THE CAVE: CONTINUUM
Part Eleven – Breathe Into Me
"Hmm, it sure smells good, Kanda." Allen sniffs the steam coming off the frying pan. Kanda turns his eyes away from the fish for a second when Allen tries to sneak a piece getting his hand swatted by the spatula.
"Don't touch!" Kanda says, with a smirk forming as his lips curl up to one side of his mouth. "It'll be ready soon."
Allen's mouth is watering while he watches Kanda cut the fish in half then scrapes it out of the frying pan onto their plates. Kanda hands the plate to Allen and it doesn't take long for him to consume all of it.
Wiping his mouth on the back of his coat, Allen exclaims, "Wow, that fish was delicious! I didn't know you could cook Kanda." He shows his satisfaction to his husband by the smile on his face.
"I can't, I just got lucky and didn't burn it," Kanda says, putting the fire out before anyone can see it.
"Its dusk and the moon will be full tonight. If you want, we could continue on our way taking advantage of the full moon for lighting," Kanda suggests to Allen.
"Could we rest for awhile, and then leave in a few hours?" Allen asks, sleepy after eating that delicious fish.
"Sure, but we need to clean these dishes, so let's take them down to the water and rinse them off," Kanda says, trying to get Allen to move.
"All right, let's go. Maybe we could walk on the beach to help digest our meal before retiring for the night," he says, now ready.
Allen helps gather the dirty dishes and they walk down to the shoreline. Removing their boots, they squat down at the water's edge to clean the dishes, and then bring the dishes back up onto the sandy beach to leave them while they went for a walk.
Together they look up at the bright, silvery moon rising on the black, velvety backdrop of the sky. It gives everything around them a bluish tint – it's beautiful. Looking at each other, Allen extends his hand to Kanda and they begin to walk along the beach.
They hear the sound of the ocean as it crashes against the rocks, sending the spray shooting up high then comes splashing down on the rocks. The rhythm of the waves gently rolling onto the shore is like an accompaniment to the louder thunderous sounds of water. These pleasant, combine sounds is like a symphony, giving a soothing feeling to the young lovers'.
Stopping, they look out over the ocean. The moon is shining, shimmering across the water on the swells of waves that turn into white foamy caps as it curls under close to shoreline before breaking, then flows up the sandy beach until it can go no further, ebbing back from whence it came – the ocean – its magnificent power and beauty.
"How about a swim, Bean Sprout," Kanda asks his partner. He gets his answer when Allen hands slide up his chest and begins unbuttoning his shirt, slipping it off his shoulders. Kanda returns the favor by helping Allen remove his clothing.
Holding hands they walk naked down to the water and wade in up to Allen's waist. The water is cool against their bodies, and Kanda pulls his lover into a warm embrace, lowering his head he gives Allen a deep kiss, rubbing their bodies together. Allen returns the kiss just as eagerly.
Pulling apart, they look at each other, the moon reflecting off their skin, illuminating them. 'What a beautiful body he has,' Allen's thinking. He begins to perk up, feeling playful at the moment, and splashes Kanda with water getting some in his face.
"Two can play this game," Kanda sneers, and splashes water at Allen hitting him in the face.
"Okay Kanda," Allen laughs, turning around backward.
Cupping his hands, he splashes water as fast and hard as he can back at Kanda. Kanda splashes back just as fast and hard as he follows the laughing Allen, shouting remarks back and forth to each other, having fun.
"You're going to regret this Bean Sprout," Kanda shouts at him.
"I don't think so Kanda, it may be the other way around—"Kanda catches Allen and dunks him into the water.
Sputtering and spitting out water as he surfaces, Allen quickly jumps on Kanda knocking him over pushing him under the water. Kanda regains his footing and grabs a squealing Allen by the waist, lifting him up out of the water, throwing him in the air backwards. His body smacks the water hard coming down on his back.
"You know Bean Sprout this is starting to feel like we've done this before," Kanda shouts over to Allen, who's trying to regain his balance.
Suddenly, Allen doesn't feel the sand under his feet and goes under again. Water fills his nose giving him a burning sensation in
his nostrils, and the water slides down the back of his throat, threatening to make him cough.
Underwater, he paddles his feet searching for the sand beneath him. Something strong is dragging him backwards and down keeping him from surfacing.
"Okay, Bean Sprout, you can stop the act and get over here," Kanda teases, laughing, but Allen's not surfacing – something is wrong.
"Shit! Did he get caught in a current or undertow?" Kanda panics and dives under to find his lover.
Allen is fighting the current with all his strength – he has to get back to Kanda. He's not sure if he is staying in one place with his attempts at swimming, or if the current is dragging him further out to sea. Struggling, he cannot hold his breath for much longer – he screams inside his mind for Kanda.
Darkness starts to surround him; his chest tightens, and feels like something is crushing it. His strength is draining away. 'I'm going to die,' Allen thinks as he begins to feel light-headed, too tired to swim anymore, and feels himself floating in the darkness, his eyes close.
Suddenly, something strong wraps around his arm and tugs him up to the surface. He has the sensation of being pulled along, lifted, then lain onto a solid surface.
Somehow he knows this is his body, but it feels more like it is happening to someone else. That is until something solid starts pounding on his back, and strong arms hold him in place.
Inundate liquid rushes up and spews out of his mouth, but he still cannot get air into his lungs, he feels like he is suffocating – darkness swallows him once again.
Air is blowing into his lungs then this powerful pressure comes down on his chest. It has a rhythm to it that coaxes air into his lungs, and then another powerful pressure crushes down, hurting his chest.
Finally, air, he gasps for it and hangs onto it with irregular breathing until he coughs and spews out more water. He can breathe easier now, though his throat feels raw. He opens his eyes to see his beloved above him – concern and panic written on his face.
"Fuck! Bean Sprout!" Kanda says with a sharp edge to his voice, and strong arms wrap and cradle him, rocking back and forth. Kanda's bare skin is warm against his own, and inhales the familiar scent of his lover. He did not die.
"Kanda," Allen's weak voice says, "you saved me."
"Yes, you little brat, I thought I was going to lose you. Damnit Bean Sprout, no more water for us!" Kanda's says, agitated, his voice straining as he continues holding his lover in his arms, his heart rapidly beating.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was out that far. Everything happened so fast," Allen whispers, to his beloved.
"It's not your fault, it's mine! I threw you out too far. Damn those feelings of losing you—," Kanda chokes on his words, remembering the crushing feeling in his chest, unable to breath.
"Do you think you can stand?" Kanda asks, wanting to get him back to camp to lie down.
"Yes," Allen replies, attempting to stand up with Kanda's help.
"We need to wash the sand off us before we get dressed," Kanda says, beginning to steer Allen towards the water.
"I don't want to get dressed. I want to feel your body against mine," Allen says, desperately, wanting only to be in his lover's warm arms, feeling safe.
"Okay, can you walk at least?" Kanda asks. "Yes," he replies.
Kanda helps his husband to stand and they pick up their clothing and boots. Allen holds Kanda's boots so he can put his arm around his waist and help him back. When they arrive back at camp, Kanda brushes off the dried sand from Allen's body before assisting him in lying down on the blankets – covering him.
Taking their clothing, Kanda spreads them out to dry on the small boulders surrounding them. Timcanpy had stayed at camp and is now fluttering around crazy, sensing something bad had happened to Allen, before he finally realizes he is all right and settles down close to him.
Kanda brushes off the dried sand from his body before lying down next to Allen and pulls the blankets over them. Allen smuggles into Kanda's warm embrace feeling his strong arms tightly around him – he feels safe again.
Allen didn't know why, but tears start flowing down his cheeks for no apparent reason. He didn't seem to have control over them, and they keep coming, until he is sobbing in Kanda's arms. Kanda places his hand on the back of his head, comforting him, squeezing him closer, afraid to let him go.
"It's all right Allen … let it all out. I'll be right here by your side, holding you," Kanda whispers, placing quick kisses on Allen's head, fighting back his own tears and fears, but holding Allen takes the edge off, knowing he is alive and here beside him.
To be continued …
A/N: Happy 4th of July! Thank you everyone who has been following my story – I love you all! Enjoy!