Chapter Text
Karasu doesn't know what he's doing here, the beach isn't exactly his scene. The sand irritates his skin, the screaming seagulls give him a headache, and the water… that's the worst part. It was a fear that he never managed to get past, not that really he tried. It had begun when he was a child, and since then he avoided bodies of water like a plague. He had managed to go this far in his life without having to face his fear, so he never felt the need to change.
Now he found himself in his own personal hell because he agreed to this team meet up with no knowledge of where it was going to be. He has been glued to a shaky beach chair reading a book that he lost all interest in, and sweating buckets from the heat for 30 minutes now. While the rest of the team enjoy themselves in the cool water.
"Are you not going into the water?" Yukimiya asked, noticing that his friend hasn't moved from his seat the entire time they were there.
"I'm good." Karasu said as he flip a page of the book he was occupied with.
"Come on Karasu you're going to sink in the sand if you keep sitting there! We're having so much fun here!" Bachira yelled from the water as he jumped on Isagi, submerging him in the water.
"I don't think crows can swim Bachira" Chigiri commented.
"I'm just fine here!" Karasu yelled from his seat. He resumed his reading with a huff. Why couldn't people just mind their business, not everyone likes swimming, why do they have to get on his case.
"Can you really not swim? Or is it something else?" Yukimiya asked after a beat.
"What are ya on about." Karasu replies, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at the other.
"Well, you look uncomfortable."
"…"
"I don't like water…" Karasu reluctantly pushed out.
"Oh, well. There are ways to get over that, have you even considered exposu—"
"Yukki it's fine, it doesn't bother me." He snaps.
"Alright, alright." Yukimiya relented before making his way back to the shore, knowing how stubborn Karasu can be.
In truth, it did bother him. He had this fear since he was a child, it was embarrassing, being afraid of water. He is a 26 year-old man scared to dip is feet in the sea, it's just water he drinks that stuff every day. So he finds himself sulking on the sand, far from the water, wishing that he never came here in the first place.
If only he got over his fear. Of course, he knew he could get help of his fear, he did plenty of research on the matter, but he never managed to commit to the idea. He would rather not ask for help so he could avoid the vulnerability that comes with it. But that doesn't mean he can't try to overcome his fear by himself. He could just slowly expose himself to water bit by bit, then maybe he will finally be rid of this childish fear that has started to become very inconvenient.
The sun had only risen about an hour ago, but Karasu was making his way out to begin his DIY exposure therapy. At this time there shouldn't be any people at the beach, even in the summer. A cool morning breeze blows past him, giving him a warning that the water would be quite cold, but it's not like he is going to fully enter the water. He will just dip his feet in and take nice steady deep breaths to calm down and then leave. Nice and easy.
He made his way to a part of the beach that he knew would be hidden from prying eyes. It was a small cove, concealed by some cliffs and rocks that surround a small plain of sand. He began to traverse one of the large rocks, and so he can sit on it while dipping his feet in the water. He hasn't been this close to the water in years, maybe he is pushing himself too far with this.
No, it's just water he thought to himself. It's not a big deal. Why is he making such a big deal out of this. If he doesn't push himself then he will never get over this mediocre fear.
He begins to squat down, placing an arm on the rock to steady himself. Instead of his arm meeting the rough stable face of a rock it touches something slimy and slippery. Seaweed meets his hand, nature betraying him. As he places his weight on his arm it slips from its position causing Karasu to lose balance and plummet into the frigid seawater.
Panic runs through Karasu's body as he flails against the water, trying to keep his head up above its surface. How was the water this deep, these rocks don't go that far out? His attempts at swimming were not successful as his uncoordinated limbs crawled at the water ungracefully, having a harder and harder time keeping himself from drowning. This was made even more difficult as the frigidness of the water caused his body to gasp by reflex.
In the midst of this chaos Karasu didn't notice the pair of arms wrapping around his waist and pushing him towards the rocks that he had slipped off. Karasu managed to scramble up on the rocks safe away from the viscous water. He began to take deep breaths trying to get a hold of his panic. At first gulping for air, but slowly relaxing and becoming more consistent. It takes a couple of minutes for his breath to steady. Meanwhile, the other figure began to grow impatient from the wait.
"Um, hellloo." A monotone voice came from the water startling Karasu, he had not yet realised that another person was there with him. He turns quickly to find out the identity of his saviour and save himself from embarrassing himself in front of this stranger even more than he already has.
"Oh! Hey than—" Before he can finish his thanks he gets a look at this stranger and stops in his tracks. In front of him is a man? Or something that looks like a man. Underneath a human torso there is a green and white shimmering fishtail. It's not just that, but even the human parts weren't right. He had patches of iridescent scales littering is arms and shoulders, his neck had fluttering gills that open and close as if they are taking in breaths. There are frills at the edges of his ears, framing is face and sharp green eyes.
"what the fuck…"
"A proper thank you would be nice."
"Yer a mermaid!"
"Merman. I'm a dude."
"what the fuck." Karasu said, exasperated as he leans back to lay on the rocks. Not long after the merman got up to join him, he laid on his side staring at the dazed human, studying his features.
"Thank ya."
"No problem."
Karasu looks back at the merman at his side. He can't believe it, this is all too much to take in right now. A real life merman, something straight out of myths right here in front of him. He wondered if any of those myths were correct. Would this merman drag him into the depths of the ocean for him to meet his ends. Or seduce him with his song, and then drag him into the depths of the ocean. Well probably not, since he had saved him when he was wide open for such an attack.
The merman broke him out of his thoughts. "Do all humans swim like that or is it just you?"
"oh fuck off." Karasu sat up in annoyance. Shooting the merman an offended, irritated look.
"I'm just curious."
"Look, I'm tryin' okay! What are ta even doin' here? Shouldn't ya be out at sea or somethin' ?"
"I live here, there are underwater caves here." That explains why the water here is so deep. Karasu let out a sigh, running his hand through his messed up hair. Who knew mermaids were such annoying assholes.
"I don't know how to swim."
"Is that why you were freaking out."
"No. Yes. Kinda… why do ya even care?"
"It's not everyday I get a chance to talk to a human. They don't come by this cove very often."
"I'm scared of water, and I'm tryin' to get over it." The merman looked perplexed at this statement. "It's not that uncommon with humans."
"Do you want help." Seeing Karasu pull back ready to deny his need for help, he added. "Because you tried doing this on your own, and you almost drowned."
"Ya offering help from the pure kindness of yer heart or do ya want something in exchange?"
"I do. I want you to tell me about the human world, and if you ever get too boring I'm going to leave you."
Karasu's considered the request for a moment. The merman is not wrong about him needing help, but should he really trust this mythical creature he just met. Could he really want something so simple? Although Karasu couldn't read any ill intention in his tone or face. And whose better to help him with his issue than a creature that lives in the water.
"That works for me." Karasu replies with a smirk, bringing his hand out for the merman to take.
The merman raise a brow at this, as he reluctantly pinched the human's hand with his thumb and forefinger. Karasu sensing his confusion, takes the merman's hand and shakes it.
"Names' Karasu Tabito by the way."
"Otoya Eita." The merman says as increasing his grip on Karasu's hand.