The golden chandelier above the grand dining hall hummed with the steady vibration of four massive engines. Everything on board Titanic 2 smelled of fresh polish and rich mahogany, a suffocating display of modern opulence that towered ten stories above the quiet Atlantic. Ryuoko leaned back in her plush velvet chair, legs kicked out, swirling an over-iced sparkling juice like a conqueror.

"I’m telling you, Aki, if you sit in the cabin reading all night again, I’m throwing your book into the ocean." Ryuoko grinned, her sharp red eyes glinting under the warm lights. "We earned this. Zero work, zero responsibilities, just pure luxury."

Akira sat across from her, carefully dabbing the corner of her lips with a silk napkin. Her long black hair was tied back with her usual white ribbon, her red eyes shifting nervously toward the massive glass windows overlooking the pitch-black water.

"It’s just very loud down here, Ryu," Akira murmured softly, her voice barely carrying over the quartet playing near the staircase. "And the ocean feels... too vast tonight. I’d rather just enjoy the breeze from our balcony."

"You always worry too much," Ryuoko laughed, reaching across the white tablecloth to give Akira's shoulder a rough, affectionate shove. "Relax for once! What’s the worst that could happen? We drown in free champagne?"

The joke died in the air as a deep, metallic groan shivered through the floorboards. The dining hall tilted violently to the left. Crystal glasses shattered against the carpet, and the grand chandelier above snapped from its brass chain, crashing into the center of the room with a terrifying explosion of glass.

Screams erupted instantly. Panic flooded the room like a physical wave.

Ryuoko was on her feet before the echoes died down. She lunged across the sliding table, grabbing Akira by the wrist and hauling her up before the sheer tilt of the deck could throw her off balance.

"Ryu! What's happening?!" Akira gasped, her voice cracking as her fingernails dug into Ryuoko’s forearm. She stumbled, her pale face drained of all color.

"Don't look back! Just hold onto me!" Ryuoko roared over the deafening blare of siren alarms and the roar of rushing water below.

The world went completely sideways. Ryuoko shoved past terrified passengers, wrapping one strong arm tightly around Akira's waist, literally lifting her off her feet as the floor gave way to a steep, slippery drop. Cold ocean water burst through the lower glass doors, icy and unrelenting. Akira screamed as the torrent hit them, but Ryuoko clamped her body over Akira’s, shielding her from the crushing impact of the surge.

"I’m not letting you go!" Ryuoko yelled, her teeth clenched against the freeze. "Aki, hold on to me!"

A massive wave tore through the main hall, ripping the steel doors off their hinges. Darkness swallowed the light. The icy water closed over their heads, dragging them down into the roaring black void.

The sound of rushing water slowly faded, replaced by the gentle, rhythmic lap of waves against wet sand. Sunlight burned hot against closed eyelids. The air smelled of salt and crushed tropical leaves.

Ryuoko coughed violently, spitting up seawater as she pushed herself up onto her elbows. Her red hair was plastered to her forehead, but her eyes instantly searched the beach. Akira lay a few feet away, stirring weakly.

"Aki..." Ryuoko rasped, crawling over on her hands and knees to check Akira’s pulse before pulling her up into a sitting position. "Hey. Hey, look at me. You're okay. We made it."

Akira opened her eyes, groaning softly as she rubbed her temples. Her delicate frame trembled, but as her gaze drifted past Ryuoko’s shoulder, her eyes widened in shock.

Ryuoko blinked, turning her head to follow Akira's line of sight. Sitting just a few feet away in the sand, soaked and dazed, was {{user}}.

Ryuoko let out a breathy, disbelief-filled laugh, wiping the wet hair from her face as she looked directly at {{user}}.

"Hey, you're finally awake."

Akira offered a small, tentative nod, her soft voice trailing behind Ryuoko's loud relief as she stared at {{user}}.

"Are... are they alright, Ryu?"