Another World parts 1 & 2
Jun. 19th, 2004 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lotus_beautyOkay, this one needs a fairly odd introduction from me ^^;
This fic is a complete AU. I tried my best to keep Gackt's and You's personalities similar to their own, but as for the rest, they're totally screwed LOL. I'd written a fic very similar in the SxS fandom, and it never really sat right with me until I used Gackt and You in it. I really love this fic and I hope that everyone will like it as well.
Now, I just want to say I hate writing AU because sometime the personalities of characters don't really hold true, but like I said, I tried my best and well, I wrote it so I damn well better have enjoyed writing it. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT POSTING THIS, so please go easy on me? ;_; I'm also posting two parts because you don't see any GxY interaction until part 2 ^^;;
If some of you are wondering why I haven't written another part for Occupational Hazard, this fic is the reason. I've been working on this fic for about a week straight and it now has 68 pages with 11 parts so, enjoy ^.~
Title: Another World
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lotus_beauty
Rating: mostly PG-13 and some NC-17
Mood: romance, sap, angst, myth and magic
Warnings: AU, lemon, angst, plotting and evil innocence ^_~
Couples: Gackt/You
Summary: A merman given the ability to go to the surface and study humans, You saves Gackt from a storm at sea and is given a place to stay in return. You ends up falling in love with the human, but if someone found out about his secret he could be forced back to the sea, or worse, caged. Very slight Little Mermaid spoofs, and characters obviously younger than in real life.
Part 1
“I’m so glad we skipped out on that musical.”
A young man heard his friend and pushed his wet brown hair from his eyes to smile. “Being a noble has its perks huh?”
“No kidding!” The black haired girl floating in the water to his side mirrored his smile. “We’re going to get in trouble for leaving.”
“Psh, it’s worth it to get out of a stuffy concert hall down there,” the young man replied blandly and swam forward toward a sandbar. “Besides, basking up in the sun is way better than being stuck down in the cold water.” He let the water push him up onto the sand and scooted up to the warm dry part, fin and all.
“I wish I were human…” the girl murmured as she scooted up beside him, looking down at her shimmering fin. “Don’t you think it would be fun, You?”
You smiled. He had to agree with that. He turned to look at the cliffs of the peninsula they lived near and gazed at them for a moment. You had always wondered what humans were like. His curiosity was insatiable.
“Youuuu?” The girl waved her hand in front of his face. “You agree with me, right?”
“Of course, Megumi.” He sighed contented and leaned back on his elbows, enjoying the warm sunlight. “To be a human and not a merman… I wonder what it would be like.”
“Your parents would kill you.” Megumi giggled. “Just think, the son of a noble family wanting to leave to become a human.”
“I don’t think they’d be so mad.” You sat up and stared out at the horizon. “They never stop me from making any choices, and they’re always behind me when I make choices.”
“I wish my parents were like that. But you always make good decisions! Then my mother is always saying, ‘You should be more like that You! He’s such a smart boy!’ and stuff like that.” She sighed. “How is it that you’re so well-balanced?”
“It’s a gift,” You grinned and nudged her before going quiet. “I guess I just haven’t had the courage to make many dumb decisions.”
“Until today!” The mermaid grinned as her friend laughed. “I hope they punish you good!” She nodded.
“Fat chance.” He snorted. “‘Don’t do it again son,’ is about all the punishment I’ll get I bet.”
“I hope they lay into you.” Megumi stuck her tongue out at him. “You never get reprimanded for anything.”
“Maybe today is your lucky day.” You grinned and winked.
~*~*~
“Thinking, your Highness?”
The young blonde man blinked at the ocean he’d been staring at from the deck of the ship he was traveling on and turned to look squarely at a man almost his height with long blonde hair. He smiled at his long time servant. “Yukihiro, when am I not?”
“Point taken, your Highness.” The blonde man bowed with a grin then leaned on the railing next to the younger man. “What is it you might be thinking about?”
“You can call me Gackt, you know. You’ve been my servant for too long.”
Yukihiro nodded amused. “Yes, I know. So then you must call me Cha.”
The prince smiled at his friend and finally replied, “Eriko.”
“Ah,” the older man smiled knowingly and reached up to ruffle Gackt’s hair. “It will be fine, young master.”
Gackt smiled softly to himself. “I sure hope so.” He sighed quietly and let his eyes gaze over the sea again. “We’re going to be late. They’ll be worried.”
“The captain said we might hit a storm,” Cha told the prince quietly.
“I can see that. He’s trying to avoid it, but it seems it doesn’t want to be avoided.” Gackt frowned at the dark clouds in his gaze.
“It’s been a while since we went through one,” the servant murmured quietly. “We’re about due.”
“I suppose we’d better get ready to meet it head on then.” The prince grinned to receive a knowing smile. They’d live through it. They always did.
~*~*~
You cringed as he heard the doors of his father’s chambers slam behind him just after he swam out of them. His father had been really mad about You’s absence at the concert hall. How was he supposed to know they were going to surprise him and ask him to sing?
“Hah.”
The brunette looked up and rolled his dark eyes. “I guess it was your lucky day after all Megumi.”
“Not exactly.” She sighed and swam closer. “I got yelled at for not convincing you to stay.” She then looked around cautiously and whispered, “I could hear him yelling from my chambers. Was he really that mad?”
You threw his hands up and started swimming down the hall. “The orchestra leader called on me to do an impromptu solo! I can’t believe they didn’t tell me about it in the first place or I really would have shown up!” He growled and pulled on his hair, stopping in front of his mother’s door. “My father demanded I apologize for embarrassing him and my mother and write a formal apology for not attending the performance!”
Megumi made a face before looking at him sympathetically. “I’m sorry.”
He sighed and looked at the doors of his mother’s chambers. “It’s not your fault.” He looked back to his friend. “I think he’s still a bit sore about me not wanting to keep up the family line.” He chuckled nervously.
The mermaid blinked at him in shock. “When did you tell him?”
“A couple of weeks ago.” You looked down. “I don’t think he cares about it past the fact that I think he expected me to take his place.”
“Well, you still could… but…”
“But I wouldn’t have any children. I’d have to marry a woman just to have offspring and I just don’t feel like lying to myself.” You sighed.
“Your father loves you, dear.”
The two young merfolk looked over to see You’s mother peeking out of her room with a soft smile.
“Come here.” She pulled the door open and moved back as they drifted in, waiting for her to close the door.
“I need to apologize…” You bowed his head to his mother.
“No need. I wasn’t embarrassed.” She smiled and swam over to a mirror at the other side of the room. “Don’t worry about it, they made your father sing instead.”
“Is that why he was so mad?” Megumi asked amused.
“He was a little flat.” You’s mother winked and searched in a drawer on the wall, pulling out a large shell, opening it and pulling out two jewels.
“I think he’s still mad about before too…” You floated down to lay on the floor of his mother’s room.
The merman’s mother swam over to him and touched his cheek. “I think he’s just worried about you.”
You frowned. “Worried? Why?”
“Because I convinced him to let you have these.” She held out two iridescent pendants affixed on chains that floated before his face.
The brunette sat up as Megumi drifted down. “They’re pretty…” she murmured from beside him.
“What are they?” He asked his mother.
“I talked to your father and we decided since you seceded your place as heir, and you are more than curious about the human race, that we’d let you go up and study them.”
You stared at his mother in shock. Was this really happening? “Are you serious?” His face cracked into a wide smile as his mother nodded and he let out a holler of happiness, swimming around blissfully before returning to his mother, his mind and body feeling lighter than ever, but still reeling from the revelation. “I can’t thank you enough, mother!” He hugged her tightly as Megumi squealed with joy.
“Just don’t get hurt while you’re up there.” His mother kissed his cheek and smiled at him.
“I won’t. I promise.” The young merman turned his attention to the pendants, curiosity abound. “So how do they work?”
“When you wear them, you turn human and stay human. You can take them off and still stay human until you touch water.”
“Like if I was on the beach?” You asked, taking one to peer at it closely.
“Even a glass of water can do it if someone has the intention to turn you back,” his mother warned.
“I’ll wear it all the time then.” He nodded understanding, then frowned. “But, why are there two?”
“I was hoping Megumi would go with you,” his mother replied and held one out to the mermaid.
“Me? REALLY??” Megumi squealed and swam closer. “Are you sure?”
“I want you to watch out for him, like usual.” She smiled.
Megumi saluted. “I won’t let you down!” She grinned happily.
You smiled, happier than he’d been in weeks and hugged his mother tightly. “Thank you so much.”
“I love you,” she murmured as she hugged him back.
“I love you, too.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and moved back feeling a bit sad that he’d miss his mother while he was away, but far too cheerful to dwell on it. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you want. It’s not like you can really take anything from down here up there, so leave whenever you like, and return when you feel you’ve learned enough.”
“I could never learn enough.” You smiled, his heart tugging for his mother. “I’ll come back and visit you though.”
“Good.” The mermaid returned to the door of her room and opened it. “Be careful, okay?”
“I will.” You swam closer and touched his mother’s cheek, kissing the other, a thankful look in his eyes as his mother nodded. He moved away as Megumi hugged his mother and then joined him.
“I’ll see you soon.” His mother smiled and closed the door.
You smiled at the closed door, feeling rather that a new door had opened to a new and exciting chapter of his life.
~*~*~
Part 2
“Oh no…” Megumi murmured as she looked up to the surface. “It looks cloudy…”
“It feels like there’s a storm,” You commented as the water pushed them to his left, just before they surfaced. The sea just didn’t feel right today. He shook his wet hair out as they broke the surface and looked around. It indeed was cloudy and dark, as well as windy.
“We’re a bit off course,” Megumi yelled over the wind about their position.
“The water must have carried us farther out than we expected,” You replied as a wave pushed them. “Should we go back down and—” he broke off as the water began to pelt him from above. “Damn, it’s raining too!”
“Let’s go back down!” Megumi yelled as her friend turned.
“Wait!” You stopped as he stared at a ship looming to his right, a wave about to crash over its deck. His eyes locked onto two men, stuck in the middle of the boat as time seemed to slow. His stomach dropped as he watched the wave hit the deck and carry the two men off of the ship. As they fell, You saw that one had light blonde hair, but that was not what caught his attention, it was the bright red he saw streaking down the man’s cheek. You’s attention was pulled away when a hand grabbed his arm.
“Two fell!” Megumi said loudly over the wind.
“I’ll get the blonde, you get the other one!” You yelled, seeing his friend nod before he plunged under the water, going after the bleeding man. His heart raced in fear as his eyes searched and found the blonde hair below him. You swam as fast as his fins could carry him and finally caught up with the sinking man, pulling him toward the surface as quickly as possible, knowing he’d need air.
You pulled the blonde man up as he hit the surface and looked around. He’d lost the boat and, he feared, Megumi. He looked around for some place to take the man but could only see the water. He would have to wait until the storm subsided.
The young man in his arms coughed, spitting up some water as You noticed the wind dying down, seeing some clear sky in the distance. Good, he’d be able to find his bearings soon enough. Slowly, You’s sense of direction came back as the storm died down and moved away. It wasn’t long before he had a strong feeling that he had to swim to his right to find land, and so began to drag the young man in that direction, finding it a more arduous task than he thought it would be. The man’s clothing was soaked through and through, weighing him down, but that didn’t stop You.
Soon enough, as he’d expected, You could see some land and buildings on the horizon in the direction he was going. Determined, the young merman sped up, trying to save some time to get the man to safety faster. You slowed as he saw someone coming toward him, recognizing it as Megumi as he got nearer to the shore.
“Damn, you got a cute one!” She pouted as she approached. “I saved some shipmate with a potbelly and he smelled funny.”
You chuckled. “Is he cute? I haven’t really noticed.” He stopped and propped the man up in his arms as he rested a moment, treading water. You’s dark eyes traveled over the unconscious man’s form, stopping at his beautifully flawless face. Megumi wasn’t kidding when she’d said cute, but You would have said beautiful instead of cute, because the man was indeed far more beautiful than even some females he’d seen.
“Are you done staring?”
You’s head snapped up to see Megumi smirking. “I can’t help it!” He chuckled before shifting the young man to pull him to the shore.
“I can see why…” She swam closer to You as they made their way to the beach. “He must have hit his head on something. He’s got a scrape on his forehead.”
“Yeah, I know.” You slowed as be got closer to the beach until he could feel the sand then motioned Megumi closer to help him drag the blonde farther up the sand. When they finally had the man in a dry sunny spot, they moved away and rested.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Megumi asked, clearly concerned about the injury.
“I think he’ll be fine,” You replied with a smile and laid back to watch the young man while resting a bit. He then remembered he was still holding the pendant his mother gave him in his fist and opened it. He’d completely forgotten about it when they’d surfaced earlier.
“Are you going to put it on?” his friend asked quietly, a little fear in her voice. “You’ll be naked…”
The merman blinked. He hadn’t thought about that. “Maybe we should find us some clothing before we try. Humans would give us odd looks if we were walking around together naked.”
“Not to mention this guy would be disturbed by a naked man and woman sitting here when he wakes up,” Megumi said before dissolving into giggles.
“Ssh!” You snickered and scooted toward the water. “There are some crates floating out there. I’ll see if I can find a chest that might have clothing.”
“Wait!” Megumi scooted over toward a rock and pointed. “There’s a chest over here!”
“Great.” You grinned and made his way closer. “Is it locked?”
“Yeah, there’s a thingamabob on it.” Megumi looked at the lock holding it shut.
“Move.” You picked up a rock as she scooted back and smashed the rock against the lock, over and over until it broke open. He tossed the rock away and pulled the lock off, hoping to find something decent inside. Pulling the top open, he rifled around inside curiously. “I think there’s just mens’ clothing in here, but I’m sure you can wear some…”
“How do you know?” Megumi smiled as she peeked in and looked at everything.
“When you’re as curious about humans as I am, you learn as much as you can.” You smiled. “I think I know some pretty useless things underwater, but up here, it might really help.”
“Good. You can be my guide.” The mermaid giggled.
“Okay.” The brunette held the pendant up. “I’m going to put it on.”
Megumi gave him a thumbs up watching him move back on the sand. You didn’t know what might happen, so to be safe, he moved away from everything. He glanced at the unconscious man nervously and finally put the chain over his head, letting it rest around his neck.
For a moment, nothing happened. You then started to hear a far off ringing, eventually getting louder and filling his head at a very painful high pitch. As his hands gripped his head in pain, the feeling started flowing through his body, filling him with an ice cold, fiery ache that scorched him. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he felt as if his lower body were tearing apart, bones breaking and weaving anew. He didn’t know magic could hurt this much. And then, all at once it was gone.
You found himself laying on the sand on his side, a soothing hand touching his shoulder, petting it worriedly. “I’m okay,” he managed to croak and sat up, finding Megumi at his side.
“You screamed…” she whispered. “It scared me.” Her hand gripped his arm. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. “It hurt. It felt like my bones were tearing apart, and it seems like that’s really what happened…” The brunette looked down at his legs and touched his knees in wonder. “Amazing… I didn’t know how it would work.”
Megumi giggled. “Wow, you even have that!” She pointed at his crotch.
“I know what it is!” You grumbled. “Do you have to stare?” He moved experimentally, getting up on all fours and crawling to the chest to pull out a few things, putting them on haphazardly to cover himself. He finished with the pants (which had taken long enough, seeing as he was just learning how to move his legs) and was about to pull a shirt over his head when he heard the blonde man groan. He tossed the shirt away and slowly made his way to the young man, crawling carefully as he got used to this new appendages.
The young man squinted against the sun and blinked a few times as You put a hand up to shield his eyes. The former merman watched as the blonde shifted a little and his eyes seemed to focus. The man’s deep brown eyes made You smile a little, finding that they suited him very nicely. He then watched in surprise as the man’s hand found its way to You’s cheek, touching it with his fingertips.
“Beautiful…” the blonde man breathed as he stared up at You, awe written in his gaze. “Who… are you?” He let his hand drop, though You wished it would have stayed.
With his heart booming in his ears, it took the brunette a moment to register what the man had just said. “My… my name is You.”
“You…?” The man blinked lazily, his eyes a little confused.
“I saved you. You fell from the ship in the storm.”
“Storm?” The blonde’s eyes wandered around as he clearly was searching his memory. “Ooooh.” He started to sit up, grabbing his head as a grimace took over his face. “Ow.”
“I think you hit your head on something before you fell.” You turned the man’s head, taking a look at the scrape atop the bump on his forehead. “I don’t think it’s too bad.”
“Those are my pants.”
You followed the man’s gaze to the pants he was wearing and turned a deep shade of red. “Oh, I honestly didn’t know…”
“You saved me and then you stole my pants?” the blonde asked confused.
“Nononono! Just, please hear me out?” he begged of the man.
“What’s going on here?” The young man tried to stand but fell on his butt again, dizziness blurring his eyes. It seemed he found the ground a good place to stay. “Go on?”
“What’s your name?” You asked cautiously.
The blonde sighed. “Gackt.”
“Okay, Gackt. I’m You, and I’m from…” He sighed. “I’m from the sea.”
“Come again?”
“I’m a merman.”
“No you’re not!”
“Yes he is!”
Gackt turned his gaze to Megumi and stared. “What the…”
“I’m You, and this is my friend Megumi.”
“Oh my god…”
“Hi.” Megumi said cheerily.
Gackt pointed at You. “You’re a… a…”
“Merman?”
Gackt nodded.
“Yes.”
“But… you have…”
“Legs?”
He nodded again.
You smiled and scooted closer the blonde. “This pendant here makes it so I can have legs.”
Gackt then looked around suspiciously. “Am I dreaming? Maybe I’m hallucinating because of the bump on my head…”
“No, you’re not dreaming.”
“You’re really…?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
You’s face fell and he looked down. He didn’t want to turn back. He didn’t want to take the necklace off and get all wet again just to prove he was what he said. Damnit, it hurt! “I don’t want to.”
“Why not?” Gackt eyed him.
“It hurts.”
“What?”
“The magic hurts,” You said as he wrung his hands. “It tears your bones apart and puts them back together.”
“Are you serious?” The young man stared at him.
“Have I lied to you yet?”
“He wouldn’t know that!” Megumi huffed and rolled her eyes. “Look, I’ll put mine on, and I’ll show you!” With that she took the chain she’d been holding and pulled it over her head while the blonde man stared at her in complete bafflement.
For a few moments nothing happened and Gackt opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as Megumi’s hands went to her head and her eyes closed tightly. It seemed like she was in pain, resembling a bad headache. She then started to spasm, a scream escaping her throat as she was enveloped in a white light. Gackt shielded his eyes as You scrambled closer to the shaking girl. When the light faded, Megumi snapped and looked up at her friend from a fully human body.
“Are you okay?” You asked worried and pulled her closer, not wanting the other man to see the rest of her naked body.
“I’m okay,” she murmured, clinging to him. “You weren’t kidding about it hurting.”
“Here.” Gackt came crouched next to the two, holding a pair of shorts for her as well as a shirt. You pulled Megumi into his arms, feeling very protective of her for some reason. Gackt persisted by coming around to her other side and holding up the shirt for her to put on. She complied and was soon being helped into the shorts by You.
Gackt smiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t have eyes for her.”
“Neither do I,” You replied without thinking.
“We’re childhood friends,” Megumi told him. “Besides, he doesn’t like girls—ow!”
You hit her shoulder. “MEGUMI!” he yelled fuming, and very red. How could she tell this stranger something like that?
The blonde man laughed. “It’s okay. Who am I going to tell?”
“Does this mean you really believe that we’re merfolk?” Megumi’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, I do.”
“Yay!” She jumped up… and promptly fell on her arse. “Ow…”
The two men laughed as she blushed. “You need to learn to balance.” Gackt stood and held out his hands to help her up. “Come.”
Megumi slowly pulled herself up, holding the blonde’s hands tightly as she balanced herself standing. He then slowly led her around the small alcove. Soon enough, she’d gotten the hang of it and was running and bouncing around happily. You smiled as he watched her. He’d never seen her so happy and free.
“Your turn.”
You looked up to see Gackt holding a hand out to him and stared at it for a moment. Pushing down his nervousness, he took Gackt’s hand and pulled himself up, stumbling into the man at first, blushing a little. He realized that the blonde had taken off his shirt and the sun had made his body warm to the touch.
“Easy there,” Gackt murmured as he helped You right himself, smiling up at him. “Wow, you’re taller than I am! I guess you got lucky and received some long legs!”
You chuckled timidly and followed the blonde as he started to lead him around the sand. He caught on quickly and found the shorter man urging him to run, racing him down to the water, then kicking it on him. You growled playfully and splashed the blonde in return, finding Megumi helping him.
“No fair!” Gackt yelled as he was getting soaked again.
The three stopped as they heard Gackt’s name being called and turned. They saw a group of people coming toward them and Megumi hid behind You.
“It’s alright. They’re looking for me.” Gackt smiled at them and came to stand between them and the group approaching.
“What do you think they’ll do with us?” Megumi asked her longtime friend.
“I don’t know,” You replied, putting his arm around the black haired girl.
“Cha!” Gackt called as a long haired blonde stepped forward.
“Your highness!” It was a man that spoke, to You’s surprise, the long hair and pretty face betraying what he was. “We’ve been looking all over.”
“Cha,” the blonde pulled him aside to the two still standing in the water uncertainly. “These two saved me.”
“Highness?” You asked, finally realizing what Cha called him. He was a noble too?
“Are you a prince?” Megumi stared at Gackt.
Gackt smiled and looked down. “Yes. I’m the second prince of the country you’re standing in, and you’re my guests. I’d like to invite you to my home and reward you for saving me. I’d also like to be your friend, if you don’t mind.”
“Will there be food?” You asked with a grin. “I’m starving.”
Gackt laughed. “Of course. Come on, we’ll get you two all cleaned up and acquainted.” He waved them over and waited for them to come close before speaking again. “Cha, this is You and Megumi. Now, I know this sounds crazy, but they’re merfolk.”
The long haired man frowned. “What?” You’s stomach dropped a little for the second time that day. Would this man believe Gackt?
“Just bear with me.” Gackt put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “These two saved me and proved what they are. Now I’m pretty sure they’re not used to our world or customs, so I need you to get them situated comfortably while the servants twitter over me when we get back. Please, trust me until I can explain it more later.”
“As you wish, your Highness.” Cha bowed, looking slightly confused. He turned and barked orders at the servants, gesturing at them as he told them what to do.
“Wait,” You called and grabbed Gackt’s arm as some servants tried to hurry him away. “When will I see you again?” he asked worried, scared to be taken away from the only person he trusted in this place. What if someone found out what he was?
Their eyes caught and Gackt looked at him sympathetically before pulling him close for a hug and whispered, “Just do whatever they want, except don’t let them take your necklace off. Say it’s something precious to you in some way.” He smiled at You and clapped his shoulder before moving away with Cha, speaking to him quietly as the other servants politely asked You and Megumi to come with them.
You trotted after them, looking back at the prince a few times as they walked away, hoping that he could trust the man that he’d saved. Right now, he had no choice.
~*~*~
Comments? Questions? >___>;;;
This fic is a complete AU. I tried my best to keep Gackt's and You's personalities similar to their own, but as for the rest, they're totally screwed LOL. I'd written a fic very similar in the SxS fandom, and it never really sat right with me until I used Gackt and You in it. I really love this fic and I hope that everyone will like it as well.
Now, I just want to say I hate writing AU because sometime the personalities of characters don't really hold true, but like I said, I tried my best and well, I wrote it so I damn well better have enjoyed writing it. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT POSTING THIS, so please go easy on me? ;_; I'm also posting two parts because you don't see any GxY interaction until part 2 ^^;;
If some of you are wondering why I haven't written another part for Occupational Hazard, this fic is the reason. I've been working on this fic for about a week straight and it now has 68 pages with 11 parts so, enjoy ^.~
Title: Another World
Author:
lotus_beautyRating: mostly PG-13 and some NC-17
Mood: romance, sap, angst, myth and magic
Warnings: AU, lemon, angst, plotting and evil innocence ^_~
Couples: Gackt/You
Summary: A merman given the ability to go to the surface and study humans, You saves Gackt from a storm at sea and is given a place to stay in return. You ends up falling in love with the human, but if someone found out about his secret he could be forced back to the sea, or worse, caged. Very slight Little Mermaid spoofs, and characters obviously younger than in real life.
Part 1
“I’m so glad we skipped out on that musical.”
A young man heard his friend and pushed his wet brown hair from his eyes to smile. “Being a noble has its perks huh?”
“No kidding!” The black haired girl floating in the water to his side mirrored his smile. “We’re going to get in trouble for leaving.”
“Psh, it’s worth it to get out of a stuffy concert hall down there,” the young man replied blandly and swam forward toward a sandbar. “Besides, basking up in the sun is way better than being stuck down in the cold water.” He let the water push him up onto the sand and scooted up to the warm dry part, fin and all.
“I wish I were human…” the girl murmured as she scooted up beside him, looking down at her shimmering fin. “Don’t you think it would be fun, You?”
You smiled. He had to agree with that. He turned to look at the cliffs of the peninsula they lived near and gazed at them for a moment. You had always wondered what humans were like. His curiosity was insatiable.
“Youuuu?” The girl waved her hand in front of his face. “You agree with me, right?”
“Of course, Megumi.” He sighed contented and leaned back on his elbows, enjoying the warm sunlight. “To be a human and not a merman… I wonder what it would be like.”
“Your parents would kill you.” Megumi giggled. “Just think, the son of a noble family wanting to leave to become a human.”
“I don’t think they’d be so mad.” You sat up and stared out at the horizon. “They never stop me from making any choices, and they’re always behind me when I make choices.”
“I wish my parents were like that. But you always make good decisions! Then my mother is always saying, ‘You should be more like that You! He’s such a smart boy!’ and stuff like that.” She sighed. “How is it that you’re so well-balanced?”
“It’s a gift,” You grinned and nudged her before going quiet. “I guess I just haven’t had the courage to make many dumb decisions.”
“Until today!” The mermaid grinned as her friend laughed. “I hope they punish you good!” She nodded.
“Fat chance.” He snorted. “‘Don’t do it again son,’ is about all the punishment I’ll get I bet.”
“I hope they lay into you.” Megumi stuck her tongue out at him. “You never get reprimanded for anything.”
“Maybe today is your lucky day.” You grinned and winked.
~*~*~
“Thinking, your Highness?”
The young blonde man blinked at the ocean he’d been staring at from the deck of the ship he was traveling on and turned to look squarely at a man almost his height with long blonde hair. He smiled at his long time servant. “Yukihiro, when am I not?”
“Point taken, your Highness.” The blonde man bowed with a grin then leaned on the railing next to the younger man. “What is it you might be thinking about?”
“You can call me Gackt, you know. You’ve been my servant for too long.”
Yukihiro nodded amused. “Yes, I know. So then you must call me Cha.”
The prince smiled at his friend and finally replied, “Eriko.”
“Ah,” the older man smiled knowingly and reached up to ruffle Gackt’s hair. “It will be fine, young master.”
Gackt smiled softly to himself. “I sure hope so.” He sighed quietly and let his eyes gaze over the sea again. “We’re going to be late. They’ll be worried.”
“The captain said we might hit a storm,” Cha told the prince quietly.
“I can see that. He’s trying to avoid it, but it seems it doesn’t want to be avoided.” Gackt frowned at the dark clouds in his gaze.
“It’s been a while since we went through one,” the servant murmured quietly. “We’re about due.”
“I suppose we’d better get ready to meet it head on then.” The prince grinned to receive a knowing smile. They’d live through it. They always did.
~*~*~
You cringed as he heard the doors of his father’s chambers slam behind him just after he swam out of them. His father had been really mad about You’s absence at the concert hall. How was he supposed to know they were going to surprise him and ask him to sing?
“Hah.”
The brunette looked up and rolled his dark eyes. “I guess it was your lucky day after all Megumi.”
“Not exactly.” She sighed and swam closer. “I got yelled at for not convincing you to stay.” She then looked around cautiously and whispered, “I could hear him yelling from my chambers. Was he really that mad?”
You threw his hands up and started swimming down the hall. “The orchestra leader called on me to do an impromptu solo! I can’t believe they didn’t tell me about it in the first place or I really would have shown up!” He growled and pulled on his hair, stopping in front of his mother’s door. “My father demanded I apologize for embarrassing him and my mother and write a formal apology for not attending the performance!”
Megumi made a face before looking at him sympathetically. “I’m sorry.”
He sighed and looked at the doors of his mother’s chambers. “It’s not your fault.” He looked back to his friend. “I think he’s still a bit sore about me not wanting to keep up the family line.” He chuckled nervously.
The mermaid blinked at him in shock. “When did you tell him?”
“A couple of weeks ago.” You looked down. “I don’t think he cares about it past the fact that I think he expected me to take his place.”
“Well, you still could… but…”
“But I wouldn’t have any children. I’d have to marry a woman just to have offspring and I just don’t feel like lying to myself.” You sighed.
“Your father loves you, dear.”
The two young merfolk looked over to see You’s mother peeking out of her room with a soft smile.
“Come here.” She pulled the door open and moved back as they drifted in, waiting for her to close the door.
“I need to apologize…” You bowed his head to his mother.
“No need. I wasn’t embarrassed.” She smiled and swam over to a mirror at the other side of the room. “Don’t worry about it, they made your father sing instead.”
“Is that why he was so mad?” Megumi asked amused.
“He was a little flat.” You’s mother winked and searched in a drawer on the wall, pulling out a large shell, opening it and pulling out two jewels.
“I think he’s still mad about before too…” You floated down to lay on the floor of his mother’s room.
The merman’s mother swam over to him and touched his cheek. “I think he’s just worried about you.”
You frowned. “Worried? Why?”
“Because I convinced him to let you have these.” She held out two iridescent pendants affixed on chains that floated before his face.
The brunette sat up as Megumi drifted down. “They’re pretty…” she murmured from beside him.
“What are they?” He asked his mother.
“I talked to your father and we decided since you seceded your place as heir, and you are more than curious about the human race, that we’d let you go up and study them.”
You stared at his mother in shock. Was this really happening? “Are you serious?” His face cracked into a wide smile as his mother nodded and he let out a holler of happiness, swimming around blissfully before returning to his mother, his mind and body feeling lighter than ever, but still reeling from the revelation. “I can’t thank you enough, mother!” He hugged her tightly as Megumi squealed with joy.
“Just don’t get hurt while you’re up there.” His mother kissed his cheek and smiled at him.
“I won’t. I promise.” The young merman turned his attention to the pendants, curiosity abound. “So how do they work?”
“When you wear them, you turn human and stay human. You can take them off and still stay human until you touch water.”
“Like if I was on the beach?” You asked, taking one to peer at it closely.
“Even a glass of water can do it if someone has the intention to turn you back,” his mother warned.
“I’ll wear it all the time then.” He nodded understanding, then frowned. “But, why are there two?”
“I was hoping Megumi would go with you,” his mother replied and held one out to the mermaid.
“Me? REALLY??” Megumi squealed and swam closer. “Are you sure?”
“I want you to watch out for him, like usual.” She smiled.
Megumi saluted. “I won’t let you down!” She grinned happily.
You smiled, happier than he’d been in weeks and hugged his mother tightly. “Thank you so much.”
“I love you,” she murmured as she hugged him back.
“I love you, too.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and moved back feeling a bit sad that he’d miss his mother while he was away, but far too cheerful to dwell on it. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you want. It’s not like you can really take anything from down here up there, so leave whenever you like, and return when you feel you’ve learned enough.”
“I could never learn enough.” You smiled, his heart tugging for his mother. “I’ll come back and visit you though.”
“Good.” The mermaid returned to the door of her room and opened it. “Be careful, okay?”
“I will.” You swam closer and touched his mother’s cheek, kissing the other, a thankful look in his eyes as his mother nodded. He moved away as Megumi hugged his mother and then joined him.
“I’ll see you soon.” His mother smiled and closed the door.
You smiled at the closed door, feeling rather that a new door had opened to a new and exciting chapter of his life.
~*~*~
Part 2
“Oh no…” Megumi murmured as she looked up to the surface. “It looks cloudy…”
“It feels like there’s a storm,” You commented as the water pushed them to his left, just before they surfaced. The sea just didn’t feel right today. He shook his wet hair out as they broke the surface and looked around. It indeed was cloudy and dark, as well as windy.
“We’re a bit off course,” Megumi yelled over the wind about their position.
“The water must have carried us farther out than we expected,” You replied as a wave pushed them. “Should we go back down and—” he broke off as the water began to pelt him from above. “Damn, it’s raining too!”
“Let’s go back down!” Megumi yelled as her friend turned.
“Wait!” You stopped as he stared at a ship looming to his right, a wave about to crash over its deck. His eyes locked onto two men, stuck in the middle of the boat as time seemed to slow. His stomach dropped as he watched the wave hit the deck and carry the two men off of the ship. As they fell, You saw that one had light blonde hair, but that was not what caught his attention, it was the bright red he saw streaking down the man’s cheek. You’s attention was pulled away when a hand grabbed his arm.
“Two fell!” Megumi said loudly over the wind.
“I’ll get the blonde, you get the other one!” You yelled, seeing his friend nod before he plunged under the water, going after the bleeding man. His heart raced in fear as his eyes searched and found the blonde hair below him. You swam as fast as his fins could carry him and finally caught up with the sinking man, pulling him toward the surface as quickly as possible, knowing he’d need air.
You pulled the blonde man up as he hit the surface and looked around. He’d lost the boat and, he feared, Megumi. He looked around for some place to take the man but could only see the water. He would have to wait until the storm subsided.
The young man in his arms coughed, spitting up some water as You noticed the wind dying down, seeing some clear sky in the distance. Good, he’d be able to find his bearings soon enough. Slowly, You’s sense of direction came back as the storm died down and moved away. It wasn’t long before he had a strong feeling that he had to swim to his right to find land, and so began to drag the young man in that direction, finding it a more arduous task than he thought it would be. The man’s clothing was soaked through and through, weighing him down, but that didn’t stop You.
Soon enough, as he’d expected, You could see some land and buildings on the horizon in the direction he was going. Determined, the young merman sped up, trying to save some time to get the man to safety faster. You slowed as he saw someone coming toward him, recognizing it as Megumi as he got nearer to the shore.
“Damn, you got a cute one!” She pouted as she approached. “I saved some shipmate with a potbelly and he smelled funny.”
You chuckled. “Is he cute? I haven’t really noticed.” He stopped and propped the man up in his arms as he rested a moment, treading water. You’s dark eyes traveled over the unconscious man’s form, stopping at his beautifully flawless face. Megumi wasn’t kidding when she’d said cute, but You would have said beautiful instead of cute, because the man was indeed far more beautiful than even some females he’d seen.
“Are you done staring?”
You’s head snapped up to see Megumi smirking. “I can’t help it!” He chuckled before shifting the young man to pull him to the shore.
“I can see why…” She swam closer to You as they made their way to the beach. “He must have hit his head on something. He’s got a scrape on his forehead.”
“Yeah, I know.” You slowed as be got closer to the beach until he could feel the sand then motioned Megumi closer to help him drag the blonde farther up the sand. When they finally had the man in a dry sunny spot, they moved away and rested.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Megumi asked, clearly concerned about the injury.
“I think he’ll be fine,” You replied with a smile and laid back to watch the young man while resting a bit. He then remembered he was still holding the pendant his mother gave him in his fist and opened it. He’d completely forgotten about it when they’d surfaced earlier.
“Are you going to put it on?” his friend asked quietly, a little fear in her voice. “You’ll be naked…”
The merman blinked. He hadn’t thought about that. “Maybe we should find us some clothing before we try. Humans would give us odd looks if we were walking around together naked.”
“Not to mention this guy would be disturbed by a naked man and woman sitting here when he wakes up,” Megumi said before dissolving into giggles.
“Ssh!” You snickered and scooted toward the water. “There are some crates floating out there. I’ll see if I can find a chest that might have clothing.”
“Wait!” Megumi scooted over toward a rock and pointed. “There’s a chest over here!”
“Great.” You grinned and made his way closer. “Is it locked?”
“Yeah, there’s a thingamabob on it.” Megumi looked at the lock holding it shut.
“Move.” You picked up a rock as she scooted back and smashed the rock against the lock, over and over until it broke open. He tossed the rock away and pulled the lock off, hoping to find something decent inside. Pulling the top open, he rifled around inside curiously. “I think there’s just mens’ clothing in here, but I’m sure you can wear some…”
“How do you know?” Megumi smiled as she peeked in and looked at everything.
“When you’re as curious about humans as I am, you learn as much as you can.” You smiled. “I think I know some pretty useless things underwater, but up here, it might really help.”
“Good. You can be my guide.” The mermaid giggled.
“Okay.” The brunette held the pendant up. “I’m going to put it on.”
Megumi gave him a thumbs up watching him move back on the sand. You didn’t know what might happen, so to be safe, he moved away from everything. He glanced at the unconscious man nervously and finally put the chain over his head, letting it rest around his neck.
For a moment, nothing happened. You then started to hear a far off ringing, eventually getting louder and filling his head at a very painful high pitch. As his hands gripped his head in pain, the feeling started flowing through his body, filling him with an ice cold, fiery ache that scorched him. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he felt as if his lower body were tearing apart, bones breaking and weaving anew. He didn’t know magic could hurt this much. And then, all at once it was gone.
You found himself laying on the sand on his side, a soothing hand touching his shoulder, petting it worriedly. “I’m okay,” he managed to croak and sat up, finding Megumi at his side.
“You screamed…” she whispered. “It scared me.” Her hand gripped his arm. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. “It hurt. It felt like my bones were tearing apart, and it seems like that’s really what happened…” The brunette looked down at his legs and touched his knees in wonder. “Amazing… I didn’t know how it would work.”
Megumi giggled. “Wow, you even have that!” She pointed at his crotch.
“I know what it is!” You grumbled. “Do you have to stare?” He moved experimentally, getting up on all fours and crawling to the chest to pull out a few things, putting them on haphazardly to cover himself. He finished with the pants (which had taken long enough, seeing as he was just learning how to move his legs) and was about to pull a shirt over his head when he heard the blonde man groan. He tossed the shirt away and slowly made his way to the young man, crawling carefully as he got used to this new appendages.
The young man squinted against the sun and blinked a few times as You put a hand up to shield his eyes. The former merman watched as the blonde shifted a little and his eyes seemed to focus. The man’s deep brown eyes made You smile a little, finding that they suited him very nicely. He then watched in surprise as the man’s hand found its way to You’s cheek, touching it with his fingertips.
“Beautiful…” the blonde man breathed as he stared up at You, awe written in his gaze. “Who… are you?” He let his hand drop, though You wished it would have stayed.
With his heart booming in his ears, it took the brunette a moment to register what the man had just said. “My… my name is You.”
“You…?” The man blinked lazily, his eyes a little confused.
“I saved you. You fell from the ship in the storm.”
“Storm?” The blonde’s eyes wandered around as he clearly was searching his memory. “Ooooh.” He started to sit up, grabbing his head as a grimace took over his face. “Ow.”
“I think you hit your head on something before you fell.” You turned the man’s head, taking a look at the scrape atop the bump on his forehead. “I don’t think it’s too bad.”
“Those are my pants.”
You followed the man’s gaze to the pants he was wearing and turned a deep shade of red. “Oh, I honestly didn’t know…”
“You saved me and then you stole my pants?” the blonde asked confused.
“Nononono! Just, please hear me out?” he begged of the man.
“What’s going on here?” The young man tried to stand but fell on his butt again, dizziness blurring his eyes. It seemed he found the ground a good place to stay. “Go on?”
“What’s your name?” You asked cautiously.
The blonde sighed. “Gackt.”
“Okay, Gackt. I’m You, and I’m from…” He sighed. “I’m from the sea.”
“Come again?”
“I’m a merman.”
“No you’re not!”
“Yes he is!”
Gackt turned his gaze to Megumi and stared. “What the…”
“I’m You, and this is my friend Megumi.”
“Oh my god…”
“Hi.” Megumi said cheerily.
Gackt pointed at You. “You’re a… a…”
“Merman?”
Gackt nodded.
“Yes.”
“But… you have…”
“Legs?”
He nodded again.
You smiled and scooted closer the blonde. “This pendant here makes it so I can have legs.”
Gackt then looked around suspiciously. “Am I dreaming? Maybe I’m hallucinating because of the bump on my head…”
“No, you’re not dreaming.”
“You’re really…?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
You’s face fell and he looked down. He didn’t want to turn back. He didn’t want to take the necklace off and get all wet again just to prove he was what he said. Damnit, it hurt! “I don’t want to.”
“Why not?” Gackt eyed him.
“It hurts.”
“What?”
“The magic hurts,” You said as he wrung his hands. “It tears your bones apart and puts them back together.”
“Are you serious?” The young man stared at him.
“Have I lied to you yet?”
“He wouldn’t know that!” Megumi huffed and rolled her eyes. “Look, I’ll put mine on, and I’ll show you!” With that she took the chain she’d been holding and pulled it over her head while the blonde man stared at her in complete bafflement.
For a few moments nothing happened and Gackt opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as Megumi’s hands went to her head and her eyes closed tightly. It seemed like she was in pain, resembling a bad headache. She then started to spasm, a scream escaping her throat as she was enveloped in a white light. Gackt shielded his eyes as You scrambled closer to the shaking girl. When the light faded, Megumi snapped and looked up at her friend from a fully human body.
“Are you okay?” You asked worried and pulled her closer, not wanting the other man to see the rest of her naked body.
“I’m okay,” she murmured, clinging to him. “You weren’t kidding about it hurting.”
“Here.” Gackt came crouched next to the two, holding a pair of shorts for her as well as a shirt. You pulled Megumi into his arms, feeling very protective of her for some reason. Gackt persisted by coming around to her other side and holding up the shirt for her to put on. She complied and was soon being helped into the shorts by You.
Gackt smiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t have eyes for her.”
“Neither do I,” You replied without thinking.
“We’re childhood friends,” Megumi told him. “Besides, he doesn’t like girls—ow!”
You hit her shoulder. “MEGUMI!” he yelled fuming, and very red. How could she tell this stranger something like that?
The blonde man laughed. “It’s okay. Who am I going to tell?”
“Does this mean you really believe that we’re merfolk?” Megumi’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, I do.”
“Yay!” She jumped up… and promptly fell on her arse. “Ow…”
The two men laughed as she blushed. “You need to learn to balance.” Gackt stood and held out his hands to help her up. “Come.”
Megumi slowly pulled herself up, holding the blonde’s hands tightly as she balanced herself standing. He then slowly led her around the small alcove. Soon enough, she’d gotten the hang of it and was running and bouncing around happily. You smiled as he watched her. He’d never seen her so happy and free.
“Your turn.”
You looked up to see Gackt holding a hand out to him and stared at it for a moment. Pushing down his nervousness, he took Gackt’s hand and pulled himself up, stumbling into the man at first, blushing a little. He realized that the blonde had taken off his shirt and the sun had made his body warm to the touch.
“Easy there,” Gackt murmured as he helped You right himself, smiling up at him. “Wow, you’re taller than I am! I guess you got lucky and received some long legs!”
You chuckled timidly and followed the blonde as he started to lead him around the sand. He caught on quickly and found the shorter man urging him to run, racing him down to the water, then kicking it on him. You growled playfully and splashed the blonde in return, finding Megumi helping him.
“No fair!” Gackt yelled as he was getting soaked again.
The three stopped as they heard Gackt’s name being called and turned. They saw a group of people coming toward them and Megumi hid behind You.
“It’s alright. They’re looking for me.” Gackt smiled at them and came to stand between them and the group approaching.
“What do you think they’ll do with us?” Megumi asked her longtime friend.
“I don’t know,” You replied, putting his arm around the black haired girl.
“Cha!” Gackt called as a long haired blonde stepped forward.
“Your highness!” It was a man that spoke, to You’s surprise, the long hair and pretty face betraying what he was. “We’ve been looking all over.”
“Cha,” the blonde pulled him aside to the two still standing in the water uncertainly. “These two saved me.”
“Highness?” You asked, finally realizing what Cha called him. He was a noble too?
“Are you a prince?” Megumi stared at Gackt.
Gackt smiled and looked down. “Yes. I’m the second prince of the country you’re standing in, and you’re my guests. I’d like to invite you to my home and reward you for saving me. I’d also like to be your friend, if you don’t mind.”
“Will there be food?” You asked with a grin. “I’m starving.”
Gackt laughed. “Of course. Come on, we’ll get you two all cleaned up and acquainted.” He waved them over and waited for them to come close before speaking again. “Cha, this is You and Megumi. Now, I know this sounds crazy, but they’re merfolk.”
The long haired man frowned. “What?” You’s stomach dropped a little for the second time that day. Would this man believe Gackt?
“Just bear with me.” Gackt put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “These two saved me and proved what they are. Now I’m pretty sure they’re not used to our world or customs, so I need you to get them situated comfortably while the servants twitter over me when we get back. Please, trust me until I can explain it more later.”
“As you wish, your Highness.” Cha bowed, looking slightly confused. He turned and barked orders at the servants, gesturing at them as he told them what to do.
“Wait,” You called and grabbed Gackt’s arm as some servants tried to hurry him away. “When will I see you again?” he asked worried, scared to be taken away from the only person he trusted in this place. What if someone found out what he was?
Their eyes caught and Gackt looked at him sympathetically before pulling him close for a hug and whispered, “Just do whatever they want, except don’t let them take your necklace off. Say it’s something precious to you in some way.” He smiled at You and clapped his shoulder before moving away with Cha, speaking to him quietly as the other servants politely asked You and Megumi to come with them.
You trotted after them, looking back at the prince a few times as they walked away, hoping that he could trust the man that he’d saved. Right now, he had no choice.
~*~*~
Comments? Questions? >___>;;;
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Date: 2004-06-20 05:56 pm (UTC)