The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 10

Nightfall came and with it a frighteningly strong call from the ocean. Before the sun had even set I found myself half leaning over the railing as the sea water splashed over me. I hadn't heard Akashi's panicked screaming as he called out to me but I felt his weight as he crashed into me, sending us both tumbling to the ground. I blinked up at the red head, unsure as to why he was shaking me, his eyes wild as his mouth formed words that I couldn't hear. There was a pleasant almost humming sound in my head.

"Just one quick dip, that's all."

I tried so squirm out from underneath the captain but he gripped my shoulders and pushed me down.

"Tetsuya please!"

I don't know if it was his use of my name or the pleading but I closed my eyes and blocked my senses off from the oceans call. Licking my lips I whispered, "get me down stairs."

I don't know how they managed it but when I next came to my senses I was sitting at the small table in the galley, a cup of tea in my hands and a blanket around my shoulder. I lifted my wrist, surprised to see a rope tied around it. I followed it to see it was tied to Akashi who sat next to me, his eyes full of worry.

"Tetsuya, are you awake?"

I nodded my head and winced as I felt a sharp pain. I put a hand up and touched the side of my head and hissed as a throbbing pounded around my skull. 

"Sorry about that. Your head hit the deck when I tackled you."

My memory came back to me and my lips formed a silent oh. Murasakibara slid over a bowl of warm soup which I gladly sipped up. It gave me feeling back in my body which had felt cold and heavy. I could still feel a tug towards the water outside but without the moon shining down on me it was controllable. I noticed that someone had draped a sheet over the small window and over the door, allowing no moonlight to seep in.

We passed the time by talking about some of their adventures and Akashi even mentioned his home island. Nothing about his past but what it was like and the picture he painted was so beautiful that I couldn't wait to see it. After a while Aomine and Kise came through the door and I saw the moon behind them. Instantly my body went slack as the humming roared through my head. I imagined gliding through the water, its warmth enveloping me like a lover's embrace and fish swimming around me, all colours of the rainbow.

"Tetsuya?"

"Sorry."

I shook my head until all traces of the song were out of my head and met Akashi's gaze.

"I'm okay."

He hesitated as he looked me over and I knew it was his time to take over for Midorima. Takao would already be out there, taking over for Himuro. He placed a gently kiss on my head before standing up, untying the rope from his wrist and transferring it to the table. He turned to glare at the two who had come to take their watch.

"Keep a close eye on him and do not open this door until the moon has set, do you understand?"

The two pirates nodded their heads and with a sigh Akashi turned back to me and surprised me with a kiss on the lips. Murasakibara busied himself with tidying up the plates and Aomine and Kise politely turned their gazes away but I could see their eyes crinkled up with smiles. Akashi then moved for the door and quickly slammed it behind him before the moonlight could trigger me again. When we heard his footsteps fade away Aomine turned towards me, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Now let's have some fun."

He pulled his hand out from behind his back and I could see he held a bottle of rum. Kise, smiling, revealed he held another bottle. The purple giant frowned at the two trouble makers.