H-hi everyone. Sorry about this chapter being so late but final exams at my college have been plaguing my very existence. So again, sorry for the late chapter. And man, it seems like no one has any time anymore. Ah sorry, now without further ado, the continuation of A Tale of a Tail. I hope Ritsu and Masamune will be okay.
(-~-)'
"We're getting closer," Ritsu observed as they approached the final stretch of their journey.
"Oh really?" Masamune replied sarcastically as they swam on. The brunet took offense at this and began to swim faster. The older man took notice and, chuckling, increased his speed as well. Soon it became and all out race as one tried to out swim the other. After a while they both stopped from exhaustion with the younger man as the winner. The mer-king smiled smugly at his Catalin, but was caught off guard when he saw a shark swimming up behind them.
"Oh shit!" Ritsu said as he grabbed his lover's arm and swam away quickly.
"Oi Ritsu?! What the hell i-"
The dark haired man then looked back at the shark, and didn't hesitate to follow the mer-king's lead after that. They swam nearly all the way to Acronon's cave, when the shark finally gave up chasing them. The two stopped, panting heavily, trying to regain their breath.
"Th-that was too...close," the brunet gasped, as the older man, who regained his breath first, held the mer-king close to try to calm him down.
"But thanks to your quick thinking we didn't end up as shark bait. You should be worrying more about the miasma becoming thicker right now," Masamune replied as he looked around nervously.
"Eh?" Ritsu then began to look around as well, and saw a truly horrible sight before him. The bodies of dead sea creatures were everywhere, torn to pieces by the miasma or choked out by it. The mer-king's eyes filled with tears at the sight of his fallen people. The older man held his lover even closer to his body as the brunet's shoulders shook from rage and grief. After a while of crying the younger man made a new resolution, and calmed himself to the point of being an iceberg. His motions now emotionless, he pulled away from the Catalin and began to swim towards where Acronon laid in wait for him. The dark haired man noticed the change in his partner immediately, and soon became scared.
"Ritsu."
No response.
"Ritsu?"
Again no response. At that point Masamune became utterly desperate, and grabbed the mer-king's arm. Pulling him into a rough embrace so as to restrict his movements, the older man spoke into the brunet's ear.
"Ritsu, wake up. You're not thinking straight. If we just rush headlong into this without any sort of plan, we'll be killed. Do you really want Acronon to gain the upper-hand in this? Do you wish to subject your people to even more death and confusion? And let's not forget that the people on the surface will also be affected. Please come to your senses. We don't need anymo-"
"I'm fine Takano-san."
At the sudden mention of his last name, the Catalin knew that he was absolutely not fine. He's gone over the deep end. I need to think of something and fast, but what? the older man thought quickly, but despite all his attempts to think of something else, only one thing kept coming to mind. Is there really no other way? I don't want to do this to him if it will make him hate me. But I really have no choice. Masamune took a deep breath for confidence, before he spun his partner around and glared at him viciously. The mer-king's countenance went from cold and lifeless, to concerned as soon as he looked into the Catalin's deeply furious eyes.
"Masamune?"
At the sound of his first name, the older man's expression went from rage to annoyance.
"You finally called me that."
"Wha-"
Ritsu was cut off as his lover covered his mouth with his own in a rough kiss. The mer-king stiffened in shock. But as the man continued to kiss him, the brunet relaxed fully into the his embrace. When the Catalin finally broke the kiss, the younger man was left breathless.
"Do you feel better now?" Masamune asked, concern coloring his voice. Ritsu nodded his head and the two smiled at each other before they set off again. They'd gone about three more miles, when they saw a dark figure appear ahead of them. The two stopped in their tracks as they gazed upon the menacing figure of Acronon, swimming slowly towards them, a malicious smile plastered to his face.
"Welcome Mer-king and Catalin to my humble home," the black merman called in greeting as he continued to swim towards them. "To what do I owe the pleasure of having such pure spirits as company?"
"Well it's like this. Your miasma appears to be killing off the residents of the sea so we came here to purify it," the older man replied back with an icy smile of his own. The evil mermaid didn't recognize the man and stared at Masamune in confusion.
"Who are you? I knew a Catalin was coming, but I've never seen you before," Acronon asked blankly.
"The name's Takano. Takano, Masamune and I was living on land until now," he replied with a careless shrug. The merman took this into account, and then turned to address the mer-king.
"It's been a while my king. I see you are in good health," the black tailed merman stated casually, complete with a malicious smile and a mocking bow.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ritsu asked in true confusion. Shock then registered on Acronon's face, and he looked back at the brunet with a puzzled expression.
"You mean you don't even recognize me? I was there when you were born. I wasn't always stuck up here you know. And I was the happiest of all when you were born with bright green eyes and that beautiful emerald tail. Are you telling me you can't even remember your own elder brother who played with you until you were four?" the man asked in disbelief.
At the mention of the word brother the younger man lost it. He collapsed on the ground in shock and fear. He curled in on himself as this newest revelation hit him like a blow to the heart with a sword.
"Brother?" the emerald tailed mer-king asked quietly, with wide eyes staring at the ground. Acronon was truly surprised at this action, until he noticed the other merman also staring at him shocked.
"Did no one ever tell you who I really was?" the evil one asked, hurt, malice no longer coloring his voice.
"No."
At the confirmation of this fact, Acronon's rage came back in full force and it became much harder for the couple to breathe.
"So that old man and the council won't even let an ounce of me stay in this kingdom? Just how cruel could they be?" Acronon questioned with a smile so cold it froze Masamune and Ritsu in place. His fury was so apparent to the two of them, that they slowly backed away. That's when it came to the mer-king's mind and he signaled to his Catalin that it was time. The older man pulled the brunet off of the sea floor, and joined their hands.
"Mira squiletta mer duecht se blettae," the two chanted in perfect unison. As they continued to chant the spell, Acronon could feel the very air around him becoming clean and clear and his power weakened. He tried to hold on to his strength and power as the two continued to chant. On the final sentence of the spell, Acronon felt every last drop of power leave him and he looked hazily at the glowing forms of his brother and the Catalin before passing out on the sea floor.
Conflict over! Or is it? Looks like you'll have to stick around with me a bit longer guys. Sorry about that and so sorry for the late chapter. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or concerns about the story. That's all for now. Matta ne(see ya later)! (^o^)/))