5 Years Ago

I was in love, but I thought it was me who loved her, so I never did anything, guarded it like the stash of coins that we save instead of spending it on stuff we could have enjoyed, instead of creating memories by using those coins, we guard it. In the end, we are the ones who become memory, while the coins are still there, guarded.

That was how my love was, but she changed it.

I was going back home, tired after a boring day. She was with her friends, walking in front of me, going to her home.

She approached me, her friends giggling beside her.

“Hey, Aoyama. I am talking to you, here!” She playfully twisted my head (though the possible cramp wouldn’t have been playful at all.)

I couldn’t look into her eyes, my gaze was chaotic anywhere but her, “Well…How are you?”

She giggled, “You look so funny.”

I smiled and took a deep breath or two, “Well, when I was born I was laughing, so of course I will look funny.”

She laughed. Yes, I had made her laugh, there was this feeling of pure delight,

“So Aoyama…”

Wait, was she blushing? “What? Fumiko, what are you saying?”

“You see there is a new Ramen Place near city-side, so…”

I nodded, was she asking me out? “So what Fumiko?”

“Will you go out with me?”

“WHAT!” I screamed, my heart was probably dancing with my lungs, which explained my breathlessness.

She smiled, the smile that could’ve made hundreds of men her servant (even me), but she made me the king.

“Tomorrow around this time, I expect you there okay? Be on time.”

She left me with her friends and disappeared into the sunset for a brief time.

***

2 Years Ago

I am scared, excited, happy, and many more emotions I couldn’t describe all at the same time.

I had called her at the same Ramen Place, where we had first talked about stuff, and there we decided, we should talk about stuff more often, and stay together and talk about stuff. And do some stuff, because Two is better than One. (Which is debatable, but in this context, she is right.)

She entered, and my Confidence left. Get you act up man, I have been with her for Three Years now, I thought. But at that moment my thoughts and actions had a stark difference.

“So, AoAo how was your day?”

“It was fine, how was yours?”

“It was okayish, just like normal. But you know what isn’t normal?” she asked with a smirk on her face.

“What Fumi?”

“You dummy, you aren’t normal. What’s wrong?”

“I am fine. Fine.”

She glared at me, and I nodded with a smile.

“You know Fumiko, I have been thinking, which isn’t normal I know. But, I have heard Thinking is an appreciated skill.”

Her eyes lit up, my intentions were quite obvious, weren’t they? But again I wasn’t planning a heist where I had to be secretive.

“I thought, why not…”

“Buy a House.” She interjected.

“Of course yes, definitely, I was thinking of Buying a House, though it might take some time and a lot of debt. But yes, we will buy a house.” I was disappointed. I felt defeated.

Maybe I had misjudged her, maybe she was just acting nice. I think we are just friends.

“Aoyama, who had told you to think? Because they were wrong…” She burst into laughter, vehement uncontrollable laughter.

And I loved the laughter, and more than that I loved her.

“You should look in the mirror AoAo, you look so funny.”

I grinned, “When I was born I was laughing, so of course I will look funny.” We both said in unison and laughed all night. We had so much fun that night, I had forgotten about talking to her about that.

We were on our way home when I felt the weight of the ring in my pocket.

I stopped in my tracks, “You see I met this American Trader a few years ago, he told me about this… practice. Where you give a ring to the person who you love, and ask them to…Marry them.”

I presented her with a ring, “Will you marry me?” I asked.

“Are you serious AoAo?” she asked with a straight face.

“Of course I am, I won’t joke about such stuff.”

Tears filled her eyes and she hugged me.

“I love you, Fumiko,” I said.

“I love you, Aoyama.” She said.

We embraced each other for eternity and yet for less than a second.

***

1 Month Ago

I woke up beside her, she was still asleep. I close my eyes, there is always a sense of joy and happiness I feel when I am with her. Maybe that’s what Love is.

I quietly got off from the bed, I didn’t want to disturb her sleep. She deserved it.

I quickly get ready and cook some breakfast for her.

Rice and Mackerel, she will love it.

She comes out of the room, rubbing her eyes.

Her eyes glow up, as she sees the house cleaned and some hot and piping breakfast right in front of her.

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“Damn Ao Boy, you made me proud.” She says while tasting the Mackerel.

“Though it isn’t as good as my Mackerel.”

I sit in front of her, “So, what’s the special occasion?” she asked.

“You always wanted for us to live in a House, right?”

“Yes of course, who except two mad lovers would like to live in an old shabby hut?”

“Oh come on! I have lived in this place for all my life, it isn’t that bad. It’s just decrepit, small, and gives away in the rain. Okay, it is quite bad.”

“Anyways, we might be able to get our dream house in the next week.” I continue.

Her face brightens, “What?!”

“I have a bet with this English Sailor, for who can travel fastest in this seas. And if I win, he will give me the money, if I lose then I will have to give half of my catch of the next week for free.

And before you say anything, Yes, I will win against his Motorboat, for I have been in the sea far longer than I have been on land.”

I finished my breakfast and got ready for the match, we kissed each other and bid farewell to each other for another few hours.

I promised her I would be back by afternoon, but she looked unhappy. It was supposed to be our day together. But, I can’t let go of this opportunity, I can for once, do something for her. I can fulfill our dream.

I prepare my boat, the English Sailor looked uncomfortable,

“What’s wrong with you?” I ask

“I think we shouldn’t do this match, I have a bad feeling about it.” He replied he looked terrified.

“But what about the bet?” I ask, I too was feeling terrified for all the different reasons.

“No Match, No Money.” He said he had begun to pack his ship.

“Please, I need the money, I will give my entire catch of the week.” My voice was desperate, I begged him to have the match.

The English Man had second thoughts, his face was lit with greed.

“Okay buddy, we will have the match.”

I smile. I smile for one last time.

***

Present

I was at the same spot, where I had made the greatest mistake of my life. I had set out for the match. Why was I so stupid? It was supposed to be our day together but I left her.

I left her.

However, nothing has changed, that day too I was preparing my boat for an impossible task, today too I am preparing it.

That day she tried to stop me, at present Ichiro did the same.

Nothing had changed.

“Aoyama it’s foolish, please think with a cool head. Fumiko wouldn’t want that.”

I snapped, “You don’t know Fumiko like I do, I have been with her for Five Years. She has said to me, she wants to be avenged, then I will avenge her.”

Ichiro stepped back, “Aoyama please think. Fumiko is dead, what you heard are your thoughts.”

Aoyama shouted, his eyes were red, “Oh you don’t know, what I know. What I have seen is different, your Science fails at that Island. It has Spirits, that can’t be explained. They aren’t governed by any human laws. The people there are above human.”

Ichiro was scared, “What are you talking about Aoyama? You don’t make sense to me.”

I inch closer to him, why do I feel bigger than him? “I don’t think I am your parents or teacher, whose purpose is to explain every tiny thing.”

Ichiro was agitated, he got closer to me and that damn bastard punched me in the face.

“You know what Aoyama? You didn’t deserve someone as good as Fumiko.”

The Audacity, the fucking audacity of that little bastard to say that, I grabbed and threw him on the ground.

That weak rat spitted blood on a simple shove. I laughed, “I have realized Ichiro being mournful won’t help in anything. I felt pathetic and Fumiko didn’t like it.

So, I decided to take action. I don’t care what you think about my plan, me or Fumiko.

But remember one thing, never dare to utter her name from your rotten mouth.”

My chest was aching, but he hadn’t hit me on the chest, so why was it aching?

His eyes were filled with sadness for me, he need not pity me.

“I will do as you say Aoyama, but in return, you must never put your cursed foot on this place. Leave Us Alone. Don’t Come Back.”

“You dare order me Ichiro, I will do as I wish.”

“Then so will I, come stop me, Fumiko, Fumiko, Fumiko.”

I pounced at him and grabbed his throat, “I told you to not take her name.”

Life was leaving his eyes, “I never knew you.”

I stopped, what the fuck is wrong with me? I nearly killed my friend. I nearly killed a Human.

My head didn’t feel right, all these thoughts and voices were making me insane.

I got away from him, taking as many steps back as possible “I am sorry, please forgive me, I am sorry, I am sorry…”

And so did Ichiro, there was fear in his eyes.

“It’s fine. You need some rest.” He was concerned for me, he was my friend, no I was lying to myself, he said such because he didn’t want to get hurt. He said such so that I leave him alone.

Maybe it was for the better, this place didn’t deserve all the misery I brought with my cursed self, but the place I had set onto did. A place that I had named- The Forgetful Island.

The Waters welcomed me, just like that match.

Sometimes I rowed, sometimes the waves carried me and sometimes the wind pushed me.

Just like last time, the sea was with me, I cussed my luck, I had won the match that day, but the waves didn’t stop, and nor did the wind. I was stuck in a storm.

I never reached home that day, and never will I, what is left there is nothing more than a dilapidated shack, the place called home has long been dead, and I killed it.

Just like that day I was surrounded by haze, but instead of my memories feeling hazy. They pained my mind. I couldn’t forget this time.

In front of me was the Island.