The Ending We Deserve

The Boy on Shore

Fantasy Au
Mermaid- ash
Human- eiji
Part two
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Eiji hummed a soft toon as he walked through the woods. In his hands was a basket full of fresh bread and on his shoulders held a red cloak. He broke off the trail and walked until he got to a sparkling lake.

He rolled up his pants as he kicked off his shoes. The boy stepped into the water and called out towards the open water. "Ash! I got you some lunch!" Eiji waited for a second before bubbles surfaced to the surface of the water.

Ash popped his head out from the water only for his green eyes to sparkle when he saw Eiji. The blonde squeaked in excitement as he wrapped his arms around the boy. Eiji giggled as he returned the embrace, "Hello to you too! Let me sit down so I can eat, okay?"

The blonde waited for Eiji to sit down on the edge of the shore. The water brushed against the boy's lower hips as he unfolded the blanket covering the fresh bread. Ash sat next to him leaning on the boy's arm. "Want some?" Eiji ripped the loaf in half and handed the half to Ash.

The blonde took it into his hands and watched Eiji for directions. The boy was looking out to the deeper part of the water as he took a bite out of the bread. Ash did the same. He made a chirping noise as he finished the bread. Eiji giggled softly, "Guessing you liked it?" The blonde nodded and wrapped his arms around the boy's arm.

The sun started setting to the dismay of both boys. Eiji sighed before leaning his head on Ash's shoulder, "I should go..." Ash let out a chirp in disapproval and tightened his grip on the boy's arm. "Ash, come on. I'll come back tomorrow." The blonde mermaid shook his head. "I can't go underwater with you..how would I breath?" Ash tugged on the boy's arm towards the open water.

"A-ash!?" Eiji held his breathe as the boy lost his balance and fell under the waves. Ash cupped the boy's cheeks, "Stay." Eiji's face turned red, "You-" He covered his mouth trying to regain the breath he had lost. The blonde giggled, "Here." He swam briskly to a patchy of berries and yanked one from it's friends. The boy went back to Eiji and handed him the berry, "Eat it. It'll help you breathe." Eiji shoved the berry into his mouth and swallowed. "Is it okay now..," Eiji spoke through his closed mouth. Ash brushed Eiji's hair out fo the boy's face which floated to the side. "Yeah, you can breathe now." Eiji let out a sigh before holding onto Ash's shoulders, "YOU TALK!"

The mermaid blinked before giggling, "Yes? Why did you think I could understand you?" "That's a good point..." The boy's were silent for a second before Eiji blurted out what was on his mind. "You..your voice is so pretty.." He quickly slapped his hands over his face as it turned bright red. The blonde's face turned red before he glanced away, "Th..thank you.."

Eiji moved his fingers from his eyes and sneaked a look at Ash. The blonde was twirling a strand of his hair around his finger while glancing at Eiji once in a while. The two made eye contact and turned into a blushing mess. "Uh Sorry, this got awkward.." Ash quietly lifted Eiji's hands away from his face and cupped his cheek. "It..it's fine.." Eiji softly leaned into the boy's touch. Ash watched curiously as Eiji closed his eyes. "I sometimes wish I could bring you to the village or just stay underwater with you." Ash nodded softly, "You have no idea how much I've thought about that..."

Eiji giggled softly, "And to think just a month ago I wouldn't touch water.." Ash smiled and wrapped his arms around Eiji's waist. "Hm?" The boy tilted his head when Ash tightened his grip. "Just thinking." The human boy returned the embrace as he giggled softly to himself.

Ash let go and took the boy's hand, "Swim with me?" Eiji nervously looked up before shaking his fear away. "Okay.." The blonde smiled softly, "I won't let go of your hand, okay?" Eiji nodded and Ash led him along a pathway filled with coal and underwater flowers. Ash picked one of the brightly colored flowers and placed it behind Eiji's ear. The boy smiled as a blush creeped onto both boy's faces.

It felt likes hours past with Ash showing Eiji around the reef. "Oh let me quick get the gift I got you!" Ash let his hand slip from Eiji's and he dove under. He stopped at a small shelf formed in the rocks and searched for the gift he made the boy.

Eiji's hands went to his throat as the Berry's effects started wearing off. "As-" He coughed as water filled his mouth. He tried swimming towards the surface but it only resulted in him passing out. Ash looked up and he dropped the treasure. "EIJI!" He rushed to the boy, grabbed him and dashed to the surface. He hoisted himself onto the deck of Ibe's ship and placed Eiji on the wood. He panicked as Eiji didn't move. He pressed his lips onto Eiji's and gave the boy as much air as he could.

Eiji sat up and coughed out water as he wheezed. Tears threatened to fall from Ash's eyes. The blonde wrapped his arms around Eiji as he tried getting apologizes through to him. Though they only came out a chirps. Eiji slowly wrapped his shaking arms around the half fish boy, "I...I'm fi-ine..." The blonde tightened his grip on the boy as he let out shaky sobs.

I'm so sorry Eiji, I should've never taken you underwater. It's all my fault, I'm so sorry. "Ash...I-it's Fine..." Eiji gently pulled away from crying boy. He forced a smile and pushed Ash's hair out of the blonde's face. "I'm okay." Ash bit his lip trying to stop himself for crying any longer. "It was just a little scary! You saved me though, again! I'm fine!"

"Eiji? Who- wha is that?" Ash looked up and quickly sat up straight. "Ibe?! Hey let go of my shoulder!" Ibe pulled Eiji away from Ash and in his free hand he tightened his grip on a hunting knife. Ash yelped in fear as he struggled off the boat. "Ash! Ibe don't hurt him!" Eiji pulled out of Ibe's grip and ran to help Ash. The blonde finally got over the railing and dove underneath the waves.

"Eiji!? Why would you help that thing?" Eiji scowled at Ibe, "That thing has a name, it's Ash. And he saved my life multiple times." "I...oh.." Eiji nodded firmly and walked towards the ship's cabin. Ash watched the argument through the water wondering if he should leave. In the end he didn't leave the ship.

Eiji kicked off his shoes and rolled up his pants as the previous day. "Ash! I got some rolls again!!" He waited a few moments before calling out again. "Ash? Hey come out, it's okay." The boy's face filled with worry as he noticed fishermen arguing on the fishing docks. He sprinted over, "Hey! Have you seen a blonde boy around?! He has fin shaped ears?" The older one blew his cigarette smoke in the other's face as he answer Eiji, "Yer mean the fresh catch? Yeah, we brought 'em to the museum." Eiji sprinted towards down after pulling back on his shoes. His meal for Ash was discarded at the shore.

He was out of breathe when he made it to the building the fisherman spoke about. A worker frowned, "Uh I'm sorry mister, but the building is closed now." Eiji payed no attention to the worker and ran past them. He ran through the halls until he got to a aquarium looking room. He let his legs carry him as he searched every tank. "Ash..? Please don't be in here..." He bumped into a tank, "Ouch....No..Ash.." Ash gave a small wave with a sad smile. "Hey...Eiji.." "No...nononono! Ash!" "Shh, it's okay. Just..smaller than home. I..I'm so sorry about yesterday..I should've let you gone home..." "Ash don't talk like that..." "I'm not wrong. Here. I grabbed this before they caught me." He floated to the top of the tank and tossed Eiji a necklace. Sea glass and shells decorated the black cord. Eiji tied the necklace around his neck and smiled softly, "Thank you...I'll get you out of here. I'll find a way." Ash smiled softly, "It's alright..Besides now we're closer together right?" "Ash.." "And, I can talk to you without you being in danger!" Eiji placed his forehead against the glass as Ash did the same. "Please...If I could ask.." "Hm?" "Don't let them talk to you...? Or maybe just...stay safe....yeah, that's what I wanted to say." Ash giggled, "Of course, no one will hear my voice except you."

"Hey Ash?" "Yeah, Eiji?" "I love you." "I, uh, love you too!"

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Words: 1557

Yeah, I didn't know how to end this.

But hey! I finished it! Hope you enjoyed, possibly, hopefully, maybe!