Tidal Gemini
"Geez, Ryoga! Can't you keep up with me for more than five minutes?" Small, hasty and reckless in abundance, a five-year old Rio playfully ran ahead of her brother, grinning impishly.
"Slow down, idiot," sighing and sticking his hands in his pockets, Ryoga looked downwards. Although he was more composed of the two, something about his sister's self-assured confidence irked him.
The twin's mother could only look on at her children with a small smile. There was something about the beach they always visited, that brought out the best in all of them.
Perhaps it was the way the water reflected the sky blue, or the way they gently lapped against the golden sand. Maybe it was the smell; salty, but carried on the wind in such a peaceful aroma that it was impossible not to feel at ease. Each grain of sand never got stuck between your toes, just a few brushes and they would mirrored the rays of the sun, golden and crisp with life.
If there was ever an eight wonder of the world, this would be it.
However, like most things, the beauty of this beach was merely a façade of what was really out there. The once gentle tides could become choppy and dangerously rough, putting lives into the red zone. Salty aromas could become nauseating, if one stayed in such a place too long. And the blue sky? Could be littered with grey clouds.
"HEY! Why did you chuck wet sand at me?!"
"Because you deserved it. Plus, you were acting like a little kid."
"…I AM a little kid, doofus."
No matter who listened to that last line that Rio said, it would always shatter her heart. Because .. who could truly say that any more She, as a Mother, would always try to protect her children from harm. To see them grow up, to see them fly off into the seas of time.
Placing her book down, the twin's mother's eyebrows furrowed. It was tough, raising children by yourself. But it was moments like these, where children bathed in the sun's light and the soothing tides, did one learn to appreciate just how magical life could be.
…
But one could not breath the air of the sea, unless you choke on it first - she had once told that to her children.
Naturally, they were confused. And to an extent, she didn't know the true meaning of her words. It was a saying passed down to generations, but none of her founding fathers ever knew the true meaning of such a phrase. But somehow, it held a high priority in her teachings as a Mother.
"Mama! It's started to rain! Can we go home and put 'Five Dragons' on please?" Rio whined slightly, as small drops dripped from their noses and stained the golden beach below their feet.
"…Do we have to watch that again? You always watch it." Ryoga frowned. His sister was addicted to that show. She pouted slightly.
"Well I don't want to watch your stupid shows! Seriously, what was it? 'Kingdom of the Duelists?' That's so boring! Plus, there's barely any awesome girls in it! My show at least has a rose warrior!"
And that sparked another childish argument. As the family rushed into the now worn-down car, Mama Kamishiro looked towards the sky. If she narrowed her eyes a little more, she may have seen that the grey held an undertone of red. But she missed it.
She started the car, and drove further from the beach.
