Unsettled Depths [ch.1]

[RelenaFanel]

Summary: A particularly violent wave crashed onto the sand, carrying the rowboat a few meters from the beach. Kagome plunged into the churning white foam, desperate to take advantage of this opportunity to reach her brother. AU.. InuKag
Chapter 1: The Snarky Fish
Prologue: http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/vie ... php?t=5667

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?Kagome.? A small hand grabbed her slim arm and shook. She felt like a huge piano was compressing her into the mattress and her arm moved up until she was unwillingly slapping her own face. Her body was covered with the airy downiness of a comforter, and she would have thought the sharp memory of tempestuous water was a very real nightmare if it wasn?t for the grains of sand clinging to her limbs and the sheets on her bed. She managed to open her tired eyes to the harsh light of day. Her brother stared back at her.

?Wha? Souta?? She blearily rolled over and stared at her vibrant, yet worried looking younger brother. ?What?s wrong? Are you ok?? She stared at her younger brother for injuries from the previous night and reached for a strand of his hair to idly play with.

?Yes. Pay attention Kagome. This is important.? He pushed her hand away in childish exasperation, and puffed the air out of his chest in a short, impatient sigh.

?It?s always important when you are ten.? Smiling fondly, she ruffled his hair and his ego before sliding her legs over the side of her bed. ?How?d we make it last night anyway? What was that thing?? The last question was aimed more to herself, if she had to guess, she?d say Souta lost consciousness way before she did. Feeling more endeared than usual to her brother she enveloped him in an awkward and warm hug. Her brother once again pushed her away.

?Would you listen to me!? His brow scrunched up in a frown as he pushed her off once again. Kagome realized this had nothing to do with her ruining his cool image. He really was upset about something. ?Remember how you asked me to tell you if dad ever put something strange in his fish-tank? Well he put something a whole lot of weird in it last night.?

Kagome stood. She paid no attention to the way her head spun or her legs wobbled from fatigue. Her brother smirked as if to say ?I knew this was important.? Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder for support and she fished under her bed for her slippers with her foot.

A familiar flash of silver.

?Is it another dolphin?? She stared into the huge aquarium which made up a wall of her bedroom. Their grandfather, a natural fish lover, had the enormous glass tank installed from basement to attic in order to be surrounded by water-life he so adored. Now, only Kagome?s room and her father?s study had open glass walls into the tanks. The fish were no longer loved, but captured and sold. Kagome wasn?t positive all her father?s business ventures were completely legal either.

?I don?t know. When I woke up on the beach last night, it was already loaded into the truck. I did hear one of dad?s men say it was a large one.? The hurtful fact their father had left his own children wet and unconscious on the beach while he made a new acquisition to his inventory was left unsaid between siblings. What could be said? Instead Kagome squeezed Souta?s shoulder and limped disheartened from the room.

The lush carpet and her thick slippers padded every step she took. The paneled hall flittered with afternoon shadows and the danger of being caught. The old house creaked. Kagome paused in her long trek to the end of the hall and glanced around anxiously. The only movement in sight was her younger brother silently urging her on. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and slowly opened a door knob. The door opened with a sigh and a grunt, but didn?t disclose the trembling girl grasping the wood desperately for luck. All was quiet; she remained undetected. With a reciprocated thumbs-up to her brother, Kagome closed the door behind her.

She was in the attic. The opening to the aquarium was in this forbidden room. If one word could sum up what would happen if she was found in there, it would be trouble. The door closed behind her. Getting out would be trickier.

The melodic rhythm of gushing water echoed through the enclosed white chamber. Kagome?s head peeked over the edge of the stairs, conditioned to check rooms for inhabitants before entering. She was a silent thief in her own house. The attic slanted down into a pool of green and blue hued water. As a safety precaution there was a meter between the original attic floor and the surface of the water. A railingless bridge crossed over the aquarium core, making it easy to make additions to the mammal and aquatic life. The huge water-pump and equipment took up much of the space on the side opposite the entrance.

Kagome shed her slippers and cautiously made her way across the catwalk. She usually had steady footing, but the metal was unusually wet today, and if she was to fall, getting out of the tank was a difficult task she wasn?t willing or quite able to perform that morning.

Once in the middle of the bridge she curled her toes over the edge of the gleaming metal and peered down into the house-deep water. A school of bright crimson and blue tropical fish passed below her feet, and she marveled at the simple beauty of their fluttering movement and true colors. She followed the fish with her peripheral vision, knowing no artist or photograph could capture them truly. A flash of silver caught from the corner of her eye while her attention was elsewhere.

Suddenly, her foot was yanked downwards and she fell. Hair obscured her vision and threatened to choke her. The ebony tendrils of silken string closed around her throat, and streamed behind her in waves. She choked on an onyx and water cocktail. Coughing and sputtering, she impatiently swiped her long hair from her eyes, desperate to see what had pulled her in.

Finger-like tentacles (seaweed perhaps?) slowly closed around her ankle. She roughly kicked it aside, but it clung to her ankle like peanut butter to the roof of a mouth. Her body was jerked beneath the surface of the water, into the depths of her own house. She was pulled and twisted so roughly, Kagome was not sure which way was up anymore. She never stopped trying to attack her assailant, but it remained elusive, like a whorl of tide hauling her out to sea. With a final twist, she was propelled into the glass wall. She hadn?t the energy left to realize what would happen if the glass were to break. Her body flattened into the glass wall like a bird slamming into a window. Any remaining air burbled out of her mouth, and she found herself staring into her own bedroom. Souta was sitting wide-eyed and fearfully surprised on her bed, staring at his older sister displayed on the other side of the glass.

The grasp on her foot eased. She paused for a few long seconds before twisting her feet and pushing off the glass wall. Seeing her bedroom had given her the notion of where the surface was, and she propelled herself towards it with a strength cultivated through years of swimming. Fish darted out of her way, but she didn?t notice in her mad haste for air. Her lungs burned and throat contracted with the need to inhale air, water, anything.

It took five long seconds to reach the surface. The empty cavern shrunk in size with the urgency of gasping for breath. Her hand closed around the platform to try to stop the spinning she could sense, though everything was dark. Kagome slowly opened her eyes only to be battered by a strong wave of nausea and quickly slammed them shut. She tried to relax and let her breathing come naturally, fearful that her loud gasps would show her position to whatever attacked her, or more importantly, her own father.

Kagome gingerly opened her eyes despite the pounding in her oxygen deprived brain and peered downwards. Underwater lights shed a greenish glow to the tanned skin of her kicking legs. She grabbed hold of the ramp overhead and cautiously exhaled loudly. Coughing a few times, she barely noticed another person in the room with her until a brown sandal dug sharply into her hand. Kagome called out in pain and protestation as her arm was roughly seized and yanked upwards.

Her father didn?t have much trouble lifting her out of the pool, helped by the buoyancy of the deep liquid. She shied away from looking at him directly in the face as she scrambled to her feet and he lectured her, digging his fingers into the soft tissue of her arms.

?I?m sorry dad.?

?I told you time and time again that this room is strictly off-limits. You are not to come up here ever again. Do. I. Make. My. Self. Clear.? Each syllable was punctuated with a sharp dig and twist with his finger, leaving red marks on her arm that would later turn into bruises on the delicate flesh. She internally winced at each jab, marveling how a person could never grow used to the pain this little act of torture invoked.

?Painfully.? She wretched herself out of his grasp, aware that the longer she stayed with him, the more punishment she would receive.

?I?m just glad you didn?t drown.? He reached out as if to guide her, and she felt herself falling. Kagome?s arm smacked sharply against the ramp as she ungracefully toppled into the water, unsure whether she was actually pushed or had just lost her footing. She sputtered and choked.

Silver and piercing brown.

Her father hauled her up again, avoiding the arm she hit, but not looking overtly concerned for it. ?That?s what I?m talking about dear, this place is dangerous.? She was hustled downstairs where Souta stared at her with a mixture of sheepish concern, and a lot of guilt. Her father navigated her into her bedroom, jarring her injured arm on the doorframe. ?I?m happy you enjoy the tank so much, because that?s all you?ll be seeing for the next week.?

It was his typical ?you are grounded? joke.

?But? I?m in university!? He had already left. Unconcerned about her age, her arm, and seemingly her. Kagome smashed her fist into the door once to show her displeasure, realized the way she was acting was testimony to her deserving to be grounded and sulked over to her bed to think.

She was almost positive that for a moment someone was in the water with her. Someone with the richest silver for hair and molten gold eyes; someone who glared at her as if she were the enemy and looked vaguely pleased that she had hurt herself falling; someone she had surely imagined. Kagome snuggled into the bed she had awoken in only half an hour before and glanced hopefully at the unyielding aquarium. The pain in her arm had dulled to a bearable ache, making her reason it couldn?t be broken.

Two water attacks within twenty-four hours left her exhausted physically and mentally, making it easy for the humid summer air and the dull buzz of boats on the water lull her back into a deep sleep filled with Orlando Bloom and chocolate chips. The morning drifted into afternoon as she drifted out of her nap not quite rested but with enough restored energy to make sleeping in the afternoon impossible. The low drone of the TV made her grin at the fact that Souta was taking her punishment just as hard as she was, for he could not go out on the water without supervision. She turned towards the wall of water and had to force back a squeal. Kagome blinked. She crushed her eyes closed and opened them again.

The fish were still giving her the finger.

Not sure what else to do, she returned the gesture then wove cheerfully. The fish slowly drifted and melded into a waving hand before breaking up in confusion. Bewildered, she crossed the room and knelt on the room-length cushioned bench set against the tank glass, and pressed her face against the glass. Staring deep into the dark recesses of the tank she could not detect any life. No fish. No man. Everything had suddenly vanished from view as if there never was anything in the tank to begin with. It was like she was staring at a blank wall.

She shrugged it off to fatigue, even though that excuse was being used far too much for comfort, and got up from beside the tank. She crossed her room and entered the bathroom. This room did not have an open wall into the aquarium. Even a fish-lover like Kagome was not comfortable with them seeing her doing private washroom stuff. That was just weird.

She took a long, cool shower, paying special attention to the sandy grit embedded in her scalp. The floral scent of her soap was almost invigorating, and she relaxed her worn muscles. A slight chuckle emerged from Kagome?s lips as her mind pictured her acting like an herbal essences commercial. (?OooooOOOH?) When her black hair squeaked with cleanliness, and she felt as if all the grime and qualms clinging to her skin had washed down the drain, she emerged from the shower and wrapped a towel around her dampened skin.

Humming a Great Big Sea song the raven haired girl wandered from the washroom and over to her dresser. She grabbed the customary underwear from her drawer and threw them on the bed. She swung over to her closet, hips swaying to the song being played in her head, and grabbed a summer dress off a cloth-covered hanger. She did a little dance over to her bed and placed the dress next to the matching bra and panties. She did the customary check over her shoulder to make sure no perverted fish were watching.

Kagome screamed. Her towel tumbled towards the floor as she grappled for it, desperate to cover herself. When she was sufficiently covered, she stared at the man floating in her wall, and clutched at her chest to calm her breathing as well as make sure the towel was in place. She took a few steps towards the aquarium, unsure what to do about the figure staring at her so hostilely.

?Oh my God! You?re a mermaid!? She was sure that wasn?t the best opening speech, and by the way his glower deepened, he probably didn?t think it was so great either. ?I mean, I?m sure you are a very nice mermaid, but??

?Man.? His voice was gravelly, but entirely audible. She was shocked he could not only make himself heard through the glass and water, but speak in her language.

?Excuse me?? She could feel her mouth gaped open and was sure she looked very fish-like. She tried to cover her shock, but she wasn?t so sure she wasn?t somewhat (or fully) delusional. This was the person she had seen in the tank, and she had to remind herself, the creature who had tried to kill her. He almost looked normal, and if he wasn?t floating around in her aquarium with a large scaly tail, Kagome would have sworn he was human.

?Are you stupid or something? I. Am. A. Merman. Not mermaid. Mermaids are female virgins.? He smirked slightly, causing his glare to shift into a danger of another kind. ?And I am neither.?

Since that last statement was somewhat friendly and Kagome was at a loss of what to say to this strange merman, it took her a moment to think of a suitable reply. He stared at her superiorly, almost daring her to say something stupid. She took him up on that dare. ?Hi, I?m Kagome.?

?I don?t care.? His golden eyes turned an angry molten colour as the scowl returned to his face. ?Though I suppose it would be nice to know who I?m going to kill when I get out of here.? His growl grew louder as he approached the end of the sentence, slowly and clearly emphasizing that he would escape.

Her eyes widened in shock at his hostility towards her, though she supposed it was due. She did, after all, have a direct hand in his captivity. ?Look, I know you don?t like me right now.? He snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. ?But I promise I?ll get you out of here.?

?What do you think you can do little girl?? He uncrossed his arms and gestured to the tank surrounding him. The fish all gathered behind him at this signal. ?You are being held in captivity too.?

He had her there. His face once again twisted from the irate scowl he had been wearing into a harsh mulling look as he began to think.

?I?ll make a deal with you landmaid. If you can get me out of here, then I won?t murder you in your sleep.?

She pretended to think about it before agreeing. It somehow didn?t seem fair for her to be punished for something she had no control over. At least by helping him she could right a wrong, and extract revenge for herself and this stranger. Retribution against her father would commence immediately.

Besides, it?s not like he could walk away from the tank with his fishy little flipper and sneak up on her without squelching. She was relatively safe, even if he had the strange ability to control the fish.

?You know what girl; I think this might be an interesting week.? He eyed her closely. She was too caught up staring at the floating silver of his rich hair to notice how he was critiquing her, and probably wouldn?t have perceived it as strange, considering the appraisal she was giving this new partner-in-crime. A partner-in-crime was just what he would be too. Kagome was finally going to put an end to her father?s underground business she and a friend had been waging a war against for years and this merman was the key they had been waiting for.

?What?? He harshly inquired, pulling her out of intricate planning and diabolical musings.

?What?? She echoed, dazed.

?You?re staring at my manly chest and chiseled stomach, aren?t you??

She snorted at his egotism. ?More like trying not to laugh at your girly-shoulders.?

He bristled. ?My what? My shoulders are very broad and masculine. Just. Like. Yours.?

She jabbed her finger at the tank glass. ?I?ll have you know I have very delicate shoulders?? She paused as he widely grimaced and slammed his arm over his eyes.

?Please do something about that towel before I go blind. You?d think your man-shoulders could keep it up.?

Kagome blushed and looked down, finding her towel hadn?t even slipped, much. Well? she was still completely decent. She turned around and hitched it up further, embarrassment turning to anger. ?Don?t you dare look!? As she stalked over to her bed, he muttered a rebuttal about his eyes shriveling up and being eaten by a fish. She grabbed her clothes and scurried into the bathroom to change, displeased she?d have to alter her whole routine for a voyeuristic fish boy.

She emerged from the bathroom dressed and groomed a few minutes later. He had disappeared like a secretive phantom. ?At least I have original comebacks, Mr. Mermaid!? She stomped her foot in frustration, actually disappointed he was no longer there to glare at her with those surprisingly deep gold eyes.

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?RelenaFanel2004

[sadie003]

Aw, thats a great start. You totally have Inuyasha and co in character too. I always like your stories Fanel:D

[Lara Winner]

LOL! He made the fish give her the finger... that was great. I'm totally intrigued and can hardly contain myself in anticipation of the next chapter.

[kyoki]

I like how the fish gave her the finger Ohohoho..That Inuyasha

[Roa_Aoife]

Woah, Inuyasha as a mermaid... er, man. Totally original, and still in charachter. Well done.

[Koharu]

thats pretty good!!!

[black_nemesis_queen]

Love the story line!

Can't wait to read next ch.