Thank you so much for the favs/follows/reviews. I'm really surprised to find out people are interested in a story like this. It makes me happy. Anyway, sorry for the long wait, but usually I don't write stories with this style of writing. Usually I don't write about surroundings and characters feelings because, well, I always found it really hard. Usually I just write goofy stories where plot and details don't really matters LOL

2. Full Moon Trouble

Yurio dragged himself inside the kitchen where he found Viktor in the midst of another attempt of preparing breakfast. Not only the kitchen looked wrecked but Viktor as well.

"Ugh, just stop, will yah? We have pork cutlet to do the cooking," the blond skater grunted then plopped down onto the nearest kitchen seat, eyeing the food ingredients that covered most parts of the kitchen floor, bench tops, and Viktor. "What exploded this time?"

Viktor, turning around to face the teenager, sighed sadly. "I just want to be a good papa for Zale, is that so much to ask?"

"He's here for like three weeks now and since then, you strapped that ridicules apron on, tried to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner only to turn this kitchen into a freaking danger zone. Enough is enough, Viktor!" Yurio clenched his left fist and slammed it on the table. It's a credit to the manufactures of the table that he didn't shatter it. Then the young skater hunches over his fist and clenched his teeth in anger. "Stop ruining perfectly good ingredients! If I don't get a proper breakfast made by pork cutlet within the next five minutes, I'll grab a pot myself and cook that little fishy that is occupying the bathroom for the past hour!"

Viktor pulls in a deep shaky breath, grabs a napkin and wipes the flower from his face. Then, the silver haired skater straightens his back, penetrates his eyes deep and stern into Yurio's, and…"Yuuri! Yurio threatens to eat our son if you don't make breakfast for him!" Viktor wailed as he ran into a straight bee-line outside the kitchen, hysterically.

"Viktor, we talked about this!" Yuuri grunted from inside their bedroom. "You said you would try to be more strict with Yurio instead of turning into a sobbing mess every time he threatens you!"

"But Yuuri!" Viktor exclaimed, poking his head inside their bedroom. "I really, REALLY tried, but when looking stern into Yurio's eyes, like you advised me to do, I saw how cold they were! Cold and dangerous, Yuuri! Murderously even!"

Yuuri sighs then turns in the bed to look at his boyfriend standing in the doorway and shaking like a leaf. "Viktor, you should know by now that you are older…" Yuuri stops mid-sentence when noticing Viktor's shock-stricken expression then rolls his eyes. "Older as in mature, Viktor! Not as in…you know what, never mind. I'm taking a shower," Yuuri yawned, stretching his arms and legs.

"You can't! Zale is in there, taking a bath."

Yuuri sits up and rubs his eyes, sleepily. "What? He's still in there? You know what, maybe we should take him to the beach instead of letting him 'swim' in the bathtub."

"What if someone sees us with him?" Viktor gasped. Then Yurio screamed something from the kitchen and Viktor's face turned pale. "Yuuri, please feed that monster in our kitchen! You heard him, three minutes has passed so there is only two minutes left to satisfy him before he satisfies himself on our son!"

Yuuri rolls his eyes for a second time then steps out of the bed, putting his morning robe on and strolls outside the bedroom. Viktor sighed in relief then strutted to the bathroom and knocked before asking if the boy needed some help with drying himself off.

"Ugh, what is this?!" Yurio wrinkled his nose in disgust when he stared down at the watery substance in his bowl.

Yuuri plasters a polite smile on his face. "It's very healthy and nutritious, Yurio." Yurio shot a glare at Yuuri. "Fine, it's natto, okay? Natto mixed with white rice, banana and raw eggs. Now just eat it."

"Are you trying to poison me, pork cutlet bowl?! I want bliny, right now!"

Yuuri points at the mess. "Seriously, Yurio? You want me to make Russian pancakes in the middle of a destroyed kitchen. I was lucky enough that the broken eggs Viktor left on the kitchen bench was still good enough to scrape into that bowl of yours."

"That's it! I'm moving in with Otabek!"

"You know I don't care, right?" Yuuri shrugged and Yurio's gaze slowly turned murderous, then he stood up and stomped out of the room, angrily. It took a few seconds before Yuuri heard his boyfriend's horrified screams.

"Get that monster beast of yours out of here!" Yuuri sighed, realizing the blond skater had taken his cat, Vodka, into the bathroom to scare their son. After three weeks, the kid was still terrified of the cat.

"Vodka is not a monster beast!" Yurio roared angrily then moved his face closer to the cat on his arm and whispered something into his ear.

"Y-You just whispered in his ear to eat our son when he gets the chance, didn't you?!"

"Yes!" Yurio grinned. "Yes I did!" Then he pranced out the bathroom again, cat and all, while Viktor clutched Zale into his arms, protectively. Then he heard the front door shut with a loud thud, indicating that Yurio had left for skating practice.

Puffing out a relieved sigh, Viktor finished helping Zale with drying of his tail until it got replaced by human legs. After three weeks, Viktor was still amazed by it and wondered how it all was possible. Also, would there be more like him? Did he get separated from his family then got stuck on land until he and Makkachin found him? Viktor and Yuuri both asked the little boy a lot of those questions and more, but all he did was either shrug or drop his head to the floor, sadly. Viktor and Yuuri then asked how he would like it if they took him in and became his parents. The little boy's eyes glinted at that question, which was already more than enough for the two to know it was a yes. After that, Zale opened up more and even started to talk back when they asked him something, though, towards Yurio and strangers, he was still very skittish.

"Would you like to run to Ice Castle like daddy always does, or do you rather sit with papa on the bike?" Viktor asked when he had fully clothed the little boy and exited the bathroom with the boy beside him, holding his hand. Viktor thought it was best for Zale to refer to him as papa and to Yuuri as daddy. Yuuri agreed.

"I like to run with daddy this time," Zale replied with soft, hesitant voice. "If that's okay with you, papa." Viktor chuckled. He suddenly remembered Zale's first steps with human legs. It's more than normal he likes to try them while going faster than walking.

"Come on, Zale, you can do it," Viktor cried cheerfully, encouraging the small boy to take a step forward as he stood behind him, holding both of the boys hands to keep him steady and in one place.

Zale shakes his head vigorously. "I don't want to use these things. They feel weird and silly. Tails are better." The little boy took both Viktor's hands in a tighter grip when he almost fell.

"Zale, we use legs to move from one spot to another. Your steps might be a bit wobbly at first, but you'll learn eventually. We all are wobbly on our feet at first."

"Really?"

"Yes," Yuuri answered from off the couch, watching his boyfriend learning their 'son' his first 'baby' steps. It's like baby steps, right? It definitely looks like it is. "When we were babies, we did nothing else than crawl across the floor on hands and knees," Yuuri explained. "Then our parents taught us how to walk."

Viktor grins. "Not me. I was born with skates on."

"Skates?" Zale frowned.

"Yes, skates. And one day you'll be skating too, just like daddy and papa, but first you need to use these things we call legs," Viktor said. "How about you walk to daddy, very carefully?"

Zale nods vigorously. He doesn't know yet what skates are, but they do sound cool. Slowly and hesitantly, the little boy let's go of Viktor's hands and moves his right foot forward. But instead of going straight forward, he swayed from left to right, like a drunken person. Luckily, Yuuri moved forward off the couch to catch him before he had the chance to fall.

"This is going to take a while," Yuuri smiled then looked up to meet Viktor's eyes. They were watery as if he just had witnessed the most adorable thing ever. Which he did of course.

"So, how exactly did you end up babysitting that kid?" Otabek asked who sat on the couch beside Yurio watching Zale play with Makkachin while Yurio stroked Vodka's coat. "I mean, no offence, but I thought you would be the last person Yuuri would ask doing a responsible job like babysitting."

Yurio grunts displeased. "It's Viktor actually who asked me. Or better yet, bribed me with 50 dollars said it would be a good start to bond with that 'thing.' They decided to adopt him instead of throwing him back in the ocean and they expect me to be his uncle."

"Do they know you told me?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course not. Imagine the anxiety attack pork cutlet bowl will land into when he finds out. You better not let them know you know."

Otabek grins. "Uncle, huh? I can easily picture you as a sweet uncle."

"There's nothing sweet about me, alright?!" Yurio grunted with a major eye roll. "I'm going to get us some food from the kitchen. You'll keep an eye on him and make sure he won't do anything stupid!"

"Sure! Preventing people from doing stupid things is my expertise. I mean, I basically stop you from doing idiotic things, all day and every day." Otabek had to duck for that one.

Yurio stomps into the kitchen followed by Vodka who expected to get her favorite treat. Otabek decided to past the time by picking one of the movies Yurio had laid on the coffee table for them to watch during their babysit duty. Suddenly the tune of the Russian song Chum Drum Bedrum echoed through the apartment. Otabek looked around and realized it came from Yurio's phone and he saw the name on the caller ID.

"It looks like Viktor is making an attempt to check up on us." Some Russian's insults come from inside the kitchen. Otabek shook his head. "You want me to answer it?" Yurio mumbled something inaudible. "I take that as a yes. Otabek speaking."

"Otabek, it's me, Viktor," a soft whisper voice said on the other end of the line.

Otabek sighs. "Yeah, I know! I can read, unlike Yurio!"

"I heard that!" Yurio yelled from the kitchen, trying to open a can of cat meat to feed his cat who twirled around his feet, meowing hungrily. "Stop being so inpatient, you…" Yurio finished his sentence in Russian and Otabek briefly wondered whether it was insults or pet names. Then he returned his attention to Viktor who whispered something in his ear.

"Viktor, could you speak louder? I can barely hear you!"

"No, I can't speak louder because then he will hear me."

Otabek rolls his eyes. "Viktor, return to your date with Yuuri. Everything is fine with Zale. I just saw him heading to his bedroom with Makkachin. By the way, did you know Yurio has the tune of chum drum bedrum whenever you call?"

"Whaaat!" Viktor exclaimed, making Otabek temporarily deaf on one ear. "I told him to change it years ago! I told him million times I don't sound like that when something hits me between my legs with force!"

"Too much details," Otabek thought then heard someone bang loudly onto a door at Viktor's end. "Viktor, are you in there?!" That was definitely Yuuri. "You come out right now, Viktor! I know Yurio is quite irresponsible, but Otabek is responsible enough for the both of them! Zale is perfectly save!"

"I know, Yuuri, but I suddenly realized that I forgot to shut Zale's bedroom window," Viktor lied quickly. "All I wanted was to tell them to shut it before Zale does it himself and falls…

"I shut it before we left! Now get out and stop worrying!"

"Yes!" Viktor replied obediently but then whispered to Otabek; "Please check up on Zale occasionally. Make sure he's…

"VIKTOR!"

"Yes Yuuri!" Viktor wailed sadly then hung up. Otabek stared at the phone, bemused. Yurio walked in with the snacks, Vodka lingering around his feet, begging for more food. "Seriously, how do you put up with them? They act like a married couple already."

Yurio sends a scowl. "I've been ranting about that almost every day. Are you even listening to me when I talk to you and tell you stuff?!" Yurio puts the snacks onto the coffee table then looks around. "Where's Fish-boy?"

"With Makkachin to his room. I'll go check on him while you start up the movie." Otabek stood up then walked towards the bedroom, knocking onto Zale's door. It was an easy guess because there was only one door on the left side of the hallway and two doors on the right side. One of the two doors on the right was labelled with 'stay out or else…' which clearly meant it leads to Yurio's room and since Otabek doubted Yurio would wanted to sleep next to the room of Viktor and Yuuri, the one next to Yurio's had to be Zale's. "Zale, it's me Otabek. We just want to know if you'll going to bed or still need something?" There's no answer from Zale but the young skater can hear Makkachin whine softly. "Zale?"

Otabek grabs the door handle, hesitant. Should he go in or should he go get Yurio? Maybe it's best he checks. Knowing Yurio, he would most likely kick down the door. Otabek calls out one more time, then when he gets no reply, he opens the door slowly.

Zale sits on his bed face turned towards the window staring out, motionless. Makkachin sits beside him gently pouching his arm to draw his attention. Nothing. An eerie feeling starts to creep up inside Otabek. He's not easily scared, but the way Zale sits on his bed staring out the window with a near frozen face, would even make the bravest person probably pee his pants.

"Zale?" Otabek calls out, barely louder than a whisper. He didn't want to startle the boy. Zale still didn't make a move, but Makkachin did. She looked at Otabek back to Zale back to Otabek. "Zale, it's me, Otabek. Is there something outside? Are you seeing something?"

Slowly, and hesitantly, Zale turned his head to look at Otabek. His eyes were glazy and seemed to look straight through Otabek. A chill ran down the skater's back.

"Otabek! Are you coming or what?!"

"Yeah, in a minute!" Otabek answered then says, addressed to Zale; "Yurio and I are going to watch a movie. You need something before you go to bed?"

Without replying the young skater, Zale turned his face back to the window and stared into space. The moon suddenly came from behind a cloud and illuminated the room and Zale's face. Zale closed his eyes as if he was in trance, then took in a deep, shallow breath.

"I want to take a swim."

Otabek was briefly surprised by Zale's sudden voice. He didn't know whether it was how sudden the request was or the way his voice sounded. It was soft. Almost trance like. Zale also had turned his head again, piercing his blue eyes deep into Otabek's. They were emotionless.

Otabek clears his throat. Probably he shouldn't think much of it. Probably the kid was just very sleepy, yet refused to sleep, like all kids.

"I think it's very late for a swim, Zale," Otabek said then walked towards the boy. "How about you ask Viktor and Yuuri in the morning? I bet they would love to take you out for a swim."

Otabek reaches his arms out to lift the boy off the bed, but suddenly felt one of his wrists in a tight grip with Zale's hand. A very tight grip. Otabek looked at the boy in shock and surprise. How would it be possible for a kid that age to have such a strong grip? And another thing. Why are is pupils so immense?

"I want to swim now!" Zale spoke in a hazy, trance like voice then softened his grip on Otabek's wrist and slipped off the bed and headed for the door. Makkachin gave Otabek's face a soft lick before jumping to the floor and following the young boy into the hallway. Otabek was too surprised to stop either of them.

Yurio, still sitting on the couch looking repeatedly at his watch in anticipation, took a deep annoyed sigh. Vodka, who sat on his lap purring in pure happiness, suddenly opened one of her eyes and growled softly.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" Yurio growled when he saw Zale strolling through his view as he went to the kitchen, Makkachin trailing after him.

"Swimming!" Zale replied curtly and disappeared into the kitchen.

Yurio merely shrugs then says, sarcastically; "Have fun!" The front door closed with a soft click, but Vodka still didn't stop growling. His hair was all up and even his tail had grown twice its size. "Yeah I know, nasty boy huh?" Yurio cooed while trying to stroke the cat's coat back into his original state. "If it all goes well, that kid finds his pod or whatever they call their family down the deep blue and we can pretend nothing of this happened. We convince both pork cutlet and Viktor it was nothing but a dream. Viktor will stop playing happy family and coach me." Vodka meowed as if he was totally agreeing with his owner. Yurio looked at his watch again. "Otabek! I really like to finish the movie before-ah! There you are! Sit down will yah?! I like to start the movie!"

"Where is Zale and Makkachin?"

"Swimming or something," Yurio replied with an impatient look. "Just sit down, okay?"

"You actually let him walk out?!"

"Yes!"

"Why?!" Otabek exclaimed. Yurio gave his fellow skater an odd look. "I mean, didn't you see that trance like look on his face?"

Yurio's shrugs nonchalantly. "Nope, not really." Otabek's mouth slowly drops when Yurio grabs the popcorn bowl and starts to eat, casually. "Now sit down so we can watch the movie."

"You actually let a six year old boy walk out the door roaming the dark streets on his own?!"

Yurio swallows his popcorn down then shrugs; "So? This is Hasetsu, not Russia. Besides, Makkachin is with him."

"You are unbelievable!"

"Well you didn't stop him either!" Yurio yelled in defence. "You could have stopped him from walking out of his room, but noooooooo!"

Otabek opens his mouth to object but instantly realizes it's no use. Mainly because Yurio would retort something back, but also because Yurio had a point. Not that Otabek would ever admit it.

"You know what, never mind. We won't get anywhere if we keep going on like this. I don't really care what you do but I'll go looking for the kid."

Yurio's mouth drops open. "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously! I don't know about you, but the fact that Viktor is Russian and I have no idea if his family has connections with the Russian mafia or not, I'll rather hunt down an entire ocean for a mer-boy than get hunted down by a mafia! I'm very attached to my head and like to keep it where it is!"

Yurio rolls his eyes. "I'm also Russian, you know that right?"

"Do you or your family have ties with the mafia?"

"Well…no…but neither does Viktor's."

Otabek sighs. "You don't know for sure, do you? I mean, Nikiforov sounds bad-ass enough for a notorious Russian crime-boss." And with that, Otabek walked out of the apartment. When he finally had started up his motor cycle he saw Yurio exiting the apartment. "Does this mean you decided to come?"

"Yes! But not because I think Viktor has connections with the Russian mafia! I suddenly realized Mrs. Katsuki could become far more scarier than a Russian mafia when she finds out we failed babysitting her only grandson."

Zale had felt perfectly normal when he left to his bedroom with Makkachin. It was when he sat down on his bed to pull the curtains closed when a weird feeling overwhelmed him. For some reason he couldn't pull his eyes off of the full moon. It felt like something forced his eyes to the moon. Forced him to nothing but staring at it. Then he heard a voice, calling his name, asking him if he needed something. But it sounded far away. He felt something pouch his arm gently, over and over again, but even though he wanted to react to the voice and the pouching animal beside him, he couldn't. He just couldn't pull his eyes off the full moon. Then he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath and that moment he heard a soft whisper in the wind, which was strange because the window was closed. Whatever the whisper was said that he had to take a swim. At the same time he also got the urgent feeling to take a swim, and not in the bathtub like his papa and daddy wanted, but outside. In the ocean.

Zale heard himself talking to the 'nice' babysitter, but just as the babysitter's voice, his sounded far away too. Hazy and soft. When the babysitter tried to lift him up, he grabbed his wrist in a tight grasp. He could have used his merman powers to make the babysitter fly through the room away from him, but he remembered someone once told him to only use it and show it to land-people if he was in real danger, and only when he was much older. He was just six and not skilled enough to use them properly. He could make himself fly through the room instead.

After that, Zale felt himself walk out the door. The mean babysitter surprisingly hadn't stopped him either. Outside the fresh air brushed his cheeks and a salty smell lingered through the air. The full moon shone brightly, illuminating the streets below. The whisper voice in the wind and the salty smell lead him to the beach. Then to the place his papa found him three weeks ago.

Zale climbed over the slippery boulders, closely followed by the animal that refused to leave his side. Once he reached the sandy area behind the boulders, the full moon reflected in the water, giving it a magical glow. Zale didn't hesitate and stepped into the water, letting the waves crash around his feet as he walked on. The waves weakened his legs every now and then, but once he felt the tingly sensation in his toes, Zale dove into the water letting the water engulf him while his legs got replaced by a blue tail.

Looking down at his tail while still being submerged, Zale smiled happy. It felt like he belonged. It was nice sitting in the bathtub for hours, but it was nothing like swimming in the ocean. Would it be bad if he just swam away to never look back or return to land? He was a merman after all, right? Even though he had felt nothing but love from his papa and daddy for the past three weeks, he would never be truly like them, would he?

Zale surfaced the water and took in a deep breath of the salty air around him, instantly feeling a lot better. It felt like the trance he had been in since he saw the full moon through his bedroom window, had lifted. It felt like he had control over his body and thoughts again. When he looked up he realized the moon had crept behind a cloud again.

Makkachin barked in the distance behind him. Zale turned around and saw that he already had swum quite a few meters off shore. Why the dog barked, Zale didn't understand. She didn't want him to come back, did she?

Slowly turning back to the water ahead of him and glancing into the distance, Zale suddenly felt loneliness overwhelming him. Though he desperately wanted to turn back to his home, he also knew it wasn't really his home anymore. His mom had left him on land, alone. She cried though and she said she loved him so much. And that her love for him made her do what she did. She used her ring with a small blue stone to change his tail into legs.

"You'll be alright, sweetie," his mom said when silent tears streamed down her cheeks. Then her face turned into a gentle and warm smile as she looked at the boulder wall and heard the sound of a dog, barking on the other side of the wall. "I know you will."

Then, as she dove underwater, the dog appeared on top of the boulder wall then trailed agile down and towards Zale, licking his face playfully. Back then Zale didn't know the dog only wanted to play. He was scared and alone. He screamed and recoiled against the boulders.

A tear fell down Zale's cheek when the memory of his mom leaving him faded away and made him float back to reality. He still didn't understand why his mom left him, but with what she said before she left, Zale realized she most likely would have observed land-people for quite some time. She must have observed his new papa and daddy, knowing their routines and made the decision to leave him on the beach for them to find.

Suddenly knowing what to do, Zale turned to face the beach. If his mommy picked those two land-people to be his papa and daddy, whatever the reason was for leaving him in the first place, Zale wanted to stay with them. They were nothing but friendly to him so far.

Suddenly, the moon crept away from behind the cloud, illuminating the water and Zale. Zale felt the same pull like he felt in the bedroom then heard the soft whisper voice as before. The thought of returning to his papa and daddy was completely wiped from his mind. All he wanted was to dive back underwater and swim around for as long as he could, so he did.

Otabek and Yurio searched for twenty minutes, shouting Zale's name over and over again until their throats became too sore to keep yelling. They raced as fast as they could towards the beach knowing it would be the place a mer-boy would go first, but soon they reached it they saw nothing but empty sand and water.

"ZALE!" Otabek shouted, holding a flashlight as he and Yurio walked down the shoreline. All they heard was the sound of the waves crashing onto the rocks. "ZALE!"

"Crap, it's Viktor," Yurio suddenly mumbled. Otabek stopped in his tracks and turned around. Yurio had his phone in his hands and looked at his friend for help. After it rang several times, Yurio decided to just answer it. "Hey Viktor, how are you doing?"

"Yurio, where are you?! Yuuri and I came back in an empty house."

Yurio looks at Otabek who shook his head to let Yurio know he would not lie for him. Yurio scowls at him then drags in a long deep sigh. "Viktor…we…" Yurio gulped. "Fish-boy decided to go for a swim and he was gone before we knew it."

"What?!" Viktor exclaimed into Yurio's ear then he could hear the silver haired figure skater mumble all sorts of things before he completely shouted everything into Russian. Yurio deserved the insults and he knew it. "Where are you and Otabek right now?!"

"At the beach. We've been looking for him and..." No wait, he can't tell Makkachin went with the boy, right? Viktor would definitely go bonkers. "We took Makkachin with us to follow Fish-boy's tracks."

"He's a poodle, Yurio, not a beagle!" Viktor yelled. "Also, stop calling him fish-boy! You know what, just stay where you are! Yuuri and I are coming. Don't do anything stupid!"

"I wonder what qualifies as stupid," Yuri pondered then began to formulate an idea but was interrupted by Otabek who grabbed his arm.

"Do you hear that?!" Yurio listens carefully then slowly shakes his head. "I think I heard Makkachin! It came from there!" Without waiting for Yurio's response, Otabek ran into the direction he heard Makkachin's barks. "Makkachin!"

Otabek halted abruptly and Yurio nearly knocked into him from behind. They found themselves in front of boulder wall. They could hear Makkachin bark behind it.

"How did that dog get there?" Yurio frowned when he scanned the boulders.

Otabek points up. "I think she must have climbed over it. It's not that high but it looks very slippery. How about you walk back to meet up with Viktor and Yuuri then bring them here while I'll climb my way over the boulders to see if Zale is still with Makkachin?"

"Are you kidding me?" Yurio exclaimed. "I'm coming with you! I want to know what's behind…I mean…" Yurio cleared his throat. "What if you slip and fall?"

Otabek rolls his eyes then puts his flashlight into his belt and starts climbing up the slippery boulders. Lucky both Yurio and Otabek were strong rock climbers which made the climb easier and faster. Once they were at the top, Otabek pulled the flashlight again and illuminated the sand below them.

"What is this place?" Yurio asked when they saw an open, sandy area, surrounded by large boulders identical to the ones they stood on. Other boulders created an open pathway to the shallow water where they saw Makkachin, barking at the water and the waves that crashed onto the sandy area.

The boys quickly climb down the boulders then jump to the sandy parts and looked around. Otabek used the flashlight to illuminate the waters then saw, a few meters off shore, a shape floating in the water. He nudged Yurio's elbow and pointed.

"You think that's Zale?"

Yurio narrows his eyes then nods curtly before cupping both sides of his mouth and yells; "Zale, get back right now before I'll…arg." Otabek just elbowed Yurio, painfully then received an angry scowl. "We have to get him out of the water somehow, don't we?!"

"Not like that, you idiot! You might startle him and he will swim away." Otabek sighs then looks at the shape in the water, realizing it hadn't moved at all. "Wait, he can swim right?"

Yurio scowled. "He has a tail, so yeah!" Otabek decided to take no notice of Yurio's sharp comment then handed him the flashlight. Yurio frowned. "What am I supposed to do with it?"

"I'm going to get him," Otabek said determined then removed his watch and pocketed it into his leather jacket before taking it off as well. Then he took his shoes off and removed his socks as well.

Knowing that the water would be freezing cold, Otabek took in a deep breath then starts to walk to the open water. He feels the strong current trying to weaken his legs, but he keeps going until he's up to his waist in the water. Then he dives in and starts to propel himself forward, towards the shape in the distance. So far it hadn't moved at all, which made him worried. Nobody really knew much about mer-people since they were considered as a mythical creatures, so maybe, even when they were practically born with a tail, they still needed guidance swimming? Or would that be a stupid thing to think? But how big would the chance be that he was knocked out?

"Maybes he's sleeping?" Otabek thought to himself as the distance between him and the shape in the water became smaller. A few more strong strokes and the young skater could tell it was definitely Zale, floating on his back.

Viktor's and Yuuri's voices echoed through the quite air as they called out for Otabek and Yurio. Yurio instantly replied by yelling back their location. Otabek finally reached Zale and saw his eyes were closed, as if he was sleeping.

To not startle the little child, Otabek nudged his arm gently. There was no response. After pinching Zale's arm, Otabek still didn't see any reaction. He could hear Viktor scream something back at the beach, followed by Yuuri's voice, yelling at Viktor to stay on the beach. That there was no use for him going in the water as well. Obviously Viktor did not listen because Otabek heard the sound of splashing water, as if someone propelled himself with strong strokes towards him.

"Zale, wake up!" Otabek said, shaking the child a little. There was no response. Otabek then checked the child's pols and breathing, which he luckily felt. "That's a relief."

"ZALE!" Viktor gasped exhausted, finally reaching Otabek and the boy. Then he shook the child firmly, trying to wake him up. "Zale! Wake up! Papa's here, wake up!"

Finally, after what seemed minutes, Zale's eyelids fluttered before finally open up completely.

"Papa?" he asked, warily. Viktor exclaimed a gasp of relief then enveloped the child into his arms.

On the beach, Yuuri could not help to not hug Yurio in relief soon he realized Zale was fine.

"Arg, let go of me, you pork cutlet bowl!" Yurio grunted when he felt like he was going to faint, because Yuuri cut off his air supply during the hug. Yuuri obeyed then looked back at the water where he saw Otabek and Viktor swim back with Zale. Yurio narrowed his eyes. "What is that?"

Yuuri followed Yurio's finger, pointing at something that was behind the three persons in the water. It looked like a strange, blue glow. Makkachin noticed the approaching danger as well and started to bark loudly.

"The moon bouncing off on the water surface?" Yuuri suggested, even though his gut told him that wasn't what they saw. The glow slowly moved towards Viktor, Otabek, and Zale then stopped and started to circular underneath them. "A shark that ate glowing algae?"

The two skaters share one look, letting the words Yuuri just said sink through. Realizing it would most likely not be a shark either but also not wanting to take the risk, Yuuri and Yurio cupped the sides of their mouth and yelled at the three to swim faster.

"Swim! There's something in the water! Swim!" both Yurio and Yuuri screamed from the top of their lungs. Viktor and Otabek looked around in horror then start to kick the water, swimming as fast as they could back to the beach. Zale used the strength of his fluke to propel himself through the water while holding tightly onto Viktor's body.

"FASTER!" Yuuri screamed.

"IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" Yurio roared, striking more fear into the swimmers hearts. Otabek accelerated his speed but Viktor, who never had any proper stamina, could barely move. He was too exhausted. Then he also felt Zale's tight grasp disappear.

"Zale!" Viktor exclaimed, turning around to see I he could find the boy. He found him not far from him and instantly pulled him back in a tight grasp.

Unknowing to Viktor, Zale clenched his fist beneath the water surface creating a ring of bubbly water around him and Viktor. The glow kept circling around the two before moving away. Then Viktor felt strong hands grabbing hold onto him and Zale. Viktor objected until he realized it was Yuuri and Yurio, trying to drag him onto shore while Otabek dragged Zale to the beach.

"What was that?!" Viktor gasped in horror, soon they were back at the safety of the beach. Makkachin had stopped growling and barking and now greeted everyone, happily, trying to lick their faces.

"No idea," Yuuri replied with shaky voice then pulled both Viktor and Zale in, hugging them tightly. The waves crashed calmly onto the rocks. There was no sign of the danger they were in, minutes ago. It was like nothing had ever happened.

Honestly, I have no idea why I decided to let Yurio have that silly Russian song as ring-tone whenever Viktor calls xD But anyway, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a fan-art picture for this story. I am not good at drawing at all. Can't hold a pencil properly (sigh) I would fully credit you of course. You can contact me through pm.

I hope you guys think this was an exciting chapter to read. Fav/follows or reviews are proofs that you did LOL