Chapter 1:

"It's been almost a year, Lina, since Mitsuki-sensei left and Hanon..." Luchia trailed off focusing her sight on the outcropping of rocks outside the hotel.

Lina gazed in Luchia's direction. Time after time Hanon... though was always smiling and laughing,...it just never reached her eyes and they would catch her looking out to the ocean more frequently in melancholy. "Yes, but what do you suggest? It's not like he's coming back."

"I don't know" Luciha mournfully admitted at a loss. "If only there was something that would help her feel better."

"Hmm." Lina grunted in affirmation.

They were at a loss what could make Hanon-chan smile like she used to when her 'Tarou-chan' was nearby. It was no secret that Mitsuki-sensei had met a mermaid before Hanon and that his heart lay at Sara's tail fin, but that did not change that their friend still loved him with all of hers.

Sara had chosen Gaito as her love and she slept deep in the ocean by his side, together forever.

After all the damage she had caused, because she could not "have" him, could not be with him; she had left Tarou Mitsuki alone.

He still loved her, his eyes sad as she shielded Gaito- choosing the same fate as him rather than be with him in life.

'Mm and he wrote such melodies for her too.' Luchia pouted.

Hanon had always joked that it was for her, but it had always been Sara that plagued his mind.

The night settled as they watched her dive to swim in the ocean that separated her from her One.

"Luchia. Hey Luchia!"

"Huh?" she snapped out of her thoughts. "Kaito. Gomen."

He lent back against the sofa cushion a bit frustrated and worried about her, "what's with you? Recently you've been out of it." He studied her suspiciously, "You getting sick?"

Blushing she laughed, holding her hands up, "No! I'm alright."

"You sure?" he smirked, "'cause I wouldn't mind," leaning down towards her, a mischievous grin on his face, "it was pretty fun when you were out of sorts last time." remembering how forceful she had gotten with him.

Gasping she covered her mouth. Her mind flash-backed to that time. If only Lina had warned her that mermaids were sensitive to certain human food, including drinks before she had any. She buried her face into a throw pillow from the couch, sinking deeper into the floor where she was sitting. "Mm-mm."

"You sure?" he repeated removing the pillow, gazing into her eyes. 'Boy her face is red.'

Not knowing what to do with her hands she placed them against her cheeks, closing her eyes and shaking her head. 'Oh, how embarrassing! Kaito, don't remind me!'

Now on the floor next to his girlfriend, 'I can't believe how long it took me to see it was Lucia all this time. So much time wasted.' he hmph in a half smile, brushing her bangs. "Luchia." Lowering her hands.

She opened her eyes still flushed, "Kaito." 'He's gonna kiss me.' She half closed her eyes and puckered to receive his kiss.

"We'll always be together Lucia. If anything ever tries to separate us," closing his eyes, cupping her chin, he tantalizingly closed the distance a bit more, "we'll always find the other, no matter where, just to be together again."

'Yes, Kaito, always. I'd follow you anywhere.' lips almost touching she lent into him when her eyes opened half lid. 'Follow?' with a gasp she backed up and stood in a flash move determinedly stating, "That's it!" leaving Kaito to face-fault forwards at her feet, totally ruining the moment.

'Ugh Luchia.' rubbing his shoulder due to the floor table right in front of them, "Luchia...," She was rounding the couch heading for the door. "Oy! Luchia!" He ran after her, "Wait!"

Energized she took off for the Pearl Hotel, Kaito right behind her. 'For a mermaid she can run!' He finally caught up to her near the entrance, "Luchia what's wrong? What did I say?" following her up the stairs.

"Hanon! Hanon!" she called her friend, hurrying to her blue haired girl's bedroom, throwing the door open startling her little jelly pet, "Hanon!"

Hanon turned from her desk, stunned out of her reverie, "Luchia?" watching the excited girl rush in and grab her shoulders, squeezing. She looked past her to see Kaito catching his breath, half bent over in her doorway. "Daijoubou?"

Luchia's eyes shone like copper and they started watering from happiness, "Hanon."

Suddenly, Hanon smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "Did Kaito finally propose?"

"Eh?" struck dumb at her question and the blunt derailing of her train of thought she blanked out until the words sunk in. "EH?!"

Kaito had even stopped trying to catch his breath at her words, he caught on faster, but her next question floored him. "Or did you two finally did some of this and that?" her grin expanding. With his face blood-red and his jaw dropping, he started stammering and waving his hands in a panic in front of him, trying to negate the idea.

Meanwhile if Luchia wasn't red before now she practically melted from the heat of her embarrassment. "No! It's not like that!"

"Really?" still teasing the pink pearl mermaid princess. Hands on hips, closing her eyes, she nodded in affirmation, "Luchia is crying from happiness, bathed in joy, that can only mean one of two things."

Kaito yelled back at her, coming into her room, "Well it's not!" coughing into his fist, he then put on a debonair front, "although..." touching his chin he glanced at Luchia giving her a sultry grin. "Iie!" throwing Hanon's pet food at him still embarrassed.

"What is all the noise about?" Nikora-san appeared, "we can hear you shouting all the way down." Lina and Hippo walked in right behind her, followed slowly by Taki-san.

Hanon smiled grasping her hands behind her back, leaning to the side to see the new crowd in her bedroom, "Kaito and Luchia finally did some of this and that!" pleased as punch with the reactions, she didn't give the other two a chance to defend themselves. They were horrified!

Nikora-sama blanched at the news. Her princess...did this...and that? 'Kami-sama, she'll never go back to the kingdom now.' Promptly she fainted at the idea, knowing on land she was "responsible" for Luchia.

The shock was too much for Hippo he reverted back into his penguin shape bawling on the floor, sobbing "Luchia no baka!" at the top of his lungs.

Taki-san froze in silence, not moving an inch, except for her eyebrow twitching. Her lips frozen in an uneasy half-smile.

All that wasn't as delicious as Lina's take on the news. She had immediately frowned, tense she carefully and slowly walked up to Kaito, fists at her side.

"No! It's a lie!" He put one arm in front to keep her at bay. "I swear it's a lie! We didn't!" Luchia wrapped her arm around Lina's, "Lina, it's not like that! Honest!" trying to drag her back.

Lina just kept walking, not noticing the extra weight, "You," she shoved his arm away, "took Luchia's special..." she shoved her index finger into his chest, her face right in his, "you will be responsible for Luchia!"

Hanon stifled her laughter, this was better than TV.

Kaito was backed up against Hanon's desk, practically sitting on top of it, "Oy! I didn't I swear!" he forced back.

"Lina!" Luchia dragged her feet but she wasn't able to pull her away or stop her advance. "Lina, please!" 'Kaito!' Suddenly Lina turned into Luchia's pull, hugging her to her chest, "Luchia, Kaito will man up to this, I swear." She turned her head back in his direction, making him jump, "You will marry her."

"Marry?!" Everyone, except the aqua blue mermaid, exclaimed. Nikora-sama had just woken up, hand on her head still a little light headed, but at Lina's announcement she got a devilish glint, 'Yes, if they marry we can force Kaito-kun to live at the palace and I won't be held responsible for this mess.' she practically beamed, "I'll sponsor the wedding! We can have it here at the Pearl Hotel!" Getting to her feet she clapped her hands in glee. "I'm sure Maki-san will help. Hippo stop crying you can carry the rings!"

"Luchia no baka!"

"Hippo..." she sweat-dropped, wanting to placate him. 'Kaito and I married?' going into a dream state:

Wedding bells, rice being thrown in the air, a white steepled church, the door bursting open as she and Kaito wave to all their friends.

Drool on her face, Kaito snapped at her, "Luchia!" Dispelling the image she tried again, "We are not getting married! Not right now at least." Flushed she hurried on, "we didn't do anything, so it is not necessary."

Breaking out in guffaws Hanon dropped on her bed, legs in the air laughing in merriment. "Mm, Hanon!"

"Gomen Luchia." calming down to a chuckle she nodded, "they didn't."

Ceasing the drama, Hippo stated, "I knew that wasn't real. Luchia is too smart for that. Mm-hm." Sweating under Luchia's glare at his comment; she pursed her lips, 'Hippo you liar.' but she didn't have time to argue with him. "We wanted to tell Hanon something about Mitsuki-sensei."

"Eh? Tarou-chan?" merriment all gone. She tilted her head in confusion, waiting.

"Mm," Luchia took Hanon's hands cradling them, "You've been really sad since Mitsuki-sensei left and it's not like you."

Hanon looked down, shaking her head. "Luchia..."

"Hanon!" cutting her off, "you love Mitsuki-sensei yes?" determined to get her point across.

"You know I do."

"Then listen," She made eye contact, "he may be gone for two years and we may not know if he will come back" Hanon winced, 'Gee thanks, cut me in two why don't you.' "but you can go to him!"

Blink, blink, "Eehh?!"

Lina grasped the plan, "you mean swim to Germany?"

"Mm," Luchia turned to Lina dropping Hanon's hands. "She can go be with him, if only for a little while!"

'I can see Tarou-chan again? Be with him?'

"That could work Luchia, but Hanon is still in school." sending one last glare at Kaito she walked to sit on the bed by them. "She can't just leave just like that."

"Holidays are coming up, she can go then. Think of it Lina, she can be with Mitsuki-sensei again!" turning to Kaito she held out her hand in invitation.

Warily he took hers, well aware she was pulling him close to her but also in close range to the green haired girl. "You do anything, go anywhere to be with the one you love." smiling up at Kaito.

'Oh now I get what she meant.' melting under her gaze he hugged her.

"But he is in love with the Orange Pearl Mermaid Princess Sara. How do you even know he would be happy to see..." Hippo trailed off. The entire room was giving him the evil eye. "What?"

"Hippo, don't just say things without thinking." Nikora-sama scolded.

A little voice interrupted, "No, he's right." Hanon was staring at her lap, "he may not even be happy to see me. Over there he can forget mermaids, can forget everything. If I went, I'd be a reminder of what happened."

Fuming Luchia turned on Hippo, "Hippo baka! Baka! Baka!" her shouts making him cower.

Arguing ensuing Lina pondered silently, crossing her arms. "Hanon, you've never given up before. Even knowing that he had another mermaid in his heart, you still wanted to fight and prove your worth to him. Turning his love towards you instead of any other mermaid." She relaxed, "you were always so sure of yourself that you could do it too. Don't give up. Go to him, see him, and if it is the same as always then you still have to fight ne?"

Kaito stepped up too, "he may be running because he hurts from what happened, but he did compose that song for you. That's proof enough you are in his thoughts. I don't think he'll turn you away."

"Lina, Kaito." Luchia clasped her hands at her chest, "Hanon try, we'll go with you."

Silence filled the room and still Hanon did not move. Her little jellyfish bur-burled in her tank wondering what she would do. Tears dropped onto Hanon's dress, but she finally looked up with a smile. "Okay."

Gasping her name in delight Luchia hugged her and Lina together laughing joyfully.

Now came the time to plan their journey to Germany and what Hanon should do once there.

Author's Note:

Nope I do not know what holiday is up for them to miss school. I am completely going off in a totally different direction lol I haven't finished the series or the anime, but that one part left a sour taste that I wanted to fix, if only for me ;)