Episode 35-> Lucid Dreaming

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Washed ashore,
Fiancé to Steve the fish no more,
'What's happening?', I implore,
Oh my, Serg, you're--

My eyes sprung open to the most bizarre sight.

I hesitated to call out but as his new found legs were difficult for him to maneuver -- "Sergio...!"--I automatically caught him when he stumbled in from the sea.

Was I dreaming? It was the only logical thought. It was the only reason to explain why Sergio, a past dream character (lover) of mine, was kneeling in front of me. A lucid dream? A reoccurring dream? Or maybe a false awakening? I dunno.

Although I was still where I fell asleep and everything else around me was normal, his presence revealed my situation.

Sergio seized my wrist and brought it against his supple lips. He looked at me with this sad, 'kicked puppy' pout, "Don't you love me anymore, Natalya?"

I reacted and blushed crazily.

"I-I-I-I-I" I swallowed hard and cleared my throat awkwardly. "I guess..." He gave me a hopeful look, "...that I'm not sure at the moment... sorry..." His hopeful look diminished into a dejected one. I had been immersed in my dream before but now that passion I felt for him was something I could no longer find...

"Ever since that masked stranger helped us escape from the wedding we have drifted apart..." His eyes were soft, his eyelids heavy, hooded, mysterious, "You know..." He turned to me fully and grasped my hand to interlock our fingers. He played with our entwined digits before he looked me in the eyes tenderly and continued on with what he was saying before, "Natalya... one day..." He squeezed our fingers together and his eyes were alight with an optimistic flare, "One day I will be able to be beside you again, in your world, one day soon, Natalya..."

The dashing Mer-boy gave me a tender smile full of hope, love and determination as he made this vow.

"I will probably be different..." His seaweed colored hair gradually turned brown. His brown eyes now a vibrant hue.

Sergio hugged me tightly. "I will probably have to forget us and how much I had loved you..." He pulled back a little and I saw how different he looked now. In fact if everything wasn't so surreal in this place and if I wasn't so awed I would have notice some sort of resemblance...

"But, Natalya... just remember..." He began to slowly lean in and I panicked because he was going to kiss me.

"...just remember, Natalya..." He breathed now dangerously close. His lips barely moved as he uttered those words, "I will only fall in love with you again." His voice so low it was only a sigh.

"Wa-Wait Sergio, I-" I pushed at his chest but he only seemed to get closer.

( > 3)o-(>///<) "I don't think we-"

Suddenly Sergio screamed and fell to his side. I couldn't comprehend what had happened.

Frantically I fell to my knees shaking the unconscious Merboy who was in obvious pain.

"Sergio!" I held him but soon froze as I felt someone new approach. Or rather someone appeared out of thin air. I swiftly turned and what I saw... standing two meters away, was a man... with no face.

I shuddered horrified and disturbed. I squeezed Sergio as he writhed painfully in my shaking arms. The color of the dream world around me began melting away and even the dream boy in my arms began melting away. Panic filled my senses at the sight but there was nothing I could do as Sergio slipped through my fingers like paint and seeped through the sandy shore beneath me.

The air around me glowed with this strange blue light. It was nostalgic and I felt a dull pang in my heart but I couldn't remember why this was familiar to me.

Sergio is gone and it was just me and the faceless man in this distorted version of the beach.

In a flash he appeared before me, crouched down as he stared through me, without eyes, faceless, his head tilted eerily.

The hairs on my flesh prickled. My eyes' width expanded. I took a deep breath. I fixed my lips to holler but--

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOI~!!!!!"

--Kiba's voice beat me to the punch.

[A/N: Refer to Chapter Natalya In Dreamland for details on the character Sergio.]

☆

My eyes snapped open for real this time.

I was rudely awakened and was left stuck between dream and reality and completely bewildered.

I came back to my right senses soon enough and felt oddly disgruntled.

"Oi! Ero-Ecchi!" I glared up and the corner of my eye twitched as a dripping wet Kiba appeared and towered above me. I did not appreciate the nickname he decided on calling me.

"I hate your guts so much right now..." Yet I sighed in relief. I was saved by the bark of a dog boy...

Kiba ignored my comment and pointed to where everyone was waiting, "We're heading back."

I groaned getting off my lazy backside and Kiba went on ahead.

I dusted myself off since there was a ton of sand stuck to me after lounging. I yawned and mewled as I stretched and brushed sand from the back of my thighs. I grabbed up my little knapsack, being careful of my DVDs, the precious jewels of yaoi Atlantis~♥ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) and slipped it on my back securely.

"Sergio..." I whispered under my breath because I honestly felt depressed over the dreamy fish boy. He isn't real. (>///<) BAKA NATALYA! I shouldn't be feeling depressed over a dream boy. Fu-fu-fu, I'm ridiculous aren't I? It was only just a dream....but... somehow.... I still felt a dull pang in my chest.

I decided to leave that water under the bridge, I tugged my bag higher onto my back and skipped merrily over to my group. I listened eagerly and smiled because I was glad that they were talking about how they had a good time. (^w^)_y Solid.

"That was fun." Hinata interjected timidly, twining her indigo hair around her fingers thoughtlessly all the while she snuck peeks at a certain blonde we all know.

"Yeah!" My Teddy-Bear, a sand covered boy named Choji, agreed eagerly and shook himself off noisily.

"Oi, Choji, quit that would you?" Shikamaru protested as Choji's sand coated him and Gaara. Gaara on the other hand didn't seem to mind it, with him being the sand man and all.

"Did you see how hard Naomi ran?" Naruto foxy grin was present as he leaned his elbow on Kiba's shoulders who smirked.

"Ha! You should have seen her face..."

Everyone laughed between themselves and began migrating towards the road. Shino followed and trailed behind all the drama.

"If you wet and sandy guys think you're riding in my car you have got another thing coming!" Naomi yelled and stormed from the beach close at their heels.

"... we have legs..." Their voices faded with distance.

I smiled and even when their voices lost volume as they left the beach and headed towards the road I couldn't wipe it off. I'm glad they're finding a little bit of happiness here. But it's only fair to help them get back home. All we had to work with, however, was Deidara's weak 'ripple in the sky' story. Hopefully a lead to how they got here would pop up. Maybe a memory, a flashback, a hint or a Blue's clue would come sooner or later.

But... no amount of time with them would be enough unless it was forever. I've become more attached to them than when they were just anime characters. If they were going to figure out how they got here and how to get back, I prayed that they'd figure it out later. I prayed for later. Now was just too soon.

Was I being selfish?

"Matte! Guys wait up! Don't leave me!" I laughed.

Feeling lonesome I made haste to exit the beach unaware of a shadowy figure that watched us from a distance.

They were there for a moment and gone again when the ray of the sun touched them. If I would have only paid attention I would've realised they were here from the start....

☆

(to be continued...)