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“Ms. George, you’re cleared to board the JS Futami.”
Yuri bowed politely as she took back her passport and tucked the small book into her duffle bag. The ramp up to the ship’s deck felt wobbly at best, but she grit her teeth and plowed forward. Not that things were much better once she stepped onto the boat. She had hoped its massive size would lessen the rocking motion of the sea, but instantly her head began to swim and her stomach began to churn as she walked unsteadily towards the next uniformed seaman.
“George, Yuri,” she said, forcing back her discomfort as she bowed to the officer. “Sea life researcher and conservationist with the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center.” The man nodded briefly and pointed stiffly behind him at a thin, descending staircase. “Deck 2, cabin 315.” He returned to attention immediately, offering no further help, and Yuri bit back a sigh as she bowed again and headed for the stairs.
It was lucky for her that the ship was lined with railings; even docked at the Yokohama port, the ship swayed noticeably. ‘I can only imagine what it’ll be like at sea,’ she thought dolefully. And imagination was all she had at this point, never having been aboard ship before. Her brother had told her stories of sailing to and from Korea during the war, but he clearly hadn’t inherited whatever sea-sickness gene was plaguing her now. The multitude of latches and locks on the ship didn’t help either, as opening and closing any door required more concentration than her addled mind could afford.
And it wasn’t just the doors testing her, but the hallways spanning them. It wasn’t quite as cramped as she imagined a military vessel to be, but it was clearly made for efficiency, not comfort. She walked slightly hunched in the low halls as exposed pipes and structural beams threatened to cause her head even more pain. “Whoever built this ship didn’t make it for tall people, either,” she muttered, ducking even lower to step through a bulkhead door.
The halls were dimly lit, the lights clearly at minimal power to save electricity, and Yuri struggled to read the block letters and numbers stamped onto the metal beside the cabins. Her throbbing head wasn’t helping. Squinting her eyes at the numbers, Yuri mumbled absently “3, 1,... is that a zero or an eight?”
“It’s an eight.” Yuri gasped and straightened so suddenly that she knocked her head into the metal ceiling above her, and suddenly she was seeing stars. Her already wobbly legs gave way, and she slumped as her brain pulsed and her eyes squeezed shut. “Hey, careful!” Someone caught her before she fell, no doubt the owner of the mysterious voice, and she gratefully accepted their help as they propped her trembling form against their sturdy body.
“Th-thank you. Sorry.” She was still seeing spots, but tried to right herself anyways. Some start to her adventure this was turning out to be. “Not used to ships, are you?” The voice was light, and gentle, but its owner was clearly teasing her. She flushed, hating to look so weak and helpless in front of an obviously strong sailor. “This is my first time on one,” she admitted as the sailor helped her lean against a wall. She hadn’t dared open her eyes yet, afraid the world would still be spinning. The sailor chuckled, and Yuri was caught off guard by how… nice it sounded. His raspy tenor and casual speech made it clear he was used to ocean voyages, but still there was something in his voice that set her mind at ease. It wasn’t anything like the stuffy soldiers or crass captains she’d expected. Yuri forced herself to open her eyes, suddenly wishing to see her new companion, but her gaze stayed glued to the rough floor as her headache pulsed.
“You look like hell, and we haven’t even left port!” the sailor laughed, and Yuri wilted. He was right, of course. Why she’d volunteered for this assignment she couldn’t fathom. The promise of adventure and independence had long vanished, leaving sea-sickness and humiliation. She bit her lip, thinking despondently that maybe it would be best to just throw in the towel now while she could still return to land. Her brother’s kind and weary smile flashed across her mind, and her heart sunk lower. ‘Don’t be disappointed in me, Kiriko,’ she told the image in her head. ‘I know you wanted me to explore, to enjoy life… but I’m not getting much joy out of this.’
“You may or may not get used to the waves,” the sailor said brightly, “but at least I can help you feel less sea-sick.” One hand pushed lightly at her back, the other pulling her arm to guide her forward. “A little trip to Sick Bay should do the trick.” Her unsure feet plodded after the man, her eyes still trained on the floor as he led her back down the hall. She watched the sway of his dark slacks and smart shoes, and realized he wasn’t wearing a uniform like the others. “Are you,” she said hesitantly, “a doctor?”
“Dr. Kisaragi, head doctor of the JS Futami.” He chuckled again, and the sound was music to Yuri’s ringing ears. “The only doctor of the JS Futami, to be exact.” Yuri tried to make an interested hum, but it came out as more of a groan. Doctor Kisaragi just laughed. “It’s not unusual on research ships like this. We’re not expecting to see combat.” They stopped, and Yuri heard the groan of a door before she was guided over a threshold into a dark room. Her eyes scrunched uncomfortably as the click of a light illuminated her world, but she was thankfully led to a sturdy chair before more spots could appear.
“Of course I’ve been on military vessels,” Doctor Kisaragi continued as Yuri listened to him moving about the room. “This is a bit of a change, to be honest. I’m used to hardened sailors, not land-loving scientists.” There was no bite to his words, and Yuri felt herself smiling. “More barf bags and fewer bar fights, I’d guess,” Yuri quipped, and Doctor Kisaragi laughed louder than ever, the sound almost musical. “You’d be surprised,” he said, pulling a chair in front of Yuri and sitting so close their knees touched. “Sailors like to pretend they’re tougher than nails, but I’ve caught more than one bent over the rails and hurling his guts out!” They both laughed, but Yuri instantly sobered as she felt the gentle touch of rough skin under her chin.
“Easy now, not too fast.” Following the doctor’s advice, Yuri slowly lifted her chin, keeping her eyes closed against the bright lights of the sick bay. She held her head up fully, the pain subsiding with her stationary posture and the distraction of the doctor’s touch. “Open your eyes, it’s alright. You’ll get used to it.” Yuri did as she was told, blinking spastically as her eyes adjusted. The man before her came into view, and Yuri nearly forgot her pain.
He was… beautiful. It felt strange to say about such a veteran of the seas, but it was the only word that fit. The waves of black hair framing his cheeks, the soft point of his chin and small smile turning his full lips; even his wire-rimmed glasses only enhanced the gentle curve of his dark eyes. Even in his somewhat boxy suit, he could’ve passed for a movie star. Yuri’s face grew hot, and she quickly looked away before she could be caught staring.
“Not what you expected?” She winced at the hesitance in his voice. Of course he’d noticed. Yuri struggled for what to say as a choice presented itself. She could flee from the awkward encounter and head back to land with her cowardice… but already that option was getting less and less appealing. She could apologize and hope that Doctor Kisaragi would let it go and forget the whole thing, but his friendly and forward demeanor made that seem unlikely. Or… she could take a page from her dear friend Pinoko and speak her mind. They’d be on this boat together for a while. Perhaps it was best to live with open truths instead of obvious secrets.
“Actually…,” she began, raising her eyes to the doctor’s and boldly holding his gaze, “it’s even better than I expected.” She smiled softly at him even as her whole body buzzed with anxiety. His friendly smile turned stunned, and then nervous, and finally settled into a wistful expression that was almost melancholy. Yuri’s nausea returned as she began to fear she’d taken the wrong road again. But before she could sink too deep, Doctor Kisaragi reached forward to take Yuri’s long thin fingers in his calloused hand.
“Thank you,” he said, squeezing her hand briefly. She could hear his sincerity, and her fear calmed. “That means a lot, coming from such a beautiful woman.” Yuri swooned independent of the swaying ship. Her heart fluttered like it never had before, and she had to act. “Doctor Kisaragi, I -!”
“Kei.” She paused, and the doctor smiled wider. “Call me Kei.” Her mind was reeling again, but this time instead of crushing pressure it spun lighter than air. “I-I’m Yuri George,” she replied, adding quickly “but just Yuri is fine.” Frustration built in her chest as her words tumbled unceremoniously from her mouth. “More than fine, actually. Please just call me Yuri.” The doctor was chuckling again, but it was sweeter than before.
“Alright, ‘Yuri’,” he said, and she wanted to hear him say her name again. “Let’s get you some meds before this ship sets off and you really get sea-sick.” He rose and approached the medicine cabinet, and Yuri watched in a daze, thinking her pain didn’t feel so bad anymore, now that she had the doctor.