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The girl looks otherworldly tonight, as she has since the moment Aoi laid eyes on her. Long, cream-colored hair with seafoam tips spiraling down to the small of her back. Large pink eyes that glitter under the moonlight, soft lips curved into a small smile. She wears a three-piece blue dress today, adorned with two bows tied into the sides of her hair.
She is a vision of magnificence, sitting there across the way. The boat is a small, wooden thing, with just enough space to hold the two of them. There’s something about her that’s strangely familiar, a nagging feeling in the back of Aoi’s mind that tells her they’ve met before. She can envision her face so clearly, pulling her from the water; her knight in shining water droplets. Her savior, in every sense of the world.
Everything about the memory matches up so perfectly with the present. Long strands of cream-seafoam hair tickling her face; pink eyes looking down at her, filled with curiosity and concern.
She can see her face, but she can’t hear her voice.
A key part of the memory, perhaps the most prominent one. That angelic melody that had flooded her ears like a song from the heavens could not have been mistaken. The woman who saved her had an unforgettable voice, and the woman in front of her cannot speak.
She chalks the face up to a false memory. She had been injured when she met the singing woman, therefore the memory is fuzzy, so it’s not unrealistic to assume her mind just filled in the blanks for her when she met this new woman.
The woman in question- well, Aoi doesn’t quite know what to make of her. She doesn’t have a lot to say, but there’s something about her. Something that makes Aoi’s head spin pleasantly every time their eyes meet. She’s fascinated by such mundane things, like forks and music boxes. She smells like the sea, and sometimes walks like she doesn’t know how to use her own two feet.
She exists in this bubble of excitement, like everything about the world is new to her. Aoi wishes she could be that thrilled about life. She’s introduced the girl to so many things, and yet she feels like she’s the one who has the most to learn.
The thing is, Aoi is bad at being a princess. Her mother wants her to find a spouse, ascend to the throne, produce an heir, and focus on all her royal responsibilities. Aoi cares more about wild uncharted waters than crowns and paperwork. Can anyone really blame her? When little girls ask to be princesses, they’re dreaming of balls and gowns, not politics.
Well, Aoi is living every little girl’s dream, and she’s recently found she has a love-hate relationship with it. She doesn’t dream of a prince, as some little girls do, but her mother is fine with that; though that only means her mother now has her meet with suitresses once a month instead of suitors. She spends her days on board with her very own pirate crew, sailing around in hopes of finding buried treasure; only for her mother to ask her to take the ship to discuss trade matters with a neighboring country on the weekends.
She’s grateful for everything she has, of course, but first world problems are a pain in the ass. Call her an angsty teenager if you want, but Aoi really doesn’t think she was made for all this royalty stuff. She’ll do it, and she’s pretty damn good at it, but she sometimes wishes she’d been born a normal girl.
When she was young, Aoi used to dream of being a mermaid. Her mother would always chide her and tell her that mermaids aren't real, but at that age Aoi had believed in them with her whole heart. She wanted to grow a tail and swim among the coral and the fish, hair silky from the water. She wanted to live with mermaids, to see them singing and swimming with- what are they called again?
Oh, fins.
A silly dream, but one she still fantasizes about at the end of a long day. She doesn’t really believe in mermaids anymore, but a small part of her still likes to think that they’re out there. She often wonders what it might be like to meet one, to brush the scales on their arms and watch the seafoam cascade down their smooth skin.
She told her new friend as much earlier today. It was the first time she’s shared that childish wish with anyone since she was ten years old. The girl had lit up at the confession, waving her arms around the way she did whenever she was trying to tell Aoi something. Aoi had only laughed at her enthusiasm, asking her if she also liked mermaid stories. The girl nodded eagerly, and listened closely as Aoi launched into one of her favorite mermaid folktales.
The thought brings her back to the present, and she suddenly realizes that the girl has been staring at her this entire time. They both avert their eyes, and Aoi swears she can see a blush on the other girl’s face.
Despite spending the day together, Aoi still doesn’t know much about the girl. It’s difficult to learn much, since the girl can’t really tell her anything about herself. Still, Aoi would like to at least try to get to know her better.
“I feel bad for not knowing your name,” she says as an ice breaker.
The girl perks up at that.
Aoi ponders for a moment, thinking of how to go about this. The solution hits her like a lightbulb.
“What if I tried to guess it?”
The girl nods eagerly.
Alright, so they’re doing this.
Aoi has always been a smart girl, very intuitive. This shouldn’t be too hard for her. She studies the girl’s face very hard, trying to think of names that might suit her.
“Is it Yui?”
The girl shakes her head.
“Hmm,” Aoi taps her chin. “Sakura?”
She makes a face this time.
Aoi laughs lightly. “Okay then…”
Suddenly, like a breeze in the wind, the name comes to her. If she didn’t know better, she’d say it was sung to her, through the tall reeds that surround them.
Nene…
“Nene?”
The girl lights up, nodding so fast Aoi worries her head might fall off.
A victorious smile stretches across Aoi’s face.
“Nene,” she tries. “I like it.”
Nene blushes again, hands twisting in her lap.
In the short time they’ve known together, Aoi has learned that Nene is a hopeless romantic. She easily flusters at the sight of a pretty man or woman, and her eyes follow couples as they pass them in the street. Aoi wouldn’t be surprised if Nene’s feelings towards her bordered on more-than-affectionate, but…
But Aoi has a goal. She was on a mission before she met Nene, and she has no plans of giving that mission up. She has to find the girl who saved her, has to hear her voice again. Sure, she sometimes wishes Nene and the girl who saved her were the same person, but life isn’t always so simple. She can’t get distracted with meaningless flirting, not when she has a girl to find.
Still, she would be lying if she said Nene didn’t give her butterflies. Everything about the girl was amusing to her, from her curious nature to her excitable attitude. Aoi is also only a woman, a woman with eyes at that; and Nene is extremely pretty. More than that, Nene is what the poets would call “ethereal.” When Aoi found her on the seashore, she couldn’t help but be reminded of The Birth of Venus, thinking with some certainty that the strange girl must have been blessed by the Goddess of Love and Beauty herself.
Born into royalty, dreaming of a free life; Aoi has always longed for what she cannot have. Every goal she develops comes with obstacles, and this one is no exception. Because, as much as she wants to find the singing woman, her eyes can’t help but drift to Nene’s lips underneath the pale moonlight.
Her mouth is small, lips plush and pink. They pair well with her round face, and Aoi is sure that Aphrodite dedicated extra time to making this glorious individual. Aoi has felt Nene’s skin- delicate hands grabbing her arm and wrist to pull her along all day. She’s felt her face, cheek brushing up against cheek as they stumbled through the streets laughing together. Her skin is impossibly smooth and moisturized, as though she spent her entire life tethered to the ocean shore. Aoi can’t help but wonder if her lips are just as smooth…
She doesn’t know why, but she’s dying to try to kiss Nene. She wonders how the girl would react, if she would be flustered or appalled. She seriously doubts Nene would turn her down, but the fear is still present.
It occurs to Aoi just then, that this is possibly the first time in her life she’s ever been scared of rejection. Not only is she a princess, she’s known as the fairest in the land. Men and women everywhere send her love letters and roses, she can hardly leave the palace without someone confessing their undying love for her. She knows she can have anyone she wants, so she’s never shied away from flirting. She would respect it if someone told her they weren’t interested, of course, but so far that’s never happened to her.
She’s never second guessed herself before, so why is it happening now?
Perhaps it’s because there’s more to risk this time. She has a girl to find, and if she kisses Nene, that mission will be thrown out the window. Every search they’ve performed so far will have been in vain. If she kisses Nene, she ruins everything.
Looking at Nene though, she knows she wants her. She wants Nene possibly more than anything, although they haven’t known each other long. Nene is unlike anyone Aoi’s ever met and, as a princess, she’s met a lot of people. There’s something about Nene that draws her in, she just can’t quite put her finger on it.
It’s possible that Nene wants her too. Those pink eyes have lingered on her all day; Nene has invaded her space like she can’t stand to be separated from her for a moment. Aoi can tell when someone is interested in her, and Nene checks every box.
Furthermore, the timing is perfect. They’re all alone out here, except for the sea creatures and birds that surround them. The lighting and atmosphere are all perfect, and Aoi can hear a soft melody playing in the background. She’s not sure where it’s coming from, but that’s the last thing on her mind right now. The music follows them wherever they go, almost like it’s urging Aoi to go on and…
Her train of thought is interrupted by the nearby squawking of a seagull. She jumps at the noise, oars splashing in the water. Across from her, Nene laughs.
When Aoi turns back to look at her, she once again finds herself in awe of how incredible this woman is. Her laughter is angelic, much like the rest of her, taking Aoi’s hand and leading her back to her previous concern.
She really wants to kiss this girl.
Now’s her moment. Floating in a blue lagoon, practically glowing underneath the moonlight, meeting in such close proximity. No time could be better, and she’ll never get this moment back once it ends, so she better do it soon. The mood is prepared, timing perfect…
Her heart pounds against her chest as she thinks it all over. Really, she doesn’t understand why she’s so nervous. Could it be that, for the first time in her life, Aoi is shy?
What makes Nene so different from every other girl she’s kissed?
Aoi files that thought away to be analyzed later. She doesn’t have time to get philosophical right now, there’s a girl in front of her that needs to be kissed. Never in her life has she thought this much about kissing a pretty girl. Normally, she would just ask them, or search their eyes for an answer before leaning in. Sometimes, the girls kiss her first. Things would be so much simpler right now if Nene would just take the hint.
But Aoi has always been fond of taking initiative, and a competitive part of her still wants to make the first move, even if she’s nervous. She likes to open doors for girls, to lead them in ballroom dances, and to kiss them first. She knows how to make someone swoon, how to charm them until they fall into her arms. That was all playful flirting, but she always knew those skills would come in handy when she found something more serious. For whatever reason, she’s serious about Nene.
They’ve floated under a low-hanging willow tree, fireflies and fish circling around them like they know what’s about to happen. The sight might be odd to Aoi if she weren’t so focused on Nene right now.
She lets go of the oars, letting the canoe float on its own for a while. Her eyes have become lost in Nene’s, as though the world around them has faded into nonexistence. Nene looks similarly enthralled, a realization that makes Aoi’s heart flip.
Everything is set up so perfectly, like the universe wants this to happen. Aoi has never cared much for fate, but she agrees with the universe on this one.
Her hands reach out to find Nene’s, slotting into place across the canoe. She can no longer hide it, Aoi wants to kiss Nene more than anything.
Nene smiles at her, no longer shy, but flirty. Almost like she’s daring Aoi to go for it. Well, challenge accepted.
She begins to lean in- slowly, so as not to rush things. Nene leans in too, planning to meet her in the middle.
Aoi’s eyes flutter shut, lips parting slightly as they prepare to welcome Nene’s. The distance between their faces is closing in, and Aoi can already feel Nene’s warmth. Their lips barely brush, and then-
In an instant, the boat flips over.
It happens so fast that it gives Aoi whiplash. One moment, she’s sitting in the canoe, preparing to kiss Nene; and the next, she’s engulfed by the water. She’s not sure how it happened, but she swears she can hear laughter somewhere in the distance.
Her immediate instinct is to find Nene, reaching out for her under the water and then pulling both of them to the surface (ever the gentleman). When the two come up, they’re gasping for air. A red and black fish is swimming frantically around Nene, looking comically panicked. Aoi can’t help but laugh at the sight.
“Looks like you have an admirer,” she points out.
Nene scowls at the fish, swatting it away.
“Hey,” Aoi teases. “Don’t be mean to him.”
She takes Nene’s hand, kissing the top of it to cheer up the pouting girl. It doesn’t take long for Nene’s scowl to pass, though her smile does not return.
Aoi can’t help the feeling of disappointment that sweeps over her when she realizes she missed her chance to kiss Nene. At the same time though, this entire situation is so ridiculous that she can’t think of any other response than to laugh at it. She’s also more concerned with cheering Nene up than anything else.
“C’mon,” she says. “Let’s get the boat flipped back over. You’re probably freezing, we need to get you somewhere warm.”
Nene perks up a bit at that, cheeks growing red.
She helps Aoi fix the canoe- an easy task, since they both have more than enough upper body strength. Aoi makes sure Nene gets back in before she does, pulling herself up over the edge once the other girl is safely seated.
Her previous defeat is easily overlooked by the concern she feels for Nene. They’re unlikely to catch frostbite or hypothermia during the summer, but it’s still not pleasant to be dunked in freezing ocean water. She’ll have to get her some dry clothes, a blanket, and possibly a fireplace just to spoil her. They’ll both need to bathe too, since the ocean isn’t exactly clean and they’ve been out all day. Maybe she can send Nene a tray of tea and scones as an apology for their ruined (sort of) date.
She tries not to kick herself for not kissing Nene before the mishap. She’d promised to show Nene around more tomorrow, so their time together is hardly over. There will be plenty of opportunities to kiss the girl.