A/N: Hello I'm back with an update today's chapter is continuing on with the date with a twist. Enjoy the show.
The time had come for the performance has come, many people had come to witness it each person took their seat on the audience row's. a woman appeared on the ram with a loud speaker wearing the uniform of the aquarium she turns on the loud speaker " Welcome ladies & gentlemen to the monthly aqua performance" the audience cheer loud enough to cause a ruckus, the woman wasn't able to speak until the cheers die out & when they did she continued "Today is a bit special because today's performer isn't human" this causes the people to look to each other and talking among themselves the woman coughs getting back their attention " Today's performer is a live mermaid" Mero appears on the ramp on her wheelchair had already taken off her necklace & dress revealing her mermaid undergarments getting the audience to cheer louder since it's not everyday you see a mermaid performing in an aquatic show "Without further or do let's begin" the woman shouted getting the audience to cheer louder, then she leaves a calm music track starts playing Mero gets off of her wheelchair and dives into the water.
After a few seconds she gets out and starts dancing in the water getting 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the audience eventually the seals get inside and they circle around Mero who goes down and then raises as she jumps and the seals following her example, dolphins then get in and a ball is thrown in the pool which Mero catches it then starts tossing it to the dolphins who toss it amongst themselves then back to Mero who tosses it to the seals who repeat the prosses then Mero signals the dolphins to follow her as they go deep down and the seals going to the ends of the pool then when they reach it make a splash as Mero gets out with the dolphins jumping, finally the orca's join as their leader makes it's way to Mero and starts dancing with her then the Mero starts singing a beautiful as all the three animals go down and then as she reaches the end of her melody a huge splash covers the pool as a pyramid made of marine animals appears in the middle with crabs clicking their claws in the pool's ends, fishes of all kinds jumping up and down in the pool, sharks circling the pyramid which made of orca's in bottom seals in the middle dolphins above them and finally Mero herself in the top carried by the dolphins peaks. The audience cheer louder then before at the display, the woman returned "Alright everyone thanks for joining make a straight as you leave" the audience were dejected but nonetheless enjoyed the show while it lasted and left. However there was one figure who kept looking at Mero with lust in its split yellow eyes as it licked its lips perversely.
'You will be mine beautiful' where the figures thoughts.
At the backstage everyone is astonished at Mero's performance that it was better than it was originally supposed to be Minato looked like someone who had a huge weight off of his shoulders as looked at the display "Well Kihimoto it seems your homestay saved our backs we really owe you two just talk to the manager and he'll reward you" he laughs but notices his friend ignoring him "Kihimoto are you listening?" Kihimoto wasn't listening because he didn't get his eyes off of Mero since the show started at first he did it because he's her host and supposed to be supporting her but was captivated by her, he had a dump look on his face whilst blushing "Ahem earth to Kurusu Kihimoto do you hear me?"
Kihimoto snapped back to reality "Sorry I was too caught up with the show what did you say?"
Minato sighs "I said we owe you two a lot so speak to the manager for pay back."
Kihimoto waves his hands around "Well it's Mero who participated I didn't do anything so Mero is the only who supposed to be payed back" before their conservation could continue any longer Mero approached them leaning on the pool's wall, Kihimoto approaches her and sits down so they look each other's in the eye "You did it Mero you were incredible out there."
Mero takes the praise well then averts her gaze whilst blushing "Thanks Kihimoto did you like it?"
Kihimoto chuckles "Of course everyone else liked it, didn't you hear the audience?"
Mero asks again "No I'm talking about you did you like it?"
Kihimoto blushes and scratches the back of his head whilst averting his gaze "Y-Yeah I really think you looked great out there."
Mero seems to be satisfied with the answer as she looks towards him "Well I'm glad you liked it as long as you did that's all that matters to me" Kihimoto looks back to her direction and the two are caught in each other's eyes suddenly the world stops for the two of them, they continue standing there while looking like idiots then a dolphin approaches Mero from behind and strips her top causing her to gasp Kihimoto gasps back as he leans his hands forward to cover her breasts which results in him groping her.
"I'm so sorry Mero" he says nervously.
Mero shakes her head "N-N-N-No it's okay-y-y" she says nervously back, thankfully some of the staff had found the dolphin and gave Mero her top back "Thank you so much milord" she says while kneeling.
"It's alright it's the least we can do for our performer" Minato says. Everyone gives Mero privacy while she puts her top back after finishing Mero gets out of the pool and climbs back on her wheelchair which was brought to her by the staff members, as Mero goes into the dressing room Kihimoto leans on the wall while Minato stands next to him as Mero is taking her time Minato decides to start conversing with his old friend "So when did you become a host?"
"Not too long ago it's been only 2 days since I became Mero's host."
"So why did you become a host? I don't remember you being the kind of guy who'll just jump at something."
Kihimoto coughs a little "Well it wasn't my idea it was my old people since they believed I was lonely" he chuckles "Not that there wrong."
Minato then looks at his friend seriously, which gets Kihimoto off guard but before he could say anything Minato beats him to it "Did you or did you not choose your homestay?"
Kihimoto shakes his head "No I didn't I wasn't even told what kind of Liminal I'll be having I was just told it'll be an aquatic one they didn't tell me it'll be a merfolk much less a girl" he says while scratching his head.
Minato seems to be satisfied with the answer, but before he tells his friend about his homestay's identity, he decides to see if Kihimoto knows or doesn't "Did she tell you who she is?"
Kihimoto seems worried like it's very rare to see Minato this serious about something he starts to have worried thoughts about Mero like: is she hiding who she truly is? If so then who is she? And why is hiding it? But before he could think further Minato snaps him back "No she just told me her name" he answers honestly deciding to see where his friend is going with this.
Minato takes a deep breath then looks towards his friend with his serious expression that he had ever since the conservation started "Well she's in f- "
"Hello Mr. Kurusu" a man said interrupting Minato, Kihimoto looks towards the source of the voice revealing himself as an above average man with short black hair and a moustache wearing a business suit as well as a pair of glasses, he seems friendly but Minato is scared of him.
Kihimoto deciding to see who the man is and what he wants "Hello sir, can I help you?"
The man chuckles "No you already helped us enough my good sir" Kihimoto is surprised by the answer but before he can talk the man leans his hand forward offering a handshake "Allow me to introduce myself I'm Sasuke Yagami the manager of this aquarium" Kihimoto excepts the handshake the man's grip is hard but thankfully the handshake was short lived, the man looks towards Minato with a glare "Mr. Shashi I hope you aren't bothering our saviours."
Minato shakes his head and waves his hands nervously "No not at all sir."
Kihimoto backs up Minato "No sir we're just old friends catching up, I hope there's nothing wrong with that."
Sasuke is impressed by Kihimoto's behaviour that he smiles "Well it's good to see that youth's still have manners to this day" he chuckles a little then continues talking "No there's nothing wrong with catching up with your old friend and besides I owe you a favour for saving us from refunds."
Kihimoto once again waves his hands and shakes his head "No it's Mero that you should be thanking not me."
"Speaking of whom where's our young star?"
"She's in the dressing room but now I think she might have taken too long in there" Kihimoto answers with worry he gets himself in front of the door and knocks "Mero are you finished dressing up? The manger wants to thank you personally thank you" no response is heard "Mero?"
He asks worried.
Minato gets his keys out and Kihimoto makes way for him he opens the door and stands there shocked, Sasuke & Kihimoto see through the open door and they are shocked as well. The room is empty safe for Mero's wheelchair, dress and necklace and the window is open letting air into the room, Kihimoto enters scared he picks up the necklace and shouts into the world the name of his homestay "MERO".
Later
Everyone's in the security room along with Ms. Smith whom was called by Kihimoto after discovering Mero's disappearance along with her are her unit MON they look at the security footage at what happened in the dressing room while Mero was in there 'she was about to get dressed then a knock on the window got her attention she moves her wheelchair to the window and opens it she looks around but nothing is there as she closes it while looking away something enters with nearly impossible speed that it can be mistaken for a gush of wind Mero looks back and see's nothing then someone comes at Mero from behind putting a drugged napkin over her mouth then carries her off of her wheelchair and rushes outside forgetting to close the window'.
Smith looks at the footage with a disapproving glare "Play back when the figure got behind Mero" she orders the security guard whom nods and does that "Stop" he stops "Now make the picture clear" he does and the figure seems to be a young man with short blonde hair wearing a high-collared shirt with a light coat thrown over with black pants, brown shoes and a green tail "Alright we found our culprit" she looks to Sasuke whom nods knowing they now have too investigate the locked visitors to see who matches the description of the culprit.
Kihimoto in the other hand grips the necklace more while looking down as a shadow covers his eyes just thinking about what he saw causes him to grit his teeth, he feels a hand on his shoulders he looks up seeing Smith without her glasses giving him a reassuring look "We'll find her I promise to do the best we can, so don't worry okay."
Kihimoto looks back down "It's my fault I should have known there was something's wrong sooner" he grits his teeth mad at his own helplessness "Now because of me Mero is in danger, what kind of host allows this to happen?"
Smith gets down and forces Kihimoto to look her in the eyes "It's not your fault so don't go around blaming yourself."
Kihimoto then hardens his glare "Let me join the investigation" it sounded more of an order than a request. Smith seeing this, sighs a little knowing even if she said no, he would do it regardless.
'I doubt he's mad at his helplessness as host, he looks like and even sounds like an over protective boyfriend the two of them may not know it yet but I saw it that day it was love at first sight for them' Smith then smiles 'Like I thought previously he's the perfect host for her hopefully with his assistance we can rid of the stupid tragic love desire that her kind has as well as not knowing her position in her kind because thus treating as normal person like she wants' Smith coughs a little "Alright welcome to the investigation team."
Kihimoto nods and follow's Smith they get into a room where the rounded-up visitors are brought in and questioned each person gave less and less information than the last making them hitting dead ends. Smith and the investigators are troubled as they drink water to calm their nerves "Well this has to be the worst case we got in years, no one knows anyone matching the description of the culprit or seen him" an investigator says sighing in tiredness.
One of the police members decides to crack a joke "Maybe the guy got hungry and craved fish he smelled Mero thinking she's a large fish" many start laughing at the attempt to cool off the atmosphere except for a few one of which is Mero's host.
Kihimoto only gets angrier and shots the cop with a glare filled with anger and malice "Mero could be scared or even hurt right now and your laughing and joking" he shouts.
The cop gets angry and gets up "Listen up kid this's a problem for me as it is to you, so don't start lecturing me do you understand?"
Kihimoto is only angered further "If it's indeed as much trouble for you then stop making jokes about Mero."
The two are of them are a few inches away from each other's they glare at each other then Kihimoto pushes him causing him to lose his footing but gets back up he approaches Kihimoto and pushes him further but Smith catches Kihimoto as he was about to lose his footing he rushes towards the cop and the two start fighting but everyone gets between them and separate them "Ms. Smith I think it's better if Mr. Kurusu gets out" the chief officer tells Smith whom nods and leads Kihimoto outside.
"Sorry kid I understand how you feel I also got angry at that joke but everyone's doing their best so have a walk and then come back after clearing your head okay" Smith asks the young man who nods in confirmation and leaves.
Later
Kihimoto continued walking around the now seemingly empty aquarium as most guests were let out after being investigated and confirmed being innocent 'Damn it Mero please be alright promise me okay' he thought to himself while clutching his heart ready to cry his eyes out but as he walked he bumped into someone as looks up to apologize he sees a green he follows it and in front of him is a figure that looks exactly like the same guy in the video which get Kihimoto suspicious 'Where was he when the people were being rounded up? And how is he here now all of a sudden? And more importantly what is doing here? Doesn't he know that the kidnapping been found out?' Kihimoto decides not to cause suspicion in order to know Mero's location "um sorry about pumping into you I was thinking about something and didn't pay attention where I was going" he kneels.
The man waves his hands "It's okay I don't blame you, any way's I will be on my way now" he says while carrying bags Kihimoto managed to get a closer look at an item that was pushing itself out of the bag and it caused to be scared the item is a sex toy, Kihimoto allows the man to gain distance when he was far away enough he texted Smith about what happened and told her to follow his phone's location as he's going to follow the man.
The man continued walking taking short cuts around the hallways and when he reached the police barricade he glided causing a strong wind that can be mistaken for a small gust of wind which what the police thought it was, Kihimoto silently follow's him not getting the man's attention at all then finally the man reached his destination a garden that's not to faraway from the aquarium he glides again to a large tree in the middle of the lake Kihimoto eventually finds some boats and takes one (the goose one) and sails to the tree.
At the tree
A boat that sails on paddle's is covered by the tree on it is a beautifully sleeping mermaid whom is Mero she starts getting up feeling that she slept on something's hard she looks around and finds herself at her current state 'Where am I? How did I get here?' she thought panicking until something hits the boat she looks up and see's her kidnapper having a perverted grin on his face which causes her to be scared.
"Good morning beautiful, did you sleep well?" he asks putting down his bags he opens one of them getting a cream out he looks towards her "You have beautiful skin my love and I want to keep it that way" he moves towards his hands leaning on her top attempting to take it off.
"NO STOP PLEASE" Mero screams with tears in her eyes she desperately wraps her arms around her top in order to pry him off only for him to over power her and hold both of her arms in his left grip he leans his right hand on her top 'No what's happening? Somebody please save me?' she thinks while silently crying an image of a smiling Kihimoto appears in her mind.
"Wooh" the man screams as a goose shaped boat hits their boat with all of its force causing it to stumble "What the hell?" he screams he looks towards the boat and a single man gets out whom is a very pissed off Kihimoto "What do you want you lowly human?"
Kihimoto looks towards him with a hardened glare "Let her go or else" he threats.
'Kihimoto you came for me, why did I want to save me? Wouldn't be more tragic if we never saw each other's again? Yet here I am glad you're here' Mero thought to herself while feeling a little revealed yet worried fearing Kihimoto would lose to the kidnapper.
"Or what human? I took this young mermaid since I'm the only one who'll ever appreciate such a fine looking specimen and I'm not going to give her up so easily" the man says arrogantly while wings come out from his back "Come at me if you dare a human will never defeat a dragon" Kihimoto rushes forward with a fist but the dragon man catches it only for Kihimoto to go down and sweeps his legs causing him to lose his footing not wasting time Kihimoto wraps his arms around his opponent's neck forbidding air from entering his system nut the dragon starts lashing out as he keeps elbowing Kihimoto in the ribs causing him to lessen his hold, the dragon then catches Kihimoto's neck in his left grip chocking him while lifting his right hand up and sharpening his claws attempting to pluck Kihimoto's eyes out but he's hit in the head with one of his bags he looks up as to who hit him and see's Mero glaring at him "What was that for beautiful?" he asks heartbroken.
"You" she looks at him with hatred "Don't dare touch him again" Kihimoto sits up recovering a little Mero makes her way to him clubbing his cheeks in her hands "Are you okay Kihimoto?"
The man glares at Kihimoto "You filthy human you tainted her with your germs, didn't you?" he rushes towards him with his sharpened claws Mero lets out a scream but Kihimoto catches both of his grips and forces him down on his back the man then kicks Kihimoto with both of his legs causing to stand up but he refuses to let go of his grips and then pushes him into the water along with him.
Mero looks worried as bubbles are seen then the two men get out as there still fighting then Kihimoto grabs the man's head and drowns him but the man grabs Kihimoto head and drowns him the two keep trying to drown the other first but then both of them stop as their bodies flow on the surface of the water "No Kihimoto" Mero screams as she jumps into the water and grabs Kihimoto and puts him back on the boat she starts giving him pcr trying to get the air back into his lungs then he coughs getting water out of his mouth he gets up coughing Mero cries then embraces him "Oh Kihimoto *sniff* I thought *hiccup* that you were a goner."
Kihimoto wraps his arms around the crying mermaid and starts to comfort her then the man gets back into the boat soaked and angry as he coughs as well "You bastard don't think for a single moment that you out bested me I'll kill you" he rushes towards the couple only to be shot with a drugged needle and see's police boats around the area.
"This's the police nobody moves" a cop spoke in a phone speaker.
Eventually they made it to dried land where they met Smith who checked up on them as well as the kidnapper who's revealed to be in fact a girl named Draco who leans the other way who participated in the program but was reported missing by her host family.
"Let go of me I'm a noble dragon aghhh" Draco shouted to Tio a member of MON.
"Now you'll be sent to a psychic evaluation exam as well as being punished for your actions of running away from your host family, kidnapping, attempted rape and harming a human, you have the right to remain silent" Smith told Draco as she's being pushed in the truck. After the truck drives away Smith makes her way to the young couple as the cop who made the joke is apologizing to the two of them they nod as accepting it then he leaves, Mero is now fully dressed and Kihimoto has a towel wrapped around him as shivers "I'm so sorry this happened to you two during your hang out" Smith says while kneeling "I should have at least sent a supervisor to ensure your safety especially you Mero."
"It's alright lady coordinator we don't hold you responsible at all" she waves her hand then looks to her shivering host "Right Kihimoto?"
"Y—yeah *achoo* not all" he says while shivering.
Smith breathes in relief then looks to the two of them "Alright I think you hanged out enough for today let me at least drive you guys home" they accept the offer while also stopping for food. Finally reaching their destination the couple said their thanks and goodbyes to Smith and said their good nights to each other.
As Mero sleeps in her pool she thinks about what happened today she looks at her necklace as she grips it hardly 'I was scared of not seeing him again. Why is that? Isn't a tragic love story where the two lovers don't see each other's again?' she looks at her necklace 'But one thing is clear I was scared for him when I thought he died' she sniffs 'I don't want to make him sad.'
A/N: Done after 2 days. I decided to include the Draco subplot in a different fashion in order to make Mero starts to realize sooner that she doesn't want a tragic romance. Anyways thanks so much for everyone who favoured and followed I hope the chapter is to your liking and thanks for reading my story as always. Have a nice day.