❝ 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑. ❞
∽『 REMINDERS』∽
⤅ I do not own any of the BSD characters.
⤅ Places may be from the anime or the author's imagination.
⤅ May contain triggering par...
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HAPTER 3
Y/n had been sitting on the hood of her car for over an hour. She’d found this secluded little spot a few weeks back, and it quickly became her go-to place for peace and quiet.
She exhaled smoke from her cigarette, her gaze fixed on the waves ahead. Everything she'd heard that night replayed in her mind, stressing her out. A good smoke was her poor but effective remedy.
How heartless could they be? The irony of the title they'd given themselves—“Protectors”—was laughable. And she might’ve laughed, if she didn’t share their damn name.
“Protect the people, my ass,” she muttered before flicking the cigarette to the ground and crushing the glowing tip beneath her heel.
Atsushi—Weretiger or not—was still just a kid. Stripping him of life, all while carrying the title of “defender,” made her sick to her core.
She crossed her arms and stared out at the sea. The gentle crash of waves, the trail of moonlight on the surface, and the stars dotting the night sky gave her a rare sense of calm.
Until movement caught her eye.
A man stood at the end of the worn dock. She’d tried walking on it once—creaky, unstable, and ready to collapse. It was a miracle it was still standing.
Her eyes widened when she heard a splash.
He had jumped.
Air bubbles floated to the surface, but his head never did. A chill ran down her spine. She wasn't about to sit back and watch someone die.
Kicking off her heels, she unzipped her dress and let it fall to the ground, revealing the tight bodysuit she thankfully wore underneath. She sprinted to the dock, each step on the rotting wood a risk. The dock groaned beneath her, shaking slightly with every step.
“Just hold on,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
She reached the end, peered down into the dark water, and cursed. Visibility was horrible. No choice now. She stepped back, took a breath, ran forward, and dove in.
The cold slammed into her like a wall, wrapping around her and pulling her under. Everything was muffled—only the sway of water and her own heartbeat filled her ears.
She forced her eyes open against the sting of salt. Her vision was blurred, but then she saw him—sinking, limp. His brown hair floated around his face. His lips were parted slightly, bubbles escaping. He looked... peaceful.
“A suicidal maniac,” she thought grimly.
She swam down, her hands reaching for his. The moment she grabbed his arm, his weight dragged her deeper. Her eyes widened as gravity pulled them both down.
With effort, she kicked upward, trying to fight the pull. Her legs burned. She flailed her free arm, angling the water beneath them. She cursed gravity, cursed her family, cursed this man—anything that distracted her from the weight in her chest.
The surface light began to appear above.
“Just a little more.”
She kicked harder.
---
She gasped and coughed violently, collapsing onto the sand with the man beside her. Her limbs ached, her lungs burned, but she was alive—and so was he. She stared at the night sky, chest heaving, arms and legs numb.
Waves lapped at her feet, dragging back and forth like a lullaby from the sea. A chill ran down her spine as the wind kissed her soaked body.
Groaning, she turned to look at the man. Still unconscious.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered as she scooted closer.
She placed her palms on his chest and began compressions. Again. And again. Her arms trembled from exhaustion.
No response.
She let out a frustrated sigh and brushed a wet strand of hair from her face.
Her fingers found his pulse beneath his jaw. It was faint, but it was there.
Relief softened her shoulders.
Now what?
She stared, mind racing. She didn’t go through all that effort just to let him lie there like a wet sack.
Mouth to mouth?
She groaned.
“Hell no,” she muttered, closing her eyes as she tried to think of literally anything else.
Eventually, and much to her dismay, she pinched his nose, parted his lips, and leaned in—hesitating just inches away.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
She jolted back as he suddenly sat up, coughing violently and gasping for air.
He didn’t say anything. Just sat there, quiet, dripping wet, coughing... then he clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
Her eyes narrowed. “TSK!?” she echoed, incredulous.
He blinked a few times and turned his head slowly to look at her. His expression was unreadable. Blank.
