I like high places.

Everyone competent enough to know Orihara Izaya is aware of that fact. And thus it appears rather uncharacteristic that I have come to the place with zero height, the sea.

I has never liked the sea.

What with the flat vast expanse? Here everyone is equal. Here I can't watch my humans because I would be among them.

I glanced back at the low cliff I had just come from, a perfect place for myself. Just the right height to let me observe the beach below, where I now stand. However, I am not feeling like myself at the moment, so instead I took a step further toward the waves.

The feeling of sand sticking to my feet is getting disgusting, but it faded as soon as my soles touch the oncoming water, however, I don't taste any satisfaction in it.

Another wave enveloped my heels, and the wet sand underneath slipped a little.

I liked the sensation.

For a tiny fraction of a moment, your footing seems to deteriorate.

What I didn't like is that a moment later you land on a leveled sand again, completely solid under your sunken feet.

A little discontented, I frowned.

The air is so humid this near to a mass of water, and I clicked my tongue in distaste. How could one feel refreshed here?

Suddenly frustrated, I slash my feet across the sand, leaving an ugly gash in the smooth brownish-yellow stretch. But only a few seconds after, the sea returned, and the gash disappeared.

An idea came to me that moment.

I tried again, digging a deeper gash this time.

As earlier, the sea washed over it, and the deeper cleft ceased to exist.

Somehow, I was fascinated by this. I sat down, folding my legs before myself so my knees are level to my chest, then dig another gash.

It was childish, but I don't care.

There were no people anyway, why bother?

Again and again the sea kept washing the sand smooth under my hands, and I couldn't help but want to be the sand itself.

If I could just let myself be washed by the sea, maybe the cliff I built for myself would, too, cease to exist.

I don't remember standing up, but I was now waist-deep in the water, and each wave brought the water up to my chest.

I waded deeper still.

So soon the salty expanse cover me to the neck, and just a moment later the treacherous ground disappeared.

I couldn't see in the murky water, but it stings my eyes. The sea penetrated into my lungs, but I didn't struggle.

This is what I want.

And I could only hope my gash isn't too deep for the mighty sea to nullify...

"— is what I think happened out there."

Celty figuratively stared at the underground doctor, astonished at the details of which he created the scenario.

And knowing Shinra, it was probably true.

Though he sometimes deny being Izaya's friend, Shinra understands Izaya better than the man even did himself.

The headless fairy looked worriedly at the unconscious body on the bed, dry and warm now, but still weak.

Shinra, too, has a worried frown on his face.

They had been so surprised when they heard Izaya had drowned himself in the sea. And getting him out of the local hospital hadn't been easy.

Now he just lay here, giving no sign of waking up. Judging from the medical report of the hospital, Shinra feared Izaya's brain has been damaged.

And disability or memory loss is probably to be expected, if he ever wakes.

As for now, however, the doctor and the Dullahan could only watch over him in the depressing atmosphere newly invited into their home.