Episode 11 – Swimming Upstream
For the longest immeasurable time, Cye felt like he was floating in a black void that reminded him of the darkest pits of the ocean deep – minus the pressure that would've been too much even for his warrior's strength. And yet now, rather than floating, he seemed to be lying on a warm bed of…something. But no sooner had the thought entered his mind than Cye felt both his arms being pulled over and behind his head. Immediately after, he sensed his feet being lifted up, suspending his body in midair.
Suddenly, he picked up what sounded like two young women talking – but their words were too muffled for him to make sense of. Tired of being literally kept in the dark, Cye forced his eyes open with a gasp, causing those carrying him to drop their cargo onto the ground in surprise. The shock of the impact sent Cye into a series of coughs that quickly revealed the parched state of his throat, when he heard one of the voices far more clearly – and mortified – than before. "Oh my word – I am so sorry, Cye!"
The familiarity of that voice turned Cye's head. Once he blinked the sand from his stinging eyes, he found himself gazing up at the flustered face of the beautiful young lady who'd been the one constant on his mind all throughout his time in that murky darkness. Not that it was entirely unwelcome. Far from it – he couldn't have been more relieved to see her alive and well after memories of that ordeal of an earthquake came flooding back in.
"Yui!" Cye exhaled ecstatically. "You're okay!" His smile then fell into an embarrassed frown as he remembered another young woman should be with them. Looking forward and up, he saw a face that would've looked identical to Yui's if not for her slightly irritated expression. Nonetheless, he sincerely sighed, "And Ikuyo! You're alright too, I hope?" She didn't reply, just kept staring at him in a way that made him more and more uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Yui broke the resulting awkward silence. "We're both fine, Cye. But what about you? Can you get up?" Recalling his rough introduction to the ground mere moments ago, Cye winced as he reached a hand behind to feel his smarting lower back, which had taken the brunt of his fall.
"I've been better," he admitted, then assured her, "but I'm tougher than I look. Although…" He paused when his eyes rested on her hand nearest him. "It doesn't hurt to have help every now and then." Almost immediately, Cye regretted being so forward. They may have just survived a monstrous earthquake, but that didn't mean they were on good terms again. Yet to his surprise, Yui offered her hand and gave him a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite meet her eyes.
Still, considering how borderline hostile she'd been toward him earlier, he hoped his gratitude showed as he took her hand and let her pull him up. "I really am sorry," the corners of her mouth then fell in remorse. "You were still unconscious, and we didn't want to leave you on the shore."
Cye was about to thank Yui for her thoughtfulness, when he finally saw how long all three of their shadows stretched. Looking up, he was startled to see at least half the day's light had disappeared. Suddenly wary of the ramifications behind Yui's words, he tried to keep the alarm from his voice. "Thank you, very much, Yui, but…" Cye's mouth then fell open when he spotted the signature glow of a sunset on the western horizon, transforming the ocean waters beyond the beach into a sea of liquid gold. "How long was I out?"
Yui briefly glanced away. "I don't know for sure. Ikuyo and I came to about half an hour ago. We were all lying at the edge of the beach, over there." She pointed a few yards away, and Cye's eyes widened slightly at the impressions left in the wet sand by their bodies.
"Well, in any case," Ikuyo spoke up, staring at her wristwatch, "if this thing is working like I think it is, it's a quarter after seven, and the date is the same. So we've probably only been out for a few hours." She then looked up at Cye, and although she still didn't smile, she gave him a grateful nod. "I may not remember much before that, but I suppose we have you to thank for our survival."
At her words, Cye himself immediately remembered what'd happened in the moments leading up to his loss of consciousness. His hands seemed to instinctively recall holding both sisters close to him. When he closed his eyes, he could vividly bring to mind the orb of blue light that'd surrounded them. And it didn't take long to figure out where it'd come from. Neither Yui nor Ikuyo could've known it, but Cye was now certain his powers had provided them with an air bubble – even if he hadn't been fully aware of it at the time, utterly exhausted as he was.
Not wanting to lie, yet not wishing to arouse suspicions any further, he chose his words carefully. "Maybe…but it's mostly a blur for me as well."
"But where are we?!" Yui suddenly interjected. "We may have survived…whatever that was, but may I remind everyone we could be stranded in the middle of nowhere for all we know?!"
Despite his own nerves, the last thing Cye wanted was for Yui to have a panic attack. But the rocky relational ground they were still treading – and Ikuyo's watchful eyes – stopped him from embracing her. Instead, he pulled himself together. "Now wait a minute! Yui, I agree. We didn't survive that earthquake only to get trapped here. But let's not lose our heads–" He then cut himself off and cringed at the way he framed the bigger picture. But remarkably, rather than take offense, Yui reassured him.
"No…I'm sorry." She then took a deep breath. "I get it. Panicking isn't gonna help us in the slightest. So let's all try to relax before we slit…each other's…throats…" She trailed off upon realizing she'd followed Cye's lead a bit too far. Yet the resulting silence brought such unexpected relief, Cye couldn't help but chuckle. "Or we could laugh," Yui acquiesced, failing to keep the corners of her mouth down. "That works, too."
Shortly after, she burst out laughing, and Cye quickly joined in. Unable to restrain his thoughts, he found himself remembering all the times he and Yui had made each other laugh years ago – and wondered how on earth he could've relegated that musical sound made by his former girlfriend to the recesses of his memory. But then Ikuyo cleared her throat, and the two abruptly ceased.
"Hate to be a stick in the mud," she said, "but if we're through having fun, it's time we get back to business and figure out where we are – if we even can." Seeing the sense in her words, Cye nodded agreement, and turned around to get a more complete view of the island they'd washed up on.
At first, nothing in particular stood out. Looking left, the shore stretched for about half a mile before curving inward in a circular direction. Directly ahead, the sand spread for another yard before yielding to tall, lush grass. The green carpet in turn sprouted in the remaining sunlight for only half a yard until it was provided with shade by various shrubs and bushes. And just beyond lay a forest of tall cedars and pines grouped together in such a way that Cye easily believed they'd been friends for centuries, if not millennia. But then, he looked right.
Anyone else would've just seen an ordinary pair of boulders – one twice as big as the other and both harboring algae underneath – surrounded by rock beds leading to a colony of tide pools on the other side. But Cye instantly recognized the spot where he'd pretended to be a samurai and a pirate – at the same time – when he was only five years old. His memory now jogged, his eyes went wild. "I know where we are!"
"You do?!" Yui echoed his excitement. "Where?!"
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone knows about it besides me and my family. So we called it Mouri Island." Cye smiled softly as memories of a happier, more carefree time in his life came to mind. "We used to come here every summer, my family and I–" He broke off and his face fell as he finally realized why he hadn't immediately recognized this place. "…Until…my father died…"
Before he completely lost track of his thoughts, Cye regained control of them when Yui lightly gasped. From what he remembered of their previous relationship, he had told her that his father had already died – or rather, passed away. And judging by how wide her eyes remained – this time in dismay – she seemed to be recalling that too. "Oh, Cye," she frowned sadly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up." Cye was about to reassure her as she had him, but she turned her gaze to the sand beneath their feet. "I feel like I'm treading sacred ground."
"Well," Ikuyo cut in, "sacred ground or not, I'm as relieved as anyone now that we know where we are. But we're still far from civilization."
"Actually, it's not too far at all," Cye pointed out, his patience now thinning. "A little ways, sure, but no further than Yakushima is from the Ōsumi Peninsula. I know – that's still around forty miles, but even I have my limits." At least, without my armor.
"Don't beat yourself up, Cye," Yui spoke more warmly than her sister. "We all survived the earthquake together, and we'll get off this island together." Suddenly, doubt started to shape to her otherwise fair features. "Still, I don't suppose you'd know if we can find food or drinking water here?"
Cye's smile returned. "That, I can help with. We sometimes picked Amanatsu oranges from specific trees; there should be plenty, now that summer's here. As for drinking water, I remember a small lake near the center of the island. I don't recall exactly where, but there were trees all around to keep it from drying up."
Yui reflected his grin, and Cye wondered if she knew how it made her face glow. "Sounds good to me! When do we start looking?"
"Well, we might as well start now, while we still have daylight anyway," Ikuyo offered. "But before we go…" The young woman gave Cye that half-glare that'd so unsettled him earlier. "I'd like to have a bit of a word with you."
Immediately, he felt the air between them all return to its awkward state from earlier. Glancing at Yui, he could tell from the firm line made by her mouth that she felt it as well. Still, she shrugged her shoulders. "…Alright then…" She then pointed backward with her thumb. "Maybe I should find a place for us to sleep?"
"That'd be great Yui, thanks," Ikuyo nodded appreciatively, then sternly warned her. "Just don't go too far. Cye may be familiar with this place, but you and I aren't."
"Oh, s-sure," Yui nodded somewhat warily. Initially hesitant, she then turned and headed toward the two boulders, leaving her sister and former boyfriend alone to chat. And Cye had a feeling it wasn't going to be an entirely pleasant one as Ikuyo jutted her chin in the opposite direction.
They stopped about halfway down the remaining shoreline. Though he thought himself prepared, he was caught off guard when Ikuyo gave him a far more hardened and critical stare than before. Arms crossed, she spoke with the slightest derision. "I'll be frank, Cye. And I'm only gonna say all this once, so I hope you're listening." Without pausing, she went on, her gaze narrowed and unblinking. "Whether you 'saved' us, or we just got lucky…I'm letting you know right now that I'm watching you."
Although closer to the edge than he'd been all evening, Cye was not going to return animosity for animosity. "Why would you feel the need to do that?" he calmly asked. "I only want to help."
"Do you?" Ikuyo retorted. "Regardless of how long ago it was, you broke my sister's heart when you dumped her without any sort of explanation."
"Wha–?" Bafflement at the young woman's words briefly prevented Cye from forming his own. "But… But I did explain–"
"Not nearly enough if you ask me," Ikuyo interrupted, "and her too, I'll bet." She then fixed him with eyes as cold and sharp as icicles compared to her sister's deep pools of warmth. "I don't like it, but I agree that we need to work together if we wanna get back to the mainland. That, however, is where I draw the line. Beyond that, stay away from Yui and stay out of my way. And when we do make it back, she's coming with me. We clear? Good."
Again, without waiting for an actual response, Ikuyo stepped around him and proceeded back the way they'd come, her head held high as she left Cye alone with his confusion over her behavior.
On the one hand, he admired how protective she was of Yui. His own sister Sayoko was much the same regarding him – even if it wasn't always appreciated. But a fresh wave of frustration rolled over him now that he was facing a new obstacle in his already monumental task of recruiting Yui to his side. And it was this dilemma – coupled with this island's nostalgic influence – that made him succumb once more to his habit of longing for unavailable aid.
In the five years since he donned his original armor, Cye sometimes yearned for his father's guiding hand as he walked the path of a Ronin Warrior. In the days following his flight from Kento and Rowen after Ryo and Sage had been abducted, he'd wandered aimlessly and alone, until Ryo's tiger White Blaze came to comfort him. Yet as grateful as he'd been to the big cat, every other time he gazed into a body of water, Cye had wished that the reflection that stared back at him wasn't his own but that of the man he so resembled.
Of course, even if his father were still alive, he couldn't have told him he was a Ronin Warrior any more than he could his other living relatives. Not that he was alone in keeping it all secret – nor was he the only one who'd lost a parent. But whereas Ryo had been a newborn when he lost his mother, Cye had been ten years old when the only other male in his family – until his brother-in-law – the one who'd taught him to swim and not be ashamed of his emotions, was taken from him. By accident, perhaps, but taken nonetheless.
Never would he forget the day he and his family learned that a train coming into Hagi Station had derailed, and the Mouri patriarch had been among the casualties. Neither would he forget how he nearly lost his mother too, when the shock of such tragic, earth-shattering news induced a heart attack she'd never fully recovered from. And by taking that track, Cye's own train of thought crashed in a way that sent his head to his hands with a groan. When he did look back up, even the vast seawaters suddenly seemed infinitesimally small.
Here he was on an otherwise obscure island with a pair of women who didn't exactly like him, and on the faraway mainland were two other women he loved more than any – the ones who needed him, whom he should be with right now…
And you call yourself a Ronin Warrior…? a solitary voice sneered in Cye's mind, one that reminded him of a certain figure in blood-red armor. And no sooner had he heard it than his teeth clenched and his fingers curled into fists. So restless was he that he half-jumped when a whistle echoed from far up the shoreline. And once he turned to see Yui and Ikuyo beckoning him – and remembered his promise to help them find food and drinking water – a new question emerged.
What if they were Mother and Sayoko? Could I even think of letting them down? Immediately, the obvious answer presented itself, and being the honest man he was, Cye couldn't deny it. Regardless of what was between him and the Kikkawas, they were counting on him, just as they had during the earthquake. With renewed determination, he nodded at the sisters before heading back to join them. I may not be the traditional sort of warrior, but I'll never abandon those who need my help.
She didn't know where she was. All Yui knew was that she wanted out…now. The shadowy fog that'd surrounded her ever since she first closed her eyes had long since taken on a reddish hue that both chilled and scalded. No matter how many times she told herself she was dreaming, the reminder was forgotten as quickly as it was given. No matter how often she cried for help, only silence came out of her mouth. And no matter how hard she tried to flee it, a sinister, echoing laugh stalked her wherever she went.
Just when she was nearing the end of her efforts, Yui's eyes flashed open. Again, she found herself in the midst of darkness, but this was the comforting familiarity of midnight rather than the hair-raising void of her dream. Equally comforting and familiar were the ocean waves she heard flowing back and forth on a beach not far off. But it was only when she saw her sister asleep on a grassy bed just a few feet away that Yui remembered with a sigh of relief where she was – until she recalled further that there should be a young man here as well.
Right then, the rustling of leaves swiftly turned her head. Her eyes went wide upon seeing a masculine shape cautiously sneaking away from the designated encampment. Although the lack of any light source brighter than the moon prevented her from making out his likeness, Yui already had a good idea who he was. But…Cye can't be abandoning us? Not after he risked his life to save Ikuyo's and mine. Yet even as she shoved her doubt below her gut, the silhouette made his way deeper into the forest of cedars and pines, until he finally left her line of sight.
She then sighed as she reluctantly acknowledged there was only one way to learn where he was going. After turning onto her front and reminding herself of the deep sleeper Ikuyo was, Yui gained her feet as quietly as possible, then proceeded to follow in Cye's footsteps with the same level of caution.
Even when she spotted him again, she moved slowly, lest he suspect her – so long as her anxious heartbeat didn't expose her first. Her curiosity heightened though when she realized they were walking the same trail Cye had led them all on in their search for sources of sustenance the previous evening. It'd been nothing short of an immense relief when they'd eventually found a small lake and trees bearing oranges just as he described. Once again, he'd saved her and her sister from a grisly fate – and she felt far more grateful than should be allowed.
It certainly didn't help that there'd been this ever so slightly detectable tension between Cye and Ikuyo since their little "talk." Never one to get involved in conflict if she could help it, Yui still didn't know the nature of their discussion – and had done her best to ignore the inner voice that urged her to ask. But before it could nag her further, her person of interest began walking away from the direction of the lake. Though puzzled at this sudden change of course, she promptly did likewise.
Before long, the echoing sound of lapping waves that'd grown softer the farther away they traveled, now began doing the reverse. More curious than ever, Yui bit her lip as she hoped to keep up the illusion of her absence. But instead of a snapping twig or breaking rock, she nearly gave herself away when she gasped at the sight she soon happened upon. Though not horrifying, it startled Yui into clamping a hand over her mouth and ducking behind the nearest tree. Only when she was sure she hadn't been seen did she dare look beyond her hiding place.
Just as she'd first seen, Cye had halted about two yards from the edge of a rocky cliff face stretching several feet above a watery portal into the sea beneath…and he was removing his shirt. Although his back was facing her, the area was flooded with moonlight, allowing Yui to see just enough how finely formed he was. Of course, having grown up in a seaside town, shirtless men and boys were nothing new to her. And she and Cye had gone to the beach several times when they dated – but being more modest than most boys, he'd always worn a wetsuit.
Now that she was seeing him as a half-naked man, Yui could practically feel the blood flooding her cheeks, and her already anxiously beating heart now pounded like a fist on a door. She didn't so much as breathe until Cye leaped from the edge and the splash he made upon entering the water reached her ears. Just as soon, her previous confusion resurfaced. "Is that it?" she mused out loud. "He just wanted to go for a midnight swim?"
Yet even as she spoke so, Yui knew she was one to talk. While she'd always been an otherwise good girl, ever since she was thirteen, she went out for the occasional nighttime dip at the beach she lived near. When she and Cye dated, she wondered at times what it would be like to share the thrill of such a secret adventure with him… Immediately, Yui shook her head. That's in the past. We're over. And yet, as though of their own free will, her feet moved her out from behind the tree, and soon parked her at the very spot where her former boyfriend just stood.
And the sight that greeted her was all but stunning. The full moon glowed like a pearl in the pitch black sea of the summer sky, across which a net of sparkling stars had been cast. And underneath, the calm entryway to the Pacific Ocean beyond stretched to the horizon, the waves rolling in lending to its appearance as a living sheet of silver. She may have lived by the sea all her life, but never would Yui tire of such an awe-inspiring display of natural beauty. I hope Cye won't either…
Suddenly, she was alarmed to realize she hadn't once seen him come up for air. Certainly, Cye was a fantastic swimmer, but Yui knew the survival rule of three – three days without water, three weeks without food, three minutes without air – and it had to have been at least five minutes since he dived in. Could something have happened to him…? Her heart pounding again – now in concern – she once again acknowledged just as reluctantly as before that there was only one way to make sure he was okay.
Shoving aside all misgivings, Yui hastily removed her own clothes until she stopped at her leggings – and some undergarments. After taking a deep breath to both calm herself and get as much air into her own lungs as she could, she grit her teeth and shut her eyes as she too leaped from the cliff edge. Only when she was enveloped in the dark, chilly waters of the night did she reopen her eyes to find herself in an equally dark and chilly world.
Once she'd adjusted to the environment, Yui swam through the murky depths, hoping to find Cye before she too had to surface for air. At the same time, she did her best to ward off the terrifying images forming in the back of her mind – finding him caught in a stray net, or on the seafloor suffering from pressure that even the strongest of swimmers could fall prey to. But nothing could've prepared her for the sight that soon stole her breath even more than the water.
With the help of filtered moonlight, she spotted Cye several yards off. To her complete surprise, he appeared alive and well. In fact, he was swimming with a contented smile on his face as though he had not a care in the world. But then, Yui caught movement in the shadows beyond him – and felt her blood run cold when she saw distinctive black and white markings. Oh no! An orca!
While Yui loved and respected all sea creatures, she wasn't blind to the dangers they could present – and Cye was right in the path of one of them! She couldn't shout out to him, nor could she possibly get to him in time. In any event, Yui froze at what happened next.
When Cye too spotted the orca, rather than flee in panic, he rather eagerly swam toward it. To Yui's further astonishment, the animal made a high-pitched greeting call, and Cye embraced it as though giving it a hug. What in the world is he doing…? Yet despite her complete lack of understanding, as his face glowed with unabashed joy while he affectionately stroked the orca as one would a dog or cat, she felt remarkably touched by the proof that Cye was just as sweet as she remembered him…until he turned his gaze her way.
A flurry of bubbles erupted from Yui's lips as she realized she'd been found out – and that she herself was running low on oxygen – prompting her to turn around and head straight for the surface. Taking in as much air as time allowed, she then propelled herself forward as though she were competing in the Olympics. In this case, she had to outswim the last man she wanted to be pitted against. But swim she did, hard, with her eyes locked on the prize at the end – the cliff face.
In spite of the frightened look she'd given him before bolting, Cye nevertheless pursued Yui through the waters. She was a fast swimmer, but so was he, and he had to catch up to her by the time they reached land – not to confront her, but to simply ask if she'd followed him. Not that he'd be angry if she had. Perhaps he should've heeded the inner voice that'd urged him during his entire trek to turn back. Regardless, he'd been discovered, and now had to face the potential consequences.
Right when he was gaining on her, Yui used a rocky ledge to hastily climb out. But Cye soon reached the same ledge and lifted himself out just as quickly. After pausing briefly to catch his breath – and pull his shirt back on – he called, "Yui! Don't run off! I'm not mad at you!" He then heard the rustling of shrubs behind a nearby tree, and rushed toward it without thinking twice. "Yui?"
"No, wait Cye! I'm not dece–! Ah!" She stumbled out in front of him, and he was just in time to grab her elbow before she could fall. Just as suddenly, Yui leaped back with a sharp gasp, then wrapped her arms tightly around her chest. And only then did Cye realize with a surge of absolute embarrassment what she'd been about to say. "I'm not decent!" In other words…she'd been putting her discarded clothes back on. Yet even though she was now fully clothed, she was still soaked head to toe.
Despite the startled, wide-eyed look on her face and his own discomfiture, Cye was quickly reminded that although he'd been raised mostly by women, he was still a man. Everything about the scene at hand – from the moonlight shining down on Yui, to her glimmering hair and glistening skin, to her damp clothes clinging to her and revealing a very feminine figure – began affecting him in ways he knew would not reflect well on him if he didn't gain control of himself. With a slight groan and a hard swallow, he hoped he didn't look too stiff as he straightened his stance.
"…I-I…um…" he stammered. "…I'm sorry… I shouldn't have…" His face burning more than it had in a long time, Cye looked at the ground. Even so, he could still feel Yui's gaze.
"Oh, well…" She paused, likely feeling every bit as awkward. "…Don't worry about it. When I saw you leaving camp…I wanted to know where you were going…so I followed you." She took a deep breath. "And when you came here…I hid behind this tree until you dove in. After that, I didn't see you come up for air."
Cye's gaze flew up to meet hers again, making her flinch. "Wait. How long did you watch out for me?" Although initially hesitant, Yui eventually found her voice again.
"I don't know exactly, but it seemed like five minutes." Again, Cye could only stare at her – though this time for a much different reason. She obviously didn't know he could breathe underwater, nor had she ever seen until now his friendly interactions with animals such as wild orcas. But would she believe his explanation?
Yui let her arms hang and sighed in exasperation. "Cye, I know a lot can change in just five years, but… What's going on with you?"
He then sighed as well. If he was going to tell Yui everything, it would probably be best to ease into it. Choosing to start at the beginning, Cye replied, "Well, first off, if you want to know why I came here…" He paused to take a deep breath. "I couldn't stop thinking about my family." Nor the guys, he silently added. He then returned his gaze to Yui, expecting to find disbelief.
Instead, he was surprised to receive from her a look of understanding empathy. "Oh my…I hadn't even thought of that."
Encouraged by her response, Cye softly lifted the corners of his mouth. "You remember them?"
Yui nodded. "I remember your mother…and her heart issues. And vaguely I remember your sister. Sayoko, was that her name?"
Touched that she hadn't completely wiped everything about him from her memory, his smile broadened slightly. "My mother is doing fine." He frowned briefly, adding, "Or at least, I hope she is." Unable to bear the thought of losing her to the shock of the earthquake if not the catastrophe itself, he quickly moved on to his sister. "And yes, Sayoko. She got married four years ago."
Yui's eyebrows shot up with interest. "Is that so?" At last, the corners of her mouth began to lift as well. "Oh, I remember now! You told me about this guy she was dating, and you didn't like him at all!" Her lips loosed a chuckle, which she then tried but failed to hide. Yet Cye couldn't help but return it. It was true he hadn't liked his brother-in-law at first. Then again, he probably wouldn't have liked any man who had the gall to date his sister period.
"His name is Ryuusuke. And we've been getting on fine ever since he and Sayoko married." He then frowned again as he thought of the primary issue that'd been plaguing Sayoko and her husband lately. "Unfortunately, they're now in their thirties and have yet to have children, even though they've tried ever since they tied the knot. Then again, our parents had the same problem."
When Yui gave him a questioning look, Cye explained. "If you don't recall, my mother and father were in their forties by the time I was born. Sayoko is my only sibling, and she's ten years older than me."
What he didn't say was that, while Ryuusuke had married into the Mouri family, if he and Sayoko failed to have children, that would leave Cye – as the only other remaining direct descendant of the great sixteenth-century naval general, Mōri Motonari – with the task of carrying on the Mouri line. And considering the only girl he'd been romantically interested in was no longer of the same mind… Suddenly aware of where his thoughts were headed, Cye retook control of them. "What about your parents?"
Though briefly surprised at the abrupt change of subject, Yui replied, "They're fine – as far as I know. I still live with them in Hagi. I came to Yamaguchi City to visit Ikuyo, since she recently found work there. She wanted to get away after–" She then broke off with a look of alarm. While not one to pry, Cye couldn't help but wonder what she'd had been about to say – when her gaze then landed on something beyond him. "What's that?" she asked, eyes widening as she pointed a finger in the direction of whatever had captured her attention.
But when Cye looked in that same direction, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. I don't see anything."
"Follow me," Yui then invited him as she started forward. "It looks like it's floating – next to the rocks down there." Now trailing her, Cye looked this time right where she was pointing. At first, he saw only a half-dry rock bed on the left of the cliff's base. But upon squinting his eyes, they suddenly went wide as he spotted something floating in the shadows. At the same time, Yui gasped in excitement, "No! It can't be!"
She began hurrying toward the ledge, prompting Cye to do likewise. "What? What is it?" Yui reached the rocks first, then hauled both sopping wet loads out of the water with a grunt. Once they landed on the ground with a collective thud, her eyes lit up the most he'd seen in the hours since they met again.
"It is!" she cried ecstatically. "My art bags! I thought I lost them in the earthquake! Oh, I hope everything's still intact!"
Oh, that's right! She was painting when I saw her this afternoon! Cye realized as a smile once more tugged at the corners of his mouth, but ultimately didn't succeed in lifting them. Just as she was when I first met her…
While Yui proceeded to try and open both bags, Cye's gaze drifted to the moonlit ocean, and he was somehow transported five years back, to that day when he first met the only girl who'd captivated him.
His high school had been holding their annual art class for both new and returning students. As he was entering his junior year, Cye had figured it was time he got some experience in mentoring new students. But only one had captured his interest – Yui Kikkawa. Though he didn't consider himself an art expert, he'd been amazed at her talent, particularly in watercolors. And while he was technically her senpai, one could say he'd learned as much from her as she did from him, if not more.
By the time the school year officially started a month later, Cye and Yui had hit it off. True, they'd been two grades apart – which some of his schoolmates occasionally joked about in distasteful ways – but the actual age difference between them was only sixteen months. Not that they cared much. They were each other's first sweetheart, and that was all that mattered…until Cye discovered his armor. And so, not knowing what else to do…he broke up with her.
He of course had done it as nicely as possible. Yet looking back, Cye had to wonder if it'd been worth it in order to keep his life as a Ronin Warrior a secret. It seemed a good – if difficult – reason at the time, but now…
"Oh good!" Yui exclaimed in relief, snapping Cye back to the present. "I can't believe everything made it! Even my painting!" Suddenly curious, he turned to find her kneeling on one knee next to her luggage and inspecting the supplies laid out on her right.
"Can I see?" When she lifted her face and silently asked him what he meant, Cye repeated his request. "Your painting. I saw you working on it before the earthquake. May I see?"
Yui first blinked in uncertainty, but she eventually nodded. "S-sure." She then reached into the bag on her left and pulled out a medium-sized glass casing, which she placed directly under the moonlight, allowing Cye to see what was inside. And what he saw was nothing short of breathtaking.
The image he recognized as depicting Kirara Beach and the sea beyond seemed to be made up entirely of countless master strokes. It was as though Yui had used the environment itself for paints, like she'd somehow found a way to acquire its beauty in the simple bristles of her brush, and released it all over the canvas in a way that made it look photorealistic and artistically pleasing at the same time. "Yui…" Cye breathed as his smile returned, this time in sheer awe. "I…I don't know what to say…"
He looked up to gauge her reaction, but was dismayed to see melancholy painted across her face. "I figured you wouldn't," she replied wistfully. "After all, you were off doing…whatever it was you were doing…while I was honing my craft."
Her words hurt quite a bit more than they should have. Then again, though he got where she was coming from, Cye was now getting tired of constantly defending himself against yet another unwanted foe – misunderstanding. "Yui," he spoke hotly, causing her gaze to fly up in surprise. "Do you think I wanted to do what I did? Do you think I wanted to break up with you?"
She opened her mouth as if to argue, but then appeared to think better of it. "Well, in hindsight, maybe not." She paused, allowing her eyes to wander. "But all I could focus on was my own heartache."
Cye frowned in confusion, but his tone turned gentle. "Please, don't take this the wrong way, but…we dated only a month. I was barely sixteen years old."
Again, Yui swiftly faced him, her usually warm gaze now seething with sorrowful anger. "Exactly! And I was only fourteen! I was way too young, and had no idea what I was getting into!"
"Neither did I!" Cye shot back as heatedly as before. "I thought it would be a temporary assignment. But the longer it went on, the more I resented it. Everything I faced, every struggle I went through, every battle I fought whether I wanted to or not…" He took a deep breath to collect himself, then added more imploringly, "It was forced on me, Yui. I didn't choose this!"
At his words, it seemed as though she finally might be open to understanding him…until she shut that door closed. "And yet you're still doing it even now."
Unable to deny it, Cye hung his head in defeat. "Yes…I am," he admitted. "I have made my peace with it. But…" Though rapidly losing his will to fight, there was enough left for him to lift his head back up. "Had I known then what I know now, maybe at the very least…I would've been more thoughtful."
"Then you still would've broken up with me?" she asked coldly, looking and sounding alarmingly like her sister.
Left with only one option – however much he disliked it – Cye made a last ditch effort to appeal to her. "Yui, I'm begging you. If you'd just be willing to listen–"
"I never said I wasn't willing, Cye!" Yui interrupted him jarringly. In fact, it seemed to surprise her as much as Cye. For a moment that felt both long and short, the two simply stared at each other for the second time that night. But this time, the silence was broken by Yui when startled realization flashed in her eyes. "We've been out here way too long. We'll have to pick this up again later." With a sad frown, she directed her gaze to her laid-out supplies and painting. "And I hate to say it but, I'll have to pick these up later too."
At first, Cye was tempted to think she was just warding him off, until he remembered the look she gave him that eerily reminded him of Ikuyo. "You're right," he reluctantly agreed. "I don't want your sister catching on either."
"What?" Yui asked, causing Cye to literally bite his tongue. If nothing else, it gave him an excuse for his speechlessness at how he acted without thinking – again. But even as he scolded himself, he shook his head and pointed at his mouth. "What's wrong?" Yui pressed with underlying concern. "Cat got your tongue?" Deciding to go along with her, Cye made a noise of assent and nodded. At last, Yui seemed to buy it – if just barely. "Oh… Oh I see," she nodded back.
After which, she proceeded to pack up her things in their respective bags before placing them in a discreet spot – in the shadows of cliff, close to where she'd originally found them. "Alright, now that that's taken care of…" She paused to motion her chin toward the trees ahead. "We need to be getting back."
Cye dipped his chin in gratitude, and allowed Yui to lead the way – largely because he wasn't exactly keen on giving her more cause to be suspicious. While he'd never been the best at keeping secrets, Cye was good at heeding warnings. And he didn't want to deepen the divide he'd caused between the Kikkawa sisters by refusing to mind Ikuyo's order to stay away from Yui. Although, considering the mission he'd yet to accomplish, perhaps he'd have to make an exception.
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