A Night At the Zō-wa

::Hikari::

Well, that didn't work. Or at least, he wasn't talking. But the rise and fall of his chest told me that he was breathing now. I smiled slightly. He was very beautiful, for a man.

"Come on now, Mr. Merman. Please wake up!"

:Miyako:

I was trying so hard to not reach out and slam her head into the tile. I really was...but I remembered what Daisuke had told me.
I didn't need Ken nor Hikari in my life. If they wanted to role play this sick merman/naked skank fantasy...then that was fine by me.

I turned my real friends and mysefl around and walked on, "So I think it's on the third floor."


:Yamato:

I had to applaud Miyako for handling that like an adult. Even I felt a slight rage in my chest at what I'd seen. We were a few feet away from the open door when I shouted over my shoulder, "Hikari, put some clothes on and stop molesting Ken!"

Daisuke

I had to say that I was surprised that Miyako didn't barge into the bubble bath room and attack Hikari. But I was impressed by her strength... what WAS Hikari up to, anyway?

"So, what was the room you were talking about?" Yes... when in doubt, distract!

::Hikari::

I heard people- footsteps, and shouting. Maybe they could make the mermaid wake up? Maybe they knew how they got there? I jumped up and ran out the door.

"HELLO? EXCUSE ME! I NEED HELP!"

Daisuke

I jumped slightly at the sudden shout. Next to me I felt Miyako stiffen, but she didn't turn around. I turned and shook my head slightly, hoping Hikari could get the hint.

:Yamato:

I turned around to find the dripping wet, mostly naked, younger Yagami standing in front of the bubble bath room, "That's not all you need. Geez, Hika, cover up! Daisuke is an impressionable young man.

::Hikari::

I was confused... why were they calling me Hika? None of them looked very impressed. The tall blond one (the one who'd been shouting) was scowling at me. The other boy (who had dark hair and goggles) was shaking his head. And there was someone else with long, lavender coloured hair. It was really pretty.

My head was still fuzzy from earlier, so I wasn't able to concentrate on the loud words and angry gestures. All I could remember was that in the room with the water there was a mermaid in trouble. So I told them so.

"Don't just stand their looking mentally incapable! There's a mermaid in trouble in that room, and I don't know what's wrong with him. Apart from the fact he nearly drowned... maybe he's like a seal?"

It was official. I couldn't concentrate on a n y t h i n g .

Daisuke

"Hika," I called back patiently, "That mermaid is KEN. And the two of you looked perfectly fine together just a minute ago!"

:Miyako:

I growled darkly. I couldn't take it. I tightened my grip on Daisuke and Yamato's arm even further. "Just go play your sick game somewhere else, Yagami!"


:Yamato:

"Ken's a mermaid, well...merman. He can't drown. Just go back to playing dress up. We'll see you later." I waved a little, patted Miyako's arm, and gestured to Dai that we should keep walking.

Daisuke

Miyako looked close to bursting. "See you later, Hika," I called quickly, before hurrying Miya along with Yamato. The last thing we needed was another catfight!

::Hikari::

What was wrong with these people?! Sullen, I returned to the bubble bath room. To see Mer-boy sitting up, awake. Finally.

I blinked.

Daisuke

With Yamato I exchanged a look. Hika was behaving just a little weirdly. Okay, make that VERY weird.

"You were saying about some room...?" I prompted Miyako.

:Miyako:

I looked at Daisuke and smiled, "Nope, Goggle-boy. This is a surprise. You have to wait and see!"

Daisuke

I laughed. "Fine then... lead the way!!"

:Yamato:

Miyako smiled brightly at Daisuke and pulled us forward. We walked in a horizontal line, arms linked I couldn't resist, "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!"

Daisuke

"Yamato can be the... which one is the one without a brain? Oh, the scarecrow!" I grinned at him. Naturally, he didn't looked amused.

:Yamato:

"Whatever, mini-Tai. I think I'd be a better Tin Man. You can be the Scarecrow. Or better yet, the cowardly lion!"

Dai's face turned tomato red.

Daisuke

I decided not to deign Yamato with a response. The words "mini-Tai" only reminded me of the rather unfortunate incident back on the golden bed... Ack. Miyako rounded a corner sharply and I thought I saw a shadow glide past. I blinked. "Is someone else here?"

:Miyako:

I looked around, "I didn't see anyone. Yama?"



:Yamato:

I got a sudden chill down my spine...there was only one person who made me feel like that...Iori.

Daisuke

Oh my... Yamato had turned a deathly shade of grey. "I saw a shadow glide past..." I informed Miyako, looking around uneasily. "This castle never fails to creep me out!"

:Yamato:

"We gotta get out of here...NOW!" I was shaking. I needed to run. He might try to eat me!

Daisuke

"Why?"

It was at that instant that a high, cackling laughter filled the air. This was followed by a sharp, girlish scream... the source being, I soon discovered, none other than Mr. I'm-too-cool Ishida.

::???::

That's right. Run my sweet. I'll find you.

:Yamato:

Breath in...breath out...run for you mo' freaking life! "COME ON!!!" I pulled Miyako's arm and she dragged Daisuke behind her. We just needed to get away. There was a set of double doors at the end of the hall. "This way." I propelled us all forward and kicked open one of the doors.

The room was huge. It must have been a ballroom. The was an enormous crystal chandelier hanging from the middle of the room. "Can we say Beauty and the Beast?"

Daisuke

"...Whoa." I stopped, entranced by the sheer grandness of the ballroom. Escape forgotten, I leapt onto one of the grand chairs while Miyako laughed and twirled around under the chandeliers.

That was until the door started creaking open...