Thank you to everyone who reviewed. By the way my fic 'A life not worth living' is a finished fic but a sequel is being prepared.

Two Worlds, One Love

Chapter 3 – A secret close up

Knocking on the door the foursome waited for an answer. The door slowly opened to reveal a merman about the same height as Horo. He had medium length dark brown hair and matching eyes. His tail was a light chocolate colour.

"Prince Horo? What are you doing here so late?" It had in fact gotten darker as the day went on emphasising that night was coming.

He pulled his sister in front of him and revealed her arm. "We had a run in with a shark"

"Oh my gosh!" He swam out and gently took her arm. "We need to heal this fast before it gets infected. Come in"

He took them inside and closed the door quickly going over to a small cupboard on the wall. He searched through a collection of pouches and bottles before taking a small yellow pouch and a white cloth. He motioned for her to sit as he took a seat beside her. Pearl and Crusty floated to the floor while Horo stayed upright watching them.

Opening the yellow pouch Yoh let a small portion of golden powder fall onto his hand. He put the bag on his lap and then rubbed the contents over her cuts. She winced and tried to pull away but he held her arm.

"It's to prevent infection. God knows what that shark's been eating"

Horo floated down beside her and took her good hand in his. Once Yoh was finished with the powder he took the white cloth and wrapped up the injuries. "There, all done"

Pilika examined her arm and smiled. "That feels better, thanks Yoh"

"No problem. What were doing out in open water anyway?"

"Nothing" Horo answered a bit too quickly. Yoh eyed him the turned away to place the pouch back in the cupboard.

"I'm surprised at you Princess; it's not like you to follow your brother into danger"

"How'd you know she was following me?"

"Because I know her well enough to know she's not the type of mer-person to do something like that on her own"

Horo looked at his little sister as she trailed a finger over the bandage. He felt so bad for letting her get hurt. Taking a seat beside her he took her into a hug. "What's this for?" she asked, returning it.

"I shouldn't have left you alone like that. I should have know better"

She pulled back to look at him. "But I shouldn't have stayed behind. I should have followed you instead of hovering there like a sea lemon"

He laughed and hugged her again. Pearl smiled then looked at Crusty. "Why can't we be like that?"

"Because you're a hyper-active pain in the scales"

"What's your point?"

"Guys you better get home, it's almost dark" said Yoh.

"Oh, right. Thanks for helping her buddy"

"That's what I'm here for! Just stay out of sight from carnivores from now on"

"Don't worry, we will" Pilika gave him a wave before the four friends left his small home. Yoh smiled and picked up the extra length of bandage he accidentally left on the chair. Putting it back he gasped as something encircled his waist, pining his arms to his side. He was pulled backwards into another body and looking down he found it was a pure black tentacle. Another one made its way around his tail, preventing him from flapping around.

"What was that?" came a dark voice from behind.

"It's not her you want; I had to heal her" Without looking Yoh knew who it was. "Let me go"

"Let me go, what?" He felt the male breath down the back of his neck.

"Let me go…bro…"

"Say it" The tentacles tightened their hold on him.

"I don't see you as that anymore" The merman whispered. Another black tentacle slid around his throat.

"I could easily kill you right here and now. Say it"

"Please let me go…brother…" The final word was said as if it was a curse.

The male behind him laughed and planted a couple of kisses on the side of his neck. "Good boy" He loosened his grasp and Yoh quickly swam free. Stopping at the other side of the room he turned to find an octoman smirking at him. His lower half was that of an octopus apart from he was pure black. He had long dark hair and matching eyes, just like Yoh's.

"Don't ever do that again" He hissed at his brother.

"I am stronger than you so I can do what I want. Now tell me, why didn't you do as I asked? That was the perfect chance"

"I told you before; I'm not going to be a pawn in your evil plans!"

The older twin laughed again. "My dear brother…" He outstretched one of his eight arms and entwined it around the other's throat and pulled him forward. "…you don't have a choice, because I can crush you like a clump of sand"

"Get...off…" Yoh was finding it hard to breath.

"We've already played this game, what do you say?"

"F…fuc…" Before he could finish another covered his mouth while he felt two more pin his arms to the wall. The one around his throat was released.

"Now let's not use harsh language like that" he smiled. Unable to speak Yoh just glared. Hao leaned forward so his forehead was resting against the smaller one's. "Listen and listen good. You will do as you are told or all your little friends will suffer. And you know I keep my word"

Yoh's eyes widened as he felt something cold wrap around his waist. He struggled a little as it tightened. "We don't like that do we?" Still it tightened. "I wonder why?"

A hand trailed down a long scar on the smooth skin, stopping just where it turns into scales. "I like that story you told them, 'it was an eel'" A muffed cry came from the merman as pressure was put on the tender scar. "I'm a lot bigger than an eel little one"

The chocolate tail flapped a couple of times in discomfort. "I've done it once and I'll do it again Yoh, so you better do as you're told. Because if he doesn't go, you will"

Letting the younger twin (for they're top half anyway) he swam out of the stone house and into the darkness. Floating weakly onto the floor Yoh held his now sore side, breathing returning to normal. He rubbed it as he looked at where his brother had disappeared, silent tears trailing down his cheeks.

Glow worms had lit up the palace corridors as the two mer-kids swam through. Crusty and Pearl had already retired to their rooms leaving the siblings alone. Pilika's chamber was first, her doors decorated with flowers.

"How will I explain this to father?" she asked.

"Just say you were playing and you swam into a spike coral. You've done it before"

"That's because I was trying to get away from you" She shrugged. "Might as well use it, I don't have anything else"

Horo laughed and kissed her forehead. "Go to bed, you'll feel better in the morning"

"Thanks for saving me"

"That's what big brothers are for" She gave him a hug before finally going into her room. Upon entering his room Horo quietly climbed into bed and closed his eyes, images of that one human filling his dream world.

The next morning revealed a clear blue ocean and gave high spirits to its residents. Horo was up bright and early and the first thing that was on his mind was finding that boat. Not bothering to go down for breakfast he escaped through his bedroom window and left the palace.

Thinking he was going to get away he wasn't ready for the little set of teeth that clamped down on his fin. "Ouch!" Turning round he frowned and brought his fin up to his face, finding a little fish on the end. "Calling my name would be a better option"

Pearl let him go. "I did but you didn't hear me. Where you going so early?"

"I want Feathers to help me find that boat" He turned and headed out of the kingdom, into open water. He went at an easy pace so earl could follow and not be tired out.

"Don't you think you're over doing this 'finding the boat' phase? Actually you shouldn't even be going through a phase like this"

"But I can't get that human out of my head…he was so beautiful…"

"OK now that's just scary"

"Your crush on that walrus was scary but I didn't complain"

If it was possible Pearl would have turned a bright shade of pink by now. "He was nice to me!"

Horo laughed. "Sure, maybe a little too nice" They broke through the surface right beside Feathers' island to find him, once again, not there. Horo growled. "Feathers!"

The bird appeared from the other side of the bundle of branches. "What!" he shouted back.

"Oh you're there, sorry"

"So you should be. What are doing up here so early for anyway?" He hopped into his nest and sat down.

"I need you to help me. I want you to help me find that boat that was out here yesterday"

"You mean Master Ren's?"

"Who's?"

"The human who owns the boat. His name is Master Ren, well, at least that's what some humans call him. Other's just call him Ren"

Horo became really interested. "What does he look like?"

The seagull thought for a moment. "Short…has dark, spiky hair…yellow eyes…"

"Was he the one that was sitting by himself on it?"

The gull nodded. "That's him"

So that was his name. What a charming name for something so beautiful. Now he really did want to see him again. "Did you see where they went afterwards?"

"If you want to know where your human is then I can tell you where he's at right now"

Horo's eyes widened. "You can!" A smile followed afterwards.

"Yip, he's at the harbour. Goes there every morning before the other humans emerge. I know that because I go there every morning too, to find something to eat. Humans leave the tastiest things lying around"

"Could you take us there now?"

"Sure, it's only him there anyway so I don't see why not" The bird opened his wings and took off. "Follow me!" He flew in the direction of the land with the merman and fish quickly following below.

After a mile of swimming they reached their destination. Landing on top of a lava rock the gull used his wing to point to what Horo was looking for. Appearing behind him, using the rock to hide, he peered over and saw just a little way off, his human. He gasped; it really was his human. But he looked even more beautiful in the morning sun.

He was sitting on the edge of the dock, legs dangling off the edge lifelessly; staring straight out to sea.

"That him?"

"Yeah" Horo whispered, not even looking at the bird. Something was nipping at him from the inside. Where he was now wasn't good enough, he needed to be closer…he wanted to be closer. Letting go of the rock he disappeared under the waves.

"What's he doing?" Feathers squawked.

Pearl ignored him and also went under. "I'm better off just talking to myself; at least I get a reply"

He waited a few more minutes before seeing them appear right underneath the wooden bridge…and the human. "It's official, he's a nutcase"

Horo held onto the wooden pole that supported what the boy was sitting on. He could only see his 'two tails' but he didn't care. He was still captivated about being so close to him. It was absolute bliss.

Pearl looked at her friend, water dripping down his face making his hair stick to his skin. He looked like he was under a spell and a strong one at that. Suddenly footsteps were heard bringing them back to reality. Pearl dove under the water but Horo only sank down a little. The other human spoke.

"Come on Ren, I need you to help me with the stuff" His voice sounded funny but he could tell it was male. Without saying a word he stood up and walked away back onto land.

Pearl appeared again. "We're too close, let's go"

Without replying he followed her under and went out away from the dock a little. Reappearing he looked back to land but no one was there. He turned around and finally reached the rock where he left Feathers.

"What was that? When you said a look I didn't think you meant RIGHT up close"

"He's even more cute close up"

"Cute" said Pearl and Feathers in unison. Horo pulled himself up and sat on the rock, tail still in the water.

"If it makes you feel better I know when they're going back out on his boat"

Horo turned to the bird. "You do? When?"

"Tonight, it's someone's birthday and they're celebrating it out at sea"

The young Prince smiled happily. "Perfect, when night falls I'll be ready. I want so much to find out about who he is and how he lives"

"You sure that's a good idea?" asked the fish.

"Yes, and you're coming with me" He pointed a finger at the fish and dove under the waves.

"I knew that was coming…wait up!" She also disappeared leaving Feathers to fly back to his nest.