Chapter Six- Engaged

Seto was heading for home after having another picnic with Joey. He had traded his tail for legs and found it pleasant to sit with his legs crossed. He told Joey about Atem making Yugi a pearl necklace.

"Making it? He can't buy one?" Joey had asked.

"He could, but sometimes giving your beloved something you made yourself is a very meaningful gesture to us."

"Humans do that sometimes, too."

Seto came out of his recollections when he saw his father heading toward the market with a content expression, one he hadn't seen before. "Father?"

Aknadin turned. "Seto, have you met Atem's boyfriend yet? Such a sweet boy. I do hope he becomes family one day." He swam off, missing the bewildered expression on Seto's face.

I thought Atem was crazy about Yugi. Did they break up and Atem fell for someone else already? I better find out. He swam for the house, reasoning that they might still be there. He went through a window and into a corridor to see Atem hand-in-hand with a purple-tailed merman who looked a lot like his cousin. His eyes grew wide. He's just as Joey described, but how did he grow a tail?

Both boys were startled when Seto swam in through a window but soon recovered. Yugi came up to him. "Hi, I'm Yugi. You must be Seto. Joey told me about you." He held out a hand.

Seto numbly took it. "Yes," he answered, confusion evident in his voice.

Yugi giggled. "You're confused."

"I am," Seto answered, recapturing his usual tone. "How did you grow a tail?"

"That's the power of the blue pearl," Atem piped in. "I found one yesterday and it was revealed to me that it allows humans to be merpeople when they touch seawater. The pearl is now inside Yugi and can visit whenever he wants."

"Incredible," Seto breathed. "No wonder it's so rare, a power like that.

"By the way, Yugi. Nice necklace. Atem did a good job making it."

"Thanks. Is there any significance to the pattern or the pearls?"

"None. The fact that he made it instead of buying it makes it special."

"Today was wonderful," Yugi sighed as they surfaced in the shallows. "I really can't thank you enough."

"It was my pleasure. Perhaps next time I'll visit you."

"I'd like that." Yugi pulled himself onto the dry sand and watched as the sun was setting. He saw a glow and his tail became legs and his clothes returned. He stood, waved to Atem, and headed for home while Atem kicked his tail and ducked under the surface of deeper waters.

Seto swam through the market the next day. He had thought of the necklace Atem gave Yugi and felt that he should give Joey a token of his affection. They had been in love longer than Atem and Yugi and he needed to let Joey know that he was serious about their relationship. I think I'll buy something to use as an engagement item. He swam into a jewelry shop and looked at the merchandise along with other customers. He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for but knew that he would know it when he saw it. He wasn't good at making jewelry like Atem but he had a feeling Joey wouldn't mind; he would be touched that Seto wanted to give him something.

An interesting piece caught his eye and he took a closer look. A gold necklace was looped through a ring that was a plain band. A deep blue sapphire hung from the necklace's chain. That looks perfect. Joey could wear that under his shirt. He caught the owner's attention and purchased the item. He left the shop with it, a smile on his face. I have the perfect gift and the timing is good as I think Father may start questioning me on having a lover.

"Son, you are eighteen and should start thinking about having someone to be your future wife or husband," Aknadin said at dinner.

"I'm aware Father and I already have a boyfriend. I'm thinking of asking him to marry me."

"You are?"

"Yes and I will likely move in with him." Actually, I will move in with Joey. I will move to land and live as a human though I can still become a merman.

"Seto are you saying you'll live as a human when Joey accepts your proposal?" Atem asked after dinner.

"I am. Father won't approve of me marrying a human and Joey can't live under the sea without holding my hand. The only choice is to move to land and live there. I will visit though so we can see each other."

"And I can visit you when I visit Yugi."

"Will you move to land when you and Yugi wed or will he live here?"

Atem frowned. "I don't know. We haven't' discussed it as we just started dating and I don't have to propose just yet."

"That is a good question," Yugi said as they sat in the park. "I either leave Grandpa or you leave your uncle." He bit his lip. "We don't have to decide right away. I could ask Grandpa a hypothetical question."

"I could do the same with Uncle Aknadin. We'll compare notes once we get answers and that may guide us to a decision."

"Okay. Atem, how would you like to try some ice cream?"

"Sounds interesting. Lead the way."

Meanwhile, Joey and Seto were in their favorite bed of sea flowers, enjoying the other's company and the quiet of the water. "Joey, merpeople law says one must have at least a lover by the time they turn eighteen."

"Well, that's not a problem as we fell in love a few days before your birthday," Joey said.

"Correct. I couldn't be happier…well, actually I could be." He sat up, making Joey do the same. He reached into a bag. "Joey, when a couple gets engaged or married, they move into a home of their own. In our case, I've decided that I would live on land with you. Joey, will you marry me?" He pulled out the necklace and held it up.

Joey gasped open-mouthed at the question and the item. He was both flattered and touched. He knew Seto loved him enough to leave his home to live with him on land. Joey loved him too and couldn't imagine a life without him anymore. He smiled at Seto. "Yes, of course I will."

"That's what I thought." Joey took a deep breath as Seto released his hand so he could put the necklace around Joey's neck. He took the hand again as Joey exhaled and admired the gift. "Perfect," he murmured, his free fingers cupping the sapphire.

The jewel then glowed as it detached itself from the necklace and entered Joey's chest, he body outlined in blue. Joey then gasped as his swimming trunks vanished and green scales sprouted on his legs and his feet flattened. Joey was soon sitting with a green tail and breathing without Seto's help as the latter had removed his hand in shock. Joey stared at his tail. "How did I get a tail?" he finally gasped out.

"The jewel," Seto said in a low voice full of awe. "It wasn't a sapphire, it was blue pearl. Blue pearls are rare and they give humans the ability to be merpeople when touching seawater. It's like when I become human when I touch dry land."

"So, I'm a merman now?" Joey grinned as he raised and lowered the fins and lower part of his tail. "Seto, you won't have to move to land now. I could live here instead."

"What about your dad and friends?"

"I can still see my friends and you know my dad's not the greatest parent."

"Yes. That can work. Well then, let me show you around my city and introduce my father to you. Perhaps, we can start looking for our own place."

"Sound like a plan." Joey rose from the flowers and used his new tail to follow Seto to the city.