Ocean of Fire

Chapter 7

Aerith awoke as the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. She blinked a few times before sitting up in her bed, her blanket falling down to her lap. She rubbed her eyes and looked around her vacant room. Her mind was in a daze. Her eyes fell on her wrist only to see the flower bracelet still around her. Then she remembered last night.

Demyx had kissed her.

To be fair she had kissed him first but on the cheek. It was meant to be friendly, a thank you. After the brush in with several intoxicated men, one of them had pushed Demyx off the pier and into the water. Thankfully, the high tide came in and caused a wave to hit the men off their feet. When Demyx got back out of the water he took Aerith away to safety. He never let go of her hand until he was at her door. She felt safe with his hand over hers, the warmth in it made her at ease. Then she planted a kiss on his cheek.

Yet, the look in Demyx's eyes were different. He took her in his arms and confessed feelings for her. He liked being with her all the time, liked her smile. Aerith was too stunned to move and when his lips descended onto hers, she could not move. She did not want to. She fell into his kiss, being drawn into him. She could feel the cold water soaking his clothes against hers but the heat of his kiss sent her ablaze. His fingers caressed her, held her in a gentle manner. Aerith's heart was beating so loudly she was sure Demyx would hear. How long had the kissed she was unsure of but when the broke she could see his green eyes wander over hers in the shadow as the moon overhead illuminated her.

Aerith shivered. The kiss was not something she was expecting. Demyx was her childhood friend and she was just reconnecting with him. They spent so much time together but to kiss so intimately it unnerved her. She admitted that Demyx made her feel better about her terrible situation. She wondered though was she using him now? It made her feel guilty. Why did feelings have to be so complicated?

Aerith got up out of bed. She stripped from her pajamas and changed into a swimsuit. She haphazardly did her hair into a braid before slathering herself with lotion to protect her skin for when the sun reached high. She walked down to the beach with her towel in hand and found it deserted. She expected Demyx to be here but perhaps he was passed out from work. Maybe he was still at work. Even if he was here, what would she say to him. The words they parted on last night were simple good nights. After such a intense kiss, what could she say?

It left her breathless.

Aerith dropped her towel on the sand and stepped toward the water, the sun now higher than the horizon. She was soon knee deep in water. The morning water was cool and refreshing. The water reminded her of Demyx being dripping wet, drops of water fell on her face when he kissed her. Aerith's body trembled. She dove in, hoping the water would cool of the burning inside her. Under water she swam around but it did not soothe the feelings inside her. How could she feel such a way for her friend? What did she feel for him exactly? It confused her.

Aerith shot out of the water, taking in a gasp of air as she flipped her hair back behind her. Water sprinkled down on her. For a second she stood in the water, in a shallower spot where she could feel sand. She then leaned back, laying back into the water to swim as she looked at the vast blue sky. She hoped she could sort out her feelings before she would see Demyx again.

Aerith finished her morning swim and decided to head out to the plaza for some shopping. She did not need food but she really wanted to go and find some souvenirs. Aerith browsed through shops, finding some unique gifts she would take home with her. However, the most special gift she would take with her would be the bracelet Demyx had given her. She smiled thinking about it. Right now it was pressed between the pages of a book she brought with her, for the rainy days. It would dry up and she would keep it forever, a memento.

With two bags full of unique goodies, Aries was about to head back to her cabin when a flier hanging from a wooden post caught her eye. It was colorful, covered in different flowers with bold lettering. Aerith stepped in front of it to better read the flier. As her eyes scanned it over, excitement filled her. It was for the local Botanical Garden. They were having a expo on rhododendron flowers. Aerith felt excitement. She loved flowers and gardening. She wanted to go see the expo and best of all it was free to the public. She wondered if Demyx would want to go with her. She would have to ask him.

She wondered if she would see him today or would he be too busy for work. She thought about it as she walked back to her cabin.

While not too far away, Demyx yawned as he opened the door to his cabin. Work felt long for him today. It dragged on and on until finally he was grateful to get off. It was partially his fault though. He did not sleep much the prior night. He had been up all night thinking about one thing.

He had kissed his friend.

Not a friendly peck either. It was something he had no intention of doing. He just did it. He kissed her and it was hot, fiery, and passionate. He had no idea what came over him. He was angry at first that those drunk men were being terrible towards her. He was glad when they were rightfully taken care of. He was scared she was going to get hurt. Yet, in the quiet moonlight by her cabin he felt something come over him.

Aerith was his friend, if not one of his best friends. Yet, he kissed her and he enjoyed every moment of it. Even more so when she kissed him back, making the kiss much more electric. When the kiss broke, he could see the dazed look in her eyes. He said goodbye to her and she managed to squeak her own good bye as he walked off. He walked with a spring in his step and arrived at his own cabin feeling excited. It caused him to be unable to sleep. He just kept thinking about her wishing for just another moment to kiss her again.

However, thinking of such things also brought worry to him. What if he had gone too far for kissing her? Aerith never said she considered him more than a friend. What if this crossed the line? He did not want her to be angry with him.

Demyx groaned and pulled out his cell phone from his pocket. He placed it on the table and began to undress from his work clothes. In his underwear he collapsed on his bed feeling incredibly tired. Sleep sounded so good right now. He drifted off, hugging his pillow to him. He fell into a deep sleep.

Then he dreamed.

A beautiful ocean was before him. The setting sun dazzled the sky with brilliant hues of orange and red. The ocean reflected the colors, causing a glorious display. The breeze was calm and the sound of ocean made him relax. Demyx scanned the area to take in the view. Then he spotted her, silhouetted by the sun. She moved across the soft sand, her bare feet being splashed by the water rolling in. Demyx felt his heart beat wildly.

He wanted to call out to her but his own voice was caught in his throat. Maybe it was nerves. He took a step and found his feet hitting the sand made him lose his balance. He was clumsy at times, but this was just plain silly of him. She was waking away. He managed to call out her name this time.

"Aerith!" but she did not hear him.

He frowned and got up and moved across the sand at a snails pace. He could not get better footing. He was slipping every which way. Demyx watched as she walked further away. A pain went through his heart, as if someone stuck a needle into it. Demyx struggled and somehow managed to chase after her. When he neared her, he called out her name. She turned around and looked at him with the same warm smile she always had. Then the the waves crashed over her, swallowing her in its grasp. Demyx screamed out and dove into the water after her. He swam after her as she unconsciously sank to the depths.

Demyx stretched out his hand his mind focused and her decent stopped. He sighed with relief as she was slowly coming towards him. The moment of alleviation was short-lived as bursting from beneath them were wires. They rose towards her and sank into her skin, wrapped around her limbs and violently dragged her down. Demyx looked horrified. He tried to swim after her when he found wires snaking themselves around him, choking him. The water around him was gone and he was now on an examination table. A horrible voice called out to him.

"No matter what, this will hurt."

The sound of a lever being pulled echoed and Demyx was jolted violently as if electrocuted. He opened his mouth and screamed in agony.

Phantom pains surged through him forcing Demyx from his sleep. Sweat dripped down his back and forehead. He looked at his arms and began rubbing them, searching for the wires with the attempt to pull them off. There was nothing there. Demyx's body involuntarily trembled. He got up out of his bed and ran to his bathroom. He turned on the water and just stuck his hands under it. He let the cool rushing water flow over his skin. He waited and waited. The blonde-haired man closed his eyes feeling the water slip between his fingers, sending a calm sensation through him. Everything was okay.

The dream terrified him though. He felt claustrophobic in his cabin now and needed to get out. He needed to get closer to the water. He instantly switched into his swimming trunks before sprinting down to the beach. He stopped at the edge, his hands were still shaking. He was rubbing spots on his arm where in his dream he had been stabbed with the wiring. The few people on the beach paid him no mind nor did they notice his slightly erratic behavior. Demyx plunged himself into the water and swam a good distance. Only when he was chest-level in the water did he start feeling better.

The water surged around him. The ebb and flow of the waves washed away the uneasy sensation. He was okay. He felt safe. He was safe.

After a while, he came out of the ocean and sat just above where the shore and water met. He sat there watching the waves roll in. One by one the other people on the beach left as the bars and clubs around the resort would be opening. The night life was always popular among the young tourists. Demyx used to go to them but got bored of them quickly. He drank a lot but eventually found getting intoxicated was pointless. He only did it for the experience. The music in the clubs were not interesting to him. They felt synthetic. Not natural and pure like the musicians who played around the resort or in the intimate coffeehouses.

Demyx did not like large crowds of people in clubs. It was incredibly claustrophobic and having people bumping and pushing into him was annoying. He found it easier to have more fun his own way. He was more interested in the local music and having his own adventures. He loved swimming and surfing. He had a lot of fun doing different things, things he never got to do. That was until he met Aerith again.

When he met up with her again, it felt almost normal. It felt right being with her again. She brought a sense of peace with her. Her smile could vanquish an anxiety he held within. How could a childhood friend do so much for him? Perhaps he wanted to hold on to some of the happier memories of his life. His eyes squinted as a breeze past through him, tugging at his locks.

Back at Aerith's cabin, the brunette was slowly changing into a swimsuit. She had seen Demyx sprinting to the water. She hoped he was hurrying to see her, waiting impatiently for her to make her appearance. Yet, the anticipation of seeing him was making her nervous. She would have to confront him, talk about their kiss. It scared her. What if he did not like it? What if it was just the heat of the moment and it meant nothing to him? Aerith was sure it was not just nothing to her. Just the thought of it brought a shiver down her spine, her pulse quickened, and her heart was thumping hard against her chest.

She walked down to the beach, slower than usual. Her nerves were starting to get the better of her but she somehow found courage deep down to keep going. She came up behind him and took a breath, finding a sweet tone to use.

"How long have you been sitting out here?" asked the voice of his friend.

Demyx screwed up his face and turned to look at her smiling. "Not sure."

She sat next to him, tucking her legs under her. She smiled as she looked out towards the slowly setting sun.

"Beautiful day, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, it is." he admitted.

He breathed. There was a silence between them. Demyx felt too lost in his thoughts to actually strike up a conversation.

"Demyx," Aerith said.

"Hmm?" came his response.

"Last night..." she sounded unsure. "When you... we kissed."

Demyx snapped back to reality. He had been so preoccupied that he actually forgot about the kiss. He looked at her and noticed she was nervously looking at her hands.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I... Demyx... I..." she could not make a sentence.

Demyx reached over and took her hand. He got up and brought her along with him.

"You know, when I'm nervous I go by the water. It makes me feel relaxed." He said.

He stepped into the water with her in tow. They were knee deep in water when he stopped to look at her.

"So what did you want to say." he asked gently.

"I don't really know." she admitted. "It's just... I'm so confused."

"About what?"

"About us. Demyx, I don't know what is going on with us but it scares me."

Demyx frowned. "I scare you?"

Aerith shook her head. "No not you. This thing between us is. I've been thinking about it and I am so confused."

He walked away going into deeper water. He had been so absorbed with his own issues that he now made Aerith worry of something such as kiss. It tore him up. He did not want to hurt her ever.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "To be honest. I like being with you. I don't get it either. Is this how friends are supposed to act?"

"I don't know." she answered. "But I know I like being with you too."

Aerith moved closer to him. She placed her hand in his and then found herself being pushed toward him by the water. She felt a heat between them, something deep within that was burning for release. Her emerald eyes shyly looked up at him and her face tinged with a rose color.

Demyx looked at her as they stood in the water with nothing but the setting sun around them. He took her head in his hands and stared into the beautiful green orbs that were her eyes. He stopped breathing for a moment, taking her in and just how beautiful she was. The water lapped around them pushing their sun silhouetted bodies closer. He kissed her. Her petal soft lips accepted him. Her arms lifted and her hands fell to his bare chest as she lifted her the heels of her feet. She pushed into the kiss and Demyx took it as an invitation and he kissed her deeply. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled to him, their bodies touching.

How long the kiss lasted, the two were not aware of. When they broke apart the two were breathing harder than they thought they would be. The look in Demyx's eyes were intense a stark contrast to the goofy kid she had known. He was not a kid anymore. They kissed again but a wave hit them knocking them apart. Aerith wiped the water from her eyes but before she could open them she felt him holding her. She looked up and he did not wait. He kissed her again, hungry for it. Their kisses becoming more ravenous with each minor pause until they parted to catch their breaths yet again.

They looked at each other, their hands reaching to touch the sides of the others face. They looked as if they wanted to kiss again but their panted breaths stopped them. Their hearts equally beating rapidly within their chests. Demyx spoke first though, breaking through the sound of waves.

"What am I doing?" he asked. "I've never done this before."

Aerith felt confused. "Kissed?"

"No, this," he feebly explained.

"What do you mean." she asked, her toes digging into the sand she was standing on. Her nerves were getting to her. Did he find kissing his friend weird?

"Kissing you is amazing." he admitted. "I don't understand why. Why am I getting like this with you. I shouldn't be, right?"

He looked into her eyes, expecting her to know the answer. In truth, Aerith was just as confused as he was. She already felt like she was using him and now he was just as lost as her in feelings. The only thing she knew was, she felt the same. It was amazing.

"It does feel amazing." she whispered. "It scares me though. I... Demyx I don't want to hurt you or..."

She trailed off feeling her nerves getting the better of her. She wanted to look down but he took her chin so she could not.

"You could never hurt me." he said.

"Demyx... I broke up with my ex. It ended badly. What if I am using you to get over the hurt?" her voice panicked.

He smiled at her. "You're not."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked.

"I don't." he admitted. "I just know that you're the most amazing girl I've ever known. Back then and now. I love you."

Aerith's eyes widened. "What?"

"I can't explain it." he said with a nervous laugh. "What else is it? The way I react, the way my heart is beating like its going to explode it isn't normal."

Aerith felt her pulse race. Then she smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him suddenly that the two fell into the water. Aerith laughed as they floated there together as the water caressed them and they kissed. The waves pushed them to shore and they laughed as they laid in the wet sand as the water crashed on them.

"We're crazy." Aerith said looking at Demyx.

"Yeah we are," he agreed, brushing stray hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

The two gave each other a sweet peck on the lips. They laughed like love-struck teenagers, having their first kiss. It was indeed strange how such a bond between them formed. They assumed they just wanted reconnect with one another, reminisce about childhood times. Instead, they were falling in love. It was unusual. Yet, to the two it felt right. With each embrace and kiss, they felt the tug of their hearts pulling them closer as if an invisible string was tied to them. After their lengthy kissing session in the sand, the two picked themselves up and walked hand in hand together to Aerith's cabin.

Demyx was prepared to leave her at the door but she would not let go of his hand. She peered up into his bright eyes but did not speak a word to him. Demyx looked into her eyes, eyes he could easily get lost in. Her eyes told him everything. A gentle smile spread across his face. He turned his body back towards her. Aerith opened the door to her cabin and led him inside. He pushed the door closed behind him before he gathered the girl up in his arms. Aerith wrapped her arms around him, feeling shy and yet, sure of herself at the same time.

Demyx carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed before he himself joined her. He looked down at her, examining her thoughtfully. He would not ask her if this was what she wanted. She would tell him. He needed to be sure that this was not something she would regret. If it was not right, he would accept it and be on his way. He would say goodnight and meet her again at their spot the next day. He waited. Aerith breathed and took his hand, lacing her fingers with his. A small blush appeared on her face as she looked into those eyes, the eyes that showed such kindness and love for her.

Demyx leaned down and kissed her. Aerith kissed him back. That night the cabin would echo with soft moans and heavy breathing. Yet, it would hold love. A bizarre romance that neither of them would have expected.