A/N: I've recently finished re-watching Nagi Asu and I really wanted to write something for this pairing. Just a little bit of fluff.


She fell into his arms as easily as a sea snail curling into its shell after the Ofunehiki. Everyone was a tangle, sea and land as one, but now- now it's quiet. Almost silent, except for the odd laugh making its way from the sea, where people are still being reunited.

The night air is cold, biting, and there are still piles of crystal salt flake snow smothering the landscape. Nothing appears to have changed, except everything has changed. Everyone has woken up. Life can go back to normal now the sea has started moving again, gentle waves caressing the shore and boats dancing across the glass surface.

Something's changed between them, too. It may even have changed a long time ago, but now it seems a clear as the salt flake snow, shining like a diamond in a burst of ashy clouds.

Chisaki stretches as she slides the screen closed behind her. "My parents are sleeping in my room. Five years asleep and they're still tired."

There's a crack in her voice, a fragment missing, at the realisation that she's lost- and she'll never get back- five years with her parents. Five years where she's changed and grown. She swallows it back, though. Tonight is happy. It's not meant for dwelling on things they can't change, only the fact that everyone's back- they're back and they aren't going anywhere.

"You've still got time," Tsumugu says. "Now you don't have to hold back anymore, you can change and your parents will be here to see it all."

He looks at her for the first time since she's come out here and she's still standing, watching the flecks of light from the shore. If she listens hard enough, there's a distant rumble of chatter.

Her hand finds his, resting atop and curling her fingers around, feather light. It's been rocky, getting to this point. It's been a stormy sea; they've lost people, gained new ones, and the others have been returned to them. Time really is a funny thing. It's been five years. Five whole years, and she tried to stay fourteen- she tried so hard. But as the sea started moving, as Shioshishio started to wake up, her heart abruptly burst and undulated, all the feelings she'd stored away- locked, perhaps- came rushing in like a tide against a crumbling sea wall.

She can't wait anymore. She doesn't have to now. There's no reason to be a fish in a tank, only looking onto the world, but never actually feeling it. She doesn't have to only dip her toes into the ocean; she can jump in- just like they used to.

Tsumugu's fingers seem to startle into action, and he closes them against hers. They're warm against the chill of the air, soft against the rough of the wood and telling into all that she's thinking. The way she tightens her grip ever so slightly when there's another squeal of joy or bout of laughter from the beach. Or the way her hand warms up when he moves that little closer to her.

"Will you go back to live in Shioshishio?" he asks, neon and flashing in the stillness of the night.

Her grip loosens and she splutters. Nearly as red-cheeked as she was when she drank the plum wine, she swallows and collects herself.

"You know, Tsumugu, you really are quite blunt." He doesn't say anything but she knows he's expecting an answer, waiting for one, so she takes a deep breath and whispers, quiet. "I think I'll stay here, if you'll have me. I don't want to fall back into my old rhythm. I think I want things to keep moving now."

There are still some unspoken things between them, but they're understood. And for now, that's enough.

"I'm glad," Tsumugu says, and it's enough.


I found it quite hard to write for Tsumugu so reviews are always appreciated!