I was thinking about peaches and pirates, and here's what happened.


Anzu's azure eyes flickered to each crying, despaired face around her. She wished she were able to do something, anything to aid their plight, rather than just sit here and listening to the heavy steps on the deck above. Forced to hear the pitiable wails and mutters of the women. Anzu did not cry. She did not whimper. She would not allow anyone to think her tribe as weak. She would not become a pet of - she put much acid into the thought - pirates.

Opposite of Anzu sat a frail, elderly woman – her trembling hands clasped tightly in front of her as she prayed to their five Gods. Anzu caught the words, "why would the Gods do this to us?" and she shifted her eyes to the young woman who had spoken.

"The Gods did not do this to us." Anzu said. "Man did."

"Pirates." Another, more familiar, voice whispered. Anzu looked over, seeing Mai. She was a woman of high beauty and unrivaled wit, but now she sat stiffly against the wall, her eyes deep and distant. The pirates had killed her lover, Jou. One swift flash of the sun reflecting off metal was all Anzu had witnessed, but the other woman had watched it all. But Mai was not crying. Not yet. Instead, she seemed like it was simply a puzzle she could not solve. A piece was missing, or she could not fit it all together. Anzu knew she was in shock, and sooner or later Mai was going to figure it out and fall apart. But maybe not completely. Mai was, after all, a strong woman.

Shizuka, Jou's sister and Anzu's long-time friend, was sitting next to her, clutching Anzu's hand rather tightly as she sobbed, wiping her nose with her pretty tunic. Anzu brushed her wrist against Shizuka's forearm, a gesture of comfort in their tribe. All of these woman in this small room, all filled with the same fear. The same thought buzzing in all of their minds: what will be done with them all now? The pirates had forced them all here, and Anzu wondered if the men were okay, or if the fighting was still going on back on land. Or maybe the men had been forced into another cabin like their own.

She looked down at the pale blue, knee-length tunic she wore. The neckline was decorated with turquoise stones. Just this morning, she had tide that white ribbon around her wrist, criss-crossing it up her forearm. Now it was frayed and dirty, her tunic wrinkled and torn at the shoulder so her collarbone and the top of her breast was on display. The day was not supposed to be like this. Something like this should never happen to anyone. She tried to smooth the material over her thighs, suddenly feeling the prickling of tear in her own eyes.

The sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, and all of them looked up, silence falling over them quickly. There were muttered words on the other side of the door. Anzu's gaze shot over to Shizuka's. The door opened, a big hand wrapped around the knob. There were a few muffled screams, and Anzu released her friend's hand, climbing to her feet. The elder was praying out loud now, hands clenching so her veins stood out. Anzu took the hairpin out of her hair, letting the tangled strands fall down to her shoulders. As the hand pushed the door open further, Anzu sped across the cabin, dodging the women, and stabbed the pin into the hand. There was a loud, rough curse, and the door slammed open, revealing a large, burly man. Once he spotted her - the culprit - he raised his rm and backhanded her across the face. She stumbled back from the blow, but made no noise. She felt something sliding down her chin, and she didn't have to look to know that her lips was cut. The pirate glared back at her, and two others entered behind him. The one who'd hit her stepped forward, grabbing her arm and hauling her into the air, the tips of her bare toes brushing the wood floor. She kept her eyes open, staring at him with defiance. He curled his lip in disgust.

"On yer feet, ladies!" He yelled at the women, but not taking his eyes from Anzu, who wrinkled her nose. "Gots a problem?"

"You're breath smells like rotten meat and rum." She commented, as if they were discussing the weather.

He snarled and tightened his grip on her arm.
"We're going to be keeping a good eye on you."

"Take your filthy hands off of me." Anzu demanded, struggling to remove her arm.

"Go ahead." He grinned, lifting her higher. "We like feisty ones." The three pirates laughed as he finally let Anzu go. She fell to her knees and was immediately pulled up and pushed through the doorway. She heard crys from behind her and knew the others were being pushed along, too.

She squinted at the sudden harsh sunlight as they came aloft from below deck. She fought back a sudden wave of sick when she was forced down, knees hitting the floor painfully. Anger filled her as she realized just how helpless she truly was compared to the brutes. Men rushed around the women as they were grouped up, all seemingly being directed by one man. The captain, Anzu thought, disgusted. His back was to her, but she could tell he was not what she would've presumed a pirate captain to look like. She would have guessed it would be another huge, ugly thug - but he was obviously more than a head shorter than all of the men aboard, and much more slender. The back of his head suggested spiky black hair, and he wore a dark blue coat that fell down to the back of his mid-thigh. His long legs were covered in black breeches that disappeared into leather boots. He stood with strong shoulders, but Anzu could not see how he was the captain.

As if he could feel her angry thoughts and burning stare, he turned around, one hand resting on his hip, pushing his coat back enough so they could all the the handle of his sword. Anzu felt her anger give way to confusion as wide, amethyst eyes met her steady gaze. He watched her back, and she felt as if she were naked. Like, somehow, he already could see her entire life's story by just looking at her. But before she could reel herself back in and harden her look once more, he had turned away, now watching as the other women were brought forward.

She felt the vibrations on the wood under her knees, and she looked over to see the big man from before coming back over to her. Anzu was lifted into the air as the pirate grabbed her by the waist, about to unceremoniously toss her over his shoulders. She fought him, fingers clawing at his arms and hands to prevent him from doing so, before another man came forward and smacked her. Her skin burned and, leaving no time to rest, she quickly turned her head to bite the hand that had just hit her. The man cried out and ripped his hand from her mouth, his other hand already raised for another blow. She shut her eyes tight, ready to keep fighting back after he hit.

"Hold." A new voice commanded, and the blow never came. She opened her eyes to see that the captain had come over to them.

"But cap'in...!" The pirate began.

"Have we not dealt with pains before?" The captain asked, though his tone left no room for argument.

"Aye." The pirate said.

"Use your brain, or has the rum already turned it into mush?"

"No, Cap'in."

"She attacks because you attack. Let her stand."

The pirate did as he was told, lowering Anzu down to the floor.
"At least tie the crazy bitch up." He muttered.

"I don't think we will have need for that." The captain said, eyes burning into the man's skull. "Don't you have work to be doing?"

"Er - aye."

"Then I think you best be off."

"...Aye." The other said, backing away. The captain waited until her was to the other side of the ship before he looked back to Anzu.

"I know you won't, but try to forgive him. He's rough and - well...stupid." She flinched when he brushed his thumb over her chin, wiping away the blood from before. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. "Hurt, were you?" She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. How dare he talk to her as if she were being petulant? "However, I cannot say that you are making any of this easy."

"Easy?" She asked, voice low. "You arrive to land, attack my tribe - and I am supposed to make it easy for you to kill us?"

"No more need to die." He said simply, taking her chin his his fingers and forcing her to look at him. "I do not take pleasure in pillaging. So, please, for everyone's sake: stop." She opened her mouth, thinking of quiet a few choice words that she wanted to tell him, but there was a slight shake of his head, and she flushed in anger. He released her and strode away, leaving her stunned by his intelligence and almost-gentle manner. She was to confused to even fight when a pirate came to her and bound her wrists together and shoved her back down to her knees. She knew they would be sorely bruised tomorrow - if she survived this.

What followed seemed like the longest few hours of Anzu's life as she watched, helpless, as the men worked around the ship, loading food and valuables into storage below deck. When they had finished with that, they started picking through the women. She cringed when she saw a pirate pull up the elderly woman and tied her hands, then relaxed just slightly when they took her down off the ship, back to land. Back to their shattered village. The same thing happened to many of the women, until only Anzu, Shizuka, and two others.

"Weight anchor!" One of the pirates yelled later. Anzu's muscles locked up. She suddenly knew what had happened. The pirates had chosen their favorite "pets" and left the rest of the tribe captive in their own village. Unless they could undo their bindings, they would starve. She shook her head, unable to understand it. It would've been a mercy at this point to just kill them all. What would happen to her tribe? And what would happen to her and the remaining three women? She started to tremble. She'd always longed for adventure, but not like this.

"No!" She yelled, and few men actually stopped to look at her. Some seemed amused. "No! You cannot do this!" She struggled up to her feet. "You cannot leave my people to die and leave us to suffer here!"

"Someone shut her up already!" Someone yelled, and the pirates laughed. A sob tore up her throat, and the tears she's fought the whole time rushed to the edges of her eyes. A few pirates did come toward her and she stumbled back from their gleaming smirks. A hand settled against her shoulder in a tight grasp, pulling her back.

"If you do not wish to be harmed, stay silent." The captain murmured to her. Then, in a tougher tone to his crew, "Get your useless asses back to work! Don't let a single lass rile you up." He snapped his fingers at a blonde pirate. "You. Take this one and lock her in my cabin."

"What—?!" Anzu's outrage was cut off as the blonde took her by the arm and lead her upstairs. She stumbled, legs still prickling from being on her knees for so long. When they reached the doors at the top of the deck, the blonde took out a dagger and cut the bids around her wrists. Before she could swing at him like she wanted to, he shoved her inside and shut the doors behind her.

"Pig." She grumbled, rubbing her sore hands. She gazed around the room in trepidation, eyes widening slightly at the strange sight that greeted her. Fading sunlight filtered in through the glass panels at the back of the ship, giving the polished timber furnishings and odd, warm feeling. A large bed piled with many pillows rested at the far left side. She had a sudden image flash through her mind of the captain lying on the bed, asleep in a fort of pillows, and she held back an odd, amused laugh. Then, her thoughts turned more sour when she noted how soft the bed looked: what did the captain have planned for her here? A new, more horrible image formed, and her eyes shied away from the bed.

A long desk at the other end of the room was placed under several shelves that were - surprisingly - lined with books. More shelves had various interesting items that spoke of far off, exotic places like the ones Anzu had always dreamed of going. There was scrolls of paper on the desk, quills and pieces of wax from broken seals scattered about, reinforcing the thought that the captain was, indeed, educated. But how did a man such as that become the leader of pirates?

As she stood, gazing around curiously, she was unprepared when the door opened and bumped into her back. She quickly stepped further into the room, out of the way, her pulse drumming into her ears. As she turned, her stomach clenched tight with dread as the very man she'd been wondering about came into the room. He closed the door behind him and sagged back against it, letting out a long sigh. Anzu remained silent, not sure what to do or say. Finally his eyes opened and he looked at her, not at all looking mean or dangerous. In fact, his face could bring an angel shame. Even so, she gazed back at him with a coldness she was far from actually feeling.

"What's your name?" He questioned.

She frowned, refusing to be taken in by his possible act of benignity.
"I cannot possibly see how that would matter."

His gaze swept over her, taking in her erratic breathing, flushed face and merely raised an eyebrow that made Anzu feel rather childish.

"You said before that I needn't make this harder than it need be..." Her hands clenched and unclenched in the lose folds of her garb. "Well, I'm choosing the hard way." She was waiting for his anger to show it's head, so she was entirely flummoxed when she simply laughed. "Don't laugh at me you - you...mongrel!" This only made him laugh harder.

"Look, sweetheart - if you're going to insult someone, do it properly." He said. "Call me a bastard, at least." He smiled. "Or, if you are truly not one for insults, just call me Yugi."

"I am not your sweetheart!" Anzu hissed, outraged.

"Ah, but that is where you could be very wrong." Yugi replied, the amusement leaving his face. The small hairs on Anzu's neck stood. "If I waned, I could make you anything I wanted." She stood, frozen, as he moved across the room, breathless as he repeated the action of brushing his thumb over her chin, as he had before on deck. "I could even make you anything my crew wanted you to be." He added, almost thoughtfully, fingers running over the curve of her cheek. A shudder ran down her spine.

"You didn't seem the type." She whispered.

"Don't I?" He tilted his head. "Suppose you are right... But suppose you are wrong? You don't know. The way I see it, you have an easy choice. Give me what I want, or I just may have to leave you to the mercy of my crew."

"What is it you want?" She asked, not daring to move.

Yugi dropped his hand, looking honestly surprised.
"I asked for your name, didn't I?"

"You did. But what else?"

He was silent for a long moment, then he sighed.
"Come on. You think me as ruthless as any other pirate?"

"You could very well be." She said. "Looks can be deceiving, and you are the captain."

"You think I could just take advantage of a woman?"

She eyed his slender frame, but nodded.

"You attacked my home and killed my people. Then you left those who are left to stare. You kept me and three other of my sisters captive on your ship, at your mercy. You are no better than any other pirate I've heard of." Yugi pursed his lips, but it didn't hide the forlorn look in his eyes.

"All of that is true. But I'm not without a heart." He sighed. "I attacked your village - why? Because I need money. I killed your people, not because I wanted to, but because, when asked, they decided to come at us with weapons - and it's not easy to control a crew when they are ready to fight. I would love it if things could always go over peacefully, but it never does. People get hurt, people get killed. Good people." He winced. "Your people will not starve. I have two trusted men on this ship who always do as I command, exactly. To call them 'friends' would be wrong, though. Nevertheless, they tied everyone up in a way that everyone can get loose from their own bindings. They can get free and seek help." He faltered, eyes finally leaving Anzu's face. "As for you and the other women...well, I couldn't let them free. The crew would be suspicious - riot and be mutinous. Beautiful, if you think I'm a bad man...trust me, you wouldn't want one of them being captain, forging a new, worse crew, and then roaming the seas free." He shook his head. "For that, I do apologize."

"Don't you ever try to apologize again." Anzu snapped. "You will not be forgiven."

"Forgiven or no, it matters not." He sank into a chair. "There has been worse done that I have to live with than what transpired today. I've given up on forgiveness a long time ago." He shrugged. "So, rebellious lass, all I ask is one tiny thing about yourself."

"Why?"

"Because I don't much like the thought of calling you pet names or 'woman' all the time."

"No, I mean: if you dislike it so, why do you do it? Why are you a pirate?"

He blinked, surprised.
"What do you mean?"

"How on earth is someone like you captain of a pirate crew?" She demanded. The curiosity of it all overpowered her anger, sadly.

"Brains over brawn." Yugi said simply.

"But you're so...so...!" She struggled for the right words.

"Short? Thin?" He guessed.

"Yes!"

"You think just because I'm small means I'm not tough." He stated, standing. She pressed her lips together, annoyed. "Shall I show you that you are wrong?"

Fear lodged itself in her throat, and she took quick steps away from him, trying to place distance between them. Her rear bumped into the side of the table, and her hands felt behind her for some kind of weapon she could use. His lips curved upward, like he was enjoying a good game. Her fingers closed over a long, thin object - a candlestick - and she brought her arm up, ready to strike if need be.

"Don't—don't you come any closer!" She warned. But he did, eyeing the meager weapon, smile still in place. She swallowed hard, lifting it higher still. Yugi lunged at her, effortlessly sending the candlestick flying from her hand. It clattered to the ground, and in one swift movement, he had her lifted up on the table and settled in between her thighs, his hands holding hers down. Clearly, he used his small stature to his advantage when it came to speed. She opened her mouth to yell in protest - or perhaps for help, though she knew no one would come to save her, whether Yugi were serious or not.

Yugi took advantage of her parted lips, slanting his mouth over hers, catching her words. She blinked, surprised. She felt his teeth brush against her lower lip, his tongue brushing over hers. She was torn between wanting to pull away and wanting to yank him closer. She knew she shouldn't be letting him do this, but no one had ever kissed her before. Especially not like this. She'd seen couples out at night many times, standing close as if they could not bear to be apart, but had never had it for herself. And now her first kiss was going to a pirate captain...and she was enjoying it? She should be scared - disgusted, even. But something about Yugi made her feel twisted up. The wrong things suddenly became right.

His hands left hers and instead held her face, pulling her in closer, their mouths sliding together deliciously. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing that he was getting a shameful response from her. One of his hands touched the top of her quivering thigh, and she broke away with a small, quiet "Please—"

She wasn't sure if she was asking him to continue, or to stop. She was terrified and excited all at the same time. The same way she felt when she was younger, looking out to the horizon and picturing herself sailing out to unknown lands. Whatever she was asking, it didn't matter, for her voice broke whatever spell had been cast between them. As suddenly as it began, it was over. He took a couple steps back, looking as shocked as she felt. She stayed on top of the table, chest heaving, watching him. She noticed his breathing was labored as well, and, instantly, she became embarrassed, quickly closing her legs and pulling her sleeve up so the tear in her shoulder wouldn't show so much of her skin. Her face felt like one big flame.

Yugi pressed a hand over his mouth, unable to look at her.
"I'm sorry. I went too far with that."

She bunched the fabric in her fist, sliding off the table with more grace than she thought she would be able to muster.
"...Anzu." She muttered. Yugi seemed confused, so she cleared her throat and said, "My name. Anzu."

"Ah." He scratched his neck, and she noted that as a sign of his own embarrassment. "Well, um - it's nice...to meet you."

"Yeah." Was all she could reply, awkwardly. But she couldn't help but smile just slightly. She didn't know much about him, but there was far more than she could've ever guessed. He wasn't a rough thug that she had learned pirates to be, but instead gentle and smart. Polite, even, at some points. She wanted to know why he did what he did. Why he became a pirate - how he became a captain. She wanted to figure out why he made her feel so off balance - not really scared, though by ever definition she should have been terrified at the current events. In that moment, Anzu decided she would try to put a little faith in Yugi.

But she also swore that her name would be all he ever got from her. She would not become a pirate's whore.


This is my first time writing about pirates, so if I made any mistakes, I apologize.
Also, this is more of a side project for me since I'm already working on other stories, so don't expect constant updates.