Umi no Uta

“He was flirting! With a Makoto!” Dasatsu yelled, causing Kuroi to shiver and Shiroi to wince. Dasatsu wasn’t done. “Not just any Makoto, no…the son of Lucifer Makoto! The leader of Metsubo!”
When Dasatsu finally took a breath, Shiroi spoke up. “Are you angry that he’s going after a male, or that he was flirting with the son of your half-brother?”
Kuroi blinked and looked up at his sister. She was calmly there, watching her mate with angry eyes, waiting for his answer. Dasatsu seemed to be struggling for an answer before his shoulders sagged in defeat. “That I didn’t know about it.” He replied.
Shiroi smacked Dasatsu hard. “Then invite your extended family, mates and children, all over for once! Damnit, Dasatsu, don’t take your anger out on Kuroi!”
Dasatsu flinched again, rubbing the sting out of his cheek. Shiroi hits hard when she wants to! He groaned. “What can I do? Swim over to Shisa casually and say ‘hey its been forever hope you’re not mad at me for the past want to come over for dinner?’ and have everything by perfect? Doesn’t work that way!”
Shiroi growled. “Kuroi, I think you’d best go visit Kelso for a while.”
Dasatsu glared. “It’s after curfew!”
“Kuroi. GO!”
Kuroi didn’t have to be told twice. He swam at top speed out of there, trying to ignore the yelling behind him.
Shiroi watched her brother swim away before turning murderous eyes back on her mate. “Now, Dasatsu. Inform me again why you cannot talk to your half-brother? And try not to leave anything out this time.”

Kuroi swam into Kelso’s cave, stopping only when he was safe inside, panting. He clicked an inquiry into the cave, not trusting his voice to be stable just yet.
To Kuroi’s relief, he heard a reply…a positive reply! He could stay a few moments…or longer! The youngling sunk onto a mossy rock, giving a sigh of relief…though the appearance of one who wasn’t Kelso startled him so badly that he was almost out of the cave before he recognized Lucifer.
Lucifer was staring at Kuroi, both looking slightly embarrassed about jumping. “I apologize, little one. You took us by surprise.” Lucifer caught Kuroi’s eyes, bringing the youngling back into the cave, speaking in his low and infectious voice.
Kelso appeared from behind Lucifer, took one look at Kuroi, and cried out in surprise. “Kuroi! What’s wrong?”
At the sound of Kelso’s voice, Kuroi unfroze from Lucifer’s trance and launched himself into the arms of the surprised Orden elder. He began to sob, his story coming out in a mixture of clicks and slurred speech, silver tears flowing from his eyes. Kelso gave Lucifer a small look before gently bringing Kuroi down to sit on the moss below, Lucifer fitting in behind Kelso. Shisatsujin came up behind Kuroi, running his gentle fingers through the youngling’s hair. Kuroi whimpered, clinging to Kelso before relaxing enough to tell the three what happened.
“I was playing tag with Akusuko…he had just caught me, so we were talking near the coral in the crevice I play in…suddenly Dasatsu came up behind us, yelled at me, and slapped me. He dragged me back home and started yelling at Shiroi for letting me flirt with Akusuko. They had a small shouting match before Shiroi slapped Dasatsu and told me to come here…….” He began to sob again.
Shisa looked up at Kelso. “Dasatsu…as in my half-brother Dasatsu?” At Kelso’s nod, Shisa sighed. “He makes this a little more difficult…”
Lucifer nodded, doing his best to keep both his mates and the youngling still. “Perhaps it is time to invite them to dinner…or something…you need to get things straightened out with your brother.” Shisa nodded in agreement, making little braids in Kuroi’s hair.
Kelso pried the youngling’s face away from his neck to look Kuroi in the eyes. “I don’t think you should stay in Orden for the next few days, Kuroi. Dasatsu will be pretty angry, especially if he loses the fight with Shiroi. Lucifer, will you take Kuroi to Dientte? I think that’ll protect him and get his spirits up a bit.”
“Why not to Akusuko?” Shisa asked, flinching as Kuroi tensed up again. “Never mind. Dientte’s a good guy, Kuroi…you’ll like him.”
Lucifer nodded. “Kelso, you be careful…lover’s spats aren’t easy to butt into, let alone referee.” Lucifer gently pushed the three off the rock, slipping out from under them. He gently pulled Kuroi from Kelso. “Come on, Kuroi. We’ll be safe, don’t worry.”
Kuroi nodded, clicking his thanks, following Lucifer closely, his face streaked with his silent tears.
Kelso fell back against the rock, his hand on his forehead. “I hate it when these things happen……” He moaned.
Shisa slipped over to Kelso, wrapping his arms around his mate. “I know, love…Do you want me to go over and give them a surprise visit? Might shock Dasatsu enough to get him to relent…”
Kelso shook his head. “I’d love it, but not tonight. Perhaps tomorrow…would be even more interesting.” He relaxed, snuggling into his lover’s arms. “For now, though, I’ll give them two more minutes before crashing their party.”

Dientte slowly emerged from his dark cave at Lucifer’s call. He stared blankly at the other, eyebrow rising slowly. He looked past Lucifer at the shaking youngling and sighed. “Best come in, Lucifer. Bring the little one also, and tell him I don’t bite.”
Lucifer chuckled softly, nudging Kuroi towards the cave with his tail. “You heard the elder. Let’s go in.” Kuroi looked up at Lucifer, eyes full of mistrust, which hurt Dientte. Lucifer just nodded, motioning for Kuroi to take a seat to the side. “Dientte, Kelso sent us. The little one here needs a place to stay for a few days…hopefully less than that…”
Dientte nodded. “Tell Kelso I’ll comply.” Lucifer nodded, turning to leave but freezing when Dientte called out to him once more. “Lucifer! ….. Don’t I get a hug?”
Lucifer turned just in time to catch his brother, returning the exuberant hug. He whispered softly into the elder’s ear before giving Kuroi a wink and swimming back to Orden.
Dientte turned to Kuroi, sinking onto the rock across from the shaking youngling. “You’re Kuroi, aren’t you. How many cycles have you?”
“17….sir…”
“Your next cycle day is when?”
“Half a cycle from now.”
“Hm…two and a half cycles until you are of age…you have a mate in mind, though…” Dientte shook his head. “Well, you’ll be here for a while, if Kelso has any say in this matter. He’s very against abuse…of any sort. Come, youngling, I’ll show you where you may stay. Welcome to my home.”