Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 5: Humor and Beginnings

The days quickly passed by but not months just yet. The guys kept seeing the girls. Sometimes they would all come, or a couple depending on how busy they were. "Yeah we've got our own lives," stated Nicholas when asked and then let out a mock gasp. "Shocking, I know!" But the females understood. The male with the ponytail always came over no matter what. And for that the female werewolf liked. Already everything about him made her happy. Nicholas of course was happy to see Liru all the time. Already he liked her a lot. Of course the male would keep quiet and get to know the female better first. For now just talking and interacting with the werewolf was enough to make Nicholas be patient until he could maybe be involved with her romantically. After all both did have quite a few interests in common. And Liru did like the art he did. They could be perfect for each other.

When it came to Pachira she only focused on Napoleon now. He was such a gentleman and knew how to treat her like a lady. The guy was charming and seemed to always have a reason to smile. It made her happy in return. And the female vampire wanted to share it with him. The others on the other hand weren't quite there yet having not known each other for as long. Of course the females also went over to the guy's house. They loved the time spent with them and seeing the guys doing some of their favorite things. Liru loved to watch Nicholas draw and color to music. Pachira loved to see Napoleon as he practice on his violin. As for Aiko and Uma they were quickly getting use to Napoleon and Cosmo. Of course they all got to experience new things they hadn't before. Like the internet since they didn't have a computer However things would begin to come to a head.

It all started at the pool. The females but Aiko were there and in different bathing suits than the time they had gone to the beach. Liru, Uma, and Pachira were on rafts in the deep end because they couldn't swim. They were waiting for Nicholas, Napoleon, and Logan. At least the female werewolf didn't think the guys would notice her wolf like ears and tail. "Well I certainly hope Napoleon likes what I have on," stated the female vampire. It was more to colors she liked.

"Oh?" asked Uma. "And what if he notices that you can't do as much like that one time on the beach?" The witch was refereeing to how she had acted like a love struck little girl and teased Pachira about having a small chest. The female vampire snapped since this was one thing that bothered her. From her right hand long pink colored nails came out and sliced through Uma's raft. The thing began to leak air fast and the female went under quickly. The which surfaced and grabbed the one Liru was on. "Are you trying to kill me?!" she yelled at the vampire.

Pachira smirked and went back to relaxing. Only to find that Uma had stuck the end of her wand in the vampire's raft. It popped and the other female went into the water like a stone. She came up and clung onto the floatation device Liru was on. "What is your problem?!" she shouted.

"You started it!" the witch snapped back. The two females began to get at the other, shaking the raft the werewolf was on.

"HEY!" she yelled. "What are you two doing?! Hey stop that!"

"What the hell is going on in here?!" came an angry voice. The three females stopped and looked to see Nicholas, Napoleon, and Logan looking cross at this scene. Cosmo was the only one not joining since he stated he had other things to do. And Aiko didn't want to reveal her special suit to help her get into the water. The one with longer light colored hair shook his head.

"I can't believe you Pachira," he stated. "A lady shouldn't be fighting like this over a petty squabble."

"Uma started it!" the female vampire complained. "She made fun of the fact that I have a small chest!"

"Enough," said Nicholas in a loud, stern tone. "What's the point of coming over for fun if we're just going to fight? Now why don't one of you hand some things to Uma and Pachira so they come over to the shallow end?"

Logan did so and both the witch and vampire came over looking a bit in shame for having such a petty fight. Liru did as well to see what would happen. "Now that we're through with that, perhaps we can have fun instead," stated the male who had a ponytail. He then undid it and the dark brown hair flowed out. The werewolf just looked on with love in her eyes. The guys then took off the shirts they had on, plus the other things that wouldn't be need for swimming. Nicholas definitely had the most obvious muscles. But the other two still looked to be in great shape.

They all jumped in with a happy shout, splashing the three females with water. Uma and Pachira shielded their faces but with a laugh. Liru fell off her raft and quickly resurfaced to find Nicholas near her. The werewolf blushed but smiled as she looked up to his face. The guy was taller than her after all. He in the meantime liked the pure white bikini she had on which showed off her body. "So then, maybe you'd like to see who can get to the other side?" he asked.

The female looked to where he was pointing. "No thanks."

"You're not afraid that you'll lose?"

"It's more than that," Liru responded and looked away with shame. Nicholas was able to catch it.

"You can tell me. I won't laugh, I promise."

"I can't swim," the werewolf answered with a tone to match her shameful look.

"You mean you were never taught?" The female shook her head. "Hey, don't worry about that." The male placed a hand on her shoulder, causing Liru to look up and blush hard. "I can teach you. I know how to after all and it's a great thing to know how to do. I think considering how old you are it will be more of a mental than a physical thing to overcome."

"Well…" said Liru and then trailed off.

"Here, let's just try something simple," commented Nicholas. "Follow me." Both went to one end of the shallow area. The werewolf could see her friends were also taken by another of the males. Perhaps they were going to learn as well. "Now then I want you to just submerge your body into the water to get use to it. Think of it like diving in a bath."

The female looked down towards the water and swallowed to calm her nerves. Liru kept telling herself that Nicholas would help her out if something happened. The werewolf closed her eyes and with a breath, the female went under. Unlike the time at the beach her feet were able to touch the ground, allowing Liru to quickly go back up to the surface. And this time something about being underwater felt good. The werewolf came back up and shook her head like a dog, spraying Nicholas with water droplets. He laughed and used his arms as a shield. "Well how did that go?" he asked.

"Not bad," Liru answered.

"Good. Now then I want you to practice kicking with just your legs."

The lesson went smoothly and both of them were having a blast. At certain points Nicholas had to place his hands on her body in order to help. Every time the female felt her heart was going to thump out of her chest. He also couldn't help but love the feel of her legs, arms, and midsection on his hands. The time passed quickly and before anyone knew it, it was time for the females to leave. But they would be back soon.

These lessons in the pool continued. Liru was the first to learn and could now spend the time diving and chasing after Nicholas in the water. The guy of course was stronger and the better swimmer. But that didn't mean the female didn't try. He in turn would keep surprising the werewolf and come in close, touching his forehead to hers before swimming away. It left Liru breathless and the feeling from long ago to pop up in her body and mind. And it seemed to grow overtime she saw him. This came to a head a few months later after meeting the guys.

Liru and Nicholas got out of the pool since it was time to eat something. The werewolf had become a stronger and faster swimmer. Her friends were catching up though. "So how does it feel to finally be near my level?" asked the male.

"I'm just glad to get in the water," she answered. The bikini was different this time.

"Well at least now you shouldn't drown if your friends grab your raft and tip you in." Nicholas grabbed a towel and began to dry his hair. Liru just blushed as she saw the way his body moved while doing this. That feeling was popping up again.

"Come on, let's get something to eat." His voice snapped the werewolf back to reality. She just followed him in a daze, going over in her mind everything she knew about the guy. Nicholas just seemed so… perfect.

The food time went smoothly enough. Liru didn't talk as much but everyone else did. It was then time to leave but the werewolf was slower than her other friends. Mainly to talk to Nicholas a bit more. "You feeling okay?" he asked with concern.

"Well… um… yes," stated the female while blushing hard. Liru was playing with her fingers in a nervous way.

"I hope you've had fun. And I'll make sure there are more," the male stated softly. The two looked deep into the other's eyes.

"I should probably get going." The werewolf turned to leave.

"Wait Liru." She turned back and his lips got the female on the forehead. "Keep safe." Both could see how badly the other was blushing. The werewolf just walked back in a daze, touching the spot that had been kissed. And smiling deeply to herself. And knew what the feeling was that had been popping up in her body all this time.

"I really like him…" she whispered. Nicholas was a perfect guy to be with as a boyfriend. Liru just didn't know how much so.

X

These feelings she had for him just kept growing over the course of the next week. And wondering if Nicholas felt the same way as she did. The werewolf would just daydream about the male, of him taking her into his arms, loving her, lips against hers. Liru could only just imagine for now. But was unaware that the same male couldn't help but like her back in that way. One night the werewolf was out for a nightly stroll in order to clear her head of the many thoughts that had been popping up. And so she decided to head to the park. Unaware that things were going to get interesting. Liru settled on a bench next to a light pole and let out a sigh. The doubt would always be there of whether Nicholas felt the same way back.

Suddenly a voice spoke, shattering the silence of the night. "Why so serious? And considering how you used to be so quite." Liru's blood went cold; she remembered it well. Standing up and whirling around she saw none other than Ryo. The same hair, outfit, and shades. The one werewolf she thought she would never see again. "Is this what happens after time has passes?"

"What do you want?" asked the female in a cold voice.

"Now is that any way to treat one of your own kind?"

"My kind?!" Liru snarled. "After that night I don't consider you to be that!"

Ryo got closer. "You saw my transformation. We are the same kind. You can't deny it."

"Keep away from me!" The female was ready to fight.

"I don't want to fight you. Besides I think we both know I'm stronger than you."

"Don't push me Ryo!" Liru began to take some steps back but the male got closer. To the point he could actually touch her. She swatted his hand away, but this quickly was replaced by another.

"GET YOUR FUCKING HAND OFF OF HER NOW RYO!" another male voice yelled out. Both werewolf's looked up to see Nicholas standing there with his face twisted with anger. Liru was stunned by this. It made the long haired male seem less human; and more like that of a wolf. But it was more than just anger in that face; the looks of jealousy and protectiveness. In that moment the female felt a spark of fear in her body.

"Who the hell are you?" asked Ryo. Then his eyes widened in shock. Just as the clouds moved out of the way. The moon was only half full, but it shown bright tonight. "Wait… Nicholas?"

"You… two know each other?" the female whispered. The male werewolf let go of her.

"I think the little lady has made it quite clear she doesn't want you around."

"Mind your own business if you know what's good for you," Ryo growled.

"It is my business," Nicholas snarled. "Now get loss."

The other male didn't answered but moved with his fist ready. Liru feared for the long haired guy only to find that he had caught the blow with his right fist. And looking closer saw that the color of the skin had changed. It was now brown like his hair, slightly bigger, and clawed. This shocked the female again. "I see you've gotten better," Nicholas stated. "But not nearly enough!" The next thing the other werewolf's knew, Ryo had been thrown forward and onto his back with a lot of force. The male werewolf got up and ran for it. The other one let out a breath and turned to look at Liru. "Hey, you okay?"

She just stared at him. Right now the female didn't know what to think. How Nicholas had come out of nowhere and saved her. But also the transformation of his hand. "Oh, here, just a sec," he stated. Nicholas looked at his hand that had transformed. With a flex the claws retreated, the part of the body went to normal size, and was no longer brown.

"You… How did you do that?" Liru whispered. "You're not human… are you?"

"No, I'm not. I hope seeing that isn't a problem." The female just looked into Nicholas's eyes. The ones she had already like a lot. It didn't matter if the male wasn't human; he was still the same guy. Nothing that would happen was going to change that.

"It doesn't matter," stated the werewolf. She couldn't help and touch the side of his face. The male just blushed. "Because no matter whatever you really are, I know the real you. And… I need to thank you." Liru leaned up and kissed Nicholas on the cheek. The guy went even redder. "Have a goodnight…"

"You as well," he responded. "Especially as the moon gets bigger." The guy pointed up with his right hand. Liru then spotted another piece of jewelry on him. It was a necklace like chain. Attached to it was a strange symbol. The top of it went to the sides and curved inward while the bottom part came down in a diamond like shape with a hole in the middle. The male then walked off with Liru staring after him. She had no idea just how much more the feelings for Nicholas were going to grow.