"Lady Y/n!!, watch out!" I heard someone call out, I automatically whipped my head around to find out what the matter was but by the time I figured out why they had so desperately called me, it was too late
The fore boom swung around and made contact with my stomach at such force that it left me momentarily winded. I didn't even realize that it had caused me to be knocked off the deck until the air whooshed around me as the strong winds started contorting my face strangely and gravity was making me plummet down towards the menacing ocean surface at record speed
I cut through the surface tension with a hard slap that it felt like hitting concrete, I gasped when the air was knocked right out of me. The sun was out, shooting rays across the ship so I didn't expect the water to be so freezing, just a few seconds after I was submerged into the cold and slightly blue looking liquid it already felt like I had developed hypothermia.
After my mind started working again I fully comprehended the situation and that's when I was thrown into a state of alarm, adrenaline running through all my veins. I started to flail around. I managed to look up and saw that all the pirates had came running and were looking worriedly over the edge
"Y/n!!" boomed someone but I couldn't quite make out who as the water was rushing into my ears and dulling my hearing
The splash, I did here. It sent water flying up in all directions. I was shocked to see that someone was swimming my way and then with a start I realized it was Motonari.
I struggled to keep myself above sea level as the waves jostled me violently every which way like I was nothing more than a ping pong ball. By this point my mouth was full of unappealing salt water.
That's when I felt Motonari wrap his arms around me and frantically drag me through the water with him. Someone untied the ladder and let it drape down the side of the ship to us, it allowed Motonari to carry me back to the safety of the ship
Our drenched and heavy clothes clung to each other as he set me down on the rigid wooden surface of the deck. He yelled for everyone to give me some space. I was aware what was going on around me but I was having a hard time breathing.
"Aye, cap'n" I heard a resounding chorus of understanding
I could make our Motonari's frightened and worried face as he bent down towards me and wrapped his lips around mine, giving me two rescue breaths and then alternating between chest compressions and rescue breaths. I coughed and the water that I had swallowed and that filled up my lungs during my struggles in the frigid water made it's escape.
Motonari sighed in relief and smiled a troubled smile as he helped me to sit up and rubbed and delivered harsh open palm strikes to my back multiple times until my airways were completely cleared of salt water. I tried to speak but he put his finger up to my mouth
"Don't speak" I did what he told me and closed my mouth, I was so exhausted that I just wanted to sleep so I leant back and trusted Motonari's hand at the crux of my back with my weight. He looked back down at me and tucked some wisps of my hair back in place that had stuck to the side of my face.
He turned around again but this time to face the pirates, Motonari turned a steely eyed glare onto one trembling pirate. I watched the poor guy visibly shake under that gaze. I was still quite out of it but I didn't want to see anyone get hurt so I latched onto his sleeve with my weak hand and opened my mouth
"M...Moto..nari, please..." I pleaded up at him through my rough feeling throat and he turned his glare on me before his eyes softened and he sighed again with a troubled look on his face. I could tell he was struggling with letting the guy go but then he shook his head and slid his wet hands underneath my legs and lifted me up into his embrace before walking to the captains quarters.
Upon opening the door he placed me down on his bed. "It'll get...w...we-" I managed to choke out before he yet again placed his finger against my mouth
"Shhhh"
He began to remove my soaked kimono that was starting to stick to my body as though it were part of it. I didn't have the energy to stop him so I just lied there and watched the water drip from his silver locks. He pried the cloth from my body and helped me to put on a clean and dry one and then he proceeded to dry my hair for me with a clean strip of cloth.
He left me shortly and changed his own clothes before using his built in kitchen to make me some kind of concoction that he claimed would help soothe my throat. I took it thankfully and willingly and drank slowly feeling it actually put out the fire that was roaring in my throat.
At this point I was starting to shake as the cold truth of the ocean finally seeped into my bones. My teeth were chattering and my voice failed me under the force of my teeth smashing together.
Motonari looked at me sympathetically before embracing me with his strong arms, he held me until the shaking of my body subsided. He took my hands and blew his warm breathe over them in an attempt to warm me up faster.
He convinced me to get under the covers where it was cozy and warm and coaxed me to sleep.
Not too long after, I fell asleep, exhaustion finally winning and taking over my body. Motonari never left my side the entire time I was consumed in unconsciousness, hesitantly caressing my face and putting his hand on my forehead every now and then in a way to check if I was developing a fever.
It was the late hours of the night when I woke up, there was a dull ache in my throat but other than that I felt like I always had. I felt Motonari place his hand against my forehead again, my eyes flittered open and focused in on his face above me.
"How ya feeling?" I'd never known him to be so sweet. His eyes were full of affection and his voice was equally as affectionate.
"....I... feel mostly fine" I told him as I stretched under the covers. He pulled up the covers and slipped into bed with me, he held me tight and I realized that he really needed to touch me and feel me near in this moment.
"You scared me half to death" he breathed into my neck and I turned around in his arms to return his embrace
"I'm sorry" I didn't meet his gaze but then he grasped my chin with a gloved hand and forced me to look into his eyes
"I ain't blamin' you, flower girl" his regular teasing lilt came back into his voice and it helped to reassure me
"Well I'm sorry anyways" I repeated as he let go of my chin so I snuggled my face into his chest, he stiffened up momentarily
"I just told ya, it ain't your fault and I'm not blamin' you" he sighed and glared annoyingly at me before leaning down to place a kiss on the top of my head
"Okay fine but let me at least say thank you for all you've done for me today. Thank you" I hoped my gratitude could be picked up on clearly through my words as I lifted my head and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
He huffed. "You're still tired, right?. Sleep some more" he pulled me back down onto the pillows with him
"Oh, how are you though?" I raised slightly and he pushed me back down gently
"Hmm?" he seemed confused, I guess I didn't word it properly
"You jumped in to save me. You aren't hurt are you?, or have a fever?" I was the one who placed my hand on his forehead this time. He laughed deeply
"Of course not, ya head really is full of flowers. I'm used to the water" he replied and I've got to say he was very confident.
I decided to believe him just this once and honestly I was still tired so I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep yet again
Motonari stayed up a little longer, whispering to his girl as she slept "do you even know how afraid I was" it was left unanswered. "I want ya to always stay here, in my arms". Suddenly his eyes darkened and he looked towards the door "I'm going to have to punish that guy"
I never got to see his murderous expression.
Soon he fell asleep and we slept right through until morning together. Motonari kept a close watch over me for the next couple days and wouldn't let me go anywhere near the side of the ship.
AUTHORS NOTE
In honour of Motonari's route being released in June and because I finished his romantic route last week, I wrote this because he's quickly making his way up my favourites list. I'm going to add him to the list of characters I write for now. Hopefully I did his way of speaking justice, it's kind of hard to write it. Anyways please enjoy and vote and comment so I know you liked it
P.S. Thank you all so much for 50k reads, it means a lot!