The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 7

Kuroko's Pov

I stood beside Akashi by the rails with my hood pulled over my head as we pulled into to the docks and stared at the island that had been my home for almost eighteen years. We had stopped off shore near one of the beaches where Aomine and Kise had loaded the children into boats and shipped them onto dry land earlier in the day. Nobody really said a word to me, still taken back by what I had done on the slavers ship. The young boy I had healed shook my hand and the twins waved shyly to me as they were rowed away but that was all. The rest ignored me. I couldn't blame them, I was also shocked by my own actions but thinking back I was sure I would do it again.A few hours past night fall Midorima guided the ship to dock. All around people were celebrating the return of the stolen children. The ones who had been taken from other islands were put up in the inn and would be sent home with the tide tomorrow. Akashi had lowered his flag so the ship just looked like another trade vessel.

"Ready to go?"

I simply nodded my head and followed Akashi off the ship while Aomine and Kise went to pay the docking fee and gather more supplies. All around us the night was filled with laughter. The normal night markets were open, seeling warmed drinks and hot food. Children ran through the streets, laughing and playing. I expected everything to be changed but it seemed like I was the one that had changed. Nothing felt right. As if sensing my discomfort Akashi grabbed my elbow and led me quickly through the crowd and we stopped at the path that would lead to me my old home. He spun me to look at him then and pushed the hood back when he was sure no one was around.

"Are you sure about this?"

I looked into his mismatched eyes and sunk into them for a moment, losing track of where I was. I nodded.

"I need to see it."

I led the way back up the path, Akashi a few steps behind me. Normally I would see lights on the top of the hill but tonight there was nothing. No lights, no sounds, just silence and the occasional owl hooting in the distance. When I crested the top I stopped, my heart squeezing painfully in my chest. It was gone. Blackened remains stood where once there had been a grand mansion. The reek of smoke and soot still stained the area and nearby was a wooden cross with names carved in it with flowers and candles around it. I moved towards it and saw it was a name of victims. I saw my uncles' name at the top of the list and my knees buckled. I would have fallen but Akashi caught me, holding me against his chest as I looked at the list of names through teary eyes.

"Who's there?"

I heard someone call but I couldn't stop my tears. Akashi pulled the hood over my hair and kept my face pressed against his shoulder.

"Just visitors from the ship. My crewmate here had friends who worked for the lord here. What happened?"

I heard footsteps and a sigh. I recognized the voice, it was the old groundskeeper.

"My thoughts are with your young friend. I use to work here too. A lot of good people died. I was saved because I didn't live here. I have a small cottage at the edge of town where I live with my daughter."

I heard Akashi sigh, the old man was babbling. Sensing Akashi's impatience the old man shook his head and continued.

Hunters came one night, hunting the lords' nephew, thinking he was a merman. I hear they refused to give him up so the hunters set the house ablaze and blocked the doors. They were all burned alive. Only three people survived. Sadly the lord and his nephew weren't one of them. Tragic I tell you, to think that young boy was of the folk, he was terrified of water, loss his parents in a ship wreck."