Chapter Text
The sea is calm. Waves sway the merchant's ship.
The sun is warm on his skin as he admires the blue sky. No clouds to be seen, the wind in their favour.
He's both excited and scared for the future. It isn't everyday your family decides to go and live on the other side of the world.
His dad promises 3 meals every day and that he even could go to school once they are there.
What's so good about school he has no idea, but getting to eat something every day is a good enough reason in his books.
Maybe he will help build a ship with his dad, instead of the boring net making and repairing.
If he could help build a ship, he would know how to do it and make one himself in the future.
He'd go on adventures every day, like the ones that the merchant of this ship tells him.
What would the name of the ship be?
"Riku!"
"Yes mom!"
"Lunchtime!"
A few weeks into the journey they stop on an Island to restock their water. As the adults go to the river, Riku has to stay on the beach because there could be dangers hidden in the foliage.
Even if he can't go it'll be better if he has a weapon to slay snakes with. He has never seen one in his life, but apparently they are dangerous creatures. You never know if they need some rescuing or maybe he could find a pretty stone and show it off to people like the merchant does.
But where can he find a sword or stone? There's only sand and sea-shells and he has been told off for going too close to the tree line.
His eyes focused on the ground, he walks on. He's so focused on searching that the frustrated yell startles him a few feet in the air.
The yell came from a boy standing a bit further.
The boy is tugging with all his might on a lump of something, attached to a weird looking plank.
He doesn't recognise the boy, maybe he's from another merchant ship that he didn't see. He looks to be around the same age as Riku, curious he walks closer, "What's wrong?"
The boy looks up. Blue eyes big and a bit watery.
He drops the lump from his hands, rubbing his eyes furiously, "My boards fin got stuck in seaweed. I've tried everything to get it loose, but nothing works."
Riku looks over the 'board' and indeed, the seaweed is tangled all around it.
"Did you try to get the knots out?"
"I tried, it's stuck too tight." The boy drops on his rump, "I'll never get home on time."
Riku hums,"I untangle nets a lot. I could try"
The boys eyes light up. He seems to vibrate with excitement,"Would you?"
"Sure" he drops down on his knees next to the board and starts to untangle it. It's very different from the nets, but it goes well except for one part, "We'll have to cut these few, the knots are too tight and the seaweed too slippery. I'll ask my dad for a knife." He moves to get up, but gets pushed down again.
"No no no no. There is no need to get your dad."
"Why not?"
"I have a knife!"
"You do?"
"Yes, look!" The boy raises his right hand, his brows furrow in concentration.
Nothing happens, no knife comes flying in or appears in his hands,"I don't see-"
'Wait a minute. I just learned it!"
Riku sighs, turning to the sea. Maybe he should get dad. Fake swords and knives are fun to play with, but no use for cutting things.
His eyes drift over the horizon, down to the sand, where trails of water are coming towards him.
Scrambling back he bumps in the other boys legs, "Wha-"
"Ha! Told you so!" Comes from above him
He looks up, the water slowly going up to the boy's hands, defying all he knows water to do.
It solidifies in his hands into a misshapen, sharp knife.
Riku can't help but gasp,"Cool!"
"Right?" Leon didn't want me to learn, he says I'll hurt myself, but it helped me!"
"I can't do that!"
"Duh, you're human."
"You're not?"
"Why would I be?" He states it like Riku is dumb for not knowing it," Do I cut this?"
Slightly offended that he's been considered dumb, he takes the boy's hand with the knife and places it on another knot, despite the fact that it would've worked too. The boy didn't need to know that."You have to cut here."
The board is finally freed and the boy lets out a happy shout. The knife in the hand of the boy falls apart into water. With his hands free he uses it to give Riku the tightest hug he can give, "Thank you!" He lets go,"My name is Sora by the way. What's yours?"
"I'm Riku."
"Let's be friends!" Sora smiles and sticks his hand out to shake.
Riku lifts an eyebrow, "I don't know you."
The boy pouts and lowers his hand. It doesn't fully deter him though. He bends over and picks up the board. Holding it under his right arm he turns to Riku."Hey, how about we go surf? I can show you all the cool things I can do!"
Riku doesn't know what surfing is, but it sounds way more fun than the boring card and dice games the adults play or running around the beach trying to find a stick,"What's surfing?"
Sora laughs, blue eyes sparkling in excitement,"I'll show you! Come, I'm sure we'll both fit on my board."
The boy holds out his hand, but before Riku can grab it a shot echoes through the air.
The sand next to their feet flies up as both jump back.
"Get away from my son!"
Confused, Riku turns around to his father's voice. His dad is running towards him like his life depends on it while the merchant is standing still and aiming straight towards them.
what?
no not towards them.
Towards Sora.
Another shot rings out as Riku turns back towards Sora to see him not standing next to him anymore.
Instead the boy is running away diagonally towards the sea. Board still under his arm he ducks under another shot.
He doesn't get to decide to run after him as he's suddenly scooped up in his fathers arms. His fathers holds him close and cries in relief, kissing him on his forehead as he whispers that he never should've let his son alone on the beach.
But Riku has no ears for his fathers concerns as his eyes are still trained on Sora who has now reached the sea. The boy ducks under the water and he's gone.
The merchant stops next to him and his dad, slightly out of breath,"Damn it, it got away."
Riku doesn't understand what is so dangerous about Sora that the man had to shoot at him,"Why did you do that? He didn't do anything wrong"
The merchant huffs and reholsters his gun. Still staring at the place where Sora has disappeared,"He wasn't a friend, lad. That's a child of the sea. They lure people into the sea to never return again." He pats Riku's shoulder, "You're lucky we got here on time."
Riku pouts, still not agreeing,"But they weren't so nice in your stories. They lured men with songs and ate them. Sora didn't do that."
"You're thinking of mermaids. Let me tell you, mermaids are dicks, but easy to avoid if you know a bit about them. These things? Once they get a grip on you they'll never let go."
The man readjusts his hat,"We need to get back to the ship and move. It's damn concerning that these devils are returning to safe Islands."
His dad doesn't let him go even as they get to the longboat where the rest of the crew is waiting. His mother dotes over him like he is still a baby and the rest of the crew give the trio pitying looks.
Riku doesn't get why. He just made a new friend. Sure he wasn't human, but back in England there was a straycat he considered a friend and no one was mad or sad about that.
Once they get back on the ship and the rest of the crew is busy the merchant turns toward him and his parents,"I need your son to be locked up and watched for the rest of the voyage. By the time the moon has come up any sight or touch of the ocean will make him mad."
His mother sighs in defeat as his father exclaims helplessly that they intend to work on the docks. A place right next to the thing that will take their boy away. His mother asks in a small voice if there is a possibility of there being a cure.
The merchant shakes his head,"He should be safer on land than on sea, but the curse will stay. Lucky for you guys the monastery at your destination has dealt with sea lovers before. The governess's daughter suffers from it, but they're managing to keep her safe for around half a decade now."
His fate was sealed.