A Siren's Bloodied Tail

Michikatsu hated people. He'd never been the social butterfly of his family. He avoided most people at his school back when he was a teenager and even when he worked for a decade. He can't stand anyone that wasn't one of his family members and even they got on his nerves sometimes. Now in his early 30s, he moved near a lake that was deep in the forest, with a shed a few meters away from the house. His family was against his decision and kept pestering him until he threatened to cut them off. Sure, he understood that they were worried but it's not like there was something in the forest that would try to harm him. The forest was beautiful and filled with squirrels jumping on trees, deers playing with their young, bunnies playfully nibbling on each other and the beautiful flowers that grew in the forest.

However, what bothered him was that the river that connected tot he lake was fully trashed, which slowly began to fill the lake aswell. When the previous owners of the house explained to him on how passerbys would toss their trash in it wether they put a sign that they shouldn't do that or not. That and adding that they were already in their late 60s and they'd grown tired of it.

Michikatsu simply assured the old folks that he'd take care of it and if they wished he could send them pictures (to which they agreed).

He arrived at the home a day ago and it felt so refreshing. He had an older dog, about 9 years old and quite a lazy one at that. Michikatsu smiled at the dog, Maru, who laid near the fireplace.

Michikatsu sat down next to the dog and patted his head. "Moving to the forest was stressful, wasn't it, old guy?" He chuckled softly as Maru groaned before turning on his back and exposing his belly for the human to rub. The tall man smiled and rubbed his friend's belly. "Good boy. Now, I'm just going to the river for a bit, I'll be back before dinner, 'kay?" Maru huffed softly as Michikatsu walked to the door before going outside and locking it.

─── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ──

He smelled the fresh air of the forest. It had rained but a day ago and the moist created a lovely scent that made Michikatsu feel calmer in the forest. As he walked towards the lake he looked around to see if there was any trash on the forest floor. He sighed when he spotted a broken jar of glass. There was blood scattered around the jar, half of it broken due to what he assumed was an animal breaking it and in the process pushing shards in its paws. He took out a large piece of cloth and picked the ja rand pieces of glass that laid around it up.

Michikatsu really despised it when people threw things around, especially glass. It could harm something small just because someone was too lazy to keep it for 5 minutes and then throw it in a trash can or something. Michikatsu spotted a trash can near the lake and threw the glass in it. He sighed as he saw the amount of trash that laid in the lake.

The stench of the trash that mingled with dirty lake water (which he assumed came from the ocean). "I should go home and get garbage bags. And gloves, that all looks so gross..." He sighed and shook his head. "This is gonna take a while."

Michikatsu looked over the lake. "I'll take some of it out already, but I'll still need to come back later with those bags." He walked over to a half full bottle of coca cola and picked it out of the water before throwing it in the trash can. Michikatsu grabbed the other few bottles that laid next to the lake and put them in the can before turning to the aluminum cans that laid near the ground.

Before he knew it, the sun had almost set and he felt hungry. Even if Michikatsu wanted to continue, most of the trash laid either on the bottom of the lake or in the middle of the water (even if he can swim, he doesn't like doing it when no one's near him). Michikatsu stared at the full trash can and sighed. If he took it, hikers would just throw more shit around than they already do and taking it so far would be a hastle. But oh well, better a hastle than water creatures dying for no reason other than the laziness of both him and others.

He grabbed the trash bag in the trash can and carried it to his home. He still had to feed his dog and himself, after all.

Once he arrived home, Michikatsu quickly grabbed some of the chicken that he reserved for Maru. "Hey buddy, it's time to eat," Michikatsu said as the dog began to walk to him at the smell of the chicken. "Gods you're lazy," he chuckled softly as he put the chicken in the dog bowl and placed it on the ground for Maru toe at.

Michikatsu's stomach rumbled, he sighed softly and looked in the fridge. He cursed himself for not going to the market, due to it beig closed today. He looked over and saw a bit of leftover natto. "I suppose this will do." He grabbed the bowl and opened the microwave. He put it on 40 seconds and waited.

When the microwave made a noise, Michikatsu used oven gloves and grabbed the bowl filled with Natto out of it. He put the bowl on the table and let the microwave stay open to let it cool off. He grabbed a fork and began to eat the food, occasionally blowing on it so he wouldn't burn his tongue.

As soon as he and Maru finished eating, he grabbed his bowl and put it in the sink. Michikatsu walked over to Maru's food bowl and grabbed some beef and fish. He knew Maru loved the combination as a sort of "dessert" and when Michikatsu would forget or just simply refused to give it, he'd whine about it like a child that didn't get their favourite candy.

He looked at the clock that said 11:30 pm. Michikatsu sighed as he felt his eyes grow tired. He'd already worked for a few hours to take the trash out of the lake and river. Michikatsu grabbed his phone and put an alarm at 8 am so he'd be able to do more when there wouldn't be a lot of people around (since it was already summer vacation).

Maru barked loudly, causing Michikatsu to snap out of his thoughts. The redhead smiled at the dog that nuzzled against his head. "You scared me, bud." Maru simply huffed and walked towards Michikatsu's (and his) bedroom. Michikatsu grabbed a pair of sleeping pants and got ready for bed. "Sleep tight, Maru." Maru hummed and laid beside Michikatsu, nuzzling against him.

─── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ──

Michikatsu gasped when he heard his alarm, groaning. "It's morning already?" He slurred into his pillow. He heard Maru snoring loudly. Atleast someone didn't wake up, he supposed. He got up after 10 minutes laying in his bed with his head in his pillow. He groaned and stretched, rubbing his eyes to get the tiredness out of it. He grabbed a short sleeved, black shirt, some blue shorts and a jacket just in case he'd get cold.

Once he'd changed, he walked towards the still sleeping dog and smiled softly, rubbing its head. "See ya, Maru", he then walked out of the room, letting the door stay open (he knew how Maru would get if he didn't do that).

Michikatsu grabbed a sandwich and some ham. He quickly cut through the soft bread and placed the ham between it before beginning to bite and chew. As soon as he finished his food, he walked to the fridge and grabbed a piece of beef, chicken and duck. Michikatsu put the meat in Maru's bowl before putting his jacket on and walked outside, to the shed next to his home. Michikatsu looked around for a few garbage bags and gloves (just incase he stumbled upon... strange things).

Michikatsu grabbed all the necessities and began walking to the river. He decided it was best to first clean that so there wouldn't come anymore trash in the lake (for as long as passerbys wouldn't throw anything in it). Michikatsu smiled at the wildlife, from the smallest of squirrels to the biggest of deer enjoying life whilst they could.

He walked for 10 minutes before arriving at the river. He sighed as he saw the amount of plastic bottles, bins, alluminium and more. Michikatsu shook his head and began to pick the bottles, which were sometimes half full or barely even used! Genuinely, how could people be so lazy? He'd never understand it.

Hours had passed, Michikatsu looked at his watch that said 11 am, the way of the sun would still confuse him, due to it feeling like he was about to melt. He wiped the sweat that formed on his forehead and looked at the 2 fully filled garbage bags. He sighed softly and shook his head. He'd begun to feel hungry and thirsty. Luckily he'd packed some lunch that he quickly grabbed (that he definitly didn't forget he had until he felt his pockets...) and began to eat.

10 minutes passed as he ate, smiling contently as he felt his hunger fade away. "That's better." Michikatsu looked around and threw the paper that held the sandwich. He continued to sit on the bench, staring into nothingness, until he heard a bird chirping. The chirping sounded pained, which made the redhaired man jump from his seat and search for the origin of the sound. After searching for a few minutes, he came across a Bull-headed shrike.

The bird struggled in distress, a hoop of plastic wrapped around its tiny neck. Michikatsu felt his heart clench at the poor animal. Making sure to be quiet, he slowly walked towards the little bird. Slowly, he crouched down and looked at the hoop of plastic. Michikatsu thought for a moment on how to free the small animal. He looked in his pockets and almost let out a sign of relief when he found a small pair of scissors.

Thus, he quickly cut through the plastic and watched as the bird ruffled its head before chirping happily. Michikatsu smiled as the small animal flew away, able to breath and not needing to fear of something wrapped around its throat.

Michikatsu grabbed the plastic and walked back to the lake. He threw the plastic in the garbage and sat down again, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes. A few moments later, he felt something strange on his nose. When he opened his eyes, he saw a white butterfly. He blinked for a bit and smiled. "Hello little guy." He tried not to move as to not scare it. He'd never heard of a white butterfly, let alone seen one!

He could see its wings and they were gorgeous, they reminded Michikatsu of a squinting bush butterfly, but white. He thought for a moment, maybe it's an albino one? Yes that could be right... Maybe that's why it's here, safer from animals that want to kill it (atleast that's what Michikatsu thinks). He sat there for a few moments as the butterfly used him as a resting place before flying away from his face.

Michikatsu smiled as he watched it fly away happily, he turned back tot he lake. He grabbed another garbage bag and began to clean the trash that laid upon the shore of the river.

─── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ──

The sun slowly began to set as Michikatsu kept cleaning, already there was obvious change that trash had been taken out of the river. Of course, the dirty water would take longer to disappear, but at the very least there was less chance of the plastic harming any sea or land creatures. Michikatsu looked at the watch on his wrist. "5 pm... I should go home and eat... Maru probably ate all his food aswell." Michikatsu grabbed the 4 filled garbage bags and walked towards his home.

He sighed happily when he put the garbage bags on his porch for the garbage collectors to pick up a few days later. The redhead opened the door and yelped slightly when his dog jumped on him. "Woah-! Maru, what..?" Maru huffed and barked, showing his displeasure.

Michikatsu pouted and shook his head. "More worried about food than your best friend? Wow, I feel so loved," he said with a dramatic tone, walking inside and washing his hands. Even if he'd worn gloves, his hands still felt dirty. He dried his hands before going to the fridge and gave Maru some of the leftover duck. He then got some tofu and quickly ate it. "I'll go to the market tomorrow so we both have some food, mh?" Maru barked in approval at that.

When Michikatsu finished his tofu, he ate an apple before deciding to take Maru on a walk. The dog was already an old thing but he still needed to walk around. He quickly grabbed the leash for Maru and collared him. "There we go."

Michikatsu and Maru walked around the forest, enjoying the fresh air and soft chirps of the birds, the whisteling of wind hitting bushes and leaves. Maru looked around with a lazy face but a hint of curiousity in his eyes. They walked for about 20 minutes before the lake came in view. As they arrived closer to the lake, Michikatsu spotted something. He couldn't make out what it was. Half of its body laid upon the ground, the other half still in the water. The skin looked dark gray with a mop of long, wavy black hair covering its back and face.

As Michikatsu walked closer to it, he could see something sticking out of the lower body (a harpoon, maybe?). He gulped softly as he looked closer to it. Maru growled softly at it, obviously distressed and wary. Michikatsu hushed the dog, as to not scare whatever was clearly hurt.

He quickly tied the dog to the nearby bench foot before going up tot he person(?) and sitting next to them. "Sir, madam, are you alright?" his voice sounded rather frantic, which was normal since there was a possibly dying person(?) right by his side. As he heard the being growl in pain, it turned its head towards Michikatsu. When he did, Michikatsu felt his heart sink at the sight of the face.

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A/N: Hello again, I've liked the idea of a Human/Siren pair and who better than to use my favourite ship? I've decided to split this oneshot into a few parts just so it wouldn't mess with me. This will probably be my longest project due to it having atleast 3 parts. I hope you all have a wonderful day!