Crystal Cove is situated deep down in the Japanese sea. Many merfolks have lived there in harmony with each other, protected by each other.

"Ippei, I bet you can't wait for your baby to come," Itsuke gave a small smile. 

Ippei smiled. "My wife's very tired, the baby is keeping her up. What about Mitsuko, how's she?"

"She's relaxing. Same with her, the baby is keeping her up," Itsuke smiled and folded his arms.

"Yuuto, come here," Hitoshiro grabbed the young baby merfolk. 

"Full of energy today!" Ippei smiled as he patted Yuuto's head.

Hitoshiro nodded. "He is indeed, but at least he's learning fast."

Itsuke smiled. "What's it like having a baby?"

Hitoshiro looked at the two younger men before him. "Well, it's a joy. It can be hard at times, but all babies are a joy."

"Seiya, no! That's a bad baby," a voice called.

"What's Seiya done now?" Ippei asked.

A young, stronger merman swam up to the other dads. "Leader of the Outei tribe, how's your little one?"

"He's a cutie, but also a trouble maker," the man chuckled as he hugged his son.

"Reo, how come you have a blue fin and are in the Outei tribe?" Hitoshiro asked. 

Reo sighed "I was adopted into that tribe. My parents didn't want me near my sister, Tae."

Ippei sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Suddenly, there was a loud scream. "ITSUKE, HELP ME!"

Mitsuko was in the tentacles of Arashi. "Lovely bride you have here, Itsuke!"

"Get your slimy tentacles off my wife!" Itsuke growled.

Ippei and Reo followed on. "It's one of the sea wizards!"

Arashi smiled as he let Mitsuko go. "I don't want a bride who's ugly."

Itsuke was about to fight him when he was held back. "Listen: if he was to kill you, Mitsuko would be on her own raising your baby."

Ituske sighed. "Fine. Mitsuko, go back to the cove and relax. I'll meet you there."

Mitsuko nodded and swam away. Arashi gave a chuckle. 

"Listen, Arashi, you've already killed a merman from the Outei tribe, now his wife is pregnant and going to be left raising a baby on her own!" Reo growled.

Arashi smiled and held Reo's chin. "Oh, him? He was in front of my cave. I have rights!"

"And so do we! Get off our land!" Ippei spoke up.

Arashi smiled. "One night, us wizards will come here and get revenge!" he laughed as he left.

Later that night, Mitsuko sat on the rock rubbing her stomach. "Itsuke, I'm worried about our baby. What if the wizards come and take him?"

Itsuke swam up to her and hugged her. "Honey, they won't. We will be around our baby, protecting him."

Mitsuko smiled and rubbed her stomach. "Our little baby will be here soon."

Itsuke smiled and kissed the bump. "I can't wait to meet our little one."

Mitsuke giggled. "Same here. Anyways, we better get some sleep."

Itsuke smiled as he snuggled into his wife. "Night, babes."

The next day, many of the mermaids had given birth to their new babies. Ippei lost his wife after she gave birth to their son. 

"It's okay, Daddy's here," Ippei sighed.

Reo swam up to Ippei. "Im sorry for your loss, Ippei, it's going to be very hard."

Ippei held his son close. "It's okay, my little boy is all I have and I'm all he has."

Reo nodded. "I'll be around just in case," he spoke as he swam away.

Ippei sighed as he held his son close. "I'm going to call you Yuuichirou, my little boy," he gave a weak smile.

Mitsuko held her young boy in her arms. "He's so cute!"

Itsuke smiled ."He is indeed, our little Ryouhei."

Mitsuko looked at her husband. "Ryouhei?" she blinked. 

Itsuke gulped. "It's okay if you don't like the name..."

Mitsuko smiled. "No, I love the name! It suits him."

Itsuke smiled and looked at Ryouhei. "Ryouhei, our little boy."