Bokuto walked into his house, dropping his bag and just standing there. He sighed.

His whole body was just as tired as his mind. He slipped off his shoes and noticed the soft steps of someone else in his living room. He looked up to see Akaashi holding Junpei. "Hey..."

Akaashi stared. "Why do you look sad?"

"I'm just tired."

Akaashi nodded. "I uh... I tried to make soup."

"Did you burn anything?"

"No." Akaashi held up Junpei. "Can you please hold him?"

"Of course. What's wrong?"

"Every time I try to set him down he cries and I really need to use the restroom."

Bokuto lifted Junpei up and held him close. "Go on, I've got him."

Akaashi scurried away and Bokuto sat on the couch with Junpei. He didn't bother with his phone or with his laptop. Even the TV was turned off. Akaashi came back, confused. "I thought you liked background noise?"

"I do. Things are a bit too loud right now so I just wanted to sit here."

Akaashi nodded. He felt sorry for Bokuto. He had heard about his mother and his sister and everything about their relationship made him upset. How could someone treat their children so bad?

"Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. Do you mind if I sit here with you?"

"Keiji you don't even have to ask, come here." Bokuto opened an arm and Akaashi laid against him. He rested his cheek against Akaashi's hair and sighed. "You never have to ask."

Akaashi yawned.

Bokuto covered him with a blanket and just sat with him until it was dark outside. Junpei was taken every two hours and he was fed. Akaashi eventually woke up and narrowed his eyes, confused.

"What's wrong?"

"I hear my sister."

Bokuto rushed to close the window. "Keiji!"

Akaashi shakily breathed out. "That was my sister!"

Bokuto held him, worried. "Keiji it's not her and you know it. Come on."

Akaashi's eyes filled with tears. "My sister... my sister..."

Bokuto hugged him, careful. "Hey, hey, hey."

"Why do they torment me?" Akaashi covered his ears. "I need headphones. Please."

Bokuto found his headphones and put on white noise. "It's okay. It's okay Keiji."

Akaashi stilled completely, eyes fixed on the window.

"Keiji?"

"I can still hear her."

"You shouldn't be able to, that stuff blocks out anything from far away."

"That's not how sirens work." Akaashi's eyes glazed over white, making his eyes a cloudy white.

"Keiji?!" Bokuto shook his shoulders. He shook harder as he started to panic more and more. "Keiji?! Come on man! It's okay!"

He picked up his phone and hurriedly changed it to rock music. Akaashi gasped, a hand against his chest. He put his head down and panted, shaking.

Bokuto touched his cheek with worry hidden behind his eyes, just staring. "It's okay."

Akashi nodded. "I need the bath... please..."

"The bath?"

"So I can-" Akaashi coughed. "Change," he choked out. His face started to redden. "Can't- can't breathe-"

Bokuto scooped him up and ran upstairs, dumping him in the tub as Akaashi choked. "I'm right here. I've got you. Try to get your clothes off." Bokuto turned on the tub, dumping the salt in the water.

Akaashi tried to take off his clothes, still gasping for air.

"If this tub doesn't fill up faster-" Bokuto glanced at Akaashi. He paused as he saw him still. "Keiji?"

Akaashi didn't answer, silent. Bokuto grabbed his head, forcing it under the water.

"Please, please don't die. Please. Please. I can't do this today. Keiji please!" Bokuto's eyes welled with tears. "Keiji please I can't do this."

Akaashi stayed still, not moving at all. Bokuto started to cry, letting go and holding his face in his hands. He sat on the floor, rocking himself. He sat there for several minutes, sobbing into his hands.

Akaashi eased his head out of the water, head heavy. He looked over, eyes back to their blackened state like normal. He shook his head lightly, shaking the tiredness away.

"Kotarou?"

Bokuto looked up hurriedly. "Keiji!"

Akaashi nodded slowly. "Mm... why are you crying?"

"I thought you were dead." Bokuto wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Don't scare me like that."

Akaashi touched the side of the tub, dazed. "I... mm." He touched around the tub, still confused. "You..."

Bokuto put his hand behind his head, the other on his chest. "Lay down, it's okay."

Akaashi laid down and the gills on his neck fluttered slightly. Bokuto eased his shirt off of him and his pants. Akaashi closed his eyes. "Hurts."

"What hurts?"

He tapped his chest, slow.

"Yeah... you aren't really made to breathe like me but that's okay. We can take as many bath breaks as you want." Bokuto rubbed his now scaly shoulder carefully. Akaashi thrummed softly. "You just lay here and tell me if you need anything, okay?"

Akaashi nodded. He moved Bokuto's hand to his hair. "Just there."

Bokuto ran his fingers through his hair. "Just here. I gotcha."

Akaashi let his hand fall in the water, falling asleep. Bokuto kept an eye on him and made sure either his gills moved or he had his chest moving. He had been scared so bad and had seen things he wasn't supposed to today. He didn't need more.

Akaashi's lashes fluttered hours later and Bokuto smiled. "Hey there sleeping beauty. Feeling better?"

Akaashi nodded. He sat up slowly and hugged Bokuto close.

"I know, I know. Do you want some soup?"

Akaashi shook his head. He moved a bit and Bokuto noticed the return of his legs.

"Do you want to go lay in my bed?"

"You lied," Akaashi rasped out.

"About?"

"Being sad. You were not tired."

Bokuto took a deep breath. "This morning... I found my grandmother. She had passed away in her sleep on the recliner and rigor mortis set in. I was scared and it hurt to see."

Akaashi backed up a bit. "I... am sorry."

"It's okay. I just didn't expect it." Bokuto smiled sadly. "Some therapy usually fixes me right up."

Akaashi cocked his head to the side in question.

"I've found too many relatives and family friends. It's a bad luck streak I guess. The dead are attracted to me I guess."

Akaashi stared. "Like me."

"You're lucky."

"I did not feel alive when I was found." He touched his chest where a pink mark ran across the flesh. "I felt dead. It was scary."

"I get that. I'm gonna go get something for us to eat. I'll be back soon."

"Chicken?"

"If that's what you'd like."

Akaashi smiled. He pressed his cheek against Bokuto's. Bokuto held onto him tighter.

"You're alright."

Akaashi nodded and backed up back into the tub. "I'm alright."

Bokuto went to his mothers room instead of the kitchen. She was folding cloths, bundled up with Junpei beside her laying on a blanket. "Hey mom?"

"Yeah?"

"I really need a hug right now. Please."

She looked up and gasped softly. "Honey... come here."

Bokuto sat on the bed and hugged her tight. "I want her back..."

"I know."

"I just wanted to give her some tea and she- she was-"

"Shhhh, shhhh." She kissed his hair and held him tighter than ever. "She's okay now baby. She's okay."

"She was okay before!"

"She wasn't and you know it."

Bokuto sniffled and burrowed into her neck. "Akaashi stopped breathing earlier for a moment and I thought he was gone too. I was so scared."

"Is he okay?"

"He was sleeping. He's done it once or twice but after her I just... got too scared. I woke him up and he just hugged me and snuggled up. He is too kind for me. I hate it."

"He is the sweetest boy you will ever meet honey. He's been such a big help and I enjoy him being here."

"I do too, he just worries me." Bokuto sat up and looked at Junpei, who was fast asleep. "Sweet little man."

"He doesn't cry too loud either. I try to keep him comfortable."

"Fair. I need to go get Keiji something to eat. I'll be back." He went down to the kitchen and found a can of chicken broth. It sat in a pot for several minutes while Bokuto fiddled with a spoon. He eventually felt arms around his torso and wrapped his arms around Akaashi. "Feeling better?"

"Mhmm."

Bokuto leaned him back and smiled. "I'm glad."

Akaashi paused before he sighed softly. "You saved me twice."

Bokuto rubbed Akaashi's cheek. Both of them felt a bit warmer.

"Is it okay if I kiss you? I know it's not normal and that it seems like I'm just trying to kiss you for me but-"

"No. Not now. Today and yesterday have been too much and I just want to go lay down." Bokuto removed his hands from Akaashi and reached over, shutting off the stove. "I'm going to bed. Come up when you're ready."

Akaashi stood still, still feeling awful. He wrapped his arms around his waist and closed his eyes with full intent not to cry, just wanting to be held. He missed his sister. Missed his mother. His father. The ocean.

He wanted his life back.