Wassup everybody! Sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out. School issues and I caught a cold. But it's all good now. I sincerely apologize for keeping all of you waiting and I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Have fun and see ya at the end!

(^-^)/)).

Takano pulled Onodera with him over towards the bed, and spun them around so that the brunet was lying beneath him. There he kissed the his partner again, and again was met with shock as the mer-king kissed him back. Their need for each other was visible through their actions as Ritsu began to help Masamune out of his clothes. The Catalin continued to grope and caress the younger man's body as the brunet tried to focus on nothing but his lover's caresses. The brunet soon lost himself in pleasure as the older man began to lick his entire body. And when the Catalin's mouth maneuvered over the mer-king's cock, a loud moan escaped his lips as the dark haired man began to suck on it fervently.

"Taka-...Masa-mune," Ritsu moaned, causing his lover's passion to raise to new heights. The man instantly inserted all three of his fingers into the younger man's opening, causing the brunet to gasp and arch his back. To the man's surprise, the opening was still as loose as before and he didn't hesitate to remove his fingers and replace them with his already enlarged cock. The mer-king groaned deeply upon being entered so roughly.

"Masa_mune...slow do_wn," the uke whined as the man before him looked deep into his verdant depths.

"Do you really want me to, Ritsu?" the Catalin asked, his husky voice reaching Ritsu's ears, creating more sparks within his fully ignited body. The brunet didn't get a chance to answer as his lover began to move. The younger man's mind became a blank slate, the pleasure becoming more and more intense.

"Ma...ah...ah...ngh...ahnn~," mer-king moaned as the older man picked up his pace. The ever quickening thrusts of his partner left Ritsu writhing in a pleasure so intense it was like lightning pulsing through his body, making him numb all over. Their passion climbed to new heights as they came together. However, the feeling left by this kind of sex was so powerful they did it again. Succumbing to the pleasure they felt, they did it over and over again until predawn glowed in the east. They spent the rest of the night entangled in each other's arms, each unwilling to let go of the other.

Wah! Why did they have to go and do such things?! Chiaki thought in embarrassment as he saw the two entwined together in the glow of the morning sun. Won't this just jeopardize the mission?!

"Yoshino, what are you doing?" Hatori called as he walked towards the distraught merman.

"Um...I really don't want to uh..."

"What are you blabbering abou-"

The tall editor was cut off as he peered into the room, and saw the entwined bodies of the Catalin and mer-king.

"So they have this kind of relationship. Well time waits for no one. Time to wake them up," the man said dully. But just as he opened the door, the two woke up and stared at him.

"Whelp, time to get on the road," Takano said in his usual way. Onodera just nodded his head and swam over to grab their packs. The older man made sure to stay undressed to ensure that the transformation wouldn't rip his clothes. The two walked past a clearly stunned Hatori and proceeded to the front door as planned. The entire council was there to greet them and send them off.

"Safe journey to both of you. And good luck fighting that damn merman. Give him hell for us," Clara said bravely, her red hair displaying true anger at the one they had to face.

"Thanks Clara. We'll be back before you know it," the king said cheerfully as he waved to everyone. Then the two set off through the gate and stepped out of the barrier. The instant they stepped out they felt the full force of the ever growing dark power until the amulet took effect. The younger man's tail stopped for a minute at the sheer hatred emitted by the miasma. Why so much anger? the mer-king thought as he looked over at his partner.

Onodera looked deeply into Takano's eyes as they met. The next thing that caught his attention, was the navy blue tail that the Catalin now wore.

"You look good with a tail," the brunet commented lightly. The man just smiled and nodded his head.

"We should go," the older man stated blandly. The two then swam off in the direction of their prey.

"Oh? So they're coming to greet me? How thoughtful of them," Acronon sneered as he felt a ball of light break off from the castle. "I guess I may as well wait for them then. Don't want to be rude and meet them in this state."

The evil merman took a good look into a silver mirror on his cave wall, admiring his dark reflection. His unruly black hair and dark eyes filled with malice made him absolutely overjoyed. The most remarkable thing about him though was the smile he wore, which showed radiant joy instead of scorn. At this he frowned for it gave him a kinder look than what he had intended.

"Am I really this happy to have someone like him come to me?" he questioned his reflection. He looked deep inside himself, past his raging anger and hate, to find a small spark of joy in his soul's center.

"Hmm. How unusual of me."

Acronon then did his best to snuff out that spark by remembering the reason for his hatred.

"Born with a black tail and dark eyes? How could this have happened to my wonderful purple tailed queen?" the king muttered as he gazed upon his now 10 year old son, greeting him with such a bright smile.

"Father, I have god news. Mother just gave birth to an emerald tailed mer-prince," the boy said so proudly, even the king thought the older boy was quite lovely to look at. The boy was not unfortunate looking in nature; it was his tail that caused concern. For a black tail meant bad luck and possibly a tarnished soul.

"This is excellent news! We must gather the court in celebration!" The king proclaimed to all who were present. The hall erupted with cheers and in the middle of it all, the black tailed boy beamed so happily. His smile faded however when, after the celebration ball, he heard his father say, "We shall have Ritsu as the next king. I can't stand the thought of that black tailed monstrosity taking over."

The boy as he lay in his bed felt his soul become filled with darkness. Pain, fear and anger swept over him whenever he heard the meer mention of his younger brother's name. However, he still couldn't help but love his brother every time he gazed upon the child's face. He soon confronted the king about the matter of succession. When he did however, his father flew into a rage and with fear filled eyes, condemned Acronon to be sealed in a cave for 30 years. Acronon felt at first just sorrow, but then that sorrow turned to anger and his soul was finally totally corrupted.

"I will have my revenge," the black tailed merman chanted everyday, his dark power growing immensely.

"And so I've broken the seal 5 years earlier than expected. I won't submit to you this time brother," Acronon said darkly, a smug and malicious smile curling on his lips. His reflection now to his satisfaction, he began his preparations to meet the ball of light headed his way.

Sorry this chapter was so late in coming. I was having some serious writer's block. Ugh! I hope you guys can forgive me. So anyways, how'd y'all like this little twist in events huh? Please leave a comment to let me know if I should keep going with this. Please and thank you! See ya next time! (^o^)V