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Mika was used to being transported from one place to another, but that was the first time he felt sad about it.
Humans always marveled about him, massing around his tank and holding up square objects that sometimes flashed bright lights. Mika's job was to swim around, smile, and wave at them. The more humans came, the better the food he was given. Mika usually never cared about humans as individuals; they were just an anonymous mass that determined his level of comfort.
Mika had learned a long time ago how to read on lips; it was a small distraction in the silence of his tank. But for the first time, he had met a human who could do the same. He was dark-haired, barely into adulthood, and had the most beautiful green eyes. He came in daily, to the point Mika had suspected he was working for the aquarium. Yuu—what a beautiful name—had assured him it was not the case. He just enjoyed talking to Mika, and it was worth the daily trip to the aquarium. Mika was delighted by his visits, even though their conversations were usually short; impatient visitors more than often shoved Yuu away so they could point their plastic squares at him.
Mika was going to miss Yuu. A tear escaped his eye and merged with the water of his transportation tank. He was used to more luxury when he was moved from one place to another, but maybe his performance during the last exhibit had been unsatisfactory. His owner always warned him: "You're a commodity. Stop acting like you've got feelings." It was harsh, but Mika had no other means of survival. He was just an object, and he should not have allowed his heart to be swayed by a human. The longing he was now feeling was not worth it.
He felt the vibrations of the truck come to a stop. Maybe he would be able to take a little nap. He was never able to sleep with the noisy motor and the tremors splashing water against the tank's walls. He curled up at the bottom of his tank and closed his eyes. He was feeling slightly hungry. He had not been fed before he was netted out of the aquarium's gigantic tank. It had been a long time since he had last been treated so roughly. Had he really performed this poorly? What wouldn't he give for some sardines?
The truck's back door opened. Mika perked up; maybe he would finally be given some food. He glimpsed two shadows climbing into the truck before the door closed. The light was turned on and Mika shut his eyes to shield them from the sudden brightness. He heard two male voices.
"Wow, you really did it."
"Of course. I don't rip off my clients, I've got a reputation."
"Why the hell did you gag him though? That was totally unnecessary."
When Mika felt he could comfortably open his eyes, he saw the two men. One of them was tall, with pale pink hair and a pair of these weird eye contraptions humans often wore. The second man was... Yuu?!
"I'm not taking any risk," the man with the pink hair said, as both men stepped toward his tank. "These mer-creatures are famous for charming their victims with their voices. Before you know it, he'll be chewing your flesh."
"There's no way Mika would ever do that," Yuu said, putting his hands on his hips as he stopped in front of the tank. "Right Mika?"
Mika promptly nodded. There was absolutely no way he could lure Yuu with a song.
"See?" Yuu turned toward the pink-haired man.
"Are you stupid?"
"Come on! I'll take responsibility if something happens."
The pink-haired man eyed Mika suspiciously before he finally handed Yuu a key. "The minute blondie starts singing, I'm emptying his tank, got it?"
Mika shivered at the thought. While he was able to breathe in the open air, he could die if left out of water for a prolonged period.
"Thanks, Kimizuki." Yuu grabbed the key and flashed Mika one of these smiles that made the merman feel warm all over, from the top of his scalp to the tip of his tail.
Yuu climbed over a pile of crates until he could reach his hand through the grate at the top of the tank. Mika swam up and allowed Yuu to unlock the padlock holding the gag in place.
Freed from the gag, Mika smiled at Yuu in gratitude. He was not sure why the human man was here, but Mika was happy to see him.
"Yuu!" he mouthed. "I thought I would never see you again."
"You can talk, now. We don't have to read on each other's lips anymore."
Mika's face flushed awkwardly. "I can't speak."
"It's okay. Kimizuki won't empty your tank just because you're talking."
Mika shook his head and touched his throat. Yuu frowned in confusion.
"Figures," Kimizuki said, catching on easily. "His vocal cords got removed."
"What?" Yuu gasped and stared at Mika in horror. Mika lowered his head, ashamed. "Why the hell would someone do that?"
"Convenience? As a fair animal, it would be troublesome if he were to sing and lure spectators."
The pink-haired man was correct. At some point during Mika's captivity, he had been put to sleep and woke up to find his voice gone. Maybe it would have been better if Yuu had never found out. Mika felt such a lesser animal. What was a mer-creature without their voice? Just a pretty, petty trinket.
"Still want to set him free?" Kimizuki added. "I wager a merman without a voice would not fare well in the big ocean."
Mika's eyes widened. Yuu wanted to set him free? Was that why he had been so roughly taken away? Had he been kidnapped? He wanted to ask Yuu but he was not looking at Mika. Mika splashed his tail against the surface of the water, trying to catch his attention.
Once Yuu finally turned his head toward him, Mika mouthed: "Did you kidnap me?"
Yuu rubbed the back of his head. "Well, you said you missed the ocean, so... I planned your escape. You looked so miserable and tired, and I wanted you to be happy."
Mika's heart sped up as the kindness of Yuu's words reached him. He had never met a human so selfless. But as much as he missed his life before captivity, Mika had come to terms with the fact he would never return to freedom.
"The ocean is also a dangerous place," Kimizuki said, voicing Mika's thoughts. "I know you paid for his release in the sea, but you might be sending him to an early death if you do so."
That was true. Without his voice, Mika would have no way to call out for the other merpeople. A lone merman would be easy prey.
"Damn..." Yuu bit his lower lip, frustration clear in his green eyes. Mika felt upset for him. The boy had taken risks for nothing.
"You should take me back," Mika told him, though this was the last thing he wanted.
"No way. I'm not sending you back there and let them keep treating you like..."
"A fair animal?"
"Don't say that..." A tear ran along Yuu's cheek. "Damn... I wanted to save you."
"You can always keep him," Kimizuki said, which earned him a glare from Yuu.
"If I do that, I'll be no better than these assholes who abuse merpeople!"
Kimizuki shrugged. "Don't take your anger out at me. You should have thought things through before you paid us."
"Damn..." Yuu bit his lower lip again. "What am I supposed to do?" He looked at Mika.
"You don't want me?" Yuu keeping him did not seem a bad solution to Mika, but he was not sure the human would want to bother with him.
"I did not take you away to make you captive again."
"I'd rather be with you than with anyone else."
"You barely know me."
"I know you enough that I want to be in your care. If you want me..." Mika lowered his head. Who would want a merman who could not sing?
Mika did not realize Yuu had reached through the grate until he felt a warm hand cup his cheek.
"I'd give my life for you," Yuu told him. He addressed Kimizuki: "Think you could get me supplies so I could move him to my place?"
"That'll cost you extra but as long as we get the money, we'll get the job done."
"Does that mean... we won't be separated?" Mika asked when Yuu's eyes returned on him.
"As long as you want to stay with me, I'll keep you safe."