AN: I forgot to upload this chapter when I was done with it. Well here is the next installment!


The Rescue and Reunion

Night descends quickly on the seaport town, Hsiao, his sailors rushing from the docks to their respective places of rest. Some head straight home to be with their families while others head to pubs to drown down their sorrows, joys, and loneliness. And others rush to restaurants to partake in quick evening meals and talk of their tales of the sea.

However, at one particular restaurant people of all kinds ranging from the noblemen and women to the sailors and laborers gather to partake in a special meal. They filled the place from top to bottom and from left to right, not a space left in sight. The boisterous chatter harmonizes with the clattering of dishes.

In the kitchen, it was different. Standing in the middle of the quiet space was the bulky chef as he slice and dice vegetables and other food items at the counter. He hollers and growls out, in what he consider a song, as he busily preps his ingredients for his special dish. After he cuts the last vegetable, he heads over to a long rectangular box sitting to the side. The bulky chef smiles as he opens the lid appreciating an unconscious Ying resting in the murky yellow liquid. "It's finally time." Calmly speaks the bulky chef as he picks up the slumbering Ying. He grunts at first at the added weight, but a few minutes of readjusting his stance, the chef heads over to the counter.

Ying was plop on the counter unceremoniously by the chef, the chef stand there for a few moments mentally cutting Ying into even chunks of meat and how to skin him just right. After he came up with a satisfying strategy, he grabs roughly Ying's head pulling him close to himself while grabbing his clean expensive butcher knife.

Outside the restaurant sneaks around a figure dress in black from head to toe, the only thing of them you could see was sapphire eyes scanning their area critically. After seeing it was clear, the person moves quickly to a vantage point, over a glass section of the roof, overseeing the kitchen. The person quickly zone in on the chef holding a butcher knife above his hand about ready to bare it down on the expose neck of an unconscious Ying.

'Shoot, I should have come a little earlier.' Thinks the person as sapphires quickly look into the eating area for any possible distraction. It appear luck was on his side tonight, right at the moment the chef was about to bare down the knife onto Ying's neck, two men who had been in a heated debate turn over the table and breaking into a full out brawl.

The sapphire eyes watch as the chef stop placing the knife beside Ying, and went to investigate and stop the problem. The person sighs in relief as he quickly descends to the rooftop of the restaurant. The person quickly opens the glass roof and jumps into the kitchen. Crouching in the middle of the floor, the person's sense of smell was bombarded by all kinds of scents.

'Hm, he loves his spices.' Thinks the person as they move over to the still form of Ying. The person stands there assessing if Ying was already dead, but caught sight of Ying's chest rising and falling. Satisfy, the person place a hand on Ying's shoulders and shake him softly. Ying did not respond. The person did again this time a little harder. And he receives the same response as before.

Glancing at the door that led to the dining area, when he heard grumbling steadily growing in volume indicating the chef has taken care of the fight quickly. Sapphire eyes widen as he made a quick decision. The person quickly grabs Ying and slinging him over his shoulders, at first the person almost plummet forward under Ying's weight. 'Man, he's heavy.' Mentally grounds out the person as he adjusted quickly to the added weight.

The person quickly moves towards a cutting board, under a big window, and was about to climb when the doors open. The person froze, knowing who stood at the door also frozen. "Hey you, get your hands off my meat!"

The night was still on Hsiao Island, the water was calm and serene. The docked ships rest in sweet slumber with their napping guard watching from behind closed lids. The streets were empty with an occasional drunk wobbling by, but other than that, everything was peaceful.

However, sadly this peace must be shatter.

Shattering glass erupts in the tranquil atmosphere, as the person with Ying fly through the air. The moment the person touch the ground they quickly run off into the shadow as they hear the chef yelling and the yelling of others outrage the meal they all came for been taken away.

The person pauses for a moment looking at the many alleyways close by. He glances back quickly as growls and chorus of protest filter through the air, signifying that the chef had rally up some men into a retrieval party. The person sprints into the darkest alleyway on his right as the hues of light glide on dirt, gravel and concrete.

"Where is he? Where is that good for nothing filth?" growls the chef as he stands at the head of the party of twenty scrutinizing men. The torchlights, in their grubby hands, reflect the sweat and grime of their lively hood and the many disfigurements they obtain over the years they been roaming the town. A man from the outside of the group move to one of the alleyways, hold the torch out before them as they scan the damp deserted walkway.

Little did the man know the person huddle up, with an unconscious Ying, behind an abandon crate close to the man. If he had step a little further in, he would have found them, but luckily, for the person he did not. After a few unsuccessful minutes, the mob quickly abandons the area for a possibly better area. The person behind the crate release a breath he did not know he was holding at the receding footsteps.

The person moves slightly away from the crate as he props Ying up against the alley wall. "Hey," whispers the person as they shake the stagnant body. "Hey...hey uh Ying." Unsurely states the person as he shakes Ying harder. Sapphire caught the twitch of Ying's relax hand and the slight scrunching of the brows.

"Ying! Hey Ying wake up."

Slowly hazy crimson eyes emerge from their slightly sun-kiss dens, and the sapphire eyes quietly sigh in triumph. "Ying." Spoke the person as crimson drowsily locks on sapphire, the person waited on bated breath as the crimson gradually sharpens to awareness.

If you ask Ying how he felt waking up, he would tell you he felt heavy and could not feel anything but the heaviness of his body. If you ask him if he thinks he was, paralyze, he would say no, because for some strange reason he feels a pair of delicate hands shaking him as if trying to wake him. "Hey," calls out a voice in through the unconscious fog roaming in his mind.

Slowly Ying fights his way for the light of conscious as he felt the delicate hands continue to shake him. He finally breeches to the surface of awareness, "Hey...hey uh Ying." Repeats the voice again, clearer to Ying this time, Ying quickly went to work on opening his eyes. However, he discovers he apparently had lead for arms and a tail, also it appear his eyes were sealed shut.

"Ying! Hey Ying wake up." Repeats the voice as if they were cheering Ying in the good fight of will against his traitorous body.

Nevertheless, Ying persevere until his unresponsive eyelids slowly gave way to his will alone. First thing he sees is blurry darkness. Ying blinks slowly trying to comprehend how he heard someone call him and swears he heard someone sigh in relief while he was still in the darkness. Before he could think any further, "Ying." Drowsily, Ying draws his eyes up until they lock on blurry sapphire.

Slowly, but surely, his vision cleared enough for him to identify the sapphires as a pair of floating eyes. "Glad to see you're awake, Ying." Declares the eyes, Ying knits his brow together as he recognize the voice from somewhere. However, he could not pinpoint where. The eyes study Ying's calculating gaze for a few minutes until they brighten up in mirth at what they discovered. "You don't recognize me do you?"

Ying almost roll his eyes at the floating pair, he was about to say something when he became aware of something covering his mouth. Quickly his awareness took note of his bound arms as he tries to move them. Slowly his memory return to him, Ying quickly glances up suspiciously at the eyes until he realize the twinkling eyes were familiar. An image of a girly looking man they left in the inlet earlier.

Leo eyes twinkle mischievously, watching a still daze Ying study him confusedly. Leo immediately locks on the spark in Ying's eyes, as they slowly but surely return to the velvet crimson they once were. After, what Leo guess, waiting for a few seconds of Ying remembering everything of that day did Ying glare at him with accusing eyes.

Leo's hand quickly rises up in a surrendering gesture saying, "Hey, I wasn't the one that bound and gag you. I just saved your butt from becoming tonight's dinner special." Ying rose a brow in question and Leo continue, "I suspect you remember me at the auction making bids on you," Ying nod for him to continue after he glares at him, "hey I was trying to save you, not eat you. Besides I don't like seafood and it smells badly."

Ying's brow twitch in annoyance as did his tail, since he has not gain full control of his drugged body. "I know that was uncalled for. Well anyway, after the auction I followed you guys to the restaurant but decided it was too open for me to make a move. So I waited to only run into your girlfriend at the pier." Leo continues but stop at Ying's raised brow at the last part.

Leo sighs, "Jun, the mermaid, your friend." Ying's eyes spark in recognition but then darken as if saying, 'she's not my girlfriend.' Leo rolls his eyes, "Yeah I know, she said the same thing. Well anyway we're supposed to meet her at the inlet, so if you don't mind holding off your questions I like to get moving." Leo said as he got up. Ying grunts gaining Leo's attention, "What?"

Ying glances down at the gag and then back up at Leo as if asking him to remove it. "Ok, fine I'll remove it, but you have to remain quiet." Leo said as he bends over untying the gag. Ying rolls his eyes as Leo's comment. Leo stands back up with gag in hand, "Thank you." Whispers Ying as he breathes through his mouth free of obstruction, a few times.

Leo nods as he walks over to the bend and checking if the close was clear. Seeing the street was barren Leo returns to Ying attempting to break out of the knots. "Hey can you, whoa!" starts Ying but only ends up yelling as Leo toss him onto his shoulder. "Shush, they might hear you. Besides we don't have enough time and it's unsafe to untie you here." Leo quickly comments as he takes to the street, heading in the direction of the piers.

"Um, wouldn't it be better to go by..." starts Ying but was interrupt by Leo saying, "No advising the rescuer." Ying's brow twitch as his head steams slightly in annoyance at Ying. He huff while mumbling under his breathe about Leo being an idiot. Leo chuckles as he turns a corner. Suddenly Leo skids to a halt, staring wide eyed at the small congregation of men blocking the path.

"Well, good evening boys."

The crowd part ways allowing the chef to walk up to the front, as Ying tenses in Leo's hold at the male's voice. Sizzling sapphires locks with beady blacks, sizing the other from where they stood. The chef quickly glances at Ying and then comments, "I don't appreciate people stealing my main dishes. But in this case since he's unharmed, I'll make you a deal, if you hand him over these guys here will allow you to go unscathed."

Ying catches his breath at the chef's alluring offer for his rescuer, but sadly not for him. Leo stands where he was at in a thoughtful manner, but inwardly knew that it was not an option he could take. "That's nice of you to offer, but I have to decline." Leo answers then quickly turn tail back the way he came.

Ying blinks owlishly at the furious men stun slightly by the quick move Leo made. "Why did you not accept the offer?" Ying questions while looking at the back of Leo's head. "Does it matter?" Leo huffs out as the group of men decided to go after them. "Yes it does." Ying answers, knowing that it truly does not matter, but he was more curious than truly needing to know.

Leo huffs in annoyance at Ying, instead of answering his question Leo grunts quietly, "Damn how much do you weigh?" as he falters slightly from jumping down some stairs. Crimsons flash dangerously, and sapphires saw a flash of silvery blue before the ground, suddenly, greet him with open arms. Leo lies in the dirt as Ying grunts in contact with the dirt as well. They both remain there until Leo spoke.

Leo slowly looks up at Ying with accusing sapphire, "Why did you hit me...with...with that battering ram you call a tail?" Ying, during Leo's statement, glares at him, "Last time I check the rescuer doesn't complain about the rescue and they would have had a better idea of escaping through the alleyway!" Both eyes lock on each other as the testosterone level began to rise.

"May be if the rescue wasn't so damn heavy, the rescuer wouldn't be complaining!"

"Well may be if the rescuer wasn't so weak and has a lack of common sense and strategies, they would have been out of here. And the rescue is not heavy!"

"How can you say that? You weigh like what a ton?"

Ying's brow twitches as he grounds out, "I. Don't. Weigh. A. Ton."

Leo snorts as he sits up, "Please with that tail of yours, you're like a ton Ying." Ying rolls his eyes at Leo's persistence. "How do you know my name, when in the short time I've known you I never gave it to you?"

"From your girlfriend, Jun was it."

"She's not my girlfriend." Ying repeats as Leo roll his eyes and said, "Sure whatever, name's Leo by the way." Ying raises a brow in question at the foreign name, but before anything else could be said. Leo grabs a startle Ying and continues fleeting with an unhappy Ying in toll.

The inlet, off from the far reaches of town, sleeps soothingly under heaven's tranquil dark hair with sparkling diamonds weave into her long tresses. The queen of slumber clings to night's dark tresses as she watches her children sleep under her guarding presence. In the far corner of the serene inlet, rests a little enclosing nestle amongst a cluster of small rocks. A sleeping beauty with long blue hair, moonlight skin, and a sapphire tail occupies the little enclosing.

Jun lounges diagonally across the rocky landing, with the tip of her fin touching the water as it hangs over the rocky edge. She sighs dramatically as she turns onto her side causing the water to stir. Her small hands lazily draw in circular motion on the steel ground. As her tail quietly sways back and forth, she glances up at the majestic queen dangling in the dark tresses and sighs once more thinking, 'I hope they're doing ok?'

"Idiot!" yells Ying as Leo skids around a corner of a building as the sound of angry men increase in steady volume behind them. "Hey I didn't know they would be waiting at the pier!" Leo yells swerving to the right as a small glinting projectile slice through where he once was. "Also how was I supposed to they would arm themselves in the short time we lost them."

Ying glares at his rescuer's head, "Anyone with their right mind would have known, oomph" starts Ying but then grunts as Leo swerves around another corner almost off kilter their balance. "That they would have armed themselves as well as wait to ambush them at the most obvious place they know we head to." Ying grunts some more as Leo jumps over a small flight of stairs while shirking another shower of small projectiles.

Leo pause for a few seconds catching his breath, then thrust himself forward when the hoard crest the flight of stairs. "Why head to the pier anyway? Isn't there other water access points here?" Ying questions the back of Leo, not wishing to see the eyes of raging Hungry beasts. Ying grunts as Leo hugs to a corner as more small projectile whizz pass the tips of their hair. 'That was too close.' Think both youth while sighing in shaken relief.

"There is, but since this is also my FIRST time being here. I have no clue how to get to them. Besides going by the way of the pier was the only way I knew how to reach the inlet." Leo comments as he practically leaps up two flights of stairs. "Man this place sure love stairs." Ying grunts in agreement and discomfort as he braces himself against Leo's slender sharp shoulder.

Quickly silence accompanied the two as Leo runs on dodging projectiles and maneuvering around his surroundings. "Can't you run a little smoother?"

"Can you be less heavy?"

Ying glares at Leo's head ready to whack him in the chest again, "Don't even think about using that battering ram! As I said once I'll say it again, no back rescue talking from the rescue." Ying huff as he mutters about incompetent scrawny rescuers, Leo quietly growls at the comment and have a feeling Ying purposely said it loud enough for him to hear, if the little triumphant snort said anything about.

Leo did an inhumanely sharp turn around a corner causing Ying to yelp as Leo's shoulder stab into his exposed stomach. Leo triumphantly snorts in his own right at an irritated Ying. Both males fail to notice the change of scenery until it was too late. Leo returns to focusing on escaping to skid to a halt before a brick wall.

Ying grunts as his body buckle forward and back from the sudden end. "What are you doing, trying to give me whiplash?" Ying mutters angrily at Leo, "No, but we reach a dead end." Ying spare a glance behind him, seeing the brick wall. Quickly he turns to the steadily growing sound of pattering footsteps preceded by the hues of the torches.

Ying quickly study the alleyway looking for any possible escape. He notices an inconspicuous dark rotting door to his right sitting idly by in the shadows. "Leo, there's an old door to your left behind you." Ying quickly directs as the hoard appear in the alleyway. Leo turns facing the hoard of beastly men as Ying faces the brick wall.

Leo quickly glances to the door, then the slowly looming hoard, and back at the door judging he would be able to make it to the door and escape. The men snicker as they saw their prey caught in a corner. Sapphire stare into opaque beady eyes for a second, then Leo quickly shoots for the door. The chef quickly moves to stop him with the crowd following quickly after.

Leo made it to the door before the hoard could reach them and kick in the door with great force; it was knock off the hinges completely. Quickly the two enter the building with the hoard not too far behind them. Quickly everyone realize they were in an abandon building, after a few times they almost fell through the feeble rotten floors.

"This is nuts." Grunts Ying as Leo not only dodge small projectiles but also evading thin rotten boards in their escape. "I. Couldn't. Agree. More." Grounds out Leo as he jumps from the second floor of the faulty building as small projectiles zip pass his head with merely an inch between them. Leo lands hard on the ground, almost falling off his feet. Luckily, he rights himself as he heads for a bolted door.

Sapphire eyes glare at the door as he stops for a few gauging the possible strength of chains and locks. Ying glances curiously behind him then quickly turn his attention to the hoard bounding down the banister as they had done earlier. He glances quickly at the thinking Leo then back to the advancing hoard. Ying quickly mutters for Leo to hurry up and do something or else they will be capture.

Leo glances back at the crouching hoard, preparing to pounce on them at any moment. He only had one shot. Leo quickly aim his outstretch hand to the bolted door, a swirl of blue glowing liquid-like solid form in his hand. Slowly it form and solidify into a spherical orb pulsing in his hand like a heartbeat. Ying slowly look behind him when he notice the bluish glow reflecting off the walls, floor, and the astonish hoard.

Quickly, he turns away when an explosion erupts and a storm of debris and dust encompass them.

The night was still and calm in Hsiao.

All here, people were sound asleep under the watchful gaze of the queen of slumber.

All was good for the people of Hsiao.

An explosion in the heart of the seaport town, destroy the very foundation of the serene palace of the queen of slumber. Hsiao's people race to their windows or outside to see dark toxic abyss lumbers slowly towards the throne of the queen of slumber. The people, in alarm, wonder what could be happening in their beloved Hsiao's heart.

Coughs consume the atmosphere as a shadowy form stumbles from the smoke. The smoke clears as Leo with Ying in tow stumbles to the other side of the street. "What. The. Hell. Happen. There?" grouches Ying as he body works to remove the polluted air from his lungs.

Leo leans against the supporting wall wheezing as he gains his bearings and strength. "What...did...it...look...like?" Leo questions as if the whole thing was obvious even for a baby to recognize it. "I know what happen and what it is," Ying retorts understanding the underline tone Leo used, "My question is...how you were able to do that?"

Leo smirks to himself quietly saying, "There's a lot you don't know about me." At first Ying thought, he heard things since Leo spoke it so quietly, but after a while realize he did speak. Teal brows squeeze together as he became curious at Leo's tone. Before he could act on the impulse, Leo quickly runs to the right.

The hoard of men one by one, appears from the wreckage coughing and hacking a storm. After a while, they all started to growl and mutter amongst themselves about the damage this stranger in just one night. The grouches and growls cease when the chef appears from the rumble of the building. His gaze quickly looks to the right as the tail end of Leo and Ying disappear from view.

"Come on boys." Growls the chef as he runs in the same direction, and the hoard nipping their neighbors' heels wanting to be next to the chef. Knowing that is where the action will be at when they catch the meat and the meat snatcher.

Leo hugs another corner as projectiles slice close to him and his precious cargo, Ying. He pauses aiming his hand to the pursuing hoard firing off three small consecutive balls of solidify glowing matter at them. The men growl and howl as they cower away from balls of glowing matter's explosions.

Using the temporary discomfort of the hoard effectively, Leo resumes running with Ying grunting at the thirty-second changes. The black mask, shielding Leo's identity from the world, slowly unravels from its tie. Leo skids around another corner as small projectiles fly pass the crown of his head. His loose mask quickly hitchhikes with the small items leaving their master's moonlight skin and stardust hair expose to the outside world.

However, Leo did not pay it any mind, he was focus solely on the distance between them, Ying and Leo, compare to the roars and growls of prowling hoard. He turns into an alleyway, with promise of escape, as the hoard slowly close in on them. Ying grunts as he softly collides with Leo's head.

Shortly Leo skids to a halt as he faces another dead end. Ying grunts at the jolting stop, and curious as to why they stop. However, decided against it for favor of feigning innocent since they were in another alleyway. Nevertheless, he did hazard a look up as the hues of light travel down the narrow passageway and the growls and yipping of hungry predators bounce off the stony walls.

Leo quickly turns facing the hoard, while Ying faces another wall hindering their escape. Again. The chef purrs in contentment, seeing how he had them corner. Leo studies his surroundings hoping to see any inconspicuous openings like last time. "Looks like your lucks run out." Comments the chef as the hoard spreads open, effectively closing any openings they could slip through the defense.

Leo quietly growls at the honest statement, Ying mutters under his breath about the fact Leo willingly run into a dead-end, again and there was no escape this time. Leo keeps his eyes on the men as he address Ying in a quiet voice, "You sure there's no escape?" Ying looks over at him with an exasperate expression, "Yes I'm sure. The only two ways we can escape is by going up or head to our grave. I should be happy you will be the first one in the grave, but envious that yours will be directly."

Leo rolls his eyes at Ying's so optimistic expression, "Relax. I promise I was going to return you to your girlfriend safe and unscathed." Casually replies Leo to a tire Ying. "She's not my girlfriend, and how are you going to do that...FLY us out of here?" Ying questions with his voice saturated in sarcasm. Leo smirks quietly at Ying's sarcastic statement, 'You don't know how right you are.'

"I have to say, you gave us quite a run boy. However, I'm happy to say, it's over. You should have taken my offer when you had the chance. Any last words?" victoriously speaks the chef as the hoard snickers and chuckles in the background. Leo stares at the chef and the dirty hairy faces of the hoard.

"Yeah, that was a nice offer...for a coward and an unhonorable man. However, I made a promise to someone I would return him to them, safe and unscathed; I tend to keep my promises. Nevertheless, as I said, it's a good offer but I have to decline. So see yea around, but we got to fly."

The men and Ying raised their brows at the last comment, for a second. Leo quickly illuminates as his hair and loose clothing levitates in the air. Ying looks at Leo with alarm, as he crouches down as if ready to thrust himself into the air. The men and chef stand there amaze at the glowing little man, and slowly back away as the light surrounding, him brightens into a blinding blue.

Ying gulps as Leo jumps into the air as beams of white light burst into a shower feathers from his back. Leo quickly soars to the sky as two medium long feather covered appendages glide on the raising current. Ying sputters since some feathers got into his mouth, and look down seeing the ground disappear from sight.

Leo quietly closes his eyes as the rushing wind shapes around his body, and racing through his stardust hair. Ying cautiously peers at Leo a little stun from the fact he, a merman, was flying. "Y-you...can...fly?" stutters Ying as he looks back down to see only sea of dark fluff. Leo chuckles at Ying's astounded tone, "Yes I can. As I said before, there's a lot about me you don't know."

Ying nods while studying Leo's wings as he a certain lesson from his studies return to him, "I remember a tale, a teacher once told, about a unique group of surface dwellers." Ying comments casually while studying his surroundings.

"These surface dwellers, as I was told, where no ordinary group. My teacher told us they lived in the sky and atop mountains instead of the surface. So technically, they were not surface dwellers. They really should be consider as sky dwellers. Especially since it was believe, they had wings making them the angels of Ai. But they died out during and after the Great Fall."

Throughout Ying's telling of what he knew, he watches carefully Leo's body language to see if he would try to bluff it. He felt Leo's shoulders sag slightly and the rest of him shrinks into himself slowly. "It must be lonely, knowing you're the last of...the Nirvanians." Ying comments in a solemn tone.

Leo sighs at Ying's statement, "Yes it is lonely. I can say it's downright torturous." Comments Leo as he slowly descends passes the clouds. Ying nods as they fell into companionable silence. "Well that explains a lot of things about you." Ying comments gaining Leo's attention, "Like what?"

"You having such a small feminine body, I mean in order for you to fly you have to have light frame. This also explains why about your special abilities as well as your inept ability to perform a decent rescue," Notes Ying as he remembers the mediocre rescue and their first meeting. Leo's brow tics, as he descent to the crystal water quickens in pace.

Ruby pink eyes languidly observe a dainty-like finger tracing invisible circles into harden smooth dirt floor. They quickly glance out into the simmering water as the queen of slumber hangs low in her darkly horizon. 'They should be here by now.' Irritably thinks the ruby pinks as they flop unceremoniously onto the rocky ledge. The ruby pinks gaze into endless pit of blackish grey as the lulling midnight breezes surfs the serene inlet surface.

After a few minutes, the ruby pinks looks to the surface, anticipating for something to happen. They quickly dim with worry since it yields nothing fruitful. 'They should be here, why haven't they arrived yet, it's midnight and Leo fails to show up, could something have happen to them? Could they be taking their sweet time getting here? When will they get here?' thinks the pink eyes as they shut tight in frustration.

As if heaven heard her plea, a distant yell chimes in the thunderous silence. Ruby pinks fly open as they quickly look to the water, just in time to see a bluish green blur body slams into the flawless water. The eyes quickly scurry to the edge, hastily yet slow, unsure to allow her hope to overtake her. Nevertheless, she learns her hope was not as naïve as she thought it was. Harmonious chuckles tame the startle environment. The ruby pink quickly zero in on a familiar person clad in black, with long silver hair and sparkling sapphire eyes.

The ruby pinks shine in happiness and relief at the sight of Leo, though quite curious as to how he had procured wings. Quickly the ruby pinks look to the bubbling surface, pose in ready after they deduce the possible identity of the bluish green blob crashing into the water not too long ago. Its heart exploded the moment Ying breeches the surface spluttering all kinds of profanity at a now sniggering Leo. The ruby pink quickly found itself in the water heading towards Ying.

Velvet crimsons glares angrily into the dark horizons at the crumble sniggering form of Leo. "You idiot! You could have killed me!" Ying yells as Leo slowly tames his sniggers, "Sorry about that...guess you were heavier than we thought." Ying's brow tics at Leo's well played revenge on Ying's comment earlier, that he figure more or less cause Leo to accidently lose his grip.

He remain quiet for a few minutes thinking of something when suddenly a force he couldn't comprehend slam right into him screaming out his name in an inhumanely octave. Leo brow rises as he witness a blue blob take Ying under, while screaming at the top of its tongue. He blinks once, than twice, 'Man, she is strong.'

Ying stills as the force grips his upper torso tightly while blubbering about him being there and alive. A little belatedly, his daze psyche register and recognize the blubbering tone belonging to someone he knew. He looks down to see thick long blue hair framing the heart shape face of a woman he knew very well, which was looking at him with relieve ruby pink eyes.

Jun stops when velvet crimsons interlock with ruby pinks, it felt like eternity to them, which in reality it was only a good hot thirty seconds. Ying's eyes soften at the sight of a worried and frighten Jun, two emotions that did not belong on this one person in Ying's personal opinion. "Jun," he calmly speaks as he went to show comfort to her. However, the bindings halt his movements.

Jun quickly look down at the bindings for a minute confused, "Oh wait." Jun tells as she heads back to the landing. Ying floats in place curious about what she went to do, he did not have to wonder long. Jun return with a sack and her double headed blue spear. Both of Ying's brows were up when he saw her weapon, wondering why she brought that with her. Then he remember when Leo told him of running into Jun in the pier, so he deduce Jun had plan on saving him on her own.

"Hold still." Orders Jun as she places the tip of one of the sharp ends on the binds knot. She quickly went to work. Ying would glance once in a while back at her, softly smiling at the determine look that conquer her face. After what felt like hours, which in truth it been twenty minutes, Ying was free of the binds. He faces Jun, while rubbing his sore wrist, to thank her. The thank you was body slam out of him when Jun pounces on him.

His arms automatically wrap around her small frame, as she bury her face in his chest. Ying smiles a small smile while rubbing soothing circles on her back. "It's ok Jun. I'm here now, there's nothing to worry about." Ying calmly speaks in soft tones as if he was talking to the twelve year old Jun he remember comforting on a certain day.

Jun nods, face planted into Ying's chest...into Ying's bare chest as she quickly notices. She squeaks jumping back from a confused Ying. "Jun," starts Ying but never had a chance to finish, the girl shot for the surface as if she was in need of air. Ying blinks once, then twice as he tries to figure out what cause this sudden shyness.

He follows her at a more leisurely pace.

Leo hovers in the air, wings stroking every few minutes, above the spot he witness Ying and the blob, Jun, went under. At first glance, he appears calm and collected, at second glance, calm and may be not as collected as the first time. The third glance, you realize he appear down right bored and highly impatient.

You wonder why he was bored and impatient; he would tell you it was Ying and Jun's fault. If you ask him why, he would tell you because they been under for HOURS. He has as much patience as the next person, but his always falls short of a normal, smart, and healthy person's patience. Therefore, when bubbles started to break the calm surface, you could say he was relieved.

Sapphire eyes watch Jun burst from below almost red like a tomato and Ying following suit a few minutes later but confused as he, Leo, was. Velvet crimson became stormy crimsons in concern for the suddenly red girl. "Is there something wrong, Jun?" Ying questions moving over to the glowing Jun. Leo raise a brow at the sight of a blushing Jun, in his personal opinion she was cute blushing, but he wonder why the girl was blushing.

He quickly looks over at Ying, quickly noticing a subtle difference that he did took note of earlier that day, or technically yesterday since it pass midnight. Ying was topless. He deduce Jun never seen him without a top before, he snickers softly. However, his snickers cease when he realize one important aspect.

They were ignoring him.

Liking being the center of attention Leo loudly remarks, "So you guys decided to grace me with your presence." Ying stops in his pursuit in favor of listening and remarking to Leo's upcoming comment. Jun, gratefully, looks up at Leo too curious about he was going to say. Both Ying and Jun, assume it was not good, judging by Leo's mischievous smirk and the sparkle in his eyes.

"I'm glad too, I started to wonder if you two where reacquainting with each other. And to think you two aren't even marry, heck not evening dating." Leo finishes with a sly look in his eyes. Ying and Jun's brows identically raised in confusion. Ying was the first out of the two to register what Leo had just said, and just implied with his statement.

Ying face burn bright red, then glares at Leo when he heard Jun squeak in shock indicating she just understood his implication. "Pervert," yells Ying and Jun simultaneously, "We wouldn't even dare attempt that!" Leo was rolling in the air laughing his self to an early grave.

"You two wouldn't even dare what?" questions a deep new voice, causing all three youth to turn to the intruder.

"Who are you?"

"Daddy?"

"Your highness...general...sir?"

"WHAT!"


R&R