Sakuno took her yukata off and gave it to Ryoma. It was time for her night swim. He had a small lantern with him.
"I'm off!"
"Be careful. And do not take long."
"I will be fine." His hand touched the discreet roundness on her belly and he kissed it.
"Take care of your mother while you two are out there, okay? I will be here waiting."
Sakuno smiled at him and kissed her husband, before entering the water. Soon Ryoma could not see her anymore and he sat down, waiting for his wife to return. He had brought the manuscript and started to read it, trying to find any information about mermaid pregnancy or children.
After a while Kaori appeared by his side, bringing him a cup of tea.
"Here." She offered it, with a small smile.
"Thank you."
"You are already behaving like a doting parent."
"I will be more at ease when her belly becomes bigger."
"What is this?" she pointed at the manuscript.
"It is something I bought a while ago. Tells the story of a woman that fell in love with a merman. It is suppose to be a true thing."
"What?!" she picked up and started to read quickly. "Do you think it could be real for sure?"
"I don't know. But it seems like a real journal. And all the pages there are different days and months, even if the years are not specified."
"Amazing." She returned to him. "Did you take some information from here, about Sakuno-san?"
"I did. Aki, the woman, was never able to conceive a child with the merman and they were together for many years. It is a sad love story, actually. He disappeared one day and she died alone on a cave." She noticed the preoccupation on her brother's face.
"Is that the reason you are always here, waiting for her, every time she goes to the sea?"
"I do not know what I would do if she just did not come back home. I would probably die on the sea looking for her."
"Mariko-san told me that many years ago, merpeople were hunt for their meat and the scales of their tails. Many clans disappeared because of that. Maybe that happened with this poor merman on the story." She touched his hand. "Stop worrying about such things. Sakuno-san is safe here with you. Nothing bad is going to happen."
"Thank you, Kaori."
##############
Sakuno was being carried by the gentle waves. She was laying on her back, looking at the starry sky, her tail moving slowly one side to the other. Her hands caressed her belly and she smiled.
"Hello, little one. Can you hear me? I'm your mother. Right now, your father says you are really tiny and maybe you can't understand me yet, but, I want you to memorize my voice."
A bigger wave made her go a little higher on the floating.
"Do not be afraid. We are at the sea. You will be coming here a lot with me for a while. And then, after you are born. Or, at least, if you are like me. But, if you are like your father, he can show you how to swim. Your father is very intelligent and he already takes very good care of you."
Her heart was warmed with the memories of Ryoma holding her belly every night when they were going to sleep and his concern towards her and their child.
"Your father is wonderful. He is also very handsome and he smells so good. His body is very warm and it feels good to sleep next to him. His food is the best!"
Her hand stopped over her bellybutton and she closed her eyes.
"You are already very special and we love you very much. Please, grow up properly and be born safely, so we can love you even more."
She continued to float on the tides while humming a gentle lullaby to her unborn child.
################
"Is Ryoma-kun still outside?" Shuichirou asked. It was late already and he was already laying down. They were still sleeping on the back porch.
"Yes, he is waiting for Sakuno-san. She forgets about time when she is at the sea." She sat down on the futon. "Shuichirou, since Sakuno-san is fine, I think it is time for us to come back to Muramasa."
"I know." He smiled gently. I was expecting you to say it sooner or later. "We can go in the morning, after breakfast."
"Thank you. I will talk to the people and search for a way to stop Ren. Maybe there is a way for us to…"
"Well, well, well." The familiar voice echoed on the back garden and interrupted their conversation. "Look what I found here."
Ren appeared from inside the shadows with a smile on his face. He had five men with him.
"Ren…" Kaori's blood froze inside her veins.
"Hello, Nee-sama. Long time no see." He looked at Shuichirou. "Hello to you too, brother-in-law."
"What do you want?" he asked, angrily, moving his body in front of his wife to protect her.
"I want to take back what you stolen from me. I know the mermaid is here. You took her and brought her here to Ryoma, right?"
"What you saying?! There is no way, I…" her words stopped when Ren pointed his katana to Shuichirou's head, cutting his forehead.
"Don't lie to me! I know she is here! Otherwise I will start removing your precious husband a few body parts.
#########
Ryoma had dooze off while sitting. How long was he there anyway? He opened his eyes and Ren was in front of him, with a smile.
"Hello, little brother." Before he could even think straight, his older brother pushed him down and choked him with both hands.
"Ryoma!" Kaori screamed, a few meters away. Shuichirou and her were tied with ropes, being held by Ren's guards.
"Ka…Ka…" he tried to say her name, but the grasp around his neck was very strong. He looked at the pink eyes and they were burning in rage.
"Why did you have to be born, just to take everything that is mine?! First my father, then Kaori and you even got my mermaid! Where is she?!"
"She… she left." He whispered, between hard breathes.
"Do not lie to me!" the Muramasa's lord screamed on his face. Ryoma grabbed his brother's wrists, trying to push him, but it was useless. Ren was older, taller and stronger and he continued to press on his neck.
"Ren, stop, you are going to kill him!" Kaori cried, trying to run to Ryoma, but both of her arms were tied.
Ryoma felt the air leaving his lungs completely and was starting to get dizzy when the tides started to move angrily at the beach, in circles, surprising everyone.
Sakuno jumped from inside the waves and landed in front of them. Her eyes were completely white and her fangs were showing. The electric fields were larger and wider around her body and she had a terrifying expression.
"Get your hands off my husband."