Macchi-chan: Thank you to all five people who reviewed, as well as the one or who people who followed my story. (This is honestly one of the best responses I've gotten XD) Like I said, thanks. But there's one review that really stood out, and I feel like actually replying. Look at the bottom later.

This chapter is longer than normal, because what else is a girl supposed to do with no internet connection and a story itching to be written in her mind? Type. And so I did. (I love to ramble…) DID YOU KNOW? If you are gone with no internet connection for three days over the weekend after school is out, the day that you check, you will have over 175 fanfiction update emails?
Anyhew, thanks to

KYUUxKYUU

Moose (anon)

Mori-Chan

Elizabeth (anon BUT I WISH YOU WEREN'T DX)

Dysfunctional Death Angel (who has an account but was too lazy to log in)

So. Based on Mermaid by Rin Kagamine. Enjoy chapter two. EDITED

~two years later~

It was my sixteenth birthday, so I suppose that it was only natural that I was quieter. I say quieter in saying that I zoned out a lot, according to my friends. I'd made a lot of them down here. There was the idiot Teto, of course, and my best friend Gumi. The green eyed, haired, and tailed mermaid was a star in my night, always encouraging and uplifting me, although nothing could ever take the place of my sun. Even though she loved to talk, she always took the time to read the crabscratch that I would use to communicate with the rest of the underwater community. Said mermaid knocked on the door to my small house carved into a reef. "RIN! RI-IN! OPEN UP!" I lazily propelled myself over to the door, but as I was about to open it, something strange went on. Gumi was silent. That never happens. I more-or-less stood on the fins of my tail, or so it seemed, and peered through a small hole I had drilled through the door.

Now I understand why she was scared. The corkscrewed idiot stood over the cowering Gumi, who looked like she was crying. She probably was. After reluctantly helping Gumi up (you can see I'm such a good friend) I turned to Teto and struck a questioning pose. She only grinned and whispered to Gumi. Gumi's pouting face slowly began to match the witch's. She clapped her hands together and grinned happily at me. "Rin-rin! You're going to love this!" She turned and grinned at Teto, who took up the conversation.

"We finally found a way."

I blinked, confused, and wrapped a strand of my blonde hair around a finger. After a few moments of silence, I widened my eyes as it dawned on me. They were talking about my wish. I could go back to the surface.

I could-no, would-would see Len again.

My tail stopped keeping me upright and I fell to the floor, the blue fog I called tears once again filling my vision and surrounding me. God, thank you! Thank you! Gumi fell next to me and hugged me as I sobbed silently into her orange shirt. Teto, for once, stood awkwardly beside her. "Rin, there's a catch. You know there's always a catch. But it's up to you to choose how to take it." Gumi and Teto helped me to sit on my bed as the octo-woman continued. "I didn't do it. My cousin, Neru, did. I can take you to her home and she'll fill you in there, so get ready and we can go. Don't worry about bringing anything." Gumi looked at me then back at her. "Can I go too? I'm her best friend..."

Teto shook her head, the drills shifting in position to match the movement. "It'd be nice if you could, but I'm afraid not. It took a lot of time just to convince Neru to see Rin, let alone help her. Sorry." Teto pulled on my arm as I grabbed my writing stuff and glanced apologetically at Gumi as I was dragged out into the wide open blue space.

Teto panted to keep up with me. I'd taken to swimming like a normal mermaid, if not more. It was among my few proud accomplishments that only one merperson had ever beaten me, and that was because I had no clue where I was supposed to go. Poor Teto, having to deal with eight unruly octopus tentacles, which were supposed to work together...I sped up until Teto yelled at me. "How am I supposed to show you where to go if you leave me behind? Believe me; you won't want to pass up the offer!" I stopped mid-stroke, turned around, and held up my tablet after scratching on it. Fine then. Hurry up before I decide to get out my shears! The corkscrewed idiot blanched. She remembered those shears. Oh, did she remember them. A few months after I settled in, she annoyed me

To

Death.

Let's just say that her hair's a LOT shorter than it was when I first met her.

I turned around and bowed my head. Something's going on. I keep drifting off into different memories on my birthday. It happened a bit last yea-see? I'm still doing it! Teto caught up to me and pulled on my arm, dragging me along and pointing to a large ominous opening to a cave looming in front of me.

"Rin, that's where my cousin lives. Her name is Neru, and I have to warn you, she's addicted to, um, 'keeping in touch' with the entire kingdom. We suspect that she even has a few Upwalker contacts-" Teto's little introduction was suddenly broken off as a slightly low-pitched voice boomed out from inside the cave. "TETO, I KNOW IT'S YOU, AND I BET YOU HAVE THAT GIRL WITH YOU! STOP BLABBERING OUTSIDE AND GET ON IN HERE!" Teto paled. "Did I mention that she has a bit of a temper yet?" I grinned and shook my head. The octopus-lady grimaced and pulled me into the dark cave.

We swam into a cavern lit by sunlight coming from a hole in the roof. My eyes widened and I immediately swam up towards it. I hadn't touched actual air since...two years ago...but I still didn't get to. Idiot Teto, pulling me back down only so I could be glared at by...by shiny amber...orbs...I shuddered, to say the least. That was scary...until it got scarier. The orbs got bigger and bigger and bigger until-another mermaid swam out into the light. I turned and caught my breath, then looked at her more closely. Her amazingly long blonde hair was pulled off to the side and held up high with a sinew band. Her tail was a sparkly gold, and all-in-all she was really pretty. But her eyes...shifty, glaring, amber eyes...that kept glancing at a shellfish that many teenage mermaids affectionately referred to as a 'cellfish.'

No clue why though.

After what seemed like an eternity of her switching between glaring at me and communicating somehow with her cellfish, she finally turned back to me and Teto. "Teto, dear," she began in an overly endearing voice. "Is this the young halfling you kept pleading for me to help?" Teto shifted and murmured. "Speak up, darling. I can't hear you. You must be losing your voice with old age." Teto gathered her courage, or whatever she had in the first place, and finally spoke up in a squeaky voice. "Yes, she is, Neru. Won't you help her? Please?"

Neru reluctantly motioned for her shimmery yellow cellfish to go away, and then swam over to me. "You want to be human? You really want that?" I nodded emphatically, then scribbled on my tablet and showed her. I want this a lot. It's all I've wanted since I came down here. It's all I ever will want again, I swear! Neru grinned crookedly.

"Then I suppose it's a deal. I'll allow you to go to the surface as a human. But, there will be a price. An extravagant one, I might add. For now, all I will ask for is your fin in exchange for your legs. I'll hold onto this for now." Neru held up a glowing mandarin orange shell. "This is your voice. I suppose I might lend it back to you, but the price will get bigger and harder to pay back. Do you want it back?" I shook my head instantly. Sure, it'd be nice, but I really don't want to lose anything else. "So, are you ready?" I bit my bottom lip and nodded. I was ready for anything. "Oh, and, one more thing. There is a...um...high possibility that your sweetheart...oh, whatever." She tossed a tablet covered in writing at me, then called for her cellfish and began to...I have no clue what she was doing, actually. "Every so often, I suppose I'll have to tell you something, so watch out for a crab. Don't ask why. It'll tell you what I want, and you'd better do it. Understand? Good. Now goodbye." She snapped her fingers, and something hit me in the back of the head, knocking me out.

I finally came to when a wave splashed me in the mouth, making me sputter in shock. Wait. Underwater, the only waves that you can feel are the currents so...I HAVE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE TOP! While grinning like an idiot, I began to sink until I remembered that I couldn't swim before I became a mermaid. Thus-I still couldn't. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped, allowing nasty salt water to enter. I did my best to keep afloat, and I was about to drown, I know it, but then I saw a boat. A royal boat, to be exact. I kicked my legs to keep my chin above the water as I waved my hand (the other was holding desperately onto the tablet Neru had tossed me) above my head frantically. I opened my mouth to scream and yell for help, but nothing whatsoever came out. Lucky for me, it was the middle of the day, and a girl splashing noisily about in a silent expanse of nothing creates a lot of ruckus.

Eventually, I was hoisted onto the deck by the crew, many of whom I recognized from my days with Len. But...they didn't remember me, even though I was pretty familiar with them. All of the men looked away or turned around, as the only female besides me onboard draped her long, waterproof-and warm!-cloak over me, making sure that I was completely covered from neck to toe. She led me down to what I assumed was her room below deck. "Dear...you aren't aware that you have nothing on, am I correct?" With a sinking realization, I peeked under the cloak. May someone kill you under there, Neru. I flushed with shame and attempted to indicate that I would very much like to borrow a set of clothing...of course, she didn't understand me at all and persisted on asking me questions about where I came from, who I was, and why I had been floating naked in the water. I simply plopped down onto the ground and waited until the ship reached shore, which didn't take all that long.

The woman led me onshore to where everyone else was unloading the ship. "Miss, do you know where you live?" Seeing my negative response, she continued, "Then I suppose that we'll have to take you to the king and queen and they'll deal with you." She gently grabbed my arm and guided me past a boy with black messy hair and blue eyes. He followed me with his cerulean eyes, I know this because...well...I was still watching him, and then rushed to catch up with me and the woman. He took my other arm and said to the woman in a kind, commanding voice, "I'll take her up to the palace." The woman nodded and left, while I tried not to gape. I knew him! He was wearing that black wig like he did whenever he wanted to be somewhat incognito!

It.

Was.

LEN!

I looked around while attempting to pretend that I had no idea who he was, but...I utterly failed. I just wanted to hug him right away! Luckily, I thought about it for a second, because if I did, I'd lose my grip on the cloak and make it fall down and...yeah. I turned away from staring at him, blushing, and remembered the tablet. I suppose I'd have to look at it...wherever he was taking me.

Len(!) led me up to the palace. Yes, he's a prince, but he's not some sniveling, drab, immature thing. He's pretty smart, doesn't have an ego problem, and is all-in-all not quite perfect, but just right for me. His only problem is his infatuation with this one particular import that, because of him, comes to port on a regular basis-bananas. I abhor the things. But it's okay, since every time bananas came though, for some reason, just as many delicious, delectable oranges came in...I shook myself out of my idiotic stupor and tried to stop drooling as he asked me a question.

"So you can't talk now, Rin?"

My eyes widened and I had to bite my lip to stop crying. Apparently, I looked pretty pitiful, (maybe cute...?) because he grinned and ruffled my hair. I tilted my head and scribbled on my tablet. How could you tell? He chuckled (since when did he chuckle? He always giggled...) and smiled at me. "If you could, then you would have immediately yelled for attention if you hadn't already killed someone with a verbal attack." I flushed. He knew me almost better than I knew myself. Did you give up on me? Len sighed and blew a chunk of dark hair out of his face. "I was about to ask where you'd been for the past two years, but no, I never did. Everyone else swore that the water was stained red, but I never believed them. I," he broke off and looked down. "I just kinda knew that you were alive. That's why I wasn't surprised at all. Well, we're here."

I let go of him and hopped up the steps, making good use of my newfound legs and waited for him to catch up. Len caught up to me with a grin on his face and hugged my neck from the back, planting a small kiss on my unruly blond hair. I froze in place, not completely sure what I was supposed to do now. He whispered into my ear. "Come on. Let's get you to a room where you can stay and then we can go talk to my parents." I nodded, smiling slightly while I leaned into him.

Len dropped me off at my old quarters, where a maid was waiting. Unlike most of the women at court, she wore her long pink hair down so that it swished around the waist of her black, gold-trimmed dress every time that she moved. She smiled at me and led me to an armoire filled with dresses that I used to wear. After I picked out my favorite, I got dressed and stood on a stool while she tailored it so that it would actually fit me after two years. She didn't actually have to let it out that much, to my utter horror. But what really upset me was the fact that the chest didn't need to be fixed at all...

I knew eating seaweed on a regular basis was bad for my growth.

As she let out the hems on my orange dress, she talked to me. "My name's Luka, miss." She laughed a bit. "You wouldn't believe how much the prince talks about you. He never really got over how everyone mentioned you like you were dead, so he would come here and vent all of his frustrations in here with me. Once, he even said that I was more of a mother than the Queen was. That really brightened my day. You're a really lucky girl, to be able to be near him without all of the pompous formality that all of the other marriage candidates have been forcing him to put up with. Rin, I hope you do well, now that you're finally back by his side." I smiled and wrote on my tablet. I'm glad that no one so far has really been bothered by the fact that I can't talk. She blanched slightly. "Oh...I didn't leave any room for you to talk, did I?" Nodding, I showed her the tablet again. Thanks for it. I hope that you continue. She smiled at me. "Thanks, you really are a darling." As she left my room, she added, "Len should be back here in about an hour, so rest up. I'll continue to be your maid and I hope that you can put up with me. I shall see you again after supper!"

After securely blocking my door and comfortably positioning myself on my bed, I took out the tablet that Neru had given me and began to read it.

1) I don't care about you and your relationship with the prince.

2) I took your mortality as a price. That means that, unless something happens, you'll have to come back and be my slave until I die.

3) You have two days to either come back without him or kill him to stay human and not suffer that much.

4) If neither happens, you'll just dry up into a shell and I'll have your soul for my experiments.

5) Pretty much, I don't care about what happens. Just die one way or another, okay?

Wow. That's really caring of Neru. I wiped her writing (which was worse than mine, may I add) off of the tablet and hood it under the bed. Then, I climbed back onto my bed and thought about it all until I fell asleep.

I hope Len won't be too upset when I die.

Okay, that was WAAY too much fun for me to write. I just had to add Luka in…AND I WANT TO MAKE MIKU EVIL! (or just plai-okay. Evil in Rin's sense.)

I have the feeling that Rin seems a bit too lovey-dovey, but that may just be because…whatever. She's a girl in love…ish…GIMME A BREAK HERE! Anyhew…

To Elizabeth: Thankies thankies thankies! Your review brightened my week and made me really want to write! I'm glad that you caught on to my little thing about Teto…

To everyone else: Thanks for reading this much, and I really hope that you review, naw, I just hope that you enjoyed my story, is all. I'm thinking of doing a one-shot based off of either Dreaming Little Bird or Butterfly on Your Right Shoulder next. What do you think?

Well, ja ne, before I ramble on too long (if I haven't already XD) bai bai until next time!

…Okay. I really do want reviews. I'm thinking of asking for 10 on my story total until I post the next chapter…after I write it, of course. Bai now!