Beyond paced excitedly along the side of the boat while Misa anxiously watched the shore grow further away. "Maybe… Maybe, you're right. I don't need to swim with these gigantic fish to prove I want to live… You know? I think –" Her rambling was interrupted with a soft kiss on her cheek as Beyond impatiently paced passed her.
"It'll be fine." His voice deadpanned as he sped back and forth. He passed her before stopping slowly and glancing his scarlet irises back over his shoulder to the nervous blonde and released a small smirk.
Misa shook her head in annoyance before bursting out in a worrisome tone. "No! It won't! We signed responsibility forms! Even the company knows this is dangerous! Let's just… not?"
Her hands were snagged up quickly with featherlight kisses along her fingers and knuckles. "If you don't want to, I understand… But, you can't talk me out of it." A mischievous grin plastered itself upon his plush lips. "But this whole time I've been thinking of nothing but keeping you happy and swimming with these damned sharks."
The blonde's cheeks lit up a soft hue of pink. 'He's been purposely thinking of making me happy? What's with him? He's acting off… Maybe he isn't so sure that this is safe either…' A smile settled onto her supple lips when she noticed the raven had stopped pacing and was staring out towards the water, leaning against the railing. She couldn't help but try to record this moment to her mind. The sun had already started burning his nose and cheeks, a petal shade of pink against perfect porcelain hued skin. The way the breeze picked up his ebony locks and pushed them away from his ruby eyes. The gentle smile he wore as he took a deep breath while closing his vermilion gaze, almost as if scenting the salty air.
Misa glanced up to the sky and tried to recall how often she's felt like this in the last month. Always trying to force a memory to stay with her. Her sapphire eyes drifted towards Beyond, and found herself blushing brighter. His captivating stare, watching her, with a lazy smile and careless hair. He had gripped the railing and was playfully leaning backwards. She could feel her breath hitch when his hand slowly reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Maybe, you should stay on the boat. I couldn't promise not to do something stupid if you got hurt… Three armed hired thugs? No problem. Primordial muscle and teeth? Probably wouldn't fair nearly as well."
The guide steered the vessel while watching the radar and the window of the yacht. He chuckled and pulled the overhead speaker down to him. "This is the captain of the vessel."
Beyond rolled his eyes and smirked. "Ego much?" Misa laughed in response to the remark.
The brunette guide continued overhead. "Hands and feet inside the vessel, if you would. Although we are currently surrounded by sharks, this is not our destination. These are not our sharks."
A curvaceous red headed woman pointed and excitedly shrieked. "Look a fin! Isn't that exciting!" She shot a daring glare towards Misa before smirking deviously.
Raising an eyebrow to the other oddly behaving woman. Beyond pointed casually over his shoulder with his thumb. "What's with her? She's been eyeballing you the whole trip out so far."
The blonde hung her head in slight defeat. "That is Lenne. She's a competing model. We last competed to get on a commercial for a brand of chocolates. But, I ended up dropping out because I had other… things… to attend to." Her forehead crinkled slightly while trying to recall the reason. "Anyway." Misa shook her head and gave Beyond a brilliant smile. "That's old news. She still thinks she actually beat me, but I don't care enough to correct her… I fear it would only prove to provoke her."
The raven nodded as he listened. "I see." He pondered for a minute while inspecting the opposing female. "You're way hotter."
Misa laughed loudly and playfully hit the center of Beyond's chest while walking towards the back of the boat to watch the group of sharks. Lenne was talking to her bodyguard before scoffing loudly. "Oh, the view just soiled itself. I wonder what could have caused that." She narrowed her eyes, and took a stance of her weight on her right hip while crinkling her nose in her rival's direction.
The blonde sighed happily as she leaned against the edge of the boat. "It's beautiful. I don't think anything could spoil this view. I think when I get home I'll pick up painting. What do you think?" She cocked her head to the side towards Beyond.
The raven placed an arm on either side of her and rested his head on her shoulder. "I think that'd be a good hobby. I could teach you a few pointers. I'm actually pretty good at it." Misa nodded enthusiastically causing Beyond to chuckle quietly. "You're cute. I'm going to go ask how much longer. I'll be right back." Misa pouted slightly and nodded, causing the raven's breath to hitch slightly before gently kissing her on the forehead.
Lenne watched Misa's companion leave. Scoffing loudly enough to grab the blonde's attention. "He's… um… not your type… weren't you married to some dreamboat? What happened? Did he finally see through that cutesy act you always do? Did he finally see you for the bitch you really are?"
Sorrowfully sighing to herself, Misa turned her attention towards the water again, her voice crestfallen. "He was a cop. He was on the Kira case. He died in the line of duty."
Not satisfied with the answer the fiery red head snarled. "Oh. So you just move along to the next one? How many back up plans do you have? That's all he is… back up."
Misa snapped her sapphire glare of anger towards the opposing model. "How dare you! Who do you think you are?! You just take peeks at a person's life and make baseless judgements?!" She angrily pointed in the direction Beyond had walked. "Him?! He's no back up! I could only wish and dream I met him before my late husband! He is back up to no man, not second best to any other soul on this planet! He was there when I needed anyone the most! How could you even dream of the darker places in the world that exist?! You can't! You're so naïve and ignorant! Like a child! And him? You ask of him? Every moment I spend with him is both the most precious and the most fleeting. Each moment more beautiful than the last… I wouldn't expect someone so shallow to understand."
Lenne balled her fists tightly and stormed towards Misa, giving her a strong shove backwards. When the blonde stumbled and caught herself onto the back gate of the vessel the red head smirked darkly. "Out of luck are we?" She let a menacing laugh loose before shoving her again. Misa gasped loudly before letting out a terrified yell as she toppled overboard.
"Are you insane?!" A voice called from behind her as the engines silenced themselves abruptly. Beyond bolted across the the back of the boat, completely running out of his shoes before diving overboard after the blonde, knocking Lenne off balance with a sharp elbow, sending her to the deck.
A deafening moment of silence passed over the passengers as the fins of the sharks started to disappear under the surface. Only gentle waves lapping against the hull of the boat and distant calls of seagulls could be heard. Whispers slowly started to rise before one woman shouted. "Over here!"
The captain and the other passengers all rushed to the side of the boat to see a soggy head of raven hair surface, with Misa in tow. A man yelled, "Help him get her on board!" All the passengers save two helped heaved the blonde on board.
Another voice called out. "I know emergency breathing! Help him get on board!" A brunette woman started assisting Misa as another group reached out of Beyond.
Reaching his pale arm up to be grabbed he abruptly pulled his hand back and began to tread water in a slower motion. His voice just about a hushed volume. "I can't. I have one at my feet. If it grabs me, I'll pull all of you down with me. We can't risk that. Just stay calm. It'll figure out I'm not a fish and –" His voice was abruptly interrupted as he was quickly grabbed and pulled underwater, a pained scream being the last sound the boat received from him.
A loud cough came from Misa, she sat straight up and looked around panicked before wincing and holding her head. The brunette steadied her while on the floor, "Ma'am, it looks like you have a head injury, lay back down." She looked up into the crowd and began delegating other passengers. "I need something to cushion the floor, a pair of gloves and some ice!"
Misa started scanning the crowd before her eyes widened, "What happened?! Why am I wet?! Where is my partner?! Please!" Her voice began to shake as her bottom lip quivered and tears threatened to spill.
The captain was on the radio hailing for help. His green eyes darted to the scanner as blips started to retreat from the vessel. "Oh no…" His voice lost all power as his mind raced in foreboding. He darted out of the door and started scanning the sides of the boat. "Good news… The sharks are departing and there's no excess of blood… Bad news? I don't see him."
He visibly startled when an abrupt coughing was heard from over the side of the boat. The captain peered over the side to see Beyond clinging to the side of the boat with one arm tangled into the ropes. Emerald eyes widened when he took the scene in further. His pants were missing and he was on the head of a shark, with a makeshift denim bridle in its mouth.
A groan was heard as he yanked a pocket knife from the side of the shark, spurring it to continue he moving forward. "I am in immense pain. So, if we could try that again, and succeed this time. That would be optimal. I won't survive that again." His voice shook and was weak. "I'm loosing a lot of blood. I'm going to need to be stitched."
A group of passengers pulled Beyond up and over the back of the boat, all with astonished stares. He chuckled as he dragged himself further away from the edge, leaving a heavy trail of bright red blood. "Like riding a horse… you know, if it was big, angry and carnivorous." He trailed his eyes to the deck of the boat. "Shit. Hopefully that color is from capillaries." He glanced around and growled out towards the dumbfounded passengers. "I'm not literally dying. No rush. Seriously. Just keep staring at me. I'm sure it'll stop on its own."
The captain snapped out of it. "Does anyone know how to stitch a wound?" Everyone looked around and gave blank stares in return.
Hissing from the pain Beyond snarled out. "I need alcohol, a sturdy thread, fishing line if you have it, and a curved needle… Unfortunately, it'll most likely be in the form of a fishing hook… Just, try to find one with a smaller barb." A couple passengers broke off with the captain to find the items. "Oh. And a towel… I'm bleeding really bad, I need to pressurize the wound."
As the crowd parted, Misa caught a glimpse of the raven before shrieking in horror. "B! Are you alright?! Oh my god!" She scrambled to his side quickly, ignoring the blood that was beginning to soak into her sundress.
Scarlet eyes blinked aggressively as a sharp breath was sucked in through his teeth. "Misa. Please, put pressure on my leg. I can't. I think I'm starting to lose consciousness. I won't be able to apply the appropriate amount of pressure." She nodded and complied with the request, pressing the found towel against the largest bite mark on his thigh.
The captain and the passengers arrived with the remaining items. Misa stared at the items as a light pressure squeezed her hand. "I need you to follow my instructions exactly and the first time. Sterilize the needle." Misa glanced around before grabbing a lighter out of the hand of a man attempting to light a cigarette then dumped some of the alcohol onto the needle. She stared back into deep ruby eyes that seemed to be amused. "A quarter inch from the wound, just listen for a minute because when you start… I'm probably going to go into shock and pass out…" He lifted the hook and shuddered as he inspected the barb. "Holy shit, that's going to hurt."
Misa leaned in close and took the hook from Beyond. "Focus. I don't know how to do this."
Beyond nodded as his head wobbled slightly, his eyes rolling slightly, "Tie a sturdy knot that won't get pulled though the eye of the hook." The blonde did as she was instructed. "Alright. Now, when you stitch, don't over lap the skin, if you do, it's alright, but it'll take longer to heal. You know how to sew, right?" Misa nodded quickly. "Good. Remember a quarter inch from the wound on either side." He took a large swig of the alcohol. "Alright. You're turn to save me." He gave a weak grin before screaming and bucking slightly and yelling incoherently before snapping to and ordering out. "Hold me down! She won't be able to do this properly until I pass out! What are you people, stupid?!"
Nearby passengers held him down as he cried out in agony. Misa's face twisted with anguish as she pathologically repeated under her breath as she closed the wounds. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." The passengers slowly released pressure on his free limbs as his body relaxed and his breathing began to shallow his skin already sweaty and paled.
Misa tied off the last stitch before hugging her knees and resting her forehead on her legs. Lenne kept her distance, hoping the others would forget the reasoning behind to accident. The woman who helped Misa check Beyond's pulse while watching her watch. "He's weak, but he's stable."
After a couple of hours, Beyond's breath deepened and his eyes slowly started to open. He quickly bit his fist and let out an pained growl. Misa lifted his other hand and held it to her cheek. "They told me what happened… Why would you do something so reckless?"
The raven's scarlet eyes drifted towards the blonde as a pained smile crossed his plush lips. His other hand shakily reached up to her face, gently setting his thumb on her cheek, accidentally smearing blood on her. "You know… Before I met you… I wanted to die. All I could think of is that feeling coming back again. How much I would regret surviving without trying to get you." He stared into her endless blue eyes. "I didn't want to feel like I want to die again. We've been traveling together for some time now… And, I promised I'd get you home."
Misa sighed and smiled, placing a single finger over his mouth. "It's okay. Save your strength."
He closed his eyes incoherently mumbling. He mumbled for a while before a distinct string of words fell from his half conscious lips. "Misa… I think I'm falling in love with you. You understand why I can't do that right?" Crimson eyes fell shut as he fell asleep, still holding her hand.
The captain put his hand on Misa's shoulder. "The Maritime Safety Authority is here… They want to speak with you…" His eyes carried a sense of concern in them.
Misa looked back to a sleeping Beyond and smiled softly. "Alright."