Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ If only for one moment, I could be like you... ❯ Raphsody ( Chapter 15 )

As Jono talked to Mako on the phone, Ryou sat quietly on the couch bed and waited for his legs to return. It was always so strange to watch the fins he was born with suddenly glow and split into two legs. Luckily, it didn't hurt even a little.

While Jono continued to chatter to Mako, Ryou noticed the box he had dragged in, which had `RYOU' scrawled on it. "Ohhh..." Ryou said curiosity bubbling up inside of him. He leaned onto his stomach to reach for it, since he still hadn't dried off enough to get his legs back. "Mine..." he said reaching for it and nearly falling off of the couch. Ryou wrinkled his nose, sitting up and scooting closer to the edge of the couch bed and tried once more to reach for the box...

"I'm telling you, trust me. You keep it closed tomorrow and I swear you will love it! Yes, I know it puts a dent on profits, and you need to feed your fish. TRUST ME! Leave it closed and - - -" Jono was cut off by a loud THUMP. He turned to see Ryou picking himself up off of the floor, fins still partially lying on the couch bed. Ryou wrinkled his nose, propping his head up on one arm as Jono burst into laughter. "What the heck were you trying to do?!" He chuckled, explaining what had happened into the phone, to a clueless Mako.

Ryou huffed and pulled the box closer to himself and used it to push himself back up onto the couch. "Stupid." He mumbled, before bending and picking the box up and opening it. Ryou gasped when he saw what was inside. He recognized it immediately, because only royalty in the mer-community had them. It was a lap harp! He immediately tossed the box aside after removing the harp. "Oh wow..." He said dazed, gingerly running his fingers over the strings. Was this harp REALLY for him? It was absolutely gorgeous. From the intricately detailed designs in the shimmering silver, to each individual string. It was a dream come true!

Ryou had always lusted after a harp, since he had first seen one as a mere merling. Back before his fins had any definitive coloration other than a silverfish white, much like the others of his age and the fins other than his tail fin were just beginning to form and grow. It was a very delicate and important stage, but even then, he had strayed from the care of the swimming teachers, and had wound up finding his way into the royal coral bed. Yami, (being not too terribly much older) had been playing the harp that day.

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Ryou gasped and stared dumbly at the small instrument the other mercreature held, just listening to the music that emanated from it. He would have been content to just float there, at the mercy of the slight current, had Yami not looked up and spotted the pale haired merling. He chuckled lightly; putting the harp down next to the rock he had been perched on and swam over to the smaller boy. "Did you get lost?" Ryou smiled meekly at Yami. "U-uh huh...I'm s'posed to be learning to swim...but I already know how." He said softly, looking back to the small harp.

Yami laughed a bit and smiled. "That's the harp I was given, do you like it?" Ryou nodded and looked back to Yami. "It talks pretty." Yami chuckled again. "It doesn't talk, it makes music. Harps are very rare, otherwise I'd give you mine." He said taking Ryou's hand. "C'mon, let's get you back to your lessons, I'm sure you can use what they have to teach, even if you already know."

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Ryou sighed in remembrance, gently fondling the harp's strings and filling the room with soft music that flowed more with more grace and beauty than tides themselves.

Marik sighed in content, nearly melting into a puddle just outside the apartment. Had Ryou further examined the box, he would have noticed the small device inside, which sent all noises from inside the apartment, to it's mate, which Marik was just barely holding onto. "By the gods...it's true..." He murmured, sliding to his knees and closing his eyes, just listening to the enchanting melodies Ryou produced from his new harp.

Even Jono and Mako had ceased to speak, for the telephone was able to also pick up the sweet serenade. It was as though the entire world had ceased to move beyond the point when Ryou began to play the melodious, yet un-composed song. It almost seemed wrong to speak and interrupt the music, but at the same time all that could hear it also felt as though they needed to profess immediate love for the composer of such a luscious and harmonious melody.

It was dazing and hypnotic, but also invigorating and sensual. Marik felt as though he would storm into the apartment and claim Ryou for his own, showering him with lust-filled kisses at any given moment. He felt pulled to do so, to the point that his heart ached that his body wasn't moving of it's own accord to lavish the pale youth with the bubbling emotions of lust within. Marik couldn't think, couldn't speak, he could hardly even move. What made things worse, was that with every rise and fall of the notes as they washed over him, made his body yearn for Ryou all the more. It aroused him in a delicate way that he'd never imagined possible.

Jono stared at Ryou, who had finally gotten his legs back, and felt like sobbing. So beautiful, he was perfect...from head to toe. He closed his eyes, swallowing hard, trying to will away the enchanting arousal, and failing miserably to do so. He would have sold his soul, just for a lust filled moment with the small teen. To touch his body, to hold him close and kiss those soft pink lips, and never leave his side.

For the first time since he had left his ocean home, Ryou felt as though he was back in the warm waters of the Caribbean, swimming gently through the waters. He could almost feel Bakura as he swam around him, embracing him with not only his fins, but his arms as well...

"Where have you been Ryou? Malik and I have worried. Ootogi and Yugi miss you..." He whispered, kissing Ryou's ear. "Where did my little nymph run off to without telling?" Ryou sunk into Bakura's warm arms and sighed contentedly. "I've been to see the humans...I've missed you too." He whispered, laying his head on Bakura's shoulder. "You know better than to meddle with humans, little nymph. They will only cause you heartache and suffering." Ryou nodded into Bakura's neck and sighed happily. "I cant help it...I've always been curious." Bakura smiled, gently rubbing the smaller teen's back. "Curiosity can be a dangerous hobby Ryou."

Ryou winced slightly, opening his eyes slowly and ceasing the enchanting melody. He brought a hand up to rub one of his temples. Another headache. He blinked slightly; spotting Jono staring at him dumbly, phone lying forgotten on the floor. "J-Jonouchi?" Ryou said softly, causing the blonde to shake his head, thoroughly ending his stupor. He quickly picked up the phone. "Anyway Mako, tomorrow. See-ya." He blurted into it, hanging it up quickly. He looked back to Ryou, almost longingly. "Where did you get that harp?" He asked after a long moment.

Ryou smiled and hugged it softly. "From the box that said my name on it." He said happily, glad that the sudden headache was diminishing as quickly as it had come.

Marik shook his head, groaning in complaint. "The hell with that..." He grumbled, slapping himself in the face slightly. "It was more than true, that little merboy could seduce anyone with that kind of skill. I'll remember that." He said still slightly dazed.

"Tomorrow we're going to Mako's swim center, he agreed to close it up, so it'll be just you, me and him. He loves the ocean, and all the stuff in it. So maybe you could...let him look at you up close, since he's never seen a merperson before. It could be payback for letting you use his pools." Ryou nodded after a moment. "I...I suppose. He wont hurt me will he?" Jono laughed and shook his head. "Of course not! He just loves the ocean. Ever since he was little, he dreamed of being like you. I guess you could kinda say he is like you, wanting to explore. But unlike you, he cant. It'd be really nice of you to let him check you out." Ryou smiled softly. "Alright then, I'll let him. I would have given anything to see humans, and I think that since I had my wish granted that it's only fair to grant his wish too."

Marik grinned slightly, at that little conversation. He knew where HE would be tomorrow. He also knew of the fish Mako kept in special tanks, which were connected throughout the swim center that he would undoubtedly let Ryou swim in. Marik smirked slightly. There apparently would be another test, this one just for mere kicks. Hell, he had the time.

AN: Whoo hoo! UPDATED! I'll update again shortly. Remember to review. I love reviews almost as much as I love Ryou. I'm starting my preliminary sketches of mer-Ryou. Anyhow, THANK YOU HATO! She drew me a picture to go with this fic, which means you should all IM her and say thank you. Because let me tell you, when it's finished I'm putting it up where ALL can see, and it is AWESOME. It's better than sliced bread with meat and cheese between slices. Mmm...food. Also, I will be updating WiHtM soon, and I will also be beginning a new story soon. I haven't decided whether to go with something I already have the first chapter written to or not. SO! In order to remedy the problem, I'll be taking suggestions. So, REVIEW and suggest something you'd like to see with the review. You never know...I might pick yours. (Will probably pick more than one, if the creative half of the readers are listening to this...lol) Anywho, I just thought I'd have some idle banter at the bottom of this chapter, which dare I say is a bit longer than the others. *GASP!* lol. Next chapter, Mako Gets touchy feely with our favorite lil merdude.

And, for kicks I've decided to leave a teaser.

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Ryou squeaked when Mako snatched his tailfin and pulled it to his face, leaving Ryou hanging upside down in the water. "Hey!" he started to protest, before Marik began tickling the fin in such a way that caused it to fan out to it's full size, making Ryou's tailfin even more billowy than it originally was, and revealing a bright crimson, that seemed velvety because of the hues of Blue and purple that accompanied it. Obviously flaring the fins was a way to attract mates. Ryou turned pink. "HEY! Stop that! That's personal!" He yelped yanking his tail back and swatting Mako with it slightly. "You don't flash YOUR goods about for no reason, and neither will I! I'll have you know!" He said immediately shaking his fins back to their hidden state.

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You're welcome!