Chapter Text
Shuichi looked over the small fishing boat into the inky sea. He didn’t know what unholy hour of the night it was. But all the same, he was awake far later than he should be. He didn’t know why he agreed to go with his father on such a late trip, but he still took the offer. So there he was, on the edge of a tiny boat in the middle of the night, looking out towards nothing. He should've guessed that something would happen, something always happens when you stay up past midnight.
Shuichi’s eyes landed on a cluster of rocks not too far away from the ship. They were quite close actually. A little too close. Shuichi turned around to warn his father about the danger when his body completely froze in his step. A sweet humming reached his ears, sending shivers down his spine like a cold stream of water. He spun around against his own will and looked back to the rocks. There, right in front of him, was a small figure facing away from him. She was thin and pale, even in the dim light. Her dark hair dripped just past her shoulders and she swayed to the rhythm of her own music.
Shuichi’s mind fogged the longer he listened, like tv static was flooding his brain. He leaned over the rail of the boat reaching out to the girl. He couldn’t reach her, she was just out of his grasp. He stretched a little farther, almost there, he was so close. Shuichi’s gut lurched as he tipped over the edge, his world slowing as he fell to the water. He hit the cold sea with a soft splash, and all the air in his lungs got knocked out of him. He sunk farther from the surface, farther from the girl. Cold, black water encased him as he started his journey to the bottom of the ocean.
Where was her voice? It was gone now, not a hint of it could be heard from where he lay. She sounded like a goddess with a promise of paradise. Is this the paradise she promised? Here at the end of his consciousness, where the cold slowed his senses and dulled the burning that buzzed through his core? Shuichi could accept this. It was so peaceful here. So quiet and empty. Was he dying? Is this where it ends?
The shadow of the fishing boat, his only tie back home, turned away and left with speed. Why were they leaving? Did they want to leave him here? That’s upsetting. It’s okay though, Shuichi didn’t mind, It’s quite nice here. Maybe this is good, this could be good. Shuichi smiled, Kaede would be so happy to see him. Kaede. Why did she leave him here?
Oh, that’s new. He’s going up now. Look, you can see the sky Shuichi. Isn’t it so pretty? When was the air so thin, so cold? Don’t you want to go back? Back to the water and back to the promise of returning to Kaede? He can see now, he can breathe.
Shuichi lurched forward and puked the saltwater he had ingested. His throat burned and he shuddered from the cold. It was so, so cold. His clothes stuck to him in the most uncomfortable ways and did not help him in retaining whatever warmth he had left. He immediately fell flat on his back, looking back towards the sky. His brain felt slow and dizzy. He couldn’t think very well.
Someone leaned over him, looking down at the pitiful sight. The girl? No, that’s not a girl. Their face was smooth, and their hair was long, but something about it was off. Maybe it was the board-flat chest or his face that gave it away.
Shuichi groaned, closing his eyes, “Put me back, let me go back, please.”
The boy looked at the other, perplexed, “Uh, excuse me? I go through all that work hauling your ass up here and you want to go back in? Sorry but no,” He said, patting down any pockets he could find.
Shuichi laughed to the best of his ability, “It’s alright, I know I’m going to die. This is just a lot sooner than I thought. Please, I want to see her again.”
Mystery boy pinched his eyebrows together, “Okay Mr. Edgy, back to shore with you,” he singsonged, pinching the zipper and sliding it down to Shuichi’s collar bone.
The boy began to hum, grabbing a dainty necklace that hung around Shuichi’s neck. Isn’t that important? He shouldn’t let the boy take it, or touch it. His voice is so pretty though, so calming. Going to sleep sounds like a much better idea. Yeah, he would just… go… to sleep…
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The sun burned on his skin. It was way too bright and the sand didn't help him in the slightest. Shuichi woke up immediately. Since when did he fall asleep on the beach?
The boy slowly sat up, cradling his aching head in his hands. He was so dehydrated and hungry. His whole body ached as he made his way into a standing position. How did he get here?
Sand stuck in his hair and caked on his limbs. He could feel the salt crusting in his hair, lashes, and he could taste it in his mouth. A headache pounded through his skull as he looked around. The beach was surprisingly empty and it was fairly late as the sun had just come up.
Shuichi reached in his back pocket and retrieved his phone. He held the on button and hoped it would turn on. With no such luck, he placed it back in his pants. He sighed, turning around and looking at the tall staircase that would soon aid his journey up the cliffside.
After a treacherous climb of about three sets of stairs, Shuichi arrived at a quiet street with a few dingy buildings that looked like they were on the brink of falling apart. He glanced around hoping to find any way to contact home. There!
An old payphone! Shuichi hobbled to the payphone and almost cried when he saw the insert coin sign, and then almost cried again from relief when he saw the small stack of quarters placed on top of the phone. Shuichi made his payment and spun his father's number, then waited for him to pick up.
Ring… ring… ring…
Come on, pick up.
Ring… ring… ring…
Please, it’s urgent!
Ring… Ring… CLICK!
“Hello? Who is it?” a gruff voice asked, a similar one muttered in the background.
“Dad! I’m alive! I woke up on a beach and I need to be picked up. I’m at uh…” Shuichi looked up towards the nearest street sign and repeated it to his dad along with whatever beach the plate by the staircase displayed.
Shuichi’s dad gasped, “Saihara! You’re alive! Thank the heavens above! We’ll be there as soon as possible, stay where you are!”
A long ring sounded signaling he had been hung up on. Shuichi sat on the curb, thinking over what had just happened. He didn’t remember falling asleep on the beach. He barely remembered the events of last night at all. All he could bring up was being on a rickety boat, a small girl, no, a small boy, and the hazy memory of being dragged through the ocean.
He excused the boy and the feeling of moving through the water as part of a dream. He couldn’t help but the nagging feeling that he almost died. Shuichi spent the next hour trying his best to remember, but little to no luck.
A pickup truck swerved next to the curb, coming to a screeching stop. Kaito and Maki sat at the front, but Shuichi’s dad wasn’t in sight, unsurprisingly. “Get in! You have a lot of explaining to do,” Kaito ordered, and Shuichi complied.
Maki tossed back a water bottle and a wrapped sandwich along with a bag of IBuprofen to follow. Downing the bottle in a few gulps and stuffing his face with the sandwich, it took the edge off his thirst and hunger. Kaito peeked in over his seat and cleared his throat, “So Shuichi, that was quite the scare, huh? Your dad couldn’t come, too booked right now.”
He smiled to the best of his ability, “It’s okay, even if I was just on the brink of death. No big deal.”
“What happened? Your dad said you were on a fishing run and when he came back, you weren't on board,” Maki quickly changed the subject.
Shuichi stayed silent, thinking of what to say before proceeding to speak, “I don’t know. All I remember was being on the boat, falling over, and being brought back to the surface. There was some boy there too. I think he saved me? He had some odd features about him, I swear he had slits on either side of his neck and his ears looked like fans. After that, I only remember the sensation of being dragged through the water. Everything else is blank.”
“Maki, check his temperature, I think he’s sick. Probably from sleeping on the beach,” Kaito ordered.
Maki turned around and pressed her hand to Shuichi’s forehead, “Hm, you don’t seem to be sick. Are you sure you’re okay? You might be going crazy if you’re hallucinating or remembering things that never happened.”
“I’m sure! I guess it is a bit odd, but I swear it happened!” He pushed Maki’s hand away and looked out the window, “It seems too real to be fabricated.”
All three of them sat in silence for the rest of the ride, no one willing to break the silence that wormed its way in. Eventually, Kaito pulled into Shuichi’s dad’s driveway. Hopping out of the car, Shuichi said his goodbyes and stumbled inside.
The house was empty, not a single light on. Shuichi couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He took a quick shower, warm enough to be soothing and cool enough to keep him awake. Immediately afterward, he collapsed in his bed, not caring that his soaked hair would leave a blue stain on his pillow from the dye.
Falling into a deep sleep with the taste of salt still lingering in his mouth, Shuichi dreamt of the boy and a glint of silver slipping off his neck.