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Do you remember the name I wanted to give you?
"Merme the mermaid"
It was so stupid
So stupid.
I can't remember anyone's faces anymore.
It's been decades.
My old friends..
My parent's..
I'm scared.
Do mermaids have a good memory?
So far I haven't forgotten your face...
Will I forget soon?
Soon.. Would come by fast for a mermaid..
Will I eventually forget you too?
I don't want to forget you.
I don't want to barely be able to remember your face as I desperately try to draw it again and again... Only to end up with different people each time.
Truly selfish.. So selfish..
Were they right?
No of course they weren't right but.. Maybe if I listened to them I wouldn't be in so much pain now.
Today another year passed.
The 468th year.
You're so selfish so selfish so selfish so selfish!
"Why.."
"I can't stand being alone just to wait until I eventually die."
Will I rot, will I?
I don't care. I don't care!
If such beings existed in the first place couldn't you have found different ways?
All to save me.. How stupid..
I recalled her Lala-Schwartz.
The mermaid I found while desperately fishing for one.
Do you know how excited I was at the time? Only for you to scare me when you actually spoke to me?
Demanding a new tank too... How annoying..
Saying I had a lot of charity...
These seas will forever me empty without you, why did you think I'd want to explore them by myself? Is this how you felt?
"But I'm the one who had to wait longer.."
"And despite everything, even if I wait you won't come back."
Tears started coming out of the reminiscing eyes of the boy who had a young appearance.
"I.. I was sure I was done crying.. I mean. It's been 468 years... Surely.."
The words were slow and calming as if to laugh about the situation. But there was no situation just a mermaid trying to laugh out their feelings.
More tears started falling down but the man didn't make any sobs he just stood there.. With red eyes and tears that seemed to not want to stop.
"It's been too long.."
The man walked steadily towards the wooden deck.
"Is it wrong to want to end the life you've granted me?"
Is it wrong?
"You idiot... Ruki without you the seas mean nothing to me and yet.." There was a small beautiful mermaid besides a injured boy no more than 17 years old.
"I'm sorry I know this is selfish of me.." The mermaid had tears formed on her gazing eyes.. With her small body she stood next to the man laying on the sand as she looked towards the waves..
"For all these 700 years maybe the only thing I wanted to see was you, Ruki."
"Maybe you're the only beauty I needed to see this whole time."
"In this selfish world full of people who would eat beautiful and innocent creatures for beauty.."
Lala-Schwartz looked at Ruki's shut eyes.
"Yet... You.."
Lala-Schwartz put her head on the man's body, for some reason he had a smile on his lips along with his shut eyes.
"You were the only one who didn't eat mermaids despite being granted too.."
The mermaid started sobbing silently her eyes lingering on the huge wound on Ruki's body.
She recalled how she had met him. This kid caught her in a bucket and planned on naming her Merme the mermaid..
"Originally I planned on playing along as your friend and then escape.. However.."
"I started to actually love you."
"It hurt to see when you came home covered in bruises for getting into a fight with someone because they thought it was weird you were friends with 'food'. "
Lala-Schwartz laughed a bit she was remembering this stupid kid.. Ruki.. She ended up actually caring for a human.. Humans who ate mermaids.. But he didn't. She smiled thinking about this.
"You ran home to see me, you sought comfort from me every time, and you listened to my angry rambling.."
"Yet why would you do that?"
Lala-Schwartz eyes dimmed at thinking about it. Just a few moments ago.
The two parents of Ruki came barging in looking desperate.
What were they looking for?
Lala-Schwartz saw their look. It was pure insanity, like someone who had came in search for something they have longed to find for decades..
The parents eyes glued to the big tank where lala-Schwartz was at.
She knew.. Ruki had vented to Lala-Schwartz about how his dad had gone bankrupt but later assured Lala-Schwartz that his mom still had a job so it was okay.
But Ruki started seeking comfort more often than usual from Lala-Schwartz.
It would always be about his parents financial support.
But then it started shifting to about their appearance and how stressed his parents were about it.
The parents didn't have enough money to afford mermaid everyday to be beautiful.
It was enough to drive anyone insane in a country everyone called 'the most beautiful country'.
They had to eat mermaid... Everyday... To maintain their youthful look. However they couldn't afford it right now.
They looked at the mermaid floating in the tank, they said they would wait till it grew, until Ruki was 18, so he could personally eat the mermaid.
However Ruki never planned on eating someone he loved.
The parents stood at the door of their kids room for a bit just lingering their eyes on the mermaid as if planning where would be the best place to chop it.
'It'?
They didn't consider the mermaids emotions, to them it was food you would never consider feeling empathy towards.
The mermaid couldn't do anything but panic and eventually accepting it internally.
The both of them lunged at the tank not caring if it shattered or if their skin bled from the glass as they pulled the mermaids body out of the water.
"Haha..."
"Ha.."
They threw the mermaid on the table restraining it's movements by putting knives around it.
"We'll finally be beautiful again..!"
The woman cried happily. So happily. Along with the father.
"I can't wait.. I think the people at work have started to notice my wrinkles..." The mother sighed heavily.
"I can't even dare go outside anymore.."
"Now.."
Lala-Schwartz stared in terror at this she knew maybe this would eventually happen to her, however experiencing it now. She didn't want it. She didn't want to see the boy cry over her death. But there was nothing she could do now.
"Maybe humans and mermaids can't befriend each other.."
She muttered weakly breathing very softly.
She was still scared.. She was scared to become food to these monsters. If she had to die, she would want to die by Ruki.
Two large knifes now aimed towards the mermaid laying on the table.
Lala-Schwartz can't help but let tears slip out. She was scared so scared. She wouldn't have anything remaining in this world since she would be eaten.
The door flung open.
There.. Was Ruki.
The boy who's eyes always formed a smile without a word now seemed like his world was gonna crash.
He just stared desperately at the scene breathing in and out heavily.
"no.." He muttered very weakly catching his breath.
"I'm sorry Ruki we couldn't wait till your 18th birthday.."
His mother smiled warmly at the boy with her dry bloodless lips and a pale reflection.
She.. She's gone insane..
His dad was no better too as his mouth was now grinning brightly too. Not at him.. At the 'food' that was gonna save his 'tragic life.'
The knife now swang towards the mermaid but Ruki reacted fast running towards the table as he tried to cover the mermaid laying on the table.
"Huu.! No! Mom, dad..!"
"Stop!"
Ruki's voice became more faint.
"No.. "
The parents dropped their knives staring at the large cut on their sons body.
The cut they caused on their son.
He was bleeding out fast..
"I.."
They couldn't speak.
They were cowards.
The boy didn't stop covering the mermaid as he grabbed Lala-Schwartz and carried her running outside quickly.
The parents didn't even try to catch up as they lay on the ground knees trembling.
Ruki ran and ran despite the state he was in carrying the shocked mermaid in his hands as others stared concerningly at the trail of blood this boy was leaving.
It didn't matter no matter how exhausted he was.. No matter how much his body was giving up on him he ran.. Till he got there..
They made it to the empty beach no sign of vacancy.
"Ruki.."
Lala-Schwartz muttered slowly.
"I.." He breathed heavily even though it was difficult."
"You're safe in the sea right? Go back for me."
He smiled weakly giving a faint memory of nostalgia.
"No! What about you!"
"I'm fine..you.."
It got harder for him to breathe.
"Don't shut your eyes you idiot don't..!" The small mermaid started sobbing besides him.
As more time passed and more sobs his pulse became lighter and lighter.
Lala-Schwartz made a resolute expression.
"This is selfish of me however.. You were also being selfish Ruki.. Wanting me to live.."
Lala-Schwartz stared at Ruki.
"Ruki."
"I love you."
She stared at the person she loved now gravely injured.
She walked towards the persons heart as she pressed her hands together on top of his skin chanting something.
It would be unsure what it was but this small glowing orb came out of her mouth, so did her life she seemed to be getting more dead by the second as she placed this glowing orb into Ruki's chest.
Lala-Schwartz smiled weakly.
"You know mermaids hide many stuff from humans."
"How we can talk."
"How we bring youth to others once eaten."
"How we haven't disappeared.."
"But there's this last one."
She looked at Ruki's eyes shut eyes once more as her own eyes seemed to be getting tired as well.
"It's a very bad thing."
"I'm sorry, I'd explore the seas with you as well if I could."
The little mermaids body now seemed to glow faintly as her appearance seemed to be fading away so she did one last thing.
She walked towards the boys head as she planted a kiss on his forehead.
"Good bye Ruki."
"Unfortunately this story doesn't have a happy ending."
"Stupid don't you think?"
She smiled placing her hands on Ruki's forehead.
"But it doesn't matter as long as you get to live."
"Please forgive me Ruki.. I truly do love you.."
The mermaid had now completely disappeared
A few hours later Ruki had now woken up.
"I thought...No I should've died how.."
He checked his breathing.
Normal.
Infact he felt much more alive than a few hours ago which should've been impossible.
He looked over to his side which still has that huge wound but it seemed to have healed.? In such little time..
He inspected the huge scar which was now more pink than red which was a good thing but..
Should I not be concerned how this happened?
And Lala-Schwartz wasn't there..
"She went back to the sea?"
"Ah.. that's good then.."
He was still a bit saddened but he smiled, however it felt odd. He felt she would at least wait until he woke up but she didn't..
Ruki turned his head to look at his hands.
They...
His skin was much more pale than before and had a hint of blue and green visible the most on his knuckles his appearance reminded him of a... Mermaid.
"Lala?.."
"..."
He would never get a response back.
It was the only thing I could think about nowadays..
The 468th year.
The person extended their arm towards the sky as he lay down. He looked towards the sea, the waves asking him to come.
"What a beautifully selfish life you've given me."
"The spell you casted on me has lasted so long.."
Tears come out of these long dry eyes. It's been to long to feel anything about you. But.. I'm so lonely.
The once bright eyes just seemed tired focusing it's attention towards the sea.
"Ah I'm so tired.."
"You know?"
"Usually you'd be right in front of me."
Me laying on the sand as you lay near the shore of the water.
"I used to think this was the most beautiful country."
The man smiled softly thinking.
"But.. This country is truly so disgusting."
He paused remembering something.
"Our country... Is cursed by sirens."
Ruki looked down at the sand.
"I wonder if what that wizard said was true."