Author: Rasengan22

Chapter title: The Little Merman

READ ME!

Note: First of all, I want to explain what this will be. I don't really write a lot of drabbles, I write stuff that is very LONG. Sometimes I begin stories and am not able to finish them because I lose my interest or inspiration, so on and so forth. So this thing called "Scrapped" will be where I put the stuff I've started but will never complete. Obviously, this wouldn't include multi-chaptered fics; only stuff that was meant to be multi-chaptered.

For example, I started this particular Little Merman fic with the intention of following the real Mermaid story, but I lost interest like the day after I wrote it, but it can be enjoyed on its own. So that's what the rest of the installments will be like. Stuff I tried to start but... it fizzled. If you find any of these ideas interesting, I actually don't care if you wanna base your own story off of them. It'd be cool if you give me a heads up though so that people don't go and accuse you of stealing, not that I'd send a mob after you or anything. And I said you can use the IDEA or scenario, not the actual stuff I've already written.

The Little Merman

A school of shiny, silver colored fish zigzagged in the clear blue depths of the ocean water. Light streamed through from above the surface, casting warm hues over everything. Here, the water was not so very deep. The bottom was alive with a whole world of life. Pink and orange coral stretched over rocky terrain that jutted up from the moss-covered ground.

Far beyond the scene, there was a low, calling sound. The song of a pod of blue whales. Speaking to one another in a tongue only known to those that dwelled underneath the ocean.

Just as the school of fish zoomed to the left again, there was a shadow that cast itself from above. A large object hovered above them, causing the frightened creatures to scurry again. They moved together, hoping they would be safer in numbers when suddenly something fell down into the water.

Their eyes shifted about in fear, tiny black orbs moving quickly. Mouths gaped. Their shimmering bodies squirmed futilely; they thrashed until they were colliding into one another like a confused mob. Until the mass of fish were hoisted higher and higher.

Families, friends all huddled together, silently seeking out one another as best as they could. Slowly, they were tugged closer to the light until the water had become the same color as the sky above it.

When the net they were caught in was tugged harder, the school gasped together. They were unable to breathe. It would have been a most agonizing sound to anyone who heard it. But above the sea, there was no mercy for those that dwelled below. To the humans, the fish were only food.

Their scales grew heated as the afternoon sun bore down upon them. Their fins flapped uselessly; gills gaped for air. Some lucky fish managed to slip through the holes of the net, diving back to safety and leaving their comrades behind.

A small fish at the bottom of the captured lot closed its eye, giving one last look to the place it had called home.

The last place that fish would ever be was split open by its gullet and stuffed on a fine piece of China in a merchant’s modest but comfortable kitchen.

“Come on, stupid, let’s go.” With a flash of a golden-colored tail, the dark-haired boy swam past his servant.

Shikamaru floated in mid-water, watching the prince dart off toward the abandoned boat. He knew he wasn’t even supposed to know what the word boat meant, but he’d read about it in his father’s writings.

Shikamaru sighed, the motion causing a string of bubbles to fall out his mouth. He watched lazily as they floated up toward the surface. Shikamaru looked far up, waves appeared to be moving peacefully. The water was rather calm.

When he turned his head, the hair in his tight ponytail rising and falling, he felt a sense of panic when he could no longer see his master.

“So troublesome,” he muttered, bowing his head. With a hard thrust, he followed in the direction his prince had gone to.

The King would have his head on a platter if anything happened to his son.

Sasuke’s eyes were wide as he came closer to the wrecked ship. The hull had mostly broken off. The tallest mast was cracked in the middle but seemingly hanging on.

Sasuke swam around it, his beautiful tail curving around the wood. He pressed his fingers over it in awe. The sheer size of it was thrilling to him.

The dark-haired boy didn’t wait for his servant to catch up to him, and instead spotted a hole on the deck. It was a tight fit, but Sasuke had a very lean body. When he worked the top half of himself through the opening, Sasuke put his arms on either side of himself and pushed.

The momentum sent him tumbling into the dark space.

Sasuke stared around him, his body whipping around gracefully as he took it all in.

He immediately swam to a wall covered with a large picture on it. The boy had no idea it was called a map, but that’s what it was. Sasuke ran eager fingers over the surface of it. His mind was unable to comprehend what all the strange marks on it were. He’d never seen anything like it.

Sasuke didn’t even bother to turn around as Shikamaru finally poked his head through the hole. Shikamaru was slightly bigger than the younger mer-teen so he had a harder time getting through.

Rather than help his servant, Sasuke swam off to another corner where there was a trunk. He pulled at the rusted latch until it gave way. Slowly, he lifted up the lid.

Shikamaru was behind him, his shadow falling over Sasuke, but the dark-haired prince ignored him as if he wasn’t even there.

“I’m not so sure this is a good idea Sasuke-sama.” Shikamaru drawled. He’d said that line over and over again, but the Uchiha heir was so stubborn, it was really a waste of breath. Shikamaru blew out another exasperated string of bubbles as he sighed. He rubbed leisurely at his temples. Finally, curiosity took hold of him as well and he peeked over the smaller boy’s shoulder.

Sasuke’s fingers tightened their hold on the lid possessively before opening it all the way. He heard Shikamaru gasp behind him.

Sasuke’s jaw fell open. “What are they?” He asked, not expecting nor caring about an answer from his servant. Sasuke reached his hand in and then cried out as something sharp poked his finger. He instinctively drew his hand back.

“Sasuke-sama?” Shikamaru’s voice was filled with worry. “Are you alright?”

Sasuke nodded his head, his black hair tousling in the water as he moved. His fin flicked in a show of agitation as he nursed the now bleeding finger.

“Sasuke-sama, that’s dangerous. Blood might attract sharks.” Shikamaru’s eyes wandered around them, his gaze staring out a porthole as if expecting a foreboding shadow to appear. But he couldn’t ignore the uneasy feeling that suddenly crept over him. Down here, the water was dark. The boat, itself, felt as if it was attempting to will them to leave.

To Shikamaru, this place felt more like a graveyard. Even below the ocean, mer-people needed a place for the dead to rest.

“Don’t be such a coward, Nara!” Sasuke reprimanded, finally deigning to meet Shikamaru’s eyes. But when he saw the older boy’s look of concern, his hardened gaze softened a little.

But still. Sasuke shrugged and turned back to his newly found treasure. He pulled one of the objects out of the trunk. His finger slid into the hole at the end, and Sasuke twirled the sharp metal whatzit deftly around his finger. There was a white wrapping around the handle. At the end of it, it came to a sharp point.

Sasuke held onto it and peered into the trunk. It was full of these things. He would have to maybe take one or two with him. Sasuke stopped and cast Shikamaru a warning glance over his shoulder as if telling him not to say anything.

Shikamaru shrugged in return. He still couldn’t get rid of that nagging feeling in the back of his head. Not only that their may be danger lurking close, but also… that they were forgetting something. Shikamaru scratched at his chin, watching Sasuke as his master scrounged deeper into the trunk. Feeling as if he could trust the prince to not get himself killed, Shikamaru swam off into another corner of the large room to investigate a pair of antlers that had been mounted to a wall; Shikamaru frowned, though he’d never seen such tusks in his life.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was sifting through the mysterious objects. Amidst all of them, he found even sharper gadgets that shared almost the same shape as the starfish. They had legs just the same as the starfish. And when Sasuke through it, it sailed cleanly through the water and stuck into a wall with a muffled thud.

Sasuke swam to the starlike object, which had embedded into the wood. With a yank, Sasuke pulled it out and pocketed that, as well.

Of course, the young mer-prince was so intrigued by this new finding, and Shikamaru was running his hands over the never before scene tusks, that neither noticed the dark presence that swam past the porthole on the outside.

Before either one could do a thing, there was a loud crash as something broke through the fragile hull of the ship and sent planks as sharp as swords through the room. Sasuke and Shikamaru ducked and rolled. Sasuke’s elbow hit the floor, sending sharp pains up his arm.

Sasuke sat up, rubbing at his head.

All Shikamaru could do was open his mouth, unable to move quickly enough as the dark presence rammed from the other side.

“Sasuke!” Shikamaru yelled, his heart dropping to his stomach. There was no way he’d make it in time.

Outside the great hall, Kakashi paced. The fins of his light-green colored tail were just as stiff as his back. Half of his face was covered by a mask, which everyone presumed was covered in scars given him in the battle more than a decade ago with the humans.

At one time Kakashi had been a great general under the former King’s command, but now he had become more of a counselor to the newest King, Fugaku. Fukagu’s oldest son, Itachi, had taken over his spot. Itachi was extremely well respected amongst all the King’s guard, as well as the mer-people that resided within the central province where the palace was located.

Itachi was intelligent and shrewd. He rarely smiled and never goofed off.

Unlike Kakashi.

Kakashi had only retired a short time ago, and today was the day in which Itachi’s promotion would be announced formally in front of all the mermen and merwomen of all of the five provinces ruled by the King of the sea.

Kakashi stopped, and gave a wary glance with his one eye toward the hallway’s entrance. “Where can that brat be?” He asked aloud, even as he pulled out an orange book from seemingly out of nowhere. He leaned up against a wall, hearing the soft murmuring of the large crowed behind the doors just next to him.

“Kakashi-senpai, is that any way to talk about your prince?” A dry voice asked.

Kakashi looked up slowly, unashamed that he’d been caught reading Icha Icha Atlantis even though it was forbidden because it had been said that it was written by a human long ago. “There’s no need for formalities, Itachi-sama. I’m no longer your fellow officer,” Kakashi returned just as evenly.

Itachi nodded, his warm red tail glistening against the backdrop of the cool-colored stone walls. “Is he not here yet?”

Kakashi shook his head, his arms crossing over his chest after putting away his book.

Itachi sighed quietly. “Father will be angry.”

Kakashi nodded. “Yes.” Then he shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be heading in Itachi-sama?” The silver-haired merman asked as politely as he could.

Itachi tilted his head thoughtfully. A pale hand brushed back dark bangs that had fallen over his forehead. Under his eyes were marks from battle. Even as the son of royalty and as an heir of the Uchiha clan, Itachi had never wanted to be far from the frontlines.

Kakashi observed him closely through the uncovered eye. Itachi was slim but powerfully built. He had the keen intelligence that rivaled many wise mermen far beyond his age. And though Kakashi had counted Itachi among his loyal soldiers, there had always been a dangerous air about the man.

Itachi gave Kakashi a subtle nod before opening the doors leading to the great hall. As he did so, there was an outcry from within the room, mostly of the female persuasion, but Kakashi could also hear several masculine cries of appreciation.

When the doors shut behind Itachi, there was a trumpeting noise and then mostly quiet. Kakashi leaned up against the wall, his tail bending as his fin flipped back and forth. He ran his fingers through his wild hair. Kakashi was only partially worried that something may have happened to Sasuke, and if the boy did decide to come back unharmed. Well, then Kakashi would kill him.

The blast of the large creature exploding into the room had caused Sasuke to fall through another open doorway. He was pushed hard, his back meeting with a wall until he fell down on the floor. Sasuke reached out his arms to brace himself as something toppled over him from above.

Sasuke shifted and struggled, his powerful tail lifting a large piece of wood from off his back. He peered about him cautiously to make sure he wasn’t being watched.

He moved as quietly as possible, his fins flipping in slow strokes as he reached the doorway of the previous room. Sasuke’s fingers gripped at the doorframe as he searched for his servant.

Sasuke’s heart began to race when he couldn’t find Shikamaru. He had dropped those precious findings on the floor when the shark had burst through. Sasuke picked up the one with the pointy edge, his fingers gripping it tightly. He had seen his brother with something resembling this. And it looked very much like one of the prongs of his father’s staff he carried around with him.

Sasuke’s dark eyes peered out through the now gaping hole in the ship. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of Shikamaru as he was frantically trying to outswim the shark, which was closely gnashing its teeth at his servant’s fin.

With a sudden rush of anger, Sasuke swam forward in such a quick motion that he was almost on top of the shark in an instant. He grabbed hold of the shark’s dorsal fin and rammed the sharp object into its side, trying to slice away at its gills.

The shark stopped chasing Shikamaru and reared back, its jaw snapping. Empty eyes narrowed at Sasuke, who in turn smirked.

Blood leaked from the shark’s wounds, but its skin was thicker than that.

From afar, Shikamaru stared in horror, too shocked at seeing Sasuke take the shark head on to even be able to move or do anything. After all, it was him that was supposed to be protecting the prince. He watched as Sasuke led the shark off in a different direction, going back toward the wrecked ship.

Shikamaru wondered if there was enough time to make it back to the palace to find help, but he highly doubted it.

Shrugging his shoulders in defeat, and wondering aloud why he’d ever voluntarily taken this position, he followed after Sasuke, silently hoping the boy had half the fighting talent that his brother had.

Sasuke, though, for the first time wasn’t thinking about his brother’s strength. He maneuvered easily through the broken masts of the ship, hoping the shark would get slowed down because of its clumsy size. But the shark was quick and agile.

When Sasuke looked away for a fraction of a second to make sure that Shikamaru was still safe, he found himself half way through the hole on the deck that he’d gotten through easily before. Sasuke’s eyes widened in confusion when he realized what was keeping him from slipping through. He had put those new objects into the pouch on his hip and now he was stuck.

Sasuke squirmed, trying to maintain control as he struggled to fit through the opening.

The shark almost seemed to be grinning as it stalked closer to Sasuke, making a show of the fact that the mer-boy was to become his prey.

Sasuke’s tail thrashed wildly, and just as the shark was about to clamp down on the prince’s tail, the boy relaxed as he heard those familiar words.

“Kage Shibari no Jutsu.”

Sasuke turned his head over his shoulder to see Shikamaru behind him.

The shark’s dull eyes rolled back into its head as its body attempted to move.

Sasuke didn’t miss a beat. He pushed himself backward through the hole, and dipped his hand into his pouch, pulling out what he at least knew were meant to be weapons.

He gripped the handle tightly in his hand, wanting to be merciful enough to end the creature’s life as swiftly as possible.

Sasuke’s dark grey eyes grew hard as his arm came down swiftly through the shark’s brain until blood spurted out like red mists into the water.

After another blow, the shark sank to the deck, Shikamaru’s shadow bind letting go.

Shikamaru kneeled on his tail, his hands outstretched before him so that he could stay upright. That technique took a lot of energy out of him, and the shark had been desperately powerful with its brute strength.

Shikamaru looked over at Sasuke, searching for any serious damage and for an instant he could’ve sworn something menacing flashed across the other boy’s eyes.

When Shikamaru blinked, it was gone again and Sasuke’s face simply remained serious.

Sasuke pulled out the sharp object with a sickening sloppy noise, pieces of the shark’s brain drifting up and then down. The suckerfish that had been attached like leaches swam about in a frenzy. Soon there would be even more fish that would scrounge and fight over the carcass.

Nothing in this watery world was wasted.

Sasuke straightened himself up, running his fingers over the point of the sharp instrument still in his grasp until the blood was cleared off. He shoved it back into his pouch and swam over to Shikamaru. Sasuke looked over his servant to make sure the brunette was unharmed.

Shikamaru knew better than to expect a thank you.

Sasuke scowled down at his servant only after realizing that he was perfectly alright, save a slight scratch along an arm. He crossed his arms over his chest, turning his head to the side. Sasuke pouted. “I didn’t need your help, you know.”

Shikamaru nodded. “Of course, Sasuke-sama.” And somehow, he managed to say that with a straight face.

Sasuke nodded without meaning anything by it. “Whatever.”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Before he could say anything else, the brunette was suddenly watching Sasuke dart off quickly in the opposite direction.

Sasuke stopped long enough to give Shikamaru a glance over his shoulder. “There’s someone I want to talk to,” he shouted, uncaring if his servant followed.

“Sasuke-sama,” Shikamaru warned. “You don’t mean…”

Sasuke shrugged. He gestured to the pouch at his hip. “I want to find out what these are.”

Shikamaru bowed his head. “You don’t seriously mean…,” he started again, his voice low.

“Yes,” Sasuke said simply before turning his back on Shikamaru once more.

Shikamaru was up and swimming in an instant, trying to get a hold of his master before the boy did anything else as stupid as taking on a full-grown shark by himself. “Sasuke,” Shikamaru dropped the title in his urgency. “It’s forbidden to go to the surface! Your father will have my head!”

Sasuke stopped then, but only long enough to shrug. “Do as you please,” the boy said coldly before giving his tail a purposefully sharp thrust, which in the mer-world was akin to giving the finger.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. He sure as hell had never been able to stop Sasuke when the boy had his mind set on something. All he could do now was follow and hope that a fish without a head could somehow manage to live long enough for him to see the clouds.

Kakashi, despite his worrying earlier about the missing younger prince stood proudly at the front of the great hall, where a sea of merpeople stood at attention.

Trumpets announced the entrance of the King as he appeared briefly and then in a puff of smoke was at the foot of his throne. Fugaku had not always been the King. Kakashi had seen several kings pass through in his time serving with the guard. Leaders reigned only for a short while it seemed, each succumbing to some bout of evil before truly having a chance at peace.

Kakashi watched somewhat bored by the flashy ceremony. There would be a droll speech, then Itachi’s abilities would be categorized and referenced until young merwomen and men alike were panting at the platform, waiting to be able to get just the slightest touch of Itachi’s glimmering red tail.

Kakashi chuckled to himself under his mask, his eye crinkling in an amused smile. Both of the Uchiha siblings received that kind of attention. Itachi remained aloof about it, whereas, it merely made the younger prince uncomfortable and broody. Sasuke was always trying desperately to escape the attention. Of being Itachi’s younger brother and of being the King’s son.

Though Itachi was next in line to succeed, should something happen to Fugaku, Sasuke might also one day take the throne. But in all the time Kakashi had spent training Sasuke, the boy had never shown an interest in ruling over the kingdom.

Kakashi was practically beaming now. In fact, Sasuke reminded him of, well, him at that age. Stubborn, pig-headed.

But there was something that made them very different. Kakashi had always believed in rules at that age; and Sasuke believed that rules were meant to be broken. And that’s where they had always clashed, even if Kakashi respected Sasuke’s potential.

Kakashi sighed, still listening to the State of the Kingdom address. It was only natural to overexaggerate and tout successes and victories. It made morale stronger; it brought the people together.

The silver-haired merman looked up to the balcony, hoping to see the royal box filled, but there was still someone missing.

Kakashi must have been deep in thought because he hadn’t realized the sudden silence throughout the room. When he turned to gaze at the King, he swallowed audibly. Fugaku was also staring at the empty seat, a furious scowl on his face. Eyes narrowed until Kakashi thought flames would burst out.

When Fugaku gave Kakashi a quick glance, the former soldier didn’t even blink. He held the gaze steadily, prepared to accept any wrath that may come his way for not keeping better track of the King’s son.

And this all happened so quickly, that it seemed only a slight pause took place before Fugaku was speaking again, his deep voice resonating throughout the hall like a booming thunder clap.

All the King had to do next was announce Itachi’s name and that he had officially become captain of the King’s guard and the entire room erupted in such a clatter that it was likely their enemies above the surface would have heard.

“Gamatatsu,” Sasuke said thoughtfully. “What do you think this is.” The young mer-teen leaned his arms casually against the small hill of the sandbar. They were still well out into the ocean, but volcanoes in the area had left a few pieces of risen land connected to a chain of islands further away. Though they were not so far away from mainland.

Shikamaru just barely poked his head out of the water. He had never touched land before in his life, and he wasn’t about to now. Shikamaru was pretty sure his mother would kill him if she ever found out he’d come to the surface as many times as he had.

Sasuke had laid out the starlike weapon and the other one with the pointy edge.

The yellow frog stared at the objects, his flipper prodding at it in consternation. If only his brother was here, Gamakichi might have had a better answer. But he and his brother had been separated years ago during one of the Great Wars.

Sasuke shifted lazily, carefully avoiding putting his weight on the elbow he’d bruised earlier and instead leaning on the other. He turned his face into his palm and stared up at the sky. The sun was an orange ball of fire, forcing him to close his eyes. It warmed his skin, and his golden scales glinted beautifully in the open air.

Most of the girls in and around the palace and of noble families often crooned about his tail, which now flapped against the water. But Sasuke didn’t care for any of them, no matter how his father tried to arrange marriages.

Sasuke had never been interested in love: being in love, or being loved. He had servants, but never real friends. Shikamaru was the closest, but even that was a strained relationship.

His fingers had been following and tracing the wrappings around the stem of the weapon. There were strange markings along the sides, but Sasuke had no idea what it meant.

Gamatatsu was still looking over the objects. He pushed one again with his flippered limb. “This, Sasuke-sama, is a…” Gamatatsu stroked his chin. “This is a otokogirai,” the frog pointed clumsily to the weapon with the pointy end. “And this is a charai,” the frog finished proudly, his fat cheeks puffing out.

Sasuke picked up the otokogirai and twirled it easy around his finger. The frog watched it move around and around with his beady eyes until he suddenly was feeling dizzy.

Sasuke suddenly looked up, a blush spreading across his cheeks. “So what does that mean?” He’d never heard those words before, and they sounded so foreign.

Gamatatsu waddled forward, looking closely at the objects Sasuke had brought with him. “Well isn’t it obvious? For a prince, you’re not as smart as you look.”

Behind them, Shikamaru snorted.

Sasuke scowled, his face turning crimson. “Of course I do. They’re weapons,” he murmured darkly.

“No! Wroong,” Gamatatsu made a sound like a buzzer.

Sasuke cocked his head to the side, fingers twitching to strangle the stupid amphibian. But he was curious to find out their uses, even if they had belonged to humans. In fact, that’s why Sasuke admired his treasures so fondly, even if owning them was forbidden.

“Well, I’m not sure,” the frog croaked. “But I think they’re used for eating. All day long, humans do nothing but eat, so they have to carry these around for when they get hungry.”

Shikamaru had swam closer, but would never come up as far on the land as Sasuke did. “For eating?” The brunette wrinkled his nose. He knew only what he’d been told about humans because he’d never seen one himself. Merpeople and humans had fought several times, and it was true that they still hunted the waters for food. Rarely did they come into contact with the mer-world anymore. The wars had almost been forgotten as quickly as they had happened, and once the new King had taken control, it had been completely outlawed to even go near the surface.

Sasuke’s eyes widened briefly and then he sneered. He wasn’t afraid of humans, in fact, Sasuke assumed that humans were probably weaker than his species. But they amused him nonetheless with all their various treasures. In public, Sasuke would have deemed these things as useless, but privately he admired them so much. He longed to see what humans looked and sounded like. If they were anything like him or completely different.

Sasuke sighed, his finger tracing what he had thought were weapons but were apparently not. Still, they had come in handy back there with the shark.

“Are you sure about this, Gamatatsu?” Sasuke couldn’t hide the disappointment from his voice.

“Yes, Sasuke-sama,” though a fly buzzing in the air had caught the yellow frog’s interest more than the conversation with the mer-prince.

Sasuke huffed and grabbed up the utensils and stuffed them in his pouch, still uncertain if the frog was reliable. But Sasuke knew that Gamatatsu, no matter how slow, had been in contact with real humans. So, he should know.

Above them, seagulls cried, and again Sasuke looked up at them. Their wings flapped as they glided in the air. Sasuke unconsciously flapped his tail, sending a slight wave of ripples behind him.

Shikamaru observed his prince, who usually he considered arrogant and spoiled at times. But right then, Sasuke looked immensely sad and lonely.

But it wasn’t Shikamaru’s job to even provide companionship. He was merely there to serve as a bodyguard as much as possible. So he was surprised when Sasuke treaded over to him, his head down before glancing up through a fringe of bangs.

“Are you ready, Shikamaru?”

Shikamaru nodded. “Yes, Sasuke-sama.” But he was frowning.

Sasuke dove back down, the pouch once again strapped to his hip, and Shikamaru following him close at his fins.

It was only when they were back on the grounds of the palace that Shikamaru was the first to slap his hand against his forehead.

Masses of mer-people were exiting from the pristine domed building that housed the great hall.

“Sasuke-sama,” Shikamaru said vaguely. “Your brother’s ceremony.”

Sasuke stopped in mid-swim. “Shit,” he muttered, his back straightening. He had completely forgotten.

Sasuke and Shikamaru both stood with their heads bowed as Fugaku drilled a hole into their heads with his angry glare.

“Sasuke, I am extremely disappointed in you. What could have possibly been more important than your brother being promoted?”

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably. He hated having his father disappointed in him. He raised his head, his eyes glancing at Kakashi, who was at his father’s side. Sasuke’s eyes slid back to his father. There was nothing he could truly say.

“I’m sorry father, I simply forgot.”

“Not good enough!” Fugaku boomed, he grabbed his staff and it clapped thunderously onto the stone floor. “He’s your brother, and you are my son!” Fugaku’s face reddened, unmindful of the redundancy of that statement.

Sasuke hung his head in shame. He really hadn’t meant to miss Itachi’s ceremony; in fact, Sasuke admired his brother very very much. It was just that he’d been so distracted by those whatever-they-were-called. Sasuke still felt the weight of his pouch strapped to his hip. But they were safe there. He always wore that pouch wherever he went.

Fugaku softened as he stared at his youngest son. The boy was still small yet, but Itachi had been that size at Sasuke’s age. But there had been a war going on, and Itachi had been forced to fight when he was young. Fugaku didn’t smile, but his mouth drew into a grim line rather than a furious frown. “Apologize to your brother, Sasuke. Please be more aware that certain things are expected of you. You’re an Uchiha, Sasuke.”

“Yes, father,” Sasuke acquiesced meekly.

He bowed to his father and nodded to his sensei, Kakashi. Then Sasuke turned around and swam off, leaving Shikamaru behind with the two adults.

Kakashi swam forward, his brows furrowing. “Where were you really, Shikamaru?”

Shikamaru looked from the King to Kakashi. “We were attacked by a shark.”

Fugaku visibly shifted on his throne. Kakashi remained silent.

“Sasuke killed it.” Shikamaru shrugged.

Both the adults’ eyes widened. “Did he?” Kakashi asked, his voice amused.

“Yes, Kakashi-sensei.” All this talking was so troublesome to Shikamaru. He was hoping he’d be dismissed before they asked him anything else. For some reason, Kakashi could always tell if he was holding something back or lying.

“Anything else you want to report?” Kakashi asked shrewdly, eyeing the pony-tailed mer-man suspiciously.

“No, Kakashi-sensei.” Shikamaru tugged absently at the small silver hoop in his ear.

Kakashi nodded, and Shikamaru thought he was about to be let go.

“Hm.” Kakashi said thoughtfully. Fugaku raised his eyes to search his counselor’s face. He trusted Kakashi’s intuition greatly, so he waited patiently. Or as patiently as he could.

“Is there something you should report to us, Shikamaru?” Kakashi asked, his one eye locked onto Shikamaru as if reading his thoughts.

Shikamaru grew uncomfortable. He didn’t want to tattle on Sasuke, that wasn’t how he was. But he also had to obey his King and former teacher.

“Shikamaru?” Fugaku asked curiously.

Shikamaru swallowed. Sasuke would have to forgive him. “For all of five minutes we went to the surface to ask a frog about some items we found in a wreckage.”

Fugaku looked stricken, but Kakashi’s unbandaged eye crinkled mirthfully. “Did he?” Kakashi repeated the same question from earlier without even attempting to hide the amusement from his voice.

Fugaku got up from the throne, waves of anger rolling off of him. “To the surface?” He bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the throne room. “To the surface?” He repeated, beginning to pace. “My son went to the surface?”

Kakashi’s apparently sobered up because now his face was serious. “He said it was only for five minutes, and they were gathering intel.”

Fugaku glared at Kakashi. “Don’t defend him. He’s no longer a child. These are the laws that everyone must obey. And as an Uchiha, he of all people needs to learn that.”

Fugaku continued pacing. “He’s not to leave the palace grounds,” he whispered under his breath.

The other two men had heard though. They nodded in unison.

“Kakashi, I want you to keep an eye on Sasuke, as well.”

Kakashi nodded.

“And Shikamaru, you continue to stay with him.” Fugaku stopped long enough to give a hard stare between the two mermen. “What am I going to do with him? I never had to deal with this when it came to Itachi.” Fugaku sat back down on his throne, resting his chin into his palm as he sulked. But still, he had a soft spot for his younger son. Their mother, Mikoto, had died several years ago. And since then, he could never stay angry with Sasuke for long. But the child simply lacked discipline.

Fugaku gestured with his hand, an indication he wanted to be alone.

Shikamaru gave a glance at Kakashi, who gave him a nod. Shikamaru swam off, leaving a trail of bubbles behind him. Kakashi then disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the King to wonder where he had gone wrong with his youngest son.

Sasuke had already gone and apologized to Itachi about his absence and quietly congratulated him before leaving his brother to celebrate amongst his comrades.

Sasuke left, swimming out of the reach of a swarm of mergirls who tried to pull him into a conversation.

There was only one place he wanted to go now. He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was following him, though Sasuke was certain Shikamaru would be showing up soon. There was no doubt his servant would have been forced to report about there whereabouts. But Sasuke really had nothing to hide.

Well he had something to hide or he wouldn’t be sneaking off to this hidden cave, but if confronted, Sasuke would not lie.

With a movement of his hands, a slab of the stone moved and revealed an entrance into a cavern. The ceiling was high. Along the walls, the stone had been carved out to form shelves.

Sasuke swam over to one of pieces of rock that had jutted out into a smooth surface. He dug through his pouch and pulled out the two utensils he had thought were human fighting weapons. Sasuke placed them on the shelf, still admiring them when he heard a voice from behind.

“I figured I’d find you here.” Shikamaru swam into the center of the room. He’d been here many times, and this was one secret he had no intention of telling anyone, no matter who they were. This was an unspoken bond that he had with Sasuke. Not because they were friends, not because Sasuke was his master. But simply out of mutual respect.

Shikamaru eyed the objects Sasuke had placed on the shelf. He strongly doubted what the frog had said about them, but it wasn’t really his place to say anything. Because after all, Shikamaru had never even seen a human.

Something cold flickered across Sasuke’s eyes. “Did you tell them?” His voice was laced with traces of anger and betrayal.

“Sorry, Sasuke-sama,” Shikamaru said respectfully. “I had to tell them.” And as an afterthought he hoped would ease that fact. “Kakashi will be following you.”

Sasuke turned around, swimming up to a higher shelf and picking up a broken picture frame. The photograph was still in there, but it was torn and withered from the salt of the water and simply from age. Sasuke ran his fingers over it, wondering if this was the closest he’d ever get to seeing a human. “I figured he would,” Sasuke finally said, his inflection not revealing anything of his inner thoughts.

He’d been followed around since as far back as he could remember, so it was nothing new. This was the only place he could truly escape from it all. And Sasuke had always trusted Shikamaru with this information.

As Sasuke picked up another object, a string of pearls, there was a dark shadow that stretched across the cavern, almost causing the water to go pitch black.

Sasuke’s eyes were drawn to the hole at the top of the cave. They widened curiously. Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, pushing strands behind his ear, though it was hopeless under water to keep them in place.

Before Shikamaru knew what was happening, Sasuke had darted out the cavern so quickly Shikamaru wondered if the boy had learned to teleport like Kakashi and other higher-ranked guards.

Shikamaru struggled to catch up, only catching glimpses of Sasuke’s light-colored tail as it flicked closer and closer to the ocean’s surface.

Shikamaru frowned but followed Sasuke, silently hoping Kakashi wasn’t tailing them yet.

When the brunette broke the surface, he looked at Sasuke. “You shouldn’t be doing this Sasuke-sama. We both could get in trouble.”

Sasuke ignored him though, staring at the explosions that were lighting up the sky. “What is that?” He asked in a soft, almost childlike voice.

Shikamaru dragged his eyes skyward. His father had told him once of gun powder and rifles. Weapons of the humans they’d used in wars. Shikamaru wondered if that’s what it was. But they seemed relatively harmless and merely aesthetic.

Sasuke had left Shikamaru behind, swimming closer to what had caused the shadow below. The boat was so huge. Sasuke had never seen anything like it! At least not in one piece.

White fabric flapped in the wind as the ship steered ahead, the bow gracefully moving up and down with each wave. Water crashed against the wood, and Sasuke was so close to it now that the drops sprinkled down over him. He watched in awe, no longer heeding Shikamaru’s silent words of protest.

And there was something else. Some not altogether unpleasant sound coming from above them. And there were voices, too!

Sasuke found something to grab a hold of and pulled himself up the side of the boat with only his arms. Kakashi had worked and trained him hard, so he had more than twice the strength of most of the merpeople his age.

Shikamaru could only watch from below, his mouth agape, as Sasuke proceeded to climb up the wooden steps. He scratched at the side of his head. All he could do was close his eyes, and hope that at some point Sasuke came to his senses.

Sasuke’s arms began to strain as he finally was closing in on the noise. He peeked his head over an open part of the side and gaped openly. “Humans,” Sasuke breathed, though it was hard. He could only be out of water for a certain amount of time before he would suffocate. But after so many times coming up to the surface, his air capacity was greater than most.

Sasuke watched in fascination. Their faces were similar to merpeople for sure, though he found none of them that he saw to be attractive. Idly, he brushed back strands of hair when there was a loud series of short noises until a blob of hair poked its head out and there was something wet at his cheek. Golden eyes stared at him.

Sasuke opened his mouth as if he were going to scream, but he wasn’t scared. He wiped absently at the wet spot on his cheek.

“Akamaru, get back you, you mutt,” came a voice.

Sasuke blinked. He couldn’t see where it came from since he had pulled back to the side after that thing had actually touched him like that.

“Did ya see something out there boy, huh?” came the voice again.

Sasuke wanted so badly to turn and see, but he was afraid of getting caught. Even if he had always been curious about humans, he didn’t doubt the fact that merpeople had, indeed, died by the hand of humans.

Sasuke might have been stubborn, but he wasn’t stupid.

And then there was a shadow that came over him, and all Sasuke could do was lean flat against the side of the ship and hope he wasn’t seen.

All Sasuke saw was the brightest color of hair he’d ever seen before as it cascaded around a tanned face with curious marks on the cheeks.

Something light flittered in his stomach when Sasuke managed to roll his eyes up further. Eyes bluer than any part of the ocean Sasuke had ever been to looked downward.

For a brief moment, Sasuke wondered if this human had seen him.

“Nope, nothin’ out here, Kiba.” And the human was still looking down, and Sasuke was confused. Could this person see him or not?

Sasuke stared down toward the water’s surface, where Shikamaru again was poking his head out after probably ducking underneath the waves, which had grown somewhat rough.

Above, the skies had become darkened, and Sasuke could sense that a storm was coming. It was always so much calmer under the sea when it happened. A light sprinkle hit the top of his head, and how he wished that those blue eyes were back overhead looking down at him.

He wanted to see them more than any of the items he had ever collected in his 15 years of life.

In that instant, when lightning crashed and thunder rolled, something long buried within Sasuke burned and flickered until his skin felt fevered.

Sasuke’s hands were gripping the side of the ship so tightly that it was painful.

It wasn’t until another clap of lightning that he caught hold of his senses, only to be surrounded with screams and yells of anguish. Lightning crashed again, and Sasuke turned in horror as those beautiful white sails had suddenly become engulfed in flames.

A/N: If I’m wrong on the vocab, I apologize. I think loosely, what Gamatatsu calls the weapons are (and not sure if that‘ll come up in the future, but who knows):

Otokogirai man hater
Charai slut, loose woman