Year: 771
A little more than 3 years after the Cell Game
Phase 2
- Ruri ...
- Mmmmm
- The sun is rising. It's time to wake up.
- Mmmmm
- Tch, humans, really... Ok. I'll wait for you in the kitchen.
Carried away by the flood of emotions from the night before, Ruri had hardly slept all night, and therefore had a hard time getting up. After enjoying the comfort of her bed for a few more minutes, she managed to get out of her room, laboriously.
When 17 saw her coming, he looked at her with a tender look. With her eyes half open, her hair in a mess, and her feet shuffling, Ruri looked very funny. The effects of fatigue on humans were really quite amusing from the outside.
With the slowness of a snail, Ruri walked painfully, almost crawling, until she reached the nearest table. Then, with heaviness, she sat down on a chair.
- I've prepared coffee, said 17, hardly able to contain himself from laughing, do you want some?
- Mmmmm
17 served her, still amused, waiting patiently for her to finish waking up.
- Are you hungry? he finally asked her when, at the fourth yawn, Ruri finally seemed to open her eyes.
- Yes... are there any cookies left?
- Yes.
- Mmmm cool. I'd like some chocolate ones.
- Here.
- Thank you...
The young woman then began to eat, filling the room with the unobtrusive sounds of chewing. Then, gradually emerging from her torpor, she looked up at 17. Leaning on the wall in front of her, drinking his morning coffee without a word, his smile never left his lips. Suddenly he asked her a question:
- Didn't get much sleep after all?
- I couldn't fall a'chleep, Ruri answered, chewing loudly on a second cookie.
- Do you want to rest?
- No, let me take a ch'ower, it will wake me up.
- Okay.
- The'che are really good cookies. You want one?
- Why not.
When 17 took a bite, he was surprised to find that the taste of this food was not unfamiliar to him. He was sure that he knew this taste.
- It's strange... he said thoughtfully.
- What?
- Nothing, it's just that I have a sort of "déjà vu" feeling.
- You've already eaten cookies before ?
- No.
- Ch'o how do you know what it tastes like?
- I don't know.
- Hahaha! You know what we're gonna do? You're going to give me 1 zeni every time you say that sentence. In one week, I'll be a billionaire!
- I see that you are suddenly awake.
- You intrigue me, 17. Your memory fascinates me.
- Scientific curiosity?
- Yes! exclaimed Ruri, stuffing another cookie into her mouth.
- How much are you going to eat? asked 17, intrigued by this unusual appetite.
- Ch'wimming i'ch tiring. I need to take forch'es.
- Can you stop talking with your mouth full for a bit?
Grabbing the entire package, Ruri leapt towards the bathroom, not without sticking her tongue out before slipping away in a flash.
- I don't take orders, tin can. Well, I'm off to get ready. You should do the same. Go gather the gear and meet me on the deck in 15 minutes. I'll see you there.
- Insolent little human… 17 muttered in amusement as he watched her walk away.
Once in the bathroom, Ruri first took a quick shower to wake herself up, then walked over to a small gray cabinet where she had arranged her things. A small wooden box, covered with badly glued shells, sat on top of her clothes. She opened it, carefully, and took out a piece of jewelry. It was a small bracelet. A simple cord of white thread, with blue plastic animals hanging from it. When she saw it, Ruri's heart clenched painfully in her chest.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She had started to cry. Softly. Without a sound.
"Idiot... this is not the time," she thought immediately.
She hadn't wanted to let on about this, but besides the fatigue from lack of sleep, now that she was awake, she felt pretty bad. Too many conflicting thoughts were racing through her head.
Joy. Sorrow. Apprehension. Excitement. Fear. Love. Sadness.
The young woman sat down on the floor, burying her face behind her knees, to muffle the sound of her crying as much as possible. She had to evacuate, or she would not achieve anything. She then let herself go, and allowed a few minutes to sob. Once she had calmed down, she stood up, her heart lighter. Her natural optimism was a great help in these moments of unrest. Whatever the extent of her grief, it never lasted long.
Realizing that the bracelet would get in the way if she wore it on her wrist, she tied it around her right ankle.
"And it's cute too..." she said to herself, looking at herself in the mirror. "Well, come on, let's get this expedition started!"
Her gaze rested on the small piece of furniture. Seeing the small white cloth that was there, she suddenly remembered her conversation with Iris. And instantly, her face turned bright red.
"Oh, I'm never going to make it with your lousy plan..."
She was about to give up and go back to her room to look for something else, when she heard the vibration of her cell phone sitting on the sink.
A text message.
From Iris.
In capital letters.
"DON'T BE A NINNY !"
Ruri couldn't hold back a nervous laugh. Decidedly, her friend knew her too well. Ninny ? Yes. She was mostly intimidated. In almost twenty years of life, she hadn't really had the opportunity to have much experience with men. Out of disinterest at first, and because after that all her attention had been focused almost exclusively on pursuing her studies and preparing for the expedition. So much so that what she felt for 17 was a great first, sentimentally of course, but also physically.
His arms. His body pressed against hers. The thrill she felt when their lips touched. The near-burn that his fingers gave her on her skin ...
She was as eager to go further as she was afraid. But on second thought, the urge was actually greater than the fear.
She then put on the outfit prepared by Iris, finished brushing her long hair, and left the bathroom to go to the main deck.
- Well, when you have to go, you have to go, she said in a low voice to give herself a little courage...
After some hesitation, 17 had decided to follow Ruri's advice. He had taken off his usual clothes, and put on the swimming shorts, keeping only his black t-shirt, storing the rest of his belongings in the closet that his room contained. Ever since his very first awakening, years ago, on the cold operating table in Dr. Gero's lab, he had always been dressed the same way. So this was an unusual and somewhat unsettling sensation for him.
Only the logo of the Red Ribbon Army still showed who he was.
Why did he keep it anyway? He wasn't sure. Probably because, despite the hatred he still felt towards the one who wasn't his 'creator' in his eyes, despite the fact that he'd been fighting against cyberization for a long time, despite all that, this identity, '17', was the only one he had. He had no memory of who he was before. So getting rid of that brand wasn't so easy. It would have robbed him of what little he had left.
He quickly pushed that thought out of his mind, to focus on what was important: this first dive. He was really looking forward to it.
He quickly collected the necessary equipment and returned to the deck. It was going to be a beautiful day. The sky was clear, the rays of the rising sun shaved the calm surface of the ocean creating beautiful reflections of all colors, like small rainbows.
17 had never really taken the time to sit back and observe the beauty of nature. It was only since he met Ruri that he had realized this. The more he was with her, the more he was invaded by all sorts of desires.
The desire, first of all, to put an end to his boredom and wandering, to discover with his own eyes the wonderful landscapes he was learning about through the pages of the books Ruri had given him.
The desire, then, to know animals better and to protect them. The planet was indeed full of countless forms of life, each more extraordinary than the last, whose precariousness and fragility he began to perceive.
The desire, finally, to feel even more strongly this feeling of joy that arose from time to time in him. To savor his newfound freedom. To feel alive.
Suddenly 17 heard the sound of something hitting the surface of the water to his left. He turned to determine its origin, and saw a group of very strange fishes. They were small, thin, and slightly silvery, but their fins were unusually large for their size. Almost transparent, they looked as frail and delicate as those of a small bird.
"Birds that swim?" thought 17 immediately, "It's crazy how much weirdness there is in the ocean. AH! I want to dive in so bad! Besides, I'm sure Ruri knows what those are called."
Growing impatient, 17 removed his shirt, grabbed his mask and leaned against the rail, turning his back to the ocean, waiting to see Ruri arrive.
"Waiting, waiting... as usual eh?" he said to himself, with a slight wistfulness, as memories of his sister's shopping sprees came back to him, and the endless hours he had spent in front of stores, much like he was doing right now.
He had an amused smile as he thought about it, but fortunately he did not have to wait very long. From where he was, he saw the young woman running towards the deck. He immediately noticed that she was dressed in a new outfit. She was wearing a very large navy blue t-shirt, revealing her right shoulder, and jean shorts. Very short. Seeing her like this, 17 couldn't help but glance at Ruri's long legs. He found them so appetizing.
"How I love to see you dressed like that, little human...".
For her part, Ruri was so caught up in her thoughts that she had not yet paid attention to him. It was only when she arrived on the deck that she looked up and saw that he was facing her. Shirtless. She froze in place, stunned.
"Oh my god ..."
17 was clearly not built like a tank, he didn't have those big, veiny, bulging muscles that you see in some magazines.
He was the opposite of that.
His shoulders, torso and arms looked as if they were hard as steel. She felt like she was looking at a picture straight out of a medical book, like some kind of unattainable model representing the absolute ideal of a male body. Every square inch of his body was indeed covered with dense, solid muscles, so sharp that they seemed to have been cut into his flesh with a scalpel wielded by the most precise surgeon.
Ruri's gaze lingered on him for long seconds, so amazed was she by his morphology, his almost architectural beauty. He looked like a statue of an ancient deity, carved with a chisel from the most solid stone. Not an ounce of excess flesh concealed his abs, drawing a landscape of hollows and peaks along his belly.
Although he had put on the bathing pants she had given him, which reached his knees, the young woman could clearly make out his legs, which were also athletic, giving his physique a perfect symmetry, and to say the least unreal.
An incredible impression of strength was coming from him, reinforced by the perfect relaxation of his posture. Hands in pockets, relaxed, smiling as the morning breeze rippled his long hair. He was confident. He was so reassuring. So powerful...
Ruri swallowed with difficulty. What she felt for 17 was a decidedly ambiguous sensation. He was so beautiful. His body, his beautiful eyes, his smile, everything about him attracted her, but at the same time, the intensity of the desire she felt scared her a little. She wanted him, but the prospect of going further intimidated her.
"Shy virgin, huh? You're not really wrong, Iris..." she said, amused. "But that doesn't mean I should give up ! Me too, 17, I have enough to make you lose your air of self-confidence!"
So she approached him, and asked:
- I didn't keep you waiting too long?
- No. I've got the masks and the oxygen capsules ready.
- Great! Thank you! The sun's up, we can go now !
- I saw some fish earlier.
- What kind?
17 then gave her a quick description of the animals he had seen.
- Flying fish, Ruri said immediately.
- Do they fly?
- No, their fins allow them to make long jumps, they can glide, but they don't really fly.
- Ah.
- Hahaha it sounds like you're disappointed?
- No, but... yes, a little, 17 admitted with a smile. I thought I had discovered a birdfish. Is there such a thing?
- Not to my knowledge, but who knows, maybe we'll find out one day!
- I'd love to.
- For that, you'll have to dive.
Saying this, Ruri climbed the first rope of the rail, sniffing the sea air, then she resumed:
- Ah, I love the ocean! OK, then. One last briefing before diving.
- You have my full attention.
- Thank you, 17. So. The idea is to show you how to cope in the water. It's very different from land. You'll hardly hear anything, and it's very confusing at first. The same goes for vision. We will test the camera in your eyes, but you will have reduced visibility anyway. So you should never rely on your usual senses. You have to learn to do without them, because danger can come from anywhere.
- Okay.
- Besides, I'll have to... stay close to you. As a precaution, Ruri continued, giving 17 a look with an unusual glow.
- No problem, I'm your bodyguard, he answered.
- Another thing: you're used to moving through the air. But in the water, you won't be able to fly. The resistance of the water will limit your movements. So you'll have to acclimatise, and find your feet. It's different, you won't have to rely on your usual reflexes, especially if we have to run away.
- Roger.
- All right, then. So if it's all clear, let's go. First we'll stay in the area, near the boat, in deep water. We won't go to the reef until about noon.
- Why?
- Simply because the main threat in the water are sharks. And most species hunt at two times of the day: early morning and late afternoon. When the sun's rays skim the surface. Underwater, this is when visibility is lowest in steep areas. Going at this time of day near the reef, it is almost certain to encounter sharks. The bigger ones are rare, so even if they hunt in deep waters, we don't take too many risks. Do you understand?
17 was always impressed by Ruri's knowledge. Even with the passing of time, the extent of her knowledge about animals never ceased to amaze him. When she spoke about them, she had such confidence that he could not help but listen, attentive and admiring.
- Understood, he finally said. I'll try to remember that.
- Well, here we go. So...
Ruri took a deep breath, and slowly began to unbutton her shorts.
- What are you? stammered 17, as she slowly pulled it down her legs, revealing the very small garment she was wearing underneath.
- Well, I put myself in clothes ... she replied, delighted to see him suddenly so disturbed. I do not bathe in jeans!
And as she did so, she also took off her T-shirt, finally revealing the outfit Iris had mischievously advised her to buy: a white two-piece swimsuit. Ruri hadn't dared to buy the smaller models, some of which really covered almost nothing. But the one she was wearing was nevertheless very thin, and its desing did not leave much « hidden ».
- Is that a scientific outfit ? 17 finally asked, trying to focus on the young woman's face and not on the vision of her nearly naked body that was burning his retina.
- Absolutely, Ruri continued, looking as confident as possible. Why ?
- It's... small.
- Yes, of course. To swim fast, it's essential not to carry too much weight. And also, uh, because it's a thin fabric, it makes less noise in the water. Because of the friction. You see?
- ... Ah.
Encouraged by 17's stunned look and suddenly wide eyes, Ruri handed him a belt.
- Here, by the way, help me, she said, turning around.
- What is it?
- It's a special belt with pockets. I have to have something to store samples in, too. I'm not sure how to fasten it, can you help me? It's supposed to be fastened in the back.
And as she did so, she turned around.
17, hesitant, finally complied. He placed the belt along Ruri's hips, and began to close the large buckle which, in fact, was placed at the birth of her butt.
"Don't look, you idiot !" a small voice in his head yelled at him. But too late. He couldn't help but admire the perfection of her delicious curves. Seeing his hands graze Ruri's lower back like this further emphasized the smallness of her size. Resisting the temptation to grab her with vigor was a real torture for him. Images, like so many flashes, each more licentious than the last, flooded his mind. So many things he wanted to do to her, there, right now, without waiting a second longer.
He couldn't believe what this simple vision triggered in him. He even regretted for a brief moment his remaining humanity.
The only thing that helped was when he looked up and saw the slight smile on Ruri's face.
"Smart girl..." he said to himself then. "You want to play, huh? Ok. Let's play."
And with a gesture, he seized the buckle of the belt and brought Ruri against him. Then, sensually letting his hand slide down the young woman's back, he whispered in her ear:
- You want me to squeeze harder?
- No, it's... perfect, she answered in a whisper, breathless.
There they were, skin to skin.
Ruri was almost angry at herself for the pleasure she felt at this simple contact. As if she was about to defy a ban.
Disobey.
Discover the taste of sin.
To enjoy, for the first time, this forbidden flavor.
Surrender completely.
She remained like that for a few furtive seconds, before resuming, in a low voice:
- Thanks for the belt. I see you can get interested in clothes.
- I'm curious about anything you have to show me.
Ruri blushed instantly, and she was angry that she couldn't help it. But it was too late anyway: 17 had seen her, and he seemed as if 'stimulated' by seeing her like this.
"Iris told me to let things come anyway..." she thought. "No point in pretending."
- I have a lot to show you, 17, she stammered. But for now, we should focus on the expedition, right?
- Yes, you're probably right, said 17.
- Then let's go. I hope the water is not too cold...
- I hope so, on the contrary.
Ruri took a few seconds to understand what 17 was implying, blushed even more, then ended up giving him a big amused smile. Both of them then crossed the rail to position themselves on a small space protruding a few centimeters and overhanging the ocean.
- I count to three, and we jump. Ready to go?
- Like never before.
- 1...2… 3 !
In an instant, 17 found himself in a world that he had not even known existed. Carried away by the joy of the discovery, he temporarily forgot the emotions of the previous seconds, and was able to concentrate on exploring this new environment.
They spent many hours diving over the next few days, limiting their movements to the area around the boat, venturing out to the reef only in the middle of the day.
As Ruri had told him, 17 needed time to adjust. The ocean was a silent world, and despite his good eyesight he only saw the animals at the very last moment. Gradually, listening to her advice, he began to concentrate more on the sensation of touch, a sense he used very little on the surface.
The touch of the stones when there were any, but also the slight vibrations of the water he was beginning to feel on his body that could betray the presence of an animal in the vicinity. It was hard enough to do, but he was very motivated by learning new things, so he didn't skimp on the effort. Swimming was no problem, but he'd quickly realized that kicking and punching weren't as easy as on land. So it had taken him a few days to find the right balance of strength. And while throwing waves of energy into the water was technically feasible, it wasn't very safe if he wanted to avoid harming wildlife. He had finally developed a new method: simply launching a wave of energy to propel himself in the opposite direction.
Simple, but very effective to get away quickly.
At the same time, Ruri had subjected him to some experiments, and in particular to test his resistance to depth. She had asked him to go down to a depth of about fifty meters, where she said most humans felt some kind of disturbance due to the pressure, temperature and composition of the water. But 17 was completely unaffected by this. His robustness apparently allowed him to withstand the stresses of the deep sea without any difficulty.
He really found himself liking this life more and more, close to nature and to Ruri. Every day he discovered a new fish, a new plant, a new life form. When she explained things to him, he literally drank her words. In the evening, after hours of swimming, they would prepare noodles and eat them together, drinking beers and looking at the stars, talking and talking, until Ruri finally fell asleep, usually without warning, putting her head on 17's shoulders, who then carried her to bed.
When he was alone, he would sit comfortably in his room or on the deck of the ship and devour the books he had brought with him. He was eager to learn, filled with curiosity, each piece of information raising a flood of new questions that he was eager to ask Ruri the next day.
Two weeks passed in this way.
Until one evening, while enjoying her bowl of noodles, the young woman told him that she thought he was finally ready.
And that it was time to flush out the first sea monster they had come for.
