28 'Hm. Hmmmmph.'

Feeling my renewed distress, Michiru quickly drew me closer to give me another round of air. But, with the convulsions of her body and the muffled underwater shrieks coming out of her mouth, it was clear even to me that she too was nearing her limit. So I gently unbraced her lock, shook my head (though not sure if she saw it or not),  regrabbed her hand, and tried to pull forward. In lieu of she trying to pump her last breath of air into me, we needed to reach this cove in a milisecond or two or we would die. I guess Michiru understood my gesture and resumed her dolphin kicks - and they were so powerful that it was quickly again her pulling me. For the whole time, I was fighting, trying to hold back my stale breath and just to keep conscious.

And then, there was light. We had reached the edge of the corridor and Michiru kicked hard on one of the large boulders to pull up both of our bodies through the tunnelt that bent sharply upward. Then, after she making a few more strokes the cave interior got even brighter, and for a second revealed Michiru's beautifully firm body, with her face turned crimson, lips tightly closed, and washboard stomach in noticeable spasms. 

Michiru was smiling.