***Sorry I took so long! I think there will only be two more chapters, and then I have another fic to start!

***Thanks for all the kudos and views! Read on and enjoy! I also do not own the show or the characters. This is for fun.

***Warnings: Fighting, violence, language

***Rating: R

Chapter 14: The Showdown

They didn't take a horse, only what they can carry on their backs. The kitchen staff packed Sousuke some bread and cheese that will last them a few days, though he planned to hunt the entire time. Rei had been nervous about carrying the weapons, so Sousuke gave him the sack to take instead. The weapons Sousuke carried are a bow for hunting, two axes for chopping, a dagger, a rope, and a spare sword.

As they reached the mouth of the forest, Sousuke turned to get one last look at Seabriar castle. His father said he would come back, but Sousuke didn't plan on it. His home is wherever Makoto is.

"Sousuke? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I wish things were different."

"Me too." Rei sighed. "But, it is what it is. We've made our choice, and we're standing by it."

"Yup. Come on, our mates are waiting for us, and that cabin won't build itself."

Halfway to the forest pool, Sousuke and Rei pass by Kisumi who tells them of Rin's reaction, and how upset Makoto is over it. Sousuke swore under his breath and asked Kisumi to tell Makoto that he will be at the waterfall and to meet him there. Kisumi asked them about the giant sack, and Sousuke explained to him that they will be living in the woods from now on. Sousuke would like to build the cabin by the forest pool, but the ground is too soft to have a sturdy structure. The area by the waterfall will be better, and they will need a supply of fresh running water. Kisumi left to relay the message, and the pair continued.

By sunset, they had reached the waterfall but did not see Makoto or Nagisa. Sousuke instructed Rei to gather wood for a fire while he explored the land to find the best spot for the cabin. When they got the fire going, the pair went to stand at the bank, searching the water for signs of Makoto and Nagisa. They started to worry when it became night, and their mates still had not shown up. It was unlikely that Kisumi forgot to give the message unless something else had happened.

"Do you think something happened with Rin?" Rei asked Sousuke.

"Don't know. I would think that if it did, Kisumi would have told us by now." Sousuke squinted out at the water when he saw a soft blue light moving beneath the surface. "Look, out there," He pointed to the light.

The blue light came closer to them, and Sousuke placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. As the light grew larger, Sousuke realized that it belonged to Haru. He can sense it. It was a peculiar feeling. He wondered if something had happened to him when he mated with Makoto. He whispered to Rei to relax, that it's only Haru, but also that something must have happened since Makoto and Nagisa aren't with him. When Haru emerged from the surface of the water, he did not transform from his fin but pulled himself up onto the bank before them.

"Where's Makoto?" Sousuke didn't waste any time in asking.

"They're sleeping," Haru answered.

"Then wake them up," Sousuke said.

Haru shook his head. "Rin came back and didn't like what he heard. He's waiting to meet with you," He looked to Rei. "Both of you."

Sousuke grit his teeth. "That doesn't explain why they're sleeping. Did Rin do something to them?"

"I didn't know he did it. If I knew, I would have stopped it, but he doesn't want them interrupting. They're not in danger. Rin would never harm them."

"Is Rin looking for a duel or to talk?"

Haru shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. But Rin will meet you here tomorrow, at sunrise."

"Just him and not you?" Sousuke asked.

Haru stared at him. "Why would I come?"

"Why didn't he put you to sleep too?"

"Because I want nothing to do with this. My only passion is the water, and swimming freely."

Sousuke raised a curious brow. "Then, you're not worried that I may end up hurting your mate?"

"I have no worries either way." Haru slipped back into the water without so much as a look or goodbye.

Sousuke clenched his fists at his sides.

"Sousuke, what am I supposed to do?" Rei asked, his voice heightened slightly in alarm. "I don't know how to fight! I couldn't land a single punch against those two squires in the town, so I most certainly can't fight a god!"

"He's not a god yet," Sousuke said, heading back to the campfire. "Hopefully he will want to talk, but if things get messy, then you have to get as far away as you can. I don't want him to use you against me."

Rei sat down in front of the fire. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. It still shocks me that Nagisa chose me as I am, even though I have nothing to my name and I can't fight."

Sousuke took his sword from the sheath to look at the blade. "Nagisa obviously doesn't care about that in a mate," he swung the sword. It wasn't nearly the same quality as his grandfather's sword, but it would do. "You really should consider yourself lucky, Rei, to land a cutie like Nagisa. Stop questioning it."

Rei glared at Sousuke from over the rim of his glasses. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I can't say I blame your father for being so shocked and surprised by the beauty hanging off your arm. Like the rest of us, I'm sure he expected you to either end up a man of the cloth or marry some widow who is happy not having to know the touch of a man again."

Rei sneered and turned away from Sousuke. "I hope Rin chomps your face off."

"You'd better watch what you say, Rei." Sousuke twirled the sword. "Your only protection from Rin chomping off your face is my blade."

The pair fell silent, and then Sousuke said, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Rei. Forgive me if I'm a little on edge. I have damn good reason to be."

Rei turned back to look at the fire. "It's fine. I shouldn't have snapped. I just feel so useless. All my knowledge and skills will not help you when facing a deity like Rin."

"Hey, what did I say before? He's not a god yet. And don't worry, I have a battle plan. I will lead Rin as far away from the water as I can, even if that means running. My first goal is to keep his teeth from finding my flesh."

"How do you plan to do that?"

Sousuke went to his pile of weapons and held out a rope. He gripped it in his hands and tugged it three times. "I once wrestled a wild boar with this tactic. I'll get behind Rin, shove this in his mouth, pull it taut, and render him helpless. I need to overpower him first," Sousuke looked at the woven rope in his hands. "Killing Rin is the obvious best result, but that will hurt Makoto. And Nagisa and Haru too. I can't do that to them."

Without revealing Sousuke's true nature as a half-undine, Rei said, "Do you think you'll become the team leader then? If you overpower and dominate Rin, that is."

"I can't be a team leader for I'm not an undine," Sousuke looked out at the dark surface of the water. "Though I'll settle for an alpha male."

"Then, I can be an alpha male, too!"

Sousuke snorted, still looking at the water. "A beta male, maybe. If we were any other type of pack creature, I, as head alpha, would have full mating rights to not just Makoto, but Nagisa and Haru as well." Sousuke saw something come at him from the corner of his eye and moved in time to dodge Rei's fist. "Okay then. It seems like I hit a nerve." Sousuke easily dodged all of Rei's pathetic punches. "Save your strength for tomorrow's battle." He said when he slipped his foot out to trip Rei, making the other tumble to the ground. "Remember, Nagisa chose you from the very start. He didn't choose me. Alpha male or not, I wouldn't take him from you."

Rei cleared his throat as he stood up to dust himself off and straighten his glasses. "I'm thoroughly done talking here. I will turn in for the night. Don't stay up too late, Sousuke. Morning comes fast."

"I know." 'And I'm eager to see that sun rise over those trees.'

Sousuke hadn't slept at all. He is too excited to face Rin and win back Makoto. He sat on the bank, staring out into the water, and contemplating his strategies.

When dawn came, Sousuke woke up Rei and told him it was time. He handed Rei the dagger for protection but ultimately told him that, if things turn violent, which they probably will, that he is to leave and hide. Rei said he would like to stay, but Sousuke reminded him that he would only be a distraction.

The sun rose a little higher over the water.

Sousuke stuck his sword in the ground in front of him, resting his folded hands on top of the hilt. It is the stance of a knight waiting to face their opponent. Rei stood close behind. They stood in silence, searching for signs of Rin in the water when Kisumi's voice called out to them from behind. The pink-haired fairly landed beside them.

"I just came from the forest pool," Kisumi said. "Rin is on his way."

Sousuke rolled his shoulders. "I'm ready for him."

"I promise to help you in any way that I can," Kisumi said to Sousuke. "I don't know how much help I will be, though."

"It's better if you stay with Rei," Sousuke suggested. "If you both remain with me when the fighting starts, you'll only get in my way."

"Rin won't hurt me," Kisumi said. "I'm his friend!"

Sousuke turned to look at the fairy. "If he sees you are helping me, he might not like it. I'd rather you keep an eye on Rei." He turned back to the water. "I do want to talk to him first."

"You'll get your chance now," Rei said, pointing to the glowing red light moving through the water.

Sousuke could feel his heart racing with anticipation but didn't let it show. He kept his form steady and still as Rin's undine form emerged, lifted by wings of water on either side. Rin glared at Sousuke from atop the water-like throne, an apparent show of power and dominance. Sousuke met the red eyes with equal authority. He waited for Rin to address him first but they kept silent for a long while, sizing each other up instead. Sousuke had to admire the dark red lower half of Rin that was the bottom of a shark. What made Rin stand out from Makoto and the others is the white front of the fin, from belly to tip. No sharp claws right now, only nails that are a dark blood red. And those sharp teeth that sneered at him, full of power and poison. Sousuke can still remember the extreme pain that poison put him in, and forever ruined his shoulder. His shoulder even started to ache at the memory.

"So, by the magic of Makoto, you managed to live," Rin finally spoke. "That doesn't give you rights to him."

Sousuke responded calmly with, "I only wanted to thank the person who saved my life. Fate did the rest. Makoto came with me because he wanted to. I never forced him to do anything."

"He doesn't belong in the human world!" Rin countered. "Makoto and Nagisa remain with me, in the underwater kingdom, where I know they're safe! They deserve undine lords as mates, not humans!"

Sousuke wanted to raise his sword but couldn't because Rin had not drawn or attacked first. His blade would add meaning to his next words. "We've mated with them. Makoto is mine, of his own free will, as Nagisa belongs to Rei. We will do everything in our power to ensure that Makoto and Nagisa are with us. You can make everything very easy by allowing Makoto and Nagisa to make their own decisions."

"They will forget you when I take them to the ocean," Rin said.

"I'm not letting you take Makoto away from me,"

"It's not your choice!"

"It's Makoto's choice!" Sousuke raised his blade to point it at Rin. "You can either allow us to be together with your blessing, or I will defeat you and win them by battle!"

Rin threw his head back and laughed. "You think you can withstand the might of a river spirit with a simple human blade? This fight will be too easy!"

Sousuke smirked at Rin's boasting. This is good. He knew how to play into that boasting to put the odds in his favor.

"Well," Sousuke started with a scoff. "Of course I understand that a human cannot fight a spirit that uses poison, claws, and water as weapons. You're very fortunate to have the elements to help you, but there's no real skill in that, is there? Makoto and Nagisa fell in love with us anyway despite not having the power of undines. If we're going to fight, then I want you facing me on equal grounds! No magic. No water. No poison!" Sousuke dropped his sword to the ground. "Only hands." Sousuke kept the rope at his belt. "We'll break Makoto's heart by fighting, but I will do whatever it takes to ensure that Makoto is by my side!"

Rin raised himself and the water higher as he went to the bank to tower over Sousuke. "A human is not worth my effort," Rin said. "But Makoto is, and I will accept your terms of battle." Rin looked at Rei. "I could care less about you. It's Sousuke I want. And you, Kisumi," He narrowed his eyes at the fairy. "I'll settle with you myself later!"

Kisumi hurried to hide behind Rei.

"Enough with your talk," Sousuke said. "This is your last chance. Hand over Makoto and Nagisa, or face me in a fight."

"Hey, you're in no position to bargain," Rin smirked and used the water to bring himself to the bank, landing on human legs in front of Sousuke. "Yet I will face you in hand-to-hand combat."

Sousuke tossed his sword to the side. "Away from the water," he said, backing up away from the lake with Rin following, their eyes locked in a challenging stare.

Rin's eyes were different from the others, Sousuke noticed. Rin's red orbs stored a hidden fire behind waves of red water. Like Haru's, the light in them moved like ocean waves during a storm. Sousuke swallowed hard. For whatever reason, just that look in Rin' undine's eyes screamed power and dominance. He thought of Makoto's eyes; moss green in color, warm and inviting, like welcoming a loved one home to open arms and security. It was that image of Makoto that urged Sousuke to make the first move.

Rin caught Sousuke's fist, and then the other, locking them into a power struggle of force. They pushed against one another, alternating between slips and shoves. Sousuke knew that all of Rin's strength came from his undine power of water and magic. The Shark King is strong physically, no doubt, but Sousuke is confident he can overpower the other.

With a hiss and a curse, Sousuke felt his injured shoulder give out on him, and he lost his position against Rin. Sousuke found himself shoved to the ground with Rin's weight atop of him. Hands wrapped around his neck, squeezing tight. Sousuke let out a gasp, gripped Rin's wrists, and dug his nails into the flesh. It made Rin let go, and Sousuke lifted his foot to kick Rin in the gut, sending the other stumbling backward. Sousuke scrambled to his feet and lunged at Rin's staggering form. Now that he tackled the undine to the ground, he can begin the process of overpowering Rin. But Rin attacked viciously, like an animal, snapping those jaws at Sousuke's body.

Sousuke leaped back, shouting at Rin to remember to fight honorably. Rin didn't listen to him. Those red eyes and shining teeth along with growing claws proved that the Shark King needed to use his attributes to win. Sousuke barely managed to dodge another snap of jaws. Even on land, Rin moved quickly. Sousuke used his skills of defense to block Rin's attacks, but at this rate, his human body will be exhausted. Sousuke had a moment of pure fear when he saw two rows of sharp white points come right for his face; then they were jerked away.

"GAH! OUCH!" Rin cried out.

Sousuke looked to see that Kisumi, flying behind Rin, had grabbed the redheads' ponytail, yanking Rin away.

"SOUSUKE! YOUR SWORD!"

Sousuke turned at the sound of Rei's voice, seeing the other toss him his blade. Sousuke caught the sword by its hilt and held it before him in a stance of defense.

"Kisumi!" Sousuke shouts the fairy's name. "Get out of here! Now!" Kisumi let go of Rin's hair and flew back to Rei's side. Sousuke turned his full attention back to Rin. "You cheated! Some Shark King you are! You used your mouth!"

Rin snapped his jaws at Sousuke. "And you know how to run that damn mouth of yours!" Rin had a weapon of his own that he called out of thin air. He enjoyed seeing Sousuke's smug features fall at the sight of his red trident. A gift and skill from the sea god. "Do you really think that pitiful human blade can withstand the might of my trident?"

"This has nothing to do with power," Sousuke counted. "It has everything to do with skill!"

Sousuke ran at Rin and swung the blade at the other. Sousuke called upon all his training as a squire to thrust and parry Rin's trident. Yes, Rin's magic weapon is reliable, but the undine spirit didn't know how to use it properly. Sousuke continued to violently swing his blade at Rin's trident, forcing the undine further and further back. His injured shoulder screamed and ached for him to stop, but Sousuke couldn't give up now. To surrender is to lose Makoto, and that is a fate worse than death.

Somewhere along the crossing of weapons, Sousuke must have slipped or missed, because the three prongs of the trident tangled with his blade. As Sousuke tried to pull away, Rin pulled as well, tearing the hilt from Sousuke's hand. Sousuke watched his sword spin through the air to land behind Rin. Sousuke saw those prongs coming straight for his throat, so he acted fast by ducking and used Rin's exposed belly to his advantage. His fist landed on the hard muscles of Rin's abdomen. Rin let out a gasp of pain, lurching forward, and Sousuke tackled the other back to the ground.

They wrestled and rolled around, just like the first time. Sousuke doesn't know how he managed it; luck probably, but he took the rope from his belt and, once he had the undine on the ground, threaded the rope between sharp teeth. Sousuke pulled Rin's head back as if he were slowing a wild horse to a halt. The rope pressing at the corners of Rin's mouth kept the Shark King from chomping through it. Sousuke straddled Rin's lower back, twisted the rope twice, and pulled tightly. Rin choked and gasped as Sousuke held the rope tight behind the undine's head. He knew the thick rope was digging into Rin's skull as well as the corners of the mouth. Sousuke saw duel lines of blood trickling from the sides of Rin's mouth.

Good. He has overpowered the team leader. Now, to get what he wants.

"You know what I want," Sousuke whispered into Rin's ear, holding the rope taut. "Surrender them to me."

Rin clenched his eyes closed and shook his head.

Sousuke twisted harder.

Rin let out an ear-piercing wail like that of a trapped animal.

"GIVE MAKOTO AND NAGISA TO ME!" Sousuke commanded again. He wanted to pull tighter but feared if he applied too much pressure to Rin's skull, he would crack it. Rin cried out again.

Sousuke felt Rin's lower half revert to a shark's body again. Rin's hands clawed at the ground, desperately trying to escape.

"Surrender them to me, and I'll let you go," Sousuke tried to reason with him. "I've won, and I won't let you go until you give them to me!"

"SOUSUKE! WATCH OUT!"

Sousuke couldn't tell whose voice that was, but he lifted his face from Rin's ear to look around him.

"BEHIND YOU!"

Sousuke turned around to see a pair of wild blue eyes coming at him, and then he was flying through the air. He cried out in pain as his back hit a tree. Cracking one eye open, he looked ahead to see none other than the shimmering tail and body of Haru shielding Rin. Rin was still lying on his belly, the rope hanging loosely from his jaws.

'Damn you, Haru,' Sousuke had forgotten all about Haru. He pushed the other out of his mind because he didn't think Haru would care enough to get involved. But those sounds from Rin earlier must not have been cries of pain, but cries for help. Rin was calling out to his mate, alerting Haru that he was in danger. Sousuke didn't understand how he came to that conclusion, but he knew it to be true. "Stand aside, Haru," Sousuke said as he got back on his feet. "This doesn't concern you."

"Stop fighting," Haru said.

"I will, so long as Rin gives me Makoto and Nagisa."

"No," Rin hissed, wiping the blood from his mouth. He remained under Haru.

Sousuke started walking towards them. "Haru, move! This is between Rin and me!"

Haru only stared at Sousuke, showing no fear. He refused to move from Rin.

"Fine! I'll move you myself!" Sousuke made a reach for Haru.

"Don't touch him!" Rin slid out from Haru and tackled Sousuke's legs, bringing him to the ground.

Sousuke almost had the wind knocked out of him by the force of the fall. He screamed as Rin's claws slashed at his chest, cutting through the fabric but not touching skin. Rin moved to bite his face, but Sousuke quickly used the leather armguard to stop the teeth. Sousuke was able to gain the upper hand again, if just for a moment, by pushing his forearm into Rin's mouth. He forced the undine back so he can get to his feet. Rin freed himself, wiping away at the saliva and blood on his chin.

"I beat you twice now," Sousuke said, out of breath. "Give them to me."

"You haven't won yet," Rin countered.

"I know I can't win against an undine like you as I am," Sousuke said. "But, I beat you on equal grounds. That was the deal."

Rin was silent, then shook his head. "No. I cannot give them to humans. They don't belong in the human world!"

"But Sousuke isn't human," Haru came to stand beside Sousuke. "He is half human."

Sousuke looked at Haru, confused and bewildered. He didn't know what the undine was talking about.

"He's more human than undine, Haru," Rin pointed out. "That's too much human for me."

"U-Undine?" Sousuke looked from Rin to Haru multiple times. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"It's true, Sousuke," Rei said, appearing out the trees with Kisumi floating beside him. "We didn't want to tell you in fear of what you might do after you learned the truth,"

"We all knew," Kisumi added. "Makoto and Nagisa, too."

"In fact, it was your father who told it to Makoto," Rei said. "It was when you rode off after the dinner party." He straightened his glasses. "Your birth mother is an undine, which makes you half-breed; half human, half undine."

Sousuke looked at Rei and Kisumi in disbelief. So, everything he father knew about undines came from his birth mother. It all began to make sense. Not just his father's knowledge but the harsh reasoning behind his father's actions. And yet, he couldn't understand why Makoto chose to keep this secret from him. Makoto should have told him right away. He couldn't think about that right now. There is still Rin to contend with.

"Rei," Sousuke called over to his friend. "How can I become my undine self?"

"We're not sure," Rei stepped closer to Sousuke, making sure to avoid Rin at all costs. "One way they used to test it is to…drown the accused. If they lived, they were undine. If not, they were human."

Sousuke looked at Rin, his gaze hard and challenged. It was going to be a gamble, but he stands no other way of defeating Rin. He had to take the chance.

"Then drown me," Sousuke said to Rin. "Drag me down to the bottom and hold me there! If I am half undine, then I should be able to transform! And then, we can finish this."

Rin smiled as he tapped at the corner of his mouth, still feeling the blood from the rope. "I see no way this can fail," He sauntered up to Sousuke with all his pride and confidence on his smug face. "Half-breeds can't breathe long enough or remain in the fin for an extended time. And, if you simply drown, then it will just be an unfortunate accident."

Sousuke refused to let Rin see his hesitation. "Fine. Let's go."

He didn't wait for Rin or the others. Sousuke made his way back to the bank to look at the water gently rocking back and forth on the soggy ground beneath his boots. Behind him, he heard the footsteps of the others. Sousuke began to strip himself of all his clothes until he was bare to the elements all around him. He can hear his heartbeat in his ears. If this all went wrong, then he will never again see Makoto. Makoto's image flashed before him, and it gave him the strength to turn and stare down Rin.

"Any time now, Shark King." Sousuke challenged.

Sousuke didn't think Rin could move that fast, but the cold sting of the water momentarily shocked his body, forcing his mind to trigger flight mode. He barely had a chance to get a deep breath of air before Rin pulled him down into the water. Sousuke felt the pressure of the water against his naked flesh as he was dragged deeper and deeper to the bottom. The further they went, the darker it became. Sousuke's lungs started to sting with the need for air.

His back hit the river floor, smooth and icy cold. The only light visible is two red eyes laughing down at him. Sousuke's body started to struggle in slow motion as his lungs and brain screamed at him to return to the surface. He was going to die here! It wasn't working! He literally handed his life over to Rin, and the bastard is going to let him die!

'Makoto…'

Makoto slowly opened his eyes, blinked them a few times, and took a moment to gather his thoughts. He felt like he'd been asleep for ages. The last thing he could remember is Rin coming back with something for them to eat, and then Makoto became sleepy.

Next to him was Nagisa who is still sleeping. Makoto called out for Haru a few times, but the other never came. He tried Rin next; and again, silence. Makoto shook Nagisa awake. The smaller undine sat up and rubbed his eyes with both fists.

"Makoto?"

"Nagisa, you fell asleep too."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"I think," Makoto gasped. "Rin put us to sleep! He put us to sleep, and he's gone after Sousuke!"

"What? Whoa, Makoto, calm down!" Nagisa grabbed Makoto's tail fin to keep him from swimming away. "We don't know that!"

"There's no other explanation!" Makoto said. "Both Rin and Haru are gone! I thought that treat tasted funny…"

"You think that Rin-?"

"I do! He's gone after Sousuke, and Rei too!"

"Don't worry, we'll find them! Let's go!"

Makoto swam past Nagisa at speed he never knew he possessed. He had to find Sousuke!

'Where am I?' Sousuke asked himself. Everything was dark; he couldn't see or hear a thing. His body felt weightless like he was floating. 'Am I dead?' Suddenly, somewhere on his body, he started to feel a searing hot pain. It was molten. It felt like his flesh was melting together, but he could do nothing. 'I'm dying…'

When the darkness began to fade and replaced with a bright blue light, Sousuke thought he had entered heaven, or at least was on his way there. The blue didn't appear to be the sky, though. Bubbles appeared from above him. 'Bubbles? Bubbles mean water. Am I still in the water? Am I…alive?'

Sousuke lifted his hands to his face to see that they have become webbed. Below him, where his legs used to be, is a teal colored fin, the same shade of his eyes. The feeling of his flesh melting together was the forming the fin! Did it actually work? Did he change into his undine form? Looking around, he took in the underwater atmosphere. Plant life and fish thrived all around him. He was in the river, swimming, and breathing as he does on land.

"Sousuke?"

Sousuke knew that voice- it was Makoto! He turned in the direction of Makoto's voice to see the other floating in the water, just like him. In this new undine form, Sousuke saw Makoto differently. Makoto's green scales shimmered, from his cheeks to his tail, and he had fan-like fins where his ears should be. Makoto appeared more fish-like now, but he wasn't any less striking. Sousuke thought Makoto is even more beautiful when viewing through his undine eyes.

"Makoto!" Sousuke swam to his bewildered lover to embrace him. "Look, Makoto! Look! I'm just like you!"

Makoto embraced him back with a cheerful laugh. "Yes, you are! Sousuke, how did this happen?"

"It was a gamble," Sousuke said. "But it was all for you."

Makoto pulled away to look at him with concern. "There's only one way this could have happened…"

Sousuke took Makoto's webbed hands in his own. "Yes. Rin took great pleasure in drowning me. But, here I am!"

"WOW! Sousuke, look at you!" Nagisa appeared next to them with the same features as Makoto, only pink and purple. "I like your tail!" Nagisa circled him, looking Sousuke up and down. "I guess Rin or Haru drowned you, then? Did you win the fight? Is Rei okay?"

Sousuke covered Nagisa's running mouth with his hand. "Settle down. No, I didn't win the fight. In human form, that is." Sousuke looked around at the water. "Though I want to face Rin as I am now." The water around him is no longer dark, probably another feature of his undine eyes. The water is clear enough to see everything. "I wonder where Rin and Haru are?"

As if on cue, Sousuke heard Rin's voice.

"What the hell? You actually survived?"

Sousuke turned from the others to face Rin. Unlike Makoto and Nagisa, Rin had more shark than fish features. A red dorsal fin with smooth red skin behind him. Rin had his own kind of beauty in this form, which Sousuke could appreciate. And Haru was beside him, a stunning sight to behold, just as Makoto had said. Sousuke found it difficult to tear his eyes from Haru even as he addressed Rin.

"Seems that I have," Sousuke answered. "I'm enough undine to be with Makoto."

"You're more human than undine!" Rin snapped.

"Rin, stop this!" Makoto hugged Sousuke to him. "Stop this right now! The both of you! No more fighting,"

"You can't be happy with him, Makoto," Rin said. "You cannot live amongst the humans, and he can't last long under water. Why can't you see that?"

"I do see it," Makoto turned his face into Sousuke's neck. "And I don't care. I just want to be with Sousuke."

"And I don't mind living on land with Rei," Nagisa added.

Rin was quiet for a moment and then said, "The humans will end up killing you in some way. Nagisa, you out of all of us are not safe on the surface. Not with your power and your looks. And Makoto, in the end, can you really leave Haru behind?"

"Haru will visit me," Makoto said in a whisper.

"Rin, they've made their choice," Sousuke said. "And we're going to be together."

Before Rin could speak, Haru placed his hand on Rin's shoulder and leaned into him. Rin turned his focus on his mate, touching their foreheads together. Haru knew how to calm him. It helped him to think clearly. He understood that, no matter what he says or does, Makoto and Nagisa are not going to listen. And yet, he didn't want to give them up. The human world is too dangerous, and they are more precious to him than they know. Sharing Makoto and Nagisa with humans sickened him. Haru nuzzled him again, and he relaxed once more.

"I'm not giving my blessing yet, nor am I allowing Makoto and Nagisa to leave with you," Rin floated over to the three, his hands on his hips. "However, I offer you another deal. I don't want that cabin being built where humans can come. Makoto and Nagisa are not safe living in castles. If you can find a solution that can keep you together while being as far away from humans as possible, only then will I accept you and Rei as part of my team." Rin's stomached turned a little at the thought of humans in his team.

"You really mean that, Rin?" Nagisa was beaming with joy.

"I'm not finished," Rin swam over to Sousuke to float before him. In the water, Rin did not have to tilt his head to look up at Sousuke. They were level now. "You need to prove to me that you can protect Makoto and Nagisa from the human world. Cabins and castles won't do. You need to find a way to keep them safe, as I always have. If you fail, then they cannot live with you or Rei."

"Rin! That's not fair!" Makoto whined. "No matter what you say-"

"Stop it, Makoto!" Rin hollered, making Makoto cower behind Sousuke.

"If you fail, then you and Rei forfeit all rights to my team. Try anything after that, and I will kill you." Rin saw the look of horror on Makoto's face. "I'm not joking about this. I will kill him, Makoto. I'd rather have you alive and hating me than murdered by humans. Same with you, Nagisa."

"I'll do it," Sousuke answered. "I will find a way for us to be together, or I will die by your hands." He ignored Makoto whispering to him that he was crazy.

"You're awfully confident, aren't you?" Rin sneered.

"I'm a knight," Sousuke said. "I fight for what I believe in, and I believe in my right to be with the one I love. And a knight always protects his beloved."

Rin scoffed. "Fine, but Nagisa and Makoto stay with me until then."

"How do I know you won't disappear with them?" Sousuke asked.

"I won't let him do that," Haru assured him.

"They will stay with me until you find a way to ensure they will be safe." Rin reiterated. "Do we have a deal?"

"…deal." Sousuke turned to Makoto, taking the undine's crying face in his hands. "Hey, don't cry. That hurts me more than anything,"

"Sousuke… what if you can't?" Makoto couldn't stop crying.

"I will find a way," Sousuke assured him. "Rin is right. I need to be able to protect you while on land." He heard a sniffling beside them and saw that Nagisa is crying too.

"Don't worry. Rei will help me find a way. If anyone can figure out a solution, he can."

Nagisa managed to smile through his tears and nod.

"Stay with Rin and Haru," Sousuke told them. "I'll try not to take long."

Makoto wiped at his tears. "O-Okay, Sousuke."

"I promise I'll be ba-" Sousuke gasped as he felt his fin split apart. All the brightness disappeared, returning the water to an inky green. He could barely see Makoto. His lungs took in a bunch of water, and the muffled sound of his name was all he heard as he sped through the water with Makoto. When he resurfaced, he coughed and sputtered. His body wracked with pain. If it weren't for Makoto holding him up, he would likely have drowned.

Everything then was a blur. Sousuke felt lifted, heard his name, but couldn't acknowledge what was happening. Then it went black.

The next time he opened his eyes, the sky above had become gray with droplets of rain hitting his face. His whole body ached and stung. It was the same feeling he had after his first time training with a sword. Memories of what transpired earlier came back to him as he forced himself into a seated position. Rei was beside him, staring out at the water. Makoto was nowhere to be seen.

"Rei?"

"Sousuke! Thank God, you woke up! You've been out of it for more than a day!"

"That long?" He quickly developed a headache. "How did I get back here?"

"Makoto brought you back. He healed you as best he could. Then Rin came and took him away. I got to see Nagisa for a short time, at least. I took the time to dress you. Also, they told me how you transformed…congratulations."

"Rei, I've never needed your big brain until now, but if we're ever going to see them again, you have got to help me think of a solution."

Rei moved closer to Sousuke. "What is it?"

Sousuke explained the situation to Rei, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "I don't fucking know what to do!" He shouted. "I made a deal with Rin that I can't possibly figure out on my own. This kind of stuff, I'm not good at."

"Okay…just, calm down. We'll think of something." Thunder rumbled above them. "We should seek shelter first. Come on, let's go to the waterfall."

"No. I want to stay here, by the water, in case Makoto comes back." Sousuke looked up at the sky. "There won't be any lightning. We'll be fine. Just start thinking. Shut up and start thinking."

Rei didn't like it when Sousuke was angry, the very few times it has happened. He didn't blame Sousuke for being upset; this affected him and Nagisa too. It was getting hard to concentrate with the rain turning heavy, drenching them both in water.

"Anything yet?" Sousuke asked after another rumble of thunder.

"No. I'm thinking, Sousuke. Give me more time."

Rei can feel Sousuke's eyes on him, glaring, demanding an answer. Rei removed his glasses, tucking them into his soaked shirt, and did his best to ignore Sousuke. He played over all the facts in his head.

'We can't live at Seabriar, nor can we build a cabin. We must find a place to live where people won't find us. They'll harm us if we stay near civilization, those are just the rules. The laws of the land.' He paused. 'Laws…' Rei focused on that one word. 'Laws. Laws. It's the laws that are the problem. People make the laws, and the people enforce the laws. We need to go where the laws cannot touch us. But where?' Rei opened his eyes to stare out at the water, watching the thousands of ripples as he pondered further. 'Where can we go that the laws don't matter?' He narrowed his eyes at the water. 'Hm…water. I keep coming back to the water. But we can't live in the water, or even near the water. People live near sources of water. But what about-'

He gasped out loud as a solution suddenly came to him, accompanied by a loud rumble of thunder.

"I GOT IT!"

TBC