4: Free mode

Am I falling? Which way is up? I can't breathe! Why can't I breathe? Slowly I attempt to open my eyes, but I can't see a thing. Nothing! Nada! It took me a few seconds to adjust and that's when understanding washed over me. Literally. I'm floating beneath the endless wonder that covers most parts of the world. I try my upmost best to surface, but each time I do so a huge wave pushes me back under. Mouthfuls of salty liquid, burns its way down my throat. Again, I surfaced, gasping for air. What's the point of this adventure if the stupid curtain is going to throw me into a boisterous ocean? Is this my doomsday? The end of my miserable existence! I could just a well give up right here and now, the oceans touch is too forceful for even me to stand a change against survival. The darkness below pulled me limply under, but an arm hooped around my waist and pulled me safely to shore. Somewhere along the rescue, I fainted.

As I came to from my unconscious state, I stared up into an anxious pair of blue eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked me in a stoic manner. There's a tone to his voice that's absolutely dazzling. How am I to answer his question, while I'm trapped within a daze? I lost myself in those electric blue eyes. I wanted to nod my head in politeness, but couldn't manage, which is the better option seeing how I'll be lying any other way. "How can you sit around asking her that, Haruka? She barely drowned in the open sea and you're asking her if she's alright. Obviously she's not!" A guy with a baby doll face stated in dismay. He has perfect blonde hair and eyes that reminds me of cherry blossoms. I bet he could easily get what or whomever he desires. If that equation should add another guy in the mix, then so be it! Even the others that is associated with him, shares this aspect. They're squad perfect. Squad overly attractive is more accurate. "Where am I? Is this heaven?" I asked while pinning them down with my eyes. "See? Oh my God, see Nagisa was right, she's not okay. She must have hit her head! Coach Sasabe…! Amakata-san…!" He called out. "Shuush… you're going to wake everybody up," one of the other guys said matter of factly. "Obviously we have to wake them up, Rei. How else are we going to get her to a hospital? Can you drive?" The one who started the ruckus asked twin questions. The one whose name I had yet to find out started proudly: "So glad that you're asking, I don't want to brag-" He pushed his glasses back onto the brim of his nose. Haruka, if I'm not mistaken, burst his little bubble of proudness. "This isn't about you, Makoto's right. We need to get her some medical attention. I don't know how long she'd been out there, struggling. If I hadn't come to her aid when I had she most likely would've drowned," the gorgeous blue eyed man said. It wasn't long after his statement, when three other faces joined the party. I can feel how somebody lifted me into warm, clammy hands. The person must be transporting me towards the nearest medical facility by foot. There not jingle of keys. No engine roaring to life. I could tell when they reached their destination, but it doesn't smell like any hospital to me. It reeks of chlorine. There medical centre have a swimming pool? A shiver crossed my spine. I dare not open my eyes and see that I'm indeed correct. I feel safe within the person's embrace. "What seems to be the problem?" An unfamiliar voice asked. "What happened?" Panic filled his tone. They informed the stranger how my blue eyed hero saved me from the ocean's angry claws.

I can still feel how it pulls me under. Taste its wild minerals as it soaked me from within. Polluted my body. I feel how I'm being released and laid down on a soft, flat surface. A bed, perhaps? I can't just come out and tell them my bizarre tale about a mysterious curtain. I need to feed them something else completely, but what? I've shot myself in the foot after my last fabricated story, and I fear if they don't buy it they'll feed me to the sharks.

After I regained consciousness, I spun a story about a shipwreck, hoping that it wouldn't bite me on my ass again. The tale was barely spoken, when they proved my point of dishonesty. As hell did they buy my story! They're not half as gullible as Ichigo's father. "It's okay if you don't want to tell us, we understand," Nagisa said with a broad smile. I nodded slightly to his remark. When they introduced themselves to me days prior, I didn't stop them. To their knowledge I was out cold when they spoke around me on the day of the unfortunate event. They already see me as a dishonest person, and I don't want to add to it either. In this chapter of my unexpected journey, I need to trust these guys with my life and overcome this sudden fear that I've developed towards the water. I stare out at the ocean lapping the sandy plain. This is going to be the longest visit yet. While my eyes longingly glide over the transparent surface; an arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Don't fret yourself, I'll get you home." I didn't need to see the boy's face to know whose talking. This is just Haru's way to console me, a sweet little gesture. Whatever he might be thinking, that is my ticket out of here! Who am I to shatter his innocence, no matter how farfetched it could be?

Days become weeks at a quick pace. Still that disastrous day lingers around in the back of my head. Everyday Haru tries to help me overcome my aqua phobia by trying to get me into the water, but with little to no prevail.

It's a sunny Thursday afternoon. Gô and I sat outside and watched how the boys practised. The pool's gates swung open and in came a person that I'm not familiar with. The red-headed stranger took his stand beside me. "So you must be the mermaid who, ironically, barely drowned in the open sea?" He asked as he flashed me a wide smile. His eyes a shade of scarlet, along with those razor-like teeth gives him the appearance of a blood thirsty shark. Strange how that famous metaphor suddenly took a literal turn. Before any command could exile my lips, Makoto said: "You still think that she's not human? I thought you'd be over that assumption by now." All Haruka did was rewarding him with a rather chilly look. "So Haru, what precisely do you need my help with?" The stranger asked. In a cool and collective tone he answered, "I need your help to get her into the water, Rin." I really don't know what I've been expecting to hear, but that sure as hell wasn't it. I gave a step back as a mysterious glint reached this Rin-guys eyes. An expression that struck me as a dangerous one. A warning to which I'm to react as quickly as possible. Still I wasn't quick enough. The ground disappeared from beneath my feet. I clung to him for dear life. Wrapping my legs around his torso like a little koala to the trunk of a tree. Refusing to let go. The smell of chlorine struck my senses in an uncanny way. Every breath I take leaves behind a burning trail. The water below me sparkles like a diamond, dumping pit, underneath the sun's greedy touch. After some struggling he loosened my grip but my legs remained intact. My legs loosen as a cramp got hold of me and tumbled head first into the swimming pool. I sunk towards the bottom like an Anker and sat with a pouting complexion on the swimming pools bottom. I will not move from this spot. He threw me in, so he can come in after me and pull me out. As I predicted, after a long moment, he jumped in and did just that. Secretly I'm glad that I can hold up my breath longer then the average person, which makes Haru's beliefs not as farfetched as I've thought. I can surely use this little fact against my advantage. I took an unnoticeable intake through my nose, making it seem like I had zero trouble by being under for so long.

"Impossible!" Nagisa exclaimed. Pin pointing to the fact that I shouldn't be able to hold my breath for such a long time. "See I told you so," Haru stated matter of factly, confidence clearly dripping from his lips. I gave a deep contorted sigh, "Ok, I guess it can't be helped much longer. I'll tell you where I came from, but before I do I need you guys to promise me that you wouldn't say a word about this to anybody. A person tends to be cruel. Our species will be the focus point on some lame reality TV show (or worse) being prodded and probed in a scientific laboratory," I shivered at the thought which made my quickly growing tale even more believable. I mentally gave myself a pat on the shoulder. They promised that my secret would be kept safe, and that's all the conformation that I need to continue. "I'm from the Kingdom of Fiore. I live in the castle along with my father, the King, and my sister who recently returned home from her stay at the Mere Academy. Everyday I'll sit outside in my garden surrounded by a picturesque view. Colourful anemones greeted me, while beautiful sea lilies and –fans took my breath my. Every time I visited my secret garden I lost myself while reading romantic stone plates or dreamingly stealing a peak at my knight in shining armour. Who never seems to take any notice in my existence?" I informed them, keep building up the lie that comes so naturally. Thinking about the one and only, Gray Fullbuster. Not making the situation any easy on me either. "Back up a little, is he blind or something? You're absolutely studding. How could he not notice you?" Rei asked straight forwardly. I smile at him in appreciation. "Well you see, it's actually quit simple; really. He solemnly swore that he'd take my sisters hand in marriage when the time is upon them. Juvia is her name. His eyes see only her. Many times I wished that he would open his eyes and look at me, but I guess that's just hopeful thinking." The thought that they might be together as I speak is eating me up like a deathly virus. It's a bitter feeling that constantly nags on me. "Don't be so discouraged. Somebody will eventually show up and knock your tail right off," Makoto said with a broad smile. "Speaking of which, why haven't your tail reappeared when your feet got wet?" Nagisa asked. Does anything ever past him unnoticed? Rei quickly came to my defence, "That's a rude question, Nagisa. Are you purposefully being an idiot today?" His sudden outburst caught even me off guard. Haru stared at Rei silently, like they could read each other without saying a word. "What he's trying to say, Nagisa, is that everybody knows that her legs need to be soaked by the ocean for her tail to appear," Haruka said in a stoic tone. Like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Their twist to a mermaid's tail, assured that this fabricated tale won't blow up in my face. Something that I'm extremely grateful for.

As I predicted beforehand, this is up to date my longest visit yet. I'm curious to know where the curtain would throw me out when it appears this time around. The entire relay squad helped me, in turn, to overcome my newly formed fear and all in due time. It was a late night, when they decided as a team to take me to the beach. It might not be the same beach where I first set eyes on Haruka, but it's a beach nonetheless. The moon shines upon its quiet surface, illuminating a white cobblestone path under its silver touch. Right at the end of the road of light the mysterious curtain stood waiting on my return. Parading in all its glory. I could just wonder how they must be seeing it. From this angle it doesn't look like a curtain at all, it looks like a gateway to endless wonders. In a way that couldn't be any further from the truth. "There it is, your ticket home," Makoto said with a coy smile. Even so he seems sad. So am I. I really don't want to say goodbye this time around, but unfortunately my fabrication can't allow me to say any longer. I have to go, even if I want to or not! "I'm gonna miss you," Nagisa said as he gave me a bear hug; cosy and tight. Both Gô and Amakata-san caught me in a twin embrace. Individually I greeted each in turn. A tear rolled down my left cheek. This is the hardest goodbye by far. The realization of never seeing them again struck me like a concrete wall. To my surprise, Haru wiped the tear away with the back of his thumb, "Don't cry. You can come visit us anytime you feel like it, okay." I nodded in response. If only that was as easy as his making it appears to be. Softly he placed a kiss upon my cheek, which caught me even more off guard. I smiled at him sadly before diving into the water, glad that it's high tide. "Go get him, tiger," Rei called from the shore line. They drift further and further away like a tiny picture in the distance. I waved one last time before swimming through the open curtain and disappearing from their world for good.