"Hello, my dear." Ren said, entering the room. His guards had taken her from the tank and her human body was still wet and her long hair was glued on her naked figure. The scarlet eyes narrowed when he got close and he could see her fangs. "Still in a bad mood, I see. It is a shame. You lost so much weight already. How long are you going to be stubborn?"

The shockwaves started to appear around her, but they were falling and weak, barely protecting her and Ren laughed. The only got to eat when Kaori was able to sneak in without the guards looking.

"See? He got even closer and kneeled in front of her, smiling. "You are too weak to protect yourself."

The shockwaves stopped for a moment and her features softened. The young man stretched his arm and touched one of the red locks. The mermaid looked at him, interrogating the pink eyes.

"There you go. Much better now, right?" he asked, his fingers brushing her cheek slowly. "Just be a good girl and I will not hurt you."

#########

When Kaori arrived at the basement, the guards had finally been able to retrieve Ren from the mermaid. He was holding his head and there was blood all over his right hand and shoulder.

She looked at the mermaid and her face and body was also covered with her brother's blood, his ear on her fangs. Kaori froze on the door, unable to do or say anything due to such horrible sight.

It was like the mermaid was possessed and she was making an incredible effort to jump over Ren, hurting her wrists and ankles pulling the chains with all her incredible strength. Kaori was sure that, if the chains were lighter, her brother would be dead by now.

"You fucking bitch!" Ren screamed, when she spit his ear on the floor. "You will regret this, you will rot on those chains and I will feed your body to the dogs!"

The mermaid smiled and licked her lips, while the young lord was taken away to receive medical care.

##########

Shuichirou woke up and his eyes focused on the empty side of his bed. It was already morning. His heart was tight for a moment, imagining Kaori had left him again without saying goodbye, but when he sat down, he smiled. The Muramasa's lady was sitting on a chair, her eyes focused on the fireplace burning. A week had passed by since they last had lunch together. She had knocked on his house again, in the middle of the night, but didn't say anything before cupping his face and kissing him deeply. Soon, his clothes were on the floor and they were on his bed.

He observed her. Her long purple hair was tight on a bun and the light blue furisode was half opened over her naked body. Oishi could see part of her breasts and the smooth belly he had kissed so much a few moments before. Her beauty always struck his heart and he felt very lucky for being chosen by her.

"A golden coin for your thoughts." He said, gently, making her look at him and smile.

"I am sorry, did I awake you?"

"No." Kaori stood up and walked towards him, giving him a soft kiss before sitting by his side. "You are thinking about the mermaid again, right? Tell me. That is why you came tonight."

"Yes." Her thumb brushed his cheek. "But it was not the only reason. I wanted to see you too."

"I am glad, then." He kissed her palm.

"I think it's better to wait until snow starts to fall and get thick to let her go."

"Why is that?"

"It would be harder for the guards to find her in a blizzard. And to move around with the horses, looking for her."

"It makes sense. Do you think the mermaid can wait that long?"

"She is very strong. I am sure she can handle it."

"How can I help you?"

"I will need you there to open the gates while I deal with the guards."

"What about Ren?"

"I will deal with him too." She gave him a long kiss. "I need to go now. I need to be on the castle before Ren wakes up."

"Okay." He caressed her cheek, before kissing her back.

#############

"It is all good." Ryoma had a small smile on his face, removing Sakuno's last bandages from her leg. There was a small scar, but it had finally healed completely. "Can you stand and put your weight on this leg?"

Sakuno obeyed and smiled happily at him.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Ryoma."

"I'm glad I could help." He said, sincerely.

Sakuno looked to the windows and the sound of the waves crashing high on that crescent moon night reached her heart to the core.

Her hands reached Ryoma's face and she looked at the golden eyes.

"Sakuno, what's wrong?"

"Ryoma, can I go now?" her question surprised him. "Can I really go?"

Her words made his chest tight. He knew she had a life of her own somewhere and that she would leave, but, deep inside, he had some small, stubborn hope that she would choose to stay. He lowered his eyes and the black bangs hid his sadness.

"Of course you can. You are free to do whatever you want." He stood up, wishing to distance himself from her touch and started to walk towards the kitchen. "Let's go to sleep, tomorrow morning, I…"

The cold wind entered his house suddenly and he turned around, realizing the door was wide open. Running there, he stopped for a while, shocked to see Sakuno taking off the dark yukata she was wearing before. The moon light bathed her naked body while she ran towards the sea.

"Sakuno, wait! What are you doing?!" he ran after her, but her speed was phenomenal. He couldn't believe that she had just recovered from a serious wound.

Sakuno entered the water and, in a glimpse, she disappeared inside the strong waves.

Ryoma stood there on the sand, breathless, his hands on his knees. What had just happened?! Why did she jump inside that freezing water?!

The golden eyes tried to see her between the agitated waves, but it was in vain.

"Sakuno! Sakuno, where are you?!"

He continued to call her name for a long time, the cold making his bones ache.

"Sakuno…" he whispered, already dishearten. He was sure she had killed herself.

Ryoma was ready to return home and mourn her, when a loud sound coming from the sea reached his ears and he turned around.

He felt his entire blood freeze inside his veins and his heart dropped to the ground.

Sakuno had jumped from deep inside the sea into the surface, making a half circle movement outside the water. She smiled at Ryoma, feeling extremely happy and finally free into every core of the word.

The golden eyes were wide in absolute shock. Her beautiful legs had transformed into a mermaid's tail, the red scales glistering under the bright moonlight.