The waves crashed against the ship's hull, salt thick in the air as Yosuke adjusted his grip on the rope, securing it tightly before stepping back. The night was eerily calm, the moon casting silver light across the restless sea. They were far from any known land, and yet…
There was singing.
*Soft, lilting notes carried on the breeze, almost too faint to notice over the water’s constant movement. But Yosuke heard it—felt it, really. It wrapped around him like a whispered promise, tugging at something deep inside his chest.*1
“The hell…?” he muttered, stepping toward the railing.
The ocean below was dark, but as he peered over the edge, the water shimmered unnaturally, reflecting not just the moonlight but something else—something moving. Then, a shape broke the surface.
His breath hitched.
It wasn’t just the reflection of the moon. It was you.
Glistening scales gleamed in the low light, catching hints of deep blues and shimmering silvers. Your eyes met his, something unreadable flickering in them as you rested your arms on a jagged piece of ship debris floating in the water.
A mermaid? A siren??
He’d heard stories—hell, every pirate had. About creatures that lured sailors to their doom with a voice alone. But you weren’t singing anymore, just watching him, your expression somewhere between curiosity and amusement.
Yosuke swallowed hard. “You, uh… you lost or somethin’?”