Chapter 196 - 196 - Crystal Tunnel

After sorting through the human issue, Yukiya and Long Ki started their travel towards Nevada. Unlike last time they did not travel by foot, Long Ki flew with her on his shoulders. He flew so high that the passing clouds completely hid them both.

It took them a day's worth of travel. All along the way, Yukiya puked her guts out. The worried red dragon took careful care of his lover. He held her carefully in his huge talons; not even letting wind hit her face. Nevertheless, he was worried sick. They had visited a local human doctor, but he could not even correctly guess her symptom. Finally, the pair gave up and travelled back home.

They reached their destination sooner than expected.

Standing in front of the familiar yet empty river, Yukiya's eyes teared up. "W—we are back home, at last,"

Long Ki stood behind her, supporting her unsteady body. "Yes, its home….but… where is the actual house?" he whispered as he glanced around confusedly. All he could see was a rocky river bank and a very transparent river with a few lotus buds frozen on top of it.

Yukiya scoffed in disbelief. "Well, where do you think fishes to live?"

"Don't tell, me....your house is underwater!"

"Yes, yes it is," Yukiya chuckled and led him closer. "See in there, can you see my house," she pointed in the direction patch of water plants floating in the bottom.

"Water plant! A water plant is your house?" Long Ki was in complete disbelief. 'How did my wifey live in such poverty? How could I have this! I have to build her a palace. One just like the one I live in heaven. No, a transparent one made of sea crystals would also be best...'

All of a sudden, Yukiya started laughing out loud. "I know what is going on in your big brain of yours. I actually live under there, let me show you," She jumped on him and hugged his torso.

Startled, the red dragon lost his footing, tipping them both over to the flowing river.

"AHH!" Long Ki shouted as he went under.

Yukiya chuckled at him; small bubbles floated out and formed a small bubble shield over his face.

Long K touched the delicate layer softly in fear it might pop. "I can breathe!" he whispered.

"Yes, you can! Now let me show you the beauty of underwater life," she whispered close to his ears and swam upfront with a small smile. Water was her strength, she could move so fast that Long could not keep up after a while.

"Ki, swim faster," she urged him. She swung her hand toward him, swishing a few bubbles his way.

Long Ki smirked, watching his wifey smile so beautifully. She had never shown this smile to him till now. 'she is happy, that's all I want. And.....we are a family now,' he thought subtly peering at her flat tummy.

"Wait, these clothes are dragging me down," he shouted. The wool had absorbed so much water that it weighed him down a lot. He pulled apart his heavy coat and tossed it. The red cloak swirled around and sank to the bottom of the river bed. "Oh, my pants are also heavy," he whispered, giving her a provocative look. He slowly pulled his pants drawstring, all the while peering into her unblinking eyes.

Yukiya leaned against the river walls and watched him with relish. "Is this a strip tease? If so, I'm enjoying it so far. But…. you might not get your clothes back if you lose them," she whispered, winking at him.

"Oh, then I wish to lose all my clothes," he chuckled pulling his pants slowly down his legs.

Yukiya swiftly swam up to him and held his hands. She then tied his pants tightly to his waist and glanced up at him. "I was only joking, don't get naked here. You might scare the fishes."

"Waa, someone's jealous. Scared that some random Koi can see my…."

She swiftly closed his mouth. "I'm serious! There is a new school of fish here. I don't know them. I think they moved after Xia left," Yukiya added.

A small group of carps dashed away from under a small rock and swam away towards the direction of the stream.

Yukiya swiftly hid the dragon's naked upper body with her sleeve. "Darn it,"

After the fishes swam away, she swam around and found his shirt. "Here, wear it, don't let other see you, you silly guy,"

Long Ki nodded and lifted his hands.

"Do you want me to wear it for you?" she whispered with a confused frown.

He nodded again.

"See, you really are like a kid," she chided, yet still, she helped him wear his shirt. As she was closing his lapels, she slowly caressed his firm stomach with the back of her hand. "I need payment for being your nanny," she whispered, biting her bottom lip.

Long ki gripped softly onto her waist and dragged her close. "Payment is already 'due'," he whispered caressing her tummy.

Yukiya's face flushed red. She too touched the back of his hand, touching her own belly. "glib tongued bastard," she whispered.

She gripped onto his waist and hugged him close. "You are slow," she whispered into his ear and dragged him under. He was slightly heavy, but underwater his weight was very easy to drag around.

With an indulgent smirk, Long ki hugged her shoulders and let her drag him under. At the bottom of the river, water plants swayed along, caressing them softly. Some even got tangled in their hands and legs. But the pair was love was oblivious to this.

Yukiya pushed the swaying water plants away to reveal a small circular door on the river bed. The iron was rusted beyond measurers and covered in moss and water plants. "Welcome to my house, no, our house," she whispered and pushed the door open.

They both got sucked into the door. Water gushed in along with them. It stunned Long ki. he hugged Yukiya's waist and dragged her closer in case of emergency. He gazed around. Four walls surrounded around them, enclosing them safely. But from the opening above, water kept flooding in, almost filling the small room to the brim.

Suddenly a small drain opened in the side and the water drained out of it, leaving a soaking wet, Long Ki and Yukiya.

"How did you find this place?" Long Ki whispered, glancing around in awe. He really thought his lover was living in a water plant, but unexpectedly she was living in a place that was similar to a cultivation cove.

"Oh, this place, I found it by accident. On my thousands birthday I was bored and swam along this river playing with few frogs. They were the ones who informed me about this place. At first I too was astonished that such a place existed. Later on, I found Xia as an egg and raised him here," Yukiya whispered caressing the mossy walls nostalgically.

As she walked along the small Tunnel it became brighter by a small illuminating pearl. The pathway was completely made of white crystal. It shimmered and shone whenever a small ray of sunlight passed through it, creating a small rainbow along the top of the tunnel.

"Follow along, it gets dark deeper we go," she held her hand out.

With a small smirk, Long Ki took her hand and let her lead him in.

"It goes further?!" he exclaimed. As he was walking alongside, he noticed her wet clothes dripping water as she walked. He summoned a fur coat from his space and covered her with it. "Are you cold? Do you want to change clothes? Are you hurt?" he whispered as he was squeezing water out of her wet sleeve.

Yukiya blushed red and held his fussing hands. She wound their fingers together and softly kissed the back of his palm. "I'm okay, I'm not hurt and I'm not cold. Don't worry so much,"

"How could I not worry? You are with a child! I'm not sure how to take care. And…" he hesitated.

"And what?"

"And, I'm unsure if I can be a good father. I mean, what if the child is born suddenly? what if I drop the child? 'gasp,' What if the child hates me? Oh, my heart aches at just this thought," he whispered with a mortified expression.

Yukiya cupped his face and dragged him down. Getting on her tiptoes she covered his mouth with her's.

"Our child will love you as much as I love you. Don't overthink it so much, you might end up stressing yourself," she whispered, massaging the frown lines on his forehead.

The fussy dragon finally calmed down. He leaned his head on her shoulder and let out a breath. "You t—hink so?" he whispered, voice cracked in the middle.

"I know so," Yukiya caressed his head and slowly rocked them both. "Do you dance, Prince Long Ki?" she whispered softly next to his ears.

"hmmm, but I'm not a fan of it," he said.

"Then become a fan. I love dancing." She hugged his waist tightly and led his steps one by one.. Soon their steps both got in sync and they were dancing underwater.