This ficcie is dedicated to Mara, 'cause she wanted a water fic. This is sort of close, ne? ^^;;;
Shimmer
By Apapazukamori
Somewhere in his mind, there is a pond. It's small, maybe the size of one of those fish ponds that used to be so popular in people's backyards. He never had one, but some of his classmates' houses did. He can remember little ferns growing up, waving in the gentle afternoon breezes, bending over and touching the rocks when it rained. Fall meant little golden leaves skirting on the surface, surfing gently over the ripples made by the fish coming up to feed. Spring meant a time to replace the fish that had died over the winter when the pond froze up.
There aren't any fish in his pond.
His pond is neglected most of the time. If it were a real place, where others could go, it would be overgrown with weeds, the shiny surface of the water clouded with dead, soggy leaves. He has no need to come here, no need to look into the depths and think of things he has no time for. His attention is better spent elsewhere. His little sister collapsed at school again, his best friend got hurt in a fight. His father is acting strangely, he really should write that term paper for modern history.
But there are times, more often now, when he does come here. When he falls into himself, and thinks of nothing else. This is when he takes a long look into the pond, and sees the wavering black surface produce an image to send back up to him. The reflection he sees is distorted, but each time is clearer than the last. It looks like him, but slightly different. He hopes that when the water finally stills, he will be able to see exactly who it is looking up at him.
For some reason, the he trusts the face in the water more than the one in the mirror. Maybe it is because this picture is coming from his own mind. Or, it might be because he actually has to take the time to focus on what he sees. A glance in the mirror is just that -- fleeting, detached. A simple pause to smile and fingercomb his hair before moving on. Who knows if the mirror is really showing him what is really there? How much truth is in a static piece of polished glass? The person in the water is more alive.
The person in the water really is him.
Each time he sees the shimmering face, he is more and more sure. There is a longing to see himself as he is, and not as everyone else wants him. Model student, older brother, good son, big bad sempai -- what if he is none of those things? With every visit to this place, so long forgotten, the noise around him lessens, and the vibration in the water calms.
He is so close to seeing it; if he stays long enough here, deep inside himself, he'll be able to finally know what there is to see. Maybe this time...
//"FUUMA!!"//
...but, as before, there is always someone to throw a rock.