A/N: First story on FF. I would like to thank DarknessAngelMomo21 for her assistance in the creation of the story and my beta Randomness1234. Arigato!*bows deeply* Enjoy! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I'm going to go cry now.
~Chapter 1~
Sitting in a swivel chair with a desk full of various electronics, staring inattentive at the radar screen is a bulky man. Swaying back and forth in the chair to entertain himself he runs his hand over his corn braids tiredly. Watching the line go around once. Twice. Thrice. He sighs again with more exasperation. His rough features scrunching up in agitation.
"Damn Tousen for putting me at this stupid post." the man curses. Just as he was nodding off a red dot pulses on the radar. Snapping to attention at once, he immediately presses a button on the computer. Activating the underwater camera that sensed the motion he stares hard at the screen. Seeing nothing but blackness for a moment all of a sudden there's a motion at the corner of the screen. Quickly switching to another screen he spots the figure again. For a moment there's a glow, whatever it is catching what little moon light breaks through the surface of the water. It almost looked as if it were a tail of some huge fish.
"What the hell?"
Staring at the screen more intently he waits with baited breath to catch sight of it again. His hopes are answered when a figurine is seen. Its lower half is a tail of a fish while the upper body is human. A mermaid! It's pale skin catching the moon rays and it's white tail moving the creature through the water effortlessly. It seems as though it glows within the murky waters. The toned stomach and chest giving away it was a male and the creatures white locks floating behind as it glides across the screen. Shocked for a good 10 seconds the man snaps back to reality and presses the intercom button on the wall.
"Ulquiorra, I got something on the radar here! You're not gonna believe it!" the man announces excitedly. He lets go of the button to hear his co-workers emotionless voice come through the speaker.
"What is it Yammy?" the man addressed as Ulquiorra answers uninterestedly.
"There's a mermaid around in vicinity!" Yammy replies with his excitement doubling. There is a pause over the intercom as Yammy awaits Ulquiorra's reply.
"Are you sure?" his monotone voice asks suspiciously a little bit of interest leaking through his tone.
"Yeah! I'm looking right at it!" Yammy switches the screen to keep his eye on where the supposed to be mythical creature was venturing.
"I'm coming down." was Ulquiorra's short reply before the buzzing of the connection went silent. After a minute or two the door behind Yammy swung open. A pale, petite man with deep emerald eyes and black inky hair brushing his shoulders entered. Ignoring Yammy's greeting, he walked silently and quickly over to the monitor his eyes searched the screen for what Yammy claimed was a mermaid.
True to his word, Ulquiorra spotted a figure slinking through the darkness of the waters. Staring at the screen for a few more moments, he abruptly turned around and walked for the door. Before Yammy could voice out his confusion Ulquiorra speaks.
"I'm going to report this finding to Aizen-sama. Have Starrk get the nets ready to catch this creature." Ulquiorra ordered exiting the small threshold. The nodding of his head going unseen, Yammy spun in his chair to carry out his orders.
~SNSNSNSNSNSN~
In a high backed chair behind a mahogany desk sits a brown haired man with glasses and a faux friendly smile staring at a bowed Ulquiorra. On his right, a silver haired man with an impossibly wide smile and slit eyes listened on in interest.
"A mermaid has been spotted?" Aizen repeated Ulquiorra's earlier words. So we've finally caught sight of one of the most infamous mythical water creatures. Interesting.
"Yes, Aizen-sama, it is lurking on the northwest side of the vicinity." Ulquiorra informs. Aizen stays quiet for a few seconds, savoring the news that has been brought to him.
"I trust you have already set a team on the job of capturing this creature?"
"Yes, Starrk is on the job." Ulquiorra reassures. Nodding his head in approval Ulquiorra is dismissed. Alone with his right hand man once again the quiet man finally talks.
"Th's could be a brea'through fo' tha comp'ny." the silver haired man declared with that ever present smile on his face.
"Yes indeed Gin, the biggest breakthrough we will have yet." Aizen states excitement shining within his eyes.
~SNSNSNSNSNSN~
On the deck of the disguised illegal fishing base Starrk, a man in his early 30's with a goatee and shaggy brown hair to his shoulders, leaned against a rail surrounding the perimeter. His eyes half-mast showing his exhaustion. Turning his head at the sound of a door opening he sees the small form of Ulquiorra.
"You are to man the drift net and capture the mermaid swimming in the northwest banks." Ulquiorra immediately gets to the point.
"Well hello to you to." Starrk greets sarcastically.
"A very rare sea creature has been spotted and we need to capture it before it gets away." Ulquiorra states sternly. Heaving a sigh Starrk heads off to the mini boat at the side of the building with Ulquiorra behind him. Starting it up with a rusty purr he sets off to the northwest wing of the marine building. Stopping at his destination he lowers the net into the water and releases the rope hold letting the heavy material sink into the waters. Steering along the waters again Ulquiorra looks at the radar hooked into the boats system.
After almost an hour of steering aimlessly the telltale red blotch appears on the green surface. Directing Starrk in the right directions they make towards the mermaid. It was a surprise to both of the men when there was a jolt from the boats edge. Apparently, the sea creature was giving a fight to the nets.
"Reel the net in." Ulquiorra commands. Running to the side of the boat Starrk activates the pulley system. Slowly the net surfaces but what comes out has the two staring in amazement. A beautiful white haired and tailed mermaid is struggling within the tangled nets. Big turquoise eyes wide in fear he thrashes within the accursed trap. Starrk and Ulquiorra stand in astonishment unable to take their eyes off of the creature.
In their dazed state, they didn't notice the mermaid grow razor sharp teeth and chew through the ropes. Dropping to the water with a splash the sound snapped the two men from their reverie. Suddenly alert the two search the water in urgency. Starrk spots the mermaid swimming off into the ocean.
"Shit!" he shouts alarmed. Climbing to the steering wheel he reaches over the side and retrieves a harpoon. Setting the boat back in motion he makes his way back over to the edge. Looking for the moving target he aims, but before he can shoot he's interrupted.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ulquiorra asks incredulously but still managing to keep his voice controlled as always.
"What does it look like?" Starrk replies with his own question, "I'm going to shoot a harpoon."
Feeling the glaring look Ulquiorra was giving him for his unwanted sarcasm Starrk answers seriously.
"I'm going to injure him to slow him down."
"How do you know you're not going to run him through?"
"Trust me, I won't." With that he sends the arrow soaring through the air and plunging into the water. Stepping back Starrk inspects the water for a few moments. Sighing he gives up and admits that maybe his aim wasn't as good as he thought. Ulquiorra shakes his head and turns around thinking of how dishonoring it will be to have to tell Aizen of his failure. Little did they know Starrk hit his target.