Imperfect Love

Part 17

Throughout the next week, I decided to exercise and test out my boat to see how I could maneuver it. I knew that after I made the ridiculous 2nd deal with Adler that I definitely could not win, but I could escape from his clutches. I am going to assume that he is going to outswim me by a lot, while I will still be left behind. He is going to reach the finish line before me, but Adler still has to wait for me until I reach the finish line as well. During this time, I am going to ride the boat to the place where my new village is located and hopefully get everyone to evacuate one more time. I know my plan still has a lot of holes, but I have to try anything to save everyone. 

I am not even worried about myself anymore. I know that Adler apparently loves me too much to hurt me, but he won't hesitate to harm other humans. A small part of me does pity because he has been rejected by human society many times for simply being a monster. I suppose they didn't understand that he is more human-like than they first assumed. This small part of me wants to help him, but there is my old village and the new one that could be slaughtered at this point. Perhaps if I could relocate everyone somewhere else safely, I could come back temporarily to help Adler get over his hate for humans. 

I am brought back to reality when I see arms wrapped around my waist from the back. I feel Adler's nose buried in my neck and I try to struggle out of his arms. I was currently just sitting on a rock similar to ocean rock back home just trying to organize my plan, but Adler rudely interrupted me. 

"Kaaya...you won't leave me right? Even if you win?" Adler asked in an almost childish tone. I felt like a toy that a small child wouldn't let go of. I sigh as I try to formulate words carefully as to not anger him. 

"Adler, remember my end of the deal. If I do win, I get my freedom." I say softly as if consoling a little child. 

I expected Adler to be quiet or argue back but he does something that scared me. He goes around me so instead of wrapping his arms around my waist from the back, I am trapped between him and rock with his arms near my head. He quickly lifts me up and grabs my thighs tightly. Since his actions for too fast for me to comprehend, I immediately wrap my legs and arms around to him to not fall or slip. As I look up at him, I get a sense of deja vu as this position was similar to the position when we first met. I blush and feel my face heating up.

Adler looks down at me with angry pitch-black eyes and I gulp, scared of what's going to happen next. A small part of me told me to comfort him so I decided to listen to it to avoid being crushed or killed. I slowly take my hands out from under him and start to rub my hands on his arms, trying to calm him down. At first, I was worried that nothing was working, but slowly he got off me and jumped in the ocean changing into his true form before swimming away. 

I stare at the spot where he just was. What just happened? 

Adler POV

As I swam away from Kaaya, I didn't know what I was thinking. Why was I pursuing a girl that obviously wanted nothing to do with me. Yet, no matter how many tiI mes I tell myself to let her go and let her live happily, rage fills me. Pure things in the world shouldn't be corrupted. They must be protected. She is beautiful, smart, and so brave. She is absolutely wonderful in my eyes and I want to make her mine. I don't want to force her to become mine, but she must learn to at least tolerate me eventually.  

As I swim in my ocean, I pet the Great Whites that surround me. They know that I am one of their kind- one who lives in the ocean. That is another thing that I loved about Kaaya. She admires the ocean almost as much as I do. Absolutely perfect. 

I know that if I race against Kaaya once again, she will lose, but I don't want to crush her hope. She is willing to do anything to escape my grasp and that hurts my heart. Am I really that bad? 

I don't want her lose her, but I still want her to be happy. I am conflicted with my own thoughts and after watching the sun set, I realize what I needed to do.