Lord,
when you send the rain,
think about it, please,
a little?
Do
not get carried away
by the sound of falling water,
the marvelous light
on the falling water.
I
am beneath that water.
It falls with great force
and the light
Blinds
me to the light.
Naruto finally went back to the boat, he needed that walk needed to just get away from this boat from this hell that he is suffering in. He didn't know what to do, where was he to live he could live in this boat for a couple of weeks but then what? Where could he go?
The conversation he had with Jaryia soon came back to his mind. No matter how much he thought the idea was horrible and dangerous he still thought it was a shimmer of hope.
Naruto walked down the walk to get some fresh air. He understood why Sasuke kicked him out,he truly did. Sasuke was barely making it and adding another person into an already unstable situation only made things worse. Sometimes they didn't shower so the water bill wouldn't be too expensive to pay. They washed their clothes in the ocean giving them a distinct salt water and fish smell. They only ate cheap packed foods so not to waste water on things like dishes. Of course they didn't have any type of heating system. At times they would wake up frozen, their arms and legs numb, their lips blue, and teeth chattering.
Not to mention the place was small. It was an old beat up rusted shack with metal walls and roof with weak wooden flooring in some places even broken. It was drafty and if it rained the house would leak water sometimes so much that the water would come up to their knees. The old shack barely stood up shaking and trembling begging to just be demolished by the winds and rain. The rain made storms even more terrifying then normal. The normal soothing drizzling of rain was usually welcomed but once a storm picked up it felt as if it were hail coming down not rain. Thunder shook the small shack, lighting almost struck it once illuminating the house a bright blue.
In the summer it was grueling, the metal walls and roof did nothing for the summer heat waves. Sweat would soak their clothes and hair. If they dared take a shower it would only be for a couple of minutes not daring to take longer. Food that they bought after a long, hard day at work would be spoiled all because the fridge would stop working properly in the heat.
The furniture was sparse. A beat up couch with more holes in it than could be expected, it smelt of liquor and vomit making Naruto wonder exactly what this poor couch endured in it previous glory days. There was one futon, a beat up old fridge and a toilet with a small shower that both grown men had trouble fitting into. The shower was so close to the toilet you could smell the lingering odor of urine. That was everything in the shack.
Everything was fine until Sasuke's landlord demanded that they pay double the rent since Naruto moved in.
Sasuke had tried to reason with the bastard but to no avail. The bastard told them to either pay double or pack up and leave. Things of course become much more stressful they couldn't afford to pay double they were already late on last months rent and they were sure to be late on this months rent.
So no he wasn't even surprised that Sasuke kicked him out. If the tables were turned he would have kicked Sasuke out too.
Naruto wandered around the dock aimlessly until he hit something or more like someone. He felt as if he had been on a head collision with a a train.
"Ow my head."
"Watch where your going you little brat, maybe if you didn't look like your pet dog died you would have seen me."
"You perverted old bastard what are you even doing here! Don't you have poor women to harass."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow at his godson, "Naruto it's 3am what women do you know who are out an about at this time. I mean it's not like their isn't but I don't have enough money for those right now."
Naruto made a gagging sound the last thing he needed to know was about his godfather's late night quest with some hookers.
"Aren't you usually sailing the seas old man?"
Naruto was actually shocked to have run into his Godfather. Jiraiya fancied himself a traveler. Liking to visit countries far and wide. Going on trips for months sometimes even years. He had taken Naruto on a journey once for four years they sailed the ocean. It was scary and exhilarating. The winds softly slapping your face, the smell of the salt water and air mixing, the wild sea creatures that you never thought to see up close, the dangerous storms they faced were the most scary and exciting experiences of his life.
"Yea well I just got back to get some things. I'm going on another 2 year journey." Jiraya explained. "You should tag along with me tomorrow I'm hoping to stack up on some essentials."
"Yea sure I'll see if I have time."
Jiraiya looked at Naruto's face. Dark bags under his eyes, his hair seemed less bright than normal and Jiraiya could only assume that was due to the lack of bathing. The boy smelled of rotting fish that made Jiraiya's stomach sick. He also assumed the clothes that Naruto was wearing hadn't been washed in Kami knows how long.
"So Naruto wanna tell me why you look like a lost puppy at 3 in the morning?"
Naruto sighed finally taking a seat at the side of the dock letting his shoes teasingly touch the dark ocean.
"Nothing really you know just life."
Jiraiya nodded he the life of a fishermen was hard. He remembered the kid telling him of his dream to become a the most trusted advisor to the King. In the end to just become a lonely fishermen must have been a tough pill to swallow.
"Uh-huh, life you say. Let me guess can't get a good catch."
"Good catch? Good catch? Jiraiya I can't even get an acceptable catch at times."
Jiraiya knew his next words probably shouldn't have come out but what type of Godfather would he be if he didn't at least throw the idea out there.
"Look Naruto, I know you probably already know that this is dangerous especially for those small fishermen boat you men sail. But if you just go out a little further into the ocean you can probably get a better catch."
Naruto's dull blue eyes shined with hope, "How good of a catch? How far out?"
"Calm down kid. Maybe four or five hours out into the ocean their are more fish there. New breeding grounds. Bigger fish since they are usually further out they have enough time to mature."
Naruto couldn't contain his excitement maybe this could be his silver lining. It was dangerous though the further you went out into the ocean the more the winds would blow the more the current and waves became unstable, but desperate time called for desperate measures.
"Look I gotta go I'll catch you tomorrow and Naruto be careful I sense a storm coming try to wait until it passes before you attempt this okay?"
"Yea sure." But Naruto wasn't truly listening. He was already planning on how to convince Sasuke to sail further out sea.
He would tell Sasuke about his plan in the morning for now he would head back to the boat and get some sleep.
Hinata huffed as she tried to find a more comfortable position to sleep on. She twisted, turned, huffed, and puffed until she finally got tired and sat up.
She couldn't sleep her mind was preoccupied with sky blue eyes and tan glowing skin. Hinata let a soft sigh escape her pink pouted lips. She decided to just go and stare at the sky, seeing the dark sky and stars always seemed to calm her down.
Hinata swam up to the surface of the ocean and as soon as her head hit the surface and the wind hit her wet face she felt at ease. She looked up at the dark sky, the beautiful stars and than the dark clouds. A storm was to hit, she could feel the waves pick up a little confirming her thought.
Hinata swam to the land, pulling her self up leaving only her tail in the ocean and stared up at the calm dark sky. She wondered where Temari was. Was she happy? Was she okay? She seemed to be fine when she left them two years ago. Two years that's how long she had been gone. Even if she wanted to come back she couldn't no one would accept her into the merworld. Her brothers were upset, no, upset was too simple of a word to describe the way her brothers screamed at her. Gaara the King Of Sand was usually calm but when his sister told him that she was leaving with Shikamaru he looked as if his dark days had come back. The days of killing humans left and right and ruling the lands filled with sand with an iron fist.
No one really saw Gaara much mermaids lived far away from the land Gaara ruled she was sure there wasn't even water where Gaara ruled. He usually preyed upon humans who lived in those lands or got lost in the land of sand. Having no water with them and the scorching sun beating upon them he would usually help them for a price. Sometimes it was simple thing perhaps 5 years of manual labor in return for some water and others it was their soul as soon as they died he would have their souls.
His brother Kankuro was a master of manipulating humans mostly their bodies. They became his puppets and he would always come back he feed off their frustration. It was usually harmless he would simple create embarrassing situations for humans. A far cry from when he use to make them kill or commit suicide.
It took Kiba, Shino, Neji-nii-san, Ino and Sakura and many other demons to keep Gaara and Kankuro from doing anything to harm Temari. In the end she left with her head held high believing in love. Believing she was leaving for something better.
Hinata sighed she wanted that she wanted to go to that fisherman and have what Temari and Shikamaru have. But she couldn't hurt her father like that and she couldn't even bare to think what Neji-nii-san would do if she ever did something like Temari. But still she couldn't help but think of the blond hair man, his sun kissed skin, his blue ocean eyes that she could get lost in.
Hinata was sure what made him different than other male humans. Ino had described many men when she would come back man hunting. Man hunting to mermaids isn't what humans thinking. Yes mermaids would lure men into the ocean but they didn't kill them... okay some did. But not all. Not all mermaids even went man hunting it entailed to lure a human man and suck out a tiny bit of his soul. Not much but just enough to satisfy.
Most mermaids though kept away from humans long ago humans and mermaids use to live and love one another. Mermaids had the ability to venture out on land and if they stayed on land long enough their tails became legs, but things changed humans got greedy and soon were killing mermaids for their tails.
After that mermaids swam further out into the sea and deeper than any human could venture.
Hinata felt the sun start to come up as the soft rays slowly made there way up lightly kissing her pale skin and pulling her out of her musings. She had stayed up all night she needed to sleep. With one more sigh she left herself fall back into the ocean back into the depths of safety and away from the strange human fisherman.
It was around 10am when Naruto finally convinced Sasuke to let them travel further away from land. Sasuke was apprehensive about the whole situation it was too far out and it also looked like a storm was coming. But Naruto had reassured him that they would be back before the storm hit.
How he wished he had never listened to that idiot, he felt the first couple drops if ran, how long had they been out here? What time was it? Sasuke was becoming agitated this was not good if they got caught in the storm they probably wouldn't make it out alive.
"Naruto we have to leave now."
"Just another hour Sasuke, I can feel this is gonna be a good catch!"
Sasuke shook his head, "If we don't get the fuck out of here now we won't live to see another catch!"
The rain picked up, the winds howled, they were too late the storm was much closer than they both anticipated. They held on to the rails trying to pull the anchor back into the boat.
"Go steer the boat I got the anchor!" Naruto shouted the beating rain made it harder to hear and even harder to think clearly.
Sasuke ran to the steer as Naruto finally threw the anchor into the boat. He struggled to steer the currents were violent the winds made it hard to stand up straight he tried his best to steer but his hands were becoming slippery from the rain.
"Naruto come help me!"
Naruto could hear his friends frantic voice this was not good. Before Naruto could even steady himself on the rails a dark shadow cast upon their small fishermen boat.
Both men looked up in horror as a massive wave came crashing on to the small measly boat, they both were thrown out of the boat into the harsh dark ocean.
Naruto tried to surface but the waves kept coming from every direction pulling him down. He could hear Sasuke call for him. Where was Sasuke?
He tried calling for him but it was no use it only caused water to forcefully plunge into his mouth. He couldn't breathe, it was becoming harder to think, his lungs burned from the water.
He couldn't struggle anymore his arms were becoming tired the waves kept pulling him further down. As he was slowly blacking out he couldn't help but think of how stupid he had been to put his friends life and his own in danger like this.
Slowly the darkness consumed him but before he left this world he could have sworn something with a womanly figure and a tail swam above him.
Hinata shuddered as she heard the roaring of thunder. The storm was stronger than she previously had anticipated.
"Hey Hinata!" Hinata looked over to see her friend Ino with her beautiful long blonde hair flowing behind her, her shining blue eyes and gorgeous smile.
"Hi Ino."
The beautiful blond sat next to her shy friend as she next to her on a rock, "Some storm huh?"
Hinata nodded some storm indeed the underwater currents were also quite strong. Mermaids were use to strong storms their bodies and tails equipped with following the currents but this storm was erratic the currents changed erratically and the waves went every which way.
"Man I hope those fisherman are okay." Ino said her voice dragging Hinata out of her thoughts.
"Fishermen?" Hinata was confused what fishermen would be as foolish as to come out far enough for Ino to be worried for their safety.
"Yea I guess they thought if they ventured out further enough they could catch something but their boat was being pulled further in I guess they didn't notice because they ventured out pretty far before they threw that big black thing in."
Hinata heart beat rapidly it couldn't be her fisherman could it? "Ino can you show me where you saw that boat?"
"Yea sure follow me."
They swam further into the ocean the further they went the colder it got. She shivered and steadied herself the currents were still so erratic.
Both girls came to screeching halt as they heard a loud crashing sound followed by slow sinking debris of a boat Hinata quickly made her way to what was left of the boat and as soon as she did she saw the same fisherman that she had been stalking being pulled down by the waves she watched in horror what was she suppose to do? What could she do? Hinata thought rapidly remembering that Temari once said she used an air capsule to drag Shikamaru down but Hinata didn't have an air capsule. She never went man hunting too shy to even think about hunting down a man.
"Ino! Do you have an air capsule?"
"Um.. yea you know what I think I may have one I went man hunting a couple days ago."
Ino dug into her small bra pocket pulling out a small capsule. If a human took it their lungs would be filled with air helping them breathe underwater but only for an hour until the effects of the capsule wore off.
It was her best option to save the blonde. She quickly swam over to him and down to grab him, he was heavy he pulled her down and the currents weren't helping.
Ino seeing her friend struggle quickly came to help her support the humans weight. She watched as Hinata opened his mouth and helped the man swallow the capsule.
"We have to get him some where safe." Hinata pleaded to her friend
Ino racked her brain until she remembered an abandoned ship not from where they were now.
"I know the place." Hinata and Ino dragging the man trying to find the currents so it could help them drag the man to the ship.
It only took 15 minutes but to Hinata it felt like an eternity until final they came upon a large ship. It looked like it had been under water for years. Coral overtaking the outside of the ship its halls that were once filled with humans now left for fish to roam in and out of. Becoming a new breeding ground for the life of the ocean.
In the middle of the ship was a dining table surrounded by 8 chairs. Hinata suspected that its colors once contained dark blue and gold but she couldn't be sure.
They placed Naruto on the table after using their tails to clear it off golden wine cups and plates.
Hinata looked at the handsome man, he was even more beautiful up close she could see what looked like faint scratch marks on each side of his face. His tone, muscular, tan chest exposed his shirt ripped by the violent waves.
"Ino how do I know if the capsule is working?" Hinata's soft voiced laced with anxiety. Before Ino could answer Hinata the two beautiful creatures heard the blonde man gasp. Perhaps trying to fill his lungs with air. He looked panicked and unsure of exactly where he was.
Naruto felt his chest burn, it burned like nothing he had ever felt before and sat up gasping for air trying his best to fill his depraved lungs of the air he desperately needed he quickly began searching for Sasuke but as he looked around he saw that he was still in water in a ship. Expect this wasn't his small boat this looked more like a cruise ship that must have sunk years ago he looked around only to see pearl lavender eyes staring at him in shock. Naruto looked at her, her dark blue hair long and silky, her pale skin, her lavender shelled bra and her...her tail?