Disclaimer: None of the SD characters belong to me
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Chapter 7
Ryonan
Nanami was walking towards the doors of the school library when the door flew open and knocked her straight on the face.
"Ah, gomen!"
"Ouch! Which baka…"
"Nanami?"
Nanami recognized that voice and she looked up, glaring. "Sendoh Akira, why can't you watch where you are going?"
"I'm so sorry, but I have to go now, nice chatting with you."
He winked at Nanami before he left. Nanami blinked. Usually, he would stop and talk endlessly, irritating her to death, but now…
Nanami shrugged. Maybe he was really busy.
She turned and spotted the book that Sendoh had dropped. Picking it up, she examined it with interest, looking at the pictures in front.
"Illustrations of Ancient Greek Gods…" she muttered before a hand reached out and took the book away.
"I need that," said Sendoh, smiling. "Let you borrow it next time."
"… Who would want to read the book that you have touched?" said Nanami, embarrassed.
"Suit yourself." said Sendoh. "Bye!"
Nanami watched as Sendoh ran off.
"I never understand how guys think…" she muttered.
Soon it was the day for the Ryonan Drama Club Annual Performance. Nanami was now in the backstage, reading the script furiously for some last-minute preparations. The backstage was very small, with mirrors and dressing tables taking up half of the room and props piling up at the other side of the backstage.
"Nervous?" asked Sato, the boy who was playing Prince Charming. He was tall, around 175 cm and had raven-black hair.
Nanami nodded and Sato patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, it will be fine. But I won't say the same for the ending…"
"What's with it?"
"You will see." said Sato, an annoyed look was on his face. "Can't believe that he did this…"
"Sato-san! Come over for a minute." called the director and Sato left.
Nanami blushed slightly at his back-view. Sato looked really handsome than usual in his royal attire…
"Excuse me," called a boy and Nanami pulled her legs up as the boy walked past with a box of costumes.
"Matte," said Nanami, looking at the box. "That's not for our play."
"Eh? Demo…"
Nanami looked at the sea-blue robes and seashell brooch. "The seashell brooch maybe, but I don't remember the script indicating anybody wearing robes with this colour…"
"Ah! It's ours!" called the director as he ran towards them.
"Matte, director! I still don't think it's appropriate!" said Sato as he ran after the director.
"It's interesting, you will like it," said the director to Sato and turned to the boy, "Put it over there, near the last dressing table."
"But…"
"Look, either you shut up or I will get someone else to take your place."
Sato frowned deeply at the director and smugly, he folded his arms. "Fine, I will leave now."
"Go ahead."
Sato's mouth dropped open in disbelief, but then he closed it straightaway.
"Well?" asked the director, looking at the costume. "Are you leaving or not?"
"… I changed my mind."
Smiling, the director left.
"What happened?" asked Nanami in puzzlement.
Sato didn't respond.
"Nanami! Time to go!" called Ran, who was the stage manager.
"Hai!" called Nanami and she left, leaving Sato behind with a dark look on his face.
"Once upon a time, there was a Sea King. He has 7 daughters…" narrated Youhei at the front stage.
Straightaway, 7 beautiful performers, including Nanami, came out elegantly. Instead of stiff fish tails made out of plastic, they had long flowing dresses cut in a way that looked as if they were fishtails. The dresses glittered as the 7 actresses moved and swayed to the music played by follow actors dressed up as crabs, prawns and gigantic fishes.
"The youngest one is called Amphitrite, the most beautiful one of all…" recited Youhei.
"Eh?" asked Nanami in confusion as she danced. "Isn't my character named Ariel?"
"Just keep dancing." said Ayumi, one of the actresses.
"Amphitrite has a fascination for humans and the world above the sea…"
"Something tells me that this story is going to end with a big bang." said Koshino dryly at his seat below.
Then, he turned to the person beside him and said in annoyance, "Hikoichi, do you mind? Stop looking around and be still, you are getting on my nerves."
"But Sendoh-sempai is not here!" said Aida. "I thought he will be here to watch his beloved's performance…where is he?"
"Oh he's here, don't worry." said Koshino, not concerned at all.
20 minutes into the play, after Nanami's character had trade her voice to the Sea Witch to gain her legs, Ran, who had been in the front stage, rushed into the back stage.
"Is Sendoh-san ready?" she asked with excitement.
"Still dressing up." said one of members of the Drama Club.
"Sendoh-san, hurry up." said Ran, knocking the door of the small dressing room. She couldn't speak so loud, as performance was still going on in the front stage.
"Chotto matte…" said Sendoh from inside. "Okay!"
Sendoh opened the door and…
"The Prince found Amphitrite…" said Youhei and straightaway, screams of excitement could be heard from the backstage.
"What the heck?" asked Sato.
Nanami looked extremely confused.
Whispers and talking could be heard from the audience's seats.
Laughing nervously, Youhei said, "Very nice sound-effects, aren't they?"
Some of the guests laughed in response. Youhei looked at Sato and said, "Continue, come on!"
Sato nodded and returned to Nanami. "Are you hurt, Miss?"
Nanami shook her head, continuing the performance.
"Sendoh-san, you idiot." muttered Youhei.
The climax of the play came as Nanami/Amphitrite were to take the dagger from her 6 sisters and stab the Prince that night in order to regain her voice and life in the ocean again. If she didn't, she would dissolve into nothing but bubbles by dawn.
Nanami got the dagger and Ayumi said, "Hurry, sister, stab him in the heart or you will die!"
With that, the 6 sisters left the stage. Nanami turned and saw Sato. His face was filled with shock.
"I heard everything… you are a mermaid princess?"
Nanami blinked. Sato was not supposed to appear in this scene. She looked over Sato's shoulder and found Ran and Ayumi nodding, saying, "Keep going, don't bother!"
Nanami looked back at Sato. His face was filled with unwillingness, but he nodded. So, Nanami decided to continue the story professionally and she nodded.
Sato took a step back, shaking his head. "You… you can't be. Mermaids don't exist."
Nanami thought for a while and a desperate expression was on her face, trying hard to prove to her love that she was a mermaid princess.
Sato narrowed his eyes. "Prove it."
Nanami shrugged helplessly, but then she sighed silently and threw the knife away.
Sato raised his eyebrow and asked softly, "What are you doing?"
Nanami shook her head and smiled. She made a hand gesture of 'I love you' to Sato.
Some girls in the audience's seats went "aww" in envy.
"Boy, Sendoh will go crazy if Nanami-san says that to him." said Koshino, grinning.
Sato shook his head and smiled. "You are too naïve."
Immediately, he came and grabbed Nanami roughly on the hand.
Nanami was now in shock. She tugged, trying to get free, but Sato's grip was too strong.
Sato looked at Nanami with an evil glint in his eyes. "You are mine now, I won't let you go so easily! I will bring you to my bed…"
Nanami's eyes widened with fear and realization.
"I heard mermaids doesn't die, is that true? Maybe I should have YOU for the night, and then I may share the immortality as well…" said Sato, whose tone was so cold and evil that Nanami had became truly scared.
"We have to rush, because you will disappear by dawn and I don't want to waste… don't worry, I will credit you in the end…" said Sato and he pulled Nanami. "Come with me!"
Sato lifted her up. Nanami pushed, trying to break free, but she couldn't. She wanted to scream, but she caught the eyes of Ran and Ayumi, who gestured to her that she was doing good. Seeing that everything was still going according to the revised (even though Nanami didn't know how the story developed) script, Nanami continued to be mute.
"Maa, Nanami is rather good at this, isn't she?" asked Sanae to Kawasaki, not knowing the situation at all.
Nanami kicked and screamed silently when the stage lights flashed, as if there were lighting in the make-shift sky.
The audience gasped in surprise and then clapped at the wonderful lighting effects that the play provided.
Then loud footsteps were heard from the side of the stage. Someone stormed onto the stage, saying a loud booming voice:
"Let her go, mortal!"
Nanami stopped struggling and her jaws dropped open. Some of the girls in the audience seats screamed in delight and excitement, as if they had seen their idol.
"I knew it, I knew it!" called Koshino from his seat.
"Unbelievable! He's here!" said Aida excitedly. "Look at him! He's incredible!"
"I didn't know he's in the play too." said Sanae.
"…Sendoh Akira?" whispered Nanami finally.
Sendoh didn't answer. He glared at Sato angrily. Instead of the usual attire that Nanami had seen him in, he was wearing some sort of costume. His robe was sea-blue. A seaweed necklace was around his neck. Two wide bands bearing a seashell were around his wrists and a long belt of pearls were around his waist. Sendoh was carrying a gold trident and together, it glowed with a light blue radiance that surrounded him.
"Who are you?"
"Poseidon." said Sendoh coolly.
"I didn't expect that he will appear in this fashion…" muttered Koshino when Youhei sat down beside him. "Eh? Oi, what are you…"
"New version of 'The Mermaid Princess', cool huh?" said Youhei cheerfully. "Sendoh, Rukawa and I wrote it…. well, Sendoh and I mostly. Rukawa fell asleep after 5 minutes of writing."
"Sendoh Akira, you are really crazy." said Maki, who had come to see the play.
"Poseidon what?" asked Sato.
"I'm the god of the sea. The waves here are under my command." said Sendoh.
"But didn't this fish-girl say…" Sato glared at Nanami and pushed her to the ground. "You liar!"
Nanami fell to the ground and not knowing what to do, she stayed there.
"Fine, I might as well stay here until the play is over…" she muttered.
Sendoh wanted to step forward to help Nanami, but he resisted.
"Her father is King, yes. But I'm the god, different thing." said Sendoh.
"I don't care if you are the god or the king, I'm taking her with me!" said Sato seriously.
"Get through my challenge first!" said Sendoh loudly. "Watch this!"
He waved his trident with force and straightaway, two streams of water (actually, it's just two long, gigantic pale blue banners) shot out from the side of the stage and wrapped themselves around Sato, lifting him up in the air like a water tornado. The stage lights continued to flash.
The girls screamed in excitement while the boys were yelling, "You go, Poseidon!" Nanami continued to lie at her place, not bothering about the process at all.
Sendoh raised his trident and the "water tornado" rose higher. "Water, as your Master, I command you to bring this filthy mortal to the other side!"
"Poseidon, stop!" commanded a cold voice.
Sendoh turned. "Hades!"
"What the…" muttered Koshino and Aida's mouth dropped open at the sight of the new character.
"Oh no, not him too!" groaned Maki, slapping his forehead with embarrassment.
Rukawa came into the stage. His eyes were cold and deadly. His handsome face looked as if it had been craved out of white marble. His hair was dark, as black as the night, the long bangs almost covered his eyes. He had a solid black amour, with two black metal flower bands around his muscular upper arms, black gloves that stretched from his middle fingers to his elbows and a long velvet black cloak. His boots were black and made of leather and metal.
Straightaway, girls in the seats screamed and chanted, "Rukawa, Rukawa, L-O-V-E Rukawa!"
"Sanae, stop that!" exclaimed Kawasaki, when he spotted his girlfriend taking out a camera to snap photos of Sendoh and Rukawa.
"You can't do this." said Rukawa.
"He's just a mortal, why shouldn't I?" snapped Sendoh.
"Yes, but as gods, we can't kill such a low mortal, it tarnishes our reputation. You don't want to dirty your hands over this fool. As the god of the Underworld, I will just bring him to the other side by myself." said Rukawa in a rather flat tone. It sounded stiff, but oddly enough, his usual stiff voice suited his appearance.
Sendoh clutched his trident tightly before he lowered it and the 'water tornado' reduced. Sato was revealed, completely wet. He spat water out from his mouth as he kneeled and coughed.
Gasps of amazement could be heard from the audience seats.
"How did he get himself wet?"
"Incredible! It's like he was really caught by a water tornado!"
"Unbelievable!" said Aida. "Such amazing effects! I want to record it down!"
"Hikoichi, shut up!" snapped Koshino.
"All right, mortal. You may leave with the god of the Underworld. May your disgusting behavior is enough to earn you a trip to the Fields of Punishment in the Underworld." said Sendoh coldly.
Sato looked up and glared at Sendoh. Suddenly, he grabbed Nanami and got up. "I won't go until I gain a kiss from the mermaid!"
Nanami, who had being dragged from the floor, looked extremely tired. Whether she was tired from the crazy play or she was acting, no one was sure.
"Don't let him!" exclaimed Rukawa. "Once he did, he becomes immortal!"
Sendoh waved his trident and straightaway, Sato stopped moving. Rukawa ran and grabbed Nanami just as Sato said, "W-what have you don…"
Sato's words died his throat and he remained there, as stiff as a statue. Nanami remained in Rukawa's arms for a while before she pushed Rukawa away and ran to Sendoh.
Before she could forget about her role and shouted at Sendoh, Sendoh simply swept Nanami to his embrace with one arm (his other arm was busy with the trident). Rukawa walked sideways until he was out of the stage, leaving the two alone.
"My dear princess, now do you know how horrible the humans could be?"
Nanami wanted to speak, but then she just nodded.
"Oh forget it, just go with the flow…" she thought.
"The human world is such a mess. Not all humans are good. Princess Amphitrite, I believe that there is a tradition in your father's palace. Once the princess has turned 16 years old, not only she is able to go out to the surface of the ocean, she is able to married as well."
Nanami raised an eyebrow. How did Sendoh come up with all that nonsense?
"Your father, King Nereus, has promised your marriage to me long ago, but before I could claim my bride, you have gone to the dangerous surface. So I follow you here."
Sendoh grasped Nanami's hands softly and said, "My dear, it is time for you to regain your voice and life beneath the waves. It is said that a true love's kiss is able to conquer everything…"
He waved his hand as he spoke and Nanami saw light reflecting off something between his fingers, something thin and transparent…
"… That's not in the script." said Youhei.
"Eh?" asked Koshino and Aida.
"I said, that's not in the script," said Youhei and a look of realization appeared on his face. "… Oh."
"Eh?"
Youhei grinned and leaned back. "Sendoh you sneak… oh never mind…"
Sendoh looked at Nanami in the eyes and said, "And now let me present a kiss to my bride…"
"Matte…" started Nanami when Sendoh drew her close and placing a hand on her cheek, he kissed her on the lips.
Immediately, the hall exploded with cheers and screams of excitement.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Koshino.
"Unbelievable!" said Aida, writing on his notebook furiously.
"Go, Sendoh!" said Sanae, laughing. "My sister is all yours!"
"Sendoh Akira, how dare you!" exclaimed Nanami at the backstage.
"How dare I what?" asked Sendoh, smiling.
"You…" said Nanami, her face red with embarrassment.
"I didn't even kiss you. I pasted your lips with the scotch-tape between my fingers before I kiss you. Your first kiss is still safe, for now." said Sendoh, grinning as he took off his seaweed necklace.
"How did you even get into this play in the first place?" asked Nanami.
"Youhei and I are friends. I convinced him to change the script." Sendoh looked at Nanami and smiled. "Very interesting, isn't it?"
Nanami was silent before she said, "It's a mess!"
"Why is it a mess?" asked Sendoh.
Before Nanami could answer, Sendoh grabbed Nanami and pulled her close. "Because I didn't kiss you for real?"
With Sendoh so close to her, Nanami couldn't help but blush. "Um…"
"How about I kiss you for real now?"
"…"
"Go ahead, Sendoh!"
"Kiss her!"
"Urusei!" cried Nanami to her friends in the Drama Club.
Smiling, Sendoh let go of her. "Never mind. Your stage makeup is distracting me."
"… They are?" asked Nanami self-consciously.
"You looked ridiculous under normal lighting. I don't want my first kiss to be like this."
Nanami clutched her fists and yelled, "Oh I hate you, Sendoh Akira! I… I wish you could just disappear!"
"Nanami!" said Ran in shock.
Sendoh paused and looked at her closely.
"Really?" The expression on his face was unreadable.
Nanami bit her lower lip and said, "Yeah."
"Really truly?"
"… Yeah."
Sendoh smiled. "Fine."
He then turned and walked for a few steps before he turned around.
"Don't regret your wish, my dear." he gave Nanami an air kiss before he threw his belt of pearls to the air. Straightaway, girls started to scream and grabbed for the belt that Sendoh had just worn. Nanami looked over the heads of the girls and found him gone.
"Oi, Sendoh?" asked Koshino on the way back home.
"Hmm?" asked Sendoh absentmindedly.
"What are you up to this time?"
"Oh nothing, just a little," Sendoh snapped his fingers and smiled. "disappearance."
Koshino blinked, wondering what was Sendoh going to do this time.
