SEASICK

73- Sly Fox

Mamoru and Silas had stayed in Ekapan for the last few days after completing their mission. They stayed in an inn near the docks, unwillingly sharing the only vacant room.

Silas harassed Mamoru daily to reveal the Princess's location but even if he wanted to, her scent had been distant and muted. That was until it had come crashing through the open balcony doors. It took everything in him not to jump up and follow; he did not want to alert Silas to any dubious actions.

Mamoru had been relaxing in his bed while Silas cleaned his sword standing at the foot of his on the right side of the room.

"I could hang you for treason," Silas grumbled firmly.

"Yeah, uh-huh." Mamoru agreed, paying little attention to his words as the smell invaded all his senses like a drug.

"To leave the princess of Taycia in the hands of filthy pirates." Silas griped more. "I could help her more than the likes of any criminal ever could. Just tell me where she is." Silas focused on the edge of his blade as he wiped a white handkerchief along the sword.

Mamoru groaned dramatically. "Is your hearing as bad as your eyesight?"

Silas cut his eyes to the fox spirit.

"I already told you, I can't even smell her right now." Mamoru held back a smirk to go along with his lie.

"But you can track—" Silas began to get louder, and Mamoru sat up hastily on his bed.

"But I won't, four-eyes." Mamoru stretched his back before standing. "I am going for a bite to eat, want me to get you anything?"

Silas only scoffed and went back to his cleaning. Mamoru shrugged when as he turned toward the balcony, his smirk finally fitting onto his features. He plucked up his mask from the bedside table and left through the opened doors, using the rooftops to follow the delicate scent of his favorite flower.

"Stay down here, do not move from that chair until we are back." Mamoru heard through the walls; he recognized the voice to be that of the captain.

It helped that the tavern was slow and dead so early in the day.

"How lame," Mamoru chuckled. "Who wants to sit around and just wait?"

He heard Alana's voice agree and one tell her that they would be done soon. Mamoru's original intent was only to see her from a distance, but now that her smell was intoxicating him, he could not help but be mischievous.

He waited a bit to sort a loose plan before knocking on the door, recalling the detailed letter Alana wrote them to find Ruby.

The same grumpy old man answered the door, however, Mamoru paid him no mind and walked right past, practically stepping over Harold.

"What the hell?!" Harold burst, taking a step to chase after the masked man but stopped. He decided it was the least of his worries, as long the stranger knew the knock, he would not stress about the matter.

Alana jolted with the slamming door as her heart began to race as the fox mask came closer and closer. She could believe her eyes drinking in the sight of his smooth movements. Her mind instantly went to the pirates just upstairs which only caused her heart to race more.

Alana's neck was crooked all the back when Mamoru stopped right in front of her, her honey orbs watering as she had not blinked once since she laid eyes on him.

"Hiya, flower." Mamoru cheesed under his mask.

"Mo-Momo?" She almost squeaked.

What is he doing here? Am I dreaming? Does that mean Silas is close?