Chapter Text
Yuichi smiled when the pads of his feet hit the familiar wooden docks of the Hidden City harbor, stumbling a bit as he tried to get back his land legs. He breathed in the scent of the fish being sold nearby.
“Need some help conjito?” Hueso asked with a chuckle, as the skeleton descended onto the docks via the ramp. It was clear how familiar the change from land to sea was for him. His gate was relaxed and easygoing, despite being on open waters for months on end much to the rabbit yolkai’s chagrin.
“I’ll never understand how you manage that.” Usagi huffed with a barely hidden smirk. Hueso chuckled while Chizu just grumbled as she carefully unloaded some cargo from the ship.
“Less talking and more helping please Yuichi.” Chizu said, trying to sound irritated with him. Usagi just grinned though when he saw her trying to hide a smile, the cat yokai clearly amused by his excitement.
“You know I’m no good at helping with cargo! Besides…” Usagi grinned mischievously, and it only got wider when the cat yokai let out a small warning growl.
“Don’t. You. Dare.” Chizu hissed.
“Don’t act like you won’t slip away the second you get the chance to meet up with your girrrrrlfrieeeend !” Usagi said and grinned when the cat pirated started sputtering with embarrassment, clearly debating dropping the box and chasing after him as he ran off with a cackle.
“ Behave yourself conjito! Don’t go running your mouth like last time!” Hueso called out with fond exasperation as the rabbit headed towards the food markets. Usagi waved before he reached the first few stalls. He sighed with contentment at the colorful banners strung all over the marketplace. They had unique patterns on each color. There were stall vendors bargaining with customers as others tried to sell their wares to passerby, it was pure nostalgia.
A soft big hand holding his own as fireworks went off in the distance and a giant smile grew on his face …
Yuichi’s smile weakened at the bittersweet memory, but he shook his head to clear it and continued onward. It had been weeks since he last got to eat some fresh fruits or veggies, and despite his best efforts and farming experience vegetable gardens at sea weren’t exactly viable. He wasn’t leaving until he ate one of every vegetable at the market! Usagi grinned even wider when he saw a familiar rhinoceros yolkai at his favorite stall.
“Gen!”
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“So yeah! Chizu and Kitsune are a thing now, Kit’s even joining the crew officially! We’ve needed someone with some mystical prowess for a while to be honest.” Usagi gossiped with the rhino about his best friend and adoptive sister’s love life gleefully, and he could tell that Gen was holding onto every word. Chizu and Kitsune had been dancing around one another and the obvious yearning they had for each other for two years, and they finally made it official. It was about damn time. Usagi chuckled when he noticed the rhino was leaning forward with his head in his hands, and a far off expression on his face.
“Ah love, such a beautiful thing.” Gen said blissfully, and Yuichi really couldn’t resist teasing him a little bit.
“You’re such a hopeless romantic Gen! The girls must be tripping over their own feet to get to you! They look at you and go “ ah yes! He’s the one I want! That big fellow with the horn on his face who sells turnips! ” The rabbit said with a dramatic high pitched voice and a swoon. He grinned when his friend let out a deep rumbling laugh in response. “ Why do you play with my heart Gen? You know we could never be together! My family sells carrots and you’re selling radishes! It could never be!” Yuichi continued with an impressively realistic quiver in his voice as he looked away with flair only he could achieve. Gen only shook his head with a chuckle and bit of awe in his eyes.
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again pal, you could’ve made a life out of performing!” Gen said goodnaturedly. Usagi smiled softly and shook his head.
“Nah. Even I could travel from city to city it wouldn’t be enough, I can’t bare to stay on land for too long. The sea air is too addicting.” Usagi said with a shrug, and Gen seemed to agree.
“Yeah the idea of you picking a spot and settling down is pretty ridiculous.” The rhino said bluntly, but then looked around a bit confused, “wait a minute… where’s Spot? Is the little guy alright?” Gen asked with a bit of concern. Usagi chuckled a bit before reassuring his friend.
“Spot’s doing great! He just doesn’t want to be around big crowds since he’s shedding right now. He should be all ready to explore tomorrow though!” Usagi said with a fond smile at how adorable his little tokage was. Spot’s shedding time always caused him to have clouded eyes, and the little tokage was less than eager for adventure until it’s sight was returned. The rhino was clearly relieved the little reptile was doing well.
“Oh!” The rhino clapped his hands and leaned down to reach into a mystic powered icebox. “Speaking of Spot I have a present for him, aaaand you and your crew!” Gen said with a grin as he handed Yuichi a large package carefully wrapped in brown paper and held together string. The rabbit let out a small oof at the sudden weight. “Enjoy!” Gen said with a smile.
“Aw Gen you shouldn’t have! What is this stuff anyway?” Usagi asked curiously as he tried to feel what the package might contain. The rhino smiled and slid a small pastry towards the rabbit.
“I got a new pastry crust recipe. Give it a taste!” Gen said eagerly, as Usagi struggled a bit before balancing what was apparently many pies onto his shoulder to free his right hand. Just picking it up he could feel how delicate the crust was. Usagi sniffed the small pie, and admired the flakey golden crust that was speckled with unknown dark flecks for a moment before taking a bite. His eyes widened and his nose twitched in excitement as the delicious flavors exploded in his mouth. The pastry crust had a special savoriness to it while the filling had spinach and potato… but there was a third delicious flavor he couldn’t pin down. Regardless it was leagues better than ship rations.
“Gen this is incredible! How did you get the crust so perfect?!” Usagi said in awe before diving in for another bite, as Gen chuckled before leaning forward and motioned for the rabbit to come closer.
“I found an old bottle floating just offshore with this recipe inside. It uses ingredients I’ve never seen anyone around here use! Stuff like dried seaweed, algae and some other stuff from the reef.” Gen whispered excitedly as Usagi tilted his head in intrigue. The rhino shrugged and nodded towards the package on Yuichi’s shoulder. “Get that on the ship and into the cold box yeah? I’ll tell you more when you come back.” Gen said as the rabbit gaped at his audacity to withhold gossip from him. Usagi groaned dramatically, but ran excitedly back to the docks at a speed that did his rabbit heritage proud.
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Chizu was still loading the ship with fresh rations when Usagi skidded to a stop in front of her.
“Hold this! It needs to go in the icebox okay?!” Usagi said quickly as he shoved the package of pastries into the cat yokai’s arms and attempted to run back to the docks, but a clawed hand grabbed him by the ears. “Hey! Hey! Hey! Not the ears Chizu! Not the ears!” Usagi yelped as she easily restrained him with one hand.
“You’re not leaving until you put this and at least a couple crates onboard. You can’t just dump this in my arms like a child, and technically I’m in charge here.” Chizu said flatly as she finally released his ears. Usagi massaged the ache out of them and pouted at his friend to no avail as her expression didn’t change.
“Fine, but I’m telling Kit that you bullied me.” Usagi smirked at how her brow twitched at the mention of her girlfriend. “And it looks like I’ll get to tell her really soon.” Usagi added smugly when his sensitive ears heard familiar boots hitting the wooden docks. The rabbit grinned when Chizu’s ears suddenly swiveled rapidly and her head whipped to the side, and a familiar fox waved from below on the docks.
“I’m here! Where’s my little brother and my beautiful girlfriend?” Kitsune said cheerfully as Usagi hopped down from the deck to the dock recklessly and tackled his adoptive sister in a hug.
“Kit! You’re finally here!” Usagi said excitedly as he heard the telltale sound of Chizu’s boots rushing down the ramp. He turned to watch with a smug grin as Chizu lost any sort of grace or elegance and bolted down and onto the docks with a wild and carefree smile.
“There’s my kitty-cat.” Kit said with the mushiest smile Usagi had ever seen as she released her hug on him to embrace the cat yokai who was already purring up a storm. Usagi made an obnoxious gagging noise when the two started kissing, making Kit laugh while Chizu hissed at him.
“When you get a partner I’m going to make your life hell.” Chizu said with an attempted air of malice, but her girlfriend smothering her with kisses and calling her a pretty kitty kinda put a damper on the intimidation factor. Usagi smiled as he turned and started trotting back to the markets as Chizu yelled at him to come back, but Usagi knew she wouldn’t release Kit’s embrace just to nab him. He grinned and carefully placed his half eaten pastry into his pack, and wandered in the direction of the marketplace. Chizu probably wouldn’t let go of his ears for at least an hour when he got back, but it was always worth it to tease her.
Usagi decided to take the long way around the market this time, and he was pleased to find a few new stalls had popped up since he last visited. He was just about to continue when a pig yokai rushed past him holding a hot poker that was glowing red with heat.
“Woah! Watch it man you’re gonna hurt someone!” Usagi said angrily as they were shoved aside in the pig yokai’s haste. The guy didn’t even turn around to apologize! He just kept running towards the west side of the market. “Asshole.” Usagi griped, dusting himself off and heading back towards Gen’s stall. He whistled a sea shanty as he passed a particularly interesting stall. It had a single pot in the center and nothing else, but a crowd was squeezed around the tiny stall flashing their shiniest coins. Usagi hummed and wriggled his toes before crouching and then leaping up and onto the plank roof using his impressive leg strength. He heard several indignant voices as he easily peaked at what was the source of such a ruckus. He felt his eyes widen at luminous shimmering coming from inside the pot despite it being in heavy shade.
“Hey! You brat, get off my stall roof unless you’re buying siren scales!” The shop owner screeched indignantly. Usagi froze in shock for a few seconds before scoffing.
“Pal I’ll buy your so called ‘siren scales’ if you can prove they aren’t just fish scales with a little glitter sprinkled on.” Usagi said with a smug grin, as several customers paused their bickering and now stared suspiciously at the now furious stall owner. Usagi kept his giddy and mischievous excitement off his expression with ease. If there was one thing he was a master of, it was scamming scammers.
“You dare question the integrity of my business you nasty beast?” The stall owner hissed, Usagi grimaced in disbelief. He narrowed his eyes as he scanned their face, and his suspicions were confirmed when he took in the structure of their face. This guy was clearly a snake yokai, but he had hair and an outer ear which meant…
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were a self entitled asshole who thinks having some human blood in your family line from several hundred years ago somehow makes you better than me. Though I have to admit, the human greed and ego is one hell of a stubborn trait apparently.” Usagi said with a sickeningly polite voice, as everyone within earshot went silent in shock. Even the most engrossed bartering pairs went quiet. “Last I checked humans and yokai only formed a truce centuries ago out of necessity, and yet you seem to be so proud. Your heritage isn’t an achievement, it’s history that nobody cares to remember except for you.” Usagi said flatly.
“Wha- You! You!-“ the owner spluttered before Usagi cut him off.
“And answer your question yes I do. One of the most common statements in stories and witness accounts of sirens mention how their scales turn dull as pebbles out of water, and eventually… crumble to dust. And that pot looks dry as a desert friend.” Usagi said with a predatory and vicious grin that would make anyone question if he was actually an herbivore. Usagi easily hopped down from the roof as the crowd backed away from him a bit, still grinning he reached into the pot and brought out a few scales. They were gorgeous to be honest, but he still rolled his eyes as he itched his bandanna and put them back in the pot. He then turned on his heel and started trotting off.
“HEY! You smug bastard! You don’t believe me? Go to the west side of the market.” The owner hissed. Usagi raised a brow, but when he looked over to the west he hummed a bit. There was an absolutely massive crowd around a stage.
“Sure thing friend!” Yuichi said sweetly as he entered to sea of people, and he made sure he was out of sight in the crowd before he carefully moved the scales he’d smuggled into the folds of his bandanna to the pouch at his side with a grin. Chizu would forgive him in a heartbeat if he gave them to her to make something for Kit.
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Usagi was honestly considering turning around when he saw the silhouette of what looked like someone in chains on stage. Though it was hard to see through the sea of people. It was probably some sort of public humiliation stunt.
“Waste of my damn time.” Usagi mumbled. He started to turn back when a sound reached his ears that made him freeze. It was… a song, one like none he could remember or imagine. He felt air freeze in his lungs at way the melody sent what felt like icicles into his heart painfully. The song was wordless but the emotions spoke volumes. Scared. Lonely. Help. Pain. Pain. PAIN. PAIN! PAIN!
HELP ME PLEASE!
It felt like his heart was being ripped to shreds.
Usagi wasn’t sure how long he was frozen. Just that he could move again. He coughed as the song dwindled and the grip it had on him also lessened. Any sane being would run from something like that, and he was a lot of things. Sane not being one of them according to his friends. He couldn’t help but agree in the moment as he shoved his way to the front of the crowd. He looked up and… he felt his body go numb. Blood. Lots of bloody wounds, and bruises covering every inch of the pale gray scaly skin. A ripped up fin and a bandaged arm with horrifically black fingers peeking through the bandages on the… on the…
“Siren.” Usagi said breathlessly.