Konichiwa~(hello), mina-san(everyone)! Hope you're all having a good time. This next chapter comes with some surprises and I look forward to seeing what y'all think. Without further ado, A Tale of a Tail. Start!((o(^o^)o))

"Acronon," Onodera said quietly as the ringing laughter from the evil merman faded out of existence.

"Who?" Takano asked in confusion as he continued to stare at the brunet.

"A black merman who wants my throne. He's caused nothing but trouble for my family in the past and...his seal has been broken. Did you notice the merfolk attacking us?" Onodera said seriously. Takano just nodded his head in response.

"It was because of a black miasma the he creates with his magic. It allows him to control others at will. That's also why there are no more sea creatures besides dolphins and jelly fish here now. They're the only one's who can't be tainted by the stuff. And it keeps spreading. If we don't do something quickly..."

The mer-king couldn't bring himself to say the rest, for it was a reality that was just too horrible to utter. Just before the dark haired man could respond to Onodera's latest words, in came Chiaki with Hatori on his tail.

"Onodera-sama! We finally found it!" the young author chirped happily as he rushed over to where his king floated. The news took Onodera by surprise and couldn't even get the next question to come out of his mouth. Luckily he didn't have to.

"Tori found it in a tome in the second liabrary. It's a spell that nullifies the miasma and forces it to go back into it's host. It may just kill Acronon. And if it doesn't it will leave him unable to cast the miasma ever again!"

"Hatori, what are you doing here?" Takano asked suddenly. Both brunets looked towards their partners.

"I should be the one saying that Takano-san. I've known about Chiaki and Onodera since my days in high school. So why are you here?" the editor asked a little rudely.

"I'm here to help keep that barrier up," the Catalin replied back testily.

"You made that barrier?" Chiaki and Hatori asked in shock.

"Yeah. Any problems with my being here now?" Takano asked with authority. The two shook their heads before the smaller brunet spoke again.

"Onodera-sama, please come to the second library right now. We need to show you the spell. Takano-san too."

The four left the tower and quickly made their way through the castle, and walked into the library. They were greeted by weary yet happy smiles from the Council as they all crowded around the book in excitement. What they read next disappointed all but two of them.

"Why?! When we're so close and now this!" Chiaki exclaimed in exasperation. The rest of them all bowed their heads in sorrow, until they noticed the smiles on their king's and his partner's faces.

"What are you two grinning about?" Reynard asked in disbelief.

"The spell requires a merman and a Catalin to activate it right," Onodera said still smiling.

"Well yes bu-"

"We have one."

"Huh?!" The rest of them said.

"May I present Catalin Takano Masamune," the brunet said with a wide smile, and then the two burst into laughter at the shocked faces turned towards them.

"This is great news!" Chiaki shouted happily as the rest broke into smiles and cheered. Once everyone had calmed down, they got down to business.

"Now how do we get close enough to him to activate the spell?"

"Well since I can nullify the miasma with my power I can shield you from it an-"

"That's too risky! You remember how the barrier took so much out of you? That will happen and you'll probably die before we reach him. I will not let you do that. Save your strength for the spell," Onodera scolded. Takano was shocked at his reaction, and went silent as the rest said their fill.

"Well he's sure to notice the spec of light that is the barrier around the castle. So what if we just wait for him here?"

"True. He is moving towards the castle now as we speak but it could already be too late before he gets here."

"So what if we just meet him half way then?"

This newest idea was met with silence. Onodera was very upset at the prospect, until he remembered something the last king had said.

"What if we use the Silent Bell?" the mer-king suggested. This increased the heaviness of the silence in the room, and it wasn't until Chiaki said something that it was broken.

"You realize that only Takano-san can use it right?" the author stated seriously.

"Yes, but it will protect us with a shield and we can go out and meet him in battle. If we can get to him before he reaches Hokkaido, then we may have a chance to defeat him."

"...I think this plan is best. Though how long will we have to travel to get to him?" the Catalin asked sullenly.

"Two days with eight hours of rest at my speed," the younger man stated quietly.

"Dammit! If only I had a tail," Takano said in exasperation.

"You're a Catalin. You have a tail," Clara stated so simply, that the rest of the room was shocked into silence. "Catalin's have always had tails. You just need to utter your wish for a tail and it will appear. Along with the Silent Bell, you will be able to save your magic for the time when it is most needed. However, I would suggest that you save your wish for a tail until you leave. The wish will not work within the barrier you have created. The tail doesn't activate unless you are in need of it, and you have no need of it here."

"Uh, okay," the dark haired man stated dumbly as his partner snickered beside him.

"I think I'll go get the Bell now," Onodera chuckled as he swam out of the room. When he came back, he held a necklace with a tiny glass bell on it on a golden chain.

"Here. Put this on," the mer-king said in a commanding but gentle tone. The older man did as he was told, and allowed the brunet to put the necklace on him. As soon as the bell rested upon his skin, he felt a huge weight lift off of his shoulders and his veins cooled as power flooded his body.

"How do you feel?" the younger man asked kindly.

"Great. Better than I have in years," the Catalin replied in an awed voice. The brunet sighed in relief before regaining his composure.

"Now that that's all settled, Chiaki, have the servants pack us enough food to last for two days. We leave at dawn," Onodera stated regally as he grabbed the book off of the table, and exited the library in favor of his quieter bedroom. Once he was there, he set about memorizing the spell. A certain black haired fellow decided to peek in on the king to check how he was doing, after the brunet had studied for well over four hours.

"Onodera, you there?" Takano called out softly.

"Yeah," the brunet responded back mindlessly as the older man entered the room.

"Have you been studying this whole time?"

"Yes. I need to. We can't carry the book with us so..."

The Catalin decided it was time for the mer-king to take a break, and gently slid his arms around the brunet's shoulders.

"You should rest. I need to memorize it too and you hogging the book doesn't help me with that."

Onodera sighed noisily, before standing up from his seat at the desk and switched places with his partner. The younger man then decided to go get some food from the kitchen, seeing as it was dinner time.

"You want some food Takano-san?"

"Nah. I already ate. You go on ahead," the older man said as he waved his partner's concern away. The mer-king grimaced in annoyance as he closed the door behind him, and walked out into the hallway. Once he was in the kitchen, the brunet was met with the usual fuss from one of the servants and was given hot food almost immediately. Onodera ate in silence, repeating the spell's words in his head over and over again. Once he was finished, he thanked the servants for the meal and swam back to his room. When he entered he saw Takano standing in the center of the room and saying the incantation softly. This caused the Onodera's heart to skip a beat as he gazed upon the image that was a Catalin.

"You truly are of the ancient race," the brunet commented breathlessly as the older man finished the incantation and turned towards him. Emotions roiled through the Catalin's eyes as the mer-king gazed deep into their opulent depths. Fear, worry and love being the most prevalent in the man's eyes, caused the younger man to smile gently at his partner. The older man then slowly walked over to where Onodera was, and held his hands gently. They gazed deep into each other's eyes, seeking the solace and strength of the other.

"Onodera-sa-"

Chiaki was cut off he he set eyes upon the loving pose that his king and his partner held right then. He then cleared his throat uncomfortably as the two sighed, and released the other's hands.

"Preparations are complete. They will have everything waiting for you at the front gate in the morning," the smaller brunet stated quickly, before turning around and swimming away at full speed.

"Well then, shall we call it a night?" the mer-king asked casually as he swam over to his desk, and closed the book. He didn't expect a pair of long arms to go around his shoulders, and to be pulled into the strong chest of their owner.

"Takano-san?" the brunet asked quietly.

"...I know we can do it. We are together. Nothing can stop us," the Catalin said strongly, causing Onodera to blush.

"...Yeah."

That was all the younger man had time to say as his tail changed to legs, and Takano turned him around and kissed him passionately. For once, the brunet didn't fight back and even kissed his partner back. This registered as shock in the older man's mind as he walked them both over to the bed.

Hai hai! That's as far as you go! Look forward to the next chapter everyone. Smut and the fun begins! Hope to see you all again soon and I'm really sorry for the late update. I hope you will forgive me.

Mata ashita ne(until next time)! Sayonara(goodbye)! (^o-)/