Underneath the Surface

Disclaimer: There is no ownage of these characters… the plot is my own though.

Chapter 4

When I woke… I was in my bed, at home.

I sat up and looked around. Is Zexion still here?

Probably not…

I looked to my bedroom door to see my parents walk in.

"What happened?" I asked softly.

"Some boy brought you here, unconscious. He told us that you had almost drowned and that it was his fault." My father said.

"What? I won't lie and say that I didn't almost drown… but it wasn't his fault. I wanted to try something and even though he tried to talk me out of it, I told him I wanted to do it without his help… it's my fault, I was the one being stupid…" It was kind of half true.

"Son, what on earth were you trying to do that would almost get you killed!" My mom asked exasperatedly.

I allowed myself to think as I feigned sheepishness. "I wanted to… try and swim to the bottom of the ocean. I figured it was only fifty feet… but I forgot to take the journey back up into account…" I made up at the last minute.

"Son?"

"Yeah…"

"ARE YOU AN IDIOT? I KNOW I RAISED YOU TO BE SMARTER THAN THAT! SWIMMING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR COTTON-PICKIN' MIND!" My father and mother yelled together.

"I know! I feel really stupid and I wont ever do it again…" I finished.

"You better not! But I'm angry with that boy as well. How could he have let you do such a thing! He's not a good friend if he's going to let you do things that could kill you! I don't think I want you hanging around with him anymore…" My mother said.

"What? No please! It's not his fault! Please!" I said frantically.

"Either way son, You are grounded for a week. There will be no swimming or surfing… in fact you will not step foot in that water until the week is over!" My father said firmly.

"But I…" I trailed off.

"No buts this time Riku…" My mother said before my parents exited the room.

I needed to see Zexion again… What did his parents say? Was I able to change their minds about me?

I looked to the clock… it was 9:15. "How long was I out?" I said to myself.

Another thing bothered me. "Why didn't they recognize Zexion?" I asked myself. I mean it's not like you could forget about a boy that you could have very well let die.

And then to see him again… which means he didn't die… wouldn't that make them more confident about me swimming with him?

I sighed and flopped back on my bed. I looked back at the clock again, 9:17.

I wondered when my parents would go to sleep…

I needed to see him again. I hope his parents feel better about me now… His parents didn't seem to be the type to believe things so easily.

It was with those thoughts that I drifted to sleep.

When I woke again I sat up in my bed and looked to the clock. It was 1:32 in the morning.

I listened closely to the house.

Silence. No soft volume of the television, no sound of gentle footsteps, no quiet mutterings of my parents.

They were asleep. I stood and quickly found some swim trunks and a shirt.

I looked to my window… I've never actually snuck out of before… I hoped this worked.

I moved to my window and opened it. I lifted the screen. I took in the smell of the ocean's breath.

I squeezed myself through the window. I managed to close the screen but if I tried to close the window I would have risked falling.

I placed my feet in the diamonds made by the crisscrossed wood that was used to resist water damage when waves hit the raised house.

I slowly climbed my way down and when my feet finally touched the ground I sighed in relief.

I looked out to the ocean. It was hard to see because it was so dark.

I walked over to the shed and managed to find a flashlight.

I walked down the path to the beach. It was really dark and I couldn't see much unless it was lit by the flashlight.

I ran all the way down to the shoreline. I could feel the waves creep up to my feet.

I paused… would he even come? It's like the middle of the night… he was probably sleeping.

Maybe I should go back…

I moved the flashlight over the water to see if I could see anything. It was when I moved to turn back that I noticed something shine in the water.

I whipped back around and looked into the water.

It was gone.

"Please get rid of what ever that is… it is too bright…" A voice said.

I turned off the flashlight. "Zexion?" I asked.

I squinted and looked on the surface of the water.

Then suddenly the shining object returned.

It wasn't an object really…

It was Zexion.

He was glowing. His eye a glistening blue-green and his skin iridescent in the sloshing water.

I dropped the flashlight before moving into the water. "You're… You're shining!" I managed to say through my amazement.

"It is simple bioluminescence. There are other creatures in the ocean that have a glow far more beautiful than mine." He said.

"No… this is amazing. You're kind of the only thing I can see out here. But I'm glad I snuck out the house to see you." I said quietly.

"I assume you were punished for what happened?" he asked.

"Yeah… but I was surprised that they didn't remember who you were… what happened?" I asked.

"I was dressed differently." He said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well… it is not often, but I do have to venture out onto land. So I have a certain dress that helps me blend into the surroundings." Zexion explained.

"You mean, you wear clothes like mine?" I asked.

"Yes… and ocular aids… I cannot recall the name…" He seemed to contemplate for a second.

"You mean… like glasses?"

"Yes… those."

"But doesn't your hair cover one eye anyway?" I asked.

"I tie my hair up and away from my face."

"Really?" I questioned.

"Yes…"

"That's probably why they didn't recognize you." I thought aloud.

"I can't really picture it… but you probably look really good." I said with a smile.

Zexion's glow flickered and I jumped.

"Are you okay? Is something wrong?" I asked in concern.

"Do not fluster me. My emotions will change my glow." He explained.

I smiled. "That's really cool. Does it change color?" I asked.

"It depends…" he said.

I inched closer, our noses almost touching. "What if I do this?" I asked and looked into his eye.

Zexion's eye color changed to light blue and bright silver specks began to outline his cheeks.

"Do not do that." Zexion said and moved away.

"Why not? The colors are pretty." I said.

A wave of purple flashed over his skin before sunk underneath the water to hide.

"Zexion? Why are you so shy about it?" I asked hoping he'd come back up.

His head slowly emerged from the water, his eyes blue-green once again.

"Zexion… do your parents believe me now?" I asked.

He nodded. "They really thought you were going to die… that or swim back down to safety. When they realized that you had succeeded, they were very shocked. They seem to have grown fond of your strong will and determination."

I smiled. "That's good… I was worried that they wouldn't accept me."

"Do you want to go back down?" Zexion asked tentatively.

I thought for a second…

"I will not abandon you to drown… if that is why you are hesitant." He said.

"W-well… I…" I stuttered. I was a little afraid. I had always loved the ocean… but that was before I almost drowned in it.

It was hard to comprehend just how deep these waters run.

I noticed Zexion's eye change from blue-green to a warm gold. "Do not be afraid. I will never let you drown. I will keep you safe." Zexion said softly.

I nodded and he took my hand. "Close your eyes." He said.

I closed them and let him take me under.

When I opened my eyes again. Everything was clear.

The nightlife was in play. Nocturnal fish and other animals flashed their colors as they swam. Reefs seemed to glow bright pinks, purples, oranges, reds, greens.

I watched a small squid whizz past me, its underbelly bright green.

"Their colors are so bright!" I said through my thoughts.

"Yours are rather nice as well…" Zexion replied.

I looked at my arms. My skin was flashing waves of black and silver speckles sparkling.

Whoa…

"Come with me." He said and pulled me along.

I nodded and me took me to a sunken ship. I looked around in amazement. "How long has this been down here?" I asked.

"A long time… before I was born. It is still wooden and not powered by fuel." Zexion said and we swam inside.

I looked around at the pottery jars and other things inside. "Maybe it was a trade boat." I said.

Zexion nodded and I continued to observe. I swam over to a hole and was about to swim inside when a shark came swimming out towards me.

"W-WAHHHHH!" I screamed and darted over to Zexion to hide behind him.

Zexion sent me a concerned look before he watched the shark slowly swim out of the ship.

"I forget that you humans fear sharks…" he said almost to himself.

"I had never seen one so close before… I thought it was going to eat me for sure…" I said.

"Sharks do not eat my kind." Zexion said simply and I looked to him.

"It frightened me… I don't really believe sharks are man eaters… but it's still a fear that most people have regardless." I said.

"There are creatures in the ocean that you should fear more." Zexion said.

"And what's that?" I asked.

"Spider crabs… they will not hesitate to hurt you. Regardless of whether or not you are a guardian." Zexion said in complete seriousness.

I laughed. "And here I was expecting you to tell me about some unknown sea creature that could destroy the universe or something."

"We have those too." Zexion said with a smirk.

I laughed again. "Ha! You have a sense of humor!"

"I have many things…" he said, returning to his more serious self.

I shook my head at him and we left the ship.

"If there is any sea creature you want to stay far from, it is the merpeople." Zexion said.

"Merpeople actually exist?" I asked.

"Yes… they are very unpleasant. They are vicious and primitive creatures…" Zexion said as we swam.

"And just who is vicious and primitive?" A red mermaid said as she swam around us.

"Whoa… this is so unreal…" I said aloud to myself.

"Please… I do not have the time to chat with you." Zexion said and started to pull me along.

"I smell a human… where is he… I want to eat him." A green merman appeared.

Then a blue one and a purple one.

They circled us and Zexion pulled me close beside him.

"So you disguised him as one of your kind I see. Nevertheless a human is a human and tastes as such." The red mermaid said and circled closer.

The green merman lunged with impatience and Zexion hissed and bared his teeth in an attempt to scare it off.

"Human… Human…" They all seemed to mutter.

"Zexion… w-what are we going to do?" I asked.

"You trust me, yes?" Zexion asked quietly.

I nodded.

"I need you to swim as fast as you can, towards the cathedral… all you have to do is keep swimming in the direction we were going." He said.

"Without you?" I asked in fear of drowning.

"I will be right behind you… just keep swimming."

I trembled. "I don't want us to die, Zexion… I don't want to drown." I said and grabbed tightly to his wrist.

"You won't drown, I promise. When I say go…" he said.

I nodded and let go of his arm.

The red mermaid swam towards me, her teeth and claws at the ready. Zexion swam at her and pushed her back.

"GO! RIKU MOVE!" He yelled and I swam away as fast as I could.

I didn't like running away.

I hated it.

Zexion was risking his safety to protect me and I was just being useless!

I kept swimming even when I heard a strange ringing noise.

I saw the cathedral and swam towards it… feeling more and more reluctant to swim further away.

"You swim faster if you glide with the water. Do not fight with what surrounds you." Zexion's voice sounded and I turned to see him swimming behind me.

Blood trailing behind him.

"Zexion! Y-your side is bleeding!" I said and swam to get a closer look.

I hated that he had to get hurt. I didn't like running away!

"Riku… I am a guardian. It is my job to risk my life to protect." Zexion said.

"But I'm not a coward and I can help you!" I said.

"I know… but as you are, you cannot aid me."

"Then change me! Let me learn what I need to learn! I don't want to see you hurt." I said my glow flickering before flashing red.

"Soon…" Zexion started. "It is time for you to return to land. I shall accompany you to the surface."

"But what about your side!" I said.

"It will heal."

"Why would those mermaids do something to the person that keeps them safe?" I asked.

"They are primitive… they do not understand things such as love, or forgiveness, or gratefulness. They would eat each other if it did not hinder their hunting patterns." Zexion said as we moved towards the shore.

I frowned. "That's disappointing." I said.

Zexion nodded and we continued.

When we got to the shore, the sun was starting to rise. "What time is it?" I asked.

"5:30 in your time." Zexion said.

That means I still had an hour of sleep I could catch.

"Thank you for saving me..." I said softly.

Zexion pulled me close again, his forehead touching mine.

"You're welcome, right?" I said.

He nodded before pressing his lips to mine. I could taste the salt on his lips. I gasped when I felt his hand touch my face.

He seized the opportunity to enter my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed.

When he pulled from me he looked into my eyes. "I am already healed." He said and I looked down at his side.

No sign that an injury was ever there. I ran my fingers down his side. "That's amazing…" I said in awe.

Zexion pulled me close and kissed me again. "You're flattery is too much." He said.

"I'm not really trying to flatter you… it's just the truth." I said. "You're amazing! One minute you're like a fish, and I'm like you too… and then the moment we are out of the water, you are like me." I said and looked at his eye.

I pushed the hair covering his other eye away from his face.

It's pupil seemed to envelope the entire iris in black. It was like the eye of a great white shark.

He closed his eye and looked away.

"You okay?" I asked.

"This eye does not work well out of water… it is to sensitive. That is why I cover it." He said.

I nodded. "I will see you later… right?" I asked.

Zexion nodded before kissing my lips for a third time. "Goodbye." He whispered before moving back to the ocean.

When I could see him no more, I walked back to my house, climbed up the side, opened the screen of the window, and squeezed inside.

I took of my clothes and changed into something dry.

When I finally laid my head down to sleep. I couldn't help but put a hand to my lips.

I really kissed a boy and liked it…

And technically… he wasn't even… no… I paused… I shouldn't think that far into it…

He was just fine.

I fell asleep.

A/N: REVIEW! I NEED THEM LIKE A DRUGGIE NEEDS CRACK!