Pincoy
Kakashi was a simple man with great respect, love and hatred for the sea, the same sea that he had taken from his father but given him by a tutor, Minato.
Kakashi was also considered handsome among the ladies, with his silver hair, fair complexion, and heterochromatic eyes. And he was also respected as a great sailor among his crew because he, despite being 30 years old, was a wise person on the high seas, knowing when to set sail or how to navigate the rough waters of a storm.
And now that same man was enraptured looking at a creature that he believed impossible, in what remains of his ship and his crew, miraculously alive (or so he believed) on the shores of a virgin beach.
The being was on a rock, looking out to sea with the upper part in the shape of a man and the lower part in the shape of an animal. And, even though his back was turned, Kakashi could see some of the creature's unearthly beauty. His skin was bathed in the sun, his hair was long and damp to the shoulders and a long and large scar covered his back giving the feeling of a warrior.
And the silver-haired man was even more dazzled and amazed when the fish man, as he began to call it in his head, finally turned his body to observe the scene behind him. This creature was beautiful, the most beautiful face he had ever seen. His distinctly masculine features had eyes that watched with caution, empathy, and a hint of mischief. A scar crossed his face and a torso that showed daily and arduous training.
But what shocked Kakashi the most was when the being's tail (triton, he belatedly mentioned his brain, remembering the myths of the old sailors) was transformed into human legs and his body into a complete man, without clothes in sight, walking directly towards him with a gait that showed even more his supernatural and proud aura.
When he was already in front of the silver-haired one and spoke, his deep, honeyed voice traced down to Kakashi's bones, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Hello human," he said with a smile. "Your ship was in the middle of a great storm from which neither you nor your crew made it out alive". "However, all of you were great sailors who respected the dominions of my father, Millalobo, and by grace my father and the years dedicated to the sea as sailors, the souls of your companions received the gratitude of being in Caleuche in eternity, sharing and living happily on my father's ghost ship".
Kakashi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was he dead? His classmates and friends too? But the creature only mentioned his companions to enjoy death. Was he not worthy of being with his companions? Were his crimes in life so horrible?
"Kakashi, I see you have questions, but first let me introduce myself. Humans have called me Pincoy for years but my real name is Iruka." The warm and comforting smile never left his face. "You are something special Kakashi. You have suffered great pain, the sea has taken more from you than it has given you, however you continue to love and respect his and my father does not forget that"
"He has entrusted me to give you the happiness that you were looking for so much in life and that is why you have been given the gift of being part of our people and, with that, giving you something that we hope will be satisfactory".
"A gift?' Kakashi said "Excuse me, but I don't know what gift you're talking about. You tell me that becoming a mythological being is a gift, but without my precious people, without my friends or colleagues it would be a lonely life".
"I understand your reluctance Kakashi, but my father did not make this gift just because. Becoming part of us is only for those brave ones who loved and respected the sea and your father, Minato and his wife and son took this gift. My father gives you the gift of seeing your family again, Kakashi and that your soul transitions to be part of us and become part of the defenders and protectors of the sea and of man".
The human felt a lump in his throat and pain in his eyes. His family was fine! He could see his again! He couldn't stand the wait and he said yes, that he was going to become part of a creature whose existence he believed impossible but that he herself offered him the gift of being with his family again. The happiness and relief in his soul almost palpable around his and with a less heavy heart, he said yes.
Years later, Kakashi made his own legend with the being he had fallen in love with and, as happened to his love, the humans gave him another name, that of Pincoya (and they represented him as a woman, who bothered the first centuries but later became accustomed) the faithful companion of the Pincoy, both protectors of the sea and man.
End.