Chapter Text
Slitted pupils peered through the foliage, hidden within the trees. It observed the gentle breathing of a young teenager, illuminated by the street lights. Her facial expressions remained stiff and still, though it couldn’t see clearly through the windows.
It shuffled on the branches, driving its nails into bark as it adjusted for a better view. The machine next to her dipped and rose again in a steady rhythm, casting a faint light in the dark room. Meanwhile, a man sat across her, his expression blank.
His head laid low, his eyes filled with brewing pain. He gazed at her silently, as if hesitating to utter the words lodged in his throat. None had spilled out.
The creature continued to watch.
★ ★ ★
Tsukasa leaned back against the bench, a long-winded sigh escaping his lips. His gaze drifted upwards to the endless expanse of the sky, his mind completely devoid of thought. A dim lamp hung above him, covering him in a soft, warm light. It was the only bright light source compared to the dark surrounding him. It drowned out the vibrant colors of the hospital park into a dull grey, engulfing the world in black and white.
The cold air prickled at his skin, the occasional salty scent wafting through the air. A gentle breeze drifted by and caused the trees to shift with each movement. After years spent under rolling cameras and eyes that never looked away, he never thought he’d miss the chaos. But without the noise, silence only left room for thoughts he’d never noticed before.
The hard wood dug into his back painfully, its rigid wood resting against his spine like steel. Pain, it seemed, was the only respite left. So he held still, letting his vision grow heavy.
"Are you asleep?"
Tsukasa snapped his eyes open, his muscles tensing involuntarily. He immediately sat up straight, turning to the source of the voice.
Another man sat at the other end of the bench, his sudden appearance startling Tsukasa. It seemed as if he had appeared out of thin air.
“You should be careful, you know? You could’ve gotten mugged.” The other man stared back at him, oblivious to the brewing emotions inside Tsukasa. He crossed his legs, before continuing. “It’s midnight! Maybe you should return home?”
The unsettling feeling began to creep up once more. How was it possible that Tsukasa hadn't noticed this man earlier? His senses were always on high alert, so how could this man manage to sneak up on him undetected?
He swore he’d been alone. Squinting, Tsukasa forced himself to look closer, the faint light only just tracing the stranger’s silhouette. Two, curved horns protruded from its head, and sharp scales covered its tail, shimmering an iridescent purple under the amber glow.
His blood chilled. "You're not human.”
He cursed silently. He must’ve been too caught up in his own mind. How could he be this careless— out here in the dark, and letting his guard down? He tightened his hand into a fist, and quickly smoothed away any trace of surprise or fear on his face. Evil spirits thrived on hesitation. He wouldn’t offer any.
The creature grinned triumphantly, revealing its fangs, before standing up as well, a few inches shorter than Tsukasa. “Aha, good observation!”
It snapped its fingers, a glint of eagerness within its slitted eyes. “I’m a dragon, sea dragon specifically, but I don’t see the relevance of it in our current conversation?”
A dragon? “Are you serious?” Tsukasa firmly replied, his tone filled with skepticism. Appearances could certainly be deceiving, but he just couldn’t wrap his mind on a spirit pretending to be a dragon , of all things. He’d never once heard of them taking the form of an animal out of myth. Ghosts took on the shape of the living— why would it go out of its way to be something that didn’t even exist?
The next creature he’d guess that could’ve opted for such an absurd disguise was no other than a fellow human being.
A gloved hand extended towards him. “Super serious! My name is Ryusui.”
Ryusui? Tsukasa paused, his gaze narrowing. Really, a sea dragon named ‘water dragon’? What an oddly fitting name. Terribly literal, and painfully on the nose— only a human would come up with that.
He stared flatly at the offered hand. “..Is this a new scam that I'm not aware of?”
Taking in his features, everything about it was undeniably human— his eyes, the curve of his nose, the structure of his face. Nothing about the man screamed otherworldly except for his obvious inhumane characteristics.
He must admit, it’d be quite impressive if he was a cosplayer dedicated to their hobby. It looked quite real enough to startle him.
“What? Are you drunk?” Ryusui’s expression twisted into a frown, crossing his arms. “What kind of product do you think I can sell to you right now?”
“Your bullshit, perhaps.” Tsukasa sharply replied, his eyes burning with a silent warning. With the mystery gone, all that was left was the rising burn of annoyance. All that unease, all that caution— for what? A man cosplaying a lizard at midnight?
“Or is it a wish? Do I have to provide you an exorbitant amount of money in order for you to grant it?” The sheer audacity for anyone to target him for a ludicrous scam in the most inconvenient time possible was completely unacceptable, and he wouldn’t let this slip by.
He had already endured a frustrating week. Whatever crap this person was trying to sell, Tsukasa will not be buying it. He’d respect the dedication, but he would not hesitate to resort to physical force if this con artist persisted.
Ryusui raised his hands in surrender. “Woah, woah— easy there! I’m not a genie, and I’m definitely not here to take your money. You just looked like you needed someone to tell you loitering in a park at midnight’s a bad idea.”
Tsukasa’s fingers twitched at his sides, still half-curled into fists. This man was either the worst scam artist he’d ever encountered, or genuinely insane. He exhaled harshly. Resorting to violence, especially here, on hospital grounds— wasn’t worth the paperwork. Or the headlines. Or the guilt.
“A shame,” he scoffed, settling back down. “I had thought the Easter Bunny would be stopping by for a visit. I’m sure he would’ve been thrilled to meet his friend. Or perhaps you’d like to introduce me to Santa and his reindeers instead?”
“Hmph! You’re witty, aren’t cha? Easter Bunny, Santa and his reindeers, what's next? The Tooth Fairy? The Boogeyman?” A small grin returned on Ryusui’s lips, unperturbed. “Jack Frost maybe?”
“Don’t forget Sandman. Wasn’t he the first Guardian?” Tsukasa gestured vaguely towards the entrance of the park, hoping this lunatic would take the hint and just leave already. “Perhaps you lot could gather in a circle and hold hands. Sing a nursery rhyme or two. We are at the hospital, aren’t we?”
“The only thing I want to gather is your number.” Ryusui snickered, stifling his amusement behind his hand, before stopping. “Wait a minute. You know about the Guardians?”
At Tsukasa’s lack of response, his eyes only seemed to widen further. “No way! You must’ve been forced! Or knew about it through word of mouth?” At a glance, he seemed as if he couldn't even comprehend that Tsukasa would even be aware of the story’s existence.
“I think we’re straying from the topic.” Tsukasa leveled a look towards him, maintaining a blank expression to restrain the growing irritation. “All of them are fictional characters, and yet here you are, flaunting yourself as a mythical creature. I’m expecting fire to come out of your mouth, not gibberish.”
“You mean water!”
“Right.” Tsukasa let out a sigh. If Ryusui was any close to what he claimed, a wish would be very much needed, as improbable as it sounded. At least, he’d wish to get rid of this nutcase first. It was indeed, a shame, because even in his wildest dreams, Tsukasa could’ve never envisioned an encounter as absurd as this. He was half inclined to believe that he had stumbled upon an eccentric, elderly patient that had escaped the hospital ward.
“..You’re so difficult.” Ryusui murmured after a considerable amount of time. “You know what? You’re even worse.”
“Compared to who?”
Ryusui doesn’t answer for a moment, as if taken by surprise. It wasn’t long before he groaned in defeat. “No one you should worry about. It doesn’t matter. What matters is, why are you still here? It’s getting late, and I think I’ve already told you to scurry off home earlier.”
“I could say the same thing.” Tsukasa looked up at the other with a challenging gaze. “What reason would you have to be here and approach me in the first place?”
“You’re saying as if it’s a crime for me to even step foot here. I’m here to visit, just like everyone else, just like you.” Not once did Ryusui waver, meeting his eyes head-on. “And most importantly, as a responsible citizen, I can’t just watch you pass out exposed to the elements.”
“How nice of you.” Tsukasa rolled his eyes, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. He could hardly believe that a stranger would show such concern for his well-being. The world didn’t turn on kindness alone, and Ryusui must have his own ulterior motives as well.
A small part of him did want to believe in his sincerity. That, against all odds, there really was someone out there who could still act with no ulterior motives, no hidden agenda.
A small part of him wanted to believe in myths.
But the lingering suspicion that something was amiss refused to fade. “I truly don’t understand your intentions.” He admitted, despite himself. After all, hope was a fragile thread that even someone like him dared to cling to.
Ryusui smiled rather solemnly, shifting his attention to the night sky above. “Me neither.” Against the vast darkness, his gloved hand extended upward towards the stars, almost as if he was trying to grasp them, even for a moment. “I don’t know why either. I just felt this way.”
Elaborate, he felt himself saying, before the word itself died on his tongue. It felt inexplicably difficult to bear, as if sparing a thought about it would harm him in some way.
Tsukasa followed his line of sight. The lack of moonlight allowed for even the faintest glimmering of starlight to shine through. As if even a single glimpse of it could pierce through the oppressive shadow.
In that silence, a thousand unspoken words seemed to stretch between them. The constellations twinkled like fragments of forgotten memories, beckoning him to reach for their distant light. His eyelids fluttered shut. Like a fleeting dream, just out of reach.
After what felt like eternity, Ryusui began, his voice almost a mere whisper against the gentle breeze. “So, about that wish.. You see, I can grant it another way, if you’d tell me what your wish is.”
Tsukasa paused. The sudden shift of tone had caught him off guard. At a loss for words, in fact. Though he doesn’t react. No, he remained silent at the offer.
There was a soft rustling, made when fabric brushed against fabric. The gravel crackled slightly from the movement, echoing throughout the park. He could feel Ryusui’s eyes on him, waiting for his response.
The air began to grow thick with an inexplicable tension. He knew he should say something; a dry reply, an honest answer, anything. Yet the words evaded him. His mind was heavy. Too heavy.
Tap. Tap. Tap. The rhythmic sound of nails drumming against the wooden seat shattered the silence. A frown creased on Tsukasa’s forehead, decisively choosing to ignore it, though it was a futile effort. Each tap felt like a needle poking against his temples. He then glared at Ryusui through half-lidded eyes, only to see him kneeling, resting his arms on the seat.
The emotions behind those eyes were unreasonably confusing.
“No request for money, please. I can’t afford it.” Despite the situation, Ryusui still spoke so earnestly.
An unexpected chuckle rumbled from within Tsukasa’s chest. “No, it’s not that.” It was but hollow, and bitter. It wasn’t one of humor, but of desperation and helplessness.
It was difficult to form it into words. Instead, he studied Ryusui’s face, his gaze lingering on the horns on his head. “You’re strange,” he bluntly pointed out. Perhaps Ryusui was truly a dragon.
His eyes then darted to his own hands, the knuckles were permanently swollen from his years of fighting. Calluses roughed his skin.
“You too.”
The faintest hint of a smile tugged on Tsukasa’s lips. The weight on his heart seemed to lighten momentarily. “Perhaps.”
Somehow, Tsukasa’s weariness seemed to fade away. The world felt surreal— like a vivid illusion woven within the realm of his imagination. Whether it was sleep deprivation or an exhaustion-fueled mirage, he hardly cared, if not at all. Perhaps, it was indeed, all in his head after all.
★
Each step was heavy but felt so light. The ground beneath Tsukasa seemed to slip away, as if he was stepping on uneven stones.
Twigs snapped beneath his feet. Branches clawed at his clothes. The shadows of the trees elongated and twisted, dancing like puppets under a flickering light. The leaves crinkled, creating an unsettling cacophony of whispers, accompanied by the whistling wind.
He was walking in the forest, he thinks. Though he couldn’t discern where he was. It all felt like an incoherent dream, until he felt something cold circling his wrist. Frigidly so. The sensation jolted through his body, pulling him back to the present.
The disorienting visions faded, and Tsukasa's eyes fixated on the figure guiding him. Its silhouette reminded him of that strange being he met in the park.
“Where are you taking me?” He felt himself speak, his voice wavering slightly. Ryusui.
The reply that came was akin to that of a siren’s alluring melody. “The sea.”
The sound of crickets, rustling flora, and the wind transformed into a muffled and fleeting chorus, almost resembling static and white noise. Despite the disorienting journey, Tsukasa could sense that their surroundings were gradually shifting.
A distinct smell of salt invaded his senses, the rustling of the leaves replaced by the howling sea breeze. It wasn't long before the trees gave way to a cliff, revealing a wide and dark sea sprawling before them, steady waves slapping against the rocks.
The ocean stretched out as far as his vision could reach, and he couldn’t help but watch the rippling waters in mesmerization. The once, faint darkness revealed itself to be a blanket of twinkling stars, scattered and reflecting light like a thousand diamonds beneath its surface.
“Do you like the sea?” Ryusui’s words resonated with a chilling presence, like an eerie song sung by the sea itself.
The cold wind that brushed against his skin was like a thousand icy daggers slicing through his flesh. “I have no opinions on it,” Tsukasa replied under his breath, his eyes still glued to the endless ocean. It felt like if he were to lean in more, he would plunge into its depths.
Ryusui’s fingers, once tightly clasping his wrist, slowly loosened. His eyes squinted as he watched it approached the edge with a casual grace that mirrored confidence and arrogance. It spread its arms out wide, its clothes fluttered against the rough gusts.
For a brief moment, Ryusui looked over its shoulder to look at him. Time seemed to grind to a halt. Before he could react, it had taken a step forward. And fell into the abyss.
Tsukasa froze. His heart stopped. His mind ran blank. He stood there for what felt like an eternity before a loud splash erupted from below. It snapped him back to reality.
Without sparing a second, he dashed to the edge, his face paling as he gripped the rocks of the cliff tightly, staring at the ocean below in mortification.
The stars above seemed to hold their breath; even the wind ceased their rustling and stilled as if in reverence. There was no sign of Ryusui’s existence anymore, and neither any indication of his figure within the rippling waves.
Tsukasa’s heart pounded wildly in his chest, his breath quickening. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he searched the dark, murky waters for any traces of Ryusui.
Nothing. Absolutely none. As if Ryusui had never existed in the first place.
Until a low rumble emanated from the depths, growing in intensity. The sea began to roil. He felt it in his bones, a vibration that seemed to shake the very earth beneath him. Bolts of lightning crackled and sizzled across the waves as if they were on fire. Sparks erupted in all directions, each one threatening to set the sea ablaze.
A massive serpent bursted through the surface in thunderous ferocity, sending a surge of waves crashing against the cliff. It let out a deafening roar that shook the air itself, causing the ocean to thrash about like a tempest. It surged upwards, lifting its body high into the sky in a magnificent and powerful arc.
It looked like a giant snake. A leviathan of old tales. Its colossal serpentine form glittered beneath the starlight, its scales flickering an iridescent hue across its smooth body.
Its eyes gleamed an unnatural luminescence, piercing through the darkness as it met his head-on. What’s your name?
“Tsukasa.”
★
Tsukasa shot awake, his breaths coming out as ragged gasps. Cold sweat trickled down the side of his forehead. He clutched the sheets under him to regain his bearings, only to stumble in confusion. ..He was in his room.
He didn't recall ever coming back home.