numinous

(adj.) describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted--the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rin was out on the beach the following day. No, it wasn't like his morning jog, during the first time he met Mikoto. This time, it was a casual, relaxing stroll. Not that he wasn't expecting to see Jun and Mikoto there, but seeing them in their diving gear gave Rin a few seconds to realize their schedule for this morning.

"Oh, Rin! I was expecting to catch you here!" Jun-san threw a wave over at his direction. Rin lifted his hand as a greeting.

I was expecting to see you too. Was left unsaid.

Rin approached the father-daughter duo before noticing the additional companion of theirs, who was staring intently at him.

It was a girl, short as Nagisa, but not really taller than the energetic blonde that Rin knew. Not only did she lack in height, but her body was petite too. Her light brown hair was a messy neck-length, with pretty pink highlights at the end.

Rin was somehow intimidated with her gaze but he didn't waver under it. Instead, he focused on Mikoto. "Good morning, Mikoto."

Mikoto signed to him. "Good morning to you too, Rin." - is what, Rin guessed, she said. There was her bright smile again. Ah, it was so nice to see it in the morning. Makes him feel like his day'll go well.

"Oh, by the way," Jun spoke, remembering something. He jabbed his thumb to the direction of the girl with neck-length hair, her eyes stuck on Rin. "This is Joey, Mikoto's friend. Remember yesterday when I told you Mikoto was over at someone's?"

"I do," Rin replied, bowing curtly to Joey's direction. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Rin Matsuoka."

"J-Joey Namikaze. I'm Mikoto's friend," Joey uttered, copying Rin's gestures. Her eyes were amber, that reminded Rin of Autumn. It shone well with the sun's rays, but Rin preferred Mikoto's cobalt eyes.

"Now that's all settled!" Jun proclaimed, clasping his hands together before they went back to his waist as he stood up straight.

Jun-san is expressive both physically and verbally, isn't he? Rin can't help but notice. He watched as Jun handed Mikoto and Joey a pair of snorkeling goggles. He was so focused on the gear that he didn't realize Jun giving him one as well.

"Oh, thanks?" Rin accepted the goggles, eyes still glued to it. His gaze then moseyed over to Jun-san who was smiling at him invitingly.

"We're going snorkeling!" The man proclaimed happily.

"Ha..." Rin and Mikoto found each other's eyes. The latter smiled encouragingly.

"It'll be fun!"

That's what all it took for Rin to tag along. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jun led the way, being the first to submerge in the water. Mikoto followed, with Joey holding onto her arm. Rin stayed behind the girls to keep an eye on them.

Adjusting the goggles, and snapping the garter behind his head as a habit, Rin dipped his head underwater as soon as the water level was by his hips.

Under the surface, Rin saw another world. Jun made sure he picked the best spot at the sea to go snorkeling. Rin had to commend him for that.

After diving in, Rin was greeted with the most colorful eco system. There were sea corals, different types of fish houses, different types of fish. There were even some species that Rin's science book didn't cover. It was a whole new world under here and Rin wouldn't be surprised if he saw a mermaid.

A mermaid. Rin snorted, accidentally some air escape. Haru would fall in love in instant.

Rin was mentally laughing at his childhood friend but it later backfired when he saw a mermaid himself -- no, wait that's just Mikoto! She isn't wearing her goggles!

"Oi!" Rin resurfaced, gasping for air as Mikoto followed. "Where're your goggles?! Are you trying to burn your eyes?!"

"Eh!" Mikoto's hands flailed as she tried to explain her situation. Unfortunately, she was too stubborn to speak and ended up confusing Rin.

"J-Joey!" She squeaked.

Rin cocked a brow. "Joey has it?" Mikoto shook her head.

She then raised her hands over her eyes and looked around as if - "Joey's looking for it?" Mikoto beamed at Rin's guess. "...so you lost it." Mikoto hung her head low. Ah, another good guess. The boy thought he was getting better at charades.

"Wait," Rin paused. The two of them had a mini staring contest before Rin was pinching Mikoto's cheeks. "You thought you can find your goggles by diving under the sea?! Are you stupid?! Do you really want to burn your eyes?!"

"Eeeeek!" Mikoto rubbed her cheeks after Rin was done torturing them. Her eyes didn't even tear up from diving! It was because of Rin pinching her!

"Here." Rin gave his goggles to Mikoto. "You can use mine."

Immediately, Mikoto declined the offer, shaking her head.

"What now?"

Mikoto just shook her head. Rin's eyes twitched.

Mikoto then pointed at Rin then at his goggles. Her hands then made swimming motions. She finished off with a nod.

"Me? Snorkel?" Rin was getting good at this! Wait-that isn't something he should feel proud about! "Are you sure?"

Mikoto nodded again, eyes shimmering from the light reflected by the ocean's surface. Rin had to ogle at the sight, once again mesmerized by Mikoto's eyes. He swallowed a lump in his throat.

It was so unfair that Mikoto does this to Rin. She doesn't even have to do anything! She just stands there, looking all dazzling, and beautiful, and her eyes are just captivating. Rin would rather stare at it than go exploring Nemo's home. "But-"

"Mikoto!" Both Rin and Mikoto were startled to hear Joey call for her friend. Actually, they were both absorbed with one another that they didn't even realize she was shouting for like, five minutes. By the time Joey had reached them, she hit Mikoto at the head.

"Idiot! Did you lose your hearing aids while swimming again?" she scolded.

Mikoto shook her head hastily, gathering her hair behind her head to show her aids still intact. Rin was amazed that hearing aids can be waterproof.

"Eh? So why couldn't you hear me? You too, Rin-kun." Joey directed her gaze at Rin, intimidating him in the process, as he tried his best come up with an excuse that doesn't say I just can't take my eyes off Mikoto since she's so gorgeous-and whenever we talk we just delv in into our own world. Yep, not gonna happen.

"Erm... Mikoto just lost her goggles here and-"

"I know," Joey cut him off. "I was looking for it. I couldn't find it," The girl turned to Mikoto. "Sorry, Mikoto." At that, the latter waved her hands frantically.

"It's okay, Joey! It's my fault in the first place." Mikoto signed to her.

"Still." Joey blew at her bangs, disappointed in herself. "Didn't you want to show something to Rin-kun?" Rin raised a brow at that while Mikoto flushed.

"Show what?" Rin wondered out loud.

"Oh, just some caves in the area. You'll like them, Rin-kun."

"I see."

"Well, since I have no choice." Joey took her goggles off and gave them to Mikoto. "Here, I'll lend you mine."

Mikoto scrambled to reply to Joey, hands gesturing in panic as Joey watched her indifferently. She already knows what her friend wants to say so she didn't bother reading the signs. She knew even before Mikoto's hands moved.

"Thank you very much, Joey!"

"I got it already. Just make sure you don't loose them okay?"

"I'll guard it with my life!"

"Good." Joey glanced at Rin. "I'll leave her under your care then."

"You're not going with us?" The boy questioned. Joey shook her head and chuckled.

"No. Weren't you just scolding Mikoto for diving without her goggles? I don't want to burn my eyes too you know."

Rin blushed because of that. So she heard my nagging? Just great. Joey eyed him for a moment before deciding against teasing Rin even more. She's gonna have to do that when they're close enough. For now...

"Anyway, I'll meet you back at the shore later. See you." Joey made her way back to the beach, leaving Rin and Mikoto to awkwardly stare at each other until the latter slipped their goggles on.

Rin cleared his throat. "Anyway, you were showing me?"

What Rin got as a reply was a wide smile from Mikoto, making him think this girl's deceived him and she's actually a mermaid that came to bring him to their underworld kingdom.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

To say Rin was a bit freaked out is an understatement. Mikoto's leading him to some underwater cave, and he's not sure there's even a surface there, and what if she really is a mermaid? Or sirens-is that what you call them?

Luckily, they finally reached an opening and Rin was thankful that Mikoto hasn't grown and gills or even a tail yet. He swore the fish gave way to Mikoto when she swam.

They took a short break, trying to regain their breath. The reflection of the water made a beautiful silhouette against the cave's walls.

Now that Rin's thought about it, all he's been exploring is caves. He won't be surprised if Mikoto's got another story to tell about this certain cave.

Mikoto was making hand motions that Rin couldn't read so he's left mouth agape as he shook his head. "Nope, sorry, still new to sign language." That made Mikoto pout, her eyes narrowing at Rin.

"What? Not like I can memorize all the signs in a day." Rin looked away from Mikoto's cobalt eyes because if he doesn't, sooner or later, he's gonna be mesmerized by those orbs again--and he might ended up getting seduced by the siren called Mikoto Kishimoto.

"Rin!"

"Oh? Finally deciding to use your voice?" Rin smirked at the girl, whose left with no choice but to--

Oh, of course she uses a pebble to write!

Rin sighs exasperatedly and reads what Mikoto's scraped on the rocky surface. "I want to tell you a story!"

"Again?" Rin gave her a look of disbelief.

Mikoto stood adamantly and wrote something again. "But! This time, I won't be writing it!"

"Haa..." Rin scrunched his eyebrows and squinted at Mikoto. "I already told you I'm a noob when it comes to sign language."

Mikoto chuckled. "Idiot."

"HA?!"

"The flowers of the deutzia hedges bloom beautifully...

and a small cuckoo bird comes this early..."

Rin was astounded for a moment before he realized what Mikoto wa trying to do. Hold on--is she seriously-?! "Mikoto!" he burst out, stopping Mikoto's performance for him. 

Mikoto halted from seeing, blinking as her eyes scrutinized Rin's expression. "Ri-?"

"Didn't your mother told you to save your voice for something special? What do you think you're doing?" Rin said in a serious tone. 

"R-Rin..." Mikoto slowly approached him, hand reaching to hold onto his. "I want to tell you the story..." 

Rin gave her a look of disbelief. Why was she talking? Wasn't she supposed to preserve that heavenly voice of hers? Yeah, Rin's only heard a few seconds of it, but that just proves--"I'm not worth it, Mikoto. Not yet." he stared deep into her eyes and exhaled. "I'm sorry." 

"I'm sorry." Mikoto casted her head down. She closed her eyes and slowly raised her head again. Her hand motioned circles on her chest, repeating the apology she wishes to say. "I'm sorry, Rin." 

"You don't need to say sorry..." Rin uttered. "I, well..." he looked away. "...I didn't want you wasting your voice on me... I mean. You can tell the story when we get back, right? I just thought..." 

"I'd like to be worthy. To hear your voice I mean," he confessed; color blooming across his cheeks. 

Mikoto's shimmering cobalt eyes widened. Rin couldn't look back at her, embarrassed. He noticed Mikoto move away from him, the stick back in her hand. 

"What're you writi--" Rin gasped at the message written for him. Mikoto gave him a smile, the water's reflection as the source of lighting. 

I'll be practicing until then, Rin. Let's both be worthy of each other! 

Rin might as well sacrificed himself to the mermaids. 

Because there's no way he's escaping this one.

Author's Note:

I honestly dont know what happened here but for now--hope you like this chapter!