Meeting the Parents

Sora sat back in glee, staring at her finished castle.

"Whaddia think?" she asked, turning to Leo with an excited gleam in her eyes. She wore a child-like expression, similar to that of a a 4 year old catching a butterfly.

Leo: It looks really good, better then my old ones.

Leo stretched out, then sat up. He grabbed the bucket, then started flipping the bucket in the air.

A happy smile dawned across Sora's face, and she clapped her hands.

"Thanks!!" she squealed.

"What are you doing?" She asked, watching the bucket flip around in the air with interest.

Leo: Throwing a bucket in the air. . . So, what do we do? This is your call.

He stopped throwing the bucket, then set it down.

"Ooooh!" Sora squee'd, jumping up and accidentally smashing her castle, "Ooops...... oh well, I wanna swim!!!!!!!" Sora looked down disdainfully at the wrecked sand creation, though got over it swiftly. She began to run towards the clear ocean, stopping just before the water. She stepped lightly into it, and let the cool liquid run over her feet, reaching her ankles.

Leo watched her race toward the water, then slowly stepped in. He laughed to himself, then walked by her. He put his hand on her shoulder, winked, then sprinted into the water.

Sora gasped as the cold water splashed up from his footprints, landing on her face. ('cause she's so short XD)

"Hey!" she called, rushing after him. She got to a point where her feet no longer touched the bottom, she she began to doggy-paddle along. She felt something brush against her foot, and ducked under the water to see what it was. Just a strand of seaweed she realized, watching the green piece of vegetation wave around with the current. Little schools of fish swam along together, bright colors blinding Sora. She could stay down forever.

Turning around, Leo noticed Sora go under the water. He laughed, then laid on his back, floating and waiting for Sora.

Sora felt her throat starting to get coarse as saltwater leaked in, and she quickly kicked back up to the surface. She burst out of the water, gasping for air. Noticing Leo floating on his back, she paddled over to him.

"Ooh! How do you do that?" she asked. "I haven't actually swam much so I can't float..."

Leo smiled a sly smile. He ducked under the water, grabbing Sora's legs. He started to resurface with her legs, then caught her back as she fell. He held her on the water, and grinned down at her.

Leo: Hi there, did you enjoy the trip?

Sora let out a cry of surprise as Leo grabbed her legs. She looked up at him shyly, giving him a small smile back.

"Yeah!" she laughed in response, "It was fun!"

Leo chuckled, then shifted his arms.

Leo: Alright, here is how you float. First thing you need to do straighten your body.

Sora nodded, straightening her body out. She instinctively curled back up, scared of falling, but tried to keep herself spread out against the cool water.

Leo continued to watch, laughing at her curling back up.

Leo: You can stay straight, I have you.

To emphasize his point, he squeezed her legs lightly, and moved his hands around her back.

Sora breathed out nervously, then let herself relax. Her body uncurled and she lay comfortably in the water, though she was still a little nervous.

Leo slowly took his hands off of her, hoping she wouldn't notice.

Leo: Ready for the next step?

Sora shivered when he removed his hands, but didn't complain. She replied to his question with a nod, her body slightly tensing up from fear.

Leo lifted his hands up, then smiled again.

Leo: See, you are a natural at floating on water.

A nervous smile flashed across Sora's face, "I-I am?" she asked excitedly, waving her arms around on the water.

Leo laid back and started floating as well. He started moving his arms, and started paddling around.

Leo: Are you enjoying your new found skill?

Sora giggled, bobbing her head up and down in the water. She began to swim around backwards,

"yeah! thanks for teaching me!!" she grinned. Suddenly she ducked under the water, her eyes wide open and curious. She stared in awe at the bright fish, grinning through the water.

Leo chuckled at Sora and her curiosity. He put his head under the water as well, wanting to see the fish as well.

Sora swam closer to the bottom, gazing in wonder at the beautiful coral reef dotting the edges. "Wow!" she mouthed, curiously reaching out to touch the colorful coral.

Leo watched her swim to the coral, and he turned to back to he surface. He watched the clouds go by, and noticed that some darker ones were coming by. He sighed in annoyance, hoping it didn't start to rain.

"Ow!" Sora cried through the water, holding her finger. She had sliced it on a piece of coral, and now crimson liquid floated out in the water. Blood started to wave around in the ocean, and she kicked back up to the surface.

"Ow!" she cried again, holding her finger out, "I cut my finger!" She pouted, tearing up around the corners of her eyes.