Chapter Five- Sea Visit

"Seto, how was it?" Atem asked softly after dinner.

Seto's face was impassive but then a grin appeared. "It was amazing," he admitted. "Joey showed me his favorite places before having a long talk in the park. I'm still not as fascinated by humans as you are but I wouldn't mind going into the city now and again."

"I knew you would enjoy it. I only wonder why such an ability was buried under a scary rumor."

"Perhaps it occurred during that time we were betrayed. The king may have told the adults to tell their children to lie to their own offspring. Those little ones would later grow up and tell their children the same lie believing it to be true and so on and so on down through the generations.

"That makes sense," Yugi said the next day. He sat on a rock with water all around him while Atem bobbed nearby. "So your cousin is Joey's boyfriend."

Atem nodded. "I saw them together and introduced myself. I revealed to Seto that we can be human and he went into the city with Joey yesterday."

"What did you do yesterday?"

"I found a gift for you and made another." He reached into his bag and pulled out the necklace. "I made this for you."

Yugi gasped. "It's beautiful." He lowered his head so Atem could place it on his neck. A half circle of pearls were strung on seaweed with three white, a pink, a white, another pink, a white, a third pink, and three white ones were arranged on it. All of them gleamed and shone. "You made this?"

"I did," Atem answered proudly. "It is a gift a beloved gives to another."

"Thank you," Yugi said, touched by the meaning of the gift.

"Of course. I love you after all." He gripped the rock, pulled himself up, and gave Yugi a kiss before slipping back down. "Now, the other gift." He reached into his bag again, and extracted the pearl and Yugi gasped.

"A blue pearl! You found one! It's gorgeous! So, what's its power?"

"Blue pearls allow humans to become merpeople once the pearl has entered them and they touch seawater."

"They do? You mean, I can grow a tail?"

"Once you take the pearl and it enters you."

Yugi reached down and held the large pearl in both hands. It glowed softly as it rose out of his hands and sunk into his chest. His entire body glowed blue before it faded. Yugi smiled at Atem before standing, diving into the water, and vanishing beneath it.

Atem turned to where Yugi had disappeared, waiting for him to re-surface. "Yugi?" he called in concern. He was startled when Yugi leaped up into the air, a purple tail where his legs had been. Yugi splashed down and surfaced, laughing in delight.

"Oh, this is great!" Yugi giggled as he flipped his tail, the fins and tail attached to it flashing briefly.

Atem smiled in amusement. "I'm pleased that you're thrilled. Purple suits you."

"Now I can really see where you live."

"Of course. Come on, follow me.' Atem ducked down and Yugi followed. He kicked his tail as he trailed after Atem, already knowing his tail was strong. He had held his breath when he first went under. He had watched as his clothes vanished and purple scales had sprouted on his legs before those limbs merged together and his feet became fins. He had let out his breath and took an underwater breath without Atem's help. It had been an awesome feeling.

Now I can meet other merpeople and none will know I'm actually human- except Seto, of course. Yugi swam around a bed and floated beside Atem who had stopped. He gazed at the small city before him, merpeople swimming around.

"Welcome to my city," Atem said. "What would you like to see?"

Yugi grinned at him. "Everything!"

Atem laughed as he led the way. The two of them almost blended in with the crowd but their tri-colored spiky hair was noticeable and some merpeople stopped to speak with Atem who introduced Yugi, saying he was from a distant city and just visiting. Yugi's pearl necklace was commented on and were impressed when told that Atem had made it.

"So, this is your boyfriend then Atem?" a blond mermaid asked with a wink.

Yugi blushed while Atem said, "That's right, Mai."

Mai smiled at Yugi as she looked him up and down. "You're cute. Atem's a lucky merman."

"Uh, thank you." Yugi followed Atem, feeling a bit conscious of how he stood out. Yes, his looks stood out back home, but he didn't dwell on it and everyone in his city was used to his features. It could be because I'm a visitor so naturally otters are going to notice me.

"What do you think so far?" Atem asked as they sat in Atem's favorite restaurant.

"It's incredible; more natural and simple than my home."

"That's true but your home seems incredible to me with all that humans can accomplish."

"It's clear we think that the other's home is better than his own which makes sense." Yugi took a bit of his food and his eyes went wide as he swallowed. "Wow, this is great."

Atem smiled. "Not bad for uncooked food, hmm?"

"Not bad at all. I could easily stay here, like on a vacation."

"A vacation. Yes, maybe we could take vacations together at your home or mine."

"That would be great. Hey, can I meet your family?"

"Sure." Atem left the building with Yugi behind him. Yugi couldn't help looking around and trying out underwater acrobatics as he followed. He felt so free as a merman. There were no cars, no streets, and not much gravity. His tail propelled him through the water faster than his legs could ever do. I love being a merman, but being humans is wonderful too. I have the best of both worlds and it's all thanks to Atem and the blue pearl.

Aknadin gaped at the young-looking merboy who resembled his nephew. He recovered and smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Yugi," he said, taking one of Yugi's hands. "I had no idea Atem had a boyfriend."

"It's a recent thing," Yugi told him. "We've been friends for a year and a half now."

"Really? Why haven't I met you before today?"

"Yugi lives in a distant city and we usually hang out in the open water," Atem replied.

"What does your family say about you traveling so far away?"

"I only live with my grandpa and he knows I can take care of myself. I do assure him that I'll be careful while I'm away."

"Well, you're certainly welcome to stay here whenever you like."

"Thank you, sir."

"Just Aknadin Yugi or even uncle. I'd love to have another nephew at some point in the future. Now, I've got some shopping to do."

Atem blushed as Aknadin swam off. "He believes we'll wed eventually?"

"Looks that way and I don't see us breaking up anytime soon."

"You're right. We've been friends long enough to know you'll keep the merpeoples' existence secret."

"Of course. I understand how important it is to keep your existence secret from humans especially now that I am one, at least partly." He hugged Atem and he returned the gesture, his tail brushing against Yugi's.