Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango or any of its characters.

Japanese: Mizu- water Enkai -ocean

Strangers Fantasy: Following a fishes tail…

Tsukushi's anger left her as exhaustion took its place. She hadn't really paid attention to where she was running but when she finally took a breather and looked at her surroundings. She was in the forest and by the pond she usually went to bathe. She unconsciously ran to one of her favorites spots.

"Talk about going on auto…well while I'm here best to make good use to my situation."

She undressed and climbed into the water allowing it to seep into her skin. For some reason the water seemed a little warmer than usual. She shrugged it off to the time of year and continued to enjoy the water. She splashed and played in the water feeling extremely free when surround by the refreshing liquid.

She dove under the water and watched the play of fish and otters and other creatures. She laughed at their antics releasing the breath she was holding. She spotted what looked like a human underwater before quickly swimming to the surface resting her arms as she caught her breath eyes closed. She opened them only to realize that she was resting on top of the water like it was solid.

Her eyes grew wide and she lost the solid feeling under her arms sinking back into the water. She felt like she was being pulled under by something. She looked at her ankles which had hands attached to it. She screamed struggling for breath. It was a water nymph come to drown her. She'd been told that they existed but never believed they would be here. Why today did it come to kill her after some many times she felt she wanted to die?

She actually felt good once she was in the water and today that friend turned to foe as she was pulled deeper into the water. The hands on her ankles climbed its way up her body and to her face. Two eyes the color of sea foam green stared at her. The face looked like a young man's and than it grinned.

She had always imagined nymphs to be ugly toad like creatures but this one was very handsome. The man pulled her face closer and than kisses her breathing air into her lungs. She gasped underwater and realized that her lungs weren't filling with water as it had once done before.

She looked back at the handsome nymph confused who smiled at her and than swam back motioning for her to follow him. She remained floating in the same spot before deciding to follow him.

I can't believe I'm doing this but he seems harmless enough

Apparently the pond had another series of channels underneath it. She followed him through twists and turns amazed at the multitude of life underneath the surface. There were many plants, fish and even animals she didn't know existed.

They finally stopped and came up to the surface. It opened into a big room the water forming a pool which seemed to glow in contrast to the room which was dimly lit from various lights that twinkled giving the room the look of a night sky.

"Thank you for coming with me."

Tsukushi started surprised that the nymph could talk even more that she could understand him. His language seemed to be a bit different but she could understand him perfectly well.

"Uh no problem, who are you and what happened back there?"

"You don't know me and yet you followed me here?" he cocked an eyebrow, what she guessed was an eyebrow it looked more like otter whiskers.

"Yeah, I'm not too sure if that was the smartest thing to do. But here I am so I'm asking you."

"I'll tell you in good time, please follow me."

They entered another bigger room with hundreds of different smaller pools. There were more nymphs some stopped and stared at her. Young children pointed some hid. It seemed like those who had been in the process of diving into one of the pools stopped just to watch her go by.

There was a big hush as they went deeper in what she thought was a room but in actuality was like a city. There were small buildings that obviously were much lager underwater. A low murmur began to grow as more nymphs seemed to come from out of pools.

"Why are they staring at me like that, have they never seen an Elvaan woman before?" Tsukushi was feeling both self conscious and angry. She hated when people stared at her. It reminded her of the taunts and jeers she use to receive.

"Actually, no they haven't you're the first." He chuckled a little as they approached a pool much larger than the ones the passed on the way. Not only was it larger but it was surrounded by guards three times the size of her escort.

"Here we are."

"Here we are where?"

"Why to entrance of the palace, you are to meet with the king."

"Wait I didn't know anything about this. And what interest does he have with me?" She threw her hands up her voice raising. One of the guards gave her a hard look.

"What are you looking at?" She stared at him with her hands on her hips. The guard snorted and looked away from her.

Her escort laughed in earnest now.

"What are you laughing at? Actually I've been following you and I don't even know your name."

After catching his breath he looked at Tsukushi and took a bow.

"Sorry for my rudeness, my name is Mizu and I'm actually a messenger for the royal family. I've been keeping an eye out on you for a while. Ever since you started going to that pond. I was actually drawn to you, you seemed to sing out to me once you touched the water. At first it was a low hum. But yesterday it had gotten a little louder and clearer. And today it was much louder

it was apparent that something had changed. So I decided to finally contact you."

She stared at him taking in all that he said.

"So you mean to tell me that you've been watching me bathe each and everyday?"

"Yes I have, you move very nicely in the water almost a natural- Uh what's wrong?" He looked at her face which seemed to be a reddish color.

"Do you need some water, you seem upset heated almost?"

"What do you expect me to be? You've been watching me bathe and naked at that."

"Is there something wrong with that?" Mizu's face portrayed genuine confusion.

"It's improper for a guy to watch a girl."

"But you're naked now?"

She paused in her thoughts and looked down only now realizing she had no clothing and that she had been walking around a whole city naked. She wanted to hide herself in shame, but didn't want to show Mizu that she was embarrassed.

"What's wrong? You have a very beautiful body one that rivals some of our most beautiful women here. There is nothing to be ashamed of. If you haven't noticed most of our people here are without clothing. I myself usually move around bare it makes it easier to maneuver through the waters."

"It maybe fine for you but where I come from clothing is a must (in most cases)." She folded her arms over her chest trying to provide a little covering for herself.

"If you like we can get you some of the attire our women wear from time to time once we reach the palace." He cocked his head to the side a look of concern on his face.

This made Tsukushi smile.

"That's fine lets go meet his majesty so I can get back home I have work to do." she really meant she had to get home to check on Tsukasa she just realized she left him alone. She mentally kicked herself as she dove into the pool behind Mizu.

Once underneath the water she was greeted by a huge underwater castle courtyard. She wouldn't have fathomed the size just from above the surface. As she swam deeper toward the large castle she felt a warm glow which emanated from the beautiful structure.

They settled to the entrance of the castle which was made of coral, shell, rock and another substance that looked almost alive. Beautiful schools of fish swam around and about as sea flora wave back and forth slowly from the undercurrent.

Mizu motioned to the guards lined up outside the castle gates, they watched as the two entered the courtyard and into the palace.

Once inside all traces of water seemed to have disappeared from off of them. It was completely dry inside with a cool, sweet sea breeze blowing through.

"How is it possible to have an underwater palace with no water inside?"

"Its all based on how it was built a very long time ago. We have leaks occasionally but nothing major. Let's talk about more later for now lets go talk to the king."

They walked down large beautifully decorated hallways. Nymphs scattered as they walked down the hall than came back out to watch them as they passed. Some closed their eyes as if listening to a lovely melody others followed them a little and than ran back when given a look by Mizu who would turn around occasionally.

He stopped at a room and called to one of the maids.

"Please find her royal attire to meet with the king."

The maid bowed and ushered Tsukushi into the room a soft smile on her face.

After about an hour she exited the room clothed in traditional Water Nymph garb, which consisted of an array of jewels and pearls threaded through a net that covered her chest and lower half. The skirt fell to her upper thigh, gold and rainbow colored pearls were threaded throughout the garb and long gold whiskers flowed down the sides. The part that covered her chest contained the same colored pearls as well as a few precious stones and jewels. Four strings of pearls connected from under the arms to long netted sleeves that reached no higher than her forearm. She wore rainbow pearl dust in her hair and arms causing her to glitter in the soft light of the palace.

Mizu stared at her mouth open.

"What are you staring at?" she turned away blushing.

"I don't know if wearing this was any better than being naked. Will you stop looking at me like that."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You look beautiful, I mean you were beautiful before but now you look stunning."

She blushed some more and turned to the side.

"So, are we going to leave?"

"Oh yeah sure, please follow me this way." They walked down the hall and turned a few corners and went down more halls.

They finally arrived to the audience room. When the door opened a bright soft yellow glow poured out the room. Tsukushi covered her eyes for a moment and entered the room. As her eyes became adjusted she gazed at its source. The glow died down as she approached a child no older than 12.

"Welcome to my kingdom. I am king Enkai it is a pleasure to finally meet you Tsukushi of the Elvaan." The child stood up and approached Tsukushi and shook her hand happily.

"Uh hello…your majesty?" She gave an uneasy side glance to Mizu who just smiled at her.

"You say it with such hesitation beautiful lady. Did my son not treat you well on your journey here?" He cocked his head to the side and gave her a radiant smile.

"Son?" She looked at the king than back at Mizu and than back to the king.

"He said he was just a… and how can he…"

"How can he what?" the king looked a little confused.

"But you're a…I mean. He looks like he is an…but not a…"

"Oh I forgot." The king closed his eyes and the glow that was in the room earlier returned surrounding him almost blinding her. When it died down again in the place of the young boy that looked more like a prince instead of a king, stood a handsome man. Mizu looked just like him except a younger version.

"Please accept my apologies. There are times when I must revert to a Childs form, but that I will tell you later. For now welcome and thank you for coming to see me. My son has reported to me that you seem to have started to awaken. This is very good as we need you to be up to full power for the coming war."

"Hold on a minute what are you talking about? Awaken, war, power? I'm at a loss as to what that all means."

Enkai looked at Mizu before he continued.

"You mean to tell me that you don't know why you've been bought here?"

"No I don't I just followed Mizu and I honestly don't know why I did that."

"I see, well this is very interesting. I guess Mizu was right. One question though, where are your guardians?"

"You're looking at her."

"…."

"After this we will need to have a serious talk with the current ruler of your kingdom. I knew that there was much going on upon the surface but how could they let their most precious gem out of their sight."

"Ok not to be rude but why am I here and what's this talk about a war?"

"My apologies once again. As I'm sure you've noticed there is corruption, violence, destruction and death on the surface."

"That's nothing new."

"Yes it is nothing new, yes there has always been a small amount wherever you go in time but it seems to be getting worse. Not only that but its spreading further than it once did. I'm sure you're familiar with the raid upon a small village by Elvaan not to far from the pond we found you?"

Tsukushi's face was set in a cold mask.

"Yes I remember and well at that."

"That was just a start of the violence that would soon come again. It was just a glimpse of something else or what they could do."

"Ok you're speaking very cryptic here. Could you explain to me in normal terms?"

"Mizu would you explain to her."

"Tsukushi as you found out today there are more races in this world than just Hume and Elvaan. There are actually six different races Humes and Elvaan who are the primary dwellers on the surface of the Earth, Nymphs that dwell in all types of waters, Sirens and Tenkuu who have been in peace for centuries but have recently began to fight for dominion of the skies. Than there are the Yabun no Kumo who are the night dwellers, they are extremely violent and vicious in their acts. But they are silent and cunning in how they do it. Very few have seen their true form as they are always hidden and take the appearance of their hosts, meaning they could be anyone and anything."

"Sometimes the host is willing forming a symbiotic relationship where either the host or the Yabun no Kumo is in control. With a host that is willing the two races make an extremely powerful match both gaining strength from the other. If the host is unwilling the Yabun will either die or it will forcefully take over the other. It all depends on whose mind is stronger. The forced host body will move about while the mind is slowly lost and the body deteriorates from lack of care. A forced host usually becomes deformed and eventually will die making the Yabun no Kumo nervous for a new body."

"That raid long ago was one started by the Yabun no Kumo. They control persons in all areas of the surface, one never knows who is being controlled. They work only for themselves and that raid was a major feast for them. Not only did it provide food for the Yabun it also provided many hosts. Persons on the verge of death will often make a deal with the Yabun to stay alive or gain power. Because of that many have been taken over by the Yabun. Some dispersed to different areas some are still in the town waiting biding their time."

"The problem is we don't know what they're waiting for. Its been a long time since they last acted but we can feel it. We've recently had multiple attacks here. Some of our own people have fallen to the Yabun some willing some unwilling we call them Kappa. The willing host lead the unwilling and they can sense powerful personage."

"I think they want my father as a host, which is one of the reasons why he reverts to a Child's form. His power is hidden from their sights. If I was drawn to you than I fear that soon the Yabun will be drawn to you. If you continue to grow in power before you reach the Elvaan kingdom I'm sure you will be attacked."

"I think…" she placed her hands on her head.

"I think you have the wrong person. I don't have any power nothing has really changed in my life. We'll with the exception of meeting someone I hadn't met long ago and that weird water thing that happened earlier. But that's different nothing else has really happened to me. There is nothing special about me, I'm an outcast from both my own kind and those I was raised by."

Mizu placed his hands on her shoulders and led her to a large full length mirror.

"Turn a around with your back toward the mirror and tell me what you see."

She hesitated because she already knew what she would see. That cursed tattoo that would never go away. She turned to look at the tattoo, but was surprised by what she saw. Yes it was still there but the design, which usually looked like a rose turning in on itself, was different.

A part of the curved stem spouted two elegantly shaped fins as if they had been there the whole time.

"What the- how did that happen? Those weren't there before!"

Mizu grinned.

"You do not realize it now but you're a very, very important person for our world. By you're coming into contact with me your birth mark has blossomed more."

"More?"

"Yes, more. I told you that I've been watching you for a while now and that rose on your back had already begun to blossom. I do not know when but it was not that way a few days ago."

"In contact?" King Enkai spoke up here.

"Uh yeah in contact." Mizu looked a little nervous and ran a hand through his hair.

"Father we will talk about this another time. But right now we still have more to talk about with Tsukushi." Mizu turned and gave her a sheepish grin. As he glanced over her shoulder his grin faded as one of the guards approached him quickly.

Mizu walked passed her to greet the guard who whispered something into his ear.

"It seems I was right about you coming under attack. Or should I say right now we're under attack. The Yabun must really want you for them to have tracked you even under here."

"Father we must prepare for battle. I don't think that they will put up much of a fight this time as they were only drawn here by Tsukushi but I do think that they will return perhaps at a later time for you. It seems the war has already started here in our waters."

"Mizu I trust your judgment do what you see fit I will ready more of our soldiers. If those Yabun control our waters than they will have access to almost any area in the world."

Mizu pulled Tsukushi through more hallways and turns, she was confused as servants and soldiers ran through the halls. By the time she came to she was looking down into a small pull that had been covered over by a wardrobe.

"Dive in before we're discovered." Mizu pushed her toward the pool.

She looked at him unsure and he gave her a slight smile. She nodded and dove into a dark semi crapped tunnel and started to swim toward a small patch of light in the distance. She turned her head and noticed that Mizu wasn't behind her. A small tinge of panic shot through her spine as she continued to swim toward the small light.

She swam for what seemed like and eternity before she heard what sounded like a wounded animal drowning. She began to swim faster and the light in front of her began to grow. The horrible sound continued to get louder as it moved closer to her. She turned again to see where the sound was coming from and noticed a commotion and her heart dropped. Three deformed nymphs or Kappa were moving rapidly upon her. They seemed to scramble over each other more than swim.

Tsukushi turned and swam as fast as she could the horrendous creatures gaining on her. She finally reached a large opening of water and scrambled to the surface. She gasped for air when she reached her destination. She looked across the water and swam toward a small pier. The kappa also reached the surface and swam after her. They were on her heals grabbing at her as she kicked and struggled to keep them off of her.

One grabbed hold of her leg and dragged her under the surface, while another held her arm and the last tried to push her head under. She struggled more fiercely kicking and biting. She shook them off for a little and was at the pier attempting to pull herself out of the water. One hand grabbed a plank before she was dragged down once again.

Her mind screamed the only name she could think of at that moment. TSUKASA

As her hand slipped back into the water she felt another grab her wrist and pulled her out of the water.

The kappa screeched as their prey was being taken away from them.

Tsukushi looked up into the eyes of the last person she expected but the very one she wanted to come.

He smiled down at her as he kicked a kappa that was hanging onto her waist.

The monsters crawled out of the water as Tsukasa pulled Tsukushi all the way out of the water and behind him.

"How did you know I was here?"

"You called me here."

"You mean to tell me that you magically came out of nowhere and found me here."

"Maybe." Tsukasa brandished a long twin blade sword and pointed it in the direction of the nymphs as they tried to surround them.

Tsukushi grabbed Tsukasa's arm still hiding behind him and wishing she had bought her own dagger.

"Don't maybe me just tell me how you found me."

"Ok I'll tell you. A few hours ago…"


How's that for a cliff hanger heehee hee. I originally wrote this chapter as a part of chapter 3 but decided that the chapter would be too long I want to give a huge thank you to all that reviewed my previous chapter and encouraged me to keep going. Plz tell me what you guys think. Is it getting to have too much fantasy in it do you like the mystery do you want more action? Are you wondering what's going to happen next (because I'm wondering too hehe)? Would you guys like to see more fairytale creatures from both the eastern and western mythology hehe. Oh I had to put the standard Tsukasa dream in couldn't help myself.