A/n Hello everyone! I want to thank eveybody for their reviews on the last chapter. Hello to my new readers and all the old readers who are still sticking with me. This chapter is dedicated to deliriou599 who asked for a bit of a fantasy chapter.
I got this idea from a book I read a while ago called Tangled Tides. It takes place in the same sort of universe. I just changed the meaning of the colors around (you'll see what I mean)

Title: Ocean Storms
Words: 2,764
Character: Kenshin/Kaoru
Genre: Fantasy
Rating T

"Looks like a bad one." The green mermaid reported. Her green hair tangled and lumped together near her neck.

Kenshin paused at the sight. "The Sirens?" He asked, making sure to keep eye contact with her emerald eyes.

The green nodded. Her movements slow under the water. But with their eyes locked Kenshin was fed flashes of information. Pounding rain, howling wind, churning dark clouds and lightning. Also flashes of Mers still on the other side enduring the storm. They were relatively safe as long as they stayed under the water. But what about those above water? Their safe havens and lagoons were protected from the eyes of humans, but not from the storm, especially one called in by a Siren.

"I better go take a look." Kenshin replied. The green mermaid gave him a wave and turned away to swim towards the lavender sand of the nearby beach. Kenshin turned toward the Gate that the green Mer appeared from. It was a circular opening wide enough for half a dozen Mer's to swim side by side through. It was made of gray stone and was nestled in a reef of neon corals. The gate jutted up slightly from the surrounding rock and coral. A few Mers loitered nearby. On the other side of the gate was a dark and vast space of ocean. Yet even though no sun shined there and the water was freezing, life was just as abundant. Schools of iridescent silver fish undulated this way and that way. Large white wales with spiraled horns slowly made there way. Also loitering on their side of the gate were the Selkies. They were dark where the Mer's were bright and colorful. Mer's had fish tails while Selkies had the lower body of a seal. They liked the cold and dark and worshiped the moon. Mer's needed warmth and light and worshiped the sun. They were children of the same creatures, but different in every way.

A flash of color brought Kenshin's eyes back to their side of the gate. Another red Mer shot through the gate followed closely by a handful of blues and Indigos. They looked tired and their hair was also tangled from the rough seas. Kenshin flicked his tail and slid up beside the red female as she slowed to count her charges.

"Are there anymore reds over there?" He asked when the mermaid turned to look him in the eyes.

"Not that I saw. The worst of it is hitting now. Some of the blues were afraid so I led them back." she reported.

Kenshin nodded and looked away, ending the conversation. He needed to go through the gate in case there were other young, lost or injured who needed help. He approached the gate cautiously. As a child in a school of friends, they used to plow through the gate as fast as they could but it was a quick lesson learned when they would crash into Mer's coming in from the other side. Adults were quick to end their daredevil acts. Kenshin swam and entered the gate low, nearly scraping his belly on the sandy floor. In his experience, Mer's entered the gate at the center. He was sure to be clear going in so low.

There was a flash of brilliant rainbow light and then suddenly the strange world of the mortal realm. The current was strong, seaweed was tugged to and fro and fish struggled to swim against the pull and tug. Looking up Kenshin could see the churning of the ocean's surface. There wasn't much light, as the clouds blocked the sun. Kenshin blinked, adjusting his vision until he could see clearer. There was coral here, but it was in no way the same as in his own world. There were very little neon colors, mostly drab, muted colors. The water was somewhat murky the closer to shore he went and evidence of humans became obvious. Namely the trash that had settled at the ocean floor.

A flash of brilliant yellow caught Kenshin's attention and he turned to see a panicked looking Mer rushing towards him.

"Hurry!" He yelled when he was close enough to see his eyes. He cried under the water, it was an eery sound, maid worse by the dull roar of the storm overhead.

"What's wrong." Kenshin hurried towards him. He was small and thin, which was normal for most Yellows. They were educators and spent a great deal of time exploring and studying and teaching.

"A dingy!" He gasped, "With a human in it, it's sinking, I've tried to hold it up, but I'm not strong enough."

"We shouldn't interfere." Kenshin said calmly. "It's not good to meddle with humans."

The yellow gave a frustrated shout under the water. "It's just a child, and the Siren's are after it."

Kenshin blinked his red -yellow eyes. "Why would the Sirens go after a human child?"

"I don't know." The yellow was already backing up, itching to return to the ailing human. "But they started this storm just to get the child. It is important somehow."

Kenshin didn't think it was a good idea to interrupt the Siren's if they were hunting. It wasn't odd for them to hunt children, only slightly taboo. But it was unheard of for them to use so much energy creating a storm for the sole purpose of hunting a single child.

"Show me where it is, and then you need to get away. I don't want the Siren's to come after you if they are angry."

The yellow paused only for a moment before rushing up to Kenshin and the two of them rested their hands on each others shoulders and Kenshin felt himself pulled by the chest into a flash of darkness. At once he could see the small boat near the shore. It was way past any of the docks and sinking fast. Kenshin took care to remember the landmarks under the water and then he felt himself being pushed away.

"That way." the yellow pointed the way he came and then turned to head into the deep ocean.

Kenshin headed in the indicated direction. He swam quickly, weaving around slower moving fish. The closer he got the shore the more the ocean current pulled and pushed at him. Sand and trash kicked up from the bottom made the water murky and he had to swim closer to the surface in order to see. He risked popping his head above water for just a moment. Ocean spray stung his face and the wind chilled him instantly. Thunder cracked overhead making him edgy.

But there! In the distance he could see the shadow of a tiny boat. It was sinking fast. Kenshin would never make it in time!

Diving back under the water Kenshin darted toward the boat. He was one of the fastest Mer's in all the Realm but even so, he saw the boat slip under the water and the dark mass quickly dropped like a rock. Rushing forward in a blur of speed he caught sight of legs treading water and he pivoted upward. Yards of colorful fabric dragged the poor child under the water but Kenshin was there waiting with arms outstretched and pulled the child back to the surface. The two of them broke through the surface at the same time. The child coughed and struggled the rub the salt water from its eyes. First thing Kenshin noticed was the ink black hair and the bright blue irises. The second thing he noticed was a screeching scream from high above. Kenshin looked up at the churning clouds and rain and spotted a dark mass flying in the air. It was a Siren. She was headed right for them. Kenshin's red hair made a perfect target.

"Hold on." Kenshin warned the child before diving back into the water. Deeper and deeper before the razor shard tallon-like claws could reach them. The Siren dove into the water, but they were yards deeper than she could reach and she had to return to the sky.

Quickly Kenshin cupped the child's face in his hands and pressed his mouth to its mouth. The child gasped and breathed in fresh air. Shocked, the child pulled away. In the shallower water, there was more light and the child instantly noticed his long red hair, red-yellow eyes and shimmering red tail and fins. In awe, the child could only float there and stare. A moment longer and Kenshin reached for it again and pressed his lips to the child's lips. This time the child didn't fight but slowly, cautiously opened its mouth and breathed in more air.

Sure now that the human understood, Kenshin clutched the child to his chest and swam closer to shore. He turned his head every few seconds to let the child breath from him. Then, the strange ghostly images of logs loomed in the distance. Kenshin rushed to them. Closer and closer until Kenshin broke the surface again and they were under the shelter of a dock. The wood groaned at the wind and waves but the worst of the storm was over and they were holding fast. Unfortunately it was one of the larger docks that stretched far out from the shore. The child clung tightly to him, wrapping its arms around his neck and shoulder as Kenshin pulled himself up onto the dock. The child was unsteady on its feet, and tired. But gave Kenshin a smile.

Kenshin smiled back. Human children were so much more accepting than adults. He felt bad that he would have to suck the memory away from the child's soul but it had to be done to protect his people. He was a warrior, his job was to protect. As the child crouched down to investigate his shiny scales, Kenshin wondered if perhaps he should swim the child up to the shore. He could transform and lead the child to safety. Taking a memory might leave the child unconscious or confused, And the storm could wash it away. He didn't have clothes, so if he transformed he would be naked, which he knew was upsetting to humans for some reason. He didn't want to upset the child nor did he want to draw attention if someone happened to be looking out their window and the moment his red hair appeared.

A scream jerked Kenshin out of his thoughts and all at once his vision was filled with dark brown feathers. The Siren had silently followed them and dove in for the attack. Her clawed hands grabbed the child and lifted off into the sky. But Kenshin was skilled and trained, and though he let his guard down when they reached the shore, he was quick to grab the Siren as she rose up higher and higher with both of them. Kenshin quickly transformed, his tail vanished and instead he had a pair of legs. He wrapped his legs around the creature for a better hold.

The child screamed, a sound not unlike the sound of a wounded Selkie under the water. It disturbed Kenshin greatly.

"Mine!" The Siren shouted, turning her big black eyes at Kenshin and trying to shake him off.

Kenshin didn't bother to talk to the Siren and instead leveled his glowing yellow eyes at her as he drew a coral handled dagger from his belt. He stabbed the Siren in the ribs, just under her bare breast and red-black blood exploded from the wound.

Again the Siren screamed and thrashed as much as she could to dislodge Kenshin but he had too strong a grip. He could never kill the Siren, they were immortal. The stab was more for a distraction. While the creature struggled with the dagger in her side, Kenshin moved to rip at the cloth covering the child. He prayed to the Sun God that the Siren had not sunk her claws into the child. The way it was screaming so made Kenshin fear the worse. But thankfully once the robes of cloth were pulled away the child nearly slipped free. Kenshin grabbed the now naked child and let go of his hold of the Siren. The pair of them fell, and fell. The winged creature had taking them high into the storm. Kenshin curled his body around the child as the ocean rushed up. They hit the water with a great splash and Kenshin felt pain blossom from his back and side. He was certain bones were broken but at least the child had been protected. His legs instantly turned back into his tail as soon as it touched the water and Kenshin rose up to the surface.

The pair of them looked skyward for the Siren but only saw the thinning clouds and the hint of blue sky. Slowly, with painful movements Kenshin swam for shore. After a long moment, when the adrenaline had worn away the child hissed and whimpered.

"Are you hurt, child." Kenshin asked.

The child nodded. "My back." It said softly.

Kenshin turned the child in his arms and lifted it from the water slightly to find a large gash and blood running into the sea. The Siren had managed to nick the child with her claws after all.

"It is not bad." Kenshin said as he turned the child around and pressed it close to his chest. He did worry about attracting sharks, but they were close enough to shore that they might not make it to them in time.

"Are you hurt. Mr. Merman?" The child asked, looking up at his pained face with ever growing blue irises.

"A little." He answered honestly. "But nothing that my people can't fix right away. The child's eyes grew even larger if that were possible.

"There are more?"

Kenshin didn't mind talking about his people, he would take the memory away as soon as they hit the sand. He nodded. "Many, many more. All different colors."

"You're red." the child observed."And a boy, not a mermaid."

"You're right." Kenshin could only smile and the innocence and acceptance of the tiny human. There was a time long ago that adults were just as accepting. "Red means warriors."

Times changed that acceptance. Kenshin had never known it, but he had heard stories about it from the Elders.

"What's your name?"

"Kenshin."

"Ken-shin." The child smiled. "I'm Kaoru. I'm just a girl."

Kenshin smiled again. "Hello Kaoru." They hit the sand and Kenshin let the waves push them further up until He was certain the child would be safe. The girl stood upright in the sand, somewhat aware of her lack of clothing. She turned to look at the group of houses further up the beach.

"If they send me back into the Ocean, will you save me again?"

Kenshin blinked. "Who sent you into the Ocean?"

"The grown-ups." Kaoru looked down at her feet in the wet sand.

Dread made Kenshin's skin prickle with unease. "Why?"

Her little shoulders lifted and fell. "I don't know, they made my Mommy cry."

Was she meant to go out into a tiny leaking boat? Did they put her there on purpose? Was she a sacrifice to the Sirens?

Anger boiled his blood and he was sure it showed on his face because the girl-child was watching him closely. He was just a child himself. A teenager in Mer years, but in that short about of time he rose from a simple little blue straight to a red. He was strong and powerful than Mer's hundreds of years older. But he was just a child with a child's ignorance. Why would humans do that to their own kind? A child even. And if she were given tot he Sirens...why? For what reason? And now that he helped her escape her fate, what would the Sirens do?

This was why he shouldn't have meddled with humans.

The child was still watching him so he took a breath. "I will save you, but they must never know about me." He said, more to himself than to the child. But the girl clapped her hands in delight and Kenshin suddenly felt his anger drain away with the tide.

"I hope to see you again, Ken-shin." the girl hoped forward and planted a kiss on his lips before turning and darting through the sand and grass to the cluster of homes.

Kenshin watched her go with an amused smile before realizing in his shock, he forgot to remove the memory from her mind.

A/n I got to say I really have a hard time writing shorts for Fantasy. I love to build up worlds and stuff and it was hard not to go off on some back story and just stick right to the point. I wouldn't mind turning this into a longer story, but I honestly have no idea what to do with it. If you have any plot ideas you are willing to share, please feel free to send them to me. Thanks for reading! Reviews are loved.