The Precipice

Gold and orange scattered across the ocean like a mirror, refracting light back up the coastal cliffs. Autumn air, a gentle breeze, and the smell of salt, it swept over the grounds as Itsuki walked the trail.

His phone let out a soft click as he unlocked it, calendar app and reminders popping up the same time as a suppressed yawn.

October 14th, 4:32 pm.

Itsuki stretched, some tension relieving in the gesture.

Despite the day's significance, he'd struggled to patrol today. It'd been a grueling Wednesday in the office, and frankly, his body wanted nothing more than to just rest.

He scrolled over the upcoming days through bleary eyes: a visit to his parents tomorrow to help with a leaky faucet, probable overtime in the office the day after that, and a couple of upcoming patrols on the weekend he'd already volunteered for.

He sighed, noting his car in the parking lot. It was a three-year old model that was still popular with couples—had enough room for a potential kid and some errands. It would be so easy to just hop in and drive away, maybe curl up in bed after a shower.

However, the fleeting temptation dissipated as his eyes moved back to the screen, taking in the reason why he refused to do so.

Today. The anniversary that bound him here in blood.

Itsuki squinted as he looked up, scanning the trail that ran along the edge of the precipice.

Nothing concerning so far. There hadn't been too many people in general since he'd gotten here, and the few that he'd seen were more sightseers than anything else.

Not that he was complaining though. Quite the opposite. He loved days where nothing happened, where the beauty of the place was observed in peace.

He passed by a weathered sign, one with a crossed-out figure in red stepping over the railing.

It certainly beat the alternative.

He closed the app once he'd noted the rest of his reminders, bringing up a background he still couldn't bring himself to change.

He and Kaede, smiling in front of the horizon.

Gravel crunched beneath his sneakers as he stopped.

For a moment, he was back there, hand warmed by hers beneath the sky. Eyes bright, smiles shared, and hearts light with the future.

If only he'd seen things before it happened. He'd never let her go.

Shaking his head to reset himself, he willed his mind back before it could drift further. Today marked two years since then, yet he still needed to be careful. It remained easy to get swept up in memories and he couldn't afford it now, especially since he had a duty to uphold.

Unfortunately, the sound of the waves called to him from below, drawing his attention down the rock face and to the sharpened stones jutting from the brine.

For just a moment, they were stained again, coated red with the love of his life.

A gust blew upwards, carrying salt into his eyes.

He needed to get back to patrolling.

Looking back inland and toward the rest of the park, he attempted to redirect his train of thought from death. Specifically, the opposite of it.

While life still didn't feel the same without his fiancée, he'd managed to come to terms with her absence. Work, family, hobbies, he immersed himself in other forms of meaning, and while they may not have been the same, they were enough to stop him from sliding into that dark place that attracted so many other people here.

A familiar jogger passed him by on the trail as he walked, exchanging a smile and a light wave with him. He did his best to nod back.

"Looking good, Murasaki!"

The young man stopped a moment, catching his breath in the breeze.

"Thanks, Kisaragi." He took a swig of water. "You doing alright? Patrolling again?"

"As good as I can be, and of course. Can't afford not to."

The guy nodded. "Fair, you and that organization are lifesavers. How many have you talked down this year?"

Itsuki scratched the back of his head. "No concrete numbers, but if I had to guess, maybe a dozen?"

A whistle. "Damn, this place is lucky to have you. A dozen souls…"

He trailed off a little before pocketing his bottle, legs already pumping in place.

"Anyways, I'll catch you later—rather not run in the dark. Don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

Itsuki smiled at him as the guy faded again into the distance, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the crashing of waves.

The sun was indeed descending beneath the horizon now, so he'd probably only be out here for another hour or so at most. Despite the lights that dotted the trail close to the lot, it was still hazardous.

The railing might've protected against falling, but it was still possible for other accidents to happen on the uneven ground.

After giving another glance around and seeing no one, he spared a moment to lean against the guard rail and watch the daylight sink beneath the water, Purples, pinks, and oranges dominated the sky now, presenting an ethereal stage for the coming twilight.

"…Kaede would've loved this."

His fiancée slipped into his mindscape again, but this time, he allowed things to loiter for a moment.

She'd always adored beautiful views like this one. Said it helped calm her and made her feel like a part of the world.

Was this the same view that she saw on that day? The dim of twilight?

Footsteps and the flicker of movement caught him before he could reminisce further, turning to face the source.

There, about thirty meters or so, was a woman, white dress fluttering in the wind as she stepped from the parking lot to the trail in slightly raised heels. She seemed to be heading toward one of the restricted, unrailed sections of the trail.

Itsuki instinctually began to glimpse her body language for any worrying signs.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, paradoxically tense yet relaxed, calm yet anxious, relieved yet scared. Fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, while her other hand brushed back a bit of her black hair, sweat shining in the coldness in the air. Eyes darted around her, looking, appraising.

That was concerning, especially with the given attire—one didn't stroll in platforms.

He lifted off the railing, strolling in the direction of the woman. Angling his phone, he took a quick glance at himself to ensure his appearance was in order before anything else.

Medium-dark windswept hair. Sincere brown in his eyes. A soft, slightly youthful look despite his age of thirty-two. He looked approachable enough even with his tiredness, a person safe to confide in.

That would hopefully do.

"Hey there, miss. Are you alright?" He started off blunt, but friendly, his usual tactic for situations like these. "It'll be dark soon, and it doesn't look like you're well-equipped for jogging the trail, especially the portion you're heading to."

She immediately froze up and muttered something before shooting a strained smile. "Y-yes, yes. I'm okay. Thank you for asking. I just, um, wanted to see the view there."

Her eyes refused to stay put as she tried and failed to appear natural. In fact, it was hard to even get a good look at her face with how much she angled herself away.

Itsuki sighed.

"If it's okay with you, do you mind if I suggest seeing the view from here? That section you're heading to doesn't have the same railing, and it's a bit more secluded, not something I'd recommend with night about to fall."

He gestured to where he'd been standing mere moments ago.

"The view over there would suit you a lot better. There's less tree branches or such that can get in the way. What do you think?"

"Um…" Lips quirked as she likely thought of an excuse. "I heard the spot there provides a better angle. So uh, if you don't mind—"

"Miss, I'd really like you to reconsider. Especially since that place is off limits to most folks."

Hands clenched at his insistence. "L-look, I appreciate your concern, but I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Hm, right." He just smiled at her, despite a growing pit in his stomach.

There was no way he could lose sight of her.

"Do you mind if I come along then? If you're insistent on skirting the rules, at least let me be your accomplice."

Her face immediately turned a little red. "Wait, what? I mean—"

Not letting her finish, he just started walking in the direction, carefully 'leading' the way forward and positioning himself between her and the tree line.

"Watch your step here. The gravel is a bit loose, so it's easy to slip."

She looked conflicted as he exaggerated lifting up the chain that ran along the perimeter, subtly dangling the 'No Entry' sign.

Itsuki paused mid-action, hoping that this display would be enough to dissuade her. It wasn't often that he had to pull this trick, but pretty much everyone he used it on immediately pulled back afterward.

However, after several more seconds of contemplation, she instead acquiesced to his request, hurryingly slipping beneath the barrier.

"As long as you give me some space, sure."

His lips dipped at the response. He tapped a discrete message to the group chat before running ahead of her again.

This was bad. The woman was more determined than most. He might have to just buy time until someone else could show up.

He'd try to lead her away from the edge in the meantime.

"Um, okay then. In that case, just follow—"

White suddenly whooshed past, platform heels launched backward as bare feet sprinted through the trees.

Crap.

He instinctually gave chase, his body lurching forward to catch up with her.

"M-ma'am?!" His slender frame dodged beneath a few branches, barreling through what he wasn't nimble enough to avoid. "Where are you going?! It’s dangerous to run here, seriously!"

"Stay back!" Her voice cried out, more confused than scared. "I see what you're trying to do! I'm warning you!"

"Ma'am, what are you—"

For just a moment, she turned her head back, and their eyes locked together in the dim light.

His heart nearly stopped.

Grey irises.

Just like Kaede.

Pain pulsed through him, and his vision watered.

"Stop this, please!"

His voice shouted through the thinning greenery, any subtlety lost as the cliffside drew closer and the gap shortened.

"We can talk about this. Don't do it!"

She refocused ahead, not sparing another glance with him so close now. She just kept sprinting. Running.

"I already told you! Stay back! You're not going to stop me!"

Open air met the both of them as they burst from the tree line, cold blasting them in the dying light.

The precipice was right ahead.

Itsuki gulped. Only centimeters separated the two of them now. He was almost there. Just a little more.

Breaths panted.

Just a little more.

Adrenaline surged through his veins as his hand grasped hers just short of the edge. Digging his heels into the ground, he pulled back, anchoring her to the world as arms tugged against one another.

He'd made it.

Relief escaped him as he felt their momentum lessen, and the woman shouted something in the chaos. Despite the emotions flashing across her face and the closeness of the call, he was glad beyond words.

Sure, he'd have to apologize to her later—maybe even fill out a police report—but she would be safe, an infinitely better outcome than losing another—

*crumble*

—life.

For a moment, everything froze.

Gravel slipped. Screams flew. Hearts dropped.

Then, so did they.

As the wind buffeted them on the way down, their gazes locked one last time. Brown and grey. Falling in place.

His hand clenched hard, refusing to let go, even as death rose to meet them.

The final thing Itsuki saw before the rocks was her, framed by the horizon.