I Knew You Were Waiting—Chapter One

by taitofan

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations

Disclaimer: I don't own Mermaid Melody in any way, shape, or form.

Author's Note: Yeah, I have no excuse for this. Just... Ultimate het otp of all time right here. I'm using anime canon, and I take a lot of liberties with the Winged Ones' backgrounds. Also, if cheating in relationships is a deal breaker, well, you might wanna consider whether this is for you. Multiple identity shenanigans are ahead too!

Flames do nothing but make me laugh, although I'll listen to any CC you have. Please read, review, and enjoy! Finished 03-21-13

One month.

Lucia Nanami had one more month to live on land as a human, and as far as she was concerned, that was about fifty or so months too short. But with Michel out of the way, there was really no more reason for her to stay. Nikora had wanted her to leave right away, but amazingly it had been Hippo who'd convinced her to let their princess have time to tie up her loose ends.

Lucia had a feeling it was more so Hippo had enough time to assure Yuuri would go with him, but she didn't say anything. Whatever worked was fine by her… Even if she highly doubted Hippo needed more than thirty seconds to convince her.

Hanon and Rina had decided to stay as long as Lucia was, and she thought that boys probably had to do with it more than she did. In Hanon's case, she was almost certain of it. It was a problem Lucia didn't particularly have considering her own boyfriend's heritage, but one she sympathized with all the same. She didn't want to leave the land forever to rule, and that was knowing she'd see Kaito. Having the same fate but adding in never seeing the person you'd grown to love sounded far too cruel.

She was trying to look on the bright side though. Life on land and life in the sea were peaceful, she had Kaito, all the lives lost during the battles had been restored by Aqua Regina…

Well, most of them.

Honestly, she'd been surprised to see the Dark Lovers, Black Beauty Sisters, and even Gaito and Sara alive and well. Sara was no longer a princess, but she was still a mermaid, though she'd chosen to stay with Gaito rather than return to her homeland. The Dark Lovers left with them for the sea, but the Black Beauty Sisters were staying on land, if the number of time Lucia had spotted them was any indication.

There were three faces missing though, and Lucia wasn't sure why. She didn't know the specifics on how the Winged Ones had died, but since Michel was involved it was likely similar to the fate Sheshe and Mimi had faced. They were back though, so why not the others? Was it because they were the only ones who weren't aquatic? She didn't know why else Aqua Regina couldn't do it, and Lucia didn't believe for a second that it was because the queen close not to. Or maybe…

Maybe they were alive, and just choosing not to show themselves.

Lucia hoped for that outcome more than anything. Every time she walked around town, she looked for any sign of them, though she'd given up asking for her friends' help. Rina didn't seem interested, and Hanon flat out told her she was silly for hoping creatures whose songs could harm them were alive. Lucia had just barely hidden her anger; they weren't evil anymore, they couldn't be. They were being used by Michel and Fuku, and if everyone else had changed, she knew they had too.

She couldn't answer Rina when she'd asked why it was so important. She didn't understand how they couldn't find it important that three beings weren't dead.

She still looked out for them. She just didn't talk about it. The last thing she wanted was to spend her last month fighting with her best friends, who she wouldn't see for a very long time. Surely, Hanon didn't really mean it like that anyway.

…Right?

The Pearl Piari was closing, as Taki would be leaving with them, but she and Nikora had decided to leave it open a bit longer, if only to have something to do until the time of their departure. Rina and Hanon were spending more and more time with Masahiro and Nagisa, but Lucia still tried to help Maki out when she could. He had assured her that his restaurant would be fine even without the hotel, but she still wanted to do what she could.

Recently a new restaurant on the other side of the beach had opened up, though it was more expensive and, in Lucia's opinion, snootier. She'd passed it many times since it's opening, and she swore she'd never ever eat there.

…But then she saw a giant parfait that a young couple were sharing and decided that it wouldn't hurt to check out the competition just once.

She was brought to a small table built for two by a tan girl a bit older than she was, and immediately she felt out of place. There was absolutely no one besides her that was there alone. She was going to look silly eating a giant parfait by herself, she just knew it. But there was no way she could leave now, and it wasn't like Kaito would agree to come here with her, let alone eat parfait together, and she really wanted that parfait…

"How are you today miss?" Lucia was startled out of her worrying by the new voice. She looked up and saw a young man looking down at her. He seemed around her age, with brown eyes and long black hair pulled into a ponytail. There was an air of familiarity about him, but Lucia didn't have the chance to give it much thought.

"Oh, um, I'm fine thanks." She had a feeling she looked awkward and nervous and certainly not fine, but the waiter only smiled politely and offered her the card that served as their menu.

"Wonderful," he replied kindly as she accepted it. "Do you need a moment, or are you ready to order?" Well, she knew what she wanted, but not what it was called or if she could even afford it.

"Well, I was thinking about those parfaits…" The man chucked, and Lucia wasn't sure why, but she found the sound very nice.

"They're very popular with couples. Do you have a boyfriend joining you today?"

"O-oh, no, I'm by myself." He looked surprised, and Lucia hoped he didn't take it the wrong way.

"I'm shocked that such a lovely girl doesn't have a boyfriend. Such a shame…" He gently pulled the menu out of her hands, giving her a soft smile that made her face warm. "I'll bring your parfait right away."

As he walked away, Lucia couldn't do much but stare. She knew she should correct him, but, well, she wasn't used to guys flirting with her. And he was really cu—

She shook her head to get the thoughts to leave her mind. Kaito! She loved Kaito and that was all there was to it. But hey, it wasn't like Kaito didn't think girls were cute sometimes, right? Right. This wasn't a big deal or anything. Not at all. Besides, the waiter was probably just being nice…

"We've been coming here for weeks and Kou hasn't said anything like that to us!"

"What's so special about her anyway? Maybe Kou just likes her big boobs."

Lucia had to stop herself from whipping around to look at the table behind her. Were those girls talking about her? She didn't know why anyone would be jealous of her. Even if they didn't know about Kaito, it wasn't as if she'd flirted back.

But if they were talking about her…then his name was Kou. It was a nice name…

"Here you are, princess." …and she really needed to stop thinking like that.

"Thank you," she said curtly, annoyed with herself and hoping to get across that she wasn't interested. "But my name isn't princess, it's Lucia. Lucia Nanami."

"Well, Lucia, forgive me, but you look like a princess to me." Oh, if he only knew! "I'll leave you to your parfait now." He set a slip with the price on her table and began to walk away, but he stopped after a few steps and turned back. "By the way, my name is Kou Mori. I hope I'll see you soon, Princess Lucia."

Of course, she wouldn't. She wasn't coming back to this place, and in a month she really would be Princess Lucia. Just, under the sea and away from delicious things like parfaits. But just for today, she'd enjoy herself and her treat and try not to think about all the complicated things in her life.

"Ah, you're back already." Lucia refused to feel guilty. That parfait had been really good and it was pretty cheap for its size. If she'd never get to eat another one once she left, she was going to eat as many as she could before that time came.

"You aren't in uniform." She knew that was the wrong thing to say when he grinned.

"No, I just got off. But, perhaps the princess would like some company?" She didn't think that was a good idea; it was too much like a date. But it wasn't a date if it was between two practical strangers, right?

"Um, well…" She knew she should say no anyway, but at the moment the tan girl from the day before came up and looked them over.

"Kou, is this kid with you?" Lucia couldn't believe the look an employee was giving her, and she grabbed Kou's arm in response, hooking it with her own.

"Yes I am," she announced a little louder than probably necessary. "He's joining me for parfaits, right Kou?" He looked surprised at her sudden change of attitude for but a moment before he gave her a smile that could melt the heart of any girl. Except her. Definitely not her. She was not flushing, no way.

"Of course princess, of course. Now Touko, please set me and my cute date, won't you?" The waitress looked just as jealous as the girls from the day before were, and Lucia hated to think that she could see why. Because it wasn't like she knew this guy. She just knew he was ridiculously charismatic. But still… Why did he seem so familiar?

She tried to think of nothing but the sweet taste of parfait, but she couldn't completely push away those feelings of familiarity and guilt.

Kou entered his apartment building. It was small and run down, but it was out of the way and dirt-cheap. And no one asked any questions about the two girls living with him who never seemed to leave.

"I'm home," he called out as he locked the door. The drapes were closed tightly as they always were, and he wasted no time in getting out of his work clothes. And into his real body.

With a shimmer of light, Kou disappeared. Brown eyes turned lavender, black hair took on a burgundy sheen, perfectly human teeth became pointed, and the waiter's uniform became an open blouse, short skirt, and knee-high boots. And lastly, a pair of sleek black wings sprouted from his back.

"Welcome home, Lady Bat!" Alala, in her true form, was always the first to greet him. Lanhua was usually quick to follow, depending on how frustrated she'd been at their predicament that day.

"Hello Alala. How was today for you two?" Alala's smile quickly faded. She crossed her arms at her chest and pouted.

"Boring! I really wanted to go outside, but Lanhua still won't let me. How much longer will we have to stay in here?" Lanhua came into the room looking very grumpy, and he could only imagine how long they'd been arguing.

"Until we're sure those mermaids are gone." Alala looked ready to start the argument right up again, and after his good day, he really didn't want to hear it.

"I'm sure she could go out in a disguise or something…"

"She was posing as a Lolita popstar," Lanhua pointed out, not for the first time. "Of course someone would notice and blow her cover. No way, it's dangerous even letting you leave, especially when you work near the ocean. If we didn't need money, I'd lock you in the closet or something."

"We can't stay here forever," he tried to reason. "Besides, I told you that I've seen Sheshe and Mimi. I have no idea why you insist the princesses would care if they found us too."

"We're different. We aren't part of the sea. If one of them found out we're ancient chimeras, they'd—"

"You're giving them entirely too much credit." He cut her off sharply. That wasn't what he'd wanted to be reminded of today at all. By the look on her face, she knew it too. "They never brought it up before, and surely they would have if they knew. But fine, if you're so concerned, I'll start looking around after work to see if there's any sign they're still around. If nothing happens in a month though, you'll let Alala go out, okay?"

"Fine," she relented, obviously not liking it, but not wanting to talk about it anymore. "We saw them on a daily basis before. If they aren't seen for a whole month, there's no way they're still here."

That was the end of it, but the compromise still didn't leave anyone in good spirits.

There wasn't a lot of space, so the girls took the bedroom while he slept on the couch. It was fine with him; he didn't need much sleep anyway. But sometimes he wished his "bedroom" was quite so public. He had a lot on his mind, and as much as he loved his friends, they were certainly not quiet.

'Lucia…' He knew her; he knew he did. He'd seen that girl multiple time while out looking for the mermaids, though he hadn't known her name at the time. He'd even spoken to her, while he was fortune-telling. He'd thought she was very lovely, just like the Pink Pearl Princess.

Oh, if only the Pink Pearl Princess had her memories from lives past… If only he'd had the nerve to tell the current one of her past incarnations! But no, he'd flirted with the Yellow Pearl Princess, all the while wishing that the blond he was so close to was someone else.

He wondered if the Pink Pearl Princess even realized that she got reincarnated via her pearl when she died. He didn't think she did. Surely, if she remembered her life as Princess Luciana, she would have recognized him. She would have remembered the war and his imprisonment, of their promise that once he was free, no matter how long it had been and how many lives she'd lived, they'd find each other and finally be wed.

The current Pink Pearl Princess didn't show a single sign that she had ever seen him, let alone loved him. He knew it had been a few hundred years, but surely she'd only been through a few lives. How could she have forgotten him? And why couldn't he just bring himself to tell her…?

Maybe this princess wasn't the one he's loved so long ago, but it was still her soul. The thought that she might never love him again was too much to bear.

But the thought that she might leave for the sea and he would never see her again was even worse.

He resolved right then, laying on that dusty couch, that he'd find her. And he'd tell her everything. No one would call him a coward!

'I'll find you Luciana. Whoever you may be now doesn't matter. I've loved you my entire life and always will. Even if I can't earn your love in this lifetime, there will be more. Even if you love someone else now, even if I love another until then, I will always be yours and you shall always be mine. Please wait for me…'

He slept, dreaming of the past and the beautiful blue-eyed princess who swore their love was destined.

Two days later, Lucia wanted to go back to the seaside restaurant, but she didn't dare. Rumors were spreading quickly about a blonde girl who held the interest of the popular Kou Mori, and Lucia would die if her friends or—Aqua Regina forbid!—Kaito find out it was her. Not that she'd done anything but eat parfait, but she never did tell Kou that she had a boyfriend. And she'd let those girls think they were on a date because she was angry at them…

She'd just have to go without any more parfaits, because she couldn't see him again.

"Princess, fancy meeting you here."

…She wondered what she was being punished for.

"Oh, hello. I'm just passing through, so…" Kou was dressed only in black swim trunks, and she refused to look at his toned chest. Well, maybe she'd had a peek, but it was an accident, not because she'd wanted to!

"Say princess, do you believe in mermaids?" She stopped quickly at the question, fearing for a moment he knew something about her and the others. But he wasn't even looking at her; he was gazing longingly at the ocean.

"I guess it's possible," she answered tentatively, not wanting to appear too eager to say yes.

"…And do you believe in reincarnation?" She thought about Sara and Seira. It was odd now that Sara was back, but upon her death, her pearl had been reborn, so…

"Yes I do." He turned to her and smiled sadly.

"What about a destined love that can overcome time and species?" Various relationships ran through her head. There was no doubt in her mind how she felt about that.

"True love will always find a way! Even if who you think you love turns out to be wrong, your destined love will be close behind. You just need hope!" He smiled a little brighter at her words, and she thought it suited him much better.

"You're a very kind girl Lucia." He turned back to the ocean, and Lucia thought she knew where this was going. She wondered where the mermaid he'd seen was from. Her kingdom maybe? "I can't help but think the girl I've loved for years really is gone. I haven't seen her in weeks, after seeing her almost every day for so long. Maybe I should just keep her memory in my heart and let her live her life as she chooses without bothering her. After so long, she must have found another. Maybe that's why she acted as if she didn't know me…" Lucia didn't know what was going on exactly, but she still felt bad for him. He was so charming and could have any girl, but he loved a mermaid…

"Wouldn't it be hard to have a relationship with a mermaid? Maybe she does love you, but knows you can't be together." He didn't even look surprised that she knew he was talking about a mermaid.

"Perhaps, but I guess moping about it for the rest of my life won't do either of us any good. Perhaps I should find a new princess…" He walked a few steps until he was standing before her. "Lucia… I know we haven't known each other for long, but I still feel as if I've known you for years. Will you be my princess…?"

He looked so sad again, as if he knew she'd say no. And as she should—she had Kaito! She loved Kaito! She'd gone through so much to be with him and it was perfect!

…But it was less than a month, and Kou was obviously very lonely underneath all of his charm. Maybe she could even find his mermaid lover once she went back and convince her to find him…

Maybe—no, not maybe. She was crazy for risking it, but her mouth moved before her brain could convince her to stop.

"I…guess we could try."

He finally looked outright stunned, and she didn't know why someone like him thought someone like her was such a gem. But soon she was in his arms, and she was torn between being afraid they'd be caught and wanting to hug him back. In the end, the latter feeling won out. This felt…nostalgic. It was odd, but he pulled away before she could think much into it.

"Lucia, my princess…" And she didn't think much at all when he lowered his face and pressed his lips to hers. Not even how dangerous this was. All she could focus on was the feeling of his soft lips and his hands on her hips and his smell and—

"Lucia, I know I'm good at taking girls' breath away, but breathe." She was too dazed to reply to his amused quip, and somewhere in her mind she realized that she'd never been kissed like that by Kaito.

Kaito. Kaito. Oh Aqua Regina help her, what was she doing?

"Kou… You know… We should probably keep this a secret. All of your fans will be mad, and my sister, well, she's pretty strict…" He nodded easily, seemingly not realizing she had other motives.

"True. My roommates, or rather, one of them, might not be too pleased with me having a girlfriend either. Besides," he winked at her, and she felt her face heat up, "keeping a secret can be very exciting."

Exciting… Right. Nerve-wrecking was more like it. But still…

He looked to happy, and she felt much the same despite her better judgment. And it was only for a few weeks… Everything would work out, she just knew it!

"You were gone a long time for having the day off." Lady Bat wasn't about to let Lanhua get him down. Not after today.

"I was looking for signs of the mermaids, remember? I didn't see any, and I suspect Alala will be running around town in a month." Alala was practically squealing at that, and even Lanhua honestly wanted to leave the apartment despite her worries about the mermaids.

He wouldn't tell them that he'd wanted to find the mermaids. And he certainly wouldn't tell them about Lucia, and how he was committing to a relationship with a human girl. He'd never romanced a human before, but unlike mermaids who could live for centuries and he who could live even longer, humans had a short life-span. Lucia would be gone far too soon, if she even stayed. As a chimera, he couldn't impregnate her. Hell, he wouldn't even age along with her. Eventually she would notice something odd and leave him. It hurt, but there was something about her…

She was so much like Luciana had been when they first met.

Lucia… Luciana… He could fall in love with the former while still loving the latter. Surely, Luciana would understand. Her incarnations had likely had other lovers, and he didn't hold any contempt towards her for it. So long as she still loved him, it was fine. Because they were destined to be together; she'd said so herself.

He slept that night not dreaming of Luciana or the Pink Pearl Princess, but of Lucia Nanami and parfaits.