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Hiruko and I sat on the porch outside our home, wrapped together in a blanket as we watched the waves roll in the distance. It was raining, but the roof above kept us dry.
I felt happy to be in Hiruko's arms; the only thing that would make it better was if Nozomi were here too, but she was asleep.
My partner seemed lost in thought as she looked across the sea, her voice barely audible as she mouthed the same four words.
"Clear Ocean, Rain Drop... Clear Ocean, Rain Drop..."
"What's that?" I said with a soft smile.
Hiruko fixed her glasses and glanced down at me.
"It's our names... 'Takumi' means 'Clear Ocean,' and 'Shizu' means 'Rain Drop.'"
"Oh you're right. I guess that's fitting?"
Hiruko gave a small sigh before resting the back of her hand against her chin.
"Is it...? There weren't waves or rain in the TRC, so why did they give us those names?"
"I don't know, but isn't Nozomi's last name 'mist?' Maybe it was just a tradition for them."
Hiruko sighed and gave a light nod.
"It probably is that simple, just another way for us to play at being human." Hiruko's voice was bitter and melancholic as she spoke. "But doesn't that feel insulting to you?"
"How so?"
"They named us after things we were never meant to see. We were supposed to fight, kill, and die, so that someone else could watch rain fall and ocean waves..." She grimaced as she clenched her fist, her emotions were subtle and restrained, but I knew exactly how she felt.
I reached over and placed my hand over hers. She looked at me with a small half-smile, her body slowly relaxing as she stared at me. She closed her eyes, took a breath, and then began to speak again.
"We were born and raised in a lab, and I'm sure that if humanity had its way, they would have found some way to lock us away again."
It felt accurate, but we'll never be able to know for sure.
I felt my chest tighten as I thought of that day, the day I lost almost everyone.
We sat in silence for a moment as I gathered my thoughts.
"I don't know what humanity wanted Hiruko, but... it doesn't matter." I squeezed her hand and looked into her eyes. "Because we're here, and nobody can take that away from us."
Hiruko looked a bit shocked, but she soon began to smile again.
"You're right, I guess it doesn't matter what they wanted from us."
I leaned forward and nuzzled into Hiruko's chest as she wrapped her arms around me. We stayed still and silent, our arms wrapped tightly against one another.
I could hear her slow, steady heartbeat underneath the sound of the rain and crashing waves. It was a comforting sound. Our hearts almost always raced during the war due to our constant use of hemoanima, but it's been years since we last used our infusers.
Despite the cold air and darkening sky, I felt warm in her embrace.
Hiruko and I weren't made for peace, but we found it together.