Lulu entered the Zora Shop early the next morning with a smile on her face. The Zora behind the counter straightened up when she entered and smiled.

"Good Morning, Lulu. What can I help you with?"

"Oh, just looking." She smiled and gently fingered a soft blanket. "I don't suppose you have any new shipments in, do you?"

The Zora thought for a moment. "No, nothing recent. Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Lulu sighed and ran her fingers across the delicate pages of an old Hylian book. "No, not really…" She turned back to him and smiled. "Nevermind! I'll see you later!" And she walked out before the young Zora could even blink.

Walking back into the main room with her eyes to the ground, Lulu almost ran straight into Japas while he read the morning paper.

"Oh!" They both gasped just before they collided.

Japas blushed and Lulu looked away.

"S-Sorry." They both muttered and continued on their way with downcast eyes.

This is stupid! Lulu thought. Japas has been my friend for years. Am I really going to let this silly misunderstanding get in the way of years of friendship?

She stopped walking and turned around. Japas had also stopped and was currently staring at her. When her eyes met his he blushed furiously and looked away, suddenly very interested in the small beetle walking across the wall. She smiled and felt her cheeks grow warm.

Maybe he does have feelings for me…She thought. But…do I have feelings for him?

She walked forward and looked at her friend.

"Japas…" She started and suddenly stopped. She realized that she had approached him without a single thing to say. "I…uh…" She stuttered.

His gaze was piercing into her and she lost all words.

This is stupid! Her mind screamed. Just say something! Anything!

Lulu opened her mouth and said, "Iwagonnatakidsouyouwancom?"

Anything but that, stupid! Her brain cursed.

Japas was looking at her strangely, so she took a deep breath and tried again.

"I was going to take the kids out to the ocean today. Would you like to come with us?"

Japas seemed smiled. "Well…"

"I could really use the help. I mean, seven Zoralings can be a handful for just one person." She smiled.

Japas chuckled. "That's true." He looked down into her eyes and nodded. "Yeah sure, I'll go with you."

Lulu felt her stomach to a flip-flop. "Oh…great!" She smiled. "Uh…I was thinking of leaving after breakfast. Is…that okay?"

Japas nodded. "That'll be fine. I'll meet you on stage."

She nodded. "Right, on stage. Okay." She said and he waved his goodbye and walked down to the shop.

She felt a wave of relief hit her when he left. She wasn't sure why that had been so difficult, but it was almost as though she couldn't get the words out. She slowly turned around and began walking to the breakfast room up the long ramp.

I have a date…She thought. Or…is it?

As Japas walked away he felt his stomach cry to him. He felt sick but at the same time excited. He had never felt like this before. What was going on?

Did Lulu just invite me on a date?

He shook his head.

No, surely not. She wants me to help her with the kids. Simple as that.

He paused just before entering the shop and turned to watch her walk up the ramp.

Then why didn't she ask Evan? Or even Tijo, if that's all it was?

He watched her walk and felt his heart skip a beat. He sighed and entered the shop. As much as he hated to admit it…he was falling in love with the Zora girl. He wasn't sure why, or even how, but there it was. He had thought about her all night and when he finally fell asleep, he had a dream about her. He woke up with the undeniable urge to kiss her. He had tried to shake it off but it wouldn't go away. He had even resorted to reading the Clock Town paper, which he never really enjoyed, just to get his mind off of it. He hadn't been expecting to run into Lulu (literally). When he had looked down from the paper and saw her walking into him he half considered letting it happen just to give himself an excuse to touch her.

Why am I thinking this way? She's Mikau's girl! He told himself. Suddenly that still small voice piped up in the back of his mind. But Mikau is dead…

He shook his head violently and then embarrassedly turned to the shop keeper who was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Uhh…" He said. "Are you okay, Japas?"

Japas grunted and left the shop. He was acting ridicules. He couldn't believe the things he was thinking. Getting back to his room, Japas was trying to rationalize his feelings.

"She's like my sister…" He said aloud to the empty room. "And I want what is best for her…" He walked over to his desk and sat down. "And since Mikau is gone, she no longer as a father for her children." He nodded at his reflection in the mirror. "Ergo, I want to be with Lulu so I can help her raise her children." He smiled and himself and nodded. "Yes, that must be it." He stood up and walked swiftly to the door. It wasn't until his hand was on the doorknob that he stopped. He sighed and looked down.

"Who am I kidding…I want Lulu for myself." He turned around and slumped against the door which suddenly opened.

Japas fell backwards and landed on something soft. He scrambled to get up, which only managed to get him more tangled into the soft object. He finally turned around and was face to face with Lulu. She was blushing ferociously and Japas realized it was because his hand was firmly placed on her left breast. He blushed a brightly and scrambled to get off of her.

"I-I'm sorry." He said as he tried to roll off only to get more tangled. She finally grabbed the sides of his face and looked straight into his eyes.

"Japas…" She said.

He stopped moving and looked down at her. "Y-Yes?"

She smiled embarrassedly. "Calm down. Your panicking is only making matters worse."

He chuckled sheepishly and nodded. "Okay, sorry." He said and carefully pushed himself up to a sitting position, carefully trying to hide the hardening between his legs by shifting the scaly material (this idea is courtesy of Cap'n BlackRose in the story Zora Forever. Thanks for letting me use your idea!) that separated his birthday suit from the rest of the world.

Lulu blushed again and Japas was sure that she noticed.

"I, I'm sorry Lulu. I was just-"

"No, Japas. I should have knocked first. I didn't realize you were leaning against the door. It's my fault."

Japas sighed and nodded. "Well, as long as you admit it." He teased and winked.

She laughed and shook her head. "Oh you." She stood up and offered her hand to him. He took it and stood as he closed his door.

"Anyway, the reason I'm here is because I was thinking we should leave before breakfast. This way I can start teaching the kids about hunting and everything."

Japas smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea! They'll have to learn eventually. After all, the best fish are always fresh." He smiled.

She nodded. "Yeah, so…you still want to go?"

Japas nodded. "Of course."