Dilemma

Months passed, and Yuki’s memories did not return. She had forgotten everything about him.

Kaede sighed with frustration even as he looked outside the merpalace's terrace.

"Why not enjoy this second chance, your majesty?" The blue-haired man spoke up. He hated talking about this topic with his best friend.

"Don't call me that, Ulysses. Unless you want me to address you using your title." Kaede smiled at the very same time that pain registered in his eyes.

The blue-haired merman was not an ordinary civilian after all. He was the Duke of Atlantis, a title that had passed down through his family for generations.

He hated being called that, his title was a constant reminder of his ties to familial obligations.

"Fine, you have won, Kaede. But come to think of it, was it not perfect that she completely lost her memories of you? The human seems to have developed a liking towards you." Ulysses spoke up, his words filled with the rationale of a man in his right mind.

"You only say that because you have not loved another. I used to think that way too, a masterful strategist of war and a carefree bachelor with women by my side." Kaede laughed nonchalantly, but there was no music to his laughter. Even a child would know it was forced.

"Is it worth it?" The blue-haired man spoke up, even as he studied the pathetic expression on his friend's face.

"It is. She is. If I have to do it all over again and reach where I am now, I would. If it means I can have those memories with her again. It's absurd, you see. Loving her is torture and desiring her is torment, and yet I can't seem to get enough."

Kaede's eyes shone for a minute, and pure happiness registered on his face when he thought about her and the moments they had shared.

His eyes narrowed in the gardens when he caught a glimpse of Yuki's golden hair amongst the different colors of sea corals and bright schools of fishes swimming about.

He smiled at the beautiful hazel brown eyes that met his striking blue ones. She was laughing like a child whilst riding a dolphin, her favorite pet nowadays.

"Ulysses, Kaede, what are you two doing over there?" Yuki whispered, a different language easily understood by the dolphin, which swam closer to the merman and the demon fox.

"We were just talking about you," Ulysses spoke with dislike in his voice at the sudden, unwelcomed intrusion.

He hated being in the presence of this woman for some reason.

"Oh, I'm sorry for disturbing you. I didn't mean to. Then, I'll be seeing you later," Yuki said as she attempted to ride on the dolphin's back once again.

But she was stopped when a strong hand gripped her wrist. "Please stay. I have to discuss something with you," his deep baritone voice greeted her, the voice that called to her in her sleep.

How can this man have this much effect on me? She wondered, as she stared into his blue eyes.

The cold water did little to stop the heat she felt from the sudden contact of his skin on hers.

"I'll be seeing you later then, Kaede," the duke bowed to his highness while ignoring the pesky girl by his side.

When he was out of hearing distance, Yuki spoke up. "Why does he hate me? What did I ever do to him? He doesn't treat other people like that. Is it because I am a human?"

Kaede's brows twitched, he somehow has the urge to strangle the Duke of Atlantis for occupying a part of Yuki's mind.

"Don't mind him. He will come around," Kaede smiled reassuringly, while anger was seething deep inside of him.

"You know, I would have loved to be his friend. This is my opportunity to get to know a merman. If only Jiro was here, he would not have believed his eyes. This place is filled with wonders beyond imagination."

Yuki smiled, thinking about her friend made her feel warm inside. He was her summer after all. "Have you found out where he is? I am so worried about him."

Yuki searched Kaede's eyes. He looked as kind as always and yet she felt like he was bothered about something. The only question on her mind was, why?

"We haven't found him yet. I will do my best, Yuki, to keep you safe and happy. Please believe that, at least." Kaede's blue eyes pleaded with her and calmed the storm of doubts forming in her mind.

"Of course I believe you. We are friends, after all," Yuki assured Kaede, unaware that her words just caused him to feel a great deal of pain.

How can you be so clueless, Yuki? were the words on his mind as he felt jealousy take hold of him. If he ever saw Jiro again, he would do everything he could to dispose of him once and for all.

"If it is not about Jiro, what do you wish to tell me?" Yuki asked as she tried to focus on his eyes instead of letting her gaze wander down his ripped muscles and admiring the perfection of his immaculately built body.

"There is going to be a ball, in celebration of the duke's debut. Do you mind if I ask for the honor of being your escort?," Kaede forced a smile even as his feelings were taunting him, whispering to him how pathetic he had been and still was.

"Sure, I would love to be your date." Yuki smiled when she realized that for once the demon fox actually smiled. Not the terrible facade he pastes on his face daily, but a genuine display of happiness that finally reached his eyes.

Kaede smiled, ignoring his guilt that once again shouted at his conscience, telling him that he had once again misled her.

He didn't want to, but he had never been more tempted to keep her in the dark more than at this exact moment.

After the debut, I will tell her. I just need one more memory to bring with me. Even if I never get to see her after the confession, I just need one more moment to store in my memories.

The demon fox tried to convince himself even as he hated himself for adding once more to the multitude of offenses he had committed against her.