The following morning, Kasei woke up as late as usual.
After lighting a cigarette and making his way down to the kitchen, he stopped midway going up the stairs, then backed down them to the first floor. He turned his head, watching quietly the figure at the big window down the hall.
Kasei turned his head to the side, blowing out a stream of smoke, then walked down the hall. “Hey… Why ya crying?”
Araiso turned slowly to look at him. He shrugged, whipping off his eyes.
Kasei shrugged back, “…You looking at something sad?” He leaned over to look.
Araiso had been watching the neighbors and their children, a huge family of nearly twenty, playing in and around their two large swimming pools.
Kasei looked to Araiso, pursed his lips together and made that squeak sound. Araiso turned looking to him with a start. “You really miss the water huh?”
Araiso shook his head, smiling a bit, then pointed to the pools.
“Oh.. You want something to swim around in?”
He nodded.
Thinking a moment, Kasei walked down the hall and picked up the phone, dialing in a number.
“Yo, Daaku…” Kasei paused, turning away from Araiso and began to speak softer. “I need a favor… Uh-huh…” And then he couldn’t hear Kasei’s voice anymore.
That night after dinner, Kasei left with Araiso in his father’s car. With permission, of course.
After a bit, Kasei parked the car in a large empty parking lot. He got out with Araiso, locked the doors and headed to the large building in front of them.
“Come on, you’ll like this.” Kasei said, waving for the other to follow.
Not wanting to be left out into the dark, Araiso hurried after Kasei into the building. After he was in, Kasei locked the front door then wandered through the large lobby.
“This way,” he called.
Araiso followed after a moment, jogging to catch up.
Kasei opened a large door, leading in the other. He closed the door and then ran over to the wall and flicked a switch. A bunch of underwater lights lit up a filled large swimming pool in front of them. Kasei smiled, walking back over to a shocked Araiso.
“Soooo.” He crossed his arms, looking quite proud of himself. “What do ya think?”
Awestruck, Araiso looked to Kasei, then to the pool and then back to Kasei.
“Go ahead.”
Araiso waved his arms in the air looking happy. Without even undressing, he ran full speed to the pool and dove in with his arms above his head like a missile.
Kasei choked up laughing, pulling off his shirt. “Don’t hog it all!” He pulled off his shoes and socks, then ran at the pool. “Cannonball!” He shouted, getting into the traditional pose and held it well as he hit the water and sank to the bottom of the 20-foot pool.
When he opened his eyes, he gagged out air. Through the bubbles, Araiso had swam close to him to see if he was okay, their faces close.
Kasei gawked, not realizing until now how long and elegant Araiso’s fins and merman form was. Like a lover, Araiso cradled Kasei’s chin in his hands and went closer, kissing him gently on the lips.
At first, Kasei was stunned. Then he choked, pushing out the kiss after he felt Araiso push air into his lungs. Then he hurried up to the surface, gasping for air, holding his mouth covered.
Confused, Araiso came up beside him, slightly laughing. “What’s wrong? You were letting water into your lungs.”
Kasei slowly glared at him, spinning to not face the merman. “Yeah yeah… Thanks.”
Araiso swam over to look at Kasei’s face, “Don’t tell me you’ve never been kissed before?”
“Of course I’ve kissed before!”
Araiso didn’t say anything, just watching Kasei’s flustered angry face. “You have not.”
Hit with the direct bulls-eye, Kasei just pouted. He held his breath and sunk into the water with a red face.
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