Drowning Memories

Flakes of white fractals glistened from the sky on the night of year’s end. Lenn furtively weaved her way through the frosted neighborhood, clenching her bag of toiletries. The loose fabric of her patterned, black-and-white robe hung loosely around her small figure, reacting only barely to the chilled breeze.

Lenn passed by the small shops that lined the main street: the flowery which reeked harshly of roses, even in the cusps of winter. It was there her Father had bought a red rose for her thirteenth birthday. Next door was the bakery, windows painted to depict sweet icing melting from the ceramic shingles of the roof, the snow making it seem true. It was there Mother would bring her to choose a sweet treat every Friday after school.

The final business she passed was the liquor shop, with numerous pictures of sake, vodka, and beer smeared to the windows. Inside the door a group of familiar faces were laughing together, maybe due to the oddly-shaped bottle of Tequila one woman held. Lenn had been one of those giggling friends not long ago. It was they who had accepted Lenn as a new friend when she had moved to the machi – so many times they had held sleepovers, staying up all hours of the night and playing games or watching movies. The same friends that had secretly passed notes while sensei had his back turned. School dances, birthday parties, homework sessions…

It was those same friends who came dressed in black attire as the temple Priest read over the two long, mahogany boxes upon the faded Autumnal grass. As the reddened leaves fell slowly from their branches, Lenn felt the weight of loneliness even more with every sacred word. That crisp September day was engraved in her memory – the day she laid the remains of her parents to rest.

As Lenn approached the community bathhouse, she slipped upon a snow-covered patch of ice dropping her bag to the ground. She landed on her right knee, scraping it enough to draw a single drop of blood.

“Lenn!” Cried Naome, daughter of the bathhouse keeper. She had run to Lenn’s side at near-lightning speed.

“I’m okay,” Lenn replied. “Just a scratch.”

“Are you sure? Do you want me to get the first aid?” Naome always worried too much; she would call the ambulance due to a paper cut unless prompted not to.

“I swear, I’m fine.” Lenn stood up, throwing the drawstring bag over her shoulder.

“Well, as long as you’re alright,” she led Lenn inside to the lobby, returning to her workspace behind the front desk. “Is this your New Year’s celebration? A trip to the bathhouse?” She said with humor laced into her smile.

“I guess you could say that,” Lenn found a small smile. She withdrew two coins from the hidden pocket of her robe, handing them to Naome gently.

“Well, it should be nice – everyone else is out drinking and partying.” She handed Lenn the small sign reading, ‘please, do not disturb’ to hand on the door. “Happy New Year, Lenn! Enjoy!”

Lenn bowed in courtesy, “Happy New Year, Naome.”

She slowly walked away and entered the hallway to the women’s building. As soon as she passed through the cloth curtains hanging from the frame, she was engulfed with humidity, soft Zen music, and the aroma of cherry blossoms with bamboo. Every night she had come to this bathhouse and used the same tub: the furthest bath in the farthest hall. It had been the night Mother had allowed her to bathe on her own that she found it – one of the very few rooms with a window, and the only one to have a clear view of the river. Even when nearly-frozen solid, the river was still beautiful with the night’s full moon gracing the smooth glass-like ice.

Hanging the small sign on the door frame, Lenn dropped her toiletries next to the tub, grasping the rice paper-paneled door and sliding it shut silently. She inhaled the heavily soaked air, gazing out the semi-clouded window before dropping her robe to the wooden floor. Turning the bronze-brushed metal faucet, she slid into bath letting the water pour from the spout and onto her cold feet.

These private baths were about the size of a small bedroom. With the fragile, paper-paneled walls there was one wooden chair that was comfortable enough to lounge in, a small wooden table with a shelf underneath, a single hanger for your robe, and the ceramic tub, of course. The tub was large enough to lay across, almost the size of a large kiddie pool; it was a porcelain color, very smooth and embedded into the wooden panels of the floor. The owner and his family were sure to clean every tub after each use, always leaving a new bar of wrapped soap, two towels, and a face cloth upon the small table. Lenn’s nightly visits were almost always relaxing – and definitely the highlight of every day.

Once the bath was filled almost to the brim, Lenn leaned forward to turn the faucet off, laying back. Hanging from the ceiling was a long chain holding a small lantern; other than the lantern, the only thing lighting the room was the moon.

The water she soaked in was tinted in a fresh green from the herbs and minerals in the bath water. Although someone new to the bathhouse might cringe at the thought of bathing in murky, green water, those who had grown up with the custom knew it was actually amazing and very beneficial to the skin and body.

Only minutes passed before Lenn began to doze, clearing her mind of all that had happened during the day. Dozing turned to snoring as the sound of a flute, chimes, and a gong sent her away.

“Lenn! Matsuko! Smile and say, ‘cheese’!” Father held the bulky, new camera with both hands, ready to snap another picture of the two girls amongst the Kaitoken River, sitting on the wooden railing of the bridge. The sun had shone so high this day and now it sunk into the horizon, turning the sky into warm colors while reintroducing the stars.

The camera flashed twice as Lenn’s father lowered the camera. “Okay, girls – go play on the playground for a few minutes then it’s time to go home.”

Matsuko found her footing and pushed off of the rail landing on her feet. She looked like a professional gymnast – she attended enough physical activities to be a professional, after all.

Lenn looked at the ground and then at Matsuko, placing her hands on the railing and pushing herself upwards, “I bet I c-”

The board had broken apart underneath her hands, falling down towards the river followed by Lenn. Mother and Father had run to the edge after her, and she could hear nothing except their screams dimming softer and softer. It took mere seconds to reach the water and the impact was instantly numbing. The cold water on a summer eve and falling about twenty feet left Lenn in shock, unable to move.

Realization came back to consciousness and Lenn found herself swimming for her own life. She felt the current of the water and all of its strength – pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling as if she were a ragdoll in the core of a washing machine.

After two minutes, abrupt faintness and exhaustion grew from the arms of a 12-year-old girl paddling against one of the strongest currents known. When the clear blue water started to fade to darkness, she caught a glimpse of a white arm and claws aiming for her. But as it took Lenn’s wrist, the white paw became the hand of a person… a young person.

Tight grip…

Pull….

Gone

Jaggedly Lenn awakened, splashing water around the small room, holding her chest as if escaping death from drowning. Leaning over the edge, she coughed towards the floor, choking water and gasping for breath.

Her hair was gathered and held to the back of her head, and when she spun quickly to identify the person, she found a face she couldn’t recognize his face.

His small smile was full of concern, unfaltering as she slapped his arm away and nearly yelled, “who are you!?”

She covered as much of her nude body as she could, examining how long it would take to run to the hall without the man seeing too much of her naked body.

“This is the WOMEN’S bathhouse! Get out!” Her voice had not expressed anger in so long.

He did not move. He did not speak. He did not blink. Even after Lenn’s temper had moments enough to settle fairly, he continued to sit on the side of the bath, statue-like.

“Who are you?” She grumbled softly in defeat, finding a spot on the floor to stare at.

He shuffled his stance and sighed, “I am Kaito, Lenn.” He said, collected and cool.

She looked at him, “how do you know my name?” Another bout of agitation interrupted. “What do you want?”

Before speaking, he waited until the glare in her eyes left again. “I’ve known you for a very long time, Lenn,” he began, “since you were very small,” he stepped into the water, “and ever before.”

“Don’t come any closer!” She demanded as he took another small step towards her.

But he continued slowly, and just as he progressed to her arm’s reach, she turned away quickly, standing and ready to run.

She swiftly snapped attention to the bath water as something fell in – the sound a shaped stone would make when dropped into the sea. Whatever Kaito had done caused the water to glow brilliantly, blue in hue; and for some reason she could not move a singular muscle within.

“I’m not going to harm you.” He covered her shoulders with his hands, melting her strength and energy to the depths of nothing.

“What d-do you want?” She gathered barely.

“To bring you home,” Kaito replied softly, watching her pupils widen as her gaze became clouded. Finding the backs of her knees, he lifted her from the luminous water.

Her eyes had wandered back to his face slowly, noticing an odd symbol shimmering upon his forehead. Her hand lifted slowly off her powerless form as she whispered unconsciously, “K…Kaito…ken… river.”

Light…

Brighter…

And Brighter...

Lenn was approaching a light – brighter and brighter it became. She heard someone mumbling faintly, her name following. She opened her eyes rapidly in realization, finding her lips had been claimed. This boy seemed so familiar: his dark hair, eyes blue and deep enough to conquer the ocean. He pulled away and she only stared; between her first kiss and surviving beneath the river’s surface, infinity seemed all possible.

“Kaito,” she whispered and he smiled. “You’re the Kaitoken River…”

The boy's body quickly turned white, shedding feather-like objects into the water. His body transformed in mere seconds, and when the full-length of a dragon flowed around Lenn, she found herself clinging to its figure. It’s scales shone splendidly, echoing the zephyr of the currents. Pearly shades of pink and blue softly graced each piece, smooth to the touch and slick enough to slice through steel in one mince.

She gazed dreamily towards the surface above, the finality of day’s sun ending with the fluff of white clouds.

… ‘That’s the constellation Tomiyu,’ he said sprawled amongst the grass, tracing the transparent lines of stars. He glanced down to his chest, Lenn taking in the universe once more. Kaito sat up, raising Lenn along with him. He gently grabbed her hand, encasing it in his own and closing hers firmly. She smiled to accompany his own, and when he dropped his hand she squeezed her palm quickly and opened to reveal a small ball of incandescent light. After a moment of studying the phantasm, Lenn stood holding the brilliance as if it were a captured butterfly. Kaito followed, placing his arms around her waist. She raised her arms to the sky, releasing the winged beam to the Gods. The universe pulsed, the stars shivered and exacerbated over them; the entirety of the macrocosm was complete…

With the swiftest thrust, he punctured the surface. As Lenn arose to breathe her first breath of air, she felt the memories fade to uncertainty.

“No…” she whispered.

The dragon shed its form like a dandelion releasing its seeds. Gently, Kaito laid Lenn alongside the water’s edge.

“I’ll be back for you.”

“Kai-” she tried, interrupted by the fright of her parents in the distance. Her clouded consciousness quickly returned to the spot he had stood.

“Lenn!!” Raced her Mother, Father, and Matsuko.

She stood slowly, walking towards the water and staring at her reflection. Her reflection revealed a wet child, alone by the shore of the Kaitoken River. An odd golden emblem shone upon her forehead; as she felt for the marking with her hand, she heard the voice of her Father again - approaching quickly. The shimmering symbol disappeared quickly as she left her reflection behind, running towards her parents.

Lenn opened her eyes, weak and fogged with confusion. She laid amongst his lap, under his protective gaze - the same protection her parent’s had surrounded her with.

‘Mom… Dad...’ she thought as guilt flooded her heart and eyes. As tears began falling rapidly, Kaito brushed her hair gently with soft strokes of comfort. Moments passed - each even more suffocating than the last.

“Lenn,” he whispered, causing her to quickly sit up and wrap her arms tightly around his neck. She stayed clenched with sobs as he held her, “It wasn’t your fault.” He ensured her. “It was their summoning.” Still, the salty tears continued streaming down her pale face.

Kaito released her, watching her stand and gather herself in the robe of fabric. Together, they left the bath house behind, walking into the frigid world outside.

Fireworks launched towards the sky as if the land was at war with the stars. The Kaitoken river was lit in endless color like paint had been spilled into the smooth current. As Lenn and Kaito approached the river, the symbols appeared once again: life and death. Holding Lenn’s hand tightly, he stepped into the water, falling into the reflection as a rabbit would scamper into it’s home.

Kaito stared the demonic creature down, keeping Lenn behind for protection. “Noboru! Return to death or be destroyed!”

Noboru’s flames engulfed his hateful body, his twisted grin showing fiercely, “I think not, Kaitoken - I’d rather stay.” With a swift movement of his arms, a jolt of fiery darkness struck Kaito, leaving him upon the ground. In the short moment it took for him to recover, he realized Lenn was in the grasp of the demon.

“Let her go,” he demanded, standing from the void.

“No,” his grimace never faltered, holding the barely conscious girl hostage. “You can give me the keys or--”

A bright light fell from the sky, engulfing Lenn in starlight and extinguishing the flames of evil. The lifeless creature’s body fell into the river Kaito quickly washed away.

“Lenn!” He yelled, running towards her collapsed body. “Lenn-” He brushed the hair from her eyes, her face as pale as a spirit’s. She opened her eyes just enough to acknowledge him, unable to speak or move. Drawing her into his arms, he held her tightly to his chest.

Standing, he carried her to the riverside

“I’m sorry, Lenn.” He whispered, lowering her body into the river, letting her drown into the world of the living. “I’ll come find you - I promise,” he whispered, releasing her hand and watching her disappear into the depths of the river.

They walked onto the shore swiftly. The spirit world was beautiful: the stars shining radiantly from the dark sky, the snow glistening with light from the heavens, and lacking the frigid temperature.

Lenn looked up at the sky, raising her hand to the balls of fire and pulling luminescence into her grasp.

“You always had a way with the sky,” Kaito said, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Make a wish, Lenn.”

She closed her eyes, releasing the light back to the stars allowing them to flicker in retaliation. The two smiled, watching the lights dance amongst the shadows. Kaito found the side of her face, guiding her lips to his.

“Lenn!” A familiar voice called.

Searching around for the host of the voice, she quickly found two faces she had missed more than anything.

Lenn smiled softly, reaching for them as carefully as the stars. “Mom. Dad.”

Moments passed,

drowning into memories.