Shion, for what reason? Why did I save you?

Nezumi remembered when he had ventured to the surface for revenge. He was all alone; his entire culture of merpeople had been ruthlessly wiped out by the oil spill. They had all been swallowed up by the inky black darkness, leaving Nezumi to fend for himself.

The lights from the grand cruise ship reflected on the water, he had planned to sink it. Destroy them all, like they did. It was only fair, after all.
But one factor changed everything, and his resolve had wavered.

'Nezumi?'

Shion tilted his head in confusion. He reached his hand out to lightly brush the surface of the water- but the raven quickly flinched back.

'Don't go near me.'

'But-'

'Be careful, you don't want your exquisite clothing to be ruined.' Nezumi smirked a little, his long hair shimmering from the droplets of water.
Shion pouted a little, his hazel eyes still sparkling as he leant over the railing.

'Please let me at least check your wound, you still might be bleeding.'

'Us people of the sea aren't as weak as you beings.'

That was a lie, of course. The incident that happened a few days ago proved that. Although his people had a lifespan of 300 years and rarely attacked by opposing forces, humans had a strange power. The power to kill, to maim, to destroy. But Shion had saved him. He had come close to death, but one of those whom he detested so much had shown kindness.

Is that what you call souls?

'Hey Shion, can I touch yours?'

Shion looked at him in confusion; it was rare for Nezumi to display any desire to go near him. 'Touch what?'

'Your soul.'

The brunette blushed, although Nezumi had no idea why. Do humans faces turn that red all the time?

He sighed; obviously a simple question couldn't get past this airhead's brain.

'Our people don't have souls. But you humans do, and they last for all eternity. I've always wanted to touch one. Is it really that hard to explain?' Shion stared blankly at Nezumi for a minute, before laughing nervously. 'Well I never expected to encounter a mermaid before so-'

'Merman.'

'Ah, well you look so girly so sometimes I forget-'

'Excuse me?'

'A-ah nothing…Well…um, the human soul isn't something you can touch. It doesn't have a physical form you see- only when we die they're taken by God.'

'God? Why does this guy steal them? Does he sell them?' Nezumi frowned, humans had such weird concepts. He never got to learn much about them, since not many went to the surface. The ones who did hardly ever come back, and soon it was taboo to see the land above.

'No! Well it's hard to explain.' Shion took his boots off and dipped a toe in the water, making ripples. 'Our bodies stay here, and- WAAAH?!'

Nezumi had grabbed him by the collar and Shion had fallen in the ocean, falling on top of him.

Shion coughed and spluttered, rubbing the salt water from his eyes. He looked up and was startled to meet a piercing grey. Amusement was reflected in them, and Shion turned red. 'What was that for?'

'If you were going to take a midnight swim, may as well go all the way I presume?'

Nezumi's amethyst tail flicked powerfully in the water, keeping them both afloat. Shion glared and gripped onto Nezumi's bare shoulders a little tighter.
'Can't you swim?'

Shion blinked, and averted his gaze. '…I never really learnt how.'

'Ooh, so the pampered prince does have a flaw. Looks like money can't buy talent.'

'Well you live underwater, so you have to. I just wasn't given a chance to since I was always indoors.'

'Hn, I see. You scared?'

'No…I'm with you so…'

The sea at night was freezing, but Nezumi's warmth…it burned to his very core. Before Shion could think of a theory on why mer-people had such high temperatures he was overcome with sleepiness. He could feel his eyelids growing heavy, and Nezumi smiled a little at the slowing breaths against his neck.

'Getting tired?' His voice was gentle. 'Careful, you don't want to drown.'

He didn't answer, and Nezumi floated for a few minutes before deciding sleeping Shion was not as entertaining and started to head back to the ship.

Humans get tired when the night gets pitch black. A new discovery. Nezumi grinned; he had found yet another fatal point.

Shion will be useful, in bringing down his kind. I'll find out everything about you humans, and destroy you all.

He'll bring down the ship, once he knows a little more about the sleeping man in his arms.

Shion woke up in his chambers, surprised. He was dry, but Nezumi had dragged him into the sea last night…

'Are you up already? Our servants have already prepared breakfast.' Safu appeared in the doorway, already fully dressed.

'Hm? Ah, coming!"

Safu left, and Shion hurriedly put on his vest and pulled his boots back on. He opened his closet, and took a deep intake of surprise. Yesterday's clothes were thrown in carelessly, and sopping wet.

Nezumi…

Shion ate breakfast at the long table with Karan, Safu and Yoming. Sailors were not permitted in this room, but he could hear the sounds of them working outside. Karan looked at him in concern; her son seemed a bit distant these past few days. He would disappear and not come back for hours, but the whole point of being here was to learn how to commandeer the ship.

Of course Shion had already gotten everything down to pat, and his charismatic leadership and kindness had won over the sailors. But Shion had still not gotten over his fear of water. Yet he would spend hours longingly staring at not the surface, but underneath the water.

Shion looked down at his meal, and compared the silverware to Nezumi's eyes.

'Can I touch your soul?'

Nezumi had said something so embarrassing without hesitation, just the thought of it made his ears turn mauve and his heart hammer. Of course he had meant it differently, but…

If you're talking about that, you've already captured it.

That was the truth.

After breakfast, Shion was summoned to the top deck. Yoming accompanied him, prattling about the forecast; but he was already far away in his thoughts.

'Shion!'

Yoming grabbed him by the shoulders. 'Are you listening? Don't space out when you talk to me.'

Shion blinked, and looked apologetic. 'Sorry Father. I was thinking about something.'
Yoming paused, and then grinned. 'Ah I see. Is it love?'

He blushed and began to stammer. 'O-of course not!'

The elder smiled secretively, and looked up at the blue sky. 'I know that look anywhere. Don't worry, your wishes will be fulfilled.'

Yoming patted Shion's dark brown locks.

'It's Safu isn't it?'

'…Pardon?'

'That's whom you've been so hung up over the past few days right? Ah, my son is all grown up. Such a good choice too. Safu's beautiful, not to mention intelligent and rich. She's perfect.'

Shion looked at him in shock. 'Safu's just my friend.'

Yoming ignored him, caught up in his own excitement.

'That's why I decided, as your father, that she shall be your fiancée.'

Hope you guys enjoyed that! I 've got quite a lot planned for this story, so I hope you will drop a review to tell me what you guys think!

-Alliandoalice