Nichibotsu
The waves of the mighty Atlantic lapped up onto the sands of New York, washing around two pairs of ankles as their owners sloshed through the surf, the ocean waters drenching the hems of their jeans as they watched the sandpipers sprint up and down the beach.
The smaller of the two, a delicately built girl in her teens, glanced out across the surface of the water, and tugged lightly at her companion's arm, pulling him gently back to her. He grudgingly obliged, and they stood together for a few moments, silhouetted by the sky, turned fiery orange and red by the rays of the dying sun. The ocean sparkled up at them from their feet, a cool, crystalline blue tinged the colors of flame, lapping hungrily at their bare feet as it roared and crashed onto the sands that slowed it.
The taller silhouette leaned down and whispered something into the smaller's ear, earning him a genial smack from the smaller shadow. She tossed her head, and a long, reddish-gold sheet of hair billowed out on the breeze for a moment, turned into a wave of liquid flame by the burning sky.
She chuckled quietly, observing the tall silhouette for a moment, then sighed and moved up against him, shyly placing her head on his shoulder in a quietly affectionate display.
The tall shadow placed an arm around his companion, drawing her close as they gazed out over the placid waters of the Atlantic. The girl looked up at her friend for a moment, then slipped her hand into his, laughing softly as he gently brought it to his lips and kissed it.
The girl sighed and shook her hair back once more, letting it flutter in the wind behind her, a banner of liquid flames, lifted by the breath of the ocean. The girl sighed in contentment, then stood on tiptoe to meet her friend's lips.
As the couple on the beach slowly sank into the emotion of the kiss, two lone gulls wheeled about over their heads, their high, piercing cries contrasting beautifully with the roar of the surf and the low buzz of background conversation from others on the beach. Without warning, the gulls wheeled off, allowing the Atlantic winds to carry them off to destinations unknown, one beside the other, wingtips touching as they sailed on into the sunset.
- For Annie.
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Nichibotsu
- Japanese for Sunset.