Chapter Two- Kawaki

There was only a few things that grounded me these days. One of the main ones being the ocean. Anything that involved it gave me a sense of ease and calm that I couldn't obtain otherwise. Life wasn't always easy, most of the time it was downright hard and I accepted that, but I still needed an escape. Otherwise, I'd go crazy. I wouldn't deny that I got hot tempered, antagonistic even. I was known to be a bastard and most people steered clear of me.

My only friends were older than me and into things that I knew I shouldn't have involved myself in. But I did anyway. Being around them seemed better than being alone, so if they wanted to drink, I drank. If they wanted to smoke—well, I always smoked. I'd already been in trouble a lot, considering I was still so young and had my whole life ahead of me. I probably wasn't going to ever be anything. Have anything. Or even do anything of any importance.

I didn't care either.

Nothing ever went my way, if I had a way. Really, I guessed I didn't. I was just living day by day, feeling as if I was wasting away. This place was still relatively new to me. I'd only been living here for two years now and I didn't go anywhere besides the beach. After a bad fight I got into at my last school, I was expelled and worse, forced to spend an entire year in a juvenile correctional institute. It didn't help to cool the constant anger I felt day in and day out. It didn't change me at all. Because of that though, my aunt who I lived with felt it was too risky to put me back in school.

I didn't blame her and I didn't care anyway. I really didn't want to attend classes everyday and have to be around a bunch of annoying kids. It was almost too easy to see myself getting into another fight. My aunt was gone all of the time though, she was a shit guardian and didn't give a damn about me. All of my school work was done on my own. I wasn't sure why I really bothered with it, but I did my work everyday without needing to be told to and as soon as I finished it, I went out to enjoy the beach.

That was where I'd met my so called friends. Though the only one that I'd truly consider a friend was Iwabe. He wasn't annoying like most people and he knew better than to get on my bad side. He was closer to my age than the rest of the guys, though even he was older than me. It was easier for me to be around older people—they were usually less annoying.

This thought crossed my mind just as I entered the cove after a nice half an hour of surfing. It was getting colder quickly, and I was going to hate when winter came. I grabbed my lantern and carried it deep into the cove to where my usual spot was. I sat down and pulled the small bag I had hidden inside the cove out, grabbing a pre-rolled joint and lighter out of it. It had been a pretty boring day and I was glad Iwabe hadn't come hunting me down. Even though I felt that way, I found myself wondering what happened to my little explorer.

It had been a few days since I'd seen him, the last time being when Iwabe had collected me to join him and the guys for drinks. I didn't know why but I didn't really like leaving him that day and every day since then that I hadn't seen him, I wondered if he was okay.

Why I worried about a boy that I didn't even know was something I just didn't understand, but I couldn't help it. Maybe it was because he was so painfully innocent and oblivious that I had a fear of something happening to him. He was curious and happy-go-lucky for sure. Not my type of person usually. Honestly, he was the type of person I couldn't stand and yet I truly didn't feel that way about him.

As if I'd thought him up, I spotted him walking towards me through the cove and choked on the smoke I'd just inhaled. Coughing violently, I glared harshly at him. It was late—late as hell and he was too cheeky to be wandering around like he did. How could I not worry about someone who was obviously going to end up getting hurt… or worse?

"The hell are you doing here?" I growled, quickly looking away from him to try and concentrate on smoking.

"Looking for you." He answered like it was obvious. "I found something really, really cool. You've got to come see it." He said, excitement clear in his blue eyes.

I sighed, having the feeling he was never going to give up his bad habit of wandering. "Are you kidding me? It's after dark which means you should be home, in bed." I couldn't deny that I was glad to see him, if only to know he was okay but now I was pissed off. He had no business wandering around alone at such an hour.

"You have to come see!" He exclaimed and pulled out a flashlight. "It's worth it, I promise."

This guy… "No way. It's past your bedtime." Now I was going to worry about him getting home and I really just wanted to knock some sense into him. Before he could say anything though, I was on my feet, tossing my joint away and grabbing my surfboard. "I'll walk you home."

"I'm not going until you look." He said stubbornly, crossing his arms. "I've been waiting to show you for days . . ."

Impossible and somehow… strangely cute. I sighed and decided to leave my surfboard in the cove since nobody besides this asshole would wander in here anyway. "Fine but it better be damn good."

"Let's go!" He grinned happily and turned on the flashlight. "Follow me."

Shaking my head, I did as he asked and followed him out of the cove. It was a quiet, chilly night and I couldn't think of anything to talk about as we walked down the beach. I'd never been good at conversation anyway. I wondered what it was that he'd found and in a way, felt a little excitement. Probably because of how excited he seemed about it. He led me through a small opening in a large rock formation and down into another cove. It was really dark aside from the light from his flashlight, the walk through the cove taking a few minutes.

He suddenly stopped and turned towards me. "Okay, this is it." He said and then turned off the flashlight. The ceiling was covered in tiny blue and green glowing lights, this part of the cove bright and mirroring the night sky. "It's like stars."

It really was something and I supposed it probably was pretty thrilling to explore and find new things like this. I stared up for a moment, not really wanting to condone his actions and yet still wanting to praise him for finding something so beautiful.

"It's pretty cool." I admitted quietly, looking back down towards him, finding it hard to make out his features in the dark.

"I know!" He laughed happily. "One of these days I'm going to find a treasure map."

I shook my head at this but couldn't help feeling amused. "You're ridiculous and totally annoying." I laughed lightly. There was something about Boruto that was so easy to be around. It was weird. "You know… I found my hideout by doing my own exploring. In the afternoon of course, like a normal person."

"Hey! I found this in the afternoon . . . I think. I'm pretty sure I did." He said, pausing to think for a moment. "I was really excited when I found it, I don't remember."

He definitely needed somebody to worry about him. "It's cool. I like it." I told him while looking back up at the star-like lights. "Seriously though… you don't need to get home?"

"My dad is out late tonight and my mom is at the lighthouse." He said thoughtfully. "Waiting around would only stress me out. But it's okay, I won't get in trouble."

No. I wouldn't let him. "How late will your mom be at the lighthouse?" I asked, unable to help the concern I felt for this boy.

"Until dad's boat comes in. We'll be able to hear it, the horn." He explained and fiddled with the flashlight. "My mom makes sure the light stays on until he's safe and sound."

No wonder he was so… cute. "Then why don't I walk you home and sit with you until they get in?"

"You . . . you would do that?" He asked, sounding surprised.

Would I? What was wrong with me? But I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't completely serious. "Yes." I answered simply, figuring it was because I wanted him home and safe. I didn't know him. I shouldn't have cared. It wasn't like me. But this was how I felt. "So?"

"Thank you, Kawaki." He said softly and smiled.

My brow twitched and I looked away from him, not liking this uncanny familiarity between us. He cut the flashlight back on and we left the cove together. We weren't too far from his place now and we walked the distance in silence. I was still in my wetsuit because I never brought other clothes with me when I came to the beach. It was chilly but I wasn't necessarily cold. Still the bite of the night wind was annoying even through the thick material of my suit.

Boruto had a nice home. It wasn't huge but it wasn't small either. The two-story house sat on a hill overlooking the ocean. It looked homy even from the outside but it was even nicer on the inside. Boruto welcomed me in warmly, another red flag. I couldn't help feeling disappointed in him. He didn't know me at all. I wasn't a good guy. Not that I'd rob him or even hurt him or anything. But still, he had no reason to trust me or anyone else.

"We can see the lighthouse really well from my room." He said as he started going up the stairs. "And I have a bigger jacket you can borrow."

"Ah no, I just need to dry off." I said, following him, thankful he reminded me. I unzipped my suit and peeled the top half all the way down to my waist. Chills were covering my skin but once I dried off I was sure I would warm up. And even if my skin was cold, I didn't feel terribly cold myself.

We went into his room and he quickly grabbed a towel from his closet. "Here you go." He said as he handed it to me, but my eyes were on the walls covered with animal pictures.

I took the towel but didn't bother drying myself as I looked around at all the pictures, taking in the rest of his room. Boruto was definitely a strange guy but he was also interesting. I wondered if he would always be so serious about exploring. Maybe one day he really would be a professional. I didn't like the way the thought made me feel concern for the future him.

"Look, you need to get a grip." I muttered, unsure if I was talking to him or to myself.

"Uh, on what?" He asked as he plopped down on his mattress.

I dropped my hands to my side, holding the towel in my right hand while wondering what I was even talking about. What was I doing? I don't know this kid. Who am I to care how he lives his life and what he does? Hell, if he gets lost and dies, what's it to me? Shit…

"I forbid you from exploring on your own. Ever again. I mean it."

His eyes widened and he looked at me in confusion. "I'm not so sure that's going to work out."

"Oh yes the hell it is." I scoffed and started dabbing the towel against my skin. "Don't be annoying."

"I don't get it, what's so bad about me exploring on my own?" He asked. "Besides, I don't have anyone to take with me. You can't expect me to stop . . . you can't make me."

I had to take a deep breath to calm myself before I lost it. "You're too young first of all and you're just… you don't think things through. Talking to strangers. Inviting them to your home. Fuck, I could be a murderer." I'd already came close to becoming one. "People are bad, don't you know that?"

He frowned and folded his legs. "I know . . . but not all people are bad. And everyone has some good and bad in them."

"You're too trusting. I don't like it. So stop it." I groaned.

"I don't know if I can do that." He said, making things difficult.

"And if I agree to explore with you?"

He looked at me carefully, trying but failing to hide his interest. "If you explore with me . . . then you want me to stop going off on my own and trusting strangers?"

"Yes. That means no talking to anybody you don't know and you damn sure don't tell them anything about you. Not your age, where you live, your name, none of that shit. Got it?"

"Okay." He agreed after a few seconds. "You have a deal."

Well that was easier than I expected. "I'm serious. If I find out you're exploring on your own then I won't be your friend anymore."

Wait… were we friends now?

His expression lit up and he leaned forward. "No, don't do that! I won't go explore by myself."

It had to be crazy for a guy to be so cute. "Good." I sighed, feeling relief at the sincere look in his blue eyes. "So it's just you and your parents?" I asked, finding myself curious about him.

"Yeah." He said and glanced out the window. "It's just us. Oh, mom is standing out on the balcony."

I looked out as well, noticing the feminine figure that he spoke of. "Do they worry about you a lot?" I wanted to know if I was the only one or not.

"They worry a little less than other parents, I think, because they can trust me." He answered. "Though if I ever stayed out really late mom would get scary."

Maybe there wasn't reason to worry about him like I did. He looked small for his age but he could have been strong anyway. Maybe he really could take care of himself. But as much as I tried to convince myself that that was the truth, I just couldn't accept it. There had to be a reason for me worrying about him. I'd never worried about anyone like this. But then again, I never had a reason to, until it was too late.

I leaned against his wall, lost in my own thoughts for a while. I knew it was late and his parents still weren't home. It was no wonder the guy was wandering off at all hours of the day and night. Maybe he was lonely. I could relate.

"So, is exploring the only thing you do for fun?"

"Yeah, pretty much." He said and looked back at me. "What about you? What do you do for fun?"

I shrugged. "Swim. Surf. Normal shit."

"You're really good at that, surfing." He said and made a wave motion with his hand.

"Maybe you should try it. It's fun, you know." I suggested with a small smile. "We could do it together."

"You mean it?" He asked excitedly.

He really was like a little kid but for some reason… I liked it. "Yeah. I mean it." I said, mentally chiding myself. What did I mean? Was I losing my mind? Probably.

"Cool!" He beamed and hugged one of his pillows. "I'll probably fall a lot, but I'll give it my best."

"Damn right you will." I snorted. "We'll start tomorrow. I have an extra board. I assume you go to school during the week."

He nodded. "Don't you? There's no way you graduated already, right? How old are you anyway?"

"Where do you go?" I asked to change the subject off of me quickly.

"Hikaru academy." He said just before a loud horn sounded in the distance. "Oh, that's dad."

"Good." I said, tossing the towel at him and putting the top half of my suit back in place, zipping it up quickly. "I'll get going then."

Boruto got up and threw the towel in a bin. "Alright, I'll walk you out." He said and led the way back downstairs.

We walked outside together and I stopped to look back at him. "See you tomorrow." I said quietly instead of asking because I knew he'd come.

"See you tomorrow." He grinned and then added, "And . . . thanks again."

"Yeah." I turned away then, wanting to hide my smile.

Since I had a long walk home I decided to jog the distance. It was late now, even for me and I figured my aunt had probably gotten home and already passed out. She didn't nag me about what I did or where I went. To be honest, I wasn't sure if she really even cared. I didn't need her to care because I could take care of myself anyway. I really hated being home, if it could even be considered that. It was boring as hell and I stayed away, on the beach, as much as I could.

I had something new to look forward to. Surfing with Boruto tomorrow and making sure he didn't get into any trouble. I didn't know why, but I felt that the two of us would be able to be friends. I knew he was someone I could trust for the most part, but I didn't want him knowing too much about me at the same time. His innocence was something I didn't want to take from him. He didn't even know what weed was for crying out loud. He was living his life at his age how he should have been.

There was a small part of me that wished I could be like him. Completely oblivious. But it was too late for me. I'd already experienced first hand just how harsh life really was. I'd felt real pain, loss. I resented a lot of things. A lot of people. I was angry and that would probably never change. But I respected Boruto for being able to enjoy life without all those complications and I hoped from the bottom of my heart that it would always be like that for him.