The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 23

I sat with my legs handing over the bow of the ship as we cut through the waves, the water splashing up on me. Swimming beside and in front of the Red Emperor as if they were guiding us swam a pod of dolphins. My blue hair waved in the breeze as I simply enjoyed being free. We had been on the water for a few days now. Akashi was holed up in his cabin as he went over his reports as we tracked down one of the slave ships. Kagami had become a part of the crew with ease, slotting in with the physical jobs and keeping up on his swordsmanship. He still didn't like the idea of me fighting and the fact that I had already taken a life but he no longer said I couldn't. I didn't know if was because of Akashi or if Aomine had said anything but he had finally stepped back a little acting as a friend instead of my guardian.

"Here Kurokocchi."

I grabbed the cup of lemon water from Kise, mumbling my thanks as he sat down beside me, his own drink half empty. I glanced sidelong at him as I sipped on the flavoured water. He had kept to himself the first day we had been on the ocean. Akashi had told me he was always like that after he had to leave Kasamatsu. By the second day he had pulled on his flirty, silly persona that I had known the first time I had seen him. Kagami had been shocked at the changed, only ever seeing the caring man who loved his husband. Not the air head now on the ship. He had begun to stick to my side again but I didn't mind. Everyone else was paired up and Akashi was always busy with the ship and the reports. I also felt sorry for him. We all had our partners on the same ship, his captained another.

"We should get you practicing some more."

The blonde said absentmindedly as he looked down at the dolphins before us.

"We are about half a day behind the slave ship, they wouldn't have gone far. Akashi is good at reading the tides and the storms and can accurately pin point where a ship would most likely sail. Unless you will take Akashi's advice?"

I glared at Kise and he laughed, clapping me on the back.

"Of course you won't."

"I told him we will watch each other's backs. I couldn't live with myself if I was holed up safe below deck and something happened to him."

He ruffled my hair and I half closed my eyes. I enjoyed people playing with my hair.

"Then you make sure you keep your guard up."

We turned to see Aomine and Kagami behind us. Both of them were shirtless and had sweat dripping down their chest. Kagami, like me, had a scattering of scales on his skin, courtesy of the water spray as the ship cut through the waves.

"Less slacking and more fighting. Up you get!"

He kicked Kise with his bare foot and the blonde grabbed it, almost toppling Aomine backwards.

"I'll beat you this time for sure!"

The sun was low on the horizon when we finally stopped and flopped down on the deck. My muscles burned and I groaned as I rolled onto my back, flexing my fingers which had locked up from holding onto the knives for so long. The others were exhausted but didn't seem to have the same aching body and problems moving as I did. Murasakibara came up to the deck with a tray of food that set my stomach grumbling and my mouth watering.

"We shall dine up here tonight."

Takao followed with the pot of stew while Midorima and Himuro brought the jugs of drink.

"Go wash up."

I stood up slowly, my body protesting each small movement. Kise grinned and slung an arm around my waist, half carrying me to the barrel of wash water. We dumped some over our heads, enjoying as it washed the sticky sweat off our bodies and I winced as I scrubbed my many scrapes and bruises. Kise noticed it and told me to stay there as I he rushed below deck. He returned a moment later with a container of ointment. He had me sit down and he began to sooth it over my injuries. It was nice and cold and smelt of fresh herbs. The pain began to fade. He then got to work massaging my legs and this is when Akashi walked out of his cabin. He glanced at us and I could see his face twitch but he didn't say anything. He was being lenient when it came to Kise, feeling guilty as I did that he was alone.