Once Again (IzuOcha)

Arc 2 : Chapter 5 : Zero Point

IIDA POV

A few minutes earlier...

As I was struggling in pain beneath the heavy table, I closed my eyes and opened them again. Then I saw a different view, a more colorful view in fact.

I was floating above some kind of liquid, but it reflected the golden yellow sky the same. I dipped one of the fingers of my feet, and it rippled. It was definitely liquid, but not water.

I noticed I was wearing a white polo with a blue bowtie. I wore a jumper and some blue pants below my body, and it looked stylish. I was about to wonder to myself:

"Is this heaven?" I sighed.

"This is not heaven." I heard a voice from behind say to me behind my ear.

I looked behind and I saw an older version of either my brother or myself.

"Brother?" I asked.

"Rather not spoil the details." He smiled.

"Where am I anyway?" I looked all around me. There was just an endless sea, nothing in the horizon, except one small island. An island with a cherry blossom tree covering almost the entire island in shade.

"You are at Null." The mysterious man answered.

"Null?" I asked.

"Yes, that's what we call as small dimension, disconnected from reality." He stated. "Over yonder is an island, I am sure you noticed it already. Under every root of the tree belongs to different portals to different worlds, and one of them is my home."

"Why'd you come all the way here? From your own home to this vast open sea?" I asked.

"Well, I have a task to do, and since you're here, you just made it easier for me. Thank you." He appreciated.

What task was he talking about? Is he referring to me possibly? I do not know.

"Race you there to the island!" He said as he disappeared in the air.

"Wait, Huh?!" I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find him.

Then when all was about to go bad, I fell towards the liquid and began floating on the water. With my torso still not wet from the liquid.

I felt a subtle tug, a subtle pull towards my right foot. I tried to shake it off, but it began pulling me down the sea.

"WHAT?!" I gurgled in the liquid. I was currently drowning, whilst being pulled by an unknown force by my right foot. I tried to swim up, flailing my arms everywhere in order to get up and breathe, but it was hopeless.

Then I sank beneath the water as the last bubbles of air left my nose and up the surface.

I opened my eyes once again, but this time I saw only dark blue all around me. The sky was painted with the colors between black and blue, with paint-like stars scattered all across the dark night sky.

Then when I looked forward, I saw myself but all in the same color. The figure waved at me, and I waved at him back.

"Hello? Who are you?" I asked.

The figure pounded his chest and pointed towards my chest, gesturing that he is me. That confirms it.

"You can't speak?" I asked.

He shook his head, almost like he was saying it was unnecessary to speak in words.

"So, did you bring me here?" I asked.