He was always a hands-on type of person, one with nature and sort of always in a daze. I remember this one time, when Lillian and I went fishing, Kaito decided to tag along.
He was having trouble with his father again so he wanted to take his mind off things, only he didn't bring a fishing rod, or any fishing gear at all.
He just brought himself.
I remember it was a little cloudy that day and not many people were by the beach, in fact, later that day it was going to be a storm. So the lifeguard had recommended that everyone be at home by at least seven before the tide came in but of course we weren't paying attention to the time or the fact that the clouds were coming in. We were only solely in our own little world, with our bait and rods, watching as Kaito stared off into the sea.
"He's been acting a bit distant has he not? Since, Graduation it's almost as if he isn't even here." Lillian stated as he threw his rod back into the deep water.
"I believe it has to do with some of the problems he's been dealing with at home."
"With his parents?" Lillian tilted his head, waiting for something to catch his line but it was just quiet.
"Yeah", I added in dryly, glancing over to see if Kaito could hear, but he remained plastered near the deep end. Kicking his feet in the salt before hunching over when he heard splashing.
"I can understand that, I'm surprised my parents aren't divorce with how they fight over me. Something about me failing to do 'right by their money'. They feel as if I should be doing more with my life. As if I am wasting time simply parading with the people I enjoy, which reminds me, I know Ryan is busy with the farm but what of Korian? He loves fishing more than the rest of us."
"He's helping his mother cook, he hopes that we can possibly bring back a good catch so he can fry it for us. So, I hope we can catch something."
I look down to my rod and frown, the tightly knotted worms, squirming amongst each other, leaking a wrenched, iron scarlet. It sits in the cold blue along with my freezing feet not drawing any attention and instead just drifting.
And, before I can say another word the crack of lighting startles me, my teeth biting down on my tongue and causing my fingers to twitch.
"Ouch, shoot, I forgot a storm was coming-"
"Careful, Serina, don't want you to get hurt again."
I let the blood swim in my mouth, and looked up to see Kaito standing in front us with a fish in his bare hands, maybe a cod but I wasn't entirely sure.
"The tide is coming in so I thought I would help out, you said Korian wanted us to bring fish back?"
I nodded, turning to see Lillian's eyes widened and his hands on his shoulders, "Did you catch that with your bare hands!?"
"Someone had to", his face was covering his eyes with how long it had gotten, and his nails were digging into the side of the fish's gills. "I can catch another if you want, the voices help guide me to their location, so it's easier for me."
"The voices?", I questioned, swallowing the blood and he nodded with a smile, "Yeah, the singing, I know it sounds insane but it's sort of comforting you know? Better than listening to the whispering, better than hoping my dad would pay attention to me, make time."
He started to drift off again, letting his sepia skin, feel the cool air and his tears drip onto his chest.
"I feel free when I'm out here, seen maybe, I think that, I could almost…."
"Almost what?"
"Almost…" His nails dug into the middle of the fish, blood gushing out as Kai's eyes almost started to illuminate.
"Become one."
"Dr.Windstone? What are you doing here?"
I was surprised by his visit, considering he usually works with Kaito's father, so I couldn't help but stand in disbelief.
"I know you were probably expecting Korian, or Sammie Lee to pop up with more news but it's me. Not here with my sister but just myself, waiting for someone actually."
I folded my arms, "Okay, and who would that be?"
"Your brother."
He smiled, tilting his glasses up, "He actually asked me to coffee the other day and I couldn't turn down a delicious cup of joe." I could sense a blush in his bearded face and I rolled my eyes, "Okay, sure but when I asked you to attend a menu sampling you turned me down."
"I was busy then, plus I was sensing something from my boss' machine, ever since the disappearances. It's been an odd noise echoing through my head every night and it makes me wonder if my boss' silly warnings about singing fish are actually right. That somehow that myth is possibly connected to the missing people."
I squeeze my hands tight and swallow hard, my foot tapping as the doctor continued to stare at me.
"I think that is a big maybe, I mean singing fish, that's got to be just some folktale right?"
He shrugged, "You would think so, but I was just loosely spitting a summary of what I heard." He lowered his voice drawing closer, "Apparently, they're attracted to the weak minded and have the appeared of a human from the upper half of their body. The lower.."
He shook his head, "Is the fish part, with some of the fins becoming similar to iridescent wings used for-"
"Okay, I think I heard enough, doctor, I sure hope you don't intend to pester my brother with your boss' wild dreams."
He stood back pulling out a cigar, "What? Oh no, well I didn't intend to but I wonder if I should bring it up."
"You're not going to smoke that in here are you?"
He clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Nah, just playing with it, why? Brings up curiosity right? Just like my curiosity is in your late night swims."
He bit the end of the cigar and gave me a mild glare, "You know people have been going missing, talking about voices and singing yet you still want to go night swimming?"
"What the-are you spying on me or something why do you care?" My eyes started to glow a light pink and the doctor pointed to the door, "Why don't we go outside and discuss this over a coffee, hm, Serina?"