Note: Sorry for the late upload, I forgot about the fact that my periodic exams started the previous week and they just ended today. Well at least I got this done anyway, right? Please do go on ahead and read this chapter then. ^^
Umi's POV:
I swam through the ocean currents as fast as I can. I could feel the delicate tingle of the currents as I sped forward.
The Huntail was panting heavily behind me for although he was much stronger than me, I was way faster than he.
I paused and waited for him to catch up, as he had the directions to my destination.
"So, where next?" I asked in a hurry, not wanting to waste another second.
"Huff... Just... keep... continuing... to... your... right," the Huntail panted, exhausted from trying to keep up with me.
I beckoned him to move faster as I continued to rush in the direction he told me. I was worried if Arashi would be hurt or something, I couldn't even sit still for a second. The simple thought of Arashi in pain made me grimace.
"You... must really be close to him, eh?" the Huntail teased, rejuvenated somehow by the laughter.
"WHA-," I snapped back to reality, "NO! I mean, yes! Close as in friends at least!"
The Huntail just grinned, his eyes showing that he didn't believe in anything that I said.
"Enough wasting time!" I barked back and continued to speed forward, leaving him far off behind me, much to his dismay.
After much tiresome swimming through the ocean, we came across several Gorebyss that swam past us.
The Huntail immediately commanded them to stop.
"Where is the prisoner?" he asked in a panicked tone.
"He's with your partner, sir," one of them gracefully answered.
"But waut," another one interjected.
"She just left in search of you. But it seems you have arrived here first. She wanted to tell you that the Milotic is innocent," the final Gorebyss continued.
"Of course she's innocent! That's why I rushed back here in the first place!" the Huntail barked.
"So... Arashi isn't in any danger?" I asked innocently.
The Gorebyss shook her head, "No. He was, in fact, worried about you and left along with our mistress to inform our master that you were not to be harmed."
I smiled in joy, feeling relieved that Arashi was safe. I tried to suppress my smile though, for I wouldn't want the Huntail to mention any of this to Arashi. He might misinterpret my actions, and I definitely do not want that happening.
"What are we waiting for?" I excitedly yelped to the Huntail.
I quickly swam all the way back, forgetting about my exhaustion. I just wanted to see Arashi again, I didn't even remember feeling any exhaustion at all. The Huntail, however, was far off behind me in his exhaustion.
I kept on speeding forward until I saw a figure swimming distantly... I knew immediately that it was Arashi, it HAD to be! I just knew it!
I joyfully charged forward, playfully slamming him with my body.
"Arashi!" I giggled as I embraced him. I was overjoyed to feel the warmth of being able to see him again.
The Huntail and Gorebyss just kept their distance, watching us in the middle while sharing the same sly smile.
Arashi seemed to be glad to see me too, as he never pulled back from the embrace... Instead, he returned it. For a moment, I let go of all my worries... I felt safe in his embrace...
This moment was ruined, however, when Arashi remembered about the Huntail and Gorebyss and released me from his embrace, slightly blushing...
"Sorry," we both apologized in unison to each other.
The Huntail and Gorebyss also seemed quite pleased to see each other again.
"Unagi! Hagamuri has been found and rescued by this kind Gyarados!" the Gorebyss said wuith unmistakable gratefulness.
The Huntail smiled weakly upon hearing the news, signs of fatigue showing on his face. But the mere news of that had erased all signs of sorrow in his face...
"Oh, thank goodness!" he exclaimed, happy to hear the news.
The Huntail and Gorebyss turned towards us, happily grinning together.
"We sincerely can't thank you both enough for helping us," the Gorebyss exclaimed with gratitude.
"We're also sorry about attacking both of you," the Huntail apologized, "Let's just say that it was a huge misunderstanding."
I merely grinned, all was forgotten now. I was just happy to be beside Arashi that time.
"It's okay!" I said with a cheery smile.
The Huntail bowed his head, "If you are weary from travelling without a place to stay, you could live with our colony."
"Really?" Arashi asked.
"Of course!" the Huntail replied, "it's the least we can do to thank you for what you've done!"
"Thank you very much!" I thanked them, sharing a grin with Arashi. Now we wouldn't have to worry about a place to stay.
We then began to swim slowly, following the Huntail and Gorebyss from behind. We were not in a hurry though, I was happy enough to just enjoy the soft currents that purged my body.
"I was very worried about you, you know..." Arashi softly said as we swam.
"Really? I was afraid that I would lose you!" I playfully teased. Even so, I knew in my heart that I meant what I said.
After shortly arriving at the huge colony of Huntail and Gorebyss, we were warmly welcomed by the rest.
The Huntail and Gorebyss that lead us here offered us a seat.
"Oh," the Huntail began, "how rude of me, in all the excitement, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Unagi, and this beside me is my love, Legami. We are the proud leaders of the colony!"
"Hagamuri is very grateful for your invaluable assistance," Legami gratefully said, gesturing towards Arashi.
"It was no big deal," he answered humbly.
"Now, I am intrigued at such an unlikely couple traversing our seas," Unagi said, "Would you care to share your story or at least your names?"
I blushed when he called us a couple and I opened my mouth to protest but Arashi spoke before me.
"My name is Arashi," he began, "and this is Umi, my... uh... friend."
Unagi's eyes widened, "Arashi? From the ruthless Gyarados Tribe? With a Milotic?"
Arashi's face turned red, "N-no! I'm just... a friend, nothing more!"
He turned to me for approval, "Right?"
My face drooped in disappointment but I slowly answered, "Yes..."
Oh Arashi... You have no idea how wrong you are... I honestly... think of you as someone... more than a friend...
"Sorry for the interruption," Unagi said, "Please do continue."
I continued where Arashi had stopped and told the two our whole story. Everything, how we were from opposing tribes, Armik, everything... Especially how we escaped and all.
The Huntail and Gorebyss pair were amused.
"And so, not being able to take all that, you two escaped?" Legami asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," I defiantly answered, "but I don't mind, I'm fine with having Arashi with me anyway."
Arashi tried to hide a grin but Legami seemed to take notice of that.
"I see, that being the case, you are most welcome to live here, forever if you wish," Unagi added kindly.
Arashi seemed to be deciding on his decision.
"Whatever Umi wishes is fine with me," Arashi said.
"Oh, but I'll happily stay anywhere as long as I'm with you and you know that, so I'm fine anywhere," I complimented.
"How about we stay here for a while until we find a suitable home?" I suggested.
"That's fine with us!" Unagi said.
Arashi and I thanked them for their kindness. It was then I realized how tired I was. I decided to take a short rest while Arashi said that he would swim around to see the place and all.
I slowly grinned.
At first I thought running away was a big mistake... But now, I don't have any intention of returning home.
Arashi's POV:
The cold stream of water rushed through my scaly skin. It added pressure to the fact that time was ticking and that I don't have enough of it.
The Gorebyss serenely lead me deeper into their territories, though this unnerved me a bit. How could she be so calm and graceful while I'm panicking?
I began to overtake her, rushing with my utmost level of speed. At this rate, Umi might be...
No! That's not possible! I know that Umi will be there for me, I just knew it!
"How long will it take to reach there?" I impatiently asked.
"Well... It'll still take some time," she answered calmly, which somehow made me panic even more.
"Can't we go any faster?" I impatiently complained.
She shook her head, "YOU can, but I can't. My species isn't actually a fast one."
But there would be no one to give me directions if I swam ahead, so I guess I have no choice but to test my patience.
There was no possible way to keep myself calm though, the thought of Umi being harmed continually popped back into my head.
"You must be really worried about her," the Gorebyss teased, "Won't you two make a great pair..."
I immediately replied to stop her from further pursuing the topic, "So, we just keep moving forward from here?"
"Yes," she replied, "That's one of our two chambers for holding prisoners."
"Will it take any longer?" I fidgeted.
"No, as a matter of fact, we are almost there," she replied.
We soon arrived to a dark cavern but soon found that it was empty. However, I knew that Huntail generally thrive in the dark so I scrutinized the cavern but found nothing other than the rough gravel floor and the hard rocky walls.
What could've happened to Umi? If she's not here then that means...
"There is nothing more we can do," the Gorebyss told me, "It's best if we return now."
With a heavy heart, I slowly followed her.
Where could Umi be? I thought, If neither the Huntail nor she was here, does that mean that...?
I shook myself out of the horrible thought, that can't possibly happen! Or... at least that's what I want to believe.
I began to swim after the Gorebyss, still deep in thought about Umi.
However, at that exact moment, someone charged behind me. This quickly snapped me out of my thought and drove me into a shock.
"Arashi!" she giggled, I instantly recognized the voice... Umi! She began to embrace me.
I returned the embrace, feeling as happy as happy can be. I didn't want to let go of her... Not after what we've just been through. I felt a soothing warmth while hugging her. I soon, however, let go of her embrace as soon as I noticed the Huntail and Gorebyss slyly smiling behind us.
"Sorry," I apologized to her, blushing red.
It looks like we're not the only ones who are happy though, as the Huntail and Gorebyss seemed quite pleased with the news of their son.
"Unagi! Hagamuri has been found and rescued by this kind Gyarados!" she gleefully exclaimed.
The Huntail smiled, showing an exhausted yet happy face.
"Oh, thank goodness!" he weakly said.
They both turned to us after their short conversation.
"We sincerely can't thank you both enough for helping us," the Gorebyss thanked.
The Huntail then apologized, "We're also sorry about attacking both of you. Let's just say that it was a huge misunderstanding."
"It's okay," Umi said with a cheery smile, to which I couldn't help but smile along with her.
The Huntail bowed his head, as if to express gratitude.
"If you are weary from travelling without a place to stay, you could stay with our colony," he offered.
"Really?" I asked, thinking this could be the solution to our problem.
"Of course!" he replied, "It's the least we can do to thank you for what you've done!"
"Thank you very much!" Umi cheerfully said, sharing a grin with me.
We both began to swim slowly, following the Huntail and Gorebyss. We swam in silence, but I couldn't help breaking it by starting a conversation with Umi.
I softly started, "I was very worried about you, you know..."
"Really? I was afraid that I would lose you!" she teasingly replied which made me blush in embarrassment.
We finally arrived to the Huntail and Gorebyss's colony. The Huntail and Gorbyss both offered us a seat.
The Huntail began to speak, "Oh, how rude of me, in all the excitement, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Unagi, and this beside me is my love, Legami. We are the proud leaders of this colony!"
"Hagamuri is very grateful for your invaluable assistance," Legami said, gesturing towards me.
"It was no big deal," I answered shyly.
"Now, I am intrigued at such an unlikely couple traversing our seas. Would you care to share your story or at least your names?" Unagi continued.
Umi opened her mouth to speak, but knowing that she was tired, I decided to speak in her stead.
"My name is Arashi," I said formally, "and this is Umi, my... uh... friend."
Unagi seemed shocked with what I had said.
"Arashi? From the ruthless Gyarados Tribe? With a Milotic?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"N-no!" I blushed, "I'm just... a friend, nothing more!"
I turned to Umi for confirmation, "Right?"
"Yes..." she answered, seemingly sadder all of a sudden.
"Sorry for the interruption," Unagi said, wanting to hear more of our story, "Please do continue."
Umi continued our story from where I left off, she explained everything, from the reason she left her home and how we ended up in their colony. I filled in some parts for her when she became tired.
"And so, not being able to take all that, you two escaped?" Legami inquired.
"Yes," she answered, "but I don't mind, I'm fine with having Arashi with me anyway."
I suppressed a small grin but Legami somehow noticed it and returned it with her own sly grin.
Unagi started to speak, having been satisfied with our story, "I see, that being the case, you are welcome to live here, forever if you wish."
"Whatever Umi wishes is fine with me," I immediately said.
"Oh, but I'll happily stay anywhere as long as I'm with you and you know that, so I'm fine anywhere," she lovingly returned the compliment.
She suddenly suggested, "How about we stay here until we find a suitable home?"
"That's fine with us!" Unagi interjected.
Umi thanked them for her kindness and told me that she wanted to go to rest for now. I couldn't blame her though, who wouldn't be tired after going through all that?
I went to roam around and familiarize myself with the whole place when Legami beckoned for me to come closer.
"You... You like Umi, don't you?" she asked, grinning widely.
"N-no, I-I-" I stuttered, trying to defend myself, but just gave up, for I had to let the truth out.
"Yes... I do," I answered, feeling my face turning red.
"I thought so!" Legami answered, "Don't worry though, I'm here to help you. All you have to do is tell her."
"But, I-" I protested before she cut me off.
"I have a good idea for that," Legami quickly said before I could finish speaking.
She proceeded to whisper something to my ear.
All I know, was that this was my chance. It was going to be either do or die.
Do or die.
Note: Things sure are getting interesting. I have a huge surprise waiting in the next Umi/Arashi chapter, though I'm not sure what the next chapter should be about. Oh well, thanks for reading and don't forget to drop a review! 'Till next time then!