Chapter Six- Siren Counterattack

The sound of a male singing reached his ears as he regained consciousness. The sound was soothing, comforting, and surprisingly beautiful. Who's singing? he wondered. His eyes opened to slits to see brown and yellow. He blinked a couple of times to see Joey over him, the singing coming from his mouth.

"Joey?" he croaked as the song ended. He struggled to sitting and looked around. "Where…?"

"Yugi's kingdom. It was the only place I knew."

"The last thing I remember was my ship sinking."

"Yeah, I know. I saw it. I'm afraid my sister caused it to sink."

"You were there? Your sister caused it!? How is all that possible?"

Joey sighed and shifted so that the lower part of his tail and the fins arced over him. "This is how."

Seto gaped at the royal blue tail that was where Joey's legs and feet should be. "You're…you're actually a merman?" he gasped as the tail lowered.

Joey nodded and looked away. "Yes. I really am a prince, though. Mermen used to be able to become human, the time of year and length varied, but they eventually lost the ability, except me. My time was the first three days of summer until this year. I can now change anytime for three days as long as my tail is out of the water by dawn.

"The mermaids briefly become sirens and sink ships. Again, the siren period varies."

"Joey, could you pull your…tail out of the water? I'd like to see you change."

Joey complied, still avoiding Seto's eyes. The sun came up and Seto watched in amazement as Joey's tail glowed and split into legs, a prince outfit covering his body. "Amazing," he said softly.

Joey's eyes fell on his tucked legs. "Seto, I'll understand if you want to end the engagement. It'll break my heart, but I probably deserve it for lying to you."

Seto took Joey's hand getting the blonde to look at him. "Joey, I still love you. It doesn't matter to me that you're a merman. In fact, it makes you very special to me."

"And you're special to me. So, I guess we should think about getting you home."

"I'm sure Yugi would be glad to help."

"And I'd like to help escort you home. Just in case another siren shows up."

"It'll take more than three days to get home."

"I can still follow in the water and maybe I can meet your family."

"I'd like that. I think Mokuba's going to love you."

Joey smiled as he stood and pulled Seto to his feet. "But first, let's talk to Yugi and get on that ship."

"Does Yugi know you're a merman?" Seto asked as they walked.

"Uh-huh. Just Yugi. I told him the first day of my visit this year. So, explaining it to him will be easy." Joey knocked on the doors and to his relief Yugi was the one to answer.

He smiled at blonde. "Hi, Joey. I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Oh! Seto!" He blinked in confusion. "I thought you left three days ago."

"I did. Someone's siren sister sank my ship last night." Seto tilted his head at Joey.

The short prince's eyes went wide. "So, you know about Joey?"

"That's right," Joey said. "I saved him from drowning and brought him here. I explained everything and we're still engaged."

"Wow. I'm happy you're still getting married. I'm guessing you need a ship to get home."

"I do and Joey's offered to escort us in case another siren appears."

"How will that help?"

"Because I'm a merman even though I'm human right now. Siren songs don't affect us. While everyone else is covering their ears or sleeping, I'll steer the ship until we're out of range."

"Good idea," Yugi said.

"That might just work," Seto added.

One hour later, a ship of sailors from Yugi's kingdom were sailing from port with Joey and Seto on board. Joey tried to look around casually; he had never been on an unwracked ship much less sailed on one. "Think the captain might give me a tour?" he said.

"How about I give you one?" Seto replied, putting an arm around Joey's shoulders and guiding him below decks.

Joey gazed down at the water as he stood at the railing. It was late afternoon on his second day and he acknowledged that in about a day and a half he would be back in the ocean and following the ship to Seto's kingdom. Seto said it'll take two days to arrive after I change back. He looked up over the prow of the ship, looked back at the water, and blinked as the lower part and fins of a green tail vanished. His heart pounded as he rushed to the steering wheel. "Captain, I think I just saw a siren."

A look of concern crossed the man's face. He knew that sirens existed and the safe passage of his ship, crew, and passengers were of utmost importance. "I guess we better man the lifeboats and row the rest of the way."

"Captain, go below decks and take everyone else with you. I'll steer the ship."

"What? How will you be able to resist the song?"

"I have a way. Trust me."

"Of course, Your Highness." He raised his voice. "Everyone, get below deck and cover your ears." The rest of the people went down and as soon as the captain went down and closed the door, a beautiful hypnotic voice sounded. Joey smirked as he steered the ship, keeping it on course. He began to softly sing to himself; in addition to him being a merman, he figured singing would further help him stay on course.

Soon, the siren song ended and the sound of splashing was heard. She gave up and no doubt she's confused and frustrated about failing to sink the ship. He ceased his singing, quickly went to the door, and knocked. "All clear," he said.

"That was wonderful yesterday," Seto commented as the pair stood at the starboard rail, watching the sky change from night to twilight. Dawn was minutes away from ending Joey's time as a human for at least a day.

"I know. I just hope the ship makes it home without incident."

"I'm sure it will. I traveled for years and hadn't fallen prey to sirens until this year."

"Good point." Joey sat on the rail and turned around so that his legs dangled over the edge. He locked his gaze on the sky as it lightened further and the sun peeked over the edge. His clothes faded away as his legs merged back into his tail.

Seto gazed softly at the tail. "I sometimes wish I could swim with a tail."

"But you do swim."

"Yeah, I do."

"Well, I'd love to go swimming with you sometime, maybe soon. You could teach me how to swim with legs."

Seto nodded. "It's a date."

Joey grinned. "Great." His hands ran down his tail and felt a small give in his right hand. He looked down to see a scale had come loose and in its place was a new scale the same color as the old one. He took Seto's right hand in his left and pressed the scale into it. Seto looked at it and then at Joey. "Sometimes scales come loose. I want you to keep this one. Consider it a token of affection and an engagement gift." Joey slid off the edge and Seto watched as the merboy dived neatly into the water below.