Kaori was on her late father's office, doing some accountability of the state when a loud banging noise echoed on the castle. It was the middle of the night and there were some lanterns on. She went down the stairs, following the noise to the basement. Five strong men were there, hammering some long boards together and she was curious. They were putting the boards in a circular shape, like a deeper ofuro. When she was about to ask them what are they doing, her younger brother appeared from the shadows, surprising her.
"Can I help you?" he asked, standing in front of her.
"Ren." She noticed his serious look. "What are you guys doing this late?"
"You should not be concerned about it. Return to bed, you worked all day." He smiled sarcastically at her. "You are probably very tired, right, dear sister?"
She looked at him. Kaori knew her brother well enough to know when he was lying.
"Are you going to construct a bath house down here or something?"
"It is just a tank." He stood aside and showed it to her.
"A tank? For what?" the size of it was almost five times a regular bath.
Her brother crossed his arms and there was a strange glare on his pink eyes.
"A special kind of fish I will keep as a pet. You will see it."
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Four months had passed by quickly and Ren was able to make the mermaid more comfortable around him. He would swim to the rock they meet and would stay there, waiting for her to come close and pick up the food he would bring her. She would observe him from far away after accepting the treats and would show him a smile from time to time.
The way the blue ocean reflected on the scarlet eyes was very alluring, he thought.
He started to bring books with him and would read for her. The mermaid observed him for hours, trying to understand his words, but she was attracted by the deep and calm sound of his voice. She laid on her back on the gentle waves and closed her eyes, moving her tail just enough to remain close to the rock he was sitting. Sometimes Ren would stop to observe the way the sun touched on her scales and it made them glister like precious stones.
Sometimes he joined her inside the sea, diving and swimming a few meters from her. It took him a long while to be able to get close.
He had read about mermaids on some of the old books of the big library kept inside the Musamasa castle. The young lord learned about them being very strong, even the females and that, if outside the sea, their tails would become legs. Mermaids could stay away from the sea, but they would start to get weak and depress. It would be easier to control her, he thought.
On a particular afternoon, he fell asleep under the setting sun and woke up with the mermaid soft hands touching his cheeks. Her fingers were cold. She had a concerned expression for seeing him with closed eyes and sat on the rock, her tail still on the water. She smiled when he looked and touched her face back. His thumb caressed her skin while the gentle sea breeze moved her long red hair that covered part of her breasts. Ren had a new aim for the mermaid. He wanted to see her in a full human form and try her body completely.
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Kaori ran on the hallways, scared with the feminine screams echoing on the castle. She looked for her brother and his guards, but couldn't find anyone. Going down the stairs, she pushed the heavy door where the screams were coming from and stopped, shocked with the signt in front of her.
The mermaid was on the floor, heavy chains around her body. Her eyes were filled with pain and despair. Kaori noticed her fangs and how she was trying with all her strength to free herself. The chains had bruised her arms and naked torso and also a part of her tail that had an opened wound.
The Muramasa lady tried to help the the young woman, but her brother grabbed her wrist, making her stop.
"Once again here, Kaori?" he said, with an annoyed expression. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Ren, what is the meaning of this?!" she tried to get free, but her brother was taller and stronger than her and he tightened his grip.
"Don't you know? It is a mermaid." He smiled wickedly. "She belongs to me now."
"Did you lost your mind?!" she looked at the mermaid's tears. "She is suffering!
"She is only feeling her legs being changed, since she it outside the sea for a while now. Her tail is probably creating new bones and will split in two soon. I read it was extremely painful when they are forced to do it, but only the first time. Soon she will have a complete human's body."
"You must return her to the sea at once!"
His laugh echoed on the dark room.
"Do you know how long I waited until I was able to catch her? She is a invaluable prize."
"What… are you going to do with her?"
"Who knows." He shrugged, releasing his sister. "First, I want to know more things about her. I want to touch her properly. When I am satisfied, I will sell her for the higher prize. I am sure a lot of people will be interested, so…"
His words stopped with Kaori's hard slap on his face. When he looked at his sister, her pink eyes were filled with tears.
"You are a monster. Our father would be ashamed of you!"
Ren laughed and pushed his older sister violently outside the room.
"It does not concern you. And I do not care about a dead man's opinion." He said, before slamming the door on her face.
On that night, Kaori couldn't sleep, the screams of the mermaid continued to pierce her mind for many hours until the dawn.
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"Hey, close those, you might get sick." Ryoma asked gently to the mermaid. She was in front of the windows and it was snowing outside again. He was cooking lunch by the small stove.
Ten days had passed by already and the wound on her leg was almost completely healed. He noticed her expression was serious while she observed the sea. Was she worried with something? Was she missing someone? Was that… longing?
After so many days locked inside that small house due to the winter, he got accostumed with her company, even if it was a silent one. She became more docile on those past days, not growling at him anymore or showing her pointy theeth when he was taking care of her wound that was now almost completely close.
Ryoma finished cooking, putting the food on small bowls and went to her side. She had closed her eyes, to better concentrate on the waves. She didn't move hearing him get near, showing she was comfortable with his proximity. There was so much he wanted to ask her, but it would be in vain since she was not going to answer him. But, he was glad the marks on her body finally faded completely.
"Here, lunch is ready." He said, kindly and she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Are you okay?"
She picked up the small bowl on his hand and smelled. He had taught her to eat with a spoon so she started to serve herself.
"Hey, wait, let's sat down properly first."
She closed the windows and followed him, sitting across from him after he placed the rest of the meal there. He liked to observe her eating. She always had a curious look on the different food and he was happy she was satisfied with the taste, since it was the first time he cooked to someone else.
"Do you wish to stay until winter finishes?" he asked, quietly and she looked at him interrogatively. "You are still so thin. Even if you need to go somewhere, you could at least stay here and eat properly a little more."
He blushed when she pulled the yukata collar and looked inside her clothes to examinated her body, part of her breasts showing with the gesture.
"Ah!" he averted his eyes. "It's not like I'm interested on looking at your body or anything! It's just… You were so light, I could feel all of your ribs when I carried you inside."
She continued to eat, totally oblivious to his embarrassment.
"I knew you were very hungry when you first arrive, but now I'm sure you starve for a while at least." He said, while she ate some vegetables. "I really wanted to know what happened to you. I wonder if I can help you more somehow."
She noticed a hint of sadness on his golden eyes. The mermaid stopped eating and sat by his side, examinating his face.
"What is it?" Ryoma showed her a small smile. "Are you worried about me? I am the one worried about you."
He raised his arm and she flinched for a bit. Ryoma touched her hair in a very gentle movement, caressing the top of her head.
"Good girl."
It was the first time the mermaid smiled at him and Ryoma realized that, aside from being incredibly beautiful, his silent guest was also very cute.