Ikigai: Book 1: Tragedy's Beginning

The Jewel of Thievary

::Keriamay POV::

Today sure is a wonderful day to be at the beach. I smiled and looked at the bright sun reaching its peak in the blue sky.

My little brother Kory loved the soft shores of Saipan. The playful waves that gently lapped on the white sands receded with soft foaming bubbles. The sounds of the chungis or white terns sung a melody that synced with the breeze of the sea.

"Keriamay, I found another one!" Kory gleefully announced.

I went over to take a look at the opal colored shell he held in his hand. Kory loved coming to the beach. It was nature's gift to us, as we enjoyed spending the little time we did have together at the beach. Kory tossed his findings into our bucket. Our routine was to collect as many shells that could fit into our bucket and narrow it down to the top 3 best ones to take home.

I sighed, although it is sorta illegal to do this, I am pretty sure the government won't mind a few missing shells, right?

Oh... where are my manners?

I'm Keriamay, obviously the older sister of Kory. Without going much into detail, we decided that our last days together would be spent doing something we loved. Last days you ask? Well, I guess I will be explaining in much more detail after all. See...

My mother had passed away shortly after Kory was born, and my dad tried his best to raise us as a single dad. However, he had met a woman who soon changed his outlook on things in life. She had gotten pregnant and offered him an ultimatum to his new family or his soon-to-be previous. This woman could not bare or acknowledge us to be a part of her family, especially me. She envied my father's love for my mother as he never spoke ill of her even past her death. My father always said I looked like my mom when she was younger. My father had not worked since my mother's passing and I could pass it off as a survival skill to choose the wealth and stability of this woman, but no... I will never forgive him for that.

His decision led to the DYS (Division of Youth Services) getting into an investigation because he had disappeared and left his two minor children (at the time) alone to fend for themselves. I was 16 at the time this happened. I was scared, but I still wanted to protect my brother at all costs.

Fast forward to today, the DYS caseworker had found a family that would be willing to adopt Kory. Initially, they said they were trying to have us adopted as a pair, but I, being 18 now, no longer qualify, and let's be serious... who adopts a grown adult?

I felt my teeth gritting against each other.

The reality of it all is that I couldn't get custody of my brother as my father still existed and had primary parental rights. I used to cry at my mother's grave, asking why it couldn't be him, or me! I had so much hate in my heart. I was a kid, his kid, and he just abandoned us because my mom was no longer alive?

Life has never been fair to me. If anything, it's always teetered towards the unfair side. My mother dying, my dad choosing his second life, and the government finding every possible way to separate the last thing I have left to love in my life. My brother.

But... I couldn't curse their intentions. Kory was better off being with a full family than waiting in an abandoned shack for his once-a-day meal if I was successful at stealing food.

I know I was viewed as a good for nothing thief, I hated that I had to drop out of high school to make sure Kory kept attending his.

"Found another one, sis!" Kory skipped back to me, "I think this one gets an automatic top 1!"

I looked at the shell and realized he was right, what he held in his hand was a purple spondylus! These are normally harvested or found beyond the reefs!

"That one is definitely the best we have seen so far!" I agreed.

Kory paused, and his smile dropped.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I want you to have it." he offered it to me.

"Shell collecting is your hobby little bro, you keep it." I politely countered,

"No," he then looked at me. His eyes were full of sadness, "...to remember me."

I could feel my heart ache at those words. I wanted to escape this cruel reality of mine, to just live in these moments with my brother. Kory did not ask nor deserve to be on the path he is on now.

"I know we don't really have much time together, but I wanted to tell you that you have done more than anyone ever could for me. I am forever grateful." Kory tried to form a smile.

My eyes watered as my memories flashed the time I had last spoken with the DYS caseworker. My whole world shattered agreeing to the decision to meet his best interests. Kory was bullied in school for not having complete school supplies, or packed lunches, or that he wore the same 3 un-matching clothes his whole school year. I felt like I was a failure, it was so hard.

"Keriamay," he softly spoke, "When I become an adult I will come and see you. In the meantime, keep this and never forget you are my hero." Kory placed the shell on my palm and enclosed it with his kind hands.

We said nothing for a minute, then Kory took a step back and sat on the beach.

"No use thinking of the negatives. Let's enjoy the day." Kory suggested.

For a kid who'd just turned 10 he was more mature than I was. I placed the spondylus in the pocket of my shorts. No, I do not wear bikinis, I was more of a tomb boy at that.

"Do you want to go for a swim?" I really needed to cool off and block the thoughts that were trying to invade my mind.

"Nah, I'm good I will stay right here and build a sand turtle." Kory declined.

I knew he couldn't swim and I always swam nearby to keep an eye out for him. I splashed into the shallow shores and made my way out to so I could swim freely. There has been an odd thing I found out about myself a year ago. I was able to see clearly underwater without goggles.

Maybe from crying all the salt water tears all my life.

I usually made the dives to get shells that Kory could not. That would be something I would not be able to teach him how to swim. I swam back up for air. I could see underwater. It did not mean I could breathe as well.

Before I gasped in another breath, I felt a faint pulse. I looked towards the shore and Kory was still molding his sand turtle.

Weird. I thought to myself, and then took the dive.

Then the pulse occurred again! I looked around and did not see anything out of the ordinary. I continued my way down and scooped up a lighthouse shell. I pedaled to the surface. The pulse intensified. I felt as if something was calling for me. I gasped above water and inspected the shell, it still had a resident in it. I tossed it further into the ocean and I began to hear a sound. I looked over at the shore. Kory had just finished the third leg of the turtle. He looked over to me and waved.

I began to explore this unknown curiosity. Whenever I went another way, it would pulse less, and when I figured out the direction of the pulse I was about to just call it quits as it led towards some coral that needed a deeper dive. The corals and the underwater scenery was always a view of therapy. The colors and diversity of life that wasn't on land always fascinated me. But I knew I was no mermaid so I had to go back up for air.

What the heck is going on?

I dove again and as I went deeper the fishes made their way away from me. But I could feel it, the pulse. It felt so alluring, I couldn't explain the feeling, but I felt like I was being called to it. I felt the intense pressure just underneath a dead coral. I removed it and cleared the dusty sand. It glimmered with the rays of the sun, it was a diamond?

Hey if this is some kind of new superpower maybe I can become rich and not need to steal anymore!

I made my way up to the surface.

"Keriamay! Keriamay!!" I could hear Kory yelling.

I looked towards the shore and realized that I was a lot farther out than I remembered! I felt a wisp of the wind against my cheek. I also felt a tugging of the surface water. I looked up and noticed some dark clouds closing in from behind me. I better get to shore. I may love the ocean, but I knew never to underestimate it. I made my way back to shore and I waved the jewel towards Kory, "I found something!" I announced.

But the worried look of Kory did not leave his face, "Sis! Behind you!"

I barely had time to look back as a huge descending wave crashed on top of me. I plunged under water and got caught in a current that was being sucked out into sea. I knew to never fight the current, I would never win, so I swam diagonally trying to find a way out of its path. I managed to barely get to the surface. But another wave once again crashed onto me. I struggled and closed my eyes, I tried to control my breathing. Horror shot through my body as I gasped for air and saw Kory entering the water.

"No!" I fumbled underneath the surface again.

No Kory do not get in I will be there!

My legs began to tire, but I was not going to give up! I kicked and pedaled, I extended my arms and winged to the surface.

"Keriamay!" Kory sobbed.

"I'm okay! I'm okay! Don't..."

My whole being was snatched under water yet again. My heart panicked and I lost the air in my lungs. My mind was blacking out, I still fought it to get to Kory.

To my dismay, I saw Kory's face. He was sinking towards me!

NO!

I couldn't move, my body felt so heavy. I felt him embrace me and try to make is way up. I was too heavy for his size and panic flashed in his eyes.

Get up! Help him! Help him!!

I was paralyzed! My eyes could not blink and I witnessed Kory struggling to utilize his last breath.

Please... please not him. Please! I begged!

I wish I could save him.

I saw the jewel began to glow bright, I could not move, but I wondered if it had caused all of this? That would be impossible right? A mere jewel hat altered nature in the blink of an eye? Ridiculous. My vision tunneled and I felt my body sinking deeper into the ocean and I succumbed to the darkness.

I want to save him. I want to save him.