Note: I'm back from my exams so here's another chapter! I hope that the difference in taste doesn't discourage readers...
Umi's POV:
Sunlight streamed into my room, waking me up from a pleasant dream. It had already been a month since I started seeing Arashi.
Everything was going perfectly, I had just returned from seeing him last night. I enjoyed the ray of light that surrounded and emblazoned around me but immediately collapsed into another sleep from sheer exhaustion.
"Umi," dad called, waking me up.
Darn! Just what I wanted, my sleeping time cut in half...
Dad seemed more excited than usual.
"Umi," dad informed, "One month has already passed. You better get ready for the party I've arranged."
How could I forget, I thought, One month has passed, and now I'll have to get to "know" Armik? I guess I'll just play along, no way that's gonna change my opinion of him though.
"Yes dad," I glumly replied through gritted teeth.
It was a good thing that my next meeting with Arashi was tomorrow night, not tonight. Whether this was a coincidence or not, I had no idea
Dad finally swam out and left me to myself. I just swam over to my bed, twisting my glittery tail into a knot. How am I ever gonna get out of this scrape?
I heard someone slowly enter my room, it was my mom. She swam towards me, the sunlight reflecting off her golden scales.
"Umi," she started, "I know that you don't like Armik, but your father insists. Try to act behaved and maybe he'll hear you out tomorrow after the party."
I heard her and pulled my sinuous long body up from the bed, no matter what dad says, Armik is DEFINITELY not an option for my partner. I felt relieved that my mother knows how I feel.
"Thanks mom," I gratefully replied.
Before my mother swam off, she uttered a sentence.
"Good luck Umi, I hope you find the one. Knowing you , my daughter, you could have already found him," she added with a smile.
Well, no sense in dawdling. I swam over to Ai's house, my second sanctuary for the whole past month.
Ai had heard about the night Arashi and I had a month ago. She suspected that Arashi had feelings for me, however, I disregarded her suspicions because I doubt that two meetings would allow feelings to grow.
"Morning, Umi!" Ai cheerfully chirped.
I swam in and greeted her too, I always felt somehow safe around her. I could tell Ai everything, also my secrets and problems.
With a heavy heart, I told her what dad had said, at first she wasn't serious, which is one of the qualities I hate about her the most.
"Seriously, Umi... Why DO you despise Armik so much nowadays? Is it because... of Arashi?" she giggled.
"AI! This is serious!" I yelled, "Besides, you hate Armik as much as I do!"
"Oh all right," Ai said, still laughing, "I was just kidding."
I sighed. Ai is sometimes too cheerful for her own good.
We spent the whole afternoon getting ready for the party tonight.
"Aren't you gonna wear the ribbon I gave you?" Ai asked.
"Nope," I answered, "I only wear it for special occasions."
"And tonight isn't one?" Ai asked with a mischievous grin.
"DEFINITELY NOT!" I yelled angrily at the thought of Armik.
Even if I didn't want to go to the party, I had no choice. Either way, Ai's probably going to accompany me so maybe things weren't gonna be so bad.
We swam towards the ball, the same place where I had run from the past month which led up to the events of meeting Arashi. I shyly blushed upon thinking about our first meeting.
Oh, how I wish that I could be with Arashi at a time like this. Maybe another coincidence could happen? Yeah right, fat chance. But, if he did... Maybe I could-
"EARTH TO UMI!" Ai yelled.
I snapped out of my thoughts and was embarrassed to find Ai smiling, knowing about what was going on in my head.
"You're thinking about Arashi again, aren't you Umi?" she mischievously asked, still grinning.
"Yeah," I replied softly, "It's just that, I can't get him off my mind."
Ai slyly smirked and stifled a laugh.
"Then I guess I can safely assume that Arashi is the main reason why you despise Armik on a whole different level right now?" she giggled.
I blushed harder.
"Let's just go, Ai!" I replied as I sped forward, leaving her in the dust.
"Hey! Wait for me!" she yelled after realizing I had left her.
We both arrived sweating, panting, and laughing. Dad must have been angry when he saw us like this but he did a good job of holding his anger back.
"Umi, what are you doing like that?" dad sternly inquired, his eyes piercing mine.
I gave the usual excuse that I played with Ai along the way, dad just sighed.
"Umi, hurry up and fix yourself, I don't want you giving a negative view on Armik," dad commanded scornfully.
Yeah, so what? I thought, It's not as if I AM after impressing that dolt anyway.
After several minutes, I was finally clean. My scales were wiped clean of the smudge and my antennae were in their normal curled state, a ribbon tied on the left one. I didn't remember bringing the coral ribbon so this must have been from one of the servants.
Ai swam out of another room, all fixed up neat and tidy. She called out to me after she found me dawdling at the hall. We smiled and shared a small giggle laughing about the fact that we delayed the party a few more minutes.
Several guests from our tribe had started to arrive; I was mostly unfamiliar with them for I was shy and didn't converse much with them on my rare visits outside the palace.
I simply went off to enjoy the food, Ai had already wandered off to converse with others. I sighed, she's just so full of energy, isn't she? I snapped out of my enjoyment, however, when I felt a slight tap on the tip of my tail. I turned around and expected the worst.
"Good evening, Princess Umi!" Armik greeted, his false smile now rotting slowly.
"Good evening, Armik," I calmly replied, trying not to gag upon seeing him.
Armik chuckled in pleasure of the fact that I didn't immediately fling him out today.
Okay, I thought, breathe in, breathe out. It's only until tomorrow morning. I can probably tolerate him for that long... Probably...
"I sure hope you do enjoy the rest of the night, fair princess!" he added the last part quickly.
"I would if you would get away from me," I retorted, trying to keep my temper below its boiling point.
He hesitated, as if things were not going according to a plan he had set. In fact, I even wonder if he had bribed dad to set up this party. Maybe if he did, he would probably be in exile right now. I snickered silently at the thought of him being exiled. Unlike Arashi, I'm not as forgiving when others pick on me.
"You might as well practice politeness to me now," he smirked, "for you're going to be stuck with me for the rest of your life."
"Ahem, according to dad, I am given the liberty to decide whether or not are you a suitable partner for me,' I bluffed, somehow feeling empty inside.
"Whether or not you like it, Umi, you WILL be my partner," he smirked, so sure of himself as if he had devoured the fear in my heart.
As if, I thought, if I can somehow unveil the rotten crook that you really are to my father, you won't even be allowed to touch me!
I chose to swim away and avoid him the rest of the night, but he persisted in following me.
"Listen! I'm only tolerating you because my father told me to," I flared, "It's not because I'm really giving you a chance!"
Armik calmly smirked.
"Did I not say that your opinion does not matter?" he growled, losing his false politeness, "You are, in every way, mine in the end."
I stormed away from him, but he caught up and slowly coiled his tail around mine, a gesture reserved only for those soon to be partners.
"Umi, why not take the time to get to know each other?" he offered.
I felt offended by such a gesture. I wrenched my tail away from his, which was still delicately coiling around, and slapped my tail against his face. Hard.
He growled and shot a murderous look.
"What DOES IT TAKE to please you?" he cursed.
"Nothing," I retorted, "for you."
I swam out and darted home before anything else could happen. I just wanted to get away from that dolt!
As soon as I arrived, I collapsed into my bed, all my problems and burdens dissolved as I drifted off into a refreshing sleep. It was practically dawn by the time I had arrived anyway.
"Umi," a voice sternly called.
I stirred, yawning. What happened last night? Oh, right. That party dad had set up for me to get acquainted with that arrogant jerk Armik.
I opened my eyes and soon discovered whose voice was it that called me; it was dad's.
I jerked upright upon seeing dad. Today he wore a cold expression which constantly quivered with anger. I expected him to yell but he reprimanded me with a calm, yet stern and cold voice.
"Umi," dad reprimanded, "how many times do you dare disobey me?"
"I wasn't disobeying you," I answered, a bit unnerved, "It was Armik that made me act like that."
Dad did not seem pleased with my reply.
"Silence! Umi, you have disobeyed me far too many times!" he finally yelled.
Although my dad is not usually the type that would anger easily, I think I crossed the line when I answered back. But, I think that it's time that I show him that I can make my own decisions!
"Dad!" I retorted, "I'm sorry but I don't wish to keep Armik as my partner. I don't see him the way you do!"
"Umi," dad fumed, "today you say all these things but in the future you will see that it is for YOUR OWN GOOD!"
"But dad-"
"Silence!" he yelled as he hit me, "I'm fed up with your obstinate behaviour! You are to follow what I say WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"
With that, he stormed out of the room, tears slowly dissolved into the water around me. Dad... How could he? My sorrow slowly turned to bitter anger, if that's how he wants it, I'm leaving!
I grabbed my two most precious belongings, the coralpiece ribbon and the rose, which somehow still showed some color.
Ai met me on the way; she seemed to notice my eyes, which still seemed to water.
"Umi?" she asked with a concerned look, "Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," I lied, still hurt by what dad did.
"Umi, is it Arashi?" Ai asked nervously.
"No," I answered, "It's because of dad."
I slowly told her everything except for the fact that I was planning to leave.
"Oh Umi," she sympathized, "try talking to him. He might just listen to reasoning."
I nodded and swam away, trying to leave. Ai picked up on my pace.
"Where are you going, Umi?" she asked nervously.
"I want to be alone, I'm probably going to calm myself down at Sunset Reef," I answered.
Ai got the message that I wanted to be left alone, she hesitated at first then soon took her leave.
I left the tribe, my only home, and headed over at Sunset Reef. I wanted to be alone, to let go of the painful burden that settled in my heart.
I arrived there while the sun was still setting. I stood at a corner, humming out a song. I sang out all my sorrow and emptied all my tears; the pain was just too much to bear.
"Umi?" a voice softly said, "Why are crying?"
I forgot that Arashi was going to meet me today here. I turned around but couldn't explain, for I kept stuttering.
Arashi slowly wiped away my tears and comforted me.
"Please tell me what happened, Umi," he softly said, concern obviously showing on his face.
I slowly told him everything; including the fact that dad had struck me. But I made sure to leave out the fact that I was running away from home.
Arashi looked up in understanding.
"That must have scarred you real bad, Umi," he said.
I nodded absentmindedly.
"If it makes you feel any better," he nervously said, "something similar happened to me..."
"Really? Ikari again?" I said, trying to regain my composure.
He seemed crestfallen.
"Y-yeah," he said, looking down.
I pondered for a while, thinking if I should tell him my idea of leaving.
"Arashi," I slowly said, tears still in my eyes, "I can't take it anymore. I'm going to leave home now!"
"Are you sure?" Arashi exclaimed, "I mean, isn't that dangerous?"
"Yes, but I have no choice!" I cried.
"If that is so... U-umi, may I join you?" he shyly asked.
A small grin showed on my face. Maybe running away is not going to be such a bad idea after all.
"Of course, Arashi! We're both trapped by the constraints of our society, but if we go out there, we'll finally have our own free will!" I offered.
Arashi smiled upon hearing the reply.
"Thanks Umi," he shyly replied, "Thanks for bringing me along."
He was blushing as he said that, somehow cheering me up. I giggled and swam around him.
"Do you know a particular place we can go?" he asked, still feeling uneasy and still blushing.
"Not really," I replied, still grinning for I was with him, "But I do have an idea."
So, we left our burdens behind and set out for the sea, little did we know that this would set a motion of events into action back at home.
Arashi's POV:
"U-umi, I-I l-love-"
I woke up, blushing. It had been a month since that night had happened yet I still feel giddy about it.
Umi and I had continued to meet up once every two nights for the past month and things were going great! I hope she couldn't tell that I was falling for her...
I swam out of the stony room and was hoping to leave unnoticed and go see Kip, but dad approached me.
"Arashi! Son, 'ave ya found yerr chosen partner yet!" he asked.
"Not yet, dad," I replied. I began to swim out but dad did, not move.
"Arashi! Where 'ave ya bin goin' all this time," he began to ask impatiently.
In the past month, dad had been growing impatient for I was stalling the... problem about, Ikari.
"I've 'ad 'nuff!" he roared, "Five days and Ikari and you are to be wed!"
"WHAT? But dad-"
"ENOUGH!" he roared, all traces of his usual cheeriness gone, "In order fer ya to rule, this must be done!"
I simply sighed in defeat; I never had the guts to answer back to dad. I have to tell Umi before it's too late! But our meeting is still tomorrow...
I darted out towards the exit but a familiar face stood in my way.
"Good evening, Prince!" she said, her cold, steely eyes sharply piercing through me.
It was Ikari.
"Ikari! I don't have time for this!" I urgently exclaimed, trying not to meet her eyes.
"Did you not hear the good news, Arashi? In five days, we are to be bound together," she snickered.
"I wouldn't exactly call it good news," I retorted.
"Well, I can provide you with what you want," she triumphantly quipped, "Lend me some of your power while I provide you with an heir."
"NEVER!" I hissed, storming out.
"No matter, five days and there's nothing you can do," she replied with a cold and evil voice.
I HAD to get out of here. Too much was crashing into my mind.
I fled to Kip's humble abode, Kip welcomed me to his home but abruptly cut to the question.
"Why the long face?" he asked.
I told him all my burdens, especially about Ikari.
"Ouch, that's harsh!" he sympathized, "What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know," I teared out, "But I have to finish the gift that I want to give her!"
"You better hurry then," Kip told me as I already started to complete my task.
I toiled the whole day, hoping to finish the task I had started one month ago. Nightfall had come about, but before I fell asleep, I saw a blue shimmer. I silently grinned.
My task is finally done! I thought, then abruptly fell asleep.
I opened my eyes.
"Huh?" I asked no-one in particular, "Where am I?"
I was in a reef, an open and colourful one. I slowly swam forward, looking at my surroundings. Just then, someone tackled me from behind. Then I heard giggling, from the one who tackled me, I suppose. I turned around, it was Umi.
We swam about laughing about a happy conversation. We both stopped and sat down on the rocky bed of the reef. The scene was similar with something I had seen before. Slowly, she closed her eyes and jerked her head towards mine. I shyly blushed and did the same. I was so happy when our lips finally met. It was like the whole world had dissolved into a small ball of eternal bliss and happiness which had rid me of my burdens. This was short-lived, however, for a sudden headache had come over me at that instant.
In five days, you and Ikari are to be wed! Dad's voice echoed in my head.
Slowly, tears streamed out. I didn't want Umi to see me like this, but I felt so much sorrow... and fear, fear that I would never again see her. I opened my eyes and saw that she was crying too. I wanted to DO something. But before I could, she went farther and farther away, all until I was in an empty black space.
"UMI! COME BACK!" I cried, tears still streaming down.
The darkness was silent. Nothing answered me aside from the constant feeling of being unnerved from the pitch-black darkness around me.
"ARASHI! WAKE UP!" a voice yelled.
I opened my eyes, which were still teary. I saw Kip with a worried look in front of me.
"Arashi, why are you... crying?" Kip asked, concerned for once.
I turned my face away.
"You were yelling something about Umi in your sleep too," he added.
I froze.
"You... dreamt about something, right?" Kip asked.
I slowly nodded.
"What exactly did happen?" he asked, trying to comfort me.
I hesitated, but told him everything.
"Oh," Kip mused, "You've been through a lot, Arashi."
I stayed silent.
"Don't let that bother you, Arashi," he scolded, "It's just a dream."
"I'm not bothered by it," I answered, "It's just that... I'm bothered by the fact that... the dream, to some degree, is happening in reality!"
Kip remained silent, he somewhat realized that he had no comeback to what I said.
I wondered on what I should do... Maybe I should run away? No! I must be crazy! If I do that, all others in my tribe would be worried sick!
I sighed, I couldn't tell this to Umi, for I would be devastated.
I shook the thought off. Silly me, I'm a Gyarados, she's a Milotic. We were never meant to be from the start... But NO! I won't accept this! Even if our lives forbid us from doing so, I will take the toll of every consequence if it means that I can be with her.
I slowly swam out the door, clutching what was once the Sapphire that I had hid a month ago.
"Where are you going, Arashi?" Kip nervously inquired, losing his usual cheerful and mischievous demeanour for once.
"To be alone," I answered, feeling down.
I left before Kip could say another thing. The path to Sunset Reef was long; the sun was still in the sky. I swam slowly, thinking about Umi. As sad as I was, I still blushed. Maybe... Maybe I DO love her! If I do, then I would do anything necessary to make my future... um... you know.
"Umi," I spoke to myself, "Will you be my... Ugh! Why can't I say it in front of her?"
I looked up at the sun, the orange ball slowly turning red while setting, all the happiness of the day slowly fading into a deep, dark sorrow.
I suddenly heard a soft, faint sobbing coming from somewhere. I followed it and found Umi crying. She had her back in front of me but I was most definitely sure it was her. I slowly approached her, troubled and wondering what had made her cry.
"Umi?" I softly asked, "Why are you crying?"
She turned around but couldn't explain as she was stuttering and choking over her tears.
I wiped off the tears from her delicate, beautiful face and found a mark there, as if someone had hit her. I resisted the urge to ask what happened but slowly caressed the mark to ease the pain.
"Please tell me what happened, Umi," I inquired, hoping to comfort her.
She told me about her dad forcing her to be um... how should I put it? Partners-for-life with Armik. I hope that won't happen, Armik better not touch Umi!
What hurt her most was the fact that her dad got carried away and, in the process, hit her when she tried to protest. She seemed really scarred about that experience and I felt sorry for her.
"That must have scarred you real bad, Umi," I sympathized with her.
She nodded in response but a short silence soon dug a chasm between us.
"If it makes you feel any better, something similar happened to me," I shyly said, feeling awkward for breaking the silence.
"Really? Ikari again?" she asked, trying to hide her tears.
I felt sad and scared when she said the name "Ikari".
"Y-yeah," I said, looking down on the seafloor.
Suddenly, Umi told me something that shocked me.
"Arashi," she cried, "I can't take it anymore! I'm leaving home now!"
"Are you sure?" I exclaimed, "I mean, isn't that dangerous?"
"Yes, but I have no choice!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.
"If that is so... U-umi, may I join y-you?" I asked, blushing a little.
"Of course, Arashi!" she said to my relief, "We're both trapped by the constraints of our society, but if we go out there, we will finally have our own free will!"
I smiled when I heard that for I was happy that I could be with her. I hung on to the gift and decided that I'll give it to her later, for I thought of a special plan in mind.
"Thank you, Umi," I said, feeling my face turn hotter, "Thanks for bringing me along."
She noticed me blushing and began to giggle. As cute as she looked compared to when she was still crying, it made me uneasy.
"Do you know a particular place we can go?" I shyly asked.
"Not really, but I do have an idea," she grinned at me, blushing a little.
We soon departed the place we once called home, finally setting in motion the first few steps of our journey. We brought with us friendship, but little did we know that we would bring home something else.
Note: That's it for now... I'm still writing chapter 8 and I'm having some trouble with it, but it will be a bit... different from this one. Suggestions for 9th Chapter are accepted! Thanks for everything and don't forget to review!