The Disappearance of Aqua Mizu

Chapter 1: Strange New World

Gasping, Aqua sat up in bed, heart thundering. The normal sounds of night could be heard, from the low hum of the refrigerator in the next room, to the steady breathing of her bedmate. She glanced over and found the lump under the covers she expected. She squinted in the darkness, worried for a moment, but, yes, she could faintly make out Kazuma's brown hair. She wondered why it was so hard to see in the dark. She must still be sick. When had she gotten out of the hospital? Oh well.

Aqua lay back down and went to sleep, deciding not to worry about such things. She was tired anyway.

A few hours later, Aqua stirred in bed. Next to her, Kazuma muttered and shifted. She smiled. He really was her-

Wait.

Something was wrong. Aqua was...bigger. She looked at her hands, baffled. She'd always been the same size. Always. Goddesses didn't grow, they just were. That was how it worked. Only…

Gingerly, Aqua felt over her body. Her mind went blank, then she let out an ear piercing scream..

"KAAAAZZZZUUUMMAAAAAAAA!"

"What?! What?!" Kazuma jerked up, only...only it wasn't Kazuma. A girl was in the bed with Aqua.

That just made Aqua scream even harder. "KAZUMA! KAZUMA!"

"That's my name, why are you yelling so loud? Good lord, what time even is it? OH JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!"

The girl shoved a sock into Aqua's mouth, making her choke and jerk away.

"Alright," the girl growled, planting her hands on her hips. "What is it? Some sort of nightmare? Come on, Aquarius. It is too early for this shit."

Aqua could only let out a series of muffled noises, then reached up and pulled out the sock. "W-who are you!?"

"Is this your idea of a joke? Ugh. April 1st was like, weeks ago. Seriously? I'm Kazuma. Your girlfriend? If this is supposed to be funny, or cute, it's not."

"K-kazuma?" Aqua stammered. It...well, the voice was wrong, but the words...it was like Kazuma. And...she did sort of look like Kazuma.

"Yes. Look, if you're trying to get a blowjob or something, I am so not in the mood now. What time is it? Ugh. Well, it was nearly time to get up anyway. You are making breakfast though, and I'm using the bathroom first. And don't even think of trying something perverted."

"I-I would never," Aqua gasped, holding the blankets up to her chest.

The girl, or...Kazuma? chuckled and patted Aqua's cheek. "You're lucky you're so pretty, or I wouldn't keep you around. Well, that and all himbo energy you're packing. But seriously, no perverted stuff this morning, so not in the mood now."

With that, the girl hopped off the bed. She was...naked? Why was she naked?! Why was Aqua naked!? She NEVER slept with the pedo-NEET naked! He...he could try something lewd on her! Like, steal her panties, or-

A very strange sensation came over Aqua. She blushed, and lifted the blankets. Then rapidly lowered them again.

Apparently, Aqua was not currently a she.

That made Aqua break out in tears.

"Aquarius? Is something actually wrong with you?" the girl called, sticking her head in from the bathroom and frowning.

"I-I'm a boy," Aqua sniffled.

"Yeah. Obviously. Are you sure you're OK?" the girl came over and stuck a hand to Aqua's forehead even as she shied away slightly. "No fever. Hmph. You're better at the whole medic stuff. Ugh, do we need to take you to the doctor?"

There was real concern in Kazuma's eyes, and a part of Aqua realized that this was her bestest bud. Or at least a part of him.

"Um, no, I just...I think we need to talk to the Chief. Something's wrong," Aqua said, feeling panicky and confused.

"Chief? You mean Haruki? Why does he need to know?" Kazuma demanded. "Why I let you talk me into joining that stupid club, I'll never know."

"Don't you...don't you want to go back?" Aqua asked, feeling ever more lost and confused.

Kazuma's expression fell, and she stepped forward, wrapping Aqua in a hug. Which, considering she was still naked, produced several interesting reactions. "As long as I have you, I am home. I'll miss our friends back in America, especially Shadow and Meguman, but you're not just my boyfriend; you're my best friend."

"R-really?" Aqua stammered, and for a moment, being a boy and staying with this version of Kazuma didn't sound so bad. Then she realized something. "America? Not Belzerg?"

"You really aren't feeling well. Even you should be able to remember Belzerg was just the name of the town we were in. Come on, I know I'm good, but last night shouldn't have been enough to erase your memory. Not like we did anything we haven't before," Kazuma muttered. "Let me get dressed. You too. We're going to the hospital."

"No, I'm fine, really, just, um, bad dreams," Aqua said desperately. What was going on?

In the end, they didn't go to the hospital, but they did go and wake Yuki up. Aqua hoped the other girl could use her abilities to help her, since she seemed to be some sort of wizard.

Of course, when the door opened to Yuki's apartment, she felt even more confused.

"Yes?" a tall boy with disheveled purple hair and spectacles asked. He was even taller than Aqua was now, which was about 170 centimeters, or at least Aqua thought it was. She wasn't very good at figuring out how tall people were.

"Aquarius is sick or something. I think he has a concussion. Can you take a look? If he's really sick we're going to the hospital," Kazuma declared, shoving Aqua forward.

"I'll see," the boy said.

"Yuki?" Aqua asked suspiciously, looking around the apartment. She hadn't been in here before, but it was disturbingly spartan.

"I am Yuuki Nagato, yes," the boy replied, getting out first aid kit. He shone a light into Aqua's eyes as Kazuma impatiently tapped her foot and scowled "Do you have a headache?"

"No?" Aqua guessed.

"Nausea?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Dizziness?"

"Not really."

"Can you touch your fingers together?" Yuuki asked, still deadpan.

Aqua complied, unsure of what was going on.

"I do not believe Aquarius Mizu has a concussion," Yuuki stated, replacing the contents of the first aid kit. "There may be another underlying problem. I will get my medical reference."

"Don't bother," Kazuma huffed. "Look, do you know where you are?"

"Um, in Yuuki's apartment?" Only, now Yuki had an extra U in her name, and was a boy. This was very strange.

"Uh-huh. And where do we go to school?"

"North High, we're pretending to be freshmen," Aqua answered, trying to wrack her brain for more details and figure out what was going on.

"Don't tell Yuuki that!" Kazuma snapped, poking Aqua in the belly.

"I had surmised your backstory was likely a fabrication," Yuuki stated flatly.

"Gee thanks. Well, don't get your panties in a twist that we're both actually adults hiding out at a highschool," Kazuma grumbled.

"I prefer to wear boxers," Yuuki answered.

"I did not need to know that! Ugh, come on, let's just get breakfast ready. You too, Yuuki. Aquarius is cooking as an apology for waking us up!"

"I have not yet showered. I will come over for a meal once I am ready to depart for school," Yuuki said seriously.

Back in their own apartment, after assuring Kazuma she was fine, Aqua started to make breakfast. It felt like normal, only she managed to slightly burn the rice. How?! She never did that! Her cooking skill was divine! It should be impossible for her to burn rice.

Only...something felt wrong. When was frying the eggs, she got a little hot butter on her skin, burning it. Absently, she touched it and muttered, "Lesser Heal."

Nothing happened.

Fear gripped Aqua. She tried to focus harder, drawing on the faint traces of devotion. "Heal!"

Still nothing.

When Kazuma found Aqua sobbing uncontrollably on the kitchen floor, the eggs were half burned.

"YOU USELESS BISHI!" Kazuma ranted, taking the food off the element and turning off the gass. "What's wrong now!?"

"I burned myself," Aqua sniffled. "And I can't heal it!"

"What, is that all? I swear, for a big tough looking guy you have the worst pain threshold I've ever seen. Just run it under some cold water," Kazuma snapped.

Aqua sniffled and stood, cradling the burned hand and slumping over to the sink.

"Oh, give it here," Kazuma snapped, taking Aqua's hand and putting it under a stream of water.

Aqua let Kazuma run it under the water, feeling lost and confused. What was she without her powers? However, after a few seconds, Kazuma shut off the water, then gently held the finger to her lips and kissed it.

"There. All better?"

"I, um, I...yes," Aqua stammered. Things were raging within her, feelings and passions that just shouldn't be there. She was a goddess. She wasn't allowed to be attracted to mortals, not even her bestest bud.

Only, Aqua was not a she any more, and she hadn't really been a goddess for a while. Those weird feelings she'd had looking at Kazuma since they'd arrived in Japan...she couldn't do it. This was all fake, it had to be.

Yuuki arrived for breakfast, sitting quietly and eating the offered food.

"So, um, Yuuki, you uh, you ever hear of the Data Overmind?" Aqua asked hesitantly as they ate.

"Yes," Yuuki stated, still eating methodically.

"Oh, er, is it still...your creator?" Aqua managed.

Yuuki set his chopsticks down and regarded Aqua. "I have not told you of the science fiction novel I am writing. How do you know of the Data Overmind?"

"Um, Kazuma...stole it? And showed it to me?" Aqua managed.

Then a bit of rice struck her cheek, and she turned to see Kazuma glaring at her. Her newly girlified bestest bud was so...cute. Especially when she was angry. More than anything though, it made Aqua wish for the real Kazuma to come back.

And also for him to kiss Aqua's fingers. Maybe other parts of her too.

"Seriously? I told you not to tell our new friends I was spying on them!"

"You have read my novel?" Yuuki asked, apparently missing the implications of what was being said. Which was fine, as they were going over Aqua's head as well.

"Yeah, honestly it was pretty good, I liked it. Though the fact that you named your main character Yuki Nagato and had her hook up with Kyon is kinda depressing, dude," Kazuma said.

Blushing, Yuuki looked down. "It is… a fantasy. I do not wish I were female. I just-"

"Look, I get it. This big lug would have never confessed to me. I pretty much had to trip him into bed. I mean, I didn't think such a pretty boy would ever be into a girl like me, but I got a decent pair of tits and most guys are into that," Kazuma said with a wide grin.

Aqua wasn't sure why. She had no interest in Kazuma's breasts. Her breasts were much bigger, and more shapely. Kazuma wasn't flat like Megumin, but she was a B cup for sure. Aqua was a C, which was just right. Not too big and bouncy, and not too small.

Though that did make her think of other interesting parts of Kazuma's body, like his 'holy sword.' And she suddenly found that idea very interesting. She had previously though that part of boys looked dumb and silly, but now…

"I think you look very nice," Aqua stammered, still flushing. She wasn't thinking of this Kazuma, who was somewhat boyish and plain looking. Cute, but not a girl most boys would really be into. Instead, she was thinking of the real Kazuma. He wasn't exactly handsome either, he was actually somewhat forgettable aside from his green eyes for a Japanese male. But there was something about him Aqua liked.

"You just say that because I'll sleep with you," Kazuma teased, but she looked rather pleased. "So, you had a thing for Kyonko, huh?'

"Yes. But she is Haruki's girlfriend. Do you think...I should change my novel?" Yuuki asked, sounding nervous and shrinking in on himself.

"Nah, it's a cute romance. An alien girl wishing to become more human to get with a human boy who saved her life? It's a great story!" Kazuma replied.

"What if...what if it were a goddess falling in love with a boy?" Aqua blurted before she could stop herself.

"That would be fantasy, not science fiction," Yuuki answered with a shake of his head.

Kazuma, however, grinned. "Oh, that's rich! I always love those sorts of anime! Though it always seems like the goddess falls in love with a hopeless shut-in NEET or something. It's just blatant wish fulfillment! If guys want a girl to go for them, they at least have to be interesting. Or pretty, like you!"

"I think you're interesting even if you were a NEET," Aqua muttered, standing up to take her plate to the sink.

She did notice that this Kazuma blushed and looked away, however, muttering, "Not a NEET anymore."

With that done, the three of them walked to school. Kazuma tried to start an argument with Aqua about how Animal Crossing was never going to make it into Smash, but she wasn't in the mood. "I guess. But I like both games, so it's OK."

"Well, at least you admit I'm right for once," Kazuma giggled, and took Aqua's arm, pressing herself to his side. "Maybe if you're good I'll give you a present later."

The proximity made Aqua suddenly aware of an important fact: under her clothes, Kazuma was, in fact, naked. This exciting revelation made a new part of Aqua's anatomy misbehave, and she blushed and tried to remind herself she definitely was not a boy, and was certainly not in love with Kazuma. This one, anyway.

When they reached the school, a short boy with red hair ran over to them. "Oh my gosh, did it happen to you too!?"

"Did what happen to us as well, Asahina?" Yuuki asked, frowning at the boy. The newcomer was cute, Aqua supposed, in a little brother sort of fashion.

"You all changed!" the boy gasped, grabbing Yuuki as tears welled up in his eyes. "Y-your a boy now, and Aqua's a boy, and-is that Kazuma?! He's a girl!"

"Ok, so both Aquarius and Mitsuru took crazy pills this morning," Kazuma sighed. "Look, Mitsuru, just because people keep mistaking you for a little girl doesn' mean-"

"Um, um, Mikuru and I have to talk about something real quick bye!" Aqua interrupted, grabbing the boy and starting off before pausing. She turned back, frowning. "Um, you are Mikuru, right?"

When the boy nodded, Aqua ran off, Mikuru hot on her heels, leaving behind the weird versions of Yuki and Kazuma.

After finding a bathroom, both confused girls hurried inside.

"A-Aqua, y-you remember that we're both girls right?" Mikuru whispered as they hid in adjacent bathroom stalls.

"Yes, of course! But Kazuma and Yuki don't remember anything! And I lost my powers! I can't see in the dark or heal! What about you?"

"The TPDD I gave myself is totally gone, and I can't use the spells you taught me," Mikuru agreed. "I-I don't know what happened, but when I woke up this morning I had...I had...a you-know-what."

"Me too. Ugh, it's kinda gross. It doesn't feel right at all," Aqua complained.

"Y-yeah, I, um, well...what should we do?"

"We have to talk to the Chief, she can fix this. I hope," Aqua whispered.

"But what if she's a boy too? I-I saw Tsuruya, or at least I think it was her, and he said his name was something different. I think it started with an N? But he had green hair and acted like we were friends…"

"How could this even happen!?" Aqua wailed. "I don't understand! And why can only we remember?"

"W-well, I bet it was Chief Suzumiya. I-I don't understand how their powers work, but, um, can't goddesses do...things like this?"

"No, absolutely not!" Aqua huffed. "I mean, we can, but it would be super mean. Only evil gods do something like this, like that jerk Being X. He was super mean to Tanya, I found out all about it! And when I get back to heaven, the first thing I'm doing-"

"Oh my god, are there BOYS in the bathroom?" a girl cried.

"Someone get a teacher! EW EW EW EW!" another girl squealed.

There was a girlish shriek from both Aqua and Mikuru, until a dawning realization came over them. With a cry of panic, they both darted out of their stalls, "SORRY, WE FORGOT!"

There were more screams, and both Mikuru and Aqua broke into tears. Looking for somewhere to hide, they both ran to the SOS Brigade room and closed the door.

"What are we going to do? I don't want to be a boy," Mikuru whimpered as they both huddled behind some of the furniture.

"I don't know, I don't have my powers at all!" Aqua wailed. "And even if I did, I'm not powerful enough to remake a world on my own! I don't even think the Chief could do something like that easily! We'd need two goddesses!"

Before the two girls could work themselves into a tizzy, the door opened.

"My my, I do hope I haven't found two perverts hiding from the consequences of their actions here," a cheery girl's voice said.

"WE'RE NOT PERVERTS!" Aqua and MIkuru cried at the same time, popping up to glare at the girl.

"We just...got confused!" Aqua explained to the girl. She didn't recognize her, but even Aqua had figured out that didn't mean anything at the moment. "Honest!"

"You have to believe us, we weren't trying to be lewd!" MIkuru pleaded.

"Forgot, did you? Well, I suppose Miss Sato and Nagato were right about the two of you then," the girl said, smiling and shaking her head.

"Um, who's Miss Sato?" Mikuru asked, looking thoroughly befuddled.

Aqua was too for a moment, then she narrowed her eyes. "Wait, do you mean Kazuma? Nobody ever calls him Sato."

"Him? There is something wrong with the two of you," the girl chuckled. "I think we'd best take you to the nurses office."

"W-wait, w-who are you?" Mikuru gasped, jerking away from the girl. She was rather cute, with shoulder length dark brown hair and a sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Why, I'm your old friend, Itsuko Koizumi. You two must be sick. Come to the nurse's office, and we'll take care of that for you," the girl laughed.

"No, um, we're fine now, we just...um. Bye!" Aqua said, grabbing Mikuru and running off. Thankfully, Itsuko didn't pursue them.

This time, they headed for the room, though when they got to the door they found it looked.

"How are we going to open it?" Mikuru asked, frowning at the door knob.

Aqua looked down at her much larger hands. "We could... hit it?"

After a single ramming attempt, Mikuru and Aqua gave up and slumped on the stairs dejectedly. When the school bell rang, they both scampered off to their classes, an uncertain future ahead of them.

Authors Note:

What? This is a new story. It counts as a new project.