Chapter 284 - Special Interlude - A Garnish of Shouri (With a Side of Linh) Part 3
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.