Enchanted

Glade

Yuri carried Yuya bridal style through the coastal forest, a broad smile on his face. Yuya was pouting a little at being carried like a helpless princess. "You know I can change my tail into legs, right? I can walk. You don't have to carry me!"

"Ah, but you would be barefoot, and we wouldn't want you to step on a sharp rock or get a thorn stuck in your foot, now would we?~" Yuri pointed out. Yuya's cheeks flushed and he looked away with a huff, not wanting to admit that he had a point. Yuri just chuckled and continued carrying Yuya through the trees.

After some time, the trees thinned out a bit, and the pair entered a glade. The ground of the glade had a beautiful garden of rare and exotic plants that Yuya was pretty sure weren't native to the area. The merfolk looked at Yuri in surprise and confusion, and saw the elf beaming with pride. "Do you like my garden?~"

"Y-yeah, it's really pretty," Yuya admitted. "It looks like you've worked really hard on it and take good care of it, too!"

"My garden is my pride and joy," Yuri said. "But I can't take all the credit for it thriving so much. My plants seem to grow better at night, during the times when you sing."

He carried Yuya to a little hut in the center of the glade and sat him down on a chair outside the door. "Could you sing some more for me and my garden?" he asked, stroking Yuya's tummy lightly. Yuya gasped and squirmed, giggling. "O-ohokay, I'll sihing, just no ticklihing!"

Yuri smiled and stopped stroking Yuya's tummy, waiting patiently. The merfolk blushed slightly as he began singing. His voice was so beautiful, and Yuri's garden seemed to be listening as well. Yuya sang a little sea shanty he'd heard from a ship a few years ago.

Oh, come gather 'round me hearties, listen to me tale
Of the rolling waves and salted seas, where sailors never fail
With the wind in our sails and the sun on our backs
We'll journey far and wide, no need for any tracks

Rolling waves and salted seas
Oh, the ocean she calls to me
From port to port, we'll roam free
On the rolling waves and salted seas

Beneath the bright blue sky, where the seagulls cry
We'll navigate the tides, with a gleam in our eye
Through storms and squalls, we'll stand tall
For the ocean is our home, and we'll answer her call

Rolling waves and salted seas
Oh, the ocean she calls to me
From port to port, we'll roam free
On the rolling waves and salted seas

So raise up the anchor, set the sails high
We'll sail into the horizon, beneath the endless sky
For the ocean she sings, a song of ancient lore
And we'll follow her melody, forevermore

Rolling waves and salted seas
Oh, the ocean she calls to me
From port to port, we'll roam free
On the rolling waves and salted seas

Oh, rolling waves and salted seas
Forever in our hearts, we'll be
Sailing on, wild and free
On the rolling waves and salted seas

Yuri enjoyed Yuya's song, smiling dreamily as he listened. Truly, the merfolk's voice was the most beautiful sound the elf had ever heard, and Yuri was a bit disappointed when the song ended. Yuya seemed to notice, though, and began singing another song, smiling sweetly at Yuri as he sang.

* * *

Yuya must've sang for several hours before he finally stopped, feeling a bit hungry and thirsty. He looked at Yuri and asked, "Do you have any food or drink? I haven't eaten since midday."

"Ah, yes, I've got plenty of food and drinks," Yuri said. "Have you ever tried cooked fish? I know you merfolk mostly eat seafood, but from what I've heard, you usually eat it raw."

"Oh, I've never had it cooked before, but I've always been curious about what it would taste like," Yuya admitted. Yuri smiled and said, "I'll prepare a few dishes for you to try. You just wait right there, and I'll be back in a bit!"