Prologue: A memory of the deserted sea.

It was about fifteen years ago.

I used to remember... how horrified people of my village were, when they heard the news of the blood moon approaching...

"Japan's national space agency has told us that, there will be a blood moon-", my grandma aggressively pushed down on the power off button on the TV remote as I was looking at the news, seeing those beautiful pictures of the blood-red moon. It was stunning, hypnotic in a way.

I frowned. "Grandma why??"

"Listen here young man", she gazed her surroundings in a worried expression as if someone might eavesdrop. It was a taboo to say that story, but everyone knew the story somehow. It had then become an open secret in a way. "The blood moon has arrived, and that 'thing' might have already started. So don't go to the sea and make sure,

Don't ever let the sea touch you... if it does, it will kill you."

That sentence would always dry my soul. That's why I have never tested if that was true or not. I was about six then, having little knowledge about how the world works.

Being bored and having nothing to do, I lied on the backyard floor, looking at the vibrant greens that surrounded the village like a maze. The pretty colors of the houses made some kind of a colourful painting that my small mind would seem to enjoy looking at.

But the other part also amazed me...

"They have already evacuated the ships...", I uttered as I sat on our backyard wall, that was made of bricks strong enough to hold my weight then. Pretty sure if I sat on it now it would crumble before I can sit on it.

The thousands of ships that were in the ocean then were gone. It was all empty like a desert. The waters sparkled under the beaming sun.

"It's... beautiful.", it really was. Now the sea felt less suffocating. If theres one good thing about this taboo thing, its that it makes the sea free from ship-pollution.

But it made the sea less interesting, apart from the waves that it made. My gaze would often lock on the giant watchtower to my left. Examining that thing would always reveal new mystery about that thing.

It was that same old red painted watchtower, with the paint dimming out at the bottom, probably because of the seawater washing it away for years. But it shows its main function at night.

"Oh right... there are no ships... they wont be running the watchtower for two weeks.", I felt disappointed.

It was a story my grandma told me when I was pestering her nonstop to let me go out and play in the sea.

"No- there's a blood moon. No going out in the ocean for two weeks!"

I pouted. "No! I am going!!"

I stomped around the house with my little feet until I reached the entrance door. I had everything packed then. Toys, shovels, an empty plastic cup that I have no idea what to do it, you name it. I looked around, grandma was not coming. Maybe I won?

I happily buckled my shoes, going out to my freedom. Until I would feel a sense of weightlessness. My feet lost contact of the ground, as I was now hovering on air.

"Grandma no! Leave me alone! I will go to the sea!", I struggled as she held me up in the air. It was futile.

She sighed. "Yuki really gave birth to an energetic child", she murmured in a saddened tone, enough to calm me down, and make me sad too.

How long has it been since I have seen her? Well, it was two years ago then, and I would not ever see her again too. She was sleeping forever in the graveyard of our village, close to our house.

She sighed. "I guess there is nothing we can do to stop you huh..."

"Yes! I want to go to the sea!", I pouted.

"What about a story? A story you have never heard before?", my eyes already sparkled. Listening to stories was my favourite hobby. My mom would always tell me stories about her life and my dad's life, the different adventures they have been on and the obstacles they have faced... but those storytelling times ended two years ago. Having my favourite hobby rekindled made me happy.

Grandma took me upstairs, still hovering me in the air. Putting me down on the large bed and getting some snacks, she sat down. She put me on her lap and started to tell me the story.

"Listen... the story I will be telling you is a very secret story... don't tell this story to anyone okay?"

"Okay!", I was becoming restless to hear the story.

"The story I am about to tell you is known by the people of our village by a name... its called 'Tsurihito's bride'."