My Pearl

Chapter 1

The strong smell of the sea permeates the air and the taste of salt was on the tip of everyone's tongues. A rough grin graced a tanned face and eyes the color of fresh blood shone with excitement.

Mermaids.

The greatest treasure a man could find. A true daughter of the sea was a rare sight, almost always a trick of the light or a particularly large fish. Mermaids were creatures of legend, any sane man knows this, but Motonari was far from sane.

A few meters away a group of sailors, pirates, spoke of the fabled beauty that all mermaids were said to hold. Most of the crew had the better sense to think mermaids nothing but myth, and this good sense extended to never questioning their captain's obsession.

There!

Those blood red eyes flashed with an unnameable glee. The glint of sun bouncing off scales. What fish would be dumb enough to swim near a ship as large as this? But a daring mermaid, She may take a chance to catch a glimpse of the men on board.

And Motonari was, in fact, right.

Only a few minutes earlier, this daring mermaid was in the midst of being teased by a golden eyed catfish.

"Dear y/n, it's perfectly reasonable for you to be scared. Why, a young lady like you would be an excellent target for dastardly pirates." Mitsuhide all but purrs.

"Mitsuhide! You big Meanie!" Ranmaru pouted, coming to the defense of his close friend. The smooth pink gradient of his tail was a lovely compliment to his childish demeanor.

Y/n uncrossed her arms, a disgruntled huff leaving her lips. Of course she knew Mitsuhide's teasing but she was determined to prove him wrong. Quickly she made her way to the surface, too quick for the men to stop her.

A satisfying pop was made as she broke through the surface. Jaw hanging wide y/n stared at the large ship before her. It's beauty was tempting but the fear of those on board kept her in place.

But as quick as she appeared a pair of ruby eyes found her, and she dived back under the sea.

"Y/n!" A frantic Ranmaru swam up to her, wrapping her hands in his, "What were you thinking!?"

"My my, I didn't expect that from you." Mitsuhide came up behind the other mermaid. For a second, it almost seemed as if he was being truthful.

"It's a big ship," a confident y/n grinned, "must have a big crew."

During the merfolk's half frantic conversation Motonari had called over a navigator and dismissed his helmsman, taking the wheel. Skillfully he maneuvered the vessel securely into a cove on a near by island. That mermaid, he vowed, would be his.