Deeper than the Surface

The light of the sunset reflected off of the cold sea-salt waves. Foam and water splashing the sturdy rocks that make up the base of the beach-side cliff that is inhabited by one brown-haired, fifteen-year-old boy named Mahiru, who can’t help but admire the wonderful yet deadly ways of the ocean he has known all his life.

The brunette often sits on the edge of that cliff, dangling both of his soft pale legs around while closing his eyes just to focus on the waves crashing against the rigid spikes of weathered stone at the bottom. No one he knew ever did that. No one who came to the beach dared to pass so much as a finger over that ledge, aware of the same consequences of the people whose lives have been claimed by those waters. Mahiru was the only one who is at peace with the sea in that small city he is apart of somehow. Those strange people who take the majestic body full of life for granted and rather stay with their feet planted to the ground at all times. The only people who are not like that are his three best friends; Ryusei, Koyuki, and Sakuya. They were all friends since childhood and with being around Mahiru for that much time, they can understand his complete interest with it and are willing to hear the detailed visuals from the brunette. They were even willing to walk up there with him to his house and stay a bit.

No one else did that.

No one else appreciated the ocean like Mahiru.

No one else besides his mother...

Sakuya slid open the transparent doors that lead to the grass-patched surface of the cliff, immediately spotting the head of brown hair that looks gold where the light hits it. The green-eyed teen sighed, walking up next to his friend who spent so many moons there, with his eyes closed and legs dangling off the sides, lost in his own world. He sat next to him and studied his calm expression. Mahiru was really beautiful to Sakuya in every way. It made his heart beat faster and he couldn’t look away. He didn’t really want to. His hand traveled up to cup the younger teen’s soft cheek, loving the warmth that came from this being of pure sunshine. His eyes opened after a second of that hand being there, his big round eyes looking at the other that has taken a seat right beside him.

Oh no. Sakuya knew that look. He knew it all too well.

“Spacing out are we?”

“Yeah, sorry.”
“Are...You thinking about her…?”

Mahiru’s eyes flooded with sadness and longing he looked at the uneven green-haired teen right in the eyes as he nodded, fearing the other would hear his voice wavering if he dared to speak. His heart clenched as he frowned at the expression the smaller male was making, brows dipping. He knew exactly what he was going through from personal experience. He has felt that longing and knows how much it hurts. Sakuya was the only person who has ever seen Mahiru cry besides his uncle and it hurt him when tears started forming in the corners of his beautiful hazel eyes.

Mahiru tried his best not to cry in front of anyone, not wanting to be looked down upon but ever since the green-haired boy caught him bawling his eyes out at the back of their pre-school playground, he has only ever let him see him like that. But even now, he was always shy about it. Tears started to fall into the teen's lap and he turned his head back to face the sunset in front of them. “She loved to watch the waves with me...It reminds me of her.” The brunette mentioned quietly, almost as if his voice wasn’t even there. His breathing faltered and he dropped his head while warm streaks of moisture ran down his soft skin. Sakuya could feel his heart breaking. He carefully snaked his pale arm around Mahiru’s shoulders, tilting him so that the boy was leaning against him, face in his chest. The older male buried his nose in his soft hair, the faint scent of rose petals filling his nose. The dim light of the dawn sun was just enough to make Mahiru’s beautiful and smooth pale skin glow a light golden color when he looked back up at his best friend.

“Sakuya…” He whispered quietly once he could make out words again. Said male hummed in response. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this...But...Thank you for being here.” He finished, blinking out the tears that were still in the corners of his eyes. Sakuya tightened his grip around the teen, placing a sad smile on his face as he looked down at his soft features.

His soft pink lips, porcelain skin, his big, brown eyes, and his soft flush. It was all perfect except for those damn tears.

“Shh. It’s ok, Mahiru. I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.” Sakuya said softly. He couldn’t ever think of leaving the younger boy, and he would honestly be lost without the pure ray of light that he held so dearly in his arms.

Sakuya would anyways make sure that Mahiru was ok. No matter what.

But sometimes, it has to rain for the sun to shine again.