The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 38

Kuroko's Pov

I blinked up at an unfamiliar ceiling, unsure of where I was or what had happened. I struggled to sit up, my long hair falling into my face as my arms trembled. Hands steadied me and helped me up, brushing the hair out of my face. I smiled up at Kagami who was looking down at me, worry in his eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

I looked down at my body and noticed my wounds were healed.

"I'm fine, Akashi?"

I gripped his hand as I remembered what had happened.

"Is he okay? Did it work?"

Kagami nodded and tied my hair back and washed my face. I let him do it. When he was worried he liked to care for me like he had when I was a child and I was glad of it this time. My body felt so weak and I didn't want to tell him that I ached as well, he looked afraid that I might break if he touched me too hard.

"He is fine, running around like a sprightly chicken thanks to you. There are some-umm-changes."

He finished with my hair and I raised a quizzical eye brow at him. In response he grabbed a mirror and I looked at myself. I touched my cheek as I stared at my reflection. A gold ring circled my blue eyes giving me the look of some mythical creature and I caught flashes of gold in my hair.

"Wow, just like a merman," I chuckled to myself.

"Akashi has had some changes to but he is fine. We are all fine but I don't know what is going to happen after this. I don't know how this will affect you physically or how long you will live, if you can change or"- I put my hand up to stop his words, touching his lips and shaking my head.

"We will deal with it when it comes. For now we are alive."

My stomach gave a grumble and a small laugh forced itself out of Kagami's mouth.

"And I'm hungry."

Kagami left and returned quickly with a platter of food and the rest of the crew. Aomine and Kise jumped on the bed and squeezed me. Murasakibara and Himuro ruffled my hair while Takao handed me a cup of vanilla coffee. When they moved out of the way I was shocked when Midorima leant down to kiss my head.

"Thank you for saving him."

I grinned at the room of pirates, my family and shook my head.

"I would do it again anytime, for any of you."

As I devoured the food they told me of what had happened while I had been unconscious. We were back in the skull Isle's and Akashi had brought all of the pirate captains under his banner. He had another crown, he was know the prince of Teiko and King of pirates. They had outlawed slaving and were tracking down any who still practiced it, sinking the boats and punishing the crew. Momoi and most of the slaves they had rescued would be coming back to Teiko with us, after all they were our people. The fort had been bombarded and burned to the ground, none of the evil created by the hunters was left. I listened to them all, happy that something good had come from such a horrible beginning. I wanted to put off the horrible feeling I had, the realisation that more had changed then they knew, but as time continued on I realised that I would have to speak up soon. After I had eaten everything Murasakibara grabbed my empty plates and Aomine tossed me a jacket

"Come on, I am sure you can't wait to see Akashi."

When I didn't move everyone looked back at me. I tried to smile but my lips trembled as I gripped the sheets in my fist.

"Tetsu, what's wrong?"

"I can't feel my legs."

*One month later*