merman au

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"you're crying."

she lifted her face, seeing a young man emerging from the water. his hair was longer than hers. "...you're naked," she pointed out.

he rolled his eyes. "i'm not." he leaned his arms and head on a smaller rock, looking bored.

she wiped her face using her thick scarf, and fixed her wind-tossed hair. "you don't wear a shirt, though...?"

"...don't need." he looked away, his long and wild hair hid his face. for a wet hair, it was strangely spiky.

hashirama frowned. she went to the beach alone, seeking solace. usually people didn't come here so late. she frequented this place as a child, and liked to visit from time to time. the place was eerily beautiful, since tonight was full moon.

"don't you feel cold?" she hopped down from the boulder where she had been sitting to walk on the rocks towards him.

he sank a little into the water as she knelt beside his rock. the young man had a pale skin, strong jawline, and defined muscles on his torso."no," he scoffed, but the fingers that rubbed his forearm were trembling.

"why are you swimming so late at night?" she asked.

"why are you crying alone outside at night?" a mischievous smile spread on his lips, prompting a laugh from hashirama.

"good point." she grinned. "i'm just... having a fallout with my friend. we haven't spoken for a week, so i feel lonely."

"aw."

"don't mock me." she pushed his forearm. it was slippery, yet the texture was so unlike her skin. hashirama leaned further, seeing into the shallow water.

"...what are you doing?"

under his torso was an extremely long, dark tail. its scales glimmered whenever it moved. the tail ended in two equally dark fins with fiery red streaks.

"you have... a tail?"

the man pushed himself away from the rocks, his playful look replaced by hostility. "you're not supposed to see it," he hissed, swimming away.

"wait!" hashirama yelled at him. "wait-" she jumped into the water, walking along the seabed to chase him. the water that started at her waist gradually grew to her chest, shoulder, neck... she really should've took off her thick clothes before jumping...

then a splash, and hashirama spluttered saltwater, coughing loudly. hands lifted her by the waist, and she landed on his shoulder.

"are all humans this reckless?" she heard him asking, exasperated.

"i didn't mean to-" she gasped for air.

"you could've drowned!" his arms tightened around her body.

hashirama ran her hands on his back, feeling the scales and sharp fin protruding from his spine. she held his shoulders, while he swam towards the shore.

finally he let go of her. "now go home."

hashirama whispered her thanks, kneeling on the dry pebbles. "can i see you again someday?"

"as long as you promised me you won't do such thing again." he pointed at her.

"i promise!" she quickly said. "i'm hashirama."

"madara." he gave her a brief smile before disappearing into the water.