{LeviHan} Beyond

Chapter 10: Mating Season

"He thought this would be perfect time to finally prove his true love to her. He would do almost anything for her. Another gift, he thought, would be great. As you know, when two people love each other, a gift between them is born into this grand world."

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Levi's POV

How could I forgotten about this time of year now? Farlan saw me writhing in pain when I woke up this morning. He, of course, swam towards me wondering what happened- before it dawned down on us. Mating season began. Whenever a merperson was in heat, they must mate with the one they had a taste of their DNA.

"I told you it wasn't going to be pretty." Farlan sighed as he knew he couldn't help me. "I'm sorry, Levi..."

"H-How..." I scowled, growling with pain as I curled up with pain. "H-How long is this...?"

Farlan, filled with despair, sighed heavily. "Levi... mating season doesn't end until next week. Then, it depends on the merperson on how long they have it... Levi- are you going to be fine?"

I forgot all about this... and the only one I would fall for would be Hanji... wait... I'm supposed to meet up with her tonight! I've never broken a promise with her... I always came to her every single night. Should I skip the night with her to deal with this...? No, because if this is gonna last until next week or so...

"I... I have to go..." Though it pained me to say it, I swam back towards the shore. Farlan called me out; Isabel was still sleeping. Farlan had a lot to explain to her once I come back. I swam back to the person I loved- and I hope... maybe I could mate with her. Maybe... maybe she'll be fine with it...

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I've waited near the shore all day- keeping out of sight of the humans. A few kids almost exposed me, but I hid myself well enough. I just... wanted Hanji again. When the sun began to set, I saw Hanji slowly walking up. Her eyes gazing over the ocean- stopping when she saw me. Confusion filled her face... I wonder.

"Levi?" She asks, kneeling down in the wet sand. "Levi, what are you doing here already-"

I reached up, kissing her lips. Just being near her temporarily took the pain away. "I wanted... no... I needed... to tell you something..." Hunching over in pain, I scowled. I'll suffer more to tell Hanji about what was wrong with me...

"Tell me then."

I explained it to her how it was mating season for merpeople now... and when I've bitten her to scare her away from Isabel... her eyes widened. Her hands went to her heart, almost debating what to do. Was it my fault and I squirmed into this mess? Could this have been avoided?

"W-Well?"

Hanji fell to the ground, stretching out her long, human legs. She smiled softly, kissing me once more. "To mate with a merman... how strange, yet interesting. Dear Levi, I don't mind it at all..." she kisses me once more, and it seemed everything went blank.

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Kissing Hanji goodbye, I swam back home. The pain that seared through me disappeared. Maybe it did work... and I didn't have to worry about it anymore. But we couldn't stay longer. Hanji wanted to sleep, and I let her do so. I'm not willing to trap her in this cage to always see me. I loved her... and there was nothing else I could do... to leave my world to join hers... or for her to leave her world and join mine?

If anything... I would rather join her if Farlan and Isabel could come. Although...

Are they willing enough to leave behind this life? I'm sure they are... but still...

"Levi!" Isabel swam up to me, panic filling her eyes. "Where were you?! Farlan's been worried sick for you!"

"I went off somewhere, okay?"

"You're... not in pain anymore?"

"I said it before," my eyes rolled gently, "I could've handled it. You guys didn't have to worry for me. Speaking of Farlan- where is he? And... have you guys been searching for me?!"

With guilt, Isabel nodded her head. "We... we haven't been able to sleep since you disappeared, Levi... I think he's going crazy too. You know, he's been muttering a lot about you being near the shore lately... I would be careful, if I were you, Big Bro."

"Careful?"

She nods. Her words of betrayal hurt everyone. Farlan confessed that he was going to follow me the next time I went to shore... and he'll find out about Hanji... and my plans to leave this world for hers. Isabel didn't like the idea of ratting him out to me... but she didn't want to see me any hurt than I would be if I didn't know.

"I'm so sorry, Levi..." She cries, shaking her head with distraught. "I'm so sorry! Everything is so confusing and-"

"Don't be sorry," I say, hugging her tightly. "Isabel, I don't want you to cry... so I'll tell you this before we find Farlan. I promise to tell him the truth as well, okay?"

"Okay..."

She wiped her tears off her face, looking at me with reddened eyes. Then, I told her: "I'm in love with a human..."

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Isabel had this smile on her face when we returned to the hideout. Farlan had just entered the cove when we made our appearance. I hear him practically scowling and shouting at us for being gone for this long- mostly towards me.

Upholding my promise with Isabel, I began to tell him the truth. But he being Farlan, he asked why I wasn't in pain anymore. Though, glad that it was gone, but still worried.

"I mated with a human, Farlan..." I sighed as the confession left my lips. "I love her- that woman I bit- I'm in love with her. And... I want to join her on land... but I-"

"Wait... mated with a human? Then... she's pregnant..."

"Uh- no. I thought that takes time."

Farlan shook his head, scowling. "There's this connection between the merman and their offspring, Levi. Once you planted your seed, the pain won't go away until it starts to sprout. Which means... that human... she's pregnant..."

"I-Impossible... she's human. Humans work differently than us-"

He lunges at me, gripping my shoulders tightly as he shouted at me. "But it's our mermen genes, Levi! We're ancient creatures to them- we possess powers compared to the humans! We would affect the babies in humans, Levi... that human girl... yes, you mated with her... but... you planted your seed... she'll have your child..."