Sea Bunny Shores - HayaRyuu (Discontinued for now)

rewrite - first

Chasing down fish and eating them for lunch always felt strange for Ryuuichi. He looks down at his tail every time, wondering how scared he would be if someone were to sink their teeth into the sparkling scales. The Chairwoman is especially strict when it comes to appearances, wishing to maintain the sanctity of the daycare she ran, since having reminiscent teeth marks on him, may not be the best showcase of safety for the merchildren.

Alas, here he was, in the marketplace buying salmon and sardines galore with the money Chairwoman had given him for dinner. The plaza was vast, the city even vaster, weaving through other folk bartering for good deals and surrounding the nearest jewellery shop should be a sport. Ryuuichi reckons he could get a gold medal in that.

He hands a bag of sand dollars to the merchant, which sends him a wink and snark comment about possibly leaving a tip, but Ryuuichi had left by that point onwards.

The lights of Ebiran were a large array of colourful frog lights, which travellers from the palace sought out from shallower waters, and the architecture of the buildings; a winding spiral of marble and aquamarine. Even at this time, later in the day, he saw a couple of merfolk repairing and constructing newer places and knickknacks in every empty space, a constant reminder of the ever growing city.

Ryuuichi pulls his bag made of tightly knit seaweed through the water, zipping under and over the crowds to return home on time, and a quick glance at the sundial on a pillar makes his breath catch in his throat. "Oh man.. oh man. Please tell me the Chairwoman is napping."

He takes a sharp right, almost knocking into a lamp post before swimming down a dingy alleyway, a shortcut. After a few more twists and turns, he comes upon a much larger clearing, with less residences and shops. Up ahead, he can see the silver coating of the entrance of the estate. A few pillars framing a large stone door, ageing from the moss growing along it.

Ryuuichi feels his body fold in half, placing his hands on the corner of his bent tail. He catches his breath, lightly tapping his face and sliding one of the keys on his bracelet into the lock. He cautiously creaks it open and slips inside, turning around to close it as quietly as possible, but the moment he sighs and turns around he yelps at the sight in front of him. Rather... a cute sight.

Big dark purple eyes stare menacingly into his, but the pout that comes with it is just too adorable to be afraid of! Ryuuichi can't help but drop everything and pinch those silly chipmunk cheeks!

"Kotaro!" he squels, "You weren't waiting for me were you?"

Small hands wind around Ryuuichi's finger, squishing tightly. Kotaro swims closer, cuddling into his brother's arms. "Brother... where'd you go?"

"Oh, I was getting dinner!" Ryuuichi responds, carrying Kotaro towards the kitchen. "I'm sorry I left you waiting, but your brother is here now! We can help Saikawa make some yummy food!"

Swimming into a room with some checkered flooring, the two brothers see a taller merman at the counter, chopping up some algae, the blade of the knife somehow shining much brighter in his hands. He turns around, pushing up his spectacles and bowing slightly. "Ryuuichi, welcome home." he says, his voice is smooth and calm.

"Thank you, Saikawa!" Ryuuichi nods respectfully and gently places Kotaro on the counter to sit. "Is the Chairwoman out?"

"She's in her office, been in it for the last couple hours. Apparently, she's working out some legal transfer papers for an infant with Usaida." Saikawa says, not taking his eyes off the veggies he's dicing.

Ryuuichi and Saikawa engage in some small talk, the younger slapping down some of the fish he bought on the cutting board, helping the other skin and descale them. Light filtered through the window, and Kotaro brought one of the scales up to the rays of sunlight, watching as it deflected around the room, oohing and aahing, pretending he had powers.