Hi everyone. I have nothing to say so here is chapter four. Enjoy.


Chapter 4: Threatened Love

-School-

In school, as Seira went to her desk and waved hello to Takumi, the three bullies watched them from a distance, especially Asuka.

'I don't like that girl... What does she have that Takumi likes about. He should be with me not her.' Asuka thought.

"Asuka." Hanami called out.

"What?!" she snapped.

"Does that girl bothers you so much?" Hanami asked.

"You know she does. I hate her. I want her to get away from Takumi." Asuka replied.

"Then how about we teach her a lesson?" Akane suggested.

Asuka smiled as her friends huddled around. "I like your your idea... What do you have in mind?" Akane smiled as she whispers her idea. "That... Is a perfect idea. And today is Friday, so he won't notice a thing!"

When school is over, Seira went to her desk to pack her things when she notice a note on her desk. She picks it up and read.

Dear Seira,

Please meet me at the school's indoor pool. I have something I want to say.

It's very important so please come right away as soon as you can.

From, Takumi

Seira put down the note to think what it just said.

'Why would Takumi want me to meet him by the pool? Today is Friday which means he must have practice. I'll see what he wants.' Seira thought.

She left her schoolbag and went to where the note says.

-School's Indoor Pool-

When she got to the pool, she saw that no one was there. She looked around and assumed that he left or maybe he is just running late. She then heard footsteps.

"Takumi?" Seira turned to see Asuka. "Kane-san."

"I'm surprised that you came." Asuka told her.

"You wrote the note... So I would come here." Seira realized. She tries to walk away but then Akane and Hanami blocked her from either going left or right.

"I did have some help." Asuka told the girl.

The three bullies walked closer as Seira step back, getting more and more closer to the pool. Seira looked down to see that she is at the edge of the pool. She turned to face the main bully.

"Why are you being like this to me? What have I done to you that it has to come to this?" Seira asked, not understanding why they would attack her for no reason.

"Because Takumi is mine and you better stay away from him or else I will make sure your life will be miserable." Asuka threatens her out of jealously. She puts her hands on Seira's shoulders and then pushed her into the pool. When she fell into the water, the girls laugh.

Seira reverted to her mermaid self. She stayed underwater and did not dare to surface until she know the bullies are gone. She heard laughing and the footsteps are getting fainter.

'It's a good thing my class has ended, I can still go home.' Seira thought as she is about to surface when she stopped.

Suddenly, she heard the bell rings, signaling the sixth year elementary students to enter the pool.

"Oh no! That other classes always come here for their swimming lessons." Seira remembered.

She was panicking as she looked around her surrounding and saw the deep part of the pool. There was little sunlight and the water is the deepest that nobody could swim that far so she swam over to that area and decided to wait until the sixth year class is over. The sixth year class end at a later time than the first, second, and third year for junior high students because of swimming trails, which means that if Seira can leave safely, she would not be able catch up with Lucia and the others. She'll just have to wait it all out.

-Deep Area-

Once Seira reached the twelve feet zone, she leaned on the smooth wall and sink slowly to the ground. She wrapped her arms around her tail and rest her head down on it.

"Takumi." she called out his name as she hear footsteps and water splashing.

-Lucia's Classroom-

When Lucia's class has ended, Lucia got up from her desk to pack her belongings. She started to get visions of a blurry Emi and the red kingdom which she still doesn't know its' exact location is.

"Lucia, lets go home quickly so we can see Seira. I want to know how she's doing with Takumi-kun." Hanon suggested.

"Okay." Lucia replied. She is hoping that encouraging Seira to follow her heart will take her mind off of her unclear visions. She grabbed her bag, said her goodbye to Kaito, and left the school.

-Seira's Classroom-

In the class, Takumi is ready to leave when he notice that Seira's bag is still next to her desk.

'I wonder where she is. She would never leave her bag here when class ended an hour ago.' Takumi ponder on the thought.

He took her bag and was about to leave when he found Asuka standing by the doorway.

"Asuka, do you know where Seira is?" Takumi questioned.

"I know nothing." Asuka lied.

"I know you know something. You and your friend have something to do with Seira not being around because during the last three weeks, I've notice that she has been avoiding you guys." Takumi replied.

"It will be better for you if she doesn't come. You're better off with me without anyone else to "distract" you." Asuka claimed.

Takumi pulled away from her reach and took Seira's bag with him. He left her alone in the room.

'There is one place she could have gone.' Takumi thought.

-Pearl Waters-

Takumi arrived at Pearl Waters where he entered inside. When he saw Lucia and the others, he walked towards them.

"Excuse me, Lucia-san. Do you know where Seira is?" he asked her.

Lucia gave him a worried look. "No, we just came here. We thought that she was with you."

Takumi mind just went blank. He give the girls Seira's bag and ran out of the bath house. He started to run back to the school to search for her.

"Wait, Takumi-kun!" Lucia called out but it was useless.

"I'm worried. Seira was suppose to return home immediately after she was finish with school. And that was an hour ago." Nikora replied.

"You don't think something happened to her, do you?" Lucia asked.

"I don't think she is in any danger of the enemy, Lucia. What I'm worried is she could be in danger of people finding out about her. For her to not be here... She could still be in school. And if she is in trouble there..." Nikora does not need to finish her sentence.

"Then we must find her!" Hanon exclaimed.

"Right." Rina agrees.

The two are about to go after Takumi when Lucia stopped them.

"Wait. It's okay. Seira will be fine." Lucia told them. She looked surprisingly calm, even her voice has no hints of panic.

"What are you talking about, Lucia? If someone sees Seira as a mermaid-" Hanon got cut off by Lucia.

"Seira is in no harm. However, I'm afraid she will have pain in her heart." Lucia looked away from her friends.

"Lucia... Just what is going on with you?" Rina asked.

"Nothing is wrong, Rina. You just have to trust me." Lucia told her. She turned around. "That boy... He truly cares for her. I just hope that their love won't be in vain." Lucia stared at the direction where Takumi left, sadness and nostalgia is in her eyes.

-Pool-

Back in the pool, Seira heard the bell rang and the sixth year students getting out of the water. She heard footsteps and chattering getting farther and father until there is silence. She decided to take the risk and swam to take a peek at surface. She slowly looked around to see the pool is empty and sighs as she got out of the water and turned back into a human just as Takumi came in.

"Seira!" he exclaimed.

"Takumi..." Seira trailed off.

"Are you okay?" Takumi notice her sad expression.

"Yes, but I think you'll be better off without me." she forced herself to say those emotionless words. She tries to leave when Takumi grabbed her hand, causing her to stop.

"Are you avoiding me?" he questioned, his tone is not anger but more like heartbreaking.

"I-I just need some time." Seira answered. "Alone."

She pulled her hand away from Takumi's grip and started to run.

-Pearl Waters (Seira's Room)-

Seira ran. She ran all the way to the bath house.

"Oh, Seira. You came back. Are you-" Nikora stopped herself when Seira ran passed her. She runs upstairs.

"Seira, what's the-" Rina didn't got a chance to asked her question as Seira runs passed her too. She opened the door of her room and slam it with a loud bam. She locked herself in as she took off her shoes and socks. Her bangs create a shadow that covers her eyes. She walks to her bed where she collapse on it.

Outside the room is Lucia. She was about to knock when she heard Seira crying softly from the other side. So she decided to left her alone.

"Takumi..." Seira called out his name as she hugged her pillow.

'Why? Why does love have to be so complex? Why does it have to hurt so much?' she thought as she buried her crying face with her pillow.

-Ocean-

In the ocean, Lucia is in her mermaid form. However, like a couple hours ago, she isn't herself. She sat on a rock as she looked at the sunset.

"It's just like with me... Seira aches for love. The same love that the others want." Lucia spoke, again it wasn't like her to say words with no emotion. An orange spirit of a mermaid appeared behind her. "Isn't that right, Sara?"

"Your not Lucia, yet I sense you are not the enemy." Sara replied.

"You got me." Lucia playfully stick her tongue out. "However, you right. I'm not the enemy, more like... An old friend on the sidelines."

"Then who are you?" Sara questioned.

"I'm pretty sure you would know. After all, my current state is similar to Seira's. I can at least communicate with the girls this way- to warn them. I never got the chance to finish my warning to Lucia in her dreams." she answered.

"What is the warning?" Sara asked.

"Be careful of a witch who selfishly desire for eternal beauty. During her life, she angered two goddesses. As a result, she is turned into an ugly witch of the sea. She wants revenge, that is why she wants to take her anger out on us. She already kept two of my friends captive and stole most of my power. Now, she is after the remaining seven." Lucia explain. "Sara, when Seira feels better, please tell her what I just told you. We cannot stay behind of the enemy any longer. My life is at risk. I must go now, take care." the spirit leaves Lucia as she looked around at her surrounding. Sara just disappears.

"Eh? What am I doing here?" Lucia questioned herself as she turned back to her human form.

Lucia walked home as she is still confused how she was at the bath house one moment ago and then in the ocean.


I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. If you like this story then favorite it and if you have comments, no matter how bad or good they could be, PLEASE COMMENT on my story. It just feels weird that I'm writing a chapter and there are no reviews when you are reading the chapters.