Six: "When I was eleven..."

"Sorry, I'll catch up to you in awhile!" Tachibana-san called as he hurried back toward the school, leaving Hinata and the silent Nanase-san alone. It made her nervous, mostly because Nanase-san hadn't really said a word to her since they had been introduced. She felt awkward walking next to the tall, raven haired boy but didn't dare say that out loud. Turning to look at Nanase-san, Hinata blushed as their eyes connected for a slight second before they broke and looked toward the path they had been taking. It seemed that Tachibana-san had left his homework in his desk and needed to retrieve it as soon as possible. However, now that he was gone Hinata wondered if it had been a good idea to agree to go home with these two. The reason wasn't completely random, it seemed Hinata lived just down the street from Tachibana-san so he had offer to walk her home after he dropped Nanase-san off at his house. She should have gone home alone but when she had spotted them waiting at the gate, well she had no choice really. Hinata just wished that Nanase-san would walk faster as they started off once more.

"You hate water." Hinata blinked, surprised to hear Nanase-san's voice for the first time, "Why?" Hinata wasn't sure what to say for a long time, instead she just stopped walking. Unfazed by this, Nanase-san did the same as he turned to face her with a serious look on his face. She wasn't exactly sure why but as her green eyes met his brown ones, well, Hinata couldn't help but feel unnerved. They were so blue, just like the blue world that existed underneath the surface of water. She felt like she was going to get lost in them if she looked any longer, so she turned away.

"When I was eleven," She started to explain, "I got first place in a tournament that my swim instructor had entered me in. At that time I was really into swimming, I was very good for my age..."

"Hinata-chan! Go!" It was all she could make out over the rush of water as she lifted her head to take a bit gulp of air. It was only a second before her face was back in the blue, chlorine smelling water that she moved through; her legs kicked fiercely as she pumped her arms and forced her body to glide through the water without much effort. She felt like laughing as the feeling of being so unconstrained washed over her, the feeling of completely lightness as she submerged herself in water to execute a perfect turn. Thrusting her feet against the edge of the pool, she shot off like a torpedo through the silent and calming water. It was just a few seconds that she was under, but it was enough to completely refresh her body as she emerged and sped off toward the finish. It wasn't much farther, she could hear people cheering for her at each breath she took. Then, there it was, the solid wall touching against her fingertips and the sound of the loud bell signaling the end of the race.

"I was entered in a higher age group... and I won."

"Hinata-chan! Hinata-chan!" Her eyes flashed as she forced herself from the water and removed her goggles, "Hinata-chan, you won!" A laugh escaped her lips as she was pulled from the pool by a few of her teammates, celebratory cheers echoing from the stands as She looked toward the times and the single digit that was beside her name on the scoreboard. Pride and joy swept over her as she was congratulated by a few of the other swimmers, her eyes flashing to the stands where her parents and older brother cheered.

"As a reward, my parents said that I could pick the family trip that year. It was a tradition that we usually went to the mountains when it was cold, so we could see the snow, but I had wanted to go to the ocean..."

"But I don't want to go to the snow, we do that every year!" Hinata complained, "You said I could pick this year, right? Can't we please go to the ocean?" Her face lit up with a pleading smile as she glanced from her mother to her father. It seemed they didn't quite trust the ocean for reasons that Hinata didn't understand. Her mom had already said several times that the ocean was a dangerous place. The snow could be dangerous as well though, black ice and avalanches were common when in the mountains. Plus, Hinata knew how to handle the water, she was the number one swimmer at her club plus she was going to be competing in the Qualifiers for her region in less than a month. All of which her parents already knew but she made a point to tell them anyways.

"I don't see the harm in it." Hinata's face lit up as she and her brother shared an excited look, "I guess we'll have to look for hotels then."

"My parents changed the date of our trip and the first weekend that it was warm enough to swim we set off. I was overconfident in my skills and didn't take my father's warning seriously... It was a big mistake."

"Hinata, don't go so far out. It's dangerous!" She gave a confident grin as she waved off her father's worries and pushed farther past the waves. She then turned, her hand raised as she waved to her parents on shore.

"Mom! Dad! Look at m-"

"Pretty soon the waves overcame me, I wasn't strong enough at eleven to keep my head above the waves and pretty soon I was drug under."

The only sound she could hear was the rush of water as it tossed her about, her small body unable to stop it. She didn't know what she could do, not with such power holding on to her. As she was throw about, her heart racing and her ears screaming from the building pressure, she opened her eyes. It was then that she felt the fear water gave her. Her body was so weak against the blue world she had loved to much. She had to swim, she had to swim or else she would die. The only problem was that she couldn't tell which way was up anymore. Her arms and legs flailed helplessly as she was rolled once more. By now her lung burned to much, they called for air but Hinata knew what would happen if she took a breath under water. The saltwater would fill up her lungs and she would drown. She was going to be like just any other child, drowning in the ocean because of her own foolishness. She couldn't fight it, even she would die in such a place as this. Even Hinata Matsuchati would die...

"I was saved by some boy I didn't know," Hinata finished, "Since then I haven't been able to enter the water again. I'm too terrified of drowning to even set foot by a pool." She shook her head, her mind remembering the pale hand and shadowed face of the boy that had saved her. She hadn't even been able to thank him, she had been unconscious by the time he had pulled her ashore. The last she had heard of him was that he had left the hospital after a checkup and had returned home with his parents. He had been gone before Hinata could so much as mutter a thank you. She sighed before looking up at Nanase-san, clearing her throat.

"Anyways, that's why I'm afraid of water." She stated with a shrug, "Nanasa-san?" He looked thoughtful as he watched her, his brows furrowed. It was a pretty expressive thing for Nanase-san, since this was the first glimmer of emotion that she had seen the older boy show. It was also unnerving though, as it Nanase-san was plotting something in his head.

"Water is alive," Hinata blinked, unsure of how to respond to Nanase-san's words, "Once you dive in, it will immediately bare its fangs and attack..."

"Nanase-san?" Hinata questioned, "Are you alright?" His eyes had clouded over slightly, as if he was remembering something. However, as his eyes clouded they also deepened. Hinata couldn't help being mesmerized by the blue, her heart skipping a beat.

"But there's nothing to fear," He continued, "Don't resist the water. Th-"

"Haru-chan! Matsuchati-san!" Hinata blinked a few times as both she and Nanase-san came out of the daze they had been in, "You didn't have to wait, you could have gone on you know." It was Tachibana-san, it seemed he had retrieved his homework without much of a delay. As he came jogging up, he gave them both a smile that only Hinata returned. Nanase-san, who still seemed a bit out of it, looked at Tachibana-san before turning and heading down the street.

"Let's go." He stated without waiting for either of them. He was a strange person, Nanase-san that was. It made Hinata curious but also freaked out at the same time. She wondered what he was about to say, but dismissed it as they dropped Nanasa-san at his house. She supposed she'd see more of both him and Tachibana-san, or at least she hoped that she did.

Hey guys, thanks for reading this far! I'd like to give a shout out to all the people who have followed, commented, or favorite Ripples! You all are the best and I'll continue writing this simply so that I don't let you all down!

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