[FIC] Beneath the Surface: The Deal.
Title: Beneath the Surface: The Deal
Genre: AU/Fantasy, Romance/Fluff, Drama
Chapters: 2/6
Characters: ReitaxRuki
Author: Moi (kasumikinss)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Synopsis: One day, while Reita spends some time alone at the ocean, someone unexpected shows up...
Comments: Ruki's POV.
| Chapter 01 |
I hurried off, back toward the palace as fast as I could before the powerful king of the seas - or in other words, my father - noticed I'd left in the first place. He would grow furious. He never liked the fact I was always so adventurous; wandering way too far from the palace, wandering off toward dangerous parts of the oceans, wandering out of the ocean... He had six other sons, though, so I really didn't know why it mattered if I 'happened to get myself killed' or not.
I swam quickly past the guards of the entrance, leaving a trail of bubbles in my wake, rushing off toward the open area of my bedroom. I could see some of my brothers hanging around and, thankfully, no king anywhere to be seen. He must've been further back into the palace. Slowing down in my tracks, I made it to my room without any disruptions and took a seat in front of my bureau, lifting the brush from the dresser-top to watch my reflection brush its hair.
By the hazy, distant look that formed in my eyes, it was obvious I was in deep thought. Reita was on my mind, sending a light pinkish hue to my cheeks, forming a small smile to my lips, putting a certain warmth and happiness in my eyes that, hopefully, only I could see. My brothers would surely notice and question it - since I was usually a bitch to them.
My fingers were soon running girlishly through my brown and blonde strands. I stared downward for only a moment before looking back up to the mirror, jumping slightly when there was a smirking Yuzo in the background. I glared at his reflection. "What the hell do you want?"
He held up his hands in a defensive manner. "Just wondering what's gotten you so happy looking. Especially... after that oh so very long trip you made."
I could tell he knew something. How, though? I had no clue. "I got to get away from this family. That's all," I replied with a bitter smile, watching him roll his eyes. He casually made his way over to my bed and sat, causing me to turn around in my chair and stare strangely at him. "I've already told you what you wanted to know so you can like, leave now-"
"What do you see in humans?"
My eyes grew wide but I managed to keep my jaw from dropping, staring intensely at him.
"What do you find so spectacular about the surface?"
I continued to stare.
"Do you like risking everyone's lives, Taka? If humans know of our existence then nothing good will become of it."
My eyes softened slightly, still holding a stern look to them. "But Reita wouldn't..." my words trailed off. What was he gonna do? Report me? Tell people about us? Because if he truly liked me... then there was no way he'd do such a thing; he knew the consequences, too...
"So you admit that you've met one?"
I lost my brother's gaze and glared at the ground, pointing toward the door. "Leave, Yuzo..." Refusing my command, I felt my eyes widen when he was suddenly kneeling before me, gently grabbing my extended arm and stroking my skin lovingly. It was weird, seeing him like this.
"Taka, don't do this... There are plenty other fish in the sea."
We stared at each other for a second or two, the intense emotions quickly leaving our features, and we suddenly let out a laugh. I gently pushed him off my arm. "Yuzo, you're so corny." The mood had lightened up dramatically, quickly, but there was still an odd look to my brother's eyes.
"But really," he began before lifting himself up from the floor, pushing some strands from my eyes. "Be careful up there." I closed my eyes momentarily as he kissed my forehead. "Because if something happens to you it'll be all my fault since I knew about it from the beginning."
And with a thoughtful gleam to my eyes, I watched him make his way out. I smiled slightly; he wasn't going to tell...
~~~
A week bypassed quickly with Reita keeping me company whenever he could - this thing called 'work' was where he had to be half of the time. He'd warn me ahead of time if he would still come or not, and even on those nights he didn't I would make my way onto shore anyway. It was always nice to reminisce, or look around the foreign scenery, or stare up at the moon and wonder how exactly it just... stayed hovering in the night sky.
This particular night I just stared out at the calm waves, thinking. Until a voice shifted me from my thoughts.
"I didn't expect you to actually be out here..."
I turned to look behind me, staring up into familiar eyes. He wasn't supposed to make it today. Excited, I watched as Reita lowered himself onto his knees, leaning forward for our lips to meet. His arms slipped around my waist and with a soft stroke to a sensitive spot on my tail, I squealed, giving him the chance to slip his tongue inside my mouth. Our kiss was sweet, passionate. I was left nearly breathless when we finally broke apart.
With his arms still draped around me I leaned back into the warmth of his clothes, releasing a sigh of content when I buried the tip of my head into his neck. He was so warm. "Then why did you come out here?" I questioned, obvious curiosity in my tone as I continued to watch the waves.
There was a short silence, most likely of Reita contemplating an answer. "To think..."
"About...?"
He seemed hesitant to speak again, my eyebrows furrowing slightly as I pulled away from his hold and faced him. "Reita...?"
There was a certain distant and gloomy look to his eyes as they found mine, and I immediately frowned. He still refused to answer. Leaving me with no other choice but to assume the worst, and I definitely just did. Realization finally hit me and my eyes widened, an uncomfortable warmth to them. "O-Oh..." Of course he was thinking about us, our relationship, how badly it was working out so far, and how it would never work out in the end. I was just hoping it didn't have to be so soon for him to... get bored of me.
I failed to notice the concern in his eyes as I turned away, the vision of the ocean much blurrier than before. I hugged onto myself. "I should've known by now that no human in their right mind would want a... creature-"
"Ruki."
I tensed slightly at his stern tone, but continued anyway. "I should've known I'd never be good enough-"
"Stop."
"I should've known I was being so stupid to think this would actually work out-" I could feel Reita pressing against my bare back, pulling me from my balled up position to hug me tightly. Nevertheless, tears continued to pour from my eyes. "I'm sorry... I'm not good enough for you-"
"Don't you dare apologize."
His voice pierced right through me with ease, my sobs calming into small whimpers.
"Ruki, you're perfect. Ever since the first time I saw you, I thought the same."
"Then why don't you like me anymore?" I could hear my miserable voice clearly in my own ears and shuddered at how weak I sounded. It just wasn't like me at all.
"I never said that, Ruki. I never even meant to imply it." His fingers went to wipe at my wet cheeks as he continued. "It's just... difficult to not be able to show you just how much I like you..."
I immediately flushed. I could tell by the way his voice softened what exactly he meant by those words. Of course I wasn't completely clueless - unlike the other merpeople - as to a human's body parts. I reluctantly pulled away from his secure hold around me, crawling a few feet away and into the shallow part of the ocean. "Well then I guess... we shouldn't be together anymore if you wish to go further..."
Everything had happened so fast. There were sounds of footsteps, water, Reita's cries, my own sobs... Back underneath the surface, I hurried off in the only direction my brain could register, somewhere where I would be alone.
~~~
My face was buried into my folded arms atop of a boulder as I continued to sob quietly. I'd been in my private grotto for almost half an hour now, thinking over what exactly happened, what exactly I said, why exactly Reita called out for me to come back if he knew we wouldn't work out... We still had feelings for one another, and as much as it would benefit us to just separate now, we knew we couldn't. Somehow.
A sudden light touch against my bare back was enough to cease my cries, shoulders tensing. I kept my face buried, though. Once a few seconds of nothing else strange occurring had passed, I relaxed, only to feel fingers stroke through my hair. Gasping, I pulled myself up to stare wide-eyed at an unfamiliar octopus creature. He grinned mischievously at me, that odd piercing through his bottom lip giving off a light glare.
"My my. Well if it isn't the King's son."
He, whoever the hell he was, had gotten me in such a vulnerable position. My eyebrows furrowed in an attempt to glare but it must've came out as some sort of cute expression, seeing as that smile of his widened further. "Wh-What do you w-want...?" I cringed at how weak I must've looked.
"I just couldn't stand to see you cry anymore, hun," his deep voice replied as he slowly traveled around me in a circular motion.
My head lowered, avoiding eye contact. I could feel him suddenly playing with my strands.
"And I'm oh so sure that human boy couldn't stand it either." He seemed highly amused by my shocked expression. Grabbing a loose hold of my wrist, the octopus-like creature tugged me up from the ocean floor, ignoring my pathetic attempts to pull away from his hold. "If he wants a human then we'll just have to make you one, sweetie." He was smirking that smirk again...
It was so difficult to tell if I should trust him or not. But if he could truly do something so miraculous as to make me into a human, then I might as well go for it, especially if I wanted to be with Reita.
Tentacles wrapped themselves around my slender frame and before I could even push them away, he was dragging me along in some unfamiliar direction.
~~~
The octopus creature, Aoi, had instructed me to sit upon a boulder while he busied himself with something in the back. His place was dark, but not exactly eerie, another trait that made Aoi difficult to decipher. Releasing a soft sigh, I stared down at my tail, a bit of a longing look to my eyes as I watched its usual flutter against the water. They would substitute for legs soon...
Something brushing against my shoulder immediately caught my attention. Looking over, I found an eel swimming past. And then there was another brush against my other shoulder, causing me to look again. Another eel. They began to swim circles around me, which made me think they were trying to say something.
"Aoi-sama must really find a liking towards you," one of them spoke with an eerie, raspy voice.
I felt myself stiffen. It talked! No other creatures in the sea had ever... spoken before. It was simply impossible.
"Yes yes, we know, child," the other began to speak now, "Aoi-sama is a genius with magic..."
Before I could even conjure up something to say since I was in a state of shock, a familiar creature made his way over in my direction. I watched the eels race their way over and greet Aoi the same way they greeted me.
I stared strangely at the vial that was handed to me.
"You're only seconds away from being with your human lover."
My cheeks flushed a light shade of pink as I hesitantly reached for the small glass. Could I seriously just leave forever without warning? My father, my six brothers, my home, my tail... It was just so much for exchange with being on the surface and surrounded by humans.
Aoi seemed to have noticed my hesitance. "Don't worry, hun. It won't last forever, but it will last a good while. If you truly desire to stay a human then come back to me when it wares off."
I stared, still a bit uncertain. But as long as it wouldn't last forever, it would be okay, right...? I brought the vial to my trembling lips and downed the bit of liquid that was there.
For a few seconds there was nothing, but then the temperature suddenly felt awfully low. And I panicked when breathing became difficult. I could see Aoi merely smirking at my naked, suffocating state. My eyes closed, and then there was the feel of something wrapping around my trembling arms, quickly tugging me up toward the surface. It was such a long way, my lungs felt so close to bursting.
Reaching the surface, I was finally able to breathe but I could barely move or feel anything for the matter. It was so cold. Aoi's little serpent-like creatures were so kind enough to guide me the rest of the way toward the shore, though, abandoning my unconscious body there.
Reita had already left for home; more than an hour bypassed since we last separated. Maybe he really did take my words seriously...
Genre: AU/Fantasy, Romance/Fluff, Drama
Chapters: 2/6
Characters: ReitaxRuki
Author: Moi (kasumikinss)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Synopsis: One day, while Reita spends some time alone at the ocean, someone unexpected shows up...
Comments: Ruki's POV.
| Chapter 01 |
I hurried off, back toward the palace as fast as I could before the powerful king of the seas - or in other words, my father - noticed I'd left in the first place. He would grow furious. He never liked the fact I was always so adventurous; wandering way too far from the palace, wandering off toward dangerous parts of the oceans, wandering out of the ocean... He had six other sons, though, so I really didn't know why it mattered if I 'happened to get myself killed' or not.
I swam quickly past the guards of the entrance, leaving a trail of bubbles in my wake, rushing off toward the open area of my bedroom. I could see some of my brothers hanging around and, thankfully, no king anywhere to be seen. He must've been further back into the palace. Slowing down in my tracks, I made it to my room without any disruptions and took a seat in front of my bureau, lifting the brush from the dresser-top to watch my reflection brush its hair.
By the hazy, distant look that formed in my eyes, it was obvious I was in deep thought. Reita was on my mind, sending a light pinkish hue to my cheeks, forming a small smile to my lips, putting a certain warmth and happiness in my eyes that, hopefully, only I could see. My brothers would surely notice and question it - since I was usually a bitch to them.
My fingers were soon running girlishly through my brown and blonde strands. I stared downward for only a moment before looking back up to the mirror, jumping slightly when there was a smirking Yuzo in the background. I glared at his reflection. "What the hell do you want?"
He held up his hands in a defensive manner. "Just wondering what's gotten you so happy looking. Especially... after that oh so very long trip you made."
I could tell he knew something. How, though? I had no clue. "I got to get away from this family. That's all," I replied with a bitter smile, watching him roll his eyes. He casually made his way over to my bed and sat, causing me to turn around in my chair and stare strangely at him. "I've already told you what you wanted to know so you can like, leave now-"
"What do you see in humans?"
My eyes grew wide but I managed to keep my jaw from dropping, staring intensely at him.
"What do you find so spectacular about the surface?"
I continued to stare.
"Do you like risking everyone's lives, Taka? If humans know of our existence then nothing good will become of it."
My eyes softened slightly, still holding a stern look to them. "But Reita wouldn't..." my words trailed off. What was he gonna do? Report me? Tell people about us? Because if he truly liked me... then there was no way he'd do such a thing; he knew the consequences, too...
"So you admit that you've met one?"
I lost my brother's gaze and glared at the ground, pointing toward the door. "Leave, Yuzo..." Refusing my command, I felt my eyes widen when he was suddenly kneeling before me, gently grabbing my extended arm and stroking my skin lovingly. It was weird, seeing him like this.
"Taka, don't do this... There are plenty other fish in the sea."
We stared at each other for a second or two, the intense emotions quickly leaving our features, and we suddenly let out a laugh. I gently pushed him off my arm. "Yuzo, you're so corny." The mood had lightened up dramatically, quickly, but there was still an odd look to my brother's eyes.
"But really," he began before lifting himself up from the floor, pushing some strands from my eyes. "Be careful up there." I closed my eyes momentarily as he kissed my forehead. "Because if something happens to you it'll be all my fault since I knew about it from the beginning."
And with a thoughtful gleam to my eyes, I watched him make his way out. I smiled slightly; he wasn't going to tell...
~~~
A week bypassed quickly with Reita keeping me company whenever he could - this thing called 'work' was where he had to be half of the time. He'd warn me ahead of time if he would still come or not, and even on those nights he didn't I would make my way onto shore anyway. It was always nice to reminisce, or look around the foreign scenery, or stare up at the moon and wonder how exactly it just... stayed hovering in the night sky.
This particular night I just stared out at the calm waves, thinking. Until a voice shifted me from my thoughts.
"I didn't expect you to actually be out here..."
I turned to look behind me, staring up into familiar eyes. He wasn't supposed to make it today. Excited, I watched as Reita lowered himself onto his knees, leaning forward for our lips to meet. His arms slipped around my waist and with a soft stroke to a sensitive spot on my tail, I squealed, giving him the chance to slip his tongue inside my mouth. Our kiss was sweet, passionate. I was left nearly breathless when we finally broke apart.
With his arms still draped around me I leaned back into the warmth of his clothes, releasing a sigh of content when I buried the tip of my head into his neck. He was so warm. "Then why did you come out here?" I questioned, obvious curiosity in my tone as I continued to watch the waves.
There was a short silence, most likely of Reita contemplating an answer. "To think..."
"About...?"
He seemed hesitant to speak again, my eyebrows furrowing slightly as I pulled away from his hold and faced him. "Reita...?"
There was a certain distant and gloomy look to his eyes as they found mine, and I immediately frowned. He still refused to answer. Leaving me with no other choice but to assume the worst, and I definitely just did. Realization finally hit me and my eyes widened, an uncomfortable warmth to them. "O-Oh..." Of course he was thinking about us, our relationship, how badly it was working out so far, and how it would never work out in the end. I was just hoping it didn't have to be so soon for him to... get bored of me.
I failed to notice the concern in his eyes as I turned away, the vision of the ocean much blurrier than before. I hugged onto myself. "I should've known by now that no human in their right mind would want a... creature-"
"Ruki."
I tensed slightly at his stern tone, but continued anyway. "I should've known I'd never be good enough-"
"Stop."
"I should've known I was being so stupid to think this would actually work out-" I could feel Reita pressing against my bare back, pulling me from my balled up position to hug me tightly. Nevertheless, tears continued to pour from my eyes. "I'm sorry... I'm not good enough for you-"
"Don't you dare apologize."
His voice pierced right through me with ease, my sobs calming into small whimpers.
"Ruki, you're perfect. Ever since the first time I saw you, I thought the same."
"Then why don't you like me anymore?" I could hear my miserable voice clearly in my own ears and shuddered at how weak I sounded. It just wasn't like me at all.
"I never said that, Ruki. I never even meant to imply it." His fingers went to wipe at my wet cheeks as he continued. "It's just... difficult to not be able to show you just how much I like you..."
I immediately flushed. I could tell by the way his voice softened what exactly he meant by those words. Of course I wasn't completely clueless - unlike the other merpeople - as to a human's body parts. I reluctantly pulled away from his secure hold around me, crawling a few feet away and into the shallow part of the ocean. "Well then I guess... we shouldn't be together anymore if you wish to go further..."
Everything had happened so fast. There were sounds of footsteps, water, Reita's cries, my own sobs... Back underneath the surface, I hurried off in the only direction my brain could register, somewhere where I would be alone.
~~~
My face was buried into my folded arms atop of a boulder as I continued to sob quietly. I'd been in my private grotto for almost half an hour now, thinking over what exactly happened, what exactly I said, why exactly Reita called out for me to come back if he knew we wouldn't work out... We still had feelings for one another, and as much as it would benefit us to just separate now, we knew we couldn't. Somehow.
A sudden light touch against my bare back was enough to cease my cries, shoulders tensing. I kept my face buried, though. Once a few seconds of nothing else strange occurring had passed, I relaxed, only to feel fingers stroke through my hair. Gasping, I pulled myself up to stare wide-eyed at an unfamiliar octopus creature. He grinned mischievously at me, that odd piercing through his bottom lip giving off a light glare.
"My my. Well if it isn't the King's son."
He, whoever the hell he was, had gotten me in such a vulnerable position. My eyebrows furrowed in an attempt to glare but it must've came out as some sort of cute expression, seeing as that smile of his widened further. "Wh-What do you w-want...?" I cringed at how weak I must've looked.
"I just couldn't stand to see you cry anymore, hun," his deep voice replied as he slowly traveled around me in a circular motion.
My head lowered, avoiding eye contact. I could feel him suddenly playing with my strands.
"And I'm oh so sure that human boy couldn't stand it either." He seemed highly amused by my shocked expression. Grabbing a loose hold of my wrist, the octopus-like creature tugged me up from the ocean floor, ignoring my pathetic attempts to pull away from his hold. "If he wants a human then we'll just have to make you one, sweetie." He was smirking that smirk again...
It was so difficult to tell if I should trust him or not. But if he could truly do something so miraculous as to make me into a human, then I might as well go for it, especially if I wanted to be with Reita.
Tentacles wrapped themselves around my slender frame and before I could even push them away, he was dragging me along in some unfamiliar direction.
~~~
The octopus creature, Aoi, had instructed me to sit upon a boulder while he busied himself with something in the back. His place was dark, but not exactly eerie, another trait that made Aoi difficult to decipher. Releasing a soft sigh, I stared down at my tail, a bit of a longing look to my eyes as I watched its usual flutter against the water. They would substitute for legs soon...
Something brushing against my shoulder immediately caught my attention. Looking over, I found an eel swimming past. And then there was another brush against my other shoulder, causing me to look again. Another eel. They began to swim circles around me, which made me think they were trying to say something.
"Aoi-sama must really find a liking towards you," one of them spoke with an eerie, raspy voice.
I felt myself stiffen. It talked! No other creatures in the sea had ever... spoken before. It was simply impossible.
"Yes yes, we know, child," the other began to speak now, "Aoi-sama is a genius with magic..."
Before I could even conjure up something to say since I was in a state of shock, a familiar creature made his way over in my direction. I watched the eels race their way over and greet Aoi the same way they greeted me.
I stared strangely at the vial that was handed to me.
"You're only seconds away from being with your human lover."
My cheeks flushed a light shade of pink as I hesitantly reached for the small glass. Could I seriously just leave forever without warning? My father, my six brothers, my home, my tail... It was just so much for exchange with being on the surface and surrounded by humans.
Aoi seemed to have noticed my hesitance. "Don't worry, hun. It won't last forever, but it will last a good while. If you truly desire to stay a human then come back to me when it wares off."
I stared, still a bit uncertain. But as long as it wouldn't last forever, it would be okay, right...? I brought the vial to my trembling lips and downed the bit of liquid that was there.
For a few seconds there was nothing, but then the temperature suddenly felt awfully low. And I panicked when breathing became difficult. I could see Aoi merely smirking at my naked, suffocating state. My eyes closed, and then there was the feel of something wrapping around my trembling arms, quickly tugging me up toward the surface. It was such a long way, my lungs felt so close to bursting.
Reaching the surface, I was finally able to breathe but I could barely move or feel anything for the matter. It was so cold. Aoi's little serpent-like creatures were so kind enough to guide me the rest of the way toward the shore, though, abandoning my unconscious body there.
Reita had already left for home; more than an hour bypassed since we last separated. Maybe he really did take my words seriously...