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The strong and cool wind makes up for the heat of the sun, mighty waves crashing, soft yet rocky sand below his feet, and the voices of Denji and Power, it grounds him.
"But you're not alone now."
His eyes found Denji and Power, splashing around the water, so amazed by it. Aki almost smiles.
But Himeno is wrong and one thing she's right about. He had never been alone. Maybe he was lonely, he thinks a lot of people are, anyway. Maybe it was given that they'd stay side by side because that's what their job commanded. But he wasn't alone still.
She was nice to him. Kind to him. And kind she was. Letting herself be trampled upon those who she allowed for the sake of compensation. And he couldn't be alone then after he did an act of unkindness so that he could do it for her out of kindness. He could still clearly hear the laugh she let out that day, it rings in his mind, around him, against the waves.
Against every dying day, she watched his back, even when he was well capable of his own. She watched his back even when he surpassed her. Risking her own, so he couldn't risk his. To live another day, so they could have their ramen and cigarettes.
"I had it back there," Aki spoke, wiping his katana clean.
Himeno shrugged, showing off her unfazed and lazy smile, "I know." He expected more for her to say something but all he got was, "Ramen? It's on me."
"We can't eat ramen everyday."
"But it's not everyday," she whined, clinging to him as they walked together. "And it's not just ramen! There's gyōza, egg rolls, fried rice!" She emphasized by shaking the arm she was holding onto. "And we have different ramen whenever we do." Continued her as they walked. Aki just let her drag him.
He figures he could never get sick of the taste of ramen, not alone, at least.....especially not with her.
"You almost got hit because you covered for me." Aki's voice was sharper than it usually was when on the job, his gaze even more. Temper wanting to flare out by looking at her unbothered expression and just smiled--the cuts on her suit that gushed out blood was hard to miss.
"Almost," Himeno comically tipped her head to the side as if mocking him, pissing him off even further. She managed to swallow a chuckle when she saw how his face twitched. "And that's the point of covering for you, isn't it?"
"I had it."
"I know."
Himeno linked their arms, "I'll cook this time."
"Your cooking sucks."
"But you'll be there to teach me!"
Aki found he came to like another meal to have with her.
"You're never gonna stop covering for me, aren't you?" His expression was rather.....hopeless. His katana still jaded as he stood, chest heaving still as he stared at her.
Himeno coughed a little bit of blood, but of course, she managed to laugh, blood dripping out of her mouth. Shakingly, she stood up from the ground, body wanting to give up but she stood and limped her way to him.
Aki sighed, frustration in him as he strode to her before she almost falls to the ground. "No..." Weakly, she uttered, her smile lazier because of her state. He could only click his tongue, holding her up as they heard the medical team grew closer.
"You owe me a ramen." His tone gone to normal, looking at her tired, closing eye. He sees her lips curved a little, "Always." Whispered her.
So until she was patched up and back on her feet again, they had their ramen, but only him that had a cigarette, saying that the doctor doesn't allow it not sooner--not that he was the one to follow orders like that, but it was the least he could do for all that she's done for him. After all, he didn't want to have his ramen all by himself or he wanted to have someone to share a cigarette with; her. So at the end of that day, he covered for her.
He was never alone.
Had he seen it before it wasn't there anymore?
"Eat your food while it's still warm, Aki."
Had he savor what was given to him before it ran out?
Indeed, what a gift it could have been to walk with her on the shore.
Maybe he should have it seen it coming. That her end would be in reason for his own to continue. Maybe he should have stopped her all those time.....but maybe he could have had and still she would have followed her own mind, her instincts, her heart moving for her. How could any being defy that? In any no way, was his answer. That's why he was still under the sun, a chance given again. Even in her absence from this land, she still teaches him.
Aki let his eyes be blinded by the sun as he stared at the sky, the world unmute again. He hears the continuous loud voices of back and forth of Denji and Power, he now stares at them. The both are now playing catch with the ball they bought on the way because he was forced by them. Better that, than them fighting strangers for it.
His breath hitches as he watched them play. Taunting memories wanting to creep in but he blinks them away and focused on the two. On their voices, the cool breeze fighting the heat, waves still as strong as before, salt of the earth in the air, the sand on his fingers as he dug through them, eyes still on the two. He can't let this second pass by. Right there and now, is what Himeno gave him.
So he vowed to be just there and always. And maybe someday to join both of them be lost in the moment.