Faded

...They begin to fade away.

                It’d been a long time since the death of Kcalb; two months at most. Wadanohara felt that she was succeeding in her duty to preserve the precious soul of her beloved Samekichi, but due to recent events, the nurse knew she had thought wrong.  The shark was forgetting more and more by the minute, to the point where he even forgot who and where he was. The atmosphere felt to have grown dimmer by ever passing hour… Samekichi wasn’t going to make it.

“Samekichi, do you need anything?”

The nurse felt that she was constantly asking; noticing that his features were appearing paler and his eyes… almost a bloody red. It almost reminded her of the albino shark, Sal. Could it be…? No, that would be preposterous. She wasn’t fully educated on how the Red Sea operated; it was too quick to come to any conclusions as to what was happening to her spouse.

“Need? Um… I don’t… I don’t know. Wh… what did you say?”

This was a common response. Wadanohara would have to go into vivid detail as to what his requirements were; him forgetting all about its existence. What was this he suffered from? The monitor wasn’t providing any encouragement either; his heart was completely out of line… this must really be the end.

“Samekichi… I’m so sorry I don’t know how to help you… I wish I knew… so I could help you… use magic in some way… but without knowing what’s ailing you, I… I can’t…”

The witch was down on her knees beside him, holding his hand in hers. Samekichi appeared perplexed at her words; visualizing this in his expression. There was… something in his hand. The hand that she had taken ahold of held… a necklace. Unfolding her fingers, the nurse cupped her hands to hold the fragile jewelry; noticing the blue and white beads that made it up, and the shark tooth that positioned itself in the middle.

“S-Samekichi…? What is this…?”

She whimpered, getting the shark silent in thought for a moment before he spoke up and explained to her what it was for. What she heard was not what she desired to hear.

“It’s… something for someone I love. I-I forget who… I wanted to give them a gift… but… I think they’re gone now…”

The nurse tapped on the gold ring upon his finger with the opposite one on her own finger that completed the puzzle. He still appeared to be dumbfounded, as if he had not a clue as to what they could represent. Noticing this, she pulled away, and tucked the necklace snug into her left hand; keeping her right hand up to hold his.

“They’re still here… they’re right in front of you.”

Her voice didn’t pass through her throat without burning its frail surface; a smile crossing her features. The shark was referring to her, wasn’t he? Wadanohara was the only one left… she was the nurse. She took care of everyone… she ensured their lives… and now they were gone.

“R-Really…? That… gives me a warm feeling… I-I like that feeling…”

Samekichi felt happy… Wadanohara was almost brought to tears. He felt happy that the person he loved was near him at this time of need; even if he wasn’t fully aware that it was his nurse, the witch, his wife. As the witch grinned briefly to herself, the shark’s gloved hand reached under her chin and elevated her head up; staring down at her rosy cheeks, her puffy red eyes that brought out their color, her braids that were absolutely perfect, the witch’s hat that went along with her figure so perfectly well…

“You have… such a beautiful smile… I… I lo…lo… n-never… never mind…”

The witch held his hand in place, before bringing it down to her heart as she did with Satanick. Samekichi and that devil both held significant places in her heart… who wasn’t? Everyone in the rehabilitation center was special to her as they brought their specific needs to her and entrusted the witch with their health. She couldn’t ask for anything more… that amount of loyalty, responsibility, and enormous trust was enough to soothe her.

“No one’s…. ever told me that before…”

Wadanohara’s voice was almost silent as she tried to hold back her tears, and Samekichi only smiled. His eyelids began to drop, and he lied down on his back to where he looked up at the ceiling. The monitor’s beeps were slowing down consecutively as the shark’s life began to slip from him.

“Don’t leave me… don’t leave me… please… I don’t want to lose you too…”

The nurse murmured under her breath, as her husband’s eyes finally came to a close and the monitor was drawn into a never ending loop of white noise. Nearly losing her balance on her knees, the witch brought up her arms upon the bed and buried her face within them; gently weeping.

“He was… the last one… I’ve… failed… as a witch and a nurse… I’ve… undoubtedly failed… Satanick… Kcalb… everyone… and now Samekichi… I’m the only one… I have no purpose now… Satanick… pl..ease… have mercy on me…”

Her tears slipped freely from her eyes; soaking the bed sheets beneath her. The horns that stood at the end of the room began to drip a clear fluid… tears. From each tip of a swirl upon their design, a small drop of precious tears dropped upon the surface of the box. What the nurse wasn’t aware of was the fact that Satanick was… crying with her.

Bringing her head up, Wadanohara was met with the still body of the shark; the monitor’s noise echoing through her ears like a blaring cymbal. The sobs she had been keeping secret were burning at her throat; begging to be let out. The nurse stood up and leaned forward to place the softest kiss upon his lips, bursting into a fit of uncontrollable wails and tears. Wrapping her arms around the carcass of her lover, she nuzzled her head against his shoulder, before… an odd blue light filled the side of the room where the window was; the side opposite that of the door.

A figure appeared in the sparkling apparition; standing there with a large blue cape, a blue wizard’s hat, and a matching blue outfit to his cape. The design of the inside of the cape was majestic; it showed a dazzling redesign of a precious ocean. His eyes were sullen, but the smile that seemed pasted upon his features gave a sign of hospitality.

“Wadanohara… you’re here. It seems no one else is left… I offer my truest condolences.”

The man spoke up with a lulling speech. Hesitantly turning her head to face this man, she made out the figure of her deceased father; seemingly alive and healthy. He extended his arms outward, as if indirectly asking for a hug.

“Come, Wadanohara. It is time for us to go.”

Was this really her father? Was this really… Meikai? The witch wasn’t hallucinating? Cautiously, she spoke up to retaliate; her voice as shaky as anything.

“B-But… Sameki…chi… I can’t leave him… I can’t leave anyone… I don’t want to leave…”

Meikai gave a slow nod in reply, putting his arms down at his sides and approaching her with steady steps. He bent down to examine the shark that Wadanohara did not seem to want to let go of; extending his hand outward as a weapon as gleaming as moonlight appeared in his hand. With a small tap, the crescent moon atop his staff touched the surface of the shark’s chest; the nurse backing away sheepishly.

“W-What did you do…??”

She queried; sounding like her old childish self in her father’s eyes. With a generous smile, Meikai pulled his staff away; letting it disappear into droplets of water before taking his puny daughter into his embrace.

“My dear girl… let us go now. That is not important… it is time for us to leave. Say goodbye, if you wish.”

As Meikai turned around and began to travel back to the spot in which he appeared, the nurse took one last look at her room. Samekichi was still lying there, never to move again. The monitor was still on; dragging out its noise for everyone to hear. Her father’s steps came to a halt, and she began to hesitate.

“S-Satanick! Satanick’s horns, I need them! F-Father, let me-!!”

Wadanohara was cut off by her father hushing her, telling her it was unnecessary to hold on to them any longer. A strong wind cut off her breaths, and the two vanished into a separate dimension; the monitor cutting off as soon as they left…

Another reminder of fading away.