Morg: Heyo! I'm working hard to bring everyone faster updates!

Ikuto: Not fast enough, though.

Amu: You really don't need to update at all.

Morg: It's always the same with the two of you. No respect for my work.

Ikuto: Are we supposed to respect you?

Amu: I mean, we don't have to.

Morg: Yeah, yeah, because I don't own you. Blah, blah, blah.

Ikuto: At least you're aware of it.

Amu: There is that.

~At the Water's Edge~

Nagihiko hadn't doubted Rima's apprehension for a moment. There was no doubt in the merman's mind that Ikuto wasn't going to be happy when they told the male that Amu was gone. However, Nagi knew that they couldn't not tell him.

With a rather heavy sigh, Nagi flicked his tail to push him to the top of the water. Ikuto was right there, leaning against the railing while listening to Yaya go on about something. As much as he wanted to use the excuse that Ikuto was already talking to not say anything about Amu's departure, Nagi knew he had to get the words out of his mouth before he lost his courage. "So Amu left."

The conversation happening on the deck of the ship completely stopped. Neither human moved for a few seconds before Ikuto turned to look down at the purple haired merman. "Excuse me?"

Swallowing, Nagi shrugged as he stayed where he was. "Yeah, well, uh, Musashi showed up and Amu went with the little fish because Kairi might be in trouble. She said she'd catch up and that we just need to keep sailing north. She'll definitely find us. I mean, Amu does have powers unlike any other merperson."

Narrowing his eyes at the other male, Ikuto opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by the girl next to him.

Gripping the railing of the boat rather tightly, Yaya stared down at Nagihiko with worry clearly evident on her face. "Yaya wants to know what you just said about Kairi koi!"

Blinking several times, Nagi switched his gave to Ikuto. The human only shrugged at him so Nagi figured he didn't know much about Yaya's relationship to the merman either. "Uh, Musashi showed up so we don't know if Kairi is in trouble or not, but it is more than likely that he is since his companion is here and he is not. That and Musashi was pretty adamant about Amu following him."

Yaya took in the information for a few seconds before she spun to face the captain beside her. "Amu chan said to head north and she'd meet us there! Yaya says we head north! Amu chan might need us and that's where she'll go! Yaya says we go!"

Besides the fact that everything the girl said was screamed at him, Ikuto couldn't really find a fault in Yaya's words. Amu was already gone. He couldn't stop her now, not that he would have anyways. Ikuto may not have been happy that the mermaid was no longer with him, but he knew that Amu wouldn't ever forgive herself if she knew someone needed her and she didn't do anything to help them.

With a rather heavy sigh, Ikuto nodded to Yaya before turning back to the half fish man in the water. "Whenever you and Rima are done and ready to come back aboard, Kukai and I will help you. Then we'll head north."

Agreeing with a smile and a slight nod, Nagi turned to dive back into the water. "Rima and I will get the companion fish back into the tank. Amu's companions went with her. They would have hated being left behind anyways. Then we'll be ready to go."

There wasn't anything left to be done besides fill Kukai in on what was happening. The first mate was actually serious for a moment when he settled a hand on Ikuto's shoulder after the captain shared the current situation. Ikuto was rather quick to shake the hand away. "Don't take advantage of the situation. Get the ship ready."

Still not smiling, Kukai stepped to put himself in front of the other. They may not have really talked about what Ikuto felt for the mermaid, but Kukai thought it was rather obvious. "Do you trust her?"

Meeting Kukai's gaze, Ikuto furrowed his brow. "What do you mean by that?"

"If you didn't trust Amu then you'd never have let her get back off this ship. You would have locked her up in a bathtub or something. If you trust her, then she's definitely coming back. I mean, I know how hard it is for you to trust people. And if you trust her then she's definitely coming back."

Out of all the people he was surrounded with-if he could call them all people-Ikuto really hadn't expected something so consoling to come from Kukai, but the other male was right. Ikuto did trust Amu. He knew that if she said she'd head north to meet them then they should go that way to meet with her. There was nothing that would stop her from finding them again. Ikuto just had to wait for her. "You're right. She'll meet with us again. I do trust her."

Nodding, Kukai moved off without another word to the captain to get things ready for their departure. There wasn't anything left to be said for now.

XXX

Moving swiftly through the water, Amu kept right behind Musashi as the little red fish led her through the water. There was no doubt in Amu's mind that the betta knew where to go. Companions were linked to their merperson. Musashi would always be able to find Kairi wherever he was. The link was something that Amu was rather thankful for. It kept her four companions out of danger most of the time.

Finding that the area of the ocean that they were heading into was rather far from where merpeople usually were, Amu started to worry about the merman she was currently on her way to help. There was a reason that merpeople stayed away from this area of the ocean. Most just thought it was because it was desolate. At least, that's what the king wanted them to believe. Amu knew differently.

Being that she wasn't exactly accepted by other merpeople due to her powers, Amu hadn't really stuck around where her kind lived. There were plenty of places for her to explore in the ocean. The area they were heading towards wasn't a place that she'd been. Not exactly, but she had been somewhere really similar.

Amu knew that they were there before they knew that she was there. Still, she approached the creatures without any hint of meaning them harm. She might not have been to this particular city, but she had had interactions with the creatures that were so similar to herself. Just because they were more like fish than people didn't mean they were stupid or ignorant. Amu had found that out when she'd spent time with some of them.

Ignoring the spears directed at her, Amu bowed her head in the fashion she'd been taught in before she spoke. "I've come to greet the chief."

Looking up through her pink bangs, Amu found the creature before her stunned that she not only knew their language but also their greetings. The shock was something she'd been expecting, but Amu figured she should give some sort of explanation for her abilities even if the male she was talking to was just a guard. "I've spent time with your western kin and am considered a member of the clan by the high priestess."

Slowly, the creature bowed his head to Amu before gesturing that she follow him. "This way to the chief."

Without a hint of fear, Amu followed the sprite with her head held high and five companions circling around her. There was no reason for Musashi to make it apparent that he didn't, in fact, belong to her. Amu had warned him to stay near her the moment that she realized where they were going.

Just beyond several other sprites and tied to a rather large rock were three prisoners. It didn't take much for Amu to realize who they were even if she couldn't see them clearly. From what she could see without looking directly at them, they seemed healthy enough. The sprites definitely hadn't harmed them in any way. For now, all Amu could do was talk to the chief and figure out if she could somehow trade for the other three.

XXX

Being that Musashi was his companion, Kairi knew exactly when the little fish returned. His head snapped up to see Amu being led through the camp like city like a guest rather than as a prisoner. So his betta had been able to find her. At least he could relax now.

"Isn't that Amu?"

Not exactly relax since he had two idiots tied beside him. Hissing at the two, Kairi made absolutely certain that they knew that he was serious. "Listen to me right now! Amu isn't a prisoner like we are. They respect her. I don't know why, but they do. So no matter how she treats us while we're here, you will do as she does. Do you understand? If she acts like she doesn't know us then we pretend like we don't know her."

"You think just because we're tied up like this you can give orders?"

Rolling his eyes at Tadase's remark, Kairi turned so the two royals looking at him could see his anger. It was the first time that he wasn't submitting to them. "No, I expect you to listen to me because I'm smarter than both of you put together. It was your idiotic decisions that got us into this mess. I will not die for you."

Utau had never seen the librarian looking so angry before. Sitting there, tied to a rock with her head throbbing, the princess had to admit that they hadn't really been making the best decisions. About the only good one they had made so far was to bring the male standing up to them now. "All right. We'll do as you say."

"Utau! You can't side with this traitor!"

Frowning at her younger brother, Utau shook her head before resting it back on the rock behind her. She definitely needed more sleep. "No, we're not going to die here. I don't want to. If Amu can enter this camp with little difficulty then I'm going to trust that she knows what's she's doing even if I don't really like her all that much. Kairi trusts her and Kairi seems to be the reason we're still alive right now. So yeah, I'm going to side with the traitor."

Tadase was left in silence. There was nothing that he could say.

XXX

Seated opposite of a rather highly decorated sprite, Amu made certain to share the food that the other offered. They talked of the clan in the west for a bit. Amu knew that it was because they were testing her knowledge, but she allowed it. She needed them to trust her.

Setting down an empty shell, the chief looked at the mermaid before her. "What is that you're here for, pink one."

This was her chance and Amu couldn't let it pass. "I met your kin by traveling the oceans. I'm not well received by my kind. For this reason, I explore and keep mostly to myself. As you can see, I have many companions. However, my travels are becoming a bit weary. I was hoping to find refuge here. Possibly seek some kind of aid."

From the look that the other female was giving her, Amu knew that she had to be careful with her words. If the sprites knew that she wanted to save her friends then Amu could end up joining them. Her connections with another tribe wouldn't do her much if she was among the prisoners.

"What kind of aid to do you seek?"

Also placing her shell down, Amu tried to look thoughtful and uncaring as she paused their talk. "You've already welcomed me into your handsome city and you've given me food. Are there any sprites that wish for adventure? Having someone to travel with would be nice."

Playing with a set of pearls that she wore around her wrists, the chief took in the mermaid's words as she thought over what she could say to the other. "There are no sprites that will wish to go with you."

Amu tried to look devastated by the news. She knew that the sadder she looked than the more likely the other would do anything to appease her.

"However, we have three prisoners that we might give to you. They're like you, though you said that you don't get along with your own kind."

Keeping her interest to a minimum, Amu nodded her head to what the other had said. "Though it is them who do not accept me, I understand your concern. May I ask why they're prisoners?"

Frowning now, the sprite clenched her webbed hands into fists. "They destroyed ancient ruins and trapped out most beloved pet beneath the rubble. There is no way for us to free it. They deserve death, but we'd gladly sell one them to you as a slave if you wish it."

Waving off the chief while trying to figure out what she could do for the tribe, Amu leaned back against the wall behind her. "This pet, what is it?"

"Of course, a kraken."

She should have known that sprites were friends with those giant monsters. "If I restore the ruins and free your pet will that be payment enough for all their lives?"

"Simply freeing our beloved kraken would be enough payment. But can you do that?"

Swishing her tail to get her off the ground they'd been seated on, Amu smiled down at the chief before bowing. "There is a reason that my own kind do not like me. Shall I show you?"

The sprite was quick to follow Amu out of the dwelling that they'd been in. If the pink haired mermaid could save their pet then the chief would gladly let her have the three prisoners.

.

Morg: I had to cut this chapter in half. It was simply too long.

Ikuto: You didn't have to.

Amu: She's just going for length.

Morg: I am not. I've planned this out well. It's about content.

Ikuto: What does that even mean?

Amu: Who knows?