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The white hair boy swam along the sea. The current was his guide, he put little effort into swimming. His silver fins moved lazily to stay steady while he swam.
He was in no rush, he was just taking today but the day, the minute by the minute. Towa was tired. He loved his life in the sea but he wished to see more.
What more is there to see? Water. All he could see all around him was water. It was not like Towa hated the water, he grew up around it, but it does tend to get boring after a while.
Sometimes, Towa would swim upwards until his head was out of the water so he could feel the cool sea air against his fins. Unfortunately, gills don't work well out of water, he ends up suffocating like a fish on land before he had to dive back in.
Oh, how he wishes he could walk on land like a human… If only there was a way he could make that wish come true.
With his current mood down and so was his motivation to keep swimming, the current was slowly drifting away so all he did was sink to the bottom of the sea while he watched up at the sea sky, the waves making the sky make little ripples with each wave that passed by.
Towa wanted to see the sky clearer, much longer than a minute! His eyes sparkled with the moon shining on him.
“Please… Just give me a chance” he asked the moon.
Soon that shining gaze was covered by a shadow - a ship? That was not fair, he was talking to the moon! Towa pouted. “You could have just said no”. He mumbled, but the ship was rocking softly before he noticed a figure standing on the edge of the ship.
A person had a bag over his head, desperately shaking his head, from what Towa could see through the barrier of the water was that he was also tied.
Towa then proceeded to watch as someone kicked off the stranger and he watched them land into the water.
A human can't breathe in water?! What were they thinking?! Towa swam over as the stranger struggled, not long until they started to become limp?! They are going to die! Towa's webbed hands quickly pulled the bag off the person's head… A red colored hair met Towa's eyes. It was the first thing he noticed and that his person's eyes weren't open!
Right! He needed to help him!
But how, Towa can't go above water for too long, but this person will drown! There was one thing that Towa did know that humans did when someone was drowning.
Towa carely took his webbed hands and held onto their face, he leaned in, and his lips met the other person's as he started to blow air into their mouth.
The stranger suddenly moved and pulled away in shock before Towa had the chance to get the ropes off. But the moment he was able to, the red haired guy swam away from Towa and to the surface. Towa followed in pursuit but stayed a bit back so he didn't scare the stranger.
The man popped out of the water and coughed as he gasped for air. He found a conveniently floating piece of a board to help stay afloat. He almost died - He could have drowned - who knew fishing was such a dangerous job. . .
He peeked into the water, and saw the silver tail staying a bit away from him.
This merman saved him right? And he kissed him?! But it was for a good reason, he did help him. Why wasn't he coming to the surface?
He dipped his hand into the water and reached for Towa.
Towa blinked as he swam closer to the hand and pressed his cheek against his palm.
The man hummed softly as he was petting Towa. “Thank you, why don't you come out of the water now “?
Towa was able to hear him from under the water, he wishes he could. He shook his head.
“I can't.. I can't breathe if I come out of water”.
But this stranger could not hear a word back, all that came up was a bunch of bubbles to the surface water. The stranger frowned as he pulled his hand away. He must hate him. He started to paddle. His way back home.
Towa watched sadly as he paddle away. He pouted and started to follow. He liked the way this person feels. He doesn't want to lose this feeling. He never experienced something like this! Moon! If you can hear him! Please let him have this!
Towa followed him to a shore where the man got off at. The man crawled onto land and laid down to relax after paddling with his legs all the way back. He could just fall asleep right here and there.
Towa got close to the shore but not too close to where he was out of water. He waves his webbed hand at the man to get his attention. He wanted to know his name..
“What's your name “? He asked.
But all there were bubbles that came from his lips that float in the water.
The man noticed and he slowly made his way back to Towa. “I honestly can't thank you enough for saving me.. I wish I could know your name to properly thank you”!
Towa sighed softly before getting an idea. He held out his hand towards the human before tracing the letters ‘T-O-W-A’
“T-O-W-A… . Towa? Towa… Is that your name “?
Towa nodded his head, making small splashes with his head movements .
“Thank you Towa. I really appreciate it, my name is Haru”.
Haru… ? Haru… That name was like a symphony to his ears. Towa hummed happily as he repeated Haru's name just as the air bubbles floated.
Haru watched with amusement as watched Towa underwater. “Sorry Towa. I have to go now. I do want to see you again. Can I see you again”?
See Haru again? That would be amazing…
~~~~
For the past few months, Haru and Towa would meet in the same spot in the water. The only thing that separates them.
Haru knows absolutely nothing that was said coming from Towa. But it was funny seeing the little air bubbles that came to the surface when he was trying to talk.
Towa would bring little trinkets from the sea to show Haru. One day, Towa built the confidence to make some jewelry from the jewels he found at the bottom of the sea. This was how mermaids propose to their mates. From where he comes from, he read somewhere that is what also happens on land too, but more commonly a ring.
Towa raised his hands out of the water and handed it over to Haru. Haru glanced in awe before taking it in his hands and putting the ring on his fingers thinking it was more a friendly gesture.
“I love it! Thank you so much Towa”!
Towa smiled while his tail swayed up into the air out of water while he watched from the little ripples in awe that his new finance was loving his proposal.
“I love you”. Towa said, but Haru did not hear him. Nothing but air bubbles. This was the final straw. He needed to be with Haru, he cannot take it here any longer!
Towa held his hand in his before bringing it to his lips to place a little smooch on before letting go and swimming away.
Haru watched as the merman swam. He wished he could hear his voice… he just wanted to know what he sounds like, and not the sound of bubbles softly popping when they make it to the surface.
Towa swam until he made it to the dark trenches, downwards he swam, and swam until he entered a cave. “Sea witch. I want to be human”!
The Sea Witch turned as they noticed the desperate man. “Ohoho found love~ Why don't I help with that? I have a perfect remedy that will turn you human~ “
“I'll take it. I'll take it to meet my wife”!
The Sea Witch smirked in reply. “ This isn't for free. I do require a sacrifice… Your voice. “
If Towa gave up his voice, he can't speak with Haru. But he can finally be with Haru. His choice was made up, it was a sad choice but at least he can be with Haru!
“Fine! Deal”!
The Sea Witch grinned as they mixed up a potion before grabbing Towa's face before dropping the liquid into his mouth by force.
The drink burned, it was hot, but it reminded Toward who he was doing it for. As the drink burned in his throat to burn away his voice, Towa let out a scream in agony as his legs felt like they were being torn apart… That is what's happening. The merman fin was being torn apart and turned into human legs.
Towa was finally human, and as a human, he can't breathe underwater! Without even a thank you (rude) he swam as fast as he could until he got to the surface and gasped for air.
He coughed as he swam into the shore and was catching his breath. Finally, he can be with Haru. Where is Haru anyways? Where does he go when he isn't with him?
Oh Haru.. Where could you be… ?
Towa sadly sighed, he looked at the water to get one last look of the one place he grew up at. But his eyes wander to the water near the shore?
Something strange. Bubbles? It can't be.
Towa stepped into the water and he glanced down. His expression was a mixture of shock and sadness. His eyes soften at a red haired man, with an orange-red tail like a goldfish.. He can easily tell who this was.
The one person he did this for, Haru, was trying to speak with him underwater… But Haru can't hear him, all he can do was watch the bubbles float to the water surface.