This one shot is an on line birthday present for my dear "little sister" Kagome Girl 21, who is a big Momo' and Ryoma fan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you like it!
" Sand Castles."
A Mythic Brotherhood visual story.
Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, we all know who REALLY owns pot and it's NOT ME!
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White crests curling over as the water met the shallows, the waves hung suspended for all of two seconds before rolling into thundering breakers. High snowy foam outlined by the deep blue of a cloudless sky, the sea rippled with a million choppy patterns as the swirling froth raced for the shore. The water surged upward, caressing its lover the sand as it swept out wrinkles then retreated to gather enough strength for another attempt; leaving a clean washed area of ivory that sparkled with a thousand golden stars from the bright sunlight over head. The sound each wave left hanging on the salty spray was a deep booming, coupled to the mournful cries of sea gulls as they wheeled above the heads of the pair strolling hand in hand up the deserted strand.
Dazzling white, it was dotted with clumps of dry weed that neatly hide treasures of beached shells or knobbly sticks of driftwood. Stooping to pick up a brittle piece of cuttle bone, Ryoma turned it over in his hands then presented his prize to his smiling lover. Taking a great lung full of wonderfully clean air, Momo's bright purple eyes scanned the distant horizon. Not a single ship or plume of pollution marred the boundless expanse and for the happy mongoose spirit, he and his life mate may as well have been the only creatures alive in the entire world.
Stopping, they set their picnic basket on the sand then spread out a large soft blanket to sit on. Popping up the spreading shade of a gaily coloured beach umbrella, Momo' sank down with a contented sigh then grinned over what his lover was doing. In his true demon form, Ryoma rolled and played in the gritty covering; delighting in the way the pristine grains cleaned his bat-like wings. Shaking them out, he then raced into the water to enjoy the way the murky liquid foamed about his ankles. Throwing his head back, he spread both arms and wings wide as his tail dragged out sweeping patterns in the wet sand. A strong wind howling in from the sea tossed his longer than normal mane of gleaming black hair so light tendrils lifted to stir at the moist atmosphere.
Hearing his partner's call, the youth charged up to carelessly throw himself onto the blanket while wrapping his arms about Momo's bare shoulders. Sharing a quick kiss, the pair settled down to the serious business of eating.
Behind the two, high sand hills reared up to challenge the sky; their sides and tops bristling with scraggily green growth that boasted flat orange flowers or half concealed fleshy dark clumps of pig weed. Blue-green salt bush poked up around the base and beyond the crystal grained sentinels, a quiet forest waved it branches to its wild, untamed neighbour.
Further down the beach were a stream meandered its way into its much larger counter part, the skeletal white bones of dead trees served as a convenient perch for egrets and herons visiting from the nearby swamp lands. Marvelling at a beautiful osprey eagle as it effortlessly soared over the sea, Ryoma out pointed the black and white oyster catchers patrolling the shore line. Several pelicans appeared on the scene to skid onto the water in a great spray of glittering wet stars. Stodgy and comical on land and somewhat pompous in the air, the heavy birds had style and elegance on water as they repeatedly dipped their huge bills in search of lunch.
Their own midday meal over, the two teenagers stood up to emerge from their shelter and indulge in the simple pleasures of play. It was Ryoma who first knelt on the snowy grains to start pushing them together. Swiftly, he formed up a lump that soon evolved into a sand castle. Not to be out done, Momo' rapidly shaped one of his own as the spirit of happy competition settled over them.
Raising first a narrow keep, Ryoma roughed out the shape of a great square castle. Long halls sprouted from its sides, then a solid wall began to grow around it.
Momo' built a huge, heaped up fortress then proceeded to craft battlements and ramparts around its top. Pushing his fingers into the sand, he then scooped his palm upward to create the beginnings of a moat. Piling the ocean side soil into a tower, he plucked a small stick from grains and grinning mischievously, he fixed a tattered length of dry sea weed to one end before firmly jamming it into the highest " Window".
Curious, Ryoma sat beside him to watch as the bristle-haired youth fashioned a funny looking animal out of sticks, weeds and sand. Sticking two butterfly clam shells out of its back, Momo' then sat back on his heels to laugh as he pointed.
" That's my damsel in distress" he declared as his index finger hovered near the top of the tower. " And that.." he smirked as he indicated the animal, "... is my dragon!"
Frowning, Ryoma tugged irritably at his cap. " Mada, mada.. that looks nothing like me."
" Well it's not meant to be you, is it?" giggled Momo' while twisting the cap into his lover's skull. " Hmmm... it looks kinda like Akutsu..."
" You know.." started Ryoma as he stood up then backed up several paces, " Your fortress is pretty good, but..."
Eyes bugging and jaw dropping in a wide grin, Momo's head tipped back as he observed his life mate transform to his dragon self.
Midnight black scales shimmered with a gleam of gold as twin sails of leathery wings stood wide from his shoulders. Golden eyes shone through a shaggy mane of black hair and long slender horns swept back from the sides of his horse-like skull to stand out over a long, serpentine neck.
" Now THIS!" remarked Ryoma. " Is a DRAGON! RAAA!"
Lifting his left front foot, Ryoma playfully bought it crashing down; instantly reducing the sand castle to a crushed mass. Ignoring his lover's cries of mock dismay, he flipped his nose up as he muttered: " Mada, mada da ne."
" OK, OK!" laughed Momo' as he crouched on all fours. " So you've proven a dragon can squash a castle, but what about.. THIS?"
Transforming into his spirit form, the large Mongoose bounded over to his lover's castle then cheerfully flattened it by bouncing across it.
Standing on his hind legs, Ryoma scooped him up then marched straight into the cold water. Staring wide eyed at the foaming liquid, Momo' clung to the huge talons holding him for dear life.
" You wouldn't! No! Ry-o-ma!" he squealed as his life mate grinned wickedly. Noticing a the very smug look in Ryoma's eye, Momo' barely had time to moan; " You would!" before he was unceremoniously dumped among the waves. Coughing out a briny mouth full, the now soaking Mongoose spluttered with mock indignation; " I'm not an otter you know!" Crawling up on a front foot, he waited until Ryoma's face had lowered enough to hang just above his own before vigorously shaking himself like a dog.
Growling an exasperated sound, the dragon glared a moment through his dripping wet bangs before returning to shore to gently set his lover down. Reverting to their human forms, the pair fell into each others arms to trade affectionate smiles. Curving lips met, hands caressed bare skin. Lifting his now smaller than him lover into his arms, Momo' carried his life mate to the shelter of their shade and laying him down, their bodies rocked in the age old rhythm of love as the glowing disk of the sun sank slowly to the horizon.
endless...
Hope you enjoyed it Kagome!