Date: Sun, 7 May 2017 07:31:05 +0000 (UTC)
From: Andrew Bailey <feare909@yahoo.com>
Subject: Aquata Cove - Chapter 90

Aquata Cove
Chapter 90: Water About


"And then I'm in this big, dark space." Adam says with his back to the
cushion chair, looking at the ceiling, "And everywhere I look, there are
these glowing playing cards, all arranged neatly in a circular array around
me."

"Was there anything else there, Adam?" Donna asked as she sits in her chair
with her notepad and clipboard, "Did the cards do anything at all?"

"Some of them flip over, and just light up white, and sometimes I see
images coming out of them, like... Like... Gaahh, I don't know. All of them
just seem so familiar."

"It's alright, Adam, we often can't remember what happens in our dreams."

"That's the thing, though." Adam said, "Half of these dreams are so vivid,
I can't remember almost all of the details -- in THIS one, the cards
literally do feel familiar, whether I'm awake or asleep. As in, they feel
like I know them and I know what they're showing me, but I can't remember
what they're supposed to look like. I think it's like... Eating some kind
of food 2 weeks ago, and you know you LIKE it, but you can't remember what
you ate in the first place, and when you try to remember, nothing is coming
to mind, and it gets frustrating..." He sighs as he peers around to his
psychologist, "Is this making any sense?"

"Ahahahah, I think so, Adam." Donna chuckles, "You're very good with your
wording. See, what you're telling me is that your dreams are reaching out
to you, from your old life. So far, these dreams of yours are the safest
approach to helping your mental health."

"Well, that's not all to the dream."

"Oh? What happens next?"

"Well, it's like, I'm in the middle of the cards, and I look around,
and... I see ME."

"You see yourself? Like, as in a mirror?" Donna asked.

"Not really... It's like, while I'm looking at myself, I'm some kind of
stranger, and myself is looking right at me... Except this guy who looks
like me, he's... He doesn't have any color on him -- he's all black and
white and grey. And I remember my appearance was a little distorted."

"Really..." Donna says as she leans in, "Does this copy of you talk?"

"Well, I ask him, `Who are you?'. And he doesn't respond until I ask him a
second or third time."

"What does he say?"

"All he said was... `I am something that is supposed to exist'. And that's
all. That's all he says."

"That is interesting." Donna says with intrigue, "It seems like some
portion of your memory is still trying to reconnect yourself in a
metaphorical way."

"It's kinda scary though..." Adam says, "No matter what I say to him, he
just says the same thing. Over and over again, `I am supposed to exist', `I
am supposed to exist'. No matter what I ask him, he just keeps repeating
that."

"Does he do anything to you, Adam?"

"No, he just stands there, and tells me that phrase."

"Is there anything else in the dream?"

"Yeah... Eventually, I hear another voice. When I turn around, I see
someone else."

"Who does this person look like?"

"I... That's another thing... I can never remember what this one looks like
either..."

"What do you mean?"

"It's like, this person is the same no-color tone as the other guy,
but... I can't remember what he looks like. If anything, he's lighter, but
he's a lot more distorted than my look-alike."

"Does THIS individual say anything?"

"Well... That's the scary part..." Adam says lowly.

"How scary is it?"

"Well, sometimes, the dream ends differently. Most of the time, this blurry
person just does the same thing the other guy does, and just repeats the
same sentence."

"You mean, `I am supposed to exist'?"

"No. THIS guy says `I am a place you are supposed to go'."

"Oh?"

"And again, no matter how many times I ask, or whatever I say, these guys
just repeat themselves."

"... And what's the other ending like?"

"In the other ending... There is no second person... The guy who looks like
me just starts to hold his head and scream. He just starts yelling, like
he's in pain, and he eventually changes into the other person I see, still
shouting like he's being stabbed or something... And then he just turns
into smoke, before I'm suddenly falling into a bunch of shattered glass all
around me."

"How often do you have this dream?"

"At least about... Twice a week, I think. And I have other dreams besides
that one that are strangely detailed that I can remember."

"Such as what?"

"Well, last night, I dreamt that I was falling through the sky... Along
with a whole bunch of arrows -- like a bow and arrow -- and these... Like,
balls of light keep flying from below me and flushing out the other
arrows. When I look down, I see one of the balls of light in my face, and
then I woke up..."

"That one... MIGHT indicate you being under some sort of attack? I don't
know quite what to make of it." Donna says as she jots down a note, "What
else have you dreamt, Adam?"

"Well, in one dream, I see myself in this castle... This big, complicated,
crystal castle that has a lot of areas and structures that look more like
optical illusions. And I'm trying to find this one person who keeps getting
lost. Half the time, when I have this dream, the castle itself breaks apart
like it's under attack."

"Wow, that sounds amazing." Donna says while jotting a few notes.

"But... Every time I find whoever it is that I'm chasing, I only see them
for about a minute or two and then I wake up." Adam said sadly, and I
can't, for the life of me, remember who this person looked like."

"If these dreams are as familiar as you're describing them, would it be
possible for you to recognize real people if you were to meet them on the
day after you've had the dream?"

"Haven't so far, and I've been having all kinds of dreams like that for as
long as I can remember -- even when I was still in the hospital."

"Oh, I see." Donna nods, "Anything else that's been troubling you? We still
haaave," Donna checks her watch, "About 10 minutes left for this session."

"Well... A couple of days ago... I-It's about Merrick."

"Oh?"

"Yeah... See..."


~~~


"Aaaawwwooo!!! I'm such an IDIIIOT!" Merrick whines out as he presses the
pillow on his face. He grunts and moans as he slaps the couch cushion into
his face.

"Here, lemme help you." Yuri says before she takes Merrick's forehead, and
shoves the back of his head into the wall.

"Oowwww!"

"Merrick, I can't stress enough to you just how serious this is." Donna
said firmly in a chair, leering at him "Exposing yourself like that to
Adam, seducing him even?? His head is still damaged enough as it is, he
doesn't need you trying to sexualize him."

The door opens up, and in comes Jamal, "Hey'all"

"You!" Merrick says as he points to Jamal, "This is partially YOUR fault!"

"Whaat?" Jamal's voice cracks up as he stares at him, "The hell did I do?!
I just got here!"

"Your friend Sasha told me to get freaky with Adam, and I ended up freaking
him out!"

"I- Wha- Oh, is this about when you tried to fuck'im?"

"You KNEW about this??" Donna asked accusingly, "And can you please use a
better phrasing than that?"

"Hey, I took the wrap fo you, man!" Jamal says, "I told Adam it was a dare
I made ya do."

"Gaaaahhhhhd!" Merrick whined as he pushes the pillow in his face again.

"Whoever this Sasha is, Jamal, if you know her, I think you should tell her
just how this affected Adam."

"Agghhh, fiiiine." Jamal groaned.

"And YOU, Merrick." Donna turned to leer at him, "I expected better from
you. Seducing Adam before he's even ready to step outside the ward without
a chaperone?? What were you thinking?! You've always told me how
disciplined you are, and you do something like this?"

"Sasha told me about Sexual Healing, and I don't know what you humans do,
you have all kinds of ways of doing everything, I hardly know what and what
not to take seriously!"

"And at what point did you ever consider asking ME about any of that??"

"It's not fair. It's been a couple of months since this thing
happened. I've got needs, Donna, and he seems fine to me."

"Merrick, as his mother and his psychologist, I, and I alone will be the
judge of that. And I expect you to be patient and not pull anymore of these
stunts in the future."

"I hate thiiiiiis." Merrick groans, "Ok, so I went overboard against my
better judgment -- even I was feeling uncomfortable about it. All I wanted
was to get on my knees and have Adam melt in my mouth."

"PKLL!" Donna chokes in her teacup from that remark.

"Is that so much to ask?"

"Merrick!"

"Ooook, Merrick, tone it down a bit." Yuri said, while Jamal snickers and
shakes his head in the kitchen.

"What? It's not like I go around blowing every guy I see like Nick. You get
me, right, Jamal?"

"Hahahaha, leave me outta this, dude." Jamal barely says as he smirks as he
sucks an orange slice.

"I mean come on!" Merrick continues, "After two moons worth of hate and
fear that I've had to put up with, who wouldn't want to pet and ride a big
hairy beast-"

"Merrick!" Donna says at him, "You are talking about my son here! I am not
a prude, but I am not comfortable with you talking like that about him, if
you please!"

"You work with people's feelings and thoughts, don't you? You should know
better than anyone how sex relieves stress." Merrick asked, "Don't YOU
process that sort of tension with Luther??"

"Oh my God." Yuri says as she turns her face away, her cheeks getting a bit
pink.

"Merrick that is between me and my husband, and wish you would drop this
matter."

"I would, except me and Adam aren't married yet. I'm sorry, it's just been
far, far too long since Adam removed his pants and-"

"Alright, that's enough!" Donna says as she puts down her cup, "I'm going
to the TinTop to see Luther, and then I have to go back to the ward. Do let
me know when you want to stop being so childish, Merrick." She says before
she stormed off.

"Wow man, that was whack even fo me." Jamal says as he takes a load off
with them.

"Eh, it's how I handle my resentment towards her for keeping Adam locked up
like an infant. I still have my problems with her besides that."

"Merrick, you know she's only doing this for his own good, and even you
said you didn't like stripping and seducing Adam."

"I know, but honestly, I was hoping Sasha was right about the Sexual
Healing stuff, and since Adam is my soulmate, I honestly thought I had a
good shot."

"Yeah, blood rushing to and from his bruised brain, adrenalin racing though
his coping vessels, and unfamiliar feelings racking his nerves. Yeah,
brilliant plan there, Nemo." Yuri says snidely before she gnaws on a red
bean pastry.

"Which reminds me," Jamal says, "How's you and Dennis, by the way? You two
still goin out?"

Yuri swallows her treat, "Well, first of all, that was an unexpectedly
mature way of asking me, Jamal, bravo."

"Psshhh, aight, sorry" Jamal smirked, "You and he-"

"Ah-ah-ah, Jamal, I'll take this one." Merrick said, "Yuri, you and Dennis:
are you, or are you not, shaking the medical closet and shocking the nurse
staff with your wild and proper intercourse?"

Jamal snickers as he flops back and covers his eyes. Yuri stays silent as
she closes her eyes, and almost robotically, turns her head to
Merrick. After a few seconds of starring into each other's eyes, Yuri's
hand goes to the side, and slaps the back of her fingers into Merrick's
lower jaw.

"Ah, ow!" Merrick says as he rubs his chin area.

"Now that that's settled." Yuri says as she shifts back around in her seat,
"Yes, me and Dennis are still going out. He's a very patient young man for
my schedule, and he is incredibly shy, and that's just fine with me. Now,
take your sex jokes, and shove them up your prostates, you filthy pigs."

"WHA-" Jamal gaps his mouth, "What'd I do?!"

"You were THINKING, Jackass. And he gets that kind of junk from you - and
don't build off of that!" She pointed quickly.

"What? WHAAAT?"

"Still don't like this though." Merrick whines, "I miss Adam like crazy. I
just, I know he'd be fine if we were more intimate, and thinking that, I
feel like I can't go to him without wanting to hug, kiss, cuddle, and fu-"

"Merrick, I swear to God, I just beat that out of Jamal a while back, I do
NOT want to beat it out of you too." She said with a pointed finger.

"Ghh, alright alright, I'll lay off the bed stuff." Merrick said.

"So what'ya gonna do then?" Jamal asked.

"Think I'll spend some time in the ocean." Merrick said, "Maybe I'll give
Chibaku a call and see if he needs any research assistance."

"Wait, you're going back out there again?" Yuri asked, "For how long??"

"Don't worry," Merrick smiled, "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just going to
spend some time in the reefs and local areas. I'm still going in for work
and such, and I'll come see Adam when he's a little better."

"Aight, cause Nick's still not cool wit'chu just yet." Jamal says.

"I know, and I'm going to make up for it." He tells them. "I just think
some time in the water will do me some good. Maybe I'll swim by the docks
and screw with a couple of fishermen by pulling on their hooks again."

"GggGGG!" Yuri snickers and laughs, "Hahahaha, that actually does sound
funny. Right, well, I'm gonna go see Adam and introduce him to a few video
games to familiarize him."

"Aight." Jamal says as he gets up, "C'mon, Salls! Lessgo to the Hound Hut"
He calls, instantly getting his dog's attention as he goes to get her
leash, while Merrick gets up to go put on his sea equipment.


~~~


"Ok, thank you, Jessica." Adam says as he takes the black leather-bound
book with shiny golden pages, "I'll read it tonight." He assures her with a
smile.

"Bless you, Adam." Jessica says before giving him a kiss, "I'll see you
tonight."

"Alright. Oh- and thank you for-"

"I have to go! Bye, love!" Jessica says quickly as she climbs over the
railing, and scales it down.

"Ok..." Adam says, before putting his hand over his mouth and wipes it a
little. He appreciates her going to these lengths for him, but he's not
really comfortable with the kissing. He's gonna need to talk to her about
that... If it won't hurt her feelings TOO hard, that is...

"Hi Adaaam!" Yuri says as she beams in carrying some hard black box-like
item, just as Adam puts the Holy Bible onto his nightstand.

"Oh hey, Dr Yuri!" Adam says as his chest feels lighter as he feels a smile
come back on.

"You're looking better today." She pointed out as she closes the door.

"I'm doing ok, still bored with the job classes."

"Well, that's what I'm here for." Yuri smiles as she sets down the device
she has, "Got the O.K. from your psychologist, and I'm going to try jogging
your memory a little."

"Really? How so?" Adam looks curiously at the piece, "What's this thing?"

"It's a PlayStation4." Yuri answered, "It plays video games, aaand..." She
tucks her hand into her purse, and takes out a game jacket, "When we first
moved in together, this was the first thing we played together as
roommates."

Adam looks at the image of the jacket, "... Kingdom Hearts 1.5... 2.5
Remix? What does that mean?"

"Long story, but there's about 4 games in this disk, and 2 theaters worth
of scenes."

"Ooooook?"

"Just trust me. This was one of your favorite games ever." She says as she
takes a few cords, and hooks them up to Adam's TV.

"Alright, I'm game." Adam smiles as he takes a seat on his bed, while Yuri
starts it up. They go to Kingdom Hearts 1.5, and started a new game. Adam
raises his brows as the title on the screen flashes with twinkling music.

"Oh, wow..." Adam coos as he watches the graphics of the night sky and dark
clouds and the sheer metal-like sound effects of the letters and words. The
screen then shows the sleeping eyes of a boy with spiky brown hair, as if
he is sleeping on and off in a weird abyss of color.

The screen then goes to a blank area with flashing golden letters, before a
young voice speaks, "{I've been having... These weird thoughts lately...}"

Just then, Adam feels something. His fascination quickly turns into quiet
bewilderment as his mind goes back to his previous session with Dr
Donna. The screen zooms and moves around some different words, before the
boy speaks again.

"{Like, is any of this for real? Or not?}"

"Huh... Wow..." Adam mumbles as some tapping and techno music begins to
climb in the game.

"Hm? What?" Yuri asked as she sits on the floor, holding the controller.

"Ah- What? Nothing, just... It seems weird and cool, and kinda relates to
my life right now."

"I know, right?" She said with a smile before they both turn back to the
TV. "We spent so many hours playing these games in the past.


~~~


"Errff. Nnnhh!" Arnaav growls as he contorts and flexes his body as the
Kenovani hunts in the local rock barriers.

"Are you ok, Arnaav? You have been squirming like that for a long time."
Jegola says as she pushes her tentacles to move

"My items feel so uncomfortable!" Arnaav says, "It's almost like they are
trying to choke me."

"Hm..." The octopus mermaid examines his belts and ropes, "It seems you are
growing bigger than what you're wearing. You will have to mend or make new
wares."

"Grrrrrr," Arnaav frowns as he tugs at his vest, "I'm going to search in
this area." He tells her before his tail pushes him forth.

"Please, be careful!" Jegola calls after him.

Arnaav paws and swims through a large, gapping opening, with filtering
green and blue light around. His belly pushes against his belts, feeding
his frustration as he curls around in the water.

"Rrrrhh! No more already!" He says as he yanks at his items, and finally
kicks them off, breaking off one of the belts that held his dagger and
knife. "Fix it later." He growls as he just takes the two short blades and
swims up.

He sends a signal in one direction, one in another, and rolls in the water,
before his eyes spot something odd. Among the field of healthy algae-grass,
there is a pale, green-tinted round object tucked into the water gravel. He
swims downward and puts down his weapons.

"What is?" He ponders. It can't be a rock, it's too round and white among
the surroundings. Arnaav puts his paws onto it, and dug into around the
object. Pulling the orb from the rubble, Arnaav sees half of it is somewhat
preserved, before rubbing off the green mush off of it, and looking at it
all around.

Still half white and half light green, he sees a weird symbol on the ball
that is within the greener half.

"Ooh, I think I remember this." He says as he holds it up, and lets go. The
small ball sinks back down in front of him, before he picks it up
again. "Hehehehehe... Hey..." He looks all around the well-lit cavernous
basin around him. His eyes take in all the surroundings, small fish, and
branches of coral here and there.

"This... This is where..." He looks back at the ball in his paws. It looks
so much smaller than it used to...

"This is where I found that human girl..." He said, "When I..." His eyes
feel a tinge of sadness as he looks down. His little ears droop as he
recalls what happened. Arnaav looks up to the surface, before kicking his
hind legs from the bottom.

Arnaav's head breaks the surface as he looks around. He takes a small gasp
as he looks around. The same environment as all those years ago, the same
two pink-flowered trees as before, all those years ago...

Putting the ball onto a nearby rock, Arnaav irks as he pulls himself out of
the water, and picks the ball back up, leaning it onto a rock for balance,
turning his head around.

"Mizu!"

"MEEP!" Arnaav squeaked as he jumped, turning to a sudden voice from
above. He gasps as he sees a young Japanese girl standing up in an open
yard of an authentic, old-fashioned house. A young teenage human girl,
holding a school bag and dressed in her school uniform.

"Fumiko!" He squeals in his merfolk speech, which sounds like a strange,
purring noise, as he leaves the ball on the rock, and hops up on rock after
rock. He grunts and irks as he climbs up, slipping here and there, now
proving difficult to get up more.

"Mizu desu!" Fumiko makes her way downward, her heart pounding as she keeps
looking at the struggling otter. "[Is it really you?! Where have you been
for so long?!]"

Arnaav hears her, and watches as she approaches her, speaking that language
again. He needs to go back to Yuri NOW! Can't she be here right now or
something?!

"Mizu-" Fumiko hesitates as her eyes go to the intricate black symbol
imprinted onto the left side of Arnaav's chest, "Mizu, nani wa desuka?" She
asked as she pointed.

"Eerrr?" Arnaav purred curiously as he tilts his head.

"[What is this word?]" She says as she points closer, "[I don't think they
teach that kanji in school, what does it mean?]"

Arnaav looks to his chest, and puts a paw over it. He purrs sadly as he
lowers down to all fours.

"[Oh, wait, does it make you hurt?]" She asks with concern, "[What
happened?]" Arnaav shook his head. He can't understand her one bit, not a
single word. And this place... This place was where he was... And she
doesn't even realize...

"[Wait here, I will get my grandfather and ask him.]"

Arnaav's ears point up as he hears Fumiko's feet move away from
him. "Wait!" He squeaks as he crawls and scratches up as she goes. Fumiko
turns back around, and quickly pets Arnaav. The otter freezes as he stares
at her, his back flexing as she strokes him.

"[I will come back. Please stay, I'll be back soon.]"

Arnaav nods, gulping before she turns back around, and scurries
off. "Eeerrrfff!" He shudders and shakes for a quick moment, his fur
fluffing for a moment as a very weird vibe just raced down his spine.


~~~


Merrick walks along the cliff by the house, naked and fully armed with his
gear, with the addition of his cellphone securely inside an air-tight bag
with a hand towel, just in case.

He rolls his head to crack his neck, before diving right into the sea!

The water explodes all around him, instantly transforming his whole body
into his true form. His strong tail glimmers beautifully as he beats it
strongly. He closes his eyes and sighs a breath of water as he twirls
playfully. He needs to do more of this.

He pulls himself up and around a rock, signaling around, holding his
harpoon as he goes.

"Merrick!" Comes a voice.  He turns, and scoffs with glee as he sees a
green merman swim his way.

"Brishen!" He calls back as he kicks his tail hard to speed up. The two of
them take each other's forearms before embracing, "Is the pod here then?"

"Yes! We have just arrived!" Brishen takes Merrick's hand, and starts to
swim, "I am sure everyone will be glad to see you-" After pulling, his
webbed hand slips from Merrick's, who is now drifting backward. "Merrick?"

"I am Coshiton, Brishen, I cannot go back, remember?" He says, "If I come
near the pod, the Ningyo will awaken and come forth to get me."

"So what? We are far from Atlantis, it will not catch you for a short
visit."

"That's not how it works, Brishen." Merrick says with his arms crossed, "If
I go back to the pod, it will seek out the location of where we meet, it
won't just go away if I only stay for a less than a sun. If I come, so will
the Ningyo, and I do NOT want the authority of the Kingdoms anywhere near
these waters."

"Alright, I see." Brishen nods, "Is it even safe if we are together?"

"As... Long as I am not with the bulk of the pod, I should be fine. That's
what Father and Mother says."

"Great!" Brishen says as he tags Merrick's arm, "Let's go find the Tohora!"
He says as he swoops around and swims.

"Brishen! The Tohora is a sacred creature!" Merrick says as he quickly
follows his best friend, "Don't tell me you are going to hunt it!"

"Of course not! I just want to take some fins it sheds to make armor."

"Brishen, whales don't shed."


~~~


Arnaav waits on the rock patiently, turning his head here and around, in
case if anything else shows up. Patches of tan skin begin to show around
his body as the water has been dripping off of him; he's been waiting for
Fumiko to come back for up to an hour.

"HHH!" He suddenly gasps as a thought just occurred to him! He turns, and
dives back into the grotto.

Arnaav quickly burrows himself through the water, jetting quickly to his
discarded equipment. His paws seize his small pouch and nearly tear it open
to deposit his arm into it. "... Wha??" His paw shuffles and grabs into the
carrier, "Where is it??"

He pulls it open, and looks inside. The otter's insides purge with fear as
he can't see the magical, colorful twinkling of the butterfly ornament! "No
nononononono!" He turns it upside down and shakes it, letting his items
drift out of his case. He takes his belts and his sheaths, raiding through
them vigorous.

"No, please no! HHH!" His senses spike inside his little head. Arnaav whips
around, and sees a few distant humanoid images appear. He swims slowly up,
trying to make out the rippling images, before the water above drops a
small cluster of bubbles, before the half green half pale ball sinks into
it.

"The ball!" He paddles swiftly up, and catches it mid-drift, before he
instinctually goes right back up to the surface. "Ahhh!" He gurgles as he
shakes his head quickly, and looking up to see the figures.

"[There he is! It's my pet otter, Mizu!]" Fumiko pointed out as Arnaav
looks up at the girl, accompanied by two grey and silver-haired
elders. "[Mizuuu, come over here!]"

"Huh?" Arnaav tilts his head, until he sees Fumiko start to gesture her
fingers to point down onto the rock, "Oh!" Holding the ball with his paws
under his chest, Arnaav dips down and undulates his way back to the wet
rocks. He crawls and pulls himself up on the rocks taking the ball with
him.

"[Fumiko, that is no otter!]" The old woman tells her, "[Look at the
markings of its fur!]" She says, pointing to the elaborate formation
pattern of the boundary where the brown fur meets the cream-colored belly
fuzz. Arnaav looks curiously as she points.

"[It is a kitsune from the sea! A spirit who has wandered its way to our
midst...]" Fumiko's grandfather says.

"[But he has never hurt me. When we played all those years ago, he never
even left the water.]"

"[We never know of their true intent...]" Grandmother tells her, "[Be it
trickery or benign...]"

"[You must be careful, Fumiko. We do not know whether this kitsune plans to
take you away, or leave you in peace.]" Grandfather says auspiciously. As
they look at him, Arnaav's nose twitches, right before he sneezed and
tossed his head. Arnaav murrs awkwardly as his little paws rubs and brushes
at his face.

"[I'm sure he's harmless.]" Fumiko says, "[He's just a little different
from a regular otter. Here, I'll-]"

"[Wait!]"

Arnaav's posture suddenly erects, his ears turning, before he turns about,
and flops back to the water. The three of them watch as his body disappears
into the jade-colored waves.


Arnaav looks, and spots Ebba's shell vibrating and calling him. "Oh so
that's it. I need to go back." His short arms gathered his things, before
he looms forward to meet them.


~~~


Brishen and Merrick swim along a reef that is adorned with what appears to
be pearl/silver like ore. They cautiously look about the surroundings until
they find enormous, cavernous-like areas.

"Brishen, are you sure this is even a good idea?? Tohoras are rare and
gentle, but do we really want to provoke it?"

"I don't want to fight one, Merrick." Brishen says, "I just want to explore
their habitat, and see what I am able to find. You know we never hear tell
of any merfolk looking into a Sand Maze in these waters."

"Yes. Ever occur that there might be a reason for that? For all we know, we
could be disrespecting them."

"You are worrying too much-"

"Brishen, LOOK OUT!"

"BROTHER!"

Merrick flips as Brishen swerves out of the way as a 5-ft demonic looking
shrimp races suddenly out of the sand! Merrick shoots his harpoon, which
only rips once into the prawn's tail before it darts to them! Brishen
blocks as it reaches one of its thorny claws at him. "Ghhh!"

"It's a Lava Shrimp! Don't pierce it!" Merrick yelled, "Its insides burn!"

Brishen yanks his arm back, and flips to cut his tailfin into one of it's
whiskers and eyes! The shrimp growls a shrill noise as it thrashed at them
again.

Just then, a flash of aurora light illuminates the space between the mermen
and the shrimp, before swirling ice rabidly grew around and restrained the
crustacean. The devilish shrimp squirms and growls as the ice reforms and
shrinks like glowing, freezing vines as it is pushed down.

Merrick smiles as he looks up, and sees Savarna's hand glowing with the
cold power pinning the Lava Shrimp, with her short staff spiraling with
shards of light.

"Sister." Merrick says once the ice cracks solid and safely traps the
shrimp.

"Brother!" Savarna cuts off her magic, and swims to him, going into a tight
hug. "I sensed your aura, and I needed to see you!"

"I have missed you too..." Merrick said, "It has... It has been a difficult
time..."

"What?" Savarna asks her eyes looking into her sibling's. Right then, her
eyes see glimpses of a male human, with eyes that show no emotion, like a
heart was taken from him. The human suddenly seems so close, and then an
entire world away in distance, "Brother, what am I seeing?"

"What?" Merrick blinked, and then scoffed, "Oh, I get it. You are seeing
into my soul..."

"Mother said I can see the recent and most residual memories of others..."
She feels disquiet as she feels Merrick's energy, "I feel... Longing and
sadness... Brother?"

"It's my mate, Sister..." He tells her as he drifts back, "He..."

"Waaaaaahhhhhhlllll." A long, calm song sounds around them. They turn to
see a blue and platinum humpback whale, white-metallic swirl designs run
all along its body, shimmering in the sun's light from the surface as it
slowly swims by in the distance.

"The Tohora..." Brishen mumbles. These peaceful and lonesome whales are
smaller than the average humpback whale, and they live in huge labyrinths
of sand deep beneath the ocean floor in tropical regions.

"My mate's memory has been erased..." Merrick tells his sister as they gaze
in awe of the distant creature, "Savage humans attacked him to the brink of
death, and he lost every single moment of his past..."

"Brother, that's... I'm sorry..." Savarna says while she faced him, "Is
that really even possible?"

"I cannot even go to him, because his mind is so delicate now, and all I
want to do is hold him every time I see him."

"Will... Will he ever get his memories back?" Savarna asked. Merrick merely
closes his eyes, shaking his head, "Ohhh..."

"Me and Brishen were about to explore the sand maze of the Tohora." He
says, "Can you please come with us, Sister? We need your light..."

"Y-Yes! I will, Brother."

"Alright, lets go." Brishen says as the three of them swim into the dark
opening of the sand.


~~~


"With this, I have been able to contact several colleagues across the sea,"
Chibaku says to Yuri as he shows her the brand new, used communications
device that he uses for his research.

"So it's like a telephone, right?"

"Hahaha, yes, but I can call places or locations placed with the same
system, or I can send signals and Morse code to even the most remotest
locations connected with the same satellite.

"Cool. Can I try it?" Yuri asked.

"Yes, Yuri, but..." Chibaku hesitates around and looks about it, "I think
it wise to... Choose a less-often channel..."


~~~


Arnaav ponders as he sits on a large rocking buoy, the water dripping from
his fur, wearing only a belt with his knives and his pouch with his little
arms crossed.

"I lost her little treasure, this is horrible." He whines, "How am I
supposed to get her to like me when I am in human form? I can't just stay
like this with her forever."

"And that language. I can't understand them at all! Grrrrr..."

RIIIIIINNG

"MEEK!" Arnaav jumps and tumbles onto the water, clutching onto the buoy as
it suddenly started to ring and send all kinds of weird and disturbing
sounds.

"Base CHI-04 to Red Base 0.9, Base CHI-04 to Red Base 0.9, over." Says a
female voice.

"Hhh! Yuri!" Arnaav says excitedly as he climbs back up, "Yuri! Can you
hear me??" He asks out loud.

"Repeat, Base CHI-04 to Red Base 0.9, Base CHI-04 to Red Base 0.9, over."

"Yuri, it's ME! Are you there??"

"Come in, Red Base. Over."

"Grrrr! What is this human... Thing?!" He says as he takes pads and click
and press on whatever is supposed to make this thing work. It keeps
blinking with lights and sounds, and it's confusing him, along with how
Yuri is able to talk through this thing. Is it even her, or some illusion
created by humans?!

He squeaked with alarm as something suddenly fell, connected to a coiled
link. His paws quickly snatch it as he holds it up to his mouth, "Yuri!
Yuri, can you hear me?!"

"Come in, Red Base! Over."

"Ahh, ahhh," Arnaav looks at the number buttons on the panel of the buoy,
and press on random dials, "Yuri! Where are you!? I'm here!"

"Red Base, do you read me? I think you are coming through."


~~~


"Yuri! I can hear you! Yuri, are you there??" Comes a fuzzy response.

"Oh hey, someone answered." Yuri says with a little surprise.

"Now we adjust the frequency to tune the connection." Chibaku says as he
turns the dial.

"Yuri! Can you hear me?? I'm trying to talk to you!"

"Uh..." Yuri looks strangely at the machine, "This is Base CHI-04, what is
your identification number... And why do you know my name?"


~~~


"Yuri, it's me! Arnaav!" The otter says as he holds the communicator with
both paws, "I found a weird human metal thingy on the surface!"

"Oh my gosh, this is awesome! How are things with the Kenovani?"

"Yuri, you gotta help me! I lost the little treasure!"

"The... The what? I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time hearing you, let me
adjust the signal."

"The little treasure! The one that looks like a manta ray with tiny stones
on it!"

"Manta Ray? What are you talking about?"

"The- grrrrr! Th-Th-The sparkle thing, I was trying to give back to
Fumiko!"

"Ohh! The butterfly hair piece."

"Yes! That! I don't know where I dropped it in the ocean! And-"

"Wait, Arnaav, calm down. I have it."

"You do?? How?!"

"I found it on the floor some time after you left. It's been on my desk the
whole time."

"C-Can you get it to me?? I need it!"

"I'm sorry, Arnaav, I can't."

"WHAT?! Why not?!"

"It's hard to explain, I just can't. Why do you need it?"

"I found Fumiko! I found her in an old place I used to go, and she's there!
With two other humans who seem old. I need the little treasure to make her
happy and show those other humans that I'm good!"

"I'm sorry, Arnaav, but it's going to have to wait."

"No, wait! I can come back and get it! I can be fast, and return it to
her!"

"Arnaav, if I understand this right, you're in Japan, that's halfway around
the world from where I am. It'll take you a couple of weeks -- er, about 20
or so suns for you to go to Hawaii and back."

"20 suns?! But I need it NOW! Those older humans don't look like they trust
me! They're speaking that language you're teaching me, and I don't know
what they're saying!"

"Ok, let me think... So, Ryo, yeah, same kind of... If I were to guess,
given how superstitious her grandparents are, and if they're ANYTHING like
mine, they probably think you're a... Mischievous fox spirit from the
ocean."

"What's a fox??"

"It's called a `Kitsune'. They're a mystical creature in Japanese lore."

"Yes! Kitsune, they were saying that word! What does it mean??"

"They're mostly seen as tricksters and shapeshifters who are both playful
and deceptive. They can come from any element, so I'm guessing they're
afraid of you."

"Afraid?? What did I do?? What's gonna happen??"

"Well, they're either going to set up some anti-spirit tags or other
talismans or something like that to try and keep you away -- but since
you're not actually a kitsune, that's not going to do anything. At best,
they may just leave you offerings like small treats or gifts so you don't
curse them or else bring good fortune."

"But I don't know HOW to curse or give them fortune! What do I do??"

"Hahahaha, it's ok, Arnaav. They're not going to hurt you, I highly doubt
they're even going to try and chase you off. Just go with it, act like they
are appeasing you, and maybe they might like you. It might help if you give
them a gift every once in a while -- that'll show you come in peace."

"Ok... Ok, I think I can do this." Arnaav nods, "I'm going to try it,
Yuri. Can I talk to you again with this... This thing right now?"

"I... Don't think you can, I can't use this thing a lot, my Father needs it
for his work."

"Alright... Alright, I'm going to try. I'll see you when I come back." He
says before he then leaps into the sea.

"... Arnaav? Arnaaaav. Are you still there? You have to hang up the
device. Arnaav? Arnaav!"


~~~


Merrick walks up to the glass sliding door, and pulls it open. "Hellooo!
Anyone home??" He calls out. There comes no response, so he turns back
around, "Alright, it's safe, this way." He nods as he walks in.

Savarna follows him into the house, her bare feet pressing on the soft
carpeting as her long dress billows around her ankles, made from transmuted
sea foam and sand. She beams around in awe as she looks all around in the
human dwelling. So many foreign objects and sights in here, it's all so
strange.

"So this is where you stay now?" She asked looking at the ceiling, then at
the couch, and the TV, questions upon questions about the purpose and
function of these things.

"When I'm not with the Kenovani pod, yes."

"I'm looking into several auras and energies in here. If I focus... I think
I can trace the actions of previous beings who were here."

"Eeeeer!" Comes a high-pitched mew as a tiny white creature comes running
up to them, its small tail in the air as it gallops.

"Ah! What is that?" Savarna asked with intrigue. Merrick smiled as he turns
and picks up the baby animal.

"This is an animal called a `Kitten'. He belongs to my mate." The little
cat purrs as Merrick rubs and scritches his fingers into its soft fur.

"It is like a tiny shachihoko." Savarna coos as she strokes it.

"And in here," Merrick says as he guides her to the bedroom, "This is where
I go to sleep." As they enter, he takes off his headband of shark teeth.

"Wow..." She says as she looks with her mystical eyes. She sees residual
energy clinging to the very walls and objects organized in the areas here
and there. "So this is your Sea Spot?"

"In a way." He chuckled, "My old one is inside a cave not too far from
here." He says as he takes off the belts from off of his body, and setting
them up on display he has for them, as well as putting aside his harpoon.

"And you never go to stay anywhere else? You and your mate just stay here
to live every sun? You don't travel like the pods?"

"That's right. We stay in one place." Merrick says as he then takes a pair
of satin shorts from the drawers. He sets Skyler down and plays his fingers
with the kitten, as he flops on his side as his little legs kick while the
baby teeth bite at him.

"And your mate... You say there is no cure for his illness? Does the
Forbidden Ancient live on this land?"

"I've already asked her... A lot. Memories are a part of the soul, Sister,
and no one can directly handle them."

"Hohhh..."

Merrick sits down on the left side of the bed, looking to the floor, "He
slept right here... I can't stop thinking about him, Sister..."

"Brother... I'm... Sorry..." Savarna says lowly. Merrick turns to her with
a strange look.

"For what?"

"After you were banished... You remember, I tried to kill him... I
convinced myself that if the human you bonded with was dead, Father and
Mother would let you come back..."

"Aheheh, it doesn't quite work that way, Sister. It's ok though, I
understand."

"No, it's not..." She turns her hand in the air, "I recognize the energy
that lingers partially here. I know it's his aura. And there is no such
malice or hatred or evil in it that I was trying to extinguish... And even
sampling into your memories." She says as she looks at her sibling, "I can
see he was so much more than the monster who took my Brother away... I am
able to see that he was a protector, loved by so many, a gentle being... I
still can't understand what he could have done to deserve what you have
told me that happened..."

"Yeah... Humans... They're both advanced, and savage..." Merrick takes a
breath, and huffs it out, "I can wait though... He doesn't know me anymore,
but when we were young, he waited 6 moons apart just for me each and every
time the pod came to these waters..."

"So you will wait for him to love you again this time."

"Yeah." Merrick nods as he smiles sadly, " I can wait... I can wait..." He
sniffs as he wipes his tears, and gets up, "Come on, I'll make us some
food."

"Food? Hunting?"

"Humans don't hunt for food," Merrick says, "They-" The door suddenly
opens, and Jamal walks in with his golden retriever. "Wha- Jamal!"

"HHH!" Savarna gasps as she quickly hides into the room.

"Merrick? What you up to, man?" He says with a smile, "Though you was
hangin at the sea."

"I-I came back, I just felt like it." Merrick said awkwardly, idling
casually, and letting a pause go by.

"You uh... In the middle of something?" He asked.

"No, no, just... Walking around the house." Merrick said.

"Psshh, aight," Jamal hangs up the leash and crosses his arms, "Even I
ain't that stupid. You hiding something."

"No, I'm not, Jamal, I just, I don't feel really social right now."

"Aight, what is it, what'yu hiding?" Jamal walks past him.

"JAMAL, WAIT!" He grabs him, and yanks him back.

"OW! Man, what the fuck??" Jamal tumbles backward, yanking Merrick down
with him.

"Ah- Jamal, ack!" Merrick grunts as he falls.

"Ruff! ARooroorooroo!" Sally barks and jumps around excitedly around them.

"Brother!" Both of them feel a panicked wind of ice race along them.

"Whoa- shit, wha-"

"Wait, stop!" Merrick springs back up, and shots forward. Jamal scurries
backward on the floor as he looks at Merrick quickly taking the hands of a
young, pale-blonde girl, which is sparkling with bits of cold around.

"Who the, what???"

"Br-Brother, they were attacking you, he-"

"Just get back in the room, now!" He says as he rushed her in. Merrick
turns to see Jamal getting up, rubbing a thin layer of frost from his head.

"Aight. You wanna tell me why I just got slushied??"

"Ahhhh... Ok, Jamal, you got me." He said, "That girl there? Is my Sister."

Jamal's brows raised up, "Fo real?"

"Yes, Jamal, I thought the house would be empty, what the heck are you
doing here??"

"I don't go to work fo another hour, I was just taking Sally out fo a
walk."

Savarna hides behind the doorframe, looking past the frame to see the
large, dark-skinned human. His aura flares with a bold presence that rushes
from and around his body like a wide stream.

"I can... I guess I'll chill someplace else if ya wanna hang with her,"

"I don't think we should, actually. She's probably already overwhelmed as
it is." Merrick says.

"Up to you, man."

"It's fine. I uh..." Merrick blushed as Jamal's figure and masculinity
brings a familiar flash into his face and elsewhere... "She can't stay out
of the sea for too long, I need to bring her back."

"Aight then. Just... See ya, I guess."

"Cool." Jamal then turned and go to the kitchen. Merrick went into the
room, and offered his hand, "Come on, Sister, let's go, he won't follow
us."

"A-Alright..." She said, shaking from head to foot, holding Merrick's hand
tightly as they walk. She peers at the man again, and trots quickly with
her brother.

"Shyit. Make me feel like a creep, why don'tcha?"

Walking out, Savarna looks over again at the house, and then sees another
human on the property -- a female. One with very light skin, curved eyes,
and long black hair. This woman's aura is a cool, silken, and calm breeze
around her.

"That's Yuri. She's the human healer I mentioned before." Merrick tells
her. Savarna looks up at him, "And that human that came into the house just
now? His name is Jamal."

"I don't know how you can ever do this, Brother..." She says, "Living
amongst humans... Let alone living with so many in one place. I'm still so
scared... Just this alone has me overwhelmed."

"Hahahah, it's not as terrifying as you'd think." Merrick says with a
chuckle, "Don't get me wrong, the world is full of bad humans, but there
are just as many good ones, like all of the humans that I've come to
know. I owe them everything..."

"What do you mean?"

"Those humans, in that house, right now," Merrick says as Savarna sees the
bursting, virile energy, and the slow-whirling wind of the other within the
dwelling, "Both of those humans saved my mate's life when he was viciously
attacked... Jamal struck down the monsters who nearly killed him, and Yuri
nursed him back to health."

"Where were you when all of this happened, Brother?" Savarna asked,
"Wouldn't you have protected him?"

"I... Yeah... It was when I came to the pod, and asked to see
Mother... When you, I, and Brishen went to guide those Abyssal Turtles..."
He sighs as he shakes his head.

"Ohh..."

"I was only gone for a few suns... I wanted to give him something
special... The one time I left for a short time, and he was broken when I
couldn't save him..."

"Brother..."


~~~


"Alright... Alright... Yuri said... Give them a gift. A gift, a gift..."
Arnaav says as he paces around in the water. It's been about one sun since
Arnaav spoke to Yuri, and the Kenovani has already moved on. Arnaav had to
persuade Samudra and Vanora to go on ahead, he'll just call for a Capricorn
when he wants to catch up

"What do humans like? Maybe... A shell??" He picks one up, and lets it
drift down, "No, no no no, that won't do. Maybe... Ooh!" He spots his own
headband made of smaller scallop shells, "Maybe she will like this?"

Just as he turns it, the band breaks at an end, making it more like a
10-inch belt. "Noooo!" He growls. "Well... From what I've seen, this would
make a passable trinket... Alright."

"Alright, Arnaav..." He tells himself, "Act appeased... Show no
trickery... Act appeased... Ok."

Holding the link of shells, he flops his tail and hind legs up, and swims
to the surface. His head pops out, and he looks around. "Huh?" His eyes
spot several hanging paper tags posted on thin metal rods around the
basin. The charms twirl in the breeze, clinking the bells attached to them,
each paper inscribed with anti-spirit kanji.

"Hm..."

"Mizuuu!"

Arnaav immediately turns around, and gasps as he sees Fumiko standing at
the rocks, a little closer than yesterday. He paddles right on over,
squeaking with joy as he comes. Arnaav climbs the few rocks out of the
water, just as Fumiko pets him and scratches his back.

"[Good Mizu, good boy!]" She praised. Arnaav's nose moves and sniffs as her
hand then dips into a bucket. His eyes brighten as she picks up a pink
shrimp, which is soon moved near his mouth. She's actually feeding him?!
Arnaav's little jaws snap at the shrimp, his paws tending to his maw as he
ate.

"[Wait right here, I want my friends to see you.]" She says before she
stands and goes.

"No, wait! Don't go!" Arnaav says as he takes her ankle. Fumiko turns back
around, hearing the otter bark and rattle his voice at her. She and coos at
him before she squats down.

"[Ohhh, it's ok, Mizu, I'll be back. Don't worry.]" She gently removes his
paw, showing him hand gestures for him to stay put, and then trots off,
setting the bucket aside on one of the higher rocks.

Arnaav waited anxiously for Fumiko's return, waiting for a little over 10
minutes before his ears perk up when he hears her voice. He turns around
and squeaks with joy as she comes into view... With two other young teenage
girls, wearing the same uniform as Fumiko, even her same age. He quivers
and lowers as they come closer to him.

"[Oh my gosh, is that your otter?!]" One of them asked, a girl with a bit
more weight on her than the other two.

"[He's cuuuuuuuute!]" The other one cooed, this one is a little
taller. Arnaav notices a few things they're holding, like a couple of other
buckets, other trinkets and other items Arnaav is not familiar with.

"[I haven't seen him for years, and he just came back out of nowhere just
yesterday!]" Fumiko says, "[Here, watch this. Mizu!]" Arnaav looks to her
as Fumiko takes out another shrimp, "[Catch!]" She tosses it up in the
air. The otter gasps as he reaches up, and catches it! The girls coo as
they watch Arnaav munch and devour the shrimp.

"Omnhnhnnhn... Hhh!" Arnaav flinches as the second girl, one with blue and
yellow colored streaks in her hair comes near him. His eyes and nose lock
onto a shrimp held by a pair of thin wooden sticks.

"[It's ok, Mizu...]" She says carefully, "[Go ahead... It's ok...]" Arnaav
hesitantly nears his face to her hand, before his paws gently take hers,
and he bites at the shrimp.

"[Good boy~!]" Fumiko encourages as she is suddenly behind Arnaav, petting
him, "[How about a nice bath now?]"

"Hm?" Arnaav looks curiously at the brush strapped to Fumiko's hand -- it's
covered in a white, bubbly substance. He lets her brush into his
back. "Ohhhh, that feels good..." He purred as he arches his back.

"[Oh my gosh, he is so adorable!]" One of the girls squeals as she rubs and
scratches under Arnaav's neck. Arnaav shudders as he leans his head back to
allow more petting. He smiles as he sees a rush of water pour down his back
to rinse off the sea-mammal soap from his fur.

"[I can't wait to see how handsome he'll look with these bands." The other
girl says as she adjusts the trinket-like headband and other wares they
brought for him, all of them adorned with kanji and Hirogana lettering
spelling out `Mizu', including a shiny collar.

"Ohhhrrrroohhhrrr," Arnaav murrs as his fur is washed with the
clean-tingling soap, almost just like how Yuri bathes him, "Mmmyes, yes,
this pleases me." He flexes his stomach to let them pet and scrub him,
"This pleases the otter spirit. Mrrrrr~"


~~~


Night falls over the island, and the full moon bares a bright red blare in
the night sky. It gives the land a vast, intense glare of crimson to the
private picnic on the sand Adam sits on.

He looks at the ominous rose-red orb in the sky... Something about the red
moon gives him a sense of dark foreboding, and... Comforting nostalgia that
he can't quite place.

"I don't like this." Jessica says, "The eclipse is really not making me
feel comfortable tonight, Adam."

"I think we're ok." Adam replies, "Yeah, it's... Kinda creepy, but it'll
pass eventually."

"I still don't like this, I think we should go ahead and just call it a
night." Jessica dismisses as she started to pack up the food.

"Wha- Wait, it's not that bad, Jessica." Adam says as he gets up, "The
lunar eclipse is a rare event, isn't it? Lets just stay here and look at
it."

"It's not romantic, Adam. It's satanic." Jessica says sternly, "I'd really
not discuss this any further."

"I-, hahhh... Alright, fine. Lets go."

"Alright, fold up the blanket, and lets get going."

"Ok..." Adam says as he does as he's told. Jessica is a little on the
demanding side, isn't she? Was she always like this before the incident?"


~~~


Else where, perched on a rock in the middle of the splashing ocean, Merrick
gazes up in the partical, heart-filled light of the red moon. His dry,
human hands rest on his gleaming tail, his upper half smooth and dry by the
wind, while his lower body still wet and fish-like.

He takes a deep breath, and lets out a sad sigh as he looks down at the
wavering surface. This red moon has almost passed... He and Adam are
supposed to be together, to both glimmer in the love of the Sea
Mother... Would Adam even have the light in his hair and his eyes like he
is supposed to?

"I've missed it again..." He muttered in wry sadness.

"There will be other Red Moons, Son." Comes the deep voice of Kaiken from
behind. His hand holds onto the rock Merrick is sitting on, his shoulders
above the surface as his powerful tail keeps him afloat.

"... I know..." Merrick replied, "It's still unfair..."

"The Waves of Fate favor no one."

"Has... Has sister found her mate tonight?" Merrick asked.

"No. This was only her second Red Moon." He says, "But the gathering is
still young." He noted, seeing the moon half white and half red.

"Yes..." Merrick nodded, "After all, I was bonded when the moon had just a
sliver of red left upon it..."

"Yes..." Kaiken says as he looks up to the moon. "There is always a chance
in one form of another... Is there not..."


~~~


Arnaav purrs and runs his back under Fumiko's hand, under the night
sky. His throat rattles with delight as he nuzzles the top of his head into
her palm.

"Hahaha, [Grandma and Grandpa were so wrong about you.]" She says as she
pets Arnaav. Fumiko's friends stayed for a few hours to play with Arnaav
before they went home. Fumiko has spent most of the evening playing with
her otter.

"Ohh!" Arnaav moves his paw up and down, before he turns around to dive
into the water.

"Huh?" Fumiko stands up, and watches. Seconds later, Arnaav resurfaces,
holding a link of small shells, tied by seaweed tethers with a few pearls
embedded into it, with a shell slice tied on either end -- Arnaav had time
to decorate and add to it.

"[Oh you made this? Is it for me??" Fumiko says with a smile as she takes
it. Arnaav puffs his chest with happiness as she looks at her gift. "[It's
beautiful]" She says as she pets Arnaav some more. "[Grandma will know you
favor us now.]" She chuckled.

Arnaav smiles more as Fumiko strokes him, under the light of the red
moon. "[I am glad you're here again, Mizu... I thought you disappeared a
long time ago...]" She scratches at his ears, "[It's good to see you've
made it back.]"

At that moment, their eyes meet. Arnaav's wet fur starts to radiate a
wavering, water-refracting light around and on his body. Though she doesn't
really notice, Fumiko rubs her forehead into Arnaav's cheek as her own
black hair refracts the same magenta glow, as does her own eyes.

"[I think you really DO bring good luck...]" Fumiko muttered as she feels a
rush of deep, flourishing emotions.

"I still can't understand a word you're saying." Arnaav says, sounding only
like a cute array of calm and affectionate squeaks. His chest floods with
new and enhanced feelings as he hugs what he can with his short arms.