Chapter Text
Sea water slid up onto the sandy shore, then gently receded, taking glittering rocks with. Some remained at the shore, caught in piles, left in the sun’s light. The waves spoke in soft whispers over the sounds of bird song and local fisherman in their boats, gathering up their lines and replacing the hooks or the bait.
In one boat sat a lone young man with short silver hair, his teal eyes focused and sharp as he fumbled with a box. His little boat he stood in was simple—quaint, almost…cute in the way that a wooden fisherman's boat could be. Something that was clearly taken care of to some extent yet used often.
Every fisherman of this small town was generally on the older side, so seeing such a handsome young man handling a fishing pole and finessing certain tasks charmed a lot of the women of the town. Truly a lady's man. However, maybe it was the fact that he seemed to drift in the sea in a corner more distant from the rest, or maybe it was how he rarely interacted with the people on his own, that it made Wuyang think this man didn't particularly care about the affairs of others.
On the rocks, not too far off, this merman poked his head above water for the second time this week, watching this particular fisherman work. Wuyang had seen plenty of them travel this far out into the waters, but never alone, and this guy…well…
Wuyang could tell he didn't really like fishing. He would set up his fishing pole like any other fisherman, propping it up, but then he would leave it. Instead of worrying about actually catching fish, he would pull out a box and open it, and then read or write something down in a notebook.
Pushing himself up against the warmth of the rock, Wuyang squinted to get a better look. This man wore a white loose shirt, lazily tucked into some baggy pants so that parts of the shirt would spill out over the sides anyway. At a certain angle, when he would crouch, Wuyang could catch a glimpse of his collarbone and chest that wasn't completely covered. Under the hot sun for days on end, sweat glistened there. Wuyang couldn't help but wonder if he would grow tired of this same pattern every day, like all the other fisherman did eventually.
On this day, the sun was so particularly bright that the man was wearing a hat that shielded his eyes. It was hard to see his features, much to Wuyang's disappointment, since he liked to admire them. He leaned forward ever so slightly on that rock, but nearly slipped from his wet palms. He saw the man's head turn and it startled Wuyang, causing him to duck further into the cooling water.
Seeming to lose interest, or convinced he hadn't seen a thing, the man looked back at his paper, tapping his chin with an ink pen.
Carrying around paper and ink on a boat…that seems a bit silly.
Wuyang's round, brown eyes watched the fisherman closely. Every so often, he would move, and it would startle Wuyang back underneath the waters. On one occasion, the clouds drifted over the sun, covering the intense rays for only a moment. The young man lifted his hat a little, and then set it aside on the boat. From the angle Wuyang had now, he could make out the line of his jaw and the fine bridge of his nose. Hooray! he had thought, I can see now!
Then, suddenly, his boat rocked. There wasn't even any wave that had passed by to suggest that was the cause. Either way, he had lost his balance and he waved his arms frantically before tumbling overboard with a splash.
Now, any merfolk with a moment to think may have said, "He's fine. He's a fisherman—they can swim, right?"
Or even: "Hey, there wasn't even a wave! He's just a klutz!"
But Wuyang didn't think right away. He dove under the water without even a sound. His blue scaly tail glistening and reflecting the bits of sun that broke through the clouds and into the water, swishing to and fro against the currents. So natural and elegant.
He had intended to save this man while he might've been unconscious, without getting noticed, but as he swam up, their eyes locked. Wuyang's eyes widened, his own reflection in those same eyes he had only seen from afar. Now they were so close—
The young man shut his eyes, as if struggling, bubbles rising from his lips. Wuyang wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close against him. His body was very easy to carry until he breached the water, feeling like he had only grown heavier as he laid him down on some flat rocks. The young fisherman coughed up some water, his clothes and hair utterly soaked and pressed against his skin. All the while Wuyang watched him, possibly a little too closely, leaning over him. His dark hair falling around his shoulders and cheeks as his tail wrapped around the rock.
Wuyang blinked a couple times.
The young man started to laugh.
"I knew there was someone…watching me," he said. He coughed again, getting the last bit of water from his lungs and mouth. He ran the back of his hand over his lips as he watched Wuyang closely, eyebrows raised slightly in interest. "But I didn't expect it to be a merman, of all things."
Wuyang removed his hands in a startled panic, bringing to attention the blue fins on his forearms and some various glittering scales there. As soon as Wuyang began to move, Mizuki tried to reach out.
"Hey, wait wait." Seeing the way that this man was reluctant to let Wuyang go just yet, he paused curiously. Though he remained on edge and alert, he didn't dive back into the water yet. The man's teal gaze swept over Wuyang, from the dark of his hair to the end of his tail where his fins flared out. They were a lighter blue than the rest of his scales, and almost resembled something like an angelfish, or a koi.
"You did save me," he said, his eyes meeting Wuyang's. "I should thank you, fish-man or not."
Fish—fish-man!?
Wuyang furrowed his brows a little, taken a bit of offense to being just called a fish. Though it wasn't exactly far off of the mark…it felt like a jab. Even if that wasn't the intention. He didn't know what to feel!
"A fisherman wants to thank a fish, huh?" Wuyang conjectured.
The other man blinked, then grinned. He likely hadn't expected the "fish" to speak.
"Well, sure," he said. "To be honest, I never really catch any fish out here." He gestured to his boat. "I guess I'm kind of unlucky. I totally could've drowned there too."
Wuyang stared, silent for a long time. His eyes darted around a little before he inched closer again, his palm rubbing against his knuckle absentmindedly. "What's your name, fisherman?" he asked.
"Mizuki," he replied. "And you are…"
"Ye Wuyang, but um…you can just call me Wuyang." He waved his hand a little. "Full names are a bit too formal."
"Yeah, fair enough."
Awkward silence.
"Mizuki," Wuyang started, "how long have you lived in this town?" He found a proper seat now beside this new acquaintance, his palm pressed against a warm spot of the rock where the sun touched often. He had only begun seeing Mizuki make his rounds a month ago, so he had to have been still new…
But that made him think about how he had been watching Mizuki from afar for this long.
That wasn't…weird, right?
"About a month," Mizuki replied. He started to ring out the ends of his sleeves and moved some wet hair out of his face. It was such a simple, pointless movement but it made Wuyang's heart thud helplessly. He leaned forward slightly with interest, his tail slapping against the rock as though he might have been a happy puppy. (But Wuyang would not have made that comparison himself.)
"So then…what is it like?"
Mizuki watched him, tilting his head. It seemed like he hadn't expected that question. "Huh?"
"Ah, like—" Wuyang waved his hand, flicking his wrist some. "I dunno, living in town…are the people nice? Can you tell me more about them?"
Mizuki scratched his head, frowning. When Wuyang noticed his expression change, he smiled sheepishly and tried to change the subject. After all, Mizuki wasn't around for that long, in perspective. And if Mizuki was always alone, what would he even have to really say about the people? It was a dumb question.
"U-um Forget it!" Wuyang said, that smile remaining regardless. "It's okay, you don't have to answer. I was just—"
"The people here are pretty quiet," Mizuki interrupted him. Wuyang was caught off guard, not initially expecting him to give such an answer. "They all know each other, but that makes them pretty close. Like, family, I guess?"
Wuyang listened, that smile of his growing brighter and more genuine. A flicker of hope and warmth that filtered into his very body. Yes. Yes! If he learned more about these people, then maybe someday he could try to introduce himself. It would be odd considering who he was, or rather what he was, but…maybe…!
"Hm, actually, I'm really soaked and cold now," Mizuki blurted. "I'll have to go back home and change." He slowly got to his feet and Wuyang watched, backing off again just a bit but only to give him space to stand on the rock. Mizuki glanced up at the sky, then back down at Wuyang. "I'll come back tomorrow, and I can tell you more."
Wuyang beamed and nodded. "Okay!"
The next couple days, Mizuki kept his promise. He would set his cute wooden boat out into the water, standing on it as it rode the gentle waves. Then Wuyang would swim out to meet him, his hands on the edges of the boat as he peered over. Both days, Mizuki brought Wuyang some souvenirs from the town. Various funny looking trinkets that Mizuki had called "good luck charms," but the ones Wuyang had known as good luck charms were these handcrafted bracelets and necklaces made of seashells.
Who knew the land-folk had such strange taste?
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
Mizuki had no idea why he kept coming out to greet this merman. Maybe it was the way he swam to save him. After all, seeing him underwater was such an otherworldly sight he immediately became fascinated. His longer dark colored hair was caught in the water, his brown eyes round and soft—full of curiosity and an innate kindness. If Mizuki had simply decided it was because of his toned, strong arms and his pretty face, that would be a much easier explanation.
However, he still had a job to do here. A mission he was sent to fulfill—an execution. It was why he spent days on his boat, faking his fishing escapades and taking notes.
There was a man in this small, seaside town that was not who he seemed. Mizuki was sent to go incognito here as well to find him and…"get rid of him." But his time here had ended up with some unforeseen events: Wuyang was staring at a charm he had brought, fumbling with it in his hands and turning it over and over. His eyes were full of stars as he laid on his back, letting the water hold him up. The end of his tail stuck out of the water, completely lax.
"So you said these things are what you people use to keep away evil spirits?" he asked.
"Okay, don't say 'you people' that sounds weird…" Mizuki scratched his head. "But yeah, I use these ones specifically. Sometimes I chain them to my clothes."
Wuyang blinked at him. "Are you haunted?"
Mizuki didn't know how to respond to that.
The charm in Wuyang's hands slipped out of his grasp, landing in the water with a plunk after he desperately tried to stop it. He swiped his hand underneath the water to grab it, but it only sank faster.
"Sorry!!" he exclaimed before diving in further to grab it.
For a moment, Mizuki forgot Wuyang was a merfolk and panic swelled up within him. Then he reminded himself that he would be fine.
But Wuyang's words lingered in his mind, trapped by some force.
"Are you haunted?"
He sighed.
Lost in the movements of the waves, his mind wandered. He saw his own reflection looking back at him, scrutinizing his own appearance as if it was someone he couldn't stand.
"You're cursed."
Mizuki's head started pounding and his eye twitched. He held his head and massaged his temple with a groan. He took one last glance at his reflection and saw a woman. Wavy blonde hair and gentle eyes, with a smile that could cast out all fear.
"Our family bloodline is cursed! We're all going to die…!"
He saw his mother, and he shouted. He took his notebook and threw it into the water to cast away the mirage of his mother's face, but only after he had done that did his eyes widen.
No, no no—I need that!
He crouched by the edge of the boat and reached out to grab the notebook, but it was too far. It bounced atop of the water, drifting away when Wuyang breached the surface right before his eyes. Wuyang met his gaze with a bright smile.
"I got it!" Wuyang held up the charm, safe and sound in his hands. But he seemed to notice something was off, and he turned to look at the notebook in the water. He grabbed that up too, so easily as though he didn't even give it a second thought. Not even aware that that notebook was being used to track and kill a man.
He smiled effortlessly at Mizuki, handing him his things back. "Did you drop this too? Now I really am starting to believe you're a klutz."
Mizuki didn't know what to say other than a small, "Thanks." and took the book and charm back. Even after wiping the notebook off of water, some of the pages were still soaked, and the ink had begun to bleed. Dejected, he set it aside with the charm. He may have to rewrite some pages later.
Wuyang watched him do so, his hands on the edge of the boat as he peered inside curiously again. Then, his brown eyes shifted up to Mizuki's face, as if studying him closely.
"Are you alright, Mizuki?" he asked.
Mizuki glanced at him and immediately regretted it. His starry brown eyes, staring up at him, remnants of water dripping from his long hair as it rested on his shoulders. Even his muscular shoulders and arms were almost glistening from the ocean water—fuck, his whole body was shimmering, and Mizuki's chest warmed. All the way up to his cheeks and ears the heat traveled, forcing him to look away and scratching his nose.
"I'm alright," he said. "Just…got stuck thinking about something."
Wuyang seemed confused, and he didn't speak for some time. "Well," he began, sounding hesitant, "I um…I may not be a land-folk like you, but sometimes I think too much about certain things that make me upset. If you ever need to voice that, I—my sister always says I'm a good listener."
Why?
Why had Mizuki truly kept coming back to see Wuyang day after day? It wasn't to show him charms, and it wasn't just because Wuyang was pretty…
Hearing Wuyang say those words made him realize another reason why: he was kind. A kindness that Mizuki didn't deserve in the slightest. Mizuki was an assassin. He killed people. His job was to follow orders and take lives. He…if he didn't follow orders, he would remain cursed forever. Unlucky and followed by demons. But maybe those spirits and demons that trailed after him were just all of the lives he had taken, clawing at his ankles…
Mizuki had too much blood on his hands for someone to treat him so softly.
Would Wuyang still treat him this way knowing what he had done?
Suddenly becoming incredibly self aware and, for the first time in a long time, guilt surfaced in his being. He responded in an almost panicked voice.
"N-no, no it's fine. I'm fine. I just need…I need to cool off a little."
Wuyang shrugged. "You could jump into the water with me?"
"That's—that's not…no, no I'm okay. I don't need another instance where I come home dripping wet."
Wuyang laughed, leaning more onto the boat until it tipped. As soon as it had, Wuyang freaked out, eyes wide, and yanked his arms away from the boat. Mizuki kept his balance for only a second until he stumbled to his knees, sitting as still as possible while the boat tried to even itself out.
"S-sorry!! I wasn't trying to—I know I mentioned joining me in the water, but that wasn't…" Wuyang stuttered, smiling nervously.
As the boat stopped rocking, Mizuki couldn't help himself. He really couldn't—
Wuyang's shocked, wide eyes, and the way he clearly didn't know how much weight he would be putting on that boat. And to think Mizuki almost fell out of the boat anyway even after having said he would prefer to stay dry this time—
It was too fucking funny. Mizuki burst out into a fit of laughter, holding his stomach and flopping onto his back in the boat. It moved a little, but it wouldn't tip again, and even if it did Mizuki would probably drink in all that sea water while he tried to stop his explosive laughs.
Wiping tears, he slowly started to sit up again, the last bits of the fit dying away, but his smile wouldn't fade. When he saw Wuyang's bewildered face, he tried not to laugh all over again.
"Is…is my face that funny,,,?" he asked, scratching his head. It didn't sound like he was offended, just more so puzzled.
Mizuki nodded, letting the rest of it fall as he let out a sigh. "Haha…your face…!! Oh my God you should have seen it—ahahaaa that shit was hilarious!!"
Wuyang puckered his lips, and then cracked a smile. He joined in laughing, his tail splashing some water at the boat. The sound of his laughter was music to Mizuki's ears. Like some sort of beautiful song that was so sweet and genuine, holding nothing but pure joy inside. Mizuki chuckled, scooting to the edge of the boat on his knees as he stared at Wuyang, smiling right back.
Oh, if he could protect that joy. That would be great. No matter anything else that might happen, even if Mizuki never truly got rid of his guilt, or if he would remain a bad person forever in order to preserve this, that was okay. For now, at least…
Even during all of this, at least for a few minutes, Mizuki forgot all about it in the first place. The strength of his guilt and deadly curse would weigh heavy on his soul, but right now it was washed away alongside the tide under this ethereal merman who saved him that day.
Which, must be said, Mizuki had purposefully fallen out of his boat in order to draw the merman out. He had known he was there every day he made his way out to sea, and everyday he wondered when he would come to say, "Hello."
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
But of course, good things never last for too long. There is always something that must be done. When a cursed young man has not paid his dues, somebody's blood must be spilled.
The next day that Mizuki had planned to venture out to the sea, the skies were clouded. Perhaps anybody else would assume it was simply just bad weather. That it would storm, then pass eventually. However, for one such as Mizuki who is a superstitious type, this did not sit well with him. He was anxious all day, his stomach turned into knots. He clutched his charms in his hands, practically squeezing them.
When he unfolded his fingers, his teal eyes landed on the charm. It was the same one Wuyang had dropped into the water, but so gingerly returned to him when he got it back.
It began to rain. Drops hit the old roof of his small town house, at first in small sprinkles, and then a heavy cascade. He stood up, stuffed the charm into his pocket, and ran to the door. He completely forgot to put on his shoes in the process of him leaving the house, fumbling with the doorknob.
Mizuki, such a falsely stoic man, was beginning to show fear across his features. He threw caution to the wind and left his little house he had been staying in, bare feet racing across the concrete and mud covered grass. He had to get to the shore. He had to get to the shore!
His heart pounded in his chest. It beat in rhythm with his frantic steps and the falling rain, casting out all other noise. He could hear nothing else but the faint breath of a demonic presence, clinging to his back and neck. Something trying to suck out all of his air and make it harder to run.
No. No no no—!!
As he arrived at the shore, where the ocean waters met land—where the waters dragged glittering rocks beneath the turning of dark waves, softly whispering against the sand—the blue waters were slowly turning red.