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He has been watching her for a few months now. Studying her, trying to learn everything about her. Why does she wear her hair that way? Why does she wear those odd clothes? Why does she come to the beach every day? Why does she always look sad?
The young merman watches as the young human heads back to her home. She doesn’t know her name or where she lives, but he does know one thing. He loves her and wants her. How can you love someone you barely know?
The redhead merman knows something about the human. Not her name but he does know she likes the ocean. Why else would she come here every day? She also enjoys music. She does play the ocarina very beautifully.
He wants to talk to her. Fear keeps him at bay. If there is a way he can get close without her seeing his lower half, he would do so. Being in the water all the time will give what he is away quickly. If he keeps himself hidden and she can only hear his voice she might think she’s talking to a spirit. That’s not what he is.
His love now out of sight, the merman sighs, “I got a little closer today. Maybe tomorrow I will be able to talk to her,”
Sadly he’s been saying that every day for the past month.
Diving into the water, he returns home. Once again he was angry with himself for being so weak.
“You were up there again huh, Gaara?”
Gaara turns to face his sister, arms crossed in the entranceway. He turns away back at the wall.
“Why does it matter if I did? No one saw me Temari,”
Temari moves into the room, “That’s all that matters to me. I would like to know, why do you keep going up there every day?”
“Fresh air,” Gaara speaks in a deadpan tone.
“Haha,” Temari rolls her eyes, “They were looking for you again today.”
“What do they want now?” Gaara growls.
“What do you think? The same thing as yesterday and the day before. You never gave the council an answer to their offer.”
“That’s because I know they wouldn’t like the one I have,” Gaara turns to face his sister, “Why me? What about you or Kankuro? Wouldn’t one of you two be better?.”
“Don’t drop this on me. I’m sure there is a reason they want you,” Temari moves closer to her younger brother, “You know they won’t stop until you tell them.” She swims out leaving Gaara to sulk.
The next day Gaara swims up once again to see his love. Like always she comes to the ocean. Gaara does move in closer than yesterday, but still too far for her to see him. He watched her like he always did. While she played the ocarina, walked around the beach looking for sheils, playing with the crab that was walking past her, soaking her feet in the water, Gaara was watching her like a hawk.
A scream got both the merman and human’s attention. Not far from the docks there was a lot of splashing and shouting for help. Without thinking Gaara rushes over so does his human love.
A small child no older than eight is trying their best to get back on the dock. They were drowning, unable to swim. Gaara and his human love both get a hold of the child and help him onto the dock. Lucky he’s all right, a bit scared and soaking wet but fine. Gaara’s human love takes off her jacket and wraps it around the small boy.
“Are you alright,” she asked the child.
He nods his head and holds the jacket close to himself.
“Are you alright,” this time she was talking to Gaara.
The merman slowly nods his head. Not expecting her to notice him.
“Please wait here. I shall return shortly,” she spoke as she picked up the shivering child, and carried him back inland.
Gaara froze with shock. His love spoke to him. His love saw him! His love most likely thinks he’s a human like her.
“I should leave before she returns,” Gaara thinks about it instead of doing it.
It didn’t take long for her to return and Gaara hasn’t moved, not even blinked since she left.
“Thank you for helping the child,” she reaches her hand out towards Gaara, “My name is Calesta. What is yours?”
Gaara stares at her hand wondering what it is she wants from him. Taking a guess he takes her and she starts to shake it. He looks back at her face.
“Gaara, my name is Gaara.”
She lets go of his hand and Gaara snaps it back to his chest.
“Sadly I must depart for now. Hopefully we shall see each other again,” Calesta bows before she heads back home.
“We will see each other again. I’m sure,” Gaara smiles as he watches her leave.
As soon as Calesta is out of sight Gaara himself returns.