riptide | kyojuro rengoku

XXXIII | natural

YOU NEARLY LOST THE SWORD with how hard you swung, clearly overestimating the amount of power it would take to decapitate such a creature. When you looked into the water, her head was rolling into the creek, a gooey green liquid dripping from it as her body soon followed, collapsing right next to it.

Your chest rose and fell with fast breaths. The amount of time you had kept your breathing constricted clearly affected you much more than you thought it would. "What was that?" Kyojuro hauled you up without question at first, checking over you carefully. You knew he wasn't looking at you after a few seconds, eyes locked onto whatever that thing was instead.

"A Nure-Onna," You sniffled, wiping your nose on your arm not so fashionably. "I read about them. They're sea serpents that disguise themselves as women who need help. If you grabbed the child, you'd drop down in an instant; it's like the weight of a boulder crushes your arms. After that, they eat you. . . or they drain your blood, I don't remember the details."

You muttered shortly. You handed his sword back to him and you could hear him wipe it against something before sheathing it, his free hand grabbing yours again. As he led you back to the boat you could tell something was different. Other than you two both tasting the sweet release of freedom after so long, something was different about you.

You weren't the same.

Or, at least you think you weren't.

You weren't as reclused or quiet as you used to be; although you were wearier, you held your ground and seemed keener on your capabilities. Is this what freedom does to a person? You questioned myself as Kyojuro helped you get seated, passing you fruit to keep you busy and an appetizer after you had wrapped my foot with cleaner bandages that he stowed away for you earlier.

"We're heading straight home," Kyojuro said. The lackluster in his tone told you he was scared; that maybe your roles had reversed. This world wasn't his and ironically, it never was. There were things out there that still couldn't be explained but you clearly knew about it more. The entire realization brewed a sick air of confidence within you as you pulled my knees to my chest.

Is this how Kyojuro felt before I knew anything? Gloatful. . . almost careless? You didn't question my trust in him, not anymore, at least. But the idea of human nature being so twisted and obscure to the point that you feel more egotistical about something you know that someone doesn't is haunting.

Yet, it's natural.

Somehow.

"You're overthinking again," Kyojuro hummed cheerfully, dropping down by your side. He had figured out how to tie the wheel stably now so that it wouldn't budge if he sat away from it for an hour or two. The course must've been fairly steady in one direction if he could stop himself from occupying it for a bit.

You dropped your head onto his shoulder, sighing. "Is it weird that I feel all. . . confident and egotistical because I know more about the ocean than you?" His answer came as soon as your question did as he made a popping noise with his mouth. "Nope." You certainly didn't expect anything but straightforwardness from him, but the speed of the response startled you a bit.

"I felt like that when I knew more about you than you know yourself," He poked you in the chest, making you laugh and lean away from his touch; it left a tickling sensation. Kyojuro leaned over, tugging your arm ever so slightly to make you inclined to his figure more. "But it's fine if you feel more powerful knowing more than me for once. It's human, normal."

He squeezed your hand once and that was that you didn't feel the need to bring up the topic again. It was odd. Every time you questioned yourself (or questioned anything really), simply asking Kyojuro seemed to settle your worries. You had told yourself it was human but even then, you found it hard to believe.

Yet Kyojuro saying that was the only thing that got you to drop the topic entirely, to convince you that it was normal. Maybe that was trust talking or maybe it was love. You pursed your lips in silent thought and Kyojuro could tell you were overthinking again but didn't bother pushing it, staying quiet and squeezing your hand to let you know he was there.

You knew.

He was always there.

And it's not like you would want him anywhere else.

"About two days," He suddenly mumbled, turning his head. You didn't know how close he was to you until you felt his nose press up against your cheekbone. You grew flustered at the sensation but since you didn't attempt to move away, neither did he, his face tilting gradually. "Two days for what?" You replied.

It was short and sweet; the kiss on your cheek just lingered for a few seconds before he pulled away. He was like a child, showcasing affection and then running for his life to avoid embarrassment. Except, he didn't run, instead he hesitantly traced his fingers against yours, as if asking if that was okay.

And when you squeezed his hand in response, he pecked your cheek again, much more confidently this time. "Two days to get back to the Fire Village. Then we can talk to my father. Or we can grab our things and my brother and make a run for it, but. . . " He trailed off quietly, knowing full well which was the safer option.

You two were still young and as far as you both knew, there was a multitude of things the world still hadn't explained to you. That, and the people in your life had decided you both remained better off if you were ignorant. "Let's go to the Fire Village. If we can bargain. . . we can get something for our injuries and leave, worst possible scenario."

You both knew it wasn't the worst possible case.

But neither of you wanted to say anything in response, merely leaning against each other, the silence only being interrupted by the crashing waves.