Blood in the Water - tofupancakes (2024)

Can you believe that?

I can hardly believe my eyes.

… the largest mer anyone has ever caught.

Shido must be so proud of his bastard.

Didn’t think the boy had the nerve to…

Nothing short of a miracle, I say.

Goro flees the marina the moment his catch is logged and returned. Listening to the whispers of the other sailors only irritates him. He loads the carcass into his cart with great effort – Akira must be far stronger than he showed off. He shakes his head as he pays the stableman and retrieves his horse. There’s no time for thoughts of the mer that has enraptured him, body and soul. It’s unlikely he’ll ever see Akira again. He can’t hope for something as silly as a mer falling for a human, no matter how much that mer seemed to relish in his company.

Securing the horse to the cart takes no time at all, but even still, Goro fails to leave before a man is approaching him with a greasy smile.

“You are Goro Akechi, are you not?”

He looks back at the man, keeping his face free of emotion, despite the innate urge to frown at the question. This wrinkled, grey-haired man is dressed in a suit and walks with more poise than most do in coastal regions like this. The air of superiority around him is tangible. It reminds Goro of his father. Disturbingly so.

“I am.”

“Then you are the man who’s caught a sizable mer.”

Goro puts a hand on his horse’s saddle, threatening to mount and ride away. “What of it?”

The man tugs on his lapels. “Well, you see, I represent a cohort of scientists that study the mers. While of course they prefer live specimens, a creature as impressive as the one you killed is worthy of their time anyway.” He reaches into his coat, pulling out a key that he immediately pushes into a lock on the briefcase he carries. “I’m willing to pay a hefty sum to secure your trophy, assuming that pride isn’t more important to you than a payday.”

Goro’s never really been interested in stuffing and mounting his first kill like other sailors. He’s honestly not sure what he would do with such an enormous display if he did pay a taxidermist for the work. Despite that Goro tries to sound moderately disinterested. “As anyone at the docks can tell you, this is an impressive achievement. How much is my pride worth to you?”

The man’s greasy smile returns, and he steps forward, placing the briefcase on the back of Goro’s cart. He twists the key, and the lid pops open. “I believe two-hundred million yen should suffice.” The man steps away from the case, gesturing to it. “Please feel free to inspect the bills. I assure you they are all authentic.”

Hesitantly, Goro steps up to the stacks of money in the case. He picks up one on top, then another, thumbing through the bills, checking for authenticity seals. Every single one is present. He swallows hard, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. This kind of money is unheard of in a sleepy coastal town like this. It would set him and his mother up for life.

“There has to be some sort of caveat.”

“No caveats at all, Akechi-san. No stipulations either, aside from the acquisition of the mer you are currently in possession of. The organization I represent has deep pockets, and they are willing to spend what they must for spectacular specimens. If your mer was still breathing, you could expect five times that amount. Even more if it were gestating offspring.”

A sick feeling settles in Goro’s stomach at the comment. He can only think of Akira and his eagerness for a clutch to catch. The joy on his face when Goro agreed to sire his pups.

He shivers and pinches the bridge of his nose to clear Akira from his thoughts. “How did you find out about my kill anyway?”

“Like I said, Akechi-san. I am a representative for this organization of scientists. It is my job to be in the know about those undertaking expeditions to catch or kill mers. They’re inedible, hold no valuable resources. Mers are killed or captured purely for trophies, so I bide my time with cash in hand, just in case someone brings back a worthwhile specimen.”

“I see.” Goro exhales roughly, glancing at the back of his cart and then at the briefcase. “No stipulations?”

“None.”

“I get the money, and you get the carcass?”

“Correct.”

Goro reaches up, closing the case and locking it. He tucks the key in his pocket and sticks out a hand to the man. “You have yourself a deal.”

The man’s smile is wicked. “Glad to have struck a favorable bargain with you, Akechi-san. Allow me a moment to be around with a cart.”

Leaning against his horse, Goro pats the steed’s haunch. “Well, Hereward, looks like you don’t have to lug a giant mer home.”

By the time the man returns with a cart and a few sturdy sailors to transfer the body, the sun sits high in the sky. Goro dabs at his forehead with the back of his hand and has to refrain from frowning when the old man reappears in front of him. He hands over a card.

“If you ever find yourself in possession of another incredible creature, don’t be afraid to track us down.”

Goro reads the information, muttering it under his breath, “ S.C.A.L.E.S. Sea Creature Acquisitions, Laboratory, and Educational Studies. ” Underneath the acronym is an address and hours of operation. He shakes his head, unable to comprehend the sheer absurdity of it all. Still, he shoves the card into his pocket and saddles Hereward, eager to return home.

Home lies to the south, about an hour away by horse. The region is less populated, making it easier for Goro to find work as a sailor, as no one else is truly foolish enough to try and build a life in such a small town. Still, he was raised here, and his mother is here. That’s all he really needs.

His house sits back further from the coast than other homes in the area. They can see the ocean from their porch but getting there can take twenty minutes on foot. Goro doesn’t mind though. He spends most of his time on the water and living away from it has suited him just fine all these years.

Goro arrives in time to greet his mother amongst her vegetables. Ami Akechi has always been a diligent woman in her gardening, her plants feeding them even when the sea isn’t so kind. She plucks at the weeds as he hitches Hereward up in his stable. She glances up at him, hair sticking to her sweaty face, shaded by her large straw hat.

“Ah! My sweet son has returned.” His mother glances toward the cart that sits barren beside the stable. Her brows begin to knit together, and she lowers her trowel. “You’re back so soon… Were you unsuccessful?”

He shakes his head, approaching her with the briefcase in hand. “Very successful, actually. I returned with a mer so large that a representative of some scientists petitioned me to sell it as a specimen for their studies.”

She seems to think that over. “I suppose it would have been strange to have it mounted in the house like so many others do. I never liked the idea of keeping a kill like that around.”

Holding out his hand for his mother, Goro nods in agreement. “It didn’t sit well with me either, so I agreed to his terms.”

“Were they rigid?”

“Not at all. Just the money for the mer.”

His mother taps a dirt covered glove against the leather case, raining soil onto the surface. “How much?”

Goro nods toward the house. “I’ll show you.”

In all his years, Goro has never seen his mother cry because of joy. Her exuberance at the sight of the money is overwhelming, and he nearly joins her in a fit of tears. They’ve always fended for themselves, with his mother tending the land for food and Goro harvesting the sea’s bounty. Some years are sparser than others. With what little money they pull in from their employment in the town – his mother’s as the village’s seamstress and his work as a sailor and fisher – they barely make it through sometimes. The money from the mer guarantees they won’t want for anything, even during leaner times.

Goro hands the briefcase over to his mother, and she safely locks it away until they need to pull from its reserves. With that, he sits down for a good meal before heading off to the town center to inform his supervisor that he’s back from his trip.

The papers that confirm the death of his slain mer detail the weight, length, and features of his catch. Goro’s supervisor reads over the information with two raised brows.

“It sounds like you caught quite a monster, Akechi-san.”

“I was fortunate to do so.”

“Did he put up much of a fight?”

He pauses, thinking about Akira, his sharp nails and even sharper eyes. “I don’t think he saw it coming.”

His boss grins and slaps him on the back. “Excellent work. Well, the boats are still out for the day. I’ll give you the rest of your afternoon and see you bright and early tomorrow for work. You’ve clearly earned it.”

Goro nods and wordlessly leaves the fishery office.

~~~

Summer passes in a blur. Wake up as the sun begins to rise, eat a filling meal, go out on a fishing vessel, and catch enough to feed every mouth in their community. Four times a week Goro does this. The rest of his time is spent tending the garden while his mother fixes suits or makes dresses.

Admittedly, during his time amongst the plants, he begins to wonder how he could have been so foolish. Mers and humans aren’t meant to be together. They come from two different worlds. It would never work.

Dirt grits between his fingers as he pinches the soil, thinking hard about his place on land. Goro sighs and shuts his eyes, feeling like a fool for ever entertaining the idea that Akira would return to him. His promise of devotion feels hollow after so many months. Goro wishes he could blame Akira, but he only ever wonders what could have happened. Some part of him fears that Akira was harmed, but thinking about the mer that he killed for Goro eases those worries. Another part of him wonders if Akira realized courting a human was a terrible idea. The last part of him fears Akira moved on. That thought hurts more than Goro would like to admit.

Each thought leaves him feeling worse than the last.

As October rolls in and the seas begin to chill, Goro goes fishing less and less for both his job and his household. What he does catch for himself and his mother is salted and stored for the winter ahead. He’s made the mistake of not catching enough in the past and those winters consisted of too much fish-bone broth and not enough actual food.

Today, Goro hopes to net himself at least a half dozen fish for winter storage. If he’s lucky, he’ll catch another fish or two for dinner. Before he can even get his dinghy into the water, he hears a familiar voice call out his name. Goro turns, surprised to see his mother treading up the beach.

“I’m glad I arrived in time.”

Goro winds the rope around his arm, tightening it to prevent his suddenly nervous energy from boiling over. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, nothing at all, sweetie. Our neighbors paid us a visit and made a request.”

“Which neighbors?”

“The Sanadas. The husband – the brunet one – came by and asked if you could catch a few fish for them. He offered me an incredible amount of dried herbs for the request. I didn’t want to leave them waiting.”

Goro shrugs. Their ‘neighbors’ actually live a good ten minutes away from them, but they are the closest, so he supposes it wouldn’t hurt to stay in their good graces. “How many is a few?”

“Ten.”

Goro blinks. He turns and looks at his dinghy, unsure if twenty or so fish would be a good idea in a boat this small. “Well, I can try.”

“Thank you, Goro. I appreciate it.” His mother turns to walk away but stops and reaches into the pocket of her apron. “Sanada-san – the brunet – also baked vegetable filled buns. He gave us a basketful, so I brought a few for your lunch.”

Even though he already brought lunch, Goro can’t help but smile at his mother’s generosity. “Thank you for thinking of me. Please tell Sanada-san that I’m grateful and will deliver his fish as soon as possible.”

She returns his smile, but it soon melts off of her face as her eyes widen. “Perhaps I will tell him that it may take longer than expected.”

The fear in his mother’s expression strikes terror into Goro’s heart. He steps forward, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “Mama, what’s wrong?”

She lifts a trembling hand, pointing toward the water. “I thought I saw a mer.”

“This far south?”

Goro turns his gaze toward the sea, eyes scanning the surface, waiting for any sign of a mer to bubble up. Minutes pass until he sees a ruby red dorsal fin crest for a split second. His stomach tightens, but he gravitates toward his boat.

“What are you doing? Goro, do not go out there. I know you’ve proven yourself, but there’s no reason to be risky when it comes to these monsters. They’re dangerous!”

Putting his finger to his lips, Goro shakes his head. “Don’t worry.” He takes a step forward and another. Perhaps he could have convinced his mother of his interest in securing another payday for them if he even thought to pick up the spear resting at the bottom of his dinghy.

Goro’s boots dig into the wet sand at the edge of the water, and his mother’s hysterical protests fade into the distance, blending in with the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. A buzzing softens his mind, overwriting his better judgment, beckoning him toward the sea. A tether anchored in his chest draws him closer. He couldn’t stop if he wanted. Water rises around his calves, hindering his movement, but a familiar chittering strikes him stunned where he stands in the shallows. His heart picks up speed, transforming his curiosity into excitement. He never thought this day would come.

“Goro Akechi! Listen to your mother! Do not hunt this beast! It is deadly! Your life isn’t worth it! ”

Goro jumps, ripped from his reverie by his mother’s panicked voice. He wants to comfort her, but he can’t seem to move back. He wants his prize more. “I’ll be fine. I promise. Stay by the boat. I’ll be back.”

He wades in deeper, relieved when his mother doesn’t continue to protest. When he’s hip deep in the sea, the waters in front of him ripple. A mop of messy black hair emerges, accompanied by two bright silver eyes.

Goro breathes out in absolute satisfaction, “Akira.”

“Goro…”

The sharpness in Akira's eyes soften, and they crinkle at the edges. He surfaces a bit more, and his smile is playful and excited. Goro feels a pulse of water rushing toward him as Akira’s hand reaches out and wraps around his waist. His heart hammers in his chest, thrilled by the touch. Memories of their sweet summer day on the island fill Goro’s mind. He smiles dreamily at Akira, feeling dragged down by an undertow of thoughts.

Thoughts that are promptly interrupted by the shrieking of his mother. “Goro! Don’t trust it!”

Akira’s smile falters. His expression sours, brows turning down as the grip around Goro’s waist tightens. He speaks low, just for Goro’s ears. “Do you trust me?”

It isn’t even a question Goro has ever entertained. “Yes.”

Akira grins and immediately swims away, descending into the sea. Goro gasps, sucking in lungful of air before he’s dragged underwater. He can hear the warbled screams of his mother above the surface. Somewhere in his heart, Goro feels sorrowful for whatever panic this must be putting her through, but that thought is quickly and easily overwhelmed by the thrill of Akira in front of him.

At some point, they stop. Goro’s not sure when. His eyes are shut tight. Akira’s thumbs brush across his eyelids, and his lips press against Goro’s.

“Look at me, my love.”

Goro braces himself for the burn of salt, tensing as he opens his eyes. The sting never comes, even as he looks around his surroundings, watching as minnows zip by and crabs scuttle along the seabed. A gentle touch to his cheek returns his attention to the stunning mer in front of him.

Beneath the waters, Akira positively glows . His scales shimmer with every move of his body with the current. His fins shine, radiant, as they catch what sun they can as it streams through the waves. Goro reaches out, fingers ghosting along the fins on the side of Akira’s face. Akira leans into the touch, water rippling with the low rumble coming from his chest.

“I missed you.”

Goro wants to respond, to admit that he missed Akira as well, but he fears speaking, worried for the inevitable rush of water that’ll engulf his lungs. Akira senses his hesitance and kisses him again, longer, slower. Goro shuts his eyes, positively buoyant.

“You’re safe, Goro.” Akira runs two clawed fingers down his chest. “There is more to mers than you know. Breathe freely, my love.”

Looking at Akira, Goro nearly drowns in the tender affection in his eyes. He nods, drawing in a deep breath and exhaling. It’s as if he’s on land. Akira smiles in return.

“Thank you for joining me for a private conversation.” He releases Goro and swims around him, poking at his clothes. “I prefer you naked, though.”

Goro blushes and swats at his hand. “There’s a time and a place for that kind of behavior, Akira. Or do mers take their lovers anywhere and anytime they please?”

Akira shrugs, grinning. “I’ve never been one for mer society. It’s more fun to go my own speed.”

“Is that why you went to the mer breeding grounds and took a human lover?”

Akira’s grin widens. “And what a lover I took.” He snatches up Goro’s wrist, drawing him closer and pressing his hand to his stomach. “These are your pups.”

Goro’s mind goes numb as his hand moves over the swell in Akira’s abdomen. He pulls himself closer, pressing his other hand to his stomach as well, staring at the barely distended bump. “You’re serious.”

Akira’s hand rakes through Goro’s hair. “I told you I would find you when they catch. You’re going to be a father.”

Heart stuck in his throat, Goro flounders for words. He hardly believes what he’s hearing. His fingers brush over Akira’s skin, gently tracing the outline of the bump. “ My pups?”

“Yours.”

“How many?”

“Five, if my doctor is to be believed.”

“Five…” Goro mutters. He leans closer, pressing a kiss to Akira’s stomach, earning a pleased chitter in response. “Five pups…” He swallows, overcome by an onslaught of joy and worry. “Where will we raise them?”

Akira’s hand in his hair freezes. “We?” His chest heaves beneath Goro’s hands. “You want to raise them with me?”

Goro glances up, perplexed at Akira’s mournful expression. “Why wouldn’t I? I fathered them. I should care for them.”

“Mers often leave the carrying partner to raise the pups on their own. We mature fast, so it’s not a long commitment compared to our lifespan. Only in cases where the couple is truly in love, do they rear the guppies together.” His fingers sneak beneath Goro’s chin, tipping his face up so that their eyes lock. “Do you love me, Goro?”

The question weighs heavy on Goro’s mind. Deep in his heart he knows how desperate he was to see Akira again. Inexplicably so. Logically, he recognizes that he barely knows him, that this could all fall apart so easily. They’re from two different worlds. It simply doesn’t make sense.

And yet… the way Akira looks at him, the swell of life beneath Goro’s fingers, and the unbearable yearning in his chest overwrite his common sense and any rational reactions. There’s no doubt in his mind, his heart, or his soul that Akira’s meant for him.

“I do love you.”

Despite Goro’s confession, Akira stays silent, eyes shut serenely. His hand slides down Goro’s face and wraps around his arm. “Come. Let’s surface. I have something for you.”

After surfacing, Goro spots his mother crumpled next to his boat. He races to the shore, falling on his knees beside her, brushing her hair away from her face and checking her pulse.

“Mother? Mother are you alright?”

She sniffs and tilts her head up. Her eyes are bloodshot, red from crying, and they widen at the sight of him. “Goro?” She looks behind him, gaze landing on Akira. “I thought he drowned you… I thought-”

“Mother, I told you to trust me.” He stands, walking backward into the shallows again. Akira meets him there, wrapping a protective arm around his torso. “This is Akira.”

She stares, horrified. “You’ve made friends with a mer ?”

Goro blushes, unable to help himself. “Actually-”

“He sired my pups.”

Her head whips toward Akira, gawking at hearing him speak, entirely ignoring his statement. “Did you just speak to me?”

Akira ignores the question in favor of his own. “You’re his mother?”

Akira inches forward to greet her, stopping when Goro’s mother scrambles upright and backs away. She grabs an oar from Goro’s dinghy and raises it.

“Don’t come any closer. Goro, get away from that thing!”

“Mother, please. He won’t hurt you.”

“How could you be certain of that? Look at it! It’s enormous. It could eat you whole if it wanted.”

Goro heaves a sigh, knowing his mother is exaggerating out of panic. “He wouldn’t.”

“How do you know?!”

Goro’s fingers find their way into Akira’s hair, brushing across his scalp and along the side of his throat. “He’s my mate.”

Akira’s facial fins twitch with joy at the comment, and he chitters as his grasp around Goro tightens. Underneath his breath, he sighs dreamily, “My mate. My mate.”

Instead of reacting immediately, Goro’s mother gawps at him. Her mouth falls open, and she shakes her head. “This is preposterous. I must be… I’m hallucinating. I’ve been in the heat too long. I’ve been overwhelmed by the sun. That’s it.” She presses a hand to her forehead and turns away from the shore. “I need to lie down. Goro, I’ll see you at home.” She waves at him. “Don’t forget those fish for Sanada-san.”

Goro calls after her, but she waves at him again, continuing to shuffle up the beach. Beside him, Akira grumbles.

“That went poorly.”

“I didn’t expect her to react so fearfully.” Goro frowns to himself. “Hallucinating? Why would she assume that?”

Akira doesn’t seem to mind the reaction, other things taking the forefront of his thoughts. He tugs at Goro’s waist. “Come, there’s a cove to the west of here. It should be private there.” He wades out into the open water and turns onto his back, patting his tail. “Care for a ride?”

Goro’s cheeks burn with the insinuation. Akira smirks, clearly very aware of what imagery he’s conjured in Goro’s mind.

“We’re just going for a swim, my love. You can try that later.”

The cove reminds Goro of the island they first met on, albeit a fraction of the size. It’s secluded with a small lagoon at the center. This one has more rocky outcrops, but traversal is fairly easy for a seasoned sailor. He rolls off Akira’s chest, swimming to the edge of the cove to sit on one of the flat planes of stone. He tugs off his boots and sets them on the rocks to dry, dunking his feet back into the water.

Akira swims circles at the center of the lagoon, hand gently cradling his small bump. He’s positively glowing as he watches Goro settle in. “Do you think we could meet here from now on? I’ve never seen any mers swim this far south. I don’t want to be apart from you for long.”

Goro beckons him closer. Akira glides over to him, settling between Goro’s knees. To his chagrin, he has to spread his legs fairly far for Akira to fit. Almost uncomfortably so.

“That might be best if everyone might react similarly to my mother.”

“Most aren’t amicable toward mers. We have a complicated history.”

“That’s hardly your fault.”

Akira lays his head on Goro’s lap. “No, it’s not.” His voice lowers, laced with melancholy, “But I’m dangerous. Even amongst the mers.”

He says it in such a way that Goro doesn’t immediately note the seriousness of his meaning. Instead, he smiles. “Oh?”

“They don’t like that I’m interested in humans. I’ve been cast out of most pods for even voicing idle thoughts about communicating with your kind. They think I’ll bring destruction to mer society if I’m allowed to mingle with the rest of my people.”

A thought crosses Goro’s mind. “So why were you at the breeding grounds?”

Akira begins to drag his nail across Goro’s thigh, absentmindedly creating a hole in his trousers. “I followed you.”

A chill courses down Goro’s back. “What?”

Akira grins, teeth glinting in what little light illuminates the cove. “I watched you for weeks as you prepared for your test. I’ve seen many men undertake the right of passage; most bring friends to help them with the chore. You didn’t. You were different from the rest. Alone. A chip on your shoulder. It became clear to me it wasn’t out of stubbornness, but because you simply didn’t have anyone.”

Goro attempts to deny the claim, a little ruffled at the assertion. “I have people. My mother, our neighbors – the Sanadas –, and these redheaded twins that sell me bread twice a week.”

Akira hums. “I have people too, but that doesn’t mean you’re social like folks in the larger towns.” He slips a finger into the hole he created. “It’s alright to be different.”

That piques Goro’s curiosity. “Are you different? You said you’re dangerous. Is it just your ideas that mers fear?”

Akira sticks another finger in, tearing the fabric. “I said I have people, right?”

“Yes.”

“Each one of them came to me because I…” He trails off, brows furrowing. “Goro?”

“Yes?”

Akira looks up at him, liquid silver eyes shimmering with distress and worry. “Do you really love me?”

Goro nods, unable to control himself as he runs his hand through Akira’s hair and tugs at it. “I’d burn the world down to see you smile.” He leans down and kisses Akira’s forehead. “Tell me about your friends.”

Surging up to Goro, Akira peppers kisses across his lips and jaw. He then settles back down in his lap. “Each one came to me because no one surpasses me in tracking.” He licks his lips, staring up at Goro to meet his gaze. “Or killing.”

Goro’s stomach flip flops, and his heart rate picks up. His mother was right. Akira is deadly. She just didn’t realize how correct she was. Goro doesn’t realize how lost in his own thoughts he is until Akira’s hand wraps around the entirety of his calf and tugs gently.

“My love?”

He looks down, heart aching when he recognizes the anxiety on Akira’s face. He’s just revealed something personal, vulnerable, and potentially alienating, and Goro’s greeting him with silence. He can’t imagine how uncomfortable it must be to wait in that unknown.

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“About?”

He smiles. “My mother said you were deadly. She was right.”

Akira’s lips turn down. “You’re upset with me.”

“Not at all.”

Akira’s fins twitch, and he co*cks his head. “No?”

“No. You said your friends came to you because of your abilities. They had to have a reason for targeting those mer. Why should I blame you for being skilled?” He tilts Akira’s head up with his index finger and leans down to kiss him fully. “But I am curious. Why the mer that you killed for me?”

Akira smirks. “He was stalking my friend and her partner. Wouldn’t take no for an answer and attempted to interrupt their mating.”

“You don’t sound like a heartless killer to me. There was purpose in that death, isn’t that right?”

Akira’s expression softens into a smile, and he nods, laying his head back down.

Goro watches Akira close his eyes. Something in Goro’s chest pulls with sorrow. “You don’t like what you do.”

“Mer folk are afraid of me. I’m violent, dangerous, troublesome, and a threat. Everyone knows the mer with the red and black scales. ‘ The color of his fins portend the blood he will spill and the death that will claim you if you get too close. ’ It’s been like that for years.”

Goro’s heart aches. He knows what it’s like to be labeled without being known. Bastard, son of a whor*, caustic, stuck-up, asshole. Most people in town tolerate him. The Yoshizawa twins are probably the only folks that are willing to converse with him like he’s a human. When he’s shunned so readily, even by other sailors, he sometimes wonders if he’s not.

Setting his mind on an idea, Goro tugs off his shirt, tossing it by his boots. He shimmies out of his trousers and throws them on the rocks as well before he fully submerges in the water.

Akira lifts an eyebrow at him. “What are you doing?”

“You said you preferred me naked.”

Akira’s eyes sparkle with amusem*nt. “It is an appealing look on you.” His tail slaps against the water, showering them with droplets as Akira lays on his back to float. “We got a little distracted, didn’t we?”

“What makes you say that?”

“I brought you here for a specific purpose.” He grabs Goro by the wrist and pulls him closer. “When I kissed you beneath the sea earlier, that was a temporary blessing of water. Most mers can give that gift readily, but it doesn’t last more than thirty minutes. If we’re going to be together, I need it to be permanent.”

Goro folds his arms on Akira’s chest and leans against them. “How exactly can we do that?”

Akira lowers a hand, feeling along his tail before plucking a bi-colored scale free. It’s deep red and gradually fades into black. He holds the scale to his lips, shutting his eyes for a long moment. Suddenly, he speaks. “Goro, my love, with this scale, you will always be able to find me and I you. Whether on sea or on land, by the coast or in the deep, near and far, I will be connected to you. We will be inseparable. I give this to you willingly, with love and confidence. You can tell no one what we’ve done here.” Akira opens his eyes, staring at Goro intently. “Do you agree to be mine?”

The air catches in Goro’s lungs. This feels like the closest he’ll get to marriage, and this is only the second day he’s known Akira. Still, every fiber of his being yearns for him, aches to belong to this mer in every possible way. There was no turning back the moment he asked Akira what he wanted all those months ago. He wouldn’t change a thing.

“I do.”

Akira grins, a brightness illuminating his face. He holds out the scale between two fingers. “Open up. It’ll dissolve on your tongue.”

Goro’s eyes widen at the assertion, and he ruins the moment a little with his incredulous question. “How is that even possible?”

Akira shrugs. “Mer magic.”

It seems he’s unwilling to divulge, so Goro leans forward, closing his lips around Akira’s fingers as a scale the size of a ten yen coin is pressed to his tongue. Akira slips his fingers free, watching Goro intently.

Despite his disbelief, the scale immediately begins to fizzle and dissolve. The taste reminds him of an ocean breeze just before a storm, salty with the weight of anticipation. He swallows, feeling no different at first until Akira dives underwater and darts away.

Suddenly, Goro panics, alarmed at Akira’s unexpected departure. He swims to the edge of the cove and stops. A pressure behind his forehead distracts him. It’s not painful nor is it unpleasant. He shuts his eyes, thinking of Akira and his entire body yearns to swim north.

So, he does.

A bit to the north, not far outside the cove, Goro finds Akira with his fishing net in hand, dragging it through a school of fish. He brings it to the surface and grins at Goro as he approaches.

“I assumed you were going out to catch fish earlier.” He ties the net into a little ball, holding it out as the fish flop inside. “I think I grabbed about thirty. Is that enough?”

Goro closes the distance between them, throwing his arms around Akira’s neck and kissing him. “Plenty. Bring them back to the cove. I’m not done with you yet.”

When the sun begins to set, Goro dresses and bids Akira goodbye. It feels sorrowful to part after such an eventful day, but he only needs to close his eyes to sense where Akira is. The knowledge that he’s safe somewhere in the sea brings Goro more comfort than he can express.

Before heading home, Goro splits the haul between his household and his neighbors. They’re exceptionally pleased by the extra fish and the husband who requested them offers to cook him dinner by way of thanks. Goro politely declines, but he does accept an additional basket of vegetable filled buns. He chews on one while walking back to his house, happy to fill his belly after such a long day out on the water. He really should have eaten sooner, but Akira was far too delighted to drag him to the sea floor and show him how to swim like a real mer. Admittedly, it was strange realizing he could breathe normally beneath the water, but seeing Akira’s excitement replaced any trepidation he might have.

Arriving home, Goro greets his mother who’s sewing a dress for one of the twins in town. Something about a dance recital. He hands her a bun, and she continues her work while he preps the fish for their winter reserves.

He splits the fish down the center, flaying them open and pulling out the bones. Goro shifts into a habitual rhythm and talks to his mother while she cuts fabric for the skirt.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Hmm?”

“You left the beach, remember? Said you were hallucinating.”

“Oh, right.” She shrugs dismissively. “I don’t know what came over me. I truly must have been dazed by the sun. Mers don’t travel this far inland much less take humans as mates. I must have been a sight to see.” She shakes her head, almost laughing at the thought. “I came home and went to bed. After sleep, water, and food, I felt much better.”

Goro hums curiously at the comment. “So you’re not interested in seeing a mer up close?”

“Heavens, no. There’s a reason the men in our town learn to hunt and kill those creatures. If one is foolish enough to come close to humans, it deserves to be put down.”

Goro’s stomach twists, but he continues. “That’s hardly fair. Their breeding grounds aren’t even a day’s travel away. It makes sense that you might see one from the coast.”

His mother puts her project down. “You don’t need to act like they’re civilized. They’re monsters, Goro. Deadly monsters. You’d do well to not entertain the thought that they’re capable of anything more than savagery.”

Mind going blank at her assertion, Goro simply nods. “I see.” With a hefty sigh, his heart tightens, memories of Akira’s gentleness earlier before they parted when he brushed Goro’s hair behind his ear, kissed his lips softly, and called him beloved. A pang of sadness washes over him, realizing that most humans will never know the wonder that mers are. That he alone is lucky enough to be one’s mate.

The next morning, when Goro awakens, he feels an overwhelming pull in his chest. It beckons him forward and out his door, barely dressed before he’s shuffling across the plains to the beach, wandering south to the cove. He heeds the call without thinking, only realizing what it is when a whisper slithers up his spine and curls around his shoulders, nestling against his ears and speaking.

“Goro… My beloved… I’m waiting… Come find me… ”

He stops dead in his tracks, feet barely at the edge of the sand. “Akira?”

The whisper tightens around his throat in a low chuckle. “Surprised, my love? I told you we would be inseparable. ”

Goro’s heart swells almost to bursting. “I’ll always be able to hear your voice?”

“Of course. Should you ever want to speak, focus on me and talk. I’ll always be here. ”

“Akira…”

Akira hums, “But I’m growing restless, Goro. I need you. ”

The velvety tone Akira’s voice takes on sends a full-body shiver through Goro. His heart begins racing and sweat breaks out across his brow as he suddenly gets a flash of Akira’s physical form behind his eyes. He’s laying out on the cove’s rocks, fingers dipped into his slit. The image nearly drowns Goro in overwhelming lust. His knees buckle, and it takes every ounce of his energy to take another step forward to reach his perfectly impatient mate.

When Goro reaches the cove, Akira’s arms are thrown back behind his head, supporting him as he looks toward the entrance in anticipation. He grins when Goro walks through, his sharp smile greeting Goro with a thrill. To his chagrin, Goro’s eyes immediately flick down to Akira’s slit, gaze following the twitching, flushed member that’s resting on Akira’s stomach.

“Undress for me, my love.”

Goro leans against the cold stone wall, kicking off his boots and tossing down his coat, shirt, and trousers. He rushes forward, climbing onto Akira’s torso and kissing him firmly and a bit desperately. Akira’s chest rumbles beneath his hands, vibrating with a sense of pure content.

One of Akira’s fingers grazes down Goro’s spine. It curves around his ass before pressing against Goro’s hole.

“May I?”

Goro shudders, breath catching in his lungs when the tip of Akira’s co*ck slides against his balls, up his perineum, and prods at his hole. He nods, blood rushing south, filling out his own erection.

To his surprise, Akira’s slick already. Goro absentmindedly assumes it’s part of his mer anatomy, too enthralled by the way the tip sinks into him to ask. It’s not a terrible intrusion, just soft, gentle nudging inside of him. Akira goes slowly, clearly aware of how much Goro will have to take from him. His eyes watch where they’re connected, judging just how much more Goro can take. Despite Akira’s worries, the slide is smooth. So smooth that Goro wants to seat himself fully, but Akira’s a hell of a lot larger than anyone Goro’s been with, by far. He can’t forget who he’s dealing with.

His reminder comes in the form of Akira’s hands snaking up his sides, easily lifting him from where he straddles Akira’s torso. Akira’s thumbs press into Goro’s nipples, earning a punched out groan as he’s manhandled into the air. Akira sits up, lowering Goro down further onto his co*ck, lip caught between his teeth as he hisses and his chest heaves.

Inch by inch, Goro’s mouth drops, silent, breathy moans sneaking free from his lungs as more and more and more of Akira buries deeper. His stomach swells with the length, and he presses a shaking hand to his abdomen, feeling Akira’s co*ck writhe inside him.

“Ah-Ah-Akira…”

Akira lets out a low chuckle, and Goro realizes his eyes have pooled black once again, fully consumed by desire. “How shall I claim you, my love?”

Goro clenches, earning him a sharp hiss and an even sharper thrust of Akira’s hips. His eyes roll back, and his consciousness flickers as Akira’s grip around his torso tightens and he does it again.

“I can’t put babies in you, but you can at least enjoy me, right Goro?”

Goro’s jaw hangs slack, mind wiped of any words or thoughts beyond how full Akira is making him. His co*ck throbs, red and dripping as even the subtle spasms of Akira’s hips bring about waves of unbearable pleasure. He can feel the way Akira’s co*ck twists inside him, pulsing and twitching as it’s firmly clenched by Goro’s muscles. It’s difficult enough to breathe, and Goro’s almost certain that if Akira even tries to pull out, he’ll come harder than he’s ever experienced before. He’s not sure he’ll stay conscious for something like that.

Chest heaving, so tightly wound with lust, Goro nearly weeps at the thought of leaving Akira unsatisfied. He wants – needs ­ – to provide for his mate. So, he does the only thing he can think of. He leans back, arm sinking into the tight, warm clutch of Akira’s hole.

Akira’s eyes widen, and his voice fills the cove with a howl of pleasure. His claws dig into Goro’s skin, piercing him as he drags Goro down further. Goro jerks, mind reeling with euphoria of pleasure and pain. His vision flickers, and he grows desperate. His fingers brush over Akira’s velvety insides pressing against his walls until they hit a rough patch. He takes a gamble and prods his fingers into the spot.

Akira’s head falls back, and he screams, a sob ripping from his throat as his entire body begins to tremble. “Goro… Goro… My- mine .” His breathing quickens, and his tail crashes into the lagoon. Akira shudders, nearly hyperventilating as he begs. “Again. Goro, again .”

Nearly delirious with delight, Goro obeys his lover, fingers rapidly jabbing the sensitive area. Akira’s body convulses, clenching down on Goro’s arm until Goro cannot move it beyond the wild thrusting of his fingers. Akira whines, high pitched and desperate. His tail slaps the water again, and he chitters with hazy, lust-filled joy, body shaking as he whines out Goro’s name over and over again.

Akira jerks his hips upward, driving into Goro more and forcing Goro’s arm deeper. He gasps and throws an arm over his face, a low rumble of a groan reverberating against Goro’s thighs. As he moans, Goro’s senses light up, his own gasp falling from his lips as Akira comes. It floods Goro’s insides, filling him to the brim as Akira’s co*ck slithers out of him, retracting into its pocket. As it slips out, it presses harshly against Goro’s prostate, enough of a sensation after all the teasing to push Goro over the edge. His balls tighten, and he spills all over Akira’s chest.

Goro’s strength begins to wane, the adrenaline of ecstasy wearing down quickly. He slowly pulls his arm from Akira’s hole, earning a whimpering, shaky rendition of his name in return.

The hand that’s still gripping Goro drags him forward, and he immediately moves to kiss Akira whose mouth wanders to Goro’s shoulder. He kisses gently before bearing his teeth to Goro’s skin.

“May I mark you?”

“As yours?”

Akira only hums in agreement.

Goro wants everything about him to show that he’s Akira’s. It feels only natural. “Please do.”

Akira smiles, and some dozen sharp teeth puncture Goro’s shoulder. He shudders at the pain, a rush of affection filling in the gaps. Goro’s eyes flicker shut again, but this time, he loses the battle against consciousness.

~~~

Much to Akira’s chagrin, Goro must maintain his job to provide for his mother. It becomes a daily routine to head to the fishing boats early. There, Akira assists with his collecting his quote in a timely manner, often staying hidden beneath the waves and chasing fish into the nets. By early-afternoon, Goro takes his haul to the fishery and checks out for the day. When he reaches the cove, Akira’s waiting.

Of course, not all days go so smoothly. Late January, when fishing work has grown sparse, Goro spends much of his time beside Akira in the cove. Today, however, he cannot find his beloved mer.

Goro digs into his basket, laying out a blanket so he can sit on the rocks comfortably in the cold winter air. He settles down, closing his eyes to sense Akira’s location and to see if he’s in good health. A pressure settles between his brows, weighing heavily on his mind as he gets a sensation of pent-up anger and deep, deep hunger. Akira’s not far from the coast, but he’s swimming unbelievably fast. His focus is palpable even from here, so Goro doesn’t dare reach out through their connection. Instead, he sits patiently, waiting for Akira to return.

Nearly ten minutes pass before the water of the cove explodes with Akira’s presence and a resounding thud hits the rocks across from Goro. He blinks, eyes widening as Akira’s sharp and bloody claws dig into the flesh of a seal. Muscle and sinew go flying as Akira tears into the beast, every other fistful of meat going straight into his mouth, staining his cheeks and chin red. Goro can only watch, stunned silent by the violence of Akira’s dining. He reaches to his side, pulling the blanket over him, settling in for another bout with patience as Akira snarls and snaps bones as he digs his hands further into the carcass.

Moving at all proves to be a mistake.

Akira’s head whips toward him, suddenly still as he stares straight through Goro. Akira’s eyes are black as midnight, something Goro’s never seen outside of their intimacy. Akira’s always been fully in control then. This frenzy seems like anything but. Goro swallows, and fear strikes him mute. He doesn’t dare move. He doesn’t dare breathe.

Akira’s lips pull up, revealing razor-sharp, blood-stained teeth. It’s a threat.

His head jerks toward his meal then back toward Goro, an easy four meters away. A low growl filters from Akira’s throat, and Goro pales at the sound. He suddenly understands why Akira’s been exiled from mer society. Anyone would be afraid of this display.

But he can’t be. This is his mate. They’re bonded forever. Goro cannot forsake that out of fear.

He exhales shakily, and Akira’s ear fins twitch. “Akira? My love?”

At the sound of his voice, Akira visibly relaxes. His brows lift, pinching together in a look of anticipation as the blackness of his gaze recedes, revealing two bright mercury eyes that regard Goro lovingly. His lips curl up, and he dashes forward, throwing himself onto the rocks and laying his body over Goro’s. Goro flinches against the tickle of kisses being peppered across his face and throat, but he lets out a long-held breath, grateful that Akira knows him by sound.

Akira pulls him close, as close as possible with his ever-growing clutch of pups he carries. Goro nestles into his side, hand immediately going to Akira’s stomach and petting over the skin.

“Hungry, were you?”

Akira hums, nose buried in Goro’s hair. “The pups were hungry.”

“Is that all?”

“He was in our cove when I arrived.”

“Ah.” Goro shakes his head, pressing himself closer to Akira, ignorant of the way the residual sea water soaks his clothes. “Protecting our home.” He curls a hand around Akira’s face, rubbing at the stains on his cheek. “You’re so good to me.”

Akira bumps his forehead against Goro’s and chitters. “I love you.”

Despite the cold, a warmth radiates throughout Goro’s entire body at the affirmation. “I love you too.”

As the day winds to an end, Akira skins the seal and offers the pelt to Goro. Knowing his mother could likely make something exquisite out of the fur, he takes it with thanks and no small amount of affection.

Akira bids him farewell, but there’s a sadness lingering behind his eyes. One that Goro knows all too well. Recently, parting has grown more painful. With the impending birth of their pups, Goro’s heart yearns to stay by Akira’s side. The past four months have been wonderful, but every time he leaves for home, Goro fears it’s less and less home and more so the place he sleeps at night. His home is with Akira. It has been since that early June day on the island.

Goro stands at the entrance to the cove, one foot on the rocks, the other in the sand of the beach, and his chest aches as Akira smiles half-heartedly.

“I’ll see you in the morning, my beloved.”

He tries to smile. He really does, but when Akira’s hand absentmindedly travels south to hold his bump, Goro’s nose prickles, and tears spring free. He sniffs and wipes his face on his arm, earning a confused and concerned look from Akira, who immediately swims to the rocky edge. He lifts himself out and sits beside Goro, holding him close around the legs.

“Are you upset?”

He is, but not for the reasons Akira would assume. Goro drops his hands, combing his fingers through Akira’s hair while he nuzzles his face against his torso, hoping to comfort his lover.

“I wish I could stay with you. I want to build a home, just for us.”

Akira’s eyes sparkle. “Would you?”

“I would. I will . After the pups are born, I’ll build us a home where our family will always be safe.”

Goro’s guilt at leaving Akira in the cove grows rapidly as he trudges to his house. Inside, he wordlessly hands his mother the clean seal pelt before going to change into less sea-soaked clothes. When he finishes, she’s at the kitchen table, wearing a frown.

“Is something wrong, Mother?”

Her hand grazes across the pelt. “You went out alone today, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“So how is it that you managed to bring back such a beauty of fur?”

He doesn’t say anything, just looks down as he pulls ingredients from the cabinet for supper. She’s undeterred by his silence.

“Seals are enormous, my son. They’re difficult for a group of men to get in from the sea. How did you manage to snare this one by yourself?”

Her calm and cold expression unsettle him, like she’s prying until he messes up.

“It was already dead. I found it on a rocky outcrop.” It’s the truth, sure. An answer carefully carved from truth.

It seems to appease her, though. Her eyes widen. “What luck.” Her hand pets over the fur again. “I don’t see any bite marks. I wonder what could have killed it.”

“Perhaps age.” Perhaps the deadly hands of a mer.

She nods in silent agreement, but in Goro’s peripheral, he sees her brows pinch, as if she knows he’s hiding what really happened. He forgets that her familiarity with materials would make her the most adept at identifying a seal’s age based on the quality of its fur. He may be no expert, but he at least knows this one wasn’t ailing before its death.

Later that night, as Goro attempts to fall asleep, he wonders if giving his mother the pelt was a mistake.

The next morning, the anxiety his mother’s shrewd expression invoked in him clings like a barnacle to his psyche. Despite that, Goro has a task to put his attention toward. He can’t allow himself to be distracted by something as frivolous as unease about a conversation. His survival skills are better put to use manning his fishing vessel. Though, with a mer assisting with his catches, he doesn’t quite have to use all of his skills. His quota for the day is easily caught with Akira’s help.

As he sails back to the docks, he leans over the side of the boat, whispering to the sea, knowing that Akira can hear him. “I’ll meet you back home. It shouldn’t take long to turn in my work.”

Goro feels a surge of joy in his heart in response, getting a sense that Akira’s pleased with the plan. He drags his haul up the beach to the briny building sitting on the cusp of land and sand. The walk is quick, but the man in the fishery isn’t. He’s diligent today, inspecting every catch with unusual intensity.

After ten minutes of this, Goro clears his throat. “Is there something wrong with my fish?”

The man glances up at him. “Not at all, son. Just had a few diseased fish in someone’s batch yesterday, so I’m taking extra precautions so that nobody gets ill eating them.”

“That’s terrible. Well, please continue your inspection.” Internally, Goro groans. He grows impatient, but soon he realizes the impatience is actually Akira needling at his mind.

“Goro… Where are you? I miss you. I’m wait- wait.”

Frowning, Goro focuses on their connection, confused by the change in Akira’s tone. He closes his eyes to reach out, feeling for his beloved in the sea of his heart. It takes longer than normal, but he finally makes contact.

“Alright, Akechi-san.”

Goro jumps, and the link fizzles out. He looks at the fisher, taking his cash readily with brief thanks before pocketing it and hurrying out to the beach. Desperately, he attempts to make contact with Akira again, fear rising through his body like a slow tide. For all his efforts, nothing connects. Goro huffs out the stress building in his chest and walks faster, feet kicking up sand as he jogs toward the cove.

It feels like an eternity before he reaches their home. Goro clambers over the rocks, reeling as a foul stench greets him as he steps inside. He stops suddenly, eyes frantically zipping across the space. Four bodies lay deathly still across the cove. Three have bled out on the rocks, foul smells pouring forth from their bodies where their stomachs are gouged. Goro covers his mouth and nose as he continues to inspect. Another lays face down in the water, clearly having been drowned.

Goro swallows his anxiety. “Akira?”

He steps closer to the water, peering down into the murky, blood tainted lagoon. “Akira? My love?”

Goro inches closer to where the cove opens to the sea, freezing when his boot crunches something unseen. He lifts his foot, face paling when he realizes what he just crushed. A syringe. Another sweep across the cove confirms that each dead body holds at least one – some having up to three. The realization makes his stomach churn more than the smell of death.

“Akira! ” He begins to tremble, fear blending with anxiety and distress to produce a co*cktail of worry that threatens to consume him. “AKIRA!” His voice grows raw, and tears streak his face as he stumbles out of the cove and toward the beach. Goro shuts his eyes, focusing with every ounce of energy he has in his soul on his mate. “Answer me, please. Akira… Where are you?”

Seconds pass.

Minutes pass.

The sun begins its descent in the sky.

Nothing flickers in his mind.

Goro falls to his knees and openly weeps. His very soul cries for Akira.

Nothing.

Returning to his house is an endeavor all on its own. Goro’s body feels drained. He’s lethargic, exhausted, emotionally and physically tapped. He shuffles past the threshold, near collapsing as he shuts the door. Engrossed with his aching heart, Goro almost misses the flash of silver coming from his mother’s room. He steps closer, eyes skimming along the small gap between the door frame and the door. From the sounds, she’s moving something in a hurry.

He calls out curiously, “Mother?”

“Oh!” She sounds startled. “You’re home so soon. Just one moment, Goro.”

Goro’s had enough with waiting today. He strides toward the door, pushing it open.

His mother looks up at him, wide eyed as she immediately turns and sits on the enormous silver box she was apparently attempting to hide in the closet. Her face turns red, and she lightly chides him, teasing. “I thought I taught you better patience.”

He ignores the reprimand. “What is that?” He takes a step forward, and her hand flies to the lid, as if to guard the contents. Goro's eyes narrow. “What. Is. That?

She sighs, standing. “I was going to surprise you later but since you insist.” Reaching down, his mother lifts the lid revealing dozens upon dozens of stacked bills. She picks a bundle up, fingers brushing through the money. “We’ve struck gold, Goro.”

He stares at the box, dumbfounded. “How much is that?”

“Five billion yen.”

“F-five?” Goro’s mouth falls open. “Did you take on an extravagant client?”

“Not at all! It was as easy as telling some scientists about that mer we saw off the coast a while back. I realized during my daily walks that it showed up regularly to the same spot. At first I wasn’t sure – there are so many beautifully colorful fish around these parts – but after you found that seal dead, I began wondering if what I’d been seeing was a mer. Then I saw near your boat yesterday, which was incredibly alarming. I knew I had to do something. It was as simple as contacting them. S.C.A.L.E.S., I believe – the ones that purchased your mer last year. Once the mer was-”

Goro’s mother continues to talk, but his mind goes white with panic. His ears ring, and his body begins to shake involuntarily. Fear wraps its slender, bony fingers around his throat and squeezes . He can’t breathe. He can’t even begin to comprehend what his mother has done.

Careening toward a total meltdown, Goro braces himself against the wall. “He- He was expecting.”

His mother nods, looking far too proud of herself. “That’s why they paid so much. As for us, it’s good to be rid of one mer, but a gestating one is even better to relocate.”

Goro feels himself growing faint with delirium. He begins to laugh, “Relocate? Relocate?! They’re going to cut him open and tear him apart!”

His mother steps back and frowns. “You’re getting awfully worked up about a monster, Goro. What’s come over you?”

Goro’s voice tears across a shriek, “You don’t remember?! Or are you still so certain you hallucinated me telling you that he was my mate .”

Her gentle features fold into a frown. “That’s impossible, Goro. Mers hate humans. One wouldn’t pick you as a mate.”

“Akira is different . He- He just wanted a family.” The weight of the situation crashes against Goro’s shoulders, and his knees buckle under the weight of understanding. He runs a hand down his face, spreading tears across his cheeks as he begins to hyperventilate. Goro mutters like a madman. “Our pups… No. No, no, no, no, no. They’re going to take everything from us…”

“Us?” His mother sounds hysterical. “What do you mean us? Are you saying you actually sired that mer’s pups?”

Goro stops cold, standing up straight and looking back at his mother. “You remembered Akira telling you that?” His mother looks sheepish, but Goro continues before she can speak. “You sold him out knowing the children he carries are mine ?”

“I- I didn’t…” Her hands wring together, and her face crumples. “I didn’t want to believe it. I never imagined-”

He doesn’t get to hear the rest of her feeble explanation. A sharp pain stabs through Goro’s temple. He doubles over, head in his hands as Akira’s panicked voice fills every inch of his mind.

“GORO! Where are you? Where are you!? I need you! These men have knives and needles. My love, please! Come find me! I need- no. No. NO. NO!”

Goro jerks as his body feels an echo of Akira’s actions wash over him. While Akira thrashes away from someone, Goro’s back hits his wall, mind’s eye helplessly sensing Akira’s anxiety rise as he fights back against the cold clamp of bindings. A sick feeling settles in Goro’s gut, and his stomach lurches as the first press of a scalpel punctures Akira’s skin. Akira screams, and Goro falls to his knees, smothered by the sheer agony bearing down on him through their connection. He can’t even think about what’s happening. He can only feel the unsettling drag of sharp metal across his mate’s body. His own convulses, retching as the sear of Akira’s pain burns down his spine.

All at once, everything goes silent. Goro reels at the eerie silence. His mind is white, as if wiped blank by the sudden severance in connection. It leaves him ill at ease and struggling to find his bearings.

A gentle hand appears at his shoulder before another comes down, offering a cup of water. Goro accepts it with trembling hands, sipping at it as he keeps his eyes on the hardwood floor. Unwilling to shut them out of fear of what he might imagine.

“Is everything alright?”

Goro shakes his head solemnly. “Akira’s…” He stares down into the water. “They’re cutting him open.” Bile rises in the back of Goro’s throat, and he stands on shaky legs. “I can’t stay here. I have to go get him. I won’t leave him to that fate.”

He turns to leave but is halted by his mother’s surprisingly firm voice.

“Wait.” She marches to the back of their house, unmounting the heirloom spear from the wall and pushing it into Goro’s hands. “Your father finances this company, and if I know anything about Masayoshi Shido, it’s that he’s ruthless. Be careful. You don’t know what you’ll find there.”

Nodding, Goro takes the weapon. “I’ll do my best.”

The S.C.AL.E.S. offices are desolate when Goro arrives. Darkness fills the front windows, and the door is locked tight. He tugs on the handle a few times before stepping away and walking along the side of the building. It goes on for far longer than he expects. At the realization, his stomach twists into nervous knots. Goro thinks about his mother’s words, knowing she’s right about his unfamiliarity with the building and what’s in store. Still, he can’t just leave Akira in the hands of these people. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he abandoned his mate like this.

After circling the building once, Goro freezes against the wall, hearing voices emerge from a doorway further to the north. He waits to be discovered, but the people talking don’t continue to walk in his direction. Their conversation travels anyway.

“Did you see that massive creature the extraction team brought in this afternoon?”

“The gestating mer?”

“That’s the one.”

“Oh yeah. I wonder who got the privilege to cut into it.”

Goro’s jaw tenses, but he holds still, listening for any knowledge he can steal.

“I think it was Okumura-san. I saw him not long ago with the specimen, recording data.”

“Ugh, of course. He’s always kissing Shido-san’s ass. He would…”

The voices fade, and Goro takes a chance, knowing he can’t delay. He hurries to the door they exited from, inspecting it quickly, finding that someone left a rock against the frame. Slipping inside, Goro kicks the rock away before turning to assess his surroundings.

Scanning the room, Goro finds that the space is empty. He stands within what seems like a classroom of some sort, but most desks sit barren, only a few containing any evidence of activity, scattered with papers and files. He wonders how populated it is in the day time or if this is it. Goro shakes off the thought when his gaze settles on a large poster on the wall. It’s an emergency exit route map. Lucky for him, every room is labeled.

For a long moment, Goro studies the rooms. He currently stands in the instruction hall. The main research laboratory sits to his south. Beneath it are smaller labs, accessible from the front office and the storage rooms. Two specimen study labs lie to the north of his location, and all the other rooms seem to be for cataloging and storage. The east half is dedicated to live specimen holding, and the west contains paper records and specimen samples.

Closing his eyes, Goro focuses with every fiber of his being on Akira, hoping that somehow he’s alive after what happened earlier. His mind swirls through darkness, seemingly moving forward blindly toward something, acting on instinct alone. Pulling in a deep breath, Goro tries calling Akira’s name. Suddenly, he jerks, feeling like he hit a wall, and an intense warmth fills Goro’s chest as he hears a weak but clear as day whisper.

“My beloved…”

Goro smacks a hand over his mouth as his body shudders with a sob he can’t let out. There won’t be any victory to Akira still living if Goro can’t rescue him from this hell hole.

“Where are you?”

“… Cage…”

Goro can practically feel Akira’s listlessness – the way he blinks slowly and floats to whatever surface is beneath him, drowsy from whatever he’s been through.

“I’m being watched.”

Akira’s growl reverberates in Goro’s head. He’s quickly becoming more alert as they talk.

“ I see other denizens of the sea, if that helps. ”

“Just one scientist?”

“ He’s a murderer . But yes. No one else remains. There were three more in the sterile room earlier, but I haven’t seen them since I… I blacked out. ”

“From pain.”

He feels Akira’s mournfulness and the way his hand slides down his stomach, now flat. “ I couldn’t save them… I- Goro, I’m sorry. ”

Anger fills from Goro’s feet, rushing to his head and making him dizzy with rage. “This isn’t your fault. This isn’t on you. We’ll make them pay. I’m getting you out of here, and we’ll make every single one who put their hands on you pay.”

Goro takes another look at the map, finger pressing against the live specimen catalogue rooms. If there’s anywhere in the building with a cage, it must be there. He scans the instruction hall once more, not finding anything worthwhile, and heads to the double doors to the south. He enters a hall that goes straight for a while before splitting east and west. Along the sides of the hall are other doors to empty offices. He hurries along the walkway, following the signs to the where he hopes to find Akira.

The room he ends up in is smaller than he expected. He assumes that the door to his immediate right leads to other specimens, but a sudden surge of excitement has Goro turning left. He spots another door and approaches quietly. Opening it, he peeks in, eyes landing on an enormous tank that takes up a significant portion of the room. He locks eyes with Akira, who wisely only smiles at him, mouthing ‘ I love you ’. In front of the tank, stands a dark haired man in glasses. He seems to be taking notes, wearing a white lab coat that’s anything but pristine. In fact, it’s covered in blood. Goro breathes slowly, not wanting to make any rash and stupid decisions while Akira’s life is at risk. Upon realizing that there are no other doors in the room, Goro slips through and stands in front of their only exit, staring down the man in front of Akira.

The man appears to be wholly engrossed in his work. He doesn’t even look up when the door shuts. In Goro’s peripheral, Akira rolls his eyes.

Goro pulls his spear from where it’s strapped to his back. He startles when the man begins to speak to himself.

“Fascinating. In a manner of hours the wounds have nearly absolved themselves simply by being in the water… I wonder how extensive the damages have to be for this function to not work.” He furiously writes something down. “Or if it could be transferred…”

Goro snaps, whipping out his spear and hitting the man in the chest with the blunt side of it. He staggers backward, landing on his ass with a thud, and Akira chitters excitedly, water sloshing as he lifts himself to the top of the tank and peers over at the man now on the floor.

“Are you Okumura?”

The man pushes up his glasses, staring at Goro confused. “I am. Who’s asking?”

“Did you operate on this mer?”

His eyes flick to Akira before landing back on Goro. “I did.”

Goro’s voice tightens. “What did you do?”

“I extracted the specimen’s brood.”

Goro pales, a surge of nausea debilitating him for a moment. He can only croak out a faint, “Why?”

The man scoffs at the question as if it’s absurd. “For examination and testing of course. Though we miscalculated severely considering mer gestation. We incorrectly assumed that they would be like humans and their offspring would be fine exiting the mother’s womb early. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.” He shrugs. “Still, even dead infant mers are invaluable-”

Goro’s mind goes red with rage. Before the scientist can finish his sentence, Goro whips his spear around, jamming it into the man’s throat. His eyes go wide, and he claws at the shaft of the harpoon, gurgling as blood spills from the wound, staining his lab coat even more. Goro places a heavy boot against the man’s chest and kicks him away, breathing shakily as he hooks the weapon onto his back again. For a long moment, he stands there, unable to process as his mind repeats “ even dead infant mers are invaluable ”. It haunts him as he turns toward the tank that houses Akira. As he looks up at his mate, recognizing the same grief on Akira’s face that fills his heart, he sobs, head resting against the glass as tears roll down his cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I was too late…”

Water sloshes as Akira hoists himself out of the tank, gently lowering himself beside Goro and wrapping him in his arms. “You came anyway.” He kisses him softly. “I’m grateful for that alone.” He sighs, a heaviness coating his voice. “We should leave as soon as we can.”

Goro nods. “I think I remember where the exits are. We’ll have to backtrack a little to get out.”

They depart from the first of the specimen storage areas and once back in the hall, go to the next room available, working their way toward the front of the building. It’s the main laboratory. To Goro’s surprise, it’s empty. It seems recently vacated, and Goro finds himself wondering what time a lunch break would be for a night shift. He doesn’t have long to think about it before Akira’s hand comes down heavy on his shoulder. Akira’s breathing quickens, and Goro follows his gaze. Chills ripple down his body when he sees a series of small creatures on the tables in front of them. He stares blankly, noting three red tailed and one black tailed infant mers. Something shatters inside Goro’s chest as he watches Akira approach them quietly. His face remains emotionless until he reaches his destination, mouth opening slightly as he shakes his head, looking every bit like the utter shock that Goro feels.

Akira’s hands shake as he picks up the first pup, lying pale and lifeless on the examination table. He brings it close to his chest, a mournful wail shaking out of him as he hunches over the body. “My pups… My first brood… My babies… Taken. Stolen . Ripped from me. ” His voice sharpens at the end, turning sour with rage.

Goro swallows the guilt and sorrow building in his throat. There’s nothing he can do now but keep Akira safe. He looks around and grabs a nearby scrap of cloth, picking up another pup and binding it in the material. Akira’s hand lands on his wrist, wrapping tightly to the point of pain.

“What are you doing?”

For his unsteadiness, Goro manages to speak calmly and plainly. “I won’t have our children be left here. They will be buried with dignity.”

Akira’s face crumples, and his grip loosens. Despite the tears streaking down his cheeks, his words are filled with vitriol. “I’ll kill them, Goro. Every last one of them. Any human who dared to put his hands on me or my pups. I’ll slaughter them like the beasts they are.”

Goro’s head whips up when he hears a crash from one of the smaller labs. “It seems you’ll have that chance now.” He reaches down, gently taking the pup from Akira’s grasp. “Blood for blood. Show them no mercy.”

Akira’s quick. Faster than what seems possible on land for a mer, but his strong arms carry him across the laboratory floor in a manner of seconds. He rips the door off its hinges and startles the inhabitants of the room. Their screams strangle into nothingness as Akira’s nails sink into their jugulars, tearing their throats open with the same ease that Goro fillets a small fish.

It's a difficult sight to watch, the blood and gore spilling all over the floor paired with the gurgling struggle of dying, but as Goro picks up the third and fourth pups to wrap, he’s satisfied with the carnage.

Akira stays at the exit, soaked in blood, breathing heavily as he listens for any sound of other scientists. Goro calmly locates a box, gently nestling their pups inside. He doesn’t consider himself a man of faith, but he still says a prayer for them as he sets them in one by one. It takes everything he has not to break down as he says goodbye to the children he’ll never know. He stands back up, exhaling slowly as he picks up the box and nods toward the door.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing Akira in action is a thing of beauty. Eyes black like a moonless sky, he slaughters everything in his path. Teeth bared, nails splayed, and body ready to strike, nothing and no one stands a chance. Scientists pouring over experiment results find their guts torn out before they can blink. They fall over dead before the next person can think to scream. He slices, claws, and hacks through dozens of people – those milling about, cataloguing samples, tending to specimens – all in bloody ribbons in the wake of Akira’s fury.

After a rampage of thirty minutes, the entire laboratory sits quiet. Still.

Goro noiselessly steps over bodies still struggling to breathe, some desperately holding onto their own viscera as they drag themselves toward any exit, staining the floor red with wide swaths of blood in their wake. He ignores them, knowing his mate is not far behind, picking off any survivors. Behind him, one of the few that still live gurgles out a plea of mercy before it’s choked off with his own blood. Goro startles when Akira’s hand wraps around his waist, and he leans down, pressing a pungently iron kiss to his cheek.

He continues to walk through the last area of live specimen storage, eyes scanning the containers for anything sentient. A comment from months ago nags at his brain. It’s something he cannot give up yet. “We still have work to do.”

Akira leans against the doorframe, looking a touch pale. “I need rest, my love.” He groans and stretches. “It isn’t safe here. Your town may not be large, but people will come by morning. I am not a match for bullets.”

“I know. I do.” He brings Akira’s hand up to his lips, kissing it gently before dropping it. “But you remember what you told me?”

“Hmm?”

“About what your doctor said.”

Akira frowns. “My doctor?”

“Five pups, if she is to be believed.” Akira’s eyes widen, and Goro nods. “We only found four.” He looks back toward the wall of tanks. “I have to hope. Allow me this, please.”

He walks the long hall, gaze landing on every variety of crustacean, mollusk, and fish known to man. Nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary. Dozens upon dozens of creatures later, Goro begins to feel weary until he hears a small chirp. His head whips up, and he sees a small being, no bigger than his forearm floating in a tank, with soft tawny hair, and a pure black tail. Two wide maroon eyes blink back at him, and he falls to his knees, tears already spilling.

“AKIRA! ”

In a second, his mate is at his side, hands on him protectively, but Goro can hear the catch in his breath and the immediate scraping of a container as it’s removed from the uppermost shelves.

Goro hears the splash of Akira’s hands in the water and a series of small squeaks and squeals as the pup is lifted from its containment. He looks up, blinking the tears from his sight as Akira holds their guppy close and begins to weep himself. Covered in blood and stray flecks of flesh and cloth, Akira looks menacing, an absolute terror, but Goro’s heart squeezes at the expression on his face as he nuzzles their pup. His mate is at absolute peace, blissful to have recovered one of the guppies stolen from him so cruelly.

It brings a smile to Goro’s face, utterly enthralled by the happiness of his family. He breathes in deeply, allowing himself to settle his nerves before he stands, but something in the distant pops and a tank behind Goro’s head shatters. He whips toward the sound, heart stopping when he sees Akira’s mouth fall open as he staggers back, crashing against the collection of specimens. Goro’s heart lurches into his throat when his eyes settle on the bullet hole in Akira’s abdomen, blood beginning to pour forth.

“I should have known it would be you.”

Goro looks up, jaw clenching as Shido steps forward, loading the gun again.

“I told my appraiser that you catching the largest mer known to this town was suspicious.” His eyes flick toward where Akira lays prone. “Leave it to my worthless bastard son to be a mer sympathizer.”

Reaching for the spear on his back, Goro steps over Akira, positioning himself between his mate and his father.

“Are you really going to try to protect that thing?” He gestures to the room he stands in. “It slaughtered over two dozen scientists this evening. It hardly deserves your pity. In fact, it should be put down like the rabid animal it is.” Shido lifts the gun and aims it in Akira’s direction, eyes focusing on his slowly breathing form.

Goro takes his chance and throws the spear with all his strength. The blade sails past Shido’s shoulder, but it grazes him. Shido drops the gun immediately, cursing as his hand presses to the pooling blood by his neck. Goro lunges forward, kicking the gun out of the way. He pops back up, rushing for the harpoon at the other end of the hall. He hears Shido following.

Shido sneers, “You’re a persistent little bitch, I’ll give you that. Must have inherited it from your whor* mother.”

Goro’s lip twitches into a snarl, but he holds his ground, knowing that it’s just bait to get him to attack. When he doesn’t fall for it, Shido strikes forward, fist sailing into Goro’s jaw. He reels back and swings widely, hearing Shido curse. The man grabs at the spear, attempting to wrench it from Goro’s grasp. They struggle over the weapon, but being younger has its advantages. Goro kicks wildly, his foot landing smack in the center of Shido’s stomach. It’s enough to get the man to release the spear and briefly crumple over, but he’s not finished gloating yet.

“You think you can kill me?” He cackles. “You can try, but it won’t save your precious mer. Sleep well knowing you’ll be a pariah amongst humans when word gets out about your involvement here. You’ll have no place to turn.”

Gritting his teeth, Goro shakes those thoughts off. There are more pressing matters at hand. He backs up toward the exit, trying to goad Shido into following, hoping to get him away from his family. Goro realizes his mistake in doing so when Shido instead backtracks toward Akira, retrieving the pistol.

Shido lowers his arm, pointing it toward Akira, who lies behind him. “I’d prefer live specimens for my scientists to study, but this one isn’t worth the effort. Though perhaps I shouldn’t kill you . I should let you live and watch helplessly as I take your child and put him in a cage.”

Goro glares at his father, maintaining his focus on the man even as he sees Akira stir behind him.

Shido co*cks the gun. “You can live knowing you were powerless to stop me from taking everything from you, including your fut-”

Akira’s hand curls around Shido’s throat, nails sinking into his jugular, piercing his trachea. Sprays of blood paint the storage tanks, flooding the tiled floor and staining the grout. Shido coughs and sputters, whimpering pathetically before he falls over dead.

Akira lurches backward, barely staying upright as he leans against the containers, chest heaving as he offers a weak smile to Goro.

Goro rushes forward, stepping on his father’s body to reach Akira. He cups Akira’s face, brushing his hair back from his clammy skin. “Stay with me. I said I’d protect you, didn’t I? You just have to stay with me. I’ll take you home. I’ll keep you safe. I swear.” He looks down at their pup in his own little tank. “I’ll keep you both safe.”

Exiting the S.C.A.L.E.S. building isn’t difficult. The place is empty – eerily quiet with the silence of death. Goro works quickly to load Akira and their pups into Hereward’s cart, struggling as his strength and energy begins to wane. The only thing keeping him going is his promise. He can’t let Shido win. He can’t let him be right. He won’t lose his family.

As they arrive at the beach, Goro drags Akira into the sea and ties him to his boat for support. He sets the temporary grave for their pups in the boat with him and empties the small tank into the sea, spirits lifting as he watches their guppy, dart toward Akira and chirp excitedly. Despite his joy, exhaustion begins to settle in as a fraction of the sun peeks over the horizon. Goro cuts Hereward’s restraints and tells him to go home. He can only hope the steed listens as he canters away from the coast. Goro unsteadily steps into the boat, a heavy tiredness weighing on his shoulders as he picks up the oars.

Breathing in deeply, Goro focuses his mind on Akira and their pup. Anything to protect them. Anything to keep them safe. He made a promise. He’ll make good on it or die trying.

~~~

Goro exhales heavily, eyes too tired to open immediately. The chest beneath his head rumbles with gentle laughter.

“Still tired, my beloved?”

Nails rake through Goro’s hair, sending a shiver down his spine. He groans softly.

“You did go through hell last night.”

The nails scrape down his back too, and it makes Goro realize he’s naked. Pulling his arm from beneath his face, Goro blindly reaches around, grasping onto Akira tightly.

“I was worried when you collapsed.” A kiss is pressed to the crown of his head. “My doctor isn’t completely educated in human anatomy, but she assured me you were only tired. That you needed rest.” Another kiss. “Our pup is in good health.” His tongue clicks, and Goro feels the rush of water as two small hands grab his own tugging playfully, a small pitched chirruping coming from the child. “We’ll have to name him soon.”

Goro groans again, lifting his heavy, heavy head to look at Akira. The hand that isn’t currently captured by their pup raises to cup Akira’s face. “How are you?”

Akira smiles. “Worried about the gunshot wound?”

“Of course.”

“Mers heal extraordinarily quick in the water.” He cradles Goro’s face and leans down to kiss him properly. “Within an hour, I was doing far better than you.” He smirks. “Or do you not remember passing out in the boat before we were even halfway here?”

Goro’s face erupts in flames, cheeks turning bright red as his eyes widen. “I did not.”

“You absolutely did, my love. Fortunately, by that point, I had enough energy to swim us home.” He gestures to the lagoon, far larger than the cove they would always meet at by Goro’s house. Goro immediately recognizes it as the place they met. “I knew we would always return here. It was meant to be.” His hand dunks into the water, plucking their squeaking pup from the waves and pressing him to Goro’s chest before sitting upright and dumping them both into the water. “Bond with your son. I’m going to find us food.”

Goro flounders in the water for a moment before surfacing and staring at his pup. The boy is barely longer than his forearm, round faced, round bellied, wide eyed, and already grinning like his mother. His tawny hair is matted to his head in sopping wet tufts that tug at Goro’s heart. Whether he wants to believe it or not, the child looks like him. He reaches out, rubbing a hand along the pup’s cheek and receiving an adoring nibble against his wrist with surprisingly sharp teeth.

“Ah, let’s not get in that habit.”

He pulls his hand away and begins to swim downward, beckoning for the pup to follow. He does with a small chirp, and they settle on the sea floor. Goro picks up an array of items – rocks, sea life, shells, and whatever else he can find – and begins teaching his son the names of each thing. He doesn’t get too far into their lesson before Akira returns with a fresh catch, inviting them back toward the surface.

Akira tosses a hefty fish onto the rocks for Goro to cook before settling back into the water and pulling their pup closer, showing him how to eat his own fish. Goro finds himself captivated by the instruction and his mate. Akira glows while talking to their pup, and while the child offers no spoken response, he chirps, following the directions Akira carefully lays out. Goro smiles, his own meal easily forgotten as he watches his family. A sliver of grief spears into Goro’s chest as he remembers what they lost, but he nearly weeps with gratitude that they were able to save one pup. Unthinking, he reaches out and strokes his fingers across Akira’s cheek.

He looks up at him, mouth covered in blood and eyes wide and confused. Goro shakes his head, fingers curling into Akira’s hair. “I love you.”

A blush touches Akira’s face, and he wipes his mouth before surging out of the lagoon to kiss Goro. He settles back in the water, and they both turn to look at their pup, hungrily gobbling up the fish in his tiny hands.

“You brought our family back together, Goro.”

“But we lost so much.”

A shade of melancholy covers Akira’s face as he nods. “We did.” He sighs. “We did, but we’ll recover.” He gently pats the pup’s head, earning a tiny growl in the process. He chides him for the reaction but smirks at the already bold personality of their son. Akira looks back up at Goro, eyes raking down his still naked frame. “There’s always the next mating season.”

Black begins to pool at the edges of Akira’s eyes, and his chest heaves as he hauls himself out of the water and onto the stone beside Goro. His hand wraps around Goro’s torso, dragging him close, nails digging into his skin with an almost delightful prick of pain.

When Akira speaks again, his voice is low, sultry, and his eyes are inky black with desire. “You’ll fill me with more pups, won’t you Goro? I know you’re good for it.”