"Captain?"
The redhead was pulled from his thoughts and turned away from the ocean view to face his first mate. A large map was spread before them on the desk along with various tools and compasses for charting their course. The council room that sat on the deck was occupied by only the captain of the Alacrán and his two advisors.
"What do you think of the Uchiha's offer?" Gaara spoke as he sat in his chair and rested his chin in his hand.
Temari sighed as she reread the message sent to them by hawk earlier that day. "It's a risky move but he's desperate. We have a vital piece of what Orochimaru is looking for so the chances that this isn't a trap are relatively high. However I don't trust them."
"There's also the chance that whatever this rare possession they are willing to trade is not worth much to us." A hooded figure added in as an afterthought.
"Kankuro is right. We may waste time in sailing out of our way to meet for a trap or undesirable goods." The woman tapped a finger to the map to prove her point of just how far they would have to sail to get to the island.
The pirate absently stared out the window once more considering his options for action. They had been sailing without incident for over a month now and recently obtained a valuable item when they docked in the previous port. How a drunken Gaara managed to win it off of the affammed warrior, Hidan the Reaper, in a game of dice turned into a brawl was beyond anyone. The captain just had an affinity for winning when all odds were against him. Now thanks to the stories that spread the brooding pirate, Sasuke, knew exactly where the Book of Souls was. If he refused a trade they would certainly come to try and take it by force. While the crew of the Alacrán could handle most battles, Uchiha's crew did not fight fair, even by a pirates standards. They had that sorcerer, Orochimaru aboard. There was no telling how much damage they'd incur if it were to come to that. They really had no use for the tome in the first place as they had no witches or magically inclined on their crew. The red head picked up the book in question and thumbed through it absently, deep in thought. Perhaps there was a way to gain insurance incase they end up in a trap of some sort. The captain smirked before turning to both his advisors.
"Plot a course for the island. The snake has peaked my interest."
X_X_X
The weather was humid causing Gaara's shirt to stick to his back with sweat underneath the thick material of his maroon coat. The blaring sun was relentless as he hauled their row boat out of the water and the grainy sand his boots kicked up as he trudged ashore reminded him so much of the white sands of Suna, the desert nightmare he had the great displeasure of calling his homeland. This was his least favorite part of being a pirate. The times when something as simple as the clinking of chains or the feel of sand triggered unpleasant memories as they played pack in his head.
Never in his life would he have imagined that he'd grow up to become one of the most notorious pirates to ever sail the seas. Hell he hadn't even seen the ocean much less sailed it until his cousin saved him and his siblings when he was ten and welcomed them as part of his crew. The topic of his cousin, Sasori had been a bit taboo being the black sheep of the family and all. They grew up hearing hushed stories of the rebellious youth who shamefully disregarded the desert and way of their ancestors for the sake of plundering and pillaging on the open ocean. Gaara vaguely remembered his older relative, matching red hair, same pale skin, sad looking eyes. As a child he could never understand how someone born of the sand could forsake the desert like that. After his father easily sold them into slavery without batting an eye, he understood all too well why Sasori left. The desert was harsh and relentless, the people who lived there were cruel and abhorrent.
Fifteen years ago Sasori happened to find and liberated them. Rescuing them from a port slave auction and slaughtered anyone who dared to try and stop him. He taught them exactly how a family should be, not bonds of blood but bonds of trust and respect. Your crew was your family, and that was what made the Red Devil of the Sea such a good captain with a loyal barrage of men and women who would follow him to the world's end. They did follow him to the world's end. Gaara followed him to the very end, but in the end there was nothing he could do to save Sasori.
"Gaara" Temari gestured to the spot on the beach where three figures stood waiting in the midday sun.
"Temari, Kankuro, come. The rest of you stay." The pirate approached the opposing captain, emotionless facade in perfect place.
"Took you guys long enough. I am dying out here in the sun." A white haired pirate complained before being harshly told to shut up by his superior.
Gaara eyed their surroundings, curiosity peaking as he noticed a large rectangular box that was draped in an old dingy bedsheet. A taller, silent figure was resting his foot at its corner, carefully observing Gaara's every move.
"I don't presume you wish to be out here any longer than we do. You already know what we have. What is this rare item you wish to trade?" Temari spoke sharply, placing a hand on her hip to make a point of her growing impatience.
"Hn" The raven haired man snapped his fingers, signaling to his men to uncover the box that lay behind them in the sand.
There was an astounding silence for a solid minute after the linen was taken away to reveal a large glass tank. Gaara tried to connect the pieces of what he was seeing to the thinking part of his brain, furrowing his brow in frustration when it seemed to be taking longer than normal to react. He finally spoke, a dry laughter leaving his mouth since all this had to just be some joke.
"You want to trade one of the oldest and greatest spell books in the world for a dead fish?"
The Uchiha frowned at the red heads obvious displeasure with their trade offer. "It's still extremely valuable for parts on the black market dead or alive. You can't seriously not think this is a fair trade."
Gaara glared at the man across him before observing the filthy tank once more. The creature was simply floating in the murky water, hands bound behind its back and gag securely placed in its mouth. It's scales were dingy and falling off and there seemed to be various wounds that had been left untended and were now sporting a rather nasty looking infection, particularly in its face.
"I hardly think a dead mermaid is worth the same as a necromancer's tome."
"Merman" Temari corrected. She and Kankuro had taken a closer look at the beast in the water.
"It's not even a siren" Gaara scoffed and watched the Uchiha become more exasperated by the minute.
"Half dead." Kankuro chimed in as he lightly tapped the glass and watched the creature slightly shift itself in response.
"There you see. Not completely dead!" the white haired pirate knocked on the tank harshly causing the merman to shudder and moan out in incoherent pain.
"What more do you want?" Onyx eyes glared back in annoyance.
Gaara knew Sasuke was at his limit of cooperation, but if he really was as desperate as he seemed they could push him just a little farther.
"You can't seriously expect me to think this is a good deal. "
"Fine. How about I add in maps for a new trade route ships are taking." The dark haired captain grumbled.
"What kind of goods?"
"It's supposed to be a bit of everything. Food, livestock, medicine, silks and spices." Sasuke grabbed the rolled up documents from one of his men and held it out.
Gaara turned to his siblings who each shrugged in return. The merman was tempting, all his time at sea and he had only heard the tales of the creatures that lived beneath the surface of the waves. He has seen dead mer parts at the black market but never a whole live one, well partially alive. The captain considered the maps as well. There was no reassurance that this information was legitimate, but what was a pirates life if not one built on risks, betrayed promises and broken rules.
"Alright. I'll take the merman and your intel, not that your word is worth much in the first place." Gaara smirked as emotions of vexation played across Sasuke's face.
"You might be an honorable pirate, if there ever were such a thing, but you are still a pirate. Don't act all high and mighty just because you're called the Blood Scorpion now." Sasuke laughed contemptuously as he tossed the maps and documents at the red head.
"Yes, because you're the epitome of humility, King Cobra." Gaara grabbed the old leather bound book from his first mate and held it out to the opposing captain.
"Hn" the Uchiha grabbed at the tome held out to him.
"If the trade information is false, you'll witness first hand how I received my nickname." The pirate's voice became sharper than steel.
"In that case, I hope you keep your promises better than I do." Sasuke gave a mocking smirk as Gaara narrowed his eyes and gave the man the book.
"You'll need some help carrying this oversized goldfish. He's a heavy waste of space." The shorter pirate gestured to the tank as the Uchiha and his men turned and left back to their ship.
Gaara watched them go until he was certain they were out of sight. "Call a few more men, let's get the creature back to our ship."
It took four men to carry the tank down to the long boats they had brought ashore. Heaving the merman and the eighty gallons of disgusting water it sat in proved to be a cumbersome task. They stopped, short of breath before attempting to load it in the boat.
"No, dump that foul water out." The captain ordered, stopping his men mid task.
"Gently." He growled when they carelessly dropped the tank into the shore.
Slowly they turned the tank over to the side spilling the scummy liquid into the sand, the merman rolling out of the tank with muffled groans of pain. The pirates jumped back as the creature began making choking sounds, spasming and thrashing its tail back and forth.
"Tch, I never knew a fish could make my crew so skittish. Our enemies would have a hay day if they knew." The captain sneered and stepped forward to roll the merman on its side.
He undid the cloth gag from its mouth and vomit spilled out followed by coughing and more retching. Pale fingers gripped the being's face once it's nausea had passed, analyzing just exactly what he traded that valuable item for. The tan skin was hot with fever. Dirty locks of hair clung to its face wet in clumps, grimy from the grey water it lived in for who knows how long. A rather thick film of slime coated its tail and body, and angry puss filled wounds and lacerations were scattered over its body and face.
"Hey, can you hear me?" Gaara jostled its shoulder slightly but the creature gave no response.
The captain sighed unsure if a half dead merman was even worth the trouble of saving. One thing for sure, they had been on this island too long. The sand was beginning to bother him and his ship needed to acquire more food and supplies soon. He hoisted up the creature and carried him over his shoulder back to the boat.
"Don't stand there gaping, get the tank on board and let's get back to the ship." He barked out his orders and his men scrambled to get back out to sea.
"Are you sure leaving it un gagged is a good idea?" Temari cautiously took her spot at the bow of the long boat and quirked a brow in judgment.
"Yeah, it might not be a siren but it might still sing you to a watery grave." Kankuro began rowing.
"It's hardly even coherent at this point and I left it's hands tied. I'd be surprised if it had enough strength to even speak." The limp figure remained unmoving, draped over the captain's shoulder the entire way back to the Alacrán.
"Gaara, are you sure this was a good trade off?" His first mate followed him to his cabin as soon as they returned on deck.
"Don't worry about it. Send for the doctor Temari."
He heard her sigh as he entered his quarters with their trade and shut the door behind him. The new maps he received were tossed onto his bed at the corner of the room before hastily clearing his charts and documents to set the scaley being on the long table he used as a desk. A knock came to his door just as he had placed a rolled up sheet under its head for some minor comfort.
"Enter" Gaara moved to untie its wrists, noticing the chafing of the rope left them raw and blistered and festering. He frowned briefly remembering how painful restraints were.
"What have you gotten yourself into this time lad?" A stern old voice reached him and brought him back to the present.
"Can it be healed?" the captain ignored her previous question.
"Tsk tsk tsk" the old doctor examined the damage.
"Well?"
"Just where exactly did you find this? It already reeks of death." Doctor Chiyo pinched her nose in disgust. It did smell something foul.
"In a trade with the Snake."
"Him and his damned sorcerer. No life is sacred to them." She grumbled and poked at the large fin with her walking stick.
"Can he be healed, Chiyo? A live merman is more valuable to me than a dead one." Gaara spoke as he turned to stare out the window.
"It's probably easier if you end its life right now and put it out of its misery. The infection is far spread and will take serious round the clock medical treatment and antibiotics to heal. We don't have that supplies on hand. Not to mention a healthy merfolk on deck would be a handful of its own."
The captain crossed his arms and furrowed his brow in thought. Killing it would save them the trouble of looking for medication and a dead merman was still valuable enough to sell for plenty of gold. He turned back and stared at the creature, its chest rising and falling weakly. There was no guarantee that the creature would even heal completely. The cuts on its cheeks would leave deep scars. Gaara absently touched his forehead where the slave brand had been placed on him fifteen years ago. Temari was right, his rare and random merciful indulgences were going to be the death of him some day.
"Bring whatever medicine you have and make a list of what you'll need. I'll help you with him. Not a word to the rest of the crew. That includes my sister."
X_X_X
They had left wet sheets on the creature and changed them periodically when they had begun to dry out. Doctor Chiyo advised against letting the wounds sit in water until they were clear of the infection, so Gaara had to make do with alternating old bed sheets and buckets of water to try and keep the mermans fever at bay. He sat in a chair by the window reviewing the course they were on to intercept a trade ship hopefully carrying medical supplies as the mermaid condition was now stable but unchanging. The captain looked over to the figure still laying on his table with a soaked sheet draped over him.
The first night was the longest as Chiyo and the Captain spent hours removing scum and grime build up on the merman body, both vomiting at the stench several times throughout the process. Pirates weren't the best smelling things to roam the earth but nothing compared to the vile odor of months of excrement build up. It's tail lost so many scales as the rags worked to scrub it clean, glints of pale orange falling sadly to the wooden floor. Gaara collected them unsure if he could even sell the sorry looking things. Finally after the doctor cleaned the wounds enough to apply a topical ointment she declared she was leaving, because unlike Gaara she actually slept. He let her go and set to the final task of washing it's hair. It was blonde, it turns out. Once the dark grime was scrubbed away it revealed a golden hue that Gaara found pleasing for some odd reason. He looked back up to find hazy blue eyes squinted up at him. The pirate froze, unsure if he should wring its neck or wait for it to make the first move.
"M-mom?" A raspy choked out whisper came from the blond before he lost consciousness again.
The gag was reinstated after that incident and loose cloth ties across its chest and tail were also put in place to keep the creature from rolling off the table. Days passed without the merman waking again. A knock on the door caused the captain return to the present and rise to allow entrance to the doctor.
"I'll be back. Hopefully this ship has everything we need." The red head slipped into his coat and grabbed his weapon, sheathing it at his side. The old lady simply grunted in response and took over cleaning wounds and reapplying ointment on her patient.
On the deck, excitement filled the air as the crew prepared themselves to scour the trade ship for goods. Kankuro let out a holler as he descended from the crow's nest, telescope in hand.
"We've got them in our sights, Captain." The hooded man informed his younger brother.
"Make chase." The redhead nodded and soon the Alacrán was racing through the waves and overtaking the smaller cargo ship.
"Shall I hoist the red flag captain?" Kankuro raised the crimson material in his hands.
"No. Give the speech Kankuro, those willing to surrender will be welcomed to our crew."
"Feeling generous today captain? You used to never give quarter." Temari suspiciously eyed her brother.
"I miss those days." Kankuro sighed but returned the red flag back to storage.
It was true, after Sasori's death Gaara practically bathed in the blood of his enemies. He became ruthless and cruel, hell bent on vengeance until he finally got his hands on that Royal Navy Admiral responsible for his captain's death. Afterwards, when the sorrow in his soul was not quenched by his idea of justice he began to question what he had become. Much to his sisters dislike, the heartless Blood Scorpion no longer relied on his hatred, anger and impulse to make decisions for him.
"We are looking for supplies not blood, but if you're so eager for a slaughter be my guest." The captain challenged and watched his sister laugh.
"Fine fine, but when your reputation falters because you've become soft don't come crying to me." She walked off to bark more orders and forcefully board the supply ship.
They had luck on their side. A large amount of silks, food and gold were taken from the smaller ship. Antibiotics were also found as well after Gaara interrogated the small cargo ships captain thoroughly. He brought them back to the doctor who immediately began another round of intense treatment on the limp creature in the captain's quarters. It's fever finally broke and the lacerations cleared enough for stitches and bandages to be put in place. At least if the creature stayed comatose, he would be much better looking and receive higher bids when the time came to sell it.
Gaara sighed to himself as he stared at the figure on his table. Part of him hoped the creature would stay unconscious as he was unsure if he could even handle a merman trying to fight back and lure him into the depths of the ocean to feast on his flesh. The other part of him was curious and slightly sympathetic to the obvious amount of abuse and neglect caused by the Uchiha. There were those little things again, popping up to remind him of his past. He was a pirate for christs sake, compassion should be the furthest thing from his mind. He brought his train of thought back to the being before him. There was not much known about mermen in particular. The tales of terror consisted only of females, beautiful things singing sailors to their deaths and causing tempests occasionally. Mermen were never spoken about or ever regarded as sirens. Could they even sing? The captain picked up the jar of dingy orange scales that had fallen off and shook them about. If he sold the creature they would just kill him. All that hard work to heal him would have been for nothing then. On the other hand who would have paid for such a sick looking thing in the first place. No one in their right mind would have traded the snake for him. Gaara must have been loosing his head. Just as the man set the jar back down he heard muffled groaning from behind him. The captain smirked to himself and set his eyes on the blond.
X_X_X
Naruto felt like he had been mauled by a shark. His head ached, his body was sore and his tail felt so stiff he was sure his scales would split in two if he tried to use it to swim. His eyelids felt heavy and his mouth was dry and uncomfortable as a foreign material seemed to be invading it, making it hard to move. He called out for his mother, but it sounded muted and incoherent. He heard a shuffling noise and a clacking on wood before a voice was in his ear, unfamiliar and deep.
"I'm sure you'll have some questions. If you even think about singing, screeching or causing any sort of ruckus, the gag goes back on."
The constricting feeling in his mouth disappeared and his eyes slowly opened, disoriented and assaulted by the light. He glimpsed blurry red hair next to him, confused as the voice didn't match.
"Mom?" His throat felt like he had swallowed gallons of sand, coarse and painful.
"Hardly." The voice scoffed
He felt hands at the back of his head, slightly lifting as water poured into his mouth. The merman greedily drank, letting it soothe his parched throat and saddened when the water stopped and was pulled away from him. He blinked up to find striking green eyes looking down on him. Definitely not his mother.
"Where am I?" the merman finally managed to find his voice.
"Aboard the Alacrán ." The green eyed man responded with little emotion.
"And who are you?"
"Captain of the Alacrán ."
"What happened to the other captain? The one of the Hebi?" The merman recalled the cold onyx eyes that caught him and stole him away from the sea.
"He traded you for something he needed." The man sat back in his chair, eyes observing every move Naruto made.
"So what's going to happen to me now? Will you torture and do tests on me like those snake men?" Naruto's eyes narrowed as he recalled the brutality he faced aboard that damned ship.
The red haired man let out a brief laugh, obviously amused at something. "Now why would I have gone through all that trouble to try and heal you if I was just going to torture you?"
The question was rhetorical, but Naruto didn't quite understand what he had just said. "Wait, what?"
The captain paused, simply staring at the merman for a moment before moving to grab an object hanging off his wall. He brought it back and held it in place for the creature to look at its reflection. Naruto's face fell as he saw his cheeks covered with a thick bandages. The man removed one, revealing three long lines of stitches across his face.
"You were left bound in that tank of greywater for so long that all the wounds and lacerations you received had become badly infected. The doctor managed to cure the infection enough to stitch you up but your face and wrists will have heavy scarring."
Naruto was speechless. He would be forever marred by his misfortune. Poseidon must have forsaken him if it had been so long he couldn't even recall how he ended up aboard yet another pirate ship. He tugged at the loose restraint tied around his chest and the flat surface beneath him.
"Am I your prisoner then?" The blond looked away from the mirror back to the captain, wanting an honest reply.
"I haven't decided yet."
The man returned his mirror to its place before speaking again. "I think it will mostly depend on your behavior aboard my ship."
"What do you mean by that?" Naruto furrowed his brow.
"I had originally intended to sell you on the black market to the highest bidder, but after everything the good doctor and I went through to get you well again, selling you to someone just so they can kill you seems like such a waste."
Naruto frowned unable to tell if this man was telling the truth. Damned pirates and their trickery, shameless lying sacks of scum. He should have never swam so close to the surface, curse his insatiable curiosity. He had learned his lesson, and now was paying for his actions. Humans were cruel, vile monsters and he was glad his people dragged them to their depths to feast on their flesh.
"What use do you have then for a blighted merman?"
"What use do I have for you, indeed. Perhaps I should just slice your throat and make my life easier." The captain pulled out his sword and began trailing the tip of his blade across Naruto's skin.
He couldn't hold back the shiver or sudden panic in his eyes as the metal traced the groove of his Adam's apple. He should have kept his mouth shut, he shouldn't have enticed the pirate. What was that about him learning his lesson again?
"Here's how it's going to work, you be a good boy for me by not making a fuss and you can stay here in my quarters while I decide what I want to do with you. Or, you can cause me trouble and I'll have you thrown into the brig and sold to the highest bidder at the next port we dock at, where they will most likely gut you and skin you alive." The redhead tapped on a bandaged cheek with the blade before speaking again. "So, which will it be?"
Naruto glared up at the intense green eyes silently wishing the man would just drop dead. "A prison is still a prison no matter how pretty the cage."
"Aye, freedom is all but an illusion. Nonetheless you have a choice." Naruto watched as something changed slightly in the man's expression as he responded.
"If I promise not to make any trouble you have to swear no harm will come to me." The blond tried to portray his best threatening look.
"I don't think you're in the proper position to be negotiating with a pirate." The captain raised a brow in amusement.
"Can't blame me for trying, now can you?" Naruto rolled his eyes knowing it was hopeless but damned if he didn't try anyway.
Gaara observed the creature for a moment, considering its request. "I'll humor you then. Until I come to a decision and as long as you behave no harm will come to you and you'll be well taken care of while on my ship. Do we have an accord?"
He nodded his head with vigor hoping this pirate was a man of his word, unlike the Cobra King.
The merman sighed in slight relief, when the sword was removed from his face and returned to the captain's side. This deal was more than he expected to get. At this point he'd take whatever small good fortune was handed to him.
"Can I have some more water?" Naruto pushed his chances about that agreement he just made.
He watched the man grunt in approval before his head was lifted and the cup found his lips again. Water had never tasted sweeter. He lived in the goddamned ocean all his life and never had he been so thankful for water until that moment when it entered his mouth after it had been deprived to him.
"Are you feeling well enough to sit up?" The captain asked after Naruto had drained the cup.
"I think so." He felt the cloth bindings loosen around his chest. He tried to push himself up onto his elbows, room slightly spinning with the sudden movement. His wrists burned with the motion and he winced at the pain.
"Maybe not." The blond found himself laying down again bringing his wrists to his face for inspection.
They were heavily bandaged and stung with every slight movement he made. His fingers stumbled as he tried to unwrap the cloth to see the extent of damage done.
"Don't" a pale hand lightly stopped him. "Those were very difficult for the doctor to work on."
His arms returned to his side. Movement again further down the table drew his attention once more. The wet sheet and bindings around his tail were removed and Naruto grimaced to himself at what his tail might look like. He slowly wiggled it, feeling sore and heavy. Gently he began to lift it, letting it curl towards him so he could asseshow bad it was. A small sob caught in his throat when he finally looked at it. Large amounts or scales had fallen off leaving it dull and pale looking. There were several pieces of his forked tail fin missing, that would become an issue should he ever want to swim properly again. He returned his tail to rest again on the table wordlessly as he fought back the tears threatening to spill. Absolutely everything he held dear had been taken away from him. His family, his friends, his safety, proper use of his tail. Even if he was to return to the sea he'd have trouble swimming with such large pieces of his main fin missing. He'd be slow and anything slow moving in the ocean wouldn't last long. He would just become a liability to everyone, nothing would ever be the same again.
"The doctor said you should stay out of water until your stitches heal but after that I can bring you the tank if you'd like? It's not much room to swim in but it's all we have on board that will fit you." The captain replaced the damp bed sheet over the sickly fin.
"If at all possible, I'd love nothing more than to have that tank thrown off the edge of a large cliff."
Naruto went rigid at the mention of the confined space he spent months in being tortured and poked for hours on end. He'd never return to it willingly if he could help it.
The captain simply sat back watching the blond with what seemed like disinterest. "Then wet sheets and water in a bucket are all I can offer you."
"It'll be fine. I don't need to be in water constantly. Can I have a dry one of these? I feel cold." The merman lifted up the cloth draped over him.
The redhead gave a slight sigh as he got up to pull the blanket from his own bed and bring it back to the blond. Naruto lightly closed his eyes, feeling exhausted again and sleep slowly overtook him once more.
X_X_X
Gaara had left once the merman had fallen asleep, making sure to lock the door to his cabin. He hadn't expected that to go as well as it did. He was half ready to wrestle the blond and subdue him into the rusty cell down below. Thankfully the creature seemed to have had his fill of pirates cruelty so he complied rather easily. Still that didn't change the fact that the captain had no idea what he wanted to do with him. Selling him still seemed like the smartest choice but for all their delinquent actions as pirates, selling a living person was not something that sat right with him, even if it was only half a person. It hit a little too close to home for him and he thoroughly knew Sasori would have disapproved of the notion. He had his code, the selling of a human was not a part of that.
Temari would disapprove. She would have never agreed to the trade knowing Gaara wouldn't sell the creature. He really did not want to deal with an angry sister. The captain reached the quiet main deck and silently leaned against a wooden mast staring up at the night sky. He instantly found Orion's Belt rising in the direction they sailed, east. They'd reach the next pirates port in a week's time if the wind favored them. He'd have to decide by then.
"Any other pirate would have killed or sold it by now." The old woman appeared next to the captain.
"Are you questioning my actions?"
"Yes" She spoke with no hesitation.
"I told you, a healthy merfolk is worth more than a half dead one. They'll be willing to pay more gold for i-" Gaara was cut off by her wooden cane whacking him in the side.
"Don't get smart with me lad. That was a whole lot of trouble for me to go through just so you can sell the fish. We both know that sea dweller won't be going anywhere anytime soon." The woman chided.
The captain glared at the doctor and her ability to see right through him. He crossed his arms in annoyance and frowned. "It's not within my code to be selling people. That's not what I signed up for when I became captain and that is definitely not the kind of person I want to become."
"I never said your conviction was wrong." Chiyo softened her voice as she spoke. "Sasori would be proud of who you've become."
The redhead let out a small dry laugh. "Its moronic. He's dead and I'm still trying to do things to gain his approval. His ghost never leaves me alone."
"Lad, what's moronic is that you think he didn't approve of you in the first place. He pushed you further than your siblings because he knew you were capable of more than you could ever dream of. He was hard on you because he was grooming you to become his successor. I'd say that worked out rather well."
He turned his face back to the sky, ignoring her words. So he couldn't sell the merman, the doctor was right. Now what was he going to do with the blond?
