The Summer sun was bright above. Children were running around with water guns. In front of us was sparkling blue-green ocean water, and a giant bridge obstructing the horizon. It was a smaller beach than I had imagined, but it didn't matter. I was happy. There was a giant rock face with mossy outcrops in the middle of it all. Nobu wanted to climb it, but Shizue warned him not to.

We all felt like children, and that was the point.

I was in the waveless surf with Sana, sitting in the shallows with him. We held hands. I was actually kind of happy that there were little waves to speak of here. It was safer for him. I gazed over at him, and blushed again. He was so cute in his green bikini, and his hair was in short, curled pigtails with pink ponytail holders. An adorable look for today.

In the distance, Shizue and Hikaru were splashing each other, the water up to their chests. Somewhere behind us, Nobu and Masaki were up to mischief again. Planning something. Keitaro and Yami had gone to Lawson together, looking for snacks to bring back. My sister was swimming, and Sawai-san was on the beach sunning. I was paying attention to Sana for any signs of distress, but he seemed to be doing well in the heat and humidity. I knew the water was definitely cooling me off, so it must be doing the same for him.

It was a more subdued experience than when I was a kid. My sisters and I would be running up and down the beach, looking for sea shells and sea glass, finding strange rocks to bring back to our parents. We'd fill our sand pails and make sand castles, each one of us having a specific job. Naoko in particular would be made to go get more wet sand from the surf, due to her quieter nature. Natsuko and I pushed her around, because she wouldn't protest. Natsuko would find pretty things to put on the castle, like seaweed frills and sticks to make it as tall as possible.

Suddenly, I wanted to make a sand castle. We could make something humongous, because we were adults. There were so many of us here.

"I can't believe Shizue is covered in tattoos now," Sana said, breaking my reverie. I looked over at him, and he was happily watching Shizue and Hikaru. I put my arm around him, and he leaned on my side, so cozy.

"I like her tattoos. They really compliment her," I remarked, loving that he was talking. He'd been a bit quiet all day, and I worried that he might be sad or feel sick. But, he was doing well. He'd been doing well ever since last night.

"Yeah. Yellow butterflies. I like that they symbolize her rebirth and happiness. It's really clever. Plus, if we ever go to an onsen all together, she can keep me company. I bet we both wouldn't be able to go into the public areas." He gave a little giggle at this.

An onsen. I started smiling. I knew where I wanted our next vacation to be.

I splashed my other hand in the water, enjoying feeling the coolness rushing over it, the smell of the sea air. "There's some onsen now that don't care about tattoos. We could have fun. I want to go to an onsen resort with you."

"Can we find one? That would be romantic." His eyebrows lifted at me.

I started grinning, imagining us there. I drew him in for an embrace, and he adjusted himself, facing me and getting on his knees as I pulled him to me. He was halfway laid on me now, and I held him like this, so happy and bright. I kissed the side of his neck, and he sighed in my ear, a high thing.

I felt a twitch down below, and my eyes went wide. Oops.

"Oh shit," I laughed. "I have to think about grandmas and Buddha."

"What?" He laughed with me. "What happened?"

"Your little green bikini happened." I laughed so loud, hugging him. His bare skin...

"Well you know," he said in the sexiest voice, "I can wear this later, too."

I screamed. He laughed so hard. Over his shoulder, I saw Shizue and Hikaru looking at us and smiling.

When Yami and Keitaro came back, they had a surprise for us. They'd brought the most traditional of Summer activities for all of us to try.

"It took a while, but we found all the things we needed. It was a great idea," Keitaro explained. Yami heaved a large watermelon a ways away from our picnic blankets.

"I wonder which one of us is going to break it open?" Yami asked, placing a large wooden stick next to it.

I pointed at Natsuko. "She's the champion in our family. Nobody else stood a chance." She bounced on her feet, limbering up. She was looking at it with hungry eyes.

"You've got some stiff competition, because I'm the champion in my family, too," Masaki announced. He got next to her, more humble in his actions, but no less impressive.

Keitaro laughed. "Don't be so sure. We're not little kids anymore. We'll make you so dizzy that you can't even stand up."

Sana danced a little on the blanket, in my arms. I squeezed him, my chin on his shoulder. My large hat was shading us both. I was so glad to have bought it.

Today was about taking chances. I'd been worried initially, about taking him into the waves with me. I didn't know how high they'd be. I didn't want them to bowl him over, and him not be able to get back up again. But, I'd been pleasantly surprised to see the water so calm. I'd felt it was safe to go in there with him, and it proved to be the best decision.

Now, I had a secret. I'd be willing to take another chance with him. When the watermelon was broken, and the pieces were being handed out, I wanted him to have some. Not a lot, but he could have a little. He could enjoy it with everyone else. He might be nervous, maybe protest. But, I'd insist.

We'd been pushing the envelope since last night. He'd eaten all that frozen yogurt, and his stomach was fine. Maybe it was like playing Russian roulette, but look how happy taking chances was making him. All those smiles. I wanted to keep taking chances.

Beside us, I dipped my hand into a bag of pistachios. Carefully, I began peeling away the shell. He watched this intently, knowing what was coming next. I swear it was one of his favorite things, this anticipation. I took as long as possible. I rolled the naked pistachio in my fingers, and it zoomed towards his mouth. He took it inside, and rested his head against my collar bone, chewing happily. I took out another one, wanting to do the same thing again right away. This was bliss.

In front of us, things had gotten more intense in the past minute. Everyone was lined up now, and Keitaro was blindfolding Yami, who was already swinging the stick. Sawai-san went to his other side, and they signaled each other. Yami began twirling, being propelled by their hands faster and faster. He was getting more and more hyped up with each turn. But then...

He was released, and stumbled, going sideways. He fell into the sand. Everyone burst into laughter. He clung onto the stick, trying to get up, but pitched forward.

"Oh shit, you weren't kidding! Wait a minute!" He grumbled loudly like an old man. We all burst into laughter anew. He got himself up, using the stick like a prop. But, he went a few steps and pitched forward again, laying in the sand. He laid there spread out, defeated.

"That's time!" Keitaro called out, checking his cellphone's stop watch.

Sawai-san snapped the blindfold off him and took the stick. He willingly gave it up, flopping his arm back into the sand. Small tears were coming out of my eyes, I was so beside myself. I swayed Sana side to side, so happy. He was giggling so cutely. His hand went up, wiping his eye. He was laughing so hard he was crying, too. It made me even happier.

What followed was a parade of falling down, accidentally wandering into the ocean, and almost colliding with other families and children. Masaki tripped over the watermelon and I covered my mouth with my hands, calling out to him to ask if he was okay. Laughter was my response. He did get closer than anyone else.

Everyone called out foul, wanting to go again. It was unanimous. This time, they each went without being made dizzy. It had been too intense the first time. On the third try, Nobu gave the watermelon several mighty whacks, and it split open spectacularly. We all cheered him, finally now able to eat.

Sawai-san cut it neatly with a small knife, and served it in napkins. She handed us each one slice in turn. They were pretty small and fat. I held mine in front of Sana, and pinched off the very top, the sweetest and most juicy part. Slowly, I offered it to his mouth. He breathed inward, and his head turned to me, curious.

I was prepared. "It's okay." I thought about his exposed glucose monitoring device. It had been exposed all day, and he hadn't acted like he minded at all. No embarrassment, no being self conscious. He'd been too distracted by happiness. Now, it would do its job, telling us if we were going too far. It gave me all the confidence I needed. "We'll share it," I assured him.

His mouth opened, and the ruby red watermelon morsel slipped inside. His lips touched my sticky fingers. I was in heaven.

We watched the ocean, the happy families. Our friends finished their slices and ran into the ocean. But, we stayed on the blanket. Hugging, enjoying the sea breeze. I kept having the feeling that I didn't want to leave. I truly wanted to stay here forever.

Towards the end of our beach trip, I got what I'd wanted. Sana pushed me a little towards the ocean, telling me he'd been wishing to see me swim. He described my elegance as like a mermaid, free from a tank in an aquarium maybe, able to stretch out and just be.

I didn't need much more convincing. Sawai-san stayed close to him. He watched me take off my button up shirt, my hat, my sandals. I was ready. Calmly, like I was going home, I descended into the surf. The beauty of the water surrounded me, sunset descending above the bridge in front of us.

We were in the middle of a city, but what a story it was. A mermaid, in an urban environment, finding the ocean in a modern sea of neon lights and telephone wires. I embodied her.

Aurelia flamed into my eyes as my head descended below the water.

The ocean current played with my muscles as I swung forward, dancing in the little waves. I twirled in the water, turning around as I met the edge of the jellyfish netting. I pushed off, rotating to my back. Like this, I watched the colors in the sky turn deeper, making long backstrokes.

The endless sky. The whole ocean before me, taking up half of the planet. There was nothing out here but me and infinity. Freedom of true freedom. The sound of the water was rushing in my ears, nothing else in the world.

There were no thoughts in my mind, just the coolness of the water, the softness of the sand below, the taste of the salt, the warmth of the breeze as it caught droplets on my face. I dove under the water, touching the bottom with my hands, scooping up the sand and letting it go. I kicked off from the bottom so hard, and came out of the surface of the ocean, throwing my head back so my hair slicked against my neck, sending a large spray into the sky. I fell back into the waves, going beneath the surface again. Here, I propelled myself on my back, enjoy being underneath, surrounded by another world.