Sakura had had just about enough of this nonsense.

Shoving a few folders in her desk's drawer and shutting it with a loud bang, she glared at the grandfather clock on the wall, willing time to move just a little bit faster.

With no patients to see to and no other way to kill some time – so she wouldn't kill anyone else – she set about rearranging Doctor Gotrus' bookshelves.

When, by the time she had finished organizing the books according to subject, size and color, she felt no noticeable difference in her mood, she could safely say that she was at the end of her rope. Her eyebrow twitched and she clenched her fists, mostly to keep herself from punching something really, really hard. While Doctor Gotrus' did seem to like her more than most other people, she doubted he'd react kindly to having his infirmary demolished.

"Hey, chit, did you skip lunch again-Oh, no. Not the bookshelf."

As if her thoughts had somehow summoned him, she turned at the sound of his voice to find the older man entering the room. Shutting the door behind him, he walked up to her wordlessly and shoved an energy bard in her hands.

"Eat," he ordered. "You skipped a meal again, you idiot."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he immediately cut her off.

"Oi, shut it. Don't think I didn't notice your absence. How many young women with pink hair do you think we have around these parts, chit? Now, eat."

Grumbling under her breath, Sakura still tore the wrapper open, munching on the energy bar with more force than was necessary.

Sitting down at his desk, Doctor Gotrus crossed his arms across chest and eyed her up and down. "And now spill. You were organizing the bookshelf again. You only do that when you're pissed off at something and you've done it three times this week alone. Whose blood are you after this time?"

Sakura rolled her eyes, huffing indignantly. "It's nothing."

The man snorted. "Yeah, right. Which one of the pups that follow you around got on your bad side this time? Kingscholar again? He's good at pissing you off. Or perhaps Mr. Schoenheit? Did he by any chance insult your 'unoriginal way of styling your hair' again?"

Sakura scowled, more at herself than him, and a contemplative expression crossed her face as she stared outside the window by her desk. A few moments later, she turned to face him.

"Do you men never get tired of acting stupid?"

Doctor Gotrus remained silent for a few seconds, but then he burst out laughing, clutching his sides as Sakura watched dumbfounded, lips parted in disbelief.

Wiping his eyes, Gotrus offered her a knowing smile. "Well, chit, I don't know who did this to you, but I pity the poor lad. The look on your face tells me he's gonna get it."

Flushing in both embarrassment and exasperation, Sakura glanced at the clock on the wall. Noticing the time, she slipped out of her lab coat and threw it haphazardly over the back of her chair, grabbing her pouch as she marched out of the infirmary.

"My shift's over. Have a good rest of the day, Doctor Gotrus. I'll see you tomorrow."

Still chuckling, the man waved after her. "Have a good one, chit. Please don't hurt anyone too bad."

XxxxX

Walking briskly through the halls of Octavinelle, Sakura pushed the doors of Mostro Lounge open.

"Floyd! Jade!"

Wiping glasses behind the bar, Floyd offered her one of his usual, toothy smiles. "Ah, little pink starfish. It's been a few days."

Sakura scowled at him. "That's only because your idiot of a boss has been doing his best to avoid me. It's Monday and I haven't seen Azul since Friday. Where in the world is he?"

Scratching the back of his head, Floyd's eyes shifted elsewhere. "Ah, you-"

"Don't you dare lie to me, Leech, or I swear I'll tear this whole place apart to find him."

"He's downstairs," Jade interjected, "where you…saw him last time."

"Do you have any idea why he's-Oh, never mind, I'll find out on my own," she said, turning to leave, but glanced at them over her shoulder at the last minute. "Make sure we're not bothered by anyone. Azul and I need to have a chat."

XxxxX

Sakura leaned her back against the wall of the room Azul used as his octopus pot, watching him float silently in the large pool, completely unaware of her presence. The fact that she'd been standing there for a good ten minutes and he had yet to notice her was a testament to how distracted he really was. Azul was not a man who didn't pay attention to his surroundings, even when in the safety of his own dorm.

She frowned, worry swirling in her gut. Did something happen that he did not tell me about? Did I do something-

"Eh? Sakura?!"

Pushing herself off the wall, she offered him a small smile. "About time. I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever notice me."

Keeping just his shoulders and head above water, Azul averted his gaze. "What are you doing here?"

Sitting down at the edge of the pool, she dipped her toes in. "Well, I haven't seen or heard from you since Friday. I missed you."

A dark flush colored his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Why have you been avoiding me, Azul?" she asked, and though she tried, she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice. "Did I…Did I do something? Did I upset you in any way-"

Azul's eyes widened and he swam closer to her. "Sakura, no! You…You didn't do anything at all."

"Then why? Why are you drifting away from me?"

The merman's shoulders slumped and he sighed deeply, as if the weight of the world rested on his chest. "I didn't think you'd want to see me again after…Friday. I'm surprised you're even here right now."

The pink-haired woman frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. "Friday? What happened-Oh…oh!" she started, but then it suddenly clicked, and Sakura didn't know whether to cry at the fact that her own boyfriend thought she'd abandon him over something like that, or whack him across the head for even daring to think she'd ever do it.

Feeling lighter than she'd felt in days but still slightly peeved, she stood, watching as Azul's face fell, likely thinking she meant to leave. The expression on his face was heartbreaking and it took every ounce of willpower she had in her body not to jump inside that very instant.

Reaching up, she undid her ponytail, letting her hair fall freely around her shoulders, and grabbed the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head.

"S-Sakura! What are you doing?"

Ignoring him, the woman unzipped her skirt and stepped out of her flats, leaving herself in just her matching black underwear. Had she not been so determined to put Azul's demons to rest once and for all, she would have laughed at how red his face was.

Still, her lips curled up in a small grin at his expression. "Come on, Azul. It's nothing you haven't seen before. I could take my underwear off, and it still wouldn't be anything you haven't seen before."

She slipped into the pool, and the way Azul swam away from her chilled her more than the water. "Is this what you really think? That I'd leave you just because I happened to see you in your octopus form for the first time three days ago? Is that why you didn't expect me to return here?"

Azul averted his gaze, but she still caught his curt nod and Sakura felt something in her chest crack a little "Do you…Do you think so lowly of me?"

His eyes widened and he reached out his hand towards her, moving a bit closer. "Sakura, no! I never thought badly of you. How could I? You…You are…"

"Well? What am I? 'Cause as I see it, I'm a woman whose boyfriend is convinced his appearance matters to me more than his heart does."

"You're perfect!" he blurted out, unconsciously swimming much closer to her. "You're perfect and I'm…this. I have purple skin and these. See?" he said, slipping a couple of his tentacles out of the water. "I guess…I guess I thought someone like you wouldn't want to be with someone like me after seeing…this."

Hearing him say those words was a dagger in her chest and Sakura's eyes blurred with tears. She could not believe Azul – brilliant, wonderful Azul – thought so little of himself that he'd be so convinced he did not deserve her, that she deserved someone supposedly better.

There was no better. There was only him.

She swam towards him, feeling a little surer of herself when he did not move away. Floating before him, she took in his features. From his almost-white hair to his lavender eyes, from the purple hues of his skin to his black tentacles, human form or merman, there was nothing she did not love about this man.

She shook her head, her lips curling up in a smile, and flicked his forehead. "You're an idiot. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Your human form is beautiful, your merman form is beautiful. Azul, you are beautiful. Do you have any idea how proud I am to stand by your side?"

Azul's eyes widened, and Sakura rejoiced in the hopeful spark she saw in their lavender depths.

"You are?"

She chuckled, sliding her hand up his toned chest. "Of course, I am. Why, I wish my friends from back home were here so I could show you off." She winked at him, watching color rise to his cheeks at the praise.

She wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head against his chest. "Please don't drift away from me like that ever again. I'm here for you, no matter what. I need you to know that. I know I can't right every wrong, but please, Azul, talk to me and I promise to do my best."

Tentatively, as if he still couldn't believe she was there in his embrace, he brought his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll…never hide from you again."

Raising her head, she looked up at him, drinking in the attractive sight of the longer locks of his hair falling over his left eye. "Promise?"

Azul smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I promise."

"You missed."

"Eh? What-"

Throwing her arms around his neck, she pulled herself upwards and locked their lips together, supporting herself on his shoulders. Overcoming his momentary surprise, Azul returned the kiss with equal fervor, tightening his hold on her. He devoured her mouth like a man starved, tangling his fingers in her damp hair, molding her body to his. Had they not exchanged a single word, the way he held her would have been enough to tell her how afraid of losing her he'd really been.

Moaning into the kiss, Sakura wrapped her legs around his waist, digging her fingers in the muscle of his back when he bit her lower lip.

Panting, Azul rested his forehead against hers, clinging to her. "I missed you so much these past few days. You are my greatest treasure," he said, leaning down to steal another taste of her lips. "I love you, my little mermaid."

Giggling, Sakura cupped his cheek and nuzzled his face, rubbing circles on his skin. "And I love you, you adorable, wonderful fool."

…

…

…

…

"Aw, look at them! They made up! How cute is that?"

"What the hell, Floyd?!"

"Don't be mad, Sakura. You two look so cozy in there; it almost makes me wanna join."

"You're dead, Leech."

TBC

I like my Azul soft and just a little insecure.

Seriously though, he looks really cute in his merman form, but have you seen how hot Azul looks in his Overblot form? Oh, la la!

Also, can I say how much I love the twins? Floyd is definitely the kind of guy who'd drive you up the wall but at the same time, make life all the more interesting. XD

I hope you enjoyed this!

Sebek coming up next!

Reading your thoughts always makes my day, so drop me a review if you have a minute to spare.

Until next time,

Lots of love!