Chapter 2

SHOTA

My stomach growled and gnawed as I made my way through the dark water in search of dinner. As I swam, I constantly scanned my gaze around and used my keen sense of smell and sharp ears to listen for prey, as well as the fins on my tail and arms to feel pulses and vibrations in the water. Nothing.

I let out a low, mournful sound across the wide expanse of gray. I listened closely. The silence was immense at first, but then my voice came bouncing faintly back. I did it again. Once again, the low humming came back to my ears. It was the tiniest bit louder. I repeated my call. This time the sound waves produced echoes from several areas around me. A reef is nearby. I sniffed the salty expanse. The familiar suffocating scent I recognized all too well filled my nostrils. Their reef. Their reef that's riddled with fish that I'm not allowed near.

So, I switched directions. I veered right instead of left and continued the mournful cries to locate my prey. Hum…listen…echo…repeat…hum…listen…echo…repeat…hum, listen, echo repeat...hum…listen…echo…repeat. Hum, listen, echo repe—

A different sound suddenly filled my ears. It was humming. Someone was humming that old sea chanty that the merfolk had long grown to love. And the voice belonged to a very familiar person.

In front of me two dark shadows approached in what appeared to be a slow, lazy pace. I stopped calling. I knew it was useless because they'd already heard me, but I figured if I stopped and averted my gaze, and then proceeded to swim passed them without so much as an acknowledgement they'd just let me alone.

"HEEY! HEEY SHOTA!" shrilled one of the figures, waving at me. The other thwacked him in the arm and tried her best to quiet him.

You're gonna scare the fish away, dumb blonde. I thought bitterly. Doesn't matter. Just swim away…

There was a burst of choppiness as the two figures sped towards me. Both were smiling and overjoyed to see me, but I, for one, was not amused in the slightest. I recognized the over-enthusiastic blonde merman and the green-haired annoyance of a female that was with him.

"Emi and Hizashi, I'm delighted to see you." I greeted coldly.

"Always such a cold reception, geez~" Hizashi commented.

"How's our rule-breaking outcast doing, hmm?" Emi asked.

"Emi! That's not nice!" Hizashi exclaimed.

I shrugged. I could care less. I was indifferent about the whole situation. It was more inconvenient than anything else.

"I exist." I replied, "What are you two doing out here anyway? Screwing around?"

Emi laughed loudly, "We were hunting, silly. This is neutral territory." She said.

"If you're supposed to be hunting, why are you out here talking to me and wasting time?"

"We saw you and wanted to say hello, duh!" Hizashi answered.

"WE MISS YOU!" Emi threw her scaly, thin form onto me in an embrace and I staggered backward. I tried to push her off me, but she was strong, and lean muscles rippled on her arms.

"You can get banished for that." I said. Emi released her grip and allowed space again.

"Only if we're caught helping you specifically." She replied, poking me in the chest to emphasize the "you" in her sentence.

"Whatever. If the two of you get busted and banished by the Matriarch for helping me, I'm not sharing my territory." I scoffed.

Hizashi shuddered, "Enji is pretty terrifying when she's angry."

"Some of us are trying to convince her to let you back in the pod." Emi said, "Of course we haven't had any luck with that."

"And you probably won't." I scoffed, "This is the same mermaid that banished her own mate, remember? She isn't one to change her mind so easily."

"That doesn't mean we'll stop trying." Emi replied.

"…Speaking of helping you, there's a huge shortage so we haven't been able to hunt enough to bring you leftovers…" Hizashi added.

"Those damn humans keep stealing our food." I said bitterly.

"I keep saying we should go back to hunting them, but no one listens to me." Emi whined, "They're not that bad really. In fact, I even helped myself to a dead one I found three days ago."

Hizashi gagged, "Emi that is disgusting!"

"There were some wriggly bugs in it too." She made a wiggling gesture with her fingers in his face, and his response was a shuddering squirm and another gag.

"OH MY GOD, EW EW! I DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW THAT, YO!"

"Gross." I scoffed.

"HA HA HAA! I'm just kidding! You're so gullible." Emi laughed.

"In all seriousness, the humans would hunt us before we hunted them. Are you forgetting there's these things called 'hooks' and 'nets'?" I asked.

"That's true, but we still have our siren magic that ultimately works against their gear." Hizashi replied.

"I doubt it." I said. My stomach rumbled. "We're wasting time. I've got hungry mouths to feed at home."

"We should hunt together since we're on neutral ground." Emi suggested.

"Not a chance." I replied, "And you both know why."

"…H-He's probably right…it is way too risky." Hizashi said sadly.

Emi sighed, "Well…I guess we'll see you around then."

"Sure."

"There was a lot of fish down that way." Hizashi pointed in the direction he was talking about.

"You find some food for your kids, we'll go back to our own territory." Emi said.

"Thanks."

"Come on Hizashi, let's go." Emi tugged at his arm.

"Yeah." the almost permanent smile he wore faded from his face, and they turned and left.

"Take care, Shota!" Emi called over her shoulder.

"I'll tell Nemuri hello for you, yo!" Hizashi added. And with that, they were gone. As I watched them fade, something I could only call "sadness" sunk my spirit even more than it already was, if that was even possible. But quickly, I pushed away that sudden feeling. I didn't need it when I had a task ahead of me.

-xXx-

I pushed on, continuing to use my echolocation ability. There were definitely a lot of fish up ahead, and their strong, pungent odor was almost suffocating. Finally. My stomach churned and growled even more strongly now. I'd finally get a lucky catch.

The closer I got, the stronger the smell became. And in front of me I saw a massive dark cloud. And they were coming right towards me, and rapidly too. A sharp-toothed smile flashed on my face and I took off in the direction they were coming from. There were so many I'd be able to catch some. I slunk behind a rock to wait, tail twirling behind me as my clawed hands gripped the rough surface. I quieted the heaving of my gills and braced myself for the right moment. The black cloud quickly grew closer and closer…and soon I was able to make out individual shapes. Just a bit closer…come on…come on…

Almost…

Wait…I can smell their fear…they see me…dam-hang on…

They're completely oblivious to me…that's not—it doesn't matter. That just means I'm at an advantage…

Closer…closer…

Now!

In a quick maneuver I shot out from the shelter of my hiding place. My eyes flashed and a few fish in the school fell limp immediately. I darted forward to catch the limp creatures, only to be caught up in a panicked cloud of rapidly moving fish. Angry that their frenzy was keeping me from my much-deserved dinner, I hissed and clawed at them, shoving them out of my way, but there were so many it was a struggle…

What the hell is going on!?

A large shadow passed over me and I realized too late...my back unwilling stuck against the back of several fish. I heard a ship bell and felt a tug and I realized that I was being pulled toward the surface in a colossal fishing net.

No…no! How could I have not realized this!? I was distracted by hunger and dare I say…emotions and I let my guard down…and now I was never going to see my kids again…at the thought of this my stomach dropped. I broke my promise…Eri…Hitoshi…

Frantically, I looked for a way to escape. The top of the net still had an opening and I was still in water. If I could just…in a desperate attempt, I used all the stamina I could muster to swim up. I also clawed and tugged at the rough, braided roping for extra leverage.

The top of the net was so close. It was narrow, but maybe I could…I reached upward. Clawed hands closed around the brown, seaweed covered material. When my hands started to give way, I just gripped tighter, letting the material raw the soft, wrinkly skin of my hands and I wriggled and squirmed, trying to pull all my bodyweight up over the edge so I could slide back into the water. The ship bells grew loud, and the pressure of the tugging increased. Daylight started to blind my eyes…but I still pressed on with the struggle. The weight of the heavy ropes slowly started to close around me. They tightened around my skin. The rough, ratty material dug painfully into my sides. My raw, burning hands gave way, and down I flopped onto the slippery bodies of the fish food as the net constricted my movement to a point that I was forced into a tight ball.

Eri…Hitoshi...I'm so sorry…

-xXx-

TOSHI

"Sorry Sorahiko, that's all I can give you for such a small amount of catch."

"Dammit seriously!? Ain't no way! They're worth more for all the stress and extra effort and overtime, I'm telling you!"

I was standing idly beside a very angry Sorahiko-san as he tried to negotiate a better deal for our catch than he was being offered. I chuckled and shook my head. He was one of the most stubborn people I had ever met. Knowing that this negotiation would get us nowhere, I decided to focus my attention elsewhere. The docks were busy. The sun had started to sink, and he weather had gone sour, so several ships pulled in for the day. Some with better catches than others.

The merchant shook his head, "My apologies, Sorahiko, but that is as high as I will go."

"Bah hum bug." The old man scoffed.

"Woah, look at that!" someone exclaimed.

All gazes snapped to the docks.

"Boss, you won't believe what we caught!" an excited voice, accompanied by a noisy commotion made their way across the docks. Two men were carrying a massive creature, wriggling, snapping and hissing in their grasp.

"Quiet, you bastard!" a biting order, followed by a thump and a shriek of pain from the creature.

Immediately everyone crowded around the fisherman, and the merchant who they had called to. A series of murmured disbeliefs from the gathering crowd filled the air. Garbled words and excited discussion drowned out the tranquility of the sea.

"No way!"

"What the hell?"

"I thought they didn't exist!?"

"Is that really what I think it is?"

"A mermaid!?"

A few cameras snapped.

At the sound of those words, I left my mentor's side.

"Toshinori, where do you think your-"

I ignored him and pushed my way through the crowd, apologizing profusely as I pushed my way through.

When I reached the front, my eyes widened.

"Move it, asshole! I'm trying to see!" someone growled at me.

I didn't move. I was too thunderstruck by what I was looking at. Indeed, it was a mermaid…or rather a merman. His hair was hiding what looked like a scruffy face. But my eyes were drawn to the starburst scar on his shoulder. It was him. It had to be…The one who attacked me years ago…he was still alive. There was a soft exhale of release for a moment, but I immediately tensed up again as I examined the poor creature's state, and I was enveloped burning anger.

He was roughed up, bound at the wrists, and blindfolded, squirming in their grasps, breathing ragged. But he continued to struggle. I watched as sharp teeth bit down on one of his captors' fingers, and his massive scarlet tail flicked against the face and neck of the other. The men hissed in pain and finally gave way. The merman's body thumped harshly against the hard, dusty ground. He heaved helplessly, exhausted from the fight he had put up. One of the men aggressively went forward to attack the pitiful creature again. But the merchant they were apparently trying to sell him to stopped him.

"Bastard put up a hell of a fight. He's a feisty one." Said one of the two men who had been carrying him.

"Don't take his blindfold off, his eyes'll paralyze you." Said the other, clutching the welt the tail had left.

"He can't do anything." Said the merchant, "I need to get a good look at him before I offer a price."

My fists clenched. The merchant got down to the exhausted creature's level and pulled the blindfold off him. The glare I expected to see was replaced with crimson, wide-eyed fear.

"GET BACK TO WORK, YOU BASTARDS OR I'LL KICK YOU ALL OFF MY DOCK." Almost immediately after hearing the dockmaster's order, the crowd who had been previously observing the merman with wonder scrambled. But I was not about to leave.

"Such pretty eyes you have, I've never seen anything like them." He said. The merman bared his teeth.

Rough, fat fingers coursed through his stringy dark hair.

"Such pretty hair. I know people who'd pay a hearty pricy for hanks of it. I could tell them it granted good luck or healing abilities.

Wandering hands found his light, sensitive fins and tugged at them. The merman winced and stiffened. Then those filthy hands found his torso and begin to rub and prod, and my blood boiled.

"Such smooth skin. I would have thought for sure it would be all scaly and sandpaper like…how fascinating."

The creature's eyes screwed shut and he fought back his tremble.

My fists tightened, nails digging into rough palms.

The touchy merchant's hands forced the merman onto his back and found the long, magnificent tail and continued to feeling and prodding motion.

I drew in a breath and took a slow step forward.

"Ooo, but your tail is like sandpaper."

The creature whimpered, and his eyes snapped open. When they did, the crimson pools bore directly into my blue ones, with a misty, pleading gaze.

My body moved before I could think. I ran forward and punched the man in the face, and then shoved him to the ground.

"You filthy bastard, leave him ALONE!" I yelled.

"Who the f**k do you think you are, boy!?"

"Someone who is going to save this poor merman from your grimy hands." I rounded on him with my full impressive height and pulled him up by the collar of his shirt.

"Don't make me throw you in the water, because I will."

"That thing is going to make me rich." He said shakily, indicating the merman.

"You had the best catch out of anyone today." I said, indicating the boat I knew this man bought from. "One single fish isn't going to be worth more than all of the other ones." I said, "So take your giant catch and go to the market."

He glared. I raised him further off the ground and bluffed I was going to throw him. "Okay! Okay! Fine! Keep the stupid mermaid then! Just let me go!" I dropped him on the ground and he scrambled away. I turned to the two young fisherman who had been watching in stupid awe. I turned, rounding on them with my intimidating height and impressive build. I clenched my fists.

"Go home, you dumb kids." I said.

"Shit!" one said.

"Crazy bastard!" exclaimed the other. And they ran away.

Once they were gone, I rushed to the merman's side and got down to his level. He was lying still, with his gaze still fixed on me, and his sides heaving.

"It's okay." I said, "You're safe now." I took out my pocket knife and slit his bonds.

"Are you hurt?" I asked. All he did was keep his gaze locked on me. I examined his body for injuries. There were a few scrapes and cuts here and there, but I didn't see anything too severe. At least that was until I saw a bright red laceration on his arm that was no doubt from a knife similar to mine.

"Your arm." I reached for it, but he hissed and snapped it back, scooting away from me and licking the blood from the wound. I was a bit taken aback by his behavior, but the he wasn't human, so I guessed that was normal for him as it was for a lot of animals.

I held out a hand, "I'm sorry. That was too quick. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help you." He studied me skeptically.

"Can you speak?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied curtly, with a voice that was a deep tenor.

I sighed with relief I didn't know I needed, "That's good, I mean…" I cleared my throat, "Are there any particularly bad injuries you need me to look at?"

"No."

I smiled. "Good. Okay. Then may I please dress that wound for you?"

He looked at the bloody gash before he held out his arm for me. I took a kerchief from my pocket and undid my canteen from my belt. I wet the handkerchief with some fresh water and ripped a piece of cloth off the bottom of my button up shirt.

"This is going to be a little cold." I said.

The merman nodded. After being given the okay, I carefully cleaned the drying blood and then carefully wrapped it for him.

"Thanks." He said curtly.

"Of course. Oh umm…I'm Yagi Toshinori by the way." I introduced myself, but then immediately felt stupid under his scrutinizing gaze, "Do you have a name?"

"Of course, I have a name, but why would I tell a human stranger what it is?" he replied, sneering.

I blushed, "Oh I—I guess you wouldn't. S-sorry…" I looked down and finished tying the bandage. I guess is isn't a mermaid custom to introduce yourself when you first meet someone…?

The sound of someone's growling stomach filled the air. And it wasn't mine.

"Oh! You must be starving. I'll be right back!" I got up and ran back onto Sorahiko-san's fishing boat and took the fish I had wrapped up in brown paper and had planned on bringing home to go with dinner. I ran across the dock and back to where the merman was sitting. When I saw him, I turned bright red. He studied me.

"Y-your tail is gone!" I said. That's…naked…he's naked…so very naked…

"It is?" he looked down at his bare legs, "Oh. Yeah. It happens when we dry."

With my face as bright as I tomato, I quickly scanned my gaze around, dropped the fish, and then pulled off my shirt, covering him up.

"What's the point of that? The moment I go in the water my tail comes back." He asked.

"We're in public and uhh…you're naked…it's not decent to be in public without clothes on."

"Oh. Okay." He replied nonchalantly. My eyes fell to the green seaweed tangled in his hair that had been driving me insane. I leaned over him and pulled out the strings, tossing them aside.

"What are you doing?" he half demanded.

"There was seaweed in your hair…"

"I live underwater."

He probably thinks I'm crazy…

"Oh…umm…here." I unwrapped the two fish and handed it to him. He looked down at it and his gaze softened, "This is for you…I'd imagine it's probably hard for you to find since we do a lot of fishing." For several moments he just stared at the fish in his hands, blinking at the beady, empty eye.

"It's getting dark." I said, looking up the sky, "We both need to get home."

He looked up and met gazes with me again and pulled the fish into his chest. "I've already wasted enough time." He said.

"Let me help you to the water." In a fluid motion, I scooped him up bridal style and walked over to an emptier part of the docks. I knelt at the end of the wooden structure and carefully lowered him into the water, watching his long, pale legs almost instantly fuse and become a tail again. I let go of him and retrieved my now wet shirt.

I remained in my kneeling position and studied him. He turned to leave but then stopped and turned back around.

"I suppose…I owe you something in return."

"N-no really! There's no need! I did all of this out of the goodness of my own heart, you don't owe me anything."

"It's custom in our culture to give a gift if you receive one. Especially considering the fact that you're also the same boy I attacked nine years ago."

"How did you remember that-"

"You have the same ridiculous hair."

"Wha—"

"I'm giving a gift whether you want it or not."

"Really I—" Before I could say anything else, he grabbed the nape of my neck and planted a kiss right on my lips. I stiffened, blue eyes wide and face bright red. When he broke away, he swiped his tongue over his lips and smiled his sharp-toothed smile.

I blinked, completely in shock at what just happened.

What the heck was that!?

"Now you can't ever drown." He said, "That's my gift. So, don't plan on turning your back on merfolk now, got it?" his expression was serious again.

"I…"

"Goodbye, Yagi Toshinori." He said. And then he turned and left the dock.

"W-wait!" I called after him, "You never told me your name!"

But he was already gone.

A/N: Yes, Endeavor is a woman in this. I'm probably going to end up genderbending a few of the male BNHA characters that will appear in this story. Whenever I write mermaids, I always make their society Matriarchal. That's how I like it. And boy, this was a long chapter! It was so much fun to write too!