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Suguru's parents always tell him not to take the boat out alone, especially at night. But Suguru, almost seven now, thinks he's old enough to paddle a boat by himself.
His parents are in the house asleep, and they don't need to know that he's borrowing the little red rowboat. They won't ever find out.
So he paddles and rows and strokes, then paddles some more, until he suddenly realizes he has perhaps bitten off more than he can chew. Somewhere along the way, he’d managed to end up in the middle of the ocean, utterly lost.
A scared little whimper slips past his lips.
The stars he’d crawled out of bed to see have long since disappeared, blacked out by the dark sky.
Suguru is afraid of the dark.
There's nothing to be seen around him. Nothing but water, and the night sky. The waves are big and scary, and though Suguru is a good swimmer, he thinks it would be impossible for someone to be able to swim back to his house from here.
Why did he think this was a good idea again?
He scoots his legs closer to his chest, silent tears slipping down his cheeks.
He doesn't mean to cry. But it's so scary, and dark, and Suguru wants to go home now.
The boat rocks and creaks as the waves get stronger, the wind howling around him, and it's while he’s quietly sobbing into his knees that he hears a splashing noise from behind him.
He turns around.
Only to freeze as a clawed hand settles over the edge of the boat, quickly joined by another, and the figure attached to them hauls himself up just enough to rest his chin on the rim of the boat, watching him with open curiosity.
Suguru has never seen anyone like him before.
Hair as white as snow clings to his face, droplets of seawater falling into a pair of striking blue eyes that seem almost too bright to be real. Only then does Suguru notice the man’s smile, and with it the row of sharp teeth peeking between his lips.
“A human guppy,” he drawls, his grin widening. “Youre a long way from home little one.”
“I’m not little. I’m almost seven,” Suguru pouts.
“Is that so?” the man hums. “Can you swim back to shore from here, hmm?”
Suguru lowers his gaze.
He knows he can’t.
“No..”
“Then would you like me to take you back, little guppy?”
“You…can take me back?” Suguru asks, sitting up so fast the little boat rocks beneath him.
“Of course.” the man’s smile softens. “It’s my job, after all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I help those who fall into the sea. Would you like help little guppy?”
Slowly, the man releases the edge of the boat before opening his arms wide, smiling at Suguru with quiet encouragement.
Still a little bit wary, Suguru hesitates for a few seconds before leaning over to place his small hands on top of the man’s own.
Clawed fingers curl gently around them.
“Come into the sea with me.”
The man’s voice is so soothing that Suguru finds himself drawn to it, leaning closer, wanting to hear it just a little bit better.
He doesn’t notice the way the man slowly draws him further over the edge of the boat.
Doesn't notice how he sinks lower into the water the closer Suguru’s face comes to his.
He notices nothing at all, save for the simple fact that the man is very, very pretty.
So he tells him exactly that.
“You’re really pretty, mister.”
The man pauses, and only then does Suguru register that his own face is now mere inches above the water’s surface.
Brilliant blue eyes bore into his from beneath the water as clawed fingers rise to brush gently against his cheek.
Without thinking, Suguru leans into the touch.
The man hums, his head breaking the surface once more as it tilts thoughtfully to the side.
Through the haze clouding his mind, Suguru thinks he hears him mutter something about there not being enough meat before he’s gently lifted back into the boat.
“Let’s get you home little guppy.”
The man circles the boat, the water rippling around him as he presses his hands against the hull, slowly guiding it back towards the shore.
And that’s when Suguru notices it.
A long blue tail glimmering beneath the waves and cutting through the water with slow powerful strokes.
“Mister, what’s your name?”
“Satoru.”
Suguru hums.
“Satoru…were you going to eat me just then?” he asks.
And Satoru only smiles, the points of his teeth catching the moonlight.
The waves gradually grow calmer the closer Satoru guides the boat toward shore, and before long Suguru can make out the familiar outline of his house in the distance.
When the boat finally scrapes against the sand, the last of the tension drains from Suguru’s body.
“Thank you, Satoru.”
“Human guppies don’t belong in the sea.” Satoru muses.
“Suguru,” he corrects. “My name is Suguru, not guppy.”
Satoru cocks his head, considering him for a long second, blue eyes roaming over him before returning to meet his gaze, canines flashing in an easy grin.
“Suguru,” he sings, his voice lilting as he stretches the name into a melody. “Su-gu-ruuuu.”
His grin widens.
“Won’t you visit me again when you're bigger?” he croons, spreading his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture, and Suguru giggles.
“You’re silly!”
Satoru runs his tongue along his teeth, before giving the boat one last push onto the shore.
"Run along, little guppy.” he murmurs.
"Bye, Satoru,” Suguru calls, and Satoru sinks lower into the water, watching as Suguru climbs out of the boat.
The young boy makes it to the front door before pausing, glancing back to find Satoru still watching him from the water. He lingers for a moment longer, lifting a hand in one last wave.
Satoru simply raises a sharp finger to his lips, smiling when Suguru nods in understanding.
Then he slips beneath the surface, leaving Suguru alone on the beach.
Suguru never mentions his adventure to anyone.
And the next time he goes out again, his parents are none the wiser.
Suguru continues to go about his life in the village.
He goes to school, does his homework, plays with the kids from his class, and eats meals with his parents.
But during the nights, he visits Satoru.
Satoru is dangerous.
Suguru can see it now in the way the mermaid’s blue eyes hungrily roam the length of his body, and in the slow drag of his tongue across his teeth whenever he tries to cajole him into the water to swim.
But he doesn’t care.
He likes Satoru far too much to stay away, and he wants to spend as much time with him as he can.
So he does.
Though he never goes into the sea despite the mermaid’s persistent attempts to coax him in. Instead he remains on the shore, listening to the stories Satoru tells him and, in turn, sharing a few of his own.
It goes on like this for years.
Suguru is ten now.
“Tell me,” Satoru begins, inching closer, his scales shimmering under the pale glow of the moon. “Tell me why my guppy still won’t swim with me. Just once.”
Suguru sits a few feet away, a book and flashlight resting on his lap.
“Because if I go into the water, you’ll eat me,” he huffs.
“Oh. but I won’t. Suguru is still too small.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Humans have so little meat on their bones,” Satoru says with an absentminded hum. “Very few have ever made a proper meal, and the ones who did were always far too fatty.”
“Satoru,” Suguru sighs, shaking his head. “You’re being creepy again.”
The mermaid studies him, his head tilted thoughtfully before eventually easing back against the rock he’s perched on, eyes lazily tracking the beam of Suguru’s flashlight as it drifts across the pages.
“What are you reading tonight, Suguru?” Satoru asks.
“A fairy tale.”
“Hm.” he hums. “And what is a fairy tale?”
“A fairy tale is..” Suguru begins, pausing for a moment as he searches for the right words. “It’s like a super cool story with magic stuff in it, like dragons, witches, and talking animals.”
Satoru cocks his head at that, curious.
"Talking animals?"
"Mmhmm. In this one, a prince gets turned into a frog, and the only way for him to turn back is to kiss a princess.”
Satoru hums.
"Won’t you read it to me then, little guppy?"
Suguru flips back to the very beginning, scooting closer to Satoru’s rock so he can see the pictures too.
He clears his throat before beginning to read aloud, his voice carrying easily over the gentle roll of the waves.
Satoru listens without interruption, his eyes never leaving Suguru.
He’s fourteen and nervous.
As Suguru walks to the beach, he fiddles with the necklace in his hand, his fingers tracing along the ridges of the shell hanging from its leather cord.
When he finally arrives, Satoru is already lounging atop his usual rock.
Suguru walks over and extends the necklace toward him, holding his breath as the mermaid takes it, raising it to eye level and turning it over between his fingers with quiet curiosity.
"What's this?"
Suguru clears his throat. "I uh... I made that for you."
"Made?"
"Yeah." He points to the shell. "I found it on the beach. I thought you might like it.”
Satoru tilts his head as he examines the necklace, slipping one arm through the loop and watching it dangle from his wrist before looking back at Suguru.
“No.” He steps closer, a small laugh escaping him. “Turn around. I’’ll help you put it on.”
He gestures with his hand, and Satoru obliges.
The sand crunches softly beneath Suguru’s feet as he comes to stand behind the mermaid, leaning forward with trembling hands to drape the necklace around his neck, his heart hammering wildly in his chest.
Satoru’s skin is cool beneath his fingertips, impossibly smooth, and the strands of white hair brushing against his hands feel like the finest of silk.
Suguru finds himself lingering for just a heartbeat before swallowing hard and fastening the clasp, letting the shell rest against the center of Satoru’s chest.
When he takes a step back the mermaid has already turned to face him again, the moonlight spilling over his features, making his already breathtaking beauty all the more striking, and Suguru blushes.
"Do you like it?"
Satoru watches him, eyes piercing.
"It's nice, little guppy. Thank you."
Warmth blooms in Suguru’s chest, leaving him almost giddy.
"I'm glad you like it." He smiles, and sits back down, watching as Satoru reclines against his rock once more.
There’s something in the mermaid’s gaze as he looks from the shell necklace resting against his chest and back to Suguru.
Something ravenous.
Something predatory.
Suguru shivers.
At sixteen, Suguru has grown into his body, all long limbs, lean muscle, and quiet confidence.
All the girls at school look at him when he walks by, whispering and giggling behind their hands.
It feels nice, knowing that they want him, but Suguru isn’t interested,
There’s only one person who has his attention.
Said person seems to appreciate the changes as well, judging by the way Satoru stares at him, blue eyes roaming the length of his body.
“Suguru won’t you come into the sea with me?”
It isn't the first time the mermaid has asked, and Suguru knows it won't be the last.
Still, he refuses.
There’s a part of him that aches every time he does, hurt that after all the years they’ve spent together Satoru still wants to eat him.
But Suguru could never hold it against him.
It’s second nature to a creature like Satoru.
Suguru thinks he loves him despite it all.
"I can't, you'll eat me." He smiles, hoping Satoru doesn't notice the sadness in his voice.
Clawed hands rise to gently cup his face as Satoru’s lips curve into a razor sharp smile.
“I’ll eat you up, I love you so.”
Suguru feels himself relax under Satoru's touch, his hands coming up to wrap around Satoru’s forearms as the mermaid gently draws him closer.
They stay like that for a while, and Suguru closes his eyes, sighing as he leans into the coolness of Satoru’s hands.
He thinks it wouldn’t be the worst way to die.
To be eaten by Satoru.
But as the moonlight washes over them and the waves continue their gentle rhythm against the shore, Suguru knows it’s time to go home.
He's twenty-one; he thinks he's ready.
There's little left to keep him on land. An empty home, a stagnant job, and parents who feel more like strangers than family.
The only person who still makes life feel meaningful is Satoru, and he’s waiting for him somewhere out in the ocean.
So, on his last night, Suguru takes the boat out and rows, paddles, and strokes.
He rows and paddles and strokes until the shoreline disappears behind him, until he’s alone in the middle of the sea with nothing but endless waves stretching in every direction.
"Satoru!" he calls, the sound of his voice swallowed by the vastness of the ocean.
The night sky hides the stars, cloaking everything in darkness.
Suguru always hated the dark.
The boat rocks and creaks as the waves grow stronger, the wind whipping around him.
“Satoru!” He calls again, only to fall silent when he hears a splashing noise from behind him.
He turns.
A clawed hand settles over the edge of the boat, quickly joined by another, and the figure attached to them pulls himself up, just enough to rest his chin against the rim, blue eyes fixed on Suguru.
Suguru smiles.
"Satoru."
The mermaid grins, and Suguru shivers as sharp teeth catch the moonlight.
"Suguru. Little guppy, won't you come into the sea with me?"
Suguru swallows the lump in his throat before reaching for the necklace hanging from the mermaid’s neck, curling his fingers tightly around the shell.
Satoru pushes himself higher, bringing their faces mere inches apart.
Clawed fingers brush the hair from Suguru’s face, cupping his cheek.
“You need only ask,” he whispers.
And Suguru might be mad, and he might be foolish, and he might even be making the biggest mistake of his life. But Satoru has a hold on him, and the thought of spending his final moments with the man he's loved all these years is enough.
He thinks, perhaps this is how he was always meant to go.
“Take me to the sea,” he breathes.
And Satoru’s pupils narrow to slits, that same razor sharp smile from the day they met spreading across his face before he leans forward and presses his lips to Suguru’s.
Suguru smiles into the kiss, paying no mind to the way Satoru gradually draws him closer to the water’s surface.
Clawed fingers continue to cradle his face before slowly trailing down to the back of his neck, urging him forward. Suguru leans into the touch, surrendering to the gentle pull as cold water brushes his face, then his neck, his back, and finally his legs.
And then, at last, Suguru disappears beneath the waves.
The sea falls still once more, disturbed only by the gentle lapping of water against an abandoned boat, alone beneath the darkened sky.
Within the weathered scrolls of seafaring wisdom, sailors shared hushed secrets of salvation found in the tender touch of a mermaid's lips a whispered promise to shield them from the unfathomable depths that awaited below