Basking

[Word Count: 2653]

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As fate would have it, the day they announced the scores turned out to be Leo's final day of school before the break. He now had a whole six weeks to come to terms with the idea of going back to school again, six weeks of seemingly endless nothingness.

The month and a half of school had truly highlighted just how much of his free time Leo had wasted in the past.

Currently, Leo found himself by the beach, accompanied by that pesky ⬜⬜⬜ devil. They spent the day basking in the soothing shade, with the gentle waves serving as a backdrop to their peaceful existence. Before leaving, Leo left a note informing Yuki that he would be gone for a few days.

"This is how things should be," Leo thought with a contented smile.

With a bottle of water in his hand, Leo continued to enjoy the cool shade while the sounds of the waves reverberated around him. The serene atmosphere, combined with the refreshing feeling of being hydrated, painted a perfect picture of tranquility.

Summer break wouldn't last forever nor would his time at the beach, Leo knew that but the feeling could be remembered. From now on, this was his happy place should he ever need it. A reprieve from the chaos and unpredictability of his new life.

Today would inevitably catch up with Leo, he left unaccompanied after all. So might as well make the most out of today.

Getting up from his seat, Leo stepped into the sun, briefly covering his eyes and walking to the ocean. Leo spotted a teenager yelling to his friends from a jet ski from the coast.

"Well, ⬜⬜⬜, I think I know what we'll be doing today," Leo said to himself.

Entering the shallow end Leo began taking big steps while continuing to make his way to the unsuspecting teenager. His friends, however, spotted Leo a mile away along with his intentions. As they tried warning their friend he ended up mistaking their warnings for cheers, as he gestured toward them bashfully.

"C'mon guys," he exclaimed.

By the time he managed to make a "Look out!" it was too late, Leo jammed his fist into the teen's ribcage. The teen immediately yelped as his body reactively moved in the direction he was being jabbed in causing him to fall off his jet ski and into the water.

Taking his chance Leo jumped on, revving the handle it didn't move. Clicking his tongue Leo pressed the big green button labeled "Start". The jet ski suddenly came to life pushing closer to the shore.

The teen from earlier finally surfaced taking a gasp of air as Leo turned the jet ski toward the ocean.

Guiding the water scooter out to sea, the jet ski skipped across the waves, carrying them further away from the beach. Gradually, the shoreline that Leo had been basking on appeared significantly smaller and distant.

Once he felt they had achieved sufficient distance, Leo pressed the start button again, gradually letting the jet ski's engine power down.

Leo gazed out at the endless expanse of the ocean, seemingly stretching into eternity. For a peaceful moment, he lost himself in contemplation, allowing an idea to form within his mind.

The ⬜⬜⬜ devil didn't know what Leo was thinking but based on the chemicals his brain was producing it got a good idea of what he was going to do.

"Leo... We should go back now," the ⬜⬜⬜ devil suggested, feeling a sense of unease.

Leo ignored it however, taking deep breaths through his nose and exhaling forcefully through his mouth.

Another minute passed in silence, the tension mounting within the

⬜⬜⬜ devil's consciousness as Leo maintained his gaze on the sea.

"You know..." Leo suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the silence. "I never learned how to swim."

"And having a devil in my head constantly trying to get me to do something doesn't help," Leo continued, standing up from the seat and moving his legs to the left side of the jet ski. "For the past few months, you've been nagging me, hell this, hell that, can you shut the hell up already,"

Sitting on the edge of the jet ski, Leo glanced down into the seemingly bottomless ocean beneath him, contemplating his decision.

"I've told you time and time again, I'll get to it when I get to it," Leo spoke with frustration, addressing the persistent devil.

Leo stood up, now positioned on the edge of the jet ski. He looked straight ahead, facing the open sea, and issued a challenge.

"So let's settle this once and for all. I can't swim, and I doubt you can either. Whoever can keep us alive gets to choose what we do," Leo declared, his voice filled with determination.

"Leo..." The ⬜⬜⬜ devil muttered Leo's name in his head, it was clearly nervous.

While yes, it was a primal devil, right now it was nothing more than a prisoner in Leo's mind.

If Leo died there's no telling where it would end up, and in its weakened condition, it wouldn't be able to make it very far. Running into Leo when it did was pure luck on its part, such miracles never happen twice.

Without further hesitation, Leo turned around, his back now to the open sea. A smile formed on his face as he spoke his final words before letting himself fall into the ocean.

"⬜⬜⬜ Devil... Let's play a game," he said, his voice filled with both mischief and resolve.

As Leo descended into the depths of the ocean, the cool and soothing embrace of the water surrounded him. The ⬜⬜⬜ devil within his mind was consumed by conflicting emotions, swirling like a whirlpool. Doubts, fears, and insecurities fought for control, attempting to wrestle the helm of Leo's mind away from him. Yet, Leo remained resolute.

With every passing moment, the pressure of the water increased, enveloping Leo and the devil in its unforgiving grip. However, amid the chaos and darkness, a glimmer of light pierced through, illuminating a path of hope and possibility.

As they sank deeper into the ocean, the devil's attempts to regain control grew more frenzied. It managed to seize control over Leo's right hand, thrashing against the water's resistance. But its weakened state prevented it from seizing full control over Leo's body and dragging them back to the surface. The ocean continued to swallow them both.

Amidst the struggle, Leo found solace in the breathtaking beauty of the underwater realm. The ocean, once a symbol of darkness and chaos, transformed into a sanctuary of serenity and renewal. As he sank, the glimmers of light grew brighter, guiding him toward a future where he could navigate his own destiny.

In the depths of the ocean, shielded from the pressures of the world above, Leo discovered the strength to maintain control. Having made his point and sunk far enough, Leo began to laugh. He regained control over his right hand, overpowering the devil's feeble attempts.

The light from above grew brighter, though it still seemed out of reach. Darkness threatened to consume Leo, and swimming upwards became increasingly challenging as his body ran out of oxygen. But undeterred, he continued to swim against the suffocating weight of the water.

Just as darkness seemed ready to envelop him completely, Leo felt it—a glimmer of hope. His hand brushed against the underbelly of the jet ski, and with a determined grip on the handle and seat, he managed to pull himself out of the water, fueled by a surge of adrenaline.

Coughing and gasping for air, Leo expelled the water from his lungs, the experience both painful and draining. Once his breathing had normalized, he lay on the seat of the jet ski, his stomach pressed against it, trying to regain his strength.

"I did it," Leo exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of accomplishment and exhaustion. "I learned to swim."

His victory over the ⬜⬜⬜ devil could wait; there were more pressing matters at hand, and Leo knew it.

Bursting out in laughter, Leo relished in his triumph, feeling a surge of satisfaction coursing through him. However, even as he celebrated, the ⬜⬜⬜ devil attempted to undermine him, trying to erase his memory and diminish his accomplishment.

"I'll never forget this day, you sore loser!" Leo exclaimed defiantly, his laughter mingling with his words.

With everything in order, Leo used the cool ocean water to cleanse his face, realizing that he had unknowingly shed tears and slobbered while coughing in the water. Cleansed and refreshed, he took his seat on the jet ski, ready to make his way back to the beach.

As Leo approached the shoreline, he noticed the teenager from whom he had borrowed the jet ski. The teen was frantically speaking into a brick phone, seemingly agitated. Spotting Leo's approach, he started yelling angrily, accusing him of a dirty move.

Undeterred by the teen's outburst, Leo continued driving without hesitation. He showed no signs of stopping, heading straight for the guy standing on the shore. The teenager, bracing himself in a show of defiance, seemed determined to engage in a game of chicken with Leo. However, he failed to recognize the sheer weight and power of a child on a 500kg water scooter.

Just as the teen crossed his arms, ready to stand his ground, one of his friends intervened, realizing the impending danger. With swift action, the friend tackled the teen out

of harm's way, preventing a potentially disastrous collision.

Leo crash-landed on the beach, skidding a few feet before the jet ski came to a complete stop. Being the good samaritan he was, Leo promptly turned off the jet ski, leaving it where he had found it.

As Leo walked away, the teen shouted at him, still struggling to free himself from his friend's hold. However, in his friend's eyes, it seemed there were better things to do than engage in a physical altercation with a ten-year-old, especially since Leo had returned the jet ski unharmed.

Unopposed, Leo continued on his way, a smile adorning his face. The teen's friends joined him, perhaps realizing that there was no need for further confrontation.

Reaching his designated spot, Leo collected his belongings and departed, a sense of accomplishment and contentment washing over him.

"Today was a productive day," Leo thought to himself, recognizing the triumphs and experiences that had shaped his journey.

Glancing at his watch, Leo realized he still had a significant portion of the day remaining before he needed to head home. With that in mind, he decided to take the long way home, anticipating a potential scolding from Yuki. It would give him the chance to appreciate the surrounding landscape and devise a suitable excuse for his prolonged absence.

Lost in thought, Leo suddenly felt the ground beneath him rumble. "Probably just an earthquake," he reasoned, shrugging off the minor disturbance and refocusing his attention.

However, his musings were interrupted by the sound of panicked screaming. Leo dismissed it, assuming it was merely the noise from a nearby gathering or party. But in an instant, his surroundings transformed into chaos as a nearby building erupted in a deafening explosion.

BOOM!

Leo slowly turned around, his eyes fixated on the rubble-strewn street. Through the dissipating smoke, a humanoid creature emerged, its form partially obscured by the aftermath of the blast.

As the smoke cleared further, the devil's true appearance began to reveal itself. It took the shape of a serpentine mass, resembling a tangled web of shadowy ropes. Its malleable body seemed composed of ever-shifting knots and entwined fibers.

"A Rope devil?" Leo speculated.

The injured devil oozed dark tendrils, bleeding from its numerous tangles. Some knots appeared to be cleanly cut open, adding to its disheveled state.

Frantically searching for its next meal, the devil's gaze fixated on Leo. Although its face remained hidden beneath the assortment of ropes, a sinister smile seemed to flicker across its features.

"Food!" the rope devil bellowed, as multiple ropes burst forth from its body and lunged toward Leo with malevolent intent.

Unfazed, Leo calmly pointed at the approaching ropes and...

SNAP

...a sudden eruption of flames from within the devil's core. Agonized cries echoed through the air as the ropes caught fire, adding to the growing inferno. Desperately thrashing about, the rope devil crashed back into the building it had emerged from, exacerbating the chaos it had caused.

Ultimately, like Leo's previous encounters, the rope devil's movements ceased, leaving it lifeless amidst the ruins of the fallen building.

"Well, that's taken care of," Leo remarked nonchalantly, resuming his walk.

However, before Leo could venture far, a bullet ricocheted off the pavement mere feet away from where he stood. Pausing, he examined the mark left behind before turning to face the source of the disturbance.

Approaching from the burning remains of the rope devil were a man and a woman, both clad in matching suits. The man, appearing to be in his early 30s, stood over six feet tall, his unkempt black hair falling to his shoulders. His most distinctive feature was a stitched scar traversing his left cheek.

In contrast, the woman, almost as tall as the man, sported cream-colored hair tied back in a ponytail. Concealing her right eye was an eyepatch, which drew attention to her overall enigmatic demeanor.

Closing the distance, the man and woman strode toward Leo, their purpose evident. Leo studied them closely, taking in their distinct appearances and anticipating a potential encounter unlike any he had faced before.

As they walked up to Leo he could only think of one thing.

"Ah shit."

Meanwhile, Yuki paced around her apartment, frustration growing as she reread the note Leo had left behind. She couldn't shake off her anger at his sudden departure without any explanation. Determined to address the issue head-on when he returned, she redirected her energy toward preparing a stern lecture.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the ringing of her phone. With a sigh, Yuki stomped over to it, taking a deep breath to compose herself before answering.

"Hello?" Yuki greeted, her voice laced with a mixture of irritation and concern.

"Hey, Mom," the voice on the other end of the line unmistakably belonged to Leo.

Wait, did he just call her "Mom"?

A rush of emotions surged within Yuki, a combination of happiness and pride. In the five months they had lived together, Leo had never referred to her as his mother. He typically only spoke up when he needed her attention. This unexpected address felt like a significant step forward for Yuki in their relationship. However, before she could fully revel in her joy, she reminded herself of her initial intention to scold Leo.

Quickly shaking herself back to reality, Yuki switched gears and assumed her role as an angry mom.

"Leo, where are you? I've been worried sick," Yuki chided, although her happiness inadvertently seeped through her stern tone.

"Um, I'm in jail," Leo's voice sounded more expressive than usual, a departure from his typically stoic demeanor.

A wave of concern washed over Yuki as she wondered what could have possibly transpired to land him in such a predicament.

"What happened?" Yuki pondered silently, her mind racing to find a logical explanation. It dawned on her that the police must have found Leo unattended and taken him to the station for his safety.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Yuki responded, "Alright, I'll come to pick you up-"

But before Yuki could finish her sentence, Leo interjected nervously, catching her off guard.

"Yeah... about that," Leo's voice wavered. "I've been arrested."

Yuki's eyes widened in surprise. "Eh? Why? What did you do?" she inquired, noting the uneasiness in Leo's tone.

Silence hung in the air, leaving Yuki increasingly anxious. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Leo broke his silence.

"I made a contract with a devil," Leo finally confessed.

"Eh?"