Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the Naruto gang. They are the sole property of Kishimoto.
Summary: Haven't thought of one yet, sorry =)
Warning: This is an AU fanfic - meaning it's NOT Narutoverse! There is also some swearing, but not too much. The pairing is ItaXSaku! If you have a problem with it, don't read it.
A/N: So this is the first chapter in a multi-chapter fic. The inspiration for it came to me from the prompt "sing me a song," thus the name of the fic. At this point in time, it probably doesn't seem like it has too much to do with the story, but don't worry about it, haha. Anyway, the whole thing is based off the premise of the English pirate Blackbeard and the nursery rhyme "Sing A Song of Sixpence." PLEASE NOTE: At the moment, this is unbeta'd, though I have a beta that is currently in the process of looking it over. I just couldn't wait to put it up (does that make me a bad person O_O?) Once she's done, I'll put up the updated version.
*This is a slightly edited version, due to the fact that you are not allowed to have "comments inserted in between the flow of a copied story." For the truly original version, please visit my personal website (link on profile).
Created: 12/29/08
Published: 1/12/09
Modified: 1/12/09
Word Count: 4755
Beta: TBA
Sing a song of six pence
A pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
The king was in his country house
Counting out his money
The queen was in the parlor
Eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden
Hanging out the clothes
When down came a blackbird
And snapped off her nose!
~ Unknown or various authors, dated early 1700s
Sing Me A Song
Chapter 1: Sixpence
"Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye," a middle-aged man sang in a loud, boisterous voice as he stumbled drunkenly out the door of a small, grungy tavern.
Anyone with eyes could see that he was not of high birth. His dirt-smeared, white culottes were patched in several places, and the white linen peasant shirt beneath his short-sleeved waistcoat looked as if it hadn't been washed in months. It probably hadn't. Laughing heartily as he sang, the man zigzagged his way down the dank back alley, swaying unsteadily on his feet.
Staggering out into a crowded city square, he bumped into several people as they bustled by him in the busy street. He didn't seem to mind in the least and only cackled harder as he headed across the city to the harbor.
There were many vessels docked at the port. Most of them were large merchant ships due to set sail for distant lands with the prospect of profit and foreign goods in mind. There was one ship, however, that was somewhat smaller but much more luxurious than the rest. It was obviously made for the aristocracy, and this was only proven by the presence of a small group of nobles standing by the vessel in fine petticoats and silk brocades.
When they spotted the clearly inebriated man swaggering up to them, a few of them adopted looks of disdain and disgust while others arched delicate, aristocratic eyebrows. The man was not deterred by their contemptuous stares and continued to advance, cracked lips pulling up into a disturbing grin that showed off yellow, uneven teeth.
Stopping directly in front of a young, pink-haired noblewoman, he wrapped an arm around her thin, corseted waist. She could practically taste the rancid stench of cheap alcohol on his breath, like a week old dead rat under the staircase as he leaned towards her.
The pinkette wrinkled her nose and tried to shrink away as he slurred some nonsense about dainty kings and dinner plates in her face. As it was, she could only move so far with his arm locked around her waist. Not a moment later, the man was tugged roughly away from her and thrown to the ground. She felt a pair of large hands settle on her shoulders and pull her back into a hard, masculine chest as the male behind her addressed the drunk in a scathing tone.
"What in the blazes do you think you're doing, man?" She immediately recognized the voice as belonging to her good friend, Naruto Uzumaki.
The drunk vagrant did not respond to the harshly spoken demand, and he did not get up from his place in the dirt. The way he was laughing and muttering strange rhymes under his breath made it seem as though he'd completely forgotten their existence. This was, unsurprisingly, making Naruto quite angry.
"Oi, don't think you can get off by just ignoring me, you bastard! I asked you a question!" the blond, spiky-haired man fumed.
"Commodore, refrain from such foul language around the ladies, if you please," a tall, chocolate-haired man with oddly white pupils chastised. With a languid but elegant hand gesture, he waved over a local authority posted nearby.
"Do you require assistance, Lord Hyuuga?" the policeman inquired politely once he reached them.
"Yes, I would like you to detain this man for unsavory advances towards Lady Haruno," replied the Hyuuga.
"Right away, mi lord." The officer saluted to the young aristocrat, then instantly bent down to bind the vagrant around the wrists with a felt rope and yank him to his feet. The drunkard seemed to have trouble standing, however, and every few steps, his legs buckled until the irate policeman finally had to resort to practically dragging him across the ground. Once the pair was out of sight, all eyes turned to the pink-haired and somewhat flustered noblewoman.
"Hey, Sakura, are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Naruto asked, turning kind blue eyes to his childhood friend. "That bastard! If he did I'll-"
"Naruto, I'm perfectly fine; I assure you," Sakura interrupted, exasperated. As much as she loved the vibrant blond, he could be a bit…overbearing at times. With his naturally overprotective tendencies, one would think he had a brother complex of sorts.
"I'm pleased to know you're unharmed, Lady Sakura, but I'm afraid if we dally here any longer, we'll be late," the Hyuuga intoned.
"Yeah, what're we waiting for? Let's get on the damn ship already," another brown-haired noble cut in.
"Kiba, you could be a little more sensitive, you know! Our good friend was practically attacked, and you act as if you don't even care!" scolded a noblewoman with her hair tied up in two side buns. In annoyance, she snapped her silk fan together and poked the crass lord in the clavicle for emphasis.
"Now, now, Tenten, I think attacked is a bit of an exaggeration," Sakura reasoned, trying to soothe her friend. She honestly looked as if she wanted to impale the young baron with her fan.
"See, she's perfectly fine," Kiba shrugged. He didn't wait for a rebuttal, however, and began walking up the wooden plank to board the ship. A giant white and brown-spotted dog followed hot on his heels.
Sakura merely sighed and brushed a hand through her pink locks before following the rest of her companions on board. This was going to be a long journey.
A lithe figure completely swathed in a floor length black robe scaled dexterously up the side of a luxury ship with practiced ease. The person moved quickly and fluidly, completely in his element, like a bird in the sky. Upon reaching the deck, he glanced over the side to make sure the coast was clear. Two guards were patrolling the main deck, but they could be easily dealt with.
Waiting until they passed, he launched himself over the side and swiftly dealt a blow to the base of both men's necks with the hilt of his sword. Two satisfying 'thuds' sounded as the unconscious guards slumped unceremoniously to the floor. Seeing as he couldn't just leave them lying in the middle of the deck, the figure grabbed the men by the scruffs of their uniforms and hauled them over to a shadowy corner. It wasn't exactly the best hiding place, but it would hopefully give him enough time to accomplish what he needed and get out undetected.
Quickly locating the stairwell leading up to the captain's quarters, he ascended a short way up until the stairs abruptly stopped, and he found himself standing in front of an elaborately decorated door. Keeping one hand poised over his sword - for it wasn't improbably that this was a trap - the cloaked figure quietly opened the door and slid soundlessly inside.
The room he entered was a large, simply yet tastefully-fashioned office. Although, if he had to describe it, it was more like a small parlor room than anything else. The hulking form of a lone man stood on the opposite side, staring fixedly out of a giant window situated behind an expensive, lacquer desk.
He hadn't heard the intruder's entrance, so the cloaked figure snapped the door shut with a very audible 'click.' Immediately, the man by the window whirled around at the unexpected sound. If he was surprised, however, his face betrayed nothing. Narrow, fathomless eyes locked on to the black-clad man standing across from him. Though his expression was obviously one of distaste, a look somewhat akin to grudging respect briefly flickered past his heavily scarred visage.
"You made it to my quarters without alerting the guards. Impressive," the bear-like man stated.
As admiral of the British navy, Morino Ibiki was a decidedly intimidating man. Not only did he literally tower over almost any average-sized person, but the copious scars he'd accumulated through years of service to his country was enough to scare off even the most hardened and scurrilous of men.
"You underestimate me, Admiral," the cloaked figure replied impassively as he pulled back his hood. A pair of onyx eyes, equally as dark as his hair, held the gaze of the Admiral unflinchingly. "I am a pirate, after all."
"Ah yes, which brings us to the reason why you're here," the scarred man continued.
"To send me to the gallows?" the pirate questioned unconcernedly.
The Admiral smirked, distorting his already heavily disfigured features. "As much as I'd like to see a noose around your neck, this is sadly not the case. I have a commission for you from his Majesty, the King."
"Is that so?" queried the robed man. Leaning his back against the door and crossing his arms, the dark-haired lawbreaker was the picture of boredom and disinterest.
Seeing that more needed to be said to hold the pirate's attention, the Admiral gave a curt nod and elaborated.
"In the fall of 1680, a Spanish galleon sank off the coast of the Bahamas during a tropical storm. It is rumored to have carried $1,500,000 worth of silver bars. The king wants you to retrieve the treasure and bring it safely back to England. He is willing to grant you complete clemency in exchange for your…services," the Admiral explained, practically sneering the last word.
"His Majesty is incredibly kind," the pirate retorted, his visage darkening. "However, it's going to cost a lot more than the King's forgiveness if he wants to employ me. England is on the brink of war with America, and the tensions are only escalating with every rise of the sun. Outrunning French warships is one thing, but trying to outstrip scores of French and American privateers is another matter entirely."
"Is that fear I sense?" Morino quipped mockingly. "Whatever happened to the great and fearless Red-Eye Raven?"
The dark-haired man shot him an irritated glare. "I may be bold, but I am certainly not suicidal."
The Admiral seemed to consider this a moment before finally capitulating. "Very well. Name your price. If it is within reason, it can possibly be arranged."
"In that case, there is but one thing I wish for." The pirate unfolded his arms and straightened up. His eyes glinted faintly as he voiced his request. "I want the complete restoration of my family's previous title, peerage, and fortunes."
"Ah," the naval leader drawled, not at all surprised. "That is a matter I must take up with the King, but I believe it can be done."
"Do we have a deal then?"
The Admiral nodded solemnly in affirmation. "Until we meet again, Duke of Dorset." By the time he finished the sentence, he was already alone in the room.
After making it safely off the Admiral's ship, the cloaked pirate began to head back to the shady side of the inner city. He passed by several drunks and other people of questionable backgrounds, but none seemed to notice his presence as he flitted from shadow to shadow like an uncommonly stealthy wraith. Winding through a labyrinth of narrow alleys and unkempt streets, he finally stopped before a small, shabby tavern with the sign hanging crookedly from its hinges. Pushing open the door, he took a quick survey of the occupants and almost immediately spotted who he was looking for.
"You're back," the other man began as the pirate pulled up a chair beside him at the bar. "What'd he want?"
"A commission," he stated blandly, ordering himself a drink.
"Oh? What did he offer you in exchange?" asked his companion, trying to keep the interest from his voice, though he was obviously intrigued. When a full minute passed by with no answer, he turned to the pirate and prompted, "…Itachi?"
Said man swirled the cup in his hand and took a refined sip of his drink, so unlike a common rogue. "I believe, little brother, that when this is through, the Uchiha name will reclaim its rightful place among the nobility." Standing abruptly, Itachi pinned his somewhat astonished sibling with a hard stare. "Gather a crew immediately. Offer them the usual sixpence and pocket of rye per day, but they must be ready for a long and difficult journey. They may split all goods we raid from other ships along the way. We'll have no need for any of it after this."
Once he finished his instructions, the pirate captain glided over to the entrance of the pub. Before completely exiting, however, he turned back to his speechless brother. "And, Sasuke, we depart tonight at high tide."
Sakura sighed wistfully as she turned another fraying page of her book, Beowulf. It certainly wasn't what was considered appropriate reading for a lady, but the gentlewoman couldn't quite bring herself to care.
It was one of her favorites, and she absolutely refused to sit back like a content turkey and pretend to be enthralled by silly romance novels with thoroughly unrealistic plots such as uncommonly handsome rogues snatching the hearts of unsuspecting noblewomen. Ridiculous. Besides, she was a sucker for danger-filled, epic adventures; they were so much more entertaining.
Sinking further into the cushions of the armchair she was currently occupying, she flipped another page and continued to read until a loud BANG resounded in the distance. Ripping her eyes reluctantly from the book, Sakura looked up at the ceiling with a perplexed expression.
"W-what was th-that?" a timid, white-eyed noblewoman stuttered. Sakura had never met Lady Hinata before this trip, but she was one of Lord Neji's cousins. In the past week, she'd come to like the polite but overly-shy lady very much.
"It sounded like an extremely loud gunshot to me," Tenten commented, her face portraying her alarm as she slowly shut her book and glanced up at the ceiling, as well, from her place on the love seat next to Neji's soft-spoken relative.
Tapping her two pointer fingers together in a nervous gesture, Hinata stumbled over her words as she tried to voice her concern. "D-do you think th-there's s-something wrong?" Her eyes widened, and her voice grew shrill as she uttered the last word.
Tenten gave her companion a comforting pat on the hand while Sakura furrowed her brow in silent contemplation. "Well, perhaps we should head up to the deck and see if we can find anything out? I don't know about you, but I believe we've been sitting entirely too long in one attitude, and I have a terrible need to stretch my legs," Sakura suggested. "Besides, this gives us the perfect excuse to escape the sitting room for a little while."
"Agreed," Tenten complied, and all three women stood up simultaneously.
Seeing their approach, the two servants by the entrance quickly leapt into action and pulled open the double doors to allow the ladies through. Stepping into a fairly long corridor lined with several doors, they began to head towards a staircase at the opposite end. With every step, the clacking from their heels reverberated in the empty hall, accompanied only by the rustle of silk as their gowns skimmed the floor. Upon finally reaching the deck, however, they were immediately accosted by one of the nearby sailor men.
"Oi, whattuya lasses doin' up on th' deck? Yeh shouldn' be 'ere," he chastised, giving them all a disapproving look.
Mildly affronted, Sakura tried to keep her temper in check. Among the nobility, she was universally known to possess a quick tongue that often ran away with her. In compensation, she took on a sweet, pouty expression that inwardly made her hurl as she simpered, "we heard a loud noise from downstairs and just wanted to know what it was. Do you think you could enlighten us?"
The sailor hesitated, clearly unwilling to get in trouble for divulging any information to them. Sakura could practically see the options clunking around in his head as he gnawed his bottom lip in contemplation. In the end, though, he acquiesced, mumbling under his breath, "Aw, wha' kin it 'urt?"
Sakura smirked to herself at the small victory as the seafaring man continued. "Yeh see tha' ship o'er thar?" All three women turned to look where he was pointing to see a vessel about the same size as their own idly floating about a quarter of a league away.
"Yes, what about it?" Tenten huffed, not understanding how this ship pertained to their question.
"It's flyin' its flag upsi' down and shot offa distress signal witha flare gun. I'm assumin' thas th' sound yeh 'eard," the sailor explained, removing his hat to scratch the top of his head. "Commodore Uzumaki ordered us ta floa' by an' see if we kin 'elp. Iffit were up ta me, though, I'd say we shouldn' bother. Tha' boat looksuh bit suspicious if yeh ask me."
Sakura frowned slightly and took another long look at the unknown ship in the distance. She had to admit, the sailor had a point. Although it was still far off, she could tell that the vessel did not resemble any other ship she was familiar with; it was not a war craft, or a merchant's ship, or some aristocrat's boat like their own. She didn't know what to make of it.
"Well, ladies, now tha' yeh have yer answer, you'd best git back to yer rooms below deck. This be no place fer a woman," the seafarer admonished, distracting Sakura from her pondering.
Mumbling her gratitude, Sakura gave a less-than-cordial bob and turned on her heel to go back down the stairs. Tenten and Hinata followed suite, although Hinata gave a considerably deeper curtsy before trailing after her two companions. Once within the confines of the sitting room, the three women took up their previous seats and sat quietly, each lost to their own thoughts and speculations. There was a long bout of silence before Hinata finally chose to speak up in her timid voice.
"Th-the C-commodore is a ver-ry ki-kind man for h-help-ping that ship," the white-eyed woman proclaimed, tapping her pointer fingers together again.
Sakura glanced up at the woman and gave her a warm smile. It was obvious that she was completely infatuated by her blond friend if her reddened face and averted eyes were any indication. "Yes," she nodded. "His benevolence is insurmountable."
However, she couldn't help but mentally add that perhaps he was a bit too benevolent as her thoughts returned to the mysterious ship. The whole situation just seemed…off, and she couldn't figure out why. Her curious nature would not let the matter drop, and damn it, she was going to find out!
Mind made up, Sakura stood abruptly and addressed her two female friends. "I am in need of relieving myself, but I shall return to you shortly." Both her companions gave her odd, questioning looks, but she ignored them for the most part.
Bowing her head respectfully, the pink-haired female turned and all but dashed from the room, intent on reaching the staircase at the end of the hall. Sakura tried to keep her steps light as she traversed down the empty corridor and stopped in front of the door at the top of the stairs. For some reason, her heart had accelerated and was beating so loudly in her chest that she was sure the men on the deck could hear it.
Taking a deep breath to calm her inexplicable nerves, she grabbed the knob of the door and pushed it open just enough for her to peek through it. As she had thought, they were just pulling to a stop beside the unknown vessel. The whole crew had gathered on the deck, including Lord Neji, Kiba, and Naruto, and were staring at the other ship with curious and perplexed expressions.
The ship looked completely abandoned. Not a soul was on deck or stirring within the cabins. There wasn't even the light of a kerosene lamp or wax candle flickering in a porthole or window. What's going on, Sakura wondered, a frown marring her delicate features.
The young woman watched as her long-time friend stepped forward and called out, "Is anyone there? I am Commodore Uzumaki. We're here to help." There was no answer.
After a few more minutes of heavy silence, one of the sailors finally spoke up. Sakura recognized him as the man who had informed her and the other ladies of the flare gun.
"Uh, Commodore," the sailor began stiffly. "Mayhap another ship come by and 'elped 'em already."
"That is not possible," Lord Neji cut in tersely. "We all saw and heard the flare gun. There is most certainly at least one person on that ship."
"Well I, for one, agree with the sailor. There's obviously no one on board, so let's get the hell out of here. We've wasted enough time already," Kiba grumbled impatiently while absentmindedly scratching his dog Akamaru behind the ear.
"No, Naruto frowned. "They may just be injured and unable to reply. I want half of you to come with me and search the ship. If you find any one, bring him to the deck."
A chorus of 'aye, aye captain' followed Naruto's firm orders, and the men split up into two groups. One would go with Naruto and Neji while the rest would stay on board with Kiba, who opted out of the so-called 'wild goose chase.' Long wooden planks were quickly located and lowered on top of the railings to act as walkways between the two ships. As soon as the men crossed to the other side, they split up and disappeared below deck.
With nothing better to do, the half left on board broke into murmured discussions, which Sakura didn't bother paying attention to. Nearly ten minutes passed in this manner, and Sakura was beginning to grow bored. Perhaps her suspicion and unease had been ridiculous and unfounded. It appeared to be no more than an abandoned ship after all.
The young noblewoman was just about to turn back and return to her two companions when a loud, blood-curdling yell rent the air. Whipping back around, Sakura looked just in time to see all the sailors dart over to the side of the ship, which lurched precariously due to the sudden shift in weight.
Kiba was at the forefront of the pack, his hands braced on the railing as his eyes skimmed the abandoned vessel. "Hey, what the bloody hell is going on over there!"
There was a heartbeat of silence before chaos broke loose.
Men. A large group of unknown men came sneaking up on the crew with swords drawn and killing intent in their eyes. Sakura wanted to fling open the door and scream out to them, to warn them of the danger slinking up behind their ignorant backs like cheetahs stalking their prey in high grass.
All she managed, however, was a barely stifled, horrified gasp as the first oblivious sailor was cut down with a slash to his jugular. The surrounding crewman had no time to react as a wave of sword-swinging enemies charged at them ruthlessly. The ring of metal met Sakura's ears as the crew drew their own weapons and battle ensued.
She knew she should run. She should lock the door, bound down the stairs, gather her two female friends, and find a good, secure hiding place. She certainly should not continue to stand there gawking while listening to anguished cries of pain and death. The pink-haired noblewoman tried to get her feet to move, she really did, but it was as if she had become a tree, rooted to the wooden flooring.
She watched in almost morbid fascination as numerous bodies, friend and foe alike, thudded lifelessly to the ground. Deep, red liquid leaked from their fatal lacerations to paint the deck like a canvas. By the time the fighting finally started to slow down, the sun was just beginning to dip behind the horizon, casting the sky in bloody hues to match the equally bloody scene.
Only Kiba and a small handful of crewmen remained, completely surrounded by the enemy. Kiba scowled and crouched in a defensive stance, Akamaru snarling menacingly by his side.
Most of the unknown men, Sakura noted wore bandannas or eye patches and badly frayed peasant shirts. By now, she'd deduced what they were - what the crew had been up against. It hadn't taken her long. After all, she read about them all the time in her adventure novels. Pirates. She trembled finely at the unspoken word; this was no book.
It was then that one of them stepped forward to address the small group of survivors. He seemed much different than the others. Unlike the bronze, sun-kissed skin of his comrades, his flesh was pale and creamy, a stark contrast to his dark hair and even darker eyes. He had no facial hair and almost effeminate features, though he was definitely a very masculine specimen. Despite herself, Sakura could not deny that he was a rather attractive man.
"Lower you weapons," he bit out coldly. When neither Kiba nor any of the other remaining men made a move to follow his command, he added, "unless, of course, you want to die."
Even from her place behind the door, Sakura could hear Kiba curse lightly under his breath but lower his weapon, all the same. Satisfied, the dark-haired man gave a small smirk and turned to regard the rest of the rogues.
"Tie them up then spread out and sweep the ship. Bring all the valuables back to the deck." As the men began to carry out his orders, his calculating gaze swept over the deck, taking in the casualties and gore.
Suddenly, intense black eyes were locked with hers, and Sakura stumbled back in surprise, almost taking a tumble down the staircase. A moment of panic seized her before she turned and fled down the stairs. She could hear blood thrumming in her ears like a waterfall and made it halfway down the hall before flinging herself through a door on her right. She glanced around to get her bearings and found herself in Tenten's room.
She grimaced. It didn't exactly have an abundance of hiding spots. There wasn't time to dwell on this, however, as the sound of heavy, clunking feet and the repeated opening and closing of doors drifted to her ears, getting closer and closer with each passing second. Mind made up, Sakura crossed the room and dove under the bed just as the door to her room slammed open.
"Check the closet," a gruff voice commanded.
Clink, clink, clink. More heavy footfalls as a pair of spurred black boots passed Sakura's field of vision beneath the bed.
"Now, now, poppet, no need to be afraid, yeah," the booted pirate cooed wickedly, swinging open the closet door. A muttered curse shortly followed. "She's not 'ere, mate, yeah."
The pirate near the hallway grunted noncommittally. "Well, let's move on, then. Bloody wench has ta be 'ere somewhere."
Sakura watched with baited breath as the pair of black boots entered her field of vision once again - this time, in the direction of the door. She heard the hinges creak as the two men began to exit, and relieved, she let a whoosh of air escape her lips in a soft sigh.
"What was that, yeah?"
Sakura's eyes widened in fear and disbelief. He'd heard that?
"What're yeh talkin' about Blondy," the rough voice guffawed. "I didn't hear nothin.'"
A moment of silence followed as they paused in what Sakura could only assume was consideration or annoyance. Finally, the pirate with the strange speech pattern relented with a dismissive, "Whatever, yeah. Let's go."
There was a decisive 'click' as the door closed completely, and Sakura let her head drop to the floor, drained from all the anxiety. She waited like that for another minute or two, listening to the sound of fading feet before deciding to move from her hiding spot. After all, it was dirty and dusty and cramped, and she needed to figure out what to do from this point.
Shifting sideways, she managed to wriggle herself halfway out from under the bed when she felt her upper arm caught in a bruising grip. The noblewoman let out a small yelp of surprise as she was roughly yanked out from under the bed and to her feet, another hand coming up to capture her other arm in a strong hold.
"'Ello, love, yeah."
Preview of next chapter:
"I was under the impression I am to speak to the captain, so if you could kindly fetch him for me..."
Her voice trailed off weakly when she caught the brief flash of expression in his eyes. Was that amusement?... Despite her bravado, she arched a little farther back to try and put some space between them when he leaned forward to place his palms flat on the tabletop on either side of her, effectively trapping her between himself and the wood at her back.
"Ah, but my lady, you're looking at him."
A/N: Well, that wraps up chapter 1. I actually already have an unbeta'd version of chapter 2 up on my personal website (link on profile) if you want to read that, too. I won't upload it on the FF website until chapter 1 is beta'd, though. Remember to review! If no one likes this fic, then I won't bother continuing it, I guess. Honestly, I have other fics in mind that I can work on instead. If no one leaves a comment, then I'll take that as a 'why would anyone want to read this piece of crap story that's not even worth criticizing in a review,' which will also result in discontinuation, haha. Anyway, don't be afraid to give constructive criticism. I don't bite...often.