Morg: Heyo! This story is definitely one of my favorites.

Ikuto: They are all your favorites.

Amu: True that.

Morg: Yeah, but this one!

Ikuto: That doesn't make much sense.

Amu: The only thing that does make sense is that Morg doesn't own us.

Morg: Someday. Someday I will come for you.

Ikuto: That's a bit creepy.

Amu: No thanks.

~At the Water's Edge~

From his spot at the wheel, Ikuto was given the perfect view of his deck. The storm had definitely hit hard, but they were prepared for it. Rima, Nagi, Yaya and Kukai were all below deck to wait it out. Ikuto had to sit at the controls so that he'd be able to make certain that the ship didn't get blown too far off course. Though, at the moment, he was more distracted by the mermaid at the furthermost point of his ship.

Leaning against the railing, Amu tilted her head back so that she could feel the wind and rain against her face. The elements were only getting rougher. The mermaid absolutely loved it. The same fierce energy that streaked through the sky felt as though it was racing through her veins. Storms were a time when she could let go of some of the restraints that she had on herself and no one would notice.

Watching Amu feel so at peace did funny things to Ikuto. His chest felt so full that it was almost uncomfortable. The mermaid looked so happy to be out in the wind and the rain. The flashes of lightning in the sky did little to dampen her mood. Amu was truly beautiful. Ikuto knew that he'd never find another being like her anywhere. Once they found the Tear, he wasn't certain if he could ask her what he wanted, but Ikuto knew that no matter what, he was going to be by her side for as long as she'd let him.

Tossing her head back, Amu looked up towards the windows that she knew protected Ikuto from the storm they were currently going through. The waves grew larger. The water washed across the top of the deck. Luckily, they'd taken everything below before the storm had hit. They'd been ready so that they wouldn't lose anything of importance.

In that instant, Amu wished that Ikuto could share this with her. That the human could be out in the storm without having to worry about falling overboard and drowning, but to do that, Ikuto would have to sacrifice so much. It was something that Amu could secretly yearn for but never actually ask for. It was secret for her heart.

XXX

Tightening her grip on Nagihiko, Rima clenched her eyes shut. The way that the ship was rolling told her that they were already in the storm. The blonde didn't like it one bit. As much as she hated it, though, she did enjoy the way that Nagi was holding her. Her husband continuously whispered sweet words into her ears, which calmed Rima down more than she'd ever let anyone know.

Smiling because he knew that the other couldn't see it, Nagihiko flicked the tip of his tail so that it would rub against his mate's. They were both getting a bit dry, but Nagi couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. He was enjoying holding his wife close to him. She was just so adorable.

Kukai, on the other hand, was feeling a bit sick. Though the first mate didn't know if it was because of all the public displays of affection coming from the fish or the way the boat was swaying on top of the ocean. Either one, he kept his mouth shut so that more than words wouldn't come out.

On the other hand, Yaya was having the time of her life as she slid around on the ground with Pepe in her hands. The storm was more fun than she'd thought. She could definitely have fun until it was over. "Kukai-san has to try this! Yaya is having so much fun!"

Groaning, Kukai decided his best option was just to ignore the girl moving from one side of the room to the other. There may not have been much room, but Yaya was taking advantage of what she did have.

Laughing at the seasick human, Rima snuggled closer to Nagi's chest. Maybe storms weren't so bad after all.

XXX

Leaning back against the rock that he'd be forced to be beside, Kairi looked up. From what he could see, there was a storm passing over the surface of the ocean. The currents beneath the water were affected just enough that he could feel something was off.

However, whatever was happening up there wasn't any of his business, as he was currently being held prisoner. Tadase and Utau were beside him, though Kairi figured that couldn't be considered as a good thing since they were all being held captive. Still, they were together.

A groan broke the silence in the water. Moving the best that he could, Tadase tried to get closer to his sister. With his hands tied to his tail, swimming was rather difficult. That and the guards only poked him with the dull end of their spears when he began shuffling closer to his awaking sister. "Utau? Are you okay?"

Groaning again, Utau felt as though her head was split into two parts. Unfortunately, she found that she couldn't lift her hands to check to make certain that it was still in one piece. They were tied to her tail, which made moving practically impossible. "What happened?"

Tadase managed to get close enough so that his side could touch Utau's tail. "You got hurt when we escaped that monster. You've been unconscious for almost two days. Kairi and I carried you for a long ways, but we got captured."

"Captured?" Blinking slowly, Utau tried to get her eyes to focus. Everything was so blurry, though the princess wasn't surprised since she had had a rather hard hit to her head. "Captured by whom? Did you tell them who we are?"

Sighing out a bit of relief, Tadase just rested his head against the rock behind him. "They don't speak our language, Utau. We can't tell them anything."

Having kept quiet until now, Kairi decided that his input was valuable. "Making them understand who you are would be dangerous. They aren't a race that has any respect or love for ours. In fact, it could put your lives into greater danger than they are in now."

If Kairi was giving them that sort of advice then Utau knew that whatever was happening couldn't have been good. With her vision finally focusing, she found herself staring straight into the angry face of a sprite. They were similar to merpeople, but still more fish-like than human. "They're extinct!"

Sighing, Kairi couldn't help but shake his head at the princess' logic. Just because she said that they were extinct didn't mean that they actually were. "Apparently not."

From the stories that were passed down about these creatures, Utau knew that getting out of the situation that they were in was going to be difficult. Especially since they couldn't communicate with them. "What are we going to do?"

Half of him had been hoping that his sister would have a brilliant plan after she woke up, the rest of Tadase knew he was being foolish. They were in a lot of trouble. "I… I don't know."

Hearing the sound of sniffles, Utau turned to look at her younger brother. Now that she was actually paying attention, she could see how worried he'd been; about her and now all of them. "Don't cry, Tadase. We'll get out of this somehow."

There was one person that could help them, but Kairi knew the chances of Amu showing up were rather slim. The mermaid was one of the remaining few that could speak the sprite's language. However, there was no way for her to know that they were in some sort of danger.

A flash of something moving caught Kairi's attention. The red stuck out against the rocks. Musashi had followed after them despite Kairi telling his companion to remain in the castle. At the moment, however, he couldn't find it in himself to be angry. "Musashi, go find Amu! We need her! Go and bring her here!"

The small fish took off through the water before any of the sprites could notice that it had ever been there.

Hearing the librarian, Utau did her best to move so that she could see the other male. "Why do we need Amu? What good is that witch going to do?"

Scoffing, Kairi decided that as prisoners, they were equals. No longer would he hold his tongue just because Utau and Tadase were royalty. "Because, you idiot, she can speak their language. Amu is brilliant. She'll be able to get us out of this situation. We just have to live long enough for her to save us."

Tadase and Utau could only silently hope that they would make it until the pink haired mermaid showed up. If she came at all.

XXX

A bit disappointed that the storm was over, Amu flicked pieces of seaweed off the deck. Rima and Nagi were on their way up from down below so that the three of them could go for a swim and make certain that there was no damage done to the ship. The storm had tossed them around quite a bit, though Amu had loved every moment of it rather than being frightened by it.

"Getting in the water is going to feel so good. I feel really dry right now."

Nagihiko gave Amu a sheepish smile over Rima's shoulder. The blonde had definitely settled down after the storm had started, though Nagi was never going to say anything about it. There was no way that he was going to purposely inflict Rima's anger on himself. "Hey, Amu. How was the ride from up here?"

Shrugging, Amu motioned towards the sodden deck. "Wet and fun. How was down below?"

Rima answered for the other half fish person. "Dry and boring. Let's get in the water!"

There was nothing else to say as Amu slipped over the rail and dove into the waves. Being on Ikuto's boat was convenient and actually kind of fun, but nothing would ever beat being in the water. That opinion was completely biased, but Amu wasn't going to ever think differently.

The sounds of Rima and Nagihiko following her into the water made Amu grin up at them. "I missed the ocean."

Nodding, the two gave a few flicks of their tails to move about the water before moving back towards the ship. Rima caught Amu's hand as they neared her. "We should let out our companions so that they can play for a while."

Amu agreed completely. She rose to the surface to relay the messaged to Kukai. The first mate saluted once before heading to press the button to open the tanks. Their fish exited the ship instantly to swim and play in the water.

Happy to see them, Amu twirled around with her girls before actually looking at the ship like they told Ikuto that they would. Everything looked fine, so Amu figured it wouldn't hurt to play a bit more before they continued on with their journey. The storm hadn't pushed them too far off course. They didn't really lose any time.

Suddenly, Amu was hit from behind. At first, the mermaid thought it was just Miki and Ran playing around, but the nudges continued happening. Turning, Amu found herself facing Musashi. The small red beta was Kairi's companion. "Musashi? What is it? Why are you here? Where is Kairi?"

Though the fish couldn't actually speak to her, Amu knew that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong if the fish was here and nudging at her before swimming off a bit and coming right back.

Rima and Nagi moved closer with their own fish close behind them. "What's happening?"

Nagihiko's question made something click inside Amu's brain. Musashi was here because something was wrong. Kairi had sent the little fish to her. The male needed her held. "Tell Ikuto and the others that I'll find them. I have to go."

Reaching out to stop the other, Rima frowned as Nagihiko held her back from grabbing Amu. "But where are you going?"

Amu didn't turn around as her companions followed right after her. "I don't know, but I do know that Kairi is in some sort of danger. Just keep heading north. I'll catch up!"

Turning to look at her husband, Rima let out a sigh as Amu disappeared into the depths of the ocean. "Ikuto isn't going to like that she just suddenly left."

Nagihiko couldn't really argue with that. "No, but he'll understand. Amu said she'd come back. I'm certain that she will."

Still, Rima didn't want to be the one to tell the captain of the boat that Amu was gone. A mermaid she may be, but stupid she was not. Rima knew how attached the human was to the pinkette. He was foolish for it, of course, but that didn't make him any less fond of Amu.

.

Morg: Go, Amu, go!

Ikuto: Naughty Amu, just leaving me like that.

Amu: I got stuff to do.

Morg: Yeah! And she said she'd come back.

Ikuto: Whatever. I still don't like it.

Amu: Then it's a good thing that this is just a story.

Morg: Amen!