Chameleon

Chameleon part Two

The sky was dark blue, and it was raining lightly.

The full moon was high in the sky, and the sea was misty. The stars were bright.

Junichuri was there by the edge of the precipice, and he looked down at the ocean.

He decided to walk down there and wait by the beach for Akiho.

Then, after, he reasoned, he’d maybe make a real life for himself.

He sat there for a while, by the rock, waiting.

Looking at his wristwatch, it was about a quarter to midnight.

He fell asleep.

When he woke up, he forgot where he was and felt afraid, and threw sand up in the air, startled.

It had only been seven minutes.

It wasn’t midnight yet.

He sighed and felt anxious, hoping to see Akiho yet, dreading it all the same.

He was nodding off again and thought of kissing Akiho, a face that looked delicate, androgynous to an extent, and yet more female.

He knew Akiho wasn’t male or female, but he fell in love with them, anyway.

Then, he heard it.

Music.

Faraway, out in the ocean.

He got up, trying to see where it was coming from.

The faint, ethereal sound was so unearthly, it made him want to cry, and it moved him deeply.

It didn’t sound feminine or masculine either, just a wonderfully romantic, sad sounding song.

He had had so many dreams of this moment.

Suddenly, as though it was a true to life reenactment of the painting The Birth of Venus, Junichuri saw something slowly rising from the seawater.

He held his hand over his heart, feeling incredibly terrified, and overwhelmed.

He wanted to run, but his feet stayed firmly planted in the wet sand. He felt as though he might have a heart attack.

He kept wanting to scream, but his vocal cords seemed displaced, and he kept saying over and over in his mind,

‘What have I done? What is this creature, really?’

But it wasn’t until he saw Akiho, when he finally took in a shaky breath. He reasoned that if this was really the same person he had been conversing with for about a month, they wouldn’t be an enemy.

“Ak-Akiho?” He barely muttered, feeling out of breath, and once he finally was able to say their name, he was able to fully see his friend.

Long hands, blue.

Long arms, bluish-green.

Long body, scales, and then... Akiho’s face.

It was covered in long hair, black. But it looked human, in a way.

Eyes, light brown.

The rest of Akiho’s body was in the water.

Junichuri didn’t know what to do. He still felt frozen.

Akiho merely said one thing, “Hello, Junichuri.”

The voice sounded soft, watery, and sweet.

“I must be dreaming, Akiho,” He said aloud.

Akiho shook their head. “No, you are not.”

“I miss you. Every day. Do you miss me?” Junichuri asked impulsively, feeling braver. He took a step closer.

“I do. Very much,” Akiho replied.

“I think I am actually in love with you, Akiho,” he whispered.

Akiho, who was still halfway in the water, started moving toward Junichuri closer. “What is that? In love?”

Junichuri shrugged. “To be there for each other, always.”

Akiho smiled slightly. “We can do that, but we will not be able to live together as you said.”

“Why not?” Junichuri asked defiantly.

Akiho frowned. “That is not the way of our reality. I know you can see that.”

“Do you love me?” He asked, taking a few steps more toward Akiho.

“Always.”

“Can’t you change me then?”

Akiho said nothing in reply.

“Please?” Junichuri pleaded.

“I can not change physical forms, my love,” Akiho answered. “I can try, but it may not be right.”

“I may die soon, I don’t care,” Junichuri sighed. “I really have no one else.”

“What of the little girl?”

He nodded. “Thank you. You helped her.”

“But you can help her more. You live among her, I can only do so much.”

He sighed. “But I want to be with you.”

Akiho moved their hair away from their eyes. “I am not really from this world. I have never been tethered anywhere. I am like a ghost. I thought that you could be my anchor, yet that is selfish of me. I will always look after you because you believed in me.”

And at that Akiho started to go back into the water.

“Akiho, no! Please! Come back to me!” He said panicked, and ran to the water, grabbing Akiho’s arm. “I love you! Please!”

“Junichuri, calm down,” Akiho said softly, placing their other hand on his arm.

“I can’t stand it. I won’t let you go.”

“Then you will come with me?” Akiho asked.

Junichuri shook his head. “I can’t breathe in the water.”

Akiho frowned. “I cannot go with you, either. Look at me. I can’t walk.”

Junichuri was frustrated, but he nodded.

Suddenly, they embraced, and Akiho kissed him on the cheek. Akiho surprised themselves with the gesture, feeling incredibly happy with the new feelings it gave them. Junichuri was elated and breathed in with a soft smile.

“You kissed me?” Junichuri asked, surprised.

Akiho looked coyly at him. “I wanted to have this last forever.”

“I have a feeling it can’t...” Junichuri said sadly.

“We can try... we can both make this last....” Akiho said breathily.

They both looked at one another, and Junichuri felt his body freeze up, and his heartfelt as though it were thundering in his chest. His breath was shallow, and they were still holding each other.

He took in a deep breath and rested his body against Akiho’s for a moment.

Akiho sighed softly, feeling peaceful and happy.

He leaned in closer and took in the details of Akiho’s face. It was remarkable how human they looked, angular, delicate, pale blue. Their eyes were big and brown.

“Your brown eyes are very beautiful,” Junichuri whispered admiringly.

Akiho smiled. “Thank you.”

In an impulsive and passionate display, Junichuri leaned in, closing the gap between them to kiss Akiho.

Akiho kissed back.

It had been the first time Akiho had any real contact with anyone, and it meant more than they ever could express. For Junichuri, it had been way too long, but it felt like the first time, more importantly, it felt like something better than any other kiss or embrace he ever had before.

“This can’t end. I wish it would never end...” Junichuri said softly as they started to slowly leave their embrace.

“For me, it has to. Everything ends,” Akiho said with a finality that made the other realize it was time to say goodbye. Junichuri didn’t agree with that finality. He decided to keep talking to Akiho anyway, taking their hand.

“You said time is different for you. What does that mean?”

“It just means that time moves slower for me, where I ultimately reside.”

Junichuri sighed. “What is it that you do every day? I want to know more about you.”

“I swim, I create what I can. I try to stay out of the way of most creatures, and not bother others. What do you do?”

“Kind of the same thing,” He chuckled, “But lately, I’ve been trying to figure out how to be more open. I am tired of hiding from people.”

“You hide from your people?” Akiho asked curiously. “Are they cruel? Or do they misjudge you?”

“I misjudged them, I think. I also notice more than I let on,” Junichuri started, and Akiho looked at him in affirmation. “It started with my mother. I thought if I stayed quiet, hidden away from everyone and all the noise, that I could keep myself in a safe place. Blending into the background, while around me, everyone was living. But, I never realized how much... I wanted to be there with them, to appreciate people.”

Akiho nodded in understanding. “But for so long you kept yourself at a distance. So quiet. You were a silent chameleon, blending in, and surviving the only way you knew how,” Akiho commented.

Junichuri looked silently impressed at the comment. “That’s exactly right. In fact, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve never been so open or social. Between this conversation, however, is the most I’ve talked to someone in years.”

“I don’t speak to others either. Our people do not socialize. We stay separate, and hide away in our main galaxy, to not be seen by others who will misunderstand our existence. Though, there was this whale I’ve talked to before. She was really manipulative,” Akiho laughed.

Junichuri looked amused. “Manipulative?”

“She tried to get me to find her food. She was a grey whale. Since we both stayed at the bottom of the ocean, she had to roll around the seafloor to see what could come up from the sediment... for her to eat. She said she was too ill to do so,” Akiho said in disbelief. “I did it for her!”

Junichuri shook his head, chuckling. “Did she do anything in return?”

“Yes. She sang me a beautiful song afterward...” Akiho looked out at the ocean longingly as they said it, then back at Junichuri, smiling fondly at him. “Did you like my song? I learned my music from the whales.”

“Yes I did. It was really breathtaking, thank you. But, Akiho, you don’t have a family? Anyone at all?” Junichuri asked.

Akiho shook their head. “No. I know you did. What were they like?”

“My father was strict and liked order and rules. He tried very hard for us to thrive and be well off. My mother was very kind and loved to sing. She could dance well. She loved me, but I didn’t show her the appreciation I should’ve when she was alive. I loved my father through fear. But I cared for them both.”

“It sounds very complicated to have a family, but nice.”

He nodded. “It is.”

“You said you haven’t had a wife. What is a wife?”

“It’s...” Junichuri looked down, trying to put his words together properly. “Someone who you commit your whole life to, and you truly care for and they care for you. You are there for one another no matter what.”

“Why haven’t you found one?”

He shrugged, his eyes closing with painful tears settling down his cheeks.

“Junichuri?” Akiho asked gently.

He looked up at Akiho. “I... I don’t know why. I must push people away. I think... I’m scared to really find someone who will stick. But, I want to. And... I can’t make anyone laugh.”

Akiho smiled. “You make me laugh. Through your words, I smile. And if a wife is what you described, I would want to be that to you. Though, I am not sure if that makes sense.”

Junichuri smiled. “It makes sense. Where were you born? Were you born in a dark galaxy? Or on earth?”

“I don’t remember. But it is more of a gas cloud. I don’t know if it is really a galaxy. But the stars there are special, even as there aren’t many. There was one star I had kept my eye on for a long time that died... and it gave me the gold for your Sayuri. I had accelerated the nuclear fusion, and when it had reached peak temperatures, it triggered the reaction. It was so bright, I felt the intense light run through my whole soul. I wish you could have been there.”

Junichuri was completely shocked again, actually listening to the process of a supernova being done as if it were a normal, ordinary chore. Like doing the laundry.

Or taking out the trash.

“You acquired gold through this process?” He asked finally. Akiho’s tail flipped suddenly out of the water, and the moonlight hit it. It was pale blue, Junichuri noticed.

“I see these incredible, microscopic particles, and the way they interact create heavy metals. Some are faster than others, stopping their decay, and can interact...” Akiho stopped and looked at him with concern. “Does anyone know about me? About this?”

“No. Akiho, I haven’t told a soul. I won’t.”

Akiho nodded. “I knew you wouldn’t.”

“Are you like a Siren?”

Akiho shook their head. “No, I do not fly. I was taught much of what I know by the Sumerians, the Egyptians. Some English I picked up on over the last fifty years.”

Junichuri looked contemplative. “Oh? Have you ever loved anyone else?”

“No,” Akiho said flatly. “Never. Have you?”

“I have, Akiho, but not like you.”

Akiho looked at him directly. “I can try to take you with me.”

Junichuri said nothing for a minute, feeling out of place at that moment.

“I might be able to enable you to breathe underwater with me for a few minutes. I can’t stay out here much longer.”

“I can’t,” he managed to reply. “I’m nervous.”

Akiho frowned. “I see that Junichuri, and I know it’s hard to see that I will protect you. But, I would never let you come to harm. I’d rather perish than that.”

“How old are you? Really?”

“Probably close to thousands of years. We don’t keep track of that.”

They moved closer toward one another.

“We?”

Akiho moved even closer. “My people.”

“Do you eat?”

“Yes.”

“Do you smell?”

“I do.”

Junichuri felt content with the answers so far, and they both said nothing for a while.

“I brought you something, Akiho,” Junichuri said suddenly. Indeed, he had something in his pocket, wrapped in a cloth.

“Brought me something?”

“Yes. I made it for you. It took me about two weeks. I actually started making it the first week we started talking.” He took out the small wrapped gift and handed it to Akiho.

“These are glass beads that I colorized and shaped myself. I bought the silver band, however. I superheated sand, soda ash, and other chemicals, then by weaving them all together with a blowing tool I created the beads. I learned this trade from my grandmother.”

Akiho looked at the bracelet curiously, their slender fingers playing with the midnight blue glass beads and silver thread of the jewelry in awe.

“This is beyond anything I’ve ever seen before. What is it I’m feeling now? More than love,” Akiho smiled at him.

Junichuri beamed, happy that Akiho liked it so much.

“I can feel the warm energy you put into it. The good feelings,” Akiho said.

“Here, my dear,” Junichuri said, fumbling a bit nervously, taking the bracelet and their hands touched. “I’ll put it on you.”

Gently, he placed the bracelet on Akiho’s hand and wrist, and he noticed it fit well.

“I’ll always keep it on.”

“All my life, here on this island, Hokkaido, I have tried to find my niche. Something I can be truly happy with. I have hidden this talent from everyone as well. Glassmaking.” He sighed. “But I thought that I might be ridiculed by this trade. As a man, I thought it might be better if I was an educator or a scientist.”

“It is a very beautiful talent to waste, and I hope you do not hide it anymore,” Akiho said, admiring the bracelet. “I’m so happy you are here. I thought you wouldn’t come.”

“Well, I was-" Junichuri started to say, but couldn’t finish his sentence because of a very loud scream.

“Monster! Oh my God!”

Junichuri heard what sounded like a woman and got protectively in front of Akiho, and saw it was a teenage girl and a teenage boy that was walking down the beach. They both looked horrified.

Junichuri cursed his luck that this night of all nights he had to run into people at the beach. It was a weeknight, and he thought that meant school and work the next day. He apparently didn’t account for high school delinquents.

As his mind started to become distracted he didn’t see the teenage boy get closer to throw a large rock at Akiho, which almost accidentally hit Junichuri.

“Hey, go away!” Junichuri said.

Akiho looked at the teenagers furiously.

“Run! That monster might drag you into the sea!” The boy yelled.

“Hurry! It looks horrible!” The girl screamed, clutching onto the boy.

“Leave us be!” Junichuri yelled back.

The couple looked at him confused and backed away.

Akiho slowly was going back into the water, feeling incredibly stressed and threatened.

“Junichuri, I must go,” Akiho whispered.

Junichuri looked at Akiho. “No, don’t go!”

The couple was even more confused now by this interaction.

“Freaks!” The girl yelled.

The boy laughed, grabbing another rock, about to throw it toward the both of them now.

Akiho did notice this, and all of sudden, the ocean became very violent. The sky became darker, lightning filled the once indigo star-filled night. To Junichuri, the waves looked as tall as a building above them, yet far away.

The boy threw the rock, but was so startled by the abrupt change in the weather, it missed them, and the girl ran off.

“Tsunami!” The boy said, “Run, you damn fool!”

Junichuri didn’t run.

But the boy did.

As he was running, he saw the lightning almost strike the boy.

He felt like a bit of fire had hit his own heart.

Then, a hand on his shoulder.

He jumped, his eyes wide.

“Junichuri?”

He turned around and saw Akiho. They looked incredibly distressed.

“I must go. I will die if I stay here much longer. Those people will surely tell someone of my existence. They will try to kill me.”

Junichuri took hold of their hands in his. “I would protect you from any danger.”

“I know you would,” Akiho said sullenly. “Come with me, for a few moments. Please?”

Junichuri sighed. “I’ll freeze in the water. I’m too old.”

“Not if I maintain your core body temperature,” Akiho said. “I promise I will keep you safe.”

The storm was still around them, and it was overwhelming the pair. Mainly, it was overwhelming Junichuri.

Akiho sensed this, and said, “I don’t know if I can come back, anymore.”

The waves were calming down a bit, but there was still lightning in the sky. Junichuri was considering going with them.

“Akiho, you are so important to me b-“ he tried to finish but jumped as he saw a strike of lightning within five feet of where he was standing. His nerves were shot, and his chest was tight, his stomach in knots, and now he was afraid that Akiho’s mental state was in shambles after everything and that they were creating a very unstable storm.

“Go,” Akiho said, their eyes looking down. The sea started glowing an intense green and teal and swirled menacingly like a whirlpool.

“My darling, my Akiho, I love you, please...” Junichuri said, not sure what he was even asking or pleading anymore.

“No, you must go.”

Akiho gently took Junichuri’s hand and pulled him toward them gently.

They looked into each other’s eyes.

“Go make the most beautiful glass, and create something out of something small and unwanted, like the stars do when they perish. Go for me. One day you will see space and time as I do. Hopefully, it will be alongside me.”

Junichuri nodded, but he felt torn up inside. “Where can I find you again?” He asked, moving closer, and they embraced.

“I don’t have an answer. I hope that we will find one another again.”

He closed his eyes, and he kissed Akiho for the last time.

The waves were moving closer and stronger.

They stopped their kiss and Junichuri didn’t want to let go of their crushing embrace.

Akiho frowned, “You make up my one true home, Junichuri, my whole world, now and always.”

“As you are to me, Akiho,” Junichuri said, now, he was unable to hold back his tears. “Please come back to me one day!”

They let go of one another, and Akiho shook their head slowly, “Look for me in the sea glass, the seafoam, and the stardust...”

And Akiho was gone.

Junichuri was devastated, and he fell to the beach, sobbing.

He stayed there for a while, but then picked himself up, his legs feeling heavy as he trudged home.

The storm lasted for only a moment after Junichuri left the beach, then everything was deathly quiet.

Junichuri stayed quiet too.

—————-

Days went by, so did weeks, and months.

Deep within the town, there was a stained glass window, and it had the most vibrant colors advertising the wares inside. Delicate pieces of curated glass art with parts of the sea. Black seaweed, sea glass, shells.

Many people went inside.

A new goddaughter, perhaps.

A colleague who published new scientific breakthroughs with him.

A wife who sang and laughed with him.

And many friends.

Laughter and joy filled this small shop.

And many people in the town called the owner a luminary who gave everyone hope that their dreams could also come true one day.

And though Junichuri had finally realized his dreams, and made lasting peace and happiness through his gifts and his relationships, he still felt one day he could reach Akiho, somehow.

A piece he had been slowly creating for a long time had the smallest pieces of everything from Akiho; some of the Mermaid’s purse where Sayuri, his now goddaughter had given him, part of the black seaweed notebook, and a piece of very bright blue sea glass. All in the shape of a glass wave.

To him, it served as a memorial of their relationship.

The dangerous beauty of Akiho was something he did not regret entangling with, nor did he talk about to anyone, but he didn’t feel like he should.

Sayuri had caught a glimpse of it, and admired it, and said it was very beautiful.

He thought, ‘Yes, it was. Like Akiho was.’

By the time he was too old to go to the beach anymore, he felt accomplished in every way a man could be and he touched the glass wave.

And it glowed.