Aucai sat in the sand, leaned against his brother. The sun sat low in the sky, the waves gently caressing the white sand of the beach, stretching for miles down the coast and out of sight. Aucai bit his lip, drawing circles in the sand.

"Why do I have to stay here Kahale?"

"Because. Because we love you so much, because you're important. Maybe.." he said. "It's because of Ohana."

"But that doesn't make any sense. If you love me why are you leaving me?"

Kahale sighed. "When you're grown up, you have to do a whole lot of things that don't make sense." He coughed, a hard rattling cough deep in his chest. He, like almost everyone else on the Main Island, was sick. "Remember how Mom talks to Na'wahini, even though we can't see her?"

Aucai nodded.

"It's like that. It doesn't make sense to us, but it makes sense to her, and it keeps us safe, and that's what matters."

"When will I get to go back home?" Aucai asked.

Kahale looked away. "This...this is your home now. Okay?"

Aucai was silent.

"Look, it has everything you want. There's lots of fruit, and places to play, and a Kahuna to watch over you, and I bet there's even caves and waterfalls to play in. I know that Kanoa is here. She's your friend, right?"

Aucai nodded again. "But you're not gonna be here. Mom's not gonna be here, Dad's not gonna be here. You all get to live together, and I don't. Why?"

Kahale coughed again. "Remember when the haole came a while back? How weird they were? How mean they seemed?"

Aucai sighed. "Yes."

"Well, we're gonna deal with them, and you. You get to stay here, and play." Kahale said.

"I'd rather be with you." Aucai said.

Kahale ran his hand through Aucai's hair slowly, letting each hair shift and bend. "I know. I know."

There was a long silence.

"Aucai?" Kahale asked. "When you think about me...what's your favorite memory about me?"

Aucai smiled. "Making rings out of the grass, sitting under the big tree on the beach."

Kahale looked down. On his hand, a small grass ring. "But you were only tiny then."

"I know. But you always knew fun stuff to do." Aucai said. "Don't ever take the ring off, okay?"

Kahale nodded, biting his lip. Tears came to his eyes as he looked away.

"Why are you crying?" Aucai asked.

"I'm just going to miss you so much, that's all." Kahale mumbled. "I'm so jealous. You get to stay here and have all the fun."

"So stay with me!"

"I can't. I'm sick." Kahale said.

"But everyone's sick. You, and Mom, and Dad. The only one who isn't is me." Aucai said, looking at his brother.

"Exactly, and it'll stay that way. Say, remember when the Kahuna came to you at the festival last year? Remember what he said?"

"Yup! He said I wasn't meant to be a warrior, but that I was going to save the whole family." Aucai said. "I still want to be a warrior." he sighed. "Besides, how am I gonna save you if I'm here, and you're there?" He asked.

"You just will buddy. You'll understand when you get a little older. Alright?"

"Fine.." Aucai mumbled.

"I have to go now. It's time for me to go back to the Big Island, alright?" Kahale said, standing up. He walked towards the boat moored down the beach, where a few others were waiting.

Aucai held his hand firm, tugging. "Please stay?"

Kahale stopped.

With a great swooping motion he crouched down and lifted Aucai off the ground, and hugged him tight. He put his head against Aucai's. THey breathed as one, for a few moments. "I love you."

As he put Aucai down and joined the others, Aucai sat back down on the beach, watching.

He watched for a long time, until the boat was just a dot, heading into the setting sun.