Chapter Text
“So yer the upstart runnin’ around cousin’ problems. Ya a lot smaller than I thought ya be for someone claimin’ to be a shark.”
Chiaki spun around, his black tail almost smacking into his current ‘recruit. Said recruit took this time while he was distracted to finally swim away from the younger mers endless chatter. This far down into the sea, right by the well known trading pass for all mermaids, it was rare for someone to come over and approach Chiaki first. Usually he had to track someone down to chat. He had never claimed to be a real shark, sporting far too much color in his tail to really be one. A sleek black tail with bright red fins hardly screamed subtle hunter of the depths.
“Well hello there!! I happen to be a decent sized height I think! And I am a shark in name! A red tailed one in fact! Oh!” He takes a moment to take in the others' appearance, he was easily close to ten feet in length with broad shoulders littered with scars. His tan skin turned into a pale cream color as his waist faded down into a dark gray as it reached his tail. A bull shark… wow! “Did you come to seek me out because you heard about my ideas and wanted to help out?? That's wonderful!! My name is Chiaki- ah you might have already known that ahahaha~!”
He swam closer to the unknown Mer, not the safest choice, as this mer was much bigger than him. Chiaki was close to seven feet tall, his torso and up were about the same size as everyone else, perfectly mimicking a human… well almost, he had never seen a human with claws and gills before. Plus there was no telling if this mer’s hair was red from birth or stained red with blood. But!! If he was going to attack him, wouldn’t he have done so when his back was turned? He reached out and shook the Mer’s hand with gusto, earning him a disgruntled look.
“That one of those weird human things ya keep tryin’ to spread around.” The redhead asked with a raised brow, grabbing onto Chiaki’s hand with quite the grip… not letting go. “Ya could say I’m.. interested. Ya can call me whatever ya want, You get around alot, traveling for yer cause. ever see a young fry that looks like me. She’s my sister, See, a big fan of ya ideas. And she swam off in an effort to help ya.”
Laughing to keep himself calm,Chiaki nodded his head quickly. “I might have seen someone like that!! And yes! It is a human thing, but you’re supposed to let go after the third shake!” He looked down expectedly, waiting for Mister Red to let go. He did not. “Is she apart of your family? She might have joined our school! Human kids have to go to one so we set one up for the fry’s! See the school’s teach survival skills which help increase-”
“Pod. She's part of my pod. Just the two of us. I admire your drive, *Chiaki*, but all ya doin’ is causin’ a fuss for a lot of people. Where’s this school? I’ll go pick her up and be outta ya hair.” The red hair mer interrupted him mid speech.
Chiaki was used to this sort of reaction, and was not deterred. “People only think that because it’s something new!! Your sister is happy here! Probably happier and safer than she's ever been! We have partols set up for a constant look out for humans and ships! A nice sunfish mer with healing, training to help with any wounds. Skilled hunters that can get us food!! If humans can do it, so can we! Living alone and avoiding others has been the way of the sea for too long. Think about how much stronger we can be if we work together! We can help out so many other mers!”
Mister Red’s pupils turned into slits and Chiaki was worried he was about to be attacked for pushing the other too far. Instead the bull shark threw his head back and laughed. “So much passion for such a little guy. A modern day Hero, aren’t cha?” finally letting go of Chiaki’s hand, he flicked the guy on the forehead. “I’m Kuro. I guess I can stick around for a bit to see how things turn out. For my *family’s* sake.
“What’s… a hero? That's wonderful though! I’ll show you to the school then!! I’m sure your sister will be happy to see you again.” He rubbed a hand against his forehead. That surely left a mark, he could accept it as long as it meant another Mer joined the team! That meant he was one step closer to making a safe haven for mers of all kinds! He didn’t want anyone to have to go through the same loss he had to experience… a sight of blonde hair played through his mind before the water stained with blood. He shook those thoughts away, he was gonna do whatever it took to be someone others could rely on!
“I thought ya would’ve known that word, since yer so crazy over human stuff. It’s someone who all about bein’ a good guy. Carin’ more about others than themself. Fits ya pretty well.” Kuro flashed him a toothy grin, showing off all his sharp teeth. “By all means Hero, lead the way.”
“You know human things!? Where did you learn that!!” Chiaki decided he quite liked that title. He’d be the best hero in the sea! With a flick of his tail, he took off, moving through the water with ease. It was a freeing feeling, to glide through the water and become one with the current.
Kuro had no trouble keeping up with him, it was clear he could easily overtake Chiaki in terms of speed and was carefully matching his pace. “I knew a human once. Though he was a human, he was more feral than most mers I know. It was a long time ago so I doubt he’s still around. He was part of some human cult thing, all a bunch of human nonsense.”
Chiaki almost crashed right into a rock, staring at Kuro with starry eyes. A mer who actually knew a human was an incredibly rare find. Even Chiaki who consumed human ideas and cultures with a passion had never met one. “You knew him?? Personally!!?? Does that mean you were friends? Can you speak the human tongue? If he’s still alive do you think you could introduce me to him!!” Stopping suddenly in front of a deep cavern, he pulled away some moss to reveal a hidden entrance to the cave system the budding mer society called home.
“Ah… maybe… How about we focus on what we’re doin’ instead of the past.” Kuro wasn’t in the mood to talk about the past. Right now he just wanted to see his sister again. Making an ‘after you’ gesture towards Chiaki, he followed the brunette down into the caves. This place was like something he’d never seen before. Full of human materials that had drifted down to the sea floor. It reminded him of the ships humans lost to the sea, furnished with things mers really had no use for. Or that Kuro thought they had no use for. Clearly he was wrong there. One of the young mers they passed was holding onto some weird fluffy shaped material with strange round knubs on its head and one on its backside, looking as if they didn’t have a care in the world. That type of attitude could get you killed. Maybe Chiaki wasn’t as full of shit as most Mers claimed he was.
“Oh! Sure!! I’ll come find you later and we can chat!! I’d love to learn more from you. Maybe you can even help teach at the school! Er! If you’d like to, that is.” He pointed a clawed finger towards a blocked hole. A slab of wood acting like a door. “The schools right through there. I’ll let you reunite with your sister in peace. When you’re all settled in, just let someone know, then we can chat more!” He gave Kuro a hopeful look.
“Don’t ya worry, Hero. I ain’t makin’ a run for it anytime soon. You’ll see me later. I have some questions for you too.” The relief that spread over the short mer’s face was endearing and odd to Kuro. He’d think more about those feelings later, for now as they parted ways, all he could focus on was the scolding he was going to have to give his sister, which would no doubt cause her to scold him in return.