[Kumo Chuunin]

The sea was... strange. This was the main thought that crossed Ichiro's wandering mind as he sat atop the cold, grey stone of the harbour wall in the of the morning sun. His perch was solid, the large, granite slabs were strong and even, able to withstand the ever changing flow of the water with ease and a testament to the skill of the stonemason. Though… thought Ichiro more dolefully, time itself would eventually wear them down and the sea would claim them, the mason’s careful labour gone to waste. The world was more susceptible to the effects of aging than people thought, he mused... A small distance, no more than a hand span beneath his dangling legs the waves were lapping quietly against the water darkened stones of the lower wall, the sea appeared so gentle in her sleep, so still and calm and unassuming, a vague reflection of the sky bobbing up and down on its shimmering hide, the second sun gleaming with an unusual brilliance. It was, quite possibly, the most peaceful and undisturbed sight Ichiro had ever seen, but he remembered the river, he had seen it in all its foul moods, had been told how violently it had claimed his father and knew that the sea could turn just as easily, and once she had, her wrath was unmatched.

A small group of ships were no more than silhouettes in the distance, their sails spread wide and no doubt fluttering like the seabirds wings under the playful pushings and pullings of the coastal wind. The largest boat Ichiro had ever been on had been a small wooden rowboat, made for the river and unable to hold more than four medium built fishermen, so the thought of being aboard, let alone being at the absolute mercy of the sea in one of these huge and sturdy vessels both terrified and interested him in equal measure.

With a dull splash, a particularly large wave dashed against the stone, the spray gently raining down on his idling foot, bringing him out of his day dreaming and onto the harbour wall. Above him the harsh cry of a seabird, so dissimilar to the beautiful chirping songs of the mountain, rang out and he saw its broad shape pass over him out of the corner of his eye, its dark, trembling wings spread wide like fingertips trying to grasp the very air itself as it soared across the unblemished sky. Ichiro let out a deep breath of sea air that he hadn’t realised he had been holding and ran his fingers along the stone beneath them enjoying the sensation it brought, it was then he heard someone approaching him from behind, strange… numerous people had passed by but none had deliberately approached him as this one was. He didn’t bother with turning around, instead staring out at the picturesque ocean and waiting for the sound of their voice to call out to him…