Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kaori sighed as she stared up towards where the ocean would have ended, and out would come fresh air. The outside world was an absolute mystery to merfolk such as Kaori. Folk on land didn't have a tail, much like the merfolk Kaori came to be familiar with.

"Kaoriiiiii!" A voice spoke from afar, snapping Kaori out of her thoughts. She turned around to see her sisters, Lien and Yazhu. "Oh! Lien, Yazhu," Kaori began. "What do you want?" Kaori questioned. "Father was looking for you," Yazhu said. "Yeah. It's near dark though- are you really that excited for tomorrow?" Lien asked.

"Um... I guess?" Kaori said, unsure what Lien meant by "being excited for tomorrow". "Oh, good!" Yazhu said. "Be ready for tomorrow okay? For now, it's time to sleep." Kaori nodded, tired.

Kaori woke up, still fairly tired. Kaori looked upwards, seeing the bright blue. Oh great. I overslept. Kaori thought, yawning. Kaori looked around, wondering where both Lien and Yazhu went off to.

She would soon walk out the door, to her surprise.

"Happy birthday, Princess Kaori!" A maid said. "Happy birthday, milady." A butler said. Is that what they meant by being excited for today? Kaori thought. Wow, I completely forgot about my birthday! How shameful is that?

"Haaaapppy birthday, Kaori!!" Yazhu said, happily. Lien nodded in agreement. "Remind me, Kaori... You're eighteen today, right?" Lien asked. Kaori nodded. "Why so, Lien?" Her older sister sighed, clasping her hands together. "You can finally go to the surface!" Lien said, happily.

Kaori's eyes widen, almost in disbelief. "Goodness!" Kaori said. "It's really time for that, already?!" Yazhu laughed, amused. "It's okay- so did I, Kaori," Yazhu said. "Unlike you and Lien, I never had an interest in the surface land, ya know?"

"I guess that's fair," Lien said. "But Kaori always had such a huge interest in the surface world. It was honestly completely out of character for her." Kaori nodded. "Anyway, thanks for the reminder!" Kaori said. "Kaori- where are you going?" Yazhu said. "I'm sorry, I can't help it!" Kaori said. "I've always wanted to see that world, you know?"

"Just be back, okay?" Lien said. "I know, I know!" Kaori said. "I'll be back soon enough!"

Kaori, at long last, was finally able to see the world above the waves. Unbeknownst to her, she saw a dark sky, with stars gleaming brightly. Even if she didn't know what stars were.

In fact, Kaori was so in love with the night sky she didn't notice a ship was going by her; if anything, the sounds were the thing that snapped her out of her thoughts. Out of instinct, Kaori moved out of the boat's way. The sounds caught her attention, so she found an edge so could hold on to, and eavesdropping in on conversations.

Humans. Kaori thought. She shouldn't be near them, but... Curiosity killed her.

"Yo, when's Arthur gonna stop stallin'?" One person asked. "Who knows? Arthur always seems to have his mind in La-La Land." Another person responded. Arthur, huh? Kaori wondered. What is he like, I wonder?

Kaori noticed a nearby window and silently moved over without anyone noticing at all. She looked through the window and was awestruck upon seeing a man with messy, blonde hair and the most beautiful, piercing, emerald eyes Kaori had ever seen. Unbeknownst to her, Kaori's face was turning a light shade of pink.

"Arthur?" A gentle, yet thick, voice asked. The messy-haired man looked to the door. "Arthur. How long are you going to keep us waiting?" The blonde man sighed. "In a moment, Glenn!" Arthur said. Arthur's voice was soothing to Kaori, calming her down, to the point where her eyes were only on Arthur.

"I swear, I'll be out shortly..." Arthur said before Glenn opened the door. "Well, we're all getting a little bit impatient, you know!" Glenn said, in a fairly similar accent to Arthur's. "Whatever. I was just about to go out, you know." Arthur said, before leaving. Glenn closed the door behind them- and then a firework went out, shocking Kaori.

Kaori fell into the water, before looking towards the sky and looking upon the fireworks. She was... Awe-struck.

The fireworks were very beautiful, Kaori's eyes were gleaming at the sight of it. "Wow..." Kaori began. "I'm not sure what this is... But it's beautiful...!" Kaori spoke,quietly.

How unfortunate, that it also distracted Kaori from an oncoming storm.

A sudden storm was upon the ship, and Kaori's mind snapped out of it upon hearing screams. "Oh, gods..." Glenn spoke. "Everyone! It's a storm!" Glenn spoke aloud. "Good gods..." Arthur said. "Of all days- Why does it have to be today?!"

Kaori was forced to look onwards at this until the boat was torn apart. Oh no...!! He's drowning!! Kaori thought. "I have to save him...!" Kaori spoke aloud. She went underwater and was able to carry Arthur to the shore.

It took the entire night, but in Kaori's eyes, it was worth it.

Kaori had placed Arthur on the shore near a castle, from what she was told from her siblings, admiring the prince. Wow... He's more handsome up close. Kaori thought. "I could practically watch him, all day," Kaori whispered. Kaori would have stayed longer; had she not heard sounds of someone coming towards her.

Kaori, in a panic, quickly went back into the sea but chose to hide at a nearby rock. To her surprise, Kaori saw... Glenn and a young girl who shared the same eyes as Glenn had. "P-Prince Arthur?!" The girl questioned. "Milord! Wake up!" Glenn plead. Arthur was able to wake up, from the pleas of Glenn and the young girl. "G-Glenn...?" Arthur began. "H-How... How are you here? I saw you drown..." Arthur questioned.

"Oh... That's a long story..." Glenn said. "But right now, we need to get you to a better state," Glenn said, placing Arthur's arm around him. "Come along, Maristella. Let's help Prince Arthur out, alright?" The girl looked towards Kaori's direction, but she wasn't sure if she saw Kaori at all. Soon after, Maristella turned to Glenn and nodded in agreement. "A-Alright..." She spoke, following after Glenn.

Kaori sighed, relief in her voice. At least he's safe. Kaori thought. And that girl. Did she see me? Kaori wondered. Upon entering the water, yet again, she felt her face was... Lukewarm. That wasn't normal- at all. At the same time, she noticed that she heard... A beat.

A heartbeat.

At that moment, Kaori realized what had happened to her. She had fallen in love with the human prince. But... She was a mermaid and he was a human! Such love would be forbidden and best forgotten... Right?