'Talking'

"Speaking"

Kiwi Island's Endless Night

As the day was beginning for Jun and Ying, it was also beginning for a little tropical paradise on the surface. The sun greets an awakening port after it just crest over in the east as the moon dips down in the west. Ships and boats a like rest at their docks with a few sailors bustling about on their decks, prepping for the day full of sailing.

A lone-cloaked figure strolls on the docks while surveying the different ships available at his disposal. A few times, he pauses to survey them a little more, but he would continue as if they were useless in his eyes, which they were. Suddenly, he stops in place as he notice s familiar back of a man that he hoped to see alive once more.

"Captain," the person turns around at the familiar voice and stop when his eyes land on a familiar cloaked figure. "In the name of Calypso, you're alive!" the brunette captain, who had willing given the cloaked figure passage that, was disrupted by the storm. The cloaked figure laughs, "Yes, I'm glad to see that you made it as well."

The brunette captain smiles, "Yes and it's all thanks to you..."

"Leo,"

"Leo...hm, that's an interesting name boy."

Quickly Leo and the captain continue catching up with each other. "So Captain," said Leo not sure what the captain's name, "Atsuo, my name is Atsuo." Leo smiles in his hood, "So Captain Atsuo, I was wondering would it be much trouble for you to help me once more?" Atsuo looks at Leo for a few minutes curiously.

"Depends on what you need," Atsuo said while he turns to see the progress of his sailors. "Passage, for three passengers," Leo answers watching Atsuo think over the given request. "Where do you need to go?" Leo narrows his eyes in annoyance at the twenty questions Atsuo seems to have. "To any island,"

Atsuo's brown brows disappear into his hairline, "To any island? As if to any island that you so request?" Atsuo asked wanting to make sure his suspension was right. Leo's nod confirmed Atsuo his suspension, which led the seafaring captain to sit there and think. Did he really want to go through the hassle of changing his course on the whim of a passenger? Did he truly want to make the effort, make the necessary detours that he knew would delay his shipments?

He look back at Leo's cloaked form for a few minutes, than sighs while saying, "Fine...since I do owe you my life. I will give you and your company safe passage. But understand you might have to wait to get to the islands you seek if I have business to take care of at a certain port." Leo nods, "Yes I understand," Atsuo nods too while remaining in his seat, the two remain where they were with silence as a companion. Atsuo glance at his ship when he heard a startle yelp, what he saw almost cause his brow to twitch but instead he sighed while face planting into his open palm. One of his green sailors had somehow gotten himself tangle up in the rope. Moreover, he apparently fell over the side since he is dangling off the side, and panicking.

Leo turn to the ship when he heard the yelp, and had to keep himself from laughing as he watch the fellow struggle with the rope as if he was an reanimated puppet struggling against his strings. Atsuo turn to Leo, "Is there anything?" Leo motions his head in the negative. "Good," Atsuo rises from his seat while grunting in annoyance, "I am apparently needed at this moment...so I will let you be. I expect to see you and your companions tomorrow when the sun greets his daughter sea."

Leo look at Atsuo in shock, "Why tomorrow?" Atsuo looks at Leo and then his ship watching his crew's rescuing party try to pull up the whining sea puppy, as few of his crew where standing on the side yelling at him to hold still because he was tangling himself even more. "I will need to replace what that idiot is about to destroy and that would take all day."

Leo study the commotion again and noticing some crewmembers hacking away at the parts of the ship the rope is twine around, seeing how if they were ever to get him out they had to remove all restrictions to the rope and pull the idiot up before he choke himself. "I see what you mean...well I leave you to your task," Leo slightly bows to Atsuo, who just snorts while walking to his ship. "You dirty dogs! Stop gnawing my ship...gnaw the rope instead; two of you come down here so we can catch this guppy when he falls. Boy! Stop your whining and listen to us and be still!"

Leo softly chuckle in bemusement while turning his back to the commotion.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy, save me!"

"You dumb pup, I said stop the whining!"

Leo quietly laughs as he heads back into town on the way to Kiwi's bay, where he will meet his two companions.

Far off in the crystal blue sea, life was flourishing in the ocean depths. The water was a rainbow color scheme with all the schools of fish as they swim merrily to the lovely tune of the sea.

"Are we there yet?"

"No,"

"How about now,"

"No."

"Now,"

"Still no,"

"Now,"

"Still no,"

"Now,"

"It's still no." A school of blue and green-scaled fish disperses when Ying swim through them. He looked annoy...well more as he looked beyond annoy. He looked irritated. You wonder why he looked irritated, well the reason was swimming behind him. "How about now," Jun asks as they swim through another school of fish.

"Jun," Ying exasperatedly spoke, "if I said no about five minutes ago why would it be any different now?" Jun just stare at Ying's back, "No Jun...for the thousandth time." Jun sighs exasperatedly as she looks to the side at a school of orange-scaled fish. They had been swimming for the better half of the morning, and Jun was bored out of her mind.

While Jun was bored out of her mind, Ying was almost out of his mind. He deduce that he had apparently forgotten how Jun can be on long trips, 'Now I know why I don't like traveling with her,' At the first four hours of the trip everything was grand, Jun excitedly study the changing scenery when they past the cliff dividing their home from the sea.

After those, four blissful hours, Jun became bored with the scenery and took upon her favorite traveling pastime annoy Ying until he cracked. If you ask Jun, it was the most fun thing to do next to annoying her father. If you ask Ying, this torture helped him in becoming a solider and captain. The two continue swimming in silence, Ying felt relief but wary. Which he was right to be.

"How about now...we have to be there by now?"

Ying finally snap, or slightly snap, "Jun! I told you once, I told you twice...heck even trice, I'll let you know when we're there. So stop asking if we're there or else I'll let you lead us there!" Jun floats in place looking at Ying, who was breathing deeply. "Okay, okay...you don't have to get your guppies in a bubble." Jun continue on forward as if nothing happen leaving Ying with a twitching brow.

'I will never understand her,' Ying thought with a sigh. Then turn to follow her at first he was trying to pick up to get in front but slightly pause in mid-stroke. Suspiciously, Ying slowed down allowing Jun to take the lead with a smirk. Jun was shock and wary when Ying did not take the lead, but she did not think about it for a while. She figures he would tell her where to go when it comes time for a new direction.

They been swimming hours, Jun knew it was past the afternoon, and Ying did not said a word. Not one word, he just follows her quietly as if he was an escort on a simple trip to the town square. She was fine with this; well she would be fine with it if she known where Kiwi Island was. That was the crux. She has no idea where they were going, and it was troubling that he would allow her to swim on blindly without any instructions, nothing, zilch, nada. However, Jun did not want to give him the satisfaction, she knew he was doing this as retaliation from her trying to rid her boredom by annoying him to insanity.

Ying smirks as he notices the tense shoulders, controlled swimming, and little sparks coming from her. He was winning. It was only a matter of time before Jun would demand him to end his impromptu silent treatment and lack of direction. "That's it! What's the deal?" after they had swam for a few more minutes Jun could not take it anymore.

Jun felt an eyebrow twitch at the sight of Ying's twitching lips, "Yes," This time Ying could not fight the smirk when Jun growls softly at his nonchalant tone. "Don't you 'yes' me mister! You know what's going on," Ying just blinks for a few minutes and said, "I would not be sure until you tell me...Jun," Ying swallowed a chuckle at Jun's almost scream.

"Why are you giving me the silent treatment and not telling me if I am going in the right direction!"

Ying blinks, slowly, while looking at a huffing Jun. He studies her, her hunch shoulders, her pumping chest; her swirling ruby pink eyes that almost looked purely red instead mix. After a few dignifying strained moments, Ying felt it was time to speak. "It's not fun to be annoyed is it Jun?" Jun freezes in place as she processed what Ying just asked.

While she did this, Ying swims past her like nothing happen. "That's why? You did it for revenge," whirls Jun as she looks at the retreating Ying. "May be...than may be not," Ying said earning an actual yell from the mermaid. "You are so insufferable!" Jun hollers as she quickly moves to catch up with him. Ying, this time, could not hold his chuckles at bay any longer. "I could say the same,"

Ying's vision became mostly of a mixture of sapphire blue and blue hair, after he felt a heavy object collide with his back. "You baka*!" yells Jun as she pelted his head with her fists, Ying, the poor soul, shielded himself from the onslaught while trying to call off the mermaid. "Ok...ok...ok Jun," Ying said while trying to swim away from the attacking mermaid. However, Jun kept up with him while calling him names like baka, meanie, and bully. As if, she was three years old again causing the merman to laugh at her expense.

Jun renewed her efforts with a determination to give him a concussion instead. Sadly, the two did not realize they had attained unwanted company. "Ok...ok Jun you proved your point," Ying floats in place shielding his head from Jun's taps, well punches actually but they felt like taps to him. "Yeah I better had!" Jun said after punching him one last time for good measure, but on his shoulder and hard. Ying rub his arm pouting, "First you annoyed me to insanity, then punch me all up in my head but I had to apologies for just giving you the silent treatment?" Jun crossed her arms, "That's how the world works. When the male gets in trouble he apologizes, while a women who gets in trouble does not,"

Ying snorts at that while muttering under his breath about spoiled controlling princesses.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Jun aggravatingly huffs at him while looking to the side. After their little spat Jun notices something, something odd about their surroundings. At first, the sea was full of life, all kinds of schools of fishes swimming around them. Even during their play fight. Now, the sea was desolate, barren of any life except Ying and her. Another thing she notice, was the tense atmosphere, she could feel the magnetic currents of the sea growing in intensity by the second.

Her hands felt clammy, her blood thickening and quickening, hair standing on end, skin prickling, heart rate increasing, breath slowly coming out in hard puffs, and the itch to flee strong. The last time she felt this adrenaline rush was when she was five. "Jun," said mermaid turn to a stiff Ying. His shoulders rigged, fingers twitching, breathing slow and calmly, but his face was calm, neutral, opposite what his body was saying. She notices his eyes, as his face was calm and neutral but challenging.

"Ying," Jun starts but was shushed by Ying. He spoke after waiting for her retort back at being quiet, but happily Jun recognize the severity of his posture and mood and did not. "Promise me you'll not panic, you'll stay calm and do what I say." Jun looked confused and went to question him why but Ying caught her off almost sternly, "Promise?" She quietly replied, "Yes," Ying grunts satisfied she was listening, "Jun turn around...slowly...don't scream,"

Jun raised a brow, but followed his order. She turned around as instructed and froze her back against Ying and her front was facing a creature that gave her nightmares for days at the age of five. Floating just a measly few feet from them was a creature of power. The creature's body was fitly lean, its length about roughly twelve feet from snout to back fin. Its dorsal fin tall and curved to the point of touching the creature's back like a flexible gymnast. Large grey eyes, place above its snout staring straight at the two, Ying and Jun. Its sleek grey-black skin resembles black diamonds under the ocean's light. Its back fin lazy moves left to right, to keep it afloat in the water.

"Jun...get behind me, and do it slowly," Jun stares at the creature, not hearing a word that Ying said, "Jun," Ying harshly whispers to gain the mermaid's attention. Still Ying's words felled on deaf ears, Ying went to move his hand but stop when it look like it would attack. "Jun," Ying repeats and this time he received a response, Jun slowly but quickly moved behind him. Then she quickly huddles behind him making her invisible to it.

"Ying...that's a Shaka," Jun whispers in shock, "I know." Ying spoke never taking his eyes off it. Earlier when he saw it, Ying never stop staring at it, the Shaka, he knew that if his eyes came off the sea would be in red, their red, their blood. "Don't Shaka's live on the ocean floor instead of the surface?" Jun's grip on Ying's top tighten as she asked this, "Yes...but they do like to hunt on the surface, that's why they have stream-line bodies," Ying answers noticing the Shaka was slowly moving in. "Jun," Ying whispers he felt Jun nod into his back showing she was listening, "...swim."

Jun looked up about to ask why when she notice the water heated around them. She looks down to see Ying's right hand emitting sparks and glowing blue. She looks up seeing the Shaka rushing them, "Swim!"

Back at the port, life was at full swing, sailors of all sizes and ages hustle and bustle on the docks and their ships. Amongst the hustle and bustle, two figures walk, one in a black colored cloak and the other in an indigo colored cloak. "This place seems promising," the indigo-cloaked figure comments but he receives silence as an answer. After a few moments waiting for a response the indigo-cloaked figure sighs at his companions lack of response, "Are we back to the silent treatment again?" Seeing as she still refused to respond, he sighs again.

"Alright, we are," a pale arm peeks out the cloak scratching the top of the cloak. He looks over to his silent companion, whose cloak shielded her from any prying eyes. 'You were like this back at Hsiao as well, why, may be when the hunt is on you will be more open.' The indigo-cloaked figure looks out to the ever more bustling city before him. 'Where are you little angel, come out, come out where ever you are.'

A head of silver sprouts up from the sand sapphire eyes frantically survey the surf, the lust forest behind, and the endless stretch of beach. As if, he heard someone. 'What was that...feeling just...now?' Leo survey the area once more hoping there may be answers. After seeing none, Leo sits for a few minutes staring at the water suddenly he leans back into the sand.

After the sand settle around and on him, Leo stares at the crystal blue sky above. 'Man if I wasn't out in sea two days ago I never would have believed they had storms out here,' Leo closes his eyes as a caressing breeze wash over his still body, 'Now this would only be better if those two get here, where are they?' Leo shoots up glaring at the water, as if he would see a head of blue and teal appear from the water

Leo was expecting Ying and Jun to arrive, which was over two hours ago. 'What could they be doing right now? Sleeping the day away?' Leo had received a letter from Ying telling him they would be there early afternoon, it was late afternoon and he seen neither scale nor hair of them. Leo falls back onto the sand half-yelling about them taking their sweet possible time, especially Ying to annoy him. He did not think they could be in trouble, did not think they could be facing a life or death situation.

He did not think so, until now. Leo pauses in his muttering when he heard a splash and a small yell in the distance. He sits up staring at the inlet's gulf surface, which was still...an eerie still. A stillness that comes before a predator is about to pounce on its prey. As if in slow motion, the water surface explodes with two shiny beings, one sapphire blue and the other silvery blue, the sapphire blue screaming for bloody murder.

Both bodies soaring above the water, surfing in the air, towards the shore, Leo sits there blinking as he watch clouds of wet sand and water encompass the two. "We made it!" yells the first voice, which Leo recognizes as Jun, "Get further up shore Jun, get further up shore!" yells the second voice, who Leo can only assume is Ying.

Leo could not help but raised a brow as he watch the two recognized merfolks scramble, slither, drag, or wiggle up to where he is at. They did reach him, than past him like two flying cheetahs. Leo opens his mouth, but stop as he heard a force of rushed water coming up to him. He turns around to see an overgrown fish, mouth wide open revealing thousands upon thousands rows of sharp, pointy teeth coming straight at him.

Leo yells in shock as he back petals up to where Jun and Ying, sprawled out in the sand huffing and puffing. Bulging sapphire plates, made up Leo's eyes, "What in the thousands leagues is that?" He turns to Jun resting on top of a sprawled out Ying. "Shaka," Leo blinks while quirking his brow at the ambiguous simple answer.

Ying sensing his confusion, "Our people call that murderous overgrown fish a Shaka," Leo nods in understanding, "Oh...I thought she was just saying something." The sound of swishing water floated to their ears. Jun and Ying lifted up and watch, like Leo, the Shaka wiggling or more like slither back into the water.

The three remain in the sand, staring at the Shaka's return point for a few minutes. Their hair swings to the right in the lazy wind, "What did you two do to attract that?" Leo turn astonish eyes at the two recovered merfolks. "Being in the right place at the wrong time," Ying answers while bringing a bag around to his front. Leo's head snap to the rustle of cloths, "What you got there?" Ying pauses in removing a silk-like shiny cloth from the bag.

"Our clothes," Ying answers while continuing in the removal of clothing. "You actually have clothes?" Ying and Jun blink owlishly at Leo quite intelligent response. "Um, yeah we do. Did you think we swam naked under the sea all the time?" Jun answered than widely gestures to Ying, "I mean come on! Ying is wearing armor, so it would be easy to assume we do have clothes!"

Leo chuckles as he did remember in their first meeting, after the storm, Ying wore armor and the very same one he was wearing now, or an exact replica of it, anyway. "Yeah I must have forgotten I spent a lot of time with a naked Ying during the night over a week ago." Ying huffs irritably, tossing the bag at Leo's leg as he had a blue cloth in his hand. Jun huffs while telling the boys she was going to change.

Leo sidesteps the flying projectile; he turns to ask her where and how she was going to change when the girl suddenly was engulf in pink light. Ying sit steel rod straight when he heard Jun's declarations on changing, "Jun," he stops when pink light blinded him. Both males' shield their eyes as the light brighten some more and the sand kick up. As quick as it came, the light died down leaving sand clouds in its wake.

Leo and Ying, coughing while swiping at the sand to disperse from their area, when everything settle both crimson and sapphire widen at the sight before them. Ying sighs in relief while Leo sighs in disappointment. Before them, Jun stands, which was a little unstable, before them with her slim frame shrouded in a stream-like dress. The dress's color was white with different hues of colors, imitating the glimmering scales of fishes. The dress's hem looked like a fish's tail fin. It was sleeve-less and the hem tailored into a V-shape. A blue gemstone rests over her belly button, and its twin resting just above her breasts. Jun has a matching circlet and a matching hoodless cloak in her hand, with sandals with matching blue straps.

Even though, both Ying and Leo, sighed for different reasons they shared two emotions. Slight disappointment, which Ying could not fathom why, yet not disappointed. For the dress left little to imagination, it hugs the girl's curve in all the right places as if it was a dear friend to her body. "Are you two done?" Leo and Ying's gazes left the lovely vision for Jun's irritated expression. Ying had the dignity to blush while looking to the side, embarrass he check out his best friend.

Leo, on the other hand, did not share the merman's feeling. "Not quite my sweet, I still haven't paid homage to the temple before me," his brows where waggling while he wore a little kitty-like smirk. Jun face took on a rosy hue as she looks to the side muttering something about him being a pervert quietly. Jun turn to the sound of a soft yelp and thud, seeing Leo sprawled out in the sand with a boot resting idly next to him.

She, slowly, glances over at a fuming Ying. If looks could kill and destroy, Leo would be nothing but dirt right now from the way Ying was glaring at him. She looked at Leo again seeing a nice deep boot mark, in the center of his face, developing.

Jun blush deeply after she turned her back when blue light engulfed the male. Like Jun's, the sand kick up as the light became brighter, than as quickly as it started it ended. "It's ok to look Jun," said mermaid turn around seeing Ying quickly adjusting his bottoms. The bottom was a tasset, or two dark blue armor plates attach to the bottom of his armor top, resting on the sides of his left and right thigh. Between the two armors is a matching teal cloth at his front and backsides. Ruby pink eyes follow Ying's graceful movements over to Leo, he grab the boot next to the fallen boy while carrying its brother with him.

He plops down on the ground and goes to slip on the armor-plated matching boots. Jun lift a brow as she study his attire, "You decided to wear your body armor?" Ying glance up at her when his last boot was on, "Well I am wearing the top, might as well wear the bottoms, ne?" Jun nods in understanding, Ying gets up from his position stretching his arms but mostly his legs, it has been awhile since he transformed into Gaian form.

Jun turn her back to Ying hiding what she knew was a blush coming from the burning sensation on her cheeks. 'I knew he was fit, but I didn't know he was that fit,' she peeks over her shoulders as Ying rolls out a kink in his right shoulder, his muscles tensing and releasing in seconds from the movement. Jun quickly looks from the sight as the burning cheeks intensify, 'Why am I now just noticing this, I always been around him before so why starting now? Maybe Gaian form messes with emotions too. Yea, that's it, being in Gaian form for the first time mess with my emotions.'

While Jun was preoccupied with her thoughts, she failed to hear and realize Leo moved up to her. "Liked what you saw?" Leo whispers causing the poor mermaid to jump, he could not help but laugh at the girl's predicament. Leo's laugh and humor shift to a yowl, his hands which where once holding his sides, one went limp while the other soothe the throbbing pain. Jun huffs indignantly and walks away from Leo. Leo watches the girl leave his side only for another to take her place.

"What did you do?" Ying asked while watching Jun pause before the forest, "Tease her," Leo answers while rubbing his arm, "for a tiny thing she sure can pack a punch." Ying chuckles while commenting, "True, but I wouldn't let her heard that the next time," he then heads up to Jun leaving a curious and a little weary Leo behind.

"What happens if she does?" Ying just smiles and shrugs, "I wouldn't want to find out if I was you" was the merman's only sagely advice. Leo felt a shiver race down his back as he thought on Ying's answer. After a bit he just shrug and said, "Come on let's go, we're losing precious time."

In the streets of Kiwi, everything was in full swing. Families crowded the store fronts, cart merchants huddle on the sidewalks, children darting out in front of horses and carriages. Young men gather at corners, hunch in a circle yelling out in encouragement, victory, or defeat as they throw little dotted cubes on the ground.

Life appear good for the citizens of Kiwi, two women caught up in heated gossip suddenly pause as their interest quickly took in an odd and mysterious sight. As fast as they stop, they dive right back into their gossip, but instead of the useless trivial subject, they started with but over what they keenly looked at. A few others in the streets of Kiwi mimic what the gossiping women did. However, instead return to what they were doing before.

The anomaly that caught the citizens' attention where three cloaked figures walking amongst them. They were strange, one cloaked figure taller than the other two. One cloaked figure was bouncing on their toes as if they were a four year old in a candy store. The third cloaked figure leading the other two in a rigid posture.

They were a sight to see and hear. "I told you this was a bad idea," mutter the tallest of the three, the one leading them sighs annoyed as the tallest continue on that train of thought. While this was going on, the one-cloaked figure bouncing on their feet was sprouting out random comments, "Oh what's that, what's that?" Quickly Kiwi's citizens turn their backs on them and continue with their previous business. Even though they were a sight, they were just like them.

The trio trudge on forward as one unit until the, obviously, stressed leader whips around the corner. He quickly grabs the other two fronts dragging them behind him. "Hey, what was that for?" questions the once bouncing cloaked figure. The lead slid off his hood, revealing Leo, ignores the question, "Hey can you check around the corner, Ying?"

The tallest of the three slid his hood off, confirming he was Ying, "Sure. What am I looking for," Jun huffs at Leo, who just keeps on ignoring her. "Two cloaked figures one black and another purple," Ying raises an eyebrow at Leo before doing what was ask of him. Ying looks around the area; he made sure to look around once more before returning to the others.

Leo sighs when Ying shakes his head in the negative, Jun stares at Leo while Ying raised an eyebrow in question. "Ok, let's keep on," the two merfolk shares looks between themselves as they, noted how their companion went without answering. They both went to turn to the street when a pair of hands grabs them at the shoulders.

"Not that way, this way." Leo reprimanding them as if they were clueless, Jun huff indignantly and Ying baffle watch their companion continue down the alleyway. Again glances where shared and the two merfolk follows their fearless leader into the dark abyss of the alleyway.

"Stupid...senile...imbecile," mutters a cloaked figure pacing a cavernous lake in front of a glowing orb, humming to himself. "This is madness," the cloaked figure mutters again after growling out in frustration, "Why must we sit idly by for the prophecy to pass...why...why can't we go out and insure the chosen ones are found!" The cloaked figure faces the chuckling orb.

"What is it you find so funny?" the orb chuckles once more, "yes I must agree, it is quite maddening." The figure turns to the orb, "So you agree," once more the orb chuckles before answering. "Yes especially with how you ruin my beautiful floor." The figure grunts baffle, looks down at his feet only seeing a pristine cavernous lake.

"What floor do you speak of?" questions the figure to growl in irritation as the lighted orb laughs at his clueless and easily frazzle companion. "You never changed my friend, always taking everything literally," the figures huffs, "And you never cease playing mind games with others, I see. Just like old times." The orb chuckles once more at his fluster companion.

After a few moments, silence join them as they remain in the area quiet, one content and the other fluster. Just as quick for silence to join them, it was also quick to leave as it gave way to a sigh. The figure raised his head to the orb. "I understand why standing idly by would be quite maddening as well. Especially waiting for the prophecy to pass without our aide... to speed up the process per say."

The figure sighs turning to dark rocky walls, "Yes...but as you would say, it's not our place to aide in this battle." The orb hums quietly, "That is something I would say was true my old friend, but it is not," the figure faces the orb, "It is not our destiny that lies with the prophecy and it is not us who chose who will them but the prophecy itself,"

The figure stands for a few minutes staring at the orb, processing what he had said. "That's what I just said!" shook the walls of the cave from the figures loud yell accompanied by the orbs laughter.

"I wonder what all these lights are for?" sapphire eyes swerves back to the two merfolks mesmerize by what was happening. The owner also looks to where they were, out of the alleyways of Kiwi's citizens bustle and hustle on the main road hanging colorful banners attach to lights on their storefront.

"They started their decorating when the sun was further in its descent," Ying absently comments as he raised a brow to a monstrosity that was supposed to resemble fish he believed. For this thing was the color of seaweed green, everything from the head and to the tail. The bottom half was tail of some sort, a fish or a shark tail, attach to a gaian torso that was develop at the chest, a chest he knew he could poke out both eyes of a full grown Shaka. A top its head, Ying; can only be described as seaweed.

Yes, seaweed woven together as a poor imitation of hair after looking at it a little bit more Ying's other brow shoot-ups. "Wait is that supposed to be a mermaid?" causing Jun and Leo to study the monstrosity passing by. "Yes, I believe that was a mermaid," Leo absently comments studying all the decorations. He had inkling about the whole decorating. However, his trail of thought derailed at Jun's indigent gasp.

"Oh please don't tell me that is also supposed to be a mermaid?" Both males look towards a banner waving in the air with a doodle of a creature with a tail of a fish torso of a gaian but with scaly and feathery wings of a bird attach to its back. The doodle creature was of same coloring, but its hair was actually drawn seaweed and it had large yellow-green cat like eyes.

Leo's sapphires glance over, amusingly, at the irritation drench on the faces of his seafaring companions. "If it is, I think we all agree their mermaid ain't as pretty as you," Leo cups Jun's hands within his own as he stare adoringly at the mermaid princess. Jun's cheeks took on a red hue, similar to Ying, however his was for another reason than hers. Quickly Ying comments, "Was there a destination you had in mind, Leo."

Leo looks at Ying indifferently as he took in the others slightly rigid posture, slightly red face, and smoldering crimson flashing to black in mere seconds. A mischievous smirk destroys the once silent look, "Yes I do, Ying. Is there a problem?" on the last question Leo purposely wrap his arm around Jun's shoulder causing the girl to blush even darker.

"No," Ying clips out before facing the obvious preparations happening before him. "Ying," starts Jun but Leo interrupts with a little information about it not being too far from them. Jun stands looking at Ying for a few minutes about to voice her concern again but stops at the merman's soft touch. "It's nothing Jun, let's go before we lose the idiot."

Ying than continues forward leaving Jun's unimpressed expression. She knew he was lying, there was something, but in typical Ying fashion, he decides to keep it to himself. She huffs knowing that she will receive her answer from him, in due time and on her terms. The young princess hurries after the two after glancing once more, at what was happening outside the alleyway.

Leo did not lied to them when he said it was not far, all three stood at the point the road and alley meet looking at a small building across from them. "This is it," Leo cheeringly comments while looking both ways noticing how this street sat decorated. Banners and streamers hang from lampposts and buildings from all around. Booths crowds the road from both sides filled with items ranging from food to toys and accessories.

Ying hums in curiosity at everything around him, taking note of the reddish sky. "So we're staying for the night here?" Leo glances over at the merman, "Yeah we are, our ship won't be deporting till early tomorrow morning," Ying nods in understanding as he notice a few gaians coming from a corner nearby dressed in beige colored garbs, that reminded him of a blowfish. He also took note of their bushy multicolor hair.

"You surface-dwellers and your strange wear," Ying quietly mutters as the gaians walk past them. Leo snorts at Jun and Ying's expressions and headed for the building across knowing they would follow him. The door chimes at their entrance. The three stand just before the door studying the area with a strangely absent attendant. "Hello?" Leo stands there looking and listening for a response for his call.

However, the room was silent after a while, seeing as no one answer Ying daringly ventures forward from the other two to the front counter. Eventually the others break from each other peering around to see if there was anyone there besides the three of them. After their failed search of the premises, the three gather at the front desk.

"It seems no one is here...strange," Leo comments while scratching his head, "May be someone is out back, you know checking up on something." Jun suggests as an explanation for the missing attendant, "She may be right, or they could be outside help with the decorating that we saw earlier." Ying added.

Leo nods in agreement with both answers, but he knew that if what they said was true than the front door should be lock instead of unlocked. 'This is strange, but not to worry just have to find another place.' Thinks Leo as he heads for the door, with the other two following suit.

"Hello honorable guest, are you in need of rooms or services?"

The group jump in their skin at the sudden voice, they turn around to see a young woman with short purple hair and ginger eyes. The woman wore a layer white dress with a small black vest. Leo openly check the young woman out, taking note she was cute and believe she could be quite pretty if she smiled.

"Yes you can, I think heaven is upset for one of his angels is missing," Leo comments while leaning on the counter with a smirk while waggling his brows. The young woman stares at Leo, while he remains smirking at her. Ying rolls his eyes at Leo's antics, "Miss ignore him, do you have any rooms available?" the young woman's ginger eyes move from Leo to the Ying, who had step up to the counter while speaking.

The moment ginger and crimson clash, time and life froze between the two. Her ginger's widen in shock as she study Ying, his hair, eyes and physique was scrutinize; ignoring the other two in the room. Ying blinks for a few moments while he waits for the young woman's answer. Noticing how his answer is not coming straightforward, he smiles a little, covering up the uncomfortable feeling he was getting from the woman.

Ying felt like something was probing him, but he knew there was none. Ying jumps out of his skin when he felt a sharp prick on his back, "What was that for?" questions the assaulted male, and Jun, the assailant, was casually looking to the side as if nothing happen. Ruby pink eyes lazily glance at Ying, "What was what?"

Ying's brow twitches at her answer but drop it when Leo steps up repeating the unanswered question. "Luckily for you we have three rooms available," three sets of eyes turn to the new voice in the room. A young male with shaggy short white hair with a crooked smile and eyes closed. He wore a white top with puffy long sleeves and his pale chest bare for all to see. A pair of fitting black pants with matching boots completed his little ensemble.

When he opens his eyes, piercing blues stare back at them. "That's great, I and my friends would like to use them," Leo replies as he studies the new comer a little bit, 'Where did he come from, and thinking on that where did she come from as well? I didn't sense anyone here in this building or even close by during the search,' Leo glance between the two, watching how the young male nod as he spoke the happiness he felt about them choosing their humble services and the way the young female was staring at Ying as if he was some fresh meat.

Leo had to cough into his hand to keep from chuckling at the last part, 'Wasn't it just a week ago I saved him from being the main course,'

"Aki can you please get these honor guests their keys to the room," Aki, the young woman, turn her gaze from an unsuspecting Ying, reluctantly, as she went to complete the task. Jun's eyes narrow at the obvious glances the woman would send in Ying's direction, who to Jun's relief ignore as he lean on the counter staring off into space.

Nevertheless, Jun's relief was short lived, "Here you go," Ying turns to Aki and then glance down at the key held in her hand. "Thanks," at first Ying was hesitant to take the proffered key, Jun huffs in agitation when she notice how Aki purposely brush her hand at Ying's when he took the key. "May I have mine," interjected Leo, hoping to draw her attention to him, but disappointingly his key as well as Jun's key toss casually on the counter.

During all this, Aki never look away from Ying.

"Um, thank you Miss Aki." Mumbles Ying as he scratches the back of his head, Aki nods.

"Do you need help finding your room?"

"No, we can find them just fine," interjects Jun hugging Ying's arm causing the startle merman to look at her and Aki glare at her. Before anyone else said anything, Jun drags a baffle Ying down the hall leaving Leo to catch up while requesting dinner to come up.

When the three disappear, the young man turn to Aki who remain staring at the hall the three disappear. "Well that wasn't too hard, the angel came straight to us," comments the male with a small smirk. Slowly his smirk disappears when Aki did not answer back, "Hey Aki," when he saw her ginger eyes he knew he had her attention, "Did you know that guy?"

Aki's eyes went back to the hall where the three disappear silent for a moment. The young male leaned back on the window and wall behind him, knowing that he would get his answer at her due time. "No," his left eyebrow rose up in curiosity but Aki continued, "but he is a merman and that girl is a mermaid, Keiji."

Keiji, the young male, blink for a few minutes than chuckle, "Oh now it all makes sense, it has been awhile since you had merman, right Aki?" As the white of his eyes slowly brighten into a neon blue, "Yes and how many moons it's been since you played with a mermaid?" Aki replies back as her ginger color irises leak into the white of her eyes and her pupils contract and lengthen into tall strips.

"I don't want to think about it," Keiji mumbles than pauses for a few moments while glancing over at Aki taking note of her posture. He then glances out the window, taking note of the darkening sky, "This night should be quite interesting."

"The nerve," Jun mutters quietly as she continues to drag Ying down the hall. Suddenly Jun found she teetering back into a fall, but luckily for her the person behind her would not have allowed her to fall, even if it was of his own doing. "Hey, what was that for?"

Ying found himself at the end of a fuming ruby pink glare, which spark a slight shiver from within him. Nonetheless, he went on, "To stop you from pulling my arm out of place," the ire Jun once held dissipate when she notice how Ying was rubbing the shoulder she was dragging him with. Just as quick as it disappear, slight irritation replaced it when she turn her back to him, "Well, I wouldn't have been pulling your arm out, as you claim, if you hadn't been so caught up with her,"

Ying truly was confuse now, 'I was so caught up with who,'

"Jun...What are you talking about?" Jun looks at Ying, "Are you that clueless," both merfolk turn to an astonish Leo standing right behind them. "Clueless about what, what are you going on about?" Both Leo and Jun look at Ying as if he had a second head. "The whole star struck staring thing with that Aki girl," Ying blinks at them.

"Wait...staring," Ying whispers as he remember from how the way she was looking was creepy, " hold it, all that staring it was her not me," said Ying causing Jun to silently scream in fury, however Leo's ire quickly turn to suspicion at Ying's attitude and tone.

"Do you think we're blind, we saw you! We watch how your eyes quickly zone in on her, like she was the only thing in existent!"

"What,"

Leo stands a little ways from them watching as the two argue, 'Something is not right here,' thinks Leo as he watch Jun throw different accusations at Ying, who was trying explain they were not true to a furious female. Leo would have found the scene entertaining, if it was under a different light. However, given the certain circumstances, "Ying, can you tell me what you felt before,"

Jun and Ying look at Leo with curious, "Um I just know I had this uneasy feeling at first when we met her, then slowly...like...I don't know, something slowly ease away the uneasiness and nothing." Leo nod and asked, "what did you felt when you got your key,"

"A little unease...than...almost felt like I was...a-asleep...I guess then suddenly jolting pain and I found myself being drag down the hall. Why you need to know?"

Leo's brows bunch towards his center while commenting softly, "Just curious," Leo knew Ying did not believe especially with the suspicious look on his face, but luckily Jun ended that while mentioning about how they should find their rooms.

"You don't have to worry about that, you found your rooms already."

All three, Jun, Leo and Ying, turn to see Aki and Keiji standing behind them with trays of food.

'When did they come up?'

A smile breaks out on Keiji's face as he walks up to them, "Sorry if we came a little early, but we thought you would be in your rooms right now." Leo and the others blink for a few minutes than nod, "It's ok, we would be but needed to talk," Leo quickly note how Aki stare openly at Ying, his eyes narrow when he could have sworn she flick her tongue.

However, he turns his attention to Keiji, who rambling on about how they were lucky to visit Kiwi Island tonight. "What's so special about tonight?" Jun ask curious after shifting closer to Ying when she notice Aki was staring at him, just openly as before.

"Well its Kiwi Island's Endless Night festival,"

"Kiwi Island's Endless Night Festival?"

"Yeah, it happens once every year, we celebrate the longest night in the year with food and games. However, tonight is very special,"

"Really how so," Ying asked curious about tonight, "It's a moonless night." Quietly answers Aki causing the others to look at her, "People claim that when the Endless Night festival falls on a moonless night, the legendary temple of Ki appears in a remote, lagoon that only can be access on this night alone."

"As in the legendary Temple of Ki," Leo excitedly asked causing Ying and Jun to look at him curiously, "What's the story behind the temple?" Ying asked curious, "I heard mention in passing a few times but never heard the tale."

Leo was all too happy to speak, "This temple is said to have been created during Heaven's Great Fall. They say the temple was built housing a powerful item of some sort the Nirvanians had created. I don't know if it's true, but people believe this item, the creation of the Nirvanians, leads the holder to a sacred place that house a great and powerful weapon and treasures. However, no one knows of such a place and if there were, only a Nirvanian would know, but since they basically where all killed we'll never know."

'Yeah, all the Nirvanians were destroyed,' thought both Jun and Ying as they both held similar deadpan expressions.

"That's just a wives' tale, there is no such thing as a temple or sacred place. You should hurry up into your rooms and eat your food, so you can join the festivity out there," said Keiji as he gestures to the group with their food.

AN: Here is the long awaited update to the few who are still following the story...let's just say life is life.

R&R