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Scene Four

Well, being conservative wasn’t necessary apparently. Layla looks like she went through a blender, and Raina looks like she came out of a bikini advertisement.
“I’m sure you’re used to having to wear a certain type of swim suit. Here, you can wear whatever you like,” Yamato said with a smirk, “I’ve seen plenty of women without any clothing at all, and so has my family. There is no need for any dress code. And if you’re worried about me looking, don’t be, I prefer my women with more experience. Jump in however and whenever you like. This is your free time. The pool should be warm. When we train, we will train in a bigger pool, in colder water.” Yamato turned as though to leave the room, or sit in a chair, but turned back again and said, “Oh, and Layla, if you want a floaty chair, or if any of you want anything for the pool, you’ll find balls, and noodles, and all that other nonsense in the pool closet.” Sensai gestured towards what looked like an oversized green armoire, and then sat on a pool chair. He picked up a book from beside it, and I assume, he began to read it.
Raina jumped in, splashing Layla and me, before I even tested the water with my toe. Now that I was covered in water which was indeed warm, I jumped in after her with Layla right behind me.
The pool had three diving boards at one end of the L shaped pool. One was only around a foot above water level. The one next to it was about a ten foot drop, and the last, spaced farther away went nearly to the ceiling at a height I couldn’t really estimate.

South Wing of (Hakura's) Myoshi Manor

I enjoyed the warm water, wallowing in it rather than swimming. Raina raced back and forth across the pool, and I just watched. Layla had already gotten back out of the water and was looking into the giant pool closet. She promptly pulled out a big flat chair filled up with air. It was a dark navy blue and complemented her swim suit all too well.
I watched her struggle with getting on top of it, fall in, get back out, and try again. It took her a few tries and when she was done, I found that I was indeed bored.
Thump-SPLASH!
Or at least I thought I was!
I grabbed the ball that had just bounced off my head, somersaulted into the water, came up facing the direction it came from. At first I assumed it had been Raina, but then I wondered if it was Layla. My eyes cleared and I saw Layla floating on her chair, and no Raina. I searched for her under the water, my eyes trying to focus on something that probably wasn’t even there.
Thump. Splash.
“Uggghhuh,” I groaned whipping around. No Raina. I spun looking around the entire pool. Raina wasn’t in the pool, unless she had dived underwater. I searched the walls, the chairs, and then I saw something whiz through the air.
Thump... Splash. SPLASH! Couldn’t have been Layla. She doesn’t have any balls, and Raina just blew her out of her chair with one hit... From above... I looked up, and up, and up, and at the very top I saw a dark skinned blip.
Thump. Splash!
That was my forehead! Ohhhh, you asked for it!
I stayed under water, two balls floating on the surface above me. I knew there were more balls in the closet. I swam with all my might as low to the bottom of the pool as possible heading towards the pool closet.
I brought back the breath training from years of yoga, and forced myself the last ten feet, emerging as silently as possible and dashing inside the closet. Did she see me?
Thump-Thump-Splash-Thump-Spash-Spash!
She must be focusing on Layla now that I’ve disappeared. Or at least I hope I disappeared. I raced from the closet with a ball under my arm, climbing up the long ladder up to the diving board. Don’t look down, don’t look down, don’t look down... Ohmygod! Look how high up I am!
I peaked over the top, and there Raina was kneeling over the end of the diving board with one ball in her hands. I followed her gaze down onto the pool, and saw Layla emerging from the water trying to grab her chair.
Splash!
The ball landed between her and the chair. She’s out of balls.
I whipped mine over the top of the jumping board at her.
Thump! The ball bounced off her ass and fell down below. Raina slipped, hung over the edge of the jumping board hanging on with both hands. I knew the pool was below her, but the sight screamed danger in my mind. I clambered over the top of the jumping board. I heard a booming echoing voice that almost shocked me off the board then.
“Raina? You need help up there?”
“No.”
Then she let go.
My heart skipped a beat as she went, feet first towards the water, the water enveloping her.
She popped back up moments later with a broad smile. I almost climbed back down then, but changed my mind. I edged towards the end of the board. The end of it had a bright yellow stripe, and the words: sixty feet above water level. Oh... Shit... My house isn’t that tall! Too late to back out. I cleared my mind, until there was nothing left but an all encompassing fear, and let myself lean forward, farther, farther, my feet rising up and away from the board, turning, head first, arms forward, wait no, plug your nose, falling, air rushing by, nothing to be afraid of, going to hit water...
Splash!
The water engulfed me. I was being squeezed, my head stuck in a bottle too small. It was so cold, and my lungs choked on the air. I tried to speak, tried to move, tried to figure out where I was. I was spinning, blue water in front of my eyes, in my mouth, circling my every body part. Cold air pulsing in my lungs, and infant arms searching. Flailing arms made slow by the warm water. Small hands reaching, grasping, and holding. Where am I? Instinct told me to stretch my neck forward, and I tried, but couldn’t move. I opened my mouth. Water. No, milk. Milk?
My head bobbed up above the water and I took a huge breath of air. I gasped, coughed, and wide eyed looked around the pool room. Raina was several feet away from me, looking at me mysteriously. Layla was back on top of her floating chair cuddling a ball under each arm. Yamato was looking up from his book, his eyes met mine for a moment, then he looked back down.
What happened?

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