{LeviHan} Beyond

Chapter 8: Forbidden

"After a moments of chatting, the young woman fell asleep. The merman watched her beauty as she slept. Yes, it was such a forbidden love... like this woman casted a spell on him. This woman must've been some sort of mermaid- or a maiden. He lingers there, watching over the fair maiden. How can he get away from someone who captured his heart?"

*   *   *

Levi's POV

Watching her fall, I darted for her. The waves pulled back- and I knew the tides are going to rise. Already stranded on land, I couldn't push her further in-land. Without another second passing, I kissed her sweet lips. Knowing it wasn't right, I had to. Hopefully... she won't drown...

Clutching her tightly to my chest, I hoped everything would be... right. Pushed forward with the salty waves, Hanji went with me. Her breathing didn't get interrupted... she was breathing normally. No chocking on the stray water that got into her lungs- she was safe...

I was able to breathe freely. 

With all my might, I was able to drag myself through the rough and dry sand. Thankfully she was messy- I would never have found a blanket to cover her up from the cold. She did start to shiver with her lips turning blue. That wasn't from me... that was from the cold. 

I tucked the blanket under her body, trying to get her as warm as I could possibly can. I pushed her hair behind her ears, smiling softly. She was truly beautiful... maybe... maybe it wouldn't be bad if I can love her... I've already broken the rules... what's wrong with adding loving a human to the list of crimes I've committed? Not even a day had passed, and I'm here, falling in love already.

Of course, I didn't want to do anything unless Hanji was awake. Where's the fun in talking and knowing the other person if they are asleep? Though... she was so vulnerable... I didn't want to leave her alone.

My eyes gazed over to my tail, seeing it was half in the water. That was alright... 

"It's me," I say softly, reaching my arms over Hanji's slumbering body. Pushing my torso against hers, I hoped it gave her warmth. My nose buried in her neck as I smelled her distinctive scent. It was an unknown scent- but it smelled so sweet. "I'll stay here... as long as you're sleeping..."

*   *   *

First light shone in my eyes; thus awakening me from my sleep. I've been here all night with Hanji. The tides were already down, and I felt so... itchy. My tail was so dry... how long have I been out of water?

I shook Hanji awake, regretting of doing so. She murmurs softly, grumbling with her eyes fluttering like a fish flapping its fins to swim in the ocean. "L-Levi...?"

"I got to go," I say, nuzzling her neck one last time, "the tides are beginning to fall... I can't be on land anymore..."

"Aww- so that means you don't gain human legs if you stay on land for too long?" She asks. Was that another myth in the human world? How silly. "Dang... come then... off to the ocean you go then." She gets up and grabs me right under my armpits. I tried to help move, but my tail felt so... dead...

"You have to... pull me..." I cried, trying to move my lower half. "I'm sorry..."

Hanji gave a soft smile, dragging my limp body across the sharp shells and rough rocks on the shore. "Don't be- I should've left last night... I don't remember what happened. How did you get that far away from the ocean?"

Questions of hers were never answered until my body was flung into the cold water. As any fish, the temperature shocked me. Like my chest began to burn and squeeze. But eventually, I was able to adapt and I swam back to the shallow shores.

My arms crossed in front of me as I laid my head on them. "You fell asleep... and what happened was... the tides were rising. I couldn't move. And... sorry to say this, but I kissed you. It worked though... you didn't cough up water or anything else. It worked."

There was a small silence between us- other than the waves crashing next to us. We were staring into each other's eyes... lost in those starry paths of ours. "You... kissed me...?"

"I'm sorry," I began to plead for her forgiveness, "I didn't want you to get harmed at all... okay? I did it to save you... I'm sorry-"

"I wish I stayed up for that..." Hanji says, wading into the water. She sat down in the water, reaching for my cheeks. I felt her warmth from the wet droplets of salt water. "We'll meet again... tonight?"

"You need some well-deserve rest, Hanji."

"Sleep can wait. I just want to see you again..."

I grabbed her arms, trying to pull myself up. But Hanji did a better job. She leaned down to my level, and we were able to be a few centimeters close. Sighing softly, I got exhausted of the tension and I finally... kissed her for real.

Wanting to have her by my side... that's all I ever wanted...

"Hanji..." I sighed softly, wanting to hold her closer... "I can't wait to see you..."

"Tonight then?"

"Tonight."