Chapter Text
A while after he fainted, he wakes up feeling water around himself and someone holding his hand, squeezing it gently. When the merman opens his eyes, without much surprise, he sees it's Tsukasa who's also sitting in the water. Before he sits up, the blonde hugs him tightly.
“You got me worried back there! You said you were okay, and a moment after you collapse like dead!”
“We were all worried! Don't scare us like that again!” Emu joined in the hug, almost suffocating the two others.
“I'm sorry, I didn't realise it was so bad. But hey, it all worked? And- AH, okay, Emu, I trust you definitely are strong enough to be a pirate.”
The humans let off the hug and Rui looks at Tsukasa's wound. Or the place it was, as it is now completely gone.
“Tsukasa, your wound-”
“Haha, wonderful, isn't it?! Your friend has sung a healing spell that worked flawlessly. She's really amazing!” Laughs the captain, turning to show the healed skin. Nene rolls her eyes.
“I did it so you would stop whining. We didn't need two unconscious guys on the board, one was enough.”
“I wasn't whining! You blame a man for showing a bit of pain sensitivity when he's close to bleeding out?!”
“Are all human men like that?” Asks the siren turning to Emu in annoyance, while the princess is just holding her laughter.
“Calm down, guys. It's important we're all alive.” Rui stands up and looks around, his gaze landing on the ship's mast. He frowns in confusion.
“Where's the flag?”
“We took it down to add two new stars on it, since we have two new wonderful members of our crew! We haven't made them yet, we were waiting for you to wake up, but now that you're back, we can do it!” Proudly exclaims Tsukasa, picking up the orange flag from the ground. Rui smiles in realisation.
“So, we're officially a crew of four now?”
A moment later, they bring down some sewing supplies and the yellow fabric. As the girls are working on their stars and Tsukasa keeps boasting about something, Rui sits down on a rock, his feet in the water. As he looks over at Nene, he realises something.
Despite being a mermaid, he has legs, so he never really had a problem partaking in human activities. But Nene is a siren and she has a full tail. He's more than happy to have his old friend join their crew, but it's going to be an inconvenience. To be comfortable on board, she would need legs.
Hmm. If there is a way to make a human function underwater, there could be something to do otherwise. A body part probably wouldn't work, as humans don't have magic. But maybe a spell, or some special magic that could be locked in an artifact?
“Ruuuui! Come here, we're done!” Emu calls him, holding the flag up high.
The girl's cheerful voice makes Rui break out of the thoughts and approach them, looking at the updated flag with satisfaction.
“I think it looks perfect. So, are we naming our crew? Most pirate groups have some special names under which they're known. So, especially with Tsukasa wanting to be famous, we need a name.”
“Well, how about The Star-Soaring Crew? Since the stars are already our symbol!” proposes Tsukasa, to which Nene snorts.
“That sounds as if we wanted to go to space. Let's stay on the sea, okay? Some of us here can't even go on land.”
“What about The Sparkly Shiny Funny Pirate, umm, Gang?”
“No one's gonna remember such a long name, Emu. Rui? You were always smart. Got any better ideas, since you proposed to name us first?”
“Actually…” Rui ponders for a moment and smiles. “Tsukasa, remember how you invited me to join your crew a few months ago? You said you wanted to explore the world and such. And now, Emu has said a similar thing. You called it… wonderlands, or something like that?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“It sounds good. We could use it in our name. How about… Wonderlands x Sailtime?”
“Ohhhhh…” everyone gasps, amazed.
“Wonderlands x Sailtime… I like it. Haha, as expected of my right hand man to come up with the best name!” Tsukasa pats Rui's shoulder, proud.
It's getting dark, so they all decide to camp at the beach of the small island. Nene dived a few times and found a system of underwater caves in which she decided to sleep, but then, Emu says she wants to sleep with her. That gives Rui an idea.
“What if we all make a sleepover in the caves? Nene's scales should be strong enough to keep Emu and Tsukasa breathing for the whole night. And I don't think anyone here would try to steal our ship.”
To his surprise, his idea is met with the group's enthusiasm. Especially Tsukasa’s, who has never spent so long underwater before and wants to treat it as a new experience. And so, after they eat some dinner prepared by the captain, Nene grabs two scales from her tail and gives one to each of the humans. Emu happily runs and dives into the water, while Tsukasa hesitates.
“Is everything okay? You seem troubled, Tsukasa.” Says Rui, reaching out his hand to the other.
The blonde smiles and takes the hand.
“No, no, it's okay. I guess… I'm just really living my dream now? I wanted to be a pirate, but I also think that I just wanted to find people who would be close to me like that. We just met the girls, but since you already knew Nene for years, and she's friends with Emu… Not to mention how they asked to join us without hesitation.”
Rui kindly pulls Tsukasa's hand, encouraging him to go further into the water.
“I'm also really happy I've met you. You know, I used to be pretty scared of humans. When I first came out on land, not just on the beach, but when I actually went further, I met a very kind older couple. They have a bakery. They never judged or commented on me. They taught me so much about the human world. And made me think that all humans are nice.”
Tsukasa listens to Rui, taking in every word. He always knew that Rui has some matters stuck in his mind, so he really appreciates the merman opening up. As they talk, they slowly go step by step into the water, the sea now brushing their knees. He also looks down at their intertwined fingers and slightly blushes, realising he doesn't actually mind this gesture anymore. And he doesn't mind the weird feeling of Rui's webbing between the fingers. Or maybe, he never really did?
“But not all of them were, I assume?”
“No. I have legs, but even these don't look fully human. It's obvious I'm not one. I don't mind it, I'm happy and proud of being a mermaid. But it took people years to understand it. I was just a teen, a curious but polite teen, I wanted to learn and discover the human side of the world. But some didn't understand if. And some still don't.”
Tsukasa doesn't need more explanation. Countless of times he saw and heard other pirates or even simple humans offending or disrespecting Rui in many ways. Every time it hurts him, and he can't even imagine how it feels for the merman, at whom the insults are all directed.
“I met a few humans whom I really found trustworthy. The older couple. Mizuki. And you. The only four humans that never questioned me for what I am. The only ones that care for who I am. And I'm happy that you're one of them, Tsukasa.”
They're standing at the point where the water is reaching about half their stomachs. Something Tsukasa really appreciates about the scales’ magic is how they also seem to make him more immune to low temperatures of the water. But right now, looking at Rui's warm smile, bathed in the evening, golden sun rays, is enough to make any feeling of cold go away.
“Haha… well, you're welcome, Rui! I might've taken the path of crime, but you know, I still can have a golden heart! Especially to those I care about as much as I do about you. But, uh, why does this sound like a confession?”
“Because it is.”
“Wha-”
Rui takes both of Tsukasa's hands now and squeezes them gently.
“You always care so much about me. You trust me so much. And I also know I can always rely on you. You're a great sailing partner. But I believe you could be an even more amazing partner… in another way. Tsukasa, I love you. You might not even realise how much it means when I say it, but I mean it.”
For a moment, Tsukasa is speechless, feeling the blush creeping into his cheeks. Because he knows what Rui is referring to.
There is a legend that a mermaid can fall in love only once. Of course, one can feel love for family and other close ones, but the true, long term relationship love can happen only once. With how much time he has already spent with Rui, he has all the reasons to believe in it.
And if Rui is confessing his feelings like that, Tsukasa knows he can't break his heart. And even if there was no legend…
He can't lie to his own feelings.
“I understand.” He starts slowly, looking Rui in the eyes. Ah, those eyes, cold yellow with a hint of cyan in them, the weird additional layer on the eyeballs that actually protects them better than any glasses would, the narrow pupil giving him the unique look of not a human. But Tsukasa doesn't need Rui to be a human in the slightest. Rui is Rui. And that's enough to make the blonde love him.
“Because, I love you too! I love you when you control great masses of water like it was nothing. I love you when you get overfascinated at the most random human things. I love you when we just sit on the board of the ship, together, in silence or talking, leaving one sea behind and entering a new one. And if, apart from calling you my right hand man, I could call you my partner, I would feel like the happiest man in the world!”
Realising they both already had feelings for each other, they both wrap their arms around one another in a tight but happy embrace, and Rui pulls them underwater. Tsukasa's survival instincts kick in for a moment, but then he remembers he ate the scale. Happy, he takes a deep breath, not minding the weird feeling of water feeling his lungs. It's safe. The magic reshaped his lungs, making them more mermaid-, or in this case siren-like (which isn't really a difference) and allowing him to breathe just fine.
Oh, how good does it feel to have someone so magical in your life. When you don't have to worry about expectations. You're just free.
“Have you ever kissed anyone before?” Whispers Tsukasa, gently tracing the line of Rui’s face with his finger. The merman giggles.
“You know, I gave some kisses to my mom and dad when I was a child. And I once kissed a jellyfish.”
Rui moves his hand behind Tsukasa’s neck, playing with the blonde’s ponytail. Accidentally, his nail catches on the ribbon tying it and unwinds it, making the other’s hair flow freely.
“But I know what you meant. In that way, no, I haven’t.”
“Me neither, honestly. Wait, you kissed a jelly- why am I not surprised. I would actually be more surprised if you’d kiss another mermaid.”
“Hehe. Well, I’m not planning to kiss any mermaids in the near future. And not in this life either. Since in this one, I love the blonde haired human.”
Even afterwards, neither of them is sure which made the first move here. But finally, while they are gradually sinking deeper and deeper under the water, their lips meet.
Their kiss is careful, just testing their boundaries, their comfort zones they first want to find. But even if it's not the most passionate kiss shared, it's satisfactory. It's all they want right now. The water is muting all the sounds from outside, allowing the human and the merman to just enjoy their intimate, but comfortable moment in peace.
They suddenly break the kiss when Rui's head hits the sand. It doesn't hurt him, but definitely messes things up a bit and they let go of each other. But they still stay close, both blushing, but overjoyed.
“I think the girls are waiting for us. Let's not keep them worried anymore. Is everything okay, Tsukasa?” Asks Rui, trying to change the topic.
The blonde nods.
“It is! I'm breathing just fine. And I don't feel cold. And… you actually kiss well. I mean, I don't know what's truly the best way to kiss, but it felt good enough.”
Rui giggles and grabs his now-partner’s hand and pulls him in the direction of the caves.
“That's all that matters. I think we could both be the worst kissers respectively in the water and on land, but we shared it between ourselves. And it's our feelings which made it more special.”
Tsukasa doesn't argue with that. And he has to admit, today's events left him pretty tired. And he can't wait to finally rest.
“What are you two doing for so long? We've been waiting for you- why are you looking at each other like that?” Suddenly, Nene almost appears in front of them, which slightly takes them off guard.
“Well, we…-”
“Tsukasa was feeling a bit uncomfortable when thinking about going underwater, so I stayed to help him.” Rui tries to somehow excuse them, but Nene just laughs.
“Okay, I get it. So, you two are a couple now?”
They're a little taken aback by Nene immediately guessing the deal, but then they just smile and look at each other.
“We are?”
“We surely are.”
As they swim down to the caves, Rui decides to ask the siren.
“Are you and Emu just friends, or are you something more as well?”
Nene blushes and looks away, but smiles softly.
“..yeah. It was a secret relationship. Of course, Emu, as the princess, couldn't let anyone know she's literally with someone who lives in the sea, but she's smart. She could leave the palace pretty often, so we would meet at the beach. But now, since she decided to run away, we don't have to hide.”
“Nene! And guys! You're back!”
The princess in question swims out, waving at them happily.
“Tsukasa! Nene told me that Rui won't have a problem sleeping on the rocks, but I know you would, so I gathered some seaweed and made a fluffy green mattress!”
“Haha, to have the bed made by the princess, that's surely an honour! Thank you, Emu!”
The captain looks back at Rui, while the merman is looking at Nene as if she said he has to eat seaweed only for a week.
“Ah, Nene, just because I'm also from the sea you think I can stand the hardship of sleeping on tough rocks? Why be so cruel to your old friend? I thought you missed me…”
“You can sleep with your boyfriend.”
“But normal, or in the human way?”
“If you want human, then get your own cave.”
“HEY! What are you implying?!”
“Wait, you guys are a couple now? That’s so wonderhoy! I’m super-duper happy for you!” Interrupts them Emu, swimming up to hug the two lovers tightly.
“Hehe… yes, we are.”
It was a few days later when Rui explained the meaning of their joke about sleeping. Because of mermaid biology, if they want to have some more intimate moments of this type, they definitely can't do it in bed. So in their culture, “sleep with someone” literally means sleeping together with no other meanings. But because Nene and Rui also know the human terms, the siren has successfully managed to embarrass both of the gays.
But after they decide they're all too tired to banter now, each pair lies down on their “mattress” and falls asleep, mostly cuddling with one another.