The Pirate King
Chapter One
-Discovery-
The door opened to a loud tavern that was filled with men and women dressed for the evening. Their dresses cut low and were pinned up too high, but that was just the way the crowd liked it. Four men walked in, all dressed similarly in their attire. Leading the group was a redhead with light jade eyes, shadowed by lack of sleep. There was a tattoo above his left eye that was the kanji for love. He was wearing a pair of black leather boots that stopped just below his knees, and black semi-loose pants. His shirt was made of black cotton and was sleeveless, fitting him perfectly. There was a cut near his collar and formed a small V-neck.
He stopped once they were in and looked around, causing the three behind him to halt as well, and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword that was attached to his side. A couple people in the crowd looked over and went wide eyed, falling silent in their conversation. The silence spread like the plague, until the whole bar was quiet.
"Please don't stop your conversation on our account." The redhead smirked, continuing forward, a dark bony haired man walking after him. He wore a boots similar to the redhead, with tight black pants and a loose cream shirt tucked into them, a sword at his side. Over his shirt he had on a black vest, buttoned up all the way and defining his lean build.
"They can't help it Gaara. People fear us, it's to be expected." He smirked.
The two brunettes behind him smirked as well, the one with shorter, spikier hair laughed aloud. "Can't be helped." He repeated. He was wearing a short sleeved, white cotton shirt and some black pants, a red sash tied around his waist.
The fourth member of their posse looked bored, his pale eyes almost making him appear blind. He was dressed more formally than any of the three. He had on a long sleeved, button up shirt that he left un-tucked over his black pants. "Can we just get something to drink? I want to relax." he sighed.
"Relax Neji." The other brunette grinned as they all sat at the bar. "I just want to know when we're going to hit the red light district."
"Is that all you ever think about Kiba?" the ebony haired man asked. "I mean really, every time we get to shore it's the same thing with you." He said, a small smirk coming to his face.
"Uh…duh." Kiba snapped, ordering himself a beer. "We've got Hinata and Temari on board and it's not like we can do anything with them."
"Damn straight." Gaara smirked, picking up his mug and drinking from it. "Besides, I'm with Kiba on this one. When we come to port is the only time we can get some nice female action."
The Uchiha shrugged. "Well, we could actually stay in this one longer. It's not like we have any major plans at the moment." He suggested, grabbing a cup of rum and drinking from it.
"Nope." Gaara nodded. "We got enough to last us a long time plus…" he smirked. "Even if we did run out, no one dares defy the Pirate King."
Kiba laughed and lifted his glass. "Man, stealing that crown was the best thing that ever happened to us. I can't believe we found Skull Isle and it was still there."
"It's just a testament to the skill we have as pirates." Sasuke said.
"I'm surprised no one has come after us for it." Neji spoke up finally, downing the rest of his drink. "It's been what, two years now?"
The redhead nodded. "Just about. But damn it's been good. I don't know what it is about titles, but women fall to their knees before me."
"And boy do you eat it up." The ebony haired man snickered, finishing his rum.
Gaara smirked and looked to his best friend and right hand man. "I can't help it if I'm the best."
A few men over at a nearby table swallowed their food, looking between one another. "I heard there's a new Pirate King." One said boldly, making the redhead halt his drinking. He set down his mug and looked back at the group, all of which turned back to their food and drink.
"Excuse me?" he asked, standing up from the bar.
Another one of the men at the table glanced over sheepishly. "Someone else is goin' 'round and saying they're the Pirate King now."
"And what, pray tell, makes you think that just because someone says they are the Pirate King makes them such?" he wondered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Cause' they gots the crown." He nodded, tapping the top of his head. "Ol' Charlie here says he knows someone who's seen it."
Sasuke frowned. "How could they have the crown? It in an unknown location that's hard to get to even if you know where it is."
The old man shrugged. "People be sayin' that this new King is a smart 'un. Very clever."
Before the man knew it, he was face down in his food, his head held to the table with a tightening grip. "Who the hell dared steal from me!" Gaara ordered, his face contorting with rage. Kiba and Neji were up in an instant, since the man's friends rose and reached for their own weapons, but halted when they saw the others move into ready stances. "Answer me!" the young captain yelled, pressing him down harder.
"I dunno!" the man cried out, appearing panicked. "Nobody's ever seen them. Alls I know is that their ship is named The Deadly Ouka."
Gaara released him and moved back, glaring back at his main crew. "Find out where they are and meet me on the ship in two hours. Because we're going hunting. Even if they don't have my crown, no one gets away with these false truths." He ordered, walking out of the tavern and leaving the three.
Kiba let out a long groan. "Man! That sounds like a lot of work!"
"Looks like there's no red light district in our future." Sasuke sighed, already walking towards the doors out of the tavern. The other men followed, none of them looking forward to the task at hand. Because there was no dealing with their captain when he was like this.