Pulling the cloak from his face, Gaara stepped up to the massive stones that merged with the sea. The rain had finally slowed to a stop, the remaining clouds breaking apart over the water. He leaned against the largest boulder for a moment, enjoying the scenery. Then, with a huff, he pulled himself up the steep rock. It was something he was used too, having done it many times with Naruto when they were younger. Reaching the top, he set himself down in the cup-like depression he and his friend had found convenient so long ago. Searching the metal-grey sea, and feeling completely foolish, he let out a tentative "Hello?"
Lee swam as fast as he could, which even for a knight was very fast. He had a belt of leather; a rare and expensive gift from his sensei, for it had been plundered from a human ship, on which an obsidian knife was stuck. In a large pouch, also attached to the belt, were shaped obsidian chips made for throwing. Lastly, he had a messenger bag slung over his shoulder, containing a blanket and provisions.
He had to be careful; he had to avoid his own people, as to not raise suspicion. Should anyone found out what he was doing… it was a crime punishable by death, to be seen by humans. But then, he wasn't going to be seen, now was he? After all, he was going training. And all he was really doing was making sure the human had gone; that it was safe!
With a sigh, he wished he could really believe that. Curiosity itself was what propelled him forward.
That he had to avoid, as well as anyone from the nearby sea-kingdom, Sabneyt. His people weren't the only ones who lived within a days' distance of the shore. And they would have a double-cause to kill him; for being an outsider, and for heading towards shore. Though, he would have the same cause, since they had to be close to shore as well to catch him.
Letting that train of thought leave his already busied head, he smiled in relief; he saw a reef, marking the beginning of the shore. Just another few minutes, going in with the rising tide.
Gaara fumed with himself. Whatever had possessed him to think that his savior would come back here? He had made an extravagant plan to get out of the palace, had trekked through the rain, and was making a fool of himself by yelling at the ocean.
Oh, he was not a happy prince.
Figuring that if he was going to be found out here, he could at least make it look like he had something else on his mind. Rummaging in his bag, he pulled out a silver flute, his only memento of his mother that he had. It was ornate, having belonged to a Queen, with decorative foil in the shape of leaves and flowers winding down the sides and back. He had been required to take a music class as a child, but had only shown promise with the flute. And when he found out it upset his father, reminding him of his dead wife, Gaara made sure to learn it with fervor. Temari had found the flute locked away in their mothers' things, and had given in to him in a rare act of sisterly affection, probably because she was old enough to remember her mothers playing, and had no talent for it herself. He took an anticipatory breath, but before he could put it to his lips, he fumbled it, and it fell with a small 'plunk' into the briny water.
Gaara let out a nice line of expletives that no dignified prince should know (thanks to Naruto) and shuffled to the edge to head down the boulder. Before he even had the chance to let one leg dangle, something shiny hurled through the air, hitting him upside the head before it landed in his lap.
"What the fu-?"
Gaara stared in wonder at his soaking flute, innocently dripping in his lap. He wildly swung his head in every direction, looking for someone who could have thrown it at him, but there was nobody on the water.
He shoved himself off the rock into the water, scraping his hands in the process. Not caring who heard, he yelled out "Hello?" again. Sloshing in the water, he waded seawards, head swinging, briefly holding the spires of boulders as he passed, waiting for a response.
Lee franticly pulled at his hair, his thoughts going something along the lines of…
"WHATTHEFUCKDIDIJUSTDO?"
He floundered, hearing the reverberations of the humans' steps in the water. Turning, he found the human to be only a finstroke away. He just about to give a flick of the tail, to be off, but not before he heard a great crash into the water, and a sudden pain at the back of his head that made him reel back.
When Gaara had slipped and flung his arm out for something to grab to balance himself, he didn't expect to actually grab anything. Let alone anything that felt like rope. Gasping and coughing up saltwater, he resurfaced, pulling it up with him. Blinking owlishly at the black length in his hand, Gaara gave it a small tug, and was met with resistance. The water was silty from his fall, and he couldn't quite see what it was attached to. He tugged it again, and this time, two arms appeared. There was something off about them too, but before he could realize what it was, he was suddenly met by two large, fearful black eyes.
Gaara stopped completely. He. Stopped. Moving.
It- HE – had long, scaly green ears.
There were three thin green lines on each side of his neck, fluttering open and closed franticly with each breath he took, and immediately Gaara knew what they were – gills.
Oh, and what was strange about his arms? Fins.
Gaara turned wide-eyed to the length in his hand. It wasn't rope. It was a long, black braid of hair. Hair connected to … whatever it was in front of him.
Very, very slowly, being very obvious about it, Gaara let the braid slip from his fingers, his eyes never leaving the terrified –thing- before him.
As soon as his braid left the humans' fingers, Lee dunked underwater and darted for a rock spire, peeking around it when he resurfaced.
'Wait, what?' he thought to himself. 'Did it just let me go?' Any other thoughts were halted when the lander spoke to him.
"Yo-you're the one who saved me, right?" Gaara's mouth hung open, completely taken by surprise. "Who are you? Where are you from? What are you?"
Lee stared at him in surprise. He responded; however, what Gaara heard was this:
"Quedah 'ei Nanhyou?! Saehfou keig hertneah Kile!
Gaara's mouth dropped lower, then resisted the urge to hit himself. Of course an aquatic creature would speak another language, it's not like it had contact with humans, and therefore never had to speak their language!
"Verei keig tei Kile? Nanhyou?" Lee cringed away when Gaara winced at his stupidity. By whatever was holy, he didn't want to deal with whatever illness this lander may have.
Gaara looked him in the eye, motioned to himself and said clearly: "Gaara." He then motioned to Lee, hand outstretched, and cocked his head questioningly, hoping his aquatic acquaintance would understand.
Lee looked at his land-bound counterpart's hand, briefly fascinated by its distinct lack of webbing or colouration. Then, slowly, he reached back.
"Lee."
Finally! The long-awaited 5th chapter of Sea of Youth! Even I was surprised that I was able to post a new one after so long… I don't know if I'll ever finish this, even though I really want to, but school and life in general has made everything hard to do… But I definitely will do my best! So everyone cheer me on, okay?