Sea Bird Chapter 6
~Chapter 6~
The weekend was uneventful at best. Yuki was hungover most of their day off. Enoki felt fine. He had a mild headache, but not the pounding hangover he had expected.
Life resumed as usual the next day. Yuki didn't remember any of it, so Enoki just forgot about it.
It was the last rotation on Wednesday, Enoki and Yuki were fishing together, net dragging out behind them as they steered through their fishing grounds.
“Reel it up in another five, then we'll head back to shore.” Enoki called to Yuki in the captain's room. Yuki made an affirmative noise, and Enoki looked out over the ocean. There was a lot of down time with just the two of them out together. Once they got started, There wasn't much to do between catches.
The ocean was beautiful in the late afternoon. Baby blue sky backing glittering waters. Enoki smiled down at them. A Dark shadow skimmed just beneath the shallow waves. If Enoki squinted, he thought he could almost see the shape of a man in it. His mind must be playing tricks on him.
They reeled up the net and stopped the boat to organize the fish. Smaller ones were thrown back, and larger ones were thrown into the store hold. It didn't take long, friendly banter between them to fill the time, and they were ready to head home.
Enoki relaxed against the railing as Yuki took the wheel again. Enoki could drive. He just had a tendency to zone out, watching the sea. He let his mind wander, staring at the shadow as it followed them toward shore.
The shape of a man started to become more obvious. Enoki smiled, watching it absentmindedly as it approached the surface. Tori's head broke the water, and Enoki nearly fell over. “Yuki! Stop the boat!”
“What? Why?!” Yuki called, pulling the emergency brake and stopping the engine. The boat began to slow to a drift, Enoki leaning over to reach for Tori.
“Are you alright? How did you get this far out?” Enoki reached farther down, Tori reaching up. Their fingers only brushed. “Yuki, get a rope!”
“I'm fine. I swim out here a lot.” Tori smiled, dropping back to just a head above the water.
“You shouldn't go out alone. It's dangerous.” Enoki stared. “Yuki, where's that rope?!” He looked back; Yuki was rooting through a large chest on deck, shifting nets and crab cages to the side.
Enoki looked back to the water, but Tori was gone. The shadow was missing as well. He searched to the sides and out farther, but the sun was setting, and it was impossible to see underneath the glares.
Yuki rushed over, carrying a tangled rope and panting. “What is it 'noki?”
Enoki glanced out one last time before turning to Yuki. “I don't know... I'm sorry... I thought I saw someone...”
Yuki sighed, shaking his head. “Have you been drinking on the job again?” He patted Enoki's shoulder.
“No, not since Mister Lee died.” Enoki looked out over the water again.
“It's alright, you finally called me Yuki.” Yuki grinned, giving Enoki's shoulder a squeeze. He turned back to the little room that housed the wheel, tossing the rope towards the tangle of items. “Just clean that up, and I'll get us home.”
Enoki nodded to the sea, before reluctantly turning to his task. Maybe, the villagers were right. Maybe, he really was crazy
.