Nakahara Chuuya - Tumblr Posts

a little follow-up ig

My top 10 gay shipa

10

Goran and shinya- owari no seraph

9

Nice and art- hamatora

8

Chuuya and dazai- bungou stray dogs

7

Rin and sousuke- free!

6

Thalia and reyna- percy jackson

5

Thomas and newt- the maze runner

4

Magnus and alec- TMI

3

Ty and kit- lady midnight

2

Nico and will- percy jackaon

1

Oikawa and iwazuimi- haikyuu

So I have some Chuuya Headcanons

Chuuya is my favorite character, so I had some idea about him. If you want headcanons from BSD just ask for it.

- he is good in languages and know English, Franch, Russian etc.

- he is really friendly and people likes him most of the time and because of that he has good relationships with other PM members and other ability users.

- he is great with kids and no one can convince me otherwise.

- he got tones of money and he go aboard for vactions.

- he is Elise's favorite PM member because he is nice and let her do his hair and take her to shoping.

- she listens to him more then she listens to Mori.

- he has a good relationship with few of the members of The Order of the Clock Tower and they sometimes work together (directly with him).

- he has movies nights with Kouyou and they really enjoy this.

- on his birthday he gets tones of presents from his surrenders and he even gets something from Elise and Kouyou.

- he also gets a box from England and no one ever knows who this is from.

- Arahabaki can talk with him inside his head and he does this all the time (like Kyuubi from Naruto).

- his friend from TOOCT (The Order of The Clock Tower) is Jane Austen (I'll write more about her) and she is taller than him. I donn't write more about her here because their relationship will get a post.

- he would rather work with Agatha then with Dazai so he will go TOOCT for help if he can.

- he and Agatha are in good relationship too but they are not friends (they just work together really well). Althought they drink tea togther somtimes.

- he tried to learn more about Arahabaki so he hunted down whoever the doctors that was involve in this mess are.

- he refuses to kill kids unless they really deserve this.

- he cares about his surrenders.

- he can use a gun, shotgun etc. Too.

- being stuck with Arahabaki doesn't bother him so much like it is to not be important to the people around him. Sometimes he's happy that the god is within him because he can't leave him too.

- Jane never met Dazai but she hates him.

- he went to England after Dazai's leaving.

- he trained Gin and took care of her. Sometimes he goes with her to get some lunch or go to shopping. When he goes to TOOCT for work business he takes her with him.

- he has a younger brother in Tokyo.

So here’s the thing… 

Chuuya grew up on the streets, and he doesn’t remember anything from before he was maybe 8 yrs old. He doesn’t remember having parents and he didn’t go to school, so he probably doesn’t know what a lot of words mean. Words that could be ‘common’ knowledge because people usually have some sort of education. Honestly he probably doesn’t even know what the word ‘family’ means. 

Think about that, if Sheep told him he was a part of their family, he wouldn’t know what that means, and he probably wouldn’t know what the internet is either, so he wouldn’t be able to look it up like we would in this day and age. People would act like it’s common knowledge to know what these words meant, because it is, for everyone except for Chuuya. And he wouldn’t like that he doesn’t know what they meant, so he would hide that he doesn’t know what they mean. 

He could take things in so many different ways, maybe he thinks the word ‘family’ means a large group of people that don’t really know each other, that ‘love’ is just a word to express something that he doesn’t know the meaning of, that there are words that we all know because we were taught about it, but he wasn’t taught about it, he wasn’t taught what names were until someone asked what his was, that having a tattoo on your neck that stated your designated code isn’t normal, or that expressing emotions other than anger isn’t going to get him killed. 

Because he grew up on the streets, fighting to survive, fighting to have at least one more day alive, even if he doesn’t even know what alive means. 

lmao

This is a 2 am rant oml I’m so sorry you had to see me do this

This is why I hate the debate of Dazai would choose Oda over Chuuya. Would he really? because I feel like without Chuuya he wouldn't even have considered Oda request.

Oda's request would have just proved Dazai's (suicidal) point that life means nothing, that it doesn't matter what side you're on, or whether you're a good or bad person.

But since Chuuya made him WANT to live, is why he considered that request, because Dazai knows that life isn't completely meaningless, Chuuya showed him that.

Because Chuuya showed Dazai that life is somewhat worth living, that makes it easier for Dazai to consider oda's request, because it wasn't about just doing good because there no meaning, it's about finding more meaning in the thing that you never considered exploring.

For all we know Dazai's life has been bad to say something, Chuuya was a highlight of the little good he had in his life and was a beacon of the present good in it, while oda's request was casting light on the possible good in the future.

So to reiterate, Dazai wouldn't choose Oda over Chuuya, because without Chuuya, Dazai wouldn't have been alive to meet him, much less care about him or Ango.

The same way that Chuuya wouldn't choose the Mafia over Dazai, if force to pick between the two Chuuya would pick Dazai without second thought, Chuuya would destroy the world and himself for Dazai. Chuuya may be loyal to the Mafia but his loyalty lays with Dazai.

And Dazai may have left the Mafia and followed Oda's dying wish, but Dazai never risks Chuuya, Dazai is willing to let Oda's wish burn with the world for Chuuya. Hell Dazai was ready to let Yokohama get destroyed just to prove that Chuuya human, why would Dazai care that Chuuya human? Because Chuuya cares about whether or not he's human, so it matters to Dazai.

Dazai is Chuuya's humanity, and Chuuya wants so desperately to be human, Dazai ability is truly a gift to him, and one he adores full heartedly

Chuuya is Dazai's reason to live, not much to say to it, Chuuya highlights the good that Dazai struggles too see, he makes Dazai consider things he thought useless, and he lets Dazai feel more comfortable in the fact that his existence doesn't have to have meaning. (And Chuuya ability is something that Dazai finds beauty in, it something he finds mesmerizing to the point where he can just stop and stare and just forget about all the bad things even for just a moment)

___________________________________

Tldr: Oda just gave him something to fill his need for a meaning to life and living, while Chuuya makes him not care/think about whether life needs meaning or not to live.

Chuuya made Dazai want to live.

Oda made Dazai want to change.

fifteen years old

You’re the same as me

Hey I like your blog a lot but I have to create an account to send this! :) can you write Dazai, Chuuya and Atsushi finding their s/o crying alone in the closet? Been feel down lately, thank 🥺💘

a/n : I hope you feel better. If you ever need to talk to someone I'm always here to talk to. I hope you like this sweetie. Much love to you, dear.

Dazai

He was used to you not answering your phone every time he called, you were an avid napper and he only called as much as he did to make sure you knew that he cared. He knew that you enjoyed waking up to see your phone screen filled with notifications from him, missed calls, and so many voicemails that the mailbox was filled completely.

He started getting slightly antsy when you didn't respond to any of his texts or calls by mid-evening. Sure, you napped a lot, but you never stayed asleep this long. You would at least have gotten up to use the restroom or get something to eat or something. "Maybe she just didn't check her phone..." He mused to himself, spinning around in his desk chair at the office, staring at his phone screen that was opened to your texts. He was waiting for those three little dots that would indicate that you were responding, that you were okay.

"Get off your phone, Dazai." Kunikida said, smacking the top of his head with his notebook as he walked by. He grunted and set his phone down on his desk, turning back to the work on the table. Sure, he didn't actually enjoy doing work, but it was the only thing that got his mind off the fact that you weren't writing back.

Back at the apartment you shot up in your bed, it felt like there was a giant weight on your chest, your head was pounding and your vision was going blurry as you felt the tears coming on. Nothing in particular had triggered your anxiety attack, sometimes it just happened. You clutched your hands to your chest as you kicked the blankets from around your legs, but they only got more tangled. Your breathing became harsher, the feeling of being trapped had you in a full blown panic and you kept kicking, trying to remove the blankets. You moved off the bed, and as you looked around you realized how dark it was. Your senses were heightened, you heard every noise from outside, you could feel the vibrations in the floor as trucks drove by, everything had you on edge.

You ran to the closet door, grabbing one of Dazai's shirts off the floor knowing that his scent would be on the shirt, you slumped down against the wall gripping the shirt tightly and bringing it up to your face, trying to find some comfort in his familiar musky scent. Your tears flowed silently as you rocked back and forth on the floor, trying to even out your breaths and calm down as much as you could.

It was 8:30 at night and you still hadn't responded to any of his calls or texts. He grabbed his coat off the back of his chair and slipped his arms through as he made his way out of the office. He was always the first person to leave, but nobody had ever seen Dazai move so quick. He ran out of the building, and luckily for him your apartment was only a block away. He started off in a sprint, his skin hyper aware, hoping to feel the much anticipated vibration of his phone in his pocket.

When he got to the apartment complex he saw that none of the lights were on in any of the windows and he began to panic, fumbling with the building key as he tried to unlock the main door to get in. He couldn't steady his hands and it took him a full two minutes just to get the key in the lock, but as soon as he did he had the door flung in and he was racing up that stairs, skipping two at a time to get to his floor as quick as he could.

He got to the apartment door and he was more careful this time, worrying that maybe someone was in there with you. He slowly unlocked the door and turned the handle, walking on his toes as he stepped into your shared apartment, careful not to make any of the floorboards creak or knock into anything. He didn't turn on any lights, but he could see in the moonlight that everything looked the same as the way he had left it this morning when he went to work. There was no sign of any struggling, but you were still nowhere to be found.

As he walked further into the house he could hear small whimpers coming from the bedroom. His mind jumped to conclusions, thinking that you had been attacked during your nap, and that the perpetrator had left you for dead. He ran as fast as he could, knocking into the decorative table that was against the wall, knocking off the pictures that had lined the table. He didn't care as the glass shattered against the hardwood floors, he just needed to get into the room.

He kicked open the bedroom door and heard your soft squeal from the closet. "Y/N?" He whispered your name as he walked over to the closet, opening the door to find you curled up in a ball on the floor of the closet. "Hey... you okay?" He asked, bending down to sit on the floor next to you. He was slightly taken aback as you scurried across the floor to move onto his lap, your arms wrapping around his neck, burying your face in his chest. "It's okay... It's okay, my belladonna. I'm here now."

He had only been slightly aware of your anxiety, you had never let on to him how bad it could get at any point during your relationship, and he surely hadn't seen you this bad off. It broke his heart to know that you had been crying by yourself in the closet for god knows how long. He cradled you against his chest, his arms loosely wrapped around you, not wanting you to feel too constricted in his hold, but he didn't want to let you go.

He would always nonchalantly ask how you were feeling every morning, making sure you were okay before he left for work. He set your phone up with a special ringtone for his calls and texts only so you knew it was him, and his texts would always be things along the lines of him telling you he loved you or asking if you were okay.

You were his beautiful belladonna, his one and only, and he wanted nothing more than for you to be okay.

Chuuya

He kissed you softly before leaving, not able to look directly at you as you pouted at him from the bed. It was supposed to be his day off, you had planned the entire day for the two of you and it was centered around him specifically. "I'll try to be back soon, baby." He said, trying not to let his frustration show through his words, he felt just as bad about leaving as you did seeing him leave.

When he got to work he realized that he had left his phone back at the penthouse, he was forgetful when he was aggravated. Now he couldn't even text you to let you know that he loved you, to tell you that he couldn't wait to see you. He was pissed at Mori for calling him in, and he was pissed at himself for accepting it. He could have said no, he should have said no. He knew that you had spent all week planning for this day, the two of you had been looking forward to it since the beginning of the week when he had informed you that he had a day off.

His phone started ringing and he picked it up, not giving the person on the other end a second to speak before he started screaming. "Will you just piss off! Leave me alone for a god damned minute!" He slammed the phone down onto the receiver and sighed. It felt good to let some of his anger out, and he didn't really care who the unsuspecting victim was on the other end of the line. Leaning his head against the back of his chair he looked up at the clock on the wall, it was already three in the afternoon, he wondered what you were doing.

You had called his phone once, just wanting to hear his voice. You missed him even more right now, knowing that he should be here with you and he wasn't. It wasn't fair, but it also wasn't his fault. You knew that he couldn't say no to his boss, it didn't take away the sting of watching him walk out that door though.

When his phone started vibrating on the nightstand you couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed. He wasn't here, and now you couldn't even talk to him because he had left without his cellphone. You sat on the bed trying to figure out what to do, and then you had it, the best idea! You pulled up the number pad and began dialing the number, it would connect you directly to his office.

You pressed the call button and held the phone to your ear, the smile already forming on your face as you waited for his voice to come through. Your mouth opened to speak, but he was faster, screaming at you through the line and you could only sit in shock, your mouth still hanging open as his voice rang in your ears. You were about to respond but you heard the phone slam on his end, and then the dead silence right before the dial tone.

Did he know it was you? Was he mad at you for calling while he was at work? Did he not like you calling his office phone? Your hands were shaking, you couldn't even hold your phone. It dropped down to the bed next to you and you slowly got up, your movements were robotic as you made your way to the kitchen. You grabbed the shot glass out of the cabinet and poured yourself a shot of whiskey. You hated the taste, but you hoped that the sting of the alcohol hitting your stomach would overpower the sting from Chuuya's words.

It didn't take much, you were a lightweight, and you soon found out that your tolerance for whiskey was even lower than your tolerance for vodka. Your head felt heavy, and when you got up to go back into the bedroom it felt like the gravitational pull was fifty times stronger than it had been before you had drank. You used anything and everything as a crutch as you walked to the room, but it seemed like with every step you took, the door moved back further. You had lost your footing and began crawling at this point towards the door, the entire room was spinning.

You don't know how you got in the closet, but when the door was shut, no light shone through and the lack of lighting helped ease your headache. The only problem now was that you were stuck with your over analytical drunken thoughts, and that wasn't a good thing at all. He hated you, he was going to leave you, that's why he accepted the job offer. He didn't want to be with you today in the first place. He was cheating on you. Your call had interrupted his fling with another woman. You started crying, and it didn't seem like it would ever end, the thoughts only continued to grow more and more painful as you dwelled on them longer.

Chuuya was called into the meeting room, and as he sat around the table he looked at everyone's faces. He expected one of them to look pissed at him, or maybe call him out for being such an ass to them over the phone, but none of them seemed phased. He cleared his throat before speaking. "Which one of you fuckers called me earlier?" They all looked confused, none of them had called him, but now he was the one confused. "Well who else has my office number?"

"I gave Y/N your office phone number, just in case there was an emergency and-" He held his hand up to cut Kouyou off, his other hand pinching the bridge of his nose as her words sank in. None of them had called... you were the only other person who would have that number... He had talked to you that way...

"Dammit!" He shouted, pushing back from the large table. Everyone's eyes followed him as he stormed out of the room, running back to his office to call back the last number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Then it went to voicemail. "HEEEEYYYY!!! This is Y/N! I can't make it to the phone right now... Chuuya stop! That ticklessss...." The message stopped and the beep sounded, but he couldn't speak.

He grabbed his keys off his desk and ran out the door, trying to think of what he would say, what could he say? If he had just given you the chance to speak before going off this wouldn't even be an issue. How would you even react to seeing him running through the door? Would you allow him to take you in his arms, would you listen to his apology? Surely you couldn't believe that he would purposely talk to you that way! He loved you dearly, he would never talk to you in that tone, even when you piss him off, which was a rarity, he still was able to keep his cool with you. You were too important to him to even think of talking to you in such a way that risked having you leave him.

He ran out of the building to his car, shoving the key into the ignition and pulling out of the lot, his tires squealing as they peeled across the asphalt. His fears were taking over as he sped down the freeway, hoping that he could make it to the penthouse before you left. He was so scared that you would walk out on him, and although it seems silly that you wold leave him over something so seemingly small, he knew how sensitive you were. You were so delicate, fragile... he was so worried that he had broken you.

He ran into the penthouse, his body was going the same speed his sports car had been going down the highways. Getting to you was of the utmost importance, he had to apologize, he had to tell you that he didn't mean to speak to you that way at all. When he walked in he saw the bottle of whiskey out on the counter, it was still open, the lid laying next to it. The small shot glass had a small tinge of your lipstick on the brim, and although he didn't like the idea of you drinking by yourself, at least he knew that you were still there.

"Y/N? Baby, where are you at?" He called out, looking around the open living area. He would have seen you when he walked in if you were there though, so he made his way to the bathroom door, knocking lightly before opening the door and peaking in, only to find it empty. He turned to the bedroom door that was still slightly cracked open, and that's when he heard your quiet sobs coming from the room.

He pushed the door open and looked around, expecting to find you on the bed, but it was empty as well. The sound had definitely come from this room though, so he looked around the room. A small hiccup sounded from the closet and he made his way over, tapping his knuckle against the door rhythmically before asking if he could open the door. You didn't respond, and he didn't quite know if that meant yes or no, but he didn't want to keep you waiting for an explanation, and he didn't want to stand around while you were obviously crying behind the door. He turned the knob slowly and pulled the door open, and when he saw you it was like his heart broke.

You were curled in the fetal position on the floor, clinging onto one of his hoodies like it was a lifeline, sobbing into the fabric. Your body was trembling with the shaky intermittent breaths you took in between your silent sobs. He dropped to the floor, reaching out a hand to place on your shoulder, but you jerked away from his touch. "I'm so sorry, Y/N." He whispered weakly, it killed him seeing you cry, knowing that it was his fault only made it worse.

"Was she prettier than me? Do you love her?" Your voice was muffled behind the hoodie, and he wasn't sure if he heard you correctly. You peered up from the clothing, squinting your eyes as you tried to adjust to the lighting. "You won't answer..."

"You... you think that I was... cheating?" He had heard you right, but that didn't make it any easier for him to process what you had said. Did you really think he was capable of such a thing? You sniffled and your bottom lip jutted out, he reached out to hold your face in his hands, brushing away the tears with his thumbs. "Baby doll, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on, the only girl I ever have and ever will love." Had he given you a reason to doubt him? Had he not told you that he loved you enough? Did he don't tell you enough just how gorgeous you were? He would gladly remind you every second of every day just to ease your worrying mind.

He ended up sitting with you in the closet for a bit, he sat against the wall with your head in his lap. His fingers trailed absentmindedly across your body as he listened to you speak. You told him about your insecurities, how you never felt like you were good enough for him, that you were always so scared that he'd find someone better someday. When you finished speaking he made sure to reassure you that you were beyond good enough for him, that you were too good for him. There would never be anyone better than you, it was impossible for there to be someone in the entire galaxy who was as amazing, beautiful, and genuinely perfect as you.

Atsushi

Atsushi was very protective of you, considering you were the only person in his life who has ever genuinely loved him, he didn't want to lose you or the affection you gave him. He was always scared that you would leave him or that someone would take you away. He thought that he was cursed, that everything good that ever came to him would eventually die or be destroyed. He was under the impression that he didn't deserve happiness, but once he found you, he was starting to believe that maybe it was possible, maybe for once in his life he was allowed to experience true joy. The protectiveness wasn't that bad, it was just him acting on his fears, and that was something that you had gotten used to.  He wasn't over bearing, he didn't keep you locked in the house or anything, he just always checked up on you, his voice was always filled with worry whenever he called, he just loved you so much, he wanted to be sure that you were okay, that you were going to be there when he came back home. You always reassured him that you would be right there waiting for him, and you could picture in your head his cheeks burning bright red whenever you said those simple words, reminding him that you loved him dearly and that you would never leave.

You were already awake, fresh out of the shower, padding around the kitchen as you made him breakfast. He always slept in a little later, his ability was tiring for him, and using it left him exhausted. He needed extra sleep to keep up with work, but you couldn't deny how precious he looked when he was sleeping, and you always got to witness him when he first woke. He would trudge into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, his mouth stretched in a wide "O" as he yawned, before finally opening his eyes and seeing you standing at the stove working on whatever food was on the stove. It happened as planned, a perfect daily happening that you looked forward to every morning. He wrapped his arms around your back, pressing a swift kiss to your neck before working to help you lay out the plates on the table. "You're going to be okay while I'm at work, right?" It was always the same question every morning, as if anything would make today any different from the days before.

"I'll be fine Atushi. You really need to stop worrying about me so much. It's much more dangerous for you out there than it is for me in here." You tried to calm his nerves, turning around to look at him. He was sitting at the table, his head in his hands, his mind filled with worry. You made your way over to where he was sitting and draped your arms over his shoulders, planting a small kiss to the top of his head, a small sigh of relief escaped his lips as you pulled away.

"Promise me, if anything happens, you'll call me. Okay?" He turned his head to look up at you, his face becoming flushed when he saw how close your face was to his own. You nodded, it was a quick jerky movement and the smile that replaced the small pout that he had been wearing only seconds before made your heart flutter. He was perfect in every way, and sometimes you wondered if you deserved such a man as him. You pecked the tip of his nose before heading back over to the stove to flip the pancakes. Today would be a good day, a normal day, just like any other day. He had nothing to worry about.

Atsushi got into the office and everyone could tell he was on edge. They were dealing with the Port Mafia, Akutagawa being the worst of them. The Port wanted to get their hands on him, and he was paranoid about how far they were willing to go to get to him. Every other worry he had about you previously seemed like nothing now, the Port Mafia was one of the biggest threats he had to deal with, and if there was anyone who would be able to get their hands on you, it would be them.

"Hey, come on... don't worry so much. She's always been safe before, she'll be fine today, and every day after." Dazai tried to console a panicking Atsushi. He was sitting at his desk, his pen tapping loudly against the hard wood, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip so hard that Dazai was sure that it would begin bleeding any second now.

"Before... before the Mafia was after me? That's what you mean, right?" Atsushi asked sarcastically, finally dropping his pen and spinning his chair around to face Dazai. "I...I can't lose her Dazai-san... I can't!" The tears threatened to spill over, his heart rate was rapid, his breath came out quickly and when he tried to inhale it sounded more like he was choking.

"They don't even know where she is, where you live. They know nothing. She's going to be alright." Dazai patted his back before turning away, leaving Atsushi alone to dwell on his fears. His head fell against the desk with a loud thud as the tears finally fell from his eyes.

You were sitting on the couch, flipping through tv stations trying to find something that could be used as background noise for your daily afternoon nap. You finally settled on the Weather Channel before getting comfortable enough to close your eyes and get some rest. You had just begun to fall into a peaceful slumber when you heard the front door knob being wiggled. You tried to brush it off as someone possibly coming to the wrong apartment door, just an accident, that's what it was. You tried to settle back down on the pillow, but then the knob was wiggled more violently. You sat straight up, grabbing your phone as you quietly moved off the couch and tiptoed into your bedroom. There was a pounding on the door, and as soon as you got to the bedroom you shut the door behind you and locked it. The violent pounding and the jerking of the doorknob seemed to go on endlessly. You were panicking as you held the phone against your chest, looking around your room to try to find somewhere that you could hide and call Atsushi.

The closet door was cracked open and you hurried over, grabbing a metal hanger from the rack and wrapping it around the handles on the inside. You tried to calm yourself as the sounds of the possible intruder trying to break their way into your home echoed throughout the house. Your hands were shaking and your palms were sweaty as you cowered in the far corner of the closet, trying to pull up Atsushi's number. You held the phone to your ear and took a shaky breath as the ringing resounded through the speaker. It only took one ring for him to answer, you never called him while he was working, so he knew there was something wrong.

"Y/N! Are you okay? What's wrong?" The panic in his voice was still nothing close to the panic you were feeling in that moment. You wanted nothing more than for him to be here with you, to let you know that everything was going to be okay.

"S-someone... they're... trying to g-get in..." You stuttered out in a shaky whisper, your cheeks were wet and stained with the tears that had fallen and were still falling. You heard the sound of Atsushi's phone being dropped, hitting the hard wood floors of the office with a loud thud as a large gush of wind whistled through the speakers.

You pulled your knees up to your chest and buried your face between them, trying to control your breathing as you listened out for the banging on the door. It had stopped completely, and you feared that maybe the person had finally made it in and was now looking for you. You tried to make out any sounds of footsteps or talking, but everything was silent. Everything seemed so still, it was eerie, and that scared you even more.

Atsushi was racing down the back alleys, hoping and praying that he would get to you in time. He should have trusted his gut feeling that he had this morning and just stayed home with you. The feeling that something bad would happen had lingered with him all through the night and all morning during breakfast, and he had been right. He was running at the speed of light, his body being propelled forward with the sheer force of anger and fear.

When he made it up to the apartment he saw that the door wasn't opened, and he didn't know if that made him feel better or worse. Would someone have shut the door after doing damage? He wasn't sure. Most movies he had seen had the door left open after a crime was committed, and all the cases he had worked were either outside or in warehouses, so he wasn't really sure what to think.

His hands were shaking as he reached out to grab the door knob, it was still locked. He saw the marks on the door though, signs of someone beating at it repeatedly, the wood was scuffed and in some places even chipped. Someone had really wanted to get in, but whoever it was either didn't have an ability, or just didn't want to attract attention and decided not to use it at all. He pulled out his keys and quickly unlocked the door, pushing it open slowly and peering around the room to see if you were anywhere close by.

The Weather Channel was on, but other than that, there was no sound coming from that room, or the house at all. It made his heart stop, did something actually happen to you? Did this person find some other point of entry? He quickly shut the door behind him and began looking around. He was scared to call out your name, fearful that if someone was still there they would definitely hurt you when they heard him. So he tiptoed, hoping that his shoes wouldn't be too loud against the hard wood floors, but at this point with the silence, everything seemed loud. Even the sound of his breathing seemed to be too loud in his ears.

When he was done checking over the main floor of the apartment he moved to the bedroom, wiggling the doorknob and finding that it had been locked. He knew that you were in there, whether you were alone or not was the main issue. He didn't want to wait to see if you would come open the door yourself, so he kicked it in. That's when he heard your loud scream from the closet. He rushed over and tried to pull the doors open, only to find that they too had been secured shut. "NO! Stay away from me! M-my boyfriend is a tiger! He'll kill you!" He could hear the desperation, the terror in your voice as you screamed. If you weren't so petrified, he might have possibly chuckled at your words, but now wasn't the time. He did take pride in the fact that you knew he would defend you, that he would always be there to keep you safe.

"It's me, angel. Please, open the door." His soft voice sounded heavenly to you. It was salvation, it was the voice of your savior. You quickly yanked the hanger away, and as soon as he knew he could get in he yanked the door open, dropping to the floor next to you and pulled you into his arms. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Y/N. I wasn't here, I'm so so sorry."

You both were crying at this point. Your forehead rested against his chest as you let your tears fall into his lap. His arms stayed wound tightly around you, afraid that you would run if he let you go. His tears fell like rain into your hair, his head was hung low as guilt and sham overcame him. "You needed me and I wasn't here. I promise, from now on, I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. You don't need to be afraid anymore, angel." He murmured as he planted a garden of kisses along the top of your head. "Everything will be okay, I promise."

a/n: I'm sorry this took so long, I hope you're feeling a little better now. I hope I've fulfilled your request need and that you enjoy these scenarios. Please, don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to. <3

Damn straight*ahem* to the point skk behavior

ok but bsd chapter 114 revealing the flipside of the soukoku dynamic in all its glory like *chef's kiss*

turns out that when the mission's (almost) done and you put skk in a room with no witnesses they just become each other

dazai is the one unable to stay still, agitated and wearing his emotions openly and very much stressing about a plan he can't understand (how the tables do turn), literally YELLING and RUNNING of his own violation and doing actual labor of pulling out "fyodor" from beneath a whole ass helicopter while injured without asking for help because the brawns of the team is actually secretly a black cat character

insane how chuuya makes dazai look like the overactive dog archetype here like Mister Gravity Control and I Crack Walls & Chains With One Kick is just sitting full-on cheek on fist poker face watching his beanpole of a partner struggle. his health bar is like full too besides the brief drowning stint meanwhile he himself shot dazai like three times after he crawled out of a crashed elevator

(chuuya is actually such a little shit it's amazing like it was kinda shown in him just letting kunikida blow himself up without even trying to take on tecchou or as if he couldn't just fly the helicopter away with his ability? the pm's trump card, stronger half of soukoku? mans said "boss told me come get you" and by god that is the only job he will do, overtime means nothing to him because he can't read, what a king)

chuuya is literally only willing to do the BARE minimum it's hilarious like he's done his part, he's given the Oscar-winning vampire performance of a lifetime, now he's pulling a dazai-at-the-ADA and simply refusing to work like. chilling in the back while dazai monologues and fyodor dies. bouncing sigma like a tennis ball. chilling a corner while dazai brainstorms. leisurely following dazai's running. chilling in the back while dazai huffs and puffs to pull out the body.

the biggest bsd plot twist is that soukoku on and off the battle field just switch roles for who's lounging like a bored princess while the other toils and actually does the work. if they both ever actually work on something at the same time yokohama would probably explode.

Lov them so much

they are so so normal 😀😀

i feel like people are forgetting some stuff about skk...

the whole point of skk is that they're both brains and brawns. that's how they survived alone for so long before becaming the double black. they don't complete each other perfectly, they suplement each other perfectly, that's why they're so strong.

chuuya is extremely smart and emotionally inteligent. at the age of 15 he was already the leader of the sheep, he got to rimbauld on the same time as dazai did. he can use his ability with crazy versatility, BUT he can still be fine without it.

and dazai can hold himself on a fight pretty well thanks. literally on the first episode he was alone against an out of control tigersushi. kicked the guy's face with a handstand from a sitting position while handcuffed. literally leaped out of the water like a flying fish holding his weight with just one hand.

chuuya could be on the same level as dazai and fyodor, but he's too human for them. he has empathy, and wear most of his feelings on his sleeve. and dazai could be as straightfoward as chuuya, but humans are so very interesting for him that he prefers observing, planning, picking apart the minds of everyone.

but

at the same time chuuya gets drunk with half a glass of alcohol and dazai bantered with a dog and ate dog food and both of those things happened on the actual main manga not on wan they're both weak and stupid and fucking pathetic i want to put them on a blender until they turn into juice.

proof of concept // i think i'm gonna love you for a long long time

Thank you for listening.

Love, after all, is a wonderful thing.

random.. || キキ柚 [pixiv] ※Permission to upload this was given by the artist (©). **Please, rate and/or bookmark her works on Pixiv too** [Please do not repost, edit or remove credits]

UNDER THE SEA

𝑻𝑾/𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺..Prince!Chuuya, The little mermaid AU, drowning, thunderstorms, injuries, romantic tension, strangers to lovers, Mermaid!Reader, Fantasy Violence, Pet names, both Chuuya and reader are disgustingly in love,Reader is down bad for chuuya, Love at First Sight, Idiots in Love, Reader is called 'Princess' and later on 'Queen', Weddings, Songfic.

𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺: Prince!Chuuya Nakahara x Mermaid!Reader

𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑹𝑬: Fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, Angst with a happy ending.

𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑹𝒀: The ocean was wide, yet everything was very much the same for you, that is until you save a human prince from a shipwreck. Despite only having met once for a short period, the two Royals become infatuated with each other, The human wanting to know who saved them and you resolve to do whatever it takes to become part of his world.

𝘈/𝘕: Hey it's me again yall, I had to write this to get my The Little Mermaid hyper fixation off my system (even tho it didn't work, I'm still heavily obsessed with it) also English is not my native tongue so my apologies if there are any mistakes! A huge thanks to @yuugen-benni for helping me out with everything and listening to me ramble about it!! So..I hope you guys enjoy ;)

-Please for "Part of your world" and its reprise listen to Halle's version!! Since this fic is based both on the live-action and Animated versions, there are some song's that I will indicate for yall to listen !!

"𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞." -𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧

As the ship gracefully cut through the deep blue waters, its sails billowed with the gentle yet persistent breeze. The vessel danced upon the undulating waves, leaving a mesmerizing trail of foam in its wake. Above, the sky was adorned with an intricate tapestry of clouds, their fluffy formations casting shifting shadows upon the sea below, showing signs that the chances of rain were high, but the crew on board the vessel paid no mind.

On deck, the crew reveled in the joyous occasion, their laughter and voices carried by the salty breeze. They were singing, about mermaids who swam below the surface and the treasures hidden beneath the waves. Laughter and cheers erupted in between the verses and echoed across the wooden planks, blending with the rhythmic creaking of the ship as it swayed in tune with the rolling waves in a harmonious melody that echoed across the ocean.

Amidst the celebration, a figure hung suspended from a rope, His strong hands clutched the sturdy knot, his body swaying gently in sync with the ship's movements. The wind tousled his ginger hair and tugged at the edges of his clothes evoking a sense of freedom. He closed his eyes, surrendering himself to the sensation of the breeze, relishing in the exhilarating blend of coolness and warmth that brushed against his skin.

The air smelled of salt. He certainly missed that smell of the ocean's breeze

“Isn’t this great?” the young prince exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with joy as he stood on the ship's deck, completely focused on the view. Unaware of his royal advisor's estate, he beamed with enthusiasm. “That salted sea air, the wind blowing in your face. It’s the perfect day to be out on the sea, don’t you agree old man? Hirotsu?”

Meanwhile, Hirotsu was preoccupied with the churning of his stomach and the imminent danger of losing his lunch. He delicately wiped his mouth with a handkerchief as he leaned over the rail trying to maintain his composure amidst the waves. Summoning his strength, he turned towards the prince.

“Oh, yes, delightful” he managed to respond, his voice slightly strained, his body tensed as if fearing the very idea of tumbling into the waters.

“Come on Hirotsu, don’t be a spoiled sport." Chuuya grumbled, his impatience tinged in his tone. he leaped onto the main deck area, his enthusiasm unabated. "You know that the sea is like a second home to me.”

“Sorry your majesty, but it seems that your home disagrees with me.” Hirotsu replied, his tone strained and as if in confirmation, he turned even paler and leaned over the rail once again, succumbing to another wave of nausea.

The prince playfully rolled his eyes before joining the bustling sailors, eager to lend a hand. The atmosphere of the crew infected him with joy, and he couldn't help but wear a wide smile.

"A fine strong wind and a following sea," one of the seasoned sailors remarked while tugging on a rope, the prince quickly moved to assist him, skillfully securing the rope in place. "King Fukuzawa must be in a friendly type mood."

"King Fukuzawa?" Chuuya asked, his curiosity piqued as he turned to the sailor.

"Why, ruler of the merpeople, lass" the sailor replied grinning, his voice laced with playful humor. He chuckled, teasing the young prince gently, "Surely, every seasoned sailor is well aware of him"

"Merpeople," Hirotsu muttered, his voice filled with skepticism as he descended the stairs of the boat. "Your Highness, please pay no attention to this nautical nonsense."

"But it ain't nonsense, it's the truth!" insisted one of the sailors, pointing an accusing finger at Hirotsu. Ignoring the gesture, Hirotsu merely glared back, his skepticism evident.

"I'm tellin' ya, down in the depths of the ocean, they live!" the sailor continued, his voice filled with conviction. Suddenly, his grip on a fish he was holding slipped, and the creature wriggled out of his hands. Reacting swiftly, Hirotsu instinctively swatted the fish away before it could slap him across the face with its tail, causing it to splash back into the sea.

Chuuya couldn't contain his laughter, a delighted grin spreading across his face. "Who knows, Hirotsu? Maybe there's more beneath the waves than we ever dared to imagine."

Beneath the glistening waves, you gracefully swam around a mast on the ocean floor, your eyes filled with wonder as you explored the remnants of a sunken ship. Your face lit up with excitement as you examined the intricate details that once belonged to the vessel, a small smile graced your lips, but it faded swiftly as you heard a familiar voice calling out to you.

"[Name]! Wait for me!" a lionfish merman called, his vibrant scales shimmering in the underwater light.

"Atsushi, hurry up!" You beckoned him urgently. You pointed toward a fully intact abandoned ship, resting a short distance away.

"Isn't it fantastic?" You exclaimed, admiration evident in your tone. Atsushi, however, rolled his eyes in response, his skepticism apparent.

"Yeah, sure, it's great. Now let's go before someone catches us," Atsushi replied, turning around to swim away. However, before he could escape, you captured his tail between your fingers, firmly holding him in place.

"Oh, don't tell me you're getting cold fins now, are you?" you playfully teased, giving Atsushi a pointed glare before resuming your firm hold on his tail, determined to explore the ship.

"No way, but if your dad or brother found out—" Atsushi began, he managed to break free from your grasp and reluctantly followed along.

"Which they won't," you assured him with confidence, a mischievous grin playing on your lips. Standing at the entrance of the ship, you turned to face Atsushi. "It's better for me to be here than Dazai, right? We'll just have a quick look around, grab anything interesting we find, and return without them ever noticing I was gone."

"I'd prefer neither you nor Dazai, neither of you is reliable!" Atsushi muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his tone,he nervously flicked his venomous spines. "Both of you always manage to pull me into these situations. If it's not Dazai trying to encounter ships head-on, it's you boarding them!" you shot him a piercing glare, unimpressed by his complaints.

"If you're so interested in complaining, then keep watch for any sharks, will you?" you quipped, a mischievous grin spreading across your face as you squeezed through one of the holes in the ship's side.

"Of course... I'll be here, keeping a lookout for sharks—wait a minute, sharks? [Name]!" Atsushi's voice rose in alarm as he attempted to follow you through the same hole, only to find himself stuck, his tail flailing in the water.

You looked back at him, but you couldn't help but burst into laughter, swimming back to help your trapped friend. "Oh, Atsushi, you never fail to make things interesting. Hold on, let me give you a hand," you said between giggles, reaching out to lend a hand and free Atsushi from his position.

With a gentle tug and a bit of maneuvering, you managed to free Atsushi from his position. As you both ventured further into the ship's interior, Atsushi's mumbling continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh, this is just great. I love this, the excitement, the adventure, the ever-present danger," Atsushi muttered his dorsal fins drooping slightly, his tone dripping with playful mockery, you shot him an amused smile as you both ventured further into the ship's interior.

As he turned a corner, Atsushi suddenly came face-to-face with a grinning skull, eliciting a blood-curdling scream from him. In his panicked state, he swam as fast as his fins would allow, he failed to notice you in his path, causing him to collide with you and causing you both to tumble down to the ship's floor.

"Atsushi, are you alright?" shaking off the shock you asked him, a playful teasing lilt in your voice, you couldn't help but giggle at Atsushi's panicked reaction. "Aren't lionfish supposed to be brave? Or you just made that up?"

Atsushi, still trembling from the fright, shot you an embarrassed glare. "I... I am brave! It's just...anything like that can startle anyone!" he protested, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

You let out an exasperated sigh at Atsushi's response and you made your way to the top of the ship, your eyes scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, a gasp escaped your lips, capturing Atsushi's attention.

"Atsushi, look!" you called out excitedly, swimming swiftly towards a piece of metal resting on the captain's deck. It resembled your father's trident, but it was a miniature version, crafted in shining silver with four prongs instead of three. You held it up, turning it around in your hands, a look of awe on your face.

"Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?" you asked, your eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Wow, that's cool," Atsushi replied, examining the intricate details of the object. "But, uh, what is it exactly?"

"I don't know, but Dazai can certainly enlighten us." A mischievous grin formed on your lips as you replied, With a sense of triumph, you carefully placed the object into a small pouch at your side, eager to show it to Dazai later.

Atsushi pondered for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to your earlier conversation. "But seriously, isn't this the area known for shark activity? And didn't Dazai receive a ban from your father on any contact with you? How the hell did that happen?" he questioned, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"He was caught doing something illegal if I remember and also, trust me, if the gods themselves appeared before Dazai and commanded him to do something, he'd find a way to wriggle out of it," you replied with a hint of annoyance as you recalled the countless antics of dazai.

"Besides, nothing ever happens down here. It's all just a rumor, so we don't have to worry about sharks." You chuckled grinning playfully, thinking your words held a touch of irony.

Suddenly, a deep rumble reverberated from the direction of the boat's windows, causing your eyes to widen in alarm. Atsushi's fear was palpable as he looked around, his expression mirroring your concern.

"Well, I don't even need to turn around to realize the irony," you quipped, your voice tinged with a mix of dread. Despite your hesitation, you mustered the courage to glance at the windows, only to be met with the sight of a massive great white shark outside, a shiver ran down your spine as you couldn't help but utter, "Well, I've turned around, and I see..damn."

"There's a literal shark outside, and the only thing you can say is 'damn'?" Atsushi whisper-shouted, disbelief written on his face.

Before you could respond, the shark, propelled by sheer force, crashed into the old window with a thunderous impact. Reacting swiftly, you grabbed hold of the startled and screaming Atsushi, swimming towards the nearest entrance of the boat as quickly as your fins would allow. In your haste, you couldn't resist grabbing something else that Atsushi had found on a nearby barrel, earning you a disapproving glare from him.

A crashing sound echoed from behind as the shark relentlessly tore through the ship, breaking wood and leaving destruction in its path. Fear surged through your veins, urging you to swim faster, desperate to escape the predator's pursuit. The twisting and turning paths of the boat became your labyrinth, as you cleverly navigated through narrow passages and tight corners, using every advantage to stay ahead.

At one moment, your pouch became ensnared in a jagged piece of wood. Despite the shark coming closer, you refused to abandon the treasure you had acquired. Summoning all your determination, you swiftly maneuvered towards it, narrowly evading the shark's menacing jaws. With a well-timed twist, you managed to fool the predator into slamming against the ceiling, buying you time to continue your escape.

You reached the same hole you had entered through and started swimming towards it, urging Atsushi to follow suit. However, panic gripped him as he realized he wouldn't fit through the narrow opening, he froze at the entrance of the hole.

"I won't fit in! I'm gonna get stuck!" Atsushi's terrified voice echoed through the ship.

"Atsushi! For the love of my father just go!" you screamed back, the urgency in your tone reflecting the situation. Time was limited, and you knew that Atsushi's safety depended on him.

Summoning every ounce of strength, you pushed Atsushi through the hole, ensuring he made it to safety before following closely behind. The moment you emerged, the shark burst through the opening, its menacing presence continuing to haunt your escape. With adrenaline coursing through your veins, you and Atsushi swam fast, desperately evading the clutches of the shark.

Thinking quickly, you led Atsushi in swift circles around one of the ship's sturdy poles, hoping to confuse the shark and gain a momentary advantage. In a calculated move, you dodged around one of the masts, anticipating that the shark would collide with it. However, to your dismay, it was a disoriented and panicked Atsushi who ended up colliding with the mast, causing him to faint from the impact.

"Are you kidding me? Seriously?" you exclaimed in exasperation, witnessing the scene unfolding before you. Both you and the shark swam toward the unconscious Atsushi, but you were quicker and managed to grab him before the shark could reach him.

Searching for a solution, your eyes landed on a large metal rod nearby. It was just wide enough for Atsushi to pass through but not the shark. You propelled yourself towards it, hoping your intuition would prove right, as you and Atsushi swam through the opening of the rod, you heard a satisfying slam and creak behind you. Turning back, you saw the shark trapped within the confines of the rod, its fierce movements futile against the sturdy obstacle, a surge of relief washed over you, and you couldn't help but stick out your tongue, mocking it.

"Haha! Take that, you idiot!" Atsushi taunted swimming closer to the trapped shark, ticking his tongue out defiantly. The shark, with its jaws, snapped them shut menacingly close to Atsushi, who scrambled away in fright. Together, you and Atsushi hurriedly swam away.

Eventually, after a long swim, you and Atsushi reached a rocky outcrop where you settled down to catch your breath. You carefully inspected your pouch, making sure nothing was left behind, while Atsushi, still panting, sat beside you on the rock.

"I'm never going to a place like that again, do you hear me? Never again-," Atsushi declared exhausted, but his sentence was abruptly cut off by the sudden dive of an object in front of him. He let out a startled scream and quickly sought refuge behind you.

"Come on, Atsushi, it's just Dazai," you reassured him, casting a glare at the misbehaving merman. "Besides, I promise I won't go there again... well, I think."

Calling out to Dazai, you caught his attention, and he paused his playful harassment of the fish, swimming over to you with a charming smile. Taking your hand, he gallantly kissed it, displaying his typical flair.

"Princess! How are you?" Dazai greeted you warmly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Rather than answering his question, you eagerly offered him your pouch, excitement radiating from you. "Dazai, look what we found!" you exclaimed, your eyes shining with enthusiasm.

Dazai accepted the pouch and examined its contents, a chuckle escaping his lips at your friend's infectious enthusiasm. Secretly, he wished you could bring him more treasures from your adventures, but he knew that it would be too risky. Your father would surely notice if you kept making these frequent trips to see him.

"we were exploring a sunken ship, and we even had a shark chase us to obtain this!" Atsushi interjected, his voice laced with annoyance, directing a side-eye glare towards you.

"Hmm," Dazai examined the objects, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, look! This is rare," he exclaimed in recognition, pulling out what looked like your father's trident, your eyes widened in excitement.

"What is it?" you asked eagerly.

"It's a dinglehopper," Dazai stated certain "You see, humans use this to straighten their hair out!" He nodded confidently at his explanation, then took the trident and started combing his hair with it. "You just comb here, and voila! You'll have hair that makes humans swoon!"

"Dinglehopper," you repeated, savoring the word as you took the fork-like object back into your hands.Atsushi pointed to another artifact taken from the boat.

"What about that one?" he asked, Dazai examined the piece of wood and chuckled.

"Ah, this is a snarfblatt," he explained, capturing your attention once again. "You see, in prehistoric times, people used to sit around in circles and make music with this instrument, just watch" He attempted to blow into it, but instead, seaweed came out.

"Music! Oh no!" You exclaimed, covering your face with your hands and groaning in frustration. You scrambled to put your things back into the pouch. "No, no, no! The concert! I forgot! Oh my father is going to kill me!"

"The concert was today?" Atsushi asked, clearly confused.

"Stupid thing, why won't you work?" Dazai mumbled to himself, before it was taken back from you.

"I have to go, Dazai! Thank you!" you called out, moving swiftly through the water. Grateful for his help, you leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Dazai's cheek as a gesture of thanks.

"Anytime, princess!" Dazai chuckled as he waved to you, his grin never fading as you and Atsushi swam away.

Unbeknownst to both of you, two eel-like mermen silently trailed behind, their eyes fixated on your every move. In the depths of the ocean, a merman observed your departure through a mystical orb, his interest piqued by your actions.

"Yes, hurry home, sweetheart, we wouldn’t want to miss old daddy’s celebration now, would we?" a hoarse male voice cooed with deceptive sweetness. the voice chuckled, a sadistic gleam shining in his eyes. "A celebration indeed, when I resided in the castle, we had fantastical feasts, and now I find myself banished, exiled, practically starving, while Fukuzawa and his pathetic merfolk celebrate."

"Well, I shall provide them with a reason to celebrate soon enough, after all, their god is coming back" the merman sneered, his soothing voice like the smoothest silk, matching his dark purple eyes, a wide grin spread across his face as he addressed the mystical orb before him. "Mushitarou, Shibusawa."

The two mermen, startled by the sudden command, fumbled in surprise. Mushitarou accidentally hit his head on the rock he was hiding beneath, He winced but quickly refocused when their leader's voice continued.

"I want you to keep an extra close watch on the princess. She may just be the key to Fukuzawa's undoing." He chuckled darkly as he observed you swimming away.

"I just don't know what to do with you," Fukuzawa spoke, his voice tinged with disappointment, as he looked at you from his seat on the throne, two figures floated beside him, each wearing a different expression. Ranpo pouted while the other, Sigma, wore an annoyed look.

"As a result of your careless behavior—" Fukuzawa started to scold you, his voice laced with disappointment.

"Careless and reckless behavior!" Ranpo interjected sternly, his eyes fixed on you. He seemed to have already deduced what had happened, earning him a side glare from you.

"The entire celebration was rui—" Fukuzawa continued, his frustration evident.

"It was utterly ruined!" Sigma interjected, his annoyance evident as he floated in front of you. His tail twitched with agitation, and you couldn't help but roll your eyes at his stressed demeanor. "Completely destroyed! Not only did you miss the rehearsals, but my compositions and efforts were rendered useless because of this!"

"We looked like laughingstocks in front of an empty clam," Sigma groaned, shooting you an irritated look. "And you had your special appearance, which you didn't even utilize!"

"But it wasn't her fault," Atsushi interjected, stepping forward to stand in front of you. He looked at Sigma, trying to cover for you. However, he suddenly felt incredibly small under the gaze of the king and his royal advisor. "We were followed by a shark! And then—"

Fukuzawa seemed uninterested, dismissing Atsushi's explanation as a fabricated tale to protect you.

"—and then we managed to escape, so we went to Dazai, and he was all like, 'This is this, and that is that—'" Atsushi rambled, struggling to find the right words.

"Dazai?!" Fukuzawa exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. Atsushi quickly covered his mouth,realizing his mistake.

Atsushi cowered behind you, seeking solace from your protective presence. You glared at him in exasperation as your father continued to speak,his tone weary as he rubbed his temples.

"You went to meet him again, didn't you?" Fukuzawa asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

You offered him a sheepish grin, desperately attempting to defuse the situation. "Nothing happened, and besides, it was him who went to see me, not the other way around," you lied, hoping to convince your father.

"My starflower, how many times must we go through this? He almost got himself caught, and what's worse, he still goes to the surface to interact with them! Some of those barbarians could have seen you with him!" Fukuzawa let out a heavy sigh, his voice laced with frustration.

"They're not barbarians!" you countered confidently, your voice filled with conviction. You had never understood your father's strong aversion towards humans. While you acknowledged that some could be harmful, you believed that not everyone should be painted with the same brush. "How could a so-called barbaric species create such wonderful things?"

"They are dangerous! They took your mother from us!" Fukuzawa's voice rose as he yelled, his words filled with pain and anguish. He softened momentarily, swimming closer to you. You looked down, catching a glimpse of the worry etched in his eyes. "Do you think I want to see one of my children snared by some fish-eater's hook?"

"I'm seventeen years old, Father. I'm not a child anymore, I can take care of myself!" you asserted, your voice laced with anger, trying to reclaim your independence.

"Don't you speak to your father like that, [Name]!" Fukuzawa snapped back, his stern glare returning. "Yes, you may be an adult, but I am still your king, and the security of my kingdom, including yours, is my responsibility. You WILL obey my rules."

"But if you would just listen to me—" you pleaded, before being abruptly cut off.

"Not another word!" he declared, his arms raised above his head in a gesture of finality. "And I never want to hear of you going to the surface again or being with Dazai! Is that clear?!"

Your gaze bore into your father's back, your lips trembling slightly at the realization of never being able to see your friend again or explore the world you found so fascinating. The anger you had felt moments ago now transformed into grief, without saying a word in response, you swam away as quickly as possible. Atsushi watched you depart, his worry evident, and soon followed in pursuit, while Sigma and Ranpo remained behind, observing the situation.

Fukuzawa let out a deep sigh, sinking back into his throne. Sigma swam towards him, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Hm! Teenagers...They think they know everything. You give them an inch, and they swim all over you," Sigma commented, chuckling awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Do you think... Do you think I was too hard on her?" Fukuzawa questioned, his worry evident as he looked towards his trusted advisor.

"Definitely not. Why, if she were my child, I'd show her who was boss. None of this 'flitting to the surface' and other such nonsense. No, sir, I'd keep her under tight control," Sigma declared proudly, puffing his chest out with self-assurance.

"You're absolutely right, Sigma," Fukuzawa said, a smirk forming on his face as a plan began to take shape in his mind.

"Of course," Sigma replied, mirroring the smirk on Fukuzawa's face, secretly thanking the great king's that they were in accord.

"[Name] needs constant supervision," the king declared firmly.

"Constant," Sigma affirmed, nodding his head in agreement.

"And you, my dear Sigma, are just the merman to do it," Fukuzawa said, pointing directly at Sigma. The advisor looked at him with shock, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected responsibility thrust upon him.

Sigma's mouth opened and closed a few times, speechless for a moment before he finally managed to sputter, "Me? But, Your Highness, I... I..."

Fukuzawa's smirk widened as he watched Sigma's surprise. "You have the wit, the intelligence, and the loyalty required to keep an eye on [Name]. Besides, who better to understand her than you?"

Sigma, still processing the sudden responsibility thrust upon him, nodded hesitantly and left the throne room. As he walked out, he muttered to himself. "How do I get myself into these situations? I should be sorting out the casino, not tagging along after some headstrong teenager."

Sigma's eyes widened in surprise as he observed you and Atsushi sneaking out and cautiously entering a small grotto. Curiosity got the better of him, and he followed silently, his astonishment growing as he discovered a collection of strange human artifacts within the cave. The walls and rocks were adorned with treasures that humans had discarded or lost.

"What in the...?" Sigma muttered under his breath, his gaze scanning the assortment of human items. He couldn't help but be intrigued by the sight before him, a glimpse into the human world that fascinated you so deeply.

At the bottom of the grotto, he spotted you resting on a rock, playing with a newly acquired treasure on your hands. Atsushi cautiously approached you, concern etched on his face, while Sigma stood back, observing the scene before him.

"[Name], are you okay?" Atsushi asked softly, his voice filled with genuine worry.

You remained silent for a moment, your gaze fixated on the dinglehopper in your hand. The weight of your father's disapproval and the restrictions placed upon you weighed heavily.

"Maybe he's right," you whispered, your voice tinged with frustration. Your tail twitched anxiously as you contemplated your father's words "Maybe there is something the matter with me."

"If only I could make him understand," you continued, your voice filled with longing. "I just don't see things the way he does. How can a world that creates such wonderful things could be bad?"

"Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?" you asked with a slight smile, placing the dinglehopper into a candlelight, illuminating the grotto filled with more intriguing objects. Turning to face Atsushi, you continued, "Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?"

"Wouldn't you think I'm the girl... the girl who has everything?" you sang, your voice carrying a sense of longing. As you moved gracefully through the grotto, admiring your treasured possessions, the moon's glow accentuated the enchanting scene.

"Look at this trove, treasures untold," you sang softly, your gaze wandering over the abundance of human items. "How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here, you'd think, 'Sure, she's got everything.'"

"I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty," you quipped, playing with the items using your tail, before swimming towards a section where you stored more objects. "I've got whozits and whatzits galore."

"You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty," you smirked, opening a box to reveal a peculiar curly spiked item. Atsushi seemed intrigued, but you closed the box with a sigh. "But who cares? No big deal. I want more," you murmured wistfully.

"I wanna be where the people are," you sang, your voice resonating with longing. Your gaze shifted towards a statue of two humans locked in a loving embrace. You delicately traced your finger along the statue, admiring the tender display. "I wanna see, wanna see them dancing."

"Walking around on those, what do you call 'em?" you asked, snapping out of your reverie. Atsushi playfully showed you his tail, shaking it, and you chuckled, realizing the word you had momentarily forgotten. "Oh, feet!" you exclaimed, grabbing his tail playfully.

"Flipping your fins, you don't get too far," you sang, gracefully swimming in circles around Atsushi, showcasing your mesmerizing tail. Its flowing fins shimmered with hues of teal and red. Atsushi followed suit, imitating your movements with his own tail. Then, you swam behind him, grabbing his arms and pulling him along. "Legs are required for jumping, dancing."

"Strolling along down a, what's that word again?" you asked, mimicking a human walking motion with Atsushi. Suddenly, the word popped into your mind, and you giggled in amusement. "Street"

"Up where they walk, up where they run," you sang, your voice filled with determination as you grabbed Atsushi's hand and swam towards a narrow opening in the cave. The moon's gentle glow illuminated your path, casting a silvery sheen on your shimmering scales. "Up where they stay all day in the Sun"

"Wandering free, wish I could be," you said, your voice carrying a bittersweet longing. Your eyes remained fixed on the opening, your heart yearning for the world that lay beyond. The thought of being a part of that world ignited a fire within you, driving you to seek out new experiences and forge your path.

"Part of your world" you added, your voice gaining strength as the words resonated with the depth of your desire.

"What would I give, if I could live out of these waters?" you pondered aloud, your voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and longing. As you swam towards the opening filled with sand and your cherished collection, your fins gracefully propelled you forward, each movement purposeful and determined.

"What would I pay, to spend a day warm on the sand," you mused, a soft smile gracing your lips. You gracefully ceased your swimming and settled onto the grotto's floor, feeling the gentle caress of the sand against your back and fins. With a delighted sigh, you began to playfully immerse yourself in the sandy embrace.

"Betcha on land, they understand, bet they don't reprimand their daughters," you murmured, a tinge of bitterness lacing your words. As you watched the sand slip through your fingertips, memories of the fight with your father resurfaced.

"Bright young women, sick of swimming," you said with a grin, playfully stuffing your chest and chuckling at the absurdity of being confined into your father's kingdom, yearning for something greater.

"Ready to stand," you sang, your voice growing stronger and more confident with each word.

"I'm ready to know what the people know, ask 'em my questions and get some answers" you declared, your eyes shining with curiosity as you swam towards a book that had caught your attention. With eager anticipation, you flipped through its pages, exploring the world of human knowledge and wisdom. Atsushi swam closer, peering over your shoulder, his curiosity piqued.

"What's a fire and why does it...what's the word? burn." you pondered aloud, your gaze fixated on the painting before you. It depicted a human holding an object with flames dancing atop it. Intrigued, you traced your fingers along the vibrant colors of orange and yellow, as if trying to feel the warmth emanating from the painted flames.

"When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love," you exclaimed with longing. You swam swiftly toward the opening of the grotto, your heart filled with an undeniable desire to experience the world beyond the water's surface. The moonlight bathed your figure, casting a radiant glow upon your shimmering tail

"Love to explore the shore up above." as you reached the small opening with only your arm outstretched, you hesitated for a moment. Gazing up sadly at the entrance, you slowly withdrew your arm, feeling a sense of longing and disappointment.

"Out of the sea," you sang softly, your voice filled with melancholy, "wish I could be..."

Swimming back toward the rocky ledge where you had been resting, Atsushi watched you with concern. He could sense the sadness that had enveloped you, and he approached gently, his gaze filled with empathy.

"Part of that world," you sang, your voice carrying a hint of hope, as you and Atsushi gazed upward.

You got startled as you suddenly heard a whole bunch of noise, causing you and Atsushi to turn and witness Sigma struggling with a net entangling his tail. Concern washed over you as you swam over to him, quickly helping him free himself from the entrapment.

"[Name], what is all this?" Sigma questioned, his eyes wide with shock as he shrugged the net off him.

"It's just... my collection," you replied nervously, offering a sheepish smile.

"I see. Your collection," Sigma said calmly, his tone tinged with a mixture of understanding and worry. "If your father knew about this place..."

"You're not going to tell him, are you?" Atsushi asked, stepping forward and placing himself between you and Sigma.

"Please, my father would never understand," you spoke with vulnerability as you swam towards Sigma, taking his hands in yours, you looked into his eyes.

Sigma's features softened, and he let out a sigh before a gentle smile graced his face. With a sense of understanding, he gently grabbed your hands.

"My dear, come with me," he said in a gentle tone, guiding you outside. "you’ve had a long day, how about we go home and I get you something warm to drink?"

A shadow then loomed over them, making you stop and look up. The dimly lit figure of a majestic ship appeared on the surface, its sails billowing in the gentle breeze. A sense of wonder filled you as you witnessed the scene.

"What do you suppose..." you asked softly, the words escaping your lips in a hushed whisper. Without another thought, you released Sigma's hands and propelled yourself out of the cave, your tail propelling you toward the surface with excitement. Sigma called out to you, his voice filled with concern.

As you broke the surface of the water, your eyes widened in awe. Before you stretched an expanse of dark, glistening waves, illuminated by a magnificent display of fireworks. Beams of vibrant colors painted the night sky, intertwining and exploding into cascades of shimmering fragments. The ship, bathed in the soft glow of the fireworks and moonlight, appeared like a floating dream.

"Wow" you whispered, the sight was mesmerizing, captivating your attention completely. You hadn't witnessed anything so breathtaking before, and your grin grew wider with each passing moment. Floating beside you, Atsushi wore an expression of pure awe, while Sigma appeared concerned about your impulsive actions.

Determined to experience the spectacle up close, you swiftly made your way towards the ship, much to Sigma's dismay. "[Name]! [Name], please come back!" Sigma called out, trying to catch up with you.

Eventually, you found a ledge that provided a perfect vantage point. With a burst of excitement, you leaped onto it, gripping the edge tightly. Your tail swished back and forth beneath you as your eyes beheld the radiant lights above the ship, while your ears reveled in the joyous sounds of laughter and music.

Among the crowd of revelers, a group of humans caught your attention. What fascinated you the most was their graceful dance movements as they joyfully swayed on two feet. Amidst them, a peculiar creature with long, brindle and yellow fur, adorned with a dark facial mask, danced on all fours, emitting a unique but cheerful sound. Enthralled, you watched the creature's lively performance.

Suddenly, it paused, sensing something in the air. Slowly, it sniffed the surroundings, eventually tracing the scent to your location. Realizing you might be spotted, you hastily moved aside from the ledge, heart pounding with fear.

After waiting a few moments, you cautiously peered over the edge again, only to be met with a pair of amber-colored eyes and a snarl. Acting on impulse, you extended your finger and playfully pressed it against the creature's nose. To your delight, it reacted by shaking its head and blinking its eyes. Then, it opened its mouth and affectionately licked your cheek. Giggling, you reciprocated the gesture by gently stroking its head.

"Albatross!" a voice called from deeper within the ship's deck. "Here, boy!"

Upon hearing the call, the being you now knew as Albatross turned back to the deck and happily left you alone. Curiosity still piqued, you stole another glance inside, observing as the creature began racing around a man who was laughing wholeheartedly. The man extended his hands, welcoming the pet that leapt into his embrace.

"Aw, come on, mutt. What were you doing, huh, Albatross?" he inquired with a bright grin, causing you to freeze in your tracks as you tried to get sight of him.

And that's when you saw him—the man who captured your attention. He was relatively short with a petite yet muscular build, and his long ginger hair was partially tied with small braids on the sides. The most captivating aspect of his appearance, however, were his mismatched eyes—one brown and the other the color of the sea, a piercing blue. His outfit complemented his unique appearance, with tailored pants reaching his ankles and three blouses layered on top. But what stood out the most was his hazy overcoat, adorned with shades of red and dark tones. You noticed he wore black gloves as well. There was an undeniable allure to him, the kind of face that could stop you in your tracks.

"Good boy, good boy," the man said, his gaze filled with affection as Albatross attempted to shower him with slobbery licks. A strange sensation stirred within you, causing your breath to catch in your throat.

"Quite a show, eh?" Dazai's voice suddenly chimed in beside you. Startled, you swiftly shushed the merman, glancing at him with a hint of annoyance.

"Dazai, they'll hear you!" You scolded, and Dazai chuckled, doing a slightly better job of concealing himself. However, your attention remained fixed on the man dancing on deck, who now had a flute in his hands, playfully toying with it.

Dazai followed your gaze, sensing your unusual silence. He gasped, doing a double take from you to the human gracefully dancing on the deck. Then, with a mischievous smirk, he spoke, "Stunning, isn't it?"

"He is gorgeous," I whispered before realizing the slip-up of your tongue. Panic flooded your senses, and you turned to face dazai, who wore a smug smirk on his face.

"No, not him, he looks more like a sea slug to me." Dazai chuckled, his face playfully pushed away by your flustered reaction as you groaned in exasperation.

"Silence, silence!" Hirotsu's commanding voice echoed across the deck, instantly quelling the chatter among the humans.

"It is now my honor and privilege to present our esteemed prince, Chuuya, with a very special, very expensive, and very large birthday gift," Hirotsu announced, his finger proudly pointing at a colossal package adorned with a vibrant red bow that had been standing prominently on the deck.

As Chuuya's name reverberated in the air, you couldn't help but feel a fluttering sensation in your chest. The realization that he was a prince sank in, his regal aura undeniable. His beauty and presence truly befitted his royal status.

"Aw, Hirotsu! You crafty old man, you shouldn't have," Chuuya exclaimed, affectionately patting his loyal advisor on the back while a smug smile played on his lips.

"Nonsense! It's a most special occasion to celebrate! Happy birthday Nakahara!" Hirotsu countered with enthusiasm. A sailor stepped forward, removing the cloth that concealed the present, unveiling a magnificent statue. The sculpture depicted Chuuya in a heroic pose, a sword resting at his side, with one leg gracefully propped up, as he gazed up at the sky.

Chuuya winced slightly, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. He couldn't fathom why Hirotsu had chosen such a particular pose for the statue. However, he managed to muster a sheepish grin, acknowledging his friend's efforts. Meanwhile, Albatross growled disapprovingly at the statue, sensing his owner's discomfort.

"Gee, Hirotsu, it's... really something. You could've just gotten me a bottle of wine," Chuuya murmured through gritted teeth, examining the statue more closely.

"Of course, it is! I understand how much you appreciate art. I commissioned it myself," Hirotsu declared triumphantly.

"Although, I had hoped it would serve as a wedding gift," he added, shooting a pointed glance at Chuuya, his expression filled with meaning. Chuuya let out a laugh.

"Oh, come on, Hirotsu, don't start," Chuuya chuckled, grabbing a telescope and making his way towards the spot where you and Dazai had been hiding. Sensing his approach, both you and Dazai quickly ducked out of sight.

“Look, you’re not still sore because I didn’t fall for the prince of Glowerhaven, are you?” Chuuya said as he reached the edge of the boat, his feet dangling playfully, he turned back with his signature grin, who sighed in response.

"Oh, young prince, it's not just me. The entire kingdom wishes to see you happily settled down with the right girl," Hirotsu sighed, gazing at Chuuya intently.

"Or boy," Chuuya muttered almost inaudibly, shrugging nonchalantly. He then propped himself up on the edge, his gaze fixated on the vast expanse of the sea. "Well, she's out there somewhere. I just..."

Dazai, positioned on the other side of the ledge, locked eyes with you, but you remained lost in your own thoughts, hanging onto Chuuya's every word.

"I just haven't found her yet," Chuuya continued, his hand gesturing vaguely atop his knee.

"Perhaps you haven't been searching hard enough," Hirotsu suggested, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. Chuuya chuckled once more, his gaze drifting out into the sea.

"Oh, believe me, Hirotsu, when I find her, I'll know," Chuuya declared confidently. "Without a doubt, it'll just... bam! Hit me like lightning."

The moment Chuuya uttered those words, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a resounding thunderclap not far from where you stood. It caught the attention of both you and Dazai, causing your eyes to widen in surprise.

"Stand fast!" A sailor's voice boomed from the mast as the rain intensified, causing most of the lights on the boat to flicker and go out. "Secure the rigging!"

Chuuya sprung into action, his earlier playful demeanor replaced as he rushed to aid the frantic sailors. The storm had intensified, with lightning bolts illuminating the darkened sky and waves growing wilder and more treacherous. Chuuya grabbed hold of ropes, using every ounce of his strength to secure them.

You and Dazai clung tightly to the ledge, desperately trying to maintain your balance amidst the tempestuous weather.

Suddenly, the boat lurched violently as a giant wave crashed upon it, nearly engulfing the vessel entirely. The sailors atop the deck lost their footing, and chaos ensued. Despite the perilous circumstances, Chuuya managed to make his way to the helm, seizing the wheel that had been left spinning aimlessly, and steered the ship in an attempt to maintain its course.

The turbulent sea proved unrelenting, and the next lightning bolt struck dangerously close, intensifying the chaos. In the midst of the chaos, you and Dazai were thrown off the ledge, plunging into the raging waters.

Together, you watched in horror as another lightning bolt struck the ship, setting the sails and mast ablaze. The crew above, unable to regain control, lost their footing, and the vessel collided with a massive rock, creating a gaping hole that expelled most of its crew, including Chuuya, with a horrified scream. The statue of him sunk rapidly into the depths of the sea.

Hirotsu and some of the crew members struggled to stay afloat on the water's surface when they heard Chuuya's desperate cry for help. Hirotsu extended a helping hand, and with the aid of other sailors, he was lifted into one of the life-saving boats. Chuuya, grateful for his friend's safety, turned to see that Albatross was still trapped onboard the burning ship, unable to escape the flames.

"Albatross!" Chuuya yelled, his voice filled with anguish. Without a second thought, he dove back into the water, swimming furiously toward the ship. Despite the precarious conditions, he climbed the stairs onto the deck. However, one of the masts, weakened by fire, finally succumbed, crashing down toward Chuuya. He narrowly managed to avoid its impact, but the fire had spread, reaching the stored fireworks.

Amidst the fire, Chuuya located his beloved pet and called for Albatross to come into his arms. The loyal creature obeyed, but as Chuuya attempted to make his way back out of the boat, his foot plunged through a weakened plank, causing him to stumble. Albatross slipped from his grasp and fell into the water. It was at that moment that you, swimming discreetly, spotted the commotion. The sailors desperately called out for the dog, while Hirotsu reached out his arms, urging Albatross to swim towards him. Seizing the opportunity, you gently pushed the dog into Hirotsu's waiting embrace. Hirotsu helped Albatross into the boat alongside other sailors, his relief evident.

Meanwhile, Chuuya remained trapped, his foot ensnared by the wreckage of the deck. Desperately, he struggled to free himself, but the flames finally reached the gunpowder, causing a devastating explosion that consumed the ship, with Chuuya still trapped inside. Hirotsu screamed out Chuuya's name from the safety of the small boat.

With determination, you navigated through the debris, eyes scanning the surface of the water, searching for any sign of Chuuya's unconscious form. Finally, you spotted him, his body slipping off a piece of floating wood and sinking into the depths. Without hesitation, you submerged yourself, swimming swiftly to his side and pulling him into your embrace, with every ounce of strength, you propelled both of you back to the surface, gasping for breath as you cradled the unconscious prince in your arms.

the sun began to rise when you finally made your way to the shore, carefully carrying Chuuya in your arms, praying that he was still alive despite the events you had witnessed. With each push of your arms and tail against the sand, you ensured that Chuuya remained untouched by the encroaching waves, prepared to shield him from any potential danger.

Your gaze remained fixed on Chuuya, searching for any signs of life, your worry deepening with each passing moment. Tenderly, you removed the remnants of his shirt, exposing his chest, and leaned your head against it, listening intently for the reassuring beat of his heart. Relief washed over you when you felt his heart pulsating beneath your touch and observed the gentle rise and fall of his chest—Chuuya was alive, breathing. A laugh of relief escaped your lips as you attempted to calm yourself, the tension slowly dissipating.

Leaning back on your arms, you admired Chuuya's features, daring to compare his beauty to that of the enchanting sea. As you examined him more closely, you noticed the freckles scattered across his face and the slight scar tracing his lip. He was the epitome of beauty, captivating you with every glance.

Unbeknownst to you, Sigma had followed your movements silently, Though he kept his distance from the shore, he could see you clearly, holding the unconscious Chuuya in your arms.

"Oh no," Sigma murmured, his gaze fixed on you. Before he could utter another word, Dazai submerged his head, leaning on Sigma to get a better view of the situation.

"Get off me, you idiot!" Sigma exclaimed, annoyance evident in his voice. He pushed Dazai away, causing him to stumble slightly. Dazai looked up at Sigma, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Sigma! I didn't expect to find you here, looking so lovely," Dazai grinned, his attention then shifting to you and Chuuya. He let out a laugh and remarked, "And I certainly didn't expect to find the princess here."

"Listen to me, you maniac. The king mustn't find out about this. We'll pretend it never happened," Sigma sighed, his eyes fixed on Dazai, who seemed less than attentive. Growing frustrated, Sigma pinched Dazai's tail, causing him to yelp in surprise. Dazai glanced back at Sigma with a pout on his face.

"Are you paying attention now?" Sigma asked, his annoyance palpable.

"Yes," Dazai whined, rolling his eyes at Sigma's sternness.

"No telling the king, no telling anyone, and I remain in one piece. Do you understand?" Sigma emphasized, pointing directly at Dazai's face.

"Yeah, I got it," Dazai replied sarcastically. He then shifted his gaze back to you, wearing a playful grin. Before Sigma could protest, Dazai asked, "Hey, can you repeat what you just said? I wasn't really paying attention."

"I said the king is going to kill me." Sigma muttered, his face fell even further upon hearing a soft hum emanating from you, catching his attention.

"What is she doing?!" Sigma exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. But before he could call out to you, Dazai swiftly placed his hand over Sigma's mouth, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He watched with amusement as your astonished gaze fixated on Chuuya's face.

"What would I give to live where you are?" You softly murmured to Chuuya. your fingers gently tracing down his cheek and lingering over a cut you hadn't noticed before. Lost in the moment, you spoke once again, "What would I pay to stay here beside you?"

"What would I do to see you smiling at me?" you softly sang, a smile gracing your face as you admired Chuuya. He began to stir, his hand reaching out, searching for the hand that held his face. With a mixture of surprise and joy, you looked at his hand intertwining with yours, and a radiant smile spread across your face as you continued, "Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun?"

"Just you and me, and I could be..." you whispered, your voice filled with love and devotion, your gaze locked with his. Chuuya slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting yours, though the sun cast a silhouette upon your features. A smile tugged at his lips as he heared your voice.

"Part of your world," you whispered softly to Chuuya, marveling at the radiant gleam in his mismatched eyes as they caught the sunlight. The enchanting moment lingered, but the arrival of Albatross and Hirotsu interrupted the tranquility. Your instinct kicked in, urging you to retreat back to the safety of the ocean. Swiftly, you slipped beneath the water's surface, your tail disappearing from sight before anyone could notice your presence.

Chuuya lifted his head, catching a glimpse of your tail vanishing into the water. Albatross reached him, showering him with affectionate licks on his face. Yet, Chuuya couldn't tear his gaze away from the sea, fixated on the spot where you had just vanished. Hirotsu approached him, a rare smile spreading across his face, relieved to see Chuuya safe and sound.

"Oh, Chuuya, you certainly have a knack for stirring the sadistic strain in my blood pressure, don't you?" Hirotsu remarked, extending a helping hand to support Chuuya. Chuuya, lost in his thoughts, held his head, feeling a throbbing pain surge through his temples.

"A... a girl saved me," Chuuya declared, his eyes widening as he continued to stare out at the sea, disregarding Hirotsu's words as he attempted to piece together the puzzle.

"She... she was talking to me," Chuuya proclaimed, stepping away from Hirotsu's grasp and moving closer to the water's edge. His heart raced, unsure if it was due to the lack of oxygen he had endured during the shipwreck or the emotions he was feeling.

"She had the most beautiful voice..." Chuuya swooned, his knees growing weak from the traumatic events he had just experienced.

"Sire, I believe you've had your fill of seawater. Let's head back," Hirotsu suggested, his voice laced with amusement. He gently cradled Chuuya in his arms, providing support by wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Come on, Albatross," Hirotsu called, beckoning the faithful companion to follow. Together, they made their way back to the castle, Hirotsu remaining silent, allowing Chuuya to process the events of the day. However, Chuuya couldn't shake the voice of his savior from his mind.

Meanwhile, you, hidden behind a rock, continued to watch Chuuya from a distance. Your heart fluttered with excitement and anticipation, knowing that your paths might cross again someday. You felt an overwhelming connection to him, and the hope of meeting him once more filled you with joy.

"I don't know when, I don't know how, but I know something's starting right now," you sang, a radiant smile lighting up your face as butterflies fluttered in your belly. You slowly crawled across the stone, never taking your eyes off Chuuya's retreating figure.

"Watch and you'll see... Someday I'll be," you continued singing, a grin spreading across your face as you raised yourself higher on the rock. Your eyes remained fixated on Chuuya, your tail flickering with excitement beneath the water's surface.

"Part of your world," you concluded, a wistful tone in your voice, leaning on your arms and then getting back up. Suddenly, a wave crashed against the rock behind you, sending droplets of water in all directions. Laughing, you sat down again, running your hands through your hair, a lovesick expression on your face as you watched the prince vanish from sight.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to everyone, Mushitarou and Shibusawa observed the entire scene closely, relaying the events to their leader through their eyes.

𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻...

@yuugen-benni

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 © 2023 𝗩𝘀𝗸𝗸𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗮𝗮. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Poor Unfortunate Souls

𝑻𝑾/𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺..Prince!Chuuya, The little mermaid AU, drowning, thunderstorms, injuries, romantic tension, strangers to lovers, Mermaid!Reader, Fantasy Violence, Pet names, both Chuuya and reader are disgustingly in love,Reader and chuuya are down bad for each other, Love at First Sight, Idiots in Love, Reader is called 'Princess' and later on 'Queen', Weddings, Songfic.

𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺: Prince!Chuuya Nakahara x Mermaid!Reader

𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑹𝑬: Fluff, angst, hurt/comfort.

𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑹𝒀: The ocean was wide, yet everything was very much the same for you, that is until you save a human prince from a shipwreck. Despite only having met once for a short period, the two Royals become infatuated with each other, The human wanting to know who saved them and you resolve to do whatever it takes to become part of his world.

𝘈/𝘕: here we are yet again! I never expected the support that received from the last one so thank you! I appreciate it sm <33 I had some difficulty in starting this chapter but I finished it off! Btw Yosano's dialog was based on the song "She's in Love" from the Broadway version! Yet again I thank @yuugen-benni for helping me out, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! ♡

-For "Poor Unfortunate Souls" Listen to Jonas's brother's version or annapantsu! Since it fits better with the ambiance and everything, the fanart is by nixnyr.

Under The Sea - Poor Unfortunate Souls - Next..

"𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞." -𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧

Watching through the eyes of the merman's, a man concealed in the shadows of a dimly lit cave couldn't contain his malevolent delight. His sinister chuckle reverberated through the cavern as he reveled in his fortunate discovery.

"Well, well, well... Isn't this just too easy?" he mused, a twisted grin spreading across his face. His eyes narrowed with a wicked glint as he observed the trembling merfolk, their shrimp-like forms quivering in fear before him.

"But it's not just any love, is it?" he continued, his voice dripping with malicious amusement. "No, no, no. This young mermaid has fallen for a human—a prince, to be precise. Oh, how adorably naive!"

As his purple eyes gleamed with malevolence, the man reveled in the thought of the chaos he could sow. His dark intentions fueled his sadistic pleasure."I can already picture it," he mused, his smirk growing more pronounced. "The king, oh, he will be furious when he discovers his precious daughter is smitten with a mere human. The scandal, the outrage—it will be exquisite."

His attention then shifted, considering a more nefarious plan. "The king's daughter would make the perfect addition to my flourishing garden," he whispered, casting a sinister gaze upon the cursed merfolk at the entrance of the cave.

In the depths of his depravity, he relished the thought of ensnaring the young princess, both to taunt her father and to satisfy his twisted desires. The man's demeanor exuded a chilling mix of cruelty and madness, promising nothing but darkness and despair for those caught in his snare.

Days after your encounter with the prince, you found yourself lying on your bed, a blissful smile gracing your face. Thoughts of the prince consumed your mind—, His beautiful smile, the way he held your hand, the twinkle of his mismatched eyes in the sunlight, and the way his laughter filled you with butterflies—it was all you could think about. Lost in your thoughts, you were pulled back to reality when your sister, Yosano, called for you.

"[Name]! Come out, you've been there all morning," Yosano called out impatiently, assuming you had once again snuck away.

Emerging from behind the curtain, you swam out with a contented smile still playing on your lips. Ignoring Yosano's shocked expression, you swam past her and settled next to Ranpo, glancing at your reflection in the mirror as you gently smoothed your hair, still humming a sweet tune.

Higuchi and Ranpo exchanged glances, then turned to Yosano, silently seeking an explanation. Taken aback, she replied to their unspoken question, her astonishment mirroring theirs. Once again, their eyes shifted to you, observing your actions as you fixed your hair, plucked a flower from a coral, and inhaled its fragrance. You playfully toyed with its petals while swimming away from the mirror, making you accidentally bump into your father.

"Morning, Dad," you greeted him cheerfully, placing the flower in his hair. With a final smile, you left the room, your lovesick aura still intact as you resumed humming.

"Oh, she's got it bad," Ranpo grimaced, watching you disappear from the room, aware of the reason behind your lovesickness.

"What? What's going on?" Fukuzawa asked, his gaze shifting from his son to the space where you had departed.

"Isn't it obvious?" Higuchi smiled, her eyes following your path. She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy, she couldn't help but wish it were her instead.

"I must say! The girl is swimming in circles, chasing around her tail! [Name] is clearly in love!" Yosano chimed in, smirking as she adjusted the butterfly pin on her head. She wondered who had captured your heart.

"[Name]? In love?" Fukuzawa's disbelief was evident. Out of all his children, you seemed the least likely to fall for someone else. He removed the flower from his hair, smiling softly.

You swam gracefully through the crystal-clear waters, the shimmering sunlight dancing on your fins as you ventured deeper. Sigma followed close behind, his fins twitching. Finding a comfortable rock near a vibrant coral reef adorned with a myriad of blooming flowers, you settled yourself down. Gently, you plucked a delicate blossom, savoring the soft caress of its petals against your fingertips, your infectious grin never wavered, displaying your joy.

Sigma swam back and forth beside you, his fins twitching with anxiety. His voice carried a hint of concern as he spoke, "Okay, so far, I don't think the King knows."

"But keeping something like this a secret won't be easy for long," Sigma remarked, spitting out a stray petal that had found its way into his mouth. He shot you an annoyed glare, clearly displeased.Meanwhile, you propped yourself up on your elbows, enjoying the view above Sigma. You playfully tucked a pink flower behind your ear, and your smile remained unwavering.

"He loves me," you whispered, gently caressing the petals of the flower in your hand. You plucked another petal, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

"Hmm, he loves me not," you scoffed, rolling your eyes playfully. Annoyance tinged your tail's movements, but as you picked the last petal, realization washed over you.

"He loves me!" you giggled, cradling the petal against your chest. Kicking your tail playfully, you turned over, lying on your back with an ear-to-ear grin. "I knew it!"

"[Name], stop talking crazy!" Sigma lectured, swimming towards your side, concern etched on his face as he rested his hands on his waist.

"I gotta see him again, Tonight! Dazai knows where he lives." You got up and started to swim away but Sigma grabbed your tail fin.

"Princess, please!" Sigma pleaded, swimming along with you, attempting to stop your impulsive rambling. "Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?"

"I'll swim up to his castle, and then Atsushi will splash around to get his attention, then we'll go-" you excitedly continued, completely ignoring Sigma's advice

"Down here is your home!" Sigma groaned in frustration, positioning himself in front of you, determined to bring you back to reality.

"[Name], listen to me, The human world, it's a mess, life under the seaIs better than anything they got up there," Sigma implored, a reassuring smile on his face as he gently guided you to sit back down on the enchanting reef. As you settled comfortably on the rock, he positioned himself in front of you, making sure to maintain eye contact, his concern mixed with genuine affection.

"The seaweed is always greener, in somebody else's lake," Sigma sang, his voice resonating through the underwater depths. As he looked around, he noticed that your attention wasn't focused on him, determined to captivate you, he gracefully swam towards you, his movements fluid and mesmerizing. With gentle precision, his fingers delicately caught your chin, directing your gaze toward him.

"You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake," Sigma said, his expression filled with concern. Yet, in response to his seriousness, you couldn't help but smirk ever so slightly, intrigued by his words.

"Just look at the world around you, right here on the ocean floor," Sigma encouraged, his voice filled with conviction. In a graceful motion, he took hold of your hand, twirling you in a joyous dance beneath the waves.

"Such wonderful things surround you. What more is you lookin' for?" Sigma sang, his eyes fixed on you, his voice brimming with joy. At that moment, as if responding to the magic of the ocean, a couple of fish appeared, swirling gracefully around the two of you. Their vibrant colors and playful antics brought joy to your heart, and you couldn't help but giggle as one of the fish playfully planted a gentle kiss on your cheek.

"Under the sea, under the sea," Sigma exclaimed as he deftly gathered his two-toned hair and expertly tied it into a neat bun. With his preparations complete, he began gracefully swimming around you, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Darling, it's better, down where it's wetter. Take it from me," Sigma sang, his grin widening as he took your hand and guided you towards his magnificent casino. As you swam together, the vibrant corals painted a mesmerizing tapestry around you, captivating your senses. But it was the sight of the grand casino logo that truly caught your attention.

"Up on the shore, they work all day, Out in the sun they slave away," Sigma dramatized, playfully draping an arm across his face. You couldn't help but chuckle, appreciating his theatrical flair. Sigma glanced back at you, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips.

"While we devotin', Full time to floatin' Under the sea," Sigma sang, his voice filled with joyous melodies. Together, you ventured inside the casino, mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of colors that adorned the interior. Merfolk patrons, immersed in the thrill of games, lined the area, while a lively band played on the stage. Sigma swam towards the stage, where a spirited ginger merman skillfully played the drums—Tachihara.

"Down here all the fish is happy, As off through the waves they roll," Sigma sang in harmony with Tachihara's rhythmic beats. As you watched their performance, captivated by the infectious energy, you noticed a playful dolphin gracefully swimming in elegant circles around the perimeter of the casino.

"The fish on the land ain't happy, They sad 'cause they in their bowl," Sigma mused with a hint of mock sympathy, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Tachihara's grin widened, the camaraderie between them evident as they continued to sing and play.

"But fish in the bowl is lucky, They in for a worser fate," Sigma sang, his voice carrying a touch of irony. With a playful twinkle in his eyes, he swam towards you, gently guiding you to a chair before darting back to the stage. As you settled into your seat, your gaze wandered around the casino, and a smirk tugged at your lips when you noticed a merman losing a bet, his crestfallen expression momentarily amusing you.

"One day when the boss get hungry, Guess who's gon' be on the plate?" Tachihara and Sigma sang in perfect harmony, their voices blending seamlessly. The infectious rhythm and energy of the song ignited a wave of excitement, causing the merfolk in the vicinity to join in, swaying and dancing to the beat.

"Oh, no, under the sea, under the sea," Sigma continued, his grin playful and contagious as he swam in playful circles around Tachihara. Their synchronized movements and lively energy filled the space, causing their fins to twitch with joy.

"Nobody beat us, Fry us and eat us,In fricassee," Sigma declared, his words filled with confidence. As you reveled in the enchanting atmosphere, your attention turned to a cluster of colorful flowers nearby. Tenderly, you reached out to caress one of them, only to discover that it was not a mere bloom but a delightful seahorse. Surprise flashed across your face, and at that moment, more seahorses emerged, swimming in playful circles around you, eliciting joyous giggles from your lips.

"We're what the land folks love to cook, But under the sea, we're off the hook," Sigma sang with infectious enthusiasm, his voice brimming with energy as he danced to the lively beat. However, his joy was momentarily interrupted when his tail became entangled in a net. He shot a disgusted glance at it before skillfully freeing himself and casting the net aside.

"Here, we've got no troubles, life is just bubbles, under the sea," Sigma sang with a radiant smile, his voice resonating with pure joy. The infectious energy of the music drew more merfolk and fish to the stage, creating a vibrant gathering of singing and dancing. Sigma gracefully swam back to the stage, joining the spirited performance with his mesmerizing presence.

"Since life is so sweet here, we've got the beat here, naturally," Sigma continued to sing, his voice infused with a sense of bliss. As you watched him dance to the rhythm, a gentle smile tugged at your lips, realizing that you had never seen him so genuinely carefree and immersed in the moment.

"Even the sturgeon and the ray, they feel the urge and join the play," Sigma sang, his eyes scanning the crowd as he noticed that the majority of merfolk had succumbed to the infectious rhythm, surrendering themselves to the pure delight of the music. Among them, you recognized Tecchou and Teruko, skillfully playing their respective instruments—a flute and a harp. Their melodies blended seamlessly with Sigma's voice, creating a magical harmony that resonated throughout the Casino's haven.

"We've got the spirit, you've got to hear it," Sigma exclaimed with boundless energy, his body still moving in sync with the lively rhythm. Atsushi unexpectedly emerged from the crowd, a smile illuminating his face as he gracefully weaved through the singing fish. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto you, and a mischievous glimmer sparked in his eyes as he quickened his pace. Skillfully navigating through the sea of merfolk, he attempted to maintain a semblance of discretion.

However, his attempts to be inconspicuous were short-lived, as a playful string unexpectedly snared him, entangling him in a dance with the fish who had captured him. Atsushi squirmed and wriggled, determined to break free from their impromptu hold. With a burst of agility, he skillfully maneuvered himself out of the rope's clutches, a triumphant grin on his face. With a whisper that only you could hear, he beckoned you to follow him, and you both silently slipped away, leaving Sigma unaware of your departure.

"Under the sea," Sigma began singing once more, turning around to search for you, only to find that you were no longer by his side. A sigh escaped his lips, a hint of disappointment mingled with his annoyance.

"Somebody's got to nail her tail to the ground," Sigma grumbled, a touch of annoyance coloring his voice. Determined to ensure the satisfaction of his customers, he left the stage behind, venturing into the casino to offer his assistance. However, before he could attend to any concerns, a small seahorse swiftly swam toward him.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" A tiny seahorse called out, urgently seeking Sigma's attention. Startled, Sigma turned his focus to the seahorse, concern etching his features.

"Whoa, hey, what's the matter?" Sigma inquired, his voice filled with genuine worry, while the seahorse took a moment to catch its breath after its swift swim.

"I've been searching high and low for you. I bear an urgent message from the king. He insists on seeing you immediately! It's regarding [Name]," the seahorse relayed, its words laced with a sense of urgency. Without wasting another moment, the seahorse swiftly darted away, leaving Sigma to grapple with a growing sense of apprehension.

"He knows," Sigma muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, a gasp escaping his lips. Panic washed over him, evident in his wide eyes and the furrowed lines on his forehead.

"Hey, let's see now. Oh, who could the lucky mermaid or merman be?" Fukuzawa's infectious laughter filled the air as he playfully twirled a vibrant flower in his hands. With a composed demeanor, he straightened himself upon noticing Sigma's arrival at the doorway.

"Come in, Sigma," Fukuzawa beckoned, his smile ever-present. The merman took a deep breath, attempting to calm his racing thoughts, before stepping forward to stand before the regal throne.

"I mustn't overreact. I must remain calm," Sigma whispered to himself, trying to find solace in his own words. He took a deep breath, attempting to steady his trembling fins, and responded to Fukuzawa in a voice that betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Yes?" Sigma's voice wavered, the sound escaping in a squeaky tone that revealed his unease. His face flushed, caught between anxiety and embarrassment, as he addressed the regal presence before him. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Sigma, I'm concerned about [Name]," Fukuzawa voiced his worries, unaware of the hidden turmoil within Sigma. "She's been daydreaming, humming to herself... Surely you've noticed, hmm?"

"Oh, well, I—" Sigma began, his words faltering and his fins trembling involuntarily. He strained to maintain his posture and replied with a shaky voice, trying to regain control.

"Sigma," Fukuzawa's voice called him back to attention, his gaze now fixed on the uneasy merman.

"Your Highness?" Sigma replied, his voice barely above a whisper, betraying his turmoil.

"I know you've been keeping something from me," Fukuzawa stated, motioning for Sigma to come closer. Nervously, Sigma ascended the steps and positioned himself in front of the majestic throne.

"Keeping something?" Sigma mumbled, a forced, nervous grin plastered across his face as he willed his trembling tail to still. The strain of his anxiety threatened to consume him, like an impending tidal wave crashing against his resolve.

"About [Name]?" Fukuzawa pressed his smile both knowing and playful. His trident pointed toward Sigma in a teasing manner.

"[Name?]" Sigma uttered hesitantly, his anxiety mounting. He maintained the façade of a smile, but his insides churned with apprehension.

"In love?" Fukuzawa pressed, his smile both knowing and playful. His trident pointed toward Sigma in a teasing manner.

"I... I tried to stop her, sir!" Sigma blurted out, his words tumbling forth in a rush of nerves. He desperately clung to the armrest of the throne, seeking support amid the mounting pressure. "She wouldn't listen! I told her to stay away from humans! They are bad! They are trouble! They—"

"Humans?" Fukuzawa interjected, his voice filled with an unexpected intensity. Rising from his throne, he glared at Sigma, a mix of anger and concern surfacing in his features. "What about humans?"

"Humans?" Sigma chuckled nervously, his words faltering as he instinctively began to retreat, his voice laced with a nervous ramble. "Who said anything about humans?"

And in that instant, Sigma realized he had made a grave mistake—one that would have extreme consequences.

"Can't you just tell me, Atsushi...?" you asked softly, a slight frown creasing your forehead. Curiosity piqued within you, longing to discover what awaited inside the grotto.

"It's a surprise!" Atsushi beamed, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he looked at you. Leading the way, he guided you to the entrance of the grotto, anticipation building with each step.

"Well, now close your eyes!" Atsushi declared, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. With a resigned sigh, you complied, though an urge to peek tempted you. Atsushi, sensing your intent, quickly covered your eyes with his hand, ensuring the surprise remained intact. Together, you ventured further into the cave, the sound of the rock sliding back into place echoing faintly behind you, signaling your arrival at the designated spot.

"Okay, open them!" Atsushi exclaimed, standing before you. Eagerly complying, you slowly unveiled your eyes, and as the delicate beam of light from above illuminated the cave, your eyes widened with surprise. There, right in front of you, was the statue of Chuuya—the very statue salvaged from the wreckage of the ship that fateful night. Nearly true to size, it captured Chuuya's essence, portraying him as the embodiment of determination and heroism, though his signature smile was absent.

"Atsushi, you're the best!" you exclaimed, unable to contain your joy. A bright smile adorned your face as you enveloped your friend in a heartfelt hug, grateful for the gesture.Drawing closer to the statue, you reached out, your hand gently cupping Chuuya's concrete cheek, feeling the coolness of the material beneath your touch. Though his pose may have been exaggerated and his hair fixed somewhat uncomfortably, there was an undeniable beauty in the way the statue portrayed Chuuya.

"Why, Chuuya, run away with you?" you giggled playfully, your voice echoing through the cavern. You leaned your head on the statue's shoulder, a gesture filled with whimsy. "Oh, this is all so, so sudden,"

"Don't you think you're getting a bit...you know...worked up?" Atsushi interjected, his face contorting into a slight grimace. He observed you closely, concern etched across his features until he sensed a presence looming behind him.

"Can you blame me? He is perfect," you replied dreamily, completely absorbed in admiring the statue of Chuuya. Caught up in the moment, you twirled around with laughter, momentarily forgetting your surroundings. But as your gaze shifted, a sudden change in your expression signaled a shift in the atmosphere. Your laughter faded as you locked eyes with your father, standing sternly in the shadows, a disapproving glare fixed upon you. Atsushi instinctively swam to your side, sensing the tension in the air. Meanwhile, Sigma lingered behind your father, unable to face you.

"Father?" you called out, your voice laced with a mixture of shock and fear, as the weight of his disapproving presence settled upon you.

"I consider myself to be a reasonable king," Fukuzawa spoke in a low, chilling tone that sent shivers down your spine. Instinctively, you unconsciously swam back a bit, a reflexive response to the intensity in his voice. "I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed."

"But—" you pleaded, desperation seeping into your voice, only to be swiftly silenced.

"Is it true you rescued a Prince from drowning? A human Prince!" Fukuzawa's voice dripped with fury as he swam towards you, his anger palpable."Dad, I had to—" you exclaimed, attempting to reason with him, but your father's icy glare silenced you.

"Contact between two species is strictly forbidden! You know that! Everyone knows that!" Fukuzawa's tone turned cold, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with you.

"He would have died!" you chided incredulously, your voice filled with disbelief. The shock settled in, realizing that your own father, the protector of all merfolk, expected you to let someone die in such a cruel manner.

"One less human to worry about!" Fukuzawa spat, his words seething with anger as he glared at you.

"I'm sorry that I don't want to be a murderer like you," you sneered, your voice laden with anger and contempt. Atsushi and Sigma looked on in shock as the words escaped your lips, taken aback by the sudden shift in your demeanor. Defiantly, you approached your father, unflinchingly meeting his fury with a cold glare of your own as you continued, "Do you think I don't know about all the atrocities your guards were sent to commit? You try to protect me and hide your past, but you keep making the same mistakes."

"And besides, you don't even know him!" you yelled, your anger seething. Huffs of frustration punctuated your words as you maintained a fierce gaze, refusing to back down. Atsushi and Sigma stood in stunned silence, their eyes widening in disbelief as you unleashed your pent-up frustration.

"Know him?! All humans are equal! They are born to destroy! They're incapable of any feeling!" Fukuzawa's voice thundered with anger, his glare intense as he shouted. The force of his words reverberated through the chamber, a display of his growing fury.

"Father, I love him!" you yelled back, your anger matching his intensity as you locked eyes with him. But as the words left your lips, a shockwave of realization rippled through you, the weight of your admission hitting you with full force.

"Have you lost your mind?! He's a human! You're a mermaid!" Fukuzawa's disbelief resonated in his voice, his gaze fixed upon you, searching for any sign of reason.

"Guess what? I don't care," you stated firmly, your anger burning bright as you held your head high, facing your father.

"So help me, [Name]! I am going to get through to you," the king declared, his voice laced with frustration and determination. Raising his trident, the weapon shimmered brightly in his grip as he pointed it toward a nearby globe. With a surge of power, the globe shattered into countless pieces, scattered by the force unleashed by his trident.

"NO!" you screamed at your father, the anguish of your voice echoing through the chamber. Atsushi swiftly moved to your side, wrapping his arms around you, offering solace as tears finally spilled from your eyes, uncontrollable and full of pain.

Fukuzawa continued to wield his trident, his wrath unrelenting. Pointing it in another direction, he unleashed bolts of power, obliterating more of the treasures you had accumulated throughout the years—The artifacts, accumulated throughout your lifetime, shattered into fragments or melted away, losing their form and essence.

"Dad, please!" you implored, your voice cracking with desperation, but your father remained silent, relentless in his assault on your cherished belongings. The bolts of energy continued to rain down upon your treasures. Sigma watched in terror at the destruction, while Atsushi, his face filled with concern, struggled to hold you tightly in his arms.

"Dad, please! Don't!" you yelled with desperation, breaking free from Atsushi's grasp. You swam frantically, attempting to reach your father, desperately trying to stop his arms as they pointed the trident towards the statue of Chuuya. The bolt of energy hit its mark directly causing the statue to crumble from within, reduced to a mere cloud of dust and tiny, crumbly pieces that floated aimlessly through the cove.

Staring at the remnants of the statue, you swam towards it, your eyes fixated on the spot where it once stood. It was a symbol of your deepest longings, now shattered and lost in an instant. Overwhelmed with grief, you fell to the ground, crying, your palms tightly covering your eyes as sobs wracked through your throat.

Fukuzawa extended a hand towards you, his expression softening, but he stopped himself mid-air and walked away. Sigma observed Fukuzawa's departure, then turned his attention back to you, swimming closer with a guilt-ridden look on his face.

"[Name], I—" Sigma began softly, his voice filled with remorse, but before he could say more, you interjected with a venomous tone.

"Just go away!" you gritted through your teeth, your anger seething as you rushed out your words, your face still hidden deep within the palms of your hands. You knew that if you looked up, you would unleash your frustrations on Sigma, screaming in fury, your tail flicked with disdain.

Sigma winced visibly, his arm lowering from its intended reach towards you. He glanced briefly at Atsushi, who appeared conflicted but understood that overwhelming you with his presence at that moment would only worsen things. Slowly, Sigma swam out of the cave, with Atsushi following closely behind, leaving you to confront your emotions on your own.

As you continued to sob at the bottom of your grotto, believing yourself to be alone, a pair of eyes stared intently at your form. They had been waiting for this moment, knowing it was their chance to intervene. Slowly emerging from hiding, the two merman swam in circles around you, their presence palpable.

"Poor child," one of the mermen sneered, casting a disdainful gaze upon you, while his companion nodded in feigned sympathy.

"Poor sweet thing," the white-haired merman cooed deceptively, his voice laced with faux concern. His cold red eyes bore into you as he circled, his intent unmistakable.

"She has a very serious issue..." the jet-black-haired one remarked, his gaze still fixed upon you, his smirk betraying a sense of amusement. The two of them continued their circling, an air of mischief surrounding them.

"If only there was something we could do..." the white-haired merman spoke again, his tone dripping with insincere sadness, his eyes fixed on you, analyzing your reaction. He then positioned himself closer to his eel-like companion, their presence becoming more imposing.

"But there is something..." the jet-black merman chimed in gleefully, his yellow eyes twinkling mischievously. He shot a knowing glance at his companion, a wide grin etched upon his face.

"Who... Who are you two?" you demanded, your anger simmering as you furrowed your brow, your guard firmly in place.

"Do not be frightened..." Shibusawa smiled sweetly, his red eyes piercing as he stood in front of you, his gaze unwavering. Meanwhile, Mushitarou slithered around you like a cat, sneering in a taunting manner.

"We represent someone who can help you," Mushitarou smiled, his voice layered with sinister undertones. Annoyed by his intrusion, you glared back, your patience wearing thin, you watched as he left to rejoin Shibusawa, his tail lifting your chin in a mocking gesture.

"Someone who can make all your dreams come true. Just imagine it—a reunion with your prince," they said in unison, their smiles widening as they spoke.

"I don't get it," you said, a mix of confusion and intrigue crossing your features, the idea of someone offering a solution to your heart's desires captivating your attention.

"Fyodor possesses great powers," Shibusawa revealed, a dark chuckle escaping him as he flashed a sinister grin, drawing closer to your face, his eyes locked with yours.

"The sea demon...?" you asked, anxiety creeping into your voice as you regarded both of them. "I couldn't..."

You contemplated the offer presented to you, grappling with a surge of desperation that you had never experienced before. The thought of being with Chuuya without the constant worry of the demon's tricks enticed you, even if only for a fleeting moment.

"No. Get out of here. Leave me alone!" you declared, your eyes narrowed in defiance as you turned away from them, determined to resist their tempting offer.

"Very well then... it was merely a suggestion..." Shibusawa's voice trailed off as he swam away, a smug smile adorning his face. Mushitarou followed suit, his expression one of disdain.

Yet, as you gazed upon the stone profile of Chuuya, your heart shattered. Deep within, you contemplated the risks, the dangers, and the price you might pay for just a fleeting moment with Chuuya. Even if it meant sacrificing your own well-being, your desperate longing compelled you.

"Wait!" you yelled out, your voice filled with uncertainty and a hint of desperation.

"Yes...?" Shibusawa responded, his voice taking on a menacing tone, a dark grin spreading across his face as he addressed you, relishing in the opportunity that had presented itself.

"Guide me to him," you firmly ordered, your gaze unwavering as you looked at both Shibusawa and Mushitarou.

"Then follow me, Your Highness," Shibusawa responded with a sickly sweet smile, his voice laced with malice as he locked eyes with you.

Somewhere amidst the reef, Sigma and Atsushi continued to swim in circles, unaware of the unfolding events.

"I didn't mean to tell," Sigma swore, guilt evident in his voice as his tail twitched anxiously. "It was an accident!"

"I know, Sigma," Atsushi replied, sadness etched across his features as he kicked a pebble with his tail. He looked up and noticed you swimming alongside the two mermen. Locking eyes with Sigma, they shared a silent understanding before swiftly swimming toward your figure.

"[Name]!" Sigma called out, swimming closer to you. "Where are you going?!"

"I'm going to see Fyodor," you responded bluntly, your tone resolute and your frown firmly set. It was clear that you had no intention of changing your mind or heeding any objections.

"What?! [Name], no! Fyodor is dangerous, he's a demon!" Sigma exclaimed, worry etched across his features as he tried to reach out to you. However, you shot him a glare that spoke volumes, silently warning him not to interfere.

"Why don't you go tell my father?" you retorted sharply, your gaze lingering on Sigma for a moment before you turned away, resolute in your decision. "You're good at that."

Sigma and Atsushi exchanged helpless glances as they watched you swim away, their expressions a mixture of concern and frustration. They had tried to reason with you, to protect you from the dangers that awaited, but their words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Sigma gestured for Atsushi to follow him, silently communicating their shared determination to keep you safe.

The merman, Shibusawa, led you deeper into the dark and foreboding depths of the sea bottom. The once vibrant surroundings gave way to an eerie and desolate landscape, where random spirals of lilac smoke erupted from the ground. Sigma and Atsushi followed cautiously, maintaining a distance but remaining determined to protect you.

As you approached the entrance of what appeared to be a cave, a wave of hesitation washed over you. The cave bore a disfigured creature's shape, its open mouth adorned with menacing fangs and teeth, as if ready to snatch away anyone foolish enough to venture inside.

"Come this way," Shibusawa beckoned sweetly, his voice laced with that same sinister smirk that sent chills down your spine.

Swallowing hard, you mustered your courage and followed them into the depths of the tunnel. Inside, the walls were adorned with thousands of small, rotten-looking creatures, their twisted bodies reaching out towards you in a tormenting manner. Their crooked heads, with big sad yellow eyes that seemed burdened with knowledge, emitted haunting wails that echoed throughout the cavern. It was an eerie sight that made your skin crawl.

Suddenly, one of the creatures grabbed onto your arm, its grip surprisingly strong. Panic welled up within you as you fought desperately to free yourself from its grasp, the struggle intensifying with each passing moment.

"Come in, child. It's rude to linger in doorways, you know?" a voice echoed from within the cave, its tone laced with a hauntingly alluring melody. Once you managed to break free from the creature's grasp, you cautiously proceeded further, your gaze sweeping the surroundings. Finally, you caught sight of a figure seated on a throne made of bones, his eyes glowing with an eerie purple hue, fixed intently upon you

"One might question your upbringing," the man said, still looking down at you from his imposing throne. With graceful movements, his tentacles, colored in an eerie blend of black and purple, aided him as he swam toward you. A slight smirk adorned his face, and you couldn't help but notice the cross pendant hanging around his neck as he stood before you.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, your majesty," he said with a charming smile, reaching out to take your chin, displaying a self-assured demeanor.

"You must be the sea demon, right?" you asked hesitantly, managing to free yourself from Fyodor's grip with a quick and subtle movement. You tried to maintain a straight face, concealing your nervousness.

"It seems that my fame runs across the ocean," Fyodor chuckled amusedly, his gaze never wavering from your form as he circled you, attempting to get a better look. Stopping behind you, he continued, "Yes, that's me. I believe you already know my name."

"But enough with the introductions, let's cut to the chase," Fyodor said, his voice smooth as silk. He tightened his grip on you with one of his tentacles, pulling you closer to his face.

"You're here because you have a thing for a human, a prince no less. Not that I blame you," Fyodor chuckled amusedly, his purple eyes gleaming with malevolence. He grabbed your cheeks with his hand, whispering to you in a voice heavy with an accent, "He's quite the catch, my dear. If I were you, I wouldn't want to miss this proposition that I have."

"And what proposition do you speak of? They say I have to be wary of you," you retorted hastily, breaking free from his hold, trying to maintain a straight posture and serious demeanor, though a light blush adorned your cheek at the mention of Chuuya.

"Who says that? Your father? You know that the only thing he does is lie to you, didn't you notice?" Fyodor's tone dripped with insincere amusement as he taunted you. In the corner of his eye, he noticed your widened eyes and saddened expression, which only seemed to amuse him further.

"And I propose to make you human," Fyodor continued, his voice oozing with a sinister charm. "After all, I'm the only one who can grant you that transformation."

"Can you do that?" You asked, scoffing while maintaining a suspicious glare at him. Fyodor responded with an amused laugh, looking at you like a predator would eye its prey.

"My dear, Precious Shell, that's what I do. Otherwise, my fame wouldn't be that of a Demon," Fyodor said with a sneer, his purple eyes gleaming with mischief. His purplish tentacles wrapped around your arms, pulling you closer to him, enveloping you in his presence.

"I admit that in the past I've been nasty," Fyodor remarked with an amused glint in his eyes, his gaze locked onto your scowl. Shibusawa and Mushitarou lingered behind Fyodor, both wearing mischievous grins. He shifted his attention to them momentarily before resuming, "They weren't kidding when they called me kinda strange."

"But you'll find that nowadays, I've mended all my ways," Fyodor declared, a sneer tugging at the corners of his lips as he leaned in closer to your face. Mushitarou's laughter at his words earned him a sharp glare from Shibusawa.

"Repented, seen the light, and made a change," Fyodor chuckled softly, his amusement evident as he drew you nearer to him, causing your muscles to tense involuntarily.

"And I fortunately know a little secret. It's a talent that I've always possessed," Fyodor whispered with his hand playfully concealing his mouth, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic edge as his grin widened. Your response was a defiant glare that matched his intense gaze.

"And dear lady, please don't laugh, I use it on behalf," Fyodor's voice took on a dark undertone as he abruptly released his grip on you. He strode towards a nearby cauldron adorned with paintings of various merfolk. With deliberate movements, he dipped his fingers in black ink and began to sketch on the wall. You watched him, perplexed and uneasy.

"Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed" Fyodor's tone oozed with sarcasm as he glanced back at you. Stepping aside from the painting, he provided a clear view of what he had drawn. To your dismay, the artwork depicted you with an expression of profound misery. His purplish tentacles rested languidly on the cauldron's rim, and his grin was equal parts eerie and mocking.

"Pathetic," Mushitarou and Shibusawa whispered to you, their voices carrying a sadistic gleam that matched the wickedness in their eyes. You felt disturbed by the drawing, your unease evident, while Fyodor's laughter filled the air in response.

"Poor unfortunate souls, in pain, in need," Fyodor's voice took on a dramatic, raspy quality as he spoke. The cauldron before him exploded in a burst of mystical energy, materializing two of his drawings into life. One depicted a sorrowful merman, the other a melancholic mermaid.

"This one's longing to be thinner," Fyodor pointed out, his gaze directed at the mermaid with an empty expression on her face. Shifting his attention, he indicated the merman, who wore an expression of lovesickness. Fyodor continued with a sinister edge, "That one wants to get the girl."

"And do I help them? Yes, indeed!" Fyodor's grin widened as he spoke. With a flourish of his hand, he granted the mermaid a transformed appearance, while the merman's features grew handsome and captivating. The two figures locked eyes, their happiness palpable as they were finally reunited. Yet, the merman's expression twisted into a maniacal smile, he seized a knife and brutally ended the mermaid's life.

"Those poor unfortunate souls, so sad, so true," Fyodor's voice resonated, his gaze locked onto your horrified expression. In a sudden motion, one of his tentacles snaked out and grabbed you, causing you to startle and let out a yelp.

"They come flocking to me, crying, 'Will you help us, pretty please?'" Fyodor's tone was eerie as he circled you, his movements reminiscent of a predator closing in on its prey. Despite being held by his tentacle, you felt an unsettling shiver run down your spine.

"And I help them! Yes, I do!" Fyodor's grin widened, his fingers pressing into your shoulders as he forcefully guided you to a corner of the room. As your back met the wall, you couldn't help but notice the once-blank walls now adorned with handprints and twisted shadows, each with a disfigured smile. Your expression fell, a mixture of fear and realization flooding your senses.

"Now, it's happened once or twice, someone couldn't pay the price," Fyodor's words rang out as he plucked a skull from a shelf, holding it aloft while casting a look of faint disgust upon it.

"And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals," Fyodor's voice dripped with a malevolent amusement, his words laced with a sinister edge. Your gaze shifted around your surroundings, taking in the grim tableau that surrounded you. Souls and handprints adorned the walls, painted in foreboding black, each visage etched with an aura of unending misery. Your discomfort grew with every glance.

"Yes, I've had the odd complaint, but on the whole, I've been a saint," Fyodor's tone adopted a falsely sympathetic note, his words laden with insincerity. The skull he'd held was discarded, and with a predatory grin, he swam closer to you.

"To those poor unfortunate souls," Fyodor's amusement was evident as he spoke. Without warning, his tentacles coiled around you once more, their grip unyielding as he dragged you towards the looming cauldron.

"So here's the deal: I'll whip up a little potion to make you human for three days. Got that? Three days," Fyodor's voice held a calculating edge, his words carrying an air of unnerving certainty. The tentacles that held you seemed to tighten slightly, adding to your discomfort.

"Now listen, this is important: before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get ol' princey to fall in love with you," Fyodor's smirk seemed to stretch wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief that sent a shiver down your spine. You shifted uneasily, feeling the weight of his gaze like a physical touch, you couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that you were merely a pawn in his grand game.

"That is, he's got to kiss you; not just any kiss, this kiss of True Love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human permanently!" Fyodor's laughter echoed around you, and his glance held a glint of mischief. Your thoughts whirred, a blend of discomfort and contemplation clouding your expression.

"But, if he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid, and you'll belong to me" Fyodor's tone took a chilling turn, his cold glare accompanied by a sadistic smile that sent a shiver down your spine. Dread pooled in the pit of your stomach as his statement sent a shiver down your spine. The unease within you deepened as you grappled with the gravity of his words.

"Well, my dear, it's only fair that I disclose one more detail," Fyodor's voice took on a sinister undertone, his amusement still lingering as he focused on you.

"I'm going to take something precious from you, your siren voice," he continued, his tone dripping with cold satisfaction. As his words settled in the air, his gaze flicked to the cross pendant hanging around his neck.

"But don't fret. I'll keep it safe," Fyodor's grin twisted into something that bordered on eerie reassurance. His tentacles swirled as if in a macabre dance, and his purple eyes held an unsettling glint as he contemplated the course of events that were about to unfold.

"We got a deal?" Fyodor's words dripped with amusement as he observed your pensive expression. His tentacles rested against the cauldron's edge, the glint of malevolence in his purple eyes was hard to ignore.

"I... I don't know," you stammered hesitantly, uncertainty tainting your words. Fyodor's chuckle, though small, seemed to reverberate within the air, his gaze still fixed upon you as he released his grip, allowing you a moment to process the weight of the decision before you.

"Life's full of tough choices, in'it?" Fyodor quipped, his tone infused with a certain dark amusement as he watched your inner struggle unfold before him.

"No, this is wrong. I can't do this," you finally uttered, your realization hitting you like a tidal wave. The gravity of what you were about to embark on sank in, and it clashed violently with your morals and values. In that moment, a surge of courage fueled your actions, propelling you to swim away from Fyodor.

"Fine then, forget about the world above. Go back home to daddy and never leave again," Fyodor's words dripped with a sneer, his tone laced with disdain. The barbed comment made you come to a halt in your tracks, the memory of chuuya and your father's actions rushing back to the forefront of your mind. You turned back to face Fyodor, conflicted emotions swirling within you.

"But even if I accept, without my voice, how can I—" you started, your words tinged with a blend of uncertainty and anxiety. Your gaze met Fyodor's, and your tail swished restlessly in the water, mirroring the unease that coursed through your being. The prospect of the sacrifice you were about to make weighed heavily on your mind, overshadowing the hope that flickered within you.

"Everything will be fine, my dear shell. You are a mermaid, a being of inhuman beauty and seductive presence. You don't have to say anything," Fyodor's voice, dripping with a blend of assurance and manipulation, sought to sway your doubts. He spoke of your allure as a mermaid, attempting to diminish the importance of your voice in the human world. You bristled at the condescension, unable to shake off the feeling that you were being trapped in his web of manipulation.

"Besides, the men up there don't like a lot of blabber," Fyodor interjected with an enigmatic smile, cutting off your train of thought. The dismissal of your voice and its significance stung, and you felt a mixture of frustration and indignation.

"They think a girl who gossips is a bore!" Fyodor's amusement was evident as he continued, his words playing on your hurt expression. The irony of his statement wasn't lost on you, the manipulation of your perception becoming clearer with each passing moment.

"Yes, on land, it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word," Fyodor's voice carried a sense of calculated charm, a persuasive attempt to guide your perspective. His enigmatic smile persisted, masking his true intentions behind a veneer of authority.

"And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?" Fyodor's words, delivered with a twisted sort of wisdom, seemed to coax you into questioning the value of your voice. The weight of his manipulation was tangible in the water around you, a current of influence attempting to sweep away your convictions. Yet, even as doubt crept in, you found yourself reflecting on the meaningful connections you had forged with individuals who appreciated the authenticity of your words.

"They're not all that impressed with conversation," Fyodor's words continued to weave their spell, his tone dripping with a deceptive allure that aimed to weaken your resolve. His enigmatic smile held an unsettling power, as if he was manipulating not just your thoughts, but the very fabric of reality around you.

"True gentlemen avoid it when they can," Fyodor's assertion seemed like a carefully constructed narrative, a seductive distortion of truth that sought to undermine the value of communication itself. Yet, the threads of truth were interwoven with his lies. You recalled the times when words were empty, when conversations held no depth, and you realized that not all interactions were genuine or valuable.

"But they dote and swoon and fawn On ladies who withdraw," Fyodor's words dripped with a mixture of mockery and disdain, his sneer conveying his distorted view of the world above. His tentacles once again coiled around you, their grip tight and unyielding. You watched warily as he dipped his hand into the black ink, a shiver coursing down your spine as you anticipated his next move.

"It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man," Fyodor's amusement rang out, his chuckle embodying the twisted satisfaction he derived from distorting reality. The ink-stained hand reached for your face, drawing an ominous X over your mouth. The gesture robbed you of your voice, silencing you in the most literal sense. A sense of powerless frustration welled within you, your glare at Fyodor a testament to the anger that churned beneath the surface.

As if his actions weren't enough, two shadowed figures emerged, winding themselves around your neck with a cruel grip that constricted your airway. The sensation of choking, both literal and metaphorical, tightened its hold on you, further amplifying your vulnerability in the face of Fyodor's manipulation.

"Poor unfortunate souls," Fyodor's voice resonated, his tone laced with a blend of triumph and malevolence. The situation had unfolded exactly as he had orchestrated, and the satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.

"Go ahead! Make your choice!" Fyodor's words carried an eerie command, his enigmatic smile growing even wider. The weight of your decision, the gravity of the sacrifice he had compelled you to consider, bore down upon you. The struggle between your desire for freedom and the overwhelming pressure of his manipulation cast a tumultuous sea of doubt within your mind.

"I'm a very busy person, and I haven't got all day," Fyodor's cold assertion hung in the water, a stark reminder of the urgency he imposed upon you. His demeanor remained calculating, his words an unspoken threat that compelled you to act on his terms. As the cauldron's magic conjured an image of Chuuya, your attention was captured by the fleeting vision. You found yourself drawn to the representation of his presence, your hands instinctively reaching out to touch the water's surface, a smile graced your lips, a reflection of the warmth that Chuuya's memory invoked within you.

"It won't cost much. Just your voice!" Fyodor's tone dropped with a sense of foreboding, his words a chilling contrast to the image of Chuuya. And in a cruel twist, the image shattered, the shards of the vision dissipating into the water, leaving you with a deep ache of loss and the stark realization of the sinister price Fyodor demanded.

"Those poor unfortunate souls, so sad, so true," Fyodor's chuckle cut through the tension, a dark amusement dancing in his eyes as he gazed at you. The weight of your situation intensified, the realization that your interactions with him were tied to your longing to see Chuuya again. It was a desperate gamble, a last resort to break free from the shackles of your father's commands.

In the shadows, Sigma caught sight of your interaction and hurriedly swam towards you, an intent to intervene etched on his face. However, before he could reach you, Shibusawa's swift action silenced him. A dagger at his throat froze Sigma in his tracks.

"Take a gulp, take a breath, go ahead, Sign the scroll, " Fyodor's taunting voice accompanied your every heartbeat, urging you forward into this pact. The weight of his manipulative words, the gravity of the choice you were about to make, settled upon your shoulders like an anchor. As if in a trance, you found yourself moving closer to the bowl of black paint and the ominous scroll.

With a steady hand, you reached for the quill and signed the scroll, the ink absorbing your agreement with a sense of finality. The implications of this act reverberated through your thoughts, a swell of uncertainty mingling with the spark of defiance that burned within you. Sigma and Atsushi watched with horrified expressions. Their eyes reflected a mixture of disbelief and concern, you lowered the quill and your signature marked the scroll.

"Mushitarou and Shibusawa, now I've got her, boys," Fyodor's triumphant declaration cut through the charged atmosphere, his voice dripping with a sense of victory as he turned to his accomplices. The sinister duo exchanged a knowing glance, a shared sense of accomplishment passing between them.

"The boss is on a roll! This poor unfortunate soul," Fyodor's triumphant words resounded with a self-satisfied grin, his gloating demeanor enveloping the space like a malevolent aura. The finality of your decision, the ink-stained contract you had signed, played directly into his hands, and he relished in the power he now held over you, he then positioned himself in front of the cauldron and burst with mystical energy, the cauldron erupted in an explosion of vibrant colors and swirling currents. causing you to flinch instinctively.

"Beluga, sevruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea," Fyodor's voice resonated with a chant that carried an eerie cadence. The air around him seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy as he extended his grip to the cauldron. As he invoked the incantation, the cauldron responded with a surge of power. An explosion of blue magic erupted from its depths, its brilliance illuminating the water around you.

"Larengix glaucitis, et max laryngitis, La voce to me," Fyodor's incantation flowed from his lips, the arcane words weaving a spell that resonated with ancient power. The very water seemed to respond, the currents shifting and swirling around him as he continued to manipulate the cauldron's magic. incantation took hold, a profound transformation occurred. The blue magic that had been circulating between you and Fyodor began to shift, its hue morphing into a vivid shade of green.

"Now, sing," Fyodor's command sliced through the water, his tone cold and demanding. The very currents seemed to still, the atmosphere charged with an electric tension as he fixed his gaze upon you. The spell he had woven, the contract you had sealed, demanded its price—one that was intricately tied to the very essence of who you were.

As you sang, your voice held a haunting beauty, the notes resonating with the emotions that had led you to this point. But with each passing moment, you felt something inexplicable happening. Your voice began to waver, its strength faltering as if it was being drawn away from you. Panic seized your chest, the realization of what was happening sending shockwaves through your senses.

"Keep singing!" Fyodor's demand was sharp, a command that compelled you forward even as you felt your voice slipping away from you. Desperation and fear swelled within you, and you put a trembling hand over your throat, your efforts to hold onto your voice proving futile. Your eyes widened in disbelief as you watched your voice, the essence of who you were, coalesce into a tangible form and move toward Fyodor, now belonged to him.

As your voice completed its journey to Fyodor, a transformation began to unfold within you. doubt crept in like a shadow, causing uncertainty to dance across your thoughts. Your tail, once a graceful extension of your being, began to split and morph, forming human legs in their place, a surge of searing pain coursed through your body, ripping a scream from your lips. Your arched back quivered as the sensation intensified, your mermaid tail igniting with an agonizing burn.

A cry tore through the water as your body convulsed in response to the excruciating transformation. Gasping, choking, your senses were overwhelmed, and your vision blurred with the turmoil of the shift. The familiar strength of your tail, the embodiment of your existence, was replaced by the searing unfamiliarity of two human legs.

Your body instinctively fought against this sudden change, and panic surged within you as your limbs flailed. Desperation drove you to attempt swimming with your new legs, but the sensation was foreign and awkward, and your efforts only seemed to drag you deeper into the water.

In your moment of struggle, Sigma and Atsushi sprang into action. Sigma's strong grip closed around your arms, his determination propelling you forward, while Atsushi positioned himself at your back, his presence urging you onward. Together, their support propelled you towards the surface, their combined efforts a lifeline in your disoriented state.

With a burst of effort, you erupted from the water's embrace, your hair splaying out in a watery arc before gravity tugged it back. The taste of air was a heady relief, even as coughs wracked your frame, water expelled from your lungs in violent bursts. The surface world stretched before you, both a new beginning and an unfamiliar challenge.

Your legs thrashed in the water as you tried to regain your bearings, your movements mirroring those of a newborn creature finding its footing. The disorientation tugged at you, leaving your body sinking slightly, but Sigma swiftly emerged from the water, extending his arms to offer you support. Clinging to him, you continued to cough, your throat burning from the water's intrusion.

Sigma and Atsushi were both panting, the exertion of their efforts evident in their labored breaths. Your body drained from the transformation and the struggle that followed, lay on a sun-soaked rock, your hair cascading like a curtain in front of your face. Weariness clung to you, your energy spent from the ordeal that had brought you to this new reality.

Gingerly brushing your hair away from your face, the fatigue momentarily taking a backseat to curiosity, you were met with an astonishing sight. Before you lay a pair of legs, an appendage you had only dreamed of possessing. Tentatively, you lifted one of the legs, wiggling your toes experimentally in the water. The surprise in your gaze mingled with the lingering exhaustion, but as the reality of the transformation settled in, a radiant smile bloomed on your lips.

As you explored the sensations of your legs, a voice, both familiar and teasing, cut through the air. Turning your head, your gaze met the figure of Dazai, who had arrived on the scene. His arrival was punctuated by his signature irreverence.

"Oh, look what the catfish dragged in! You look different," Dazai's playful quip rang out, his eyes dancing with mischief as he observed your transformed state. Your smile widened at the sound of his voice, your fatigue momentarily forgotten in the wake of his arrival. Dazai's presence had a way of lightening the mood.

"Wait, don't tell me, it's your hair, huh? You've been using the dinglehopper," Dazai's voice dripped with mock astonishment, his eyebrows raised in faux surprise, he rested his arms against your legs. His comment was so absurd that it drew an involuntary chuckle from you. Shaking your head in response, you couldn't help but be amused by Dazai's obliviousness.

"She got legs, you idiot," Sigma's frustrated exclamation cut through the playful atmosphere, his exasperation evident as he addressed the oblivious merman. Dazai, in response, feigned shock as he lifted his arms away from your legs, a comically exaggerated expression on his face.

Seizing the opportunity, you gingerly removed the strands of seaweed that had been playfully covering your feet, revealing your transformed legs. With a mixture of curiosity and determination, you slowly rose to your feet. The motion was met with a tremor that rippled through your legs, a reminder of their unfamiliarity.

"How many times have I told you that I don't like it when you call me names?" Dazai's tone carried a hint of annoyance as he addressed Sigma, his frustration palpable. He shot the merman a side glare, a clear signal of his displeasure. In response, Sigma huffed dismissively and rolled his eyes. You attempted to move, but your legs wavered beneath you, and the ground slipped from beneath your feet. The wobble turned into a stumble, and before you knew it, your legs gave way entirely, causing you to descend to the water with a thud.

"She's been turned into a human. She's gotta make the prince fall in love with him, and he's gotta kiss her," Atsushi explained, rolling his eyes at the ongoing bickering between Dazai and Sigma. Amid their chatter, you attempted to stand up once again but you struggled, your body was still adapting to the unfamiliar sensation of having legs.

"And she's only got three days. Just look at her. On legs! On human legs! My nerves are shot. This is a catastrophe! What would her father say? I'll tell you what her father will say—he's gonna kill himself a merman, that's what Fukuzawa will say!" Sigma's voice echoed with annoyance, his irritation palpable as he glared at Dazai. His annoyance was palpable as he glanced at you, concern for your well-being intermingled with his irritation.

"I'm gonna march myself straight home right now and tell him just like I should've done the minute…" Sigma's frustration was palpable, his voice trailing off as he turned to leave. But you acted swiftly, grabbing his arm and shaking your head vehemently to dissuade him.

"… and don't you shake your head at me, young lady," Sigma retorted his tone a mix of frustration and concern. He seemed torn, caught between his desire to protect you and his exasperation with the situation.

"Maybe there's still time. If we could get that demon to give you back your voice, you could go home with all the normal fish, and just be… just be…" Sigma's voice softened as he looked into your eyes, his gaze faltering when he saw the heartbroken expression on your face.

"… just be miserable for the rest of your life," Sigma sighed, his frustration evident as he buried his face in his hands. He let out a small exasperated click of his tongue before directing his gaze back toward you.

"All right, all right. I'll try to help you find that prince," Sigma relented, his annoyance giving way to reluctant determination. The spark of hope that ignited in your eyes was enough to soften his resolve, and as you hugged him, a small, genuine smile formed on his lips.

"What a soft fish I'm turning out to be," Sigma sighed, a wistful smile playing on his lips as he looked at you. His self-deprecating tone held a touch of humor and fondness for the situation he found himself in. He then felt a sudden splash of water, and his gaze snapped to Dazai with a glare, his frustration evident.

"Now, Belladonna, if you wanna be human, you gotta dress like one! Now come on," Dazai grinned mischievously, his tone filled with excitement. He grabbed a piece of cloth and some ropes, his gaze shifting towards you. Confusion clouded your expression as you watched him, uncertain about his intentions.

Chuuya strolled along the shoreline, his steps heavy with frustration, a flute held tightly in his hand. His expression was a canvas of vexation, mirroring the emotions swirling within him. Beside him, Albatross, suddenly exhibited a burst of energy, leaping and barking with fervor. The dog's insistent movements caught Chuuya's attention, prompting him to glance down.

"Whoa, what's got you all riled up, mutt?" Chuuya questioned his voice a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Albatross continued his animated display, gesturing and tugging at Chuuya, urging him to follow a path that led further away from the shoreline. With an amused chuckle, Chuuya relented to the canine's persistent insistence, surrendering to Albatross's determination.

"You look stunning, now that's what I call a siren," Dazai's voice rang out with a grin, accompanied by a wolf whistle that echoed through the air. Your attire was a drape artfully wrapped around your waist, the ensemble exuding an undeniable allure. Nearby, Atsushi's gaze scanned you from head to toe before he let out a resigned sigh.

Amid this moment, a familiar bark sliced through the air, drawing everyone's attention. The sound grew louder, accompanied by the rush of paws approaching rapidly.

Albatross dashed towards you, his excitement is evident as he closed the distance. Uncertain of what to expect, you instinctively sought refuge behind a nearby rock, attempting to shield yourself from the unknown. The dog's energetic arrival brought him close to you, and as he looked back in amazement, a sense of familiarity washed over you. Then, a voice—a voice you had heard before, repeating a scene from when you had first encountered him on that ship.

For a fleeting moment, your knees threatened to give way, yet, you steadied yourself, trying to regain your composure. And there, just as you had imagined, Chuuya appeared, reuniting with his beloved pet. His eyes, a mismatched pair of captivating hues, flicked up, meeting yours. A pause—an unmistakable moment of surprise—and the unspoken question hung in the air. Had he recognized you? The intensity of his gaze left you wondering.

"Are you okay?" Chuuya's concerned voice reached your ears as he approached you, his steps measured. Your gaze remained locked onto his face, and a rapid nod accompanied your smile, expressing both relief and reassurance. His answering grin was a small yet genuine one, a sign of his understanding and approval.

"I'm sorry if he scared you, he's harmless, just a bit hyperactive sometimes" Chuuya's voice reached you, laced with a chuckle. His attempt to alleviate any concerns regarding his exuberant canine companion was evident, his gaze subtly avoiding your eyes. In response, you dared to step a bit closer, your presence invoking a flicker of surprise on Chuuya's features. With a soft smile, you acknowledged him.

“Have I met you before? You seem very familiar to me,” Chuuya's question, uttered with a mix of puzzlement and intrigue, hung in the air. The sensation of recognition gnawed at him, leaving a lingering feeling that he just couldn't shake.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" Chuuya's voice cut through the air, his gaze fixed on you with a sense of recognition. In response, you offered a subtle nod, a spark of familiarity mirrored in his smile. As his fingers intertwined with yours, a gentle warmth spread through your hand. Albatross nestled against Chuuya's leg, as he looked between you and his owner excitedly.

"We have! you're the one I've been looking for, What's your name?" Chuuya's grin was both welcoming and inquisitive, his eyes studying your features as if trying to unravel a memory. You opened your mouth to reply, eager to share your name, but to your surprise, no sound escaped your lips. Instead, you found yourself mouthing the words, your touch instinctively moving to your neck in a gesture that sought to convey the absence of your voice.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Chuuya's voice was a soft caress, his concern painted across his features as he regarded you with gentle eyes. In response to his inquiry, your hand instinctively moved to your throat, a silent indication that you were grappling with the inability to speak.

"You can't speak?" Chuuya's question hung in the air, a mixture of understanding and surprise lacing his tone. In reply, you nodded, your expression carrying a tinge of sadness. A sigh of frustration escaped Chuuya's lips but his soft gaze met your eyes.

"Then you couldn't be who I thought," Chuuya grumbled, your frustration evident as you blew your hair from your face. But then your smile returned, a glimmer of determination in your eyes. Leaning over the rock where you'd been sitting, your hands began crafting signs in the air.

“Your breath?” Chuuya's confusion was palpable, his brows knitting together. Swiftly, you made a dismissive gesture, reiterating your earlier signal, followed by a sweeping motion that simulated swimming.

“You need help?” Chuuya's question hung in the air, met with your increasingly animated movements. As your urgency grew, you leaned too far and nearly toppled over, but Chuuya's swift reflexes prevented your fall, a grunt escaping him as he caught you just in time.

“Woah, careful!” Chuuya's worry-laden voice cut through the air, and as his arms encircled you, your cheeks flushed with warmth. The sudden realization that you were now in his embrace caught you off guard, momentarily halting your movements as he helped lift you to your feet.

“You really must have been through something,” Chuuya's soft words brought you back to the present, his concern etched in his features. His reassuring smile provided a comforting anchor as you tuned into his presence.

“Don’t worry! I’ll help you,” Chuuya's declaration resounded with determination as you found your footing once more. With one arm draped over his shoulders, you leaned on him for support, acknowledging the trembling in your legs.

A grin played on your lips as you cast a glance over your shoulder, catching the signs of approval and smiles from Atsushi and Dazai while Sigma's panicked eyes watched your form. With Chuuya by your side, you began to walk, your legs trembling slightly but finding stability in his presence.

𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻...

@yuugen-benni @k-l-a-w-s @sszolarr @littlemisslovesbarbie @earphonejack09 @celestair

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 © 2023 𝗩𝘀𝗸𝗸𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗮𝗮. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Tumblr Top Ships Bracket - Round 2 Side 2

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