A/N: Warnings: Blood, death, nation names
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After they calmed down from their laugh attack, Alfred went to go hunting. He may be half fish but he can still eat fish. It's like frogs eating smaller frogs. You get it.

Arthur looked up at the sky. The sky. One of the things Arthur now loved. He never really payed attention to the sky when he was younger, always looking down around him. But now that he had met Alfred, he was looking at the sky and how beautiful the sky was.

The sky and ocean were like Alfred. Carefree, open, beautiful. While he was the ground. Changing, down to earth, not as open or carefree as the sky. But yet, those two different things, blended together to make earth, the horizon.

When had Arthur started to think like this? When he met Alfred. That merman made his life 10x better. He couldn't help yearn for home though. Had his brothers noticed his disappearance? Did they even care? Arthur sighed at these negative thoughts crowding his head.

'Of course they wouldn't notice. They barely noticed when I was younger.' Arthur sat up and looked around him.

Ocean.

The ocean was a big place wasn't it? Alfred could go anywhere he wanted. See different animals, and see a whole other world different from humans. Arthur found land boring now. Land was already explored and inhabited by humans. But the ocean wasn't. There was so much to see, so much to do.

Arthur looked at the rock next to him.
'Did Alfred have anymore family members?' He didn't see and parents around. Alfred's parents should be alive if he's around his early twenties. Maybe their dead?

Arthur found himself splashed with water again and looked down to see a smirking Alfred.

"You bloody git! Why is it always water? A nice slap on the shoulder would've been nice!" Arthur yelled at the bobbing form in the water.

"As I said before, shock is more effective for waking up. So cold water + a dazed English man with big eyebrows = wake." Alfred smirked.

"You are unbelievable." Arthur facepalmed.

"I know, and that's why I'm awesome!"

Arthur shook his head and water was sent flying in different directions. Soon it was back to its semi-fluffy state.

Arthur felt some plop in his lap. It smelled quite fishy. He looked down and he saw a fish with half of it bitten off like in those cartoons.

"I already had my share, you can have the rest." Alfred said wiggling a pointed ear.

Arthur got out a stick and lighter and started roasting the fish while Alfred looked on with big curious eyes.

"Why do humans roast fish?" Alfred asked.

Arthur bit into the fish. "We can't eat things raw like mermaids since we can get diseases and die. So we roast things to get rid of the bacteria."

"Wow! Mermaids must have a stronger immune system than humans then." He said rolling around in the water.

Arthur bit the fish and looked down at  Alfred. "You know, you remind a bit like a dolphin."

Alfred tilted his head. "Hm? Why?"

"Well for starters, you are quite sociable, you talk alot and do a lot of tricks. Even if they fail most of the time." Arthur chuckled.

Alfred thought for bit before speaking again. "You remind me of seaweed."

"Flattering."

"Hey lemme finish! As I was saying, you remind of seaweed cause one, your eyes are green kinda like seaweed, two, you kinda stay in one place, never really moving."

Arthur pet the teen's head while he finished eating his fish, letting Alfred bury the remains somewhere. 'He's like a dolphin and dog mixed in one.'

Alfred's head bobbed back up to the surface, a proud look on his face. Arthur just laughed and Alfred bumped his head against the Brit's fingers. Arthur once again on instinct, tangled his fingers in Alfred's hair. The two sat comfortably, talking about anything that came across their minds, before Alfred had to return to the sea.

...

This became a routine for them. Arthur would wait for Alfred to come up to the surface, they would talk and laugh, maybe they would share a fish. Arthur told Alfred more about land and land animals, while Alfred talked about the sea and it's creatures.

Over time Arthur felt more comfortable with Alfred while Alfred got comfortable real fast. Before the merman would leave he would give Arthur a peck on the cheek, leaving the Brit in shock and his ears tips red.

...

It had been two weeks. Arthur and Alfred at this point were friends with benefits. A special relationship of sorts. Arthur was sleeping in his boat comfortably when he felt a tug on his arm. He opened his eyes and looked down from a distance, yanking his arm away.

"Hello?" Arthur said getting out a pocket knife. He heard a sigh and he saw- wait Kiku?

"Kiku? Is there anything you need?" Arthur was actually surprised. He hadn't really interacted with the Japanese merman alot so what DID he need?

Kiku pulled himself onto the boats edge and growled at Arthur. "This about Alfred. A talk only you a me will have."

Arthur flinched and felt himself being pulled forward.

"Listen here Arthur. I've had my eye on Alfred for literal years, and you coming out of no where and taking his attention has really been bothering me. 'Oh Arthur!' This! 'Omg Arthur said' That!"

Arthur was really confused. Was Kiku jealous? Arthur suddenly got defensive and shoved the merman back into the water and looked down at him.

"Now listen here Kiku, I was just a normal man out at sea looking for adventure and all that great stuff when I suddenly saw a mysterious creature I had never seen before approach me. I was curious of course and I conversed with him. My intention was to never seduce him, I just wanted to get to know him a bit. Why don't you go confess and actually, oh I don't know, talk to him?!"

Kiku opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it, looking lost in his thoughts. Arthur crossed his arm in an annoyed manner, glaring at Kiku.

Kiku soon seemed to find his words.
"Why didn't I just do that sooner? And of course Alfred wouldn't be interested in a human. One breathes air and the other lives in water." Kiku dived back underwater.

Arthur glared at the spot Kiku was.
"He could've at least said thank you."

Arthur sighed after a minute and layed down in the boat.
'Alfred wouldn't be interested in a human. One breathes air and the other lives in water'

Arthur sighed sighed again. 'Why did this make me feel...somewhat hurt? I only think as Alfred as a friend...'

Arthur looked up at the sky. The sky he fell in love with.

'Or...do I?'

...

Kiku swan over to Alfred's cave early in the morning as the sun was just rising.
'Alfred usually leaves in the late morning, so he should still be asleep.'

He knocked on the cave three times before a tired Alfred swam to the entrance. Alfred yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Kiku? What are you doing here this early in the morning?" Alfred asked looking up to see the sun rising.

Kiku blushed and looked away.
"You see Alfred-Kun...I have something to tell you..."

Alfred tilted his head not catching on to what Kiku was implying.
"What did you want to tell me?"

"Ever since I first saw you I fell in love, your golden hair, your sky blue eyes, your shining personality....Alfred...I love you. And I want you to carry my children and be my wife while we sit in a cave for the rest of our lives."

Alfred was shocked awake. Kiku liked him?

"Okay first of all: I'm a dude, I can't carry eggs, two, I'm a dude so I'd technically be your husband or something. Three, I don't like you like that. I like you as a good friend. Not as a romantic partner. We can still be friends of course! But I just like you as a friend." Alfred said.

Kiku's face fell.
'IT'S THAT ARTHUR. HE WILL PAY. HE MADE ALFRED LOVE HIM. JUST YOU WAIT ARTHUR.'

"I understand. I will be going now." Kiku swam away. Alfred didn't pick up on his friends anger but he felt a shiver down his spine.

...

Arthur looked down at Alfred with concern. He looked distracted and was thinking. Alfred leaned against the boat, near Arthur's hand, he didn't even nudge it. Arthur was definitely concerned now.

The brit moved his hand to Alfred's head, making the boy jump a bit before he relaxed.

"What's the matter love?" Alfred sighed and leaned more into the touch.

"Kiku confessed his love to me. He was kinda creepy about it. He wanted me to be his wife and bear his kids while we live in a cave together for the rest of our lives. I said I only liked him as a friend. But when he left I felt this shiver down my spine. I don't know why." Arthur flinched.

'So he did confess...I just hope he has enough sense to know I had nothing to do with it..' Arthur thought.

"It was probably nothing love." Arthur assured making the mermaid calm down.

They sat like that for the rest of the day, not really having anything to say. They just enjoyed eachothers company. It felt like the last time they would actually have this time to themselves. They pushed that thought to the back of their heads.

'Now's not the time to think negatively.' They both thought.

...

The moon was already in the sky. Alfred sighed and leaned out of the embrace.
"I have to go now. Night Arthur."

"Good night." Arthur prepared himself for a peck on the cheek but was surprised when he felt himself being held by the face. He felt something on his lips, something warm and salty.

Alfred's lips.

Arthur didn't know what to do so he kissed back. It felt like it lasted an eternity. It felt...wrong yet good in a way. Just him and Alfred kissing in the moonlight.

But...they couldn't be together. Sure Alfred could kiss him all he wanted and he could turn into a merman and follow him into the water. Yet, it was only for a temporary time. Alfred couldn't go on land. Even if they could find a way, their relationship wouldn't and couldn't be accepted. It was a hard truth to swallow, yet Arthur and Alfred had to deal with it.

Alfred finally pulled away to Arthur's disappointment. Alfred's face and ears were flushed and brilliant red, making Arthur chuckle a bit.

Alfred couldn't help but laugh back too, smiling from ear to ear. The one little hair piece seemed to stand a bit straighter when it usually drooped. Maybe it was tied with his emotions?

"I have to go now, Mattie will be waiting for me back home. Night." Alfred said before diving underneath the surface.

Arthur smilee fondly at the area of which Alfred disappeared.
"Goodnight love..."

...

Arthur had fallen asleep. His hand always tended to dangle over the edge of the boat. Kiku knew that from watching him at night. He decided to calm down after seeing that Arthur and his sweet Alfred were nothing more than friends. When he saw Alfred giving Arthur a peck on the cheek instead of giving him one, Kiku grew angered.

Every night he planned to kill the brit in his sleep, planning ways to hide the body, and to not alert anyone. He always pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind, but when he saw that damn limey kissing HIS Alfred, those thoughts came rushing in.

It was a couple hours after the brot had fell asleep. Kiku found out where he hid a knife, at the front of the boat.
How stupid was this brit?

Kiku stalked around the boat like a shark, knife in hand. He had already found a place to put Arthur's body. He would just leave him on the rock he slept on for many nights. Kiku finally grew the courage to hover over Arthur, so he could place the knife into the Brits neck.

He pressed the cool blade to the skin, waking Arthur up in panic.

But it was too late.

A swift motion was all it took.

And Arthur lay limp.
...
(I can understand if you need a moment to cool off so here you can write your angry comments on how evil I am)
...

Alfred got up the next morning and stretched his body, flicking his tail to and fro. He did feel a bit...weird. like something bad had happened but it didn't let him stop him from hunting for his breakfast.

He started swimming up to the surface and paused.

Blood.

Not just any blood. It was...new...not of fish or of himself..it smelled strangely like...

Green..and Arthur.

Swimming as fast as he could Alfred rushed to the surface, looking in the boat where Arthur usually was. He smelt more blood. More Arthur. But the scent was cold. He saw a trail leading up to the rock and he gasped in shock and horror. His body froze and his blood ran cold.

'No no no no please no....'

"ARTHUR!" Alfred heaved himself onto the rock and took the brits now cold hand into his. Fat tears fell down his face and onto the surface below. There was dried blood on Arthur's neck, and the man's eyes were closed. His body was cold and lifeless and no matter how many times he shook him, he wouldn't budge.

Arthur was dead.

Alfred wailed, only a thing mermaids did in times of grief and to call to partners, siblings, friends, and parents. A mermaid's wail can be heard from 2-10 miles away at most. Some have reached a whopping 16 miles.

Matthew heard Alfred's wail as he was hunting near the area. He hurried to his brother as quickly as he could, hearing distress and grief hitting him in waves.

Matthew popped his head up out of the water, smelling blood that was not Alfred's or any fishes blood. That made Matthew panic.
"Alfred, what's going on?"

"H-he Arthur's...he's...he's d-dead.." Alfred managed to choke out before sobbing again, leaping into his brother's open arms and burying his face in the crook of his neck.

Matthew didn't know Arthur that well. He had seen him once or twice before and had a lovely chat with him. He got most of his information from Alfred. He knew the man made his brother happy and for someone to take that away from him was really shitty.

He knew it was a murder. The blood led to the rock way too obviously. At most if it was a suicide, Arthur would've fallen into the ocean and drowned. The place where the cut was would've been difficult for Arthur to reach, resulting in a smaller cut. And it was in such a weird place too(the back of the neck).

If he truly did commit suicide, then how were his hands not covered in blood? The evidence was there. Arthur had been murdered last night.

But by who? Who murdered Arthur Kirkland? Was he on anyone's bad side?

Then it hit Matthew like a strong wave. His brother had told him that Kiku had told Alfred his feelings for him and that Alfred had told him they were better off friends. He had felt a chill down his spine after Kiku had left.

Matthew widened his eyes. Did Kiku kill Arthur? Alfred had told him that be turned Arthur into a temporary mermaid for a couple hours and they had met only Kiku.

Alfred had fallen asleep in his brother's arms. Matthew had a plan formed in his mind. After taking Alfred back to their cave, he would...pay Kiku a vist...

...

Kiku hid in his cave for the rest of the day. He felt so happy and excited, yet he couldn't help but feel a bit of fear at something. He also felt a bit guilty. He had taken something that Alfred held dear to him, and he knew that Alfred would be in a circle of grief for a while.

The more dark part of Kiku took over.
That means that Alfred would come crawling to him. Sure he might seek out his brother, but Kiku would show up early, he would wait for his Alfred to look for him, and then that's when his plan would be set into course.

Kiku slightly laughed to himself, stopping before he heard a knock at his cave. Was it Alfred's brother...whatever his name was he didn't really matter.

Kiku went to the entrance before seeing a slightly murderous figure at near the edge of his cave. Kiku gulped.

"Um...may I herp you?" The smaller mermaid said nervously, his accent coming out more. He felt himself slightly losing his breath as he got pinned to the wall, fingers covering his gills.

"Actually yes, you can help me with something." The figure said quietly, his grip on Kiku's neck hardening.
"I want to know why the fuck you would kill Arthur Kirkland?"

"I-I needed to get rid of c-com-competition...for Alfred's...r-rove... " Kiku was slowly losing air. The figure roughly titled Kiku's face to meet theirs.

"My brother is not a prize to be won. I know what you want to do with him and how you think you will accomplish your selfish goal. I cannot stand on the sidelines while he goes into your arms." The figure held up something sharp and covered in blood.

A knife. The one Kiku used to kill Arthur.

"Go to hell Kiku Honda." Kiku let out a small cry of fear before his sounds were garbled with blood.

Kiku was now dead. And his brother could now live in peace.

...

It had been a few days since Alfred had left the cave. He never once left to go to the surface which made his skin paler and his eyes dull. His hair was getting grayer and he barely spoke anymore. The only time he left was to push Arthur's boat out in the direction of England, so maybe his family could find him.

It had been shattering seeing the body and boat he was all too familiar with go, and it broke Alfred and when he had heard Kiku had been stabbed to death. It just sent him into a wave of depression.

He was quickly getting thinner, barely having the strength to eat half a fish. He looked older, at least 23, which made Matthew worry.

Alfred had finally decided to stop sulking after a week and go out, not telling his brother before doing so. He had swam around for a bit, watching bubbles swim up to the surface and pop, and fish swimming in schools.

He felt a figure behind him. Something of danger yet his regularly sharp skills had been weakened due to not going out in a while.

He would soon live to regret not leaving sooner when he felt something clamp onto his tail, drawing blood and making Alfred scream out in agony. He tried wailing but only managed to get out a short sound before teeth snapped at his back, snapping his spine and leaving Alfred limp in the shark's grip.

Alfred was dead. And soon after, Matthew would be too.
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Aren't I just evil? >:) don't worry, last chapter will be posted today as well since the epilogue and chapter itself, were written together then separated.

I gave y'all hints to tell you what would happen. Hope you were prepared!

Alright I have to go publish the last chapter, goodbye!