#Tattoo - Ryu

I remember things. Visions from when I was underwater. After I fainted, I mush have been drifting around. And I saw things. well, I believe I dreamt of them.

First, there was Koromodako. You may know him from his other name, Ctulhu. A giant squid, several meters large. I really believe he held me above the water with one of his tentacles. We Japanese believe in Yokai, natural spirits, just like you believe in Saints. Koromodako didn't speak but I believe he communicated with me through his mind.

After that, I saw other sea creatures, Heikegani, a giant crab and others. I also have memories of skulls drifting on the still stormy sea—presumably my dead colleagues.

At last, the Ryu came. The giant sea dragon. The lord of all the other creatures that now retreated and stepped back into the shadows where they came from.

"Hello Mr Hanako", said Watatsumi, the Dragon in a terrifying voice. "You have a powerful guardian."

Then I fainted again.

#fantasy #amwriting

Tsuru #Tattoo

Mr Hanako had all the attention as he started.

"I've been going to the sea for over thirty years", he started. "Mostly on smaller commercial merchant vessels. I've seen all the oceans and harbours in over a hundred countries.

There was one day at sea that changed me. Cranes, we call them Tsuru, are usually a symbol of luck, they say. No seaman I know has ever seen one on a ship. They typically are avoiding to cross oceans.

But one day, I saw one. We were on the way to Hong Kong and approached the South Chinese Sea from the south. The sea was as flat as a mirror and I was about to clean the middle deck. I looked up and saw that beautiful guy landing on the roof of the bridge. It was a perfect animal as it spread its wings. I saw the large red dot on its head.

Must have been my lucky day, I thought. But while turning around to go back to work, I saw a big dark cloud on the eastern horizon. 'Not so lucky after all', I thought.

#fantasy #amwriting