DISCLAIMER : I do not own Naruto.

WARNING : THIS IS BOY x BOY LOVE. T rated.

This is a Little Mermaid AU/Crossover with Human!Naruto and Merman!Sasuke. I wasn't going to upload this until I get the next part done, but with what's been going on lately, I guess I'll post this as a distraction for you guys. I had this chapter ready for a a while now.

My message for the Americans who were not feeling okay: DON'T GIVE UP. It is not the end. All of us, from all over the world, give you love and support for you to carry on! 3 I am Indonesian myself, I live way far away from you guys, but here's just a little gift from me, eh?

*hugs for all of you who needs it*

Enjoy!


The Great Barrier Between Us

Part 1


It was a cold morning under the sea.

The sun hadn't reach all the way to the chamber of the mermans and mermaids of the sea. It was shivering, but the dark haired merman woke up slowly, feeling a poke on his back.

"Go away," he groaned in a husky voice.

"Sasukeeh.. Wake up.."

"Mm.. No.. Yeah.. Feet.." He mumbled as he wasn't all awake yet.

The flounder, well his name was Flounder anyway, whimpered through his fish lips.

"Seriously, Sasuke. You're dreaming about feet? You have to let go of this human thing."

The pale merman just rolled over his bed.

"Hmph.."

Flounder swam over to the other of the bed to wake up the snoring prince. The fish flipped its fin to his face.

"Oi. Cut it." The merman opened his eyes and glared at his fish friend in protest.

"Father wants you up early."

"Why?" Sasuke finally got out of his bed, well technically he was hovering over it. He swam to his mirror to check his appearance. He only brushed his dark hair back, and parted the bangs side to side. His complexion was pale, as the merman rarely get touched by the sunlight.

Sasuke was his name. He was the second son of the King, Fugaku. That, made him a prince. Well, he wasn't that important anyway, even if he had that title. The throne would be given to his brother, Itachi.

Merpeople were hiding from the rest of the world for centuries. Actually, they were scattered all across the ocean, and there were several rulers in different part of the sea. In this very part of the ocean, his father was the King. They used to play together with the humans, until one day. Those humans started to curse them, killed them, and banished them to the corners of the ocean.

They called them the creatures of darkness. It hurt them, of course. Running away from their wrath, they built their castles deeper than it used to be.

His father strictly prohibited every merpeople from approaching the surface. It had been the rule from the elders for centuries now. And Sasuke didn't like it.

If only, he wished he was a human.

Sasuke would visit the suface every now and then, and swam very close to the humans. He would even pick up stuff that was dropped by them. This had been his secret, he only shared it with his friend, Flounder.

It happened one day, ten years ago.


Flashback..

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The eight years old merman was swimming quickly, moving his dark purple scaly tail in process. He giggled as he swam away from his thirteen years old brother. Sasuke was dashing through the corals.

"Sasuke! Slow down!"

"Catch me if you can, nii-san!"

But his genius brother caught him and grabbed him by his arms. Itachi curled his own blood red scaly tail into Sasuke's to kept him from running away.

"Gottcha." His long-haired brother smiled to Sasuke.

"Again! Nii-san, again!" Sasuke was feeling really excited.

"Sorry, Sasuke.. I can't. Father wants me to go now." Itachi closed his eyes for a brief second and held Sasuke's shoulders, showing his apology.

Sasuke pouted. "Now?"

Itachi poked Sasuke's forehead with his two fingers. "Sorry, Sasuke. Next time, okay?"

While wiping his forehead, young Sasuke just grumbled to his older brother. "Okay.."

Shisui, his cousin, showed up along with his uncle, Obito. Obito tackled him and ruffled his hair.

"Sasuu! Wanna play!?" Obito grinned as he wiggled his blue tail playfully. "Y'know, since your brother needs to train with Shisui?"

Sasuke was still pouting, but inside he was quite happy. Yay! He smiled at Obito. "Yeah!" His voice was cute and light.

"Sorry that I have to borrow your brother, Sasuke." winked Shisui. His older cousin was two years older than Itachi, his tail colour was lime green.

"Bye, Sasuke!" Itachi and Shisui swam away from the corals.

"Okay! Sasu, what do you wanna play?" asked his childish uncle.

Before Sasuke could answer him, other merpeople were approaching them. They were at Sasuke's age. Actually, Sasuke didn't really like them, but he was kinda forced to interact with kids his age. He prefered to play with Itachi instead.

He was about to run away, when he noticed his friend among the merpeople.

"Yo! Sasuke!"

It was Suigetsu. He was actually part shark. Odd, but Sasuke liked his straightforwardness. That's why he decided to befriend him. Suigetsu flashed his fangs. "Let's play hide and seek!"

"Okay!" Sasuke smiled to Suigetsu. "Can my uncle join too?"

"Sure!" The kids loved Obito. "Uncle Obiiii!" They rushed to hug the black-haired merman.

"Whoa whoa! One at a time, kids!" Obito laughed as the children attacked him.

"Okay. Let's play hide and seek. I'll count, and you kids hide! How bout that?" asked Obito while he put his index finger in front of his face.

"Yeaaah!" The kids, including Sasuke, cheered.

Obito swam into a nearby coral. He covered his eyes with his arms.

"I'll count to..20? Okay! One.. Two.."

The kids scattered around the area and went into hiding. A young mermaid tried to cover her body with sand in order to camuflage. Sasuke was thinking. Where should he hide?

He looked at the surface that was probably 50 meters above him.

There.

He swam up towards the shallower waters to hide from his uncle. The corals here were much more colorful, in contrast to the depths of where he usually stayed. He found a huge purple coral, and decided to hide behind it. He snickered in glee. Uncle Obito would never find him.

A sudden noise chilled Sasuke's spine. It sounded like..a boy's voice? He stared at the surface, that seemed to be where the source of voice were.

Wait a second.

How can merpeople stayed above the water? Curiosity filled him.

He had to check it out.

He carefuly swam towards the sunlight, above the water. Sasuke was nervous. He peaked above the water to glance around. Ah. He was able to breath normally. The outside world was warm. A breeze of wind hit Sasuke's face. It was cool and calming. Wow, the ocean sure was cold. He popped his whole head up to take a good look.

Where he lived, the sea, was just underneath him. His bottom body part, his tail to be precise, was hidden underneath the surface. His upper torso was out in the water. It was his first time out of the cold waters. He swam to a nearby rock, that was surprisingly warm, and hid behind it. Sasuke was observing the creature that made such loud noises.

There were.. Creatures over there, where the water didn't reach them. They looked similar like himself, only their bottom part was different. It was something he never saw before. Instead of tail and fins, it was a pair of flesh stick. Sasuke was in awe. Who were they?

"Ahahaha! That's ugly, Konohamaru! I can build a better sand castle than that!"

It was the same loud, happy voice he heard from underwater. The boy seemed like he was at the same age as Sasuke himself. His complexion was darker than his own, well, Sasuke rarely met the sunlight anyway. The boy's hair was spiky blonde. He was laughing with a smaller brunette boy.

Sasuke was stuck in a daze. The boy was gorgeous. He was wearing something orange in colour, Sasuke didn't know what it was, an outer wear of some sort? Young Sasuke dared himself to push his body up to the rock. His tail was still underwater. He pressed his face to the rock as he watched the blonde boy.

He wanted to play with him, but Sasuke was shy. What if he freaked out? Right now, Sasuke was the weird one. He was the only one with tail!

"Naruto-niisan! Teach me!" the smaller brunette begged the blonde.

Sasuke yanked his head up. His name was Naruto.

Cute.

The raven smiled as he observed the boy from a distance. Should he go there to talk to him?

Ack!

Sasuke was dragged into the water by his tail. That hurt. He was shocked, but he looked even more stunned when he saw an angry Uncle Obito.

"Sasuke!" he growled. "How dare you?!"

Sasuke looked scared. "W-what!?"

Obito burried his eyebrows and dragged him by the arms. "You are so in trouble. I'm bringing you to your father!"

"But, Uncle Obit-" Sasuke was protesting, but he got cut once more by Obito.

"Did you know how dangerous your action was!?"

Sasuke shook his head in fear. Uncle Obito looked scary.

"Tch. As I thought. You're reckless, Sasuke." He grabbed Sasuke's arm again and they swam together to the palace.

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Once they reached his father's throne, Obito explained the situation in a short sentence, whispering to his father.

"WHAT!?"

That voice made Sasuke's body froze entirely. Father was scary when he was angry. Fugaku slammed his trident to the floor of the cavern. The palace shook in a small tremor.

"Sasuke. How. Dare. You." He spoke in a dangerous staccato.

"Father, I-I didn't know! I.." Sasuke was trying to defend himself, but he knew it was no use.

"I taught you to stay away from the shore! I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO UP TO THE SURFACE!" His father was in total anger, slamming his trident over and over again.

It seemed that the whole area was stroked by an earthquake. Sasuke was trying very, very hard to hold his tears. Fugaku instructed him since young not to cry easily. But right now, his father was terrifying. His mother, the Queen, appeared from the entrance of the cavern and swam quickly to her husband. Her royal purple tail was waving in the back of her body.

"Dear, what was-"

Fugaku raised his hand to silence his wife.

"Sasuke went up to the surface." The King managed to spat the sentence out.

"Oh my!" Mikoto, his mother, seemed absolutely stunned. He swam to his son to check his condition. "Are you okay, Sasuke!?"

"Yes, mother." Sasuke managed to respond to his mother in a weak manner. As the Queen hugged him tight, Sasuke felt way better. He wasn't as scared as he was a moment ago.

The palace fell into silence as the King was trying to compose his anger. Obito was beside the King, not making any more movements. A moment later, he spoke up.

"Sasuke, what did you see?"

His mother was holding his hand, and she squeezed it to reassure Sasuke.

"I.. I saw.. Other.. Creatures.." Sasuke tried his very best to explain what he saw. "They look like us.. But.."

"Humans." King Fugaku's tone turned deep and grave.

Sasuke decided to keep on talking. "I want to play with them bu-"

"Play? With them?" His voice dropped very low. "Sasuke. Go to your room. You're grounded for two months."

"Father!" Sasuke protested.

"You," His father pointed his index finger to Sasuke. "Are a disgrace to this family. You're not like Itachi! It was a very simple order, yet you failed to obey it. Do not go up again forever!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth and tightened his fists. Rage was boiling inside him.

"I hate you!" Sasuke spat with venom to his father, and swam away to the halls of the white cavern. He needed to be alone. Sasuke swam to his room, he heard something swiming behind him. Whatever.

A pair of hands stopped Sasuke, right in front of his room. It was his mother's. As Sasuke glanced back, he saw his mother and Uncle Obito. He decided to ignore Obito.

"What?" Sasuke spat again.

"My dear.. Look.. Father was worried about you." Mikoto tried to talk to her dense child with her soft voice. "Sasuke, humans are cruel to us. They have been.. murdering our kind for centuries. That's why father forbid any member of our kingdom to approach the shallows and the surface."

Sasuke was actually stunned, but he tried his best to hide it. He was angry.

Obito spoke up. "Sasu.. I'm sorry.. But I did what needs to be done. Even if some random mermaid went up to the surface, I would surrender them to the King as well." His uncle gulped as he noticed Sasuke wouldn't look at him. "It is your father's rules."

Sasuke remained silent. His mother tried to hug him again, but Sasuke snapped her hands away and swam inside his cavern.

Again, compared with Itachi. Furthermore, he was called a 'disgrace to the family'. He hated his family. He hated himself.

He hated everything.


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For the last ten years, Sasuke would find every opportunity to sneak up to the surface. Sometimes the shore was empty, but sometimes there were some humans there. Naruto, the blonde human, would come outside at around noon, when the sun was directly above Sasuke's head. That definitely made Naruto's skin tanner than his own. As years goes by, he began to notice differences from the boy. He grew taller, his feet, that was what humans called it, was not as thin as it used to be, muscles filled it now.

Naruto, the human, was handsome.

One day, when Sasuke was 12, the boy was splashing on the beach with his younger brunette friend, Konohamaru. Sasuke would stay behind the usual rock to observe the boy.

Suddenly, the boy stepped into a rock that was near the beach. It was still pretty far away from Sasuke, though.

"Konohamaru! Let's sing the song we learn from the pervy old man!"

"Yeah! Yeah!" the younger boy was hopping in joy.

He raised his right leg up to the higher part of the stone and puffed his chest. Konohamaru, the younger human boy, copied his action.

"My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair,

And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year,

Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be

Who love a jolly sailor bold that ploughs the raging sea,

While up aloft, in storm or gale, from me his absence mourn,

And firmly pray, arrive the day, he home will safe return

My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold,

There is nothing can console me but my jolly sailor bold."

Merpeople loved songs. Sasuke was more and more attracted to the human boy. Even if his voice wasn't exactly the best, it sounded wonderful to the merman's ears. He was gorgeous. Naruto, was his goal now. Sasuke wanted to be with him.

Naruto and Konohamaru laughed after singing the song, but suddenly Naruto slipped on the wet rock and fell on his bum.

"OW!"

As he landed harshly on the wet rock, the blonde boy observed something. Sasuke was confused. What was he looking at?

"Hey! Who's there!?"

Crap. Naruto saw him.

Sasuke plunged his entire body, except for his upper head, to hide from the boy's view.

"What is it, Naruto-niisan?"

"I saw someone there! I'm sure!"

Sasuke didn't want to see them, but he could hear their voices from a far. It seemed that the boys were going here to observe what the older boy saw.

A sudden adult voice startled Sasuke. The man was scolding the two boys.

"What do you thing you're doing!?"

"Owww! Iruka-sensei! My ears hurt!" Apparently, Iruka, pulled their ears.

"Don't go there! This beach here is very steep! Down there, the water gets deep!"

"Really? But Iruka-sensei, I saw someone there!"

"You're imagining things. Naruto, you are a prince. Please act like one!"

Sasuke froze in the water. Prince?

"But I can do what I want!"

"No, Naruto. That means, one day you'll become king. You have to take care of yourself. Who's going to take care of the kingdom later if something happens to you?"

Sasuke couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, as the three seemed to be heading away from the shore.

Prince?

Just like himself?

Sasuke found himself falling for the prince of the humans. He slowly drew away from the shore, and dive back down to the cold ocean where he belongs. Suddenly, he bumped into Flounder.

"Prince Sasuke! Where have you been!?"

"Shhhh!" Sasuke closed Flounder's fish lips to kept it from talking louder. "Flounder, this is our secret, okay?"

Flounder was assigned by King Fugaku to take care of Sasuke when he turned nine years old. But the fish was quite clumsy. The young prince could easily slipped away from him from this past three years.

Well, except for today.

"Mmmphhh." Flounder was muttering something that couldn't be heard, but the fish was bouncing its body up and down. Sasuke guessed it was a yes.

"Okay. If you dare tell father, I'll do something bad to you." Sasuke pulled his palm from the fish.

"...What is it?" The fish was nervous, but Sasuke thought that he already knew the answer.

"I visit the surface once in a while," Sasuke began his confession. Somehow, he trusted the fish. The young prince couldn't trust other merpeople, even his friend, Suigetsu. "I..want to see the humans."

Flounder was about to scream, but the fish covered its mouth with its own fins. "What?" He managed a small whimper. "Father will kill you."

"I know that," Sasuke sighed. "I hate him anyways. Father and his stupid rules."

"Itachi instructed you not to go up too," the fish pointed out.

Sasuke drew a breath and formed bubbles with his mouth. "I know. I don't trust him either. Since he lied to me."

Itachi lied to Sasuke about his 'training'. His brother was actually just playing with Shisui and other merpeople his age. Now, Sasuke felt like he couldn't trust any merpeople. So he decided to befriend the stupid fish.

"Flounder. Keep this a secret?" He asked the fish.

"Okay. But promise me you'll be safe."

"I will." Sasuke assured him.

Sasuke decided to learn the human ways of living. He would pick up items that dropped from ships and all. The young prince would store it inside a deserted cavern, where he chose to hang out, away from the other merpeople. That includes his own family.

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In the present day, Prince Sasuke was 18 years old. His voice changed into a deeper tone, a soft timbre. People would note on how smooth his voice had become. He ignored their stupid comments. Sasuke also noticed that Naruto's voice changed. It became deeper, and it sounded more mature. The prince liked it. However, nowadays, Naruto rarely came out to the shore. Maybe he was busy? It seemed that Naruto was the next in line for the throne, unlike himself, so people of the kingdom were making him busy and occupied. He noticed that from the everyday conversation that he eavesdropped from behind the rock on the surface.

Flounder would join him at times, and the fish noted that humans weren't as bad as the merpeople taught him.

"They looked nice, Sasuke."

"I know.. Father was exaggerating."

The two were exchanging conversation as they observed Naruto on the shore.

"You loved him, don't you?" asked the fish.

The question startled Sasuke, as he splashed his tail on accident. Naruto glanced to the rock, but after a while, the blonde human chose to ignore it.

"Flounder!" he scold the fish. "You almost got us caught."

"That means it's true. You love him." The fish's comment made Sasuke's cheeks turned pink.

"You really are weird, Sasuke," Flounder continued after he noted that Sasuke wouldn't answer his question. "You won't even look at the mermaids, and yet you prefer a human male. You're not even interested in female humans!"

Sasuke groaned in reaction to it. "So? I know I'm unique, and it's not like I'm getting the throne or something."

"Stop getting salty on that, Sasuke." The fish started to get annoyed by his comments. The two was swiming back into the depths of the sea.

The dark-haired merman grumbled at the fish. "Tch." The two swam to their hidden cavern. Sasuke wanted to visit his human stuffs. The odd duo swam through the coral reefs and head to their place. Before Sasuke could swam into the entrance, he saw something odd.

Someone, to be precise.

Flouder his behind his back, definitely scared, as a half sea serpent approached them. Its colour was a dull white, with purple lines along its side. Its eyes were yellow, eerrie as it sounds, and purple lines were around it. The man's upper body was very pale, almost white, with a very long black hair floating until its back.

"Hello.. Ssssasuke." It slithered around the man as it hissed its tongue. Flounder was trembling behind Sasuke's back.

"Who are you?" asked Sasuke while he eyed the thing cautiously.

"Call me.. Orochimaru.." He hissed around and traced Sasuke's beautiful jaw with his fingertips. He had hands? Was the thing part merman? Sasuke didn't even know.

"What do you want?" He spat to the man. He could feel that the sea serpent was circling his body, almost as an attempt of choking him.

"Me? Oh.. Nothing.. In particular.. Do you need anything from me?"

"Let me go." Sasuke's voice was demanding in authority. He hated to be touched.

Orochimaru chuckled and eased his grip on the merman. "I can make your dreamss.. come true.." He hissed to Sasuke's ear. Sasuke was confused, but then Orochimaru glanced to the surface, and tilted the merman's head so it faced the same way.

"Do you want to trade your fins..with human feet?"

Sasuke was stunned. His eyes enlarged, looking very intrigued with the offer. Flounder whimpered behind his back. "Sasuke, no!"

Before Sasuke could answer, Itachi appeared from afar. He didn't looked pleased at the view of Orochimaru wrapping his tail on his brother.

"Stay away from my brother." He stated from a distance, as his brother slowly swam towards them.

Orochimaru let go of Sasuke, and Itachi grabbed Sasuke's arm as he swam in front of him as a defending position.

"Itachi.." He hissed in disgust to the older merman. Orochimaru stared at Sasuke and smirked to the boy. "Very well.. I won't bother you.." Orochimaru hissed again as he slithered away from them. Itachi faced Sasuke and held his right shoulder with his palm.

"Sasuke. I told you not to go here. Do you know what could've happen if you-"

Sasuke slapped the hand away. He glared to his older brother.

"Don't tell me what to do. I can take care of myself," he spat it to his brother's face. For some reasons, Sasuke didn't like his older brother anymore. Sasuke swam away and Flounder followed him.

Itachi swam to catch his younger brother. "Sasuke, I mean it. Stay away from that sea serpent. He has bad intentions for you, I know it." Sasuke stopped swimming and faced his brother.

"So?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Nii-san, I'm not a child anymore. Just go away and do your 'training' sessions." Sasuke made sure he stressed the word 'training' when he said that.

"Sasuke.." Flounder pleaded to the young prince. Sasuke knew this fish hated confrontations. Very well then.

"I'll be inside my cavern. Don't bother me."

As Sasuke swam away, he knew he regretted saying those things to Itachi. He was pissed off when one day he saw him just hanging out with Izumi and Shisui. He told Sasuke in the face that he was too busy to play with him, because he was training. He was lying. Now, the 18 years old merman was dating Izumi. They would go on dates and all. Father was pleased by this, as Izumi could be a potential queen. But Sasuke was bothered by it, because they were constantly comparing him with Itachi.

Sasuke kept doing what he liked through all this years. Visiting the surface to stare at the blonde human boy.


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Sasuke swam calmly through the white tunnels of the underwater castles. Itachi was going to get married soon, with his dear Izumi. He was sure that Father called him this early to discuss about the ceremony.

"Yay," Sasuke muttered flatly under his breath.

He entered the huge cavern where his Father's throne was and swam to where to crowd was gathering. His mother smiled and welcomed him with open arms. Izumi and her family was there as well. They were discussing on the wedding ceremony. Sasuke took a good look at her parents. They definitely wanted their daughter to be crowned as the Queen of the Sea. Hypocrites. He shook their hands and gave them a quick fake smile.

He hated social events. Itachi gave him a faint smile, but Sasuke refused to smile back.

They talked for what seemed like ages, until Father decided on inviting most merpeople and other creatures of the ocean. The ceremony was a month away. Izumi and her parents departed from the castle after they finished discussing on it.

Sasuke was about to swim away until the King called him.

"Sasuke. Come here."

He obliged to his Father's word. Sasuke knew what was he about to say.

"As you see, Itachi is going to settle down soon." He started his lecture. Oh boy, here it comes. "I hope you find a mermaid as good as Izumi."

No, father, I'm definitely prefer a human, a human male, a human male named Naruto, to be precise. Sasuke thought that to himself, but all he could reply was a nod.

"Why don't you be with Sakura, dear?" asked the Queen. "She's seems to be fond of you."

Sasuke made a noise that sounded like an strangled whale, but he covered it with a cough. "No, mother," he replied weakly. "I'm not interested."

"I'm not too fond with the Harunos, but I think she's okay," said the King.

Sasuke felt like he was tossed into a hydrothermal vent. There was no way he was going to be with Sakura, or even marrying her. That though itself made Sasuke shiver.

"Sasuke. Find a mermaid soon, okay? We want to ensure that the kingdom will live on." Fugaku stated simply, and Mikoto nodded to the statement.

Sasuke bowed to them quickly and looked away. He swam to the entrance and found Flounder there.

"Hey," the fish greeted him first. "You okay?"

Sasuke shook his head as they swam away from the castle together.

"No." He shut his eyes for a moment. "I need to go.. there. To clear my head."

Flounder agreed with the prince as they swam together to where the shore was. The sunlight was starting to reach the inside of the cold sea. They swam towards the surface above them. Sasuke broke the water surface with his head, and he moved his tail to where the rock was. He rested his head on the surface.

The shore was empty. No one was there. A little bit dissapointed, Sasuke slid back into the water and kept his head hovering above the surface.

"Sasuke. Care to talk now?"

The fish woke him up from his thoughts.

"Father wants me to find a mermaid. To be together with. To marry with." He pouted and crossed his arms across his bare chest. Sasuke looked away from the fish. "I hate them. All of them." The prince strared at the empty beach. "I wish.. I could go there. Be a human." He balled his fists in anger and frustration. "I couldn't take this anymore!"

Flounder looked at him, definitely sympathizing with the merman. The fish was about to say something, but a familiar loud and cheerful voice was heard from the shore. Both of them glanced to the source of voice.

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered.

He wanted to be with him. Sasuke just knew that Naruto was his solution. He never met him, or even talked to him, but he just.. knew. Sasuke felt a pang inside his hollow heart as he realised he couldn't be with him. He couldn't be with Naruto.

He must break their barrier to be together with the man he loved.


Sasuke is quite OOC from his original character.. Sorry.. But I made him similar to Canon!Sasuke.

The song that was sung by Naruto and Konohamaru was called "My Jolly Sailor Bold", that made an appearance at the movie 'Pirates of the Carribean : On Stranger's Tides' during the mermaid scene.

Do you like the story? Let me know!

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Love, myfavoriteramen.