Giotto's soul mark itched from the broken promise. He had yet to fulfill its yearning to find his mate. Giotto knew most had found each other and mated. He could only imagine the intricate dances the mer pairs did for each other. Leaving all that behind at the age of ten, he was content with never doing a dance for someone. Plus years had gone by quickly and Giotto grew up, finding his place among the humans. Now he was happy with his crew of friends and brothers. They were heading back to their home when they stopped at the port city where they had all met. Giotto looked around and smiled at the memories of him and his friends chasing each other and playing among the streets. It had been years since they had been here last.

"Doesn't look like the Navy is here this time around." a redhead said, walking up to him.

"That's a good thing G. We won't get chased out this time," Giotto said with a smile.

G chuckled. "Yeah now come on we have to stock up the ship again before we can have a look around."

"I know I know," Giotto said following his red-headed friend to help the others carry the supplies.

"About time you two decided to help. We're almost done." A blue-haired man mused.

G glared. "Oh shut up Daemon."

Giotto chuckled and helped a green-haired teen with a box. "At least we are helping Daemon. No need to be snarky."

Daemon rolled his eyes, as the last of the supplies were loaded and put away. From there the group split up to do what they wanted. Giotto headed down to the beach where he had made his choice. He could hear the sea crying out for a lost mer. For him. Kneeling well past the line for the tide he put his hand into the water.

"It is okay. I am right here, Mother Oceana. I am not lost, I've merely found myself." Giotto whispered as the water lapped at his hand. He smiled gently as he stood straight still hearing the call, but it was no longer sad. Moving further up onto the sand he sat down looking out towards where the castle was. Giotto shrugged a bit before just watching the water glisten in the sunlight.

"There you are Giotto." G said plopping down next to him. Giotto glanced at him before looking back at the sea. "Something on your mind?"

"Not really. I'm just remembering a tradition." Giotto replied.

G raised an eyebrow. "A tradition? From where you are from?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"It goes along with the belief of souls. Or rather destined pairs. At ten years old everyone gets a tattoo sleeve on their left arm. That tattoo signifies the soul one is supposed to be paired with. I'm 25, by now the search for the paired soul is supposed to end."

"Ah... Out of curiosity, when does it begin?"

"It begins at the age of 17"

"You know, the destined pairs sound a bit ridiculous right?"

"I suppose to someone who didn't grow up in that belief."

G rolled his eyes. "Right."

Giotto shrugged watching the water still. It grew quiet between the two the sound of the waves washing everything else away. The wind shifted and Giotto stood abruptly startling G.

"Giotto?" G asked looking up at his friend. Giotto didn't answer as he scanned the shore before his eyes landed on a familiar tail sticking out from behind a rock. His eyes widened in shock he ran over.

"No, Rija!" Giotto gasped as he got to the rock. He knelt by the old mer checking for a pulse, finding none he hung his head sadly. Ignoring G's startled gasp he mourned the loss of a dear friend. After a while, Giotto stood and looked at his friend who hadn't said a word. "Head back to the ship G and say nothing of this. Tell the others once I return we are leaving."

G looked like he wanted to protest, but let it go. "Yes, captain." He said and hurried back to port to tell the others. Giotto looked at Rija sadly, she had been tortured that was clear by the marks on her body. He sighed and took off his boots before wading into the water and diving below the surface. There was a cave that led to an underground cove, he wanted to make sure it was still there before he committed to taking Rija's body there. Finding it he returned to the surface. Carefully he dragged Rija into the water and to the underground cave. Once there he laid her down on the sand amongst some shells and coral. He sat there with her for a while silently. She had been the last connection he had to the mer world. Now he didn't have one therefore no reason to go back. He said his goodbyes and carefully took one of her scales before diving into the water returning to the surface.

Shortly after he got onto the beach he pulled on his boots and headed to his friends and ship. They questioned why he was soaked, but he didn't give them an answer. Giotto went to his cabin and shut the door wishing to not be disturbed. He watched out the back window as the ship set sail. Wondering what happened to Rija and how he was going to explain all this to G. He heard his friends talking, but he wasn't paying attention to what was being said. Memories of the last time he was a mer surfaced.