Written September 25 2019
Posted on Wattpad October 10 2019
Posted here June 12 2020

After they had finished talking about memories and dreams, Shinichi continued to work with Kaito's writing skills. Technically there wouldn't be a proper reason for him to ever use them once they head to the ocean, but it was a nice way to subtly nudge at Kaito's subconscious memories. He also figured that Kaito would immediately regain his writing skills once he regained his memories.

'There really isn't that much to do here? How has Kaito not gone stir crazy yet?'

"Shin-chan" Kaito let out a soft whine "I don't like writing that word" The indigo mer let out a few sad trills to emphasise his point as he pointed at said word.

Shinichi raised a sceptical brow as he looked at the messily written word "Why don't you like fish?" A visible shudder ran through Kaito's frame at the vocalisation of the word "Kaito?!" Shinichi inquired, concerned about the other's health. Why did he shudder like that?

'He didn't seem ill before... But our biology is probably a lot different than when we were humans'

Kaito shook his head in an attempt to clear it, why were images of creepy eyed, tailed creatures popping into his head? He wasn't sure what they were, but the thought of them made him fearful. They actually seemed more scary than his scary dreams. He felt Shinichi's warm arms wrap around him and leaned into the embrace, a small whine escaping from the back of his throat "Shin-chan..." He whined into the crook of the azure mer's neck.

'I didn't see anything until Shin-chan mentioned... That word... Are those scary things that word?'

Azure gazed at the shivering teen with both confusion and concern, he didn't really understand why Kaito was acting like this. Nothing special had happened, he'd just read out the word that Kaito didn't like. His train of thought suddenly paused at that thought "Kaito?" He inquired softly, nuzzling the younger mer "Did that word I said scare you?" He asked, knowing that if he was right, he wouldn't need to explain what he meant. Kaito whimpered softly into Shinichi's neck before nodding.

'Shit, he has ichtyophobia... And it's even affecting him with his memory loss. How will it affect him when he regains his memories?'

It suddenly had a sick sort of sense in Shinichi's opinion, now he knew why the obvious choice of fishes weren't added to the tank. Kaito's friends had known about his fear. He gave the indigo mer a reassuring squeeze "Don't worry, you'll be okay with me" He soothed, gently carding his fingers through Kaito's hair "I won't let those things hurt you" He promised.

After a good long while, Kaito stopped trembling, much to Shinichi's relief "Thanks" Kaito breathed, a small blush tinting his cheeks. He was fine with nuzzling Shinichi before, so why did it feel a little strange?

Shinichi's gaze softened at the younger "It's okay Kaito. I'll just help you face your phobia" He kinda had to if Kaito was to ever survive in the ocean. He didn't know if high blood pressure from stress would affect Kaito like it would a human. He also didn't want to test that out.

'As Kid he's faced fish before, so he should be able to get to a point where he could temporarily tolerate fish in small intervals... Plus, I think our main food source is actually fish but disguised...'

He inwardly grimaced at the thought of having to force feed Kaito fish for the rest of his life. He figured that by doing so, it would be a great way to make the other resent him. He really didn't want that, a spiteful former Kaitou Kid didn't seem good for his own health, or sanity.

Kaito gave him a somewhat weak smile "What's a phobia?" The word seemed familiar to him, but he wasn't sure.

"It's sort of like an intense or irrational fear of something" Shinichi replied with a soft smile, giving Kaito a reassuring pat on the back "There's nothing to be ashamed of though" He would have never guessed that a person like Kaito would have a phobia, but he wouldn't fault him for being scared. It wasn't like Kaito could help the fact that he had ichtyophobia, he just had to learn how to live with it. The poor guy didn't really have a choice.

'It's kinda ironic in a way, that Kaito was made into a merman. Making the guy with the phobia into a half fish person's just cruel. Though maybe it's a good thing that he forgot everything until I arrived? I'm not sure...'

Indigos blinked in understanding "So the weird creatures I saw in my head were probably those..." He paused for a moment as he sought for the right words, a glint of fears parked within indigos as he continued"Finny things?" The way he spat out the last part with pure venom laced disgust made Shinichi raise a brow. He hadn't expected that kind of reaction from the other.

'Okay, maybe his dislike of fish is deeper than I initially thought...'

"If they pull out that sort of reaction from you, then most likely yes" Shinichi smirked, he wondered if he could use the fear to spark Kaito's memory since the fear seemed to be deeply ingrained into the younger. He knew it wasn't right, but he kinda wanted the original Kaito back.

'Hopefully I'll be forgiven if it works'

Kaito nodded "I hope to never see another one of those things ever again" He breathed, it was bad enough seeing them in his head. What if those things followed him and tried to touch him?! He shivered at the thought.

The azure me inwardly grimaced at the other's words. He felt a little guilty with how he'd been thinking about using Kaito's phobia to help him. It was a justified thought right? Especially if it brought back the old Kaito he'd initially befriended.

'I'll do my best to make it up to him if it works, or if it doesn't'