Rukawa is enjoying the gentle breeze of the wind as he cycled along the coastline. His stare is straight ahead as he enjoy the music coming from his playlist.
He cycled for a few more kilometers and decided to take a break when he arrived at the dock area of the place. He surveyed his surrounding and his brows furrowed when he realized that he is not familiar with this place. He looked at the other side of the road and found rows of shops lined along the side of the street. His eyes widened a bit when he he saw one of the sign of the shops.
"Ryonan." He muttered and looked at the sea on his left one more. Rukawa slowly got down from his bike and walked. He was wheeling the bike with both his hands and parked it along the wall not far away from the steps that directly leads to the beach.
He doesn't know what got into him, but he decided to forgone his original plan today and instead decided to walk along the sea shore. Not many people are present at this time so the area is somehow peaceful, save for the sound of the water and the wind. The sun is high above him but Rukawa doesn't mind the heat.
The raven haired boy rather felt relaxed when he is in the presence of the sea. He felt like there's a deep connection between him and the sea, like there's a secret that only they know. After walking a few steps, a lone figure not far away from him caught his attention. He unconsciously walked towards that direction and saw a man sitting on the edge of the dock with a fishing rod on his hand.
Rukawa doesn't why, but he felt like there's a force pulling him towards the said man. And before he knows it, he's climbing the steps and stopped few steps away from him. Now that he's near him, he finally realized who the man is. With his upturned hair,pointed nose, defined jaw and semi-plumped lips, Rukawa wouldn't mistake him for anyone else. Because this man left a big impression on him the first time they met.
"I'm Sendoh by the way. Akira Sendoh."
The man must've felt his presence because he turned his head towards his direction and that's when their eyes met. His cobalt blues that's the same color as the deepest part of the ocean against his cerulean blue that imitates the color of the sky. They had a staring contest for a while before the other waved and smiled at him.
Seeing his smile, Rukawa suddenly remembered this dream he had the night he turned fifteen years old. He was staring at his cobalt blues and his surrounding suddenly changed.
Rukawa was walking around the estate of the Sendoh family alone because he doesn't want to be in the same room with the elders. He doesn't even want to be here today, but as the sole heir of their family, he had no choice. The responsibility fell on him. He sneaked out of the room, and before the attendants can stop him, he gave them a cold stare that made them back out and let him go.
He wandered around the vast place and found himself walking along a path surrounded by wisteria trees with different colors. Spring has arrived that made the place more beautiful. He was admiring the place when something in the corner caught his attention. It was a boy, probably around his age sitting below a purple wisteria tree not far away from where he is standing.
Cusiousity got the best of him so he started walking towards him. The boy was leaning against the trunk of the tree, one hand stretched out. Rukawa took a step closer, and saw that a white butterfly was resting on the center of his palm. The boy was studying the butterfly on his hand, and when he heard him approached, he looked up at him and smiled. Rukawa did not smiled back at him, and instead stared at the butterfly who slowly flew away. He followed it with his gaze.
"Do you know the legend of the white butterfly, Rukawa?"
Rukawa's gaze landed back on the boy when he heard him spoke. He frowned a little as to why this person knows him when this was the first time seeing him.
"Well?" The boy looked at him when he did not answer.
"No." He answered because he was never interested in reading and would rather practice his sword skills.
The boy smiled and patted the space beside him. Rukawa stared at him for a few seconds. He thought back of his father and the elders on the room he escaped a while ago. He then approached him and sat down beside where he is sitting.
"They say, the white butterfly was the soul of the deceased wife of Takahama named Akiko. She died after before they got married but Takahama never married or found someone else to love again."
Rukawa was staring at him with a
blank look on his eyes. He doesn't know why he is telling him this story, but he supposed it's better here than being in that room for hours listening to the elders talk about things he is not interested with.
The boy was not deterred with his look and continued his story.
"When Akiko died, Takahama moved to live in a house near the cemetery where his wife was burried. Everyday, he would visit her and offer flowers on her grave. It doesn't matter if the air was fragrant with summer air or thick with falling snow. He would go visit pray for her. But then, Takahama fell sick so he couldn't go anymore."
Rukawa has closed his eyes and found a comfortable position as he copied the other's position. He crossed his arms and found himself speaking when the other went silent. "And then?"
He did not see how the other was staring at him and how his eyes deepened with his smile when he realized he's listening.
"So his relatives went to take care of him, and his nephew saw a white butterfly entered through the window and landed to the pillow Takahama was using. They tried chasing it away but it came back three times as if it doesn't want to leave."
The other paused when he saw how Rukawa is comfortable on his position. He thought the other fell asleep already so he waved his hand in front of his face. "Rukawa?"
One of his eyes opened when he noticed what the other was doing. "What happened next?" He muttered and saw how the other smiled as he withdrew his hand.
"When they were successful in chasing it away, they witnessed it lingering on a woman's tomb and mysteriously disappeared. As the nephew examine it, he found out the the person burried there was named 'Akiko.' When he returned home, he found out that his Uncle Takahama died. He told his mother the stranged thing that happened on the cemetery and that's when she told him about the story of Akiko and Takahama."
"When Takahama couldn't do his loving tasks anymore, his wife came to him instead. That white butterfly was the soul of his wife."
They were silent for a few seconds before Rukawa opened both his eyes and looked at him. "Why are you telling me this?"
The other shrugged and looked up at the sky instead. "Nothing in particular. I just remembered the legend when I saw the white butterfly a while ago."
"Also, how do you know me?"
Rukawa was met with his cobalt blues when the other suddenly turned his head towards his direction. He doesn't know why, but he felt like the other can see through him. As if he is staring straight through his soul.
"Who would not know the Rukawa heir who's temperament is as cold as the winter?"
Rukawa's gaze sharpened and he scowled when he heard what he said. "Are you mocking me?" He asked, voice cold and low.
The other suddenly laughed seeing his reaction. He put both of his hands in the air. "I was just kidding. " he then stretched out one of his hand towards him. "I'm Akira by the way. Akira Sendoh."
Rukawa blinked and his scowl disappeared when he heard his name. He can't believe that this person is the Sendoh heir he have heard about. A genius they say, already ready to take over the family at his young age. But the other word associated with him is carefree.
"What's with that look Rukawa-kun?"
The scowl is back on his face when he heard how he emphasized the 'kun' after his name.
"Bastard." He finally can't stand it and cursed him. Heir or not, he was being definitely playing with him.
Instead of being offended, Sendoh let out a chuckle when he heard what he said. He then stared at him and raised one of his brows. " Bastard?" He asked, amusement evident on his voice.
Before Rukawa could reply, they heard someone approaching them. "Sendoh-sama." He said and stopped not far away from them. The attendant widened his eyes when he saw Rukawa beside him. "Rukawa-sama." He bowed and turned his attention once more to Sendoh. "The Lady is looking for you and would like to speak to you Sendoh-sama."
"Tell her I'll be there shortly." Sendoh said and smiled. The attendant nod and bowed once more to both of them before walking away.
"It was a pleasure meeting and talking to you Rukawa-san." Sendoh turned to him. " I look forward to our next encounter."
He then started walking towards the main house and Rukawa watched his back until he disappeared from his view.
He snapped out of it when he felt a hand touched his shoulder. He blinked, and what greet him is the worried face of the man sitting just a few steps away from his earlier.
"Hey, you okay? You kinda zoned out a while ago."
He shook his head lightly before answering, mind buffled at what could that dream meant. "Hmm."
The man-Sendoh- stared surveyed him for a while before letting out a small smile. "Wanna join me fishing?" He asked and raised a brow. Rukawa looked at him a questioning gaze. Sendoh laughed when he recognized it. He went around him and started pushing towards his place earlier that caused Rukawa to squirm.
"Hey!" He protested and tried to stop him but was met unsuccessful. "Come on. It's not that hard, just sit here and wait for the fish to bite the bait."
He forcefully push Rukawa fown beside him that caused the other to glare at him but made no move to stand up. "And if they don't?"
"Then there's always gonna be a next time." Sendoh told him with a grin. Rukawa snorted but did not say anything more as he moved his gaze in front of them.
"Nice game against Sannoh by the way."
Rukawa looked at from the corner of his eyes. He stayed silent for a few seconds before. " We wouldn't have won against them if it wasn't for you."
"Ohhh? How so?"
Rukawa saw how the other boy faced him. He willed himself not to look at him and instead stared at the horizon. "Your words when I asked you for a one-on-one. I realized the meaning of it when I was facing against Sawakita." He then sighed and finally turned his head to look at him. "So thank you."
"You're always welcome Rukawa." He heard Sendoh in a soft and fond tone that made Rukawa's heartbeat picked up. Seeing the look on his face, Rukawa can't help but asked him the question he's been meaning to ask the first time he saw his face.
"Do I know you ? Why do you look so familiar?"
Sendoh's eyes widened momentarily at his question. He then shrugged and gave him a small smile. "Maybe. Who knows."