Chapter Text
The sound of the hall's floor creaking underneath that bastard's weight sent shivers down Muzan's spine. He knew the creature was approaching, and his heart raced at the thought of being caught again. The only thing that somehow calmed Muzan down was the fact that they were solid ground, making him have the upper hand in this. Though thinking back about it, the merman had shown his impossible strength in the cave before.
No, he shouldn't think about it right now.
He was in danger again, but he could make a difference by using the tools he had. Muzan clutched the bottle tighter as his mind raced with various strategies and plans.
It would be stupid of him to hide. Hiding below the bed wouldn't work, after all, the monster was crawling and not walking. Getting on top of the bed was plain stupid. Muzan considered hiding behind the door. That way, he could wait for him to look around some more while having the perfect time to slip while he wasn't looking. The short-lived happiness disappeared after one important fact struck him.
The years of experience with mermaids come in handy in situations like this. During one of his hunts, a particularly grotesque merman tried to trick him and possibly hunt him down, too. The creature was disgusting, with two pairs of eyes and an unbelievably long tongue. It was greyish, and he resembled a zombie with the gory injuries all over his skin and tail. Even a few bones were showing from his arms, though, the merman didn't seem worried about that. He must've a been one from the deep sea.
After an unsuccessful throw of his harpoon, Muzan took a shield and hid behind some nearby rocks. Plenty of them were scattered all over the place, so Muzan knew for sure the merman wouldn't find him. Oh, how wrong he was.
Much to his surprise, Muzan could hear the loud inhale and a creepy laugh that grew louder every second. Before he knew it, the merman was beside him, smirking. His sharp teeth glistened in the moonshine as he prepared to bite him.
However, Muzan was quick to react, and he ended the monster's life rather painfully. Even though he knew the price would drop at the damage, Muzan's life was more important, and he stabbed the merman right in his face so many times it was unrecognizable. That day he learned that mermaids had a fascinatingly strong sense of smell.
So, he couldn't hide behind the door either. And neither in the closet from across the room. He was screwed. Before Muzan could even think of another way out of this situation, a hand grabbed the edge of the door. Gently, the merman pushed against it, opening the door with such carefulness as if he was the one being scared of the human.
That was the moment Muzan's panic peaked. Desperately wanting to protect himself, the raven's arm swung, hitting Yoriichi's head with the bottle. The bottle shattered at the impact, the flying shreds adding to the attack as they grazed the merman's face, creating cuts that started bleeding immediately. Above Yoriichi's right eyebrow was a deeper cut that spluttered more blood that quickly trickled down his face.
Yoriichi cried, quickly reaching up to soothe the hurt spot. He rubbed his head and then looked down at his hand. The amount of blood shocked him, but he remained calm nevertheless. It hurt, and for a moment, his arms quivered, making him fall on the hard floor. With a low groan, he struggled to pick himself up.
Muzan was surprised the hit landed. While he'd love to watch that monster bleed out like a pig, he had to distance them again. Without wasting any seconds, Muzan hurried out of the room. But much to his disappointment, his leg was grabbed, and he fell on the floor, barely avoiding hitting his face.
Muzan groaned as he tried to get on his knees. The hold wasn't loosening up in the slightest, making Muzan frown. The last thing he managed to do before the grip tightened was turn on his back so he could face him. With still a bit of fight left him, Muzan started to kick his free leg, aiming for the other's face. Annoyingly enough, the merman, even in pain, managed to move his head every time his leg reached him.
The human's attempts to speak were useless, but he tried nonetheless. His voice was long gone, and all that came out were hoarse mutters. The words he had spoken were so quiet that they resembled soft mewls than threats.
"Let go of me!" he tried, only for barely any noise to come out. The sounds he made were like whistles that didn't reach too far. If Yoriichi understood his language, perhaps he'd be able to understand the plead Muzan mouthed.
That continued for several more minutes before, surprisingly, Yoriichi let go. He could only watch as Muzan scrambled backward, his back hitting the hall's wall. The human was breathing quickly, his eyes wide in panic as he clutched a piece of shard from the now broken bottle. Shaking, Muzan extended his arm, pointing at the sea creature with the small weapon.
Yoriichi's eyes shifted to the sharp object before his eyes locked with his mate's. Why was he trying to hurt him? Why did he hurt him? He was nothing but kind to him. Yoriichi even woke up earlier so he could catch the raven a breakfast. Well, his urges intervened, but it's the thought that counts. Why didn't he appreciate it?
The merman sighed, his head lowered slightly. He rubbed his face one more time to get rid of the blood that blinded his vision. Both physical and emotional hurt could've been visible in his maroon eyes as he scanned Muzan. The poor man had so many cuts carved all over his body that the merman realized that maybe he wasn't the one to blame.
After all, humans were delicate creatures. They could get hurt so easily, almost like oysters that broke instantly when he applied a bit more pressure to see what was inside. It all made sense now. The human must've been just scared of his strength. And, hating to admit it, carelessness too.
That was debatable, though, because Muzan was the one that kept attacking him in the first place.
Nevertheless, a warm smile returned to Yoriichi's face as he looked at the now slightly less shaky human. He just had to make him feel safe. And show him that he wasn't all that bad. How could he even have a family with someone who was scared of him?
With renewed determination, Yoriichi turned around, his tail curling up at the tight space of the doorframe. Carefully, the merman avoided placing his hands on the shattered glass, pulling his body weight around the bloody mess. Luckily for him, the scales protecting his fishtail were hard and durable, so he didn't care when he dragged it across the shreds.
In the meantime, as Yoriichi was searching for something in the crew quarters, Muzan stayed pinned against the wall. He couldn't help but feel relieved when the creature disappeared from his field of vision. A false sense of safety wrapped around him, and he let out a small sigh.
He could try again.
Slowly, Muzan stood up, using the wall for support. His legs were unsteady, and it was harder for him to walk than a few hours ago. He was tired of always running away, tired of protecting himself at every turn, and tired of this fear that threatened to give him a heart attack.
Before he even reached the next room, Muzan's legs shook, making him kneel on the floor. He sat down on his heels while he leaned his head against the wall. It was pointless. No matter where he went, the merman was smart enough to get to him. Not even this human-made ship could prevent the other from crossing him.
The hunter looked down at his hands, his thumb running over the sharp piece of glass. He should probably try and kill the monster for the last time. Either he would win and come back as a hero or die, knowing he put up a fight.
So, he waited quietly, turning his body to the right, watching the open door of the crew quarters warily. It was horrible. All he could hear were some tools moving and that huge tail sliding against the wood. The longer he waited, the more his body tensed as if an actual death was preparing to take him down.
When the merman finally emerged, Muzan's eyebrow raised. The land wasn't a suitable place for a sea creature like Yoriichi. It was difficult for him to move around, and it was ten times worse when he had to carry something. Like, for example, now.
As Yoriichi approached Muzan, using only one hand to support him, he clutched a small box in his second hand. He kept putting it one step in front of him, using it to pull himself forward. It was a sight to behold, Muzan had to admit. The pathetic creature looked like a dumb baby learning to walk because he repeatedly lost his balance at his makeshift tactic.
What was more important was the box the other was dragging with him. Muzan had to squint his eyes to see what it was. Much to his surprise, he found a piece of paper glued to it that read "First Kit Aid". He didn't know what was more surprising.
The fact that the monster could understand human language or that he was trying to make up for what he fucked up.
Before he knew it, the merman was in front of him, sitting down. He opened the box, revealing a bunch of bandages, plasters, an ointment, tweezers, a needle, and a thread. The content of the kit was generous, regarding the fact the ship was huge, and judging by the beds he counted, the crew wasn't small, either. Then again, he didn't have time to inspect the place closer.
A sudden movement had startled him from his thoughts. The merman, with a stupid smile on his face, reached into the kit and picked out a bandage. He had unwrapped it in his hands and moved closer, attempting to wrap it around Muzan's waist. There were, well, his possessive marks.
Muzan couldn't make the same mistake of allowing the monster to touch him again. Swiftly, he tightened his grip on the shard, swinging his hand in front of him to scare off the creature. It worked, and quickly, the merman staggered backward, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
The hunter held his weapon firmly, conveying his message through narrowed eyes. Luckily for him, Yoriichi had the unpleasant experience of having those sharp pieces dug into his skin, and he certainly didn't want to repeat that. Especially when Muzan had more control over the shard.
"Stay back," Muzan mouthed, pointing at the ground the merman was sitting on as if he was teaching a dog how to sit on command. Yoriichi tilted his head to the side, confused, but within a minute, he understood the message and nodded, leaning against the wall.
The raven waited an awkward while longer, wanting to be sure the other wouldn't try anything. When the creature remained seated, Muzan cautiously picked up an ointment and began treating his damaged body.
He started with what was hurting the most. His back. It was a bit difficult to get all the spots, and a few times, the merman leaned forward to help, which got quickly declined by Muzan. That was the first time he could feel the hundreds of cuts covering his back, making him shudder when he imagined how he must've looked like.
Muzan prided himself on his looks. Ever since his youth, people treated him differently compared to his peers. Whenever he wanted something, he'd get it and leave with compliments burning into his brain. Because of that, Muzan had learned to use this advantage for his own good. Through some kind words and bat of eyelashes, people barely told him "no". He would've tried it on the sea creature, too, if it wasn't for the language barrier and fear of the consequences.
As soon as he took care of his back, and the long scar that trailed down on it, he focused on the bruises on his wrists and hips. Some areas hurt more, for example, his insides, but he didn't know how to treat those. Besides, it would be embarrassing to do it under the merman's intense gaze.
Suddenly, the brunette moved, causing Muzan to tense. Yoriichi didn't seem to care as he wobbled away, back into the room where he had found the first aid kit. Muzan was wary of him but quickly returned to the stinging cuts.
He tried wrapping the bandages around him, and after a few minutes, he looked like a mummy. The hunter secured it tightly, almost as one would tighten a corset, to prevent the cuts from getting infected and help them heal faster.
Just then, the merman arrived back, this time carrying something different. It was three bottles. One was dark brown, the second was dark green, and the third was dark blue. Yoriichi didn't have as much trouble carrying them as he had with the box. He handed them to Muzan carefully, scared the human might lash out again.
However, the raven ignored his presence and took the bottles, curious about the liquids inside. He first looked at the dark brown bottle, reading all the necessary information on its label. This medicine was for insomnia. Moving on, he inspected the dark green one, realizing its use was for stomach problems.
After reading the information of the last dark blue bottle, the corners of his lips tugged upwards. It was a medicine for cough and respiratory issues. He opened up the bottle, taking in the scent. It was a strong one, with the main focus on peppermint. Then, he took a sip, grimacing at the bitter taste. It didn't taste as good as it smelt but at least he'll feel better.
However, there was something that Muzan couldn't comprehend. How did the merman know this was medicine? Could he read that well? Had he seen the supposed pirates taking this stuff while they appeared unwell? Or was it because of the same red cross on both the box and the bottles? This creature's behavior only got more and more strange.
When he glanced back at the creature, it was still watching him, unblinking. It made Muzan feel uneasy, not knowing what to make of it. The monster looked as if it was about to attack him, yet he didn't move an inch.
Yoriichi then looked from Muzan's face to his now-covered belly. He couldn't stop thinking if there was life growing inside of his mate or not. After all the hard work he had done, he hoped it was worth it. Although, who would know more about what's going on if not the one carrying his babies?
"Are you pregnant?" Yoriichi asked, shifting his body forward. He knew the man didn't understand him, so he decided to take a different approach. As he asked the question, he placed his hand on his belly and rubbed it in a circular motion. That way, he wanted to let the other know that he was asking about the new life inside him.
Muzan watched the movement closely, thinking about the meaning behind it. He placed a hand on his belly and looked down, trying to connect the dots. His best conclusion was that the merman was asking if he was hungry. Of course, that would be the reason. Why else do such a sign?
Lifting his head, Muzan nodded, not giving any verbal answer. When he saw the sudden excitement that lingered in the creature's eyes, he stiffened, not quite sure why he would be so happy about his hunger. What did he plan to do? Let him starve? Hadn't he done enough?
Yoriichi, on the other hand, was simply celebrating that he'd be a father. Something that he had been dreaming of for years while being unlucky with his own species. He'll do anything just to protect this precious gift life gave him. Without hesitation, he opened his arms wide, wanting to embrace the carrier of his children.
But it seemed Muzan didn't like the idea that much. After the horrible treatment the monster pushed him through, the hunter found it hard to trust him. With the sharp piece still tightly clutched in his hands, Muzan slashed the face of the being in front of him.
A pained whine escaped the merman's lips, and he quickly scattered back, watching Muzan with hurt in his eyes. Despite knowing the man was helping his bloodline, he started to feel uneasy in his presence. He couldn't understand why he was so difficult when he wasn't doing anything to him.
Letting out another whimper, Yoriichi grabbed his cheek, feeling the bleeding cut. He tried to rub the blood off, but he only smeared it further across his face. Disappointed, Yoriichi sighed, knowing they had a rough journey before themselves. Nonetheless, he was determined to show the stubborn human his love and care for him.
The silence was interrupted when Muzan's stomach growled. The hunger was still there. As the raven gazed at the monster, his eyes devoid of any sympathy or remorse, he tried to communicate his needs the same way the creature did. Through signs and gestures. It was the best option anyway.
That's why he pointed at his mouth, biting two times. He didn't know how else to express his problem, so he only hoped the other would understand. Not even a second had passed, and the merman was nodding slowly, seemingly in a better mood after Muzan showed an attempt to communicate himself.
Ignoring the pain, Yoriichi was determined to strengthen their bond. He had been on the ship a few times since the incident. Because of that, he learned many skills the other mermaids lacked in. For instance, the second language he was studying on his own to understand humans or their motives. He knew how to work with some tools as well, curiously watching as those simple things eased his life.
Crawling towards the end of the hall, Yoriichi turned to the doorless room on the left, looking behind himself. Muzan was leaning against the walk, taking small steps and eventually getting to the close destination. He still kept a certain distance from Yoriichi, which the merman didn't mind, because he knew things were about to change after sharing a meal with him.
As they entered the room, Muzan's eyes widened at how spacious it was. Strangely enough, it was bigger than the crew quarters were. The light coming from a circle-shaped window across the door shone brightly, and Muzan saw what a mess the kitchen was. What bothered him more was the putrid smell of rotting fish that made him frown and cover his nose.
The first thing to notice was a counter that went all around the room and a table in the middle. Quickly, Muzan noticed the source of that unpleasant smell. Two tuna fish were lying on the table, looking as if the chef was just about to scale them before having an emergency and leaving them behind. The unfortunate creatures were brownish, with maggots and flies eating them thoroughly.
Muzan redirected his attention, not wanting to look at the mess. On the counter, he could see a bunch of bowls, plates, sharp knives, silverware, and an axe. Something any other ship has in their kitchen. In one of the bowls were apples, oranges, grapes, and bananas, but they looked no better than the rotting fish. Muzan saw cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots too, resting not too far from the fruit in a similar state. Then, there were the dry ingredients, like flour or sugar.
Above the counter were shelves filled with various jars. Some contained pickles, some dried-up fruit, and others were hiding all kinds of spices, most likely from other countries. Though as Muzan tried to look into them, most of them were already used up or empty. A few were even rolling on the floor.
Speaking of the floor, it was dirty as well. Splotches of dust and flour were everywhere, making every Muzan's step visible. That wouldn't be such a problem if Muzan weren't barefoot, having to walk across the mess. At that moment, he wanted to run down the ship and put his leg into the sea's waters. But he had a different priority at that moment which was focusing on survival.
Muzan roamed around the kitchen, opening up cupboards and searching them. He was met with other kitchen tools that only fueled his desperation. Luckily, as he opened one of the cupboards that was built into the counter, he spot something that might ease his problem for a while. Canned food.
Definitely not his favorite, but it'll do. At least until he gets better and be able to go fishing. The hunter began to put can after can on the counter, silently counting how many there were. With the last can in his hand, Muzan came to the number of twenty-one. He could work with that.
Using a nearby knife, he opened one of the cans, looking at the food with slight disgust. Beans. The cans were filled with goddamn beans. He was used to something entirely different, and wasn't very fond of trying out new food. Back in his home, he would always cook himself a freshly caught fish, and sometimes, if his pockets were full, he even snatched himself a nice beef steak.
Well, there was nothing he could do. With a defeated sigh, Muzan sat on the counter and reached for a spoon. He put a spoonful of beans in his mouth, shaking at the salty and somewhat sour taste. Muzan hoped he'd get accustomed as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, as Muzan was enjoying his daily dose of protein, Yoriichi followed him quietly. He was sitting in front of him, watching the other with a small smile. It was comforting to see his partner eat and nourish their unborn at the same time. He still kept his distance, in case the human decided to throw the can at him or use the knife to stab him. But he was happy nonetheless.
The raven felt disturbed after being watched by the merman, and the silence only added to the awkwardness. He tried to ignore him, but those eyes were practically digging into his soul. How was he supposed to feel calm when the other was so unpredictable? Muzan even tried turning to the side, but he could still feel the gaze on him.
Even though he didn't want to engage with the other, the staring was getting on his nerves. So, as if Yoriichi was a dog, he pointed at the door with a frown in hope the creature would understand and leave. That didn't go as planned.
Yoriichi looked at the door, tilting his head, before looking back. He gave Muzan a questionable look as if he was pointing at a ghost that the merman couldn't see. The human rolled his eyes up in annoyance and pointed there again, mouthing the words, "Go away."
Yoriichi watched his lips closely, silently repeating the mouth movement. He finally seemed to get the message and slithered to the door. However, the only thing he did was look around, thinking there was someone Muzan was afraid of. But there wasn't.
Muzan's sigh was exaggerated like a child's that had been told off. That had caught Yoriichi's attention as he got back, worried about the strange behavior he was seeing. The hunter realized that maybe the merman he saw for the first time wasn't as smart as he thought he'd be. Though he could barely understand Yoriichi's signs, so they were kind of on the same board.
In the corner of his eye, Muzan spotted a smaller can hiding behind the others. Curiosity killed the cat, and he reached for it. The picture of a badly drawn fish was enough for him to realize its contents. Snatching the knife, Muzan opened the can that had sardines. Suddenly, the beans didn't look that repulsive.
The little fish seemed to catch the merman's attention, and Muzan smirked, a plan constructed in his mind. He threw one of the sardines towards the door, thinking he could hush away the creature. What he didn't expect was for Yoriichi to extend himself, catching the fish between his teeth. At that moment, he reminded Muzan of a snake that used his tail for jumping. Something he had never seen mermaids do.
However, the brunette was unbothered as he settled back on the ground, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Not only was Muzan taking care of himself and their offspring, but also of him as well! He opened his mouth, tongue hanging out, and despite everything, Muzan found the scene amusing.
So, he threw him another sardine. And another. While he was at it, he kept throwing it at different places, studying as Yoriichi's tail stiffened before letting go and jumping after the catch. That continued for a while, and in between, Muzan even resumed to his beans.
Some minutes had passed, and both of them finished their meals. Muzan stood up from the chair, still avoiding Yoriichi, and walked out of the room. Since he had one problem less, he wanted to focus on the other. And that problem was his clothes.
Muzan returned to the room that he was in just a few minutes ago. Because it was the place where the crew slept, there must be some clothes. He opened a closet that was at the end of the room and looked through the clothes.
They all looked the same. The same loose blouses, tight pants, and leather boots. Knowing there wasn't much to choose from, he searched for the right size. Muzan's height was average, so he didn't have trouble finding everything he needed.
Soon enough, he was wearing a plain white blouse. The v-cut pretty much revealed his entire chest. At least he wouldn't get too hot. Next, he wore tight black pants and brown leather boots. Upon finding a red bandana, Muzan wrapped it around his head, fearing he'd be spending a lot of time in the sun. Even with a simple outfit like that, people might confuse him with a real pirate. Which could get in handy but also cause a lot of unwanted trouble.
Maybe he was going to make it out of this alive.
Muzan returned to the end of the hall where Yoriichi was waiting for him patiently, with a smile. The man ignored him, walking up the stairs that led to the deck. So far, he hadn't met anyone that wanted to hurt him; except for that damn merman, therefore, he felt relatively safe.
It went without saying that the half-fish half-man followed him like some lost puppy. As long as he wasn't getting attacked, Muzan didn't pay him too much attention. Squinting his eyes, the hunter placed a hand above his eyes to shield them from the cruel sun as he stepped onto the deck.
Without missing a beat, Muzan noticed what might have been one of the reasons the ship had crashed. In front of him were two masts, each having three sails attached to them. The lowest and biggest sails were severely damaged as they were torn diagonally, the material flowing with the wind. Though, the ropes that supported most of the ship were still tightly secured and in good shape.
Examining the place further, Muzan looked to the left. There he spotted the sea creature that was poking into one of the cannons curiously. He was touching the barrel, even going as far as to poke his head in, immediately regretting his decision at the intense smell of gunpowder. It was a comical sight, and strangely, Muzan felt slightly more at ease.
He began walking around, studying the hopefully abandoned place. On each side were six cannons, and around three to four projectiles resting beside them. He walked past the lookout post, briefly noticing the large telescope. Careful not to step on any of the ropes, Muazn slithered through the place, still curious and determined even in the exhausted state he was in. Here and there were also a few barrels filled with drinkable water.
Since Muzan didn't find anything interesting in the front, he turned around and walked back. This place gave him a sense of comfort, even though he might be in a dangerous situation. Maybe it was because he was among his own, among humans. It brought some stability. Or perhaps it was because of the clothes he borrowed, the food he filled his stomach with, or the medicine that was soothing his aches. Nonetheless, he felt better.
As he arrived at the back, he stepped up on the elevated part of the ship where a steering wheel stood proudly. It was made of the same gold as the figurehead, and Muzan couldn't resist touching it. The material was smooth and addicting. He grabbed the spokes, feeling the richness under his fingers. Like a child, the raven tried steering the wheel. It wasn't surprising that the broken ship, in fact, didn't turn to the right as Muzan anticipated.
With a shrug, Muzan walked back down onto the deck. The brunette seemed as interested as he was, exploring the ship by himself. He was leaning over the edge, looking down at the sea with surprise and concern. They were really high. Yoriichi didn't like it. He belonged to the waters, after all, and he wasn't planning on changing his natural habitat just yet.
Muzan watched him for a moment longer before deciding to step into the main attraction. The captain's cabin. The door was partly opened, making the hunter hold his breath and peek inside. Luckily for him, the room was empty, just like the rest of the ship.
He pushed the door wide open, hoping the rays of sunlight would be enough to see in the darkened place. They weren't. Slightly irritated, Muzan walked to the table in the center of the room. He saw a candle on the side and a box of matches a few inches from it.
The raven smirked, and soon, everything was visible. There wasn't anything particularly strange about the place. To his right was a bookshelf that mainly contained geography books. Beside it was a bed that was just as messed up as those at the crew quarters. On the other side of the room, there was a really big map hung up. Little pieces of paper were pinned all over the map and upon closer inspection, Muzan's curiosity piqued even more.
Treasures, rivals, hideouts. The secrets of the captain were all sprawled in front of Muzan. Since Muzan spent his whole life in his hometown and barely left the place, most of the ports were unfamiliar to him, much to his disappointment. He recognized a few, though, deciding to make a mental note about these places for a better future.
But there was something more interesting.
Muzan spotted a red circle at the left bottom corner of the map. It was so close to the edge of the map that for a moment, he thought it was circled by an accident. The supposedly important place seemed to be non-existent, and he had to bring the burning candle closer to really saw what was there.
It was a very small island, compared to the others that were scattered all over the map. Yet, it seemed to have all of the captain's attention. And then, he saw the name of it, along with a short description.
The Last Sunset Isle.
Where a merman so beautiful tortures like hell. A place no one had ever survived.