Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

Drowning was not pleasant.

It was something a mermaid shouldn't ever find themselves familiar with. Linh certainly had never had the experience. Until now.

The water betrayed her, it suffocated her, it smothered her, it crushed her. She didn't want to die. Not now. Now that she had finally a chance to be happy, it felt like a cruel joke for it to end so anti-climatically.

Rather than cold, she felt… warm.

Her eyes opened to the waking world.

It was all a dream. She allowed herself a small breath of relief, though there was some weight wrapped around her torso. She lifted her head and found two arms wrapped around her. Instantly, Linh's face was beet red, as on either side of her lay a body--Shouri and Holly.

Why were they holding her?!

Why were they in bed with her?!

Why were they all still in the loaner clothes?!

Linh's head swam with the rushing fluster, dizzying the poor mermaid and she handled it the only way she knew how--she fainted.

Holly's eyes fluttered open as the evening oranges painted the room around her. She'd have been a little chilly if not for the very warm body in her grasp.

Linh seemed kind of steamed in the literal sense. Holly wasn't sure what inspired that thought, perhaps the flush on the sleeping mermaid's face? The zalavan reached up and gently placed the back of her hand on the other girl's forehead. Definitely warm. She couldn't tell if this was a good or bad thing.

"Sho, wake up," Holly urged, shaking the Maestro her opposite.

"Mmgh…" Shouri stirred and slowly woke from his slumber. He blinked blearily as he processed his current surroundings.

Right, they had decided Linh needed some etude to help her recover from her frankly harrowing procedure. They must have fallen asleep. He did have to admit, Linh's gentle rhythm flowing as normally as Holly's brought him relief. So much so he fell asleep. Apparently, his loyal zalavan thought the same.

Except now, her brows were perked with worry.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Is she warm?" fretted the plant.

Now Shouri was concerned, he repeated Holly's motion and rested the back of his hand on the sleeping water-element's forehead.

At that moment, her eyes cracked open and she saw his concerned face and felt his hand on her head. All she could muster was a flustered squeak as her cheeks warmed considerably.

Seeing her awake did inspire some relief in the Maestro.

"How are you feeling?" he questioned quietly.

His gentle tone only worsened her internal panic. "W-warm," she admitted.

Holly and Shouri both backed off from the water element. "Sorry," they both mumbled.

For some reason, the mermaid felt bad about their sudden retreat. Her guilt eased as the two sat up. Shouri reached behind and grabbed something from the nightstand.

"It worked," he said, flashing a blue tuner to the mermaid.

The tuner wasn't lying, she was exhausted. More than that, her heart felt light. Lighter than it had felt in years. Tears spilled as she covered her face.

"Linh?!" Holly and Shouri exchanged a concerned glance, wondering why she suddenly started crying.

"Thank you…" she squeaked, as the relief flooded her.

"I'm just saying Holls, if we ever meet that bastard, you're gonna have to hold me back."

"What are the odds we run into some prick from a Selvican school?"

"Clearly you've never read the Memoirs of Edward Murphy."

"I haven't."

"Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, so long as the wish sage finds it amusing."

"Did he actually say that?"

"People seem to think he did."

Linh pushed herself up, shaking her head. She didn't feel great, but at least she had enough strength to sit up, which meant.

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"Can you help me to the bath?" she asked.

Shouri and Holly rushed over to the girl's side, helping steady her.

"Sure."

The two guided her to the bathroom, but when she gestured to the bathtub, Shouri and Holly were confused.

"Oh, you meant literally the bath," Shouri realized.

"I'll feel better with water," she told them.

"Are you sure? I feel like changing your legs will strain your scale," Holly pointed out.

Linh came to the realization that her new companions must not know much about water elements.

"Water elements heal faster in water," she informed them.

Shouri grumbled, shifting the mermaid's weight on his shoulder. "That fucking tech could have told us that."

"Holly's concern was probably valid, but I feel like I can handle it now," Linh advised.

With no further argument, they deposited the girl in the tub. Shouri went to turn on the water, but--

"WAIT!" Linh shrieked.

"Huh?!" Shouri jumped from the sudden shout.

"I-I realized a problem." She motioned to the shorts she was wearing.

Shouri and Holly furrowed their brows, not understanding the implication. Holly did get it after a moment, and snapped her fingers. "When she transforms the shorts will get destroyed, or she'll get hurt, or both," said the nature element.

That inspired a new line of thought in the inquisitive young man. "Wait, how does that work with your--"

"Please don't ask,"Linh squeaked quickly, hiding her face from her Maestro.

He had enough sense at least to drop that line of thought. "We'll leave then," Shouri decided, though Linh felt his concern. It was odd to the fish girl that his emotions were so bright and open to her. With her previous Maestro he was always so guarded and never let anything slip without her really focusing on him.

She didn't want to worry her new Maestro.

"H-holly can stay if she turns around while I change," Linh offered.

"Get my strawberry seeds and I'll keep her company," added the zalavan.

Shouri nodded. "I'll bring both of your clothes, I'm sure we'll all feel better in something more familiar," he said, before taking his leave.

"Much better," Holly smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She opted to forego her jacket for the moment, seeing how humid the bathroom had grown since filling the tub.

"I'm decent," the zalavan called to the other Resonator.

Linh parted the shower curtain to a full tub, and her fishy tail in all its glory. She too, had gotten decent as it were--opting to wear her swim top and skirt. The mermaid leaned back and let out a sigh of relief.

Holly sat on the closed toilet, and tried her best to get comfortable. She couldn't help but stare at the gorgeous shimmering scales that decorated her fellow Resonator.

"Does it hurt?" wondered the plant.

"Huh?"

"Transforming like that." Holly pointed to the curled tail that filled most of the tub.

"No, it actually feels quite good," Linh admitted.

"What about getting legs?" Holly quizzed.

Linh furrowed her brow, considering that. "Doesn't really feel like anything. I just kind of realize I can stand up on my own power and do it," she admitted. Clearly she had never given the process much thought.

In turn, Holly found herself studied by her fellow mirage. "What about you?" asked Linh, pointing to the grass, leaves, and berries that crowned the other girl.

Holly lowered her head to the other Resonator. "Go ahead," she offered.

Linh wasn't sure what the implication was and went with her gut. The mermaid reached out and touched the other girl's head, allowing her fingertips to run through the strange tresses that topped the nature element. Holly's hair had a strange, almost waxy texture; just like grass, but much, much thinner.

Then Linh's curious touch continued, gently running around the rim of the rigid leaves that grew alongside her trademark berries. There was even a small twig that grew straight from Holly's scalp.

"If you're gentle about it, you can easily pluck the berries from my head," said the zalavan. "It hurts if your rough about it," she added.

The two separated and resumed more comfortable positions.

"So, what are we going to do then?" asked Linh.

"What do you mean?" Holly questioned back.

"Well, we're both Shouri's Resonators. What is he going to do?" she clarified.

"Ah. We're going to look for Mila."

"Who's that?" wondered the mermaid.

"Someone very important to Shouri. I want to find her for him."

Linh lowered her head. She did remember Holly saying something about when they find Mila Shouri would have three Resonators.

"What happened to her?" asked the curious mermaid.

"She went missing, we don't know why, but we're getting close to finding her." Linh noticed Holly grip the edge of her skirt. "I just know we are."

Dinner felt different that evening; for all involved.

Linh was well enough she wanted to try to go eat with her new party. Unlike Holly, who had to hide the parts of her anatomy that gave away what she was, Linh simply had to stay dry and no one paid her any mind.

Her water aura was so weak while she lacked her tail, most people just confused her for a Maestro with a funny hair color.

For that, she at least thanked that part of her usually annoying anatomy.

They got dinner from the MA Office cafeteria in relative silence. The newly formed trio sat down to enjoy their supper in peace.

Linh found herself curious. Her new Maestro was the complete opposite of Cameron. Shouri was so kind, but underneath his warm smile, there was something she sensed.

A fire. A blazing fire that wanted to consume the injustices of the world.

If they ever met Cameron, Linh feared what Shouri might do to him. Part of her felt Shouri was difficult to rein in when it came to his passions.

"Linh, are you okay?" he asked, startling her.

"F-fine!" she squeaked. The mermaid brought her plate closer to her face to hide behind it.

Shouri's gentle laugh only made her swoon more. Part of her hated how easy she was to fluster, but he was so genuine in everything he did, it was overwhelming. She wondered how Holly survived him.

The answer was: she didn't. As Linh focused on her fellow Resonator, she noticed how Holly looked at Shouri. The emotionally-privy mermaid could practically see the hearts fluttering off of her zalavan counterpart.

"Oh no," whispered Linh.

She realized her folly too late: this boy was too much for either of them to handle. It was only going to take days before Linh would succumb to his charm too--she just knew it.

"Linh, are you feeling okay?" Once more, Shouri's voice drew her out of her thoughts.

The way he stared with genuine concern made her feel bad. She didn't want to worry him.

"I-I'm fine, it's just been a long day," Linh replied with a nervous titter.

"Well, when you finish eating, we can head back to the room and watch some movies or something--just the three of us."

Linh practically choked on the air she was breathing. She liked his smile, and the caring warmth that enveloped her.

Forget days, she was going to cave to him in mere hours. Holly's wistful sigh as she stared at him struck an emotional chord with the mermaid. They were both going to be entirely smitten with him.

This wasn't going to end well for anyone involved, would it?