Scales (Todobaku)

A Fishermen

Shoto hoisted a bucket of fish onto the docks of his father's kingdom. Shoto had long sense forgotten Enji to be his "father," but it still brought him anxiousness to be in the very territory he was exiled from. 

"That'll be 800 yen," the salesmen spoke in his merchant's accent. Shoto's eyes widened in shock and anger. Was this a scam? He knew the war had been taking a toll on the townspeople, but never had he been offered a mere 800 yen in the neighboring kingdoms. He hid his displeasure and spoke in a calm tone. 

"I'll need at least 2,300 yen to even consider the sale," Shoto spoke in a stern tone, "or I'll pack right back up and sell to the neighboring merchants." 

"These fish ain't nothing special. They're mass bred and overpopulatin' our oceans. I'll settle on 1,300 yen or nothing," the merchant scowled. 

"But I need 2,300!" Shoto frowned, stepping towards the merchant. They were earning looks from guards, and it was causing unsettling thoughts in Shoto's mind. Did the palace guards recognize him? He had ran off and fallen into the life of a fishermen in poverty years ago, there was no way they could recognize him as the king's lost son, could they? 

He needed 2,300. He needed to buy medication for his mother. 800- or 1300, wouldn't cut it. 

"1300 or nothin'! However..." the merchant touched his chin. "The fish and a favor, and I'll give ya' 3000," the man looked Shoto up and down, analyzing him for the task he was going to ask for next. 

Three thousand. Shoto's breath caught in his throat. That would be able to pay for his mother's medication, and more. What favor could possibly cost 3000 yen? He knew this may be a trap. Oh, but a risk he would take. Anything to rid his mother of the plaguing illness she had fallen into due to his father. The lack of care, lack of attention had caused many more negative effects then the king had originally analyzed for his ex wife. 

"What favor?" He narrowed his eyes. This favor could mean Shoto gained much, or lost much. 

"Don't be so suspicious, boy!" the merchant spoke in a gruff voice, inspecting the fish Shoto had brought. "My girl... Himiko, she went off do do some fishin' like yourself. In a dangerous part mind you, the one with the siren. Everyone' know's he's there, but no one has the balls to confront him. No one- no one but you. Go to the caves, check for my daughter. If she's alive, get her. If she's not- kill the beast. Kill it without remorse!" 

Shoto contemplated this. He had expert training from his time in the castle, and he knew he would be able to take on a siren without problem. Did he want to risk it, though? He had heard rumors of the siren, years ago. He never thought much of them, however, safe and warm in palace walls. 

"Deal. You better hold your word, or you'll end up just like the siren," Shoto warned in a stern voice, "but I want 1300 now, in case I fail." 

The merchant paid with some hesitation, and soon he was off to bring the merchant's daughter back. He had heard rumors of the siren, but was never interested in stories that were most likely not true. If this meant he could pay for his mother's medication, then he would take the risk. 

He wandered through the streets of the winding kingdom in his cloak. earning glares from the guards. He sped up his pace, leaving from the back doors of the kingdom- to the rocky part of the beach, the area everyone refused to go to based off the rumors. 

He inhaled the scent of the ocean, looking around calmly. He didn't understand why people were so easily scared, not everything was out to eat them. He looked around and his solitude was interrupted when he spotted a red piece of cloth on the ground near the shore. He softly walked over, the rocks crunching under him, and crouched down to inspect the cloth. Red, not from dye, but from blood. He narrowed his eyes.

"There he is! The prince! Get him!" A guardsmen yelled in the distance. Shoto's heart dropped. 

He wasted no time, not even bothering to look back. He took off in a full sprint, leaving whatever that cloth was on the beach for whoever else to find. It wasn't important. The men came hurdling after him, shouting orders and curses as they stumbled and tripped over the rocks and kelp.

Soon, some of the more cowardice men stopped. They had heard rumors about the siren and were willing to go no further. Shoto was not one of these men. His heart pounded in his chest and he gasped for air, before the ground under him gave way completely. He yelped in surprise and tumbled down into the hidden cave. 

The fall did not come without consequences. He landed straight onto his ankle with a CRACK and hot, sharp pain shot up his leg. He yelled in agony, but his breath was caught once he heard a guard shouting for him. He couldn't find the cave- the cave was hidden, the guard wouldn't find him, would he? 

Shoto grit his teeth through the pain and crawled over to a rock in the dim light. His ankle was already starting to swell, clearly sprained, broken, even. 

Behind him. There was a sound behind him. Someone, something, stepped onto the rock. He was frozen in fear. 

Tap, drag, tap, drag- the sound got closer. Footsteps. He couldn't force himself to look back, or to run. He heard heavy breathing. It didn't sound human. 

He jumped when the breath hit the back of his neck. His eyes watered in horror and dryness- he wasn't even blinking. A long, clawed hand reached out and tightly gripped his wrist. 

"Who are you?" a gruff voice whispered in his ear. His breath smelled of human flesh, his claws digging into Shoto's skin.  "I asked who you were!" It suddenly snapped. 

Shoto didn't answer. He winced when the claws dug into his wrist further, the burning in his leg intensifying. 

"Answer me or I'll break your other ankle too!"