Tide Between Two Worlds

The Mermaid Appears

       By the end of another school day, the topic surrounding Shuichi's stint with the swim team concluded in his favor. After performing his experiment in front of his parents, the concern was still there but it wasn't strong enough for Shuichi to turn in his resignation. That's just fine. The next round of competition was in a couple of days anyway. On second thought, while father and son were busy, Shiori went out to the nearest convenience store to pick up a bottle of lotion where it was laced with newly-purchased salt just for Shuichi to use. Shuichi found it ridiculous but allowed it since it came with the best intentions. No way was the Minamino family going to go through another embarrassing moment in public. Fed, studied out, showered, and exhausted from the day, Shuichi finally turned himself in for the night.

When he woke up, the sounds of the underwater world occupied his hearing once more. This time Shuichi found himself within the lush marshes of a coral reef, surrounded by the pinks, greens, and earth tones of moss and anemone and families of clownfish building their home sweet homes.

       "Hey," Shuichi noticed, observing a young clownfish swimming by his face, "Is that you, Nemo? Haha."

By the time he sat up again, his aquatic self had slightly evolved. The tail and fin were a solid, gleaming emerald green with prominent scales in a prismatic blue and pink finish. Those scales felt just as real as they did in the waking stage and when Shuichi guided a hand against the grain, the slit was no deeper than a papercut.

      "Amazing," he marveled, "That was nearly painless."

Upon looking up, Shuichi noticed that the skies weren't as bright as before. In fact, it was nightfall with only the light of a full moon serving as a beacon.

       "Wait, nightfall? Then how can I see everything so clea–? Right. This is a dream."

       "Do you believe that," a feminine voice questioned from afar.

       "Hold on... It's you again. Show yourself! Please?"

Gentle, playful laughter echoed throughout the oceanic-like space. Definitely the voice of a young woman. It was almost to the point where Shuichi felt a little scared.

       "Hey. I said come out," he timidly demanded, "No more hiding."

The reverberation of amusement continued for a time, multiplying in quantity and increasing in volume until Shuichi could no longer take it, covering his ears to mute the noise.

       "Ahhh! Stop! Stop it, please! Enough! ENOUGH!"

And then, silence. Familiar silence. Whether it was human or sea creature, Shuichi's heart received its rightful dose of adrenaline, quickening its pace. He knew that one false move could have Shuichi leaping out of his skin and bed since he was dreaming. Still, he prepared for it anyway.

       "Okay. If she's behind me, she's attempting to scare me. That's all it is. A scare tactic and...she's faceless. Because of that, I should have nothing to fear. She doesn't have a face to show emotion so...I, too, should show no emotion. Here goes."

Shuichi did turn around with his eyes closed and an expressionless face and attitude. Whoever this mermaid is will not have her way in frightening this dreamer. However, once Shuichi opened one eye, he was greeted with a cheerful, "Hi."

       "Ahh," he screamed, hiding behind the very reef he slept on.

       The mermaid kept watching, "It seems my patience has been rewarded."

       "P-patience? What patience, wait...you...I can see your face."

Indeed, the mystery mermaid did have a face and a beautiful one at that. Opalescent skin, coral pink lips, lilac purple eyes, and hair that blended in with its surroundings.