Alright settle down! I know, I know. You guys were waiting. I get it. Sowee for taking so long to update. Am super busy! *I am! Really! Ask zaki-kun!*. Oh, and one BIG OOKINI for all your reviews~!!! ^_^ Anyway I won't keep ya waiting. Here is chappie three of WaterProof! -Hanako/Nako-chan ^_^
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CHAPTER 3 : Issues
Natsuki liked a lot of things. She likes motorcycles. She adores dogs, puppies especially. She absolutely loves mayonnaise. But of course, there were a few things on the list which she did not like at all and on top of that list was swimming. She didn't hate water. She was totally okay with it. It was the arm-flapping and leg-kicking that kind of bothered her. Why does it have to feel so abysmal when you're in the middle of water? Hence, the reason she didn't want any of her friends to come with her to the beach house. The whole idea of going there was focused on spending hours and hours of mayo-eating and video gaming. The busty redhead beside her would have none of her excuses though.
"Natsuki! C'mon!" the young chef splashed some sea water at the nervous biker. Water was so not Natsuki's thing, unless it was drinking water. "Wasn't this the purpose of our outing?"
"OUR purpose?! The PURPOSE of MY outing was to relax, ALONE!"
The childish Mikoto halted her water splashing and stared at the screaming Natsuki, liquid on the verge of pouring out from her wide, watery eyes. "M-mai, Natsuki does n-not want u-us here?" Her eyes sparkled with tears and the corners of her mouth were pointing downward. Her lower lip trembled as she sulked in front of the seething Natsuki.
"Ano…No! Mikoto, er, I mean yes, I want you guys here. It's ok! You can stay! Uhm." The lone wolf let out a nervous laugh followed by a sigh. 'Crying women and kids are totally my weakness. Tsk.'
A mischievous smile crept across Tokiha's red lips, "Well, you'll jump into the water then, Natsuki?" She glanced to her side at the now smiling Mikoto, "Mikoto, its only right that Natsuki should have fun and swim with us. Ne?"
The now happy grade-schooler nodded robustly and immediately grabbed Natsuki's hand, "Natsuki should swim with Mikoto! We will catch a big fish for lunch!" Mikoto ran towards the water, dragging a reluctant Natsuki.
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"Shizuru-neesan! Matte!" Reito swam after his sister. Just as he was about to catch up, two purple double doors slammed shut right in front of his face. "Nee-san!" he knocked, his brows furrowing with concern.
"Reito, please. Leave me to myself for a while. I need to be alone." came a muffled reply followed by muted sobbing.
The young prince retreated, allowing his sister to have a few minutes to herself. 'Nande, Otousan? Why must you make Shizuru-neesan go through all of this?'
---Flashback, about an hour ago---
Run away, my sweet, run away
Abscond from your confines of prickle
Let the snivel of freedom prevail
Let your frenzied sentiments unveil
Run away, my dearest, run away
Bring relief to my weeping appeal
Run away from the madness you face
Run away to receive my embrace
"Mmm. That is all I have so far, Father." Cherry lips let out a shy chuckle.
The proud King engulfed his daughter in a tender hug, "That is brilliant, Shi-chan. My, you are such a splendid young girl. It puzzles me though, I wonder who my little Shi-chan is talking about in her lovely poem."
It was about 3 hours past sunrise and the Royal Family of Cerulea was in the living area of their underwater mansion. They had a habit of gathering themselves to exchange stories or to ask how each family member was doing. It was a weekly practice which brought the family closer every time despite the busy schedules of the Monarchy.
"Oh darling, am I hearing correctly? Has our dear princess found her prince?" Shizuma's crimson eyes, beamed at the thought of this. Her daughter though, flushed red at the cheeks, shook her head in embarrassment. "Mother, Father! Don't tease me like this."
"That shade of red suits you Shizuru-neesan." Reito giggled.
"Reito-kun, if this is your idea of payback from this morning's tail-tag, you are in serious trouble." A younger set of ruby eyes glared at the raven haired merman.
"Oh hush you too. Don't start now." The Queen reprimanded casually. "Anyway, kidding aside, Shi-chan, as you know, you will be turning eighteen soon. Along with that birthday, you will be taking over your Father's throne. We were merely curious about the source of this emotion you had to produce this beautiful verse. Surely, it was a mused upon from a certain inspiration?"
"Mother, what does this poem I wrote have to do with my taking over of this kingdom?"
Tatsuya moved closer to his daughter, "Shi-chan, we were just inquiring if there was a particular person you liked. We're your parents you know, it's our job." He laughed slightly, earning a light nudge from Shizuma.
"I know that Father. But why does it feel like you're implying something else?" Shizuru looked away from her father for a second. She was feeling a little uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed. 'I'm not stupid, otousan. What are you trying to say?' she thought.
"Listen, Shizuru, I don't know any other way to tell you this without you liking it, so I guess I'm just going to say it." Shizuru froze. 'That sounded really serious.' she mused.
Reito sniggered, "Oooh. He called you by your first name, neesan! Somebody's gonna get in trouble." He teased.
"Reito." Shizuma warned.
"Gomen, Okaasan." The young man's face straightened after his mother's warning. 'This looks grim.' he figured.
"Come Reito, Your father and sister have a few things to talk about." The Queen ushered her son out to allow her husband and daughter the privacy.
The atmosphere tensed as the room was filled with grave silence. "Shizuru, I am very proud of what you are to do. The throne and this kingdom, it is a heavy weight on the shoulders of such a young woman. But I know you are more than capable enough to take over my reign."
"I am aware of the hardships I have to face as throne princess of Cerulea, Father. We have already discussed this with my tutors."
"Demo, Shizuru, I'm afraid that there is more to this bargaining than what you have learned. Before I turn over my rule on our nation, you must first present to me," He took a deep breath, "a suitable partner."
The area was once again doused in impenetrable silence. The king held his tongue and eyed his daughter intensively, waiting for a reaction. He was quite secure with the idea that she would accept this twist of events. She was his daughter after all. But Shizuru begged to differ. Her father's retiring was certainly not the issue anymore. The subject at hand was that she should find a husband. Period. Just like that. In such a short span of time, she was expected to be able to find the one person she would spend the rest of life with. She did not like that arrangement. She did not like it at all.
"Shi-chan, I understand that this is quite a-"
"Understand?" for the first time in her life, the well-mannered princess interrupted her own father while he was talking, "You want me to find a soul mate in a few days time and only then will you hand over your command over Cerulea?! The throne I was destined to take ever since I could remember? Is that what you want, father? Don't get me wrong, otousan, I am not power-hungry or anything. I don't even want to take over this nation when I turn eighteen. But I accepted this deal, the deal that stated that I will allow you to retire once I come to the right age. That and only that." Shizuru's scarlet orbs gazed at her father's towering form.
"I'm not asking you to find a soul mate. I am expecting you to find a husband before your eighteenth birthday." He replied sternly.
"…"
"I didn't mean it like that, Shizuru, I just want you to find a good husband to help you with the huge burden you will be carrying."
The tawny haired beauty snapped, "I see, this city has been nothing but a burden to you, Father?"
"Watch your tone, young lady. That is not what I meant either. This nation was never a burden to me because I had your mother with me every step of the way. I am merely pointing out that you should do the same and have an easier life. Listen." Tatsuya sat down and calmed himself, "This conversation is getting arduous. Shizuru, I have already talked to the Commander of the Cerulean Forces. His son is quickly making his way to military stardom and I want you to-"
"I am NOT marrying that person! I don't even know him! I am not marrying anyone anytime soon, Father!" she spat. Never in her life has she used such force in her speaking. A flash of lilac swam past Fujino Tatsuya. The sound of a slamming door followed a few seconds later.
---End Flashback---
Shizuru curled up into her bed, crying, the knocking on her door has stopped, but then there was a sudden rapping against her bedroom window. She chose to ignore it, but it became more persistent with every hit on the window. She raised her head slightly from her pillow to take a peek. Outside, swam a furious Haruka and a very worried Yukino.
"Bubuzuke! Often this window!"
"You mean 'open', Haruka-chan." The mousy mermaid corrected.
Haruka gritted her teeth, "Yukino!"
The crimson eyed princess made her way to the window and opened it. Despite her infuriated and confused mood, her best friends never fail to amuse her. "Yukino, Haruka."
"Oi! What is this carriage I heard about?! What is the thing up to!?" the enraged blonde swam past the heiress in question and sat by her bed. The glasses-wearing teen lightly slapped at her own forehead and sighed, "Haruka-chan, it's "marriage" and "king'."
"Whatever, Yukino. You both know what I mean! Hey, Tea addict!, what's the flatter?!"
Yukino was about to correct her when Shizuru halted her. "It's okay, Yukino. If you correct her once more, we will never get to discuss my current dilemma." Yukino nodded in acceptance.
"Firstly, how did you hear about this so quickly?" Shizuru continued and sat beside her friends.
Haruka answered, "Your brother, Mr. Perfect teeth, called us. What's going on, Bubuzuke?"
The lilac tailed mermaid's gaze feel to the floor, "Otousan wants me to find a husband before I take over Cerulea."
"Why that-!"
"Haruka-chan, Shizuru-san isn't done explaining yet." The short-haired brunette held onto Haruka's arm to restrain the blonde's outburst.
"As you both know, I am next in line to the throne in a few days and I cannot back out of that. Since I cannot retreat from that arrangement, I am also obligated to follow Father's orders to search for a husband before the coronation," She sobbed, "I don't know what to do."
For Haruka and Yukino, seeing their friend break down into sobs was quite a view. They had never, in the entirety of the time they spent together since they were kids, seen Shizuru look so hopeless. One thing was for sure though, they would be by the princess' side and help her through all of the troubles she would encounter. "Ano, Shizuru-san, this is quite the predicament you are in. I do not know if we can help you get out of this. But we will be here for you whatever happens." The petite girl offered a smile at the distressed Shizuru.
"Yeah, Yukino is right! We'll stay here with you, bubuzuke! We're fringe, damnit!"
"Friends, Haruka-chan." Yukino giggled, so did Shizuru.
"Yeah, Exactly!" The boisterous mermaid glared at her friends.
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No Omake for this chappie, gomen gomen… ^_^ I'll give a sneak peek at the next chapter though. It is the much awaited ShizNat meeting!!!:
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It's not real. It's not real. It's not real.' The mantra repeated itself in her head. 'I did not just see a mermaid! A pretty mermaid with a fine purple tail and a nice rack! Whaah? No! No rack! I mean, there was. But. NO! That's impossible!'. She thrashed her feet and arms around to keep her head above the water. She looked around to find something to hold onto. Nothing. "Damnit! Where's the fucking shore!?" she cursed.
"Ara. It's over there?"
"…" Natsuki froze. The fish-tailed thingie in front of her just spoke. And it had a sweet little accent too!
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Thankies for readin! Now its review time!!! ^_^ -your friendly neighborhood Nako-chan. *ahihihi*