Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a prosperous kingdom by the sea, a young prince, only eight years of age, walked along the shorelines. His silky blonde hair was like the pale sand of the beach, whilst his eyes were akin to the water. It was like he had been born to be here. He looked around for some time, staring at the sea while glancing back to the castle every now and then, until he saw bubbles. He rushed over, the nearby water forming halos along his path. His mother taught him that those halos were a way of communication for fishes, they could tell when another creature was near.
The boy barely stepped in the water, not enough to soak through his shoes, just enough to send a message through those halos.
“It is safe.”
And out came a boy from the water, or so you would assume without seeing under the surface. Truth being, this other boy was a creature from the sea, despite looking partly human.
“A mermaid.” his father told him it was as he read a story book. “Though you mustn’t ever approach those creatures! Their goal is to lure humans in the sea and eat them.”
It felt silly now, because maybe this merboy hadn’t been raised right, but the last thing he wanted was to eat him.
-Eichi! You came back again!
The boy chuckled.
-So did you!
His name was Wataru, he had long locks of blue hair that made him blend with the water and purple eyes that resembled the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. His smile could make the snow melt, his stories and farces could entertain someone for hours, but most importantly,
He was Eichi’s best friend.
-Look, look! I brought you something from home.
Wataru let the gift drift towards the land until it was at Eichi’s feet.
-What is this?
-This is a conch shell! If you put it next to your ear, you can hear the waves. That way, even when you’re too sick to come see me, you can have a little bit of the sea with you.
-Thank you so much! I shall cherish it as well.
The blond loved those gifts, little trinkets from the sea that Wataru would bring him to teach him new things. However, those presents were what ultimately betrayed the secret of the merboy’s existence.
As a member of the royal family, Eichi had to have someone by his side at all time. For the king, it was his royal advisor and a handful of trusted knights. For the Prince, it was two young knights in training who seemed to hate each other and the royal advisor’s son.
The latter was nearly always by Eichi’s side and was at his every demand.
“Prince Eichi, where did all those objects come from? You are not allowed to leave the castle’s outskirts, you know.” The boy had said, his shyness lessening his air of authority.
“I haven’t, a boy from the sea gave those to me. I’m allowed to go on the beach, so it’s fine!”.
The boy readjusted his bulky glasses “Is there an intruder on the beach? If so, the royal guard must be made aware immediately!”
“No! He’s not an intruder, Tsumugi, he’s a mermaid! There’s no rules about mermaids.”
“P-Prince Eichi, this is no time for jokes. It’s common knowledge that there’s no such things as mermaids.”
The blond had puffed his cheeks out of frustration and dragged Tsumugi all the way down to the beach.
Him and Wataru met and Tsumugi was then apart of this shared secret.
When he had free time, the young advisor would accompany the prince in his visits. When the blond was too ill to get out of his room, he would relay the message to their sea friend.
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Many years later, it was a day that could’ve been like any other, if it hadn’t been for the fact that the whole castle and kingdom was much livelier today. It was prince Eichi Tenshouin’s 18th anniversary today, but as luck would have it, he had been suffering from his illness for some days now, with no signs that it would subside any time soon.
As he had made it a tradition for himself, Tsumugi Aoba was walking on the beach, looking for Wataru.
A loud “BOO” and a strong splash of water made the advisor jump out of his skin.
-Wataru! You scared me to death there! Aaahhh…. I need to make my heart calm down. Shouldn’t you be trying to be discreet? You don’t want to be harpooned and served as dinner, do you?
-Why of course not. I just wanted to have fun with the little blue bird.
Tsumugi scanned the merman as he evened his breathing. He was much closer than he’d ever been, close enough that his elbows touched the sand. He rested his head in his hands and just stared at Tsumugi, wide smile and eyes all expectant, excited maybe.
-How has your hair managed to grow even longer, Wataru?
-I’ve never cut them, now they are magnificently long. I can do so many hairstyles, it’s amazing!
-What’s the point of having long hair? Wouldn’t that make it so other sea creatures could grab them?
-Good point, but I like having long hair. What about you, little bird? Do you want to grow your hair out?
-I don’t have any reasons to…
-Aw, such a shame. I hope you find a reason soon, I’m sure you’d look very good with longer hair.
Tsumugi stared at his watch and he frowned.
-I’m sorry but let’s cut to the chase, I must go back soon. I’m here to tell you that Eichi can’t come today.
-Hm, I thought so. He’s been sick all week, yet he still has to be sick on his birthday, of all days. Truly, how unfortunate. We can only wonder what he’s done to the gods in another life to be struck with misfortune all the time. Oh well, as usual, you’ll send him my best regards, as well as this.
Wataru’s proximity allowed him to put the object in Tsumugi’s hand, exceedingly careful with it.
His skin was so cold, way colder than Eichi’s, it sent a shiver down the advisor’s spine.
It was a little box adorned with small pearls.
-What is this?
The merman smiled and put his finger in front of his mouth, as if it was a big secret.
-I leave this in your trusted hands. I won’t hold you back any longer.
And with a splash, he was gone.
Tsumugi opened the box and the sight made something in him crack, if not break down.
This was a ring box…
On the ring was a beautiful pearl and around it were scales that made it look like a flower. It wasn’t even any scales. Those blue and purple scales, they were Wataru’s.
This was a love confession in a box, maybe even a wedding proposal.
He could only blame himself for this. He never dared to declare his love to the prince, no wonder he’d try to find love without Tsumugi’s input. But still… with him…?
Oh, what had happened between them when he wasn’t there?
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The walls of the castle Tsumugi had spent his entire life in all felt so unfamiliar, like he’d never been there before. He no longer felt comfortable in those large halls, overly decorated yet so empty.
He kept fidgeting with the box in his pocket.
He seriously felt like he was going to be sick. Just knowing of this box’s existence and it’s content, it was too much.
“Calm down. Calm down.” He had to keep telling himself over and over, doing his best to not throw up due to the stress.
Tsumugi knocked on the door.
-Your highness? I am back.
A weak “come in” could be heard from the other side.
The blue-haired man stood at the foot of the imposing bed, the pillows were probably more puffy than Tsumugi’s own mattress and silky curtains hung all around the bed from the ceiling.
From what it looked like, Eichi had just woken up. His hair was messy and a book lied half read on his right.
-How are you feeling, your Highness?
-Much better than this morning, although I do not think I will be able to be there for dinner tonight.
-It’s fine. I will bring you something light to eat when the time comes. I could perhaps entertain you with my presence, if you so desire.
-I would love that.
Eichi looked at Tsumugi with fondness, an emotion that he had no reason to believe was anything more than platonic. He may not have had any evidence that the prince liked that sea monster back, but doubt and anxiety clouded his mind and judgment.
The blond picked his book up and put his marker back in it, careful in his movement as to not bend a page. When he placed it on his night table, his blue eyes caught the window.
The advisor could swear he saw the other man hold his breath as he stared at the ocean. That heartache again…
-Was Wataru there? I believe he knows today is my birthday.
Tsumugi froze. Those expectant eyes, they were filled with joy, a child-like glee.
-He…
But no words came out. He cut himself, he didn’t know why. Tsumugi’s brain went completely blank. No words were forming in his head, only a knot in his stomach.
His fingers trembled around the box in his pocket.
-He didn’t bother coming tonight. I will try to reach him tomorrow, but I don’t know if he’ll be there.
Eichi wasn’t smiling to begin with, so he couldn’t say that Eichi’s smile suddenly dropped, but the smile in his eyes sure did drop to the ground.
What was he saying? “Live an honest life, my boy”, his mother would always say, yet here he was, lying to the person he loved and maybe even risking beheading for lying to the royal family over some silly matters of the heart, his own jealousy no less!
-Why do you think that, Tsumugi?
He said his name in such a serious tone, the heartbreak in the blond’s voice… Oh goodness, every sensation was building up in him.
-Well, since you are now an adult, you will have more responsibilities and work in order to take over the throne. He may believe you won’t have the free time necessary to come visit him, so he won’t bother you anymore.
Even if he was lying through his teeth, a part of him, a truly evil one, was hoping there would come some truth to his statement.
Eichi seemed lost in thought, he was looking right through the man before him.
“It would make sense.” his face seemed to say “I can understand.” Please may that be what he was thinking!
-I will sleep some more, you’ll be notified when I wake up. Have a good evening, Tsumugi.
The prince turned around in his bed, indication for him to take his leave.
-Of course, your Highness. Have a good evening too.
He muttered a last wish as he left, his hand finally letting go of the box.
He never gave it, in the end.
-Happy birthday, Eichi.