Chapter Text
“You’re to be wed to one of the Monasteries of water” Sanemi couldn’t help the fact that his hand clenched hard, to the point where it hurt. The tenseness causing pain in his wrist as he found himself unable to shake the discomfort of the words. It was simply preposterous, he had to marry one of those sea wenches. He grit his teeth, trying to not share his anger with the high court. He took a breath attempting at cooling his anger, to no avail. He spoke with a touch of venom in his voice, a raspy sound. “Must I marry into such a godforsaken family”.
One of the members started tapping on the desk. The dark wood gave out a sound that only made the air thicker. Sanemi could already tell that they didn’t like that response.
Damn it
Sanemi only dared to look up for a second, to see the visible reactions they gave to his words. The council was displeased with this reaction clearly, only two members of the council gave him anything—both of which were disapproving. They stared down at him searching for something he couldn’t place in the moment. The highest member, a high ranking elder narrowed his eyes on him. His frown was very apparent as he spoke. “You wish to become the next ruler?”
Sanemi nodded, his lavender eyes finding their way back to the floor below him. A pit in his stomach formed from his nervousness. He held his breath as he heard the man breathe harshly. “If you wish to rule then you must wed a member of that family”
“If that’s what must happen” Sanemi forces out, bowing to his elders. Before making a swift exit, as to not have an outburst in front of such important people.
Sanemi feels himself losing everything, why in hell would he have married into a family of sea slugs? They may hold importance in the water, but sure as hell not here! Especially when they’d been at war with that state constantly, for as-long as Sanemi had been alive. The stories of sea creatures sneaking on to their lands in search of blood. What wenches…and now since they wanted peace Sanemi had to marry one of them?
They had only hurt his country, only caused fear within his people. Only causing blood spread, never once had he heard good things about these horrid creatures. Only that they were terribly greedy and horribly dangerous. Now Sanemi had to deal with one of them for the rest of his life.
What a hellish pain in the butt. He really needs to blow off some steam.
Giyuu was surprised at first, his whole life he was training to be the next ruler. To lead his state to fortune. But that’s not quite how it seemed it would go anymore. Like the rug was stolen right from beneath him, when his father had decided that it would be best for him to get wed to the son of the rulers of the kingdom of wind. Giyuu couldn’t really understand much when his father had spoken to him on the topic, only getting two points. That he would be wed and he would bear a child, for another kingdom.
But he did understand that it was an act of petty behavior. For years the people of that kingdom had caught and sold his people for profit. Their excuse? That his people were aggressive towards them first. But Giyuu knew better, his people were only aggressive when attacked first, any Merperson would give a human their assistance if asked. It was in the calm nature and wishes of their god. They wouldn’t attack unless it was needed for defense, and from what Giyuu knew the wind was an aggressive force against the waves. So it be its people, forcing the water into big eruptions only to get annoyed at its antitics. A horrible trait, a toxic one that would spread through the masses, like an infection in the water.
“You look so pretty when you try with your hair, my Prince” One of the servants stated, speaking softly as they braided his hair carefully. Giyuu was torn from his thoughts as he looked up at the woman working on his long dark locks. “thank you” it took him embarrassingly long to respond to the young lady. He flushed slightly, the girl giggled at his reaction. Her smile brightened the mood, her pink checks pushed up by her grin. Her purple eyes stayed set on the dark locks her fingers fumbled with. She was soft, but firm with her job, finger tightening on the strands as she pulled. Makomo, was her name, a water nymph. It could be known by her lack of a tail, replaced by a pair of legs. His stomach turned his blue fin tapping the floor nervously, the hours leading up to his presentation as a betrothed were numbered. Given to a neighboring kingdom as a gift of peace—a kingdom of which had been a danger to his kind of years.
“So how do you feel about this” the girl breaks the silence, “you seem really lost in this all”. Giyuu stares at the wall, his blue eyes blanking out. He sighs, closing his eyes as he speaks “I don’t know just yet”. The blue-eyed man’s hands lock together, his fingers pushing together much too hard for his gentle skin. “I know this is what the gods wanted, but-“ he pauses looking down at the simple table before him.
I don’t like it.
Giyuu wants to say, but he knows he can’t. He has to go through with this, no matter what. It’s for the good of his country, and if he can’t lead them to fortune then the least he can do is this. Yet still, his gut turns now and his eyes heat up. He doesn’t want this, but he doesn’t have a choice. His teeth push against each other hard, hurting his jaw from the tension. He feels the familiar heat of tears in his eyes, quickly he takes a deep breath. Calming him successfully, he talks once more “But it’s rather soon for my liking”.
The dark haired girl pulled his hair back, tying his hair into a bun. “That makes sense, this was rather quick wasn’t it” the girl pushed off the floor, speeding through the mass of water. Over to a vanity, she swiftly opened the drawer, searching carefully through the accessories. “Especially seeing as you were meant to be the next ruler”. Giyuu already hated being reminded of that fact. It was meant to be him, he was meant to be the next in line. But it changed so quickly, like the tides of the sea. It was different now. And for some reason he hated that. “It’s a big change after spending so long as the crown prince.” He winces at that, now he holds less authority, less value even. The thought was scary. Everything was so different, so unpredictable, so unfamiliar. All Giyuu wanted was for something to be similar. To be the same, but it wasn’t. Nothing was nor would it ever be again. Makomo continues rummaging through the drawer, noises of metal lightly making its way through. “But I think despite that you’ll be fine”.
Will he be fine?
How could he possibly be as such?
He was given up as an offering, a proposal. A way to peace, not as a human, nor as a merman. More so an object, a way to create offspring. A petty act that his father bitterly came up with, they want a princess? They’ll get a prince instead. “I think you’ll be fine, since you're one of us” he could practically hear the smile in her voice. “People of the water are known for their beauty and rath, but more so for their resilience. You're a perfect example of that, my prince.” Giyuu’s eyes widened, his breath hitching in the process. “That’s why I know that even when you're gone as another kingdom's star, you’ll be fine.”
Those were the first words that actually helped. The council's apologies or his sister’s sorrow–didn’t help. Words spoken in a whisper, crying out about their own guilt. But that was a member of his court rooting for him, believing in him. He couldn’t help the tears that fell from his eyes, air bubbles filling the water. “Giyuu-san?” he felt the rush of water as she came back, “Are you alright?”. She lands behind him, peaking around to see his face, noticing the tears she panics. “Uh I-i, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” she forces out worried, as she starts crying herself. Worrying that she may have upset her ruler. She throws herself into a hug from behind, wrapping her hands around his neck. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have.” she apologizes again. Stepping back and waving her hands around, frantically. Giyuu turns to face her, taking her hand carefully on his own. “No” he smiles softly as he speaks, “Thank you Makomo”.
“Uhh your welcome?” she answers as if it’s a question, “But what did I do?”. Giyuu giggles heartily, still smiling big. “Don’t worry about it.” Maybe this whole thing would be fine after all.
This wasn’t going to work.
Sanemi hit his wooden sword against the cotton filled dummy, the dummy leaned back only to be pushed back farther with each swing. How could it work? That creature that was to be his bride was a prince, not a princess. How in the world could he produce offspring with a male creature? It was unheard of and unprecedented, meaning it was simply impossible—right? Sanemi threw himself at the figure of the manikin once more, thrusting it into the dummy’s stomach. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.
He shouldn’t have to marry that stupid prince. His kingdom would be put to shame by it, by surrendering to the waves. It was against all that he had learned. They were the killers, they were the attackers. Why did he have to pay? It was their sins, their hell. Why did it come down to him? He found himself attacking the dummy harder, ripping it to shreds. The cotton within slowly falling to the floor as Sanemi breathed harshly. Panting as sweat dripped uncomfortably down his neck, his arms hanging between his legs. His gaze dropping to the dirt, his mouth hanging open as he breathed. In and out, in and out.
“Wow, didn’t think you’d be this fucked up over this.”
Sanemi’s head snapped in the detection of the voice, his face red from lack of air. Masachika, one of the many knights of the kingdom. He was quick to straighten himself up, studying the other man. Whom wasn’t focused on him at the moment, rather the debris.
“You really messed this thing up.” Masachika bent down grabbing a piece of ripped fabric, carefully caressing it. “What else could I expect for a firecracker like you” he states smiling bright, Sanemi’s eyes follow the other man’s hands, as he processes the information given to him. Wait, firecracker? How rude. ”shut up”, the dark haired man heartily laughs, discarding the fabric. “Okay, if you say so my prince.”
Sanemi dropped the wooden sword in his hand, the splintered tool hit the ground harshly. Tumbling before laying flat, Sanemi crossed his arms. Roughly speaking to the other man, “You’d be minding your own if you were training” he points out. “What exactly are you here for?”.
“Bright as always my prince.” The man states calmly, standing up straight swiftly. “I’m afraid I’ve been accounted as a pick up for your little outburst.” He turns to Sanemi, the little metal armor that he had on clinked together at the moment. In the moment he had his silver gear still on his arm, clearly training wear. “You father seems worried you might do something rash” that made Sanemi’s blood boil. That bastard, who might be worse than his supposed bride. He was an abusive bitch who only cared for his mother enough to steal her throne and her virginity.
While he’d never put his hands on Sanemi or any of his siblings simply because of their mother’s protection. It still doesn’t exactly erase the trauma from watching it all, and Sanemi still resented him for it. He had no right to do that, he’s married into the family. Not a born royal, he doesn’t get that privilege nor should anyone else.
“What does he care about? '' Sanemi spoke his voice rough and filled with pure hate. “He cares that his family doesn’t make a fool of him” the knight answers knowingly, making sure to not insinuate that he cares for the family themselves. Only their reputation. Sanemi laughs, a chilling sound. “That sounds about right.” His hand covers his eyes as his head leans back laughing. Soon his fit of laughter ends, he speaks once more. “What exactly can you do for me in this case?”
“I’m being forced to marry the enemy for god sake” he states aggressively, but the knight was unfazed by this, clearly used to this. “Unless you can stop a wedding” he offered with a piercing gaze, knowing full well that the other man didn’t have the authority for that. “You know full well I can’t do that.”
Obviously. Knights never had that kind of ranking no matter how glorious of a warrior they were, they’d never have a say in politics. “I thought as much, now can you leave me be?” Sanemi answered, turning on his heel to retrieve a new sword. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a sensation filled his body. A strange one he couldn’t quite place. “Please my prince.”
It was rather awkward, being a prince, going through the princess’s process. His servants were changed to primary female staff, and he found himself in primarily feminine clothing. Something he would’ve never thought he’d be wearing, it was tight to his figure. Showing off his scales on his tail and the pale skin of upper body, with the pretty cool tones. It was strange, the way he had to stand by turning training. Watching all the little guppies speed around the water, their little tails carrying them as fast as they could. Brewing led by the trainer, who wore a bright red mask. He was one of the marines, Giyuu remembered him from when he was a guppy.
Sakonji Urokodaki. An important figure in the water kingdom due to his service and teachings. Giyuu had know the stern, but soft merman since he was young. He was an extraordinary player in fights on the surface, his strength and dexterity were like no other. Now in his old age, he teaches guppies how to fight out of water. But if Giyuu was looking right now, something didn’t seem right.
He has a son, a sharkin. He usually hung around here to help with training. A boy with salmon colored hair, dark gray fins, and a big scar on his cheek. Another great fighter, just like his father. He was Giyuu’s favorite play buddy when he was young. A soft but rough presence that helped him severally. He was a very effective presence.
“Hey there princess” a rough voice called out, causing Giyuu to visibly jump. Sabito, we have a very strong presence. A teasing one at that. “Isn’t it too soon to be calling me that?”
“I wouldn’t think so, especially since you're now up for grabs,” Sabito laughed heartily, sitting down next to Giyuu. He sighs, “Not exactly”. Sabito gave him a questioning stare, “What do you mean by that?”. “Well” he starts, after a deep sigh.
“Father has decided that I am to be married to a neighboring prince.” he states calming, his eyes closed. “What”. It didn’t come out as a question, just a statement, a way of speaking the mind, he thought. The shark hybrid was always a bit overbearing, a bit of a firecracker. So this response was strange, not many things could keep him silent. In fact up until this point he didn’t think there was anything that could shut him up. Giyuu studied his face as the other male looked away to the clearing in which training was held. When he looked back at his prince, his face was calm, a worrying sign. “I don’t get it”.
“There isn’t exactly anything that you have to understand,” Giyuu stated softly. He looked out at the guppies training, their tiny fatigued bodies scrambling around. Despite the pain just pushing on, he smiled. But only for a second before it dawned on him. He wouldn’t even get to watch this in the future. His days of fighting and playing with the guppies were over. No more training with Sabito, no more late night swims. Soon he’d be leg bound. This was gonna be a difficult thing to say goodbye to, all this would be out of his reach most days. Worrying about a new political group of problems, not a grouping that he was trained for. His once straight posture turned slouched, his miniscule happiness deflating within seconds. “Why would his majesty do this if it’s so clearly hurting you?” Sabito’s hand finds its way to his shoulder, a comfortable presence. “I’m sure he’d stop if you were so upset with it.”
Giyuu’s eyes closed, tensing up with his thoughts. There was no way he had to go through with this. If not for his family, then for his kingdom. If he didn’t marry that prince, then their happiness would be gone. Completely demolished. He couldn’t let that happen, not ever. “No.” Giyuu stated firmly, glaring into the distance. His dark eyebrows, downturned in frustration. “But-” Sabito tried, “I’m doing this” Giyuu cut him off, his fist tensing.
He was but a servant to the people, his blood may hold more value in the water then most. But it mattered that humans would sell his people, if they didn't complete their end of the deal. So if they wanted a bride of the sea, a Bride they would get. No matter what, he’d do what was promised to the other kingdom. No matter how uncomfortable it was, it was for his people. And they mattered much more than himself.