"Thank you for having me." The tall young man said, with a gentle smile. His dark blue hair reached the middle of his back and he had kind eyes of the same color. He was very handsome and his jaw line was strong. He had a deep and calm voice. Sakuno still couldn't believe such ancient merman was actually having dinner with them. "The food smells very good."
"Sakuno was the one who prepared dinner." Ryoma said, proudly.
They finally met Toshio. His grandson was right, he would come back to meet a new member of their big family. The younger Toshio told him about the red mermaid and he asked to be properly introduced to her. Since Ryoma was on their house to make the follow up on the new mother and baby, he offered him a meal at their place.
There was so much he wanted to know and it would be a great opportunity. It took them a while to be able to set a date. There were a lot of people for the merman to visit and things to do and Ryoma was also busy since the weather was colder now. Fall was on its peak.
Sakuno was very excited about it but now, sitting across from him, she was reserved and quiet, not sure of what say or ask him. The merman realized her anxiety and smiled kindly at her, trying to put her at ease, while Ryoma was serving them.
"Thank you for the food, Sakuno-san.". The merman realized her anxiety and smiled kindly at her, trying to put her at ease, while Ryoma was serving them.
"It is indeed delicious. You are very talent." He said, after tasting the ramen's stock.
"Thank…thank you." She said, with a slight blush on her face.
"Aki loved ramen. She always prepared it for me and the children on cold days. Even for our grandchildren too."
"Wasn't it hard for you to stay in the ocean for so long after living on the land, Toshio-san? Your grandson told me you stay there even in winter times now."
"Not at all. We cannot feel the cold." He ate some meat. "I imagine it is the same for Sakuno-san."
"I keep telling him I cannot be sick when I am wet from the water, but he insists in making me dry quickly and put some clothes on." She finally started to relax around him.
"I am just worried. You are expecting after all." His wife's belly was already as big as a seven month old.
"All a father can do is worry. The mothers do all the hard work. But, be at ease, Ryoma-san. A mermaid with child is very strong. Their bodies adapt so the baby can be safe." He explained before eating some noodles.
"Ah!" Sakuno remembered a question. "Once I was able to create scales in my arm, to protect him! Is it something common? I was not able to do it since then."
"Not at all. It was a response of your body to keep your child and your mate safe."
"Toshio-san, are you really more than 300 years old?"
"Yes. I have seen many things and swam in many seas." he looked at Sakuno. "When my grandson told me about a red mermaid, I was unsure if you were the offspring of the couple I met 100 years ago. But, now, looking at you, I have no doubts. You look exactly like your mother."
"Did you really meet my parents?"
"Yes. But, since different clans cannot talk to each other, I was not able to have a conversation with them. Your father was very protective. He showed me his fangs at the time." He chuckled. "Well, what could I expect? I was a young male swimming close of his pregnant mate. Of course he saw me as a potential threat."
"Do you know what could have happen to them?" Ryoma asked.
"Those were very difficult times for all of us, specially the red ones." His eyes had a little sadness. "We were hunt mercineless by the humans and the red mermaids were killed and their tails stolen from their bodies. I still can remember the bloody sea with many red mermaids floating lifeless at the ocean. It was a dreadful sight."
"How could I have survived? Since I can remember, I was always alone."
"Mermaids can create a way to protect their offspring if they feel threatened while still pregnant. It is shaped like a bubble, but solid like a pearl. It can only be broken by the child inside. They probably did that so you could be safe and you probably were asleep inside of it until the nutrients ended and your body was able to take care of itself."
"Like an egg." Ryoma completed.
"Yes. But it takes a tremendous energy for the mother to do such a thing. It is a last resource. Most of the times, our offspring is born like the human babies, even with the tails. The mothers and fathers carry them around until they are able to swim by their own."
"So…my mother saved me?"
"No matter if it is a mermaid or a human; all mothers put their child safety first. Even with the cost of their own lives." He smiled gently.
"I have something for you, Toshio-san." Ryoma stood up and returned with the manuscript on his hands. "I bought it a while ago."
"It is Aki's diary." He touched the pages with extreme care. "From when we first started to live together. She was so sad when it was lost. We just realized when we were already living here." The blue eyes were glistering with tears, seeing his wife's calligraphy and words after such a long time again. "Thank you so much, Ryoma-san."
Sakuno touched his hand.
"You still love her a lot, don't you?"
"Of course." He smiled. "For all my life. She gave up everything to be my side and she gave me so much, she taught me so much. She passed away inside my arms, in our bed, in our home. Her dark hair had become so white, like the foam on the sea. She had lost the strength on her legs, so I became her legs. Sometimes she would cry and said I was stuck with an old lady. But, I never regretted anything. The ocean is so vast and even though we were able to meet each other. I was meant to be hers. I will be hers forever."
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They continued to talk until late hours. Toshio was very happy to meet them and said he would return to land to meet their child.
Ryoma washed the dishes and organized the kitchen before going to the bedroom. He found Sakuno laid on their futon, rubbing her belly while the fireplace crepitated. Her husband laid on her back and hug her tightly.
"Are you okay? You are so quiet."
"I am just thinking about what Toshio-san said. It's so sad his wife passed away. They loved each other so much."
"It is the natural course of life for us." Sakuno turned around, being careful with her roundness and touched his face.
"It is not fair. I want to be with you forever."
"I know." He showed her a small smile. "But, you should not think about such things now. I do not want you to be sad for something we cannot avoid."
"But…" he kissed her softly. The golden eyes looked deeply at the scarlet ones.
"Do you know about the legend of the red thread of fate?"
"No. What is that?"
He touched her pinky with his.
"The legend says we are all born with an invisible red thread of destiny in this finger, which connects us with the person we are fated to meet. My red thread is connected to you." He kissed the back of her hand. "We were meant to find each other."
His wife smiled.
"The years will pass, I will grow grey and old by you side, but I will love you until my last days."
"I will love you too."
"On my next life, I will come to you."
"Next life?"
"Yes. If I am born again, I will look for you." His fingers gently brushed her cheek. "No matter what, I am sure I will find you again."
"I will wait for you, Ryoma." She said, before kissing him deeply.
In a few minutes their clothes were abandoned and their naked figures were bathed by the fireplace shadows. Sakuno touched his half opened mouth. His dark and sweaty bangs were glued to his forehead and his eyes were serious. It took him a great effort to maintain his back straight. Ryoma really wanted to hold his wife tightly but he needed to avoid making pressure on the abdomen. He kissed her knee and the little scar on her thigh. He bent a little, supporting his weight on his arms, kissing the space between her breasts and being able to feel her strong heartbeats.
"Are you okay?" he asked, breathless, his lips brushing the soft skin of her neck.
Sakuno rose her hips, urging him to go deeper and his concerns melted against her wetness.
A few weeks had passed since they made love. With the crescent belly, Sakuno was getting more tired and would sleep earlier. There were days her legs and back were very sore and he massaged ointments to relieve her discomfort. He knew she was fine on the water but wanted to stay the most time on land to be with him. Ryoma didn't want to impose his needs on her. But, he had to admit he had missed her so much and was more than satisfied to oblige to her desires. It was never just about sex between them. It was the intimacy, her sighs, her trust and the complete surrender. Ryoma slowed down a little and focused on her expressions, the scarlet eyes filled with nothing but him.
For someone who was almost killed once, Ryoma didn't worry about death, but he feared to leave her behind. Her smiles, her sweet voice calling his name, the warmth of her body, everything would be taken away from him. So, he wanted to enjoy every small second by her side. On the midst of absolute pleasure, his heart was clenched inside his chest, overflowing with the deep and heavy love he felt for his wife.