Chapter 5: Spikes and Saves

"I can't believe we've beat them all so far." Kenji took a towel from the benches and put it around his neck, rubbing off sweat. "You really get competitive don't you?"

"I can't help it. It's kind of my nature." Ayano said, and shrugged.

"No, no it's a good thing. I mean it makes up for the fact that you don't have training in beach volleyball. It kind of intimidates the other team, even if you missed the odd time." Kenji smiled. "That was a compliment, I swear."

"Don't worry about it! So what pair are we going against in the finals?" Ayano stretched. It was hot. The heat of the noon sun hadn't simmered now that it was 2 o'clock.

"You'll never guess." Kenji looked over to the other court.

There, Kazuma and Nanase had just won their game too, after Nanase spiked the ball hard into the sand spitting the granules in the air.

"Of course." Ayano sighed. What was she to do? Kenji wanted to win, and she did too, but to go against Nanase? What if Nanase lost? It meant more to Nanase then her? Or did it? Kazuma…she didn't know how much he cared to win. It was probably his competitive nature as well…or maybe he just wanted to help Nanase like she was helping Kenji. Then something occurred to her.

"You're not going to throw the game because of Nanase…would you?" She asked.

"Me? No…well I don't want her to hate me if we did win by taking the title from her…" Kenji looked slightly apprehensive.

Ayano thought for a minute. No, Nanase would want a fair game. "Don't. I think she'd respect you more if you won fair and square rather than just give in."

"You're probably right." He nodded. "Thanks for the talk."

"So, it looks like you guys made it too!" Nanase walked over to their court.

"I can't believe we have to compete against each other." Ayano said.

"Ah, don't worry, Nanase will probably spike a few more for us and It will be an easy win." Kazuma said.

"Actually you should see Kenji play! He's just as good as Nanase and taller!" Ayano said, competing with Kazuma's words.

"Fair enough. Will make for an interesting win." He said, not digging into any more competitive words.

"So do you play Volleyball at your university?" Nanase asked Kenji.

"Yea, that and soccer. Plus whatever else I can fit in my schedule." He admitted.

"Well good luck!" Nanase smiled grabbing a water and heading onto her side of the net, Kazuma following.

"Did you need a towel or a water Ayano?" Kenji asked.

"No, I think I'm okay." She said and took a deep breath. The heat never bugged her much. It was just…now she was competing against her friends. She was going to do all she could to win, but she wasn't sure how she'd amount against Nanase, or Kazuma.

They started and easily Nanase managed to get a spike.

Not long after Kenji won twice for them.

Nanase managed to tie them once more.

Kazuma got the next one.

Ayano stopped some of their shots, but couldn't seem to win them any points. But it wasn't until their second last serve that she started to get worried.

They were tied. Whoever got this one had a one up on the final play.

She started to feel the pressure. She wanted to make sure not to let Kenji down. He'd been doing most of the work, and it seemed if he got too tired they'd really loose.

She watched as he hit the volleyball over the net. Nanase was already close to the net, and she watched as she prepared to pull another spike on the ball.

Ayano made the quick decision then to dive for it to make sure they wouldn't loose.

She felt the sand beneath her feet slip up behind her as she felt her hands come in contact with the ball pushing it upwards.

She felt her self twist in a strange angle, and her mouth let out a small grunt, as it sent her towards the corner and edge of the net.

"Ayano!"

She heard a voice call out, but didn't have the time to look to see whose, when she found herself skidding roughly on the sand as her head came into contact with something hard.

"Ayano… Ayano… - Ayano?"

She blinked a few minutes and found herself lying in a bed in a rather white walled room. She could hear the beach through a window.

A first aid station? She went to sit up but felt the pressure of her head made sink her back down to her pillow.

She looked to see where the voice had come from. It was Kazuma who was sitting on another smaller bed beside her.

"You awake?"

"What happened?" She asked.

"You dove for that ball, and honestly, you went down at a strange angle. I didn't think a spike like that could make it back over the net but-"

"Wait so I got it?!"

"Well yes, but honestly nobody was really worried about the save. It was more about that fall." He said with a release of air in his words, and a raised brow. "What were you thinking?"

"I didn't want to make Kenji do all the work and- wait, what happened to your hand?" She asked realizing he wasn't just here because of her. His hand was bandaged, and she could see a faint bruising leaking onto his skin where the bandage didn't cover.

"I tried to stop your head from hitting the metal pole. Luckily you hit the ground mostly and my hand got the brunt of the volleyball net."

She looked at him blankly. "But then who is playing in the tournament?"

"I asked the ref to let Kenji and Nanase play against our last competitors, since we had ended up being basically tied. Otherwise there really wouldn't be a winner anyway. I convinced him pretty easily, considering there would have been such an angry crowd should they cancel it." He shrugged.

"Well then we need to cheer them on! I mean all I did was ruin their chance…I only wanted to make at least one point but-" She went to go get up when suddenly, Kazuma took her wrist and stopped her from getting up.

"You just basically had a concussion and you think you're going to run back out into the heat again? They'll be fine. It's already been at least twenty minutes since the game started. Don't be stupid Ayano." He looked at her skeptically.

She sighed. "Your right but-" She tried to pry his hand off her wrist. Instead he pinned her other one down with his free hand. She noticed his cringe in his face, using his injured hand to hold hers down.

"Don't. I'll stop." She sunk her shoulders back to the pillows and drew her hands back to her.

"Good." He twisted his injured hand's wrist in his other hand, as if massaging it. "So, why did you act like that the other night?" He leaned back putting his feet up on the edge of her bed. "I mean if you don't want me to kiss you… I can stop if I must." He looked out of the corner of his eye.

"No, that wasn't it…I just-"

"Hey are you guys okay?"

They turned to see Trista coming through the First Aid door.

"Yea, we're fine now." Kazuma nodded. Ayano looked to him, and bit her lip. She hadn't had a chance to say anything…and he thought it was because she didn't actually…I mean she did…but-

"Ayano are you okay?" Trista asked.

"Yea, I think so."

"Kenta went down to watch the end of the tournament we just got here. When we found Yukari she said you got hurt, and she wanted to leave but she couldn't get out of the crowds. Apparently you two left a bit of chaos with the game switch up. So, I came instead." Trista looked worried.

"Don't worry about me. I just hit my head a little…a bit of sand brush on my arm…but I'm fine." Ayano gave a reassuring smile.

"What happened?"

"She went down for one of Nanase's spikes and actually managed to save it, however her landing wasn't so graceful." Kazuma admitted.

"And you look like you took some of the brunt of it. Now I understand." Trista gave Kazuma a knowing smile, looking from his hand to his shaded face.

"So did you find the owner of the pearl necklace?" Ayano asked.

"We actually did…it took a long time of going through a registry, but one of the librarians said she knew a man who was still local and survived the wreck. This elderly man was the same man who lost the pearls and his wife when a local cruise ship was bombed down during the war. He's lived here ever since, since her body remains in with the ocean. Having the pearl necklace gave him some closure. If there was something spiritual about it, I really think they can both rest now. It seemed like the pearls were a way for them to be together once more." Trista said. "Do you guys see that a lot?"

"No, unfortunately we spend more time dealing with spirits that are angry, youmas that feed off of humans, or some really bad demons. But, when it's over and done, it's often the same feeling as you have now." Kazuma said.

"The stuff you guys do, it's probably pretty amazing then. You know, someone once called Kenta and I heroes. I find it's the people who believe that the environment, not just on land, is extremely important and wondrous. But I don't think we're heroes. We're just trying to make up for the mistakes others have made. Mistakes we've made, that's injured this world one way or another, and learn about it. You guys, now you guys are people I would call heroes." Trista leaned against a cabinet. "On the other hand, I also came here to tell you that Kenta is bringing his cart down from the house, so neither one of you have to trek up the hill to his place."

"Are you sure? I could probably-" Kazuma started.

"Don't worry about it. You can thank Kenta some other time. On that note, I'm going to return to them and let them know you guys are okay now." Trista smiled to them before leaving.

"I really hope Kenta and Trista end up together." Ayano said.

"You really think so?"

"Yea, she seems to be a really nice person."

"Yea they both kind of seem like they deserve each other."

"What do you mean?" Ayano asked, suddenly off put by Kazuma's approval.

He shrugged. "He helped me out once. I know Kenta is a good person. Like you said, she seems the same way; they kind of work together. Plus they seem to help each other out on their job too…kind of dependent on each other, I guess."

She nodded.

"Getting pretty silent on me Ayano." He said with a raised brow.

"I didn't mean to…" She said sighing.

" Don't worry about it." He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was sleeping or just resting. He was probably tired all the same, as she was.

Ayano groaned and sunk into her pillow. She felt her eyes flutter.

Maybe she could sleep everything off for a bit longer…