ENCOUNTER: Visitors (15)

Mahad stood in the lobby, mentally preparing himself for the ordeal to come. He would be dealing with something that intimidated almost everyone in the aquarium.'

Children.

Now it wasn't that they didn't like children, (well, Harry maybe..) it was more they didn't know how to carry themselves around them.
Speaking to adults was one thing, you didn't need to worry to much about what information you gave and how. Kids on the other hand needed a sort of filtered lesson. You couldn't just tell a kid how a great white shark kills little adorable seals or how brutal dolphins actually were when it came to calves and mates...

Luckily, Mahad knew how to handle kids this age, thus he had gotten the duty of touring the field trip group around the aquarium. He prayed he did a good job. The aquarium currently wasn't open to the public as exhibits and creatures were still being delivered, trained and set up. Some high paying schools could come in early though, and served as a source of extra income.

The doors opened.

And a stampede of 1st grade children rushed in.

'Oh Mercy...'

Mahad cleared his throat and stood tall as the children came in, herded by a tired looking older woman who he assumed was the teacher and an 19 year old boy with red hair, obviously the teacher's aid.

"Ahem. Welcome everyone. My name id Mahad and I'll be showing you around the aquarium today..."


---


"Come on!"

"No."

"Please Yami?"

"No."

"Come on you big scaredy cat!"

"I don't know what that is and NO."

"Then I'll make you!"

Yami grimaced and flattened himself to the stone he had been sunbathing on as Mana grabbed his tail and tried tugging him off. Her determination was impressive, but not enough to tug him off. Years of sea fairing had taught him much, stone clinging was one of them. After a few unsuccessful tries, Mana let go and swam around to face Yami. "Come on, why don't you want to see them?"

Yami glared up at her. "I have no interest in seeing human whelps..."

"Why not?"

"Cause they're HUMAN whelps."

"have you ever seen one?"

Yami's eyes flicked down a bit. "No... But I still don't wish to see one, let alone a whole pod!"

Mana had told him earlier that human pups would be coming to see them on something called a "field trip." He could only assume it was like a scouting party but with human whelps. As soon as he had heard this, he had resolved to hide away until they left. Firstly, because he had no desire to meet the children of his captors. Secondly, the thought of a bunch of loud little land creatures staring and yipping at him didn't exactly excite him. Thus, here he was...

Mana narrowed her eyes at him before sighing, shoulders sagging comically. "Oh fine... But honestly, they are REALLY cute, and the worst they can do is tap on the glass and use flash photography..."

He grunted, settling down on the seaweed covered rocks.

Mana raised and eyebrow. "Well, if you change your mind you're more then welcome to come out." With this, she swam out, chirping to herself.

Yami watched her go, tail curling around him as he attempted to make himself smaller and less noticeable. With any luck, he would go unnoticed, granted he didn't move...


---


"...Now who can tell me how many teeth a Hammerhead Shark has?" Mahad asked, walking past the shark exhibit and towards their final destination.

Several little hands shot up. he pointed to a boy with square shaped glasses and black hair. "Can you guess?"

"Uhm... 100?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.

"Not quite, good try though. Anyone else?"  More hands. This time he picked a blonde haired boy with a cartoon fish on his t-shirt. "You?"

"30?"

He smiled. "Very good, the great hammerhead shark has between 24 to 37 teeth in each row."

"Mr. Mahad?"

He turned and looked back at the teacher. "Yes ma'am?"

"Where are we off to now?"

"Glad you asked. We're heading to my favorite exhibit. It's still a work in progress, but it'll hopefully be entertaining regardless."

Around the corner they went, into a large room with a huge long window. Beyond it a familiar, massive tank sat, sunlight flooding from the skylight from the floor above and down into the waters, washing the room around them in ever shifting shades of rippling blue.
Mahad took his position by the glass and gestured for everyone to take a seat on the benches provided.

"Now then everyone, how many of you know what a mermaid is?"

Raised hands and excited chattering erupted from the children. "So all of you know what I'm talking about I see..." Mahad said smiling.
"Well then, if you wish to come to the glass, you can meet our resident mermaid." Mahad turned and tapped the glass in a quick pattern.

There was a pause as the children waited breathlessly, noses pressed to the glass...

Then, a flash of gold and several surprised and delighted squeals as Mana darted from just out of sight and came close to the glass to see her visitors. Her eyes shining as she flared her fins and frills in a glistening show of gold and pale scales, gaining an overjoyed reaction from her audience.

Madad smiled and began lecturing. "This is Mana, she's our resident Gold Midian mermaid. She estimated to be about 20 or so years old..."

Now the teacher spoke up. "Estimated? You're not sure?"

"Well no..." Mahad said, turning to the teacher. "You see, Mana was not born in this facility, nor from a breeding center. She was a rescue from when she was very, very little. She was born in the sea."

"I see... She was alone?"

"No... When we found her, her mother was with her but she had already past..."

"What a shame..."

Mahad nodded in agreement, glancing over at Mana's performance. It seemed so long ago...

He shook himself from his thinking and walked over to the children.

"Now then everyone, you've met Mana. Now do you have questions?"

A little girl raised her hand. He nodded at her.

"Uhm... Can she talk?"

"A little."

Another child piped up. "Does she have a fishy friend like Ariel?"

Mahad snickered. "No... She's not like Ariel."

The Disney themed questions began...


---


Yami's ear frill flicked up.

An eye opened.

'What's that noise?...'

Very slowly as to not be noticed, he raised his head and turned to see what was causing the strange noise. It sounded like yipping whelps... But that couldn't be, there were none in the exhibit...

He slunked forward a little, just behind the kelp... Just beyond the glass, he could see what looked like pups... Human children...

He watched as Mana twirled around, doing little flips and touching her claws to the glass, allowing the children to bring their hands up and put their hands to the glass as well. Yami watched as she entertained and barked playfully, earning giggles and claps from the group. He settled a little and watched in amusement. She would have been a good babysitter for mer whelps if she had been in a pod...

As he watches, an odd warm feeling rose in his chest. Soft and comfortable. It was something he hadn't felt really since he was in the pod, watching queens and sires entertain their own babies... He sighed and glanced over at the children...

And froze.

A red hair little girl had turned at just the right time to see him move.

He'd been spotted.

Immediately she pointed at him and began yelping excitedly. All eyes were on him now...

Yami hisses at himself angrily.

There was no use now... Hiding behind the rock would be useless...


Mana blinked and swam over, grinning. "Come on Yami, come say hi!"

Yami growled and looked down at his claws.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright, don't say hi... But they've seen you, so at least let them see ALL of you..."

He looked up, ears twitching in confusion. "Eh?"

"You don't even have to do any tricks. Just swim and make a few passes past the glass with me." She said gently, smiling at him.

Yami froze and blinked. 'Curse those eyes...' He thought. After a moment, he sighs and gave in. "A few passes, then I want to hide again."

"Deal."


---


"LOOK! There's another mer!" A little red headed girl said excitedly.

Mahad turned and looked up at where she was pointing. Beyond the glass hidden behind some kelp was Yami, puffed up like a scared cat as all eyes turned to him.

"Who's that?" The teacher's aid asked, tilting his head.

"Well, since everyone's noticed him, I might as well explain. He's a wild mer we recently rescued after finding him with major wounds from what we assume was a battle. The reason I didn't mention him before was because he's only here temporarily."

"Ah I see."

"Look!" Another child squealed, and again Mahad turned to see what they were going on about.

Yami was now reluctantly swimming out in the open, Mana close beside him chirping encouragingly at him. Together, they swam past the glass in full view of the delighted children. Yami looked over at the children again and slowed, seemingly becoming a little interested before swimming off again with Mana giggling close buy, chasing after him.

"Who's that mermaid??" One child asked.

Mahad chuckled and began to explain. "He's not a mermaid, he's male. Sometimes we call them toms. He's a sort of guest here at the aquarium, and he's a bit shy."

"What's his name?"

"His name is Yami. We estimate him to be about 21 to 23 years in age. He's an Ebony Royal rescued not far form here..."


---


"You're doing wonderfully. I told you there was nothing to be afraid of..." Mana said, swimming beside him as she grinned smugly.

Yami snorted. "I'm not afraid of children, I merely don't like being an attraction piece..." He said, rolling his eyes.

Mana smirked. "Well it's hard not to be when your attractive..." She whispered under her breath, grinning.

Yami's head shot up. "Wait, what?"

"Nothing!" She said, giggling and speeding away.

"Mana, what did you just say!?" He repeated, darting after her.

"I said eat my bubbles you sea turtle!"

"WHAT!?"


The children below laughed as they watched the two mers chase eachother around the tank at blazing speeds. Mahad watched as well, smiling a little.
____________________________

Next:

Previous:
____________________________

The attractive joke Mana makes here is a joke, but that'll change soon... >: 3

More Encounter yay!

I used a new brush for the seaweed in the picture, let me know if you like it! ^^

This is one of my favorite pictures in the series... :>


Yami/Mana/Mahad/Yugioh (c) Kazuki Takahashi

Fantasian Mers/Story/Mer Designs (c)