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#pearl is there but its only her hand so i wont tag her
applestruda · 4 months
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"You Have Succeeded Your Task"
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cakeheavenly999 · 1 month
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Homegirl
yuji itadori x fem!reader wc: 1693 tags: weed sex/yuji calls you baby not beta read!
yuji is the type of guy who grows feelings for his girl best friend. i wanna kiss him so bad...
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your toes curled in your fluffy socks as you sat beside yuji on his living room couch. well, his older brothers living room couch. you had been so busy with college you didnt have time for your best friend; until now. it was finally spring break, and you were finally back in your hometown. of course you were staying with your parents for the week since they wanted to see you, but they werent the only people you came back for.
when you told yuji you were back, he blew up your phone with excited texts and begged to facetime you. of course you agreed. you talked with him all night and woke up laughing together when you realized you fell asleep on the phone with one another. 
no one was closer to you than your homeboy yuji itadori. 
when you were free that evening, he invited you over to smoke. of course you said yes. you told your parents you were going to see yuji and jumped on your old bike, riding down to his place with a bag of weed in your back pocket, and a lighter in the front of your denim shorts. yuji lived in the big house two blocks ahead of yours. it was impossible to miss and the two of you always loved doing everything together. its funny how things worked out that way. 
you jumped off your bike, throwing it in his front yard as you ran up to his front door. he beat you to it. with a big shimmering smile, he wrapped you up in a tight hug and pulled you into his house. the sun was starting to set, and the smoke session was about to begin.
choso was nice enough to let you and yuji smoke in the house instead of sending you to the porch. as long as you didnt burn anything down. “its been so long since we smoked together, im sorry i only have cruddy weed.” you apologized while eyeing your crumbs of cheap weed nobara had slid you. 
an exchange for you being so kind as to drop her off at a sneaky link. the room was lit via the tv and a small table lamp on the side of you, making your contribution even more pathetic. “you know i would never ask you to bring weed. and this is all my brothers anyway.” he snickered as he emptied the shredded tobacco from the cigar wrap into a little, black grocery bag. “sukunas? he wont be mad?” you asked with worry as yuji rolled his eyes. “he stole my favorite red nike dunks. so im stealing some of his weed.” he frowned as he got into the much larger bag of weed to break up a few nugs. 
“be the bigger person.” you joked and gently nudged his thigh with your foot before your eyes returned to the tv. the two of you had put on an anime to watch, but neither of you were actually paying attention to it. just some background noise for the smoke sesh. with the blunt now rolled (and pearled) yuji scrambled for a lighter among the snacks and bottles of water. “here,” you pulled one out of the front pocket of your jean shorts. “dont lose it.” you smiled at him as he took your lighter. your fingers brushed his but you thought nothing of it.
you were yujis homegirl. and of course he was your homeboy. people always assumed you were dating, but that wasnt the case. you did have some unsavory thoughts about yuji from time to time, but he was your friend before he was an object of your desire. the blunt was passed to you and the ceramic ashtray was moved to the center for the both of you to share. 
the weed was superb. sukuna really was the greatest plug. making yuji the greatest plug via association. your eyes were starting to feel heavy as you leaned against yuji with the brown blunt becoming shorter and shorter. “should we roll another? use the weed i brought.” you offered him the blunt and he hummed in deep thought. you could see the shine of his thin gold chain dangling around his neck from the tvs glow. it pulled you in closer until yuji was holding the blunt, looking down at your hand resting on his thigh. 
“you okay?” yuji asked lazily as his body sank back against the velvet couch. you nodded, your hand still as you gave his muscled leg a small squeeze. his breath hitched softly as you moved in even closer. “whatre you doin?” he mumbled as the blunt hung from his lips. his eyes on you. “nothin.” you whispered as you eyed his crotch through his black basketball shorts. you were sitting on your knees now, your heart pounding in your chest until yuji grabbed you by the shoulder and pushed you away. his cheeks were red and he was frowning.
“you dont have to do that.” yuji didnt sound angry with you. just anxious. “i want to though…” you trailed off with a weak frown, watching yuji put the blunt in the ashtray. “lets do somethin for you too.” the offer was quiet, the tv casting you both in a colorful glow as your pink haired best friend inched closer on the couch.
your lips met. soft and welcoming. you knew in that moment that this was something you both wanted. your tongues met with each messy kiss, drool coating your chin as yuji made his way on top of you. your back was digging into the arm of the couch now. your heart racing as your arms wrapped around him with a whine leaving your lips as he pulled away and moved lower.  
“wheres choso?” you panted as yuji sucked and kissed along your jugular, lightly and cautiously. “sleep upstairs.” you pulled at the back of his shirt, stifling another whine. “sukuna?” you worried about him the most. “his babymama house.”yuji mumbled against your skin as his warm hands slipped under your shirt, pulling at the front clasp of your bra as he sucked and licked at your throat.
you wanted him to leave marks. more soft sounds passed your lips as yuji pulled away and bunched your shirt over your chest. your nipples hardened once they were exposed to the cool air of the room. he looked down at you, contemplating his next move as you pulled your hands away and tugged at his shirt. he took your silent request and pulled the article of clothing over his head and haphazardly dropped it to the floor. his chest was exposed, and he dove in for another round of kisses as his large palms massaged your breasts. you were like dough in his hands. moldable and pliable for him to enjoy. it was like one of many fantasies you silently wished would come true.
his hands moved to your jean shorts, pulling at the button and zipper as he kept your moaning lips distracted with his. the denim was being yanked down your hips with your panties bunched in the fabric. they dangled off of your ankle as his hands moved between your thighs. his thumb rubbed at your clit. his fingers pumped in and out of you carefully crooking upwards. swallowing your yelps and cries as you trembled beneath him with nothing short of delight. when the sound of shuffling clothing returned you felt the pooling heat in your stomach leave a dull burn as his fingers pulled away. 
you needed yuji inside of you. his cock rested against the meaty petals of your pussy, the tip of his cock meekly greeted your clit with a few light, affectionate rubs. “can i?” he whispered, his voice airy. needy. just as needy as you. you gave him a lazy nod for a response, your body tensing when his strong arms lifted your hips into his lap, leaving you bent as he sank his thick, throbbing cock into your soaked cunt. 
his hips rocked with yours, his gold chain swinging before your eyes. the anime was drowned out by wet smacks of skin and soft moans. each drag of his cock left you light headed. you clenched tighter around him, mumbling soft sobs and ‘oh fucks’ with each piston. the mushroomy tip of his cock nudged perfectly against that spongy wall inside you. “your body was made for my cock. feel it baby?” he cooed, leaning in to meet your lips with his own. his rhythm steady and quick as he fucked you against the leather couch, letting you drag your nails against the bare skin of his back. it felt so good. better than you could have imagined. maybe it was the weed. maybe it was the feelings you held onto. maybe it was in yujis dna to have excellent dick. whatever the answer was, it was leading you to an orgasm; fast. 
your toes curled in your fuzzy socks, your breathing quickened as yujis thrusts became sloppy and rough. a thin trail of spit connected the two of you as he pulled away, pushing your thighs apart to get even deeper inside of you. “s-so deep yuji- mm’cummin…” you whimpered pathetically as your pussy fluttered around him. sucking him deeper and deeper as he nudged against your cervix. the sudden feeling left the coil in your stomach winding impossibly tight as yuji nodded. “you can come. cum with me? cum with me please? please baby?” he huffed and panted as his cock throbbed inside of you.
you nodded, your body quaking as your orgasm hit you like a punch. your body writhed as yuji hunched over you with a deep growl.
his cock pulsed, the feeling of a gooey warmth left your thighs trembling. the throbbing sensation intensified as your body grew sensitive from overstimulation. you could feel the pearl colored cum starting to leak out of you along with your own juices. but thats not what you were worried about.
it was the post nut clarity telling you that you just fucked your homeboy on his older brothers couch. 
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ssurveycorpss · 3 years
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You can delete this if this isn't allowed, but can I request X for all the warriors?
asking for multiple characters is totally fine (as long as you're not requesting full one shots lol) i'll update my rules! also the layout of these is a little different than the others bc this one is just a little fun lol.
i included zeke, reiner, pieck, porco, and colt. i definitely wont write for the four kiddos or marcel but i can write for annie and bertholdt if you request them.
tags: modern au, cigarette/nicotine mention in zeke's, alcohol mention in colt's, emetophobia warning for colts, mention of car accidents in porco's, sfw, not every single one is romantic lol sorry and colts is missing one headcanon bc i only have two for him
hc game
X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)
zeke jaeger:
pretentious coffee fan. owns like a 300 dollar espresso maker and refuses to drink starbucks. spends like 8 dollars minimum on a latte and lurks on the coffee subreddits. its almost comical how he drinks fancy coffee and only smokes cigarettes and not e cigs... so pretentious...
acts like he has no interest in social media but spends hours trying to pick a lyric from an obscure band for his caption. has like 3 posts, lots of followers, and less following. will post the occasional story with you in it but otherwise not much going on there.
coaches little league baseball despite not liking kids that much because he doesn't really have time for coaching middle or high schoolers. his kids are fucking ruthless they are like monsters on the field and every other team is terrified of them. you know how they don't keep score for kids softball and stuff like that? zeke does anyways and he tells them every time they win. does well with baseball moms bc their kids could go pro no matter what and hes really good looking and suburban moms could use the eye candy.
more under the cut!
reiner braun:
his favorite music genre is bubblegum kpop. porco groans everytime reiner has the aux bc he just plays really preppy cute songs kpop songs about falling in love after school. he doesn't like... stan any of the groups like he doesn't know every detail of their lives but he casually watches their interviews sometimes and knows all the member names of his favorite groups. he has a photocard from an album you gave him, and it sits in his phone case behind a polaroid of you two. also he learns the dances sometimes.
likes watching cartoons sometimes, he wont binge watch an entire season of them but if he has sometimes he'll throw on a cute mindless cartoon just to relax. he usually watches slice of life and romance tv shows in general, stuff without much tension or drama and is just cute.
good cook, terrible baker. if he bakes something it will look awful and taste kind of bad. but his cooking is really good, once you guys got comfortable together instead of going out to eat you opt for him cooking for you two instead.
pieck finger:
likes to buy her clothes second hand. she's a really well dressed girl but she's not concerned with being overly trendy, so she finds that a lot of stores don't really have things she likes. she likes long hemlines and almost everything is cropped these days, so she opts for thrift stores and vintage stores to get things her style. plus she saves a lot of money. she really suits pearl jewelry and has a timeless sense of fashion.
she has a minivan and will drive anyone anywhere, and she rarely asks for gas money. often picks up zeke porco and reiner when they hang out and will always pick you up for dates. her car is ancient but runs like a charm because shes knowledgeable about maintenance, and super fuel efficient.
has a really old phone with no cracks or scratches or anything. doesn't see the point in getting a new one until one day she notices how convenient porco's brand new up to date iphone is and starts saving up for one, but every time she saves up enough a new one comes out.
porco galliard:
plays volleyball, and is on a scholarship for it. jumps really high and is really lithe and quick, making him a good libero (but this is the extent of my volleyball knowledge so i will not make anymore comment. please let me know what position porco plays.)
gets in (non fatal) car accidents surprisingly often, and speeding tickets even more. marcel is tired of it because it is throwing his insurance costs over the roof and forces him to enroll in lessons but they really don't help.
he is the one to pay for the streaming services and has everyone else plus you leech off his account. he complains abt it but texts the gc every time he changes the password so he doesn't really have the right.
colt grice:
on the blacklist for several frats because he went to their block parties, drank too much, and vomited in someones bed, another person's cat's litterbox, a different persons laundry basket, a different different persons moms sweater, and another frats oven. he's really apologetic and always cleans up and reimburses everyone as much as he can, but he is a menace and is only allowed in if he promises not to drink. on that drinking note if you need advice, go out for drinks with colt. he will get incredibly inebriated, give you the best wisdom and advice you've ever heard, and forget everything the next day.
really bad at video games but really fun to play them with. doesnt get on very often, but will play when he has some free time or is asked by his friends. only on weekends and only for like two hours at a time. the video game system at his house doesnt even belong to him its Falcos.
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halla-la · 4 years
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Inventory Check: Halla Vanih & Victor Arcelio
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List seven items your character keeps on their person / in their inventory at all times
Halla Vanih:
Simple Chakrams: A pair of dancer’s chakrams with little ornamentation to them. They seem more of a performance decoration than a weapon, though a piece of cloth wrapping and recently sharpened edges might say otherwise.
Daggers: Should all other weapons fail, it’s best to keep something reliable on hand. In Halla’s case, that is a pair of daggers that have seen more than their share of battle. They’re more the...stabbing kind than the slashing.
Origami Paper: A small bundle of thin and brightly colored papers. They’re a bit wrinkled, most likely from being shoved to the bottom of a bag and kept out of sight, but it would be easy enough to smooth out in a time of boredom.
Tomoe Earring: One half of a pair. It is handmade from Black Agate with a center of white pearl, just different and similar enough to its partner that it’s almost like it might mean something- a perfect fit.
Silver Bracelet: A chain-link bracelet made of silver with amethyst crystal beveled inlays. The silver suits her better than, say, electrum, doesn’t it? Also handmade, perhaps from the same hand as her earring.
Chocobo Whistle: It hasn’t been used in some time- a chocobo in Ilsabard might stick out almost as much as a miqo’te! Though he probably would attempt the flight if he hear the whistle... How good is a chocobo’s hearing?
Too Big Sweater: Some might say ��oversized.” “Garlean-sized” even. It’s red and well-made and smells faintly of coffee.
Victor Arcelio: (Do cats count as possessions? Maybe he's Topaz's possession?)
Kaze-no-Chi: A long katana of unknown Origin. Do not touch. Do you like Doman swords? Victor likes Doman swords. That's why he stole this     one. You might think it just looks fancy. You'd be wrong. The wind swirling around its blade when it's out of its scabbard should be clue enough. He'll say it again, don't touch. Unless you like having your aether sapped away. Victor doesn't mind. He can't feel it after all.  This Katana has a longer blade than your average sword and is crafted from a peculiar near-white metal. The accents are green and most are shaped like feathers of some, no doubt savage, creature. The blade has a slight gold tint to it, but the real stand out feature is the glowing green gem set into its handle. It's totally not suspicious. 
Kaze-no-Ishi: A pair of daggers of unknown origin but of similar design to Kaze-no-chi. Not technically Doman swords, but Victor likes it anyway. These ones aren't stolen thankfully. They were just a gift. A gift that wasn't really used until recently, but has proven to be quite useful. Who would've thought beastmen could be that kind? The similar emittance of wind aspected aether can't be ignored, but unlike the blade, it only happens when they are held by the right kind of person. The Victor kind of person. Although you wont hold them unless you want him to punch you. The daggers are relatively short and made of the same strange material as the blade. With the same accents and design. (He DID say it was a similar design)
Brontide: A Small revolver of Garlean make. Just pretend you never saw it. Small and black, the mechanism is iconic to the northern Garlean Empire. Far shorter in barrel length and less bulky than anything you'd find in Eorzea. It's been cared for and maintained despite being fairly archaic by Imperial standards. But to Victor you may as well call it “old reliable” Because he's never missed with it... don't question that.
A single Earring shaped like a white Tomoe: one of a pair - Sentimental, also do not touch. A homemade piece of history, Victor made this earring and its twin. Even though he's not telling you who for. You'll just have to keep your eyes open. The white of the piece is made of white pearl, the inner black gem made from Black Agate. Just like its partner. He very highly doubts the recipient of the other half understands the significance or even what the materials are. But he does. This may as well have a note on it saying "If you touch this i'll kill you."
Magitek Compass: He IS a pilot. What did you expect? It's literally just a compass. A very high tech looking compass. But a compass none the less. Used for finding things, or getting lost in a very particular way.
Rough Notebook: “Do not read” I'm sensing a pattern  here. "Intellectual Property of Victor Arcelio. Steal it and you lose your eyes." Full of things Victor would rather other people not see. That includes you. The innocent ones are in the front. The less innocent ones are in the back. Know when to stop reading if you value not losing your sight to swift vengeance
Magitek Datalog: Because one datalog is better than about ten books You use a map when you argue about directions? Victor uses a datalog. Because how can you argue with a high resolution projected display. Or maybe he just blinds people with the light so they can't see well enough to argue. It's also conveniently more travel sized than all those atlases and tourist brochures.
Thanks for the tag @finishing-touch​!! You get 2 for 1 for me taking so long I tag @ishgard​ @handofcards​ @crimsonfluidessence​ @ahlis-xiv​ @halcyonic-aether​
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tales of long ago
Title: The Liar That Couldn't Lie Fandom: Servamp Characters: Everyone?? Most of the focus is on Sakuya and Mahiru, though. Summary: Little Mermaid AU. After saving a prince on a stormy night, Sakuya devotes everything to that person’s happiness. SakuMahi. ???Mahi. Notes: The AU that no one asked for and that everyone is getting anyway. I spent a reaaaaally long time working on this. It's absurd ;; I was going for a 'long ago' kind of style of writing, so I'm kind of iffy how it turned out. But that could just me getting tired of staring at this sjlfjl It's been something I've worked on all week and I'm only now posting it up. I've been fiddling with it a lot, debating the ending, but I decided to leave it as is and just roll with it. I need to work on other things, anyway ;; As it is, the On Ice au might have to wait for an update until next Sunday. Scheduling, what are you.
Ah, also tagging @crows-with-keys~! I finished =D
The ocean is vast. So vast that sailors spend eons on its waves and still have not reached the ends of it. Within its deepest depths, where the water is colored a brilliant blue, no one has ventured further still. For those fathomless depths rise higher than even the churches of old that reside on the soil. You could pile up those churches, one after another, and still their steeples would not breach the surface.
Beneath that vastness, however, dwells the Palace of the Sea, where live seven siblings in their father's stead. This is not their story, but the story of a troubled youth who longed to see the shores above. For not every person in the sea is as content as any other; just as not every person upon the land is happy with their lot in life.
Upon the ocean floor, where you might expect sand and bleak darkness, there are cities that light the way. Unlike their counterparts from above, these cities are full of wild plant life, the likes of which you have never seen before. Plants that drift in the current and rustle as if truly alive, reaching out their leaves and stems as if they were hands.
In one such city, where roam the strangest sort of fish, there is a house unlike any other. On the outside, it looks the same as the rest. A muddied roof and scales of brightest neon, with windows that are never closed. Nevertheless, in the garden of this house grow the prettiest pink flowers, raised with such tender loving care by the oldest child that many envy her for it. Even her own parents.
As lovely as the outside, nothing but beauty on the petals of that tree, the inside of that household is something few speak of and even fewer admit to knowing anything about. Not their business, they say, and move along to things that do concern them instead. But to the children that live there, they do not have that choice. They live with the truest monsters of the deep, and that is why the youngest began to long for a life above the tide. Away from the house of two faces.
Surely, he is convinced, there live a much kinder folk there among those that walk on two stubs. He wishes he were older, to see such a sight with his own eyes, but he must wait until his fifteenth birthday. For no one younger than that may crest the waves and be seen by the odd creatures above. Permission must come from the Palace, and for that one must earn it. For they must earn their right to explore worlds not their own.
His sister has been there once and regales him with those tales from time to time. She does not speak of how she earned the right, but her brother is determined to find out. He begins asking questions, wanting to know the answer, and discovers that a sea witch may have been the one that helped her out. Something he doesn't wish to believe, but by the hardening of her smile when he asks, he can do nothing but accept it as truth. He asks instead what price she had to pay, to bring him stories from lands they could not otherwise reach.
She kisses his brow and tells him not to worry, her hands warm on his cheeks. 
Days later, she passes away. Perhaps that is the answer, perhaps it is not, but she leaves him just like that. With not a sorry or a goodbye, but with a promise that he will no longer be hurt.
Such a lie, he finds, as he nurses a swollen cheek for speaking out of turn. For mentioning the tree whose's petals have begun to fall, weeping for the loss of their caretaker. He slowly collects the flowers and waits, braiding them into his hair, hair as green as the sea on a stormy night. It's little comfort, but it reminds him of her. A reminder to keep going when days are too hard to bear and the nights seem endless.
There is one thing that he has discovered he is good at, though. Something he has learned from his sister, and that is lying. He makes up stories for the children to hear, talks circles about beings with no tails, and scares children with idle falsities, insisting they had to be careful lest they get caught in a fishing net. As if a human's net could ever reach this deep.
These lies eventually draw the curiosity of the Palace and he is brought before the princes. They ask him why he speaks of things he does not know, and he gasps and tells them, "Oh, but I do!" Despite not being of an age that has seen the lands above, he talks of what his sister has told him. Proof enough that there reside truth amidst his lies. The true lie being that he has never seen a human and knows not what they look like, but this is soon fixed as the princes invite him to stay at the Palace.
The garden within is unlike any he has ever seen before. A mixture of colors, for each prince holds a plot of space to call their own. For the youngest, with his crown of gold hair, there are white flowers that open up toward the sun. A sun which glows purple through the blues of the water. Beside the joyful white is an explosion of orange and red, creeping upwards and fighting on. Next to those are green flowers with four petals each. Followed by the flowers that he likes the most, a pink blossom that is nothing like his sister's. Yet there is the same tenderness to it, and he gazes upon it with a softer look than the others.
Onwards, there is a violet flower with its yellow nectar. Then a two-toned flower of white and red, as if it couldn't make up its mind what it wanted to be but still stands proud even then. Lastly, off to the side on its lonesome, is a flower that has clustered together in tall blue stalks. Each flower a representation of the one who planted it in some way. He would come to understand that over time.
In the middle of the garden, there is something out of place. A statue of marble stands there, a depiction of a human child with his hands laced behind his back, leaning forward with a beaming smile in place. Sweet and innocent, but washed out and eroded from its time beneath the sea.
He swims to the side of the statue, and then around it, admiring what he has always longed to see. It's not the real thing, but it is close enough for now. Until he is of an age where he can see an actual human, this is where he could be found. Amongst the splashes of color, and cherishing that which has none.
As time went on, the princes one by one began to reach that age before him. The oldest complains about how loud it was there when he returns. He says the ships up there creak and groan, and the sailors aboard them are worse. His brother after him boasts about helping a school of children splashing out in the water, where they certainly didn't belong. Later, they find out there was a lot of screeching involved and that children of land could swim if they tried. This brother went ahead and did some extensive research to ensure he wasn’t missing the facts on the matter, a wounded pride to blame.
The next one to rise to the surface is the quiet prince that didn't really want to go. He hides behind a veil of long black hair and a drape of white flowers that the youngest gives to him, attempting to disappear within their folds rather than have anyone notice him. His words are clipped when he comes back, short and to the point, insisting, "I like it better here." Something, from the looks of it, spooked him from ever venturing another trip.
Afterwards, when another year has passed, the princess sets off to explore - the only princess of the Palace. But no one is too worried. She has been known to take better care than any of the others, who sometimes seem unaware of their status. On her return, she goes on and on about the farms she saw up there, strange four-legged creatures tilling fields of sand. She explains how the plants that grow from this sand are edible, unlike their own, and that humans apparently eat more than just meat, as first assumed.
Another year, another adventure to recite. This one, the fifth oldest, is the oddest of the lot and prickly to an extent. He admits that he has seen the top-side world before and met the love of his life upon its soil. He doesn't have a name for her, but he does say that he will marry her, over and over, as dreams are wont to do. No one bursts his dream, for fear that like a bubble it will burst and he will plummet in to a canyon of despair. It is obvious, however, that he spends his time above the waves searching for her. For he is weary and heartbroken when he returns, listless and grumpy when spoken to, and speaking with even odder words than he did before.
Once more, a year passes and another child sets off to the world above them. He comes back with nothing but good things to say, waxing sonnets about the food he encountered along the way. For his older brother's vocabulary has rubbed off on him, and now they have two of them going on and on with words that make no sense.
Then it is the youngest prince's turn and he is decorated in lovely pearls from his doting older siblings. A sign of royalty and a sign of care, to ensure a safe journey above the waves. His return heralds the conclusion that, while humans are interesting and beautifully imperfect, it is best to leave them to their own devices. As a consensus, they agree that staying where they belong is much more acceptable. To see their baby brother in tears for a human's sake, that is where they begin to draw the line.
Persistent to a fault, their guest at the Palace insists, "I want to go up there!" It won't be too much longer before he can see the world above, they can't ban him from going; but the looks they turn to him all seem to say, It's for your own good. He's heard those words before. They don't warm his heart or put him at ease. On the contrary, it feels like ice water running through his veins.
"Sakuya," the oldest drawls in that lazy manner of speech that seems to define him, "you don't need to go up there."
It's as if a sinking rock has lodged inside him and keeps falling endlessly from within the pit of his stomach. He has been here for so many years, entertained for so many, even when it felt like he would get nothing in return, and all he has asked for in that time since is this one thing. The one thing they are refusing him. He pleads until they give in and grudgingly allow him his chance to see the lands atop the sea.
On the day of his fifteenth birthday, Sakuya finds the water summery and tranquil in its temperament. It is the time of year that warmth begins to return and things start to change. He takes in the sun, a fiery glow of orange from above the sea, that is setting on the horizon. He observes everything around him. From the slow, gentle roll of the waves to the boat he can see in the distance that glides like a fish. It bobs and lists to the side sometimes, but it floats upright and strangely serene.
Curious, Sakuya approaches the vessel for a closer look. Through the windows of the cabin, as the waves rise higher him every now and again, he can make out the forms of many people. Well-dressed people that go about their business as usual, at ease on their two legs where a tail should have been. He is fascinated as he watches, for he has never seen anything quite like them. Not as they live and breathe, color in their cheeks and lively with their gestures. So unlike the statue he had come to love, but there is one among them that resembles that statue and it sparks his interest even more.
A young man with the same grin, the same happy curve to his eyes as he waves a hand to illustrate a point he's trying to make to the shorter, purpler man at his side. They appear to be the same age, but the argument esclates into a crescendo of, "You bastard, shut up and take your present!" A gift is shoved into the young man's arms and he looks embarrassed as he undoes the bow atop it, thanking the other for taking the time to get him something.
It sends a pang through Sakuya's heart at the sight and he clutches at his chest in askance. For what did it matter if some human gave another human a gift? It is an obvious party that is taking place and he knows that; it should be expected for presents to be there, too. It doesn't change the fact that he is still hurt, because he wants to be able to give something to that human as well. To some day be of importance to someone that seems kind - and not only that, but someone who is kind, not just seemingly so.
The young man clasps his friend on the shoulder, gives it a shake, and tells him straightforwardly, "I'll cherish it forever." His friend goes into a fluster and brushes off the hand like it doesn't matter. The flaming reds of his face reach up to his ears, despite how he acts. To which Sakuya can understand, because there is something genuine about that person's words and that must mean the world to that person's friends.
Ah, I want to be your friend, too, he thinks, yearning for more as he stares upon the window a moment longer.
The young man leaves the cabin and joins the rest of the crew that have been dancing about the deck, and as he does, a whole group of rockets is launched into the air. The sky, by now a shadow of itself, lit back up with an array of color. A startlngly sight that has Sakuya diving under the water before he can reprimand his own silliness. He breaches the water again, seconds later, to see what looks like the stars falling around him. As if they no longer wish to remain in heaven and instead long as much as he does to touch upon the land and sea.
He's heard talk of these before, something they call fireworks upon the land, but this is his first time seeing it like everything else. Tiny suns that he can reach out and touch. They burn his hand when they meet his skin, a fleeting pain that he can barely feel; but the dots of red that pepper his skin are a testament to the reality of it. A reality he couldn't believe as truth until that moment.
When he looks back up, he can make out the ship in its entirety. From the tallest person to the lonesome bit of rope discarded in a corner. And the young man that bewitches, unlike any other, is more handsome for the way he shakes every hand and thanks every person, his voice clear and distinct over the music that still resounds over the deck.
It grows late with every minute longer he stays; yet Sakuya cannot bring his eyes to leave the sight of the party that continues on. The lanterns aboard the ship have been extinguished, no more rockets rise into the air, and the cannon has ceased its firing; but the winds began to stir and the sea becomes a restless omen of things to come, grumbling and moaning as the waves stretch and crash down.
The sails have a breath of air fill them out and the ship moves onward, moving away from him as the waves rise higher still. The ship dips between them, noble as a swan, and comes back out the other side unharmed. The clouds overhead darken in promise and water from the sky falls over and over again, while lightning flashes across the darkness.
To Sakuya, something fun is going on. Not so for those aboard the ship who yell and shout profanities, encouraging one another in their pursuit to batten down the hatches. The ship beneath them shakes and groans, the planks giving way under the pressure of the sea, stripped away from their sides before they can be stopped. The mainmast snaps in two and plunges into the water, torn asunder like the rest of their damaged ship. Back and forth they weave until finally the ship lists too much to the right and on its side it must lay, becoming one with the sea.
Now that he understands the danger this poses, remembering that not all humans can swim, he hurries to the side of the ship. A flash in the sky pierces through the black night and he takes in the pale faces of most of the sailors. Most, because a notable one is missing. The beautiful youth with the blinding smile, no where to be seen within the raging waters or clinging to debris for dear life.
The planks part in the drifting waves and he sees him then, sinking further and further down, one of his hands outstretched upwards in a silent plea. At first, Sakuya admits to being a little happy about this outcome. For the further this person sinks, the closer they will be to one another; but he belatedly realizes that by the time the young man reaches the Palace of the Sea, he will be nothing but a corpse. This person, more than anyone else, must not die.
He swims between the beams and planks, pushing aside rubbish as he hastens to the young man's side. He is heedless of the danger to his arms and exposed chest, not caring about the nicks and scratches that accumulated the further he goes. Once he reaches where he saw the youth disappear, he dives deeply into the pitch black water. The rage of the sea works against him, battling him as he extends out his arm and finally, at last, clasps the young man's hand in his own and pulls. He wraps his arms around him when the current buoys him up to his side, brown hair fluttering ethereal around a scrunched up face, eyes tightly shut to block out the stinging salt of the sea.
They rise to the surface together, the youth weak from fighting alone for so long. For surely he would have died had not Sakuya come to his aid. He holds his head above the water, keeping them both aloft as the storm plays out around them. The waves drift them where they will, and in the morning, the storm has ceased. Of the ship, however, not a single fragment can be seen.
The sun shines bright and bathes the sea in cozy shades of pink and red, lulling the youth he holds in his arms back to a more welcoming color of health. For the paleness struck a cord in him, an imprint of a statue frozen and weathered and never to breathe beneath the sea. He kisses the forehead of the young man, his fingers sweeping back the damp hair, and wishes for this person to live as he kisses the salt out of his eyes.
Soon, before he knows it, the sight of land is blessing them with a shoreline to rest upon. Mountains of cloudy blue are far from where they lay, but they can still be seen if he looks hard enough, if he drags his gaze from the human for a moment to see them. Not too far away are the blooms of a familiar tree, the scent alone what makes him look up with a gasp, small pink petals fluttering in the wind. Nearby the grove of trees is a tall building, painted windows accented by the glow of the sun. It looks like a cathedral, the likes of which he has seen underwater before as well. It gives him hope that someone there can help tend to the human he wants to live more than any other.
Beside this human, his human, he rests for a moment more, soaking up the warmth of the sand and the water that lopes at his tail. He wants to stay here, but he knows that cannot become his reality, his truth, and he takes to the sea where he belongs. Instead, he hides behind a rock and ensures that someone will help where he cannot.
It does not take long for that someone to arrive, a young man in tidy black robes that match his hair the shade of a raven's wings. The shockingly white strand of it even matches the collar that he tugs up against the wind that has been stirring the trees. A man of faith, from his clothes to the angel wing pendant over his left breast.
The man spots the human that Sakuya is forced to leave upon the sand, but he does not express anything on his face aside from mild disdain as he bends down on one knee to check the pulse of the other human. Something soft enters the man's eyes as he encourages the other man to sit up, saying something that Sakuya does not hear from this far away. Words that rouse the young man back to life. His eyes read puzzlement for many things, but he looks up at the person in front of him with such relief that is painful to watch and not say anything at all.
Regretfully, he dives back into the water and returns to the Palace where the siblings that live there await his stories. He does not forget his time above, but he also sees what the others meant when they said they preferred it down here. Beneath the sea, there is little to worry about and little to bring harm to their hearts. Still, he knows this is not the truth and he longs even more for the world above him. Now more than ever, because he was able to touch a single life in a single day and that meant everything to him.
At length, he could bear it no longer and spun a tale that wasn't quite a lie and wasn't quite the truth either. The Palace siblings listen as they often do, but it is just the one that helps, the youngest, his compassion showing through as he asks after anyone that might know where to find the human he left behind. For he has revisited, many times, the place where he laid the human to rest in the sun, and each time he comes back empty-handed and hopes crushed. Not unlike a certain prince that had made the mistake of falling in love with a human.
In a surprising turn of events, this human is a well-known one amidst the sea and many have seen and heard of his exploits. A young prince, they say, that sails days at a time to spread peace for his kingdom with talks of good faith. The important part is that he now has a place to find the human, and a name to accompany that human in his mind: Mahiru.
He wastes no time and heads to the spot where the prince's castle is said to overlook the waters below. It's walls are made of golden bricks that sparkle in the sunlight, with marble steps that build up the long flights of stairs, one stairwell even leading all the way to the sea. The roof, as splendid as the walls, glitters in its accumulated glory; and the yard, too, is decorated in more statutes than Sakuya can count from where he swims.
Through the crystal clear windows of the land dwellers, he can see the rooms meant for guests, done by in fine silk curtains and tapestries that spoke of ages long ago; while the walls dress in paintings that are just as breathtaking as everything else. 
In the most open, spacious room there is a fountain that bubbles and rustles, jetting its water up toward the glass ceiling before it cascades down like a waterfall. And around the base of the fountain grow such pretty plants that Sakuya wishes he knew their names, thriving as they were in the presence of both water and sunlight.
Now that he knows where to find his missing human, he spends many days and night simply watching from afar. Slowly, he would work up the courage to swim closer and closer with each visit. There arrives such a day that he swims to the narrow channel under the balcony of the prince's room; and there he would sit for hours and gaze upon the prince who thinks he is alone at the time. He watches in delight how the moonlight bathes him in an otherworldly glow, both an unreachable figure and something temptingly close.
Many evening in-between he spends trailing behind him as Mahiru rows out in a little boat upon a calm sea, pleasant music drifting over the sound of the oars striking the water. He peeps from among the green rushes, wary of being caught, but there is only one time that the prince even looks his way, confusion painted on his face, and that is when Sakuya sighs and lies aloud. The prince shrugs it off quickly, mistaking it for frogs making a racket from where they are hidden in rushes, and that is that. But he almost wishes the prince had heard his lie of, "There is nothing that could stop me from being by your side."
As time goes on, he grows more and more fond of humans and the good that they can accomplish. For every bad, there is an even greater good. He becomes more and more convinced that his place was among them and that he should be one of those that walk with two legs. His want to be like them consumes his thoughts and drives him to seek a way to do so.
With questions upon questions in mind, he goes to the oldest prince of the sea for answers, wondering, "If a human is not drowned, can they live forever? Do they not die upon their land, as we do not upon the sea?"
The prince raises his head from where it rests upon a tower of pillows, dimissing, "Yes, they do die. Just as we must. Their life is even shorter than our own. We can live for nearly three hundreed years, while they can last no more than 100, if that. When we cease to exist, do you know what we become?"
Shaking his head, Sakuya leans forward to hear more of this matter that he was never taught, insisting, "Do we not become reborn as something else?"
"No," letting his head fall back into his pillows, the prince explains, "we become nothing more than sea foam and drift on the waves. Unlike humans, we do not have graves. We have no markers to mourn or a place for our grief. For we cannot cry. You see, we do not have immortal souls. We will never live again." 
Without warning, the prince reaches out and toys with the green hair that Sakuya has always loved, always preening over  it with the utmost care. For his sister had loved his hair. Continuing on, the prince compares, "To be cut and forsaken, struck down in death, our souls will not come back. Not like hair, but more as a plant that has been snipped at its roots.
"Humans, though, they're something else." Wistfully, he adds on, "They have souls that live forever. A soul that lives even outside of the body. For when they turn to ash, their souls ascend; and as we rise from the water to see what the world above ours is like, so do they go in search of the realm that exists above their own."
"Why do we not possess such an immortal soul?" asks Sakuya. "Why are we different? I would gladly," he tells him with a hitch to his voice, "give up all the years I have left to spend a single day as human. To know the joys of reaching for the stars above like them!"
"To think like that," the prince mutters, "I can't deal with you. You'd be much happier here. Forget about those humans and live out your years of peace here."
Scoffing, Sakuya bemoans, "So that's it then? I shall die and become nothing but foam in the sea. Like everyone else, no difference, nothing. The same as those who I refuse to call parents? I will not, I cannot! Tell me, isn't there a way to gain an immortal soul?"
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling and heaving a put-upon sigh, the sea prince tells him, "No, not unless a human were to love you more than they love themselves. Someone who would love you more than their own mother and father. All their thoughts, all their love, it must be directed toward you and no one else. To find someone so self-sacrificing in their love, do you really believe there is a human that could do that?"
There is one, he thinks, that could do that. Someone he is willing to believe could be his everything, and with time, he might be lucky enough for those feelings to be reciprocated.
Not done yet, the prince assures him, "If you were to find someone that could love you that completely, then half their soul would then be yours. But what hope do you have of that? Have you forgotten the tail that follows you?"
It is impossible to forget such a thing, but Sakuya smiles and tells him, "Maybe I did, or maybe I did not. What matters is that I now have my answer."
"You're a pain," concludes the prince, "let us have a ball instead. Maybe that will take your mind of these weird things you think."
Court held at the Palace is something that Sakuya has grown tired of throughout the years, but he accepts as to be expected of him. He is their jester, after all, and his lies are the most cherished thing about him. He uses a facade of smiles to enthrall his audience and entice them to join in the merriment of the stories he exaggerates for their ears. He speaks of things he does not know, of things he does, and of things he wants to know with every piece of his existence.
Fish dart about the place, twisting and twining through his hair and around him like belts and loops of jewelry, making him and others laugh. It's all for show, all of it, but he laughs with a hint of actual truth behind it because he has found a solution that no one else has to know about. A solution his sister, really, had provided him all along.
He goes to see the sea witch when court has been dismissed. The one who has been kicked out of the Palace. Someone who will have the real answers, the only answers he'll accept. The place he is headed is not without its difficulties, though. For it is a place of whirlpools and entangling plants that reach out like claws that are itching to sink into the closest thing that wriggles; plants which find themselves painted red over and over, soaking it in until it stains them permanently.
When he reaches the gates of the witch's hut after a careful bout of swimming, he takes a nervous gulp and taps lightly at the entrance, which sets off a bubbly stream of laughter that dwindles into a sigh as the person tells him, "Come in."
The hut resembles much of the outside graveyard. Parts of shipwrecks litter the place, bones of sailors are propped up like decorative accessories for the room, and there is a smoking cauldron in the middle of it all. The eye of this disastrous whirlpool, where floats a man with black glasses to cover up what would be seen behind them. And around the witch swim eels of varying colors, some looping about his arms and chest, caressingly happy with their master as he cooes at them.
The witch speaks in a deprecating monotone when he does finally speak, "I know what it is you want." Laughing for a moment, he has to take a deep breathe before he persists, "It is very stupid of you. I suppose siblings are so similar, are they not?"
Sakuya reigns in a snarl, because he does not want to ruin the chances of his wish becoming a truth, not when he is so close to it. "Get on with it," he says instead, tone frosty and a little bit challenging.
"Oh dear," sing-songs the witch. "Is that any way to ask for something you want?" Tossing his hands out and shooing the eels aside, the witch goes on with, "But you shall have your way, child, and you will work hard for your prince. Of course, it will bring you sorrow. For you wish to be rid of your fish tail, is that right?" At Sakuya's hesitant nod, the witch grins and moves to begin collecting things from the cabinets and from about the room, tossing them into the cauldron. "You wish to have two stubs, like those humans you so admire. You want for your love to be returned, just as you want for an immortal soul. How very greedy!"
And then the witch laughs, in the most obnoxious way that even the eels hide from the disturbance, only peeking out when it trails off into an inevitable sigh. "What a pity, what a pity. The draughts I make come at a great cost. I will prepare one for you, but you must reach land by sunrise tomorrow. That is not all, I am afraid. For you see, when your tail recedes, you will be in agony for life. It will be as if a great sword as struck your tail in two and that will not go away, no matter how much you wish it so. But do not fear, for those that see you will become enchanted by you. Your graceful steps will seem to them as if you have descended from the clouds, even as your feet bleed for every footprint you must leave behind."
With a malicious smile, the witch asks him, "If you will bear all of this, I will gladly help you."
"Yes, I will," Sakuya is not swayed in what he wants, for he has already known his fair share of pain. It is a pittance when he thinks of what he will gain: the love of someone otherwise out of his reach and the promise of an immortal soul.
"But consider," the witch says, a flippant sarcasm about him, "once you are human, you can no longer be what you are - is that truly what you desire?" He doesn't wait for Sakuya's answer, babbling on with, "Oh me, oh my, you'll never see my traitorous siblings again! Never again will you show your face upon these depths. And let me remind you, the day your prince gives his heart to another, that is also the day your heart will break in two. If that were to happen, what do you think becomes of you?"
Turning his head to the side, Sakuya whispers a pointed, "It won't happen."
"Why, you become foam on the waves, just like those people you hate so such!"
It takes all his patience not to throw the nearest object at the witch. "I will do it," repeats Sakuya. "Let's get to it already."
"Ah, but I must also be paid," muses the witch, "I did mention that, did I not? It is not a trifle that I ask for either, it must be something you dearly could not live without. I ask you, what does a liar value most? Do you know, child? For you, who seeks to beguile and charm your prince with words riddled with them, I will be taking that as payment. My own blood must be given for this to work, to be as sharp as a two-edged sword. That does not come cheap."
"But if you take that from me," Sakuya's voice finally trembles, "what is left of me?"
"That's for you to figure out," teases the witch, reaching for a dagger. "Now say 'ahhhh.' Unless you have lost your courage perhaps?"
Dutifully, Sakuya opens his mouth and gives the price that is asked him. With a liar's tongue and a drop of black blood from the sea witch, the draught is near done, boiling into a clear white as the fire crackling beneath scolds it into behaving. The weeping sounds that permeate the air cease and the witch takes the caludron off the fire, bottling up what remains within it. "There you have it," says the witch, "best be off. You only have until sunrise, after all, or the potion becomes lame."
Without returning to say goodbye to anyone else, he rises straight to the surface where the moon glitters overhead, full and bright to guide the way. He swims to the marble steps of the castle that his prince lives in and sits upon them as he drinks the draught he has been given. It is the most excruciating thing, to have one's whole existence cleaved in two, and he collapses from the shock of it rather than being unprepared.
When rises the sun and it touches his skin, he awakens and opens his eyes, becoming aware of the dull pain that lingers in his tail struck in two. This pain is eased as he stares upwards and right into the eyes of a baffled prince he has been longing to meet for months. He parts his lips, preparing an introduction that would make anyone swoon, but no sound leaves him and he belatedly remembers what he gave up, his hand going to his throat in despair.
"Excuse me, are you all right?" The prince crouches beside him, offering up a blanket he brought with him, admitting, "I saw you from my balcony. You must be cold. Do you not have clothes?"
He colors at the realization that without his tail he feels quite naked. Still, it is wrong of him not to answer, so he shakes his head, looking up pleading at the prince for some assistance. To which he earns a laugh and a pat on the head, the prince helping him stand and bringing him into the castle's walls with little else asked. Each step to get there, though, is bloody. It is as if he is truly walking over a pit of knives; but the contact of the prince's hands on him and the thrill of it being there at all is a soothing balm that washes away what he otherwise finds unbearable.
Before he knows it, he is adorned in silks of white and pink. Smooth and familiar, like a tail that is now long gone. And there are servants arranging a crown of flowers upon his head where before he had no need of them if they were not his sister's. He lets them, for his prince is smiling so much at the sight that he can't take that slight happiness, no matter how insignificant, from him.
The servants also provide food, where he sits and dines with the prince in such a way that he has only ever entertained in his wildest daydreams. This is when the curious prince renews his questions, though, asking where he came from, if he's really all right, and if he can speak. It's too much, too fast, and Sakuya stays silent because he has no other choice. Ah, he thinks restlessly, if only he could know what I have given up for him.
"No matter," Mahiru assures him, "please take this time to rest and stay as long as you need. This places is larger and more lonely than you can imagine."
Given a room close by, he is never far from the prince. Even a page's outfit is made for him, so that they may ride out on horses together. Time passes them, bit by bit, as they grow to know and care for each other. Because despite the voice that would not leave him, Mahiru's patience and dedication to being his friend persists; and Sakuya holds onto the hope that his love may one day be returned.
Their travels together become something of envy for the other servants, the ones that did not approve of them. A noble and a peasant, they would sneer, what a dastardly sight. It is a good thing that Mahiru is a kind person or those people would have been in for a nasty surprise. It is Mahiru, after all, that holds him back when he wishes for nothing more than to lash out and hurt others the way he continues to hurt.
Some nights, when he is unable to sleep from the pain, he sits at the bottom of the marble steps that lead to the sea and imagines he can see the Palace from there. He pretends that he is missed, and that if he looks hard enough he will see the siblings rise from the water, because they are worried and have come to check up on him. He doesn't see them, though, not really. It is strange that he can't even lie in his own thoughts these days.
As the months begin to pass, Sakuya finds he has fallen harder than before for the prince he saved that day. It is with a certain fondness that he follows his prince and helps him whenever needed. However, the way he is cared for in return reminds him too much of how one treats a child and he is at a lost for how to correct this mistaken impression that he needs to be coddled. A partner is what he wants to be, someone Mahiru can depend on always.
Do you not love me as I love you? is what he begs with his eyes, regardless of the futility of it.
"You are dear to me," says the prince, "for your heart is good and you are the most devoted to me and these lands. You remind me of someone I met a long time ago now, a man who saved my life. My ship was sinking and yet I somehow managed to wash up ashore. Alive. There was a church nearby and one of the newest clerics saw me on the bank and rushed to save my life. I saw him but a few times during my stay, and he is perhaps the only one in this world I could love. But," and here Sakuya grows more disheartened, because what more could there be to make his pain worse, "but you are like him, and you have almost driven him from my mind. He has his place, his heart taken by his faith, and yet good fortune has allowed us to meet. May we never part, may we always be together."
It is better than nothing at all and Sakuya reaches for his prince's hand that is willingly given, squeezing it tight in his hold. Mahiru doesn't know, he is reminded, that it was him that saved his life that night. That can be put aside, regardless, for he has his prince and there is no one who will take him from him.
Before long, the prince's uncle decrees that his nephew must marry. A neighboring kingdom that has been at odds with them for years says they are willing to cease the fight, but a marriage must take pace. The usual power struggles coming into play, and it makes Sakuya's blood boil in anger. To dare to use Mahiru in that way is enough to set him out on a warpath, but again it is Mahiru that takes him aside and assures him that everything is going to be all right. He is only to meet the person he is to marry, first and foremost, and the voyage will part them for nothing but a short while.
This is something that Sakuya will not allow to go unchecked and refuses to let Mahiru go alone. In thankfulness for that devotion, Mahiru presses their foreheads together and tells him, "If I had to choose between this stranger and you, I would always and forever choose you. You, who have stood at my side. You, who cherish me more than I can imagine. You would come with me? You are not afraid of the sea?"
He would have laughed if he could, but Sakuya shakes his head instead and beams the most brilliant grin he can. He has no more fear of the sea than he is that he will lose Mahiru. Not after those words.
The journey to the other kingdom takes days, and he basks in the sunlight that he shares alongside Mahiru aboard the swaying ship. The feel of the waves beneath him once more a tiny whisper of welcome home. It has been too long since he has been out to sea this far, a blessing that he can finally share with Mahiru.
The morning of their arrival is met with trumpets and fanfare, a beautiful town urging them to take in all that they have to offer. Church bells ring in the distance. And along the high wall of the castle, there stand soldiers in full salute. Flags and bayonets of every color on display, it is as if they had stepped off the ship and into a carnival; everything a festival and people encouraging them to have fun.
Yet the person that is to wed Mahiru, there is no sight of them. The townspeople say that their royalty are a devout, loving couple, but the king also has the tendency to rule with a iron fist. Including, apparently, sending his eldest off to work at an early age. "Best get experience early, he says to the boy," one merchant tells them with a laugh. "That boy of his is a riot. Your prince will enjoy his company, if nothing else!"
It is with cold dread that he watches the events unfold. The man that would marry his prince is a very immaculate person. Not a scuff mark or any speck of dirt on his attire of royal blues and purples. A glistening silver upon his head that compliments the streak of white in his hair and highlights the darkness of the rest. It is like watching the moon step up to meet the sun as he takes Mahiru's hand in his and presses a kiss to his knuckles.
With a slowly breaking heart, he comes to realize that the next words from Mahiru will be nothing short of: "It's you! The one who saved my life! I have known no happiness greater than this. A chance to finally thank you in person."
Later, to Sakuya, he goes on to insist, "This is wonderful! Are you not happy for me, to know that I shall be wed to the one person I have loved more than any other? Your devotion is great and sincere, surely you must rejoice for the happiness I have found."
Kissing Mahiru upon the cheek, he smiles and nods his head. And if he could have cried there would have been rivers running down his face to match the one dividing his heart. After that wedding, on the morning after, he is faced with the fact that he will die. Another piece of foam to add to the rest out on the ocean waves, a piece that no one will ever remember.
He hear not the festive music that continues to play, or the ringing of the church bells that grows steadily louder with every step they take to the altar. He does not smell the burning of the oils or the fragrance of flowers as they fill the room. Even the words that the priest speaks to bind the two together fall on deaf ears, as hollow and empty as Sakuya feels.
The reception takes place on a ship, as close to the sea as Mahiru can get as he shows off his new love for all to see. Congratulations are passed around like hand shakes and it is like watching something come full circle as he envisions the end. As this is the last night, though, he puts on a show that will entertain Mahiru more than anyone else's. The last night he will breathe the same air as him, the last time he will see that face light up with delight at something he has done, the last time he will ever get to look into Mahiru's eyes and plead for him to understand what he wants to convey: I love you.
Eventually the newlyweds retire to their cabin, arm in arm, playing with each other's hair and talking lowly for only the other to hear. In turn, Sakuya takes a seat atop the side of the ship and gazes out at the sea that had always been his home. He is surprised to see familiar gazes looking back, a sorrowful collection of seven that have all cut their hair for a reason that eludes him. A reason that soon makes sense as the oldest among them says, "We struck a deal with the witch, for you." And he holds out a dagger, for which he instructs, "Pierce the prince's heart with this and you can return. Live out your three hundred years where you belong."
With the dagger in his hands, he approaches the cabin's door and it gives way with a twist of the knob. The two inside lay under the sheets, Mahiru with his head against the bare breast of his love, with his own chest exposed to the air. He draws back the blade and then slowly lowers it back to his side, letting it slip through his fingers as he realizes he cannot take the life of the person he cares most about. Instead, he bends down and presses a kiss to Mahiru's forehead in imitation of how they met, tucking stray strands of hair behind his ear as he mouths, "I wish I never had to leave you," with a voice that will never be heard.
He returns to the edge of the ship and dives in, becoming foam amongst sea where he will drift forevermore beneath the sunlight that has already risen.
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