It was foggy today.

Yuu stood on the top deck, squinting into the mist.

It was so dark already. It was a bit early for night to come but the sun couldn't find it's way through the clouds.

"Yuu get away from there," Yuu suddenly heard someone snap and he turned around.

His father stood behind him, scowling crossly.

Yuu backed away from the side of the ship. "Sorry, Mr. Ichinose."

Guren Ichinose was not Yuu's real father. He was a very rich noble who was still unmarried, but seemed to have no interest in changing that status. He did however, want an heir to leave his legacy to. And that was why he adopted. Yuu.

The real reason Guren didn't want to be married was a secret, only known Yuuichiro and Guren's boyfriend Shinya- who was also the reason himself.

Guren shook his head. "Just be careful."

Yuu nodded.

It felt like they had been on this voyage forever.

They had been traveling for Guren's business. He brought Yuu along to teach him, but now they were back at sea on their way home and Yuu greatly missed the days when he had been allowed to spend his days on solid ground, walking around the city and not constantly being watched by Guren and his friends.

Even more than that… Yuu longed for older days. Before Guren had even adopted him, when…

Yuu shook his head.

"Yuu! We're heading below deck for dinner." Guren called as he and his colleague turned around and headed back below.

"Be right there!" Yuu called after them, but he didn't really think Guren had stopped to wait for him.

Yuu sighed, turning around to take one last look out to sea.

Then he heard an odd sound.

Was that a thump? Yuu wondered to himself, suddenly getting an odd feeling like he wasn't alone.

Yuu turned around. He thought he had heard the sound from the other side of the ship.

Carefully placing his hand on his sword handle, Yuu walked as quietly as possible toward the other side of the deck.

Yuu was almost there; feeling the eerie, misty silence around him. It was so dense he felt like if he breathed at all it was deafening

Then behind him there was a…

CREAK.

Yuu flinched, drawing his sword and about to whip around when suddenly someone else's sword flipped up and caught him around the neck.

Yuu backed up, away from the blade and was greeted by a solid figure behind him. and an arm that came up to grip his waist.

"Don't move, noble," a smooth, male voice said in Yuu's ear. "We're after your cargo. If you don't get in our way we'll leave you unharmed."

Yuu felt a chill go down his spine.

"Pirates…" he murmured, and the arm around him tightened.

"That's right, so don't do anything stupid. Right about now my subordinates should have found you cargo hold and-,"

"Oh, so you're the captain?" Yuu asked, a smile slowly tugging up his lips.

His heart was beating fast. He hadn't felt this alive in years.

"Then I guess I just have to take care of you."

Yuu threw his arm back and elbowed the man behind him hard, up and behind the ribs.

The person grunted and Yuu slipped his blade under theirs, knocking it away as he whipped around and leveled his blade at them. A smirk on his lips.

The man behind him, a blonde, quickly raised his sword to guard against Yuu.

"Well that was unexpected." He murmured, lowering his head which was heavy with a thick black-leather hat. His body was clad in a long blue coat and Yuu could see black boots covering most of his legs.

Yuu snickered.

"So the noble, can actually fight." The man finally raised his head enough that Yuu saw the gleam of blue eyes. "Will wonders never cease?"

"It's a passion of mine." Yuu replied lightly. "So shall we see who-,"

Yuu broke off, his eyes widening as he got a closer look at the captain's face.

The captain, surprisingly young and with a sharp, pale face and blue eyes, smiled at him. "What, are you challenging-,"

"Mika?"

The captain stopped speaking.

"That is you, isn't it Mika?" Yuu asked suddenly, lowering his sword and stepping forward.

The captain held his sword even more defensively. "Who told you to call me that?"

"Don't you recognize me?" Yuu raised his face so that it caught more of the fading light. "We grew up in the same orphanage when we were younger-,"

Mika's eyes widened.

"Yuu?"

Yuu's smile spread across his whole face, lighting up his eyes like sunlight shining through ivy.

"Yeah it's me."

"This is Guren Ichinose's ship…" Mika murmured, "What are you doing here?"

Yuu's smile fell a little and he blinked. "Well I-,"

Mika's eyes looked down, taking in Yuu's fine suit and tie, and shiny leather shoes.

"That's right." he said. "You were adopted by a nobel." Mika's eyebrows tipped downward. "Wow… I guess you were right."

Yuu's eyebrows raised. "Right about what?"

"About that night." Mika replied.

Just then a high whistling sound broke through the fog.

Mika looked towards it.

"I have to go." He murmured, lowering his sword and taking a step back.

"Mika," Yuu took steps towards him. "Wait, I want to talk to you. You don't know everything that happened that night."

Mika looked into Yuu's face with a cautious interest.

"I always wondered about you," Mika said, taking a few slow steps toward Yuu.

Yuu felt a flush rush up into his cheeks. "Mika, please. Why are you a pirate? What happened? I just-,"

Mika held up a hand to silence him.

"We don't have time for this now, Yuu-chan." Mika said, and Yuu reacted to his old nickname.

Mika took a few steps forward, until he was standing directly in front of Yuu, looking down into his eyes.

"I'm here for a reason tonight." He murmured. "But… "

Mika reached out and placed his fingers underneath Yuu's chin, tipping it up.

He leaned down and kissed Yuu hard across the mouth. Making Yuu suck in a breath of surprise.

Then Mika pulled away.

"Next time, I'll come for you." Mika whispered, just loud enough for Yuu to hear it.

Then he turned around and strode off into the mist.

~.~.~.~.~

Yuu didn't tell anyone about what he saw that night.

The cargo hold had been cleaned out, and the others knew it was pirates. But when anyone asked Yuu he said that he was caught from behind and knocked out. That he didn't see anything.

No one doubted him. His swords skills were largely secret and besides, they were pirates after all.

Guren was the only one who pressed him, but it wasn't because he was suspicious. More because he was furious that Yuu didn't put up more of a fight.

Yuu just took the ridicule in silence.

The rest of the voyage home, Yuu kept to himself. His mind drifting to other things. Remembering a time years before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Six Years Before ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hyakuya orphanage was not a rich establishment. Since the war, when money had become scarce and orphans had become numerous, the orphanage was over crowded and barely scraping by. Kids slept on the floor in all the rooms. Food was mostly broth, once or twice a day if they were lucky, and ultimately everyone knew what no one was saying.

The orphanage would close down soon.

"Where are all of us going to go?" The question would bounce around sleepy rooms, making the nights feel colder and lonelier than they already were.

That was the environment Yuu knew Mika from.

Yuu and Mika were among the oldest of the children, any older had been sent to the workhouses. The two of them had taken on a sort of brotherly role to the others, and they tried to take care of them as much as they could. To take the brunt of things, so that they didn't have to. But there was only so much they could do. And saving the orphanage was not one of those things.

One night, Yuu and Mika were lying on the floor among the others, and Yuu watched Mika with the sort of interest that he had always had for him.

Mika was different than anyone Yuu had met. He had been at the orphanage even before Yuu had, and it had been Mika who had welcomed him there. Mika seemed naturally inclined to bare all the weight of those around him. As if being around Mika was to always share in the burden. He kept Yuu from ever feeling alone. No matter who he had lost.

That night, as Yuu watched him through the dark, Mika turned his head to look at him.

There was a troubled look in his blue eyes that night. Filled with the thoughts spinning around his head.

Yuu saw it and his expression softened with understanding.

Mika lifted his chin, nodding for Yuu to get up and follow him. Yuu was surprised, but did as he was told. Getting up and following Mika downstairs.

"We can't say here." Mika said when the two of them sitting on the floor of the living room downstairs. Their heads were bent together, and they spoke quickly and quietly between them.

"If the orphanage closes then most of these kids will be sent to the workhouses or worse. There will be no safe place left for them. We need to make a plan, and leave now before anyone can stop us."

Yuu felt the grimness of what Mika was saying. Surviving on their own, especially with all these kids, would be a bleak picture. But it was better than the alternative. Which was what was terrifying.

"Okay." Yuu agreed, "But how?"

"We'll start stashing any materials we can get our hands on for the next few weeks." Mika explained. "Then when we have enough we'll prepare the others and we'll sneak away."

Yuu shook his head. "There's too many. We'll never make it out unnoticed, especially with the younger ones."

Mika thought.

"We'll go in two groups then." He murmured looking like he didn't like it. "I'll take the older ones first, since they can do with less sleep, and we'll get things prepared. You can bring the younger ones before dawn after they've gotten some sleep and after we're certain that the Matron won't notice."

Yuu hesitated, nervous. "I don't like the idea of being separated. What if…"

Mika put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Yuu. I trust you to help these kids. Do you trust me?"

Yuu looked into Mika's eyes. "Yes, of course."

"Good." Mika smiled. "Then in five weeks. Gather everything you can until then."

Yuu nods.

"Five weeks."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Present ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ship's ramp clanked loudly when they lowered it to the dock, and Yuu was in an anxious hurry to touch down on dry land the moment it was down, but Guren kept Yuu firmly behind him as he strode down the ramp.

"We have to go meet with the police." Guren told Yuu when their feet moved from the wooden dock to the firm cobblestones of the street. "I have to make a report about the theft."

"Right." Yuu agreed. "Do you think they'll be about to get it all back?"

"Who knows." Guren shrugged. "Sometimes they can find it after it's been sold. Which won't necessarily help us catch the pirates but it's better than nothing."

"Right."

This lead to Yuu sitting stiffly in a chair for two hours while Guren recounted the incident to the police.

"Well," the detective said, "The bad news is that we've never been able to get close to the pirate crew that is likely behind this. But the good new is with all of that merchandise they will have to unload it quickly, and the more they unload at a time the more we can recover and the more likely it is we can catch them."

"Of course." Guren agreed. "So what is the next step?"

"We keep an eye out for any of the possessions you are missing to turn up at a distributor. Once one does we'll retrieve and see what we can find out about how it got there. I'll notify you as soon as we know anything. In the meantime just stay wary and wait for something to turn up."

Guren was in a foul mood the rest of the day.

The carriage ride back to his townhouse was mostly silent, with him scowling out the window, and Yuu sitting awkwardly on the opposite bench.

When they finally did make it back though, Yuu took one look at the carriage parked out front and knew things would improve immediately.

"Ah, you're finally back." Shinya's voice greeted them as soon as they walked in. Guren looked up at him with a sour expression, but Yuu could tell it was already cracking.

"I'm going to head up stairs," Yuu reported. "Let you guys catch up."

"Good to see you, Yuu." Shinya said with a wink. Yuu snorted and rolled his eyes before heading upstairs.

Once up there, Yuu flopped onto his bed.

"Next Time I'll come for you."

Yuu closed his eyes.

His lips burned from the memory, and Yuu brushed his fingers over them as if he could cool them.

What was Mika planning? Always, always planning…

Memories started to flood Yuu's mind again.

~~~~~~~~~ Six Years Before~~~~~~~~~

"Yuu, stop being so nervous. The great Mikaela will handle everything!"

Yuu looked at him with a smirk.

"You're sure we should go tonight? Are we ready?"

"Of course we are." Mika grinned. "Everything is arranged. I'll go right after we're released upstairs for bed. You and the younger kids can cover for us and then follow before morning."

Yuu nodded. "All right, but Mika,"

Yuu reached out and grabbed his arm. "Please be careful."

Mika's expression softened. "Of course. You too."

Yuu smiled.

That night all of the kids were downstairs playing before bed. Yuu and Mika among them, acting like nothing was different.

When it came time to get ready for bed, Mika gathered the attention of all of the older kids. "We'll go get ready first and then we can help the younger kids." Mika said, guiding all of them upstairs. "Yuu-chan? Will you come help me?"

Yuu looked at him in confusion, but quickly got up and followed.

The two of them stopped in a nook on the stairs.

"Do you remember everything? Where to meet?"

Yuu nodded. "Yeah."

"If there's a problem," Mika said, a little tensely, "And you aren't there before dawn then I'll come back here to check for you. Leave me a single in the back window if you can so I know what's going on."

"Okay." Yuu agreed. "Are you ready with everything?"

"Yes." Mika agreed. "Your half of the supplies will stay here. I'll take the other half."

Yuu nodded. "Then it sounds like we're ready."

"Yeah," Mika looked down. "Yuu-chan, there's just one more thing."

"What is it?" Yuu asked, raising his eyes back to Mika.

Mika smiled.

He leaned in quickly- quickly enough to startle Yuu- and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

Yuu immediately turned bright red.

"See you before morning." Mika said, grinning but with a slight blush. "Good luck, Yuu-chan."

Then he dashed up the stairs and out of sight.

Yuu blinked idly for a few moments before shaking his head and hurrying back downstairs.

Yuu had just gotten back down, sitting cross-legged on the floor with the other kids, when there was a knock at the door.

The Matron frowned, but stood up and answered it.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm here to adopt a child," a deep voice on the other side said.

The Matron fluttered. "It's quite late…"

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience." The voice replied. "But I promise I'll make it worth your while."

The Matron's eyes widened. "A nobel?"

Yuu felt something cold slip into his veins.

Should he get the others before they leave? Being adopted by a nobel… but what if he was up to something bad? Then the other's should escape while they can…

The Matron opened the door and a man came in, taking off his hat to reveal dark hair, messily slicked back underneath.

Yuu eyed him.

"Some of our kids have already gone up to bed-,"

"That's all right." the nobleman said. "I'll start here for now."

The Matron fluttered nervously.

The man walked forward. His steps heavy on the floors, and his clothing dark as his hair and his eyes.

Yuu stood up.

"I should get the others." He decided. "They wouldn't want to miss-,"

Yuu was about to turn and make a break for the stairs when the man grabbed his shoulder.

"You look strong."

Yuu looked up at him in surprise.

"Yes…," The man looked him over curiously.

"What's your name, boy?"

"What's yours?" Yuu spat, and the man laughed.

"Confident, defiant. I like it." The man teased. "My name is Guren Ichinose."

The Matron gasped, obviously recognizing the name.

Yuu felt a nervous sweat on the back of his neck.

"I'm Yuuichiro."

"Hmm…" Guren murmured. "Is that what you go by?"

"I go by Yuu." he said impatiently. "But I should really get the others-,"

"No need." Guren patted his shoulder. "I want you."

"What?" Yuu blinked.

"That's right. You're the one I want to adopt." Guren said.

Yuu sputtered. "But-,"

"Don't be modest," Guren wrapped his arm around Yuu and walked toward the Matron.

"I'll adopt this boy, and I'll pay you handsomely for him. But also..." He leaned toward her. "I will make a sizable donation to this establishment. I will set you up to run smoothly for years. Provided that you do not answer anything about either me or Yuu here, should anyone come asking."

The Matron blinked. "What do you mean?"

"If anyone comes here asking you about us, say you have no idea who we are. Do you understand?" Guren asked. "In return, I will give you all the money you need to keep going and to take care of all these children."

Yuu's eyes widen.

The Matron smiled. "Thank you Sir! I promise, I won't say a word."

"Very good." Said Guren. "Then let's draw up the paperwork."

"I just need to-," Yuu started to say.

"It's all right Yuu, sit down next to me. I'll handle everything."

Yuu swallowed.

It felt like a long time before Yuu was able to break away and make an excuse to run upstairs.

Too long.

By the time he made it, it was empty.

Yuu gripped his hair, breathing heavy like he might hyperventilate.

What was he going to do? He couldn't get everyone out of here unnoticed now. And if he were being honest he shouldn't. These kids were young, and they were better off in a funded orphanage then scraping by on the streets. But with Mika and the others already gone…

Yuu thought back to what Mika said, about a signal in the window. He quickly ran and grabbed a paper and ink. Not even bothering to look for the pen, just dipping his finger in and scrawling with it, big enough to read from a distance.

"Come Back."

With that he pressed the paper into the corner of the window.

"Yuu!"

Yuu swallowed and hurried back downstairs.

~~~~~~~~~ Present~~~~~~~~~

That was Yuu's last memory of the orphanage.

He left that night, with Guren, and Guren kept his word. The orphanage was still going, much better than it had been before.

Yuu would visit it sometimes, and when he did he would always go around back and look up into the window.

When he did, for some reason, his note was always still there, tucked into the corner.

"Come Back." as if time had froze it there forever.

Yuu wondered if he would ever know what happened after that. What happened to Mika.

Now he knew.

Yuu opened his eyes and stared up at his ceiling.

"Mika… what are you going to do?"

That question wasn't answered for two months. In the meantime, making Yuu wonder if Mika had changed his mind and decided to forget about him.

That is until they got a call from the police.

"We've recovered this." The captain said, indicating a small pot. "It was in your collection, but I'm surprised. It's one of the least valuable pieces. We weren't able to trace it back to anyone, but it does indicate that the pirates are making their move."

"Are we still to wait, detective?" Guren asked as he passed the pot back to Yuu to hold.

Yuu looked at it carefully.

It looked like an ordinary pot.

Yuu scanned the sides, and the bottom and opened.

He didn't see anything. Until…

He looked into the lid, almost by accident, and he saw a small not rolled up inside.

Yuu carefully slipped it out and hid it in his pocket.

They went home, and Yuu gave the pot back to Guren.

He waited until he was alone in his room to unroll the note.

"I'm coming." It said. "Make your decision."

~.~.~.~.~.~

End of Part One

~.~.~.~.~.~