The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟽ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

They sat around and spoke, Kato listened while staring at the fire. When he wasn't able to calculate, he was still thinking of the sums. He was also thinking of where he would be next - how long would it take? How long did he have left? They died around the same time but he wasn't sure when that time was. He lost the concept of time at some point. The days were just passing. He wasn't even sure how long he had been with the people around him. He should go back to the apartment. But he was watching over the four siblings. They communicated more than he did with his siblings, he could confess to that at least.

"Damn, he fell asleep," Odele felt Antonio lean against him, sleeping calmly, "guess I'll book a hotel," he muttered and pulled out his phone.

"I like it here though!~" Bianca whined and hugged her knees.

"You can sleep here," Kato offered.

"In the sand?" Athena raised a brow.

"Oh that sounds like fun!" Bianca looked at all of them, "saves us carrying that brick of a sleeper," she nodded to Antonio.

"Sounds dangerous." Odele reminded them all. Kato fixed his blindfold,

"I'll stay up," he volunteered, "I'll keep you safe," he whispered. Odele looked back at his sisters, both moved at the promise he had made. They covered their mouths and both of them had warming cheeks. The night was warm, the ocean breeze was cold. And still, Odele knew he wasn't going to get out of this one; that promise, from such a calm and quiet voice. It sounded so earnest as well. The girls were lovestruck. He'd either carry Antonio alone up to a hotel, or sleep. Assessing it, he groaned,

"Fine." He huffed and looked at Kato. He wouldn't have said yes if he didn't know what it took to be their bodyguard. Beating Sora was like beating a wild boar. Well, an untamed beast from a H.P Lovecraft story would be better suited. They had never seen him fight. But the rumours were enough for them. So if Kato beat him, and found it easy: they were in good hands. "Just... let's mat out where we sleep. Don't wanna swallow sand." He claimed and Kato stood up, "off to get them?" He tilted his head,

"Use the palm leaves." He pointed up and reached for some, snapping them off.

"It's like common sense. Crazy how we don't think about it." Bianca admired, taking some and setting them out with Athena who didn't want to. Though Odele was carrying the youngest of them. So she found she had to. It was better than reaching up for the leaves and having to break them off, though he made it look easy, he didn't even have to stretch up that high. A shame, in Athena's eyes.

They settled the area and all four of them laid down, there was an awkward silence before Bianca shrugged - "I-It's not... bad?" She forced herself to speak up.

"Sand makes a weird mattress." Odele shrugged and turned to his side, "whatever, guys wanted this. Deal with it." He shut his eyes and found he was surprisingly calmed by how quiet it was. There wasn't a deadly silence like there was in the home: nor light chatter and laughter for the nights he called in early and home life was still active. But his ears were filled with the crackling of a fire and ocean waves. It was nice. And the smell of saltwater over burning wood. It was all rather nice. He was calm. He'd rather not sleep in the clothes he was though. Who was he to complain? Well, he was someone. Adonis's son, to be exact. Regardless; he slept.

At the sound of rustling after however long, the sound of bubbling and splashing also, Odele woke up. The lack of a crackling fire gave only the waves as an ambience to have. He could barely move with how sore his muscles were. But he was curious: the bubbling had stopped. So did the splashing. He looked around and from the corner of his eyes, saw someone moving. The black fabric told him it was Kato. The man was still awake.