The next couple of days flew by. Deku spent the daylight hours catching what little sleep he could and at night he’d once again take Yumeka ashore and dig her a new area in the sand to sleep while he continued preparations.

He gathered sea moss from the rocks and pressed it into

the crevices of the raft, doing his best to ensure that it would be as waterproof as possible. He canvased the shallows for the small clams and crabs that lay hidden in the sand, things he’d normally deem too small to eat but that would be perfect to carry with him while he swam

along with Yumeka.

He made a few more seaweed blankets, using some sticks of driftwood to help him attach a small canopy to the top of Yumeka’s raft to protect her when it inevitably became daytime during their trip. He also used a smaller blanket to store the clams and crabs

he collected, pulling the corners together and securing a strand of a palm tree leaf around the top to make it into a pouch of sorts.

Before he knew it, Deku had everything ready to go but as nighttime came, Deku found himself hesitating.

Once he ventured out across the ocean Yumeka would no longer be his. He was taking her to a new life and to a new family.. to a whole new world he could never be a part of.

He’d be missing out on so much. Her first word, her first smile, her first steps and her first swim,

her first laugh.. /everything/. She’d do it all without him, do it all without his guiding hand and encouragement. She’d have a new family and maybe even new… a new mommy who’d get to experience it all. Yumeka wouldn’t even remember him.

Deku could already feel his soul already feel his soul crumbling at the thought.

Selfishly, he decided to give himself one more day. One more day to just enjoy his baby girl and soak in everything about her, burning her image into his memory.

Her chubby cheeks, dotted with freckle like scales, her ashy blonde hair that was already beginning to thicken and curl, her beautiful eyes that were tinged with red, her little hands that gripped his fingers so tight and her chubby legs that never seemed to stop kicking.

She really was his dream come true and he knew he was blessed to have been her mommy, even if it was for only a short time.

The next sunset came much to quickly but Deku knew if he didn’t do it then, he might never leave. After giving Yumeka a full feed and pressing his lips

to her forehead as he told her just how much he loved her, Deku gathered their supplies and tucked her into the raft.

As he pulled her along behind him as he swam into the waves, he gave one last look to the small rocky cove that had served as their home for the past month and

bid it a silent farewell, knowing the hardest goodbye was yet to come.

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