Shirahime-Syo

Finless Porpoise

Chapter: 5

Intermission: Retasu Midorikawa

Heart of Ice

Retasu Midorikawa was a good mermaid. She was meek and docile and fiercly independent. She rarely asked anything of others, and, when she did, what she asked was always given. In return, her help was given out freely to those who asked, and, sometimes, to those who needed it, but were too proud to ask. She lived in a small house made of sapphire and royal purple crystals. Not many saw where she went after visiting the city, and even less saw her house, and, of those, even less were invited in.

There was also a mermaid named Mint. She was prettier than Retasu, but had much less brains. There was only one thing she was good at, and that was getting boyfriends. Many merpeople disliked her for that reason, and those who had been her boyfriends in the past often said that she would take prisoners instead of boyfriends. She was after Ryou now.

One who often asked her help, but did not need it, was a merman called Ryou Shirogane. Unbeknownst to Retasu herself, she was slowlyfalling in love with the young merman. Many times, he would ask her help, just to spend time with her. She would tell him things he already knew, and, when confronted about it, Ryou would admit to this and smile smugly about it. This gave Retasu a certain pleasure, for all girls like being pursued. As of late,Ryou's parents had been bugging him to get married. They needed some grandchildren to spoil. The first girl that came to their minds was Mint. Ryou greatly protested this, but, at last, agreed to spenda little time with her thatday.

Retasu patienly sat in her home. One green orb served as a lamp. It cast an eerie green glow all around the room she was in. She waited silently for her constant compaion, Ryou. He was gentle and kind and she was sure he would protect her, given the chance. Not often did she need protection, and she was sort of proud of that. Most mermaids that looked like her could not be left alone, for fear they would be captured. But then, Retasu was not most mermaids and Ryou did not seek out the company of most mermaids. Retasu was fine in her little bubble of peace. Nothing much disturbed her, although some things were challenging.

By challenging, she did not mean problems, no. She could solve almost any problem. Except her. She was more beautiful than Retasu and could do almost anything she wanted because of that. She had a more melodic voice, and, was so dumb she was cute. Retasu did not know why that mermaid hated her, she just knew she did. Why was that? Did she think Ryou was in love with Retsu? The green mermaid almost laughed at that. No one could ever love her. She was pretty enough, but not enough of a 'woman' so to speak. Mint was what everyone wanted.

Retasu sighed and looked out upon the cave walls. Images of Ryou flashed before her eyes. She smiled gently. "I'm in love with Ryou," She said to herself.Enough sitting here, she decided. The young green mermaid went out, for what reason, she knew not. She only knew she had a desire to go out. Whenever something like this happened, whenever she had an impulse or sudden desire, she would follow it. She never knew what would happen, and most of the time would not know what she was doing until it had already been done.

Retasu swam down to the city, through the gates and into the marketplace. Mermaids and mermen and small little merbabies were out shopping and bartering. A few sirens and sea witches lurked in dark alley ways and corners, hoping to suck in innocent prey. Retasu had no need for them. The emerald mermaid turned away from the dark alleys and the hubub of the marketplace. Retasu swam by various shops selling various thing, most of which she didn't need or didn't want. Then she spotted them. Mint was holding Ryou's arm and smiling like a lunatic. The blue mermaid spotted Retasu and smiled deviously. Mint leaned up to Ryou and Ryou looked down at her.

Retasu's eyes widened in horror at what she witnessed next. Her large green eyes filled with silent tears and she fled the marketplace. Snowflakes began to pour down under the water as Retasu's heart lost the warm friendliness that it had been harboring.Tears slipped down Retasu's cheeks as sheswam down to a lower section, where gamblers and the low life generally were. She quickly passed them by, not seeing them. The water soon began to darken and the temperature dropped. Retasu shivered, but kept swimming. A thick piece of glowing kelp caught her tail, tethering her there. She tugged angrily and tried to free herself, but nothing happened. Retasu pulled and pulled, but could not get free. Her hand glowed with green fire and she tore at the piece of kelp, breaking it in half.

Snowflakes continued to fall as Retasu began to swam away. The temperature dropped further due to the snow and depth. Two pieces of glowing seaweed shot up from the ground. The first wrapped aroundher tail and the second wrapped around her waist and slid beneath her back, supporting her. Retasu cried harder and green flames went from her hand sto her elbows. She burned off the seaweed and shot out. But a piece of glowing kelp suddenly sprang up and stopped her escape. She turned to another side, but glowing kelp shot up all around her and she didn't dare go near it. Three more pieces shot up from the ground. One wrapped around her tail and began dragging her down, so the shorter ones could get at her. The next curled around her waist, pinning her wrists to her sides. Retasu didn't dare use fire, for fear of burning herself. The third pieces wrapped around her shoulders and covered her mouth.

The water was nearly frozen now and whenever Retasu was moved, she felt like she was moving through jelly. Retasu had just about given up all hope of escaping when a voice called out, "RETASU!" Retasu opened her eyes and looked toward the voice. It was Ryou! Her eyes brightened, but then an image of what he and Mint had done flashed before her eyes. Her eyes closed and more tears escaped. Ryou swam above the tips of the glowing kelp and down to Retasu. He touched her, and, at his touch, the coldness finally got to Retasu. It froze her heart and her being. "Retasu?" Ryou asked. Her skin was deathly cold and pale. "No . . ." He whispered.