This Is No Ordinary Love

Author’s Note: Mehilua is a fictional town I thought up really fast. I very rarely use actual cities or towns because I know if I do, I’d write something inaccurate, so…

Also, I added more Hawaiian idioms or Pidgin in this chapter to make it a bit more realistic at the request of one reviewer (Thanks Xeldomy!!). Meanings are at the bottom of the chapter.

Thank you for the reviews. I love you all!


Chapter 4

Their town was very small compared to the neighboring city of Honolulu where Akoni was a fisherman with his dad. Their town was small, limited in population, and devoid of tourists. But that’s what made residents of Mehilua love it all the more. Tourists weren’t in your face asking about your culture and expecting you to smile and dance and make their vacationing experience worthwhile. Mehilua was the epitome of Hawaiian Aloha. It was Hawaii at it purest form; gorgeous sandy beaches, water so clear and blue, you’d think the entire Pacific was sent through a purifier, fresh air, grass covered volcano-formed mountains, and beautiful small homes. Life was great in Mehilua.

“Aloha, ipo.” Peka rose from his seat and hugged his boyfriend. He and Akoni had agreed on meeting up at a restaurant in town for lunch.

“Aloha.” Akoni said as he took a seat next to Peka at one of the tables located outside on the restaurant’s patio. A waiter came and got their drink orders and they were soon alone. “So what was so important that you had to pull me away from home and meet you here?”

“Well, two things actually. For one, our one year anniversary is coming up and we need to make plans on what we’re gonna do.”

“Oh yeah?” Akoni sat back in his chair, thanking the waiter for his drink and gave his food order, and waited for what Peka undoubtedly already had planned for them both.

“Yeah. I thought that we could spend a three-day weekend on one of the resorts in Waikiki. Do alittle surfing, a little snorkeling, go eat at some nice places…What do you think?”

“Sounds good to me.” I’d better say that or I’d have hell to pay later.

“Oh great! Cause I’ve already talked with one of the hotel’s concierge and set it up for us. He said everything is ready and waiting, all we have to do is pay when we show up.” Akoni nodded. So where do I fit in all this planning? The trip has been made, arrangements have been set up. I guess I’m just along for the ride as usual…….and to probably foot the bill when we get there….as usual. I guess I should bring extra money in my wallet.

“So what’s the other news?”

“Oh, I won’t be home this upcoming week. Me and my family are visiting a few relatives on the Mainland.” The slender male with the blond highlights crossed his legs casually as he sipped his mango lemonade.

Thank God. “Really? Where?”

“Houston, Texas. My aunt’s family are all there so…” He shrugged. With a smile, Peka reached over the red umbrella-covered table and touched Akoni’s larger hand. “But I hate going. I don’t want to leave you, ipo. I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too. When will you get back?”

“Sometime Sunday night.”

“You bring me something back?” Akoni smirked. His boyfriend laughed before he leaned over and kissed him.

“Of course I will.”

***

Akoni couldn’t help but smile a bit when he watched Peka’s plane take off. He felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, even if it was temporary. No more controlling, self centered, spoiled, jealous-hearted Peka……Ooooooh… He scratched his head. I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean that. However, it was true. Times Akoni got away from Peka lately, were ones he enjoyed the most. The constant prying and at times annoying attitude Peka had could be exhausting.

Although, Akoni had to admit that Peka’s ways weren’t that bothersome until after he met Kekoa. Lately, he’d find himself measuring Peka up to Kekoa. Every time he and Peka went out to a movie or dinner and he’d complain that his popcorn tasted old, or his soda was too flat, or silverware wasn’t clean, or his food wasn’t cooked to his liking, he’d always think, Kekoa would never do that. Over time, Kekoa had made quite the impression on the young fisherman. His geniality and overt purity was liberating to Akoni. And the fact that he was extremely beautiful had something to do with it too. At first, it was just fun to have someone to have a friendly relationship with, but now……..he didn’t know. Especially after the kiss he gave him the day Kekoa took him down under the Pacific.

The ocean was suddenly calling him and Akoni had to answer. He drove away from the airport, set on paying a visit to his secret spot by the beach.

***

“Has your brother gotten home yet, Jo-jo?” Makoka asked her youngest son as she walked into his room, dumping off newly washed clothes smelling of Gain onto his bed.

Jo-jo was currently lying on the bed on his belly playing a basketball game on his Playstation 3, a plate with a half-eaten ham sandwich sat beside him. His lively brown eyes never left the screen as he answered his mother. “I think so. I saw his car in the driveway. He must be on the beach again.”

The tan-skinned woman with even darker brown locks smirked and shook her head. I knew I never should’ve spent so much time on the beach when I was pregnant with him. The boy is practically a fish. “Well do me a favor and go get him, love. I need him to head to the market and pick me up some things for ‘aina.”

“Oh yeah? What are we having?”

“Huli huli chicken, fried rice, mango bread, and haupia for dessert.”

Jo-jo perked up. “You’re making haupia?”

Makoka nodded. “As soon as your brother goes to the market I will.”

Jo-jo loved the coconut pudding, haupia. Every time his mother fixed it, he’d nearly eat his little self sick. “I’ll get him right now.” his mother laughed as her youngest son ran by her.

***

Akoni lounged on the large black rock, listening silently to the water crash into its edge and the mild waves rolling in the distance. It was a peaceful feeling. Very peaceful. It was something about hearing no other noise but the serene rumble of the pacific ringing in his ears that put him at ease. He closed his brown eyes and let the sounds lull him into a sleep.

The young man didn’t notice the shadowed figure in the distance, coming his way. Nor did he notice the slender hands snaking out the water to the rock’s edge. Kekoa smiled as he gently lifted his torso out the water and rested his elbows on the rock surface. He studied the face of the land dweller who had stolen his heart. The dark, sun-kissed skin, the long lashes resting on his cheek, the full lips, the strong neck, the broad chest, the….what did he call those again?

Kekoa stared at the muscular thighs and calves that made up those two long appendages poking out of Akoni’s shorts. Nohea. Kekoa couldn’t remember for the life of him what those two things were called but he loved the look of them. He wondered how they felt. Using one long finger, he lightly poked the sleeping man in the thigh. He quickly looked back at Akoni and saw he was still out like a light, so he decided to do a little more. With the tips of his fingers, he grazed the skin of the thigh and marveled at how good it felt. He felt slight hairs the further down he went to the calf. So this is what separates the two of us? These…..things are what makes my father forbid me from seeing you? Well I can’t bear to be without you. I’d give anything for us to be together. I’d even—

“Aloha.” Akoni said with his eyes still closed, breaking Kekoa away from his train of thought.

The merman smiled. “Aloha. How’d you know I was here?”

“You’re blocking the sunlight to my face and I can feel your hand touching me.”

“Oh.” He placed his entire hand on the thigh and lightly squeezed it. “What do you call this again?”

Akoni’s loins trembled at the squeeze of his hand. Knowing the tender hand was only mere inches away from his groin, sent chills up his spine. When he finally responded to the question, he had to clear his throat. “It’s um…it’s called a leg.”

Kekoa nodded. “A leg.” He repeated. “Do you like having legs?”

The young man sat up on his hands. “I like it right well…why?”

He shrugged. “Curious, I guess.”

“Ahhh.”

Kekoa laughed then kissed Akoni quickly on the lips, before he pulled him into the water.

“Hey!” The merman laughed loudly as Akoni popped out from under the water. “Okay, you think you’re funny, huh? I’ll show you!” Akoni brushed his hands across the water, splashing Kekoa multiple times. Kekoa retaliated, splashing him in turn.

***

“Akoni! Akoni!” Jo-jo yelled as he walked along the beach. “Where is he?” He murmured. For fifteen minutes, the youngest Kulani had been searching for his brother. His patience had always been short, so he had made up in his mind to give up and head back to his house when he heard the faint sound of laughter and the splash of water.

Taking off in a sprint, Jo-jo ran down the beach to the gigantic mound of black rocks, climbing along the surface, following the growing sound. He reached the end of the rocks and peered his head around to gander at the other side. His mouth dropped at the sight then he smirked. Akoni stopped throwing water at the merman and instead grabbed him in his arms, kissing him. Sooooo, this is what he’s been doing in his spare time. He’s got himself an ipo on the side. He started to giggle. Peka would be so PISSED!

Kekoa’s metallic fin flipped out the water suddenly and Jo-jo’s eyes widened. “Holy shit!!” Losing his balance, he fell backwards into the water.

“Jo-jo!” Akoni yelled as he saw the large splash. Kekoa moved away from him and swam to his sweetheart’s brother. He brought him back to the rock and pushed him on it’s surface. Akoni climbed out the water and sat next to his brother, patting his back to help him expel any water he may have taken in. “You alright?”

Behind coughs, his brother nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good, cause now I can kick your okole. What were you doing all the way out here, brah?”

“What do you mean ‘What am I doing out here’? Mom sent me to get you so you can stop at the market for her. I looked all over for you and where were you…? Out here in the moana, canoodling a manfish!” Jo-jo stressed ‘fish’ by pointing in Kekoa’s direction. The merman dipped a few inches lower in the water out of reflex.

“Shut up. He’s not called a manfish, he’s a merman and his names Kekoa.”

Jo-jo looked skeptical. “He’s a—a what?”

My father will kill me for sure if he finds out ANOTHER human knows about us. Akoni caught his worried look. “He’s a merman. And it’s important that you tell no one about him, got it?” Akoni saw his brother was still staring amazed at Kekoa, so he grabbed his shoulders and turned him to face his face. “Got it?”

“I got it, brah! I got it! Geez!”

“Kekoa, this is my brother, Jo-jo.”

“Aloha!” The merman said cheerfully.

Still to timid to extend his hand in a proper greeting, Jo-jo just threw up a hand. “Aloha. Um, mahalo, you saved my life.” Kekoa just smiled and shrugged.

“Well,” Akoni stood, pulling his brother up with him. “I guess we need to go. See you later?”

“Sure.” Kekoa watched Akoni and Jo-jo leave then dived underwater to return home. In his room, he sat on a boulder half buried in the sand and started to think. Ilani swam in soon after.

“What’s up, chicken butt?” the merboy smiled when his brother lifted an eyebrow at him.

“I’m thinking.”

“You don’t think, Kekoa. Ever. What could you be possibly pondering over? Oh! Let me guess,” He zipped around Kekoa and leaned heavily on his back. “does it have something to do with Akooooooniiiii?”

Kekoa pushed him off. “Shut it, lolo buggah.”

“Okay, so we’re resulting to name-calling now? Just be honest, Kekoa. Since you came across that two-legged land dweller, EVERYTHING has become about him.”

Kekoa overlooked Ilani’s last comment. “Can I ask you a question?”

Ilani smirked. “You just did.”

“Would you be serious for a moment, please?”

The merboy sighed and sat on his brother’s bed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Fine. What’s the question?”

“You explore around with your buddies a lot and know of some things. Do you know if potions work?”

Ilani frowned. “Potions? What do you want with a—“

“Answer the question.” Kekoa rolled his eyes.

“I’d say so. It really just depends on where you go looking for potions. Some enchantresses are phony and their potions would be more useful as fish marinade than anything else. Then there are others who actually know what they are doing and can make pretty potent stuff.”

“Where can I find a good enchantress?”

Ilani began to wonder what was on his brother’s mind. “Kekoa, what’s going on? What’s with all the talk about potions and stuff?”

“I…..can’t tell you.”

“Why not? If you can’t tell me, then who can you tell?”

Kekoa sighed. “Okay. I need to find an enchantress who can give me a potion to have legs.”

“WHAT?!”

“Would you shut up before someone hears you?” He warned.

Ilani ran his fingers through his black hair, stunned. “You want legs? Why?”

“The mere fact that he has legs, holds me back from having Akoni in my life. You’ve got to understand, Ilani, I can’t live without him. It kills me everyday when I have to watch him get up and walk away after spending maybe an hour or two together. So if I need to change the way I look to be with him fully….then so be it.”

“Dad will kill you.”

Kekoa shrugged. “That’s something he’ll just have to get over.”

“And mom? What about her? She’d be really hurt if she found out about this.”

The older of the siblings scratched his head. “I know. And I don’t want to hurt her but I gotta do this. If not but for a few days…….I’m in LOVE with him, Ilani. I must spend some real time with him. Will you help me?”

“If you get caught—“

“I’ll say you had nothing to do with this. You’ve got my word on that.”

Ilani was quiet for a few moments before he mumbled, “Alright.”

Vocabulary

Aloha—Hello/Goodbye, romantic affection/best wishes, or a general good feeling
Ipo—Lover/Sweetheart
‘Aina—Dinner
Nohea—Lovely
Okole—Butt/Derriere
Brah—Bro.
Moana—Ocean/Sea
Mahalo—Thanks/Thank you
Lolo buggah—Stupid/Crazy person