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Rui missed it. The current against his skin, the immense expanse of the ocean surrounding him, he could swim as down as he wanted, as high and as close to the sun as he desired… He could swim for hours without ever reaching an end.
The ocean was freedom.
So why did he have to be reckless and injure his tail? His mother always told him that if he kept swimming while attempting the most ambitious twists and turns just to put on a show, he would end up hurting himself, or worse.
When the humans took him to a rehabilitation center, all he could think about was his mother’s concerned, disappointed face.
But more than that, Rui missed the ocean.
The pool at the rehabilitation center wasn’t bad. His caretakers made sure to keep the temperature similar to his home, the color and taste of it was just like the water at his reef. But it was small and empty. Sure, it had enough space so that he could swim a few laps to get the needed exercise, and there was a dark corner where he could sleep without the prying eyes of the rehabilitators… But it wasn’t the ocean.
The fishes were missing, the corals, the chatter as the merfolk swam from place to place talking about their day, the scavenging for the seaweed that his mother liked, putting on shows with Nene…
It had been three weeks and his tail showed no sign of getting any better. With his dorsal fin twisted, the fresh stitches on the gash that severely damaged his nerves. It hurt to even swim fast enough to pretend he was back home.
“Are you okay, Rui?”
But even then, there was one positive outlook on the entire situation. One of his rehabilitators, Tsukasa. He was crouched down next to the edge of the pool, his equipment bag next to him.
“Mmh, I’m doing great, Tsukasa.” Rui rested his arms on the edge of the pool, sitting on one of the ledges placed on the walls of the pool to aid him with staying still for check-ups. “Why are you here? Last I checked, I wasn’t due for a check up until tomorrow. Don’t tell me they advanced it.” He pouted, his hand reaching out to touch Tsukasa’s shoe. “You know I hate needles.”
Tsukasa’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, instead, it just made Rui’s stomach drop with dread. “Not quite, I just came to check on you. You looked rather sad.”
Oh. He hadn’t meant to show it…
“Ah, Tsukasa, thank you for your concern, but I assure you I’m-”
“Are you feeling any pain? Or maybe it’s the temperature of the water.” Tsukasa turned to open his bag, taking out a tablet to check, most likely to check the status of Rui’s living conditions.
It had been five months. He doubted his family knew where he was, and if he was being completely honest with himself, he despised being confined to the pool. Every three days they came to take blood tests, and every day he had to work with a physician regarding his tail movements. He was under constant watch, and the food they provided wasn’t meant to be enjoyed, but to provide nutrients.
But during everything, Tsukasa had been there, putting Rui first instead of his job as a caretaker. Maybe being thoughtful of Rui’s feelings was under the job descriptions of a rehabilitator for Tsukasa, but even then, the kindness he had shown Rui made everything worth it.
Rui reached forward, his webbed hand wrapping around Tsukasa’s wrist. “Nothing of the sort.” he shook his head. “If anything, I’m feeling a bit homesick, which I think is routine for everyone who ends up here.”
Tsukasa put away his tablet, “I’m sorry, Rui.” He placed his own hand on top of Rui’s, closing it so he could put it back on the edge of the pool. He didn’t withdraw it, instead intertwining his fingers with Rui’s. “Recovery should be going smoothly, but the nerve damage is so severe, and the bacterial levels in your water most likely don’t feel the same as your home.” Tsukasa seemed so immersed in his own thoughts that Rui couldn’t think of a way to respond.
Well, Tsukasa’s focused expression was not the only thing keeping him quiet; it was more so the fact that he was holding his hand right now.
Rui doubted he could find suitable words, much less articulate them in a way that didn’t make him sound like a nervous loser.
“Mmh!” Tsukasa hummed, seemingly already having found the solution to his problem. “What’s your favorite plant from back home?”
“Plant?”
“If you’re feeling homesick, then what we have to do is get you something that reminds you of home and makes you smile!” Tsukasa’s smile was so bright that it took Rui a second to remember what plants were around his home in the first place.
“I quite enjoy the coralline algae when it’s fully mature.” He said after a second.
Tsukasa nodded. “Roger!” and without giving Rui a second chance to speak, he ran away.
———
It had been two days since he last saw Tsukasa. The one in charge of the medical check-up this week was Mochizuki. Rui quite liked her, whenever it was her turn to do Rui’s check-ups, she made sure to keep Rui’s comfort her top priority, and wouldn’t force Rui to take tests or perform exercises that he did not wish to do.
He would be lying if he said that he did not abuse that in the beginning. Looking back on it, it was obvious that Mochizuki knew that Rui wasn’t feeling ‘too sick’ to do said exercises. She never seemed bothered by it though, and sometimes she even encouraged him to skip out on said exercises to focus more on his health and comfort.
“Everything seems normal so far.” Mochizuki nodded, looking at the tablet in her hands, her stylus marking off answers to the check-up questions. “You said you’re able to swim non-stop for fifteen minutes?”
He used to be able to swim non-stop for hours.
“Mmh,” he hummed. “Much better than the previous eight minutes, isn’t it?”
“Truly! The physical therapy must be working.” She turned off her tablet, putting it back inside her bag before turning to look at Rui. “Remember that if something hurts too much to call me, Tenma, or any of the other nurses on duty.”
“Will do—”
“RUUUIIIIIIIIIII!!!”
“Ah!” Mochizuki exclaimed, startled by the sudden slam of the door as Tsukasa ran in with a heavy-looking gray box in his arms. “Tsukasa! Why are you-”
“Honami!” Tsukasa placed the box right next to the edge of the pool. “Am I interrupting your checkup?”
Honami had to take a couple of seconds to recover from the shock of Tsukasa’s loud entrance, but she shook her head. “No, we were just done actually. I’m going to take the blood samples to the lab…” she let her sentence trail off, furrowing her brows at Tsukasa. “Did you… need anything?”
“I just have a gift for Rui, but don’t want to interrupt the checkup.”
“A gift for me?” Rui cut in. He hadn’t expected Tsukasa to go and find an actual gift for him. Even so, the chances of it being the algae were slim. It’s not like it was hard to grow, but it took time, and for Tsukasa to go so deep into the ocean to try and find one… Well, as touched as Rui would be, he’d also feel a bit guilty.
Honami smiled. “Okay then, I'll leave now.”
As soon as Honami left, Tsukasa sat on the edge of the pool, taking off his shoes and kicking them to the side. The rehabilitators weren’t allowed to dip their feet into the pool, considering it wasn't a recreational pool and every single bacteria placed there was good bacteria, anything unknown to the environment could offset an infection on Rui’s tail.
Rui still asked Tsukasa to take them off, so they could have the illusion of relaxing in the pool together.
“A gift, huh?” Rui smirked, resting his head on his crossed arms.
Tsukasa reached for the steel box, taking the lid off. The scent of ocean minerals and foreign chemicals assaulted Rui’s nose in an instant, he couldn’t help but scrunch his nose and hide it under his arms.
Tsukasa reached inside the box with his gloved hands, taking out a big, grey rock. Rui was about to make a teasing remark ‘ Oh, a rock, how thoughtful’ , but the words died in his throat as soon as the vibrant pink of the coralline algae caught his eye.
The rock was home to one of the most beautiful growths of algae he had ever seen. Back home, it either had bite marks, or it was overtaken by other algae and aggressive coral. Rui always did his best to take care of the wild algae he found on the floors of his town…
But this algae was… perfectly taken care of.
“I checked the bio lab, they have some coral growth and different types of algae to repopulate reefs that are dying. It was hard to make them part with this specific growth, but as soon as I told them it was to make my dear Rui feel better, they didn’t put up a fight!”
Tsukasa’s proud smile was equally eye-catching, Rui didn't know if he should look at him or if he should look at the algae.
“It’s.. beautiful.” Rui whispered.
“That it is! And I made sure to check if it would be safe to introduce to the water, so here you go!” Tsukasa handed Rui the growth, which he took into his hands. He’d seen this plant so many times, in so many different forms. He once saw an entire sediment covered in newly formed algae, he remembered that as the most beautiful sight in his short 25 years of age…
And yet, this small rock he held in both his hands was so much more beautiful than that sight. Maybe because it came accompanied with Tsukasa’s care.
“There it is.” Tsukasa’s voice interrupted Rui’s thoughts.
“There what is?”
“Your smile.”
“What do you mean, Tsukasa? I smile plenty.”
“It’s been a while since you smiled like that.” Tsukasa changed his position to fully lay down on his stomach. His lab coat was wrinkled, and the ground was probably too hard on his arms. “I’m sorry progress hasn’t gone as it should.” His smile fell, looking dejected instead.
Rui reached forward, placing his hand on top of Tsukasa’s, his other hand held the rock in place on his lap. “Not your fault. You weren’t the one who swam where he shouldn’t have.”
Tsukasa placed his elbows on the ground, using his free hands to hold Rui’s hand. “It’s my job to make you feel better, if you ever need anything again just let me know. There’s nothing I cannot do.”
“You do so much.”
“I could do more. Anything to see you smile like you are right now.”
“That’s all because of you, Tsukasa.”
When had they gotten so close? Rui could smell the sweet, salty ocean scent of Tsukasa. Every single scientist in the center smelled of the ocean, it came with the job, but Tsukasa was… it was so sweet, so sharp.
Tsukasa’s warm hands still held Rui’s cold, wet, webbed hand. His own eyes couldn’t help but look at Tsukasa’s lips, which were so close to his own. He could see Tsukasa looking at his lips. Rui couldn’t help but wonder, were they thinking of the same thing?
Tsukasa let go of Rui’s hand, instead taking hold of Rui’s face. His warm fingers were making Rui’s face feel like it was on fire—or was he justblushing? They were now much closer than before, not a single word was exchanged between them, deciding to speak instead through their glances. Tsukasa’s eyes were cloudy, unfocused, deep in thought.
“-kiss you?”
Rui barely even noticed Tsukasa had asked a question. He didn't quite get the beginning of it, but he knew exactly what Tsukasa wanted from him. Rui wasn't able to speak, instead he just nodded. The sound of his own heartbeat was deafening in his own ears. He knew deep down that if Tsukasa really did kiss him, he wouldn’t be able to stop. The mere concept of kissing Tsukasa seemed like an unattainable dream, but there he was, leaning closer and closer.
It was a surprise when Tsukasa’s lips finally pressed against his. With his hands holding Rui’s face, he took the lead. Rui placed his free hand against Tsukasa’s, and closed his eyes.
It was a simple kiss. Tsukasa’s hand seemed to pull Rui’s face closer, and Rui moved his hand to the back of Tsukasa’s neck to do the same. Tsukasa was the first one to move his lips, a gentle nudge against Rui’s own, to which Rui responded with equal enthusiasm. Their lips locked together like they were made for each other, and as much as they both tried to pull the other closer, there was only so much space that could be covered.
Tsukasa pulled away for a split second to regain his breath.Rui could go as much as he needed considering that he did not need the oxygen from the air, but he could sympathize. Neither of them let go of each other, their foreheads still pressed together.
Tsukasa barely wasted a single second before pressing his lips against Rui’s once again, this time with more fervor. Rui responded with the same amount of energy, feeling as their warm tongues met each other for the first time. Tsukasa seemed to hesitate for a second, his thumbs caressing Rui’s cheeks, almost as if he was asking a question. Rui pulled Tsukasa closer, not wanting to lose the motion they had just entered.
Rui could feel every inch of Tsukasa taking over him with just this kiss. The way he pushed and pulled with his tongue, Rui could taste the pork Tsukasa ate at lunch as their tongues connected them with each other. All the loneliness seemed to melt away from Rui.
Rui felt their kiss was eternal, but as soon as Tsukasa pulled away once again, all he could think about was that it was ‘Not enough. Not enough, I need more.’ How could a single kiss be so addicting?
“You’re still smiling. I’m glad.” Tsukasa whispered, his breath ghosting over Rui’s lips.
“Is that all you’re focused on?” Rui teased, his hand gently sliding away from the back of Tsukasa’s neck. Tsukasa’s hand quickly reached for it, holding it firm.
“Of course. It’s my job.”
“I doubt that kissing is on the job description.”
They both smiled. Their silence was comfortable, neither of them pulled away, foreheads still pressed against each other and hands still clasped together. Rui wished this moment could last forever, he wished he could keep kissing Tsukasa without any interruptions. Without any need for air.
“I’m quite hungry. You interrupted Mochizuki-san before she could give me dinner.”
That seemed to break Tsukasa from the trance they’d both found themselves in, and he jumped to his feet in an instant.
“Aahhh!? Why didn't you say so before!? I have to log that on the chart now! You can't have a late dinner, Rui, it could offset metabolism and ruin the entire process—”
Rui smiled, watching as Tsukasa gathered the food from the cabinets and the fridges in the room.
Yes, he missed home more than anything, and he couldn’t wait to finally leave, but as he watched Tsukasa… he figured his stay wasn't as miserable as it could’ve been.