Author: Ibilintu/Aryna/DaftDays
Pairing: SasuNaru
Rating: T (for now)
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi, I'm just borrowing and making no profit at all.
A/N: This is my Secret Santa y!gallery fic for chynna18rawrr. I was planning a simple oneshot yet it somehow ran on its own and this fic will likely have three or four chapters. I didn't mean to start anything longer when Noon is still in progress but oh well.
for chynna18rawrr
They called her simply Black Ship. No-one knew her real name and there was nobody crazy enough to wish to get close enough to read it on the ship's side. She was said to be beautiful, one of the most stunning ships ever built on this side of the world, with old-fashioned mast and carvings on the railings, and a figurehead of a weeping maiden on the prow, guiding the ship through the seas. She was painted all black, even the windows some said, and the lights inside the ship were always the same black light that would blind everyone stupid enough to look into the light. The ship roamed the dark waters, only appearing at night when all the light was gone. She was silent as the night itself and was never seen before it was too late as it approached the other ships sailing the seas. She always came uninvited, and there weren't many who claimed they had actually seen her. Those who did were usually old men, shaken so badly by the experience they were unable to step on a deck anymore and just roamed the ports, telling their story to anyone who was willing to listen.
There was told to never be any crew on the deck, the ship just glided over the water and took along whoever she wanted to, whenever she wanted to, taking whoever was sailing the poor ship as well. Even the old storytellers didn't know why Black Ship was the way she was, what had caused the curse to be laid on her in the first place, yet it was never questioned.
And as they said, the only way to protect your ship was to paint a single black brush stroke on the right side of your ship's bow.
It was a powerful legend, but over time it had started to lose its thrill. More and more stories arose along the years and the younger captains were beginning to ignore the old folks' superstitions. The old ways were forgotten, sometimes purposely and despite the warnings of the seasoned men, and they were getting more and more daring. Every now and then there was a ship that left without the mark on the side from the port and then no living soul heard from it anymore. It wasn't uncommon for a ship to disappear, but for a while it tended to strike the old stories on fire again.
Naruto Uzumaki, however, was not interested in those stories. He had grown up in the port, taken in by a stranger when his parents had abandoned him, and he'd worked his ass off ever since he'd been old enough to walk. Carrying cargo from and to the ships, running errands, anything that would bring money in to his house. He had lived a while with the man he'd called his uncle but by the age of twelve he'd finally gotten himself on a ship, and that had been love on the first sail. After that one trip which he'd spent cleaning the deck and the cabins, helping the cook in the kitchen and sometimes even climbing up to the crow's nest once he'd proved that the was as agile as a little cat, the young boy had refused to set a food on land. Of course he had to do it at times, every time they got to a port, but most of his time he spent on the ship. It was the only love he had ever known and it was impossible to talk him over to even consider living on land for a while. If his previous captain was planning to take a little break, he'd find a new ship to get recruited on, and almost always it paid off. While he wasn't one of those kids that had lived on a ship from day one, he made up to what he lacked in experience with skill and eagerness to learn.
And it wasn't just cleaning tactics that he learned on the sails. By the age of sixteen he knew how to use the sextant and how to read the changes in weather to prepare for them. He knew how to wield a musket and how to aim a deadly blow in hand on hand combat. He was still fairly short and slim, but strong in his own boyish way and far more deadly than anyone could've guessed seeing him the first time. The sun-kissed skin and hair that had been bleached under the scorching sun during his long days on the deck made him a perfectly charming young man, especially when combined with his lively, sky blue eyes and a charming smile that could have won every lady over had he tried to court them. Most of the times he had no desire for such things for they weren't allowed on the ship, but as time passed and the urges of youth grew, Naruto sometimes found himself in the inns and rum houses of the shadier ports, chatting up a pretty lady and slipping her a few coins in return for her favors as he left in the early morning. It left him feeling a bit odd, almost guilty somehow, but it was easy to forget everything once he was in the middle of the open sea again.
Years passed, and Naruto grew not only in knowledge but in looks as well. By the age of 23 he was taller than half of the men on the ship he worked in, his smile still as radiant and eyes as sparkling but now they were backed up by beautifully developed muscles and a body that was one of a strong, hardworking man instead of a teenager now. There were multiple tattoos on his skin, starting from the lines on his face that had been on him as long as he could remember and ending at the rope that tangled around his right ankle. There had also been a compass rose inked on the back of his left hand for a long long time. He had a more designed pattern of a fox on his right shoulder blade and the animal's tails extended down his arm all the way to his wrist in a complicated pattern. It was the weirdest tattoo he had ever seen and he was glad to have it himself. He'd found the idea from a book that had come from China, with stories about mythological creatures over there, and he'd immediately chosen to have it inked on him. There were a few other tattoos as well, all holding a special meaning to him, and despite not being superstitious at all, he also had a few rings on his ears. They hadn't exactly improved his eyesight but it hadn't bothered him that much to try it anyway and he also did think they looked rather cool.
His body now was a result of hard work and long hours on the deck, but Naruto never complained. He loved his work and everything that came to it, without exception. Okay, well, sometimes he wasn't so fond of the occasional sickness waves that went through an entire ship crew at once and wiped them all off their feet so there was no-one really strong enough to run the ship, but other than that he wouldn't have given anything away.
It was one of those early mornings after a very rum-filled night as Naruto slipped out of a building close to the docks, rubbing his biceps and shivering in the chilly morning air. It was a misty morning, the sun had not yet risen, and there were just a few men on the streets, no woman anywhere in sight. They were mostly people drawling back to their homes from bars and brothels after a long night and one gave Naruto an encouraging wink which the blonde answered with a quick wave. It wasn't quite normal to be that friendly with other people, but sometimes these mornings brought a strange sense of companionship to the men that had been lucky the night before.
It was probably because of that that Naruto didn't find it odd at all to see another man standing in a corner of the streets, watching the ground. There were always people out there, minding their own business, and Naruto didn't think much of it as he walked down the road, almost at the docks already. If he was quiet he could now sneak back to the cabin where the crew slept and catch a couple of hours more sleep, which sounded just lovely. While he surely liked these nightly activities, they were also rather tiring, especially if he didn't catch much sleep during the hours spent in the strange bed.
It took him barely a second to realize that as he got closer to the corner the stranger stood at, the man suddenly raised his gaze, staring straight at the blonde walking down the street. His hand automatically withdrew to the gun he carried and he narrowed his eyes a little, not answering the stare as he kept on going, not really intimidated the slightest bit. It was too dark to see the man's features and he was standing in the darkest corner of the street, yet there he was and Naruto could just feel his eyes on him. Instinctively he slowed down his steps a little, not willing to walk past the stranger and turn his back to the man in case this was some kind of a robbery attempt. He could easily take out one man or two, with or without a gun, but he wasn't in the mood for fighting at the moment at all.
He was almost close enough to call out to the stranger and ask what the hell he was staring at him for, but he ended up never getting a chance. The stranger turned away, pulling his hat down to his eyes as he immediately picked up a quick pace, striding away from Naruto to a narrow alley a bit to his right. He didn't give the blonde even one more look as he went, leaving the man rather confused and more than a bit annoyed. What the hell, why would the guy even bother staring at him like that if he wasn't going to do anything? Wondering that exact question the blonde shrugged and, still keeping his hand on his musket, picked up his pace again back to where it had been, keeping a close eye on his surroundings as he headed to the ship, welcoming the familiar surroundings with a smile. He was back home for now.
"Naruto, is everything under control?"
"...huh? Oh, sure, captain." The answer was completed with a boyish grin as Naruto nodded determinedly, returning his eyes to the older man sitting across the table in front of him. There was a map spread on the table with a sextant lying in the middle of it, a small oil lamp giving them some extra light as they went through the area they were at the moment, planning the next move.
The man in front of him frowned, giving him an odd look before shaking his head briefly. He looked down at the map again, pointing his finger at an island they were headed to.
"They say the weather will be unstable for a while. We'll have to be cautious of it, so if there's any changes or clouds start to gather, inform me. There's still a few days until we get to the port."
Naruto nodded again, shifting a little as though he was preparing to leave, but instead he just turned back to his captain and arched a brow.
"Why are you asking?"
The dark-haired captain frowned in return, giving a look to the window on the wall of the cabin. They were still on the open sea and they hadn't passed another ship in a while, that alone being enough to make a captain a bit doubtful. The distance between the two ports they were now passing was not that great, so there should've been at least a few merchant ships or such, but they hadn't seen anything.
"I've just... had this feeling lately. Something is coming. It is probably just the storm, but... I might be young, but I'm not foolish enough to ignore the instincts. Always trust them, if you've been born with them. Listen to the sea and it will talk to you. That's what my father used to say." The captain looked almost embarrassed for a moment before shrugging and grinning back at Naruto.
"But it is true. Now, get out. I'm sure you have some work to do."
Naruto nodded and stood up quickly, playfully saluting his captain before exiting the cabin. There wasn't many years separating him and the captain, they had grown up in the same port but the older boy had left much earlier than Naruto and somehow made it to the point where he actually owned a ship. It hadn't been a hard decision to jump on board when he'd been asked as they once met ashore. He hadn't been on this ship even for a year, but it was more a home to him than any ship before. He knew all the crew and and every plank of the ship. The blonde still didn't have an established role in the crew, but he was mostly regarded as the second mate aboard, even though he never tried to stretch any authority over the other crew members. Naruto didn't really care whether he was being bowed at or not, he just wanted to be on the ship and live his life the way he enjoyed it, which meant exactly this.
As he hopped on the deck, the young man took a deep breath of the fresh, salty sea air, stifling a little laugh of simple happiness. The words the captain had said him still lingered on his mind, clouding some of the joy of just being alive and well and able to live like this, but it was fine. It wasn't the first time their captain had had these strange feelings before a storm, and Naruto was sure they would pass soon. There was nothing wrong. He was still smiling as he caught the ropes that led to the crow's nest and started climbing fast and steady. As he hoisted himself into the nest the blonde's eyes caught something on his right, a shape of something large like maybe a faraway island or a ship. Naruto got himself into a steady position, the wind blowing in his hair and messing it up completely as he turned to look back at the object. However, there was nothing but the blue waters glistening in the sun, not even a shadow of an island anywhere and Naruto frowned, rubbing his eyes a little. Maybe he just hadn't slept enough if he was seeing things. It had probably been just a bug or something that had flown away right after he'd registered it, or a shadow cast by a cloud or something. These things happened.
It was later in the evening that Naruto found himself sitting in the galley of the ship, holding a pint of rum in his hand and watching a couple of older members of the crew rolling the dices in a more complicated dice game. He had dropped out already, having lost clearly after the first three rounds, and he was now just observing the old sharks play, trying to learn something from the way they handled their dices and held themselves as the game proceeded. There was a fair pile of money on the table as well, all going to the winner of the last round, and it was starting to look like the old cooper of the ship was on a prosperous winning streak.
Naruto chuckled, taking a good sip of is rum with a smile on his lips. Half of the crew was in here now, mostly waiting for the food to appear from the pots on the stove. It was rather charming, in a way, the warm atmosphere in the galley as the scents of the food floated in the air, making someone cheer as the cook finally announced it was fine, starting to smash the stew into bowls for the crew. Most of them were immediately up, save for the players and Naruto and one powder monkey who rarely ate much anyway. It was these moments, when everyone else was away doing something else or already sleeping by the night that the old fellas started talking, and that was what Naruto wanted to listen. He knew a lot already, but there was never enough for old stories and myths for him.
And he wasn't disappointed this time either.
"Y'hear there was another ship going to Davy. Heard it sailed under the Jolly Roger." And the dices rolled on the table, bringing a heavy sigh out of both of the men. Despite playing this practically every day, they still took the game seriously, in their own rather laid-back way. Gold was always gold and like hell they were giving it up just for some fun.
And that was where the conversation took up from. Naruto listened with his mouth shut, just downing his rum and making sure not to miss even a single word. It was interesting, actually, how the conversation travelled from the disappeared pirate ship -it had been said to disappear just before it was supposed to arrive in one port, bringing in a load of treasures stolen from a royal ship somewhere along the way, but after the first sightings had been made the ship had simply disappeared form the view, and only a day later a few bodies had drifted ashore. That was more uncommon than not, since usually either the waves took the bodies or the sharks ate them before anything else had the time to happen. No bodies were usually found. There had been no clues of what had happened to the ship though and it hadn't been close enough to the shore that someone could've checked if the ship had sunk. So it was gone now and that was it.
From there the duo moved on to other ships they knew had disappeared and how the older of the men had actually been on a sinking ship. The conversation carried on to old myths at some point, and Naruto, having gone to get some food at some point, took his former place and listened as more of the crew joined in, adding to the stories.
"...and I swear by my dead mother's grave, once I saw a siren sitting on a rock in the middle of an ocean, truth to my tattoos I did. I was up in the crow's nest and saw her as clear as day and she sang to me and told me to come down, but boys, I tied myself to the mast and didn't go, even though my loins were on fire and my heart yearned to run for her aid."
Naruto chuckled, taking part in the slightly disbelieving crowd that started to drown the original speaker's story with even wilder ones. He himself didn't really believe in most of the old stories. Not that they were completely lies, but he had always somehow assumed that they had just started from one strange event and escalated a lot until they had become the legends the sailors now told. And even if some of them had been true, he wouldn't have really minded; he was still young and brave and reckless to the point of wanting to actually see the things the stories spoke about. He would have loved nothing more than to see a siren singing on the cliffs, trying to lure in the reckless sailors or the Kraken to raise from the depths of the Hell itself. The blonde trusted himself probably a bit too much, but he wasn't really afraid. He wanted to go and see things himself, and that was why he had changed ships so often, always seeking for a captain that wouldn't be afraid of taking the more difficult route if it only was the faster one. Challenge was never bad.
There was no storm before they hit the next port. The weather had been just as beautiful as ever, only a few clouds drifting on the clear skies and stars twinkling on the black emptiness of the sky. It had been simply good luck, but Naruto couldn't help the slight strain he kept seeing in their captain when the man thought no-one was looking. It wasn't much but enough to make Naruto wonder if the captain knew something none of the others did. It wouldn't be strange, they were a gray ship doing gray work, playing by the law on the outside and smuggling through stolen goods in the bilge. It paid well and had them doing in good coins, ensuring every member of the crew a fairly steady income, in a way.
After arriving at the port and getting rid of the cargo they had been carrying, the men had been informed that they would be leaving the next morning already, as soon as everyone was on board since they were carrying some pretty urgent things to their next port. There had been some quiet grumbling, but the captain had promised them a lot longer break once they reached the next port. It had quieted down the crew and Naruto had slipped away as soon as possible to spend his free time in the port how he wished.
They had been here a few times before so the man knew where he was going to. There was a pub that served the best whiskey in the whole land that existed, and it had always been his favorite. A lot of people were on the move at that hour, the night hadn't even fallen yet but men were out, trying to chat up the ladies in the corner of the streets in hopes of some free services. Needless to say, they weren't often lucky, and Naruto had to once turn away to keep from snickering as he saw a man getting slapped by a redheaded woman. His eyes stopped for a moment on a man standing by the doors of the bar he was going to, watching the streets. He had dark hair it seemed and surprisingly pale skin but it was all gone too fast as the blonde opened the door and stepped into the building. There were too many strangers for him to care about.
Only later that night it occurred to him that the pale stranger by the door had looked somehow very familiar.
It was that thought that had kept him up and awake most of the night. Naruto hadn't been able to sleep properly simply because it had stayed on his mind, how he was sure he had seen the man before yet he couldn't recall when or where. Things like this could stay on his mind for longest times, bothering him to no end until he finally caught the connection because it always happened, always. He didn't feel like this if there was no reason to had the feelings in the first place.
The morning was almost there, a faint light glowing in the horizon when the blonde finally jumped to sit on his rented bed, staring at the opposite wall with an almost confused look on his face. He could almost swear it was the stranger from the previous port, the one he had seen staring at him in the shadows. He hadn't seen the man's face properly back then, but something in his gut was telling him it had been the one and the same. How he knew it, the blonde wasn't exactly sure, but he just knew it. It was somehow very weird and a little disturbing, but he didn't want to get too much into it. Lots of pope traveled between the same ports and he'd seen the same people earlier too. There had been a case when he'd felt like he'd almost been followed, with a certain gunner appearing every now and then in a same bar he did, but it had been just series of coincidences.
There was mist in the air again, just like that morning some time before, as Naruto headed out and back to the ship. They were set to leave as soon as possible and he sure wasn't going to be the one man weighing it down. He yawned, ruffling his hair with a light salty wind blowing against his face from the sea almost as though welcoming him back to where he belonged. This place was a lot more crowded, people and dogs and rats roaming the streets and again, Naruto realized this was not where he wanted to be. He took a step aside, avoiding bumping into a drunkard and shaking his head as the man's arm brushed his. Crowds always left him feeling a little... iffy, at the best, and the blonde shook his head, hurrying his steps. This much people just had him feeling so insecure at times, with the amount of possible threats and malicious people counting up by every man or woman he passed. He just wasn't used to the crowds now, having spent so many years on the sea with only the crew of the ship as his family and friends and pretty much as the only people on his life.
Clear relief crossed Naruto's face as he finally reached the docks, seeing their ship waiting for him and whoever was still missing. His boots let out soft tapping sound on the wooden dock and the familiar cries of the seagulls and men hollering at each other by the decks of the ships relaxing him again. He rolled his shoulders, ignoring a long look from a woman walking past him -where she was coming from, the blonde had absolutely no idea and he wasn't even going to ask- as he skipped a little, whistling a jolly tune as he went.
It didn't take long to climb up to the deck, and he took a moment to just sit on railing, to watch the town come to life in front of his eyes as the sun peeked from behind the horizon for the first time. Pulling a cracker from his pocket, Naruto started nibbling the edge, his eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned his elbows on his knees and slightly rocked back and forth, wearing only a simple red shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black loose pants with brown boots. He wasn't a man of fancy clothing, had never been, and he usually bothered with a shirt only when going down to a port town.
A couple of more men climbed up to the deck, greeting Naruto with different levels of enthusiasm. He waved back at them, grinning a bit absently before returning his attention to the town. There were more people on the docks, making it harder for him to spot their own crew members before they were really close to the ship. One time there had been a man he'd thought was going to get on, with black pants and a long dark coat from what he could tell from up there, but in the end the man had turned and continued down the dock after giving a quick look at their ship. It seemed he had been just mistaken of the ship, a little detail Naruto passed with a shrug. Their little boat was nothing special-looking really, just another somewhat honorable ship sailing the vast waters.
He had nothing to tell the exact time from, but Naruto estimated it might've been an hour since he had returned that the whole crew was there again and he hopped back to the deck, joining the men with pulling up the anchor and gathering the ropes back in. They would have to take it easy to get past the wave breakers and only then could they open the canvas. As soon as the ship was moving steadily toward the said breakers, Naruto skipped to the end of the ship, saluting his captain briefly as he watched the town and the docks recede from them. The people were getting smaller, but as he squinted, the blonde could've sworn he saw a dark-coated figure standing at the end of the dock they had just left from, watching their ship take off.
Six days later the storm finally came. It was a complete surprise, rising in the middle of a calm, starry night. The coastline was nowhere to be seen when the clouds suddenly came and covered the stars and the moon from the view, bringing a swallowing darkness upon the world for a while. Then the first lighting came down from the skies and suddenly everyone was on the deck.
Rain hammered the ship and the crew running around, trying to keep their balance as the ruthless waves swayed the ship, making it hard to keep the course. They were trying to fix the canvas, checking the cannons below the deck and securing every other larger items that might get to move around the ship and swaying the balance the ship had. It was still almost pitch black save for the occasional lightning flashes that illuminated the whole world for a second, blinding everyone afterward. They had a couple of lanterns on the deck but that didn't bring them much light.
Naruto had a bunch of ropes in his hands as he dashed across the deck to the mast to secure the ropes the crew members had tied to their waists. He had an almost maniac smile on his face as he knelt before the mast and started checking the knots, going through each and every one of them as the wind blew more water against his faces, making him practically blind as well. He wore no shirt, water running down his back and arm as he crouched down, his hair plastered to his face and neck. The strong muscles were contracting with his every move, fighting to keep him in balance as he just laughed into the howling wind, enjoying every second of it.
As he got all the ropes checked, the blonde stood up again, spreading his arms for a moment and letting the rain hammer him until he was out of breath as though he'd just ran miles and miles again. A lightning cracked in the distance, creating a beautiful zigzag pattern on the sky and Naruto blinked, his mouth open in a happy laugh as he felt adrenaline rushing through his veins. As the storm raved above them, it was the time when he mostly felt alive, knowing how little and worthless he was in the end. His pants were like glued to his skin and his bare feet were getting slippery on the wet deck but he didn't care, just opened his mouth and tilted his head backwards to let some of the angry droplets of water fall onto his tongue.
"Naruto!"
The yell snapped the blonde out of his thoughts and he turned to look at the captain who was now waving at him from the wheel that he was holding still. It wasn't hard to tell even from the distance that his arms were tense and almost shaking from the strain.
"Stop dr-"
"A man overboard!" Another call came through the painfully whipping winds, catching the attention of Naruto and a few others.
Without a second wasted the blonde dashed across the deck, his hands already on the rope that had suddenly gone tense and rigid as the man it was tied to had been thrown over the edge as the ship had rocked due to a strong wave hitting them. He reached the railing in only a few seconds, and started to pull on the rope, leaning back as he wrapped his fingers as tight as he could around the lifeline of his fellow sailor, and after a couple of other men had joined him they started to slowly move backwards. Naruto cursed as the rope slipped, cutting into his palms as he tried to hold on, but there was no way he was letting go. He couldn't feel blood but it could've just as well been due to the rain and adrenaline, and he let out another loud chuckle as he pulled again, finally starting to make real progress.
The rain was showing no signs of fading, and another lightning crackled through the darkness as the limp man was finally pulled back to the deck. He coughed and rolled over to his side, throwing up the contents of his stomach before grabbing the railing and starting to pull himself up with a determined look on his face.
Something flew through the air, having been escaped their binds somewhere and Naruto ducked, wiping water from his eyes. The object, it had probably been a lantern that had been put out somewhere along it's little flight, and it flew over the railing, landing somewhere in the white-crowned waves. Naruto was still laughing as he once more checked his rope and then rushed to the captain, to hear what he had to say.
The storm raged on for what felt like a small eternity to most of them. Even Naruto was feeling a bit tired as the storm finally started dying down, the howling winds tamed and eventually reducing into just quiet, whining gusts that barely caught the canvas. It was dark again, but the clouds were slowly starting to dissolve, giving way to the stars that twinkled somewhere high on the sky. It was only one or two of them though, the clouds were still too thick for them to show properly and the moon was nowhere to be seen.
Naruto sat on the wet deck, leaning his back against the mast, throwing a small knife to the air over and over again. They had checked the damage already, thankfully nothing unrepairable had happened and the cargo was fine as well so they didn't have to sweat it. Everything was going fine now, the sea was calm after the storm, only the sloshing of the waves was still loud and clear in his eyes as he watched the dark sky in the faint light given by the lanterns on the deck. The atmosphere on the deck was calm and relaxed, the storm had gone and they were all safe. The ropes had held them all in safety, and now they just had to make it through the night so they could do a final damage check. There were things even the most experienced sailor could overlook in the darkness. So far, though, everything really seemed to be fine.
Another gust of wind blew over the waters, this time a bit stronger, and Naruto shuddered slightly as it licked his bare skin, ruffling the hair that was still a bit damp from the beating they all had taken earlier. It had been one of the best storms in the blonde's opinion, something he wouldn't quite easily forget, and there was still a smile on his lips as he leaned his head back against the mast, pulling his knees closer to his chest. There was no-one else on the deck except for the captain, him and another powder monkey and the silence was so heavy it was almost touchable. These moments after the storm, when the air smelled fresh and pure and the world rested to repair the damage done by the raging storm was as dear to Naruto as the storms themselves.
The corner of his eye twitched and the young man scratched it absently, yawning a little as he focused on just listening to the quiet sea. It was simply beautiful, how easy it was to fall into the belief that there was nothing but their ship on this entire sea, in the middle of the dark waters. It would soon get light again, the sun would rise and paint the world in golds and reds and pull them back to reality. But for now the world was still theirs, for a little moment.
The twitching occurred again and this time Naruto opened his eyes, frowning at his toes as he tried to rub his face, to get rid of the annoying feeling. It didn't seem to be helping, and with an irritable puff he pushed himself up, stretching his arms above his head with a pleased groan as his joints popped. He was already thinking of slipping into the cabin and taking a little nap before he'd have to get up again to help the cook, but what stopped him was a very light thudding sound that briefly shook their entire ship, making it clearly slow down. The sudden movement had Naruto flailing rather ungraciously and he grabbed a hold of the mast, looking around in the darkness. They couldn't have crashed into reef, right? They were still moving so they weren't stuck, but what the hell then...
He didn't have to think for a long time. As soon as the blonde laid his eyes on the right side of the ship, it all came clear.
"Bleeding mother of the seas..." was all he could say, the words coming out as a breathless groan almost as he stared at the ship right next to their own.
It was pitch black. Naruto could see no light coming from anywhere, it was as dark as the night itself. No, even darker than that since he could see the black outlines drawing against the dark night sky, the massive shape enough to have him gaping like a child at it. He knew the captain had noticed it as well as he'd heard a muffled shout from where the man stood, but he couldn't turn to look as a sound of running footsteps started echoing inside the ship. He heard someone yelling something about the cannons and getting ready to fight, but all he could do was to hold onto his tiny knife and stare at the ship as it soundlessly floated next to theirs, moving in the same pace like a huge, deranged shadow of their own Maiden. It had come silently, just like they said in the old stories, and something clenched in Naruto's stomach as he realized he was staring straight at the notorious Black Ship. It had come for them, come just like that in the middle of the night, and as he heard the fearful voices talking around him he realized something.
Their ship didn't have the mark of protection.
It had never bothered Naruto before. He had noticed it as soon as he had seen the ship the first time, that the brown sides were unmarred, no sign of the black paint anywhere. At the time it had nothing but excited him; he was going to get to sail without the protection which meant he might get the chance to see Black Ship himself. It had sounded wonderful, just like any other fantasy of a reckless young man, and even now the blonde didn't exactly regret his decision. His year on this ship had been absolutely wonderful and he wouldn't have traded it for any sense of safety, even though the sudden fear was trying to get to him. If anything, it just made him wish he hadn't left his gun lying somewhere.
They didn't have the time to get to the cannons. Within just very long seconds from the alert, there was a very muffled sound from the black ship and Naruto narrowed his eyes, crouching down a little. Let the crazy ghosts come, he wasn't going to let them get him.
"Evening, gentlemen." The voice echoed on the deck, empty and hollow sound that sent chills down Naruto's back. The words sounded somehow like they were still lingering in the air, getting caught on the listeners' skin and sending someone down to their knees down to the deck. None of the crew was an inexperienced fighter or afraid of a combat, but when facing something that was supposed to be dead or just a legend, an old story that had been passed down the generations for centuries already, it was no wonder they were a little shaken.
"You are the lucky ones", the ominous voice continued, now even softer and somehow more threatening than before.
"Now be smart as well and let go of your weapons."
A grumble went through the ship and Naruto glanced to his both sides, just to see his comrades holding onto their weapons even tighter. No sailor was dumb enough to let go of their defense just like that.
"I have no desire to take your lives. I only want one thing and then we'll go."
Another almost surprised murmur passed by and Naruto took a step closer to the old gunner.
"Don't ye trust them, sonny... Bastard's playing tricks on us with his fine words", the old man grumbled and Naruto nodded slowly, still trying to find the source of the voice.
A loud gasp somewhere on his right had the blonde spinning around to be ready to face a possible threat and he raised his knife a little, his eyes wide as he finally saw it.
There, behind their captain, on the railing of the ship sat a figure of a person. It was too dark to make out any details, but he wore no hat and a large coat it seemed, a coat that swayed softly in the air as the man stood up, playing with a pistol in his hand. He looked totally relaxed as he raised his free hand in the air to halt the grumbled conversation that had been going on and then turned to address the captain.
It was impossible to hear what they were saying. The first and only words that echoed over the whole ship were of warning of not to try anything stupid; the men on Black Ship would shoot at the smallest sign of rebellion, and should their spokesman be injured on the merchant ship they would all be meeting a slow death in the hands of the icy ocean.
Naruto ground his teeth, inching back to the mast. He wanted to hear what the two were talking about, his heart was racing and despite the fear that was making it hard to breathe he was also curious. He was actually watching a ghost ship and one of the crew from over there and his heart kept hammering in his chest as he swallowed thickly, squeezing the handle of the blade in his hand. There was no wind now, nothing but the gentle sound of the waves hitting the ship and the lowered voices of his captain and Black Ship's spokesman as the crew waited anxiously, looking more or less nervous.
It took a while until the captain finally stepped back, giving a nod before giving a brief glance at the direction Naruto stood in. The blonde frowned, unable to comprehend what was going on, and as he saw the coat man stepping back as well and starting to ascend the stairs to the deck he instinctively took a step back and frowned, something very unpleasant tingling in the back of his neck. This was... This wasn't good. Something in his gut just told him that whatever was happening now was bad and that he should run, but there was no place he could go to. The ghost man had now reached the end of the stairs and was walking slowly towards him, his eyes on the blonde alone.
Naruto shuddered, taking another step back until he suddenly bumped into something warm and solid. Turning around, he fond himself facing a stranger, a man with a row of sharp teeth and an almost a grin on his face as he raised his head.
"What-" He wasn't allowed to say more before all the lights suddenly went out and his body hit the deck with a muffled thud.
TBC
