Well I feel kinda bad leaving Chapter one all alone...so here's number two!

Chapter 2: Underwater

"Ngh..." Ichigo groaned as he came too, rubbing his eyes. "Wh...what happened?"

"Word ta the wise, if the merman says 'stay away from the tide', ya do it capiche?" Ichigo's eyes cleared up to see Shiro hovering over him. "Ya really ain't that bright huh?"

"Shiro?! What the hell are you doing in my hotel...room..." Ichigo looked around. "Wh...where..." He was in a lavish canopy bed, the room he was in was large, the walls covered in ornate drawings and depictions of the sea.

"My room. In my uh...home." Shiro said. "Look, sorry about this, but...yer safe here. The sea wasn't to happy with me being friendly to a human so-"

"Hold up. You're not making a single bit of sense." Ichigo sighed. He rubbed his forehead and gripped the satin sheets below him. "Wow...these sheets are nice...like they're for royalty."

"Well they are. I am a prince after all."

"I see...wait what?!" Ichigo stared at him, waiting for him to laugh. Instead, he looked solemn and sad. "You can't be serious...are you?" Shiro stood up and walked away a bit.

"...Follow me ok?" Ichigo got up, looking at his outfit. He was wearing a red kimono with a gold sash, his bare feet sliding across the marble floor. As he followed Shiro, the palace they were walking through deteriorated as they went further down. "Ever heard of Atlantis?"

"Yeah, that mythical city sunk by the gods...why?"

"Well...it wasn't sunk by the gods." Shiro said. "I'll show you." They then reached a dark pool and Shiro stepped inside. He reached a hand out. "Come with me." Ichigo was hesitant before taking the hand and following him. In the dark water, Ichigo couldn't see at all, save for Shiro's golden eyes. Ichigo then felt the need to break for air and began to struggle. "Relax." Ichigo's eyes widened when he heard Shiro speak. Once they came out into the light, Ichigo's eyes were threatening to fall out of their sockets. Shiro's legs were gone, replaced with a large, black fish tail. "You can breathe ya know."

H...huh? Ichigo released his breath and then took another. "What the...?"

"I put an enchantment on you, allowing you to breathe here. You can also speak to the animals." Shiro explained. "But you can't leave here..."

"What? Why?" Ichigo felt confused. Is...is this all a dream? He wondered. Did I drown?

"Because Kaien will keep you here, maybe even hurt you..." Ichigo shook his head and looked around. Crystal clear waters revealed huge ruins, that of a large city. All kinds of marine life swam around or grew on the ancient rocks and Ichigo felt a little drawn to it all. "Amazing huh?"

"Yeah...so wait, where were we?"

"My real home, the palace, see?" Ichigo turned around and behind them was a massive palace, surrounded by even more ruins. "I have a home on the surface too, and you can go there...but no where else." He pated Ichigo's back and felt him flinch.

"Don't touch me!" Shiro flinched back and Ichigo frowned. "Sorry, I uh-"

"No...it's ok." Shiro shook his head. "You see, being...well not human makes other humans edgy around me. So you surprised me the other day with how friendly you were." He explained. Ichigo frowned a bit, seeing the hurt still linger in golden eyes. "I'm sorry for this, I truly am." Ichigo ran a hand through his hair, surprised at how dry it felt.

"Well...how do we break the spell?"

"I gave you a kiss on a whim...to break it...I've been told it has to mean something." Shiro shrugged. "Despite being centuries old, I still don't get it."

"It sounds simple...but..." Shiro shook his head. "Sorry Shiro. I didn't mean to react like that."

"No, I said it's fine." Shiro said quietly. "I'm truly sorry for all of this, but bear with me. I'll try to find a way to return you to land forever." Ichigo heard a hint of pain in his voice and frowned.

"Please do." He said and swam back inside. Once in the room he slid against the wall, groaning. "Unbelievable. This just...it can't be happening."

Shiro swam back and forth, similar to a pace. "Shit I've fucked this up so badly..." A dolphin swam up to him and gave him an odd stare. "Do not give me that look Shinji...this isn't my fault!" Black eyes continued to stare and he growled. "Stop it!"

"No it's fun!" The dolphin chittered, the voice coming from his mind. "He is one sexy piece of ass though..."

"You aren't human, so lay off."

"You're not either."

"I resemble one."

"From the waist up."

"Argh yer impossible." He mumbled. "I know I'm not human...but..."

"But you still think he's cute."

"Sexy."

"I'd tap it."

"You're a dolphin dumbass."

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't." Shiro chuckled at the serious tone of the animal. "Look, just tell him how ya feel and-"

"The only things I feel is irritation towards you and...regret towards him. I never should have spoken to him..." He whimpered, wrapping his arms around himself. "I fucked up again, and now another human is paying the price."

"You've seen the way he swims...if it weren't for you he would have drowned with or without the aid of the sea." Shinji pointed out.

"Yeah, but now I cursed him...and..." He scratched his head.

"You know how to break it...and yer afraid of the heartbreak that follows." He said and Shiro nodded slowly.

"They claim to love only to abandon you later on...it's better not to fall for someone...yet..." He looked back at the palace and shook his head. "I better check on him. See ya later." Shiro swam back inside and the moment he hit air his black tail morphed into two, well built white legs. He clamored out of the pool and headed to his room. Once inside he sighed at the sight that met him. Ichigo was curled up on the bed, his figure looking small on the red sheets. Shiro walked over and ran a hand through soft orange locks. "I'm sorry...this is all my fault..." He whispered. "I...I wish I could take it back, but I can't..." He laid down next to him, but gave Ichigo plenty of space. "I just...didn't want to see another life end because of me...call me selfish if you want, but that's just who I am..."

"...I'm not really mad at you." Ichigo mumbled. "I just...want to go home..."

"And I'll do what I can to make sure you will." Shiro said, the small lie burning his tongue. But do I want that? At the expense of my still healing heart? When Ichigo turned to face him with sad, brown eyes he sighed. Yes. I can't just...keep him here... "I swear."

"...Ok..." Ichigo sniffled and Shiro reached out and wiped a tear away with his thumb. "Can...can you come closer?" Shiro tilted his head in question and scooted closer, only to have Ichigo hug him and bury his face against his chest. "Sorry...I just...don't wanna be alone right now." Shiro nodded and held his head close, humming a gentle lullaby his mother had sung for him once. He felt Ichigo relax and eventually fall asleep.

"I'll do what I can...but...I feel that if I go through this again...I won't make it a second time..." He whispered and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep to the sound of Ichigo's breathing.

Chapter 2 end'

Sorry a bit short...been kinda stressed lately. Working weekends sucks.