Rosy Skies (Otayuri)

Twilight

There began to be an excitement throughout the underwater palace. Merfolk kept approaching Oabe and giving him what seemed to be congratulations. Yuri could not decipher most of what they were saying, but he kept hearing the word for "ceremony." From what he had managed to piece together, Yuri determined that Oabe was about to undergo some sort of coming-of-age rite of passage that was important in mer culture.

He couldn't help but wonder what it would entail. The only coming-of-age ritual that he was familiar with was the one from his own kingdom, so it would be interesting to see a different custom. Hopefully it wouldn't be as pointless as seeing the ocean had been. Although it was a stupid tradition, he was glad to have met Oabe and that he'd been able to save him.

Sometimes, though, he wondered what his life would be like if he hadn't met him. He would still be human, be with his grandfather, and be able to speak. And yet... it was unsettling to think that he would be a completely different person. How strange it was that a single decision could alter the course of someone's life.

The evening came that Oabe was bedecked in entirely different jewelry from usual, and was dressed in special ornamentation. As Yuri watched inquisitively from where he was lying in the sand of Oabe's room, servants placed a massive headdress onto Oabe's head. It was made from huge conchs that had pink interiors, large fronds of red-orange coral , and blue-green glass orbs that appeared to be old fishermen floats. Oabe's thick mane was put into a simple bun at the back of his head, and all of his hair was covered with a net acting as a tight snood. Around his wrists were simple bracelets made from spherical coral beads.

Guards came to escort Oabe away, and Yuri moved to follow them. But they blocked his path by crossing their spears. He tried to push past, but they forced him back. Oabe turned back and gave him a reassuring smile. Although he wished to go with him, Yuri stayed put while the guards guided Oabe away.

Something didn't feel right in his gut. He peeked out of the doorway and watched his prince round a corner with a sinking feeling. He started restlessly doing laps around the bedroom, the pain almost taking his mind off of Oabe. He was incredibly anxious, although he wasn't sure why. As he waited, he silently cursed. The sun had long gone down. Yuri tried to sleep, but found that he could not. He was too worried about his prince.

At long last he saw a dark form enter the room, and his heart leapt. But quickly his elation turned cold. Something was awfully wrong, he could tell from the way Oabe swam. His shoulders were hunched in, and he clutched his hands to his chest. He collapsed onto the sand beside Yuri, still wearing his massive headdress. He was facing away from Yuri.

The moonlight streaming in from the window landed on Oabe's back. There were strange, dark squiggly lines on it, especially in the shoulders area and over his dorsal fin. Yuri squinted to examine it closer, and gasped. He was almost certain that they were jellyfish stings. Suddenly, something clicked in his head. All of the adult mermen that he had seen had born these marks. He now knew that they were scars. The coming-of-age ritual must be some sort of test of bravery.

Anger boiled up inside of Yuri as he glared at the fresh wounds, raw and painful-looking. Some blood clouded around them, appearing black in the dim light. How fucking dare they? This was completely barbaric. Yuri began to see mer culture in a different light. What was this supposed to prove? Anyone who wasn't made of stone would express agony at such an injury being inflicted. Oabe was already reserved with his emotions, he didn't need to bottle them up any more!

Yuri wondered if he should fetch Spotty, but he realized that he had no idea where he resided. He felt so helpless. The tense muscles in Oabe's shoulders were a clear indicator of his misery. As gently as he could, Yuri got up and swam so that he was in front of Oabe, then laid down and snuggled against his chest. He felt strong arms wrap around him, and then heard a muffled sob.

Oabe didn't utter a word, but he clung to Yuri more tightly than ever that night. Neither of them got a wink of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Oabe's wounds scabbed over without further inflammation, and then formed scar tissue. Merfolk began to address him differently, with new respect gleaming in their fish-eyes. Oabe began to wear dissimilar clothing than before as well; he hardly ever wore his hair down at formal occasions anymore, which Yuri presumed was so that his scars were on full display.

He realized that none of the other adult mermen he had seen usually had their hair loose either. He considered it a complete waste. Mers didn't seem to get male pattern baldness like humans did, and they didn't even know how lucky they were. However, Oabe would undo his buns and braids when they were in private so that Yuri could comb and play with his hair.

Yuri took great joy in doing this, and relished their time together. As the days passed them by, Yuri's adoration for Oabe grew and grew like one of the flowers in his garden. He was so kind, so gentle, so generous... Yuri considered himself blessed to get to spend time with him. Oabe still dutifully took time out of his busy schedule to teach Yuri mermish.

Progress was easier now that he recognized some of the words from hearing them around the palace. When he discovered the word for "beautiful," he pouted for the rest of the day. It was a term he'd constantly heard used to describe him. Most people would be pleased to discover this, but not Yuri. It was just more proof that nearly everyone saw him as a fancy object, just a pretty thing to look at.

Oabe never called him "beautiful," he said that he was intelligent and brave and fierce. While Yuri wasn't sure that he believed that he was any of those things, it made him swell up with happiness to hear them, and made him love Oabe more fondly and deeply. Yet... he didn't think that Oabe returned these feelings. He seemed to love Yuri, yes, but in the way that one would love a brother or a best friend. It hurt Yuri's heart, but he wasn't about to give up.

They were swimming through the royal gardens together one day, when Yuri met Oabe's gaze and tried to express with his eyes, "Do you not love me more than anyone else?" Oabe gave a small smile when he saw this, then delicately kissed Yuri's cheek and took his dainty hand in his own firm one. He spoke quietly yet slowly and clearly, so that Yuri could understand. Yuri did his best to string the words that he did comprehend together into cohesive sentences, although he was certain that some of it was inaccurate.

"You are very dear to me, Little-One-Who-Was-Found." Yuri's heart did a joyful jump at this. "From the moment that I first saw you, I thought that you had the eyes of a soldier. They showed that you were determined and courageous." Yuri felt himself flush slightly, and looked down bashfully. Oabe released his hand, and they swam together in silence.

"You remind me of a mermaid that I once met, but will never see again." It took Yuri a moment to determine if he had said "always will," or "never will." Both sounded perplexingly similar. Oabe looked to Yuri to make sure that he had been understood, then kept going. "I went up to the surface alone one day to watch the sun set, but was captured." Oabe's brow was furrowed, his eyes narrowed as he remembered what had befallen him. "They made me fall unconscious, intent on stealing my parts to sell. By some miracle, I awoke in a temple. A beautiful mermaid had saved my life and taken me to it." He sighed sadly. "She is the only person that I could ever love."

At first, Yuri thought that he had misinterpreted what Oabe had said. But then he realized that he hadn't, and a nauseous feeling settled in his stomach. His heart felt like it was cracking in two, and it was infinitely more painful than the ache in his tail or losing his tongue had been. Oabe didn't know at all that it was Yuri who had saved his life that night. Yuri had seen the gorgeous mermaid that Oabe loved better than him. He could still recall her pink lips and scarlet hair and lovely features.

Yuri had foolishly believed in false hope. Oabe would never love him romantically, no matter how much he dreamed. Bitterness flowed through his veins, sickly and green.

"However," Oabe continued wistfully, "I believe her to be one of the priestesses of the temple. They vow to be celibate, and I shall never be with her." Yuri was sad for Oabe. He knew what it was like to love someone and know that they would never love him back. Oabe deserved only happiness. But through his empathy, Yuri felt a terrible twinge of joy.

Oabe would never see the mermaid again, while Yuri was with him every single day. Even if his affections would not ever be returned, he would take care of Oabe, be devoted to him, go through anything for his sake, and love him quietly for the rest of his life.