In retrospect, there really wasn't much reason for Koge to complain. Four months at a beach front property, in a huge house, with no responsibilities? It should have sounded like a dream to the young adult, but in her reality, it sounded more like she was going to a prison. To someone else, it sounded like a dream vacation, whom anyone would jump at the chance to take. And all for free, no less. Koge wished she could give it away to someone else, so that they could suffer through it. Maybe she was being a little overdramatic, but no one else knew of the horrifically boring torture she was going to have to go through.

First of all, it wasn't like she was going to be there alone. No, she would be there visiting her elderly grandmother, who could barely handle such a huge house as it was. Well, her grandmother and the nurses, cleaning staff, and cooks that came to the home daily. Being around her grandmother wasn't necessarily all that bad, but there were times where she needed to get away from her. If she wanted to do that, then all she could do was go to the beach, or take a two hour long bike ride to the city. That is, if she didn't want to be locked up in her room with no entertainment whatsoever. Her grandmother had no cable or satellite television, and what was worse, no internet.

All she had was a collection of movies on VHS and DVD, CDs or records for music, and a variety of books and magazines to read from. Koge was pretty sure she had already read all the magazines from the many years she had been coming out here, and had already completed more than half the books. She had seen all the movies, flipped through all the photo albums, heard all the stories. That's to be expected, after coming to this magnificent home every year since she was three. It didn't used to be so boring, but now that she had just turned twenty one, it was the definition of a bad time.

Koge knew that she didn't have to come, her parents told her so. But, her grandma was growing older, and she had always talked about how much she loved for Koge to come stay with her. When that trembling, sweet voice asked her if she had decided earlier that month, the young woman just couldn't say no. So, resigning herself to four months of near isolation, Koge had packed up and began the long trek down to the beautiful beach. After a three hour plane ride, a crowded train, and a bumpy bus, she arrived to the place where one of her grandmothers caretakers was going to pick her up.

The attempt to get her grandmother to just call a taxi had been fruitless, so Koge was escorted along by a woman maybe a few years her senior, who looked like she would rather be doing anything than this. Koge could empathise, but with the money her grandmother was probably paying the woman, she knew there was no right to complain. Just as Koge knew she had no right to complain about her accommodations, so she just gave a polite bow to the woman, heaved her luggage in the trunk of the car, and shuffled into the back seat to try and keep from conversation.

Koge did have to admit that the loneliness would be nice. She was quite the loner as it was, a bit awkward with people and shut in due to her natural personality. Her constantly blank expression was both like a curse and a blessing. She could keep her emotions hidden when she wanted, but was unable to express them properly when she found herself needing or even wanting to. This drove most people away, all except for her best friend, who had whined about wanting to come with her. Poor Nene, Koge thought in that moment, crossing her legs up into the seat. We'll see how long she can go without calling me.

"How was the trip down here?" The woman in the driver's seat asked with a forced polite tone. Koge glanced up at the rearview mirror, catching her eyes in that split moment. "It was fine, I guess."

The awkward silence filled the small car from that moment onward, and it was just as Koge liked it. She wasn't all that good at small talk, nor did she really enjoy it, especially with someone who huffed and puffed the entire drive.

Annoying.

Forty-five minutes down a winding dirt road wasn't entirely enjoyable, but Koge did have to admit it was better than the rest of the transportation she had suffered through that day. The view was nothing to scoff at, with vibrant forests and hints of the ocean through the trees to her right. It was something Koge had always marveled at, even from a young age, at how her grandmother lived in such a beautiful, magical place. She used to pretend that she was a magical creature, traveling to an enchanted castle where she would see land and sea monsters everywhere. Much to her disappointment, all she ever saw was annoying laughing white birds and the occasional dead fish on the beaches.

Well, that's not entirely true. Once, when she was about six or seven, Koge had sworn that she had seen shimmering orange scales break the surface of the ocean. She had tried to convince her parents, but they had told her over and over that it was just an illusion created by the sun. Her grandmother, however, was quite interested in her story and had always humored the thought. A magical creature, a large fish, or just some discarded trash? Who knows what it was, but even to this day, Koge was sure that she hadn't just imagined it. Either way, it was a memory, and it mattered little now.

Pulling up to the huge mansion was as it always had been, completely breathtaking and incredible. Sure, its age had begun to show itself due to neglect and lack of upkeep, but it was still just as magnificent as it always had been. How her grandmother could stand living here on her own was beyond Koge's comprehension, but the old woman was happy, and that's truly all that mattered. Though, the wish that she would at least get some type of internet still tumbled around in Koge's mind, especially as she pulled out her phone to check the time. No internet, just the ability to call… Damn it.

With a huff of her own, Koge shoved her phone back into her back and opened her car door, not bothering to wait for the woman who was making her way around at a snail's pace. Putting her arms through her backpack straps, Koge took a moment to stretch her sore, stiff limbs, taking in a deep breath of the humid air. Arriving at midday, it was so hot she had already started to sweat, feeling her white hair sticking to the back of her neck. "Man, seems hotter than normal…" Although she was mostly talking to herself, the woman unpacking the trunk responded, with a tone of 'pay attention and help me' mixed in her voice.

"Ah, well, not particularly. Let's get your luggage inside and get out of the heat."

Unable to resist a small roll of her eyes, Koge complied, taking the heavier bags just to shut the woman up. She didn't mind the weight of the bags, though she did mind the size of them, as her petite five foot one inch frame had difficulty juggling them about. Still, she was fit and athletic, able to maneuver them with limited problems. Leaving the other woman behind to complain to herself, Koge made her way through the main entryway, where a much more pleasant voice greeted her.

"Koge, my darling! How was the trip?" Wide smile on her wrinkled face, Koge's grandmother shakily stood from her wheelchair, holding her arms open for a hug. Koge abandoned all her bags, quickly approaching the frail woman before her before gently embracing her. "Hey, Grandma. It was okay. A bit bumpy, you know."

"Oh, I wish they would fix those darn roads, they're always so difficult." Pulling away, her grandmother cupped Koge's cheeks gently. "I'm just so glad you got here safely. And that you decided to come at all. I was worried you would think you're too grown up to come see your grandma."

Koge gave a small shake of her head, helping the elderly woman sit back into her wheelchair. "Of course not. I'm never too old to come see my Grandma Kiki." Laughing, Kiki held Koge's hand gently when she was finally sitting comfortably. "Hearing my name does make me sound younger, doesn't it? My dear, could you help me with my mask here, I'm feeling a bit winded." With a simple gesture, Koge spotted the oxygen mask resting over the left armrest of the wheelchair, connected to some tanks that hung off the back. As requested, Koge helped to fix the mask over Kiki's nose and mouth, allowing her to sit back and rest for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Koge." Kiki began once she felt better, looking up at her granddaughter with a bit of sadness. "I haven't been feeling well as of late."

"That's okay. Don't push yourself. I'm a bit tired, so how about we both get some rest and I'll unpack, then we can catch up. What do you say?"

"Aah, I could use a nap, I think. Go on upstairs, dear, and get some rest. I have the room on the far end all made up for you, with a beautiful view of the ocean and a balcony. I'm sure you'll love it."

She was right, Koge did love it. The room was huge with its own en suite, with a shower and a jet tub meant for a king. A king bed and a reading nook topped it off, along with a television that didn't quite fit the updated features of the room. Wow, she must of had this renovated all for my stay. She's just too sweet.

The best part about the room, however, was the balcony. Just as her grandma had said, the view was breathtaking, and Koge could have sworn she could see miles upon miles down the beach to the left. On the right, the beach ended at a series of forest covered cliffs, with caves she had explored on occasion with her father. It was all so beautiful, the water shimmering as it rolled across the white sand, that Koge immediately felt the urge to go down there and soak in the sun. Then, she thought of how awful her pale skin would burn, and how tired the heat was making her. The beautiful scenery soaked in, Koge began to make her way back into the room, when something caught her eye.

At first, it looked like something orange up against the surface of the water, there and gone again in the same second. Huh… Something orange. Tch, must just be my mind playing tricks, since I had thought about that on the way here.

Ignoring the vision, she opened the french doors and entered her room. Pale blue gaze landing on the bed, she immediately felt herself drawn to it, collapsing onto the fluffy comforter. Wiggling herself under the covers, she cuddled a pillow tightly to her chest, sighing softly in relief.

Four months here… I think I can manage, as always. It is a beautiful place…