Disclaimer : One Piece and its characters belong to Oda. I am merely using them for my own amusement :p
Whoa..it feels like years since I last wrote anything in this site, and it reminds me just how many unfinished stories I left here. But I am trying to get my hands into working again..so, anyhow here's a new KiddLaw story for you. =D
Breathe
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Chapter 1 : Wish You'd See Me
Image drowning.
Image yourself being submerged into the endless pit of murky darkness, whatever light visible fading as your sight get unfocused and suddenly the surface feels so far, far away. Image the tightening in your chest of being unable to breathe, water rushing in instead of oxygenated-air, drowning your lungs with cold, foul water instead of warm, crimson red blood.
You'll feel light headed, the sign of your brain getting asphyxiated, —that means your brain is not getting sufficient oxygen and the your autonomic reflexes kick in. You'll try in vain to move your arms, your legs, trying to get closer to the surface; you'll fruitlessly scream for help, although it will only bring more water into your system.
A brain of human ceases any activities in approximately six minutes after being deprived of oxygen. That means, you'll die after drowning in approximately six minutes or eight, if you were lucky, although surely it'll feel years more longer than that. A prolonged, painful death.
So, leaning back on the railing with a half-smoked cigarette in one hand, Eustass Kidd watched in interest at the another male standing on the opposite side. The dark-blue haired man was gripping the railing so hard his knuckles turned white and glaring at the murky, black-ink water about six foot beneath the small bridge they were standing at.
The night was silent and if the weather-forecast he had watched this morning was right, it'd probably begin snowing soon.
"You know, if I was going to kill myself, I'd go throwing myself in the front of a container or jump from the tallest building in the city, just for the hell of it." Kidd began, "It'll leave quite a messy leftover, but at least people will remember it for a while." or getting traumatized from it, he couldn't decide which one was more amusing.
The other man jerked and slowly turned his head around, his blue-haired bangs cut short and it looked like jet-black in the lacking presence of light. He was glaring at Kidd with that too-bright eyes of his, eyebrows brought together beyond his hairline.
"What the fuck did you mean?" he spat, not really mad but each words lacing with defensiveness.
"I'm just telling you that if you decide to drown yourself in there, forget it. I could tell it is the worst form of suicide. Besides, when they finally find your body, it'll be turning into an ugly, water-filled, fat blue body. That..wouldn't be pretty, would it?"
"And, what makes you think I am going to jump in there and drown myself?" the tanned man turned his body so that now he was fully facing Kidd. He has a pair of sharp eyes with significant dark bangs under them, and the corners of his mouth turned up just slightly in annoyance. Clearly Kidd had disturbed whatever he had been doing or thinking.
"Well, I'm just trying to save myself the trouble so that I wouldn't have to save you if you decide to jump, you know?" Kidd replied with a shrug and looked away.
"To be honest, you look like a rapist more than a person running around doing charity to save suicidal people."
"Hey!" Kidd protested and to his surprise, the tanned man began to laugh.
"Sor-ryyy," the man said between laughter, drawling out the last syllable as if to mock Kidd furthermore, "It's just, well, your appearance and all. A fur fullbody-coat at this bloody era, really? Man, you look more like a freaking animal-skinner or better yet, a baby-kidnapper."
Kidd felt something stir in his chest at the remark but gave in and let out a small smile. He opened his mouth to say something, but decided to against it. "Not everything you see is what they truly are, idiot."
The man looked at him in surprise, as if what Kidd had just said hit a bull's eye, but didn't say anything to elaborate.
Kidd decided he could care less as he leaned his back further against the railing and looked up at the sky. It was rapidly getting colder in seconds and he put his hands into the warmth of his coat-pocket. He noticed the spots of white began falling from the pitch black sky.
"It's snowing." He said absent-mindedly, as if talking to himself rather than to the man standing across him wearing no more than an oversized hoodie and jeans. A quiet hum was the only answer he could get and he watched the man leaned his back against the railing also so that their pose matched.
"Shouldn't you kid, like, go home or something?" Kidd produced a crumpled box of cigarette and put it between his lips without lighting it.
"Why should I?" the blue-haired man raised an eyebrow at him quizzically, seemingly pouting more than scowling at being called a kid.
"No particular reason," Kidd shook his head, and casted his head down, suddenly taking interest in the scattered snowflakes around his feet. You hate snow, you hate the cold, he wanted to say, but he kept quiet instead.
After a few minutes, it was the blue-haired man who broke the silence first, "You're right. I probably should go home rather than getting my ass freezing here." He pushed himself off from the railing and dusted his pants.
Kidd didn't make any movement but his eyes were trained to the other person. "You live around here?" he asked carefully.
"Yeah." The man replied as he stretched himself, "But I'm not telling you exactly where. God knows you could be a real rapist or a baby-kidnapper—"
"Why you!" Kidd began but his words were cut rather effectively with just a wave of hand.
"See you again?" the blue-haired man casted a quick glance across his shoulder, a cheeky grin was heard rather than seen and Kidd almost smiled to himself. It was all or nothing.
"Eustass Kidd, that's my name. Remember that." Remember me. "See you later."
The other man only waved his hand without bother replying and Kidd watched his back disappear around the corner. It was only then that he let out a dejected sigh and lit his cigarette. After a few inhales he took out his cellphone, and without really looking dialed a certain name programmed on its speed-dial.
After several rings, it connected. "Kidd?" greeted a soft but firm voice.
"Hey, Killer." Kidd began, "I've found him."
"And? Did you make contact with him?" the voice seemed to suddenly pick up interest.
"Yeah, I did." Kidd replied as he began walking the opposite side the tanned man had walked, "And you are right. That pinprick doesn't remember a single damn thing. Not even me." Kidd continued as he threw the spent butt of his cigarette onto the ground and stomp it off. He stopped at an intersection and waited as the pedestrian light went red. When he spoke again, there was an obvious hint of annoyance in his voice, "But he still remembers to make fun of my coat, again."
"Figures." the rolling of the eyes was heard even from over the speaker, "What are you planning to do now?"
The redhead smirked at the quite rethorical question. He began walking as the pedestrian light turned green again. "Isn't it obvious? I'm going to take him back, no matter what it costs."
The phone was clicked shut.
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Please tell me what you think about this story! English is not my native language so I'd be grateful if you would be so kind to pinpoint me where I was doing wrong.
Thank you! :)
