[PRP] Swimming [Raumo and Nao] [Complete]

[L ii a t h]

Months had passed, and with the change of time, brought the change of seasons. Winter had thawed, and Spring bloomed, bringing with it numerous changes and growths. One of those being Nao; once a curious and energetic kitten, now a confident and determined adolescent. He was taller, his limbs sturdier, and he had lost the ability to return to his figurine state. He could speak now, and was less prone to vanishing from sight, thus, had also lost his ability to walk through inanimate objects. Certain things about his younger days were missed, but the improvement far outweighed the outgrown.

One thing he had not outgrown, however, was a certain Maneki Neko he had met earlier that winter. The two had kept in touch, and in their short time together, had grown rather close. Today, the two were supposed to meet at Okugi Park, to take a dip in the stream and lounge upon the bank of the pond. Spirits high, Nao trotted through town, hastily making his way down the streets and past various shops, his destination clear and defined.

When he finally arrived at the edge of the park, his friend was no where in sight. But Nao did not despair; he was sure he would be here soon. While he waited, Nao made his way over to the corner of the park, where the stream met the pond. A few ducks sat upon the glassy surface of the water, seemingly taking advantage of the change in weather as well. Walking up to the edge of the pond, Nao took a seat on the bank and leaned forward, gazing at his reflection in the water.  

[Renshu Li]

The day was warm and sunny; a hint of what summer would bring, but with a breeze that could remind the unwary that it wasn't there quite yet. Still, it was definitely warm enough for Raumo to think nothing of getting wet, even this far from a warm house to dry off in- just lying in the grass, the sun warming his fur as he groomed, would be enough for him.

So he decided to take a... slightly different route to the park to meet his young friend. He'd followed the stream, and decided to do a little more than follow it. The end of winter having deepened the centre to a much deeper body of water than summer would leave it, Raumo stayed near the edges; happily splashing along, his paws deliciously cold as his exercise in the sun made the rest of him warm.

As he neared the park he spotted some ducks and slowed down; not wanting to scare them he lowered himself slightly- getting more of his legs wet- and moved smoothly, none-threateningly, towards them. He couldn't see how many of them there were- the bushes at the nearest edge of the park blocking his vision- but already he had been spotted; one swimming cautiously away, quacking to itself. They weren't alarmed- but he knew they wouldn't let him get too close, either. Given that they were between him and his goal, he pressed on, forcing them to back up further into the park to avoid him.  

[L ii a t h]

Uncounted minutes passed, and Nao found himself starting to worry. He was generally relatively easy going and patient, but his friend had never been late to a meeting before, and he couldn't imagine why this time would be any different. He certainly could not have been lost; Raumo had lived her further than he, and knew well enough where the park was, and how to get there, from anywhere in town. So what was holding him? Glancing up from his reflection, Nao peered around, wondering if perhaps he would see Raumo coming up from behind, and had simply yet to alert his presence. When he spotted no sign of his friend within close sight, he turned fully around and took a few steps away from the pond, peering past the part, into the streets of the town. He expected to see Raumo crossing one now, or trotting down the sidewalk. But there was nothing; no sign of him.

It was then the ducks behind him, swimming across the surface of the pond, caught and held his undivided attention. Normally, he ignored the small, obnoxiously loud birds, and it wasn't clear why their actions drew him in; he could only assume it was because he was searching for any sight, scent or sound that might lead to his friend. Turning back around to face the pond, he peered across at the ducks, watching them closely. Something seemed to have startled them, but not enough to alert them completely. They viewed it as a minor threat, whatever it was, and were swimming away from the source of their unease. It was difficult to hear anything over the ducks, but Nao thought he could hear a soft splashing of water separate from the ducks. Nao took a step into the pound, and leaned forward, attempting to peer around the bushes blocking his view from where the stream emptied out into the pond.  

[Renshu Li]

Raumo walked carefully around the corner, the ducks quaking and swimming away from him and onto the large pond. He managed to round the corner without startling any of them into taking flight and went to climb onto the bank- only to find it occupied.

"Hey, there you are!" He grinned at his friend as he stepped from the stream, shaking both back legs in turn as they left the water. "I'm sorry if I kept you waiting- I was held up. Herding ducks." He chuckled and turned to face the water, watching as the ducks started to settle back down; still keeping their beady eyes on the pair of Maneki Neko stood on the bank, but their raucous quaking started to fade down to a much more normal level.
 

[L ii a t h]

Ah, finally! Nao's head perked as his friend came into view, splashing his way through the water to climb up on the bank beside Nao. Crimson eyes wide and bright, he offered his friend a cheerful smile, pleased to see Raumo. He remembered when the two had first met, earlier that winter, when Nao was still just a kitten, curious and speechless. It was almost embarrassing to recall that day; Nao had been so clumsy and rambunctious as a younger Maneki Neko. However, although he had calmed considerably as he had matured, still, not much had changed. He still wasn't particularly graceful, and had spurts of high energy.

"No worries!" Nao chirped. He had to admit, being able to understand words and speech patterns, and speak in return, was a huge relief. The ability to communicate had improved tremendously; no longer did he have to try and convey what he was feeling. He could just say it.

Now that Raumo had arrived, Nao was eager to move forward with their plans and get into the pond, regardless of how chilly it might prove. "Whoo!" He hollered, rushing into the water. The pond water waved against his legs and underbelly as he proceeded to submerge himself. His slick fur kept him warmer than a human might experience, but the cold was still shocking, and he yipped, but pushed forward, splashing his way deeper into the pond. The ducks, who had finally calmed, were once more alerted and paddled away rigorously, their voices raising.  

[Renshu Li]

Raumo blinked as his young friend rushed into the water with somewhat more enthusiasm than he'd expected. He didn't recall the exact wording used in deciding their plans; but he didn't remember Nao saying that he was going to hurl himself into the water. Didn't he himself just say he wanted to take a bit of a dip to celebrate the nice weather if it held up?

He chuckled, shaking his head. Hopefully Nao wouldn't regret getting himself soaked- last time he'd tried to join in Raumo's play he'd ended up wet, confused and none too happy. Either way, he was still young and energetic, and sometimes acted before thinking, and Raumo thought that he still needed to explore his likes to discover who he was.

Raumo headed a little way around the pond, to where the water was slightly less stirred up by Nao's entrance to the water. With much more gravitas and less haste, Raumo stepped into the shallower water; taking pleasure in the water- slightly warmer than the biting chill upstream- and watching the way the short fur on his legs billowed up and floated, occasionally being buffeted by movements in the water, caused by Nao, by the stream, or by Raumo's own movements.

It fascinated him. Play was fun, of course; but quiet moments to appreciate the mysteries entranced him as well. Smiling and exposing the tip of one tooth, he stepped carefully further in; lifting and placing each paw with care, not stirring the bottom of the pond any more than necessary. He loved the feel of the water creeping up his legs, finally starting to lap at his belly; and could feel his fur doing precisely what he'd been staring at, drifting under the water. He let out a rough purr before deciding to pick up the pace and head over to Nao- he knew from experience that today wasn't warm enough to stay still in the cold water.  

[L ii a t h]

The ducks must have been somewhat accustomed to the presence of Mankei Neko; they were quick to raise their shrill alarm as Nao hurled himself into the water, but were just as quick to calm, once they had paddled a safe distance away, and recognized the two Maneki Neko were not a threat. Nao noticed Raumo was not as eager to enter the water as Nao had been, but this came as no surprise; Raumo always seemed far more reserved in their activities. Sometimes, Nao even thought the two of them should switch names; mainly because, while "Nao" translated to "docile", the Maneki Neko had yet to display such a trait, while Raumo seemed more the epitome of the word. But perhaps it was simply because he was still young; not that Nao liked to admit he was young. Still, the Maneki Neko doubted he would mature enough as he aged to mellow out enough to match the meaning of his name.

While Raumo waded into the pond from off to the side, Nao crouched down into the water, low enough so that only his eyes and the top half of his face was visible above the water line. He slowly swam closer to the ducks, keeping his movements calm. He cast a quick glance over at Raumo, then back to the ducks, a mischievous gleam to his crimson orbs. Abruptly, he lifted his head, angled toward the ducks, taking aim. His sights set on the mallard nearest him, Nao released the water he had sucked into his cheeks and held there, squirting a line of the pond water at the duck. The water connected, startling the mallard and the ducks around him. Though the ducks were not, Nao was clearly amused, already liking his new game. He ducked back down into the water, his sights now set on Raumo.  

[Renshu Li]

Raumo shook his head as he watched Nao spray water at the ducks. His eyes gleamed with amusement; but he kept a close eye on the ducks at the same time. He didn't expect an issue but he'd seen ducks lose their temper and fly at a human who was teasing them- and it seemed to be routine for geese (who, thankfully, rarely visited Okugi Park.) The last thing he wanted was to have to drag Nao out and deal with a flock of angry ducks and the bruises their beaks would leave. So he maintained his vigilance, just in case, as he moved in the water- not moving too close to Nao (given his depth and his apparent wish to taunt the fowl) but keeping moving, enjoying the water rushing through his fur and making sure his body stayed warm.

Since Nao was naturally a part of his vigilance, Raumo couldn't miss the younger male's approach; he appeared to be attempting stealth, but his bright fur completely spoiled the attempt. Raumo blinked his warm brown eyes, wondering if he was to be Nao's next target.

Well, he didn't intend to be taken down easily! Although he controlled his facial expression his eyes belied his amusement at this possible game. He stabilised his back legs on the bottom on the pond; feeling the soft silt on the bottom part beneath his paws until they were supported by the stone which lay under most of the waterways in this area of town. His front legs he allowed to float; ready to lift them and throw his body weight behind them through the surface of the water in a counter-attack to Nao's possible assault.

Oh yes. He would not be easily beat. Not at this game...
 

[L ii a t h]

The ducks were clearly unhappy, but seemingly unwilling to completely leave the pond. The one Nao had assaulted shook out his feathers, squawking to his group. Sticking close together, they swam towards the other side of the pond, avoiding the two Maneki Neko warily.

With the lower half of his face submerged, Nao opened his mouth slightly, pursing his lips and inhaling gently. He filled his mouth halfway with water, and held it in his cheeks, keeping it there so it couldn't be swallowed. He paddled around a little, keeping his mouth submerged, but allowed his nose to rise above the water line, so he could still breath. He was trying to come off as nonchalant as possible, attempting to lure Raumo into a false sense of security, but he had a feeling Raumo had caught onto his intentions, and wasn't about to let his guard down.

After a few silent moments, it became clear that Nao wasn't going to gain any sort of upper hand or edge over Raumo. However, this did not deter Nao; he was far too determined. Hoping the last few moments that had passed without attack would catch Raumo even slightly off guard, Nao lurched forward swiftly, raising his face above the surface of the water, and shot the stream of water toward Raumo.  

[Renshu Li]

Raumo planned to react as soon as he saw Nao start to attack; but his response, involving so much more than just popping his head up, took longer. He reared up onto his back legs, lifting his front paws high; and then he threw his weight behind them as he brought them crashing down upon the surface of the water.

The disruption he caused in the water created a more "messy" splash than he had anticipated; he bore more of it, splashing his face and shoulders, which had still largely been dry. Still, he mostly succeeded; the splash largely washed in Nao's direction and Raumo grinned, water dripping from his long cheek fur, as he waited to see how badly Nao got hit- or if he'd instead fully submerge himself to avoid it and risk getting water in his ears.
 

[L ii a t h]

Almost as soon as the water left Nao's mouth, Raumo reared. Evidently, Raumo had caught onto Nao's intentions from the start, and had prepared himself for the attack, down to exactly how he would retaliate. Although Nao had a feeling Raumo was onto him, he had no idea Raumo would immediately return the attack, and in a way far grander than Nao's initial assault. Thus, he was not prepared to duck or dodge out of the way. Things happened too quickly; one minute, Raumo was relaxing calmly, and the next, he was standing back on his hind quarters, slamming his front paws down onto the surface of the water.

The messy wave of water hit Nao head on. He only had a second to react, but was too surprised by the immediate counter strike to take advantage of that second. The water splashed into his eyes, into his ears, and up his nose. He snorted the water out, sputtering and shaking his head vigorously. But he was laughing, enjoying their playful physical banter.

"All right, all right, you got me!" Nao laughed, paddling to the side of the pond and hopping up onto the bank. He shook his fur out, pawing at his ears to get some of the water out. Suddenly, he turned, eyes gleaming as he lunged toward Raumo. He threw his body weight forward, attempting to connect with Raumo and push his friend over into the water.  

[Renshu Li]

Raumo let out his warm, rumbling purr of a laugh as Nao reacted; soaked, bedraggled, and surprised, but about as amused as his older friend. It seemed he hadn't expected Raumo to give at least as good as he got; a mistake that he would be less likely to make in the future (although Raumo suspected that that would not stop him from being the target of Nao's playful attacks.)

Laughing, he followed Nao over to the bank; stepping out and shaking his body, before turning his attention to his legs. However, he realised his mistake in letting his guard down as soon as he saw Nao turn towards him from the corner of his eye.
He attempted to stabilise himself as Nao hurled himself forwards; trying to make himself too solid to push back into the water with ease. He didn't have time to react beyond this tensing up; Nao's smaller body hit him and he tried not to move.

He failed; staggering backwards slightly, he felt his back paws slip on the bank. Letting out a startled mrowp, he instinctively tried to cling to Nao with his front paws to regain his balance. The opposite happened; and, too surprised to really try to stop it from happening, he found himself half-slipping, half-toppling back into the shallow waters.
 

[L ii a t h]

Nao slipped and stumbled in the mud on the bank, tugged forward by Raumo as his friend fell. However, Nao, still smaller than his older friend, wiggled free of Raumo's loose grasp and tensed, saving himself from joining Raumo in the pond. He roared with laughter at his success, hopping a few times in place and pacing the bank. Honestly, he didn't think the last minute attempt would have been successful, but evidently, he had acted quickly enough, and had caught Raumo with his gaurd lowered.

High on his success, Nao ran over to a large rock overlooking the pond and climbed its face, situating himself on top of the pond. "I'm king of the pond!" He cheered, and the hurled himself into the pond with Raumo. The water was deeper below the rock he had been standing on, and thus deep enough for him to land safely. The surface of the water erupted, and only when the ripples had begun to settle did Nao resurface. He shook his head vigorously, and laughed, paddling closer to where Raumo was. Although the water had been cold at first, he felt warm and comfortable now, having been moving around and stirring the water so much.

The ducks were long gone from the pond, having left once the two Maneki Neko got too rambunctious, and were waddling away through the park. Nao watched them go with a smile, flipping over to float along on his back.  

[Renshu Li]

"Psht, the king of the pond my fluffy tail," Raumo growled; although the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth belied his tone of voice. He sent another- much, much smaller- splash towards Nao in retaliation, and turned to leave the pond again.

He was thankful for the sun; but as he shook himself off, the chill in the breeze was more apparent than it had been earlier. He frowned slightly; it had seemed so warm, had he just missed how much colder it would feel when he was wet, or was the chill getting more insistent?

He shrugged his wet shoulders. It didn't much matter either way; he would just have to groom himself as best he could, then once Nao had finished his play time, move around to keep warm for a bit. He shook off once more for good measure- resulting in his sleek fur sticking up in damp tufts- before sitting down and starting to vigorously set to work on his shoulder and back.
 

[L ii a t h]

Nao snorted with amusement in response to Raumo's retaliation against Nao's boastful claim. He smiled smugly, staring up at the clear sky as he floated along on his back. That is, until Raumo sent another, albeit smaller, wave of water at Nao as he left the pond. The water splashed into Nao's eyes and up his nose, and Nao faltered and flailed, slipping off of his back and submerging into the water as he spurted. He resurfaced laughing, and paddled to the bank, following Raumo out of the pond. Paws sinking into the soft mud and grass of the bank, Nao shook out his fur, and when he was done, it stood on end in tufts, while some sections remained sleek. Unlike Raumo, Nao was not concerned with grooming or the state of his fur.

Instead, he paused, and glanced down at the mud he stood upon. After a moment of hesitation, he dropped abruptly, flopping into the soft mud. It was cool against his underbelly, and he sunk his paws in deeper, covering his stark white fur in splotches of brown. He glanced up at Raumo, then back down at the mud, before rolling around, covering the majority of his body in the brown substance. Finished, he jumped up, and trotted around Raumo, his head held high.

"I am Raumo, the mighty and proud!" He teased, deepening his voice in a futile attempt to match Raumo's. He laughed, flopping back down into the mud and smiled up at Raumo. "I bet you would be invisible in this mud!"