt a tap on the shoulder. I glanced over to see Noiz looking at me with a grin on her face.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Look out the window,” she whispered. I turned my head and saw a delight that I had only seen in books. The ocean took my breath away. Sailing at it made my heart do little flips. I always loved taking the boat to Elis Island when I was a kid. So many fondle memories filled my head when I saw the waves as we sailed by.

“Wow!” I gasped.

“Magnificent, huh?” Noiz asked. I took out my camera and took pictures. Mosh sat beside my cousin chuckling.

“Easy there,” he said. “Aka-Usagi is just as beautiful.” I turned over to the mouse boy.

“Is that right?” I asked. “Says who?”

“Everyone,” Noiz and Mosh said together. I thought about this claim.

“Alright, I’ll take your word for it,” I said as I shoved my camera back into my pocket. “Don’t let me down.” By three o’clock, we made it to the island.