Disclaimer: I own neither "K-On!" nor "The Little Mermaid."
I have never even watched people surf, so do expect a poor imagination on this sport.
Used a really lame EVA reference—ten points to those who find it!
-.-
"The Little Mio"
Chapter III: Siren
"Jesus Christ, Ritsu! Scared the hell out of me!" Sawako shouted, bouncing on the sand.
A certain flounder fish nearby was avidly eying the acting agent's bouncing, one area in particular…
"I know, right? I give my all, put my best into messing with you, Sawa-chan," Ritsu gave a lopsided smile, crossing her arms over her chest comfortably.
"Will you ever learn to be productive with yourself?" Sawako said.
"Says you, sun-bathing in the middle of day." Their days. It was practically twilight. Ritsu and Sawako were night animals. Midday was their morning.
"Do you see any sun today?"
"Oh that's right, you burn like you've been beaten," Ritsu smirked.
"But you know who tans like an Amazonian goddess?—Nakano," Sawako steered the conversation.
"Oh not this again! Let me promise you that I will never date Nakano. Maybe her guitar…haha, instrumentality! But anyway, I'm not into spray-can beauty."
"Ri-kun, she's a celebrity. She goes to some A-list salon."
"Whatever. I guess…I like your skin, Sawa-chan."
"Wh-wh-what?" Sawako sputtered, unbalanced by the compliment from her unruly housemate.
"I can see everything on your skin—scars, blemishes," Ritsu listed as Sawako grimaced at these, "—freckles, peach fuzz, and best of all, blushes!"
"…" Sawako eyed Ritsu fondly for a moment before beginning, "If I weren't so straight, something as shamelessly awkward—but sincere—as that, would have won me over."
That same flounder fish was in the distance, scheming, not discouraged at all by the acting agent's denial.
"What are you talking about? You're a raving lesbo, buried deep in that closet of insecurities."
"Hush you…I'm going in. Ready to eat?"
"Nah, I want to stay out and watch the waves for a bit. I'll grab some later."
"Okay, but no more swimming or surfing. You already went out too far just now, and the waves aren't getting any nicer tonight," Sawako reminded motherly, before sauntering off.
-.-
Thoughts and feelings were ricocheting through the core of Mio. She didn't understand the humans' conversation entirely. Mio was convinced that her pale skin would gain a compliment, too. She felt relieved that the Amazonian goddess, Nakano, wouldn't be a threat, but she couldn't tell about that Sawako. She didn't know the terms "straight" and "lesbo", either. Something felt a little off to Mio too. There was something about her Prince Ritsu's voice that was…ambiguous. Like his frame, it wasn't very obviously masculine. In some angles, Ritsu actually looked more like a pretty girl than a—
"Beautiful,"—boy Mio exhaled, smitten.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Mio-chan," Mugi sang, ogling the behind of Sawako. Mugi daydreamed that this was quite possibly the story of creation for merfolk. Fish falls for human, vice versa, babies boom, new species. Of course, Mugi was a radically liberal fish, and she never voiced her beliefs to the kingdom, especially King Akiyama. The theory that merfolk came from humans was heresy.
Nodoka looked worriedly at her charge, being well-read enough to know the sign on Mio's face. The King could never know of this.
It was already too late into the evening, so Nodoka began, "I think it's best we return now before your father sends a search team."
Mio didn't hear a thing. She couldn't move; she could hardly speak! Her mouth had become so dry from hanging partially open. She squealed at the easy-going nature of Ritsu. She loved the way he spoke so…fluidly. Even though merfolk were creatures of the water, they tended to restrain their speech in propriety. Mer singing was starkly opposite. It was why she loved to sing so passionately, not because they all told her to, but for herself. Yet at this moment in time, Mio found herself wanting to sing for another being, this human being, Ritsu.
Mio fell back in the water and rolled around in squeals.
Nodoka believed the mermaid possessed.
Mugi joined in the abandon, tailfin faster than a boat's rudder.
Yui flew in at this time, belly more than full from her feast with the decadent men. She observed the three sea creatures and followed their lines of vision. In rare yet highly critical times, Yui could perfectly assess a situation. Of course, she looked as clueless as ever, but she couldn't really help that, being a seagull.
It was then the sky was overtaken by black clouds. The wind picked up like an unsettling opening by flutes and clarinets. Thunder could be heard in the distance, which meant lightning would strike soon.
Nodoka needed them to hurry back, so she went as far as to pinch the princess. An ugly mark surfaced on Mio's alabaster skin, but the girl did not respond. She was too far gone in a trance.
-.-
Ritsu's eyes grew with the heightening waves. She had to get on them.
She sprinted to her board, skillfully picking it up in mid-run. Dropping her board in the water, she laid her body flat against it and pedaled into action. Finding a sweet spot, she hoisted herself up in a standing position, making the extremely difficult task look effortless.
Mio watched in desperate yearning. How could a human be so in tune with water? From the incredible speed that Ritsu propelled her legged figure to the impressive talent she steered that plank with that statuesque body, Mio believed this Ritsu must have been more than human, more than merman—perhaps some deity that ruled over both land and water!
Mio had to get closer.
She determinedly pummeled through the violent currents. Mugi and Nodoka tried to follow, but this time was in vain. Being a mermaid, Mio had better prowess of the water than they did. Plus, the crab and flounder were quite small and easily overpowered by the rough waters. Yui fared even worse in the rain and high speed winds, so she had to find safe shelter immediately. She hid in the porch of Ritsu's estate. The lightning now striking only added a sense or terror and urgency.
"Hime!"
"Mio-chaaan!"
Nodoka and Mugi cried hysterically, but no longer could they worry about their princess. They were in grave danger themselves, needing all their energy and concentration to make it out of this storm alive. For now, they would have to plunge into deeper, safer waters until the surface calmed. Mio was fast and nimble for a mermaid, but they would pray for more than that this fated night.
The unrelenting winds and full moon tide were pushing Ritsu south, far from home. Mio kept up easily enough, because she could traverse water more rapidly than that plank it appeared.
Mio looked anxiously at the conditions. Even in her natural element of water, she felt that they were especially angry tonight. Almost as if…something unnatural was controlling the behavior of the waves. The waves seemed to follow Ritsu, almost wanting the surfer to be sucked in. Mio had a terrible feeling in her chest.
Ritsu, on the other hand, was having the best adrenaline rush ever. These were by far the most wicked waves she had ridden, and she was taking them in stride. It would appear that she was slipping up, but her style was loose like that. She knew intuitively that she was completely in control of her board.
Mio, misjudging Ritsu's carelessness as a cry for help, swam ahead of the surfer. Super-being or not, Mio couldn't bear the thought of losing her Prince. She emerged herself up to her waist, waiting to confront the human. Her teenage mind failed to reason that this would frighten the human far more than help. Mio—in all her good intentions—was bringing a capable Ritsu closer to harm.
Ritsu got under a massive wave, a tunnel being formed behind her. At the end, her eyes made out…a girl! ? What was she doing out in this storm! ? Only Ritsu was stupid enough to risk this adventure.
While in reality it took maybe seconds, Ritsu could recall this in heart-stopping slow motion. As Mio became clearer in the surfer's vision, Ritsu wasn't so sure if it was really just a girl. The waist that seemed breakable, the pearly skin that actually glowed in the dark, the breasts that couldn't possibly be contained by just any shells, the long ebony strands that seemed unaffected by the water, the unnatural affection but indifference to her surroundings, the pouty lips, the kissed cheeks, those smoky silver eyes—Ritsu's attention was lost to this drowned angel. Ritsu had to talk to this entity! Ritsu had to meet this siren of the sea! No wait, Ritsu had to save her!
In all her scattered gusto—but the most distracting thing was simply, Mio's beauty—Ritsu lost her footing on her board. She fell tragically into the waves, spitting water out when she resurfaced her head from the dip. Ritsu saw the angel coming for her. The impossible attractiveness of her angel rendered Ritsu helpless. Instead of fighting the menacing waves, her limbs went limp in stupefaction. One wave sent Ritsu's head hard into a rock, and she immediately lost consciousness, a silly smile on her face.
Mio spotted the accident and hurriedly caught hold of her dashing Prince. She held Ritsu securely in her arms as she propelled them with her violet tail fin.
It was taking the last reserves of Mio's energy to get to shore. The waves seemed eager to push her back home, but with one last pocket of hope, Mio crashed their bodies hard into the sand.
Mio looked worriedly albeit excitedly at her Prince. She wasn't sure if Ritsu was fine. She tried an educated guess by searching for a pulse. Merfolk had hearts, and it would be more than lovely if humans did too.
Mio was a little too jittery to feel any traces of beating in Ritsu's wrists or neck, so she decided her fingers were no use right now. She blushed before deciding to place her ear against the left side of Ritsu's chest. Somehow it felt warm to her, and surely but unevenly, there was a rhythm. Mio let out a sigh of relief and cooed at the knowledge that both merfolk and humans shared hearts. Ritsu was probably just knocked into deep sleep.
Mio finally allowed herself to just gaze at her Prince without inhibition. She pushed Ritsu's long bangs away to reveal that well-structured face. Mio's finger started at Ritsu's narrowed jaw, up to her adorably sleeping smile, to a somewhat upturned nose, and lastly to the eyelids. How Mio needed to see those eyes again! Mio likely just openly stared at her Prince for over five minutes. The beach was deserted, so there was nothing to bother or notice them.
All of this evening suddenly added up to Mio, and she felt her own eyes droop at the recognition. It would probably be a good idea for her to rest too. Not having any brain or heart to leave her Prince, she settled in snuggly. She pushed her tail against Ritsu's perfect legs, fanned end draping over the surfer's feet. She then rested her torso comfortably onto Ritsu's prone form, putting her Prince's arms around her upper back. Mio, herself, circled her arms around her Prince's trim waist, and she finally tucked her head into the crook of Ritsu's neck. Sweet respite overtook her soon after.
-.-
Mio woke from the probing claw of Nodoka. The crab had a relieved but stern look on her face. It was long past time to go, the bright morning a stark contrast to last night's storm.
Nodoka had made some excuse to King Akiyama, claiming that the princess had spent the night at one of her friend's abodes. That was uncommon for the reclusive Mio, but King Akiyama was overcome by the pleasant idea of her making friends of her own age and species.
Mio didn't want to leave so soon, but she couldn't push her luck with Nodoka-san and her father any more. She would have to return another time.
"Wait Nodoka-san, just give me a few minutes before I go. I don't know when I'll see him again…" Mio lifted herself on her arms, hovering over the still passed-out Ritsu.
Nodoka would allow that, definitely a more permissive and sympathetic crab than she let on. Mugi waited patiently in the water, eyes searching left and right for the man's companion.
Before Mio realized it, she was giving her most precious gift to the surfer.
-.-
Ritsu stirred to a singular melody. It was eerie in that there could be no rival. No other song could ring as blissfully and irresistibly as this. Ritsu had to know this, had to find the vessel of such a voice. Alternately, it wouldn't matter the shape or form of this being, because its song had proven perfection of the highest form. No rush or high from surfing came close to this moment. No loving exchange with Sawako-nee-chan could even top this. Ritsu could die with meaning now, because she had heard this voice.
Yet Ritsu wasn't even of 18 years, and she had a lot of life left in her.
Her eyelids lifted to give her a slit of vision, the sun casting marvelously down on that shadow with heaven's voice. As her eyes adjusted from sleep, the shadow had an outline that sent Ritsu's memory jogging. Last night…
Those eyes! Shiny orbs reflected Ritsu's own shock, and she knew that this was the angel from last night. Of course. It would only make sense that the angel would have an unfair gift of song.
Ritsu strained her eyes to make out more of the angel's face, next picking out the angel's moving lips, then the flowing crown of hair, the dipping chest…Ritsu's eyes wanted to focus on that face again. That face was all-girl, the epitome of most fair.
Ritsu couldn't bring her voice to disrupt the hypnotic melody, so she reached her hand timidly out to stroke her angel's, this girl's cheek.
An upbeat barking broke the spell.
Ritsu's angel disappeared, really just disappeared from thin air, water.
Ritsu could not laugh this time when Satoshi licked her face appreciatively. In fact, she groaned, pushing her companion out of the way. She hoisted her torso up in sitting position, desperately searching for any trace of the girl and her song.
Shortly after, Sawako came running up, panting in place of Satoshi as she fell to her hands and knees, "Jesus, Ritsu, WHAT HAPPENED! ?" Sawako stole a few more gulps of air before she threw around a motionless Ritsu, "Thank God you're alive! I thought you had just crashed at one of the neighbor's houses, but when I didn't see your board on the sand," Ritsu's habit was to carelessly toss and leave her board on the sand of their property, "—I had a panic attack. I was about to call the police when Satoshi suddenly chased after this aggressive seagull that led us to you…" Sawako's face planted itself in Ritsu's shoulder, suppressing an urge to sob. "I thought you had drowned, Ritsu."
"I almost did," Ritsu finally spoke, distantly.
Sawako flinched in response.
"But I was saved by a girl…or maybe she put me in danger to begin with…but ah whatever!" Ritsu battled herself. "No matter what happened, she gave me a chance to hear her sing, and it was so…ack I'm not good with words…it was better than anything I've ever known! Blah blah, classical is the standard of great music, but this girl felt her music, she gave birth to a living song! !"
Sawako pulled back to evaluate Ritsu. Her housemate sounded a little delusional, and Sawako hypothesized that Ritsu might have been knocked up pretty badly by the storm.
"So…a girl with some major pipes saved you from drowning?" Sawako asked skeptically.
"Yeah! I mean, she was really…pretty…too," Ritsu blushed for possibly the first time in her life, "I mean," an exhale sort of burst from her mouth, "—she was just too good-looking…"
Sawako gave her biggest disbelieving stare yet. Ritsu had never been abashed over the attractiveness of another person, nor had she ever been the person to initiate the topic. It had always been Sawako who asked Ritsu's opinion, and the tomboy would always give such a disinterested, non-committal answer.
"—BUT!" Ritsu continued embarrassedly. "Her voice is more important! I think I'll remember that voice for as long as I live."
"Was she singing about anything in particular?" Sawako asked, forgoing her disbelief with curiosity. Delusions were interesting, to say the least!
"Um…I can only remember 'doki, doki,' which sounds like a beating heart, and 'fuwa, fuwa.' I have no idea what that may mean," Ritsu admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of her bruised head cutely. She grimaced from the pain.
"Are those even words…?" Sawako stood up, seeing if Ritsu was strong enough to do so herself.
"I'm sure they're important! It doesn't matter, okay? She could be singing about bunnies hopping in fields of caramel frosting, and it would still be moving, because her voice is that powerful," Ritsu said with conviction.
"Dang Ri-kun, you kind of sound like you have it bad," Sawako stood close by, just in case Ritsu couldn't support her own weight at the moment.
"I have to find her, Sawako. I've never been so sure of anything in my life. At the least, I need to thank her for, erm, saving my life," Ritsu didn't sound so sure about that. "More importantly, I need to know about her song and how it's inspired me to…I don't know. I…just have to hear her, see her again. It may have been enough to hear her once, but if I can receive more of her song, then I'd be crazy to not catch it now."
"Okay Ri-kun, we'll make search posters when we go home. We'll be productive today!" Sawako said, not bothering to mask any irony in her voice.
-.-
sumtimes i fell lik if i write like dis with no spelcheks punkshuasion or structur or thoht abt my plot…
I would win the human race. Bonsai.