In one of the darker parts of the ocean, two mermaids sat.
“It’s about time that old woman met her maker.”
“I know.”
One of the mermaids had long blonde hair and cold gray eyes. Her fin was an ugly steel color, glistening in the water and looking much akin the eel that kept the two mermaids company. The other had short black hair and eyes so dark no one could be sure what color they were. Her fin was a shiny black, very venomous looking ebony color.
The blonde mermaid sat in front of the mirror, and taking an old fish bone, began to comb her long, pale hair.
“When that old woman died, she gave all her knowledge to us. She also gave us her crystal ball. Let’s take a look.”
“All right then, where is it?”
The dark-haired mermaid began to search along the many shelves of potions and bottles.
“I found it!” she cried, and held up a small crystal ball, with thick white mist swirling about inside.
She brought it to the table, and set it down.
“What shall we look at?” she asked.
The two thought for a moment, and then, simultaneously, two wicked grins came upon their faces. They looked at each other and nodded. The blonde set the ball down on the table and waved one hand casually over the top of it, suddenly, a scene came upon the smooth surface of the crystal, and the two mermaids leaned in closer, watching with interest.
In the scene Quatre and Duo were arguing about something.
“I really don’t think you should, Duo! We can’t risk getting caught again.”
“We won’t, I swear.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“You never do, anyway.”
“With good reason!”
“I’m going to Wufei whether you like it or not! Besides, I know you want to see that other boy again anyway.” Duo cried.
“But Duo, you can’t…” Quatre started, but stopped at the look on Duo’s face.
Duo sighed. “I have to see that boy again.”
Quatre’s wide, azure eyes were a pained look, unsure of how to comeback when he wanted what Duo did as well. The scene faded out.
The dark-haired mermaid started back. “What does he mean?” she cried.
The blonde comforted her. “Hilde, he probably means some person who knows something he wants.”
“That isn’t what is sounded like, Dorothy.” Hilde said stubbornly. Dorothy wasn’t so sure herself.
Duo swam out of the castle and towards Wufei’s. With a loud sigh Quatre followed him.
I know he wants to see that boy again. I want to see the other boy again as well, but I couldn’t. Way, way to risky. But he had such a nice laugh…and his eyes…stop it Quatre! You’ll never see him again; so don’t bother to think about him. Then why can’t I stop thinking about him if he was so unimportant and trivial? Aaaah! I’m doing it again! He was a human Quatre. A human! Don’t mess with them. How many teachers have told you that?
Quatre shook his head. It was hopeless. So deep had he been in his thoughts, Quatre had been surprised when Duo stopped swimming abruptly.
Duo banged on the door. “Wufei! Come out! I know you’re in there!”
A grumbling sound was heard and a door opened revealing a young merboy about Duo and Quatre’s age. His shining black hair was pulled back into a painfully tight-looking ponytail, and his hair color matched his dark, ebony eyes. His dark blue-green fin swished about impatiently.
“What do you want, Duo?” Wufei looked around and saw Quatre.
“Quatre, you’re here too? I’d think you’d at least have enough common sense to…” Wufei faltered off as Quatre gave him a dark look.
Duo was looking impatient. He grabbed Quatre by one arm, Wufei by the other, and marched into Wufei’s house.
Wufei wrestled out of Duo’s grasp. “Ok, ok. What do you want, Duo?”
Duo explained, and when he was done, Wufei looked shocked. “A human? No, really, a human? Duo, don’t mess with them, I would know.” A painful looked crossed Wufei’s face. “They killed my parents.”
Quatre put his hand on Wufei’s shoulder. “Wufei, I’m sorry…”
Wufei shook his head. “It’s all right. Ok, but Duo, what do you want me to do about it?”
Duo put his hands up in exasperation. “You’re the smart one!” he cried, “Think of something!”
Wufei looked pensive for a few moments, and then got up. “I know. Go to Hilde and her sister. They would know something.”
Quatre looked appalled. “Them?” he cried, “They make me too nervous, and who knows what crazy idea they could think of? No way am I going there, or letting Duo either.”
Duo frowned. “What are you, Quatre? My mother? I’m going. Wu-man has the right idea.”
Wufei growled. “It’s Wufei.”
Duo waved that aside. “Sure. Whatever. Quatre, let’s go!”
“No—” Quatre began, but Duo grabbed his arm again and towed him off again, this time towards the sisters, Hilde and Dorothy.
Wufei stood in the doorway, watching Duo and Quatre get smaller as they swam off to the two sisters. “Good luck, my friends.”
The two merboys soon reached the door of the two sisters.
The door opened before they even knocked it, and there stood a smiling Dorothy and Hilde.
“We were expecting you. Come in.”
Quatre and Duo glanced at each other, and swam in.
“Well—” Duo began, but Hilde held up her hand.
“I already know, and I think I might have something that could help you, Duo.”
Quatre raised his eyebrow. “And what would that be?” he asked.
Dorothy swam over and seized Quatre’s arm. “I’ll show you,” she purred.
Quatre slipped his arm out of hers. “Err, yeah. Right.” Quatre glanced at Dorothy. “Let’s check it out.”
“Come on Duo.” Hilde said in an enticing manner. Duo suddenly looked at nervous as Quatre. “Ok then.”
They were led to a room with shelves by the hundreds covered in different shaped bottles, rocks, mists, and the like.
Hilde swam over to one of the many shelves and picked up a medium sized bottle. “I’m not exactly sure what this does, but my great, great Aunt’s memory tells us this will help you.”
“Can’t you figure out what it does? It might be dangerous!” Quatre whimpered.
Dorothy sauntered over and ran her hand down Quatre’s arm. “Don’t worry. It can’t be that bad.”
Quatre shivered. “Don’t do that Dorothy.”
Dorothy just smiled, and Quatre looked very edgy and moved over closer to Duo.
“Well, I think you should try it.” Hilde said, from behind Duo, and making him jump.
“Duo, be careful…” Quatre said.
Duo smirked. “I will, I will. I think I’ll try it.”
He took the bottle and, with a shaking hand, took a sip.
They waited, and nothing happened. “It didn’t do anything!” Duo cried.
Quatre turned around to the two sisters. “Why didn’t it work?”
“Funny, a second ago you didn’t even want him to take it,” Hilde hissed.
Quatre glowered at the two. “Let’s go Duo.”
A very disappointed Duo nodded and began to swim off with Quatre.
They had just swum out of the sister’s cave with the two mermaids escorting them, when Duo let out a piercing shriek.
“Duo!” Quatre cried.
Duo screamed again and suddenly his fins split apart into two legs, and he began to choke. He passed out cold.
“Aaaah! He can’t breathe!” Quatre shrieked, then whirled on the two sisters.
“How could you?” he cried.
Hilde and Dorothy shrugged. “He got what he wanted, didn’t he?”
Quatre looked shocked. “You—you bitch!” he yelled, and, grabbing Duo, swam furiously to the surface.
When Quatre got to the surface, he put Duo on the sand. Duo looked so pale, and his lips were blue.
“These humans are too damn delicate! Why did he do this to himself?” Quatre sighed.
Quatre heard footsteps on the soft sand coming towards him. A human!
“I’ll miss you buddy,” Quatre said to Duo, and jumped in the water.
Heero came around the corner, and cried out in surprise when he saw the inert form lying on the sand.
Was there a shipwreck I wasn’t aware of? Heero thought to himself, working his way over to the unmoving form. Afraid it was merely a body washed ashore, Heero knelt down to check the pulse. He let out a breath of relief when a faint rhythm throbbed near his fingers. Standing up, he looked down on the young boy and couldn’t help but color slightly. The long silky brown hair spread around and over his pale skin, and although his eyes were closed, the boy’s eyelashes were compensation enough. He was attractive, to say the least.
Memories of the shipwreck were dim, so he didn’t really recognize Duo, but something in his head went off to help this boy, who couldn’t be much older than him.
Heero carried him in, the whole way trying to remember where he had seen this boy before.