Umi no Uta

Kuroi sat in front of Kelso nervously. Kelso was performing careful examinations on the gem Kuroi had found, to make sure it would not harm anyone.
“Well, Kuroi…” Kelso startled Kuroi out of his thoughts. “I can tell you that this gem is perfectly safe. In fact, it seems to have protective qualities. It’s all yours.”
Kuroi smiled his slow, happy smile. “Elder, may I make a request?”
“Call me Kelso and sure you may.”
“Kelso…will you make it into two pendant necklaces for me?”
Kelso stared in shock at Kuroi and nodded slowly. “You recognize the significance of giving the other to someone, right?”
“They’re mine forever…and I’m theirs.”
“Correct. You sure?”
“I am…”
“Tell me, who’s the lucky guy?”
“Eh????” Kuroi sat back in surprise, staring at Kelso, who was chuckling.
“Can’t fool me, little one, you can’t. I know you’re not looking for girls, lest you would have gone after one already. Shy ones like you usually go after more exotic prey. I know.” He said smugly. “So, who is he?”
Kuroi looked away, mumbling a name under his breath.
“Speak up; all I caught was ‘to’ at the end.”
Kuroi looked into Kelso’s eyes and grinned. “Akusuko Makoto.”
Kelso stared at Kuroi for a moment, causing the youngling to fidget, before bursting into laughter. Kuroi stared at the typically calm elder, wondering what had come over him. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.
“Akusuko….he’s the son of my two mates!” Kelso giggled again. He looked up into Kuroi startled face. “Let me explain. Remember the talk we had about being able to have more than one mate? Well, I know first hand it’s possible. I have two life-mates: Shisatsujin…and Lucifer Makoto. Around here people know me by the last name Kurutte. Well, that’s the name I had before I found my mates. My full name is Kelso Kurutte Makoto. See the irony?” Kuroi nodded, but Kelso wasn’t finished. “Even better is, you won’t get an argument from Akusuko about being your mate. He’s been talking the gills off of everyone who’ll listen about the ‘green haired beauty in the dark crevice…’ last time I went home for dinner, that’s all I heard. I figured it was you, but kept my mouth closed.”
“Akusuko thinks I’m beautiful?” Kuroi asked in wonder, blushing.
“He thinks you’re gorgeous.”
A voice from the front of the caves startled both of them. “Of course Akusuko thinks Kuroi’s gorgeous. He won’t shut up about him…and now it’s worse!!!!!! He has a name to put with his nickname!”
Kelso looked up and grinned happily, beckoning the other to come inside. “Kuroi, I’d like you to meet my mate, Shisatsujin and father of my child Shizuka. Shisa, this is Kuroi…the one Akusuko’s been talking about.”
Shisa swam slowly inside, giving Kuroi a slow, sweet grin. “Nice to finally meet the man who’s caught my son’s eyes.” He replied, settling next to Kelso.
Kuroi looked Shisa over. The new adult didn’t strike fear into the youngling, but rather left him with a comforted feeling. Shisa wore his long silver-black hair in a ponytail. He was muscular, but simply so, giving Kuroi a sense of protection. His eyes glowed with pride; his smile was soft and kind…to Kuroi, Shisa was the embodiment of paternal/maternal protection.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Kuroi gave Shisa a bow. “But, please, I am no man…I’m just a youngling…”
Shisa gave Kuroi an appraising look. “Just a youngling? Young one, I don’t think you’ve ever been just a youngling. Now…how many cycles do you have?”
“I’ve 17 cycles, sir.” Kuroi replied softly.
“Three more cycles until you are officially an adult. I’m sure you and my son can stand to court each other for three more cycles.” Kuroi blushed at Shisa’s blatant comment. “Which is actually what I wanted to tell you, Kelso. Dientte decided that we can stay here for a while to recover. He doesn’t want to move soon, neither do the others, and the area we chose is perfect for our needs. Orden might have permanent neighbors.”
Kelso and Kuroi perked up at this. Kelso spoke. “You mean we won’t have to travel all the way across the sea to see each other?” Shisa nodded and grinned, winking at Kuroi when Kelso tackled him, planting a kiss on Shisa’s cheek. “Remind me to send Dientte a gift for this…” He whispered.
Shisa blushed. “Love, as much as I love you, you do still have company.”
“Ah yes.” Kelso turned to Kuroi with an award winning smile. “I’d be happy to make the pendants for you. Give me a week then come see me. Now off with you. Akusuko is probably wondering where you are.”
Kuroi smiled, knowing a dismissal and figuring what was going to happen, seeing the hungry looks the two were giving each other. He swam quickly away.

Kuroi swam once more back to his normal play-area, keeping in the shadows. He paused momentarily to greet Lucifer, Akusuko’s father, who was heading towards Kelso’s cave to ‘see if his mate had fled to this location…’ and flashing Kuroi a predatory grin.
Kuroi looked into the crevice, smiling as he saw Akusuko swimming around, exploring. In a flash, Kuroi decided to scare the older of the two and tackled Akusuko from behind.
Akusuko let out a small cry, tensing up until he recognized Kuroi’s giggle from behind him. He grinned. Open to him, the little one was now extremely playful and very fun to be around. “You got me, Kuroi.” He replied, turning around when Kuroi released him.
Kuroi grinned up at Akusuko, swatting him with his tail playfully. “Indeed.” He replied with a smirk. “And just what do you plan on doing about it, oh fearful member of Metsubo.”
Akusuko smirked as Kuroi darted away from him. He knew this game: a version of tag, but the person ‘it’ was challenged by the victim, then chased the victim around until caught. So, he decided, he’d best see how good of a swimmer Kuroi was. Determined, Akusuko went after his new friend…
Hours later, Kuroi was hiding behind a reef, watching Akusuko search him out. He’d managed to avoid being captured multiple times, escaping from a couple of near-misses. He smiled. Kuroi loved being quick, though…
Strong arms ensnared him from behind, one hand holding him by the neck so he couldn’t move; the other held him tightly by the waist, a strong tail wrapped around his. Kuroi gasped softly, stilling himself, ceasing all movement.
Akusuko breathed gently into Kuroi’s ear. “Greetings, little one…” He half-forced Kuroi’s head back to look him in the eyes.
Kuroi whimpered softly, knowing to play the part of the caught victim. He shuddered slightly, looking up into Akusuko’s eyes; his own eyes expressing gentleness and…love?
Akusuko blinked in surprise at the emotion he didn’t expect. He was half-expecting to see fear, but not such open trust. His expression grew thoughtful. “You’re beautiful…” Akusuko whispered, nuzzling Kuroi’s neck.
Kuroi let out a small moan, shivering at the tingling pleasure that was shooing through his body. “Akusuko…” He whispered. “I’m…nowhere near beautiful!”
Akusuko grinned, releasing his hold on Kuroi, letting the youngling turn around and sit on the coral, staring at Akusuko. Akusuko relaxed. He was very glad to see the trust still in Kuroi’s eyes. “But you are beautiful…” He whispered, then thought a moment. “Kuroi, how many cycles do you have?”
Kuroi blushed. “17…” He muttered sadly.
Akusuko grinned, causing Kuroi to stare in surprise. “Well then…I guess I will have to chase you for three more years to win you…” He grinned, much like Lucifer did. Kuroi shivered at the thought of being very real prey.
Akusuko once more brought Kuroi out of his thoughts. “Do you want to visit Metsubo tomorrow?”
Kuroi looked up and thought. He slowly shook his head. “I can’t come tomorrow…” Seeing Akusuko’s disappointed look, he quickly explained. “It’s Shiroi’s cycle day. I told her I’d spend the day with her and her life-mate.”
“Ah…relation or adopted parents?” Akusuko asked.
“She’s actually my sister. She bonded to Dasatsu and came to live with Orden years before my clan was destroyed. I was adopted into here at a fairly young age…though it’s a really awkward situation.” Kuroi replied.
“Ah…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, I’m quite happy.”
“Did I intrude?”
Kuroi thought. “If you had asked me when you first swam into my life, the answer was yes. Asking now, the answer is no. I’m quite happy knowing you, and apparently it shows. Elder Kelso has pointed it out to me…which is why I’m late so many times…he’s always requesting to talk to me!”
Akusuko snickered. “Kelso? As in Kelso Kurutte, the Elder?” Kuroi nodded. “Wow that’s such a coincidence!!!!!!!!!!”
“Cause he’s double bonded with both your fathers?” Kuroi smiled at Akusuko’s startled expression. “Kelso told me today when I was talking to him…he dragged the information about you out of me, then openly told me about your fathers. Is that alright?”
Akusuko smiled. “It’s more than alright. If Kelso was fine with telling you, then it is more than alright.”
Kuroi gave a small smile, but winced as he heard a familiar voice calling him. He looked back over his shoulder to see Dasatsu, and winced again, his smile transformed into a blank stare, sadness in his eyes. “Sorry. Looks like I’ll have to go…” He rose off his seat, giving Akusuko a smile.
Akusuko returned the smile, glaring at Dasatsu. “I’ll see you later, Kuroi.” He replied, kicking off to Metsubo.
Dasatsu swam quickly to Kuroi’s side. “What’d he do? Did he hurt you?”
Kuroi shook his head. “No, Dasatsu. He did nothing to me that I didn’t want done.”
Dasatsu growled and smacked the youngling. “Watch your tone, youngling. We’re going home. Now.” Grabbing Kuroi roughly, he pulled the stunned youngling back to their cave, radiating anger. Shiroi was going to get an earful for this one.