Chapter 12

Moonlight Swimmers

Wooa, finally finished this part. Please enjoy!

Ayame dropped her clothes into her bag which she put on a stalwart rock. She removed her flip flops and walked towards the water. She turned to look back at Ryuuzaki who stood there bewildered.

They were so far away from the gang this time. Surrounded by large rocks, the both of them can't be seen. Ryuuzaki wondered if the gang had noticed their absence. What would they think of him being alone with her? They might get the wrong idea.

Ryuuzaki was thinking was interrupted when Ayame had the offered the strangest thing in the world.

"Want to swim with me?"

"Swim?"

Ayame smiled.

"Oh, don't tell me you can't swim?" Ayame taunted. What's with her? Why is she acting like this?

Ryuuzaki gazed at her helplessly, his thumb on his mouth. Slowly, he took his shoes off and dipped his big toe on the seawater. Upon finding out the water's temperature, he drew back.

Was it that cold? Ayame thought.

"… You really can't swim…huh?"

Ryuuzaki shamefully nodded. What can he do? He never goes out for a swim. Look at how pale he is! Does he even look like he goes out at all? The tennis and dance prodigy thing was still a mystery though. Who knows how he got so good even if he doesn't get too much sun to practice outside. Maybe he plays alone enclosed inside his thick four walls?

Ayame sighed. She carried herself back near Ryuuzaki. She held out her hand to him.

Ryuuzaki eyed her hand carefully as if looking for something.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you." That sounded like something a knight would say. And now, it was spoken by a woman.

Ryuuzaki took note: A very tempting, beautiful and talented woman. Her offer was hard to resist. And she sounded so sure. It was more than enough for Ryuuzaki to warm up and trust her.

"Okay"

Ryuuzaki moved towards Ayame to join her in the water.

"Ummm…Ryuuzaki. You have to take off your clothes first." Ayame reminded him.

"Oh. Of course." Ryuuzaki felt abashed.

"Not literally all of them." Ayame yet added another gibe. Ryuuzaki turned to her and Ayame winked playfully at him.

Green joke!

She actually threw him a green joke as if his mind wasn't green enough already. It was actually getting all moldy green since he met her. Ayame has a way with words which can make man lose his control. Her teasing voice and comments which she might find harmless, isn't at all harmless.

She could get raped, you know. If the guy just can't control himself. She's luck that Ryuuzaki mastered the control and suppression of emotions. At least, for now.

If only you knew…

Ayame giggled. "I was just kidding! C'mon your boxers will do. "

Ryuuzaki took of his all-time-favorite long-sleeved shirt. He was hesitant to take off his pants. He thought that doing the whole thing was stimulating his inner vile.

She took her clothes off. I'm taking my own clothes off. We're like having… sex. Substitute only the bed with water. What? Of course not!!! NO hentai!!! Damn you author for making me like this…

(FrappeG: Chill out L.)

Ryuuzaki felt his groin lurch at the idea. I am such a maniac

Ryuuzaki better take control or Ayame might notice some protrusion beneath the boxers. What a difficult, complicated affair.

Master of control, my arse.

After making sure that the little head was down...

(THE UGLY TRUTH: Men have two heads. The other one atop their shoulders and the other one below the waist. Although most men use the little head much more than the bigger one. Tsk Tsk! If you're a guy reading this, I don't mean to offend.)

...Ryuuzaki shook of his pants and hurriedly joined Ayame. He was splashing around so much, then he slipped making Ayame laugh at him.

"Ahahahahahaha… Ryuuzaki, you're like a kid!"

Kid? Me? I have been a detective for a long time; they call me mature and omnipotent even. And now you're telling me I'm childish?

"No I'm not"

"No sense arguing. Being childish is not so bad, Ryuuzaki. I did not mean to offend you." Ayame said with a suppressed giggle. She doesn't look sorry.

"Hmph"

Ryuuzaki turned away sulking. Ayame gently touched his arm and it made Ryuuzaki forgive her in an instant. How could someone as resolute as him be manipulated by a woman who merely smiles, touches and talks to him? Wasn't he a defender of justice? That seems so distant now…

"Ryuuzaki…"

Ayame's voice was so gentle. Ryuuzaki listened carefully.

"…I admit. I misjudged you. When I first met you… I thought that you were just a weirdo."

Well…You got that right. I can't blame you for that. Ryuuzaki wanted to say this, but he, as often, was taciturn.

"When Misa set me up, I was so mad. She treated me to that dessert shop just to let me date you. Preoccupy you. Eventually, I agreed because I'm such a glut."

Preoccupy me? Oh, you did so much more than preoccupy me. You unknowingly inundated me!

Again, Ryuuzaki had to keep his thoughts to himself.

"But… You know. I was actually planning to ditch you right after eating my bargain... When you told me that it was you're first date, I felt guilty... I couldn't leave you… not like that."

Ayame is confessing a lot of things and Ryuuzaki didn't even say a word. Moron. That's what he is. Ayame would pause between sentences like she was trying hard to find the words to express her feelings. It was almost sweet.

And I, L, am a coward… I can't tell her everything. I can't tell her about what I have been thinking and FEELING. I couldn't…My silence is none other but an unsaid white lie…

Ryuuzaki was lost in thought; he almost wasn't able to notice Ayame moving towards his front and face him. Ryuuzaki stared at her and blushed.

Why won't the blushing stop!!!??

"Ryuuzaki. I haven't been so nice to you and I…just wanted to start over. You know, like friends?"

Ryuuzaki was dumbfounded. She wanted to be friends with him? That was…nice.

"Sure. No problem…"

Ayame sighed with relief.

"Woah! Feels good to get that all out of my chest."

Your B cup chest… Oh, SNAP!! Ryuuzaki mentally slapped himself.

"It's embarrassing when I announced us as friends. Remember at the restaurant?"

Ryuuzaki recalled. She did say they were just friends. Ryuuzaki also recalled the discomfort he felt that time; his stomach bothered him so much he thought he might have been having diarrhea or constipation. And it's happening all over again this very instant. What's happening to me?

"I just had to make this official. I don't have many friends…"

Neither do I…

Ayame's gaze wandered and Ryuuzaki saw loneliness etched in her eyes. Did she have a sad experience before? Involving friendships, perhaps?

Ayame's sad eyes became lively ones abruptly as she looked at Ryuuzaki. Is being his friend a happy thing? Was being friends with him enough for her to become cheerful? Ayame is weird in a way.

"Do you have your underwear on?"

"???"

Strange question.

Ayame sniggered. "Cause if you do. Then you'd have to wear your pants again without underwear."

Realization hit Ryuuzaki right in the face. Of course! He did not intend to swim when he arrived at Konoha beach club. Meaning, he did not bring extra underwear, towels, toiletries….

"Damn…" Ryuuzaki murmured holding on to his head. SENTIDO COMUN. (common sense)

"Don't tell me you're gonna wear wet undies on your way home? That would be so uncomfortable. I experienced that one time, it was unforgettable!"

Ayame fervently narrated about her experience falling down the bridge when she first tried on inline skates. The next thing she knew was that she's off the bridge and was on the water soaking wet.

"Now, you will suffer the same way I did that time." Ayame pointed out mockingly.

"You did this on purpose… Didn't you?" Ryuuzaki alleged.

Ayame bit her smiling lip. "Sort of!", her voice playful. She enjoys teasing Ryuuzaki so much. Wonder why.

"What are the odds!!?" Ryuuzaki exclaimed, mildly berserk.

"Blee!" Ayame stuck out a pink tongue and swam away. She stopped when she reached the deeper waters and said "Well…green-horn swimmer, catch me IF you can!"

A challenge, huh! Hmph! Just you wait…

Ryuuzaki observed Ayame's strokes. He assumed it was free-style. Maybe if he tries to copy her movements, he will then be able to swim and caught up with her.

Ayame dipped her head down into the water and resurfaced.

That Ryuuzaki has got to learn things on his own, besides, if he's having trouble, all he had to do was ask for her help, right?

Ayame flung her hair back. Its lengthy dampness caused its heaviness. Ayame glanced back and was surprised to see that Ryuuzaki was progressing at great intensity. He was using the free-style method. He started out a helpless duckling then morphed into a piranha!

He's incredibly fast! I thought he didn't know how to swim! He lied???

"No way"

Plunging into the water again, Ayame's heart beat faster as she swam as fast as she could. Ryuuzaki was nearing her. This competition! She's going to lose!

Ayame reeled. Ryuuzaki's hands caught her feet. She couldn't flip her legs anymore. She can't swim. She indubitably LOST.

The two moonlight swimmers stopped in their tracks to catch their breaths.

Ayame huffed.

"I thought you didn't know how to swim!"

"I didn't! I only followed your strokes and foot movements! That's all…woahhh…."

Ryuuzaki sank. His spot was then replaced by bubbles above the water.

"Ryuuzaki?"

He can swim free-style but he doesn't even know hoe to water tread? What is the meaning of this? Is he really an amateur like what he claimed himself to be?

Bubbles of air popped. Ryuuzaki still didn't resurface.

Ayame panicked. She dived down. There, she saw Ryuuzaki wallowing helplessly. He clasped his mouth in order to prevent air from coming out of his system.

Ayame swam next to him. He grabbed by the arms to lift him up. God he's heavier than he looks!

Both of them were out of the water now. Both of them were gasping for air.

"Th-Thank you, Ayame…."

"Ryuuzaki…Just hold on to me, okay?"

Ryuuzaki comprehended their situation. He was holding on to Ayame so tightly. Her breasts were flattened hard against his body. Ryuuzaki blushed. Not again!!!

"No…"

Ayame wondered what was bothering Ryuuzaki. Then finally, she got it. Ryuuzaki was a man. She was a woman. Being intimate like that was something that is almost illegal. But it was a necessity, for Ryuuzaki might drown again.

"I know. It's okay. Don't be shy." Ayame reassured him. Ryuuzaki blushed scarlet.

I'm shy???

For once, Ayame understood the situation. It's a rare thing.

"C'mon, let's go back to shore. Get on my back."

Ryuuzaki hesitantly positioned behind her. Ayame was giving all her effort into carrying them both back to dry land. Ryuuzaki compensated for the burden he gave her by flipping his feet. It was quiet for awhile, when suddenly Ryuuzaki heard someone yell…

RASENGAN!

Both swimmers looked behind them and were surprised that a sudden whirlpool formed the seawaters. The currents were getting stronger and Ayame had to struggle with Ryuuzaki's and her own weight.

"Ayame…"

"Hold on, Ryuuzaki!"

Ayame reached for a rock. She's going to hold on to it until the whirlpool stops. If it stops.

"Ryuuzaki, hold me!!!" Ayame hugged a rock to anchor them both.

Hold??? Hold where???

If Ryuuzaki were to hold her he might accidentally touch her somewhere unbefitting.

Breasts, waist, buttocks…

How could I worry about this over my life? Oh well… Too late…

Ryuuzaki, due to his hesitance, was carried by the current. He doesn't know when the spinning will last. He doesn't know how he was going to survive this. Was his logic proper? Was it stupid? Was it suicidal?

Ryuuzaki was getting dizzy. He swallowed a lot of water. His priorities had got to be straightened out. If he lived through this, he will definitely do that.

Is this the end…?

Ryuuzaki caught a glimpse of Ayame who was holding her arms out for him to reach. Anxiety filled her blue eyes.

"RYUUZAKI, TAKE MY HAND!!!"

But Ryuuzaki was paralyzed. The water, the current was too strong… He was going to die. He sank down, down, down into the water… Underwater, he was able to open his eyes but only barely. He saw something orange from afar, somewhere near the eye of the whirlpool.

What was that?

After that, everything went black…

FrappeG: What will become of L? Who the heck did that rasengan?? Damn it, Naruto! You and your orange monstrosity!

Naruto: How come I get all the blame?! Stupid author! You control the story! Not me!

FrappeG: hmmm... you got a point.

Naruto: How about some ramen for your apology?

FrappeG: Forget it.

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