Undine
By Tenkku
-Summary: In the heart of the country forests lie pools of fresh water inhabited by mystical creatures called Undines. Sousuke happens to stumble upon some male undines frolicking in the forest pool and is enchanted by the creatures, especially one in particular that saves his life. Sousuke wants to possess the undine named Makoto, but Rin the river guardian will not allow his team to mingle with humans. Sousuke must find a way to obtain Makoto, even if it means possibly abandoning his human life for the aquatic world. Makoto shares the same feelings for Sousuke, but both Rin and Haru will try to stop him from growing closer to the human. Sousuke may discover something unique about himself that his society and culture deems 'evil,' and becoming friends with a team of mystical beings will be his greatest challenge yet. Human and Undine love can never be accepted by either society unless one or the other chooses to leave behind their heritage. Will Sousuke and Makoto manage to find a way to be together, or are they doomed to remain apart?
-Notes: Other characters and pairings will make their appearance as the story progresses. The story will be rated M for mature, but each chapter will have a rating along with warnings. This chapter is edited using the purchased program 'Grammarly.' So, please read on and enjoy. I am making no money off of this fanfiction. I am here to write and have some fun with others who enjoy the fandom. I do not own Free! or the characters.
-Warning(s): Mild violence
-Rating: T for teen
Chapter 1
It was the second day of the hunting trip, and so far, they had not caught any big game, only some pheasants and a few rabbits. The hunting party stopped to set up camp a little earlier in the day because they could smell the promise of rain. Taking an extra rest from the hunt will help to refresh the four of them, which may offer the chance of successfully tracking more significant game. When the rain came, it was just a light steady flow of water, not a torrent.
Sousuke didn't mind being a little wet. He enjoyed rainy days and, in the summer, Sousuke takes to swimming in the lake. Right now, instead of hunting, he would like to be swimming. He only went on this hunting trip because he was invited by the other squires, and by the command of his master knight. If his master didn't insist he go on this trip, then Sousuke would be lounging on the river bank somewhere, soaking up some sun, then cooling off in the water.
"Hey, we need some water for the soup," Said one of the squires. "Who has the map?"
Sousuke is the one carrying the map, but in the past, he has gotten not just himself lost, but others as well. He took the map from his travel bag and handed it to the other. Sousuke listened and watched as the two discussed areas on the map. They settled on a forest pool that was near the camp. Sousuke offered to stay back and watch the camp, but the other three managed to drag him along. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his dark green jerkin, he followed quietly behind the others, looking back towards the camp and hoping that a bear or a wildcat doesn't happen upon it.
"Wait!" One of them stopped. "Look at these trees!" He whispered.
"What about them?" Asked Sousuke.
"The moss! There's moss everywhere on them! And look at the bright color! We're in a magical place!"
Sousuke rolled his eyes. They couldn't be serious.
"This place is bad luck!" Said another. "We should go back!"
Sousuke was about to tell the three of them how foolish and superstitious they were when he heard distant laughter. The others heard it too. Sousuke listened again, just to make sure it wasn't the rain or the wind. He concluded that it is indeed laughter. Being the bravest of the four, he put his finger to his lips and began creeping forward. The sound of this laughter was different. It gave him a delightful feeling in his chest. It's as if the laugh was pulling him forward, and he wouldn't turn back even if he wanted to.
It was Sousuke who found the source of the laughter, and quickly he ducked behind a line of shrubs. He motioned the other three over with him, pointing through the leaves and branches to the forest pool that must be the one on the map.
At first, Sousuke wasn't sure of what he was seeing, but with a closer look, he could see that three unusual young men are frolicking in the water. The first feature of oddity he noticed is that they had the lower parts of fish with colorful scales adorning different places on their bodies. One of the strange men, with a blue fin and dark hair, rest back against a rock, letting his tail lift out of the water as if daydreaming. Another, this one green with light brown hair and moss green eyes, sat on the bank of the pool while laughing at the splashing motions of the third. The third appeared smaller than the other two, even more youthful, with bouncy blonde hair and magenta eyes. He was trying to catch raindrops on his tongue. Sousuke only got a glimpse of a pinkish tail when the little one took a quick dive and came back up, striking a pose. It made the green one laugh merrily, and he clapped at the performance.
Sousuke wasn't sure why, but he had a strong urge to leave this bush and join the three in their merriment of the water.
"They're undines!" Said one of the squires in a harsh whisper.
"Undines?" Sousuke questioned, not taking his eyes off the three creatures.
"Water spirits! They're bad omens! I told you this place was cursed! They'll kill us with their siren songs and terrible stares!"
Sousuke had to wonder if this intense feeling to join the three creatures is indeed a mystical, otherworldly power that the undines possess.
"I know this place," Said another. "I wasn't sure at first…but on the map…it all makes sense now! This is the Red Shark's domain! The guardian spirit of the river!"
"Red Shark?" Sousuke repeated. "What's a Red Shark? Sharks are in the sea."
"They're monsters!" Said the third, who is starting to panic.
Before Sousuke could try to calm him, the third squire jumped up and ran, which alerted the three undines to their presence. Sousuke swore under his breath, drew a dagger from his belt, and revealed himself to the creatures. The green undine looked at him with terror, diving back into the water to hide behind the smaller blue one. The blue one didn't appear frightened at all, nor did the pink one. Sousuke didn't make a move, but he did stare back at the blue one, hard gaze to hard gaze. The pink one broke Sousuke stare when he saw the fins magically turn to legs. Sousuke looked over at the blonde who was smiling brightly, almost laughing at him, and started to wave him over.
Sousuke took a step forward, but he stopped when one of the squires shouted for him to 'get back,' and then an arrow was released into the air. It landed near the pink one's feet, which had the blond panicking and diving back into the water to join his friends. Sousuke cursed the squire for acting the way he did, and this time, he wrestled the bow away from the other to keep him from shooting again.
"Look! In the water!" Shouted one, pointing to the forest pool where a fast bolt of red came straight towards them. Another one of the creatures, this one red, leaped with great force out of the water and ran at them, his fin turning to legs.
"IT'S THE RIVER SPIRIT! IT'S RIN!" Someone shouted.
Sousuke barely had to dodge the sharp teeth and long nails that lunged at him. The creature had red eyes to match the hair and scales, and those red eyes set on Sousuke. He had no weapon on him other than his dagger, which he must have dropped while dodging. Sousuke was able to grab the creature by the shoulders and wrestle him to the ground. They rolled and writhed on the forest floor, the damp soil making it difficult for Sousuke to avoid the snapping of sharp-toothed jaws. The spirit's claws were not sharp enough to pierce entirely through his jerkin, but Sousuke felt a sting or two in his back.
Sometime during the struggle, Sousuke's hands slipped, and the river spirit's sharp teeth found his shoulder. Unlike the claws, these jaws were strong, and the teeth bit straight through to his flesh. Sousuke let out a loud scream as an intense pain mixed with burning swelled in his shoulder and continued down his arm. He thought for sure the teeth would crunch right down to the bone when the creature released its jaw. Sousuke fell back on the ground, shaking and writhing in agony while clutching his shoulder. It felt like his blood was on fire. With a glance, he saw the creature change back to its red fin and disappear into the forest pool with the other three.
Sousuke just lay there, the rain now falling heavily upon his burning body but doing nothing to cool it. He felt like he had a fever that was attacking his whole body. Was it poison? Where were the others? The pain is intense; he can barely move, barely breathe.
"Sousuke!" Two of the squires came back, gasping at his bleeding shoulder.
"You're cursed!" Said one. "It bit you! You're cursed!"
'Shut…up…' Sousuke didn't have the strength to get the words out.
"He's done for!" One said. "Leave him!"
Sousuke's eyes widened, and he forced himself to roll over onto his side, to try anything to get the others to help him. His voice was gone, and all he could do is reach his hand out towards their retreating forms. They had left him for dead. Sousuke's brain started to run rampant with possible solutions for his situation but discovered none. Eventually, his strength failed him, and all Sousuke could do is lay in the mud, waiting for death, and prayed that it would come quick.
Makoto sat with Haru's head in his lap, lost in thought thinking about the human man that Rin attacked. At first, Makoto was frightened of the stranger, as he is about most humans. The man stopped another from trying to hurt Nagisa just before Rin came to save them. He still shivered at the memory of Rin and the human fighting on the ground. Makoto didn't like it when others fought, especially in such a vicious manner. He didn't think Rin had to act that way, clawing and biting at the human, whose body is weaker than a spirit. Rin is the only one of them who has sharp teeth, a sign of his status as a river guardian. Makoto knew that the man must be in terrible pain from the venom that Rin's bite releases. While harmless to them, it's deadly to humans if not healed in time.
Makoto felt that he should try to help the human since the man kept the other from possibly killing Nagisa. Rin would be furious if he knew Makoto planned to save the human. After all, undines have healing abilities as water is nature in its purest form and the source of all life. He couldn't stand to know that a fellow living creature was suffering, even if they were spying.
"Bleh! I can't get the taste of human out of my mouth!" Rin wiped at his tongue with his hand.
"You look funny, Rin!" Nagisa laughed.
"What have I told you about being more careful when you're on the surface?" Rin scolded them. Haru ignored him, and Makoto looked sheepish.
"We were just having a little bit of fun!" Nagisa swam in a circle around Rin. "You promised to take us all to the ocean, and you didn't do it!" He puffed out his cheeks at Rin who just crossed his arms.
"I had business with the Sea God," Rin said. "I didn't need you three fish heads swimming off and getting into trouble! It's my job to protect you, you know. You're my team."
Makoto smiled knowing how much Rin cared for them. They cared for one another equally, and he and Haru have been friends since they were small.
But, he had something important to do, and he is wasting precious time, so he wiggled his fin out from under Haru's head and swam over to the exit of their lair.
"Where are you going?" Rin asked.
"Ah, just to stretch my fins a bit," Makoto said. "I'm still a little shaken up from earlier. Want to relieve some of the excitement."
Makoto caught Haru staring at him, and Makoto is confident the blue undine knew just what he is going to do. It was as if they could read each other's minds. Nagisa wanted to come with him, but Makoto politely told the eager little undine to stay and make sure Haru doesn't eat too many mackerels, and Rin doesn't faint from the taste of human. Nagisa agrees and swims over to bother Rin who just tells Makoto to be careful and not stay out too long. Makoto waves by to his team and swims his way back to the surface.
When he approaches the bank, he finds that it is still raining though it has slowed to a light, steady drizzle. It was getting close to the evening, and soon it would be too dark to see in the woods. Makoto pulled himself up on the muddy bank, changed his fin into human legs, and began to search for the man's scent. Humans had strong smells, often foul and odorous, yet the smell that Makoto picked up was pleasant. This human smelled of fresh pine and clean earth. Makoto also smelled blood, and the closer he got, the stronger the scent became. Now he could sense Rin as much as the human's blood. Makoto hoped he wasn't too late.
He found the human near the bushes where the group was hiding early, lying still as death in the wet earth. Makoto knelt beside him, sniffing at the bite on the human's shoulder. Rin did, in fact, release the venom. Carefully, Makoto rolled the human over with some effort. The man was heavy even for him. Now that the human is on his back, Makoto could check to see if he was still breathing. He was, but barely. Makoto knew that he had to heal the shoulder first, which in turn would counteract the poison. He couldn't get to the wound through the clothing, so he set to trying to figure out how to remove it. Makoto wondered briefly why humans even wore clothes. He managed to get the top open to the white shirt underneath. Now he can reach the bite.
As he leaned down to the bite, Makoto stopped to study the human's face. He was handsome. Makoto flushed and felt his heart beat a little quicker. Ignoring it, Makoto turned his attention to the bite. Rin had bit deep. Licking his lips, he pressed them on one section of the bite and released his healing power. With his breath and saliva, Makoto trailed his lips along the damaged skin, feeling each hole close and heal. The venom must be fading as well, for Makoto can feel the human beginning to move beneath him. When the bite wound healed, Makoto sniffed the human again to make sure that he could no longer sense any of Rin's venom. The human's body is clean. There is nothing more he can do now, and the debt is repaid.
As Makoto turned to return to the forest pool, the human's hand shot out and grabbed his forearm.
"Wait."
Makoto stilled. He could feel the color draining from his face as tired teal eyes looked up at him. Makoto wanted to pull away, yet a part of him wanted to stay. He felt like his spirit could dive into those twin teal pools and swim for eternity.
"Stay," the human said. "Who are you?"
Makoto understood and spoke the human language the same as his own. Still, he found that he was tongue-tied. He has never been so close to a human, much less touched by one. The man managed to sit up all the while still holding Makoto's arm. The human wasn't holding tight, but his grip was secure and firm. Makoto could attempt to pull away, but he found that he liked being touched by this human.
"You're one of those undines, aren't you?" The human said.
Again, Makoto was silent, unsure of how to answer. He kept looking at the man's face while his heart fluttered in his chest.
"What did you do to me? Did you heal my wound?"
"Yes," Makoto answered.
"You can understand me, then?"
Makoto nodded shyly. "Yes."
"And you are one of those I saw today." The man's eyes trailed over his body. "You're naked."
For the first time, Makoto felt ashamed and embarrassed to be naked in front of another. He didn't know why, but the bashfulness seemed to stem from his rapidly beating heart and flushing face. Glancing away from those beautiful eyes, Makoto quickly returned his human legs to their fish form. This way, his lower human half is hidden. However, now he was trapped. If the human chose to attack him, Makoto wouldn't have enough time to transform to fight back. Not that he could fight a human this size. He wasn't weak or small; it just wasn't in his nature to fight. He preferred to nurture and care for others, not hurt them.
"You changed," The man was gazing at his tail. "It's the color of moss…it shines." He reached out and touched Makoto's fin with tenderness.
Makoto felt his tail started to tingle all over as if each scale was reacting as a single being.
"They're on your arms too." The human appeared fascinated with his body. "These are real scales…you are what they said you are. An undine."
"Yes." Makoto turned away from him. "You're safe now. Go back to your home. I will go to mine."
"You need to get to the water first," said the human. "I'll help you, in return for helping me."
Makoto yelped as he was lifted into the man's strong arms. His healing powers must have worked fast! Right now, he could change to his legs, but Makoto liked being carried by this handsome human man. To steady himself, he wrapped his arms around the human's neck, and they kept their gazes locked until they reached the forest pool.
"Do you have a name?" Asked the man.
"Yes. But…you first." Said Makoto. "What's your name?"
"I'm Sousuke."
Makoto smiled then, and he could see the features soften on Sousuke's face. "Hello, Sousuke. I'm Makoto."
As Sousuke placed him in the water, he said: "I want to see you again."
"I…I don't know about that," Makoto said. "I'm sorry, Sousuke."
"Wait!"
This time, Makoto did not stay. He has been gone for far too long, and both Rin and Haru will have noticed by now. Makoto swam out of reach of Sousuke, looked back fondly at the human, smiled, and dove into the depths.
Sousuke sat on the bank of the forest pool until it grew dark and the rain had stopped. There is no way he can head back in the dark, and he didn't want to leave the pool just yet. A great and wondrous thing had just happened to him, something that he never knew could have been or believed if he hadn't experienced it firsthand. Just a little while ago, he was nearing death's door with his body racked with searing pain that heated his blood and burned the life right out of him. Only death can stop this pain, and he had thought as he lay there dying.
And then, like out of some romantic ballad, a beautiful creature brings him back from the brink of the death. Soft kisses and a cool tongue soothed the burning ache in his shoulder, slowly breathing life back into him. When he opened his eyes, they landed on the undine named Makoto with soft moss green eyes and a gentle smile. Sousuke is enchanted with the mysterious mythical being that had saved his life. He didn't want the creature to leave him. Sousuke wanted to know more about Makoto, so he would wait here in hopes the other will return.
Sousuke also felt an urge of possessiveness and lust when he thought of the undine's naked body, partially covered in green scales with long legs. The undine was indeed a man the same as him, and Sousuke has always known that he preferred men to women. But this undine is a magical spirit, not a real human man, though Makoto had all the necessary parts to couple with. While his sexual fantasies were somewhat low-key and straightforward, this is the first time they've featured a magical creature. Sousuke wondered, with a little smirk, if Makoto can still lay with him without the human legs. Is there a way to do it with the tail? How do they reproduce? Are there female undines? Why do they look so much like humans? Why can they change from tail to legs?
Sousuke had so many questions to ponder on the rest of the night while hoping to see Makoto again. These questions he did not have the answer to, but there is one person that he knows of who has a vast knowledge of all things real and fake. When he returns, he planned to contact his acquaintance, Rei, about the undines. The more Sousuke learns, the better chance he has at seeing Makoto again.
He ended up falling asleep, mentally and physically exhausted from fighting the poison in that bite. He had tried to stay awake in hopes of seeing Makoto again, but his eyes closed on their own. When he awoke, the sun was rising, and the forest pool was still empty. A part of him wanted to stay by the forest pool forever, just waiting, but he knew that couldn't happen. Besides, he has some backstabbing squires to confront. Maybe he'll do that first before contacting Rei at the royal abbey library.
By the time Makoto returned home, only Haru was still awake and waiting for him. They always slept together, and sometimes one couldn't fall asleep unless the other was there. To be honest, Makoto would rather face Rin's accusations than Haru's. His friend was sitting on their bed, a massive seashell that Rin had brought for them, staring silently at him. Makoto swam over to the large shell and took his usual spot on the bed next to the stone wall. With luck, maybe Haru will not say a word about what Makoto was doing, and they can just go to sleep. No such luck.
"I know why you went back," Haru said. "I didn't tell Rin."
Makoto blushed. "Thank you."
"That human knows about us," Haru said. "He may come back seeking you, and I don't want you to get captured."
"He wouldn't capture me, Haru," Makoto said. "I didn't sense a mean side to him at all." Makoto smiled thinking about Sousuke. "He might look scary, but I think he's a nice human. He smells different from other humans, too. Like earth and pine…even fresh water. He stopped that other man from trying to hurt Nagisa. Sousuke didn't have to do that." 'Oops.' Makoto let Sousuke's name slip from his lips.
"So, you spoke to him? In human tongue?"
"I did."
"And you told him your name?"
"Yes."
Haru finally laid down, and Makoto joined him. "You're blushing," Haru said. "Did he try something?"
Makoto felt his face burning hot. "N-no! I just…well…he has pretty eyes! Like yours."
Haru blinked slowly. Makoto knows that if Sousuke did try something of that nature and he told Haru, his friend would use his powers to make Sousuke willingly drown himself. Makoto adored Haru's sapphire blue eyes, but he knew the dark energy behind those orbs as well. Rarely did Haru use his natural power, since the blue undine had never cared about exercising his force like others of their kind. If Makoto needed to, which he wouldn't, but if he did, the physical strength he possessed could easily hold and drown a human. They haven't discovered Nagisa's powers yet because their friend was so even-tempered and full of joy all the time that Nagisa has never had to show any force. Rin had an inkling that Nagisa's real power is just his bubbly nature and sweet face that can make an enemy want to get close to him and share in that merriment. A human may be sent to their watery death with friendly smiles and cheerful laughter.
Their powers are nothing compared to Rin's. The river guardian possessed both white and dark magical skills, and he had multiples of them. Rin could create a maelstrom, build wild waves in the water to damage boats, and darken the sky to block out the stars. All this is to protect the river from humans who may try to defile it, or purposefully try to offend the water gods. Humans never could understand how important it is to respect nature. Rin's goal is to grow strong enough to earn the title of 'sea lord' and leave the freshwater rivers forever. When Rin succeeds, and he will, Makoto and the others will have to go with him, and Makoto didn't want to leave the rivers and forest pools. Haru will want to go, and Makoto couldn't imagine his life without Haru in it. Plus, he did not want to be responsible for holding Haru back from something he wanted to do. Nagisa will be happy anywhere.
That is still a long way from happening, so best not to worry too much about it now.
They laid there in silence for a moment, then Haru said, "If you go back to the surface, don't go without me. And don't tell Nagisa."
Makoto understood because Nagisa cannot be trusted with secrets.
"I will, Haru."
End Chapter 1 TBC