Disclaimer and Author's Note: Read the Prologue.
For notes, it's at thebottom. That said, I'd like to cut down the bs-ing. :o) Shall we?
This is unbeta-ed. There will be a reupload later in about a week or so. Can't wait that long? Then proceed.
Chapter 2
Kakashi sat by the window of the room where his ward was currently resting in, keeping half an eye on the young Uchiha that was still recovering from their ordeal. Sasuke had not suffered any heavy injury, other than a large bruise on the head where he had taken the blow from the broken mast. Not even a concussion.
It was a miracle, they said.
When the sailors, that they had set sail with from the Sharingan Kingdom, had finally docked at the main Konoha harbor, they were apprehensive on how they should explain the disappearance of, not only the prince but also his guardian. Except that they didn't need to.They arrived to the Konoha Palace only to see the two survivors alive and kicking (just not literally). Needless to say, their expression would have been hilarious if Kakashi had been in the mood for laughing.
With how fierce the storm and sea was at that time, it was definitely a miracle they had survived without more than just a mild injury.
But Kakashi knew better.
The scarecrow's mismatched eyes narrowed as his brows knitted in a frown.
It wasn't a miracle that saved them, it was… someone or someones.
"I saw an Angel that day."
The silver haired elite didn't believe that whoever that had saved both the prince and himself was an angel. But how was one to explain the fact that their rescuer (or was that rescuers?) appeared out of no where in the middle of the sea, to be able to send them all the way to shore, miles away from where they should have drowned.
Kakashi groaned as he felt a headache throbbing steadily (and loudly) made itself known at the back of his head. Rubbing his temples, he mulled reluctantly on the first time he had came to the Konoha Kingdom.
Years before, he arrived not as the guardian of the prince (who was only a toddler then) but as the best friend to his long distant cousin, Uchiha Obito. The dark haired boy was the son of the Earl and the second cousin of Uchiha Itachi who is the heir to the throne of the Sharingan Kingdom.
The two teens had been sent only to deliver a message to the Hokage, the ruler of the Konoha Kingdom. It was a simple mission.
That was, until Obito accidentally slipped on the deck and fell from the ship. The crew had tried to save the boy, who hadn't known, at that time, how to swim. Kakashi remembering having screamed in horror as his childhood friend disappeared into the dark precarious waters. The rest of the journey to the verdant kingdom had been filled with tears of sorrow and lost.
But when the ship disembarked at the pier several days later, none of them could believe their eyes. Waving at them from a royal carriage not far away, was Obito. The two boys met half way across the harbor, laughing breathlessly and joyously together.
Kakashi had been filled with happiness that day, for that second chance to be with his bosom friend whom he loved like a brother. But it wasn't long before he was struck with a revelation.
Obito had changed. He was more… quiet, more at peace, no longer running around in mischief nor was he always found with Kakashi anymore. More often than not, Kakashi would find the boy standing by the balcony staring at the sea longingly.
A few weeks after Obito was found by the shore near the main Palace by the royal guards, Kakashi had accompanied his friend out to the beach. His best friend wanted to see the sea one last time before they left for home.
The silver haired boy had wondered darkly at what the appeal of the sight was considering the fact that the Uchiha had nearly been killed and swallowed by the temperamental sea. They had wandered around in silence for a while before his best friend finally opened his mouth and told him what had really happened on the day he had fell from the ship.
"I saw an Angel that day, Kakashi."
The silver haired teen glanced at his friend, frowning slightly. Did the trauma from his disappearance affect his brain as well?
His friend chuckled slightly, staring wistfully at the raging ocean.
"Maybe not an angel," he said, shooting a glance at Kakashi's incredulous face. He simply knew the silver haired boy too well. He could read him easily despite his perpetual mask and despite the fact that Kakashi hadn't even said a thing.
"But," Obito continued haltingly, trying to find words to clarify what he had started saying, "She was most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
Kakashi stayed quiet, waiting for his friend to continue.
"When I drowning down there," the other teen said, "When I thought that I was finally going to die," he continued, closing his eyes in remembrance, "She came."
"She was floating, and then she pulling me upwards," the dark haired Uchiha said, paused for a while and then continued. "I thought that she was going to take me up to heaven but then I woke up here…"
At the disappointed tone, Kakashi shot an alarmed look at his best friend, a frown gracing his masked features.
"Obito…"
Smiling almost wistfully, Obito said in a barely audible voice, "I wish I could see her again…"
Kakashi didn't know what to say at that time, so he didn't. He didn't even know what to think about all that his friend had told him, couldn't even decipher what his friend had seen. Was it just a vision that he had seen? He wouldn't put it past that considering the fact that he was, at that moment, desperate and oxygen-deprived. But he hadn't said anything, just smiled when his friend looked in his direction.
Barely three years later, Obito was killed in a battle.
He wished, almost desperately, that he could see his childhood friend again. To tell him that, after years of doubts, he finally believed.
There is always a first time for everything, someone had once said. He honestly couldn't remember who it was, thus, he concluded that the person who said it was insignificant. It didn't matter anyway.
What mattered now was that for every night since their miraculous rescue, he was haunted by the same dream. Not of Obito dying in his arms as he wept for his best friend. But of the angel that had once saved his friend's life and now, his and Sasuke's.
"I wish I could see her again…"
Hayate coughed into his hand as Iruka gently rubbed his back.
"Take care, Iru." The sickly dark haired mer said but was gently admonished.
"You should take care of yourself first, before worrying about me, 'yate."
"Datte," both of them were interrupted by the whine coming from the blond prince that was currently attached to Iruka's waist, where his tail begins.
"Naruto."
The three of them, along with a school or mers were currently at the giant golden gate of the Golden Sea, ready to set off in their journey to the Kingdom of the Dark Sorcerer, Sea Serpent Orochimaru. Iruka, as the head envoy was given the task to lead the expedition to negotiate the possibility of peace between the kingdoms under the sea.
Since Naruto was brought to the Palace, Iruka had never left the blonde prince before. Naruto had always been a hand full and it was a constancy for the both of them to be together. Iruka wasn't only his tutor, he was also his caretaker, guardian, adviser, brother and friend.
When Naruto had first found out about the mission, he had nearly thrown a childish tantrum only stopped by a stern quelling look from the dark haired teacher. Later, the dolphin had gently explained to the golden mer the importance of the mission and why he, as one of the royalties, had to represent the kingdom. Only when Naruto had reluctantly nodded his understanding and promised that he would not create a scene did Iruka allow the blond prince to send him off at the gate.
"Be careful, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said quietly, for once, looking serious and worried.
"Don't worry, Naruto," Iruka smiled reassuringly, his heart feeling warm at the obvious care the blond had for him. "I promise you, I'll be careful."
"Uhm," Naruto replied, looking uncertain whether to believe him or not. Then, he settled for hugging the long haired teacher of his tighter. Petting the blond hair gently, Iruka whispered soothing words to the golden mer.
His escorts was waiting patiently nearby as the two royalties embraced.
"Please forgive me," Iruka said, bowing humbly, "for making all of you wait."
"It's alright," a dark coloured mer with short dirty blond hair replied quickly, bowing back in respect, "We understand, it's hard to separate from loved ones."
Iruka smiled at them gratefully before gently prying Naruto away. The captain then announced for them to leave.
Looking back one last time, Iruka waved to his fiancé and student.
"Ibiki-san," Iruka greeted genially to the other bulkier mer.
They were at the front gate of the Dark Serpent Kingdom, where the two parties arrived at the same time.
When captain of his party alerted Iruka of the other party from the Rakuen Kingdom ruled by the Mer King Jiraiya, Iruka had rushed out to the front to meet the other envoy.
"Iruka-san," the scared mer greeted back with a smile.
"You are here for the peace negotiations then."
"Yes I am, as you, I assume," the larger mer said, signaling for the dolphin to pass ahead of him. Iruka nodded back gratefully at the courteous gesture.
The two of them passed the gate together into the territory of the Dark Sorcerer.
The Kingdom of Sea Serpent was perpetually in obscurity and gloom, a complete opposite of the Taikinyou Kingdom. Like its name, the Golden Sea was decorated with bright golden corals that seem to shine with its own glow, so despite the fact that they were thousands of feet underneath the sea, the entire palace was constantly bright and cheery.
But the Dark Serpent Kingdom was dark and murky, despite the large magically fires littering the pathways and across the walls. Even the palace hallways were practically pitch-black.
Iruka and Ibiki was met with the right hand man of the Serpent King whose name was Kabuto. The silver-haired mer who looked too young to be in such a position, lead them through the maze-like hallways to arrive at an enormous set of doors. The doors opened to reveal a large throne room that was totally devoid of light except for that coming from a small globe that sat on a pedestal that was settled beside the throne. And sitting in the fore mentioned coral-decorated seat was the Serpent King himself, who stood up when the envoys approached him.
The two dark haired emissaries bowed down low in respect as the King slithered down to meet them.
His slit-ed golden yet cold eyes laid on to Ibiki momentarily before abruptly dismissing the bulky mer in favor of resting its attention on Iruka.
Iruka allowed his eyes to look up when he felt fingers curling beneath his chin, tilting his face up to meet the King's.
Orochimaru was truly a magnificent mer with a long serpent's tail and ebony waist-length hair that seemed to absorb all light to its very being.
Iruka shifted uncomfortably a bit but he continued his eye contact with the colourless monarch, never shifting his eyes despite the strong urge to do so.
The sorcerer king looked at him with something akin to appraisal in his eerie eyes before letting his hand fall and turning away.
"I hope that you would have a pleasant stay here," the King said, his tone nearly bordering on purring.
Both Iruka and Ibiki blinked at the obvious sign of dismissal as the King glided away from the throne room.
"If you please," the two dark haired envoys looked up to see Kabuto gesturing towards them, "Kidoumaru and Kisame will lead you to your respective rooms."
The two of them glanced at each other for a moment in bewilderment at the brief and odd meeting with the King before Ibiki regained his footing.
"I'll see you later, then, Iruka-san," he said, sweeping past the dolphin mer only to continue in a soft cautious whisper, "be careful."
"Ah, Hai," Iruka replied, nodding slightly, his expression equally guarded.
They've both seen the way the King had looked at Iruka.
Iruka thanked the sullen looking guard for his guidance when he finally reached the room he was to stay in for the next few days. Looking around, he took note of the luxurious furnishing, the lightly colored coral walls and hangings.
But somehow despite the pale colouring, the entire room looked as if it had never been aired before, dull.
There was a balcony in his appointed room, closed against the afternoon sunlight that he knew should be coming through despite the fact that they were residing deep underneath the ocean. Iruka unlocked the coral doors and pushed it open.
It might as well have been left as it was. There simply was no difference. The room was still dark and gloomy.
Iruka's heart sank in pity.
In this shadowy murky kingdom, Iruka could not help but feel sorry for its occupants.
No sunlight… Naruto… no warmth… Hayate…
Iruka held the thin shawl around his shoulders tighter around him, feeling cold and uncomfortable. Brushing loose hair away from his face, he went out into the balcony, looking up to see if he could even get a glimpse of light from above.
What he saw however, was a few shadowy figures swimming high above him.
His lips cracked into a smile.
Kisame grinned obnoxiously at the envoy who glowered at him with equal unpleasantness.
Ibiki nearly growled.
The shark mer continued through the dark passage, slowly leading the envoy to his room. It seemed like eternity before they actually reached it. Then Kisame stopped and pointed towards a large wooden door. Ibiki nodded but when the shark showed no sign of leaving anytime soon, he scowled darkly but dismissed his annoyance. The less time spent with these mers, the better. The envoy pushed the door open and winced as a rush of freezing cold water flowed through him.
A pleasant stay indeed.
Then, for some unknown reason, Kisame followed him into his room, staring out at the open balcony. Ibiki turn to see what had caught the shark's attention and was greeted by something that made him stop too.
Orochimaru stroked the head of the dark-coloured sea serpent that often followed him as it lay languidly across his shoulder.
The King stood at his window, his long onyx hair flowing down his back as his head tilted up to enjoy the view above. His most trusted helper, Kabuto was stationed a little behind but nevertheless next to him.
Kabuto watched his master intently, frowning as flashes of jealousy crept across his consciousness.
Something akin to a smile indiscernibly twitched at the corner of the thin pale lips.
Up above the castle, the shadow of dolphins danced gracefully across the dark coral palace.
After their arrival, King Orochimaru did not summon them for three days despite their requests.
By the fourth day, Iruka badly wanted to go home, where warmth, comfort and love surrounded him. Here, where the darkness lurks, it felt like he was living in a prison that was so cold it bit into his very bones.
With a frown upon his brows, Iruka sighed gently. Even the escorts that had followed him here were beginning to look cheerless. He knew that they wanted to go home as well. Maybe he should send them back first. But Iruka knew that the guards would not leave without him, unless he made the request an order instead.
As if sensing Iruka's sadness, a bottle nosed dolphin came nearer to the mer, nudging gently at the dark hair, causing the mer to chuckle at the touch.
"Don't worry," he assured his friend, whom had followed him all the way from the Golden Kingdom. "I'll be alright." He petted the little porpoise's smooth beak.
"Iruka-san."
The dolphin mer looked around to see Ibiki heading towards him.
"Ibiki-san?"
"The King has finally accepted our request for an audience. But he will only see one of us at a time."
Iruka nodded slowly as he processed the information. Alone. With the King. That thought alone made him feel nervous.
"He will see you this evening."
For some reason, his uneasiness tripled. As if something was off. Iruka pondered lightly as he answered his companion.
"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Ibiki-san."
"You're welcome," Ibiki replied graciously, despite having an urge to advise Iruka not to go for the meeting. But after a moment of hesitation, he decided that to be safe is better than to be sorry.
"Do you think…"
Iruka looked away from his friend, momentarily distracted by the unsettling feeling that someone was watching him. He shuddered involuntarily, the hair at the back of his neck rising as he tried to discern where the feeling came from.
"Iruka-san?"
Iruka jerked out of his half trance. Thrown off, he tried to focus back on what was said but he couldn't.
"I'm sorry…? I-" Iruka shook his head, "I was distracted."
"Are you alright?" Ibiki asked kindly.
"Ah, yes. Well, actually, no. I think I should go in," Iruka said contritely. The feeling of being watched was still there. And the more he was aware of it, the more that he felt that he needed to get away from it. It made him feel uncomfortably vulnerable.
"Yes," Ibiki answered, looking at him contemplatively, "You don't look too well. I think I should escort you back to your room."
"No, it's alright," Iruka said immediately, "I should hate to bother you with something so troublesome."
"No, it's fine," Ibiki intercepted, "In fact, it'll make me feel better if I see you to your door." The dark coloured mer looked broodingly towards the foreboding dark castle where they were currently residing in. He himself had an uncomfortable feeling that something bad might happen if they were to part to their own ways.
"Well," Iruka said complacently, "If you insist."
"I do," Ibiki answered easily, shooting a forced smile at the smaller mer, who didn't seem to notice how compelled his companion's smile was as Iruka himself was too absorbed in his own thoughts.
The two of them left for the castle, unaware of the scrutinizing figure at the top of the highest tower.
Evening came too soon for Iruka, who was 'dressed' in a light ocean green ensemble. The material, like all his other clothing, was periwinkle like, weightless and soft but it was long and concealing, nearly reaching the flukes of his tail.
As the dolphin mer approached of the main hall, he nearly jumped from anxiety at the sound of the giant doors opening for him.
"Orochimaru-sama, thank you for granting my request," Iruka said humbly, bowing low before the Serpent King.
"It is my pleasure, Iruka-san. Please have a sit."
Iruka was unable to stop himself from shivering at the husky tone. The King's pale lips stretched further, golden eyes scrutinized him as he stiffly sat down in one of the large heavy coral chairs.
"Iruka-san."
"Yes, your Majesty?" Iruka could not bring himself to look up into the monarch's golden eyes as he asked this.
"Open the box on the table beside you, Iruka-san," the Serpent King purred.
Indeed, on the heavy table beside his chair lay a small but heavy bejeweled chest. Warily, Iruka did as he was told, slowly lifting the heavy lid of the box. In the case, was a bracelet strung with pure shining black pearls. Iruka's eyes widen at the sight of the rare gemstones.
"Do you like it, Iruka-san?"
Iruka jerked from his shock.
"It's…," he answered haltingly, unsure as to how to feel about this turn of event, "very beautiful."
"Then it is yours," the King announced generously.
"But…this is too valuable- I can't-"
"Put it on, Iruka-san," Orochimaru cut in. It was clear by his tone that if Iruka did not to do as he was told, it would be an insult to the King. However, the dolphin mer was not easily intimidated (or possibly just as stubborn as Naruto when he wanted to be).
Iruka gently closed the chest and looked straight into the Serpent mer's golden eyes.
"I'm afraid I can't accept this, your Majesty," he said firmly. "It is far too expensive a gift and a highly inappropriate one for me to accept."
Iruka had expected the King to show his displeasure at the dolphin's defiance but the monarch merely raised an eyebrow. If anything, the serpent seem almost pleased by Iruka's display of impudence and perhaps, sense of honor.
For a moment, silence reigned the large hall. Subsequently, the King spoke, soft yet clear to the occupant sitting in front of him.
"Then perhaps you would like to be in the position to do so."
"What…" Iruka asked slowly and cautiously, "do you mean?"
"Surely, you are not that naïve," Orochimaru drawled slowly, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm afraid that I really do not know what the meaning of this is," Iruka said, almost strongly as indignation flowed though him.
"I need a mer with ancient royal blood to produce an heir-" the ebony-haired King drawled, apparently abandoning all pretenses.
"And you think that I can give you that," Iruka boldly interrupted, all fear evidently gone, "by buying me with gifts of jewels? I'm afraid that your Majesty has mistaken me for a common whore."
"I would hardly think that the mer I chose of a mere whore," Orochimaru commented, smiling humourlessly.
Iruka abruptly squashed the urge to scowl, flip the finger at the King and tell him to stick his head where the sun doesn't shine. Such was Naruto's influence.
"I am flattered that your Majesty would think so highly of me," Iruka managed to wrestle his polite mask back on. "But I'm afraid that I would have to decline the offer. Now, if we may, the peace trea-"
"Even at the risk of war?"
At the threat, Iruka froze.
Given, he knew that the Queen would have his head if he dared to even think of accepting that preposterous offer. She would probably come all the way from Taikinyou to demand her heir's tutor (who was also her nephew, twice removed) back, knocking down the main gates, terrorizing the guards and occupants while she was at it, impending war or not. Tsunade-sama was like that. Or maybe she just didn't trust Orochimaru enough to touch him a six feet pole.
And there was probably a good reason to it considering the fact that Tsunade-sama had once been friends with the Serpent King. Hell, the Golden Queen has more faith in King Jiraiya and the mer was an open super pervert who had once tried to hit on Iruka (only to end up being hit by Naruto, literally).
Or perhaps, the dark haired King was just manipulative enough to turn back on what is promised. Iruka wasn't naïve or stupid, having lived long enough to know better than to think that if he sacrificed himself, it would be for the better of his kingdom. There was nothing that the Serpent could gain if he bonded with the monarch, unless his intentions were true and he truly did want an heir, which was highly unlikely.
Because Iruka knew for one that the King was obsessed with immortality and had been probing for immortality spells for as long as he could remember. So what could someone who wanted to be an immortal want with an heir?
And then there was the power factor. Orochimaru had been lusting for control over the three main seas for years. Iruka knew for sure that the King would not let his dream go so easily in favor of settling down to have a baby.
There was more to this offer than all of Naruto's pranks put together. Provided, the blond prince had never meant any harm in his jokes and can be considered 'plankton' mild to Orochimaru's 'whale-sized' unknown objective.
"I will not accept this proposal, your Majesty," Iruka answered with a tone of finality, preparing himself for the anger that he was about to receive. But he what he didn't remember was that the King's wrath was unlike those that he was accustomed to back at home.
"Very well. But I will warn you, I have my ways of getting what I want." The words were said accompanied cold steel eyes. His heart jolting in fear, Iruka came to realization of what the King meant.
In an instant, with wide eyes, Iruka got up hastily from his chair, but the serpent was much faster, slithering up to him effortlessly. Iruka barely had time to gasp at the sight of the golden slit pupils so close to his face before his hands were held captive by the colourless sea serpent.
Panicking, Iruka struggled to pull them out of the strong grip but it was in vain. The more he tugged the firmer the clasp seemed to become. Iruka gasped in pain at the unyielding hold as the serpent slid closer still. Orochimaru grinned, his fangs gleaming dangerously as his tongue slithered out.
The sorcerer's long silvery tail wrapped around Iruka's slim waist easily, pulling the distressed envoy nearer to the dark haired monarch. Iruka arched away from the dark haired monarch but the grip that the King had on his hands were to strong for him to resist.
When the leering face of the sea serpent approached his, he turned to the side in an attempt to avoid contact with the pale lips. But the powerful monarch was not to be discouraged at the action. Iruka cringed in disgust when he felt the serpent's tongue slid across from his collar bone to his ear.
"Sssweet little dolphin…," the soft low hiss was enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, enough to make Iruka scream and struggle anew. His silvery blue tail hit the chair that he had once sat on as he thrashed about. The impact knocked the chair backwards as the two tumbled onto the floor.
Iruka's head lulled to the side from the impact, hitting the corner of the heavy table that was situated beside his chair.
Pain exploded behind his eyes as Iruka fell into unconsciousness.
When Iruka finally came to, he realized without even opening his eyes that he was currently lying on a bed. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he had inkling of whose the bed belonged to because it certainly didn't feel like his own back at home in the Golden Palace. Iruka shivered when cold hands slid up his waist slowly. A pair of lips followed to make itself known to him, devoid of warmth as they violated the dolphin mer's own.
"No…" Iruka moaned when the icy lips finally lifted.
A tongue was now finally following the path between his jaw and collarbone making Iruka clenched shut his eyes harder.
"Yesss…" the king's low baritone resounded in his ears.
I don't want this!
With great alarm, Iruka felt those foreign hands going back downwards, towards then past his waist.
Please don't…
"Stop!mmhhh…" His protests were halted when Orochimaru roughly took his bruised lips again. The king's hands were now underneath his clothes and were heading straight towards his virgin sex.
Iruka attempted to resist but felt too weak to even rouse enough strength to bite the damn bastard. The dolphin mer realized belatedly that the King was draining his powers.
But at the same time, he felt magic flow into his abdomen and untouched sex.
He…He's trying to force the change before coupling with me!
The realization jolted Iruka into a panicked struggle, wrenching his mouth away from the cold ones of the Serpent King.
"Don't! Don't touch me!" Iruka yelled, thrashing about. But the thin ropes that held his hands above him to the bed frames held fast. The Serpent monarch had to release he dolphin mer, breaking the enchantment, when the petrified mer lashed his tail.
"Damare!" Orochimaru hissed commandingly, golden eyes flashing dangerous.
When Iruka showed no sign of calming down, the King lost all patience. The pale emperor forcefully pinned the other mer down, using his superior weight to impede the shorter mer's struggles.
Orochimaru had all the intentions of continuing the spell if a knock on giant door of the royal bedroom hadn't interrupted him.
At first, the monarch wanted to ignore the call but the knocking persisted. And it wasn't long before Kabuto's voice penetrated through the barrier.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Annoyed, the King lifted himself from his captive.
"Do not disturb me, Kabuto. Leave!"
"But Orochimaru-sama! Important news from the west borders has just arrived!" Obvious urgency laced the assistant's voice.
With an unpleasant scowl, Orochimaru reluctantly slithered down the bed and away towards the door.
"Keep an eye on him, Kabuto." The king hissed to his right hand man when he opened the portal.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the King's right hand helper stood watching the door, Iruka struggled to untie the bonds that was holding him down onto the bed. Still horrified by what had almost happened, the doplhin didn't notice the silver mer turning towards him.
It was when a glitter of steel caught his attention that Iruka realized the Kabuto was beside him.
"Wha…!"
A flash of the short blade and Iruka's wrist was free.
"He had yet to claim you," Kabuto said shortly, turning away as Iruka stared at him in confusion. Iruka rubbed at his wrists where the bonds had cut into as Kabuto approached the window, looking out the portal cautiously. Questions circled his head and he opened his mouth to ask them but was interrupted sharply.
"Run."
Iruka looked up to the Serpent King's right hand man who was gesturing towards the window.
Slowly and warily, the dolphin slid up and cautiously approached the window. He looked out and noted that not many guardians were situated outside. Then he looked back at the silver haired mer who was looking out the doors for any sign of the King.
"I-" the dolphin mer started but was interrupted by the other mer who hissed at him.
"Run! And never return!"
Iruka did as he was told.
"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto gasped as the ebony haired monarch back-handed him violently.
"Jealousy will cost you your life, wretch!" the older mer snarled viciously. Once again, his plans have been ruined!
"My Lord!"
"Don't let him escape," the Serpent King hissed to his assembled guards, clenching his fist tightly.
The prophecy cannot be fulfilled!
Despite the head start, Iruka knew that the King would not let him go so easily and thus, will send pursuers to find him. And sure enough, not long after he had managed to sneak out of the large compound of the eerie, dark castle, he turned back to see several sentinels swimming out of the palace. It was really fortunate for him that he managed to escape their eyes, his bright tail not unlike a beacon in the dark.
He made the decision to wait until morning as he estimated how much time it would take for him to get out of the Dark Kingdom. Too long. He probably wouldn't be able to get far away enough not to be seen and caught by the sentinels.
But Iruka knew he couldn't hide anymore longer so he had to take his chances. It was fortunate that he had lots of skills in looking for good hiding spaces due to the practices Naruto gave him.
He had almost made it out of the main gate, the border of the Dark Kingdom before one of the sentinels, a large shark like guard, spotted him.
Help me. Please help me. I need to escape. To get away. He thought fervently to himself, praying for anyone to hear and answer him.
Then, something flashed across his memory.
("This is my sanctuary. My escape," the mer whom he called teacher said, idly picking a few flowers from where she sat with her legs curled beneath her.)
Land.
I need legs. Iruka thought urgently.
Iruka gasped as his tail suddenly split into two then begin to gag as sea water flooded his newly developed lungs. With new desperation, he swam urgently upwards, breaking the water surface.
Crawling urgently onto the sandy beach, Iruka gasped as his lungs and body begged for air.
The change from mer to human was so complete that they would drown should they not change back if they were to dive into water. But at the same time, when they were mer, even without changing they could adapt to the air on land but of course, without legs to walk, it was really redundant.
The now-turned-human tried to get up onto his legs but he in vain as collapsing onto the rocky ground. He could almost hear his blood still pounding against his ears as adrenaline rushed within his veins.
Taking a deep breathe, Iruka put his hands firmly on the ground and pushed himself up to stand up. But just as he pulled his legs into a kneeling position, something grabbed his ankle and pulled.
Iruka exclaimed in surprise as he was dragged halfway back into the water.
The mer turned to see the shark sentinel called Kisame grinning back at him. Iruka felt hands climbing up to his hips, pulling him further down into the sallow mer's embrace.
"Iruka-san," The shark-mer said huskily, white teeth gleaming as he grinned widely.
Iruka finally snapped out of his horror when he felt a wandering hand crept up to his inner thighs. Quickly, without even thinking, he retracted one of his legs and kicked with all his might. His effort was met with the shark's unprepared countenance.
The improvised attack sent the sentinel back into the waters and gave enough time for the panicking Iruka to get up and run.
The dolphin dived into the brambles that littered the rocky beach not knowing that that was the area that he and Naruto had deposited the Prince and his companion just days before.
Iruka used his hands to brush the undergrowth away as he ran, limping slightly from the throbbing pain his legs were emitting. It didn't help that the thorns and branches were catching themselves against his thin clothing and hair. Iruka cried out when a stray branch caught his hair, painfully unbinding the dark tresses from their tie.
He didn't know how far or long he had run through the forest. Nor did he know if the shark sentinel would shape shift like him to give chase and he was not about to find out by stopping to look behind him. But really, he should have at least focus on where he was running.
Because the next thing he knew was screams above, beside and everywhere around him. He lifted his arms above him in automatic defense when a large shadowed loomed above him.
Everything happened so fast that all he felt was an exploding pain on his arms and head before his vision turned black for the second time in 24 hours.Iruka was out before he even hit the ground.
Genma cursed as he desperately tried to calm his horse. The poor frightened animal stomped the ground a few more times nearly unseating its rider. His other companions were just as busy in their attempts to restrain their own horses.
It was quite sometime before the creatures finally settled down, breathing hard and huffing from the exertions that they had put themselves through. After the initially panic had settled, it was only then could the royal hunting team examine what had startled the horses enough to make them break into a rampage. They didn't have to look very hard or far.
Lying slumped limply on the ground merely three feet away was a dark haired figure.
"A woman?" Genma's companion, Raidou asked incredulously, echoing the others' thoughts.
And not just any woman, Genma recognized amazedly. She looked like the same woman that had leaded them to the prince and his guardian!
The wheat haired Duke slid down from his brown stallion and cautiously approached the body. Assured that she was really unconscious, he gently turned her over. Dark hair fell across a smooth face, marred only by a scar (marking?) across the nose from one cheek to the other.
She was breathing!
He moved to prop her head on his shoulder as he ordered Raidou to help him move the girl up his horse.
Genma eyed the figure's torn and damp clothing with a scowl as he removed his cloak to cover the girl. Though suspicion nagged at the back of his head, he couldn't help feeling anger at what he assumed happened to the poor lass.
"Uhm, I think I just noticed something," Raidou stated hesitantly, staring intently at the unconscious figure in his arms.
For some reason, the brown haired royalty felt irritation well up at the way his friend was gaping at the poor girl.
"What?" he couldn't stop himself from snapping at his assitant.
"She's flat," his best friend said incredulously.
Genma made a double back so quickly he nearly fell out of his horse.
Tsuzuku...(To be Continued)
14 pages of entry, not bad eh?
Anyway, here's some minor notes:
Iruka's teacher is the one who took him up to land and taught him things. I might add her in the later chapters or may not. It depends. She's not an important character so she can be ignored for the time being. However, she did teach Iruka a lot of things, from magic to living in simplicity to becoming human. Perhaps in that aspect, she maybe one of those 'oooooolllldddd' eccentric veteran that Naruto had mentioned before in Prologue.
And to make things easier, please imagine the scenes in a Japanese environment. Because it'll be easier for them to change back to their tails in a kimono than in pants, darou? Heh heh.
Hm, for some reason, a thought that I really want to share with you just came into my mind. I imagine kissing Ochi-kun would be like kissing a dead frozen fish. crackle get it? …… never mind.
All right, to avoid bordering-from-funny-to-downright-stupid mails about fish and sex, for those that are wondering, here's the logical explanation from my limited intelligence:
Fish (snakes, crocs, dolphins and etc) has a small hole that conceals their sex on their tail (just past their hind-legs for crocs). It's mostly hidden and can only be seen if you flip them over and squint (and it you're an expert, you'll know what gender they are just by looking, I think). Just imagine it's the same for the mer. I hope it clears this part up.
Anyway, that's about it I guess. If there's any questions that I haven't (hinted) already, I'll add it in the next chapter next month (or so).
Also, just to keep things short, I would like to thank everyone that has reviewed to me for the past few chapters. For all your questions, they will be revealed in time to come. Or I will simply explain it in plain words after the epilogue, if need be.
Ja, mata!
SirenM