Akutagawa was curious as to what everyone was abuzz about. The Navy was looking for something or someone that had been stolen from them. He frowned as he sipped a dark ale in one of the taverns surrounding the Port of Yokohama. The day was still early but he was in a dark mood already. Granted, dark moods and him were partners most the time.

He looked back to the docks where the Port Mafia was docked. They were privateers that worked for the Navy in a way, but really, they didn't do a lot for them. They harassed ships that shouldn't be in the area, and lately, they'd been looking for anything "unusual" in the sea. He frowned and wondered if the Navy had gotten their hands on the unusual thing they were looking for. He sighed and got up, draining the last of his drink before he turned and headed back down to the docks. He stopped as he got near and saw the Ada was in dock as well.

Even though it had been four years, he still hated that his one-time mentor was now on that ship. He'd been devastated when he left the Port Mafia and disappeared. He wouldn't show it to anyone, though, how betrayed he felt. Now, instead, he expressed hatred toward his past mentor. He did hate him, of course. He hated that he had never been good enough for him, and he hated that he had never been able to show his worthiness to him more than anything. But now he was one of the leaders on the ship, and he was respected as one of the bloodiest of their number. He reveled in killing and had no qualms about doing it. He had learned under one of the bloodiest ever to serve on the Port Mafia, his mentor, Dazai.

He snarled and headed up the gangplank to the Port Mafia, trying desperately to ignore the other ship. Now that he knew it was there, though, he could only see it. He growled under his breath and when Higuchi asked him what the problem was, he lashed out and slapped her. He wasn't in the mood to discuss it with his own underlings. Because now he wasn't an underling anymore, he was the one that had underlings. He was too focused on his own thoughts, though, and nearly ran into Tachihara Michizō.

"Whoa, Akutagawa, watch where you're going," he said and frowned at him.

"Fuck off," he said and continued down to the interior of the ship.

He was definitely not in the mood to deal with Michizō at the moment. He found his way to his own quarters and fell into his cot. He was focused on the fact that Dazai was here at the same time he was and he wanted to do something about it. He quickly found that he couldn't rest there and got up again. He headed up to see what the captain, a man named Mori, was doing. He found his way to the captain's cabin and knocked on the door.

"Enter," he said and looked up as Akutagawa opened the door.

"Captain, I was wondering if you heard the rumors that the Navy is looking for a creature that was stolen from them," Akutagawa said and saw the picture of Mori's daughter, Elise, sitting on the desk. He often wondered how he stood being away from his child for such long periods at a time. She lived here with a governess that took care of her most the time.

"I have, did you uncover anything about it that I should know?" he said to him as he put down his pen.

Akutagawa sighed and gave him a sour look. "The Ada is in dock and I bet they have something to do with it."

"The Ada?" Mori said with an arched brow. "That is interesting. Well, as a part of the Navy, we should help them, don't you think?" Mori gave him a sly smile.

"I think so. I'll go back to the docks and see if I can locate where they're staying in the town. Would they be so stupid as to steal something from the Navy?"

"Dazai is with them now," Mori mused, looking at him narrowly. "He wouldn't care if the Navy was involved if it as something that he wanted. Investigate. Take Hirotsu and send him to check in the with the Naval commander. Find out what exactly they stole and why it is so important to the them to find."

Akutagawa nodded, a little annoyed at having to bring Hirotsu into this little investigation that he had begun. He quickly found the older man that often acted as a go-between for Mori and the Naval Commander.

"Captain wants you to go to the Naval Commander and find out what has the Navy in an uproar lately and see what they need done," Akutagawa said without a trace of emotion.

Hirotsu snorted and nodded to him. "Very well," he said stiffly and headed out to go follow the orders.

Akutagawa decided to continue his own investigation and headed out.

-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-

Chūya woke up with a start and whined. He hurt in less than mentionable places. He felt someone move beside him and he remembered suddenly what had happened last night after they'd eaten. He'd done something with this human that he had only seen other animals do under the sea.

He looked at the human and wondered, were they now mates? In the sea, some creatures mated together for life. Some didn't. He tilted his head to the side and looked at this strange human creature that he had found himself with. He reached out and gently brushed dark strands of hair out of his face and looked upon him in his sleep. The bandages he kept wrapped around his neck were coming a bit looser than they had been the night before, and he slid one finger underneath to feel ridged skin there. Scars? He pulled his hand back and realized that he had no idea where to go from here.

"Morning," Dazai said suddenly surprising Chūya into jerking nearly off the bed.

"M-Morning," Chūya parroted back. He supposed that was customary greeting afterward?

Dazai sat up, stretching his arms over his head and smiled at him. Once more, Chūya felt his face heat up in that funny way. "You look bothered by something?" Dazai asked, his face contorting into concern.

"I just…I don't know what to do after what we did."

Dazai reached out and used one hand to cup his face gently. "Well, I would hope that you'd be inclined to do that again. You seemed to enjoy yourself quite a lot…"

Chūya's face burned actively now as he swallowed down a ball in his throat. "Sh-shut up! Fucking human Dazai!" he said and got up to go in the bathroom.

He leaned over the sink, still wobbly on two legs. He glared at himself in the mirror and realized how not human he looked. He swallowed hard again and thought, What would a human like Dazai want with a mate like me? That thought crashed into him and he couldn't stop thinking about it. It was all that was in his mind. He wasn't human. In fact, he didn't know how he was supposed to live among humans. He reached up and touched his frilled ears, and the gills that were now still on his neck. He glanced at the webbing between his fingers. How could he thin that a human would want such a thing as him as a mate.

"Chūya," came Dazai's voice from outside the bathroom. "Please come out."

He did and didn't want to see him again. He wanted to be held again. But he was mad about that fact. Still, he didn't want to deny his own strange feelings of desire for the human who had saved him. He opened the door and looked up into his dark eyes and found himself lost within their depths once more. Why did this have to happen and make his simple, free life so very complicated?

"What?" he snapped, trying to look angry. He wasn't going to show softness to this human even after what they did.

Dazai gave him a crooked smile and reached for his hand. Without thinking better of it, Chūya took the hand he offered and was led back to sit upon the bed once more. He looked down at where their hands were connected and wondered, was this the connection he was missing before? What if he threw him back to the sea and forgot all about him again? He could do that, this human. He had a life above the waves without Chūya.

"You seem to fret on something," Dazai said, carefully interlacing his fingers with Chūya's webbed hand.

"A-are we mates now?" he asked finally, not looking up at him at all because he couldn't.

"Mates?" Dazai asked, at first sounding a bit confused. Dazai reached out and used his finger to tip Chūya's head upward to look him in the eyes. "Do you want us to be mates?"

"Well, it's just that after what we did, isn't that what happens?" Chūya finally asked.

"In the human world, you can do those things without becoming mates," he said and Chūya's stomach dropped. Did that mean he didn't desire to be mates with him?

"Who-who would want to be mates with you!" Chūya said with a frown, trying to look away, but Dazai caught his face and turned him back.

Before he could move away, Dazai leaned in to kiss him, and once again, Chūya was trapped by this human. He leaned up into it, giving him access to his mouth and returning the passionate kiss that ensued in a soul encompassing sensation. He couldn't get enough of the sensations of being touched and held by someone, and he wondered if it was just this human or if any human would give him the same reaction. He doubted it. He remembered this human from many years ago, and there was something special about him then as there was now.

"If you'll have me as your mate, that's a name I'll gladly take," Dazai whispered against his lips, licking the seam until he was ravaging his mouth once more.

The knock on the door broke their moment and Dazai turned and looked at it as though it had personally chosen to offend him by being knocked upon. He huffed a sigh and stood up, pulling his pants on as he went. He opened it to find the other human, the one with blond hair, standing there. He came in and looked between them both.

"The Navy is starting to search ships. You'll have to stay put until they've searched the Ada. And I think that the Port Mafia is looking into it as well."

"Well, that is a nuisance." Dazai turned back and smiled at him. "Looks like we'll be stuck here a bit longer."

Chūya flushed red, getting a curious look from Kunikida. He didn't say anything, though, just turned and left again.

"Now, where were we?" Dazai said as he came back over to the bed and brought his lips close to Chūya again.

-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-

Fukuzawa stood with his arms tucked into his sleeves as the naval men went about his ship. He was slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"You will find nothing on board the Ada that belongs to the Navy at all," he stated as the men ignored him and continued looking.

They had boarded the ship looking for "stolen property" and enacted their ability to search the ship at that time. Fukuzawa had to let them because to deny them was a punishable offense. They had gone over every inch of the ship and found absolutely nothing out of place and nothing untoward. There was nothing to be found upon the Ada of course. He stared down at the dock and saw one of Port Mafia's men, Akutagawa, watching as the Naval men went over the ship. So they were curious as to what the Navy was searching for and obviously they thought the Ada contained it. They were wrong, of course.

"Alright, men," the commander said as he came out of the captain's room. "Nothing here either."

"I told you as much," Fukuzawa said with an annoyed sigh.

"Have to check all the ships in the docks," the commander said and turned to take his men off the ship.

Below, on the dock, Akutagawa swirled his coat and walked away, apparently having been satisfied that there was nothing of interest on the Ada after all.

"Sir, how are we going to get that creature onto the boat with them looking so hard for him?" Atsushi asked quietly from beside him.

Fukuzawa sighed, shaking his head. "It will be more difficult than ever with the Port Mafia's eyes on us as well."

He turned and disappeared back into his cabin, leaving Atsushi to watch after the retreating Naval men. He nearly jumped when he heard someone at his elbow and looked to see Kenji standing there.

"You are worried," Kenji said with his usual smile. His hat hung behind his head on his back by the string at his throat.

"Yeah, that creature, the mermaid. How alone he must have been for so long out there in the sea, and now people have found him and wish to study and experiment on him. How would anyone cope with something like that easily?" Atsushi said with a sigh as he leaned over the side of the ship.

Kenji patted him on the back. "The captain will figure out how to help him. Don't worry, there will be a happy ending to the story."

Atsushi wished he had Kenji's optimism. He leaned over the edge and watched as the black clad man from the Port Mafia ship walked by yet again. He got a strange sensation from him, almost a murderous intent that he exuded. He shook it away and saw Kunikida coming back to the ship again. He had gone to tell Dazai that they would have to wait even longer because of the ships being searched by the Navy.

Kunikida walked up the gangplank with a sour look on his face and Atsushi wondered what that could be about. He didn't know for sure, but he thought the other man was having a hard time being the go-between like this. He disappeared into the captain's cabin quickly, leaving Atsushi to wonder what exactly was happening now. Instead of dwelling on it, Atsushi went about his duties and forgot about what was going on for a little while. They were a day late leaving already, and now they were even further behind waiting on the creature to be brought to the ship.

Kunikida emerged from the captain's cabin with a neutral look to his face now, so apparently whatever had bothered him had been alleviated by the captain. He wandered over by where Atsushi was standing, swabbing the deck with a mop.

"That damn Dazai is always getting us into things," Kunikida said as he leaned over the side of the ship. "Of all the things to get us caught up in!"

"It was very kind of him to rescue that poor creature. No doubt he was being tormented by those that had him," Atsushi said as he mopped around Kunikida's feet.

"Kind? I don't know what his angle is, but him doing something out of kindness just doesn't sound right. I don't know why he did what he did but now we have to deal with it. I can't leave that poor creature to suffer at the hands of the Navy, that is for certain." Kunikida turned and leaned with his back to the side of the boat, now looking at Atsushi. "What do you think of all this, lad?"

Atsushi shrugged. "I think that it is good to help others, especially those that are suffering."

Kunikida sighed and nodded. "Well, we're going to have to try and get him to the boat tonight," he said with a glance out at the dock. The Navy men had gone to the next boat over. "I'll go find some clothes that we can disguise him with," Kunikida said and pushed off the side to go below deck and do just that.

-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-

Dazai sat beside the once more sleeping merman. He was completely exhausted after Dazai was done with him the second time. Or it might have been third and fourth that did the poor creature in. He couldn't get his mind off the supple body of his merman. That was the way he saw him already, and he would remain the sole person to possess him, not the Navy or anyone else. He jumped slightly at the knock on the door again.

He got up and found it as Kunikida with an armload of clothing. "We thought something in this might better disguise him."

Dazai nodded and let him into the room. Kunikida glared at the passed out merman and had a pretty good idea what had tired him out so fast. He shook his head and dropped the pile of clothes which included a hat on the foot of the bed.

"A hat?" Dazai said, picking it up. "That might disguise his ears well enough to walk him to the ship."

"That's what we were thinking," Kunikida said and crossed his arms. "Dazai, you don't want to let him go, do you?"

Dazai looked at Kunikida innocently. "Why would you say such a thing? He wants to go back to the sea."

"Does he now?" Kunikida asked with a narrowed glance. "You found yourself someone that captured your interest for the first time. And now you don't know how to handle it."

"Like you're one to ask about that, with your 'ideal' woman that can never exist!" Dazai reminded him.

Kunikida sighed and shook his head. "You are the one to get entangled, not me," he said and left the room again, leaving Dazai alone with his merman and his thoughts.

Was Kunikida right? Was he in the position that he didn't know how to handle these emotions he was feeling? This was much more than just the desire to possess. That was there as well, but there was a part of him that would let Chūya go, should he want to be let go. Because whatever would make him happy would be what he did for him.

He looked over in surprise as he heard Chūya mumble in his sleep. He couldn't understand the words, but he was dreaming of something. He sat down beside him and ran a hand through the red locks upon his head and realized how much he wanted him to stay with them. He would offer to keep him safe on the Ada if he wanted to stay. The captain wouldn't argue. He would allow someone like Chūya the benefit of the doubt to become one of the crew. Once he was one of them, he could swim as he chose and walk as he chose. And Dazai wouldn't have to say goodbye.

Chūya sat up suddenly, gasping for air. Dazai turned and put an arm around him in concern.

"Oh, I'm on land," he said, panting as whatever dream had gripped him seemed to leave his mind.

"Yes, you are," Dazai confirmed. "And we have some other clothes to try on you and see about getting you to the ship once the night comes."

Chūya looked at the pile of clothing and reached for the hat. He put it on his head and looked at Dazai. Immediately, Dazai felt a flush. He was adorable with the hat on. It did cover the tops of his ears to hide them. He stood up and started going through the pile of clothes, finding a pair of pants and a coat. Dazai helped him dress again, and once he was dressed, he was impressed. Unless someone came up right close to him, they would think he was just another human.

"You look wonderful!" Dazai said and hugged him suddenly.

Chūya flushed red in the face but hugged him back. "So, I'll be able to go home."

Dazai held onto Chūya without looking at him for a few more seconds before he let go. "Do you want to go home?"

"Of course!" he snapped but there was a confused look on his face.

"I like having you around. Do you like having me around?" Dazai asked now.

Chūya swallowed and turned away from him. "I don't know, stupid human."

"Will you stay on the ship?" Dazai tried not to look like he cared so much about the answer, but he couldn't help his betraying face.

"Can I?" Chūya said, looking up suddenly.

"I'm sure we can figure out how to keep you safe on the Ada. I have to ask the captain, but I don't see him saying no to allowing you to stay." Dazai knew that Fukuzawa would keep him safe.

"What about the Navy that had me?" Chūya asked him.

"They will still look for you, I'm sure, but we can hide you from them. They rarely come on board the ship and you can hide in the sea if they did," he told him with a smile.

"I don't know," Chūya frowned and sat down on the bed with a groan.

"Are you okay?" Dazai asked as he came closer.

"No, stupid human Dazai!" he growled and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sore and it's your fault!"

Dazai smirked and patted him on the shoulder. "Well, you weren't complaining during."

Chūya licked his lips and stared at Dazai. "I don't want to be alone again," he whispered suddenly.

"You spent your life alone, and it had to be hard," Dazai confirmed and sat down beside him, putting his arm around his shoulders. "If you stay on the Ada, you won't be alone because I'll be there."

"You would want to be there for me?" Chūya asked with a glance at him from under the brim of the hat.

"I would like to stay near you," Dazai told him as he squeezed his shoulders. "I don't share very well, and you would be my only one."

"As mates?" Chūya asked again, curious at how serious he was. "Mates are for a lifetime."

Dazai thought about the significance that Chūya was placing on the term mate and knew he had to take it seriously or he would harm their relationship.

"As mates." Dazai knew he was making a promise to him that was more than just a single day and night of fun. He took that very seriously.

Chūya nodded and entwined his fingers with Dazai's as far as they would go because of the webbing that was between them. Dazai thought they were lovely hands. In fact, his merman was quite lovely all over, he thought. He smiled suddenly, the thought of living on the Ada with him was attractive and being able to see him swim freely when he wanted to do so.

So, they sat like that until darkness fell outside. Dazai had gone and retrieved food for them both again, and they ate it in silence while they awaited the night to come. Chūya was dozing off when there was a knock at the door again. Dazai got up while Chūya sat up on the bed again, hat having gone crooked as he laid down.

"We're ready," Kunikida said with a nod. "The Navy searchers have gone for the night, and there is barely anyone out tonight."

Dazai took Chūya by the hand and nodded to him. "Let's go and see if we can't get you to the sea, or at least to the boat."

"Are you sure this will work?" he asked, pulling the hat down over his ears and straightening the coat over his shoulders.

"It will," Dazai said as he held tightly to his hand and led him outside for the first time.

Chūya hesitated but walked with him, keeping up with the slow pace that Dazai had set for him. Dazai knew he couldn't move too fast because Chūya wasn't used to walking that much. As they came closer to the docks, Kunikida started looking around. Dazai felt Chūya's hand pulling on him some as he began to tire quickly of the walking.

"Just a little further," Dazai promised because he could see the Ada now.

"I think we've got a tail," Kunikida said tightly as they stepped onto the dock.

"We are almost there," Dazai said quickening his pace, nearly dragging Chūya with him as the ship loomed ahead of him.

"Interesting that you have a new crewman all of a sudden," a voice ahead of them said as Dazai watched a man step from the shadows. "Curious, considering the Navy is looking for a creature that I hear is of the sea."

"Akutagawa," Dazai said with a sigh. "You."